Stash Confessions

OK, I am going to admit here and now that my "stash" is a bit out of hand. It's not that it's "so big" or anything...far from it. But this first pic shows just how un-organized it all is. This is all yarn...in the large grey tote, the bags spilling open on top of the tote, the big red tote next to the large grey tote, the cardboard box on top of the big red tote, the box next to it...well, you get the idea. And this isn't all of it. There's another 3 canvas tote bags on the dining room table with not-quite WIP's in them. (I tend to find a pattern or make up one then "discover" (ie; buy, dig up, hock a kidney for...) yarn, collect the proper needles for said project then stuff it all into a canvas tote bag so it's all ready to go when I am.
And here (to the right) you see part of my fleece stash. This is all washed and mostly carded fleece just waiting for assignment to inspiration. Let's see...there's Sophie and Madeline; the Anniversary Gift fleeces, there's Ashley, a young Mohair donor. The white bags hold buffalo fluff that needs picking and cleaning (and there's 3 more of them - 5 pounds of buff fluff in each) and last but certainly not least, Bruno. Bruno was my very first raw fleece. A box of cria splendor in cinnamon brown. His fleece was so soft and easy to spin - he sort of ruined me for using my wheel since he was so very easy to spin. (Sort of like hitting the jackpot the first time you sit down at a slot machine...ruins you for life as you think "it's always this easy"). Fortunately, spinning gets easier and better the more I do it. (But who has time here lately?) Spinning and processing more of this glory is gonna have to wait until the "outside duties" season slows down it's march into Fall and then Winter.
This third pic shows the absolute mountain of raw fleeces awaiting their turn. Yes, those boxes are stacked 3 high and are layed out 3 deep. There's Paco and Gus; the rescued llama fleeces, Sunshine and Blossom; a Romney ewe and her lamb who donated their fluffy wonders. Then there's an un-named ewe of white lanolin-drenched goodness - I think she's BFL/Romney and will probably become an outdoor-sy working sweater for myself someday. (Someday?) And there's also a feed bag crammed full of 5 - count em! 5! Black-faced Scottish fleeces. (I traded those for a plate of home-made cookies and a bag of hand-made soaps...not bad, huh!) Out of all this raw fleece, I want to shout to the world that I only bought (you know...purchased, traded cash money for) 1 of these. Yup. Barter is alive and well in my world and I like it that way.
I'm probably the only person in the world who is grateful that my Ravelry invite is still several weeks down the road. This room is destined to become my "Fiber Den" but right now, it still is mostly full of the previous occupants' antique car parts and Harley pieces (he is a friend of ours so no pressure to move his stuff the hell out of my way. No, no pressure at all...none. Grrr.). Sigh. I'm thinking that the next rainy day (ie; a work indoor kind of day) that I don't feel like washing walls or painting or drywalling, etc. is going to become a "pile his stuff" out of my way sort of day and then....THEN...I will take over the "Fiber Den". I see shelves and bins and organization in my future.
Now, back to my theories on cloning myself...

Treasure Hunting or Property Clearing?

The latest area to be cleared on our 4 1/2 acres. This patch was only about 20 foot by 40 foot max but the grass, weeds and blackberry brambles were as tall as me - about 5 feet. I used just my leather gloves, a pair of hand pruners and lastly, my trusty steed; Timothy Lawrence the Lawn Tractor. (T.L. the L.T. - get it? Yeah, I'm OCD and name my vehicles and more important tools - deal with it).
And what did I find on my latest "treasure hunt" of the property" Look...I found a 35 foot intact TV antenna with 50 feet of attached co-ax cable, a 50 foot garden hose, 3 sprinklers total, a cooler and a whole wheelbarrow full of wood. Oh, and a big ole plastic pipe...irrigation type maybe?
Why was I so determined to clear out this patch of pasture? Well, I've always been one to work out my heavy heart with busy hands. So while I was grieving Matt, I was digging and pulling and crying and tugging and sobbing and cutting my way through it all. And (see pic below), this is what I eventually found...life under the crap. (There's a heavy-duty message there). And while I know next to nothing about growing grapes, these seem to be doing alright without any interference from me. Next Spring, however, I've been learning that I get to chop em way back and re-train em. Guess between now and pruning time next March, I've got loads of time to learn how to take care of em the best way possible, huh. The cats are happy, though, with the new mousing space. I've found most of them out there - perched up on the tomatoe tires...surveying their kingdom perhaps? And watching the mice scurry across the new "wide open spaces". And since I've gotten this much of that area cleared, I'm thinking that next "attack" will be to join this cleared space with the path I made out to the well. Sure would be nice to get the pump hooked up to real water (our water association is nice folks who know nothing about water) and tap into that liquid gold. Yup, to me, well water is a true gift of the Gods. Plus, the well is right next to one of the apple trees (that desperately wants pruning next Spring too) and is currently surrounded by all those yummy Himalayan-variety blackberries.
So much to do...wish I could clone myself like 4 times. Maybe 5.

In Loving Memory of Matt Roosa

Matt and Nikki
Originally uploaded by vykky3630

Sunday night - his birthday - our dear friend Matt had his last ride on this earth. I'm crying as I type this because it need not have happened. Now, I'm all for pro-choice when it comes to motorcycle helmets. Many of my friends and Elders wish the law did not require they wear one. But, those same damned restrictive laws might have saved this precious young man's life. Matt was one of many fellow riders who chose to wear a non-DOT little tiny "cap" as his helmet. And since his injuries from laying down his bike were not that severe, it breaks my heart to think he could be alive and with us today...but I respect his choice. No more soap-box but dammit, why do the good all die young?
This pic was snapped of Matt and my DD on a wonderful ride up in the Winthrop, Washington area which was near where Mattie went off the road this week. My DD was not with him on this - his last - trip...but she could have been.
Deep Gulping Mother-ly Breath.
Mattie was one of those rare creatures now-a-days...he wasn't a "party animal", he was a friend to any and everyone...he worked hard on his job and with impressive creativity, patience and love for his co-workers too. He volunteered many hours at our race track and was widely known for his independence and open mind. His heart was as big as all of this state and he is sorely missed.
Forever riding free now...we miss you Matt!

Kitty Cafe?

Kitty Cafe?
Originally uploaded by vykky3630

Glancing out the slider the other day, I saw "The Boys" comfortably ensconsed in the patio set. With each of them in their own chairs; Chancey on the left and Puddha on the right, it looked to me like they were seated at their favorite cafe waiting for a waitress. I admit I have an over-active imagination but I can just hear them now...
Puddha: "Man, what is taking her so long? Did the Chef have to grow the catnip from seed or what?"
Chancey: "Chill out Dude...she seems pretty cool for a human and besides, you know how these 2-leggeds are."
And no, this was not staged. If I had staged it, I would have made sure there were "frou-frou" drinks with kitty umbrellas on the table.

KAL - Secret of the Stole

I've finally joined a KAL! I can't tell you how excited I am since I missed out on the MS3 knit-along...I pouted while following several folks' progress - sigh. This one is led by Nautical Knitter and she already has folks signing up and buttons too. Sounds like it may have beads to knit in with it - gulp. (Dangerous knitting learning curve ahead!)
I'm off to dream and drool over yarn pr0n...as it's grey and blustery in my part of WA today and I've got that dreaded stomach flu that's going around...sitting here with the cat in my lap (Puddha, for those keeping track) and a bucket nearby, I should make it til nap time.

Mini-Sprint Racing at Deming, Washington

I'm trying something new here - well, new for me. I'm hoping to get this short (17 seconds) video to work so as to help my non-racing readers to understand what it is I do every Friday night. You see, I'm not just a racing fan and a part of a racing family...I am also an Official at our local high-banked clay oval track here in the NW. My position is at the Pit Gate. At smaller tracks, like ours at Deming Speedway, we have the race cars and teams pit inside the track. This allows everyone to see all the action - racing, repair, drama and more. It's an old tradition that is slowly being phased out in favor of more room outside the track itself. I hate to see this tradition go as it's so much more fun to see it all...like a 45 minute complete engine swap. Yup...it happens all too often.

A race track is laid out like a big sideways zero (oval...get it?) with the center front as the Start/Finish line. Racing to the right is Turn 1, where our Pit Gate is located. Rounding the curve, the racers exit Turn 2 and fly down the Back-Stretch where they enter Turn 3. Coming out of Turn 4, which is now on your extreme left, they race back towards the Start/Finish line again. Make sense? OK, watching this short clip, you are standing with me just 5 feet behind the closed pit gate and only about 7 feet from the cars themselves. And these 1200 cc cars (think Harley Davidson motorcycle engine size but they don't race with Harley's), can get up to say, 70 mph and more. THEN...they slide sideways through the corners. Doesn't that sound like too much fun?!? It is...and scary and exciting and more.

Feather and Fan - Frog It or Finish It

Frog It or Finish It
Originally uploaded by vykky3630

Butt-deep in the Frog Pond this morning. Have finally accepted that this gorgeous yarn is not destined to be a feather and fan dresser scarf. Instead, it will be cast on later as my first attempt at a Mobeius. Woohoo!
Simple Feather and Fan
Using a multiple of 6 plus 3 at each side for the edging.
Row 1: knit
Row 2: k3, p to last 3, k3
Row 3: k3, *(k2tog) 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, (k2tog) 3 times - repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3
Row 4: knit

Apple Pie and Crust Recipe

Canning at the "Done" stage
Originally uploaded by vykky3630

There's lots more to be done but so far, we have a couple dozen jars of blackberry jam, some low-sugar preserves and apple-pie-in-a-jar. In a couple of days, there will be another wave of these huge Himilayan blackberries ripe so I'll be doing more preserves then. I prefer the preserves over the jam since I use half the sugar and no pectin. (Can't you hear all my diabetic friends applauding?!?)
The Apple-Pie-in-a-jar bakes up so well in my "Nanny's Wonderful Pastry". As a heavier crust, it is perfect for heavy fruit pies, like apple, as well as for quiche and meat pies. Just make sure you have waxed paper on hand before making it as you will NOT be able to roll it out on a floured board. (Trust me on this - I've tried too many times.)
Nanny's Wonderful Pastry
(Double for a 2 crust with left-overs for turn-overs)
2 cups flour
1/2 cup salad oil
1/4 cup cold milk (whole is best)
salt - dash
Mix and roll between 2 sheets of waxed paper.
Can bake at 400 til set then reduce to 350.
Experience Tips: Make the double batch. Use the waxed paper. For use with the apple pie; bake 15 minutes at 425 to set then reduce to 350 for 45 minutes. This will allow you to bake any meat or whatever for dinner while saving time and electric.

Apple Pie in a jar Recipe

Canning at the "Doing" stage
Originally uploaded by vykky3630

Canning leftovers include jars that didn't seal which are immediately made up into fresh apple pies! And yes, I make a hell of a mess when I can...don't you?
Apple Pie in-a-jar Recipe (Makes about 7 quarts)
28 cups home-grown (free is best!) apples; sliced and peeled
1/2 tsp nutmeg
4 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup cornstarch
10 cups water
2-3 tsp cinnamon
3 Tbsp lemon juice
Pack the apple slices fairly tightly into hot quart jars. Make a syrup from the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt and water. (You can also "show the bowl" some All-Spice, if desired). Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Add lemon juice, fill jars leaving about 1/2 inch space. Seal and process in boiling water bath for 20 minutes.
Use 2 quarts for a deep dish pan or 1 1/2 for a lower rimmed pan. Use balance of 2nd quart on waffles or ice cream. Yum!
Stats per the recipe...
Servings per recipe: 16
Calories per serving: 378
Total fat: 0.8 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 151 mg
Total Carbs: 97.1 g
Dietary Fiber: 6.1 g
Protein: 0.5 g
Experience Tips: I use about half of the syrup called for so as to sharply reduce the amount of sugar/carbs. I also can get away with using only 2/3 cup of cornstarch and 1/2 tsp salt too. Lemon juice is dashed over the apple slices while tossing into a bowl for prep (which takes 2 - 2 1/2 hours) so I re-use the lemon juice from the bottom of the bowl in the syrup recipe.
"Apple canned anything" is a whole lot of labor with little return so it is surely a labor of love. Make it worth your time by making a fresh pie for a loved one while your last batch is in the canning kettle. Use left-overs in a smaller "personal" pie for that man who is always snacking. And grow your own organic apples or make the day of that old farmer down the road...take him a jar already done and ask to pick his apples. Chances are, many of us have an elder farmer nearby who's wife has either passed on or is too old to do much baking. They both will enjoy the gift and you get free smiles and apples too.

Bad Blogger Repentance

I am a Bad Blogger. And yes, I feel that should be in caps as a "title" of sorts. I really need to get myself into a more regular blogging schedule of any kind, huh. Oh well, at least while I've not been blogging, I've been busy doing other stuff. Like...spending far too much time at the L&V Daily Chum. Along with my morning coffee and usually with the Freaky Kitty on my lap, I sip and click and waste half the morning seeing what's new and fun in the fiber world. I have also been canning up blackberry jam and preserves (which all came out better than I expected) and Apple Pie in-a-jar (some of which needed a second round through processing and some which never did seal up right. Grrr but not a problem as I'll just bake a pie this afternoon). I've learned that it takes about an episode and a half of the L&V ladies' podcast to wash, cut, peel and slice the 28 cups of apples for a single batch of 7 quart jars for the A P i-a-j recipe. (In case you're wondering - and I know you are - that's about a 5 gallon bucket of home-grown apples). I've also made some soap - glad I noticed we were down to just one bar - and have been out in the garden some too. The zucs are just now starting to really kick into gear so my battle with our infamous huge slugs has also kicked in.
I've knit very little in the past week...only on a couple of take-along projects and not much at that. I really do need to figure out how to make-do with less sleep so I can knit more. And why do I need to knit more? Because I've been a very naughty girl. With my fav LYS going out of business, I've been dropping in every 4 or 5 days and watching the "I won't go any more than 35% off" swoop down to 60% off on everything in the shop. I've managed to control myself by mainly filling out the gaps in my needle size inventory but have also succumbed to the temptation of a wee bit of yarn. Not much but enough to feel guilty over. You see, it all started when I got anal about checking my status with Ravelry. They are still in Beta mode and I love their html choice for the "where am I on the list" site...it's called "antsy". How cute is that and true too. I have 8296 people ahead of me on the list but I'm ahead of 9135 other antsy folk. There are currently 17932 fibery knitting people on their waiting and hoping list. Did you ever think there might be that many knitting people in the world?!? But, back to how this all started...they are all about organizing and sharing knitting around the world. Sooo...one must be ready and organized with inventories and photos and lists and patterns and more when one receives one's invitation. Well, I went stash rootin' and discovered that I was down to only one grocery sack of real stash. One. Grocery sack. How sad for me, right? But, being on a yarn diet, I had to think long and hard and came up with this theory: I am only allowed to buy myself yarn that is either on sale, from a yard/estate sale or otherwise deeply discounted in some way. ( I have done phenomonly well on this self-imposed diet and only broke it once - in a little tiny way - when doing a yarn shop review that I later shared on the Lime 'N' Violet Message Board. That was the pattern and single skein of Galway Paint that the 4 little felted bootie/slippers were crafted of....does it count since I got 4 botties out of it?) However...confession time...I do have a couple of bags of yarn hidden around the downstairs and have slipped a few (OK, many), sets of new needles into the needle case and buried that packaging in the recycle bin. Good thing the Old Man doesn't read this blog, huh. (Guilty giggle here). I'll make it up by baking that apple pie later on. Hmmm...might even surprise him with french vanilla ice cream as a topper too. Yeah, that'll work.
See? It's not about guilt...it's about justification. Of which, I am "the Queen".
OK...two more 5 gallon buckets of apples waiting for their turn under the knife, the bearded dragon habitat needs cleaning (Giz says Please!), if it's not gonna rain again, I should wash the car, must take pics to put here - these posts are boring without any eye candy...and oh, I'm sure I'll think of more that needs doing.

Baby Wrap N' Play Blanket

Baby Wrap N' Play Blanket
Originally uploaded by vykky3630

I always have one or two projects going out of a big box/commercial yarn that I can drag out to the race track without worry. (I mean, how many people do you see knitting at a dirt race track? Yup, one. Me.) Anyhoo, the is a super chunky yarn - polyester and washable wool - that is becoming a very thick blanket for the aforementioned soon-to-be baby boy. It's thick enough to be a cushion for him to rest on and soft enough to cuddle him into. I'm doing a simple dish-cloth sort of pattern (that I'm making up as I go. I'm good at doing that but hate not remembering when stuff turns out cool). I really like the cushy dobby border edge. The color came out weird in this pic though...it's a very dark wine with black all through it. (There's going to be hats and booties to coordinate done in black with some of this as accent

My First Socks are Started!

My First Socks are Started!
Originally uploaded by vykky3630

Finally, I've dived into the Sock Pool. All these years of knitting and I've never made socks. Hats, scarves, sweaters, slippers and a lot of blankets but never been even tempted to do socks. But since I've gotten addicted to the Lime N Violet podcasts/blog/Message Board, I had to give in. I gotta tell you though...I really wanted to throw the whole mess out the window last night! What a major PITA. I've always preferred bigger yarns and bigger needles. So I even spent the past couple of months working with finer yarns (threads? Grrr) and tiny delicate needles. Again...what a major PITA. But....I learned that once I got it cast on and completed that first horrid row, it's not so bad. Of course, I'm no-where near the heel yet so my attitude improvement might fail here soon. I'll keep you posted

That's a Screamin' Blue Dishcloth

That's a Screamin' Blue Dishcloth
Originally uploaded by vykky3630

I'm hoping and trying to teach a friend to knit. I needed a simple one-stitch project to show her with and since she loves bright colors AND this vivid blue matches a swirl on the counter-tops in my kitchen...I had to use it. Such a lovely cotton from Sweden; Cotton Lux by idena the label says. The rest of it is in Swedish, I guess, so I am clueless on what it says.
Vykky's Eyelet/Dobby Border Whatever
(An old-fashioned simple knit usually used for dishcloths, I've found this works wonderfully with any yarn, in any pattern, with any stitch and to any size. Making a shawl with really funky art yarn? Stop halfway as a triangle at the size desired. The perfect mindless knitting and take-along project).
CO4
*sl1, k1, yo, k1*, k to end
Repeat from * to * each row then knit/purl/whatever pattern you choose to end.
If making a shawl, BO at desired size.
If making a square (ie; a dishcloth, blanket, etc.), once project is a triangle of half desired complet size, do the following:
*sl1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1*, knit/purl/whatever pattern you've chosen to end.
Down to 4 stitches? BO.

Baby Booties to Felt

Baby Booties to Felt
Originally uploaded by vykky3630

My daughter's best friend is having a baby boy in the next couple of weeks. I've seen a lot of gifts for him as my daughter's always asking for help wrapping...which I love to do! But...I haven't seen any booties or slipper-sox! So when I was checking out a new yarn shop, I saw this awesome Galway Paint yarn (from Plymouth Yarns) and fell in love with the pattern. It's a simple - nearly brainless - pattern so I save it for when I'm thinking of throwing the Sock Project out the window.

Tying Knots with Sticks

Somebody emailed and reprimanded me for not having more knitting on this blog. OK. It's not as if I haven't been knitting...it's more a matter of writing it down and maybe even remembering to snap a pic before I give it away. Hmmm...yes, that's a problem I have. I don't think I even have a photo of any FO's cuz I tend to give them to someone as soon as they're blocked and freshened up. Or...worse, I end up ass-deep in the ole Frog Pond and decide that this yarn will be much happier in this project. Yup, I do that too. Ex: Last year I did a quickie scarf for my Man in Yak. Not the soft and girly fluffy stuff but the more manly shades of tan and brown in it's natural (and mostly guard hair?) state. I like the stuff. I REALLY like it. But the Man said - and I'll quote - "Eeuuuwww". Okey dokey, frog it and think a bit.
Well, now that my fav LYS is going out of business (like, how dare she retire?), I need to hock a kidney and see about scoring some more of this stuff so as to make a hoodie. I'll see about getting a pic sometime during the evolution of this project.
In the mean-time, I'll work on adding a side-bar with "On the Needles" and maybe even an "In the Thinking Stage" list. More of a tickler but you get the idea. I figure if I sacrifice 2 hours sleep a night, I can have more time to knit as well as keeping up with those zany ladies over at Lime N' Violet. Oh yes, I've become addicted to not only their podcasts (the cats really wonder who Mom is listening to as she furiously knits on the never-ending baby blanket) but also their Message Board. They even have a Chore Wars thingie - set up for fiber freaks like me - that is entirely too effective at wasting time and inducing stupid grins.
The best part of becoming "a Stalker"? The gentle but insistent pressure to succumb to socks! Yes folks, you heard it here first...I'm going to do socks! (About time, they grumble...after all those hats and scarves and sweaters and blankets...grrr...)
This is the Bitterroot Rainbow colorway from those talented people at Mountain Colors. I'm hoping to get all the chores and critter care and such done early this afternoon so as to chill out a bit and do my offical "Cast On" of socks! Squee!
OK....stuff to do and more stuff to do...