IN A SkNIT

Repetitiousness

2011-07-17T19:10:00.007-04:00

I have wanted to design lace for a long time.

The problem is that I am not a person who naturally adheres to repetitions. My mind starts to wander after repeating something a few times. I start planning modifications to the plan. Re planning the plan . Then adding more change to the plan. In the end I may have something that is really wonderful but completely impossible to reproduce or to document.

This is not a bad thing if I am making a custom or art piece. I want my custom pieces to be unique.

It is not a bad trait to have in life most of the time...except I cannot get down the routine of taking medications. Yup....pills are often forgotten. Thankfully missing them is not lethal! I'd better figure this out before I get much older I think!

Back to lace....no not yet...If you have read my blogs before you are aware that I tend to ramble. This propensity for rambling I attribute to the lack of a strong planning gene. I start off in one direction and that reminds me of something else ...and so on. Please forgive me.

Now..Back to lace.

So I am not a real fan of knitting lace. Not because it is difficult but because in general I do not stick to a pattern. In most items I am adding my own touches changing the basic shape etc....but with lace a huge mess can be created. There is no taking another person's hard work and randomly altering the pattern...The result is never ever ever good...to my knowledge anyways.

Time for picture.....
So...The lace designing started with the above shawlette that Tara wanted me to make for her. (Really simple. Basic neck down triangle with a spine. Using Berroco Origami and Cascade Ultra Pima). Once at the end bit I wanted to add a bit of fancy so just made up this 6 row, 6 stitch lace pattern. And, I liked it. So ideas for an all over design started forming.

Enter blue Pima. What you see in the photo is the result after about 5 or 6 times of going into the frog pond. I like it now. I like that it is a repeat design that does not look like a repeat design at first. I has to be looked at carefully to see the flow. To me it looks like the ripples wind makes on the surface of water. I was able to hide the center spine as well which adds to the all over flow.

So now the issue is... I have to finish the sample.

I know the design will work for someone who has a modicum of desire to stick to the plan and the ability to focus for long periods of time.
But I have to finish the first draft. I keep wanting to add changes and then getting unfocussed and forgetting where I am in the pattern that I have written.

Have I mentioned I am not a fan of knitting lace. I will get better at designing lace but I want my own personal knitter who will understand how my brain works and love following a plan. A very repetitious plan.

Isn't this the prettiest repetition of eggs?

Sunny Days

2011-07-06T11:01:00.004-04:00

A wonderful Canada Day weekend has come and gone.

Sun and heat and the beach and relaxation. A visit from Canadian geese.

Boating and water skiing (not by me!)

And to top it off a beautiful sunset over Georgian Bay.

So... It is raining...yet again..

2011-06-04T11:15:00.005-04:00

It is said that if you live in Canada you always have something to talk about.

The weather.

Our weather is ever changing and slightly unpredictable

Today it was predicted to be sunny with cloudy periods. Hmm....

The above photo was taken at 11 AM. hmmmm....

Thunderstorms. Rain. Cool. What we like to have in April. NOT JUNE.

I suppose the good side is that everything is lovely and green. And, you can't spend time in the garden so you can knit as much as you want to!!!

Edited to add: AND NOW...it's 3:15PM!

Patrick Goes to Prom

2011-05-26T17:26:00.002-04:00

With Hailey.

Where does the time go?

Easter Weekend

2011-04-23T12:14:00.005-04:00

I actually see sun shining on the road! I should be outside but here I am filling you in about life to date.

Yesterday was Good Friday so the shop was closed. A good thing too because Jim, Patrick and I went to Belleville and brought Rhea home for the summer. Yes! The college year is over! It is loverly having her close by again. Hopefully she will find summer employment! Keeping my fingers crossed for her.

Today the shop ( Kniterary) is open. I will be getting to knitting a commission soon. I got 6 inches in and then realized I had cast on 20 too many stitches....fricker bricker......SO...frogged and restarted using stitch markers to help with the counting issue!

I have been working on flower brooches with Tara for Tarmina Designs. A little bit of rug hooking and a little bit of beading and we have these lovelys.

We are stocking up for the Mother's Day weekend Studio Tour. They will make great Mother's Day gifts!

I have been working on some tea cozies for the same tour as well but they are not at a photographable stage yet!

It is now 12:30 PM. I am hungry. Going to get a bagel!

Three Things I love Thursday

2011-04-14T08:25:00.004-04:00

Really Big Buttons.

Really Big Coffee with a muffin.

Really Big Pine Cones

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-13T17:14:00.002-04:00

Me in my new hat

2011-04-07T17:43:00.001-04:00

Me in my new hat
Originally uploaded by martianknit.

I think I finally found a hat that I love!
It looks reasonably good on me and does not constrict my big brain!

Bead Club Fun

2011-04-06T11:16:00.003-04:00

Last night was Bead Club. I enjoy bead club. Even when I am tired!

We had fun playing with chiffon and tulle and candles.

OOOO.... fire!

I made this funky flower.

More are on their way!

And it is Snowing Again...

2011-03-23T16:19:00.005-04:00

I think this winter will be long remembered as "The Winter that Would not Stop."

Yes that is the view from the shop this Wednesday March 23rd at 4:25 PM. A tad depressing isn't it.....Sigh....

I am going to take a moment to look at colourful yarn....

Ahhhhhh.... Debbie Bliss Angel......Mohair and silk...mmmmmm......

.......

Oh! Hi!

Busy weeks have been happening for me these past few. Working the storefront, dealing with lawyers, knitting an inspiration, teaching, visiting family and planning an art show in the shop, etc., etc.....

The storefront continues to get busier which is oh so amazing but means that I have less time to do the non-sales jobs of running a business . So that means those jobs leak into the rest of my life.

I have promised myself to act on inspiration when it happens so I have been taking most spare moments to go forward on my current piece. It should be ready to put in the art show this coming Saturday. You will get a photo of it then. For now here is another piece that will be in the show.

Tara and I continue to develop our line of items to teach and sell as well. This Saturday there is a fundraising for Girls Inc. which we have a table at. Tara is also teaching a class. I am in the shop with the prep. for our opening of the show but will get to help with table set up on Friday evening.

I will now go and grab the vest (yes my project is that) and continue to embellish while trying to ignore the white cold crap falling from the sky and imagine spring greenery...

Till next time!

The Lazy Knitter

2011-03-16T08:57:00.003-04:00

Too lazy was I...to get up and find my cable needle.

Thankfully the pen and camera were right beside me!

And...

Aren' t you glad I wasn't too lazy to blog about it?

An Owl and 3 Bunzillys!

2011-03-09T15:45:00.001-05:00

Some fun on another cold and snowy day!

What Be the Cause?

2011-03-07T09:49:00.004-05:00

The word

Because

has been running through my brain since the ride home from Belleville last night.

(We dropped number 1 child back at school after a week sort of at home).

Not sure why. It is just there.

Because Why?

I am restless...? I am finding creating difficult...? I have cabin fever.....?

Because the trees are still bare.

Because it is still cold outside.

Because I want summer.

Because because because.....

Because every day life keeps happening?

That being said.....I need to pay some bills and do some house work.

Because.

The End of February

2011-02-28T07:52:00.005-05:00

Yesterday we had a beautiful late winter snowfall. The weather was warmish so the snow was heavy and clung to all the trees in a very marshmallow way.

I enjoyed my walk with my wee Kessie. Yet didn't enjoy the filth that gathered on her underside! The dirty dog days are upon us I fear.

Ah well....I am needing Spring weather so much it is not much of a hardship!

I spent some of the weekend working on my Cloisonne sweater. I may add another layer of lace at the bottom in the brown because I think I want it to be a bit longer. Loving it though. Love love love knitting with Berocco Ultra Alpaca! It is difficult to resist burying my face in the softness on a regular basis.

If I get it done before summer (here's hoping)....(My heart skipped a beat with the idea of summer!)...it will be my Spring sweater.

Enjoy your last day of February and, if you live in the north, start taking stock of your spring clothes.

Oscar watched last night...... Colin Firth is a funny man! Yea for The Kings Speech!

Bunzillys!

2011-02-24T07:49:00.004-05:00

The Bunzillys are getting all dolled up!

Tara and I are having so much fun creating the first of our Forest Morsels!

Bunny Sknit

2011-02-21T12:39:00.005-05:00

Your Spontaneous Drivel

Is assaulting our silence

You sit there and Snivel

Seeking our alliance

And

All we can think

SHUT UP

SHUT UP!

by: Martina Munroe

Sponteneity

2011-02-19T10:59:00.008-05:00

“The essence of pleasure is spontaneity”

Right now I am laughing at myself because I am being so un-spontanious about writing about Sponteneity.

I am not a natural sponteneity-ite! I have had to learn how to enjoy and participate in spur of the moment activities.

I have been thinking about Sponteneity because a friend of mine who is a mother of 2 young children was lamenting at the loss of her freedom to be so. Children do change you. Much more so if you are a person who is used to making last minute decisions about things.

You can't just go out for the evening or go on a trip. Planning is an essential!

Book the time, book the babysitter, plan for the funds to both do what you want and pay for child care. Or, take the children with you. Which entails all sorts of planning and organizing!

I found that children increased my ability to be spontaneous. I learned to go with the flow and enjoy the moment. To sing and dance just because! To laugh without reserve. To be part of a game because it is there. These are things I learned from my children. In turn this ability has transferred over to my creative and, dare I say, social pursuits.

So to my friend I say "Yes sponteneity still can exist while raising children" It exists in very different ways than it can when without the encumbrance of the responsibilies of raising a family. It is smaller and more immediate. And, on so many levels, so much more fulfilling.

If the essence of pleasure is sponteneity then it is something we should plan to practice every day.

I know I do. And I enjoy a well planned day!

Thursday Thought

2011-02-17T15:26:00.002-05:00

Master concentration, master anything.

This is the truth isn't it? Especially in _______________. (fill in the blank)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T08:01:00.003-05:00

Happy V-Day!

2011-02-14T12:11:00.002-05:00

Another Amazing Canadian Artist for your Melody Monday!

I Need to Lie Down.

2011-02-10T10:55:00.011-05:00

It has been a while since I have posted any knitting content. Not because I am not knitting because I am ALWAYS knitting. But, because....I am knitting and running a shop and being a semi present Mother and Wife. And reading and beading and taking nutrition classes and furtively thinking about cleaning and giving input on the main bathroom redec.

Don't know about you. I need to lie down now.

At the moment I am waiting for my 11 o'clock Thursday student to arrive so I will have to pause in my post very soon.

What have I been knitting? Yes, I heard you ask.

I have been working on the Cloisonne Jacket from Interweave Knits. I am only doing it........

Blogus Interuptus...
Please enjoy this while I teach!

and I am back again.....

I am only knitting the Cloisonne during the evenings at home because of the colour work that is involved. It is not that difficult but there is no repeated row in the pattern so I can't do it from memory. I find it hard to even watch the TV at the same time.

I have gotten a bit further than in the photo but alas I have not taken a photo yet...Soon I promise!

I spent a good part of the weekend knitting eggs to be embellished with beads. I knit them with Noro Silk Garden and got a wonderful array of colours from the one 50 gram ball.

Then I started knitting Bunny Nuggets....

I am loving this tiny knitting!

I have also knit 2 1/2 socks,
a sweater for Bruce (which his wife ripped out...so needs to be reknit)(le sigh), a shawl, a scarf, a few cowls....several hearts (I still need to knit more of them)... Ah yes...I do have a photo of the hearts .

Happy Valentine's Day!

Old Lady?

2011-02-08T12:28:00.003-05:00

When the heck did I get a wattle?

This can't be me!

Surely I am still 15?

This Just Makes me Laugh

2011-02-01T15:19:00.001-05:00

Life in January

2011-01-21T15:36:00.001-05:00

January is my month of birth.

I will have completed 54 years of life as of January 29th.

I am not sure what to feel about my encroaching senior citizenship. Should I be glad that I still feel (and some say look) about 10 years younger.

Or.

Should I be freaked out by the actual number of years I have lived and by the fact I still feel so inexperienced.

It is a strange thing to feel like I should be more formed and finalized than I do. I do not think I am alone in feeling this way. Or Maybe I am!!

As a child I looked forward to the day when everything in life was set and perfect. The adult life of ease and being able to make the right decisions.

Somewhere along the line I began to realize that that day had not arrived yet. And still has not.

In my 20's I knew I still had lots of time to achieve perfection.

In my 30's I was part of the creation of 2 perfect babies but I still had not reached that point of completing me.

In my 40's I was actively trying to find my life's passion (other than hubby and children).

Once reaching 50 I finally found my creative and work passion. (Can anybody guess what it is?)(a slap on the wrist to those who know me and don't know!)

And yet at nearly 54 and having found my passion I still feel inexperienced. Life still takes work. I was going to say Happiness takes work but that is not right.

Let me try this... Acceptance of the direction life has taken takes work. Even when there are really fabulous elements in my life there seem to always be more to learn and experience.

Somehow this is making it sound like I am unhappy with my life. I am extremely happy with my life but it is different than what my 15 year old brain imagined. I suppose that,as children, most of us think we will be the ultimate best at whatever we chose to be. But so often, even for the most successful people in the world, we don't end up feeling that way.

So....

Why is that?

Is it the need to learn and continually improve oneself that keeps our neurons firing and keeps us feeling young?

Should I just accept that this state of incompleteness that I feel means that my life will remain interesting and compelling?

Maybe instead of worrying about my inexperience I should rejoice in it.

Maybe that should be the aim of life. To never feel complete until the moment before death

because

once there is nothing left to learn there is nothing left but boredom.

And

Who wants to be bored?

Hmmm...

I have decided....

I should be glad that I still feel (and some say look) about 10 years younger.

Inexperience is good.

It means you are still alive and kicking.

My New Music Crush

2011-01-14T21:01:00.000-05:00

is... Melody Gardot

Morning has Broken

2010-12-31T11:35:00.001-05:00

Morning on December 31, 2010.

The start of the last day of the year.
The start of my daughter's adult life.
The start of the rest of life.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Day

2010-12-31T11:32:00.001-05:00

I love a good fire.
I hope everyone had a good Christmas.

Christmas in Several Countries while Home Alone

2010-12-19T10:14:00.000-05:00

I have the day alone at home today. It is a much needed respite from the hustle and bustle of pre Christmas busy-ness.

Not that I am not being busy.

So far I have done some kitchen and bathroom cleaning. There will be more general cleaning through the day. As well as getting serious about finishing some last minute gift projects.

While cleaning,crafting and calming down I am listening to CBC2's day of Christmas performances from Europe and Canada. So I have heard a concert from Finland and Norway.

AND THEN....or NOW...I will be spending a few minutes researching Christmas traditions in the featured countries. I will share the links with you along with a photo of knitting from that country.
Finland:

Norway:

England:

Czech Republic:

Seems that the Czech Republic is known more for bead than knitting.

Austria:

BioRemediation

2010-11-24T19:42:00.000-05:00

From Answers.com:

"Bioremediation is the degradation, decomposition, or stabilization of pollutants by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and cyanobacteria. ...... The microorganisms feed on and eliminate the pollutants. When the pollutants are gone, the organisms die."

This idea of nature taking care of itself after an oil spill is part of what I was thinking about when I was working on my latest knit tree.

I had started the tree shortly before the gulf spill and became obsessed about the damage it would be doing to our world.

Why have we not made an alternate less volatile form of energy more accessible? How can we keep drilling into the earth and extracting oil and expect the world to stay healthy?

This doomsday thinking started to turn to thoughts that maybe the Earth has a way of adapting.

That possibly nature will mutate and adjust to the new environment it is in. That possibly our messing with the natural recovery systems that may be in place to deal with our human mess will only cause more harm. (and around the brain spins!)

And...then...from this new environment will a new beauty evolve? A beauty very different from what we have now.

How will trees survive? What will this new beauty look like?

This is the end result of that brain spinning.

It just got accepted into juried show at The Station Gallery in Whitby Ontario.

My thinking continues...

Compassion and Aging

2010-11-13T20:22:00.000-05:00

One of the things about running a yarn shop is that I am a part of the community.

Not just a shop owner and knitting adviser.

Also a person who hears all the good and bad things that are in my clients live's. A bartender of sorts I guess. People come to relax and to relate and, sometimes, for rescue.

Rescue of the knitting/crocheting kind and of the personal kind.

Over the past years I have received a handful of items that were started by someone ill or now deceased for completion. I find it really difficult to say no to these requests. Yes, I know, not very business like. But...I yam what I yam!

Yesterday was about the saddest request I have ever received. Sad for me mainly because the couple involved were still a "real couple" even in their mid 80s.

A few months ago the couple was in purchasing yarn for the woman to knit a sweater for her husband. She sat dressed to perfection calmly waiting for him to choose the yarn and the style he wanted. He, in his jaunty hat that she had knit for him many years earlier, hemmed and hawed and touched all the yarn before settling on Manos wool Classica.

Back to yesterday. The gentleman, now donning a jaunty tartan hat, came into the shop carrying a brown paper bag. Alone. Already I am worried.

When asked how he was doing he responded "Not well."....aw geez....

Well, the story is, his wife has been knitting the sweater and has it almost finished but 2 weeks ago she started forgetting. She (who once taught knitting) often can't remember how to knit. She often doesn't remember him. She is, in his words "Losing her mind."

Such sadness. How much I wanted to be able to do for him. What I will do for him is finish his sweater.

And, I will not charge him for it. I just can't.

She had finished the back and both arms and most of one front. You can tell where she started to forget. Instead of decreasing for the arm hole she increased. It must have made her feel so helpless. The poor woman. The poor man.

Today he popped in to bring the rest of the yarn I would need to complete the project.

And Chocolate

And a hug.

note: Photos used were one available on the web, not mine.
Couple is by godw1nz.wordpress.com/ Woman's eye is at ehow.com

I'm Published!

2010-11-09T21:12:00.001-05:00

Yup.....The Festive issue 2010 of A Needle Pulling Thread

I'm Pumped!

Crafting in Newfoundland

2010-10-27T16:14:00.000-04:00

I am back from 10 lovely days on the rock called Newfoundland.

I managed to rekindle my creativity and relax and fall in love with the land.

I did very little knitting during my time away but did manage to throw in a class on my Slouchy Christmas Tree.
Dianne (on the right) got hers completed in 2 days!
They are still a fun and quick knit!

My projects were 2 different styles of rug hooking. One was hooking with yarn

and the other is called Ragging or Proddy. The Proddy is fun because it is so quick once the prep work is done (cutting fabric rectangles) but I have become completely enamored with hooking with yarn.

Yes, I think this is going to be my next big thing.

What I love most about it is the ability to "paint" with the colours of yarn. It combines my love of yarn and my love of surface design so perfectly!

Oh ! I also did a bit of needle felting that I added to my Tomato does Christmas hat.

In between the crafting I did get out to see some sights and do some shopping in St. John's.
Houses at Witless Bay.

St. John's Harbour.

The Duke of Duckworth.

Morton Bay.

Flobs of Turkey

2010-10-10T19:26:00.000-04:00

Thanksgiving dinner has come and gone with minimal stress and maximum relaxation. But...then ...I am not the chef in my household.

I was going to bake an apple pie but Jim visited The Big Apple on Friday... no not THE big Apple as in New York city....No...The BIG Apple on the 401 highway at Colborne....

Impressive isn't it.

While he was there he bought an apple pie so I was freed from that task.

We still have a bunch of apples though from the box that was given to me. Apple Butter maybe?

Where Am I?.... oh ya.... flobs of turkey....

I have very creative children. They are never at a loss for words either. ...

So...Rhea was explaining why she didn't take a turkey leg at dinner (why?....probably because she has this strange aversion to touching meat...) And because she didn't want a leg she picked the "flobs" of turkey.

FLOBS?

What the heck are flobs?

Current definition in the Rhea dictionary... flobs: slices of meat.

I mean, where the heck did she pull that combination of letters from?

Yes she is creative...

Left over turkey is now becoming ...Turkey Flob Broth

Creativity Procrastinated

2010-10-08T15:48:00.000-04:00

I sit here today in the shop wanting to be creative.

It is hard to be creative when the shop is open. People tend to interrupt just as creativity starts to flow. I do welcome them though.

I, like other creative people, have doubts about my creativity and sometimes distractions are easier than the pushing through of ideas into a concrete form.

The extraction and mutation of thoughts and technique to tell a story that exists only in a murky world between worlds is sometimes tortuous.

It is the fear that the end result will not be understood or disliked that is the cause of much of my creative procrastination. This is probably true for all creative people.

I am noticing that I am avoiding the word "artist". I still feel like I have not "become" an artist. But, what is the definition of artist? Is it merely someone who creates or is it a thing one becomes once pieces are shown in galleries etc?

Oh...Look...I have pulled ideas from my brain and put them on paper.

I have been creative.

Of Fall and Farms

2010-10-04T15:31:00.000-04:00

October is here and the trees are now pushing on through their blaze of colour to become skeletons for the winter.
There is always a magical hue to the world at this time of year.
It is all golden and rosy.
The last gasp of foliage splendour before the first frost.

The furnace has been turned on and the windows closed up against the chill.
The sweaters are out and being worn.

Closed toed shoes containing socked feet are crunching on the fallen leaves.

And... the farms are opening their gates for the public to see.

Rhea and I visited a local sheep farm called Greendale Farm.

The current owners have only been there for 7 years but have been in the sheep raising business for a long time.

This lovely old barn is where the sheep sheering was going on. Sheep barns are ...well.. stinky..

Outside their were some Border Collies showing off their sheep herding skills.
Preacher is a very experienced dog and had the herd well in control.

A less experienced dog had the sheep scared so they ran as fast as they could to the fence near the human handlers to hide.

This girl really wanted to help but she is a wee bit in a puppy way so had to settle for observing.
Rhea got lots of photos for her assignments and has submitted a photo to the local paper. Fingers crossed that is gets published! If she can get 2 photos published this semester she will get 100% in one of her courses.

Every time I go to a farm with lots of animals I am reminded that I love to be around them.

Do I want to work on a farm?

That would be NO.

But...I would sure love to hang out at one more frequently.

But what have I knit lately?

This most excellent fall Pumpkin hat! Knit with Manos del Uruguay Maxima (yummm).

Big Changes!

2010-09-10T15:32:00.000-04:00

Yes, these past few weeks have been full of changes.

The biggest by far was the departure of our oldest child. Rhea has left for college. She is set up in a dorm on Loyalist College Campus. She is studying Photojournalism for the next 2 years. Here she is setting up her room. My but rez rooms are tiny! As you can see the blanket I was making her made it to the finished stage. Although it is a bit smaller than I had planned. It is good and warm and I know she'll love cuddling in it.

The house is emptier. With Patrick's active social life Jim and I are eating alone more often.

The other changes are purchases of new laptops for all family members. Ca-ching!!

It all started when Rhea's refurbished died just prior to her departure. That sent us to the local big box electronics store where we purchased the last sale laptop for her.

We then found out that the sale was on for 1 more day and that they were expecting another shipment in the morning.

WELLL...of course the one at the shop was on its last legs. The desk top computer at home died a while ago and Patrick's cheepo desktop was wheezing.

Back we were to pick up 2 more of the same laptops as Rhea's the next day for the shop and Patrick.... Poor Jim all left out!

But... today he is poor no more. Or should I say he is more poor...

We are all cyber connected now and loving it.

The other change? Patrick is now in a new-to-him bedroom. His old bedroom is now where Rhea will sleep when she is home and an office for Jim. Oh...and Patrick is now in grade 12.

com

Caution: Honking Dog

2010-09-04T10:18:00.001-04:00

Sleep eluded us on Monday evening this week.

Why?

Kessie was honking. Yes she sounded like a Canada Goose. It was almost non-stop.
It felt like we were parents of a baby again.

I woke up (after, what, 15 minutes sleep) on Tuesday morning with that fuzzy, not quite sure, but still have to carry on, tiredness that parents of little ones so often have. How the heck do we ever manage?
Jim, of course, managed to roll over and get a bit more sleep than me. Huh....

Luckily, I had already scheduled a vet appt. It was supposed to be for shots but turned into an appt. for getting antibiotics and instructions on how much Benelyn-C to give her a day. Shots to take place in 2 weeks time.

So, that started the 3X daily administering of drugs. It is not easy to give drugs to a dog. Especially a wiggly dog like Kessie. It is a 2 person operation. One to hold her in place and one to try and get all the med. in the mouth and swallowed.
Jim and Patrick had the first shot at the cough syrup. (I happened to be at the shop). From what I understand she foamed it all over her face...
Then it was my turn. Being the expert (ahem) that I am I managed only a slight mess. After 4 days of it I am now able to get it all in and swallowed without the need for a face wash afterwards. I have impressed Pat.
The pill is another matter.
First one was wrapped in cheese and went down without hesitation.
Second one was eyed suspiciously but still went down.
Third...she has learned to lick the cheese off and spit out the pill. So....a combo of peanut butter and cheese is used.
Fourth....Cheese only ( because she should just damned well take the effin pill because I want her to ) and holding the mouth closed and rubbing her neck to make sure it goes down while holding another piece of cheese in front of her.
Fifth...Cheese...Ram to back of throat, hold mouth closed, rub neck, do not let go until swallowing action is observed.
Only 6 more pills to go....I am sure I will be standing on my head and spinning her around to make centrifugal force to force it into her tummy.
And then there is the yogourt which is supposed to coat her tummy to reduce stomach irritation. She ate it with gusto the first day. Now refuses to even go near the bowl it is in.

The good news. She is no longer honking. No more cough syrup unless she coughs again.

I am worn out. She is probably loving the attention.

Steps Away

2010-08-18T17:39:00.000-04:00

I have been knitting Rhea a blanket this summer. It is getting rather large and heavy at this point and I feel like the knitting is getting slower not to mention warmer.

The end of this project signifies Rhea's first steps away from her birth family. Her first step into her next phase of life. Her first big step towards independence. Steps...

I grudgingly knit on.

I want her to grow and be independent but I want her to stay my baby. Maybe if I never finish the blanket she will never leave.

I knit on.

That is what parents do. Despite every cell in our beings needing to protect and to keep our children close we let them push away. We let them declare that they are completed. We let them set the time when we need to cast off and enjoy the end result.

Rhea picked the colours and I picked the design. I am calling Loyalist Log Cabin blanket since she is going to Loyalist and the design is based on the log cabin quilting design. Built into the design are steps and home and comfort. And...washability...yes..knit in Mission Falls MACHINE WASHABLE wool. She may not choose to clean it but she will not destroy it if she does.

With the gift of this blanket I will be sending love and security with her. Even a 19 year old needs comforting from time to time. I hope that the blanket gives it to her in a pinch.

Do you think I could get her to knit me one?

Street Watching

2010-08-05T12:21:00.000-04:00

One of my shop down time activities is watching the homeless and psych patients out on a day pass walk up and down the street.
To those driving through town they seem like your everyday garden variety people. When one sits in one place for a while and one sees who is not just passing through.
I am 2 doors north of a Coffee Time and I now know how many times most of them pop in for a chat, coffee or a cool down.
This summer I have figured out who does not have air conditioning at their house. I see them trudging down the street clothing akimbo, sweating buckets. Then again, cooled down, in better spirits walking back home.
Then there is the Scooter brigade. For some reason mostly older ladies (I say older but they could be my age) zipping between the subsidized apartment block and the Coffee Time or the corner store. Yes there are men on scooters too but they do not travel in groups like the women do. I wonder why?

From the same high rise comes the woman who does not have a motorized chair and huffs and puffs her way up the hill at lease 2 times a day to get a coffee and donut....She works so hard...and compared to the scooter people must be in excellent shape. When I first saw her 3 years ago I really wanted to go out and give her a push but now I know that the trek is part of her routine and she doesn't want help.
Occasionally one of the ambulatory street people pop in to see what I'm all about. Some to chat very occasionally. None are scary... lonely and occasionally smelly but not scary.

I long to ask about their lives and discover their inner thoughts.

But I let them keep their inner workings private as they let me do so too.

The Weekend Away

2010-07-25T13:55:00.000-04:00

Last weekend was a weekend for walking and relaxing.
Jim, Rhea, Patrick, Colin (Rhea's boyfriend) and I went to Jae and Andy's cottage on the Rideau Canal.
It was my first whole weekend off of the summer and I relaxed. Surprisingly, I did very little knitting so I have none to show off.

What did I do then?

Well, I walked up a very steep hill to Rock Dunder. The view, as you can see, was Amazing. I think that the folks of Dunder Mifflin (The Office) should do a group weekend show about climbing Rock Dunder. Don't ya think too???

In this photo is Andy and Rhea. What a view!

Then I went for a swim in the lake and a sun on the raft.

Here I show off my most graceful side! Since the water between the dock and the raft is full of seaweed and zebra mussels we usually got out to the raft first on the air mattress and then swam beyond the raft into the lake.

I took many photos.

I was sitting on the deck when this leaf wafted down to the water. It was so perfect I had to take a picture. The photo turned out much better than I thought it would and I am now using it for my desk top photo.

Ah, yes, I lounged on the dock dozing and reading and taking photos. Such an idilic spot!

For Saturday Dinner I ate Cedar Plank Salamon that Jim Bbqued. Yum..
Before cooking we had to rid the BBQ of a family of field mice. They were resistant and one ended up staying and getting toasty warm under the flames before realizing that departure was a much better option. Eviction by fire!!
After the amazing dinner I enjoyed a campfire with everyone. Patrick got an A+ in fire building!

Our dessert at the campfire? S'mores of course!!!

And that was just Saturday!

Sunday....more of the same.....except for the walk up a hill (my legs thanked me for that!)

When can I go again? Jae???? Andy???? Huh????

Notes on a 90th Birthday Party with Papa Don

2010-07-12T16:30:00.000-04:00

-Don looks great for 90! Happy Birthday Don!

Papa Don and Nana Fran

-Seniors travel with lots of paraphanalia (walkers, tissues, water, pillows, pills, oxygen etc...)

-The secret to staying young.."Lie about your age" -told to me by an Octogenarian

-The secret to soft icing? "Put alcohol in it" - told to me by the baker for the event

-Kidney Stones are hard to expel...told to me and anyone else who would listen by the baker
-I do not want to eat while hearing about kidney stones

Don as Cake Decoration

- I smile and nod and agree with seniors so I don't confuse them....or maybe so they don't confuse me!

-Eating too many sweets make me regretful

-Spain won and we were thankful the soccer game was over.

Indian Spices

2010-06-12T19:05:00.003-04:00

Behold this beautiful hand dyed sock yarn!

Dyed by Michelle of The Sweet Sheep.

Curry anyone?

Flowers of June

2010-06-12T19:04:00.001-04:00

Clematis in the Lilac Shrub.

Pink Peony

From the Backyard.

The Front Porch Falleth Apart

2010-06-04T08:32:00.000-04:00

We have been in our house for almost 20 years. (I am shaking my head in disbelief!) That makes our house about 30 years old now.
Already replaced over the years have been the windows, the roof and the siding.
Now it is time for the front porch. It is crumbling. The cement base upon which the walls sit seems to be ok but the bricks are succumbing to the damage of water along with the freeze /thaw issues of living in a northern climate.

There are parts of the wall that we attempt not to touch but as you can see we are not always successful. As seen in the photo above the corner is majorly eroding.

So...these are our before pictures.

Yes indeedy.

This is the summer of the porch replacement.

Last weekend friend Jennifer came and consulted on what type of porch would look best on our tall slender house. She is in the process of sketching up the details and we get to see them tomorrow!

It will be a wooden porch. It will have place to put a couple of chairs so we can sit and watch the neighbourhood go by.

I promise we will leave the binoculars inside!

25 Reasons for 25 Years

2010-06-01T12:09:00.000-04:00

1. Loving

2. Being loved

3. Rhea

4. Patrick

5. Laughter

6. Music

7. Friendship

8. safety

9. acceptance

10. mixed tapes

11.food

12.gift buying

13. popcorn

14. inside jokes

15.Having someone to complete my sentences

16. laughing at my jokes

17. remembering the jokes I can't remember

18.trivial nonsense

19.family

20.ability to forgive

21. giving and taking

22.a good cup of tea

23.mojitos

24. the roses

25. desire

Sloth

2010-05-27T11:35:00.001-04:00

Not this type which, despite the humongous nails, seems benign and cuddly.

But this....

The room of a teenage girl.
I always know when the mess inside is getting beyond reasonable...stuff starts to pile up in the hallway.

Notice that she has to step over it to get into said room. Why is it so easy to just step over piles?

That is my question....

JUST PICK IT UP AND MOVE IT INTO PRIVATE QUARTERS!

The door is always closed but I cracked it open to reveal the true extent of the sloveliness!

Until I started researching the word I hadn't realized it was one of the seven deadly sins! Now, not only is my child unbaptised but guilty of at least one deadly sin!

She may be crossing the River Styx some day!

Granted she comes by the tendancy naturally.

Any of you who have read my past posts on my piling ways will be well aware of that!
And

As a teenager I too suffered from the sin of slothfullness to the same degree that Dear Daughter (DD) does.

The difference in her life over mine is that I was expected to clean my room on a regular basis where as I live in eternal hope that the desire to be non-messy will come naturally at some point in her life.

Now I am in the hell of having a DD who lives in squalor!

All sins have consequences!

Maybe one day she will have a daughter of the same ilk!

How Slothful am I?

(one always has to check these things before confronting a teenager don't cha know)
What is Sloth?
Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.
Well...I try not to avoid spiritual work but physical work is a different thing all together
Why you do it:

You're shiftless, lazy, and good fer nuthin'.

hmmm....lazyish, not shiftless and definitely good for somethings!!

Medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas said Sloth is "sluggishness of the mind which neglects to begin good... [it] is evil in its effect, if it so oppresses man as to draw him away entirely from good deeds."

Well I am not sluggish of mind. In fact the non-sluggishness of my mind causes my physical sloth.

AND
I have not been drawn entirely away from good deeds.

YET.

So what do you think?

Do I help this teenager become less slothful by forcefully instilling orderliness?

Do I mend my own ways first?

(notice I include no photos of my transgressions in this entry!)

The Perfect Afternoon

2010-05-25T15:27:00.001-04:00

Some afternoons are meant for being in the backyard.

Yesterday was one of those.

Though it was scorchingly hot in the Toronto area my backyard was just the perfect temperature for sipping Mojitos, knitting and drying laundry.

So.....

that's what I did.

Won't tell you yet what I am knitting but I can tell you it is Katia Tobago 100% brushed cotton.

I have enjoyed how the colours have come together.

Good Morning Birds

2010-05-24T10:20:00.000-04:00

One of the sounds of spring, summer and fall that I love is the sound of the birds in the early morning.
I always sleep with the window open a bit even in the dead of winter for the fresh air.
In the winter the mornings are almost deathly quiet with only a few of the bravest of birds out and about before the sun warms the air a bit.
Once there are longer times of daylight and the migrating birds start returning from their warmer homes mornings get quite raucus.
This morning I lay in later than usual (8 AM) and listened.
Close by were the Sparrows, Chickadees, and Goldfinches among others I couldn't identify. There were probably Robins and yes there were the Mourning Doves. Far off were the Crows yelling at everybody (They were probably harassing a hawk or something like that) and the Ring Billed Gulls finding food.
Such a musical treat. If I could compose music they would be my inspiration.

Of course birds get up at the crack of dawn so there have been days when I have been woken at 4 AM and cursed a wee bit. And then I remember the silence of winter and I enjoy. I allow them to sing or chatter me back to sleep.
Mornings are always good when started with the sound of birds.

Birds over Lake
Originally uploaded by martianknit.

May 23 Miscellanea

2010-05-23T16:41:00.000-04:00

A-nother warm and sunny day!

B-ackyard my favorite spot today.

C-omputer finally fixed.

D-enial of life's difficulties in full force.

E-njoying my day off.

F-avoring right side of neck. Hard to check blind spot when driving right now.

G-ross is what Kessie was eating earlier. (you don't want to know)

H-eat of day wonderful.

I- am watching an Ant crawl across my monitor.

J-ogging is not something I will ever do.

K-nitting laid aside until I can get the measuring tape.

L -ittle Kessie licking my leg

M-y hair getting out of control again. Do I grow it or chop it off? Looking for ease of care!

N-ostrils flair smelling bbquing steak!

O-rdinary pleasures abound.

P-roud of my Prom girl !

Q-uiet is what I love!

R-esting on my laurels

S-unning my pale, pale body. Hopefully no sunburn....

T-anning is what I am hoping will happen but wearing no sun screen.

U-nder the tree is our table.

V-ulnerablity under wraps.

W-inter is very far away today.

X-anadu in my thoughts.

Y-earning for an airplane ride to anywhere.

Z-est for life fills me.

Prom Night

2010-05-21T20:09:00.000-04:00

Simply Gorgeous!

The Week Before the Prom

2010-05-17T11:46:00.000-04:00

At the end of every High School year the graduates get to go to a formal outing to celebrate the passage of their teenageness as they grow into young adults.

This year it is my daughter's turn.

Where does the time go?

I remember sending her off to her first party in her Belle Dress and now

she is ready to head off to the party that marks the end of her need to have me sending her off.

It is a good thing. I keep telling myself that.

This weekend was the marathon Prom Dress Making weekend. Louise came over and created magic with Dupioni silk and 2 sewing machines.

Louise is my very closest of friends. We have shared all the ups and downs of our lives with each other for about 30 years.

She was one of the first people after family to meet Rhea and now she is helping her grow some more!

And now for the dress in rehearsal. The first complete try on!

Sometimes you just have to look at your children and wonder how you managed to be a part of making something so beautiful.

Sometimes you just have to wonder why an amazing woman thinks she is not longer photo worthy!

The Big Prom is this Friday. I will make sure to post the photos!

Grooming Day

2010-05-11T12:49:00.000-04:00

Today Kessie got groomed. She is not a fan of the grooming but she loves

Lindsay from Furr n Purr!

Here she is before her grooming.

And
One and Half hours afterwards she is back with bows on!

Kessie is a high maintenance gal. It takes the bulk of the time to groom her head while she wiggles all over the place! Having Lindsay come to us is so much better for Kessie. Hardly any stress at all! No crating or spending hours listening to other stressed dogs bark. She calms down almost as soon as she is in the door.

While she was being groomed today I groomed as well. Not an unusual occurance for me. I actually need to groom more frequently than Kessie. I know you thought I woke up naurally beautiful!!

Before

After

I am a low maintenance gal. Wash and go sort. But I do need my mascara!

Mom's Day Oddments

2010-05-09T20:26:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to me!

I bartered myself a new earring and necklace set! Thanks Tara for wanting the Whitby Wrap!

Mmmm...Jewelry!

Rhea in the Whitby Wrap

I am not finished my triangular shawl obsession! I am currently working on one that is tree colours. I am combining Naturally Tussuck with hand spun that Cathy bartered with me.

My Bartered Tree Striation Shawl!

Also working on a sock and lace weight in mauve and terra cotta. As I was working on it I cam across a photo of roof tops in Burgundy France. The colours are almost exactly the same.

My Burgundy Striation Shawl!

Had a relatively successful Studio Sale this weekend as mentioned in last post. Now I have to start gearing up for the November show.

Oh, And Jen has invited me to her place in Newfoundland in October! I can't wait! Her house is on the ocean!

The Studio Show

2010-05-08T20:30:00.000-04:00

Brainwave
2008

Today was the Studio tour. It turned out fairly well I think! Lots of people through and a few pieces sold. Of course only those that didn't get sold. Rhea took a few photos.

Brainwave is still one of my favorite pieces . It was one of those pieces that grew organically. My hands were just the medium. I don't really want to sell it because it is perfect for over the Fireplace and I love it. I have therefore put a really high price on it!

Time Exhales

This piece above was a piece that required alot of research and thought on my part. It is a depiction of how events that happened 40 years ago affect every day that follows. How one cataclysmic event can exhale over the world for minute, hours, years, generations... I loved creating this piece because it was done for a competition and I had to work within a theme. It became a very academic piece for me. I learned a lot!

All were on show and will be on show tomorrow again. I get to hang out waith Jen and Tara too! Yeah!!

I am a Chicken Collector

2010-05-06T17:41:00.000-04:00

- “A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg.”

- Samuel Butler

yes...

I have a chicken collection. The one above is my Christmas gift from Emily. She sits in my living room keeping the television company.

Don't know why I started a chicken collection.

It is not big but there it is. The barnyard cluckers.

This is Francie the French Hen!

This last chicken was given as a Christmas gift during a knit chicken gift exchange.

I became so enamoured with knitting this chicken that I carried on to knit the two above it. It is a Susan B. Anderson pattern but I have taken my own design road. I am jonesing to make another one. I guess this would be the month to knit one!

I will show my respect for the chicken not by eating one (though they are delish!) but by knitting another one!! What colour should I make her?

Do you think this is the end of my collection? No these are only the knit chickens!

Next time...My Vintage glass Chickens!

Bet you can't wait!

It's Cinco de Mayo Day!

2010-05-05T16:59:00.000-04:00

The Dancing Chickens of Ventura Fabian

International Respect for Chickens Day!

2010-05-04T14:32:00.000-04:00

May is International Chicken Month and May 4th International Respect for Chickens Day!

Doesn't that just rock your world?

Look at their agility!

Maybe I'll become an Urban Chicken Farmer!

I will choose my chickens based on agility!

Windsor Whirlwind!

2010-05-02T19:47:00.000-04:00

I was away in Windsor attending a wedding this weekend with the ever so emotional Munroe clan. I swear that lot tears up so easily I always end up feeling like I am so cold hearted. Which those who know me know I am not.

I just don't cry easily! Never have. Some women ball their eyes out during sad movies but I rarely do. A tear here a tear there and that is about it.

But the Groom for God's sake was almost unable to make it through his vows, his speech, his dance with his Mom etc... Then everytime I looked around some other Munroe was dabbing at their eyes!

I think they find it as funny as I do! They just can't help it. And, you've got to love a group of people who are so in touch with their feelings. Maybe it shows the difference between Scottish lineage and German lineage! Germans are so good at keeping it all under control. Or, maybe it has nothing to do with heritage but the my ability to erect protective walls during emotional events...

I got a few good photos too. One that I love of Papa Munroe's nearly 90 year old hands.

And another of Nana Munroe looking a bit pensive.

I swear every other time I looked at her she was laughing at me! Who knows what I was doing but by the end of the evening she was holding on to her jaw because it hurt so much for laughing! It is always great to see her out and enjoying herself!
My favorite part of the evening was, you guessed it, the dancing!!! One of the things that I dislike about being of an older, respectable age is the rarity with which a dance floor is available for just dancing! Not organised, formal dancing but the freeform go with the beat dancing. Dancing with a group of people who don't give a rats ass what your technique is. A group who can get just as into the rythm as me. And that is what the Munroe clan women are good at!! (Barb and Sheila especially!) This time though all our husbands joined in and that was a hoot! At one point everybody kicked their shoes into the middle of the circle and danced barefoot. Everyone but me that is because I had on heels that were strapped on and I had no intention of sitting down to take them off! And..I was 3" taller than usual which is always a good thing when you are only 5'2"!
Note to self: Must get invited to way more weddings! Just for the dancing!

The Meaning of Existence

2010-04-30T08:38:00.000-04:00

by:Les Murray (b. 1938)

Everything except language

knows the meaning of existence.

Trees, planets, rivers,time

know nothing else. They express it

moment by moment as the universe.

Even this fool of a body

lives it in part, and would

have full dignity within it

but for the ignorant freedom

of my talking mind.

Painting: The Ignorant Fairy by Rene Magritte

Added later:

Moments after finishing this post I found out that my cousin Jane passed away after many many years of living with MS.

She was 46.

She is pain free now.

Futility

2010-04-28T19:23:00.001-04:00

By: Wilfred Owen (1893 - 1918)

Move him into the sun-

Gently its touch awoke him once,

At home, whispering of fields half-sown.

Always it woke him, even in France,

Until this morning and this snow.

If anything might rouse him now

The kind old sun will know.

Think how it wakes the seeds-

Woke once the clays of a cold star.

Are limbs, so dear achieved, are sides

Full-nerved, still warm, too hard to stir?

Was it for this the clay grew tall?

-O what made fatuous sunbeams toil

To break earth's sleep at all?

Painting by: Susi Franco

A Walk In The Woods

2010-04-27T14:01:00.000-04:00

No not the book by Bill Bryson! I did not enjoy the book very much but I always enjoy a walk in the woods.
Sunday my friend Louise, my daughter Rhea and I went for a walk in the woods in the Midland/Penetanguishene area.
Not a long one. It was a total of an hour or so but it seemed longer because we got misplaced.

No we did not get lost. We were simply misplaced!

At least Louise said we were not lost. She knew the basic direction we needed to go to get back to the cars. She kept pointing in a north-easterly direction and sure enough we found our way.

We zigged when we should of zagged and went beyond the point of return so ended up trampling the undergrowth making sure to avoid the trilliums!

Luckily this has been a dry Spring so the boggy areas weren't really boggy.
Although a dry spring is not such a good spring really since we also had a dry winter.

I love being in the woods. I love the silence and sound of the trees and the birds. I love the smell. I just want to live in the woods.

Any woods where I will not get displaced!

BoobQuake Today

2010-04-26T12:56:00.000-04:00

Causing an EarthQuake, oh, I mean a BoobQuake!

Random Information

2010-04-23T10:34:00.000-04:00

Six names you go by
1. Martina
2. Mar
3. Emsker
4. Marty
5. Mom
6. Tarmina

Three things you are wearing right now
1. Jeans

2. glasses
3. my wedding ring

Four things you want very badly at this moment
1. my bed
2. coffee
3. a good laugh
4. more innate talent in anything!!

Three people who will answer this
1. You'll have to volunteer. I did.
2.
3.

Two things you did last night
1. Spent time with knitters at the shop

2. Watched the Marriage Ref (not so good last night)

Last two people you talked to on the phone
1. my Mom

2. Jim

Two things you are going to do tomorrow
1. Be a shop keeper
2. teach

Three favourite drinks
1. chai latte
2. tea
3. Mojito

THE RANDOM FACT INGREDIENT
I have a birthmark in the shape of an anchor.

My HD Personality

2010-04-21T12:47:00.000-04:00

I am a highly disorganized (HD) person. I don't work very hard at it. It comes naturally I guess.

One of the side effects of being HD is that I often misplace items of some importance. Today, I have misplaced my watch.
My watch is usually on my wrist but last night while I was relaxing watching American Idol (Crystal Bowersoxs rocked it last night!) it began to bother me. It was on the arm that got bashed around yesterday when I fell.
I took it off and put it on the side table. Yes I distinctly remember that.
Once I was off to bed I picked it up to put on my bedside table.
Then....the watch ceases to be in my memory banks.
With Kessie at my heels I stopped off at the computer to check my inbox, went to brush my teeth and hopped into bed.

This morning the watch was not to be found. It was not on the coffee table, not by the computer, not in the kitchen, not in the bathroom and not in the bedroom. (I feel I should be able to write a Dr. Seuss story about it!!) Kessie has been no help at all in the search!
So I am sans watch today.
Not that the watch is an easy one to read anyways...It has no numbers on the dial and I am always guessing as to what number the hour hand is nearest. When someone asks me the time I usually respond with something like.."It is either 5:25 or 6:25." Then I have to go to one of the other timepieces that I have access to for confirmation.
The fact that I have not gone out to get a more appropriate day to day watch is an indication of my HD personality as well is suppose.

Way back when I wrote an entry about my tendancy to pile everything. http://inasknit.blogdrive.com/archive/57.html

I have reformed somewhat but I think this tendancy is an HD symptom as well. (ya think?)

I have tried to be organized I really have! I get containers and make lists and sort and everything! Then, after a few days it all starts to fall apart. I forget which container is for what or I lose my lists and can't remember my sorting categories. Sigh. The best is when I put something away in a really great away spot only to never find that spot again. Like my High School yearbooks which I have been trying to track down for about a month. Out of sight out of mind with me.

In the meantime I still search for my watch. Here is a picture of one like it.

If you happen to see it anywhere let me know please!

Edited to add:

This morning (April 22, 2010) Judy Gerstel has an article in the Toronto Star called Badly Disorganized? Chronically Forgetful? It may be ADD...

I can't find it online yet but it speaks to my issue of being HD!

I've always said that chronic knitters have ADD tendancies!!

I have fallen

2010-04-20T16:39:00.000-04:00

...but I have gotten up!

yep...scratches on my arm, twisted left ankle, slightly swollen left foot and a bruise on my right leg and...and...and.... a grass stain on my shoes (I think I will cry now!).

Actually not a bad one this time compared to other times.
I am a frequent faller. I haven't had such a big fall in about a year but it is about once a year I seem to step badly and wipe completely out.

This time ; step up onto first step at shop, foot slips off, right ankle cannot take the load and I have to save my coffee!!! (Yes, the coffee is the most important thing to save isn't it!
Thankfully the lid was on tightly and nary a drop escaped despite being catapulted over the edge and into the garden right side up.)
I go ass over tea kettle!
What amazes me is that I rarely get hurt that badly. I am really good at going with the fall (as long as my coffee is safe) and rolling or bouncing safely to a stop. This time a 70+ lady (who turned out to be a customer) rushed to see if I was ok. Little old ladies are rescuing me now!!

In the past I have broken ribs and an ankle and just basically bruised myself nearly to death.
Good falls of the past include

1. Falling down the basement stairs with my arms at my side taking the brunt with my face and chest. I broke only a rib surprisingly. Looked like I had been beat up bad. I felt so bad for dear hubby because he was interrogated like a criminal.
2. My last fall was in the winter. This one at least is a bit hilarious. I was carrying 2 bags of groceries to the car wearing winter boots that were loose on me and not tied up (stupid). I caught the toe of one boot on the edge of the cement sidewalk block and fell completely onto my front. When I leaped up, telling everyone who witnessed the incident I was ok, my boots were a good 5 feet behind me and my groceries 2 feet in front of me. I think I threw the groceries so I would have my hands free to stop my face from hitting the ground. I was so wishing that someone had caught it on film! How horrifyingly hilarious it must have been to watch!

There are others but I shall not go on....

Yes, I have fallen and I will probably fall again. I think I need to get some iron pills.

But, I'm fine really I'm fine!

(art by Picasso)

The Trees

2010-04-19T15:11:00.001-04:00

The Trees

by Philip Larkin (1922 - 1985)

The trees are coming into leaf

Like something almost being said;

The recent buds relax and spread,

Their greenness is a kind of grief.

Is it that they are born again

And we grow old? No, they die too.

Their yearly trick of looking new

Is written in the rings of grain.

Yet still the unresting castles thresh

In fullgrown thickness every May.

Last year is dead, they seem to say,

Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.

Photos taken this morning while walking the dog.

This Could Get Addictive!

2010-04-17T23:30:00.000-04:00

http://www.bookdepository.com/live

Save me!

Stop All the Clocks

2010-04-15T09:35:00.000-04:00

by: W.H. Auden (1907- 1973)

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crêpe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

The first time I really listened to this poem was during my first (yes, multilple watchings ensued(ing)) viewing of Four Weddngs and a Funeral.

It makes my heart stop everytime.

Poetry Time Again

2010-04-10T21:25:00.001-04:00

In Broken Images

by: Robert Graves

He is quick, thinking in clear images;

I am slow, thinking in broken images.

He becomes dull, trusting his clear images;

I become sharp, mistrusting my broken images.

Trusting his images, he assumes their relevance;

Mistrusting my images, I question their relevance.

Assuming their relevance, he assumes the fact;

Questioning their relevance, I question the fact.

When the fact fails him, he questions his senses;

When the fact fails me, I approve my senses.

He continues quick and dull in his clear images;

I continue slow and sharp in my broken images.

He in a new confusion of his understanding;

I in a new understanding of my confusion.

The Routine of Life

2010-04-07T16:11:00.000-04:00

Today I have been noticing the routines of my days.

We all have them.

Most of us accept them most of the time.

Get up, feed the dog/cat, get dressed, go to work, yada, yada, yada.
Ho hum.

I found this quote:

“Voluptuaries, consumed by their senses, always begin by flinging themselves with a great display of frenzy into an abyss. But they survive, they come to the surface again. And they develop a routine of the abyss: ''It's four o clock. At five I have my abyss... ''”
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette quotes (French Writer, 1873-1954)

Today I throw myself into the abyss at 6 and develop that routine. Ought to shake things up a bit.

What is a Voluptuary?

voluptuary : (və-lŭp'chū-ĕr'ē)
n., pl., -ies.
A person whose life is given over to luxury and sensual pleasures; a sensualist: "an adventurous voluptuary, angling in all streams for variety of pleasures" (Thomas De Quincey).

[French voluptuaire, from Old French, from Late Latin voluptuārius, variant of Latin voluptārius, devoted to pleasure, from voluptās, pleasure.]

Hmmm.....I will attempt to more of a voluptuary from this day forward! Should work for at least a few minutes a day don't you think?

Then....back to routine.

The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.
Mike Murdock
(Michael Dean Murdock (born April 18, 1946 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States) is a televangelist and pastor of the Wisdom Center ministry based in Fort Worth, Texas. )

Or...Not

The less routine the more life.
Amos Bronson Alcott
(Amos Bronson Alcott (November 29, 1799 – March 4, 1888) was an American teacher, writer and philosopher who left a legacy of forward-thinking social ideas.)

One hour and fifteen minutes left!

The Last Laugh

2010-04-05T07:21:00.000-04:00

by: John Betjeman (1906-1984)

I made hay while the sun shone.

My work sold,

Now, if the harvest is over

And the world cold,

Give me the bonus of laughter

As I lose hold.

When I see a steamed up window I must draw a smiley face.

Wild Swans

2010-04-04T07:52:00.000-04:00

Artist: Harry Clark

Wild Swans

by:Edna St. Vincent Millay

I looked in my heart while the wild swans went over.

And what did I see I had not seen before?

Only a question less or a question more;

Nothing to match the flight of wild birds flying.

Tiresome heart, forever living and dying.

House without air, I leave you and lock your door.

Wild swans, come over the town, come over

The town again, trailing your legs and crying!

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T19:00:00.000-04:00

What a beautiful weekend it has been this Easter weekend.

It really seems to be that winter has left us and summer is on its way.

Both of the walks today were strolls of enjoyment for both Kessie and me. This evening's was filled with the scents of barbeques and the sound of birds. Kessie for sure is enjoying all the smells that she is encountering . Even if I wanted to take a brisk walk I probably wouldn't be able to without dragging the girl behind.

So between the sniffing and the peeing on every other blade of grass (yes there is some grass now too) my walk around the block is taking twice as long as normal.

But she is just so damned cute that I bear her no grudge!

We wish you all the best weekend!

April is poetry month....

2010-04-01T16:02:00.000-04:00

For my birthday this year my daughter gave me a book and CD of The Great Modern Poets. I have been reading through it lately and have found some I really enjoy.
Since April is poetry month I am going to take some of the posts to share these poems with you.
I love poetry. I love it when it is read to me most of all. When I read poetry to myself I usually have to read it aloud so feel free to read these aloud to yourself or to the people you are with.

Today's poem is by William Carlos Williams (1883-1963). He was a doctor and a poet.

This is just to say

I have eaten

the plums

that were in

the icebox

and which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold

Single Story

2010-03-30T11:01:00.000-04:00

This inspires.

http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html

Pensitivity

2010-03-29T11:39:00.001-04:00

I wrote this on Monday early afternoon. It is Tuesday now. I am still pensive but yes...writing does help..

I am sitting at this computer with classical music playing in the background. It is sad music. It is making me melancholy.

What is melancholy exactly? Let me look it up.

mel·an·chol·y /ˈmɛlənˌkɒli/
–noun
1.a gloomy state of mind, esp. when habitual or prolonged; depression.
2.sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.
3.Archaic.
a.the condition of having too much black bile, considered in ancient and medieval medicine to cause gloominess and depression.
b.black bile
–adjective
4.affected with, characterized by, or showing melancholy; mournful; depressed: a melancholy mood.
5.causing melancholy or sadness; saddening: a melancholy occasion.
6.soberly thoughtful; pensive.

I have looked up black bile and I so not going there! I am soberly thoughtful and pensive.

Being pensive is one of the stages of creating for me. One of the first stages.

There is an idea brewing in there and I can't quite pin it down. As now, it usually comes when I am nearing the end of one project.

I am at the point in my current piece where it is all pushing forward and putting the final touches on it. I have to figure out the leafy part.

This is the part of the technicalities of having a piece turn out as imagined. Fun and interesting but my mind is looking to something new already.

Over the weekend I took my mind off the tree by finishing off a Printer's Drawer to be hung. Actually not sure if it is "finished"......crap....

I like it but I think it needs more now that I look at the photo.

It will come to me though...

"All changes are more or less tinged with melancholy, for what we are leaving behind is part of ourselves. "
Amelia Barr

A Day Off

2010-03-28T16:12:00.000-04:00

Sunday.

Gloomy and drizzly.

Went outside anyways.

First to the backyard where there is promise that spring is really coming.
Yes, tulips are starting to push their green leaves through the ground.

I righted this mirror that fell over in the winter winds. It shows a reflection of the yard. Our birdwatching chair, which, if I were your average gardener, should be brought in every winter, is no longer serviceable as a chair. It is now...SCULPTURE... ya, that's it.

I have this slight obsession with mirrors in the garden. You can see another one in the top corner. I have another one sitting in the basement ready to join in.

I also have a slight obsession with decay. I rarely take things in during winter because I am curious to see what the season will do to them. Big chunk of child like wonder left in me in this. I am always fascinated.

Then headed out to Thickson's Woods. I like making a visit every year while there are no leaves on the trees yet because you can see the jumbled structure of the trees etc...

Lots of trees down again this winter. We some big winds and this is such an old stand of trees.

Here again my love of decomposition guides my photo taking.

I think it is the textures that draw me in.

Look What I Bought!

2010-03-27T20:06:00.001-04:00

I popped into the local "trendy" upscale clothing shop on Friday.

Clothing seemed to be only for waif-like ethereal beings.

But I fell in love with this bag.

Love that there are a few cats on the Dogs We Know side.

Yes I freaking Love this Bag!!!

Procrastination is Making me Latte

2010-03-26T09:48:00.000-04:00

Make that a Chai Latte please.

I am at home for the morning. Alone. That doesn't happen often. I know I should be grabbing the dust rag or sweeping the floor but I am making myself a coffee and writing to you all.

And now I remember that I have Chai tea at the shop which I will have to make when I get there. When I get there.

'scuse me checking on the coffee...maybe the coffee will help me up off my duff...

I am all alone this morning because Los Kiddos are at school Jim has gone on a day trip to Algonquin Park today with a bunch of his birding buddies. Nice sunny day for it but back to below freezing... I hope they see lots of the flying creatures and hopefully some Moose babies. Wonder if he brought a camera? Wish I could be there too..

I continue to have 10 plus projects on the knitting needles...I am actually not sure of the number I will have to count. Let me see..Hmm I have finished a couple so only 7. Yeah!!
Three pairs of socks,

Of which this is one... I love Jay walkers!

1 linen blouse,

1 shawl,

1 tree

and 1 tank top that I do not have a photo of yet although I am holding it in one of the photos from the previous post.

I do have one rug hooking on the go too.

So maybe I just need a morning off ? Maybe, just maybe I am productive but just not in a house wifey way?

Where is my Chai Latte?

My Hands

2010-03-25T16:15:00.001-04:00

My Hands they are the Tools of my Trade. (from Laura Smith - I'm a Beauty on Vanity Pressed - a Collection CD.)

My Hands are growing older along with the rest of me.
There are times I look at my hands and don't know who they belong to.
I am looking at my Mother's hands. When did I get my Mother's hands?
When did time betray them? When did the scars, bumps and age spots appear? When did arthritis start to turn my fingers and cause me to feel pain?

I see the hands of an older person.
How did this happen?
Somehow they grew old while I was busy having a life.

Then I see this photo taken by my daughter's hands. It is of my Sister's and Mother's hands.
My Mother's hands at 80 years of age.
I realize now that when I look at my hands I see the hands of my Mother's 50 year old hands. Her hands have had 30 more years of life than mine. Think of the things those hands could tell mine.

They tell of a life fully lived. Of things created and work long done. Of wisdom and experience. Of risks taken and opportunities explored.

Do I still want the pristine hands of youth? Hands that are unwise to the ways of the world?

No not really...

I want to see the life I have lived in my hands. To remember the creations I've made, the babies I've rocked. I want to feel the aches and pains (I lie!!) that have resulted from not wearing rubber gloves while I do dishes and knitting for 8 hours straight or forgetting to wear mittens on the coldest day of the year.

I want the memories.

I want those memories to temper all future actions taken by my hands.

I want my hands to create new memories, feel new textures, give strength to others for as many years as possible.

My hands are the tools of my trade and my life. I will embrace their aging appearance.

Jan6/2006 Replay

2010-03-24T19:56:00.000-04:00

Found another 4 year old post that is worth a re read! Timmies and I have a real love/hate relationship!

Friday, January 06, 2006
Idling in La La Land

SO I was sitting in the Montana waiting in the take out line at Tim Horton's (the temple of coffee). I was enjoying the sun (which had not been seen for about one year). I inched foward while raising my face to the glorious sun. I was relaxing and warming. I was visualizing being on a beach. I bumped up a small ramp. I waited and basked. I bumped down a small ramp. I looked behind. I was past the ordering monolith!!! My window was closed and I had been basking! They were probably all yelling "CAN I TAKE YOUR ORDER!!! HELLOOO....IS ANY ONE THERE. WE NEED AN ORDER! HEY!!! WAKE UP!!!! WE NEED AN ORDER!!! " Then off I went.... I had two choices. 1. Leap out of the vehicle and run backwards and interupt the orderer behind me. or 2. Continue on and make a full confession at the window. The sun was warm and gorgeous so I opted for the latter. While waiting and basking yet some more I went over my options of opening line. I ended up saying " I am an idiot and I was in complete la-la land! I forgot to order! They all looked at each other with the realization that it was just another brainless suburbanite in a Montana. I was so grateful they didn't make me start again! They gave me my order (they may have over charged me but I really don't care if they did) I didn't have plain old coffee to order I was ordering 3 Cappucinnos and then I didn't have enough money out so I had to search my change cubbyholes! As left I made sure I let them know that I would stay awake while driving back to work (a little late). Man I needed a coffee....but the sun was la la lavalee....

A trip downTim Horton's Memory Lane....

2010-03-24T09:06:00.000-04:00

I posted this 4 years ago. Sometimes it is good to look back and see what a goofball one can be..

Don't take me through the Drive Thru

Last week was not my week to be going through the drive through at Tim Horton's. Pretty soon all the Timmy's in the Whitby area are going to know me as the "Crazy Drive Through Lady". Any of you who have read my past entries will remember the last incedent I had at Timmy's. I have only compounded my problems!!

Experience #1:

I was on my lunch time with the most lovely Miss Ann who teaches in the Junior Room. As per usual we ordered our coffees, teas and for the most beautiful Miss Ann a ham and cheddar cheese sandwich on wholewheat,toasted, no tomato, no sauce. Well do you think the lady could get the order right?? First off she talked with an accent that made her difficult to understand. Then she seemed to have trouble understanding my accent. So I order the sandwich, taking my time and allowing for the keying in of each item, and

she says "Sat his Ham and Svuiss?"

"No, Cheddar." I respond.

"Chedar an Svuiss? On vhite?"

Now I am trying to talk louder, " Ham and cheddar on whole wheat." "Oh...(to the lady making sandwiches) Not svuiss...Can you make Cheddar? Yes, Cheddar...Ok good."

Me again..."on whole wheat!" "oh ok (long pause as she mutters to herself trying to find the whole wheat key) Toasted?"

"yes" I yell "TOASTED"

"Vill there be anyting else?"

"I am not yet finished with the sandwich order!!! No tomato, no sauce!"

" Oh, I forgot to key in...(again to the person making sandwiches) You remember , ok? No tomato, no sauce.? Goot. Anyting else?"

I am by now speaking as loudly as I can, " 1 Steeped tea with milk, 2 Coffees....."

"I so sory you yell...I so sorry.... Drive trhu"

Once up to the window of delivery I ask the person taking the money if there is something wrong with the intercom system. Her response...."Sometimes the wind makes it hard to hear."

Wind??? There was no wind.... Only a very frustrated orderer with many very frustrated drivers waiting in the long line up behind her!

Experience #2:

At another Timmy's on another day. I pull into the drive through only to find to my joy that there is NO LINE UP! I pull on through , make a left swerve and then realize I have gone straight past the intercom order taker!!! No cars are behind me. I stop, put the car in reverse and back up to the speaker. I get greeted with a very pleasant "Welcome Back!" I had to confess that this was not the first time I had made this error. She then very pleasantly took my order and I carried on. The beautiful Miss Ann was witness to this too. It is a wonder that she will go into any drive throughs with me.

So, now there are 3 different TH's who's staff probably duck and run when they see my van. My apologies to them all.

Actually, there is a 4th that dropped my change on the driveway and I had to wait for someone to retrieve it. Then I dumped all the change out of my wallet onto my lap and had to drive all the way back to work that way. (I was running late you see) (Miss Ann was with me yet again)

Someone care to accompany me to get coffee? No! Don't run away!

Posted at Monday, May 01, 2006 by martina

I am better at drive throughs these days...promise!

Trees on the Brain

2010-03-15T12:13:00.001-04:00

I have started another 3-D tree and want to get pictures of it and real trees together in one place.

Chicken Fun

2010-01-04T08:12:00.001-05:00

Chicken Fun
Originally uploaded by martianknit.

Fog by Cark Sandberg

2009-03-11T13:02:00.001-04:00

Fog by Cark Sandberg
Originally uploaded by martianknit.

99 Facts Meme

2008-12-18T14:21:00.000-05:00

Thursday, December 18, 2008
99 things meme
Nicked from Knitters-Knitters.

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog. (have 2 blogs)

2. Slept under the stars.

3. Played in a band.

4. Visited Hawaii.

5. Watched a meteor shower.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity. .

7. Been to Disneyland/world.

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis.

10. Sang a solo. Once at a Wedding. I will probably never do it again. Too nerve wracking

11. Bungee jumped. No freakin' way.

12. Visited Paris.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. Paper Making, Pottery, Photography....

15. Adopted a child.

16. Had food poisoning.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

18. Grown your own vegetables.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.

20. Slept on an overnight train. Took the train from Montreal to Saskatoon when a child. 3 nights on the train.

21. Had a pillow fight.

22. Hitch hiked.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb.

26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a marathon. Oh you must be joking.

28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.

29. Seen a total eclipse.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. Several. The most memorable from the 14th floor of an apartement whiole enjoying a mind altering substance. You could see the world turn. Really.

31. Hit a home run. ...Being able to hit a ball first would be good...

32. Been on a cruise.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language. Not taught myself, but have been taught French.

37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied. I am satisfied with my life as it is.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing.

40. Seen Michelangelo's David in person.

41. Sung Karaoke.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance. Acute Appendicitis New Years Eve 30 or so years ago...
47. Had your portrait painted. As a child.

48. Gone deep sea fishing.

49. Seen the Sistene chapel in person.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. Lots of snorkeling in pools. Once in Mexico in the Ocean. Fish freaked me out a bit. And claustrophobia.

52. Kissed in the rain.

53. Played in the mud.

54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.

55. Been in a movie.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.

62. Gone whale watching.

63. Gotten flowers for no reason.

64. Donated blood. Once. I have small veins. It was painful.

65. Gone sky diving. Never ever ever.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.

67. Bounced a cheque.

68. Flown in a helicopter. .

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. Cindy my dolly.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt.

73. Stood in Times Square.

74. Toured the Everglades.

75. Been fired from a job. Sad but true.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.

77. Broken a bone. Broken ribs a couple of times falling down stairs and a bone in my foot slipping on ice.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.

80. Published a book.

81. Visited the Vatican.

82. Bought a brand new car.

83. Walked in Jerusalem.

84. Had your picture in the newspaper.

85. Read the entire Bible.

86. Visited the White House.

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.

88. Had chickenpox.

89. Saved someone’s life.

90. Sat on a jury. I was up for jury selection but never got on a jury.

91. Met someone famous. Gowan (Canadian Singer)

92. Joined a book club. Started a book club no less.

93. Lost a loved one. but only if you count my pets

94. Had a baby.

95. Seen the Alamo in person.

96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a law suit.

98. Owned a cell phone.

99. Been stung by a bee.

Typical Northern Lake Island

2008-11-11T17:55:00.001-05:00

I was at a friend's cottage this Sunday and managed to take a few pictures to fuel my knitted forest ideas.

We took a stroll late in the morning and got in just before it started raining. I love being out of the city.

I have this idea floating around in my head to create a forest floor out of knitted components. Then I want to mount them on a canvas and hang it on the wall. An odd view of the forest floor.

.

I actually like the forest at this time of the year because you can see the structure of all the trees and plants.

Look at the above picture sideways and you would swear an animal was trapped inside. The trees have eyes....

What makes those few leaves hang on for dear life? I feel cold just looking at this tree.

I finally submitted my Brainwave. I did a few changes since I last showed it to you.

Kessie the Witch

2008-10-29T07:25:00.001-04:00

Kessie the Witch
Originally uploaded by martianknit.

I'm scared. Are you?

Candle Blow

2008-10-27T10:17:00.003-04:00

Candle Blow
Originally uploaded by martianknit.

Patrick Turns 15

2008-10-27T10:17:00.001-04:00

Patrick Turns 15
Originally uploaded by martianknit.

Brainwave Final?

2008-10-21T07:42:00.001-04:00

Brainwave Final?
Originally uploaded by martianknit.

I think this is it!
I had more fluff at the ends where waves would normally be white but it didn't seem to work.
I am living with it for a bit and then off to the gallery for judging.

Jim's Crosstitching

2008-10-16T07:54:00.001-04:00

Fall is Here

2008-10-12T12:44:00.001-04:00

As I was sitting at the computer this early this morning the sun was coming up. The early morning light was glowing on the trees in the front of our house and that was filling the room with a golden hue. It was a magical moment that I was completely unable to capture in these pictures.

But I wanted to share it anyways. There is something so wonderful about the way fall makes me feel. I love the colours, I love the crispness in the air. I love the apples and pumpkins. I love the crunching sound the leaves make as I take Kessie for a walk. I love how some leaves freak Kessie out so much she cautiously approaches them and then seems let down that it is only a drying leaf!

I also love that we start to wear our sweaters and scarves and mitts.

I started Tudora from Knitty yesterday and got done today. Ahhh.. a sense of accopmlishment.

Now I am going to have some lovely lunch and then go out into the golden wonderfulness.

Life so far...

2008-10-06T08:57:00.003-04:00

I know. I have not kept everyone updated for a while. Life is busy.

I am trying to take time to smell the roses but running a small business is time consuming and occasionally stressful.

A year and a half ago I would have never thought that I would have any misgivings about taking the leap into self employment. I love being in the shop! I love meeting new people. I love helping knitters put together just the perfect yarn for the perfect pattern. I love everything about it except the money concerns.

So for now the pink roses by my back entrance to the shop keep me buoyed.

Along with the love of a good man and wonderful (usually) teenagers.

And... of course... being in the position of having supplies at hand when I get a creative inspiration such as the Wave in my Brain (pictures in the previous post). Why did this wave come into being?

It all started with the Whitby Station Gallery juried art exhibition idea. Fresh. The idea led me to water, which led me to waves. Which led me to the short rowing that I have been playing with all summer. So the wave...within a wave. I have taken a week sabatical from the piece to see where the idea was going. I am ready to continue today. I did have to stock up on some quilt batting and fabric to carry on. The idea evolves.

My intellect keeps trying to figure out a way to merchanise this idea. I am trying to keep this part of my brain at bay until I am finished. But I have seen purses based on the wave and a shawl and small framed pieces. Then there are cards.. See I am having trouble turning it off.

Now I am going to take a relaxing bath and read The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. That is the book that the Kniterary Literary Club is reading this month. I am loving it.

The wave in my brain

2008-10-04T08:07:00.001-04:00

Summer Get Away

2008-07-17T09:06:00.001-04:00

Our family got a few days away from the city at my sister's (and her husband's) cottage. Three days of relaxing and now I am looking up information on slowing down.

We saw some wild life such as this Blue Heron on the raft in the middle of our bay.

And this wee Dragon Fly

I did some knitting. Less than I had planned to but My mind was in planning mode. I am almost finished Nutkin!

And started Rainbow Socks with Regia Galaxy.

Then I was distracted by the Fairy Faces in the Sumach...

By Sunsets.

And the Trees.

Can I go back now?

If I am Making Bags, It Must be Summer

2008-07-07T01:23:00.001-04:00

As I was working on my latest bag it occurred to me that for the past several summers I have gone on a bag binge.

First there was the knit linen bags, then I spent a summer sewing big ass carry alls. Then one summer I made bags out of laminated magazine ads. Three years ago I was knitting Lopi bags for felting. Last year I was knitting small cable purses and sewing project bags out of remnants.

This summer I am back onto the felted bags again. This time I am combining colours and yarns. My Morrisseau bag and now my blue lagoon bag.
(I am doubling the yarn and to see how the felting will turn out.) Oh and I designed a market bag that is now being test knit out of Mission Falls Cotton.
Oh and the Sari Silk bag!
.
What is it about summer and bags for me?

First off bags and purses? I am not a frou frou woman who has a purse for every outfit. Admittedly I do have an assortment of purses and bags and I buy the occasional vintage one. Is it because I like sorting my "stuff'? Usually bags turn into big huge pits of disorganization even when I get ones with pockets and sections.

Maybe I am searching for the bag that will finally organize my "stuff" on its own! Now wouldn't that be a purse!!!? Yes that would be my dream bag! A bag that I could just toss everything into and the bag would take responsibility for organizing and making sure that the item desired would be immediately at hand at the perfect time!! A bag that would negate the necessity for dumping it out at cash registers or when looking for the car key! Kind of like Mary Poppins or a bag from Hogwarts. A purse that always carries what is needed even if the item was only thought about and not actually put into the purse.

Ok that one is solved. I am trying to create the perfect bag/purse with all the magical accessories it needs.

Why Summer? Well of course because school is out! It doesn't matter that I have been out of school for too many years that I care to remember. The fact is that summer was always the time for creativity to flow. A time when I didn't have to make something to fit a pre existing parameter.

So bags in summer it has seemed to be for longer than I can remember. Bags that only have the parameter that they are meant to hold something. Otherwise they are blank canvases that can be as wild as my mind allows. A bag or purse can be an accessory that has its own pursenality (I'm so funny).

When I knit a bag I usually just allow the colour and the yarn to dictate the end product. So I guess in that I am creating magical bags.

Tomorrow I felt the Morrisau and the Blue Lagoon Bag (should I felt the Blue Lagoon?).

I am already building the next one in my head and can't wait for it to happen!

Newest Passion

2008-06-24T07:34:00.007-04:00

Four weeks ago I started a class on Wire Work. I have had so much fun!
Yesterday we learned how to bead and create Dragonflies. I wasn't really into it at first but ended up thoroughly enjoying the process of putting the beads together! Yum...colour!

Then we got into the Rock Wrapping. This is my favorite way to work with wire! No preplanned course to take. Just be one with the rock and wrap.

This first one is a landscape Jasper rock that I cut and polished about 20 years ago. The only rock I managed to ever cut and polish to date. The silver hanging bit was also done about 20 years ago while I was taking a jewellery course at George Brown College in Toronto. Both pieces have been waiting for the perfect moment to become something and last night was the time. I am so pleased with how it turned out!

This Chrysophase jumped into my hand while I was in my local spiritual shop. I was walking around with a piece of amethyst but was called by this rock so I threw down the amethyst and bought this piece.

It is wrapped in Copper. At first this wrap did did not seem to be coming together and then with a twist here and a swirl there it came to life. I think this will end up on a purse somehow.

Chryophase is supposed to help with a restful sleep and sharpen perception.

This class has renewed my love of jewellery making. I can't wait to do more.....when I am not knitting.

A Day at the Alpaca Farm

2008-06-04T18:44:00.001-04:00

Last saturday Kniterary had a booth at the Spinning WHeel Alpaca Farm Open House. It was just so fun to be around these lovely beasts for a day. My booth (of which I took no picture) was set up beside an enclosure for the sheared Alpacas. They all look so pretty with their Fluffy heads and winter boots on! They are literally their winter boots too. When an alpaca is sheared the hair on the the leg is only trimmed because it does not grow as fast as the on the rest of their bodies. If their legs were also sheared they would be unable to keep warm in the winter!

Also in the alpaca enclosure was 2 lovely big white guard dogs and this funny, freindly pot belly pig.

When I grow up I want to have an alpaca farm with a pot belly big too!

My creation

2008-05-31T19:22:00.001-04:00

My creation
Originally uploaded by martianknit.

This is a fun mosaic Creation from Flickr.

The concept:

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

If you click on the mosaic and go to Flickr you will see my answers!