Easily Amused!

So my parents came to pick up kiddo and take him shopping for hubby and me for Christmas. A secret shopping trip that they have been wanting to do since last year, just waiting until he was a bit older. He loves hanging out with them and was so excited from the moment I told him. There aren't many things he likes to do without me, but an outing with Grammy and Grandpa was absolutely up his alley! He was dressed and ready to go about two hours before they were even supposed to arrive and for a 4 year old, that is EARLY! I planned on shopping solo for a shirt for our annual family photos (which we decided we would all wear blue and I didn't have a pretty blue top) and have a minute to try some things on. I stroll into a shop in the mall..... there they are! Of course, out of all the gin joints right? I had a quick success and headed out so they could carry on with top secret shopping.

I asked kiddo what he got for us, knowing he had been prompted to say "You have to wait until Christmas!" and that is what he said. Then later we were hanging out on the sofa and a Zales commercial came on. He was quiet and then he says "I got you the most beautiful earrings!" I pretended not to hear because instantly he realized he wasn't supposed to say anything. I am willing to bet they are not from Zales, but based on the earrings he "won" for me out of a vending machine, I imagine they are quite sparkly. He digs the sparkly stuff. I dig him.

This afternoon was about mid to high 70s. The sky looked all mysterious like it wasn't sure what it was supposed to do. Windy gusts and fast moving clouds rolled in in the evening hours. The temperature was steadily dropping. I heard there was a chance for snow but this is Texas, I mean come on now. It doesn't snow here.

First it was sleet, then it turned to the fluffy white goodness!

My list just gets longer and longer every day!

Today is Thanksgiving!

I will tell you what, it has been quite a year since the last one. It seems like my list just get longer and longer everyday, the things I am thankful for. My family and friends, my goofy son, my great neighbors, the people I meet in passing and the inspiration and hope that I receive from all of them. My "just the right size" house on my cute little street, the wacky Texas weather, the small town I live in that has ever expanding resources and the beautiful openness and rolling hills that surrounds it. I could go on and on and on...

I take a moment every day to appreciate the beautiful life I get to live. Today on Thanksgiving, it seems so amplified. Maybe because so many people who normally may not take that moment every day, well... they are today. It fills the air with a sense of hope and wonder. We are all very lucky to have the opportunities and experiences that we do. Sometimes, in the midst of everything, it doesn't seem so lucky for some folks. I can tell you this though, whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever has been placed or thrown in front of you, you are exactly where you are supposed to be. There is good in everything. Sometimes we have to dig a bit deeper, sometimes we realize it later, sometimes the things we have hoped and planned for manifest...but there are things to be thankful for no matter what.

So may your list get longer and longer! Happy Thanksgiving!

Black Friday Sale and Hello!

Hello everybody! I just wanted to pop in and let y'all know I will be having a big sale this weekend in my Etsy shop! Looking forward to answering questions and packing up orders! If anyone would like to receive my Newsletter, just email me at simplytwistedyarn@gmail.com and I will sign you up!

Two Seasons, Bunnies and Cabernet

Living here in Texas, it's almost like we just have two seasons. Summer and Winter. Seems like each one of them is just long enough to forget how the other is. We had a cold front blow through and stick around for a few days. I like the cold weather, the cozy clothes and the snuggle up and stay in factor of it. The leaves are blowing off of the trees. The deer are running around wildly. I can smell my neighbor's fireplace. All in all a good start to the holiday season!

Currently I am spinning some German Angora bunny fur. It came to me in fluffery bits so I am having to hand card it. There is something kind of Zen about the repetitive motion. I do wish I had a larger pair, but these work just fine. I was surprised how well and even it is coming out for being hand carded.

The last Angora I worked with was wild and unruly. In the beginning I tried to make it consistent but about 3 yards in and I declared "May the fluffers stay fluffy!" and spun it like it wanted to be spun. It ended up looking really neat with big, soft, thick......blobs? here and there. I have just a bit of gorgeous cashmere left. It is more of a creamy white and the angora is pure white. I was thinking of plying the two together for the softest most buttery fabulousness ever.

Did you know bunny fur is 8 times as warm as wool? Interesting huh...

Here is a photo of the Angora in progress ~

Pretty isn't it?

Tonight is chilly and I have to stay up to get the last bit of laundry done. I had a major decision earlier between hot tea and some Cabernet. The Cabernet won. Seems like a cozy thing to have on a blustery night. So cheers!

OH! I recently celebrated my 200th sale on Etsy! When I first started and wasn't sure how I was going to do, I set a goal first of 45 sales. I put a note on my vision board. This was back in February. I hit that goal and when I noticed my little note on the board, I was already at 52 sales. I took it down and made a new one for 65. Between spinning, kiddo and life, I hadn't glanced up there for a while. Once I did, I was right at 100 sales. I started to get a new slip of paper to write my goal on, then I had a better idea. So I grabbed my pen and drew a "1" in front of the 65! So obviously with my 200th sale just passed, I needed a new goal. I made a "2" out of the "1" and have been working hard to keep my shop stocked! I am looking forward to folks holiday shopping on Etsy. This will be my first holiday season actually selling.

Alright, laundry, bunny fur and another glass of wine!

Brrrrrrr.......

Oh my goodness.

It is very, very cold here.

That is all for now..... until the coffee takes effect and my hands thaw.

Enjoy this woolen treat below, feel free to make me some mittens!

HALLOWEEN

We had a bit of a pumpkin carving party here the hubby, kiddo and me. Of course I was recruited to scrape all of the funky goo from within. Eww. Meanwhile they chose some designs for them. Hubby chose a Dodge Challenger, you know, because he isn't surrounded by Dodge all day or anything. Kiddo chose the one with the most lines and cuts.... I mean the creepy surgeon. I think they turned out pretty cool though! I wasn't sure about the Challenger until it was lit and the lights were off. Kiddo thinks it looks like Lightening McQueen, I kind of agree!

Please feel free to leave your comments! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful Things...

The weather has been absolutely perfect here. It has been in the 70's and breezy, slightly overcast, a dream! When we first moved into our house about 5 years ago, all of the windows were painted shut. It was such a shame because they are the big kind of windows and there are so many. I remember when kiddo was just a little pile of baby in his playpen, I had the grand idea. I was going to pry them all open! Well about 40 minutes later (about 5 hours less time than I thought it was going to take) they were all able to open! It is so amazing to have such a great cross wind through the house. It is one of those things that just makes you happy. To not have the hum of the air conditioner, just he sound of the outside getting a chance to sneak in. I think it is also living in Texas. You know most of the time it is extremely hot, then it switches to extremely cold. There aren't many in between days. I absolutely appreciate the in between days though!

I have been wanting to experiment with some different fibers lately. Two of the ones I wanted to try I ran across today so I ordered them. I found a hemp and also a banana fiber. All of the banana fiber yarn I see is handspun already, it is just available to dye. I came across some actual loose fiber so I snatched it up! I am wondering if the hemp is going to be similar to the cotton. Anyway, looking forward to working with both! They are both undyed and just the natural color so I will have to dye them first, or maybe not, we'll see.

I finally ordered some Firestar and let me tell you, it is so fun and so sparkly! At first I had a hard time drafting it but then I kind of got in the groove and it adds such a neat dimension.

I don't think I have mentioned before how much fun it is to be a part of Etsy. I absolutely love being able to connect with people from all over the world. So far I have sent to many of the United States of America, Finland, Scotland, Portugal, Madrid, Australia, Canada and I have a customer that informed me that some of the yarn she bought was going to be travelling with her to Namibia Africa! I need to get a big wall map of the world so I can start putting pins to the places I have sent to. It would also be fun for the kiddo I am sure. Not the pin part, LOL, the map part.

Okay so this perhaps is my most random post ever. Sometimes I am just not sure what to write here! I ran into a lovely lady I know today at the store who mentioned that she had not seen me keeping up with my blog lately. So thank you for getting me back in here! I often forget how much fun it is to collect my thoughts here.

Until next time!