Settled

We are at last settled in Statesville.  New house, new routines and alot to get accustomed to.  Working from home is great about 75% of the time.  A little bit isolating but I do not miss my 1 and 1/2 hour daily commute.  Reed loves his new job and is so glad to be back in a hospital again rather than behind the corporate desk all day.

I have joined the Piedmont Fiber Guild and look forward to getting to know those folks better.  Have been knitting, spinning and weaving.  Hope to whip up a batch of soap in  the next few days.  I have some Saffron threads I want to experiment with.

 

 

 

The Christmas gifts have been purchased and wrapped.  I did not craft any gifts this year, too much going on.  In the first picture of the basket  is one of two recently completed baby sweater and bootie sets for co-workers who are expecting their first grand children.

The other pictures are two different views of my new loom room.  As I said ...settling in!

Organizing for the big move

We are moving to Statesville.  We have a tentative closing date of September 21st and hope to be in the new house by October 1 when dear husband starts his new job.  There is alot to do before then.  My goal is to have my craft supplies and loom packed up this week.  We are going to use a POD which should be delivered next week.  First a little organizing is necessary.

 

I absolutely love knitting magazines but the idea of moving five years worth of them is a little much.  I have gone through all the magazines and scanned pictures and patterns I plan to make in the future.  The stacks are going to a new home.  I may try to purchase them digitally in the future to avoid the stacks in the future.  My stash will be easy to pack as it is all bagged and organized according to weight.  The books are another story!

Lost and Found

My mojo that is, for blogging, for knitting and just about everything else.  Let's blame it on the heat.  We went to Miami for four days last week  for Reed to check out a job.  Wow, South Florida has changed in the thirty years we have been gone.  We discovered it is far too urban an environment to suit us. 

It really clarified for me how much I love being close to my kids, my home, my job, my friends and North Carolina.  I knit the Citron during our travels and got my mojo back!  Apparently, I am simple minded enough that the color transitions spur me to keep knitting!

Also started Wingspan in an effort to maintain my momentum.

Although I found Miami to be too loud, too garish and too crowded for my taste, I did enjoy a trip to The Knitting Garden in Coral Gables.  It is a lovely shop and the time there was the highlight of my stay in Miami.

New Ride

I decided I really wanted to go back to a compact car.  Traded my Malibu for this new Sonic LT in Inferno Orange.  It is fun to drive, the gas mileage is great, it is American made and the car payment is lower.  What is not to like?

Wright Memorial Kite Festival 2012

Here are some scenes from our long weekend in the Outer Banks.

Reed setting up for the Wright Brothers' Memorial 34th Annual Kite Festival

Flying High!

Sand Art at Kitty Hawk Kites



Reed's Coke Kite



Our Dive beach hotel

The pics of the hotel are limited.  Reed has always had a fascination with dive beach hotels.  They remind him of his childhood vacations in Florida with his family.  We may have even crossed his comfort threshold with this one.  It was clean and you could get out of bed, open the back door and take 10 steps to the beach, that was the extent of it's charm.  As we checked out, we learned the hotel is slated for demolition in September.  We had a wonderful time, the Outer Banks has to be one of my favorite places!

Not So Ruby Slippers

This was a super fast knitting project.  Shiraz Slipper pattern from Everyday Finery by Mel Clark.  Knit up in one skein of Cascade 220, lined with a fabric scrap from stash and padded with leather scraps.  Very quick and fun.  I have never been a fan of felting but this project turned out exactly the right size and texture.  I hand felted them rather than use the washing machine and was much happier with the result.  (I snuck into Marshalls' shoe department for the pictures.)

Am I a Luddite or a Troglodyte?

thesaurus for luddite:technophobe, fear, green, moron, environmentalist, fundamentalist, geekned ludd, nerd, technology, troglodyte, doubt, dumbass, earth ego-warrior, fud, fuddite, hate, ignorant, more... 

thesaurus for troglodyte: caveman, neanderthal

Apparently the term luddite came from those opposed to the industrial revolution who destroyed mechanical knitting machines in opposition to the mechanization and de-humanization of knitting and weaving processes.  A troglodyte is defined as a reclusive sort who shuns technology.

This week, I missed a text, an e-mail and a phone call from Rachel saying she was in Sanford and wanted o have dinner with her mom and dad.  I did review the messages it was just 4 hours later and much too late for dinner.  Secondly, I tried to respond to a text to a dear friend and sent her a blank text which then prompted her to call me to see if I was alright.

I am alright, just a 1960s kind of alright.  I do not hear my phone and it takes me at least ten minutes to craft a response text to say "no, yes or on the way."  About two weeks ago I responded to my friend Roxanne's text with a lengthy, witty response.  I was so proud.  She never responded.  Later she showed me my text and it was either in russian, arabic or some not yet developed language.

I am not reclusive, fundamentalist or a hater.  But I am an incompetent.  This is an open apology to all my friends and family.  For all the times I didn't answer the cell phone although you called me four times (this is a long list including my husband, my children, my friends and co-workers).

If you have texted me without reply, I truly apologize.  I  would like to promise to do better but it is not happening.  I can't take the pressure.  I promise to check the phone periodically throughout the day, try to remember to take it off vibrate after meetings and call you if needed after a text.  Unless I have ten minutes to type "yes, no or on the way" as a response. I love you all dearly, I am just a luddite.

Gold Rush Scarf

Just finished this scarf.  After the ginormous fail of the dish towels, I warped the loom for a simple scarf based on the draft we did in my weaving class last year.  I used a rayon boucle and one skein of Berroco Captiva for the accent.  I am really pleased with this and have already warped for a second scarf in an eggshell rayon with orange accent.

Praise the Lard!

Here are some sights from the NC State Farmers Market.  Today was a beautiful, hot Saturday and perfect for trying to find the perfect tomatoes.

Only in North Carolina!

Came home and had "mater" sandwiches for supper.  Does it get any better than this?



Deep Peace

Deep Peace,  Deep Perserverance, Deeply Disturbed

This weekend involved an epiphany.  Unless I want to rendezvous with the guys with  the huggy coats it is time to put this one  away.  I need to rip back about twelve inches and I have already knit the same six inches of chart B at least eight times.  I seriously began to question my cognitive abilities.  Perhaps I need to achieve Deep Peace before I pick this one up again!

Now I have a nice pair of socks on the needles and life is good again.



The Kite Guy

It has been really neat to watch Reed re-discover a childhood love of kites.  What has been even neater is watching people take to the skies with their own kites.  Reed is often sought out by those people for a little technical assistance and he always helps.

Some of the other "big kite" fliers have little patience with the children attracted to their kites, telling them to stay back and not to touch.  Reed is the opposite he encourages the kids to touch the big kites and even fly them with him.  He purposely carries inexpensive toy kites and gives them to kids and their parents at the park.

I think I will keep him, he is a good guy.



Perfect Weekend

Yesterday we had a Girls with Purls dye day at my house. We had five crockpots and the microwave and dozens of packets of koolaid.   It was such fun.  There were 19 of us including Reed and I.  We enjoyed the gorgeous weather and gobbled down some burgers and hotdogs.  I love my friends.  We never fail to have fun and way too much food.  They are a great group and I am extremely fortunate.  I was running around too much to take pics but others did and I will share soon. 

Today we are headed out to the park to picnic and fly kites.  It is the most gorgeous day, sunny and breezy.  Reed does the actually flying of kites, I make the ultimate sacrifice and sit in the shade watching and knitting. 

Below are some Spa Cloths with some of my handmade soap.  From left to right it is Rosemary Wake -Up, kitchen soap with coffee and lemongrass and lemon poppyseed.



Kool Fun with Koolaid

We are having a dye day and cookout at my house Saturday for the knitting group.  I dyed some samples in preparation.  Fun with koolaid is a cheap, small luxury.  This is the last day in May and I have blogged each day.  Now granted many posts have been somewhat lacking in content but way to follow through Michiele!  I think in the future I will aim for at least a weekly post.



Keep Calm and Carry Yarn

This is a picture of me with Rachel (with her back to you) Ryan and Emily in Rachel and Alan's kitchen.  I had just opened my Mother's Day gifts and love this bag from Ryan and Emily.  It says "KEEP CALM AND CARRY YARN".  Truly words to live by!  I have a print of this in my office and a similar bag in yellow from Christmas 2010.  Love it!

Twenty-nine days down

I committed to blog daily in May on a whim. Here it is 29 days and I haven't skipped one. That is pretty good for me as follow through can be an issue. Is it super obvious that I've got nothing tonight to blog about. Good, busy day at work, a few things to do around the house tonight and that's about it.

Small Luxury - Koolaid

In preparation for a dye day with my knitting group at my house next week, this weekend I dyed some samples.  I also dyed 1760 yards of Knitpicks Bare fingering weight for a sweater.  Here's an in process picture.

Here are the four skeins hanging outside to dry.

It is a reallly beautiful color.  I am hoping there isn't too much variation.  I wanted a kettle dyed look rather than all over saturated color.  Hopefully the light isn't too light and the dark not too dark.





Simple Pleasure - not so lazy Sunday

Today we went paddling on Lake Crabtree for a few hours.  It was very relaxing and a workout all the same.



Made in the Shade

A very relaxing Saturday. We ran some errands, went out to lunch and then went to the park. Reed flew kites and I knit in the shade. The weather was perfect and it was nice to relax and enjoy mother nature for awhile.

Simple Pleasure A Three Day Weekend

I am so glad to have three days to be at home. I need to catch up on chores and would like to weave and make another batch of soap. I don't even care what the weather does. Last weekend was great fun but sometimes you just need downtime without any expectations or agendas.

Simple pleasures

There may be a dearth of pictures in upcoming posts as our computer is dying and we are waiting for a new hard drive to arrive. The I-Pad is convenient but does not do photos and video well. My simple pleasure for today is the humble dishcloth. I lost my sock mojo when trying the toe-up method. I also am knitting a lace project that is kicking my butt. Enter the well love spa face cloth, simple and mindless yet somehow satisfying.

Simple pleasure soap

Tonight has been very productive. After dinner I made two batches of soap. One is a kitchen soap made with all natural ingredients, coconut oil, olive oil, grape seed oil, lemongrass,ginger and coffee. It smells so good. The second batch was a Wake Up Rosemary blend with the same oils,peppermint, lavender and rosemary. I also cast on another spa cloth. A good choice because we are going to be up to our eyeballs in soap! Add to that two hours of Law and Order and what more could a girl want?

Here's the Evidence

Zipline

Unfortunately there is no video of Reed.  I was concentrating on not dying and didn't think I could manage the camera!

Home Sweet Home

Got home from our weekend trip to Asheville.  We had a great time but man am I sore.  Our zipline guide said a way to go faster was to tuck up like you were doing a cannonball off of a diving board.  She said it was good for your abs and boy was she right!  I tucked for almost every zip and my long forgotten abs are screaming for attention.  Here are a couple of pics.  Action shots to follow as soon as the old folks recover!



Asheville

Today has been busy. We spent about three hours zip lining and it was a blast! I would definitely do it again. I am not a fan of the swinging suspended bridges, especially with my crazy husband behind me shaking the bridge. Pictures and or video to follow tomorrow when we return home. I think I have conquered my fear of heights! After we had lunch we went and walked in downtown Asheville. I so love Asheville! Then we found a local park and flew kites for awhile.

Life in 3D

Reed and I are in Asheville for the weekend. After exploring for awhile it started to rain so we ducked into see a movie. We saw The Avengers in 3D and wow! I had never seen a 3D movie and don't know if I will see another. It was very exciting, I was on the edge of my seat most of the time. It was really jolting to have the arrows and other weapons being shot at you. I jumped once and barely avoided a direct hit from a flaming arrow. Tomorrow the zip line. We are definitely living dangerously.

Simply Pleasure and Small Luxuries

Here are some pictures from today's visit to the Carolina Fiber Fest.  It was great fun and more so because I was able to meet up with my friend Susan.  My purchases were modest but perfect!  See below for the loot and some pictures of the fun.

This is a skein of Wolle's Creation Color Changing Cotton in the Aqua Mint colorway and an adorable sock project bag with socks on it by Bobbinworks.  I love, love, love them!

Reed saw this awesome basket and bought it for me!  Squee!