Series of Unfortunate Events

This past week has been filled with a Series of Unfortunate Events that didn't include the Baudelaire orphans nor Count Olaf...but enough trials and tribulations to keep us wondering "why me?"

No worries....I won't bore you with the entire pitiful list. However....



Somewhere out there amidst the snow and ice of the last weekend in January is the transformer that blew...causing loss of power...and thus, no internet (among other conveniences). The folks at Southern California Edison couldn't get to it to repair until middle of last week.

I'm now back on-line but haven't read through all my email yet. If you emailed me, please hold on....I will respond.

You never realize how much you depend on your internet connection for things like reading the news, checking weather, communicating with family and friends...until it's not there. We live so far out from the city that jumping in the car to use public library's connection is a major effort (assuming that the car is in the garage instead of at the mechanics....again....oops, I didn't plan to mention that).

Holding cell phone while driving becomes illegal in the state of California later this year (yay!). While I don't use my cell phone in the car daily, there are times when I find it handy. And so, I have to upgrade my cell phone to a model that's blue tooth adaptable....as I have an older model (a "brick" as one of my young students calls it).

What did I choose?



The Smartphone from Verizon. Now I can easily check email whenever I'm near a WiFi connection - library, restaurant, coffee shop, school.

Through all of the Series of Unfortunate Events, I tried to keep my perspective. But the worse of it all was the loss of a dear friend and neighbor. Today was the memorial service.

RIP Chuck. We miss your wonderful sense of humor. And we'll keep an eye on Nancy for you.

My Mother always told me.....

...if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all. See, I did listen to you, Mom!

With that in mind, I may not be blogging for a few days....as we deal with a roof leak....in the rain/sleet/snow. ...sigh...

January blahs

I've never liked the month of January. The glitz of Christmas is over. It's cold. It gets dark early. blah...blah...blah

Plus nothing is finished!! I keep adding to my to-do list and marking nothing off. Geesh, I'll be happy to see February.

Part of the fun of knitting...

...is choosing the yarn. I try to get my daughter to choose the color of whatever I'm knitting for her. She loves color - more is better in her book. Like these slippers I did for her...



Felting actually toned the color down. Otherwise you'd need shades to look at them...the color is so bright! ;-)

I really wish she had more of an interest in learning to knit. But alas, she prefers woodwork and painting.

However I am able to teach her friends at Easter Seals (where I volunteer) to loom knit. We're making hats for a local NICU.



As I make some of these hats for preemies, I'm reminded of just how small daughter was. She was 16 weeks early and weighed 1 lb 5 oz at birth. These hats would have been too large for her.



Wow....just look at her now.

And speaking of choosing yarn, this link is very helpful! It allows you to choose yarn by gauge. Nice.

A peek at More Knitting Wheel Fashions

Here is a little peek at the projects you can find in the loom knit pattern booklet I did for Leisure Arts.



Most were snapped the day the box was shipped. Definitely not the professional quality you'll find in the booklet.



And some of the patterns were re-knit in different colors, sizes, etc. from what you see in these pictures.



As you can tell from the above picture, I'm no longer a petite size 5. So you might like to know that the sweater pattern is for up to x-large size (42 in).



You can order the booklet from Decor Accents. Or you can order directly from Leisure Arts. And I'm sure....well, hoping....to see it at JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby someday.

If you buy it, I'd love to hear what you think. And I'll even read the criticisms.

Ultimate Harry Potter Personality Quiz

I found this on Monica's blog


Find out your Harry Potter personality at LiquidGeneration!

Back to knitting. ;-)

New loom knit booklet

More Knitting Wheel Fashions is being released. And guess what? It's by me!

I'm so proud to see my designs being worn by people I've never met! I haven't seen the booklet yet. But I know you can definitely order it at Decor Accents (love their looms!)

Absent blogger

I suppose a better description is - blogger didn't have anything interesting to blog about! Boring life here. No one really wants to know how many loads of laundry, how many trips to the grocery store or pharmacy, how many bills, etc. You don't, do you? If so - get a life!

I have been knitting but since it's for publication, I can't show you. And I have been beading, but I hope it's for publication too. So what can I blog about?

How about what this little beaded rose...



...that I posted here in December but couldn't tell you about until after Christmas (it was a present!)

It's a beaded pen cover for disposable pens.



A good friend of mine loves to have flower(s) on her desk. She normally cuts one from her flower beds (which are lovely). And as she loves roses. I was inspired!

The cover is removable when a change of pen is needed.



I'm pleased that I was able to surprise and delight her this Christmas.

BTW, she developed a passion for loom knitting last year...and I'm to blame (evil laugh!)

Hooked on Lost!

Unless you're....ummmm...."lost" on an island, you know that LOST returns Jan 31st for season 4. There are suppose to be 8 episode ready to air (taped before the writer's strike). I'm definitely ready!

I'm still unpacking and catching up on laundry so have little to say about knitting or beading. Darn housework.

Holiday coming to an end

As usual, we have been traveling in our motor home during the holidays. Today, we're in Arizona for a little fun before heading home...complete with WiFi! ;-)

We had a good Christmas. All the "kids" were with us.


And we even had our tree...

...on the new steering wheel table (love it!).

We've enjoyed being with family for the most part. The worry over health for our mothers (both 84 yo) continues but.....well, we're just happy they are still with us.

My small amount of leisure time was spent working on the next article for Loom Knitter's Circle and loom knitting hats for Easter Seals to take to NICU of local hospital. I truly love volunteering with these wonderful young adults (at Easter Seals). The camera batteries are ka-put! and the battery charger is at home (of course), so I can't show you the preemie hats. Those pictures will come later.

We'll be home this weekend. And even though we love motor home travel, I miss my washer/dryer, dishwasher, big bed, and yarn stash. As Dorothy says, there's no place like home. ;-)

Happy Holidays

Nirvana

When hubby's away, I can't sleep. I *think* it's because the house is so quite at night. But whatever the reason, I get loads of cleaning done.

During the sorting of my knitting, beading, craft book shelves...



...I found this...



Oh joy!! Nirvana for this knitter/beader!

How could I forgotten about this one? Oh yeah....it came about the same time as Deathly Hallows.

OK, Bead Knitted Bags is being packed for the trip.

P.S. I'll tell you all about the beaded rose after Christmas. It's a surprise for a good friend who loves flowers of any kind. But I will tell you this....it's useful too. ;-)

Wordless Wednesday

Looking forward to getting....

Release date is next week. Even though I thought the movie could have been better(read the book!), I am looking forward to seeing it a second time.

Plus the anxiety of getting hubby off on his trip while I stay behind (medical appointments) make the smallest of pleasures even more pleasurable.

Now where did I hide put the chocolate?

Loom knitting makes news in local paper

Check it out here.

A soap opera (plus a little fun)

The month of November was particularly difficult for my mother-in-law. She had some health issues which had her in the hospital. While recovering at her sister's house, her home was burglarized. And if that's not enough, she fell on Friday and broke her wrist. Really, it's like a soap opera in which she has landed the role as the "long, suffering heroine." And she's not enjoying it!

While we're working to make life a little easier for her, I'll be absent from blog-world. But I am knitting since that's how I handle stress.

Here's what I've been working on.

A sample knit for Knit Picks....



...which is a beautiful pattern. I'll have it finished before we leave on our trip. And as soon as it's live on Knit Picks website, I'll post the link so you can see just how nice it is.

Then there's the "life is stressful so I must knit socks"...



...from More Sensational Socks. I just need to close the toe on this one. Then knit it's mate.

For the trip, I think I'll pack nothing but sock yarn to keep stress at a minimum. I suppose I'm thinking that as long as feet are pampered, life is good. ;-)

*****************************************************************
For fun:

This will boggle your mind and you will keep trying it
over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but you can't!
It's preprogrammed in your brain!

1. WITHOUT anyone watching you (they will think you are GOOFY......) and while sitting where you are at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand.

Your foot will change direction.

I told you so!!! And there's nothing you can do about it!

You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

Wordless Wednesday

Mission Complete and KAL

Deadline met. Box mailed.



Goodbye babies! C'ya after your moment to shine.

With a little time to knit for me, I'm pulling yarn today for the Ravelry KAL of this loom knit pattern. I'm thinking red for my own pair of ruby slippers (eat your heart out Dorothy!)

Happy Thanksgiving

Norman Rockwell's "Freedom From Want"

Ravelry

After receiving my invitation last July, I'm finally (a little) active over at ravelry.com. Yeah, yeah....I receive the coveted invitation and then do nothing about it. What can I say? My reality includes so many things to knit and bead that online discussion of it tends to be the last thought I have. (You mean you haven't noticed by the lack of blog entries? hehe)

And the push to become active is due to a pal who is hosting a (loom) KAL. So if you're a member, look for knitting muse and you'll find me.



For now, I'm just hanging out in the loom knit group and (of course!) two sock groups. One must knit socks!!

Remembering Veteran's Day

Thank you to men and women serving in the Armed Forces everywhere.

The below picture is of me about 30 years ago.



I was stationed in the Philippines where the weather is either hot, or hot and wet. Hence my excuse for the tight braids in my hair. The big glasses? Well, they were stylish - I suppose "geek" was "in" then (lol)

Wordless Wednesday

Talkative Thursday

I missed posting this photo yesterday for Wordless Wednesday. So let's call this entry "Talkative Thursday" and I'll tell you what the photo is.



Is it a UFO? hehe Nope. This was our view of last week's full moon. It was red from the haze of smoke generated by the fires in Southern California. Strange site.

Not so strange is the horrible quality of air we're left with. Between the Santa Ana winds and the smoke, we're all sneezing and wheezing - also referred to as "blowing and puffing" (blowing nose, puffing on inhaler).

It's always something.

Trick or treat

Muppet Personality Test

You Are Dr. Bunsen Honeydew

You take the title "mad scientist" to the extreme -with very scary things coming out of your lab. And you've invented some pretty cool things, from a banana sharpener to a robot politician. But while you're busy turning gold into cottage cheese, you need to watch out for poor little Beaker! "Oh, that's very naughty, Beaker! Now you eat these paper clips this minute."

The Muppet Personality Test

Fire Relief Drive

I've had a crazy week working toward meeting deadlines. But at least the wildfires haven't been close to us. For that we're extremely thankful.


The 11 o'clock news says 14 of the wildfires are under control, but 9 are still blazing. Over 500,000 (half a million) folks are evacuated. These folks have been living in football stadiums, race tracks, in tents if they're lucky - standing in line for the basic necessities of life. On top of just trying to survive, they are waiting for news on whether or not they still have a home. I know how they feel after the evacuation of the Crown Fire in 2004. It's horrific.


The American Red Cross is helping but they need money. I've dropped my donation off. Can you help? Go to American Red Cross Press Room for information on how to donate money. Even a little amount will go far in providing food and water.



Let Americans help Americans.

(Images borrowed from the web.)

Wordless Wednesday (Getting A Closer Look)

Woman of the Sioux

Yesterday's Wordless Wednesday was a picture of a lithograph that hangs on a wall in my living room. The painting is entitled Woman of the Sioux. The artist is Howard Terpning.

I first spotted "Woman of the Sioux" in an art gallery in Carmel California almost 25 years ago. She spoke to me and I fell hard for this piece of art. Since I couldn't afford the price at that time, I grabbed a flyer from the gallery and held on to it. About 2 years after that, I managed to have the funds to purchase a lithograph and have her framed. She's had a plan of honor in my living room for a little over 20 years. I love her.

Since then, I've collected two more by Mr Terpning.

"Last Rays of Sun"

"Grandfather Speaks"

I would dearly love to have "Hope Springs Eternal - Ghost Dance"



but I would need to build a new wall in my house for it - no more wall space!

P.S. I'm knitting but nothing I can show. Drats!

Wordless Wednesday

Interesting use for ssk and k2tog

A current knitting project has given me new inspiration using ssk and k2tog. (For the nonknitting visitors, that's "slip, slip, knit" and "knit 2 together").

Typically these decreases are used to shape knitting. The designer of the pattern I'm working on used it for decorative stitching.



I love it!

Comments

Spammers found me. I am now moderating comments. Please feel free to comment, say hi....but spam will be deleted. ;-)



A little knitting eye candy....errrr....eye pumpkin?

New gadget alert!

Every extra minute of the day is being spent knitting on loom. Nothing I can show you (oh what a tease!) - it's for a special project, ya know? ;-)

But I just have to mention these crochet hooks that caught my eye at Michaels last night whilst I wandered around the yarn aisles before teaching a Knifty Knitter class.



These crochet hooks have lights! Plus they're on sale at JoAnn's - here.

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are one of my favorite birds. Not only do I enjoy watching them hover at the feeder, but I've including them in some bead work.



And so, when I found this hummingbird dishcloth pattern, I had to knit it. ;-)

October is national popcorn month

Interesting trivia:

• Compared to most snack foods, popcorn is low in calories. Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup. Oil-popped is only 55 per cup.



• Popcorn is a type of maize (or corn), a member of the grass family, and is scientifically known as Zea mays everta.

• Popcorn is a whole grain. It is made up of three components: the germ, endosperm, and pericarp (also know as the hull).

• Popcorn needs between 13.5-14% moisture to pop.

• Most U.S. popcorn is grown in the Midwest, primarily in Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri.



• The peak period for popcorn sales for home consumption is in the fall.

• Popping popcorn is one of the number one uses for microwave ovens. Most microwave ovens have a “popcorn” control button.

• How high popcorn kernels can pop? Up to 3 feet in the air.

...and.....

• A-MAIZing is a yarn that is 100% corn. Check it out here.

P.S. I have been knitting. Hopefully I'll have something finished that I can blog about!