Tour de Fleece

Happy Independence Day!

(Photo by Teekay)

So I think I neglected to mention that I got a new spinning wheel. It's a Mach 1 from Spinolution. It's the same exact wheel that I rented back in April.

I joined Tour de Fleece on Ravelry, pledging to spin every day they ride during the Tour de France. I'm working on spinning up all that Scandinavian fiber I have collected so I can knit a Danish Tie Shawl.

I actually sat and spun for an hour this morning. Got to watch a bunch of the time trial, too. I was a bit disappointed that Thor was only shown coming out of the gate, not on the road.

It is hard to say who is happier about the new wheel.


He's such a good sport about knitting and such. He loves to wind yarn. And who can blame him when his clothes match so well?

Summer Knitting Goals

There's a contest over at Skeins Her Way. You need to state your summer knitting goals in order to enter to win one of three great prize packages. Go check it out, she's a mom of seven and knitting designer.

Here are my goals for the summer:

1. Design and knit a bunch of Scandinavian themed items to sell at our Daughters of Norway "Christmas in August" sale
2. Swatch and wash some Black Water Abbey in preparation for my Aran vest
3. Knit at least one pattern repeat on my Garden Gates a week
4. Secret item for a family member
   

Knitting Update

Here are all the f.o.'s I have neglected to post. Most of you knitters on are Ravelry and have seen them anyway, I know, sorry.

The easy Branching Out scarf that had me pulling my hair out. I was doing it on metal needles, and finally gave in and bought bamboo, then things got better. Before and after blocking.

Next we have the really fun "Fleeced Earflap Hat" by Cocoknits. We had quite the photo session. It is knit in Lamb's Pride Bulky and the thrums of wool are knit in as you go.









These are the Vespergyle Mittens. Another challenge. The pattern just didn't speak to me, I had to keep my eye on the chart constantly.

This is Foliage, found in Knitty.

I had a lot of yarn left over and made up a pair mitts with the same lace pattern.


And finally here is a cupcake (pattern). I knit one for a friend, and one for K. I can totally see myself making more knitted toys. Fast and fun.

About Last Month

May zoomed by, it was really busy. I'll post knitting photos another day, there are a few f.o.'s that need photos.

First was Norway Day where I dressed up as a boy and slayed trolls.

With the aid of an elixir.

In the end I saved the princess.

It all made my kid laugh. "Mommy boy".


I did some spinning with the guild and met Wonder Mike. There was also good eating, drinking, and shopping at the festival.

The next day I took an all day spinning class with Ossian Kidholm, who had come over from Norway to demonstrate at Norway Day. (I rented a wheel). Very informative and a good time to get to know some of the guild members better. Wonder Mike has a bunch of photos on Flickr from Norway Day, including Mr. & Mrs. Kidholm, and me in my everyday bunad.

***

Next up was demonstrating at the Zoo's sheep shearing day. We had a lot of fun, didn't let the rain deter us. This is Mocha, I brought home a little bit of her fleece:


And a little of the alpacas' as well.

I already blogged about our trip to Idaho. Never got pics of the fiber I bought, but it was some local alpaca, more colors of Norwegian and Icelandic, and some Pygora.

***

I forget when Mother's Day was, but I got a cup of coffee in bed, and a really cute card slammed in my face. I was impressed, it had a baby in a knit fruit hat on the front (I made several of them in the past). Is it horrible I can't remember what my gift was? Oh yeah, I got flowers, too. It was Daughters of Norway Day, and I was a hostess. I know something crappy happened, too, but I don't remember what.

***

Next we went to Las Vegas. Wow, first time for all of us. It was hot and tacky. That sums up my feelings about the town. On the other hand, I got to meet Mr. TVP's old friend from grade school and his family. That was fun, especially since our trip east got canceled for this year.

The kid is still asking to go back to Circus Circus. He won a lot of crappy toys, which I ditched here and there. Who thinks a pillow with the word "Hottie" on it is appropriate for little kids? I let him keep the dog I won him by spraying water at a target so well that my Viking Ship won a race.

The biggest challenge was finding anything healthy for him to eat, without going to a sit-down restaurant. We resorted to apple "fries" from MacDonald's and room service. He got that hang of that really fast! Note many residents of the Island of Sodor on the bed.

We spent one day as a family and then took turns with the kid so the other adult could do more, well, adult things. Kid things included the monorail. Yay!!

And goldola ride at the Venetian (Boo!)

Got back and the next weekend was my cousin-in-law's kid's 21st birthday. Here is the least incriminating photo of the over-nighter:


The next day was our wedding anniversary. We had a low-key dinner with my parents. K. got ahold of the camera at our favorite pizza place.

I swear I don't know why that kid is such a ham.

Culture Shock

I know I haven't posted in a long time, there was shearing day at the zoo, Mother's day, and knitting. But right now I am recovering from a five day trip to Northern Idaho. We went there because of this, my sister graduating from UI:


First, highlights of the trip to rural/small town Idaho and Washington, without photos:

• Driving up and down the Lewiston Grade, whoo-hoo
  
• Attending a three-hour graduation ceremony with a 2-year-old
• Driving over the Snake River on a blue bridge, twice
  
• Almost missing a flight due to airport signs continually changing location of the gate
• Beverage service canceled due to turbulence, after having to dump out the sippy cup at security
  
• Getting sprayed with beer at the recycling center on the way to the airport
• Driving around the Palouse. It is truly beautiful country. Endless rolling hills of wheat fields
  

And photo highlights:

Climbing in a rusty old engine:



Various signs of Spring:



Dairy Queen:


Walking one block to the local co-op for groceries:


Lunch at the cafe in Cabella's, with three vegetarians. My son ate ostrich meat. There is an enormous stuffed dead animal display among other things.


The giant rocking chair:

And last, but definitely not least, visiting the wonderful Paradise Fibers warehouse store. Bonus for being on Thor Street and next to an adult bookstore. I got stuff!! (At Paradise Fibers, to be clear)


What to do for an encore? Go to Las Vegas with a toddler.

Lamb Cakes Past and Present

The lamb cake was a big hit:


Here's a picture of a lamb cake my grandma made for me when I was a kid:

Happy Easter!

We've already stuffed ourselves with candy, and now we're off to church.

Later tonight we are going to celebrate my mother's birthday with a surprise lamb cake: