Fiber Floozie, the life of a fiberholic

I am so tired....

2012-01-12T15:52:00.000-08:00

If I weren't so tired I probably...
Cook more so I'd eat better and if I ate better, I'd exercise more so I'd sleep better.

But as any one can tell, when you've slept in the same bed with the same person for more that 18 years, when they don't sleep, you don't sleep and no amount of otherwise healthy living on your part is going to cure that.

My darling husband hasn't been sleeping well for a long time. You see he has a case of restless leg syndrome (my guess) and a pinched nerve either in his foot or his back (I'm guessing here as well) but of course we don't know for sure because he won't go to the doctor to have it looked at.

Now most of the time unless there's an obvious wound, trying to diagnose something like "a pain in my leg" is a bit "there's a strange noise, that only happens sometimes," under the hood of your car and it take some trial and error to pin point the problem.

Actually, I thinks it's easier to pin point and fix that strange noise than fixing the human body but I still have a weird whistling noise coming from under the dash that my mechanic swears only I can hear it.

But with that all said, you still needs to take the first step and try the doctor, instead of yelling "Go to the doctor!! no way they don't know anything, they just want to cheat you out of your money, they never fix anything." and then whine "my leg hurts."

When he doesn't sleep, I don't sleep. Sigh. Love hurts.

Some Assembly Required

2012-01-10T11:21:00.000-08:00

I got Mike a new BBQ for Christmas. It was one of those "some assembly required" project.

It took a couple of days to finish this but Mike's happy with his present.

He made us a very good New Years Eve supper of BBQ'd ribs, meatballs, Hopin Johns (black eyed peas), and cole slaw.

Spend Out

2011-12-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

I was finding my self being overwhelmed with all the "stuff " on my desk this morning. It took 1/2 an hour just to clean it up enough that I could pay my bills. (Bills can get lost under all the old stuff. Not a good thing. :-)

I need / want to get rid on a bunch of stuff including two cameras, and old cellphones. Recipes I'll never fix and books I've read. (I Love to re-read some books, its like visiting with old friends. Even though I know the story by heart, it still brings a smile to my face. I have to trust the universe to provide and that when I really need to re-visit that special book it will be available to me. I have to trust I'll find it in used book stores or at the Library or a friend who has it so I can re-read. )

I have boxes of stuff just waiting for me to go through and see if I need anything out of them.

Help I'm drowning.

Then I found this site this morning.

http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2008/07/clutter-busting.html

There's nothing here I don't already know but its a good reminder.

Today I will throw out a box, and tomorrow I will throw out a box and so on til I am no longer overwhelmed by my "stuff."

I'll let you know how it goes.

“Spend out.” What does that mean? by spending out, I mean to stop hoarding, to trust in abundance. I found this definition on the Happiness Project web site.

Another finish object

2011-12-09T13:32:00.001-08:00

Another finished object ready for Christmas.
Knit from some yarn I spun years ago. Unfortunately I can't seem to be able to make its like again. After years of spinning fine yarns I find it very hard to be able to make a heavy worsted yarn. Which is too bad because knitting with a bulky yarn goes so fast.
This took a couple of days to do. Finished size 35" around and 10.5" deep. The basket weave stitch combined with the yarn makes it super squishy.

A cowl for Christmas

There's a new kid on the block

2011-12-07T13:48:00.001-08:00

One of my dearest friends son and his wife had a baby boy on 11.30.11.
I just finished a present for him.
One Christmas present done, many more to go.

Baby Hat & Socks

It's hard to save.

2011-09-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

Whether it's saving money for a rainy day or saving time for a rainy day it's hard to save.
I am one of the few lucky one that get both sick time and vacation time. When I was young I took off every chance I got, but now I'm starting to worry about the future.

We've had several people around here who have needed to take extended leaves to recover from surgeries and I wonder how they can afford to do that. I mean if you didn't/couldn't work for 3 to 6 months how do the bills get paid? Not to mention all of the associated health care costs. One guy I know, who has good insurance, his cut of the hospital stay alone was $40,000. (That's after insurance.) I mean who's got 40 grand laying around. I still can't afford to replace the aging dishwasher that died two years ago.

I know I should be saving more money for my retirement plus making sure to be able to cover the health care costs associated with getting older. After making sure there's enough for the current bills there's not much left over and I'm one of the lucky ones, I still have a job and a home. It all could be gone in a blink of an eye.

It all gets overwhelming some times.

What brought on this post is Mischief, my oldest cat, is failing and I need to take a day off to have the vet come to the house. If we need to put her to sleep it's easier than going to a vet's office and then trying to drive home with tears in my eyes.

Hiking at Squaw Valley

2011-09-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

One weekend in August Mike and I took the dogs up to Squaw Valley. The dogs were great and had a ball running around up at High Camp. They were not even bothered by the ride up on the cable car.

Mike & Shayla, Me & Buster at High Camp, Squaw Valley, CA

Mike and very tired dogs

A lots of beautiful wildflowers

More wildflowers

Still more flowers

A close up

Good blog post

2011-09-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

I read this gal all the time and she’s pretty good but today’s article is esp good.

Warning don’t be drinking liquids, you could spraying them all over and watch out who’s around when you read this. You don’t want to have to explain why your (1) laughing so hard you’ve got tears running down your face or (2) why your cringing in pain.

http://crazyauntpurl.com/

CSSW Retreat

2011-09-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

I had a great time last weekend at the CSSW Retreat. (Sorry no pictures, was having too much fun.)
I got out to Davis Creek Regional Park about 1:00 on Friday and Amy, Doris and Virva were already there. As I was setting up a few more people showed up, Elieen, Carol, Sharie, and the Lindsay's, Mark and Linda. Mike came out with the dogs. Carol's daughters also came to camp with their mother. Calista stopped by to saw Hi.
Linda and I dropped a Yarn Bomb on 395 just before the turn off to get to the camp ground. It was fun. (Good news it's still there, I saw it as I drove to work this morning.) There was a lot of laughter and talk and red wine and of course a nice camp fire.
Saturday's meeting was fun. We had a silent auction and of course a bunch of folks brought stuff to sell or donate. I was able to move quite a bit of things I had been storing on to new homes. It's so much fun to see everyone but it goes by too fast.
Mim brought dye stuff for folks to use so there was a lot of color going on. I am inspired by the kool aide dying Sharie had done. I didn't get to dye. I was talking too much.
I helped carol get a warp on her ridge heddle loom and she was very happy. She kept joking on how she was now a "warped" woman.
Saturday night was a bit more low keyed, not as many people camping but still fun was had. Another camp fire and roasted marsh mellows.
Mike had taken the dogs home Saturday morning but came back with them and a great gift, coffee and donuts.
It was sad to pack up and go home but I have a lot of great memories of the event.

Cat's in the window

2011-08-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

Jack and Thoma sharing the kitchen window.

Black Sheep Gathering

2011-06-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I made my annual trek to Eugene, OR for the Black Sheep Gathering. Much fun was had by all. I left early Wednesday and spent the night at Valley of the Rogue State Park. By breaking up the trip into two parts, I was much less stressed than usual.
I look forward to this trip all year. I get to spend quality time with my fiber mates from both the Bay Area and Reno. It's kind of funny that even when you live in the same city there never seems to be enough time to just hang out and spin or knit or chat or eat or shop. But being at BSG there's enough time for all of it.
I love all of the energy that is around the gathering and of course meeting new best friends you didn't know you had yet (hi Max), or running into friends you haven't seen in more than 8 years (hi Elizabeth) but it felt like just yesterday you had had coffee together.
Next years penciled into my calendar already. I can't wait.

2011-06-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a long, long, too long time since I've posted.
And there's been a lot going on. It just doesn't seem to be enough time to post.

The Legislative session for this year is over and the weather has final warmed up enough for me to spend a weekend outside with Mike and the dogs.

Buster has become quite a swimmer. Shaly's a bit more timid. We went out to Pyramid Lake Sunday morning for breakfast. It's a very fun thing to do. Load up the VW van with the dogs and the Sunday paper, pick up some food and coffee on the way and take off.

Other things that got done this last weekend. The pools up and filled. I wasn't sure I wanted to go through the hassle of putting it up since we got such a late start but we should get to use it for a few months at least. Also put in a path, with pavers, to the deck. We didn't measure anything when we put the deck in but when we put the pavers done the fit almost perfectly. We have really taken back the yard and I am pleased with our progress.

Since it was Fathers day and my nephew's birthday was coming up, we celebrated both at my brothers house. We had lots of food, many kids under foot, and much laughter.

They are getting so big

2011-02-04T10:07:00.001-08:00

Last night Shayla wanted to sit in my lap. She cuddled up and closed her eyes.
They both are getting so big. I remember when we brought them home, she was half this size and that was only a few months ago.

I had a dream...

2011-01-31T08:58:00.000-08:00

The other night I had the most wonderful dream. It has faded in the way most dreams fade which is too bad because it was glorious.

It was a moment of clarity, a moment of such supreme understanding of the extraordinary greatness that we are part of. That this thing is so vast and huge that we as humans just don't have the words to define it, in any of our languages. Since we are human and we have to need to define this, even though our words useless, we use religions to help us define this greatness and that at the core of all religions, they are all right. They all have guiding principles of how to be a better person and doing good for others. They define a small part of the vast whole.

Here is the sad part.

We get in to trouble is when we feel that there is only one way, one view point, one definition, instead of celebrating the wonderfully diverse way we have learned to see the amazing wonder.

It reminded me of the story of the blind men trying to describe an elephant by laying hands on different parts of the animal.

Puppies and knitting...

2011-01-11T11:47:00.001-08:00

don't mix

This is what Shayla did when she found my knitting.

This is three hours later.

Less is more

2011-01-07T08:40:00.000-08:00

This year I want to focus on the idea, Less is More. I have been able to remove 3 kitchen sized bags of gently used clothes, old purses, and shoes to the thrift store. Put in the trash one bag of trashed clothes. (My husband is really hard on his work clothes and shoes. He buys them second hand and uses them up.) And gave a way a bag of jeans to some one who had a plan for them.

I have also gotten rid on the last two years of statements for house bills. I usually keep two year of these things because you never know when you need to go back and get one. It's saved me a lot of time and head ache when disputing a charge. (I know you are only supposed to keep them until checks clears but you never know.)
This year I got a new scanner and plan to scan in the hard copies and then shred them. It's a different of dealing with them but I'm hoping it will help.
I am also looking at my stash to see if there anything that can move on to another.

I going to keep at this.

P.S. As soon as I find the cable to the camera, I have some new pictures. Hint: How many guys does it take to hang a flat screen TV at Thanksgiving?

Hello 2011

2011-01-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

... and good bye to 2010.
It's funny to be here on the first Monday of a new year, checking in on all my friends in blogland, and the one thing that seem to be consistent is that every one is glad 2010 in over. It seems like just about everyone I know took a beating 2010. Some lost jobs, some found jobs that were not as good as the ones they lost; some lost family, some spent way too much time in a doctors office, hospital or at the vet. We had to get a new-to-us car then had to spend more to fix it.

Here's to a better year for us all.

One a better note. We took the puppies on their first trips to a couple of the local dog parks. They did very well. Shayla's a bit shy and doesn't like to more enthusiastic dogs but did get plenty of run and play time.
They also got to go on their first visit to someone else home. They did just great. They didn't have any problems the other dog or the cat. When they were tired they found a place to crash. And no accidents. If this keeps up we will have a pair of great dogs.

The Christmas Spirit

2010-12-23T13:55:00.000-08:00

For some reason I just couldn't find my Christmas Spirit until yesterday. Better late than never, I guess.
Here's to wishing all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Hadn't realized it had been so long

2010-12-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

It has been a long, long time since I've posted.
So much has happened.
After the death of our beloved Cino, we became the proud parents of a pair of puppies. One afternoon in early November we went to the SPCA and adopted the newest members of our clan. Shayla, our female is a black lab mix and Buster our male is a boxer-beagle mix. They are both cute and get along great. Pictures here. (Of course these picture are about five weeks old. I hope to post new ones soon.) The puppies are so much work but also a lot of fun. I love watching them grow and learn about their environment. We have our first puppy training class this Sunday. Wish us luck. With all the time we've spent with the puppies not much else is getting done.

Thanksgiving has come and gone and now it's less than two weeks to Christmas.

I've gotten busier at work, thanks to the pending legislative season. I very glad to have my job.

Tomato Harvest

2010-10-27T10:26:00.001-07:00

Last night we picked most of the ripe or somewhat ripe tomatoes that were left. After this cold snap I'm not sure if any of the ones left will riped.

Cino 1998-2010

2010-10-25T12:12:00.001-07:00

Rest in peace, my dear friend.

Pledge of Conscience

2010-10-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning are the best because we lounge around reading the paper, drinking coffee and watching CBS Sunday Morning. This last Sunday Ben Steins comentary hit home. He was comenting on the Republicans newest "Pledge to America." While is might be a good thing, it looks a lot like "Contract with America." He feels we can do better by pledging not to give in to hate. Hear and read to whole comentary here.

In this season of politics and the news in general has a lot of hate messages in it. I pledge not to give in.

OFFF-Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival

2010-09-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

This last weekend we needed to go up and visit Mike's folks and it just happened to be the same weekend as the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in Canby Oregon.
I hadn't made it to OFFF yet so I was glad to get a chance. Last time I was in Oregon, for Black Sheep, it was cold so this time I brought cold weather clothes. Saturdays weather was sunny and humid which made for some hot weather. I was very over dressed.
I love this whole fiber festival thing. One gets to see friends from far and wide. The first friend I got to see was Linda.It was sure a surprise to see her. She's living up in Kelso Wash. and came down for the day. It great to see her so happy.

There were lots of vendors and sheep and people. I had a great time.
Sunday the weather changed a lot. It was rainy and drizzle all day but it wasn't cold. In fact despite the rain it was quite nice. Too bad for the vendors the turn out wasn't as good as Saturday.

I'd like to give a shout out to the PDX knit Bloggers and Duffy of the Portland Spinnerati for giving me a place to hang out Sunday. It was fun to see/meet people I only see at Black Sheep Gathering.

Of course my friend Morgaine of Carolina Homespun was there. I always get a kick to see her. She was a great mentor when I learned to spin and is always a wonderful resource.

Tomaotes, A summer time treat?

2010-09-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

I always think of fresh tomatoes as a summer time treat. We always had fresh home grown tomatoes when I was growing up. We even had the at Thanksgiving thanks to my grandfathers green house.
Any way it took me moving away to realise that all tomatoes are not the same. I'd come home to visit in the summer and make a bee line to my fathers tomato patch and pull one off the vine and eat it right there.
This year is the first time I've ever tried to grow my own tomatoes. We got them into the ground late and what with the cold spring and late start to summer I thought we'd never have any ripe ones. I just had to be patient and wait a bit.
I have lots of ripe tomatoes now. Of the six types I started with so far the yellow Darwin's are my favorite with the chocolate strip, a super dark red with greenish tops, coming in second. We also have some a 1884, two beefsteak plants and a green zebra. Haven't had a green zebra yet but I hope to this week.
Pictures here.

Burning Man & Rotary, a commentary

2010-09-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

I am terrible disappointed at all the hate comments I received here.

My husband and I have come out and built and given and received from our home away from home. I went along to make sure that these folks did understand what the experience is all about.

You see most of these folks only knew about Burning Man from what they read in the papers. All they knew was that Burning Man was about drinking, drugs and the naked people running around like savages. They’d experience the art only as pictures. They’d see the cars driving back through Reno after the Burn. They’d see is the craziness, the trash dumped in town and by the side of the roads, the dirty cars and dirty people. They had a very one-sided view point.

These people are not artists and most of them have never had a chance to be involved in a concept like BRC. They are muggles, going about their daily lives not knowing about another world.

I was pleasantly surprised by the openness of these folks, these “tourists”, willing to go out and experience something different, to put aside misconceptions. They did give as much as they received. They asked question and participated. They were so excited to be there. We didn’t stay with the buses once we got there. We dispersed like leaves in the wind. Some went out on bikes, some on foot.

My Mom and I went to Center Camp. She was enthralled by a drum circle and the acrobats and the art on the walls and just the overwhelming sea of people. We laughed and sang and danced a bit. She loved it.

After dinner we walked out to the man. Hand in hand like children in a dream. Stopping now and then just to turn around and take it all in. It was a very special time for me, to be able to share with wonderful place that mean so very much to me with her. For me it was a chance to come home and dance barefoot on the playa, even for just one day.

The “tourists” were bowled over by the reality of BRC. What I heard then as I still do is the amazement in their voices, that such a place can exist with all of its energy, and vitally. The amount of creative talent blew their socks off. The beauty, generosity and kindness and just plan awesomeness of the whole city was astonishing. They have a greater appreciation and understanding of why many of us are called back year after year, despite and the conditions, the weather and the costs.

Many of them would like to come again, either as “tourists” or as residents, and many will never come again not because they were ill treated of anything like that but it is just not their thing. Which is ok.

But one thing it very true, they were all very glad to have been able to come.

Some time we need “tourists” to come and become treasured friends.

Sincerely yours,
The Fiber Floozie

Two new friends

2010-09-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend two new friends came to live at my house.

The first one is relatively new, built some time between 1989-1993. It came from Southern California, possible around Torrence.
This ones a bit bound up and the wheel does not spin freely yet but I plan to that her to my uncle whose a woodworker to see if he can help.

This one is a bit older. I'm thinking 80-100 years old. She was a bit dusty and dirty but after a good cleaning she a beauty. She does have a distaff but the basket part is broken. I might try to see if a friend of mine can fix it. She spins like a dream.

I plan to contact the Spinning Wheel Sleuth to see if she has any ideas as to the origins of these two wheels.

Wild Weekend

2010-09-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a wonderful wild ride.

First I was off on Friday because Mike and to have some tests done and I need to drive. It was nothing major just routine and all is well.
After spending a few hours working on my yard we decided to go to the Rib Cook Off at the Nugget. I found a new dress and a parasol for my up coming trip to Burning Man.

Saturday morning I met up with my mom and her rotary group for a ride out to Burning Man. It was great to see how many folks showed up for this trip. We had two buses full. We had lunch on the way and when we got there we had a great parking spot, C and 6:30. That was one block off of center and three block from the playa. (For more info on how Burning Man is layed out go here.) Some of us got on a double decker art bus for a tour of the playa. A large dust storm kicked up. It was good for everyone to see what the weather can be like. Pictures can be seen here. After dinner there was a lot of food left over so we fed anyone who wanted to eat. It was a great way to meet people. Everyone was so friendly. after the Man burned, mom and I headed back to the buses to wait til 1:00 am when the buses would leave. I wandered a bit around our neighborhood. We finally got home around 4:00am. I went straight for the shower.
Sunday I just hung out and played with my animals.
And Monday we had some of my family over for a BBQ. I got in a last swim for the season.

September already?

2010-09-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

It's September already. What happened to the summer?
Well, there were fiber festivals like Black Sheep, and camping and retreats and fairs.

Wow I guess that's why summer just blew by.

But wait, it's not over yet. There's the labor day weekend, with a party at Sharons and the rib cook off; and another retreat and Oregon Flock and Fiber and a Celtic Fair.

I think I might come up for air in October.

See you later.

And now we ply...

2010-07-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

I'm done spinning for Tour de Fleece. I am going to make a two ply yard from the milk pigtail I started with but I am also going to challenge my self to finish some other stuff that needs to be done. From left top, Rovings Polworth / silk, color parrot; Abstract fibers merino / silk, color bonfire; right top, Colorbombers milk top, color lava, and another silk and merino whose name escapes me cause I lost the tag.

I really want to ply up these four. Wish me luck.

Tour de Fleece

2010-07-08T12:10:00.001-07:00

The Start, and

Half way there

Black Sheep Gathering

2010-07-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

For me Black Sheep Gathering is about friends, food, fiber and fun.

This year I had alot of friends to play with. Friends from northern Nevada, friends from the Bay Area and friends I only see at BSG.

My monkey George loves having his picture taken with folks.

Here's a Link to all my BSG photo's.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiberfloozie/sets/72157624407349032/

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

2010-06-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

Here's an old post that never got posted. I'm working on some thing from Black Sheep Gathering. It's funny to be sitting here in June, nice and warm, and reading about a time when it was really cold, snowy cold.

In January I went with my folks to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV and had a blast.

My folks have been going to this event since 1992 and my sister joined them in 2000. I had been able to go for the last few years.

If you've never been, its interesting, in a good way. We saw a lot of very good performances. Even some new people my folks had never seen before. Which you would think would be hard. I mean how many cowboy poets can there be. Quite a lot as I learned. And not just from our own western states but as far away and Canada and New Zealand. There are many different traditions with their own flavors. This years focus was on Florida and Louisiana and the Cajun influences.

My favorite musical group was a group from the Bay Area called Red Meat. Their style of toe tapping Honky Tonk had the place jumping.

I really like the funny stories the best. Some times you laugh until you cry. Then there are the sad ones where all you do is cry.

Of course this trip would not be the same without the food. We eat at a couple of the local Basque restaurants every night. Basque food is always served family style and the plan is to order and entree that keeps well because there is always so much of the stuff before that be the time the entree is served you are stuffed. There is always soup and salad, baked bean, pasta, french fries, green beans. Of course after dinner there is the small dish of ice cream. Start the whole meal off with a couple of Picon Punches and it is just perfect. I had my left over entree for breakfast the next morning. Most mornings that meant lamb. Baked lamb, lamb chops plus some of the other stuff, Heaven.

I always take some projects to work on while I am there. I had either a scarf or a pair of socks to work on where ever I went. It was grand to be just hanging out with a beer, pull out the knitting and meet lots of new friends.

Now you see it....

2010-06-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

Now you don't.

I has blossoms

2010-06-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

I have some tomato plants that my boss gave me that he started from seeds. They are all heirlooms. Here is a picture of three of them.

All of the have blossoms. If all goes well by August we should be swimming in tomatoes.

Off to Black Sheep

2010-06-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

Well it's Thursday morning and I'm all set to take off for Black Sheep Gathering. I'm meet some friends to caravan up together. I hope to be able to post from there.

Wisdom

2010-06-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

I just found something awesome. There is this book called "Wisdom" This guy when to all these great people and asked them to share their experence about work, love, wisdom.
I've just spent time on this website.
http://www.wisdombook.org/
I really want to get this book.

Greatest thing ever.

2010-06-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

If you are a Muppets fan or a Queen fan, this is the greatest thing ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY&feature=player_embedded

I'm a sunflower

2010-06-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

I am a
Sunflower

What Flower
Are You?

Finished projects

2010-06-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

I finished another project over the weekend. I knit a Citron Shawl featured in the Knitty, Winter 2009 addition. It was a fun and quick knit. It think it went faster because I created a chart of the increases for my self.
I'm now wanting to start on something new. My choices are, Herbivore by Steven West, The Fall Leaves Shawl by Sara Lamb, Spin Off Fall 2009, or Storm Cloud Shawlette by Hanna Breetz. Actually I modify that one a bit to include some kind of cool border stitch and maybe make it stockinette.
Too many projects not enough time.

I also finished a five year old project, Meg Swansen's Super Sprial Shawl from A gathering of Lace. I hand spun all the yarn for this project. I started with 2oz of cashmere and silk I got from Chasing Rainbows. In the end I needed to put this project on a 120" needle to be able to see all the stitches. I used the super stretchy bind off from Knitty. I used 88 markers in the border section and a whopping 1760 bound off stitches.

Another great weekend

2010-05-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

What makes a great weekend? Hanging out with your best friends, some of which you didn't know before you got there. That right folks it was the first annual Spindling Retreat. Sorry no pictures, I forgot my camera.

Mike and I loaded up Friday morning and took off about 9:30. Because we were driving our VW camper van, we decided to take a slightly longer route. If you've been driven or been behind a VW camper van, you know its great on the flats and the downhill but murder on the up hill parts so we took a route a little less traveled. Anyway we decided to take 80 from Reno to Truckee, 89 from Truckee to Sierraville and 49 to Dobbins/Lake Francis. We left early because we weren't sure how long it would take and we wanted to be able to stop along the way. It was a beautiful drive. Lots of wildflowers and wonderful greens. I was surprised and the amount of snow still up there.

We pulled into the camp ground 1:00 and the nice people at Lake Francis let us go on up to our site and set up. The others started coming in about 3:30. It was great to meet some many wonderful people that I knew from association.

Friday's pot luck was great and I have to thank my sister for baking me a Tres Leche Cake for me to bring. It was so good and everyone wanted the recipe.

The weather was so changing as it can be this time of the year in the Sierras. Sunny and warm to windy and cold. Dry and cloudy to rainy and sunshine. If you wanted some different weather wise all you had to do was wait 10-15 minute.

I was finally able to see Amy's trailer first hand and man is it beautiful.

We had a a rather large cloud burst Saturday afternoon/evening. It was quite comical scrambling to get all the equipment under the easy-up and then dumping the water out of the tent so that it didn't leak or fall in. We were passing the stick part of my noddy-noddy around to poke up the places were the water would gather.

Mike was a true trooper making lunch and dinner for me so I could hang out with everyone.
Even Cino had a good time. She slept al the way home.

As we were packing up to leave there was talk of next years event. We even scouted around to see if there was even better spaces with in the park for us.

Decadance is...

2010-05-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Having your favorite hair dresser over for dinner and he insists on cutting your hair.

Our friend "Hair*" Michael was in town for a party my friend Lisa was having on Saturday. Lisa always has a Kentucky Derby Day party since she from Louisville. The party is always a blast. Lots of great food and fun people. There a $2 pot and a $1 pot that you can get in on. It strictly be chance, you pays your money and draw a name out of the hat. Mike and I won both pots, having drawn the winning horse, Super Saver. Lisa also made a real bet and won as well.

On Sunday, "Hair" Michael, "Photo" Michael (My husband), and my sister, Gretchen, went out to Lake Pyramid for a walk. "Hair" Michael had never been there and was blown away by the serenity of the place. They all came back to our house to hang out until dinner. My Mike cooked a great meal of bbq'd tri tip and grilled veggies. Lisa and her Mike joined us as well. A good time was had by all.

* There are way to many "Michael's" in our group. We've had to come up with a way to distinguish which one you are talking about. Hence "Hair" Michael or Heidi's Michael or Lisa's Michael.

From left ot right; "Hair" Michael, "Photo" Michael, Lisa, Gretchen, and "Survey" Michael.

Another finished item

2010-04-15T09:39:00.001-07:00

Well not quite finished but off the loom. Another scarf. I hadn't woven since January and was determined to finish this. Now all it needs is the fringe finished and to be washed and blocked. If I could just get some pictures up here it would be perfect.

UFO, UnFinished Projects

2010-04-08T12:05:00.000-07:00

Again I'm behind in posting. I meant to do this last week but am having problems getting the pictures off my camera and into the space call blog land. Oh well.

In the last week I finished off a very old project, Fibertrends Felted Slippers (pictures to come I hope.) I don't know why these have taken so long. It may have had something to do with the fact I had to focus on what I was doing the whole time or it was knit a row, rip back three, every time.

I also had a piece that was a sampler that I had thought to turn into a small bag but never got around to it. I was playing with it one night and then it hit me, a head band. A seam here and a few stitches there and here I had a finished object.

I'm on a roll with the unfinished objects. I'm about 4 rows from being done with a shawl I've been working on since 2005. The only problem is the fact that there are 704 stitches to a row and it take about an hour to work one row. I have to pay strict attention because I don't want to rip any of this back.

I went through a bunch of my UFO's and it seems they all have to same thing in common. They all required large amounts of quite time to work/finish them. Some things have charts and some have beads added. These projects are not the kind that can be worked on a few minutes here and a few minutes there. One day last week I actually sat in my car with a project and the radio for an hour just to get some quite time. I find if I'm at home there's always something else that needs to be done. And if I with friends most of these project just don't work. Unless I want to rip out everything I've done for the last two + hours.

2010-03-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

I really like this quote.

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with to high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

The money habit

2010-03-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

This new habit that I wanted to develop is not the easiest thing I've ever done. I had gotten into the habit of being able to buy, within reason, anything I wanted and not have to worry about the consequences. I had enough money to make the bills and stuff.

What I didn't have was a good handle on where the money was going.

Then in 2009 I noticed that this way of thinking wasn't working any more. We weren't saving any more. In fact every time I put money into the savings account I would end up using it later in the month to cover something else.

I've been using Quicken and it's ability to categorize things better and I am more aware when I spend but it's not easy. I am having a hard time telling my self no when I want to get something. Like a ball of yarn for a project I'm working on or The YarnHarlot's new day-to-day calendar. I am dealing with feelings of sadness. I work hard I should be able to have what I want and stuff like that. I keep telling my self the buying those things, even those they are small items, they do add up and don't contribute to my goals.

Happy thoughts from the weekend

2010-03-15T11:36:00.001-07:00

Sleep and plenty of it.
Sunshine and plenty of that as well.
Working on unfinished projects. Why is it when your working on an old unfinished project it takes twice as long to finish it as a new project? Maybe that's why it's an UFO.
The first BBQ of the year.
Time spent out of doors for everyone, the dog, the cats and the humans.

As a note, the Governor veto the bill that would have given us a four day work week. I am bummed because I was so looking forward to having Fridays off. I'm not complaining. I'm just glad I still have a job. In fact I am blessed I have a job.

It's been a long, long, long time

2010-03-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

It's been a very long time since I've posted anything. It is because we, here at work, have been busy, busy busy. At the end of every Legislative Session we print the laws that were pass during that session. Usually this happens in September-October. This multi volume project is called "The Nevada Revised Statutes." This year there was a law passed that required to make the whole thing to be gender neutral. The long and the short of it is that it took the people who put the books together a lot longer to do their job this year. We started our part of this project in middle of January. We are now coming down to the end.

To give you and idea of how big this project is there are 58 volumes, put together in three volume packages. Each package has about 1700 pages. (That's about a 4" tall stack of paper.)
I've been helping out in the bindery, marrying packages together, feeding them into a very large punch machine and generally helping out where I can. I may be weird but I've really had a great time working on this project and will be sorry when it is over.

Any way I want to tell about the trip I made in January, to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, in Elko, NV. But that is another post.

Holiday weekends are wonderful

2010-01-20T08:36:00.000-08:00

I just love holiday weekends. I do manage to get a lot done without feeling like I've run myself ragged.

I managed to paint another wall.

It was the one with the most stuff on it. That's two down with two to go. The others should be a breeze.

It was also a good time to clean out the files and get ready for tax time.

I also went out to Linda L.s for our weaving study group. She lives out in Stagecoach which is a bit of a drive. Nancy was the only other one to show up so it was nice to just sit and talk. I took my ridge heddle loom with me. I bought some more storage bobbing from Nancy so I could clean off my spinning bobbins. It felt good to do that. Now I just need to set aside some time to ply.

Sunday we went to my nieces birthday party. She's 10 now. Gosh she's growing up so fast.

Monday I plied. I have so much that is in single form that is waiting to be yarn. I also got all the laundry done and vacuumed up the basement.

Movies, movies and movies

2010-01-06T10:31:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays we went to two movies and had a great time. Both of these I want to see again.

The first was Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr. and Jud Law. Although the theater had the sound up way too loud, the movie was a lot of fun. I want to see it again. I'll probably buy it when it comes out on DVD. We were even able to get 9 of us to the movie in time enough to sit together and with my family that's no mean feat.

The second was Avatar in 3D in an Imax theater. IMG. Amazing experience. We went to the Bay Area to visit a friend and since we were going to be there any way we thought we try to see this movie in Imax. The only show we could get into was the 9:45 one on Saturday morning. This worked out great because my friend got sick on Friday so we stayed with her Friday night, got up early went to the movie, then after headed home.

That's two first run movies in a theater. That more than I went to last year. I don't usually like going to the movies in a theater because I like being at home, where there's popcorn I don't have to spend an arm and a leg for, and there's beer, and a bathroom I don't have to wait in line for.

We also saw a bunch of new stuff on DVD. Angles and Demons, Up and Inglourious Bastards. I liked Angles and Demons and want to see it again. Up was cute. I didn't like Inglourious Bastards at all.

There are some new ones coming up I'm looking forward to. Iron Man 2 and Alice in Wonderland, 2010 just to mention a few.

New for the new year

2010-01-05T09:38:00.000-08:00

I'm not very much of a make-up kind of gal but when my sister in law went to work for this company, Bare Escentuals, I just had to see what was new and boy do I like what I see.

I had used this product years ago when it first came out and I like the results but not enough to wear it every day. I liked the fact that it was a mineral powder that doesn't clog you pores. You can sleep in it and not wake up the next day looking like cement face. It has a SPF of 15 which makes it nice that you don't need a separate sun screen. I don't like most sun screens for the face cause they are greasy. Even the ones just for the face.

What I didn't like was the foundation color was a little off. I felt I looked a little too pinkie.
They fixed that little problem. I just love it now. It is so easy to put on. It takes seconds. I don't even look like I have anything on. Just me only better.

2nd habit

2009-12-30T18:55:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-29T11:17:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-28T11:42:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-22T09:51:00.000-08:00

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

Retreats are fun! Christmas not so much.

2009-12-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-20T13:50:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-03T15:34:00.000-08:00

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...

2009-10-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-17T13:00:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-14T20:31:00.001-07:00

How I get the distance to balance out the twist.

Bobbins after transfer.

Bobbins before transfer.

Transfering Singles

2009-07-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-08T11:40:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-29T14:25:00.001-07:00

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?

2009-06-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-05-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-05-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

(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

2009-05-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-06T17:26:00.000-08:00

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/

2009-03-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-02-24T16:59:00.001-08:00

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

2009-02-06T15:02:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-04T18:59:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-30T09:19:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-28T13:13:00.000-08:00

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...

2009-01-27T08:58:00.000-08:00

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.