Saturday, September 18, 2010

That's Too Small

We have a big book from the library about science on our table, and Benny was flipping through it this morning. He came to the section on human biology, flipping past the detailed diagram of a neuron and axon (which he thought was a squid and expressed relief that it was only a picture)and on to the human reproductive page. There was a lifelike, detailed picture of a mature fetus in the womb.

He was interested in the umbilical cord. "Is that the baby's toy?" he asked. I explained that it brings food and oxygen to help the baby grow. (And I was thinking, no, sweetheart, the baby's toy is Mommy's bladder.) Then I pointed out the cervix and birth canal, explaining that they expand to fit around the baby's head when he is ready to be born.

"What?" he said. "The baby can't come out of there. It's too small."

Tell me about it, kid.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Spinning...

Well, since classes began on Sept. 7, I haven't had much time for anything but reading, a little (and I mean a really tiny little bit) of knitting, and some spinning.

I was very motivated to finish this:

Handspun Silk

I did most of the plying at last Saturday's "Spin In" at Make one. When all was said and done I had 118 grams and 740 yards of silk. No wonder it took me nearly all summer to finish.

Next I got started on this, which seemed to take no time at all. I began on Sunday and finished plying today.

Aurelia top & singles
Aurelia 2-ply

190 grams, 260 yards, spun woolen. I worked on my long draw, which I found soothing but it's pretty uneven. Oh darn, I'll have to practice some more.

You see that pretty shiny rainbow stuff combed into the black top? This is proof that my inner child is alive and well, and pretty pleased overall with my fiber love. I know several children who would love to have this but I intend to adorn my own head with it. I'll probably knit it first. My inner child isn't THAT loud.

The weather has been miserable and rainy for what feels like forever but I think actually started around the long weekend, which is now a couple of weeks of cold, wet weariness. They days are starting to blur together now, so I can't remember exactly which day it happened, but I got home amid a chilly drizzle and found a fat, long-awaited and squishy package waiting for me from Spunky Eclectic. Guess what was inside?
Corriedale
Sunshine! In 4 oz batts! The picture really doesn't do it justice. I was not really certain about getting orange at first, since it's not my favorite colour, but I'm so glad I went for something outside my usual purple zone.

There were also four ounces of some soft, sleek, Merino/Yak:
Merino - Yak

This is definitely better than ice cream:
Merino - Yak
and I think it will come in handy around exam time... so soothing, soft and therapeutic to touch. They sell it by the ounce, so if this spins up as beautifully as I think it will, I can get some more... and more...

I finished up the Octesian shawl.
Octesian Shawl
Octesian Shawl
Sometime in the near future, I'll chart out the pattern and get it test knit. However, all non-college projects are on the back burner, so no promises about getting it done before Christmas.

However, this gives me time to figure out whether I want to tweak the patten a little, maybe add more arrow lace and make the border deeper? What do you think?

Octesian Shawl