Happy Birthday to Me.

It's been an interesting few decades. But I must say the last one has been the best. I share my life with the Adored One, and now with the dogs. I've returned to creating (crafts) instead of just getting by (working & worrying). The jagged edges of loss have been buffed off slightly, they're still there but no longer catch on every loose thread. For most of my life I've been the Strong one. Everyone always compliments me on my Strength. Now I think I'll turn a new page, I'd like to be known for being funny, feminine, loving.

Strong and capable is all very well, a nice foundation indeed. When disaster befalls my friends, they know I have loyalty and strength enough. As such, I've heard everyone's stories.

Now I'd like to be invited to the parties, shopping trips, lunches, and BBQs too. I'd like to reach the end of a tube of lipstick before it goes bad. Buy a coral coloured bra/panty set. Figure out what the blazes women are carrying in those handbags. I'd like to roast marshmallows instead of snatching life out of the fire.

This isn't about not achieving. It isn't about giving up. It's not about money, or time, or work. It's about handling all my experiences with love, joy, and ease.

Here's to another great year.

Spinning wheels, but still going places.

This is my third thing on the wheel. Progress is being made. It started life as the free cream roving that came with my B-E-A-utiful Kromnski Sonata wheel. I hot pour dyed it, split it down for pre-drafting and started treadling. I live with an active fantasy life that involves being able to spin sock yarn, knit socks, wear socks, resist being able to tell people - lookie, socks! Perhaps someday.

I'm actually still trying to figure out what flipped the switch from NO-Spin to Spin. I had the opportunity to go to Rhinebeck and didn't because it was mostly spinning stuff, NO INTEREST IN SPINNING STUFF, to the current obsession with SPINNING STUFF. Weird, eh?

Wallflower

Traditionally I am a Wallflower. Seems odd to say given that I essentially meet new people for a living, but I've always been more interested in hearing Their story than telling my own. Consequently, as part of the Master Plan, I was considering dropping the blog. After all, I'm blessed with a really boring life. This IS a good thing, the early decades were too exciting. And being a private person I'm not inclined to hang out my laundry, nor would I hang out the laundry of others. And the vast enjoyment I receive from Blogs is in the reading of others.

However, during my morning walk I was struck by the essay on Sticks and String. If you haven't listened to David's podcast you really should subscribe. He's lucid and erudite, yet very human and warm. What I really took away from the essay this week was that it's important to continue to contribute. Even if I go to the party and don't dance, the party is different because I came. And I get something different from the experience if I participate than if I stay home listening to audiobooks. So let me encourage you to come to the party too. If you're not willing to get out there and dance, you are free to sit with me and I'll listen to your story.

Part of the Master Plan

The Adored One and I were doing our review of the Master Plan and I was considering pictures of my Stash. Yes, I have pictures (digital) of my stash. I can't travel with it, but it helps to be able to pull up a photo and see how much, what kind, etc. I was thinking about the abundance in my life. People, things, goals, dreams, projects without enough hours in the day.

And lo and behold, what do I find...Stash 2007. Destiny. So please, join in. And I REALLY like rule#3.

Seduction

I have been seduced away from knitting these last few weeks by the siren call of Spinning. Yes I suck at it, yes I'm spending time making useless ropey knotted stuff. No, it's not stressful and I have no plans to stop.

I have finished some objects but they are gifts and must go in Secret until 2007. I am also test-knitting a pattern by Carol Wood. Fabulous! I still chuckle at the thought of me as a test knitter though.

New Dyeing.

For the Adored One. Because after all nothing says love like hand knit socks.



The Hues are not quite what I planned. They came out a little Middle Earth-y for me, but he will like them.



They're just blue enough for jeans, and not just plain solid colours, but plain enough for him. The Chestnut brown is really quite lovely.


And with the left over yardage I think I'll put toes and heels into a pair of solid colour socks for me.

Every so often...

those wacky quizzes are on target. Snapdragons are my favourite flowers.

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

A little Snuggle to ward off chills.

I do actually finish things. It's a snuggly little top down capelet. I used esperanza in an unnamed colourway. It took one skein with about 2.5 inches of yarn left. It worked up quickly utilizing 2.5 hours at the new Bond movie, some odd moments during 4 lunches, and one relaxed evening. Admittedly there were points in the movie when I was not knitting, being engaged in eating, drinking, cringeing, and emphatically "Not Looking".

Stitches East Black Bunny Harvest

Look at my delicious fingerless gloves. In Carol's Harvest wool and nylon yarn and the Natalya pattern. It was a simple easy pattern although there are no instructions for the pinky finger. They are snuggly and still let me knit.

I love myself but....

Life is good. We're doing okay and have even been known to P--S money away on "like to haves, not need to haves".

However, not being fashionably inclined nor subject to whims of design I tend to knit items that will still be in style when I get around to finishing the project. I admit it...I don't let fashion magazines make me feel inferior because I don't follow the trends, I ask myself "where would I wear this?" in stores, I don't wear something that looks bad on me (intentionally) because it's the rage (forget Flashdance - it was the eighties), I actually don't have a blowdryer. So when I saw this darling pattern Pimlico Shrug, I thought, yeah, I'd wear that. I'd even wear it years from now. So I turned to the requirements.

If there are delicate ears nearby you may wish to shoo them away. It takes 14 - not a typo - 14, ten plus four, one less than fifteen - fourteen skeins of Koigu. Yeah, Ri-i-ght. So that shrug that I would sling over furniture, toss over sweats, catch on door handles, cram into the carry on would be $168.00 (let's see, hourly wage minus taxes, divided into 168 equals how many hours of my life in trade before I even cast on a stitch?).

I wouldn't spend that on sweater in Barneys. I couldn't enjoy a sweater that cost that much. Can't you see it..."Hey Elysbeth, nice sweater." "Yeah, sure, look could you and your wineglass back away carefully?"

It's not the yarn...I love Koigu. I mean it's practically a mantra, Koigu, om shanti shanti, Koigu.
It's a great wearable pattern. Go check it out. Very cute right?
Yes yarn substitutes are available, but if you're going to pay for 1456 metres of sleekly spun merino that will wear nicely you are going to pay close to Koigu prices. (oh, the agony of the complicated sweater that pilled and fuzzed in cheap yarn)

The Adored One summed it up nicely..."Honey, I think this might be about you, not the yarn."

Ze Black Hole of Knitting

I swear by all that is holy I am knitting diligently, if not monogamously, on the Black bunny Feather and Fan. I am up to row 80, so could some kind soul please explain why it's not getting bigger? Or send a bottle of Chambord.