Aug 31 2010

Tempeste in a Teapot

Category: Life & Stuff,Spinning,Vending — Mistress Rows @ 10:38 pm

Work is full of crazy. Crazy like I’ve never been crazy before. I went from not nearly enough to do in a day to more work in one day than I can actually finish, and more coming my way. Having egg on my face is so not fun. I’ve started to get heartburn on a regular basis, also not fun. I’ll have to start stocking my desk with the cherry soft-chew antacids. Job security. Yeah. I know. My brain is leaking out of my ears.

For the life of me I can’t remember if I mentioned this, but let’s assume I didn’t:

For the second year now, I’ll be vending at the Garden State Sheep Breeder’s Festival, forever after known as Jersey. Last year Carolyn and I shared a booth, and it was a lot of fun. This year I have my own booth, and I’m going to neighbors with Leann of Forbidden Woolery. Not only will we be neighbors, but she’s putting me up for the night so I don’t have to pay for a hotel room. WOOT! Jersey is a fun show, but the fairground is DAMNED hard to find. Seriously. Last year the weather was bleh and foot traffic was low, and to be honest I sold more in one day at Clermont, but I had fun. This year I’m hoping for increased traffic and corresponding sales. It’s my only two-day show at this time, and I love how immersed I get as a vendor.

Yay!

As such, dyeing will commence tomorrow to round out my stock that’s leftover from Clermont and WOOL. I’d like to get another full bucket of yarn done up, at least. That’s going to take just about every skein of base yarn that I ordered. I have more red and teal dye in stock which means… more Concubine and Dragonfly! Wish me luck, if all goes well and sales are good, this will be the last time I’ll have manually re-skein dozens of skeins. I am getting myself a motorized winder with my profits, no matter what.

How handy!

In CPW news, I am still in love. I spin on my new baby for at least 30 minutes every day, sometimes longer. I can’t wait for the WoodBeams polish to come in so I can bring her up to her full potential. For now, I am happy to say that she at least has a name, and that is Tempeste. It really, really feels right rolling off the tongue. The spelling is from a French baby name list, where I also found the other option I considered, Lyonette. Tempteste won though, and Tempeste it is.

She's in remarkably good shape. Not shown is the stick I have in place of a peg (for now).

Spinning on her is just what I need to let my mind go from the work-fail. She purrs and hums, and I watch a favorite show while I just let it all go. You can see the rest of her photo shoot over at my Picasa album. Isn’t she lovely?

CPW

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Aug 29 2010

Who’s That Mysterious Lady?

Category: Friends & Fun,Spinning — Mistress Rows @ 8:20 pm

Not too long ago, you’ll remember that I was over the moon about a wonderful opportunity that Jessalu made possible, wherein I could take home her Emma, a Kromski Symphony, and pay it off in installments should the wheel and I prove to be a good fit. Alas, Emma’s ergonomics meant that I was a sad, painful woman while spinning on her for more than 20 minutes at a time, and she had to find a new home. Harriet was thrilled to make her welcome in her home, and she adores spinning on her. Yay! But boo for me, no production wheel.

What’s the big deal? Well, a production wheel, especially a CPW (Canadian Production Wheel), is meant for making large amounts of yarn quickly. For those of us who love to spin finely, it’s the best of both worlds. Fine yarn spun quicker than on a regular wheel, with less effort. I went back and forth between whether I wanted a CPW or a Symphony, and after Emma I knew that if I wanted a production wheel, it would have to be a CPW. I’ve spun on Becky’s and others, and I’ve always enjoyed the experience. They are beautiful, and I’ve lusted after their cast iron festooned details for well over a year. They are, truly, beautiful in both form and function. Becky, a recent convert to the CPW fold, has REALLY wanted to get me spinning on one. Though they’re affordable, running about $250 for a wheel that needs little to no refurb to be spinnable, it’s not like I have a couple hundred dollars hanging around. Cue Becky, and her trip to Montreal, and her fervent and iron-clad determination that she would, indeed, come home with a wheel that would be not only the dark beauty I’ve dreamed of, but would also be the deal of the century.

Becky brings me... pieces?

Becky+Kijiji=Epic Win.

Becky points out some of the finer features that make up a CPW.

Kijiji is Canada’s version of Craig’s List, and through it she found it. I almost had a fit when she messaged me via text, Facebook, and Ravelry, telling me that she had done it. She had found me a wheel that needed no immediate repair, was dark and lovely, had lots of cast iron, and was… get this… $100. *swoon* I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect outcome. I honestly didn’t have any real hope that she’d find it, and I was completely shocked. I don’t even have to sweat coming up with the money. I have $60 in rolled coin saved up with absolutely NO purpose, and here we are. A gorgeous, 100+ year old wheel is in my living room, and it is mine. I knew it was meant to be when I tried he hand forged orifice hook that Steve commissioned from my friend Robin after I brought Emma home, which had been sitting unused until now. I didn’t have any hope that it would fit considering how tiny the orifices are on CPW’s but holy crap, it fits perfectly, and the wheel even has an odd little screw to hang it from. It’s fate.

It's fate.

Today I spent a good hour going over her with a damp cloth and a very diluted Murphy’s Oil Soap solution. I don’t want to scrub her and lose that nice dark patina, but I did want to get the worst of the dust and grim off. I purchased a tub of the highly recommended WoodBeams online and will buff her up proper when that comes in. The CPW lovers board on Ravlry is a fabulous resource for  a new owner like me, those gals (of which Becky is a member) are seriously knowledgeable and big time enablers. They’re going to flip when they find out I’m all “official” now.

Spinning outside after a good wipe-down is a great way to spend an afternoon.

I don’t have a name for her yet, but I want it to be something just as special as any other wheel I’ve named. She spins like a dream, and I am 100% pain free while working with her. My inaugural fiber is Into the Whirled BFL in the Rambutan colorway, a WOOL purchase that I was itching to start. Beautiful fiber for a beautiful, battle scarred, antique wheel… my ancient beauty from the wilds of Canada. I cannot thank Becky enough.

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Aug 22 2010

Into the Vortex

Category: Knitting,Life & Stuff,Spinning — Mistress Rows @ 9:09 pm

Where has the time gone? It’s gone into the vortex, that’s where. I looked up and the week was gone, I swear.

My position at work has changed, and I no longer have to worry that my position will be eliminated, though it has changed. I had to leave my home office of 11 years, and tomorrow I report to the corporate office a couple of towns over. It was a very hard to pack up my desk and leave behind and people that I care about very much. The drive is the same to the new office, but my duties will be very, very different. I’ll be receptionist, personal assistant, with assorted other duties. It’ll be a return to the position that I used to have, and miss very much. Some things will be new, but I’m happy to have a more secure position. Still, leaving work on Friday was so very, very hard.

Nuala helps make smiles happen.

This weekend has been a good one though, with lots of time spent with my parents and a lot of laughter. I did a little photo shoot for mom and dad’s re-wedding which I think came out very well. Other than that, and a visit to Albany for wedding craft shopping, it’s been a quiet weekend, something that’ll be in rare supply as September and October come along. The weddings, and evens leading up to them are making for a very busy late summer and fall.

35 years of getting up to no good. :)

Knitting is smoking along very well, and I’m THIS CLOSE to finishing the Copper (Flamenco) shawl. Only 4 working (front) rows left! Sure, that probably works out to around 3,600 stitches plus bind-off, but who’s counting? Sooo close. To break things up I’m also working on a sock. I need something that isn’t a mass noodly stitches to work on when I’m around others or out and about. It’s a pair of plain Jane socks in Knit Picks Felici Sport in the Seaside colorway.

All teal and sandy goodness.

There’s been spinning too, some gorgeous beige over-dyed BFL from Spunky Eclectic, a birthday purchase courtesy of Jessalu. I adore how it’s spinning up, there isn’t enough over-dyed, non-white top in the world! You can see why I fell in love with it in the booth a Cummington, can’t you?

Sagittarius BFL from Spunky Eclectic.

Absolutely delish.

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Aug 16 2010

An Embarrassment of Riches

Category: Loot,WOOL — Mistress Rows @ 6:56 am

Being on a much more restricted budget now that we’re homeowners, I left for WOOL with very little in my pocket and a dire need to sell some yarn. Shopping was going to be out of the question unless I could make back my room deposit and wouldn’t you know… I did! And then some! Thank you to everyone who picked up a skein and gave it a new home, I appreciate your patronage! As always, it inspires me to do and be more, never a bad thing.

From Vickie, with love. My signature soap!

Rambutan in BFL from ITW, a gift from Cris!

Caramel Apple organic merino, the softest I've ever felt. A gift from Tamara of Spincerely Yours. Click on the photo to visit her shop.

A project bag and mini luxury llama batt from first timer Tierney!

I didn’t have to worry about coming home empty handed though, for some of you completely showered with me gifts. It was literally an embarrassment of riches as, throughout the weekend, some of my guests made me giddy with their generosity. I don’t do what I do so people will give me beautiful fiber and delicious chocolate, but damned if it isn’t a sweet side effect. Literally.

From Vickie and other awesome WOOL guests. Whoah.

I may have made a joke on the Ravelry board about how I am happy to accept tribute in the form of chocolate, and since everyone knows that I love the readily available Lindt brand… um… wow. And then Vickie had to get cute and buy out the Touch of Salt at the local RiteAid because I may have demonstrated while sharing my own personal bar how the sea salt makes your mouth go “oooooh!” *inset full body shudder* Even with sharing I came home with EIGHT BARS of chocolate. Steve is in heaven and so am I.

Two guests tried REALLY hard to find me the Lindt Cherry Chili bar, to no avail, so they brought me this instead.

The best part about our little mini-show is how creative and talented my guest vendors are. You should have seen how people descended like locusts on Cris of Into the Whirled and Jess of Stitched by Jessalu! You’d have thought they were selling chocolate instead of glorious fiber and accessories. Cris, especially, just floored me with her bins o’ fiber. It’s almost impossible to choose, except when she includes the rare garnet hue in the mix. That one was coming home with me come hell or high water.

Calico Blues, a purchase from ITW, in Polworth no less! I can't wait to try.

Wicked Witch BFL, a trade with Leann at Forbidden Woolery, click to visit!

View from Sarah's Window merino/tencel purchased from Spincerely Yours.

Coming back ‘round to Vickie again, holy jeebus! That woman is one talented lady. She’s getting her bath and beauty products business off the ground and shared some of her test products with us while we were at WOOL. The first floor bathroom had a bunch of samples for us to use and I absolutely fell in love with her emulsified sugar scrub. Her website can’t come too soon! For now I went home with her basil pear body lotion sample. It’s strange, compelling, complex, and a scent you won’t soon forget.

Basil Pear body lotion, a gift from Vickie of Daisy Lamont Soaps.

If I could have afforded it, I would have come home with even more pretties, but as is, what more can a girl ask for? As it stands, the one fiber trade and two purchases rounded out a bountiful bag of fiber lusciousness. I am a very happy spinner! Even better though? The thank yous that were just thank you, and the smiles of very happy women.

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Aug 11 2010

Aftermath: WOOL 2010

Category: Friends & Fun,WOOL — Mistress Rows @ 5:55 pm

While it was stupid hot and overcast initially, by Thursday afternoon it was gorgeous and I got to spin!

Each year when I arrive at Wiawaka for the start of the annual WOOL Retreat, I have the strangest feeling like it’s already ended. In a lot of ways the first day really is an ending for me. It’s the end of a year of on and off anxiety, worrying, planning, promotion, and administrative duties. Even though the event is tiny compared to SOAR or SPA, there a small truth to the idea that all events require a certain level of work, everything past that is just scale. Of course, when you’re talking about something like Sock Summit, all bets are off. But those of you who have organized events in the past may know what I’m talking about. Whether you’re running it for 25 people or 50, a certain portion of the to do list is always the same.

It was a bit windy while we were there. Still, how beautiful!

This year I was really struck by how much more relaxed I was. Maybe the hat mojo paid off, but I had not a single incident that was in any way unreasonable. A few things needed rearranging, but everything and everyone was reasonable and very considerate in their needs. For that I can’t thank my guests enough! By far this was the year I had the most fun, and I actually got to relax more fully than in years past. Believe it or not, I was pain free the entire time I was there, aside from early morning stiffness. Steve will tell you it’s because I was riding (literally) high on the endorphins of a good crowd vibe, and I won’t say that wasn’t it.

These are my people!

Going up a day early with a few friends was wonderful, and a great way to start things off. Still, I was more than ready for the large influx of fiber peeps come Thursday, and they didn’t disappoint. The laughing! The hugging! The GIFTS! Holy cow people, with the chocolate tributes! And the soap, and the fiber. ZOMG. I was overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness and beauty/tastiness of your gifts. They’ll get their own post along with the loot.

I was pleased with my offerings.

Speaking of LOOT… holy JEEBUS! The vending! It was an orgy of vending all weekend long, and most of us did very well for ourselves considering a good third were vendors and not strictly customers. I did a couple of trades but had to restrict my actual shopping to just two braids of deliciously soft top. But then again, given how generous guests were with “hostess” gifts, I didn’t really *need* anything else.  Oh, and we raised $300 for Wiawaka in the raffle, thank you to everyone for being so generous!

Bidding in the silent auction.

People, especially thew first timers, seemed to have a lot of fun, and for that I am very grateful. It’s wonderful to see the way these ladies faces light up when they realize that they are now Away… With Nothing To Do But Play With Yarn. It’s like magic. I had guest after guest tell me how good it felt to be in such beautiful surroundings, with good people, and good fiber. And given that the food this year was also good (new cook! more meat!), we were – in general – contented fiberistas.

Sushi Yoshi never disappoints, with a car like that, how could they?

And speaking of the people… can I just say how much fun it was to meet you new crazy ladies? Heidi, Tierney, Dorre, Elizabeth, Tamarre, Tamara, Cheeky, Anne and all the rest of you, you ladies rocked. Funny, considerate, kind people. You were a pleasure to be around, and a blast to hang out with. To returning friends from years past I say unto you – WOOT! You make it all worth while.

See? We do things other than spin at WOOL!

Lastly, I couldn’t be more pleased to note that I think we have the space situation figured out. Since it’s not about growing as large as possible, and instead about having fun at Wiawaka, I have decided to cap attendance at 25 (our count this year). With permission graciously granted by Wiawaka, they’ll move two of the godawful couches out of the living room in Lake House and that will allow for 5 people to set up with wheels. It’ll be far more comfortable. Tight, but not insane. And we don’t have to leave. Woohoo!

Happy face for a happy Tina.

What that will mean is that spaces may go even faster next year, so keep tuned in to the blog come late winter, so you’ll know when signups start! I don’t have a date yet, but you can count on August. See you next Summer!


WOOL 2010!

(Click for the photo album and LOTS more pictures.)

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Aug 10 2010

Manic Monday (on Tuesday) #217:

Category: Internettage,Ramblings — Mistress Rows @ 5:17 pm

Right now, what’s on your mind?

What an amazing time I had at WOOL, and how I very much wish I’d taken Monday off to relax at home before returning to the rat race. No pun intended. Still, despite being tired, it really was a damned good time. If you were there, you know what I mean, and if you weren’t, I wish you had been!

My sparkly new end-of-season-clearance flop abouts.

I’ve gotten my photos edited and ready to share, tomorrow (depending on how busy things are) I’ll have my recap post written up and ready to post.

List 10 things you expect from a good friend.

 

  • Trust. I learned the hard way that no friendship can survive a fundamental loss of trust.
  • To laugh with you. The simple joy of laughing your ass off with a friend is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
  • A degree of generosity, or if you prefer, selflessness. Selfish friends can be hard to love. It isn’t about money, but about putting a friend before yourself every now and then.
  • To cry with you. My shoulder is there for you. Though I probably won’t actually cry, I’ll listen and try to cheer you up.
  • Back me up. I expect you to be loyal, and to have my back. I’ll fight with you, side by side. Just because I’m not in the room doesn’t mean it’s open season.
  • Space. I will respect yours, please respect mine. Absence makes the heart grow fonder! Life lesson there.
  • Honesty. Tell me, tactfully and with love, the truth unless I tell you I’m not interested in the truth. In that case, lie to me til you’re blue in the face.
  • Respect. We don’t have to agree on everything. We may even violently disagree. But we should do so with respect, and know when to agree to disagree.
  • Affection. I don’t need the sister I never had, or another family. But I will hold you in the spirit of friendship, which is a love of its own kind. Would I cry at your funeral? You betcha.
  • Play. 2/3 of our lives is spent working and sleeping, if not more. Will you play with me?

What’s something you’ve done that you wish you hadn’t?

I wish I never started eating compulsively as a teen. That downhill slide is greased with butter, let me tell you.

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Jul 28 2010

Tour de Fleece: The Big Finale

Category: Spinning — Mistress Rows @ 7:27 am

Things are getting very busy in Tiny House, leading up to WOOL next week. Since I don’t want the TdF wrap-up to get away from me, I’m going to throw this together while I have a moment.

The last two days of the Tour were actually completely stress free, at least in so much as the Tour was involved. I had already finished plying my yarn on Thursday, and by Friday evening my yarn was resplendent and dry after a good bath, whack, and day in the sun. Saturday, while my company played Dungeons & Dragons, I got down on the floor and took my glamour shots.

Skein #2, much more consistent than the first.

It’s going to get a proper FO post at some point, so I won’t steal so much thunder from a future day. Suffice to say that I love how the yarn came out, and I have 7.5 ounces of dark blue, three ply happiness. Since I was short on the contrast bobbin, as with the previous Tour skein, I ended up with a 1.5 oz skein of solid blue two ply from the leftovers. Not enough to really do anything with, so I’m going to stash it away until an idea comes to me.

So, my thoughts on the Tour. I enjoyed my challenge this year, in some ways more than last year’s “finish stuff’”goal. Last year’s goal was worthy, and it was satisfying to finish up bobbin mates and old fiber. This year, however, I really pushed myself to put the fleece into the Tour de Fleece. Spinning from fleece I hand washed, hand dyed, and hand carded, for two batches of three ply yarn was a push.

Skein #1, which left something to be desired.

Should I have been pushing during Shawlfest 2010? Absolutely not. I could have finished at least one of the shawls already and had it to show at WOOL, one thing checked off the list. But I had fun, and I’ll still finish them in time for the October weddings. I don’t regret the Tour challenge a single bit, and I’m looking forward to next year.

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Jul 26 2010

Stash Cat Says…

Category: Internettage — Mistress Rows @ 5:00 pm

(Manic Monday # 218)

What’s your secret recipe?
I guess I’d have to say my guacamole? Not that it’s any big secret, but people really like it. Oh! I know. My oatmeal cookies. Those are to write home about.

Imagine you want to write a book. What’s going to be in it and what is it going to be about?
Normally, I’d say vampires, no questions. But wouldn’t you know that yesterday I had a thought come into my head for a novel?

It started with thinking about how I struggle with wrath. It’s not just a regular side effect of a particular situation for me, it’s like a Calling with a capital C. I struggle with wrath in the same way that some people struggle with a violent temper or staying faithful. I’m fine until certain triggers are presented, then I’m stuck sucking back feeling like an avenging angel, and it takes forever to fade. So frustrating, so maddening! All that wrath, and no where to go. What a waste!

My idea would be a novel based around that struggle, a female character who is a fallen Angel of Wrath and who has limited powers, or is no longer immortal. What would she do in today’s world? How would she come to grips with losing what it is that makes her who she is? Would she give up and try to be human? Would she still try to do her job, even if it kills her? How did she Fall, and is there a path to redemption for her? Would she want it if there was?

I wish I was still writing because I’d love to flesh this out. I even have side characters and a nemesis, all waiting in the wings. I have a feeling the story should be told from two perspectives, hers and the person who helps her. I haven’t a clue how to write a novel though, so she’ll just have to live in my head.

Name 5 things in your freezer.

  • 2lbs of grass fed organic ground beef, a splurge from the farmer’s market
  • Sugar snap peas
  • Sirloin steak
  • Catfish filets
  • Stew vegetables

I love it when a plan comes together.

Tomorrow I’ll write up my post for the final TdF skein, complete with pictures. It’s lovely, and I can’t wait to share it. I spent the last day of the Tour demonstrating spinning at Jess’s hometown fair day, though I’m happy to say I was spinning birthday fiber from Into the Whirled and giving my hand carders a much deserved break. For now I give you the plying bobbin progress photo from Wednesday night and the elusive Stash Cat.

Stash Cat says: "Too! Much! Weekend!"

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Jul 25 2010

Victory, Yes, But Also a Hat

Category: Friends & Fun,events — Mistress Rows @ 8:59 am

It’s been an incredibly busy (but feeling well) weekend, so I only have a moment to chime in before I’m out the door. Yes, I was victorious, and finished my second skein for the Tour de Fleece on Thursday night. Ahead of schedule! Plied and done and washed. Done! It’s beautiful. But what I really want to show you is this, the special hat I designed for myself to wear while I’m at WOOL:

Because being in charge of a group of women in a low-amenity situation can be... challenging, sometimes.

It’s the back that really puts the icing on the cake:

The pink part reads: "Because Mistress Rows said so."

It’s a joke that anyone who’s been to the last two WOOL retreats has heard me talk about, and I keep threatening to make myself a t-shirt so I can just point to it the next time someone decides to tell me the equivelant of “she’s looking at me!”. Even better, now I’ll have a hat! It’s a jest, to be sure, but it’ll make people laugh, including myself. 11 days and counting to WOOL baby, 11 days!   And now I’m off being picked up by Wendy and Jody so we can join Jess for her town fair day, demonstrating spinning to the masses. You can see pictures from last year here.

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Jul 22 2010

Tour de Fleece: Days 12-19

Category: Spinning — Mistress Rows @ 12:45 pm

This batch of fleece, which I have named Lapis, has utterly enchanted me. I’ve processed the whole thing with hand carders and I’ve enjoyed it immensely. The spun yarn is still a little rustic, but these locks seemed much more silky and tender than the ones preceding, probably because they were dyed with lower temps. When they came out of the bath and dried in the hot summer sun they were much closer to the undyed (but washed) locks they came from. Plump, silky, and a pleasure to card.

A poor simalcrum of the beautious actual lock.

The extra batch of blue I dyed to augment my supply was lighter (on purpose), with wandering shades of sapphire, denim, and green thanks to “Twilight”, the only sapphire blue dye I use now. Twilight may break in strange ways, as evidenced by the colors I’ve experienced, but it’s pretty and doesn’t give me shit the way that “Bright Blue” does. That blue sometimes doesn’t take at all, leaving green behind, and the rogue blue particles are a devil to get out of the fiber. Yes, I’ll take Twilight any day, and be grateful for its witchy ways.

Slightly darker than reality.

I carded the first two bobbins to be a fairly rough blend of the navy and mixed blue locks. The resulting bobbins were, from a distance, homogenous dark denim blue, but when you look at them closer you see that there is movement in the shades. Love! Unfortunately, I had the same problem I did with the olive and maroon yarn, in that I was quickly running out of locks by the time I got to the third bobbin. Not wanting as stark a ragg look as the previous skein, I decided to extend my blue by mixing it 50/50 with the natural colored locks. I have plenty of those left. I still ran out of blue before the bobbin was full, but at 2/3 full, I’m not complaining.

The contrast bobbin makes my heart happy.

The mélange of colors makes me very happy. It’s this gorgeous heathered blue tempered with silver and sand, and I adore it. Seeing how pretty the blend spun up made me wish I had much more of it to spin, almost making me want to cast aside the dark and moody bobbins that preceded it. Last night I began plying, ready to find out what my yarn would look like and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s dark, worsted or thinner (yay!), and the contrasting single is the star of the show. Because some rolags had more silver, and some more blue, the silver twinkles through the finished three ply. Sometimes it’s the star of the show, and sometimes the darker sections blend in more with the blue strands, and then it pops back up again.

Imagine these three all tangled up.

I wish I had a picture to show you, but evening shots in Tiny House are just too diasappointing. I’ll take one this evening when I get home and share it later. I’ll be finished plying some time tonight, and by the time I get home from the doctor’s office tomorrow afternoon the skein should be dry and ready for its photo shoot. I may not love the heat, but summer certainly has its compensations.

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