Purling Oaks

Hello! Anyone home?

Yeah, I used to have this blog.......

 

2012 was quite a year......one I have absolutely no desire to repeat --- except I would like to keep the lessons learned and personal motivation derived from various happenings.  In the whole scheme of things, my 2012 "events" were actually pretty low-scale when compared to other folks' events.  I guess I just don't like any "events."  

So, here we are on the 12th day of January and I'm about ready to do some clothes shopping for work clothes.  My old stuff is old and is falling off me, which is really not the look I'm trying to project.  My goal is to get about 3 outfits worth today and keep my wardrobe small and flexible.  It helps that I'm working less than full-time and, frankly, I hope to be wearing slightly smaller clothes by summer or fall of this year.  I still have several pairs of jeans from my current body size in the back of the clothes (hope springs eternal - or something like that) so I'm fine on the personal casual stuff for a while.  Okay, I am wearing looser t-shirts right now--they're fine.  Really.

A year and a half ago, my scale showed a measurement for me over 30 pounds heavier than I am today.  Two-thirds of that amount was disposed of since the end of August.  After years of beating myself up for not being able to lose any significant weight on the classic weight loss regimens, I've finally found a method that works for me.  It is such a relief to find a method that my body responds to.  One size does not fit all, so if whole grain/calorie-counting/exerciseyourselfallday/whatever doesn't work for you, try something else!  I wish I would have earlier and saving all the negative internal-talk for something else.  I'm following real food/vegetable/meat/real fat method including no wheat or grains.  I'm eating moderate levels of carbs (vegies, starchy vegies) while working to my target weight range.  After that goal is met, I'll still follow the real food/primal/paleo method or some variation, just with different ratios of protein/fat/carbs.  I'm not 100% strict and enjoyed a gingerbread man or three this Christmas.  However, I can feel it physically and mentally when I'm "off-plan."  

So, my clothes shopping today should be a happier experience than one I would have had two years ago.  I would have gone in December, but I cannot shop when I have to hunt for a parking place.  

Well, that's my personal news for the beginning of the year.  My mom is feeling much better after having pneumonia last week but she's tough.  We're feeding her up with good food to support the continued healing.  Quite scary, that pneumonia!

Happy New Year and may we all enjoy a prosperous and joyful 2013!

 

Some more Rhinebeck!

It has been a busy week but here's my attempt at posting about my Rhinebeck weekend.  The shopping opportunities were abundant and both Charlynn and I took advantage of them.    We ultimately were very creative packers but our hotel room looked like we would have to buy a few more suitcases.  My big purchase was a travel wheel.  Carrie had a good guess that it was a Bee but I decided on a Road Bug, based on cost and availability.  Besides, I liked it.  :D  It is like a Hitchhiker wheel but no handle and I got the double treadle option.

H

 I inventoried some of the fiber I purchased and I realized I was busy collecting a lot of BFL.  

There were also two lovely batts from Grafton Fibers.  Yummy.  

But best of all.....the people.  Charlynn and I had quality time during our travels between DC and Rhinebeck.  That is one long drive.  :D  Yeah, we do look a bit goofy in our matching hoodies but we're kids at heart.  Meeting "virtual" friends in real life like Kim, Deb (and her sis, Mary Beth), Annie, Jessica, and Manise was wonderful.  Next time, I hope we will be able to spend much more time together!  I'm sure I'm forgetting someone or something.  

I don't know if I'll make it there next year but I would certainly like to try!  I highly recommend this festival and if you have a chance to meet your virtual friends in real life, take it.!
 

Rhinebeck!!

Stacey made me promise I would post today.  No word count was promised.  :D

I'll have to catch you all up on earlier happenings like having a wonderful time in Taos due in no small part to Carrie.  However, here's the current stuff.  This Friday my blogless buddy, Charlynn, flew out to DC and we drove up to Poughkeepsie in the afternoon and evening.  It was a long drive.  A long, sort of rainy drive.  A long drive I am so glad I wasn't making by myself.

Today we woke up to sunshine and dry skies and drove north to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds for Rhinebeck!!!!  We did an excellent job of supporting the fiber community's vendors today and met and hugged friends then attended the Ravelry afterparty.  We're going back tomorrow.  Wooot!!

 I'll tell you more about the highlights soon like my new spinning wheel and lots of fiber to spin............as soon as my thighs and nose thaw.  

Yeah, it was cold.  :D

Me, today.  

 

I am so fortunate to have the friends I do.  Life is good.

Pondering stash, redecorating, and a reminder

I just read an excellent perspective on stash acquisition and creativity at Tien's blog.  I do enjoy my stash but it is good to keep in mind that I don't *need* it.  I think know I built my stash primarily though the joy of acquisition and I'm sure that will continue.  I do enjoy shopping, especially for fiber-related beautiful stuff.   I have noticed I have been just a little more selective during the past year.  Oops, that was because I didn't have place to put it for most of last year.  Well, it was good training.

The blog redecorating occupied a few hours today and I'm glad to have a personalized banner again.  The old one disappeared a while ago and I never made time to create another one.  I also knit 14 more rows on Icarus this afternoon.  (See that, Stacey?)  I'm still deep in Chart 1 and enjoying that I'm "getting" the pattern.  (I'm just whispering that last phrase --- I need to put in another lifeline.....soon.)

I found another reminder in my photo library that Spring will come.

I'm approaching my 400th post.  I think a contest/giveaway may be a good idea.  Stay tuned.

Gabby Saturday

Does your bread-maker squeek?  My bread-maker, the one that plugs in, is squeeking this morning in an alarming manner.  I suppose I will see if the alarm is deserved if it produces bread by noon.  Yesterday, the mountain of laundry was scaled and even put away in proper places, I caught up with Heroes, and I finished the knitting of the beret. 
It is blocking today and from the perspective of the second photo, you may be able to guess my potential concern with the finished object.  However, we'll wait for the beret to dry before any modeled shots are produced.

One of the interesting things I was introduced to during deer hunting was Skype.  My eldest nephew, Micah, is attending university in Granada, Spain, this year and he gave us a live video tour of his apartment using Skype and his MacBook with the imbedded camera.  We didn't have a camera at our end but he could hear us all and we could see his apartment and his roommates.  Quite cool.  So, DN Hunter counseled me and I downloaded Skype, too.  You all probably knew this, but it is free computer to computer calls and (allegedly) low rates for computer to telephone calls.  The video component is the nicest part, especially when you haven't seen a loved one in a while.

As mentioned yesterday, Mom and I had time on Wednesday to visit a LYS, Yarns by Design.  I had a hefty discount certificate and some birthday money in my pocket, so what better place to visit! 
I was a happy shopper:  a slim 11" cherry boat shuttle by Schacht, bobbins for the shuttle, cherry-red glass buttons from Neenah Buttonworks (like cherry candy, my fav), a skein of Casbah (yum), two Handwoven Design Collections (#17 and #13), and Knitting On Top of the World.  Nicky Epstein's book has some gorgeous designs, including the one on the cover, and one or two that I can't fathom.  However, the best part of the book is her narrative on design inspiration. 

Some of you reading should be sure you are seated before you look at the next photo.

Yes, I cast on for Icarus last night after snooping around in Joan's, Nora's, and Cookie's blogs and ravelry spaces for tips. 

Now, off to search for a new Christmas Tree and replenish the kitty kibble.  Have a great Saturday!

Fiber Fair recount

The Midwest Fiber and Folk Fair was great.  Vendors were both inside and outside of the McHenry County College facility.  Charlynn and I were able to catch up with each other as well as engage in some quality fiber shopping.  Charlynn purchased her first spinning wheel.  *evil laughter*  (Yes, Stacey, she blames me.)  She also started knitting her first pair of socks.  Here's a summary photo of Charlynn's purchases (minus her Kromski Minstral wheel)  My work here is complete.......

Oh, well, you want me to tell you what I bought at the Fair?  I did spend quite a bit of time with Elf and Sandy at Red Fish Dye Works.  Two fun, yet incredibly calm women.....as well as talented in the dye department.  Here's the bed-full of my loot. 
My camera doesn't do justice to the Red Fish yarn and roving (oh, and hankies).  I love the llama cookie cutter.  The Rust Tex tube and CD are a kit for dyeing with metals.  The booth had some lovely results; I hope I can come close to reproducing them.  Stitch-markers, silk roving, alpaca black and white fiber, cotton fiber for towels, weaving tool, and a few other items. 

The new Crocs performed well and my feet were happy despite walking all day on Saturday.  We had some fun fair food including a funnel cake.  YUM.  Charlynn's neck and shoulders seized up so we also enjoyed the chair massages offered.  It was a fun visit that was far too short.

DH had some fun in a local trout stream on Saturday so tonight we enjoyed brook trout for dinner.  Delicious!  I'm living right, I suppose.

Soaked Saturday

I think Mother Nature likes balance but I wonder if she is working on balance somewhere else besides North America.  We've had probably over 4 inches of rain this week in Wisconsin, while my friends on the left coast are suffering with none.  Perhaps the balance is that we are all less than happy with the situation.

My brother and his sons are in Wisconsin for a quick visit so DH and I will be in the Fox Valley for a day then back home to host a small family gathering on Sunday.  I don't have much in the way of knitting content so I'll share a few other fun things.

I won Kim's contest and my loot winnings arrived this week.  I'm looking forward to knitting two socks on one needle.  Perhaps that will be the key to me having more socks.  :D  I'm really enjoying the sandwich cookbook.  I love old cookbooks and this one has a copyright of 1941, so it is older than I am.  I'm going to try a few of these recipes, especially the ones for fancy bread in the beginning.  Maybe not the prune bread though........

Here are the purchases I made a short while ago in Mayville at Loose Ends Yarn Shop.   All of my goodies were locally made.  Michele made the bag from upholstery book samples and adorned it with buttons  The yarn is handspun and is really a coral pink.  It changes in different lighting.  I don't know the yardage but I fell in love with it and had to have it.  The pin was also crafted in Wisconsin. 

Contest call and vacation time sinks

How did it get to be Sunday all ready?! 

Have you entered the contest yet?  Or two more times?  If you haven't, all you have to do is comment on this post (or other recent post) as an easy way or go back to the contest announcement post if you have tips for making your studio or knitting or crafting area more comfortable and/or organized.  I'm giving away three prizes and you have to enter by midnight tonight to win!  Hurry!

On Thursday, I joined up with my DSIL and DMIL (surprise!) to visit Loose Ends Yarn Shop in Mayville.  It was a lovely drive from Oconomowoc.  We had a lovely visit at the shop.  It is very charming, has lots of great yarn, and is full of creative ideas.  Besides, Michele was very fun to talk with!   I know Anne and I will be back there!  I purchased a charming bag, a cool pin, and some handspun that I'll have to share with you later due to lazy blogger syndrome.

After the funeral in Omro, we spent the night at the cottage in Oshkosh and finished cleaning the basement on Friday morning.  Saturday was a bit lazy as I read a book and plurked.  There was a bit of laundry cleaned and dried, too.  Plurking is fun but I'm am going to have to be careful that it doesn't become a gargantuan timesink!  Gah!

Today will be spent trying to catch up with a few things before I start work again tomorrow.  I'm heading to northwestern Wisconsin tomorrow.  The drive is very nice and I'm looking forward to it as a nice way to start a Monday.  Especially after a vacation.  Have a great day everyone and remember to enter the contest today!

Tourist thread finds

I had less time for tourist-type activities Thursday than I originally planned (darn work!) but I managed to support the local economy anyway. The bag on the right is self explanatory. The bag on the left, oh, my land, holds the results of shopping in a FOUR-story fabric store! I was definitely the wide-eyed fiber-holic in there! I shopped on the remnants floor and found some lovely black silk for tops and a nice length of a solid black wool for, hopefully, two skirts. I was smiling the entire time, I'm sure. Josephine was a marvelous help in my search for fabric and shared grest fabric care tips.

I am flying home today and expect to be knitting for a good portion of the day. Have a great Friday!

Friday's fiber fun

Friday found me in the Jeep with my DSIL Anne, Anne's SIL Meg, and Meg's Aunt Kathy venturing North seeking yarn.  Our first stop was at Yarns by Design, in Neenah, and my mom met us there to join the fun.  This shop is one of my favorite fiber merchants and the customer service is wonderful.  A few cones of Maysville cotton rug warp jumped in my basket along with Deborah Chandler's Learning to Weave.  Then I saw this sample by/from Sivia Harding.....

It is the scarf size of the Norwegian Woods pattern, knit with Sea Silk.  (I posted this photo with permission of the designer.)  The flash of the camera accented the pattern but it washed the green/gray of the yarn.  I fell in love with it.  The designer describes the design as depicting a forest progressing from winter into spring.  The pattern and some more Sea Silk came home with me.  How ever did I come to this position of having Forest Canopy and Catharina Faroese shawls on the needles, Icarus and this pattern in waiting, plus the Stacey Lace Along yarn in waiting?  I think I have a few people of influence in mind.  Thanks, really. 

See how happy I am?   That's happy not hysterical, by the way.  Here is our happy group just before leaving for lunch at the great Mexican restaurant down the block.  (clockwise, from upper left:  Meg, Kathy, Mom, Anne, Moi)







We explored a local soy soap and candle shop, then hugged Mom goodbye so she could go home and let the dog out.  The four of us then hopped in the Jeep and impulsively headed North again, this time to Iris Fine Yarns in Appleton.  This is another great yarn store, also with great customer service.  IFY carries different yarns than YBD, so visit both when you are in the area.  I came home with a little HABU silk & stainless steel yarn to experiment with as well as a complementary bamboo crochet hook!  How cool is that? 

It was a fun day filled with great conversations about knitting, blogging, Ravelry, books, and even natural dyeing.  We were able to wish Anne a happy birthday, too!  Of the five of us, I'm the only (admitted) blogger and raveler, although I think Kathy may soon join the blogging community.  I'm looking forward to our next outing.

DH has been working in Fort Lauderdale recently and has been influenced by the foods he tried during his travels.  Last night, he made picadillo and it was very tasty.   It was a nice finish to a full and fun day.