Since my birthday in September, I have been trying to spin everyday.  So far I've been successful.  I even took a spindle when we backpacked the North Shore in September.

I've found that spindling has been the easiest way to keep on top of this resolution.  Many nights I pull out the spindle when the 10pm news is on.  (mostly because I forget until then)

I've been spinning fine.  Perhaps a bit too fine.  I'm not really sure what I'll do with 800 yards of lace weight purple merino? 

But it's soft and pretty and I'm very happy just petting it for now.

We've been hosting bees from Homestead Apiaries for the past few summers.  It's always a pleasure to walk up in the pasture and see the hives and hear the hum of the bees.

We just received our reward bounty.  Lots and lots of honey!  Maybe we'll make some mead this winter?

Mittens and shawls

Mittens and shawls

Mittens and shawls

I'm gonna get me some mittens and shawls.

Apparently I have no control.

Tip Down Mittens from my own yarn, spindlespun last summer and plied in January.

For the spindle

Picked out a nice Polwarth for the spindle.

It generally takes me all year to spin four ounces on the spindle.

Travel spinning - but the yarn is full of memories.

Feeling Groovy

175 meters of merino from the Feeling Groovy colorway by Chameleon Colorworks.

Man, this is bright!

Final camping this year?

We made it out of town with the camper, perhaps the last time this year.

It was MEA weekend in Minnesota. Girl of the House had no classes Thursday and Friday. Paul and I took off work on Friday so we could all fully enjoy the weekend.

We headed for Fort Ridgely State Park. We had spent a weekend there earlier this year, and thought it would be just right for fall camping.

Fort Ridgely has so many things going for it.

The campground itself is tucked into a little valley along a pretty creek.

On top of the hill, to the west, is Fort Ridgely. It was used in the 1850s, and has some great landmarks and postings describing it in detail.

There's a horse camp on the north end of the park.

Our campsite was on the water, and we could watch the horses crossing the river. It was a great weekend for riding.












Fort Ridgely also has a freshly renovated 9 hole golf course, seen here peeking out among the trees.

Someday, we'll come and golf.








Our morning coffee spot, right on the edge of the campsite. We could sit in our own comfy chairs.

Of course, it was 28 degrees when we woke on Saturday. So we were pretty bundled up...






We did some hiking.














We played lots of cards.

GotH is the RAGE champion!












We had some sweet campfires.













I even got some knitting done.













And when we came home, we had a surprise!

Ben's home for a short fall break.

When we pulled in, he was chopping wood.

And clothed very interestingly, wouldn't you say?
This is what he spent his birthday money on - a Utilikilt. He loves it!
I haven't seen him in anything but the kilt, yet.

Now, he says he needs some mom-knitted kilt hose. Guess I'll check out some patterns...

The six state sweater

If you recall, I started Rogue in February of this year. It's been picked up, knitted, put down, picked up and knitted, put down, etc, etc, etc.

This sweater has been knitted in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Massachusetts. In fact, it's been to Iowa several times, most recently this past weekend.

I have finally reached the hood. I think I'm coming down the home stretch. (Of course, that will leave the seaming up...)




I spun up an ounce of the pretty roving while we were camping this weekend.

Camping always makes me want to get out the spindle.






Last, but not least, my carry around sock.
This is Alpaca Sox yarn, and I'm almost to the heel.

It's good to have a sock to knit while you're sitting in a choir concert. You can knit in the dark.

It's been raining here since I returned home from work. Brightest room in the house is the kitchen - thus the sock is keeping the garden veg warm.