An Evening With Franklin Habit

Well, it wasn't the musical production or chorus line that I had pictured in my mind, but it was an hour of comedy that only Franklin could provide :) He talked about lace knitting from the Victorian era, the lace he knit for his niece Abigail and read two of his essays "Knittin' with a whip" and "Immortality" (this one made me tear up a little). He also had a trivia section where the prizes were the totebags from Interweave knits and Knit for you cards (thanks for the card Monica). The highlight of the night for me, was when Franklin brought out his Leaf and Nupp shawl to show off, and I had mine along, and he gushed over it and said that his shawl looked anemic compared to mine! I was over the moon when he said that!!! Overall a fun evening, and thanks to Knit/Purl for hosting him!


Fun swag, and he signed my book too!

Oregon Flock and Fiber 09 - Day 2

Day two was much more laid back. Hazel finally made an appearance and had a great time. We took her to see the animals. She loved the Alpacas best :) and the angoras, but not the chinchillas so much. We met the people of Hazel Rose Looms, they are sisters and Hazel's husband makes the looms!

Hazel loved taking a break on Owen's camp chair, she gazed up at the oak tree and listened to the background music and she fell asleep.

I resisted the fleeces in the parking lot sale! Go me! Mostly because I already have one alpaca fleece that I haven't started prepping yet. I also resisted going into Blue Moon for more sock yarn. And I did not bring home a bunny this year, even though this male called Buster Brown was totally wanting me to take him home.

Had to leave a lot earlier than I intended to because I wasn't feeling well. I don't know if it's the flu shot from Wednesday, allergies or someone's germs.




Chinchilla pile-up


Duck herding

Hazel Rose Looms

How cool is it, that there is a company out there with the same name as my baby girl?? I first found out about Hazel Rose Looms back in March when I was at Camp Pluckyfluff. Urban Fauna Studio carried them in their store and I knew I had to have one. During Sock Summit I purchaced the 4" multi loom and I've had fun making coasters with my handspun left overs. I gave those to my friend as a housewarming present. I was delighted to find out from my friend Kathy that Hazel Rose Looms would be at OFFF. Of course, I had to take my Hazel Rose to meet them.


This is Hazel, Hazel Rose and Rose.


Checking out the looms


Look at all the shapes!!


I did add to my collection and bought a 2" multi Loom and a small pick for straightening the wefts. ( I also bought 2 oz of Border Leicester locks dyed blue and purple from Baabaara's Handspun a table I found out in the sheep barn)

alpacas!

Oregon Flock and Fiber 09 - Day 1

OFFF in a nutshell: I bought way too many pretty things, met FRANKLIN HABIT! (and may or may not have gone fangirl on him), created a new spindle group called "The Delights", spent all day spinning on my new spindle and made a few yards of yarn, hung out with all my PDXKB and PDXSpinerati peeps, did not knit a stitch, and did not see any of the animals.


First thing after Angela and I got there was buy a Jenkins Turkish Delight drop spindle!


I did a self portrait and kinneared Franklin Habit at the same time! Cindy did take an actual picture with me and Franklin together, but I'll have to wait for her to post it on her blog. I'm going to see him give a talk on Monday, so I did not hog too much of his time.


Me and Michele spinning on our Turkish Delights



Tami took this picture of "The Delights": Tammy, me, Michele, Duffy, and Leila
I inspired Tammy to get a TD spindle, Michele inspired me and Leila inspired Michele (see this chain reaction thing going on?) Duffy is an honorary member with her top whirl spindle.


My purchases:
Pink BFL and pastel Merino/Tencel from Knitted Wit
10oz of BFL (the blue/green pink) from Dicentra
Turkish Delight drop spindle from Carolina Homespun
A rare gem and a skein of silkie and a pattern from Blue Moon
1oz of white pygora (Cody) from Foggybottom Farms

Candles

I adore this picture!!

Starbucks!

Yay for free coffee!

Happy Birthday to me!

Yeah, I turn the big 3-0 today!! Yikes!

When I was little 30 seemed so old to me, but now that I've reached it, I don't feel old at all!  Enjoy the picture of me when I was a little baby, I think I was about 9 months old!

And since it is Thursday, I will add a few things that I'm thankful for :)

Family - I am so lucky to have the best husband in the world and the best baby in the world!
Friends - I am so grateful for all of the wonderful people that I know and consider my friends.  They are awesome and I don't know what I would do with out them!

Hazel - Three Months

Hazel - Two Months

I just realized that I did not post this last month, oops!

Burrito Boy Mini Tacos

When Owen and I were poor college students in Corvallis and poor just out of college adults, we would frequent this place called Burrito Boy. They had the best cheap Mexican food that was not sketchy and the place was clean. Then they switched ownership and became Andele Burrito, they were still good, but when the original owners sold it, the place was never the same. So, Owen and I figured out how to make our favorite dish - the mini tacos. Still don't know how they did the wet burritos or their chips and salsa though.

Burrito Boy Mini Tacos for two:

12 Don Poncho 4" Lonchera corn taco shells (not sure if they are sold everywhere, but these are smaller than the taco size)
1/2 can of Rosarita refried beans heated up (we get the green chile & lime)
1/4 bunch cilantro
1/4 white onion, finely chopped
grated cheddar cheese
taco sauce
roasted unsalted sunflower seeds (optional)

Steam the taco shells for 1 min 30 secs in the microwave with a damp paper towel over them.
Arrange the shells on your plate and put all the toppings on.
Enjoy!

Pearl's Shawl

This is the project I've been working on the last month. It is the Leaf and Nupp shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia. It is made with fiber from my rabbit Pearl who passed in July. It is my tribute to her, and I think I did pretty darn well if I may say so! I only had 14 yards left after I cast off, that was cutting it really close at the end, so I skipped a purl round on the edge and I only used one strand instead of two for the bind off. It has a gorgeous halo, it is so light, but it is very warm :)

WWSIP Day

World Wide Spin in Public day! Had fun spinning with my knitsibs. Actually, I was more like a bee flitting from person to person talking, that I didn't get much spinning done. I did ply my blue/green roving from bel tine farm (a roving that I bought a year ago at Black Sheep Gathering, my very first roving purchase!!) I re-learned how to use hand cards (that were actually dog brushes). I even bought an alpaca fleece from the trunk of Carissa's car - hehe to anyone else it might have looked more like a drug deal.


Hazel and I in our matching February sweaters - a picture I've been waiting months to get!


Alpaca/Merino/Silk
4oz, 200 yds, fingering weight


Goody bags for the first 20 people! All donated by local fiber artists! clock wise from the bottom left:
Raw alpaca fiber from the Cupcake Factory
NZ Romney/Perendale roving from Woodland Woolworks
Gotland Lamb locks that Shelia shipped home from Sweeden
BFL from Dicentra Designs
Corredale and BFL from Knitted Wit
unknown fiber from Stitch Jones
I gave away the rest to a lady who was just learning how to use a drop spindle.

Vaux's Swifts

Tonight after I picked up Owen from work, and we got pizza from Hot Lips (to go) we went over to Chapman School in industrial NW Portland. We went to watch a spectacular natural event with entertainment provided by several thousand Vaux's Swifts. This was so cool, I can only describe it as riveting. Thousands of birds swirling overhead flying in unison, shifting, making patterns in the sky and as the sun set, the birds flew into a single chimney attached to a school to roost for the night. If you live in Portland, this is a very amazing thing to watch and it's free!!

Here is some info about it from Portland Audubon Society

Here is a Youtube video to watch so you can see what I'm talking about.

Out for a walk

Hazel loves the park

State Fair

My Rona Lace Shawl won second place at state fair!

Dinner Harvest

Our garden provided us with this scrumptious meal tonight! It spent all summer growing for us.



Roasted carrots, parsnips and onion with sage.


Roasted purple potatoes with rosemary


This carrot wanted to be different.