photo365

Ok, Jackie of the KIPing it Real podcast has planted the seed to do photo365 and post a photo each day. I can't even blog regularly, but I'm going to try it. Especially since I have a new camera and one of the main reasons listed for taking on this project is to become a better photographer, definitely something I want to do. Something is also mentioned about sharing through flickr, but I think I'm going to try to put at least a photo on the blog every day. Even if I don't write anything. I don't think I can handle blog365 and photo365. And I care more about the pictures anyway.

Today's pictures are of Ziggy our 5 year old buff tabby cat. He came with half a tail as a tiny kitten and is really hard to photograph. But, yesterday I got out the camera and he sprawled king of the jungle style and posed. It was his day for pictures. Of course I got a bunch of not so good ones (I'm getting used to the new camera, or so I tell myself), but a few that I really like and that totally capture his easy-going nature and interesting color.





I have a suspicion during this long Minnesota winter I'll have lots of pet photos. It's just too darn cold to go outside! But, it will give me lots of lighting challenges as there is just nothing worse than the glowing cat eyes in a camera flash. As for now tomorrow is supposed to be 68 degrees and sunny. Yeah!

Monday, Monday

Interesting day today, weird cases at work, but the day went by so amazingly fast (yeah!). The weather is amazing and I'm getting ready to take my dogs for a nice, long walk.

I'm pretty sure Basstion thinks the weather is perfect for walking. He's such a funny old man.

The mums have survived the snow and cold, I'm sure happy to see warmer weather again.


This new camera sure is fun! This is the sun we have hanging on our fence,


and the cats being photogenic



The dogs are barking and walking awaits. I've had so much fun listening/seeing pics and video of Meghan, Jackie, and Jasmine at Rhinebeck. Can't wait to hear the podcasts!

New camera

I got a new camera! It's so exciting! I have been frustrated with the old camera for quite awhile, and Jill decided to buy me a camera for my birthday/Christmas. So, it's early, but so worth it! I've only had it about an hour, but I already love it. I got a Nikon D60. No idea what I'm doing yet, but I took a few pictures and now the battery is charging.









I am SO happy with this camera. Yeah! Now to get some other housework done while the battery charges because I know I'll want to take pics once it's charged!

Hayrides and winter?!?

It has officially snowed here. There was snow on the cars, grass, trees yesterday. It's a little early for this, but what can you do?

Saturday my uncle had his annual hayride. It was COLD. Very cold. Like it took me the hour drive home to warm up. Didn't get too many pictures, mostly because I hate my camera and my fingers were cold. But, trying to figure out what camera to get is really hard, there's so much information and I know next to nothing about it. I guess I'll have to take a trip to the camera store and get some info.

This one was kind of cute. I have no idea the names of farm equiptment, but the birds were all lined up on this orange thing and I liked it.


Me and my cousin that lives in the same city but I almost never see:


My animal zoo has been especially funny lately. Kiwi always has the best expressions.



And Ziggy looks so annoyed that I'm taking his picture, but he was so cute cuddled up with Kane.


I finished a simple shawl made from the All Hallow's Eve SAL by Brittany and it turned out really cute (minus the bad picture, but did I mention I hate my camera?)

More Lendrum Love

Ok, so I had HIGH hopes that I would be able to make Shutterfly work with the blog. It has these cute, cute, cute little slideshows you can export. But, they last about a day. Then they are no longer accessible. Not ideal. Or practical really. I'm not even sure what they think you might use them for and never need them again. But, I'm going back to trusty Flickr.

I have my Lendrum. I love it. I barely even check Ravelry anymore. It's my new favorite thing. I'm considering seeling my Babe Bulky, but at the same time I don't want to part with it (or those 2 pound holding bobbins). So, for now I am a multiple spinning wheel craft room. With little room to actually walk in the room. But, I don't need to walk in there anyway. Ha.

Here is my Lendrum, who has no name, even though I wanted him to have a name. And I do have the urge to call him Lenny, even though there are probably zillions of Lenny's out there.


The first yarn I spun on it was the second half of Brusied Ego from Spunky Eclectic.


I navajo plied on the Lendrum (bottom yarn) and the top yarn is a single from my Babe and the other half of the same fiber. I'm finding it much easier to spin finer singles on the Lendrum, which makes me very happy. I was starting to wonder if I could EVER get sock yarn, but now I'm getting much, much closer. I had a harder time getting consistently thin singles on the Babe Bulky, but still loved the wheel and made some awesome yarns on it.


I used the thick and thin Babe spun single to make Cosy's Baby Belle. SO cute. Love the pattern and the outcome.




And the second yarn I spun (and tested out the jumbo flyer), some of that Lemon-Lime Kool-Aid dyed stuff from a previous post. I filled the bobbin right up (over 6 ounces I think, but it wasn't packed on the bobbin like it could have been).


I made another Wham Bam Thank You Lamb (my 3rd!) and sent it to Jess in Colorado. It was destined to be hers for sure.


My Lendrum project of the moment is Bohemian Knitter Chic's Halloween SAL. I love Halloween. Love it. Need to get out Halloween decorations soon. This fiber is amazing and I'm having a great time spinning it.


The extras are really fun!

It came with the cutest little shawl pin witch's hat from Dawning Dreams

Now, I realize I surely have more to tell. It's been awhile. I have to upgrade Flickr because I'm almost out of free photo storage space and it's sooo easy to use (after deleting two posts that I tried to convince myself I could get the Shutterfly albums to work in) and it's not too expensive. And then I hope to be able to share all of tales.

Lendrum Love

I got the Lendrum. And I am in love. What a nice wheel! So versatile, so easy to use. It has made many a yarns in its first week at my house and I'm sure there will be many, many more. It was the perfect choice for me. I barely have time to check Ravelry anymore... all I want to do is spin.

A Lendrum? Seriously?

I am getting a Lendrum. Seriously. I have been looking at the wheel for MONTHS compulsively and I took the plunge. It was somewhat... spontaneous? That sounds better than impulsive, but impulsive probably describes it more accurately. It's a DT complete from Paradise Fibers. It was a total fluke (I got my AKL from them a few months ago) and I was checking their site and in one place it said out of stock and in another it was allowing me to add it to my cart. Hmmm. Curious. I gave them a call and they said that I called at the perfect time and they were getting some in this week. I got my shipping confirmation yesterday. Yippee! I am so thoroughly excited. Now I have been reading the posts in The Cult of Lendrum Ravelry group. So much useful information and even more that leads me to believe I will love this wheel. And if I don't there are many people who would be happy to take it off my hands. :)

Last weekend I had a little time to attempt some dyeing. I had some Corriedale from Copperpot, some Merino and Mohair from H.A.Y. and some Kool-Aid. I used the microwave method from Knitty and had some pretty good luck. The Corriedale is on the left (along with one section of undyed), the final 2one on the right are the reddish Merino (black cherry). I guess I didn't get a picture of the pink lemonade/lemonade mix on the mohair, which may be my favorite. I'm happy with the results. Can't wait to card up some batts and go nuts!





I also made a Doughnut for Jill and made her pretend to eat the doughnut. She thought it was great. Or maybe she's just used to my quirks at this point. It was a really fun knit and I will definitely consider making another one.



I also spun up this yarn for another Wham Bam Thank You Lamb. I love the yarn and so far the neckwarmer is turning out really well.







The fiber was from Studioloo and was amazing to spin. I can't wait to get some more of it!

I think that sums it up, at least from the weekend. I am anxiously, stalkerishly checkig UPS and my wheel should be delivered on Friday. I cannot wait.