Purlewe Knits

I’m away. I’m here. It is a pretty nice place to stay. I’m here for training (like this, but not exactly). I’ve had some beer, from here, which is freaking awesome – the hazel nut seasonal – and now I’m feeling pretty good. I like beer, a lot, I like the taste, which not many people (that I know) can say. I haven’t indulged much lately though because I want to do this, the 1/2 marathon version and because I find it really hard to do quality knitting and spinning after a beer (or two). And really my tolerance is about one beer. Sad some say I say economical, more for yarn.

Speaking of yarn. I found a gem of a store today.

ARTISTIC NEEDLES
636-946-0046
119 N. Kingshighway
St. Charles, MO 63301-1634
Owner: Lorraine Fugate

I walked. And it seemed like a really long walk and I was getting really tired of walking. I kept thinking to myself this better be one super store (specially after the 1/2 mile hill). The store was better than I ever could have imagined. If you are in the St Louis, MO area you need to go yarn shopping here. Seriously it is worth the trip (even a 3 mile walk with the long hill) and you should ask for the nickel tour, I wasn’t overwhelmed until I got the nickel tour.

I got this Trekking*. I keep justifying yarn purchases “cause I’ve never used that and I’ve read so much about it.” Which isn’t too bad when it comes to sock yarn, because one or two balls is usually enough. I think this is destined for knee socks (for next spring probably). See a picture of it worked up here.
Obviously the stash diet isn’t going well. I can’t imagine myself needing anything else after this, but I’ve said that a few times now. I’m blaming Lorraine. The smell of wool at Artistic Needles was over powering. I’ve smelled wool – I sniff yarn – I know what wool, cotton, blends smells like. This smell was, well, just over powering – I don’t know how else to explain it.
I’m going to try and work on the blue stripey socks – wish me luck!

*You must take into account that I’ve had TWO beers and I took the picture with my Mac. Really, it is a good picture.

Remember the Pea Pod Set I was knitting? I got a picture of the baby in it this week. This little guy is 7 weeks only and wearing 3 month outfits. I just love this picture. What a cutie!

My orchid is blooming, so I spend an unreasonable amount of time this morning taking pictures of it.

This is the only one I have that blooms on a regular basis. I’m really quite fond of it, probably too fond.

First the promised picture of my blue stripey socks. This is progress, believe me, for everything else that is going on this is progress. I’m taking them to the guild meeting tonight, so I should make more progress tonight.

I’m learning the meaning of white. Pure, rich, and sometimes yummy.

White chocolate. I’ve never really been a fan, but today at Wild Oats we got this …

Yum. This is good white chocolate. Very good. I understand white chocolate now.

Pearls – the non-knitting kind. They are white too. Thank you Hubby!! I love you!

I have started running again. I mentioned exercise briefly when I wrote about my non-new’s resolutions. I haven’t wanted to talk too much about this, it is still to fragile – too much could still go wrong. For the last couple of years I’ve attempted to start training again, but I’ve gotten injured. I’m really hoping this is the year I can keep going.

With that, I’ve joined the 100 mile by April 1 group. See the side bar or Runagogo. I’m excited about the prospect of 100 miles and quite truthfully surprised by the fact that I’ll actually hit 100 miles before April 1st. I’ll hit it on March 31st, if I stick to my schedule, which doesn’t leave me much wiggle room. As of Saturday I was at 28.75 for the year.

I have decided that knitted socks are the best thing ever! I wore mine again today and they were awesome! Awesome! They have been washed and dryed a couple of times now and they are so comfy! I’m going to focus on socks for a while and I think 2 at a time is the only way to go. Update pictures of the blue striped socks coming soon.

I have been trying to come up with something to significant to post about. My knitting and spinning is going no where fast. With school and work I barely find time to do my homework. Free time is non-existent, not complaining though, not yet. I am still enjoying it. I never posted what I was doing .. Officially it is a Master’s Certificate, but I’m taking an extra class so I can possibly turn it into a Master’s in English at some point in the future.

I got up early this morning to do some spinning, I sent Hubby out to shovel – it snowed again last night. Here’s another picture of the same fiber – but what I did this morning. This picture shows the color variation much better. It is pretty interesting how you can control the color mix by how the fiber is pulled from the bundle – or at least by how you feed it into the wheel. This color mixing thing is logical, but it is not something I thought about until I did something different and saw the different results. My goal is to get the rest of this spun before I head off to a spinning class I am taking in two weeks. In the class we are going to learn navajo plying – which is something I really want to learn and I think this yarn will be perfect for it – it should enable me to keep some of the color striping now that getting by pulling the fiber a little differently. I am really excited about knitting it up too, socks are the plan.

As far as the doctor’s visits and tests. A couple of leaky valves – that is what appears to be the problem. No big deal the nurse said and I have decided that I am okay with that answer (and with a little explanation from the doctor). I am not willing to live in fear or really to change my life style. If I do decide to do something different it will only be for the better.

Have a happy knitting weekend everyone, I have got homework!