Life Happens

Well, just because I haven't posted anything in two years does not meant that I haven't been around.  I have even come by my blog a couple of time to see what I last posted.  Unfortunately for the blog-a-sphere I waste all my time on Facebook these days.  I hate that I do it, but it's so addictive to see what everyone is up to.  Not that I'm nosy I just like to see what other people think, like, want, or do everyday....which makes me sound like I have no life LOL!

The past two years have been crazy, of course.  How could my life be anything else?  I got re-married--something that I think I forgot to mention back in 2012.  Insanely happy still.  I must admit being with someone you are insanely happy with makes all the crazy stuff in life much easier to handle.

We temporarily moved to another state for work.  Which took place right after my last blog entry. We spent a year working there and then suddenly out of the blue a job landed in my husbands lap at home and we were able to come back last January.  We have been so happy to be home.  I LOVED my job in the other state and wish I could do it here, but no luck.  I was working as a biology field technician for an environmental consulting firm--sounds pretty fancy huh!  What I really did was get paid to hike about 10 miles a day in the mountain desert and look for plants, cactus (the one I have the picture of above), and birds.  I had no idea you could paid to go hiking.  BEST JOB EVER!

So here we are back at home in Wyoming.  I managed to get a temporary job where my husband is working.  I'm doing graveyard security for their construction site....yep I'm bored and it's the middle of the night LOL.  I've always been a morning person so I thought I would never be able to do a job like this, but you know I've done fine switching my days and nights around.  It's just so weird to be up and going when everyone else is fast asleep.  The job will only last a few more weeks and then I will be back to trying to sell my hand crafts.  If I could make money at that THAT would be the best job ever!  But after having three different etsy stores over the past eight years, I've about decided my stuff SUCKS! I've seen people sell ten times more stuff than I do and they have essentially the same product.  They obviously know something I don't.

Anyway, I've been knitting, of course.  I'm getting ready to start another sweater for my husband.  He had seen this online and asked if I thought I could make it LOL.  After those Aran sweaters I can make any sweater.

It's a really easy style!  I am going to try to have it done for him for Christmas.  My son is terribly jealous!  He really wants a sweater also, but until he demonstrates a talent for taking care of his clothing there will be no handknit sweaters for him!  

I have three grandchildren now! Talk about crazy!  I'm quite certain I am not "grandmotherly".  Ok, ok so I knit, bake cookies like they are going out of style, and like the museum better than the mall, but still.....DO I LOOK LIKE A GRANDMA?

Ya, I don't think so!  However, they are the cutest babies on the planet!  And I must admit that grandchildren are WAY better than children :)

These two cuties are The Daughters.  Her little boy is going to be two pretty soon and the adorable little girl was born this past Spring.  Wish she was closer so I could kiss and squeeze them :)

Then there is my oldest son's little boy that was born last winter:

I get to see him quite often.  He is so precious and he just LOVES me!  I get the cutest smiles and he even talked to me on the phone today--while he was eating the phone of course.  It would be wonderful if they were all living here in the same town with us, but they don't so I just have to wait for visits.

The Son, the one that thinks he needs a hand knit sweater, is all grown up--sort of.  He is getting his apprenticeship as a plumber/pipe fitter.  He really likes it and has a good job.  He still lives here so I get to see him :)  Thank goodness he isn't joining the "make mom a grandma" mission his siblings are on.  We love having him around...well except that since we've been back every time I turn around something "plumbing" is going wrong with the house.  At least we have him to come fix it!

OK! That wraps it all up. Now you know what I've been up to. And I got to show off my cute little grandkids :)

On and Off the Needles

I just realized that I finished the pomegranate colored Lucia Tee summer sweater (see this post) and did not take a picture.  I was so excited about how it turned out that I called the recipient and immediately delivered it to her.  She was thrilled with the color!!  It turned out really nice!!  The yarn was CotlLin from Knit Picks and it's a really nice yarn to work.with!

Another project I recently finished was this little dress and jacket for The Daughter's baby.

The pattern for the dress is out of last summer's Debbie Bliss magazine.  You knit the top then add a fabric skirt.  I added the little jacket because Wyoming can get snow even in the summer time lol!

This is a scarf I started the other day.  It's a little slow going but I love the way the colors are coming out!  The yarn is some really nice fingering weight superwash merino and cashmere that my husband got me for my birthday when we were still dating.  He knows what I like!!

And finally, this is a shawl I made as a sample for the shop.  The one yarn is some of my hand dyed lace weight merino yarn and the other is some of SWTC's new yarn I sell in my shop called String Me Along--a novelty yarn featuring sequins that comes in a million colors. 

I love the way it turned out!! (sorry the pictures aren't so great.  The camera on my phone is not the best)

The pattern for the shawl can be found on Ravelry Here.  It's a really simple pattern that works up quickly.  Depending on the yarn it can look a lot like peacock feathers.

And that wraps up the past couple of weeks :)  Right now on the needles is a pair of glittens--my pattern--for my dad for Father's Day.

Happy Knitting!

On and Off the Needles

To start it off I thought I would show you the latest FO.  I've been knitting like crazy lately--unfortunately also STARTING a lot of knitting project lately.  I have at least 10 new projects I've started the past two weeks :/  I hate start-itis!  I love finish-itis, but it doesn't happen as often as start-itis.

My daughter is due to have her first baby in August so ya, you guessed it!  Baby knitting projects galore! Just finished this one last night.

It was SO easy and quick to make.  The booties, of course, only took about an hour.  The sweater only took about 4 or 5 hours.  I love the yarn and the pattern was WONDERFUL.  Both are free patterns from Ravelry.  I did some modifications to the booties to make them a little more girlish.  The yarn is some hand painted worsted weight wool/alpaca blend yarn I picked up from WEBS a year or two ago.  Made both the sweater and booties from one skein (219 yards).

The project that is still on the needles but has to be done by Monday are these socks I designed for my niece who is turning 11 next week.  I hope she likes them.  They are quite colorful!

These have been WAY fun to make!!!  I will try to get a pattern written up and listed on Ravelry, Craftsy, and in my etsy store sometime in the next few weeks.  So if you are interested in making a pair check those locations in the coming weeks.  

Of course there are quite a few other projects still on the needles, but there isn't time and space for ALL of them :)

My health situation has improved.  Pretty sure it was ulcers that had gone way to far and were giving me all sorts of esophagus and stomach problems.  The pain was off the chart causing my blood pressure to sky rocket.  A very boring diet and lots of ulcer medication has made a big difference.  Can't wait to go back to eating real food!!!!

Baby Bunting and Update

Here is a picture of the baby bunting I made, with the baby in it :)

Pretty cute!  Won't fit him for long, but it was a fun cute project!

Going in to see a cardiologist tomorrow.  I don't know if I hope they find something or not.  After all, if a cardiologist finds something it's not a good thing.  But at the same time, I REALLY would like to go back to feeling normal.  I miss working out, not feeling nauseous most of the day, knitting, relaxing, etc.  Not to mention, if the cardiologist doesn't find anything then I'll be off to see if I have some sort of ulcers or esophagus issues--which doesn't appeal to me at all.

More updates tomorrow.

What's New?

Had another doctor's appointment yesterday.  All my lab work came back normal.  Which is good and bad. Good because that means I am not dying of a heart attack, liver problems, kidney problems, thyroid problems, Lyme disease, Rocky Mtn. Spotted Fever, etc.  Bad because the only thing we DO know is that whatever is going on is not all fixed with a dose of anxiety medication.  Meaning that I have SOMETHING besides anxiety causing me health problems we just still don't know what.  So, back to the lab for more tests :/

I have been able to sit still a little bit and do some knitting finally.  (As you recall, sitting still was bringing on the episodes and still is it's just that the anxiety medication keeps it from bothering me to the point that I can't function).  The Daughter is going to be having a baby girl in August so I have been trying to put together some baby stuff for her.  I made the baby booties from the book "Last Minute Knitted Gifts".   Not really the best bootie pattern in the world, but fun to make.  I have also made three cotton chenille wash clothes using this pattern that I found on Ravelry.  The pattern is REALLY easy to memorize and works up quick.  I'll post pic's of them all when I give them to The Daughter at her baby shower coming up next Saturday--don't want to ruin the surprise in case she gets on here and reads the blog :)

The T-shirt sweater is in "black hole knitting" mode right now.  I think I have knit on it through three movies and only added two inches to the length.  I hate when progress is slow!  If I can ever get the body of the sweater to 16 inches long I can consider it practically done.  The lace yoke part, even though there are considerably more stitches at first, goes fairly fast and before you know it you are done!!  I am looking forward to moving on to some other projects!

Happy Knitting!  And thanks for all the hugs!

Throwing This Out There......

Ok, so where did I go after my last post?  Well, I don't know.  I ended up in the emergency room at the hospital twice, two different doctors offices, had eight vials of blood samples taken, was given all sorts of medications that were supposed to stop what was going on, and I still have the whole whatever it is going on.

The ER doc is absolutely sure it's anxiety attacks (apparently you can get these for no reason what so ever--they can just happen). My regular doctor has no idea but had two pages worth of lab tests run on me.  Thyroid tests came back normal.  The rest of the tests haven't come back yet I guess.  My blood pressure is higher than normal (which is really no surprise since I am freaking out because I am having unexplained chest pains, occasionally shaking like I'm having a seizure, can't focus AT ALL, my vision keeps going blurry, I keep having the sensation that burning hot water is being poured over my shoulders, down my arms and then it stops as it hits the bottom of my rib cage, nausea to the point I can't eat and even water is difficult to get my throat to swallow, my sense of smell is off the chart which is NOT helping my nausea AT ALL!)  When I went into the first doctor my blood pressure was WAY high--152 over 100. And of course, each time "the episode of burning hot water-nausea-blurry vision-chest pains" happens my blood pressure spikes.

Naturally I can't get a doctor to talk to me and get me help immediately, mostly because none of them can figure out what's going on.  I mean how many times can they get away with saying, "Well, it's probably just anxiety attacks and the medicine SHOULD be making the symptoms to disappear. I don't know why the symptoms are coming in waves still even though you took the medicine...."  The ER doc is certain that if I can just come to terms with whatever it is that I am so anxious about then they will stop.  WELL THAT WOULD ALL BE WELL AND FINE IF I KNEW WHAT WAS STRESSING ME OUT!!!  All that's stressing me out is these stupid episodes!!

So ridiculous!!  I really would like for it to just go away and leave me alone.  I don't know why I need any of it to be going on in the first place.  I hate doctors and I do not like taking prescription medications!!  I don't even take over the counter medicine unless something gets so bad I'm pretty sure I will die if I don't.

Ya, so not much knitting going on :(  I keep trying, but it's almost impossible to stay focused on it.  Even my stand by "mindless" knitting in the round projects are too much for me.  As weird as it sounds, the more relaxing the activity the more frequent and severe these episodes become.  Which makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE!  OH! I just had an idea, maybe I'm knitting the wrong things!  I've been focusing on RELAXING projects.  Maybe I need to make a pair of Turkish Stockings where you have anywhere from six to twelve colors to work with on each round!  (Made a pair of these before--what a tedious nightmare!)  Or a lace table cloth with thousands and thousands of stitches and lace stitches to work every round!  And I could use bamboo needles--which I CANNOT stand because the yarn doesn't slide on them.  That would make the project even more difficult and irritating!

Pretty sure I'm loosing my mind..............

If anyone, anywhere, out there in the online world has ever experienced these medical symptoms and knows what is going on PLEASE COMMENT!!!! If you have experienced these symptoms and still do not know what is going on LET'S TALK!!!  Maybe talking will help, or not.  I don't know.......

New Yarn!

I just spent most of my day listing all the new yarn in my etsy store.  I actually dyed and got the new hemp yarn in October, but I am just now getting around to listing it online.  IT IS SO TIME CONSUMING TO CREATE LISTINGS.  Etsy makes it as streamlined as possible but it still takes FOREVER!

Here are a few of the exciting yarns now available in my online shop :)

My hand dyed self striping yarn :)

Some of the new fingering weight hemp yarns in GREAT colors

And then a couple of cones of undyed natural hemp in DK and fingering weight.

I also listed the new yarn colors from Dale of Norway's Daletta and Baby Ull.  A REALLY dark espresso colored yarn and a soft mint green.  If you're looking for some yarn for your next project, check out twistedharefiberarts.etsy.com!

Happy Knitting!

What's On the Needles/Hook

Since December I have been making custom orders left and right.  Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, but it has kept me BUSY.  Now, unless I get more I am finally seeing a completion of all the orders :)  I have made bath mitts, facial scrubbies, six pairs of socks, and now I am in the middle of a sweater and a cute crochet baby bunting.

This is the sweater I am currently making.  It is the Lucia Tee from Knit One Crochet Two.  The one I am making is with a solid "pomegranate" colored yarn from KnitPicks.  It's turning out really nice!  

And this is the baby bunting I am making.  My cousin had seen a pic of it on Facebook and immediately asked if I could make one for her up-coming grandchild. It is crocheted and she sent me a lovely superwash wool yarn also from KnitPicks for it.  It's going REALLY fast and I expect to have it done in the next day or two.

 

In addition to the custom orders, my new brother-in-law is getting ready to go on a backpacking trip next month.  Naturally I was concerned that he have "proper" socks so I am in the middle of making a wonderful pair of socks for him--size 13 in men's.  He was thrilled and selected a GREAT tonal green yarn that looks like a really pale camo design.  I didn't think I would like the color until I started knitting it up, but it has turned out to look really good!  The pattern is a modified (modified because it's a size 13) version of my "Ultimate Basic Sock" pattern.   I will try to get a pic up of them when they are done.

Of course there are also the other WIP's and UFO's.....but we won't talk about them lol.

Happy knitting!

Playin Ketch Up

Wow!  Had no idea it's been more than a year since I blogged last!  My how time flies when you are having fun.  And I have been having fun!!

This past May I opened a brick N mortar yarn shop here in Wyoming.  It's been a little slow because I didn't want to take out a business loan and I hate paying for advertising.  So my stock is what I've been selling on Etsy over the years and I have just slowly been adding to it--my hand dyed sock yarns, lace weight yarns and of course Dale of Norway yarns, my patterns, fibers, etc.  Slowly but surely the store has grown mostly by word of mouth and in another month I will celebrating my first year!!

In addition to that bit of exciting fun, two of my original sock designs are pictured in the new book out by Rita Taylor called "A Stitch in Time; Heirloom Knitting Skills".  My "Krotasokkar" design and "Autumn Leaves" design are the two socks.  I was/am THRILLED needless to say!!

And as if all that wasn't exciting enough, I got married December 5th!!  Yes!  I am SO happy.  I have never been this happy in my entire life, all the years combined.  Mr. Wonderful is....well...WONDERFUL! We have actually known each other for 4 years in May. I didn't think it was possible to be this happy, but I am.

I've said it before, but I'm saying it again, I am going to try to write here more often.

Happy Knitting!

Spectra!

It's been a while since I found a project that was so much fun to knit that I didn't want to stop even to go to bed at night.  I was at my favorite LYS a couple of weeks ago looking for nothing in particular (something that gets me into all sorts of monetary trouble lol) when there on a mannequin was this scarf/shawlette thing.  It looked GREAT!  I asked for the pattern and then hunted down the yarn for it.

The pattern, "Spectra", by Stephen West (found here--also see the other great pic's of the pattern there!) called for all fingering weight yarns and size 5 needles.  However, the model at the LYS was made from DK and worsted weight yarns and size 7 needles.  I picked out a Noro Silk Garden color and a funky new superwash wool/cashmere blend DK--the dark green--and wished with everything in me that I had my size 7 needles with me!

It's one of those patterns that you just don't get sick of working on before it's done.  Watching each color melt into the next is so cool!  Anyway, so I finished it last night.  In addition to being fun to knit, there are all sorts of different ways to wear it--as a capelet, as a cowl, as a scarf, etc.  I LOVE IT!!  Ya, I have a feeling there will be several on the Christmas list getting one of these this year...

Happy knitting!

Misc.

I miss posting on here.  I have gotten so caught up in Ravelry and Facebook that I have neglected my blog and really it is so much more personal.  Not to mention it is infinitely easier to upload pic's to my blog than it is to put them on Ravelry.  Don't get me wrong, I love Ravelry!  It is a fantastic place for inspiration!! But I have a terrible time getting pic's on there.

Anyway, so here I am back to my blog. 

No job prospects in my life still.  I would like to think I could make a living of my craft's.  However, I think that the fact that my patterns don't fly out of my two stores, nor does my yarn--which is some of the finest out there, that I should continue to search for a job among the "others".

I was very surprised this past Holiday season that I had NO yarn sales.  That's a first for my stores.  I take that as a sign that I should not kid myself into thinking that somehow, magically, I will make a living from them.  It's sad really because I love yarn, fiber, knitting, crochet, etc so much.  I just don't know how to make a living at it.  If I had the money I could open a yarn store here, but what are the chances it would make enough to pay me a decent wage?  Very slim probably.

If any of you have any suggestions or ideas I'm all ears.

Yes, It Can Be Done

I did it!  I knit both of these sweaters in less than two months.  They turned out so nice!  

How Late Is "Too Late"?

So the day before yesterday I came across some lovely aran sweater patterns and decided that I should make a couple for Christmas gifts.....I am aware that it is the end of October and that Christmas is less than two months away.

(Great looking sweaters huh?)

Not too mention, but you all know what a flakey knitter I am.  Even as I had the thought of making these sweaters I cast on for a gorgeous pair of socks with US size 0 needles--lol.  And then decided I had an AWESOME idea for this scarf...all silk :)  I knit it straight through til it was done and it's gorgeous!

Do you suppose I can focus on just these two sweaters?  I am hoping that by making two at the same time, when I get bored with the one that I will turn to the other and not turn to starting another project.  I figure the two sweaters are different enough that they will keep my interest also.  And it's not like I'm knitting sweaters with fingering weight yarn.  The one sweater is with heavy worsted/bulky-ish yarn and the other is with worsted.  So they so work up pretty fast?  Maybe?

Here's hoping :)

And Now My Gobi Desert Yarn Creation

You saw the yarn....and here are the socks.  Or at least the first pair.  They knit up really quick and they were a lot of fun to make.  Real simple and very warm.  I actually have enough yarn to mix and match around to make another pair of socks and perhaps a nice warm hat also.  It's great!

Thought I would include my pattern for these "House Booties" as a free pattern.  So if you would like to make a pair also, here you go:

Gobi Desert House Booties

Size: Woman’s Average to Large

Gauge: 22 sts = 4 inches

Needles: One set of five size 3.25 mm/US size 3 dpns

Yarn Description: Handspun Camel Hair yarn from Mongolia--www.snowleopard.org. 3 skeins, 1 in natural, 1 in tan, 1 in black. (this is enough yarn to make at least two pair)

 

Cuff:

CO 48 sts. Divide sts evenly onto 4 needles, join careful not to twist work. Work 1 x 1 ribbing for 4 rounds.

Leg:

Work graph through round 10. Work 7 rounds even in stst. End ready to work short-row heel.

Short-Row Heel:

Using tan yarn begin working short-row heel.

Row 1:  (WS) Sl1, p22, w&t last st.

Row 2:  (RS) Sl wrapped st, k22, w&t last st.

Row 3:  Sl wrapped st, p21, w&t next st.

Row 4:  Sl wrapped st, k20, w&t next st.

Row 5:  Sl wrapped st, p19, w&t next st.

Row 6:  Sl wrapped st, k18, w&t next st.

 

Repeat in this manner, working one less stitch per row, until 4 sts in the middle and 10 wrapped sts on each side.

 

Row 1:  Sl1, k3, k st & wrap together, turn

Row 2:  Sl1, p4, p st & wrap together, turn.

Row 3:  Sl1, k5, k st & wrap together, turn.

Row 4:  Sl1, p6, p st & wrap together, turn.

 

Continue in this manner, working one more st and wrap per row, until all wrapped sts have been worked.  End on a RS row.  Cut tan yarn and resume using natural color.

 

Foot:

Working in stst, k even until foot measures 2" (about 5 cm) less than total desired foot length. Change to tan yarn and work toe decreases.

Toe: 

K one round even.

Rnd 1: K to last 3 sts of needle 1. K2tog, k1. Needle 2--k1, ssk, k remaining sts. Needle 3--k to last three sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 4--k1, ssk, k remaining sts.

Rnd 2: K all sts even.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 16 sts remain. Graft remaining sts together.

Finishing:  Weave in ends.  Work second sock.

Abreviations:

CO: Cast on

1 x 1 Ribbing: knit one stitch, purl one stitch. Repeated for all sts around.

Stst: Stocking stitch--knit all sts around.

Sl: slip stitch as if to purl

K2tog: knit the next 2 sts together.

Ssk: Slip next st, slip second st, then knit the two slipped sts together.

W&t: wrap and turn. With yarn in front, slip next st as if to purl, wrap yarn around slipped st to the back of work, slip wrapped st back to left hand needle, turn work around to begin next row.

Copyright – Tama Vaughn, October 2011

Please do not distribute this pattern or sell any items

made from it without my prior permission.

www.twistedharefiberarts.etsy.com

Enjoy!

Look What I Found!

The day the new Interweave Knits "Knitting Traditions" Fall 2011 came available, Interweave sent me a notice.  They are well aware that I will spend my last penny to purchase these magazines.  I spent two hours just "thumbing" through the digital edition--ya I couldn't wait for it to come in the mail, takes too long.  On page 78 were these rustic, nothing fancy, but certainly functional looking socks called "Gobi Desert Socks".  They looked all fluffy and warm--and you know how I feel about all things "fluffy".  Made from handspun camel wool spun by nomadic herding women and their families of Mongolia.  I found myself rushing off to find the Snow Leopard Trust that sells this luscious stuff and uses the proceeds to benefit snow leopard conservation and supports these people.

And look what they did!! They sent my order right out! Seriously, from magazine view to my mailbox took only 4 days and that included the weekend!!  The yarn is now safely nestled all snuggly in my lap where I can pet it often.  Don't know if I'll ever find something worthy to knit out of it lol.  It's amazing, lovely, and all for a good cause. 

I recommend it if you like rustic, handspun, soft yarn.

Ya, I feel spoiled right now :o)

Tribute to Barb

I hope she doesn't mind....my cyber friend Barb is awesome!  She and I have been taking care of a couple of knitting blogs the past few years and I feel like I have got to know her a little bit.  Even though I have never seen her face I really like her.

Barb lives somewhere on the east coast.  She was affected by the hurricane that hit there just a while back.  Just as the power got turned on and she was headed back to work she got really sick.  I was concerned and had emailed her that I hoped she would  be well soon.  Her response was that she was starting to feel better then she said, "I can still knit though and that is all that counts."  I teared up.  Ya, I know, silly.  But really sometimes you need something to get you through all the hard times. 

Everybody has their "security blankets" their "means of escape".  Some turn to substance abuse, some get depressed and hide, some become work-a-holics, some just give up.  But Knitter's....we knit.  We get out the yarn, sometimes we get a pattern, and we grab our needles and we "escape" by turning to something familiar, something comforting, something soft :) and pleasant.  For me I almost always am knitting for someone else.  I get caught up in thoughts and memories of them.  Times shared together and hopefully future times together.  I think about them wearing what I am making and how it will look.  I loose myself completely.  Soon I've forgotten all the sadness, the problems,  the difficulties, etc.  I make positive thoughts my focus, twisting and looping and combining my thoughts of happiness and good times with every stitch.  It is such a healing process.

So Barb, here's to you :)  I agree.  With all that I have been through in the past couple years, I am "starting to feel better" also.  Thank goodness "I can still knit though"  and to me "that is all that counts". 

Happy Knitting

More Adventures

So, Monday I went to work.  Things were progressing as usual with my boss attempting once again to be as abusive and rude as possible.  I got back from lunch and discovered I had been "terminated".  Interesting.  I have come to the conclusion, as I have pondered the entire situation, that my boss has been unrealistically difficult to work for since I let his "little buddy" go this past winter--actually in February.  He is difficult to work for normally but it has been TERRIBLE since February.  I began thinking along those lines because not more than an hour after I was escorted out his "little buddy" was back......and in my position.

As a result of being suddenly unemployed I find myself under alot less stress, if you can believe it, than I was while I was working for "The Tyrant".  There are several options available that have been lurking in the background of my life since last year and I can't really decide which way to go. School? Self employment? Moving back to Colorado?

The past year has been insane between Sean and I separating, work, moving, buying a house, Sean dieing, The Daughter deciding she needed to get married at 17, PB moving back in with all of his prejudices firmly in place that his dad put there, etc.  Now my job of just over two years that I thought was secure and what I would be doing for a good long time is gone.

I could go back to school and finish.  That would, for the most part require moving.  Not really in the mood to move since I've decided I like it here--all the snow and wildlife and outdoor stuff to do.  I have a couple of online businesses. None of which are doing real great--unfortunately.  I could alway get another job, but quite frankly I'm really tired of working really hard so someone else can make the big bucks. 

What I've kind of decided is that I'm going to apply for unemployment right now and see what happens next.  I believe there has to be a reason for me leaving Pyro City.  Something else needs done.  I don't know what it is so until it reveals itself I think I will just "drift" along looking for it.  Really don't know what else to do.  I have a million projects, knitting, home, etc that all need my attention so in the mean time I will pursue those and try to get ahead.

What a year! 

Snow!

It started last night.  The heavy white clouds full of snow just waiting to fall rolled in early in the evening.  By the time I went to pick up PB from the dance it was snowing huge fluffy white flakes.  This morning dawned with bright, beautiful sunshine and cowboy blue skies. 

No denying the fact, I love snow!  Especially newly fallen snow.  Everything is covered in a beautiful white fluffy blanket this morning.  We got about six inches of new snow.  I love how the sun reflects off of the snow flakes and makes everything look like it's covered in rainbow glitter. 

I feel sad when I hear people say that they hate the snow.  The snow is such an important element of weather.  Without it there would be ALOT less water to drink, water lawns with, wash cars with, etc in the summer.  What happens as we grow up?  We all loved the snow as children.  I don't think I have ever heard a child remark, after looking out the window and seeing a world of white, "Snow!  I hate snow!  What did it have to snow for?"  No, they are excited and eager to run out and make snowmen and snow angels, sled, skate, have snowball fights, jump around and throw the snow into the air......

We all loved it then.  I still do.  Yes, I get up and shovel out my sidewalk just like everyone else.  At work I have three parking lots that have to have all the snow removed from everytime it snows.  My truck slips and slides as I drive through town just like everyone else's.  I have to bundle up in warm socks--handknit of course--coats, hats, gloves, and boots.  But I love the snow.  I love the rain, I love thunder storms, I love the warm spring sunshine, I love all the seasons and the weather that goes with them.  The only thing I do not like is wind, but it serves its purpose.

Maybe the reason I like snow and cold and it doesn't bother me is because I knit :)  It is so much fun to see if I can create the ultimate snow gear.  Whether its hats, socks, sweaters, scarves, or mittens  I want to see just how comfortable I can stay with all my own snow wear in the coldest of snowy conditions.  Way more fun than trying to stay cool during hot summers!!

A Little Lost, But Not Gone

I've tried to blog several times over the past few months, but nothing would come out.  Things are moving along.  I've started some other hobbies/business in an effort to get some money coming in.  HB left us with nothing.  I do get some social security money to help me take care of the kids, but that's it.  Definately not easy.

I finally got moved into a new house.  I love it.  There is a very peaceful feeling in the house that makes living there very nice.  I haven't had much time to unpack though.  I wish I could wave a magic wand and just have everything put itself away lol.  Between working full time at the fireworks store and my new ventures I don't have much free time....actually I have no free time.  I think I am trying to bury myself in projects so there is no down time.  Down time means time to think about things and I don't want to.

My oldest son just turned 22 years old.  (Can't believe it!!!! There's no way I am old enough to have a child that age.  After all I am only 29 lol, pretty sure)  We went to Colorado to celebrate with him.  We took Sunday to go up to Ouray Colorado to play in the hot springs.  I forget that Ouray is the most beautiful place in the world.  Since most of the world has never been there I thought I would post a few pictures.

This is Box Canyon Falls Ice Park.  Notice the tiny person on the lower right :)

This is looking North West from Box Canyon.

More ice climbers and the mountains to the South West.

I love Ouray.  It is absolutely breath taking.  We spent the whole day there--most of it soaking in the hot springs.  I miss living in Colorado so close to Ouray.

So, if you are curious as to what my new ventures are check out The Hemp Hippie and A Cozy Corner.  I am working away at filling the two stores with stuff so keep checking back to see the new stuff.  I am really having fun with the new ideas and products.  I hope they take off--mostly because I need the money lol, but also because I am enjoying making all this new stuff :)

I will try to get back to blogging again.  One step at a time.

Life Happens....No Big Surprise

Well,  I have been putting off posting long enough.  Many of you know HB died in September.  It was absolutely devistating.  I am still having troubles going to work and want nothing to do with public places like the grocery store or church.  I want to talk about it but not where I am going to have a complete break down in a large crowd. 

As if his death hasn't been hard enough, the lack of support from his family has made this especially miserable for me.  He always insisted that if anything happened to him that they would stand by my side and be there for me and our children no matter what.  I told him that they would blame me and dump on me--guess who was right?  (I know I am sitting on my pity pot so bear with me a minute)  Thank goodness for my family and friends--cyber friends included.  All of you that have prayed, kept our family in your thoughts, and sent words of sympathy and condolences--you have no idea how much it has meant to us.  Your kindness has been my anchor in a stormy sea.

I am just now getting back to knitting, but my creativity is slower to return. No designing for awhile longer. HB was a huge supporter of my knitting and designing and it has been hard to pick it up without thinking of him. He would tell complete strangers about his hand knit socks and how lovely all my stuff was.  I will probably always think of him when I pick my knitting up.

Sockamania, the blog I was designing for, has closed down.  Between what happened in my life and waning interest we decided the time had come and the fun had run it's course.  We started a new blog called Tails of Another Yarn.  (You can find a link to it on my side bar)  This blog will be a "brag" blog where members can post their WIP's and FO's and get chances to win prizes.  Once my creativity returns I will design a few things for it here and there and maybe do a Mystery KAL or two, but for the most part it is just for showing off what everybody is working on.  If you would like to join us click on the sidebar link and read the "Welcome" and "How to Join" info.  We would love to see you there.

Again, thank you everyone who has been there, electronically or in person, for our family.

Tama