Thesockladyspins

Weather finally moderated around December 19, back to what we call normal winter temps. Just got used to the "warmer stuff" and see forecast is for another round of -20's C (predicted lows of -9°F) by Sunday. Still have 50% in my propane tanks so sometime after New Years fussing and parties are over will call and see when truck is headed out west. Woke up this morning to flurries, the new F word, coming sideways from the south, strong winds are also in the forecast so might get another round of drifting snow. I got to Tatla yesterday for the first time in a month, blood letting at the clinic, then on to Knitting Bee, library on the way home. First is was because of cold then with my left knee sore from a stupidio fall thought it best to stay home and keep warm heating pad on same. Have the turkey breast to go into soup pot tomorrow for sure, so will have soup for weekend football and world junior hockey games, nothing (except my micro rice bag) warms me up as well as s...

Cold dropped into the valley on December 6 and hasn't let up since, coldest I've recorded was last night at -28°C (18° below zero F), now see that 2 more days of cold stuff then it is supposed to warm up a bit. Sundays high predicted to be -6°C (21°F), much better than 21 below zero. Over the summer and fall I made socks for Liz, M and N, pix with socks on feet with M wearing one each of the variegated red ones. Traded socks for home canned goodies, with my favorite being stewed tomatoes, never will buy store canned tomatoes again. 2nd pix is the second pair for N, he grew so much from Sept that first batch won't fit anymore, so this pair (and one already delivered) are 8 rows longer in the foot. The first bobbin of the leftovers is finished and have a nice start on bobbin #2, my idea of adding a bit of kid mohair in brighter colors isn't working out as well as I thought it might, will carry on a bit more to see if my fingers can work out the troubles. Have a vi...

-25°C (11° below zero F) and colder predicted for later this week, with coldest night Monday, forecast to be -36°C (29° below zero F). Not looking good for next weeks Knitting Bee, since most of us have to travel 20-30 minutes not smart to be on the road with temps so low. After I finished spinning the 2nd bobbin of the merino-nylon mix found I still had almost a full braid of it left, didn't want another bobbin of same so gathered up two more greens and a silk mix with lots of blues, split roving until fairly thin then broke off about 5-6 inch pieces, laid everything on my wooden clothes rack and away I went. Spinning them all in same order for now. But next bobbin will have finger teased kid mohair in purples, bright reds and whatever looks like it doesn't belong. Eventual goal is sock yarn weight, then will make myself more handspun socks. Right now have 3 pair and with this kind of weather could do with more. The last of the burger vegetable soup for lunch today and ...

Up early to the coyote chorus, sounded like they were on their way to something important. And at just after 5 am didn't appreciate the music (and it wasn't Christmas music). Got up and ended up getting dressed in living room, was much warmer than my bedroom, will shut window in there tight for tonight, only -15°C and forecast to be -31°C (24°F below zero tonight), ever so grateful for my rice bag to warm my feet (3 minutes in micro, wonderful). How appropriate music playing Theme from a Summer Place. Since I was up so early decided to finish bobbin #2 of the Merino-Nylon mix, got as much on the two bobbins as I could. The first two pair of LOSY socks I made for Nolan, by the time he got them his feet had grown, so made another pair with an extra 6 rows , the Momma said this pair was perfect, so one more pair. Should now be done with LOSY socks for this bunch. Thinking a big pot of burger vegetable soup will be on the menu for today, still have carrots, onion, celery, potat...

Latest sock yarn from Knit Picks big sale. Not much going on in my wild mountain valley this time of year, hard to write about nothing. Still spinning on the merino-nylon mix in color I call mint chocolate chip, lots of greens with several dark brown places thru out. If all goes according to plans I should finish bobbin #2 yet this morning. Then will start on a brighter color and spin something completely different for bobbin 2 to give me some wild & crazy yarn. Had a dream last night that I had taken my drum carder to a wool fair somewhere and was making really funky batts (completely out of character for me). But they were so popular with those watching that maybe just maybe will try a few soon. Liz C picked up the socks I had done for her and 2 kids, brought canned stuff in trade. Did a pair of LOSY (leftover sock yarn) for her, 2 pair for Nolan 12, and a pair of just regular sock yarn for Maela (variegated turqs). Need to do another pair of LOSY's for N and he grew...

Bit the bullet and went into town last Thursday, watched weather on Environment Canada's site and tried to pick a day with not much chance of snow. Got lucky and 90% of the road in was bare and dry, the little bit out this way had icy spots and a little bit of compact snow. If highways used a sweeper brush on it when it first started sticking it would have got rid of the snow. Did lots once in town, oil change and car wash, banking, haircut, Wally World, and wholesale club. Stayed in all night up at Denise & Lens place. Then Friday did my grocery shopping, every kind of lettuce that SaveOn sells, plus a large box of mixed organic greens, cucumbers, 3 kinds of squash, celery, peppers, onions, cilantro and more. And the real bonus was a rotisserie chicken, so had a large chicken salad once home for supper. Lorelee came and helped unload stuff (including 4 flats of water), had cucumbers for her and sent a leg & thigh from chicken for her supper (she is babysitting the younger...

Woke up this morning to snow, first of this season. According to Environment Canada's weather page for Tatlako its not supposed to amount to much. Sahnte and Jeannie came for a visit on Friday (11th) and were able to remove the wind damaged screen door, its now safely inside the mud room. Had hoped that it would be re usable but now that I can see it close up there are several paces where the metal is twisted. So next trip to town (soon) will have to buy a new door and while I'm at it will replace old storm door as well, current edition is over 40 years old and glass is loose in frame. Have silicon-ed it but didn't work very well. Finished spinning the last of the BFL-Silk mix and have first two bobbins plied. Its much redder than pix. Have the other two bobbins of the mix ready to ply. Ended up plying the BFL mix with some Merino-Nylon, came out way better than I thought it would. Next batch of spinning is Merino-Nylon in variegated greens from Mary-Anne Smith (Smit...

Had a violent wind storm Thursday night, gusts up to 75 km, power went out just after 9 pm and didn't come back on until Friday morning 9:30 am, then went out again 2 ish and was out again for 3-4 hours. Strongest wind I can remember since living in Tatlako. Even blew my back screen door out of the frame, including pieces of wood from the door frame. Mell of a hess. Next will be the problem of trying to find someone to see if door is salvageable and to get it un-wedged from porch railing its in so tight that I can't budge it. My biggest fear thru all the wind was a stick or branch crashing into a window, having already lost one of the big windows on south side of house (was a grouse I think) wasn't wanting to wait 9 mos to have any glass replaced. The joys of living alone in the middle and behinder of nowhere. Weather is really wonky, no snow (none), warmish temps tomorrow is supposed to be in mid 50's F, way to warm for this time of the year. Still spinning the re...

Finished the first bundle 113 grams before 8 am this morning, 2nd bundle same mix 121 grams waiting. The bobbin with the singles is much redder than pix shows Blood INR is finally getting to the point I only have to go to the clinic every 3 weeks, its only taken 9 months to reach this point. KB tomorrow and am figuring on going out will get flu shot first thing. Not much else new and excitingly different in my wild mountain valley

Got out the two bundles of BFL-Silk mix from West Coast Colour & Carding this morning, 75% BFL 25% Silk, will make a really variegated yarn. Sure I can find a different red bobbin full to ply it with. Have a total of 234 grams of the mix. Bought the fiber at the Williams Lake spin in last May. This is what it looks like spun, just started on the mix as soon as wool room was light enuff to spin. Had 5 does come running down my driveway something spooked them or was chasing, watched for several minutes and nothing appeared, does all jumped the cattle guard and continued south. Did not have time to grab a camera. No snow yet in the valley, lots of new snow on surrounding mountains so just a matter of time before it comes. Flurries predicted over next several days, sometimes they get it right and sometimes they don't, kind of a crap shoot.

Left here on September 12 intending to have my snow tires on the car before heading down to Desert Mesa in Cache Creek, not a chance that they could do tires until Friday the 21st, so took a chance on weather holding until I could get back to Williams Lake. Desert Mesa was the 13th thru 16th and about as much fun as can legally be had. A smaller group than usual meant conversions could be had with anyone sitting close. 3 vendors Mary-Anne Smith, Lynne Anderson and Sharon Wickstrom, was able to get Merino-Silk from Sharon and Merino-Nylon from Mary-Anne and stayed within my budget. Spun some vintage merino-nylon while at DM, nearly finished the 2nd bobbin of yarn when plied will be sock weight. Stopped Kal Tire early Monday morning and there was a no show for 8 am app't so was able to get my car in for tire change, now legal to drive on major highways, snow tires mandatory now until April. Got car back just after 9, headed directly to grocery store for a few goodies then wes...

Got home from the OFFF trip on the 28th September with a bad cold and a 20 lb. bag of organic field tomatoes. Cold was a humdinger think maybe one of the worst I've had. Just a bit of a lingering cough is left, glad to see it gone. Ate 1 tomatoes with cottage cheese for several lunches and suppers while feeling punk. OFFF was as usual one of the highlites of my traveling summer, the weather was perfect, company outstanding. Vendors plentiful, and crowds were huge, could barely walk in main bldg. Didn't buy much just 8oz of a dye job gone wrong from DiCentra, 2 bobbins for my Woolee Winder and some of my favorite Lo Lo Bars. Picked up friend Val in Seattle area and she went down with me, was great that she was able to unload car. Looked for one of the folding wagons at Costco while in Canby area, no luck there or Fred Meyers or Walmart on the way home, Val will check for me in Seattle area and if one is found will bring with her to Whidbey Island in the spring. Val spinning...

Hip is a whole lot better, so much so that I am going to attempt the trip down to OFFF in Canby, OR. Friend Val will go with me, will pick her up in Seattle area. More when I get back with pix.

Don't know what I did to make hip much worse nearly two weeks ago now, from 3 out of 10 for pain it suddenly jumped to 9 out of 10. Enuff so that I saw Dr Rob in Tatla knowing now where this was leading, he sent me for X Rays into Williams Lake, next will be a consult with surgeon in Kamloops (maybe a bit sooner than 2 months) then hip replacement maybe in another 2 months. So am so far behind on laundry, etc that I will soon have to bite the bullet and just wash what ever (mixed colors). Oh well guess it could be worse. Have a prescript for pain so far have only taken 1 that was the day I got home from town and made 3 or 4 trips up the steps into the house with perishables. Now getting to cold at night to leave anything in the car (had squash, zucchinis and swiss chard. Have had several mornings that Tatlako was coldest spot in BC right at that hour. I am at least still able to spin, just finished the second bobbin of a variegated green mix. Think its merino, but bought it a lo...

Have 6 bobbins of yarn with nothing else close to matching, so will ply with something as close (maybe) as I can get. Likely will be going into socks so a perfect same color is not necessary. A week or so ago finally got the orange creme sickle plied, because its relatively fine seems like it took forever to spin and even longer to ply. And no ideas what I had planned for it so will just go into stash until something jumps out at me. I finally did get to town (5 weeks in between trips), was down to less than a weeks worth of prescriptions so refilled all, got a much needed haircut and Friday morning first thing to the farmers market for real tomatoes. I've enjoyed every single one I've eaten, even just a tomato (large) with cottage cheese, hard boiled egg and toast for supper. All the plying I've been doing as given me empty bobbins again, for a bit hadn't had anything empty for the Louet S 90 and had been spinning on a different Louet wheel (S 70). I often give ...

The two leftover bits from last couple of plying jobs came out way better than I thought, wishing I had more of each. Small skein in front of the two mixed batches. Then found a full bobbin (one of many) that I knew where the rest of the fiber was hiding, thinking its a merino from source that I can't remember. Got up extra early this morning even before it was light enuff in wool room to spin, but by the time coffee was ready it was good to go. Got in nearly an hour spinning the variegated merino, wanted time before it gets hot, temp predicted to be 32°C today (90°F), not terribly hot but it is for in here. Just 3.8°C when I got up, close to 39°F, so at least the sleeping is comfortable. Have number two sock of the red pair to finish and another one started that might go into time out so I can get started on Kristie's pair. Short enuff that it might be a challenge to get all the colors into the patterns. K I can't remember what color you wanted for the main co...

The variegated green merino-silk mix from July 13, I recently was offered $20 for the whole shooting match, just about choked on my coffee. 460 yards and probably cost me a whole lot more than offered price. Was very polite and explained that it wasn't for sale, and if it was likely would be 4 times (or more) the offered price. This morning dedicated time to finish plying the fiber from DiCentra, Have been plying in 15 minute increments and this morning I knew it was going to be closer to 45 minutes but wanted it done. One bobbin had quite a bit on it when the smaller one ran out so grabbed another leftover bit of a way different color and had at it. Surprised at how much I like it, guess I am learning (slowly) that handspun of almost any color works well together. So I now have 5 empty bobbins and as soon as whats on plied bobbins is into skeins will have at more plying. Found if I do it slowly I can still walk at the end of the day. Pix shows the 2 different colors over top o...

Saturday just before midnight was awakened to incredible thunder and lightening show, went on for nearly an hour and seemed stuck right over the valley, then when it quit and cleared off temp dropped to 34°, coldest spot in BC again. Then same show last night (Saturday) but earlier, started around 7 and quit 10ish, both nights following the show, heavy rain, so much so that river came up quite a bit. Nothing like it in the 40+ years I’ve lived here. Finally got two bobbins of light gray plied, then while in the mood did two bobbins of what I had hoped to be really ugly yarn (I think it is). Planning on socks for me for upcoming winter (rumour has it that it might be a tough one). Next on plying docket will be the two bobbins of DiCentra's wool. Sure not much else going on in my wild mountain valley, even the bears have disappeared, think they are all over at Chilko fishing.

Went into town Sunday morning for an appointment with allergist at hospital for 1 pm, scratch test on arm showed that I am allergic to dust, mold and grass, none of which I eat or play around with. Food stuff that I thought might be the culprit for my allergies wasn't even tested for, so IMO a completely wasted trip except for finding a 510 gram container of blueberries for $1.99 bought two. Had yogurt and bb for supper last night. Got home 3 ish, unloaded perishables from car and by that time was hot & sweaty, even thought about a quick sit down in the river but fresh bear poop on driveway soon changed my mind. Sat down in recliner just after 5 and next thing I knew it was just after 8, so got my shower and was in for the night by 8:30, slept right thru until 6 am. All the driving in the heat and then 5 + trips from the car with groceries must have done me in. I came really close to meeting my TdF goals, if I hadn't gone to town would have finished the last of the wild b...

third pair of socks for Miss M, made them the same size as one of the pair she tried on while here, a bit of grow room at the toe. She promised me that she would only wear them to school on cold days this winter. Plans are to make one more pair out of somesort of handspun for colder days. Have some soft light gray that with pink & purple patterns would suit her just fine. The BFL-Tussah silk came out just OK, am not very good at plying on a regular spinning wheel, much prefer my homemade electric wheel (just used for plying). Today I am plying a so so white with a bobbin of also so so light gray, the white is vintage stuff from 1994 and certainly not next to skin type, same with the light gray but over a thin pair of cotton socks will make incredible socks for outdoor activities. Next on the Tour de Fleece spinning is another that I am hoping for one of my uglier sock yarns, just perfect for winter socks for me. Its very difficult to predict what yarn wil...