Saturday, August 18, 2007

Early Birthday Bliss

Friday was an amazing day. It started off with the usual attempt to wake up at 6 am and the habitual dash for the train only 45 minutes later. I went to work and did loads of cataloging even though I was excited about heading out to Newbury Yarns for my lunch break. Birthday yarn!
Yes, I know, my birthday technically isn't until Tuesday, but I wanted yarn, and my birthday is coming up, so I bought some.

And here it is, red sock yarn. Louet gems in a bright red that will make amazing socks. Very in your face, nothing subtle about it, just the way I like it.


That was supposed to be it, but then I saw this. It's CTH laceweight in teals and purples, with black bits here and there. It's incredible, as is the yardage: 2400 yards! That's enough for a whole triangle shawl and a stole. Who could say no to that? Two projects for the price of one, or so I keep telling myself.
Yarn diet? What yarn diet?


On my way home, I sat next to a woman who was knitting. She saw my yarn, which was sticking out of my bag. We had the greatest yarn and knitting chat. We were clearly having too much fun because the poor guy next to us decided to change seats when he got the chance. Oh, well, he doesn't know what he's missing. She gave me her card so we can get together and knit sometime. Yay for knitters on trains!

When I got home, I showed my yarn to Mr. Batty. I was all excited and so was he, because he wanted to know if I'd like my birthday present early. And then he came up the basement stairs with a box. This box.


I'm not often lost for words, but this time, he really did it. Add this to the other 999 999 999 reasons I love my sweetie. He saw me oooh and aaah over this wheel after I tried it out at Mind's Eye a while ago. So he went and bought it for me. Figured out a place to get it all by himself, ordered it, and managed to hide it from me. I was just going to take a picture of the box before my birthday, but suddenly, it was all put together, and I was ogling the pretty roving that came with it. Wonder how that happened.


And speaking of my wonderful sweetie, here he is entertaining the cats. The green fuzzy teaser is Morgana's favorite toy, but as you can see, Merlin is not averse to the occasional stalk and pounce either.


Morgana, on the other hand, goes spastic. Not sure if she's actually airborne in this picture or if she's just on her hind legs. These kittens can jump, though. She can make it through our entire living room and reach the stairs without touching the floor once, bounding from couch to couch.


They're both taking a nap as I type this. I'm finally getting ready to knit around them. Depending on how that goes, I may take a chance on trying out the big wooden spinning cat toy, I mean, my brand new spinning wheel.

33 comments:

Annie said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Mr. Batty Rocks. So cool. I love the yarn you got and I can't wait to see what you do with the wheel!!!

Bezzie said...

I'm impressed Mr. Batty smuggled that in the house!

Now you can really start spinning kitty hair!

Happy early birthday!

spinndiva said...

OOOhhhhhh! You got a keeper!!!! Congrats from me to your birthday, should I not make it on Tuesday to stalk you on knitty!

Lauren said...

Yummy birthday yarn~! I use to be able to get my cat to do a back flip for a feather wand. Maybe you can get Morgana to do one too. It is a cool thing to watch.

adrienne said...

That's awesome! Happy birthday! What a great present :)

Bonnie said...

Mr. Batty is Mr. Perfect, if you ask me.

What fun to shop at Newbury Yarns for your birthday. Those yarns are to die for!!!!!

Happy birthday!

Beverly said...

Happy Birthday! What a great hubby!

Love the red sock yarn by the way--my favorite color.

weezalana said...

Sweet birthday scores! (I love how you say he found a place to get it "all by himself" ;))!

Unknown said...

Nice yarn *drool*. And what a great birthday gift! I recently took my wheel back out, but sadly I've forgotten how to use it, if you can believe it...I can't wait to see what yarns you spin up :-)

Happy early birthday from me too!

Carina said...

Yay!!! Happy Birthday and Happy Spinning!

That's a nice wheel. I almost got one years ago when they first came out but got a Majacraft Rose instead. Lovely!

Zonda said...

Happy Birthday!! I was drooling over your yarns, then the wheel!! He's a sweetie alright! That is awesome for you! :)

Larjmarj said...

LUCKY GIRL!!
That's awesome. I make an Amazon wish list for Mr. Larj. He's not much of one for picking out prezzies.
Love the action shot of Morgana, I enlarged it and realized that I am reading a Ben Franklin Bio too! Not sure if it's the same author.

Have fun with your wheel..I can't wait to see some yarn!

Sue, aka seiding said...

Oh, what a great day! I'm so happy for you! Between the yarn and the wheel and the kitties and Mr. Batty, well, that's a lot of goodness right there. And you deserve every bit of it!

schrodinger said...

Happy, happy, happy birthday. Mr Batty is the best, what a fantastic surprise for you :) Enjoy all that yarn and spinny goodness.

Pinkwool said...

Happy early birthday!!! Yay for self pressies!!

Wow, Mr. Batty could give someone I know *coughhusbandcough* a tip or two about picking up on what your girl wants. lol He deserves some extra squeezes and kissies for that one!! :)

sharon said...

Happy Birthday - gorgeous wheel, yarn and well even a good husband!!!
Must be an american thing.

Peri said...

Happy birthday!

Wow Mr B rocks indeed - what a lovely suprise. I look forward to seeing all that you spin.

KNIT A NEW DREAM said...

Happy Birthday! and what a wonderful hubby! 10 million man points for him - I love it when they pay attention to what we really want for special days! Yeah for Batty - getting a new wheel! Sue

Jo said...

He's the best! Now if only I could convince my DH of this before my birthday in November...

I love the pictures of the cats jumping ;)

Maureen said...

Here's a weird one for you! LAst week when we were at WEBS... my hubby was looking at spinning wheels for my present. I am very happy with ipod... so maybe Christmas this year. What a fun present you got! Love the b-day yarn shopping as well! Have a great one!

Elizabeth said...

What a great husband. What a great present.

(I noticed with a chuckle that the moving box in the picture of him playing with the cats is labeled "liquor". Wouldn't want to lose track of that one!

TheKnittingBee said...

Oh wow - I thought the laceweight was amazing and then I scrolled down to the wheel!!! Happy Early Birthday! :)

Speckel said...

A very merry unbirthday to you!

Ohhh, a wheel! He pays attention very wheel. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Happy Early Birthday to you! That is so sweet of Mr. Batty to get you a spinning wheel.

I can't get G to even go into a craft store with me unless I bribe him by telling him that he can check out the latest model cars! :)

Rebel said...

Happy Birthday - that's an awesome wheel there! And the laceweight is yummy looking - zuma

Jen said...

Happy birthday! I'm totally jealous of both your yarn and your knit-enabling husband!

The Kelly Green Rogue said...

wow what a great bday surprise! I'm mighty impressed he managed to find it and keep it a secret. Lovely yarn, I can't wait to see what shawl/stole you make with the lace weight.

Happy birthday!

Kel said...

Happy Birthday!
Niiiiice Wheel!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!! And what amazing birthday loot. Your man is to be treasured forever! You must be so excited.

Calling on Kahlo said...

Happy Birthday!

Mr. Batty did very well, kudos!

My favorite part about first knitting around the kittens is when they thought my needles were a toy as I was knitting. They batted at the needle as it moved. So much fun!

ZantiMissKnit said...

Wheeeeeeeeellll!!!!

(Didn't I say he was probably going to get it for you for your birthday, and that was why he talked you out of it at Mind's Eye?)

He's a keeper, but you already knew that.

IrishGirlieKnits said...

Happy Birthday!!! OMG!! Mr. Batty is fabulous!! I can't even imagine how excited you were! Plus you were already on your yarn purchase high (gorgeous yarns BTW)!

Who could ask for a better day!!

Ceallach said...

Batty, Minds Eye, does that put you in Boston?

Because I will be in Boston next week.....and will be alone with nothing to do in the evenings but my knitting and well my knitting.....

If you are there, let me know, mebbe we could meet and knit?