JessaLu Knits (and Spins!)

…sometimes. ;o)

Somewhat unconsciously, I have been on a yarn diet since January. For one reason or another, I just haven’t felt the urge, you know? Besides, it’s hard to justify a new yarn purchase when you have almost an entire room devoted to your fiber habit. I was also working on my CPH so I didn’t care about working on anything else until that was done - or at least wearable since it still has no buttons so I guess it’s not officially ‘done’. Last week I started looking for a project that would be fast, pretty, and make me happy - because Lord knows I needed happy at that point. I decided on a project and started hunting for the perfect yarn. (btw, have I mentioned how much I love Ravelry?!? Seriously. Love it.) The perfect yarn in this instance would be Dream in Color Classy in the Good Luck Jade colorway which, unfortunately, was almost out of stock at The Loopy Ewe. I could only order two skeins there but thankfully I found two more at the Yarn and Fiber Company. I was thinking that since it’s hand painted, the colors won’t be too terribly different if ordered from two different companies. Thankfully, I was right.

On the left are the skeins from Y&F, on the right are the Loopy skeins. I’ll still alternate rows with two different balls, but they’re pretty close. There’s only one skein that seems a bit darker than the rest. I cast on last night while we got caught up on Law & Order (I CANNOT believe that Ed left! WTF?! This new guy better not suck.) and as of bedtime I had an inch or so completed. I would have had more except I started with size 8 needles and found that I wasn’t getting gauge. I went up to a size 9 and that’s working out perfectly so far:

Can I just tell you that I’m loving this yarn? Squooshy!!! The pattern? Fun!! Yay! Now if we could just get some rain so I can justify sitting inside and not working on the veggie patch. ;o)

Oh and some Fleece Artist Sea Wool may have fallen into my cart when I wasn’t looking…

…and some bees…

…now I must go dig. Yay.

First, let me thank everyone who sent their condolences regarding the last post. Knowing that you all care and had us in your thoughts during such a difficult time means a lot. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Now, back to regular blogging…

Did you see the Google logo today? Odds are good that you are probably already aware that today is Earth Day. I will be spending most of the day getting my veggie garden ready for planting (grow local!), finishing up the mulching from hell (conserve water!) and hopefully sitting outside with my wheel for a little bit (save my sanity!). I may have to run to the store so I’ll be sure to bring along my Envirosax bags (delight.com also have RuMe bags on special for today only. They roll up into their own little package just like the Envirosax). I *heart* these bags and use them for everything - and since they’re so cute and pretty I hate to not use them which helps with remembering to bring them into the store with me. I even keep one in my purse ‘just in case’.

What will you be doing today (or every day) to observe Earth Day?

Things have been quiet on the blog this week because it’s hard to be ‘upbeat’ and ‘happy’ when you’re dealing with a big pile of stink.

Last Saturday we lost a friend. A good friend and a good man. Someone who we should have taken more time to get to know better before he passed. He left behind a young wife and two young children. He was 42. He was also a fireman.

Yesterday was his wake. Firemen from several local departments were there to pay their respects, it was a sea of blue dress uniforms and a sea of tears. Strong men showing heart felt grief to a stricken family from seeing one of their own taken too soon.

He did not die in a fire, he died from a terrible cancer that just would not let go.

He will be missed.