My Life, the Universe, and Everything.

Stuff and Nonsense.

2008-04-29T21:30:00.000-07:00

Branching Out is coming along pretty decently. I took a bit of a break from knitting it, but now it's zooming along. I've discovered that I knit lace much tighter than I would stockinette. Eventually, that is. You can see how the scarf is really fat at the beginning, and getting narrower as it goes along. Thank god for blocking.

I'm going to start up on the Hedera socks tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow. No more putting them off! It turns out that it wasn't working at first because I was doing yarn overs wrong. Ugh. I've been doing them wrong for MONTHS. That situation called for a "palmface." Well, now that I know that yarn over doesn't mean "yarn over, knit one," things will go much better. I'm excited about them.

As for the spinning wheel situation, I've decided to keep my Ashford Traditional for now, but to get one that's more portable and reliable for mobile spinning. From what I can tell, the Traditional is easily reparable, but I don't trust that nothing else will happen to it. If I didn't have to take that class in Alberta, I'd just stick with it, but I'm terrified that something else might happen to it while I'm there. An Ashford Kiwi looks like the way to go. Inexpensive, beginner friendly, small and compact enough to be portable, and adorable enough that I can fall in love with it. I can't wait to get it!

Okay! Now that Scott has finally stopped playing his new Grand Theft Auto game (after about ten hours), I'm off to eat popcorn and watch me some Star Trek Voyager.

AH HA!

2008-04-19T16:25:00.001-07:00

I think I have a solution to my most recent wheel problem.

If I can't make the screw stop spinning, maybe I can replace the screw with something else. Tomorrow after work, I'm off to the hardware store. I think this will work!

My patience is wearing thin

2008-04-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

So far, I have had unending patience with my spinning wheel, but I'm almost at the end of my rope.

It's been nearly two full months since I got it, and I haven't been able to use it for more than twenty minutes yet. I have to go to Alberta to take a class in spinning in two months, and I haven't been able to practice AT ALL yet.

Every time I think I've fixed one problem, another pops up. The leather broke, so I replaced it. When I put in the new leather it broke the footman. My friends was nice enough to repair it for me, and make a spare part in case it happens again. I finally, after a month of waiting, got the part back, and put it on. I got to spin for ONE minute before I noticed that as the wheel turns, the screw holding the footman to the wheel loosens or tightens. A lot. So much that it's totally useless.

So, I've decided that this will be the last problem. After I fix this (if I can fix this) if anything else goes wrong within the first few days, I'm just going to sell if for spare parts, and buy a new one. A brand new right off the production line one. This damn wheel has just been so stressful, and there is enough stress in my life already. Even broken, I'm sure someone would be willing to give me $50 for it. That's only a loss of $150, two months, and my sanity. Sigh.

I think if if comes to that, I'd like a Kiwi. Those are supposed to be good.

On a positive note, I'm trying my hand at lace knitting, and I'm really pleased with it. I'm about 25% done my branching out scarf. I had to rip back just about every row a couple of times for the first repeat or two, but now it's just flying off the needles. There will be much more lace in my future. I have a huge crush on Laminaria in the new spring knitty. It's out of my skill level now for sure, but it's something to work towards.

MUST UPDATE BLOG.

2008-03-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

It's been quite some time, again. I was trying to update a couple of nights ago, but I kept messing up when trying to add pictures, got frustrated, and gave up. I still haven't gotten the hang of this blogger thing, you see. I update my livejournal somewhat more diligently, if you have the desire to take a peek. A lot of the entries are friends only (as I don't want my boss to stumble across it, and see my copious work bitchings), but if I know you, just add me and I'll let you see.

I'm never quite sure if that comma should be before the parenthesise, or after. Someday I'll look it up.

I was planning on going to Beacon Hill Park, the Petting Zoo, and some other nice places today, but the way the weather is looking, that may change. I suppose it's never too cloudy to look at a pig, or let a goat chew on my hair though. We shall see. Of course, there will be a stop at Beehive to "get needles" that will most likely turn into buying more pretty yarn. And the gardening centre! It's that kind time of year again.

I have an itch to knit olives. Ester is so close to being done, I can taste it. FOUR MORE ROWS. Oh yes. Here she is in all her glory:

Why am I not working on it right now? Okay, I'm getting on that as soon as I'm done this.

And here's what's going on in my house at the moment:

Yes, It's very exciting.

Okay, Okay, I'm going to work on Ester already.

I double broke the spinning wheel.

2008-02-26T20:46:00.000-08:00

I'm really not impressed with myself. I broke the new spinning wheel the first time I used it. There are two moving parts held together with a little bit of leather, and I snapped the leather. It was really old and brittle, so no surprise there. So, I got a new piece of leather to replace it, put it on, and gave it a spin. It lasted for all of five turns. So, I tried a different material, and that snapped, too. I tried to put in an even thicker one, and that's how I broke it even worse.

One of the wooden parts split right down the middle. The footman, I think it's called. How the heck did that happen?

I'm still not going to get frustrated. I have a friend that might be willing to make a replacement for me. And if she can't, I'm sure there's someone that I could just hire to do it. Or maybe Ashford sells replacement parts.

Okay. I won't let this get me down.

On a better note, I got into the Master Spinning program at Olds College. I'm pretty excited about it. Woo! Yes. I'll be in the same class as Kaitlin, so it will be FANTASTIC.

My Ester is threghtening to go into hibernation. I REALLY want to work on it, but I'm kind of a slow knitter, and it takes about half an hour to do one row. It's just hard to find time to sit down and do it. The prospect of starting on the Hedera socks is really exciting though. I can't wait to get going on them! It'll probably help me finish Ester too, since I'll have something to do when I get bored to take a break. If that makes any sense.

I have a spinning wheel!

2008-02-24T09:28:00.001-08:00

I got a spinning wheel yesterday! She's a beautiful 30 odd year old Ashford Traditional Single Drive. Barely used at all! I got her from a lady who bought her for her mother way back when. The lady said that her mother liked her old one better, and just never used the new one. So, 30 years and $200 later, she's mine. And she'll never be neglected again! I'm going to buy some wool today, and give her a spin. Ooh, I made a pun. Very good.

I just need to think of a name for her. I'm leaning towards "Olive," but the possibilities are endless. She kind of makes a hooting sound when she's going, so maybe I'll call her "Owl." It looks like an "O" trend is starting to appear.

This is so exciting!

Things that pop into my head.

2008-02-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I ought to update.

I've been ready go to bed since I woke up today, and I'm really looking forward to it. I don't know what it is, but I've been really tired all. . . Well, for a really damn long time. So tired that I've almost fallen asleep at work while standing at my till several times. Oh god, am I ever tired. Sleep will be GLORIOUS.

I'm updating from bed again. My cat, Finnegan is peeking over the top of the computer at me. Super cute.

It's been a while since I did anything. I should go out and see people. Perhaps Elyse would be up for knitting/movies/alcohol. Or Bree. It's been a million years since we've done anything. I've been thinking about having some people over for a movie thing, too. Movie nights are pretty excellent. Perhaps a Beer Trek - Take Two.

Did I mention that I really want to sleep? All day sounds like a good length of time.

Thoughts and such

2008-02-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

Today was pretty much the same as any other day. Two of the three tills broke at work, and it was rather stressful. I'm really trying not to be too negative anymore though, so I'm just going to leave that subject alone.

So, guess where I am? In bed is where. On the computer. Oh yes. All day I've just wanted to crawl into bed, but I don't feel like going to sleep, so here I am. Everything is set up so I won't need to move my ass until it's time to brush my teeth and go to sleep. When I'm done writing this, I think I'm going to watch Life is Beautiful, knit, and drink tea.

I think it may be time for me to change jobs. I really like my co-workers, and I'm really comfortable with all of my duties, but getting there and back is a bit of a pain. It's either two busses each way (that don't connect well at all), or a 40 minute walk each way. I've been walking every day this year, so far. I do enjoy the walk. It's time to wind down, or wake up, and time alone with my thoughts. I've come up with lots of wonderful ideas for things I'd like to knit and to cook, I've even worked out a perfectly balanced budget on the walks. But the other thing is that I'm spending ten hours on my feet every day, and it's really taking it's toll on me. My right leg and hip have hurt almost constantly for nearly a year now, and my right shoulder has been starting to feel the same way in the past few months. I'm pretty sure it's from walking so much to get there, standing and running around all day, and lifting heavy grocery bags with one arm. Yeah. I think I want to work at a flower shop. That would be nice.

I've been looking into enrolling in the Environmental Sciences program at Camosun. It would require some upgrading, but I'm up for it. Yes. This is something that I really want to do with my life. It will be good.

Post The First

2008-02-03T10:51:00.000-08:00

I figured it was high time I got myself a Blog.

I hope to fill it with my cooking, knitting and everyday life. There isn't too much to say other than that, at the moment, but there is more to come.