A Meme Moment

1. Flip to page 18, paragraph 4 - in the book closest to you right now, what does it say?
"What I wouldn't give to go off on this adventure with you, Missy!" she exclaimed softly, the old mischief crinkling her eyes. "But this time you'll have to do the traveling for both of us, I'm afraid. Just remember,life's a wonderful panorama wherever one lives, and only a fool laments what cannot be changed."
..from Child of the Northern Spring by Persia Woolley

2. If you stretch out your left arm - as far as possible, what are you touching?
The window

3. What's the last program you watched on tv?
Hockey Night in Canada

4. Without looking, guess what time it is.
2:30PM (it is actually 2:43PM)


5. Except the computer, what can you hear right now?
Peter Gabriel singing and a lawn mower


6. When was the last time you were outside and what did you do?
2 hours ago. I went to the Spiritual Fellowship and then came back.

7. What are you wearing?
Black Old Navy T-shirt with witch picture, brown pants, colourful hand knit socks

8. Did you dream last night? If you did, what about?
I always dream. Don't remember last night's except for my house was full of piles of papers that needed to be tidied...hmmm...much like real life


9. When was the last time you laughed?
a 1/2 an hour ago I think. I like to laugh a lot


10. What's on the walls, in the room you're in right now?

front: John Lennon poster, John Lennon portrait in pointillism, a small beatles collage, cnadle holder with 3 black candles
left: 2 windows with 8 construction paper Jack-o-Lanterns on them, framed postcar that says..."Music is a Moral Law. It gives soul to the Universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and charm and gaiety to life and to everything"......Plato, Jim's Journeyman Registration and his recognition of 25 years service.
back: matching candle holder to one at front, antique sign that says "All the latest hits of Radio-Stage-Screen", 3 framed picture disc vinyl albums of a) Meatloaf's Bat out of Hell, b)Elvis Presley in black leather outfit and c) a Pink Floyd album (I think)
right: antique Victrola poster, picture of two people jiving, still life of 45's and sunglasses, a neon sign that says "Mr. Music"

11. Have you seen anything strange lately?
probably....All I can think of is... my dog howling to the ring tone samples on my cell phone. (it's hilarious)

12. What do you think about this meme?
fun!

13. What's the last film you saw?
Curious George. ( I need to get out more!)

14. If you became a multimillionaire, what would you do with the money? Make sure the people I care about were set for life. Buy an island and live on the beach and knit and do pottery. Travel. Get a really cool car. Donate time and money to worthy causes. Have shrimp every day and poutine and creme carmel. And, employ my own personal trainer to make sure I take care of myself and someone to brush my teeth and shop for me and....I don't think there is an end to all the things I would and could do.

15. Tell us something about yourself that most people don't know.
I have a birthmark shaped like an anchor


16. If you could change ONE THING in this world, without regarding politics or bad guilt - what would it be?
We would all be able to accept the differences in people.

17. Do you like dancing?
well Ya

18. George Bush?
yuck

19. What do you want your children’s names to be, girl/boy?
they are Rhea and Patrick. Thought of Sydney and Yolanda at one point. Always loved Yagoda.

20. Would you ever consider living abroad?
well...YA

21. What do you want God to tell you, when you come to heaven?
You did good girl!


22. Who should do this meme?
anyone who wants to

happy halloween

Boo!!

Happy Halloween!

The Healing Road

The road to healing goes through my LYS.
I visited there today to pick up buttons. I love buttons. I could buy and buy buttons almost as often as yarn or shoes or purses. The purchase of any of those four things seems to assist in healing the tattered soul. The great thing about a yarn store is that you can get yarn and buttons. Both of which can be used to create a purse if so desired! I suppose they could also be used to create a pair of shoes but, for me, not the healing kind.

So I headed up the road to buy buttons to finish one of my purses.



Then I got a large silver button to go on the denim coloured felted purse (pictured under the basket weave buttons above) and some fun sheep head silver ones ...just 'cause.

While I was there I had a chat with my friend and LYS owner about positive changes I need in my life.

My local yarn store....yarn, buttons, guidance and validation. What more could you need? Shoes. Now that would be a store! Yarn, buttons and shoes under one roof! Throw in an ice cream bar (cappuccino?) and we're in business! I'm off to write up my business plan now!

Action on the home front: Rhea caught in action! Doing housework!! I had to ask her to but she did it with thoroughness and without complaint!


Notice the front door behind her with our lovely Japanese Maple glowing through. Above our front door the stained glass window my mother made for me for my 40th birthday.

Close up view:

Something about this window makes me relax.

I hope everybody's weekend is fun and relaxing!

Waxing Non-Poetic

As I was deciding what clever title I could use for this post I remembered the saying "Waxing poetic". Thus the clever twist. (oh, I am so, so amazing!) Anyhow I think that what "waxing poetic" means is having a poetic way with words. To go on and on with great embillishment. Of course I will now have to go in search of the real meaning! (Ok...no...too many sites for getting a wax..... Maybe someone out there can offer a definition....)

Please enjoy this picture of a Cedar Waxwing that was munching on the Mountain Ash berries next door. Taken with a digiscope by Jim the birder. Pretty, eh?



Now on to the non-poetic section....since I am so sure you all are getting a tad bored with the teaching rampages of late.... I shall attempt to be breif. I again left work with all giving taken and all energy depleted. Worn out is how I feel. This particular group of children. I am having so much difficulty finding a way to motivate in a positive way. I end up raising my voice and giving ultimatums. Usually by this time of the year the class and I have gotten into a kind of groove where we can have some happy fun times together while learning. I am hoping this group can make the transition by December. On the whole they find it very difficult apply good behaviour learned in one activity to another activity.

Bit more knitting done on the Mystery knit or "Le Tricot Mystere" as I like to call it. Yep, I do like how the colours are coming together.

Tonight is Grey's Anatomy night so more knitting on the shawl to come. Hopefully I'll actually be able to do a fair chunk of it tonight. Don't hold your breath though.

A Kessie Comment:

I keep my teeth white with toilet paper rolls! Ain't I cute?

Baby Patrick Grows Up

Tomorrow, October 24th, is my son's birthday. He is turning 13. Where does the time go? It seems like yesterday that I had the one mighty push that brought forth Patrick. I never had a brother so having a son was very unsettling for me.
I knew that I could handle the baby. He was a serious baby.


But, would I know how to treat my boy as he grew? Well, I should not have feared. He is one of the most amazing people that I know! And, he can make me laugh so hard sometimes! The serious baby has become a happy, goofy,fun loving and lovable teenager. He is taller than me now and likes to brag about it. But other than that flaw I would not change a thing! Happy Birthday Patrick!


(See sister hiding behind??)(She is another of the most amazing people I know!)

On the knitting front....Knitting ADD continues. I can not stick to one project! I flit from one project to the next. Then I add a new one because I am so lacking in focus! View! The latest of my project starts! I have decided to make this a present so no full pictures as of yet. I love the colours!

Yarn:Austermann - Step with Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil. Sock weight yarn not being a sock. Very lovely on the hands!

Soon I must make a list of WIP's so I can get a handle on this insanity!

Thanks for all the supportive remarks regarding my last post! You guys are tatally awesome!

Serenity Now!

What a week!

I managed to finish the orange scarf (which Rhea loves and wants).

On Thursday evening was parent/teacher interview night for Rhea. It was one of the best things I could have done for my mood and morale! Such glowing reports!! Jim and I must be doing something right! I am so proud of her!


This is the Paton's Bag felted one time. The stitches seem more noticable in the pic that in real life. It shrunk up about half as big.
I have also been having a hard time sticking to the many projects I have on the go right now. I started up a log cabin blanket using left overs. I am going to do various size squares and then piece them together. It will keep the project managable in size and keep it a project I can put away when I am enthralled with something again.


I keep plugging away at my Grey's KAL Shawl. I used it for meditating on love, foregiveness and calm for a bit when I was home on Wednesday.

Here's to the weekend!

Felted Bowl

I have been experimenting again! I guess that is not too unusual for me. I took a felted bowl that was a bit too bland for me and embellished!

I have a picture of the bowl pre felting. It is the beige one.



Unfortunately I took no picture of the felted pre-adornment state.

But here is the finished product (I think).

I added all the lines around the body of the bowl and also added some colour to the handle which was originally I-cord. It still is I-cord just flattened a bit.

How did I do it? Well a while ago I purchased this super duper Clover felting tool.


The yellow and green handle contains felting needles. All you have to do is place the item that you are attatching pieces to on the brush, unlock the needles then plunge the needles in and out of fabric until they are felted together! I had so much fun just grabbing left over yarn bits and arranging them around the bowl and felting them in. I didn't preplan I just went and went until it felt (ha ha) done. I found that I could just let my creativity take over when doing this. And! The results were almost immediate! I love instant gratification!!

If you live the Durham, Ontario region these are available at Myrtle Station Wool in Myrtle Station on Hwy 12.

Next time I do it I'll be sure to document each phase.

Grey's Anatomy Meditation Shawl

Thanks to everyone who commented on my previous entry. Now if we (I) could just find a way to give parents the skills to teach common courtesy,etc...

The Grey's ANatomy KAL shawl gets longer! All in sock weight with a k3,p3 pattern. Lovely and light!



A close up!


I visited our local Michael's today which was its usual zoo at the check out. As usual they were short 2 cashiers! I actually went in to help Rhea buy some inexpensive yarn for a scarf but when I was there I saw Paton's 100% wool that looked like it felted really well. So I bought a ball to try it. Tonight I started kniting (can you guess) a purse.


Rhea is going gangbusters on her scarf! Woo Hoo. Now there are 2 of us saying "just one more row." I feel so close to her right now even though she has forsaken me this evening for a sleepover at her friends.
I am not bitter!


I finished the orange scarf but started with the Paton's yarn before I got around to finishing it. Pictures when it is done!


We knitters are all such healthy people!!

Take care everyone!

Right Brained!

You Are 20% Left Brained, 80% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

My 20% is used for dogs, quiet and reading. The rest is all right brain!!!

The Green Bag

I started the green bag this weekend. Why? Because the other WIP's were boring me. I am have attention span problems at the moment.

It is done! Complete. No boredom happening here!


It came in a kit that included the button, handles and green nylon yarn. I purchased the novelty yarn for a bit of interest. Turned out pretty godd, eh? Now Rhea wants it. She wants all my hand knit bags. I guess that should make me feel good!


I saw my surgeon today for the last time! Remember way back at the beginning of summer a lump was found and biopsy recommended. End of summer biopsy done, lump lost, insufficient collected to do a proper test. Mid September....ultra sound done (again)... Today...lump smaller, cancer does not get smaller, probably a compound cyst that partially popped thus the loss. Deep breath, go no farther until next regularily scheduled mammogram. Whew.

Saturday Sky

Yes I know it is Sunday but I thought this blue sky was worth sharing! It was taken while at my sister's family's cottage. I was lying in a wide open field enjoying the sun and the sky... Can you thing of anything better to do on a gloriously warm and sunny autumn day in the country?
Neither can I.

Sand Lake Sunset

We are back after 24 hours at Sand Lake on the Rideau Canal System. The cottage that my Sister and her husband purchased this year is on Birch Island in the lake. It has about 100 cottages on it and is accessible only by boat. When the development originated there was a bridge built but due to developper/seller issues the bridge was taken down. The center of the island had roads and interior lots planned but now the only cottages are around the edge of the island and the centre is undevelopped with lovely paths because of the original roads. Sounds perfect and it does seem that way! I took many photos but will share with you my two favorites. The first being the sunset over the lake.

The second is the same view from the property but in the morning before the mists had completely burned off.



We had a bonfire on the peninsula where I took these pictures on Saturday evening. The Moon? Full and amazing! Huge round and so bright. It never really got dark all through the night. Wish I'd been able to take a picture!

I knit some but less than I thought I would. I did finally get started on my purse kit that I bought in Windsor eons ago but I do have to frog a bit and use smaller needles for the top portion of the bag.

I did find out that it is useful being a knitter in a cottage where there is no twine to truss a turkey with!
Behold!

Mardarin Petit that bound the turkey and was cooked all morning! Still strong and colourful! I chose to throw it out though due to the turkey juices that were impregating the yarn! Too funny!

Thanksgiving Lunch was yummy and filling! I still want some Pumpkin Pie! Thanks to Jae and Andy for a wonderful meal and a wonderful time!

Happy Birthday Kessie

Today Kessie turns 1 year old! It seems just yesterday I held the 2 day old puppy who would be named Kestrel...Kessie for short. I think she is about a week old in this picture.

.

And here she is in her Birthday suit!! She is my wee pride and joy! Her newest trick is climbing up onto my shoulder to cuddle in while I am at the computer or knitting. I think that she has finally figured out that if she gets closer to my face than my hands she gets more attention.

WIPs: A scarf in orange. Two yarns combined. One novelty yarn I bought from Lewiscraft when they were going out of business and varegated Mandarin Petit.
The grey is the start of a prayer shawl. I hope the grey looks good when done. If not I'll frog and start again. Sock weight yarn. So far I like the texture. I'll be knitting tonight along with Grey's Anatomy!! Woo Hoo!

Two odds and sods purses. To be felted. Beige one is assorted Lopi with a little bit of something from the bottom of my left over yarns. The dark one is Lopi knit alternately with the bottom of the pile left over and, towards the top, a sock yarn.


There is a full moon this Saturday. It is a Harvest Moon. They get so big they are amazing ! It is supposed to be a nice weekend here in Ontario so I hope to see it. Since it is Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend we are going to my sister's new cottage to celebrate. Since we'll be in the country I hope that we have a good view! The full moon also explains why some of the children at work are bouncing off the ceilings!

TGIF tomorrow!!

Kessie's Sweater

Kessie had a really big day on Saturday! She got her fall hair cut! I went to a new groomer because the last one, whom I only used once, went out of business! I like the new groomer better! She came home in the afternoon and this is all she did!


She has so little fur on her right now that I decided to knit her a sweater.
I grabbed what I had on hand and here is the result. It kind of looks like one of those caterpillars with the furry middles ...Wooly Bear Caterpillars!



The other knitting that I did on the weekend: 2 more purses to felt.

I committed myself to make a prayer shawl for the fellowship I attend to raffle off. I thought that Prayer shawls would be difficult but anything that I look up is a rectangular shape and K3, P3 seed pattern. Has anyone seen one of these type completed? Are they nice? Or should I try a simple lace trangular shawl?

I felt busy this weekend but I can't think of anything else I did other than grocery shop and go to the Fellowship.

Ten Knitterly Things:

1. I started knitting after seeing Kaffe Fassett give a talk.
2. My husband bought me knitting classes for Christmas that year.
3. I have been knitting non-stop for 13 years.
4. I am a thrower.
5. I like to knit without a pattern.
6. I love cables.
7. I love using DK weight yarn.
8. I knit a log cabin blanket before I knew it was a thing that people do. I used up left over yarn with it.
9. I spent one summer 6 years ago Koolaid dying everything.
10. I used to knit and sell Teddy Bears.

Have a good evening!