Hey Cindy….don’t fall out of your chair! It’s another post!

Don got some good pics of the boy the other day.

Looks completely posed doesn’t it? 

Don calls this Tuckers Squirrel pose. If you’ve ever come across a squirrel that’s fallen out of a tree you’ll know what he means. Tucker sleeps like this a lot! 

This morning Don captured this shot of  Abbie using my in progress slipper soles for a pillow. She thinks all knitted projects are her’s and was quite happy last night that I was sitting under her lamp knitting again.

I’ve been trying to get a good picture of Salem lately, but it’s not happening right now. The lightings poor due to grey clouds that refuse to give me snow but spit rain down all the time now and he’s a black cat with cattitude. Nuf said. I’ll keep trying.

I know! It’s only the second day of the month and I’m posting yet again!!!! Wow.

I thought today would be a great day to show off my last FO from 2009 and my first from 2010.  Let’s start with the last and end with the first!

I give you the completed yarn for my client! YAY!! I was able to get this  re skeined and pictures sent to her last night as a progress report. There’s 498 yards and it fluffed up quite a bit! 

I think it came out pretty good and she’s thrilled with it. Now I just need to decide on the pattern for her scarf and cast on. She’ll be out-of-town until the 11th and I’ll be seeing her shortly after that so now I have the goal of having it completed by then. I’m planning on picking a fairly simple pattern for her scarf to try to insure that it will progress quickly. Yeah…..I know…..way to jinx myself, huh?! lol

The specs:

15 oz Cheingora/Alpaca custom blend by me. 2 ply approx 498 yds. Yowza!

So now for the first completed yarn of 2010. Well that’s cheating a bit…really….as the single was all spun up in 2009….but still. I’m counting it and you can’t stop me! So there!

Yes…it’s the Optim. I had made the deal with myself that I could not ply this up until I finished the yarn for the client. So after I was completely done with the dark yarn, I cleaned and tuned up my wheel and spent a glorious couple of hours plying this up. I used the Navajo plying technique to help retain the color changes with slight color blending in between. This came out wonderful, if I do say so myself! It’s fairly even and I’m stashing it for something for myself!

The specs:

4oz Optim from Chameleon Colorworks in the Peacock colorway.  3 ply, approx 224 yds.

So! That now clears the way for some combing of wool and some more sanity spinning. Aaaah! What a beautiful way to start the year.

 

 

First off, Happy New Year everyone! 

For those who do so, I wish you the best of luck with your resolutions. As for me there will be none, just a new goal list for 2010. 

Several years ago Don and I gave up making resolutions and instead started a yearly “To Do” or better yet, “Goal” list. We’d write down everything we wanted to accomplish in the upcoming year, no matter how mundane; household chores, yard work, crafts, trips, personal goals; it all went on there. Then we’d post it on the front of the refrigerator and as the year passed by we’d cross off completed items. I always found it interesting to see what we actually accomplished in the previous year, and what items dropped of the goal list versus what items were carried over to the next.  

We fell out of that habit enough years ago that I can’t remember the last time we made the list together, however I’m a list maker at heart and I’ve made a few major goal lists in the past few years. Don’t get me wrong, I usually lose this list and when I find it later am surprised I actually accomplished anything off it. Lol. This last year I made a mental list of my personal goals (ooooh that’s a set up for failure for sure! I remember names like nobody’s business, and the past is screamingly clear in my mind…..but a to do list or a grocery list? Forget it!) and man I really wish I’d written it down. I’d like to see what I’ve forgotten.  

My 2009 goals were all about becoming me again. It didn’t start out that way and I didn’t realize that until recently, but that’s exactly what it was. Let me clarify that a bit. It’s not that I’ve been walking around calling myself “Jane” and acting like a complete stranger…..although that might just be a fun approach to some future event. Lol. Somehow last winter, when I made my personal goal list, I managed to list the important things in the right order and they clicked. I had these health conscious goals like, get a full physical, quit smoking, lose weight, get more exercise., ect, ect, ect. While I’ve not met all my goals, I’ve actually crossed off (mentally) as accomplished most of them. Of course the full physical led to more drs appts and tests but all those I followed through on and completed with positive results. I havn’t had a cigarette since Spring and we got more active last Summer, going on hikes and such. This Fall with the end of the year looming I joined Weight Watchers and started to lose some weight and started to excercise in the house as well. You know, with that equipment I bought ages ago…the stuff that collects dust like no one’s business. It’s not a lot, yet….but I’m gonna get there. See, I didn’t realize that by making those changes, it would change how I thought about me. Suddenly I started to “feel” like I did years ago, and I was much happier. I’m still working at it, and there are more “changes” to come, but it sure is nice to start a year on a happy note. 

I won’t be listing my 2010 goals here, but you’ll probably see the results of them. More frequent blog posts, projects completed, friends and family visited, hikes and such are all on the list in one way or another. Some are goals for this year and some are part of the larger “life” list. Heck….you may even see a picture of me on here one day.  

I know so many people who had devastating things happen to them in 2009, and I’m hoping all of you have a happy and wonderful 2010. Best wishes  and all my love to you all. 

I’m on my last day of a 5 day weekend and thought maybe I should reach out to the old blog and update a bit. There’s been a fair bit of  “stuff” going on around here and really….for a two human household we do manage to fill our time up. About a week ago Don had satellite internet set up for us as we had the same old dial-up we’ve had since we started playing on the internet years ago. For years it was the only internet we could get, and then when satellite became available we just didn’t want to spend that kind of money on it as we were getting along  just fine. Now that our usage has changed he decided that we needed the upgrade and he got us a pretty good deal. I can not believe how much faster this is…..and how much easier completing stuff online has become! I’m completely spoiled on this stuff now.   The pictures in this post uploaded so quick that I was re-inspired to blog again! (It really became so much of a downer to wait 45 minutes for a picture to load, only to have it error out and not really load. No more of that! YAY!) So I’ve already loaded up some pictures from this last summer and I’m hoping to finally get some of those posts done.

I moved some furniture around in the living room the other day to make room for our neglected work out equipment. I’m of the mindset that if it’s easier to use…….maybe I’ll use it. (Yes, for something other than hanging  jackets on!) Abbie wasn’t too thrilled with me moving “her” furniture around and using the “big green monster” for most of the day and spent a good portion of the day hiding under my bed. When she did come out she was very, very happy to see that by moving her futon she was able to lay in the sunshine in comfort. It’s the simple things that make her happy.

A large portion of yesterday was spent watching movies and spinning. I was pretty determined to finish the commissioned yarn before the end of the year, and I just may do that!  What you see above are the completed singles that will hopefully become a two ply yarn this afternoon. The goal is to get them plied and washed today! That will leave measuring and choosing the pattern for this week and I’m hoping to cast on for the project this next weekend. Thankfully it’s not a large project because we ALL know how slowly I knit when I HAVE to. lol I’m hoping that I can get a new set of soles knit up and felted this week quickly as both of my slippers have holes in them. It’s hard to believe that I knit those last Christmas! They sure held up well in my opinion as I wear them everyday! Not bad!

Here’s a close up of the singles. Kinda “hairy” stuff, no? lol it’s about 75% cheingora and 25% Alpaca and while it’s reading dark brown on my screen, it’s really black. I’m thrilled to have it to this stage and will send the client a progress pic at the “yarn” stage.

Well I’m off to hop in the shower. Don has a dentist appointment today and needs me to go along in case they decided to cut his head off  pull a tooth. He hates going so I’ll go along for moral support. ( I know! I’m not much moral support as I do tend to make fun of  him and give him a bad time. Poor guy! lol) HEY! I just had the thought I could start on those slipper soles! O.K. I really gotta go now, cause I have yarn and a pattern to find! Take care all!

YUM! This wonderful stuff is the Optim I purchased on our Portland trip. I finally finished the single last weekend and now have it placed high and away from the wheel so I have to wait to ply it up.   It’s my incentive to finish another, more important spinning project. Anyone who knows me knows I have issues with this crafty thing when it becomes a “suppose to” instead of a wing it type situation. So, once the more important project is done, then I can ply up the Optim. I’m still unsure what it will become. I’ll have to wait to see the finished specs on it. I was happy with the spin of it, but as it’s so slippery it’s a bit uneven here and there. It definitely will have that hand-spun look! lol

After that loveliness this will be a bit harder. lol This wonderful fiber was from a guild exchange that I may have posted on earlier.

I’m not fond of pink.

Ok, back that up. I HATE pink. Really. It repulses me. If all food were pink, I’d be super slim! Just sayin!

Ok onward! To be fair, the fiber itself  it was a wonderful soft blend that spun up easily and (thankfully) quickly. Yes I could overdye it, but really….someone out there must like pink, so I’ll find a home for it instead. I’ve toned the colors way…way down to take the next pic. I just couldn’t take that much pink. Sorry. 

 

And now for a different kind of eye candy! Here’s a recent shot of my guys! I love the snow!

 

Oh how my heart hurts tonight!!! This is the end of an era. I no longer have any little dogs and for the first time in our history cat food is safe on the floor. It’s so completely heartbreaking and so terribly sad. None of us in the house know quite how to handle this. It’s so strange to be a one dog family. Last year at this time we had two of these little darlings. Now we have none. I don’t quite know how I’ll adjust. I am only thankful that Cody was not sick long and did not suffer for long. I think I may be in shock though as it all went so terribly fast.

You know, lately I’ve been spending way too much time up inside my own head and I decided that wasn’t good. Time to get out for a bit. I think I’m missing the mind clearing motorcycle rides. That must be it. The hubster when for a ride on Friday to go to target practice with a few of his friends and I’m still not sure what I’m more jealous of…the ride or the target practice. Maybe I’ll have to head to the range soon. I know it’s too cold for me to ride right now because I was looking at new riding gear online the other night and every thing I was looking at was  heated. I know, I’m a wus.

Wow again. I felt suddenly last week like I had just awoke from a dream. Not a bad dream, but not a good dream. It really feels like I’ve just been treading water for the last several years and now I’ve finally woken up and am becoming myself again. I don’t know what that’s all about, but I’m good with it and I’ll move forward. lol Hell, what do I know, I’ll just follow along for a while and see where this takes me. Maybe it’s a delayed effect from stopping smoking.  lol. I still don’t know why I haven’t done some things that I was going to do years ago. No good reason not to have done it yet…..just don’t know why not. To be completely and utterly honest…..it’s a great feeling. I’m at the end of a “year” which is suppose to be significant in some ways to some people, and I’m ready to move forward.

I do think that this whole shift in thinking  is why I have been so stagnant in the craft department though. Today I sat down and started spinning up the commissioned yarn and I’m really struggling with allergies. After only a half a bobbin was full I had itchy eyes and creepy crawley skin. I just wanted to shower. This stuff doesn’t smell and has NO issues.  Tomorrow I’m taking a batt of it and washing it. After it dries, I’ll re-card it (uggg!) and see if that makes a difference. It probably will and I’ll wonder why I waited to try it. lol If I have to wash and re-card it all it will be a huge PITA, but if in the long run it makes the spinning easier and quicker, then I’m all for it. I know either way it will not effect the knitting as the finished yarn would be washed before knitting. I’m just looking at speeding up my spinning as there’s a large-ish bag to be spun and it’s not going to go very fast if I can’t stand spinning it. I hope the experiment tomorrow goes well as I’m not used to having to force myself to spin.

Did I mention I’m opening an ETSY store?  It’s really just for items I’ve got in the stash that I’ve decided to let go. I have yet to post anything there  as the few skeins I’ve decided I can live without I want to re-skein nicely and band with my blog name on them. It seems like a logical solution to the stash overload I can see coming. I do have an incredible amount of fiber stored up, lots of plans for dyeing and spinning, and I’m not the speediest of knitters or crocheters. I know a limited number of people who knit/crochet and I do NOT want to be known as “that woman who pushes yarn on everyone”! lol It’s a true experiment to see if anyone wants the stuff I churn out.

I finally joined Facebook and have been having the best time. What a great way to avoid doing house work, paperwork, commissioned spinning, ect. lol No really, I’ve “met” up with some great people who I “used to know” and it’s been wonderful. It’s great when you connect with someone you  haven’t talked to in years, yet it feels like the times not passed at all. I truly wish I was better at keeping in touch than I am. Maybe this talking to old friends has played a part in me “waking up”. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just getting old and don’t care what people think anymore. lol Who knows! As long as no one is hurt in the process, it’s no matter at all.

I spent a good amount of time yesterday looking through the pictures taken (both by me and the husbeast) during the last  year. It’s really amazing to me how much fun I had this year. I don’t know why this year was different from the previous ones, but MAN DID WE HAVE FUN! It made me wish that the fun wasn’t over for the year yet. It made me wish Winter was done. I know! Crazy talk! We fiber people know that the best fiber months are the Winter ones! What the hell?!!! In reality, I think I’ve just gotten used to being out of the house and more active and I’m not wanting to be put back on the shelf for the winter. I guess I’ll have to find some play mates that like to get cold and wet outside once in a while. Maybe this year I’ll learn to ski or snowboard!

Well in the perusing of the photos, I discovered MANY posts that have not made it to the internet yet. Some actually include fiber…just in case you were thinking this became a travel blog or something. One of tomorrow’s goals is to list the posts to be done on paper, and prep and upload the pics for the posts. Then it’s easy peasy (HA!) posting from there on out. Maybe you’ll see a bit more regular posting for a while. Maybe not though….you know how I am.

Ok, that’s it for tonight. Have a great one and hopefully I’ll have a picture post tomorrow!

Take it as it may be.

I’m posting a bit early/late…depending on how you look at it.

1) Still thankfull for the husband. Really. Truely.
2) The Pooch is top notch too still.
3) Really……you want the honest answer? I’ve been thinking lately how easy I really have it. I’ve got a good camera to take pics of most everything I want to. I have the ability to craft to the extent of sanity that keeps me out of the “no sharp objects” home. I’ve got good friends, if I know how to ask them to show.  I’ve got a good job. I’ve got a good home. Most of all…. I have hope for the future. Most people I know hang that on polititions. Not me. I know where my hope is.
4) This weeks BIG WINNER in the Thankful Thursday….even with it being Thanksgiving weeek……is…..Weight Watchers.(online)….even with my major screw ups last week, I managed to increase my activity level(major hurdle there…) and lose  2 lbs. May not sound like much to you skinny’s out there….but to me….that’s golden! And next week looks easier!
5) I’m thankful I don’t have children and won’t be spending this “Black Friday” in a toy dept of some hell hole of a departement store trying to make someone’s Christmas dream come true.
5a) I’m a little concerned that a certain husbeast might be let down come package opening day this year………lol. We need to talk soon about this, me thinks.

O. K.

For an update for the rest of you….

Knitting: I’ve started Maria’s socks, but really have not made much progress as I’ve gotten sucked into Facebook and all it’s glories.

Spinning: I’ve completed the carding of the commision job and  must….really  must  start the spinning of said job. Really self control and self discipline is not in my natural nature. I’m working on it…really. I am.

Love you all and hope your Thanksgiving is a great one. For those of you outside the States…..hope your normally scheduled week is a dandy!

April

I’m new to this.

I’m not even sure where this concept started, but I’ll give it a try. Maybe it’ll help me be a better person. HA! From what I see, you post three things you’re thankful for. I’ve got lots to be thankful for, so this week should be easy peasy.

1) Number one has to be the hubby. He could have turned out so different than he did and that would have been a nightmare in so many ways.

2) Yep, you know it. It’s Tucker. Ditto #1 on the reasons. We’re talking 165 lbs of nightmare if things had been different. I’m very thankful.

3) umm…welll Three would have to be my crafts. I remember a time when I didn’t have them and life was less thrilling, less enchanting and definately more lonely then.

Happy Thursday all!

“You shall NOT pass!”

It’s nice to know the security systems working. *

I’ve been thinking lately of things that give me relief.

Yes, relief.

Often times I don’t realize I need “relief” until something small happens and a deep sigh of relief flows out of me. There are so many little things in my life that bring this very small feeling to me and I’ve only just recently discovered that it’s that small feeling of relief that brings the warmth of happiness to me.

Sometimes it’s the sight of the house right after I’ve finished cleaning it and no one’s had a chance to leave a paw print or a piece of dirt anywhere. Sometimes it’s the first bite of a meal that I’ve made, hoping against hope that it’s come out alright, and it does. (I’m a dismal cook. Not looking for pity, just being honest.) Sometimes it’s a hug or a kiss or a touch from a loved one. Sometimes it’s the completion of a long worked on project.  Any way it happens, it’s always welcome and always a pleasant suprise.

Lately it’s quality time spent with good friends. Two weeks ago I was able to spend an afternoon with my mom. For the first time in ages we were able to just have lunch and visit all afternoon. We’d planned on watching a movie on the DVD player, but spent the whole time just catching up and talking about knitting. Today I spent a wonderful time with my friend Barb. She made wonderful chicken Ceasar salads for lunch and afterwards I set up my Cricut to show her how it works. lol That’s a laugh. I am definately no salesperson for the Cricut. I love mine, don’t get me wrong, and I get great usage out of it. I just haven’t used it in a while and had to use the manual to show her how to use it. lol She ended up deciding it wasn’t something she “needed” and I assured her that I would trust her to borrow mine if she needed one. She’s the type of person you could loan your kids to and they’d come back better. She’s that great! We spent a great afternoon gabbing and talking about our interests and just relaxing. At the end of it she proposed we get together once a month to scrap book and I hesitated, saying I would think about it.

Looking back on it, I’m just not ready to commit to anything. lol I’ve already decided that I’m going to start making time to catch up with and keep in contact with my girl friends. I’ve got so many interesting and fun “friends” that I’ve lost contact with over the years because I’ve gotten too busy. That’s silly of me. It doesn’t really take that much time to have lunch or meet for coffee or go for a walk with an old friend and catch up. I’ve always been leery of the “girls night out” once a month and really enjoy heading home at the end of my day. I’m one of those lucky ones that has a calm, peaceful home with a spouse I enjoy and I look forward to coming home at the end of the day . I’m not bragging, but just saying, there’s reasons why I don’t feel the need to go  away from  home for entertainment and a social life. Unfortunatley and because of this , I’ve neglected my social life in the realm of having female friends and I plan on rectifying that. I really believe that these ladies enrich my life and my creativity increases every time I’m around them. They all bring me relief.

One of the major things that brings me relief is finishing a project. This lovely beaded egg is a gift that I made for Barb and was finally able to present today. It really takes such a small amount of time to make one of these, but I do put things off an unreasonable amount of time. lol She doesn’t work with seed beads but was much appreciative  of it.

 

*Edited to add: No Pa’s were hurt in this demonstration of guard-dogadly skill. In actuality, this was part of a play session a week ago. Looked pretty viscious though. lol