Wednesday, May 23, 2012

I Surprise Myself!

So after the wool festival at Lake Elmo, it's time to get back to work.  Last Wednesday, the weedwhacking got done;  Monday, the flower planters got....planted, the lawn ornaments put out, the solar lights set up.  In between, the house got a good cleaning, took daughter to the doctor one day and went back to put in her A/C Saturday.  Sunday, got the winter clothes packed away and brought out the summer ones.

Yesterday it was cleaning and setting up the camper.  Kids are coming for the holiday weekend, need the extra sleeping space.   Called the plumber yesterday to install the new kitchen faucet.  BH had attempted to replace it himself, but  the plumbing is old and it's been quite a long time since a faucet was replaced.  He said everything started turning while trying to loosen the water supply connection.  Stop.  Do not attempt.  Put down the wrench.  Call for service.

So last evening, at supper time, came the plumber.  The son of our regular guy.  First time we met him.  What a great guy!  Very polite and thorough!  He even did a few extra things under the sink to update the plumbing.  We were so thankful to him.  Great job!!

Today is grocery shopping for said weekend.  We already had one son bail.  I hope this doesn't turn into a month of leftovers for a few days' meals!   And according to the weather report........rain, rain and more rain is in the forecast.  Doesn't that just bite?!  Of course!  Why not!!

But I digress.   So....between tomorrow and Friday, a little straightening up, maybe a load of laundry, some cooking and baking.  Gotta put some new seal around the vent in the bathroom and plant flowers in the 2 deck railing planters.  BH has to cut the grass.....again.  3rd time in 6 weeks.  I hope this isn't a repeat of last summer.  I think we didn't do any traveling because the gas that would've gone into the van......went into the lawn mower.

And speaking of traveling.......a week after Memorial Day, we're going camping again!  WooHoo!!  4 days at Lake Itasca.  Monday thru Friday.  (If you're retired, a senior citizen, you've raised and released a passel of kids, you've been on trips with very young grandchildren and you've emerged with a modicum of sanity.......then you know why you don't want to be in a campground on a weekend!!  Been there; done that.

On the fiber front, I finished knitting the denim blue sweater.  Bought the twill tape and zipper last week - now I just have to put it in.  Working on a pair of socks ----- that are taking f-o-r-e-v-e-r to finish the first one.  Don't know what's up with that.   And spinning the rest of a BFL batt.  I gotta get some pictures up here.

So, things are moving right along at an even pace.  Lots to do yet, but we're getting there.  Still debating about the pool.  Not sure if we want to go through the hassle.  Especially since we're planning on doing a lot of camping this summer.  So much, we want to be sick of it.  We'll see.  But as my reasoning to BH ---- "one day of 96 degrees, at home, and the pool is well worth the trouble!!"

I'm already planning out things to get done this Fall.  See --- that's my problem.  When I'm on a roll, I start thinking way ahead of myself.   Then I collapse.   From mental exhaustion.  And the list gets extended-----to next year.

Onward and upward!!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Oh Boy! What a Great Time!..........

So.....we made it to the campground last Wednesday.  Had great weather; the campground had a very nice Host couple.  We had a great time.  So good to get away from home and relax.  No TV.  No radio.  No newspaper. No phone.  No computer.  Peace and quiet.......priceless!

And Saturday....the Lake Elmo Fiber Festival!!  We got there just before 9:00am.  BH wanted to leave the State Park at 7:00am!!!!  I told him the festival doesn't open til 9...what are we going to do for 1 1/2 hours???   Anywho........

Lots of vendors this year and lots of fiber variety.  Much different from last year, it seemed to me.  This was really, really enjoyable.  I didn't take any pictures......too excited, I guess.   Like a kid in a candy shop!  You know the feeling!

This year I've been trying to diminish my stash.  Made a pledge to myself "no more fiber till I've spun up almost all of what I have."  I don't need any more fiber; I really don't want any more fiber.  Well, that all went out the window.  Of course when you have someone by your side, whispering in your ear "buy that; buy that; buy that", it's not hard to lose your determination!  BH is a sweetheart that way.

So.... we came home with:  4 oz. of greyish Icelandic roving;  8 oz. of white Columbia roving; 8 oz. of a faux cashmere in beautiful painted colors of turquoise, blue, brown.  It has a name I can't think of but I'll dig out all my treasures and post pictures soon.  Also picked up 12 oz. of a space-dyed generic roving in shades of pink, from almost red to light pink.  And 2 oz. of white silk roving.  Yep.  I'm gonna try spinning silk.  We talked to the gal for a long time.  She explained the whole process of obtaining silk (she has her own worm farm) all the way through how to spin it.

Quite a haul, wouldn't you say?  I'm sure I'm forgetting something else.  Anyway, so I better get all the household/outside chores done quickly.  I've got to start reducing my stash!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Fiber Festival!!!........

Leaving in about 2 hours.  Camping for 3 days ending with going to the Lake Elmo Fiber Festival on Saturday!!  WooHoo!!  Can't wait.  BH tells me to make sure I hang on to him at all times ---- due to the nasty fall I took last year as we were leaving the festival.

Got my tote bag, got the brochure, got some money.  I am definitely ready!!  Besides.... our first camping trip in 2 years!!!  Geezzz.........I hope I'm not forgetting anything!