Picture Perfect

Well....that may be something of an overstatement. But it is, at least, improved.

I awoke yesterday feeling somewhat strange. I couldn't quite put my finger on just what was different...but something had changed. Then it hit me: I wasn't sneezing. A quick blow of the nose confirmed that I was no longer leaking corpuscles from snout. I listened intently and detected no snuffly sounds nor did I hear that odd squeaking that has been coming from my overloaded sinuses. And when I checked outside, my truck, which has been dusted with a delicate coating of yellow pollen for the past few weeks, was blue again. Dare I even think it? Was I really allergy-free?

It seemed that I was! The rains of the past few days had made some of the nasty pollen go away and my snufflies were gone! I fairly leaped from the bed causing a rather amusing startle-reflex on the part of my furry feline sleep assistants (who were also not causing me to sneeze for the first time in I-don't-know-how-long). It looked like a good day for getting something done.

I'd been promising myself a camera upgrade for a few weeks and decided that this was the day to make it happen. There was a short period where the upgrade was of a significant and glorious nature. However, this plan was short-lived given that I need to replace a couple of tires and shocks on the truck. This was not unexpected given that I'm approaching the 100,000 mile mark and tend to put a lot of wear on any tire. I'd hoped to put it off for another couple of months, but I'm thinking that it needs to be done sooner rather than later. Thus, the camera upgrade was of a more reasonable sort. Still, a new toy is a new toy, right? And you, the blog-reading public deserve a better class of fiber photography. You are a fine group of people who have not complained once about the quality of the images to which you have been subjected. I like to think that I buy these things for you more than for me, really. I'm a "giver." A caring nurturer...I'm here for you, the knit blogging community.

Oddly, the first picture I have for you today is not of anything knit-related, though. It's of my other favorite thing: Food!

Specifically, a killer potato salad with fresh chives.

The Sheep family will be charring a bit more meat as part of their ongoing Independence Day celebrations. Baby Brother Sheep has returned home from his latest work related travel and, much like the Prodigal Son, is being welcomed back to the fold with a feast. So I made a 'tater salad. I'm pretty sure that's how they did it in the original story...although I'm guessing that they had to use a goat bladder or reed basket to carry it since reusable plastic containers weren't as readily available in biblical times.

Peeling potatoes does take some time out of a Sheep's day. But, I've still managed to get in a little of the fiber works. The combination of feeling better and a new camera must have just spurred me into action.

I've been spinning the lamb/silk blend like a woman possessed.

And I've finished making Cathy's Shetland into soft, fluffy clouds

And, of course, there have been many hours spent taking pictures of things. I had a sweet photo shoot going on that featured The Big, Fluffy Kitty. All was going well until I happened to take note of the fact that she has no neck to speak of. At least not one that is immediately visible to the naked eye. I then made the somewhat regrettable decision to say this in my "Outside My Head Voice." I didn't mean anything by it. It was just an observation. But the BFK didn't take it well. She stormed off the set and all I heard after that was the slamming of her trailer door followed by what seemed to be her wailing to someone on her tiny, little kitty cell phone. It was hard to make out, but I think she was saying something about needing an emergency meeting with her attorney and her plastic surgeon.

And her agent isn't taking my calls anymore. This one may take a while to work out. But, I'm sure it will be fine.

I'll send her a gift basket with some of the potato salad. She'll be back on set in no time!

SA