Stress Reaction

I keep seeing these gorgeous photos, and reference to Eye Candy Friday, and I just have to play along.

This plant was a gift from one of the local businesses when we opened the clinic. Apparently they flower once in a lifetime.

A little past due, but too pretty not to share. My going away cake from my old job.

Alpaca balls!

My new favorite fiber to spin (based, of course, on all of my vast experience)! Long staple. Super soft. Just lovely!

The weekend was fabulously relaxing. I didn't really even go near the computer, so I thought I would combine the Friday Eye Candy and Saturday Sky posts in one weekend roundup.

This weekend heralded the grand opening of my new home away from home! Super Target!! (This would be the Eye Candy part)!

Makes me so happy. While they don't sell yarn, they do sell just about everything else. And higher end stuff too! Fancy dark chocolate, and a whole row of serve yourself Jelly Belly jellybeans.! (Apparently I am stuck in snack mode)!

Saturday evening the hubby and I packed some chairs and headed down to the park for a little Shakespeare in the Park, performed by the local community theater. The weather was fabulous. Warm light breezes, no bugs. (This would be the Saturday Sky part).

I knit on the TT socks until it was too dark to see, then, inspired by Romeo and Juliet, went home and put Shakespeare In Love in the DVD player and knit some more. Alas, no photos. I am just about ready to turn the heels, and since I am knitting them both at once on two circular needles, they should be finished up well before the deadline.

I've also just about finished spinning the alpaca and should be ready to ply the two bobbins either tonight or tomorrow. I'll be sorry to see the end of this, since it is the only alpaca in my fiber stash. Good excuse to shop, I'm thinking. Any of you spinners have a must try fiber or fiber seller, please leave me a comment.

Finally, I put in some reading time. I'm about half way through The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. It's funny how attitudes change as we go through life. Never, when I was back in high school, would I have thought that I would enjoy reading history, and choose to read it for pleasure. But this book fascinates me. It is very well written and really brings to vivid imagination the Tudor court. I have The Children of Henry VIII and The Life of Elizabeth I to read as well. By then I should have my fill of the Tudor dynasty.

This may be a tad self indulgent, but in my humble opinion, this is the best eye candy!

My own handspun!

This is 250 yards of 2-ply lace weight (20 wpi) 100% alpaca from Spunky Eclectic. I spun it on Martha, my new Schacht Matchless double treadle spinning wheel. The colorway is Rocky Mountain High.

I am in love! Both with the wheel, and the alpaca. Must have more!!!

It's Indian Summer here in Oklahoma. The commute, particularly in the mornings, has been breathtakingly beautiful. I hope to get some pictures soon, but in the mean time I'll leave you with this.

Alternately titled: I've Been Playing With My Food

I know I remember my mother telling me not to play with my food, as I'm sure yours has done. But in this case, I believe an exception to the rule is warranted. Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book says that not only should I play with my food, but also that doing so will help me master Adobe Photoshop. Maybe, maybe not. But I will say that it was fun. My little Chef man was created from these raw ingredients.

I could show you another twenty rows of the TT socks that have become the bane of my existence, my nemesis, and my burden to bear. But it is, after all, just another twenty rows of a pair of socks. Looks pretty much like the previous twenty rows of the same pair of socks. Getting out the camera hardly seems worth the effort.

I don't know why I have this attitude towards these socks. The pattern is pretty, the yarn is lovely, and the colors are delish. My pal is certainly worthy. Nonetheless, I will be so glad when they are done. This weekend, to be sure. Then wrapped up and off to their intended!

There's wind sweeping down the plains. If you listen hard you can hear it. It's native America. And a great place to raise children.

There's no place like home.

We are in mourning Chez Stress Reaction. The bum has recovered. The dignity is restored. The beloved Nikon remains mortally wounded.

I took this photo one day while playing with my digital friend. I love the subtle shading of the handcrafted chimes.

And a taste of things to come:

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Alternately titled: A Few of My Favorite Things.

Lolly always links to such fun stuff. It was one of her links that showed me how to post pictures of my finished items to the pattern book it came from on Amazon. And now she has a link to this fun page on her Flickr account. (Though through sheer generosity of spirit, I'm giving it to you here. Heh.)

I just love these! Simplicity of design would say that this is overkill. One or at most two should be enough. But I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that I tried this with almost every picture in my Flickr account and pared it down to these particular favorites. (And be warned that facial features as well as fingers and hands come out looking a little...well...disturbing)!

Some Chihuly Glass.

Some of my finished projects.

One of my favorite subjects to photograph, or look at, or grow, or....

In my humble opinion, the florals are the best. The patterns of nature. Unadorned.