Thanks to everyone for the excited well wishes on my new wheel. For those that have been asking, it’s a Rick Reeves. Not a Schacht-Reeves, but an actual Rick Reeves. I had seen this listed on the NETA Housecleaning pages but assumed it was already sold. Then on Saturday morning, Blogless Sharon came into the gallery and asked me if I had seen the wheel in the hallway. The one that was for sale. I said, nope. And she said, I think you ought to go take a look at this. I think it’s like the one you want. The one you tried out in Pennsylvania last November.

So, I went and looked and fell in love. I spun the stuff that was sitting by the wheel and then I went and got my own stuff to spin and that was that. Sold. Her name is Rosie and we’re going to have a very happy life together. If you want to see how totally excited I looked right after I bought her, take a look at this picture on Jackie’s blog. It captures the moment perfectly!

There was other stuff to buy at SPA, too. There was fiber. And roving. And more fiber. See?

Grafton Fiber. Yummm.

Indigo Moon. Llama Silk and Merino. And some Romney top that spins like a dream.

Spunky Eclectic. How can you not buy roving that’s called “Chocolate Covered Cherries”?

While it may sound like I was all about the shopping at SPA, there was so much more to it than that. Come back tomorrow and I’ll tell you about the people at SPA because that’s what made it really, really special.

If this is the note that you found by the coffee pot in the morning?

Yes, indeedy, it says “spend a lot”!

Sigh. I’ll do my best to honor his wishes. After all, I wouldn’t want to let him down.

You know what always makes me feel better when I’m sick? $hopping! So, I spent some cash at Knit Pixie yesterday and it was hand-delivered to me 5 minutes ago – that’s because I am so special live down the street from the Knit Pixie online store. Look at the lovely packaging – a beautiful “Peace Fleece” bow and awesome lime green and orange tissue paper. Eat your heart out all you Knit Pixie fans!

Anyway, a heads up from Wendy at Knit and Tonic alerted me to the fact that Vesper Sock Yarn by Knitterly Things is back in stock. That was all it took for me to buy a skein of Aqua Melon and a skein of Tartan. Each is 440 yards of self-striping goodness (as in 100% merino) in totally unique colorways! (their words, not mine) Lookee here.

While I was perusing I also snagged some of this. Karabella Yarns Lace Mohair in 540 yard skeins. Supposedly this works as an excellent substitute for Rowan Kid Silk Haze and it’s a little easier on the pocketbook. Me being such a practical and thrifty shopper, I bought two and that’s enough to make me a nice lace shawl. This is the summer of lace, after all. I will probably shoot myself for buying it in black – not to mention that the Leaf Lace Shawl and I aren’t exactly flying along – but still, I couldn’t resist.

And, isn’t this the cutest double pointed needle case? The fabric is uniquely Knit Pixie’s and it’s made by Knitterly Things, too. I just had to have it for all those dpns I have hanging around. Organization is my middle name, after all. And having such a lovely needle case will inspire me so much to keep my needles organized. That and it’s cool, okay?

Sigh. I love love love new yarn. And now, back to Leaf Lace. Maybe one of these days I’ll actually have something worth showing you all. Then again, maybe not.
Oh, and those of you with inquiring minds, I am feeling much much better!

Tuesday was a very exciting day. My library received a gift of $25,000 (yes, that’s 5 digits!) from Eastern Bank. This gift has no conditions, no strings, and – best of all – I didn’t even ask for it. You can read all about it here. My husband and one of the library trustees (Hi Ann-Marie!) and I went to the Coonamessett Inn in Falmouth for a cocktail reception. It was quite chi-chi with open bar and delicious hors d’oeuvres and they gave away $2.2 million with $650,000 going to area libraries. This bank is a-okay in my book. That’s a little library humor. Get it?

When we got home I took a picture of the trophy and the sock, just to record the whole thing for you guys. I did have the sock with me at the event, but even I, with no shame of public knitting, couldn’t picture knitting at this shindig!

I started a new scarf with the koigu I bought at NH Sheep &Wool. After some searching for something challenging different I settled on this pattern from Wendy Knits. It’s pretty simple and I like the look of it so far. So does Mason.

Tomorrow I will try to have the strength to tell the sad story of the Charlotte Bronte Shawl. Heavy sigh.