Redux!!

Inspiration comes from many directions (as I said yesterday).  Last week I read Nova's post about apple pear pie with Gruyere cheese in the crust and did the only thing I could do, ¦went home and made my own apple crisp.  We ate it all weekend and it was good, but I just can't get the thought of that Gruyere cheese crust out of my head.  Do I dare attempt to make a crust?...we'll see.

Nova's pie did get me thinking about spinning, however (inspiration!), and Amy's November selection from the Spunky Club, Pie for Everyone! I sat with Emmylou and spun it up this past weekend and plied it Monday afternoon. Isn't it yummy?

Spinning was just too hard for much of the month of January.  I didn't even think about spinning, but occasionally, I'd look with longing at Emmylou sitting next to all that fiber and I wanted to want to, but I just couldn't sit to spin. Carole said she found it ironic that I would start NaSpiMoMo and then have no will or energy for it.  Just looking at the wheel gave me vertigo, even though I'm not sure vertigo would have happened, it is the feeling that kept me away, that and lack of desire.  But, as January waned and I started to feel like myself again, I had a hankering to spin. (Yay, February!)

Because I missed my own Spin Along, I'm declaring the month of February, NaSpiMoMo Redux!  Several others have decided to join me, as they just didn't get enough spinning done during January, either. Some have suggested a YEAR of spinning, but I'm going to take it a month at a time. My goal is to spin up at least 4 oz. (or more) a week and next in the queue is this crazy, wonderful batt from Crosspatch Creations that Susan brought back from Rhinebeck.  I see some fancy scarf knitting in my future.

If only there were more hours (for fun things) in a day!

Comments

[Opal]

I've been getting the itch to spin again, so maybe NaSpiMoMo will provide me with the impetus to finally get going!

[Jane]

I like your idea of taking it a month at a time. My spinning time comes in little bits here and there, and I want to *want* to spin when the opportunity presents itself!

[Carol]

Glad you're able to again! Although I don't have the time to learn, I certainly enjoy watching all you experts turn out all that gorgeous yarn. I've learned an amazing amount about spinning, color and fiber too~so for that, I thank you! :)

[Teresa C]

I am committed to spinning today! Well, at least I hope to bring a drop spindle and fiber along with some knitting to spin-night tonight. We'll see how that goes. Is that pie fiber a two ply? I love it.

Let me know how you like the Crosspatch Creations.

[colleen]

Pie crusts are not difficult--just make sure that everything (including bowls and rolling surface) stays cold. Don't over mix, allow the dough to "rest", and work quickly when you roll it out. I was intimidated by the pie crust until I made one.

[Cindy/Snid]

Sorry- I couldn't focus on the spinning... I was distracted by the thought of that pie crust! It sounds delicious!!!!!
(perhaps especially because I am stuck in the land of very little good cheese, not to mention no good pie apples...)

[Carole]

You could definitely add cheese to my pie crust recipe. It's an easy one - you can do it!
Let's spin!

[deb]

I bet Emmylou was glad to feel you by her side again!

[Kim]

January didn't work out for me either in the spinning department, so I will definitely join you in the Redux :-).

I am so glad you are feeling up to spinning again! Your Amy yarn is beautiful!

[Robin in VA]

That yarn is yummy!! So glad you feel like spinning again, it's a healer...when you can sit upright!

[Grace]

Hi! The New Basics Cookbook by Juile Rosso and Sheila Lukins has a cheddar crust apple pie that is fabulous (but I add a LOT more cheese)! I think I will have to try it with gruyere next time. Very easy pie crust recepie, too!

[Chris]

Pretty batt! I'm glad you're feeling well enough to be spinning again.

[Alison]

Beautiful batt! I've been spinning a bit here and there trying to get some of my fiber spun up before the Maryland Sheep and Wool in May! (I just can't get any more fiber unless some of it is no longer fiber; now sock yarn, that's a different story :-)

[Vicki]

Oh, wow, don't I second that motion -- more hours for fun!! All in favor...?

[Kathy]

I join you for Redux. I'm so curious to see how that Crosspatch spins up!

[Norma]

It's good to see you gaining your strength back. 4 ounces a week is a nice goal, and you'll really end up with a lot of good yarn at the end, methinks. That Crosspatch Creations looks FUN.

[Rosa]

Okay, I am with you on February. I tapered off at the end of January. I will start tonight, again. How about we spin in the month of February, but we have to make something with that handspun for the month of March? I am game to make a new shawl in March with handspun made in February. What do you say?

[Marcia Cooke]

You will LOVE that Crosspatch fiber....it's just about my favorite stuff. Realize, though, that with all the noils and things, you shouldn't try for a smooth yarn! It'll drive you crazy if you do. Just let loose with it...I went with a medium backward draw on it, way more towards woolen than worsted, and was very pleased with the results. As for the Apple Crisp, I made some over the weekend, too! With some blueberries thrown in, and a healthy "crumble" with nuts on the top. Lordy, it was so good I didn't miss the crust. Yeah. Sure.

[Anne]

This is okay with me too - January just completely slipped away!

[Beth S.]

Oh HOORAY, you're spinning again! I hope it's just the tonic you need... fiber therapy works wonders. :-)

[Wool Winder]

I put away the wheel to make room for the Christmas tree. I think it's about time to get it out again.

[Cheryl S.]

The pie sounds great - you know what they say - "An apple pie without some cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze".

[Sarah]

Sounds like a plan!

[Knitnana]

The colors are gorgeous! Can't wait to see what you spin up!
(((hugs)))

[Carla]

The Joy of Cooking recipe of pie crust with cream cheese is a great place to start. Skip the mixer, get out your pastry blender and make away. I have had a lot of success substituting mascarpone for the cream cheese - great with apples and really great with cherry pie.

[Cookie]

Make the pie crust. You know you won't be happy until you do. Btw, that blueberry crumble cake was amazing!

I'm so glad you're feeling well enough to spin. If I can work out the mysteries of pre-drafting well, I may have to join the spinning fun.

[aimeed]

The redux is a great idea. I did more spinning in January than I have in a long time, and I was feeling a bit blue that NaSpiMoMo was over. Let the fun continue!

[Sil]

Dude, piecrust it really easy with the food processor. REALLY easy. If you can spin all that gorgeous fiber, you can make a piecrust.

[Hillary]

Oh hooray! I felt so bad that i signed up for NaSpiMoMo and then I didn't spin at all in January. February seems like a much better bet for spinning.

[Laurie]

It's all an arbitrary commitment. This month is as good as January, same goal, fewer days. Doing fiber when it isn't right, isn't right.

[nova]

The spinning is, of course, marvelous; but, let's talk pie. Margene, make the pie crust. Put some gruyere in it and then toss together some pear pie filling. You will not be sorry about it. Truly, you will not!

[Margaret]

Mmmm, pie. And Nova's comment right above mine, gruyere and pear, sounds even better!

The way my month is shaping up, it's going to be NaSpiMo March for me.

[--Deb]

Mmmmm . . . pie . . .

And the yarn looks great!

[kathleen]

You can make pie crust. A Kitchen Aid certainly makes it easier.

[Lucia]

That's a lot of spinning. I'm hoping to get my spinning mojo back as well.

[Teyani]

so glad that you have the return of energy to spin - I love the crosspatch creations (they used to come to fiber fairs out here and they are great folks) now my friend Amanda (at ask the bellweather on ravlery) carries their fiber. yay!

[Birdsong]

I felt much the same way you did, too sick and too worn out to spin and suddenly January was over! I did manage to do a lot of project-finishing over the course of the month, but am happy we are having a week of very nice weather to brighten the spirits. Now, to just find some extra time in the days for spinning:)

[Cheryl]

I remember when she bought that batt for you! I got one too, in a different color. I'm spinning it right now too!

[michaele]

Yay! I didn't realize it got extended until Feburary! Now I can join in, too!