Last week was a bit of a busy week for me. Especially considering lately I haven't really been doing much. Laying low, staying home, trying not to spend money. But last week was busy, and I guess that's good.
This week is going to be fairly quiet, I think. I hope. Monday I have a hair appointment in the morning. Not too early, which is good. It's a 40 or so minute drive to the hair salon I go to. I like the way the lady listens to what I want, and how she cuts my hair how I ask her to - with a razor, not scissors. I have very straight hair. Not thick. Fine hair. If you cut it with scissors, it sticks straight out. If you cut it too short, it sticks straight out. When cut with a razor, it lays nicely, layers nicely, and I like the way it feels. The only negative thing is, the lady that cuts it, smokes. And she always has a cigarette before she comes to cut my hair. Ugh.
My allergies have been horrible. I've never had allergy problems like this. Have no idea where they came from. Sneezing. Itchy eyes. Stuff draining in the back of my throat. Coughing to hack up the icky stuff. Just terrible!
I had a dr. appt. on Weds. It had to do with female stuff. They did a biopsy which I'm sure will come out fine, but it hurt like the dickens. And I had to take it easy for a few days. So no extra weaving. :-(
Tomorrow, when I get home from the hair appointment, I plan on weaving. Maybe even finishing.
I'm selling my rigid heddle loom. I've advertised just about everywhere. I don't do Ebay. I am not savvy enough to handle it. I have it in many other places tho. No nibbles yet. I really need the money. I have things I need to get done. I have another loom I want to buy. But need the money. Because the truck decided to do something stupid, it cost us a lot of money. Over $750 - well the $750 is the part it cost for the repair of the brakes, calipers and whatever else had to be repaired, to fix the ones that almost started a fire. Now, I asked, why in the heck did this happen in the first place? There has to be something flaky with the system. We weren't doing any heavy towing. Heck, we haven't towed anything heavy in months. We hardly use the stinking truck. Thinking that we might trade it into CarMax if they gave us the amount is due on payoff, and get something different....smaller.....but it still has to pull a flat bed trailer for hay hauling, and whatever else we'd have to haul. We don't haul the horses anymore. I would like to have something like a large SUV. Hubby's thinking of a used pickup that is cheap - something to put as a farm vehicle only. I dunno. We'll see. Anyway, Hubby contacted Ford and they contacted the dealership we take the truck to for repairs (we also purchased the truck there) and they are offering us $350 back. I think they should have replaced everything for free. But that ain't gonna happen. We purchased the extended warranty, but low and behold, dontcha know, it doesn't cover the brake system. That would have been a different extended warranty. Geesh.
Anyway, that was all the stress and fuss last week. This is a new week.
Yesterday we went to Sears and I found an exercise bike I really liked. Of course, since the debt ceiling crap is going on, and part of our income is from Military Retirement pay, we aren't making any big purchases right now. The bike was on sale, $200. Hopefully it will either stay on sale, or be on sale again, so that we can get it in the future. I need to do something to get back in shape. I'm so badly OUT of shape that I get winded walking around from the car to the store, or in the mall, or whatever --- I'm NOT happy about this.
It's been hot again. I'm trying not to let that keep me in the house too much, but, it is. Disappointed that the summer hasn't been a bit easier. But I know we're not the only ones suffering.
The grand baby starts day care tomorrow. I know it's good for her. I sure miss the hell out of going up there and spending time with her every week, but it got too hard on everyone working out the schedule. I will either have to go up on a weekend, or somehow work out a way to go up on a day when dear daughter will be working from home and can handle me being there. I also hope that they get a new home soon as they really want to move but want to move into something nice. It's been difficult for them to find the right home, and be able to put an offer that isn't refused! I feel for them.
So, as unexciting as this post has been, all is well and I'm going to close for now. I really must get out and start taking more photos. Some of the other blogs I read have such GREAT photos............I love photography but, I'm not crazy about my camera. Maybe someday, in a future life, I'll have a really nice camera.
Have yourself a great week. When I get this project on the loom done, I'll be washing all the latest fabric and I'll be seeing what I will make out of it all, and I'll have photos! :-)
Martha
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thankful Thursday
Today I have much to be grateful for.
1. Good food to eat.
2. A hard-working husband who takes good care of me.
3. Two working vehicles (again). The truck didn't cost as much as it could have to get fixed.
4. We had 2 days this week in which the humidity was lower, even tho the temps were high. It was a relief.
5. Family.
6. A safe roof over my head.
7. Sunshine.
8. Electricity
9. I wake up every morning.
10. I get to do what I enjoy.
How about you? What are you thankful for?
1. Good food to eat.
2. A hard-working husband who takes good care of me.
3. Two working vehicles (again). The truck didn't cost as much as it could have to get fixed.
4. We had 2 days this week in which the humidity was lower, even tho the temps were high. It was a relief.
5. Family.
6. A safe roof over my head.
7. Sunshine.
8. Electricity
9. I wake up every morning.
10. I get to do what I enjoy.
How about you? What are you thankful for?
WIP Wednesday -> Thursday
At any rate, here is a new shawl/scarf I put on the loom. The shorter warps are SO nice and easy. Not like the never-ending white one it took me forever to finish.
This is a boucle' warp, 800 lbs per yard, with tencel and fun yarn as weft. The fun yarn has all the colors of the boucle' plus gold, and has a little sparkle with it. It will only be able to be hand-washed, not machine washable or dryable, but, it'll be ok since it's not really a piece that will be worn next to the skin, and also not worn all the time. I can hardly wait for the cooler weather to be here so I can wear it! :-)
This is the side view of the same piece.
I finished the shawl for the exchange, but I haven't taken any photos of it, and I also haven't washed and dried it so that will have to be done before I take photos. I did my first fringe, and I think it came out ok.
That's about it from me since I have NO energy today.
Martha
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday
Weaving Update:
As I wrote yesterday, I got the reed threaded, so today I went up and I threaded the heddles. It was pretty easy considering there were only 156 ends. Thick yarn. My favorite!
I got it all threaded, triple checked it, had hubby help me put it on - the warp was wide, and I wanted really good tension. Not having worked with boucle' before, I wanted to make sure it went on well. It was great having help! I wound a bobbin of the gold tencel I had bought online, and wove 3 strands to get the warp spread evenly. I hated the gold! It stood out way too much. Luckily, I had a burgundy tencel sitting on the shelf, and I wound a bobbin of that, tried it, and loved it. That is what my weft is - burgundy. It's turning out well. I had to experiment with my weaving.....I threw the shuttle, beat very gently as had been recommended by someone that gave me some advice on how to use boucle' and tencel, and I was beating with the shed open. That was leaving really loose ends. I didn't like it. Then I tried beating harder, but I didn't like that the warp yarn, the boucle', got lost in the weft. I tried the loose beating but on a closed shed, and that made a huge difference. So after weaving about 2 or 3 inches of what I didn't like, I was able to keep weaving with the last choice, and it turned out well. I'm about half way thru, but it got too warm up there.
From this point on, it's just stuff about life, friends, and sadness, so if you don't wanna read, that's ok, I understand.
Today started out with thunder and rain. I got up in a very cranky mood. Not quite sure why, other than I haven't been sleeping well. I think our bed, which isn't very old, is very uncomfortable. I wake up because my body hurts. Of course, if I didn't weigh what I do, then I wouldn't feel so crappy. But that's my own fault so I won't whine about it here!
I finally rolled out of bed. Made my tea, turned on my computer, missing my friends chatter in the morning on IM. The same friend that moved this weekend. No, she's not too far away but further than up the road. I think I'm feeling lonely already.
I still didn't feel "right" so I decided that I'd call my friend. I just felt like something was just so NOT right....I called and asked how she was doing. She said, "I've been better." I thought the move was rougher than she thought it would be, but no, she went on to tell me that she had to put one of her dogs down last night. Sigh. Her father passed away on Friday in Australia and then she had to put one of her dogs to sleep last night. How rough can life get for one person? The last 6 years or so have been really bad for my dear friend. About 7 years ago I think it was, she got divorced. Then she buried her mum in Oz. Then she met and married a man. He got sick and died 1.5 years ago. Then she had to put her best dog down, one she chose herself as a pup. That dog was her heart dog. The log home she built with her second husband was on the market 2 + years and finally sold. She was supposed to go to Oz to be with her dad, put off that trip while she moved, then he passed away. She's now moved into her new home, lock, stock and barrel. She will leave for Oz on Weds, to come home in 2 weeks time, and will be coming home to a new house, and only one dog and her cat.
On a good note, I'm sitting here and I'm watching two hummingbirds flying around the feeder outside, and playing. That makes me smile. It's a sad smile as it's hard to shake the feelings I have of sadness for my friend.
My daughter may be getting a new home. They saw one they really liked. I hope and pray the offer is approved if this is the house they really want. They work so hard, and deserve so much. My granddaughter deserves a larger home too. The condo is SO tiny. They do well in it, but, they need more space. So I'm praying for things to go well for them. Meanwhile, my daughter is working, taking care of the baby, and her hubby has to travel - he was gone last week Monday thru Friday, will be gone this week Monday thru Friday, and my have to go away the next two weeks also. It's a tough life. The move, if it happens, will be stressful as the house is further away from where they both work. I know I had to do almost everything alone when my kids were small. Hubby was in the Army, and I was in charge of the kids, the house, the yard work, and I did work part of the time before they went to school. It ain't easy.
The rest of my day:
I came downstairs after being upstairs weaving and it got too warm, and I decided to have some ice cream.....yeah, I know, that doesn't help my weight. Ya don't have to tell me.
I watched a little t.v. and then sat down to read some blogs, and write my own post.
I have a whole chicken in the oven, which has about an hour and 40 minutes left to bake, so I think I'll go back upstairs and work a little more on the shawl. It'll be finished either tonight, or tomorrow for sure.
Since I'm still tired, I don't know if I'll want to finish it tonight. I may just sit and read the paper. LoL
I've hugged my doggies a lot today. I know how much I love my pups. It's so sad to think that my friend's life has been turned so upside down lately. You never know when something is going to happen!
Weavin' happy
As I wrote yesterday, I got the reed threaded, so today I went up and I threaded the heddles. It was pretty easy considering there were only 156 ends. Thick yarn. My favorite!
I got it all threaded, triple checked it, had hubby help me put it on - the warp was wide, and I wanted really good tension. Not having worked with boucle' before, I wanted to make sure it went on well. It was great having help! I wound a bobbin of the gold tencel I had bought online, and wove 3 strands to get the warp spread evenly. I hated the gold! It stood out way too much. Luckily, I had a burgundy tencel sitting on the shelf, and I wound a bobbin of that, tried it, and loved it. That is what my weft is - burgundy. It's turning out well. I had to experiment with my weaving.....I threw the shuttle, beat very gently as had been recommended by someone that gave me some advice on how to use boucle' and tencel, and I was beating with the shed open. That was leaving really loose ends. I didn't like it. Then I tried beating harder, but I didn't like that the warp yarn, the boucle', got lost in the weft. I tried the loose beating but on a closed shed, and that made a huge difference. So after weaving about 2 or 3 inches of what I didn't like, I was able to keep weaving with the last choice, and it turned out well. I'm about half way thru, but it got too warm up there.
From this point on, it's just stuff about life, friends, and sadness, so if you don't wanna read, that's ok, I understand.
Today started out with thunder and rain. I got up in a very cranky mood. Not quite sure why, other than I haven't been sleeping well. I think our bed, which isn't very old, is very uncomfortable. I wake up because my body hurts. Of course, if I didn't weigh what I do, then I wouldn't feel so crappy. But that's my own fault so I won't whine about it here!
I finally rolled out of bed. Made my tea, turned on my computer, missing my friends chatter in the morning on IM. The same friend that moved this weekend. No, she's not too far away but further than up the road. I think I'm feeling lonely already.
I still didn't feel "right" so I decided that I'd call my friend. I just felt like something was just so NOT right....I called and asked how she was doing. She said, "I've been better." I thought the move was rougher than she thought it would be, but no, she went on to tell me that she had to put one of her dogs down last night. Sigh. Her father passed away on Friday in Australia and then she had to put one of her dogs to sleep last night. How rough can life get for one person? The last 6 years or so have been really bad for my dear friend. About 7 years ago I think it was, she got divorced. Then she buried her mum in Oz. Then she met and married a man. He got sick and died 1.5 years ago. Then she had to put her best dog down, one she chose herself as a pup. That dog was her heart dog. The log home she built with her second husband was on the market 2 + years and finally sold. She was supposed to go to Oz to be with her dad, put off that trip while she moved, then he passed away. She's now moved into her new home, lock, stock and barrel. She will leave for Oz on Weds, to come home in 2 weeks time, and will be coming home to a new house, and only one dog and her cat.
On a good note, I'm sitting here and I'm watching two hummingbirds flying around the feeder outside, and playing. That makes me smile. It's a sad smile as it's hard to shake the feelings I have of sadness for my friend.
My daughter may be getting a new home. They saw one they really liked. I hope and pray the offer is approved if this is the house they really want. They work so hard, and deserve so much. My granddaughter deserves a larger home too. The condo is SO tiny. They do well in it, but, they need more space. So I'm praying for things to go well for them. Meanwhile, my daughter is working, taking care of the baby, and her hubby has to travel - he was gone last week Monday thru Friday, will be gone this week Monday thru Friday, and my have to go away the next two weeks also. It's a tough life. The move, if it happens, will be stressful as the house is further away from where they both work. I know I had to do almost everything alone when my kids were small. Hubby was in the Army, and I was in charge of the kids, the house, the yard work, and I did work part of the time before they went to school. It ain't easy.
The rest of my day:
I came downstairs after being upstairs weaving and it got too warm, and I decided to have some ice cream.....yeah, I know, that doesn't help my weight. Ya don't have to tell me.
I watched a little t.v. and then sat down to read some blogs, and write my own post.
I have a whole chicken in the oven, which has about an hour and 40 minutes left to bake, so I think I'll go back upstairs and work a little more on the shawl. It'll be finished either tonight, or tomorrow for sure.
Since I'm still tired, I don't know if I'll want to finish it tonight. I may just sit and read the paper. LoL
I've hugged my doggies a lot today. I know how much I love my pups. It's so sad to think that my friend's life has been turned so upside down lately. You never know when something is going to happen!
Weavin' happy
Saturday, July 23, 2011
One Hundred Percent........?
One thing I know is that I don't get involved in things 100% and I've been questioning myself as to why. I've had horses, but I didn't do "horse" stuff 100% - I tried, but it costs money, I had a bunch of difficult horses, and I didn't have money to take lessons or get a great horse with tons of training under him.
I started agility with my dog. He loved it at first. Then after awhile, we both got tired of it. He acted like, "I did it once, wasn't it good enough? Why do you keep asking me to do it over and over?"
I used to crochet. I used to make my own greeting cards. I used to make rhythm beads for horses and sell them. I don't do any of that anymore.
I weave. I don't weave 100% of my free time. I don't make money weaving. I enjoy weaving, but I don't do it 100%.
I don't play sports. I don't work out. I don't consider myself very good at most things.
I don't throw myself into anything 100% . I wonder if I'm strange. People I know do things 100%, but I don't. People quilt - they quilt a LOT. If they sew, they sew a LOT. If they are dog people, they do their dog stuff ALL the time. Like, their lives evolve around it.
I wonder why I feel like I don't have anything I do 100%. Well, there is one thing..........I eat. Too much.
I often wonder why I'm not passionate about any one thing. I have yet, at 55 years old, to figure this out. I don't have a passion for ANYTHING in particular. Well, I am passionate about my granddaughter, but, I can't be involved in her life the way I'd like to be. I live too far away. Mind you, I KNOW I don't have the energy or ability to babysit her every day - I know physically I couldn't do it. That really bothers me too.
I'm supposed to be getting another loom. A Wolf Pup LT. I am getting it from someone in PA. They offered it up for sale, I told her I wanted it. Then I told her I couldn't get it. Then I told her I could, but then she told me she offered it up to someone else, then recently she contacted me and told me that she had it up for sale again and wondered if I wanted it. I said yes. Then had to convince hubby that I deserve it. Really? Why? I don't deserve it. I just WANT it. Selfish, yes. I do really want this loom. We were trying to sell a saddle. The saddle sold - but now I have to wait , until the government approves the budget and we make sure we're getting the money from hubby's retired military pay.
By the way, our truck decided to almost blow up. Hubby was driving it, and it started shaking and by the time he got it home, it was smoking. AAA had to come get it and tow it to the Ford Dealership. Who the heck knows how much THAT'S going to cost......and there goes the money that will come in from the sold saddle, that was supposed to be for my Pup. Selfish, yes.
Weaving:
Last night I told hubby I didn't want to go out today. So this morning comes and I'm upstairs starting to sley the reed, and what does hubby do? Comes and says he has to go to the city to get his hair cut (it was really long). Of course, I ended up going with him. When we got home, I did get the reed sleyed. Tomorrow morning I will thread the heddles. I'm using a 6 dent reed. Borrowed the 8 dent from my friend, but I felt the yarn was really rubbing too much and I didn't want to ruin the yarn. So I decided to use the 6 dent. We'll see how it goes. I hope it turns out well, I hope that it is ok for the exchange. I am too full and fat to thread the heddles tonight. Too much bending at the waist on a full stomach -- not good.
I also had to do some maneuvering to get the yarn the way it needed to be. Since when I started, I thought I was going to use a 10 dent reed, I had wound way more than I ended up needing. I very carefully took off the rest of the leftover warp yarn, and I had to cut so that it would separate from the parts I left IN the reed. It'll be interesting if I ever try to use that for another warp.
This shawl will be a lot wider than I intended but I think a wide shawl is very nice. If this does not turn out well, I'll use 5/2 and make the shawl out of cotton and use a pattern. I have time - I have only one appointment planned for the next 2 weeks. Nothing else as far as commitments. That is on purpose. I want to try to get into a routine of doing stuff that I NEED to do --- like exercising. I want to weave every day. I need to make a routine or I won't do it.
Over and Out...........................
I started agility with my dog. He loved it at first. Then after awhile, we both got tired of it. He acted like, "I did it once, wasn't it good enough? Why do you keep asking me to do it over and over?"
I used to crochet. I used to make my own greeting cards. I used to make rhythm beads for horses and sell them. I don't do any of that anymore.
I weave. I don't weave 100% of my free time. I don't make money weaving. I enjoy weaving, but I don't do it 100%.
I don't play sports. I don't work out. I don't consider myself very good at most things.
I don't throw myself into anything 100% . I wonder if I'm strange. People I know do things 100%, but I don't. People quilt - they quilt a LOT. If they sew, they sew a LOT. If they are dog people, they do their dog stuff ALL the time. Like, their lives evolve around it.
I wonder why I feel like I don't have anything I do 100%. Well, there is one thing..........I eat. Too much.
I often wonder why I'm not passionate about any one thing. I have yet, at 55 years old, to figure this out. I don't have a passion for ANYTHING in particular. Well, I am passionate about my granddaughter, but, I can't be involved in her life the way I'd like to be. I live too far away. Mind you, I KNOW I don't have the energy or ability to babysit her every day - I know physically I couldn't do it. That really bothers me too.
I'm supposed to be getting another loom. A Wolf Pup LT. I am getting it from someone in PA. They offered it up for sale, I told her I wanted it. Then I told her I couldn't get it. Then I told her I could, but then she told me she offered it up to someone else, then recently she contacted me and told me that she had it up for sale again and wondered if I wanted it. I said yes. Then had to convince hubby that I deserve it. Really? Why? I don't deserve it. I just WANT it. Selfish, yes. I do really want this loom. We were trying to sell a saddle. The saddle sold - but now I have to wait , until the government approves the budget and we make sure we're getting the money from hubby's retired military pay.
By the way, our truck decided to almost blow up. Hubby was driving it, and it started shaking and by the time he got it home, it was smoking. AAA had to come get it and tow it to the Ford Dealership. Who the heck knows how much THAT'S going to cost......and there goes the money that will come in from the sold saddle, that was supposed to be for my Pup. Selfish, yes.
Weaving:
Last night I told hubby I didn't want to go out today. So this morning comes and I'm upstairs starting to sley the reed, and what does hubby do? Comes and says he has to go to the city to get his hair cut (it was really long). Of course, I ended up going with him. When we got home, I did get the reed sleyed. Tomorrow morning I will thread the heddles. I'm using a 6 dent reed. Borrowed the 8 dent from my friend, but I felt the yarn was really rubbing too much and I didn't want to ruin the yarn. So I decided to use the 6 dent. We'll see how it goes. I hope it turns out well, I hope that it is ok for the exchange. I am too full and fat to thread the heddles tonight. Too much bending at the waist on a full stomach -- not good.
I also had to do some maneuvering to get the yarn the way it needed to be. Since when I started, I thought I was going to use a 10 dent reed, I had wound way more than I ended up needing. I very carefully took off the rest of the leftover warp yarn, and I had to cut so that it would separate from the parts I left IN the reed. It'll be interesting if I ever try to use that for another warp.
This shawl will be a lot wider than I intended but I think a wide shawl is very nice. If this does not turn out well, I'll use 5/2 and make the shawl out of cotton and use a pattern. I have time - I have only one appointment planned for the next 2 weeks. Nothing else as far as commitments. That is on purpose. I want to try to get into a routine of doing stuff that I NEED to do --- like exercising. I want to weave every day. I need to make a routine or I won't do it.
Over and Out...........................
Friday, July 22, 2011
Friday..........
Well, it's Friday......today was the day I helped my friend move some of her stuff. Dear hubby went with, to make sure I didn't over-do it myself. We loaded up the pickup truck up, I took the other car, and my friend took her van. We got a lot of stuff over there to help get a head start. I stayed with her at the new house, and as we were just getting done with resting and getting ready to put stuff away, Dear hubby called, and told me the truck had done some weird stuff on the way back home. He got it home, but it wasn't safe to drive. The truck isn't even paid for yet! It's a 2006 Turbo F250............I never wanted that diesel truck in the first place!
I had to come home because the AAA is in my name. It would cost a lot to tow the pickup (takes a BIG tow truck) to where it had to go to the dealership to get it looked at. So I raced home, had some lunch, and showed my card when the tow truck arrived.
I ended up going back to my friend's old house when she got back there, we loaded up some more stuff, and took it over to the new house. We put some of it away, and we left to come back home. I drove her and her 2 dogs she had taken with her, so that she could leave her car at the new place, since she also has to drive the van over tomorrow.
I just got a private message from my friend.....her father just passed away. She's from Austrailia, and had found out a week ago her dad wasn't doing well. Before this house thing happened, she was supposed to have been IN Austrailia already this past 2 weeks. How strange how timing works. She has a flight already set up for Wednesday. She HAD to get finished moving out of the old house and into the new one as the papers have all been signed and the people want to move into the house she just sold. This house has been on the market for over 2 years, and she had to sell it for a LOT less than it should be worth. It's a beautiful Log home. After she and her husband met about 6 years ago, they sold their individual homes and had this log home built. Then her husband passed away a year and a half ago, leaving her out in the country in this huge home. She was in quite the funk for awhile. Finally this house sold, and she was actually happy about it. She had to put off her original trip to Austrailia and now this. I really feel for her.
Her adult boys are going to move her. It's been HELL week here with temperatures - today it was 103 with an index of about 120. It was horrible. Tomorrow is supposed to be the same. I really feel for her boys. But they are good kids, and good to their mum. She's lucky to have them.
Well, that's my story for today. My thoughts and prayers will be with my best bud in this move this weekend and then in her flight, alone, to bury her Dad. Her Mum passed away a few years ago, and she's an only child. Good thing she's a tough cookie.
That's about it for me. I have to figure out how to get my new formatting on here to work. I got my last post to work but had to do all the work after writing it. I thought I changed the formatting to be that way all the time......but I guess not. A techie I'm not...........
I had to come home because the AAA is in my name. It would cost a lot to tow the pickup (takes a BIG tow truck) to where it had to go to the dealership to get it looked at. So I raced home, had some lunch, and showed my card when the tow truck arrived.
I ended up going back to my friend's old house when she got back there, we loaded up some more stuff, and took it over to the new house. We put some of it away, and we left to come back home. I drove her and her 2 dogs she had taken with her, so that she could leave her car at the new place, since she also has to drive the van over tomorrow.
I just got a private message from my friend.....her father just passed away. She's from Austrailia, and had found out a week ago her dad wasn't doing well. Before this house thing happened, she was supposed to have been IN Austrailia already this past 2 weeks. How strange how timing works. She has a flight already set up for Wednesday. She HAD to get finished moving out of the old house and into the new one as the papers have all been signed and the people want to move into the house she just sold. This house has been on the market for over 2 years, and she had to sell it for a LOT less than it should be worth. It's a beautiful Log home. After she and her husband met about 6 years ago, they sold their individual homes and had this log home built. Then her husband passed away a year and a half ago, leaving her out in the country in this huge home. She was in quite the funk for awhile. Finally this house sold, and she was actually happy about it. She had to put off her original trip to Austrailia and now this. I really feel for her.
Her adult boys are going to move her. It's been HELL week here with temperatures - today it was 103 with an index of about 120. It was horrible. Tomorrow is supposed to be the same. I really feel for her boys. But they are good kids, and good to their mum. She's lucky to have them.
Well, that's my story for today. My thoughts and prayers will be with my best bud in this move this weekend and then in her flight, alone, to bury her Dad. Her Mum passed away a few years ago, and she's an only child. Good thing she's a tough cookie.
That's about it for me. I have to figure out how to get my new formatting on here to work. I got my last post to work but had to do all the work after writing it. I thought I changed the formatting to be that way all the time......but I guess not. A techie I'm not...........
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Thankful Thursday
In an attempt to post more regularly, I'm going to try doing something a little different that I saw on another blog.
Thankful Thursday. Sometimes, we need to remember to be thankful for what we DO have. So here is my first list.
1. Air conditioning
2. My granddaughter.
3. My husband.
4. My daughter (sorry - you're not really fourth - without you, I couldn't have #2!)
5. My home in the country
6. My friends
7. Computers
8. Sunshine
9. My dogs
10. Life
What 10 things are YOU thankful for?
Thankful Thursday. Sometimes, we need to remember to be thankful for what we DO have. So here is my first list.
1. Air conditioning
2. My granddaughter.
3. My husband.
4. My daughter (sorry - you're not really fourth - without you, I couldn't have #2!)
5. My home in the country
6. My friends
7. Computers
8. Sunshine
9. My dogs
10. Life
What 10 things are YOU thankful for?
Been Awhile.........
Yes, it has.
I can't really explain it.
So I won't.
I will just move forward.
I finished the "never-ending" warp. It was a long and winding road. It's done.
Lots of cotton. Cotton cotton cotton. Cotton warp. All sorts of cotton weft. Crochet cotton. Sugar and Cream cotton.
This was a good thing for me to do - and I won't be doing it again any time soon. The next few projects are all going to be shorter warps. Yes, I'm sure.
I don't know what I'm going to do with all the fabric I've made. I have to wash it. I'm going to put it in hot water and let it soak to hopefully "full" it some. I want to see how it comes out, and if the pink and white long areas are good enough, I might make blankets out of it. The colorful parts I'm not quite sure what I'll do with. I will let it sit and talk to me. I have some other fabric I made that is doing that also.........
Do you see the bottom of the photo above? That was a bit of a trip into a type of weaving called Saori. It's just the tip of the iceberg. Saori weaving means, whatever you weave, there are no mistakes. It means, you do what you feel. It's free. It's not by any pattern, by anyone else's rules. Here is a link to the global site. If you just Google Saori, you'll find images and all kinds of links to individual studios. None, I'm sorry to say, are in VA. I wish I could afford to take the classes, then buy the looms, and open a studio here in VA. But that won't happen.
Meanwhile, I'll play around and do some more.
This is the example from above, but a more close up view.
Here is another example:
This is called Clasped Weft. You have the yarn on your shuttle on one side, and a ball of yarn on the opposite side. I work right to left with my shuttle. I put my shuttle into the shed (opening), shoot it across, then on the opposite side (for me the left), I loop it around the ball of yarn and pull the yarn from the ball thru as far as I want it into the shed. I don't change sheds when I do this.
This is another example of "free weaving":
There are "mistakes" in here. I let it go while weaving. I didn't correct it, but I wanted to. The white vertical lines are where I mis-threaded.
I'm going to try to make a top out of this piece, and another piece I did in the middle of the long strip of fabric. I had done this piece first, cut it off the loom, corrected the threading because I wasn't sure what else I was going to do with the warp, and wanted at least the warp to be correct.
I don't enjoy "traditional" weaving. I haven't tried the rag weaving yet. The next project is a shawl for an exchange. It has to be done by the end of August. There are supposed to be around 10 people doing the exchange. Only 3 of us have been posting about it on Ravelry. So we'll see.....
Here is my yarn for the shawl - although, this isn't the "true" color. I tried all the settings on my camera and it would NOT come out true.
This is a boucle and I really love the colors. This will be the warp. The weft will be a gold tencel - much thinner than this is. I sure hope it comes out ok.............
I got to spend yesterday with the best baby in the world. She is such a joy to me. Happy. Easy. Active! I was exhausted after the day. Of course, a day with her starts with getting up at 5:30 a.m., getting lunches done, and the dogs taken care of, and driving 2 hours to get there. Then of course the day with her from 9 - 2:30. And a 2 hour drive back. By then, I just want to crawl in bed. My stamina stinks.
Tomorrow I help my best friend move. She'll be further away. She's moving to a community she used to live in. I won't see her nearly as much. Hopefully the chats we usually have in the mornings on Yahoo IM will continue. I have a feeling things will change. That's ok tho. I will have to deal with it.
So, that's about it for me. I've enjoyed posting. I don't know why I put it off so long. Hopefully next time I won't wait.
I can't really explain it.
So I won't.
I will just move forward.
I finished the "never-ending" warp. It was a long and winding road. It's done.
Lots of cotton. Cotton cotton cotton. Cotton warp. All sorts of cotton weft. Crochet cotton. Sugar and Cream cotton.
 |
| Never-ending warp....finally done! |
I don't know what I'm going to do with all the fabric I've made. I have to wash it. I'm going to put it in hot water and let it soak to hopefully "full" it some. I want to see how it comes out, and if the pink and white long areas are good enough, I might make blankets out of it. The colorful parts I'm not quite sure what I'll do with. I will let it sit and talk to me. I have some other fabric I made that is doing that also.........
Do you see the bottom of the photo above? That was a bit of a trip into a type of weaving called Saori. It's just the tip of the iceberg. Saori weaving means, whatever you weave, there are no mistakes. It means, you do what you feel. It's free. It's not by any pattern, by anyone else's rules. Here is a link to the global site. If you just Google Saori, you'll find images and all kinds of links to individual studios. None, I'm sorry to say, are in VA. I wish I could afford to take the classes, then buy the looms, and open a studio here in VA. But that won't happen.
Meanwhile, I'll play around and do some more.
This is the example from above, but a more close up view.
 | |
| Hither and Yon |
 |
Clasped Weft |
This is another example of "free weaving":
I'm going to try to make a top out of this piece, and another piece I did in the middle of the long strip of fabric. I had done this piece first, cut it off the loom, corrected the threading because I wasn't sure what else I was going to do with the warp, and wanted at least the warp to be correct.
I don't enjoy "traditional" weaving. I haven't tried the rag weaving yet. The next project is a shawl for an exchange. It has to be done by the end of August. There are supposed to be around 10 people doing the exchange. Only 3 of us have been posting about it on Ravelry. So we'll see.....
Here is my yarn for the shawl - although, this isn't the "true" color. I tried all the settings on my camera and it would NOT come out true.
I got to spend yesterday with the best baby in the world. She is such a joy to me. Happy. Easy. Active! I was exhausted after the day. Of course, a day with her starts with getting up at 5:30 a.m., getting lunches done, and the dogs taken care of, and driving 2 hours to get there. Then of course the day with her from 9 - 2:30. And a 2 hour drive back. By then, I just want to crawl in bed. My stamina stinks.
Tomorrow I help my best friend move. She'll be further away. She's moving to a community she used to live in. I won't see her nearly as much. Hopefully the chats we usually have in the mornings on Yahoo IM will continue. I have a feeling things will change. That's ok tho. I will have to deal with it.
So, that's about it for me. I've enjoyed posting. I don't know why I put it off so long. Hopefully next time I won't wait.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
WIPs
Works In Progress. I'm a work in progress. My relationships are always a work in progress. Life, is a work in progress!
Right now, I'm trying to get the "never-ending" warp to not be a WIP ! It's getting there. I'm hoping I can finish it off tomorrow.
Here are some photos of what it looks like....but since these photos, I've done more. Just no photos ~ yet.....
This is two yards of white Sugar and Cream weft in the white 8/2 cotton warp.
That's it for me. I have 2 more pieces of this warp that I have woven on. I'm finishing it off with pink cotton 5/2. I'm hoping it comes out really soft.....for a special use. :-)
Right now, I'm trying to get the "never-ending" warp to not be a WIP ! It's getting there. I'm hoping I can finish it off tomorrow.
Here are some photos of what it looks like....but since these photos, I've done more. Just no photos ~ yet.....
White on white.
This is two yards of white Sugar and Cream weft in the white 8/2 cotton warp.
Clasped Weft
This is my first try at clasped weft. It was fun, it's creative, but it's SLOW going. And hard on my left arm. I like the outcome. When I ran out of the bobbins that the solid yarns were on, I just did a bunch of plain weave with some of the solid and some of the variegated. It is an interesting piece, and one of my first "free form" pieces. I just did what felt right and came to me.
Below is the cloth I cut off this warp at the beginning. I want to make a shirt out of it but I have to wash it first, and wanted to wash the entire ten yard warp together. Hopefully none of my colors will run since I have plain white in there too.
Cloth that hopefully will become a shirt
I love this shot. I love all my colorful yarns! This is my "stash." It's not much, but its mine and it's beautiful!
This (below) is the little basket that has a handle (look on the right of the basket). The handle fits perfectly on the open end of my bench. I can place the bobbins in there that hold the yarn, that I used in the clasped weft above. How cool is that??? LoL
That's it for me. I have 2 more pieces of this warp that I have woven on. I'm finishing it off with pink cotton 5/2. I'm hoping it comes out really soft.....for a special use. :-)
More later! (can't give away ALL the info, now can I?)
Martha
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Scrabble
Lately, the holidays don't really mean much to me. We don't go anywhere. We don't invite people over. We don't socialize much. I have my friends, but otherwise, it's Honey and me.
This week was a whirlwind. I did get some more weaving done - no pics - guess I need to do that. It's nothing exciting really. I just finished 2 yards of white on white. 8/2 cotton warp, 12 dent reed, and white Sugar and Cream for weft. Plain weave. It was so easy, fast, peaceful, and it's pretty. I did have some issues with my shoulder. Reaching in for the stick shuttle wasn't bad, but, bringing it out far enough to clear the shed, was. It was painful. :-( Not fun. I'll have to get it checked out. I think I tore something at some point. Using a boat shuttle isn't as hard. The rest of the yardage I'll use a boat shuttle.
I'm going to try clasped weft. I am excited to try it. I am going to use the crochet thread again. I have some solid colors which I will use on one side, and I will use the variegated on the other side.
Honey brought up the Scrabble board. I haven't played in years. He usually doesn't want to play. We played outside but had to arm ourselves against the mosquitoes. I have quite a few bites already and I think I got a new one or two. Honey got one on his leg too. Buggers! I keep saying, we need to screen in the porch.
Here is a pic of the scrabble board. There are some, um, interesting words on it. NOT for children to see. K? So, you see the word on the top right? Honey came up with that one! Yeah, well, when you have the right letters....lol. Do you see the word on the upper left? That was mine - and I finished up all of my letters on that word. I've NEVER finished up all of my letters. Of course, I did say, I don't get to play a lot. LOL
Hopefully I'll get to weave again tomorrow. I'm anxious to get going. For now, I'm off to have some ice cream!
Till later.............oh, and happy 4th of July. Even tho it's two days away. I'll shoot for getting some weaving photos tomorrow!
Martha
This week was a whirlwind. I did get some more weaving done - no pics - guess I need to do that. It's nothing exciting really. I just finished 2 yards of white on white. 8/2 cotton warp, 12 dent reed, and white Sugar and Cream for weft. Plain weave. It was so easy, fast, peaceful, and it's pretty. I did have some issues with my shoulder. Reaching in for the stick shuttle wasn't bad, but, bringing it out far enough to clear the shed, was. It was painful. :-( Not fun. I'll have to get it checked out. I think I tore something at some point. Using a boat shuttle isn't as hard. The rest of the yardage I'll use a boat shuttle.
I'm going to try clasped weft. I am excited to try it. I am going to use the crochet thread again. I have some solid colors which I will use on one side, and I will use the variegated on the other side.
Honey brought up the Scrabble board. I haven't played in years. He usually doesn't want to play. We played outside but had to arm ourselves against the mosquitoes. I have quite a few bites already and I think I got a new one or two. Honey got one on his leg too. Buggers! I keep saying, we need to screen in the porch.
Here is a pic of the scrabble board. There are some, um, interesting words on it. NOT for children to see. K? So, you see the word on the top right? Honey came up with that one! Yeah, well, when you have the right letters....lol. Do you see the word on the upper left? That was mine - and I finished up all of my letters on that word. I've NEVER finished up all of my letters. Of course, I did say, I don't get to play a lot. LOL
 |
| Scrabble |
I had a blast. I hope he wants to play again soon! :-)
Hopefully I'll get to weave again tomorrow. I'm anxious to get going. For now, I'm off to have some ice cream!
Till later.............oh, and happy 4th of July. Even tho it's two days away. I'll shoot for getting some weaving photos tomorrow!
Martha
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