It's snowing again today in Rio Rancho! Sam & I have been making snowmen. Amazing considering yesterday we had only a couple of remnants of melting ice left in shadowy areas.
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and here's Best Wishes to a Happy New Year!
Storm #4 for those keeping track.)
The Winter Weather Advisory became a Winter Storm Warning with accumulation estimates of 3-10" in our area. We saw early showers that accumulated then melted away. At about noon, the serious stuff started and this picture, taken about 2pm shows us well on our way to the first 3".
I'm late in sending out presents this year. Some of my family will receive gifts after the holiday. There's just no helping it. Some things were late in getting finished, others were late in arriving here. Now the Post Office is giving no guarentees on delivery, and honestly, my local Post Office is so messed up, it's a wonder anything gets where it's supposed to. Most Monday's we don't get delivery until after 6pm.
for a reason.
On Wednesdays, Sam has a short day at school, so when Sam got home today, we started to make Christmas ornaments. My favorite project is clothespin reindeer.This is a fun project I remember doing in school when I was just a little older than Sam.
For each reindeer, you need 4 clothespins. You saw the legs off one pin.
Monday night, I had Sam paint clothespins brown, and we left them to dry.
Of course, they got painted a little too heavily and they stuck to the newspaper. We didn't have time to work on them Tuesday night.
Today, we pulled them off the newspaper and touched up the paint. 
Then we glued the pins together.
Once the pins were glued together, we glued on googly-eyes. The googly-eyes take extra patience because they are so small.
Finally we glued red pompoms on for noses.
Sam liked the idea that they all got to "pretend" to be Rudolph.
I love the googly-eyes.
I just finished this piece and posted it for sale on Etsy. (Click on the picture for an enlarged view.) I thought you'd enjoy seeing a beaded piece for once... it's been a while since I completed a beaded project; I've been so enthralled with knitting. I recently discovered some new polymer clay techniques, and I've learned some new design tricks, so I'm planning a new set of focal beads which may be sold individually or incorporated into new works.
I also hope to find some time to do some more lampwork (glass bead making) but I think I'd better reduce the doggie population in the house before I go firing up the gas torch. (Nothing like the smell of burning dog fur to ruin your day!)
Chris is out of town working this week, so John and I are taking care of his house and his two dogs, which means we've got FOUR dogs in the house all week long. (Thank God for a fenced in yard!)
RIBBED KEYHOLE SCARFRow 1: Work in 2x2 ribbing across the row, starting with K2 and ending with K2.
Row 2: Continue ribbing by working stitches as they appear, beginning with P2 and ending with P2.
Repeat the last two rows for 22".
Make opening: Work ribbing for first 12 stitches, bind off 14 stitches, continue ribbing over remaining 12 stitches (with bulky yarn, work ribbing for 8 stitches, bind off 10, continue ribbing over remaining 8 stitches).
Next row: Work ribbing for first 12 stitches, cast on 14 new stitches over the gap, join to stitches on other side of the gap and continue ribbing (with bulky yarn, work ribbing for 8 stitches, cast on 10 new stitches over the gap, join to stitches on other side of the gap and continue ribbing).
Continue working in rib across all stitches for 4 more inches.
Bind off stitches in rib (if the stitch is a knit stitch, knit it; if it's a purl stitch, purl it; pull stitches over one other as usual).
Weave in ends.
Wrap around neck, push one end through hole on other end and see how stylish warm can be!
Evenings as low as 17 degrees, and days with highs from 25 to 47 degrees! It's cold in New Mexico. We got out second snow, the day after the first, and this one was even worse. Chica was kind enough to pose for a quick picture to show off the snowfall we got. Sam actually had a 2-hour delay for THIS! Can you believe it? But honestly, the roads were a little slick.
Needless to say, we had the wood stove going in the evenings. Fortunately, we get tons of sun exposure that warms the house up incredibly during the day.
John woke me at 4:30 this morning and said we'd gotten some snow over the night, but it was gone and it was just wet out. I'm guessing it wasn't done snowing, or it was still too dark to really see, because when I let the dogs out at 7:00 we still had snow.
I snapped a couple quick photos simply as proof that New Mexico really does get snow. It's rare, but beautiful all the same.
There were no cancellations or delays locally, however, immediately north of us got hit a whole lot harder (3-5") and many schools are closed.
In my day - you didn't miss school unless it was frozen solid, or snow was over 6" deep. But if you could see how people drive in perfect dry clear conditions out here, you'd understand why.
After a few last minute changes, and a little scrambling to get all the right information in the right places, John has officially bought the house.
We celebrated by taking a ride on the dual sport out into the desert and watching the sun set against the Sandia Mountains.
This incredible picture is a view from our backyard looking toward the Sandia Mountains. (If you look close, you can see a telephone pole.)
New in my store:
Elfish Stocking Cap - 39" LONG!!!
The colors are simply wild - not your traditional Christmas red & green!
Hooded Child's Poncho
I saw this pattern and wished I'd had it for Sam when he was smaller. Real easy on/off without having to wiggle little arms down tight sleeves.
I've already thought up a million variations for this one that I can't wait to try.
Knitting can be one of the most relaxing, yet productive activities. I love knitting in front of the TV on Sunday evenings. John and I watch our favorite shows and I produce fun items like this, with very little effort.
I agree with this discomfort. I don't like leaving comments on my friends' blogs either.
Sometimes there are things you would like to say privately, that you wouldn't say in a roomful of strangers. Online, anyone can see this page.
So, I'm making a change. All comments posted to my blog will be kept PRIVATE, and not published. Only I will see them. They cannot even accidentally be published.
Feel free to type what you will in response to any of my blogs, and know only I will receive your comments.
I've done a lot of knitting lately, and therefore, am actually getting not only a lot faster, but definitely braver. Most recently, I made Friendship Scarf (pictured in previous blog) using two alternating colors every stitch with a fairly complicated furry yarn, without a pattern. I also finished a pair of socks for myself - with a pattern to remind me how the process goes. I joined a newsgroup of sock knitters, and am learning lots of techniques from them and the websites they link to. I've gotten so used to turning the heel, now I look forward to it. I've even made little footy socks for myself simply to have another opportunity to turn heels without working long bodies.
Now I'm making hats without patterns. Once you get the gist of shaping... You can do anything! On the top left is my latest pattern, Peppermint Candy Twist. This was a lot of fun... I just made it up as I went along. I also documented my work so that I can recreate the pattern, and distribute it (maybe even sell it!)On the bottom right is Snow Lantern. I'm not a huge fan of variegated yarns simply because I'm a control freak and prefer to know exactly what color is going to land where, but I'm learning to "release" and this was a neat project to use variegated yarns on. I took a standard, plain hat, graphed out a snowflake-like design and I think it came out really cute.
John suggested I make another one similar to this but with carousel horses going around the design band. I'm not big on horses, but the colorful challenge the idea presents is growing on me. I'm thinking I'll have to graph out the entire band and follow my chart stitch by stitch. It seems a little daunting, but I've done it before in beads, why would this be any harder?
But last night my babble was more structured than usual. I'd had a difficult start to my day - emotional, disappointing and trying - but had faced it and worked through it, rather than letting it eat me alive all day.
My problem is that I care. I care about everything -- too much even. I want everyone in my life to be happy, healthy, successful, treated well and loved. I don't think that is too much to ask in life... but life is unfair and doesn't work that way. I see these injustices and they frustrate, stress and anger me.
Worse, I see people who deserve these things in life stand there and let themselves get run over by people who simply don't care. PWDC... People Who Don't Care.
I met one yesterday during my afternoon journeys. A young woman working at a craft store wearing a badge that indicated she was the Head of Customer Service. She was cashing out my purchase. A man had come into the store looking for a replacement blade for a rotary cutter. He was obviously new to the store, overwhelmed, lost and really just looking for a direct answer. The replacement blade is a common and simple item, that honestly was also available at the office supply store next door. He'd already gone to one associate, who then had come to the "Head of Customer Service" to try and direct this customer to the product. I watched this woman not only make vague hand gestures and statements, but basically waive the man away. She wasn't familiar with the item but announced that it might be found in one of two departments. Head of Customer Service. This man stood there and had no choice but to let this PWDC run him over and discard him.
I care too much. I intervened and told the man exactly what the item was and where it was located in the store. My reward was the look of relief on his face and his thanks as he strode off to get what he needed.
Outside the store I vented to John about how ridiculous that scene was and how frustrated I was by the "Head of Customer Service", and how this behavior seemed to be a growing trend. I'm simply disgusted by the way people treat each other, and frustrated with mankind in general. I actively try to be a good person and to help others, and with the exception of a rare few around me... well, I'm alone. It seems all too easy for the general population to not care, to absentmindedly say mean and hurtful things or to be dismissive.
Part of me would like to gain a little of that in my life... to reduce my sensitivity, if you will.
Then I'm reminded that caring isn't a bad thing.
So last night, my babble became more a counting of blessings. Not the tangible things like the roof over my head, my dogs snoring happily, or the fuzzy socks protecting John from my frozen feet... but the real blessings - my friends. I'm blessed with many people who actually care about the same things I do - maybe not to the same stressful end that I do - but who genuinely care and are supportive.
I told John I was going to knit a scarf for one of my friends, Janet. I'm awful at staying in touch, and reminding people how much I appreciate them. I found myself missing her and kicking myself for not being better at staying in touch. I guess that's the lesson. It's not enough to behave like you care... you have to communicate it too.
So, I'm knitting that scarf. Janet, thank you for working so hard everyday on your two businesses, your two children, and for being a wonderful, caring and supportive friend to both me and the strangers around you. You are a blessing in my life, and I'm making you a wonderful bright fuzzy scarf to keep you warm in the Maine winters, while reminding you of the bright spring flowers I know you love so much.
This is one of those photos that come with the frame and you actually hesitate to take it out.
Congratulations guys! It looked beautiful.
October is Literacy Month and today was the Storybook Parade. All of the student were asked to dress up as their favorite storybook characters. When I asked Sam who he wanted to dress up as, he didn't even hesitate - Curious George! I made Sam's costume out of brown felt. It has a zippered front and a tail, tethered with fishing line to the back collar to keep it up and moving with him.
His mask is a foam monkey face I found at the craft store. I simply cut out the eyes and punched holes for a ribbon to tie it on.
I thought the banana was the crowning touch, but Sam says the tail is the best part. Everyone loved Sam's costume.
This is NOT Sam's Halloween costume. He has already chosen to be the Black Knight, but with 13 days left, that may be subject to change. It's not unusual for Sam to have a couple of costumes.
Many of the balloon teams have trading cards printed with pictures of their balloons and basic statistics. Kids and adults alike walk around to each balloon with hopes of collecting these cards. We collected cards from 16 different balloons (many either didn't have cards or had run out by the time we got to them. The picture above gives you a very small glimpse of the volumn of people attending. Card competition was HIGH.) We have cards from local Albuquerque companies, as well as cards from Arizona, Utah, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, South Dakota, Ontario, Brazil, and Germany.
I'm trying to come up with a cool way to display the cards. I'd love to put them up on the wall, but of course, you lose view of the reverse side of the card that way. I could put them in a trading card album, but then you only see them once a year. Of course, with the book, Sam can continue to add to the collection year after year. Perhaps I will color photo copy the cards and do both. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
This picture was taken before sunset with the digital camera. Unfortunately the digital camera doesn't fair well after dusk - so this is one of the few good pictures we captured with it. We did however take the regular 35mm with us. As soon as I get the film developed, there will be a lot more photos.
By the way, if you click on any of the photos in my blog, a new window will open up showing you an enlarged view.
This is my favorite time of year in New Mexico - the balloon fiesta. This picture doesn't even begin to do the mass ascension justice. Often when I describe it to people I say it looks like someone spilled Skittles in the sky.
This years fiesta got off to a rough start. The festival runs from October 6-15, but the opening weekend we had continuous rain with high winds and lightening - not good flying weather. But this morning was a gorgeous clear morning, and this was the view coming home from dropping Sam off at school.
Tomorrow night, John and I are planning on going to the Glow. At twilight the balloons inflate and the pilots gas without ascending. This lights up the inside of the balloon - effectively making it glow. It is a spectacular site, especially from ground level in close proximity. It's also a great opportunity to enjoy all the wonderful Fair Foods - roasted nuts, funnel cakes, burritos and fresh lemonaid.
I should have incredible pictures to post from the Glow.
More information and pictures can be found at http://www.balloonfiesta.com/
These days, I'm a knitting fool. I'm working hard to rebuild my website design company, but with anything, it takes time. Clients need time to think about who to choose, then they need time to gather their information, then you put up the design, and they need time to review it. Once all the little changes are made, you invoice the client, and they take their time to pay. Therefore, I knit during all these "times" and sell my handicrafts online at Etsy.com to suppliment my income.
I don't consider myself an experienced or accomplished knitter, but it's getting easier, faster, and I'm able to improvise more and more, modifying basic patterns to get new and unique looks and styles.
The pictures I've posted are some of my most recent creations. I think the "knotty jester" is just plain cute, but the watermelon in one of my favorites. It's really nothing more than a simple trick of colors, but the part I like most are the seeds. I created these "seed" buttons out of polymer clay, baked them, glazed them and then tied them onto the hat. It gives it a neat look and it's definitely a unique product.
Sometimes new designs come out of necessity - like my elf hat. The original pattern called for red & white stripes over the total length of the stocking cap, but I quickly discovered that the red yarn I was working with was in short supply, and my backup supply was a different dye-lot (i.e. didn't match). So... I improvised and came out with a cut little tri-color elf hat.
I've got millions more ideas. New ideas pop up seemingly with every stitch. I saw a pattern for a snowman hat - thinking I'll take a shot at that soon. Also found some cute crochet patterns I'd like to try - they work up so much faster than the knit ones.
I've started a blank book with pictures of each piece and the pattern I used to build it. So far its a really cool collection.
I made John a pair of socks. It was the first time I ever "turned a heel" that didn't involve an insult or the end of a date. At first, as I struggled along, I thought John was going to have to timeshare one sock between his feet. I figured I'd be so relieved to get a sock-like shape that I wouldn't bother with the second. Fear of having to make a second one that matched the first loomed over me. Actually, once I figured out how to read the pattern, knitting the socks really was quite easy, and the second done in a click!
I just finished this one last night. I've posted him to northwind.etsy.com as I have had a couple of requests for this style.
I've decided to make all of my Jack-o-Lanterns unique - no two faces will be alike.
To make this one, I used graph paper and colored in a classic face design. His mouth is purposely lop-sided. I love this pattern, there are just so many options!
Ok, here's the basic pattern (This is for the original Fruit Cap design. I have altered it for the Jack-o-Lantern, et. al):
Use Size #7 DPN
Cast on 72 (80, 88) STS and K evenly for 18 (20, 22) rows.
To add Strawberry Seeds:
Row 1: K7 MC, K1 Green. Repeat to end of row
Row 2-4: K MC
Row 5: K3 MC, K1 Green, { K7, K1 Green } Repeat brackets to end, K remaining MC
Row 6-8: K MC
Repeat Rows 1-8 if extra length is needed.
When cap measures 4 1/2" (4 3/4", 5") and there are three solid rows of MC begin leaf pattern.
Top Leaves:
Row 1: K7 MC, K1 Green, repeat
Row 2: K5 MC, K3 Green, repeat
Row 3: K3 MC, K5 Green, repeat
Row 4: K1 MC, K7 Green, repeat
Row 5: K row Green
Row 6: K7 Green, K2TOG, repeat
Row 7: K6 Green, K2TOG, repeat
Row 8: K5 Green, K2TOG, repeat
Row 9: K4 Green, K2TOG, repeat
Row 10: K3 Green, K2TOG, repeat
Row 11: K2 Green, K2TOG, repeat
Row 12: K1 Green, K2TOG, repeat
Row 13: K2TOG, repeat
One ST should remain from each leaf. K these STS for 6 rows. K2TOG around and pull tail to shape stem. Secure tail.
To increase the size of the hat on this pattern, always use multiples of 8 stitches in your cast on. Rows increase by mulitple of 2 and length with multiples of 1/4".
Pattern courtesy of Ann Norling (tm)
Well, Sunday, we found the Land of Stench. In the Jemez Mountains is an area called Valles Caldera, and located on the southern side of the Caldera (or crater) is a hot spring rich in sulfur. We discovered this while off-road adventuring in the area - following dirt roads - and BoyHowdy did it smell!
Needless to say, I made John empty out the drawer and inspect the bed in search of any others. I also had Stinky search around the bed, and have every night since. My skin is still crawling at the thought of it.
And to think, just a week earlier I commented to John about how lucky I'd been not to see any of the freaky creepy crawling things native to NM yet. Speak of the Devil!
For those of you actually fascinated with this bug, he's about 6 or 7 incles long, and covered by an exoskeleton. He has two long tentacles on top of his head, pinchers next to his mouth, and two longer legs at the end of his tail that he can use to grip with.
The pictures I've posted are all from one stop we made. If I'd taken all the pictures I wanted to, we'd still be out wandering in the desert. This particular area is called Mesa Blanco - or White Lands - after the gypsum rich white sandstone in the area. The sand here is white like Florida beach sand. Its really quite amazing. Less than a mile away the soil is deep rust red. Some areas in the Ojito Wilderness are black sanded - mostly volcanic, others a yellow - due to high sulfur content.
There are many wonderful places to camp and explore. Everywhere you turn there is another path, another adventure. Its not a wonder people get lost out here. You get so excited about seeing what is beyond the next ridge, following the next path, chasing down a view, looking for fossils... I look forward to coming back another time.
The picture on the left is our front door. Many of you may be familiar with my duck. I don't move without him. He's my guardian of sorts. The loveseat was a "front yard find" - about 4 houses down they had it out on the front yard with a free sign. It is sturdy like its new. The only thing wrong with it was some old cushions. I recovered the cushions and voila a shady little spot for John and I to enjoy coffee on the weekends.
The picture on the right is the other side of our entryway. The entryway is really a walled-in garden and patio. My swing is here between the wall and garden. We've had many cups of coffee here as well, but in the morning it gets more sun that you can stand even with the canopy. I like to read here in the late afternoon.
Next is the living room. This shot is looking from the glass doors to the back yard toward the front entryway, almost as though you walked straight in and turned back to the door.
The walls are this wonderful oversized brickwork - we think its this compacted sand brick they make out here.
We have a woodstove which is perfect in the winter - just enough heat to keep the living room and kitchen warmed (sweaty hot if you're not careful!) The floors throughout the house, with the exception of the bedrooms, are all brick. Cleanup is a breeze.
Our kitchen has a pantry closet - you can just barely see it to the right of the cabinets. I like having the stove in the middle of the island, and love having a built-in wine rack. I even have space to have my most used stoneware out on the counter in a rack! It's a great kitchen to entertain from with the dining and living area being so open.
Just off the kitchen is our patio - this is kind of a lousy shot of it, but you can see 1/2 the view we enjoy. The patio itself wraps around the front of the living room. We have the Adirondack chairs, a hammock, grill and cast iron fireplace out here. Both the living room and master bedroom have huge windows looking out over the Sandia mountains. The backyard is about a 1/4 acre and completely fenced in so the dogs have full run.
This is Chica. If you asked her, she is John's dog. In fact, I'm pretty sure her world revolves around him. She's a terrier/mutt mix. Not the smartest dog in the world, but she is loving and sweet. This is a very recent photo of her - normally we shave her down pretty tight, right here she's getting a little scruffy. She's cute either way, but when her hair is long and Morgan (Chris's Great Dane) comes to visit, she gets really dirty - crusty even. I swear I've seen Morgan put her in her mouth, swish her around and spit her out in a glob of slime. Still, she comes out grinning, happy to have a "puppy" friend to play with. Chica is over a year old now, born in April of 2005.
Morgan was born in September of 2006, if I remember right, so she's just coming up on a year. She hasn't a clue how big she is. Morgan is a Blue Merle Great Dane. This picture doesn't show off her coloring very well (that and she's covered in dirt!) She has black spots with an otherwise blue/red purpley coat. It's hard to explain, but indeed beautiful. Morgan has not been docked or had her ears clipped.
Stinky just turned 6! He's still the biggest, stinkiest puppy. In the photo he's carrying his favorite toy - floppy dog. It's basically a plush dog that has no filling - on purpose. He loves that thing. Cuddles with it at night, and does the show off wiggle with it to get attention during the day.
And finally, this is John. Normally he's extremely camera shy. Okay, actually he hates having his photo taken. He'll kill me when he finds out I posted this, but getting a picture of him without a helmet is rare, and a smile even more so. I took this picture during one of our rides. We were north of an area called Tent Rocks. About a half hour after this was taken, we found ourselves on a rutted, washed out dirt "road" in the pouring rain. I love these trips with John. If you think this photo of him is funny, you ought to see me, sitting on back, soaked, muddy, and grinning like I won the lottery.
