Knitting & whingeing in Abalama-ding-dong

So the weather is kind of unusually cool right now - 85 degrees and low humidity instead of the usual 95+ degrees and air like soup - and I’m feeling the need to garden.  Last year, my garden was SO pretty and beautiful it could have been on the cover of Organic Gardening magazine…that is until 20+ days 100 degree days hit.  My garden went from comely to crunchy, and I’m still not over it. 

I put in a few annuals out front (not nearly enough of them so it’s truly pathetic looking) and I bought a few plants - a couple of tomatoes, squash and  pepper plants - but I never got them into the ground so they’ve all died from neglect.  The cover crop of annual ryegrass that Bill planted last fall has made it all the way thru its growth cycle and is looking tacky as hell (”Welcome to the ‘White Trash Homestead’!”). However, a few  volunteer plants have sprung up: 4 cherry tomato plants and a watermelon vine.  I’ve done a little weeding and watering and maybe I’ll feed them and mulch them before we go away.  It would be nice to have a few home grown things….or I may do what I’ve said I’d do every year and have not - which is to plant cool season veggies in August and September.  There’s still time for them to mature and I hear they do better than in the spring.  I always want to do it, but since my gardening year begins in mid-February, I’m usually all “gardened out” by mid-July.  It could happen….just maybe.

And of course, the only serious pruning/de-vining thing I did in early spring was to do damage control on the poison oak on the giant pine trees in the back. It’s quite a job and I can never seem to completely eradicate it. I do my best to pull down the vines that have worked themselves way into the bark of the trees and get as much as I can out of the ground, as well as severing all the connections I can find between roots and vines. It worked rather well - I won’t have to do it next year maybe, but lots of other things need doing:  the vinca round the patio is tryna take over (wish my camera was working -it’s quite a sight), there are a number of weed trees that have sprouted up in various places that need grubbing out, there are vines growing over a couple of windows, and the maple tree in the back is almost dead and needs to be taken down.  The blackberry and black raspberry bushes are turning into quite a hedgerow along the back fence; heck, maybe we’ll even get to eat some this year.  I can’t hardly even see the Mock Orange bush that’s back there.

Who knows if I’ll even do any of it?  On days like today, it seems overwhelming.  Especially since I need to get ready to sing at a funeral later today.  I’m honored to be asked, but it is a sad task.

 I’m tryna catch up…..
What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

This is an exceedingly hard question for me!  Probably enough to fill several rooms…..with sweaters’ and sweaters’ worth of wonderful yarns…especially cashmere.  So that if I wanted to go in there and start on an Alice Starmore or a Kaffe Fassett sweater I could do it easily without going to the LYS or online.  And beautifully colored things too….kind of like my LYS I think.  I would be a terrible LYS owner though - I wouldn’t want to sell any of it!

As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?
Had to be the weather.  I LOVE hot weather - love it love it love it! Where I grew up, it was 9 months of winter and 3 months of poor ice fishing, and we went to school right up thru the 3rd week of June.  And the lake would STILL be cold.

For me, there’s just something about the bright sunshine, the big green leaves on the trees or a warm summer rain….simply fabulous.

It may be a cliche by now, but what a cliche! My first Noro Striped Scarf.

NoroScarf1
Originally uploaded by helenkosings

Noroscarf3
Originally uploaded by helenkosings

Noroscarf2
Originally uploaded by helenkosings

I knit it once, frogged it and knit it a second time because I wanted the texture to be more even. I was working on it some this weekend at the One Human Family 10th anniversary reunion and many of the Canadians had to come over and fondle it. I used a sewn bind off on this (I’ve never done that before) and I am delighted. I will be sending this to a swap partner, but I will be buying more Noro ASAP to make another one. The color changes are simply fascinating!!! My favorite kind of project - not huge effort for a BIG payoff. I cannot recommend it highly enough. 

I’m also really pleased the pictures came out as well as they did : my camera phone to the rescue!

I’ve seen this one around…finally got tagged fer it meself.  I promise - this’uns the last one until after the weekend.

Using fd’s Flickr Toys,

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker).

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

1. Helen Preece (LOC), 2. Spaghetti Bento, 3. Newfound Lake, 4. Berlin blues, 5. Twilight: New Photo of Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan) and Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen) On Set, 6. Ice tea, 7. ‘So what are you doing this Australia Day ?’, 8. Oreos & Milk, 9. IDMC@Under Solo, Camden town, London, UK, 10. God is the ultimate painter, 11. Radiant Symmetry, 12. Quick E-Card Swap 3 - Sent

Cara tagged me. And Sarah….kind of. 

So this is wot you do:

• Link the person who tagged you.
• Mention the rules in your blog.
• Tell about 6 fun quirks about yourself.
• Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them.
• Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

I don’t know how fun these are…….Hmmmm, I think I need a cup of tea before I do this! And cookies…and maybe Spaghettios…..

1.  I am so excellent at the game Boggle that no one in my family will play with me.
2.  I’m really good at poker and cribbage too, but I don’t gamble at all, so I hardly ever play.
3.  I am a huge fan of Mr. Rogers and watched him from the time I was a child until my own children started watching him.
4.  I play the fife and I was once the fife master of a fife and drum corps for a few years in high school. Got paid for it , too.
5.  I hate it when someone grabs the toothpaste tube in the middle.  Squeeze from the bottom, a’ight?
6.  Even tho’ I’m fat as a house, I love to dance and am quite good at it.   Plus I’m humble…..

So whom to tag?     

megknits

bjbass

anvair

simplybrandy

spring_violet

canadian_diva

  
 I sent them messages intead of blog comments….I wonder if that’s OK.

I am *finally* learning how to get the pictures out of my phone.  SInce I misplaced my camera, my blog has been woefully short of pictures - hopefully my new skill will change this.  Here’s the first few random pictures I was able to get out of my Phone:

 My dear friend’s baby, Langston, in April 2008 when we were in Bloomington, Indiana together.

Adrienne at the first Wings to the Spirit conference in 2007 participating in a photo art project.

  My two boys, Fall 2006.  Will was doing some kind of school ceremony, and Ian had to come along because he’s homeschooled.  I think this is one of my favorite pictures of them EVER. 

 This from my pilgrimage to the Baha’i holy places in Israel.  Outside of Akka in a district called Bahji is the house that Baha’u'llah spent the final years of his life - still a prisoner.  That’s the building with the archways you see on the left. The path in the middle leads to Baha’u'llah’s final resting place, known as the Shrine of Baha’u'llah. There are beautiful formal gardens all around these buildings - like nothing you’ve eer seen!

 There are several young folks from Huntsville that have been serving at the Baha’i World Center in Haifa for over a year, so we met up with them and came to Bahji to visit the Shrine on Shabbat. I was in the Shrine mediatating and praying when the sun went down.  I had never been there at night and what a sight it was!

I know I’ve been promising to write here about my pilgrimage for months, but I guess I’m just not ready to yet.  Perhaps in little bits and pieces like this.

So there you have it - pictures have returned to the blog. 

The children are all gone away. I don’t have to tell anybody to brush their teeth, or pick up anything, and no fighting over the computer. No one is bugging anybody else. I can’t hardly BELIEVE it.

So for the next few days I will be doing some simple recording that I need to do and cleaning the kids’ rooms. Then on Thursday its off to North Carolina. What fun! 

I’m debating with myself about what to say about my oldest son, Will. This could turn into a *serious* whinge!  But I’ll try to restrain myself.   He’s gone to NYC to be with his girlfriend with only the most tenuous of plans for taking care of himself (i.e. a place to stay, a job, money, etc.), and regardless of what anyone with a smidgen of experience might advise. We got a call from his girlfriend’s mother telling us that he he did arrive safely (almost 24 hrs by train) but that he and her daughter’s first plan for where he was gonna stay fell through and they were looking into hotels….  I’m worried for his welfare and hopeful that he’ll be OK and relieved that he’s gone and about 15 other emotions.  Please pray for us. Thanks.
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On Saturday, I got my first installment of Sundara Yarn. OH! OH! OH!  1000 yards of 100% silk laceweight in the color “Granite Falls” ; a beautiful light grey with a tinge of green.  So so so gorgeous.  After some fairly serious fondling, I put it back in its crinkly plastic bag and  went about my business.  Later on, I discovered that the dogs had gotten into it, because they know that often times, crinkly plastic bags that belong to Mommy have goodies in them.  They didn’t do serious damage but sheesh!
Yesterday, I took a yarn dyeing class at

megknits yarn shop, Yarn Expressions.

It was really fun.  We got to dye two skeins of superwash sock yarn.  Today, I’ll rinse out my yarn and put it up to dry.  Then I’ll wind it up and see what I have.  I would love to do this again.

Then after I got home, Bill wanted to go out to dinner. July 7th is our 20th wedding anniversary.  We will be in West Virginia, so we won’t be doing anything big, so we are treating these few days without the bairns as our anniversary celebration.    We futzed around for about an hour tryna decide where to go and we finally settled on Ketchup at Bridge Street Town Center.  I was intrigued by the fact that there are only two Ketchup restaurants on the planet right now: one in Los Angeles and one in Huntsville.  What’s up with that?  it makes me laugh - somebody sold the h*ll out of Bridge STreet Town Center….

I encourage EVERYONE to go there to eat.  The food was excellent!!!  The atmosphere was great, the service was good, and the red toilet paper was unique.  I’m looking forward to taking the kids there to eat for lunch.  We paid about $30 per person and it was worth it.  I could hardly believe I was in A-ba-lama-ding-dong.  I want to try all of the restaurants over there now.

My knitting bag has been found by the hotel!  They are sending it back to me!  YAY!  It’s so nice to have good news to report. :o)

Technically, it isn’t Thursday, it’s Friday morning, but I will count a few blessings nevertheless.  The first one is above!

2. My gardenia bush is blooming hugely.

I just love the smell of gardenias, jasmine, honeysuckle, etc.  Even though I have been on a grapefruit scent kick for a little over a year, the jasmine-y scents are still my all time favorite.  Since we moved into this house almost ten years ago, I have planted 3 or 4 gardenia bushes all of which died and not from lack of care.  I finally planted one near the back door two years ago where it receives a little extra heat at night because of the western facing brick wall that receives a lot of afternoon sun, plus it’s very close to the outdoor spigot so it gets plenty of water.  Last year, there were exactly ZERO blooms on it but I was happy it wasn’t dead.  This spring, it got *quite* a bit taller and there’s probably 30 blooms on it right now.  It smells heavenly.

3.  There will be no children at my house next week.

Our two younger children are off to Boy Scout & Girl Scout camp, and our oldest is off to New York/New Jersey to see his girlfriend and God willing find a job.

Overall, I really like my kids.  But I will be happy to have a vacation from all of them.  I might actually get some recording and graphics done….or maybe I’ll just knit.  Then on Thursday I’m off to NC to see friends and sing!

4.  Star Wars

Yup, I’m a fan.  I go through phases with it; the last one was probably in 2005 maybe.  I had to get everything on DVD - I still had some VHS tapes which still work, but they don’t have all the added content.  Then I tried to get all of the Jedi Quest and Jedi Apprentice books by Jude Watson; they were written for 4-6 graders, but they are quite imaginative and I like them better than a lot of the novels in the Expanded Universe for adults.  Once I am thru the phase, I don’t think about it for years at a time.
Yesterday, I was feeling rather punk so I watched Episode III with the commentary finally.  Louisa had had the movie on early in the morning and I got sucked into it.  THEN I go onto the Star Wars website for the first time in a few years and I find that a CG animated movie about the Clone Wars is coming out in August.  Yay!  It will be a real shoot em flick I know -not my favorite thing, but we will get to see Anakin’s Padawan - Ashoka Tano and that is cool.  I know I’m in the thick of the obsession because I had a Star Wars dream last night……

I do wish that Episode VI wasn’t such a weak film……..

5.  Megan Whalen Turner

I was starting a new book with Louisa last night and I found “The King of Attolia”.  Ye gods, I had forgotten how much I loved these books!  If you haven’t read “The Thief”, “The Queen of Attolia” and “The King of Attolia” - get thee to a bookstore!  They are probably in the Young Adult section but don’t let that deter you.  This is excellent fiction.  I only wish she wrote faster.

6.  My Noro striped scarf

This thing is WAY fun to knit.  It’s so much fun, I’m actually considering frogging the whole thing and putting the skeins in a different order just to see how the color combinations change.  Is that sick or what?  It’s now close to six feet long and I’m nearing the end of the yarn…what to do?  I’m definitely gonna make several of these over the next year-I just have to save up the $ to do it.  Next time, I won’t mix Silk Garden with Kureyon, but who knew?

7.  The weather.

We’ve been having a streak of simply gorgeous days - low humidity, highs in mid to high 80’s. It’s delicious!  AND I have not planted any vegetables - I haven’t even planted the starts that I bought so most of them are dead now - so I’ve nothing to take care of……..  :o)

8.  My walking partner, Michelle

For a few weeks now  Michelle, my former neighbor, and I have been meeting at 5:45 am to walk. I don’t pay any attention to how far we go, but I know it’s close to 2 miles.  What’s great about this is I adore Michelle and I hardly ever got to see her before this, even tho we only lived two doors away from each other, and the fact that I don’t wanna be the one on the phone at 5:30 am copping out because I just doan wanna get up is making sure that I’m getting some nice exercise on a regular basis.  She’s more fit than I am, so I appreciate how she will adapt to my shortcomings on an as needed basis just cos she’s nice.  And she’s funny. Hoo boy, I gotta get up soon…..

9.  My friends

I have really, REALLY terrific friends. There are no words to describe just how great and how dear they are to me…..  I’ve no idea why they let me hang out with them, and I hope one day to be worthy of them.  ::::cue violins:::::

I was at beyooteefool Pensacola Beach last weekend for a meeting and I somehow lost my knitting bag. The bag was special because it was from the most recent Baha’i choral festival at the House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, but the thing that I’m *really * sad about losing is the knitting.

I was finishing the second sleeve of the child’s gansey sweater that I was knitting for Macuwita Sni - I had just a few more inches to go! It’s the first sweater I’ve made in about 20 years….so I’m sad that I just lost it!~  Oh well - guess I should start on another one…..

I’ve finally started on my Noro striped scarf. I’ve got 2 skeins of Kureyon and 2 of Silk Garden and it is truly fascinating to see how the color changes are working out; I wouldn’t have chosen most of these color combinations - the 2 skeins of Silk Garden were given to me as a gift.  I’m definitely gonna do this again!  A word to the wise:  do re-wind all your Noro before beginning.  3 out of 4 of my skeins had knots in them with a BIG color change….

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One of my FAVORITE things to do:

1.  Every 4 or 5 days, go to Ravelry.
2.  Look thru all of the new patterns that have been posted since the last time you looked.

This is just so satisfying and inspiring for me!  I love to see what other people are creating and I’ve learned so much.  I see all kinds of things that I wouldn’t have thought to look for on my own.  And the Scandinavian knitters take my breath away.  Try it!

Our delightful leader - who shall remain anonymous- told us she’ll be sending us a weekly question to help our secret pals get to know us better. The first question is (drum roll please):

What’s your favorite summertime drink?

Mine is sweet iced tea. I love it - I could drink gallons of the stuff. I do have to be careful not to drink it after about 6:30 pm, ‘cos then I’ll be awake until 3 am, but I do love it.

I don’t drink nearly as much of it as I used to - it does have a lot of sugar in it, but here is my favorite recipe for making it:

2 quarts cold water

3 large iced tea bags (Luzianne has this size) otherwise use a “bunch” of small tea bags - Red Rose or Salada or even the store brand -NOT Lipton EVER! Usually there’s some instruction on the box as to how many bags….

a clear or translucent pitcher (preferably with a lid)

a sunny day

1 cup of sugar

1 navel orange

——

Put the cold water and tea bags into the container and set it in the sun for 2-5 hours (until the tea is the “right” color). Bring inside, discard the tea bags and add the sugar. Mix thoroughly. Slice the navel orange into 1/4 inch slices (with the peel on) and put them into the tea. Chill.

YUM!

On the way home from my all too short weekend with my parents in Virginia, I managed to give one of my Pay It Forward gifts to the recipient in person!

simplybrandy

allowed me to come and meet her at her workplace for a few minutes, and it was lovely.  I made a Tudora for her out of some rather delicious Mountain Colors yarn - my mother was so taken with it that we had to go to a yarn shop in Roanoke to get the yarn to make one for her (out of some Claudia’s Handpainted yarns in “Plumalicious”).  I’m sorry - no pictures since I am still w/o a digital camera.

But I love the Tudora - easy to make, unique, easily custom sized and useful - even for somebody like me with hardly any neck.  I’ll be making more of these…..

A cute little meme taken from

xoroxstarbunni

1) 4 LETTER WORD: Hell
2) BOY NAME: Horatio
3) GIRL NAME: Helga
4) OCCUPATION: haberdasher
5) A COLOR: heliotrope
6) SOMETHING YOU WEAR: hose
7) BEVERAGE: hot chocolate FOOD: hummus
9) SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: hair ( I know - eewww!)
10) A PLACE: Hamburg
11) REASON FOR BEING LATE: headache
12) SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: Hooray!

Copy and paste to your own journal, erase my answers, and add your own.
Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real places, names &/or objects, but nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person you got this from has the same 1st initial. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question. And Have Fun With It!

One of my LiveJournal friend’s, jazzbird, is having a birthday, so I wanted to share this with her.

I’m 2 days late with the sign up for SecretPal 12

Just in case they let me in, here’s the answers to the questionnaire:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love merino wool, silk, bamboo/cotton blends all in sport weight or finer. I do not like anything scratchy or that has that cheap acrylic “soapy” feel. I am also not fond of fun fur or lumpy yarns (like boucle).

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a couple of large coffee mugs that I use for hooks & straights. I store circulars in a CD booklet.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I’ve been knitting for 30+ years - my grandma taught me the basics, and I think I’m an advanced knitter….

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Amazon wish list. :o)

5. What’s your favorite scent?

grapefruit is my latest fave
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I like hard candies - nothing with mint in it please.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I make jewelry (beads and sterling silver wire), I sew, crochet, garden -I do other things too, but that list is very long. I do not spin (I won’t start that until all the kids are through college).

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like just about every genre of music though I am not fond of death metal or opera, and yes I like mp3s.

9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?

I love deep blues. Most of autumn colors are not my favorite - there are ones that I like but it’s tricky….

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Married with 3 children; 2 dogs and a cat.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I don’t wear ponchos. I wear all the others, but not that much since I live in Alabama. :o)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Right now I’m still in the midst of a mitten obsession, but shawls & scarves are coming up fast!

13. What are you knitting right now?

A Hemlock Ring blanket, a pair of gloves, a pair of 2 on 1 circular socks, a gansey sweater

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

YES!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Circular needles are really good. Hiya Hiyas are my current favorite.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

More than 20 years old now. Now I don’t think I’ll finish it just because it has remained unfinished for so long….

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Of the usual holidays, it’s probably Thanksgiving. I’m a Baha’i so we have 9 holy days and I think Naw-Ruz (Mar. 21) is my favorite.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Yarn, obviously. Music (I have a ridiculously large CD collection) and sterling silver earrings.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I’ve subscribed to IK but they haven’t sent me anything yet :(.

There are several books I’d like to have, but I’m ashamed at just how long a list that is! I don’t have any of the Elizabeth Zimmerman books and I would like to.

21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?

Entrelac is something I plan to work on

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I do knit socks. I have size 11 feet! 10.5 inches long, and 10.25 inches around the ball of the foot.

23. When is your birthday?

December 13 _ I’ll be 40 this year. :o)

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what’s your ID?

I’m “helenkosings” on Ravelry

Yep. Gonna count some blessings today.

1) It has been raining.

We’ve been in drought status for almost 3 years. We need rain.

2) it isn’t raining today.

We get VERY grumpy here at Chez Oney when it rains - all of us, all at once. Plus we need to hang some laundry ASAP.

3) I am still married.

I have always said: “Every year’s a victory.” Right now, every DAY is a victory, and the only way we have come this far is because I have memorized THIS:

“If any differences arise amongst you, behold Me standing before your face and overlook the faults of one another for My Name’s sake and as a token of your love for My manifest and resplendent Cause.”

-Baha’u'llah

It’s very hard to stay mad about anything with anyone when I think about this quote. I can give up my anger as a love token to God. Wow! And I love giving gifts.

4) I have WONDERFUL friends.

Many of them sing in my choir. You should be so lucky!

5) I have almost completed one sleeve of the child’s gansey.

It looks pretty good. Better than I thought it would.  I might actually finish this thing.

6) There is yarn coming in the mail.

A blue cashmere blend.

7) I can knit

I have hands, they hurt but they still work. :o) I’m feeling better.

And I have a Dr’s appt tomorrow so perhaps I’ll feel even better soon.

9) My family has plenty. I have a job and so does my husband. We have a house. And we are pretty healthy.

10) My dogs are just great!

11) Music AND ice cream.
They both exist and you can enjoy both at the same time if you do it right.

I know there are just about countless blessings that I have, but those are topmost in my mind at this very moment. Perhaps I’ll try to do blessings every Thursday……what do you think?

Last night….I bought a SWEATER’S worth of yarn for me. I must be ill! What I really need to do is completely organize my stash so I won’t be tempted….. Still, I’m thinking it may turn into “A Cardigan for Arwen” or something similar.

But it was Harrisville’s Orchid with cashmere - a totally yummy yarn in Copenhagen Blue and the site is closing that yarn out - so I got all they had. Really, I need my head examined….especially since I went to my LYS last week as well and bought some yarn. My LYS owner would be happy to know that I’m spending way less on yarn online than in her shop, though I will make a pact with myself that the next sweater’s worth of yarn I buy will be from her store. Listen to me - the next sweater??? Really, the sickness goes on…..

Who knows? I might even make this sweater (with some mods of course)….

Can’t you just see it as a square-necked cardigan? Well, I can!

And I can hardly wait for my first shipment of yarn from Sundara. I sound like a junkie taking about her drug of choice. Gosh! I’m sure it could be worse - I’ve given up pretty much all my other costly habits (except for music and travel).

The mittens are finally FINISHED. They are soaking even as we speak and will be blocked out later today. Even though I still do not have my digital camera (bad word bad word bad word!) I will take photos with another analog camera. I had no idea I’d miss that sucker so much.

Lastly, I need to ask everyone something:

is the Universe trying to tell me something?

I went to 3 KiP’s/S’n'Bs since last Friday and at each one, I was THE ONLY ONE THERE. I know it was a holiday weekend. I know I haven’t been attending much lately because of traveling and illness, but 3 TIMES?

Sheesh. I could easily get a complex about it.

I may make it yet! Feeling a little better today…..

It seems like I have not actually felt good in 2 months….most of it is me not taking care of myself so I keep getting sick, plus a nice whopping dose of peri-menopause to add to the mix.  And I”m probably 80% stressed out about the “Number One son” who managed to flunk out of school way worse than anyone I have ever heard of.  Tell me: how does a manchild who was on a summer swim team every year from ages 10 to 17  get a D in beginning swimming?  Did I raise a complete idiot? Aargh…

And Bill is gone til late Friday. I hope he is having a super-freaking fabulous time out in Cali, cos life is gonna suck for him when he gets back. Plus every time I hit the apostrophe key, something weird happens, so I have to use a quotation mark instead of an apostrophe and I HATE IT.

Really, my life is good in general, but it is very hard to see it when you feel like cat vomit.

Today is the last official day of school, but since Ian has been such a pill, he will have some school everyday throughout the summer. I may do some stuff for Louisa too.

The really bright spot I see is the choir.  They sounded really good last night , learned 75% of a song new to them and we are gonna sing this weekend.  Last night at rehearsal I shared some of my frustrations with them and asked for prayers; I can feel the help already.
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Now on Saturday, we are KIP”ing in Decatur at the Farmer”s Market  for the 1st time.
KIP= Knitting In Public
I feel good about this; I hope to meet a few new people and maybe we will introduce some folks to knitting.  I have wanted for there to be a weekend group cos sometimes I just cannot do it on a weeknight.
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My buddy Phillipe is alway writing something interesting over here and his latest is really making me think about how I might much more strongly encourage the young men in my household to safeguard their own chastity and see it as part of their mission to safeguard the chastity of women. Read it and let’s talk!
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I looove tea.  Good for what ails me.
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I miss my digital camera.  I have some SO gorgeous cashmere that I want to take pictures of and ask other knitters advice about what I should make with it….  But I can’t because the camera’s gone AWOL.  ::::sigh:::::
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So how are YOU?

This is rather a long post……

A little history first:

I wanted an iPod from the moment I heard about them, but I knew I was not worthy.  If I had been worthy, I would’ve had the $ for it immediately. My husband bought one for me for my birthday 3 years ago, which I unfortunately had to return because we needed to pay bills, and that was one of the many many sweetest things he’s done for me.

A year later, we got a verra nice tax return check, so I bought one: 5th generation 30 GB video.

It was love-the forever kind.  However, almost immediately I ran into space limitations - I had to move stuff around all the time, especially once I started listening to audiobooks.

I got all kinds of accessories and was hardly ever without my iPod.  I had no idea the finish or the screen was so delicate, so both of those got scratched almost immediately.  I got some cool skins and was happy.

UNTIL December 2007 when I took myPod to British Columbia.  Something happened to the screen on the way back home, and since then has become more and more unreliable and now is unnavigable.  It can still be used, but you can’t find anything-you just have to let it play.

ENTER the Presidential stimulus package.  Who am I to contradict the “Maximum Leader”?  I spent my portion almost immediately on a re-furbished 80 GB Video iPod.  It came 2 days ago, and I’m so happy.  I also got a WONDERFUL iSkin for it -

unfortunately I didn’t read the description well enough -it is sized for an iPod “classic” not the “video”  so it doesn’t fit exactly right, but it’s still really really good for protecting everything.

I decided not to get the classic iPod because of the various issues Apple’s been having with the different chip they’ve used for that generation.  I probably should have spent another $100 to get the 160 GB  but I just couldn’t justify it.

And the old iPod?  Well, I’ve sent away for a screen repair kit. IF I can fix it, I’ll give it to Ian (who is turning 13 years old this weekend) and if I can’t, I’ve only wasted 30 bucks.

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The digital camera is still missing, but I’m not quite yet ready to throw in the towel and buy another just yet.  You see, our house is in SUCH a state of disarray and has been since mid-March that I cannot for sure say if it’s really lost.  I do miss it though, and I still cannot seem to get the pictures that are in my phone onto the ‘puter.

Why is my house such a mess?  I’ve been doing MUCH traveling, and I’ve been ill and exhausted at home.  No, I’ve not been to the doctor - I suspect I have “walking pneumonia” and am a little afraid to go see the doc cos he might slap me into the hospital and I just don’t have time for that at the moment (and no, I’m NOT gonna do a “Jim Henson” on y’all either - I’m too mean and ornery for that).

The house will not improve for a few more weeks yet.  When I actually get down to brass tacks, then I’ll determine if a new digital camera is necessary.  I would love to have a new one that didn’t have the delay when one presses the button to take the picture; I have so many bad pictures because of that delay - I have the “pictures of the moment after the one I wanted to immortalize” - especially my friend Diane’s wedding!

I’m sure I will agonize further over the digital camera scenario.  I know: you can hardly wait!

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When I’m not wasting time on Ravelry,  I read a few blogs about once a month.  Last night, I thought I was going to blow a gasket I was laughing so hard after reading Boobs, Injuries & Dr. Pepper; Crystal was recounting some of the things she’s done to get into shape.

I cannot remember if I found this blog because of Boobs, Injuries & Dr. Pepper, but I’ve been reading them both for a while now and they certainly are linked now because Jenny at  Three Kid Circus is offerring a Wii console and Fit giveaway if people will only recount their fad diet and exercise purchases…..

PLEASE go read these blogs, but do not try to drink anything while reading because your drink will shoot out of your nose when you laugh (of course if yer into that sort of thing….). I cannot imagine anyone NOT finding this funny.

….that chocolate is toxic for dogs.  I put together nice Mother’s Day package for me mum - all ready to mail on Monday (late as per usual) and then went to Tropical Smoothie Cafe for a treat (I love their smoothies and they now have half-price smoothies Mon-Sat from 5-7 pm YAY!).
I came back and there was the package scattered all over the lawn because I had put some nice chocolates in with the other stuff.  When will I learn?  I had another swap package disappear earlier in the week - I though I had just mislaid it but NOW I KNOW.

Harrumpf.  They don’t even have the sense to look guilty.

Are you a Harry Potter fan?  Are you into swapping? You should definitely sign up for :

This swap requires a lot of online participation over a 2 - 3 month period and it is worth it!  It’s lots of fun and the organizer does all kinds of things to make certain no one flakes.  You get a HP name (I’m Perenelle Ballycastle; Perry for short)  and you get sorted into a house.  I was originally a Griffyndor, but am a Hufflepuff for this go round ( a new House Unity initiative), AND I have a very strong feeling that Hufflepuff is gonna win the House Cup this time!

Sign ups close on Friday and there’s room for a few more folks. If you’ve ever done an unsatisfying swap, you’ll be delighted by the sweet magic of this one!

I cannot believe it!!!!!! I won some Miss Babs sock yarn and a something from Woolgirl- I do not know what it is; I do NOT care! I love everything by Woolgirl. I’d like to thank the Academy…….

She had a little quiz on her blog about where she would be traveling and wanted folks to say where she was going. She was going to Nebraska and here’s what I wrote:

No knitting in this post - I cannot find my camera (tho’ I haven’t looked very hard)!

Boris and Natasha are our dogs.  We love them!

Boris has been having a wonderful time eating ryegrass this spring.   I call him “Gardening dog”  because he’s always interested in what I do in the garden.  If I bring home plants from the nursery, he’s gotta sniff them again and again. At times, I think he wishes he could garden….he does like to dig.

Natasha is very happy; spring is her favorite season.  Do you know why?  It’s when the “flying snacks” come back!  She loves to catch food with her mouth and the fact that there are things like flies and moths that will just fly around waiting for her to eat them is the BEST!  Did I mention her fav-o-rite?  BEES?  I imagine it must be the buzzing she likes…..

Stay tuned for more mundanity.

I get the email newsletter of the Simply Sock Yarn company and this is what they had to say today:

It’s rare that I send out an e-mail that doesn’t involve tasty new yarn or fun accessories, but I just wanted to let you all know about a wonderful fund raiser that Christy has organized at the House that Yarn Built.  As part of Brad Pitt’s Make it Right foundation, which is building “green” housing for those affected by Hurricane Katrina, Christy is imploring knitters to show what we are made of and help out those that are still so desperately in need.

If you want to get involved, just go to my blog post here to learn more.

And to show that I’m serious about this cause, I’ve pledged to match all your donations up to $1000!  Just e-mail me at allison@simplysockyarn.com to tell me how much you donated, and I’ll keep track.  By e-mailing me after your donation, you’ll also be entered to win a gift package from Simply Socks Yarn Company!

I encourage you to e-mail friends, post on your blog and knitting forums, and do anything you can to spread the word about this cause.  I really want to hit the $1000 mark and donate all I can!

Many thanks,

Allison

Stolen from Sassy:

1. How long have you been together? 20 years.  I cannot believe it really.

2. Who pursued who? Neither. It’s amazing we are together AT ALL.  Gad really was the one who put us together I think.

3. Do you wear any type of wedding/commitment ring? If so, which hand? Plain gold band on the “wedding” finger -yes, both of us.

4. What was the hardest thing about learning to live together? Sleeping in the same bed for me.  I still prefer sleeping by myself, whereas he can’t sleep well without me.

5. Who takes longer to get ready in the morning? I do.  I am not fussy about hair & makeup, but I take a while to really wake up.  Unless one of the kids needs something….

6. Do you usually eat breakfast together? On Sundays.  He gets up very early for work (he doesn’t have to, but he prefers it) and though I do like the morning light, I wake slowly…..

7. Do you ever share clothes? When I was not too fat to do so!.  he sometimes will wear my jackets (as I said, I’m not very girly).

8. Who does most of the cooking? Me, and I am SICK OF IT.  Though, to be fair, he cooked tonight and it was good AND he made both an entree and a side; it’s new and uncharted territory for Mr. Bill.

9. Who usually takes out the trash? Whomever notices.  Probably me cos I’m home more than he is.

10. If you have pets who usually does litter box or poop patrol? He does, thank God.  It doesn’t bother him the way it does me.  I can do it if I have to, but if he is around I don’t even have to ask him. Now THAT”S wonderful.

11. Which one of you is more likely to answer the phone when it rings? Me. He hardly ever answers the phone.

12. Who’s in charge of the remote if you’re watching TV together? Bill mostly.  I almost never watch TV.  But if it’s a show I want to watch, that remote is mine; I don’t want anybody flipping around on the commercials.  Just leave it there already!

13. Who usually drives when you go out together? He does cos he hates they way I drive.  I don’t like the way he drives either, but I am far better able to stand it than he, and I can always knit.

14. Which one of you takes care of spiders and bugs that get into the house? Either of us.  Not too squeamy about the crawlies.

15. Facing the bed, who sleeps on which side? If I’m on the right, he’s on the left.  We have switched for years at a time though.

16. Who usually checks the (postal) mailbox? Me.  I’m home, I order stuff thru the mail and do swaps, plus I’m from the country and mail is a big deal.

17. If something breaks or goes wrong in the house, which one of you is more likely to either fix it or call someone to fix it? We’re both fixers, though we are now to the point where we have more money than time so we sometimes have to call someone.

18. Who is generally the neater of you? ME! But I have more stuff so its hard to tell.

19. Who handles the checkbook/pays the bills? I have for almost the whole time we have been together, but when my brain went wonkier and wonkier, we had to re-tool.  Now we do it togther, and we are automating a good bit of it and that is the best part.

20. What was your last fight/disagreement about? It’s hard to say because we kind of bicker a good bit of the time according to one of Bill’s sisters.  Hey - if we didn’t bicker we’d hardly say anything to each other!  No, the last time I got irritated with him was this morning when I was driving to & from the post office.  He kept on announcing the speed limits everywhere we went because he thought I was driving too fast.  I told him I already have a conscience and I don’t need another one, plus I have a life and he’d better get one so he’ll have something else to think about when I drive.

21. When you slow dance together, who leads? Dancing is not something my husband does, really.

22. What do you love the most about your other half? The fact that 1) he still makes me laugh and will laugh at my jokes, and 2) he tries to do what I ask him to almost always to show his love for me.  He’s not so fab with the words of love, but great with actions

….to tell me he has to spend an extra day in California… Joy.  I’m still awake because I cannot sleep-too much coughing and wheezing.  Last night I finally gave up about 4 am and came out into the living room to sleep sitting upright in the “round chair”.

My round chair looks almost exactly like this one.  However, this one isn’t repaired with a length of bright blue rope….

I have fallen asleep in that chair a number of times before; it’s just a little hard on my neck. Right now, Boris is in it, and I haven’t the heart to kick him out of it.

I am on the mend, though.  Today, I was actually able to take a shower, put gas in the van and take the dogs (very briefly) across the street., though I did cancel rehearsal which I *hate* to do.    I haven’t taken much in the way of cold medicines in the last 24 hours and my nose has stopped dripping incessantly. Is this the flu?  I haven’t been this ill in a good long while.  Perhaps tomorrow I can homeschool Ian again……

In the meantime, I’ve been catching up on paperwork, mending, and a few long-overdue swaps.  I want to have everything done by the time of the Wings to the Spirit conference (beginning of May).  It’s gonna be so terrific!!  I’ve got to finish reading “Mirror of the Divine” by Ludwig Tuman before then.  It’s a wonderful book; there’s so much for my brain to tease apart and ponder on that I’m going slowly.

Since my “brain event” happened almost 3 years ago, the way I learn is really, really different than before. I know there are folks out there who think that it’s just age, or too much stress or lack of focus, but I assure you it is not.  There is a marked difference in how I thought and learned before and now.  I guess the best analogy I can come up with is losing one’s virginity - there’s a very distinct before and after. Unfortunately, (or it could be fortunately ) no one else is inside my head so I do not have any kind of objective corroboration of the changes.  It is much harder for me to learn new things - like 10 times as hard as it was before, and my concentration is fragile at best.  So trying to truly absorb this book is much more of an effort than in previous times.  This makes me sad because I am not doing nearly as much “serious reading” as I have done in the past, and at some point I want to go back to college.  I have had to stop buying heavy duty Baha’i books because I am not reading the ones I have already, but my intellectual curiosity remains high so I keep trying.  I’m not complaining, it’s more that I’m explaining.

I was boating about the Internet and I found the blog and flickr site of one of the people I met while on pilgrimage.  On Sholeh’s blog, she has some really wonderful pictures, plus links to some truly wonderful sites.

Tired of reading what passes for news these days? Too depressing? Try this site: http://2inspire.us/

Oh well, off to bed.  I hope I sleep.