Check this out!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1205007/Shepherdess-bride-marries-stunning-dress-wool-flock.html

Sorry I don't know how to put in links correctly. But all fiberistas will enjoy this article. It's worth a cut and paste to get there.

I was going to put in an illustration of the nifty way of joining and binding off simultaneously that I unvented, but Saturday got busy! DH decided we would go to the local parades of homes. The four monster mansions in Washington, each on no less than an acre of ground, got us lots and lots of walking in the fresh air, and all sorts of ideas for what we want to do with the money if we ever win the powerball mega lottery. One house has a secret room behind the rec room. You push a stone on the fireplace, and the wall folds out and behind the fireplace is a home theatre! The home also has a room dedicated to storage. How brilliant is that? The color scheme on this one was particularly pleasant, featuring beachy white and blue with touches of yellow and accents of black. Very fresh, light and open. We tend to go for warm, intimate earth tones up here in the gray and rainy northwest, and this Cape Cod colorway was just a delightful change.

There was one that was decorated in heavy, dark Spanish Mediterranean. Anyone else remember that? O-Pressive! Dark and claustrophobic. Lots of black iroon grillwork dust catchers. And the heavily textured plaster walls - does anyone else think those will be a royal pain to keep clean? This place also had itsy bitsy tilework behind the stove where the grout could soak up every cooking splatter and drop of grease and need to be cleaned twice a year with a toothbrush by someone who will need to sit ON the stove to reach every crevice and corner. Does no one think of these things?

Then we went on to the "Street of Dreams" which is all condos in the trendy new downtown district. The first building we visited featured floor to cieling windows all the way around, bare white walls, bare cherry floors and sparse furnishings, with huge, expensive modern objects-d'arte all around. A comfy afghan and some knitting would have looked like a rag doll at a Barbie convention. I can't envision anyone actually living in those spaces. Too cold, formal and stark. Stunning views, but no comfort. And by two pm on a cloudy afternoon, the AC was already struggling against those heat-sink windows.

The next building had much less expensive. About a million dollars less. Those cold,sterile penthouses ran around 3 millin dollars each, and then you had the monthly maintainence fee, and you still don't own the DIRT! As far as I'm concerned, condos are only slightly better than apartments.

But back to the second building: Rooms on a human scale, with color and textiles and dog-beds and fluffy throws on the sofas. Rooms I could see myself living in. Bedrooms with walls, instead of floor to ceiling windows. A TV in the living room (Though discreetly hidden behind armoire doors.) A kitchen where you can envision mis-matched Tupperware falling out of a cupboard, and sippy cups on the drainboard. A bathroom where a toothbrush and a bar of soap will not be an offensive and jarring intrusion. If I HAD to live downtown, and had more money than sense, I could consider living in those less extravagant spaces. Still, A patio on the north side of the building is not gonna be all that useful around here. It rains nine months of the year. The folks with those north side patios are going to have to have to deal with slimey green and black mold, moss and algae as long as they live in the place. Those big patios are staged with a roomful of furniture. Where are you going to store it in the winter?

I was, by then, starving, so we stopped at a boutique yogurt store for a restorative treat. DH had a bottle of water. I had a delicious soft frozen mango yogurt with strawberries. But I don't know if it was $7 worth of delicious for a cup of yogurt and three chopped half-ripe berries. I can get twice as much cold deliciousness at Costco for $2. It's vanilla instead of boutique mango, and there are no fresh berries. I dunno . . .

Anyhow, it did not sufficiently restore me, and my feet were starting to hurt because the shoes I had chosen had, after years of service, given up their support and sproing. So we walked back to the car and drove on home where I flopped in the recliner and promptly fell asleep. I am SUCH a wimp! It was only six or seven miles of walking,stair climbing, and traffic dodging. Only four hours of intense sensory input. I just don't have the resilience I used to.

When we got home, there was a package on the front porch. Heide (http://heideho.wordpress.com/) had dyed some laceweight yarn and, after it dried, she had found too many breaks in it. "I don't know what I'll do with it," she said. Half joking, I said, "Send it to me." The amazing, generous, talented woman DID. AND, she stuck in a jar of her homemade blackberry jam for which she shed blod, sweat and swears. Heide, you totally rock!

garter stitch gloves

OK, there are two ways to make these gloves: 1. The right way. 2. The Roxie way.

The Right way:
take your yarn and chosen needeles, cast on at least 30 stitches and work at least 60 rows of garter stitch to get your gauge. Measure your hand from little fingertip to where you want your cuff to end and cast on the appropriate number of stitches. work enough rows to half enfold your little finger. Measure the length of your little finger and bind off the appropriate number of stitches. Measure your ring finger and cast on the appropriae number of stitches. Knit sufficient rows to half enfold ring finger. Note that the two sides of the ring finger are not the same length. (Look at your hand.the webbing of the little finger starts lower than the webbing between the ring finger and the middle finger.)cast on the appropriate number of stitches. continue in this manner, binding off and casting on to meet the measurements of the hand. When you get to the thumb, just carry on knitting enough to completely enfold the thumb, then reverse the bind off and cast ons till you get to the far side of the little finger. You will then have a wierd looking flat thing with 8 half-fingers and a thumb. Fold it in half at the thumb and sew up the side and along all the fingers and thumb. You will be really good at cast on and bind off by the time you have finished a pair of gloves.

The Roxie way:

Get needles that work with your yarn. (I like size five with sport weight). measure with the yarn from the tip of your little finger to where you want your cuff to end, more or less. Triple that length, and make a slip knot, then do a long tail cast-on.

Work as for the Right way, but don't bother with all the math. Just lay your hand on the work and count stitches.

If you have narrow hands and thin wrists, work your thumb with short rows, making each row a few stitches longer til you're half done, then reversing it to complete.

Now, instead of just binding off, . . . Oh, drat! I'll have to do an illustration. Tune in tomorrow for the rest of the Roxie way.

moving right along

Knitting has occurred. Since I can read and knit simultaneously, if the pattern is simple enough, I did a green silk scarf while reading "Rampant"
It's not really my best color, but the texture is all-season wonderful.



It's more of a red-head's scarf. Any redheads out there want a nice silk scarf? I'm thinking of sewing beads along the edge.




And then, because I can occasionally drop my eyes to count rows, while I'm monitoring people taking their tests, I made myself a pair of ever-so-easy garter stitch gloves.


I got tricky, and knitted the fingers together, rather than knitting the things flat, then seaming them up.

Then I got even MORE clever and left the ends open so I can push them down when I need dexterity, and pull them up when I want warmth. I LOVE these gloves!

Bells was remarking today how her boss discovered that she was a knitter and was flummoxed. And several folks weighed in about how they aren't "Out" yet with their knitting. I don't get this. If there's a stigma about being a knitter, I missed the memo. Is this just because I'm clueless and don't get the non-verbal signals, or is it because some folks are shy and don't want to be noticed or is there something about knitting that is actually wierd and/or shameful?

Several people then weighed in with how bosses had made demeaning comments about their knitting, treating it as a dear-little-ladies sort of thing. If someone has cooking as a hobby, do they conceal that from their co-workers? Do you avoid potlucks because you don't want to out yourself? If you're a gardener, do you keep this shameful secret hidden from your co-workers, and get your seed catalogs delivered in a brown paper wrapper so the neighbors won't find out? What could possibly be wrong with knitting as an interest that someone might want to conceal it? Sure, there are idiots in the world. If it's not your knitting, it's your shoes or the color of your skin or your size or whatever. Idiots can always find something to diminish you. Don't let them. Laugh at them for the narrowminded, insecure wizened little souls they are, andcontinue to enjoy your life.

I'm really on a soapbox here. If it makes you happy and doesn't hurt someone else, do it! wouldn't it be a splendid world if people who loved to sing felt free to sing out loud as they walk to work? If people who love to sew could claim their work with pride? IF dancers could practice a few steps in the grocery line? If we could let go of our own troubles enough to rejoice in someone else's happiness? Why is judgement and criticism so natural and accepted, and simple genuine pleasure so remarkable and rare?

I fell down a rabbit hole

Aamy Lane sent me her latest book so I could proof-read/edit it. She is the sort of writer that sucks you completely into her world, and I finally finished up on Monday night. I did other things all weekend, as well as read and revel, but when I wasn't at the county fair or the estate sale or the lys close out, I was deep into Amy's book. It's my favorite of all her works so far. It has humor, great characters, believable problems and hot vampire sex. And elf and were-hawk sex, too. I thought I was done with hot flashes, but Amy has kick-started the old hormones.

Any how, I'm now back to our previously scheduled version of reality, and have some photographic documentation of the weekend.



Abundant Yarn and Dyeworks is closing their retail space and will be an online store from now on. I went to the inventory clearance sale on Friday, gritted my teeth, and only got what I absolutely couldn't resist. (Sock Summit hit me hard. And flock and Fiber Fest is coming next month.) but Angora and merino yarn in my favorite weight (worsted) for half price . . . I succumbed. And I got Dave Daniels a Christmas present which is going into the mail today. Surprise! Merry Christmas!!





Had to share this photo. The sign on the back of the seriously rear-ended car says, "Student Driver" Why wouldn't you give this car a little extra space? Dum, dah dum dum!

On Saturday, DH took me to a paradisical estate sale. The women had been an amatuer astronomer, and a ham radio operator, and an avid angler who tied her own flies, and a potter, and a painter, and a (are you ready for this?) sewer, spinner and weaver. I dropped over a hundred dollars. Got a king-sized quilt bat for $2, a wooden umbrella swift for one seventh its retail value, a pound of cashmere and yak roving (blonde) for $25, a pound of blue-faced-leister roving(white) for $16, and a plethora of domestic trinkets for all the rest. I passed on the loom and the spinning wheel and the electric drum carder. And the bass boat, the radio equipment, the portable easel, the hand thrown set of dishes and all the teapots, . . . . My magpie was in frenzy by the time we hauled our prizes away, I can promise you! No photos. we got home, unloaded, then headed off to the county fair.



Twin kids. Are they not adorable?





It's important for the sheep to wear coats to keep the fleece clean in the barn, but it's delightful when the coats are so snazzy!





I had to buy kettle corn. The guy who makes it in the Pioneer village was always so kind to me when I worked the village (and cried myself to sleep every night because I missed DH and hated sleeping in a tent. That's the way we had to do it, though.)

And DH was most intrigued by thisdragonfly of a chopper, so I got a snapshot of it for him, and then the guy who was showing it off offered to take my photo with it. And I love having my photo taken!

Sunday, I read and annotated. Monday was a whiskey tango foxtrot sort of morning. I got a call from the boass saying that the two other gals who were supposed to be at work in the morning wouldn't be able to make it, and could I come in early? I was on the john when she called, and rather than take the time to call back, knowing she would be elbow deep in frantic already, I just dragged on clothes, slapped together a lunch, and hit the road.

Usually, this summer, we have four or five folks show up for GED registration. Monday, there were 20. The boss handled the registration, while I ran the front desk. Usually there are two or three people coming in before 10 AM. By 10, I had 8 people taking placement tests, and two more doing makeup tests for their summer school classes. Meanwhile I was setting up for the tests I would be administering Tuesday. And you would not believe the number of ditzes who called with unanswerable questions and total incomprehension issues! It all happens at once, you know?

By 10, when I had to start administering GED tests, there was a line about six deep at the front desk, and the boss took over being just as calm and kind and gracioius to each and every one of the ignnerant ditzles. She amazes me. I was about ready to scream, "Sit down. Shut up. Wait your turn like good kids! And quit asking for the impossible fer crysakes! You lost your scores? Too bad fer you, cupcake! Why should we keep track of your shit for you?" I didn't, but I was reinforced in my belief that I don't like stress.

Tuesday, LI and M were back on duty, and all I had to do was my usual work. I even got some knitting done. I'll show you tomorrow.

Post 888

Well, he has it now, so I can post some photos. Remember that wondermous black and red fabric Dave Daniels wove and sent to me? I made a bag for him.
It's lined with heavy denim and double stitched for maximum strength. You can pile a LOAD of groceries in this one!!








I included some internal pockets as well, one for the note pad and a slot for the pencil, a flat pocket for credit cards, a big pocket for cell phone or blackberry, and a little coin pocket.






I slipped a Sacagawea dollar in the coin pocket in the hopes that she might eventually lead Dave out west for a visit.

What I have been up to

As I said, I've had a jones to use up left-overs and knit hats. These are edged with some fun fur I got at the dollar store. The body of the hat is coarse, nubby wool, intended for blanket weaving. I washed it with shampoo and gave it a condioning rinse, and it's nice and soft.





Then I used the last scraps of turquoise fabric to make a small child's quilt.






And I used some of my fat quarters to make a real, planned and designed quilt. nine patch in one of it's many variations. The orange isn't quite so bright, and the sunlight washes out the turquoise shades a lot. But at least you get the general idea.





For the back, well, at JoAnn's they had a sale on these no-sew blanket kits where you got two blanket-sized pieces of microfiber fleece for $15. So this quilt was backed quite attractively for $7.50 (she says with immodest pride.)





Then I had to use up the leftovers from that project.






And to back it, I used up the very last bits of yet another quilt. The batting on this one was an acrylic blanket I got at a garage sale for a dollar. Stained and ratty at the edges, but still nice and warm.

I am almost ready to put away the sewing machine. Almost.

Good morning Monday!

It's going to be clear and hot today. What a sweet start to the sunrise!




I found a new feature on my camera. It's called slow synchro, and it lets me take great pictures in low light. Our roses have been thriving in the cooler weather, but the heat will be back today.

So now the question is, what shall I wear to work? It's gotta be warm enough for the AC, and cool enough for the drive home. Business-like, and easy to sit in all day long. That last qualifier throws out any pair of jeans I've ever owned. I've noticed the young ladies wearing the sprayed on "Skinny" jeans also seem to be wearing a pinched, uncomfortable look. Well, yeah! When you have a honking big seam hiked right up into the girly bits every time you bend, you are going to be uncomfortable. Duh! but i guess we have to suffer to be beautiful, right?

When a woman reaches a certain age, she becomes invisible. At first, I was angry and hurt to have vanished off the public radar. But now, I find it wonderfully liberating. I can play hopscotch or do a little twirl of delight on a sunny day or talk to passing squirrels. No one's looking at me anyway. If I don't get my makeup on, who cares? I might try doing just one side of my face an see if anyone notices. And the hair - the gray hair is a lot more assertive than the dark locks. I usually slap it into some kind of bondage for work, but some day I might go in looking like I have been assaulted by a rabid raccoon. I can get it to stand six inches above my scalp without using any product. Big hair used to be fashionable. I the south they say, "The higher the hair, the closer to God!"

An octopuss'es garden . . .

Fly came into the back yard to model the latest quilt. Here's one of his nonchalant poses.










Here, he's being a dear little pussycat. (Right! Like anyone is fool enough to believe that! He's Beelzebub with fur-lined booties on.)








And here' he's showing the other side of the quilt to great advantage.









See the gardens? See the octopusses?









KnitTech and her GrillTech came to town, so we foregathered at the Yarn Garden to meet and do a little casual shopping. there was this yarn that was driving my inner magpie insane, so I had to go sit down for a while. It was a nice tobacco brown with holograpic teardrop sequins spun in. I can still hear it calling from here. I do NOT NEED yarn, be it never so sparkly! And it was $11.95 for skein that was about one gram. teensy! It would take two just to edge a neckline. I WANTED it with the lust of a fifteen year old boy for the iconic Farah Fawcett poster.



But KnitTech brought me goodies from Boise. Cotton thread in a delicate lavender to weave with. And mohair as soft and grey as a puff of cloud for spinning. And rovings. Mossy green wool and Purple (Ooo! Ooo!)That seems to be merino and (gasp) silk!






Pretty!

Mmmm - silky! My inner magpie is happy, happy! I got new stuff! And the stash continues to grow.

Happy sunday

Oh dear ones, it's not a cracked rib. I've had one and that's MUCH more painful. This is just a lightly bruised sternum. And, as Dick Francis says, "It takes a hammer and chisel to get through the sternum." I was just whining. That Tylenol PM leaves me dopey for days, but it does the job. Still, I wind up at the sewing machine, sitting and staring bemusedly, trying to remember which two pieces of fabric I was going to join, in which orientation. Minutes of total inactivity go by while my mind drifts in a soft gray blur. Then I realize that my eyes have rolled shut, my mouth has dropped open, and I'm drooling, ever so daintily, on my shirt. Just not getting a lot accomplished. BUT, since I'm using BIG pieces, I should be finished today. Amy Lane sent me the inspirational fabric. I'm calling this quilt, "An Octopus's Garden." Photos soon.

There will be a scheduled interruption today as well. Knit Tech is in town with her sweetie, Grill Tech. I'm meeting Knit Tech at 1PM at the Yarn Garden, the most fully stocked yarn store in town. It's located in three storefronts on the ground floor of an old apartment building, and they have had to rent apartments to use as office and storage space since the store fronts just weren't big enough. I used to work there when they were just one storefront. Now, I go in and wind up with sensory overload. We may have to wander up the street a few blocks to the Bombay Cricket Club for a few India Pale Ales and some serious knitting and chitchat to recuperate.

How'd it get to be Saturday?

On Thursady morning, DH and I went to the gym. We always finish with a few minutes in the hot-tub, then I do one quick lap in the pool to bring my body temp down so I stop sweating before I get dressed. You know how you boost yourself out of the pool by putting your hands on the deck, springing up, then sort of flipping your hip over so you get one cheek up on the deck? I tried that, but the deck was greasy, and my hands slipped off. I wound up landing quite hard just under my boobs, and falling back in. It jarred me, but didn't really hurt,so I tried again, succeeded, and didn't think any more of it. Till bedtime, when I stood up and realized that I ached all over and my back was really stiff. I took Tylenol PM, lay down on my back and didn't move till five AM. DH reports I snored like a lawn-mower. As soon as he left for work, I lay down again and slept till 9, then sort of blundered through the rest of the day. The sleepy drugs really kick my butt, but I no longer ache all over. There's just that tender spot across the sternum and ribs. Right where kitties love to nestle.

I am working on another quick quilt and I finished another hat. I DO love being a lazy woman.

some knitting

Starting off with a couple of kitty pictures, because everything is better with a kitty. Pepper loves the garden window. It puts her at eye-lever=l with the squirrels in the bottom branches of the apple tree.

Yes, we let our cats get on the ktchen counters. We long ago gave up the notion of forbidding the cats to do something. They just wait till we aren't around to yell, then do it anyway. with a vengence!

Many months ago, LG and her husby went to the beach where she found a yarn store, and brought me a ball of glitzy, fluffy, bright happy yarn. I have had a jones lately to knit hats for Medical Teams International, and that happy fluffy ball of yarn insisted it needed to go to cheer up cold people. So I knit a cuff on a kid's hat.


And with the last bits, I edged a cuff on another kid's hat. My odds and bobs are asking to be used up, so here is a blue hat as well, and another brown scrappy hat is on the needles. I HAVE to use up stash! I went way overboard at the sock-summit, and the Flock and Fiber Fest is just around the corner.

Ass watch Wednesday

I asked if I could take a photo of his shirt. But I do like his neat little derrierre.

David Taylar sews!

Remember when I showed you how to warp using your loom? I was using that nice white cotton? So then I wove up yards of cotton yardage and shipped it to Dave in Boston for our weaver's exchange. And of it, he made bags!



A big tote with pockets and more pockets, inside and out. With straps that are long enough! With the plaid matched perfectly! Oh Dave, you so totally rock!

And as if that weren't enough, he also made me a darling little bag with a zip top and and a fetching little handle. It's going to Hawaii with me in December. Probably both of them will. You should see the finishing work Dave does! All the seams are enclosed and exquisitely matched. I am sooo intimidated. How can my clumsy cobbling compare? Well, fear is no reason not to try. I'll just do my best and send it with love.

Post # 880

I've finally figured how to spoon-feed photos to the computer.


Dave Daniels, the master dyer colored up a bunch of yarn for me, and I wove it into yardage. Yards of yardage. I used every bit of it, so the three shades of purple have created three shades of fabric that are going to be fun, fun, fun to sew with!



Months ago, I did a crafty exchange with Susan LS. I made her a big denim tote. She made me two skeins of spindle-spun corriedale with sari silk accents. PURTY!! I squeed with glee when she gave them to me. And she tells me that a third skein is on the way. Ohboyohboyohboy!

And then there's the sock summit. I made it in on Sunday about noon. I remembered everything I needed except cell phone and camera. Oh crap! Heide, I am SO sorry!


I succumbed to three more skeins of bamboo from Teresa Ruch Designs. I'm trying to de-stash but I can't resist Teresa's yarns.



16 oz of nice wool for $12.


And for the first time ever, the Blue Moon yarns booth was not packed shoulder to shoulder with customers. I was able to eel my way in and discovered their "Mill Ends" which is yarn that didn't turn out the way they intended and is selling for not so much. There wasn't much left by Sunday, and there was even less left when I moved on. I grabbed a skein of red and white, and a skein of red, white and brown. And a skein of "Silke" in turquoise. And Socks That Rocks in Crabby McCrabbypants. I had wayyy too much fun!

Waaahoo!

Knitting at MJ's was grand! Bunches of fun ladies, good food, and one big, happy dog with a large powerful tail which could sweep a plate clean in one swipe. Then, since all the food on the floor is his, he would feast. Plates on the dining table were safe. Plates on the coffee table, not so much. I lost a strawberry.

SL was there as well. She brought me spindle-spun corridale with sari silk. So neat! Squeeee!

Then, DH and I went down to Office Max and got me a new HP laptop with a three year warranty. I'm blogging on my own compuer now. Squeee X 2!

Soon as I figure how to upload photos . . .

Meanwhile, tomorrow I will hit the Sock Summit. And then, it's back to life as normal.

Is it Saturday already?

Yesterday at the writer's conference was a blast! I took some great classes in the morning, met some other knitting writers, and in the afternoon, I got to be doorkeeper. People attending the conference pay for ten minute sessions with agents and editors and film producers. These are scheduled at fifteen minute intervals, allowing a five-minute shuffle period when the last interview exits and the next interview enters. I got to stand at the door with a watch and tell people when it was time to enter the area. I also reminded them to turn off their cell phones, to make sure they had their paperwork in order, and, as they were going through the door to make their pitches,to,"Smile. Remember, these people are here to see you. They need your work to stay in business. You are good writers and have a product that will make money for the person you are talking to. Smile. Good luck!"

So many people came out afterwards and thanked me for that last bit of encouragement. I want to do this again next year!

Today, Knitting at MJs, then computer shopping. Then, maybe, one more workshop at the writer's conference. Sunday, Sock Summit.

I remembered a joke

Yesterday (Thursday) I had a 7:30am appointment with my dermatologist (everything looks good. No new cancers) and she had me get a vitamin D screening because I am so good about staying out of the sun. So, since I HATE to get my blood drawn, I started telling jokes to distract myself.

Have you heard the one where St. Peter is working the pearly gates, and his relief angel is late, and he really needs to go to the bathroom. Jesus strolls up and says, "Hey, Peter, how's it going?"

Peter says,"Well, the angel that was going to give me a break here is late, and I really need to go to the bathroom."

Jesus says, "I can handle things here. You go take your break."

So Peter dashes off, and Jesus settles in. Pretty soon, a white haired little old man arrives at the gates, and Jesus says, "Welcome to heaven. We're so glad you could make it! So, what did you do while you were on earth?"

The old guys shyly says, "I was a carpenter."

"Really?" Says Jesus, "My dad was a carpenter too. He taught me all about the trade."

"I had a son." said the old guy. "Well, he wasn't really my son, but I loved him as if he were."

"Really?" says Jesus, looking at the old guy more closely. "What happened to you son?"

The old guy replied, "He got lost . . . "

"Dad!" hollared Jesus, hugging the old man.

And the old guy, rubbing his eyes and squinting at Jesus said, "Pinochio?"


Today I will be volunteering at the Willamette Writer's Conference. Tomorrow, the monthly knitting and gossip session will be at MJ's house. Then DH and I will shop for a new laptop. Then, I'll try to make it to the tail end of Saturday's Writer's Conference workshops. Sunday, I am throwing myself at the Sock Summit rather than the Writer's conference. Why do the two biggest things of the summer happen on the same weekend?

RIP

I took the lappytop in and said, "I think we have a virus" The nice geek lad said, 'Well, either it's insane, or it has brain damage. Let's see which it is." As he was plugging it in I said, "It says 'unmountable boot volume'. Are it's little shoes too tight?" He looked at me oddly, then chuckled, then grew serious.

"I'm afraid that means brain damage. Your hard drive is like a little record player, and in your computer, the needle has broken off and scratched the record. I sure hope you had things backed up."

"Did I do something to break it?" I asked. He reassured me that it's just something that can happen to old computers. It's about two years old fer crysakes!

He tells me that I might get it repaired for something like $500. DH sees no point in repairing something as out of date as my old laptop was. It's only two years old!!

So now I am shopping for a new laptop. Meanwhile, Lisa suggested I put the old one in the freezer. What do I have to lose? I hope I can pull the latest chapters of the book off the drive. If not, I'll have to rewrite a couple thousand words. Oh well.

Dear little lap top. Not insane. Brain damage and total aphasia. Rest In Peace.

Bless the boy

My laptop got a virus. I lowered the firewall to post photos onto the blog,and (duh) forgot to put it back up. So today it's another trip to the friendly Geeks. I have time, so maybe I'll bake them some cookies.

It's only because my DH is a generous and loving person that I am able to post now. And what a difference it is to use someone else's computer. It's like driving someone else's car or cooking in someone else's kitchen. Nothing is where you expect it to be, and, since all the auto log-ins are absent, you have to remember all the old passwords and IDs.

Anyhow, this explains my silence of late. As soon as my tappy happy little laptop is up and ticking again, I'll get caught up on allyour blogs. I miss my blogbuddies!

What's wrong with this picture?

Actually, that's a trick question. There is nothing wrong with the picture. There is a great deal wrong with the iron. One too many impacts with the floor has converted it into a flip-top model which is something neither I nor the designers have ever desired. Sewing will be in abeyance for a brief period until this defect is compensated for.

And, apropos of nothing, Lindor Balls have come out with a new twist, and who doesn't love it when they twist their balls? The latest edition is white chocolate with bits of crushed coffee beans. Indecently tasty. The only way to improve it would be to substitute crushed filberts for the coffee beans.

The heat wave has broken. It's up to only 67 degrees at one thirty PM. Can you hear the entire city of Portland sighing in relief? I've got to get out on the porch and finish off my weaving before the thunderstorms move in on Monday.

We went to see "The Half-Blood Prince." When you find yourself noticing the villain's beautifully tailored clothes, you realize that the show has lost your full attention. Then there's the scene at the underground lake when Harry and Dumbledore are trying to figure how to get across, and Dumbledore magics up a big chain, and they both start pulling. DH leaned over and whispered in my ear, "If there's a drain stopper at the end of that chain, I'm leaving." The thought of a giant bathtub stopper pulling out, and the whole black lake swirling down the drain, leaving a scummy ring around the edges had me snerking into my popcorn for far too long.

Oh, and by the way, Dumbledore dies at the end. Did the producers actually think that after the book has been out for YEARS, there would be the slightest bit of surprise about that?

The girl playing Luna did a fine job. Very fluty high voice and precisely spacey enough. Hope we'll see more of her. Meanwhile, the regulars are aging. Good thing the end is near. They'll be getting pretty long in the tooth for sequals. What ever happened to the kid who played Luke Skywalker?

And in other news

MJ and I have finished another quilt. This one was actually planned and pieced and organized. We met with Mary Lee Alder of Medical Teams International for lunch and the final tieing of the layers. Before and after the delivery of the food, we all worked on the quilt, so we insisted that Mary Lee get into the photo with us. MJ is at the left, me in the middle, and Mary Lee at the right. We call this one the cherry box quilt because the background fabric is yellow with clusters of red cherries and green leaves. The next quilt we are working on is much more random, using up leftovers and introducing more colors.

Mary Lee told us that our quilts go to Moldova and Mexico City and Africa and Afghanistan. Anywhere there are cold people, they can use our quilts. I feel so proud and happy!

While we were sitting in the pub, tieing the quilt, a guy came up to us and asked if we could use more fabric. "Always." "Well I know this ole woman who has a storage unit full of fabrics. I'm going to ask her if she wants to donate it and save the rental costs. I'll call you." A storage unit full of fabrics? Oh dear. I hope they're not polyester doubleknits. Well, who knows. Poly doubleknits might make really good rag rugs. And if they turn out to be good quilting fabrics, I may have that piece-a-thon I have been fantasizing about. I'll need sewers, pressers, pinners, cutters and runners. And I'll need a buncha batts. Hmmmm . . .

And some knitting has been going on as well. With this chill cheater, I have essayed into lace. (Gasp!)

Sort of. It's simple feather and fan with increases worked according to my own inventions, and finished off with my beloved mitered squares. With hat and mittens to match, I am a rosy fashion plate. Of course, it's going to be months before I need to wear it, but when it does turn cold, I'll be ready.