Who knew?

I was kinda surprised to find that this rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

• queer (2x)
• crap (1x)

This was interesting to do....

Part 2 - Sea World Trip

4 adults, 3 children, one minivan, 4 nights, 800 miles, two motel rooms = one glorious trip.

We really had a blast. I think all the kids had a great time, I know that DeVia, Juanita and I did.

Melody was miserable for part of the trip, but she had a much better time than last year.

Here is a slideshow of some of the over 400 pics from the trip:

Part 1 - Sea World trip

We had such a good time. D, her granddaughter, my sister Juanita and all three of Juanita's children rented a mini van and drove to San Diego to spend 2 days at Sea world and get some beach time.

Here are the first set of pictures from the swimming with Dolphins event that we did.
All five of us in the water to stroke the underside of the dolphin. The 18 year old did not want to do this event, so I got to do it again. It was just as much fun this time as it was in Hawaii. These pictures do not show how cute my hair cut is - cause I had to take the combs out of it and it's pretty funky looking in these shots.

My beautiful sister Juanita.


Princess Maegan


Shawnee had a great time on this trip. It's the first time that we have spent more than just a few hours with her and we really think she had fun.

Sarah looks so natural in the wet suit. She had lots of questions to the trainer about how to work with the animals.


All five of us, giving a signal to the dolphin.

Another Finished Object

or rather two of them - socks count for two - right?



Here is the pair of socks that I started on my trip to Mom's right before Mother's day weekend. I started the second sock on my trip to Portland to see the Yarn Harlot. She said that she liked the yarn - it's from Ray. The stitch pattern is an offset rib with a couple of knit rows between - like this k2 p2 across for 3 rows, k two rows plain, p2 k2 across for 3 rows, k two rows plain. figure 8 cast on with 12 stitches and a YO short row heel down to 12 stitches and then back up.

It's my generic sock formula with a pattern stitch on the instep and leg.

I finished the socks last night at the guild meeting and cast on for a new pair immediately. This new color is very intense and I think I am keeping them for myself.



I'm trying to figure out what kind of pattern to do on the instep of this one.

Portland to see the Yarn Harlot

ok, as promised, this post is very picture heavy...

I flew into Portland Thursday morning - it was gorgeous out. A light breeze blowing, nice and cool. I found the MAX and called Melissa to tell her I was on my way. I sat in the very front seat next to the window so that I could knit on my sock and look at all the green. I swear, someday, I WILL move to Portland and live in the green again.



Melissa has two cats, I could only get a photo of this one. Isn't she pretty?



We went to dinner on Thursday night. Duffy picked us up at Lint where Melissa introduced me to the seductiveness of Koigu. I resisted that night, but see Koigu in my future. We rode in Duffy's little VW across the bridge to Roux for amazing Cajun food.



Friday morning, after lazing about in our jammies and knitting, I took off for a few hours to wander about Portland. I ended up in Powell's, checking out the set up for that evening and escaping with only 4 books. I walked over to the park with the elephant to sit and read for a while before heading back to Melissa's place. Melissa and I lay down for a short nap and were woken up by Rodger letting us know that even at 5:30 it was filling up fast. We pulled ourselves together as best we could and walked down instead of waiting for a bus or MAX. Rodger saved us seats right up front. Can you pick me out of the crowd?




Here's little cutie pie Rodger holding my sock. He was so helpful, took lots of my photos for me as he was in the front row and had a much better view



Here's photo Rodger took of my sock admiring the crowd.



And here's the Yarn Harlot herself, taking pics of her sock with the crowd.



The very worried look on her face as she describes a potential future after the world wide wool blight hits and we all must guard our stash from those foolish cold muggles who mocked our forethought.





The Harlot held my sock and pronounced it good - she even asked where I got the yarn - of course I was knitting with Ray's yarn again - go ahead and browse his shop - you know you want to. My next sock will be knit out of this, I took it to Portland with me just in case I finished the sock I was working on.

I'm tired, but it's a good tired. I'm sure glad that I have today to rest before heading to work tomorrow.

Off to Portland

I know, I know - another post without any pictures. I promise, when I get back from Portland I will upload all the knitting, spinning and travel pics from the last two weeks.

Tomorrow I will fly to Portland to visit with a couple of friends from a knitting list that I am on and see the Yarn Harlot at Powell's Books. I can't stand it - my favorite author, my favorite book store, hanging out with knit sibs, and Portland all in one trip. Oh, and there will be knitting and spinning too!

I fell in love with the city of Portland the first time that D took me there. I did not want to come back. It had everything - water, weather, beautiful downtown area. If it wasn't for the family we both have here - we would be living in Portland in a second!

New Work Space

My son is moved out - they have taken possession of the new townhouse and I really think they like it.

Besides missing him, this means that we have resumed discussions of what to do about a work space for me. I have the wall o' stash, (that photo was over a year ago -you know the wall is bigger now) I need space to put my drum carder and spread carding/blending projects out. I haven't produced any spinning batts for months.

We are talking about taking out the wall between our two small bedrooms, turning that area into one large room with space for the computer server and printer and plenty of room for me to work.

I've ordered two of these, to start with.

I may start using the bigger room before we move ahead with the demolition. It all depends on how fast I think the project is really going to be done.

I'll have pics when it gets busy around here.

What color is your brain

Here's a fun quiz - very close to true.

What Color is Your Brain?

GOLD: At work or in school: I like set routines and organized ways of doing thingsl rules and directions are a great help to me. I prefer to stay on one topic at a time. I need to know what is expected of me, and I always want to know if I am on the right track. I like subjects that are useful and traditional, such as business, accounting, history and government. With friends: I prefer people who are careful with their money and who make plans ahead of time. I like my friends to be loyal, dependable and on time. I am serious about love and show it in many practical ways. With family: I like stability and security and enjoy traditions and frequent celebrations. I like to spend holidays with family members, and I plan ahead for such gatherings. Take this quiz! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Best haircut of my life

Hey - this is fiber related.... Hair is fiber.

I've been growing my hair out for the last 3 or 4 years. I used to wear it very very short - about 2" all over to bring out the curl. I have serious hair envy for my sister Belinda's hair. Long thick curly hair, so I decided to see if I grew mine out - would it be even half as nice. Well it isn't. Besides not having the same hair, I am just not into taking care of it like she does.

So, last month on a visit to her in Missouri - I asked her to cut my hair down to something more manageable. She removed 6 inches, which brought it up to just above shoulder length.

I have been wearing it like that for a few weeks, but now it's too hot on my neck and just a little to short to wear pulled up. One of my my other sisters, Juanita, has been going to this salon that she loves. She takes her kids there too and has been suggesting that I come with her.

So I made the appt to get my hair cut and decided to go crazy and get some color streaks too.

I love my new hair cut - and the red streaks are fabulous. The cut is short in the back and longer at the sides. I wear my combs on the sides to pull it back away from my face and with a little wave at the top.

I don't have a pic, but will see if I can get one.

Meantime - I now love my hair, instead of being frustrated with it.

It's such a little thing in the scheme of it all, but makes a huge difference in my daily attitude.

New Site meter

Ok, I am trying out a site meter that gives me some info about visitors to the blog. I love this kind of data.

Sisters

I have 4 sisters and it's a blessing in my life that we are all close. I also have 4 brothers, but that's another post.

It's two groups of two, separated by 8 or so years in age. Their names are Bonnie, Belinda, Juanita and Michelle. I'm the oldest, Bonnie and Belinda are in their 40's and Juanita and Michelle are in their 30's. Michelle is only 6 months older than my oldest son.

Belinda lives in Missouri in the same town as my mom and the other three live here in the Metro Phoenix area.

About once a year, I make the trip to Missouri to spend a week with Belinda and Mom. This year, Juanita was there for a visit right before me and we overlapped for one day. Here are a couple of pics from that day.

AIDS Lifecycle

I can't tell you how proud I am of my friend Janisis. For the second year, she is a roadie for the AIDS Lifecycle ride. Here is the page where she describes what this entails and what it means to her.

I wanted to insert just a small quote from her description

"I want to tell you about how much fun it is, but the term 'fun' doesn't begin to cover the emotion ... it's so much more than fun... it's deeply rewarding, enormously satisifying, hugely gratifying... joyous service."

Please take a moment, go to her page and write her a note of encouragement - donate if you can to support her in this effort.

Socks for my sister

This is a chain plyed BFL dyed by Spunky Electric that I spun up last year. It knit up so nicely for these socks. I used my toe up recipe and did an interesting pattern on the instep and legs.

It's a K2P2 rib for 3 rows and then 2 rows of plain knit - repeated

This gave an interesting texture to the socks and made them very stretchy - I didn't get a close up of the pattern, but should have.

Spring is here

I love Iris's - here are a couple of my favorites



and here's a close up




these only last for a couple of days - but they are pretty when they bloom. I may have to divide them this fall - they are pretty crowded right now.

My amazing partner

D fixed my computer. Yep - she took my laptop apart and replaced the keyboard. Woo and also hoo!!!!!

I have been using the office desk top and the little dell laptop - but neither of them have all the features that the big laptop does (including the 17" screen).

Now I just have to get an adapter for my camera's sim card and I will really be set up.

I see more posts in my future - now that the computer is really really fixed.

Note to self - I will never leave the laptop open again so that horrid cats do not leave nasty messes.

Been a long time

It's been over a month since my last entry and I have a lot to blog about. My niece's Cinderella birthday party, easter, pretty growing things in the garden and new yarns - however today is about Knit Camp.

Some of the members of the GLB-knit group that I belong to got together over the weekend in Vermont to hang out and knit together.

Oh my gosh - what a great time it was. The flights were on time, even though I was in a 40 seat prop job for one leg of the flight. The weather was amazing and the people I met felt like family that I had not seen in a long time.

I have a bunch of photos to share - they can be found here.

Here is the text of the post I made from the Albany airport on my way home:


*****************************

Well, Fudge just dropped me off at the Albany Airport for my trip home from glb knit camp.

What a wonderful couple of days. It was great meeting everyone. It felt like a school reunion - I wasn't really sure how people would look and felt a feeling of familiarity even when meeting someone for the first time. It felt like old friends after a long time apart.

Ray's yarns were wonderful and the alpaca that Mel and David brought is amazing. I learned the mobieus cast on from Witt and demo'd the figure 8 cast on for toe up socks. I learned the patch toe for toe ups from Duffy.

Sarah and Jeri are full of fun, Jenny and Deanna have wonderful soothing energy - I just could have sat in their presence for hours.

Much much thanks to Sadia and Ann for pulling this together.

Wonderful Melissa accomplished miracles with food for all of us.

I can't wait to see Duffy again - another great reason to head to Portland every chance I get.

Melissa Scott - I restrained myself and didn't act like a star struck fan in front of her - thank all the gods there are.

And the boys - what can you say about the boys but how great it felt to have their gentle male energy - Witt, Gary, Lou, Mel and David - I have missed having queer men in my life and you all felt so familiar.

it was great to meet Joy, Susan, Pamela too.

I have to thank Fudge for schlepping me back and forth to the airport and for being my friend. It's always easier to go somewhere when I know there's at least one person who knows me and who I know likes me already. Then I can be brave with strangers who might not like me.

Thanks to all who came - those who didn't missed a great time.

***************

I'll catch up later with everything else that's been happening.

Renn Faire

We had an amazing time yesterday at the Renn Faire. My sister Juanita made all of our outfits, the weather was good (not too hot and not muddy) and the crowds were not too bad.





Maegan rode a number of the rides for smaller kids - here she is pulling on the rope for all she is worth.



Sarah and Melody rode the elephant and were very excited about it. Mel is 17 and it is so cool to watch her go from sullen teenager to excited child about 20 times a day. It's a hard time to be in her shoes - I hope it gets better for her.

Sarah is on the brink of adolescence, I hope she doesn't have as hard of a time as Mel did.



Maegan rode the camel instead, cause the line for the elephant was too long by the time she got done on the swing. Here she is with the princess wave - even from the top of a camel - she has the princess thing down. The girl in front is a stranger, but when I yelled "princess wave" she got into the spirit of it with Mae.



I love this picture of all of us together. Sure can tell that we are related - eh?

first pool party of the year

The pool is too cold to swim, but they had to get in the pool anyway. It's still pretty green from the winter, but we tested the water and it's fine.

Update on the socks from Ray's sock yarn

I love this yarn. The diagonal striping is fabulous - I love the white lightning strike up the center portion of the one is very cool.

It's hard to see in these pictures, but the leg is coming out pretty too, more later

Cheating on my tofutsies - Sock yarn review

I am working on the second sock from my second skein of Tofutsies yarn, but when this arrived - I had to find a set of needles and cast it on immediately.

It's the sock yarn that I ordered recently from Ray. Just shut up about the spin/knit from stash 2007 - I could not refuse this color. The yarn is 75% merino superwash and 25% nylon and it knits up very nicely.

This skein photo does not reflect the accurate colors of the yarn -

This picture is better











This is best of all - look at those colors come to life. I am trying a new stitch this sock. It's a four stitch basket weave. I like how it complements the sock colors without being too busy.