Zeneedle...needleart as life

And So It Begins

Wednesday's multiple inches of snow was brought to us by the dreaded lake effect. That's an official term, a weather phenomenon of what happens across the Salt Lake Valley when conditions are just right.  I walked out of the office to find my car covered with 5" of wet, heavy, pure white fluff.  The dreaded lake effect is capricious, as one never knows what direction the wind will carry the bulk of the storm nor how long it will last.

The afternoon high temperature was down right cold...freezing in fact!  And so begins the winter of 2008-09.  I am not yet over the winter of 2007-08 and I am in need of an attitude adjustment.  How do I get through the next 4 months of cold, wet, cold, snowy, icy, cold, misery?  (See, just how big a shift in attitude is needed?)  I cannot spend the next 4 months hating the cold and hating winter. The only thing to do is to find what is good about the next few months and just what is needed to get me through. 

First there is the uncommon beauty of the mountains that surround us.  They do get the bulk of the snow (46" at Snowbird from this storm alone) and snow is much needed for tourism dollars.  It also fills the reservoirs with precious water so that the flora and fauna of the mountains, and those of us who live in the valley below, have plenty to drink. We're off to a good start. Visiting our favorite places in the mountains, during the coldest months of winter, also lightens the mood. I will make sure to do so as often as possible.

It's the beauty in little things that also uplift and bring joy.  As soon as I saw the stack of amaryllis bulbs I thought of Sandy and her beautiful bloom of last winter.  I bought one for my office and I'll enjoy watching its daily progress. It should brighten the sterile waiting area and, hopefully, my mood.

There will be hot cups of tea in beautiful new mugs. I also vow to try new teas and enjoy those I already love on a daily basis.  As with fingering yarn there can never be too much tea in the house, right Terry?  Oh, and my new tea cup just may help keep my green (or black) tea blue. It was hand made by Cynthia's son and it's a beauty.

The main thing to do this winter is to keep on knittin' up the warm knits and spinning up as much yarn as I can.  Knitting and spinning during the coldest months of the year is der rigeur.  While there are only two projects on my needles now, I will be adding to that number and can't wait to knit up some mittens, gloves and hats (along with scarves, sweaters and socks).  But first, I had better fix Smith's gloves!  They have been waiting for a new finger since last spring. How did winter get here so quickly!?

Enjoy your weekend!!

The Dream

Did you ever think MLK's dream would be a reality? Tonight I am emotional, amazed and my heart is back in my chest, not my throat.  It's feels amazing to be alive at such an history moment.  Congratulations to President Elect Obama.  Congratulations America!

Yes, we can.

Hi Honey!

Arrived home last night (8:00pm) and this is the first chance in a week I've had to check email or blogs.  It will take me all day to catch up with a few of you in Blogland and with myself.  I don't think I can make it around to all 25,000 posts!  I thought Blogland would be slow and here you are already posting about the Festival, too!   

Today my goals are few.  Laundry, groceries, vote (early voting is a must this year), post to blog for tomorrow, and go to SnB to see my grrls.  I've missed them while away.  I miss all the freinds I left in back East, too!   I'm so sorry I didn't get to see more of you at Rhinebeck. Few pictures made it to my camera (I was a bad blogger) but I did make sure to get one of a sheep.

See you tomorrow!

Deep Thoughts (that go nowhere in particular)

It's been another too busy Tuesday and I'm having trouble getting my head around a post.  There isn't much time left in the day and I do want to go to SnB tonight.  Because I leave for Rhinebeck at 12:01am next Wednesday (that is as early as you can leave and not have it be Tuesday), I must be at the airport Tuesday night around 10:00pm or so. I doubt I'll make SnB next week.  It's time I started thinking about packing, too.  It's very exciting to think I'll be taking a class, a long anticipated class, with Judith MacKenzie McCuin. I'm also trying to spin a bit each day to get my head and fingers in the right place. 

I've been having some weird breakouts around my mouth caused by, what I think, is an allergy (or sensativity) to corn products. It's been hard to pin point and I really thought it was about a dozen other things. I'm now fairly sure I should not be eating corn.  It's not hard to stay away from whole corn as I really have never enjoyed it that much, but corn is in nearly everything and difficult to stay away from completely.  At least it won't kill me or make me too sick (mostly joint pain). It's just that the rash is rather unsightly and it hurts like a SOB. 

Daniel is  >< this close to the finish line.  The sleeves are blocking and all the other pieces are in waiting.  We should have time to get together tonight and have a date to tie up loose ends and sew up the details.  I expect the collar will take a day to do and there could be a photo shoot this weekend.  I'm thrilled but a little worried as I knit the smallest size (it really should fit) and, well, I'm just worried. I'm always worried when a project nears completion. 

When I think about what I want to knit, I'm in the mood for small things, but as Daniel nears the end I know there must be another sweater on the needles.  The Noro yarn calls and so does the beautiful Bohus Sweater (Gray Mist). I might even be crazy enough to consider knitting both at one time.  Bohus is on size 2 (2.75mm) and the Noro would be on size 8s (5.00mm).  My hands will thank me.  This may mean I'll skip NaKniSweMo (the KAL where you knit a sweater in the month of November).

Because readers love a blog post with pictures I've added one of all the pieces of Daniel just before the second sleeve was finished. Everything else is blocked and waiting...waiting, waiting.

Happy Days Continued

Not to sound like a Pollyanna, but the happy, good "stuff continued right on though the weekend.  Last Thursday LizK blogged about her Aunt Cookie's Kugel and I just knew Smith would be reminded of his grandmother's if I made it. I printed of the recipe and left it on the counter when I went to work on Friday. When I came home there was  a warm pan of kugel cooling in its place(almost as if by magic).  Smith actually followed Liz's recipe (something he rarely does) and it was such a treat!  We had it for breakfast and dinner over the next three days.   

Saturday we woke to rain, something that is desperately needed around here.  Sadly it was the weekend of the Great Baisn Fiber Faire and it was cold and miserable for the vendors and attendees.  Susan and I braved the wet to show support and found some lovely things to buy. Hopefully a few more Ewe-tah grrls made it by as it was surely a slow and wet day for everyone.  The bright spot of the festival was a booth of felted items from Kyrgyzstan that were brought by Big Yellow House.  I bought a thick, warm felted hat that protected me from the wet and chill.  It's funky and fun to wear.

The knitting happiness continued as Sock Mojo, inconjuction with Kim's fabulous yarn, smiled on me as I knit the cuffs for Kirsten's  Mystery Socks. Kim's yarn is a rich, warm, spicy brown created by a mix of colors like beige, tan, green and every shade of red brown. It's makes for very interesting knitting and combined with the pattern, very entertaining, too. 

You may remember the Georgia O'Keefe flower in Friday's post and my wish for a yarn in that colorway. Well, as fate would have it, awhile ago I was enticed to by a beautiful pink yarn (I know you're surprised) from Ruth.  The colors are a perfect match to the picture, a perfect match!  How lucky is that?  I think I have an idea what it will grow up to be and I know we'll live happily ever after, too. Ruth has a new online shop where you can by all her available yarns, jewelry and notecards.  Congratulations, Ruth...it's a great spot!

Happy Monday!

Happy Days

Wednesday turned out to be a day full of happy happenings.  First thing in the morning Happiness arrived as the big project was collated, finished up and out the door by 9:00am.

Happiness happened again as I turned the calendar to the new month and saw this picture. I ooohhed and aaahhed when it came into view.  "I need yarn in that color way" methinks. 

Happiness happened again when I logged onto the computer and saw Scout's  updated for October's desktop calendars. They are all wonderful, but the peace sign now adorns my desktop.  It was a serendipitously happy happening when Sugaree came on the radio at the same time.  Once a hippie, always a hippie.

Later that evening, after I spun a web with sock yarn, there was a knock at the door and Sock Mojo came in.  He was caught in the web and MAY stick around for awhile. I'd love to knit socks with the TTL Mystery group (along with everything else, but who's counting?). The yarn (Woolen Rabbit) may entice SM to stay.

Today happiness continues as IT IS Friday!  Happy Weekend, everyone!

No Way Hump Day

During the work day there is usually enough time to write up a blog post for the following day.  The office isn't that busy, usually, and some of my time is my own.  However, that's was not the case yesterday.  I had NO time to myself after about 9:00am.  The biggest job I've had to do to date hit my desk and there was NO wiggle room, no down time.  Scratch post, scratch writing, scratch lunch, and I even left work late.  Today looks better only because said job had to be finished before I left yesterday. Rather than cobble together something knitting related…I give you the first course of the dinner we had while enjoying the deck Saturday night at Silver Fork.  Carole will say she wishes she could have been there.  That would have made the evening all the better. 

PSA:
Socktoberfest starts today and to kick things off Kirsten has created a Mystery sock KAL on the Ravelry group Fans of Through the Loops.  Will this bring back the Sock Mojo?  Is the any hope of it returning from 40 days and 40 nights (or double that!) of wondering in the desert?  Stay tuned.

Blank

• In her post on Tuesday, Vicki listed 10 simple things she loves. 
• One item on her list was getting "real" mail, mailbox mail, and I admit it's one of my favorite things, too.
• In order to share the love of "real mail" a pile of thank you gifties  were package upWednesday evening to send to dear friends who have been very kind and generous.
• Inside is not only a little gift, but a piece of my heart, too.
• The last few beautiful days have been beautiful and to take advantage of the nice weather, we've been eating dinner on the patio.
• I've been knitting and reading outdoors as much as possible.
• The cooler and shorter days of fall are encroaching quickly.
• BethS made the brilliant suggestion of using handspun as the contrast for Smith's Turn A Square  hat.
• See?  As I said, BRILLIANT!

Have a fabulous weekend!!

And So, I'm Lazing into the Weekend...

• I've been ready for the weekend since Wednesday.
• Not very Zen of me, but I have been able to cope with the last two days anyway.
• The picture is of the smoky hazy sunrise from a couple of days ago.
• A big fire raged on a nearby mountain for a day or two.
• The fire isn't out, but it is smaller and doesn't produced the large amount of smoke it once did.
• We've been lucky this summer where fires are concerned.
• And our weather hasn't been too hard to handle, either.
• This weekend is the proverbial end of summer.
• Everyone is asking where the summer went, why do summers go by so quickly and winters drag on and on.
• And yet, it is not winter and fall has not even arrived. 
• At this point in time the end of summer is a state of mind.
• There are still days of beautiful weather ahead.
• They are to be enjoyed to the fullest.
• I intend to do so.
• Few plans have been made for the weekend.
• The few in place include friends, good food (and drink), time to knit and time to relax.
• Once again, I am in the throws of a finishing flurry. 
  
• There will be a whole new bunch of WIPS by next week.
• And, even better, a nice pile of finished goods.
• Enjoy your weekend.
• Go outdoors.
• You'll be stuck inside soon enough.
• Have a fabulous Holiday!

And the Fun Begins!

Norma sent a hostess gift and she hasn't even arrived!!  Don't you love the new crazy garden goddess?  I moved the Wild Woman from the front garden to the back Zen Garden so they could start their journey of being life long friends.

If you are a long time reader you might remember my trip to Rhinebeck in 2006.  It was a thrill to meet so many friends face to face and spend time with as many as I could.  We spent the first part of our trip at Martha effing St*wart's house which was every bit as fun as you'd think it would be. Since Norma's (she'll be here tomorrow!) standards are low there is no need for me to worry about my hospitality skills.  While Norma can cook up a fabulous dinner right out of her garden...I have the mountains right outside my door.  It will have to be enough.  There is no broccoli to pick and I will do my best to not let the ice cream hit the floor, but beyond that I make no promises, Norma.  However, the weather looks like it will be perfect (Norma's good karma is high!) and the fun will be easy to come by. We have big plans for next 3-4 days and KimG arrives early Monday to join the fun.  We'll be ON THE MOVE having a fabulous time and I can't wait. Butterflies have taken over my tummy.

SO, I'm going to take next week off, as in away from the blog. There will be no time the first three days of the week to post and I intend to get a new exercise regime off the ground by next weekend.  The doctor said I'm cold all the time because I have no body fat or good muscle mass.  Maybe Norma can help with that, too!  I need to eat more protein and work harder on building muscle.  There is such a thing as too thin (and feeble).

I may post a picture or two next week and I do have a great Saturday Sky for tomorrow, but I have a feeling I'll need a good rest after Norma leaves.  Happy Weekend!  See you all later!