If I Told You , You Wouldn’t Believe Me

I did it…I finished another one!

I’m feeling quite accomplished…too bad I have a bad tooth, a dentist who thinks money grows on trees and no money tree But I digress….

Here’s my finished Cable Luxe Tunic from the Lion Brand KAL (knit a-long for those non knitters out there)

I made some last minute modifications with Jack’s input…I put a button on at the neck then he suggested I wear it backwards to show the keyhole. I tried it but didn’t like how I sewed the yoke join so I un-sewed it and made it a V neck with crochet around that part. Now I can wear it two ways!

Here are my Swirling Gauntlets I did last week

Admit it…you wish you could knit like me don’t ya? Practice practice practice!

Oh and I have to leave you with something else to ponder…

My ongoing life motto is…”Big Feet on a woman is a sign of intelligence!”

Behold my very smart newest grand daughter…Harlee Jane

No it’s not giving me the blues….

It’s the sheer number of blue projects I have going. Very restful yet energizing.

I started a pair of tube socks for Alaina in orange/multi stripes. That should break things up a bit.

It’s cold, snowy and icy and I feel trapped.

Oops, my bad…I forgot something!

In Oct 2008 Jack and I drove to Illinois to bury my mom’s ashes. I got to meet Nana who has become a great friend as well as visit with several family members who were watching this blog like Aunt Marie and Shirley, Dean and (cough) Cousin Jane.

Jack got to finally meet Christina then and I finally got to see inside the schoolhouse where she lives. My mom even attended that school as a child so it was a double honor.

There…now you know the rest of the story as well as what ETA means if you ever come across it on the internet

Wow…where did that year go? I mean seriously!

We started last year off on a not-so-good foot. Jack laid off, me feeling bad, my mom sick with cancer. I got diagnosed with Type II diabetes and high blood pressure so meds and diet/exercise has helped me (somewhat…if I let anything slide even a little I feel terrible).

I did real good on Ebay during Feb and March…got a good clientele going…too bad that had to end…still trying to recover from all the time off I had to take due to “circumstances beyond my control”

Jack went back to work in early April so that was good. Just a few miles from the house even…most excellent considering the gas prices at the time.

Around that same time my friend Laura came to visit then I went to Illinois April 16 to be with my mom when she was in the rehab place after her stroke/whatever-it-was episode. I came back then two weeks later I had to go back again to take Dakota to John and Pat’s for his summer vacation. The weather was HORRIBLE and the highlight of my trip was attending a funeral…how sad is that?

June and July were ok…not too hot, not to wet…got me a suntan and half heartedly tried to build my business back up. I knew I couldn’t do much coz mom was coming to stay and I wouldn’t have room. I went to the Denver Art Museum with Cheryl and to a District Convention with Sr Colletta down in Pueblo.

July 30 I flew to Nashville and my friend Beverly picked me up. We went to Pondfest 08 in Lake Lure/Chimney Rock NC for 3 days of music. She dropped me off near Judy’s house in TN and Terry and Judy drove me and mom back out here Aug 6.

As soon as Terry and Judy left Aunt Karen and Cindy came. Then it was Shane and Jessica and Bertie Spencer…whew! I NEVER have that much company EVER!!!

The next 6 weeks were pretty well chronicled on here for all mom’s friends and relatives. She died peacefully Sept 18 here at home.

Since then I have been knitting like a fool and once again trying to build my business back up…I have high hopes of starting  an etsy.com store for my knitting and quilts. It’s just pushing myself to do it…I just got word that Jack is laid off again . BLEH! I guess that’s my push huh? Talk about coming full circle……

As my friend Beane said….”2009 you better be nice to me coz your little brother sure wasn’t” (OK she said it in a much cruder way but this is a family site.)

I haven’t touched my guitar in weeks. It has left me with feelings of guilt over not learning the Whispering PInes song for Christina:(

Just now while clicking around on knitty.com I came across this….behold the Whispering Pines Shawl! (Uh Chris the link adder thingy didn’t work)

http://www.knitspot.com/knitting_pattern/whispering-pines-triangle-shawl-p-101.html

I’ve not yet mastered my camera but I thought these turned out rather artsy fartsy anyways….

Not much going on here. Jack has 5 days off (no pay…booo) No word on if Dakota is going to Mommy Kim’s or not.

The furnace is fixed yay!

I’m relieved to say the least.  I guess it was the pressure switch? As long as it works I don’t care if it was the thingamajobber or the whatchamacallit.

Now about all this laundry…..

I check Dakota’s room everyday for dirty clothes. Yet there are always twice as many the next day. He even did a load Wednesday…it was in the dryer when I got home from the meeting.

How can a kid wear this many clothes?!? It’s not humanly possible.  I have resorted to (eeek) the sniff test and a visual inspection before I actually WASH anything. (Ok I don’t sniff the underwear …I assume it’s been worn and just wash it…stop looking at me like that)

So guess what I’m doing today? LAUNDRY!!! Even after the sniff test, hanging up clean shirts and towels he STILL had a load of whites and a load of darks. It’s a mystery I tell ya…a puzzle wrapped in an enigma (to sorta quote Churchill)

The good/bad news he’s going to Dalton’s tonight and HOPEFULLY Mommy Kim’s after that…they get 18 days off for break..geesh! Any bets on how much laundry will need done after he gets back?

Like say…your furnace…

Ours quit last night and it’s COLD! It wants to come on but it’s not igniting for some reason. I put in a call to the landlord. Had to leave a message so it’s sit and wait now.

I also had call to remember that others are not as fortunate as me. I saw a brother from the Kingdom Hall standing in one of the grocery stores we shop at a couple of weeks ago. He was standing and staring at a display of bell peppers. I came up beside him and said “Wow they let anyone shop here!” He must have been daydreaming because it startled him (oops my bad). We chatted for awhile and I introduced him to Jack and I went on my way.

The brother came up behind me in the checkout and we talked some more. He told me about he and his wife’s recent financial troubles due to the economy (they have a jewelry store in Old Colorado City) I had always imagined these people to be quite well off so it took me aback that they were recently unable to afford food. He must have been quite desperate to open up to me since men in general will keep this stuff to themselves more often then not. It really got to me though so I went home and put a care package together out of my pantry and freezer.

The next day was Sunday and I was going to call Jack and have him bring the food when he picked me up from the meeting but Bro and Sr NeedHelp weren’t there I was going to have them give me a ride home from book study Monday and give it to them but they weren’t there. I packed it with me on Wednesday for the meeting but they weren’t there…Sunday the weather was too bad so I didn’t get to go. They weren’t at book study again this past Monday. I packed it again last night…they still were missing Now I’m worried!

I flagged an elder down after the meeting and  I asked if he had seen Bro and Sr NeedHelp. No…he hadn’t and he frowned as he realized they been missing for a couple of weeks. I filled him in discreetly and asked if he would take my gift of groceries to them since I don’t know where they live. He thanked me for letting him know what was going on and followed me out to my car to transfer said care package. I am sure he and his wife will add to it and Bro and Sr NeedHelp will get the spiritual and physical food they need when he delivers it.

I look at my well stocked pantry and freezer and give thanks…you can even stand being cold with a full stomach!

Another thing I am not going to take for granted are the views in this city! This picture was taken from the parking lot of our favorite diner Gunther Toody’s

I am victorius! I conquered the Cabled Riding Jacket that somehow seemed destined to defeat me.

I not only finished the jacket but several other projects…