End of the Chase

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.  ~John De Paola

Yesterday I was greatly frustrated in my planning for a family vacation in May.  Nothing was working.  I couldn't find flights that were affordable and with times that were reasonable.  I couldn't find accommodations for all of us.  I was ready to pull my hair out, so I took a break and just knitted for hours.  It was very calming and gave me hope that somehow I would make everything work another day.

Well, today was the day.  I talked with my daughter-in-law and she was willing to change the dates I was having so much difficulty with.  Then I went online and found flights and accommodations that were nearly perfect.  I feel a great sense of relief and now we are all looking forward to some quality time together. 

I hope I can remember this the next time I panic when things are not going my way.  Stepping away from a problem for a while is sometimes the best way to solve it.

A New Year

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.  ~Author Unknown

I hope I am able to begin some new habits this year.  Certainly not all my habits are bad or unworthy of me, but I do need to develop at least a few new ones.  Habits that will give me an even happier, healthier, and more creative life.  I shan't commit myself by making resolutions right now, but I am exploring possibilities at this time.  Perhaps posting today is the first step in a new direction.  Meanwhile, here are a few special images of my Person of the Year for 2010:

 

Such a happy boy!

Cutie Pie

What did you say?

Grandma knit me a sweater and hat

My First Christmas

A Turista in Arizona

We have lived in Arizona a full year now--July 2nd was our anniversary. We have been so busy settling in and traveling back and forth to California to get my husband's mother established after her move from Texas that we have had little time to do much local sightseeing. The two week visit of my niece and nephew gave us the perfect opportunity to visit some nearby sites of interest and we took full advantage of their willingness to get the flavor of our area.

We went to Tombstone, The Town Too Tough To Die, on July 4th. We had visited there about 11 years ago on our first trip to southeastern Arizona and were not too impressed, but efforts of local civic groups have greatly improved the town and it is well-worth the trip now. We toured the historical section by foot and trolley, but could also have gotten a ride on a stagecoach. The Butterfield Stage used to stop here. Not a method of travel I would have favored, but it was the Greyhound bus of its time.

Tombstone is perhaps best remembered as the site of the Gunfight at the OK Corral which involved the Earps, Doc Holliday, and the Clantons. We watched an outdoor presentation of the famous fight and then had a delicious dinner in the Longhorn Restaurant.

Another day, we traveled to Sabino Canyon near Tucson. The area is in the Sonoran Desert and gives visitors a close encounter with the flora and fauna that live in this challenging environment. My favorite plant in the Sonoran Desert is the saguara cactus, pictured below.

Climbing up from the 2800 foot elevation of Sabino Canyon, to the almost 9000 foot elevation of Mt. Lemmon provided breathtaking scenery as well as a breath of cool air. We picnicked in a delightful roadside park on our way up.

My husband and I were a bit disappointed in the Tucson Zoo, but the kids seemed to enjoy it very much. It is the middle of summer and so not surprising, I guess, to have so many animals hiding in their cooler lairs, but it all seemed a bit run down. After visiting the San Diego Zoo, however, most zoos seem to suffer in our estimation.

For my nephew's birthday, we went to Patagonia Lake. It is a scenic, leisurely drive about an hour from our home. They have boating, fishing, swimming, and picnicking. A cool, serene get-away for the hot desert summers. We will definitely return another time.

Mining was and still is a big part of the economy in southeastern Arizona. We went on a tour of an open-pit copper mine to see first hand what was involved and what it did to the environment. The Asarco Mission mine in Sahuarita, Arizona is currently owned by a Mexican firm, Grupo Mexico. It is in bankruptcy and an Indian company is trying to negotiate a buy out. The tour was very interesting and gave us a lot to think about. It contributes heavily to the local economy in both jobs and money to local retailers. Supposedly, environmentally friendly methods are now employed in extracting the copper, but as interesting as the pit is, I wouldn't want it in my back yard.

Finally, we went rock climbing in Texas Canyon, a fantastic area of giant boulders and very near the Amerind Foundation, a private museum of Native American history, archaeology, art, and culture.

As much as we were able to see in these two weeks, we have scarcely scratched the surface of all that is available to us in our fascinating new home state.

My Computer's Been Held Hostage

It's summertime and the livin' is BUSY! So busy, I've scarcely had time to knit or crochet. I've managed to knit 20 more rounds of the Magic Stripes socks and am now ready to turn the heel on the second sock. Also, was able to knit about 14 more rows on the Garter Stitch Ruffles Baby Blanket for Project Linus. However, the progress on these projects is so minimal, I haven't even taken a photo.

So, what have I been doing? First, we had to fly East for several days on family business. Not a happy time, but it was comforting to see everyone. Then, a niece and nephew came for a two week visit. We kept them busy (I haven't forgotten how to deal with a 12 and 10 year old) and in the off times they hijacked my computer. How did young people occupy their time before the computer age? Don't get me wrong--I love surfing the net, e-mailing friends and family, and hanging out on Ravelry, but I do come up for air once in a while. Lest their parents think that I aided and abetted their obsession with online games and IMing friends, I took plenty of photos to prove we did do some active, outdoor stuff too. Unfortunately, Blogger is not cooperating at the moment and will not allow me to upload any photos. I wasn't kidding when I said my computer has been held hostage lately.

Finally, we saw the kids off at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix and went on to visit an elderly family member in Palm Springs, California for 5 days. Whew! Am I glad to be home, if only for a short while. More travels next week, but in the meantime I am enjoying being able to use my computer again and the monsoons have made everything green up and cool down. Paradise!

Promises Kept and a Lovely Surprise

It's getting very close to the end of this week and I did promise myself I'd post three times each week for at least a month. Luckily for me, I have kept some other promises this week so I have something to post.

Sometime in 2006 (very vague, I know, but it's been so long I forget exactly when) I bought some Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool to make a pillow for my daughter. What with getting ready to move and then actually moving, I'm afraid this little project was sadly neglected. I did manage to work on it some while visiting in Virginia this April and now have completely finished it. This was my first cable project, but I enjoyed it so much I know it won't be my last. The pattern was from a booklet of one skein projects and that is all it took. The pattern is called Twists 'n' Turns Pillow and the needle size is 9 (5.5 mm).


I purchased some recycled sari silk yarn not long ago from a sock knitting buddy because I’ve always wanted to work with it, and decided it was just the yarn to use to make a scarf for my daughter. She just recently graduated from a seven month long course in massage therapy and I wanted to make her something special to celebrate the occasion. I spent the better part of a day trying out different patterns and needle sizes. Finally, I modified a Lion Brand Pattern for a Drop Stitch Scarf . I used a size 11 (8mm) needle instead of a 19 (15mm) and cast on 16 stitches rather than 8. To add a bit of pizzazz I added a fringe with beads. She knows about the pillow, but the scarf is a surprise--hope she likes it!

And speaking of surprises, I received a wonderful package in the mail the other day from a lovely lady in one of the groups I belong to on Ravelry--the Random Acts of Kindness group. She had messaged me that she had an owl thingy she was sending me for my collection, but when the box arrived it also contained some roving for my new interest in spinning and some teas. Such generosity!

Long Time No Blog

Why has it been over a month since I last blogged? I can think of lots of excuses:

1. We were in California with no access to a computer for 10 days;
2. Since returning home I've been very busy catching up on things neglected while we were away;
3. I've been very focused on finishing a number of knitting/crochet projects;
4. I've been reading several books for the book clubs I'm in.

However, in all honesty, I'm not sure that any of those reasons is really accurate. No matter, I'm resolving right now to post at least 3 times a week for the next month. We'll see if that goal will keep me motivated.

The weather for the last week has been extreme. First it warmed up to almost 100 degrees for several days and then the winds came. It is frequently windy here, but these were the most ferocious, sustained winds we've had since moving here last July. I could hardly stand up in the gusts and we lost one tree--snapped the top off. D says he thinks it was weak in that spot, but it hurts like losing a friend. We battled the winds several days ago to stake two of our trees and are hoping they will be okay. The bark on one seems to have received some damage, but only time will tell.

We are still enjoying the blossoming of trees and cactus despite the winds. Here are a few more photos from the back yard.

One of the Kidneywood trees by the back gate

Prickly Pear we rescued after last year's monsoons

And finally, another FO--my scrumbles for The Pink Project in support of breast cancer research. I mailed them Friday to Prudence Mapstone in Australia. They were a challenge, as I'm new to freeform, but I really enjoyed making them. I feel more satisfied with these than the ones I made for The Think Pink Challenge for Jenny Dowde. In fact, I've begun a small project of my own now in freeform crochet. I'm embellishing some slippers using some of the pink yarn bought for The Pink Project.

Hey! We're Back

We returned from our trip back East exhausted, but happy, last Thursday evening. We traveled about 5,700 miles through 17 states. The trip exceeded my expectations. The weather, with just a few minor exceptions, was very good and I got to visit with everyone I had hoped to. Incredibly, I took no pictures to remind me of all our good times except a few snaps of the socks I finished on the road and felted for my son at my daughter's home. I guess I was just having too much fun talking, eating, and reconnecting. Picture taking just wasn't on my mind. As great as the trip was, however, I am glad to be back home and I am ready to settle back into my familiar rhythms. Travel is definitely good for renewing your zest for life and widening your perspectives, but serenity, for me, comes from being in a place that I love, doing the things I love to do--knitting, crocheting, cooking, and reading.

Here are the Spiral Stripes Socks I finished while on the road.

Before Felting:

After Felting:

I was very pleased with the way they turned out. They were my very first socks knit in the round. I only wish I had been able to finish them for him while the weather was still cold and damp. It's been warmer in Virginia lately than here in the Southwest, so he won't be able to test their insulative properties until next winter. I am currently knitting a pair of socks for me. Details in my next post.

On The Road Again

We are heading out tomorrow morning to visit family and friends in the East. First to Florida, then on to Virginia and Maryland. With the price of diesel fuel at this time, we are probably crazy to be driving, but we like having our own car to get around in and flying around Easter is not inexpensive either, especially with several different destinations on our itinerary. My husband rarely gives up control of the steering wheel to me except in cases of extreme fatigue, so for the long drive, I am taking along some WIPs that have been crying to be finished and hope that I will be able to pass the time happily knitting.

This pillow cover has been languishing for over a year. I started it before we moved out here to the Southwest. It is intended for my daughter so if I can finish it on the trip I can give it to her in person.

This, my first pair of socks, is actually much further along than the above picture. I have finished the first one and I have high hopes of finishing the second one so that I can give them to my son in person, as well. They will still need to be felted, but since he has a top load washer, unlike me, I can make quick work of that.

This project will not be finished on the trip. It is the "Learn-to- Knit Afghan" by Barbara Walker and still has 59 more squares to go. However, my daughter is making the same afghan and we plan to get in some quality time catching up with each other and knitting more squares.

The Winds of March

I was born and raised on the east coast--Virginia and Maryland. My favorite season was always autumn, but next in preference was spring. After a long, cold winter the sight of green buds on trees, daffodils pushing up in the garden, and blue skies always got me excited about new beginnings. Moving to the high desert of the southwest, I was not sure what to expect of the seasons. So far, it's been a real revelation.

We moved here in July, 2007, and were prepared for a hot summer. We had visited in this region off and on for over 10 years, but never stayed for any length of time. Well, our first summer here was delightful. Only a few days over 100 degrees and it was a dry heat (yeah, I know it's a cliche, but so true.) And a lovely monsoon (rainy) season. The landscape was greener than we'd ever seen it and the wonderful smell of the desert after rain was intoxicating.

Then came autumn and I thought I would really miss the trees changing color. Another surprise! The colors may not be as riotous, but the golds and burnt oranges we saw in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona and on a trip through Sedona and to the Grand Canyon were very satisfying.

In the White Mountains

Winter was a bit colder than we expected--some lows around 19 degrees--and we had snow twice. A wild blizzard as it fell and enough to make everything white. Then it disappeared in about three hours. No snowmen, but also no shoveling.

Now, it's March and I can definitely detect signs of the approach of spring. Trees that lost their foliage in the fall are budding up and showing green. Cholla are showing yellow buds, the skies are an intense blue, and the winds are here. It is often very windy here, no matter what time of year, but to me, the winds of March have always been a precursor to spring.

Cholla beginning to bloom

As for new beginnings, I am trying new things with my knitting and crocheting. I have finally finished my first sock and cast-on for the second one. Soon I may actually have a pair. These are for my son, Jon, who works outdoors and gets very cold and sometimes wet. I know they look large, but he does wear a size 11-12 shoe. However, I intend to felt them to give him even more insulation from the elements.

Spiral Stripes Socks

Many other projects are either in the works or planned, but they will be the subject of future blogs. I have spring fever and need to get outdoors right now.

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

It has been so long since I posted here, I just hope I haven't forgotten how. Seriously, I do have excuses. First, we went to California to visit my husband's family and I had no access to a computer. ( I still haven't purchased that laptop I've always dreamed of having.) Second, upon our return, I was sick for a week with some kind of disgusting bug. Third, I was busy, busy, busy knitting and crocheting the shawls I was taking with me to Texas to give to two of my sisters and one of my nieces for their birthdays. Fourth, I spent a week in Texas with my sisters and never even thought about blogging because we had so much fun reconnecting.


And fifth, but perhaps most important, I have been experiencing some kind of angst about blogging versus journaling.


I have been journaling for about 14 years now. Sometimes almost daily and then sometimes only intermittently, but it has been a great solace and a source of serenity for me over the years. I usually write just before going to bed to reflect a bit on the day or rant or enthuse about a current bee in my bonnet. It is fairly effortless as it is just me, my journal, and a pen.


Blogging, however, seems to take me a long time and neccesitates access to a computer. I am somewhat self-conscious about having everything perfect and also about exposing myself to cyberspace. I'm just writing for myself in my journals, but in a blog there is always the potential that someone else will read it. This is also one of the good things about blogging as I feel more like a real "writer." Maybe it's just exhibitionism but it does satisfy a creative impulse in me that journaling does not.


I haven't completely resolved the issue in my mind, but I am going to try my hand at doing both for a while and see how it works out.

After a Long Hiatus

Over a year has passed since I last posted here. A lot has happened in the interim. We sold our home in Virginia and moved to our new home in Arizona.




















We've been here six months now. We brought way too much stuff with us and are still trying to deal with it, but we feel pretty settled in. Without my usual obsessing, I hope to once again record some of the events of our life in retirement.

Countdown to Retirement

Well, it's 5 days and counting! I don't think it's really going to hit me until September when I would normally start back to work for the new school year, but I am getting rather excited now at the prospect of more freedom than I've had in about 40 years. It is a bittersweet prospect since I really like my work and the people I work with, but it is time. I didn't want to be a burnout, and I could feel that lurking around the edges of all I did this year. I've begun a list of "Things to Do in Retirement". So far, it reads like this:
1. Get healthy.
2. Read, read, and read somemore.
3. Knit and crochet up a storm.
4. Sell the house here in VA (which as you can see from the picture still needs a lot of work).

5. Move to the new house in AZ (which as you can see has yet to be started).

6. Travel and get out to see America.