the secret sheep pajamas

I'm not doing a spin-along, as I'm a "nonconformist" and not a joiner, right? (whatever, the last post's quiz was fun fluff!) Lately I've been spinning a lot. Spinning, especially if it's a well-processed fiber, spun long draw, can be meditative and therapeutic. It calms me down while I worry...now that I'm having a break from book travel, I can worry at home! When I'm doing this kind of spinning, I don't need bright colors or fancy textures. In the last week, I've averaged a bobbin every day or two. Each ball here is probably about 3-4 oz of wool...destined to be a 2 ply worsted weight. This is a fine, mixed breed fleece I got last fall at the Tennessee State Fleece Auction. I love this fleece and I'll be sad to see it finished, but some day, it will make a lovely sweater. I'm designing a sweater for the book out of some luscious organic cotton and I can imagine this wool would be an interesting substitute if I were to make this again someday.

The professor is finally home again...after nearly 3 weeks of travel to conferences. His plane landed after midnight and he didn't arrive back home until 2:30 AM. Of course, the dogs and I got up and say hello. We were tired the next day. So tired that when I got up from the office futon, sample knitting in hand, I discovered this when I came back. My dogs suffer so, don't they?

The professor celebrated his return by offering me this gift...he bought it while at his conference. Doesn't everyone need another piece of clothing with sheep on it? I do, for sure. Almost all my pajamas have sheep on them. The other pairs? dogs. I can't help myself. I suspect this trend towards matching animal pajamas is encouraged by the professor because of my old habit. Before we were married, I slept in horribly clashing bright t-shirts, shorts, or sweatclothes. I thought it was fun--and the thing is-- No One Can See You in the dark!! Also, when you live by yourself? And you go to sleep? You can't see either! 'cause your eyes are CLOSED! Purple, RED and Pink? Neon Green, anyone? I think the professor sleeps with his eyes open, because shortly after we were married, he started buying me matching sheep pajamas. hint hint.

Last night we went out to a new town attraction, Anna's Greek Restaurant. It tasted just like being in Greece, except it was air conditioned! The professor knows I'm beginning to long for a vacation...and we can't take one while I'm working on the book. (you know, we lack time and money at the moment.) So instead, we had fabulous Greek food and talked about our trip to Crete last year. Remember Crete? (click there and you can replay an amazing vacation. hmmm.)

Other excitements include buying our very own ram lamb. That is, after he's visited the butcher for a while. We're buying a friend's lamb and stocking the freezer. It's hard to buy lamb at the grocery store here, and this is a local animal. It's our chance to eat meat sustainably. I just hope I don't get any upsetting nightmares while wearing the sheep pajamas... or while making kofte.