Down to One Car

June 14, 2009 at 12:50 pm (life, projects)

We have four vehicles.  They are all insured, have current tags and inspection stickers.  Three of them are sitting there.  Toyota truck needs an alternator, Jeep needs a leaf spring, Justy needs I’m not sure (drive chain? tranny?).

Aerostar, 1995, with over 250,000 miles, is the one that works.  The one I DON’T want to use except for road trips.  Save it, I say.  It still runs great, has the least amount of rust, the most amount of room, and gets better gas mileage than the Jeep.  Daily driving will just tear it up.

But it’s our only car right now, so we are driving it every day.

I’m sure grateful for it, it has sure come a long way with us, and it might be my favorite car I ever had!  But it’s old, like me.  Should be gentle with it, but this half-mile mountain driveway is anything but.

So we are in transition, yet again.  J is doing much research to guage consumer evals on many models.  With the possibility of having a mail route next year, we will take facility into consideration, etc.

It will be interesting to see what we end up with and when.  My travel plans are all on hold until this matter is resolved (duh).

On another front, I am weaving again.  Warped the loom last week for some Sweedish Huck Lace towels.  They aren’t looking much like the picture (on the pattern), but are lovely, and I’m enjoying the process.  Also, I finished knitting a beautiful bamboo lace shawl (for a friend’s 60th), and several more pairs of socks.

Now that I think of it, we really only need one car since I’m really busy here!!

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Tennis Elbow and Fiber

May 4, 2009 at 10:20 pm (life, projects)

I am back in action.  Altho I lament the time it takes for me to recover from stuff, I still do.  It’s great to be back on my feet and doing all the things I love to do.

We spent a couple of days up north at M’s new house.  Littler than the other one, but filled with some of my favorite people!!  Enough room for Wii, and Rose played all weekend–now she has a sore arm!!

Got to attend the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival on Sat, and came back with lots of new fiber–plus ideas for many more socks, shawls, sweaters, etc.

Spinning today!

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An Amazing Visit/What I’ve Been Doing Since Christmas

March 7, 2009 at 5:16 pm (family, projects)

My two daughters and their progeny were here this past week for several days–what a gift!! The kids are all the light of my life and every visit with them is precious to me. Watching them develop into the persons they will become is an incredible treat.

The weather was not conducive to much outside activity–Tue was very cold, and Wed. was just too muddy. So it was a crowded three days, but fun nonetheless: mad-086Tuesday’s look
mad-080Hannah
mad-088Madeline playing
mad-090Frannie being sexy
mad-093River and Grayson playing kitchen hockey
mad-072Grayson at the Mex
mad-074Josh close up
mad-075Jack eating taco salad

I also got some shots of Hannah modeling my most recent creations. I may have mentioned some Estonian Lace scarves I was trying to get done before John visited his family, and he ended up going out West before I finished them. So they will be distributed this July when we visit again:
mad-042
mad-045
mad-050
mad-054These are scarves for the Buss girls (Benni, Guna, Inta and Mary Lou feel free to stake your claim!)
mad-059Mad’s b’day tee
mad-060Fran’s b’day butt wrap

You can click on any picture to see it better.  And remember to be thinking good thoughts always–they will generate good things!!

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The best birthday ever!

August 24, 2008 at 8:41 pm (family, life, projects)

Of course, whenever the kids are all here, it feels like my birthday. But this time they gave especially memorable gifts. Memorable, because I will use them repeatedly. They bought me a NEW GUITAR!!! My old guitar, which I have played for almost 30 years (played quite a bit, actually) Has slowly been biting the dust. The face is cracked (not just the finish, but the actual wood), and it has been gradually losing it’s ability to stay tuned. Also the misplaced neck has messed up the fretting which also affects the tuning. I loved that guitar more than any I have ever played with only one or two exceptions—one being the Taylor we bought M for one of her graduations. But she has found one that I love as much, and I will play it more and more as I rebuild my callouses. I also received two season tickets to a local cultural series (rare in this locale) that we have patronized regularly since we discovered it. Now that I think of it, K and S, our benefactors, were the ones who turned us on to it in the first place! They will be used!

J and her family were on their first visit on the mountain, and her thoughtful gift of lottery tickets netted two $2 wins. And altho those tickets went back to NY with them, the positive energy will remain with us here.

Needless to say, we had a music-filled weekend with lots of (guitar playing and) singing with and without accompaniment. My g-kid, H (M’s oldest), has joined the ranks of a cappella singers whether by choice or coercion. We don’t care, she’s awesome!

Hiking in the mountains, cooking, eating, and music around the bonfire with my amazing family! Love my life!

PART II

On the project front, I have finally had some finished garments photographed (by my most excellent and cooperative J), (Do they still call it photography since it’s all digital?) for all my gentle readers:

Rose in bamboo camo tanktop

Rose in bamboo camo tanktop

Fran in cotton/seacell blend tee

Fran in cotton/seacell blend tee

Kathy in hand-spun alpaca jacket

Kathy in hand-spun alpaca jacket

Madeline in wool/mohair duster

Madeline in wool/mohair duster

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Hard to Believe…

August 7, 2008 at 11:22 pm (life, projects)

…but I have reduced a good yard high stack of trade magazines (Spin-Off, Handwoven, Interweave Knits, etc.) down to two binders.  And while organizing the projects and articles I have saved, I can see my fall-winter-spring schedule unfolding nicely!  And even though the new moon is a week past, I am still very much in “reduce mode”.  In fact, I have decided that I absolutely will never cross stitch again and have a great deal of such paraphernalia that anyone reading and interested is welcome to have.  There are several boxes of organized floss (and one unorganized, but wrapped–that is each color is wound on it’s own card with ends contained), (I have every DMC color in existence by ‘96), needles, aida, and many, many patterns.  Lots of Christmas projects.  Please have it, love it, USE it!!

In the last week I have completed 3 garments and spun:  The dark khaki short-sleeved jacket (which does actually fit me, but I think it’s K’s); the pistachio “tilted duster” for M, which turned out beautiful;  the multi-pink cotton/seacell tank top for Fran;  and the yarn for Charlotte’s sweater.  Next up is one more tank of bamboo for M, C’s actual sweater, and a blanket for a wedding gift.  There will be models here soon.

Next week, I’ll be spending six days in Chicago with my folks, so I will cover some serious ground on the knitting front.  I wish I could take my wheel–the craft crap organization and downsize project has revealed much forgotten fiber that cries out for attention.  No thing, I will get to it all.  I am so blessed.

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No Time to Cry!!

June 13, 2008 at 1:32 pm (projects)

So my biggest dilemma nowadays is which project I will decide to finish first.  There’s a mountain of (dark rosy-)red fiber on the dining room table that needs to be carded.  A reddish brown cardigan that I’m dragging my feet on (the cabled yoke is kicking my ass and I’ve had to rip it back twice already–I can’t count).  Another problem with the cardigan is that it’s wool.  And it’s hot.  I’m half done with another bamboo jacket that’s been great fun, and I pick it up at least once a day.  I broke out another jacket (the dark khaki alpaca) that just needs sleeves, and finished spinning the rest of what I need for that.  Spun some more of the other alpaca (mocha latte), and am on the verge of starting the lacy mobius.

The hot pink silk halter is destined to become something different entirely, now–I didn’t like the finished texture for the shape.  The halter needs to be a lighter weight yarn.  This was a mill-spun silk in a fat single and will be better in a scarf, I think.

I know I’m always promising pictures, and now I’m promising again.  Soon.  I promise.

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Different Tack

June 9, 2008 at 9:24 pm (family, projects)

I’m now going to subtitle my blog:  Fiberfool, and maybe just change it over.  As a passion, philosophy will always be at the center of my thought process, but as a subject of discussion, I will not be constantly engaging.  I will, of course, always be an easy mark for such discussion, but from now on I will rarely be the instigator.  I am still a seeker, and will always be reading and learning, but it has not been easy to share, and in some cases even abhorrent to unwilling participants.

So this past weekend, my family and I took a trip to Syracuse for the purpose of attending the last dance recital that Hannah will perform with the school there.  She was completely amazing and made us all proud.  We spent the rest of the weekend eating great food and hiking at Salmon River Falls.

I thoroughly enjoy my kids and grandkids and look forward to seeing them all again in three weeks at “Frankstock” my family reunion in Chicago.

The bamboo shirt turned out beautiful, but is too small for M, so M gets a new one and this one will be relegated to F.  Pics to follow.

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“A Journey of a Thousand Miles…

May 5, 2008 at 7:32 pm (life, philosophy, projects)

…begins with a single step”, I think, as another inch of spun bamboo slips into the orifice of the wheel. Being of the West (ern paradigm where everything is measured and calculated), I timed the spinning of 3 grams to 14 minutes. I have over 400 grams to go. So this is going to take a while, and for sure it won’t be the only thing I work on. Having finished one large (baby blanket) project and several small ones (a hat, two pairs of socks), I am in the space between. For maximum comfort and productivity, I will have to start no less than 4 (and as many as 7) projects by the weekend. I’ve got a music thing (recording parts for the family reunion chorus) going, so that makes 2.

New Subject

While J and I were hiking on the ridge yesterday, we discovered Morel mushrooms up there (shhhh…..don’t tell anyone local–they guard known morel locations with their lives, and are always on the lookout for more). I haven’t even seen any since the late ’70s when I lived in Iowa. I heard they were here, too, but never saw any ’til now!! They are delicious for two weeks a year. We (J) took some pictures of them (and also a May Apple–especially prolific this season), and will wait for a few more to manifest before harvesting them for dinner. A few heavenly bites.

New Suject

A close personal friend with marital problems has been consuming me for a couple of weeks. I know she understands that her situation beats the hell out of most people’s. And I believe she will come to her senses before she completely jeopardizes the balance of the precious lives of those she loves the most. But I can’t help projecting about various scenarios that could conceivably result from certain choices at this juncture. If she were to split with her old man, will I then be required to choose which of them to include in my plans? Hmmm. How many others touched by this would face similar decisions? I remember when my first husband left me, I felt like my whole circle of friends left, too. They were still my friends, of course, but they felt torn, and since they had known him first they felt their loyalties lay there.

I can’t say for certain what it is that anybody needs. But I DO know this: Happiness is NOT the result of circumstances. It is the exact opposite. Happy circumstances are the result of the decision to BE happy. Looking outside of yourself for gratification and fulfillment will only perpetuate the necessity for you to do that. Finding that you are already complete will enable you to choose happiness in any scenario without the need for any permanent damage to the current participants.

Girl, I love you dearly, but get your head out of your butt because your choice now will affect many peoples’ choices in the future.

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My Second Meme (five things)

April 23, 2008 at 1:25 pm (life, projects)

Benni has tagged me–she was the only one I tagged the first time, and now we’re going backwards, so I can tag Madeline (academom) , Joan (nosparetime), and Heather (runningburro)!!

Five things in each of the following categories:

10 years ago, I was:

1. Living in Chesapeake, Va 2. Making EarthChairs 3. Singing with Sweet Adelines 4. Singing in Quartet du Jour 5. Taking care of my 2-year-old Hannah!!

Today’s to do list:

1. Spin wool 2. Ply wool 3. Knit wool 4. Card some alpaca 5. Spin alpaca

Snacks I enjoy:

1. m&ms 2. Mint Milanos 3. Chex mix (home made only) 4. Apples and cheese 5. Herbal tea

If I was a billionaire, I would:

1. Set up legacy accounts at my favorite charities. 2. Pay off all debt for myself and all family members. 3. Make sure they all have houses and cars. 4. Make my place on the mountain bigger and more functional (go solar). 5. Travel

My bad habits:

1. I’m obsessed with all things fiber (bad from some perspectives, good from others) 2. Must talk philosophy at least once a day. 3. Sitting (to spin, knit, play computer games, etc.) 4. Skipping breakfast. 5. Still haven’t mastered patience where it’s most important.

Pet peeves:

1. bad grammar, spelling and usage. 2. Negative judgments. 3. Defensiveness 4. Noise 5. That all the things that annoy me, I am usually guilty of.

Places I’ve lived:

1. Webster County WV 2. Chesapeake, Va 3. Ceiba, Puerto Rico 4. Waukegan, Ill 5. Lincoln Ne. (those are just the LAST five!)

Jobs I’ve had:

1. Dilly Bar maker 2. Cottage parent for 17 HS girls 3. Chicago cab driver 4. Dressmaker 5. Business owner.

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It’s a Wrap

February 19, 2008 at 7:33 pm (projects)

The shawl that has been kicking my a– for the last 6 weeks is done. You can’t tell by the picture how silky it is, but trust me on this. Merino wool is the softest lambswool and this is blended with silk.
There are several other projects that I finished also: two guitar straps, four stocking hats, a lacy mobius and a dozen or so felted flowers. Several breaks from the main to keep me from burnout, and I was good to go. It’s actually bigger than I thought it was going to be.
Now, with this much invested, will I be able to sell it?  We’ll soon see. I have a meeting/pre-screening with a buyer from Tamarack (a venue that carries WVa artisans exclusively), in two days. Yet another new experience. Bring it.

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