Chappysmom » 2010

We bought this poster of the Flying Horses (America’s oldest carousel, which is on MV, and one of Mom’s favorite places on the island with lots of childhood memories.)

I brought it home and turned it into a cross-stitch chart for her next project.

(For clarity, I put all the outlining lines on a separate page.)

Naturally, the gift included the fabric and the floss for the project!

And, of course, Dad and Chappy got THEIR favorite gift this year … stollen!

Chappy did enjoy his present from his grandparents while it lasted. (Well, it’s technically still here, but already on its way out.)

And how nifty is this coffee mug that looks like a camera lens?

Such happy, Christmas faces. I hope yours are just as happy–whether this is a normal Saturday for you or not!

Be Merry, everyone.

Tags: Family by --Deb
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Kate, But Don’t Call It Lazy

So, what am I spinning?

This pretty, olive green Corriedale from the Sheep Shed. This was my birthday gift last year, two 8 ounce loops of the darker green, and one 8 ounce loop of the lighter.

The amazing part is that I’ve already spun 8 ounces of it, and it all fits on one bobbin. (Got to love that.)

The bobbin, incidentally, is resting on my new lazy kate. I got it from Ogle Designs. I love the design of their kates–two pieces that fold together, making it easy to carry around. But when assembled?

It holds the bobbins at a 45-degree angle. They made mine custom for me, with the pins far enough away that it will hold the large, Aura bobbins.

Right now, there’s just one bobbin on there, but give me a little time … there will be three soon.

They were nice enough to include some bonus fiber with the order, too. Wasn’t that nice of him?

Here’s what I’m knitting at the moment. It’s almost impossible, I know, to see anything other than a big, gray blob, but it’s a pretty, SOFT gray blob. Frankly, I’m pretty curious myself, how it’s going to look!

Chappy’s trying to rest up. Tomorrow is the family Christmas celebration. Today, of course, was Gloating Day, which went really well until Mom had some kind of allergic reaction to her Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks. The only thing we can figure is she got hers with soy milk because I had MINE with soy milk. (She often lets me order first and then just says, “Make that two.”) While we were sitting, gloating, and watching the woman in the chair across from us nap, her throat and lips started to itch. Luckily she had a Claritin in her purse because that seemed to help. It did put a damper on Gloating festivities, though.

Obviously, if we’re Gloating, we’re ready for Christmas. We stopped at the grocery store for stuff for some baked French Toast for Christmas morning. (Like, you know, bread. You can’t do french toast without bread and all we had in the house was rye–not the best french toast bread.)

Now, as a feel-good link for you? Check out this inspiring post over at the Bloggess. If that doesn’t restore your faith in humankind and the power of the internet, I don’t know what will.

Tags: Knitting/Spinning by --Deb
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Spinning Sunday

This is what my first bobbin of totally-Aura-spun yarn looks like. That’s a full 8 ounces of 2-ply yarn and is half of my “sweater lot” corriedale from Spunky Eclectic.

Here are the singles of the second half, spun in record time.

And those singles plied and wound off onto my skein winder.

All in all, I have something like 850 yards of yarn here, though I need to wash the second skein.

BIG skeins, too. I’m loving that the Aura has such huge bobbins!

I got a lot of spinning done today, too. Kim came over and brought her new Schacht Matchless and we and our new wheels hung out and spun for a few hours this morning, which was so much fun. Chappy was delighted too, not least because he got to eat the crumbs from our coffeecake.

Just in case you folks were wondering, I just got the results for Chappy’s latest blood platelet count, and they’re excellent! You’d never know he’d been sick … although he’s still on prednisone, as we wean him off. He’s down to one pill a day, which will drop to half a pill in about two weeks, and presumably none at all a month after that. The vet yesterday said that you’d never know he was on prednisone at all, he looked so good.

Actually, he was adorable at the vet yesterday. When we took him for his last checkup/blood test a month ago, he was impatient. He didn’t want to be there, and he fidgeted through the exam, squirming to get off the table. Not in an out-of-control kind of way, or desperate, just … making sure we all knew that he did NOT want to be there. The vet said that that’s not uncommon with dogs who come frequently, because of course, they really don’t want to be there and seem to think, “But, I was just here, why do I have to do this again?”

Well, Friday, it was like Chappy wanted to show the vet how mature he really is. He sat nicely in the waiting room instead of pacing. (Though I could see his fur vibrating a little from nerves, and of course, he did suggest a few times that we could just go back out the door we came in.) When they called us in to the exam room, he went straight to the scale to be weighed (35.4 lbs, which is perfect for him) and was good while the technician took his temperature. After she left and we were waiting for the actual vet, he sat and just watched the door, waiting. There were some out-of-control kids running around out in the waiting area and he would turn his head every time they ran past the door (I don’t know what their mother was thinking), but mostly, he just SAT, watching the door the vet would come in. When she did come in, he stayed seated, instead of darting away or acting scared or immature. He was so GOOD through the whole exam. A little protest when they drew the blood, but otherwise … such a GOOD boy!

While there, I asked about his eyes, because they always seem dilated (something the vet had mentioned in passing a few visits ago, but when we were more concerned with the blood platelets). I don’t remember what she called it, but apparently there’s something not uncommon to older dogs that make the muscles in the eye unable to contract all the way around the pupil? Her description of it was funny. “Well, he can’t read the newspaper any more.” I just love that analogy for how good/bad his vision is … because, naturally, it’s only puppies who read newspapers every day!

One more look at my pretty yarn. I haven’t counted the wpi, but I’d say it’s about sport/DK weight. All worsted spun, for strength and wear. Love the colors.

And, folks, I know there are still problems with my blog. It still keeps ignoring all my recent posts and putting that October “Weekender” post at the top … but only some of the time. And things are still running slowly, and I have NO idea why. I wish I did. I’m living in fear that they’re going to shut the blog down on me again for exceeding my bandwidth when I have no idea how to fix things. I’m trying not to freak out about it, though.

Tags: Chappy, Finished Spinning, Knitting/Spinning by --Deb
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Feeling Better

I think Chappy is feeling better. He stole Mom’s slipper the other day for the first time in weeks, and he fluffed Mom and Dad’s pillows tonight. Something he’s technically not allowed to do, but that he feels obliged to do every once in a while.

But mostly, he’s been playing.

Specifically with this toy. Mom and I pulled it out of his toy basket Monday and played “Chappy in the middle” for a while at lunch. But last night, he decided to play with it. To really play with it.

He started squeaking it around 8:15 while we were watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special. (He even missed Snoopy’s dance on Schroeder’s piano, he was so involved.) Around 8:45, though, the squeak started to die out, but it didn’t stop him. Something about the flavor, smell, and texture of this toy just had him captivated.

He chewed on this toy for almost two hours straight. I stayed downstairs an hour longer than usual to give him a chance to play, but he surprised me and carried it upstairs at bedtime. I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen him carry a toy up the stairs. Ever. And then he played with it for another hour or so, took a little nap, and then played for another 20 minutes before bed.

When we moved into the bedroom at 11:45, he gave some serious thought about bringing the toy with him, but decided to leave it behind. But this morning? It was his first stop, running in here to get the toy before heading down the hallway to say good morning to his grandparents. Dad found him napping with the toy between his paws.

I can’t tell you how enchanting we all think this is. Except for sleeping or walking in a park, I can’t remember the last time Chappy spent three hours doing ANYTHING. Even as a puppy, he rarely chewed on a toy for more than a half an hour or so, and he’s never really been an obsessive dog about toys. This is ADORABLE. Endearing. It’s just so darn cute.

Of course, all this adoration is taking its toll.

Not only has he torn strips out of this toy, but he’s swallowed some of it, which is why I’ve currently taken it away from him. The latex pieces won’t hurt him, but still … there’s a limit to how much he should swallow in 24 hours, right? Especially considering he’s been under the weather and all.

Still, all this playing is very encouraging in regard to his general state of health. We dropped his prednisone dose last week so now he’s getting one pill a day. (He started at two a day in October, and dropped to one and a half a month ago, and down to one last week.) He’s still thirstier than usual, though nothing like how he had been in October. But … it’s good to see him playing again. I mean, he’s a mature, pretty mellow 9-year old, so it’s not like he plays all the time, or anything, but … it’s good to see.

Now, about knitting.

I finished that sweater I was making but haven’t bothered to sew the buttons on it, yet. It’s done, the ends are woven in, and it’s okay and all, but … Eh. I feel so neutral about this sweater, I completely forget about it for days at a time, which means I might end up frogging the thing and reusing the yarn (whose color, difficult though it is to photograph, is just lovely).

I started this the other night, using the 5-year handspun I finished last month.

It’ll be similar to this old shawl of mine (this was my very first attempt at lace, something like 15 years ago), but probably bigger, with the intent that it will be more like a blanket than a shawl. And, well, my handspun!

Speaking of…

I told you the Aura bobbins were big, right? The same size as a Majacraft jumbo plying bobbin? Five inch diameter? Well, believe me, because this is 4 ounces of fiber, and the bobbin barely looks half full.

I love the colors of this fiber.

Now, I might have been able to fit the entire 8 ounces on one bobbin, but since I only have three bobbins (that I can use), I’m only putting 4 on each, and crossing my fingers that I’ll be able to fit all of it to ply onto the third bobbin. At which point I’ll have two more free bobbins for the other 8 ounces I’ve got.

Have I mentioned today that I love my new Majacraft Aura?

Here’s the yarn I plied on it the other day. This was actually soft-spun using some kind of “I’m still figuring this out” long draw, which is why it’s so uneven. The plying though? Really consistent because, again, the Aura … love it.

Okay, time for bed for me!

Tags: Chappy, Knitting/Spinning by --Deb
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New Spinning

Here’s what’s next up for me, spinning-wise. This is a pound of Corridale from Spunky Eclectic, a “Sweater Lot,” dyed just for me in color “Diesel.”

It’s lovely. Blues, browns, and grays, in a subtle mix. It’s not an almost-solid color like I usually prefer for larger projects, but I love it.

And I don’t think I need to worry about being able to spin fine yarns on this lovely new Aura of mine, huh?

I finished playing with that experimental bobbin of mine, and the other night I plied two bobbins of Humbug that I finished spinning on my Gem a week or so ago. I have to say, this was such a treat for plying. Because of the modified double-drive (and, you know I’ve never spun on a traditional double-drive), the tension and take-up are consistent from the beginning of the bobbin to the end–no tweaking the brake line as the bobbin fills up. It was such a treat!

Mom and I went to the craft show yesterday, the one we go to almost every December. It was fun, we saw some lovely stuff, but we both resisted the temptation to buy anything. We decorated our tiny little Christmas tree this afternoon (still getting used to the idea of a table-top tree). I made about 7 quarts of vegetable soup. I baked a cake today, too. A gingerbread cake with lemon frosting. Oh, and chicken stew with homemade biscuits for supper. Yum!

Dad’s out running an errand for me. I placed an order a couple weeks ago with MAC cosmetics–the first since we moved last year–and even though I specifically changed my address and clicked the “shipping address same as billing address” box, somehow it got shipped to our old house. Several days ago, in fact. I contacted MAC to explain and they very nicely sent me a replacement package which arrived on Thursday. Well, tonight we got a call from our old house, telling us they had a package of ours, which Dad just left to go pick up for me. I’ll have to let MAC know that I got the original package–because that’s the decent thing to do, right?

Chappy’s doing well, though he’s been quiet the last couple days. I think that’s mostly due to the fact that he hasn’t had a walk in days. The weather just hasn’t cooperated. I think he’s bored.

Oh! I just remembered that my laundry is still in the dryer. Since I have a dreadful time remembering that last step, I’m going to go take care of it right now while I’m thinking of it. Hope your weekend was a good one!

Tags: Knitting/Spinning by --Deb
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Bouquet

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Tags: Eye-Candy Friday by --Deb
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T’is The Season

It’s the season for gifts, right? Even ones for oneself? I’m so grateful that I was able to buy this guilt-free, what with that Christmas bonus from work. I’ve only ever gotten a couple of those, so it was a special treat this year–and well-timed, too, what with Chappy’s vet bills recently.

About that, incidentally? We’re dropping his prednisone dose as of today to one pill a day, with a follow-up blood test in a week or so. Fingers crossed.

Now, about this lovely new gift.

It arrived in pieces, requiring a lot more assembly than my Little Gem did.

The center section gets screwed to the base.

The treadles are screwed on. (Reminding me that we really need a better Phillips head screwdriver.)

The spinning head, the crank assembly, et cetera, et cetera, and eventually you have something that looks like this.

And a box full of styrofoam pieces that make you hope you will never need to try to get this disassembled and put back in the box for any reason whatsoever (grin).

Let’s not forget the signature and number on the bottom, shall we?

The actual wheel is absolutely beautiful. The Rimu wood has such a gorgeous grain to it.

Here’s a slightly blown-out photo of the back of the wheel. I love the way the crank shaft and rods look.

Here’s a spinner’s-eye view.

The bobbins are HUGE. Here’s an Aura bobbin right next to a regular Majacraft plastic bobbin–a bobbin which is already on the large side, as bobbins go, but dwarfed next to the Aura bobbin. They are pretty, too, made of bamboo with fiberglass centers.

In fact, the Aura bobbins are the same size as the jumbo, plying bobbins. The only problem I have right now is that I can’t use the plying bobbin I have with my Aura. Look closely at the Aura bobbin in this photo–see those two little holes? Those fit over the pins on the spinning head, and only bobbins with those holes will work.

I’m hoping, actually, to trade this older wooden plying bobbin with one of newer vintage. All the Maja bobbins made since last Spring have these little holes, and if I want to find someone who has a newer plying bobbin but NOT an Aura who is willing to trade. If you know any such person, please let me know!

Here’s what I’ve spun so far. The wheel … did I tell you I bought it from Copper Moose, who had by far the best price I found … came with two free pounds of BFL, which is a treat because it made me feel free to play to my heart’s content last night. Experimenting with the different settings and such. The Aura is a modified double-drive, you see, so the strength of the pull and the speed of it are controlled by two different drive bands.

I not only tested my old familiar standby of short forward-pull worsted-type drafting, but played with long draw and spinning from the fold, too. I was able to spin as fine as I liked which was reassuring because it was the one thing I worried about, since this is a “slow” wheel. I’m already having fun. As I say, the free fiber is a real bonus because I’m not worrying about “wasting” anything while I play.

Yep. Happy so far! This wheel is a beauty … and, um, it’s calling so … got to go!

Tags: Knitting/Spinning by --Deb
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Early

Well, early for Christmas, anyway.

Tags: Knitting/Spinning by --Deb
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Books in November 2010

Books read in November:

Sing Them Home: A Novel by Stephanie Kallos. Second novel from the woman who wrote “Broken for You” (which I loved). This was different in feel, telling more than one story simultaneously—the story of three siblings after their father was killed by lightning—but also the story of their mother from when she married their father, was diagnosed with MS, and, oh yes, swept up by a tornado when they were still children. It was interesting and well told (and I loved the mother’s old journal entries), but it didn’t have the same “grab” for me that her other book had.
Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn. New book by a favorite author. A stand-alone that tells the story of Zoe, opening with her father’s funeral and the sudden news that she is due to come back to the capital and expected to marry the king. Except it turns out that she is the Prime, the head, of her mother’s family and everything changes.
A Posse of Princesses by Sherwood Smith. Light and fluffy YA. Rhis is princess of a small but wealthy kingdom and is invited to a house party—finally giving her a chance to meet other people her age. All goes well until one of her fellow princesses is kidnapped and she and her friends decide to rescue her. (Yes, I know, because that doesn’t stretch credibility at all, huh?) Sounds ridiculous, true, but it was entertaining.
1920: The Year of the Six Presidents by David Pietrusza. Ah, 1920 in the USA—a year when six Presidents (former, current, and future) all made their mark. At least, this was the concept. It made an interesting story because there were lots of things going on in 1920, though I don’t know that the author ever quite made his point that 1920 was central to so many events. (Or, at least, that there haven’t been other years in history that had past, present, and future leaders all participating in big events at once.)
Angelica (Samaria, Book 4) by Sharon Shinn. One of her Samaria/angel books, telling the story of Susanna, an Edori taken to live among the angels at a time when Samaria is being invaded by mysterious black men.
Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones. I love Jones’ unique combination of magic and comedy. It’s why I keep coming back to them, including this, her latest book.
House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones. Ditto. This one takes place in the same world as Howl’s Moving Castle and Castle in the Air, but centers on Charmain, a self-centered girl who suddenly finds herself looking after her uncle’s house, with all its hidden passageways.
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. This book is such a delight, with time-travelling historians in Victorian England trying to recover a destroyed artifact from Coventry Cathedral. It’s just so much fun.
Mastering Color Knitting: Simple Instructions for Stranded, Intarsia, and Double Knitting by Melissa Leapman. Review here at Knitting Scholar.
Wrapped in Lace: Knitted Heirloom Designs from Around the World by Margaret Stove. Review here at Knitting Scholar.
The Knitter’s Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn: Techniques and Projects for Handpainted and Multicolored Yarn (Knitters Guide to) by Lorna Miser. Review here at Knitting Scholar.
Knitting Block by Block: 150 Blocks for Sweaters, Scarves, Bags, Toys, Afghans, and More by Nicky Epstein. Review here at Knitting Scholar.
A Study in Scarlet: The First Sherlock Holmes Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle.
The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle. First Sherlock Holmes story, where Holmes and Watson meet and investigate their first case. The Holmes/Watson part is great. The story of Jefferson Hope and the Mormons? Um, not so much.
The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle. One of THE classic Holmes stories, tracking a mysterious hound across the moor.
The Valley of Fear: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (The Sherlock Holmes Collection) by Arthur Conan Doyle. This story gets bogged down, too, when he goes into the history of why the character is being targeted, but still—Holmes and Watson always make for good stories.
The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. It’s been a couple years since I read this trilogy, and it made for fun reading—though I find I need to be in just the right mood for JRRT’s flowery prose, and it was feeling a little overdone by the time I got to the end. Still—I’ve loved trhis trilogy for decades now, so no complaints.
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King. YA novel that begins with Vera’s ex-best friend’s funeral.

Tags: Reading by --Deb
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Favorite Books of 2010

2010 in Review

Be Merry

Kate, But Don’t Call It Lazy

Spinning Sunday

Feeling Better

New Spinning

Bouquet

T’is The Season

Early

Books in November 2010

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Like What You See?

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