I believe that things happen for a reason and there's a purpose to most things in the universe.  The latest example (for me) is my sweater.  I bought the roving last year at Maryland Sheep and Wool.  I had no idea of what it would become (other than I wanted a sweater for me) but I spun a few ounces to see what it felt like.  I made a soft, two ply yarn and left it alone.  For a year.

Along comes the Oatmeal sweater.  I weigh my fiber.  The directions say it'll take about 1 1/2 pounds of bfl.  I have just under 2 pounds of what I think is bfl.  The wpi should be 13.  I did a quick check and the skein I have already made is 13wpi.  Omens were looking good.

Meanwhile, Pk and I put our toxic waste into the car to take it to Toxic Waste Collection Day.  We had to wait in line for about half an hour (there must be a LOT of toxic waste in our county!) and I used the time to knit up a swatch of my handspun fiber.

Here's my yarn in a cake and here's my swatch.  I did a bit of ribbing at the bottom and them a plain stockinette swatch.  The color is really off.  When I got home and measured it, it's spot on.  This was meant to be.

Now all I have to do is spin a consistent yarn so it will all work out.  I started yesterday and have most of a bobbin full of singles but today, the tendonitis in my right hand is acting up so maybe I'll just put it on hold for a bit.  The fabric is soft and sturdy.  It's dense and if the gauge wasn't right on the money, I might have moved up a needle size (the recommended size is a 4mm).

We spent the rest of yesterday purchasing food and some bedding plants.  Elanor is taking charge of the garden and she and Pk bought some flowers for out front and some vegetables and herbs for out back.

I took El for her first pedicure today.  I knew I wanted to go and thought she might like it as a pick me up (the job market around here is sucky and she has only had one or two nibbles that fell through).  We went and let them scrub our feet and make them gorgeous and then massage our hands and make them gorgeous as well.  El has blue toenails and pale mother-of-pearl fingers.  I have deep red toes and pale pink fingers.  The young man who gave me my manicure did such a perfect job that even my short nails (three broke and I cut them all even) look all feminine and pretty.  I have to keep admiring them.



Friday morning sunshine (through fog!)

I'm going to spend the afternoon watching Warehouse 13 episodes (I just discovered it and think it's a hoot!) and doing laundry and working on a baby sweater for a woman at work as long as my hand doesn't hurt.  It's raining and chilly and I can't think of anything better.

Here's a couple of photos that have no connection to anything else, I just thought I'd share.




Friday sunset

What a difference a day makes!  I hope you all are having whatever kind of weekend that makes you happy.  They fly by so quickly that it's a shame to spend them only doing chores!

And since it's still Poetry Month, here's another favorite of mine (I was originally thinking of Walt Whitman's Song of Myself but then I remembered that it has over 50 stanzas and can be a trial to read)

I wandered lonely as a cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed---and gazed---but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

William Wordsworth