JenLa

A whole lotta stuff is going on around the bloggerhood, just not much of it involves me. Which is okay for a little bit, because, well, it can’t always be about me right? Or can it?

hmmmmm

Knitwitch is having a good old-fashioned murder mystery, detective story going-on. There are 2 ways to win the contest: Either find the clues and deduce her secret, or find the clues, jump to the completely wrong conclusion, and make an outlandish stab at the ridiculousness of your conclusion. Either way, if you guess correct, or if you make her shoot coffee through her nose, you’ll be in the running for her prizes. Oh hell yeah, I’m entering!

Oh, and while you’re there, check out her awesome yarn bowls. Gotta get me one of those!

Congrats to Ruth! Her handy-dandy stitch savers & uber-cute stitch markers made it into the”Cool Stuff” section of Knitty’s Spring ‘08 issue. You can find them at Ruth’s Etsy Store Way to go!

Now here’s where I usually include a picture, especially since Ruth so kindly sent me one. But me, in my usual dumbassery didn’t take the picture. I got to work this morning and thought…hmmmm, wasn’t I s’posed to grab a picture of something? I even left myself a note on here to remind me to insert the picture. Sheesh! So yeah, Ruth sent me one of the stitch savers and it is WAY cute. It says HOOPTY, which, every time I use it, will further remind me of her and the wonderful time I had on the Great South Denver Yarn Crawl of Aught-Seven.

Good Times…Good Memories!

Speaking of the Denver crew, our very own Geek Girl is getting married this weekend! I’m sure she’s going through all the last-minute “holy shit this better go right or I want someone’s head on a platter” bride stuff, so go on over and give her some love! Wish I could be there Marisa. I know it’ll be beautiful. And my best advice? Take lots of pictures. Once the day’s over, you’ll need them as evidence that you were actually there, because nothing goes in such a whirlwind as a couple’s wedding day. The DH often says…”Our wedding day? Heard it was nice. Wish I was there.”

Okay, I can’t stand it. Enough about others already. Let’s talk about me. I GOT PREZZIES!

Now before you all start thinking it’s my birthday, it isn’t. That was back in December. And now-adays the fewer I have the better I like it, so don’t be going and giving me extras. But, I’m still getting prezzies, and that I DO like. This one was the long-anticipated box from Georgia, and holy crap! was it worth the wait. Have a look!

The purple yarn is 375 yards of beautiful Jenspun handspun. Jen initially purchased the roving at SAFF as a way to induce me to try spinning again, but then decided that I would much prefer the fiber in its post-spun yarn form. Does she know me or what? Spinners, never fear, she also sent me a vagillion yards of pencil roving and a pretty little drop spindle.

Now, that blue you see there? That’s her idea of a joke. One day I was touting the “benefits” of knitting with red-heart, saying something to the effect of “hell, if I wanted to knit with coke bottles, I’d stop recycling and make my own asscylic yarn.” So what does she send me but yarn made exactly of that…recycled soda bottles. Well, for coke-bottle yarn it’s WAY better than red-heart could ever consider aspiring to be in the neighborhood of. I have no idea what I’ll knit with it, but dammit if it won’t be something for Jen.

Last, there’s the wonderful little take-and-go bag. At first glance I thought that she had found this in a clever little LYS, and I wondered how the HELL does she keep finding stuff in my favorite color combination: chocolate & lime.

A perfect match!

Then, upon closer inspection, here’s what I discovered:

Exact same fabric

Oh yeah, it’s easy to pecfectly match accessories when you’re the one making them! I love this bag so much it has inspired the colors for the bathroom remodel. And no, the DH has no say, or at least that’s what I’m telling myself. He can take his pick, either the bath remodel or the new guest room, but ONE of those rooms will be decked out in chocolate & lime. Thank you Jen!

Oh, before I forget…there might be a certain episode (8) of a certain podcast (Diva Knitting) from a certain Knitblogger (CK), with an interview from a certain mouthy other Knitblogger (me) that either earned her an “explicit” rating or broke her bleep button, (don’t know which) coming out in the certain near future. But you didn’t hear it from me, mkay?

Apple!

Lambing season is over at Fleury Farms. Yes, Pie finally gave it up. Exactly two weeks after the last lambs were born, she uncrossed. There is some unwritten rule in Sheepdom that says you can only have lambs if the weather sucks. Since the last couple weeks have mostly been spring-like and relatively pleasant, she clamped down and refused. We were even in shorts on Saturday. Sunday was Jared’s birthday and I really wanted to send him pictures of the new lambs as a present, but even that couldn’t convince her. Jared kept saying, “She’ll make it worth it, she’ll have twin girls.” I didn’t think she was carrying twins, and figured if she was they’d both be rams, but I was getting to the point of wondering if she was having a false pregnancy. She never slowed down, never stopped eating, and every morning I went outside and there she was, trotting around with Sadie in the adults only zone. (The moms self-separate themselves and the children for some reason) This morning we have a cold front again and we’re looking at a high in the 40s with potentially some flurries. By the end of the week we should be getting into the upper 70’s. Clearly she had a small window to give birth while unpleasant weather lingered.

While she was cleaning Apple off, I was searching in the straw for the placenta. I looked over at her to decide if she’d passed it yet and lo and behold, a leg was sticking out. A back leg. Then another. The second baby came out breech and was even kicking its legs while the front was still inside, but Pie was so intent upon cleaning Apple that she didn’t notice. Eventually, it hit the ground and made a noise. She turned to look at it and got this truly confused look in her eyes. She looked back at Apple, looked at the newcomer. There was this expression of “WTF? Didn’t I already…..?…..hhhhhhhhhhh” and she turned to lick the new one. She seemed quite bewildered by it all, but she did a damn fine job of it.

Apricot.

I’ll be damned. Jared was right, two little girls. The final score for lambing 2008: 2 rams, 5 ewes. Perfect! I fall more in love with Shetlands every day. After the initial shock wore off, she settled in quite nicely and seems quite satisfied with her accomplishment.

Apart from that, I’m on my own again for a few months, Jared has gone to do his next job.

The new roof is finished.

I’ve done a little knitting.

I’ve done a little spinning.

And I’ve been celebrating NaCroMo (National Crochet Month) with a little hook action.

You’ll notice the one thing I’ve not put on the list of things I’ve been doing is finishing. The amigurumi need embroidered eyes (they’re for a baby charity, no safety eyes) I’ve also prepared the taxes (but not yet finished consulting with the CPA) and put in for a job transfer, which will make me for all intents and purposes a full time employed outside the home type person. (but that hasn’t gone through yet, either.) Still. Busy, busy. And if the weather really does what it’s scheduled to do, I’ll be putting in the veg garden this week. Mmmmm fresh garden tomatoes. I have lots and lots of seeds ready to go and some of the seedlings I started are getting pushy to be set free, so since we’re past the frost date, I demand a lack of frost. What I do NOT demand-and let’s make no mistake about this-is hotness. I’m voting for a mild summer, who’s with me?

…you could cut it with a tissue. I know you’re all just dying to know. (BTW, that’s thinly-veiled sarcasm, just in case it wasn’t recognizable.

So what did I drive home in Monday night?

vroom-vrooooooooom!

Let me tell you it wasn’t an easy decision. I was equally torn between the 2, so I let the DH have the deciding vote…for once, and only once. The Vibe sits higher, therefore less stress on his bad leg…oh, and it’s not affiliated with Ford in any way, whatever the hell THAT s’posed to mean. Whatever. At any rate, I GOT A NEW CAR! It’s my very first ever completely new, and not just new to me, car…and I lurves it. It’s a comfortable ride, it’s zippy and it’s cute. And you would think that all the yarn cargo space in which to toss fellow knitters and hoards of yarn would be my favorite feature. You’d be almost right. My most favorite feature? It’s the end of the week, and the gas gauge is still reading at a half tank! Less gas $$$ = more yarn $$$! Hell, I may even stop bitching about my commute for the next few weeks. Who knows?

Last year, Gina put a call out for help on behalf of her lovely tortie named Snickers. She needed help raising money for an expensive surgery Snickers needed. We all know how hard it is to admit that we need financial help, let alone ask our community for that help. Gina’s no different. She stated that she wished she had something to give in return, and that’s when I designed a pattern just for her.

Fast forward to January and her State of the Snickers Address. Snickers has recovered much of the use of her injured leg. So much so that Gina has no more need to raise funds, and released the rights to the pattern. So, may I present:

A Hug For Snickers

The scarf calls for approximately 3 balls of worsted weight yarn, knit on US size 7 [4.50 mm] needles. Hugs-and-Kisses cables flank a center of cat-face and cat’s paw lace in this sweet bit of whimsy rolled up in a scarf that celebrates all those wonderful things that make our cats the adored and treasured creatures they are.

Linky for Ravelers. Otherwise, either click the button below, or go to La’s Stuff and scroll down.

You want to knit it, you know you do!

Not hummus…that exceedingly yummy, nutritious stuff made from chickpeas and spices and lemon juice that is the greek gods’ gift, their way of saying they love us.

No. I mean this Hum-

Ass!!! What is it with the pricks who think that they’re entitled to no only further the over-consumption of fossil fuels but to take 2 parking spaces? Hey Jackass! You know, if you can’t handle something that big, maybe you should get something comparable to your penis size. Might I recommend a Yaris? or a Mini, perhaps? How about a scooter? Can you say overcompensation? Sheesh!

I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way. As it would happen, I was out with Michelle indulging in a little S.E.X. on Saturday when we pulled up to the yarn shop and there it was. While I was still pulling out my camera, she jumps out of the car exclaiming…”I am so taking a picture of that fucker!” She’s threatening to start a new organization: Northern-Hempisphere Only California Association of Stupid Hummers, aka N.O.C.A.S.H. Oh how I love me a kindred spirit!

So, back to the S.E.X. Saturday morning Michelle kidnapped me and introduced me to the wonderful LYS that is Suzoo Wool Works in Costa Mesa. They had so much yarn it set my head to spinning! After all was said and done, here’s what I walked out with…

Some beautiful Opal “Feeling” to replace the Lana Grossa Meilenweit I’ve lovingly sacrificed for a pair of Kaylee socks for my SIL’s birthday and enough gorgeous “knotty” bronze buttons for CPH. Okay, that’s not all I walked out with…but the rest is destined as a prezzie for someone who reads us, so I can’t really picture it here can I? Suffice it to say it’s fibery with a distinct scent, and is accompanied by impliments.

And, as long as I’m embracing full disclosure, I also ordered enough yarn for a man-sweater for my brother…the one who has yet to receive any sort of handknit from me whatsoever. I had to guess at the quantity I would need as the sweater has yet to be designed, but getting very close. So, you see, I actually didn’t WALK out with 10 balls of beautiful lichen-colored superwash worsted of a brand of yarn I can’t quite remember the name of. It’ll be walking it’s way to me by next week.

Michelle make a respectable haul too, but that’s her story to tell. I very much enjoyed Suzoo’s and look forward to revisiting once they get done with their rennovations. The ladies who work there were extremely friendly and helpful, and the ladies gathered around the table knitting and whatnot were fun to eavesdrop upon.

That afternoon I went car shopping. Me. By myself. Which is how I like it. I visited several dealerships and within only a couple of hours, narrowed my shortlist down to 2 choices, drove the 15 minutes back home, grabbed the DH and took him first to the Mazda dealership, and then to Pontiac.

So, which do you think I ended up with?

Zoom-zoom?

or

Vroom-Vroom?

The 3 of you who already know, no fair cheating! You’re not allowed to guess!

Way better than a noodle sammich!

This little guy was part of a much anticipated and well-worth-the-wait final birthday package. The box was chock full of yummy fibery goodness, the rest of which I’ll share later because…well, mainly because “La” could easily stand for “Lazy”…and I only got around to taking pictures of Mini-Moze, and only because I felt like it. I am Sloth, hear me roar! (but only when I’m up to it)

Man, is this the work of an artist, or what! She was able to extrapolate Momoze’s marking extremely accurately, having only the images in my flickr gallery to work with.

…(pinky) Hello, I am Mini-Moze

What a labor of love. Thanks Jen!

So, come Sunday we’ll have a new addition to the family…

2008 Pontiac Vibe

After driving it over eleventy hundred thousand hard miles, we’re trading in my trusty steed aka The Malibu. I’m sure gonna miss her. I LOVED that car, so fast and comfy and pretty with her bronze mist paint job and sassy little rear spoiler. But I done wore her out ass with all the shitty-commute-of-hard-driving for the last 5 years. Besides, her gas mileage is sucking me dry, not to mention the ever-increasing maintenance costs.

Time to go riding off into the sunset…