Friends With Yarn

What a beautiful autumn day for a lawn sale. Four of my friends joined forces today for a massive de-stash. And massive it was. This photo doesn't do it justice. There's a whole other lawn full out of frame. Outside of a fair  I don't think I've ever seen such a collection of yarn, crafting books and magazines, quilting supplies, scrap booking bits and on and on. Thanks to the power of internet, the afternoon became quite the social event as well. How lovely to see so many knitting friends.
I budgeted thirty dollars. For that much I picked up two back issues of Vogue (one from the 80's!), a copy of Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks, a leather bag, four skeins of a brown Kashmir Aran and this crazy/lovely Socks That Rock. The colourway is called Flower Power. Not my usual thing, I know but I've never knitted the brand before and I've always been a bit jealous of the folks in the Rockin Sock Club..

Thanks ladies, both for the great stuff and the cheerful visit.

Blood Orange

It looks so dark the end of the world may be near.
I believe it's going to rain.
The birds in the park are silent.
Nothing is what it seems to be,
Nor are we.

There's a tree on our street so big
We can all hide in its leaves.
We won't need any clothes either.
I feel as old as a cockroach, you said.
In my head, I'm a passenger on a ghost ship.

Not even a sigh outdoors now.
If a child was left on our doorstep, 
It must be asleep.
Everything is teetering on the edge of everything
With a polite smile.

It's because there are things in this world
That just can't be helped, you said.
Right then, I heard the blood orange
Roll off the table and with a thud
Lie cracked open on the floor.

Charles Simic
Walking The Black Cat
Harcourt Brace and Company, 1996

Barbie Gets Trashed

I took my doll out for her photo shoot in her newly knitted ensemble (details of which are on my Ravelry page). One of the stops on my walk was the wine store. I just couldn't resist a a quick photo of the girl gone wild. This is sedate however. You should see what she got up to in the vodka section.

Hand Hugs

I do love wristwarmers. Yes, they look cool but I wear them for practicality as well. It seems every office in which I've worked over the past many years has been cold. Be it from poor heating in winter or, as is currently the case, from over zealous air conditioning in summer, the result is the same. My wrists and finger joints ache from constant keyboarding in uncomfortable climates. So, I knit and wear a wide variety of fingerless gloves. They really do help.
My most recently completely pair is from the PassionKnit kit purchased at the Knitalong. This was my first experience knitting with Koigu and I must say that I loved it.  The ply is nice and tight, yet so smooth. The yarn holds a rib and a cable beautifully. The gloves actually hug my tired wrists and hands. And these colours are just a delight. The knit was a delight from start to finish and the end product is even more so.
There's a little yarn left over so I'm making a Barbie outfit. It's almost completed so a doll fashion photo shoot is surely in the near future.

Summer's End

I went to The CNE the other evening.  This annual visit always signals one thing; the impending end of summer. In four days I return to my regular job and believe me, I'm squeezing every bit of freedom from these last days.
I've been reflecting on the Summer of 2012.
When I first learned last spring that I was to be laid off for the season, I was understandably angry and worried. Hindsight, however, makes it look quite different. I hadn't realized how miserable I was in the job until I wasn't there anymore. Not being in that environment for nine weeks has allowed me to heal and regroup and has also provided opportunities I otherwise would not have had.  
I worked two busy events this summer; The Indy in July and Summerworks in August.  Both were dynamic, challenging jobs for different reasons and both involved working with a great team. I was reminded that yes, I am actually good at what I do and was allowed to actually do it. Yay me!
When I wasn't working this summer, I was riding my bike, visiting friends and family, knitting up a storm, sleeping in, going dancing or just hanging in my little garden.  I had a brief (very brief) love affair. I saw a bunch of festival theatre shows. Most importantly, I was able to really be available to support and help The Daughter as she prepares for her move to university (This Sunday! Sob! Sniffle!)
So, while my bank balance took a huge hit, I am humble enough to admit that sometimes life hands you what you need. I am grateful for the gift of time.

Gas Money

My sister got a new car and was hankering to drive it. "I've got gas money," I told her and talked her into a road trip to Elora with a side trip to nearby Wellington Fibres.
How remarkable is the restorative power of a short trip. A little change of scene sure helps rest the mind. It was a lovely drive heading North past Guelph. Stepping out of the car when we reached the farm was a sensory experience for its very silence. There were no other cars or people near so all we heard was the sound of crickets. The next closest building was out of sight from where we stood. And everything was so darn green.

We shopped for a while in the mill store but kept peaking into the back where the proprietress, Donna Hancock. was working in the mill. 

She invited us in and showed us the machinery and all the various steps the wool goes through to become yarn. Fascinating

 Below are the barrel sized yet super light and airy coils of carded fibre that get spun into fine single plies.

Naturally I felt inclined to spend generously after her kindness. That's two skeins of laceweight and two skeins of a worsted weight tonal colourway. They're all 75% mohair, 25% wool. I love the richness of Wellington's blue/green palette.

Later, Mr. Hancock took us to the barn to meet the source of the mohair.  These angora goats were smaller than I expected. The bucks and does were kept separate to prevent out of season breeding. The animals were curious about our presence but cautious.

 I wonder which one contributed to my future shawl?