A Strange Turn of Events

Hi My Beautifuls...

Well, last night proved to be an interesting evening. My husband had a meeting across town from where the Spinner's Guild was meeting, so he dropped me daughter and I off at Subway for supper. From there we walked 5 mins to a local mall and wandered about for about 20 mins. Then the 5 min trek up the hill to Jumbo Gardens...the place where all my spinning dreams would come true (pardon the melodramatics...). Well, we got to the building and tried the door...hmmm, locked. We walked around to the east side of the building. Hmmm, locked. We then tried the west door...you guessed it, locked. There were lights on in the building and so I buzzed the intercom. The custodian met us at the south doors where, I'm sad to say, he informed us that there was no Spinners' Guild that met there at all. Here's a blow-by-blow account of what followed:

"What do you mean there's no Spinners' Guild. I was told they meet here at Jumbo Gardens," I informed him.

"Well, ma'am, this is just a daycare facility. There are no meetings here at all," he politely responded.

By now, I am a bit hysterical (by the way, I just looked up the definition on dictionary.com to give a full description of me at this point...#3 says it all: irrational from fear, emotion, or an emotional shock). It was as though my brain was refusing to process the information just given to me.

"But that's impossible," I said, trying desperately to hide the high-pitched squeals which were now my voice. I began to realize by this point that my daughter and I would be waiting outside for at least an hour while waiting for my husband to pick me up.

"Is it possible there is another Jumbo Gardens," I asked, no longer trying to hide the hysterical pitch of my voice.

"Yes," the custodian responded. "Up about 4 blocks and then at the end of that road (which is equal to about 2-3 city blocks)."

"Thanks," I responded. I knew I couldn't be mad at him because it was really not his fault. But I really felt like flying toward him and scratching his eyes out. But that would have been wrong. Especially in front of my 7 yr old daughter...

Well, I needed to make a quick decision. We would continue to hike it! So up the hill we went (by this time I'm muttering to myself while at the same time, trying to reassure my daughter everything was fine).

"Let's find the positive," I told my daughter as we huffed and puffed up the hill. (By the way, I am so totally the opposite of positive...I'm not even close to seeing the glass as half full some days). So we figured that we had a most excellent sandwich at Subway, we got to "hang out at the mall", and we were having a terrific walk.

Well, I figured when we got there, I would just have time to pay my membership for the Guild, sign up for the class they're offering, and then we would have to leave to hike back down the hill and wait at the original building for my hubby to pick us up (because he would have no idea where we were).

We walked almost to the end of that main road the rec centre was supposed to be on, but I didn't see anything. Okay, now I'm really having to go pee. What to do, what to do. Ahhhh... friends from church live on the next street over. So we hiked to their place, where I was able to use the washroom, call my husband (no, we don't have cell phones...I know...gasp all you like...I really can't stand them and hope I never need to purchase one...although I thought last night would have been the perfect opportunity to have them), and we were thankfully able to wait for him to pick us up in a nice warm house with great company.

To say I was disappointed last night is an understatement.

But every cloud has it's silver lining...or in this case...a fleece lining....

Today, my favourite yarn shop has a knitting group from 1-4pm. I went with the hopes that the one lady from the Spinners' Guild would be there. She wasn't. But another lady was. I mentioned that I had really tried to get to the meeting last night, but was unable to make it.

"It wasn't last night," she politely informed me. "It's this coming Monday. We meet on the fourth Mondays."

Apparently I was given the wrong information...

But......... happy happy joy joy. I didn't miss it! So I got the correct information from her and everything is hunky-dorky.

Well, I'd better go. American Idol is starting. Not sure if I'll make it through...I'm pretty beat tonight. Talk to you tomorrow...

Tah-Dah!!!!

Hi, my name is Teddy. But you can call me Ted for short. You are all my royal subjects. I would like you to be my friends. I just wanna know, "How ya doin' peeps?" Tell me, what's your favourite thing to do? I hope it's to like teddies and knitting! Did you have any birthdays yet? They're my favourite! This is Ted, signing off! Mwah...kisses! and hugs! xoxoxo ...(story told by my daughter for your viewing pleasure)

Well, he's finished! Finally. Note to self...never use fun fur yarn to make another anything that needs to be stitched together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A little frustrating to say the least. But he's finished and that makes me very happy. (Off camera: me doing a little happy dance)

I snapped a few pics this morning of Ted with a piggy bank I made while I had the pottery equipment at my itching fingertips. Oh, if only I had a gazzilion dollars!!! I would be slinging mud all day...and knitting at night. Oh...if only... ... ... ... ...

Sorry about that! Drifted off into daydream-land for a few minutes. Back to reality.

Today my baby girl is home from school. She has a touch of the flu. My hubby is sick with a horrible cold. Ergo...I have locked myself into my cozy little home office/craft room/disaster area to fend off impending doom. Need I remind my faithful readers that tonight is my first Spinner's Guild meeting? Uh...yeah! Therefore, I don't need no stinkin' flu/cold bugs hovering around me just waiting to attack. Tomorrow, I can be sicker than a dog, but not today. Oh no, not today. Nothin' is gonna keep me from that meeting tonight. I missed last month and I am not going to miss tonight too.

So for today, the plan is to stick to myself as much as possible. Do some laundry, flutter by "the sickos" now and then, do some laundry, knit a bit, do some more laundry, check on "the sickos" again, perhaps even dust (but that's a last resort!). I am currently ignoring the fact that my eyes are itchy and my left ear is a little sore. My tummy hurts a touch, but that's just because I haven't eaten any breakfast yet. (Phew...I think I'll be just fine). I have three HUGE chicken breasts in the fridge leftover from supper the other night. So I just threw those in my stockpot on the stove. Mama's makin' good ol' homemade chicken noodle soup for lunch today. Oh yeah...I'z got skillz! Uh-huh!

Well, I'd better get going on that laundry. Did I mention I have laundry to do? I came to the conclusion that my family has WAYYYYYY too many clothes. If you can get by for a couple of weeks without fresh laundry, but you always have fresh clothes to wear??? You've got too many clothes. Which equals loads of laundry for mama. And, let's be honest, mama hates chores. I'm not the Suzy Homemaker I grew up dreaming I would be. I've realized I'm far to selfish. Terrible, I know. But you'll need to get past that.

Ciao!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee -- I'm So Excited...Can ya tell?

I am so excited I think I'm going to pee my pants... Phew! I'm glad that urge passed...

For many years, I have been fascinated with the art of spinning. I remember in 1998 in Castlegar, British Columbia I had the opportunity to watch a woman spinning. I think at that moment I was hooked. It looked so relaxing and it amazed me that from a bit of wool she was able to spin this beautiful, workable yarn. That aspect of the arts intrigues me. For awhile I had the opportunity to teach pottery (perhaps I'll post some pics of some of my pieces sometime) and it was the same thing. You have this lump of clay in your hand and with a bit of manipulation you can throw some amazing pieces of art or things to use in your house everyday.

Well, after enviously looking at other people's blogs who knit and spin, I'm gonna do it! We have a Spinnners and Weavers Guild in town and they meet this Monday. Good friends of ours gave me money for my birthday to pay for a membership...the excitement is unbearable! I can't wait for tomorrow night.

Also, my parents gave me a gift certificate for my b'day for my favourite yarn shop in town, Threads in Time. So I was finally able to go yesterday with my daughter. Get this...my daughter said to me, "Mommy I love coming here because you can touch everything. Everything feels so nice." EEEEEEEEEE...A fibre addict is born!

Anywho...I used my gift certificate to purchase a few things for spinning. I couldn't wait until Monday (they probably don't spin at the meetings anyways...duh!). I've wanted to try working with a drop spindle so I picked out a simple instruction booklet which covers the basics of using the drop spindle, cleaning the fleece, etc. I also got some rolags which have been carded and are ready to spin. I bought a classic drop spindle, and a niddy noddy. I also bought three small pouches of dye to try down the road.

Well, last night I couldn't bear it anymore. I tore open the bag of rolags, tore some off, and with book-in-hand, I made my first attempts at spinning. A bit pathetic and sad looking to say the least...but hey, it's spinning!!!!!I took some pics to show you my poor attempts...but hey, when I first tried pottery, there were no award winning pieces being thrown that night! I had to take some pictures this morning so that some day I can look back and say, "Hey, I've come a long way!"

Well, I'd better go get ready for church. My daughter reminded me last night that I play organ this morning...yipes! I got so wrapped up in my spinning excitement (pardon the pun), that I completely forgot that I play this morning. Ooops! I'd better get showered up and quickly run through the hymns I need to play.

Tah tah my loverlies!

Good Morning Starshine, The Earth Says Hello...

Does anyone remember that song by the musical group Hair? Good Morning Starshine, The Earth Says Hello. Well, it has become my cheesy musical number for this morning's blog. The one beautiful thing about having the temperature gauge reading about minus a gazzilion is that the sun is always shining.



Today after dropping my daughter off at school, I noticed the thermometer outside read -35 C (which is pretty much the same temp in F). But the sun was coming up and it was loverly. I just had to snap some pictures while the song was playing in my head.



For fun, I've looked up the full set of lyrics for Good Morning Starshine. In fact as I snapped a few photos, I found myself singing, "Good Morning Starshine, the earth says hello...HELLO! It's frickin' freezing out here! Woo Hoo Global Warming!"

Please enjoy my Good Morning Starshine photoblog...

Good Morning Starshine...

The Earth Says Hello...

You Twinkle Above Us...

We Twinkle Below...

(Editorial Note: These guys were obviously high when they wrote this one...)


Good morning starshine, the earth says hello
you twinkle above us,
we twinkle below
good morning starshine,
you lead us along
my love and me
as we sing our early morning singing song
gliddy glub gloopy
nibby nabby noopy
la la la - lo lo
sabba sibbi sabba
nooby aba naba
lee lee - lo lo
tooby ooby wala
nooby aba naba
early morning singing song
Good morning . . .gliddy glub gloopy . . .
Singing a song,
humming a song
singing a song
loving a song,
laughing a song
singing a song
sing the song
song the sing
song song song
sing sing sing sing
song song song song
sing sing sing sing song

Ongoing Mystery Project

Hey!


Well, I was hoping to give you "teaser" photos of the mystery item I've been working on as I made bits of progress. But today I knit with guns a blazin'! I am getting close to finishing...


I've had a few people e-mail me with their ideas. Some suggested perhaps it was a fun fur halter top/dress. Okay, nice try peoples, but really...let's think about this. Me? In a fun fur halter top? It's a little caveman era for me...not so flattering, and may possibly draw too much unnecessary attention to "the girls".


Another idea was a clutch/handbag. Again...good try, but nope. I've been carrying the same green Mountain Equipment Co-op bag for the last...hmmm...10 years or so. (Okay, yes, maybe I am a fashion victim. What are you going to do about it? Call a fashion makeover show? Go ahead...I could use all the help I need!!!)


Well, while mom and dad were visiting my baby girl saw a knitted teddy bear in the yarn shop. The yarn was on for a good price, so...


I give you Madeline's almost completed,


new Best Friend Bear.


It's a pretty cool pattern. I found it in the Holiday 2006 Interweave Knits magazine. It knits up pretty quickly and has been a fun project.


As I finish, I'll post more pics (especially after it is stuffed with face done). The pattern actually called for a different yarn, but Madeline wanted a fuzzy stuffy. It will be beautiful I think.


Tomorrow we have our Annual Voters' Meeting at church. Ergo, I've got to bring along some knitting (possibly my Lacy Kerchief Scarf) to keep me busy. Sometimes the meetings can get a bit "spicy" so it helps to have some knitting along to distract me.


Have a great night and we'll see you again real soon.

So Many Projects...

Hey beautiful peoples!

I've been busy knitting. I finished my clogs and a pair for my mom (we both celebrated our birthdays last week...so it was my b'day gifts to us)...so now I'm on to a new project.

Any ideas what it is??? Stay tuned. Take some guesses and I'll continue to update with play-by-play pictures until the mystery is solved...

I'm All About The Knitting, Baby!

Okay, so for those who haven't figured it out yet, I am developing a crazy obsessive knitting addiction. I can't just sit anymore without sticks and wool in my hands. I feel "na-kid". So it should not surprise anyone of my most recent knitting accomplishment.

My parents are visiting us until Feb 5th. My mom's birthday was yesterday (Jan 31st) and mine is today (Feb 1st). On Saturday, we "dropped by" the wool shop I have been frequenting as of late. Mom wanted a pair of felted slipper clogs like I made for hubby and my baby girl. So, we picked out some wool (Briggs & Little -- Regal in turquoise) for the knitting extravaganza! I hadn't worked with this particular brand of wool before so my fingers were itchin' before we even left the shop.

I started knitting them late Saturday afternoon and by Monday morning I was ready to begin felting them! I amazed even myself since I consider myself to be a slow knitter!!! Last night I finished my green slippers for felting (I started those just before Christmas). This morning I felted them up and...VIOLA! We have felted slippers:

The Briggs & Little yarn didn't shrink as much as I wanted them to, but I'm still pretty pleased with them nonetheless. I may have overshrunk the green ones so my mom and I may need to switch colours...we'll have to see. But for now...sweet!