Samples...

I finally remembered to bring my camera cord to plug in to the computer and here is my completed Spring Beret which is way, way too big. I am hoping that washing it will make it smaller. My Robin on Group 14, and a quick look at the spinning that I have done. Geez, 2 & 1/2 hours of drop spinning doesn't look like much. It was fun and I can't wait to make either a scarf or a fun hat (that's way too big). I know, I know, I have a LOT more spinning to do before I can even think about making a wearable item.

BB lessons...

Guitar lessons went well. BB and I can now play "Spanish Eyes" in the cords and the scale. First string: open is an E, first fret a C, 3rd fret a G. Second string: open - B, first fret-C, 3rd fret - D. The funny thing for me was that once I turned the page to my lesson book I forgot everything I learned on the previous page. Can you say short-term memory loss? (ie caused by a head injury from getting bucked off my horse that I was training). This is bad as the next page incorporates stuff from the previous page. ugh. I'm having fun with it even if I forget everything after learning it.

Side note: the guy giving me my lessons is an old friend of my brother's and when I hug him or any friends of my brother's its like getting a hug from my brother. I wish I could go around hugging all my brother's friends.

Hey, what the heck did I do last night??...

I woke up this morning wondering what did I do last night? Must have been that wonderful tasting viognier from Australia. It certainly seemed like a lot (the activity not the wine). I then remembered, oh yeah, I spun my first yarn with my homemade CD spinner. Boy, making that spinner has certainly been a headache. Steps: purchase dowel, had to cut the dowel, make a starter hole, buy a grommet, take the grommet back as purchased wrong size, purchase new grommet, new grommet fits CD but does not fit dowel, go back and buy old grommet that I purchased the first time, put the two grommets together in CD, they fall apart as I am spinning, BUT thanks to the wonderful world of duct tape (which I believe you can NEVER have enough duct tape) the grommets stayed together once they were duct taped(did I write duct tape enough yet???duct tape, duct tape duct tape, well I'm certain you get the idea now). I then spun to my hearts delight (2 & 1/2 hours) after previously going to the library and obtaining about 20 books hoping that one of them would instruct me on how to spin from a drop spindle having never spun before.

The first book only had spinning on a wheel. The second book, 'Spin to Knit' had instructions on how to use several different types of hand spindles and a spinning wheel, and even had instructions on how to make a CD spindle too, as well as patterns to complete with your lovely hand spun yarn. I must confess I purchased 1/4" dowel and its too small. The instructions I got online did not suggest a size (or if it did I ignored it) and this book recommends a 3/4" dowel, and I would agree bigger is better, in this instance anyway.

Even after spinning 2 & 1/2 hours I don't have much yarn on ye' old spindle. I do now understand why yarn can be expensive. Especially, hand spun. The roving was sent to me by my friend Hotterthan, and I luuuuv how it is spinning up (I don't think that's correct spinner lingo but I'll make it mine). I enjoy watching the colours and have even mixed them a little. I know, pretty brave spinning for a virgin spinner.

I must confess the reason I got some books is prior to this I have only watched people spin and I don't recall how the yarn moved down the leader thread. I thought it moved there on its own. So I previously started to spin and was wondering why my thread wasn't moving on down the leader thread and I got stuck. So nope, per my book turns out you stop and wind it on yourself and then continue with spinning. While watching I don't remember seeing this. I guess they were so fluid with their movements it just looked like art in motion. So its spin, stop, wind, repeat. and if you are standing you can spin longer before you have to stop and wind.

Have a great weekend everyone, see ya Monday!!! Guitar lessons begin tomorrow!!!

I've got a frog in my throat...rippit, rippit...

and its a good thing that I don't make a living by singing. I've had to frog (rip out) several knitting projects, which totally bums me out. Last night I totally ripped out my Pink (Peach) Ribbon Socks. I am going to frog my Las Vegas socks as I have too many mistakes in them to really keep going. Wow, since I'm on a role I'm just going to keep going. Will frog the cable scarf, DD textured tunic, Ks cabled scarf, medieval with a twist socks, two mini-socks, butterfly beaded socks. OOooo, its like spring cleaning!!

here's a pretty picture of young people to counteract all that negativity: (May 2010) DD going to prom with friends. She is in the red and black dress. Was very trendy and only spent $20.00 for shoes as I had purchased the dress 4 years ago for $45.00 dollars. You really don't have to go broke to enjoy life or to be trendy. Want what you have not what you want.

Beautiful Blue...

Here's my latest distraction. Isn't she beautiful. I fell in love with her over the phone. The guy said I have too many guitars right now and they are 30% off and I'll do that for the acoustics too. I asked if he had a Yamaha and he said yes, then he says I have an Ibenez and its blue too. I said, "really, blue!" I fully intended to get the Yamaha but when I went in and saw Blue, I couldn't take my eyes off her. Usually coloured guitars don't sound so good, but she has a nice tone. I immediately purchased her brought her home, cleaned her up and started strumming.

I am very happy and I have contacted a family friend to set up lessons. I am so excited! I just love Blue. I play the only notes I know in random order, G, Em, C, D, D7, A, Am, A7, and I sound terrific! LOL My fingers hurt and I need to build up callouses. Its much better to start with a guitar than a violin when you are older. Its not so cute when you are old and screeching up the room with sound as when are younger and learning an instrument. (ask me how I know).

Blue and I are very happy together and we sound great too.

WOW, I'm an adult...

It's crazy but it quite possibly may be true... at least for this time.
I was able to work things out with the BF after a royal blow off by him last Sunday. Well, we finally discussed things and were able to work through it and come up with actual solutions. OMG! we're truly grown ups!!! Geez, and here I thought you never grow up. What happened to all the screaming and yelling you're supposed to do? What about all the fighting and throwing things? NOPE, didn't happen. We sat down, discussed things rationally, albeit there were some words with a little sting, not much (gotta keep the kid in me around sometimes). It was actually quite liberating to be a rationale human being, that was given an opportunity to be able to work out a problem. As I told my friend K, we just really work together (and that's so very nice).

The funny part was after we discussed things we were quiet for a little bit with nothing to say so I jumped up from my chair and said, "Well, see ya!", and left. No hugs, no kiss, just left. He looked like a deer in the headlight like he just got hit by a vehicle. He came by later with roses (peach-my fav) and we discussed things further. In the morning discussion he was all teary-eyed and in the afternoon I was. Leaving like I did gave each of us an opportunity to absorb what we discussed from the morning and really think about the issues and solutions, then him coming by in the afternoon completed the discussion. All in all, very civilized and satisfying to both.

Executive Order... Overview of Obama care...HR3200

this is scary. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-establishing-national-prevention-health-promotion-and-public-health

this is an overview of Obamacare. You are Fucked!! and that's putting it nicely. You were better off with no healthcare.

here is the full text of HR 3200.

Books, books and more books...

You can never have enough books. Lucky for me I have discovered that I have an endless supply of books at my local library (I actually discovered this a very long time ago). I have lately been obtaining books about spinning and dyeing. I also decided I wanted to at least read about wine making. Wine making has become very popular in my area. They actually have house parties for wine making its so popular. I think the chemical reactions you can obtain by introducing different spices or cork or even bacon fat, which one vintner has done here, to it is interesting. The bacon fat thing is strange tasting and not all that great. Its popular since its different. Popular does NOT necessarily mean good or even slightly decent.

Fixation...

Why do people, myself included, always fixate on the wrong issue?
1. To avoid answering for the real issue.
2. Don't recognize the real issue.
3. Have more of a problem with the non-issue than the other person has with the real issue.
4. Confusion--too many issues to choose.

Dog Sitting...

Dog sitting again and I love it!!! The dog and I are happy together once more. She looks relieved other than her master is gone for a bit. The ex informed me that the dog was going to be given to step mom's niece and DD could go visit anytime she wanted because he is too lazy to put up a fence where he lives. He is so disgusting! I told him to just buy a kennel. They are already pre-made. He said why should he waste the money when they can just leave the dog at the niece's home. I also found out that they informed DD that they have no room for her stuff and that it will all have to go into a shed. Cripes!!! I would not want to be treated like that!

Man! It just creams my corn when people are so lazy! Any inconvenience to others is just fine but when it comes to them being inconvenienced you never hear the end of it.

I will just keep the dog. She is happier to be home anyway. It may be shorter than 6 months for DD to come home. yikes! and hurray (I think)!

Court today...

I had court today as I filed a contempt citation against the ex for not paying child support. Unfortunately I had a typo in my motion and I will have to file a second contempt, which is ok as I'll just add the dental cost of braces to it. I knew better than to put any numbers in my citation. Always use "approximately" or "to be determined," never, ever put in a number. I knew this and still I didn't follow my own advice.

Well, you know what they say, "a person who represents them-self has a fool for a client." I was foolish. The mistake is fixable, just time consuming.

While waiting for the magistrate we were speaking and the ex (who has not worked for 15 years so the child support payment would be non-existent) informed me that he told DD that the in-laws were much more important than the person you marry. That's so gross. It does tell you that these people have a "bottomless pit of money," and he doesn't mind using it. What's more funny is that they forked out a sh_t load of money for the last attorney and I kicked his butt in court and he won't come back for more with me. Really funny. It even got around in the community that I won and I got calls from people to either have me represent them, which I can do without pay so I won't do, or they asked my opinion, which I can only give an opinion not advice. There is a fine line and I don't do either. Besides family law is volatile and these people hate each other and the last thing you need is all that emotion.

As for myself, even I with all my control, I still get a few butterflies.

A Year and a Day...

...and many, many more to go.
That says it all.

One Year...

Its unbelievable that its been one year exactly that G has been gone. This last year has really sucked! I've been sick to my stomach for most of it with the thought. My mother has been terribly depressed and seems to be planning her demise by cleaning out her house. We actually had one conversation about Norway and how they have made euthanasia legal and she got very quiet and I could tell she thought it a good idea.

Every time I write today's date I cringe. I try to think good thoughts. Such as: what's the best thing about my brother... It would be that each person who has ever met him has the best memory with him and no one could ever have a better one than them. It got me to thinking about how living a better life, a good life, a life well lived is the best thing to do and surrounding yourself with good people and good experiences is worthwhile. I believe my brother got it right. I also thought about how people think of me. Some is good, some is not.

As I read "A few stitches short" blog yesterday, it was about patience. I reflected on what a good thing patience would be to have and acquire. More patience with not only others but also with myself.

For the past year I have reflected a lot on death and life (they go hand in hand). Like: "where does everyone go," what is everyone made of," "what happens?"

If we are all made of ENERGY, then we go everywhere. We don't disappear, we are not lost, we are not found, we are everywhere. I have watched several movies and read several books regarding this thought. 'Powder,' 'Phenomenon' are two movies that have this ideal. The book I read is non-fiction and from the 1930's and writes mostly of manifestation and how whatever you want can be manifested if you just think about it hard enough. That there is plenty of money for everything. That everything is made of energy, everything has energy, even plastic. All a person has to do is harness the energy. I do not recall the name of the book, something about riches.

Here I am very sad; reflecting on life--all its aspects; and waiting for the sadness and ache in my heart to dissipate.

the weekend...

This weekend was quite enjoyable. I went to Manitou Springs. I enjoyed walking around and went up to Twin Peaks Soda spring and obtained mineral water from that fountain. I love window shopping! Its great to walk the shops and this weekend they held the wine festival too. I don't wine taste there anymore as the wines give me sour stomach. The winemakers here just do not keep the wine in the barrels long enough to mature to a nice taste. They bottle them too young and charge too much. I can purchase a good bottle of wine, not have the sour stomach for less.

I do like the vendors and my favorite vendor was there selling a new fudge sauce. Chilpotle Fudge. Mmm, yes, its yummy. Yes, I purchased some and cannot wait to put it on ice cream and cook with it. I also found orange blossom honey, which I have been looking for and was able to purchase that too.

I then went to lunch at the Stagecoach Inn and enjoyed eating my Spicy Chicken salad on the veranda by the stream. Went home and took a nap.

Sunday I went to an organic rhubarb farm and had great fun pick-your-own-rhubarb. You'd be surprised how quickly 20lbs of rhubarb is to pick. No, I only purchased 4lbs. but my friend did purchase 20. I got to taste rhubarb tea. very yummy.
Here's the recipe: put rhubarb & cinnamon sticks in pot, cover with water, boil for 15 min, skim rhubarb and cinnamon sticks out (save rhubarb fiber to put in other recipes like cakes and such or make jelly with it), add honey to taste and viola! You have a wonderful refreshing summer drink!
We left and shopped organic the rest of the day. Great fun. Came home and knit on my Robin.
Here's a pic.

I did finally get to see DD and she quit her job. This makes me sad as they are so hard to come by these days. I did get to see the dog and I did dogsit. DD explained she quit since she is moving to Arkansas with her dad. This should be interesting---more later, I can't wait for reality to begin.

DD and the dog moved out... and I miss the dog!

Well DD finally had enough of me and got mad enough to move out this past weekend. Although, it seems to be very slow going. Surprisingly enough, I miss the dog! A lot! I do not miss DD nor do I miss cleaning up after her. In fact, I had to clean up after her and she doesn't even live here anymore. There has been little communication between us and I am getting the feeling of being "used" as the dog is dropped off and left "whenever" the need arises. I don't really care for this and its a bit irritating that DD does not let me know when pick up and drop off will be. In fact one evening the dog was left here until I called and reminded her that she still had responsibilities even with being tired from work and needed to be in touch with me to let me know what is going on.

DD refuses to inform and so Onry Mother will soon be changing the locks. So the "using" is minimal. I also purchased a new hose for the back yard and the dog has a bad habit of destroying so in the interest of saving time and money for everyone I informed DD that she needed to place the hose in the garage if she was going to leave the dog in the backyard. She informed me that her dog doesn't do that anymore. ha Future foretold--I envision DD paying for a new hose soon.

Odd thing about this is the dog is depressed. Its really quite amusing. Her poor face and eyes are so expressive. She has a confused sad look now. She was quite jolly at first as the experience was just a fun romp. She is now sad and you can tell would like to come home. She keeps looking at everyone and asking silently "when are things going to go back? Soon??"

The cat is pleasantly pleased to see the dog gone and is very friendly these days.