I’m so Random Again

1. I went for a bike ride this morning. A quick 15km, just to get a hill or two in. (I struggle with hills. I have to practice.)  It’s still so cold out – but I’m trying not to complain, on account of how much better this is than the frozen wasteland we’ve been in until now. At least it’s not snowing.  Still, I don’t remember having to bundle up this way by this time last year.

2. The spinning (the other kind) is going pretty well.  This roving is cotswald from Nistock Farms, and it wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste, but I love it.  Cotswold is a rare breed, and delicious to spin, but it doesn’t make yarn that’s super soft and bouncy. Instead it’s strong, lustrous and… well. You don’t wear it next to your skin. That’s all.

spinninggreen 2014-05-07 (1)

3. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your generosity supporting us all for the bike ride. We’re blown away.  I know that by now I should know that this is just the kind of community that we have, and that this is the way knitters are, but it never stops surprising me. It’s just… unbelievable.

4. In the first of many draws, I pulled a name, and my very pretty Fiber Optic handspun merino/silk yarn will be flying off to live with Marcia K, and I hope that she loves it as much as I do.

pastelstripedyarn 2014-05-06

I can’t wait to see what she makes from it.  Thanks Marcia!

5. There’s so many wonderful Karmic Balancing Gifts coming in, I’ll totally have to give some away tomorrow.

6. Guess what?

samsin  2014-05-07

Yup! She’s got it all worked out, and Samantha is in! Her little pledge page is here, and she’s raring to go. (And yes, her hair has a fair bit of wild pink in it. To paraphrase Barbara Coloroso, it’s not life threatening, morally threatening or unhealthy. Vive la difference!  By the way, her book  Kids Are Worth It! : Giving Your Child The Gift Of Inner Discipline(together with How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk) are pretty much responsible for the fact that I have never dropped even one of my kids off at the edge of a grizzly bear infested forest at -30 and said “good luck, you jerk.”)

7. I think if all goes well, I’ll finish my latest Colour Affection tonight.

almostfinishedobsession 2014-05-07

I think that will probably change the weather – it seems to enjoy nothing more than making you look silly in an accessory. I knit this to match my coat, so really, finishing it should make the coat obsolete, right?

8. Thanks again for the donations. You guys are the best – and I tell it to anyone who will listen. You make the ten years I’ve been writing this blog all worth it, everyday.

38 thoughts on “I’m so Random Again

  1. My rule has been “If it’s not illegal, immoral, or dangerous – go for it.” Of course some of those categories are pretty broad . . .
    And I’ve been drooling over that beautiful yarn since you spun it last year. I’d love to see what Marcia does with it!

  2. Love the spinning, congrats to the winner of that gorgeous yarn! That shot of your spinning work in progress is lovely. If I could get away with wild fun colors in my hair, I’d totally do pink at least once.

  3. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the Cotswold roving. You described it to a “T”. I can’t wait to see what you make with it. Looks like we’ll all be wearing wool all summer! :-0
    Best wishes,
    Robin Nistock

  4. I’m beyond thrilled to have won that beautiful yarn. I’m off to Ravelry to find a pattern that will do it justice!

    • I bought that very colorway last year from Fiber Optics at the Lexington, KY Sheep and Fiber Festival. I knitted ThreeQuarter Time. Just a bit of yarn left over. I get a ton of compliments on it, and I love to wear it.

  5. looks like I’m the first to donate to Sams ride. so glad you can join you good luck to you all

  6. I think we’re all hoping that your Colour Affection finally pushes winter away. My crocuses bloomed … and were covered in snow. It’s May now and I would like the frost date to really *be* the frost date. It’s been earlier for the past few years and we got lulled into thinking maybe the warming part of Global warming affected us. But the Canadian climate is just so dang stubborn.

    • It’s not that warm in other places yet either. Ok, it’s not Canada but I live in Scotland and haven’t been able to bring myself to turn the heating off yet. The weather keeps threatening to warm up but doesn’t quite manage it.

  7. I love that Fiber Optic spinning. I just bought an unconscionable number of those gradient braids at MS&W, and I can’t wait to get started.

    My father credits How To Talk… with making him able to communicate with me at all. It’s a wonderful resource.

  8. Yay that Samantha is able to join the group!
    And I have a suggestion: Could you put up a link to “Team Harlot’s” pledge page on the blog so it’s available all the time (well, until the Ride of the Knit Brigade is over)? So we don’t have to shuffle through blog pages to find it? Many thanks

  9. Argh, I tried to donate, first on Sam’s page and then on yours, to no avail. Will try again tomorrow hoping the computer gods smile more kindly upon me.

  10. Oh how cool. I know Robin and Andy Nistock and have been to the farm. We grew up in the same little town in upstate NY.

  11. You know, I never even considered dropping my child(ren) off like that. I guess I just wasn’t creative enough. I did threaten to rip their lips off … which generally made my point that I was tired of listening to whatever noise or argument they were having. Congratulations on the donation pledges!

  12. What lovely yarn you are spinning!

    _How To Talk So Children Will Listen and Listen So Children Will Talk_ was one of my childrearing bibles, too. It was written by Faber and Mazlish, though, not Barbara Coloroso.

  13. Heard a tape of Barbara C once….thoroughly enjoyed it., wish I could have heard hours more of her. Also, Adele Faber’s book (How to Talk….) is a fabulous book for communicating with children (and adolescents). On another note….. I’m a newish reader of your blog, and decided I needed to return to your earliest of blogging, so I’ve been reading vintage 2004 blog for the past, oh, month. It’s pretty hilarious, talking about boys “choking the chicken” and Meg writing for you around Christmas and giving her ideas of gifts for the knitters (cell phones, everyone needs one!). I’ve been inspired from looking at your 2004 knitting (and spinning)….I think this will be a summer of mittens at my house, Latvian if I have the confidence. Your recently posted Color Affection looks like it is just the thing to bring spring into your neighborhood. That is such a great pattern for some stash busting. Happy Riding!

  14. I would bet money (and I’m not a betting person) that your Color Affection will bring nicer weather. For one, it matches your coat. For two, the colors you’re using are definitely fall colors, not spring or summer colors. For three, it looks a little too heavy and warm to wear during typical spring or summer weather — unless you’re not wearing anything but cologne underneath! Still, I’m sure it will be lovely.

    So, what will follow the Color Affection as the next larger-than-sock-sized project? Some bright summer tank? A lacy, drapey, summer-weight wrap in a gorgeous jewel tone? Something that flatters Millie’s eyes?

  15. Congratations to Sam! That’s so cool that your girls are in on it this year! I can’t believe the commitment you make for this….it takes a lot of guts.

  16. That Cotswald would make wondrous socks, I imagine. And go knitters and bicyclists go!

    Love Sam’s hair! Our youngest grew his fro 18″ across in high school and we thought it was great. Some old Army guy we knew tried to give him a hard time about it and my husband headed the guy off with the thought of, what’s the most harmless way a kid can rebel? Will he be stuck with the results permanently? Of course not, so, enjoy it while he’s got it.

  17. Yes, as my sister’s sister-in-law always said, “It’s only hair – it will grow out/back eventually.”

  18. I just posted a donation to Samantha’s page. I am a Crocheter (no it is not an ugly word) and a spinner. What you all are doing is wonderful. Keep it up!! The scarf is going to look great with the crocheted edging.

  19. I have a rule about wintery rides: if it takes me longer to dress and undress then the duration of the ride then I resort to indoor exercise 🙂

  20. Hope all goes well for the ride. I just spent a ridiculous amount of time donating to all six riders – just because – and I feel slightly cheap only giving you $20 each, but it adds up, you know! I will be with you in spirit, and I admire you and your team. I am making that scarf, BTW, just because it looked so beautiful.

  21. I’m gonna plug my go-to book for raising a teen girl – Parenting a Teen Girl: A Crash Course on Conflict, Communication and Connection with Your Teenage Daughter by Lucie Hemmen. I keep it on a handy side table is a room where I often sit for a few minutes several times a day. Whether opened randomly or reading chapter-by-chapter, this book helps me keep a healthy line of communication open with my girl. Priceless!

  22. Was lucky enough to see Barbara Coloroso speak in person a couple times years ago and it changed the way I parent AND teach! Timeless good ideas!
    And I LOVE the color you are spinning – sea glass!

  23. My daughter’s hair has been all the colors of the rainbow and then some. The only time I ever said anything was when she wanted to dye her reddish blond hair black. I said it was a bad idea. 10 months and several hundred dollars to fix it later, she agreed with me. My granddaughters (ages 5 and 3) saved their allowance to buy hair chalk, so my hair has spouted green, blue, and even pink streaks lately. It washes out and makes them happy, so I’m good 🙂

  24. Good news that Samantha can join you!

    Can I say how cool it was to see you spinning some fiber from Nistock Farms? I processed that fiber for her; not only is Robin a customer, but a cherished friend, too!

  25. The hair is almost as pretty as the daughter! My two girls have dyed their hair every color of the rainbow and then some. I always enjoyed their senses of adventure! I hope you don’t mind some prayers being said for your safety and that of your team, and for blessing your endeavors.

  26. Pink hair is cool. My daughter had mostly pink hair the summer that she was 11. Her dad hated it. And we had to color it back to her natural strawberry blonde before she went back to school. She is now 19 and just finished her 1st year of university and has had a red streak and then a purple streak this past year. It is harmless and while they are kids still is the best time for them to give it a try. I would get a pink or purple streak or tips, but I don’t think it would go over well at work.

  27. I am totally going to go buy those two books on the strength of that pithy and persuasive recommendation.

  28. How to Talk so Kids Will Listen, How to Listen so Kids Will Talk was, without question, the most important parenting book I every read (and I was nervous enough to read lots).
    Two 20+ year old daughters later and I still find it full of wisdom…..I knew there had to be reasons besides fiber that I find you so agreeable!

  29. I’m going to give you two free bits of advice for hills.

    The first is attitude. Try to think of hills as just a part of the ride. Not the worst part, or the bit that gets in the way of your nice ride, but just another feature of the ride.

    The second is rhythm. I regulate my breathing while peddling uphill by singing. Anything with a nice 4/4 will do.

    I’m too much of a spoiled baby to have been out on the bike yet. Net week, I think!

  30. Beautiful spinning. Love the yarn you’re making. Also I’m impressed that you’re still spinning on my favorite wheel, the Ashford Traddy, right? Just goes to show that the great spinning comes as much from the spinner as the spinning wheel. You don’t need a fancy, expensive spinning wheel to create great yarn. I have 2 wheels but my favorite is still my Grammy’s old 1970’s Ashford Traditional!

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