Notes On a Blotter

. . . yes it's been over two years. . .

2010-02-05T23:07:00.003-07:00

Catching up with the world. I last left my blog as I took a job at the big chain store. What a soul sucking event that turned out to be. I wasn't able to walk quite yet but they "needed" me. Such a sucker I was. . . which I do believe this means having fairly earned that title . . . is what ever it is you get sucked into at it's most basic completly and truely sucks. ** by the way it's the sucking sound just under the audible threshold of human hearing that makes it so much the worse to live through. Dogs, cats, probably all animals hear this quite easliy and check it out next time this happens. They mock you in their own species specific way.

So fast forward from those 10 hour days face buried in a keyboard and monitor with barely time to pee and gulp down lunch in a windowless breakroom to business manager at the local water company.That last sentence was just like in the movies when the chracter one moment is 25 and the next 50 - except without the awsome special makeup effects. Sorry!!

Sunday, Sunday

2007-05-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

This week was back to reality or back to what has seemed more like alternate reality. I was one tired woman .. today I slept in, and did not much of anything and then took a nap and then did more of the same. I seem to be making up for time on my bum doing much of nothing with time on my bum swamped. I just took a new job - started on Wednesday last week. The offer came from left field I'm going to be doing something different than I've ever done before. RETAIL. I can't say which business - it's a well known chain in the Americas. I'm still on the computer but I'll be doing, supply chain management, purchasing, inventory & those sort of activities. It feels like it could be a rather souless activity but I'm willing to give it a chance and see if I like it. Ho hum tomorrow is a work day and it's been two years since I've had to face a "work day" OH NO! I've got the Sunday evening blues.

Homeward Tallyho!

2007-05-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Oh Happy Happy Day!!!

After several weeks of being hampered by a bum leg incurred while cleaning out my Mums garage I am recovered enough to go home!

My daughter is flying in tomorrow evening and my brother will be driving us back to Sedona. He'll be with us for a few days. Yeah - Double happiness!! I can't wait to see my DG, DB's and DD (darling garden, darling bunnies and darling dog) Lots of pics to follow!!!

What to do?

2007-05-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

Whats one to do on ones arse all day? Knitting, TV, fret, read, draw, chew, sew and eBay. (eBay said in ones mind with a cheeky chipmunk squeak!) It seems when luscious skeins of yarn are to be had at deep discounts I have no issues with computers. This down time has been useful for introspection and picking up

10 skeins of Blue Sky baby alpaca WOOTALICIOUSNESS for $24.99.

Yep it seems when knitting stash is involved I got over my icky (whining about computers) self real fast. I also picked up 4 crystal palace circular needles for $15. But my OMG WTF I can't believe this is 7 full set of needles for $88. When I say sets I'm not talking about sets of DPs. I'm talking full sets of bamboo needles size 0 thru 15 sets.

**Jumping Beans on the Seat - Bamboo Sets**

A few days of careful bidding now has me with. . .

2 sets of size 0 - 15 9" straights,
2 sets of size0 - 15 13" straights,
2 sets of size5 - 15 16" bamboo circulars, and
one set of 5" size0 - 10.5 DPs.
Why two? - I"m gifting the other sets to my Mum
BTY - The seller is skyridertrd

Adding to that was

4 Woolly Skeins of Variegated Retail Therapy

A true story. . . .

2007-05-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I had been traveling all night. We arrived at the hotel mid afternoon. Weary we thought to take a short walk going to the nearby bookstore to relax and shake off the day. I was still in my travel clothes. Conservative attire - a leftover from days of biz travel. I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast the day before. My belly was a bit grumbly. Odd??? I hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast the day before. I had a little bit of gas so off to the restroom I went. I intended to get it out of my system quickly fart and go. Alas what started as a small biff exploded and . . . . . went on and on , and on. . . and on. . . and LOUDLY on and on and on. . . on and on!

Ginormusventusexpandusmaximus

Can farts be supernatural? The thought came to mind "Evil spirits begone". Unfortunately it took much longer to end than it took to get started. I quickly checked if I was alone, thankfully I was. Sighing with relief I left. EVERYONE in the seating area just outside and the 3 isles surrounding had a stare directed at me. Sunday afternoon at a popular bookstore the place was packed. Obviously the sound much like a sonic boom had carried. There I was "Um. . . err. . ." with nothing to say. Their look seemed to demand something. In response I stood more upright, straightened my suit coat as if to say "Yeah! You know it, top THAT one" and walked away. I'm not sure if this was the response they hoped, but then you might ask yourself "What would I have done? My family laughed as I told the story and they repeated it to other family members. Since then we've a special name for body functions which sneak out at the worst time. We call them a "Barnes and Noble".

Coincidence. . . .

2007-05-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

I just read through a friends blog - similarities

I am allergic to dust and cleaning sprays
I love to do needlepoint
I have varied taste in music
I like to sew odd little projects
Dh makes coffee at 6 a.m. every morning and asks if I'd like some. I feel bad he makes his own fantastic mixture - but I'm mostly a tea drinker.
I need a tea drinking, knitting buddy
At 7 my family moved to Hawaii. Sedona is the first I have lived away from the ocean since.
I love to read
I have a bog that hardly anyone reads but me
Is that because no one knows it is there?
or is it boring
my daughters’ friends call me instead of their mothers
I want to be a master knitter, to be splendidly perfect
I have a fabric stash
I have a yarn stash
I have a scrapbook stash
I have too many projects for my lifetime
I do not like rap music
It’ s more important to be kind than right
love green, esp. celadon green
I’d rather go barefoot than wear shoes (It's OK to go barefoot at school in Hawaii)
I love to sit and watch snow fall…I love the "crunch" sound snow makes when walked on
I have a seat in my shower
I have a temper that I fight to keep under control
I like to decorate gingerbread houses (and cookies)
I read Harry Potter books and really like them
I can get very sad at Thanksgiving because I lost my grandfather then
I cry too easily
I love opera
I love berries, black, blue, red but cherries are the best
I have a ribbon stash.
I like to wrap presents and decorate the packages
I was a service brat

Take the Quiz here!

the loneliest lil blog in the world

2007-05-04T15:37:00.000-07:00

I can't blame anyone but myself. Nobody reads this blog except the SP Hostess and my spoiler. (truth to tell if it wasn't for them "Notes' wouldn't exist) It must look I don't care to make an effort, or I'm completely unfortunately gifted in the electronic arts department.

I must admit Notes on a Blotter suffered a close brush with death not long ago. It exists because of SP and only for SP. At the core of my blog lies a deeper issue - I loath computers. I loath blogs. I'm an old school gal. Truly so. Your probably thinking I'm one whose resisted computers over the years harboring subtle fears a misaligned push of a button might kill one. No, it's not that easy and no I'm not old school like that. I tense near computers after working in the field for 20 something years. Nothing new except the splashy stuff has come out for a long time and **flame** the whole field has become fat and sloppy ever since the memory barrier was broken. Blogs harrumph. Airbag says it so well I'll let him explain "Blahgs"

Yep - I'm OLD school. BASIC at University of Hawaii in 1982, then on to FORTRAN, and other self induced torture. At the time I was an apprentice at a publishing house which bought one of the first PCs for $30,000. **Programs extra (cough cough. . . . $50,000 you say). In my tender years I'd make that magical lump of electronics jump through publishing hoops. Creating projects which only weeks before were done almost entirely by hand. It wasn't that long ago (2001) San Francisco at 8% had the highest rate of computer use in the world. Orange County (whose GNP is 9th in the world) was 3%. Just a few years earlier I attempted to educate school districts that computers were useful for other than just keyboarding skills. (typewriter mentally). Unfortunately it seems the leading mentally seems to be take down or take over that which is better by brute force. It sad how much true innovation has been sacked by those with bigger pockets. RMS you rock!! I shuddered when AT&T bastards ruined @home and killed Aegis. Sad bit of business those two things. Which later trickled to meltdowns and other disgusting business practices and massive frauds. Bernie Ebbers you suck!!

I've heard the laments of doctors, architects, fashion designers, builders, governments, COO after COO. Each with the greater question "How do I master the change taking over my industry?" "?!?" Now it's the norm. The entire world has changed these last 25 years. I guess I'm lucky to straddle the gap for whom the world was always push button and those for whom it was not. At the heart of the revolution the computer. I'm truly sick of the sight of them & I need to get back to at least liking them as for better or worse they are here to stay.

Tasty

2007-05-03T19:03:00.001-07:00

Today I celebrate a milestone on my way back to health and mobility. I made my first meal since my injury. Well not actually a meal as most might think a balanced, good for you, more than one thing on your plate - but nether the less a meal. A grilled cheese sandwich. A tasty bit of bread and cheese and a tasty bit of freedom.

old ladies & children

2007-05-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

I've had a couple of very interesting short outings over the last couple of days. I don't know where they come from. Out of nowhere spring old ladies. They suddenly appear lifesavers by opening doors and assisting me with their good humor and gentle kindnesses. Thank you!!! May all that you've done be returned to you a 1000 times.

I didn't expect this but it's not surprising. Small children stare and respond as if I were a strange 4 legged sea creature from the depths of the ocean newly come ashore. It's been tempting to snarl and growl but then no telling how scary I'd be to them. I might oddly cause a fragile child to have a crutch phobia. I'd would never want that to happen but then again I'd love to see the name science would come up with.

Being on crutches is a humbling experience.

Catching up on the Slog

2007-05-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a slog. Actually also a good description of a blog when negative "stuff" is on topic. So . . I crushed my right leg. Fracture with a heck alot of tissue damage throw in Pneumonia a few days later for not so good measure. I've been gone away from life for a bit of time and rethought a few things. One of the outcomes is the decision to be more candid. So in the spirit of openness I am outing myself. I have CFIDS. www.cfids.org Which I've kept from just about everyone except my closest friends, and family members. It's an icky awful disease and I wish (along with everyone else who has it) that the the "powers that be" change the name. I believe elsewhere in the world it is know by the name Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. There is another symptom called chronic fatigue which is many doctors diagnosis for someone who is usually not taking care of themselves and working too hard. CFIDS isn't that. To quote a well know writer with CFIDS "Comparing Chronic Fatigue to CFIDS is like comparing a match to a nuclear bomb." Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome is just too close in name and more the reason of wanting to scream in frustration, from too many questions and attempting to educate mistaken understanding. Not long after the docs figured out what was wrong I decided to stop disclosing my illness after hearing people say over and over again "I'm tired I think I may have that too". I'm telling the world starting here in my tiny knitting blog. Accompanied by the sound of "Boof" (the sound a large ungainly object falling) So basically when I got hurt my body went into immune meltdown.

On the brighter side I'm finally going to start some knitting. Watching a good movie with leg propped up knitting. Cruising the knitting mags and books for that next project type of knitting. Knitting a wonderful sweater out of the groovy yarn my SP gifted me. Transcendental healing sort of knitting to sooth the soul.

And so dear readers I have much posting to catch up. I hope to not disappoint with pics of my Easter Basket o' Bunny Joy from my SP.

2007-04-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

no knitting for me.

This is a short blog. I had some lumber fall on me while helping my bro clean out his garage. I went to the orthopedic doctor today (the first apt since emergency room visit). I was hoping for some good news. Be up in a week or two kind of news. Nope - He said my type of injury is the slowest to heal, He said not to get frustrated but it will be a long time till I am walking again 8 - 10 weeks but with a cast still on my leg. It will be longer still till I'm "dancing" again. I'm having a difficult time comprehending that in my current state of mind. In the mean time he said to keep my leg elevated. Completely not a problem there - - - as it screams at me when I get it lower than my bum. I've a fever of 101 for the last few days and feel awful. I've another doctors apt tomorrow morning for the weird fever thingy going on. Here I am with lots of time and I feel so awful that I loath doing anything other than sleep. Looking at the bright side it looks like I'll have some idle time to get some knitting accomplished. I will write more in a few days. Just feeling like crap so going back to bed again.

Annoyance Pay

2007-03-17T00:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you use Internet Explorer. And if you do, if any of you have the security options in place. If you do you might have noticed the following message. . .

To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has restricted this file from showing active content that could access your computer. Click here for options

**which translates "IE has blocked this page. Because there are so many layers of security options you will spend massive amounts of time trying to figure out why you can't read the most innocent of knitting and fiber blogs but you will still get annoying mortgage pop ups no matter what you do.

I think what should happen is this. . .

To help protect your sanity, Internet Explorer has replaced itself with a much easier and safer to use website browser. Click here for a rebate check.

I splomish I really ddidn't have an;ythign to drink

2007-03-15T00:14:00.000-07:00

My blog recently reads as if I've been drinking and blogging . . . another words (pun intended) bad spelling and sloppy keyboarding.

I will proofread and edit, or perchance revel in the fantastically bad example I've created. As this man did . . . Worst Bowling Shot in the History of Bowling

All action and no color

2007-03-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

I'm sure anyone reading this blog has noticed a huge lack of color AKA photos. It's simple. . . I have a camera. I know how to use it. I can't get it away from the rest of my family. I put it on my desk to take pics and within minutes it's gone out the door.

My camera gets way more action than any person I've ever met.

Plastic vs metal vs wood

2007-03-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

I recently bought some new needles the imatation balene kind. I love the tips on these babies. Sharp with a cool indent right at the tip. They are light weight and flexible. I also have bamboo and some birch ones from Brittany. I have a huge collection of needles from family that are mostly metal. In the mix are some plastic ones but they are so brittle that after the first one broke I knew they rest would follow. I discoved this past winter that using any of the metal needles would make my hands ache. I tried the addie turbos circs both large and small. I don't know. . . . I like the needles but I found the cables a bit springy and difficult to use for two socks on two needles. I spent about $50 on two pairs of size 2 circs and won't ever use them again. An expensive lesson especially since after about the 12th row I moved to different needles. Joanns is having a huge sale with 30% off all knitting items so I need to decide to move over and get bamboo or try some more of the balene? ??? ? Perhaps ebay may provide some sets and I have both. . . . .

A new box of crayons

2007-02-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

It's time for SP10. I love the anticipation of spoiler and spoilee. OH Yeah!

What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I don’t have a favorite yarn. It depends on what I’m knitting. I love interesting colors and color stories mixed together. So I’ve yearnings towards Louisa Harding, etc. as well as one of a kind handmade yarn. There are so many fantastic fibers out there it’s impossible to choose. I’ve wanted to knit something in Hemp. I *dislike* acrylic.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I store my straight needles in large containers. My circulars are draped around an old antique tin. My DP’s are in plastic bags.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
My grandmother taught me to knit when I was 5. It took me a few more years until I could figure out how to put things together. I’ve been knitting on and off for 30 + years. I would consider myself a beginner in some techniques (lace making) in other techniques I’m intermediate or advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Amazon - via my email address.

5. What's your favorite scent? (For candles, bath products, etc.)
It used to be lemon Verbena but it’s gone more towards fruity lately. Vanilla though a bit over done is kickass when done right. Spicy/amber scents are lovely too, tropical like coconut and Guava. I don’t like “old lady floral”.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Do I ever - I love baked goods. Chocolate covered gummy bears, heck any type of gummys are yummy, as is any type of chocolate. I’ve recently gained quite a few pounds so I’m avoiding sweet stuff. So any sweets from my SP will be my only indulgence. I won't be shy in saying **Please make them good ones**

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I’m just now learning to spin. I love most everything textile. I also like making jewelery – I have oddly enough not gotten into quilting though.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (If your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yes, I can play MP3’s. Check out my online play list at Pandora.com for some ideas. I like a wide variety of music. I like most music excepting country music and rap. I don’t listen to hard or "classic" rock either.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like most colors except neon shades, orange and those burnt colorsfrom the 70's. I don’t have any one favorite color. Again it depends what for. For my own personal uses I like greens, purples, turquoise, pinks, reds, some browns, and black For my home it’s more eclectic. I lean towards Kaffe Fassett sensibilities.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a significant other and a 19 year old daughter. I have a dog - Smoo, and three house rabbits.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, I’m a scarf whore – I knit them almost to the point of obsessiveness. I’ve been known to give them away spur of the moment as an excuse to knit more. I’ve only recently moved to a place where it’s cold enough to need mittens & hats. Hats are fantastic, knit and sew many of them. I haven’t knit any ponchos. Each year I think they are going to go out of style so I’ve never dedicated stash or cash toward buying or making one.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Aside from scarves – I love to knit for my daughter, family and friends. Right now I’m working out a pattern for a sleeping mask in Munch Touch Me. I have two types of projects – brainless for those times I just want to meditate and those that require more attention but well worth the effort.

13. What are you knitting right now? Some more scarves, a little vesty thing from knit one mag, & Koigu gloves

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes - I’m a very enthusiastic recipient.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I like both circular and straignt needles depends on the project. I like plastic or natural wood/bamboo needles esp Britttany.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
My oldest UFO’s a needlepoint project that I started in 1985. It’s still not finished – lost the yarn and still look at it and think someday. . . .as it’s mostly done. In knitting my oldest UFO is three years old - a scarf that I’ve frogged about 9 or 10 times. I recently pulled it out again and it’s sitting on my coffee table staring me down daring me to try again.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
It’s a toss up between Halloween, Easter and Christmas. I really enjoy getting into the spirit of these holidays and decorate copiously. During the worst year of Christmas décor debauchery a friend said “Oh No, Look - Santa barfed”. If I had to pick a favorite it would be Easter.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yep - tiki mugs, ceramic swan vases and planters, lady bugs, and those little mini state plates. Oh yeah I almost forgot **yarn** beads and fabric

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Yes the Madil-Perrot M026 pattern. Louisa Harding Gathering Roses Accessories Ptn bk. I’ve been wanting old knitting stitchionarys and old pattern books esp from the 1940’s. The design sensibility from that era is fabulous. I've been wanting short straight wood needles.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I'd like to try machine knitting, spinning, yarn and roving dyeing, lace knitting, I'd like to get better at crochet.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes - I am a sock knitter. Foot is a size 8 and 9.25” long.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) December 20th.

On the rebound

2007-02-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

I'm attempting to wind down gracefully from blogger. I've kept it going because it's familiar and easy. While so many of my friends are here, alas I think it's time for me to move on. I'm going to be on the rebound with Vox.com for awhile until I get up the courage to make a clean break and have my own website. I will however be posting my fiber related stuff for the first phase of SP10.

Questionable Intentions

2007-02-12T21:01:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of D day. . . ah shucks . . . not it's not. I feel like Aunt Bee on Mayberry RFD. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aunt_Bee

The Food Pusher

"Ah, Oppie did that big awful bully push you down the stairs? Here have a piece of Apple pie" Not having been home much lately I did the right thing by Bee's standards and instead of d-day I made lasagna. A massive meaty cheesyrific 20lbs of Italian layered goodness. I did weigh myself and I'm 180. Tomorrow after Lasagna??? Questionable

Crazy busy and showing it

2007-02-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

I've had the crazy insane schedule since the end of December. At the last minute I took on wardrobe for a suspense/horror film. Half of it in the 1940's the other half takes place modern day. Not usually a problem except I had 10 days to get everything together. I just had three days off and it was heaven. I caught up on my sleeping & more sleeping after that. I also had a chance to feel up the incredible yarn my SP sent me. I know I sound like a perve - it's true though the yarn is so soft and yummy and the color is one of my favorites. **mmmm purple**.

Today is back to reality back on the set at 7am tomorrow. Today I'm doing laundry, and ironing like a mad woman. . . and craving cookies. So in the midst of folding yet another basket of clothes. I stop and get on the scale and in horror the scale tips off to 182 lbs. OMGWTF 182! I am 5'8" so la gorda! My pants were getting a bit tight but jezzzy crezzy 25 lbs in two months. I feel awful and here I am with the crazy cookie desire. I've decided to go on a d-d-d-d. It's like I can't quite get myself to say it outloud. That thing where you lose weight and if your really motivated you also get in shape. D- d- d- d- Lifestyle change. Ah I politically corrected myself. I feel so much better. The stuff of motivation and success - proper verbage **if only it were that easy** and truly the part that sucks is that I'm seriously craving carbs. *le sigh*

I think it was the holidays, my first snowy cold winter here in Sedona, the many lattes for the 12+ hour days on the no heated frikin frezzing movie set, all which which added up to the 25 lbs to make my plump a fat frame. So D- d- d- d- diet here I come!

Don't forget your booties caus it's cold outside

2007-01-25T22:00:00.000-07:00

Finally have the yarn (Koigu) to start making the Mac and Me Opera Gloves. My brother came up with a great idea. Make the gloves out of two different colors and mixing them up between the two. Each glove would have both colors but different predominate colors.

Looked everywhere in L.A. for the pattern. No luck there so I finally bought it online
http://www.shopknitch.com/ I hope to be knitting a pair before the cold weather season is over. Only a knitter would think . . . Hmm. . . I hope the cold weather lasts a little longer so I can wear these gloves this season. . . . .

oommmm

2007-01-22T02:41:00.000-07:00

What a crazy month this has been so far. Just got home - I'm whooped. I was in LA getting wardrobe together for a film. Did I say I'm tired? I want nothing more than to sleep for the next few days but I need to be on set for the next week or two. But hey the cool part of that will be being able to knit.

Ahhh. . . the soothing feel of yarn in my hands bliss of knitting meditation.

Almost Christmas

2006-12-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

Somehow there are those usually come when least expected moments. . . when a pause of knowing arrives and in those moments all is light. "Remember this - this is it." It's tangingly ineffiably wordless. Yet, everyone knows of what I write.

Yes. Thats it! And for everyone it's different.
It's those things that make you say Yes to life.

For this holiday season I wish for everyone to find their Yes.
To discover what brings you happy, light, and full of good cheer.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Laugh with me it eases the pain

2006-12-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

Laugh with me. . . . it eases the pain. This morning I joined a new skein (on my latest project a loop d loop pattern -a ponchoette. It's superfast knitted bulky on dp 39 needles) using awesome hand to knee friction skills. I went to start knitting and TA DA or should I say TA DOH! I'd joined the yarn at the wrong end of the project. It's a beaut of a join and now I must go hack it off and resplice.

My Knitting Lap Monkey

2006-12-20T04:06:00.000-07:00

Wow

2006-12-20T02:07:00.000-07:00

The most amazing thing just happened. I just came across "the picture" on ebay for a sweater my grandmother made many, many years ago. (Which I just found out is from a circa 1960’s pattern book) I have the un-blocked and un-seamed pieces.

My grandmother started making it for my Mom and was just unable to finish it due to ill health. It sat as a UFO for at least 8 years if not more. When I inherited it I didn’t have the pattern book nor did I have any idea of what the finished sweater should look like. The neckline kept tripping me up as was a bit unusual. I messed around with it a few times but no matter what, it didn’t look right. My grandmother passed away at the grand age of 95 this past summer. I wanted to finish the sweater and give it to my Mother as a very special present from both my Grandmother and her daughter this Christmas. We've been feeling the loss of my Grandmother quite a bit. This is our first Christmas without her.

When I came across the pic on ebay it gave me pause for a moment as I realized this was the pattern book for the sweater. O My Gosh! So that’s what it is suppose to look like. Just in time for me to finish it! Oh HAPPY DAY!!!

HAPPY, HAPPY DAY!!!

Only in Sedona

2006-12-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

I assure you the stagecoach would win.

They're on a 28 mile twisty two lane narrow mountain road. Having driven it many times (stuck behind behemoth motor homes) the stagecoach is much faster.

2006-12-18T02:19:00.000-07:00

“As I sit at my table, for days, months, years, slowly adding new words to the empty page, I feel as if I am creating a new world, as if I am bringing into being that other person inside me, in the same way someone might build a bridge or a dome, stone by stone. The stones we writers use are words. As we hold them in our hands, sensing the ways in which each of them is connected to the others, looking at them sometimes from afar, sometimes almost caressing them with our fingers and the tips of our pens, weighing them, moving them around, year in and year out, patiently and hopefully, we create new worlds.”

An excerpt from Orhan Pamuk Nobel Prize lecture
“My Fathers Suitcase”
(Winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature)

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2006/pamuk-lecture_en.html

© THE NOBEL FOUNDATION 2006

Give every human being a fair chance

2006-12-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

"This years' Nobel Peace prize gives highest honour and dignity to the hundreds of millions of women all around the world who struggle every day to make a living and bring hope for a better life for their children. This is a historic moment for them.

World's income distribution gives a very telling story. Ninety four percent of the world income goes to 40 percent of the population while sixty percent of people live on only 6 per cent of world income. Half of the world population lives on two dollars a day. Over one billion people live on less than a dollar a day. This is no formula for peace.

The new millennium began with a great global dream. World leaders gathered at the United Nations in 2000 and adopted, among others, a historic goal to reduce poverty by half by 2015. Never in human history had such a bold goal been adopted by the entire world in one voice, one that specified time and size. But then came September 11 and the Iraq war, and suddenly the world became derailed from the pursuit of this dream, with the attention of world leaders shifting from the war on poverty to the war on terrorism. Till now over $530 billion has been spent on the war in Iraq by the USA alone.

I believe terrorism cannot be won over by military action. Terrorism must be condemned in the strongest language. We must stand solidly against it, and find all the means to end it. We must address the root causes of terrorism to end it for all time to come. I believe that putting resources into improving the lives of the poor people is a better strategy than spending it on guns.

I became involved in the poverty issue not as a policymaker or a researcher. I became involved because poverty was all around me, and I could not turn away from it. In 1974, I found it difficult to teach elegant theories of economics in the university classroom, in the backdrop of a terrible famine in Bangladesh. Suddenly, I felt the emptiness of those theories in the face of crushing hunger and poverty. I wanted to do something immediate to help people around me, even if it was just one human being, to get through another day with a little more ease. That brought me face to face with poor people's struggle to find the tiniest amounts of money to support their efforts to eke out a living. I was shocked to discover a woman in the village, borrowing less than a dollar from the money-lender, on the condition that he would have the exclusive right to buy all she produces at the price he decides. This, to me, was a way of recruiting slave labor.

I decided to make a list of the victims of this money-lending "business" in the village next door to our campus. When my list was done, it had the names of 42 victims who borrowed a total amount of US $27. I offered US $27 from my own pocket to get these victims out of the clutches of those money-lenders. The excitement that was created among the people by this small action got me further involved in it. If I could make so many people so happy with such a tiny amount of money, why not do more of it?

That is what I have been trying to do ever since. The first thing I did was to try to persuade the bank located in the campus to lend money to the poor. But that did not work. The bank said that the poor were not creditworthy. After all my efforts, over several months, failed I offered to become a guarantor for the loans to the poor. I was stunned by the result. The poor paid back their loans, on time, every time! But still I kept confronting difficulties in expanding the program through the existing banks. That was when I decided to create a separate bank for the poor, and in 1983, I finally succeeded in doing that. I named it Grameen Bank or Village bank.

Today, Grameen Bank gives loans to nearly 7.0 million poor people, 97 per cent of whom are women, in 73,000 villages in Bangladesh. Grameen Bank gives collateral-free income generating, housing, student and micro-enterprise loans to the poor families and offers a host of attractive savings, pension funds and insurance products for its members. Since it introduced them in 1984, housing loans have been used to construct 640,000 houses. The legal ownership of these houses belongs to the women themselves. We focused on women because we found giving loans to women always brought more benefits to the family.

To read the rest of Muhammad Yunus Nobel Lecture, Oslo, December 10, 2006 http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2006/yunus-lecture-en.html

It's her fault

2006-12-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

It all my secret pals fault and she doesn't even know it ** (She's working on her Masters/PhD in Comparative Lit at a Midwestern college) In wondering how best to spoil her I did a couple of searches about the authors she'd mentioned reading. It started with Mahfouz who won the Nobel Prize in lit which led me to the Man Brooker Prize which led me to more of Mahfouz, which led me to other Nobel winners which brought me back to my secret pals reading endeavors which brought me to "The Master and the Margarita" and whew here it is a couple of months later and I've got her to blame for my renewed sense of interest and curiosity in literature. Hmmm. . . now how to figure out how to knit and read at the same time***

My SP is Psychic

2006-12-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

I've been looking at the Mac and Me head wraps and wondering if any of them would look good on me. Cute change from a hat. I've been contemplating making something like this twisty headband thingy. In similar colors.

I was thinking of a neutral color for the center and a soft green or blue around the edges. . . and. . . . Whoa! Here comes a package. . . . . . . inside I find the most awesome of combos. (pics & further boasting to soon follow)

Two skeins in Cotton Patine from Elsebeth Lavold and a cushy Anny Blatt mohair in blue. To relegate the mohair to edging perhaps may be a bit too cruel for such a pretty yarn. It's begging to be a lace fru of some sort. Decisions,decisions.

** Sigh**

My SP Rocks!!!

I YYou Secret Pal - - - Thank you!

HAVETOKNITITIS

2006-12-01T03:37:00.000-07:00

I've got the worst case of havetoknititis. The mac and me Opera Gloves in Koigu. I'm sure any other hand dyed sock yarn would work. My notsolocal YS got in a huge supply of Koigu recently and I've been jones-ing for stash enrichment. On my last visit to my LYS I found a yummy wool/silk hand dyed yarn for my SP in green, turquoises and blues. I couldn't resist stopping by the LBS for some matching findings and beads. Pics of yarn and necklace to soon follow.

FFO

2006-10-22T02:33:00.000-07:00

Favorite Finished Object. This Christmas Stocking was the very first sock I knitted. The instructions were completely wrong on how to turn the heel. I frogged that dang heel countless times until it dawned on me that it was the *#!!&%** instructions. I finally looked at a few other sock instructions to figure out how to turn the heel and finish. It's a simple sock which I embellished up a bit with a simple pattern. It may not be my best work but it's my favorite.

to answer a few questions. . . . . .

2006-10-16T00:22:00.000-07:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I don’t have a favorite yarn. It depends on what I’m knitting. I love interesting colors and color stories mixed together. So I’ve yearnings towards Noro and Louisa Harding yarns as well as one of a kind handmade yarn. There are so many fantastic fibers out there it’s impossible to choose. I’ve wanted to knit something in Hemp. I *dislike* acrylic.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I store my straight needles in a large Lipton instant tea mix containers. My circular and double pointed are in an old antique tin.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
My grandmother taught me to knit when I was 5. It took me a few more years until I could figure out how to put things together. I’ve been knitting on and off for 30 + years. I would consider myself a novice in some techniques (lace making) in other techniques I’m intermediate or advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Amazon - via my email address. I’ll be listing others soon.

5. What's your favorite scent? (For candles, bath products, etc.)
It would have to be Lemon and Lemon Verbena. Vanilla though a bit over done is kickass when done right. Fruity and spicy/amber scents are lovely too. I like Victoria Secret - Love Spell and Forever Romance. I recently bought Henri Bendel Home Candles in Lemon Verbena and Guava. I also like Body and Bath stuff – Amber, Jasmine, Raspberry, etc. I don’t like “old lady floral”.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Yes and Yes. Dumdums esp. cream soda & butterscotch one of my other fav’s is chocolate covered gummy bears. Other than that - black and red licorice, chocolate*!*, Gummi Bears, (Gummi anything), caramel apple pops, chupa chups ice cream flavors, BB Bats, Cinnamon Toothpicks, lemon heads, Abba Zabba, Big Hunk, Sugar Daddy, Jr mints, Kit Kat, M&M’s, Moon Pies, Peanut butter Cups. Yeah - I’m a candy freak. I also bake quite a bit – cakes, cupcakes, pastries, I like/love it all. I just made Butterscotch marshmallow fudge yesterday.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? Whew – I have quite a variety of interests I do quite a wide variety of textiles - surface design, sewing, knitting, some crochet, pattern drafting, hat & purse making, redoing clothing, etc. I also paint, do paper crafts, doll making, stuffed animals, design wild and whacky stuff from found objects. It depends on what mood I’m in.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (If your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Yes, I can play MP3’s. I have an online play list at Pandora.com. I like a wide variety of music. I like most music excepting country music and rap. I don’t listen to hard or classic rock. I love discovering new music. What I’ve been listening to lately is Moloko, Cut Chemist, Radio Head, Lamb, Imogen Heap, White Stripes, Bollywood and Middle Eastern music. I recently heard Tilly and the Wall, and Mason Jennings

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like most colors except neon shades and orange. I don’t have any one favorite color. Again it depends on what for. For my own personal uses I like greens, turquoise, pinks, reds, browns, black - I wear quite a bit of black. For my home it’s more eclectic. My studio is WILD and quite colorful. I lean towards Kaffe Fassett sensibilities.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a significant other and a 19 year old daughter. I have a dog Smoochi, and three house rabbits Mr. Bingley and his gal pal Bella Luna, and a chocolate rex by the name of Milton. The bunnies are litter box trained and have the run of most of the house. Milton hangs out with me quite a bit in my studio.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, I’m a scarf whore – I knit them almost to the point of obsessiveness. I’ve been known to give them away spur of the moment as an excuse to knit more. I’ve only recently moved to a place where it’s cold enough to need mittens & hats. I’ve never had mittens so I’ve not ever worn them. I’ve been intrigued about making a pair of Nordic mittens. Hats are fantastic, knit and sew many of them. I haven’t knit any ponchos. Each year I think they are going to go out of style so I’ve never dedicated stash or cash toward buying or making one.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Aside from scarves, I’ve been on a purse knitting binge. I knit for my daughter, family and friends. Recent items include I-Pod holders, sleeping masks in cashmere, fingerless gloves, and a vest. I have two types of projects – brainless for those times I just want to meditate and those that require more attention but well worth the effort.

13. What are you knitting right now?A skull scarf from knitty, a little vesty thing from knit one, and the ribby cardi from chickknits.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes - I’m a very enthusiastic recipient.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? It depends on what I’m knitting. If I did have a favorite it would be bamboo and wood.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No, it’s been on my list to buy. Every time I go to buy one I end up getting more yarn.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
It’s really old. It was a sweater my grandma knit for my mom about 30 years ago. I recently inherited it. It’s in great shape and I’m in the process of finishing it as a x-mas present for my Mom. As far as my own UFO’s a needlepoint project that I started in 1985. It’s still not finished – lost the yarn and still look at it and think someday. . . . it’s mostly done. In knitting my oldest UFO is three years old - scarf that I’ve frogged about 8 or 9 times. I recently pulled it out again and it’s sitting on my coffee table staring me down daring me to try again.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
It’s a toss up between Halloween, Easter and Christmas. I really enjoy getting into the spirit of these holidays and decorate copiously. During the worst year of Christmas décor debauchery a friend said “Oh No, Look - Santa barfed”.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yep - tiki mugs, ceramic swans, lady bugs, and those little mini state plates.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Yes the Madil- Perrot M026 pattern. Louisa Harding Gathering Roses Accessories Ptn bk. I’ve been wanting reference books as to knitting techniques and knitting stitchionarys.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Spinning, yarn and roving dyeing, lace knitting, better at crochet. I just made a CD spindle earlier today.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yep - I am a sock knitter. I want to try the “Socks soar on two needles” two circ needle technique. Foot is a size 8 and 9.25” long.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) December 20th!

I have an idea. . .a cupcake chair

2006-10-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

I have a wicked idea . . . I was looking at pics from burning man and saw these cool motorized cupcakes. I thought perhaps cupcake chairs. Now to the drawing board. . . .

It's that time of year again

2006-10-07T02:30:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I once again perform the autumnal yearly ritual. . .

"Mom will you make my costume?

"I want to be a ________. No wait I want to go as a ________, well mabye a ________" (Insert multiple different costumes, then repeat.)

The closer it gets to Halloween the more frequent, rapid and bizarre the changes get. Each year I vow not to get sucked in. Telling myself "No more!"

Ah. . .who am I kidding. . . I always do. Just this evening she said belly dancer, skeleton belly dancer, zombie belly dancer, then skeleton who just so happens to also carry around a black light. Stay tune it will change, change, and then change again.

Oh drat, oh Darn! Gosh!

2006-09-27T02:29:00.000-07:00

Oh drat . . . .I'm jealous or is it envious? Either way I've been reading the posts of other knitters blogs. I start with green and build up to chartreuse as I read the warmly dropped superlatives as if they were crumbs from a everything bagel.

"I love my LYS."

"I ran down to my LYS and picked up some great yarn. The owner is fantastic".

Blech! Euuch MEH!!! I'm jealous. Arruggh!!!! The closest LYS is 40 minutes away http://www.knit1bead2.com/

I treasure this store as one of those special outings better than icecream. A huge treat!!!

bit batty

2006-09-25T01:25:00.000-07:00

For halloween bats in black in our windows.
(The best pic I had after spending way too much time trying to get a good pic of this cute little bat.) Folding instructions are below.

Original instructions and all credit goes to: http://www.net4tv.com/voice/graphics/bat_origami.gif

lil bag AF

2006-09-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

. . . . and after felting with the lining fabric next to it. I'm going to line the bottom and sides with timtex. http://www.timtexstore.com/

lil bag BF

2006-09-23T00:21:00.000-07:00

Here is the one skein Kureyon bag I've just knit waiting to be felted.

My daughter plays with fire

2006-09-22T03:23:00.000-07:00

My daughter at her last performance. She's a fire dancer. I'm happy to the point of gleeful delight she's a maniac about safety. She's got these unsightly burnt patches of hair on her arms that is completely incongruent with the regal way she carries herself. When she was 17 she had bright pink streaks in her hair. Many times when shopping together it was "so darn cute" as to be disgustingly cute. . . little girls would show up from odd places many times following us around. They would then quickly run away, to only show up again moments later dragging their parent(s). They would point and quite excitedly exclaim "I want hair like that".

Simple Reasons

2006-09-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

I created a blog for the simple reason of joining in on Secret Pal. To blog is foreign to me. I have never been a journal kind of person - and it shows. Here is it the 20th of September and I’m far short of the required number of posts to join in the fun.

Missing my Grandma

2006-09-09T02:07:00.000-07:00

I am working on this project for my daughter using a pair of size 4 needles that I recently inherited from my Grandma. She started teaching me to knit when I was 5 years old. She and I used to make these wacky kitchen towels with knitted holders which you could loop around door pulls etc. as presents. It seemed that everyone had one or two of those kitchen towels that she knitted. Besides all her knitting gear I also inherited all those towels I made as a child (including my first skirt which I made at 8). An inspiration to everyone around her she lived to be 95. In her stash I found a pink and fluffy soft ball of yarn which I'll be making into a scarf as a x-mas present for my niece Natasha (Barbie crazy and in love with pink). I found a blue sweater which she didn't get to finish. This once done will go to my Mom for her birthday as my Grandma originally intended. Thank you Grandma!

echos of ebay

2006-09-03T23:44:00.000-07:00

Yeah, there I was on ebay in a last minute bidding war over an entire bag of Berroco – echo. I cast the winning bid of $16. A few days later I excitedly open the box. It’s wasn't copper and cream color as it looked in the pics but terracotta and gray. Euhck! Further inspection shows its two balls short of a full bag. Ok. . . go ahead and insert what jokes you like. I kept a straight face while writing the email explaining the two missing balls. The woman responding did not. After exchanging a hilarious escalating volley of emails about missing balls I was refunded a more than fair amount and I kept the yarn. It sat in my stash for almost a year before I decided I'd experiment in changing the color-way to one more of my liking. I first bleached the yarn. The second experiment was a short turquoise bath. I experiment with other colors as time permits. Suggestions anyone? ? ?

. . . . . . and I never ever again bid on yarn where I didn't also check out online color cards!!

Happy Tomatoes Happy Friends

2006-09-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

My cherry tomato plants are still going gang busters. They look awful. The leaves look r0ugh yet the plants are still producing lots and lots of tomatoes. This year I went 100% organic. I’m ecstatic with the outcome. I under planted my normal amount of plants using the methods of French intensive gardening. I doubt I'll go back to regular row gardening again. I’ve not used one speck of pesticides anywhere. I’ve better yields than ever before with less plants.

An odd year as none of the tomatoes were as bought. I planted what was labeled as an early yellow pear, a beefsteak, and plum tomatoes. Two of the pears turned out to be the exact same variety as what was labeled plum as to give me all massively productive cherry tomato plants. The beefsteak turned out to be what I can only guess as a heirloom variety which is streaked yellow and red and as it is now been way past 90 days and I'm only now getting tomatoes any where near being ripe - a late producer. The super productive cherry tom's turned out to be a good thing. This is the first year I've had so much as to be giving friends lots and lots of tomatoes. Happy happy friends!

pink

2006-09-01T01:52:00.000-07:00

2006-08-16T00:41:00.000-07:00

dog combover

2006-08-13T14:31:00.000-07:00