I don’t know what to do. I’m hoping to buy a spinning wheel for myself for my birthday in just under a month, and I’m overwhelmed by the options. I was leaning towards the Kromskis because they’re economical, pretty, and spin really nice. But they’re clackity. I think that’d bug me. There are things I could try to do to minimize the clack, and if it works, it’d be great.

However, I think I would really enjoy spinning on something more along the lines of a “precision” instrument. So the majacrafts (rose and suzie pro) hold some appeal. The Schacht Matchless also. And the Lendrum saxony of course.

BUT, I don’t particularly like the look of the majacrafts. At least not as my home wheel. And the Schacht is a honking, heavy beastie. Plus, I think I’d like a saxony style wheel to spin on at the house, and something more portable to take to Madrona in the future, and Village Yarn and Tea every month for the spinning group, plus the guild meeting, plus anywhere else I might take it, if it were easily portable.

Which would lead me back to the Kromskis, but I’m much more drawn to the soft whirr of a wheel and flyer over the

clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety, clackety

of a rattling bobbin.

But, if a little circle of felt would help……

So I go in circles. Over, and over, and over again. It’s making me crazy, to say nothing of what poor Nate is going through when I ask him what I should do, and he makes a suggestion, and I argue it, so he makes another suggestion, and I argue that, and he gives up in exasperation.

All the while, my birthday gets closer. There’s nowhere I can go to try them all out side by side. I don’t even know where I could try a Suzie Pro at all.

I’d be perfectly happy with my Clemes if someone could make me another whorl or two and compatible set of bobbins to give a faster ratio. Then I’d just get me a pretty saxony for the house, and it’d be ok. Grumble, grumble, grumble.

On the plus side, I think I’m getting a new spinning wheel in the near future! Isn’t that exciting? No clue what it’s going to be, but I’m excited!

Yesterday was my first day of Calorie King. I was supposed to eat 1690 calories, plus whatever calories I burned exercising (295 I think, depends on where you look). I couldn’t do it, and it felt stupid to eat something sweet just to meet my calories, so I ended up being 331 calories shy of my target.

That is just so weird to me.

We’ll see how today goes. I added 2 oz of banana to my shake this morning to give me a little more calories. I like that the program tracks water consumption. That’s something I like to do anyway, so it’s nice to keep it all in one place.

On the faroese shawl, I’m about done with skein #5. Two left, but I’m thinking I’m going to need more skeins.

It’s so pretty. I can’t wait to see it blocked.

Sorry I missed Saturday again. BUT, April is essentially over! At least in my mind, so I can relax. The wedding was wonderful. The reception was wonderful. We won the softball game on Saturday. The baptism was wonderful. The huge family gathering afterwards was wonderful. The visit with my family has been wonderful.

It’s all good.

In sad news, my neighbor died, so I wasn’t able to give her the shawl as I was hoping to. Lesson learned, next time (if this kind of situation comes up again), I’ll make a pair of socks. I’m actually quite irritated at myself for thinking too big and not going with socks in the first place. It didn’t occur to me until I was well into the shawl. Considering the time I’ve put in, I so could have finished a pair of socks in time to gift them and express the love I was hoping to. Dangit.

Health Group-

I’m joining Calorie King today. Now that the craziness of April is over, I feel like I can actually devote some time and energy to my health again. I’m very excited about it.

How was your week?

There’s this art event I want to go to, but it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to. It’s at Cannon Beach, and the artist I’ve started collecting is going to be there to unveil an originals show. It looks like there’s a whole lot of cool stuff going on that weekend. It’ll be awesome. Is anyone planning to go?

I did some organizing and cleaning in my room today, and I cleared off the bookshelf next to my side of the bed, and made it pretty.

Now I wish I had taken a “before” shot. There was a towering pile of books that extended above the view you have in the picture. And papers and garbage and dust and stuff. Now it’s pretty! And I get to see my Koigu.

I knit a few rows on the faroese shawl last night. I don’t know when in the world I’ll be able to finish it. I didn’t think it’d take this long. I was aiming for one week, hoping it didn’t take two. Two is almost gone, and here we are.

I so appreciate all the comments and emails yesterday. Thank you. It helped both in the suggestions, and the caring.

I’m not angry anymore. I have a headache, and I can’t think very straight, and I’m oh-so-tired, but Clark woke up at 1 am and 5:40 and then up for good at 7. So that’s contributing.

Today is Liv’s birthday. She asked for black bottom cupcakes, so I’ve been making them all morning, and I’ll take them to her class at around noon.

As for Bloglines- It looks like I have a new feed or something. I don’t know how it works, but I think if you want Bloglines to update, re-subscribe by hitting the button in the sidebar. Thanks.

I haven’t had much time to knit or spin this week. But I have another lovely violet in bloom right now.

I realize this is the second post of the day, but I’m PMS-ing really bad. I’m angry, impatient, irrational, depressed, sad, blame throwing (I’m managing to keep that internal for the most part). Really, really angry. For no reason at all.

I’m not usually like this, but I have had these emotions the last three cycles, so when it showed up yesterday, I kind of knew what it was. It’s worse today, and is getting worse rapidly.

I know there are things to do, stuff to eat/take that helps but I’ve never paid much attention to those conversations, because it wasn’t an issue for me. But I have a very big week ahead of me, and I’d like to not make an idiot of myself in social situations…..

So, what works for you? What do you do to avoid biting everyone’s head off the week before your cycle? Step up, I need help. I’m going to Google after posting this, but I much prefer the tried and true advice from people I know (or pseudo know, or at least that know me :-).

Wow. I need either a faster wheel or smaller ambitions. It seems a bit huge of a skein for only 348 yards, but I did the math, repeatedly.

It’s 9.8 ounces, and I have 8 ounces of fiber left, plus the two bobbins with quite a bit of single on them. So, without including the wool on the bobbins, at this ratio, I should end up with about 632 yards of yarn. However, I know that once I wash it, it will shrink up.

Am I ever going to be done with this wretched fleece? And what in the world am I going to do with it once it’s done?

Good morning. The blog might be a little different this morning. Some amazing friends (truly) have spent I don’t even know how many hours getting my blog moved over to Word Press from PMachine to help me escape the literally hundreds of yucky spam comments I was getting on a daily basis.

If you run into any problems, email me (see sidebar). And a huge shout out to Tim and Carol! This is the first of many shout outs I’m sure as we work out everything and I learn how to use my new blog. (I’m pretty sure that when the dust settles, I’ll have an active RSS feed again! That ought to make a few of you very happy, as I’ve been getting concerned emails ever since we switched servers months and months ago).

Seriously, I’ve wanted this for well over a year.

Yesterday evening, we all went over to Pat’s house to see Abner for the first time since we gave him to her and her husband a year ago.

Clark wasn’t up for the big lick in the face I was hoping he’d get, so I had to settle for facilitating some little licks on the toes. He didn’t like that either, but he didn’t scream. He did like the lilacs.

Pat is a dear. We had a great visit, and she gave me just shy of 10 pounds of raw alpaca to wash and spin. Thanks, Pat! Wow.

This week is hopefully my last INSANE week of April. Liv’s birthday, family in town, a wedding I’m involved in on Friday, Liv’s baptism, and a million things I have to do for all of them.

I didn’t forget about Health Group. I’ll post it soon.

UPDATE- Health Group was just added to Saturday, feel free to check in!

I think I’m going to sign up with CalorieKing.com. It was recommended to me, and I’m going to give it a shot.

How was your week?