Last night, at the strong urging of some close friends, we went to the CIRCUS.  I can hear you now.. "I don’t DO circuses".  Well, now say… CIRQUE DE SOLEIL.  NO, it wasn’t.  But it sure wasn’t Ringling Bros. either.  THE BIG APPLE CIRCUS is the closest you can get to C de S.  It’s under the big top, and the BIG top is painted with lots and lots of stars.  The costumes are gorgeous.  The theme this year, Picturesque, with nods to Renoir, Degas, Chagall,
Toulouse-Lautrec, Calder, and Picasso .  This is not an elephant, tigers and bears circus.  There are animals; as in dogs and cats (you know.. as in house cats) and lots of birds. There is a horse act, too.  The performers are outstanding.  The music live.  It’s about excellence.  It’s about color.  This is a non-profit organization.  Catch it, if you can.  Until then (if you have cable or dsl), go to their site and check out the preview videos of the performances. 

I was able to get about an hour of knitting in yesterday.  All of it in the car on the way to the circus and while sitting undr the big top waiting.  Tivoli progresses.  There’s a lot of rolling on them thar edges..

  and after shooting this picture, there are probably a lot of sunflower seed hulls stuck to the back.

Cindy and I visited a local resale shop.  Big success.  I got this great bag, (along with a number of other clothing type items)  looks knitted, doesn’t it? 

One spindle full of a llama and wool blend finished a day or two ago..

 

Spindle spinning is not as slow as you might imagine.  This conversation came up again the other night.  Every wrap is another yard, it goes quickly and quite a lot fits on the spindle.  Very portable, and a CD spindle is a quick, cheap way to get started.  Just saying.

A Sweetie Pie update:
Katherine (aka Sweetie Pie) is down to one bottle of formula, but still
comes begging during the day.  I just give her water. tomorrow will be
her last formula-oh, God, I feel like an empty nester! She is HUGE-must
be 25 lbs.-and still adorable.  She is outside now mostly- D refused
to give up the little ram so lady k could have
a friend her age. They are usually together unless she gets herself out
of the pasture for special privileges.

  Thanks, Secret Pal!  Someone is watching and paying attention.  I love the colors of the yarn.  And strawberry jam??  C was thrilled when I pulled that out of the box.  I haven’t made any this year.  I haven’t even gone picking, yet.   If I don’t get it together soon, it’ll be all over.  So, double thanks for all that hard work.  This book is particularly useful.  It is reference, a tool.. the best kind!

I finished the underarms of Tivoli 2, knitted it onto two circs, and tried it on.  I’m hoping it won’t be too big at the neckline and be floppy.  I’m forging on.  I like the pattern, alot.  I’ll wait until I get a bit further on but am thinkin that if I make another I might do the first few rows on smaller needles to draw it ion a bit.  It is rolling at the edges.  I see that some of the knitters have conquered that issue by blocking, crocheting or knitting edging or just enjoying the effect.  Another wait and see.  This pattern avoids my usual pitfall… baggy, too big armholes.  These fit!  I have found a couple additional stitches and made that executive decision (after frogging back on one and finding that this yarn does not like to be fussed with too much) to just leave em, I might need the extra in the bustline anyway.  Onwards!

It is a dye day.  The weather is perfect for it… hot but dry.  Here in the shade of the woods, I’m cool and happy. 

I posted more garden pics, check it out.

Gorgeous weekend, maybe a tad on the hot side..
My Mom always said.. what you do for one, you must do for the other.. ( I never really held to that philosophy, but what the heck!)
the one:

 

the other:

on a perfectly lovely day..

For a pic of us at the spinning guild meeting in the park on Saturday, go to Cindy’s blog.  The rest of the weekend was stuff around the house, and progress on Tivoli.  I’ve bound off for the armholes.. ummm …. I think that means I’ve gotten about 3 1/2" done.  🙂