New Year's Resolutions~Yeah, Right!?

I am trying to think of ways to improve my life, and my family's life this coming year. So, I have come up with a few things to try. Here goes. I wonder hw long into the new year I'll make it before I mess one up??

1. Work only from stash unless I do not have the means to complete a specific project that is a gift or a special request.

2. Curse less.

3. Yell less.

4. Spend less money on impulse buys.

5. Save enough money to pay for part of D's college next year.

6. Resist the temptation to get more kitties.

7. Exercise more.

8. Worry less.

9. Clear the clutter from this house.

10. Be more organized.

There you have it. Think I can live up to it? Any of it?? Time will tell. I'll keep you posted.

Happy New Year to all my friends and internet family...xoxo

Overwhelmed

Too much stuff.

Too much taking people places.

Too many chores to do, and not enough time in the day.

Too many interruptions.

Too much to organize.

Too much to get rid of.

Too much extended family baggage.

Too many home repairs that are out of reach.

Too much backtalk.

Too much weight gained for no reason.

Too much physical pain.

Too much time in cyberspace...Is any of it real??

Too little time to knit!

Too little time to sleep!

Too few friends to help me bear the burden.

Too little money.

Too little love.

= Overwhelmed

= Stuck

Have to Let It Go

I have to let it go when people do and say things that I do not understand.

For example:

when friends don't call again after 40 years of friendship, for reasons unknown

when other friends call like crazy for months on end, wanting to know every detail of your life, and then they stop, for no apparent reason

when people make comments about my physical self that aren't very flattering. What makes them think that is ok???

when people are not happy for my accomplishments and the accomplishments of my children

when people keep asking for more when I have just given, and am giving all I can at the moment.

when small shop owners think it is ok to chastize me for what they think is my overspending. I know how much I can afford to spend. How would you know anyhow??

when people assume that because I am overweight that I overeat and am a lazy person. Get to know me and my medical problems before you judge me.

I cannot control the thoughts and actions of others.
I can only control my own.
I am working at not having my feelings hurt all the time by other people.
My reactions to them have got to change.
I have to let it all roll off my back and not. react. anymore.

Come and visit me at my craft shows!

It is time for this year's craft shows. I have the following shows scheduled. Stop by and say "hi!"

Saturday, October 17, 2009
Redeemer Parish Day School Fall Fair
5603 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210
10:30 am-1:30 pm

Saturday, November 7, 2009
Harford Day School Arts Festival
715 Moores Mill Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
9 am-5 pm

Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friends School Holly Fest
5114 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210
10 am-4 pm

Saturday, December 5, 2009
Roland Park Country School
5204 Roland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21210
11 am-4 pm

Today is the Day for Cashmere

Upstairs in my stash, I have 4 balls of cashmere, two are matching beautiful taupes and browns, one is a pink and one is blue. I have been waiting to use them, wondering what they will become. Today is the day I am going to find out. One ball will become a set of fingerless gloves. Two others will be a scarf that I will try to sell at my craft shows. The other?? Not sure yet. What I do know is that my hands need to be spoiled...for hours.... Off to begin. I am relaxing already.

Perspective on life after 3 gin and seltzer drinks

Ahh. It has been a very stressful day/week, and I have ended it with 3 gin and seltzer drinks. Life seems a little less scary after 3 gin and seltzer drinks. It seems more relaxing, more hopeful somehow. I am not supposed to drink 3 gin and seltzer drinks--not even one. Too bad. Sometimes, you just gotta.

I am almost able to forget that today it is 14 years since my father died. My brother and mother visit his gravesite. Not me. It does not comfort me. It agitates me. It makes me incredibly sad. All I keep thinking about are his hands--how they created all kinds of beauty--art--how he hugged and held his grandchildren with them. Now they are just bones. No, not comforting. at. all. I miss him every single day. Not just on the death day. Every single day is hard. Not just the death day. Why do people put such emphasis on that one day?? I just don't get it. I wish he could see John and Dan. I wish he could hear Dan sing. I wish he were here to be a buffer between me and mother. I wish he could soften the blows. I wish for just one more bear hug, one more laugh, one more funny story, one more recitation of a story poem, one more Irish song, one more Dad breakfast, one more look of love and incredible joy when gazing upon his grandchildren, one more time seeing him looking out the window waiting for us to arrive-jumping out of his chair to run out the door to greet us all.

It has been a long week. The first week of school. Countless rehearsals for Dan. Lots of hours for John and John. Lots of cleaning, organizing, figuring out the stuff of life. I don't know if we ever can.

If You Knew Me Well, You Would Know That...

If you knew me well, you would know that:

1. I love cats. I could have 100, if the vet bills weren't so darn high. (I have 7.)

2. My favorite candy is peanut M & M's, but I cannot eat them anymore due to pre-diabetes.

3. My favorite colors are pink, blue, and chocolate brown.

4. My favorite drinks are unsweetened iced tea, chardonnay, and gin and tonic.

5. My favorite flowers are pink carnations.

6. I have been married since 1982. I was 22 when I got married.

7. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Towson University in 1982 with degrees in English Literature and Secondary Education.

8. I taught high school English, grades 9 thru 12 for 8 years. I did graduate work in teaching reading. I was a literacy volunteer for many years.

9. My favorite food is spaghetti.

10. I absolutely adore my brother. He is an angel on earth; I am sure of it.

11. I love yard sales and thrift shops.

12. I collect Longaberger baskets.

13. I have been knitting since I was 8 years old. My dad taught me. Knitting keeps me sane.

14. I had a close relationship with my dad, not my mom. Our relationship is hard and sad.

15. I love poetry. My favorite poet is Sylvia Plath.

16. Some of my poetry was published when I was in college.

17. My great-grandmother taught in a one-room school house. I come from a long line of teachers.

18. I can speak German, sort of.

19. I love to play board games and cards. Monopoly and Scrabble are my favorites.

20. I am afraid of lightning and thunderstorms. I hate the rain.

21. My favorite seasons are fall and winter. I do not like summer.

22. I am a terrible housekeeper. Cleaning makes me grumpy.

23. I love my kids more than life itself.

24. I wanted to be a vet when I was growing up. I also wanted to be an author.

25. I don't really like dogs.

26. I miscarried my first pregnancy, and I still grieve that child.

27. I love kids, kids of all ages--especially toddlers and teenagers. (Really, they are almost the same!!)

28. I love to cook.

29. My favorite singer is James Taylor. I credit his music with getting me through a tough growing up. I also like Elton John, Billy Joel, John Denver, and Carly Simon.

30. My favorite yarns to knit with are: anything soft! handdyed yarns are great, sock yarn, alpaca, some cottons

31. My favorite things to knit are small projects-scarves, socks, mittens, hats, purses...Did I say socks??????????!!!!

32. I cannot stand people who lie to me.

33. I do not like seafood.

34. I don't think I have ever felt "pretty".

35. I need at least 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night, or I cannot function.

36. I worry about mental illness.

37. I cry at my son's performances. Every one. I also cry at weddings and when I see new babies.

38. I worry for my oldest son, that he will be self-sufficient and able to care for himself.

39. I love Italian food.

40. I think the most important quality in a person is compassion.

41. I hate to exercise.

42. I am often messy, and I like that better than being neat.

42. I don't like homes that look like furniture stores-like nobody lives there.

43. I love Christmas.

44. I love giving gifts. It makes me happy.

45. I wish I had my own arts and crafts studio.

46. I need a lot of quiet time.

47. When I don't hear from my friends, I get very sad.

48. I worry about getting old.

49. My favorite thing to wear is blue jeans. I would wear denim all the time, if I could.

50. I hope I get to be a grandma who gets to spoil her grandkids like crazy.

New Beginnings

Monday starts a new school year for my 11th-grade son. I hope that we all can start fresh with new attitudes, new commitments to what is important, and can support each other in our endeavors. I cannot believe Dan will be in 11th grade. Just yesterday,it seems, he was in preschool, carrying home his cool art projects in his school tote bag. Now he carries 30 pounds worth of books on his broad shoulders and his art projects have turned into textbooks, heavy binders, and homework.

Today I got really lucky. I was headed down our street, on the way to pick up my oldest son from work. A huge, red SUV came barreling down a side street and ran a stop sign. I swerved, slammed on the brakes, ended up on the grass next to the sidewalk, and waited to hear the metal crunch and the glass shatter. We missed a collision by 1/8 of an inch. I feel blessed. As fast as he was going, I am sure I would have been badly injured, and I definitely would have lost the use of my car. We both got out of the car to check on each other. Neither one of us could believe we did not hit. I accepted his apology, shook his hand, and went on my way. Talk about having a guardian angel.

Time to figure out dinner, fill out umpteen forms for the opening day of school, and knit.

The Older I Get...

The older I get:

-the less I care about what other people think about me.
-the less emphasis I put on physical beauty.
-the more I want to relax.
-the more I worry about salvation.
-the less time I have to deal with people who bug me.
-the less I value material things.
-the more quiet time I need.
-the more I realize the importance of love.
-the more I want to declutter and get rid of "stuff" that weighs me down.
-the more I wonder how different I would be if I were raised with more positives and fewer negatives.
-the more I realize how important it is to follow your dreams.
-the sadder I am that I ever raised my voice at my kids.
-the more I worry about how I will leave this world.
-the more I wonder if I will leave any kind of legacy, good or bad, and what that is...
-the more I wonder what, if any, difference I make in the lives of my friends.

Decluttering

Twenty bags of "stuff" have gone out of this house in the last 3 weeks or so. These are kitchen-sized bags, dropped off at the Goodwill in hopes of making space in this overcrowded house. For some reason, I am in a major mood to get rid of things. I am feeling closed in by the clutter.

There are so many things we do not need or use in this house, so why is it so hard to get rid of it all? One reason is a packrat hubby who likes to hold onto things for all kinds of reasons. Another reason is just inertia. It is tough to go through old junk, and it is even harder to find the time to do it all. It is hot, heavy, dirty, emotional work.

I am starting a pile for consignment. Hopefully, there is value in some of this old stuff~old dishes and old silver, pitchers, art work, suitcases, and fancy platters. Other piles will go to charities and yet others are to be thrown out.

The trick from now on is to bring less in, or to try the "one thing in-one thing out" rule. Buy less, have less, be tied down by less. It really makes me wonder why we bought it all in the first place.

Socks!

I am so happy to have discovered sock knitting. It has become quite a habit, of late! I never thought I would be a sock knitter. I thought it was impractical, expensive, and the thought of knitting on such tiny needles was daunting. I thought the yarn was too skinny too. I was afraid to try it-never quite understood the allure of it all.

Then along came an illness and subsequent surgery right before last Christmas. A dear friend,Becky, knitsandspins on Ravelry,took it upon herself to make me the most thoughtful Christmas package ever. Even my family members have never given me such wonderful gifts. Inside were lots of amazing things. I remember crying for most of the day I received it. I was bowled over by her kindness to me. I will never, ever, forget it. One of the gifts was a pair of hand-knitted socks, made by Becky. I had never had a pair, never worn a pair. I put them on, and was amazed. Not only were they beautiful, they were perfectly crafted, warm, and amazingly comfortable. They gave me comfort when not much else could. I wore them for days, and still wear them every chance I get. I love those socks! They are a symbol of a lot of things to me: friendship, kindness, beauty, healing, warmth, generosity, and love.

It is because of those socks, and because of Becky's encouragement, that I started to knit socks. Other Ravelry friends have encouraged me too, and I love them for that! Puggerhugger, Manitoba2ct, and others have sent me sock yarns and sock books, and have answered questions along the way. But, if it weren't for Becky, and that first pair of wonderful socks, I would never be enjoying my latest knitting habit!

I Need to be Knitting!

It is that time of year whenI need to start plugging and chugging, as they say, to get ready for fall/winter craft shows. This year it is harder to get moving, because I have discovered socks and want to make them constantly! I also want to do more beaded knitting and designing, all of which take mega blocks of uninterrupted time. I suppose I will have to treat this like a job, and schedule in at least 4-5 hours a day in order to meet my goals. I am hoping to do 5 shows this season, God willing! Last year, I had to cancel 2 due to health problems. It had been my best season, and I know I lost out on at least $1000. I have my fingers crossed that this year will go well,that is, if I can get moving!

Two Good Memories of Mother

Two good memories of Mother:

Your hands washing my hands when they were small.
You went round and round with the soap, gently parting each finger,
As if each was important.


You watching the geese fly at the change of seasons:
Running first to the window and then out the door,
To see the beautiful V, indeed divine.


Copyright: Mary Skeen, March 2009

My Healing Kitty

I call my cat Charlie my "healing kitty." He is so incredibly wonderful. Always sweet, he never thinks of scratching, biting, or being bad in any way. He is beautiful through and through. He is the first kitty I have ever had that I got to pick myself and actually call my own. He has helped me work through past hurts, just by being so loving.

When I was growing up, I always wanted a cat. When I was 6, I had a kitten, Bootsie, who got squished by my dad's car after 3 days. Two years later, we adopted the neighbor's cat, Minky, when they moved. She was old at the time and was never very cuddly or interactive. When I was a teenager, we had neighbors who had a gorgeous Maine Coon cat that they neglected. They let her outside and she had litter after litter of kittens. Being the cat lover that I am, I would try to play with them. One adopted me when I was about 16. Her name was Muffy. She was incredibly beautiful. She had the Maine Coon fur-white with calico markings, and the Maine Coon temperament, alot like Charlie's. She was gentle and sweet, and mostly she just loved me. My parents allowed her to visit only, but I would sneak her in to my bedroom after school and on cold nights. Otherwise, she would be left to huddle against our house. The first time I found her there, nearly frozen, I vowed I would keep her close to me, no matter what the folks said. She visited me every day until she became more or less mine. I asked the neighbor permission to keep her, and it was granted. My parents seemed ok with it. Oh, how I loved her! She was incredibly loving and beautiful. We gave each other comfort. I gave her warmth and love,and she gave me the same at a time when living at home was really hard. I had her for about 9months, and then one day I came home from school and she wasn't there. My mother had decided to give her to the Avon lady on a whim~without telling me, and she refused to get her back. I remember crying, pounding on my father's chest to please get her back. Nope. I remember grieving for her, wondering why my mother had been so cruel to take her away from me for no reason. When I called the lady who took her to inquire about how she was, she was vague and indifferent. I cried for weeks. Two weeks went by and I finally found out Muffy's fate. Soon after she was given away, she was hit by a car and died. I will never forget the pain I felt, and to be honest, if I think about it long enough, I still feel it.

Charlie is so much like Muffy in stature, feel, and temperament. He is mine, all mine, and no one will ever take him from me except for God. That will be an incredibly sad day, one I don't want to think about. He has been such an incredible gift, my little rescue guy. How lucky I am to have found him. He is such a blessing.

Thrifting!

Thrifting is an amazing thrill. I go as often as I can for as many bargains as I can. Yesterday, at a church sale, I got 2 dresses at $2 each, plus, a mug for $1 that I know retails for $16. I also came home with 2 pins, each a good price. Then, today, I hit the jackpot at the nearly new sale. I got a bunch of yarns for an amazing price, plus some sewing notions. I hope to go a few more days this week to catch the bargains on less busy days. We shall see...

May 4th-I Love You, Dad

Dad would have been 78 this year. It is hard to see his birthday come and go without being able to see him, help him celebrate, and buy him a gift. I used to buy him daisies every year for his garden, or tomatoes, or give him lotto tickets in hopes that he would win it big. God, how I miss him.

I miss his voice when he sang, a beautiful rich tenor or when he recited story poems to me as a child: Casey at the Bat, The Raven, The Cremation of Sam McGee-all favorites still.

I miss the way he held his grandchildren, the way he played with them and tried to teach them the skills he knew in art, woodworking, and gardening. He exuded love for them every minute he was near them.

I miss his gentleness. I miss his talent. I miss his hands-hands that created art in many forms-watercolors, oils, photographs,woodworking, furniture refinishing and furniture making, gorgeous leather tooling and leather work. He was a perfectionist. Whatever he did, he did well.

One of my nicest memories was when he taught me to knit when I was 8. I bought a book and a pair of plastic needles and some white Red Heart yarn at Woolworths. I tried to teach myself garter stitch, but all I got was a tangle of knots. He took the book, the needles, and the Red Heart and taught himself garter stitch in an afternoon. Then, he taught me, and in a matter of days, I had a somewhat crooked but very recognizable headband. I wore it to school. He promptly forgot how to knit, but was the best ball winder anyone could ever ask for! He was ever patient and didn't mind winding for hours until my yarns were ready for my next project.

Lung cancer took Dad on September 5, 1995, way too early. It was good to see his pain and suffering end, but he was taken from me way too soon. John remembers his essence. Dan doesn't remember at all. I'll remember forever. Love you, Dad.

I wish I had...

Making my first pair of socks has really made me think back onto my grandmothers and their knitting. Mother's mother was from Bavaria, and came to this country with a third grade education and a child in tow. She was widowed at a young age, raised 4 kids alone during the depression, and taught herself English by reading the newspaper. I have been told that she was an amazing sock knitter. I only got to see her twice a year for a day or two, and she spoke mostly German. I wish I had asked her to show me how she did her socks. I would have loved to have watched her make something. Our visits were so few and far between that there was never any evidence of her knitting. I should have asked.

My father's mother knitted and crocheted too. She made me things all the time, and even though I never saw her much either, she sent me handmade gifts in the mail often. She'd make me purses, and the nicest knitted slippers! As soon as I'd wear out a pair, she'd send another. I knew she loved me, and that in itself was the best gift!

I've been thinking of both of them while learning socks. I wish I had connected more with them back then. It is way too late now, except for in my heart and through my hands. I miss them both.

Kitty Claims the Cashmere...

I have been thrifting a lot recently, gathering wonderful specimens for frogging/recycling. Some of the sweaters I take apart and reknit the yarn. Others, I felt and make bags out of, wallets, hair accessories, and the like. I finally came across a two-ply, gorgeous, cream-colored cashmere sweater that I had big plans for. Guess who has claimed it?? Buttercup the cat. She found it on the couch the other day when I was working with it. Now it is hers. She sits on it, sleeps on it, cuddles with it, and cries for it. I guess it is official. It is all hers. She has good taste!

Learning new things!

Wow it has been quite a week~incredibly busy with family visiting, kids' activities, and everyday life. What has kept me grounded are my Rav friends, and my knitting. I'm trying to finish up at least 10 wips--maybe even more. I am a cast-on-aholic. I have so many things that I want to make that I start them all and then they sit. I finally finished my first BSJ, started months ago. Here's a pic of the final sweater:




I've also done a bunch of dishcloths to try to learn some new stitches and techniques. Stitch markers have kept me busy too. Fun, fun, fun. Now I have to get busy making stuff for the upcoming craft shows, because fall will be here before I know it. I got my first application in the mail this week!

16 Candles!

I cannot believe it that Dan is 16! We had a busy evening, with both boys working, then dinner and dessert. Cliff the sock monkey helped to celebrate. Happy Birthday, Dan, and many many more!

Watching the Wheels Go Round and Round...

A visit to the nursing home to see a 94-year-old friend left me with a new perspective. Wow. What a place. She is in a room that represents the last phase of living in a retirement home. It is the "your foot is on a banana peel" and you are waiting for your ticket out area of the place. Sooo incredibly sad. Everyone uses a wheelchair or a walker. Everyone has huge health issues, and most of them are facing it all alone. My friend is still as sharp as a tack, and she is delightfully liberal. I enjoyed our visit, but it gave me a lot to think about in terms of acquiring more "stuff." These folks are down to 1 room and a few possessions. Just don't need 'em or want 'em anymore. They are looking for a different kind of peace.

Son #1 is feeling the sting of growing up in a world that discriminates. He gets it because he is not an academic type, and never will be. He has been made fun of, used, taken advantage of, and left alone, but still he has the sweetest soul imaginable. He wants to be part of the social crowd, and no one will have him. He wants to be part of the electronic age, but finds himself unable to communicate effectively. He cries out for friendship and most turn away. Their loss...

Son #2 is just growing. On top of that, he has shown his integrity this week in the face of a tough situation where he works. If he comes away with nothing else, his dignity and integrity will be in tact. I was so proud when he showed me that he knew what was right and was prepared to do it, without my intervention or advice.

Big life issues. A lot to think about. It is hard, painful, gut wrenching stuff. We all take our turn.

The Smallest Victims of Foreclosure

Today I received a phone call from an acquaintance--a wonderful lady, whose friend is going through a divorce and the foreclosure of her home. This woman is in her 70's and is relocating to public housing. She can only bring one of her 3 cats with her. She asked if I would take the other 2. They were a male and a female, 8 and 9 years old. The former husband cannot keep them because now he has no place to live, and will be living in his van.

I am overcome with sadness for this woman. I cannot imagine having to decide which of my pets to keep and which to get rid of. I am overcome with sadness for these 2 pets, who now have no place to live. What must they think? They've done nothing wrong. They've been wonderfully faithful and loving companions for many years. They are "good kitties."

I spent the entire afternoon in turmoil about this request and in our decision process. We already have 7 cats, and as a family we decided not to take these two. I feel incredibly sad. I feel incredibly guilty. I don't know how I will sleep tonight.

The truth is, we spend enormous amounts of money on our cats every year. Thousands of dollars are needed each year for their care. Their vet care is expensive. Their food is expensive. Their cat litter is expensive. One sees a cardiologist. One has 2 autoimmune disorders and needs medication. Another has allergies and needs medication. Two have dental issues. We feel that the house is full and that we are stretched enough financially with the kitties we have already. It may not be fair to the ones we have to stretch ourselves any thinner.

Then why do I feel so bad about the decision we made? Because I feel that there should always be room for one more. There should always be room "in the inn." My Catholic upbringing taught me to accept whatever God sends and he will provide. Did I just turn away two souls who needed me? Was it some kind of test? Was I meant to make the difference for this family and these two kitties?? Or, did I do the right thing and save my family from financial hardship, and my kitties from the stress of getting used to 2 new siblings? Tough call. I can never know for sure, and I am tormented by it all.

All I know is that the smallest victims of foreclosure have no say in it at all. They are the ones I really feel sorry for. I will pray for them.

Kitty News

Happy one year anniversary, Abby and Max! It was one year ago yesterday that Abby and Max came to live here with us. I got them by accident. I had Charlie to the vet and saw the two of them in the adoption cage. Abby threw both paws forward and put one on either side of my face. I took them out of their cage, and I was a goner. They had been dumped months before at my vet's office. Their former owner requested that they be euthanized, put them on the ground, and kicked them. She abandoned them because they had scratched her pit bull's nose! I can't thank my vet enough for taking them in, caring for them, doing their spay/neuter surgeries, and vaccinating them. They came home with me the next day, and they are just the sweetest little beings. Abby is my constant companion. She cries when I leave her, and is never more than a few feet away from me when I am home. She is my bed buddy every night. Max is a quiet cuddler. He is quite the entertainer when he plays. He can amuse himself for the longest time in his play cubes. I am so glad they are mine.

Sylvester is recovering from a mouth issue--some swelling and irritation caused by allergies, probably. He has endured his medicines well this week, and he is trying hard not to hold the pill giving against me too much. He has a recheck on Monday. What a gentle and loving little fellow.

The others seem fine for now. I cannot believe how lucky I am to have them all. I love them so much, and in many ways, their love has rescued me!

Scared of a Sock?

Know what? I am scared to make socks! My goal this year is to conquer that fear and actually make a pair. I have gotten several pattern recommendations and what look to be some good sock books, so I have to say, that the time has come (within the next few weeks!) to make a pair of socks! I think I would like to make chunky warm socks, and some little footie socks. I saw a pattern on Rav for yoga socks, which would be great for my yoga teacher friend. Nothing to it but to do it, I suppose!

I got my yarn swift today. The ball winder came the other day. Gotta put them together and get busy. It will be nice to have them. I know they will be great time savers.

I Have a Problem!

I spent all day yesterday cleaning, starting with--rediscovering what is beneath the rubble of a teenager's floor. OMG! The things we found! I discovered that son #2 loves to take things apart and not put them back together again--just likes to figure out how they work. When I became judgmental, he cleared his throat and pointed to MY room!! Point taken.

Yarn everywhere. Crochet hooks, felted wool pieces, darning needles, Rubbermaid bins of every possible size and shape, strewn, yes--strewn about the entirety of my room. So, while he was sorting and raking up his mess, I spent hours organizing mine.

You know? I think I have enough yarn for the rest of my life. I think I have enough yarn for the rest of two or three people's lives. I sorted cottons from ribbons, wools from blends, and made a special area for the fanciest stuff. I have an entire chest of Rowan (who knew there was that much?), and a whole bag of Be Sweet and ArtYarns, another of alpaca and of Cascade 220. Noro? Yep--a whole bag. I even have one entire bag of Crystal Palace Fizz yarn; now why, and what am I gonna do with that??? (By "bag" I mean the big plastic whomping bags that comforters come in...) 3 bags of wool sweaters to be felted and created into handbags. I found things I don't even remember buying. Oh boy. No wonder I don't list much of my stash on Ravelry. Way too embarassing.

I confessed. To my children and to my hubby. I confessed that I am a yarn/string! addict and that I have a problem. They all laughed at me.

I have a problem. Today there is a Super Bowl sale at my LYS. Help!

I am going. :D

Must. Get. Control.

I must get control of life around here. Everywhere I look there is so much that needs to be done. Maybe I'll turn my back and go shopping instead? A trip to the LYS? Nah............gotta start slogging. Hopefully, by the end of the day there will be visible progress. Wish me luck!

Fragile

Feeling a little fragile these days. Now that the health scare is over, and the doctor has given me the "go ahead" and has lifted all restrictions, I remain incredibly nervous. I guess it is that old fear of mortality rearing its ugly head again. It is just like me to get through the crisis and then begin to fall apart at the seams. Happens every time. I feel like I'm dodging bullets.

So, I'm trying to harness the nervous energy into positive stuff--cleaning, knitting like a mad fool, counting my blessings. Deep breaths. It's ok.

What Were You Thinking??

Today was a scary one for me. At around noon, there was a tiny knock at my front door. I did not answer, because I did not know the person. It was a huge man with a rake over his shoulder, probably wanting yard work. But....no. He proceeded to look in my front and side windows, then headed for my backyard and garage. My son and I came downstairs, and by that time he had gone to the neighbor's to knock on their door. They didn't answer either, so he proceeded to make a long cell phone call to someone, and my son heard him mention "police." He then came back to the side of my house, sneaked toward my back door and knocked--very quietly--peering in the whole time. I called my neighbor, and then I called the police. He left quickly, and my neighbor followed him with his truck, pulled over 2 police officers, only to find out that one of them caught the guy. Who knows what he was up to? Seemed to me like he was looking for a place to rob. I shudder when I think what might have happened if my car weren't in the driveway, and my son and I weren't home. So, I have to go to bed now, not really knowing what happened to him. I'm hoping they arrested him for something and that we are safe. Think I'll be up until all hours doing laundry and cleaning. Nervous energy....

Someone Flipped A Switch

Someone flipped a switch and somehow I feel so much better! Finally, the pain has eased and only a little stiffness remains. What a blessing it is to be pain free!

I just finished sending off 9 RAKs to some folks in the RAK groups. All but two are surprises. What fun it is! I hope they bring a little joy...

Kitties are pestering for attention. Time to go! Happy New Year!