Finished!

I just finished my second yarn.

So this


Became this


Spun into this


Plied into this


Was knit into this (with some assistance from extra Cascade 220 black).

What's for Dinner

Dave and I have not gone shopping in at least 2 weeks. It's not my favorite thing to do since it tends to exacerbate dizzy spells. So, when I got home from a LONG day at work, I went into the bedroom to hide from dinner. I had absolutely nothing planned, so I improvised.

The "All You Can Eat" Recipe--cause when it's gone, you've gotta go shopping

• 1 onion, chopped
  
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning (or use this recipe like I do, I would double this recipe)
• 1 jalapeno from jar
  
• 1 pkg. frozen corn (cooked for half the time called for in microwave)
• 1 can black beans, rinsed
• 1 pkg. taco seasoning cheese (or cheddar, or Mexican cheese, etc.)
• 2 c. cooked rice
• 1 jar salsa (optional)
  

1. Brown ground beef and onion and rinse.
2. Add taco seasoning mix and jalapeno and let simmer for about 4-5 minutes while par cooking corn.
3. Add rinsed black beans and corn, and stir.
4. Serve over cooked rice topped with cheese. Optional salsa on the side.

One quick and easy dinner. Now, we're off to go shopping.

Spinning

So, Dave put the wheel together when we got home Sunday night. After work on Monday, I figured out how the double drive worked and started spinning. Here's a picture of some of my first attempts. It's not too bad.

It's Here!

My spinning wheel is here!!! I'm so happy. I was a patient, good girl, and it paid off. The only problem is that I'm out of town this weekend. So, while I'm at my parents' house, it's all alone at home, waiting forlornly to be put together.

But, on the bright side, IT'S HERE!

In the Meantime

I have tried to be patient while waiting for my spinning wheel. It's not working. So, I've tried to distract myself. Also not working. But here's what I've been working on:

Dyeing a Small Sample of Roving


Spinning Sample of Roving


Finishing Yarn


Dye New Roving




Knitting







So, I wait, and I try to be patient.

The Best Valentine's Day Ever

Yesterday was Valentine's Day; however, if you were one of the few people who didn't know this, you're probably in trouble right now anyway, so I don't have to tell you. Anyway, this is the third Valentine's Day Dave and I have celebrated together, and I think it was the best one yet.

Year 1, Dave and I are dating and about to get engaged. Pretty unmemorable Valentine's Day. This is okay with me. I have told Dave that I don't want flowers or chocolates on V-Day. That day, they're a rip-off. Now, any other day is fine. Please, get me flowers; buy me chocolate; but not that day. I do remember ALMOST getting an engagement ring, but the one I saw on Craigslist (we were poor, people) wasn't what I thought it was, so we decided not to get it, putting of our engagement a couple of weeks.

Year 2, another unmemorable Valentine's Day.

Year 3, this year, I like having Valentine's Day on Saturday. It is wonderful to get to sleep in. Dave made me biscuits and gravy with heart-shaped biscuits--from scratch. We lolled around the house until I discovered we were on our very last roll of toilet paper, off to Hy-vee. Dodging around the Valentine's Day husbands, we decided to have lunch. It was 2 by then, so it was past time, and I was starving (and crabby). So, Dave has the chinese food he LOVES, and I get the salad bar. This is one thing I actually like about Hy-vee. They have an all-you-can eat salad bar with pineapple--one of my favorite things in the world. After two plates of pineapple and a couple more of other things, we were off, got the tp, and started home. The best part of the trip was walking there and back. We live within walking distance, but we rarely do--who wants to carry milk and tp home. Dave convinced me, and I'm glad we did. It's nice being able to just walk with Dave.

I spent most of the day knitting. I have several projects that needed to be done weeks ago. Dave worked on various things, including housework. I love my husband. Dinner was the best part. Dave was napping and I was cooking. I nipped into the bathroom and dressed up. I called to Dave, and he finished most of dinner. I set the table, lit the candles, and we were ready for our romantic dinner: sloppy joes, beans, and french fries. Yep. This is why I love Dave. It was the best day ever. Probably unmemorable, and I'll forget this all by next year, but I LOVED this Valentine's Day. I win.

Look Who's Coming to Dinner . . .

Yep. After a LOT of thought and a little saving, look what should be on its way--A SPINNING WHEEL! It didn't take a year for me to jump in with both feet, it took 2 months. (At least I didn't fall for the $2000 supercarder, or that's what I tell my husband.)

It's a Kromski Minstrel with mahogany finish, and I can't wait until it gets here! I'm buying it used from someone on Ravelry, and she said it would be mailed by/on today. I've already ordered a couple of pounds of some different fiber to learn what I'm doing. In the meantime, I'm spinning like mad on my spindles so I can finish some ounces of fiber I've been working on.

I enjoy spinning on my spindles, but I'd like to go further, so I'm happy to know it's on its way. I went to the library and checked out 3 books on how to spin. I've already read one, and it was helpful, and now I'm reading The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning. I have haven't enjoyed nonfiction so much since I stopped teaching. Amos has an amazing voice that comes through his writing, not to mention that he has information about everything in that book. I learned more in 30 minutes of reading than days of searching and watching youtube videos.

I almost bought an entire fleece today. There's an amazing farm in Marion that sells Romeldale and Romney fleeces. (see Peeper Hollow Farms) I was all set to go and select a smallish (3-4 pound) fleece when I realized that I had gone completely insane. There's jumping in with both feet, and then there's bellyflopping. I'm going to wait until the next shearing, and then buy a fleece. In the meantime, I'll focus on spinning, and what I like in a fiber. I can focus on prepping fibers after a little, at least 6 months. Patience. Sigh.