Deb on the Web

Helloooo

Well I tried putting the Mt Hood Fiber site as the default here, but my blog just plain disappeared into oblivion.  It may seem like it has anyway.  I've been awfully quiet here.  Instead I have been hiking, playing in the garden and keeping the animals happy.
The June newsletter is up!
This week's podcast episode is up!
I'm getting my fiber organized for the upcoming Tour De Fleece.  I have about 1 1/2 lbs of various rovings I'd like to get finished during the race.  I'll be posting my progress here.  So you'll be hearing a bit more from me this month.
Also, there is still room in the Color-full dye day up here on July 18 and in the Community Sock Club.  And don't forget that about the Fall knitting retreat to Oregon Wine Country:)
If you want to stay up to date on all this and more;)  Sign up for my free updates via email newsletter.  You will find a form at the end of the sidebar.
And what are you all doing for the 4th?  We'll be having a BBQ with a few employees.

One last sunset

Black Sheep Gathering

Wow what a weekend!  Made a great new friend:)  Spent time with an old friend:)  (those photo spots are reversed) And spun like crazy!  I recorded a recap for the podcast yesterday, but thought I would put the photos here.
I always do a bit of shopping at BSG (it's hard not to).  Here are the hightlights:
this gorgeous silver fleece is Romedale/CVM and it won first prize.  I'm going to be blending it with a gray alpaca and silver gray angora.  YUM!  I fell in love with this mini Turkish spindle and have been spinning with it nonstop.  Under that is the lovely fawn fleece that was given to me by Lizzibet when I purchased the Satin Angora rabbit that used to wear it:)  The bunny will be coming home in August.  I arranged for another German rabbit too (shhh).
I was in a blue mood at the Blue Moon Fiber Arts booth;)  Haida in med. weight sock, Bella Coola in Silkie sock and Mid Summer Night in Kidmo.  Exotic Fiber samplers from Tactile Fibers to play with on my new spindle.  I'll be keeping the fibers individual (except for a couple of silk blends) and knitting mitts. 
There were a couple other fiber purchases that have been put away.  You will see them as I start to work with them.
The classes were terrific!  Here are some pics from the Natural Dye class I took on Sunday- A really fun weekend!
We even played Bingo to get to know people from Ravelry I didn't get a bingo, but I did make lots of new friends:)

A fundraiser

About this time of year I usually have a big fund raiser going on for the Crohn's and Colitis walk.  However, I goofed on the scheduling this year and won't be able to attend.  Luckily LoraJean will be walking!  And fundraising!  I'm donating a newsletter with yarn for her fundraiser and a few gift certificates for the walkers.  Head on over and make a difference!

I know I am so far behind on the blogging.  I spent last week preparing for a big hoohah.  The husband turned the big 5-0!  We had a great weekend of celebrating and now I am soooo very pooped.  I am now getting ready for BSG.  I'll be down in Eugene for the weekend taking classes in fiber blending, knitting different styles of thumbs for mittens and a natural dye class (I love seeing other people's style).

Why did the chicken cross the road?

I don't know, but I should have asked the one I saw walking down the highway a couple days ago;)

It has been busy busy here lately.  With the sun comes the weeds!  Keeps us busy constantly.  And now that there is color and fragrance in the garden (Wisteria and Lillacs) we are having to keep a good eye on those goats.  They love eating lilly tops and Poppy buds.  can you see the chickens resting under the Wisteria?
In knitting news I am knitting right along on Marc's Aran.  There is a chance that it may be finished by his birthday yet!  I am actually half way finished with sleeve number one at this point.  Also on the needles and on the spinning wheel is this project This is the Mystery shawl that I have mentioned on the podcast.  It is actually a stole designed by Amy King for the Spunky Eclectic group on Ravelry.  the varigated (Cooredale) will be on each end.  The brown (Jacob and Alpaca) will be used for the middle pattern.
There are plenty of other projects on the needles, but these are getting the most attention at the moment:)
Oh let's have some baby bunny (and mom) photos before I leave--

Community Sock Club Signups

Today is the day to start signing up for the Community Sock Club!  Love socks?  Love lunching with friends?  Well then this is the club for you!  Check out the details here and email me if you would like to sign up.

Also, the Summer Twist Collective is up!  I definitely have to knit up this "Uhura" tank.  Is it the design or the name?  I'm not saying.  I just love it;)

I've decided...

that I need to take lots of pictures so even when I feel like I've said everything on the podcast (or am planning to) I have something to share here;)

I have been knitting and gardening like crazy this week!  The body of the husband's Aran sweater is finished!  And tonight the turtle neck will be added.  I have started a new shawl in handspun lace singles that I am loving!  I have also been knitting on a couple of socks here and there during car rides.
In the garden--we have 13 out of 21 asparagus plants up!  Considering we planted them just a few weeks ago I think they are looking great.  also up is 4 kinds of beans, 2 squash, 2 melon, 4 carrots, 2 basil, a variety of greens, lots of different sunflowers and dalias and tuber roses and sweet peas...
We are loving this unexpected hot weather in the garden. 
In the restaurant?  This is not such great weather as everyone wants to be in their garden.  So I think you all need to go out to your favorite restaurants and at least have a snack to make them smile:)

Did you get into Sock Summit?  Have you heard the craziness of the week for Tina and Stephanie?  yikes!  More on the podcast later tonight.

A full weekend

Boy I wish I'd gotten a pic of the back of my car before unloading it last night.  It was full to the brim with plants!  This three day weekend here will be filled with planting roses, raspberries (purple ones!), perennial flowers, more herbs and a hops plant for tea.
Also on the weekend plan is finishing up the body on the Aran so I can move on to sleeves!
And some spinning.  I've got some beautiful singles that are about to become the edging of a shawl and now I'm working on spinning the yarn for the body of the shawl.
I know, you are wondering where photos are for all these projects.  Just you wait;)

A time for socks!

a lot of Portland area knitters have already heard--I'm starting a sock club!  A local club that will include lunch at Gino's.  Building community has always been important to me so this is the latest incarnation:)

In other sock news  Summer of Socks is ready for this year's sign ups!  Head on over to Ravelry and join the group after you read Zarzuela's blog post.

How about a Cotillion at Sock Summit!  Remember in Southern era of Scarlett O'Hara when the ladies would attend a weekend party there would be an entire wardrobe to change into through out the day?  Well why not do that for Sock Summit.  A new pair of socks for each class?  A new pair for day and then evening?  What do you think?

Wow! Is it May already?

I realize that I haven't been here blogging, but I am not going to abandon my lovely blog.  I think I just need to take a break for a bit.  But I'm Baack...

And what have I been up to?  Well here is the garden I've been filling with seeds and we've been adding raspberries to this spot where we moved the blueberries over the Winter.  Not photographed are a cutting flower garden and flowering bulb garden.
In knitting I've been oh so busy.  Here is a quick cowl I knit for my MIL for Mother's Day The yarn is Sundara's Aran silky wool in Irredescent.  The pattern is by Larissa Brown called Grassy.
I've really been on a sweater kick lately.  Here is the back of Kingscot in ISR's Juniper DK weight I'm a bit farther along than this photo, but I was so inspired by the UFO retreat I went on a few weekends ago that I have been going through baskets and containers and ripping and knitting.  Here is the big project that is back to life now This is also quite a bit farther along as I have been working on it like a mad person this week.  This is Marc's Aran.  And as he has a BIG birthday coming next month I have sworn to have it finished by then.  I have now divided front from back to shape arm holes and shoulders.  I'll be picking up stitches for the sleeves and knitting down next.  There are always some socks on the needles and you can look to the show notes blog for a photo of what is on and off the needles.
And of course I've had my hands full with these little darlings I need to get some more pics of these three muskateers and of the baby bunnies we have in the nest right now. 
So much to do...