2nd habit

As I said the other day I want to change two habits. The first was about money the second is to get into better shape.

I'm going to start small with the power of 10. That's right 10 sit-ups, 10 push-ups, 10 squats, 10 lunges, 10 crunches, and a 10 minute walk every day for 10 days.

New Habits

With the New Year comes the need for new habits. This year is no different. I was reading different ways to change habits and they all recommend not trying to do too much too soon.
So with this in mind. I want to change two habits. one is to have a better handle on my money and reduce my unsecured debit, and to get into better shape.

In order to get a better handle on my money and my sending habits, I have created a budget. This budget is just an idea of where I think my money is going each month. I broke down that budget into two parts, since I get paid twice a month. I'm going to post a copy of this on my computer at home where I'll see it every day. The second thing is to track when and what I spend money on. Some of that will be easy. I use Quicken to keep track of my accounts so if I use my ATM card I'll know where and what I spent it on. I will be aware of what and where I spend and I will also be aware of why I sent. Was it something I needed? wanted? Was I responding to the moment? Was this a binge spend? At the end of 30 days I'll have an idea of two things, how realistic the budget was and my feelings about money for the month. For the second month I'll continue to track my spending and adjust the budget as needed.

I'm posting this here because when you post as publicly as possible that you are trying to change a habit it's about accountability. So I'll be posting here to let you know about my progress.

...And it's over

Yep Christmas is over and I'm not sure how I feel about that. There was lots of good stuff, seeing my family and friends and hanging out.
On Christmas eve we went to my girlfriend Lisa's boyfriend's home for her annual Christmas eve bash. Great food and good friends.
On Christmas day we went to my parents house for the annual Christmas potluck brunch. Again good and much laughter. We even went to the movies. Nine of us saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie. A good flick. I want to see it again.
The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing, putting stuff away and playing with fiber. I was able to work on a couple of projects that had been put on hold for the holidays. I wove 13" on a new scarf. Plied some more of the 20oz of purple BFL I got from Jen. I cast on a new project for one of my nieces. Worked on my sisters sock and all round had a good time.

Christmas is coming

One hat done. Baby bottoms almost. Maybe enough time for a scarf? Delusional? Probably!

Retreats are fun! Christmas not so much.

Every summer I have the opportunity to run away from home and hang out with a great group of very talented women and this year is no exception.

On Mimi's farm you can feed animals, spin yarn, knit a hat, stay up late, drink wine, cook pizza's from scratch, make new friends, get caught up the old ones, swim in the pool and lay out under the stars. Everything summer camp is suppose to be.

I'm thinking back on that warm, lazy summer weekend as I look at the snow in the yard and the mound of half finished christmas presents the may or may not be done by next week.

A finished project

I am just in love with my new loom. I finished a scarf woven from a handspun yarn and it looks great. Mike's got dibs on this one. I can't wait to start another.
Go here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiberfloozie/sets/72157622736445843/ to see the pictures.

Back From SOAR

I meant to post this last week but the time just got away from me.

If you've never been to a Spin Off Autumn Retreat it is a real treat. Not just for all of the learning, and the people and the shopping. I mean there's something decadent about getting up, going to breakfast, going to class, having lunch, back to class, back to your room for a quick nap and a cocktail, off the dinner and the the evenings event. All the time not having to worry about making your bed, cleaning the bathroom, fixing food or having to clean up after, for a whole week. Heaven! I tell you.

I promise to post about my classes and have pictures this week.

It's been forever...

It's been forever since I last blogged. Not sure why. There's been enough going on that I should have been writing . Just got busy I guess.



I went to Inverness, CA with my sister one weekend. She had a wedding to go to. I went along as chauffeur and room mate. While she was at the wedding I hung out at the Inn where we were staying and spun and knit. It was wonderful. I finally finished the sleeves of a sweater I had been working on for a while. Now I just need to weave in the ends and give it a bath.



I don't know why but Fall is the time where I want to do projects but either don't have the time to do them or the money. I have a big list of projects I'd like to have done. Some of it is around the house stuff, like painting some of the rooms, ripping out carpet and replacing with radiant heating and bamboo floors (downstairs) and re doing our closet. It's a walk-in that is not very efficient. I'd love to be able to hire one of those companies like California Closets to do the re-do. Other stuff is fiber related. I have a bunch of dying projects that I like to work on, a sock blank from Nancy and a sweater over dye. And there is always spinning and plying and knitting. I was rearranging my stash last spring and found that I had about 20 oz of beautiful purple BFL from Mim. I finished the first skein of yarn and I'd like to knit up into a sweater.



I'm also trying to get rid of clutter. One Monday I cleaned out and rearranged the TV room to make it much more user friendly. Now I have to get rid of all the junk I pulled out. I don't know why it is so hard to get rid of the stuff. It's so easy to bring it in.

This woman blows my mind

She's done it again. Cat Bordhi has made another incredible leap in sock knitting. Check out this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6d076POJ04&feature=player_embedded#watch-main-area

I can't wait to buy this book.

Why we need health care reform.

I saw this today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jng4TnKqy6A
It does a reallt good job of explaining why.
Now we need to do.

Vacation part 2, Or What I learned at Sock Summit 2009

Mix together two amazing women with a dream, a dream team to back them up, 40 teachers who believe in the dream, 153 vendors who support the dream, 1800 student who want the dream and what do you get? An amazing event called Sock Summit 2009 in a magical place called OZ. Ok, it's not OZ but pretty damn close. Portland Oregon is very beautiful and has lots to do and see.

It seemed to me that from the first day to the last everyone I meet had a silly grin. There was a warm aura and a sense of happy urgency.

I learned that even after many weeks of sleep deprivation, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is very charming and funny and talented.

I learned that to be able to indulge in this hobby (read obsession) for the rest of my life, I have to take care of my body. Thanks Carson.

I learned that sock don't have to be knit top down or toe up, they can go side to side.

I learned that Cat Bordhi's mind work way differently that mine. She just blows me away.

I learned that if I didn't have a house to pay for, and a husband and animals who depend on me, I'd run away to live with Judith MacKenzie.

The perfect weekend

What makes a perfect weekend you might ask. One in which all things come together. I stayed home most of the time and was able to get stuff done. Not big projects but little things. I had a towel that need to be re hemmed for about a year and as I was folding it up to put it away, I said to my self, Lets fix this darn thing, and gosh golly ge wiz I did. It took all of 30 seconds. No fuss no muss just done.

A few weeks ago, last time it was cool enough the stand being outside, I started the project of racking the back yard. This is a big deal because first I have 15 large, 40+ elm trees. They shed their leaves and twigs like a dog sheds hair only they're bigger and there's more of them. Second this yard has been neglected for about 30 years and we are working slowly to reclaim it. In some places the leaves had not been picked up for years. Any way, I'd rack up a bag of stuff, have a beer, rack up another bag, cool off in the pool, rack up another bag, take a nap. On and on it went. Not fast just steady. I am proud to announce 10 bags of stuff raked up and ready for garbage day. I just wish there was some other place to take this stuff other than a land fill. It would make great compost. It's just more than I can handle in my small garden bed.

Vacation Part 1

Here is a link to the pictures from the first part of our vacation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiberfloozie/sets/72157622086553378/



We started our trip with breakfast at Joe's dinner in Reno. We hadn't eaten here yet. The food is hearty. Our first stop on this trip was to an over look just north of Sand Harbor, on Lake Tahoe. I just love how beautiful the lake is. We then rode on, around the lake, down 89 and over to Markleville. From there we hooked up with US395 down to Lee Vining and Mono Lake.

Tuesday Morning, bright and early we rode 120, Tioga Pass, into Yosemite. I had so much fun taking pictures from the back of the bike, hence most of the names on the pictures "View from the back." We wondered down into the valley and had lunch at Yosemite Village. After that we headed for Sonora. After the coolness of Yosemite it was a shock to come out the other side. It was so hot the Mike had to put on gloves to protect him hand from the heat coming up from the asphalt.


We stayed in the best hotel in Sonora, The Gunn House. It had a neat pool area and the room was cute and the price couldn't be beat. It was also Mike's 50th birthday. After dinner we wondered around town and happened upon a wine bar. After we sat down we noticed that it had a strange flavor. Turns out that that particular night was a singles night, with many people .

Mike told me about it as we left. No wonder we were getting strange looks. We were to only married couple there.

Wednesday we took off and headed north. We took off the beaten track called Parrots Ferry Road. I was a little worried because there wasn't a lot of traffic, nor were there many homes. If something happened It would be a while before we could get to help. Nothing happened and we saw some beautiful country. One of the stops of the day was in a little town called Murphys. I guess that it is in the heart of a wine making district because there are a lot of wineries around. We stopped at a few and walked through down town. It's amazing how many micro climates there are 3 to 4 hours away from here there are.


We stopped for the day in Placerville. We've been here before and Mike was such a sweetie he dropped my off at Lofty Lou's for a little knitting time. Turns out that the woman who runs the shop on Wednesdays also travels to Ren Faires and sell soaps and lotion and the like. I had even bought some of her products the last time I was at the Vallhalla Ren Fair. Small world.



Thursday morning we decided that we had had enough time in the saddle and wanted to head for home by way of Wrights Lake. It's a beautiful place up off of 50.

Back up 89, around Tahoe again and on to home. Just in time to get in the pool for we were hot and tired and ready to be home.



Next post, vacation part 2 Sock Summit in Portland, OR.

Been on Vacation

I haven't posted on a long time cause I've been on vacation. As soon as I come out from under the mountain of mail, e-mails, laundry, and pictures I'll post about all the fun.

Five on Friday

I borrowed this idea from, http://knittingasfastasican.com/ so here goes;

1) Spent most of Sunday in the pool cause it is hot.
2) Finished two pairs of socks
3) Finished a sweater
4) Spent the rest of the week hiding in the basement where it was cool.
5) This youtube video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fknitorious%2Etypepad%2Ecom%2Fknitorious%2F&feature=player_embedded

A new way to spin or how to fall in love with your spindles again

I found a great new techinque for spinning and plying on a spindle at the same time . Ok so it's not totally at the same time but it's pretty close, so that when your done, you have new yarn. Check out this blog for more details,

http://rosemaryknits.blogspot.com/2008/06/tammy-rizzos-navajo-ply-on-fly.html

Five on Friday

In the last week I've;

1) Went swimming every night after work. It's been so hot here that not jumping the pool to cool off has not been an option. I almost hate to have to stop to put on a suit first but I'd rather not shock the neighbors.

2) Finished my second felted bag. Into the washer it goes.

3) Went to Mim's for the Carson Sierra Spinners and Weavers guild meeting.

4) Ate way too much of my husband cooking. He's the king of the grill.

5) and I cut my hair. My hair had been getting increasingly scraggly so I bit the bullet and made an appointment to have something done with it. It's shorter than I expected but I think it's a good look.

Here's a close up

Here's a close up of the bobbin end of the transfer set up.

Becky asked,  "how do I keep it from getting tangled?" I use a tensioned kate.

After I transfer to the storage bobbins they can sit from two days to two weeks.

Pictures to go with the Post

How I get the distance to balance out the twist.

Bobbins after transfer.

Bobbins before transfer.

Transfering Singles

At Saturdays Guild meeting, Amy asked why do I transfer my singles before I ply. I transfer my singles onto other bobbins before I ply for several reasons.

First I have the luxury of having another wheel that is great for plying, my Majacraft Rose. It is all set up for both winding into Majacraft bobbins which are larger than most, 6oz easy and I have the larger plying head and flyer, about 8 oz plus. That way I can make longer skeins of yarn without knots.

Second, Stephanie G recommends that you put as much distance between your bobbins and the plying wheel as possible when plying. The reason for doing this is to let the twist equal it’s self in the single out over the distance. I take this one step further and do this when I transfer my singles. I put the spinning singles at one of the room and my bobbin winding at the other in so that’s there’s a distance of 6 to 8 feet in between.

Also when I transfer the singles from the spinning bobbins to the plying bobbins I am able to smooth out the take up. On a wheel that has hooks the take up can be bumpy because the single winds on in the area directly under the hook first. You will always end up with more yarn there then in the spaces between the hooks.

P.S. I had nice pictures for this post but Blogger ate them! Bad, Blogger, bad.

Broom making class - June 6, 09

I have some pictures of the broom making class I took on June 6. Here's the link, http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiberfloozie/sets/72157620900604937/

As you can see we were all having a great time.

Classes, Study groups and sheep

June was highlighted by a lot of learning.



On the 6th, I took a Broom making class by Mark Pietz through the Great Basin Basket Makers Guild. We learned a bit about this history of broom making and then got down to business. In the morning we learned how to make a pot scrubber, a whisk broom and a cob webber (kind of a small witches broom.) With each project we learned a new skill. The scrubber, stitching; the whisk broom, layering and weaving and using a broom box; the cob webber adding a handle.

In the afternoon we put it all together and made a 48" sewn flat broom. I was really impressed with the amount of craftsmanship that went in to such a common item. Brooms were once made to order by traveling ex-sailors. Then in factories that employed the blind. There used to be fields of corn broom material. Not so much any more. Now most are made of plastic and come from over seas. Kind of sad really.



On the 19th I drove to Eugene, OR for the Black Sheep Gathering. I had a ball. I was able to hook up with my friends from the Spindles and Flyers Guild. It's a tradition with them to camp on site. I ate, I drank, I spun, and it was good. I had invite a few others to come with me but they could so I took my Sock monkey around to see what we could see. We shopped and hugged lots of people and looked at some great sheep.



A few months back I found a leather kit from Tandy Leather for my IPhone. Since I hadn't worked leather for many years I thought it would be a good idea to take a class or two to get my skills back up. Fortunately the Tandy Leather store in Reno has drop in classes on Thursdays and Saturdays.



Last Saturday our Guilds Weaving Study group met at Marilyn's house. We watched as Nancy put the warp on her loom with a warping wheel. It's this big drum that applies tension to the warp as you wind it on. Marilyn shown us how the computer helps her with the harnesses. I final finished dressing my loom. It felt good to get this done. Now All I have to do is fine some time to weave.

Jonathan Coulton

My friend Nancy turned me on to this amazing artist. I just love his stuff. You can hear it here, http://www.jonathancoulton.com/store/downloads/ or watch a couple of great youtube videos, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Wy7gRGgeA or this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_ryNJVreiY&feature=related .

I've been listening to the rest of his stuff. It's funny in a twisted way.

Where did June go?

Lot's of stuff has been going on in the last three weeks. A broom making class, Black Sheep Gathering, leather working class, weaving study group and the nephew's 7th birthday. Where did June go?

More on the classes later.

Sunday we had the best party we've to date. We celebrates my nephew's 7th birthday. We had 12 adults and 5 kids. With the new patio Mike installed we had plenty of room to seat all at tables. A good time was had by all. I was having too much fun to take any pictures. His other Grandma took some and I hope to get copies. My youngest brother brought the youngest member and was commenting that she's started eating solid food. I looked at him funny then realized she 6 months now. My how the time flyes.

Next up capming for the fourth.

Good news Friday

First the good news, thanks to all the hard work by the folks at the Sock Summit I have classes. No the ones that got lost and not all the ones on my wish list but a good round of classes. Portland here we come.



Next week I am headed to The Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, OR. I went once before and had a great time. I was looking for someone to ride up with me but no such luck. I guess I'm on my own.



Last weeks rain has done wonders with the NNV landscape. The hills are alive with a blush of green.

Girlie days and a rant

Some times I hate being a girl. It's that time of the month and I'm bloated and cranky and just want to go back to bed. I am also more fragile at this time. I feel lonely, needy and vulnerable. I would just love to be wrapped in the loving hugs of my Aunt Grace. She was the best. If you felt down she'd hold you in her lap and rock you and hum a nameless tune that was so comforting.

Warning a rant coming on here, you might want to pass on.

I knew that the Sock Summit was going to be trouble. I mean looking who was putting it on, Stephanie the Yarn Harlot and Tina from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. Looking who was teaching Cat Bordhi, Judith MacKenzie-McCuin, Cookie A. and Barbara Walker, just to name a few. Look where it is going being held Portland, Oregon, a beautiful city. Their blog said that they had a interest list of over 11,000.

I knew that getting the classes I wanted was going to be hard but I didn't know that even after struggling to get on, to get something I could live with and getting charged, that I would end up with nothing. I am one of those folks whose registration was wiped out during the server crash.

Of classes I had signed up for, two were my first choice, two were my 2nd choice and two were just bad choices. I figured I just wait a few days/weeks for the dust to settle and see if I could trade the last two for better choices. When I didn't get my confirmation e-mail I sent them a note. A few days later I sent another note. A few days after that I got an e-mail from Stephanie herself. I had hope. They couldn't find my registration but they would do something. They would make it right.

Yesterday I got a phone call, they offered me one class for my original list, Sock Exotica: Silk, Cashmere, and Friends on Sunday. That's it. Not worth the flight, hotel room, not to mention what to do from Wednesday til Sunday mornings class. Can't even go to any of the night time events, they are all sold out.

They did try to offer me other classes, My first sock, Crochet 101, Spindling 101, Getting out of a Mess. All things I already know how to do and some I teach. Sorry not interested in the slightest.

All of the time I spent, trying to schedule time off from work, finding things for my husband to do while I was in class, the new traveling wheel I bought so that I could take it on the plane for my three spinning classes, wasted.

I know life's not fair and bad things happen to good people and there a long list of people like me who were screwed by a server malfunction. I am also human and can't help but feel disappointed, sad, angry and hurt.

About that knitting...

When I started this I meant to talk about knitting and spinning but it doesn't seem like I've done much of that. So here goes.

Ever wondered what type of knitter you are? Are you a follower, following the pattern word for word, always trusting the designer or a modifier, modify as you go, you like the pattern but not the yarn or the heels or the toes or whatever? I seem to use patterns for inspiration, modifying more than following. This make for some interesting knitting sessions.

Here's the story of two scarves.

From the new book "Knit One Below" by XRX Publishing I knit the Inside-Out Scarf. This one I modified the yarn used. I wanted to use the new Mini Mochi because I liked the color. So this yarn is like a hundred times smaller the any of the yarns called for and that I'd have to cast-on a gazillion stitches. Maybe not such a good idea. I broke down and went with a yarn the pattern called for, Noro Kureyon. Now I know there are a lot of people who just love Noro. I ain't one 

of them. I can't stand this yarn and I know I don't like it but I try it again and a again. I got about a quarter of the way into the scarf and realized there was no way I was going to finish with this yarn. They say a third time is a charm. This time I tried Manos Del Urguay Silk Blend. This yarn is just heaven to knit with. I did CO a few extra but it finished beautifully.

The second scarf, Mable's Scarf by Larissa Brown was a pleasure to knit from the begining. I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted, Color-Pioneer. My SIL had given me this yarn for X-mas. I only had one skein so it's shorter that I like but a great lenght for a guy. I think I'll give it to my brother for X-mas. I had such a good time knitting this one that I started another one, same yarn, the color-verve.

I had plan...

Honestly I had a plan. I'd write the words to a post at work and then when I got home I place in the pictures and post it. That was four posts ago. I hope to match up pictures and posts this weekend.

We are in the last 11 days of this year Legislative Session and now every one seems to want to get things done. The sessions are running longer so we are working longer. Last night I got home at 5:00 am this morning. That's right folks the sun was coming up as I was going home.

The rumors are flying, will we be here late? or will we go home on time? Will this Session end on time, early? go into special session?

What bills will pass? Will we get a pay cut (likely)? 4% 6% 13%.

It's down to the wire.

Weekend Fun

(Note this was from the weekend before last. I'm not sure why I didn't just post at the time. he)

I had a great time this weekend. Well make that I had a great time on Sunday since I worked Saturday.

There is this bicycle group called Gonads and Strife and they have this event http://www.gonads-n-strifebikeclub.org/events.html, a bicycle poker run to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation. Mike rode in it last year and had a ball. So this year Mike bought me a bike for our anniversary hoping I ride with him this year and I did. The first leg is the hardest. Even though it doesn't seem like it, it is up hill from Great Basin Brewery in Sparks to the Sierra Tap House in Reno. I wasn't so sure about this bike riding stuff. After all I hadn't been on a bike in a very long time.

The next leg, up to the Record Street Cafe, wasn't bad. We had a beer and some pizza to fortify us. I ran into a friend from many years ago. I hadn't seen Tracy in such a long time. It was kind of funny to run in to her, last time I saw her was 13 years ago when she bake our cake for our wedding.

Then back down to Silver Peak Restaurant. Another beer and a change to check out all the bikes. We got to talking to this pair of folks, Libby and Greg, and it turns out Greg went to high school with my sister and brother. I just love Reno. It's such a small town.

On the way back to Great Basin things were rolling along nicely. It was a down hill ride and quite pleasant until another rider ran me off the path. I wasn't too happy after that. I was pretty banged up but there was no damage to my new bike. After I got cleaned up and had a shot and a beer and felt much better. My friend Mike and Lisa joins us for a beer and some nosh. A great time was had by all.

The good life

This morning I mowed the front lawn and it look s great. There is a story here I promise.

When we moved into our home it had been a 30 year old rental. Not in bad shape but not loved and cared for. The front lawn was patchy at best. We watered and left it at that. I've been trying to revive the lawn with various degrees of success. Each year I work on it little more and some day it will be great. We have very compacted, clayie soil. Short of tearing it out and starting over I have been adding "stuff" to help it along.

One year I made the mistake of using potting soil instead of compost or top soil. That year I had a bumper crop of mushrooms.

Last year I started too late. Just as the little grasses started to come up our watering restriction came into play and it got hot and the little grasses died.

This year I think I got it.

In April we mowed really low and raked up all the dead grass and branches. Then I fertilized, put down a soil conditioner and put down new seed. Then I covered that with a nice layer of compost and started watering and watering and watering. Fast forward to today and when I final got to mow, I was happily surprised by all the new grasses. I had to get a variance to be able to water this much and it will cost a bunch on the water bill but it has been well worth it. Between the green grass and the trees the front on the house stays pretty cool. I'll re-seed again in the fall.

I love to come home after a long day at work, get a chair and a beer, and plop down an that front yard under that coolness. I think ahhh.... life is good.

Busy, busy weekend

My oh my, it was a busy weekend. First of all it was my guild meeting but I just couldn't go. I just had too many errands to run what with Mothers Day on Sunday and it will be the last free weekend until sessions ends. (I'm working Saturdays from here on out.) I am very bummed. Sounds like they had a great time. Read about it here http://sagecreekfarm.blogspot.com/ and here http://dailyartbycj.blogspot.com/2009/05/painters-day-off-fun-with-fiber.html.

I did go get a pedicure and a new top to wear. 

I hooked up with Mike 

and drug him to Lowes to get the first installment of pavers for the back yard. We picked up 30 of them and a few other things, took them home and unloaded. We laid out two rows and decided that we were not going to get away with out leveling sand. Back to Lowes for 600 lbs of sand.

My girlfriend Lisa came over and we decided to head over to a local Mexican place, El Adobe Cafe, for dinner. My sister came too.

Sunday morning, after some coffee to get us going, we were able to re lay out the first two rows. We got cleaned up and headed to brunch with the family for Mothers Day. We all had a very good time. We ate a lot, maybe too much. Passed the baby around a bit. She was so good.

When we got home, another two rows of pavers and pulled some more weeds.

The Reno River Fest was this weekend. It's a lot of fun to go and hang out. Mike likes to take pictures of the competitors. I just like to watch the people. There's usually good food and good beer. I wasn't even interested in eating anything but I did have a beer. We didn't stay that long. Just long enough to dip one feet. Burrr. The water downtown's not even close to a temperature that I would want to get into. It was also high and fast but many people looked like they were having a great time.

When we got home around 4:30 I was plum worn out. After a light supper I had to force myself to stay awake til 9:00 when I could finally go to bed.

SOAR

I'm going to SOAR (Spin Off's Autum Retreat). I was able to register for classes today. I got all the retreat sessions I wanted but am on a waiting list for my workshop session.

I don't understand how the sessions were all filled when I logged on right at 10am (1pm EST). It is very frustrating. I guess the old timers, folks with 10 or more years, were able to register two weeks ago and they took all the spaces. I thought the new registration system was suppose to make thing easier and more fair. You know first come first served.

Oh well. At the very least I'll be surounded by like minded folks for a week.

Good things

I have to remind myself of all the good things in my life.

Friends to knit with. I went to Allison's to knit with her and Candy this morning. I love how much fun it is to knit with your friends.

Only 4 more weeks of the NV Legistrative Session. I'll miss my mornings but I getting tired of not getting home til midnight.

Getting to nap with two cats and the dog. Only off thing is the dog gets grumpy.

Planting flowers in front of the house. Green, I mean really green grass. Enjoy it now 'cause when it gets hot the grass goes brown.

Blogs, fun, fun and no money

Blogs, blogs, blogs. I love them. I read 30-50 everyday. I love who these people let us into their lives. I think of them as friends and miss them when they don't post or I don't read every day. I have laughed and cried with them. I don't comment so often because mostly I can't think of anything creative to say and ditto seems so blah. I admire their lives and wished mine was more interesting like theirs. Oh well so much for the pity party.

This past weekend was a busy one. On Saturday was Lisa's Derby Day party. She throws a great bash with plenty of food and friends. Then we went to LindaRick&Jessica's for dinner to celebrate Mom's and Jeff's birthday. After dinner we played a game called Apples to Apples. It's allot of fun. Dad went home early so we gave Mom a ride home. We had lots of fun.

Sunday was a house cleaning and yard work day. I cleaned the basement and boy it needed it. Ran a few loads of laundry and stuff like that. Mike weeded some more of the back yard. I planted flowers.

I'm kind of bummed because no matter how much I make it's never enough. For example I would like to put in some pavers in the back yard so the we can use some of it, the back yard. (Right now it's pretty useless because it's all just dirt.) I need 181 pavers at a cost of about $1000. That's a bit more than the budget right now.

Then there's the artificial turf I want to put in. Most of the back yard is a large flat surface that had lawn many years ago but not now. We try to keep the weeds back so it's mostly dirt. I want to put in artificial turf for several reasons but mostly so the we can use the yard. The area is about 1000 sqfeet. The lowest option is about $2,400 for 600 sqft up (we do all the work) to $13.00 a sqft ($13,000.00) installed. Way above budget.

We need new appliances for the kitchen, Range, dishwasher, fridge and garbage disposal. If we're going to replace all of these we might as well do the floor at the same time. I think 5 grand should about to cover it.

On top of all this the Governor wants to cut our pay by 6%. Oh well at least I still have a job.

Drive to work

I drive 30 miles from Reno to Carson City and go through a really beautiful place called Washoe Valley. It's is wonderful to watch the season change. Here's a pictures I took last week. The Mountain to the right, covered in snow is Slide Mountain. It got its name because parts of it slide off. The last time this happened was about 25 years ago, I was in the area when it happened. Amazing to see part of a mountain fall off.

A case of Startitis

I've go a very bad case of startitis. I started a scarf yesterday and a pair of socks today. Yesterday the new Kitty went on line with a cool new technique for hand painted yarns and on the way in today I could just envision all kinds of cool stuff like mits and hats.

I am running a bit flustered today. Jack has started this annoying habit of crawling up into my face around 3:30 in the morning. At 5 I finally got up and had a cup of tea then went back to bed at 7. This means I don't wake up again until 11. On this kind of a schedule I'm not getting anything done around the house. It shows. I one got one load of laundry dried and folded. The other's in the dryer. I washed on Monday. The floors need to be mopped so badly. I hate that it takes so much just to pick up so it can be cleaned up.

Blogs, blogs and more blogs

I read blogs. A lot of blogs. I am inspired and entertain by them. I have cried and laughed. I treasure these wonderful people more than I could even let them know. I can't go a day with out checking in and making sure they are OK.

Once in a while a writer come out with a post that just grabs me. Here is such a post, http://www.modeknit.com/

It was a nice drive in today. Unlike yesterday. It was all rainy/snowy yuck. I was glad when Mike called and I had to go get him. I was not looking forward driving home at 11pm. Washoe Valley was very beautiful. One of these days I'd like to get some pictures to post here.

I've been knitting a lot and some day I might get some pictures posted of my on going projects. The mits I'm knitting to go with the hat out of BMF's Silkie Socks that Rock are stunning. I think this project will be submitted to the Fair this year. I am really proud of the job I'm doing on them.

I finished a pair of socks for Mike and have enough yarn left over that I think I'll knit a third sock. I'm not sure there's enough for a hat.

I've got two scarves and another pair of socks and a sweater on needles at the moment. All are progressing nicely.

I thought I'd would have posted more but I didn't.

It also doesn't help when you forget your login and password. I have too many options. It used to be easier. One login one password for all my stuff but now a days some want a whole login, some only want a partial. Some want a very special login. Passwords vary in size from 4 to 8. It get so confusing.

The weathers been unstable this week. One day it's nice and the next it not. Winters not done with us yet but I can feel the change coming on.
Saturday Hubbie and I went up to the Lake (Tahoe that is.) We were headed for North Star but it was too crowded. They were redirecting parking way down the hill. We ended up at a beautiful little place called Gar Woods on the North Shore. Nice place and the weather was just right to sit out on the deck.

Sunday we watch the Oscars with my sister. Not a bad show. I like Hugh Jackman.

115 Days to go

Well it's Friday folks and I've made it through the week on the new schedule just fine. I really like having the morning time to do what I like when I like. I admit that I haven't done as much on my to-do list as I thought I would but that's ok. There's always next week.

Next week figure out how to put pictures into this thing. I thinks pictures really make a blog don't you?

Not so much going on

It's the third day of my new work schedule and there's not so much going on, yet. I've been documenting all of the new stuff I've been learning so the in two years when we do this again I'll have some reminders of what I did instead of the wonderful blank look I'm know for.

It's kind of fun having time off in the middle of the day to do things. I've taken the dog for a walk every morning. I went knitting with a friend. I've been spinning and doing chores. It's a very different too. I was going to go for a pedicure Saturday after knitting but then thought I couldn't because I had made plans, then blamo it hit me, go get that pedicure Friday instead. So I am.

The weather's been warm here. Too warm. I'm seeing all kinds of plants starting to green up. I'm sad because I know there will be a cold snap and that will kill all the potential new growth. I'm also sad because the water situation around here will be really bad come summer.

Last Day shift

I work for a government agency and today's my last day on the day shift for the next 4 months. It was weird to wake up this morning to realise it was the last time I have to wake up at 5:30 am. Starting Monday I'll be working the 2nd shift which runs from 3-11 pm. It will be interesting for me. I'm such a morning person and I'm not sure how well I be at working so late. I want to make sure I don't piss away all of the time that I'll have available to get projects done.

Some of the things on my list are; to remove the drop ceiling in the kitchen and replace the hideous fixtures with something better, re paint my office, learn to warp my loom, and learn to sew a summer dress. I have an iPhone and use a MAC but I don't know how to use some of the programs that come with either very well. The Apple store here has a promotion that for 99 dollars you can get one on one help once a week for a year. I also don't want to lose connections with my knitting friends, so I want to make sure that at least once a week I go and visit someone. There are several knitting shops around that are great for hanging out and knitting.

I know how easy it would be for me to spend all that extra time I'll have in bed. That would not be good for me. It would be easy for me to fall into a deep depression.

Wish me luck.

This last weekend I was able to visit with some of my favorite people. The Spindle and Flyer Guild of the Bay Area. It was our annual carding meeting. Many people brought drum carders and fiber to card. It was a good time to get caught up. I just love to hang with group. They are such a diverse group.

In the beginning...

This is the first post in the rest of your life. Ok so it's not true but it sounds cool. I thought I try giving the blog stuff a try.

A little about me. I am a fiberholic. I love playing with and acquiring things related with knitting and spinning yarn. I am working on a collection of fibers and yarns. I haven't acquired enough of a stash to beyond my life yet but am happily working on it.

I also live with a wonderful husband, 5 cats and a dog. My cats are 1 at 16, 2 at 13 and 2 at 5 months. The older cats are starting to experience the ravages of getting old. One has Hyperthyroidism and another has just been diagnosed with Diabetes.

Our dog, Cino is 11 and is getting gray in the muzzle.

We just bought your first home last year so you will see some pictures of our wonderful home.