Curly Yarn and Stuff

You can all breathe a sigh of relief now that the hyperactivity of last week has calmed down.The day after my birthday was Maisie's birthday. Maisie is now officially a teenager so we celebrated by going to the cinema to see Mamma Mia. How we loved that film and the music is still going around and around in my head. I am now on the look out for the sound track, since Ali* told me that she has bought it and her girls think it is brilliant! I love Abba music, it is so singable! (*don't go over to Ali's blog unless you want to see a scarily sexy photo of me taken by Emilia.) In the evening we went out for a delicious meal and the chef brought out Maisie's cake with the candles lit and we sang happy birthday to her. Maisie was very giggly that evening, never to be forgotten!
This is Maisie with her flowers that her big brother Edward and his Fiancée Michelle sent her. She was thrilled to recieve her own bouquet, especially as they had spoiled me the day before with a different but very beautiful bouquet of my own. Darlings they are!
Oh and who is this popping up on my blog post? Does anybody recognise her?
It is the very lovely and very chatty Jo. Jo drove miles to pay me a visit on Friday and to give me a spinning lesson. We got on straight away, especially as the first thing she said was how young I am and that she can't believe I have a daughter within her age group. It is amazing that I do seem to get on with any age of person, I can actually chat just as much as Jo can. You can imagine, we had a lot to chat about! Jo didn't really like any of the photos I took of her so I hope she doesn't tell me off for posting this one. I think she looks very pretty, so what if you look like your Mother Jo, she must be very pretty too! Jo also makes and sells the most beautiful artwork and exquisitely coloured fibres and yarns which she sells in her Etsy Shop I don't think she is quite ready to include my yarn in her shop just yet!
So here we have the very over spun and curly yarn I spun and plied on Jo's spinning wheel, called a Kiwi! This yarn needed a very hot bath to shock it into submission. I soaked it and poked it a bit and then hung it on the line with a tea towel through the top of the skein and my peg bag hooked over the bottom loop.
It dried to a lovely, fluffy, bit over spun in places, skein of soft yarn. I wonder if I would have enough yarn to knit one of these?
Of course I now need a spinning wheel, a spindle is fun but I am now hankering after wheel. I won't rush this purchase, unless a bargain comes my way. I don't really need another hobby to create even more usage of space. Oh but I do, the wheel sounded so smooth and mesmerising as it whirled my carefully drawn fibre into yarn. I liked it so much I spun it too much, but I am eager to progress....

Jo you are an excellent teacher!

~*~

This afternoon Barry and I photographed another wedding. Another happy day and a brilliant set of photos. Barry decided to try a couple of different settings on our cameras, we both have D300's and enjoy using them. Well, whatever he did worked, the photos came out beautifully. I truly love doing photography, however, I am always apprehensive before we get to the venue. Once I start clicking I am fine, in fact, I become quite confident, how strange. I love the way creating an interesting/arty shot seems to make the people happy, I am always on the look out for new ideas and when they get put into practice and work out as I intended, it thrills me. Sometimes they look at me as if to say 'what is she on about now' but as long as I appear to be in control they oblige my artistic whims. I think I am getting a bit old for all these lying on my tummy shots. Maybe I need to get to a yoga class again, I don't seems to be as bendy as I used to be.....I am ok getting down, it's the getting up that bothers me! I have noticed that I am climbing on chairs and tables a lot lately too, to get some height in my shots which always flatters a double chin.

We are thinking of starting a blog relating to our photography, I think that maybe that would be a good idea as I am waffling on a bit aren't I?

You are all so kind, thank you all for your birthday wishes, they all meant so much to me. Sorry I haven't replied to you all, I will try and visit your blogs when I can. Life is just a bit crazy here at Barrianne Towers, especially since we are on the move on the 20th September! How exciting..!Our New Pad!