Auntie Pudentaine Knits!

Blue on Blue

2009-05-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

Life seems to snowball in the strangest ways. I left off after leaving my son at school, cried the whole way home, and tonight I prepare for the long drive to go pick him up...

How was I to know that this was going to be such a tough season? We all have heard "if you can't say something nice, than don't say it at all", and I suppose I have sort of been thinking that regarding blogging. Once again I have hit a dry patch, but this time it is more due to real life weighing heavy.

With the snow melting, and the sun shining, I have to believe that a season of loss is ending. I have to believe that.

In January I lost a ministry that is very near and dear to my heart. In February I lost my 2nd born to college, which is "good" but still painful. In March my oldest moved out on his own, so two of my three are leaving the nest and I ache.

Two weeks after leaving my Toad at school, I received a call from the hospital. My dad was there in ICU. Within a few days we had a diagnosis, and he was released into Hospice care...given six months to live. I spent the next two and a half months caring for him, but in April...I lost my dad.

Now as I plan to go get my son from school, I also plan my dad's memorial. I don't think I have ever cried so much as I have these past few months.

I have been knitting though! What is funny to me is that in hindsight I notice a lot of blue. It was not a conscious decision. I see a thread to it all and will elaborate further...but for now, I just wanted to dip my toe back into this thing called blogging.

"Life As You Know It No Longer Exists...."

2009-01-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

Words spoken to me by my mother in law when we found out I was pregnant...words I tell every pregnant woman I know, and words I now tell myself.

There are so many things wrong with hitting the emotional roller coaster that comes to women in their 40's and then add to that their babies seem to grow up and go away at the same time. Who made up those rules? I like to think I am not a wreck but then out of the blue I am crying...does it get better?

See, I have this kid that I really like. We got along from the beginning. Unlike his older brother (another kid I really like) he came into the world with a fast delivery. From the beginning he was just "easy". Not to mention cute as a bug...this tiny mouth that I could stare at all day, and his little nose I kissed constantly.

As he kept growing he continued to be more than I expected. Kind, loving, peace making, smart, missionary heart, and Jesus loving beyond any hopes a mom could ever pray. Sure his face became scratchy, and he smelled less like a boy and more like his dad, but that was fine. I still really liked him.

We never confused parenting with friendship, but this kid and I really got along. We've done some amazing things together, share a kindred spirit in many ways, and in the right light and at the right angle he sort of looks like me. Or at least he has my freckles. We like the same music, he makes us all laugh daily, and he begs me to knit for him! What more could be asked?

But now? Now I'm not so sure. See, he has gone and done the one thing that breaks my heart in the most bittersweet way a mom's heart can be broken. He grew up. I don't know if I can ever forgive him for this one, mainly because he had to go and do that quickly too.

As a homeschooling mom I can count the days we have been apart. Now I am counting them down until we drive him off to college and leave him there. Counting down until I can bring him home for Easter Break. Counting them down until he can come home again....but I know he will just leave for school or some other adventure again and it is the beginning of the end of life as I have known it no longer existing.

This is a poem my aunt embroidered for me. She gave it to me at my baby shower beautifully framed. I loved it then, and lived it with my kids...the upside to all this aching that I am feeling right now is the fact that it comes from living it well.

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow... For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow... So quiet down cobwebs... dust go to sleep... I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep!!

I am open to encouragement....not to be such a whiny baby, because I really am fine, but then there are those moments I find myself tearing up for no reason....ugh! Also to be fair, it is not like he is going off to some worrisome place. He is going on a full scholarship to bible college. I guess I can forgive him.

100 Days of Prayer

2009-01-21T12:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back to blogging...who knows for how long, but at least for one more post. I don't know why something I can think about so much, and want to do so badly still seems like the thing I never get done in my day. Oh well...

So we have a new President! I have really enjoyed seeing people be so happy for a change. There seems to be an optimism that is refreshing, and for many people it represents more than a change in who sits in the Oval Office. I don't think of myself as looking at race as an issue, perhaps being naive, so it was a bit of an eye opener to watch the faces of all colors...seeing their tears as a man is sworn into office, a man who looks more like they do. I was sincerely happy for their moment and what it meant, obviously going very deep in ways I can't imagine. I am looking forward to people talking kindly about the President, respectfully even. I hope the honeymoon lasts.

I did not vote for him, but it does not change my respect and support. The thing that makes me sad is that many people still seem to want to make jabs at the previous President. The thing that both men have in common is that they are just that...men. I don't mean that in a gender way, I mean it in a humankind sort of way. We are fallible. If we are honest with ourselves we can admit that we all blow it. Even the things we desire to do well, we don't always do well.

I am hoping that our new President, my new President, exceeds all expectations. When he shows his fallibility, and he will, I will not be one of the people being nasty with my words. There is a difference in having a differing opinion policy wise, and just saying critical things in a mean spirit. I hope we can know the difference.

I have commited to participate with the Presidential Prayer Team's first 100 Days of Prayer. Not that praying beyond 100 days can't happen, but we have all heard the importance of the first 100 in any administration. Feel free to ask me about it, Google it, or just ignore it...but it is my own way of personally supporting President Obama.

As for the frivilous, I loved Michelle Obama's yellow dress! Was it lemongrass? She looked beautiful....and those girls!! I giggled when I saw Sasha and Malia and their outfits as well. So colorful and fun, just like they seem to be. My absolute favorite moment was Sasha giving her dad the thumbs up after his speech. Absolutely precious and loving and a great way to kick off this new term.

Fall baking...

2008-10-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

I am so ready to bake! I have been craving all things warm and wintery which tells me more than the leaves changing colors ever will. It is time to hunker down and get ready for the long cold winter. The news people interviewed a local ski area rep and based on their record keeping of snowfall by October we are in for an above average year. The Almanac calls for a colder than normal winter so if you put it together....I better stock up on oatmeal and canned goods. Oh, and baking supplies.

I called my niece today. She was baking! Budge is 10 and quite proud of her role as the "family baker". I have one of those too and got to tell her all about how her cousin Toad will make me cookies at the drop of a hint. I got to tell her how it makes a moms heart glad to smell the yummy goodness that fills the house. Mmmm.....

Budge was asking me how to make the frosting. She needed to frost these cupcakes and while she knew her mom would smell them, she still wanted it to be a surprise. Could I stay on the phone with her and walk her through making it. Heck yeah I could! I started explaining how making frosting was going to be fun because she was in for a shock when she saw how little liquid would go into the powdered sugar, and that it actually makes frosting.

Then she said something that blew me away...especially for 10 years old. She said "Auntie, that is what I just love about baking. It is almost like a miracle! So many times you put things together and just think 'how the heck did that happen?' like it's a miracle or sumpin!"

And then I get really sad that we don't live closer. This is my same niece who will call me (starting at 8 years old!!) and tell me she has her knitting in her hands and can I tell her exactly how to bind off. The trade off is that I can call her and tell her that I need to hear a little "Aran Boat Song" or "Red Haired Boy"....and she will do her best on her fiddle. A girl of many talents that one.

Oregon Trail...

2008-10-09T14:05:00.000-07:00

I am clearly behind the curve on this but I have to share about our trip. Besides having 6 plus hours of drive time to knit, take in gorgeous scenery, and chat with my Honey Bunny...I had these lovely girls to greet me!

Is there anything quite like having beautiful nieces come running out to the end of the driveway, jumping up and down? Budge was literally waiting for us, watching down their long street, just to get that first glimpse of our car turning the corner. Oh, but it sure feeds the ego, I mean the heart!

We went up to celebrate with my brother and his wife. It was their 10th wedding anniversary, and they came up with a plan as unique as they are....Treehouses! We stayed in a Treesort, and had a treemendous time! Hehe...they do that to you there. They put a pun on anything possible and it is contagious.

Here was our original tree house....Serendipitree. We ended up trading with another family member who was solo for the weekend. They told us it would sleep 3, but I don't know how as the bed was a twin! I suppose if you wanted to sleep fetal on the floor, or like an owl on a branch outside...but we actually wanted some sort of bed. Kerri graciously traded us for her house that slept 5 and all was well.

Here is the house we ended up in. It was called Treeloon and is meant to look like a Saloon with the swinging doors. Not only was it bigger but it actually had a sink in it! I did have to make runs to the bathroom in the dark (scary) but I could at least wash my feet before climbing into bed, brush teeth and take out contacts. I'm a simple girl, the sink was perfect!

Here is our view from the deck...

Inside the Treeloon, not where we slept but a bunk that would acomodate 2-3 kids....I was tempted to take a picture of the "special bucket" that was in a cupboard should you not want to walk to the bathroom in the scary night. Since I was mortified even knowing it was there (Honey Bunny told me) it was all I could do to stand its presence. I could not bring myself to even touch the handle of the door. Is this just me who finds this sort of gross? I do have to wonder if anyone uses it, blech!

My sister on the other hand is a bit higher maintenance. So guess what she got? Thank goodness she didn't get the little cupboard with the night time amenity!! Across the wooden bridge from me was a militaryish tent that had a bed in it...Cavaltree. I asked her to model her house and open the flap door. She said a snarky "Model this!" ....then I had to run to the bathroom so I didn't wet my pants. That is how it goes with us.

Above that, on the back of the tree, there were a couple of wooden ladders that lead up to the top tree fort. My daughter and nieces all slept up there and we just hoped no one had to go to the bathroom in the night. The ladder area was dark and sketchy and we didn't need any falls.

The kids loved it. I tell you, if you have little ones this is a place to take them. This is the sort of thing that smaller children would never forget. I know my nephews and nieces will be talking about this for years to come. I would only do it again if it was a family thing like this, or I was taking small children. It is a bit on the pricey side, and I can say that I did it, no need to do it again but I would for an event. It really was a fun novelty adventure.

There was swimming....

Berry picking....

Exploring the 'hood.....

The best part? Family!

Oh, I nearly forgot! While we were there we met a couple from Family Fun Magazine. They were doing a story on the Treesort for an issue next summer. It is in the section called "Worth the Drive". They needed models for the photo portion and our family was who they chose. My brother and his wife were the parents, and while they have two boys only one was cooperative for pictures. So the "family" was my brother, SIL, nephew and niece! How cool is that? So I took pictures of them taking pictures...

My sister looking at the shots the photographer got...

We also got to squeeze in a soccer game during our trip. Is there anything cuter than 5 year old kids trying to make their legs work? I am endlessly amused by this! Poor kids can barely kick the darn thing, and then half way through the game they change the goal sides. Now they have to remember to kick the other direction. The other funny thing is the coaching styles...some coaches really try to instill the rules of the game and others are just about the kids having fun and learning good sportsmanship. I am in the camp of the latter, so I laugh at all the time outs, off sides calls and kicking out of bounds. The kids have no clue, at 5, but the coaches are ready to blow a gasket. So funny! Makes me run for the sani-hut!

Get 'em Bo!

Summer is Slipping away...

2008-09-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I am getting older or not, but I sure seem to dread winter more and more. Don't get me wrong, there are many things I love still, but it just seems to last longer than I ever recall growing up. So much for global warming! My winters seem longer and colder than ever!

But not yet. We still have summer waning and are into a beautiful fall season. Driving home today I noticed that the aspen and birch leaves are beginning to turn and so are my lilac bushes....the same ones that only a few months ago I was watching them sprout out and flower.

Tomorrow we are off to Oregon for a family get together. My brother and his wife are celebrating 10 years of marriage and decided to plan an interesting camping experience. We will be staying in treehouses! I am so excited! Just the kind of quirky fun I love.

After getting to Grants Pass, where my sister lives, we will stay a night and then head out to Cave Junction. From there we'll all be staying a Out n' About.

This is our tree house. It is called Serendipitree. All of the houses have funny little names and when you call in, you make a "treeservation". Each family will have their own tree house but there is a common area where we will be able to cook and eat together. I just hope my sister's tree is near my tree so I can huck pinecones, or acorns or whatever grows there at her. Better yet, we can both gang up and either annoy our brother, or our own children, or both. The two of us getting together is always fun....hehehe...in and evil sort of way.

Technically it is a treesort, or bed and breakfast type of place, so a nice full breakfast is served. This makes me happy! If one meal a day is made for me I am thrilled and call that vacation baby!

I don't know how much we will get to do in terms of activities. They have all sorts of things offered, but I am just not into tons of separate things that all cost so much. Something about feeling nickle and dimed just bugs me. Anyone else? We tend to like hiking and exploring so I'm thinking we will do more of that. There is the Oregon Caves National Monument, and this sort of thing is right up our alley.

I will be sure to take my camera and take lots of pictures. When you put this many people in my family together it is bound to be a memorable trip in every way. Now that I have my fancy schmancey new laptop, I will hopefully be able to keep up the blog better, and I am even hoping to post from Oregon!

One last thing, on the knitting front, I have finished a sweater, baby sweater, and some socks. I really should post about them but it just seems to elude me with all the business we have had. The most exciting thing is that I thought the collective "we" were done with babies, but my sister in law is pregnant...with a boy!! I am over the moon happy. So I have nearly finished an EZ Baby Surprise sweater, and hat and I am working on a blanket. There will definitely pictures of those things.

Quite Random

2008-09-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

Anyone want/need homeschooling supplies? I have finally graduated two of my three (and I'm going a different route with #3) and have tons of "stuff". I was thinking of yarn trade....maybe. I just don't know if I want to go the whole eBay route.

Let me know!

Off to Summer Camp!

2008-07-11T20:55:00.001-07:00

Oh, I dearly love camp. Never got to go as a kid so I have more than made up for it as an....ahem....adult. Besides being hot and smoky, it should be an amazing week! Zip lines, mountain biking, swimming, fishing, ridge runners, kayaking, giant swings, ropes course, blobbing, mud pits...it just never ends. I might even knit a bit during free time and try to get some fresh young recruits!

Jimmy Beans Wool Coolness

2008-07-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

Jimmy came up with this great idea to do video reviews online. These began with product reviews, honestly done, pointing out things we like (and don't like) about products. Added to them are some cool tutorial videos like a provisional cast on and that sort of thing. I know if anyone has an idea for something they would like to see, just suggest it! They are always open to fresh ideas!!

See the rest of the reviews here: JBW Video Reviews

There are a few more of mine, but I don't recommend them unless you like hearing "ummmm...." and "ahhhh..." way too much. What a dork! Look for Sandy, Jeanne or Laura and you will be much happier...heck any of the girls. They rock!!

My Son the Eagle Scout

2008-07-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

Somebody tell me how it happens. You are in a hospital, tired and sore, and you won't let the nurse take that little baby to the nursery. He's all yours for the moment and you just want to inhale that newborn right back in somehow. No one tells you that this is your son, and you should now love him. You just do. For the moment he belongs only to you, in that quiet time. You are in over your head with crazy love, storge love.

Then that baby grows up. I still wonder how it happened and why it had to happen so fast. It came in steps. I remember each one, and it is bittersweet in my heart. You want them to grow into wonderful productive adults, but each of those steps leads them up and away. I am greatful for each necessary milestone, and did the necessary letting go every time, but it still makes a mom's heart a wee bit sad.

My son has grown up into a fine young man. He has some learning to do yet, but he is kind, honest, wholesome, loves his country, loves his family and loves his Jesus. I could not be more proud. I like him a lot! Oh, I will always love him like crazy, but I sure like him a too.

Not many kids these days commit to something at 7 years old and stick with it. I have a couple boys who did. My oldest has made it to his goal (the 2nd is right behind him) of Eagle Scout.

If you have any involvement with this program you know. Most people don't, and that is alright. We are proud just the same. We are fortunate to have an awesome Troop and it feels a lot like an extension of our family. Camping, hiking, backpacking, summer camp, tree cutting and running a Christmas Tree lot, Pacific Coast trips to Yellowstone, Yosemite and every place in between. Spleunking, snow camping, rock climbing, bowling and golfing. So many things I can't even name them all. Memories, lessons, and moments my kids will benefit from for the rest of their lives.

All leading to the highest award in Boy Scouts. Eagle Scout. Less than 2 percent make this rank, and when my son graduates from Marine basic training he will have earned his first stripe because of it.

Yeah, I am proud, and thanks for reading this far and letting me share this. Just so you know he isn't too big for his britches, at the end of the day all the little girl cousins took him down!

Anyone? Free printer ink!

2008-07-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago I needed a new printer. Of course it doesn't take my old ink cartridges! These are new, sealed, and up for grabs if anyone can use them. HP Black 94 and HP Tricolor 97. Let me know where I can send them off!

From one irish girlie to another Irishgirlie

2008-07-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

She taunts us with food plates and dessert pictures all the time. Most recently it was cupcakes that brought to mind "Princess Cake" cravings which then lead me to binge on peanut M&M's because it was the only treat I could find in an emergency, with a belly ache to follow. It's all good.

In an effort to give back (cause I'm a giver!) here is what time on my hands causes me to find. Oh the cleverness of some people!! I really, honestly think someday I might give these a whirl.

It began with a show I caught on television....it may have been a Martha if I recall, but I don't ever watch that show so I can't be sure. Anyway, these just looked yummy! Marzipan cupcakes that would be the hit of any Knit Night!

Then I caught This Post on Good Yarns blog....

Which lead to this...

....and finally these pictures!

You have to love the note at the end here!

Simple Socks...simple fun

2008-07-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

I was in a big fat hurry and wanted to knit these up for a friend. She has a mad crush on Johnny Depp and his pirate swagger...which I can totally relate to myself. The color is Black Pearl, like in the movie....so I had to knit them for her. Lorna's Laces worsted and a Knitting Pure and Simple pattern made these babies fly...took a day to knit. Gotta love big needles and big yarn!

My mad crush is on Viggo Mortensen, and his Lord of the Rings character Aragon. Can't tell you what is is about his grubby, dirty looks but it makes me swoon. His picture hangs in my laundry room above the washing machine. Honey Bunny brings home movies with Viggo in them cause he is really secure like that. That, and he's... well.....hoping?

*Sigh!*

When I was much younger my mom had a best friend named Tawney. They would sit at the table gossiping and drinking Diet Coke from their coffee mugs so we kids wouldn't know they had soda in the house. Selfish, but clever at the same time.

We had all day to amuse ourselves and when I was feeling sort of naughty I would sneak into Tawney's laundry room and close the door. I don't know why I thought it was wrong, but there was something sort of sneaky about it....there on the back of her laundry room door was a life sized poster of Mark Spitz!! Standing there in his patriotic speedo with all of his gold medals fanned out across his chest. I had no idea what the big deal was, but my mom and Tawney would giggle when they looked at it, so I did my best to understand.

For the life of me I can't find the picture now. It was in color and looked like this...

But was full sized like this...

Does anyone else remember this? It can't be just me. I still don't "get it", though I admire his accomplishments. Maybe it is just because clean from the pool is just not my thing, and it's far cry from my grubby Viggo...who knows?

I am rooting for Michael Phelps all the way, OH!, and did anyone see Dara Torres? Dang girl!!

My lap these days! One more reason to sit and knit!

2008-07-06T10:24:00.001-07:00

Please ignore the jammies and the cleavage...I share the amazing cuteness on my lap! Though the jammies are cute as well...Target I believe. They are my summer camping jams because they have pink flamingos. Everyone knows that pink flamingos are the the universal sign of "vacation", and camping is the only vacationing we will be doing this summer. (Oy! Gas prices!!) The pajama pants also have a little red fire engine for the mailboxes...go figure! Now you really know why I had to have them!!

Notice her little tongue poking out? When she is in a deep sleep I will hear this tiny suckling noise....she is having nursing dreams I imagine, and it is seriously one of the cutest things ever. I keep hoping to have my camera ready for a quick video, but it hasn't happened yet.

Introducing....Greta!

2008-07-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

Only 19,998 more posts until I feel caught up on life as it has happened...and yet continues!

We have been thinking about it for ages, and talking about it for months. This was not a surprise. The only surprise was my heart changing (relenting) to get another mini dachshund rather than a German Shepherd. Don't get me wrong, I love Mayzie, my mini that I have now. In fact that is the problem...I love her too much! There is no way any pooch can compete with her, and besides that, I grew up with shepherds so I have a bit of a hankering for a large dog again. (These are a few of her pictures)

Well, Honey Bunny put his foot down! Big dogs = big food storage and bigger poops and it was going to be a doxie if there was going to be a puppy. Period.

So, after lots of searching I found a place that had some puppies. Exactly what I wanted too. A black and tan smooth, female please. She had one left, but as it turned out it was really one available. People had "claimed" a puppy but no one had picked them out, so I actually was first in line to pick from two litters! What luck!

Hours later, and much talking abut my current dog, I was finally on my way home with the baby. So hard to choose yet now I could not wait to introduce Mayzie to her new baby!

Now the drama begins. I pulled into the driveway and my daughter ran out and sad "Bad news"....Apparently my husband had taken the jeep out wheelin' with the dogs, and when he got to his destination only one jumped out of the car. Somewhere in the past 20 miles Mayzie had either popped out from a bump, or jumped out, but either way she was not in the jeep.

He searched for a couple of hours and then came home to load his motorcycle and try some more. His plan was to be out there all night and keep calling for her, but the search area was huge.

Needless to say I was a wreck. I felt like I had traded my much loved dog for this little puppy and it was impossible to be anything but sad. I wanted to take her back and go find my Mayzie. I was up most of the night worried about her and my Honey Bunny. I made flyers, posted on bulletin boards, left messages at all the vets offices in my area and in Reno, and I called all the animal control offices in the area.

At about 4 in the morning I woke up one of my kids and loaded up our other dog. Sometimes you just can't wait anymore and I thought in the quiet of the morning she might come out if she heard us calling. I made a big thermos of coffee and headed out.

The first thing I saw was a coyote crossing my street!! Not a good sign. It only added to my fears of bobcats, mountain lions, eagles, hawks, people who might keep her and the 27 degree night that she might be shivering in.

At about 6 am I came around a corner and saw a small sign posted on a street sign. "Lost Dog?" with a phone number was all it said. My hopes began to soar, and if I didn't breath I seemed to have a cell signal. I left a message, which began a series of cell phone nightmare phone tag from the sketchy signal....but long story short, he had my girl!!

Turns out he saw this adorable little dog trotting down the road and when he opened his door she hopped right in. He took her home and worked as hard at finding us as we were working to find her. She is micro-chipped but had no tags on her collar. From now on all collars will have a Sharpied phone number on the inside, but she has too many collars to have tags on all of them.

My Honey Bunny turned out to be the hardest one to find. Once I knew we had our dog back the quest was to find him so he could stop worrying. He was out roaming the mountains on a motorcycle, trying desperately to return my dog to me....finally he was located and all is well in the end.

I have my Mayzie back, and now I have this new little bundle of cuteness....and she has puppy breath to boot!

The next weekend was Father's Day and Honey Bunny got 3 new harness' to secure the dogs into the Jeep, and this t-shirt from REI:

Fine, a bit of knitting it is!!

2008-07-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

One of the previously mentioned 20,000 posts I now have time for....

Jimmy Beans Wool has this amazing once a month Limited Edition colorway in conjunction with Lorna's Laces yarn. Each month brings a new treat and it sells out like mad, so you have to move quickly to get yours! For the month of June the color was Blueberry Snowcone. I was able to pick up the last 3 hanks of Lion and Lamb and did the happy dance like you can not believe!!

I LOVE Lion and Lamb and knew immediately what I wanted to do with this yarn once I got it.....Clapotis!!

I have to say that when I first saw this pattern I was not especially "wowed". That came later, with the throngs of people knitting it, loving it, wearing it and then making more than one. What can I say? I am a lemming without hope, so I was dying to follow along and knit my own.

My stroke of originality came when I read enough blogs and enough on Ravelry to know that I did not need 4 hanks. Nothing worse than an entire 30.00ish hank to knit the last 20ish number of rows!! I simply did one less repeat and actually knit it a bit longer and still had some leftover.

In the end, I love it!! Probably the most wearable thing I have knit in ages. My husband commented on it, which he never does and even more....my kids noticed! I seriously love it and I can finally understand why so many people knit another one. Quick, easy and nearly mindless knitting to achieve something I will wear forever....and will have to hide when my sister visits because she will steal it for sure!

Life is a blur, and oh so smoky!

2008-07-05T18:42:00.000-07:00

These pictures show a glimpse of how smoky it has been, and the fires are insanely far away! I only wish I could use Willy Wonka's Smell-O-Vision so you could fully experience it. My contact lens' are driving me mad!!

So, it is not that I don't have things happening. Quite the contrary! It seems that I have all this stuff to blog about and yet no time, so when I do have the time I could literally make 20,000 posts (all outdated) in a row. Anyone with me on that?

My husband is away on a fire assignment. This is good because it means...well...he is a-w-a-y. It is bad because he is *sniff, sniff*..... AWAY! It is a good assignment because he is actually on a really nice detail and while right in the middle of a fire area, he is relatively safe. He is the paramedic in the camp, so basically, for the time being, he is handing out sunscreen and bug spray. If anyone does need medical attention, they have medics and a bus (ambulance) close by for immediate response. Fingers and toes are crossed that all those firefighters need on this fire is sunscreen and bug spray!!

The other day he called and asked me to bring him some supplies to make life better. I guess the fire camp is set up in an area that gets a lot of sun and fire conditions being hot, dry and windy...life is better with some shade. He was also hoping not to jinx things, yet expected he could be there a while. Lucky for us, Northern California is burning up for a change, and this means he is within driving time from home. We met at a half way point about 45 minutes from home and I delivered our EZ-Up shade canopy, a cot, his sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clean pillow, iPod shuffle, tarp, generator, small television WITH a remote, small selection of "dude movies", a few music cd's that can be played on the tv, red vine licorice, and clean underwear. Phew!! Can I get a shout out with "What a good wife!!"?

What most people don't know is that when these guys get called to a fire, they leave in the clothes they are wearing and in a hurry. The experienced ones have an "out of county" bag with a few niceties in it, but depending on the station they are covering etc, they might not get to grab it. Honey Bunny has gone to fires locally that lasted a couple days and he had nothing. They sleep sitting in their engine or on the ground...in the clothes they have on. He told me about one fire on a hillside where they cat-napped nearly standing the hill was so steep, listening for rocks rolling down towards them so they could roll to the side. Lovely job isn't it?

I am back to the pros and cons. Overtime rocks! We have dishwashers to replace and bathrooms that need help and we're planning to re-do in August. We also have summer camp next week and I am taking 25 highschool kids with me, and I have a new puppy!. Kids home alone with a housebreaking mini dachshund is scary indeed. Yet, overtime rocks! I have tile and bathtubs to pick out. Smoke is hard to breath in for weeks on end, but quesadillas or Cheerios for dinner is awesome! Husbands who call with "honey do's" because he is away and he knows the lawn needs mowing...well that doesn't exactly stink, but the man can sure come up with some lists of chores because he is sitting around all day thinking of things HE does around here...and now WE need to get done, and that? Well that stinks! Holding down the fort as a single mom with 3 teens is actually....not too bad :-)

I have great kids and we are doing just fine. I am off to call the inlaws! Gotta see if they house/puppy/kid sit in case Honey Bunny doesn't come home.........just keep chanting "Over Time! Over Time!"

When the cats away, the mice will play!

2008-07-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is just plain time....and he knew it was coming. I have been telling, clueing and cueing him in for quite a while now, so he really should not be shocked. Yet for some reason I am the one who is in a sort of giddy shock myself.

I went and ordered this:

It is a new Kenmore Elite dishwasher, and they swear it is quiet! The salesman was telling me what I wanted to hear baby! Not like he had to convince me or anything...our 10 year old (199.00) dishwasher is loud and falling apart. It got even louder last year when we put in hardwood floors. It has "features"!! We tend to be the do-it-yourself types and ascribe to the live within (or beneath) your means and so "features" just really makes me jump up and down!

I have been online shopping and researching off an on for the past couple of years. Ours has been on it's last leg for a while but it is really finally beyond just annoying. Things are falling apart, and now it has become dangerous. It won't turn off either, which sucks the utility bill I'm sure....but when it won't turn off that means it just stays on that last heat drying cycle until you realize the house is about to burn down. I did turn off the heat, but that doesn't change the worry.

So, I did it. Honey Bunny is off fighting a fire and I am spending it before he brings it home. The upside is that it was on sale and the installation and take away of the old one is free, so that should make him happy. Hopefully when he comes home it will all be a done deal and that will make him happy. I call it a win/win!

Nothing to do with Knitting!

2008-07-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me this email today. I am simply going to post it the way she sent it. It moved me greatly, and I am so glad she responded to the nudge to share this among friends. If you are not someone who believes in this sort of thing....no offense intended, and if you are I hope you are as blessed as I was. We live in troubled times and encouragement can be like a glass of cool water!

Hello Friends, brothers and sisters in the Lord,

This morning I had a devotion that I thought wasn’t just for me so I’m passing it on for whomever these scriptures can encourage.

The truth is: God never lets us down. That’s the truth.

But this morning, I think I found a story about a woman who was disappointed with God because she thought he had let her down. You’ll know the story, so I won’t go into the details, but I’ll highlight the scriptures I personally never paid that much attention to until today.

John 11:20 "When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home."

I don’t think there are ever any unnecessary words or details in the Bible. I believe they all have significance. So what’s the significance behind the information that Mary stayed at home? Is it because she didn’t know that Jesus was nearby? I don’t think so.

I think she knew and she stayed at home on purpose. The same Mary who didn’t let busyness keep her from his feet. The same one so commended by God for seeking him first, is now staying at home. That’s a little unlike her. So what’s going on?

Well a lot is going on. Her brother just died. Before that the sisters had sent word to Jesus to let him know he was sick and asked him to come. But he didn’t. The situation grew worse and more than likely they were probably going to the door frequently and anxiously looking for any sign of him. You know the feeling. "Where IS he?" "Did he get our message?" "What is taking him so long?" And then the rest of the story, Lazarus breathes his last. He’s gone. I have been there. It caused me to start hyperventilating. I ran from the scene. It makes you sick. It makes you start to weep like you have never cried before and all I kept repeating was "No, no, NO!!" Death is horrible and oh so painful. The kind of pain that wakes you up in the middle of the night and hits you all over again like a ton of bricks and it goes on for who knows how long. You don’t know how many days, weeks, months, years it will take for the pain to start to subside. You have dreams where they come back and you see them again and then you wake up. It is painful.

But now Jesus is here. Better late than never?? Not really. What they feared has happened. It almost doesn’t matter now. Or does it?

I think she stayed at home because she was disappointed in Jesus and maybe, yes, just a little angry. We try not to admit it. We know God doesn’t deserve our anger. But we’re confused. We’re hurting and pain can cause us to put our shield of faith down and those fiery darts get through. We don’t have the strength to fend off the doubts and they’re making us question everything we know about God.

So she stays at home. I’ve done it too. We skip the quiet time because we’re secretly harboring resentment against God. Sometimes we don’t even know it. But it’s kind of like we’re giving God the silent treatment. Letting Him know "if you’re not on my side and you’re not going to help me, I’m on my own and I’m not sure I have time for you."

Verse 28 – "The Teacher is here," she (Martha) said, and is asking for you (Mary)."

Hmmm… You think Jesus knew? You think Jesus knew that Mary was staying away on purpose? You think He knew that she was broken hearted, confused, weak, angry? I think so. Does he give her the silent treatment back? No. He loves her. He has compassion. He knows she’s hurting and he wants to comfort her. So he’s asking her to come to him. He asks us the same thing – "Come child. Don’t stay away. I know where you are. I know what you’re thinking and what you’re trying to figure out. And I have the answers. But the answer is really just one thing – ME. So don’t shut me out. You need me right now and I’m here. So Come."

And she does. She falls at his feet, crying, and the questions, half way accusations, start pouring out – If you had been here, my brother would not have died. Make sense of it Jesus. Tell me why this is happening. You could’ve prevented it. Why didn’t you? How many countless others have asked the same question.

When Jesus saw her weeping…he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. And then the famous verse – John 11:35 – Jesus wept. The easiest one in the whole Bible to memorize.

So many people have taken a stab at what he was crying about. Even the Jews that day were trying to figure it out – "See how he loved him!" "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this many from dying?" Was he crying because he loved Lazarus and was sad that he was gone. Umm…. he knew that Lazarus was about to be raised back to life. We’re the doubts bothering him? Yeah, I’m sure they were, but he didn’t cry when Martha expressed the same thing. Call me simple. I think he was crying because Mary was crying. I think he felt her pain and "whoever touches you, touches the apple of his eye." He knows better than we do how much pain sin has caused this fallen world. Romans 12:15 says "weep with those who weep." If that is what God commands us to do, do you think he does anything less? I don’t know about physical tears, but I think God’s heart still breaks when ours does.

So no lecture. No explanation. Tears. Jesus wants us to know we’re not alone. He’ll go through it with us. He’ll carry all our pain not on his shoulders, but in his heart and he’ll get us through. – "What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer."

And then the glorious end of the story. There is no more commentary on it, but you can imagine, can’t you? Mary and Martha running to Lazarus, tears turning not just into smiles, but even laughter as they quickly unwrap him, throw their arms around him, still crying, but this time tears of joy, kissing him and being surrounded by everyone else.

And then the look back to Jesus. I’m sure Mary did. Looking over her shoulder, past the crowd and seeing his peaceful, quiet, loving expression looking back at her. Not condemning her. So pleased that she was happy again. Yet you know what she felt. I’ve felt it. You’ve felt it. That little sting of remorse in our hearts when we realize we’ve doubted God and he once more came through. He always does. He never lets us down. That’s the truth.

No doubt there were other looks at Jesus that day; jaw dropping, shocked, amazed looks like the ones the disciples had after he stilled the storm. There is much to be learned from this story, but this morning God made one more point with me.

What about when He doesn’t raise people back to life again? What about when we lose something and it doesn’t come back or never gain something that we so longed for and even lacked?

Has God let us down? Are his delays his denials? Or is he still telling us to Wait. The end of the story has been written, but not fully revealed, yet this is what God says about it – "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can conceive what God has planned…"

Whatever we lack here will be more than made up for there. Can you think of anything a person would want for in this world that Heaven will not abundantly supply? Love, relationships, health, possessions, purpose, even food! Romans 8:18 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

God is still coming. He is on his way. Though we may wonder "Where IS he?" What is taking him so long? Be patient. Wait on the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord. For when we get to Heaven I know we will all say – "You have not let us down." The Lord is our Shepherd. We shall not be in want.

True story – Myamar – where the cyclone hit and the government won’t allow in any aid – Christians are dying. Terry Sartain, pastor of Calvary Chapel Charlotte went with Jack Monday, director of Rapid Response for Billy Graham Ministries and two others were granted passports – four of only 45 that have been granted since the cyclone. It is absolutely dangerous to be a Christian there. They traveled in separate taxis to the place where they were secretly meeting with pastors from the region. 44 showed up. All of them hungry, grieving and confused. When Terry got there, he said he had no idea why he was there. What could he offer these men. All their rice fields were destroyed. All their water supplies had been salted by the sea. They were not just dying of hunger, but also dying of thirst. Praying for rain water. Asking questions like "if I only have enough rice left for one more meal for my family and someone comes to my door asking for food, what do I do?" All Terry said he could do the first day was stand in front of them and weep and pray. There is that weeping again. The compassion of the Lord. Knowing how much pain they are suffering from the sin of this oppressive government. For the first two days, there was a soberness in the crowd, a hopelessness. But somewhere on the third day, the mood changed. Terry and the others realized they might not have food or water, but they still had Jesus and they could still give Jesus away. The men left not knowing if they were going back to die, but rejoicing that the greatest possession, they still possessed and in heaven all their tears will be wiped away.

Pray for them. Pray for rain. Pray for relief. Pray for hope, comfort, and faith. Faith in a Great God that will gain them rewards in heaven not able to be imagined here on Earth.

God Bless, Kim

Knitting Interruption!

2008-05-26T09:37:00.001-07:00

All this talk about trips (and there is more besides Appalachia!) has me wanting to think about knitting. I did knit on the trip actually. You would not know it because I haven't mentioned it, and there are no photos as evidence, but I did knit a no purl Monkey sock on the plane. One and a half socks actually. That is where it stands still, at one and a half. (Am I the only one with an entire album of Disneyland pictures and yet you would never know I was there?)

I will get around to sharing the knitting but since my pile of UFO's has grown ever larger it is actually a bit sad and discouraging it will have to wait a bit. Work up the nerve ya know? I have taken plenty of solace in just reading about how I am not alone. Most of us have a stack of things we start and then set down. There is something about the excitement of a new project, new yarn, new technique, new pattern, new, new, new...it always has me chasing after it. Oh, and it isn't just us knitters I'm finding. Quilters do it too. Crafty and creative people of all sorts seem to have projects that linger. It helps me to know that.

Has anyone seen the new Berroco Seduce? I so badly want to start a project with that!!

In all my reading and random searching of blogs this little gem popped up. I know there are all sorts of journals you can buy, but this puppy is FREE! I don't know how well I will use these pages, but I did download and save a copy for myself just in case. Everything from graph paper to keeping track of works in progress, there is a sheet for everything. Kathryn Ivy's site has this Knitting Journal (Designed by Grace Schnebly) and I think it is just plain cool! Check it out and let me know what you think.... There are a number of do it yourself items on the sidebar as well.

Other than that, my nephew is here. What a sport he is! They live far enough away that he barely knows us, and yet he is here for two weeks. See, we went to Oregon to visit family and on our way out of town we stopped to say goodbye. My sister in law asked if I wanted to take a kid home. Kind of feeling put on the spot I said "yes", and then immediately started thinking if this was a good idea or not. Besides the 7 hour drive we were about to take on, he doesn't really know us! Yet, in about 15 minutes we were on our way home with an additional passenger....for a 2 week stay!

It has been a blast is all I can say. He did great in the car and every time the phone rings he yells "I'm not ready to go home yet!". I like to think that this means he likes us. My brother just thinks we are spoiling him. Who knows? I just know that I am not ready for him to go home yet either.

Appalachia 2008 Video

2008-05-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

"We want to work!"

2008-05-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

After a quick trip to Oregon, I am back and can continue the story....

As I said, we had a couple of days of feeling like we needed to do more. From the beginning I mentioned how much I love these kids. Hopefully you are beginning to understand why and maybe love them a bit yourself....I should highlight that these kids worked hard to get the money for the trip as well. They did car washes, yard work, dog walking, jobs, babysitting, and asking friends, family and business for donations. Each of them came up with 700.00 and I am darn proud of them! They raised the money to go and spend a week working and darn it, they wanted to WORK!

My group spent a couple of days doing things around the camp but never interacting with many people. They felt like they hadn't met any families or been very challenged by the chores they had been given.

Arrival of days 3 and 4 were awesome! After whining to Head Honcho Rob, we were able to switch it up a bit and my group was able to head out into Kentucky at long last.

We met up with our CAP worker, and headed off to the home of a sweet lady named "D". She is a single mom who is raising her two children, 4 abandoned kittens, and a classic Southern front porch puppy! I spent a bit of time talking with her and found that her family went back in this particular holler as long as anyone could remember or know. She was one of 15 children in her own family, and they all remain in the holler and are quite close. She said she hardly knows anyone outside of her own family, and besides, who needs friends when you have that many siblings!

D was in a small mobile home and it was in great need of updating. CAP is a local organization that is amazing!! Go check it out HERE
Basically they determine need and work it all out with the people they serve. They have on going projects and we just come in and help them where they are at on specific sites. Unlike Mexico, there isn't a clear completion of a project (like building a house) but we still made a lot of progress.

D's house had already been roofed and new decks built. She had a door that opened to nothing and a deck was made for it. We showed up and finished the deck, railings and spindles. We also finished much of the new siding and soffetts around the house. Oh, and did I mention how much I love my highschool friends? They used their lunch time to build a dog house for the puppy out of scrap material! We were also able to clean up all of the debris left over from the project, which was a huge pile in her front yard.

We instantly loved this little family and she was so kind to all of us. She was out with us all day, each day, appreciative and open to conversation about everything. We learned so much about her, and I know none of us will ever forget this amazing woman! I think we all made a loving impression on her as well.

The days were long and hot, and the work was rewarding. I think it is also safe to say that the kids I hang out with came away with what they wanted to experience...truly helping someone out and making an impact for the better. They learned that you make an impact in the world in big ways that are tangible and in small ways that may never be seen. While the work at D's house seemed like it was the most significant, I know for a fact that the work we did around the camp was profound. It was helping the people who serve there day in and day out. It was coming along side of people who also get little recognition and giving them some encouragement in what they do each and every day. We got to see both sides of serving, great humility and sweet reward.

...and the next day

2008-05-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

I am a mom. Any mom out there will relate to this part of my story. When you are a mom, and then work with kids on top of it all, you tend to see them all as yours. I feel so loyal to these highschool friends of mine that I not only want to protect them, but alternately want to see them get the best out of life...especially on an adventure like this. I wanted EPIC for each and every one of them.

Day 1, while good in it's own way, was a bit of a disappointment. I felt it, and the kids were feeling it too, which didn't help my mood any what so ever. I bit my tongue and hoped the next day would be an improvement. It was not.

Day 2 dawned and we were told that they have this beautification campaign going on in Kentucky and they are encouraging people to clean up the roadsides. Fair enough. Remember that we were in a very poor area, in fact the 3rd poorest county in the United States. When you have to pay for trash service, and you can barely survive as it is, you tend to not pay and toss your trash out into the roadsides hither and yon.

The problem for me was not only the safety part of it, but the lack of organization. It felt like they didn't quite know what to do with us and so they gave us this task as "busy work". They also handed us a box of latex gloves (and fancy orange vests) as the only protection for picking up all manner of trash....tires, broken televisions, bags of abandoned trash, and lots of broken glass.

It was a tough sell, I am not going to lie. The work stunk and the kids were doing their best but it wasn't easy for them to stay positive. I was really wrestling with how to approach Head Honcho Rob at the end of the day. I did not want to seem like a whiny complainer, but yet I felt like my group was missing out. I knew Rob, while Head Honcho and all, was really not the one calling the shots with what each group was assigned to do for the day. In the back of my mind I kept thinking "Well, we came to serve and not complain"....yet it didn't really feel like we were serving.

We made the best of it and by "we" I really mean ME. I tried hard to chuck my own nasty feelings and look for the opportunities. There were many and in the end I was appreciative of the day.

Being able to walk along roads that few people ever do was wonderful. I was able to get into some really deep conversations with my small group that might not have happened otherwise.

One of our topics was how we can poison each other with our words. If I am not enjoying myself and think picking up trash is infuriating to say the least...then I tell everyone about how awful I feel, soon enough others begin to feel the same way. How we talk about each other, or the things we choose to share can really matter. In life we need to be so careful about how we talk to others because our opinions or bad attitudes can go much further than we realize. Words matter and have meaning...choose them carefully.

I watched the kids begin to encourage each other in the most precious ways. In the end we had somehow turned it into a silly competition about getting the most trash. Final tally: 14 tires, 3 televisions, a car bumper, one dog skull (yeah, ick!!), and 21 assorted bags of trash!

Another thing that came up was about our contribution those first two days. No one was ever going to know we were there. No one was necessarily going to appreciate what we were doing and we would not receive any kudos or reward for it. We did quite a bit of work around the camp as well (a summer camp for local kids) and none of those summer kids would ever appreciate or see us. I did my best to explain that this is like real life in so many ways (can I get a "here! here!" from the moms out there...). Being the kind of person who will work and serve with humility is a great lesson for any of us, but these kids really learned it...pressed in deeply. They "got it" and it makes me want to blubber and cry just thinking about well they "got it".

I will wrap up with leading into day 3. I did finally work up the nerve (aka "momma bear" fight) to talk to Head Honcho Rob. I was on my way but and ran into my good friend and co-leader, Eddie. He was coming back from the same talk I was heading towards and so I didn't feel like I needed to keep going. It had been said.

The next morning we were all in a leader meeting and getting our marching orders for the day. Turns out we were supposed to spend the day at camp AGAIN and do some raking. I took a deep breath and layed it out there...fighting tears if I have to be honest. Sticking up for kids who had worked hard to raise 700.00 each to come on this trip. Kids who were here to meet people and do something that mattered, and that would last beyond them a bit and they weren't getting that experience.

Head Honcho Rob heard every word and even though he could not do anything about what was assigned to us, we did some juggling internally with our groups. Next thing I know I am telling kids to pack their lunches....we are outta here!!

First Day's Work

2008-05-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

We all woke up and had breakfast. Many of the kids packed lunches, but some of us lucky few had lunch provided where we were working that day! With a group our size, we break the kids into work teams and all head off to different work sites. In Mexico last year we had 3 teams and we were able to build 3 houses. This trip is we split into 5 work crews and all head out in different directions.

The crew I had with me didn't get too far. We went into a little town called McKee. If you have never heard of it, don't worry. I hadn't either and I don't think too many people have. Although it is an adorable little town of less than a thousand people, it is certainly a kind of "blink and you'll miss it" place. I will say that the local gas station was quite happy when we pulled in and filled up 6 vans! They even said THANKS!!

Our job that day was to actually help out Sister Mary at the church she tends. It was obvious someone told her a group of teens were coming to help and to make a list. She pulled out her little notebook and walked us around the place, pointing here and there, and explaining what she would like to see get done. I was able to get the kids to say what they wanted to do, and we were nearly finished before lunch. Sister Mary fed us all hot dogs, beans, salad and an amazing home made corn relish.

I told her we had some more time and to think of anything else we could do while she had us at her disposal. She found a few more projects, and I would say that we did above and beyond what she expected. I know for a fact that we saved this sweet older gal weeks of working on her knees, and probably a few aches and pains to go with it.

A special treat came at nearly the end of the day. A couple of the girls were doing some final work near the front shrubs. They noticed a bird fly out of a very tiny hole. Thinking this was odd, they carefully looked a bit closer.....such a nice treat to see. We carefully walked away and didn't tell anyone else our secret find.

At the end of it all, we felt like we had made a new friend. Mary had told us all about her life before coming to this area as well as what she does in reaching out to this small community. It did seem a bit like we were just helping one person, but in reality we were helping a lot of people. Giving Mary a needed break from hard physical work frees her up to love the people that come to see her each day.

Good Morning Day 1!!

2008-05-08T19:31:00.000-07:00

Recap: Dinner and Rock Band with high school friends, go nigh-night, wake up at 2am and head to airport, spend all day flying all over the place, drive, break down, eat and have Club, drive and finally arrive at camp in Kentucky waaaaay past bedtime.

Morning!

Wow, what a beautiful place! If I didn't already live in one of the most beautiful places created I would venture to say that Tennessee and Kentucky could run a tight race for that award. Let me just share a sampling of what I got to see!

I would be remiss if I did not mention the Red Bud Trees. They were everywhere! I think spring was an amazing time to go because the trees were all just beginning to bud so you could see the halo of green yet could still see through all the branches to the hills beyond. But the Red Bud, well, it was everywhere and I was ooohing and ahhhing at all of it. I so wish that it would grow in my yard!

Please, if you do nothing click on this last picture, it is soooo pretty!

Head Honcho Rob, Man of Many Mysteries

2008-05-08T09:13:00.001-07:00

If you know anything about Young Life, you know we are a bunch of jokers and clowns and fools. There are things we will be dead serious about (like loving Jesus) but the rest of life we don't take too seriously for the most part. That is why we are able to shuck all wisdom and hang out with teens. Not simply hang out with teens, but we actually LOVE them....and we like to pack up a few, or 40, and we take them across the country, or to a foreign country and work them like whipped mules for a week. So in that spirit of silliness I show you our fearless leader:

I am certain he doesn't care for this picture but we all seem to have an embarrassing shot that gets used each and every time it's needed, I have to go with it, cause it's how I roll. I will add that besides cropping out his full name for the sake of the net and all, I have sadly cropped the most significant part of this photo....his roller skates! Yep, he is wearing skates with all that safety gear...and this photo is from more years ago than any of us know, note the mustache as proof...and we can thank his wife for sneaking this to us.

I should actually back up a bit and toot the horn of praise for our our fearless Head Honcho on this trip. His name is Rob and I will just go on record and say that I adore this guy. I have a lot of reasons, too many to list, and I feel so honored to know him and get to work with him...gush, gush, gush!

At the first leg of the trip, in the first airport pit stop he gave all the adults a small card and said "Guard this with you LIFE!!". I think he knew that if he gave it to any of us dorky adults leaders (a term I will use loosely but hey, that is what they call us!) we might not have shown up with it on D-Day. Smart man. Not only was this precious card something we might need, with every conceivable phone number, emergency number, White House red phone number....but the sucker was laminated!! I know better than to be impressed by him, cause this is how he rolls, but I am continually impressed. And since no children were harmed in the cross country travel, they are all home safe and sound, I will now confess that I lost my precious card. I really think it was during the final drive back to my house. I kept it in my cell phone case and all the kids were passing my phone around to call parents to be picked up in 45 minutes. I know I had the precious card before I gave my phone out, I know I did!

Anywho--back to on the way there--we had a lay over between Vegas and Nashville that allowed for a food court hang out time. It was here that Head Honcho Rob felt it wise to give the adult leaders the run down for when we landed in Nashville. He had giant zip-lock bags that had a big number inside of them. Behind that was a mapquest map for the trip from the airport to the church we were heading to for dinner. Behind that was a AAA map, the route highlighted in yellow, in case any of those famous mapquest mistakes happened to be on the first map. Oh, and we all were guarding with our lives the laminated card that had all of our numbers for each other (and the White House red phone) in case we got lost. My job? The only thing I could think of? The thing I said right there in the leader meeting...."Don't lose me! I will not get lost, I will follow, but for the love of Pete...please don't lose me in Kentucky!"

Nope, Head Honcho Rob did not actually give us these precious zip-lock bags. He merely showed them to us and explained their significance. We were told that they would be on the dashboards of our vans when we got to Nashville. We would receive a van key, with a number on the tag, and that number was the first thing in that bag on the dash and this would be our car for the week. I think he has done this before, don't you?

Since the only food provided on this next flight was a few broken pretzels and a small plastic cup of soda, and Head Honcho Rob knew this going in...he got a donation from a local deli in town to give us sandwiches for the trip. This was the fun part! Somehow the lunch cooler was loaded into the plane galley and I was one of the lucky leaders who got to play flight attendant. They didn't let me do the "emergency directions" part, much as I would have loved to point to all the exits and explain how the seat doubles as a flotation device in the event of a water landing...over Texas?.....I digress...I got to pass out a real lunch! On the plane! Nothing makes you a hero more than to give hungry kids some yummy food! Except for the rest of the passengers looking sadly at their bag of broken pretzels and plastic cup of soda, I was in heaven.

Thanks Head Honcho Rob, for setting me up to look so good! One more reason I adore ya!

We landed in Nashville and grabbed our traveling buddies. Another detail assigned to us. Each leader had four kids that they were responsible for getting from point A to point B. We also have our own version of security checks with leader Jeff, because he is the tallest and most visible, and he had his trusty clipboard. He would check us all past a point in the airports, then run ahead to our own personal security check point, and check us all past again. This is how we know we never left anybody. We each had our own kids to watch, but leader Jeff had his clipboard! (another detail provided by Head Honcho Rob)

So we are finally on the road. Head Honcho Rob, in all his wisdom, knew that kids stuffed into vans for a 5 hour drive and all their stuff stuffed into a van for a 5 hour drive AFTER being on planes all day...well, he knew it would be rough. He planned for only 6 people to be in each van, though there were seat belts for 7. He wanted us all to have a bit of breathing room, even if it meant the expense of an additional van. Do you see where this is heading? Do you see why I just love Head Honcho Rob?

The van. The piece of junk van. Need I say more? I explained that our group was separated by a traffic light and those of us who made it through pulled over to wait. I know I never wanted to be lost in Kentucky, nor did I want to lose anyone...so we waited. The next light turned and we all started to move forward. I hear a "ding" and look at my dash lights. Hmmmm....I notice a check engine light come on. I also feel a funny vibration, and start asking "do you gals smell that?". I pull out my precious laminated card and skim past the White House red phone to get Head Honcho Rob's number and ask my navigator/teen to ring him up. He answers, I explain, and do you know what this man perfect planning says? He says "Well, we are almost to the church, can you hold on?" What part of engine light, weird vibration and odd smell sounds like I should keep driving? Did he hear me?

Well, it turns out he was right. We literally were at the turn to the looooong uphill driveway to the church and all I had to do was pull in and park. I did calmly tell the girls that there could be a car fire that I could not see, and to get out as soon as I stopped. I deduced this from the large amount of smoke pouring from my car. Head Honcho Rob never saw any of this and he immediately started pointing to where we should go to eat, and it made me wonder if he had even heard what I said....ya know, the car issue?

I will end the suspense and say simply that we were all able to find those extra seat belts that had been allowed for comfort, move all gear from the abandoned van into the remaining vans and carry on to our next adventure.

I also want to thank Rob. He is simply the best! He makes all of us look good and true to his word, he did not lose me in Kentucky!

Appalachia stole my heart...and Young Life Rocks!

2008-05-06T19:32:00.000-07:00

Beginning on Sunday night, kids started arriving at my house before dinner. We had the bar-b-que scenting out through the neighborhood and parents giving their hugs to kids being dropped off for the adventure. Kids were whispering to me to get their "parents outta here" and parents were whispering "take care of my baby"...being in the middle, I hugged everyone and winked and nodded to both. That's how I roll!

The evening was spent laughing loudly, eating a lot, playing Rock Band, and generally doing some early bonding. I also would glide around giving shout outs of the countdown until bed time, but no one seemed to take me seriously. I was never wrestled to the ground, or had dirty socks stuffed in my mouth, so I kept at my plan. I had no illusions, but the goal was to get SOME rest before our early rise to get to the airport an hour away. For highschool kids, I was quite happy to see that they had fun, but also seemed willingly be in bed by 10pm....thank you Lord! I am the one who needed rest!

We did wake up early (2am), got dressed, tidied up the house a bit, and loaded into the car. Off to the airport we went and there we met the rest of the group. About 35 kids plus 10 adult leaders made us a group worth noticing. Many people think I am nuts to hang with teens but I have to tell you they are better than most adults I know. I don't know what it says about me, you can judge for yourself, but hopefully you will see by the end of this why I love them all so freakin' much!! We flew from Reno to Las Vegas. My daughter was so excited when I told her she could exaggerate and say she had been there, though her feet never touched soil. She didn't care, she just knows she saw the same buildings that are in the opening credits for CSI....and that is not an admission that she is allowed to watch this show, but who hasn't seen the beginning credits?

Early at the Reno airport. See how dark it is? See how happy the young folk are?

See the sleeping "adult leader" there catchin' it where she can? That is resourceful!!

(never been to the Grand Canyon, but we got to fly over it, can I say I was there too?)

This is me. This is before the rest of the adventure, early, early in the trip now that I look back on it. See how happy I am? My hair is clean, I have a bit of makeup on, and I am feelin' fine! I had even earned my Southwest wings already...

These are two of the kids that I encouraged to get to bed. Before....

I explained that they would be tired and would need their rest for the next day and the next week. They laughed at me and continued their Rock Band concert tour....I should have known they would do this to me. Oh sure, they think they are young and can stay up all night, but NOooooo....party poopers!

A quick layover and then off to Nashville. I have to say that I was so pleasantly surprised at how beautiful that city was. Green, hilly and so different from my neck of the woods. Once there we piled all these kids into vans and began our 5 plus hour drive up into Kentucky. For those of you who are wondering...yes it was a looong day, but not nearly as loooooong as the return day. We had time change on our side going East.

Our group was caravaning and we got a bit separated at a stop light. Those of us who made it through the light pulled over to wait and it was at this point I heard a ding, saw a light come on, felt a weird idling vibration. The light changed, we all began to move together again, and then I noticed smoke coming out of my car....in Kentucky! I was SO far out of my "comfort zone" I can't even begin to tell you, and all the promises of taking care of "babies" were weighing on my mind, and then came the smoke. Pouring out of my car!! Did I mention I was in Kentucky? Fortunately, I looked up and we were at the driveway of the church that was hosting us for dinner/pit stop. As I am pulling into the parking lot I calmly told the kids that when I stopped they were to exit the vehicle from the two side exits. We had just been on a few plane rides, so they seemed to know the "emergency plan" intuitively and didn't ask about oxygen masks, or taking carry on, they just knew that when I stopped the needed to GET OUT! Stay tuned....the adventure does continue!

Go take a breath, get some coffee and ya'll come back soon!

Am I the worst or what?!

2008-05-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

I am, I know it...but I have "reasons". I just want to say to my friends and family (who know life creeps in) to please hang in there with me. I will get my head together soon.

Knitting, mission trips, vacation, kids, knitting, doctor visits, spring fever, oh and did I mention knitting? More to come....stay tuned!

P.S. Click on the Alpenglow...it gets bigger and is just breathtaking!

Supersnow Sunday!

2008-02-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

Sometime in the night I heard the telltale sound of the power going out. For some strange reason my Bose radio does this little clicking sequence in the cd changer, and it is enough to alert me that we are now officially cut off. The satellite has been down for over a month, so no Superbowl for me, but the power? The electricity is salt in the wounds...I just finished all my House seasons 1, 2, and 3 and was moving on to Grays Anatomy!

We wake up early and find that the little storm my husband guffawed at last night has left us laughing out loud. It is that fine line between laugh or cry and we opt for the first. It really is getting to be funny! I also think this kind of winter is what separates the men from the boys ladies and gentleman. So many people are beginning to complain and the upside is that many people move away come spring time and it keeps our small town on the small side. Natural selection?

So, I got suited up and went out to take pictures. Lots of them at my sisters request. She moved away long ago but still likes to laugh along with us. Sort of like when you are due any second to have a baby, each phone call is answered with "Not yet"...Well, my phone is ringing with people laughing and my answer is "Lots!!". Maybe the pictures will help clarify what 'lots' means for all the snickering flat landers. Plus, I was reading on Crazy Aunt Purl how some folks like to be sort of voyeurs and they honestly do like to see into the windows of life that blogging cracks open.

Summer Pond/Winter Pond? (all pictures get bigger if you click on them)

Summer Side Yard/Winter Superbowl Sunday...I kid you not. See the cute little rock steps and pathway? Well, we call it the Luge Trail in the winter :-)

Summer Gazebo/Winter Gazebo. What you can't tell very well from either picture is that the front of the gazebo is about 3 feet off the ground.

Summer nieces/Winter nieces don't come to Aunties :-( Let's all enjoy the summer nieces and recall all that summer fun shall we? Sleepovers in the back yard tent, playing in the blow up pool, home made snow cones. Entire days spent in swim suits!

This is, in a word, what my shoveling kids have to say!

Especially when I come out to supervise with my nice warm cup of coffee in my new Starbucks mug...thanks to my sis's Christmas gift card! I am evil, that's how I roll....Just kidding!! I did my share! You have to on days like this.

On days where you have to move snow you have already moved so you can move more snow....click here and you will see my macho sons shoveling away the top of the berm so that we can toss more up there.

I know it LOTS of pictures, but it is necessary when there is LOTS of snow. So when you call the house, I will tell you to look at the blog. Fair enough?

We call her "Duck Slayer"

2008-01-31T18:37:00.000-08:00

Whelp, she has gone and done it again! In between working 6 and a half days a week, knitting, running, and chasing down opportunity, those wheels in her head just never stop turning. (If you listen you can hear them, we all do!) Jimmy has yet again come up with a way to spoil the "Team Jimmy Bean" gals rotten. What has she done this time? She treated us all to the most original idea yet....a cooking class at Nothing To It! We all gathered together in a beautiful kitchen and had ourselves some fun! *ETA* This was a way of celebrating the fact that we have sold some yarn. Enough yarn that if you tie all the ends together and stretched them out....way out...we have circled the entire planet! Watch out Mars!

Douglas Dale of Wolfdales restaurant in Tahoe City was our host/teacher. Besides being handsome as all get out, he was friendly and not the least bit condescending about cooking. Rather, he was passionate and inspiring! I am the first to admit a bit of "stage fright" when it comes to being put on the spot. Case in point, when it came time to actually cooking, the last thing I wanted to do was mess up in front of Chef or anyone else...that is why when he asked for volunteers to make the Japanese noodles I raised my hand immediately. How hard can noodles be, right? I will tell you that nerves take over and all you can think of is how many things can go wrong with noodles.

I remember a friend of mine when I was about 12. Her mom's technique for testing for doneness of spaghetti was to throw a noodle across the room and if it stuck, it was done. Well this is a good time when you are 12, but in a cooking class in front of all your friends and the handsome chef....not so cool. We were there to learn people! I have to add that one time when I was staying over at my friends, we had a noodle tossing/testing heck of a good time, and were throwing noodles around like crazy. We ended up in her bedroom and one finally stuck on her wall behind the bedroom door. It was there for ages. I can't remember how long later (years?) we went to remove it, and the paint literally came off the wall still sticking to the noodle! We laughed forever about that one. This is the same friend who gave me all her old Tiger Beat magazines full of Donny Osmond, Sean Cassidy and Leif Garrett. My mom wouldn't buy them for me, but her being an only child seemed to have everything I ever wanted. The same walls were covered with photos we would pull out of the magazines and tape to the walls...then imagine who was our boyfriend. She was a good friend until she took the turn in middle school and started smoking....but that is another story!

Again, can't do this in class. Oh well, I managed not to mess up the noodles by watching my clock intently for the 3 looooong minutes, and about every 15 seconds at the end pulling one out and tasting it....NOT tossing it any place.

The entire class was split into groups and each was assigned a portion of the menu to cook. Team Jimmy Beans was in charge of the duck! I am happy to say that we kicked some booty, but in my opinion the soup group came in a close second.

Douglas had preprepared some tea-smoked duck which was then deep fried in a giant pot of hot oil. This terrified me to no end! Something about that much hot oil nearing the flame over point and I am standing at the back of the class. We also got to stuff a duck, which Sandy loved! Here she is having a good time with her new friend...

I have never eaten duck before, but when something is being prepared in such a real way i.e. not by me, I will try anything once. I have to say that it was amazing!! If you ever get the chance to visit the restaurant you will not be disappointed!

The next thing was slicing and dicing and Jimmy was elected against her will, but still gracious enough, hence her name...."Duck Slayer"!

In her dream life, she is a chef who happens to knit! She is like "Duck to Water"...pun intended!

At the end of the night we all sat down to a delicious dinner prepared by everyone there and loved every bite. I would take another class there in a heartbeat! So much fun and the yarn shop that cooks together, stays together. We also eat together, play together, knit together....

Thanks once again, Jimmy, for an amazing adventure!

Around the World! ...and My World Is White

2008-01-23T09:31:00.000-08:00

oh goody. it is snowing. .....again!

My dog's print right before he "yellow-ed" some white snow....

My doors are white...

My favorite Mary Poppins doll is white...

My "old school" iPod is white, though I did just get a fancy new black one!

The fire is warm...

Oh, and the yarn I just bought? Of all the colors I could have come home with yesterday, after my first day back at work in a shop full of color? The yarn I came home with?....WHITE! What on earth am I thinking?

What I am thinking is this: My sister called after reading my blog (she is a lurker/non blogger) and pointed out who had hand knits listed and who did not. I should clarify before I get another call, it was my niece who was noticing that she in particular did not get mentioned and my loyal sister was defending me. My loyal/best friend/confidante/sister pointed out to my niece ALL the people in our family who are still in line and waiting...including my own children.

My oldest has asked for this sweater a while back. He even bought me the book! "Son of a Stitch N B***h" There are actually a number of things both my sons have pointed to and said they liked, so I am feeling all guilty I guess. I called him and said "What color?" So there is the answer.

I must be snowblind or something. Can you see it? There at the bottom of the loop? I don't know how I didn't catch this but every once in a while you make a mistake that is a groaner. Yep, it's twisted!!! Ugh!

Radical change of subject....In my email this morning I got this! We are all pretty excited about it...

Reno, NV, JANUARY 22, 2008: Ten days into the launch of their internet yarn business, Doug and Laura Zander began tallying the number of yards of yarn they were selling. They quickly realized that, if strung together, the yarn that they had sold so far would reach the center of nearby Reno, NV – a town 30 miles away. The message was clear: sell enough yarn to make it around the World.

More than 4 years and 44 million yards of yarn later, a single purchase on January 20^th, 2008 marked the end of their quest to circumnavigate the Earth with pieces of yarn. The critical purchase was completed by a Virginia knitter and consisted of approximately 2700 yards of yarn (enough to knit 4 pair of socks and a baby blanket). The average ball of yarn contains between 100 and 200 yards.

“Without the help of knitters around the World, we could have never achieved this tremendous goal.” said Laura Zander, co-owner, Jimmy Beans Wool. The Zanders currently sell yarn to yarn-enthusiasts in over 50 countries.

So what’s next for these fiber-pushers? “Mars!” exclaims Zander, “We’ve set our sites on circling every planet in the solar system.” And with more than 1 in 3 U.S. women able to knit or crochet (according to the Yarn Craft Council), the Zanders will be knitting their way around Mars in no time.

Founded in 2002 by Laura, aka “Jimmy,” and Doug Zander, Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to Kazakhstan and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile in Fortune Small Business (July/August 2007)

That is a whole lotta yarn people!

"You do me honor"

2008-01-21T11:03:00.001-08:00

Have you ever had one of those experiences that changes you? Or at least you really truly hope you are changed...for good? I have them now and again, and they usually are a "God thing", but I am sadly not always permanently changed. Being honest I would have to admit that. I want to be different, pray to be different, even give God permission to MAKE me different yet in the end I tend to go back to my habits. So sad.

This weekend I had such an experience and I hope it sticks. I am a Young Life leader and we have a weekend each year that is officially a training sort of thing, but I find it to be much more of a retreat. It is for adult staff and volunteers (like me) to get together and encourage one another, and it is something I look forward to each January.

In spite of my dental issues this week, I packed up my bag, my even larger bag of drugs, one husband and an open heart. I was not disappointed. The speaker started off the first session referencing a verse that I had been studying for a while and had sort of come to this weekend with packed in my heart....insert Twilight Zone theme song...

Without getting too out there, I will zone in on one particular part of one particular event and try not to butcher it :-)....

We were treated to a biblical dinner Saturday evening. This was a 3 hour meal that was taught as much as eaten. A pastor came and while wearing period clothing, he lead us through a feast that was "Last Supper"ish in it's design. Not really Passover, but a feast that would have been typical of that era among friends. Each aspect of the meal was explained. From the invitation to the feast, and how the person was invited and what it meant, to the individual things that occur during it, like offering a cool drink of water and washing the guests feet. So much that I cannot go into for fear of being too "religious" and because the meal was 3 hours people!

Anyway....One part of the meal is a time where bread is broken and it is dipped in olive oil. You then feed this to another person and say "You do me honor". This was explained to mean so much more. See, in this era (and locale I imagine) there was no such thing as self esteem. It really was a humble time, and other people were regarded as higher than oneself. During the meal if you were about to place a bite of food in your mouth and it looked good to your friend sitting beside you, it was an HONOR if they took it from you and ate it. If you asked for a bowl of olives to be passed to you, the person passing the bowl to you would say "You do me honor" because it was an honor for them to serve you in some small way.

Wierd eh? It was an experience I'll tell ya! To be honest it was wonderful in ways I can't describe but not without its share of giggling!

So back the the bite of bread. During the feast at any time you are allowed to get up and go to someone else and place a bit of olive oil dipped bread in their mouth and say "You do me honor". This meant a lot of things. It meant "I forgive you forever", it meant "I hold you higher than myself", it meant "I would die for you, friend", it meant "you mean so much to me, I esteem you"....this simple gesture means so much and I hope I am not doing the aforementioned butchering of this element.

I was trying to take it all in and really get it. I was awkward because I was not feeling great and that was a distraction. I was a bit uncomfortable because this sort of thing almost makes you feel silly for its lack of normalcy...we were eating with our right hands for crying out loud. (No silverware at ancient feasts and your left hand was what they had in place of toilet paper) I was also astounded at the real meanings behind everything. It was living history and that always gets my heart and mind going.

Then a sweet friend of mine came up to me. She is a girl I had in Young Life but who is now a leader herself. She came from all the way across the large dining hall where she had been sitting and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned and there was her sweet smiling face and she was holding a piece of oil dipped bread and she said "You do me honor". All I could do was open my mouth and receive.....oh, and cry like a baby!! It is not part of the feast but of course I hugged her too.

All I can say is that this in one lesson I really want to "get". I really want to have a heart of humility and to hold others higher than my own silly self. As a mom and wife and person in general. I get tired sometimes picking up after everyone in my house, but I want to choose to see it as an honor to serve my family, because it is. I could make a list a mile long of all the little annoyances that life tosses my way, but if I could remember to stop for a moment and insert one humble phrase "You do me honor", I would be thrilled!

I like to think that this is a thing we can all appreciate regardless of where you hang your hat faith wise. If you have hung in there this far, I am grateful and please know I am not in any way trying to be "preachy". This gal is a firm believer in taking the giant log out of my own eye before I try to remove any specks of dust elsewhere...I am simply sharing something that I hope has changed ME.

The pictures are not from the feast I was at, I swiped them from the website of the pastor who came and shared this with us.

Speaking of Honor.....Tammy has knocked me over with her little "You Make My Day" award. I was thinking "Huh? Me?". I think the only people who read my blog are co-workers and friends and family members who I force into it. And Tammy! So to her I say "You do me honor" and I have a feeling she will "get it" too. She is cool like that.

Never having done this before, because no one has never tagged me in blogland, I am a bit nervous. I also just cleaned out my bookmarks in an effort to prioritize my time, so I don't know if I have 10 people that I visit all the time. Also do I want to admit just how much time I spend reading other peoples lives? Yikes! In no particular order, but simply because this is fun, these are the people I am willing to admit to that they have their own personal stalker....ME!

I feel like we could be buddies Tammy Knits
Her wit kills me Knit and Tonic
Not nearly as "Crusty Old Broad" as she thinks, Freaky Knitter
My dear friend who is far away and I miss terribly, Dot-San
Always a good read, Marie Grace
Who doesn't read Yarn Harlot ?
never comment, but I often read Green Apples
a well rounded gal, Madre Adoptiva
An Irish girl loves an Irish girl, We Do Not Have A Knitting Problem
From a town I adore, and a customer I miss seeing, Busha Full of Grace

That was fun! Made me think of how much fun I have looking in on everyone and their lives and knitting and such. Oh, and TAG, you are all "it"...your turn to share who makes your day!

I think I'm going to live...

2008-01-18T13:16:00.000-08:00

I just want to say thanks for the emails of encouragement and you are all free to share any horror stories now that my own has past....

I will say right up front that I have a high tolerance for pain, and I have had my share of trips to the dentist. This tops them all and if I had it to do over again I would have paid double to be knocked out!! The gal on the phone assured me it would be no big deal and that for 200.00 it really wasn't worth the extra expense for the "twilight sleep" medication. She is a big fat dentist office liar is all I can say!! Two totally natural child birth experiences and I would have done either of those over again in trade for this....Can they give you an epidural for tooth extraction?

First off I have to say that I didn't know those dental chairs had so many positions. It was really amazing and if it were not for what I was having done to my mouth, the chair ride could have been almost like a trip to an amusement park. Up, down, reclined, reclined more, nearly upside down reclined and sitting back up...it just went on and on and on....I seriously felt like I was in a Loony Tunes cartoon!

Things I heard a lot:
"You're doing SO good hon!"...assistant
"My wrist is hurting"...dentist
"You are really doing good"....assistant
"You doing O.K.?"...assistant
"My arm is tired, I need a break"...dentist!!!
"You get a rest now honey, you are hanging in there so good!"...assistant
"Sounds like you are getting a workout"....me, as I reach up and pat the dentist
"Yeah, this one doesn't want to come out"....laughing dentist back to me....(dentists should not laugh)
"OK, you might hear a little cracking now..."....assistant
"If it helps at all, that was NOT an easy tooth, you did SO well hanging in there!"...assistant at the end

I did bring my precious iPod and found there was a fine line between it being loud enough to distract my attention and still being able to hear enough to cooperate.

He was a nice guy, and it was not his fault but I have honestly never been more miserable in my whole life. I will give him points for good injections! Really not the worst part, as a whole, he was quite a good shot giver of a man. He had to do a few other procedures that have names I can't pronounce and I also don't want to gross anyone out.

Basically I had a cracked root and this was causing tremendous pain. Tooth had to go, and now I am in limbo waiting to heal, then a shiny new tooth will come to replace it. It will give me time to save up for round 2, which sadly insurance doesn't cover. This little trip will seriously set me back in my yarn shopping! I am trying to forget that it will also be a set back to *sniff, sniff* bathrooms.

House has saved the day, again! I realized I have more in common that "my boyfriend" than I knew. See, "I don't have a pill problem, I have a pain problem"...that is right my friends, Vicodin is what I have been prescribed! It has taken a day or so to figure it out. I wish I knew what House sees in this med because I certainly don't get it. It makes my feel queasy if I take it straight, and takes forever to help with the pain if I take it with food. I think my magic combo is to take half a pill and break the time in half. Instead of every six hours, go for three hours but half the dose. I have made it all the way through Season 1, and nearly through Season 2....I can't believe it but there were actually 2 episodes that I had never seen!

So last night I made an attempt to knit. Imagine all this down time and just not feeling up to it!! It was terrible to lay there. All I wanted to do was knit. It was right in front of me, several projects all laying on the coffee table, and I could not manage to reach them. But finally last night I picked up Lady Eleanor and completed an entire row! I think it was a turning point in feeling better. It really did lift my mood a bit to be doing something I was enjoying and to feel closer to normal.

I know hats can be kind of boring but I did finish the Grinchy Grinch hat from 2Askew patterns. I mainly did this hat because I was chompin' at the bit (tooth joke!) to knit with the new yarn we got in last week. Since we no longer carry Noro I was hoping this could be a nice sub for Silk Garden or Kureyon. Let me know what you think. I love the color transitions and it did not disappoint. My son was not thrilled with wearing a pinkish hat, but he did his best to humor me.

Again, I want to say thanks for all the well wishes and encouragement. I felt it, believe it or not....

How bad is it?

2008-01-14T16:03:00.000-08:00

So, about a year ago I had some dental problems that I could not ignore any longer. Anyone with kids knows that you put off your own issues in favor of children and so time had passed and I had to finally deal with the pink elephant living in my mouth. Bottom line is that I have a tooth that had a root canal when I was in my teens and somehow the root of the tooth had cracked. The dentist said it needed to come out, sooner rather than later. The real bottom line is that by the time the calculator stopped "cha-chinging" I decided that as long as I was not in any pain, I could put it off. My son needs his wisdom teeth out, two of the three kids need braces, and the honest truth is that if I am going to spend thousands of dollars....I want a new bathroom!!! Here is my dream, I will settle for less....but where do you think that is? Look at the view, would ya!! Can you imagine trotting around that space doing your bathroom business in that kind of room? I have to say, there are no blinds. Maybe they are the kind of windows that turn all frosty at the touch of a button.

That was a year ago. Just got the money for the bathrooms (last week!) and this week that darn tooth started giving me fits! Go figure! Now I am nearly in tears because I see my bathrooms slipping away in favor of a dental bill, that and I am in more discomfort than and Advil can easily handle.

What is a girl to do? I have an appointment on Wednesday, that is what I'm gonna do. For those inclined to pray, please do. I am a nervous wreck! I really do wonder, How bad is it? Has anyone had a tooth pulled that can calm my fears. No horror stories please! At least not until after Wednesday. I was in bed for a week after my wisdom teeth came out so I think I am haunted by that memory....an utter blur of vicodin and and sleep and the occasional small black and white television with snowy reception in spite of the rabbit ears. Small irony in that my doctor, seriously, was named Dr. Payne.

I can hardly knit! I am trying to keep busy, but a stockinette hat is about all I can manage at the moment. Set aside is my beautiful Noro shrug, my lovely Monkey socks and the Entrelac Lady Eleanor wrap. Gone is my time browsing online for tile and toilets and vanities.

If it wasn't so embarrassing I would post pictures of the bathrooms! We have gradually made over our home but the bathrooms were the last to be focused on. We are looking forward to the project but now it is all up in the air. I will keep my fingers crossed....that is I will try to keep them busy!

This is the hat! It is the Grinchy Grinch Hat from 2 Askew Patterns. I just love it! Originally it was knit in Cumba but I was dying to try this new yarn we got in that screamed to me "Noro!!". We don't carry Noro anymore so if this will work as a good sub, than call me Happy Camper! The yarn feels very much like Kureyon to me. It is brand new to our store and we are loving it! Knit One, Crochet Too in a yarn called Paint Box

What do you think? I love the gentle striping and honestly would be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Worst of all, and I just have to show a picture, is setting aside my Transition Gloves. The blame for these (the knitting, not the setting aside) can fall firmly at the feet of Tammy. It is all her fault...as if she ordered them to my mailbox herself! This yarn is to "dye" for and the pattern is addictive. I hate that I have been so distracted by pain to concentrate on them! Look, see what I mean! See the way the variegated yarn changes so nicely between the cream? I am in love! I ordered the pattern and yarn from Knit-Purl and was very happy with their quick service!

I'm not braggin, but....

2008-01-06T16:21:00.000-08:00

I just have to boast! I might whine a bit but when it all comes down, I mean literally as well as "pun"fully, but in the end I just have to share the joy! Look at this, will ya! Please click on the pictures, they get bigger and more beautiful!

I get to live here!!

So I went out driving. I like to go out on adventures when the weather gets wild. Nothing scary, nothing foolish, but just some good old driving in the snow to see what can be seen. (Oh, and pick up some pizza for the kids)

Now I am sure that just about everywhere people live there will be some sort of tourist aspect, people who don't know where they are going, or what not. But I have to say that this is high season for "turkeys" as we call them and a simple trip to Round Table can really be an adventure. I don't want to bring myself down or get all negative, but people really amaze me when they visit our town. It is almost like they leave their brains and any shred of driving knowledge at the bottom of the mountain. I am not talking about the normal "oopsies" that happen, but rather things like stopping in the middle of the road, in the middle of the lane, in the middle of traffic....to take off their chains! Not in a parking lot, or heaven forbid someplace safe, but literally in the middle of traffic. The worst part is you have to try NOT to run over their little legs sticking out as you attempt to go around them.

Phew! I am done now. But rest assured there will be more...I promise to be on the lookout for funny stories!

So I went out driving and it was really good to see something besides the inside of my house or my own snow shovel. There were many neighbors out, all waving hello and all doing what I had been doing...cleaning up! These are my favorite kind of days, the whole winter wonderland thing. People are also very neighborly and you see it most at this time of year. My kids were out shoveling after the last storm and when they saw the lady kitty corner from us (with a new baby!) come out to start her driveway, they went over and started in on her berm. Well, the tractor guy saw the whole thing and came and did her whole driveway!! Fast forward to today, my family is again out moving snow and they brought their new snowblower over and said we could use it. So nice!! Ours is on the blink and so this was a huge gift...even with a blower we were out there for several hours.

There is something about the difficulty of winters that brings people together. It seems that good will abounds and it is just one more thing that keeps me loving my hometown.

Well, that and this!! Not that I'm braggin....

I can't forget the knitting either. There has been knitting. I got some delicious Noro Iro from Buriedinyarn whom I met through Ravelry. She was de-stashing and I was taking her up on it! I think I am in heaven with this yarn. I love Noro, and I have knit with it before but each time it just keeps me in awe of it's fibery goodness. I love how the colors so easily go from one to the next and you almost don't see it while it's happening but then all of the sudden...Wham!...you are looking at this thing of beauty. I can't wait to finish this shruggy sweater so I can take even more pictures of it, not to mention wear. I will be the snow shoveling fashion diva! Right now it is my Mayzie who is the diva. She so loves to sniff my yarns! I think she smells the sheep or something. Anyone else think that is why their dogs go nuts over yarn?

What to do?

2008-01-04T15:42:00.000-08:00

They have been telling us for days how bad this was going to be. They told us. We heard them, heck the whole country heard them. I have had people calling me from far and wide making sure we are alive and well. How embarrassing it is to admit we are, well, fine! Now I don't want to jinx anything but so far so good. Still have satellite, phones, electricity, and internet.

So what are you supposed to do in a blizzard. Knit perhaps? The dog is so bored he wishes he could knit I bet. So I just have to say that all the fantasies about sitting in front of a fire, watching the snow fall outside, smelling the yummy spaghetti sauce simmer....it's as good as you imagine!

I cast on for the new Noni Green Earth Grocery Bag. It is far from green, but it is "green". Not only because I am using up stash to do it (bonus) but because I really will use this once it is done and I like the idea of something sort of insulated for cold items. Living in the mountains I actually have to drive down to the big city to shop. It will be nice to pack colder items into this for the ride home. Should I dare try to bring home ice-cream?

I also ordered this:

Is that wrong? I am under blizzard warning!! What else am I supposed to do? Just sit there and knit? No way, Jose....a girl has to amuse herself in a variety of ways when under storm pressure. The power could go at any minute and I could be completely cut off. I have to have something to look forward to after all this mess besides shoveling and boiling water to bathe. Did I mention we have an electric hot water heater? Yeah, a few years back we had a bad storm that knocked out power. Our house was all electric. No phone, no hot water, no cooking except what I could seriously make on top of the woodstove. (I did it, we survived, but come spring we put in a gas stove I'll tell you) After a week a friend came by and said I looked like a Troll. She packed me and my kids up and took us to her house for a shower and a glimpse of the outside world that I thought had disappeared. We also didn't have a 4 wheel drive and the roads were bad enough to stay put, so needless to say I probably did look like a Troll.

I can be taught. I learned from that experience. Knit while you have light and shop while you have internet people. Back to it...

"Ice Storm" Comes to Town!

2007-12-20T10:16:00.000-08:00

Ohhh...it was cold and snowy last night! The winds howled and I worried about the bar-b-que rolling away, or the hot tub cover blowing off. Both of these have happened before so it is not wasted concern.

Day broke and we have a beautiful new layer of snow! I love these days. The fire is warm inside, clove spiced coffee is brewing, the kids are out shoveling the snow, and I get to see what the storm left behind.

Do you see it? Look closer....there on the Lilac bush....

Ahhh, the new Lorna's Laces Limited Edition sock yarn!! It is a Jimmy Beans Wool exclusive called Ice Storm and I have to tell you I swiped up two hanks fast before it melted away. I also have become addicted to the Lion and Lamb and that silk wool blend will be stunning with beads in this colorway. I ordered two of those, they should be in the shop today. Stay tuned for pictures....I can hardly wait myself!!

Now, what to knit? What to knit? I think I will try Jeanne's amazing new sock pattern....AGAIN! I love the pattern but honestly I think that nothing will look prettier with these colors...unless I went with something lacy. As I said, what to knit? Ideas?

I call it my "shrine to tack" but I mean better...

2007-12-19T20:59:00.000-08:00

If it is plastic and lights up...I say let me have it! Having said that, I honestly only have my nativity and my snow globe with Snoopy. I fantasize of a yard full of silly plastic reindeer, or the singing Christmas carolers, or my giant pine tree all lit up with lights...but that as I said, is a fantasy.

In the mean time I do dearly love my outdoor nativity. For some people putting up the tree caps the holiday cheer. For others it is finishing all the shopping. For me it is when I can look outside and see baby Jesus being held close....and my kneeling Santa looking on. I have added Wise Men from eBay, and a Sheppard Boy from Wally World. I found my ox and lamb someplace else, and it all just sort of comes together and makes me really happy.

We have set it up in various places in our yard over the years. Each time it goes up, I say "Oh! That is my favorite place!" Sort of like each stage my children got to in their growing up years I thought was my "favorite". Sitting, crawling, walking....gulp!...driving!! (No, I actually don't like that one)

I do like where it is this year because I can see it from the couch. In the evening I can look out, past the tree wrapped with gifts, and see the real Reason for the Season. I can see the snow falling in our current blast of a cold winter storm and see Mary holding her precious boy, like I held my precious boys. I see it and I remember, even if it is my "shrine to tack" as I lovingly call it. I remember God came down in the most humble way to begin showing Himself to His creation relationally. There was so much love in that beginning, and so much more love the ending of the story.

Merry CHRISTmas!!

It's a "Three-fer"

2007-12-17T10:43:00.000-08:00

We all finished and are proudly sporting our hats. Three very different color combinations, but all gorgeous! The kits are available at Jimmy Beans Wool
and not only in hats...there are sock kits, sweaters and vests.

Allie was able to spend time with Kathryn Alexander at her studio and home earlier this year. We tease her about knowing everyone, but it really is not a joke. She wrote about it in her blog:

Kathryn's home is her studio. It is as rich in color as any place I've ever been. Warm and inviting - cut pile rugs of many styles covering hardwood floors. Her work covers her walls, saddles, harnesses and bridles accent the rooms. Baskets of yarn are artfully arranged beside sofas that blend in only because they also carry dozens of colors. How inspiring! Creativity abounds, fer shur. The only black/white/gray I observed was a Peter Collingwood rug. Oh, my.... Friend's work also adorn the walls, and I noticed a silk weaving that could only have come from Sara Lamb. I ran to the car to grab my camera - only to find I'd left it behind at Gus's house. How sad is that?? A lovely lunch and glass of wine, stories about Habu, exchanges of ideas to help Gus along with his fledging fiber business. A visit to the barn and much-needed closeness with horses. The most tidy barn I've ever been in, and Kathryn emailed a few days later to tell me she was vacuuming the spider webs from the rafters. Now THAT is one devoted horse-woman!

I can dream that someday I will meet her, but until then I can brag that "I know Allie"!!

Drive-Thru

2007-12-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

I seriously love this pattern! I have finished another one for my niece in time for her next visit. I know she will love it, but my sister in law has a thing for pink on her girls....my niece picked blue. I will try and spin it as a Hawaiian blue and hopefully that will work. They did have a family trip there earlier this year so that may have inspired the color choice.

I should also say that I have the most amazing sister in law, and she in no way would be rude. My standing joke with her is that I could give her gag gift of the rubber doggie poo and she would make it seem like the most amazing rubber doggie poo she ever got and she loves it! She really is gracious in receiving, but she just has these amazing little girls who truly are precious little princesses.

Princess number one got a brown Drive Thru in the spring. It was actually meant for a nephew but I was told it would never fit his chubby little body....so she got it by default because she begged me.

Princess number two will be receiving a blue Drive Thru....what are the odds? I say that blue and brown both go nicely with pink!

The Good with the Bad

2007-12-17T10:11:00.000-08:00

So, late last year we bought a bigger car for the family. With all the driving of highschool kids, and my own kids being HUGE, it was time to bump up. Now I will say that I am probably in the minority, but I actually liked my minivan. It was the first "new" car I had ever driven and it was darn good to me. I really didn't want to sell it but then we really couldn't keep it either. The only problem was that every time I got serious about selling it, someone needed it. A friend taking her daughter off to college, another family whose car was in the shop, more seatbelts needed for a youth group event...it just kept coming. The van came close to being a ministry all it's own.

I have listed it off and on with Craigs List, and got a few emails, but still no sale. I kept wondering what to do. I refused to pay money to sell a car and so this was really the only thing I persued.

Now that we are pretty certain my son's car will be officially totaled, it is suddenly clear why we still have the van. Not the coolest car for him to drive, but paid for none the less and it is reliable. So, wouldn't you know that we have a real offer on it from a posting I made the day of the accident! Go figure!

My son passes his Eagle Scout board, but on the way has his first vehicle accident. A week later he turns 18, and on his birthday we get the bad news that they won't fix it.... but will total it. The day we decide to keep the van, we get the offer to buy it.

Life sure has it's ups and downs, eh?

One more hat!

2007-12-08T15:32:00.000-08:00

But this one is a good one! Not just ANY hat I gotta tell ya! If you click on the pictures they get bigger and you can see how much fun this pattern full of color really was. I am dying to start the entrelac socks now!

The morning after

2007-12-08T14:26:00.000-08:00

Finally! It came in the night and we woke up lucky to have power, though no satellite. Oh well, Tivo is good for backup television if desperate. No one was watching it, however, until the snow was all dug away from decks, driveways, walkways and cars. There was also the insurance company to call, and wrecked vehicles to sort out.

A days spent knitting while waiting for the phone to ring. What a nice diversion from all the chaos in my brain. I finished up my Kathryn Alexander hat! Yeah! It is way more cute than even I imagined. It was fun, the yarn divine and the result pure colorful whimsy. Hurry up with the blocking already! Dry hat, dry....it is in front of the wood stove and I keep checking. Like the watched pot that will not boil, the hovered over hat will not dry....or something like that.

The phone rings: We may pay a fortune for insurance but I have to say that it is nice in a crisis. They called back and not only is the deductible less than I thought, it covers a rental car.

Deciding what UFO to tackle next or should I start my Noro sweater? I am just thinking that maybe simply winding up a ball of the Transitions will make me feel better. Then there is that darn sock for Jeanne. It would feel so good to hand that over someday. How is it that you can honestly love a yarn and a pattern but still can't manage to finish a darn sock for crying out loud?

The phone rings: They are determining the accident to be "no fault"!!! Yeah!! This means my son's rates won't go up. They are looking into a suspected blow out of his tire, causing the accident, and might even waive the deductible. My last worry is that somehow the truck is not totaled. It does not take much damage to exceed the value of a car. So I will keep staring at the phone....

...and I will go pinch my hat some more, and look for my swift and winder!!

"Hold on, it's going to be a bumpy night...."

2007-12-08T12:46:00.000-08:00

"Hello"
"Where are you?"
"Just leaving Club"
"Are you in the car?"
"Yeah, I just have to drop off a few kids and I will be heading home"
"Can someone else take them home? You need to come back right now"
"No, I'm committed. What's the matter? It's not snowing that badly yet".......

"Josh has been in an accident"

The words you never want to hear as a mom. It is late at night, I am on the other side of a mountain summit, it is the beginning of our first major snow storm, and my son is a million miles away as far as I'm concerned. A thousand questions are flooding my mind but there are no immediate answers. I know that he is not hurt but does that mean he is in some sort of shock and not feeling it?

I remember that right before I left for the night I felt a nudge to pray for him. He was heading out shortly after me to go to his Eagle Scout Board of Review. I turned around and hugged him. I wished him all the good stuff and encouragement that a mom can offer, and I prayed for him. That was the calm that got me through. I had an amazing peace because I knew God had been invited into the evening. He was a part of it all and I just needed to drive safely and stay calm.

It all ended well. Josh was unhurt and left his broken car in a ditch. Someone drove by and saw him, then took him to his Board of Review meeting. They offered to re-schedule but I was told by one of the board members that my son "Cowboyed Up" and said "No, I am here to do this thing". So in a night of crazy adventure he passed his Eagle Scout board for our troop and his last hurdle is the board with the area council.

On my way home I went to see the truck....it could have been so much worse. I am so grateful that this is the worst of it so far, but boy howdie, does having teens make your heart ache!

Evel Knievel

2007-11-30T14:12:00.000-08:00

Well, this just makes me so sad for some reason. I grew up watching this man any and every chance I got. Back when television was one channel and there was little I was allowed to see, my parents let me stay up past my bedtime to watch his stunts when they aired. It was always a huge event for me. I remember that I was given tickets to see his Snake River Canyon jump from my mom as a surprise gift. I could not have been more excited! I was going to see my hero!! You can't imagine my confusion when it turned out to be tickets to the local events center and it was closed circuit television. I thought it was real. This was as close to "live television" as we had back then, and it was on a big screen. That event, no matter how it ended, was still amazing. Later, when I was about 14, I got to go to see where this took place and was even more impressed if that was possible.

That was what I loved about him. No matter how it ended he always tried again. I loved his tenacity...and his caped costume. To a girl who swayed "tom boy" (and did some pretty hairy stuff on a purple banana seat bicycle beating every boy in the neighborhood!) he was quite something.....made me swoon a little too! May he rest in peace and out of aches and pains!!

"It's my Birthday and I'll knit if I want to, knit what I want to..."

2007-11-30T07:20:00.000-08:00

Who sang that song? It's an oldie I know, but it was humming in my head as I cast on for my Kathryn Alexander hat. Another project that I have no business starting because I have promised myself "No New Projects!!" until something else gets finished....primarily Jeanne's sock. But it was my birthday! I got to do what I wanted right?

I know all you moms out there must be like me. Most things pass by with hardly a notice. I am very low key about things like this. Birthdays, Mother's Day (blech!), Valentines, not so much into it I gotta say. In fact my sister and I have a promise (and a gift of freedom) to each other that we won't go nuts with holidays and such. If we see something that the other one would love, we just go for it. No waiting and stuffing it into the back of a closet to be held for some "occasion"...where I inevitably forget it's there anyway...blah, blah, blah. I will just add that this does not apply to the kids. Of course they don't miss out, but the adults in our family sort of have this arrangement.

So you can imagine my surprise when I woke up to this!

Knowing that I would head to the bathroom first thing, my honey bunny had a beautiful vase of flowers and card waiting for me. He had left for work but still surprised me with this before he went away.

Then I came out into the living room and found that my kids, a.k.a. "birthday elves", had done THIS:

I was laughing so hard as they told of their middle of the night adventure, trying to be quiet, problems with tape, and hoping I didn't wake up with my chronic insomnia episodes and discover them. Balloons covered the floor everywhere you looked and the dogs didn't know what to make of it all. My daughter told me how her room had been stuffed with them the day before and she hoped I would not come in and discover it all.

I was treated to a wonderful breakfast made by my kids and the funniest cards you could ever read. I received emails and phone calls all day long and I have to say it was the best birthday I have had in ages.... Getting old felt really special this time around!

I can't leave out the Jimmy Beans group. Allie came in with the gorgeous flowers that could not have been more perfect for my vase. Can you see the red barn house on the vase? How did she know that the Lily is my favorite flower? She is Allie, and she knows everything...that's how!!

Team Jimmy Beans Rocks!

2007-11-25T10:41:00.000-08:00

So, I just have to say what an amazing bunch we all are. I not only get to work in a little shop that is a bit of heaven on earth, but we all like each other to boot! We have the greatest bosses, and the whole thing is too much fun. It is funny because we are just a little yarn shop with the greatest dreams. We have amazing customers in store and online. We all work very hard to fill orders, serve our customers and help each other. We really are a "TEAM" in the best way, but I like to think we are friends too...

For those who know, and those who don't, we went to Sonoma recently. This was Jimmys way of spoiling us rotten yet again. Besides all the other ways that she takes care of us, this was an over the top experience that I will remember for ages.We began by piling into a van and pulling out our knitting! We were chauffured the whole time and that in itself is a treat. Stops along the way were bead stores, lunch in the square and puttering around downtown Sonoma, including another *gasp!* yarn shop. What can we say? We love to knit and we love yarn so we dove in!

Then off to Santa Rosa where we stayed in a lovely place. The view was beautiful, the beds were cozy (down blankets and feather beds!!) and the company divine. We spent the first part of the evening chatting around an open fire sipping Pinot Noir. More surprises were in store because we were taken off to a nice dinner in downtown Santa Rosa....and shocking! Out came the knitting!!

I am sure we were a sight to see, but fortunately they gave us a somewhat private area in the restaurant. After the delicious meal we went back to our hotel and slept like babies!

The next day the fun just continued. We all had a leisurely morning and ate breakfast as we felt lead. We all ended up gathering at the patio area again for a beautiful time of chatting and knitting...duh!

Off in the van again to more wine tasting and enjoying the most beautiful scenery. I used to live in this area and so it was a lot of fun to see places again and also noticed how much things have changed. Lots of wonderful memories....hopefully I didn't bore everyone with my stories!

We toured the wine caves at one winery, looked at art in another, and gift ideas in ALL of them. The last stop was at the "sparkling wine" vineyard for a delicious plate of cheeses and fruit, toasting each other and the Zanders for a wonderful weekend!

Thanks again, it was awesome!!!

Lost in Revelry, I mean Ravelry :-)

2007-11-25T10:26:00.000-08:00

Wow! In a word that is it!

I found this site ages ago but you have no idea how cool it is until you actually get "in there". I was confused by the whole invite thing and just scrapped it. Then it kept popping up in conversation so I tried again, and again, .....and again after signing up that is. I think they made that "Antsy" button just for me!

So here is where I say I was overwhelmed. I did not know where to begin so I just sort of looked. Then the reality of logging all that stuff. Taking and loading pictures. Admitting to yourself just how much yarn you have aquired and just how many unfinished things you have going all over the place. I like to joke that the reason I work in a yarn shop is to support my "habit" and that I am not a hardship to my family. I like to joke that I don't make any money. It is no joke. If I want to save any money I need to quit my job. I wonder if I can afford to work.

Just joking!!

The amazing nieces!

2007-08-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

Guess who came for the weekend? The girls from Honey Bunny's side...and was it ever a great time. They are so different from each other (and from raising little boys) that I just crack up constantly.

Here is a sweet story. Yesterday I was making pancakes and the older of the two said "My mom doesn't make pancakes very often. She mostly makes those kind you put in the toaster, but when she does she makes faces in her pancakes". I looked at mine and thought "Uh-oh"....so I asked her if her mommy made them with chocolate chips and she said "Nope!". I explained that I never quite mastered that whole faces in the pancake thing and that mine always turn out more like monsters in the pancakes but I would still do my best for her. A few minutes later she is taking a bite and gets really quiet, she whispers "Auntie, these taste like love".

Does it get any better?

Adventures in Kayaking!

2007-08-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

We all know there are things besides knitting (*gasp!!*) and one of them is new to me. Kayaking! It never looked that interesting to me but I caught the bug this summer after borrowing some from the folks.

Wow! The first time out was a make-it-or-break-it experience. Honey Bunny and I went to Monterey and gave it a whirl. Not only was it cold, windy and rainy that day but I wasn't feeling well....translated: not so nice to be around.

Still, we had a blast and the only complaint I heard from him is that I took off like a bullet and I could hear him calling to me through the storm "Hey, I thought we were doing this together!" (That is me in the lead, once he caught up!)

In my defense I was terrified. We had spent the day before learning all about what lurked under the water at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and I was scared of looking like food to something if I sat still too long. Not to mention that the weather was not cooperative and the ocean swells were growing larger. I just wanted to get 'er done! Know what I mean?

Yes, I am Wild About Otters! They are the cutest stinkin' creatures I have ever seen!!

We have moved past that to the point of buying a double kayak a.k.a "Divorce Kayak" to those in the know. Our first day out on it together we found out why it is called that, but persevered and had a great time.

I humbly present our "home travels".....LakeTahoe, Stampede, Donner Lake and Truckee River.....

And so many of the pictures look the same....Life IS Good!

The new shop is amazing!

2007-08-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

Well, all my trepidation was for nothing. I know, I know, I should just trust Jimmy. I do trust her but there is something about closing a shop you dearly love to move to the Big City...where you have to drive a long distance and spend more time in the car and gas money and well...whatever! I love it! The people still come and I have met new friends to boot. One of the nicest things is not working in a LYS alone. I have other gals to spend the day with and they are wonderful.

Meet Ashley and Gertrude!

We were so excited with the latest addition to our staff that we couldn't help dressing her up in anything we could find and dancing around a bit. Amanda and I having some fun....

All is well, the mice have settled down and the shop is constantly adding yummy new yarns, needles, bags, books, displays....it really is a good life here at Jimmy Beans Wool. Come and visit us!

The day Love came to town....

2007-08-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

I like the idea of blogging but "the time" is what I need to have more of to do it well....if at all. Oh well, I take comfort in friends like me who barely get this done, and yet I still enjoy reading their occasional posts. Besides, there are so many other great blogs to read that I prefer the reading to the typing. I am not nearly so clever as Wendy!

Mexico was amazing, by way of catching up. The first day we arrived at our job site we were greeted by two little girls holding hands. Sisters!! Well I do love that! Reminded me so much of my own sister and I, and her two little girls (my nieces) that I was nearly in tears the first moment.

We had made a sign that said "Free Hugs" in Spanish.

I held it up so they could see it, then put it down and held out my arms...these beautiful girls came running down the hill, into my arms, and into my heart forever. We were literally joined at the hip all week with affection and games and charades to communicate. It is amazing how well you can with just a few words of Spanish, and they were so darn smart and curious about everything.

The thing that amazed me the most was at the end of it all they had a place to live. In spite of all our fun! Our group of highschool kids took 4 days to build 3 houses, joining 2 cultures under 1 God!

I would highly recommend this sort of trip to anyone and everyone. It really makes you step out of your normal life and see we are not all that different. The extra "things" we have are different but love and family is the same. These kids were happy with sticks and a pile of sand, and my kids were changed by it. I saw 45 highschool kids affected in a profound way, right along with me.

I can't wait for next year!

Off to Mexico!!

2007-04-08T17:44:00.000-07:00

How does a trip with 60 highschool kids, on a bus for over 12 hours (each way), camping in "roughin' it" conditions, and building houses for needy families sound? It sounds like Spring Break baby! And that is where we are headed in just a few short hours!

We are a Young Life group headed down to Mexico to build 3 houses this week. This will be a first trip for me, as I have never done this particular thing before. Usually it is Club and Camp and all the other fun stuff. I have to say, though, that I am more excited about this than anything we have headed off to do so far.

What does this have to do with knitting? Not too much. I do have a Silk Shrug I am taking for the bus ride. It is a simple mindless pattern with no fancy anything. I can pick it up and put it down at the drop of the hat, or whatever it is that a teen can do to make you put something down and run to them....The other cool thing is that I can teach whoever wants to learn. We will have a knitting circle at the back of the bus for as many that care to participate.

Send your thoughts and prayers our way this week! We will certainly need and appreciate it!

Happy Easter! He is Risen indeed!

Town Mouse, Country Mouse

2007-03-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

Remember that story? I want to say it was on Sesame Street, or Aesop wrote it but I can't recall off the top of my head. There were the two mousie cousins who went to visit each other and each had ideas about where they came from and the advantages of where they lived...well I think of myself as a Mountain Mouse going to the City. I don't always like the City but it does have it's perks. I have to occasionally venture down off the mountain for things like cheaper gasoline and trips to Costco. Now it looks like I get to hang out with City Mice much more than I have been used to and I sure hope they like me....gulp!

The 'ol yarn barn is closing. I shouldn't exactly say it that way, but it is what it is and....well... it's closing. Try as I might to be happy I just can't seem to muster it today. (I will blame that on being sick for the past week). I put in my final hours, others are putting in theirs, and tomorrow the shop is officially closed in our little town.

I should clarify here that we are not actually closing. We are simply combining two shops into one bigger better store. The decision from a business perspective is a smart one. We will have all inventory in one place and online orders will be even more quick than they are now.

I get it. I really do. I have spent the past month convincing people that the move is truly for the best. That the new shop will be amazing (cause it is!) and that the service will be great (cause it is!) but the truth is that I don't know. I want to believe this is the best thing going, yet change is like that.... such mixed feelings. I am really excited about working with cool people I don't get to normally work with, I am excited about more yarn of course, but I still have this sadness of missing "my shop".

I love my customers! Oh, I surly have stories to rival the best of them but the truth is that the vast majority of folks who wander in are the BEST!! People I know by name, people I have helped, people who have helped me, people I have met from literally all over the world, and even folks just needing change for the parking meters. I adore this town and all of the tourists and locals alike. My job feels like I am in heaven most days and my fingers are crossed for the move to the City....

For now we pack up the yarn, take down cubes, and pull out for what I hope will be an even better ride than the past year has been.....I am thankful for both directions, the future and the past!

2007-02-28T10:21:00.001-08:00

Vroom, Vroom!!

I love my nieces'.....and nephews too. There is something about these kids that I so adore, I almost feel guilty about it. I think it is in part because the wait was so long for them. My husband and were both the oldest in our families and so we were first to have kids. We got straight to it too! The rest of the sibs took longer to get married and have families. Good things are worth waiting for!

My sister took this early one morning while I was there visiting....

I am especially close to my sister's girls. Surely this is because my sister and I are incredibly tight. We had a rough go of it in childhood and we always had each others backs. I think one way of expressing my love for my sister is the privilege of spoiling her girls rotten. Their personalities are such a blend of her and I that we get to smile, wink, and secretly nod to each other all the time when we watch them interact.

Here they are...holding on to each other already. Yes, they fight like crazy but they also make each other laugh and that is what matters.

This is for my youngest niece. I say she is my twin. No one believes me but I see it and no one can convince me otherwise....my sister will just smile and pat me on the back. What does she know anyway?

This is Drive-Thru from Wendy Bernard at Knit and Tonic

I prefer the working name of Quicko-Cheapo but that's just me. I will slowly cruise my way through these and knit one for all my nieces and nephews. This first one is knit from Tahki New Tweed. It was a sale yarn from Jimmy Beans Wool and I love how it knit up. It is a wool silk blend and it so soft with nice even stitches. I added a bit of Tahki Rialto to the yoke. I fiddled quite a bit with color combo on this and ended up knitting it double every other stitch on a solid row. Not too much but just enough color and fun for a 4 year old spit fire who is just like her Auntie!

2007-02-21T12:39:00.000-08:00

Rather Huge Carpetbag....nice!

Ever since I laid eyes on this pattern I have wanted to knit the bag. Exactly as shown in the picture too. I could not think of one thing to make it better, and as a huge Mary Poppins fan this was just practically perfect in every way!

This is pre-felting, and I will add that was giant. I knit it in the car while my son was driving. SO easy! Totally a beginner thing, in the round, straight up to the top. I had to be able to keep an eye on the road and knit away without paying much attention to what my hands were doing. This was the perfect project for that. By the time we came home I had a bag to felt.

Another day to knit the flower and put it all together and I have a nice bag for MORE knitting projects, or for traveling. I am not happy with the handles so ignore those. I am waiting for the ones I really want to come back in stock.

2007-02-21T12:34:00.000-08:00

Am I back?

I don't know. I have been trying to live life, read blogs, work, homeschool and of course KNIT :-) The problem is that I don't have time to learn how to drive this blog thing. I do all sorts of things on the net, and never seem to have the trouble this has given me. I have been pondering other sites for blogging and wondering if they are more user friendly.

In the end, I have come back to give this one more try. Lo and behold I find that there are upgrades and google is involved and perhaps I can sit tight right here.

I will see how things go in trying to post and then get busy, hopefully, with adding new projects including another Noni bag. Ya gotta love those Noni patterns!

2006-08-24T15:52:00.001-07:00

Bobbles, bobbles, everywhere!

It is finished and I couldn't be more happy. I think it turned out great. Not just the bag, but the whole experience. It was time consuming but it was also easy. The time was lots of small increments that you can fit into a day as well, so this is a great project if you don't have a lot of time at once, but little bits here and there. That is perfect for all the bobbles!

I used a really stiff interfacing that I found at our local quilting store. It is actually quite thick and she said you can use it for the inside of basball hat brims and that sort of thing. It was not fuseable so I used a double sided fusing to secure the fabric with the interfacing, and then set that bag within a bag into my felted purse. This made a world of difference! The bag is so top heavy that you really need to go with a nice lining to make it stand up.

I will add that in one day of using it, the comments are overwhelming! It is a real eye catching bag, and Jimmy Beans will have it as a kit soon. This is nice so you won't have to buy all those skeins for colors, you can simply buy a kit.

2006-08-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

Well, the journey is nearly over. It has been a new experience for me in my journey with knitting. The first time I have ever wanted to finish something so badly that I couldn't stand it any longer. I say all the time (to whever will listen) that for me, knitting is the "process" not the "product". I lied!

I was up late at night, then back to it early in the morning, all in the drive to get this silly thing finished. I was thrilled when I finally got the bobbles down to about 5 minutes each. The bag itself was not the hard part, it actually went quite fast, but it was those bobbles that were weighing me down. They were everywhere, and I was constantly knitting them and yet they never seemed to end. I knit during dinner with company, I knit before bed, I knit in the carwash people!! I only wish I had a photo of the day I was standing outside the car, knitting bobbles, while Thing One and Thing Two (my wonderful kids) vacuumed and wiped down the dashboard with Armorall wipes...sort of giving me funny "Are you going to help us or stand there and knit?" kind of looks. All I will say is that I finished three bobbles while they worked and they got an ice-cream cone for their trouble.

I am not sad to see it end. In fact I may have turned a bit of a corner with my whole process/product theory. I like the product! I want more product!! I have a shawl screaming to be finished, and a sweater tank that must be done and worn at least once before fall hits, and those are just the big ones. I will always have a sock in my purse and my family will just have to live with that.

All I am saying, is that I get it. I know it is normal to have multiple projects going and with rare exception this is how we knitters are. I like to think that I make progress on something everyday, but sadly all that progress doesn't show up well with so many things going. I have nearly finished something really cool and it is just the boost I need to commit to something else all the way and maybe, just maybe, I will have a huge surge of Off the Needle product.

*Snif, Snif*....my husband will be so proud....