November 09, 2004
Calling in Happy
I once worked with a woman who was from Phoenix, Arizona. She met and married her husband while working there at her previous job. When her husband resigned, "They" automatically assumed that she was resigning as well, and posted her job description along with his. When she heard about this, she was furious. She couldn't bring herself to go in to work the next day, so she called up the receptionist and told her that she would not be there. "Are you sick?" asked the receptionist. "No, I'm mad. Tell them I called in Mad for the day."
Well, who can blame her?
Last night was a Ferals meeting. But you know what? I was sitting in front of a cozy fireplace spinning contentedly on my Targhee, relaxing after a leaf-raking session. Sherlock and Ginger were spread out on the carpet fast asleep; Jojo was on the back of the futon looking over my shoulder.
I thought of leaving this little scene, driving 40 minutes and back in the dark, trying to see to knit in the dim light of that particular food court, rushing around to find something fair-isle that I wanted to knit... did I really want to leave my domestic bliss for that? No. I decided to "call in" Happy. Sorry, folks, I'm just too Happy to get there tonight. There will be a next time, and Happiness in a Glitchbane is a rare thing, it must be savored, encouraged and protected.
The day's accomplishments included 3-plying the full bobbin of BFL, which looks to be a nice worsted weight. It is sproingy and soft and I am pleased.
The afore-mentioned Targhee was given to me by my friend Sandy more than a year ago. I tried spinning it, but then wisely put it in the closet. In the meantime, my spinning skills have improved immensely. After spinning so much natural colored fiber, I needed some pizzaz. The Targhee in its roving form is awfully ugly. Spotted, blotchy and weird, one wonders why it wasn't just given a decent burial. But when spun, these blotches turn into wonderful color gradations.
I spun up a length and then Navajo-plied it, yielding a beautiful yarn that I couldn't resist making some dominos with. They're like snowflakes, each a different combination of color but beautiful, and against each other quite striking. It reminds me of Happiness.
Here's hoping that you all have to call in Happy today!
I, for one, wish you had been there, but I am also amazed that you come when you do, since that's a heck of a drive!
It was a particulary nice Ferals, dunno why. Cozy, good company, good karma, fun projects, lots of chatting. Glad for you, though, that you were able to call in Happy. You go, girl!
Um, what happened with the lady who called in Mad? You can't just stop the story there!
Posted by: Ryan on November 9, 2004 10:00 AMWell, I don't know-- I guess she went back to work the following day and everything was straightened out! That's all I know, except that they moved several months later to this neck of the woods.
I look forward to seeing you (and everyone who can come!) at the soiree on the 20th!
Posted by: Sheila on November 9, 2004 10:09 AMCalling in happy, I like that. Your description of knitting/spinning happiness is very seductive.
But I'm coming to the Ferals meeting on December 6th, so you'd better be there! And write me about coffee, OK?
Now that I'm one week into spinning, I'm in awe of your skein. Just keep practicing is my mantra...
Posted by: Janine on November 9, 2004 10:22 AMI am so impressed by your spinning. The yarn looks beautiful! I love getting roving like that. You never know exactly how it will turn out. It's a wonderful process:)
Posted by: Deb on November 9, 2004 10:29 AMI guess I called in too - but it was more like "Tired and Wanting to Go Home". I will be at the Soiree and also at Ferals on the 29th when we get to sit in our glassed-off area again.
I am also spinning the same "black" BFL fiber. I don't know why they call it that as it is not black at all. I have a bunch of singles but haven't plied yet. I love the crimp and spring in the fiber itself.
I also have some handpainted Targhee roving I bought a year ago in Port Townsend. Yours is coming out Bee-yoo-tiful! How are you spinning it? Worsted, I presume? Did you split the roving and predraft? Are you navajo plying to keep the colors together or are you letting them mix up when you ply?
Posted by: Katie on November 9, 2004 12:04 PMyour spinning, as with all your work is breathtaking. someday i am going to have to learn to navajo ply, but right now i am still trying to figure out andean plying without creating a massive tangle! glad you enjoyed your day of happiness, they truly are worth savoring.
Posted by: marti on November 9, 2004 12:35 PMKatie, the Targhee that I have is fairly compacted, so I had no choice but to split the roving. I take about an inch strip and tear it down about a yard and then spin back and forth over the top of it so that I spin it evenly down. I'm spinning a thin worsted (smoothed) ply but it isn't really tightly twisted. I probably pull about 1/8" spread of fibers in each draw. In fact, the fiber is so crimpy that it hardly looks twisted at all, but when you pull it back on itself it twists like it is supposed to.
Then I'm Navajo plying to maintain the color purity rather than having it barber pole. I end up with a nice round 3-ply that is dense but soft, sort of spongey. I got about 125 yards per ounce, which is a good fingering/sport weight.
I think Sandy got this in Sequim, and I've been hankering to go there ever since!
Posted by: Sheila on November 9, 2004 12:54 PMI'm glad you called in Happy my dear - but any chance I could get to see you Friday or Saturday this week?
Posted by: Angela on November 9, 2004 05:02 PMBless your dear heart, Sheila! Calling in Happy is an inspired concept. Remember back in the day when cops and air traffic controllers would have job-actions in which everyone called out sick? What a nice thing to have a Happy-out. I'll be hoping.
Oh! Re: the intact toys? We only photograph the ones that haven't been shredded. We have plenty of stuffed toy parts and pieces here.
Posted by: Lisa, Mike, Jack, Della on November 9, 2004 07:36 PM