Friday, 31 August 2007
Froggin' Socks
Thursday, 30 August 2007
I Don't Want
I don't know who gave you my email address but I wish that you would stop bothering me. Maybe I signed up for something I shouldn't have or visited the wrong web site, but enough is enough. Perhaps it is some computer program you have that generates email addresses and hit pay dirt with mine but I just don't care what you have to offer.
I'm sure that I could make tonnes of money by working from home by filling in forms, but there's no guarantee I'd get paid. I'm sure that I could get my nursing degree online through your bogus school, but let's face it, the only doctor who who hire me is the Doc from the Simpsons.
I am surprised at the number of you who want to loan me money. You've never met me. But when I borrow so much money and get so far into debt because of your astronomical interest rates, I'll just contact all the debt support people. They tell me that I can consolidate and that they'll also get the interest rate, that I was stupid to agree to, reduced.
While I would love to spend 2 nights on your Las Vegas hotel, I was wondering if you had a plan to get me there. I would like to eat while I'm there but perhaps I'll just try out the free samples of the diet drink someone is offering.
I understand that I must verify email address in order to qualify for a $500 credit for your airline, but there are a few things that concern me. How far will $500 get me and will I want to go to any place that you fly to. I want to thank you for being concerned about my welfare by not wanting me to be lonely. I'm sure that you get 1000 new singles on your website an hour, but I'm just not interested.
I was under the impression that "Ellen" was a popular show. If this is the case why you need to send random emails to give away tickets. Also see my above complaint about the free hotel room. I don't think that Oprah ever had a problem filling her studio audience, maybe she gives away better stuff.
I don't want your free computer that needs hundreds of dollars of extras to do more than play solitaire. I don't need to take Viagra and I don't have a "you know what" so it doesn't need to be enlarged.
However.....your offer to teach me about hypnosis does sound promising. DH would always agree with me (plus do laundry) and my kids would be perfect angels. Yes, Yes, Yes.....sign me up....I want to know....I want your product...I don't care what it costs.
Yours truly,
An Internet Patsy
Sigh...you notice that no one want to offer me free school supplies.....why can't SPAM offer me something I need to spend money on????? DUH!!! Then it wouldn't be SPAM.
Until next time.
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
Sunday, 26 August 2007
Seven More Sleeps
This photo is looking a little orange. The yarn is a lot more red with flecks of other colours that change throughout. So the darker section you see is not my camera or lighting...etc (my regular excuses), but a section in the yarn where the flecks tend to be on the blue side. What I did with this sweater was cast on the number of stitches the pattern called for then put the pattern aside . This is a lace stitch that has some potential as it is starting to be dual purpose with the texture it's creating. When I get more of it done, I'll show you what the lace will look like when blocked.
But for now, I'll knit up to the armpit in pattern then decide what to do. Not sure what type of sleeve to do, but I have time to decide. After armhole shaping then I'll think about a neckline. No need to make all these decisions all at once.
In the meantime, I've got a pair of trigger mitts to knit. The guy at the feed store saw me knitting while he loaded up our van.
Feed Store Guy: Should I congratulate you? (I was knitting on a baby project commission)
DH: No, she is working on a commission for someone. She's a professional knitter.
So feed store guy proceeds to tell me that he needs wool mittens for inserts to his leather hunting mitts. His MIL used to make them but as she is no longer with us, he needs to find someone who knits.
Now I should tell you that I HATE to knit mittens. My kids wear mittens that my SIL's mother knit for her grand kids. So I figure that if I ask a ridiculous price for a pair of mitts then I'll get out of it. No...he doesn't blink and eye and agrees. This was last Spring......so I figure that maybe he'll forget about it over the summer. The last time I went to pick up chicken feed...
Feed Store Guy: I'm going to need my mittens soon. (Fall is right around the corner in my neck of the woods)
I'm sunk......can't get out of it now as I agreed to make them last Spring. Better get to work on them as procrastination will only make this project more detestable.
Until next time
Yours in Yarn
The Fibreholic
Friday, 24 August 2007
Sept. 24
What I mean to say is that I'll never have amusing stories of wacky people I've met on the bus or subways. I live far out enough that I even have to drive to the nearest village. The nearest city is 40 minutes away but it doesn't have a wool shop. In the other direction for 50 minutes is Ottawa and it does have all a crafter could want. All my wacky people stories (other than those of my own family) will have to come from there.
So why do we live out here????? DH is part hermit and couldn't stand the thought of living in the burbs with neighbours close enough to hear you sneeze if your windows were open. The skies are dark, unlike the city, which make perfect stargazing opportunities for DH who is an amateur astronomer. So here we are......and this is what I see from my front deck. This year my neighbour is growing canola, next year who knows??? But so far nothing as exciting as pot plants between rows of corn. This guy owns the land on the other side of the road and lives north of us. You've already seen my neighbour's pig. They live just next door and own the property on the other side of our back fence. They have a son the same age as my DS. Since the boys treat the properties like one big back yard it stands to reason that some of her animals would as well.
Now you'll notice that not one of these chicks looks like mom. (DD apparently looks a bit like me though). One of my leghorns has gone free roaming (DH like to remind me that the word is feral and not fair isle). So I suspect that the brown chicken was forced to brood a few of my white chicken's egg. While the horse has never been in my back yard, Ruby will eagerly come to the back fence looking for a treat. Ruby is 9 and her son Blaine is 3 (not in the pix obviously). There is a plan to eventually ride them ......we'll wait and see.
I did go into Ottawa not long ago for a chance to do some shopping. At one stop I went to unlock my van and get back in. When I slid back the side door I did a double take. This wasn't my van, same make, model and colour but I don't have a baby seat and my van has only been that clean twice in the time I've owned it. I figured that the owners must have left it unlocked. I close the door, put my key in the lock and sure enough, my key locked and unlocked their doors. I wait around for a bit hoping the owners will show up so that I may inform them of my discovery...that and I'm dying to know if my key will fit in their ignition. Wait wait wait wait....forget it....but if I had found out who they were, at least I'd know who to call if ever I locked myself out of my van.
On that same trip, on the way home, I see some guy carrying a handmade sign. All I can read, as I drive by, is Sept. 24. So I guess that it is a case of we'll wait and see what that day brings. I hope it's a sale on some fabulous sock yarn.
Until next time,
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Silence of the Lamingtons
DH recently got hired by another federal agency (remember we are in Ottawa) and decided to do something better than a beer call. It was a invite a ton of people to your house for a BBQ and provide all the food for them kind of call. Remember the sandwiches to feed an army????? That's how much food he bought, but that's not how many people came. It was a BYOB, but DH HAD to buy lots of beer and coolers in case someone forgot.
So now we are going to spend the rest of the week eating leftovers...potato salad and beer anyone????
Okay so who gets to volunteer for making desserts, salads and cleaning the house to make it presentable????? Yeah, you guessed it even though the BBQ is outside, the house has to be clean. I'm fine with the cooking stuff...but cleaning.....
I made cookies, squares and lamingtons....
ME: (bringing out trays of goodies)
Wife of DH's co-worker: What do we have here?
ME: (I name all the goodies on the tray)
Wife: Lamingtons????
ME: It's something I discovered in Australia. Butter cake dipped in chocolate icing then rolled in coconut.
Wife: (Well let's say that woman beat my kids to the dessert trays)
I quickly had to replenish the lamingtons and when it was time to clean up a guest discovered that I had left a container with a few more lamingtons under the table.
One of the guests brought in the container: We found more so we ate the rest.
ME (to myself): They couldn't have filled up on potato salad could they?????
On the yarn front, DH came home one day and told me that I have to see this..... it's a knitted Ferrari. Clearly, both times I went to college and got a diploma, I chose the wrong area of study.
Until next time,
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
Friday, 17 August 2007
Thank You Debbie Stoller
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
My Sock Obsession
I've given up expecting socks made from hand painted yarns to be identical. Perfection is only a matter of perception and true beauty in is individualism. That and next time I use hand paint yarns from 50g skeins, I'll be sure to cast on both socks at once.
Okay, I've got 6 socks on the go.....5 really since you remember I finished a pair. So do I have a problem? Should I seek help? Has reading the Yarn Harlot's blog on a regular basis done something to me? Do I just have a bad case of startitis? Is this normal??? I ask myself all these questions then I remember........
Yes....you are not imagining this....two more pairs of socks in progress. AND if I'm really honest, somewhere in this house there are two pairs of socks that I started for DH. This list doesn't even include non sock WIPs......... I blame Georgie for this need to reveal my WIP....I really hope that DH doesn't read this entry......cause he'll be looking for those socks of his.
Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Bloomin' Onion Revealed
Yes I took pictures of my food. I guess that DH is used to my crazy blog addiction now as he turned the plate around to give me the best shot. After 18 years with me, he has come to just accept my oddities.
Now for the best part of the meal....dessert....I don't care if it's not Australian....it's so good. I present to you all.....The Chocolate Thunder from Down Under!!!!!!
Sitting in a pool of chocolate sauce is a brownie topped with a scoop of ice cream and then a scoop of whipped cream. Silly waitress asked if we wanted two spoons with this. I married a man who doesn't like chocolate...yes it's true...he is part alien.....but it also means I don't have to share.
Back to the needles for me today, I'm designing a shadow scarf for a class that I'm going to teach this fall.
Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
Saturday, 11 August 2007
Sun, Sand and Surf
On the road to Sandbanks Provincial Park. With a little rearranging of seating assignments things went a little more smoothly. Putting the younger two behind the teen in the van eliminated many problems.....for the most of the trip.
Then came the last mile (or several miles....sorry I should say kilometers). I should start off by saying....young teens are weird. I should know....I was a young teen once and I was weird. During the last little bit of the trip.....she decided to get VERY weird. But on the good side she wasn't fighting with the 8 and 6 year old.
So planning to spend the day in the sun you would think that sunscreen would have been on the shopping list. No. Not to worry we'll just stop along the way. In order to get to the park you must drive through the town of Picton. That's okay we'll stop here for sunscreen. DH is doing his best not to hit the tourists/lemmings crossing the street. We arrive at the Park....you guessed it...without sunscreen.
Teenage DD: If we die of skin cancer, it will be both your fault. It will be more Dad's fault than Mom's though.
I'm feeling that somehow I should take comfort in this. DH and I are saved as there is a grocery store in the park selling overpriced sunscreen.
We found a spot in the shade where I could sit in my chair and knit. Normally, at home, I would be disturbed several times. But the kids spent most of the time in the water and couldn't care less that I was enjoying myself thus feeling the need to ruin my fun. I did go in the water once but having to walk a mile to get deep enough to swim, isn't my idea of fun. (okay so I didn't have to walk a mile...but you get the idea)....Even the sock had fun. (I took this while the teen was in the water to avoid any emotional scaring.)
A wonderful day was had by all. That is until the teen took a shower before bed to get the sand out of her hair. She came downstairs.....
DD: AHHHHHH! Look at how red I am. I'm burnt all over.
ME: Did put on any sunscreen?
DD: No.....
ME: Well then......
Now I know that you are asking yourself....Isn't she the one who was going to blame her parents for skin cancer....Yup...that's her!
So until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Visiting my own City
Monday, 6 August 2007
A Day of Surprises
Sheep:HI
ME:Hello?????
Sheep: My name is Woolworth.
ME: Woolworth?
Woolworth: Yes, that's right. I should also let you know that I'm a merino sheep.
ME: I don't believe it.
Woolworth: Honestly, my name is Woolworth.
ME: No, I don't believe that you're a merino.
Woolworth: Perhaps not, but I'm cute enough to get away with it.
DH adopted a Serta Sheep in my name. The money goes to the Children's Hospitals in Canada via the Children's Miracle Network. It looks like the adventures with Woolworth begin.
As I mentioned in my last post, I spent the better part of the day at the Knit-Out in Ottawa. I volunteered to help out at the Learn to Knit table. I taught how to cast on, changing colours, and a few other techniques but what made my day worth while was ten year old Jacob.Jacob picked up how to knit straight away and knit several rows while he was there. I was so impressed....sniff sniff He just made me so proud. His mom put in an order for a scarf this Christmas.
Woolworth had to get in on the action, so I pulled out the sock...
I introduced Woolworth to a couple of knitting friends and the conversation went down hill from there. From the topic of misbehaving Serta Sheep it went to knitting names for cats to rudely placed bobbles on sweaters. I have a feeling that Woolworth and Lulu are somehow related.
The day ended all to quickly and my clan came to get me. While DH and the kids prepared kabobs for the BBQ, I put together my other gift...a Muskoka chair. This is something I've wanted for a while as it's nice and roomy with a place to put my drink on the armrest. It's my knit outdoors in comfort chair.
On Tuesday DH and I will head out to see Bourne Ultimatum. Because one....I loved the other two movies and two (and perhaps most importantly) it is starring Matt Damon. He is also taking me to dinner to the Outback. This is an Australian themed restaurent complete with didgeridoos along the wall. Funny this is their signature dish is a blooming onion which I'm told by Taph is NOT an Australian dish......but it is GOOD!!!!!
So the secret to a good birthday......spread it over several days. :)
Until next time
Yours in Yarn
The Fibreholic
Saturday, 4 August 2007
Happy Un-Birthday
The Sock and I'll be at Ottawa's second annual Knit-Out...What a way to celebrate my birthday. At the last guild meeting, I sat down with Wendy (the special events coordinator). She handed me a flyer and I said "I can't think of a nicer way to spend my birthday." She wrote my name down on her official clip board.
ME: So what did I volunteer for?
Wendy: Any number of things....
I'll be working at the teaching table for new knitters...bringing new people into the fold.....brainwashing them to convert to the strange stash accumulation cult......shhhhh...better not go any further in case I divulge too much information.
DH bought two cakes today....not sure why....but in cases like these I don't ask questions especially when chocolate is involved. I wonder if this means I'll get two presents???????
So here's to the just thinking about me day tomorrow
Yours in Yarn
The Fibreholic
Thursday, 2 August 2007
S.E.X in Australia
Check out that cone of white stuff. I bought it at an Op-Shop in Manuka for $1.00...just because. Now picture me on Mother's Day with about 10 hours of broken sleep in the last 48 hours (not a pretty sight) doing the burn test (it passed), doing the bleach test (it passed)....then I turned the cone over and you'll never guess what I saw.....A label from Bendigo Woolen Mills. Needless to say, I didn't bother with the felting test. Not content with only ready to knit wool, I crashed a meeting of....I mean... I visited the Canberra Weaver's and Spinner's guild.Taph took me out to see the sites. There wasn't a lot of stash enhancement opportunities, but I wouldn't have missed the trip for the world. Here's what I bought....
Living the good life, Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic