Adventures in Spinning and Babysitting

   Yesterday:
   To be honest, I haven't really begun spinning yet. Tomorrow morning, I'm taking my drop spindle and fiber to Stitch n Bitch, and OFL (Our Fearless Leader) will give me a lesson in using it. I'm excited about it.
   I have yet to try my actual spinning wheel. Maybe at some point in the future I will get brave enough to ask for assistance and lessons, and get started. Woo hoo.

   Today I started my second babysitting job. My charge is one cute little girl! As opposed to the cute big girl I also babysit for. The little one was an absolute darling today. I just hope that at some point in the future, she doesn't start screaming as soon as I walk in the door, because that means that her mommy is leaving. I certainly hope we become fast friends before too long.
   And this takes some of the pressure off me, as I am now working part time. And Hubs is happy! So I babysit five days a week, two days for both kids, separately, and the other three for just the little one. And I am home in time to get Hubs up for work!  Another woo hoo!

   Today: 

    Stitch n Bitch went really well this morning, I spun on my spindle, and we both decided that I either need a new, heavier spindle, or I need to glue some pennies under the disc part to make it heavier. If it's heavier, it spins for a longer time. And we were very happy to see Bella today, as well! We miss her when she can't come to every meeting. I was so tickled to heat that she reds my blog, regularly! She even told me that she looks forward to it every day. I am just excited that I have at least one fan.

    My second day babysitting went really well, the little darling climbed up on my lap and promptly took a nap laying on my chest. Warmed my heart. On the negative side, I got to change my first poopie diaper in about 20 years. You look at the young ones with such nostalgia, until a poopie diaper comes along. Then you remember why you love that they grew up.

    I got home in time, Hubs was already up for work, and drinking his coffee. We got to hang out, and after he left for work, I got ready to go out. Again. For the third time today. This time, Kim and I were going to our first meeting of the Spinning Guild, in Red Hook. We were both nervous. She's been spinning for a while now, and she's actually very good at it.

   Still, it was intimidating. I mean, all these artsy types? That's what we imagined. Even though we knew at least some of the ladies and gentlemen who were there, from the much smaller spinning group that meets at the Clinton Library once a month. Everyone we knew greeted us warmly. That was nice. We wanted to join, but the membership lady disappeared shortly after the actual meeting portion was over. We didn't see her again until she had her coat on and was walking out the door to leave. Oh well, there's always next month. I also hope to take my camera next month and get some photos!

   So today, I left home at 9 a.m. and got home about 10:45. Left again at 11:15, and got home at 3:30 p.m. Left again at 6, and got home about 9:30. Tomorrow I plan on sleeping in, as late as I can!

In Which A Dream Comes True!

   As a crafter, I have knitted and crocheted. I tried to sew, after Hubs bought me a gorgeous sewing machine for Christmas one year. It's strange, but I am actually afraid of it. But I did try it. At the urging of a friend, I started attending a local spinning group at a local library. These ladies are awesome, and welcomed me with open arms, even though I didn't know how to spin. I would sit and knit or crochet while they spun. It was fascinating to me to watch them create yarn out of fluff.

   I subscribe to a spinning magazine, and after looking at the ads in this magazine, I had completely given up on the idea of owning my own spinning wheel. It turns out that they are expensive! And I knew that as much as my Hubs loves me, I would not be getting one anytime soon. In fact, I wouldn't even ask for one.

   Before I knew my knitting friends, friend 1 gave friend 2 a wheel she had gotten from a third friend. With the condition that when she was through with it, friend 2 should pass it on to another would-be spinner. I am very happy to report that I have become the newest recipient of this marvelous spinning wheel! I am so very excited to have custody of such a marvelous wheel.

   Now I just have to learn to use it! My friend, friend 1, is a very good spinner, and I know she will teach me well. She had given me a drop spindle and fiber for my birthday year before last. I tried it but couldn't get the hang of it. I'm hoping the wheel will go better. I can't wait to start my lessons.

   Hubs even took me to go pick it up. I wasn't sure it would fit in my Jeep. We buckled it into the back seat of his truck, and it made it safely home. Now I just need to find a place to keep it. I know you can't see me, but I am doing what my mom referred to as my "Happy Food Dance"! Pictures to follow, soon.

Pondering while knitting

    I was sitting here on my couch, knitting, and you know how your mind just wanders aimlessly while you knit? Well, yours might, but I am busy counting the stitches of my knitted on border. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ! Then back again to 9, and k2tog. When I don't count, I somehow end up with more than 10 stitches... so I count.
   Anyway. I manage to get in some thinking while I'm counting. I wonder what I shall blog about today. Shall I tell the promised story of how I met the man of my dreams and how we got together? Should I bare my soul, once more, but this time about Living with Sarcoidosis? (Go ahead, google it, I'll still be here.)
   Nah, I think I'll just talk about how good it feels to knit. The softness of the yarn sliding thru my fingers. The pleasure I get from choosing a wonderful yarn from a whole wall of gorgeous yarns. The ecstasy I feel as I run my fingers thru my stash, recalling where I found each skein. Mmmmm and the smells! Yummy. I must give thanks to my friend Kim H. who introduced me to smelling my natural fibers. Which makes me think of my other friend Bonny, who goes "Eeewwww, do you know how many people have touched that?" We just laugh.
   When I make my favorite crocheted afghan pattern, I only have to count the stitches every 5th row or so. It can be very freeing. That's when I really have time to let my mind wander.
   How about you guys leave me a comment, tell me where your mind goes when you knit or crochet? It will help me not feel like no-one is out there. And I promise, at some point in the future I will talk about those other topics I mentioned.