Christmas eve and all is well!!

It's Christmas Eve and all is well. All the cookies and candy are made and all the presents are wrapped. We are waiting for the Charger game to start and then we will eat Chicken Wings and lots of goodies.

We are also going to the Christmas Eve service at our church. It is at 6:00 and is a candle lighting ceremony. Very pretty and a great way to start the festivities. Tomorrow will be equally wonderful.

We are having a dinner for the whole family and lots of fun. This is the last hurrah before Brian moves to Kansas . We will all miss his entire family. I will especially miss the kids, because I'm all about the kiddos.

Merry Christmas and
Spin on...................................Sheena

A Sugar Storm in the Kitchen

Wow, first thing this morning (6:00am) I was making Rice Crispy Squares. Ron ask for them which surprised me. I didn't even know he liked them. I made some not too long ago and they were a disaster. This time they worked out perfect. I made two batches and sprinkled red and green sugar on them. They are really pretty. Very easy too.

Next I made some fudge. No nuts, for Ginger and Ron. I still need to make some for my Mom with nuts. I like the one with nuts too, but if I make it for me, I will eat it all, this way I can share with my Mom and eat half as much. Last year nothing I made turned out right, so this year I am making it early in the morning without "help". I seem to do much better that way.

I am knitting on a pair of socks I started a long, long time ago. I was trying to learn to knit with two circular needles. I got about three inches done and really don't like this technique. Maybe someday I will try it again, but for now I am back to double pointed needles. Did I mention that there were two being knit at the same time. Yeah, I give! I think it is a great idea, but I don't have the skill yet to do that.

We had our last spinning class on Wednesday and I have been looking forward to the break. We brought things in that we no longer wanted, roving, yarn, unfinished projects or what ever, as long as it was fiber related. I took in some roving I didn't think I would want (it was so hard to part with anything cause I love all my stuff) and I am proudest of the fact that I didn't bring any thing new home.

I have my fudge done and tonight I will be making some English Toffee. My personal favorite. It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas around here.

Most of my spinning is waiting to be turned into something. I really need to get busy knitting. I made two hats last night on the knitting machine and will try to do some more tonight after dinner.

Spin on...............................Sheena

Christmas party for spinners

Well, last night was the Christmas party for the spinning group that I go to. It is at Lorraine Powell's house. She is the local Shepherdess and has a flock of about 60 and also has goats (angora) and meat goats. There are several ladies who meet every other Friday night and the third Thursday for the day time group. We bring our wheels and some people bring knitting and sit around and visit and either spin or knit. There are plenty of people to help if you are just learning and it is really great fun. I never want to have it end.

Last night was no exception. There were a couple of ladies I never see anymore who came last night. It was so good to see them. A couple of them were affected by the fire and still trying to get back to normal. I really feel for them, we are so blessed. All together there were about 8 of us, that pretty well fills up the room. Lots of talking and hot apple cider and everyone brought something to share to snack on.

I got a brush to put on my drum carder. It is one of my Christmas Presents. I can't wait to get busy with that stuff after Christmas. I am going to blend some wool mixing colors and fibers. Great fun for this spinning girl.

Spin on..............Sheena

Getting Ready for Christmas, making goodies

Well, I have finished the last slipper sock for my grand kids for Christmas. I have a couple of other things I am working on, but have plenty of time left to finish. Now I have to start baking. Well maybe I don't have to, but I want to. In fact it is my favorite part.

I have been spinning a lot lately too. I am finishing up a bunch of 4 oz bumps I have in different colors that I have bought over the last year. It is so fun to see what they become. Even if I don't like the roving, I seem to always like the yarn. In fact I usually love it. I hope to use some of it in some felted bags I plan on making. I have lots of ideas and am ready to get started. I have about 5 or 6 pounds of my Lincoln wool spun up. Can't wait to see how that turns out. I could make a sweater, but probably won't. I also want to over dye some of it. Blue of course.

I have all my Christmas decorations out, and the house looks festive and wonderful. I love Christmas and all the colors and lights. This is the first year my husband has really got involved. I don't know if it is because he finally has time, or because he just feels better this year. Anyway, it has been great fun and I don't care why.

I really miss all the kids, but am getting better at being away from them. I am looking forward to them coming in the spring. Oh!!! my chickens are laying eggs. I can't believe it. They usually don't start laying until the following spring, but they are laying now. I started with one a day, and am now up to 4 a day. What fun!!! The kids will be so happy when they get here. I can't wait. I have been making Ron Egg Mcmuffin for breakfast. He loves that.

It is really cold the last couple of days, especially at night. I guess it is suppose to be, after all it is winter. I'm glad I don't have snow. I would freeze.

Spin on...................Sheena

Rain Rain we finally have Rain!!!

It started raining on Thursday night late. Really I guess it was Friday night. It rained all day and into the night on Friday. I usually don't like the rain, but this time I kind of enjoyed it. My husband stayed in for a change and we decorated the house for Christmas. This is the first time in a long time that he actually took part. He seems to be enjoying it. We unpacked everything, something we haven't done in a long time also. I am going through all the old stuff and getting rid of the broken things and warp things (there are a lot of warp things). Some things just don't do well in the heat. I had a lot of funny looking candles. Won't pack those away again.

We went shopping last week and bought a new little artificial tree. It has lights on it already and set up in 2 minutes. I love it! It is perfect for us and I have completely covered in all of my favorite ornaments. You can hardly see the tree. There is some green peeking out here and there. I always enjoy going through all of my ornaments. A lot of them my kids made over the years or they have a special meaning because of what was going on in my life at the time.

So today, I have spent the morning doing just that, going through and hanging up the best of the best and remembering all the wonderful Christmases we have had. I still miss those kids, but of course I love the people they have become. The Grand kids have totally taken up the slack. We have had all of them living here at one time, but now half of them are in Alabama.
I miss those very much, but am thankful for the ones who are still here. (the other half). Soon three more are going to move away, so I will only have two here. I do know I am very fortunate to have been such a big part of their lives. I will enjoy the ones that are here, and go on missing the ones who have moved away. Life goes on.

I have been knitting slipper socks for all the grand kids like crazy. Almost done. I need to mail the first 5 this week. I have also been spinning a lot to make yarn for some felted bags that I want to make. I really need to get to making those or they won't get done in time. I will do most of the knitting on the knitting machine. That way I can get at least a few done in time. If I want to hand knit them, I better get busy now for next year!! Ha ha.

Well, I best get knitting and spinning.
Spin on..........................................................Sheena

Time for a Christmas Sweater, almost done with Christmas presents!!

Today at machine knitting class we worked on a Christmas Sweater. I am so ready to knit something for myself. I really need a new sweater, all the ones I have are old and I give so much away that I don't have that many anyway. I guess living in San Diego doesn't exactly call for a lot of sweaters. I love them anyway. I think I have the yarn, so I will look for it tomorrow.
It is in storage like all my yarn. I have so much, I go shopping at my own house.

I bought a new little Christmas tree this weekend. The one we had didn't make it past the storage job last year. I got one that is 4.5ft with lights already on it. It is perfect for us and will be fun to set up. It is about a 5 minute job. I am going to put it on a table and it won't take up too much room, since I have no extra space.

I have one more pair of slipper socks to make before Christmas. Now I am working on a couple of felted bags I have in mind. If they turn out they will be Christmas presents too. I love making them anyway, so it doesn't really matter. It is really fun spinning the yarn to make them. That is, I think, my favorite part. I love spinning for it's lack of planning and hardly any preparation. It is so relaxing, I keep threatening to teach my husband so he can relax. He really needs to relax more. I have to say he is very supportive of all I do.

Spin on..........................Sheena

Finally back from the TIME WARP

I can't believe how horrible I felt this time getting back from Alabama. It took almost a full week to get back to feeling half way normal. I still feel lazy and low.

Thanksgiving was great. We had lots of food and lots of fun. I really miss Dana and the kids, but I was just with them so I should be thankful for that. I miss Brian too, but he will be back in about three weeks, so I am thankful for that too. My Mom and Ron's parents were all here and Rhonda and her family and Ginger too. We had 14 including the 5 grandchildren that were here. It was a very good day.

I have been doing alot of knitting. I am working on slipper sox for Christmas for the gradkids. So far I have 7 pair done. I am half way through #8. I also want to make some felted bags, so I hope I will get some done. I went to Lorraine's to spin on Friday night, and finished some BFL I have been working on. I hope I have enough for a vest. It is died a lot of colors and turned out really beautiful.

I hope I can start knitting some things for myself. After Christmas should get better.

Spin on............................Sheena

A Day of Quiet and lots of knitting

Today I am keeping Reese home from his sitter. He usually has a hectic schedule on Wednesday. Autumn is still home sick, and today Rebecca joins her. We are all going to relax and take it easy. I am going to knit all day. Except when I get tired of that and want to spin. I have some roving I will start on and I think it will be another good felted bag. I hope to end up with at least a couple of Christmas presents by the time I get home.

The dog is still a pain in my side!!! With the kids here, it won't all fall on me to get him outside for his business. He's very cute and just needs to be house broke. I am not very experienced in that so we are lacking. Oh well, we will keep trying.

I think I will ask for advice from my friend Sue.

Spin on....................................Sheena

Today was a great day!!

This is the first day that I really feel like myself since I got here. I guess the time difference or something. I have really been draggin' and not getting much done. My back has really been a mess. It was somewhat better today and I really got a lot done. The laundry has been the big challenge. I know I won't be here long enough to really doing any thing much, but I am trying to get things back to a starting point.

I started some slipper sox for Reese (3) today. They go fast when the foot is little. I am working on the heel of the first sock so I should finish them tomorrow. I will have Reese all day so I won't be able to do much house work. I will have to keep track of him as he tries to tear everything up.

I have been working on the baby jacket thing and so far so good.

Spin on.........................Sheena

Today I kept the car to go up town and look around, but Autumn got sick at school so I had to go pick her up instead. Maybe another day. There is a great book store called "Books Amillion" that I have been to before in SC so I was going to go there. It is a great book store.

I started on the Magic baby jacket and so far so good. I'm sure I will need help later. I am only on row 5. I also am still working on Tess's socks. It is hard to get some knitting time in. There is so much going on . I just can't work like I use to. I get so tired. The first week I'm sure the time difference was a factor, and now the time changed for fall......so I am all messed up. It was easier this morning to get up. I just keep plugging away. I have been working on the laundry, and some of the kids stuff.

My son Brian left for Iraq today. He will only be gone until sometime in December since he is changing to go to school in Kansas. They flew there this weekend and bought a house. It sounds really great. I'm so happy for them. Ron said we could help them drive there, so I sure hope we do. It will be a chance to see some of the country. I really look forward to it. It will be hard to have them gone again, but I know it is good for Brian's career. He will be in 20 years in March, and is being sent to school to get his Masters. I don't know where he will go next. It is a real adventure. I never went anywhere until my kids moved all over the country. It is so fun for me to go to new places.

I'll guess I had better get back to work.

Spin on..............................Sheena

Alabama Bound.....Spinning and knitting for Christmas.

I finally got to Alabama after a few frustrating days. I really was glad to get out of the smoke. The grand kids are great of course and we were glad to see each other. The house is so cool and really big. I love the houses here. I think they are all grand. This track if you want to call it that was built in a forest. They only cleared the trees they needed to for the houses and some sort of yard to be. It is breathtaking to look out and see all the trees.



I have been spinning some pink and green corriedale that I got sometime last spring from Spunky Electric. It is named Strawberry Fields. I am inspired by the name to knit and felt a bag for someone in my family. I want to needle felt some strawberries on it. I am more than half way done with the spinning. I am getting so good with my Turkish drop spindle. I think the weight helps me. I want to try other when I get home. I think I finally have the principles down.

I have also been knitting. I have been knitting mitered squares with some Noro I had bought when I was at my friend Amy's. They are so pretty. I hope to make a felted bag out of that also. Knitting with this yarn makes me think I can make some yarn like this. It would be so cool. I will try when I get home. I am also knitting with some super wash Moreno that I spun before I came here into some socks for a Christmas present. So as usual, I have several projects going at the same time. Each takes a different kind of concentration so serve all of my knitting moods. Hope I actually get something done while I am here.

Spin on.....................Sheena

My world's on fire......We're blessed.

The Ramona area where I live, has been burning since Sunday night. We tried to leave and had to turn back so we are here for the duration. Just in the last few hours we have lost water, but I am blessed, I have a well.
We have some drinking water, and the well water is fine for bathing and other cooking and such. At least so far we have power. That has not been true for other Ramona residents. Hopfully this is on the mend. The winds are better today, so I think they will get a handle on the main fire. It is so sad. So many have lost their homes. I really feel for them.

I have been spinning just to keep myself busy and sane! I have finished a couple of my projects just because I have had lots of down time. I sure hope this ends soon. My husbands asthma is so bad. Well, we still have our home so we are truly blessed.

Spin on.......................Sheena

On the go again!!! Packing up my projects.

Well, I am off to Alabama next week. My daughter needs me to help with the kids while she is working long hours. I hate to leave right now, but can't wait to spend time with the kids. I really miss them dearly. I use to baby sit all of them at one time or another. Of my 10 grandchildren, this family has five of them. I leave on the 23rd and return home on the 14th of November.

My main concern is which projects to pack. I am taking lots of yarn because I am working on Christmas presents. So far I have 4 pair of slipper socks made and need to keep working hard so I can get them all done. Some of them I have spun the yarn for too. That is the fun part.

My friend Amy is here now and we are knitting fools. I taught her the Toe-up sock and the shortrow heel, and we are plugging away. I want to start a sweater for myself, and can't wait for that. I also have a vest I have been working on so that is cool.

In spinning I am practising spinning softer yarn. I think I overdo everything and that includes my spinning. I use to barely ply it and now I think it is over plied.???? What to do? Keep learning!

Spin on.....................Sheena

I have been so busy with all my projects. I am trying to make most of my Christmas presents, so I have started early. That is the only way I will ever get done. Some of the things I am making, I am also spinning the yarn for. I also have alot of yarn that I have spun stockpiled. I found all my yarn the other day and was shocked at how much I have. It was really fun to look at all I have done. But I really need to get busy and turn it into something. Of course I could just relax and make yarn. So fun.

Janice Jones's daughter Heather got married yesterday. I babysat for Heather when she and her sisters were very little people. Time sure passes by fast. It was such a blessing to see her getting married.

My friend Amy is coming this week. Her birthday is Wednesday. I know we will have fun, we always do.

spin on...................Sheena

On Vacation ......Knitting with friends

We finally got to go on our little vacation. It is really little too. We were suppose to go for a couple of weeks, but we will only have a few days. We are at my friend Amy's house and then we are going to Las Vegas for a couple of days.

The thing about Amy and I is we have been friends off and on for a long time. We met back in 1972 when we were working for Ross Perrot EDS. We didn't know who he was at the time, but that is who we worked for. We were both "key punch operators", now that would be Data entry. We were young and had little children. Amy is the one who helped me learn more about Crochet and taught me to read a pattern. We had alot of funny adventures over the years. Our lives have drifted apart and have come back together many times. Now we can sit and knit and crochet and talk yarn for hours. We are both grandmothers (she has 17 grandchildren and I have 10), and we both love yarn. We never seem to run out of things to talk about and never get enough of yarn and being together. We just plain enjoy each other.

It feels good to get away for a few days, and then I am ready to get back to my life.

spin on.........................Sheena

Almost done!!! Time to play

Well, today is the next to last day of racing. My mother and my husband are coming to the races. I'm really ready for the races to be over. So is our whole office.

I spun some this morning and it felt so good. I have three bobbins full of Sophie. I am going to spin until I have lots of yarn.

We plan to go on a small road trip starting next week. I hope we end up in Las Vegas.

Spin on....................Sheena

Beautiful Yarn!! What to make??

I finished plying the yarn I spun from "Sophie" Wow, it is so pretty. I don't know what to make. I think something felted. I want to make some slippers. Maybe those clog ones. I also think they would make a really nice book bag for Paige. But I would like to dye some. I think I will get busy spinning some more. I have 1lb & 15.5 ounces. Almost 2 pounds. I have more ideas than I have time to make them.

One more full week and the races will be over. A week from Wednsday. I will be glad when it is over, but I will also miss it. Mixed feelings!!! Such is life. I always miss the people I work with, and also just being busy. I also will look forward to having more time to work on my projects and taking knitting and spinning classes.

Ron will be glad when I am home too, only because he wants food. I am the chief cook around there and they always miss my cooking. I miss it too. I can't wait to have time to bake. I also look forward to cooler weather so I can make soup and stews and that kind of stuff.

I am finally getting the short row heel right. I have to keep practicing so I can remember how to do it. I'm afraid if I wait too long, I will forget. I am making Autumn and Rebecca some slipper socks for Christmas. I am freaked out about the stuff from China, so I am making all of my Christmas presents this year. Everything is from China. I might have to use my own yarn just so I know where it came from. MY YARD!! So funny.

Spin on.......................Sheena

almost over.....time for more spinning and knitting!!!

Well, the racing season is almost done. Won't be long until I will be back in spinning and knitting classes. My favorite place to be.

I finished plying the "Sophie" wool I had spun and it is simply gorgeous. It felts like heaven and I can't wait to make something out of it. I want to make some clog slippers. They would be awsome. Also it would be fun to have something made from my own sheep. I really appreciate her more now that I have spun some of her beautiful wool. Ron doesn't like her that much because she is not friendly at all, but she is getting better. It has been a year since we got her, and she is still very skittish. Her baby is too of course because she gets all those signals from her mom. The babies we have are so sweet and friendly, it really makes her look bad.

I hope to get some really great stuff done this winter in knitting. I really need to get busy or give it up.

spin on..............sheena

Half way

Well, today is the half way point. The races are half over. It has been really quiet in the ticket office today. Yesterday I got sent home early. It was nice. I cooked a real dinner for a change. We al enjoyed it. I grilled some steaks, and had some corn on the cob someone brought in for all the workers. Someone else brought in some garden fresh tomatoes. Yumm.... I made a salad too. Very good.

I have been knitting on my socks everyday and am up to the cuff on both. Won't be long now. I really like this yarn. "Island reef" It was dyed by Sue Warren and spun by me. I think I would like to make a sweater of some like this. This is super wash morino so it will be easy care.

I got my eighth bobbin spun of my "Sophie" wool. I can start plying now. Infact I have to start plying because I don't have any more empty bobbins. It should make some nice yarn. I felted some for my granddaughter and it turned out wonderful.

spin on..........Sheena

Pining for grandkids,working, spinning and knitting

Well, the grandkids have flown back home. We miss them already. Ron is really grieving. I guess I have had to "let go" so many times, I am better at it. I really miss all the kids because I use to take care of them all full time. They all miss each other too. It was really fun for them all to be together again.

I am working every day but Tuesday. It is really tough, but knowing there is an ending date helps. I try to knit a little everyday. I am working on a bag by Fiber Trends, and it is going really well.

I have been spinning my wool from "Sophie" It is turning out really nice. I am spinning it kind of bulky, and have knitted up some and felted it. It turned out so wonderful, I hope I can get alot spun up so I can dye some. Then I will make myself a bag. I am trying to spin a little every night. I am so pooped by the time I get home, I don't do much.

spin on........Sheena

off to the races

Well, the races have started and it is pretty exciting around here. The grounds are beautiful with over a million dollars worth of flowers planted. The transformation is amazing!!! I really wish the gardeners would come home with me and do my yard.

I spun up some of "Sophie" and she made beautiful bulky yarn. I am knitting a bag for my granddaughter, Autumn, to keep her rocks in. I am going to felt it to see how it felts. With 11 pounds of it I really need to find something wonderful to do with all this "fluff".

The granddaughters go home next Wednsday so I will truley miss them. I wish I had more time to spend with them, but that's the price I have to pay. If I don't work we can't afford to have them here to play.

We went to the movies the other night and saw the new Harry Potter movie. I wish I had seen the others, it would have made more sense. But I enjoyed it anyway. Makes me want to read the books. I want to start with the first one though, and need to go to a book store and buy it.

Well, summer is drifting away.
spin on...........Sheena

It's Party Time at Del Mar!!!

Well, it won't be long until opening day at Del Mar. The seats are sold out and so is the Coors Light party. This place will be a mad house as of Wedns. July 18th. Everyone is hussling around to get things done. The flowers are being planted and everything steam cleaned to get this place sooooo pretty by opening day.

I wish some of these gardeners would come to my house. They are planting over a million dollars worth of plants everywhere. Very pretty.

on the wooly front!!! I got my Lincoln fleeces back yesterday and they are awsome. I can't believe the miracle they do at Morro Bay fleece works. I really thought Sophie would be a ragged mess to make a rug out of, but OH MY GOODNESS you should see how wonderful them made her fleece.

I also got back a fleece I am sharing with a friend from spinning. It is a black Columbia/Finn cross that is absolutely the most beautiful I have ever had. I wish I had bought the whole fleece. Oh well, I have plenty to spin.

This weekend is the last weekend I will have off for a while. Until Sept. 5Th as a matter of fact. My day off will be on Tuesday after this weekend.

My granddaughters are here from Alabama and they are having a ball. My husband is having a great time entertaining them. They eat Popsicles all day and swim.

That's all for now, let you know how my spinning goes in a couple of days.

spin on........Sheena

It's over at last!!! I'll miss it!

The fair is finally over. It was great fun and we had a successful run. We had so many beautiful things to display. My favorite was a cross stitch picture of two imigrants holding hands. They were sweet and done very well. I don't do that kind of needlework, but do admire it.

I started a lacey scarf while at the fair, and am about half done. I also did a little spinning. Some with the drop spindle, and some on my Ashford traveler. I had it in the motor home. The trouble was, by the time we went to the motor home, I was too pooped to pop.

I slept until 7 this morning and it felt really good to wake up in my own bed. I went outside to see all my critters and talk to the sheep. My grandchildren are here and they got baby chicks so I had to visit them too. They have named them all. They are very sweet.

I am planning on starting a bag for knitting. You know, knit a bag to carry knitting in. Isn't that the best???? I can't wait to start. I am going to felt it and then needle felt on it. It will be the best!!! I know I will have time to knit at the races.

I start working at the Del Mar Race Track on Monday. Can't wait to get back. It is such a different job and very fun. I really enjoy both jobs, they are both fun, but again, very different. I will miss the Fair, especially all the people. I feel like I have made some great friends.

Spin on..................Sheena

Half way through....9 more days.

We are over half way through with the Fair. It will soon be behind us. It has been fun and stressful. I miss all my friends and my other life. I haven't knit much, but have been learning alot.

The lady who owns Bonita Knitting Store came to judge a contest at the Fair. She is so nice and brought a feather and fan pattern and I have been trying to knit it. It took me about 9 startovers and I finally got it. I am so dense when it comes to hand knit patterns. I just keep trying though. I am more stubborn than the knitting.

I have been spinning on my drop spindle every chance I get and am getting better at it every day.

Spin on.......Sheena

Fair Time!!!

Well the San Diego County Fair will open on June 8th. We are almost ready. Just a few finishing touches and the food to take in. On Wednesday we will be taking in all the yummy baked goods and cookies and candy and decorated cakes. Can't wait, it is usually very exciting. We will have it all Judged on Thursday and then Friday.....opeing day!

It has been alot of work and we are short staffed, but are getting the job done. Everyone is really tired and Karalyn has been diagnosed with High blood pressure. I hope it isn't because of the fair. We really do have fun, well atleast I do. I sometimes think we are just plain stupid for working so hard and then thinking it is fun.

Hope to see all my friends and family at the Fair. I will take lots of yarn and my spinning wheel with me in my motor home. I am also taking my drop spindle in case I have a chance to practise it.

Spin on.......Sheena

Last long week-end

Well, today it the last day of rest. I had a Birthday Party for my Mother-in-law yesterday. She turned 89 and we all had great food and lots of fun. I am just messing around and resting today.

My daughter went to the Spirit West Coast week-end at Del Mar. She took my motor home. I will be taking it to the Fair in a couple of weeks, so she gives it the dry run for me. They had a great time and had lots of tales to tell.

My beautiful yarn is too fine to knit with the #3's that I want to knit with. My spinning teacher said to knit with smaller needles. The only problem with that, is that I think if I need to knit with smaller needles I might as well do them on the knitting machine. I think I will try that, let you know later.

I think I will start trying to spin some of the LLama I got from Ruth. She had it blended with about 10% morino wool. It helps it bind together and spins alot easier. Luscious stuff.

Spin on.....Sheena

yummy yarn

I finished spinning and plying the "Island Reef" I got from Sue. It is simple the best I've spun so far. I don't know if it is because of the super wash Merino, or if it is because the colors are so beautiful. Whatever the reason......I love it. IT will become my next pair of socks.

I have been spinning like crazy and plying up all the singles I have before I get to working at the Fair full time. I have so many loose ends to wind up and am trying to get everything ready to ignore it for a time. Including set up time, it will be about 5 or 6 weeks of solid work. I really do love it and look forward to it.

I carded up all the wool from my Lincoln lamb that I had washed up. It is ready to spin. I will probably take it to the fair with me to spin in the evenings. I love that time. And by the time the fair is over I will have it ready to ply. I am sending the rest off to be processed and hope I will get it back in the fall, when I will be ready to work on it. I just don't have time to do it right now, and can't wait. I still have stuff in my closet from last year that never got done, so I won't make that mistake again.

I have been playing hard, and now it's time to get to work!!!

spin on.....Sheena

Socks all Done

I finally finished those socks. They turned out really nice. I like doing this heel because it made sense to me. They look really big, but that is because I have really big feet. They actually fit me. I will start another pair this weekend, before I forget how or loose the magazine article I got the dirrections from.

Today is my last day at the Race track ticket office. Next week we start working for the Fair. I know I won't have much time for spinning or knitting for a while. I do take my spinning wheel to the Fair with me so I can spin after a long hard day at the Fair.

On the spinning subject, I have started spinning some beautiful superwash morino that I bought. It was dyed by Sue from www.loveinterwoven.com. It is so beautiful. I have half of it done and hope to have the rest spun by this weekend. Then I can ply it and start that new pair of socks. It is so pretty, all green and blue and yellow. Very nice.

At class this week we all tried each others wheels and it was very interesting to try other wheels. I am looking at the Victoria as a new wheel to take places since my traveler is getting heavier and heavier. I haven't tried one yet, but it is one of the lightest I have found.

Spin on........Sheena

Long week...............

It has been a long 12 days. That is how long I have worked without a day off. We will be off this weekend. I am really looking forward to sleeping in and just taking it easy. Of course I will be busy, because I have signed up for a rug class and I am going to shear my last sheep. She is the gown up mama sheep and we saved her till last because she is not very friendly. My daughter-in-law is going to help me. She is great with animals and usually is alot of help.

With the new internet program at work, we don't seem to be as busy as we were last year. The phones go on next monday, so we should be busier.

I keep working on my socks, but don't seem to be getting anywhere. I have to finish them so I can start on something else. I love the flap heel done from the toe up. It was easy and I did it!!!

I'm tired and need to go to bed. Night all.
spin on.....sheena

First Day Back to Work

Wow , what a fun day. We have a new computer program and it looks like it will be great once we learn to navigate around in it. This is such a cool system. I can't wait until I am more comfortable using it. Right now my head is swimming with over loaded information.

My friend Sue came up last Friday and took some great pictures of my babies. Go to her blog www.loveinterwoven.blogspot.com to see them. They are SO sweet. It was great fun to share them with a friend and I really love having them. My husband is getting really attached too.

It rained again last night, what's the deal??? Is this February? I guess the weather is all messed up. Or maybe this is "April Showers bring May flowers." Let's hope so, because it is a really cold spring as far as I can see.

I hope to have some knitting time tonight even though I got home late. I will be earlier tomorrow, so no sweat.

Spin on.......Sheena

Back to work tomorrow

Today is my last day off for a while. I spent most of it at church and then visiting with my sister-in law. She came up to see her mother who lives here with us. She has been ill, and really enjoyed her daughters visit. I hope she will bring her grandchildren up to feed the lambs. She fed one and seemed to enjoy it.

I finally did the heel of the socks I am knitting. It was just what I wanted to learn how to do. It is a toe-up sock, with the heel done just like the one you do for a top-down sock. I can't seem to master the short row heel, but will keep trying.

I finished the yarn I was making from my fleece from Freckles, my Columbia sheep. I think I will knit some hand warmers with it. I only have 3 ounces, but there is more where that came from. I'm thinking about sending it off to be processed. I really am learning to appreciate yarn and all the work that goes into making it.

I love having the sheep and making yarn from the fleece that I sheared with my own hands. What a trip. I'll be working now until September so I really don't have time to finish all of it.

I made the coolest recipe for breakfast this morning. It is called French Toast made easy. I got the recipe from my friend Karalyn. It was one of her grandmothers. My husband and my mother loved it. So did I. It is one of those things you make the night before and then bake it in the morning. Yummy!!!

Looks like we might get more rain. I sure hope so, we need it. We planted two trees in the yard today. I know they would like some rain. They are Mountain Ash trees that a friend gave me. They have been in a bucket for two years. I bet they will really enjoy stretching their legs. Ha ha. They will give much needed shade in the future. Also, today is Earth Day, so perfect timing.

Spin-on.....Sheena

Washing a Fleece!!! What fun!

Today I washed some of the fleece that I sheared a couple of weeks ago. I have wanted to send it off to be processed, but had to wash some just to play with it. I have six and a half pounds of White Columbia and four and a half pounds of Black/grey Lincoln. Both are beautiful for there own reasons. And both are from yearlings. This is the first Shearing for the Columbia (Freckles ) Anyway, I washed about a pound of each and have it drying now. I can't wait to play with it.

We have been out of school for two weeks for Spring Break. We go back to class this week. I can't wait. I miss my friends and love my knitting and spinning classes. We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful Adult Education program here in San Diego.

This is the last week I will be home full time. I go back to work the first of next week. I will work at the Del Mar Race Track and then at the San Diego County Fair. It is great fun. Both jobs are a real kick for me. I love the work and I really love being with all the people.

Not much knitting today, but I am spinning on that Cashmere and silk that is half done. It is slow going. I can't seem to stay with it. I will try some more tonight just because I want it done.

Spin On......Sheena

Rain Atlast!!!

Today it rained. I can't remember when it rained here last. It has been along time. I was afraid summer would come before we got any rain at all. It is still very dry . Last summer was hot and long. I'm not ready for that yet.

We have three bottle baby lambs. They are so sweet, and had never seen rain before. They were running all over and jumping around. I think they liked it. Made them very frisky.

My mom and I made enchiladas today and had my kids and grand kids over for dinner/lunch whatever and it was great fun.

The only knitting I got done today was a few rows on my socks. I am going to try a new heel on this pair so I am gearing up for that. I'm sure I will have to concentrate double on this because knitting is hard for me anyway, but something new is even harder.

I went to Lorraine's on Friday night and did some spinning on some cashmere/silk I have. I only have 2 ounces. I finished one ounce and will start on the other ounce and plan on plying them together and making something cool. It won't be much, but this is spinning very fine, so something lacy maybe.

Spin on......Sheena