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.