Everything's New in the New Year

Yesterday I mentioned that I needed some extra yarn and needles (besides those for the socks I'm currently knitting) to take to Sock Knitting Club so I could learn something new. Well, the new things I learned were the magic cast-on for toe-up socks and knitting socks on 2 circular needles. It was just a beginning and I was all thumbs at first, but I think I'm going to like this method of knitting socks. Thus far, on my first pair I've been using 4 dpns and try as I might I keep getting ladders when I change from one needle to the next.

The ladders are difficult to see in this view, but, believe me, they are there!

I was inspired by my introduction to these new techniques to do some reading when I got home, so I got out a book I've had on my shelves for some time--Cat Bordhi's Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles. Her encouraging attitude and clear instructions made me feel like this is something I can do. I never had the confidence to actually try knitting socks before, let alone on 2 circs, but I am challenging myself to try new things in knitting and crocheting, and in life. My second pair of socks will definitely use the magic cast-on and will be done on 2 circular needles. I am so grateful to my fellow Sock Knitting Club members for their assistance and support in my quest to become a more adventurous knitter.

Speaking of new things, I have joined Ravelry and am profitting from it in so many ways. One of the groups I've joined is called READ KNIT COOK. Its description is: A book-of-the-month of sorts. Every month there's a new knitting or crochet themed book chosen to read, a knit- or crochet-along, and new recipe ideas to try! For the cooking portion this month we were offered 3 different recipes. I chose Buzzard's Breath BBQ Sauce and made it last night for dinner. Instead of processing it in a blender and canning it as the recipe calls for, I used it as is after the simmering and combined it with some cooked Anasazi Beans and left-over pork tenderloin. Cooked for about an hour in the oven at 400 degrees--delicious! My Texas-born husband loved the bite of the habanero pepper in the sauce and yet it wasn't too hot for me.

The Snowball Effect

You know those days when something bad happens early in the morning, and then something else, and then something else, and it's all downhill from there? I've often wondered if that kind of day is just coincidental bad luck or if we unconsciously influence the continuing disasters by our attitudes. I had a chance to ponder this question on my drive to a Sock Knitting Club meeting this morning.

After sleeping badly all night and then awakening very late as a consequence, I made my departure for the meeting even later by having to change clothes twice because of : #1 a button coming off my top, and #2 spilling my oj on my jeans. Then as I prepared to drive away, I had to go back into the house for some extra yarn and needles that I needed for the meeting so I could learn a new technique. Finally, as I was tooling down the road, making good time, I heard the little dinging sound that told me I was in need of fuel. As I travel long distances to get anywhere, I didn't want to take a chance and so I stopped to fuel up. By that time I was beginning to fuss and fume and stress out big time.

Once I got back on the road, I began to reassess my morning and think about the above question of luck versus attitude. I came to the conclusion that, with me at least, it is mostly attitude and my unfortunate personality trait of trying to control everything around me. One of my sisters gave me a t-shirt with a slogan on the front that sums me up very well: I'm Not Bossy, I Just Know What You Should Be Doing! Remembering that now in retirement I have loads more leisure time and don't really have to rush if I don't want to, I decided to chill and enjoy the warm day and great views on my way to the meeting. I arrived only about 20 minutes late and everyone looked at me like, "What do you mean?" when I apologized for my tardiness. A lesson I hope I will remember the next time I am having "one of those days."

When I Can't Sleep

Every woman I know has told me that she frequently has trouble sleeping--much more often it seems than the men I know do. It used to be that I would lay in my bed, tossing and turning, and getting wider and wider awake when I was experiencing one of these manic times. However, now I get up and go into my craft room (also the computer room and a guest bedroom, in case the thoughts of a room dedicated to crafting makes you jealous) and pick up the needles or a crochet hook. Below is a little poem I wrote to express how comforting this practice has become for me:

Knit Therapy

The rhythmic click of the needles quiets the strident voices in my mind;

The soft feel of the fibers slipping through my fingers calms my jangled nerves;

The yarn’s vibrant colors refresh my jaded senses like rain in summer;

The slowly growing object on my needles gives my life a new purpose.

I am really trying to let go of the hectic habits that the working world created in me and become a calmer more relaxed person in my retirement. Knitting and crocheting are helping me to accomplish this goal.

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.

One Down and ??? to Go

Ray, the carpenter, and son finished putting in a new front porch beam around 3:30 pm yesterday. It was a job well-done. We think it looks beautiful and are really, really pleased. The differences in yesterday's views and today's are remarkable. All it needs is paint and that is scheduled for the end of this month.











One of our neighbors came over right after the workers left and commented on it. We had had a new roof put on last fall and he said, "I wondered after you had the new roof put on if you were going to do something about the porch. Looks good." I guess we can hold our heads up in the neighborhood again now.

While Ray and son were working outside, my husband was working in the kitchen. He's been putting in drywall, plastering the ceiling where there had been a repeated leak over the years, and preparing to paint the room before installing cabinets and appliances. Hard work! So when our son, Jon, invited us over for some steaks cooked on the barbie we jumped at the chance.
David relaxed in his own way:

And I proceeded to relax in mine, on my daughter-in-law's new hammock:

So far it's been a very good weekend!

Progress = Lots of Noise!

I have had a minor battle with a summer bug, but I am feeling much better today, and it's a really good thing, too. The noise level around here, inside and outside, is enough to make me take a vow of silence and retire to a cloistered convent.

The hammering, sawing, and other noises of construction (destruction?) are all in the name of progress on the house renovation. My husband is in the kitchen plastering and struggling with a ceiling light that someone else in the long history of this house messed up.

And we have two new members of the team--Ray, the carpenter, and son. Ray is an accomplished renovator who has a full-time job with a local construction company. Not sure about the son. Anyway, they are doing some small jobs for us as a side-line. Today it is the sagging front porch beam which is occupying their time. As you can tell from the views below, it is a project which is long overdue:

I am going to the back bedroom where it is quieter, listen to a book on tape (turned up loudly to block out other noises), and knit on an afghan. I can't be expected to participate in this work today. After all, I'm recuperating from an illness, right?

Let's All Celebrate!

I want to wish all my family, friends, and former students a very happy Independence Day. Tomorrow is the day Americans celebrate Life and Liberty. Check out the link on the title for a good article on the history of the 4th of July. This is our country's 230th birthday and we're still going strong, despite our economic and political woes.

We are so lucky in this country. Check here for some pictures that show the great diversity of the USA.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!