Turkish Baths are off!

That's right! I didn't have to go to the Turkish Baths tonight! Unfortunately, our plans were cancelled because Carl came down with some kind of stomach bug. I put him to bed and I'm watch some Inspector Lynly while I work on my gauge swatch for my designing class with Stephanie Japel this weekend!! I'm so exicted. I can't wait to tell you all about it when I get back.

Equus and Turkish Baths

Last night a couple girlfriends and I went to see Equus. I have to say it was phenominal and very intense. I thought the Daniel Radcliffe was amazing. Its the kind of play where the main characters are never really offstage and he never faltered. The naked scene was slightly awkward (I also think it might have been a little cold in the theatre) but once all the stripping was over and they got back to the action and talking I forgot all about the nudity. If you don't mind a slightly out there play with nudity that is VERY well written and acted go see it. 

So I'm having my morning coffee right now (don't worry the coffee is on the table and the computer is on my lap just in case I spill again) and I'm trying to prepare myself for the day. I'm off tomorrow so I can head to VA for a class with Stephanie Japel so I have a lot to get done at work before I can leave. But that's not what I'm preparing for. The other day Carl asked if I would go to this Turkish bath place with him tonight. I said sure because I'm a good girlfriend. I went on the site last night to see what treatments they have and I was shocked! Every description scared the crap out of me. I kept hearing this deep eastern european voice as a read descriptions like "we'll beat and pound out the stress" "we hit you with brooms" "if you want us to be gentle tell us" and various other things (yes there is actually a treatment where they whack you with some sort of broom). I'm sure they aren't as violent as they sound but the descriptions don't encourage me to find out! Hopefully, I make it out alive tonight.

I know I haven't talked about my knitting very much this week but I really haven't done much. I still have a mitten to finish and I'm working on both my shawls. I've also been really into my spindle at the moment. Tonight I have to start winding all my yarn for class and knitting up a guage swatch. Of course that all depends on how bruised and beaten I am after this whole Turkish bath thing.

Off to work, have a good Thursday.

EUREKA!

I finally figured out the support spindle!! And by "figured it out" I mean that I stalked Cat from LetKnit2Gether.com on plurk and asked her if she had any pointers. Apparently you need to hold the fiber at about a 45 degree angle from the tip of the sindle. Once you hit the correct angle the twist will actually start to travel up the leader/fiber. I kept trying to spin at a 90 degree angle and the twist never came. I nearly chucked thing across the room it was so frustrating. But now that I know, I'm making things yarn not pretty yarn but yarn all the same. So I should say a very big THANK YOU to Cat for helping me out (not that she read the blog but I still want to put that out there). I thought I was losing my mind when I couldn't figure the little bugger out. THANK YOU CAT!

I dyed

I decided today I would dye some of the roving I bought. I think I had a little too much fun since I managed to dye about 3 of 5 pounds I have. They're all superwash merino and they feel like butter (really want to spin them). There are a few colorways I want to keep for myself but alas they must be sold.

They are all drying at my mom's house in the burbs. I'll pick then up on sunday and will hopefully have them in the shop next week.

I just made it back to the city and I'm exhausted. I asked my brother to get me a supported spindle for my birthday and it finally arrived so I'm trying to figure out how to use this thing but I'm at a complete lose. Anybody able to help (click the link to see what kind I got). Iwill love you forever if you can.

I was going to make potato and cheddar soup for dinner tonight but I am way too tired to make soup from scratch. I guess I'll make up a batch on friday when I'm off. Then Carl will have food for the weekend while I'm away with a few friends. It really is the best fall weather soup. So yummy with crusty bread...now I'm salivating.

Ok collapsing. I watched Lost in Austen yesterday and now I'm in the mood for a little Darcy so I'm going to curl up with Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife and read (I think this is the fifth time I've read this book...man does Mr. Darcy take her!...SWOON).

Scaring the "In-Crowd"

I finished book in the Southern Vampire series (the books True Blood is based on) last night and had nothing to read on the bus this morning so I grab my copy of In Sheep's Clothing that I just received yesterday and headed out the door. I got on the bus, found me a seat and started reading. Next thing I know the little fashionistas on the bus are looking at me all strange-like. I started to chuckle a little inside, is it wrong that I found/find enjoyment in frightening them just a little?

Today I raise my geek flag a little higher!

Why I can't have nice things...

I got up early, grabbed some coffee and my spinning and sat down at the computer to check ravelry quickly before I started my spinning. Next thing I know I'm spilling my coffee all over our BRAND NEW LAPTOP while Carl stares at me in horror. Next thing I know I'm jumping up to get paper towels, dumping the coffee out of the computer onto the coffee table (yah that has a whole new meaning now) and running to the bathroom to start blow drying the keyboard dry.

I guess I'm not spinning this morning and I guess I will have to drink my coffee before I get on the computer in the morning. 

At least its friday!

Knitting Goodies!

The HR lady at work gave me a gift certificate to knitpicks for my birthday. Of course I ordered some goodies right away. I picked up Knitting Lace with Meg Swanson and the knee-sel. I think knitpicks finally figured out how to ship in a timely manner because I placed the order on friday and it arrived today! I haven't been able to watch the DVD yet because Carl has been here and I think he'd kill me if I tried to make him watch it. I did however whip out my chart for the Winter Twilight Mittens so I could try out the knee-sel. This thing is awesome!!! I hated working on patterns with charts because I could never find a place to put my pattern where I could read it and knit at the same time. But now it's just right there in front of me!! Ok I know I sound like one of those sales people on HSN or QVC or something but this is thing is freakin awesome. I think I see many more charted patterns in my future. 

Anyway, I've been waking up super early of late. OK 6 am is not super early but it is when you're 25, you live 20 minutes from work and you don't have to be there till 9am. I keep waking up at 6am bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ready to start the day. Carl however, has been sleeping in so my being awake annoys him so I have taken to sneaking up to the living room and knitting or spinning. I thinke this is the perfect way to start the day. I get a little coffee from the deli across the street and say hi to my coffee guys, then I come home, pop in something good to watch and I knit or spin. Its just so wonderful. I think its starting to effect my attitude too. I've been in a rather crummy mood the last few days but after some days of early morning me time I'm starting to feel a mood shift. I'm actually a little happier anbd pleasant! I know right...me...NICE! 

Sorry, Carl just walked in with really good cookies, I'm trying not to salivate too much on the keyboard right now. I should probably take that as a sign to leave you. Have a good night!

And the winner is...

Aunt Kathy!!! You have won two beautiful skeins of natural wool from Sankow's Beaver Brook Farm in Lyme, CT. In total I think there are about 450 yards. This stuff is beautiful, despite my crappy pictures. Email me (address in sidebar!) and we'll arrange shipment!



Aunt Kathy's Story:

I always remember my 15th birthday as being special, but can I tell you why? NO, it just was. Also every year once we were a teenager our dad would take us out to dinner at a grown up restaurant just the birthday girl and him. Those were very special.

Now every year, my mom and my two sisters and I always celebrate our birthdays on the same day in a Mexican restaurant and we flirt with the waiter and say OLE when we eat a red chip. One year the ceiling fell in on us in our booth, omg that was funny.

This year however (my birthday is 11-5) I am having a life changing surgery and from here on out this year will always be the birthday I LOVE the most.

Thank you all for participating! It's been so much fun reading your birthday stories. And thank you Eliza for reminding me to add Kathy's story!!

SHEEEP!!

I'm back from the NY Sheep and Wool Festival and I'm exhausted! My mom and I had a fabulous time we have so many pictures to share with you guys. It was so much fun. Unfortunately, I have to run off to work this morning so you will have to wait for a real post. Till then please enjoy the sheep!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

YAY it's my birthday!!! I am leaving today for Rhinebeck so I won't be blogging for a few days. I thought to celebrate my little birthday I'd give my blog readers a little birthday discount at the shop. So for all of today, October 17th, you can get 20% items in the shop just by writing "I read your blog!" in the comments to the seller when you order! When I get back from Rhinebeck I will return 20% of the purchase price to you (sorry there's no easier way to do this through etsy but a deals a deal!). Enjoy!!!