Too Good Not to Share

I will admit to being greedy and selfish about some things. But before we get into my failings as a human being, I want to show you Dingle Bay-

No-head Fred has it on, but I need to find a body. A breathing body- which may be harder to find around here than you would think.

I'm especially pleased at how the ribbing morphed into this pattern. There is a different cable up the sleeve- because the knitter needs to keep the interest level high, but it's not a difficult project at all. Similar to Kilkenny- saddle shoulders, and this time, a shawl collar- unisex- it's got it all. I'm very happy.

While basking in the glow of accomplishment- I whipped this up last night. It's a Bead Stew bracelet from http://www.earthfaire.com/, and it's just exquisite. I mean, with this, ZsaSZsa Gabor has nothing on me- this is the "Moonflower" color. The clasp is a dragonfly.

Okay, some of the yarn- I told you a while back that Etsy is a dangerous place. There's a lovely lady named Brooke who has managed to capture the season in a skein of yarn-

This is merino laceweight in " Red Autumn Oak"- the picture doesn't do it justice. The devil is in the details- she ties in up lovingly in a co-ordinating ribbon, with a matching stitch marker, and a bag of lavender. She also does amazing sock yarn, as well as sewn project bags. Her attention to detail is incredible, and you can find her at http://www.whitewillow.etsy.com/- tell her I said hi. Her prices are very reasonable.

While we are on the subject of amazing people, I'm sure I don't need to tell you about Anne Hanson of http://www.knitspot.com/- did you see the latest Raven-inspired shawl? The woman is a genius- you can be sure that one made it to the top of my Ravelry queue. Anne doesn't charge enough for her patterns.

There has been alot of online purchasing- and DH and I will be conducting a spending experiment for the next year. I feel a major yarn-purchasing hangover coming on- starting January 1st- but the optimist in me is thinking it's going to be another incredible year for us knitters. I have another design lined up- but my latest obsession is lace shawls- sometimes you have to go where the inspiration leads you.

"the sad effects of over-indulgence"

Inspiration can be hard on the bank account. I'm over-inspired.

Watch My Dust

"Baldrick, I want you to go out and get me a turkey so large, you'd think it's mother had been rogered by an omnibus".

Blackadder's Christmas Carol

I can only hope that your turkey is half as big.

I am off on a jaunt this morning, to Bloor Street, my annual hunt for marzipan is on, and some specialty teas. I may go into semi-hibernation after this, because the stores are getting crowded, and this is the last shopping I have to do. Thank goodness for on-line, it's the best thing- click a button and it comes straight to your door. Gotta love it.

I did enjoy the Santa Claus Parade this year- www.globaltv.com/santaclausparade- 24 floats- and the weather was cold and sunny. While I was doing that, other things were happening: "Warriors- come out to play-ay"

The weekend warriors ripping up the cement and tile floor- you can see the dust haze.

Because we run a classy establishment, there will be no showing of workman's butt crack, but penguin boxers instead.

I am in the process of knitting the shawl collar onto Dingle Bay.

That is when I can peel His Nibs off of it. He's been upset by all the noise, so I have perhaps indulged him more than usual.

Gee, I didn't think that was possible. Happy Thanksgiving, and be thankful.

Wednesday Morning 7AM

I'm up early again- I think I went to sleep around 9:00pm last night- Laura was watching "Dancing With The Stars", and I don't know what it is, there's an awful lot of yelling and screaming on that show. Couldn't be my age, at all? No, didn't think so.

Bad behavior seems to reap rewards around here. I got up yesterday to be faced with a counter full of recycling papers, empty cartons and old chinese food containers. The one thing that turns my stomach in the morning is dirty dishes and the smell of food. I had a full-blown, bubbles-of-snot-out-the-nose meltdown. Gee, that kitchen was cleaned up fast.

Speaking of which, the cupboards are being delivered today. This is a monumental day at Chez Sheriff. I can not wait to have my kitchen back. In anticipation of this, I spent a whole morning baking muffins.

We had a fun weekend- my nieces came over (the favorites) and we laughed so hard that we peed ourselves. I just love those two, and my sister was over. We were playing around- some fool decided to try on a pair of the guy's size 14's.

I didn't know they even made shoes this big, outside of a circus.

In other news, this will amaze you. Anne came by yesterday and happened to have her Oregon swatch with her. Just for shits and giggles, we compared her Jamieson's with the original Hebridean:

It was uncanny how close the colors are- I mean, is she good or is she good? So, it can be done, and if you prefer the shetland yarns- I defy anyone to spot the difference.

I did promise to show you the colors for an upcoming Twisted Traditions design. This one will have a co-ordinating hap shawl. I have had so many comments on my Sharon Miller hap shawl on Ravelry, that I am going to make one in jumper weight. You will be able to use either Jamieson's or Jamieson and Smith. I hope to have Dingle Bay out before Christmas.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas- yarn on the back of the sofa.

Of course, the animals figured out long ago, that all you have to do is make a complete nuisance of yourself, and anything you want is yours. Who says you shouldn't reward bad behavior?

Wednesday Morning 5 AM

I was up early this morning. This would have been a great day to sleep in, as DD has a PA day, and DS doesn't roll out of bed until a few nanoseconds before his bus is due, but it was not to be.

The kitchen is a complete disaster, and will only get worse. The detritus has migrated into the dining room, and it's not going to get better anytime soon. The demolition hasn't even begun. The cupboards are supposed to be delivered in the next week. I hate this.

I sprayed the oven with cleaner, popped in a load of laundry, and looked at yarn on line. This is the only solace I have at my disposal.

I don't like mess. I'm going to have to empty the cupboards- and if I sound like a spoiled brat, then that's what I am. I know alot of people would be happy to have a new kitchen, but at this point, I'd like to have my food there instead of in the basement WHERE IT'S BEEN FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS!

Okay, I'm better now.

We did have mousie time this morning:

Laura's giant spider marks the spot where the latest kitty indiscretion occurred- so we don't have a repeat performance. You can guess that the Halloween stuff hasn't been put away.

In case you think that I have abandoned all stranded knitting- this is my latest mother/guilt project. Alexander never asks for anything, but he does need a hat. I have to line it with felt because the Heilo is a little scratchy. I did this in an afternoon- haven't lost the old magic touch!

Next time, I'll show you the colors for the new Fair Isle- I may crawl into the closet with the stash.

The Royal

Yesterday, DH, DD and DTS (dear Twin sister) and I went to the Royal Agicultural Winter Fair in Toronto. This is THE event for people all over North America to show off the best in livestock and to educate us ignorant city folk in the ways of farming and country life.

Here's my sister showing her lack of "chumba wumba" - belly fat. We should have entered her in the show.

I am showing off Delphine and less chumba. Can you dig the tartan handbag? Okay, let's get on with the good stuff.

Aren't we a good-looking group? I adore this lady- she's Gina of Retro-G, an English Hatter and she makes the most amazing Edwardian-inspired frock coats, well, she's incredible. Laura and I both came away with top hats- the feathers can get wet, and the more you wear them, the better they get. That's Alex too, he's a bona-fide Dandy- doesn't he look terrific?

Laura paused to hug a Golly.

I don't know whether we missed "sheep day" but there wasn't alot of them. These guys are keeping it clean- they look like something out of Ghostbusters.

Isn't this cow pretty? She was a prize-winner- a Swiss Dairy cow. Did you know that more people are killed by cows than sharks in a given year?

Finally, some fiber. This Llama was so handsome, and knew it. Typical male.

I so badly wanted to take this Mini-Rex rabbit home. The fur is so plush, and the color was incredible. There were alot of rabbits there- but this one was the prettiest.

Prize-winning fleeces- I posted this for all my spinning-fiber maniac readers- and I've seen for myself what happens when a spinner gets within spitting distance of a fleece.

An OCAD student did this butter sculpture.

This is for Anne- who I know has a thing for Highland Cattle- a really handsome breed.

Here's the beef. I would have failed miserably as a farmer- I could never have a beautiful animal such as this and send it away -if we had brought the pickup truck, this beautiful fellow may have been residing in my back yard, along with the bunny, the alpaca (eyelashes to kill for) and a bulldog named "Pot Roast" from the Iams Superdog show.

Oh, and maybe a goat too- then we wouldn't have to cut the grass.

Friends

I just got back from my Weight Watchers meeting- and the fact that we just had Halloween and Wunderbars in the house, was reflected on the scale- and now I have to show the Leader my food diary, so she knows what I've been up to. No good.

This wouldn't be the first time my sense of humour has gotten me in trouble, but I find that alot of people don't have one. None whatsoever- how do they manage in today's world? The Leader was asking the group what body parts they have re-discovered since losing weight- a leading question if there ever was one- and before I could think I said "my crotch- and now I can check to see if my drapes match my carpet". You should have seen the mouths drop- I just shrunk back into my chair and continued to knit my sock. Oh, well-as my father used to say, quoting Groucho Marx- he wouldn't want to be part of any club that would have him as a member.

I've also gone astray in the yarn purchasing department- that evil thing known as "etsy" where one can discover hithero unknown treasures, well- I bought some yarn inspired by this:

It's laceweight and actually has these colors in it. Somebody told me about this- and I know I absolutely have the best friends in the world, but you see, they do insist on telling me things!

I have been amazed at all the handpainted yarns, and as I am on a lace jag, you can get yourself in alot of trouble.

The latest incarnation of the Halloween Shawl- I am going to finish this, if it kills me, and it just might. I figure I'll look good in it when I'm laid out in my coffin- can someone see to that for me?

The bag was made for me by another dear friend- so it even has it's own place. Is that cool, or what?

Dingle Bay has a saddle- I only have another sleeve and the collar to finish, and I will, but I have been busy.

As Miele can tell you- sometimes having too much on the go, can really suck!

So please, even if you find the most amazing pattern or yarn in the world, don't let me know. I am a weak individual- whose drapes do match her carpet!