Oh Oh, I Did it Again

I was wondering around the wool room the other day, just touching and getting high on the fumes. Then this pile of skeins hypnotized me.

Next thing I knew the skeins were on the swift and spinning around on the ball winder. And before I could say "hand-dyed wool", it was all wound into neat little balls, and had leaped onto my favorite needles.

Upon counting the skeins, I discovered to my delight that I had enough to make a sweater for me. It is some of Jane's old handdyed Peruvian wool, worsted weight in a colorway called old jeans. And the best part is just a hint of shading to give it a slight kettle-dyed look.

So far I have 10 1/2 inches of the back done. This will be my first sweater made in pieces that will need to be sewn together.

I love it.

Changing Seasons

As I try to finish the Flying Geese Shawl--those rows of the triangle top are getting longer and longer--I have been enjoying the cool weather we were having. I say were because it was in the 60's today. First time all month I think. I much preferred the snowflakes I saw flying on Saturday.

But cooler weather is coming. I am counting on a cold winter--lots of reasons to use wool.

Daughters of the King Assembly

My chapter of Daughters of the King hosted the diocesan Fall Assembly. We didn't have a huge group, but had a great time. We had a wonderful speaker, speaking on Understanding as a gift of the Holy Spirit......

Did some rousing singing......

And Fr Duncan preached a great sermon during the opening Eucharist.

Inspiring day, and great. although cool, weather too.

And check out the work Dawn is doing on the courtyard too.

I Have Been Spinning Too

Yes, although I mostly have been mentioning the knitting lately. I have been finishing some spinning. I just haven't had any pictures of that.
I have plied half of the 2 bobbins of black shetland and have 2 nice skeins, so I may be able to start the yoke cardi soon. I also plied 6 ounces of wool/mohair blend in shades of pink and got a nice sized skein out of that. Today at Spin guild, I started spinning some of my Leister fleece I got at the Michigan Fiber Festival. It spins up wonderfully and has a nice halo to it. I think it is whispering shawl.
On the knitting front, I have been going great guns on both the Pi Are Squared shawl. I worked on that Saturday while at an all day assembly at church. Lots of knitting done, and lots of showing the pattern as well. The Flying Geese shawl is on the home stretch. I am on the last geese section--I added one extra. I should have finished in a couple days. I won't get much done on this tomorrow: I am taking my wheel to Knit Nite this week, and besides, I need to count on the right side rows or I mess up.

Health Checks

Last week I went to the doctor for a diabetes check. A1C could be better @ 7.5, but I and the doc were pleased with my combined cholesterol of 167. Due to no health insurance I went to the Health Department for the old yearly pap test and to schedule a mammogram.
I liked the gal at the Health Department. She was thrilled that knitting and spinning have resulted in steady, although slow weight loss. She assigned me the “task” of trying to spend an hour each day knitting (for blood pressure) or spinning. While spinning she wants me to concentrate on my muscle use, perhaps tightening abs while treadleing. I like those kind of assignments.
Right now though, my biggest health complaint is the flu shots. Not the H1N1, I’m not sure if I will try to scrape up money for that, since I am not a high risk group for that. I haven’t been able to get my regular seasonal flu shot, which I have gotten every fall for over 20 years. No one has the serum in town. Every time I find out about a flu shot clinic, it gets canceled before the date scheduled.
They’re probably waiting until I get sick or something. At least my pneumonia shots are up to date.