As The Yarn Turns

Some Friday Randomness

I woke up this morning thinking it was Tuesday, not next Tuesday but this past Tuesday. It wasn't exactly a week I would want to go through again. So since my brain isn't working at full capacity today, this will be a somewhat random entry.

I've made some progress on my Shaeffer Anne sock.

The sock is going much better this time and the fit is better. I'm basically just happier with it. As usual, the yarn is a little lighter with more purple in real life.

I got an email from Michal the other day mentioning the knit, dye, rip, reknit technique using a knitting machine. I had seen an entry from Sara Lamb a while back about this technique, but I had completely forgotten about it by the time I got my knitting machine. Basically you use a knitting machine to knit some white yarn. Then you dye the knit fabric, unravel it, and it's ready to use in your handknitting. Michal also mentioned the Machine Knitting to Dye For web site with class schedules, kits, and a gallery of example knits. I'm going to have to try this one of these days.

Today I'll leave you with a picture of Sophie on her favorite landing site. Yes, that's Rick and, yes, we do try to move her off our heads quickly.

by Sydney  |

The Gang Is Tagged By Chaos

First, thanks everyone for the nice comments on my Bitchin' Mittens.

My furred and feathered crew got tagged by Chaos to list 5 weird things about themselves. That'll be 25 weird things total. You've been warned. We will be going from oldest to youngest.

Katie

1. Mom and Dad adopted me from the animal shelter when I was about 5 weeks old. I was tiny. For the first few weeks, the ferrets would drag me under the bed to hide me with their other treasures. I'm still trying to get back at them for that.

2. If Mom and Dad don't get up early enough, I tap them on their face. If there is no reaction, then I let my claws out just enough to get their attention. I don't know why they don't want to get up early to watch the birds.

3. My favorite treats are crackers, corn chips, and homemade whole wheat bread. For some reason, Mom or Dad will try to get me to eat a piece of meat. I've never figured out why they do that. The juice from the tuna can is good though.

4. My favorite toys are the fishing pole with the feathers on the end and the pieces of rope and shoestrings I find.

5. My favorite game is to run down the hall and see how high I can touch the wall. Sometimes Mom will help me out by putting her hand up as a target so I can tag it.

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Balt

1. My full name is Balthasar, after my Dad's great great grandfather but Mom and Dad call me Balt or BF (for Big Ferret) for short.

2. One time I called an animal refuge. Unfortunately they couldn't hear me when they answered so I hung up and called again.

3. Mom and Dad tell me that I'm the Network Administrator because I'm always making changes to the network. I don't know why they get upset when I delete stuff though. I thought it was part of my job.

4. As a youngster I changed my color three times within three months before I decided which one I liked. Hey, these are important decisions.

5. I like to get in the whirlpool tub when it's empty and snort the air from the jets.

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Zoe

1. When I was six months old, I was playing with the cat and she scratched my eye. Mom and Dad had to rush me down to Birmingham to get my eye stitched up. That was not fun.

2. All stuffed animals in the house are mine by default. I have to keep my eye on Mom though. Sometimes she tries to steal them from me.

3. Mom insists that I can't have her cell phone. Even when I try to hide it from her, she calls it and finds it. Mom just won't let me have any fun stuff.

4. My favorite game is to be tossed on the pillows on the bed. I feel like I'm flying and it makes me want to dance.

5. I like the run through the tubes that Mom bought me. Sometimes I move them around the house for a change of scenery.

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Phoebe

1. Dad thought I was going to be a calm ferret when he got me. Ha! I fooled him. They tell me that "Trouble" is my middle name.

2. My job in the morning after Mom lets us out is to go in the bedroom and lick Dad's eyelids and nose to wake him up. Most of the time it works but sometimes he rolls over so I can't reach his face. When that happens I have to bring the other ferrets in to help.

3. My other job is to check the answering machine for incoming calls.

4. I like phones so much that Dad got me a toy phone. I hide it in one of my special places. Then I make it ring and play "London Bridge is Falling Down". It fools Mom every time. She'll be looking all over trying to figure out where the music is.

5. I like to treasure hunt in the trash cans but it has gotten harder lately since Mom and Dad changed so many of the trash cans.

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Sophie

1. Mom and Dad tell me that I'm going to be in a magic act so I have class every day. It's only a few minutes a day, though, so I don't mind.

2. Every week day, Dad takes me into the office. Sometimes he lets me ride on the back of the seat while he's driving to work. Once we're at the office I get to sit in the fake tree.

3. Sometimes Dad doesn't move fast enough in the mornings so I have to get his attention by running back and forth on my perch and flapping my wings.

4. My favorite treat is some egg yolk that I get sometimes on Sundays.

5. I also like to watch TV when I get the chance.

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The five of us got together and decided to tag any dog, cat, rabbit, bird, ferret, or any other pet that might be reading this and wants to reveal their 5 weird things about themselves.

by Sydney  |

Bitchin' Mittens and a Saturday Sky

I did it. My Bitchin' Mittens are finished. For a while there, I wasn't sure if I would finish. Life kept getting in the way. Plus I changed my mind about five times before I actually started them. Here's the end result.

I used yarn from my stash - some leftover Bartlett yarn and some mohair yarn I got in a trade. I embellished them with some embroidery, crochet cord, icord, and a couple of beads. I think the embellishing took as long as knitting the mittens. Embroidery and crochet are not my strong points. I like the way the mittens turned out though.

It has been a beautiful weekend so far with pleasant temperatures, clear skies, and a cool breeze. I couldn't ask for better weather. It's also a long weekend since tomorrow is Labor Day here in the US. I've been enjoying myself with a quiet, relaxing weekend.. Here is yesterday's Saturday sky looking west around sunset.

I'll leave you with a picture of Phoebe playing the cast iron pot by the fireplace.

by Sydney  |