Wow, I have been one lazy bum these past few days. I think my body had finally gotten used to being 12.5 hours off from PDT and coming back my mind just gave up on me and said "Forget it, you can just sleep ALL the time, for all I care." We went out for a really nice dinner on Friday night and caught some bands and clubs downtown, but it was an act of pure will power to stay awake. However, I wasn't a complete and utter bump on a log. El Matchador and I enjoyed a sweet sweet reunion.
The first thing I did was to finish plying my 4 ounces of Alpaca in the Iris colorway. There are about 315 yards of DK-ish weight 2-ply.
It was actually nice to start off with something as mindless as plying.
Once all my alpaca off the niddy noddy and hanging out to dry, I broke into some of my Merino/Silk in colorway Catalina.
Both fibers are from Janel's store
This skein is 2 ounces and is a 3 ply, using the Navajo plying method. There are about 190 yards and it's, more or less, worsted weight. I love this method of plying, but man am I good at getting it messed up. I had a few "ugly moments" in this skein. Let us not speak of it again.
I, of course, have more fiber on the wheel right now. I'll have to show you that some other time.
We did manage to get out of the house yesterday, to give Panda a proper run around the park. Our hope had been to go to the beach, but the weather, being Portland an all, wasn't quite suitable for such endeavors. This is not to say that it wasn't beautiful out, though. After 5 years in LA, I sort of forgot how beautiful drizzly autumn days could be.
We swung by Leo's office and I snapped pictures of the ducks in the little river near the parking lot.
And all around us, the trees were turning.
The overcast skies really make the colors pop by comparison.
With an adventurous spirit and a little luck, we even found a nice little park to let the girl run around.
It had an apple tree just overflowing with ripe fruit
And lovely little roses giving their last blooms before winter.
I love that Portland offers some of the vivid colors of autumn that I remember from New Hampshire, but offers mild enough weather to sustain roses. Talk about the best of all worlds!
Wow, those trees are AMAZING! What vivid colors! That sounds like a really nice time.
I am scared of plying.
Oh, I am so jealous. I love Oregon weather and I hate, hate, hate Los Angeles weather.
Your spinning looks lovely. I particularly love the Iris colors in that Alpaca. There's a trick to Navajo plying which is to make the chain loops first and then allow the twist to travel into the loops. That way you don't get ahead of yourself with the twisting before the loops are fully made which sometimes happens and then you get that little extra thread that doesn't get into the ply properly. It's slower to make the chain first, then twist, but until you get really adept at the flying fingers (which I'm not - it always takes me a while to get into the rhythm of np before I can get it looking good), it gives you the nicest yarn from navajo ply in my opinion. I'm sure that's clear as mud! LOL.
Welcome back. You've been one busy lady! You yarn is awesome! And thanks for sharing the scenery, just love it!
We've got another month for the roses, at least that's my experience. It's amazing how long they keep blooming here. Also, even when it's raining in Portland/Eugene and the rest of the Valley, it's often gorgeous on the coast. At one point last November it was cold and grey in Eugene and 70+ degrees and sunny in Newport. It's an interesting state, weather-wise.
We've got another month for the roses, at least that's my experience. It's amazing how long they keep blooming here. Also, even when it's raining in Portland/Eugene and the rest of the Valley, it's often gorgeous on the coast. At one point last November it was cold and grey in Eugene and 70+ degrees and sunny in Newport. It's an interesting state, weather-wise.
Good to be home isn't it?
Your spinning looks wonderful! Though I'm trying to figure out how you got 315 yards of DK weight yarn out of 4oz and I got 250 yards of lace weight out of 4oz. I'm going to have to think on that awhile...
Great photos! Love that tree!
[welcome home, by the way]
Will you ever get sick of fall trees? I know I won't. They bowl me over every year!
Oh those trees look stunning. We are having very similar weather here in BC - 45 min from Vancouver - it is a gorgeous Fall.
Glad you got back in time to enjoy it.
I'd love to see the red on that tree as a yarn. It would make for a beautiful colorway. Oregon fall looks gentle - right now, NYC fall is brisk and rainy.
The alpaca looks great! I still haven't tried navajo plying - but soon. The fall colors and little ducks are really picturesque. I'm glad that you got to enjoy a cozy weekend with Leo and Panda. The rest of us will see you soon!
xox,
Welcome back! Loving your Fall photos, and your yarn looks beautiful!