Duck Row

TEA COZIES!

2011-05-19T12:02:00.002-04:00

I have been patiently waiting for inspiration to hit. And hit me it has. TEA COZIES!

I came to the realization a while back that I am a hat knitter. Which, I really am. I have a very short attention span and although I don't need instant gratification, I do need within-a-few-days gratification. Hats do that for me.

But apparently the idea of tea cozies have me all a-flutter. Am I even spelling that right? Anyway, here are a couple of links that have inspired me.

http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/teacosies/cable-teacosy.htm

http://lauralovesknitting.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-first-post-and-first-knitting.html

http://twosisters.lothruin.com/cozies.html

If you pictures of any of your own tea cozy finished projects, please forward them to me! I love to see what my readers knit.

Off to find some lovely wool for some fun cozies, maybe a trip to Mary Maxims.

Cheers,
Tina

Too long I know!

2011-04-05T11:04:00.002-04:00

But I always come back don't I? :)

So it's been a really nutty few months. I did my first craft sale at our local Arts Block jsut before Christmas. As you will see I had some of my knitted items including a Mohawk hat and a fish hat that was based on the Knitty pattern...but has changed considerably enough that my conscience was okay with me selling one just to get it the heck outta my house! I made a lot of sluchy hats that sold...but of the couple dozen stich markers that I made, very few sold. People were confused as to what they were. As this was not a knitters platform I was not surprised that more did not sell...perhaps next time.

My little piece of the craft table

Although you can't see too well, one of my besties in the world Laura had many MANY of her knitted items for sale. She sold a ton of skinny scarves and many of her dishcloths. GO LAURA!

So whats next? Well I am in a 'felting' tear. I am making up some skull and crossbone clutches for the teens in both my life, and hopefully to sell. As well, I am making a crap load more stitch markers. I actually quite enjoy using those millions of beads I've purchased for reals now. Perhaps I will toss a few up on Etsy. Who knows? In the meantime I am working on my own website...it's a matter of time and energy.

So, back to it! I hope everyone is having an amazing spring. If we all think positive we might hit some good weather yet.

All the best,

Tina

I know! It's been too long!!!

2010-11-18T09:59:00.001-05:00

I know. Just super busy. Going to try to remedy this because I actually quite enjoy, and miss, the blogging.

Work is work. Play is boring lately. And things are pretty much same old same old.

My little sister is having surgery tomorrow so that is a little tense since my lovely followers know the crap year we've had. But its an easy surgery they say, and it will ultimately give Kathi more relief than she has ever had in her adult life. So fingers crossed and a little prayer and everything will be smooth to the point of boring tomorrow and over the next few weeks of recoup time.

For me? Well...I had to write a speech for work and it took me on a whole other tangent. So I ran with it and let the creative juices flow. Hope it stirs some interesting thoughts for you...

Keeping faith alive in a contemporary world is a brave concept. It is a tough thing to keep our faith in this world where, for some of us, our nearest neighbour can sometimes be an ocean away. Metaphorically speaking of course.

Faith is to have confidence or trust in a person or concept. A higher power. To have faith in a person is to place your trust in another's ability. The ability to love, or trust, or provide in a way that best fits what we, as individuals, find most understandable deep in our soul. However, in a world where we are becoming more and more faceless, it is difficult to humanize what is happening on the other end of the Internet connection or Blackberry pin. We may have times when 'another person' is just not there. Where to we place our faith, what do we DO with our faith then?

Although spiritual faith is one of the most personal experiences we will have in our lives, it also provides connectivity to our fellow man. It is a tie that can bind us together, or conversely, rip us apart. We as borrowers of time and space on this earth must remind ourselves that we need to work together, no matter what our particular brand of spirituality is. That is the way to advancement and peace.

If you look closely enough to the world around us, you will see great hope. In that hope you will find the opportunities and avenues that can help review and renew. The opportunity to find people and networks which allows a constructive gathering that embodies the spirit of cross-cultural and inter-faith appreciation is a rare and treasured happenstance. But look for it we must.

And when we find it we will bring our own unique experiences to the day. We must strive to work together, and respect each others differences while setting our sights and energies toward the goal of benevolence and understanding.

Beyond that, life's biggest issue may be simply remembering to feed the dog.

Have a great day!
~tm

It seems...

2010-09-28T15:31:00.000-04:00

...someone else may have troubles keeping her ducks in a row as well.

Twice in a day? Yeah, but it's just such a sweet picute.

~tina-marie

Surreal thought of the day....

2010-09-28T14:47:00.001-04:00

Crazy!

Enjoy!

~ tina-marie

Summer update!

2010-07-27T12:17:00.002-04:00

Wow, have I ever been lax in my blogging! Well, I’ve been busy. So busy that for the most part, a synopsis would be the best way to catch up my peeps on my last couple months of living. It’s been a helleva summer so far, and we are only halfway thru…

1) In June we had our ‘Adult Christmas’. It was just my sibs, spouses and our step-dad at our house celebrating the Christmas we didn’t want to celebrate with Mom dying in December. It was nice. It was really nice actually. Rather low-key, which is always my first and foremost concern in a great dinner party. We celebrated with food and wine and exchanged gifts. The missing person was still missing. And I think I ought to just deal with it because ignoring it won’t help. But it was nice and I am looking forward to Christmas in December cause Christmas in June just isn’t right.

2) Helping Selby find a job. Yeah, well THAT didn’t work out. She still sleeps till noon. But she does clean up the kitchen and bleach it down to my specifications. So, that's kindov a good thing.

3) Oh hey...going camping! Still have our weekend planned. Looking forward to being treated like a camping princess as Adam claims I will be. We’ll see. ;-) I have to pick a meal to create and it has to be true to the ‘camping’ feel. I have been scouring the ‘Boy Scout’ web pages to see what I can do. If you have any idea shoot them on over please!

4) Knitting. Well….yeah. Okay so here's the deal...I have been binding on, knitting a few rows, and then ripping it all out. Repeatedly. I am SO PISSY with myself because I have been finding wool or yarn that I want to use, but I have no pattern. And I don’t want to knit a freaking cardigan because I have one on the go and I can not finish the effer. I am ridiculous and frustrated. Well, I did finish a couple of knit slouchy hats as a thank you gift for my intern this summer. She did so much work on the golf tournament for me so I am happy that I got THOSE done.

5) Oh yeah the golf tournament. I forgot. So I am the co-chair of a golf tournament every year and it is a buttload of work. But it was wildly successful and everyone had a blast. So, I am done until next February.

6) AND...speaking of my intern....I call her Angela Anaconda and she has the BEST HAIR. She is Scottish with a gorgeous peaches and cream complexion and surprisingly nappy hair. It always looks like it has run amok on her head so my slouchy hats will be perfect for her to tuck that wildness up into it on days she is running behind at university. I can't show her my blog until the end of the summer though or else she will see her gift and I don't want that to happen!

7) Yoga! I am training with a real genuine yoga master from India. Hells yeah!!! Jang is truly awe inspiring and I hope that 10 weeks with him will help me get back to the woman I used to be…only better.

8) I am currently finishing up my ‘Animal Husbandry I’ course and am still so pumped about getting my certificate.

9) And finally on the 'Worst. Neighbour. Ever.' front…the ‘Christian Deacon’ who lives next door with his wife decided to tell me that I don’t take care of my house to his standards and that I should think about a condo. Honest. This is what this man-of-the-cloth said to me. So you know what? He can go to hell. Oh wait, with a Christian attitude like that, he is already going there even before my request. Makes me glad for my strong Jewish line. Schmuck.

I guess that’s it for right now. But for your moment of zen, here is the hair that I am absolutely fascinated by!

Until next time my little ducklings ~ tm

deep thoughts on a sunday afternoon

2010-04-11T18:32:00.000-04:00

Well, it was a helleva week. Daughter turned sixteen, and I was slapped with the harsh reality that I am not getting any younger. Worse, that my full-time job as 'Mom' is going to change drastically.

But back to the beginning. I originally started this ‘Sweet Sixteen’ extravaganza with a family dinner for 13 for Selby’s big day ON her big day. Because her big day was on a weekday it meant that anything super fun I wanted to do would have to wait for the weekend. So, the birthday extravaganza literally started in the middle of the week, and continued until the late morning of Sunday, today.

For the last 5 days we have been eating ridiculously good food, spending a ridiculous amount of money and enjoying each other, whoever that each other may be, immensely. Wednesday was the full fam, Friday was part of the fam, Saturday and Sunday was the friends and fam...it did not quit.

But now, Sunday evening, I am alone and tired and full of good food and a perhaps a titch too much wine and I am navel gazing. My daughter will be in university in a couple years. My role as the protector of this tiny human will be cut down to a microscopic level. Although I am absolutely sure she will always need me, it is in the way she will need me and the intensity that she will require a mothers protection that will turn into being only a fraction of what we, as mothers, have been providing during our children’s lives.

So, what to do? I am in a new relationship. One that I am sad to say has an equal amount of fighting as it does loving. So ultimately it is not a sure thing. And with the slow removal slash replacement of being the pivotal person in my daughters life, I have been relegated to a character in her screenplay as opposed to she being a character, albeit the most important one, in mine.

Again, what to do? Is this what is called a mid-life crisis? Or is this simply a rite of passage that most women face? I would suggest that if it were the latter, then most would face this difficult period of their lives with either their own mother, or a strong and absolute life partner. Right now I feel I have neither.

I have no way of turning this post around to neatly tie up with the initial thought or proposal. I simply must end it with an ‘I’ll figure it out’ and go from there.

It’s tough not being the most important person in your child’s life...and harder to let them go. But worse is to have spent your life so wrapped up in focusing on giving your child all the tools she or he will need to be a socially progressive person in this world, one may have forgotten her own identity.

One thing I can count on is that as long as I blog, I have a good dozen or so people that are backing me for sure. This will be a rough next few years ducklings...I thank you for coming along for the ride.

Cheers,
~tm

Things that freak me out and/or piss me off...

2010-04-01T19:13:00.001-04:00

No idea whatsoever why I am doing this.

People with insanely dark brown eyes. So dark that the iris and the cornea are the same colour. I canna tell what they are thinking. It freaks my ass out.

Blue eye shadow, nail polish, or food. OTHER than 'blueberries'. Blue food is wrong. Ladies with blue nails are wrong. Blue eye shadow should be banned to the furthest reaches of the universe. Perhaps only worn by those really sexy green chicks that Kirk sleeps with.

Food brought into work from well meaning constituents. I can not eat food that comes from a kitchen I don't know from people I barely know THAT IS NOT a restaurant.

The little beetles that have invaded my foyer. They are congregating by the dozens on the stairway window of my house. I hate them. For what its worth they smell really horrid when I 'dust bust' them up.

Plastic travel tea mugs. Give me ceramic or glass. I hate plastic.

People whom I follow on Twitter, who are so famous and/or are too full of themselves to at least look at my tweets and follow me out of respect. I mean, if I am following them it is because their line of thinking must be close to my own, so they should at least follow me for a while. I am just as interesting as say Wil Wheaton or the Rude Pundit (thanks for that btw Julie). Well okay, perhaps in my own Russian head. But the pity follow would be nice for a while.

When some motherfucker IT guy sits down at my computer at work and proceeds to tell me how sick they are. Thanks for that asshole. Where's the Lysol? Prick.

Getting ditched by my girlfriends cause of their pansy-assed family issues so girls-nite out gets called off and I have to sit in from of my laptop drinking Merlot and blogging about my troubles...and...um...

People who, when they smile, eyes do not crinkle. They are dangerous and creepy. Oh yeah, and condescending.

Elton John.

When you are in Italy how all the men touch your ass. I am okay with Scotsmen touching my ass. They can touch my ass all they want. For a long time. Repeatedly. Italians do it like they are allowed. Nu-uh. This wide, white, velvet ass is for Scotsmen only.

Old chat sites that, when you pop in after no being there for a few years, are like an old hang-out. Tired, worn, and filled with freaks that don’t even want to really chat. They just throw out stupid shit to see their own type up on the screen. For chrissakes, be like the rest of us and grow up, and get a blog stupid.

The way my dog smells after having to go outside for a wee piddle when it's raining. There is just no good there to be had.

So, I guess that is what is on my list today. It will change tomorrow, I can guarantee it. But it's my blog I can whine if I want to. Wine. Hmmmm, where did that bottle go?

Have a great long weekend my lovelies.

~tina-marie

Dear United States of America,

2010-03-24T08:56:00.002-04:00

Please keep Ann Coulter on your side of the boarder. You see, she came to our house, said some nasty things about our Muslim neighbors directly to an underage youth, and when we asked in the nicest Canadian way possible for her to please not do that, she then accused us of impeding on her human rights. She thought the University Dean was promoting hate crimes against her. No he wasn’t. ‘Cause if he was he would have said something like ‘Hey Annie, close your ‘Republican Parking Only’ thighs and keep your nazi mouth shut too.

All the best,
A proud diversity-inclusive Canadian girl

I'm a...loser?

2010-03-22T20:01:00.001-04:00

I lose things. A lot. All the time. I will normally find the things I’ve lost somewhere in the house where they really ought not to be. But I have just decided to live with the fact that I lose things. It's who I am, what I do.

But, what upsets me is that I have now lost THREE different kinds of COUNTERS to count my knitting rows. I am done with buying another damn counter. SO, I’ve located a really cool counting bracelet that I am going to tackle.

If anyone else gets adventurous and makes one let me know! Send me a picture and I will post it with lots of praise and envy!!!

http://sutherland-studios.com.au/free/rowcounter.html

Cheers,
~tm

Creativ Festival lunchbag let-down...

2009-10-17T15:13:00.001-04:00

So...just got back from the Creativ Festival at the Exhibiltion centre in Toronto. And I gotta tell you...not really a 'knitters haven'. Today, I am not a happy camper.

Okay, let’s be honest here, there were lots of booths with different kinds of wool, but I wasn't looking for wool. I already have a couple nice places that I can get wool. If I have purchased a certain kind of wool once, it means that I HAVE physically touched it and played with it, so any new purchases can easily be made online. If I want to break outside of the same-ole same-ole box, I go for a drive. But wool aside…

There was a lot of sewing vendors that I am sure hooked up a whole mess of ladies (and a few gentlemen) with their sewing wants and needs, but I wasn’t looking for those kinds of notions. I don’t make anything beyond tote bags and pajama bottoms. I scaled the sewing mountain, I not one, but two different and useful items, I have moved on.

Oh, sidenote: there were a few College booths set up which I found brilliant. Trying to interest people in taking courses at a creative festival was a grand idea. But I am not interested in fabric courses.

So in order to keep you in suspense no further I shall tell you what I was looking for…something which I thought would have been available at almost every yarn booth…I, dear friends, was looking for knitting accoutrements. But what did I find instead? A big hot pile of nada.

So, my short list is this…if you know of a secure online resource for the new Hiya Hiya 9” length circs or someplace online that will sell sock kits with directions designs specifically for idiots, please drop me a line.

I am more than a little pissy so I am taking Adam and Selb to the movies. I will knit later. With a glass off wine thank you.

~tina-marie

Crafting for pleasure....

2009-10-13T11:21:00.000-04:00

So I am thinking about making shadow boxes up and showcasing teeny tiny versions of some of the stuff I have been knitting. You know, kinda like when architects make tiny models of the new building or wing on an old one. Although every time I think of those little scale models all that goes through my head is Zoolander getting upset because kids that don't think so good are too big to fit into that tiny little building.

Anyway....shadow boxes. I am on the fence as to whether I want to make them sans glass front. I once wandered through an antique shop where I admired some old antique sewing accoutrements in glass-less boxes that was looked kinda funky. But the realist in me immediately wonders how much dust would gather inside the frame part without the glass and if it is possible for me to dust said inside of the box before my guests get from the foyer to the living room...the hitch...without being caught? After all, dusting is a job reserved for doing only moments before guests are to arrive is it not?

So I think I will mull that little idea over a while and then start it. Or not. But I will definitely take pics if it turns out even close to what I want.

Oh, updates...I got updates, I got stacks and stack of updates.....UPDATES!!! Sorry I am a Letterman fan...anywho...

The Brussels Sprouts and Asiago baked thing was a SMASH! It was soooooo good. Now, I may try a better brand of sprouts so that they aren’t so mushy. As well, I may let the natural sugars caramelize a bit more on the sprouts...but the whole concoction was brilliant and so yummy. I have no idea why I would decide to try a new idea 30 minutes before thanksgiving dinner but I did, and God looked down favourably on me so I had lots to be thankful for.

I am almost done my dead fish hat. I am totally unimpressed with the way my tail cam out so I may pull it out and try again...perhaps I will post a picture here and ask for input. That would be fun for me. Either way it's getting done before my week of daytrips to various knitting shops next month. Did I not blog about my exciting week 'o' day tripping yet? Yay...that will be next post!

And lastly, my teenager hates me. I know, I know, I am not the first parent to say that. It’s just that I think she is about one of the most interesting people I know so it’s tough when she isn’t happy with me. It’s sometimes quite hard to stick a smile on my face when I know that we are on the outs about something or another. But I am here waiting on the other side for her. I will however take any and all good karmic thoughts I can get right now though.

Cheers,
~ tina-marie

Ahhh....the weekend

2009-10-09T18:14:00.001-04:00

In case anyone was wondering I will be the one to confirm what you may have been thinking this afternoon...Yes, this WAS in fact the longest week in the history of time. It was long, boring, and for the most part, completely uneventful. Well, not true, Adam started his new career this week. Good for him. He deserves a little bit of happiness and I hope this works out for him.

However, as for me I am less than thrilled with my week for its utter nothingness. I mean, I am working on my hats and that is always a good thing, but beyond that, it was a big fat case of same ole same ole.

Oh, I am having the entire fam over for Thanksgiving this weekend which should be nice. Looking forward to the people and the food. I do a ham (even though my inner Jew screams for me to stay away from the pig) and my sister does a turkey. Although we disagree on the animal we eat, we are absolutely adamant that the cranberry sauce must be true to its gelatinous form with tin can lines firmly intact.

Oh, I am fooling around with a new recipe that includes artichoke, asiago, brussell sprouts and some nice italian bacon. Will let you know how that works out for me. Or not. If I speak no further of this experiment then it's because I refuse to beat myself up beyond the embarassment that will ensue in front of the entire mater, pater, et al.

So kind friends who read my drivel with only the occasional treasurous words, I am going to go hunter gather a long tall slender glass of champagne and relax with some wool.

Happy Thanksgiving!

~tina-marie

Hey guess what? I knit hats!

2009-10-06T13:01:00.000-04:00

As you know, a lot has changed in my life over the last year and a half or so. I have divorced, started a new relationship, and am currently experiencing a daughter hitting crazy-ass teen hormones hard!

I also, shortly after moving into my 'Century Home' I had the pleasure of dealing with mice, ridiculously cold floors, and the realization that this is the first time I am actually in charge of everything in my life. That along with my amazingly loved yet crazy kid and my every growing relationship with Adam, life has certainly had it's high points.

But being blessed with Selby and Adam aside, this past year and a half has had it's really low points. Both my mother and my daughters God-Mother were diagnosed with cancer. Last week we just said goodbye to Heather, Selbys God-Mother. I am hoping that I have many more years before I have to say good-bye to my Mom. Sometimes thinking about it it gets very hard to deal with. So I needed an outlet.

Interestingly enough, around the same time I moved into 'The Shire' (what we lovingly refer to the house as), I re-discovered knitting.

I have re-taught myself to knit, through sheer determination and with many, many midnight references to Knitting Help dot com, I have re-learned knit, purl, yarn over, circular knitting, and my favourite...short rows. I am engaging in a thousands year old technique and for the first time in my life I am truly loving a hobby. Moreover, I am STICKING TO A HOBBY.

However, I had an epiphany last night. I realized that I really only like knitting a certain item. But before I go on let me back track just a titch. I have about 5 or 6 different UFO's at any given time. Right now it's a sweater, a pashmina like cover-up, some socks, and a couple others that do not mean enough to me to bear mentioning. But if you ever look in my travel knitting bag you will always find that I am knitting the same type of garment...a hat.

I LOVE KNITTING HATS!!! Fun hats, silly hats, chemo hats, kids’ hats. I am sure that it has something to do with my attention span being that of a 5 year old boy. Sorry but I have had both a daughter and a step-son...the girls have WAY more attention at 5 years of age than boys do. But back to the hats...

I am currently working on a Mohawk Hat, a Viking Hat, a Dead Fish Hat, a Camo Hat (for sweet nephew Ashton), and finishing an Old Dear Hat I will give to someone over the age of 75 for Christmas.

What about the epiphany Tina? Gosh!!!

Well, it is this; I knit hats so I think that this blog will follow me in my exploration of knitting hats. Quite simple really. And aren’t the most delicious and exiting things in life the ones that are so completely succinct?

Yet another fork in the road of which I have I have made a decision on which route to take. I am enjoying myself immensely...I hope my travels will give you a smile.

~ Tina-Marie

Radio silence...

2009-09-28T10:12:00.001-04:00

Going to take a little bit of time to mourn a dear soul who ment so very very much to my family and especially my daughter.

In loving memory of Heather MacDonald Colford. Wife of Leslie, friend to so many, and exceptional God-mother to Shelby.

Until we get to sit and drink tea together again...I will make sure I bring the cherry rolls next time we meet.

~ tina-marie

Spoiler alert...this is a rant...

2009-09-24T13:48:00.001-04:00

When one comes out publically with ‘a horrible experience'...

In our lives we have to take stock in our thought processes and the psychological ruts we find ourselves trying to crank our mental steering wheel out of. We have to set aside time once in a while to take stock and remember that as the human animal are indeed a flawed and prideful bunch. When we have to re-learn compassion instead of being unthinkingly humble is a shocking revelation to be sure. When one must try to remember to be less selfish and be more forgiving is when we, as a whole species need to stop and re-evaluate our whole thought processes as they pertain to individual roles our society.

When we have to remind ourselves to love instead of being proud that we didn’t immediately hate, on spec, is when we need to give our heads a preverbal shake.

Face it, we slow down to scan a car crash. We will stop to see a train wreck. But I remember a time, I remember a time, when I felt guilty doing so. Historically, from watching the carnage of war from the top of a bell tower, to the paying of a nickel to see the bearded lady behind the curtain, we are drawn to the macabre; the freak-show of life. And really, can you blame us? After all, as those whose lips seem to have the ear of God love to tell us…we are only human right?

But then…

Then there are those that, for some reason or another we do not look at horror or with dark human curiosity at. We instead look down upon. Those that have been through hell, but because of privilege, and perhaps even the way they throw their demons out there for public consumption, we immediately brush off as liars. Those who we assume say and do things for the shock and awe factor. Lining their wallets with the rewards provided by a society so used to horror and pain that it has become a game of existential one-upmanship on who can do the most damage with nothing more than ripping the band-aid off of the most perverse in human nature.

We are at a point in our evolution in which we are technologically too big for our own britches. We have medical discoveries we don’t know what to do with and sociological events that defy explanation and sometimes even understanding. At the end of the day, everyone gets a giggle out of watching the pedestal crumble, the falling of the King, and then the rally of love and adoration rising the poor fool back up again.

We really dig a romantic storyline don’t we? To live through a situation so awful that we simply can not believe they survived it at all. Ah, and there lies the rub; to be alive to tell the tale. Well, that is just flat out a show of the tenacity of the human spirit. To get through to the other side is sometimes nothing short of a miracle.

So what is my damage Heather may ask.

Karmic latitude.

Ah, and before you get all spiritual on my ass I can tell you, this IS about money. I don’t lie, so don’t accuse me of being deceitful on my premise. Face it, no one has the karmic latitude to wake up from making it through to the other side, live to tell about it, make money on the performance, and not pay the toll.

The taste of bile rises when after one has re-enacted horrific personal experiences through public appearances, books, book signings, and speeches to packed auditoriums under the guise of ‘helping those that have been through it’ for a purely monetary desire and not the one of creating a safe spot for brothers-in-arms.

This is my opinion alone, but if you have successfully kept your head above the waterline and choose to help those who may have experienced similar demons, then do it for that reason. Do not use the ‘I'm going to be the first to allow the damaged mute become un-silenced’ for monetary purposes alone. We have been led down that rabbit hole before. Karmic latitude will make sure you are punished and I can not be the first one to bring this to your attention.

Karmic latitude. You got pain, don’t put pain out there. Put out love, because I truly believe you will get it back. What comes around goes around and it happens so many times it boggles the mind that we forget this simple rule. However, if you are putting your demons out there for the money, then you gotta pay the piper my friend.

Fund local organizations that deal with the horror you lived to tell about. Give back a percentage of your story, book signing, or speech appearance to people that deal with this pain be it through their own experiences or dealing with those who do slash did.

No one should ever, EVER feel they must keep horrible experiences inside. Every human being should have access to help for whatever bogeyman knocks at their bedpost in the middle of the night.

But remember…

No martyr ever did it for the money.

They never even did it for the karmic latitude. Although...I would be okay if they did.

But not one penny more.

~tm

Mmmmmm...Fall and Knitting!

2009-09-10T13:01:00.003-04:00

I have finally found the sweater I am going to make! It is one piece, on circs, and it should be fairly easy...but yes, I have been fooled before!

Seriously, this pattern looks like it could only be easier if, well, someone else made it for me! As usual, to view the pattern http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/1304AD.html you have to log in to Lion Brand. However, if you are reading my blog you probably knit and you should be going and scarfing up as many free patterns (for personal use always) as you can!

I have been in a funk a little bit lately (a couple of sweet readers have posted well wishes and I thank you for that) but I think it's because I am at the butt end of summer and heading into my favourite time of year...FALL!!!

Oh how I love to dress a little warmer and go for walks and see the colours of the world change. I LOVE warmer days and colder nights. I love making pumpkin pies and the tarts Selby gobbles up! I love that the world shutting down a little bit and preparing for the winter. If someone could tell me where in the world it feels like fall all year long I will move there right now! Well, after this years fall has passed anyway.

It's interesting that knitting for fall is my most favourite knitting. It's a little silly that it took me so many years to realize the connection between the two. Now excuse me whilst I go figure out if I have all the stuff to start this new sweater, and if not, a really brilliant reason to have to go shopping for more warm, fluffy, wool.

~tm

Bye bye bees... sad sigh

2009-09-01T21:05:00.003-04:00

I have been informed that I have been remiss in updating my blog regarding the bees, their removal, and he-who-hopes-to-be-redeemed.

So...here is the big news...

At 7:35 this morning the bees here at the farm have been properly sprayed (as per the instructions on the side of the can) and we should expect total annihilation has already happened.

Now, here is the real issue...I feel like shit. I hate that we had to kill them. European Bees are being taken out by African bees. Those fuckers are killers and they are slowly overpowering the kinder, gentler bee. I have blogged about the fact that I want to keep bees. I have spoken openly about my love for them since reading 'The Secret Life if Bees'...and here I am, a bee killer. I swear that if they had picked ANYWHERE ELSE on my property to set up shop I would have not only protected the hive, I would have done so with the fury of a momma bear. I would have found it some special gift from the Big Kahuna in the sky that *I* of all people should end up an accidental bee minder.

But no, they chose my house. They invaded the space of my child, my never-been-stung child. And as a person who was so involved with Sabrina's Law, that small fact alone struck me with more fear than love for the bees.

So please don't mind me whilst I mentally flail my conscience with a proverbial cat'o'nine tails.

Thank you for taking care of the bees Adam. I think having to do this awful deed would have certainly put me over the edge. I love you.

~tm

Meanwhile back at the farm...

2009-08-26T10:07:00.004-04:00

Do you sit back and wonder why life can be so crazy one day, and then suddenly it all just slows to a crawl? By 'all' I mean 'everything'. The kid stops whining, the dog stops puking, the hubby is picking up his stuff, and neither whining nor puking. It's at those moments I realize that I am a slave to my family and it's whims. Don't get me wrong, I am high maintenance myself thank you kindly, but it does get tough having three divas plus a spoiled dog all living under one roof. I figure at this rate, the only one likely to make it out alive is the kid when she goes off to university.

But back to the momentary peace; it is at this time I get to look around and re-examine what the heck is going on in this house. I have just recently spied on many many bees buzzing in and out of an overhang above the french doors leading outside from the home office. This is not good. If you read my blog you will know I have this quiet fascination with bee-keeping. But this is NOT how I want it to happen.

I have gone ahead and asked he-who-wishes-to-be-obeyed-but-will-forever-be-disappointed to look into this potentially nasty issue. You see, it is that their newly chosen home also leads to the storage area of the upstairs television room. Yep, that's right ladies and gents, the room that I just dumped slightly over a 'G' note into re-doing and yet again it has some sort of issue that needs to be addressed.

So I have asked Adam to investigate. I will tell you more once that happens. I asked on Friday. I'm just sayin.

As far as the kid goes...well, she's a teen. I suppose she and I will come to some sort of understanding at about the time she leaves for university. Oh joy. So I patiently wait and spend the next few years anxiously wanting to re-connect with her and enjoy her for every little thing that she is. But apparently it is not until her hormones stop raging that she will become normal again. So I am to understand that at the same times she is starting to become 'normal' again, she will be turning around to hug and kiss me good-bye to go to school. Lovely. I don't remember being told about that at the 'gonna be a mum' sign in.

And the dog? Well, he is an idiot. Oh he is sweet and warm and fluffy and lovely to be sure, but he is mentally deficient. No disrespect to anyone elses'es cock-a-poo, but this guy alternates from looking greatly confused to looking slightly lost. No in between. Well except when he's puking. Then he just looks sad. Yes, yes, I have taken him to the vets. He is just a puker. Fait accompli. Or fait accompuke as the case may be.

So I am going to take my day of rest, say a little prayer to my God in thanks, and try to attack the bedroom without going on further with my own brand of whining.

The suns gotta shine on a dogs arse once in a while. 'Suppose today's my day. ;-)

Ciao bellas,
~tm

Adam is stealing my dog!!!

2009-08-21T11:57:00.007-04:00

I think my partner is stealing my dog. All of a sudden Charlie Tuna is sleeping on Adam's side of the bed. Hanging out with Adam on the couch. Looking to Adam when he wants to go outside. I just want to know...

Why you steal my dog Adam???

I mean, it's not like you even like him all that much. You complain when he wants to go out. You complain when he wants to come in. You bitch endlessly about the fact that he sleeps on the bed with us. You don't have 'daddy-vision' yet so there have been times you've forgotten he is at the bottom of the bed and have rolled over on him in the middle of the night. When we get into a pissing match you only 'sometimes' take him with you on a 'cool out' walk. The same damn route you take him on nightly anyway! Are you trying to make your point that 'you are really mad' to me...or the dog????

So why you steal my dogs affections?

Is it because he has finally found success in lulling you into a false sense of security through those weird acid-eyes? Or is it that the little boy inside of you has finally broken through and now openly revels in the pure joy that bubbles up when getting your toes licked by the fluffy little dog? For the record, yeah it's weird, and yeah LOTS of people like it too.

You constantly call him a 'cat in a dog suit' and complain to everyone how he has to be touching you wherever you sit in the house.

Yet you are becoming curiously close to the little man.

You know, for a guy who never had any pets I have to wonder why you don't just embrace the freedom and get your own 'normal-size' dog? Charlie is an opportunist and just because you give him more treats than I do does not mean he won't turn on you as soon as I start to play the oneupmansip game.

But I won't do that. I would rather you just steal the damn dog. That way I know he is being loved even more. Sometimes, when you don't think anyone is watching you, we have witnessed you petting the dog, playing with the dog, and even wiping his feet gently after being outside in the rain. You are falling in love with the little man and you hate that it is starting to show. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone. You just go ahead and steal my little dog.

After all, this way it makes it way easier for me to go to the pound, and bring another one home.

~tm

Canada is NOT the 'Great White North'

2009-08-17T08:27:00.002-04:00

Without trying to offend anyone I gotta tell you, Canada is not the cold snowy tundra that a lot of people on this big blue marble thinks it is. In my area of this great land we have three seasons; winter, summer, and ridiculously stinking hot. But if you are anything like me, there IS a plus to the horror.

I live in what is essentially a pit created by either a meteor, or the lumbering, scraping, remnants of some gigantic icebergs from millions of years ago. I live in the bottom of that massive pit. Why am I telling you this? Because this pit, and more specifically, the actions that created it, did some pretty amazing things to the land.

First off, we have the Great Lakes. Really, 'nuff said. Cause how amazing are they?

Now for the good part, southern Ontario has some of the best soil in the world for agriculture, and more importantly to me, for grape growing. Rivaling the mucky mucks in France, California, Italy, and Australia we CAN grow pinot grapes and do quite well at it thank you very much. We truly do have some of the best wine in the world.

But because of this, Mother Nature has had to balance the scales between the good, and the bad. Why? She's Mother-Freaking-Nature I guess, I don't know why.

It is her sense of fairness, but not necessarily equity, that her wicked sense of humour has commanded "You will live in 7 to 9 months of cold every year, but in those precious few warm months I will make it so that some of the most wonderful wine can be extracted from grapes you shall grow. Grapes that other regions would die to have so readily grown'.

Thanks Mother Nature, but, now we gotta get to the humidity part of the program. 'Cause for me, the humidity is what drives me insane every summer.

Back to the bottom of the pit. And yes, I know I jump, but seriously, you gotta keep up with me 'cause if you think you are having problems with my writing, try talking to me for a while. So the pit...because of my geographic placement in Southern Ontario (the aforementioned pit bottom) that humidity is such a great concern. It's like the fricken rain forest in my backyard, and worse of all, my HOUSE. I think I may have even seen geckos running across my ceiling last night. Trust me, we have some wicked moisture issues in my home.

I have no central air. Just a bunch of ceiling fans. To coin a euphemism used quite often by my ex-husband; I am sweating my bag off in there. Figuratively, and I suppose literally, if we want to be cutesy about it. It's a hundred year old home, CA is not an option right now. Sweating rivers apparently is. Anyway...

I live in a humid, central-airless house, at the bottom of a pit with nothing but a few sad ceiling fans to move around the hot air. Is there any good to this blog at all Tina?

Damn straight! I get through the horror quite fine with some of the juiciest, chewiest, yummiest, red wines straight from my own area. Snowy Great White North? Yeah, trust me, only in my dreams.

~tm

How freaking cute is this???

2009-08-06T14:27:00.003-04:00

Otters are freakin adorable, right? Right?!

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees

2009-08-05T12:43:00.001-04:00

I should NOT have run into this website online: http://www.omlet.co.uk/products_services/products_services.php?view=Bees

Okay, here is the deal, I read ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ and I loved it. Two words my friend A – MAZING!

So I am surfing and I find these totally cool, totally urban beehives. I’ve only one thing to say…I think Adam may kill me.

~tm

I am sorry already!!!

2009-07-30T08:31:00.005-04:00

Okay I know I have been derelict in writing lately, like two weeks now. But it's summer and I am busy and knitting is really on the back shelf. Well, I have been knitting, but its a total and utter failure. Let me explain...

I really wanted to do something quick. And for the life of me I can not get some sort of tank top or shell out of my head. Why oh why do I become so OCD about these things? So...I went and bought a set of 8/12 circs, 29" long. I have two balls of chunky Marble yarn which is a beautiful myriad of earth tones that I have wanted to do something with for a long time. With those two items, and my need to do something quick and satisfying, I cast on a hundred or so stitches.

Knitting the first row I remembered that I ought to put markers in to show front and back for when I have to put one side or the other on a stitch holder.

Knitting the second row I remembered that I ought to make one marker a different colour in order to show where I started.

Knitting the third row I realized 120 stitches does not knit up as quick as I had originally thought. And then I double checked to make sure I had only cast on 120 stitches and not 4, 528 as this project seemed to suddenly be.

Knitting the fourth row I realized this was sucking the 'hind tit' so I put the whole thing down.

Then, I poured myself a glass of wine.

So here I am in a quandary; is my love affair with knitting starting to wane or am I just stinking super busy with other stuff that I am pre-occupied with, you know, life?

I think it's the latter. I hope it's the latter. Please, sweet knitting Goddess of soft and fluffy yarn, let it be the latter.

*silence, crickets, more silence*

In the meantime, I went golfing with Nancy-Fancy-Pants at a local municipal course. Now, I am not sure, but is 20 bucks good for 9 holes? Aw, it doesn't matter 'cause I had a blast! She is so much fun to golf with. A glass of white wine afterward made it a perfect Wednesday evening.

Alrighty, back at it. Wish me luck, and send me good fluffy knitting karma.

~tm

See You Next Tuesday

2009-07-07T15:00:00.006-04:00

Yeah, it really is what you think.

~tm

Congratulations Audrey and Dana!

2009-07-04T23:59:00.002-04:00

To the most beautiful bride and her handsome groom...congratulations! May your days be busy, happy, frustrating, loving, nutty, frightening, and above all, real. This is the best time, this new beginning.

Thank you so much for allowing me to come and celebrate your most wonderful day!

~tm

Crazy attention issues and knitting

2009-07-02T16:48:00.017-04:00

I have a lovely woman in my life who cleans my house and does my laundry and de-sticks stuff that has been stuck to the floor. She makes my dust bunnies go hopping away and pretty much does all the tedious jobs that I just can not get to in my day. Yes I have house-help, and frankly, if it means that I go out for dinner once or twice less a month, then I am better for it. Karen is sweet and wonderful and really quite kind, but manoman can she talk.

Karen is our twice-a-month Major Domo and is, I honestly believe, an adult with serious attention deficit issues. I mean she is seriously ALL OVER THA PLACE when in conversation. She tells the best stories, lots of great stories...lot's of stories. But you know what? I am okay with it because she cleans my space.

Anyway, Karen noticed my knitting one day and began to tell me a story about how she herself had been interested in learning how to knit. She visited the local 'big box yarn place' and signed up for a lesson, as apparently they were making little baby sweaters. Karen thought this would be good since baby's are small so their sweaters will be small and that is something she is interested in trying; something knitted, something small. She did know that she had no clue what she was getting into.

On the evening of the 'baby sweater course' she was handed some super fine baby wool, and a pair of 2.75 mm needles. The pattern she was given was for a beginner to intermediate knitter and after being shown how to cast on, was pretty much left on her own.

Now...I told you Karen has like an attention disorder right? After about a good half hour of knitting Karen had about 4 rows completed and the vein that had made its debut on her forehead was just about ready to explode. The other knitters in the class were well on their way to a sweet soft baby set...Karen needed to re-cast for the 8th time. The course was pretty much a disaster. Karen was completely disheartened.

Do you know what this meant? This meant that I got a present of a nice little stash of wool, a set of needles, and a cute pattern for a baby set left on my butchers block after Karen came to the house the next day. She was completely disgusted with the craft, and disappointed with herself. The class did her no good whatsoever and frankly, she didn't give a crap if she ever picked up needles again. I got my panties in a bunch because what was done to her as a beginner was completely unfair...and we are NOT going to lose a potential knitter.

And because I refuse to let her be thusly discouraged so I am posting my own, my very first, original recipe here. That's right, I am making a really easy...um...pattern (which I always call recipes 'cause I can never remember the word 'pattern') that I am going to post. I call it my 'Yarn Newbie' recipe. This is super simple, super fast for those who need almost-instant-gratification. Remember ducklings, this is my first attempt so please let me know of any fixes!

Yarn Newbie Gauntlets

What you need:

100g/3.5 oz Bernat Softee Chunky (I used Pale Antique Rose cause I like pink damn it)
10Us/6mm needles - I used 9" bamboos cause I love me some wood
Yarn embroidery needle
Scissors

What you need to know:

Knit, Purl, Mattress stitch (don't fret, I got a link to help with that), how to pour yourself a glass of wine (always a prerequisite for every recipe I shall post)

Getting started:

Measure your arm from the middle of your forearm to the bottom of your thumb. On me it's about 5 inches. Then measure from the crook of your thumb (okay or the bottom or whatever the hell y'all want to call it) to the middle knuckle of your middle finger. That's right, the one you use to express your displeasure to fellow drivers of autos on the highway. Again, for me it's about 3 inches. Add it all up and you get your total. I will end up knitting 8 inches, or 9, whatever, this is free and easy. You only have to lay it across your arm the first time to get where you need to leave the thumb hole so. See? Easy peasy!

Let's get going!

Using the long tail cast on method, cast on 34 stitches.

Row 1 - Knit 2, purl 2 to end of row.

Row 2 - Purl 2, knit 2 till end of row. Swirl and take a sip of wine.

Knit until you got your grand total in length. I decided on 9 inches so that it stays nicely under my sleeve in the cold months here in the great white north.

Bind off.

Fold the gauntlet in half length-wise. Using a Mattress Stitch knit from the bottom of the gauntlet to your first measurement which would be the bottom of your thumb (5 inches or so). Leave the inch and a half opening for the thumb, and then sew up to the top.

There you have it! One gauntlet glove! Now cast on again and make the other one. Ridiculously easy, ridiculously fast. This should work quite well for those of us who may or may not have a little bit of an attention or 'instant gratification' issue. Now go on Karen, grab some chunky wool and some big fat needles and knit with your bad ole self!

~tm

A difference of opinion...a journalistic question

2009-06-29T12:39:00.004-04:00

The Jewish Tribune reports a story about a photograph of American President Barak Obama having a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. You read it right; the paper reported a ‘story’ about a ‘photograph’.

In the photo President Obama is sitting, feet up on his desk, looking interested, and engaged, while talking with the Prime Minister on the phone. It is an amazing photo of the President, and one that should be looked at in its importance as that of the leader of the free world being completely at ease speaking with the Prime Minister of a country which at best is war-torn and at worst explosive.

This very interesting image which has been caught in time forever has been described in a very different manner half a world away. A political correspondent for the Ha’aretz interpreted it in an entirely opposite light. The correspondent writes that Obama is (and I only slightly paraphrase here) ‘sitting, insulting Netanyahu by showing the soles of his shoes, fists clenched, with a stern look on his face as though dictating to Netanyahu; listen up and write ‘Palestinian state’ a hundred times.’

Wild huh? How can a photo be construed so differently? After initially getting downright pissed off, I started to wonder…is this journalism or culture misinterpretation?

I don’t understand the politics enough to read the hidden agenda, but I do understand what I see. And since I have been, and continue to be, a published freelance columnist, I feel that I have just as much right to have a say about my journalistic brothers and sisters.

I understand that one mans beast is another’s beauty. I get that we are all allowed to have our point of view. But for a journalist to be credible the culture of the individual must be taken into account or else the story is meaningless and simply false.

Let’s look at the photo. President Obama’s hands are not clenched. He is clearly engaged in the conversation but ‘stern’ would be is not a word that would readily come to mind when reading his facial features, having listened to him speak on many occasions. His feet up on the desk come across as him being at ease in the conversation. Conversely, both feet on the floor would give the impression of ‘fight or flight’. I understand the showing of ones shoe soles is an insult in the Arab world and the impression could be one of insult, but this is a culture clash folks, and not a religious slight.

I am disturbed not by the agenda the newspaper clearly has, as, it has the right to be for or against whatever it pleases, but more by the journalism that is driving the interpretation. This is a photo of the President of the United States of America in a relaxed state, engaging in a conversation with another Leader. This was not meant to put out any kind of ‘subliminal’ message. Reading any further into this photograph is reaching for something that frankly is not there.

I guess I would have been happier if this had been an ‘Editorial’ piece, and not one submitted by a fellow writer. It gives ‘journalistic integrity’ a dirty face, and politics is already dirty enough.

~tm

For my own piece of mind...

2009-06-18T20:55:00.005-04:00

Put needle into the stitch and knit, without removing it from the left needle. Stick it in the back and knit, then in the front and knit, then in the back and knit again. Take off stitch. Turn work. Yarn should be forward. Purl all four stitches. Turn work. Move first stitch, then second stitch to right needle. Then backwards stitch into them both. Then, knit the next two together on the left needle. Turn work. Purl the two together. Turn work. Purl stitch, then continue to knit in pattern.

Yeah, that didn't quite work. Go here instead: http://www.ehow.com/how_2284014_make-bobble-knitting.html

Sorry, thinking out loud here. I just wanted to get how I do bobbles down in writing somewhere for next time. I am so tired of watching You Tube eighty times to re-learn it. This truly is my most selfish post. :-)

~tm

My kntting stash

2009-06-14T21:33:00.003-04:00

Early this morning Adam and I got up and had our usual Sunday morning tea together. Reading the newspaper I had a good laugh over the entertainment section, and then decided to start my day.

Except, I really didn't want to start my day at all. I just wanted to loaf around and do nothing. But time at home to do stuff is so limited in my life. I must do 'something' , so I decided to go through my needles and yarn stash.

Crap I own a lot of needles! Double crap with the amount of projects I have on the go that I am not getting to. The really pathetic part is that it LOOKS like I am hiding these half projects from myself. How weird is that I gotta ask??? Yes I suck, but back to the 'jects'.

I am calling lost projects 'jects' because that word reminds me of 're-jects', which is kinda what these projects had become.

I have Selbys 'Skully Shrug' that is, like, 70% done, yet I can't get back to it. Why? Cause I have the attention span of an acorn that's why. I need to buckle down and do the sucker, but nooooo it is just much easier to hide it from myself. Again with the hiding? What up wit dat? How can someone hide something from themselves? I could barely play hide-and-seek without cheating when I was little for chrissakes. Alright, I will make myself aware and I will not simply 'hide' anything again. I will finish it! Damn you skully shrug and your wee beady eyes!!

Ah, and then there is my 'Viking Hat' experiment. See, I did this really cute 'Viking Hat' sample that now sits upon the knightly head of Sir Norman the Bear. Upon placing said hat upon Sir Normans' head he thusly became 'Sir Norman, the Saxon'. Get it? Funny huh? No? Oh alright. Anywho, I have been reminded by more than a couple people that I need to make up some bigger ones for bigger heads. Like the giant German head of my lovah...

Enter the 'sock yarn'. Che-yeah....socks. The short row education, the turning of heels, the watching of Tina lose her marbles. Short rows are HARD man. I can't get it. I don't understand the directions, the pictures, the recipes, its all a dogs breakfast thank you. I will not be making socks anytime soon. I will watch my family go barefoot before I can figure heels out. Damn you short rows!!!! *fist waving in anger and raucous back-and-forthness*

Adams' French Press Cozy. Yeah, it's coming. So's Christmas.

In my stash I realized how much cotton yarn I had purchased for dishcloths. I best be getting back to knitting some of those suckers up eh? I have 'just' about forgotten how difficult I found the Loop Stitch to be. Much like how a woman almost forgets how extremely painful and life sucking child-birth is. I will probably start on those first because of the odd sadist gene I have.

But at the end of the day I am not tackling the Summer Tank Top. I refuse to start it yet. It's just not, I'm just not, the mojo just isn't there. *sigh* That fucker is my new white whale, and we all know how much I hate sharing the beach. ;-)

~tm

A post to cheer up a friend!

2009-06-11T15:25:00.006-04:00

Sometimes when we are down, we need to have a friend remind us of a few basic truths. Truths about the world we live in. Truths about our lives. Truths that are sometimes life-altering. At the end of the day, sometimes these simple truths are just want we need to pick us up. These are for you Trés-Marie! Remember you are loved!

Triangular sandwiches taste better than square ones.
~ And the best egg sandwiches in the WORLD are the triangle ones at funeral homes. Yes I admit I am a freak, but go ahead, tell me I'm wrong. Ya can't!!!

Rummaging in an overgrown garden will always turn up a bouncy ball.
~ Or, you know, depending on the year of the memory, your panties.

The smaller the monkey the more it looks like it would kill you at the first given opportunity.
~ Fuck I hate monkeys.

People that hate cats will come back as dogs in their next life.
~ Amen

It takes balls to knit.
~ Uh che-YEAH. Knitting is NOT for the weak.

Real friends are the ones who survive transitions between address books.
~ I can count on one hand. And am blessed that it almost takes two. You have always made the switch, every single time.

A trip to Baskin Robbins can always cheer you up.
~ Thank you Debbi Gray for a story that, even 6 years after hearing it, makes me laugh my fool ass off!

Real friends will play the 'pick what you want on each page of the flyer' game with you no matter how shitty a mood they are in.
~ Well, except when they are feeling particularly 'FAWNCEE'. Then they just poo-poo the whole idea...in Nuremberg.

You know who your friends are by the way they stop eating, stop laughing, or even try to help you after you trip and fall over your pant leg.
~ oh dear, yeah, as a friend, I pretty much failed on that.

Lastly,

Never EVER EVER EVER leave a girl-friend hanging on a 'Sponge-Bob'.
~ Cause if you thought a sistah was sweet and demure before then, let her hang just once and she will rip your face off!

Get better soon Trés. Love you lots!
~tm

Playing Chess!

2009-06-09T11:20:00.003-04:00

Chess is an interesting game. Also known as the ‘Game of Kings’, it is one of strategy, skill, and sleuth. It is not a game to be one-off’ed. A player must think three steps ahead in order to win. A competitor does best when she does not take anything, and especially her opponent, for granted. It takes forethought and planning. A constant evaluation of the pieces in order to best set up for the Checkmate is a must. War-like tactics are to be used, and play-by-play board re-assessment is mandatory in order to claim victory. Chess is a game of higher learning and above-average skill. So much so that this very fact has been known to make some people stop for a moment and ask…

‘This is a game that TINA likes?’

Yes I do! I dig Chess. I dig it cause it makes my brain hurt. I have to really THINK about what I am doing. No fucking around. Chess is important because it uses the parts of my brain that is often left to its own devices because I do not need to use it at work. I have to strategize and fake-out my opponent. A quick deek, a fast fake out, then hit’em hard baby-cakes. But the best part is that my goal in Chess is completely opposite to what it should be, thereby messing with my opponents strategy. I do not play to win, I play to not lose.

Actually this drives Adam a little crazy, with the crazy part being an unexpected added benefit to be sure. He plays to win. His play tactic is to hit hard, Castle his King quickly, and then beat the hell out of my side of the board with brute force. He protects as many men as possible whereas I am willing to block myself and force him to take some of my pieces without having it injure my pride.

While he is pondering the next three moves, I will occasionally admire the craftsmanship of my horsey. Sometimes I just sit back and think about ways to get a shinier, brighter, polish and sheen to the game board for the aesthetic value. Floor polish perhaps? How about beeswax? Oh the possibilities are endless.

This really drives Adam nutty, which again is an added bonus for me.

Right now I am currently trying to locate a nice Chess set with at least a 4 inch King, for under two hundred dollars. This is proving to be as hard as locating the grail. Right now we are using Adams grandfathers set. It is a really nice set but one I am not really comfortable with taking to an open-air park with permanent boards. The pieces have emotional and historical family value, if to no one else other than us. My hunt will continue. In the meantime I will be very happy playing Chess on the bedroom balcony, glass of wine in hand, watching the vein that pops out of Adams head when I do things contrary to what he thinks should happen.

Chess is so much fun!

~tm

Random weekend stuff

2009-06-08T12:58:00.012-04:00

I had a very nice weekend! We had fam over Saturday night for 'Game Night'. We played 'Life' and 'Trivial Pursuit'. We ate a CRAP LOAD of munchie foods. I drank Marguritas. Then on Sunday, we spent the morning home. In the afternoon we went out for a little bit in order for Adam to buy a new batch of clothes for work (I pick the shirts and ties). His thinner bod is tired of the old fat clothes so a new wardrobe was in order. A good weekend indeed, hope yours was just as uneventful really.

Now, I thought I would come clean on a few knitting items and perhaps throw out a question to my knitting friends who read my puke for some advice. First off...the item I promised to show...the big green thing...

Yeah...that's it. It is pretty nice to cuddle up with, or so my sister told me Saturday night. I am pleased with the turnout. I did 3 rows of stockinette stitch and a YO 4th row to get the almost 'fisherman' look. My brother-in-law says it looks like 'Camo'. I guess that is okay too. Anyway, it's done, time to move on!!

I can't remember if I posted any golf socks. So if I didn't here is one being made. I am making a couple more for myself and will then prolly move on over to making some for my other golfing girlfriends. Oh yeah, I guess I tell tell you about them already, I vaguely remember being honest about the pom-pom maker. I am such a gadget tart. I like making them cause they are a quick one-off. The designs are optional and the sizes vary all over the place depending on how married you are to the size of needles and yarns suggested.

I am so digging the whole golfing thing. Adam and I are going to be golfing in a local SPCA tournament which will be my FIRST real, honest-to-goodness-trying-to-really-GOLF golfing event. We are playing at one of my most FAVOURITE courses so it is promising to be a great day. Hope to get my club socks done in time!

Lastly, I have a request: I am currently trying to make a cozy for Adams 'French Coffee Press'. I have to make a rectangle 11 inches wide by 5.5 inches high. Then I will be adding three buttons to hold it on tight. However, my rectangle looks like shit. My original cast-on looks like shit, my bind-off looks like shit, and granted I haven't blocked the piece yet, the whole thing is just a monumental disappointment. Any advice on this would be appreciated. Specifically to the shitty bind off...I mean, what the hell did I do? And, am I supposed to bind off in the stitch that I am stitching into? Meaning, do I bind off in K2 P2? I am lost I tells ya. In the meantime I think I am going to payoff my $25.00 late fee at the Library and get some 'back to basics' books to refresh and perhaps rejuvenate.

Oh, and just for the hellovit, here is a picture of Charlie Tuna. He is so sweet, and so dumb and, wait, I think we've been down this path before. I just want to kiss him. You will notice the Justin Timberlake scarf. Yeah that's right, 'Cha Tu' is bringing sexy back you know cause that is how we throw down in The Shire babies.

~tm

In honour of my friend Cathy...

2009-05-22T13:25:00.002-04:00

I have a reader! So today, I will cater to her. I wrote this piece years ago and it made her laugh out loud then, I hope it will when she reads it once again. This one is for you Cath, one of my most favourite people in the whole wide world.

I am at Taco Bell!

I am at Taco Bell and I am so excited!

I am the one dancing in line, all hopped up about a Grande Hard Taco and a large barrel of Pepsi.

I am at Taco Bell and I am going to make sure everyone knows how excited I am about it. Why? Because Taco Bell is the fast food restaurant of choice. My choice. And what should be everyone else's choice too!

Taco Bell is that place where North meets South and Tex meets Mex. Taco Bell is THE PLACE where one can go to experience the Alamo. A little slice of what it means to be Latin American, with that distinctly Mexican flare.

Dancing in the large aluminum 'people corral' I am suddenly sad. For a moment I am reminded of all the cows that stood in this very same format in order to give up their lives for the delectable tacos I am about to eat. I suppose the cows were a little less excited than me while they stood in line. I also suppose the conversation was less exciting for them as well. For whilest I dance and discuss my afternoon plans, my dearly departed bovine heros, Ed and Jeff, are probably cursing my ass and praying to Ganesh. Oh they will be back to hurt me, of that I am positively sure. Whether through soul transferance or heart disease, they will get their pound of flesh. So to speak.

But until then...I am going to order and eat some yummy Taco Bell and be happy!

As I approach the pimply faced 17 year old ready to take my order, I have a fleeting thought that perhaps the spice-and-seasoning-based-humidity is doing this young girl's complexion more harm than good. Is minimum wage worth the scaring that the noxious beef gases are doing to her face? The beat-up name tag shows me that this young lady is going by the name 'Amanda'. It may or may not really be her name. I don't know. But who wants to be asked their name from a person they hae been watching dance in the corral for the last last 15 minutes.

'Can I take your order?' she drawls in quiet rote.

'Why yes you can!' I proclaim emphatically. 'I would like a Grande Hard Taco and a barrel of Pepsi please!'.

And then it happened. The moment of I dread. The Taco Bell let-down. The moment that crushes my Central American spirit.

'We are out of hard taco shells. Do you want to order something else?'

No.

I do not want to order something else. I want my hard shelled taco and I want my barrel of Pepsi. I have been dancing my ass off, laughing at the poor animals that gave the ultimate sacrifice and even felt sorry for the acne-ridden Taco girl because I was getting what I wanted and I was willing, even happy, to be kind to the universe while I waited.

I wanted to reach inside my coat and pull out a semi-automatic, aim it at her dangly name tag, and force her to move her skinny ass to the back and find me some fucking hard shells. I wanted to pull a Michael Douglas in the movie 'Falling Down' and make sure that I, and all my other 'people corral' friends, were going to get what was on the damn sign in the beautiful way it was presented. And it was going ot happen right NOW.

'Uh, so can I get you something else?'

'No thank you', I dejectedly whisper and move out of line. I walk toward the door, and out to my car. No Taco Bell for me today. Today is not the day I get Taco Bell. In my sadness I drive around the city, tired, hungry and slightly pathological. And then it hits me. Today wasn't REALLY my day for Taco Bell. Oh no, I wasn't REALLY in the mood for some Tex Mex southern comfort. No, today is the day I that I need KFC.

Formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, but now known under the blaringly ambiguous KFC moniker it is aslso true to it's animal counterpart; there are no 'people corrals' at KFC. Like the chickens that gave up their lives for the wonderous food I was about to eat, KFC just lets you wander around until you confusedly make your way to the counter.

Whatever. I don't care. 'Cause I got my snack pack AND a bigger area to dance. I am at KFC and I am SO excited!

My puppy love

2009-05-14T10:12:00.002-04:00

Charlie Tuna is the best puppy ever. He is funny and he is sweet. He has his own brand of humour. He is dumb. Lord is he dumb. But he is warm and fluffy and will always wake up to cuddle with me in the middle of the night if I've had a bad dream.

He is 7 whole years old and he still can't tie his shoes. Not that I put him in shoes. Well, not out in public. NO SERIOUSLY, I do not put shoes on my dog. I do put a coat on him in the winter though. And a rain coat in the summer. Trust me, there is nothing that smells weirder than a 14 pound wet Cock-a-poo.

He is my first 'lifer'. Never had a dog from puppy to adult, and I assume, on to the next phase of his journey in this universe. Man, I don't even want to think about that. So I will instead think about how ridiculous dogs eyes always look in pictures and how soft his hair is.

Okay, alright, I know sticking the paper crown on him probably didn't make him any happier, but his eyes just look so darned EVIL. Freaky eyes do not do Charlie Tuna any favours since his eyes already look a little demented without the glassy reflection going on.

Conversely, he can look like he has no eyes at all when he is over-grown and needs to go to the groomer. In fact, when I think about it, he gets more hair-do's during the year than I do. But that is because he gets his claws stuck in his hair when it's too long. Which got me to thinking about those people who knit sweaters from their dogs hair. Seriously, there are even books about it at: http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Dog-Hair-Better-Sweater/dp/0312152906#

That is just creepy weird. I mean, think about it. Would you shave your partner down on a regular basis and use his or her hair to make a sweater? There is something seriously wrong with that line of conservation. Turn the heat down sure...but at least break a buck and buy the stuff that is SUPPOSED to be made into a sweater. Like a sheep or an alpaca. NOT the family Basset Hound.

Maybe I am being too harsh. Charlies' hair really is soft and fluffy like a lamb when it gets long. Maybe I should try it and make a sweater. Hmmmmm....a 14 pound dog that gets his hair shaved 3 times a year would mean I would have to save his wool for about 9 years.

Naw...I would rather just go raid the Internet for some lovely soft wools of non-puppy kind. I think Charlie would be happier with that decision too.

~tm

OCD's and the big earth-toned 'thing'

2009-05-12T08:27:00.002-04:00

Yeah...so...knitting huh? Here is the dill-ee-oh about knitting for me. When I started knitting years ago, I made mittens. Lots of them. I was quite good at it. And the ones that turned out badly were ripped out half-way and re-worked into stick-shift cozies for our cars and trucks. But then I digressed to just making scarves, and then to the point of not knitting anything at all. I didn't care, I didn't want to pick up the sticks, I just wasn't interested.

Problem is that I become FOCUSED on something and it becomes all encompassing. It was knitting for a while, then rag rugs, then antiquing, then yoga, then wine, then wine, then wine, then weight loss (see aforementioned wine inserts), then knitting, then golf, then beading, and then...well you get the picture. I have to buy it, be it, do it, and think about nothing but it, whatever the 'it' may be.

After my Doctor rolled his eyes and reminded me that since I already have an OCD that manifests itself through my control issues (which reminds me to call my therapist for my annual 'mental physical') I realized that its should come as no surprise that when I get interested in something, I must OWN IT.

And through all the different interests and crafts and wonderfulness of things that constantly feed my spongy brain, I have found that the thing that I keep coming back to is knitting.

It's the tactileness (is that a word?) of knitting. The wonderfulness of the wool. The really cool way some lovely warm bamboo needles feel in my hands. And conversely, the way some shiny, heavy, steel needles feel cold and click really turns me on. There is something so tribal, natural, even seductive about some fabulous wool and the way a pattern slowly comes together.

Oh I could go on and on. But the whole POINT of this entry is the big earth-toned 'throw' I started. Did I tell you about it? Yes? No? Don't matter cause now it has turned into the big earth-toned THING that is overtaking my lap, my thoughts, and my life. It got too big for a throw, not big enough for a blanket...so I find myself just knitting and knitting it. My OCD is overtaking the meaning behind the thing in the first place. It is no longer a project, it is my own Mount Kilimanjaro, my white whale, my own personal kind of heroin I must kick. I have one more ball of yarn to go then I am done with this thing.

Or...am I? Can I let it go? Is it finished? 'Cause as I said, its not big enough for a blanket.

Hmmmmm...but if I add a couple more balls to it then it would be. Or something nice to toss on the leather couch for cold nights reading. Oh yeah, my thoughts are eloquent, but the project is getting on my fucking nerves. Will post a picture tonight. Will grow my hair back later.

~tm

Knitting and Northern Exposure

2009-05-06T18:24:00.006-04:00

My daughter and I have bonded over the most unusual thing, a television show. Yes I know that many parents have discovered that their children like a television show they watch. However, this show is old. In fact, it was one I watched while pregnant; Northern Exposure.

Selby watched it with me after work a few months back, and totally fell in love with the 'Ed' character. That makes sense. He is tall, gaunt, introspective, introverted, and sports a really bad hair-do. He is incredibly sweet, completely unassuming, and the shows required eternal optimist. I am quite worried to be honest, I was hoping Selby would end up with a cut-throat lawyer or a by-any-means-necessary investment banker. But no, Ed is simply shades of future relationships for my sweet kidling. But I digress, the reason for this post (which has not a lot really to do with knitting other than the fact that once written I shall once again return to my latest project) is because I wanted to write about MY favourite actor on the show Rob Morrow, aka Doctor Joel Fleishman.

It was a great character for Mr. Morrow. Apparently the show was not meant for a long run, nor was it meant to become as popular as it did. But we ended up hanging out with the varied and fascinating folks of Cicely, Alaska for about 5 years. I find that I am interested in all the characters, but my heart would understandably belong to the smarmy, snotty, self-infatuated Joel "Uncle-Manny-was-at-my-Bar-Mitzvah" Fleishman. Maybe it's because although he is SO completely Jewish, I am positive I saw him eat a shellfish chowder one episode. Flippin the bird to the food rules. Yep, it's all about being a bad boy.

Now those who know me well would be surprised that I would pick that character since, I am loathe to admit, I have dated more than one 'Chris Stevens' in my time. But, I can't go for flighty, no matter how existential they may be. Keep your Poe, your Voltaire, and your Chopra...I mean, sure I like intellectual, but what I really like is geeky! Geeks are my weakness. Especially the geeks that play chess with me.

On a final note, Joel's office manager Marilyn Whirlwind is often knitting in the office. That rocks cause we knitters are cool.

Poor Adam. He will need a map to see that he is actually being hugely complimented in this post. I love you honey. But, Northern Exposure is about to start, and my fingers are itching to get wrapped up in wool.

~

Golf club covers and 'Idol' notes

2009-04-30T10:03:00.009-04:00

I took up golfing about 3 years ago. However, with all the things that have gone on in my life the last year or so, I didn't get out at ALL last summer. Which is a shame since I really enjoy everything about the game. It invites competition and good-hearted jesting. It gets you out into the sunshine. It provokes the senses in way that the smell of grass and the sound of bumblebees wobbling from flower to flower drives a gal like me into a outdoor frenzy. There is no bad about golf...unless it is raining. I do not golf in the rain. Call me a pussy all you want you militant golfing chicks, but I am as sweet as sugar and I will melt. Screw you chickeepoo.

So, forecast-provoking-name-calling aside, I dig the gig. I am hep to the pep. I love the sport. I must admit, I have a really cool pair of shoes and that is always a plus isn't it ladies? White-leather-and-pink-leopard-skin baby. Mama's got a brand new way of walkin' child and it allll has to do with her fancy feet.

Sorry, my inner Ella Fitzgerald was surfacing. So, back to golf. I am getting out this year. I will not be stopped. I am so focused on this task that I am making myself some new golf club covers to entice the fates. I am thinking a lovely rich chocolate brown and bright pink set of wood covers. I will prowl the yarn shop for he perfect skien. A hank or two should do it, but as I get them done I will tell you more.

Here is my prototype that I did lat night watching American Idol. Side note: Adam Lambert, who has been in my number two spot since the beginning was given a sound spanking last night. Sorry, but no one should be bigger than their flaming britches, so a little bitch-slap of reality is something he really needed. Perhaps he will step up that game even more and raise the bar even higher, so high there will be no other Idol ever. But, I still feel the only real competition is between he and Danny Gokey. Further Side note: My beloved has a bro-mance with Adam. It's weird, but who cares, he is strong enough in his heterosexuality to admit it, I find it amusing enough to be cool with it.

Okay, back to work for me. Ciao bellas.

~

I knew I would feel guilty!

2009-04-27T17:43:00.003-04:00

I promised pictures, I give pictures. It's what I do.

Here, finally, is the Mohawk hat I made from the 'Pretty In Punk' book. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. My ex-husband does a lot of snow plowing during the winter for folks, and promised that if I made him one he would wear it. So I will give him this one to wear for Christmas. He is fearless with hats I learned over our 17 year marriage. He used to make me buy him a differnt 'funky' hat for the annual boys fishing trip. The guys would love his hats. Too bad I didnt' learn to knit back then or else I could have had a riot with the different styles. So he has expressed a great interest in obtaining this hat...freak that he is...but it is very cool he will wear it and I will take pictures next winter.

Lastly, my 'throw' I am making for cool nights on our balcony with a glass of wine and my beloved. Take a notice to my point protector...it's a champagne cork!!! I am using size 10 Bamboo needles and my regular point protectors were too small. So not wanting to lose my stitches, I just shoved the cork on the top. Finally, a use for the 400 or so champagne corks I have!!! Sure, sure, you can send me all the links you want to the sites that show how to make those 'cork boards' out of old wine corks, it just ain't gonna happen. I am not all that thrilled with those boards anyway. This idea is great!

Okay, now getting back to purging for the yard sale! Did I not mention that? I will expand further next sitting.

~

I suck!

2009-04-27T14:20:00.004-04:00

I am so sorry for not writing before now. I have been uber-busy and I haven't had a whole lot of time to myself. So...here is what I am currently knitting...

~ My own shrug. It's earth tones and it's super easy and for some reason I can NOT get my ass in gear to finish it. What is wrong with me? I will post a picture tonight.

~ A blanket slash throw for nights on the master bedroom balcony with my beloved. It started out as a poncho...but I learned how to YO and now I am just knitting this big huge thing that I will use on cool nights. Quite frankly, I have always wanted to knit an afghan, but ho-lee forever Batman! I don't have the patience. There is a reason why I stopped having children after one.

~ The 'Skully' shrug that I started for my daughter like a MILLION years ago. The aforementioned only child. She is spoiled. She is a teen. No wonder I run away and knit by myself.

Again, I will post pictures, but I am just writing in order to shame myself into getting back into the swing of things.

Finally...one of the flat-out funnest things I have read in a while is a post from a lady's blog called 'Chicken Shawl'. I love the way this woman turns a phrase and have been casually following her blog ever since. Go visit a cute little post and pattern at: http://redshirtknitting.com/?p=269

~

Happy Birthday Zeppo

2009-02-25T15:02:00.003-05:00

Today is Herbert Manfred Marx's birthday. He was born February 25, 1901, and I think he was THE funniest Marx Brother. He was the 'straight man' in a room full of crazies. He was the comedic foil to Grouchos over-the-top antics. He is the Marx Brother that was never given the credit he deserved.

But to me dear Zeppo, you will be my favourite. Groucho is always a close second but that is because there was a sexual smarminess about him that I am always attracted to, but that is a whole different birthday story; one that includes Bugs Bunny, Errol Flynn and the Poet Ted Hughes.

Happy Birthday Zeppo, gone, but not forgotten.

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

~

Okay, a slow weekend to be sure

2009-01-26T08:43:00.004-05:00

So I did ZERO KNITTING this weekend. I suck. I did however switch around the bedroom and both Adam and I love it WAY more now than before. I decided to ditch ever using the window for decent light and put up a tacky set of curtains so I could put the bed in front of it. I have a high headboard and the curtians make it almost look like one of those fancy bed-suites. Anyway, it turned out for the very best and made up for my sadness in not having any time to knit.

BUT...I wanted to show off the stuff I got for the 'Mohawk Cap'. I am really hoping this is as easy as Jane at the Needle Emporium says it will be. I just tend to hold off on stuff cuase I dont want to screw it up...the procrastinators life for me.

Anyway, it's Monday and I should get to work. Talk soon!

Just fine...

2009-01-22T08:53:00.005-05:00

My 'Tiger Washcloth' done! It was a tough project and I thank sweet jeebus that it was a tiny project or else I don't think I would have ever finished it! The cotton doesn't give and I looked and felt so tense trying to pull it while knitting. Anyway, it is my first finished project for my blog. Yay me!

So here is the scoop on my next project. I bought the book 'Pretty in Punk' ( I think that is the title) because it has a bunch of really fun and funky punk ideas like armbands, goth web-shirts, and such. BUT, the reason why I got it is because of the 'Mohawk Skull Caps'. I LOVE these things. It is a super-fun cap with a 'Mohawk' of big bright wool shaped in. But...it looks hard and I am new, what to do? Where do I go for help?

The Internet of course. I went online and found a place in Ancaster, Ontario that sells wool and all kinds of knitting accouterments: The Needle Emporium. Perhaps someone there can help me kick start my confidance level.

Getting there around 4:30ish last night, I walked in to the warmth of a million skeins of wool. The shop, located in a heritage building, is filled to the brim. I immediately fell in love with the place. Jane, who seems to be the shops single employee besides the owner herself, was very welcoming and I immediately wanted to squeeze her brain for all it's 'knitting knowledge'. Feeling this may be inappropriate upon having only just met her, I decided to simply look around a bit to get to know the place.

Wandering around the rooms I realized I am woefully undereducated and have no idea what I am looking at, or doing. There are a thousand different kinds of wool. Colours I never thought existed. I became somewhat disillusioned as to my quest, and my enthusiasm took a big hit.

Another woman came in shortly thereafter. Jane, the shop lady and the new customer seemed to know one another well and immediately lapsed into a warm banter. It was nice hearing women talk to one another like that since my tenure in the political arena has made me jaded enough to be surprised that sarcasm and caustic remarks are not a way of life and practiced everywhere all the time.

Wanting to get involved even a tiny bit I asked the two knitters my burning question: what made them start to,or get involved with knitting?

At first Jane thought I was talking about the shop. But making myself clearer that I was asking for her personal experience, she smiled and simply stated that it was through her mother she came to love knitting. Learning at the knee of her mother she learned all there was to know. She said it was such love for her mother that I was almost a little jealous of that connection between mothers and their young children. She said that she still helps her mother to this day by turning the heels of socks that her 80 something year old eyes just don't seem to see that well anymore.

The other lady stated that she has knitted her entire life AS her way of life. Recalling a story of how she was caught knitting in line in Grade 3, she had her knitting taken away, never to be returned by a horrid teacher. Did I tell you I dislike teachers? Well now it's slightly worse because really, WHO takes away a little girls knitting??? That just makes no sense.

I thanked the ladies for their openness, then, feeling the time was right, pulled out my current project to get their insight on what the hell it is exactly I am doing wrong. First, I am doing the wrong stitch. I am supposed to be doing a stockinette stitch and not a garter stitch. Secondly, my moss stitch is leaving a little to be desired. Thirdly, and surprisingly, my gauge was pretty good for a beginner Jane stated.

WHAT?!?!?

I was floored! I was proud! I was not even the least little bit pissed off that I would have to rip out nights and nights worth of stitching all the way down to the cuff to start over again. It rejuvenated me. I was so happy since I honestly thought my gauge would be the death of my knitting affair. Is it perfect? No way. But in the words of Jane which will be saved in my memory banks for all time; 'your gauge is just fine'.

I will leave the rest of the story of my visit to the Needle Emporium and the subsequent purchases for the next blog. Yes I have a new project, and I have a new excitement for knitting after some sage advice, and for right now, I am really very happy with being 'just fine'.

~

My first picture!

2009-01-15T11:30:00.005-05:00

Okay so I brought my project into work cause I thought the camera is better here.

Um, not so much apparently.

Anyway, I wanted to get a picture up so I could show off a real project that I have on the go. I blabbed to Adam and the girls at work that I have a knitting blog to go along with my new hobby. Adam is thrilled for me. The girls are just, well, not laughing AT me at least. I am not surprised at Cathy cause she is my little ludite. However, I am surprised at Heather, becuase she owns an iTouch for petes sake! Oh well, they just dont get the joy of mixing the tactile with the technical!

I am a little bit on the fence with this particular knit. I think it jsut might be the cotton yarn. I don't like it as much as a big ole ball of chucky wool. Anyway, the 'loop stitch' was SUPER easy to get after I spent some time examining this site:

http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2005/12/loopy_is_the_ne.php and I was able to really get the hang of it. Thanks to Crazy Aunt Purl!!!

Still working on the Skull Shrug and a bunch of Fluer de Lis washcloths. Will post more pics soon!

Trying new things

2009-01-12T12:28:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was SO BUSY! I didn't have any time to just sit to relax and knit. I have a couple projects on the go, both of which I will post pictures of when I actually get two minutes to myself to upload.

So currently, along with the 'Skull Shrug' I've started some 'Lion Wash Cloths'. I got the idea from this site: http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTgrrr.html and am making some for my nephews. Who am I kidding? I will make one then move on...but with some encouragement perhaps I will make one for each of my nephews instead of having to apologize to my sister for only making for one.

AS WELL...my lovely partner in this delicious crime called life got me my house cleaner back as a Christmas present! So whilst I am typing this post, she is at my house cleaning the multitude of sins I call Home Sweet Home. With the divorce and all I had to give up some things in order to afford others. My house cleaner Karen was one of them. I love Adam so much for such a great Christmas gift!!!

Well...back to work , then to a clean home to do nothing but make dinner, then sit and knit. Today, life is VERY good.

Welcome to Duck Row...an adventure in knitting.

2009-01-08T12:34:00.000-05:00

Okay, so, yeah...knitting.

My friends will roll their eyes and ask 'why' when I have had everything in my life change on me in the last 11 months. Learning a new hobby is not really something that should be high on my list right now. Re-aligning all the mixed up facets of my life is where I should be focusing all my energies into. Let's face it, an impending divorce, a new 'old' house, my daughter starting high-school, and a brand new relationship should be my top priority. But it is my need to find routine, to find something that is warm and comfy and SOLID, which drives me.

Which is the point. Everything is so different in my life now. So drastically changed that I needed some sort of stability. I have 3 years left with my daughter living at home before she leaves for university. I have to make these years as inviting and stable for her as possible. I need something to calm my mind and my soul in order to be as present and engaged for her as I can.

I could find religion. But instead, I found wool.

Enter knitting.

I don't really know how to knit. I mean, I can knit and purl, but that's it. I can make a great scarf, but I am really only good at starting something and never finishing it. Casting off is a rarely used technique. That would involve finishing a project.

But this I want to finish. I need to grab onto something that I can learn, grow, and play with. Writing didn't fill up that space completely at this point in my life. I am going to try knitting.

Here is where I will bring along anyone who wants to travel down this road with me. This may not be an exciting romp. No, it is an effort in finding peace.

Oh, and you might wonder why this is titled 'Duck Row'? I have been accused on many MANY occasions throughout my lifetime of having troubles 'keeping all my ducks in a row'. No truer words can ever be spoken about me. Duck Row is a tribute to, and a reminder that, some ducks will never fall into line. Nor should they.

Those are the ones that make the world exciting. Especially when they wear hand-knit fluffy sweaters.

Welcome to my adventure.