It has been awhile since I had a complete day off (zero obligations, neither work has called for me to come in) ... and I spent last Saturday in absolute "bliss" by Lake Stillecoom, (sp?) with dear friends, Lorette Meske and her husband, John Guy.
We have been 'friends' for years, yet between Lorette's schedule and mine, have actually spent very little time together in person. Saturday was a rare treat with hours together... and we had a blast.
Lorette is a relatively new spinner, who purchased her first wheel, a Schacht !!!!!! - so I took my Majacraft, Rose Pro up(as well as my trusty old Schacht) there for her to play with. It was great fun. Here we are, post gourmet lunch ala John (her husband) spinning on their deck!.Be sure to notice dear Louie, their Corgie, sleeping behind her chair.)
John pampered us with wine and food all day long, and Lorette and I spun on various wheels.
It was heaven.
Here's the view I had from their deck as I spun.... (yeah.. you can all sigh with complete jealousy now.. - grins).)
Lorette has just barely begun spinning, has taken no lessons, and seems like she has been doing it forever, We pulled out all her plied yarn to date, and it looks amazing to me! She's spinning fingering weight yarn, without even thinking about it (or so it seems!)
Wow! and soon, make way for another pro- spinnner!!
John, meanwhile, cooked us gourmet lunch and dinner, and sprinkled with fabulous conversation and a few bottles of incredible wine. We talked late into the night, sitting down on their lovely dock, watching the stars come out ;-)
And we all decided that I should win the Mega Millions this week, so I could buy the "cottage" two doors down from their house, that is listed at a cool 2 million... ha ha ha ha ....
yes, Lorette, I bought another ticket today! :-)
So, other than spinning, I have been working - and have cast on for three new projects recently:
Honeycomb Cardigan sweater:
This one is being knit with yarn from Black Water Abbey - it'll be great for a jacket, yet it is very coarse Irish wool, and hurts my fingers to knit with... so it will be awhile in the making.
I love the deep purple of this, and will most likely make my way back to it as the weather cools a bit.
I LOVE this pattern and yarn from Kim over at Woolen Rabbit - it's merino laceweight. Colorway OakMoss. (ahem.. 1700 yards of laceweight wool....)
This is one that will probably take me forever to knit, but is TOTALLY worth it. It took 45 minutes to CAST ON the 600 stitches, and then 55 minutes to knit each of the 3 rows I have completed here...... (heh heh, insert snidely whiplash laughter here) It will take me awhile to show progress on this one, but bear with me, it is a smashing shawl... you will be breathless when I am done.
(from her pattern book Fly Away)
This is my current "go-to" project. One row takes about 30 seconds (or so it seems relative to my other two projects). I am LOVING this pattern (from the newest Norah Gaughan booklet) - the yarn I am using is deepest Navy, made by Debbie Bliss, Rialto (and I am cursing her a bit for all the knots in each ball... grrrrr,) But it is zipping along quite rapidly, and progress will show soon.
I hope that each of you had such a lovely day off as I did.
Summer has finally arrived here.
What a wonderful way to spend a day!
Posted by: Emily | July 20, 2009 at 04:08 AM
That looks like a beautiful spot by the lake. What a lovely home and a wonderful day!
Posted by: Carole | July 20, 2009 at 04:47 AM
Wow, sounds like you had a great day...ask her why she hasn't updated her blog in so long...waaaaaaaa!
Can you tell me where you got the pattern for the Honeycomb Cardigan?? It looks great. Jackets are my thing now, heavy pullovers are toooo hot!!
Posted by: Susanne | July 20, 2009 at 05:50 AM
I saw the pictures in the post before I read any of it and was puzzled why the Knitting Doctor was in your post! I am jealous that you got to sit on their amazing deck. :)
Posted by: Chris | July 20, 2009 at 06:09 AM
You deserved a fabulous day after all you've been through and the hours you've worked. It sounds like it was heavenly!!
Posted by: margene | July 20, 2009 at 07:17 AM
Looks like you both had a wonderful day. Yes, I am jealous that you got to see that view in person! Lucky you!
You have some beautiful project sin the works!
Posted by: Karen | July 20, 2009 at 01:39 PM
BOTH of you are so lucky. That is a wonderful day, and you need to do that more often.
Posted by: Laurie | July 20, 2009 at 09:42 PM
It was a great day! Thanks for coming up here, and especially for the spinning tips!
And Susanne, if you're reading comments, I finally got around to putting up a post today!
Posted by: Lorette | July 20, 2009 at 09:55 PM
How fun for you and Lorette to spend such nice time together!!
I love the sweater pattern in your last picture!
Posted by: Kim | July 21, 2009 at 04:48 AM