No moss on this Muse

I feel like a nomad considering I haven't spent more that three days at home in the last eleven days. Two weekends ago, DH surprised the family with tickets to see the Carolina Panthers. We had a great time in Charlotte, NC and stayed at a beautiful Omni Hotel nestled in the heart of downtown. After a whirlwind two and a half days at home, we zipped down to the beach to spend Thanksgiving with family Wednesday night. We'd planned to stay through Friday but the weather and shopping was so nice that we decided to stay through Sunday. DH and I fit in some personal time and left Thing 1 and 2 with MIL one night. DH was on a boot mission for me and wouldn't stop shopping until we found a pair he liked. We also bought some naughty bits at Victoria's Secret - nudge, nudge, wink, wink say no more. The beauty of having a beach house is that we can come and go as we please without inconveniencing anyone. Five days without email, responsibilities, cooking, cleaning, and loads of knitting and spinning - you get the point. So we're back, struggling to get back into a routine and NOT planning on going anywhere any time soon.

I won't be able to blog much for the next couple of days since in addition to going out of town, I'm playing catch up with work and home. However, I have lots to update you on - complete with pictures - when I get back to blogging. I've completed several holiday gifties. Houndstooth has been felted (beautifully, I might add) and needs to be blocked. I finished a tam for Gma and need to felt it. Moon over Blue Ridge (feather and fan pattern)is finished (needs blocking) and will be quite a nice lap blanket/shawl for Gma. And for my nephew, a hat and fingerless gloves out of DB baby cashmerino. It's so nice to finally get some of these projects off my needles. I have plenty left to work on but I'm making progress with my list. Next up, a pair of felted wool and angora mittens and two more felted tams (for Mom and a great aunt). I'm on a roll. Somebody stop me :)

On the spinning front, I've been spinning like a wild woman. I received an order of some colorful fibers from Paradise Fibers as we were literally backing out of the driveway Wednesday. I've been playing with some autumn dyed Merino, maroon merino silk, merino alpaca and yum - silk cashmere blends that I received in my order. I plyed my first yarn with the merino silk that looks like Koigu KPPM - yippie! I've also been able to spin laceweight yarn with some of my Spirit Trail sampler fibers. Thing 2 even asked me to spin up a tiny bit of the autumn yarn for him to knit with. He is the first recipient of some of my hand spun yarn :) And for Bess, I finally named Golding girl the spindle. Her name is Bríghid (a good Celtic name after the triple threat Goddess known for spinning) and is pronounced Breed. I love her and love spinning with her. I was definitely a spinner in another life.

And finally, the goodie basket winner of the first annual IndigoMuse Fall Foliage Festival Photo contest (try saying that three times fast) is...
SmallHand's Rheinbeck Photo!
Thank you to everyone who entered and to those who stopped by to vote. All of our participants will receive a lovely gift (please email me your snail mail address as soon as possible). I must apologize to H who sent in a last minute entry. I couldn't fit it in due to the fact that the mini poll could only fit 10 entries. I'll send you a consolation prezzie since you're like my favorite knit bud (like a needed an excuse to send you something).

I think I might do something like this for snow pictures next. What do ya think?