Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Spinning Along

I have a new addiction.
 The little bitty skein is the first bit of yarn I ever spun on a wheel. The crazy colored skein that looks like something Captain Jack Sparrow would wear in his hair (according to my husband) is the first plied (plyed? I know plyed is spelled wrong, but somehow it makes more sense when talking about spinning) yarn I spun with the wheel. 2 strands together of wildly different colors. Pretty much just the first colors I got my hands on.
 This is my second plied (that spelling just looks so wrong!) skein. I like it. I think the colors work well together, and the bits of thick and thing make it a novelty yarn. Someday I'll learn to spin evenly. This one has 3 strands plied together. I plied a bit tightly, so the skein has some extra twist to it, but it's pretty anyway.
This is skein #3. 2 strands again. I think I prefer the 3 strand skein, but that's just me. This one really turned out well, no extra twist, fairly even for the most part. Showing improvement!

I am finding spinning to be an especially soothing activity. I have to focus on it more than I do on knitting, so I can't read while I spin (yes, I totally read while I knit. I am incapable of not having my eyes and mind as busy as my hands.), but I think that may be a good thing. I'm actually doing only one thing at a time when I spin--- well, okay, that's true if I'm alone. Otherwise, I'm chatting with family or answering kids' questions while spinning, but that's still less multi-tasking than usual. ;)

I have no idea what to do with the yarn I'm making, but right now, I don't care. I'm just having fun making it.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Mini-Vacation

Over last weekend, my youngest and I took a mini-vacation, just the two of us.

We went to my parents so Roo could have a well-earned time by himself with all of the animals. It was perfect timing. Grandma had 5 baby goats that required a lot of bottle feeding.

 Several older goats as well- Roo just loved feeding them their "lunch".  At once point, he was picking up some hay and found himself surrounded by goats. His comment? "Hoo-whee!!! That's a lot ub goats!!!".
 The cat wasn't in the best of moods, but Grandma  held her so Roo could pet her a little.
 Blowing bubbles is more fun when you get to blow them at the dogs....
Grandma provided him with treats for the dogs too. He just loves feeding the animals- and they rather enjoy it also. ;)

He had so much fun. That night I put him to bed, left him alone for 10 minutes, and came back to this:
He had such a great time!
I rather enjoyed myself as well. No dishes, no cooking, no 1,000 questions from 4 different directions- just hanging out watching my youngest enjoy himself, talking with my parents and friends, and even reading a little. It was needed.
Now to get back to the busy life....