fiber labyrinth

Time Flies

2010-12-02T21:08:00.004-05:00

It is December Already!

Asher Quinn was born on Sept 28, 2010 and we are all in Love with the sweet beautiful boy!

I have done a bit of knitting.

I did finish mom's birthday socks. There was some doubt you know. Of course, she handed them back and asked me to add a few rows and re knit the toes. No matter how I knit the socks this happens every year.

I have added a few inches to the Damask Kauni cardigan I'm knitting but it is slow going for me, I just can't make myself stop reading when I have down time. I know I should plug myself into an audible book on the ipod instead, but when I am really in need of a get away, losing myself in a book or even a fanfiction story is where I go for vacation. So the Damask is puttering along but not quickly at all.

Yesterday, I realized as I was tooling down the highway on the way to babysit Asher at 5:15 in the morning that it was December first, that I didn't have a December Daily Album made, and that I had left my camera at home! I was most upset. Time got me again.

When I got home in the late afternoon I gathered my box of Christmas scraps and my pile of Christmas scrapbook paper. I grabbed the book I had gutted to use for this project Months ago and proceeded to create a December Daily Journal. It is a hybrid between an Art Journal, A scrap book and a Remains of the Day Journal. I'll try to post a picture of it tomorrow.

Tomorrow I babysit Asher again. The camera is already packed.

Viki

My Food Revolution

2010-08-29T11:06:00.005-04:00

I say it started in May, but it really started much earlier than that. I just lost my way.

I Read.
I read a lot.
I read books.
I read blogs.
I read studies.
I read knitting patterns.
and now
I read food labels too.

Earlier this year I told you about Mrs. Q. the teacher eating school lunches for a whole school year. I told you I was worried about her health. Well, she is doing okay, amazingly after eating half a year of school food. She has learned a lot and those of us who have been reading her blog have been learning right along with her. Sometimes she gets me fired up. If you haven't checked her out I encourage you to do so. This weekend she is having a blog party.

This year I have learned so much about food and deception and the USDA and unfortunately about the school lunch program. My child doesn't even participate in the program. She doesn't even go into the lunchroom. Not that I really blame her. I'd take a quiet room with a teacher and a few other students over the loud echoing walls and processed food any day.

I've read books by Michael Pollan, Chef Ann, Nina Planck, Marion Nestle and others. My eyes have been opened. If you only have a small amount of time and you want to help yourself first, read "Food Rules" by Michael Pollan. It might just change your life. It is short, you can read it in an hour. Then read it again. Then pass it on to a friend and change their life. Then go to the library or bookstore and check out some of those other people.

Did you know that the Average American Adult eats over 141 pounds of sweeteners a year. (That is SUGAR.) Most drink 53 Gallons of soda a year!

That is a lot of HFCS. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is in Everything. If you are eating a processed meal chances are it is in there. If you are eating fast food it is in at least 2 or 3 items on your tray.

In May, I decided that I would stop eating HFCS. First to go were soft drinks. I never drank diet soft drinks anyway, because of reactions to the artificial sugar substitutes. So no more Soft drinks. I lost 8 pounds in 1 month.
Then we stopped eating out so much. The money we have saved is amazing.
We don't buy processed food. I'm cooking more. I've lost over 12 pounds this Summer. I fit in my clothes better. I feel better.

Summer is easy.
There are tons of fresh veggies in the Summer. Farmers markets with seasonal foods and fresh eggs. The true test will be back to school this Fall. When I'm tired at the end of a day. Will I be able to hold out on the no processed foods? We will see.
Breakfast for dinner is always an option right?

What does this have to do with your kids and the way they eat at school? It has to start at home. You have to start with yourself and your family. You have to educate yourself. You can not believe everything the USDA tells you. That food pyramid was bought and paid for by big business. (Beef, corn and milk)

It all starts at home. Once you have the knowledge then you can start working on the schools.

My child, my family eats well. What burns me up is that it is the kids that need those school meals the most, the ones that don't get a good breakfast at home or even a good evening meal at home, are the ones that are losing so much. The ones that count on good food to help them grow not just physically, but mentally are not getting it through the Federal School Lunch program. What started off as a program to help our children during the depression has been hijacked somewhere along the way. All parents should care about this but in order to have change we Must know what we are talking about. We must educate ourselves.

Label Confusion

2010-08-09T09:13:00.006-04:00

I've been reading a lot this Summer.
I've read Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food" and "Food Rules". Both are excellent.

Earlier this year I read “Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children” by Ann Cooper & Lisa M. Holmes . Then I read The Gospel of Food: Everything you Think You Know About Food Is Wrong” by Garry Glassner.

Then I picked up Fast Food Nation and Chew on This by Eric Schlosser after seeing the movie Food Inc. (these books are being donated to a friend’s classroom he teaches health to 9th graders and is glad to add them to his class library)

Now I'm almost finished with Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck(highly recommend). I've skimmed though What to Eat by Marion Nestle. I've drooled through Home Cheese Making by Ricki Carrol and The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters and Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.

It has been quite a foodie adventure. I've learned a lot. I've even lost a few pounds. Some of the things I've read are life changing. I'll save them for another post.

I was talking to my mom over coffee the other day. We do that a lot. She walks her dog to my house for coffee almost every morning. That morning the discussion was about labeling and meat.
You know you go into a grocery store, a regular grocery and you know that most of the meat you can buy there will be the same meat that is raised for the fast food industry. It is true.
So Mom asked how can you tell by looking at the labels even at Whole Foods if the meat is factory meat or old fashioned farm raised.

Well here is what Nina Planck has to say about that. Hope it helps you figure out what to eat.
The following is taken from Real Food What to Eat and Why pages 117 - 119.

Organic
means the food was produced without synthetic fertilizer, antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, genetically engineered ingredients, and irradiation. Organic does Not mean animals were grass-fed or pastured. Organic beef, pork and poultry eat organic grain, but most commercial versions are not raised on grass, or their access to pasture is minimal.

Conversely, Grass-fed and Pastured don't mean animals were raised to organic standards, But the grass farmer who uses antibiotics, hormones, pesticides or genetically engineered foods is rare. Grass-fed means animials were raised on grass and hay. How much varies widely the term is not legally defined.

Grass Finished beef was raised on grass and fattened with grain.

Pastured applies to pork, poultry and eggs. when animals are raised on pasture. Pastured chickens eat corn, insects and sour milk as well as grass. (my note: and other leftovers and vegetation.)
On eggs or poultry the label Vegetarian feed is misleading. It means chickens were not fed other ground-up chickens(in the feed) and that's good. But chickens are not natural vegetarians. What it does mean is the birds never went outside; if they had, they might have eaten a grub or two. Free-range poultry and eggs says nothing about grass. It means the birds aren't in cages, but they may be in barns or on bare dirt. Grass is the key source of beta-carotene, CLA and omega-3 fats in pastured poultry and eggs.

The label Natural says nothing about the animal's diet. It means the product contains no artificial flavor or color, chemical preservative or any other artificial ingredient.

According to the USDA "all fresh meat" qualifies as "natural"

So that chicken I've been buying from Whole Foods is barn raised, fed a vegetarian diet, but no hormones or antibiotics were added to the feed.
The eggs I buy from the Zimmerman's are pastured. The chickens get to eat bugs and grass and scratch in the dirt like happy chickens.

It is discouraging to me that we have so little control over our food. That we have to research in order to know just what we are putting into our bodies. It is so easy Not to question that it is scary.
Viki

It's been Forever

2010-07-10T16:50:00.003-04:00

This part of a swatch I knit for the Kauni sweater I'm knitting using the Damask pattern.

This is the ribbing for the actual sweater.

Facebook and RL have eaten all my time.

I am actually knitting a Kauni sweater. . The corrigated ribbing took a bit of time(picture above), but once I learned a few tricks the actual color work is going really well.

Not that I will finish quickly.

The Biggest News of course is that DD1 who is nearly in her 28th week of pregnancy has been put on modified bedrest for the next month. All good positive thoughts and prayers are much appreciated. Her last ultra sound showed that the baby really is a boy and weighs in at 2 lbs 6 oz.

I have joined Kelly Kilmers Memories and Reflections online class. Haven't started yet but I have joined. I did actually do an art journal page last week and cut out a few images this week.

Progress!

Viki

HFCS vs Table Sugar

2010-05-25T16:25:00.003-04:00

One man takes on big business. Check it out:
http://organicconnectmag.com/wp/2010/05/the-impact-of-one-mans-outrage/

He has a group on facebook.
He offers no opinion he just posts links to articles and studies.
The above link is to an article in the Organic Connection Magazine.
I found it very interesting.
I found it disconcerting that HFCS is found in baby formula. WHY do you need to put
it in baby formula?

HFCS is in almost everything! Just pick up a box in your local grocery and look at the ingredient list. It is probably listed either 2nd or 3rd.

I'll rant more when I feel better.

Viki
at the tail end of a sinus infection.

out like a lamb

2010-03-31T11:46:00.004-04:00

It is the end of March!

How did that happen?

It could get up to 75 degrees today. It will probably snow next week.

I have flowers blooming and buds on all the lilacs. The redbud tree is about to burst too.

I don't have a lot to show for the first three months of the year.

I've knit a bit.

I've read a lot.

I've made a few art journal pages.

I've got lamb for Easter dinner and then a trip up North for a few days. Ah, Spring Break.

Anyone want to bet me that Mariah will have homework?

I'm looking forward to stopping by The Mannings, finding a Trader Joes to explore and seeing family. I'll listen to books on the trip and thanks to my iphone, I'll be able to check email.

Yes I am plugged in.

LOL

Now for the real stuff, I'm worried about healthcare. What makes the government think they can run healthcare when every other big social program they have started has always failed?

I'm tired of writing my representative and getting a form letter back that pats me on the head and tells me he knows what is best and let him and the government take care of it all. Seriously, why aren't our representatives doing what the people want?

Yes, healthcare needs an overhaul, but not this kind of overhaul.

Didn't Thomas Jefferson once say that " A government big enough to give you what ever you want is also big enough to take it all away."

Viki

Staying Hydrated + BPA = Confusion.

2010-03-27T10:25:00.007-04:00

I was catching up on my blog reading this morning and came across some interesting video's on one of my friend's blogs. It is The Story of Bottled Water. What it boils down to is that the Soft drink companies told us Tap Water wasn't good, drink bottled water and like good little drones we have taken their advertising as Truth. Very few of those bottles actually get recycled and those that don't get dumped in landfills or sent to India to pollute there, instead of being recycled.

What is more amazing is that in taste tests most tap water beats bottled for taste.

I found it all very interesting. I have been hauling my own water to school for a while now. I used to use a Sigg aluminum bottle(and a few look alike's), but then there were all those news reports of Sigg bottles having trace amounts of BPA and I stopped. Boo Me.

I have since learned that SIGG bottles made prior to August, 2008 still test at "no detectable levels" of BPA. AND SIGG bottles made since August, 2008 have a new lining that does not contain any BPA and does not use BPA in its manufacturing processes.

So now I feel that I can carry my Sigg bottles. However, the knock offs from China I'll not be using as they do give off minute traces of BPA.

It is now Spring, and I'd like to have an insulated cup that would keep my water cool. I have a very nice one from a local coffee place, Highland Coffee, but now I wonder about BPA in the plastic from it and straws...do they contain BPA. A little research on the web and I have found that the cup is a ThermoServe and they say those are BPA free. Whew!

What about the straws? I usually use a disposable plastic straw, because my cup didn't come with a straw. Hum...another search.

Here is what I found out, most current straws are made from either #2 or #5 plastic and that concern about chemical exposure is low. That is the good news.

The bad news is that although these straws are recyclable, most are not recycled. The sheer number of straws from MickyD's alone starts to look like those bottle mountains in India from the first video that started this post. Who thinks about recycling straws?

What to do. I'm using safe bottles (Sigg and some Stainless steel) and my Highland Coffee cup is safe too, but I need a straw to drink from it as the screw on lid has a straw hole in the middle.

Evidently a few companies have thought about the straw problem. I have found steel straws by RSVP (4 to a pack for about $9.), Hardened Glass Straws by Glass Dharma, Pyrex glass straws by Glass Paradise, both are dishwasher safe. Strangely I also found paper straws in many sizes from Aardvark(if you want to buy 400) and Bamboo straws which have to be boiled in vinegar and water to clean. Both the paper and the bamboo would biodegrade easily. I even remember paper straws from when I was a little kid. They collapsed easily, I wonder about Aardvark, but not enough to buy 400 straws.

I called my local Amazing Green Planet store and they have a set of 4 stainless steel straws for under $12. and I wouldn't have to pay shipping. So I may go that route to drinking cool, clean, safe water while on the go. Although those cobalt blue glass straws from Glass Paradise are calling to me.

Viki

Interesting blog

2010-02-21T17:11:00.003-05:00

I just found a blog about a teacher who has decided to eat a school lunch every day she teaches in 2010. Frankly I'm kind of worried about her. Seriously.

My girls have never bought a school lunch. I'm not saying that they ate everything I packed and one didn't take a lunch at all in high school. However, eating pretzels and a tangerine or apple every day has to better than the lunches that are shipped in to the school every day.

If you want to check out this teacher's blog...http://fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com/
click on this link. What I think is interesting is that SHE is actually learning more about the food she is eating. At this point after a month and a half, I'd be thinking about what it may be doing to her own health. I wonder if she has gained weight. If she is getting more headaches.
I know she is noticing how food affects the kids she teaches.

Viki

January was so Busy!

2010-02-03T13:28:00.004-05:00

I've talked to a lot of people who are with me on this one. Why was January so hectic?

I don't really know but here are a few things I was doing in January.

I made a journal from the Remains of the Day (ROD) class by Mary Ann Moss.
I created my first journal of 2010 in Kelly Kilmer's A life made by hand class.
I knit this cute little hat for me. Pattern is from the Tikkuntree Project, It is a Binah-Bukharan Kippah. It fits well, but doesn't lay flat on the top like the pattern indicates, I get a little pointy bit, but I still love it. Knit from Cascade 220 and Noro.
My friend digitaldurga has written a pattern for a Mobius cowl that may be in the Knit Picks catalog in the future. Knit Picks sent her alpaca lace weight to use and she is allergic so I offered to help her out. This is a closeup of the lace.
Here is a picture of it blocking. I might have been able to block it bigger, to make a shoulder shawl, but....I was really unsure of how to block this baby!

So I have been keeping busy in January on the craft front. The weather fronts have been interesting too. A bit of ice, a bit of snow and cold temps. I just wanted to curl up and sleep the month away.

For the most part, I'm glad it is February! Although it is going to be pretty busy too.

Already this week the dog had a visit to the vet and is on meds and a special diet for a few days.

It hurts to swallow a sharp bit of dog bone evidently. My birthday is this week, Jordan's next, Mariah has play practice and the due date for paper work for Gatton is coming up too.

I think I'll go take a nap.

Viki

We have Snow!

2010-01-09T11:32:00.003-05:00

Okay, it wasn't a blizzard.

School did let out early on Thursday. Mariah walked the 2 blocks to Norton hospital to stay with her father. Yea, I didn't have to drive downtown in the mess.

Friday was a snow day. Mariah and I watched the movie "Julie and Julia" I LOVED it. I was so afraid I wouldn't, but it was great.

I took a picture of Mariah in the backyard in the snow.

Mariah took some pictures too. Bailey doesn't look to happy with the photo session does he?
This is the one she took out our front door.
We have had some flurries off and on today, but nothing significant. Total is probably under 5 inches. I'm thinking soup for dinner.

Viki

Been awhile...

2010-01-04T15:13:00.004-05:00

not much, how bout you?"

Wow it's been a few weeks. December is such a busy time what with Birthdays and Christmas and all the busy busy days leading up to the 25th.

Some knitting has been done, even a bit of spinning has been accomplished. I've been looking into toy cameras and while looking for them, found a camera like Papa used to use. An old Argus C3, commonly referred to as "the Brick" Very heavy. It looks like it will even work. I haven't started cleaning it up. The poor thing is mostly dirty from the case starting to disintegrate while it was sitting inside for the last 30 years or so. Seriously. If you click it to make it bigger you will also see that the fake leather is starting to curl and chip off. It is very tempting to just take it all off and make it a flashy chrome. I could also dye the chrome...I have the technology to do that.
Some new decorations were acquired. I like this star because of the way the light bounces off of it.
Mariah turned 16 over Christmas Break. Lucky for us someone was in the office at her school so we could pick up the required paperwork that says yes she is enrolled in school and passing.

Then we went to the DMV and she got her permit.
That is Bailey with her. He had just been groomed so he looked and smelled good for Christmas.

School starts back up for both of us tomorrow. Neither of us are happy about that. The end of sleeping late for awhile.

Viki

finally FLAK

2009-12-15T15:20:00.004-05:00

Years ago...Feb. 2006 (I think) I joined a KAL (Knit ALong) to knit this cable sweater. I bought the yarn. I knit the swatch. I had Anita The Fiber Artist measure me at an odd Tuesday knit night. I started the sweater.

And then I would let it hibernate. Every year I'd knit a bit more, but it did more hibernating.

Well It is finished. Except for blocking.

It is a cranberry color no matter what the picture looks like, it is a dark red. I'll see if I can get someone to take a better picture of me in it at Odd Tuesday tonight.

Viki

Santa Baby...

2009-12-12T19:19:00.005-05:00

Okay, the people across the way have set out dozens of different lights and a big blow up merry-go-round. They play Alvin and the Chipmonks constantly on a speaker. The lights flash, the merry-go-round moves and those high pitched voices go on all night. (they don't even have small children to which this might be appealing!)

In stark contrast and perhaps in retaliation the neighbor 2 doors down from the above monstrosity of high pitched songs and blinking lights has set up his Christmas display. It has been a few years since he has had a bike small enough to actually bring inside for this display.

This is what it looks like in daylight.
This is the picture I took this evening. Of course I couldn't hold that still for the exposure...is it still an exposure on a digital camera? (click to make big to see the cool light squiggles) Anyway, after an afternoon of shopping with Jordan we arrived home to the chipmonk's flashing lights and it was actually soothing to see the silent Santa Baby on his "crotch rocket".

Viki
wondering if she should suggest some Trans Siberian Light Orchestra music to the neighbors.

Howling wind= Ringing bells

2009-12-09T12:23:00.005-05:00

Well not really a howl, but I can hear it as it whips through the bare trees and around the corners of the house. Glad we got rid of the casement windows a few years ago. Mostly I know the wind is high when I hear the bells and chimes outside my bedroom window and the back door ring constantly. The bells are ringing. AND yep that was just a small limb hitting the roof.

So far the very large water maple in the neighbors yard is holding together. I told her if it started to break up we were popping corn and watching. It could of course just as easily smash our house as theirs.

Really, I think I'll go Christmas shopping, at least I wont be in the house if the tree falls.

It is actually Sunny out while this wind storm is going on. The picture above looks washed out because of it.

I tried to find something to photograph that would really show the wind blowing, but my camera isn't that great and the trash cans blowing around the yard are not very pretty.

Viki

Woke up to a bit of snow!

2009-12-07T20:12:00.001-05:00

Just a bit. It melted fast.

Viki

Fuzzy warm goodness

2009-12-05T11:27:00.002-05:00

Fuzzy Warm Yarn.

I took this shot at Grinny Possum Fiber Arts yesterday. I have been trying to stop by at least once a week to sit and knit with Ann, the owner. The shop is right across the river from Louisville and I am only a few minutes away from the Brown School. So picking up Mariah is easy.

Plus, I've knit a pair of socks in just a few weeks of sitting in the shop!

It has been a busy week and I am very behind on projects that I want to complete. I have my album started for December Daily, but haven't posted any pictures yet. I finally put together my art journal for December yesterday and painted 6 pages. Page 1 - 3 on flickr now.

Weds. marked our 26th anniversary. Dave was on call and worked late and I wasn't feeling well. So we'll celebrate this weekend.

At this moment Mariah is taking the SAT. Send good wishes her way. Yes she is kind of young to be taking it, but she is trying to get into Gatton for her last two years of high school. This is the second time she has taken the SAT. She is taking the ACT next weekend.

Jordan came for dinner last night. Potato soup. We played around with her cell phone camera and a Jelly Lens...the 6 image mirage lens. Too much fun! Unfortunately shipping cost as much as the lens.

Viki

What's in the Mail Today...

2009-12-02T16:27:00.003-05:00

I must have been one of the first 5000 to order this last Weds. morning. I Feel like doing a little dance.

Wonder how long this one will age before I make it?

The FLAK continues on at a slow pace.

The goal is to finish and block the FLAK cable sweater in time to wear to the Christmas party on Dec. 16.

Viki

Dec. 1 Ice on Windshield.

2009-12-01T08:10:00.002-05:00

It frosted heavy enough that I will have to scrape my windshield this morning...where are those mittens?

In other news today is ODD Tuesday which means Knitting and fiber fun at the local Barnes and Noble cafe. I look forward to these Tuesdays.

I have finished objects to show and tell and one that I picked back up. I've been knitting on the FLAK cable sweater off and on since 2006. I think it is time I finished it. One more inch or so of ribbing and then I'll pick up stitches for the neck...

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can finish this sweater!

Viki

Actual Finished Objects

2009-11-21T10:11:00.002-05:00

I'm posting this page because it looks so interesting from a distance. Is there a name for an Autumn Green man?
Alpaca cowl. I loved knitting this quick project. The alpaca yarn feels so nice in my hands! Hope my sister in law likes it. My friend Sally tried to get me to give it to her yesterday when we met for coffee.
This little pillbox hat was an experiment using leftovers from other projects. I got the pattern from Pamela Grossman's site. It is the pattern called keppie. It was modeled after a Bukharan style kippah or a Turkish pillbox cap. The top is in gray woolease and the sides are noro silk and woolease in a slip stitch pattern so it looks woven. I like the inside better than the outside, the colors show up better. Pamela didn't use the slip stitch pattern in her pattern, that was me experimenting.

I blocked the hat on a needle felting foam hat form and it fits me and actually looks okay. I have a problem wearing hats. The hat I made a few years ago is from the same noro silk and is very loose and doesn't give me "hat head".

Viki

Catch up

2009-11-09T16:14:00.004-05:00

Life has been on fast forward, but I have gotten a few things done. A few art journal pages, though I'm not caught up. Hand spun & hand knit socks for me...the fall colored ones.

The other pair is for Mom's birthday. (Which was yesterday, Happy Birthday Mom!)

The good looking guy with the cute dog is my DH Dave and our Dog Bailey. Dave had been dealing with the leaves in our yard. We live on a corner...I think most of them are from neighboring yards.

Hats are starting to intrigue me again, so I should have pictures of a hat or two soon.

Viki

That time of year

2009-10-07T12:30:00.004-04:00

It is that time of year: October! Oh I love October. The chill in the air, the apples, the squash, the smashed pumpkins all over the neighborhood. I'm trying to put a bit of the season into each Prompt a Day journal page. A bit of Halloween themed paper in the background or a stamp or sticker...this one is obvious.

The colder weather has me wanting Fall foods. In the last week I've made Soup and a Potato & Kale dish made with curry spices. I bought a winter squash at the grocery and the Apples at Paul's Market are Wonderful. Honeycrisp is my favorite this year.

The cooler weather has me actually picking up the knitting needles. I have been seriously neglecting those. I vow to pick up that sweater that has been on the needles for years! Of course socks are always on the needles and I just had to start something new that is mindless for those evenings the TV is on all evening. It is called Baktus and if you click on that link you can see a picture of one colorway and the pattern too. I found this on Ravelry. I've spent quite a bit of time on Ravelry looking at pictures of things other people have knit.

Viki

It's getting chilly!

2009-09-30T09:58:00.003-04:00

We've had a cold snap here in KY!

I'm pulling out the wool socks and a sweater!

The Folk forecaster Dick Frymire

is predicting the First Frost for October 1st. That is Tomorrow!!

We'll see if he's right.

It is time for me to start decorating for Halloween! I LOVE October.

As you can see the Prompt a Day is on going. I'm still loving it.

Mom got sick and then fell and broke a rib last week. (Boy that sentence seems short for everything that has happened!) Anyway, I've been knitting on a pair of socks while sitting in

immediate care and sitting at her house. She did comment on the socks I'm knitting, I'm glad she likes them as they are her Birthday socks! She just doesn't know that yet.

For a good listen go to my friend Cindy's Yarnspinners Tales podcast number 36.

Then click on the link to go see the video. That is me spinning on the Charkha and her daughter Andrea doing the description! We had a great time getting together to put this podcast together!

Viki

Art Journal

2009-09-23T15:53:00.001-04:00

Sept 16
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

Lots of collage being made not a lot of knitting.
I did knit on a sock last night while watching DWTS.

Any way, don't you love this girls eyebrows?!

If you'd like to check out other pages, click on my
flickr in the side bar.

Viki

If you like Elizabeth Zimmerman

2009-09-19T18:32:00.002-04:00

then you need to go check out Brooklyntweed's blog:

http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2009/09/ez-was-here.html

And the Twist Collective:

http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/35-features/369-channeling-elizabeth-recreatiing-a-family-heirloom

What a cool sweater and what a cool story!

Viki

The spiders

2009-09-14T19:33:00.002-04:00

are busy spinning.

I'm not.

This web was near my car in the side yard last week.

I have good news and bad news.

The bad news is Jordan is no longer pregnant.

The Good news is that she can get pregnant again.

School has started for my little class of 3 year olds.

The are absolutely adorable. My favorite line so far is from

little Robert..."no no Mommy will change it when she gets here!"

Okay so the line was adorable, the smell was not.

I have been busy with the Prompt a Day class again this month.

I've been having fun and turning out pages. Check out my flickr account for

some of the pages I've made. I continue to be amazed by the quality of the art

the woman in this class are turning out.

Viki

News!

2009-09-02T08:56:00.003-04:00

August was packed with activity, I just haven't had the time to record it here.

We went to Utah (Snowbird)Which was really a lot of Fun. Mariah started school 2 days after we got back. She has an extremely heavy class load complete with 2 math classes. (Algebra 2 and Pre Cal.)

I'm getting ready to start teaching the 3 yr olds again. I have a really young class this year.

But it is small so that will work out well. Meet and greet is scheduled for tomorrow.

Art Journaling has been done. Another finished book for August!

The most Exciting news is Jordan is Pregnant!

Feels like yesterday that I was pregnant with her. Where does the time go?

Viki

Bubbie follows me around the house.

2009-07-30T13:12:00.003-04:00

Thought I needed to post a Bailey picture. He has been following me around and so when I was taking pictures of Art Journal pages, I snapped one of him as he came in the door to see what I was up to.

He went to the vet yesterday and now weighs only 76 lbs.

Viki

When the wind blows

2009-07-19T10:30:00.005-04:00

Friday was a big day here.

Mariah got her impacted wisdom teeth extracted.

The oral surgeon said it was a good thing we got them out now and not 6 months from now.

Evidently they were "17 yr old wisdom teeth" already.

So we have been feeding her soup and shakes and she's been holding ice packs to her face.

She looks a bit chipmonky. Overall it hasn't been nearly as bad as we thought it would be.

Jordan brought over pudding and jello and helped me make jello. She also brought over chap stick and bright lime green nail polish to brighten Mariah's day too.

We are watching lots of movies this weekend and trying to keep Mariah entertained.

I have done a few art journal pages though. The one above I really like for the movement it shows. Now I need to do a card on Fears.

Viki

p.s.

i wrote a haiku for the picture above

the wind twists and turns

bells chime outside my windeow

lulling me to sleep

July 10

2009-07-10T12:02:00.003-04:00

not getting much knitting done, but the art journal is going strong.

Wish I had another copy of this image.

Viki

Prompt a day

2009-07-08T12:39:00.004-04:00

I am totally enjoying the prompt a day online class with Kelly Kilmer.

This is my page for today.

Sometimes there is just too much noise.

Music, computer sounds, TV it all makes me long for quiet.

sometimes I go outside to read in the heat.

It is quiet for the most part.

Okay, the dog barks sometimes.

It was so cool last night at the Park watching Romeo and Juliet with the night sounds.

We heard an owl and lots of night insects.

Viki

Book making spree

2009-06-30T15:18:00.004-04:00

In the last 24 hours I've made 6 little books.

Once I start I have trouble stopping. I even have another one in the works.

The cover of the yellow one (6 x 9 inches) is actually a very old Manila envelope. I bought a whole stack at an estate sale last Winter. I like incorporating envelopes in books because you can store things in the envelope.

The blue and white one is 6 inches x 9 inches and mostly watercolor paper inside.

The 2 green and white flower books are 6 x 6 inches and are filled with a combination of reclaimed papers from old books and security envelopes. You can see part of a security envelope on the one standing open.

The 2 smaller white ones are approximately 4.5 x 6.5 inches give or take a few cm. Hopefully one of them will become quite colorful very soon. I'm taking an online class with Kelly Kilmer during July. Which was the impetus for the book making spree.

Three of the books are simple single signatures and 3 are stab bound.

On another note, Mariah and I went to World Market today to pick up a few bottles of Italian syrup for mixing Italian soda's. I have figured out that making our own costs about $1. compared to the coffee shop version at almost $4.

Viki

Art Deck card 2

2009-06-28T19:03:00.003-04:00

The prompt I posted for this week was Balance.

My card as you can see has a stack of balanced rocks, an out of focus clock face and a hand placing the last stone.

If you have every seen a rock stack, they are incredible works of art and balance.

They seem to defy gravity.

Some see it as a sacred form of art.

While I see how this art form could be meditative, I like the hands on art, the way they look, the history behind rock stacking is interesting too. This article talks about how rock stacks are also called inuksuk and they are a tool used by nomadic people to help others find their way. "There aren't many natural landmarks on the tundra, but apparently there are lots of rocks."

I think I learned a lot this week.

Viki

Claudia's MS Ride

2009-06-24T12:53:00.003-04:00

In case you haven't heard Claudia rides a Tandom bike in the MS Ride every year.
Last year she had the coveted Number 1 because of all the money that was donated.

She rides this weekend and she hasn't met her goal yet.
As incentive to donate at least $10. Lots of people have donated to her prizes.

Yes, if you donate $10 or more you are signed up for the prize drawing.

If you are interested check out Claudia's blog at http://www.claudiasblog.net/

Then click on MSRide and you can give as much money as you want.
Go on you know you want to.

Viki

Art Deck card 1

2009-06-24T09:29:00.001-04:00

card 1
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

One of the groups I belong to has been extremely slow. Real life sometimes gets in the way of creating. So some of us are trying to make 1 card a week for a personal art deck. Meaning we are keeping the cards we make instead of swapping. The cards I'm making are 4" x 6". Hopefully this will get some of us over the dry period and back into mixed media.

Viki

The BIG Day!

2009-05-22T12:11:00.004-04:00

We had a big day here yesterday!

Sweet!

Simple!

Quick!

We wish Jordan and Christopher a beautiful life together!

Viki

p.s. Mariah took most of the pictures.

black bean and sweet potato quesedillas

2009-05-02T10:23:00.006-04:00

We don't eat a lot of meat anymore. We do eat some, but not often, Maybe once or twice a month we will eat some beef. Chicken about once a week and Fish once a week. The rest of the time we eat a vegetable based diet. That is pretty good, but we are trying to eat even less chicken and beef. (Mariah hasn't eaten beef in over 2 years)

I have bookmarked a blog that I visit fairly regularly called Vegan Dad. He has a cookbook coming out. (As a side note, I find it amazing that so many people who blog have ended up with book deals of one sort or another.)

Back to Vegan Dad. He had a recipe on his blog that sounded so good and I had All the ingredients just sitting here so I made Black Bean and Sweet Potato Quesedillas for dinner the other night. I didn't follow his recipe exactly, of course, but used what I had and what we like and they were outstanding!

I used 2 smallish sweet potatoes chopped and cooked in water, then drained and mashed.
1 can black beans drained
1/2 a large onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 cup of leftover corn
1/2 a jar of Frog Ranch salsa
cumin
a few handfuls of spinach leaves cut up or torn up.
chili powder
hot pepper slices

cooked the onions til clear and browning, added the corn and garlic then the beans and mashed potato and salsa and spices and spinach. I spread a few tablespoons of the mixture on whole wheat tortillas and browned them in the iron skillet.
They taste great with guac and sour cream too.

Anyone else have a great meatless meal recipe?

Viki

Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch

2009-04-27T13:02:00.005-04:00

This is the chair I sat and read in most of the weekend.
A terrible picture of the pretty little tree.

Okay I don't have a patch.

I have one little paw paw tree, or is that Papaw?

I'd have to look it up.

I am trying to find another little tree. You need two for fruit. I got this one from an older gentleman who lives in the neighborhood. He is related to paw paw/papaw growers in Ohio. Evidently they provide the fruits to restaurants around the country. I haven't seen this gentleman for a few years. My mother is trying to contact him for me to see if he has any of the trees to sell this year.

Why am I even going on about paw paw/papaw trees? Mine Bloomed this year! For the first time.

Last week I had an allergic reaction to some guys aftershave while I was in the bookstore for Odd Tuesday. Yes, I have "issues". Evidently that reaction opened me up to infection...

I Lost my voice by Weds. evening. Thursday I called into work and then crawled back into bed and even had Jordan pick Mariah up from school. I just couldn't stay awake and I had no voice. Try answering a phone in a whisper.

Friday, I had an appointment to have labs drawn at the doctor and they kindly fit me in to see the Nurse who filled me up with meds. because the virus was leading to a sinus infection. It is now Monday. I finally have a little bit of a voice. However, I am not talking when I don't absolutely need too. This Laryngitis thing is really a hassle. Five days of no voice. I am ready to talk again.

Remember that beautiful shawl I posted a while back. Well check out my friend Anita's finished shawl on her blog.

Beautiful.

My friend Cindy has finished a beaded stole and you can look at it on her blog too.

Now that is a lot of work.

Also on her blog is a link to her podcast. Check it out.

Viki

Blues

2009-04-21T11:42:00.003-04:00

I've been spinning this endless pile of blue merino on the AA Wheel.

Usually while watching American Idol.

I plied the first bobbins and I have under 300 yards! I really thought I'd spun more than that!

I took the skeins (yes skeins, the singles broke while plying) outside this weekend when the Sun was Shining on Saturday to take pictures.

Pretty yarn.

Viki

Stash Enhancement

2009-04-07T09:41:00.005-04:00

Spring Break we went to visit Dave's Dad in York PA.

Which just so happens to be very close to one of my favorite fiber shops: The Mannings.

What a pleasant place.

This time I even spun on a few wheels and fell in love with the Ladybug Wheel. Don't know if it is in my future or not, but I really enjoyed spinning on it. Easy to treadle and enough ratio's to make me happy. The price is pretty too.

I of course participated in stash enhancement. The cotton yarn came from a high profile hobby shop.(I have been requested to knit some dishcloths) The square sock needles and the flat feet came from Uncommon Threads in York.

The spinning fiber, and the Noro sock yarn and Trekking sock yarn came from The Mannings.

Not shown is Mariah's new wooden needles and silk merino lace weight yarn and pattern for the shawl she has decided to knit. That all came from The Mannings too.

On another note, I took my Kindle on the trip. Not only could I read books I had downloaded, but if I knew an exact web page address I could read online. I spent hours in the car and in the house reading online! Without dial up costs or WiFi. I am so glad they have that experimental section on Kindle. Their Whisper Net works Even in the Mountains of Maryland. It was great.

My Kindle is version 1. The Newest Kindle came out a few months ago. Check out the web site.

The interesting thing is that the handbook doesn't tell you everything you can do with your Kindle. I downloaded a $4. book onto the Kindle that tells how to download books from free sites and how to use the Experimental section of the menu.

If you want to see all the relatives check out my flickr account for an amazing amount of pictures. Gosh those kids have all grown! Everyone missed seeing Jordan. The visits with relatives were much too short.

Some knitting was accomplished. Part of a sock on the way up and cotton dishcloths on the way back to KY.

Viki

wants to go to The Woolery, which has relocated to Frankfort KY only 45 minutes away!

Spring Spinning

2009-03-26T08:39:00.004-04:00

Bright and light!

On the AA wheel is a bright blue merino that I spun while watching Idol last night.

The white fiber is a mystery fiber from my stash. I know I should label those bags of fiber.

I am spinning the white on my Bosworth Moosey. I actually spun this at work yesterday afternoon while the kids were napping. Those that were not asleep had fun watching me spin.

Trying to figure out what to take to PA this week to keep me busy.

Wish I had a truely portable wheel. Anyone have a little hatbox wheel?

Maybe a hitchhiker wheel would work...but the ratios aren't what I usually use.

Guess Spindles it is.

Viki

Feeling Itchy

2009-03-24T09:20:00.003-04:00

It is one of those days.
I feel itchy. Not allergy like itchy or mosquito bite itchy....
Mentally itchy and restless.

Like something should happen.

Like a storm is coming...which it may, we are due rain sometime tonight.
But it is like that feeling before a storm.

I can remember feeling this way when I was much younger and when it finally rained, stormed, I danced in that rain in relief and joy.

Until

My grandma yelled "Victoria Susan you get inside Right Now!"

She didn't understand in the least.

Was it the dance that was needed?

I wish I could remember what changed that day.

Today,
Something is building, a tension that I don't know how to descibe.

I being wife and mama have to do mundane things like go to the grocery and take the dog to be groomed,
(he is very shaggy)
instead of figuring out where this itch is coming from, this tension.

Any ideas?

Viki
on the verge of something

Signs of Spring

2009-03-19T17:40:00.005-04:00

today is the First Day of Spring! Happy Spring!

These pictures aren't great, but at least they don't show the rest of the yard! It's a mess.

Spring is here though, buds and leaves are starting to pop out and the trees are having sex all over the place, so allergies are getting worse too.

The time change about killed me this year. I wake in the dark to the birds singing that it should be daylight already! I felt as if I could sleep the day away the whole first week! It was awful, but I'm getting used to it now.

If it warms up maybe I'll get out and start cleaning up the yard!

Viki

The Girls

2009-03-19T17:28:00.002-04:00

Haven't posted much lately.

I found on my camera a few pictures from the last few weeks.

Jordan got her hair done last Friday and came by to show me and she looked so happy I just had to take a picture.

Mariah got all dressed up the night before to go to a LYPC (Louisville Youth Philanthropic Council) awards dinner. A teacher at school invited her thinking it might help her get more involved. It is a service organization that would teacher her how to write for grants to help charitable organizations in town.

We ended the weekend by going to Cirque du Soleil at Freedom Hall( Thanks again Chris!). It was so much fun! I would have loved to do this when I was younger. In fact I did try to run away to France to do mime. My parents wouldn't let me. After the show, Mom turned to me and asked me if I missed not doing something like that with my life and I surprised her by saying yes.

Viki

A few of my Favorite Things: Socks!

2009-03-02T10:34:00.006-05:00

It was a balmy 18 degrees this morning, no snow, but it is cold and crispy outside.

One of my favorite things about cold weather is the need for warm socks.

I knit lots of socks.

And

I wear them.

That is what they are for after all.

This pair is made out of Opal yarn. I haven't washed them so they are not very soft, but they should be hard wearing. Hard wearing means a lot. I used to only wear my hand knit socks with clogs so the heel's wouldn't wear through. Not any more. I wear hand knit socks with my athletic shoes too.

The so called design element in this pair of socks is that for the leg area, if I came to a color I purled it, gray = straight stitch color = purl. Easy. For the foot area I of course just knit straight.

Since I am wearing my hand knit socks in more than just clogs I am checking them more frequently for holes.

If I DO get a hole in a hand knit sock, then I repair it. I always check my socks to see if they are getting a bit thin or holey so I can salvadge them before they get too bad.

Holly Shaltz has excellent darning instructions here. Pictures and Everything! Thanks Holly for sharing. I need pictures.

I was checking out a pair of hand spun hand knit socks just last week and I discovered a hole.

Good news is that when I make socks out of my hand spun yarn I tend to make them a little big so they will felt a bit in washing. This pair is thick. It looks as if I could just wear them forever and that little stitch that popped wouldn't go anywhere, but I'm looking for the left over bit of yarn to darn these so they will last longer.

Viki

Ice Storm Cardigan is Finished

2009-03-01T15:11:00.003-05:00

Okay, it has been finished for weeks. I just needed to sew on the buttons. My friend Sally gave me enough of these beautiful buttons to finish the sweater! Thanks Sally!

It appears much lighter in the photo than it really is. I used Brown Lion Brand Fisherman's yarn and a Pure and Simple pattern(#9725).

I think I'll wear it to work this week.

Viki

Finally a FO

2009-02-20T11:01:00.005-05:00

That is a Finished object.

Okay it is blocking today.

I finished the border on this pi shawl in October, but never seemed to find the time to block it.

Today while reading blogs I happened upon soulmama's blog. She has a sweet little shawl on there today knit out of Noro sock yarn, which I found interesting.

Anyway. Seeing that little shawl prompted me to block this baby. Why it took me 2 years to knit the border and then almost 5 months to block it, I don't know. It is beautiful.

More info for those who want to know. This was a Mystery Pi Shawl and is now known as Desert Sun. http://www.bopeepswoolshop.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5_7&products_id=11

Mine is much smaller than the one pictured in such a sunny yellow. Mine should possibly be called something other than Desert Sun.

Viki

checking out patterns and stash yarn for a simple little shawl for a friend.

a late Valentine Card

2009-02-15T11:32:00.005-05:00

the front
the back
This card is similar to the one I made on Tuesday evening as a sample for my Wednesday class.

I gave that card to my friend Sally.

I was really just playing this morning. I like the one I made early in the week a little better.

I like the way I folded the cards so they could stand alone and not lay flat.

The ones the kids made didn't have the music so there were 4 sections for them to work with on the front and 4 on the back.

Only one child wanted to work on the back. I also let them go wild with flower stickers. (Thanks to Cindy for giving me all those stickers from the Easter Egg dye last year. I cut the flower section off to use with these cards.)

Viki

Forget about it

2009-02-15T10:15:00.005-05:00

It has been a week!

Here is a picture of Bailey after he was washed and groomed last Monday. He is a pretty boy again not so shaggy.

We did lose power again, lucky for us it was only for a few hours this time.

School was open even though 14 schools were without power.

Mariah was sick most of the week, started with a sore throat and then progressed to flu like symptoms. Thursday she lay on the sofa with her eyes covered and the curtains closed because of a massive headache. Saturday I did the same thing. Such a nice way to spend Valentines day.

I couldn't even knit. I missed the Soul Journal Valentines Day Blog Party too!

Wednesday I made Valentines with my class of 6 little girls. I had to help with the ink but they had lots of fun with the stamps and stickers. I'll see if I can recreate my sample to post a picture. (I gave the sample to a friend, cause that's what you do with Valentines)

Viki

who has just realized that there were NO Pictures taken of Me on My Birthday week before last.

You say it's your Birthday!

2009-02-10T18:11:00.002-05:00

Jordan turned 21 today! Here she is holding the socks I knit for her. She loves brown and pink and was thrilled. She and I spent the afternoon together. First we had Mexican food and then we went shopping. Now we are waiting on pizza.

Mariah missed school today due to a throat infection.

I finished the cardigan except for buttons last night.

We are due to get rain and high winds here tomorrow. If I don't post a cute picture of Bailey here tomorrow (he just got groomed), then we are without power.... again.

I'm busy gathering bits and pieces of stuff to make Valentines with my class of 3 yr old girls tomorrow. Hope they have fun. I know I will. I'll try to take pictures of them creating.

Viki

end of a long two weeks

2009-02-08T13:21:00.004-05:00

Dave was too tired to take Bailey for a walk last night. Instead they opted for a cuddle on the floor, both fell asleep.

I stayed up and finished the first sleeve on the Ice Storm cardigan. I hadn't picked it up in a few days and in no time at all I had a finished sleeve. When you are used to knitting on size one needles, size 9's make cloth quickly.

Hopefully I can post pictures soon.

Viki

ICE = Not Nice

2009-02-07T13:35:00.004-05:00

I know it is old news the Ice Storm of 09. However, it took a week long bite out of my life and I thought I would share a few pictures.

I woke up in the wee hours of January 28th to the sound of trees cracking and falling. I stood at the back door watching the next door neighbors tree fall to bits. It sounded like gun shots all over the neighborhood. Power was out before 10 that morning and didn't come back on until the night of Feb. 3rd.

Mom's power went out too. Lucky for us, Jordan offered us a place to stay, her apartment was crowded but warm. Warm means a lot. DH stayed nights in the cold (35 degrees cold) house with the dogs. He says the worst was getting out of the HOT shower into the 35 degree house.

I didn't even lose a lot of food because I was able to store it outside in the garage. I fixed dinner every night we were at Jordan's.

While at Jordan's I tried to knit on socks, but dark gray wool on dark wood needles was very hard to see. So while checking the house and letting the dogs out on Thursday the 29th I picked up a Pure and Simple pattern for a top down cardigan and a huge skein of Fisherman's yarn and size 9 needles (bright green metal tips) and started the sweater. I finished the body and have started on the arms. It was quite nice to sit with the bulk of that sweater on my lap during the time away from home.

Anyway, Mom's power came back on Last Friday and we moved to her Huge house last Saturday. It is amazing how much stuff I had to move from place to place. I really missed being at home with my stash.

Viki

click on the pictures to make them big. The second one really sparkles.

SNOW DAY!

2009-01-27T09:36:00.004-05:00

We're having a Snow Day today.

We didn't really have a lot of snow 3-5 inches so far. However, it is the freezing rain on top of it that caused school to be closed.

Although, according to my oldest, the roads weren't plowed at all at 5 this morning. She works for that big Health Insurance that starts with an H. They closed BEFORE she could get to work. So there she was downtown at 6 A.M. with the roads covered and more people beginning to venture out. What to do? Brave the expressway, try a corkscrew back road? No, head over to Norton Hospital to hang out with Dad until the roads are a little less crowded. Oh and drink free coffee too. I think Dad even bought her breakfast.

The dog wont go outside.
I open the door and he hears the ice hit the snow and looks at me like I'm crazy.

What am I going to do today?
Read,
knit,
and hang out on Ravelry.

I have lunch and dinner all planned and I'm glad Mariah and I can stay in all day.

Unfortunately I've had to cancel Odd Tuesday Knit Night, No one could make it with the roads such a mess.

I think I'll brew another pot of coffee and get my sock I'm knitting.
Have fun!

Viki

Waiting for toast

2009-01-23T08:55:00.004-05:00

This is Mom's dog Sasha (on the left) and my Bailey waiting for Mom to drop a bit of toast for them.

They have already split their own piece and are quite greedy.

Very intent.

I did pick up the FLAK sweater last night and knit over an inch. For some reason the cabling seems easier this go round. Hopefully I will finish this soon.

Question: Has anyone knit with those square double pointed needles?

Viki

Relm Tam & Circle vest

2009-01-22T16:57:00.005-05:00

I've been busy.

Knitting.

Dave was delighted to pose for a picture wearing

The Relm Tam. Pattern is in Knit 1 and was created by Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed fame.

My version is not cashmere.

It is woolease. It is large.

I was very relaxed

and my gauge shows it. I am usually

a very tight knitter. The cables are

beautiful and

I liked the way they continued

through the

decreases. Which is the whole reason I knit this tam.

I needed someone tall to give this to and my friend Beth,

who is both as tall as an Amazon and as beautiful as one too,

is now the proud owner.

She seems to love it.

Dave is thankful as he thought he might have to retire and

grow dreds to wear the tam.

Next up is the Circle Vest

for Mom.

It turned out great! I really liked knitting this. It isn't perfect. I had to

concentrate at first to M1 the right way for a purl or a knit stitch. I don't

know if it was an attention problem or a TV problem.

Mom loves the colors and is thrilled that I knit something else for her.

If you know me you know that I have a hard time making more

than one of some thing. Socks are easier now but I rarely knit

the same yarn or pattern twice.

BUT if I ever make another Circle Vest, I think I'll use bits and bobs of

my handspun yarn.

No Anita the FLAK isn't finished. I swear I will pick it up tonight.

Really.

I didn't say I'd knit on it, but I will pick it up. I really love that FLAK,

I just can't seem to get the momentum going to finish.

Meanwhile it stares at me making me feel guilty.

There are all these other sweaters I've been drooling over

AND

I even have the yarn for some of them.

It is so hard not to swatch for a gansey or a top down simple sweater.

Then there is all that Kauni yarn.

The urge to start something new is

nearly overwhelming.

Viki

New Year = New Projects

2009-01-06T14:13:00.005-05:00

These two projects are what I knit the New Year in with. The First is a Circle Vest(pattern in Silk Knits) for my mother.
I have about a 12 inch circle knit and it is looking pretty good. Although DH is a little concerned that I am putting a bulls eye on my Mother's back.

The latest pair of socks in Opal Croc II. I am down to the foot on the first of the pair. I need to remember to bring it to the kitchen for computer knitting.

Not much knitting today as I go back to work today.

Viki

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T17:22:00.002-05:00

We all made it past midnight last night.
Although I think Chris dozed through parts of the Jeff Dunham comedy show we were watching.

There were cookies
and stout.
Knitting and laughter.

Then sleep. Oh sleep.

Today has been a day of lucky foods and a little of this and a little of that.
Knitting.
Cleaning.
buying stash.
Learning.
music.
snuggling.
Beansoup.
and to top it all off we'll have panettone bread pudding.

Then I'll knit some more.

Happy New Year to Everyone.
Viki

Words and Projects for the New Year

2008-12-31T10:05:00.004-05:00

I've been reading Ali Edwards blog off and on. Her blog was the whole reason I did the December Daily Album which was quite fun and available for viewing on flickr.

She has had a few posts about picking a word for the New Year. Not a word about what is happening in the world, but a word just for yoursef. One to focus on, meditate on, aspire to be.

When I chanced upon Ali's post today over 90 people had told her what their personal word for the year will be in her comments. Amazing. I just checked again and over 300 people have told her what word they have chosen for the Year ahead. Maybe it is because she is having a give away too.

Check it out and then hit the links to the artists that make the charming necklaces she is giving away.

So,

I've been thinking about words when I haven't been thinking about patterns and yarn.

I'm full of words. Possibilities include:

Possibility.

Nourish or nurture.

Thrive, blossom, flourish.

Zeal-enthusiasm, fire, passion.

Strength

Enjoy.

Lots of Great words.

Which one will I choose. I have a hard time making up my mind. I think it is because as a child I was not given choices.

What project will I choose to start on this evening?

It will not be lace.

It might be socks.

It might be a simple sweater or an interesting circle vest.

What yarn? Oh the possibilities when you are indecisive.

Viki

Naughty or Nice?

2008-12-29T12:37:00.003-05:00

I must have been very nice. Dave gifted me with a Kindle!!!

My brother came through as usual. I have new tools for bookbinding and a gift certificate to Knit Picks.

Seriously we all had a wonderful Christmas. I even finished mom's socks!

Jordan, Mariah and I spent the day after watching movies and eating pizza and popcorn, then we gathered to finish up leftover's at Mom's house. A bit of knitting was done while watching movies.

I have been looking through old magazines, oogling patterns and pictures on Ravelery and searching the web for ideas of just what I want to knit in the new year. Planning, that's what I'm doing. I wouldn't call it wasting my time.

I usually do actually ... knit in the New Year as opposed to ringing it in. I wonder what I'll start this year. In the past it has been lace. It may be a hat. I haven't knit a hat in ages. It will not be a cowl. I've knit 3 of those in the last 2 weeks. Anita will of course chime in and tell me to finish "The FLAK".

It won't be New Year's knitting, but now that I've got mom's socks knit and the toes knit 2x, I may just pull out that sweater. It would be nice to finally finish.

For an interesting insight about sock yarns check out Claudia's blog. Pretty hand dyed cushy sock yarns vs. hard wearing sock yarns like opal and trekking. My favorite commercial sock yarn is trekking. I haven't kept a pair of opal yet. Maybe those will be the next socks on the needles.

Viki

thinking gansey for the next sweater...maybe.

A day late on this post

2008-12-24T11:08:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the 23rd. A special day at our house. Mariah's Birthday!

Now she is 15. Although, she did inform me this morning that this is her 16th Christmas Eve.

She was up before I was yesterday, took a shower and was ready for gifts.

I spread the gifts out over the day and we even braved the holiday traffic to go out running around.

We went out to dinner at Olive Garden in the rain. Last year it was in the snow.

Jordan was in rare form. All of us laughed all evening at her stories. Even Mariah.

It was a good day.

Today I need to clean and wrap gifts. I still haven't made cookies...I may have to do that After Christmas.

Viki

Soup and stew tales

2008-12-22T17:01:00.004-05:00

I have had a request for the recipe for Bean Potato Kale stew.
I have to admit I got the idea from Vegandad's blog: http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2008/03/creamy-kale-and-potato-stew.html

I was looking for good soup and stew recipes that include kale, since I had a huge bag of those greens sitting in my fridge. I am not a vegan or even a vegetarian at this time. However we do eat several veggie meals a week.

I did change it up a bit.
I admit I only ever follow baking recipes exactly.

I used regular baking potato's, 2 med. onions, white beans and vegetable broth. I thickened the whole thing with flour and water that I put in an old sippy cup and shook it up. I keep that sippy cup for just this purpose. Much easier than trying to whisk it together as far as I'm concerned.

Another fantastic soup/stew is this one at http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/soup-stew-choup-recipes/white-bean-sausage-and-kale-stew/article.html

I use turkey smoked sausage instead of pork kielbasa. (allergy) Also, I usually saute an onion for that one too. We use lots of onions and garlic at our house. I also use more kale than called for in either of these recipes. The killer on the RR stew is the grated cheese. I usually use Romano instead of Parmesan. How ever it is freshly grated. Even when we were really poor and the kids were little we used good cheese, not shaker cheese. It wasn't until Jordan was a teen and started making some of her own food that there was a "blue box" in the house.

Tonight we are having another vegetarian meal. Chili. I use Morning Star meal starters fake ground beef in it. Onion, garlic, celery, carrot, tomato's blenderized, about 6 oz of tomato paste, pinto beans & great northern beans. In the past I've used black beans too and mushrooms and corn and green chili peppers. ( I don't use red and green peppers because someone wont eat them.) We garnish at the table with more chili powder and sharp cheddar cheese.
Some people in this area also add pasta. Not me. You'll notice I didn't give measurements or what spices. That is because I didn't measure.

I'll also make cornbread again. those ingredients I'll measure.

Keep your fingers crossed that Everyone will eat this chili tonight.

Happy Eating!

Viki

hand knit socks

2008-12-22T09:41:00.001-05:00

hand knit socks
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

Friday, I washed socks. Just in time for it to get really cold.
I have many pairs of handknit socks, but I wear these the most. The ones on the far right are handspun and thicker than the others. I believe I will wear those today.
The temp says it is 13 degrees outside right now. It was 8 degrees at 7 this morning.
It is bright and Very Sunny.

Viki

It was a chilly, wet evening

2008-12-19T16:59:00.002-05:00

Last night was wet and chilly so I made something warm and comforting for dinner. Potato, white bean and kale stew. Spider cornbread on the side. Spider is the old name for a cast iron skillet. I use this skillet almost exclusively for cornbread. This was Wonderful. It was the first time I'd made this stew and I will be making it again. Even Mariah ate the kale.

Today started off very wet and turned very windy, but the temp is at least 60 degrees. It is balmy. Almost feels like tornado weather. I went by Grinny Possum this afternoon and bought myself some presents.

Viki

feeling a little guilty for that.

Swaps and That Wintery Mix

2008-12-16T13:45:00.002-05:00

Finally finished and Mailed yesterday! I glued bits of music paper and puzzle paper and even the test paper that you fill in the little circles on to wooden stars. Then I used modge podge to put a holly tissue paper on the stars. Glued the little girl image and buttons on last. I think they turned out rather well.

Today we are having what the weather people call a Wintery mix. sleet, freezing rain, rain, and some snow.

Hopefully it will not cancel out the party tonight.

We always have great food and lots of laughs.

Viki

Breathe

2008-12-12T17:38:00.004-05:00

Breathe!

Take a deep breath.

It's the Weekend!

This week has been so full, I feel tired.

Just the idea that I can sleep longer than 6 tomorrow morning makes me happy.

Hopefully the weekend will give me the time I need.

The time to knit.

The time to craft.

The time to clean.

The time to put up the Christmas tree.

I've been putting little bits and pieces of decorations up on a daily basis.

Some of the snowmen are out.

The Nativity scene is out.

The Candy dishes are out, one even has candy in it.

I have been documenting lots of these daily "joys" in my December Daily Album.

You can find pictures of the album on my flickr account.

Viki

Time keeps on...

2008-12-06T13:03:00.005-05:00

This first week of December has just whooshed by so fast. This is a picture heavy blog post.

I got my hair cut on Tuesday. It had been a VERY long time since my last hair cut.

Then Dave and I celebrated our 25th Anniversary on the 3rd. We went out to eat with Jordan and Mariah and they didn't fight at all. It was a nice evening. Dave wasn't supposed to get me anything, but of course he couldn't help himself. So I have a certificate for a body massage at Elements. He also gave me white gold hoop earrings. They were the "gift" from Norton Hospital that he picked for having been there 20 years. LOL. There weren't many items for men to pick and almost all of the items had the Norton logo on them. The earrings didn't and are quite nice.

Friday, Mom had me meet her at an Estate sale before I'd even had coffee. I bought too much. The woman who used to live there was in Mom's quilt group. Sue did lots of different crafts and taught a lot of people. I picked up some hand made lace and lots of steel double pointed needles and some other lace tools that I have no clue about. If you know what some of the stuff is in the pictures, please let me know. I also bought 2 lace books that I didn't have for $1 each.

The one not pictured is a Walker book.

After I finally ate breakfast I dropped Bailey off to be groomed. He looks so handsome now. I also went to my friend Sally's house for some show and tell and crafting. We made little seasonal necklaces with a kit she had from Artchix. Too cute! I also gave her a Christmas present and a binder book I'd made. She plans on using the binder book as a Christmas present for her husband. She is going to make it into a garden journal for him.

I went back this morning to the Estate sale to pick up some of the tatted lace, as after the sale I feel some of this stuff would be thrown out. At least with me I can admire them and give them to friends who would care about them.

Dave has guard this weekend and a couple of Christmas parties, that I'm not going to. It is snowing a bit too. I think I'll stay home and knit on Christmas presents. I'll also catch up on the December Daily album.

Viki

December Day one

2008-12-01T22:02:00.004-05:00

Earlier I told about the album I had started to record what happens daily in December. It is really worth it to check out the Flickr site with over 300 different books.

The whole project has reminded me of a book by Madeline Le'Engle called "The 24 Days Before Christmas". In this children's book the family does something small but special every day to celebrate the season.

What a Great way to decorate and celebrate. To do something everyday. To Mindfully do something to celebrate everyday. It doesn't have to be about Christmas. My family celebrates several special days in December.

Today is December 1st so Today, I started small. I hung the wreaths on our doors. I also gave Owen, my little friend across the street, an Advent Calendar.

We have had what the weathermen call "a wintery mix" all day. Rain, sleet & snow. None of it really stuck so there are just a few places in the yard with a bit of white.

On the knitting front. I think I am over scarves for a bit. I received some yarn from my secret pal at work. Two balls each a different color. What to do? Knit scarves. I am almost done with the second Yarn Harlot One Row Scarf and believe me I am ready to be done.

The pattern is *K2, K1 through the back loop, P1.... repeat from the * end row with K2. So cast on a multiple of 4 + 2.

Now do I try to trick my secret pal into wearing one of the scarves?

Viki

Mr. Greenjeans AKA Sophia Smith Finished!

2008-11-25T12:25:00.004-05:00

Finished! Except for a button. The knitting is done, I've blocked the sweater and now I need a button. A big button. I took a picture with it "buttoned" with a large pin, but I'm having trouble uploading the sharper picture. This picture with me in the mirror is a bit blurry.

The pattern is Mr. Greenjeans from Knitty. Click to find the link. The hand dyed yarn is named Sophia Smith... so this sweater is a hybrid. I did lengthen the sleeves and the body a bit.

While knitting this sweater I thought it would be too short. It grew during blocking.

I bought an extra hank of yarn just in case, but I used all but a few yards of 4 hanks, so I didn't need the fifth. I'll have to find something wonderful to make with it.

I was going to have someone take a photo of me wearing the sweater at Odd Tuesday knit/spin night this evening, but it looks like I will be alone if I go to the bookstore. Everyone is either sick or busy with Turkey day prep.

I have an friend who is trying to learn to knit. Unfortunately we live several hours away from each other. She went to a knitting club last night for a lesson. The woman teaching was frustrated. My friend was the only adult there to learn, everyone else was between the ages of 12 and 15. IT was Not a good experience for her. I understand the teens being pleased with themselves for getting it quicker than an adult, but If the person teaching can't be helpful, well... why teach?

If anyone has any online video's that they think would help please post them in my comments and I'll be sure to let Michelle know the sites. She really wants to learn and would like to knit for charity too! She is refusing to give up, but help would be appreciated.

TIA

Viki

SNOW!

2008-11-22T18:36:00.003-05:00

So it isn't a lot of snow, but we have had snow 3 times in the past week. I tried to get a shot of where you can really see it coming down, but the snow was hard to see. The little white flakes just didn't show up. So I settled for the little bit on the chair on the front porch.

This is quite early for snow here in Kentucky.

Have you noticed that November cold is harder to get used to... it is really a transition month here in KY. By January I'll be a bit more used to the cold and it wont bother me as much. One thing I am thankful for is the remote starter on my car. I can sit in the warmth sipping my coffee and turn the car on to defrost.

Of course this is the car that is in the shop. I thought dealerships were supposed to be able to hook up a computer to find out what the flashing "service engine soon!" light is talking about.

Evidently it isn't that easy.

Viki

Apple cake

2008-11-19T08:13:00.002-05:00

The other day I made an apple cake.

I used to make this cake on Halloween when the kids were little.

They'd eat cake while we checked out the candy in their bags to make sure it was safe.

I was a little late this year.

The recipe comes from a House of White Birches booklet from 1991.

Title is Cooking with Apples.

I've tried several of the recipes but the one I'm giving you now uses the most apple and that is important when you have lots of apples that aren't at their best and need to be used not thrown away.

It is called Cinnamon Apple Cake and the person who sent the recipe in to White Birches is Sheryle Rolfe of Neb.

It is a very moist cake and gets more moist the longer it sits.

Cinnamon Apple Cake

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2 t. cinnamon

1 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

2 eggs

1 cup oil

1 t. vanilla

4 cups chopped apples

1/2 cup nuts (optional) I use pecans Sheryle calls for walnuts.

Mix together flour, sugar, cinnamon, soda and salt.

Beat eggs and oil until light and foamy. Add Vanilla.

Gradually blend in dry ingredients.(I do this by hand)

The batter will be extremely thick.

Stir in apples and nuts.

Pour batter into greased 13x9 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees

for 1 hour or until done. Cool in pan.

This cake has never taken an hour to cook in my oven.

more like 35 minutes, so check it with a toothpick at about 30 minutes and every few there after until done to your liking.

I usually use a bit more than 4 cups.

I have a 6 cup pitcher and I peel and core the apples and chop them into pieces(not slices)

into the pitcher until it hits about 4 1/2 or so.

Enjoy!

Viki

"It's been a hard days night"

2008-11-12T10:36:00.003-05:00

Wow!

What a Week so far.

Last Thursday we started the destruction and reconstruction of the bathrooms. Not pretty... yet.

Then on Friday afternoon I got a migraine. I went to bed at 4 in the afternoon and pretty much didn't get out except to go to the bathroom. Evidently I had a virus on top of the migraine. If there had been food in my stomach it would have been worse. Sunday I was actually able to get out of bed and eat again. Not a great way to loose weight.

This meant I missed my Mom's birthday on Saturday. Dave and the girls and Jordan's fiancee Chris went over to celebrate with her, but not out to dinner. I told her we still owe her a birthday dinner. Mariah was official photographer while I was sick.

Monday the guys came to work on the bathrooms.

The hall bathroom was demolished. The awful tub is gone and it died a horrible death being hacked to bits. The new tub looks great.

Tuesday morning I woke up to Mariah running through my room to the half bath to get sick.

So she was off school again.

Tuesday evening was Odd Tuesday at B&N where I get together with knitting/spinning friends.

It was lots of fun, wish we all lived closer so we could get together more often.

When I got home Mariah was already in bed and Dave said she still hadn't eaten anything.

Which means she is home today too.

The "worker guys" were almost afraid to come to work, no one wants to get sick, but she hasn't thrown up since yesterday afternoon and there is banging and clanging in the hall bathroom so work is progressing.

With all the illness and construction, I haven't gotten to the store and I'm a bit worried about dinner, but not much. I just wonder if there is something we can carry out that Mariah could stomach. I take after my dad and Always want something spicy after a stomach bug. Perhaps chicken soup would be a better option for Mariah. Costco deli has a chicken soup that is almost homemade, Really worth $10.

What have I been up to while the "Worker guys" have been here?

Well I've printed out and cut some of the print outs for the Jessica Sprague Stories in Hand class I'm doing on line. I've spent a lot of time looking for things that I've put somewhere safe and can't find too. I'm now almost out of light colored card stock and have resorted to going through the free samples of paper Dave got from someone online a few years ago.

Oh and Knitting. Anita doesn't think I'm fast enough at knitting.

Next: Lunch for the sick one and rushing to Mom's to give her dog Sasha her meds.

Viki

the picture at the top is Mom on her birthday.

pretty Random today

2008-11-06T09:45:00.005-05:00

This bare corner of the room is not filled with a dog and a child today, but with the contents of my closet.
It has already been a long day.

I woke up at 4 this morning sneezing my head off and blowing my nose.

Allergies.

I probably raised too much dust yesterday evening when I was totally clearing out the small half bathroom. It has a full sized closet. I found evidence that at one point my oldest "liked" my youngest. I read the "book" to Jordan over the phone. She laughed and said "this I've got to see!"

Anyway, the guys scraping and redoing my bathrooms are supposed to start today.

It is almost 10:00 and they haven't shown up, but I called they are on the way. I'm waiting for the dog to bark to let me know they have arrived.

I've already done dishes, vacuumed the whole house and washed the kitchen floor.

I plan on watching some tutorials on the mac today. I want to learn how to get more than one picture on a contact sheet. Is there anyway to print a photo smaller than 4x6? I don't know if I can justify spending all that money to buy photoshop, does the mac version do as much?

I stopped by the dollar tree yesterday. 6 ring journal measuring 6x6, some really cool Christmas cards and a mini kit. Pretty good.

I knit on my "Greenjeans" cardigan last night. Only 2 inches or so until the body is done and I can do the sleeves.

No Anita the FLAK isn't finished. 4 inches on the body to go.

Viki

December Daily album/journal/minibook

2008-11-05T07:45:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago I was visiting blogs I like and ran across Ali Edwards talking about making a small Album that was part Journal, part photo album and all about life. I was smitten.

so I gathered all my Holiday themed paper and old cards, hate to say it but I even shopped for some papers.

I made a 6x6 inch book to journal in the month of December. A lot happens in December and the hope is that if the book is already made you will actually use it.

I will probably add some more embellishments to the pages and may even add more pages during December.

There is even a flickr group where people are posting pictures of their little books.

I only put 3 pictures on the group, but if you click on cobweb1st under the pictures you can see every page on my flickr.

Viki

VOTE!

2008-11-04T10:26:00.004-05:00

It is Election Day here in the USA.

No matter who you want to win,

Exercise your constitutional rights,

Get out and VOTE!

So I took my mother to the polls and we voted.

It wasn't crowded at 9:30. We planned on getting there after rush hour so we wouldn't have to wait. However, I didn't expect to just be able to walk in and vote. I took a sock along to knit of in case I had to wait. There was no wait.

Dave voted at around 6 this morning and for the first time EVER he had to stand in line for 20 minutes.

The rest of the day... well, Mariah has been off school for a week now, between being sick and the schools were closed yesterday and today.

I think we'll go to the grocery for milk, bread and lunch.

I'm stewing chicken for soup for dinner. Dave is on call, so don't know when he'll get home.

The rest of the time I'll work on my December Daily and clear my clothes out of the master bathroom closet, as they are going to start tearing it apart on Thursday! Yea!

Viki

p.s. A HUGE Thank you to everyone who commented on the dream about my father.

He would have been out early to vote today. Believe it.

Remembering...

2008-11-02T09:35:00.005-05:00

Today is a day for remembering loved ones who have passed away.

Remembering the joyful times, the positive times what made these souls special.

Today I will be remembering.

As I cook and knit and read and craft, I will be thinking of those special ones.

Dad, Mary, Grandma Beulah, Grandmother Clara, Uncle Kenny, and even Chutney and Lancer and Tinker.

A memory, a dream. After my Dad died I had a dream of him.

We were in an airport, it was quite warm but Dad was wearing my favorite Marlboro man jacket, My feet hurt, I was in old tennis shoes(blue chucks), I was searching, frantic, afraid I'd miss my flight. I saw my Dad and I ran to him to give him a hug and he hugged me back and I could smell his special Dad smell. He said to me, "it's okay, I'm alright." He told me goodbye and I got on my plane.

I rarely fly.

I don't wear chucks anymore.

I could smell him.

I could feel his hug and the leather of the jacket.

It was so very Real.

If you want to see how others are honoring their family go to Dia de Bloglandia to start your adventure.

The card above is my representation of a candy skull.

I really wanted to join in on the festivities of Dia de Bloglandia but couldn't get a post ready in time.

Take time today to remember.

Viki

Hope

2008-11-01T10:58:00.004-04:00

Hope Everyone had a "Joyful" Halloween!

We did.

IT was a busy and even Exciting day!

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year.

I went to Archivers to buy some Christmas paper for a daily journal/album for December. (ala Ali Edwards For even more pictures there is of course a Flickr group)

BUT

Everything Halloween was at least 25% off. I had a hard time not filling up my basket.

I did pretty good. I used my 30% off coupon on a book.

Then I went to Whole Foods for pumpkin beer.

Tis the season and I wanted to try it.

After Lunch Jordan and her "boyfriend" came over. It was their 2 year anniversary. Yes they started dating on Halloween.

Proposed

Halloween

too.

They came over to show off her ring.

I don't know when I've seen her so happy!

(She still wont let me take pictures of her though...grr)

Then I cleaned the guts out of the white pumpkin and got out the power drill and drilled holes in it. We called it the Holy Pumpkin, not the Great Pumpkin. It did look nice shining out last night.

While I made dinner, Mariah got ready to give out candy. We made her into Abby from NCIS, with black clothing, black fingernail polish, eyeliner and bright lipstick(it looked way better than the black lipstick). Not as many tats though. We even had a microscope for a prop. She wants to do it again next year but says we need to set up a lab on the front porch. My little "goth" geek. By 10 pm she had finished Unit 3 on the online Geometry course. It took her less than two days for that whole unit. One more unit to complete before she can take the final.

After DH finally got home from work and we ate the wonderful white bean sausage and kale stew I made, DD1 came back over to show Daddy her ring.

What a day.

The dog went nuts over trick or treating children...he only scared 2 very small ones. He is quite large and I heard little screams. DD2 chased them down with candy and apologized to their parents.

What a day!

Viki

p.s. pumpkin beer is okay, not great but okay.

What I did on my day off.

2008-10-29T16:05:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was Tuesday and I have Tuesday's off work. I had been promising my friend Sally D. that I would make her a Halloween bracelet. So here it is. She loved it and wore it all day today. Click the picture to make it bigger.

I also spent a bit of time finding my Pumpkin beanbag game to take to school today. My father cut the hole in the board and I painted it when Jordan was about 5 years old. We used it at almost every grade school Autumn party for 12 years.(2 girls, 6 years apart) Now I take it into the preschool/MDO every year. I use it to decorate the house sometimes too. Every once in awhile I make new beanbags using Halloween print fabric.

The girls in my class loved tossing beanbags today. It was quite fun to sit back and watch them get as close as they could so they wouldn't miss the big hole, and they would be so proud of themselves too.

Which I found very amusing.

Mariah stayed home sick today. Mom is about where I was last Thursday. All runny nosed.

I just feel stuffy in the head. That is a technical term.

Leftover soup for dinner and I'll make a Thank you card tonight.

Viki

The Winner is.....

2008-10-28T09:49:00.002-04:00

dianne!

dianne, please email me your address so I can mail the pin to you!!

Viki

Soul Journal Blog Party!!

2008-10-25T19:35:00.007-04:00

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is my favorite time of the year!

As you can see in a few posts below, I have been decorating!

I also am having a give away. So if you visit my blog for the Soul Journal Halloween Blog Party

please leave a comment and one lucky person will win this cute "ride a shooting star" Halloween pin!

I worked with mixed feelings on my Soul Journal pages for Halloween on Saturday. After all the feelings I worked out, I realized that what is really important at this time of year is to make Halloween Fun again.

Also I finished and actually hung my "All Hallows Eve" banner. I am working on another Halloween bracelet for a friend. The jewelry I'll be wearing this week is in one of the above pictures.

Wish I had some cookies to offer, alas I haven't had the time to make our favorite pumpkin cookies, but I'll give you the link to the recipe ;-)

The best news of the day is that I've found my skull! YEA!

Thanks for stopping by!

Viki

Thanks To Christy

2008-10-25T14:03:00.002-04:00

I now have the party image for the Soul Journal Halloween Blog Party on the blog!
Sometimes I just need to have my hand held to get this blog stuff into my head.

In case you haven't heard about this party click on the blog party icon and it will take you to CollageDiva's site where you can learn more.

Off to prep for the party.

I've got my Party Banner hanging and some art work to do.

Viki

Halloween and I've lost my skull!

2008-10-19T21:10:00.005-04:00

Last year I didn't pull out very many of my Halloween things.

This year is different. This is really my favorite time of the year and I really love to decorate for Halloween. I have made and collected things over the years that I pull out every year. The only thing I haven't been able to find (yet) this year is the skull.

When you walk in my door there is a set of shelves that I use to decorate each season.

Here is what you see right now, and on the wall above the piano my ghost quilt. Pinned to the edge is a little pin I made with printed cloth and watercolor paper. I've made more of these this year for gifts.

I have a few other art projects in the works to decorate too.

I'll post if I actually get them done.

I do miss the skull, I'll keep looking.

Viki

Experimenting

2008-10-14T10:55:00.002-04:00

I'm playing on iMac this morning. We uploaded some pictures the other day and I thought I'd try to actually upload one to the blog. It WORKS!

This is one of my 6x6 pages from the rainbow swap. I think Caty claimed this one. My color was blue. we were allowed accent colors. The lower left hand corner has a picture of the synapses in the brain. The words say: Stay calm even when your losing it.

Now that I've figured one thing out about using the iMac, it is time to move forward. I'm all about making this exciting!

On the edge of something New!

2008-10-11T10:22:00.002-04:00

I am writing this on the kitchen computer.
We will soon turn one of the bedrooms into a new home for the NEW computer that isn't even out of the box yet...an iMac!

I can't wait to try something NEW!

Meanwhile, I can't post pictures, because, I can't upload them.
I have tons of pictures: Art, Nashville, my new classes at the preschool...

This has been an extremely busy week. Have you noticed that when the kids have a few days off of school the rest of the week seems overly busy?

Monday and Tuesday we had fun in Nashville. We visited the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Lane Motor Museum, and Andrew Jackson's home called The Hermitage. All were way cool. The Motor Museum was my favorite though. Check it out online at http://lanemotormuseum.org/

The rest of the week blurs it goes so fast and was so full. So in the evenings I would colapse in front of the computer. When I sat down a few days ago and was surfing I found this http://rodrigvitzstyle.typepad.com/rodrigvitz_style/2008/10/dia-de-los-muertos-in-bloglandia.html
Seriously check this out. Tis the season for dia de los muertos and this looks like a lot of fun.

Last night I checked out Ali Edwards blog http://aliedwards.typepad.com/
to check out the latest in the Week in the Life type of project. She had great pictures up and an ad for this FREE class called Stories in Hand. http://www.jessicasprague.com/
ANYONE can take this free class it isn't just for scrapbook people. We all have stories to tell and I Will take this class.

AND I've been looking into scrapbooking because I have 25 years worth of pictures sitting in boxes and baskets. They are not in order because little hands have sifted through them over the years. Jordan in particular has always loved to go through pictures. I'd love to get my pictures organized so each of the girls has their Story. It is daunting and if I think too hard, it will never get done.
Of course, first I have to get the new computer room set up...so wish me luck on clearing that room today!
Viki

We Have POWER!

2008-09-21T14:54:00.003-04:00

It was a Windy day last Sunday (Sept. 14, 2008) In fact it we had gusts clocked at over 80 miles per hour. They are saying the high winds were the remains of IKE.

The Electricity went out before noon. I was on the phone with my DH at the time. Since we use cordless and the base is connected to the wall outlet...I lost contact with DH. When you only get one phone call from him a week, lets say it was a bad time.

We spent the afternoon watching the HUGE Water Maple in the yard behind us break up. Many limbs went flying. The Biggest of course landed in our yard and hit our house. I was moving cars with DD1 at the time. It was like a hail storm of wood and leaves came over the house and hit us in the cars! DD2 was in the house at the time and heard and saw the impact. Scary. Lucky for us it didn't punch a hole in the roof. No shingles came off and we only have a bent gutter.

The girl who owns the house behind us is dating a guy who does landscaping and lawns. He is a Vol. firefighter too. She was in West VA. when the storm blew through and hurried back home.
She and her boyfriend arrived at 10:30 in the evening. He grabbed a headlamp and his chainsaw and had the honkin big limb off our roof and the other limbs out of both yards by 11:30 and by midnight it was all in the next county.

I really expected to have power the next day. Not so fast saith the electric company. So we spent our week cranking the crank radio to listen to the news and playing cards and other games by candlelight and cooking on the grill.

Here are some of the yummies I made on the grill this week. Remember I had to use stuff up from the freezer. Salmon, Tuna steaks, lots of chicken, cauliflower, broccoli, frozen pizza, sweet potatoes, Fennel...we ate lots of carrot sticks and celery. We made sandwiches with the chicken for lunch and I of course boiled water on the grill to make coffee in my press pot for breakfast. I also used the boiled water for oatmeal too. We really ate well. Unfortunately we lost everything in mom's deep freeze. Including the peach cobbler she had made for when DH returned from Qatar. I did feed mom all week too. It was easier on her. We only ate dinner out once and lunch twice. Yes the fast food places had electricity, which really makes you wonder doesn't it.

We were lucky that the temps stayed in the 70's and low 80's for the week.
We were lucky in that we had hot water for showers and for washing dishes.
We were lucky that I keep several flashlights, 2 battery powered lanterns, 2 headlamps and extra batteries on hand, that DH filled both gas tanks for the grill before he left and that the guy across the street gave me a regular phone to plug into the wall.

The next grill I buy WILL have a gas burner on the side. That will make coffee easier and allow for rice and pasta too.

I did knit, even on some beaded lace. I didn't spin and very little art was made. I spent most of my days figuring out meals and picking up sticks and cleaning out the fridges.

DD2 and I did start a book and we read out loud to each other until we couldn't see well in the evenings. The open windows didn't aggravate our allergies overly much because it was dry and the molds were down. When it got dark the dog would sleep. He was confused the first few days because with the windows open he heard all kinds of noises that are usually masked by the AC and the TV.

DD2 missed the TV most and since school was canceled for the week, she missed a field trip to see Dracula too. When things got too tough, I'd send her out to DH's car with the portable DVD player and a phone to charge.

We survived the week really fairly easily.
Not that I want to do it again anytime soon.
AND
DH should be home sometime on Tuesday!! Yahoo!!!

Viki

It is time to Bento again!

2008-08-26T13:57:00.005-04:00

School has started. The MDO/Preschool has the meet and greet next week.

I am trying to get stuff together for my little packet of lunch information. I don't expect the mom's to make wonderful little bento for their 3 yr olds, although I did have two such creative mothers last year, but I would like to see more nutrition and less sugar. Have you ever looked at how much sugar is in a juice box? Also, some parents pack HUGE amounts of food for a 3 yr old.
I advocate small amounts of several good foods. Chances are their kids will eat more of the smaller portions of food.

I took a really good Brain Development class at the beginning of the Summer and the information blew me away. The biggie was that High Fructose Corn Syrup is in EVERYTHING and it is NOT good for Anyone's brain. If it says High Fructose it is bad for you. If it says hydrogenate, or partially hydrogenated on a package don't eat it. These trans fatty acids affect brain function, the nerves inthe brain don't function as they were designed to do.

I have a list of brain builders and brain drainers to give the parents. I also have an article from the local paper from last year and a list of interesting web sites. Like this one: http://www.foodfun4kids.com/

Where you can buy a deck of cards that the 4 suits are: FRUITS, VEGETABLES, GRAINS and PROTEINS. Each nutrition card is unique and has nutrition facts listed for fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods that don’t have food labels.

The WholeFoods web site has a good kids section with ideas for snacks and lunches.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/kids/. Just keep clicking on the links.

LapTop lunchbox has a good site about kids lunches too. http://www.laptoplunches.com/ideas.html#nutrition

Lap Top Lunch is an American Bento box. I don't have one, but I've been tempted.
Another cool American Bento type set up is http://www.lunchsense.com/home/lun/smartlist_7/buylunchboxes.html

I do have some Lock Lock boxes, some inexpensive 2 tier Hello Kitty bento boxes from the Dollar Tree and a Sigg bottle to carry my water. I put it all in a regular zippered insulated lunchbox. Usually the children can't wait to see what I have in my lunch, the Sigg bottle has odd creatures on it and everyone wants to look at it. I carry water to drink and pack healthy food for my lunch. The rule at school is growing food before treats. I love the mothers who don't pack sweet treats at all.

If you would like to see what some mom's send to school with their kids, yes people actually take pictures and post them on the internet, google bento. Or go to this site http://www.flickr.com/groups/kideats/
Not everyone packs healthy though.

Have fun looking!

Viki

Just a peek

2008-08-16T12:35:00.001-04:00

Baggie swap
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

Two posts in one day, I doubt that will happen very often.
This is just a peek at the baggie swap project. On Artistic Divas we were matched up with a partner. We sent each other a baggie of goodies and each person was supposed to use any amount of the baggie goodies as well as some of their own stash to create something for their partner. I added the beads, slide mounts and a few pictures. It really is a little treasure and I hope Eileen likes it as much as I do.
As usual, more pictures on my flickr acct. http://www.flickr.com/photos/16932110@N04/

Viki

Catching up

2008-08-16T12:17:00.004-04:00

The Soul Journal "class" with Sarah W. continues on, and I am behind. I thought I'd go ahead and post a few pictures of pages I've completed. On two pages we wrote and then used tape to cover up the writing. Then we painted over the tape. I thought it looked very dull so I pulled out a page of 12x12 lace cardstock that I bought to experiment with and used it as a stencil with Raspberry spraypaint. Much better. I've used gel pens and some bronze Lumiere paint on it too although I believe these pictures were taken before I added the bronze.

The Hands pages were lots of fun and they are very bright. Hopefully I can play catch up with this journal and other projects this weekend. The Olympics do draw me away from the table though and I either knit or spin while I watch them.

I also want to thank everyone who has stopped by and commented on my progress! Makes me feel good!

As always these pictures are also on my flickr acct. and they look very nice if you view them as a slide show. http://www.flickr.com/photos/16932110@N04/

Viki

Soul Journal stencil pages

2008-07-30T10:35:00.002-04:00

Here are 2 stencil pages in my Soul Journal. I think the next time I do this technique I'll use darker colors and a smaller tip pen. I used magenta paint and to darken the pages I used some distress ink. Last I used a frost white which smeared a bit when I sealed the pages with gel medium. I'm not completely pleased with these pages. The techniques I used to tone down the stencil images made the pages look a little dull to me.

Viki

6 days down and cotton

2008-07-27T20:35:00.006-04:00

My DH is way out of town for more than a bit. I received a call from him yesterday, it was so good to hear his voice. He is in Qatar at a military hospital. Qatar is on the Persian Gulf. He said it got to 127 degrees there with humidity to go with that....and I thought I had it bad in the Ohio River Valley. He sounded tired, I don't think his body has caught up with the time change yet and he is working nights.

I think I need to pull out a canvas and paint my motto to hang in the house.
Keep Calm and Carry On! It is from England during WWII, and I am trying to live this motto.

On the home front, DD2 and I have been incredibly lazy. I have been spinning a bit and knitting on a pair of socks for someone for Christmas.(shhhhh) I've also been working on the Soul Journal and some art projects.

My friend, Yarnspinners Tales http://www.yarnspinners.blogspot.com/ has a podcast which is awesome. Her podcast 15 is about spinning cotton you can check it out here:
http://yarnspinnerstales.com/. She also filmed some of us spinning cotton. I am shown spinning on a charkha and on her daughters spinning wheel. It is up on utube. To check that short film out click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2n0TDiSF18
The background music is nice too.

If anyone can tell me how to upload this video to my blog I'd appreciate it.

Viki

Soul Journal pages

2008-07-25T18:41:00.003-04:00

My friend Sarah http://www.sarahwhitmire.blogspot.com/

has started a group art journal project. We are playing follow the leader. She does a page or 2 and then the rest of us follow her. It has been lots of fun.

Here are a few of my pages.

Keep Calm and Carry On! Has been my motto for the last few weeks.

Viki

KnittyOtter's Get to know you list.

2008-07-16T12:45:00.002-04:00

My friend Anita turned me on to KnittyOtter's blog
http://knittyotter.typepad.com/otterknits/
Where she is having a 200'th post get to know you contest/list.
Anyway it was fun to answer and so I answered on her blog comments and decided to answer here on my blog as well.

1.) How long have you been knitting?
I learned how when I was 3. Didn't start serious knitting until I was 23 and stuck in Alaska

2.) How long have you been knitting socks?
About 16 years. My first pair were out of handspun.

3.) What do you do with a problem like Maria?
Poor Maria. I think teletubbies would drug her right up.

4.) What is your all time favorite sock yarn?
Now that is a hard one.My own handspun is wonderful, but I do really like Trekking and Opal.

5.) Toe Up or Cuff Down?
Depends, I do both. I like an afterthought heel but can't do one for the girls.

6.) What's your favorite color (this week or for all time)? Do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love purple. I used to hate red, but realized it was the orangy red that I didn't like. So now I love a true blue based red. I like blues and greens too.

7.) Do you have a pet(s)?
Yes I have a Goldendoodle, he is the most laidback dog I've ever had. He is huge though.

8.) Babies: Oven Roasted or Barbecued?

Baby lamb?, roasted with lots of garlic

9.) Besides socks what is your favorite type of thing to knit?
Lace, but socks really are my favorite.

10.) What's your favorite scent?
I can't do commercial perfumes...migraines, but I like essential oils: Lavendar and sandlewood and pepperment.

11.) What music are you really loving right now? Like a song or a band?
Old stuff...60's thru the 80's Rock.

12.) How many pairs of socks have you hand knit?
Your supposed to COUNT?!Okay, I'll have to guesstimate...over 30 pair.

13.) What's your favorite treat? Salty or Sweet?
Chocolate, dark chocolate. Not salty after that anything lemon.

14.) What was the most interesting thing you smelled yesterday. Not good or bad necessarily, just the thing that stuck out most so that you actually took notice of it.
Skunk.

15.) Needles - DPN's: Wooden, metal or plastic?
Wooden or bamboo..unless I'm going size 00 or less then it is metal. I have some antique ones with a really great point.

16.) What is your favorite sock pattern that you've knit? What do you recommend?
Monkey socks are fun, Buffalo girls were quick but I prefer my own generic fit my foot pattern.

17.) The last Question: If you were stuck on a deserted island who would you want with you, what knitting would you want with you and would you ever want to leave

DH (gotta have sex), a few of my knitting and artsy friends...a spinning wheel, lace and sock wt yarn and my needles and a lace pattern book, my art journal and the internet. If food would be no problem..I'd be set for life.

Thanks for letting me play.
Viki

Alice the back

2008-06-23T13:02:00.001-04:00

back of Alice
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

As you can see the back of Alice is Vivid. It POPS!

It of course started as a mistake.
I painted over it and I like the hair.

I did something similar with the back of my Cirque page for Denise.
I do have the rest of the pages photographed, I just have to wait to be able to upload them to flickr or the blog.

Viki

Alice the front

2008-06-23T12:57:00.001-04:00

Front of Alice
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

On one of my mixed media groups we have been doing that Maya Road 6x6 book. This is the front of my Alice page for Sarah W. and while I like it I like the back better.

Unfortunately I am posting from my flickr account because my computer that I use for pictures has decided expire and I haven't figured out a ritual to revive it yet.

Viki

Dye Day

2008-05-27T14:38:00.004-04:00

On Sunday our Odd Tuesday group met at Andrea's for a Dye Day. We are all participating in a dyed cotton swap on the Garden Fiber Group on Ravelry. We each chose to do things a little bit differently, as usual. LOL.

My daughter Mariah took pictures. Cindy took notes and audio taped/ interviewed for a future Yarnspinner's pod cast as well as dyed fiber.(http://yarnspinnerstales.com/) I think Andrea and I just played. I know I wasn't very scientific.

Anita, now she dyed scientifically. Check out her blog http://thefiberartist.blogspot.com/ She will be posting more pictures soon.

Here is what I did.

I soaked the fiber overnight in plain water. I dyed both cotton lint and cotton sliver (thanks stashy!) I added the the soda ash to the dye before I applied the dye. I used the old formula Cushings Dye. The newer Cushings will NOT dye cotton.

I coiled the sliver into the pan lids. Then I mixed up the dye with the soda ash in squeeze bottles and smooshed it into the fiber. Then I heated the fiber for half an hour in Anita's warming device. Although as hot as it was on that deck, we probably didn't need the warmer. After 24 hours I rinsed the fiber and then wrapped the sliver around a window screen so I could prop it in front of the air vent to dry.

Don't laugh, it worked and it looked pretty.

Viki

New toy on new bed

2008-05-21T09:51:00.001-04:00

New toy on new bed
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

I just met someone on line who has a goldendoodle who could be a twin to Baily so I had to post yet another picture of my dog.
This one is from Christmas 2007. He is on his new bed with his new toy and had been groomed a week or so before Christmas, so he was lookin pretty.

Viki

tired and happy

2008-05-19T13:05:00.001-04:00

Jordan and Bubbie
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

This lovely picture is of my oldest daughter. Can you tell she has been up all night working at UPS? Last night was her last night.
Give her a big cheer. Today she starts working for that very large health insurance company that starts with an H. That means working DAYS!

Viki
p.s.
Does the dog look a little put out to you?

Another Weekend Challenge

2008-05-14T18:12:00.002-04:00

This past weekend was mother's day, so the challenge was to make an ATC about Mother's day.

It didn't have to be traditional could be off beat and strange, it just had to have a flower on it.

Mine turned out fairly tradional though.

Viki

Get over it!

2008-05-10T17:09:00.001-04:00

Get over it!
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

For the last few weekends I have been setting a challenge for the Art group I'm in on Yahoo. These weekend challenges are't for trade, unless you want too. They are just to get you making art of some sort quickly so you don't over think. It is supposed to be easy.

The first weekend I gave out 3 page numbers and the participants were to go to those pages in ANY magazine and use them to make an ATC (2 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches). People loved it. The cards were GREAT!

Last weekend I challenged people to Face Your Fear.
Here is my card from last weekend.
Coulrophobia is of course the fear of clowns. I didn't used to be wary of clowns. I did mime in college for a while. However, I knew someone who was a clown during the Summer. He worked with his father under the big top. He told stories. One story was about a clown he knew that NEVER took off his makeup. No one ever saw him out of character. I think that started it.
THEN, a friend had a baby and the childs favorite toy was a clown doll. Which just totally freaked me out. Can you imagine waking up in the middle of the night with a clown doll looking at you? ACK!

So here is my "Get over it!" card.
He doesn't look that scary does he?

Viki

6x6 pages

2008-05-09T12:32:00.002-04:00

On an art group that I am on we are doing a book swap.

We each bought a Maya Road 6x6 book and we are making a page for each person in the swap.

Everyone picked a different theme. I have finished 2 pages and have 5 to go. I am behind as usual. Here are the 2 I have finished.

enjoy,

Viki

Yarn Harlot!

2008-04-30T13:10:00.004-04:00

I haven't had a post in a while about Knitting.

One of my favorite blogs to read is Yarn Harlot's. The link is in the sidebar.

Our Odd Tuesday group, well the main 4 of us, went on a road trip to the Indy area yesterday to go to the Yarn Harlot 2008 Book Tour. What FUN! Lots of knitters.

It was Exhausting though and I did get a migraine about half way through the evening.

It was truely an exciting time. I got to hold "the sock" for the group photo! Don't we all look totally wiped out? I'm second from the left and was so gone I don't believe that I even realized that Stephanie was even next to me. A Migraine will do that to you.

I had the Yarn Harlot sign the book to my daughter Mariah, because it was a school night and Mariah couldn't participate in this event. She was quite pleased and took the book to school today before I even had time to browse through it.

The drive up was productive. We all brainstormed,, talked, and I knit a short row heel and part of the foot of a sock. I'll take pictures of it later.

Have you ever knit something and later when you wear the item or pick it up you know what you were doing while you knit on it? Well, this pair of socks will always remind me of Jordan because she gave me the yarn as a birthday present, Claudia(http://www.claudiasblog.net/ )because I used her picot edgeing and the Yarn Harlot trip. That makes me happy.

Viki

drop cloth cover Recycled book

2008-04-25T21:24:00.002-04:00

drop cloth cover Recycled book
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

This is the recycled book I made to take notes in at the Autism workshop I attended Last Saturday. I ended up not needing it because they provided print outs in a binder.

I used one of my drop cloth papers for the cover of this little book.
Drop cloth paper is watercolor paper that I use when I paste and paint to catch the drips and overflow. I also clean the rubber stamps off on them and instead of throwing the paint I've squeezed too much of in the trash, I paint on the drop cloth page too.

Inside is a single signature made up of recycled papers: left over color sheets, old notebook paper from spiral notebooks, some grid paper and in the middle, puzzle pages from an old puzzlemania book my kids didn't finish. The puzzles were in case I got really bored.

I did. Get bored, but I knit instead. I knit 4+ inches on a sock.

If you want to see a few pictures of the inside pages check out my flickr acct. http://www.flickr.com/photos/16932110@N04/

I went ahead and upgraded my flickr to a pro account. Which means I got to make Moo cards. 10 free moo cards when you upgrade. I can't wait to see them. You can also make postcards and Stickers with your flickr pictures. Think of the possibilities. One woman who does collage had Moo cards made of the pictures of her collages and then put one of the moo cards into another one of her collages.

Cool!

Viki