Author: LDSVenus

Christmas Cactus in Bloom

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Christmas Cactus in bloom

Christmas Cactus in bloom

 

 

My Christmas Cactus is just blooming away.  Those flowers are sure a pretty pink color.  I really need to re-pot it this coming spring into a larger container, I’m pretty sure it’s probably root bound.   I have a friend in TN that has a really large Christmas Cactus but she has potted it in a larger container ;P. 

 

My church had a talent show last night.  I took my spinning wheel and demonstrated spinning and had samples of fiber and spun yarn and items that I had knit from the hand spun yarn.  It went over well.  I had fun and saw some awesome talents from the other members, singing, instrument playing, skits, jokes, it was all good.  I love the talent shows. 🙂

**Thanks son, it does look better :).

Spinning the Llama

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click on picture for larger image

click on picture for larger image

 

This is the chocolate Llama roving that my son bought for me to spin for him.  It is turning out a beautiful  heathered brown. 

People have said on my spinning list that the Alpaca and Llama are dirty fibers to spin, wonderful but dirty (because they roll in the dirt), and I thought how bad can they be?  Well, this was professionally processed and it still has some dirt.  I can’t even imagine trying to spin the unprocessed fiber.  Still I’m sure it would be worth it, because it’s soft and this one is a breeze to spin.  It will get another washing after the yarn is plyed and skeined and I’m betting there will be dirty water. 

I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to spin it thick enough as I’m use to spinning sport weight to baby weight yarn and my son wanted worsted weight, but it seems to like being worsted weight so I’m happy :).

Yes, that is Snow! plus Alpaca!

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Somedays there are more than a week between blogs and sometimes there are  just more things to talk about.

Snow in early October!

Snow in early October!

 

Yes, that is snow!  I woke up this morning to snow coming down.  Not the big flakes, just little ones but there it was, bold as brass.  And it was a bit on the chilly side as well, only 30 or so but still with the wind blowing, I had to stop and get some ear muffs and of course I couldn’t find my gloves this morning and I knew I would be outside (see next paragraph) so I had to stop and get some on the way out of town.  sigh.  The snow stoped shortly after mid morning and never really stuck anywhere but on the cars, flowers and bushes and that is now all melted too.  It really could have waited another year or two to snow as far as I’m concerned ;P.

 

Alpaca Farm

Alpaca Farm

Alpaca - Llama - CVM rovings

Alpaca - Llama - CVM rovings

Ok, for my birthday, my son took me out to breakfast this morning and then to an Alpaca farm that was having an open house.   You can see all the goodies that I came home with in the picture on the right.  One is my son’s, who wanted me to spin the Llama for him to knit with (the chocolate color) and the auburn color is mine :).  We got the Llama on sale at less than 1/2 price, what a deal and oh so soft!!!  I also bought some light tanish (is that a word? :P) CVM roving that is from a local owner.  I didn’t know we had any in IA but seems that there are two here who raise the CVM sheep. 🙂  It’s nice stuff.
 
 
Alpaca

Alpaca

Llama

Llama

Lots of Alpaca and Llama were in attendance.  They don’t really like to be petted by strangers, tho some will tolorate it.  I was able to scratch a couple on the  lower neck, you don’t really touch their heads, they seem to be kinda funny about that :P.  Tho they had a few that would take a treat out of your hand.  Fiber on the hoof, so to speak, is very soft stuff :).  One of the Llamas (wish I had taken a picture of him) was a beautiful white with black ears and black spots just above his feet and he had a single rather than double coat which was extremely soft.  His name was Radar.

 

Beautiful Fall Bouquet

Beautiful Fall Bouquet

 

And when I got home this is what was waiting for me.  A beautiful Fall Birthday Bouquet from one of my dear sweet friends in TN, thank you Anne. 

Since my memory has always been bad, when people remember my birthday I’m always amazed. 😛

I’m off Monday for the holiday and even tho it’s unpaid, it will be a welcome day to rest and relax. 🙂  Hope you all have a wonderful week end too.

Happy Birthday to Me :)

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Venus5ab

 

 I try not to think about birthdays anymore.  It was certainly easier to do that when I lived farther from my children, but they insist on helping me celebrate one.  My daughter and almost son-in-law are taking me out to dinner on Saturday evening.  My son that knits is taking me to an Alpaca farm on Saturday morning – I will get to pet an Alpaca and I can see a little fiber in my future (saving a little out of my paycheck for that) :).   I’m sure my other two son’s will be showing up or calling to let me know they haven’t forgotten it either.  My dad sent me a wonderful birthday card that had my picture, of when I was 16 years old, on it.  I’m sure he’s probably trying to make me feel better about having a birthday :P.  Why can’t we start out older and each year get younger instead? 🙂

I’ll take my camera to the Alpaca farm and bring back pictures :).

Christmas Cactus

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Early blooms

Early blooms

 Last year in mid November came the first blossoms I had on the Christmas cactus that had been given to me for Christmas the year before. 

This year, because of the unusually cool Summer and early Fall temps, my Christmas cactus already has buds on it and it’s only the start of October.  Hmmmmm.  Wonder if that is just the difference in the cooler temps here for fall vs TN last year.  With winter coming soon, I sure miss TN about now :P.  I’ve already had to bring my plants in from my balcony due to the lower temps at night, sigh.

I’m still looking for that pattern that screams at me, KNIT ME, KNIT ME, for the alpaca shawl.  In the mean time I like to hold the skein of yarn and feel it’s softness.  It’s time to start spinning the 2nd skein of yarn :).

Yesterday and today I’ve been able to listen to General Conference on the BYU station of cable TV.  It’s been great and very uplifting, I love General Conference time in the spring and fall every year.

Baby Sweater – It’s Done

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click on picture for larger image

click on picture for larger image

 

 

 

It is mostly done, I still have to sew snaps on the neck and tuck in the ends on the hat.  But it is was fun to make.  It is knit in the round until you get to the split for the sleeves.  I only had time to knit on it at lunch at work so it took me much longer to finish than it should have.  I hope my friend will like it. 🙂   

 **New picture**

In Memory of 9-11

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In Memory

In Memory of - May we NEVER forget.

 

 

 

 Have You Forgotten?

 

In Memory of all those who died during the terroist attack on the United States of America on September 11, 2001.

 

Especially those on flight 93 and all those, who on that day, willing sacrificed their lives to save the lives of others.   And to those in our armed services, who have given their lives and those who continue to fight, selflessly putting their own lives in jepardy to protect us and others from terrorism.  They are all heros to me and I will never forget.

It’s Yarn!

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Handspun Cria

Handspun Cria

 

 Ok, I finished spinning on Thursday but didn’t have time to ply until today.  It’s offically yarn :).   It is soooo soft.  It came out about 16 wpi (“wraps per inch” for those who are yarn impared :P) that is, depending on what chart you use, fingerling to sport weight and I’m gonna call it sport weight, and this skein is 224 yards.  I was worried that I might over ply but I didn’t and it is luxurious to handle.  You can see one of the spools of singles and the fiber on my August 17th post.

  

click on picture for larger image
click on picture for larger image

 

 I’ve put this picture up so you can see the twist.  I’m pretty impressed with the results of this Cria Alpaca yarn.   I will need to buy some more of the fiber tho, as this was not enough for a shawl or capelett, it used about 4 of the 6 ozs.  I will need to spin probably 1 & 1/2 to 2 more skiens.  It will be a pleasure to spin more but I’m sorry that I have to wait to knit it up :P.  Maybe I’ll knit as I spin to urge me to spin more frequently to finish :).

 

I purchased this wonderful roving from Deer Trace Farm in Fayetteville, TN.  They don’t appear to have a website so if you are interested in contacting them regarding some fiber just email me and I will hook you up with their email addy and/or phone number.

Oh yeah, I got to watch the Dallas Cowboys play yesterday evening (still indoctrinating my 3 year old grand daughter to be a Cowboy fan :P.)  They won, I wasn’t sure they were going to, they certainly did not have it all together the 1st half and were down by 2 touch downs, but then they revved it up during the 2nd half and won.   But then they have always been known as a 2nd half team. 🙂

Baby Sweater

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click on picture for larger image

click on picture for larger image

 

 

This is a baby sweater I am working on for the new grandson of a friend in TN. 🙂   I’m using Caron Simply Soft, which is pretty soft and an acrylic so no special care will be needed.  I purchased this pattern on Patternworks .  It’s such a cute set.  I am only knitting the sweater and hat.  Ammon is about 3 months old but I’m making it to fit 6 to 9 months so he can wear it all winter.  It’s an easy pattern (most baby sweaters are), and because they are for babies, they don’t take a long time to make.  This one I’ve only had time to knit on during my lunch hr but I should have it finished by next week end.  I always think I am going to have time to knit on things during the week-end, but I never find the time,  I’m not sure why I always think I’ll find the time to knit on the week-end, sigh, an eternal optimist I guess :P.

I’m about 1/2 way through with my 2nd spool of the baby Alpaca roving.  Sometime this week I should be able to ply it and have a finished skein.  The singles feel so soft on the spool, I can hardly wait to get it plyed.

Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL?

/ LDSVenus
Dallas Cowboys!!!

Dallas Cowboys!!!

 

 Woohoo!!! Pre-season football has started!!!  Dallas plays their first game this coming Friday night.  Since I babysit for 3 of my grand children on Friday nights, I’ll be training my 3 year old grand daughter to be a football fan, (don’t tell her dad I will teach her to root for the Dallas Cowboys, he’s a Bears fan)! 😛  The oldest one (11 years old) isn’t interested, waited to long to indoctrinate her :P, and the youngest (1 year old) will be in bed by then ;P.  So it’s Mady and me watching the Cowboys on Friday night :).

**UPDATE**  Oh goodness, I missed Dallas’s first game which was on 8-13, where they lost to my 2nd favorite team, the Oakland Raiders.  I can’t believe I missed their first game, sigh. 

 

click on picture for larger image

click on picture for larger image

 
 
I’m spinning the baby Alpaca (called a Cria) roving, that I bought at a fiber festival in TN last year, on my Ashford Traveler.  This roving is sooooo soft, I can hardly wait to handle the yarn and knit it into a capelet.  I’m not sure if  the 6 ounces I have will be enough to do a shawl, I’ll see what the yardage is after I have finished spinning it all, it should be a heavy baby weight or light sport weight.  If I think I have enough, I might do a shawl instead.  The jury is out on what I really want tho. 🙂   I have plenty of time yet to make a decision.
 
 
 
Hand dyed superwash merion roving

Hand dyed superwash merino roving

 
This is some of the white superwash merino that I bought some time back.  I dyed it with Wilton icing dye.  I used the purple, and it broke into different shades of light purple, lavender and light blue.  It’s actually a little bit more pastel than it looks in the picture, quite pretty.  The last time I used the Wilton purple it was just different shades of purple and lavender.  You just never know what you are going to get with the Wilton dyes, but they are fun to play with.  This should be interesting to spin. 🙂