My Wheel and We've Been CDing for 2 years!

I realized a few weeks ago we have been using cloth diapers for 2 years now. We started early January 2006 when E was just 3 months old. Time goes so fast! Now he's walking, running, talking, jumping, playing, etc etc. It was actually easier when he was just lying there. lol Just in case someone is actually reading this blog, I highly recommend cloth diapers. Even if you just use them at home, they are wonderful! They really help to save you some $$ on diapers too. I don't think E is too close to potty training yet, but when he is, I'll be making his trainers too. I'll probably start making some soon anyways, just to be prepared.

My wheel came on Saturday. How exciting. I've been having lots of fun with it. And the best thing? I've had a revelation! With the wheel, my drafting was still sucking. I was getting frustrated, but kept on trucking. I had been spinning with my right hand forward, left hand back. Out of frustration, I decided to switch it up, left hand forward, right hand back. What a difference!! It was delightful and I finally got it! You don't know how happy I am that it clicked and I am really, really enjoying spinning. I have spun up my 4 oz of Spunky Club Snow Squall and I'm pretty sure it's going to be a hat for myself.



Here are some pictures of my wheel:




Some of my first wheel spun:




And 4 of my spindles:



This wheel is awesome! The seller is on Etsy and eBay.

Great price, awesome service, wonderful wheel! Made right here in the USA. Her husband makes and designs the wheels. I also bought two of my spindles from her.

This wheel is small and doesn't weigh much. It will be easy to take it along with me. It was easy to put together and it's easy to use. I am really enjoying it and recommend it to anyone!

As you can see, I was having some problems getting the whole bobbin full. However, the bobbin I am currently working on is full the entire way. I'm pretty proud of that. lol

I am also pretty happy because I've found the yarn and stitch markers I'm getting for my swap partner. Woot! I've also found some Hufflepuff colored roving, which I may get to spin up. I am waffling on which bag pattern I am going to make. My biggest concern is that it's going to look like a bumblebee. So, I'm going to look at some more patterns and make my decision soon. I want to get this cast on already. Also, I got in touch with my spoilee and she filled out the questionnaire. Hooray!

I am still undecided about school. I'm now almost 2 weeks behind, but could get caught up this weekend on everything but transcription. I am considering just finishing up the other 3 classes and letting transcription go. I need to make that decision soon!

My mom flew home on Tuesday. I spent yesterday doing laundry and some cleaning. E only took an hour nap, which totally stinks. Here's hoping for a better nap today! Especially since I want to get some spinning done. :)

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Picture Scavenger Hunt
Please either post the pictures to your blog or link to where the pictures can be found.

Mr. Olivander

Mad-Eye Moody

Cedric

World Cup Tournament

Dark Mark

Quidditch Quiz

1. What was Harry dreaming about the first time he woke up with his scar on fire?

b. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill him


2. What is the problem with leprechaun gold?
a. It vanishes after a few hours


3. Why did Mad-Eye Moody turn Malfoy into a ferret?

c. Malfoy attached Harry when Harry's back was turned


4. Sirius warns Harry to be careful around Karkaroff because he had been a Death Eater. Which one of the professors at Hogwarts, who also used to be a Death Eater, is frequently bothered by Karkaroff?
(Answer is One Word, Last Name Only) Snape

5. Voldemort could have used the blood from any foe to make the potion that revived him work, but he held out for Harry's blood. Why?

c. The special protection Harry received from his mother would also pass to Voldemort


6. How old would Frank have been on his next birthday?

d. 77

7. Amos Diggory works for?

b. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures


8. Who shared a carriage with the three friends on the way from the train to Hogwarts?
Answer: (One Word) Neville

9. What date in October did the delegates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive?
a. 30th


10. What color were Percy's dress robes at the Yule Ball?
a. Navy Blue

My poor toe!

Ouch, I hurt my toe good tonight. And it hurts. And it looks very yucky. Did I mention it hurts? I was moving the chair as I was sitting in it, got my foot under it and then sat in it with my toe under it. Ouch. It's a dining room table chair and the feet bottom are metal with no coverings. Ouch. It didn't really bleed, which is surprising for how much skin was taken off. So, I must be more careful at the dining room table.

My mom is here visiting this week. She got here last Friday. We have been go-go-go ever since. It's been fun though. Just busy.

So, school is not going too well. I've pretty well decided to go ahead and withdraw from classes. I talked it over with Ryan. He thinks I should just try to struggle through. I think that has to do with getting the next student loan check though. Or at least that has something to do with it. He told me I am just not cut out for college. It's probably about time for me to realize that, accept it, and learn to live with it. It's not a bad thing and that's what I would tell anyone else thinking they needed some type of degree or certificate to prove themselves. I have found that my household duties and trying to keep a healthy kitchen have fallen to the wayside since I've been so busy with school. I don't like that either. I don't *need* to work, I just thought the extra money would be nice.

Getting in touch with my swap spoilee has not been going well. I didn't realize that we were supposed to get in touch with them. I have emailed her a few times and it keeps getting returned. My swap spoilee sent me a very nice questionnaire, which I was sending to my spoilee.
Oh well. I can still do the swap just fine without it. When my mom leaves, I'll be getting started on my stuff.

I still need to finish up the slippers for my mom, then tuck all the ends in for them and the slippers for my sister and get them felted. I've got some spinning done on my spindle the past few days, I try to get about 10 min every day. I am spinning my border leicester cross right now. I think I need more instruction on hand carders. My stuff is not getting brushed enough, I don't think. My wheel has been shipped today!!! How exciting! I ordered this wheel:

http://tinyurl.com/32v366

Along with both her drop spindles. Jan has been great to work with. I'm pretty excited about getting my wheel. And I am glad I choose this one. The price is great. Seriously, especially for someone just starting out. I was looking at a $700 wheel. But I just couldn't see spending that much. After Ryan changed his mind about having to buy a solid wheel, I started looking at Babe's. Then Lendrums. Then Frickes. Then Ashfords. Then Fidelis. I like that Fidelis is made here in the USA. I also like that it is handmade. I love handmade stuff. Ok, I know most of the other wheels are also handmade. Perhaps I should say homemade. I also like it because it is unique and kind of funky. I really feel that it will fit in in my household. It's small and lightweight, so I can take it with me places. It's just all over cool. :) I'm really hoping Jan and her husband will eventually grow a little more and offer other accessories and, possibly, a Saxony type wheel. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, since I don't even have the wheel yet, but that's the way my thoughts are running. I've only seen good reviews for the wheel (and their drop spindles).

So, I really want to get some sewing done in the near future. I miss it. I want to make myself an apron. I have the pattern and the material. I need to make E some potty training pants. I need to make my mom some pillows before she leaves. That was supposed to be last years Christmas gift!!

So, it is looking like I'll have some tax $ after all. I thought I had used all mine getting all the seasons of X Files. But Ryan said I could have a little more. So, I'll be getting Harmony DPN's in the 4-11 size (plus needles for my spoilee) and a bigger niddy noddy. This one I have is 1 yard and the skeins are very small.

We have been eating out quite a bit since my mom got here. I think I have only cooked once!!! I will definitely be cooking Fri, Sat, and Monday. Tomorrow night is Buffalo Wild Wings and Sunday night will be our date night. Which will also be Buffalo Wild Wings, except we will eat there and get to play trivia! Yippee! :)

After my mom leaves and this next pay period begins, we have to get back to healthy eating. It has not been very healthy these past couple of months. I am ready to incorporate fruits and veggies back into our meals in a major way. I keep thinking I should follow this plan, or that one, but I know I am just setting myself up for failure that way.

Ryan and I are considering starting to train for a 15K next year. I am not a big fan of running, so this would be quite the challenge. We'll see. I need to start getting myself to the gym on a regular basis either way. Since I decided to not do weights right now, I'm thinking at least 4 days of aerobic activity should be done. Plus, E likes the playcenter.

All right, my battery is going to be going soon, since I am not plugged in.

Cleaning is so much fun!

Well, today it was more fun than transcription. I've been cleaning for most of the day now, getting ready for my mom's arrival tonight. Basically, I was doing a super job on the bathrooms. It really was not that much fun. I still have to vacuum, but not while E's sleeping! I still have to do Ryan's tub/shower, but first I have to finish up with the raw wool I'm cleaning. And this is probably the last unclean, raw wool I'm going to buy for a while. I know, I said that before, which is why this time I said *probably*. I was looking at the two large bags of clean wool in my closet today and thinking I don't really need any more. I should have enough to keep me busy and spinning for a while. But the raw wool is so nice. This stuff is a Border Leicester cross. It came pretty clean and I love the crimp. I also have some raw, dark brown Romney coming, but it is already clean. It was kind of pricey, but it's so nice. The lady I bought the handcarders from included a sample in with my package and I love it!

So, now that I'm in the HSKS4, I have to be updating my blog every week. So here I am. I have not been getting into all the games, so I need to get cracking on that. I think I mentioned in my last post that I had bought the little circles to make my stitch markers with. I plan on getting the needles for my partner next month. Yarn wise, I haven't started shopping yet. I am pretty sure about which bag I am going to do though, I just have to buy the pattern. Depending on how soon my wheel gets here, I may spin the yarn for the bag. How awesome would that be! I think it would be awesome because I'm into that. :)

Well, let me tell you, school is sucking so far this semester. The transcription is really frustrating me. I just can't understand some of it and it's driving me batty. I slow it down, turn it up, turn it down, sound it out, I'm just not getting it. I didn't leave any blank spots on any of my reports from last semester. This semester I am leaving quite a few. If this is what real doctor transcription is like, I just can't see myself enjoying this work. At this point, I'm not sure if I should even continue on to next semester. I am thinking of possibly transferring my credits into a different program. I need to discuss it some with Ryan and, depending on our decision, discuss it with the school. I am too far into this semester to drop classes now.

So, that's pretty much all that's going on with me right now. I'm excited my mom is coming to visit. She'll be here tonight. I'm loving spinning, even with my spindles. I think I'm finally getting a bit better. This Florida Native sheep wool I have, blended with some raw alpaca, is lovely to spin. I love how it's turning out. I need to card up some more because I've used up all that I have. I am also spinning some Romney roving and Corriedale top. Am I weird because I prefer the shorter staple wool so far? The BFL, Romney, and Corriedale are all harder for me to draft with. Except the Romney that I carded. They are lovely to spin, but the longer fibers make it harder for me. I was trying to spin the Corrie from the fold yesterday and that made it much easier and my yarn was looking nicer, but I am having problems trying to coordinate with that. I really hope it all comes together better for me when I have my wheel and don't have to concentrate on the spindle. And then I am hoping that using a wheel will improve my spindle skills. :)

Ok, that really is it now. :)

Just rambling

I figured I should update this. Since I'm doing the swap, I need to update on a regular basis so my swap partner knows I am alive and well. :)

Let me tell you what I think of this semester so far. I think it's going to stink. There is twice as much transcription and I am not liking it. I know, it's a transcription course, but still. I am not planning on doing this full time, so I don't need tons of transcription practice, right? After my first week of the 2nd semester, I am seriously considering if I even want to do this part time. I do want to finish and get my certificate though. I have to do transcription today. And everyday this week too. I don't want to have any for next weekend. My mom is flying in on Friday. Ryan is taking that week off too and I am going to be hurting, trying to get school work done.

So, I decided to go ahead and buy some wool hand carders. I was just going to use my dog brushes, but I have so much raw wool and those dog brushes are small! lol I've been using them, blending some raw alpaca with my Florida Native raw wool, very nice. I've spun some of it up on my spindle. It's fun. I have a large black trash bag full of the Florida Native. I have a white trash bag full of a grab bag mix of wool. I also have some raw Mohair locks, but I am planning on using them for doll hair. I have 4 lbs of Border Leicaster cross on it's way to me too. I have a slight obsession with raw wool. I'm not sure why. It's just fun. And a lot of work. After skirting and cleaning all that Florida Native, I said I was not going to do any more raw wool until I was able to get more FN in April. But I went ahead and got the BL too. I also have a fair amount of undyed roving I have been buying and hoarding, preparing for my wheel.

I am so excited to be getting my wheel. I will be ordering the Fidelis from Heavenly Handspinning. Her husband is finishing up their higher speed bobbins, so I'm waiting for them and the wait is so hard! :) I just got a Niddy Noddy and a WPI tool from Ma and Pa Spindles on eBay. The niddy noddy is just a yard size one. I think I'm going to get their bigger one too. Their stuff is very nice and well made. I have a spindle from them too.

I am finally getting those felted slippers for Samantha done. They work up pretty quick, but are a big pain. Still, they look nice when done. Well, they're not felted yet, but the unfelted slipper looks nice. I bought the Boye interchangeable needle set at Joann's the other day. I originally wanted the Knit Picks Harmony needles, but changed my mind. I had a 40% off coupon for Joann's and the Boye actually comes with more needles sizes and cable lengths. I like them and they are working good. I do want to get the Harmony DPNs set though. I'm not into the little needles, so I think I'll get the 4-11's. Those needles are so pretty, I've got to have some eventually!

I've been doing some cleaning here and there, getting ready for mom's visit. I'll be finishing up that this week. All that's really left are the bathrooms. I guess that's my least favorite, so that's why it's always what is left.

It's a nice, overcast rainy day here. I love these type of days. I love the rain. I really missed it while we were in CA.

Happy New Year

I figured it was time for a new post. I don't think I'll be doing a lot of housework type stuff in my blog these days. I unfortunately do not have as much kitchen time as I did, due mostly to school. As the new year starts, I am determined to get our eating healthy again. It has been a slippery slope these past 2 months and there has been too much eating out and junk food involved. I've gained about 8 pounds and I'm not feeling to great about it. My biggest concern is not wanting Ethan to get used to eating junk. I still make sure he's getting his fruits/veggies/protein, but he's also been getting plenty of cookies, chips, etc. So, my goal is once again to cut down on the processed foods. That in itself should not involve tons of kitchen time.

My mom is visiting in 3 weeks, so I've got some cleaning to do.

I'll probably be doing more blogging about my crafty stuff. I've been knitting and crocheting. I've started spinning on a drop spindle. I'll be getting a wheel soon. I have some sewing to do. And I'm almost done with my Waldorf doll.

I'm joining the Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap 4. I'm pretty excited about it and looking forward to participating.

That's it for now, I'm going to grab some lunch and enjoy E's nap time.