Woolybuns

The Busy Month

I've been out of state about as much as I've been in state this October, 2 fiber festivals, spinning guild, an amazing show in DC, connecting with an old friend, and I'll be leaving again this morning, this time to Maine.  But in the midst of all this fun travel and connecting with old friends stuff, something else  happened and I want to share it with you.  Meet Ben, my new little grandson, born Sunday, Oct. 25, weighing in at 7 pounds 6 ounces, 20.5 inches long.

New little babies are one of life's sweetest treasures.

Dear Staples Honcho In Charge Of Coyly Cheating The Customer

You just lost a customer over ten cents. All I needed was 10 copies of one page. The price for the service is 9 cents per page. But you installed that cash card machine that only takes even dollar amounts and won't take plain old cash anymore. On the surface, that machine might seem to be a convenience for the customer and a cost cutter for the store since neither now have to bother with employees interacting with customers. But I did notice in order to use the machine, I have to overload the card with money that you promise I can spend anywhere else in the store. Clever. For you. For me? Yes, I noticed that requires I give you money up front, money I may prefer to spend elsewhere but you've already got it so it doesn't matter if someone else has a better deal or I am conveniently in front of a competitor. You've already got my money, sitting there earning you interest but just tied up for me.  Brilliant on your end, but oh so offensive in it's effect on me. Thank you for helping me make a decision.  I am now planning to purchase a nice printer with copy capabilities. From one of your competitors.

With utmost sincerity from a former customer,

Chris

Giggles I've Found Through Facebook

Why men have motorcycles. 

Awkward moments on FB.  I am most fond of the mother son moment.

Dancing baby.  Love that foot action! 

Chatty baby. 

Hello, Blog

I've neglected you.  It was even kind of a conscious choice.  Not a lot of fibery stuff has been happening, just slow knitting on the socks for my trainer (she has very. long. feet), and pleasant slogging away on spinning the singles for peppermint cormo, angora, silk 3 ply.  About half an ounce still to spin, then the joy of plying.  I did dabble in dye pots briefly and yesterday was Nutmeg Spinning Guild.   

At the barn, there are now two new borders, each with a Thoroughbred.  The first one to arrive did so in very sad shape.  She is off the track, badly neglected but now in the hands of a very caring man.  This mare is making huge progress back to health.  I look forward to seeing her bloom.  CC looks forward to biting her. 

My snarky mare would not speak to me on Friday.  I cheated on her. On Tuesday, I drove to Maryland to stay with a friend and go see an amazing show.  Cavalia.  Kind of merge the Lippizan show with Cirque du Soleil.   We got the horse lovers tickets which included a visit to the stables after the show.  And seats 7 rows from the stage - well, not really a stage, more an arena.  I want to go back and see the performance again.  CC's ears are probably full snark flat back at the mere thought of it.  On Friday, I attempted to cuddle her as she so clearly loves to do.  She lowers her head into the circle of my arms and I stroke her face.  Every time I tried on Friday, she pulled her head away, flattened her ears and just said no.  Then happily accepted petting from someone else.  I've been duly rebuked. 

The latest news?  As of yesterday, Kiri has a new puppy to not play with.  Mighty Quinn is a 3 month old
cream standard poodle, feelilng a bit shell shocked at his change of circumstance.  He has latched onto me as his friend of choice and when Kiri tries to play with him, Quinn draws closer to me.  When Kiri tries to cuddle with me, Quinn growls at her.  A few times, he's even lept at her, snapping disapproval.  Not quite what I had in mind when I brought him into my family.  Housebreaking is off to a miserable start, primarily due to thunderstorms which started about the time Quinn and I arrived here.  Soaking wet, Quinn looks more like an angora goat kid than a puppy.  He appreciates a good brisk toweling after our forays out into the weather.  And he's pleasingly inclined to shake hands already.  How much fiber he will eat remains to be seen.

Someone Needs To Get Flocked And You Can Help Him Do It

Have you heard about the great flock give away?  A grizzled old goat who happens to be pretty good with critters entered the contest and he could use your vote.   Of course, if your own friend entered the contest, I understand you won't be voting for my friend and I won't hold it against you.  :)

All They Are Saying Is Give Pete A Chance

Pete is a moose who had a tough day early in life.  Attacked by dogs and abandoned by bureaucrats, Pete the Moose ended up with David as a nurse, and he not only survived, but thrived.  Now the bureaucrats who abandoned him then are kicking up a fuss.  Pete's fate is kinda up in the air at the moment, but a lot of people (4,809 according to the latest total posted on Facebook ) adopted the moose as a cause, with that clever, wish-I-came-up-with-it title up there as the theme song.  The moose now has a website so non-Facebook folks can join the fun, too.  I thought some of you might like the link.  You with the gun can just mosey on by.

It Wasn't Lipstick On Her Collar But It Told The Tale On Her

Sittin' and sippin' my first morning cuppa, not paying much attention to Kiri as she idly wandered from my feet to her chew bone to a stuffie.  Then she came and sat in front of me to stare, as she does when she wants something.  One glance had me laughing.  Little miss innocent - of course she didn't get into the fiber!  How could I possibly think that???  But all's well.  She apparently just sniffed it and that tiny bit jumped on her nose.  The fiber is cormo, angora and silk, colorway peppermint ice cream, and it's currently on my Rose, on it's way to being a 3 ply, I think.  So far,I have about an ounce spun, so I think it's time to start a fresh bobbin.  Once I have three of them, I'll ply to see if that's what I want.  I have enough of the roving to change my mind if I don't like the finished skein.  But the tiny sample I did with plying on itself made me happy.  What it becomes after it's yarn?  Not a clue.    

A Pleasant Way To Spend A Rainy Day

Sometimes, a bunny just kind of hops a bit deeper into your heart.  This fella has done precisely that.  He is a pointed white, 50% German, 50% French, born last March so he is only 5 months old.  I hadn't intended to keep him but he got to meu, and I started thinking of him as Smudge.  One of my firm rules: do not name the ones who are not staying.  Once you name them, there is a personal connection.  So Smudgie stayed, along with one of his brothers who has yet to let me know what his name is.  The brother took after their dad, the Frenchie.  Smudge took after the German side.  He's got an impressively solid, substantial set of shoulders, a butt to  match, and a coat to lust after: densedensedense, as much crimp as density, and all that lovely non-matting character.  His full name is officially Hop Smudge Sundae.  Apparently, I am not the only one who finds him irresistable.  We had visitors today looking at Bunivere's and Hopalot's babies, and, since more rain happened for a full 24+ hours, I brought Bunivere and babies into the kitchen for a couple hours.  Just so the visitors could see samples of my bunnies, I brought Smudge in for a brief visit, too.  All the babies crowded around, claiming him as an older brother.  Bunivere, though, claimed Smudge in an entirely different way, the little tart flirt. I had to move quickly to prevent unauthorized activity so there are no photos of the moment.  I did promise her a date with him in the future.  The babies did their own flirting, with the camera.  This little girl could be the one who stays here.  I've got the choice narrowed down to two.  The other possible is the one on the left in the photo of the two in slipper pose.  The one on the right is promised to the visitor today, and she has named the doe Ziyal.  Interestingly, the visitor's husband bonded with the only buck in the litter, even dubbed him Capt. Jack Rabbit.   The man insists they will only have one rabbit. 

Senator Ted Kennedy

Immense sadness at his passing.  Others have and will write more eloquently of his greatness, his unfailing devotion to a better life for working people.  Yes, he, like all of us, had his faults.  But he rose above them.  He gave back far more than he took, both to his family and to America.  When I first heard he had the same horrible illness one of my uncle's is soon to die from, I had hoped the Senator would have a longer, healthier time than usual, as my uncle has.  I had hoped he would live to see his legislative efforts on health care reform rewarded and feel he has been cheated of that.  My hope now is that Congress will honor "the greatest United States Senator of our time" by crafting and passing health care reform worthy of the man.  Rest well, Senator.  You earned it.

Now Where Did I Put That Pattern?

Corrie blue bunny is all spun up.  Unless I have more of this fiber hiding someplace - entirely possible given the number of brown leaf bags in which I store fiber stashed here and there around the house - I have about 1100 yards of this handspun.  I originally planned a simple stockinette with roll edges sweater but I don't think that is enough yardage.  And given the nature of the spin, I suspect I'd have a lot of pilling under arms if I made a sweater anyway, so at this point, I think a shawl is what this yarn wants to be.  I bought the Portuguese Fisherwoman's Shawl pattern at Spa last February, designed by friend Shelagh and think this is the right pattern for this yarn.  I'm eager to cast on but first things first: bath and abuse for the yarn and while it's drying, find the pattern.