Learn From My Fail No.1

Legacy of the Divine Tarot

So there I was, mojo-lessly and therefore aimlessly mooching around Ravelry, when - Lo ! I saw a reference to a shawl; clicking on the link reminded me that I had seen it before and liked it - so why it wasn't in my queue I don't know: 'Summer Flies Shawl'. That is flies as in 'time flies' not 'buzzbuzz flies', obviously. And - bonus ! - I have two, that is at least two, yarns that are just right for it in color, and I think in yardage.

Yes, Dear Reader, you may rejoice, as I did, that the mojo had come home to Mama after a mere week or so; clapping my hands and skipping in glee, I tra-la-la-ed as I set up my ballwinder.

Light of heart and mind, and warbling tunelessly, I selected the yarn, the lovely turquoise sock-yarn given to me by the even lovelier stephcuddles on her recent visit. Mini Diva inveigled me into letting her help (it was almost her bedtime) by winding the winder. So far, so good, right ?

                                                             Wrong.

I didn't swear. I didn't scream. I didn't shout. I didn't fulminate. I didn't gnash my teeth or wail at the shock of Mini Diva suddenly exhibiting signs of being related to Destructo Boy. I sent her to bed in a far more terrifying silence.

Four and three quarter hours later, I had this:

Actually, since it was after 1am by that time, it looked more like this:

So, learn from my fail: do not allow a 9 year old to cozen you into helping wind yarn when the TV is on, she is watching it as well as winding, she should be in bed, and you are not paying 100% attention to what she is doing.

Gambled and Won

Morgan Greer

So I'm celebrating a few things today: the bathroom is finished, the builders have gone ... for the time being; they'll be back to insulate the bathroom roof. The plaster dust and mud has been vacuumed and mopped away, the layer of dust on the furniture has been polished away. Even I, with my high tolerance threshold for mess (read: slatternly ways) was finding it all irritating by the end.

My friend Steph of stephcuddles, who makes amazing stitchmarkers, is staying with me for a day or so while she attends an interview (she wore a hoodie in the most eye-wateringly acid yellow I've ever seen so that I could identify her at the train station)  - so the card is inaccurate as far as numbers go, as there's only two of us. 

But best of all, though, we all woke up alive in our beds this morning: she isn't a perverted axe-murderer, as we are warned that internet friends infallibly are. Yaay, internet and Ravelry win !

The hostess gifts she brought with her were wine, yarn, and chocolate; while I was out at hip-hop class with the children, she washed up; she likes cats and doesn't mind the dog, even though he is moulting; she has no odd dietary needs. As you can see, she is the perfect guest. 

 Look at the beautiful yarn she brought me:

It is Yarn Addict Supreme Sock, 400m of yummy merino and silk, in the colorway 'Dream Blue'. It is very soft.

You may be thinking you have seen a similar color on my blog before: well done ! You have.

This is also Yarn Addict, but Silk Lace in the colorway 'Jewel'. Also a gift from Steph. She's not really living up to her 'Queen of Green' title with these beautiful turquoises, is she ? She may have to abdicate.

 If she ever wants to stay with you, have her.