Happy anniversary! Oops!

All day long I've been thinking that there was something I should remember about March 27. I just couldn't place it. I got a phone call from Lyn this afternoon asking me if I had gotten an hour for dinner tonight. Uh, no. Why should I have done that?

At 6:30 he came triumphantly up the stairs with flowers and a smile and said, "Happy anniversary!



I forgot! I suck! Tim's response when I told him I'd forgotten our anniversary was to ask, "Isn't that what men usually do? They do that on The Simpson's and Family Guy all the time." Oh yeah! I feel so much better now to be in the same league as Homer Simpson and the father on the Family Guy!

It's #26. It's hard to believe as time has gone so quickly! We'll go out and celebrate Sunday evening, so all is not lost, yet.

I love you, Lyn! Here's to 26 more!

Grits, pickled okra, movies, StitchCraft and Wollmeise

This weekend was nice. Lyn and I met Keri and Ryan for brunch at The Screen Door in Portland. It's a Southern restaurant and I had delicious cheese grits! I grew up in the South and can proclaim these grits as the real thing! Plus, I got to have the pickled okra that came with Ryan's Bloody Mary. It brought back childhood memories of Thanksgiving (we munched on this before the big meal) and Christmas (when I sometimes got my own jar in my stocking).

Keri told me she and Ryan had been catching up on Guillermo Del Toro's films. He directed Pan's Labyrinth, one of my favorite movies. They've watched The Devil's Backbone (prequel to Pan's Labyrinth) and The Orphanage. I watch few movies, but these two are on my list of must sees. I tend to like international movies as much as I like international fiction.

I had a nice time in spinning group last night. There was no program so I got a chance to meet people and talk to them. Betsy got a new Lendrum spinning wheel and I got a chance to try it out. What a nice wheel! I'm saving for a new one and this particular wheel is now at the top of my list. Going back to spin on my Ashford Traditional felt really clunky. A new daytime group has started up and I may start attending a Monday evening group in Hockinson. That's 3 days per month for spinning groups so my opportunities to spin with people are increasing.

StitchCraft has it's own group at Ravelry now. Below are the fabrics Nicholette will be carrying. I think the opening date will be the first week in May.

Fabrics:
Amy Butler
Valorie Wells
Joel Dewberry
Kaffe Fasset
Martha Negley
Kona Cottons
Michael Miller
Mod Green Pod
Della Q silks

Embroidery Floss:
Presencia

Gutterman Machine and Hand Quilting Cotton Threads:

Ribbons:
Renaissance Ribbons

Buttons:
One World Buttons
Blue Moon Buttons

100% Wool Felt:
Mary Flanagan Wool Felt

Organic Cotton Lace Trims

Distributor for Mod Green Pod organic upholstery fabrics and wallpapers.

Patterns to support all lines, plus many books, knitting and sewing notions, including Skacel Addi Turbo and the Lace Addi’s and Chiagoo bamboo knitting and crochet needles.

These are the yarns. I'm not sure the list is complete yet.

Yarns:
Blue Sky Alpacas
Cascade
Brown Sheep
Rowan
Nashua
Regia
Farmhouse Yarns
Louet
Lorna’s Laces
Shepherd
The Fiber Company
Claudia Handpaints
Skacel
O Wool (the entire line, every color)
Mission Falls
Simply Shetland or Jamieson and Smith (haven’t yet decided)
Dale of Norway
Manos del Uruguay
Handmaiden

I know the Louet pattern subscription service will be available through the store, which is something new I'm excited about. I'm excited about everything!

Finally, my sister Ann sent me a wonderful birthday present and I received it yesterday. It came registered mail. It's a Wollmeise gift certificate. Due to Wollmeise popularity I hope I can use the certificate soon. I may have to wait awhile before I can catch some Wollmeise in the store. It was signed by Claudia as "Happy Birthday from Ann and me." Well, if I can't use the certificate I can always frame it! Thank you Ann (and Claudia)!

Spring Fling Coffee & Yarn Swap questionnaire

Ah yes! Another coffee swap.

Coffee

1. What is your preference? Whole beans or ground?
Whole beans, please.

2. What kind of coffees do you enjoy? A rich, bold roast; a light, fresh one, or something in between? Leaded or non?

Rich and bold, medium-dark to dark. Definitely leaded.

3. If you were headed out right now to buy some coffee for the house, what would you be picking up?
Sisters Coffee Company, their Black Butte Gold house blend.

4. Do you drink for caffeine, pleasure, or both?
Both.

5. Do you enjoy flavored coffees? How about add-ins or flavored creamers?
I only use sugar and half and half. I'm not fond of add-in flavors or creamers, except chocolate.

6. A large, lovely mug or a small, dainty cup?
A large, lovely mug.

7. Describe your perfect cup - not JUST the coffee, but how you'd enjoy it!
My first cup in the morning is the best cup. I have the house to myself and I drink my coffee in my craft room/library. I read knitting magazines, books, knit, or just soak up the sun since it's the sunniest room in the house. I'm often accompanied by my cat Misha who likes to sit in my lap while I enjoy my coffee.

8. You're sitting down to enjoy a nice cup in the local coffee shop, knitting bag in hand, iPod all tuned up - or maybe you're there with a few friends for knit night! What treat do you pick up to enjoy with your coffee? A sweet, rich brownie, or something more healthy? How about a salty treat? What goes best with that great cup and company?

Pastries - scones, crisp cookies, bar cookie, fruit tarts. Chocolate.

Yarn

1. Do you knit or crochet?
I knit and am learning to crochet.

2. What are your favorite types of yarns to work with?
wool-silk blends, alpaca-silk blends, lace, sock yarn

3. What do you have on the needles (or hook!) right now?
Socks and scarf.

4. What are your favorite colors in yarns? What about those that you'd never find in your stash?

Favorites: Cool blues, greens, purples, orange-red, rose pink, crabapple pink, rust, brown.

You won't find yellow or neon colors in my stash.

5. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using? Any you just detest?
I like sharp needles. I like Knit Pick round needles and Addi Turbo because they're smooth and don't catch my yarn as I knit with them. I also like Crystal Palace bamboo straight needles.

I'm not fond of Susan Bates needles.

6. Are there any particular notions you absolute do NOT need? Some of us swap a lot - are you sure that you have enough tape measures to last your lifetime? Enough stitch markers to mark every stitch of a 10 foot wide afghan?

No, I seem to need everything. I have a tendency to lose little things like stitch markers.

7. You walk into the yarn shop and have exactly and only enough money to purchase 2 skeins of yarn in their 2 for 20 special they have going..The choices are a soft, thick cotton/viscose blend in your favorite colors, slightly variegated..a beautiful sock yarn that's just squishy and sproingy in your hands.. a soft, worsted weight wool like malabrigo.. and a lovely bamboo blend with colors to just die for. Which do you walk out the door with?

I'm torn between the beautiful sock yarn and the Malabrigo. I almost always walk out the door with sock yarn.

Spring

1. We're starting sign-ups on the first day of Spring - is it already truly Spring-like where you are?

Yes! Finally! Lots of daffodils and crocus and trees are blossoming. Almost every shrub has leaves on it now.

2. What's your favorite spring flower? Do you have one?

Tulips in early spring, roses in late spring.

3. What do you most look forward to about springtime?

Light and color. I also look forward to seeing people in and around the neighborhood and smelling barbecue cooking on grills. I look forward to enjoying the back yard again and seeing our garden come alive.

4. They've predicted a gorgeous day tomorrow - Sunny and about 65 with a nice breeze - how do you spend your day?

A nice walk on the many walking trails in the city, a trip to local yarn stores and book store and a nice cup of coffee in the coffee shop with friends.

5. The day after, it's going to be cooler and pouring down rain - does that impact your mood? How do you spend that day? what helps cheer you up?

In the spring it does not affect me. I will often spend a day like that with a book or knitting.

Odds n Ends

1. Do you collect anything BESIDES yarn and needles?
Crafty coffee cups, wind chimes, ceramic things. Notebooks and journals. Pens.

2. Are you allergic to anything? SEAFOOD (No Tofutsies) and adult mohair. Kid mohair seems to not have the same effect. Cigarette smoke and perfume. Essential oils are okay.

3. Do you have pets?
Yes, 2 dogs, 3 cats.

4. Is this your first swap, or are you an old pro? What are the last 2 swaps you participated in?
I started participating in swaps in October 2007. The last 2 swaps I completed were the Scavenger Hunt Swap and Winter Doldrum Dish Cloth Swap.

5. List 3 of your favorite blogs - craft related or not - and tell us why you love them.

Knitspot I love Ann Hanson's designs and love to read about her creative process. I love her photography, too.

Works in Progress My friend Pam's blog. She's one of the most experienced knitters I know and I love to keep up with what she's doing.

The Adventures of Woolgirl and Abby Jen is a local blogger and I'm a member of her sock club. I like her contests.

Blooms in March

Yesterday, I managed a few minutes outside to take pictures of the yard before the rains came down. I don't know how many of my family members read my blog (i.e., I don't think my mother reads this anymore), but these pictures would mainly be of interest to them, so scroll by if you don't want to see.

Plum Trees are in bloom. The development company that built this neighborhood planted these flowering trees in every yard. For a month out of every year we have gorgeous pink blossoms lining the street, which quickly turn into "pink snow" and then brown slippery slush. The leaves turn a plum color and the trees get overtaken by insects and sickly looking plums. Nevertheless, I love the blossoms and they're at their peak right now.



Under our plum tree, we've planted bulbs and ground cover.



On the island in the front yard, tulips are still coming up, but the flowering currant is just starting to bloom.

At the front door we have primroses in pots (and that's as political as I'll ever be in this blog):

.

Lenten roses (hellebores):



Bulbs on the south side of the house:



Akebia that has taken over the entrance to the back yard gate:



Potted plants with daffodils and violets:



And heather:

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An early clematis on the backyard fence:

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A struggling forsythia with more blossoms this year than last:



That's just March. There's more to look forward to and I plan to give monthly updates.

Crazy sock yarn lady!

I'm up in the wee hours of the morning waiting for Wollmeise at Loopy Ewe. I swore I wasn't going to wreck my health and sanity for this yarn, but here I am pulling what I assume is an all nighter waiting for the sneak-up. I'm too old for this and I may give up. The sun will still rise, there's still beauty in the world, I will live if I don't get any Wollmeise this sneak up! I think it's the game of getting it that's so compelling.

I did get the Loopy Ewe Sock Club package today in the mail.



It's sock yarn from Cherry Tree Hill in Wind in the Willows colorway. Pattern is by Monica Jines, one of my favorite sock yarn/fingerless glove designers. That big red Hershey Kiss is not chocolate, but certainly looks and smells like chocolate. It's soap! I'm glad I didn't eat it. There's also a project bag to store everything in. I loved everything and am certainly looking forward to future club packages.

I'm tired! I'm giving up. Maybe next time or next year.

Learning to crochet

I'm moving forward in learning how to crochet. I spent yesterday watching You Tube movies and reading books and trying my hand at making chains and single crochet. After a day and a half, this is what I accomplished:



I have some issues with decreasing when I don't want to. I got some help from one of the women in knitting group this evening and she taught me how to join a round. By the end of the evening I did this:



So, not state fair ready, but I'm pleased with what I've learned in a day and a half. I find crochet addicting and soothing and much easier to correct than knitting. It is an adjustment to work with mainly one hand, but I think I'll get used to it. I think I'll be ready for the class at any rate. I also found out there is a store in Portland that is good resource for Tawashi and Amiguruni books, as well as all things Japanese. I've got to find out where this is. I'm hoping they have the antimicrobial acrylic.

I joined a monthly dish cloth swap and am required to submit an angel cloth to be able to swap. I finished that this weekend and will get it off tomorrow, hopefully.



This will be a fun week fiber-wise. My first Loopy Ewe sock club kit is on its way and Lisa at Unraveled is having a big sale this weekend. I worked overtime all last week and today to help cover the cost of what I'll be spending. Now that we're on daylight savings time and spring has sprung, I'm a happy camper again.

Amigurumi class

I went to Twisted Yarn Crafts in Portland this morning to sign up for a beginning crochet class. I thought this would be the smartest way to work my way into their Amigurumi class. However, they are not teaching crochet and encouraged me to teach myself since the only thing I really need to know is single crochet in the round to do Amigurumi. So I signed up for the Amigurumi class, bought 2 Amigurumi books and one beginning crochet book, Stitch and Bitch, The Happy Hooker, and I'm off to look for some You Tube crochet instruction videos. I have 3 weeks to learn crochet before the class begins!

Scavenger Hunt Swap , part 2

Isn't this pretty! Carly had written me to say I would have an Etsy package coming to me after I received my Scavenger Hunt package. It came yesterday afternoon and is a beautiful coffee cup with an aster painted on it. Carly explained that the birth month flower for my birth month was not one of her favorite flowers, so she had September's aster painted on the cup because September is the month I joined Ravelry! I also collect coffee mugs. I love the shape and size of this mug. I've enjoyed 2 cups of coffee with this mug so far. I would have taken a picture of the mug with coffee, except I drank it up before I could do so. Thank you for the beautiful mug, Carly!

I slept until 11:45 this morning. I hate doing this! We have these shades that block out sunlight so I don't get up too early. Unfortunately, it feels like 5 a.m. all day long in the bedroom and if I don't crack the shades I sleep really late in the day. I hate this. I feel like the day has disappeared and I go to work way too soon.

I saw StitchCraft this weekend. Lyn and I walked by the store after getting a bite to eat and Nicholette and family were inside. They waved us to come in and I got to see the layout. It's going to be such a wonderful store. The light is perfect and it feels very roomy inside. There are 2 display windows, one which will display fabric, another displaying yarn. They asked if I wanted to help paint, and I probably will next weekend. It is so cool to see this shop develop!

Speaking of new stores, my Loopy Ewe pal, Pam, has a new online store, Yarny Goodness! Oh my willpower to not buy sock yarn just went out the window! I will link to the store later. I just have to get away and do some knitting before my time to knit totally evaporates!

Awesome Scavenger Hunt Swap Package!

I came home from a fun brunch/yarn browsing/house hunting adventure with Lyn to my Scavenger Hunt Package. My swap spoiler was CARLY, the hostess of the swap! How lucky is that?! Well, not surprisingly, she put together a very nice scavenger hunt package for me. Here are the categories:

Something local: A scarf pattern from a local designer in Virginia Beach, Julia. Carly apologized for adding another scarf pattern to my Ravelry queue. What a hardship, huh? I'm thrilled because the scarf in the picture was made with sport-weight alpaca and I have a boat load of alpaca spun and to be spun that will be perfect for this pattern!

Something hard: E. Wedel hazelnut and milk chocolate that will be eaten as soon as this post is up. Don't know if I can make it last!

Something round: Clover pendant cutter. I almost bought one of these recently. Glad I waited!

Something funny: A glass cup with the front of the sheep on one side, the back on the other. Found at RiteAid! Who would have thought you would find something sheep related there?! : )

Something green: This is very special! It's a springy lavender crochet shopping bag that Carly crocheted herself. I remember seeing this on the blog, but hadn't know it was for me! My husband and I are both thrilled as we've been trying to take shopping bags with us to the store. This one will be perfect for produce!

Something T: Scrabble tile stitch markers that spell "swap!" So cool!

Spoiler's choice: A skein of gorgeous light teal Alpaca Silk. I LOVE the color, and already have plans to make a hat from a pattern a friend designed and gave to me. I also have some lace-weight alpaca of the same color so I can knit a scarf.

There were also some extras: Seeds for the garden (it's time to plant them now), both vegetables and flowers, a cute note pad, and treats for the dogs and cats. The dogs are thrilled, the cats are sleeping and haven't tried a treat yet.

There is a bonus coming in the mail, I don't know what yet. I'll post it when it gets here.

You did an awesome job, Carly! You've been a wonderful pal and fantastic hostess. I LOVED this swap!