Yup...the summer got to me ! Between working and car problems and kid#1 home for the summer I just lost track of time and summer went into warp speed mode !
Not much of a vacation...as the 11YO car had some interesting things happen ie: a broken right axle...yes..it just snaped right in half ! My mechanic said he'd never seen anything like it and neither had the old guys who help him from time to time. My car has never been in any accident, so this is even stranger !
Needless to say, we didn't go too far on my "vacation", unless you count taking the kid back to school at the end of August. I had to rent a car, book a hotel room for one night, stay in a dorm room one night and travel back in one day. Wheeeeeeee !
My kid took the digital camera back to school, so I decided to throw all caution to the wind and buy a camera for myself. I bought a SONY Cybershot, so now I have no excuses to fill up the blog with pictures. I promise not to go overboard !
Besides, I got my Ravelry invite last week, so I have to start taking pictures of projects, stash , UFOs etc... I truly think this will be the pitchfork in the butt, that I need to jump start this old mind into creating again. I have made this statement before, but as I have never actually recorded any of this info. online, it was a safe statement.
So, hopefully Saturday will be the Ravelry entry day. Looking forward to it !
TTFN,
Mom Dude- tug on the right ear...
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
FLEECED!
Oh boy...just finished trying ( this is the operative word) to clean the Border Leicester fleece ( half of a six lb. fleece ) purchased at Mass sheep and wool earlier in the spring.
Now...I have been washing fleeces, spinning , etc...since 1968 and I have never seen such a horrible fleece in my life. Yup...you guessed it ! I didn't follow all the golden rules of fleece selection. Boo...Hiss... yes I know...impulse buying ! I am really ashamed !
It is damaged...filthy...you name it, it has it !
Now, this is no reflection on the show just the seller, who by the way was selling it for a friend. If you want to know who........let me know !
Now...I have been washing fleeces, spinning , etc...since 1968 and I have never seen such a horrible fleece in my life. Yup...you guessed it ! I didn't follow all the golden rules of fleece selection. Boo...Hiss... yes I know...impulse buying ! I am really ashamed !
It is damaged...filthy...you name it, it has it !
Now, this is no reflection on the show just the seller, who by the way was selling it for a friend. If you want to know who........let me know !
OK....
1) take the fleece out of the bag... 2 ) test it for strength by tugging on some of the locks...really pulling...they should not break if they are in good condition
3) If the fleece is dirty...don't bother...it will take too much time to clean ! ( ever so slightly dirty is fine ) I never coated my sheep either !
4) Check for vegie matter...don't buy, if there is a lot. Again a waste of time.
5) Lastly, don't pay the going rate for anything that is in less than good condition !!!
So...dear friends...hanging my head in shame...I will dry said fleece and try to save something from the mess...If I am lucky...
3) If the fleece is dirty...don't bother...it will take too much time to clean ! ( ever so slightly dirty is fine ) I never coated my sheep either !
4) Check for vegie matter...don't buy, if there is a lot. Again a waste of time.
5) Lastly, don't pay the going rate for anything that is in less than good condition !!!
So...dear friends...hanging my head in shame...I will dry said fleece and try to save something from the mess...If I am lucky...
Saturday, July 14, 2007
OCTOBER CAN'T COME TOO SOON !
Ha... Recently found out that I am inheriting two Border Leicester rams after show season. I love the fleeces from this breed. As I don't want to deal with rams on a rampage, the guys will need to be "taken care of" before I actually put them in the pasture. I still want some ewes, just haven't settled on the breed.
I had sheep in the past, but the "uber" ewe just had the rest of them in palm of her hooves ! So, it was difficult to do anything with them. They were also meat breeds and at the time I just couldn't eat them. I ended up giving them to 4H kids to breed.
Now I want to concentrate more on breeding for fleeces, but still thinking about milk and meat as this makes more economic sense.
Will post the felting workshop later with pic...
I had sheep in the past, but the "uber" ewe just had the rest of them in palm of her hooves ! So, it was difficult to do anything with them. They were also meat breeds and at the time I just couldn't eat them. I ended up giving them to 4H kids to breed.
Now I want to concentrate more on breeding for fleeces, but still thinking about milk and meat as this makes more economic sense.
Will post the felting workshop later with pic...
Monday, July 9, 2007
ADULT PLAYTIME COMING UP !
Well...at least for fiber fanatics ! Attending a Nuno Felting workshop for the next two days with Robin Blakney-Carlson www.luckystonestudio.com
She lives near by ( distances are relative up here ) and I can't wait. I was worried about my mobility issues ( can't stand or sit for too long ) but she is very accommodating, so I should be fine.
I will post pics tomorrow evening if OK with her.
Peter Pan Crow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She lives near by ( distances are relative up here ) and I can't wait. I was worried about my mobility issues ( can't stand or sit for too long ) but she is very accommodating, so I should be fine.
I will post pics tomorrow evening if OK with her.
Peter Pan Crow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
CAN'T SLEEP ! AARRGGG
When I was a child, I lived in Germany for several years. I attended a German folkschule, as my father wanted his children to experience the country of his ancestors and its people.
We studied the regular scholastic offerings, the same as in any country. However, as I had not had the chance to study home economics yet in this country (USA ), the first time I discovered that German girls also studied needlework, I was quite surprised indeed !
One of the female teachers came in to our classroom and taught us pulled-thread embroidery. We worked on fine linen, making sure we washed our hands each time, so we kept the fabric clean. I'm not sure I truly appreciated the lessons at the time, as I was not fluent enough to translate needlework terms and the teacher spoke very little English. But I managed to get through each lesson with some trial and error and lots of help from the girls who had been doing pulled- thread for quite a few years.
It is with much regret that now, many years later, I confess I did not save any of the pillowcases, dresser scarves and many of the other things I made.
I think it would have been a visual reminder of many incredible moments for me and my family in the Germany of the late 50's.
TTFN
We studied the regular scholastic offerings, the same as in any country. However, as I had not had the chance to study home economics yet in this country (USA ), the first time I discovered that German girls also studied needlework, I was quite surprised indeed !
One of the female teachers came in to our classroom and taught us pulled-thread embroidery. We worked on fine linen, making sure we washed our hands each time, so we kept the fabric clean. I'm not sure I truly appreciated the lessons at the time, as I was not fluent enough to translate needlework terms and the teacher spoke very little English. But I managed to get through each lesson with some trial and error and lots of help from the girls who had been doing pulled- thread for quite a few years.
It is with much regret that now, many years later, I confess I did not save any of the pillowcases, dresser scarves and many of the other things I made.
I think it would have been a visual reminder of many incredible moments for me and my family in the Germany of the late 50's.
TTFN
Monday, July 2, 2007
Fuzzy Wuzzy.....etc
Promised fiber content this time. Hence the pics ... Better late than never !
Went to Mass. sheep show in May ( otherwise known as Cummington by the locals ) Got there late Sunday PM. I usually go Sat. AM, just couldn't make it any earlier this year.
I haven't been in about three years. Wasn't really impressed with what I saw. Too many "same old-same old" boring painted rovings. Come on folks, lets get some originality back ! I'm not saying don't paint, just pay attention to color combinations and creativity. Why buy, when I can do a better job ? Make me admire your skills and want to fork out some bucks for your products !
Too late for choice fleeces, but did purchase half a BFL fleece from a vendor. Yum, I love the lustre on this breed of sheep. It's cleaned and I will probably comb to prepare. Think I will leave it white. Will post more pics when it's spun.
One of the great things about belonging to a rural fiber guild, is having many fellow fiber producers as members.
So much tempting goodness ! Besides..you have to support locally !
So much tempting goodness ! Besides..you have to support locally !Bottom right: Painted Cormo
Top Right & Left: Painted Corridale
Bottom Left: Corridale
Middle Back : Jacob Roving
Middle Front: Mohair/Cormo Blend
Nope I haven't made plans for all except the Jacob & the mohair blend. A shawl and maybe a vest. We will see !
OK....time to put these old bones to bed. It's past me bedtime ! I can't function on only six hours of sleep. The job just is not challenging enough to keep me awake if I am pooped !
next post: Podcasts....
I leave you with a few freshly disrobed sheep, and the evidence to the right... ;-)
Friday, May 11, 2007
SPRING HAS SPRUNG..THE GRASS IS RIS..THE KIDS ARE COMING HOME FROM COLLEGES !
OK....I know its terrible...I couldn't help it !
It must be spring fever...after all up here we usually don't have 80 degree temps until the full thrust of summer, so my brain is somewhat fried.
At least the body is not as cold and pained as it is in the winter. Now I just have to deal with the humidity and swelling ( elephant ankles) of my legs...Ah well....
Kid #1 home from school after a grueling move out of a fourth floor dorm room with no use of elevators. They wouldn't even let me use the elevators to help despite my mobility issues. So..poor child had to go up and down many times.
I finally solved some of the problem...
Mom- ( walking over to 5 jock-types playing baseball in front of dorm ) "Excuse me....my kid brought too much to school in August and is now trying to move it down four flights of stairs ! If each one of you brought down an armload, it would help tremendously and we would appreciate it so much. "
Jocks- "Sure, no problem ! "
Mom- " The room is on the fourth floor, right at the top of the stairs ! "
With that said...they bounded up the stairs...( I was green with envy...haven't been able to do that in years ! ).
They came down ....placed items behind my van and offered to pack it for me ! I thanked them and told them " Oh no...this was fine ...thanks again ! "
It must be spring fever...after all up here we usually don't have 80 degree temps until the full thrust of summer, so my brain is somewhat fried.
At least the body is not as cold and pained as it is in the winter. Now I just have to deal with the humidity and swelling ( elephant ankles) of my legs...Ah well....
Kid #1 home from school after a grueling move out of a fourth floor dorm room with no use of elevators. They wouldn't even let me use the elevators to help despite my mobility issues. So..poor child had to go up and down many times.
I finally solved some of the problem...
Mom- ( walking over to 5 jock-types playing baseball in front of dorm ) "Excuse me....my kid brought too much to school in August and is now trying to move it down four flights of stairs ! If each one of you brought down an armload, it would help tremendously and we would appreciate it so much. "
Jocks- "Sure, no problem ! "
Mom- " The room is on the fourth floor, right at the top of the stairs ! "
With that said...they bounded up the stairs...( I was green with envy...haven't been able to do that in years ! ).
They came down ....placed items behind my van and offered to pack it for me ! I thanked them and told them " Oh no...this was fine ...thanks again ! "
About 1o minutes later the kid comes down...
Kid -" Geesh Mom...what did you say to them ???? "
Mom - " what do you care ? It worked didn't it ? !? "
Kid - GADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD !!!! Mom........... I hope I don't run into them next semester !! AAAAAHHHHHH............
Mission Accomplished......One of the perks of being an older mom....kahuna's....don't have a problem with using them !
Kid -" Geesh Mom...what did you say to them ???? "
Mom - " what do you care ? It worked didn't it ? !? "
Kid - GADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD !!!! Mom........... I hope I don't run into them next semester !! AAAAAHHHHHH............
Mission Accomplished......One of the perks of being an older mom....kahuna's....don't have a problem with using them !
Now I have access to a decent digital camera ( the kid's..not mine until I can afford it ! ) I can put fiber related pictures on the blog...promise this will be the content next time !
Blogger is not allowing me to space my sentences.. ruunnnn ooonnnn ..........so gotta go !
Thursday, April 19, 2007
A COLLEGE MOM
I know this is not my usual content, but I must reach out after four days of watching events unfold in Virginia.
First my heart goes out to all parents who let their offspring go out into the world, only to have something like this happen.
I can only imagine what the families are going through. The students, faculty, and families are trying to heal. Let us allow this to happen for them and not keep rubbing salt into their wounds.
I ask that anyone who might read this not support some of the media who have been striving to improve their ratings by covering the events such as they have.
MEDIA-DO NOT ask the parents such pointed questions, that answering them changes the nature of the interview, from trying to celebrate their child's life, to forcing them to break down, again for the sake of ratings. DO NOT, as one CNN reporter did last night, suggest that this will be all about lawsuits and vindictive behavior.
This is the world we live in and I truly believe that it would be very difficult to stop this kind of thing from happening in a land that celebrates its freedom and democracy.
So to end this, I also ask for forgiveness for the perpetrator of this crime. I think in the weeks to come, we will find out he has been sick since childhood . The reasons for this we may never know. But let us not ask in anger, or because we feel cheated, for any blood to substitute for his, just because we need a physical entity to punish in our anger.
Oh and yes, I do have a child in college and it could have happened anywhere.
PEACE
First my heart goes out to all parents who let their offspring go out into the world, only to have something like this happen.
I can only imagine what the families are going through. The students, faculty, and families are trying to heal. Let us allow this to happen for them and not keep rubbing salt into their wounds.
I ask that anyone who might read this not support some of the media who have been striving to improve their ratings by covering the events such as they have.
MEDIA-DO NOT ask the parents such pointed questions, that answering them changes the nature of the interview, from trying to celebrate their child's life, to forcing them to break down, again for the sake of ratings. DO NOT, as one CNN reporter did last night, suggest that this will be all about lawsuits and vindictive behavior.
This is the world we live in and I truly believe that it would be very difficult to stop this kind of thing from happening in a land that celebrates its freedom and democracy.
So to end this, I also ask for forgiveness for the perpetrator of this crime. I think in the weeks to come, we will find out he has been sick since childhood . The reasons for this we may never know. But let us not ask in anger, or because we feel cheated, for any blood to substitute for his, just because we need a physical entity to punish in our anger.
Oh and yes, I do have a child in college and it could have happened anywhere.
PEACE
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
PICKED MYSELF UP..BRUSHED MYSELF OFF...
OK....another session of less than desirable health....followed by my younger kid's health issues with severe asthma.
Its OK...we do this route all the time so it is, unfortunately, par -for- the -course. FORE !
Older kid came home from college for Easter. One of the perks of going to a catholic school.
Car travel to NJ to visit family on Friday..back on Sunday....Monday more car travel almost to college and back..six hours ! No wonder the body is not behaving ! Its yelling at me.. " I don't like this ! " " This is not funny ! " That's what it thinks !
Yes..I could have done some car knitting.. if I wanted a knitting needle up my nose.
Picture this ... really small rental car...Mom in the back...now remember I am a large round woman for real !!!! I had to sit sideways with my legs straight out ( due to my problems with DVT ) flopped on one kid going down to NJ and the other going back to NY. How to stuff a extra small Nissan sedan......
I'm sure folks passing on the thruway thought it was a frat joke.....or fat joke !
When home,the older kid announced that it was time to tackle a garment this summer...no more socks for now. At least not until the fall. I will have to find the perfect pattern and yarn, then maybe the confidence level will go up on the kids part and we will have reached yet another milestone. We will see.... this will be worth posting !
Ta ta for now,
tug on left ear ;-}
Its OK...we do this route all the time so it is, unfortunately, par -for- the -course. FORE !
Older kid came home from college for Easter. One of the perks of going to a catholic school.
Car travel to NJ to visit family on Friday..back on Sunday....Monday more car travel almost to college and back..six hours ! No wonder the body is not behaving ! Its yelling at me.. " I don't like this ! " " This is not funny ! " That's what it thinks !
Yes..I could have done some car knitting.. if I wanted a knitting needle up my nose.
Picture this ... really small rental car...Mom in the back...now remember I am a large round woman for real !!!! I had to sit sideways with my legs straight out ( due to my problems with DVT ) flopped on one kid going down to NJ and the other going back to NY. How to stuff a extra small Nissan sedan......
I'm sure folks passing on the thruway thought it was a frat joke.....or fat joke !
When home,the older kid announced that it was time to tackle a garment this summer...no more socks for now. At least not until the fall. I will have to find the perfect pattern and yarn, then maybe the confidence level will go up on the kids part and we will have reached yet another milestone. We will see.... this will be worth posting !
Ta ta for now,
tug on left ear ;-}
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
PIPPI NO STOCKINGS
Geesh......I have been under the weather for a few days...normal for me. I have good stretches and bad... Life in the food chain !
I HATE SOCKS!!!!!!!! Well at least I hate wearing them.. I am an old hippie ( according to my youngest kid ) and love the feel of my bare tootsies ! Au naturele..all the way. The first thing I do after walking in the door at home is to kick off my shoes. I even take them off at work, as I do not share an office with anyone. My feet and ankles swell as the day wears on any way, so I delay putting shoes on until I have to leave for the day.
I sometimes take them off on my commuter bus and when I am driving. One of my ideas of maximum comfort !
I LOVE MAKING SOCKS !!!!!! Any pattern, size, shape you name it . They are "almost" the perfect thing to take on my commuter bus. As I mentioned before, in a previous post, it is a long three hour round trip ride. However, as we do not always get the same bus, I say "almost" because, as Guido says in his song " if the bus stays steady", it can be a somewhat dangerous proposition whenever we have to come to an abrupt stop on the NYS Thruway. Your needles poke into such things as the fabric of the chair in front of you or, saints preserve us, living flesh !
Yes, I use double points as I really like them. I know how to knit all the various ways, top down, bottom up. Two socks on two circs etc... but I just like double points. Maybe it puts me touch with the ancestors somehow ;-)
I like to refer to socks as a functional way to swatch. Very quick and easy. Oh by-the-by, I do make two before setting off to work on something else, correcting a bad, long term habit.
ON TO PODCASTS- glad to see (or hear) fibercast is back again. The host is located in New England and talks about our area a lot, so it is nice to have someone close to home.
With the long commute I have, it is a perfect time to listen to podcasts. I have a Motorola cell phone that has an I-Pod installed in the phone. Even though it only has 512MB of memory, it is sufficient to download enough podcasts to keep me entertained for the long ride.
Some of my favorites are:
Cast On - I am not always interested in some of the information Brenda Dayne shares with her audience and I'm not wild about music included on some podcasts, but I do enjoy her approach to the subject of knitting and spinning
Its a Purl Man- I have to admit Guido brings out a maternal something in me when I listen to his podcast. OK.... momentary pause for all of you to gag.... He just seems to be the "genuine article" and not put on and I enjoy the people he interviews, more grass roots if you will.
Besides how can you not love someone who is attempting to knit his own huppah !?!
Britknit Cast and Lixie knits - They are british....and as I am 1/2 a brit what more do I need to say. The accents alone make me feel at home ...but thats a story for another time.
Sticks and Strings - love the idea of podcasts from other countries. Sharing a world wide interest is great. I just wish more people would join in from other areas. I know, the language barrier....
The Kniting Cook - Fun concept and some good recipes. Besides, she is now living in Germany and does go into her travels as part of the cast.
Weavecast - Good interviews and good info. I think this is the only weaving podcast, which suprises me. Correct me if I am wrong.
I do enjoy other casts that have good knitting, spinning and other craft content. I don't enjoy others that are too focused on the hosts rather than the fiber content. Enough said.....
Tug on the left ear ;-}
I HATE SOCKS!!!!!!!! Well at least I hate wearing them.. I am an old hippie ( according to my youngest kid ) and love the feel of my bare tootsies ! Au naturele..all the way. The first thing I do after walking in the door at home is to kick off my shoes. I even take them off at work, as I do not share an office with anyone. My feet and ankles swell as the day wears on any way, so I delay putting shoes on until I have to leave for the day.
I sometimes take them off on my commuter bus and when I am driving. One of my ideas of maximum comfort !
I LOVE MAKING SOCKS !!!!!! Any pattern, size, shape you name it . They are "almost" the perfect thing to take on my commuter bus. As I mentioned before, in a previous post, it is a long three hour round trip ride. However, as we do not always get the same bus, I say "almost" because, as Guido says in his song " if the bus stays steady", it can be a somewhat dangerous proposition whenever we have to come to an abrupt stop on the NYS Thruway. Your needles poke into such things as the fabric of the chair in front of you or, saints preserve us, living flesh !
Yes, I use double points as I really like them. I know how to knit all the various ways, top down, bottom up. Two socks on two circs etc... but I just like double points. Maybe it puts me touch with the ancestors somehow ;-)
I like to refer to socks as a functional way to swatch. Very quick and easy. Oh by-the-by, I do make two before setting off to work on something else, correcting a bad, long term habit.
ON TO PODCASTS- glad to see (or hear) fibercast is back again. The host is located in New England and talks about our area a lot, so it is nice to have someone close to home.
With the long commute I have, it is a perfect time to listen to podcasts. I have a Motorola cell phone that has an I-Pod installed in the phone. Even though it only has 512MB of memory, it is sufficient to download enough podcasts to keep me entertained for the long ride.
Some of my favorites are:
Cast On - I am not always interested in some of the information Brenda Dayne shares with her audience and I'm not wild about music included on some podcasts, but I do enjoy her approach to the subject of knitting and spinning
Its a Purl Man- I have to admit Guido brings out a maternal something in me when I listen to his podcast. OK.... momentary pause for all of you to gag.... He just seems to be the "genuine article" and not put on and I enjoy the people he interviews, more grass roots if you will.
Besides how can you not love someone who is attempting to knit his own huppah !?!
Britknit Cast and Lixie knits - They are british....and as I am 1/2 a brit what more do I need to say. The accents alone make me feel at home ...but thats a story for another time.
Sticks and Strings - love the idea of podcasts from other countries. Sharing a world wide interest is great. I just wish more people would join in from other areas. I know, the language barrier....
The Kniting Cook - Fun concept and some good recipes. Besides, she is now living in Germany and does go into her travels as part of the cast.
Weavecast - Good interviews and good info. I think this is the only weaving podcast, which suprises me. Correct me if I am wrong.
I do enjoy other casts that have good knitting, spinning and other craft content. I don't enjoy others that are too focused on the hosts rather than the fiber content. Enough said.....
Tug on the left ear ;-}
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
WHAT DO YOU KNOW !
What a hoot ! One of our sort of local newspapers came last night to cover our pillowcase making marathon. I think most of us were so busy we did not notice. Our president e-mailed us today to let us know that it did make today's paper. Nice to see a positive article in the paper for a change.
Our local ,very small town, newspaper apparently didn't find it newsworthy...need I say more ?
Just received the latest Spin-Off magazine in the mail. I always find something in this magazine that revs up my fiber head !
I was inspired by Peter Teal's article "The Spindle Box". I do know how to turn wood, so I am psyched to run to the nearest Lowe's or Home Depot ( nearest is a relative term given where I live ! ) to start collecting "stuff" for the project. I always make-do with other items when plying off my spindles, but this will be a good challenge for me.I have made spindles before.. dowels, toy wheels that I decorated with paint or carved or wood burned, but this will be the first attempt at turning whorls...wish me luck ! I will post my progress/process as soon as I get started.
I am also so happy to see the article about Tom Forrester. I have collected his spindles since about 2000 and they are some of my favorite. Most of mine came from French Hill Farm in Maine. www.frenchhillsheepandwool.com I have larger and smaller whorls and all different weights. They are a delight to spin on. A far cry from the older bottom whorl drop spindles that one could find in the '60's.
Still working on getting a better digital camera, as I do enjoy blogs that have relevent pictures. that is as long as it isn't overkill !
Tug on the left ear,
LRW
Our local ,very small town, newspaper apparently didn't find it newsworthy...need I say more ?
Just received the latest Spin-Off magazine in the mail. I always find something in this magazine that revs up my fiber head !
I was inspired by Peter Teal's article "The Spindle Box". I do know how to turn wood, so I am psyched to run to the nearest Lowe's or Home Depot ( nearest is a relative term given where I live ! ) to start collecting "stuff" for the project. I always make-do with other items when plying off my spindles, but this will be a good challenge for me.I have made spindles before.. dowels, toy wheels that I decorated with paint or carved or wood burned, but this will be the first attempt at turning whorls...wish me luck ! I will post my progress/process as soon as I get started.
I am also so happy to see the article about Tom Forrester. I have collected his spindles since about 2000 and they are some of my favorite. Most of mine came from French Hill Farm in Maine. www.frenchhillsheepandwool.com I have larger and smaller whorls and all different weights. They are a delight to spin on. A far cry from the older bottom whorl drop spindles that one could find in the '60's.
Still working on getting a better digital camera, as I do enjoy blogs that have relevent pictures. that is as long as it isn't overkill !
Tug on the left ear,
LRW
Monday, March 19, 2007
WHAT LIFE SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT
I just got home from my quilt guild meeting. We did not meet, instead it was a very well attended work detail.
Our guild was called upon, several years ago, to make pillowcases for the pediatric oncology unit of the largest hospital in the northeast section of NY state. We made many that year and the unit head has now asked for more. The children get to take these colorful, themed cases home with them when they leave the unit. What we didn't know, until now, is that many of them bring the cases with them any time they need to go back for more treatment. The cases have made a small but positive impact on the children's lives.
About forty of us worked, from cutting all the way to labeling and packaging. We we able to make 150 + in about 2 hours, even with a quick dinner break.
We all agreed at the completion, that, even though we jumped to the call, we hope we are not called on again for quite a while.
tug on my left ear ;-0
LRW
Our guild was called upon, several years ago, to make pillowcases for the pediatric oncology unit of the largest hospital in the northeast section of NY state. We made many that year and the unit head has now asked for more. The children get to take these colorful, themed cases home with them when they leave the unit. What we didn't know, until now, is that many of them bring the cases with them any time they need to go back for more treatment. The cases have made a small but positive impact on the children's lives.
About forty of us worked, from cutting all the way to labeling and packaging. We we able to make 150 + in about 2 hours, even with a quick dinner break.
We all agreed at the completion, that, even though we jumped to the call, we hope we are not called on again for quite a while.
tug on my left ear ;-0
LRW
Saturday, March 17, 2007
SNOW, ICE AND COLD ! OH MY !
Yes, the weather is being typical for March around here. Last week one day that reached about 65* and then by the weekend another Nor-east er!
We didn't get as much as eastern NY, western New England and the Catskill mountains, thank goodness !
That would have been too much on top of the three + feet we got about a month ago in one storm ! Yup...love that lake effect snow.
Not really complaining..just hard to get home last night. It adds one and 1/2 hours on to an already very long commute. I'm just glad it was Friday night.
I was also glad we were not snowed in. because we wanted to get to a Jo-Ann's fabric store to take advantage of their 50% off coupons. I have been on the mailing list for a long time and use coupons to buy " big ticket items".
Because there were so many of them this week ( plus one of my kids had some as well ) I was able to buy:
A fabric Calculator for quilting ( A big help, as I was never good at math ! )
The largest Olfa deluxe rotary cutter, plus a pack of five blades
The Sculpey oven, pasta machine and bead rack ( kids will "play" with this stuff for jewelry making ) ;-)
No I don't indulge this way very often, but these were things I have been needing/wanting for a while. I usually spend my coupons on reference craft books, but they didn't have any decent books this time. Ah well................
We also went to the best ( in my opinion) library in the area ( about a 45 min. drive) as we do once every couple of months. We usually get many books out and then slowly return them to our small "local" library. The larger branch will come and do a pick up each week. Our system is great and we can renew online and now have access to an audio books program online as well. This is a wonderful resource and I always vote yes to any library requests in our school budget votes. This may seem "old hat" to some of you city mice, but for all of the country mice it is a treasure !
Reading: Barbara Kingsolver , Jodie Picoult ( she came and gave a talk and signed books for
a fundraiser at our wonderful library)
I usually take out craft books although it is hard to find any library in my area with what I consider an adequate collection. I probably have a larger collection of some craft books than any library around here has.
The hardest visit today was to visit the former owner of the painting shop where I learned how to paint quite a few years back. She had to finally sell the shop due to her cancer diagnosis. She asked her most frequent/enthusiastic, customer/friends to her home to see her new studio. She "signed us up" to come and paint with her during the week. As she said, she wants company, it will inspire her to paint and it will take her mind off of her illness.
We do not know what the future brings for her or how long she will with us, but we want to make sure we share some time with her. She is a very strong special person.
tugging on my left ear,
LRW
We didn't get as much as eastern NY, western New England and the Catskill mountains, thank goodness !
That would have been too much on top of the three + feet we got about a month ago in one storm ! Yup...love that lake effect snow.
Not really complaining..just hard to get home last night. It adds one and 1/2 hours on to an already very long commute. I'm just glad it was Friday night.
I was also glad we were not snowed in. because we wanted to get to a Jo-Ann's fabric store to take advantage of their 50% off coupons. I have been on the mailing list for a long time and use coupons to buy " big ticket items".
Because there were so many of them this week ( plus one of my kids had some as well ) I was able to buy:
A fabric Calculator for quilting ( A big help, as I was never good at math ! )
The largest Olfa deluxe rotary cutter, plus a pack of five blades
The Sculpey oven, pasta machine and bead rack ( kids will "play" with this stuff for jewelry making ) ;-)
No I don't indulge this way very often, but these were things I have been needing/wanting for a while. I usually spend my coupons on reference craft books, but they didn't have any decent books this time. Ah well................
We also went to the best ( in my opinion) library in the area ( about a 45 min. drive) as we do once every couple of months. We usually get many books out and then slowly return them to our small "local" library. The larger branch will come and do a pick up each week. Our system is great and we can renew online and now have access to an audio books program online as well. This is a wonderful resource and I always vote yes to any library requests in our school budget votes. This may seem "old hat" to some of you city mice, but for all of the country mice it is a treasure !
Reading: Barbara Kingsolver , Jodie Picoult ( she came and gave a talk and signed books for
a fundraiser at our wonderful library)
I usually take out craft books although it is hard to find any library in my area with what I consider an adequate collection. I probably have a larger collection of some craft books than any library around here has.
The hardest visit today was to visit the former owner of the painting shop where I learned how to paint quite a few years back. She had to finally sell the shop due to her cancer diagnosis. She asked her most frequent/enthusiastic, customer/friends to her home to see her new studio. She "signed us up" to come and paint with her during the week. As she said, she wants company, it will inspire her to paint and it will take her mind off of her illness.
We do not know what the future brings for her or how long she will with us, but we want to make sure we share some time with her. She is a very strong special person.
tugging on my left ear,
LRW
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Tired but creating
This time change gets harder each year ! Just want to sleep at work which is not productive and makes the day intolerably slow ! Funny how I seem to get a second wind at home. Maybe because like most of the rest of the population, my job is not rewarding ?
Put up my new work/craft table last night. I am not lucky enough to have a studio even though I own the property I live in/on. Other people have monopolized the available spaces. So I work in corners. I did take over a small part of one of my offspring's rooms as a sewing space ( out of the kindness of an enormous heart) when they departed for college, but it is not enough. I still have to pack things away.
I have a walk-in closet space for material/yarn storage etc.. and a homemade cutting table. I am 6ft. tall so I was tired of bending over to cut anything and slapped a table together out of 2x4's and plywood. I currently have it against a wall. It would be even better if I could maneuver all the way around it.
Lets see...Jewelry making goes on in an very narrow hallway (enough room for a very small table) except for the soldering that goes on in the unfinished basement of my 18th century house. But I just don't look up very often, so I don't notice the spiders and other critters who are looking over my shoulder to learn from a master ! HA!
Painting is in the bedroom....my sheets/coverlet etc... have various colors of paint splashed on them in random order...quite lovely.
Weaving goes on in the Dining room...Spinning wherever and dying in the kitchen or outside.
Ah yes, you say...she is lucky to have what she has...and you would be correct. Compared to what I used to have ..this is a palace ! But dear universe...couldn't I just try for once to have a studio loft with lots of room ?? I could dance and wind my bobbins and paint with my toes all at the same time !
Nirvana !!!
Left ear tug,
LRW
Put up my new work/craft table last night. I am not lucky enough to have a studio even though I own the property I live in/on. Other people have monopolized the available spaces. So I work in corners. I did take over a small part of one of my offspring's rooms as a sewing space ( out of the kindness of an enormous heart) when they departed for college, but it is not enough. I still have to pack things away.
I have a walk-in closet space for material/yarn storage etc.. and a homemade cutting table. I am 6ft. tall so I was tired of bending over to cut anything and slapped a table together out of 2x4's and plywood. I currently have it against a wall. It would be even better if I could maneuver all the way around it.
Lets see...Jewelry making goes on in an very narrow hallway (enough room for a very small table) except for the soldering that goes on in the unfinished basement of my 18th century house. But I just don't look up very often, so I don't notice the spiders and other critters who are looking over my shoulder to learn from a master ! HA!
Painting is in the bedroom....my sheets/coverlet etc... have various colors of paint splashed on them in random order...quite lovely.
Weaving goes on in the Dining room...Spinning wherever and dying in the kitchen or outside.
Ah yes, you say...she is lucky to have what she has...and you would be correct. Compared to what I used to have ..this is a palace ! But dear universe...couldn't I just try for once to have a studio loft with lots of room ?? I could dance and wind my bobbins and paint with my toes all at the same time !
Nirvana !!!
Left ear tug,
LRW
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Finished !
Done with retreat. Got a lot done, will post pictures when I have time.
Bought spring Interweave Knits yesterday. I am not sure I like the new format. They claim it makes more room for more projects.... we will see. I do not like the photos ! They lack character..same old-same old. The "models" look like real models and this I find boring. I know we are supposed to pay attention to the designs, but Interweave had its own look and that is why I purchased their magazines...because they were not the usual design and were not "high fashion".
Sigh....I do support almost any of the knitting/fiber magazines however, because if we don't...they will disappear. Many of my favorites from the past are no longer being published and when the current craze dies down, I hope some are left.
My kids found some of the my magazines in the attic last summer and were very excited about the designs. I look at them and laugh at some of the designs as they are from the 60's and seventies. I guess the kids consider them retro, but I would be embarassed to wear them. Not to mention I don't have a prayer of fitting into even the large size....GACK!
Ta ta for now, pulling on my left ear, LRW
Bought spring Interweave Knits yesterday. I am not sure I like the new format. They claim it makes more room for more projects.... we will see. I do not like the photos ! They lack character..same old-same old. The "models" look like real models and this I find boring. I know we are supposed to pay attention to the designs, but Interweave had its own look and that is why I purchased their magazines...because they were not the usual design and were not "high fashion".
Sigh....I do support almost any of the knitting/fiber magazines however, because if we don't...they will disappear. Many of my favorites from the past are no longer being published and when the current craze dies down, I hope some are left.
My kids found some of the my magazines in the attic last summer and were very excited about the designs. I look at them and laugh at some of the designs as they are from the 60's and seventies. I guess the kids consider them retro, but I would be embarassed to wear them. Not to mention I don't have a prayer of fitting into even the large size....GACK!
Ta ta for now, pulling on my left ear, LRW
Thursday, March 8, 2007
UFOs
Yeah...it is hard to do this each day !
Almost finished with the work week. Then more time with kid #1 before break is over and then the quilt guild retreat over the weekend.
We are a very small guild and members just don't sign up for outside workshops any more, so we do our "own thing". We rent our usual meeting space and bring food, cloth , accessories etc.. and immerse ourselves in UFOs. A very good way to stick a pitchfork in the rear to get us going.
I have been trying to get a log cabin quilt ( batik fabric in magentas,oranges,yellows )together for awhile but with my machine problems over this last year it has been a problem.
I finally bought a small Bernette for traveling and leaving the 20YO Bernina home !
I will post pictures when I get the top assembled.
Otherwise, I started spinning some locks I prepared about a year ago using my old Golding Ring Spindle. However, the whorl has now separated from the shaft ! I had another problem with it last year, sent it back and they fixed it. But this is discouraging as I really love the spindle but.....
and for any of you thinking I am a novice and it has been dropped....... wrong ! I have been spinning since 1968 !
I guess I am ready for spring because I want to find three fleeces this year :
1/ BFL
2/BL
3/ Cormo
I have to get all the plans together to prepare all of this because I want to get all of these done from fleece to dyed yarn. Luckly, I have lots of space outside to do all of this so it is just time.
Ta Ta for now...LRW
Almost finished with the work week. Then more time with kid #1 before break is over and then the quilt guild retreat over the weekend.
We are a very small guild and members just don't sign up for outside workshops any more, so we do our "own thing". We rent our usual meeting space and bring food, cloth , accessories etc.. and immerse ourselves in UFOs. A very good way to stick a pitchfork in the rear to get us going.
I have been trying to get a log cabin quilt ( batik fabric in magentas,oranges,yellows )together for awhile but with my machine problems over this last year it has been a problem.
I finally bought a small Bernette for traveling and leaving the 20YO Bernina home !
I will post pictures when I get the top assembled.
Otherwise, I started spinning some locks I prepared about a year ago using my old Golding Ring Spindle. However, the whorl has now separated from the shaft ! I had another problem with it last year, sent it back and they fixed it. But this is discouraging as I really love the spindle but.....
and for any of you thinking I am a novice and it has been dropped....... wrong ! I have been spinning since 1968 !
I guess I am ready for spring because I want to find three fleeces this year :
1/ BFL
2/BL
3/ Cormo
I have to get all the plans together to prepare all of this because I want to get all of these done from fleece to dyed yarn. Luckly, I have lots of space outside to do all of this so it is just time.
Ta Ta for now...LRW
Monday, March 5, 2007
Me...out of the box!
Yes it's true....I have been a blogger for a long time. Just never did anything about it. But after 57 long years I should have something to say !
"They" say blogging is " going out of style " but I don't pay attention to what "they" say...never have.
Let's see ...I live in the foothills of the glorious Adirondack Mountains ( the real upstate NY for those of you who are geographically challenged ! )
We have chickens, alpine goats, dog, cat, mice, rats, chipmunks, weasels, deer, all the things rural farm living provides. Used to have sheep.....but that is another story.
Oh...on top of this I have a full time job with a round trip of three hours to the nearest city where my job is located.
Mom to two wonderful, great, stupendous kids. Yeah..I don't love them too much !!
One is away at college, the other is a freshman in high school.
"They" say blogging is " going out of style " but I don't pay attention to what "they" say...never have.
Let's see ...I live in the foothills of the glorious Adirondack Mountains ( the real upstate NY for those of you who are geographically challenged ! )
We have chickens, alpine goats, dog, cat, mice, rats, chipmunks, weasels, deer, all the things rural farm living provides. Used to have sheep.....but that is another story.
Oh...on top of this I have a full time job with a round trip of three hours to the nearest city where my job is located.
Mom to two wonderful, great, stupendous kids. Yeah..I don't love them too much !!
One is away at college, the other is a freshman in high school.
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