Sadie Takes a Walk

I took Sadie for a walk today on her little blue leash. Then she got all combed out and some fresh litter and greens. The little lady was all tuckered out, but condescended to pose for a picture.

Life is rough.

Works in Progress

Time for some finished and unfinished objects--the main finished object is the craft room. I hung some curtains to prevent direct light on the wool but am still waiting for hubby to touch up a little of the paint and then move in dressers and tubs. Then I can block and finish the Cinnamon Wave Wrap for church. I moved my wheels in there, to make them easily accessible.

Now for some unfinished, I have 2 socks on needles, besides the 2 at a time pair which drive me crazy. I took one pair to West Branch and then decided the baby cables were not showing up so frogged back to the ribbing. In the process I had problems with one stitch so had to wait till I got home to a crochet hook to fix and knit more on them. The striping allowed no definition for the cables, so they are going to be just plain vanilla socks.

I have cast on a pair in Opal, in a hot pink for a lacy patterned pair. I found the pattern in Sensational Socks and the pattern is (I think) Bluebell. I am still on the 3X2 ribbing so will have lots of knitting on this pair yet too. I have them both in the same basket so I can do the vanilla socks when I need to do no-brainer knitting and the lacy pair when I have time to pay attention to what I am doing. I will need to list these on my Ravelry site.

I also finished spinning the pink Shetland--1 oz ball, and need to ply it. I started my blue 1 oz ball on my Kundert spindle so I will have more room. I want to spin up my little package of blue-green pygora that I picked up last weekend. I should be able to use the same smaller spindle I used for the Shetland I think. Or I will find another empty spindle. I finished spinning the August roving club package of Thermograph color way from Spunky Eclectic but no pictures. It is wonderful Blue Faced Leister and so soft. I may have enough to make a shoulder scarf/small shawl. I need to study patterns I don't think there is enough for the fichu, but may be able to make an adaptation.

My cardigan has been my main knitting project lately. I started adding a bit of waist shaping by putting 13 stitches of 1X1 ribbing on each side. That will only take it in about 2 inches total, but then, I don't go in much more than that. Maybe you can see it on this picture. It is between the 2 purple markers, and has only been for 6 or 7 rows. I also had to frog back about 2 inches. I had picked it up mid row turned the work instead of finishing the row. (sob, 2 whole inches!) But about 12 more rows and I can fuse the top of the pockets to the body. Whooo hoo! I have also been making calculations for the sleeves so will be ready to start them when the length is right.

West Branch Pictures

Well, time to post some pictures from last weekend. I haven't been able to post from the laptop all week, but finally, here are some of the pictorial highlights.

I mentioned we arrived and unloaded on Friday evening. We found most booths already set up as we carted our stuff to the far end of the building. Some, the Watson Spinning Wheels were set up and covered, but others were still putting on final touches here and there.

It didn't take us too long to unload the van, We then started sorting out items and putting it at least somewhat together.

After that we went for supper, a very unimpressive meal at the local Big Boys, but apparently it WAS almost closing time.

Next morning we finished setting up and settling down for business. Rachel had a class on making bobbin lace. The rest of us sat and spun or knit or shopped. It was a long day. Especially when they had someone give a lecture at the vendors supper in the evening. We finally skipped out of that and headed to Wal-Mart (as Rachel had ruined her last change of clothes shearing sheep) and then home.

The next day, I tried to stop shopping but Jane dragged me down to a booth owned by Yarn or a Tale and I was "forced" to buy 2 bags of hand painted roving--one a sock blend in shades of blue and green, and a lovely soft silk/wool blend in pastel pinks and melon.

Here are a couple more random pictures. Those two fuzzy friends are the newest friends of the AngoraGirls. Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Jane had been told she could not come home with a bunny. So she didn't come home with A bunny, she got 2 little boys.

One of the last items I was forced into purchasing, late Saturday was my little lady, Sadie. I have been calling her a black Satin Angora, but while her head and feet are a glistening black, her body and the long hair is more of a charcoal gray. The satin really shows as she just glistens, and she is only about 13 weeks old now. She has been handled by children since birth so I have a much easier time grooming her. She is a perfect little cuddler.

Plus-she is litter trained all ready

Anti-Monkey Butt Powder?

You know, I really love living in rural Michigan.  The deer in the fields, and yes, crossing roads so be careful.  The geese honking overhead or filling a newly chopped corn field.  An occasional hawk or blue heron in the sky.  The summer smells of hay and dusty roads.  The slip-sliding of sanded but unsalted winter roads.  Cattle grazing in the fields.  Baby calves, kitties and the fair.

And the signs.  I remember a sign at the co-op advertising pig ears at one time.  That was up for quite a while.  Now the local Tractor Supply Store has a sign proclaiming "Anti-Monkey Butt Powder  $4.99" 

What is Anti-Monkey Butt Powder?  And don't you just love the mental images conjured up by that name?

Lamb & Wool Festival

I wanted to wait until I had a chance to upload some of my photos with this post, but I'm not sure when I will have time to do that. So I just wanted to say that I had a great time. I had not planned on going but since Jane needed me to be the designated driver I happily agreed to go.
And I want to say for the record that the Welcome Motel was a very nice motel--a family run operation, clean, and we even had fresh flowers in the room. We couldn't believe that they were real, until we tipped the vase and felt the water.
We unloaded most of our stuff at the fair grounds on Friday evening after arriving and then set-up Saturday morning. Since there were 4 of us, I had plenty of time to check out the other vendors. Probably too much time, as I did some hefty fiber shopping. I found lots of roving, and concentrated on fiber I haven't tried, I got some silk blends, some buffalo blend, and some more of the fabulous Raspberry Bunnie--the same batch as the ball I got in Allegan. I ended up needing to send it back with Rachel, as our van was very full.
And of course, my favorite and nearly last purchase was Sadie, a beautiful little12 week black satin angora bunny. I hadn't planned on replacing Mocha, but my friends practically forced me to purchase the little honey. She is very tame and used to being handled. I hope we can get along much better.
One nice thing about this festival at West Branch was getting to know vendors. I have a couple that I purchased from (Yarn Hallow and Yarn or a Tale) that I found on Ravelry so I will have easy access to their fiber after this.
Great weekend. Fun times.