Gambit's View

Life's blessings

2011-12-25T15:36:00.000-05:00

Life is full of blessings, sometimes you have to look a little harder to find them.

Such has been the case for this year's Christmas for us.

Being on assistance meant not having anything for Christmas since we had no money to spend. But circumstances, friends, family brought home to us that the true Christmas is having friends and family and appreciating them. We already knew that, but we needed a good solid nudge to be reminded.

My darling sister soul gave us some very thoughtful gifts, of which my favorites are the book Crochet Master Class edited by Jean Leinhauser whom we lost this year. A great loss to her family, friends and the crochet indie design industry.

I first came across this book at our local library. Fell in love with it and it was moved to the top of my crochet wish list! And now, lucky me, I have it thanks to my darling sister! She also gave me a second book, Bring Colour to crochet. A beautiful collection of stitch patterns done in colours that make each pop off the page!

After those, a new windup toy! Yes, silly things please me such as small wind up toys. This latest addition to my growing collection is a Santa Claus riding an old fashioned train. Love it! :)

My husbands favorite was the Belgian chocolate letter of course! quickly followed by new socks and warm mittens.

Then from a sweet friend we received some much needed supplies (paper towels, tp & tissues)... the super soft expensive ones! Two of her gifts also pleased my husband to no ends, Belgian chocolate truffles and cookies!

I also received windups from her! One is of a cute penguin and the other is a Santa and both were lovingly put to bed in a super cute Winnie the Pooh gift box. Love love love them!

And a surprise came to our door earlier this week. Someone I got to know in the class I was taking this past fall received a turkey as a gift from her job, but she already had more turkeys than she knew what to do with. She offered it to us! So sitting in my freezer waiting for New Years` is a lovely 15 lbs turkey! A most pleasant surprise since our hamper from the Salvation Army held potatoes, cabbage, squash, peas/carrots, but no meat. So there is our meat! :)

So for all those who despair and feel that this season has let them down, consider that there are people out there a lot worse off than you are. This season has certainly reminded us to be thankful for small blessings and wonderful friends.

So to all my friends, family, crocheters and knitters around the world; I wish you all a Merry Christmas (or a Merry Celebration of your choice) and keep the faith in your heart. When things look at their bleakest, open your eyes, look around and reach out, ask for help, you matter and that is the most important thing to remind yourself of.

CBC's 75th anniversary - Childhood Memories

2011-11-03T12:15:00.000-04:00

November 2nd was the 75th anniversary of the CBC. Part of The National's news broadcast was a look back at the shows that people watched.

I had completely forgotten about these childhood shows until I saw clips of them. A flood of memories reminded me of the black and white TV we watched during breakfast, supper and the evenings. At that time, the TV was in the large farm kitchen, the better for my mother to watch over my brother and I while she did dishes, cooked and cleaned.

Most Canadians know The Friendly Giant, and Mr Dressup. But for the most part, only french speaking Canadians remember these 60's shows.

Bobino et Bobinette
A show about a brother and sister, the brother always good, the sister, not so good. He would help her out of whatever scrape she got herself into with lesson learned.

Pépinot
A puppet with his friend the bear who would only have one word menum menum. Today's generation would think we were nuts to love this show LOL

Fanfreluche
A doll who sat on a bit chair with a book of stories with a lesson learned from each. I watched part of an episode and can't fathom for the life of me what I saw in this show. LOL

La Souris Verte
Dix moutons Neuf moineaux Huit marmottes Sept lapins Six canards Cinq fourmis Quatre chats Trois poussins Deux belettes Et une souris Une souris verte! This was the intro song.

Sol et Gobelet
Two of the most hilarious characters ever seen. The show was live and full of ad libs which meant the studio cameras had to adapt quickly.

Ultraman
A Japanese show about a hero who fought invaders. Yes, even then I was a nerd and watched sci-fi LOL

I know most english speaking readers will have no clue about these shows. It's ok, I look at english children's shows from back then and don't get it :)

Voicing Hamilton revisited

2011-10-30T14:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I had my third class at the library and it was fantastic. I'm absolutely rediscovering the enjoyment of learning and attending school that I had forgotten how much I loved. But I also absolutely appreciate and love not being harassed by ignorant/petty/bigoted students who parroted their parent's views on metis children.

The morning was spent listening to a short lecture by Daniel and then interacting with the author of one of the textbooks we received at the beginning of the class. I finally appreciate poetry in a way I never did as a teenage student. I also figured out why my appreciation has changed, experience, maturity. It's amazing how your mind suddenly finds relations and understanding where in the past, poetry was just words that didn't make a whole lot of sense and defied explanation as to their usefulness.

Once again, an amazing delicious lunch was served. I did not catch who had organized it, but kudos to them. It was appreciated and enjoyed by all.

The afternoon lab was spent in small groups reviewing the book of poetry and images and figuring out what each person saw in a lot of the poems and photographs. So much insight, so many ideas and interpretations and it was fantastic that everyone got to contribute to the sharing.

This reminds me of how different this teaching approach is to what I remember higher education being like 30 years ago. I love the interaction between teacher and student. The teacher is not so much a "teacher" as popularly defined but more of an elder sharing their life experiences, the influences that shaped their knowledge and allowing us to peek into their past. I also love the fact that we are all respected as individuals and that each of us have experiences worth sharing relating to what we are studying.

We also got a chance to discuss what our end of class presentation will include. In the group I was a part of, one of the students will be doing a series of paintings comparing several public buildings in Hamilton then and now and their final destination in the 200 years that have ensued since their beginning. A couple of students in the study group will be doing a photographic presentation, but unfortunately did not catch as to the subject of these presentations. I love the selection of various medias that everyone will be using for their end projects. These will showcase Hamilton at it's best and at it's worse both current and historically.

Go the F**K to sleep!

2011-10-27T01:00:00.000-04:00

I had to laugh when I came across this gem of a book. It will raise eyebrows I'm sure, but if you're a parent, you will recognise the mental soliloquy that is stuck on a never ending loop as you try and get your little one to fall asleep every night. It may not be peppered with swear words, but I'm sure we've all substituted or added some invectives along the way.

This is definitely NOT a book to read to your little ones, but definitely one you will want to read before you go to sleep. Great way to get rid of the frustrations and reminds you that you're not the only parent who wants their darling child to go the F**K to sleep!

The fact that it is read by Samuel Jackson just puts the candle on the cake LOL

There is even a Facebook Page you can love.

My darling daughter was one of those children who refused to go to sleep. She'd happily climb into bed but that was it. I would read Dr Seuss to my darling daughter, 1, 2 and sometimes 3 books and she'd be sitting there wide-eyed while my eyes were falling shut. One night I handed her the book and asked her to read it. It was quite interesting to watch a 3 year old reading a story that she'd heard so many times she didn't need to know the words. She'd just point to the pictures and tell me about each one.

All about her heart

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

I have a daughter, a beautiful kind hearted wonderful courageous daughter.

She arrived in this world today, many years ago.

She greeted me with a smile and a sigh before going back to sleep.

She greeted me with love and trust in her eyes, that I promised to uphold each and every day.

She gave me her heart to hold, to love, to cherish and protect.

She gave me her soul.

I watched her grow up

I watched her figure out her way in this world,

I watched her crash and waited

I helped when she asked

I stood by, calmly and patiently waiting for the angel within her to grow and come out.

I hid my aching heart watching the difficult moments she lived through

I sent my love, on wings of angels, hoping that it would be felt and strength gained from it.

My arms are always open to comfort, understand, love.

My heart is always with her, every day a new challenge to overcome

My smile is always ready

My kiss, always warm on her forehead irregardless of what life throws at us.

To my beautiful daughter,

May she never be taken for granted.

Mom XOXO

The little girl in this video reminded me so much of my own daughter at that age. The quiet dancing, from the heart, from her soul. I had to share this as I only have the video in my mind which is much more difficult to share :)

Voicing Hamilton

2011-10-15T20:23:00.000-04:00

I had my very first university level class today!

It is part of a pilot project that McMaster University has created to help those who cannot afford a university education get a taste of what being an adult student can be like. The course is in the Humanities studies and is called Voicing Hamilton. We will be looking at the history of Hamilton from the viewpoint of various native Hamiltonians who have written books, personal histories, photographed, and poems about it's people and the city itself.

The class is on every Saturday until the first Saturday of December. The morning session will be a lecture and discussion on the materials we had to read during the week leading up to the class. There will also be special guests who have been invited to share with us their viewpoint on Hamilton. The afternoon will be breaking up into smaller groups and beginning to work and develop the final presentation on our personal take of Hamilton, in other words, making our voices heard. We will have the assistance of McMaster arts and science students who volunteered to help with the course. These students will also enjoy learning alongside of us all about Hamilton. The nursing students graciously offered to cover for lunch and today's was excellent with 4 varieties of pizza along with a delicious mixed greens salad, coffee, pop, tea, and desert! cookies, squares, mincemeat pies, and apples.

The wide range of people who are attending this course will make it that much more interesting as we (they) cover a span of experiences from newly arrived to long time resident. The disparity in ages also gives the viewpoints an interesting twist which I feel will make the class that much more interesting as we have people in their early twenty's to people in their retirement years. The Spectator has a nice article in the Saturday paper about this class.

I am looking forward to hearing our professor speak about Hamilton. He is a well educated man, broad minded, and comes across as a receptive participant and is as excited as the rest of the students in the class, perhaps even more excited as at the end of the first day, the dynamics of the group were already becoming distinct and the various ideas, suggestions and as end of course presentation ideas were voiced, sparked even more discussions and created even more excitement as everyone realised that "Yes, we are doing this!"

There are 2 people who figure in this undertaking; the first is the coordinator, Jeanette Eby, she is the go-to person, the one who contacted various groups and urban cores to recruit students. She was also the face of Voicing Hamilton during the selection interviews, the scheduling and organizing the nitty gritty stuff that makes this class tic. The second person, which I first met during the Meet 'n Greet a few weeks ago is the professor; Daniel Coleman. I had no knowledge of this man before this class started, but from the moment I shook hands with him, I knew that there was a gentle soul, someone who truly cared about what information and wisdom he imparts to those who take the time to listen. He is an energetic man who loves to learn just as much as he loves to teach or maybe teach is the wrong word, but more loves to share what he has learned along the way with people. And by sharing, he also learns new things himself, so the class is more of a symbiosis than the typical teacher student relationship. He would be an amazing native story teller... perhaps he was in a previous life...

During the meet `n greet a few weeks ago, one of the things that was discussed was each of us choosing a subject and media to present our voice of Hamilton. I had 4 distinct ideas of things I wanted to further explore relating to the city of Hamilton and it's inhabitants. After today, I have narrowed my choices down to one, the one that I feel will satisfy my own curiosity and thirst for knowledge as a Métis person. What impact did the settling of this area have on the tribes and peoples already living here and where have these people gone in today's Hamilton. Now what remains to figure out is how I will present this research once it is completed. I found it very exciting that once I had voiced my choices, that I had several people already willingly contributing sources of information for my research. Just by that action, I knew that was the subject I had to do, not just for me, but for those around me, for the peoples and for Hamilton.

I look forward to next week's class since by then I will have read several chapters in the book "Hamilton; A People's History" by Bill Freeman. and jotted down some thoughts. Hopefully by then, I will also have an idea of what media I will use to present my research. So far, I have a sense that it will be organic in nature; since I am a tactile and visual learner, I tend to present my findings in a tactile/visual medium. I know while I can write somewhat well, I'm always hesitant of writing a long involved thesis and have no one interested in reading it. Certainly, it would represent my findings as well as my feelings on those findings and possibly some conjecture, but in the end, would anyone else care? I feel that a more 'artistic' presentation may attract more attention and make people 'look' instead of glance.

The joys of Fibro

2011-10-04T15:53:00.000-04:00

If you remember, in November 2010 it will be the anniversary of when my neurologist informed me that I more than likely (99% sure) have fibromyalgia. He recommended I get a family doctor and get the ball rolling to confirm the diagnosis since my health would not improve with time if left to it's own devices.

Last week was the appointment where my doctor finally admitted that yes, I have fibromyalgia. Since last November, I have spent many hours being poked, prodded, tested, retested, siphoned for blood, etc... to rule out other causes of the multitude of symptoms I experience daily.

To that initial fibromyalgia diagnosis, autonomic neuropathy can now be added, again, not something I was expecting to hear, but something that finally explained why my body wasn't listening to me anymore. Autonomic neuropathy is something I have no control over unfortunately. So far, symptoms have been somewhat uncomfortable but am thankful that they are not as bad as they could be. It does make my days a tad more difficult to plan out since I have no advance warning when something will cease working for a few hours/days/weeks or when it will start working properly again.

And since last November, I've also developed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) This joyless problem stems from not sleeping well because of pain in various parts of my body. Even when I do manage to sleep, it's never enough, and not getting down into the healthy sleep levels that recharge your body means I am constantly exhausted, irregardless of what I am doing. Some days, the best I can do is crawl out of bed, make myself breakfast in stages, and make it to the couch to sit there feeling like a zombie and hoping I'll wake up sooner than later. There are days I literally have to crawl back into bed 2 hours later, too tired to keep my eyes open and if I push the issue, I get physically ill if I don't go lay down. Now picture this happening forenoon and afternoon just about every day and think of all the things that you do in one day that I cannot even come close to accomplishing in a week. My home is a disaster, doing dishes is an all day chore done a bit at a time, vacuuming is out of the question, laundry takes a day plus to get done. Even small loads that I hand wash to stretch the time between big loads wipe me out. Cooking is done in stages when my husband can help, otherwise it's whatever is found in the fridge that doesn't require cooking or involved prep time. Being on a fixed income also means no take-out on the days where even looking in the fridge provides nothing edible. Getting groceries using the city's transit system is nothing short of a feat of physical and mental determination just to get it done. And these days, getting groceries means spending hours in food bank line ups every week to get enough to eat for the following four or five days.

I am thankful for the help I do receive and those who give it freely and lovingly know who they are :) The world needs more people like you :) And I finally am seeing the rewards of what Pay it Forward means. I am on the receiving end now instead of the giving end and at first it's hard to accept, but once you get the epiphany, it makes it easier to say thank you and to accept the help given so lovingly and kindheartedly.

All of the above is also on top of the long list of physical ailments I already have like diabetes, COPD, IBS, Carpal tunnel in both wrists, migraines, food and med allergies, peripheral neuropathy...and I probably forget some since today is a fibro fog day meaning that my brain feels like it's sitting in a large vat of cotton batting and just couldn't be bothered to do anything that involves thought.

Water under the bridge & A New Beginning

2011-09-16T14:08:00.001-04:00

I know, it's been a while... a long long while... ok, so I've been avoiding posting here. Why you ask? or wonder? Because I felt that I had nothing of interest to post. My situation in life is dire at the moment, literally living from hand to mouth and even that is precarious. So instead of posting something depressing, I avoided it by not posting at all.

I am grateful for my family and friend who have been supportive to the enth. Without them, we would be much worse off and believe me, we're a hair's breath away from rock bottom.

So after all this, why am I posting?

Well, for quite a while now I've been designing patterns using crochet. I have quite a collection of patterns that I've been terrified to publish because as my own worst critic, I felt they were not good enough. But with prodding from various people and encouragement I'm finally going to do just that, publish my patterns! Some will be free, some will be for sale. So without further ado, I present you with my new crochet blog Lokipan Crochet Designs

I will be posting all my crochet related work there and keep this blog as my personal blog. At times, this one may not be as busy since I will be very busy with designing new patterns, testing them, etc..

You may wonder, why the name Lokipan ...Well, I am a long time retired dairy farmer, our stock was not the usual cows but close to 400 dairy goats. They are inquisitive, gregarious, intelligent and tricky animals, hence the Loki part, and Pan is the god of goat/sheep herders. It all fit neatly together. When I think of the name, I think warm, friendly, loving thoughts. I miss my goats especially every spring. That was when we would be deluged with kids, such beautiful, warm, cuddly babies, completely entrusting themselves to my arms. There is nothing in this world that smells nicer than a newborn kid. The only way I can describe it, think of a warm sunshiny day, fresh cut hay, a light breeze blowing off the lake over the fields. That is the smell of a baby goat.

So join me on my designing journey!
I look forward to seeing you soon at Lokipan Crochet Designs

SCNA9 is the jerkiest gene in the planet

2011-06-24T03:00:00.004-04:00

A friend sent me this link to an article announcing that the SCNA9 gene is the jerkiest gene in the planet. Since it seems that they have now determined that this is the gene responsible for neuropathy, I'd like to send it back. Mine's working overtime!

But until they can discover some kind of miracle cure, I'll stick with taking my amitriptylenes. I've had the "burning man" description and I agree completely, it's beyond any kind of pain scale anyone can come up with except maybe for this one.

Realistic Pain scale

I've woken up with every inch of my skin screaming in pain and it literally felt like I was on fire. What woke me up was a nightmare where I was being chased by a giant wielding a sword made entirely with flames. I couldn't run fast enough to get away and I woke up as the blade came down on my back. I wanted to scream but the pain was so bad I could only gasp. I guess it was my brain trying to deal with the overflow of false pain messages the nerves were sending.

Hmm... I think this pain scale would also be good for my poor husband considering the muffled screaming I hear more often that I want to admit and there's not a dang thing anyone can do about it. Poor guy.

June already! SHEESH!

2011-06-18T02:41:00.000-04:00

Well, latest update for us. We are now officially on Ontario Works (welfare). My doctor has filled out all the paperwork to get me a special diet allowance and also the paperwork for work exemptions. After talking with my worker late this afternoon, she suggested that it might be a good idea to bring the ODSP application package to my doctor and see if he'll fill it out. It would make life a lot easier for us.

At this point, OW covers our drug expenses which is a boon. For the 1st time since I was diagnosed with diabetes I actually have all the tools to take care of myself and it feels wonderful! With drug expenses covered, we've actually got a wee bit of money to spare now compared to none in the past! Let's hope this doesn't come crashing down around us. I know, skeptic, but believe me, if you were in my shoes, you'd be wondering too. I've had the carpet yanked out from under my feet so many times now, I keep looking over my shoulder.

On other news, I'm learning or have learned filet crochet and I love it! The design options are huge! I've got several projects on the go right now involving filet crochet components. Since I plan on publishing these patterns, I'm not going to go into too many details. At least I can say one is a blanket and the other is a woman's top.

I've also come to learn how to reverse engineer clothing that's already made being displayed in photos. And also to figure out vintage pattern jargon. All these are a tremendous help when designing a pattern. Let's face it, there's only so many ways you can make a top or a blanket or a skirt, etc... so it comes down to stitch choices and colours. I base my patterns more on stitch design than colour since everyone prefers certain colours over others and why limit a knitter or crocheter when there are so many colours to choose from? Same goes for yarn types. Why make someone feel bad because they can't afford the more expensive yarns for specific projects. I'd rather leave the type of yarn chosen to the person who will make the pattern. Personally, I don't have the funds to buy pricier yarns, I depend largely on my daughter and my best friend supplying me with over stocks and low cost yarns or second hand yarns. Why not repurpose yarn which I've done in the past. Buying a sweater that was still quite good but the design was atrocious. I've ripped many sweaters back in order to reuse the yarn, still do when I happen to see one at the 2nd hand store. I doubt I'll ever be a yarn snob since for most of what I design, I prefer acrylic. It's easier to work with, doesn't stretch or shrink and is great for kids clothing. The only time I'd prefer using wool or alpaca, etc is for winter accessories like hats, scarves, mittens, cowls etc.. Nothing beats wool or alpaca when it comes to keeping the cold away from your skin.

Soon I should be able to post photos of these projects as well as others that are currently in the works. The design process is quite organic for me. I have an idea, I write it down and sketch what my mind has conjured up. I leave it for a while since it's not fully worked out yet, and every once in a while, something will pop up and back I go to my notebook to add to the original idea. I liken it to making a stew LOL except that in this case, my brain is the stewing pot!

I've also been rather busy test knitting and crocheting new designs for SmoothFox. I always love testing her patterns since they are so well written out and beautiful and useful. Take the time to go visit her blog. Down the right hand side you will see a huge list of free patterns as well as patterns you can purchase. It will be time well spent.

Another bit of news, although this one is quite sad. A crochet icon passed away yesterday. Jean Leinhauser was a prolific crocheter. She published a multitude of books, co-owned a huge group on yahoo with Rita Weiss called Crochet Partners. She was also very active with CGOA (crochet gild of america) as a judge and reviewer for crocheters applying for their master licensing. She always had time to answer a question relating to crochet. I had the pleasure of receiving a few of her supportive emails over the years and cherish those. She brought crochet to all of us in a simple yet well thought out process. She will be missed by all of us who crochet. Doris Chan, another crochet icon posted on her blog. What she says covers it all as far as I'm concerned. RIP Jean. We will miss you but as Doris said, we will continue to smile and soldier on.

Photos of Jean are rare considering there were only 3 when I did an image search on Google. The one I did find has Jean in the center square where she belongs.


Jean Leinhauser, 2nd from left and her best friend Rita Weiss, far right. The dynamic duo!

If you knew Jean, you also know she loved her dogs. Anyone wanting to make a donation, in kind or items made, please pass them on to your local animal shelter in Jean's name. Thank you

2011 until now

2011-05-25T18:50:00.000-04:00

So far 2011 has not been the kindest to us. Between not having work to having sporadic work to not having work and my health and my husband's health, it's been a roller coaster for the two of us.

My husband's kidney stones have ramped up. Since the beginning of this year, he's passed a dozen or so larger stones and myriad smaller ones that we just don't bother collecting anymore. All this means he's in constant pain. He rarely gets a day when there is no pain and those are cherished when they do happen. At least his blood pressure is stable but his digestive system is also having issues.

My health has also been an up and down coaster with diabetes, COPD, IBS, neuropathy and chronic pain (fibro) hounding me every step of every day and that doesn't include the panoply of side effects of having chronic pain like painful to the touch skin, unexplained rashes, difficulty sleeping, restless leg syndrome, tremors, etc... It just never seems to let up and I'd rather not think about it because then things hurt worse. I have oxycodone when it gets really bad, but I'd rather not take those. I've heard enough horror stories that I only use it when the pain just can't be ignored anymore.

Because of the various health issues, it also means numerous medical appointments, tests, etc... which most employers frown upon and since I've waited for 6 years to finally get a family doctor, I'm not about to try and switch to someone who offers evening and weekend office hours. And most places when it comes to tests and blood work don't open evenings and weekends. It also makes finding suitable work that I can do very difficult.

With the high stress levels, not having work, not having money to pay rent, bills, meds, not having nutritious food, all those things just add to the already overcrowded pot of misery we seem to be stuck in and haven't found a way out of yet. Next Tuesday, we have an appointment to meet with an intake person with Ontario Works (welfare). This is our last desperate effort to find a way to support ourselves. Let's hope there is some help from there for meds and rent.

So this is all to explain why I haven't posted for so long. It's hard to find joy or rejoice when there's not much to rejoice about. Well, I guess we can always rejoice at the fact we still have an apartment and health as good as that may be ....

I'm writing this now, so I can attempt to move on emotionally and stop focussing on the sad parts of my life. There's enough of that going around, I don't need to add to the pile. And yes, some might call this depression, but I don't feel sad 100% of the time, I still laugh when it's funny, and still care very much for my husband, children and myself. I just needed to get this off my chest.

I'm the Frog!!!!

Now don't take me wrong, we have a small support circle, my daughter and my best friend help as much as they can and we appreciate it. But I also realise that there is a point where enough is enough. I just hope that things turn around very very soon for us...

SABLE or HOARDER?

2011-04-26T12:53:00.000-04:00

Earlier today, I read an article about hoarding yarn, fabric, etc.. One of the commenters said the following:

“I told my husband there is a special place in heaven for men married to women who crochet (and collect yarn). He just rolled his eyes.”

I still have tears rolling down my face from laughing so hard I had to run for the bathroom!
That is so my husband!

He grew up with a knitter/crocheter so he knows about SABLE ! Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy

I inherited his mom’s small collection of knitting and crocheting paraphernalia when she passed away in 2001. Thankfully, he along with my daughter and my best friend are enablers.

One person called the various collections that we choose to ignore Elephants...

As for Elephants, oh yes, we have quite a few between the 2 of us.

Collections that he will never part with...

Assorted painted miniatures of fictional characters along with the supplies for painting such.
Enough books to start our own lending library (about 1/4 are mine) LOL
Computer parts, old monitors and ancient towers
Magic the Gathering decks from when he competed
Poker paraphernalia
Board games! lots of board games we never play anymore! : ( stored in MY bedroom/office/craft room. My bedroom is NOT THAT BIG!
Graphic Novel (Comic book) collection

Collections I will never part with...

stamp collection
yarn and yarn accessories: breakdown of yarn: 10 large rubbermaid bins, 4 large boxes, 3 under the bed type storage bags, 8 reusable shopping bags, 2 large fabric bags and a nylon laundry bag. Most of which is stored in my bedroom that also serves as the office. OH, and my daughter is bringing another bin’s worth of yarn. See above about enablers LOL My daughter found one of these vintage hinged velvet-lined carrying cases 2nd hand that has multiple storage boxes within. It’s packed with knitting/crochet paraphernalia.
61 gigabytes of patterns, magazines, books, photos about knitting and crochet on a separate drive (computer has 2 hard drives and 2 external drives)
the 1/4 portion of books of which about 1/4 are about knitting and crochet
a plastic reusable shopping bag filled with fabric for lining hats, dresses, bags & purses
tiny wind up toys which my BFF enables me! :)
beading supplies stored in a 3-drawer bin on casters (could use one more)

We live in a small apartment and storage is at a premium. No storage locker so it all has to live with us. For most days, I can easily ignore the collections, but other days I would give anything to have an extra room that I could store everything in and not have to look at it all the time! Don't take me wrong, I love my yarn to bits! I just would like to not have it stare at me in the face wherever I turn LOL

There seems to be an afinity for nerds/geeks and fiber lovers to attract each other.
May be because we are hoarders at heart?
Don’t speak a normal language? and we understand each other on a cellular level?
Whatever it is, I love it!

Do you have one of those you share your life and living space with?

Another year gone by....

2011-04-17T15:45:00.001-04:00

When I write about my sister's passing, it's because of 2 things.

I cannot forgive myself for not going to her earlier, to be at least able to tell her just how much I love her and to say goodbye. This year brought this back to me after watching the Japanese people fight their way through the most horrible earthquake and tsunami to hit in many years, even worse in magnitude than the Haiti earthquake, worst than hurricane Katrina's devastation of New Orleans. But what struck me as very different was the way the Japanese stoically took it all in, did their best to continue with life as best they could. Something amazing in the face of devastation on a grander scale. The quiet acceptance, the pride, the courage to carry on, helping each other out. All those traits I saw in my sister's battle with cancer. And the videos of the devastation in Japan brought it all back to me as if it was just days ago that my sister passed away, quietly, with dignity.

And the second reason... I miss you Rox, so very very much. I know you are watching over me. I thank you for the gifts you send me along the way. The way people come across my path, people I can help even in a small way. I thank you for those and I hope you keep sending me more. Maybe, just maybe, this way I can redeem myself for not being there for you when you really needed me.

Relai pour la vie


Relay for Life - My sister

Her wings - Now she has real ones

1969 - 2009

Rest in peace dearest sister. I am doing my best to walk in your footsteps each and every day.

International Women's Day March 8, 2011

2011-03-07T21:47:00.002-05:00

Are we equals?

A short 2 minute film narrated by Dame Judy Dench with Daniel Craig as James Bond 007 starting off as the usual well-dressed spy who then goes and dresses the part of a woman. The figures read out by Judy Dench bring the horrible reality of how badly women of this earth are treated. Even here, Canada, USA, Europe, countries who claim to be civilized, yet there are women every day who are killed, maimed, raped, abused and die at the hands of their husbands, boy friends, and ex's.

One hundred years ago, suffragettes fought for women to have the vote. At the time, women were considered little more than chattel. Have we changed? You be the judge....

If you want to learn more, you can join the great Equality Debate and do your part to stamp out the inequalities of our world.

Another one bites the yarn!

2011-01-30T16:04:00.002-05:00

Another conversion achieved! Thanks to the ladies of Ravelry...

Oopsie!

2011-01-12T22:14:00.000-05:00

My apologies to all. Time got away from me somehow.

I have been working on a post but it's taking longer than I expected. Soon though I will be back, same bat time, same bat station :)

Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night

2010-12-26T03:40:00.000-05:00

Christmas has come and gone.

At least we have heat, a roof over our heads, food in the fridge and our medication. My darling son came and spent Friday with us which was a treat. He's maturing so much now. Every time I see him, his mental capacities have improved. His birthday is on Monday, 26 years old then.

I'm down with a cold I'm trying really hard to not let get any worse. I have COPD and a cold for me is not a good thing. Colds have a tendency of turning into something a lot worse through no fault of my own. Let's hope I can stay our of the ER this year!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night

Christmas Crochet

2010-12-23T23:04:00.002-05:00

Talk about last minute presents!!!

A 3 year old little girl who loves pink and snowflakes!

What to make?

Of course, a hat, scarf and mittens!

And which pattern to choose from?

Smoothfox's of course!

I used the easiest hat pattern ever.

Just follow this link and you too can enjoy making this super warm super easy hat.

Just check out the name LOL Brain Dead Easy Short Row Hat

Scroll down the right side of her blog and you will find the pattern listed under free patterns. The hat was amazingly easy to crochet. I added a white snowflake taken from the Sugar scarf motif so it looks like a snowflake landed on her cute little head. I also added an earflap piece that wraps around to the other ear giving extra warmth for her neck. The flap can be turned inside when it's not needed and still gives extra warmth over the ears.

I then decided to use another one of her patterns for the scarf.

The Sugar Scarf. Same deal as above, scroll down to the list of free patterns on the right side of her blog and you will find it listed under free patterns. I added a snowflake on both sides of the last snowflake on one end of the scarf. It makes it easier to pull through the open spaces between each snowflake. Makes the scarf adjustable and there's no chance of it falling off since it's joined. The scarf is long enough to be wrapped around her head twice and still be able to thread the last snowflake through an opening at the other end. She should be nice and cozy all winter :)

For the mittens, I designed my own pattern. I wasn't happy with the mitten patterns I'd found searching through the internet. They turned out quite cute, especially after I sewed on a downsized version of the Sugar scarf snowflake into the palm of each hand. That way she's always caught a snowflake.

Unfortunately, the only photos I have are of the hat and scarf modelled by my big baby doll. Still all looks very cute.

And to finish off, I designed a crocheted kitty toy for her to have and take along wherever she goes. She loves kitties and this one will definitely be a favorite.! I used eyelash yarn together with the yarn I'd used for the kitty to crochet the tail. It turned out very cute and curly twirly. A little girl's dream come true.

My apologies for wonky photos and layout. Blogger decided it wasn't going to resize the photos or place them where I put them.

Washichu

2010-12-21T10:10:00.006-05:00

washichu: the name given to white men by the Lakota people, also means greedy, those who take the best meat.

While listening to this talk, I cried, tears that would not stop falling, my heart breaking with each photo.

The stories vary but the people who came to north america on the big ships, settled here, grew families, took more and more land using treaties that weren't worth the paper they were written on considering how well they ignored these treaties.

So how much longer do these people have to live in abject poverty before they are given their rights, their lands, their pride and freedom? How much longer do they have to wait for what is rightfully theirs?

Sleigh Ride the Amigurumi way

2010-12-20T13:59:00.002-05:00

Another video done by U900, the amigurumi ukulele duo. Watch the piano playing bear, even his foot taps to the beat! A lot of attention was paid to setting up each character for the stop motion filming.

Enjoy!

10 Years Ago Today

2010-12-13T22:02:00.001-05:00

We had met on an online role playing community. He was a stealthy good looking thief, I was a half-elf ranger forever roaming, perpetually lost, wandering around Realms of Despair looking for something more to my life.

As usual, I wandered into an otherwise unexplored area of the main city which turned out to be thieves alley. And what resides there, the Thief Guild of course and at it's entrance, a handsome thief talking business with another thief. I excused myself for walking in on their conversation and walked away, but not without taking a good look at the handsome thieves bio. I sent him a message saying that I liked his bio. Within seconds of the message being sent, there standing next to me is the handsome thief. Gasp!

We introduced ourselves, and started talking about anything and everything and quickly discovered that we had a lot in common. Every day we met online, and the conversation kept going, days passed, weeks passed and still we talked about everything and anything and had now moved to finishing each other's sentences and knowing what the other was thinking before a word was uttered. A month went by, a second month went by and a third. The friendship kept growing as we became closer and closer. Then horror of horror, my handsome thief was losing internet access for an indefinite period of time. What to do, what to do! We turned to letter writing, not email, but actual pen and paper and envelopes and stamps. We corresponded the old fashioned way for at least six months with letters crossing paths on their way to Belgium and Canada. We talked on the phone, and lost track of time. Whopping phone bills, but it had become love. There is no price for true love and call it what you may; soul mates or kindred spirits, we were hooked.

The good news came in the fall, my darling handsome thief wanted to meet me in person. Plans were laid out, flights reserved and the faithful day arrived, December 13th. The day I met my handsome thief for the first time at Dorval airport in Montreal. The flight landed in late afternoon. I had driven cross country from southern Ontario to be there in time. I was standing at the front of the welcoming crowd gathered at the exit for flight arrivals. Kept finding myself pushed further back by taller people until someone suggested I stand on their baggage trolley. So up I went, just to barely see over the shoulders of the people in front of me. So each time the doors opened, I would hop up to get a good view of the lines on the other side of the doors. After an hour of doing this, I was becoming worried that something had happened; that he'd missed his flight, or worse yet, that he'd gotten cold feet and cancelled at the last minute. I kept pushing back those awful thoughts because I knew he was near, I could feel it in my heart. So each time the doors opened, there I was doing the kangaroo hop to see my beloved thief. And finally! there he was at the back of a long line, he smiled when I waved at him when I'd hop up to see him better before the doors closed. And each time the doors opened, he was a little closer and finally, he was coming through the doors! My heart was beating so fast with anticipation, I jumped off the trolley, slipped under the cable keeping the crowd back and fell into his arms for the first of many many hugs. It felt like he was coming home after being away for a few months. Everything about him felt familiar. It felt so right, the way his arms went around me, feeling his breath against my forehead, the beating of his heart under my cheek. My darling thief was finally home.

We stayed in Montreal for a couple of days. It wasn't planned that way, but the airplane ride had jostled a kidney stone free and it was having a party of it's own coming down. So what is the first thing that any good canadian does to a newcomer to the country? Treat him to Timmy's of course LOL followed by pizza from Little Caesar. We also went to a grocery store and my darling's eyes just about popped out of his head, he'd never seen a huge grocery store like that before. Mind you, he'd never experienced snow either so to land in Montreal in December was quite the treat for him. He loved it and still does.

The drive back to southern Ontario was long and tiring. We stopped halfway just before Toronto for something to eat and I showed him on a map of Ontario how far we'd travelled. The distance was mind-boggling for him considering that Belgium fits in the Niagara Peninsula. He couldn't get over how much empty space there is and anyone who has driven the 401 length between Toronto and Kingston can vouch just how mind numbing that drive is. We finally got home late that night, and he got to meet my teenage son who instantly took a liking to my darling.

Happy anniversary my darling thief.

Forever your Angel I'll be.

I love you forever and a day my beautiful green eyed man

Amigurumi Jingle Bells

2010-12-12T13:49:00.002-05:00

This is so cute! and quite apt for most of Ontario... well except for Hamilton. We're 'still' without any of the white stuff. Just spoke with my Mom who is getting snow, sleet, freezing rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, ad nauseum.

So, without further ado, Jingle Bells done with amigurumi characters, a Japanese band called U900.

A lot of attention was paid to setting up each character for the stop motion filming.

They have several songs which can all be found on Youtube. Enjoy! :)

30 foot lion creations for 2012 Olympics!

2010-12-07T14:19:00.001-05:00

What a fantastic way of showing off crochet's versatility!

I would give anything to be able to walk under and around those gorgeous lions once completed.

East Midlands from Artists Taking the Lead on Vimeo.

Fun with crochet testing new patterns!

2010-12-05T21:08:00.001-05:00

This is what I've been working on for the past couple of months. Several test crochets for a wonderful designer and some projects of my own. I cannot get over how much time as slipped away. We're already in the last month of 2010 and I have no clue where most of it went.

Lemony Lime Citrus Square 12 x 12

First, the test crochet projects for Smoothfoxlover aka Donna. This lady develops some of the prettiest crochet designs and I love love love testing them for her.

First up, I made the Lemony Lime Citrus Square 12 x 12, and you can find the details here in a previous post. The pattern is available free, just click on the name of the pattern above and it will take you to Smoothfox's blog.

Foxs Shape Shifter Blanket

The next project I tested was Foxs Shape Shifter blanket which is available for purchase. Simply follow the link by clicking on the pattern name. This was a great crochet project since I have 2 brand new nephews.


Foxs Mulberry Bush 12 x 12

Following the blanket, I tested this lovely square called Foxs Mulberry Bush 12 x 12 square. It's available free on her site, simply click on the pattern name and it will take you to her lovely site. Look around and explore all the gorgeous patterns listed on the right. Some are free, some are for purchase only, but definitely affordable.


Foxs Neapolitan Ice Cream 12 x 12

For my next test crochet came the Neapolitan Ice cream 12 x 12 square, again, it was a pleasure to crochet! It's available from Donna's etsy shop or her Ravelry shop, both links are on her blog, just follow the link by clicking on the pattern name.

Foxs Daisy Four Patch 12 x 12

The next test crochet was a lot of fun since I ended up making enough for a cushion. The square is called Foxs Daisy Four Patch 12 x 12. It is quite versatile as it has different sizes depending on where you stop crocheting the squares. You can make four 5 x 5 squares, assemble them, complete a few rounds around the 4 conjoined squares, and you get a very nice 12 x 12. Or you can keep crocheting until your squares are 6 x 6 or continue for a 7 x 7. So many ways to use these and you can get rid of a lot of odds and ends of yarn you would otherwise have sitting in your stash for eons. Each centre piece only takes a very small amount of yarn and you can vary the color of those to make the daisies. Great pattern and lots of fun to make.

Foxs Nonagon Blanket

This was followed by Foxs Nonagon Blanket test crochet. Another pleasure to create and you can keep going past the last row of the pattern and create a super huge blanket. The pattern makes a very nice conveniently sized blanket to be used in strollers and car seats. Great for using up various colors as well. This pattern is available to purchase by clicking the pattern name.

Foxs Diagonal Box Stitch square 6 x

Then it was Foxs Diagonal Box Stitch square. I had a lot of fun making this square. Once you learn the pattern, it's easy to do as a take along on the bus, car, waiting at Dr's offices, etc. The pattern is available free, just click on the link that will take you to her blog where you can download the pattern. Another great stashbuster for using up all those odds and ends of cotton and acrylic. So many things that can be made using this base pattern!

Foxs Spiral Blanket Nbr 2

Then it was the turn for a couple of blankets. The first one is Foxs Spiral blanket Nbr 2 Very simple pattern and once the spiral is established, one that can be made in a few evenings while watching a movie. I used 2 strands of baby yarn for the white and love how soft and cushy it feels. The pattern is available for purchase via Donna's site, simply click on the name of the pattern that will take you directly to her blog. The second blanket has not been released yet.


Foxs Pineapple Scarf

The next project to test was a lovely scarf named Foxs Pineapple Scarf. I used a blend of mohair and acrylic to make my version and it turned out beautiful. I had just enough yarn to make a quick hat to go with it. Lots of fun to make in a couple of evenings. This has become my go to scarf pattern for quick gifts with the versatility it has using different yarns. The pattern is available for purchase by simply following the above link by clicking on the pattern name.

And last but by no means least is Foxs Cutie Pie Flower 6 x 6 square. One of the cutest squares I've tested so far. Easy and fast to make. I can see this becoming part of a variety of items like a scarf, blanket, bag, vest. The pattern is available for purchase by clicking on the above link.

Foxs Cutie Pie Flower 6 x 6

There are a few more projects currently being tested and will post about these when they are released. I highly recommend Donna's patterns to anyone looking for quality and well designed crochet items as well as easy to follow patterns with no hoops to jump through. Take a look through her blog, you won't regret it. She is a prolific designer so there's always something new on her blog.

I have some of my own crochet projects that I completed while doing the test crocheting. I'll post about those another day since my head is killing me right now. But Enjoy the photos and go visit Donna's blog!

Bell Canada woes

2010-11-15T19:50:00.004-05:00

A couple of years ago I received a call from a Bell Canada marketing call centre representative. I don't remember what the offer was at the time but I know I said No Thank you in no uncertain terms. A couple of weeks later, my phone bill comes in and I've got new charges on it. I call Bell customer service to ask why these services are showing up on my bill and they inform me that I requested the services. ... which was pure bs.

I asked the rep if I gave my authorization password and she answers, what password? So she goes through and sees in past calls that I had password protected my phone accounts so they couldn't be tampered with. And sure enough, my password had not been given. So everything went back to what it was and I was happy.

Today I get another one of those calls that the marketing person on the other end isn't answering my questions and keeps going back to the point that I've won a new cellphone free of charge with no s&h. This is the 12th day in a row that they call and I keep saying no, I don't want it. So today after the call, I called Bell Customer service and asked how to stop these marketing calls without losing my Bell service calls in case of interruption of service, advance warnings, etc... Well, now they actually have a do not call list specifically for marketing calls! Guess who's numbers are on that list now!!?!!!

I wonder if Mr. Alexander Graham Bell would have invented the telephone if he had known what uses it would be turned to. The telephone is one of these inventions that has completely taken over our lives. Between the cell phones and the home phones, you are never disconnected. So making sure that marketing calls do not encroach on my life, I added my phone numbers to the National Do Not Call List. I can vouch for this program, it works and very well. The only calls that come through now are the ones for political party announcements which if they showed a number I'd report it to the do not call list. I'll make my own choices thank you.

Clean up and clear out

2010-11-14T21:15:00.004-05:00

Today I spent cleaning up my file folder. Why? Because we had a bit of a scare with our old computer. We thought she had breathed her last on Friday night. But, with much canned air, patience, a bit of poking here and some prodding there, replaced the 2nd drive that had croaked a few months ago with the one from my computer who had croaked last year, we managed to get the old girl up and running again.

And since most of the files I do have I want to keep, I went through everything, pitched what wasn't needed anymore and copied the whole lot over to the new drive as a back up to the back up. Yeah i know, a bit fanatical? Well, if I don't do this, some of the things I would lose that are near and dear to my heart are photos, a print of the last conversation i had with my sister over MSN before she passed away last year, more photos of my children, friends, places we've been, family, our life and I can't forget Gambit!

The print of the convo with my sister really made me sit back when I read through it. If' we'd only known... I'm sure that talking about our respective work would not have been at the top of our convo list. Discussing our children, husbands, old memories, our Dad, at least featured in the convo. Rereading it now, just I don't quite know how to explain it, but it feels like she's with me. i can hear her voice in my mind as we're talking and laughing about our lives. I miss her.

At least now, I know what i have, and where it's stored. Yeah for scares I guess LOL

I had to add this one today. As I read it, I realised how anyone who is OCD about having everything in it's place must feel when they can't fix the letters for OCD :P.... right hon? :P

Lest we forget - Proud to be a free Canadian

2010-11-11T11:27:00.003-05:00

Thank you

And the heavens rejoiced!

2010-11-10T14:51:00.002-05:00

I finally have a family Doctor!!!

6 years, multiple waiting lists, and uncounted phone calls canvassing for one and I finally get one using Healthcare Connect.

And I wasn't expecting anything to happen so quick either. When I registered with the service yesterday, I was told to not expect an answer for a while if I even got an answer. Nothing new there since it's all I've been told in the past. The phone rings this morning and it's the local placement agent for Healthcare connect who tells me she's found a doctor for me! The last place I thought to look; the french canadian health services! duh!

So after going through the 30 minute intake interview (in french) over the phone, I have an appointment for December 14th at 1:45!!!! Bloody amazing, my jaw just about hit the floor.

I'm still in shock, can't quite believe it. Almost too good to be true so I keep pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming or hallucinating LOL

I wish to thank my darling daughter for sending me all the doctor names via email (couldn't access the website from here) I don't have to do any more calls! I also wish to thank my darling soulsister for encouraging me and just holding me up at times through this whole mess.

Now to figure out what the next step is so we're not on the street by December.

More phone calls to make. But I still need to hear from the neurologist before I can proceed to the next step. If I jump the gun so to speak, I may end up landing on the wrong spot.

If you know anyone who has serious health problems, lives in Ontario, has a valid health card and doesn't have a family doctor, pass on the information to call Healthcare Connect. I was seriously sceptical when I called them yesterday, but after today's response, I'm sold! Registration is only a phone call away 1-800-445-1822. My days of relying on walk-in clinics are finally over!

The Mom (Mum) Song

2010-11-09T13:16:00.000-05:00

My darling daughter sent me this clip from Youtube. I laughed by the time it was done. Sooo true :)

And my daughter tells me she doesn't remember many lectures from me. I told her my lectures were done without screaming since she listened so well I didn't have to keep repeating myself. Mind you, her brother made up for that in spades LOL

So without further ado, for your listening pleasure, The Mom Song.

We've all been there, we've all done this. Sit back and have a good laugh. The singer is amazing btw :)

What Inspires Me to Create

2010-11-06T12:36:00.001-04:00

I've been rather busy these past weeks creating and developing patterns. This morning I'm checking out blogs and someone made a post about what inspires her. I started thinking about it and discovered that it's rather a difficult question to answer.... at least for me it is.

I've always worked with textiles in one form or another over the years. And as a norm, what gets the old brain brewing and stewing is a need. Much like the idiom, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention". For me the Necessity has always been replaced by Desperation. When I can't find something I really need, my brain produces an answer to the problem.

This is why I initially taught myself

crochet: I needed a shawl
machine sewing: I needed clothing
knitting: (had to relearn) my premature son needed a hat
hand stitching: I didn't have a sewing machine
embroidery: I wanted to give my grandmother a handkerchief with blue birds on it
painting: I wanted to express what I saw and felt in colors
pattern making: I needed a cocoon for my premature son

Today I can use any and all of the above skills I developed at a time when I was desperately seeking an answer to whatever problem presented itself.

I've also found over the years that I also require a certain level of urgency or stress to get the brain stewing and brewing. If those 2 ingredients are lacking, nothing I attempt to create works.

As for the creativity, I try different ways of viewing what I need an answer to from different angles. A different viewpoint, not necessarily of a different point of view.

What inspires you to create?

Quick Update: My darling daughter's visit!

2010-10-30T01:55:00.002-04:00

I know I promised I'd post photos from my daughter's visit and I have full intentions to do that, just not quite yet. I need to go through all the photos and pick which ones I want to use. I also realised to my dismay that I did not take very many photos and too much video. Bleh! Maybe I can get my darling husband to (not sure how it's done) grab photos from the videos. So I will be back soon with photos!

I do have a few that I did get with my camera.

These are the hot pads, dishcloths and coasters along with a super cute dish washing liquid bottle cover up. The dishcloths have already graduated from the kitchen to the bathroom. She absolutely loves how nice they feel. She was also super happy with the coasters since she'd been looking for some.

Dish cloths, Coasters & Hot Pads

The Caribbean Topper, from the back.

The Caribbean topper that I finished back in August. She finally got to model it! It's an absolute perfect fit! and she loves the buttons I made. One set was used to close the front and one set went to tailor the back. Very pretty.

The Caribbean Topper. A perfect fit!

A super cute jacket I found @ a 2nd hand store

This really cute black velveteen top with a frilled bottom was also a huge success. I came across it at a 2nd hand store and just could not walk away without it. I am so glad I did get it. I was worried it might not have fit but it's a perfect tailor made fit.

Blown up doily throw

Not even quite sure what to call it LOL a top, a short dress, a jacket... I guess it all depends how and where you wear it. So many possibilities and knowing my darling daughter, she will try every mix :)

Blown up doily wrap

She also knew she was getting a nice throw but this was the first time she'd seen it. As you can see by the huge grin, she's loving it. This pattern came from Crochet Soiree, I blew up the Starlight doily into a fantastic looking throw or wrap depending on the mood. Gorgeous color for her too!

She also received some very original cosplay hats. Photos will eventually come to my blog once I publish the patterns.

There were a few more items that again, I won't be posting photos until they are published.

And last but not least, an awesome piece of news. Most of you know I was recently diagnosed with FMS. I did my best to keep up with the chores and errands but as the months went by, things just piled up and I couldn't keep up. I'm still figuring out how to pace myself! My darling daughter after discussing it with her husband has told me she will be coming over to help me every 4 to 6 weeks! That to me is the absolutely bestest news I could have received. Thanks to my beautiful darling daughter :)

Happy Birthday to my darling daughter!!!

2010-10-26T03:28:00.002-04:00

My dear sweet little baby girl.

How the years have flown

Time has gone by

You have grown

But always young

You are always near

In my heart

In my thoughts

You never stray far

A breath of fresh air

A gift that I am proud of

You my daughter have my heart and my everlasting love

May this day of your birth bring you happiness

Love always,

Mom

Cat bus compliments of a fantastic movie: My Neighbor Totoro

Did I forget to say "I LOVE Mondays!"

2010-10-26T02:01:00.003-04:00

Yes ladies and gents. Another Monday has come and gone.

My sister soul came to town and we had fun! Well, after this lady forgot where we were to meet that is.... I blame the fibromyalgia also known as fibrofog. We've decided that I'm writing on my hand where we're going to meet next time LOL

We got to show off our projects from the past few weeks. Gave feedback and intelligent suggestions :) and shared knowledge. That to me is my favorite part; sharing the knowledge we've gathered over the years.

I can't put up photos of my finished projects yet since a certain young lady is coming over on Wednesday!

And yes Sammsis you can tease her some more LOL She can take it although I'm sure she's getting close to blowing up like a helium balloon from sheer anticipation LOL

Let's say the pile is growing since I added your presents to the list :) And I'm nooo'ttt telling!

We had lunch at the persian restaurant again, Delicious as always! Absolutely love the stewed eggplant and the chicken and mushrooms in yogurt sauce and the mound of delicious rice with mung beans! and the fresh green salad with tomatoes & cucumbers. A very healthy meal and low glycemic as well. That's always a bonus! I had to bring some back home for hubby, he loves it just as much as I do! I honestly think that if this was the only food we could have for the rest of our lives, we'd be happy. Toss in some fresh fruit, water, and we'd be set :)

I also ran by the Vietnamese market to pick up some much needed meat. Came home with a 10 lbs bag of onions for a whopping $1.99! Some beautiful local fresh broccoli heads for .99 a lb. Baby cucumbers a dozen came to less than $2. A double handful of fresh picked spinach for .99. Picked up a bag of longans at 1.99 a lbs. Those are some of the best fruits I've ever eaten. They are not too sweet, full of vitamins and easy to take along with you for snacking. Got some humongous deboned, deskinned chicken breasts, 3 breasts large enough to be turned into 7 meals! and the cost, $12.50. Also got extra lean beef mince at a $1.99 a lb., a pork loin for $12.63 that will be turned into 5 maybe 6 meals and 20 chicken wings for $5.75. The chicken wings will be used for Karen's special by request dish, my curried chicken wings! for her birthday celebration when she's here.

Then on Wednesday my darling daughter is coming with me to get the staples at No Frills. The stuff I only get once a month, sometimes longer between trips. It's a long trip, requires 2 buses to get there and with the fibro, I'm not too courageous stepping out on my own these days. So this will be perfect. We come home and it will be present opening time! and yes, I will take photos :) and hopefully a movie or two.

It should be a really fun day and I'm really looking forward to it. Can you tell!?! :)

Progress Report

2010-10-23T22:11:00.002-04:00

No worries folks, I'm still here.

I haven't posted much about anything I've been knitting/crocheting in the last few weeks and there's a very good reason for that. My dearest daughter's birthday is the 26th and I didn't want her to see what I've been up to. I know she reads my blog faithfully so I had to be quiet ;)

But soon I will be able to post photos since she will be getting her gifts on Wednesday! And I'll make sure to take photos of her with what I've been doing :) So until then, Mum's the word!

Oh and since I have photos, here's some gratuitous kitty porn and some cute stuff and funny stuff too!

Now tell me, who can resist that?

Just one of those things...

I agree with her, who's got a problem? uh? uh? not me! LOL

His favorite perch in the summer

Doesn't he just look as comfy as a cat can be?

PS. I can hardly wait to see the look on her face!

Dirty Jobs - Mike Rowe, my hero!

2010-10-21T00:29:00.000-04:00

I'm sure most of you have turned on the TV and caught a Discovery Channel favorite, Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe. The talk he gave for TED tv presents an insight on those "dirty" jobs that will make you think and reevaluate the importance of those jobs.

There are times that you may think he is poking fun at the jobs, but judging from this talk, he has learned a lot about the importance of those jobs that we'd rather not think of.

Kirby's Epic Yarn

2010-10-20T18:19:00.001-04:00

My husband emailed this link to me and told me to make sure to watch it.

OMG This is the perfect Wii game for anyone who does crafts, knits or crochets!

If you haven't seen this game yet, watch the video. It lasts 20 minutes but I can guarantee that by the time you're done watching, you'll want to run out and buy this game for hours of endless fun!

Note *some of the language from the two adult male players can be a bit colourful... as in, there's the odd swear word because they can't believe how much fun they are having collecting beads, unravelling yarn monsters, unzipping buildings, gathering fabric and swimming through fabric water. They actually sqweed with joy when one of them would get a piece of yarn furniture for their house! LOL And Kirby is irresistible all made out of yarn, he looks squishy and bouncy.

What you need to know about toxics in your cosmetic products

2010-10-19T22:10:00.002-04:00

Earlier this year, the David Suzuki Foundation invited Canadians to pull back the shower curtain and participate in an online survey about toxic ingredients in common personal care products like soaps, shampoos and cosmetics. Here are the key findings from the survey and recommendations for cleaning up these products and strengthening Canada's laws to better protect human health and the environment.

I am so glad I don't use makeup!

The few things I do use like shampoo, deodorant, mouthwash, hand cream, body mist, body wash are all exempt of the dirty dozen. Thank goodness for Yves Rocher!

Click the above link to see all the information gathered. I believe this one since it is from the Dr. Suzuki Foundation. If it was any other organization, I would take the results with a large grain of sand. Dr. Suzuki doesn't stand to gain or lose anything by showing these results since he has no vested interest in the making of beauty products unlike let's say a funded private company study. There, you never quite know if they are being honest or representing the "needed" results so women will buy the products thinking they are safe.

School kills creativity

2010-10-11T11:55:00.002-04:00

A friend pointed this talk out to me. I watched, I laughed, I nodded in agreement.

I always believed that children should be allowed to express their creativity freely as long as it doesn't put anyone or themselves in danger.

I remember when my daughter was in kindergarten, the teacher pointing out to me that she was not using the "right" colours in her pictures. She showed me the picture and I didn't see anything wrong with it and said as much. She pointed to a beautiful sky filled with green clouds, a teal lake, blue trees with yellow trunks and orange grass. That all those were not "proper" colors. I asked her what she thought were proper colors and she responded in the expected manner, blue sky, green grass, blah blah.. so I asked her "what if this is the colours she sees?" are we supposed to retrain her brain to see only those colors in relation to the object? To me that is killing creativity at it's most fundamental.

What are you thankful for?

2010-10-10T18:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Thanksgiving Canadian style!

Every year, I look back and see what has been good, what has been bad and what I've learned since the last Thanksgiving. This year is no different than other years except that I learned to appreciate a lot more than in previous years.

These are the things I'm thankful for:

My darling husband
A man who suffers daily from kidney stone pain. He does his best to remain cheerful and to be here for me despite the pain and exhaustion. I have only to look at my loving man when I think I can't stand another day of pain and know that I can carry on.

My loving daughter
Despite the stumbling blocks that life has handed my beautiful daughter, she always as a smile and a hug for everyone, to help everyone around her and make others feel better. She works hard every day, has some days that are tough to go through, but knows who to turn to for strength.

My son who moves to the beat of a different drummer.
He may have been born with severe developmental delays but with each passing day, he is maturing and seeing the world through his eyes makes me appreciate what I have.

My sistersoul
Who has a shoulder and a strong arm for me when I need it the most. For her understanding, her quiet strength, her wisdom. For the laughter that she brings into my life and brightens my day. For a second chance at having a sister to love and cherish. And I dearly hope she knows I am here for her as well.

The people in my life.
From each one I gather wisdom, experience, support and strength. They touch my life in small and big ways that I may not realise at the time but become part of me.

Gambit
For always knowing when I need a purring kitty cheer up on my lap or a bump on my leg asking to be picked up and loved. For those beautiful green eyes, full of love and trust.

My health, be such as it is.
I get reminded daily that life is to be appreciated, that family and friends do matter. That caring about each other should always be first on the list of things to do.

The ability to walk
You only realise how much it means to be able to walk when you find that you can't take another step because you're racked with pain.

The soft breezes, the warm autumn days that make me hurt less.

A good night's sleep.

A pain free day.

My hands
I use to knit and crochet and make someone else's day brighter with the things I create.

That I can share a smile irregardless...

On that note, I ask you my readers and friends, What are you thankful for this year?

Aristotle had it right

2010-09-28T03:27:00.001-04:00

Define friend....

So many ways to explain what a friend is but I still think Aristotle had it right on the git go.

Aristotle's definition: A true friend is one soul in two bodies.

And in this case I struck gold! I am truly blessed.

Up until I read this quote, I always struggled with the definition of friend. So many people interpret the word friend in so many ways.

My definition of a friend has always been someone who:

- answers the phone whatever the time may be and is prepared to listen.

- will laugh and cry with you.
- will always believe in you, even when you don't believe in yourself.
- will always bring out the best in you.
- will always be honest, even if it hurts.
- will not need an explanation as he/she will always understand.
- is willing to share their time with you.
- accepts you as you are.
- is willing to reach out to you, instead of you always having to do the reaching out.
- will not judge you.

I like how Wikipedia defines friend.

Soulmate: the name given to someone who is considered the ultimate, true, and eternal half of the other's soul, in which the two are now and forever meant to be together.

Spiritual friendship: the Buddhist ideal of kalyana-mitra, that is a relationship between friends with a common interest, though one person may have more knowledge and experience than the other. The relationship is the responsibility of both friends and both bring something to it.

Some would say many more things quantify friendship, but I still say Aristotle had it right.

To realise the value...

2010-09-17T07:37:00.000-04:00

To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to a premature baby..

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.

Remember....

Hold on tight to the ones you love!

Talk about a different viewpoint

2010-09-15T22:22:00.001-04:00

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia this past spring. At the time, I didn't realise just how much it would affect my life. I had put on blinders so to speak and just did my best to forget and ignore it.

A few weeks ago, it decided to remind me in a rather painful way that it was there . As the days went by, the pain grew and I could do less and less until I couldn't even walk a block without being rooted to the ground by pain and spasms. As it worsened, I turned to forums and websites on fibromyalgia and found so much information, some good, some bad, some downright frightening, that only made things worse. I finally booked an appointment with my neurologist who actually could fit me in the very next day as another patient had cancelled. After going over the symptoms, pain, cotton ball head, spasms, etc... we had a long chat and he answered my questions truthfully and with no added sugar coating. At the end of a 2 hour appointment I felt better, understood a lot more the process of fibromyalgia and what outside influences will make it worse. He also adjusted my medication and told me that I should begin to feel better shortly and he was right.

Today, I'm going through the mail at work (replacing receptionist for just this week) and came across a magazine called Abilities On the cover was a photo of Stephen Hawking. For those of you who do not know him, he has done mountains of research in the fields of cosmology, quantum gravity and especially black holes. You would think that it sounds pretty normal but now add the fact that this man has not spoken a word since 1985, is paralysed and depends on others to feed him, etc... and now you get a much different picture. Mr Hawking suffers from ALS but much to his credit he has not let this fact slow him down in the least.

In the following article from which I've excerpted a rather significant viewpoint, it really puts my fibro in a different light and made me realise that despite ALS; he can work, play, enjoy life, etc... why should I let fibro stop me from enjoying the things I like to do. Certainly it will take adjustments, but it doesn't mean that life as I know it is over for me. It's all in the perspective, the viewpoint and not the point of view.

"I have had motor neurone disease for practically all my adult life. Yet it has not prevented me from having a very attractive family and being successful in my work. This is thanks to the help I have received from Jane, my children, and a large number of other people and organizations. I have been lucky, that my condition has progressed more slowly than is often the case. But it shows that one need not lose hope." Excerpt from Stephen Hawking: In His Own Words,
On Disability.

And to show just how much freedom he has, in 2007 on one of his trips to North America, he flew in the zero-G aircraft and experienced weightlessness for the first time in his life.

Dr. Hawking enjoying weightlessness for the first time

On a side note, go to his website and take a look around. I didn't realise until today that he has written children's books with the help of his daughter. I wish my children were still young enough to enjoy being read to from these books. They explain space and what's up there in a way that children will understand quite clearly. It's an amazing way to develop a love of science in children.

He has also been a presenter on Ted.tv. His viewpoint on the universe is fascinating and brings up many questions. Well worth watching.

Goofy and funny, that's what I needed today!

2010-09-14T19:08:00.000-04:00

This one I keep in reserve when I need a laugh. First time I saw this video I sat there and just stared, slack jawed watching someone dance that I never thought I'd see. Who would have thought that Christopher Walken used to dance professionally before he turned to acting! The man is so darn serious I never thought he could actually do something fun.... heck funny!

Enjoy!

Lest we forget, 9/11 - Two minutes of silence

2010-09-11T15:17:00.001-04:00

Where were you September 11, 2001?

I was getting ready to go to work when my husband told me to turn on the news. It was 8:30 and the scenes unfolding in front of my eyes sent a chill down my back and raised goosebumps on my arms. These were the scenes of a horror movie. Couldn't be real, couldn't be happening in North America, New York, no way this was real. But the longer I watched, the more horrifying the morning became as I watched a 2nd plane crash into the WTC and finally both towers crashing to the ground. I didn't want to think what those specs raining down from the towers were as things got worse. I wanted to walk away but I was glued in place. Hands clutching a cup of coffee long gone cold. A pile of used tissues piling up next to me as I couldn't stop crying and yet, my eyes could not leave the unfolding events before me.

That day, I lost my job since the clients we dealt with had offices in the WTC but that is small potatoes compared to the loss of so many lives, so many families broken up, so many who will never see their Mom, Dad, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends and the list goes on and on.

I will never forget September 11, 2001 as I've never forgotten other major events in our recent history. Events that have marked us, reminded us that we are as frail, as fleeting as catkins in the wind.

The video's audio track has been disabled. It doesn't need one. I can hear the voices of the commentators on CNN as clear today as I did back then. There is no song, music, commentary that can accompany this, so in silence, let's remember and hope this insanity never repeats itself.

Fair warning to all, this video has scenes that are disturbing, but then again, maybe we need to see disturbing to remind us this is real.

Songs I love #4

2010-09-10T15:55:00.003-04:00

This composition from Thomas Newman always makes me think and also leaves me a little sad, missing people I love. But it also helps me deal with those losses.

The first time I heard this music was in the movie Phenomenon with John Travolta. This score is part of a scene where he looks to the trees with the wind blowing through the branches and leaves. I've always loved the sound of wind in the trees and this song brings back this cherished memory from living in the countryside away from the hussle and bustle of the city streets.

Cheer up song #3

2010-09-08T23:51:00.005-04:00

Whoever said you only like music from your own generation was full of crap!

Case in point, me. I love music, yes, I was a teenager during the Disco era, but that's not the only kind of music I enjoy listening to. Today, with youtube, people have taken the creative process of making music to a new level. Browsing through youtube, you find gems along the way.

Like the above track from a composer who will likely never be published except on YouTube. Digitalpiece has 9 creations on YouTube which are download-able. Bonus for us! Well worth looking up this artist or even adding him to your favorites since I'm sure he will be publishing more gems along the way.

This song isn't so much about cheering up but more about thinking through things and giving you hope for the future. At least this is how it makes me feel.

Enjoy!

Top down Raglan Sweater KAL

2010-09-08T11:51:00.000-04:00

I joined the Spud and Chloe Top Down Raglan sweater KAL last week. This is how far I've gotten on the sweater for one of my nephews.

All I need to do now is add a moss stitch hem and then it's on to the arms!
I'm really enjoying the creative process for this sweater. Great first time sweater for someone who's always wanted to knit one but was afraid to.

I've also cast on for the Baby Professor vest (Ravelry link). I'm using some gorgeous mossy green yarn that was gifted by my daughter. It's a quick knit and I love how the moss stitch gives it a whole new texture. I'll definitely be casting on for #2 since I have tiny twin nephews to knit for! Progress photos to be added soon.

Favorite song #2

2010-09-07T16:01:00.000-04:00

This is another one that I like to play when I need cheering up. It's a very cute song with a nice video attached.

An Award!?!? 0_o

2010-09-06T22:21:00.002-04:00

Well gooolly!

I have received an award from Alex at Pinkfeatherparadise thank you ! I love her blog and crochet, shop finds, adventures with her darling children, the ups and downs of being a Mom, wife and friend.

now I have to do 3 things...

Thank the award giver...... Done!
Tell you 7 interesting things about myself.... Ugh!
Give the award to 15 fellow blogger's..... Hmm.... let's see!

7 count 'em 7 interesting things about me! Hrmm.. do they have to be interesting?

Ten years ago, I took a leap of faith and agreed to meet a man in person whom I'd met on the internet. I picked him up at the airport after a 6 hour flight on his end and a 7 hour drive on mine. We've never been apart since and he's the jewel in my world, the cream in my coffee, the cherry on my cheesecake... you get the drift :)
I seriously dislike ignorance in people.
I refuse to let fibromyalgia run my life!
I'm my own worst critic.
I'm ambidextrous. I knit left-handed and crochet right-handed. Freak? Yes!
I always dreamt of becoming an artist, but life had other ideas, so I express my art through knitting and crochet designs.
I'm terrified of publishing my own patterns, see #4....
I'm a chocaholic. Only thing that stops me from gorging on it is diabetes LOL

Now to list those I deem worthy of this award :)

Attic24

Lucy always brings a smile to my lips anytime I drop by to catch up on the goings on in that lovely victorian home. I love her bold color choices, the projects she lovingly puts together to make her home a warm pleasant cozy place. It always feels like the door is open and you're welcome to walk in and sit for a while with a cup of tea by your side.

SmoothFox Original Crochet

Donna is an exceptional crochet square designer and crocheter. I love to test her new patterns and there's always something new and shared stories to read about.

Otterwise

Diana inspires me. She also has fibro and I gather courage from her posts. Her blog is about so many things, there's never any time to get bored over there. So go on over and visit for a bit with Diana :)

Samm

This lady doesn't have a blog. I wish she did. She is an amazing friend, a soulsister, someone I can talk with that accepts me as I am, warts and all. Someone I share so much with that I don't know what I did before we were thrown together by fate.

Karen

My darling daughter whom I adore. She is also my bestest baby girl, my friend and my daughter all rolled into one. I am always amazed at how much she manages considering the health issues she has to contend with to function every day. Yes, I am proud of her and if she had a blog, it would be at the top of my list to read every day.

Susan B. Anderson

I've always loved Susan's blog right from the first time I stumbled onto it. Her children are adorable, especially TC. She reminds me so much of my own daughter at that age. I love Susan's posts, a mix of home, events and knitting. She is a down to earth lady who knows how to balance life between being a designer, a Mom and a wife.

Elizabeth Cat

This lady loves colour in all it's forms. I first learned of her blog when I discovered the African flower group on Flicker. It's always a breath of fresh air to drop by and read up on what she's been doing. She always inspires me when I'm running low on imagination.

Aussie Maria

I love her blog, she makes me laugh. I love reading about what goes on down under. I love the versatility she uses in creating lovely patterns and lately her gorgeous blanket for her daughter.

Big Girl

As her profile says "Life has one beginning and one end; the rest is just a whole lot of middle. What are you doing with the middle?" And that's the part I love reading about.

Gemma Knits

I always enjoy Gemma's blog. So many things to read about, her life, crochet, knitting, adventures with the kids, niece and nephews.

Ceciphus

Ceci is one of these ladies who lets her imagination roam and then she creates the most amazing objects using her crochet and some floss. I absolutely love seeing what projects she's working on and also reading her version of the world around her. She expresses what I think and has no qualms about it either :)

Ok, so I didn't hit 15. But the blogs and people I have named above are at the absolute top of my list of blogs to read (if they have one) each day. Congratulations to all of you. The award is well earned :)

Cheer up! Favorite song #1

2010-09-06T15:56:00.002-04:00

When I'm looking for an instant cheer up, this is the song I turn to. The line drawings are so cute and always manage to put a smile on my face when I watch it. Hope you like it too!

Sweaters and squares and life oh my!

2010-09-02T04:00:00.000-04:00

My niece sent me this clip she found on Vimeo. After listening to it, it reminded me that I am not alone, that I have someone who stands by me through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad, through sickness and health. That person is my darling husband. Despite his own health issues, he is there for me when I hurt too much that I can't even walk a simple block.

Stand by Me from theRedPillRadio on Vimeo.

It also reminded me that I have a friend, a very special friend who also stands by me, who accepts me as I am. She is also by my side through thick and thin, giving me the support that I need.

And all this reminds me that I cannot go through life thinking that I can do it alone, that I must be strong for others and forget about my pain. There are days that, yes, I can put my pain aside and be there for friends and family and then there are days that the pain is too much, that I try and bury it by keeping myself busy, but it comes through anyway. It feels like a beast with huge teeth gnawing at my nerves and muscles... and that's when I turn to knitting and crochet to keep me sane.

When the doctor told me that I have fibromyalgia, I didn't realise just how much it would hurt as it develops. I do hope it reaches a plateau sooner than later since it is already affecting what I can and cannot do. Between the fibro pain and the neuropathic pain I'd rather go with the neuropathic pain. This fibro pain is something that totally cuts my breath when it hits. I can feel it building and building when I try to keep going despite the fact that I'm hurting and then it just clamps down and I find myself unable to take another step and struggling for breath.

I've been volunteering as a test crocheter for a lovely designer, SmoothFox, and have enjoyed the process quite a bit. I've tested several squares and a beautiful blanket for her and look forward to testing more. I still have to take photos of the most recent test squares but I do have a photo of this lovely square that I completed a couple of weeks ago for her.

Neapolitan Ice Cream Square 12x12

As I keep testing other squares for her I will eventually have enough to assemble a lovely blanket of beautiful original squares.

I decided to participate in a sweater KAL with Spud & Chloe. I had never done a raglan type sweater before and I thought, why not join in, this way I get to learn how to do a raglan sweater and have immediate help and support if I run into a snag. So far it's going fantastically well. I love the top down construction of the sweater and the fact that it is seamless means no bulky side and underarm seams like other sweaters constructed separately.

Raglan sweater so far

This one I am knitting for my 11 year old nephew. I decided to go with nice chunky stripes in navy blue and white. It's a great pattern and to have online support for questions and help is fantastic. You can see everyone's progress on Ravelry.

I have other projects that are almost done that I will post photos of in my next post.

And the vote was yes!

2010-08-07T01:25:00.000-04:00

Here he is snuggling up to my new yarn cakes! The one I'm using is on the other side of the pile but the yarn runs over his back which he seems to enjoy. Go figure LOL

Friday night

2010-08-06T21:57:00.004-04:00

Anyone who says cats can't smile.... I offer the following proof!

Serious Smiling
Click image for a larger version

Now isn't that a face you could just kiss?!

He always loves to lay in whatever yarn I'm working with or at the least when he's been denied the yarn bed, alongside of my leg so he can feel my elbow on his back while I'm knitting or crocheting. He's also a camera hog when I want to take photos of my work. But who could say no to that face?!!

This afternoon, I decided to put my new ball winder to the test. I've used it a few times before and wasn't happy about the fact that it has issues handling a 50 gram ball of worsted weight. I had been puzzling on how to resolve that issue and I figured it out! What I needed was to extend the bole of the piece where the yarn winds onto. I found a cardboard toilet paper tube fits over the original bole but it had to fit snuggly. 5 of those veggy elastics (the ones wrapped around the cauliflower) carefully applied on top of each other around the plastic bole and the toilet paper tube fit snuggly with no wiggle. I notched the tube just like the plastic one, attached my yarn and started winding. It works!!! It can now handle a 50 gram ball of ww yarn with no issues. I keep an eye on the winding yarn to make sure it's going where it should and let the yarn run through the fingers of my right hand from the ball to make sure it doesn't snag or have knots. Here is the fruit of my work! Gorgeous balls of fire engine red yarn all made up into pretty cakes.

Now I have yarn to start testing a 12x12 crochet square for SmoothFox!... and no Gambit in sight! Uh oh, spoke too soon, here he is looking up at me begging to be allowed on the desk so he can snuggle the yarn. Should I?

A very retro bag

2010-08-05T17:01:00.002-04:00

I recently crochet tested a square for SmoothFox called the Lemony lime citrus square. I really liked the way it came out and proceeded to make another using the same colors. Inspiration struck and here is what came of it.

I used various crochet techniques throughout. The side panels and bottom are made of smaller versions of the first 4 rounds of the Lemony lime square and the shoulder strap is made from tunisian crochet (my adaptation using a regular crochet hook) which gave me a super solid strap that naturally curled inwards on itself and gave the effect of a covered bamboo handle. I hand sewed the interior lining and voila! My very own retro flower child bag. I've had many compliments since I started using it this week.

The side panels made up of smaller versions of the main motif.

I did a staggered top stitch to assemble the bag.

I love how the stitches make it look like covered bamboo.

Love those buttons! How retro!!

I needed a way to close this bag that could be used in different ways. I crocheted a separate piece for the closure and found 2 cloth covered buttons that are very retro. i sewed the buttons on each side of the opening and then added the button on closure. This way the bag can be opened from either side and the closure can actually be removed when more space is required.

The next one I make, I will add a cell phone pocket and key fob to make it easier to find the 2 most used items from a bag. And I will also make a pattern for the lining before I sew up the bag. The cloth I used to make the lining had to be french-seamed throughout which made it rather tedious when you're doing it all by hand. At least I know it will be sturdy.

Caribbean top done!!!

2010-08-05T16:42:00.000-04:00

I finished it! And I really like how it came out.

This is not a pattern for a beginning crocheter mind you. The instructions are somewhat confusing at times and I also changed the trim around the arm holes. The pattern called for a round of double crochet but when I completed it, the whole look of the vest changed. Not even remotely feminine with that round of chain fencing. So I ripped back and did a round of picots, the same used to trim the rest of the vest.

I'm quite happy with the finished look. I have it on a hanger to see how it will stretch. Being a light worsted cotton, trying to block this beast is not something I want to try any time soon.

I do hope my daughter likes it :)

These are from Doris Chan's book Everyday Crochet. They are basically like cuff links, but for closing any crocheted garment, especially if you don't want to have it button always at the same spot which risks of stretching that area. These can be moved anywhere along the front edge of the vest depending on what look you want.

Here is a close up of the button/cuff links I made using beads, buttons and elastic jewelry thread for the vest.

Feeling blue?

2010-08-03T10:02:00.000-04:00

I've found the perfect cure for the blues.

Having a bad hair day?

Got pulled over for a spot check and discover your driver's license expired?

The kids who were playing quietly in the next room are now covered with indelible marker?

The dog ate your homework?

The hamster shredded your favorite book?

Your gold fish is swimming upside down?
The car that worked perfectly yesterday is sitting on the side of the highway with you in it?

And when you think the day that couldn't get worse is almost over, your computer dies.

Just follow this link.

I guarantee that you will laugh your a$$ off!

PS. I'll be posting later. I have a few things to show off that I finished this weekend.

Update on the Caribbean Topper

2010-07-29T04:51:00.000-04:00

It's almost done!!! Wild whooping sounds and dancing going on....

This has been an interesting pattern so far. I had some major brain farts along the way that took me a few days to finally decipher. But overall, once the pattern comes together in your head, it comes together in your hands.

I have 3 repeats to go on the one front and then comes the seaming of the shoulders and the final go rounds of the arm holes and the entire outside of it. I'm not going to attach buttons to the top since I want my daughter to have options as to where the buttons go and how many buttons she wants to use. So... in order to give her that option, I'm using a pattern found in one of Doris Chan's books on how to make joined buttons that can be used anywhere along the front.

I'll add photos of the buttons when I finish them. Right now I'm concentrating on finishing the vest first.

Other stuff in the works but I can't post about those until later :)

Where did July go?

2010-07-28T04:34:00.002-04:00

Wow, just a few days left to July. Where did it go!!??

I've been busy with crochet and other things. The weather has been keeping me pretty quiet with the insane humidity and heat. My lungs hurt with every breath so I've been spending a lot of time thinking crochet, making crochet items and more recently I've taken up testing patterns for a crochet designer.

I've always enjoyed her patterns and I finally took the plunge earlier this month and volunteered to test crochet one of her newest motifs. It was a pleasure to do up this motif and with the colors I used, made it very retro. The pattern is available at SmoothFox's site and is called Lemony Lime Citrus Square.

This is my square, which inspired me to make a second one which will become a bag. The bag is almost done, need a few more rows for the over the shoulder strap and then the lining.

The second test was for a lovely blanket. I'll post mine as soon as SmoothFox has the pattern up on her site. So until then, the blanket remains a mystery!

You know knitting is cool when....

2010-07-18T03:12:00.003-04:00

Your husband is a follower of an online comic strip and he calls you over to take a look at the new strips. The strips are all about knitting! and funny too!

I've posted the first one here.
For the rest, simply click on the links and enjoy!

Day 1: link to the online strip

Click on the above strip for a larger version that can be read.
I especially love the last frame of this one LOL

Day 2: link to the strip

Day 3: link to the strip

Day 4: link to the strip This one is my favorite. I love the slogan!

Day 5: link to the strip

Day 6: link to the strip

Hope you enjoy these as much as I have.

Nice to see that fibre arts are alive and well even in the comic strip world!

What have I been up to this week

2010-07-11T13:26:00.001-04:00

Let's see...

I worked for 2 days temping for the agency I'm registered with for some much needed cash to pay the bills.

I won a full set of Boye Crochet hooks participating in a CAL with Crochet Soirée See this post for more details.

I started and finished a doily for the Crochet Soirée July CAL. The original pattern gives a finished size of 15 1/2 inches. My doily came out to 31". I'm not sure if this still qualifies as a doily, but I don't care. It's a nice size to be a nice tabletop cover for in between meals.

Here it is all pinned out. I love love love the pattern. The Starlight Doily was originally published in the October 1999 issue of Crochet With Heart magazine but can be downloaded at Crochet Soirée's site. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't done doilies yet. I'm considering doing it again using ww yarn and turning it into a round blanket? shawl?.

I'm sure my Mom will appreciate it!

I have 2 shawls on the go. One for my darling daughter and one for my wee sil. Both are from the pattern by Doris Chan called the All Shawl. It's a free pattern that can be downloaded on Ravelry. If you're not a member of Ravelry yet, it's high time you come on in and join us in all the fun.

I also have a vest in the works for my darling daughter. I've been working on it off and on and really need to just sit and get it done. The pattern is from the May 2010 Crochet magazine and is called Caribbean Topper.

The yarn is from Rowan, handknit cotton in navy blue. It's a very nice yarn to work with.

I know I have a lot other things in the works, just can't quite list them all at the moment. With Christmas and stuff ... Definitely will update as I figure them out :)

Come on a tour of Bag End

2010-07-10T20:03:00.001-04:00

Maddie Chambers is amazing!

At the time she made this replica of Bag End, she was caring for her twin 1 year old boys and taking a class in college. Part of the class was a module called ‘the importance of play’ and she had to make a toy to hand in at the end of the term. Now you would think that Maddie would have gone for something simple considering how busy her life already was, but no. She took the high road and recreated Bag End from the tiny flowers to the pantry filled with food that every hobbit loves.

In Maddie's own words "Lots of people have asked me how long it took to create – I have little twin boys who I look after full time during the day (and sometimes throughout the night!!) so I worked on it a couple of hours a night or during nap times in the day. I did work out once that if I had worked on it 9-5 with an hour for lunch it would have taken me 2-3 months!"

Following are photos of her work in progress as she calls it. To me it looks absolutely perfect as is!

The details she has included in the front yard, the flagstones were picked from her own backyard garden. The flowers were painstakingly cut and glued as were the leaves. The grass is added in varying shades and textures to emulate sun burnt grass next to the stones.

Here is Maddie sitting next to Bag End (top removed).

Seeing the sign Bilbo had put up on his front gate in the hopes that the Tooks wouldn't come and bother him made me laugh.

And here we are in the front entrance, looking at the chandelier that Gandalf hit as well as the rafter he ran into trying to avoid the chandelier. The detailing on the furnishings, lighting and clothing is amazing. Look at the set of keys hanging on the wall, the tiny candles, the wrought iron detailing of the door.

Opposite the entrance, a small shelf holds books, flowers and a statue of Gandalf riding Shawdowfax. See the wee jar of flowers below? I want to reach in and pick up one of the books to read it, they are amazingly realistic.

Through the entrance archway, you can see the fireplace in the living room complete with paintings of Bilbo's parents and a statue of Frodo & Sam to the left.

And here we are in the living room where Bilbo wrote his book "There And Back Again". The maps and scrolls are all actual maps of Middle Earth printed on old parchment paper.
The table strewn with remnants of a hasty meal as if someone had just walked away for a moment really makes you forget that this is a miniature reproduction.

Here is a comparison between the movie and the miniature. Simply put, Wow!

A closeup view of the statue of Sam & Frodo. Notice the parchments, the small trinket box. So much attention paid to details. Absolutely amazing!

No tour of Bag End would be complete without a peek in the kitchen and pantry. Maddie created every single food item from fimmo clay. I love the fireplace. I just want to sit at the table and enjoy an elevensies with Bilbo.

And here we get a rare treat, a peek into the Bag End pantry. Those apples, the cheese, the loaves of crusty bread and the pies! MmmMmmMmm...

I have to keep reminding myself that this is all fimmo. She made so much food that she had to put some in cupboards and drawers. Exactly what I would picture a hobbit pantry to look like.

Notice the leaded stained glass window? Handmade! You need a steady hand to accomplish this kind of detailing on a window. Actually this kind of detailing on anything of that size. Those wee bottles on the top shelf are made from beads.

And what every good hobbit pantry holds; a nice barrel of longbottom leaf pipeweed!
Only the best of course.

Even the bathroom looks amazing. From the tiny oil lamp to the tiny towels made from terrycloth. Bottles made from beads and soap from Fimmo. I love the texture of the walls. They are exactly as I imagined.

The bathroom fireplace is made of stones collected from Maddie's backyard. I just love all the tiny jars, mortar and pestle, the beautiful details of the bathtub right down to the small metal soap holder hanging over the lip of the tub.

If you ever wondered what Bilbo's bedroom looked like, you can stop now. Simple, charming and filled with small trinkets and books. I especially love the small bed warmer standing next to the fireplace.

A perfect souvenir that I would have expected Bilbo to bring home from his adventures. A pair of dwarven axes. The carpet is so pretty. Amazingly detailed for something so small.

This concludes our tour of Bag End. If you want to see more photos and how Maddie built this beautifully accented version of Bag End, you can go to her blog.

www.madshobbithole.wordpress.com/

If you reside in the UK or plan to travel there this fall, don't miss this!
Bag End will be on display at the Dolls House Emporium, Ripley, UK, from September-December 2010.

Maddie is currently working on a miniature of The Prancing Pony. You can follow her progress here.

"Surprise surprise surprise" a la Gomer Pyle

2010-07-07T04:30:00.000-04:00

Wow, talk about a surprise!

I open my email to see what's new and there's an email from Crochet Soirée.... and this is what I read...

Hi MariAngel,

I drew your name for the prize of a Boye CrochetMaster hook set!
Congratulations!

Please send me your full mailing address and I'll get your prize out to you
ASAP.

Thanks,
Doug

My jaw hit the desk and I scared the cat and my husband with my whoop of joy LOL

I have been participating in Crochet Soirée's CALs. The May CAL was the Red White & Blue challenge. I chose to make the hot pads, 1) because I needed one and 2) my daughter needed one as well.I had some beige cotton with flecks of red and blue in it and that's what I used to make the hotpads. They came out quite nice.

I have been wanting a set of these Boye hooks for quite a while now. I had a Boye hook that I absolutely loved but lost earlier this year and hadn't found a replacement for. Now it's on its way along with a lot of other gorgeously colored hooks in a range of sizes!

Every crocheters dream come true!

I see You

2010-07-04T16:06:00.000-04:00

I know husband darling is going to roll his eyes, but I want my Avatar movie!

So in the meantime, I watch and listen to the title track. So there!

I know it's a mix between Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas and Titanic but I still love the movie and the music.

And the way this movie was put together is amazing. See below...

I'm so glad he waited 10 years for the technology to catch up with his dream. Blue-painted humans in undies running through the rain forest definitely would not have done it for me.

My journey into miniatures

2010-06-29T00:33:00.002-04:00

I've always loved miniatures done in crochet and knitting. The movie Coraline really brought the making of miniatures to the foreground with the gorgeous sweaters hand made with tiny needles.

Since I do not have tiny needles like the ones seen in the video, I opted to do my first miniature using a 00 crochet hook. For "yarn" I used embroidery thread and depending what I was working on, I would use anywhere from 2 strands at a time to 8 strands. And since I couldn't even see the tip of the crochet hook I was using, I borrowed my husbands magnification lamp. Following are photos of my very first miniature I made of my own design.

OoOOoo look at the pretty little pannier with a tiny red heart top!

And such a tiny one too!

I wonder what is in there!

Now who is this peeking out?

Well well well, look who came to play!

Just look at that tail!

Don't you just love his pretty blue vest?
If little monkey is too warm, he can take his vest off.
Don't forget to tickle his wee belly button!

And he's no bigger than a thumb!

My little monkey in his pannier fits on a toonie!

I hope you enjoyed the photos of little monkey as much as I had making him. It took me 2 days from the construction of his pannier to adding the ball (button) to help stabilize him since I did not want to glue him to any kind of base.

And now little monkey has gone to live with mousie. I know he will be very happy there with all his new friends. Happy Birthday to my soulsister Samm!

A rare sight

2010-06-28T00:14:00.000-04:00

We've lived here for 6 years now and this is the first time ever I've seen a chipmunk in Hamilton!

He was such a cute trusting little fellow. I spotted him shuffling through the gravel at a nearby house and just stood, watching him busily looking for food. He was quite inquisitive and came all the way to the edge of the sidewalk, sat back on his haunches and looked up at me expectantly. That tells me this little fellow's been hand fed.

Considering we are surrounded by squirrels with the park nearby, I hope this little fellow survives since squirrels normally do not like chipmunks and will kill them.

I'll try to see if he's there again tomorrow and try to snap a few photos of him. He is quite the cutie.

Changed perceptions, or how my safe world is no more.

2010-06-27T22:40:00.033-04:00

Late this afternoon my husband and I headed out to go have a meal somewhere, just so we could escape the heat in our apartment. The joys of not having air conditioning...

We had just made it to the bus stop when my husband realised he'd forgotten to take his medication, so back home we hoofed to get it. Stupid fibro pain slowed me down so he went ahead of me. As I was making my way back, I started hearing loud popping sounds that reminded me of the gunshot sounds you hear when you watch war reports. I kept thinking to myself, can't be, must be fireworks, but it was only 6 pm!! Who would have fireworks in daylight?! The popping sounds varied in speed and loudness and I started worrying that it might be something bad since the sounds were coming from the downtown area. I could also see a blue haze rising from the downtown area which really frightened me.

I got back to the apartment as my husband was coming out and I asked him if he'd heard the popping sounds to which he said yes. But he couldn't tell what they were caused by and my mention of gunshot sounds didn't inspire us to go anywhere near the downtown area. So we opted for a cab ride to Mandarin which is a good distance away from that area.

On the cab ride there, I asked the cabbie (who else would know better) if he knew of anything going on downtown and he said there was a Portuguese festival just ending. I mentioned hearing fairly loud popping sounds and he said something about firecrackers. That was the best thing I'd heard since hearing those sounds.

Amazing how your perspective changes once you've seen how horribly things can go wrong even here in Canada! in what we think of as a safe place to live. It also saddens me that the first thing that comes to mind when hearing the above sounds as that of guns being fired. If the anarchists wanted to instill a sense of fear into us, I think that part got across really well, sadly enough.

A day in the life of a police officer during this weekend past.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/06/27/g20-toronto-protest.html#

They may be trained to do this, but they are not trained to not feel fear and apprehension as this video shows.

As my daughter put it so simply. "This is why we spent $1 billion on protection!"

Shame on you!

2010-06-27T01:29:00.002-04:00

Shame on those who wilfully destroy public & private property.

Shame on those who disregard our country, Canada.

Shame on those who think they will be heard by these acts.

Shame on those who turned Toronto into a war zone.

Shame on you, shame on us.

Until today, I was proud to call myself a Canadian.
Today, I hang my head and cry.

My sincerest apologies to all who see these horrible demonstrations of violence and to what end....

My birthday present

2010-06-20T22:11:00.001-04:00

What is to follow is my darling daughter's birthday present to me this year. Through circumstances out of everyone's control, her husband was laid off so the only income was coming from her work. Knowing how expensive living in Mississauga can be, there was no extra money to buy presents. But honestly, I love this more than anything else she could have bought for me since this is from her heart through her eyes and was done with much love. So here is it, in all it's beauty; my daughter's birthday present to me.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday, Happy Birthdaaayyyy.... Happy Birthday to Yoouuuuu!!! :D

I love you so very very very much mom....

I wanted to send you flowers... however, this is the best I can do right now :( I' m sorry :(

I took all these pictures myself, thinking about you.

She knows just how much I love lilacs and what they mean to me. Just look how beautiful these are!

I can almost smell them!

And then, she wrote a poem just for me!

Through the day,
Morning till night
these guys will play
with all their might

So, on this day in May
the little ones with the light
will sing aloud for your day
for your long life hike

I love you

Yours forever, I am

I love how she captured these lovely songbirds in full throated voice. I can almost hear them singing. Can you?

This one made me laugh. What a silly goose sitting up on a roof!

I love this photo of the mallard swimming along and the ripples on the river.

Oh for a piece of bread! Doesn't he look like he's having a fabulous time of it?

More beautiful flowers for me to enjoy!

And last but not least, another of my favorites! I've always known these as bleeding hearts. They used to grow on the farm where I was born and raised. Every May, they would come up, have these beautiful pink and with flowers until the end of June and go again, getting ready for next year.

I hope you've enjoyed these beautiful photos as much as I do.

And just to remind my daughter just how much I appreciate and love her...

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.

(excerpt from Love you Forever by Robert Munsch)

And what have I been up to?

2010-06-19T23:23:00.005-04:00

The temp placement is coming to an end this Tuesday. I wish it were longer, maybe good things will come of it since my supervisor is thrilled beyond words with my work. Time will tell.

I'm still making motifs for the footstool, also started something else using an adapted version of the motif as a 5-sided and 6-sided piece to make a toy. Not saying more since I plan on publishing this pattern.

So in between making several different sized motifs, I decided I needed something else to do that didn't involve motifs. Today, I was at the local Hart store in the downtown mall to check for some bright colored yarns, no luck for those but I did come across a real find. They added a whole "new" line of Bernat yarns to their display. I know once I say what it is, you'll likely go "so?" For me it's a big deal since I have to watch my pennies with the temp placement coming to an end. I had the 20$ I made staying late last week at work squirrelled away and spent part of it today. The "new" yarn is acrylic and the balls are larger than Bernat's Super Value balls. They weigh in at 225 grams (8 ozs) compared to 195 grams for the Super Value. They are packaged under the name Bernat Big Deal and cost less than the Super Value which for me is a very good thing. Means for the same money I'd spend buying a ball of the Super Value, I can buy 2 of the Big Deal. The colors are lovely, rich purple, cerise/pink and more. I couldn't resist getting a ball of the cerise/pink since I knew who would love it and what I would make with it. As I was bending down to get the cerise/pink I spied a gorgeous ball of deep teal colored yarn shoved all the way back in the display. I pulled it out and it ended up being a 1 lb ball and it was priced at 4.95! That definitely had to come home with me! I spotted more 1lb factory ends bags but they were priced at 15$. A bit too much for my wallet considering most of it was acrylic. And I doubt they'll get anyone to buy the 1 lb bags of eyelash yarn for 15$ a bag. What's really nice is I still have some of my 20$ left!

I said I knew what I wanted to make with the cerise/pink ball (means I'll have to get 1 more to finish it though). My BFF showed me a gorgeous wrap she was working on earlier this year. Worsted weight yarn on US17 needles means fast work. The pattern is ridiculously simple but the end result is quite pleasing and makes it look a lot harder than it really is. She directed me to her Blog Confessions of a Craftaholic for the pattern and thank goodness I kept it bookmarked! Her blog is very pretty, she does a variety of paper crafts and her designs are quite lovely.

I had never knit on size US17 (12mm) needles before and wow, what a shocker! I thought to myself it would be pretty easy, but holding the needles feels like I'm trying to knit with 2 fence posts LOL The first few repeats were pretty frustrating for me, but I soon developed a way to manhandle those big boys. I knit left handed and needles this size (short too) do not tuck well under one's armpit. So I stand one needle up on my thigh, knit or purl or knit together each stitch with a lot less grief. I love how the yarn color I chose looks in this pattern. The big stitches actually look very nice.

And this is a photo of the Peonies just outside our apartment window. I love these flowers so much. They remind me of my grandmother as do Lilies of the Valley and Lilacs. Speaking of which, I must do a post about my daughter's birthday present to me! She is such a sweet girl and I'm very proud of her. Not today though, must go to bed.

Enjoy the lovely flower for now and there will be more to come :)

TTFN, Angel

100 years old and still crocheting!

2010-06-17T08:34:00.001-04:00

This lady is amazing. She turned 100 in March of this year and she is still crocheting. What's even more incredible, she's blind and has been for the past 15 years.

In the photo, she is working on a baby blanket for the next great great grand child. She doesn't know if it will be a boy or a girl so she plans on making a blue one as well, just in case.

I sure hope I can still crochet and knit if I make it to 100 or my eyes fail me before then. All I know is kudos to this amazing lady for not giving up on herself!

You can read the full article here.

Unforgetable memories

2010-06-16T20:22:00.001-04:00

I found this first video a while back and had it saved so I could watch it again. It is such a happy from the heart way of getting married. Certainly makes their wedding day unforgettable with friends and family participating in the walk down the aisle.

The second video which I came across today is supposedly 6 months later. Do not despair though, just enjoy and laugh along with the audience.

The week flew by!

2010-05-23T14:59:00.000-04:00

Last week I spent temping for the local newspaper's real estate publishing division doing data entry. It's actually a glorified copy n paste and confirming/deleting information from a database through searched on the internet. A bit tedious, but it's work and more importantly it brings money in! So yes, I'm happy.

Initially my placement agent quoted the job at 1 to 3 weeks in length. The next morning, I walk in at the new placement and within a few minutes am informed that the placement will be 4 to 6 weeks... Bonus!

So on my 25 minute commute I crochet more of the Africaan flower motifs, this time to make a carpet for the bathroom floor for when we get out of the shower. I'll have to back it with a couple of those non skid mesh rectangles that are used for lining cupboards, and stopping carpets from flipping over. I love that rubberized mesh that comes in all sorts of colors and takes abuse quite well. A few weeks ago, I made a cover for the toilet in the same colors (navy blue & aqua) I'm using for the carpet. Now that the landlord has covered up the glaringly loud royal blue paint, the seat cover and carpet will look very nice. I won't be making the carpet that usually goes in front of the toilet. The bathroom is tiny and the carpet would overwhelm an already tiny space.

I'm also looking at our large footstool that Gambit has been using as a scratching post and bed ever since we got it. He's managed to destroy one side of it with claw sharpening. We tried everything, duct tape, foil paper, shooing him away, but all in vain. He will defiantly walk up to it, flop over and attack it with claws, dragging himself on the floor along the full length of the stool. He looks like a horizontal mountain climber. He'll also wait to do his nefarious deeds when we're not in the same room.

I'm likely going to make a cover with the same motifs but in different accent colors with a dark background. At least it will hide the damage his majesty made to the footstool. I'm not posting a photo of what it looks like now, it's embarrassing. Let's just say that in the 2 years we've owned this poof, it looks like it's gone through a rather nasty war involving sharp objects.

For those who have not been following my blog, introducing..... the Master of all Evil Kitties, Heeeere's Gambit! Yes, yes, I know... he's so cute! but he's also soooo evil!

Sand Painting

2010-05-23T14:12:00.000-04:00

This talented young lady won the Ukraine's version of America's Got Talent. She used the art of sand painting to recount the story of Germany’s invasion of Ukraine in 1941. Life was somewhat ordinary, then it all fell apart. And, by the war’s end, approximately 10 million Ukrainians were left dead. It’s a difficult story to tell but Kseniya Simonova did a beautiful rendition of it in something I had never truly appreciated before, sand painting. Take a look at the video of her winning entry. It's breathtaking.

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Zip-A-Dee-Yay!

2010-05-03T06:03:00.002-04:00

Monday! What a grand day! For my sistersoul and I that is :)

Time to get caught up on the past weeks projects, show 'n tell and discuss upcoming projects, all over a Timmy's coffee, orange juice, chicken salad and bagel with cream cheese. No, that's not just for me! That's for both of us :)

I doubt if there is any other gentleman who can sing this song any better.

Along the way: my daughter's walk to work

2010-05-02T19:36:00.000-04:00

My darling daughter wanted to share photos that she has taken on her way to and from work over the past few months. She lives in the midst of Mississauga and these are the views she gets to enjoy every day. Since we don't live nearby, this was her way of taking a walk with me along.

This was taken late fall / early winter when the leaves have finally fallen or been swept away by the winds and with small patches of snow here and there. Compare it with the same picture taken in spring. It's fascinating to see how spring is changing the view and the colors forming pools as the ground warms up in patches gradually joining as the days grow warmer.

This is one of many rainbows Karen sees on her way to work. It was taken last summer 2009.

She also wanted to share with me the vividness of the sky pre storm and after a storm came through. The photos are breathtaking and really embody the essence of the storm.
All these were taken during the summer of 2009.

She lives in a highrise and her next door neighbor was also out on the balcony and couldn't figure out what she was taking photos of. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I always say and these really prove my point. Check those colors and shapes!

Now in the following 2 photos, can you spot the rainbow?

It took me a bit to find it, but when I did, Wow!

And now we move on to spring 2010! And what a lovely walk spring brings!

For such a rugged trunk, what lovely delicate flowers it produces.

I love the contrast in the colors the white against the spring green. And to think, this is along her walk to work in Mississauga. It's amazing what you can find when you slow down and take the time to smell the roses.

I found the above photo amazing. I thought the flowers hiding in the branches were part of the tree, but they are actually a vine that runs along and around the branches. How beautiful and what a lovely way to capture it.

She also spotted some of our favorite birds along the way. This red wing blackbird is definitely looking for a lady friend to spend the summer with. Look at that full throated song. You can almost hear it.

And this wee fellow is saying "Go away! This is my pad!" You have to love the drama that killdeers put on whenever someone approaches their nesting area. And this little fellow did a remarkable show for us.

I was really amazed to see this little guy by the street. For such skittish birds, having known them all my life in a country setting where they erupt into a cacophony of sounds and dance at the drop of a hat, to be sitting quietly by a busy street is quite amazing.

Hmm... wonder what new building materials can be found to woe the right lady to his nest.

And always make sure there's a ready source of water!

Thank you Karen for such a lovely walk to work. It makes me wish we lived nearby so I could take this walk to work with you. I'm sure this is a side of Mississauga that few residents take the time to see and I'm glad you do.

PS. I asked for her permission to post these lovely photos. She felt they were not good enough to be posted. I told her that photos always show the viewers take and will appeal to the like-minded. Any feedback I know she would love to receive, so enjoy! :)

Crochet Soirée CAL

2010-04-30T20:04:00.002-04:00

I finally got decent photos of the scarf in daylight. Here are pictures of the finished scarf. Really love the pooling and stripping the Bernat wool blends made throughout the scarf.

The flowers especially turned out quite lovely. I plan on crocheting a hat to match before I wrap it up and send it to my niece. I know she'll love this, her favorite color being blue.

I had previously posted about this scarf CAL here.

The CAL at Crochet Soirée ends today, and the prizes are really yummy. One prize in particular would thrill me to no ends: a full set of crochet hooks by Boye. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed.

For your viewing pleasure, the Frog Pond blanket!

2010-04-30T18:47:00.003-04:00

finally got a nice day to take pictures of the finished Frog Pond blanket made using the African flower motifs that I found while cruising Flckr. The blankets look gorgeous and I'm quite proud of how well they've turned out. I blame the motif for most of that LOL They are quite addictive to make and I already have several other projects in mind using this motif.

I couldn't find a pattern for making up the half hexes using the african flower motif so I designed my own. I wanted a nice straight edge at each end and the half hex filled the gap and finished off the edges very nicely. I love the scalloped edge the hexes give along the sides of the blankets. Now to ship them off to my twin nephews!

Internet DTs!

2010-04-28T20:35:00.000-04:00

Wow, amazing how much we depend on the internet for so many things in our lives.

News - both local and global

Email - keeps us connected to friends and family from everywhere

My knitting and crochet groups - they are my inspiration

So what do you do when your modem decides to crap out on you at 2 am this past Monday? Well, crochet your heart out, review paper editions of knit & crochet magazines and books you've been putting off looking at because you're usually on the internet checking email, and updates from your knit & crochet groups.

Then you call your internet provider and go through all the different hoops they insist you perform to make sure that it is truly the modem that's crapped out. That took over an hour of various reboots of both the computer and the dying modem as well as deleting internet connections and reinstalling said connections. Switching cables around to ensure that it wasn't the problem. Until finally, they decided that the modem (which was 12 years old) was indeed on it's last leg. It was sending packets but not receiving them. Go figure since I told them right at the beginning of the tech support convo that it wasn't receiving and that indeed it was sending.

It finally came today!!! oh joy!!! After pulling out the old modem, cables, wiring, I plugged in the new one and waited the prescribed time, then started up the computer and waited. Opened the web browser to find that it wasn't connecting, check the little computers at the bottom of my screen to see the same message as Monday's. Little or no connectivity... Ahhh!!!! Again, I go through the wire jungle, switch them for new ones we always keep on hand .... just in case... switch the telephone cord.... just in case, reboot the computer, reboot the modem... still no connectivity. While doing all these various calisthenics..believe me, to get to our computer wire disaster in the making, you require calisthenics LOL since everything is behind the desk which is against the wall. You may think, what's the big deal... right... try having 2 giant 24 inch crt's on your desk which alone weigh 75 lbs each! the desk itself is made with 1 inch plywood doubled up in a lot of places. (anything less sturdy and the crt's would have been on the floor long ago) This desk is so solid, you can get up on it, jump up and down and dance on it and it doesn't even make a sound...so yes, it's solid! and yes, we know from experience! LOL

Anyway... while doing all this, I unwittingly unplugged the router! Ack! Noooo!!! I quickly plug it back in and all I'm seeing is the single wee green power light. Nothing else is lighting up! Oh geez.. now what?! After waiting a few minutes, the router still hasn't lit up so back to the wire jungle to figure out if something is bent or crimped. Go back to the router, unplug it again and plug it back in, reboot the modem, reboot the computer and wait (patiently? Hah!) to see if all these various bits and pieces of technology will cooperate and give me back access to my virtual world. And while praying to whichever gods of the internet there may be, I watch the little computer icon on the desktop go green! We have connectivity folks, no clue what happened, guess the stars and planets were all aligned properly, but I'm back!!!

Btw, the one who suffered the worst from this internet breakdown was my darling husband. Poor guy couldn't check any of his groups, blogs, updates, etc... and usually, while he's going through a kidney stone crisis, he'll spend most of his time concentrating on the virtual world instead of the reality pain brings, these past couple of days have been pure hell for him. He will be one very happy guy when he will finally be able to surf again.

As for baby blanket #2, it's halfway done insofar as the top stitching or tambour crochet is concerned. I'll likely finish it today or tomorrow at the latest, then it's photo time! I will be adding this pattern to my Ravelry designs page for a free download soon.

I've also been working on a couple of new crochet designs. One is of a lovely scarf and the other is of a matching hat.

With my Mom's 71st birthday coming in June, I want to make something special for her. So I've also been working on a design for a sleeveless zip/button vest-style for her. I've already decided that she will also get the scarf and hat once I'm done working out the design.

For a lady who is turning 71, she is in amazing form. She and her boyfriend go out dancing every weekend. They are part of a Senior Sandbag League (baseball pôches (fr)) and their team is leading by over 1000 points over the rest of the league's teams which means they will be travelling to Quebec City again this year for the league finals. She has her own market garden that she tends to and a market stall from which she sells fresh picked vegetables, eggs and local in-season fruits. So my vest design will have to be utilitarian as I can see her wearing it in early spring and fall while working in the garden. She also does supervision duty at the local elementary school during lunch times throughout the school year. I just hope I'm as able as she is when I reach 71.

Mousie's first day

2010-04-21T03:31:00.000-04:00

After tying a pretty piece of red yarn, she had found, into a bow at the tip of her tail Mousie felt she was ready to go exploring. She jumped down from the arm of the sofa where she'd been left and landed on a lily pad. It was so soft and cushie and she scurried around for a bit and came up face to face with a strange purple beastie. She, as all good mousies are, said "Good Morning!" but the purple beastie just ignored her. She didn't know that this odd looking purple beastie wasn't finished yet. Like her, only after the last stitch is knotted and the last bit of yarn is snipped, does the magic take hold and they come alive and start exploring.

She sighed and off she went to explore other places, looking for new adventures and hoping to make new friends. The next leap she took landed her into a rather rocky spot but what interesting textures under her paws. She especially loved the smooth shell her paws rested on.

Her next leap took her way up in the air and she landed with a hoomph next to a very strange looking creature who blew smoke and rumbled most menacingly in his throat. She cringed, thinking this was a mistake, but the creature just kept on rumbling. After a few moments, she realised he was singing, or at least what she thought might be singing. So she sat next to him and tried to sing, but only squeaks came out which the rumbling beast noticed. He stopped his rumbly singing and looked down at her "And what are you, pray tell my dear?" he asked in his big rumbly voice. Mousie had never heard such a big rumbly voice before and felt very small and very frightened. The large beast noticed she was quite afraid and attempted to soften his voice. But how much can you soften your voice when you're a big dragon that rumbles all day long. Don't be afraid little one, he said, I'm a dragon. What is your name and what are you? Mousie felt a little less afraid but still kept an eye on the dragon, I'm Mousie, and I got born today! Is that so, said the dragon, and where are you going all by yourself on your first birth day? Mousie thought for a moment, I'm exploring. I want to see the whoooole world so I can make friends and learn new things. Dragon rumbled a laugh which made Mousie's whiskers quiver. He is a big dragon after all and Mousie is so small next to him. Dragon noticed she wasn't feeling too brave, It's alright Mousie, I wish you good luck in your travels, learn and make many friends. Those are the things that are really important for a growing mouse to do. So Mousie with a wave and a squeak left dragon who had already gone back to his rumbling song.

She scurried across the top of the cliff and came up with a start against a rather large statue. It made her feel a bit afraid but she didn't know why. She looked the statue up and down, it had whiskers like her, and ears and a tail, but it didn't move or speak. What a strange world this is, she thought to herself. As she took a jump to get to the next cliff, she thought she saw movement out of the corner of her eye, but when she landed and looked back, nothing had changed.

This next cliff was all bumps and crevices. Long flat slabs all standing on end and in the middle, a very odd looking creature sat with his legs hanging over the edge. He was smiling to himself and singing a song about fish. She didn't know what fish was, but according to the creature, it was good eaten cold, fresh from the river, whatever that was. She slowly made her way to the creature and politely cleared her throat. The creature kept right on singing about fish and slapped his hand on his thigh at certain points in the song. By the time she was noticed, she was sitting next to him and with a start, he stopped singing and let out a small yelp. Ahh! I didn't see you, said the creature. Why were you sneaking?! Mousie didn't know what sneaking meant, but she wasn't hiding from the creature either. I'm Mousie, who are you? she asked the creature. He threw back his head and laughed, I am known by different names, today you may call me Sméagol. Do you want some fish? Mousie's eyes grew big, Nice to meet you Mr. Sméagol. What is fish? Again Sméagol threw back his head and laughed, It is the most delicious meat you would want to eat, especially fresh caught, nice and cold. You sink your teeth into one and it makes you feel all nice inside. Mousie didn't think that it sounded very nice, especially the way he laughed. She thought it would be a good time to move along and see where her next leap brought her. She jumped off Sméagol's lap and with a hasty goodbye, she left while Sméagol scampered off in the other direction yelling back, I'll bring you a fish!

Mousie hoped he wouldn't. It didn't sound very good to her. Although she did wonder what she could eat in this big world filled with all manner of odd creatures and adventures. This time she landed next to the long flat slabs that the Sméagol had been sitting atop of. Running alongside the slabs were all kinds of creatures, all different, all very busily moving along, where to, Mousie did not know. She tried to ask one of them as it raced by, but it was gone before she could finish saying good morning. Then one of the oddest looking things stopped, looked her up and down and said Baahaah! which in her language meant, Hello! Mousie wasn't afraid of these creatures since some were smaller and most were her size. At least she didn't think they would eat her! After some introductions, since more creatures stopped to say hello, Mousie asked what she could eat since she'd noticed her tummy was beginning to rumble like the dragon. Sheepie and Bunny told her about a wonderful food called chocolate and if she was lucky, she would find some. She would know it was chocolate when she saw all the bubbles. She thanked them all and off she went in search of chocolate.

She met many other creatures on her search for chocolate. Some stranger than others. One even had chicken legs but didn't look like a chicken. He called himself a Totoro. What a strange name she thought to herself. At least the Totoro knew where she could find chocolate and find it she did. After one nibble, she knew that this was what she would love to eat all the time! What a strange and wonderful world she thought as she leapt from cliff to cliff.

She met, sheepies, bears, turtles, all sizes and shapes, colors she'd never seen before and all of them spoke of the big bunny. She asked if it was the purple creature she had met first thing after being born that morning. It wasn't him they all told her, Bunny was this beautiful, soft and cuddly bunny who had come from a very special place and he was looking for a very special creature to go visit where he had come from. Mousie wondered what could be more wonderful than this place she was in now.

It had been a long day filled with excitement, new faces, adventures of all kind and she began to look for a place to sleep. She asked all her new friends where she could go to sleep and as they were explaining, a soft voice called her name. She turned and saw the most beautiful bunny ever. He had long soft luminous fur that looked so soft and cuddly, she could just imagine curling up in that fur and going to sleep with a song in her heart. She was so in awe of the bunny that she uttered a squeak instead of a proper answer. Come and sit with me Mousie, said bunny, I have a very special job for you. And Mousie slowly made her way over to where bunny was sitting. She saw that he had the prettiest eyes, and as she knew it would be, the softest fur. She crawled into his arms and Bunny began to tell her of a special place he had come from and he wanted her to go there. He told her of the wonderful human called Samm who lives there and of all the new adventures she would have and things she would learn. Mousie felt her heart fill with joy and she slowly drifted off to sleep listening to Bunny's voice telling her of her new home and of Samm.

This story is dedicated to my bestest friends in the world; my Andy, my Karen and my sistersoul Samm.

Froggies and Lilypads and Babies Oh My!

2010-04-21T01:11:00.000-04:00

I had previously spoken about this blanket in this post and this post. It's been a few weeks and for anyone wondering where I'm at with these blankets, here's an update.

I'm looking at the end run for the first blanket. I have 6 small sections left to top stitch. Glad that is all that's left since I'm quickly running out of the blue I used for the top stitching. I was hoping to have enough left over to crab stitch around the edge once but nope, no such luck. So I will be looking for another complementary color to do that with since I feel the crab stitch will give the blanket's edge the firmness it requires to lay flat.

I originally joined all the hexagons at only 3 spots, knowing that I would be doing some type of joining to reinforce once the blanket was completed. I'm not fond of blankets with ridges on top or underneath so I went with the top stitching. When I work on blanket #2, I will be doing the topstitching when I have a row of hexagons done. It will be easier that way and I won't end up manhandling a blanket with one hand while pulling up the loops from the underside. Interestingly enough, the style I chose looks a lot like the faggot stitch used in embroidery since I'm pulling loops up through alternating chains or each hexagon.

I love how the motifs remind me of lily pads surrounded by water. All that's missing is a few froggies scattered amongst the flowers and that may just happen :)

None of the hexagons have been blocked since I feel that blocking on a blanket makes it appear stiff and that's the last impression I want this blanket to cast. I want Mom to take the blankets and use them instead of squirreling them away in a closet to be forgotten and never used. I didn't do all this work for the twins only to find out 20 years from now that they sat in a closet being saved because they were 'too' special.

Reading and a story

2010-04-20T18:23:00.006-04:00

When my two were little, I read to them every night. My daughter's favorite childhood memory is of the family on a camping trip, roughing it with tent and campfire and of me reading by the light of the campfire from the Redwall series by Brian Jacques I'd purchased at a yard sale. My darling daughter never lost her love of books and reads voraciously. With my son, being disabled, his reading level is of a first grader although he still loves looking at books especially National Geographic.

As my daughter got older, she took over the responsibility of reading to her baby brother. Many an evening I sat on the edge of the bed listening to her reading to her brother. What made it that much more special is that she was reading from a book I owned since I was 5, the book given to me by my grandmother to read through the summer as she had already noticed my love of books. I still have this book and cherish it.

I happened upon this article published in the NY Times about a father reading to his daughters and the impact it had on his youngest daughter. It reminded me of how reading to my children left it's mark on them. They are both free thinkers, and extremely imaginative and I attribute that to developing an early love of books and reading.

And as my daughter pointed out in the comments... I used the wrong cover picture! See! she remembers! LOL The cover to the right is the correct one.

Oh The Memories Slipping Through My Fingers

2010-04-17T07:09:00.001-04:00

The first time I watched the movie Mama Mia, I heard this song sung by Merryl Streep. I remembered hearing it when I was a teenager and it didn't really mean much to me then. Now though, the song brings back a lot of memories and buried emotions. It plays through my tears and my regrets.

13.mamma mia! - slipping through my fingers [www.djoles.pl]

Found at abmp3 search engine

Today is the one year anniversary of my sister's passing. I still can't believe a year has gone by already. It feels like yesterday that I was talking to her on the phone, hearing her ragged breathing, the tears that threatened to flood our words of encouragement to each other over the wires that carried our voices. That was our last conversation before things started going downhill fast for her. I have regrets, I know I always will. But I also know she forgives me those regrets because she sent me a wonderful soul sister to build new memories filled with happiness and joy; doing all the things that sisters do.

Roxy

I love you, and I always will.

I miss you, and I always will.

I hug you in my heart as I always will.

Take care of me as I know you always will.

Thank you