On a local NPR program, there is often a woman who reports on grammar. She is called the Radical Grammarian. Today was a discussion on the word healthy and healthful. We often say I eat a healthy diet. How can a diet be healthy? Healthy implies that it is alive. It is supposed to be I eat a healthful diet. I hate that we are all so lazy that we talk in poor grammar.
Which goes to say, I am not interested in being correct. I know in my writing that I should care. It isn't all about commas anymore. Unfortunately I write just like I talk. And obviously I am not being correct.
It does goes all over me when I hear a young anchor on t.v. say something that is totally so WRONG. Yesterday I was standing at a window when I heard something so wrong. I turned around and yelled at the t.v.," no, no, no. That is an adverb, not an adjective."
So I guess I do care a little bit about something so obvious. I haven't got the energy to determine if I need a clarifier or whatever. I talk lazily, and my fault that I don't care. See, I used the adverb, not the adjective.
I am almost done with #10 hexagon. My right hand has been aching this week with the weather all over the place. Also my right knee has been talking to me today. It is dark and gloomy out. Thankfully it is not bitter, bitter cold.
I am also halfway through the first side piece for the jacket. It is going fairly quickly.
I have great ambitions to do more, but I can't seem to make myself get going. My neighbor has organized a charity to make quilts for the new Children's Hospital that is to open next year. She gave me some flannel that was donated to her. I think there is ample in the piece to make two receiving blankets.
My friend CF is being dragged into the 20th Century. No, not the 21st yet. Her daughter has mounted a large HD flat screen t.v. on her wall. She is getting her mother hooked up to internet so she can access Netflix. She has her on a list to receive DVDs. It is too funny. CF has adamantly refused to have anything to do with computers or computerized anything. She still uses a landline. She gets too confused with cell phones. Thank goodness BL is going to spend the Thanksgiving visit to teach her how to access her account, add to her list, etc. I love her password. It is typical of BL to come up with that. My friend told me in case she loses the paper that she wrote it on.
We are having unusually warm weather. We had two little freezes with the day temps in the 50's and 60's. It is extremely weird. I have been holding my breath waiting for the winter to settle in. I am grateful that I have had time to do my outdoor chores. I finally closed up all the vents under the house. The hoses were disconnected a long time ago. I am waiting one last time to empty the back gutters under the box elder tree.
Well, I have to go fill the bird feeders again. Keep moving. That's the only advice this week.
Showing posts with label sewing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sewing. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
I'm Getting Squirrel-y Early
Yesterday I answered my door to a stranger that was asking me if I needed some trees trimmed. We went through the usual greeting in the South, "Do you know _____? They have the place down the road. I'm their cousin." After going through that ritual, we walked around the house. I needed my gutters cleaned out, "We can do that ma'am.", I need to do something about those hollies that have taken over the east side of the house, "We can cut them down to the ground ma'am." etc.etc.etc. We listed about three or four chores, we agreed on a price, we shook hands, and they got to work. His son and his son's girlfriend arrived in his car, and he got a big chainsaw out of the trunk. They were through in two hours. The son even climbed up into the box elder tree and re-hung my huge bell.
I have spent an enormous amount of money this year getting jobs done by others that I usually do myself. I know I couldn't repair the deck, and I did have to pay a huge price for that. But all this yard work I normally do myself makes me feel strange. I think I am finally beginning to see I cannot keep up with everything myself.
Today I didn't feel "right". I was restless. I couldn't focus. I finally got tired of it and decided to sit down with a snack and watch t.v. this afternoon. My God! there was another shooting. Well, that riled me up and I was even more restless.
I spent an enormous amount of time looking at casitas to rent in New Mexico. If I ever go back again, I am thinking of renting a small casita and using it for a base camp. I can spend the days roaming around my favorite places.
When I reported this to my friend CF, she immediately said, "You are already getting squirrely and it isn't even winter yet. You normally don't get this way until late January."
I guess I am just not in favor of cold weather. I know we haven't even hit the winter button yet, but I am already tired of it. I don't like being cold. I don't like to wear a bunch of clothes to keep myself warm. Thank goodness I have wool sweaters.
Some outside cat has figured out how to get in the cat door when I am asleep and eat Noodles' dry food. I only confirmed this when I was awakened by very loud crunching sounds in the night. My first thought was Noodles was eating very loudly. As I aroused, I remembered Noodles does not eat dry food very often any more because of his teeth. When he does, he is very quiet-no loud munching. I got up to check, and whoever it was darted out the cat door before I could register it. This morning the cat bowl was down to crumbs. The stinker came back after I went back to sleep. Tonight I have locked the cat door.
I have five bird feeders out now. They are eating me out of house and home.
I am almost finished with the linen stitch scarf. Whew! I got tired of it about two inches ago. I am pushing myself to say it is done! I think I will give it to Holly. She likes scarves.
Then I can get back to knitting sleeves on my sweater. I will be happy to call it done also.
I am working on the quilted memory wallhanging for the kids for Christmas. I have the pictures and fabric squares completed in a nine patch. I need to be quilting it soon. Oh, well, good thing their anniversary is in January.
I made cookies today. I have to freeze them to keep them out of sight. I have probably eaten ten already. They are small chocolate chip cookies, but still I've eaten too many.
I am waiting for St. Nicolas Day on Sunday to put up my little tree. I like to see the lights blinking. I turn out the lights and just sit and stare at them. I like to see my little spinning wheels and my sheep and my personal ornaments on them. Years ago I quit collecting my handblown glass icicles. I also decided to hang some of them in the windows. I do like the little tree that can sit atop the book case.
I just now thought that it has been such low humidity I could make some candy. That would be fun.
So have a great weekend. I hope you are jolly and bright and not dreading the cold weather as much as me.
I have spent an enormous amount of money this year getting jobs done by others that I usually do myself. I know I couldn't repair the deck, and I did have to pay a huge price for that. But all this yard work I normally do myself makes me feel strange. I think I am finally beginning to see I cannot keep up with everything myself.
Today I didn't feel "right". I was restless. I couldn't focus. I finally got tired of it and decided to sit down with a snack and watch t.v. this afternoon. My God! there was another shooting. Well, that riled me up and I was even more restless.
I spent an enormous amount of time looking at casitas to rent in New Mexico. If I ever go back again, I am thinking of renting a small casita and using it for a base camp. I can spend the days roaming around my favorite places.
When I reported this to my friend CF, she immediately said, "You are already getting squirrely and it isn't even winter yet. You normally don't get this way until late January."
I guess I am just not in favor of cold weather. I know we haven't even hit the winter button yet, but I am already tired of it. I don't like being cold. I don't like to wear a bunch of clothes to keep myself warm. Thank goodness I have wool sweaters.
Some outside cat has figured out how to get in the cat door when I am asleep and eat Noodles' dry food. I only confirmed this when I was awakened by very loud crunching sounds in the night. My first thought was Noodles was eating very loudly. As I aroused, I remembered Noodles does not eat dry food very often any more because of his teeth. When he does, he is very quiet-no loud munching. I got up to check, and whoever it was darted out the cat door before I could register it. This morning the cat bowl was down to crumbs. The stinker came back after I went back to sleep. Tonight I have locked the cat door.
I have five bird feeders out now. They are eating me out of house and home.
I am almost finished with the linen stitch scarf. Whew! I got tired of it about two inches ago. I am pushing myself to say it is done! I think I will give it to Holly. She likes scarves.
Then I can get back to knitting sleeves on my sweater. I will be happy to call it done also.
I am working on the quilted memory wallhanging for the kids for Christmas. I have the pictures and fabric squares completed in a nine patch. I need to be quilting it soon. Oh, well, good thing their anniversary is in January.
I made cookies today. I have to freeze them to keep them out of sight. I have probably eaten ten already. They are small chocolate chip cookies, but still I've eaten too many.
I am waiting for St. Nicolas Day on Sunday to put up my little tree. I like to see the lights blinking. I turn out the lights and just sit and stare at them. I like to see my little spinning wheels and my sheep and my personal ornaments on them. Years ago I quit collecting my handblown glass icicles. I also decided to hang some of them in the windows. I do like the little tree that can sit atop the book case.
I just now thought that it has been such low humidity I could make some candy. That would be fun.
So have a great weekend. I hope you are jolly and bright and not dreading the cold weather as much as me.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
It's Getting Darker
Time is rolling along steadily every day. The darkness is closer each day. I don't care for the time change thing, but I know that when I wake up, I look out the window by the bed. If it is dark, I can't get motivated to move very fast. Sometimes I go to the bathroom and go back to bed.
There are all kinds of things to read about following your own rhythms. I know that I do follow mine. Some days I can't get up early, some I can. Most nights I can't get to sleep very easily. I read a lot at night. I don't have a clock or a sign or anything that says, "Hurry up! Get UP!" The only thing that notes the time is Noodles. He likes his morning snack by 8 am.
Today was Recycling Day, so I made a brave move. I put a stack of old knitting magazines in the bin. I know I could re-home them somehow. I am not going to worry about it. They went into the bin. With Ravelry so accessible now, I don't have to hoard all those old magazines. I did save the Archaeology magazine that has the article about the unwrapping of an incan mummy. They show all the spindles, weaving things, seeds, dye material, etc. that was wrapped in various layers. I'm keeping that. Don't ask why.
We are now in our rainy Fall period. We badly needed the rain, but why does it come when it is getting darker? Now it is really, really dark, gloomy, and wet. We have not had our first frost yet. I haven't put the stuff in the mowers that keeps them okay through the winter. Got that on the list.
I finished the Sanquhar Sampler as much as I am going to finish. it. Plan B works for me. I knit an edge on one side, added buttonholes, and now it is going to be a pillow. I think it came out pretty nice.
I am also now taking a little rest from the scarf and the sweater to knit some baby hats. A good friend told me her 42-year-old daughter is expecting her first child in April. So I am making them a bit large just in case she needs to save the hats for the Fall next year. There is nothing cuter and faster than making baby hats.
I found some old wool dyed a LONG time ago. So I am spinning that up. The wool is coarser than I am used to. So it may be designated for weaving yarn. I like my knitting yarns to be soft and cuddly. This is not-it is coarse.
I am writing again. I am also dreaming stories again. I am happy to be doing that. I think I am ready to tackle putting together another book of stories. The first one was really my initiation, and it was as unpleasant as initiations are. I will have to find a better publisher/editor. There were so many mistakes in the printing. It is something to think about this winter.
I am ready to make some quilted placemats for Christmas. I think I found the perfect fabric the other day in the thrift store. I found a HUGE shirt with a small eyelet pattern that was the best Christmas red color. I immediately thought it would make the perfect backing for placemats. I have some cotton batting, so all I have to do is get some Christmas material for the top. Put that one on my list this week.
I guess I am almost ready for hibernation. I need to get more canned food for the pantry. I have made some applesauce for the freezer. I dehydrated the last of the apples last week. That is stored in the freezer. I know there are still apples in the grocery store. I may get some more to put up. I love dehydrated apples on my oatmeal. I need to check out the cranberries too. I like to keep at least one bag in the freezer. They are great for breads. It is the weather to start baking bread again. I have to check my supplies and make sure I have everything I need. I know I have some yeast in the freezer, but perhaps I need more. I'll have to check.
I don't know why I am so hungry for bread pudding. I do have some cubed bread in the freezer, but I think it is stale by now.
While I am out tomorrow I will have to get another sack of sunflower seeds for the birds. They are now moving into feeding mode. All the flowers are gone; the seeds are pretty much gone; the bugs are moving under the leaves now. We still have ticks out. Ugh! I will have to make some suet for the woodpeckers now. The season is changing.
This weekend is the Hunt and Roll at Mirkwood. I am not going. I really don't like to camp out when it is rainy and cold. I remember weekends waking up and snow being on the tents and the moisture inside is frozen. I remember sleeping with my water bottle to keep it from freezing. I guess I am really getting old. It does not sound appealing anymore. I like the food, the company, the fun-I don't like the weather any more.
Well-just muttering along. It is late now. Time to go to bed and read a bit. Happy middle of the week.
There are all kinds of things to read about following your own rhythms. I know that I do follow mine. Some days I can't get up early, some I can. Most nights I can't get to sleep very easily. I read a lot at night. I don't have a clock or a sign or anything that says, "Hurry up! Get UP!" The only thing that notes the time is Noodles. He likes his morning snack by 8 am.
Today was Recycling Day, so I made a brave move. I put a stack of old knitting magazines in the bin. I know I could re-home them somehow. I am not going to worry about it. They went into the bin. With Ravelry so accessible now, I don't have to hoard all those old magazines. I did save the Archaeology magazine that has the article about the unwrapping of an incan mummy. They show all the spindles, weaving things, seeds, dye material, etc. that was wrapped in various layers. I'm keeping that. Don't ask why.
We are now in our rainy Fall period. We badly needed the rain, but why does it come when it is getting darker? Now it is really, really dark, gloomy, and wet. We have not had our first frost yet. I haven't put the stuff in the mowers that keeps them okay through the winter. Got that on the list.
I finished the Sanquhar Sampler as much as I am going to finish. it. Plan B works for me. I knit an edge on one side, added buttonholes, and now it is going to be a pillow. I think it came out pretty nice.
I am also now taking a little rest from the scarf and the sweater to knit some baby hats. A good friend told me her 42-year-old daughter is expecting her first child in April. So I am making them a bit large just in case she needs to save the hats for the Fall next year. There is nothing cuter and faster than making baby hats.
I found some old wool dyed a LONG time ago. So I am spinning that up. The wool is coarser than I am used to. So it may be designated for weaving yarn. I like my knitting yarns to be soft and cuddly. This is not-it is coarse.
I am writing again. I am also dreaming stories again. I am happy to be doing that. I think I am ready to tackle putting together another book of stories. The first one was really my initiation, and it was as unpleasant as initiations are. I will have to find a better publisher/editor. There were so many mistakes in the printing. It is something to think about this winter.
I am ready to make some quilted placemats for Christmas. I think I found the perfect fabric the other day in the thrift store. I found a HUGE shirt with a small eyelet pattern that was the best Christmas red color. I immediately thought it would make the perfect backing for placemats. I have some cotton batting, so all I have to do is get some Christmas material for the top. Put that one on my list this week.
I guess I am almost ready for hibernation. I need to get more canned food for the pantry. I have made some applesauce for the freezer. I dehydrated the last of the apples last week. That is stored in the freezer. I know there are still apples in the grocery store. I may get some more to put up. I love dehydrated apples on my oatmeal. I need to check out the cranberries too. I like to keep at least one bag in the freezer. They are great for breads. It is the weather to start baking bread again. I have to check my supplies and make sure I have everything I need. I know I have some yeast in the freezer, but perhaps I need more. I'll have to check.
I don't know why I am so hungry for bread pudding. I do have some cubed bread in the freezer, but I think it is stale by now.
While I am out tomorrow I will have to get another sack of sunflower seeds for the birds. They are now moving into feeding mode. All the flowers are gone; the seeds are pretty much gone; the bugs are moving under the leaves now. We still have ticks out. Ugh! I will have to make some suet for the woodpeckers now. The season is changing.
This weekend is the Hunt and Roll at Mirkwood. I am not going. I really don't like to camp out when it is rainy and cold. I remember weekends waking up and snow being on the tents and the moisture inside is frozen. I remember sleeping with my water bottle to keep it from freezing. I guess I am really getting old. It does not sound appealing anymore. I like the food, the company, the fun-I don't like the weather any more.
Well-just muttering along. It is late now. Time to go to bed and read a bit. Happy middle of the week.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Well-It Is Soon To Be Another Birthday!
Isn't it funny? Years ago I would celebrate my birthday month. Now it is just another day. I have gotten cards in the mail from friends. And my friend CJE gave me a FitBit to track my Heart Rate. She is concerned with my health issues. So now I can track my activity level from slug to pushing it. I monitored my sleep last night. As I already know that I never sleep well or completely through a night, the graph showed I was up or roused 28 times last night. I am not sure I need to know this.
I tried taking Patty on a walk today, but she balked all along the route. She did not want the harness on. When I first got her, I only put the harness on to indicate we were going for a walk. She did not want that thing on, but I prevailed and snugged it up. We would be walking along quite well, and suddenly she would stop. She wouldn't budge. Finally what I had to do was click and snap the lead a couple flicks, and say "Let's go." And she would for a while. She kept looking around like she was trying to figure out where we were. I was too busy trying to dodge the goose and duck poop.
CJE came over yesterday and gave me the new toy. She also made me a pattern for a simple tank top that she created. I am thinking I could sew a few summer tops out of some cute fabric and have some nice tops. Unfortunately we are in a cool snap. Right now I have on a sweatshirt and socks. I cannot remember when was the last time I was still wearing cool weather clothes in late May.
I went to the doctor this a.m. and now I am stable and seem to be accepting the meds without complications. I don't have to go back for three months, unless, of course, I have some weird symptoms. What a relief.
I did come straight home and got the riding mower out to mow the majority of the yard. It was wet down close to the ground, so the mower wasn't happy. I haven't done any weedeating or trip mowing with the push mower. It started to rain and I was glad to not do anything for a while.
I am going to get some minor chores done for house maintenance next week. Unfortunately I did find my floor is soft in the back bathroom. Sigh! I did not want to do any major repairs this year. I told the company I need an estimate, so I can plan when to have the work done.
Noodles caught a mid-size rabbit the other evening. It seems I have a large population of rabbits this year. They are always in the yard, and I have walked right past them without them running off. I only hope that he doesn't get some disease from eating them. He did get something when we lived out near Devil's Den. A tick fever the vet said probably came from rabbits. It is better than Bobcat Fever. That kills domestic cats within 24 hours.
My flowers are starting to grow well in the little bed I made out back. Noodles keeps the catnip trimmed, so it is really getting thick. Hopefully he will allow it to flower. The butterflies and bees really like catnip flowers. The coreopsis is blooming. The milkweed flowers are reddish, but they haven't opened fully.
I have been spinning the purple yarn, but now I am wanting to spin up the green that I just dyed. With the electric spinner I am spinning some white merino. I am thinking that I might just dye the skein when I finish that. I got a coupon from Paradise Fibers for my birthday, so I think I will order some more white fiber. I haven't set up an indigo pot, but surely it will be getting warm soon.
So Jeopardy is coming on. Time to try to outwit the smart folks there. Sometimes I yell at them, and it frustrating why they can't get it. The pleasures of living alone. Ha!
Have a safe holiday weekend. Surely we will soon have sunshine and warmth.
I tried taking Patty on a walk today, but she balked all along the route. She did not want the harness on. When I first got her, I only put the harness on to indicate we were going for a walk. She did not want that thing on, but I prevailed and snugged it up. We would be walking along quite well, and suddenly she would stop. She wouldn't budge. Finally what I had to do was click and snap the lead a couple flicks, and say "Let's go." And she would for a while. She kept looking around like she was trying to figure out where we were. I was too busy trying to dodge the goose and duck poop.
CJE came over yesterday and gave me the new toy. She also made me a pattern for a simple tank top that she created. I am thinking I could sew a few summer tops out of some cute fabric and have some nice tops. Unfortunately we are in a cool snap. Right now I have on a sweatshirt and socks. I cannot remember when was the last time I was still wearing cool weather clothes in late May.
I went to the doctor this a.m. and now I am stable and seem to be accepting the meds without complications. I don't have to go back for three months, unless, of course, I have some weird symptoms. What a relief.
I did come straight home and got the riding mower out to mow the majority of the yard. It was wet down close to the ground, so the mower wasn't happy. I haven't done any weedeating or trip mowing with the push mower. It started to rain and I was glad to not do anything for a while.
I am going to get some minor chores done for house maintenance next week. Unfortunately I did find my floor is soft in the back bathroom. Sigh! I did not want to do any major repairs this year. I told the company I need an estimate, so I can plan when to have the work done.
Noodles caught a mid-size rabbit the other evening. It seems I have a large population of rabbits this year. They are always in the yard, and I have walked right past them without them running off. I only hope that he doesn't get some disease from eating them. He did get something when we lived out near Devil's Den. A tick fever the vet said probably came from rabbits. It is better than Bobcat Fever. That kills domestic cats within 24 hours.
My flowers are starting to grow well in the little bed I made out back. Noodles keeps the catnip trimmed, so it is really getting thick. Hopefully he will allow it to flower. The butterflies and bees really like catnip flowers. The coreopsis is blooming. The milkweed flowers are reddish, but they haven't opened fully.
I have been spinning the purple yarn, but now I am wanting to spin up the green that I just dyed. With the electric spinner I am spinning some white merino. I am thinking that I might just dye the skein when I finish that. I got a coupon from Paradise Fibers for my birthday, so I think I will order some more white fiber. I haven't set up an indigo pot, but surely it will be getting warm soon.
So Jeopardy is coming on. Time to try to outwit the smart folks there. Sometimes I yell at them, and it frustrating why they can't get it. The pleasures of living alone. Ha!
Have a safe holiday weekend. Surely we will soon have sunshine and warmth.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
There Ain't No Sense to Anything
This has been the craziest April yet. We have been swamped in rain-which is a good thing. Unfortunately it means I can't keep up with the yard work that needs done. It has been hard to look out and see the high grass or the weeds. And it is pouring rain.
It has been unseasonably warm. Highs in the 70's. Wonderful to have the sun and warmth. We did get a new front and it is going to cool down to normal next week. Back to a sweater in the mornings and still wearing long pants.
I just had a quick visit from my cousin and it was a nice calm visit. We talk about family a lot, and it is interesting that we are closer to each other than to our siblings. We eat and talk a lot. Last night we did genealogy for a good long time. We studied maps of England to locate where ancestors lived. We looked at photos and discussed history. While he was talking to his wife and discussing a trip they are taking in May, I rushed outside to look at the sky.
He joined me to look at constellations and discuss names of stars and planets. I love my Star Guide on my IPad. I recommend it to everyone.
My older brother told me they had such a bad storm Thursday night. He said he was afraid he would wake up in Kansas with Toto. I am glad they are getting some rain for a while. It is so dry in Texas in the summer.
I am knitting along on my Sanquhar Cowl. I started a pair of socks as a carry along project. I am now at the point of making up my mind who is going to receive them. That will tell me how long to make the foot. I have two people in mind, but I guess I will have to toss a coin.
I am itching to start another sweater. I really don't need another sweater. I just like the length of the project. It takes a lot to commit to a project like that. I think that is a stupid reason to start a sweater.
I have been putzing along spinning my last bobbin of orange yarn. I watched Wolf Hall yesterday on the computer while I was spinning. I think this is going to be a beautiful yarn. Such vivid color.
My doctor finally is beginning to listen to me. It has been so frustrating to me that I can't make them believe what I am saying. I am on the third kind of medicine. Fingers crossed this one seems to be the answer to the problem of regulating my b.p. without side effects. My daily readings are pretty stable and I am not dizzy or woozy feeling. It almost is like a cloud was lifted off my head after three days. So-we will see. Funny thing that the doctor told me all my blood work is normal. They can't find anything else wrong, no matter what they dream up that needs to be tested.
I got my serger back from the repair man. I am lucky that I have found a guy that will come to the house and pick up either my sewing machine or the serger and bring it back all fixed. Of course, I have to pay a little more for service. Now I have to just make myself get up and start making those pillow cases that are on my shelf of "make this now" stuff.
Patty got her Spring haircut. It was a traumatic experience for her and me. She jumped, bucked, squirmed, jerked about. When he was getting to the close trim with scissors to sculpt around her face and legs, I just held her down. What should have been a one-hour job took two hours. She is changing fast in some things with this dementia thing, and then there are days that she seems her usual self.
Other than that, my life seems to be on a slow-boat to nowhere. I have my routines and my life is super simple. It is very nice to just putter around and do a little bit of work every day. I am very blessed. I am just happy that my one little bit of health problem is probably on the road to okay. Maybe now that my head is clearer I can actually get things done.
Happy Spring. Maybe now most everyone around is experiencing green happenings instead of white and cold happenings.
It has been unseasonably warm. Highs in the 70's. Wonderful to have the sun and warmth. We did get a new front and it is going to cool down to normal next week. Back to a sweater in the mornings and still wearing long pants.
I just had a quick visit from my cousin and it was a nice calm visit. We talk about family a lot, and it is interesting that we are closer to each other than to our siblings. We eat and talk a lot. Last night we did genealogy for a good long time. We studied maps of England to locate where ancestors lived. We looked at photos and discussed history. While he was talking to his wife and discussing a trip they are taking in May, I rushed outside to look at the sky.
He joined me to look at constellations and discuss names of stars and planets. I love my Star Guide on my IPad. I recommend it to everyone.
My older brother told me they had such a bad storm Thursday night. He said he was afraid he would wake up in Kansas with Toto. I am glad they are getting some rain for a while. It is so dry in Texas in the summer.
I am knitting along on my Sanquhar Cowl. I started a pair of socks as a carry along project. I am now at the point of making up my mind who is going to receive them. That will tell me how long to make the foot. I have two people in mind, but I guess I will have to toss a coin.
I am itching to start another sweater. I really don't need another sweater. I just like the length of the project. It takes a lot to commit to a project like that. I think that is a stupid reason to start a sweater.
I have been putzing along spinning my last bobbin of orange yarn. I watched Wolf Hall yesterday on the computer while I was spinning. I think this is going to be a beautiful yarn. Such vivid color.
My doctor finally is beginning to listen to me. It has been so frustrating to me that I can't make them believe what I am saying. I am on the third kind of medicine. Fingers crossed this one seems to be the answer to the problem of regulating my b.p. without side effects. My daily readings are pretty stable and I am not dizzy or woozy feeling. It almost is like a cloud was lifted off my head after three days. So-we will see. Funny thing that the doctor told me all my blood work is normal. They can't find anything else wrong, no matter what they dream up that needs to be tested.
I got my serger back from the repair man. I am lucky that I have found a guy that will come to the house and pick up either my sewing machine or the serger and bring it back all fixed. Of course, I have to pay a little more for service. Now I have to just make myself get up and start making those pillow cases that are on my shelf of "make this now" stuff.
Patty got her Spring haircut. It was a traumatic experience for her and me. She jumped, bucked, squirmed, jerked about. When he was getting to the close trim with scissors to sculpt around her face and legs, I just held her down. What should have been a one-hour job took two hours. She is changing fast in some things with this dementia thing, and then there are days that she seems her usual self.
Other than that, my life seems to be on a slow-boat to nowhere. I have my routines and my life is super simple. It is very nice to just putter around and do a little bit of work every day. I am very blessed. I am just happy that my one little bit of health problem is probably on the road to okay. Maybe now that my head is clearer I can actually get things done.
Happy Spring. Maybe now most everyone around is experiencing green happenings instead of white and cold happenings.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
It's The End-Again!
Although I don't think of the traditional Jan 1 as New Year's, it is the beginning of new things. It is an Aries moon, a time of new beginnings, a time of turning things around, a time to reflect and change.
Since my last time to leave Patty at the boarding place, I knew that my adventures away from home would be coming to an end. She is not doing so well; she has certainly showed me signs of a geriatric dog with special needs. I notice them because of my education and training and the fact that I am with her all the time. Her vision has decreased, her hearing has decreased, and her need to be with me has increased.
So this whole month I have been thinking about what to do. Partly thinking, anyway. I have a tendency to put ideas in and let them stew for a while. I have enjoyed my selfish knitting and my selfish spinning. I don't feel the pressure to put out more and more.
I have also decided to teach myself a new skill-rug hooking. I don't think the process is difficult-it's the practice, practice, practice kind of skill. I like the type of hooking that looks as if it is painterly. I like the mixing of colors and textures to add interest. It is the color in the lines part I don't like. We will see how it evolves.
So this is just one more thing that is taking up my time. Now add to that my sewing. I bought a design wall and I have placed my quilt blocks from the quilt that was abandoned two years ago. I did give a lot of fabric away to my SIL that quilts. I cleaned off the shelves. I did not sort through the flannels yet. I also need to decide what to do with some other things in that room. I have pillowcases to make, also.
So this is the end of the year 2014 by our traditional calendar. Time to reflect and decide how things are going to go.
Thanks to all my friends and comrades that helped me along my path this year. My book was published, book signings were done, fiber shows were done, and lots of stuff to consider.
Several transitions have occurred and it is time to think about those people too.
See you next year!
Since my last time to leave Patty at the boarding place, I knew that my adventures away from home would be coming to an end. She is not doing so well; she has certainly showed me signs of a geriatric dog with special needs. I notice them because of my education and training and the fact that I am with her all the time. Her vision has decreased, her hearing has decreased, and her need to be with me has increased.
So this whole month I have been thinking about what to do. Partly thinking, anyway. I have a tendency to put ideas in and let them stew for a while. I have enjoyed my selfish knitting and my selfish spinning. I don't feel the pressure to put out more and more.
I have also decided to teach myself a new skill-rug hooking. I don't think the process is difficult-it's the practice, practice, practice kind of skill. I like the type of hooking that looks as if it is painterly. I like the mixing of colors and textures to add interest. It is the color in the lines part I don't like. We will see how it evolves.
So this is just one more thing that is taking up my time. Now add to that my sewing. I bought a design wall and I have placed my quilt blocks from the quilt that was abandoned two years ago. I did give a lot of fabric away to my SIL that quilts. I cleaned off the shelves. I did not sort through the flannels yet. I also need to decide what to do with some other things in that room. I have pillowcases to make, also.
So this is the end of the year 2014 by our traditional calendar. Time to reflect and decide how things are going to go.
Thanks to all my friends and comrades that helped me along my path this year. My book was published, book signings were done, fiber shows were done, and lots of stuff to consider.
Several transitions have occurred and it is time to think about those people too.
See you next year!
Monday, May 26, 2014
Almost June
I have been a horrible blogger this month. A whole lot of nothing going on.
-Yard work takes precedence over everything else. It takes a big chunk of time to mow, trim, and weed eat.
-CJE and I went to Hollister, MO for an OWL (Ozarks Writers League) meeting. We stayed in an old hotel that has been restored to nice accommodations. The noise level from the bar and the people in the hallway made me feel as if I was in some dormitory somewhere. CJE was deadly sick the whole weekend with sinus infection. Not a lot of fun. She slept the whole trip.
-CJE and I went to Eureka Springs after OWL meeting, stayed at the Writer's Colony Saturday night, and then attended Books in Bloom on Sunday. Again, CJE sick, sluggish, and not feeling right. AE called me to talk to her, and we headed home after that.
-Moving slowly, but steadily, along on the sleeve of colorwork sweater. After ripping out the four inches, I think this time it will stay in. Looks good to me now. Interesting part- decreases every four rows. Repetitive pattern not so interesting to create, but looks pretty.
-Had a spurt of interest in spinning some yarn, and could not face white. So dyed it pretty blue color.
The yarn will match my bachelor buttons outside.
-My yard is again covered in bachelor buttons and weeds mixed in those. I am amazed at my neighbor's abhorrence of the untidiness of everything. I like it, and I don't care that they don't. She is afraid of snakes.
-Noodles has decided now to systematically kill off every chipmunk that might be around. I wish he would kill other rodents, but he has his own menu.
-Patty was boarded while CJE and I were on our weekend trip. She came home with some weird habits from the other dogs. Noodles had to slap her down twice until she remembered she was out of control. Things back to normal now.
-The dreadful privet bushes out front are blooming. It is a very sickening sweet smell that I am highly allergic to. Since I keep windows and doors open and sit on the screened porch, there is no avoiding the smell or pollen. UGHHH!
-I started a barn-raising square. I had so much trouble with the cast-on and double points. Gave my one square to CP at LYS, and told her my problem. I showed her the granny square afghan I am crocheting with the yarn I bought. JF came in, laughed at me, and said she always teaches people to use the magic loop method. That was a DUH! moment. I never thought of that. She said everyone on Ravelry that had problems used double-points. DUH!
-I had my birthday this weekend. Weirdest thing-Google had birthday cupcakes, etc. When I pressed the Google logo to see who had a birthday the same day as me, it popped up "Happy Birthday, Juliann". Now it is strange to know I have a relationship with my computer. I also got a birthday email greeting from Toyota. Too strange, huh?
So see not a lot going on. Just mundane things that occur around here. Not a lot going on. I am moving towards sewing, but haven't gotten there. Goal for the summer is finish the two quilts I started last year. I want to do some small sewing projects too. Just moving towards hottest part of summer when I am not as interested in knitting.
So soon we move into June. I really like June. It is a transition month with the Solstice in the middle. I enjoy the screened porch in the first part of the day, and seek coolness for the hot part of the day. So come on June-I'm ready for ya.
-Yard work takes precedence over everything else. It takes a big chunk of time to mow, trim, and weed eat.
-CJE and I went to Hollister, MO for an OWL (Ozarks Writers League) meeting. We stayed in an old hotel that has been restored to nice accommodations. The noise level from the bar and the people in the hallway made me feel as if I was in some dormitory somewhere. CJE was deadly sick the whole weekend with sinus infection. Not a lot of fun. She slept the whole trip.
-CJE and I went to Eureka Springs after OWL meeting, stayed at the Writer's Colony Saturday night, and then attended Books in Bloom on Sunday. Again, CJE sick, sluggish, and not feeling right. AE called me to talk to her, and we headed home after that.
-Moving slowly, but steadily, along on the sleeve of colorwork sweater. After ripping out the four inches, I think this time it will stay in. Looks good to me now. Interesting part- decreases every four rows. Repetitive pattern not so interesting to create, but looks pretty.
-Had a spurt of interest in spinning some yarn, and could not face white. So dyed it pretty blue color.
The yarn will match my bachelor buttons outside.
-My yard is again covered in bachelor buttons and weeds mixed in those. I am amazed at my neighbor's abhorrence of the untidiness of everything. I like it, and I don't care that they don't. She is afraid of snakes.
-Noodles has decided now to systematically kill off every chipmunk that might be around. I wish he would kill other rodents, but he has his own menu.
-Patty was boarded while CJE and I were on our weekend trip. She came home with some weird habits from the other dogs. Noodles had to slap her down twice until she remembered she was out of control. Things back to normal now.
-The dreadful privet bushes out front are blooming. It is a very sickening sweet smell that I am highly allergic to. Since I keep windows and doors open and sit on the screened porch, there is no avoiding the smell or pollen. UGHHH!
-I started a barn-raising square. I had so much trouble with the cast-on and double points. Gave my one square to CP at LYS, and told her my problem. I showed her the granny square afghan I am crocheting with the yarn I bought. JF came in, laughed at me, and said she always teaches people to use the magic loop method. That was a DUH! moment. I never thought of that. She said everyone on Ravelry that had problems used double-points. DUH!
-I had my birthday this weekend. Weirdest thing-Google had birthday cupcakes, etc. When I pressed the Google logo to see who had a birthday the same day as me, it popped up "Happy Birthday, Juliann". Now it is strange to know I have a relationship with my computer. I also got a birthday email greeting from Toyota. Too strange, huh?
So see not a lot going on. Just mundane things that occur around here. Not a lot going on. I am moving towards sewing, but haven't gotten there. Goal for the summer is finish the two quilts I started last year. I want to do some small sewing projects too. Just moving towards hottest part of summer when I am not as interested in knitting.
So soon we move into June. I really like June. It is a transition month with the Solstice in the middle. I enjoy the screened porch in the first part of the day, and seek coolness for the hot part of the day. So come on June-I'm ready for ya.
Friday, May 2, 2014
It's Finally May!
As usual the first of May is coolish. I am still wearing sweaters. Some idiots are wearing short sleeves, flip-flops, and occasionally I see a silly little girl in shorts; I am still wearing sweaters.
The weatherman is promising 70's by this weekend. Be still my heart. I will be sitting outside in the sunshine for sure.
Today is chaos. The men are here installing a shower in the hall bathroom. It is not a big job, but one that does require some skill. I am not very good at plumbing. They have their cloths laid out on the floor, and the work has commenced.
I spent my May Day (yesterday) with a friend who had oral surgery. I couldn't help but compare his experience with mine. I felt as if I was in a factory. The workers were well organized, scripts were memorized, and the doctor was quick and efficient and on his way to another patient. I barely understood all the instructions he gave. It is helpful that I know what meds are what and how they are utilized.
Afterwards I was able to get my friend into his pharmacy and drugs purchased. Then on the way home I pulled through Sonic to buy him a milkshake. My surgery team gave me a free coupon for ice cream, his did not. I know it is pure sugar, but I thought my friend looked a little bit shocky. After eating the ice cream and some cold tomato soup I brought for him, he slept until 5 pm.
I was able to get the dogs walked twice, checked on the horses, and I got a lot of knitting done. My friend does not have t.v. or internet, so knitting it was going to be. I got him up at a little after 5 pm and got two cups of warmed broth from the soup I made for him. I left him a huge container of soup and some soba noodles for today. He was rearranging the horses in different grass eating places when I left.
Today he reported to me he feels fine and normal. There is minimum swelling, and he is going to do some of his errands as planned. He is telling me there is minimum pain. So I guess he will not need the narcotics that the doctor ordered.
I am spinning some very lovely BFL in small quantities. I find my attention span is limited to small batches right now. The color is called oatmeal, and is a blend of two light browns of natural color. Very pretty. BFL has become my macaroni and cheese spinning. It is comfort spinning.
I began knitting a square for the Barn Raising afghan. I found the cast on very fidgety and had some difficulty keeping the stitches from falling off as I knit around in the beginning. So after blocking it, the laddering is so apparent to me. I don't like the way it looks. I tried again to start a second square, and just had the same experience of loosing stitches as I began the knitting. So I ripped it out and started crocheting a giant Granny Square afghan. I like the way it looks and the mistakes I make are not so apparent. It seems to suit the yarn better. I am using Noro's Taiyo sock yarn. The colorways are nice.
I have sewing on the mind, but my attention span is limited to short time at the machine. I have a project or two going and I can't seem to finish anything. Oh, well, when the summer heat arrives, I like to spend more time sewing than knitting.
I managed to get the riding mowing part of the yard work done this week. It was rather silly to see me in a jacket and a knit cap out mowing the yard. I knew I would lose yesterday and the men were coming today for the bathroom. Then it's the weekend, and another week has gone by. So to help control the weeds, I did the major mow job. I still haven't gotten the trim work or the weed eating work done. I don't feel compelled to run out in the wind and do it.
Patty is feeling rather clingy today. She felt so totally abandoned yesterday that she is not letting me out of sight. Noodles was somewhat following me around this morning, but he is off to his hunting routine at the moment.
I finished the red sockies, and they should be in Holly's hands today.
CJE and AE are home from their trip to Peru. She is happy to be home. I think she learned some valued lessons on this trip about caring for herself. She needs a vacation from the vacation.
I guess that is all the catching up I can do. I want to get the hummingbird feeder cleaned and restocked.
Hopefully the news continues to be good news. It is time for warmth and sunshine and happy days.
The weatherman is promising 70's by this weekend. Be still my heart. I will be sitting outside in the sunshine for sure.
Today is chaos. The men are here installing a shower in the hall bathroom. It is not a big job, but one that does require some skill. I am not very good at plumbing. They have their cloths laid out on the floor, and the work has commenced.
I spent my May Day (yesterday) with a friend who had oral surgery. I couldn't help but compare his experience with mine. I felt as if I was in a factory. The workers were well organized, scripts were memorized, and the doctor was quick and efficient and on his way to another patient. I barely understood all the instructions he gave. It is helpful that I know what meds are what and how they are utilized.
Afterwards I was able to get my friend into his pharmacy and drugs purchased. Then on the way home I pulled through Sonic to buy him a milkshake. My surgery team gave me a free coupon for ice cream, his did not. I know it is pure sugar, but I thought my friend looked a little bit shocky. After eating the ice cream and some cold tomato soup I brought for him, he slept until 5 pm.
I was able to get the dogs walked twice, checked on the horses, and I got a lot of knitting done. My friend does not have t.v. or internet, so knitting it was going to be. I got him up at a little after 5 pm and got two cups of warmed broth from the soup I made for him. I left him a huge container of soup and some soba noodles for today. He was rearranging the horses in different grass eating places when I left.
Today he reported to me he feels fine and normal. There is minimum swelling, and he is going to do some of his errands as planned. He is telling me there is minimum pain. So I guess he will not need the narcotics that the doctor ordered.
I am spinning some very lovely BFL in small quantities. I find my attention span is limited to small batches right now. The color is called oatmeal, and is a blend of two light browns of natural color. Very pretty. BFL has become my macaroni and cheese spinning. It is comfort spinning.
I began knitting a square for the Barn Raising afghan. I found the cast on very fidgety and had some difficulty keeping the stitches from falling off as I knit around in the beginning. So after blocking it, the laddering is so apparent to me. I don't like the way it looks. I tried again to start a second square, and just had the same experience of loosing stitches as I began the knitting. So I ripped it out and started crocheting a giant Granny Square afghan. I like the way it looks and the mistakes I make are not so apparent. It seems to suit the yarn better. I am using Noro's Taiyo sock yarn. The colorways are nice.
I have sewing on the mind, but my attention span is limited to short time at the machine. I have a project or two going and I can't seem to finish anything. Oh, well, when the summer heat arrives, I like to spend more time sewing than knitting.
I managed to get the riding mowing part of the yard work done this week. It was rather silly to see me in a jacket and a knit cap out mowing the yard. I knew I would lose yesterday and the men were coming today for the bathroom. Then it's the weekend, and another week has gone by. So to help control the weeds, I did the major mow job. I still haven't gotten the trim work or the weed eating work done. I don't feel compelled to run out in the wind and do it.
Patty is feeling rather clingy today. She felt so totally abandoned yesterday that she is not letting me out of sight. Noodles was somewhat following me around this morning, but he is off to his hunting routine at the moment.
I finished the red sockies, and they should be in Holly's hands today.
CJE and AE are home from their trip to Peru. She is happy to be home. I think she learned some valued lessons on this trip about caring for herself. She needs a vacation from the vacation.
I guess that is all the catching up I can do. I want to get the hummingbird feeder cleaned and restocked.
Hopefully the news continues to be good news. It is time for warmth and sunshine and happy days.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Almost Spring!
This year the weather has been so unpredictable. With the never-ending winter, any sunshine is welcome. April is traditionally the month of severe storms, and lots of rain. We have had some storminess, but a good amount of rain. Last year we had snow for the first time ever in May.
So I have company coming over the weekend. My cousin is making his annual visit and we always go to Grove, OK to visit his family property that he and his sister own. Once we roll into town, I stop at the big convenient store by the WalMart and get a drink and to go to the bathroom.
Then we head to the cemetery to visit his family there. I love to drive around cemeteries. I know it is a Southern 'thing', but I love to read headstones. I found one some years ago in the Grove cemetery that I loved. The woman has not died yet, but her stone is a double one with her husbands. His side has his pertinent information, but the most interesting thing is the carving of wood tools. Her side has a shuttle. I think this is a grand way to be remembered. A woodworker and a weaver-side-by-side through eternity.
I am stuck on the fancy sweater. It has a complex way to add on the sleeves, and I am not sure I understand it. I asked my friend CJE to read it, and I think we both concluded the same solution. I am just not sure it is the right solution.
I have finished one of the red socks that a friend wants me to make. I also started a scarf with some handspun yarn that I am doing in a chevron pattern. It isn't fancy. I wanted to do a cable pattern, but had some difficulty following the chart. I started over with a lacy pattern, but I kept losing stitches. After these two failures, I cast on the garter stitch chevron pattern in my head. It isn't fancy, but it is textural.
I walked into my sewing room this morning, and it felt sad. I have ignored my sewing for way too long. I have to finish the two quilts I have started. I don't think I have procrastinated so long before on these projects. I usually like to sew in the summer and it will be here sooner than I think.
I have also been dyeing two summer dresses with the Steep and Store method of India Flint. I took one out of the jar last weekend and it looks good. I have to make some darts and modifications to the top. I am sorta in the mood to embellish it some with some embroidery. The other one is still steeping. It is always a surprise when one dyes this way.
Two years ago I tried compost dyeing. I left compost, fabric, iron bits, and leaves in my iron pot on the deck. I did not remove anything until the winter was over. I like some of the fabric a lot. I am having fun with all this stuff anyway. It is a more ecological way to dye, but it takes a lot longer to do than the traditional heat and serve method.
My girlfriend CF says her first sentinel hummingbird has arrived. Whew! My other birds will not like it if I take down any of their feeders. I remember last year I waited until a week after she saw her scout, and that water I put up soured. I think it is more like two weeks after her report that I start getting the early arrivals here.
The rebuds are blooming finally. The forsythia is on the last few days of its bloom. Leaves are sprouting all over that. The weigeilia is leafing out. The red buckeyes have huge leaves and flowers are coming on. The hollyhocks are about a foot high. They need to be sprayed soon. The daffodils are done. I always leave the green shoots for a long time to give the bulbs time to feed. The bachelor buttons are popping up all over the yard. So all signs of early Spring.
I am hopefully on the final editing of my book. I am so sick of these stories. I have learned that I have to read everything very, very, very carefully. The editor misses some things. I will be happy to be done and on to printing.
So I am feeling guilty. I need to clean the house a little bit today. I will start by washing dishes and sweeping the floor. That helps.
Have a good week. Don't put sweaters away yet.
So I have company coming over the weekend. My cousin is making his annual visit and we always go to Grove, OK to visit his family property that he and his sister own. Once we roll into town, I stop at the big convenient store by the WalMart and get a drink and to go to the bathroom.
Then we head to the cemetery to visit his family there. I love to drive around cemeteries. I know it is a Southern 'thing', but I love to read headstones. I found one some years ago in the Grove cemetery that I loved. The woman has not died yet, but her stone is a double one with her husbands. His side has his pertinent information, but the most interesting thing is the carving of wood tools. Her side has a shuttle. I think this is a grand way to be remembered. A woodworker and a weaver-side-by-side through eternity.
I am stuck on the fancy sweater. It has a complex way to add on the sleeves, and I am not sure I understand it. I asked my friend CJE to read it, and I think we both concluded the same solution. I am just not sure it is the right solution.
I have finished one of the red socks that a friend wants me to make. I also started a scarf with some handspun yarn that I am doing in a chevron pattern. It isn't fancy. I wanted to do a cable pattern, but had some difficulty following the chart. I started over with a lacy pattern, but I kept losing stitches. After these two failures, I cast on the garter stitch chevron pattern in my head. It isn't fancy, but it is textural.
I walked into my sewing room this morning, and it felt sad. I have ignored my sewing for way too long. I have to finish the two quilts I have started. I don't think I have procrastinated so long before on these projects. I usually like to sew in the summer and it will be here sooner than I think.
I have also been dyeing two summer dresses with the Steep and Store method of India Flint. I took one out of the jar last weekend and it looks good. I have to make some darts and modifications to the top. I am sorta in the mood to embellish it some with some embroidery. The other one is still steeping. It is always a surprise when one dyes this way.
Two years ago I tried compost dyeing. I left compost, fabric, iron bits, and leaves in my iron pot on the deck. I did not remove anything until the winter was over. I like some of the fabric a lot. I am having fun with all this stuff anyway. It is a more ecological way to dye, but it takes a lot longer to do than the traditional heat and serve method.
My girlfriend CF says her first sentinel hummingbird has arrived. Whew! My other birds will not like it if I take down any of their feeders. I remember last year I waited until a week after she saw her scout, and that water I put up soured. I think it is more like two weeks after her report that I start getting the early arrivals here.
The rebuds are blooming finally. The forsythia is on the last few days of its bloom. Leaves are sprouting all over that. The weigeilia is leafing out. The red buckeyes have huge leaves and flowers are coming on. The hollyhocks are about a foot high. They need to be sprayed soon. The daffodils are done. I always leave the green shoots for a long time to give the bulbs time to feed. The bachelor buttons are popping up all over the yard. So all signs of early Spring.
I am hopefully on the final editing of my book. I am so sick of these stories. I have learned that I have to read everything very, very, very carefully. The editor misses some things. I will be happy to be done and on to printing.
So I am feeling guilty. I need to clean the house a little bit today. I will start by washing dishes and sweeping the floor. That helps.
Have a good week. Don't put sweaters away yet.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Knitters Like to Party!
It was loud, it was fun, and it was more than any baby should sleep through. But she did!
I took Patty with me, and she was very good. She nosed around until more and more folks arrived. She settled under the table and watched me. At one time she heard the baby making noises, and she looked for that. But otherwise, quiet and well-behaved. And she ignored the shop cat, Sasha.
I did go to the County Fair, and the man actually asked me if I was a senior when I got to the gate. That was nice. It was senior citizen day and admission was free. I saw a bunch of animals, and I looked over my friends' lovely things in the exhibit hall. I met lovely Olivia in the sheep barn. She had her first sheep, and it was a Jacob. She told me she drove 6 hours to Missouri to find a "show-quality" sheep. Since she was still a baby sheep, she did not shear her for the show. I gave her my card. I found one French angora rabbit and it was for sale. I emailed a friend who is looking for another rabbit. It was very lovely and well-groomed, of course.
So Isaac arrived some time last night. The wind was interesting up to bed time. I did not think we got any rain, but when I woke up there is a light rain falling steadily. Hopefully it will be light enough to just soak in. The frogs have been chirping on the back deck area. I fed the birds and they are squabbling for food. So, not a bad day for fiber art indoors.
Noodles pulled the quilt that I am sewing on down and made his own nest. I need all the help I can get to finish the hand sewing.
So have a good Labor Day weekend. I am staying home rather than go camping with friends at Mirkwood. The latest report is that no one knows for sure if the creek has flooded. I don't really want to drive for miles and find out we have to go somewhere else.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
What a Tease!
Yesterday afternoon clouds moved in and there was thunder all around us. I noticed that the wind was blowing a little more. I walked out to the deck, and it was cooler. It was in the high 80's! Oh, boy, a real storm. But as the afternoon carried on, no rain. No rain. How could Nature tease like this. On the weather report at 6 p.m., other places got rain. No rain. Still dry.
This morning it was cool-around 79 degrees. There was some tiny bits of dew on the grass stems.
CF is coming today, so I took advantage of the cooler weather and baked some multigrain rolls. I ate a warm bit of bread with soft goat cheese, and it was heavenly. I had forgotten how good hot bread tastes. The muffins I made is not the same as chewy multigrain rolls.
Isn't Life the funniest thing? A silly thing as hot bread, clouds that cool the air, and the news that my nephew finally married his girl. Yeah! I am so proud of him. They stood in the surf and had a friend of his marry them before they flew off to the Keys for a honeymoon. Yeah!
I gave Patty a quick bath to cool her off and to help with her appearance. She badly needs a trim, but that will wait a while. This week is really busy. She and I have a ritual that I rub her with the towel and say "Shaky, Shaky" and she shakes and grins and jumps. We do that for several rubs, then I gently comb out her leg hairs and her mustache. Then she shakes all that apart, and runs into the house and out again. It is so funny!
The sun is out now, and the heat is on. I don't know how long I can go without the a/c.
My neighbor's dogs are getting really tired of the new routine. They want their mama and daddy to just come home and go back to their routine. Abby is "acting out" and is sullen. Beau could care less, but wants to stay out in the sunroom on his couch. They do not like being shut up in a small laundry room all day.
I have not worked on the new quilt. I finally found the fabric I want for the binding on the quilt I got back from the quilter. Yesterday I measured and sewed and ironed the binding. Today I hope to get it sewn on. Maybe tomorrow. It depends on when CF gets here.
I have been spinning while listening to an audio book. I am not pushing myself, but I want to hurry up and finish it up. I am spinning the second skein of the camel/merino. I really like the first skein, and hope this one is as nice as the first.
CJE loaned me a video on Combing Fibers. I have never really combed fibers very much, but I got kinda excited about it. It isn't as easy as she makes it look. I am thinking of saving up money for a pair of mini combs for finer fibers. I have been thinking of how to process the bison easier than I have done so in the past. I also would like to have a set of paddle combs to blend with. I want to experiment with colors a little more. CJE has a pair of Viking combs, so that would be something to practise on.
Well, I guess I will dust mop the floor to get up some of the dust bunnies. Thank goodness, no one really expects me to clean my house. The sheets are clean on the bed, and the bathroom is clean. That should count for something.
Well, down to business. Later.
This morning it was cool-around 79 degrees. There was some tiny bits of dew on the grass stems.
CF is coming today, so I took advantage of the cooler weather and baked some multigrain rolls. I ate a warm bit of bread with soft goat cheese, and it was heavenly. I had forgotten how good hot bread tastes. The muffins I made is not the same as chewy multigrain rolls.
Isn't Life the funniest thing? A silly thing as hot bread, clouds that cool the air, and the news that my nephew finally married his girl. Yeah! I am so proud of him. They stood in the surf and had a friend of his marry them before they flew off to the Keys for a honeymoon. Yeah!
I gave Patty a quick bath to cool her off and to help with her appearance. She badly needs a trim, but that will wait a while. This week is really busy. She and I have a ritual that I rub her with the towel and say "Shaky, Shaky" and she shakes and grins and jumps. We do that for several rubs, then I gently comb out her leg hairs and her mustache. Then she shakes all that apart, and runs into the house and out again. It is so funny!
The sun is out now, and the heat is on. I don't know how long I can go without the a/c.
My neighbor's dogs are getting really tired of the new routine. They want their mama and daddy to just come home and go back to their routine. Abby is "acting out" and is sullen. Beau could care less, but wants to stay out in the sunroom on his couch. They do not like being shut up in a small laundry room all day.
I have not worked on the new quilt. I finally found the fabric I want for the binding on the quilt I got back from the quilter. Yesterday I measured and sewed and ironed the binding. Today I hope to get it sewn on. Maybe tomorrow. It depends on when CF gets here.
I have been spinning while listening to an audio book. I am not pushing myself, but I want to hurry up and finish it up. I am spinning the second skein of the camel/merino. I really like the first skein, and hope this one is as nice as the first.
CJE loaned me a video on Combing Fibers. I have never really combed fibers very much, but I got kinda excited about it. It isn't as easy as she makes it look. I am thinking of saving up money for a pair of mini combs for finer fibers. I have been thinking of how to process the bison easier than I have done so in the past. I also would like to have a set of paddle combs to blend with. I want to experiment with colors a little more. CJE has a pair of Viking combs, so that would be something to practise on.
Well, I guess I will dust mop the floor to get up some of the dust bunnies. Thank goodness, no one really expects me to clean my house. The sheets are clean on the bed, and the bathroom is clean. That should count for something.
Well, down to business. Later.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
It's July-It's Hot!
I am certainly not going to talk about the weather. It's July-It's Hot! And dry! Watching for fires.
Sometimes I find certain amusements in my two fur kids. Noodles has been teasing Patty a lot lately by lying in her bed. Then one day I put my basket on the chaise while I was doing something else. And there he found his nest. Maybe the message is "Fill the space you are in". He is a 17 pound cat, and it is a wonder what he can do with his body. Today he is snoozing in my photo cube I set up on the screened porch. A great cave place.
Patty has been going to the neighbor's to find junk thrown out. The other day I had to walk over to their yard and scream at her. She is great with her selective hearing. She came trotting up with something in her mouth. It was a piece of garlic bread they had thrown out for the birds and critters.
Today she just wants to play on the floor and eat her "chewy".
I finally put out a bowl of water for the woodchuck and other rodents. I know that everyone is looking for water lately. I put water in the bird bath everyday. I also put out half of a small watermelon the other day, and it was gone in one day.
Oh-I am happy, happy, happy that my grocery store has yellow watermelons. I don't know why, but I really like to eat fruit in season. The melons I have been getting lately are super sweet and wonderful when cold. The peaches are local grown. They are small, but oh, so sweet and juicy. The corn is really sweet now too.
I have finished one skein of my baby camel/merino that I plied with black alpaca. I really like the contrast of the natural beige and black. Now onto #2.
I finished sockie #1, and I started #2.
I am still knitting on the soft, squooshy, merino wrap.
I am still weaving the dishtowels.
I am still sewing squares for the next quilt. Oh, I should be getting the latest quilt from the quilter today. I can't wait. Then I can put binding on it and be done.
I am still using the air conditioner. Can't take the humidity and wool together.
So that's it!
My nephew's wedding was cancelled for tomorrow. Something going on, but he is not talking to his dad about it. That's my brother-who is really upset over it all-and I emailed my nephew with all the love a meddling aunt could muster. I just want him to be happy.
No plans for the 4th. Just trying to stay cool and hydrated.
Have a fun time tomorrow, enjoy the week, and stay cool!
Patty has been going to the neighbor's to find junk thrown out. The other day I had to walk over to their yard and scream at her. She is great with her selective hearing. She came trotting up with something in her mouth. It was a piece of garlic bread they had thrown out for the birds and critters.
Today she just wants to play on the floor and eat her "chewy".
I finally put out a bowl of water for the woodchuck and other rodents. I know that everyone is looking for water lately. I put water in the bird bath everyday. I also put out half of a small watermelon the other day, and it was gone in one day.
Oh-I am happy, happy, happy that my grocery store has yellow watermelons. I don't know why, but I really like to eat fruit in season. The melons I have been getting lately are super sweet and wonderful when cold. The peaches are local grown. They are small, but oh, so sweet and juicy. The corn is really sweet now too.
I have finished one skein of my baby camel/merino that I plied with black alpaca. I really like the contrast of the natural beige and black. Now onto #2.
I finished sockie #1, and I started #2.
I am still knitting on the soft, squooshy, merino wrap.
I am still weaving the dishtowels.
I am still sewing squares for the next quilt. Oh, I should be getting the latest quilt from the quilter today. I can't wait. Then I can put binding on it and be done.
I am still using the air conditioner. Can't take the humidity and wool together.
So that's it!
My nephew's wedding was cancelled for tomorrow. Something going on, but he is not talking to his dad about it. That's my brother-who is really upset over it all-and I emailed my nephew with all the love a meddling aunt could muster. I just want him to be happy.
No plans for the 4th. Just trying to stay cool and hydrated.
Have a fun time tomorrow, enjoy the week, and stay cool!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Cloudy With A Chance of Rain
Since Thursday we have had muggy, warm days with a chance of rain, but no rain. This morning I woke up around 6 am with the wind blowing the trees sideways and whipping things around in the yard. I was sound asleep, and I was jarred awake with a fear of a tornado. It was very loud. I grabbed my sweat pants and ran into the living room to turn on the t.v. There was the cute young weatherman telling us where the heaviest rain was, etc. No threats, according to him. I lay down on top of the bed with all my clothes on, you know, just in case. But I fell asleep again with the heavy, heavy rainfall.
So today is one of those freaky Spring days with all senses alert. It appears the major storm has blown over. Not much rain, but enough to calm the pollen for the morning.
I finished spinning the singles of the luxury yarn I wanted for a project. The batts were 50% alpaca, 25% milk, 15% silk, and 10% camel. Wow! It was great to spin. Very, very soft and easy to spin. I bought what the lady had at the show last year, and it was only close to 6 ozs. Not enough to do a lot, but combined with another yarn it will be just fine. It was very expensive, but "I am worth it".
It takes me two days to mow with the riding mower, mow with the push mower to trim edges and tight spots, and then weedeat. I get very tired, but I have to keep up or it will be a jungle. So I am not knitting much or doing much of anything but yard work. I am watering the potted plants already, and hopefully they will survive the drought when it comes.
My friend from north of Wichita had open-heart surgery last Monday. She went home on Saturday. I talked to her briefly in the afternoon, and she was hurting and not doing as well as she would like to be doing. I think she pushed them to release her too soon. I left her a message yesterday, but have not talked to her since Saturday.
My nephew has finally set a wedding date. It is too complicated to go into, but he and M. fought to have the wedding they wanted. The two mothers fought them and each other over what they wanted. I think he and M. won from the sounds of it. This is another couple in their mid-30's, and I think they should do what they want. I don't like the date, but it is not my choice. I just have to figure out if I can get there. It will be really expensive to fly, rent a car, and get a hotel room. We will see.
So not much is new. I haven't been sewing either, and so not much to report. I have to close the spare room, because Noodles has been sleeping on the quilt top I spread out on the bed. I am going to finish the backing and get that off to the quilter.
Have a good week. It is going to be another hot week here. Enjoy the pollen and Spring gifts in your bounty.
So today is one of those freaky Spring days with all senses alert. It appears the major storm has blown over. Not much rain, but enough to calm the pollen for the morning.
I finished spinning the singles of the luxury yarn I wanted for a project. The batts were 50% alpaca, 25% milk, 15% silk, and 10% camel. Wow! It was great to spin. Very, very soft and easy to spin. I bought what the lady had at the show last year, and it was only close to 6 ozs. Not enough to do a lot, but combined with another yarn it will be just fine. It was very expensive, but "I am worth it".
It takes me two days to mow with the riding mower, mow with the push mower to trim edges and tight spots, and then weedeat. I get very tired, but I have to keep up or it will be a jungle. So I am not knitting much or doing much of anything but yard work. I am watering the potted plants already, and hopefully they will survive the drought when it comes.
My friend from north of Wichita had open-heart surgery last Monday. She went home on Saturday. I talked to her briefly in the afternoon, and she was hurting and not doing as well as she would like to be doing. I think she pushed them to release her too soon. I left her a message yesterday, but have not talked to her since Saturday.
My nephew has finally set a wedding date. It is too complicated to go into, but he and M. fought to have the wedding they wanted. The two mothers fought them and each other over what they wanted. I think he and M. won from the sounds of it. This is another couple in their mid-30's, and I think they should do what they want. I don't like the date, but it is not my choice. I just have to figure out if I can get there. It will be really expensive to fly, rent a car, and get a hotel room. We will see.
So not much is new. I haven't been sewing either, and so not much to report. I have to close the spare room, because Noodles has been sleeping on the quilt top I spread out on the bed. I am going to finish the backing and get that off to the quilter.
Have a good week. It is going to be another hot week here. Enjoy the pollen and Spring gifts in your bounty.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Happy Easter!
So this journey is over! Thank goodness! And I made it in plenty of time of my self-imposed deadline. As always, Easter is always a chilly day. We had a little bitty cool-down, and a little bit of rain yesterday. But it is still too warm to wear wool. I did talk to my friend Friday night, and he had it on at a meeting to show everyone his new sweater! It was too warm to have on this sweater.
So believe it or not, I got back to my sewing project. I wanted to show how this pattern works. First you sew three squares together to make a strip. Then you make a nine-patch with three strips.
And Friday I sat down and picked up my UFO de jour-the giraffe socks. Man! After that vest, this pattern seems so simple. It is really quick to knit around one row. I am now doing the afterthought heel. The end is in site. A finished UFO-what a novel thought.
And that's the week's news. I spent a little time yesterday trying to do some more genealogy. My friend that visits has been trying to find her family for 19 years, so I felt badly that I had given up finding mine. I did find the names of siblings of my great-grandfather. I found out that one of his sisters never married and lived in Washington, D.C. at one point. That was interesting. I wonder what she did. I had found her picture once in a pile of photos that were in my grandmother's chest. On the back it just said-Aunt Gertie. She looked like a lot of women in the 30's with that waved hairstyle and girdled body. Now I know a little more about her.
I saw my woodchuck yesterday during the rain. Every time it thundered it would run back to a safe place. Then it would run out and grab something to eat while standing up and watching for whatever it was that was making that loud noise!
My bachelor buttons have taken over the world. But the color of blue is wonderful! It looks really pretty with the pink of the weigelia and the coral of the red buckeyes. The weeds are really happy with the rain we have had. Sigh!
I want to finish with this quote that was on The Yarn Harlot's calendar a coupla years ago. It is a great motto for any knitter, especially those of us that are crazy enough to put deadlines on stranded work:
"Never give up. And never, under any circumstances, face the facts." -Ruth Gordon
Have a great week!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Happy Birthday
Today is my younger brother's birthday. As morbid as this seems, all three of us have outlived our parents' ages when they died. That used to be a goal, but now I am way past and don't think about it. I never hear from my brother any more. He has been mad at me for some time. But every year I send him an email wishing him Happy Birthday. He used to always get a chocolate cake. He doesn't eat sweets, so I never understood the chocolate cake thing.
Yesterday was Solstice. Normally I have a simple ritual with candles and I like to cook something special. Yesterday I had a hairdresser's appointment for a hair cut. Then I swung by CJE and AE's house. CJE and I wrapped gifts until we were starving. Then she drove us to a nearby town to a wonderful new restaurant. It is run by some Mennonites in town, and the building frame was a really old, old barn from Michigan. The food was great!
We were seated at a small table by a window, so both of us had a chance to knit while we waited for our meal. We celebrated with a shared dessert-a brownie with ice cream and chocolate drizzle. Sigh!
So then we decided to go to a local antique/junk store. Driving there I saw a sign for the Wildlife Safari drive through place. So off we go to find that place. The sun was shining so brightly and gave the illusion of warmth. We saw tons of animals that I have never gotten a chance to see in real life. It is approximately 5 miles of driving slowly through different groups of animals. The emus like to run in front of the car. So imagine the Ozark hills and high plateaus with Serengeti animals. There was one really cute hippo playing with a big black rubber feeding bowl. He was tossing it around, rolling it, and pushing it with his nose. I tried not to think of the big cats in big cages. They had huge, tall platforms for them to climb on, and there was one tiger way up on his throne. I thought that surely he could just give one big jump and be out of there. Oh-there are white American bison everywhere. Some were really blondish yellow looking, but not albinos. They were everywhere. Some of the big guys had really muddy faces that I guess was from wallowing.
Returning back to our starting point, CJE parked so we could go to the petting part. They have several Pygmy goats that were expecting any minute, and a tiny donkey that looked pregnant. So that pen was locked. We went into the kangaroo section. I have never petted a kangaroo before. They have the softest fur that I can't describe as anything but downy. There were a lot of babies there too. There were bunnies, chickens, ducks, peacocks, and one big huge turkey. One chicken followed us around, and a staff member told me he follows her all the time. She just calls him Red. We stopped on the highway leaving to see a couple of young camels. They were expecting a gift (food) and one just made rude noises when we didn't give them anything. Further down the highway was a huge pasture with yaks, long-horned cattle, and those African cattle with the weird horns.
Of course our fiber eyes were only thinking of what we could do with all that fiber we were seeing. CJE is wanting some of the white bison fur.
So returning home from my day out, my two fur kids were very unkind. They were "starving", and did I notice I was gone all day. I had told them I wouldn't be gone long when I left.
So today we still have a few clouds, and occasional sun. From this day forward the days will be longer until June 21. This always works for me until March. Then I want it to be warm. I usually tire of winter about the end of January. February is a short month, and I suffer through. But by March I am so over winter.
I am nearing the end of the red scarf. It will then be time to start the Fair Isle vest. I haven't been knitting as much as normally. I am spinning some luscious Polworth roving. It spins so fast. I love this fiber.
CJE bought me a beautiful calendar from Quilting Arts. There is a most wonderful iguana on the front piece. I love all the embellishments. It makes me want to get in the sewing room. I have neglected my sewing for too long. So.....why am I not in there right now?
Happy Happy Whatever You Believe In! I am one of the few who loves Christmas, but mostly because of the Solstice thing. We are now on the side of more light!
Yesterday was Solstice. Normally I have a simple ritual with candles and I like to cook something special. Yesterday I had a hairdresser's appointment for a hair cut. Then I swung by CJE and AE's house. CJE and I wrapped gifts until we were starving. Then she drove us to a nearby town to a wonderful new restaurant. It is run by some Mennonites in town, and the building frame was a really old, old barn from Michigan. The food was great!
We were seated at a small table by a window, so both of us had a chance to knit while we waited for our meal. We celebrated with a shared dessert-a brownie with ice cream and chocolate drizzle. Sigh!
So then we decided to go to a local antique/junk store. Driving there I saw a sign for the Wildlife Safari drive through place. So off we go to find that place. The sun was shining so brightly and gave the illusion of warmth. We saw tons of animals that I have never gotten a chance to see in real life. It is approximately 5 miles of driving slowly through different groups of animals. The emus like to run in front of the car. So imagine the Ozark hills and high plateaus with Serengeti animals. There was one really cute hippo playing with a big black rubber feeding bowl. He was tossing it around, rolling it, and pushing it with his nose. I tried not to think of the big cats in big cages. They had huge, tall platforms for them to climb on, and there was one tiger way up on his throne. I thought that surely he could just give one big jump and be out of there. Oh-there are white American bison everywhere. Some were really blondish yellow looking, but not albinos. They were everywhere. Some of the big guys had really muddy faces that I guess was from wallowing.
Returning back to our starting point, CJE parked so we could go to the petting part. They have several Pygmy goats that were expecting any minute, and a tiny donkey that looked pregnant. So that pen was locked. We went into the kangaroo section. I have never petted a kangaroo before. They have the softest fur that I can't describe as anything but downy. There were a lot of babies there too. There were bunnies, chickens, ducks, peacocks, and one big huge turkey. One chicken followed us around, and a staff member told me he follows her all the time. She just calls him Red. We stopped on the highway leaving to see a couple of young camels. They were expecting a gift (food) and one just made rude noises when we didn't give them anything. Further down the highway was a huge pasture with yaks, long-horned cattle, and those African cattle with the weird horns.
Of course our fiber eyes were only thinking of what we could do with all that fiber we were seeing. CJE is wanting some of the white bison fur.
So returning home from my day out, my two fur kids were very unkind. They were "starving", and did I notice I was gone all day. I had told them I wouldn't be gone long when I left.
So today we still have a few clouds, and occasional sun. From this day forward the days will be longer until June 21. This always works for me until March. Then I want it to be warm. I usually tire of winter about the end of January. February is a short month, and I suffer through. But by March I am so over winter.
I am nearing the end of the red scarf. It will then be time to start the Fair Isle vest. I haven't been knitting as much as normally. I am spinning some luscious Polworth roving. It spins so fast. I love this fiber.
CJE bought me a beautiful calendar from Quilting Arts. There is a most wonderful iguana on the front piece. I love all the embellishments. It makes me want to get in the sewing room. I have neglected my sewing for too long. So.....why am I not in there right now?
Happy Happy Whatever You Believe In! I am one of the few who loves Christmas, but mostly because of the Solstice thing. We are now on the side of more light!
Monday, January 10, 2011
A Little Snow After the Wedding
This is my brother and my niece before the wedding. She was warming up and trying to tune her guitar. 
As you can see, the wedding was on the mountain top and it was a sunny, clear day. The wind had died down some, so it wasn't totally frigid, just cold. It was a beautiful day to have a wedding!
My niece is Shelley King, a professional singer from Austin, TX. She sang them a song she had written called "Is There a Reason?" I found it on ITunes yesterday and downloaded it. It was so perfect for their wedding song.
I got this shot with my brother and his wife behind the couple as they climbed up the path to the cars.So it was an emotional roller coaster all day, and I took the whole day yesterday to recuperate. I thought I was getting a cold, but I guess it was allergies. My cousin emailed me after I sent him pics and said it was too early to tell if I had pneumonia.
So now it time to settle down into the winter's rhythm and knit and sew and stay quiet until it is time to garden again.
We did get a light snow last evening and night. It was not very much, but enough to close the schools because of the rural roads. I had called my brother and told him they needed to head home sooner than later. They ran into snow near Ft. Smith, but once they turned off I40 to go south, it got really bad. So they had a long, slow drive home. Shelley is supposed to fly to New York today for an East Coast tour. I hope she can get there. I think this storm was heading that way.
Well, I will close now and head to the sewing room. I want to knock out a coupla more blocks. I have neglected that for a while and it is time to get back into a routine. I also need to spin up the sweater yarn and get that plied and blocked this week.
Have a good week. Stay warm and keep knitting!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Do You Have A Plan?
I am not one to sit around and think about what I want to do during the year-as in resolutions. But I do like to have a plan. But this year, I do not have a plan. I am still a fairly organized person, although the chaos does occur when I am in a dither.
When I was younger, I used to make distinct goals on the decade birthdays for the next ten years. I liked to work on those things. Then the August after the 50th, I got laid off. I no longer had money to do the things that were on the goal list. I went into survival mode, and the whole goal thing was forgotten. I think it was frivolous.
I spent the day yesterday cleaning and organizing my sewing room. That feels really good. I am so amazed at the amount of fabric I really have tucked away for whatever emergency that may occur. Some of it is not so good, so I think the next task is find a home for some of this stuff.
I think the new word for the year should be possibilities. There are infinite possibilities for knitting, quilting, sewing, spinning, dyeing, etc. etc. You get the idea. There is such an extraordinary resource in patterns out there on the internet. There is always a pattern to be found for whatever yarn I have decided to work with at that time.
Yarn-oh, yeah! I don't need any yarn right now. I just need to use it up. That is the rub-huh? Time to do all that knitting with all that yarn.
And fiber! Lord, I do not need any more fiber right now. But I got some really nice stuff for Christmas presents this year. And those push all the old stuff back in the bins again. I also carded some yummy stuff in pink that I want to get to really soon. In fact, it will be next in line. But I really like that deep red stuff I got from M. I have to get the yarn finished for the sweater, then finish the green I started, and then I can do pink or red or whatever. That's kinda like a plan, huh?
I don't think of myself as lacking time to do stuff, but sometimes it seems that things just don't get done.
That's why I think I need a plan. I really have no idea of how much I knit this year or spun or dyed. I haven't really sat down to think about it. Because that is what it takes-thinking and trying to remember everything over a year. I started a journal some time ago, but never kept up with it. I just kept going. As soon as something was finished, something took its place. I was really tired of everything by November, but I pushed through to the fiber show at Mt. Magazine. Then I slowed down through December, and most everything was just light knitting or spinning. There was no rush.
But now it's January. Time to move on to a new beginning.
I have a knitting friend that can tell you exactly how many stitches she knit in a finished piece. Shawls are overwhelming. On my Yarn Harlot calendar she said it takes 1,760 yards to make a mile. I cannot do the math. I am not that kind of knitter. I just enjoy the skill and the finished project. I am definitely a process person, but the finished project is satisfying.
Okay-so now we move on. I expect that it is a good idea to have a plan, but I have a tendency to do something impulsive that is not on the plan. So maybe I will come up with a loose plan. Something like-knit more yarn out of the stash. Spin up the fiber stash. Do more dyeing (include an indigo pot). That's all pretty loose and could really be tightened up. But right now, I think I will stick to the loose plan and fill in the spots as I start doing some of the things I would like to get done.
Well, I am just rambling today. It is time to just think out loud. I am eating a sandwich, trying to get my spinning quota done today, and then off the JE's shop to sit and knit this afternoon. She had me at "We will go get something to eat after the shop closes." I like the idea of eat.
Happy New Year-Happy New Beginnings!
When I was younger, I used to make distinct goals on the decade birthdays for the next ten years. I liked to work on those things. Then the August after the 50th, I got laid off. I no longer had money to do the things that were on the goal list. I went into survival mode, and the whole goal thing was forgotten. I think it was frivolous.
I spent the day yesterday cleaning and organizing my sewing room. That feels really good. I am so amazed at the amount of fabric I really have tucked away for whatever emergency that may occur. Some of it is not so good, so I think the next task is find a home for some of this stuff.
I think the new word for the year should be possibilities. There are infinite possibilities for knitting, quilting, sewing, spinning, dyeing, etc. etc. You get the idea. There is such an extraordinary resource in patterns out there on the internet. There is always a pattern to be found for whatever yarn I have decided to work with at that time.
Yarn-oh, yeah! I don't need any yarn right now. I just need to use it up. That is the rub-huh? Time to do all that knitting with all that yarn.
And fiber! Lord, I do not need any more fiber right now. But I got some really nice stuff for Christmas presents this year. And those push all the old stuff back in the bins again. I also carded some yummy stuff in pink that I want to get to really soon. In fact, it will be next in line. But I really like that deep red stuff I got from M. I have to get the yarn finished for the sweater, then finish the green I started, and then I can do pink or red or whatever. That's kinda like a plan, huh?
I don't think of myself as lacking time to do stuff, but sometimes it seems that things just don't get done.
That's why I think I need a plan. I really have no idea of how much I knit this year or spun or dyed. I haven't really sat down to think about it. Because that is what it takes-thinking and trying to remember everything over a year. I started a journal some time ago, but never kept up with it. I just kept going. As soon as something was finished, something took its place. I was really tired of everything by November, but I pushed through to the fiber show at Mt. Magazine. Then I slowed down through December, and most everything was just light knitting or spinning. There was no rush.
But now it's January. Time to move on to a new beginning.
I have a knitting friend that can tell you exactly how many stitches she knit in a finished piece. Shawls are overwhelming. On my Yarn Harlot calendar she said it takes 1,760 yards to make a mile. I cannot do the math. I am not that kind of knitter. I just enjoy the skill and the finished project. I am definitely a process person, but the finished project is satisfying.
Okay-so now we move on. I expect that it is a good idea to have a plan, but I have a tendency to do something impulsive that is not on the plan. So maybe I will come up with a loose plan. Something like-knit more yarn out of the stash. Spin up the fiber stash. Do more dyeing (include an indigo pot). That's all pretty loose and could really be tightened up. But right now, I think I will stick to the loose plan and fill in the spots as I start doing some of the things I would like to get done.
Well, I am just rambling today. It is time to just think out loud. I am eating a sandwich, trying to get my spinning quota done today, and then off the JE's shop to sit and knit this afternoon. She had me at "We will go get something to eat after the shop closes." I like the idea of eat.
Happy New Year-Happy New Beginnings!
Friday, December 31, 2010
The End Is Near!
"Another fresh year is here...Another year to live! To banish worry,doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give! This bright new year is given me, To live each day with zest...To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best! I have the opportunity Once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, To plant a tree, And sing more joyful songs." --William Arthur Ward
This is the time of year that I find most reflective. It is a time to take stock of what works and what doesn't work. It means too much to some folks, but to me it is just a time to think about what I would like to do better.
I have been busy this week with the usual knitting, spinning, and sewing. I am trying the compost dyeing technique, and it is an interesting process. I will show pics another posting.
We had a tornado this a.m. about 15 miles away from here. It was quite devastating to a small community of Cincinnati. I have been watching the news, but only because CJE called this a.m. to find out if I was ok. Evidently Tontitown was mentioned in the path, and it was really just west of here about 10 miles or so as the storm headed northeast towards Bentonville.
I just wanted to say thank you to all my friends that have supported me this year in all my endeavors in the fiber world. We have had some fun and have certainly learned a lot of new techniques and some new skills. I hope that we can continue to learn and share and laugh and have more fun.
My son gets married a week from tomorrow. So I may post one more post before then, but who knows. I may get stressed out and not do anything but stress out. I have been making sure I am not doing any stress eating, but I sure do want to.
I have to make appointments and get a lot of things done. But in the evenings I have been working on my socks and a new scarf. Pics to follow when done. My spinning was going well, but I lost the groove and could not get my rhythm going the last time I sat down. So that handspun sweater is on hold until I finish the yarn. I am sewing on a cute quilted wall hanging. I also decided it was time to clean up the sewing room.
Thanks again to everyone for a good year in fiber. May we keep our spirits high and our needles clicking!
This is the time of year that I find most reflective. It is a time to take stock of what works and what doesn't work. It means too much to some folks, but to me it is just a time to think about what I would like to do better.
I have been busy this week with the usual knitting, spinning, and sewing. I am trying the compost dyeing technique, and it is an interesting process. I will show pics another posting.
We had a tornado this a.m. about 15 miles away from here. It was quite devastating to a small community of Cincinnati. I have been watching the news, but only because CJE called this a.m. to find out if I was ok. Evidently Tontitown was mentioned in the path, and it was really just west of here about 10 miles or so as the storm headed northeast towards Bentonville.
I just wanted to say thank you to all my friends that have supported me this year in all my endeavors in the fiber world. We have had some fun and have certainly learned a lot of new techniques and some new skills. I hope that we can continue to learn and share and laugh and have more fun.
My son gets married a week from tomorrow. So I may post one more post before then, but who knows. I may get stressed out and not do anything but stress out. I have been making sure I am not doing any stress eating, but I sure do want to.
I have to make appointments and get a lot of things done. But in the evenings I have been working on my socks and a new scarf. Pics to follow when done. My spinning was going well, but I lost the groove and could not get my rhythm going the last time I sat down. So that handspun sweater is on hold until I finish the yarn. I am sewing on a cute quilted wall hanging. I also decided it was time to clean up the sewing room.
Thanks again to everyone for a good year in fiber. May we keep our spirits high and our needles clicking!
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