Bias-knit cotton dishcloth

This is a very easy pattern.  I won't explain every little detail but if you know the most basic things, you should be able to tackle this.  I use cotton yarb and size 5 needles that are 14" long.  I like a finished dishcloth that is about 7-1/2" square.  Here it is:
Make a slip knot and slip onto the left needle.  Knit through the front and through the back of the loop-called a make one or M1, you should now have two stitches on you right needle.  Turn you work.  M1, K1-you should now have three stitches.  Turn you work (and here I pick up the tail yarn and knit it in to save threading it in later.)  M1, K2 and you should have four stitches. 
From here until you have 40 stitches, the pattern is the same- K2, YO, knit to the end of the row.  Y0 stands for yarn over and means in addition to the other stitches, you throw the yarn over your right needle between stitches.  This will increase your stitch count by one for each YO and also leave a little space in the row.
Once you have 40 stitches, it is time to start decreasing (unless you want a bigger-or smaller-dishcloth). This is the pattern until you get down to 5 stitches: K1, K2Tog, YO, K2Tog, knit to the end of the row.  K2Tog is short for "knit two together" and is pretty much what it sounds like.
Once there are just five stiches; K1, K2Tog, K2.  Turn, K1, K2Tog, K1.  Turn, SSK-which translates to this; slip the first stich directly to the right needle, knit two stitches together and then pass that slipped stich over the stich you just knit and let it drop.  This makes three stitches into one, so for this pattern you will have one last stitch.  Cut the yarn about eight inches beyond and pass the end through and pull it tight.  Weave the end through a bunch of stitches and whew, you're done!

My new favorite salad

I like a salad that covers all the food groups on one plate.  I'm also trying to eat my main meal in the middle of the day, so this fits the bill.  I started with a salad from SmashBurger and went on from there.  YUM

Popcorn ceiling

O.k. so I knew scraping the popcorn off my living room/dining room ceiling would be pretty sucky, but I didn't think that the painting afterwords  would almost bring me to my knees.  $60 of paint, most of which has bubbled and crumbled and is now all over the floor.  I'm now considering cans of spray paint.  In the oh-so-appropriate words of Charlie Brown---ARGH!

A felting experience

Cascade 220 - a purse???
Before and after
Went from 15" by 13" tall to
11-1/2" by 9" tall

My 3-Day Illinois Road Trip

I hate revealing secrets, but I'll let you in on this one.  I have a 3-day road trip around northern Illinois that is so cool.  I look for three things on this trip: thrift/resale shops, yarn shops and quilt shops.

First: the overall trip is west on 34, south on 30, west on 34, south on 47, west on 6, west on 34 (stay over in Kewanee) west 34 (divert to Bishop Hill) to Galesburg then back to Kewanee (stay over another night) north on 78, east on 30, (in Rock Falls/Sterling) north on 1st Street, east on 3rd Street (also Route 2) east on 52, east on 38

In Kewanee, you MUST stay at Aunt Daisy's Bed & Breakfast.  Michele and Glen are the nicest hosts and you will LOVE it!!!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

The Salvation Army in Kewanee is my most favorite secret of all.  Not so much for clothes, but I got a Victory Edition of a cookbook for $1.00 and an old aluminum cake carrier for $.50!!!  And other things too, it is great.  Also, the Quilt Box in Kewanee is also a great quilt shop, don't miss it!  The mexican restaurant in town looks a little seedy, but the food is great!

In Galesburg, you go to the Galesburg Antique Mall - three floors of well-priced goodies at Main & Seminary Streets.  Right around the corner is a great creperie, and The Purple Hanger - CAN'T MISS this one - they support victims of domestic violence and the prices are excellent.

Bishop Hill is an interesting historical town as well as nice shopping.  The bakery has the best Peperkakor cookies - dark and chewy, mmmmm

In Rock Falls/Sterling on 1st Street is the CLS Thrift Shop - another charity shop with interesting stuff and great prices.

In downtown Dekalb is the Yarn Exchange - worth the trip at any time, they have a very nice selection of yarns.  There are also a few great stores in town resale and thrift.  There is a GREAT charity shop on the east end of Lincoln Hwy, but they are only open M-F.

Le Mouton Rouge is a nice yarn shop on Liberty Street in Morris.  Quilter's Garden is a nice shop on Main St in Princeton with a large selection of batiks.

Overview

So.  Where is this little story at?

I buy 15 acres not too far from my current job.  Plant an orchard of fruit trees for the human.  Supplement the forest area with oak, fruit and nut trees for the pig area.  Plant the human garden.  Two summers readying the 2-acre pasture.  A season growing corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat and an over-winter of silage.  Purchase the heifer (and bull?) and train to pasture.  Purchase chickens (in egg?) and raise to pasture behind the cow rotation.  At 1-year, breed cow and begin dairy production.  Continue growing/harvesting/rotating crops to support livestock (and human) and turn dairy into cheese, butter, etc.  At some point I quit my day job, and probably die of exhaustion soon after!

Bzzzzzzz

And bees!  Honey and beeswax.  How could I forgo keeping bees?

Goats?  Pigs?  (Chevre? and Ham?)

A New Vocabulary

Cow - female
Bull - male
Jersey - smaller dairy cow with higher-fat, higher-protein milk than typical
Brahma - large chickens that lay brown eggs and tend to take care of offspring - also cold hearty and unlikely to get carried off by other birds of prey (about the size of my dear Roscoe!)
Forage - pasture where cows (etc) graze on not-just-grass
Silage - slightly fermented mixture of grains and hay that is more readily digested
Short Ton = 2,000 lbs
Bushel = about 60 lbs

Stuff to Buy

Bull trailer
harvesting equipment
helpful husband
tractor
scooter
pickup truck
chicken coop on wheels
moveable electric fence
Jersey cow
Jersey bull
Brahma rooster
Brahma chickens (10)
Sheepdog

pair of pigs
pair of goats

The Plot Thickens, Literally

OK.  Two cows: well, one cow and one bull, so that the farm is truly self-sufficient.  Two cows eat something like 72,000 lbs of food per year.  If we assume grazing will provide some portion of that amount for part of the year, let's say we need 7 months at 42,000 lbs.  Throw in extra for the wintering of chickens and the acreage needs to look something like:

4 acres corn
4 acres wheat
4 acres soybeans
4 acres alfalfa
0 acres straw (by-product of wheat)

1 acre forage

The Purple Hanger-Galesburg, IL

An nifty thrift store in a slightly bad location (a few blocks from the "cool" stores and out of sight) but they have good stuff and their money goes to support victims of domestic violence.  GO THERE!  Really!  Its worth finding-a few blocks south of Main and just off Seminary.

And one more thing...

My son thinks that, if on a four-lane road, me passing into the right lane to pass someone turning left (no turn lane) is "Rude".     Huh?  Rude???

You're kidding right? Right?

"Hey, Mom- I know it's 5:42 on Wednesday night, but I have a permission slip here that has to be turned in Friday morning - NOTARIZED and I need it during the day tomorrow.  Why do you look so upset?!?  Jeesh, I'm not the one who required the notary thing!"

For my son

How could I forget Sally?

I forgot the $400 per month car payment.  Although Sally (a Honda Fit) won't be very practical for hauling around feed...

Boomtown Rats had it wrong

While I certainly don't like Mondays, I find Sunday nights to be much harder.

Joel Osteen has a new book, Friday Everyday.  What a guy!  So close to the truth, but still so far.

Did you ever find yourself brushing your teeth too hard because you were in a hurry to get back to life?

Don't take it personally-HA!

So I've been working on a pulled-pork roast for two days.  I thought it was pretty good.  I offered a half-sandwich to my son.  I actually thought he might like it.  I am now making a mental note to NEVER, EVER offer that kid another item again.  I was walking by his room a little later and asked what he thought.  First he couldn't get the movie to pause, so his first response was "Oh, my f**ing G*d!" and then he said, "It was mostly tasteless."  I can't get over how much of a jerk he can be towards me!

253 more days.

Then I can legally ask him to get out of my home.  Him and his swearing and lazy non-chore-doing bones and his violent games and dry-wall-breaking anger fits.  And in the meantime, I will NEVER take him into account when I make food and I will NEVER, EVER suggest he eat something I make.  He turns his nose up at everything, which is his own problem, but he always hurts my feelings when he just stubbornly won't say anything nice.

Folks at work seem to genuinely like my baking, and the folks at church too, so it really is a matter between him and me. What a jerk!!!  What a ... a ... TEENAGER!

E.M.H.E.

My mother thinks Extreme Makeover Home Edition is a fraud that causes more trouble in the lives of the people than it helps.  I don't care, I love that show.  I'm tearing up because of the fact that (sometimes) even normal people can find a way to help others.  A woman in NC helping homeless female veterans.  Talk about an inspiration!?!  (I can't wait to see if she is a Christian!)

This world is not our home

God knows we are designed for work.  I look forward to the day when I can work without beaking and the earth will yield to my efforts.  Someday I will be able to put these plans perfectly to work, as I will be able to consult with The Creator about how to do it right.  Oh, how I long for that day!

Planting in order

Fisrt, plant the things that take the longest to reach maturity.  Three apple trees of three different varieties.  Two cherry trees and two peach trees.  Raspberry bushes, asparagus, rhubarb...

Distribute seed on the pasture to get the cow salad bar going.

Plant chicken and cow food for the winter seasons (corn, soybeans, wheat).  Alfalfa for cows and hay for bedding?

Even free-ranging chickens need supplemental food.  High protein feed, grains (corn, soybeans or wheat) and oyster-shell calcium.  Non-frozen water year round.

Next comes the people food; tomatoes and things that can be canned.  Zuchini, squashes, pumpkins, green peppers, peas, beans, onions, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, sunflowers, (sesame?)

How to Float

Just for the sake of argument, I'm outlining a few assumptions.  The major one is that if something can go wrong, it will go wrong, so I always plan for the worst.

Assuming a $200,000 property with 5 acres and a decent house.  Taxes $3k per year.  The loan will be $175,000 at 4% for 40 years with mortgage payments of $1,040 per month.  Monthly utilities add another $1K per month. Add a small tractor for taking care of the land for $10k and $1k per month for food and gasoline, etc.

That means a minimum of $3K of income per month to stay afloat.

Is That Bobby In The Shower?

So the odds are so very against this thing happening, but I'm going to pursue the idea as far as I can take it.  On paper, anyway.  253 days.  I suspect I'll stay in my comfortable suburban condo until I die.  No garden, no yard, and I'm bound to get myself a cute little fluffy dog sooner or later.  (They have some really interesting rescues at the DCACC!)

So. How is this supposed to work?

1) I find a farm-ette with less than 10 acres within commuting distance from my current job with a mortgage at the same level as currently.  Must have a couple of tillage acres and pasture, with year-round water and some kind of house.  Small barn would be a bonus.  (Wooded section for pigs???)

2) For several years I work on the flora end of the farm.  Veggies and fruits while keeping my day job.

3) Move into small-scale grain production (for feed) with a small tractor.  Develop the pasture into a cow-feeding heaven growing grasses and whatnot for three-season foraging.  I'm still working at my day job.

4) I add chickens to the mix.  Just a few, at first, to get the hang of things, but adding until I have enough to sustain the flock and provide income from the truly free-range eggs and the occasional fried chicken dinner.  Can I give up the full-time day job yet?

5) I add a cow, then two or three.  They pasture around the farm, and the chickens follow.  I start by selling the extra cream, then butter and eventually cheese.  Small hand-made items to maybe a Chicago-suburb restaurant that's into the locavore movement (if it's still around in 10 years!)

6) I settle into a career that takes hard work and sweat, but I plan my own days and don't rely on my brain to try to stay ahead of office politics.  No farm animal will ever tell me to dress better and wear makeup!!!

What Am I Thinking?

My son turns 18 in 254 more days.  I'll have the opportunity to change my life.  I've been more than a little concerned about what my job is doing to me.  I'm an accountant for a small company that is part of a much larger corporation.  I'd had hopes of moving up the ladder but it has been 4 years since they helped me get my MBA and almost 12 years at the same company, in almost the exact same position.  I really enjoy being an accountant and I LOVE the people I work with.  In fact, I'd be pretty happy to stay where I am if certain things would just change.  Things out of my control.

Except I've been having little tiny mental lapses.  Things that sound silly when I talk about them, but I really rely on my mental abilities to be who I am, and losing that is scaring me.  I'm 47 and aging is scaring me too.  Aches and pains...  Arthritis-like problems in my hands and weird things going on with my knees/ankle...

I actually believe that the mental lapses are stress-related.  I'm worried that they aren't, but I think that they are.  Having a plan to move into a new "career" seems like a prudent move.  I'm thinking crazy that a micro-farm is a good choice, but having a less mental and more physical career may make sense even though my body is aging.  If I plan right, perhaps I can mitigate the physicality?  The right equipment?  I'm not trying to start a big farm, just enough to support myself.

Chickens 101

Well, since Martha Stewart raises chickens, I should too, no?

Aseel
Australorp
Brahma-dual purp 8+ lbs 3eggs/wk hardy confineable docile
Cochin
Delaware
Dominique
Dorking
Faverolles
Langshan
Naked Neck (Turken)
New Hampshire Red
Orpington
Plymouth Rock
Silkie Bantam
Sussex
Wyandotte

Predators, winter shelter, feed in addition to pasturing, length of laying life (5-7 years) starting at about 6 months, no rooster necessary for eggs - just for new chickens, guinea fowl can protect almost as well as a well-trained dog but noisy! coop off the ground to avoid certain predators, moving the coop helps too

Cows 101

Did you know that a decent cow gives 8 gallons of milk per day? I don't really drink milk, so that leaves a lot of other possiblities, yes? Cow costs up to $1k

Jerseys are smaller, up to 800 lbs, and have 5.2% of cream
1 lb butter takes 11 quarts milk
1 lb cheese per gallon of milk
1 lb milk makes 1 lb yogurt

Some cheese is aged and most is not. Aging takes a cellar (or turned-down fridge). Pasteurizing milk is cooking at a certain temperature (brewing thermometer) for long enough to kill stuff. Aging cheese also includes a variety of problems and wax.

Another New Plan

I guess I'm an eternal optimist.  I know, it surprises me too.  I was watching a show about raising dairy cows and I thought perhaps I could do that too.  Micro farming, just big enough to feed me and pay the taxes/utilities.  Paying the mortgage presents a whole extra layer of challenge.

A new computer! Finally!

I mean, it was kinda cool blogging from my phone, but there's a limit, you know?  I already love this computer SO much more than that last one.  (Although I don't think I'm keeping the Dell "Stage")  And they moved my end button...    I better stop eating this sesame seed candy - very good, but I'm starting to feel a sugar rush and I don't need a sleepless night.

HELLO to my solitary follower.  I promise to write more now that I have a real computer with a real monitor and a real keyboard; you get the idea!

Is another man's treasure...

I'm giving my son my practically brand new desktop computer.  It was not cheap. He bashed the heck out of his laptop and it croaked, many months ago. I cannot afford to keep buying computers this way, but the real truth is that I really dislike this computer. I'm pretty sure that my dislike is a very personal thing, which is why I offered it to him. In other words, I don't think I was motivated entirely by a desire to get the evil thing out of my room.  Here's what I hate about it (and this is the entire thing-it performs great otherwise)--it is always doing something when it is on. I could leave that thing on for 22 hours a day and it would still be piddling around with something in there every minute. I was tempted to disconnect the internet just to get some peace and processing speed. It's constantly downloading and checking for updates and Heaven only knows what all!!! Makes me nuts.  So now it's going to computer purgatory-my son is VERY hard on his equipment.  ;-)
AND he gets the monitor he broke too!

Fruit?

So I'm watching Katie Brown workshop.  Her plan is to make kids like fruit more, so she's taken citrus fruit, hollowed it out and filled them with ice cream or cake.  Plain cake too, not like fruit flavored or anything.  Funny-I would think that would just make them even more disappointed the next time they eat real fruit that doesn't taste like frosted cake!

Another ice cream place

I'd forgotten to say something about Tate's in Wheaton. We were there on a busy Sunday evening in late summer. The ice cream was good, rather pricey and the place was grungy. I won't go out of my way to go back.

It's a small world

So I was sitting at a creperie in Galesburg. IL and the man next to me was talking about his job at the high school where my mother went to school.  Then at dinner last night there were several folks who actually knew people who live where I do.  Small world indeed!

Out with the old

I was driving in rural NW Illinois.  I'd forgotten how much I really like the "heartland" - Bruce Hornsby kept running through my mind as I drove through the gently rolling corn and soybean fields. I like this photo because of the looming feel of the new technology over the poor, decrepit little house.

Knit gift for a friend

I had something in mind to knit for a dear sister and found some yarn in my stash that was almost exactly what I'd had in mind, so it was win-win (provided she likes it, of course).  I also set up a Ravelry account, so you can check out the details and get the free pattern here http://ravel.me/Luke1133/3hc

Self striping sock

I'm a big fan of knitting lace but I broke down and bought some self striping yarn for socks.  I don't LOVE the colorway, but I think I like the whole idea.  I chose a chevron pattern so that the stripes wouldn't be TOO boring and (mostly) so that I wouldn't be bored to tears with so much just knit stitching.  I'll post the pattern once I get past the heel.

Ice cream #2 - Oberweis

My son had a root beer float. I've tasted better root beer...  I had a single scoop of fudge brownie swirl.  It was certainly better than Coldstone.  Very sweet!  Nice flavor I suppose, but still not the thing I'm looking for.  Pretty dang expensive too.

Ice cream #1 - Coldstone Creamery

Coffee with (one) Oreo mixed in, because I got the kid's size.  Very nice price and I guess I'll try it again, but too "rich" for my taste.  I feel like I'm wearing lip gloss, there's so much fat in this stuff.  It has a good flavor,a little too sweet, but too fluffy for me.  I like ice-milk type of ice cream more, I guess.

Pirate's booty

Check out all the bling!  It's all costume stuff I'm repairing for the thrift store where I volunteer.

Yarn

I'm allergic to wool.  I don't have much money to spend on clothes/materials so I tend to knit with acrylic.  I know that makes "real" knitters sigh, but it works for me.  I don't really like Red Heart, but Simply Soft seemed good.  Now I don't think so.  I'm using it for a lacy knit so it's going to be okay, but one skein is loaded with slubs.  I found the same thing when I was knitting the sweater I have on now.  Five skeins good, one loaded with slubs.  I thought it was an anomaly but now it seems like a pattern.  Boo.

Kids say the nicest things

So keep in mind that I have choir rehearsal on Thursday nights and haven't come home after work on Thursday in, like, two years.
My son called me just after 5 to ask if I could get him some Taco Bell.  I agreed and we talked about what he wanted.  Suddenly he said "Oh!  It's Thursday!"  I then said "That's alright, I don't have choir tonight" thinking he knew I wasn't coming home.  Oh no.  What was I thinking?  He says "No, I just realized I haven't watched The Office in four weeks."

One Step At A Time

Some mornings I let myself do a little craft work before work.  Some mornings I have to do other things instead.  Some mornings I am late for my "real" work-like today!

Designing Things

I'm not very creative. I'm very crafty. I can make things based on others' designs. I can make very well-made, pretty things based on others' designs. I can stray pretty far from those designs into fabulous variations. I cannot, however, create things only out of my thoughts. Actually, my thoughts are not that tangible, I think (pun intended). I don't seem to imagine things anymore; I can see something tangible and determine whether it will work well with this fabric or that yarn or in another color scheme, but actually visualizing the finished product seems to be a skill I have lost, if I ever had it very strongly to begin with. Nice to realize one's own limitations. Perhaps I'll stop expecting myself to design stuff from scratch from now on, and concentrate on making wonderful variations of other's designs.




This is what got me out of bed (a few minutes early) today.

Hey, look at me all 21st Century

Blogging from my phone!!!  Where I am able to correct the color setting for incandescent light, so the quick shot I took this a.m. of my newest bag will be closer to the real color!  (Woo hoo-now I can blog during boring meetings:-)

For all the The Muppet Show fans out there

The Muppet Show

YOU HAVE TO GO SEE THIS!!!

Uh oh, just what I needed?

Some kind soul gave me a tip about a magazine called Make.  I was just there.  I have got to pace myself.  I think my head might explode with ideas.  I must take notes!  Within minutes I was (for the first time in my life) considering how much $$ was too much $$ for conductive thread so that I could knit gloves that work with my new smart phone.

WHO AM I???  What happened to the slightly nerdy woman who was quietly knitting in her room, watching The Dick Van Dyke Show re-runs?

But, I gotta say, a bed-sized knit Tardis blanket?  WOW!  And while we're on the subject, Peter Davidson rocked (Tristan Farnon!?!  Need I say more?)

Always Check Your Comments

I decided quite some time ago to simply blog for my own private benefit.  I had been trying to imagine what readers would like to hear about, and then spent time thinking about what I could offer.  I also fretted about what subjects, blah blah blah - I eventually decided that I would just do whatever I felt was on my mind, and let the rest go.  It's not as if I was trying to make money from this blog.  If so, I'd have advertising turned on, oui?  I had given the address to a few people who'd been asking what I was making lately.  This way they could see the photos, etc.  Of course, most of the time they would just look at me like I was talking in some weird, foreign language.  I don't think "blog" was something they were ready to understand.  Even after looking at it, apparently they never got the idea that it wasn't one static message; that they could check in with me from time to time and see the various postings.  A few weeks ago, a friend mentioned in an e-mail that he'd been checking it every so often and I was SO gratified.  Even if he only looks once a year, it would still make me feel somewhat appreciated.  WELL-Imagine my surprise to discover that I have COMMENTS!  Not just one or two, but like 10 or something!!!  And like two visitors per day!  WOW.

I know, I know. I sound a little sarcastic, but I am being totally sincere.  (I know; I'm always sincerely sarcastic, so what's the difference, right?)  I guess I'm just surprised to find out I'm not exactly the person I thought I was.  I keep looking for approval on craft project choices from co-workers, stuff like that.  I get deeply thrilled to discover that someone is reading this.  Who am I???

Three beaded bracelets

I fininshed these a couple of weeks ago-I bought a beading magazine at the same time as the knitting magazines, and tried out some weaving techniques.  I added a small section with stretchy cord so they can be a little smaller than my hand could normally take.

Now I need to finish my sweater!!!

Purple bracelet

I finished this bracelet this morning, while I waited for my digestive system to do its thing.  I also wore the bracelet to work and had one of the "stones" fall off before I even got to work.  Fortunately I found it in my coat pocket, so I'll be gluing it back in place after this.  I wish my camera had a half-flash setting, then perhaps I could use it without washing everything out, unlike this photo where the colors are tanned and you can't even appreciate the pale greens and purples.

Charm Necklace

I just finished this few minutes ago.  I gotta find a way to take better photos!  The colors are actually pale green and lavender.  I've had violets (and springtime!) on my mind lately.  There's a robot charm and a lighthouse and a pinecone.  There's a treble clef, although I frequently have to read bass clef, but they don't have those.  (Nice flannel shirt too, eh?)

First attempt at nail paintings

I'm so sure, Emily Prentiss is not really dead!  Oh oh, I didn't see that one coming (visualize eyeroll here)

Not yet dry and not quite as brown as the photo makes them look, but my newest...distraction.  The purple doesn't show up against the grey either.

Briefcase/Computer Bag/Purse

This is a UFO that is functional.  I made it for a meeting last week and it works well.  I'm actually glad it isn't quite done, because now I can fix a few things.  I also made a little bag for my new smart phone, so it can have a little protection when it's bumping around in there.  The back section can expand out to accommodate a computer.  I didn't pad the purse itself, figuring I'll make a padded sleeve for the computer to slip into before putting the whole thing in the purse.  I bought way too much fabric and someone pointed out that the magnetic catch will be bad for the computer (or phone) so I'm going to swap it for a mechanical snap.  I also need to re-work the top-I hate how it caves in.

There is some gorgeous brocade on the inside.

and the little phone-case baby bag

Some older work

These are some things I made a little while back.

This hedgehog was from a library book about english-garden-inspired knits.  One day I'll post a photo of the sweater-coat I knit from it too.  This had a fun stitch to lock the loops in place.  His nose is too big and needs to be tucked in place where it's just pushed in right now.

This was probably another Lions pattern - it knitted up fast with double-strand Homespun.  It has a fun ladybug botton on the top.  Unfortunately it also weighs about 6 pounds and ended up a litle too wide for me.  And since it's acrylic, it is really warm unless the wind is blowing AT ALL and I live too near the Windy City for that to work out!

I love these little bags-they are fast to make, don't take much fabric and are easy-easy to carry, especially if you wear them backpack style.  The most expensive part is the colored cord.  A cheap way to update your "wardrobe".

This was a two-fold project.  I needed a bag for school that could hold file folders.  I was also making a quilt for my grandmother and wanted to test out my color choices.  Both turned out well, although the bag is too floppy for my taste.

Catching Up

So, I have been doing some work.  I wanted to add the photos - these are the recent ones, all in the last year or so.

I just added the closures to this last night - the pattern is from Lion's and the yarn is Vanna's Choice.  This knitted up in no time flat, and I haven't even knitted in a year at least.  I will also say that steam blocking acrylic is my new thing to do every time, now, although VERY carefully, never touching the piece directly!

I made this little book last night.  Paper was 4/$1 at Michael's, so with the ribbon I already had, this book only cost a dollar.  It measures 6 x 6, has a little junk mail glued into the cover for stiffener, and has 12 pages.  (It's for exercise-blech!)  It also only took about 1/2 hour!!

I made this little ditty when I first got my new machine.  It holds all the little feet and wahtnot, and even has the feet letters written in paint marker.  It usually hangs off the right end (I moved it to the front for the photo)

I'm trying to multitask and paint my nails while uploading these photos AND watch (listen to, really) Criminal Minds {I'm so GLAD they're getting rid of Prentiss!!!}  This is the plan for adding pansies over the second layer of grey.

This is, well you can see the label in the background.  I bought a knitting magazine a few weeks ago after the purple sweater success, and they had several gorgeous sweaters.  This one was in gold and brown in the magazine, but I thought the grey might be a little easier to wear.  The lower cable-band took forever to knit!  I also was trying to knit it on circular needles, but I prefer squinching everything onto 14" because I like to tuck one under my arm (or even up a sleeve!)  I'm not certain I love it anymore...  :(

Scanner or ADHD?

I always overthink things.

Ovethinking things keeps me from doing much of anything.  Not that I don't do things, but I don't stretch out, don't reach farther than I have, further than my comfort zone.  Overthinking keeps me from blogging, for example.  I feel I have to focus what I say to a certain range of topics. And then I feel I need to focus my efforts to that topic as well.  It was quilts, then canning, then I got concerned about my topic and stopped blogging, because in real life, I then was knitting and then beading and now I vacillate between knitting and journaling, with a purse/briefcase project thrown in the middle.

I recently got some nice encouragement on my blog, so I intend to drop some of the inhibitions, and just write. 

I also heard recently about people like me who are called scanners.  This isn't so much how I am at work, but in my off-work-life, I tend to try a craft, get decent at it, get bored with it and move on to something else.  What I am drawn to is the learning more than the final product, I think.  I love to learn things.  I also enjoy having the end product, certainly, but I enjoy the thrill of accomplishing something different.  Now, this is not for everything, mind you.  For example, I recently wanted to buy a briefcase/purse/computer bag and could not find anything close to what I wanted, so I spent a bunch of time (and a little bit too much money) over the last few weeks making myself a bag.  It's not quite finished, because I don't think I like the cover or handle situation.  People have thought it was excellent, and even suggested I make them to sell, but that idea horrifies me.  To have to make it again?  And to please someone other than me?  And if it works out, to have to make it again and again and again???  ARGH!!  I used to beat myself up about not having a focus in my off-work-life, but I'm coming to embrace that and find ways to work with it instead of against it.  I now allow myself to buy the tools of the trade pretty freely, but I'm more careful about the materials.  For example, I've got most knitting needle sizes in 14" and a few circulars, and some cable needles, etc.  I haven't knitted in years, but once I came back to it, I was ready to go.  On the other hand, I refuse (well, try really hard to avoid) to buy material for more than one project at a time, because I could get carried away on the buying end and never get finished with the first one, even!  I have a lot of scrapbook paper hanging around from when I was making book-shaped boxes.  And a number of empty scrapbooks from when I was planning to do more scrapbooking.  Those items are pretty hard to store and I hate seeing them, but I haven't found a good way to get rid of them (beyond recycling, that is)...  Overthinking again.

Beadwork 1

I was looking for artistic inspiration and picked up a beading magazine.  Here's some first attempts.

Another proud moment

Yes, my son's hair is now the color of cotton candy!

In the world but not of it

That is the question for the ages, is it not?  "How do I do that?"  This morning's sermon danced around the edges of that idea.  Acts 17:22-23  Paul certainly knew a great deal about the cultures he was preaching to, but he was also clearly not doing as they were doing, and was quick to point out those things that were not in keeping with Scripture.  I keep thinking that if I were clear on what I was doing that was wrong, or had a clear idea of exactly what God wanted me to do, I would gladly, gratefully do it.  But I don't have any burning bushes in view and no messengers sitting at the foot of my bed.  And I can second-guess (and third-guess) every single thought in my head.  Maybe I have too many voices in my head???  The choices paralyze me.  I'm Albert Brooks in Defending Your Life.  Except I wear nail polish.

Recent movies

So I finally watched (nearly all of) District 9 because my son was nagging me to see it.  It's one of his friends' favorite movies.  I didn't really enjoy it.  I finally gave up the third time Netflix wanted to adjust my viewing because of my network speed.  Weird.  Nice to hear South African dialect and accents.  Good CGI as the aliens seemed "real".  It was rather predictable to me.  I couldn't tell him that, though.  He doesn't really want to hear my opinion, because I'm his dumb mother, you know.

I tried watching Where The Wild Things Are, but it was just too dumb.  I realize that it is supposed to be fantasy, but...  not my cup of tea.  Too fantastical.  Back to Netflix it goes!

I'm writing this with my new computer.  The old one suddenly stopped working late last week.  I finally got it to boot one last time, and was able to save some music I had down-loaded and may not have on my MP3 player.  Five-hundred dollars later, and I 'm still stuck with the broken monitor that my son managed to crack the base off of.  It sits on a plastic box and rests against the wall, so adjustments are out of the question, as is watching it from "over there" instead of straight on.

Today's hair color is

How about this one?

What's a mother to do

My son.  There is nothing I can add, because I've had strangely colored hair back in the day too.

Bolero by Maurice Ravel

I was listening to classical radio on the way home from choir and had to sit in the car in the cold parking lot just to hear all of this piece.  I hadn't heard it in years.  (It's too bad it got attached to that silly movie.)  I found a great version, but it is in two pieces, sorry.  Much better than the Andre Rieu versions though, I think.

Can a COA drink at all?

Is any alcohol acceptable for the child of an alcoholic?  How much is too much?  Where is that big golden line to avoid stepping over, I wonder as I consider my third drink of the evening...

EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS for that cruise.  Granted that's the big cruise, but if it really is one-in-a-life-time...???  It would be cheaper without the kid along, and also cheaper if we didn't wait for the school year to end.  Hmmm

I'm trying to be good and plan a menu.  So that I can be budget- and calorie-conscious.  Have a big plan to hit the grocery store tomorrow after church.  Speaking of which, it's communion Sunday, so I will be at the church from 7:30 until about 12:30.   Poor me :(  Boo hoo hoo.  I get to hear the sermon three times-yea for me!  (Maybe it will sink in better that way?)  And my favorite prayer-pastor is retiring (again).  He got drawn out of retirement when our last senior pastor retired, and now that the new senior pastor seems to have settled in, it's time for him to retire (again).  I will miss him a great deal.  He can still fit into his WWII service uniform (was a chaplain, of course) and he frequently would get a wee bit choked up as he led the congregational prayer.  Pretty irreplaceable, I think.  And my choir pastor/director is directing us one last time tomorrow before he leaves us for six months on sabbatical.  Sad, but his replacement was interesting at rehearsal the other night.  I'm trying to look forward to the limited-length change of pace.

Back to menu planning (blech)

No more plain Activia, but Mendelssohn instead

I got the sad news that my favorite grocery store will no longer have plain Activia (in the big containers).  I wasn't able to find out if it was because they didn't sell enough or if they stopped making it.  Either way, I am a little heart-broken.  I eat some of it every day in my muesli.  I've been having Dannon plain for two days and it's just not the same (can you see me stomping my feet right now, and pouting a little?)  I'd like to blame my recent poor attitude on that little change and while there may even be some truth in that idea, I refuse to let something like that take the wind out of my sails.  It's just a yogurt, for crying out loud!  But I eat it every day (imagine whining voice here) boo hoo hoo hoo.

On the bright side, I found out today that we will be singing Mendelssohn in choir.  And some Latin, and Softly and Tenderly, which always makes me teary (even though there is no crying in the tenor section!)  We're having a guest conductor while our director/pastor is on sabbatical for six months.  He teaches conducting at a major conservatory and I can hardly wait to see what it's like to work with him!  Judging by the music we've got planned out ahead of us, it's gonna be GOOD.  I only hope I can keep up.

Is this cheating?

So, I could totally cheat, like one blog I USED to follow, but what is the fun of that?  What is the point of cheating while trying to succeed at a challenge when the sole prize is personal satisfaction?  Posting a laundry list of things happening to me each day.  Boring!  Especially when mixed with poor language and menu choices.

Eats, shoots and leaves.  I have the daily calendar.  I am a language stickler, at least I am when I 'm not trying to pad my post count.

And I will secretly admit - just to you - that I've been watching the premier of Live To Dance.  And if you ask me about it, I will be totally embarrassed to admit it.  I'll pretend that I was just waiting for NCIS.  Mark Harmon is ALMOST as good as RDA  (Richard Dean Anderson --- you know; Stargate... MacGyver?)  Anyway-gassing teenagers, a missing girl-I gotta go.  (and do some hand sewing to relieve the guilt of just sitting there watching TV)  (Or not)

And ERIC (who sometimes read my blog) are you THAT Eric?  From my past?  Las Vegas Eric?  Or just a different, encouraging Eric whose mother is absolutely correct that you ARE someone!

I love getting comments!

NOT A RESOLUTION!!!

I'm just wired to take on challenges, I guess.  I was reading one of my favorite blogs and she commented about trying to catch up so that she would meet her goal of 365 entries in 365 days.  Now I can't seem to resist the idea.  I was reading my most favorite blog and she was talking about several art-related challenges that she takes on and I could hardly resist adding those to my list.  AS IF I DON"T HAVE ENOUGH "STUFF" TO DO IN MY LIFE!

This is not a resolution, certainly not another New Year's Resolution!  It isn't!!!

I recently bought a copy of The French Chef Cookbook.  Based on her show.  Which made me think of Julie & Julia.  Maybe I cook one show each Saturday???  NOT A RESOLUTION!!!

Lavender Mist

So a coworker lent me a book about enjoying and taking care of curly hair.  There was some good advice and for the most part, I enjoyed the book.  HOWEVER - there was included a recipe for a spray solution for curly hair.  The general idea is that curly hair is quite dry and you really should not wash it very often.  Other days you would freshen your curls with a spritz of something and the author suggested making a lavender mist.  You take a half gallon of water, bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for an hour.  Add five drops of essential lavender oil, stir and cool.  Fill spray bottles.

Why did the water have to boil for an hour???

To cruise or not to cruise

My mother mentioned something a few months ago about wanting to take an Alaskan cruise.  I've often said that the only cruise I'd be likely to take would be in Alaska.  I've been researching Alaskan cruises.  On Holland America, if she'll pay for an adult fare and I pay an adult fare, my son will be essentially free.  Which cuts down on the price an awful lot.  That leaves me paying about a grand for the cruise and another 700 or so for airfare for the two of us.  All I have to do is decide a few things:

big ship vs. small ship
excursions vs. real relaxation
with Mom vs. without Mom
with son vs. without son
inside passage vs. glacier tour
which line?
pamper myself vs. support missionaries
final trip with old child vs. avoiding grumpy-teen-time
quiet time with woman who raised me vs. yet another mind-numbing staycation

NOT a New Year's resolution

I was in the side streets of Wheaton on December 31, and there seemed to be a large number of women running around in various parts of town, all jogging slowly with their arm clutched to their side and a look of pain mixed with determination on their faces.  And it seemed like most of their husbands were at Trader Joe's with lists clutched in their hands, pushing carts full of wine and snacks.

I made two resolutions about three weeks ago.  One was to get more walking into my days.  The second was more of a re-resolution; Pace yourself.  For the first I bought a nifty pedometer from Amazon (that was $19.95 three weeks ago!) and have been wearing daily since I got it.  For the second, I have been avoiding the TV commercials and store shelves and magazines that would have me succumb to the desire to buy my way to cleaner closests or a more-fit-me, etc.  I will tackle things one day at a time.

I have too many quilts started and need to finish some.  In order to accomplish this, I keep telling myself that I really should clean up my house.  That alone keeps me planted in the chair, needle in hand, busily avoiding housework by sewing instead.  So far, so good!

Oh - and I'm not looking for my "soul-mate" on the internet...