Where the heck?!?!

Sometimes I think there's a black hole living in my craft room.  Its a VERY small room (9x9') and I have A LOT of stuff jammed in here (its the computer/yarn/spinning/sanctuary room).  I think I often spend more time looking for something in here than crafting.  There is some sort of organization, like all my needles are in one drawer, all my wool combs and extra bobbins are in a drawer (you know all the important stuff I know exactly where it is and it has a home) ... but mundane stuff like papers, bills etc. are subject to the wherever it lands rule.

Do you have a black hole living somewhere in your house??

So tired

No photo for this post.  I'm working third shift this week in training for work (11pm - 7am).  I've worked this shift before at a hospital on the switchboard weekends after working days at my full time job all week, the hallway to the bathroom reminded me of a Halloween movie and there were some  nights I wished Michael Meyers would come down the hall and end the misery, LOL!

So far so good, its pretty slow between 3-5am - the police radio is silent and there are no 911 calls (or at least that was how it was last night, but I've heard that's the norm).

I woke up this afternoon and felt like I had a hangover ... without the drinking.  Prior to this I was getting up at 6am for day training ... hard switch to make.

I did get some spinning and knitting done yesterday while killing time before working at night.  Hoping tomorrow sleep goes better and I can do some more - today I laid on the couch all day and caught up on tv ... couldn't do much else, hahahah!

Last Sunset

The sun has set on my last day of unemployed life.  No more endless days of knitting, spinning, watching tv and reading - its back to the working world I go tomorrow ...

Happy New Year!

This isn't going to be a resolutions post ... my one and only resolution for 2014 is to be happy. I watched an old episode of Monk the other day and Randy said, "I made a decision right then and there to be happy and I have been ever since." I may be paraphrasing, but that was the gist of it. Well I've made that decision.

2013 brought a lot of changes and headaches - and I will leave it at that. I started writing this post the other day and had two paragraphs of reflection on this stuff and I've decided ... it's in the past and that's that. Though I am still dealing with some of it, the actual initial issues are done and gone now - so goodbye!

There are some things I would like to do in 2014 and they all focus on the keyword here - which is happy.

Less clutter - its stifling and suffocating. I'm not a "hoarder" in the reality tv show sense, but I'm real good at keeping a lot of crap. Its all stuffed in cabinets and drawers, which makes it real hard to find stuff and its frustrating. I did a good job of cleaning out some cabinets and tossing things in the last few weeks and would like to make this a habit.

Water - I am terrible at drinking water, I get muscle cramps and strain, am always cold and tired. I was doing well at this at work, with those fancy UV filter dispensers and my pretty purple water bottle. Then I got laid off and stopped drinking water again.  We all know how important water is - so I won't bore you with the details here.

Blogging - Not just blogging myself, but reading and commenting on other people's blogs.  I solved one issue just today.  My Kindle Feedly app doesn't open the keyboard when I click on a comments box, well there's this little button for the Chrome browser in there and it'll open the post, yeah its a few extra clicks, but it works!  I read most blogs on my Kindle and now I figured out how to comment on it!  Yay!

Shut up and do it - Whenever someone asks me to make plans or do something I hem and haw and have to check my 'schedule' - I don't have a schedule.  We don't have a dog now either so there's nobody waiting for me to get home to go potty.  I often wonder if I have agoraphobia ... When I got laid off from work I started accepting all of my work BFF's invitations - movies, food, etc. and enjoyed every one.  Granted because I didn't have to work and commute I had plenty of time now for these things - but I enjoyed them!!!  How many other fun things did I miss out on in the past?

Project 365 - take a photo every day of the year.  This is something I've wanted to do for a while, but never remember at the beginning of the year ... well I remembered this time!  Check it out!

So now that the shoulds are done with - how about the wants?!?!

What do I like to do??  Knit, spin, read, play video games, learn guitar, photography, cross stitch, design knitting patterns, write - so here's hoping you see more of this on the blog in 2014!!

Happy New Year to you and I hope 2014 brings you lots of HAPPINESS!!!!!

Beautiful to me

What is better than freshly washed fleece drying in a warm(ish) autumn day?  This was a few weeks ago (its not that warm now).  I was washing more fleece today, which is drying in the basement (with a space heater), but found this photo this evening.  I think this fleece replicated the soft, fluffy clouds that were in the sky that day!

I'm beginning to think I enjoy washing fleece more than spinning it ... hhhmmm no, maybe not.  But I do certainly enjoy washing it, which is kinda weird, no?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for family (including the furry ones), friends who think enough of me to bring me a wonderful gift like the poinsettia here and my knitting and spinning that keep me sane!

What are you thankful for?

Why .. why, why, why???

I don't like spiders.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I hate them.  Hate, with a capital H.  They find me, everywhere.  At work, at home, in the bathroom (the one above), when I am out and about.  They make homes in my truck.

I don't kill them, I believe that is bad juju.  But I really, really want them to get the hell away from me.  I do NOT want to find them in my shower.  Get in my truck in the morning and find webs everywhere ... then have one slide down a strand while I am driving and float at me from the passenger side.

After I see one, I get total heebee jeebees.  If a hair from my head brushes my neck or arm, I FREAK OUT.  I'm pretty good about not screaming and being a lunatic, but I'll jump and whack at myself and look to see if its a spider.  99% of the time, its not.

Recently a common house spider had babies in my yarn room window.  I had baby spiders all over the place.  Those I could deal with without being a raving lunatic.  They are so tiny, it really wasn't a big deal.  The SECOND time she had babies in the window, I had my husband evict her and all her baby kin.

The worst kind??  Those ones that JUMP instead of walk.  Those grey/white/black ones that never walk and just JUMP.  JUMPING spiders scare the bejesus out of me!

Since we moved into this house and its so close to the woods, I've gotten better and a little desensitized ... but I will NEVER like them.

Writing is hard

Its still hard, even though I have so many great resources to help ...

I'm working on the novel my friend and I have dreamed up.  Its hard to get it out onto the pages.

Fall is Coming ...

For those of you who are familiar with Game of Thrones, you'll get the title (its not Winter yet).

Every year the aster heralds the coming of fall.  It borders the woods in our yard.  The other day I saw one, every day another pops up.  Now there are several.

The coming of fall means goodbye to the frogs who have sat, jumped in and made their weird froggy noises around the pond all summer.

It also means goodbye to all the beautiful flowers around the yard.  This one I thought was a weed when we moved here, then my husband saw some at the local nursery.  These grow along the walkway that wraps around our house.  As more pop up, he transplants them, so we now have a nice border all along the walkway.

At the grocery store yesterday, I shouted, are those mums???  Then said, oh yeah, its almost September.

Tick, tick ... tock

The clock is ticking away, time is passing and what am I doing with it?  I feel its wasted and lost.

Wasted Time ... let's investigate this theory that is squishing me into the corner.

Time = the duration of human existence.
Wasted = done to no avail; useless.

This is what I feel like, wasted existence.  To exist is one's lifetime.  There are only so many years in a lifetime, days in a year, hours in a day, minutes in an hour and seconds in a minute.  Why waste even a single second?

I've finally gotten back into reading on a regular basis, that makes me happy.  Now I am also writing as well (and you're reading some of it here :O).

What else makes me happy?? Knitting, spinning, playing with fiber.  I spend all day working to make money to make these hobbies a reality, but that's just it, they are there - reality is the quality or state of being real.  They are real, they are there, they do exist, but do I do them?  Not consistently.

Do - to perform, to execute, to accomplish, finish or complete ... ahh herein lies the answer.  So do I accomplish, finish or complete ... nope, not this year.  This lifetime, yup, I've done some.  But this year ... not many.  There is a void - empty, useless, ineffectual ... yup that's what I'm feeling.

So how does one rectify this predicament?

Schedule - a plan of procedure, usually written, for a proposed objective, especially with reference to the sequence of and time allotted for each item or operations necessary to its completion.

Oh I've done this before, allotted time to perform certain acts, but did I perform or do them - nope ... why?

Because I get distracted - now this is a fun word!  Distracted - rendered incapable of behaving, reacting, etc. in a normal manner, as by worry, remorse, or the like, irrational; disturbed.  So now I'm crazy.  Well yeah, I'll admit I am a little, but in the fun way.

 Fun - something that provides mirth or amusement.  Well who the heck wants to be normal??

Normal - conforming to the standard or common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.

I don't want to be normal.  But I do want to spend my time in a fun way.  So let's look at abnormal, fun, spending and time.

Abnormal - not normal, average, typical or usual (so far, so good).

Fun - enjoyment or playfulness (sounds good to me).

Spend - to pass (time) in a particular manner, place, etc. (I've got the place, now let's find the manners).  I'll do you one more - manner - a way or doing, being done, or happening; a mode of action, occurrence, etc.

Time - duration as regarded to belonging to the present (yup I'm with you so far).

So, in recap, what I am NOT doing is spending my time in a particular manner.  This is what needs to be rectified.  Clearly I need a schedule, I've got the time and I've got the manners (things to do).  So it leads us back to the initial question, why am I not doing?  Because I am distracted ... by what?

Well work takes up 12 hours per day (getting out of bed and ready 2, travelling to 1, working 8 hours, travelling from 1 = 12).  I don't think a definition of sleep is necessary, we all know what that is and why its important.  So 8 hours there.  That leaves 4 hours per weekday and 16 per weekend that I have free ... to some extent, yes the cat box needs cleaning and dishes, laundry and floors need to be done.  So let's say 3 hours per weekday and 14 per weekend.

Where is this time going??

Stay tuned, I can't figure it out all today ... because I need to go to bed to get the sleep (hopefully 8 hours) to get up for work (2 hours) and drive there (1 hour) and work (8 hours) and get back home (1 hour) .. maybe in my 3 extra hours I'll figure it out tomorrow :o)

I hope you had fun reading this little exercise in exploring a theme and word play for me ... but seriously I need to figure out where my time goes!

Too hot to knit

Its just too freakin' hot to knit today!

Friendly Visitors

We have some lovely, friendly visitors to our yard.  Now, we're not "lucky" that we get some of these beauties, we have specifically planted the right plants to attract them :o)

This is a beautiful specimen of a female Tiger Swallowtail.

She hung around this Echinacea for quite a while, I was happy to be able to run back in and grab the camera and get photos.  I also got some video footage I will have fun editing later.

My Angora Bunny!

Saturday we met with a breeder and put a deposit down on an English Angora bunny. He's not old enough to go home yet.


He is so sweet and such a snuggler!


He is a Harlequin. White is better for spinning because you can dye it any color, but he really is a pet first and fiber producer second and I love his colors!

Spring Ahead

Life is moving. We have more sunlight and warmer temperatures! There is light at the end of the tunnel!

I picked my next spin. Its a merino/nylon roving that I dyed. Here is it pre-pre-drafted.


Here is some of it pre-drafted.


And here is the beginning of it spun.


I also made a recent purchase from Three Waters Farm. I was surprised at the packaging, usually roving comes in a large envelope.


Its just as lovely as I expected, if not moreso.



I'm not one for the long winded goodbye posts. The podcast has been delayed until next week because my faithful companion departed us this past Friday. She was a ripe old age, so it was mixed blessings, but it still breaks my heart. Here she is a few years ago when she was still full of life, my beloved Kenya.


Please give your furry kids extra love today and always, they don't live long enough, but they make such a difference in our lives!

Its Wednesday

I don't have a whole lot to say right now. I'm back in the mode where the WIPs are starting to wear on me ... if only I knit them, perhaps they would be done!

Interesting word from my word of the day: quadrennial: occurring every four years. Since its a leap year, how appropriate!

My truck broke down again ... luckily I was up early for an early meeting, so my husband hadn't left yet. So I was able to catch a ride with him.

This is what happens when you feel feisty and want to play a prank on a coworker:


Yeah I was totally an accomplice ... actually I think it was my idea ...

Coworker who was in said meeting ... who owns wrapped up desk ... gave me dirty looks the whole time, yeah he knew. Was a good joke though and he did think it was funny!

It began as a terrible start to a weekend ... it continues as a terrible start to the week.

Saturday I woke up with an excruciating migraine, only to spend the day on the couch and the rest of it in the bathroom vomiting. Sunday I was recovering, but not well until about 7pm. Monday I was fine and went out shopping. Monday noticed my Betta fish wasn't looking so hot.

Tuesday I woke for work, got in the shower and dressed, went out to start my truck and ... it wouldn't start. Had it towed to the shop, stayed home from work, which means I am probably not getting paid for the Monday holiday. Fish died.

However, I did receive some goodies in the mail.

My Knit Picks order, which is funny. I took this photograph because my coworker and I always joke how we place and order and a day or two later get the new catalog, with something new and exciting. This shipment actually arrived WITH the new catalog.


I ordered some roving from Gale's Art. Its beautiful and it came with what she calls a "sample" which is a HUGE chunk of roving (1oz)!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sometimes you need a ...

Sometimes you need a swift kick in the butt, or a serious makeover to shake things up a bit. I am one that gets stuck in a rut easily. Things become blah and mundane.

This past weekend we went to a concert and I have a renewed appreciation of music. I can feel it. I listen to the lyrics. Its not just background noise that I block out.

I went to the Knitters' Guild meeting tonight. I have a renewed excitement for knitting. I am itching to finish projects and cast new ones on!

I need to remember to renew and get a new perspective on life sometimes!! Ever feel that way??

Got my new PC!

My new pc was delivered today!!! Unfortunately it came around 3pm. Was hoping to have more time to play. I am glad I took the day off since it required a signature, I didn't know that when I placed the order, but do understand.

Its not even that high tech in terms of technology nowadays. Actually it was released in 2010. But, its so much faster than the old one! I'm so excited!!

Trying to get used to the new keyboard. I actually put my old mouse back on right away because the one that came with it sucked. The mouse I had on my old pc was a logitech upgrade. May be going back to the old keyboard too or investing in a new one, we'll have to see how it goes :o)

Weekend Update 1-15-12

Whew! This weekend flew by ... and I got next to nothing done. I started pod casting last weekend (video) and its been interesting. My desktop decided today to stop recognizing all external devices, like my camera, so I have no updates to knitting to show here. However, you can see them on the pod cast. This really isn't a ploy to get you to watch :o)

I think its due to the fact that I have refused to upgrade my computer for years and years and its finally caught up with me. Its ancient in terms of technology.

So blogging should be a PITA! I do have a laptop that is Windows 7 ... which I haven't quite accepted yet, but looks like I am going to have to start using more...