Why Must Something That Should Be So Simple....

....be so excruciatingly difficult? Yes, I am referring to this darn veil I have been trying to make!  I just can't seem to get it the way I want it. It just does not look right. Maybe I am just being too much of a perfectionist. But really, why do they make it look so easy in pictures? Eeeek!  I am not ready to throw the towel in just yet but I gotta get this in gear...I only have 3 weeks to go, ha!  I have a few more ideas and my sister is arriving on Friday so I figure if I can't figure it out then I will call for backup!! 

But, on a happier note, I finished another item from my secret project today. Here is a little sneak peak.  Stay tuned though...the big reveal will be coming very soon!

Cheers! 

A Little Spinning Therapy

Spinning yarn is so relaxing and an incredible form of therapy.  It has been a difficult week around here but I found some comfort in spinning this week. A package of Alpaca arrived in my mailbox last week. It spins so beautifully. I have never worked with it before. It is much more silky and smooth than what I am used to. But, it spins so easily! Right now I am waiting for it to dry so I can start knitting with it. 

Alpacas are such funny animals! 

Poor Jeff is going to indulge me to a trip to an Alpaca farm in BC. But, I think he will get a kick out of it really. 

The weather is so nice outside today. It rained for a long time yesterday and I think the rain brought in a cool front. I love the fall weather and after a very HOT summer it is starting to feel like fall around here! For some reason the fall weather makes me want to cook. So I went to the grocery store this morning and bought all my favorite fallish food items. For breakfast I made a breakfast quesadilla. I was searching for a recipe for something else but came across this neat website and the video recipe for the quesadilla. Just look over at the featured videos and you will see the one for the breakfast quesadilla. I added sautéed onions, jalapeños, and garlic to it. It was so easy to make and delicious! 

I hope everyone has a happy weekend!

Cheers!

(that picture of the alpaca is still making me laugh. Funny little creature)

Good Bye Luna

You were such a good dog. I am so sorry that you got sick and I hope that you did not suffer. I will remember you wagging your little tail even though you were so sick and trying to fight the infection. You brought us so much joy. I will always remember you, your big head you would flop in our laps, the way you could always make yourself comfortable in any position,  your sweet face, fur that felt like velvet, sleeping under the covers, and fantastic snuggle buddy. I am so sorry you had such a short life. You will be terribly missed. I love you. 

Chalkboard Quote Of The Week...and a little more

So, it has been a long, long, long, time since I have done the chalkboard quote of the week so, here it is! 

Since it is teeny tiny and hard to read, I will translate.

"You know you knit too much when... You hear that a friend is going through a difficult time, and even though this friend does not knit, you consider dropping yarn off at her house to make her feel better."

I did a bit of garden prep today. It was still too hot for me to be out there for a long time. I am pretty satisfied with what I did. During our 16 plus days of 100 degree heat back in August, my little lavender plant did not survive. I had to cut it  back and hope that it starts to grow again. It was so big and full this year so I am sad that it died. :-(  But, I have everything prepped for next weekend. I am going to plant fall flowers, herbs, and veggies, and will lay down new mulch. During now and then I will consult my Neil Sperry's Complete Guide To Texas Gardening. He is an amazing Gardner and will give me some insight to good fall plants to plant! He is a local celebrity.

Jeff found a praying mantis the other day in our back yard. The little guy really took a liking to Jeff, it was hilarious! I have not seen one in a while but I think he likes my gardens!

Cheers! 

I Love You Mail Man

I was sitting in the living room this morning watching the Cooking Channel when I heard the mail man drop mail in my box. I figured for sure I would be getting bills and such, as usual. But, when I went out on the front porch to get the mail, I saw that I received my Fall edition of Spin Off Magazine!  I have been waiting for this to arrive. I love the fall and winter editions of this magazine! 

The feature is an introduction to natural dyes. They actually dye wool with red cabbage! I have been wanting to dye my own wool for a while now. I tried this once before (you can see here and here) but it did not work out that well. I needed a mordant and did not realize that at the time, ha! So I basically went into it blissful and blind. But, now I have detailed instructions and I can't wait to start! 

I also finished up a little something that is part of my secret project that I will reveal in October. I am exited about it and can't wait to share what I have been up to! Here is a little sneak peek at what I finished today. 

 After I finished that little project up I started knitting like a mad woman on a cowl that I have been wanting to knit for a while. This is my present to myself to wear on the honeymoon in Victoria. I knitted for about 5 hours solid, straight through 500 Days of Summer, Bride Wars, and Sex and the City.  Do you gage your time knitting or spinning by how many movies you watch?  I sure do! So, I guess that adds up to almost 6 hours of marathon knitting! I'm going to end up with arthritis at this rate but that can be treated with medication and occupational therapy. 

Here it is! My Cowl neck. I love it! 

I just knitted on size 13 circular needles. Casted on 70 stitches and knitted until I ran out of yarn. I absolutely love this yarn, the colors are wonderful. I spun it while on vacation in Ruidoso. There is nothing better than making something all on your own, from scratch! I can't wait to wear it. I wish it would cool off here in Texas darn it! 

Cheers! 

Back Away From The Veil!

OMG. I am going to freak out! I never thought a little piece of Russian netting would cause so much turmoil. I think I have ruined it and will need to start over again. It is just not turning out how I thought. Maybe it is because my hair is so thick?  The darn thing is just not fitting on my head properly, too small. I look like I took a fishnet stocking and pulled it over my head. I am not trying to look like a bank robber on my wedding day. Ugh Guess I am back to square one. But, I will keep you posted! I don't give up that easily.

Cheers!