Sit and Spin...

That is what I am about to do. I am going to pull the plied yarn off my wheel and spin til I can't see straight.

For those of you that aren't sure what I am babbling about--I'm going to sit at my spinning wheel and get stupid! I love to spin and I have SEVERAL pounds of roving that I got from Wool2Dye4 a while back. It is beautiful and really smooth to spin. At some point this week I am going to have a dyeing day and just dye up everything I've spun this summer. Since that is not a whole heck of a lot so far, I'd better get busy.

I made an interesting discovery today. I started to set up my new swift to wind off a couple bobbins, only to discover that all my surfaces have ledges with curved lips that won't allow the swift to attach to the counter. I tried surfaces all over my house, guess what. They are all the same. I have to say I probably have one of the coolest husbands--he was watching me try (EVERY) different edge in the house, then offered to just hold the skein winder while I wound a bazillion yards of yarn. The yarn is currently soaking in the tub, then I'll hang it to set the twist. I plied this skein pretty tight so I will probably use it for a hat. Later this month I am going to learn to Navajo ply. I've seen some really neat yarns plied this way and have decided I have to learn it! I need to get a table with an even edge so hubby's good nature won't get tested.

I took my mother to Tulsa this weekend to run an errand. I enjoy going to Tulsa. There are some really neat places to shop and eat there. One of my sons went with us so I got to show him some of the places we used to hang out at and where we lived when they were born (he's a twin). He likes to travel more than his twin (who looked at me like I was from Mars when I asked if he wanted to go), so it was nice to have him around and to share the sights with him. I know eventually he will be at the age where it is not cool to hang with the old lady--I'm taking all the time with him that he'll put up with.

After Tulsa, we went back to Stillwater and drove around for a while. My Mom and I both like to just get in the car and drive. I think that has been the hardest thing about the rising gas prices. Going for drives can be pretty darn expensive. I was really surprised at how much things have changed in my little town. I like all the new stores and shopping/eating options, but the new housing and all the changes on campus really surprised me. The new stadium is a little overkill. Actually it is a LOT overkill. And I understand the college really screwed residents around it when they bought up the property. Sometimes big entities can lose focus on what matters. I know T. Boone Pickens gave a TON of money to the college --(no, not to education, to sports)--but let's not forget that the the university does not run the town. I remember several occasions where the university "powers that be" have misappropriated student funds for the sports programs when I went there, so this is a sticking point for me. My kids are both athletes, but I don't want to compromise their education in order for the sports program in order to try to one up OU.... Priorities, people.

Ok, off the soapbox...

I did pick up some really neat beads at The Bead Merchant in Tulsa. They were probably more expensive than I can get wholesale, but they were really cute. One is a strand of penguins and the other is a strand of kitten faces. I think they would make really cute stitch markers but I'm not so sure they are going to be something I can sell at a decent price point, so they may just be for me and gifts. I'll still keep an eye out for something that I can use that are similar since these would really be cute.

I guess I have to figure out what I am going to bake for the July 4th party in our old neighborhood. We stayed home last year since we were still pretty tired from moving into the new house. This year we are going to hang out with the old neighbors. I am hoping that next year we will be able to host our normal big event at our new house. Usually we have a really big party with several neighbors. I do miss the tightness of the old neighborhood, but I guess next year I will host something for the old and new neighborhood.

What are you doing for the 4th?