Deb on the Web

Do I need a specific title...

Can't really think of one...but
The weekend was beautiful (if a wee bit hot)!  I didn't take any garden photos as I was knee deep in weeds and herbs with garden gloves on.  I will take some photos this week.  In the now cleaned up herb bed I planted--Nepitella (an Italian herb I am excited to have found), bronze fennel, Italian oregano, oregano thyme, lemon verbena, pineapple mint, orange mint, bergamot, fino verde basil, rosemary (we lost ours in the snow last Winter), lemon balm, mugwort, Chinese motherwort (the last two are favorite medicinals), golden sage, rose scented and Prince of orange scented geraniums, tarragon and Genovese basil.  I haven't decided where to put the woad as I want to create an area for a few specific dye plants.  But over all yesterday was very productive!
When it got too hot we went to work on my studio/sun room (I am trying to share the room in the mornings with the husband).  There were a lot of boxes belonging to my mil which led to me not being able to unload any of the boxes I had trekked up.  Also a bed that while lovely had no use.  We went to work (as others wee at the Obama rally) and took out all the books, bed and extra hooha that had no use for us.  Plus a run to the recycler with 8 boxes of magazines (just in case someone wants to collage).  Now the room is shaping up A lovely spot for knitting or tea and plenty of room to keep the wheel on a permanent basis.  There is a work table to the side that now permanently houses my ball winder and swift (something I have wanted to do forever!).  The book shelves are behind the couch and need to be filled and organized more.  In the bins under the window you can now find all of my fiber.  I love that.  Now that I can see it I am itching to spin it--also realize that I will not be doing much shopping here or here this year. 
We have a room mate up here!  We've been watching the nest being built (on top of an old one at our bedroom door) but we weren't sure she would stick around.  There is a lot of activity around her.  So far she is persevering and we may see some babies yet!
On the knitting front--
Meet Marina This is the back of a quick Summer vest in Noro Taiyo.  I love working with this yarn.  I'm not much for knitting with cotton as it has no give, but this combination of cotton, wool, silk and a touch of nylon.  I hope to have this finished by mid week as I seem to have a long line of projects just tapped their feet staring hard at me.

Speaking of Noro, check out some of the pics from his site.   Makes me want to knit with his yarn exclusively!

Also, do you Twitter?  I am loving this tool as a way to throw up a comment or short thought when a post here is kind of silly.  They are updated in the top right hand corner or you can go directly there to see a full list of comments I've made.  And if you're Twittering too let's connect.  It has been fun to read others' Twitter comments.

Photos

With a new router at home (and a nice fast one at that) I am back in business.
Here are some recent photos downloaded from my camera:
This is the sock I knit for the Sock Hop swap.  I had to wait until I knew Amy had received her package before I could post.  This was a fun swap idea.  I get to knit a single sock in a pattern and when I receive my sock from Cary I'll get to knit one sock in a different pattern.  I don't mind at all that Cary has been crazy busy of late so it will be a little while before I receive my sock.  I really need to finish the 3 pairs I have on the needles at the moment!
Here is that spinning I keep talking about-This is that brown/yellow/blue Pippi kneesocks falkland I bought through Scout.  It is going to be plyed with white merino for some fun sock yarn (this is a birthday present that was very well received.  I am also playing with this
I've spun up a battt of merino from Dicendra Designs that I bought locally.  I couldn't decide if I wanted to ply it upon itself (Navajo style) or mix with something else.  I found this other batt of merino at Abundant Yarn a few days ago and it will be perfect.  Naturally dyed it has paler versions of the the blues and greens of what's on the bobbin.  The rusty red you can't really see on the bobbin will really stand out.
Also hanging out on the camera are some shopping pics.  These yarns are an order from Scout I received a couple weeks ago.  I have enough on the needles right now so I haven't dived in as yet, but I'm pretty excited to finally try some of Scout's Swag!  The other shopping I've done recently is for soap.  My favorite morning product from Lush has been discontinued so I have been sampling all kinds of soaps and body washes of late.  I love the smell of these goodies I received from Blessed Juno.  Once the bar in the shower is gone I'll be diving in!  And how could I not order some of her Hand knit soap-with lanolin-yum.
Finally, here is the new computer It may be little, but it's mighty.  I'm so happy with my switch to Mac!  I still have a lot to learn though.  By the time I got up today my Dell was already in service.  We are still in tug a war over who should be using the mouse;)
That is it for today--

New Computer!!

I have finally made the switch to Mac.  I am a life long (well maybe not that long) PC user.  This morning I'm starting to realize just how great this little Macbook is!  I was ready to download all kinds of software I use on my Dell to interface with Audible, my camera, etc.  So far none is needed.
I bought this from an employee who was nice enough to stock it with all the programs I will need--including Adobe CS3!  I see some self publishing in my future.
I'm still without home internet and haven't downloaded any current photos on here yet.  Tomorrow there will be some spinning photos, computer shots and hopefully an FO.
Plus some decisions have to be made in the sock area--my Sockapaloosa4 pattern is not showing well with the yarn.  Random poll may be needed.

Nostrana is being filmed this weekend for a foodie documentary to be aired on our public tv channel next year.  The crew has been great, but I am a bit tired from having people watching us all day/night.  They will be filming again today and tomorrow we go out to one of our supplying farms to take a tour that will also be filmed.  Crazy huh?

A little walk

Well I kind of fell down with the last week push for donations.  But our team raised $1600!  Some of it was in check form and not visible on line.  The walk was fun!  And sooooo many people.  They think 46,000 this year!  Thank you again for all the donations.  It goes to a very worthy cause.

This weekend is an anniversary (blogiversary) of sorts.  Two years blogging with Typepad today!  I actually started with Blog city 2 1/2 years ago after reading Claudia and Sandy's blogs.  But I have learned so much about code and technology from Typepad.  For my anniversary I had planned on unveiling a surprise, but it's not quite ready so the suspense will have to build;)

No Saturday Sky this week--just food sightings for me on Saturday.  We all decided this was the most beautiful tomato of the season.  The photo does not do it justice.

Whew--all fixed here

Well I'm content again.  It seems that by tapping the F8 and FN buttons a few times you can find your screen again.  Somehow my LCD screen had been turned off.  Did I mention some young men (who shall remain nameless for now) have been playing poker on my computer?  grrrrrr

To go with this day of broken gadgets about 15 minutes after fixing the laptop my palm had a fatal error on the screen.  Took a bit to figure out how to reboot the little guy.

I think the rest of the day (2 hours until work) needs to be spent sans machine.  Enjoy your day all!  And thank you Kae:)

I think I killed it

Last night as I had my ass kicked worked really hard I kept thinking of how lovely today was going to be.  I would catch up on everyone's blogs, download a new book (as I finished listening to Never Let Me Go yesterday) and knit the day away.  Today I woke to find that my lap top will not get past the being Windows opening.  Nope just a black screen.  I tried to stay calm, turned it off and walked away for a breather.  After taking DH out for a Father's Day breakfast (I am choosing not to discuss why DS is not here to do this) I came home to find the lap top is definitely not a happy camper.  DH is out on a bike ride right now, so I have taken over the main computer for the time being.  Besides all the software we don't share  I have recently purchased several patterns online that have been downloaded into that computer!  Calm, think calm. 
I think I just need to slink off to a corner and knit a bit. 

New Banner/Button

Check out my new clothes!! Thank you to Missa at Moonarts

Computer Progress

With the help of Sharon I have gotten my buttons figured out and linked up with Kae's help. However, now I have a new problem. I can not figure out why they are trying to be side by side instead of vertical! They have each been put in separately so they should not be doing this. I am going to be a pro by the time I get this done, but a frustrated one. Anyone have any bright ideas? Please!