12 Days Later...

Jeez. Seems like yesterday I was knitting frantically for the knitty.com calendar contest.

Here are my contributions:

Our entire KnottyKnitter group turned up with this:

I hope we win *something*.

We went to Family Camp last week. It was wonderful!

Here are a couple of shots:

Us at the lake...

Buried Daniel - Zoe doesn't look very sad...

Zoe contemplating a giant turtle. Right before running away in fright.

Spinning? Of course...

Silk noil from a friend. Long Draw technique.

See the skein tomorrow (maybe)

Here is more noil I purchased and will spin up soon!! Love those colors...

Knitting? You Betcha....

This is the Mystery Stole 3, half way through clue 5. I was a knitting fiend while at camp. To the point I was staying up until midnite some nights to try to catch up. It did not happen. I haven't touched it for about a week. I need to start again! And get it finished!!

Upcoming projects? I have a coworker expecting a baby in 2ish weeks. He's getting wee socks. They'll take me a night to knit, but I have to dig up the pattern....and make sure on the yarn... That really should be my priority!!

I've been contemplating my retirement from the Air Force. I reach 20 this November - I can technically punch out anytime after that. But I don't have the rank I want to help ensure I won't have to work again. Jerry, however, is waiting for me to retire so he can go to Seminary at Fuller University. Meanwhile, he's taking (unnecessary - he's being waived into Seminary based on life experience) classes. OK, not totally unnecessary - writing papers is a good skill to have. Geology isn't. So I've been contemplating. Retire so we can get on with his college and his good paying job? or hold out another year for promotion - then wait 2 more years after that to get the retirement pay? We're praying. When we don't know the answer, He certainly does.

Knitty #2 - Deported from Egypt

Knitty #2 - back from Egypt
Originally uploaded by jadjwarner

Here I am. Fred's sister. Only, I can't remember my name. Can you guess? When Zoe wakes up tomorrow, I'll remember my name. I'll tell you then.

I'm Fred...

Hello.

I just landed on your terra-firma today from the planet kaytootog-sissykay. You could not pronounce my name like they do on my home planet; is it loosely translated as wulanolispinavjoeplyourngkulaidye. You can call me...

...Fred.

This is my passport photo.

And this is where I was unabashedly violated by a wee unstable girl-thing with sticky hands. Achst. The Horror.


Tomorrow I'll see if my sister will come out and play.

Until then, bendouff. Fred.

A Recant....

I must make a caveat to Saturday's post. I had the good great fortune to meet another fiber-friend Sunday. She marveled at how I could get *anything* done with 3 children still in the house and work full time. It made me reflect. This is nay but a season for me. A season I shall not wish away. Even Zoe...

...is growing up entirely too fast. She's 3! Already! I look at her, her growing little body. She's drawing intelligible things. Sort of. And listen to her, she says things like "That's incredible, mommy." *sniff* I will NOT wish away this era of my life. I am blessed beyond measure.

So what if I can't spin right now. So what that the resources aren't there for me to run off for a selfish moment (or 10 months' worth) It'll be there tomorrow. The Almightly knows my desires - it'll be there again.

Onto Spinning!

I said I would post a picture of my spinning.

This, my friends, is a beautiful hankie obtained from Stick and Stone Fiberarts in LA. This is also one of my 3 Kokovoko spindles.

What's a hankie, you ask? It is about 20 or more (that's a wag of a guess!) silk cocoons stretched out over a frame that represents the shape of a bell. They're fun to spin and relatively inexpensive. I wager the one above was a couple bucks.

Here is another picture with hankies - so you get an idea what I'm talking about.

Isn't that yummy? While silk bothers some people - it's like sticking your hand in a spider web over, and over, and over again - I love the results! Don't you?....

Spinning Mecca....not...

I'm so frustrated.

I had the opportunity to join this group as part of an informal Certificate of Excellence in Spinning Study. Oh! Joy of Joys! Thrill of Thrills! Spinning for 20 years, longing for instruction and technique building. Lands on my doorstep.

and I have to return to sender.

See, we have 5 people in our household, 2 of which are pre-teen boys who are starting to eat. Lots. The third is a wee lass girlie who really doesn't cost much, yet. One of the parents is going to school. Full time. Can you say Tuition? Books? That leaves the other parent to bring home the bacon. Or cracklings (those things left in the bottom of the pan after the bacon is cooked) which is what the almighty military paycheck seems to come to some months.

I'm not bemoaning our situation. I love my United States of America. I'm proud to serve...and I would do it again. (then, not now) Yes, I could have gotten a job with Amazon or whatever. Been laid off a few times, hopeful I'll get my next paycheck, etc. Things lots of Americans worry about.

But...

I have a *salary* paycheck, and 30 paid days vacation a year. And medical (questionable sometimes) and the commissary (read com-mis'-ery - heehee). I'm not complaining. Just wishing I didn't feel guilty using a tank of gas (60 bucks) once a month for "funsies".

I'll continue to love my new Honda Odessey, keep her shiny, vacuumed out, appreciate her payment. And not drive her to LA twice per month so I can learn to spin better.

Spinning? Did I say spinning? I did spin up a lovely space dyed silk cap today. It felt really good. Pics tomorrow.

Knitties Do The Brane

So my baby blog is less than 24 hours old. I've added some links and other favorite blogs (mostly so I can have access to them if I'm at work or at the library or whatever. It's such a pain to not have "favorites" handy when you need them!)

Now. Friends.

I have a treat for you.

I discovered this oh, about a year ago after the Harlot linked us to this. I was also new to her, and my appreciation level spiked after watching her link. She was my age! cool. I can do cool things like her. And I think I have. Except for the writing a book (or 4 or 5) thing. And raise over a quarter of a million dollars for Knitters Without Borders. There's that, too. But I can knit. like her.








It was my first venture to YouTube. It was bliss. I also found this, which I shared with many friends while we laughed and laughed. I hope you do, to.

I'm still looking for the ringtone.


OH, by the way. The pattern for these guys is here.

Knitting? I downloaded MS3 clue 5 today and read the posts. I have been contemplating how we are created so differently while comments are made either for or against the design of the pattern. If I were the author, I might have taken offense to some. And other knitters were quick (and emotional) to correct the loud knitter. I say, whatever. Say things nicely. Read things nicely. Everyone gets along. That's my knitting contribution.

Spinning? Remembering the smell of lanolin. And looking at my stash piled around the wheel. And hoping that 1 lone moth isn't worth freaking out over. I'll make it a point to squish it later.

Hello World Wide Web

I now have a blog. I have felt the weight of being "blogless". The flippant dismissal from exchanges, secret pals, "do it with us"es groups who required a blog to participate. I was kicked off the virtual playground where the cool toys were. The social stigma got to me.

So.

I have succumbed to the epressure of scads and scads of talented persons sharing their wit, wisdom and woes of life. I think I mainly created this blog so I could keep track of all these many wonderful scribes' daily fodder.

Yes.

I know I am opening up myself to the few scathing, miserable, lonely, bullying souls who delight in the misery of others. I hope my skin is thick enough to withstand any of those presences who might flit into my wispy little e-life. I'm apprehensive - I will remember the many, many wonderful souls who greatly outweigh and outshadow the pitiful few. Thanks to you and you and you and you and you and.... You inspire me.

OK....wish me Luck and Godspeed! (and for my hubby to stop shaking his head at me. ...how's this thing work, anyway...?)