I bet your are wondering…

This is what it is.  I participated in a Funalong in March hosted by the  Fun Onion Group on Ravelry. I purchased an Ahi Tuna Roll from Miki of Funhouse Fibers. Yum.

There were four delicious rolls with a total of about 1 ounce of fiber.

I spun these relatively thin.

And plied with a thicker, softer merino wool (for an extra serving of white rice).

I  had fun and I think a fun time was had by all!  You can check out all the finished yarns on this thread in Ravelry.

Socks, Baby Hats, Thorpes, and now Sock Blankie…

I’m knitting in batches.  A lot of something then moving on.

It started in the fall when I had to keep knitting to keep my sanity — 3 pairs of socks.  Then I moved on to baby hats — made what? Like 6 or 7?  Next up was mostly Thorpes with a Pixie hat thrown in.  I offered to knit them for all K’s friends for gifts to help her out.  Thorpes is the style of hat that is very popular this year, so I hope they are wearing them. But, if not, that is okay too.  Recently I was asked how I feel about giving away my knitting and if I worry about what happens to it when it leaves me.  I’ve been thinking on this quite a bit to figure out my answer.  If course, it is always nice when a hand knit items is appreciated and worn. That being said, I think I’m more of a process knitter than a product knitter so I don’t really obsess over it.  As long as I have the photos and the history, I’m good.  I don’t even wear all the knitting I keep for myself, so I don’t think I can get all that upset over it.

But you are waiting for the photos now, so I’ll be moving along.

J was very happy to model for me.  The only hat for her though is the light green beret that I made last year and finally got around to weaving in the ends.  Altogether I think I have made 8 Thorpes.  One for me, one for K, one for B, and 5 for K’s friends.  I have requests for 2 more that I need to start on soon before I’m completely out of the grove.  I used different yarns for the Thorpes mostly drawing on my stash.  I think they look best in handspun though.  I even used some of my Tour de Fleece yarns.

For example, Shaded Sapas

became this hat for K:

Since the holidays, I have been knitting on Sock Blankie.  He is almost done!  Just about 5 squares left and an edging.  What is up after that?  I have Stripey Cardigan to finish and yarn for Hemlock Ring (woot!).  I think my knitting  group is going to do Hemlock Ring as a KAL.  That will be fun and I’m really looking forward to it!  Oh, and I almost forgot. I have 6 skeins of Mountain Mohair to make into something for my sister.  I think probably a vest as it is not enough for a sweater, but any thoughts,  let me know, okay?

So, this is a pretty good start back into blogging right?  As always I hope not to go too long before the next post in which I hope to talk about Sock Blankie in more detail and my One Little Word for 2011.  Until then, take care and thanks for reading!

23 days, 20 stages, 22 blog posts, 2 pounds, 2 ounces of fiber and the Tour de Fleece is complete!

Roll of Honor

Results after Stage 20

Total distance covered:
Singles:  2.28 km (1.35 miles)
Finished yarn:  1.15 km (0.72 miles)

1.) Mama Jude’s “Moon Shadow” – Merino and Milk Fiber

1 ounce, 52 yards, singles

Green Jersey for being the quickest spin

2.)  Moonwood Farm’s “Moonbeams – Holiday Pudding” a  blend of alpaca, milk, bamboo, merino, and a bit of angelina

1.9 ounces, 72 yards, 2 ply

Best use of contrasting color in fiber blend

3.) “Fairy Wings” by By Rebekah with Love — merino, bamboo, soy silk, mulberry silk, firestar, and angelina plied with tencel

1.9 ounces, 77 yards, 2 ply

Young Rider Jersey for overall cuteness

4.) Galah by Beesybee fibers ,  60% merino and 40% bamboo

4 ounces, 176 yards, 2 ply

Special honors for being my most consistent spinning of the Tour

5.) hand-painted milk protein fiber in the color “Snickerdoodle

This was a CRASH stage but what was salvaged was .75 ounces, 17 yards, N-plied

6.) Saraswati,  Spincerely Naturals 74’s Organic Wool

1 ounce, 63 yards, 2 ply

Best Team Yarn for getting me back on the saddle after crashing

7.) Unnamed colorway, Spincerely Naturals 74’s Organic Wool

4.1 ounces, 164 yards, 2 ply

Most likely to become a ball first.  (I’m so ready to knit this into something!) (Any name ideas?)

8.) Chaya, 60% merino/30% bamboo (rayon from bamboo)/10% nylon blend

8.5 ounces, 161 yards, 3 ply, 8 w.p.i.

The honor of the Chunkiest Yarn Award goes to this big, round, juicy 3 ply.

9.)  Shaded Sapas, merino

4.5 ounces, 217 yards, 2 ply

Halloween Jersey for yarn colors most likely to be found on a Halloween scrapbook page

10.) Jade Green, 50 % angora, 50% merino (I think, the fiber was not labeled) by Oasis Farm Fiber Mill (My only non-phat spinning of the tour.)

1.1 ounces, 72 yards, 2 ply, 15 w.p.i.

The honor of Thinnest Yarn goes to this easy to spin beauty.  Watch for this fiber to be a contender for the Green Jersey in future Tours.

11.)  4 ounces of hand-painted combed bamboo top by Moonwood Farm in the color “Tamara”

4 ounces, 188 yards, singles

Polka-dot Jersey winner with Special Honors in the Areas of Sleekness and Drapy-ness

At this time I would like to thank my teammates at Phat Fiber, my special Phat teammate Ladee Sunshine who played along lovingly and excelled in her own spinning and team support, and my blog readers who cheered and encouraged along  the way.

I would also like to give special thanks and much love to my sponsors, Dave, K, J, and B. Without their support, encouragement, and enthusiasm,  I could never have completed this tour!  I love you family!

Outside my window... dark and full of summer noises

I am spinning for the Tour de Fleece… A started a braid of superwash bfl in a sea foamish green color to spin during the mostly ceremonial stage 20 this morning.

Spinning time for Stage 20, day 23… About 1 hour – I finished winding off the bamboo and I started on the Sea Foam

I am thinking… I did it!  I completed the Tour de Fleece! I spun everyday and I blogged everyday. I even watched the Tour de France everyday.  There were mountains, there were sprints, there was interference from the crowds, but I persevered and made it to the end. I am a finisher and a winner! And now I have a heck of a lot of yarn!

I am thankful for… 3 very well behaved girls at the picnic we went to today.  I was very proud to be their mom.

From the learning rooms… You know what?  I actually met someone who home schooled today.  This is a task that I would never be up to.  People who home school must have amazing constitutions.

From the kitchen… I made deviled eggs for a picnic today.  Mostly there are just dirty dishes in my kitchen right now.  It seems like we go through them so fast, and our dishwasher takes 2.5  hours to run so it is full and running and the sink is full of dishes. How does this happen?

I am wearing… denim shorts and a light blue v-neck from Old Navy

I am hoping... for a fun staycation week and not too much laundry

I am hearing… J say “Ewey, it smells like skunk!”

Around the house… I think J and B are looking for food in the kitchen and Dave is reading the book, “Yes, Your Teen is  Crazy.”

One of my favorite things...  brie.  This is another food that I love!

A few plans for the rest of the week… as you know we are staycating.  We are thinking of changing one of our days to taking the ferry to Block Island.  We would only be there a few hours, but according to the website it is “The Bermuda of the north” so how can we not want to check it out?

Here are some photos I am sharing…

We don’t usually see rainbows at our house because there are so many trees, but I was outside this evening while it was sprinkling. I was thinking that it is too bad that we can’t see rainbows at our house and I turned around and there was this gorgeous rainbow right over our roof.  I guess we have just never been in the exact right place at the right time.  If I had been inside I would have completely missed this.  I called everyone outside and we watched it for a while until it faded away.

Outside my window… hot, humid, mix of sun and clouds

I am spinning for the Tour de Fleece… 4 ounces of handpainted combed bamboo top by Moonwood Farm in the color “Tamara.”

The Tour was particularly exciting for a bit this morning when we thought for a second or two that Andy Schleck might actually win.  It was SO close, but then at the end he lost time. There is one more day, but apparently, Stage 20 must be mostly ceremonial as they said that pretty much the winners as they stand today will remain the overall winners as they enter Paris tomorrow.

Spinning time for Stage 19, day 22… about 2 hours this morning while watching the Tour. I actually spun about 3 out of 4 ounces of this bamboo fiber and since I’m just spinning a singles, I’m almost done!

I am thinking… I’m psyched for our vacation week next week (even though we are just staycating)!

I am thankful for… the farmer’s market

From the kitchen… making tabbouleh with tahini dressing today.  Dave bought all the good stuff to put in it at the farmer’s market and he bought me a container of gazpacho with avocado and shrimp for lunch.  So good!

I am creating… more yarn!

I am going… to spend this hot evening with a friend and her family

I am hoping… to be a better mom this week.  Every day I wake up and resolve to do better than the day before. One would think at some point I would at least reach the break even point, but it seems the challenges (peaks) are getting greater (higher) every day.

I am hearing… some sort of tv program

Around the house… Dave is bringing K to a friend’s house. B is waiting for the mail because her “letter” from school may come today and then she will know which team she will be on and can call all her friends to see who is on her team.

One of my favorite things… avocados.  I heart them SO much!

A few plans for the rest of the week… tomorrow we have a picnic  to attend and a few of our plans for our “staycation” include Lake Compounce, Harkness Memorial, a shaker village in Massachusetts, and outlet shopping.

You know, I think I’m ready for a break from my Tour de Fleece blog format for tonight.  I don’t have spinning photos and I really bet you don’t care what I’m wearing or particularly what I’m thinking tonight.

I did finish spinning the Shaded Sapas Merino and it is plied and drying now. While it was soaking it looked like a  big floating mass of Halloween in its purple, black, and orange-ness.  It would have made a nice background pattern for a Halloween scrapbook page.   Last night and today, I’m spinning a jade/teal green merino/angora blend. It is very soft and I think it is going to come out fingering weight.  I bought this for J to spin as she is very interested in angora, but I needed something to spin so decided that I will make her something with it instead.

Tonight, K had a field hockey tournament in the rain.  Her team tied 1 game, won 2 games, and then won the final for the gold!  I’m including a photo of her team (which I think it okay because it is a bit blurry so you can’t really identify anyone anyway)  I just want to include something field hockey-ish for the flavor of my day.

I only watched a bit of the Tour de France today – just some bits in the middle and the very last bit too.  Tomorrow sounds like it will be an exciting day and then just one day after that.  I am enjoying spinning everyday  and I hope to continue to spin more consistently.  Well, I do have WOOL coming up in a couple of week so that should really help!  Have I mentioned that I’m excited about WOOL???

Outside my window… dusk

I am spinning for the Tour de Fleece…

I finished spinning and repackaging my second bobbin of merino in Shaded Sapas and I’m now plying.  I know, today was supposed to be a “challenge” day for my spinning, but I’ve opted for different challenges.  Of course, my biggest challenge through this whole Tour is blogging everyday..  That is BIG for me!  My other challenge for today was to get as much fiber out to dye today as I could.  I try to get at least 8 (4 ounce rovings) out to dye and a big day is 16.  Today I have 24!  It was not as sunny out today as predicted so I’ll see how tomorrow goes, as to whether I take these in on Saturday or Sunday.

I am thinking… Thank goodness the humidity is finally giving us a break!

I am thankful for… electicity and cable.  Yesterday we lost power around 5 and didn’t get it back until the middle of the night.  If that wasn’t bad enough, today we lost cable just when there were 2 km left going up the mountain and Schleck and Contador were neck and neck.  I was on the edge of my seat (which seriously, me?  I’m not a sports person!) and the broadcast was not that great to begin with so when my screen blacked out, I just thought it was technical difficulties on  the Versus channel, but then nothing…  and when the cable goes out so does the phone and internet. Oh, so then I walked next door to my parents to see if it was just my cable or everyone’s cable (everyone’s) and I’m telling them what happened, and okay, maybe I was being a little over-dramatic to make them laugh, and my mom tells me that I should not get so excited because “I’m going to hurt my heart.”    Really?  Sigh.

From the learning rooms… The girls played another game of Settlers today.  I think that is very educational and counts for this learning room thing.

From the kitchen… I made a tex-mex type of macaroni casserole for dinner tonight. I think it was pretty darn good and I put in all things that girls like but they were less than enthused.  But I made a lot so left-overs all weekend so I don’t have to cook.

I am wearing… pj’s

I am going… to spin some more tonight!

I am reading...  Chat by Archer Mayor

I am hoping… for more good weather

I am hearing… night bugs and K’s tv show.

Around the house… quiet, but everyone is around and about I think.

One of my favorite things… Humm… I had such a good idea for this earlier, but just can’t remember now…

A few plans for the rest of the week… Field Hockey tournament tomorrow night, more spinning, blogging, dyeing, a picnic, and maybe some scrapbooking

I am spinning for the Tour de Fleece…

The fiber is merino in Shaded Sapas.  I really enjoy spinning this.  I love how merino makes such a bouncy, springy, elastic yarn which is just so soft and yummy.

Spinning time for Stage 16, day 18… about 3 hours throughout the day

I am working on… being smiled back at.  You know when you smile at someone, they smile back.  Well, yeah, I’m working on that happening in my house. I seem to have about a 50/50 chance currently.  Maybe I need to smile bigger.

I am thankful for... Sykpe. Through the magical powers of the internets, I was able to spin with my sister today!

From the kitchen… nothing!!!  I had to go to the post office so I picked up a pizza on the way home.  I do usually cook more, it is just that it is so hot and sticky still and I have to spin, you know!  Tomorrow I HAVE to make yogurt.  I also want to make some summer favorites like gazpacho and tabbouleh.  Next week is our vacation week and the tour will be over so maybe there will be some more time for cooking.  With Dave home there will probably be dough and that means grilled pizza too, yum!

I am wearing… see above

I am hoping... K is back from camp and I hope that she gets a lot of rest tonight and that she feels better tomorrow.  She had a good time except for being hit on the head a lot.

I am hearing… Night bugs outdoors and footsteps as everyone readies for bed.

Here is picture I am sharing…

Outside my window… dark, dark, dark

I am spinning for the Tour de Fleece…

Today, I plied  Chaya.  I’m starting to really love 3 ply yarns.  They are so much rounder and more robust than 2 ply.  I also love how they “average” together to make a more even yarn.  I have 2 skeins of this yarn weighing in at just over 8 ounces.  They are going to make very warm holiday gifts!

Spinning time for Stage 12, day 14… maybe about 2.5 hours. I spun a bit earlier today before dinner. When J was in VT, she discovered a new show that she likes called Bones, so I decided to watch one to see what it was all about. I also spun (and plied) tonight while watching the Tour de France. {Go Andy! You can do it!!!! I hope he kicks some butt tomorrow!}

I am thinking… about what I’m going to spin next.  Possible some merino. I’m in the mood for something bouncy.

I am thankful for… a nice evening in my house which included happiness and game playing

From the learning rooms… J has to read The Prince and write a paper on it for her summer homework. We are going to have to find some strategies for this as this doesn’t really seem like a pre-freshman level book.

From the kitchen...  hummmm…. Still not much brewing there – just a normal dinner of grilled chicken, salad, and a pasta side.

I am wearing… pjs

I am reading… I took Chat by Archer Mayor home from the library today.  I’m going to give it a good try.  I didn’t make it through the Lisa Scottaline book, but maybe this will be better.

I am hoping... K is having a good time at Field Hockey camp

I am hearing… the nighttime bugs out my window

Around the house… I think someone is listening to a book on CD rather loudly – probably B and Breaking Dawn.

One of my favorite things… Nissan Leaf.  Okay – I really don’t know, but I think it would be my favorite thing if I had one.  I do think the commercial is my favorite Tour de France commercial though.

From my garden… our garlic harvest

This is my fourth summer blogging so if you have been reading for a while, you may recall that gardening in my yard has broken my heart many, many times (like here).  Last fall we decided to try something new, and we planted 138 garlic cloves.  Today, we harvested 80 garlic bulbs (5 different varieties).  That is a 57% success rate.  Compared to last year’s tomato crop which had a .0001% success rate, we are a million percent better at growing garlic than tomatoes!

Today, the Tour de France went up to the mountains. We did the same, but then went to the river…

Outside my window… currently dark and a bit cooler

I am spinning for the Tour de Fleece… I did some spindling in the river with my sister today.  We used her camera so no photos yet but I hope to have some for tomorrow. It was a beautiful day in Vermont – I bet it must have been 10 degrees cooler than Connecticut.  The water in the river seemed almost hot.  It was so strange – I don’t think I ever remember thinking of any water in Vermont as warm.  Besides spindling, we picnicked,  shifted through stones looking for Jadeite, and just floated around.  It was lovely.

Spinning time for Stage 13, day 15… About 1 hour – maybe half an hour at the river and half an hour spinning Chaya while watching the Tour after we returned home.

Something I never thought I would do… post a photo of myself wearing a bathing suit on the internet!

I am thinking… If I hadn’t slept through Massachusetts both ways, I would probably not be wide awake right now at 11:20 p.m.

I am thankful for… my Sister and BIL

From the kitchen… quiet again though we did have an awesome pasta salad at my sister’s

I am wearing… denim mini (again, I know – it is very comfy) and blue striped top

I am going… I had to check my Outlook for this one as I haven’t printed our weekly schedule yet.  It doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere this week except to a field hockey tournament on Friday night.

I am reading… haven’t really started a new book yet.  I’m thinking of maybe picking up an Archer Mayor at the library tomorrow to see what he is all about.  Well, I know he is about crime, but I guess, more to see if it is something that I would like to read.

I am hoping… that the girls will be helpful around the house this week

I am hearing...  just the tail end of the primetime Tour de France on in the other room.  Yeah – I know!  Me, who is so unsportsy actually still watching after 14 stages!

Around the house… quiet – everyone is in bed and K at field hockey camp

One of my favorite things… hanging out in the West River

A few plans for the rest of the week… like I said above, this appears to be a quiet week here except for field hockey.  The is one week left with the Tour and then we have our summer vacation week.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… (and if your thought is, “Are they doing the Charlie’s Angels pose with drop spindles?” then yes, you would be correct!)