Camel is THE new fiber….

Quick update:  I just finished spinning up the 4 oz. of camel/merino that I bought at the fiber festival (I really wish I purchased a LOT more of it) and I’m in love with both the fiber itself and the yarn it produced.  The fiber was so fine and so easy to spin and the resulting yarn is soft, fluffy and just plain yummy!!!  I ended up leaving it as singles to get the most yardage out of it.  I got just over 210 yards and plan to make a pair of fingerless mitts for myself.

On the personal front:  Things have been a little bit stressed here at Casa Dwire.  I’m still cutting down the Methadone a little at a time and that makes me feel good (warning: if you ever have back/pain issues, DON’T let your doctor talk you into methadone for pain unless it’s the very last resort…I mean after trying surgery and any/all other options) to be getting back to myself, but the withdrawl is still sucking ass in a big way.  I wanted to get so much more involved in life right after finishing the Zoloft (another one I strongly warn against) but the withdrawl from the Methadone makes that difficult to say the least.  I’m getting there, though.  I have an appointment with Dr. M on Thursday and TJ and I are going to talk to her about my options for making this process easier without making it drag on for months.  I know I can’t go cold turkey, but I want this over, ASAP.  I’m focusing on wanting another baby when it gets tough and I want to give up and I have to admit that since I’ve cut down the dose, my sex drive is up a bit.  I keep reading that it will continue to rise as the methadone gets out of system.  I’m certainly hoping so and I KNOW TJ is praying for it. LOL  See, I still have my sense of humor in this difficult time.  Both knitting and spinning are helping me through this time (spinning especially b/c it doesn’t require as much concentration).  I’m working on the two scarf projects for X-mas gifts and the cross stitch pattern that I’m finishing for Uncle Dave’s family (it was started by Dave’s wife Charlotte, who passed away from cancer last February.  What an absolute honor it was that they asked me to finish it).   I’m also doing more spindle spinning and trying out new fibers on the wheel whenever I can.  All in all, I’m surviving if not quite “living” yet.  I’ll get there, though, I know I will!!!

Withdrawl sucks

So pretty much anyone that knows me well knows about my back problems over that last 4 years and that I’ve been on pain meds. ever since.  I decided that it was time to live life without the constant narcotic haze and the apathy and lack of desire to do anything that comes with it.  My doctor didn’t feel like it was a good time to start weaning me b/c it took so long to get my meds just right and to make me able to function without pain and take care of Jacob.  So, being the very smart individual that I tend to be, I decided about a month ago that I was going to stop taking them on my own.  It’s been a long and painful (at times) road getting through the withdrawl that comes with years of taking strong narcotics – I always thought it would be easier somehow b/c of I wasn’t taking them for fun, rather for a genuine medical need and it was perscribed for me.  Not so!!!  I’m almost done now, but it’s sucking more than ever at this stage.  I do have some really good days as well, though.  I feel like I’m starting to get emotions and drive back and that can be good or bad depending.  For example, I just spent fifteen minutes crying about the Worthless song on The Brave Little Toaster movie that Jake was watching.  Silly, huh? 

Yarn Swaps and Crazy Life

Again it’s been months since I’ve been able to post.  I’ve had computer problems – another new laptop after the old new one (strange words usage) died on me.

I’ve joined my first yarn swap and I can’t wait to get started on it.  So here’s my questionaire:

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft?    ***I both knit and crochet, but I tend to knit more often.  I’ve been crocheting for about 20 years and knitting for about 3.***
2. Do you spin? What type of spinning do you do?  ***Spinning is my latest fiber related passion.  I got my first wheel for mother’s day and I spend as much time as I can playing with her.***
3. Are there any other crafts that you participate in?  ***I also dye both yarn and fiber***
4. What are your favorite yarns/fibers?  ***I’m a big fan of bamboo yarns and fine merinos.  For spinning I love baby camel as well as Merino/Tencel blends.  I’ll pretty much spin anything I can get…LOL***
5. What are your LEAST favorite yarns/fibers?  ***Not a fan of novelty yarns, nor do I particularly care for corridale or columbia fibers***
6. Are there any types/brands of yarn that you are dying to work with but haven’t gotten a chance?  ***I’ve always wanted to try Artyarns Regal silk and/or the beaded silk.  As for fibers, I’m always looking to try spinning fibers I haven’t tried yet.  Llama, cashmere, yak, suri alpaca are examples.  BFL is another fiber I’m anxious to try that I haven’t yet.***
7. What are your favorite types of projects to knit/crochet?  ***I’ve been knitting a lot of shawls and fingerless gloves as of late.  I’m anxious to try knitting my first garment at this point, a simple sweater or cardigan, perhaps.***
8. What are you currently working on? Anything you plan to start this autumn?  ***Currently, I’m finishing up the Ravelympics:  The Storm Water Scarf in Sea Silk (what an amazing yarn, btw).  I also have the Tidal Wave Scarf on the needles in Silk Twist (another amazing yarn).  Both of these are Chrstimas gifts for family this year.  This fall I plan to try the Evangeline sweater from White Lie Designs – it’s the next thing on the my to buy pattern list.***
9. What is your favorite FO? (Please, post a picture if you would like.) ***My favorite F.O. is the Zig Zag Moebius scarf that I made for my MIL last Christmas.  I don’t currently have a picture, but will try to get one of it to post.***
10. What is your oldest UFO?  ***My oldest UFO would have to be the blue jean shawl that was supposed to be a Christmas gift last year but never got finished.  I’ve also got some fairly old scarf and hat patterns that I lost interest in.***
11. Are their any knitting/crochet techniques that you would like to learn? ***I’m anxious to get better at sock knitting, have several book on the subject.  I’d also like to learn more sophisticated lace techniques in knitting***
12. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?  ***I’m a very beginning sock knitter.  Foot measurments to follow as I’m not near the knitting bag at the moment, so no tape measure at the moment.  My shoe size is 8.5 – 9, though. ***
13. Do you have a yarn winder and/or a swift?  ***I have neither.  I tend to wind hanks to skeins using my knees and a nostepine.***
14. Where/how to you keep you needles/hooks?  ***I use the case that came with my Knit Picks Harmony Options needles.***
15. Do you collect anything?  ***I collect native american pottery.  I got my first one from on a trip to Tucson, AZ a few years ago and have been obsessed with the bowls and their colors ever since.  I also collect Zuni fetishes, the bears are my favorites.***
16. What is your favorite type of music? Are you MP3 ready?  ***I’m pretty musically diverse.  I guess if I had to pick one genre it would be country.  I’m also a rabid listener of 80’s music – I guess that probably rivals the country music love.  I am MP3 ready, sort of.  My Ipod was recently stolen from my car, but I have plans to replace it as soon as I can, though.***
17. Do you like sweets? What are your favorites?  ***I’m not a huge fan of sweets, but I do allow myself to give in to the call of Godiva every once in awhile…:)***
18. What is your living situation like? Any pets? Children?  ***We are in the process of moving to an apartment right now while we look for our “dream house”.  I have a four year old son, 3 cats and we are getting the little one a puppy for Christmas this year.***
19. Are you allergic to anything?  ***No allergies other than some random hayfever.***
20. Do you have an online wish list (Amazon, Etsy, Loopy Ewe, etc.)? Please include links for your swap pal.  ***I do not, but have been meaning to set up a Loopy Ewe list.  Will post the link when it’s done in a subsequent post.***
21. Are you having a birthday during this swap?  ***No, my birthday just passed last week.***
22. What is your Ravelry ID?  ***shannwa***

There we go.  All the information you could want about me.  I’m happy, though, to share anything else that a swap partner might be interested in knowing.  I’m really excited about this swap and can’t wait to spoil the heck out of someone.  Yay, an excuse to buy fibery goodness.  LOL