There's enough room in there for a whole sweater!  =)  Even better, I got this little beauty for well under ten bucks.

My funny little friend isn't overly impressed . . .

It's as though someone likes dandelion flowers so much they've pulled the petals off them & shredded the greens in a food processor.  It's my purchase from this past weekend's "Art on the Bay", which I got to skim through on my lunch half-hour Saturday.  A whetting of the appetite, possibly, for the coming weekend's Castle Farms Fiber Fest?  I'm working Saturday again, so I suppose it'll have to be Sunday if I can get there . . .

That's my new square, purple-stained spindle from Spinsanity.  Pretty & it doesn't roll around!  =)

I've been feeling so very busy this month!  I've been trained to man Reference at the library to fill in for a staff member currently recovering from surgery.  This tickles my Mom no end, being a former Reference Librarian herself.  This week I started to kind of enjoy it, finding my sea legs so to speak.  Thursday I felt so competent & productive!  It's a fantastic feeling.  I am so thankful I can hardly express it, praise God!

I need to knit more, though.  =)  There just aren't enough hours! 

More spinning, a Navajo three-ply of wool by Suzie from Perchance to Knit:

My little kittygirl is fairly content, too . . .

Wasted not after-combings, spun, 2ply, dyed with lemon-lime Kool Aid, 2 packets for 2 skeins 86yds & 71 yds, respectively.  Each skein came out slightly different, one slightly more intense & even -- not that even was what I was after.  Anyway, I like them!  No idea yet what to make with it.

Moka just wants to know why her mousie has no tail. 

I've got a new spindle - homemade polymer clay disc, drilled on my brother's drillpress so the hole is in the exact center.  She's a good spinner & pretty, too!  Loves her, I do, my tall spindle.  She's got some plied-on-the-fly Suffolk wool on her, perhaps one day to be dyed & knit into socks.  I keep thinking sock yarn because the wool has such a lovely sproingy crimp to it, and it's a three ply. 

OMG -- close encounter with a little moth!!  Gasp!!!  Killed, but holey flying sheepshit, I hope there aren't any more!!  Catching my breath, calm, calm.  I'm calm.  Maybe it's time to get some huge ziplocs & empty the freezer to make room for the wool.  Oh, gee. 

Anyway, I'm also spinning the "waste" from the combed top for the 3ply above.  Waste not, want not!  Lumpy, bumpy "designer" yarn!  That's what I'll have.  Oh, last night I implulsively started knitting a cotton market bag, just for fun.  That'll be finished soon. 

Below, handspun sock yarn, 169 yards 3ply:

The necessary cat, too -- below, paw-fencing with my Dad.

I'm still plugging away on Enchantress, though . . .

I seem to have a very long foot. . . but soon I will be turning the heel.  Moka doesn't mind her human's big feet, though!

Pizza bianca, with 'Tone's rosemary garlic seasoning', parmesan & a pinch or two of kosher salt.  I set up the bread machine for dough with half whole wheat flour, half all purpose, some seasoning including basil & the rosemary seasoning & so forth . . . rolled it out, let it rise a bit, then pre-baked the crust, took it out & drizzled it with olive oil & the seasonings then baked it directly on the oven rack for 10 minutes more, until golden brown.  Dipped in spaghetti sauce.  Yummmmmmmm.

Happiness.

Baking a little lately, some Earl Grey cupcakes (click pic for link to recipe) without the lemon buttercream frosting, partly because they're good without, part because there's a half pound of butter in those suckers!  Mmmm, me likes butter . . . and Earl Grey.

Here's something I didn't mean to bake -- honest.  I put two potholders down on the kitchen table to rest the cookie sheet while I un- and re-loaded it, then wondered where the second disappeared to while the second sheet baked -! 

I'd say it's in pretty good shape for having been baked 10 minutes at 375!  I do have my days . . .

"Hot Green" cellphone pocket in Sugar n' Cream cotton. 

Oh, and I'm very pleased our "Crown Imperial" (Fritillaria Imperialis) didn't frost . . . yet.  It's still Michigan after all. 

There truly are blooming things here in Northern Michigan -- finally!  Even in our little neglected beds, praise the Lord for perennials =).  The weather's turned chilly again, though, so I hope there aren't too many tender little buds up here that will be frosted.   

Finished some socks recently, plain knit in Lion Magic Stripes.

Started another test knit, "Simple Pleasure" by Terry Ross in STR mediumweight "Nodding Violet" (yum)

Little miao is my decorative, loving little companion as always, too.

Other than the price of gas, I've got very little to complain about!  (Especially when I omit the consumption of news).

I didn't make the leg any longer than I have been lately, about 7 inches.  Maybe it's the picot edge that takes up more yarn . . .  Anyway, this is a very fun pattern to knit & I really enjoyed knitting them -- so much so that I'm not bummed about having to pull them out partially to finish.  The pattern will be available soon at Terry Ross Designs.

That spindled llama of which I spoke last week, all 103 yards . . .

Another little thing I've been playing with, a crocheted usb case . . .

My little birdwatcher, too.  She loves spring . . . more birds.

I've been trying to fill this bobbin lately with Llama wool . . . almost there!  I did ply some spindled Llama lately, just didn't take a picture yet.  It's nice & soft with a little hairyness that I hope will look sort of angora-like when knit up. 

I must post another gratuitous cat-charmer!  Basking in the afternoon sunshine the other day . . .

This time, handspun, dyed & knit by Beth!  Thanks, Beth!  Pictured with a coil-less safety pin for application to clothing

The gratuitous kittycat picture of the week . . . aaaaw!  Napping on her human's lap.

A Socklet for the Wee Tiny Sock Swap!  So cute, such fun to knit and look at all the other Wee Tinies on the Ravelry group!  This little handspun (spindle-spun by me) socklet is winging it's way to someone in Indiana as of yesterday . . . who knows, maybe she'll receive it today!  I'm going to pin mine to my jacket . . .

Thank you, Emily!  Another fun event thanks to Yarn Miracle !

I've also been playing with this -- (264 yards of spindle-spun, plied on the wheel wool)

And this -- (mmmm, yummy fresh baked goods) 

And as always, this!

I've been having fun with someone else's sock yarn recently  . . . test knitting a sock pattern for Terry Ross (now available, btw).  What a treat to knit with Socks That Rock, I may have to do it more often =) . . . I do have my very own skein from the Michigan Fiber Fest, which I've pretty much been petting & admiring since I got it.  Anyway, here they are: Conversational Socks! 

I've begun another Terry Ross design, again in STR "Thraven" colorway.  My first picot hem on a sock.  I'm quite tickled with this!

My sweet little babygirl wonders, "Is this Test Knitting dangerous??"

For your further visual pleasure, another sweet black thing . . .

Pulse warmers for stopping the sleeve drafts while spinning . . . ironically made in acrylic "Sassy Stripes".

  Fingerless mitts.

Thank you so very much for stopping by & commenting!  You make my day, you should know that.  I'll try to put up a pattern for my little slip-stitch bag as soon as it's finished -- l seem perennially sidetracked lately, but that's my intention.  Keep warm & knit with joy, mes amies!   

I've started a little purse in a slipped-stitch pattern - 

This is a 'just started' pic, I'm almost finished with the knitting part of this.  Reversed the varigated/solid configuration for the strap & flap.

Finished a pair of socks, a rare event for me.  This is a pattern by Terry Ross, "Adam's Rib", available*here*. 

Wrist warmers, from (link) pattern . . . 

The most recent wip, a stole in the very simple "feather" pattern from Barbara Walker & JoAnn Sensations Angel Hair, a very downy soft yarn.  Half finished here - I plan to join two sections in the middle so the zig-zaggy ends are the same.  I hope it works!

Finally, a bit of kittycat charm . . . always welcome in my little world.  Actually, very necessary to be honest!

Sugar n'Cream cotton yarn, pattern made up as I went.

I finally received my spare glasses today from $39 Glasses.com.  That's how I think of them, anyway - I often think I'd like several pairs just for different moods.  Including a pair of rose-tinted ones eventually :o).  Anyway, I ordered these after Thanksgiving when my rimless titanium glasses snapped at the nose, but they arrived with the lenses all messed up, cloudy.  I suspect some issue with the antireflective coating, but it took all this time to get the lenses replaced.  This is a picture I took in the mirror to see how I looked in them, when the lenses were all cloudy:

Fun!  I kinda like 'em. . . and *this (link)* is my next hat project.  Imminently underway.  Happy knitting!

Made a big, fat skein of pretty verdigris heather alpaca - 464 yards, about sport weight (from pencil roving purchased at Michigan Fiber Fest) . . .

And a pair of "Evangeline" mitts for a good friend (see MagKnits for the pattern) . . .

They look black, but they're really "deep teal heather" Simply Soft - the color appealed to me, and they really are satiny soft.  I usually have to weave a bit of yarn into the thumb area to tighten up the stitches, and I'm pleased with the result on these. . .

Must have cute kittycat picture, too. . .

Lazy blogger, like I said . . . I've got quite a lot of marvelous llama wool from my Mom's cousin's llamas.  The highlight of my New Years!  Really fun to spin. . . so much so that I haven't taken a picture of their generosity in the wool department.  Stay tuned, though!  Thank you soooooo so much, Judy!

Mom liked the soft cushyness of the suede "So-Called Scarf", so I knit one for her.  Looks happy, no?

Another recent FO, a pair of "Dashing" mitts for a friend . . .

In Wool Ease, chestnut heather.  Shortened somewhat - I only knit 12 rounds after the last cable crossing. 

Now, for the amusing cat pictures!  My sweet furrygirl, all relaxed on Mom's lap . . .

Mouse over her & see her reaction to having my Dad meow loudly at her & wave his arms around.  He, he.  Dad's a terrible tease.

I will not say which anniversary!    I guess I'm old enough to know better . . . Feeling pretty ok about life, though!  My best buddy telephoned & her two adorable, handsome little boys sang "Happy Birthday" to me in the most delightful way!  This truly made my day.

Also received a few lovely suprises this week, for which I'm truly grateful.  One, I've got a job next year.  Yay!  They like me!  They really like me.  (That's as far as the Gidget impersonation will go.) 

Second, a suprise from one or two of my wonderful colleagues - a bag of Vintage mohair yarn & a pattern sheet (maybe 50s or 60s vintage?) for a brushed stole.  What a find!  I had no idea one could find such things even in Alpena thriftstores . . . I thought that was reserved for Canadian locales.  Anyway, how sweet & wonderful was that?!

Get these instructions for knitting a rectangle in stockinette:  "Using Mohairspun double, cast on 100 sts.  Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11 (wrong side): knit.  Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10: purl.  Rows 12, 14 & 16: knit.  Rows 13 & 15: purl.  Repeat these 16 rows 4 times more.  Then repeat rows 1 through 4.  Bind off."  Funny way of saying "knit a bunch of stockinette at 3 sts/ in.", eh?  Lol!

Also, there was a suprise from my friend Lea!  Oh, my, Lea -- you went overboard.  Thank You So, So Very Much!  I've been trusting in God actively of late, and see, He even watches over one when the coffee in the house is getting dangerously low!  Praise!  Little sheepie's name is Faith & she's hugging a Bible.  Oh, what a charming reminder !  I love it!

There was a catnip mouse in that box for my baby, too -- and she sensed it from 4 feet away!  Eager little kittycat . . . made us both so happy!  I laughed & laughed while Moka had a ball with the little thing.  Moka says "thank you, thank you, Auntie Lea!!"

The lighting wasn't so good in these pics, but mouse over (he he) for another shot.

The needles call . . . it's going to be a real struggle to force myself to tidy up the place today.  Ah, the holiday joy!  I'm feeling so thankful that even housework can't dampen my joy. 

A Merry, safe & Blessed Christmas to all!

Here's something that tickles me: a pretty knitted ornament for the tree.  

A Christmas jellyfish! (Link)

Under the heading of Holidaze . . . Packer hats.  A friend sent me a link to a news item about certain hats - acrylic horrors made in China, no doubt - for which people are spending obscene amounts of money.  I think I see a dollar-store glut of these in a month or so . . .  Lol! 

"My So-Called Scarf" in Lion Suede, olive.  Very soft & skooshy, nice!

I won't show the set I finished here, because the recipient reads this blog.  If you Ravel & are curious, it's in my (Megbean) projects.

Made myself a pair of "Pocketbook slippers" (linkety link here & on photo) a month or so ago, which I rather like.  Sometimes it's nice to pad around the house in stockingfeet, but one needs a bit more warmth.

I've got another sock going, too, which is more nearly finished than this pic shows - "Adam's Rib" socks by Terry Ross.

Two of my favorite people . . . just 'cause they're cute

That, my friends, is a carefully bent paperclip section epoxied to the back of the bridge piece of my glasses.  The glasses are resting on part of a wooden clothespin with waxed paper to keep the bridge from sticking to the pin.  The whole setup:

I'm so thankful for a brother with such wonderful abilities!  You can barely tell anything happened to these glasses.  I can see!  Clear vision is a wonderful thing.  I really prefer it, especially when knitting & surfing the blogs.  Which is another thing I'm crazy happy about - a new monitor.  Aaah, the enjoyment of seeing everyone's lovely knitblog pictures & Ravelry!  Glorious. 

I even finished my year-long sock project.  Another thing - I heart Photoshop.  Those look like really fast socks, yes? 

I've already got a new sock on needles . . . this next pair will not take me a year to finish.