Where does the time go? I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted an update. I’ve been crafting but in all honesty, I seem to have a hard time getting my pictures downloaded and put on flickr. I need to work on that. I’m currently working on organizing iPhoto and trying to decide if that works for me or if I need something like Aperature. What do you use to organize your photos?

On the crafting front, I’ve been spinning, have been quilting, and even knitting!

I got my new spinning wheel and I love it. It’s so fun. Talia at International Fleeces has started a weekly spinning group and just going and enjoying the community has been so helpful for improving my spinning skills and is keeping me excited. The first fiber I spun on my new Matchless was the Just Figs fiber from Into the Whirled.

Now that I’ve gotten some good spinning lessons (thanks Talia!), and have spun some fiber, I feel like I have a relatively easy time spinning fiber using the worsted method.  I can get pretty fine singles, but I want to be able to spin whatever I want – not just one thing.  So, I set out to make this fiber into a nice worsted weight yarn.  While I was spinning, it seemed that my singles were pretty uneven, but I plowed on in the hopes that practice would actually make me better.  Go figure, huh.  In the end, plying worked miracles and I ended up with a pretty decent yarn.

I spun the 4 ounces of Falkland into 86 yards of 3-ply worsted weight yarn.  It isn’t perfect, but I’m pretty darned happy with it.  I just need to find a cute little project that doesn’t need much yarn so I can actually knit with it!

To continue my desire to improve my spinning skills, I have been practicing woolen spinning.  I want to be able to spin some gorgeous cashmere/merino fiber into laceweight yarn for a Malagash shawl.  So, to practice my woolen spinning, I decided to spin the BDL/Silk I got from Sweet Georgia’s May fiber club from the fold.

My understanding is that since this is top, rather than roving, the only way to really spin it woolen is to spin it from the fold.  It’s turning out pretty well, and I’m getting better at my woolen technique.  We’ll see how it looks once it’s plied, but so far, so good.

I don’t know about you, but I have a love-hate relationship with brownies. I want to love them, but am so often disappointed by the reality of them. I’ve tried lots of recipes … and I mean lots, and have never found one that really did it for me. Until now.

These brownies are so good I just had to share. As you can see, they’re very dense and moist – not cake-like at all, which is what I like in a brownie. If I wanted chocolate cake, I’d make cake. I want the texture to be dense, but moist and not so heavy that you feel like you can’t chew the darned thing! I adapted the recipe from the Cheyenne Frontier Days Daddy of ‘em All Cookbook.

World-Famous Brownies

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup cold water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter, cold water, oil, and cocoa in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil. Combine flour and sugar in a bowl and combine with chocolate mixture after it comes to a boil. Mix well. Add baking soda, salt, vanilla, buttermilk, and eggs. Pour into greased 9×13 pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until it tests done (mine took 35 minutes). While brownies are baking, make glaze.

World-famous Brownie Glaze

• 1/2 cup butter
• 6 tbsp espresso or strong coffee
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 pound powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional – I omitted them)

Combine butter, coffee, and cocoa in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil slowly for 1-2 minutes, remove from heat. Pour chocolate mixture into a bowl of a stand mixer (you can use a hand mixer too) and add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix well until glaze is very smooth. Add nuts if you are using them. Pour over warm brownies right after you remove them from the oven. Let cool completely in the pan before you cut them (or the glaze won’t be set up). Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a cup of coffee.

As those of you who’ve been around for awhile know, I used to spin.  I bought a great Lendrum double treadle, watched some DVDs, took a class at Estes Park, bought some fiber and messed around with spinning. I never really dedicated myself to it and never felt like it was everything I thought it would be. And eventually I put the wheel away and moved away from spinning. I even thought about selling my wheel, but Marcia & Diana talked me out of it.

After that I’m not sure exactly what happened, but I started seeing a lot of talk on blogs about spinning and fiber and how much people were enjoying their spinning. Then one day I was looking at dealers on Schacht’s website and saw that there’s a new dealer right here in Laramie. In a hazy series of events, I advertised my Lendrum for sale on Ravelry and called Talia at International Fleeces about a Schacht Matchless. And as they say, it was all down hill from there. It turns out that Talia had been trying to get a spinning club started so we agreed to get together the following week and she would bring a Matchless and a Ladybug for me to try.

I sat down with Talia and spun on the Matchless in double drive, then in Scotch tension, then I spun on the Ladybug in Scotch tension. When I sat down, it was kind of like being a newbie all over again – almost like I’d never spun before. The difference was that it came back to me fairly quickly and with Talia’s instructions on drafting and mechanics, I feel like I improved a lot that first night. After a couple of hours of spinning, it was very clear to me that I loved the Matchless and loved spinning in double drive (which is something I’d never done because I couldn’t set my Lendrum up like that)!

The second week was even better than the first. Talia again loaned me her Matchless until mine arrives and I spun some lovely blue-faced leicester from Sweet Georgia.

As you can see, it’s a little uneven – some is underspun, some overspun, but I made yarn! And I enjoyed it. I consider that fantastic progress in my spinning adventures. Talia let me keep her Matchless and take it home with me, so I’ve been spinning like crazy.

I bought 12 ounces of Jacob Humbug from International Fleeces and proceeded to spin that all up between the second and third week of our club (which is still nameless)

I plied the Jacob as a 3-ply – my first attempt at that – and while it’s still uneven with over- and under-spun (and plied) areas, it’s better than the first yarn. Don’t you think? I even practiced a little Navajo-plying on what was left on one bobbin! I guess I need to remember to do that penny thing with the pictures. I’m new to taking pictures of this yarn stuff, so sorry for the omission.  The Jacob is an aran weight, I’d guess.  I guess I should also figure out the wraps per inch. That might be useful information, huh.

Last week at spinning club, Talia helped me figure out how to spin the Falkland from the JulieSpins fiber club (unclub?). I’m shooting for a sport weight 3-ply and with her help I did a practice skein and am on my way. I love having someone help me figure things like that out the first time. It makes all the difference because I actually feel like I’m learning, and not just spinning my wheels (hah).

I took that picture Saturday morning before I spent a whole lot of time yesterday spinning.  I’m almost done with the first 3rd of the fiber (I have 10 oz total, so each bobbin should have a little over 3 oz) and the first bobbin is about 3/4 full. I know my singles aren’t completely even, but they’re pretty darned good for me!

I’ve been trying to spin a little bit every day and I’ve found that if I can get up and get ready in the morning (rather than screwing around) I have 15-30 minutes to spin and that really makes a difference.  I sometimes spin in the evening too, especially if we’re watching (i.e. listening to) something on tv, but even if that doesn’t happen, I got some spinning in for the day. I’m so glad that I decided to stick with spinning (thanks girls!), and for me, selling my Lendrum and deciding on a Matchless has been very motivational. And I am so grateful that I found Talia and that she’s willing to take the time to work with me – a good teacher really does make all the difference.

I have been meaning to post this for about 6 months.  I’ve cleaned out my yarn closet and found that I had a lot of great yarn that I just wasn’t going to use any more.

I’ve posted everything on Flickr and in my stash on Ravelry.  There are a few things that are really cheap and the rest of the stuff is free if you pay the shipping.  I just want it to go to a good home (and be out of my craft room)!  Let me know if you’re interested in anything and we’ll get it on its way to you.

Have a great weekend!

Chapter Two

It’s a long shot, but I say why not

If I say forget it, I know that I’ll regret it

It’s a long shot just to beat these odds

The chance is we won’t make it

But I know if I don’t take it

There’s no chance

Cause you’re the best I got

So take the long shot

~Long Shot by Kelly Clarkson

It had quite possibly been the longest three weeks of Elizabeth’s life.  She didn’t know if she should be amused or distressed that these miserable three weeks just happened to coincide with how long she and Jason had been married.

Elizabeth stood at the windows in the great room and looked out over the Port Charles Harbor.  Elizabeth had already spent countless hours watching the freighters and the pleasure boats come and go.  Seeing the boats and the water reminded her of home.  Well, Miami, since this was now her home.

She had loved the penthouse the first moment she’d seen it – on her wedding night.  It was gorgeous – spacious and bright, but quite sparse on the decorating.  Elizabeth sighed as she looked around.  She had been married three weeks and it had been three weeks since she’d seen her husband.  She’d been waiting for him to come home, but according to Spinelli, his eccentric assistant, Jason had been called away on business and no one knew when he would be returning.

Elizabeth shook her head and decided that if she was going to make this marriage work, she was going to have to get busy and stop moping around waiting for some man to hold her hand or give her permission.  She walked to the phone on the table next to the lone piece of furniture in the enormous room and called the only person who had been kind enough to call and check on her since she’d been dumped here.

“Carly, it’s Elizabeth.  Do you feel like going shopping?”

*~*~*~*

Elizabeth collapsed into the chair across from Carly and reached for her wine.  “Oh my God.  You should have warned me when I asked if you wanted to go shopping.  I had no idea you were such a machine.”

Carly leaned back on the couch and studied Elizabeth over the rim of her own wine glass.  “You held your own, little girl.  I’m impressed.”

Elizabeth let her head roll back as she worked the kinks out of her neck and shoulders.  “I had no idea what I was getting into.  Do you think Jason will be ok with what we picked out?”

Carly scoffed, “He probably won’t even notice and if he does, he’ll be fine.  He doesn’t care about stuff like that.”

“I want Jason to be comfortable in his own home.  Do you think he’s going to hate everything I picked out?  Maybe it was presumptuous of me to go shopping without asking him first.”  Elizabeth couldn’t help but feel unsure about her shopping expedition.

“He’ll be fine.  I know him and I think you did a great job picking things he’ll be comfortable with.  He would rather be tortured than go shopping, so he isn’t going to have any problem with you going without him.  Trust me on this.”

Elizabeth chewed her lip and debated about whether to say anything about her concerns.  Finally, she sighed, “Carly, do you have any idea where Jason is?”

Carly slowly lowered her wine glass and stared, “Of course.  Don’t you?”

“No.  I got up the morning after the wedding and he was gone.  I asked Spinelli and all he would tell me was that Jason had been called away on business.  I don’t have his cell phone number and Spinelli wouldn’t give it to me when I asked.  He said he’d have Jason call, but I haven’t heard from him.  I don’t want to be a whiny brat, but I’d kind of like to know my new husband is ok and when he might be back.”

Carly could not believe her best friend.  What a jerk.  Oh, she was going to give him a piece of her mind just as soon as she could get his selfish ass on the phone.  “Elizabeth, he’s in Puerto Rico.  There was some problem … yet again … with one of the casinos.  Sonny said he’d be back by Friday night.”

“Oh, good,” Elizabeth let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding.  “That’s good to know.  I’m glad he’s ok.”  Elizabeth couldn’t help but feel left out since it seemed that everyone had known what was going on but her.  “And I’m glad all the furniture will be delivered tomorrow.  I should have everything arranged before he gets home.”

Carly couldn’t help it, she liked Elizabeth.  She wasn’t what Carly had been expecting – she wasn’t as shy and meek as Lorenzo had made her out to be, but she was nice … normal, and didn’t seem to be dependent on Jason to make her world go ‘round.  And knowing Jason like Carly did, that was a very good thing.

*~*~*~*

Jason picked his phone up on the 4th ring and could see from the caller id that it was Carly.  “Hey,” he said as he sipped his beer and watched the sun set from the balcony of Sonny’s villa.

“Don’t you hey me, Jason Morgan.  You are in some serious shit with me, mister,”  Carly snarled at him.  Elizabeth had left her house about 30 seconds before and Carly wasn’t wasting anytime giving Jason a piece of her mind.

“What?  What did I do to you?”

“To me, absolutely nothing.  To you wife, now that’s a whole different story.  You do remember your wife, don’t you Jason?  She’s the pretty, petite brunette with the sapphire blue eyes.  I think her name might be Elizabeth.  She’s the one you dumped in your house 3 weeks ago and haven’t even let know you’re alive.  Didn’t leave her a number where she could reach you.  Haven’t checked in to make sure she’s ok in a completely new house in a completely new city.  Any of this ringing a bell with you?”  Carly ranted and paced her living room while she outlined just a few of Jason’s sins as she saw them.

“Now Carly …”

“Don’t you now Carly me, you jerk.  Apparently she’s asked Spinelli on numerous occasions for your cell phone number, where you are, and if you’re ok, but your ever-faithful assistant was not at liberty to divulge any of that information.  I just assumed you were in contact with her, but I see now how wrong I was.  I cannot believe you…”

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose as he listened to Carly rant.  “Are you done now?”

“Don’t you take that tone with me Jason.  You know you’re in the wrong, and you owe Elizabeth an explanation.  Talk about rude and hurtful.  I thought better of you.”

“Carly.”  Jason sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.    “I know I should have called, but I don’t even know Elizabeth.  You know I don’t like to talk on the phone.  What was I going to say to her?  She’s a stranger.”

“Well, she isn’t going to ever be anything other than a stranger if you don’t talk to her.  You should have at least left her a note or called to tell her where you were.  She was worried.  She asked me if I knew if you were ok.”

Jason sighed.  Carly was right, but damned if he wanted to admit that to her.  “I’m sorry Carly.  I didn’t think of it like that.  I’m not used to having someone to answer to.  Someone that worries about me.”

“I’m going to forget for now that you’ve completely overlooked the fact that I worry about you, and tell you that you’d better get used to having someone to answer to, as you so quaintly put it.  You’re married now.  It’s time you pull your head out of your ass and be considerate.  When are you coming home?”

Jason just sighed, pulled his hair, and took another drink of his beer.  What the hell had he gotten himself into?  “I’ll be home Friday afternoon.”

“Good.  I’ll expect you and Elizabeth at our house at 7:00 for dinner.  And don’t worry, I’ll tell her myself since you don’t seem capable of communicating with your wife.  You know, Jason, I know you didn’t want this marriage, but you are, in fact, married.  And are going to be for awhile.  I think you need to try to make the best of the situation.  You never know, it may turn out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”