TV?!

After almost four years without television (only Netflix) I now have basic and standard cable, and speedy internet access. I forgot all the things I hate about TV. I think it's gotten worse: the stupid reality shows, the commercials for drugs (what the hell is that all about?) and ads for food that really isn't food at all. I'm also used to pausing when I leave the room. Nope.

The first night I had it I was psyched about seeing The Daily Show again. Now it is apparently on at 8 pm (not such a good time for a mom). I turned it on, watched until it went to a commercial, got bored by the four commercials I saw, left the room, and forgot all about the show. Yep. That's how un-used to TV I am.

In the knitting world I working on the Himalaya Tote by Jill Vosburg from recycled sari silk. I'm using a different brand of yarn and I think I like it better than what is pictured. Silk tends to get "limp" when it hangs and it's going to have some kind of lining. Here's a glimpse



I'm also working on a potholder loop rug from Mason-Dixon Knitting. I bought six bags of potholder loops and Morgan and Erin happily slip knotted them together and I now have mondo balls of "yarn".



You'll see the progress tomorrow.

Happiness...

My beautiful people in the tree in our front yard.



Somehow good things and bad things like to clump up on me. I got to see the Avett Brothers at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh last weekend and they were fabulous. It was sold out, the crowd was full of love and the band was psyched. Very cool and rockin'. That was a good thing. Then, the next day I had hideous pain, $300 later I found out is was a ruptured ovarian cyst. What do they do for that you ask? Nothing. After that we moved on to some work related issues, then one of my sons was struck by a fever and GI illness that put him off food almost for good. We had to go to the Dr yesterday and with some TLC and an "eat anything you want just so you eat" diet he's well on his way to recovery.

Through all that chaos there has been spinning and knitting. First, some lovely merino and tencel from Three Waters Farm. It is so smooth and beautiful, I can't wait to finish spinning so I can ply it. I'm going to do a 3 ply with it. I only bought four ounces, so we'll see how much I get.



Then, after joining Knitting Daily I got this lovely pattern e-mailed to me and decided to use up my two remaining skeins of Cascade Quattros. Here's a before:



and an after:



The joy of felting bit me again and I decided to make a bag based on a friend's nylon bag she's been carrying lately. Here's the prototype of Becca's bag:



For the second go I decided it needed longer handles.



I'm making a passel of these bags, I really like them. They're user friendly and quick to make. Can anyone say Holiday Gifts?