Where has the time gone??

I can't believe that it was July when I last wrote something here.  I know I am not the most consistent writer but I have tried to do better.  Oh well, guess I have not tried hard enough recently.

That being said there has been some spectacular ups and (unfortunately) downs in the past few months.  I won't bore you with the downs but suffice to say that it is something to be gotten thru in its own time and survived.  And it will.   But as for the ups, the biggest has to have been our trip to England the beginning of September.  Grab a cuppa and I will fill you in.

Backtrack about 28 years... I just got done reading James Herriott's books starting with "All Creatures Great and Small" about the life of a country vet in Yorkshire, England.  I was entranced and loved the 4 books in the series and decided I wanted a penpal from that area.  Remember, this was in the ancient days when there was not internet and email and to communicate you had to--GASP!!--sit down and write an old fashioned letter with pen and paper. But where to find a penpal where I wanted to write?  Enter my second obsession of the day--Barry Manilow.  I loved him and all the music he made.  Planned trips to go to concerts, joined with other fans that lived locally to talk about him and his music and stood in line for hours to meet him for 30 seconds. I also joined the BMIFC-the Barry Manilow International fan Club.  See, international being a part of the name along with Barry made it very interesting. And through channels in the fan club I was given a name of a lady that lived in South Yorkshire.  And a friend for live was found.

Denise was just as obsessed with Barry as I was and it was a match made in heaven.  We started writing and spent weeks waiting for the letters to cross over the pond to the UK and weeks for the answer to return to the US.  We found we both had children about the same age, liked lots of things the same, besides Barry, and generally was very much alike. We talked about ourselves, our children, our husbands and our interests.  And 2 years after we started writing, with a few very long spaced phone calls at $1/minute,  my then husband and our 2 children went to England to visit for 10 days.  It was the first time I had ever gone that far away from the US and it would not be repeated until this year, an interval of 26 years.

Through the years Denise--Dee to her friends--and I kept in touch and as technology changed and improved, so did the frequency of our communication.  And 2 years ago we both ended up on Facebook and found Skype.  Heaven--we could talk to each other almost every day and see each other when we Skype'd a few times a month.  It was, and continues to be, one of the greatest pleasures of my life.  And in all the conversations, a new plan was devised, that we would come again to visit, me and my husband who hates to fly but would for his insistent wife.  Planning and saving and more planning and saving all began and then an unexpected gift fell into our laps.  It came in the form of my niece starting work at one of the major airlines and companion tickets offered and gratefully accepted.  So yes it was really going to happen..

And on September 9th of this year we flew to Heathrow to be joyfully picked up by Dee and her husband Phillip.  Tears of happiness flowed and hugs that would not stop started. A day or 2 of relaxing and getting used to the time difference and off we went.  The plan was to be there for 15 days.  The first week the 4 of us would sightsee  and travel together.  Then we would come home, relax, and do 2 day trips in the 2nd week.
That first week we started off heading to Wales.  In the 1960's there was a TV show called The Prisoner.  It was one of my husband Sam's favorite show. And it was filmed in a town called Port Merion in Wales.  And that was the first stop on the tour.  Sam is a photographer and suffice to see we saw glimpses of him in his red cap as he rushed around taking picture after picture of this place that had a special memory in his childhood.  This is not to say that the rest of us did not take pictures, as of course, we did.  But Sam outdid us all. Our first pub meal, learning that fringe means bangs, lots of laughter and we were off to another place the next day.  Caernarfon Castle in Wales was our next stop.  This is the castle where all the Princes of Wales' are invested. The day was bright and sunny with blue skies and the perfect day for great architecture and photos there of.  We had a busy day that ended with ice cream cones and chocolate flake.  Back to sleep and off to the Lake District in England the next day.  A boat trip on Lake Windermere and staying in a gorgeous bed and breakfast were the highlights of that day.  But next we were heading to Scotland!!    Next time, more adventures...

Back after a long absence-

Well life certainly gets in the way of blogging.  In the past few months life has gotten very complicated, some good but mostly difficult.  If not for my knitting and weaving, I would be a lot crazier than I am right now.

So onto what I have gotten done-

My Portuguese Fisherwoman's Shawl!!  I decided that with the Tour de Fleece coming around I should finish the project I started last year.  So back to work on it and just about done.  Only one problem.. I don't have enough yarn left.  So, back to the fleece room and find the leftover prepped fleece.  Got it, combed 25 nests, spun a full bobbin of singles and then navajo ply.  Yeah, a little over 200 yds and off to finish.  And finish I did.  So nice.  Showed it off at MAFA and it is going to England with me to stay nice and warm.

I am back working on Riane's February Lady Sweater. The body is all done, just now doing the bottom band.  Now the sleeves and we are finished..  That will be 5 already this year.

Next on the hit list, Myles' Wonderful Wallaby.

Till then--

Better--finally!!

Yes, the back is getting better finally.  I have had ups and downs in the last few weeks but I can say that I am pretty sure I will be ready to go to work on Sunday night.  It has not been a happy time being out of work for a month.  You hear people say, man I's like to be off work for a month.  Well, if you are healthy and doing what you want, then I would agree.  But if you can't do anything, and are in fear of turning or moving the wrong way and ending up with severe pain and not able to move, it is not a fun time.  I still am very careful how I turn and how long I stand, but I am not afraid to bend down to reach for something or sit in any chair in the house.  A month ago that was not possible. I am very thankful it is not that way now...

On the weaving front, I invested in a new to me horizontal warping reel.  It allows me to wind a warp MUCH faster and with little strain to my back and very little reaching.  It is a tool I will use a lot in the future.

In the forefront, I will be the weaver for a fleece to shawl competition in a few weeks.  Chris, who with his partner Christian, bought my first floor loom from me, is involved with MAPACA, the mid atlantic alpaca association.  This year one of their focus' is the use of the fiber.  So they are having their first fleece to shawl competition and Chris asked me to be the weaver for a team he is organizing.  There are 3 other women from Pa and NJ on the team as the spinners.  I have spoken with them all and it seems like we will have a good team and lots of fun.  When I went to meet Chris at his farm the other day to get the yarn for the warp, he gave me 2 baggies of the alpaca blanket for me to spin for sampling.  I spun 68 gms of the soft, soft, soft fiber and then plyed it into 216yds of yarn. I am winding the warp (see above) and hope to dress the Harrisville tomorrow.  Maybe I can get Sam to help me before he goes to sleep. Then onto sampling.  I want to have 2 samples ready for everyone to see so we can decide what to do.  I may try for 4 different treadlings if possible in the 2 samples. I like the idea of choice.

Well off to meet my friend Cathy.  We are going to the musical Dreamgirls at the local high school tonight.  As Sam has to work 11-7, this will keep the house quiet for him.  Off to play for now.

And the saga continues.

Okay, the back is better, mostly.  PT has continued and I have tried to do more.  Well this morning my back has reminded me that I am not totally in charge of this situation.  Laying in bed, warm and comfortable, my back gives a nice twinge on the right side.  Oops-that gets my attention and when it happens a little bit later under the same situation, it has my full attention.  Okay, no problem getting out of bed-VERY slowly- but I am listing when I walk again. Not what I want to do.  Back to bed and do all the exercises I have been taught.  I can feel a definate difference, not for the better, especially when I do the hamstring stretching.  I cannot pull my legs as high as I did before.  I guess that means taking it really slow today, no warping.

As for crafts, I got my socks done.  I need to weave in the last tail and they will be ready to wear.  I finished weaving the towels for Riane.  They are washed and now need pressed and hemmed, but they are done.  The warp for the baby blankets is wound and ready for me to dress the loom. NOT going to happen today.  Got half of the warp for the overshot table runner for Susan wound.  NOT going to finish that today either.
I *may* sley the reed for the baby blankets in an a front to back warping attempt.  I tried that method the first warp I wound and it was a disaster.  I guess I have to give it a try again but this time I have a great DVD to guide me each step of the way.  We will see what the process brings. And as for knitting, back to the February Lady Sweater for Riane.  I have enough WIPs/UFOs that I don't need to start anything new.

Happy Anniversary to Riane and Denny today--1 year.  May there be many, many happy more in your future together.

Good bye February--March on...

So it has been a while since I have posted.  February was not a good month for me.  I continued to work on some knitting but was very active starting to do more weaving.  I did a quick 2 day trip to Connecticut to pick up a 22" Harrisville loom.  After getting stuck on the ice and getting unstuck, that was a calm trip home.  I cleaned the loom up and wound a warp for a class I will be taking this month.  I proceeded to do my sample and put the loom away.  All of that was proceeding as planned.

Then on Thursday the 17th, the day dawned bright and sunny with blue skies and a gentle breeze.  It felt like spring and I wanted to do something fun that day.  So a trip to the mecca of weaving in the east, The Mannings, was my choice.  I know it is 3 hours away, but I have driven that without issue and audible books makes time go by easily.  I tried to entice a good friend to go with me but alas, she declined.  So off I went, starting a little later in the day than I had planned but still within a good time frame.  I arrived without problems and spent a bit of time just wandering around.  I had been there several times before but now I had a little bit more experience weaving and I had a better idea what I wanted and what I was looking for.  I got a chance to talk to the resident expert in weaving, Tom Knisely, and he was as always, very gracious and open in helping me figure out what I needed for the projects I wanted.  So off to collect all that I wanted for the 3 projects I had in mind.  Into the bag went pearle cotton for an overshot table runner for my sister Susan, into the bag went wool cones for a blanket to go over my new sofa and then onto cotton flake for towels for an exchange I organized.  Of course the cotton flake was on the lowest shelf and I reached for a cone.  At that point, for whatever the back gods decided was my fate, my back went into total spasm at the level of my hips.  To say it was like a ton of bricks hitting me there would be an understatement.  Thank heavens there was a strong wooden shelf there or otherwise I would have been on the floor.  Over the next few minutes spasms continued to happen and I started feeling very frightened. No one with me, how was I going to do this?  I snagged a gentleman just wandering around and asked him to take my bag and purse to the front checkout for me.  Then, slowly, very carefully, I walked to the checkout.  What should have taken 30 seconds took at least 5 minutes and felt like 5 hours.  With much assistance, I paid for my items.  The lady at the checkout was very helpful.  She carried out my purchases for me and went back and got my jacket that I had dropped and was unable to pick up.  She also brought me a cup of water after I go into the car.  Luckily I had Ibuprofen with me and took it before the long drive home.  Little did I know that the drive home would be the easiest time of the next few weeks.

A visit to the doctor the next morning, after a horrible night and morning, and more Ibuprofen and now muscle relaxers.  I was totally disabled in the sense I could not do anything for myself without help.  And Sam was to work that evening.  Luckily he has a very understanding boss.  A room at the inn was taken out of service for me to be able to stay there so Sam could be available to help me.  It was a very generous gesture and much appreciated as I knew Sam was a call away and he knew he could be there for me if I needed help. All in all, that worked.  The next 2 nights while he worked I stayed at home and carefully took care of myself and got thru the weekend. 

Monday morning and I was antsy.  I needed to get something done about this back.  With much insistence, I got a referrral for PT. My first appointment was that evening.  Everything was going okay.  Evaluation was fine, I laid down for heat and TENS stimulation and tried to relax.  THEN, trying to get off the table was almost impossible and in the end, my back was spasming much more than when I went in there.  I needed a walker to get out to the car as I could not walk without support. NOT GOOD.  Home and tonight a Vicodin was added to my meds for the night.  The therapist was so upset he called me the next day to see how I was doing.  I had an appointment that day and things went better, ho laying down, everything done with me sitting. Walking out was under my own power.  It's the little things that make a difference.

Fast forward to Wednesday.  Sam has to work again tonight.  I am feeling a bit better and my girlfriend is gong to come over to be with me for a while tonight.  Dinner--I plan to do spaghetti as it is easy and fast and I think I can handle it.  Maybe do some bread with it.  Get all the ingredients started and then go to the freezer for the yeast. OMG  back snapped on me again and I was back to where I was on Monday.  Sam worked and my friend came and brought dinner.  Bad evening and night again.  Note to self, DO NOT BEND OR REACH.

So PT again on Thursday and I added Saturday.  I did not want to miss that length of time and back again on Monday.  By this time I can now walk and dress and shower and do simple things for myself.  As February leaves, I want it to take the issues of my back with it.  March is a new month and as the name says,  I will march on in my quest for a better back.  And maybe, be able to tackle a few more projects other than sitting and walking.  March on...

Out with the--sorta-old and in with the--new to me.

Weaving has become a passion and a focus for me these days.  I have found that mastering the frustrations of warping a loom and then watching fabric develop from the threads I add is both exhilarating and calming.  I love watching what ever I am weaving come to the point I recognise the pattern and at the same time, the changing of the treadles, the throwing of the shuttle and the beating of the weft, all have a zen quality as you repeat and repeat and repeat some more. 

Yesterday I finished a scarf for my husband.  He supports all my fiber activities and has received hats and socks from me.  But yesterday I gave him a 6 ft long scarf.  Now, he is very color challenged.  He doesn't like it.  He is truly a black and white kind of guy.  So how to make some interest??  Start off with the basics-a solid black warp.  Not too many. But the initial weaving was too tight, tear it out, cut if off and start again.  Add MORE warp, change the reed and rethread.  Now try again.  Don't like pattern, change that.  Found one and looks nice.  But wait, doesn't look like what it is in the book.  Look to the underside--there is the pattern!!  Draft was written for a sinking shed and mine is a rising shed.  That's okay, will weave and then turn over.  But back to the color--or lack thereof.  The weft was harder to choose.  I ended up using a nice merino/silk/nylon blend I bought in NJ a few months ago.  It is a variegated grey with silver thread shot thru it.  And lo and behold...he loves it.  YES, success!

So what next?  More kitchen towels.  I started to wind a warp of 400 ends, a 4 yd warp to do 5 towels for an exchange.  Then some nice friend pointed out that I can't realistically get 5 towels out of a 4yd warp unless I make them really small.  Already have half of the warp wound so I am NOT going to undo it and start again.  Change of plans. I told my daughter I would do towels for her.  So, 4 towels with 2 colors will work just fine.  Then I can wind a 5yd warp-or more-to do the towels for the exchange.  There is a solution to every problem if we look hard enough.

Now back to the cryptic title..

I bartered a few months ago for a 4 harness table loom.  It was in fair condition and I did a little work and got it into much better shape.  I thought it would be a good class loom.  Only problem is--it is way to big to have just 'sitting around'.  So I sold it--to a lady that is currently in Florida and lives in a bus motorhome.  And so out with the sorta old.  As for the in with the new to me.. I found a Harrisville 22" 4 harness, 4 treadle loom that folds to 14" wide.  And I even have a place I plan to store it.  And I will pick it up in 2 weeks.  As my husband says, I reinvested the equity of the first loom to get the 2nd. 

Still knitting but not too much.  Worked on the FLS and have to finish some fingerless mitts very soon for a person at work.  Gonna take it with me tonight.  But in the mean time...I just keep moving forward.

Planting seeds the knitting way.

Been a few days and realized I had not written anything.  I went to Connecticut this week to watch my 2 wonderful nieces while their parents took a 50th birthday celebration for Dad to Jamaica.  I personally think I got the better end of the deal on this, 2 feet of snow where they live or not.

We did lots of fun things but what was the best was getting them to start knitting, in a fashion.  We went to Michael's and bought yarn for each and kids knitting needles.  We also went to Wal-Mart and got a set of the circular easy knitters.  I figured the 6 year old could work on the easy knitter and the 9 year old we would start with the needles.  Well suffice to say, both took to the easy knitters.  We spent at least 2-3 hours working on them, getting started and helping learn the process.  Both girls were very focused and I was very impressed.  But more was to come.  Later that evening and again this morning, BOTH girls got out 'their knitting' and started working on their hats. No prompting needed from Aunt Rena, just a bit of help with errant loops now and then.  Each had 2 different sizes going when I left today and it will be interesting to see if they keep it up when I talk to them in a few days.  Now is the time to plant the seeds and I think that that was definitely accomplished this weekend.