Identity crisis

I was reading an article about young kids "nowadays" having such problems growing up and the hardships they endure, with peer pressure and blah blah blah. I think we all had something growing up that caused us to question ourselves. It may have been the cheerleaders, the dorks, the brainiacs. We all had some struggle as kids. When I was a kid, the color of my skin was my albatross. I had freckles, mostly on my arms, not too many on my face but I would study these little brown spots and wonder how they came to be. Now in perspective, you have to realize if I have idle time on my hands I can become quite dangerous, so bear with me on this one. So at one point I took a pen and did connect the dots on my arms and came home from school like that and was not met with the same joy I got out of doing it. Then I must have been thinking out loud, why I had freckles and some idiot adult told me that I was standing too close behind a cow and it was "shit spray" and it didn't wash off, ha ha ha ha ha...well this sent me into a scrubbing frenzy, I wanted those spots gone. My mom didn't have freckles she had nice tan skin, my dad was the carrier, my mom would tell me they will fade when I got older.....dad's didn't??? So my next prognosis was I was black and white, that sent my mom into a third degree questioning of "where the hell did you get that Idea?" Well come on, look at a freckle it looks like an African American color on a white backround, did she not see that? I envied porcelain skinned girls, there smooth complextion, flawless and all one color like milk. Then, we went to the drive in theater. In those days, we wore pajamas to go and dad made a brown grocery bag of popcorn and the grease would seep through the bag and mom would complain dad used too much buttah!!! They had playgrounds under the screens and all the kids in their pajamas would go up there and play till the movie started. I was up there, and playing on the swings was a little brown girl, her skin was smooth and flawless and dark. I was intrigued...I wanted to get close so I struck up a conversation, but my intentions were to touch her smooth brown skin. I remember her sitting on a pipe fence and me doing aerobics and contortions around her until I did it.....I licked her....I admit it, I actually licked her, totally expecting to taste milk chocolate on my tongue. I made it look like an accident if you can believe that, but mission accomplished and with great disappointment. I think I almost cried, I went back to the car and told my mom and dad about the chocolate girl that wasn't really chocolate....can you just imagine my parents sitting in the front seat almost afraid to ask "how did you know that?" because they didn't ask, but my mom informed me that, that was a little "colored girl" aaahhhhh so now I was part colored??? No you are not part colored you are freckled. but freckles are colored? What if all of those freckles moved together?? Then would I be colored? JAN, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? YOU HAVE FRECKLES!!!! DAMN FRECKLES, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE FRECKLES....DORIS DAY HAS FRECKLES!!!! Doris Day has freckles??????? How come I can't see them?
You know there are days when I am bored and looking at those freckles that didn't fade and still want to connect the dots!!!! Sometime I'll tell you about all the hickies I made on my arms, bored again?

Afternoon with the Phantom

My birthday present from my son and dil was to go see the Phantom of the Opera. I love opera and was so disappointed when I went to see Madam Butterfly, the sadness of the whole situation didn't come across very well and the settings and costumes were dull and lifeless. If by chance you have even thought about going to see Phantom, run don't walk, it was breathtaking and no I didn't do my best Christine imitation, although it was coming up my throat and I suppressed it till I got home and then sang like a canary......well on steroids that is. It was a wonderful afternoon and would not hesitate to see it again. Now I will watch the movie again and sing some more....
I worked some more on the fiber bar and found some really cool stuff to spin, tomorrow....all day, that is my plan and I"m sticking to it.

Life's Gauge

You know, we are all very busy, some of us have busy stressful jobs. Some of us are raising families and have the pressures that go along with that. Some of us are doing Charity work and running ourselves silly. Do you know that your life is not gauged by how busy you are and how many minutes in a day you are involved in work, sports, hobbies, family etc? Did you know that this is as stressful as a 60 hour work week? Did you also know because you have stacked each minute of the week with "stuff" it is you that have taken this upon yourself and not someone else? So you shouldn't act like it is their fault you have to run, run run. I don't know what our lives are gauged on in the end, but I am quite sure it isn't how much pressure you have endured, that is the Martyr syndrome. I grew up with the martyr syndrome, not me, I think I learned through childhood survival tactics that if you want to be a matyr that is fine, it is not my gig. I am still in the learning process of saying "No" not in a mean way, but as a survival method!!! Yes you can use No as a survival technique, it really can save your life, a simple no. This is applicable in almost any situation, like.....Can you join this group, we need to suck your brains out of you and help better ourselves.....that would be a "Sorry no" Can you help our group solicit for ........,,,mmmm no although I am very supportive, sorry I just can't ..no
Once you get into the habit it is much easier to pick and choose if you wish, and wish is such a wonderful word!!! Wishing is a fun word....I wish I could, I wish I were...I wish I didn't join the bowling team and pool league and spread myself so thin, that I am ornery. We need to take time to breath, take time to play, take time for your family, not for babysitting for socializing. Our lives get so pumped full of time suckers that we need to stay home and read a book, watch TV, or a Movie, listen to an opera, now when was the last time you lit your candles, made yourself a drink of choice, turned the lights down low and turned on some classical relaxing music and put your feet up and relaxed, no conversation, just the sound of music....picturing the ochestra playing thier instruments, drawing the bow on a violin, cello. Your life is your responsibility and it will pass you by before you know it. Take time to play and relax, it is good for you and it will make you happier to face the day!!!
Warning: The relaxing thing can become addictive, I love to do fun relaxing Janny things, I am special and I deserve it, and so are you!!!! I love my addiction

Never ever update your computer

My lap top which I just got back and had to jump through hoops to get to sinc with my main computer, needed an upgrade. Some software needed it so I agree and hit the OK button and now I can't get to the internet???? I am so frustrated I could cry!!! You know when computers work they work great but when they don't, you sit there and look dumbfounded. I have tried everything and am now second guessing myself. Indeed I am worried that I will screw it up totally and I know it is just one click away from finding my Mac Airport, but I can't find that one darn click. I take deep breaths and am just tired of trying.

Twitter

I have just spent the morning doing trial and error to upload a photo backround for Twitter. Oh yeah just about the whole morning. I finally thought hhhhmmm google how to do it and voila!!! done!!! Isn't the internet wonderful, when it isn't sending you Penis enlargement stuff and hot babes that really want me, junk. It sometimes takes a lot of computer time to keep up with pushing your product or yourself. I wish I could afford to hire someone but that isn't happening and it really keeps me up to date on what is going on, also there is no depending on someone else to do your updates. I am so excited about the fiber bar that is to start in September. You can come in, mix up some fiber salad with all sorts of stuff, glitz, mohair, silk use the drum carder,make your batt and then top off the batt with some Special Croutons of silk cocoons, toy cowboys, noodles, silk rods, springs and so much more. You will be making a one of kind batt. Join in the fun, if you don't spin you will want to.

Do these glasses make me look taller????

I rarely take my glasses off when I go for a walk, but in the rain the last couple of days it was a choice between looking through raindrops on the glass, or no glasses!!! I can see far like an eagle but close has gotten even farther! So when I take my glasses off to walk, I feel short, so I put them on and I walk taller!!! How could this be??? When I was working we all got bifocals at about the age of 40 and we were all walking like Trigger the horse counting his age. We would put one foot out and test the water, then put our foot down gently and hope to land on it. We were all laughing at each other because of course we were in the same boat. So now, I keep my glasses on when I walk so I feel like the taller version of myself!!!!

Snuck up on me

It was early this morning and I took Iggy for his usual walk duty call. I was walking on a normally desolate sidewalk and he kept looking off toward the sunrise. Feeling that I too may be missing a beautiful sight I zoned out looking east too, and there she was a jogger almost ran me over and then got tangled in Iggys leash. I jumped in a panic and she kind of sighed??? There is a code among most people coming on on someone unsuspecting, it's called "excuse me" or "behind you" Waitresses use this and polite people not wanting to scare someone use it. She had her headphones plugged in so I guess that entitles utopia. I never heard her coming, I must be getting old. Not to mention the guard dog never once looked towards her, she was a light foot. Unlike if I were a runner, you would be sure to hear me clompping along, which brings me to a funny story. It is much better told in person because you need the visual. My son and I were going to brunch after a show, he suggested outdoor seating and I thought it a great idea, so off we go and park directly south of the seating but 1/2 block away. We were walking and all of a sudden my toe got caught on a raised piece of sidewalk, now everyone reading this will go, "Oh I know what that is" . I was a gonner, my feet were traveling about 1/2 a nano second behind my body, which was now horizontal to the ground from my waist up, to help get my balance I had my arms extended like the biggest Canadian Goose you can imagine. As I flew past my son he heard me coming with this clop clop clop of my birkies slapping the concrete, he looked at me in complete amazement and said I didn't realize you were in such a hurry! by the time he finished I was almost to the diners, and looking for a soft place to land....clop clop clop resonates in my head to this day!! I pulled back like a 747 taking off the runway and never fell. I was embarrased to say the least and I was sure everyone was looking. I said 'do we have to eat here?" my son said not if you don't want to, but, you looked pretty excited there for a moment!!" I wonder who raised him?

My beloved goes home to Apple

What am I to do, I really hadn't realized how addicted I was to my baby laptop. You see while I am in the quiet of my real life and behind the scenes of the shop, I am still working. I jot down creative thoughts, ideas, lessons and more. I write stupid blurbs about my life. I play Mai Jong or this other Amazon Expediton or something like that. I cruise, peruse and lurk, other blogs. I may have to turn on TV.... I know I will reach to my left side to feel the smoothness of his skin, next to me on the couch, the security of his presence, only to find the rough cloth of the arm on the sofa. PS I finally can bring him back to the couch after little Iggy ate the connecting cable, right after I brought him home. I will miss my little Apple. They told me he could return, as early as this week.....oh please tell me it's true!!! How quick we become engaged with a computer. Whenever I have a question about something, I turn to the net. This is the heartstopper, I may not be able to cook.....no recipes....no just kidding, I hate cooking anyway so that is a good excuse....no excercise, I actually do lift the laptop from the couch to my lap, does that count as lifts???? Oh well it will be back before I know it...I hope!!!! I can't wait to see what I forgot to backup!!! Yes I did say back up !!!!
That photo is not my laptop , mine has not picture, mine has nothing but darkness, no sound, like a black hole......

The lights went out!!

My blogging is now limited to my main computer. What this means is when I get this sudden urge to tell a story, I won't. My laptop which is my left hand companion in my home, turned black. I opened it and it was black , no sound to start up no nothing, the battery is charged...nothing. I did all of the finger aerobics that they suggest the push control, command and p and r, that requires fingers like ET? Nothing happened, I almost cried....good news, it is under warranty and Apple is great about that. Apple ranks high in my book, so this morning at 10am I will be standing at the door with my silver friend under my arm...hoping it was something stupid, something I did inadvertantly?? I really don't think so .....
My shop stinks, like a cross between stinky socks and poop!!! I have been hunting it down and nothing is coming up till last night I realized I got a shipment of 1 kilo of silk cocoons and silk waste....uuuhhhhh that is it, in that quantity it stinks, so I am also picking up a rubbermaid air tight container to box in that stink.
You see today was my day to stay home after taking Iggy to day care, they picked up my old loom and now I can open my new loom....I have to do the old rearranging, and juggling and keep the junk from filling in, but the World has a way of saying, go take a bath and get ready to do errands. Shucks!!!

Am I wrong???

I have a question for you? If I buy a sandwich and ask for extra bacon, I have to pay for it...right? I understand that one, but then how come when you say "No bacon" you pay the same?? Just take your two little fingers, and pick it off, and don't charge me more??? Take off the amount you add when I ask for more bacon?? and I know you are touching my food otherwise. so don't pull it's not sanitary, heck I really don't want to know what you do to the food. This same rules apply for drinks....a customer came in and was upset about having to pay $7.00 for a beer at a local restraunt, I said in all of my wisdom, "dont' drink beer there?" sooooo big mouth here goes to the same place and it's hot and I don't drink alcohol beverages but love stuff that kind of tastes different than soda or juice and makes me look all adult. So I order a no or as I call it faux mojito. They use ice, simple syrup, mint,lime and seltzer, that's it, no booze to pump up the cost to sky high rates, ....just simple syrup (bar suger liquid) mint (grows on roadsides) Lime (imported from Pick n save) seltzer (comes out of the soda gun) NO blender, no cutesy umbrella, maybe a slice of lime garnish!!!! $7.00??? I should have asked for the shot of rum in a glass to give to someone that would at least get a small buzz off of it. So to Sherry, don't drink faux drinks there either!!!!!! My bad!!! I should have asked for less ice, so I had more liquid. That's life
Have I mentioned the fact that I am on a quest for a Margarittaville machine....this is a really dumb quest and pretty much a "I hope this will pass idea" Once again I make all of these fun drinks to cool off in the summer and one of my favorites is Swamp Juice, a blend of Lemonade, Limeade, Orange, Grapefruit and I love crushed ice in it. It is a really refreshing drink instead of just Lemonade. I was watching QVC (I know) they had on this Machine that you put the ice in a hopper at the top and on the bottom is a real blender, so it crushes the ice and blends the drink all in one swoop!!! I held my finger from speed dial and took a deep breath and imagined all of the drinks I could make, Italian sodas and slushies and fruit smoothies and it has all of these setting you see, so the ice is smashed accordingly. To the tune of almost $400 smackeroos, oh but I can justify it, here is how....I can use it in the shop, it's summer we can all have a slushy, we can make Margaritas and on and on and then I got a hold of myself....self I said, NO....where for one would I set up this monster??? Who will clean this cutie? Who will carry ice to fill this nice little hopper???? So needless to say I am still using my one cube at a time ice crusher??? But I keep looking, I have found a close second at Target for $200 but it only has one setting...yeah baby I want the deluxe...over the top, never use all of the settings one.
OMG wait till you see the beautiful silk spinning stuff I got to make funky yarns!!!! The colors are to die for....for all of you non spinners it's going to make you want to spin....honest!!f

My life as a dog

Have you ever followed a puppy when it is on a walk? They kick up their heels and sniff the air and are happy about everything. When I walk Iggy it makes me smile, everything is a happy dance for him. He may be sniffing rotten apples, eating all kinds of stuff off of the sidewalk, whatever he does he is Happy!!! His little butt wiggles with excitement and a butterfly goes flitting by and he spots it, his tail starts to wag and he is thrilled. Simple pleasures, I want to be more like Iggy. I do take pleasure in simple things but life has a way of bringing me back to earth. I want to to be Iggy, he is the yarn shop dog, so he hangs around yarn and fiber and people hold him and pet him and he rolls on his back and gets belly rubs, not sure I want one of those, but...for the most part he really lives a great life....why can't we be more like dogs. Joy abounds!!!!

Fiber excitement

Well as you know I am working on Wisconsins only Fiber Salad Bar that starts in September!!!! I am getting some totally awesome items for the bar...it will be fiberlicious!!! I am waiting for a sample packet of silk stuff, cocoons, rods, and waste, in colors and some needing to be colored!!!! I will also have different items to add to your batt for spinning not just for making the batts. This is going to be so fun!!! This is my greatest pleasure is spinning, fun funky yarns that are eye candy!!! My flea market skein has lace pieces and metal and pieces of jewelry and coils of springs and so much more, I love it. I probably can wear it as it is....Then the other one I did with died cocoons, that I call Bella Donna, has to be knit from the skein winder because there is no way you can put it into a ball!!!!! Meanwhile as I am laboring away at all these ideas, Igster is next to me showing off his stuff....no pride whatsoever. Taking in the sunshine.

Confessions of a Crotch Knitter

All you addicts, I want you to watch something. Be aware of how every knitter holds their yarn and needles different!!! I have always been a huge propronant (i think that is a word) of doing what you want. Hold the needles with your ears but make the right stitch. For years I have had a label of not knitting right!!! I do knit right, just not like you or her or him. I learned to knit when aluminum 30" needles were the rage, well maybe not that long but when you are a little kid with short arms they might as well have been. Out of sheer frustration of trying to hold the long slippery needles and keep one needle from flying out of the stitches and bound and determined I would knit, I shoved one needle between my legs. I distinctly remember sitting on the couch next to my mom and so wishing I could knit like her. Her grace, her poise, her two long needles whipping close to my face and her not wanting to stop to show me how??? So I took it upon myself to knit, you see my mom was the kind of person that strived for perfection, I am sure I drove her crazy with my woohooo, laxidasical ways. Whatever is clever and works is fine with me. So I developed my own method, and knit off of one needle, this was NOT the right way to knit, it works for me??? So never changing my habits I became the Crotch knitter, oh yes, I could hide my placement of the needles quite well, propping it on a purse or gathering the yarn around the needles so as not to allow visible placement...oh and I do NOT put the needle in my crotch, but between by crotch and knees, mid thigh I believe is the proper word. With those huge aluminum needles it became the right height to knit off of. I am straying away from public crotch knitting but it does validate alot of knitters frustrated with holding two needles in mid air. I do it more in the privacy of my home, I knit very fast this way and make better time. I now call it proper picking, you see I don't throw my yarn either I pick. So when you are knitting, look around and you will see no two people knit alike, I love this, we have each developed our own method, and who is it hurting? So even if you think you are partaking in a universal craft, you are also doing it your own ewenique way!!!!

LIttle Pockets

Little pockets, little pockets, little pockets and they're all small like credit cards and they make all our big arses, look bigger just the same. (sung to the tune Little boxes)
What the heck is going on, I bought some hanging around t-shirts, and the pockets on a shirt the size of a bed sheet are the size of credit cards, looming over my breast? Can you say mini pocket? Then you look at jeans and they do the same thing, little pockets, on large size jeans, this is not flattering, it looks like a flea on an elephant. Now I don't say bigger pockets are flattering either, but come on...pockets are standard size for putting wallets into and other handy little things, how can you use a pocket just for one credit card? Is there a quota for material usage, OK this is a huge butt we are covering we will save money and put a tiny pocket on the butt. Another thing is why all of the ornate stitching on the butt pocket, I do not need a neon sign back there saying "Hey look how large I am???" Put the small pockets on small people, it looks stupid when the waif girls pockets touch both the side seam and the back seam of the jeans too and that is one pocket. Funny thing is, at work one day we had a big mirror above the sink in our locker room and I was changing clothes and was in my undies and ran to go pee and caught a glimpse of something big and white behind me...where did that come from???? When did that happen???? Careful ladies it sneaks up on you and then BAM there it is....big butt syndrome, with little pockets!!!! I think I may go back to sewing!!!!

Sheep Genius

Check out this wedding dress....she is a Shepard in England and it's from her own sheep, her grooms vest is wool and her ring pillow was wool also, she carried a shepards staff. Isn't that the neatest idea. Little Bo Peep!!!! It is raining here and we sure need it, it's a nice soaking rain and our Earth is greening up quickly. On the other hand we are supposed to have a really hot day but as of seven it is nice and cool. I was hoping to go to the State Fair but with my planter facitis, I am not going to push walking all day. I may do better at Renassance Fair it is dirt and softer to walk on. I may do better to just stay home and kick back. LOL Have a great weekend!!!

Bathing alone

This photo is NOT me!!! It was just too hilarious to pass up not sharing. But on that note, I have a secret little ritual Friday mornings. Friday is Puppy daycare and Iggy goes twice a week, he Loves it and he is so excited to go it is funny. So we get up and I quietly do the happy dance inside and I pack his lunch like a good mom. Off we go and I take him in and he is pulling to get into the door, I say goodbye and I leave and get into the car and make a mad dash home. Then the secret ritual begins, turn on a little opera, light some candles and draw a bath....mornings are not my favorite bath times but this one is special. I have bubbles and soap and no fur kid trying to climb in the tub with me. I lay back and relax, without risk of the added body in the already full tub. I close my eyes and savor the moment. I take my time and soak in all of the warmth of the water and Patchoulli bubbles and I am not being watched, my washcloth does not get stolen, my shoes stay where I put them, my towel is not getting jumped upon. I am not keeping one ear on the other rooms wondering what he is eating. I am relaxing, I don't want it to end, but the water is cooling and I am shriveling and getting alligator skin and it's time to open the shop...so if you come in and I'm all shrively and like jello, you know it's FRIDAY!!!!!

So much fun!!!

When I was very little, the first memory I have is playing. I love to play..my whole life revolves around playing and make believe. I used to get up and go to school and during school I was planning on what I was going to play at recess and then after school. My neighbor and I went to school together so we would hatch extensive scenarios about, he was an airline pilot and would sit on top of the picnic table and I was the stewardess and my place was under the table??? We flew all over the World on that green picnic table. We were going to get married and that was the way it was to be. We were explorers in Winter to the North pole in our warm winter clothes and tent poles were our walking sticks. We rode horses on my wooden horse in the back yard, I would sit in front of him just like in the movies. I don't know what set off the event we would be creating, we didn't watch much TV. Maybe it was a new piece of clothing, like a cowboy shirt, neither one of us were fashion plates? When I got older, I managed my life by trade offs. I could play if I did some crappy job first. Clean house, play after. In small increments I always got things done. This is how I live. I do bookwork and then I can play, so today, I got my end of the month bookwork done and made soap!!!!! I found sheep molds and yarn molds and alas another adventure. I dug out all my old soap making stuff and soap is cooling as I write. Now not being a patient waiter, I poured and walked away, far away, so that I don't go poking my fingers in the cooling soap. I am like a moth to a flame when it comes to paint, glue and any thing that is attempting to dry!!! I am not patient, I have to test it...just a little touch...very softly and then bloop....I make a mess. So I am barred from the studio, till the shop opens, I think it will be cool by then!!!! I can hardly wait!!!

Not Politically Correct

I am a small business owner. I do own everything in my shop, other than the building which, the bank and I are working on. I have business decisions to make and one of them is I pay cash for all of my purchases. I know this means that I don't have all of the size needles you need all the time, or the huge inventory of stock that some shops may have, but I do have peace of mind. I do not have wolves knocking on my door. There is a lot of buzz about the wholesalers not getting their money from shops struggling to pay thier bills. Shops all over America are closing and it's very sad!!! I have not gotten a buy out from the government, but then again I have not made poor business decisions and I don't carry the cadillacs and hummers of yarn, I carry what my customers can afford to buy on a regular basis. I don't buy into the exotic, I am more interested in classics. Behind the scenes I work hard at making my business work, while making it fun. I want to keep enjoying what I do. I am not getting one of those checks that let's me go to spas and resorts and celebrate the fact that others are funding my screw ups. If my customers buy, I buy. It's an in and out kind of business, so in a way we all are a part of this business, without you, I have nothing. It also means if I close the doors, everything in this shop is mine and paid for. So I listen to each of you and what you want. So why can't big business's? Why were auto makers still making gas guzzlers when all the consumers knew we were headed for a gas crunch, we knew why didn't they?? Now, we are giving them more money to buy clunkers? The dealers/ auto makers are getting help increasing their sales, with a bring in your piece of crap car and we will help you buy a brand new one. Where is this money coming from? What about us little businesses, no I don't want any money, I will be fine, but there are other business's that need help. I do not have a degree in business management, I am the first one to say I do not like bookwork or business junk, how come, I can run a business, not owe any money and am holding my own??? I did not learn how to do this during my apprenticeship as a Steamfitter. I understand the automotive companies employ 1000's of workers and small businesses employ a few, but why should they be punished. If we have so much money let every business get a piece of the pie accordingly, help out the little guys!!! I have never been a fan of Ford, but I applaud them for not taking any money from the government!!!! Ford is the patriarch of autos and are doing something right!!! Hats off to the business's that make good decisions and they can hold their heads up high. And thanks to all of you for your support in keeping Just 4 Ewe and my dream alive and well.

Counting our blessings

I am truly blessed by all of the people I meet. I am lucky to ask someone "How are you?" and I actually have the time to listen to their answer. I am someone that must come across as "approachable" well with the hair and all I guess I don't look, withdrawn and conservative. I was in Target the other day and a group of young boys said "hey cool hair" I said thanks and that opened the conversation to "hey wanna see a card trick?" sure, even though I hate, I mean hate magic, only because I can't figure it out for the life of me..LOL. So he showed me his trick and then another and they were good, then the little brat said, "so do you think that is worth a buck?" I lowered my voice and said to him, I really do think it is, but if Target catches you panhandling in their store they will kick you out!!! They themselves did a disappearing act!!!! I thought that was pretty funny!!!
So this Thursday is our Spinning Guild, I really enjoy this group. We have all levels of spinners and they are hungry to learn anything someone can show them. It is good when you can learn, when I take a class and everyone knows my spinning Guru is Judith McCuin McKenzie, I am quiet and sit like a sponge. I know it is hard to believe I can sit with my mouth shut, no wisecracks, and really absorb all I can. I am a lucky type of learner, I can see it and do it, that is unless it's math or bookwork? Now for the photo, that would be me...when I am in a nursing home, I will knit for sex, by that time, I will have forgotten how anyway...to knit that is.

Be still my rage

Breakfast with me mum at Cafe Hollander Wauwatosa, but they don't have the Hot Mess that they offer on weekends, you have got to try it!!!!
Man I hate to shop in stores!!! People are getting so disconnected with what is going on. They don't want to move out of anyone's way and it is just sad. I did some digging at Goodwill looking for sweaters to felt, and what is it with me and touching stuff that is dirty and then my eye itches and I have to itch my eye with my bacteria coated finger and it won't stop!!!! So I am embedding germs right into the eye socket waiting for some virus or something to germanate....I touch hand rails on escalators and my eye itches so rub it into the eye.....Ok so I left Goodwill with a sweater, a nice young man held the door for me which restores my faith in humanity.....that is till I go to Wally World!!!! What a zoo, you need not have a passport to travel anymore just go to Wally world (Walmart) I think there were three of us that spoke something that resembled English....I ask a clerk for a wallpaper brush and he snorts and walks into a different aisle so I try to follow him but am playing chicken with a woman headed for a sale or something free in the same aisle, and the clerk gives me a ...are you coming??? With eyes wide open and armed with a shopping cart, I said "Excuse me? I didn't want to run over another customer?" and he goes OK??? OK????? so from now on my shopping is going to be precursed with a Valium or Qualude or some sort of distancing drug of choice. It is very stressful to go shopping. I think the only place I love to shop is Sendiks, it is calming and everyone is nice and I don't even like grocery shopping but everyone is nice. Is that hard to do??? just be nice...!! That is where little shops like mine excel, personal nice people, well that is unless I just came home from shopping at Wally World. I think I am getting a sore throat,,,darn Goodwill.

Looking at someone else's life

In an age of internet communication and text messaginge etc, we have become a Planet of voyers. I am on Facebook and Twitter and started because it is supposed to be great to get your business name out there. Advertising is an expensive endeavor, so anything free or cheap is a great thing. Since I have been on Twitter, I have dealt with Hot Babes interested in me and Penile implants and more Penis stuff than I care to know about. I have found out that people I have on facebook, eat dim sung for lunch and McDonalds for dinner and go to bed late. I know what they are reading, listening too and watching on TV. I know one has herpes, another is pregnant and yet another has stomach ulcers. I am soooo tempted to write that I just had a bowel movement, does anyone care????? But I am sure someone would. I guess I thought it would be more of a vehicle to interact with other people, I guess I was mistaken. A comedian made a comment about the fact that, now adays we sit in a cafe across from one person and talk to people on the other side of the World. I know I have seen a number of people in Cafes not talking to each other but on the phone with someone else??? People TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES.....let's talk!!!!! I have a vibrate on my phone, I use it!!!!! Does anyone realize how rude it is to sit in a group of people and talk to someone else??? Excuse yourself and go outside.....I really don't want to stop talking to friends I am with so you can hear your phone....I also do not want to hear your conversation. We need to learn phone ettiquette. I understand there are situations like kids, Drs and husbands but really. I took the train from Chicago to the Airport and had to listen to Keneesha on her holla phone talking about some Ho that has a crappy body and shouldn't make no money and on and on and on for the WHOLE trip. I was a seat behind her and meanwhile someone else was calling and she kept telling them she will arrive in 5 min. she was in Chicago???? I pity the poor woman next to her. I don't want to hear her or anybody elses conversation. I don't need to know what you ate on Facebook...I want to have a conversation with a person, a real person that when I say, "how are you?" I mean it and will listen to the answer The picture of the statue is on top of MSOE, they are from a German artist that is depicting Men working. I think this one is watching us!!!! LOL

Which is Worse???

Michael Jackson or Brett Favre???? I am so tired of both of them. Can the News find something else to dote on??? Brett Favre is retired again, or not or yes or not or maybe or Tractor news, is he or isn't he. He is done with Green Bay leave it alone for crying out loud!!! Then, Michael Jackson, drug addict, pedophile and still making the news!!!! Leave him die for God's sake....Let's hear some news, good news, like...Hey Jan how was Pluffy pluck or what ever her name is camp was??? Let me tell you, it was wonderful. Loopy yarn shop in Chicago is beautiful and Vicki is an awesome nice person. She has a really nice shop and she should be very proud!! Lexi Boerger was great, we learned a lot of really fun spinning stuff and I met some really great people. I paid way too much to park but had a great time in Chicago, Blue Man Group is a must see and I waited for 2 hours for pizza from a small little pizzaria called Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder, it was good!!! It was also Friday night??? See isn't that better than MJ and BF????

Pluffy Phlucket or something like that

Tomorrow I will be leaving to go to Pluffy Plucket or aka Lexi Boerger spinning class. Lexi spins anything she can put her hands on, newspaper, fabric, and so much more. We are staying at the Essex hotel and I am going with my SIL, Cheryl, she is going to do some sight seeing stuff and I am going to school. Saturday the shop will be open Lois is going to be here. Saturday evening we are going to dinner at Jakes on Halstead and then to see Blue Man group, we are in the poncho seats so this should be interesting!!!!! It is so fun to get away and then you appreciate home so much more. I love being home, all my toys are here, who would want to leave? Tomorrow on our way down we are going to stop at an old Pizzaria where right across the street, in a garage was the St.Valentines day massacre....just thought I'd let you know. LOL
So I got the shot in my foot for planter faciatis....it is soooooo much better but I tend to still baby it because I don't want it to hurt. I bought a new pair of shoes today.....supposedly they are the best for bad feet. They cost almost as much as my car but if they keep me from having sore feet, they are worth every penny. They are rocker shoes, and I am not wearing them till I come home because they supposedly work your whole body. They make you walk straighter and become thin and your blood pressure goes down and just kidding. So if you come into the shop and I am laying on the floor exhasted you know I have been wearing my new workout shoes...Have a great weekend!!!

Begere du France is here

As a shop owner, there has been little to make me go wooooowwww!!! I am so impressed with the new Company Begere du France. Their magazine/booklet is stuffed full of wonderful patterns for woman, men and children. Good patterns, to the point where I have 6 earmarked for doing. They're patterns that are for normal/average shaped woman. I am so excited to shove this book under someones nose and when they open the first page they go ahhhhhhh. Mission Accomplished, share the joy. I am not too thrilled with alot of thier yarns, it is lots of acrylic, but I am carrying their Superwash DK weight for some of the projects. One of the clever things they have done is put actual samples of the yarns on the inside pages, not photos but samples. You can see what you could substitute for the acrylics in natural fibers. You know how much I love natural fibers. They put this book out once a year and it is well worth it and sells for $15.00 which is inexpensive considering there are more than just one patterns you will love to do.....like I said it had me at hello!!!!!!

Broken Glass

I am not a fan of broken glass/mirror, anything that slices through skin. The mirror broke in the shop and I needed to get it safely into the trash. I put some of the pieces into the garbage full well being aware it is in there. I carefully removed the mirror from it's resting spot all the rest of the pieces hanging on with a thread of hope. All is well I am loaded into the car to make the 50 ft. trek to the dumpster. I get the large mirror into the dumpster and pick up the plastic trash bag with pieces of broken mirror poking through the bag and being very careful, not to touch that spot, walk over the dumpster like I am carrying nitro glycerin bottles. I push open the lid of the dumpster and toss the bag into the trash but it teeters precariously on the edge so without thinking without a blink, I push it into the trash.....I know I cut myself, I can feel the artery gushing blood and I am afraid to look. It doesn't hurt but clean cuts don't. I feel woozy and can see the world spinning as I want to assess the cut that I must have on my hand. I am thinking where there is a clean rag to wrap my hand in .....I can feel the warm blood ........Ok, way to much drama, I got one of those paper like cuts that hurts like a son of a gun it is about 1/2" long......I hate glass.

Dog tired

Not sure if you can see the four little black paws that are conked out on the back of the couch, but he is there. Dog tired after a day of daycare. He was introduced to a new black lab puppy that is I think 10 weeks old and thought the drinking bowl was a swimming pool. When I picked him up, the girl at the counter said "Oh it's Lilies boyfriends mom?" Oh really??? My fur son has a girlfriend, not that I had any doubt, he must have ditched Madison the Pit bull mix??? and has fallen for his own type another little Westie. This is hysterical...furr kids!!!! But on the other hand they enjoy Iggy so much they offered me another day of daycare for 1/2 price, so he will now go on Fridays too. I highly recommend daycare for dogs, it is great socializing for them and exercise, swimming, chasing and just plain fun.

All good things must end

Last night was the last night of Book Club, we will never know what trials Martha was to endure or if Sandra would ever get over the lose of her husband. We started out strong, but try as we might, it is hard to hold the attention of several woman in a room full of fiber and knitting needles and be quiet. Our attention was limited, plus add the antics of a Westie Puppy not to mention his flautulance, that near killed us and brought us to giggles. We lost some and gained some but we always ate well thanks to Patty and her baking expertese. Due to lack of interest, Book Club has folded. Closing the book on "Knitting" I know the ending and it does seem like the unending book, it was a really a good read. Thanks to all that participated, it was fun. We finished the last night with a hamburger at Sobelmans on St. Paul ave. and Struesel cupcakes!!! If you came late you missed out....sorry!!! Iggy even had a little burger. Tomorrow is Passport Saturday, be sure and bring in your flowers to get a stamp and pick up the new yarn for the beret.

I am a Mother in Law

I really do hate that word, I relate it to two terrible woman in my life. Well before I was married they were very nice, in retrospect almost too nice, behind that smile and comforting hand was a knife. Seriously two marriages and two bad MIL's. Further more, after the first one who's name was Sarah Jane, I said I would never marry anyone who's parents were still alive. I was not going to deal with that again, I married momma's boy and he had not left the teat. Then I met another arse, and his mother was so sweet and good to me, till we got married??? What is that about? I wish she would not have let me get to that step, but it started on the wedding day......of course never in front or around him. Turns out the two of them were like a gypsy traveling con show, one lied and the other would steal. But the scary part was she like to be called Settie???? Her other name was Jayne, the kicker came when I found out her real name was .....eeeeek eeeek eeeeek ( picture the shower curtain scene in Psycho) Sarah Jayne......just kill me now.
Well it is my turn, I vowed when I was going through life with them which by the way was short lived, that I would never be like that. I won't, I don't understand how it happens, My son and his wife, just got married July 2nd, in Copenhagen, Denmark. My head is still on right it is not pivoting and revolving around and I am not spewing green??? I don't feel any different, I don't feel she stole my son from me, he picked her? She is a very strong woman, she has her opinions and I like that in her, I know where she stands. She would not be the type to be intimidated, not that I would, but she is comfortable in her own skin. Best of all she is in Love with my son? They play well together, they have the same likes, and she comes from a wonderful family, that loves my son. She is not a high maintenance, how do I look person, she is a natural beauty. I am excited, I just wish there was another name instead of Daughter in Law, I think I am just going to call her my daughter, it is easier and that is how I want to treat her, not like it was some legal transaction, well it kind of was, but she loves me son, who could ask for more.

Happy Fourth of July******

That Iris is sticking it's tongue out at us!!!!
It's here the beginning of Summer, it is a beautiful day today and as far as I am concerned, it can stay this way. Problem is if it does we won't get any tomatoes or veggies? Ok we can have some warm days, as long as I can stay inside!!!! We had Village Spinning guild meeting last night and we showed off our Spin a PIcture yarn, each one was so great and looked just like the photos. We really have a good group. Not too much news here, I have some new yarns in, and they are selling good already. When will Michael Jackson actually die??? Sorry fans, but I am sick of Wacko Jacko....I like his music but he still was never aquitted of molestation he settled with a money agreement???? That is unacceptable. But let it go, we will be hearing about this and his idiot father for what will seem like forever. He is not the only person that had a bad child hood......you can't count how many adults have had horrible childhoods, yet they are not millionaires either. There were lots of child actors that lost thier youth to television, get over it. Ok my rant is done....I am now going to have a cup of coffee and relax!!! Don't forget to thank a Veteran for our freedom!!!!

Great Days!!!

This is the best weather, except the mosquitos are out with a vengence. I took Iggy out and had three on my hand at one time. I am not knitting anything right now, I have been spinning more. I just got the photos of the inside of my eye and I want to spin a batt that resembles that. It should be fun and the eye Dr. is even more excited. Today was awesome I took a bunch of photos and saw these two old ladies sitting in the park, can you imagine the conversation? I am getting tired of hearing about Michael Jackson, it is sad, yes, not sure how I feel about the charges that everyone is skirting around with his molestation, buy out? I am thinking how old I'm getting famous people I grew up with are all croaking???

Hot enough?

I do not like the heat of Summer, I was not the one saying I can't wait till I sweat like a horse and my makeup slides off of my face and my head sweats buckets...not me. The sun is wonderful, and it makes everything grow but unless you have a pool or live on a lake this weather stinks. Another thing, I was driving down Ryan rd, it has a 45 mph speed limit, I was in the right lane and another car was ahead of me in the left lane, there was not a car length between our bumpers, here comes Mr Harley and he cuts from the left lane into the right lane making me hit my brakes or him? I wanted to stop him and shake him up , he seemingly had two good legs and arms and I know he was lacking in the brain dept. So I am going to pull up next to him a the next light, (he really got far) I am going to ask him if his Donor card is signed because at least he will be good for something...he has ear plugs in!!!!!!! Something is wrong with, I can listen to his stinking loud pipes inside my car and that jerk has earplugs in......is he preserving his hearing or keeping his brains in his head? I always try to be considerate of bikers, I hate their noise, I can't keep my window open at a stop light when a bike is next to me. I have a problem with noise polution, why can they have such loud pipes??? and I don't want to hear "loud pipes saves lives" safe driving saves lives, not those noisemakers. If my muffler were that loud, I would have a ticket. I think the heat is getting to me.....It's too hot for me to sit on the deck.....where are the breezes?
I need to finish something I started it will make me feel better.

That's going to leave a mark/or TG for back fat!!!

So in our usual routine, I get up get dressed and take Iggy for his walk. I savor the fact that when I get back I can relax and have a cup of coffee. Outside my back door I have three wood steps. Can you see where this is going? I have a covered porch but I am in an alcove that collects leaves, garbage and those aweful white fluffy cottonwood whisps. The combination of all of these and then add torrential downpours, the steps have become slippery as ice. I know that now? I mean in the Winter I do know that, but it is June. I closed the door and that is the last thing I remember as I threw my hands up in the air and left go of the leash and ended up on the pavement. I do know that I hollored, what I am not sure was it IIIIggggggggyyyyyyyyyy, who is now running loose, or OOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW whatever it was, it was loud and I laid there assessing the damage. OMG what hurts and what is hanging unfunctional? nothing yet, so I roll over and this in itself is quite a feat, slowly calling Iggy like he is some Lassie dog that will come to my aid with a rope and help lift me out of the well. I get on my hands and knees, wincing in instant stiffness.....oh this is going to leave a mark. I didn't hit my head but my back feels like a washboard, so I must have slid down my back, see back fat is a good thing, it cushions moments like these...sliding down steps at top speed with multiple tonage behind you. So Lassie is standing looking at me like "what the hell was that?" I 'm sure the ground shook some. I am up and of course we have to do our walk so he can do his duty, which I did not do in my pants, but as I lay there, my pants became a sponge and soaked up the whole puddle in my parking spot , so I could have? I ran a hot bath with epsom salts and think I will live, bruises are magically appearing at top speed and I'm sure tomorrow is going to be a real pain. Good news, nothing is dangling precariously ......just my pride....

Coffee

I love my coffee, my favorite is Alterra, a local roaster. When Alterra first came on the scene, they were adamant about using old buildings in the city and rejuvenating them into coffee shops. Like all good intentions they got corporatized and started building new buildings, the industrial looking type that lack the warmth of old used places. Well anyway, I don't mind paying for a good cup of Joe. So Micky D's keeps claiming their coffee is better now.....better than what I would like to know. I just went through the drive through for a cup of coffee and it is burnt, it is old, it is crap. By the way I look across the lot to Starbucks, did someone say we are in a recession?? There was a line of 8 cars waiting to buy $4.00 a cup minimum coffee that sucks too. My theory is put enough cream and sugar and syrup and chocolate and whipped cream and it will taste good. No doubt. I drink my coffee black, so I can taste my coffee. I found out that the burnt taste is to cover cheap coffee beans? I don't like strong high acid coffee, I love a mild tasty cup of coffee. So I will be spilling this garbage down the sink. I will be making my own coffee this morning and enjoying it for about .35 cent a cup....?

Meet Casper

This my friends is the little bugger I had all of those photos of ....three hours of photos and some how with my clicky fingers deleted him...I set up the tri pod and was going to use the remote, then realized I had to be in front of the camera to use that so I sat behind it and waited and waited and I have about 4 great shots that when you click through them fast look like he is flying!!! I had an awesome day today. My house is clean the rugs are all scrubbed and beautiful....the weather is awesome and now I have to go pick up the Igster at daycare....dinner tonight with the kids. It was Danijelas birthday yesterday and it kind of slipped by me. I am so pumped about the flower photos I got too....really close. I love Georgia O'Keefe and I am capturing the same type of flowers only in photos....I need to take a deep breath....great day

Two Worlds Collide

To view photos click here

Wow, what a turnout!!!! I think we had over 30 some knitters. I had to laugh at the photos, (Iggy is posing like a stuffed animal on a couple, looking right into the camera.) Thanks to everyone that made this event a success!! We not only had WWKIP day but we had the kick off of Passport. Passport is a knitting Staycation, we are traveling the World through knitting. We are all given a Passport, and each Month we will knit something from a Country around the World ie: France/beret, Japan/Towashi fish, Ireland/Cables, Peru/Alpaca mittens and so on and so forth. The plan is to get knitters to try something new or to learn a new technique. It was so great because everyone was so willing to help beginners get started. You will have a Month to finish the projects which are pretty quick, and then you will get a stamp in your Passport for that Country. I am pleased to say I ran short of Passports, so this week I will be making more. It's not too late to join and we meet the second Saturday of the month for a new Country and you miss this you can come any time after that Saturday and pick up the Free Pattern and you purchase the yarn. It will be a lot of fun and you can get a head start on your Christmas presents. No project should be over $20 at most.
Thanks again for all the food, fun and sharing!!!! I hope you all had a good time.

ducked up!!!

Honest, besides my printer not pulling in paper, but printing perfectly fine...this made me ill. My Monday really sucked, well kind of. I was driving along Puetz rd and crossing the street is a pair of male ducks, stepping into the street on the opposite side of the road is a female duck and car approaching fast is oblivious to Missy duck, duck takes off gets hit by car and flys up in the air and lands in front of my car, I was stopped and watching this in horror. The duck did shake it off and walk away, but as I drove away, my thoughts went to internal bleeding slow death.......so I go work in my studio and decide before I pick Iggy up from daycare I may just catch a nap....I turn on TV because nothing can make me sleep better than TV....Weather Alert!! Tornados and bad weather heading straight towards me due to hit where Iggy is about 4:05....I look at the clock and it's 3;30, I have to go pick up my baby, so off I go driving into a blackness. I get to Central Bark and their weather alert goes off, tornado heading due east and should hit about 4:05. I said I'm outta here and drive about 70 miles an hour due east towards home. My phone dings, text message my son " Mom tornados heading right for you take cover" He knows I would be in the basement already but he didn't know I was in the car...crapping my pants. So off go the sirens first in Franklin, then Oak Creek and I am crying now and my son calls and says "head north and pick me up and you will be fine, go north NOW!!!! So I am a freak fest by now and head north passing my home and fearing for my life. ....... by the time I get to downtown Milwaukee the all clear is sounded and it went out over the lake. We ended up having dinner which was very nice and gave me a chance to unwind.

Come and Go

This morning I woke up after spending about 3 hours in a chair yesterday, trying to catch the elusive Hummingbird at the feeder, I deleted the photos. I hooked up the camera, downloaded them, watched them upload, deleted the originals, and reformated my card. Poof gone. It made me think about, Casper, the hummingbird. I had some great shots of him...I waited ...me waited for each trip he would make and snapped some shots, lots of shots, over three hours. Gone in a second...We have people in our lives like that. They come into your life and spend time and rub off, thier lives on ours and we intermingle, share things and then without a notice they disappear, not through a disagreement but just happenstance. Lives get in the way of lives. We each leave a piece of of ourselves with another. Our phone calls get less and less and before you know it, we are not close at all anymore. I have a friend that I have known since I was a kid, we were best friends, we still are, but not like we were. I know things change we get married, we get jobs, but why do friendships have to take a hit? I know in my heart, if I picked up the phone and said,"Cindy" she would be here in a heartbeat, and I for her. But we have lost the closeness, I don't know her life anymore, only through brief conversations too long between. That makes me sad....but such is life. Think of all the people who have come and gone, left bits of themselves and taken some too. Treasure the moments....call a friend.
There is no photo because Casper is "poof" gone.......

Beautiful Morning

So, it is finally a beautful morning, by that I mean it is cool enough to drink coffee but warm enough to sit on the deck with a sweatshirt or sweater. I love this kind of weather. We had Spinning Guild here last night and in the morning I worked in the basement/studio to get everything set up so we could just go there and do our stuff. All was cool, then about three members came in and I went down to turn on the lights and low and behold, the alarm is going off on my sump back up battery.....go figure...so because I have absolutely "NOTHING" to do I fill the battery and the alarm is still buzzing. I call Kim down, because she is my sump pump back up specialist and needless to say she has to call her husband who IS the specialist. Meanwhile the buzzer is causing me to have a bitchy fit. So we proceed down to do our stuff and Kim's husband is fixing the sump and we actually had a really good time....I was a little stressed. The verdict is the sensor is shot, why not, I think it was about a year ago that I had the flood? Now there is a big GOOD thing that came out of this. Had we not gone down there, I would not have heard it??? It shut the sump off, so I again may have had water? I am lucky enough to have a "Rent a husband" that I don't have the upkeep of. Thank you Kim.....!!!
So all in all even though I was a tad frazzled, all was fine. We carded batts that when you spin them should look like a photo we chose. I am anxious to see the outcome of the skeins. We have a really nice Guild if anyone is interested!!!! Did I tell you how much I love spinning!!!!! There is nothing like the feel of fiber flowing through your hands and twisting into a beautiful yarn. The pleasure you can get from watching it develope right before you eyes. I love the whole process of spinning....it is the one thing that I love from beginning to end, not one step do I NOT like. I love weaving but do not like to wind my warp? I like knitting but, it is not fast enough and I get bored, so I rarely finish anything. I don't like crochet it hurts my hands. I love painting, but hate the cleanup, uhm that would not be wall painting. Actually cleanup is the worst in anything BUT spinning, come to think of it, there is NO cleanup with any fiber art except dying???? Maybe that's why I like it so much.
PS, Anyone see my finished fish mitten? It is MIA

Poor Susan Boyle

It's a pretty pathetic day when someone that is less than 5'8", not blonde and 105# and 20 something, opens their mouth and people gasp in surprise that they have talent. They make faces in pure disgust or disgruntle because how could someone frumpy be of any good to this earth? What has happened to us? Why can only beautiful people be talented? Susan is pretty much and average Jane. She is the woman that really lives next door. She reportedly is kind and sincere, but now she is on a "rampage" no kidding. They are hounding her to death. How could you be so ugly and sing so beautifully, it's like a freak show. Let's get a look at her, does she go home and change into a swan? Does she eat normally, one thing they can't get is a photo where she looks bad without makeup....she has the Enquirer puzzled. We certainly have sunk to a new low. I think she is a talented woman, the surprise was that they even let her get on TV. We have set such an unattainable standard for our children, let's face it we are not all beautiful, thin and talented. Heaven forbid you wear glasses, or have pimples, just a normal growing up bain. I can only imagine Susan's life from mundane, to being stalked at every corner, who wouldn't need rehab. She was asked on TV if she was excited about getting a free makeover, hhhmmm you know maybe she is comfortable in her body? Maybe she doesn't see herself as a freak. I think the saving grace for most of us is we do become comfortable in our skin, first off what option would we have? If you don't have a million dollars, surgery is not an option, braces was something that was iffy. Every day when we look in the mirror, we may pull a cheek to see if it would look better taunt, but really, I love my wrinkles, everyone means something, some stress in my life that I went through. No surgery is going to fix that. We have to readjust our values on worth. We are all worth so much. We all have talents and value, no face in the World can change that. We need to stop being judged by our outter skin and see what is beneath. We could be missing a whole lot and think how many normal people may come with talents they thought weren't worth sharing.

Cast your face to the wind

Someone loves to put his face into the wind. Don't you just wonder what goes through an animals mind???? Iggy loves facing the wind and barely opening his eyes.
I am working on knitting the yarn I spun with these huge sequin flowers. After ripping it three times, I think I finally have it figured out. I am alternating some brown sheep in between so the sequin flowers (up to 2"s) don't get too bunchy. My feeling on this is the hat will look like the old sequin hats, or maybe an Ester Williams swim cap???? It's anyone's guess. Have a great weekend.

The Culprit

This morning for whatever reason I woke up with a renewed interest in my Barbie doll. I remembered she had a knitting outfit with a bowl of yarn and a book as accessories. After our morning walk I brought out my coveted blue Barbie wardrobe, the one that after 50 years the handle snapped off, leaving a sharp piece of plastic to scratch the hell out of you. Inside is a treasure of Barbie outfits, the Skater, the Airline Stewardess, the seductress, the teacher and so much more. For all the bad rap Barbie got she really did let little girls know they could be more than a Mom.....I never remember looking at her and feeling negative about me...oh yes I did, I wanted her Platnum Blonde Bubble hair.....this is not my first Barbie but it was the one that I loved most. I had the first one that came in a black and white striped bathing suit, with a blond pony tail that my sister took out and restyled and it never looked good again. She had hoop earring, which I noticed this Barbie is missing her one pearl earring and one shoe and the knitting bowl, but not the "How to Knit" book. I wonder how many little girls showed an interest in knitting, after they got Knitting Barbie outfit. I also have some handmade outfits from a friend of mines mom, My mom actually knit my Barbie a sweater with teeny needles and I have that too, the moths or silverfish did a little buffet on all my wool outfits, so the sweater you see is actually hole ridden and putting those pointy fingered hands into a holey sweater was a real treat. So today Barbie sis visiting the shop.....!!

Thank you Veterans, for my Freedom

Not just today but everyday, please remember to Thank a Veteran for your freedom. In some Countries, I would not be able to own my own business as a woman. I would not be able to vote, choose my clothing, speak in public. As a woman i would be lower than snake belly. I know how lucky I am, and it has not come without a cost. People have given their lives so I can do these things. I know a Thank you is a small token, but I do remember you, and will always respect you for what you have given me. No matter why, or when, you have left your family's to protect mine. Right or Wrong, you have gone at your Countries request, to do something you will never forget. It will live on in your mind forever. It was not just a two year stint it was a lifetime. You have come back with scars that may or may not be visible. I thank you for your hardship, because of you I can write this without fear, because of you I can walk the streets alone, without a male companion, without a black robe covering my whole body. Thank you every day not just today, everyday!!!! Remember to hug a Veteran and say a prayer for our Soldiers all over the World fighting to keep us safe.
Knit a hat for the Veterans Christmas Party in December. I am collecting them here at the shop!!!!

New Neighbors

A new family has taken residence at the corner. I think there are four kids and a mom and dad. They are relatively quiet especially when dad is home. When I sit outside I can look right into their home and spy on them. Oh oh there is a fight going on over there, and mom just left. Dad is looking around like "what was that all about?" no clue. I get to watch the babies grow....how fun. I think their name is the Sputzy's. That is what I will call them. The weather sure is awesome, no complaints other than the wind, but if it weren't a tad windy it would be down right HOT!!!! I am not knitting tonight I am going to watch the finale of American Idol....what else.

First Sunday closed

Today is my first Sunday closed....I woke up at 6:ish and we went for a walk. I am savoring my first cup of coffee and deciding what course I am going to take today. Now I never plan, but I do list things that I need to do. Cleaning house is one of them and finish unpacking and taking my mom out for a belated Mother's day.
My baby (Iggy) is acting like a real good puppy. I think that leaving him with someone else for a few days has changed him. One, he no longer wants to go potty on his spot on the deck, he wants to take a walk and do his duty. I need the walk too. He now sleeps with me out of his cage...and he stays in bed all night. His pen is gone from the shop and he walks around like he owns it and for the most part leaves the yarn alone, unless of course he gets bored. He sleeps in his bed in the shop and when people come in he goes to meet them. He will run out the door if given the chance but after all he is a puppy and boys will be boys. Why is it when you try to teach a child/dog something they totally ignore you. I do remember someone telling me you can try to teach your dog something and all of a sudden they reach a certain age and it all clicks. I think my baby has reached that age!!! It is getting easier to be his mom and I am not constantly saying NO No ....but it isn't over yet I'm sure....

I'm back!!!

Hello Hello Hello....I had the best time and can't wait to go back. I may have to drag some new bodies along to share the fun. I met a bunch of new women and Spinning enthusiasts. Now to explain the photo above...upon leaving YS..I saw a buffallo ranch and screamed at Martha who was driving...STOP, they may sell fiber from Kansas buffallo....Martha droned with a little Kansas accent, "they won't have fiber, only meat" me....you never know they may have insight into a cash crop...let's check. So out saunters this tall lanky guy, usual tractor hat on and I blurt with excitement..."Do you have any wool from the buffallo, you know fiber, hair????? he puts his long fingers up to his chin and gives it a little rub.."hhhmmm seems the dogs had some the other day, hold on....here" he holds out this 1 foot piece of matted buffallo fur" me...Oh thanks that is good, I can work with this? So he places it in a bag for me, I did notice he was wearing heavy leather gloves...and I sealed the bag. Off we went and while unloading the car I found the buffallo toupee and "What the heck is this in the bag?? it had a cigarette butt with it.....nice!!! So I am going to make something beautiful from my Kansas Buffallo minus the butt!!!!
I'm sure he went in to his family at dinner (if he waited that long) and said (Some city nuts stopped by today.....wanted some wool.....that's when the whole family started rolling on the floor laughing)

Yarn School

I am ready to go.....well kind of.... there are those last minute must pack things. I hate packing, I am a light packer, I figure if I don't have it I don't have it??? The weather is the main problem, will it be chilly or hot ....hopefully on the chilly side, and not HOT. I know there is rain in the forecast, but my headaches can tell me if it's going to rain better than the new improved Doppler radar. Iggy will be visiting a friend for the 6 days. The shop will be open, and Kim is having a sale on Mother's Day. I tried to finish my Alice in Wonderland sweater and only had 9 inches left....I choked, I whined, I denied starting it.....the want is there but the do is not....Lois is finishing it for me....so I hope to wear it tomorrow...if it fits...LOL. Oh that's not really funny. So I will see you all in a week....Come see what I learned.
See that bench out in front on that photo....well it is no longer there. I was sitting on it and jiggling and it broke....it was funny because it happened in slow motion. I did look and it was all rotten....I hope.

American Icon

It's Friday night and the phone rings, there is an urgency in the ring. I take the phone in my hand and check the ID, it is a Madison area code. I know my friend is at the Gallery night in Madison and figure he must have seen something he needs to share. As I answer the phone, there is excited breathing, gasping you could say and then he hollars, ROBERT REDFORD IS IN MADISON....whhaaatt? I answer back, sure he is are you eatting too many funnel cakes? No he is google him, so I pull my lap top which is still warm from my exciting game of Mai Jong....and he is in Madison, for the Sundance Theatre, and to possibly donate money to the Arts at Madison. I loved Robert Redford in his old movies...especially Out of Africa, I could watch the scene where he washes Meryl Streeps hair 1000 times. Now back to my game....

Springing up!!!

I got the bug yesterday and finally got rid of all of the dry leaves and garbage in front of the shop. I planted geraniums and impatiens. i will be putting the tables out today and I am working on the chairs, I am going to paint them, (I have all of the stuff anyway) Today I am also putting up the Spring/Summer flowers inside the shop. I will take some photos if the sun or some sort of light ever comes out. Mother's Day we are having an Art show here at the village, it is a juried show this year, not Tupperware and Avon....sorry. Yarn school is coming up fast, only 8 days from now, and my worries of my baby are starting to compound. I want to make sure he is well taken care of, one of the drawbacks of having a fur kid. My brother and SIL would probably take him, but their two dogs, (Shipperkes) hate him, and I mean hate him, he wants to play they want to sleep. So I have another option and I am steering that way, problem is she will probably take him on 5 mile walks 4 times a day and then I can't live up to that expectation...LOL!!! AAAhhhhh I have my wheel packed, but nothing else, like clothes??? We are taking the train so it will be a great trip..hopefully the Swine flu will get contained, sure wish I could get my hands on some Tamaflu!!!!