It is still WAY too hot. Day after day after day. Can't weed. Can't breathe. Can't exercise. Can't knit. Can barely spin. Plyplyply. It's the least exposure to wool possible while still doing wool. I finished Persimmon Tree Farms' Border Leicester 50%/mohair 50% blend in Peacock:
It was 8 oz, producing something over 300 yards of sport-DK weight. Spinning two bobbins, weighing them, and spinning the last of the 8 0z onto the lighter bobbin, and measuring them through the Yarn Meter showed that mathematically, my grist varied by 10% over the cloud of roving. Plying, once again, covered a multitude of dissatisfactions and whinging. This is darker than reality, but you get the texture and the spinning from the pose.
I also plyed bunnycrack in Kim's "Blue Lagoon" colorway. I spun up the first three ounces in the winter, and finished it last month. Real life has no sparkles, but the color is true.
I suppose I have done a titch of knitting. I'm almost done with Mr. E's latest scarf. A true summer picture, where WIP matches dinner:
Placing the container plants on the deck by the porch has made the local denizens bold and brazen. There is now adequate cover for sneak attacks on the bird feeder. It is squirrel-proof, as the lever action closes access to the seeds for the fat buggers. But the chippers get a free ride, as this guy's cheek pouches suggest:
Preeeetty (the peacock yarn).
And...chipmunks are just cute. I have fewer objections to feeding them than to feeding squirrels.
Posted by: naomi | Friday, July 21, 2006 at 06:11 PM
Ooh, the yarn looks so pretty!!
Posted by: --Deb | Friday, July 21, 2006 at 06:19 PM
Your spinning is beautiful! And the fruit salad looks YUMMY!
Posted by: Kathy | Friday, July 21, 2006 at 06:38 PM
Hot, b0thered, and sticky. Definitely don't forget the sticky.
But, those strawberries? They look like they'd melt in your mouth and make a week's worth of sweltering weather worth it!
Posted by: Jackie | Friday, July 21, 2006 at 06:47 PM
Strawberries and yarn! Why didn't the English think of that? Clotted cream is so last season! :D
I have a soft spot for chipmunks, I must say, even if they steal my birdseed.
Posted by: Norma | Friday, July 21, 2006 at 08:07 PM
Good lord woman, your spinning makes me embarrassed to even show my feeble attempts at yarn production.
Your chipmucks, however, make me giggle. Love the chippers.
Posted by: Kellee | Friday, July 21, 2006 at 08:25 PM
I love that coordinated dinner and WIP! Heh, if that chipster keeps his cheeks that full, he won't be able to get to the feeder for long!
Posted by: Chris | Friday, July 21, 2006 at 09:54 PM
I love a chipmunk.
And you're doing an awful lot for someone who says it's too hot to wool. ;-)
Posted by: Cordelia | Friday, July 21, 2006 at 10:42 PM
I hope that some of the cool weather that we're getting now spreads some of it's goodness in your direction. It would be a real shame if you couldn't keep spinning such lovely stuff!
Posted by: Theresa | Friday, July 21, 2006 at 11:08 PM
Cheeky chippers are pretty appealing. I've got one living under my shed right next to my rabbits. The dang thing tunnels through the under hutch stuff and gobbles up spilled bunny feed. He is now a very fat chipmunk. I hope someday I can get a photo of him, but so far, he's been too fast.
Posted by: Chirs | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 08:26 AM
I love the coordinated dinner/WIP. I'm also a little frightened by what my food choices would have to be if I attempted the same right now.
Posted by: Rachel H | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 08:43 AM
Loverly spinning, by the way!
Posted by: Rachel H | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 08:44 AM
Your spinning is so beautiful...especailly the bunny crack. You give me something to aspire to...I'm practicing daily. Looks like you're enjoying the same good food that helps me eat anything at all in this heat.
Posted by: margene | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 09:29 AM
Nicely spun ...both skeins!!! I really like the red knitting project. What yarn and what pattern are you using?
Posted by: Cindy D | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 10:18 AM
Your spinning is ace, girlfriend. Man oh man. I did get about an hour of weeding in yesterday before the skies opened up. What a summer. geez.
Posted by: julia fc | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 10:50 AM
Beautious handspun, chica.
Posted by: S.Kate | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 12:33 PM
I'm getting weary of the heat too. You can only accomplish so much in the air conditioned roon. Lovely job with the bunny crack, I bet it feels wonderful!
Posted by: Cheryl | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 03:55 PM
Your spinning is beautiful. Yum strawberry scarf. I have Chip 'n Dale here as well, they're cute but a bit of a PITA. Stay cool.
Posted by: Barbp | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 04:57 PM
Your spinning looks fantastic! I really love the color of the scarf you are knitting.....yummy!
Posted by: Kim | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 07:33 PM
I LOVE the Persimmon Tree Farm stuff! Any of it. :)
Gotta love those chipmunk cheeks! ;-)
Posted by: Helen | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 07:56 PM
OMG, your spinning is gorgeous! I should get back to the wheel. The last spinning I did was superwash merino, which I was finding difficult -- maybe I should switch to something else for a while.
Posted by: Lucia | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 08:41 PM
Let's see: 1 year and 2 months of spinning experience = pretty darn great product.
Posted by: claudia | Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 10:47 PM
Hi, I found you through Amazing Lace. I am so envious of your spinning, that looks great! And I love all of your garden picks. Hope it cools down so you can knit and spin again!
Posted by: Lauren | Sunday, July 23, 2006 at 07:54 AM
Your spinning is fabulous! What's a Yarn Meter?
Posted by: Martha | Sunday, July 23, 2006 at 08:12 AM
Hello Ms. Etherknitter. :) Just a little AL pit stop to visit my list neighbors. Hope to see a picture of that Leaf Lace shawl soon! In the mean time stay cool if you can - it'll get better soon, right?
Posted by: Laura | Sunday, July 23, 2006 at 04:48 PM
You spin, too?!? Did I know this? Have I been paying attention? OK, I admit I have not been stalking you to the extent of reading all the archives, but somehow I had gathered that Mr. E (you know the guy; he used to have a broken leg) was the spinner, not Ms. E.
Gorgeous skeins, whoever is (are) the spinner(s).
Perhaps I'm paying attention, finally, because I just picked up my first wheel today! That far-off ranting and raving you hear to your west (I think I'm west of you)? That's me, learning to spin. I can only hope I can do as well in a year plus as you have!
Posted by: Lynn | Sunday, July 23, 2006 at 05:37 PM
Gorgeous yarn Laurie!
I have a soft spot for little critters---great picture.
Posted by: lisa Co. Springs | Sunday, July 23, 2006 at 11:14 PM
oooohhh that top skein is gorgeous.
I still haven't wrapped my head around grist :-\
Posted by: JessaLu | Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 12:18 PM
Such lovely spinning!
Posted by: The Purloined Letter | Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 09:13 AM
omg, that bunnycrack is gorgeous! i am envious of your chipmunks, we only have squirrels in florida.
Posted by: vanessa | Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 10:08 PM