| Today I learned to spin |
[Aug. 19th, 2009|10:53 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  accomplished | ] |
| [ | music |
| | quiet, the kid is upstairs in bed | ] |
I made some yarn, lumpy bumpy horrible yarn, but it was spun, technically at least. I enjoyed the ride and tried out left hand draw, right hand draw and a long draw. My treadling is getting more even and I can even start the wheel the right way some times. Sandi says the wheel was acting up so I can't be entirely blamed for my super twisted chunky thick and thin singles. I'll keep at it and someday I'll be able to spin my own sock yarn, thus completing the cycle. After all I learned to knit so I could make socks, so it stand to reason that it's the reason I should learn to spin.
If you want to laugh at my spinning, there is a pic up on the shop blog: http://purlescence.typepad.com/purlescence/ |
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| do what you love and love what you do |
[Aug. 2nd, 2009|01:58 am] |
I've been deep in the dye pots for the last week and a half and I'm really loving it. I spent the evening rinsing and hanging yarns to dry. We have to have them ready to pack on Monday night. We're leaving on Tuesday morning and doing the run to Portland. It'll be a great adventure! It is the first time we've the shop to an away show.
In other news, Ruth made the relays for Far Westerns and swam in the 4x100 freestyle on Thursday and swam in the anchor position today in the 4x100 medley relay. Her splits were faster than her best time in the 100 freestyle so I think she has finally broken the time barrier. She's been banging on this time standard for most of a year now and it was truly awesome to see her crash through! Our friend Kelli was able to come and see her swim today which is awesome, since Kel is a former competitive swimmer and has been very encouraging to Ruth.
On the needles: finishing work for N's sweater, two fisted tank, and the rest of my projects are kinda on hold. |
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| Dyeing Day |
[Jul. 18th, 2009|01:22 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | dyeing, knitting | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  tired | ] |
| [ | music |
| | quiet, except for the click of knitting needles | ] |
Today was a long day, but a good one. Nathania and I dyed yarn for our Purl Up and Dye line that we are taking to Sock Summit next month. I love dyeing. We also taught a class in dyeing. We figured taking the dyestuff and equipment out once for both was a good idea.
I mixed a really cool black/purple color and I dyed with it in three different configurations, we'll see what happens when it's cooked, rinsed, and dried. I also dyed a color I think I may call "Formica". It's pink and grey (snicker)
New on the needles:
the front of the Jitterbug vest which I finally found my pattern for
Two Fisted Tank from Pints and Purls a new book at the shop. I'm making it in the Cascade Cotton Club in navy blue. |
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| Vacation over and back to work |
[Jul. 10th, 2009|09:42 pm] |
We had a lovely vacation, doing as little as possible. We did some dyeing and on the last day we went to Monterey Bay Aquarium. The seahorse exhibit is wonderful.
On the needles:
Ribby Cardi in Claudia's HandPainted Yarns 55 Merino worsted - colorways - Chocolate and Chocolate Cherry
Classic British Vest from Simply Knitting - Zephyr DK in Marine blue and Elderberry. This is my current obsession - an Argyle vest!
Basic sock #2 from hand-dyed yarn. This is some of the last batch of hand dyed fingering weight in lovely autumnal colors
Cedar Creek socks #2 - BMFA Socks that Rock in Jewel of the Nile. This one is my slow boat project.
Clapotis - BMFA Twisted in Obsidian
That's what is in the current bag. The Ribbi Cardi stays home since the Chocolate main color is in a giant yarn cake. We got Claudia to dye three bags of this colorway and not cut them. So it doesn't travel so well.
I think that's it for now- |
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| loves my sissy I do |
[Apr. 14th, 2009|12:05 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | home | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  happy | ] |
| [ | music |
| | lesson 22, blessed silence | ] |
It's the first stay of Spring Break for Ru, so I let her sleep in until past noon. We got up and went to the book store to get some books for the next section of her Social Studies. I called my sissy, the awesome AuntieSocial, and we hung out with the kids at Peets with cupcakes and Hibiscus Breeze iced tea. Then home to bake a loaf of bread, I tried a recipe for quinoa bread, and finish the split pea soup I started in the crock pot earlier. We ate dinner and listened to music and talked about life, the world, and everything. I have the coolest sister ever! |
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| Blue CAR! |
[Apr. 11th, 2009|12:39 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | car | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | shop | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | optimistic | ] |
We got a new car!!! One of the not so sucky things about a relationship ending is that while he got the car I liked, I got a new Prius in a lovely dark blue! It's much fun to drive and makes me happy. Ru is happy since we now, finally, have a blue car! |
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| teaching as therapy |
[Apr. 9th, 2009|03:50 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | knitting | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | shop | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | good | ] |
| [ | music |
| | John Meyer - Split Screen Sadness | ] |
I'm feeling much better today. I did Yoga for the first time since I came back from Yosemite and have finally kicked the sinus infection. Yoga is a wonderful start to the day. I got to work and had a one on one lesson with a person who wants to learn to knit. She is going to Iraq or Saudia Arabia with her husband and wanted a new hobby to take with her. She's lovely and learned really quickly. I always feel good when someone 'gets it'. It's very satisfying as a teacher. The world doesn't totally suck and I'm grateful to have a good day today. |
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| all things come to an end |
[Apr. 5th, 2009|02:10 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | home | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | shop | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  melancholy | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Erasure | ] |
So after a run of 15 years with my partners, one is leaving, ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) ghostballet has decided to move on. We've grown in different directions over the years and it is no longer a good fit. T, kiyowara , and I are staying together along with RU. ghostballet will continue to have a parenting role in her live, but she will live with us. It seems less disruptive that way.
I suppose nothing lasts forever in this life, it's sad though. There are many possibilties ahead and I need to focus my energy forward. I know there will be a period of grieving, however I don't want to let myself get caught there.
Onward to the next adventure.
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| CROWNS! GoT Some! |
[Apr. 2nd, 2009|06:22 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | hats, shop | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | shop | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | ecstatic | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Resurection by Delerium | ] |
Se if you didn't see the production of Crowns starring the fabulous and talented Juanita, you missed a great show. What you also missed was being able to bid on the hats in the show as well as some additional hats, many of them vintage. I went twice and both times bid on hats. The auction closed the day after the last show and I got a call saying I'd won all four of my bids. The show deals with a great deal of church as it relates to hats and southern black women. Thursday evening in the shop is referred to as 'church' by a number of our regular customers. So, it a wonderful serendipity, the hats were delivered today at'church'! I now have a red felted fez with a small black feather, a white felt pillbox with a mobius looking twist, the hat that Juanita wore in the production, called a tulle wedding cake, and a lovely little number that is half fox and half bronze satin ribbon. My friend Jade got the purple bucket hat worn by one of the characters in the finale. All are beautiful and I'm currently wearing the red fez. Perhaps I'll manage pictures. |
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| Back from the wilds of Yosemite |
[Apr. 2nd, 2009|01:26 am] |
So, I'm back. Not sick anymore still croaky but no longer having asthma attacks right and left. The hiking was great, the caving was great, but the cross country skiing?? Hated it!!! I'm still bruised from falling down so much. It was a lotta work, but I was able to keep one young man there rather than have to send him home early which makes the whole trip worth it. Ruth had a great time hiking, skiing and caving. She got to room with one of her best friends and didn't start her period while camping! A big win!
I had all the meds for all the kids, and right after breakfast and dinner my cabin looked like a third world clinic with aline out the door.
Now I'm going to bed. |
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| going to Yosemite in spite of the damn doctor |
[Mar. 21st, 2009|04:18 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | asthma, kids | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | shop | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | hopeful | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Uninvited - Alanis Morrisette | ] |
So, I went to get the ole lungs checked one more time before leaving for Yosemite...and he said I shouldn't go! I'm going anyway! Besides it's raining and scheduled for snow on Sunday and Monday so there should be less pollens. I'll take the nebulizer in case the asthma really acts up. I probably won't do too much in the way of hiking unless I feel remarkably better between now and then.
I finally heard from the chef today. Their turn time is less than stellar. The food is challenging, but I think we can manage.
I'm really looking forward to the trip in spite of it all. I think that going some place where I have to go to be at 10 pm will be awesome! |
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| Prepping for Yosemite |
[Mar. 16th, 2009|11:08 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  grumpy | ] |
| [ | music |
| | none | ] |
So I'm chaperoning Ru's class for a week at Yosemite. I have Ru and one other - a friend of Ru's with food allergies of the sort that can't be managed by avoiding one type of fruit or whatever. I have been calling and calling the people who are doing the food there, and I keep getting the "we'll call you back right away" crap. I'm getting cranky about this whole thing. Ru's friend, C, is allergic to citrus, tomatoes, peppers including things like paprika and chili used in spice mixes. I need to make sure there is food for her to eat, and these bozos who won't call back are not helping. I need to know how much food I'm going to have to haul up there with me for these two kids. I'm already going to bring all the lunch stuff they need. Can't trust the lunch menu, there isn't enough detail, and it's pretty high in sugar and carbs which won't work for Ru.
I've got to go to REI and get the kid some hiking pants, no jeans on this trip, which I get. Jeans get soggy and wet and heavy - when you are hiking in winter/early spring weather, that's a bad thing. Then, Tony is the backup chaperone, so I have to buy him hiking gear and hold it to see if he's going or I'm returning stuff. We no longer do the kind of serious hiking that requires this kind of gear. I have some pants on order, of course REI doesn't carry my size in pretty much anything except shoes. Grump! I've got to go through the other cold weather gear, I think I still have gaiters lying around, and of course knitted hats and scarves. I'll bring some extra since experience tells me not all parents are going to pack properly. Even with the pack check on Wednesday. At least I have enough hand knit socks for us to wear with our boots.
I'm also waiting for the repair guy for my stove to come. He just called and will be here about 11:30 - naturally I need to leave for class about 12:30 so I hope he's efficient. When you need 'em to be early they never are.
I'm getting over a wretched cold, the second one I have needed antibiotics for the resulting respiratory infection this winter. I'm really all done with the sick thing. I'm also all done with the weird waiting game that is being played at our house right now. Lots of changes coming, but everyone is just holding.... for just a little longer. Change comes with drama and angst - we'll have to suck it up and face it eventually, but for now, it's all about dancing around the elephant in the living room and sticking our fingers in our ears and singing La la la la la la as loudly as we can.
Anyway, I'm reviewing the packing lists and calling the kitchen again. Then off to teach knitting to my middle school classes. |
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| Mandibular Repositioners |
[Mar. 3rd, 2009|10:22 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | sleep | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | excited | ] |
| [ | music |
| | So What - by Pink | ] |
So I got my dental device. It's called a mandibular repositioner and it works by holding my lower jaw slightly forward and down from its normal position to ensure that my airways stay open at night. It freaking works beautifully! I can breathe at night and I'm not snoring says my wife. I feel rested and no longer feel like if I stop for 30 seconds, I'll fall asleep. It is so awesome!!
YAY!!!!! I really love my dentist! |
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| Nate's back |
[Mar. 3rd, 2009|10:12 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | family, knitting | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | jubilant | ] |
| [ | music |
| | That's Not My Name by The Ting Tings | ] |
My beloved son, the middle one, just popped back into my life after nearly three years of being out of contact. I am overjoyed that he is safe. He spent the last few months in jail, but it gave him the chance to access mental health care and get diagnosed with clinical depression. I'm sure that was a lot of the reason he disappeared - depression can really cause you to disconnect from your support network. At least now he has medication and if he can keep doing the work stay on the meds, there is hope for recovery. I'm so excited, he is coming over for dinner tomorrow night! I can't wait to see him. He is gonna be really shocked by how much Ruth has grown!
The down side was telling him about his grandmother and great grandmother dying last year, the dog dying two years ago. The up side was telling about the yarn store and how well that is going and him how well Ghost is doing in college.
In other news, Stitches is over for another year. It went well and I had a good time - I actually like working trade shows - except for the horrible cold, even with symptom suppressors it was a little rough at times. |
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| working day |
[Feb. 7th, 2009|02:34 pm] |
So I had to miss the kid's swim meet because I have a class going - 2nd of three. She did an awesome job at the meet! I had a good class and will be working the rest of the day. Maybe I'll get some more work done on the new sock. |
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| Seven Squared |
[Jan. 19th, 2009|01:59 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | birthday, dentist, food | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | work | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | excited | ] |
| [ | music |
| | The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now | ] |
So I turned 49 yesterday. I worked a swim meet from 7:45 am to 4:40 pm. Got home, jumped through the shower and headed out to Kazoo (favorite Japanese restaurant) for birthday dinner with my family and some dear friends. Excellent dinner was had by all. Got home chatted for a bit with everyone, hopped into the hot tub for a while then fell down in bed. Sleep was pretty horrible, apnea was in full flower and having been outside for two days with the swim meet so my allergies were also flared up.
This morning I went to the dentist to have my dental device fitting. Three impressions and three full head xrays one with the impression stuff in my mouth later, my dental device should be ready on the 2nd of February. I'm actually really excited. This should improve my sleep a great deal and if all goes well, it'll keep me from having to use a CPAP which is the desired outcomes. |
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| one of those interesting info thingys |
[Jan. 11th, 2009|11:00 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | meme | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | amused | ] |
| [ | music |
| | tv in the distance | ] |
1. Once you've been tagged you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, shortcomings, or goals.
2. At the end choose 16 people to be tagged.
3. You have to tag the person who tagged you.
4. If I tagged you its because I want to know more about you.
1. I was born in Alaska in a village that no longer exists.
2. I have been reading since I was three.
3. I spent nearly 20 years doing historical recreation, particularly costuming and cooking.
4. I own 8 corsets. I love them all.
5. I sang in the Jazz Choir in high school. We were the opening act for an Ella Fitzgerald concert at a local winery.
6. I have about a dozen different kinds of salt in my kitchen.
7. I worked as an apprentice pastry chef and had to stop when I was in a car accident and broke my back.
8. I have four grandchildren.
9. During my twenties I hitch-hiked across the US by myself.
10. I've attended the birth of five babies. I cut my first umbilical cord in 2008.
11. I got my first tattoo in San Francisco the year the 49ers won the superbowl.
12. It makes me crazy to live too far away from the ocean. I tried to live in the middle of the country but it was too flat and dry.
13. I have been married legally three times and have three spouses currently.
14. I love shoes. Really love them.
15. I got braces and glasses the same year. I was 7.
16. I love peanut butter and cheese sandwiches.
I'm not really into choosing people, if you want to play please do. |
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| day of rest |
[Dec. 30th, 2008|07:29 pm] |
So, Tuesday is generally my day of rest, it's my only day off really, and being a mom that means that I don't work at the shop or at school, just at home. However, I had to get up and take Ru to swim practice this morning at 7:30, so I came home and took a nap while she swam. We puttered around later and did a little bit of shopping and got lunch, then home. I went back out to grocery shop and get coffee with kiyowara, then lazy home time this evening. It's a good day off all things considered. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, my sister (the best kind, chosen by me) is coming over with her husband for NYE and our friend blckbtch is also coming over. We'll probably have some spinning and play some Scrabble and watch a movie. Yay for friends! |
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