Picture Laden Post

My darling cousin, Ruthie, does the most beautiful work and doesn't charge near what her talent is worth.  Lucky for me, she sends some of these beautiful creations.  I had never seen (in person) any of the fabric doilies but could tell by the pictures how gorgeous they are.  She asked me to choose fabric from a website that she orders from and this is what she made:

I am so thrilled with how this turned out and beautifies my kitchen.  For now, it is on the kitchen table but it may move to the island to more "showcase" it.  The reverse of the doily is a light Christmas pattern - all I have to do is flip it over and announce, "Merry Christmas."

Today I must finish up the housework and bill paying so that I can have time to pack.  I head out very early Tuesday morning for Atlanta so today I must hit the list: check Atlanta weather, list out needs for the fair and self, crawl through the attic to the suitcases.  You know, typical crap for a trip.  I'm looking forward to it since I get there around 11 and will have the rest of the day to myself.  I've mapped out some yarn stores and then when Martha (coworker) arrives we plan on hitting the underground.  There is an entire city underground that includes a mall, restaurants and God knows what else.  I've also been told to hit the Coca-cola museum.  It is on the list.

Here is what is awaiting DH when he wakes:

Matching coffee mugs/saucers!  I found these yesterday at IKEA and I even had to steal the display model to nab the blue one.  Plenty of the red but no blues left.  I hope he likes.  He doesn't normally suck down this much jo but he can pour less than the vessel will hold.

I've been moving along the learning curve of spinning.  No, Ruthie, not exercise spinning - too funny that you'd think this butt would actually attempt that.  I had hand spinning class #2 of 2 yesterday morning.  I like the way this all worked out for me.  I bought a kit in Boerne in 2005 and a man walking around stopped me and gave a 5-minute lesson.  I did a little more spinning after that and then started the pining for a wheel, knowing the speed would vastly improve with a wheel.  I got the wheel and then the hand spinning class started the following week.  Michelle, the teacher, had us wind and wind and wind until I wanted to scream.  That evening I played with the wheel and it all just clicked for me.  My hands realized what they were supposed to be doing.  Class #2 had me spinning frog hair on the spindle - it all just came together for me.  No, I'm not a pro but I have greatly improved.  Wanna see my firsts (not many firsts left for this ol' broad so I now takes pics):

The white stuff in the front were my very firsts from the wheel.  After that I got tired of white and started mixing when I started plying.  They're really tiny balls (huh?) but they're all mine.