Back in the Saddle Again...I Think

Well, I sent off a novel to an agent. With luck it doesn't suck too bad.

Oh, I don't know. I always feel like my book is the best thing since sliced bread at the very end, and then as soon as it's in the mail, I feel like it sucks dead canaries. In other words, I'm not objective about the quality.

But sending that off means I can concentrate on my novella, which is due soon. I'm enjoying writing the novella, but I usually do. I've decided to write it in first person, as if the characters were writing in their journals. It's a departure for me. I've only written in first person point of view once, and that was with my first book.

I'd work on the novella in the evening, too, but the evenings are spent in doing taxes. Ugh. Gotta get those done ASAP.

The Alien Child's Band

Well, the Alien Child has put a band together (I believe they got together in January--a really short time!), and they are now one of eight semifinalists in the Battle of the Bands competition sponsored by Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. The judging is done by both professional musicians and the audience.

He doesn't like the recording quality of the music posted on the band's MySpace page, but it does at least show what his band's created...which I think is pretty good. The singer is Kyle, who is the Alien Child's next door neighbor and friend, and they have been collaborating on songs. "Yellow Ribbon" is Kyle's lyrical and musical composition. As time goes on, I expect they'll put more music up on their MySpace page.

Oh, and if you go there and want to post something on their page, DON'T say I sent you, because he doesn't want people to think that the band is okay with anything less than a good recording. But that's all they could pull together in a short time. It still got them into the semifinals of the competition, so that says something.

But seriously, bands and writers need to market themselves.

So if you're anywhere near Pullman, Washington on April 10, 2009 (concert begins at 7 pm), go to the Compton Union Building on the campus of Washington State University and vote for your favorite band (I hope it's the United State of Mind). :-)

My Mom

I have to boast about my mom: She won one of the Pierce County Outstanding Volunteer Achievement awards for 2009! I went to the award ceremony brunch on Saturday 3/21, and I’m so proud! Mom was up there on stage and shook hands with the governor and everything. She's a Clothing and Textiles Advisor, and has helped staff and coordinate the Sew Expo in Puyallup, WA, as well as led volunteer efforts in her home town and in Tacoma. She looks younger than her age--she's in her late 70's--which all goes to show that volunteering keeps you looking young. :-)

The ceremony is so inspiring. In these days when it’s so easy to be cynical about the world and about people, it’s wonderful to see all these people up on stage and in the audience who devote hundreds to thousands hours to helping others and the community, from people who make hats for the homeless to dentists who volunteer hours at the coroner’s office to match dental records to the deceased so that families can find closure, to Master Gardeners to child advocate workers. It’s fantastic. People of all ages, too, from young adults and teenagers to very elderly people with walkers. One young man up for an award blushed the whole time he was up on stage accepting his award–so sweet!

It was a totally non-stress event (for me, anyway). Mom cried a little when she got the award–a certificate and beautiful hand-made glass plate. This the second time she’s won an award. The last time was the 2000 Volunteer of the Year award.

They need more door prizes, though. I’m going to put together a basket for next year’s ceremony. My mom is invited every year and she gives out tickets to family, so I might be going next year, too.

Knitted result

Well, this is the knitted result of the yarn I hand-dyed and hand-spun. I'm very pleased with it. The colors blend rather nicely one to another, and are kind of self-striping. That's the result of the Navajo three-ply method of plying I did with it. The swatch was knitted with U.S. size 2 (3 mm) knitting needles, the size you'd use for socks. So, I guess I have indeed created some sock yarn!

I did try to spin it very fine, but I think I need a bit more twist than I had in this yarn. It's still very sturdy, though the ply is loose enough that if you're not careful, it's possible to pick up a strand instead of the whole ply. It worked out to about 6 1/2 stitches to the inch, but I tend to knit loosely rather than tightly.

All this motivates me to dye some more roving, which I've done, and I'm working on spinning up that one now. It's in shades of blue and green, with slight touches of yellow.

The resulting yarn

Well, this is the yarn that resulted from the roving I dyed. I rather like it, even though I didn't know what it'd end up looking like. It's fingering weight, probably can use a size 2 to 3 U.S. knitting needle, and I believe I have enough (2 skeins) to make a pair of socks with it. I'll have to knit a swatch to see what it looks like when knitted up.

The next one is a close-up. It's a 3-ply yarn, made of Bluefaced Leicester wool, quite soft. I used the Navajo 3-ply method, which I find is a bit faster than using three spools.

Crockpot dyeing

So, here's a picture of my roving that I dyed using Maple's (Alpaca Granny) crockpot dyeing method. They're primary colors, but I like it! I've spun with it already, and have two skeins. I'll post pictures of the yarn next.

Posting with my iPod Touch

Did I ever mention that I have an iPod touch? I do and I absolutely love it. Now I've found that I can post to my blog with it! So now I'm trying it out. I guess I'll find out how it looks once I get back to my computer.