Swaps

Saturday Sky
It was a beautiful day and it is hard to imagine that winter will be here next week.

The 2007 Certificate Spinning class was on today. The girls were having a dyeing day. As I was not required, I went to dog obedience class with Chloe (Ern came along to have a look and a laugh)! Chloe found it difficult to concentrate .... "now where is he" I could hear her say !!

SWAPS
In the past I have enjoyed participating in different swaps. This is something that we do because we enjoy it. Most times you receive your parcel from your swap partner and sometimes you don't !! That is the risk you take, especially when participating in an overseas swap.

Over the past few months I have participated in several swaps:-

Aussie Knitters "one skein and a choice of three"
I sent to Frances in Adelaide some dark blue fingerless gloves, handspun wool and a lovely (well I thought so) knitting book.

Last week I received my parcel from Brigite in Townsville. She sent a lovely beanie, but not just a beanie! It was made from using 2 yarns together of Patons Jet (30% alpaca 70% wool) and Moda Vera Butterfly (nylon, merino wool and acrylic). It really is beautiful. Brigite also sent a lovely pair of gloves made from some of the leftover Jet, a baby knitting pattern book and 3 cakes of beautiful handmade soap that she made herself. Brigite is a very talented lady. I will definitely be wearing the beanie and gloves when I travel by public transport into the city this winter.


SP10 Swap
This is a current Swap. I am sending to Chooi wah in Malaysia. I sent her a parcel in April. Apart from handspun wool and aussie souveniers, I also included a felting book and some beautiful handpainted commercial tops which Chooi wah could use to felt. She said that she was pleased with what was sent. Last week, I sent her a parcel which included her May and June gifts (well, it is nearly June!!). I hope she likes the contents of them.

My secret SP10 pal has emailed me saying that my April parcel is on its way, and perhaps it would have been quicker for her to travel and personally deliver it rather than sending it. Well that's snail mail for you .......

One Skein Swap
This was a very interesting swap in April. We had to raid our stash and exchange 100gm of fibre (it could have been anything ..... acrylic, wool etc etc). With the acrylic fibre I received I knitted a LONG LONG sidesway scarf.

I sent my oh so soft fibre to Mitchigan, but as yet I haven't received it back knitted into something really exciting.

Towards the end of the swap there was a lot of flaming on the yahoo group and it was becoming quite unpleasant. Then the yahoo group abruptly ceased.

In General About Swaps
As I said, sometimes you receive and sometimes you don't. But never be disheartened and say that you will never participate again. In future I will gladly participate in swaps. These are friends that we are yet to meet via a swap.

Natural Highs

Maureen from the 2007 Certificate Spinning Class sent this to me. Think about them one at a time before going on to the next one. It Really Does Make You Feel Good!

1. Falling in love

2. Laughing so hard your face hurts

3. A hot shower

4. No lines at the supermarket

5. A special glance

6. Getting mail

7. Taking a drive on a pretty road

8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio

9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside

10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer

11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry)

12. A bubble bath

13. Giggling

14. A good conversation

15 The beach

16. Finding a 20 dollar note in your coat from last winter

17. Laughing at yourself

18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you

19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours

20. Running through sprinklers

21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all

22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful

23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS

25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you

26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep

27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner)

28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones

29. Playing with a new puppy

30. Having someone play with your hair

31. Sweet dreams
32. Hot chocolate

33. Road trips with friends

34. Swinging on swings

35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger

36. Making chocolate chip cookies

37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies

38 Holding hands with someone you care about

39 Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change

40. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you

41. Watching the sunrise. (I like watching the sunset)

42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day

43. Knowing that somebody misses you

44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply

45. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

"If you can no longer cling to the mountain, then celebrate the fall"

The Guild's AGM

This is a photo of our wisteria's autumn leaves and the pods. The sky is grey and we have had rain ..... lovely soaking rain. It is amazing how everything looks so green and alive after a good downpour.

Today was the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Vic Inc AGM. I couldn't go because Ern wasn't well and I didn't want to leave him on his own. Although I have enjoyed the role of Teaching Convenor, I decided not to stand for re-election. The Teaching Committee is like a well oiled machine and this made my position an easy one.

Saturday Sky 12 May

Our first fog for the season .... this photo was taken at 8.30am this morning. Chloe and I went to dog obedience class this afternoon and it was really quite warm - in fact it was a beautiful day once the fog had lifted. Yes, Chloe did well at school and yes, so did I !!!!!

This last week has been hectic - my Mum came down from Wangaratta and stayed for a few days. We were on the go most of the time. I think she went home to recover !!!!

The computer swallowed Grandma

I want to share this email, that a friend sent me ......

The computer swallowed Grandma.
Yes, honestly it's true.
She pressed "control" and "enter"
And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely,
The thought just makes me squirm.
She must have caught a virus
Or eaten by a worm.

I've searched through the recycle bin
And files of every kind;
I've even used the internet.
But nothing did I find.

In desperation, I asked Jeeves
My searches to refine.
The reply from him was negative,
Not a thing was found "online",

So, if inside your "box",
My Grandma you should see
Please "Copy, Scan and Paste" her "
And send her back to me! '

Saturday Sky 5 May

I am actually posting my Saturday Sky photo on Saturday!!! With such a threatening sky you'd think that we would have such a wet day ...... but no ..... hopefully tonight it will rain!!

Last Saturday's Sky

To all those lovely people who read my blog I sincerely apologize for not being so chatty lately. I don't know why I haven't been posting. I have been feeling a fit down lately, however, today is a new day and I am back !!!!

This photo showed the medical helecopter hovering above our house. It stayed for quite some time and then flew away. No one in our neighbourhood knew why it was there. It certainly wasn't there for us.

So what have I been doing lately? Spinning, knitting ....... certainly not housework!!!

I participated in the Aussie Knitters Yahoo Group exchange, sending my package to Frances last Thursday. Frances has posted on their site that she has received it.

Last Thursday I also sent my April SP10 package to my secret pal in Malaysia. I hope she will like what I sent her. Her May parcel will be sent probably next week.

Ahhhhh, I am feeling better now that I have posted something to my blog. Perhaps I was just suffering blogging withdrawal symptoms !!!