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One negative thing about spinning or knitting....it causes me to think. Too much. And not just about what's being spun or knitted.
One of the "golden rules" when we were growing up was always saying "please" and "thank you". Everyone of my generation was taught this; all my children and grandchildren were taught this. What the hell happened??
Even those of my generation seem to have forgotten those magic words. Magic because they went to the heart of those spoken to; magic because they could lift a person's self esteem, lighten their heart, validate their existence as a fellow human being. They also related appreciation for another's time, money, thoughtfulness.
It irks me to no end that those 2 magic words are becoming less and less of our daily lexicon. No. Actually, it pisses me off royally.
"Please" is still pretty much spoken. But "thank you" seems to be fading into oblivion.
In our own family, graduation gifts.....no "thank you"; shower gifts....nada; wedding gifts.....not a word. Even Christmas gifts are passed over with as little comment as possible. I'm talking handmade gifts, hours and hours of creation; I'm talking wracking my brain to figure out the perfect gift for someone....something that has meaning to that particular person. And if it needs to be purchased, money is (almost) no object.
It's gotten to the point that I really don't want to be part of anyone's celebration. I will say a silent prayer, a blessing for you and think of you on your special day. I believe that's enough. No thanks needed. Not that any would be forthcoming anyway.
I always thanked the kids for doing the dishes, cleaning their rooms, taking out the trash, etc. This would irk BH..."you don't need to thank them for doing their chores" he would say.
Ahhh....but, I would retaliate, "everyone needs to know their appreciated, whether it's something expected of them...their job, their chore, their responsibility....or just of their own doing". Everyone needs to be validated. Everyone needs to know they matter. In this crazy, impersonal, dangerous world.....everyone should know they matter.
Sorry for the rant; I feel much better now. Thank you for "listening".....thank you very much.
So, after 2 glorious days of temps in the 40's...above 0! We are back to reality. Anyone in the Midwest knows where this is going.
Yep, it started snowing yesterday afternoon....and hasn't stopped. The winds are gusting 40 mph. We have 4 ft. drifts in front of the house and I'm sure, in the driveway.
BH says last night that he's getting out at first light this morning to start shoveling.
Me: "want me to help you shovel? I can shovel, you know. 2 shovels are better than one; it'll go quick".
BH: "no, no. I'll be ok; it's not that bad".
This morning. It goes like this.........
Me: "so, you're waiting until it's light outside, right?"
BH: "yeah".
He looks outside. "Maybe I'll be lucky and the snow blew right over the mounds on the sides of the driveway".
I didn't have the heart to tell him that I can see the 2+ ft drifts sitting in the driveway. Without his glasses, he can't see worth a damn. That, plus my knickname for him is "Polyanna".
Now he's dressed, putting on his boots.
Me: "do you have longjohn's on?"
BH: "nah..I don't need them"
Me: "oh for God's sake, you should put them on"
BH: "I'm not going to be out there that long; I'll be coming in off and on"
Me: "you should wear the scarf over your face; it's blowing pretty bad out there".
BH (slightly agitated): "I gotta keep adjusting it and have to stop shoveling; I don't need it".
Well, alrighty then.
He opens the door. No. He tries to open the door. The wind has blown drifts of snow inside the storm door. He has to push with all his might just to get it open.
10 minutes later, he's in the house.
"I'm going to wait till the plow comes down the street; there's no sense in shoveling it all now; the mail won't come till the street's plowed; we don't have to go anywhere today, right?"
"Yep", says I. "You should put your longjohn's on".
"I'm ok; my legs are warm enough", says he. Whatever.
Now, I don't know if he's had a mental lapse or it's the "Polyanna" talking, but when the plow comes by, the 2+ feet at the end of the driveway will become 4 feet...of compacted snow. Yeah.
"You should see it. There's 2 feet drifts just on the walkway; I shoveled a path down to the end of the driveway", he updates me.
Our driveway is about 50 ft. long from the deck to the road. There's another 10 feet along side the house where the car is parked. We do not have a snowblower. He shovels....with a shovel. Refuses the idea of a snowblower. He'll be 78 in July. I'm glad the life insurance is paid.
"Do you want me to call around for someone to come plow out the driveway?" I offer, in my most caring tone.
"No. No. It'll be alright. This is going to be the last of the snowfall", is his reply. (remember: "Polyanna")
Okey dokey, then.
So, my plan is to bake chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies today. I'm going to have plenty of time...alone in the house. And keep the coffee hot and fresh for his intermissions.
The sun is supposed to come out this afternoon. But the temps till next Wednesday will be in the teens with the occasional single digits below 0 during the night.
So....is it still warm and wonderful in Alaska?
(A take on a Johnny Cash song), but really.....$4.69/gallon and rising. Last week it was near $3.00. I ask BH "isn't this price gouging??...and isn't that against the law??"
He checks our tank every other day. So far we're doing ok. Provided the "Polar Vortex" doesn't last into April. Fingers crossed. It's Minnesota, after all.
It figures, doesn't it....our first year with a furnace and we have unending days and nights with the coldest temps in over 30 years. Murphy, you son-of-a-gun.
Well I've been on a muffin binge these past few days. Probably not the best idea....the oven going for hours....using more propane. But sometimes you just have to look adversity in the face and say "screw YOU!" Although....who gets screwed in the end remains to be seen.
Oh, yes, muffins. A couple of weeks before Christmas, I told BH what I would really like is the big, honkin', "Texas" muffin pans. I'm sick of puny, teensy, tiny, little bitty muffins and cupcakes. What a waste of time and energy. I want BIG ones. So....while out shopping one day, I picked up 2 pans. Because one makes only 6. I almost choked on the price...a little over $6.00 each.....but I guess that's the "Texas" price tag, too.
Anywho, I decided this was the week for muffins. I'm going to freeze a bunch of them; I can make all different kinds; give some of them away; have a quick breakfast for family. And so...the freezer is just about full of bread, streudels and muffins.
Banana nut, blueberry, brown sugar streusel and apple cinnamon. Next up is raspberry/blackberry and then I want to try strawberry/cream cheese. There are a dozen plus 2 or 4 of each kind. I found the recipe for basic muffins on the internet. It's a simple recipe and works great for adding whatever you want. Maybe things really are better in Texas!
So Sunday is SuperBowl. Big deal. Son who lives nearby will be coming over to watch the game with BH. And staying until Tuesday. Because on Tuesday, he and BH are going to the Casino for an overnighter. WooHoo!! Hallelujah and thank you, Jesus!! I'm getting him out of the house for a couple of days. I've got so many things planned to do! I can stay up all night! Do whatever I want....watch whatever I want....eat whenever and whatever I want.
I haven't felt such freedom since...well, I don't really know when. But it's been way too long.
I used to have a bit of that freedom throughout the summer when BH was still fishing. He would leave at 4 am and not come home till 6 or 7 pm. The whole day! To myself! I'd get up with him, see him off, do the housework, laundry, prepare dinner, run errands and be done by 11 am! Solitude! Love it!
It would make winter bearable just knowing that as soon as the ice was off the lakes, he'd be out enjoying his only hobby. Well, he gave up fishing a few years ago. So, aside from cutting the grass all day or out chopping trees down, he's with me all day. Every day. Every hour...of every day. 7 days a week. Winters are almost unbearable.
Our son used to call him and invite him to come over for poker night. No. He didn't want to leave me alone in the evening. Whhhaatt?! Get real! But he wouldn't go. Damn.
Oh, he's not a bother. He lets me do whatever I want anytime; never says a negative word about anything. But it's just the fact that he's a man...and he's here. I keep telling him we all need our space, our alone time; this being together 24/7 isn't what it's cracked up to be. And then I feel bad because I've hurt his feelings.
But, anyway, he's going away for 2 days!! I'm going to love every minute. Until it gets around 10 pm. It's dark. It's quiet. I'm alone. I miss him. I can't wait till he gets home tomorrow.
And that is what love and marriage is all about. Thank you, Jesus.
Ok...that's a sentence that is no longer funny. Or needs to be repeated everywhere you go.
So we're in our 35th day (it sure does seem that many) of double digits below zero...daytime, nighttime...it doesn't matter. Cold is cold. Freezing is freezing.
Thank God for the furnace this year because I don't know what we would've done. Between the wood stove, 2 electric heaters and the furnace, we manage to keep it somewhat comfortable in the house. However...BH has informed me that there is a couple more days of wood left. UhOh.
He normally would have enough wood for all this season and some for next, but the Spring and Summer threw a couple of monkey wrenches into his wood gathering calendar. So we wound up with less than we've had in many a year.
And we've been trying to keep the furnace a minimal operating capacity because he's leary as to how much propane it's going to use. And the fact that propane prices have doubled in the past week. Being as frugal (read....cheap) as he is, he just about has a cow when thinking we might have to buy more to get us through the "vortex". Me....any cost to keep my butt warm is fine by me. It is what it is.
Yesterday he was out shoveling, bringing in wood, getting the mail, feeding the birds, etc. When he came in for a break, I said..."don't you want a scarf around your face....you're nose is turning dark". Well, that scared him enough to agree to the scarf. Men. Just mention a part of their anatomy might have to be cut off...or fall off.....and they're as meek as a lamb! You can really get your way. Mind you....this whole winter with frostbite so prolific....he has not had anything cover his face. I consider myself lucky he wears an insulated hat, his Carhartt jacket, long johns, wool socks and heavy boots. But the face...gotta cover the face.
What's been going on inside? Well, a big pot of ham/bean soup on Sunday; 2 days of baking Apple Streudel (4 streudels); a pan of brownies; many wool dyeing experiments, with more happening today. And I finished the poncho...almost. The collar needs to be knitted on, but first I have to try it on because it looks like the neck opening is much narrower than I remember from previous ponchos. May not need the "shirt collar" style...maybe a "Mandarin" style will be enough.
And spinning. I don't know why, but I can just about manage an hour's worth of spinning a day. Just can't get into it full bore. I want to. Just can't get that mojo going. And there's a lot of spinning to be done!
Of course, it doesn't help that my sister has gotten me hooked on playing scrabble games with her on the internet. This from a person who "poo-pooed" the thought of getting connected on a "social media" website. Well, she's hooked now!! I couldn't possibly play that many games!! There would be webs from ceilings to floors, dust 1/2 foot thick, nothing to eat and no clean underwear.
Speaking of which...there's a load of laundry waiting for me...and a ton of fiber calling my name. Gotta go.
Oh...forgot to post the pictures of the rolags created with the blending board. I'm finally getting the hang of it; just gotta practice not making the rolags so tight and big when rolling the fiber off the board. Good tool.
Shetland wool in batt form, blended with iridescent "Firestar". Sure beats trying to separate and spin the strands of firestar with the fiber while spinning.
That's all. Have a great day!
So the green experiment turned out beautiful. I'm so happy with the results; can't wait to get it spun up. 2 pounds of each, the painted and the mottled. I'm planning on blending both together on the blending board; maybe add a little black wool to make the colors "pop"!! And then....knit it into an Aran sweater....for myself!
I'm calling the colors "shades of Ireland".
The top picture isn't color true. The shades are actually much darker green. Don't know what happened there. When I downloaded them, they looked just fine.
Anywho, the brown mottled didn't turn out as brown as I thought. It's more of a peachy/gold ombre. That's ok. It is beautiful. And will be blended with a solid light brown. I hope. But that's the fun with experimentation. Never know what's really going to come out of the pot, but as long as it's within the same color range, I'm happy!
So the peachy/gold is just about dry. Pictures to come soon.
Now....onward and upward. Gotta get out the other tote of white wool.
Wishing you a day of fiber fun!!
Nope. It's Merino. 6#s. Dyeing the last 2 today. Trying for light brown with splashes of light pink and maroon. I'm doing the overall brown with tea bags; never dyed with them before. Fingers crossed.
I'll post pictures of the green....2#'s painted and 2#s ombre soon. Gotta download them from the camera.
I think I've got about 5#s of white Border Leicester yet. Ooohhhh, envisioning more colors!
Have a great weekend!
