Thursday, June 5, 2008




Well, we are gearing up once again for the Tour de France KAL. It starts July 5 and if you want more info, go here and read all about it. There are some terrific badges this year designed by Meg's coworker. I am planning to knit the Adamas shawl that the yarn harlot just finished. I wanted to try a lace shawl and when I saw her finished project, it spoke to me. I've ordered my yarn and will attempt to earn a polka dot jersey (for those tackling a tough project which doesn't have to be finished before the end of the race, although I'd like to finish). Kate and I are team leaders and are getting excited. Check it out and if you're interested, sign up soon. There are a limited number of spaces!
PK, who is a bad influence on me, suggested we take a "mental health day" on Tuesday. That's what we call it when the alarm goes off and we just can't make ourselves go to work. So, we stayed home and played with our toys all day. I pulled out the spinning wheel (he played with some power tools. I'm going to need my blocking frame when I finish that shawl!)and decided to be brave and spin up the beautiful roving that Georgie sent me after I had my surgery. It was so lovely and soft to work with after the scratchy romney. Here's what it looked like. It's still a little uneven in spots but overall, it's gorgeous. It was hard to get a photo that showed the color. And yes, that is my pasty white leg behind the beautiful yarn. I was so pleased with it. I'm trying to spin a little each day so I can get better. Unfortunately, the foot I need to use for the treadle is the one I dislocated 3 years ago and the constant motion makes it achy. No spinning for me today. And no, I can't use my left foot. It's not coordinated enough.
I did have some help with the spinning.




As soon as I pulled out the basket that holds the roving, Calvin came over. He knocked over the bag and started rolling in the wool. It was like catnip. He was so weird. I gave him his own piece (the only way I could keep the cat spit off the rest!) and he rolled around with it.

And Hobbes? He did what cats do best.




Have a peaceful weekend, all. We are predicted to have temps in the high 90's (37C) ! Last week we were in the 60's and wondering if it would ever get warm. Well, I guess the answer to that is YES.

12 comments:

Olivia said...

Aww, that Calvin is such a cutie with his piece of wool. My dog Mia sometimes likes to 'deconstruct' a ball of wool that's been left within her reach. It's annoying but she never breaks it (just the ball band) I just have to re-wind it!

Amy Lane said...

That's hilarious! If you can't spin it, roll in it!!!! (I love that you named your cats Calvin and Hobbes--in the spirit of the little goombahs, isn't it?)

Rose Red said...

ah the mental health/doona day - wonderful!

Love your spinning - the colour is fabulous!

And tour de France - I think I shall join you! Might be a good time to wear the polka dot jersey and do some entrelac!

Dianne said...

Your spinning looks great! Love the pictures of the kitties, too!

Bezzie said...

96 tomorrow. Yuck!

Your spinning is coming along nicely--so addicting huh?

amy said...

I'm having a hard time comprehending 90-degree weather (predicted up here, too) when it's pouring AGAIN! Although I did hear that us folks right near the ocean would get temps 10 degrees cooler than the poor saps inland. ;)

I may have to go check out that KAL. As if I'm not doing enough this summer, growing a person and all....

And oh, my mom used to call it the same thing, "mental health day." Mental health is just as important as physical. Maybe more so.

roxie said...

Your cats seem to be aptly named. Hobbes looks sooo sweet! And Calvin, that wild boy! In his imagination he is running amuck, slaughtering sheep right and left. Grrrr! Rowllll! (Things are much more fun in the imagination.)

Lovely spinning! soo pretty. Hooray for mental health days!

OzKnitter said...

Hi, I've joined the TdF KAL for the second year and I'm a part of your 'team'. I'm aiming for a green jersey and I'm planning to design and knit a pair of socks.

Roll on July!

Georgie said...

Oh my, that's really beautiful! Youve done a lovely job bringing the colours together.

And that's why Im such a cat person - they know the good stuff when they see it. Discerning critters!

Bells said...

Love a mental health day. And I love that PK talked you into it. That guy just sounds better and better all the time.

And I'm a Green Jersey girl! What fun!

Sheepish Annie said...

Anne of Wooly Wonka once reminded me of "the alchemy of knitting" and how it works around unevenly spun yarn. She is so right! Whatever you knit with your handspun won't care about the spots that aren't perfect. That's the beauty of handmade yarn, after all!

Let's all think cool thoughts for the weekend. Tomorrow is when we get hit with the heat. Gah!!!

MadMad said...

Oh, I loved that Adamas shawl she made - it's gorgeous. So are your cats, btw. And so is your handspun! Wow! I love that you're making it into a scarf for him!

Happy Sunday!  I am sitting here working on my sweater made with the cashmere yarn my husband gave me for my birthday last year. I’m further...