Getting Ready for Black Sheep Festival!

Last year was the first time I got to go to the Black Sheep Festival in Eugene, Oregon. We live about 3 hours away. It was mind boggling! Every type of fiber/tool/yarn you could imagine. Well, I was not properly prepared! This year however I have been saving money and have a better idea of what I like to spin and what I need. (Like combs) So I decided to dye most of my undyed roving I have to make room for more when I get to the Black Sheep this year.

I bought 10+ lbs of fleece on ebay last year and had it sent right to be processed........big mistake..... it came back almost unusable. So full of vm that it is a pain to process. But. now that I have a Louet Jr. Roving carder I decided I could pick the vm out and then blend colors. So I dyed all of this roving I had left the other night.















So here it its. I would just sell it, but if you saw it up close, and saw the vm, you would understand. I will post more pictures after I get it cleaned and carded.

On another note, I am studying to get my Real Estate License. There are 7 modules. I just passed the final for the 6th one! Yipee! and I have the day off today. So to celebrate, I think I am going to have a fibery day!

I hope everyone else has a nice day too!

New Flickr Pics Up!

I added some more pictures to my flickr account! www.flickr.com/photos/lileesgram

Like this one: How to correctly eat a pickle!

Secret Pal 7 - shhhhh it's still a secret!

Well, here it is, the second package that is now on it's way to my Secret Pal. I also sent her something for Valentines Day! I hope she likes it. It was fun.

Here is a description clockwise from the left:

1. a drop spindle and some roving......to get her hooked!

2. 4 balls in 2 color ways of confetti sock yarn! Yum

3. 2 ball purple novelty yarn, it is cool, look like ladders?

4. Some Hand Dyed & Spun by me Merino wool

5. Some beaded burgandy yarn

6. A really cute Mary Englebriet sewing kit

7. Some needle protectors

Then when I looked at the box, it seemed kinda empty so I added several skeins of my hand dyed and spun stash...then forgot to take another photo....duh....

I also got my box out for the candy swap that Super Eggplant set up....

There is my all time favorite chocolate: Dagoba...I gave up a precious Lime bar and also sent one with raspberries and rose hips! Some candied ginger...YUM... some more dark chocolate under the mini toblerones. A really small butter finger from the fridge....and my favorite seasame seed candy. I went a bit over budget because of the postage, but did good with the candy because here at chez Metts we stock dark chocolate and sesame bars! lol

I really have come to love these exchanges, because I have just as much fun assembling the gifts as I do getting mine. I'll post pics when mine comes.

I was uploading my pictures to my new computer this morning and came across a couple of pictures of Lilee and the rest of us I thought i would share.

Lilee Mae and her Daddy. This was a good day! Lil actually let me put 2...count them...2 pony tails in that day! On this day I also bought Miss Lilee this Green Bear. I thnks she likes it! lol

A few days later we stopped at some outlet shops on the way back from Washington. and I took little miss into the toy store so her mom could shop in peace. Well, softie gramma that i am, I told her she could get a toy......did she get a barbie? Crayons? a stuffed animal?

Nope. She got the biggest ugliest Dragon that she could find! A few months ago i bought her the movie Quest for Camelot. She calls it the "dragon movie". It has a 2 headed dragon in it. Well, I guess that started something. This new dragon has hard points and is really ugly, but his wings move so i guess that makes him cool. and she really seems to love him!

Well, Josh is somewhere on his ship! (he's in the Navy) He won't be back until summer, so everyone please keep him in your good thoughts that he and his whole ship is safe and comes home soon!

We love you and miss you Josh!

My Inner Dragon.....

This really has nothing to do with knitting, but I thought it was cool because I was also born in the chinese year of the Dragon too!

Here is the web site: http://dragonhame.com

and your inner dragon is a .... Heliotropic Dragon

In the war between good and evil, a Heliotropic Dragon tends to walk the fine line of Neutrality.When it comes to the powers of Chaos vs. those of Law and Order, your inner dragon walks a fine line between Law and Chaos.As far as magical tendancies, Your inner dragon has the ability to conquer the world of magic, but it will not be easy.During combat situations, whether by spells or by claw, your inner dragon will do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Dragon Description:
Instead of scales, Heliotropic Dragons have a thick hide to cover their body. At the early stages of life, the Heliotropic Dragon is green with red speckles that resemble blood spots. When fully grown, the dragons color changes to any number of variations of violet, but predominantly they have a deep, reddish purple color with streaks of azure blue and magenta.

This unusual skin type also gives them an unusually sleek appearance and allows them to move with greater speed and freedom both in air and under water. These Dragon's are known to be highly competitive.
They often meet with other dragons to compete with each other for sport.

NOTE: A few small villages have been destroyed by being so unlucky as to be in the path of a speeding Heliotropic Dragon taking a shortcut to gain an advantage over it's competitor.Heliotropic Dragons are well known for their protectiveness, but also are known as loyal friends and allies. They make true friends rarely, but those friendships that they make are well chosen and long lasting.

This Dragons favorite elements are: BloodStone and Valerian Root

And since we seem to be on a dragon theme here:

The Dragon - Compatible Star / Birth Signs

The Dragon
Ruler of the hours 7am to 9am
Direction - East/Southeast
Season - Spring/April
Fixed element - Wood positive
Yin/Yang - Yang

Personality Traits:People born under the year of the Dragon appear to have magical traits, they are strong and full of energy and forever on the go. Some of their more negative traits include: eccentricity, a tendency towards being arrogant and very trying. However they do have many fans and expect the same level of excellence from others that they expect from themselves. They are also full of pride. Other traits include: failing to practice what they preach, over confident, a tendency to intimidate others, feel themselves to be above the law, and can be illogical, domineering and obstinate. In many cases they fail to identify their foes. Although energetic they are liable to become obsessive. On the plus side they seldom hold grudges and are generally quick to forgive. Dragons are said to be able to accomplish great things and those born in this year are also said to represent the horns of destiny. Needing a cause for which to fight, Dragons will never merely stand back and accept their fate or what life brings.The year of the Dragon: is one that brings happiness and good fortune. It is one of the most positive and strongest of all of the twelve star signs. During the year of the Dragon their will be violent acts of nature, with an electrifying ambience and things coming in waves. For those considering marriage or starting a new venture or business it is an favourable year.

TYPE OF DRAGON

The Wood Dragon - arrogant, giving, logical, motivated by inspiration and frank.
The Wood Dragon Years
16 Feb 1904 to 3 Feb 1905 13 Feb 1964 to 1 Feb 1965 My B-day is 7-6-64

But I don't think I am arrogant?

ar·ro·gant ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-gnt)adj.

Having or displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance. Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others

If anything I have low self esteem not too much! Oh well, it was a bit of fun anyway.

Excuses, Excuses.......

I have been putting off blogging because my computer is sick and I am still waiting for the new one.....long boring story.....

But I have lots of new photos of Lilee and the holidays to share, so I thought I would go ahead and update this a little and hope the computer doesn't give me too bad of a time.

I opened a Flickr account and here is the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lileesgram/

Well, where to start. Hubby STILL isn't home. He should be in a couple of weeks!! Hmmmmm....that is starting to sound like our life's theme song.... ( a really bad theme song) But really take a good look at where he is working! On some condo's on the beach in Florida, while it continues to be winter here.....can't say I blame him! LOL

Anyway, Michael did come for home for Christmas and we got to spend it with the kids, so that was nice. All in all we had a very nice holiday. We got to go to the beach, see my oldest friend, Melanie, (she's not really that old!) and spend time with Josh.

Josh will be going over seas for 6 months at the end of February, so they came to see Great Grandpa before Josh leaves. It was a very nice visit. Josh got to spend time with his Grandpa. Lilee Mae and Great Grandpa really hit it off this time. She spent a bit of time in his room with him and really seemed to enjoy her time with him. In fact, it was really cute, because Poppa (Great Grandpa) gave Lilee this little black horse. He told her it was his last one and that he had given one to a little boy that he knew and that little boy loved the horse so much that he slept with it under his pillow. Well they proceeded to play and then we had dinner, but that night when it was time to go to bed, Lilee insisted that she had to sleep with that new pony named Mike under her pillow along with another princess pony she has here. I didn't even think she was really listening to Poppa and she really did sleep with them under her pillow the rest of the time she was here!

Lilee is getting so big. She is 3 now and can say her abc's, she can count and knows her colors. Her little life is just flying by and she gets smarter and funnier every time I see her. When I visit, I always tell her that I will be back soon, and when I talk to her on the phone she always asks me when am I coming back. It is so cute! When we were there over Christmas, I was getting ready to go to the store and I picked her up to get a kiss before I left, well she put her little hands on my cheeks and looked into my eyes and said "don't go home gramma!"........If that's not enough to make me want to just pickup and move to the coast....I assured her that I was just going to the store, but I think that will be one of those memories that sticks with me until she is old an grey and I am gone.

Well, before my luck runs out I am going to upload some photos and I promise to do a better job updating my blog. and I will post some knitting pictures soon!

Oh yeah.....Happy Valentines Day!

The new computer Saga & Secret Pal &

Well.....the new computer is still not here....it is on back order. So I decided to try to update my poor blog anyhow.

I seem to have lucked out an got a wonderful SP7 match! She has been emailing me and sent me a virtual card already. So here is the questionaire!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? I guess I am a bit. I used to use acrylics all the time until I discovered wool. I still occasionaly use acrylics for stuff for the kids in my life.

2. Do you spin? Crochet? I do spin. I have a Babe Fiber starter (my first wheel) and I have a Louet S-10. I also knit, crochet, felt, paint, bead, you name it, I have probably at least tried it, except tatting. I would like to learn to do that. My grandma used to, but I never got a chance to learn from her.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Circs are in a fishing/tackle book. I don't really use straight needles at all, so the few I have are in a canning jar.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I learned to knit in 4th grade and to crochet around the same time. I picked the knitting back up a few years ago. I would say I am advanced, I have made everything from Hats to sweaters to socks.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I sure do, here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/P16U96331JTW

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) Ginger - or citrus with ginger like the orange-ginger line from Bath & Body works.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Yes! Chocolate with nuts!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Like I said in #2, I do all those and I also needlepoint, crosstitch, mosaics, scrapbook. Just about anything.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like country music. And I can play mp3s. I got an Ipod for christmas!

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? Fusica, purple, turquoise. Anything in the hot pink/purple/turquoise family.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? It is me, my hubby, my 85 year old dad. We have 7 cats, 2 dogs. no sheep yet :)

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I do wear hats and mittens and ponchos, not scarves.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Alpaca & Merino or silk blends - but I will use whatever I can get my hands on.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? When petting yarn, I find that I don't care for mohair too much.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? Socks, socks, socks

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks or anything for my 3 year old grandaughter Lilee Mae.

17. What are you knitting right now? Socks, a sweater for Lilee, a sweater for Hubby, a vest for Dad, a hat for me.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Oh yes. They are the best type. All that thought and love put into the gift makes it more special.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? I am a circular girl all the way, I even do socks on 2 circs

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? addi's first, then bamboo

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I have a ball winder, a skein winder, but no swift yet.

22. How did you learn to knit? In summer school in 4th grade

23. How old is your oldest UFO? about 1 year - really boring but beautiful sweater for hubby

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?Dora the explorer - Turtles ( I have a tatoo of one on my shoulder)

25. What is your favorite holiday? 4th of July - my birthday is the 6th and when I was a kid, I used to pretend the fireworks were for my birthday.

26. Is there anything that you collect? Old glass bottles, turtles

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Spin off - would like interweave knits.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? The new Big girl knits and the Mason Dixon knitting book

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Tatting

30. Are you a sock knitter? YES What are your foot measurements?
I really prefer short socks. Length - 10" Instep 9 1/2" Ankle 9 1/2" ball of foot 7.5" gusset 7 1/2"

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) 7-6-64

Wow, that sure made me think. Well, I will try to keep better updated here and will post some pics soon.