moonfrog –

What a roller coaster! Two weeks of ups and downs are bringing us right into this new year full of hope but with an extra dose of reality. Amid our very satisfying social whirl, a dear one in our family circle lost his young adult son. So along with the festivities have been times of remembering and mourning. Isn’t that just the essence of life anyway? Sadness and happiness go hand in hand. I expect this next year to be full of both, always hoping that the happy times will soften the sad ones. Today I’m determined to work my way back to what we call normal around here, including sharing often with my blogging friends. So without further ado . . .

My amazing husband did some major sneaking about — visiting spinning forums, researching retailers, calling on a spinning friend — and blessed me with the Majacraft Rose spinning wheel I had decided we could not afford. And he did it without breaking the bank! When my oldest son approached him about what Mom might want for Christmas, the wheels started spinning. I guess I’m a victim of a sweet conspiracy! I feel thoroughly spoiled.

I’ve managed to practice treadling using the angora-wool blend I bought with my simple drop spindle. And a couple nights ago our friends Erik and Connie, who helped point DH toward the right wheel, came over to welcome The Rose to her new home. While the boys sampled some fine brews, Connie gave me a great demo on the wheel, answering all my first questions. And she brought me some beautiful Romney roving from Idaho that will be easier for practicing. There it is in the very appropriate bag with  roses and a great big Thank You! Next to it is the Navajo Churro roving that DH ordered with the wheel. That is supposed to be enough for a sweater, so I don’t want to waste any of it on first practice runs. Doesn’t it all look like a wonderfully fluffy cloud? I’m looking forward to trying the different varieties.

DH also gave me two books to get me started again. I’ve read Spinner’s Companion through and think I know more than I did back in the 70′s when I spun some very rough, thick wool on a wheel similar to the Country Spinner. I have a long way to go before I spin any decent yarn, but I am happy learning.

I want to send out a big Thank You! to Tracy and Jean at Woolly Designs, the great people who held DH’s hand while he ordered this fantastic surprise for me. I had planned to buy my wheel from Katy at The Legacy Farm, but it would have been a bit of a wait until I had saved the money myself. Both distributors have superb customer service.

And that shirt kit that I was afraid DH would be getting for Christmas? Yep. It’s still in the works. The flame inserts are very cool, though. I’ll show you when the construction advances a bit more. I knit a couple rows on DH’s socks, too.
I did manage to finish another hat and start one more. This one is made with Plymouth Encore worsted weight, using the Chocolate Ribs Hat pattern. I’d like to finish a couple more hats for this round of Caps for a Cure, so that will take priority this week.

And that funky-cool headlamp is something I put on my wish list and received from my generous stepdaughter. Now I can knit while DH drives, even if it is dark! I met a woman at band practice who uses one of these to knit sometimes. I think every knitter who travels should have one of these — just in case the situation calls for Extreme Knitting. Maybe that’s Extemely Hilarious Knitting!
Tonight we are going out to dinner with friends, retiring early, then hitting the road on the motorcycles for the Polar Bear Run. Brrrrr! Happy Freezin’ New Year! Hope you are toasty warm and life treats you well as the New Year rolls in with all its surprises!