Limited Knowledge and Girl Twin's Sleepovers

Every once in a while I need to write about something I have limited knowledge of, yarn. However, because these are stories about yarn and a yarn shop, I will try to remain on task and write about yarn.

Yarn is long. Sometimes it is short. Yarn comes in bright colors, except when it come in drab, earthtones, like terracotta; which happens to be one of Elaine’s favorite colors. Simply said, Elaine likes the colors of dirt.

It takes an educated eye to see it, but yarn come in different thicknesses. Someone gave names to the different thicknesses of yarn. Names like lace, worsted, fingering and bulky. Ivy and Elaine know all the names. I just know, thick or thin. My names are easier.

Some yarn is soft, some yarn is scratchy. (Is that a word? Scratchy.) Usually what determines this is what the yarn is made of. Yarns can be made from plant fiber, animal fiber and even plastic. Some people don’t call plastic yarns, plastic. Some people think plastic is bad. However, some think plastic is good. They think animal yarn is bad. Not me! I think it is good to use animal yarn. Personally, I think plastic yarn is almost like animal fiber yarn. Plastic is made from dinosaurs that have been buried under the earth for millions of years. Dinosaurs were animals, right? See, plastic yarns are like animal fiber yarns, just different.

OK, now I have shared my vast knowledge of yarn and Ivy is happy, I will share something I learned about this past weekend. I learned a couple things about the Wild West Knitting Retreat. I learned about Wild West Knitting Retreat because I was allowed to go!

Yep, a couple of the retreaters insisted I come up and be with them. I don’t know if it was reluctantly, but Elaine said, “Yes, why don’t you come up for a while?” I did it, I attended the Wild west Knitting Retreat!

I didn’t get to teach a class or anything like that. I just carried food and spinning wheels, yarn, roving (fiber not made into yarn yet) and books. I have done this every Wild West Knitting Retreat, but this time I was asked to stay. Not for the entire retreat, I wasn’t asked to stay for the entire retreat. That was OK, someone had to take care of the dogs.

The retreaters came from Kentucky, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. I hope I didn’t forget a state. Everyone had a great time. We talked about snakes, bears, baseball, hiking a mountain (some even hiked the mountain), but mostly knitting. (I didn’t say much about knitting. If you read the top part of this story; you won’t need to talk about knitting with me. You will know what I know.)

I’m not sure what to expect next year. I’m hoping a retreater will ask me to sit awhile.

Immediately after the Wild West Knitting Retreat, Elaine and Ivy started preparing for the Salida Fiber Festival. I have no responsibilities for the Salida Fiber Festival. Elaine and Ivy will spend the weekend in Salida, Colorado selling stuff.

The plan was that I would stay home with the twins. The twins and I had an agreement that they would not attend any sleepovers. We would work around the house and hang out. AND THEN!!!!!!

Girl Twin: Monner, I’ve been invited to an overnight birthday party for (a girl).

Me: I thought you were staying home this weekend.

Girl Twin: I was, but this is her birthday.

Me: (construction language), go to the (construction language) party!

Boy Twin: Hey, wait a minute, that’s not fair. I should be allowed to go somewhere.

Me: (construction language) Both of you go somewhere, but (construction language) be home tomorrow morning.

Both twins were home early Saturday morning. They were quite helpful. AND THEN!!!!!

Girl Twin: Monner, can (a girl) come over Sunday morning, sleep over Sunday night and we go to school together Monday morning?

Me: Why?

Girl Twin: We need to do homework together and she wants to help me clean my room.

Me: I guess that would be OK.

Girl Twin: Wouldn’t it make sense for me to spend the night at her house and bring (a girl) over Sunday morning?

I was stunned! I didn’t have an answer! I decided to use construction language.

Me: (construction language), Girl Twin, this is the last time you pull this (construction language)!

Girl Twin: Thanks, Monner.

She left for her friend's house. Somehow it became my fault that I didn’t tell Boy Twin his sister was sleeping at a friend’s house. He had missed an opportunity to sleep at his friend’s house. It was my fault, and he let me know it.

My hope is that Girl Twin will be home with her friend soon and Boy Twin will cheer up. (Actually, I don’t care.)

That empty nest is looking better every weekend! I did a learn lesson. The next time Girl Twin leaves the house, she is taking Boy Twin with her.

Our crazy lives!

Monner