This little piggy had roast beef

So I have been a bad blogger. I have things I want to post on but no motivation to do it. Why this is, I have no idea. It seems like I'm so tired all the time. And what time I have, I want to spend doing, not writing about.

One of the issues is I've been having quite a bit of computer trouble. I have been getting numerous Blue Screen of Death errors and it keeps telling me to update my drivers, but I'm not finding any new drivers for anything when I search for updates. It's getting increasingly frustrating as the errors are happening more and more lately and usually at the most inopportune times.

This past weekend we went to Hog Heaven Rescue Farm for their open house. I took a million photos, the remains of which are found in this slideshow.

That grey pig at the beginning was the friendliest thing. And they do such good work doing rescue of hooved animals. A great cause if you have a few extra bucks.
This is my favorite photo from the day.


Although this one comes close.


I've been doing a lot of spinning and knitting. I'm still doing the Cookie A knitalong on Ravelry, and this month's socks are Rick and Hedera. I've done Hedera before, it's pretty mindless so that's my traveling sock pattern. Rick is a little more thinky, especially in the foot, so that's the home sock.
Rick one is complete.

I don't have a decent progress photo of Hedera, maybe next week.
I also cast on for (and am now halfway done with) a handspun baby sweater for a co-worker's baby. I have no concept of baby size so I'm really hoping this is going to be a 12-18 month size.

The pattern is so easy. It's called the Telemark Baby Sweater and is free on Ravelry. Highly recommended. The thing it did for me is to totally obliterate my fear (unjustified fear that it was) of top-down raglan sweaters. I "got it" in a big way by doing this sweater. So freaking easy. I can't wait to make a top down raglan for ME now. Maybe I'll even finish it, unlike most of the bigger projects I start and never finish. I have a feeling poor Bob's sweater is going to end up turning into a top-down raglan, too.

I'm spinning for the Tour de Fleece. The idea is to give yourself a spinning challenge and spin each day of the Tour de France bike race. I've been spinning the handpainted alpaca I got back in Waynesburg on a spindle, and enjoying it for the most part even though it is testing my patience.



I am only committed to spindling the singles-the plying will be done on the wheel.

I have another post coming shortly about a problematic series of ads for a local marriage counseling outfit. I have to put some thought and effort into that one, though. And I'm hoping they'll respond to my email though I'm starting to lose hope on that after 2 weeks.

Until then.

For your viewing pleasure

Just a quickfast photo slideshow dump. Hopefully will be able to do a proper update later in the week.

MC Escher that's my favorite MC

The Mensa Annual Gathering was a great success. Almost everyone I saw was having a great time. I did a lot of work, didn't get a lot of sleep, and gave directions to hundreds of people. It was exhausting. Which is one reason I'm not at work today, I took one more day off.

The hotel was very, very grand. The lobby...




The ceiling in the mezzanine.


and the rear entrance hall.


The Grand Ballroom, our main Hospitality area.


The staff of the Omni William Penn were amazing. Invisible, but right on top of everything. Perfection. Our room was luxurious and perfectly appointed, if a little small. The bed was so comfortable, but I couldn't sleep on it for some reason until the last night.

Finally, Bob got to drive one of his heroes to and from the hotel from the airport. Here's Bob with Doctor Demento, who was our keynote speaker and who did a very interesting and amusing presentation.

Bob was incredibly happy about it.

I have a whole set of photos from the event here, if you're interested.

I did manage to get some crafting done while there. I had a little time to spin and knit while working the action desk so I worked on my "Tour de Fleece" project.



and I started "Rick" socks from the Sock Innovation book.



as well as making considerable progress on the third Kai Mei pair, which I did not photograph. They'll probably be done and winging their way to the recipient by the end of the week.

Speaking of which, I need to go to the post office because I have a large package that needs to go to Nova Scotia!

vacation, all I ever wanted

We'll be in town at the Mensa annual gathering this weekend. We've spent the past two days there but we're checking in to the hotel today. Should be interesting-the hotel is ridiculously grand and beautiful-it's the Omni William Penn in downtown Pittsburgh. I will have lots of pictures.

Since I have to pack, this will be quick. I finished the Sunshine socks...


Finished (and presented) the entrelac socks...


And started a new pair of the Cookie A socks, "Rick" from Sock Innovation. No pictures yet. I have the other half of the third pair of Kai Meis in my bag as well, along with that lovely handpainted alpaca fiber and my drop spindle so I have lots to do while manning the "action desk".

I love telling people about the wonderful things to see and do in Pittsburgh, even if we ARE having the coldest weather we've had since March.