He just chokes me up.

Puppies are funner than I thought!

Here she is this morning:



Pretty sure she's figured out a) this is her house; b) we are her peeps; and c) this is WAY better than the shelter. She's fetching toys (sometimes) and really is a very loving little thing. We are all enjoying the process!

However, due to the fact that she is sleeping with DS, I have had some knitting time. Which last night was terribly frustrating.

Lace is not my best thing. And because of that, I have the desire to conquer it. However, I had to frog some of this sock:



There is patterning on every row which means I had to get back to a row where I could find all the yarnovers properly. I was really afraid that I'd end up frogging the whole thing and that would be that. But I got back to about 12 gusset stitches and only had to try to get it on the needles FOUR TIMES. I'm going to pay more attention now, but I've already been missing all of the actual visual part of TV for a few days. I need a stockinette sock to work on at the same time, there's no question. But I have resolved to knit with handspun.

I think the Magic Carpet Ride is going to come out. Or the Hang on Sloopy. But I know I don't really have enough yarn spun for a whole pair. Or there's always the Celebration...hmm...

Did I post this yarn?



Gorgeous Shetland sock yarn!!! I am getting to the point where, when I have enough handspun for something, I don't want to use it up. Silly! There's always more to be made! There, I shall ball this up today and start a stockinette sock with great joy and gladness!

Speaking of spinning, here's the progress on the sweater yarns:



Baked Alaska from Hello Yarn, DK weight, 212 yards.

And on the wheel:



Pie with Everything from Spunky Eclectic, destined to be more DK for the mitered square sweater in my mind.

Off to make breakfast for the kiddoes! Have a great President's Day if you're in the U.S. and let's all celebrate the end of the current Oval Office Occupant!

Peace.

And now to pay it forward

Having been named by Heide, I must pay the happiness forward and name seven of my favorite blogs so here goes! I will leave out some ubiquitous ones (this means you, Yarn Harlot) as everyone would list them but here are some people who have been supremely nice to me as a cyber friend and a couple in real life.



I got to meet Star a couple of years ago when we were both entering yarns in the L.A. County Fair. She's as nice as can be and has done some yarn crawling with me. I drove her yarns to the fairgrounds that year and have been keeping up with her exploits ever since. She's moving to Portland this spring but I sure hope she keeps blogging!

I get a huge kick out of Rose-Kim's blog, especially her "What the Hell is this" feature on Thursdays. Snarky, sure. But always right!

Rainy is a person I met over the tubes and then in real life. She's having a rather hard week/year and could use some cyber hugs. She's a terrific mom, knitter and spinner and I hope everyone goes over for a visit! When are we spinning together again?

Trek is another blogger I've met in person. She lives out near my mom and very kindly invited me to her knitting group last summer vacation. She has a cutie little Neatnick and a wonderful way with words.

Can you tell I like actually meeting you all?

Three more...

I know a lot of people read Cara's blog, but I'd like to give her a little encouragement, as some people seem to be very critical of her postings sometimes. I like hearing about her pregnancy tribulations as well as her fibery pursuits and her photography is UNBELIEVABLE!

Someone who's been very kind and helpful to me without even knowing it, I'm sure, is Melanie at Pink Lemon Twist. When I first got DSL and didn't know anything or anywhere to go, I used Melanie's blog as a sort of a hub from which I found all kinds of great stuff as well as really enjoying her blog itself. Thanks, Melanie!

And finally (although by no means is this the last person who's been nice to me over the tubes) Faith at The Needle and the Damage Done. Super mom, super knitter, super spinner and all around fun blog with lots of photos of her lovely family in Europe. She had a new baby, Daisy, this year and is really a breath of fresh air.

So that's it for now. Guess I'm supposed to let everybody know they're listed here and put up the button. Huge thanks to Heide for including me and for putting me on your blogroll! You would be here, too, if you weren't upstream!

And I would like to say that of course Edwards has dropped out, I just ordered my lawn sign. Sigh.

Peace.

Paging Senator Dodd!

Here's the comment I sent to be read on the Senate floor:

Our country is under assault, not from without, but from within. Our values, our civil rights, our very nature being dismantled piece by piece. We cannot continue down the path of lawlessness any further. To immunize gigantic corporations for illegal activity, activity that no one will even define, which cannot be evaluated, can only lead to further disregard of the law. Our current administration is criminally negligent, crimimally liable, criminally tyrannical. Our Constitution is under seige. As the representatives of the People of the United States of America, you must stand in opposition to these authoritarians. Our nation is not one of nobles and serfs, but of individuals with dreams and ambitions. Individuals who deserve to succeed as their intellects and energies allow. Individuals who elected you to public office. It is time, nay, it is past time for you to stand for US, for the PEOPLE. Not for the corporations, not for the lobbyists, not for campaign donors, but for US. For me. For my children. Do not capitulate to the bullies and leave us to be victimized further.

Thank you, Senator Dodd. I will be watching. The world will be watching.

We're behind you, Senator, you keep talking. And Hillary? Barry? Joe? We're watching you, too. STAND THE F*CK UP!

Peace.