Monday, March 30, 2015

Back Again

Hello:
I have finished my There and Back Again Story Scarf by Frivolite Handcrafts. I thought you might like to see some close ups of the last few motifs.
This shows the Lonely Mountain and the last light of Durin's Day (which shone on the door and showed the opening.)  Also, you can see the bird.

Below the door is the Arkenstone.
The last bit is the Arrow to Smaug's Heart, and the treasure.
Here is the dragon and treasure on the reverse side:
And, here is the entire scarf:
A bit closer:
Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet double

Friday, March 27, 2015

Fanny Pack

Hello:

Fanny Pack 1
About 15 years ago, I got a fanny pack.  I was finally getting out of the diaper bag stage, and had realized that if I had a big purse, I filled it up.  If my purse was small I filled that, and no more.  I whittled down what I needed to carry to fit a small fanny pack, and was totally happy.

That was when fanny packs were pretty new, and, well, acceptable.

Eventually the buckle broke, and I had to get rid of it.  My daughters each bought me purses which I used until they broke.  Then, last summer when I was getting ready to go to Europe, I bought a new fanny pack. 

I wanted something small to carry my passport and credit card while I was riding the bike.  I loved it.  Since I have been back, I have used my fanny pack exclusively instead of a bigger purse.

My kids were not happy with this, but then, they are used to me not being cool.  At school, I carry extra pencils for my students in my pack.  I also carry a small pencil sharpener.  It is very handy.  Last week one of my girl students asked if I wear the pack when I go out.  When I said, "yes," she looked appalled, just like one of my kids.

Cleanse

Most of the Math Department at my school is doing a 3 week, "cleanse."  For the first week we can only eat vegetables, fruit, and nuts.  No caffeine, etc.  Only olive oil.  I have been eating this way since Monday, and am doing really well.  I made 2 pitchers of vegetable juice (5 cucumbers, a whole head of celery, 2 apples and 1 lemon) and bring 3 bottles each day to sip.  I have small salads with lemon for the dressing, and have been eating raw almonds and pecans.  Usually my breakfast is just fruit, like mixed berries.  Yum.

Cutting out caffeine was pretty hard as I had gotten very bad lately about drinking coffee, tea, and dokes (diet coke).  I stopped drinking those on the retreat because I was afraid that I would be horribly cranky at work, and didn't want to do that to the students.  I am still waking up with a headache every morning.  I don't think it is still the caffeine, though.  It might be that I'm not drinking enough fluids though I have my juice, and water once I get home.

On Monday, I will add fish and organic soy. 

Fanny Pack 2
So my back and legs have been aching a bit this week.  I was trying to decide if the cleanse was affecting my muscles somehow.  Like maybe the lack of protein was making them weak. Or maybe it was all the spinning I was doing. Finally, on Wednesday I realized it was my fanny pack.

I wear my pack in front, so it is more of a belly pack than a fanny pack.  And since I have been doing so much tutoring, I've had cash in the pack, not just a few cards.  I've been paying for stuff with the cash, and there is always change.  A lot of change.  This change was collecting in my pack.  The weight was pulling on the pack, and making my lower back ache.  Honestly. 

On Wednesday night, I tried an experiment.  I emptied all the change out of my pack, and have gone to work these last 2 days with a lighter pack.

No back ache.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet in the fog.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Eastside Stitchers, Back at Crossroads

Hello:

The Eastside Stitchers had our regular Wednesday meet up at Crossroads in Bellevue.

We had babies.
We had knitting.
BlueBerryMary struggled a bit with her new cabled sweater, and finally put it away to work on the textured sweater she is knitting from reclaimed yarn.
GwenS brought her two colored cowl.  It's in Malabrigo, of course!
ReadnitDream was also knitting a cowl.
Her Darling Daughter was wearing the socks ReadnitDream knit at the Eastside Stitchers Inaugural Knitting Retreat.
DarlingDaughter was doing a bit of her own knitting.
It's a headband!
WireKnitter was knitting another shawl.
Wajio was working on a Knitted Knocker.
NightOrchid is knitting a scarf made from reclaimed yarn.
We had a friend from the Eastside Knitters Guild drop by.  LindaB was knitting a nest for rescued baby birds.
Ok, it wasn't a house on the beach on Camano Island.  But, it was still knitting with friends.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with my knitting buddies.


Sunday, March 22, 2015

More of the Eastside Stitchers First Knitting Retreat

Hello:
On Camano Island for our first Eastside Stitchers Knitting Retreat, we awoke to sunshine after a night of wind and rain.  The house was large enough that the early risers were able to get up, eat something and start knitting without disturbing the late sleepers.
The tide was on the way out, and it was fun to watch how quickly it receded.
The rest of our group arrived and got to knitting.

People found their own comfortable spots.
Some were at the diningroom table.  Some in the sitting room.


Some just looked for a good place in the light.
Lunch was a "do your own thing" meal, but for dinner we had a Taco Bar.  Everyone brought something to share,

Puzan was the best organizer!
Sunday morning was sunny, and the sunrise was lovely.  First there was this weird spot of rainbow on the mainland.
There must have been rain.  As the sun rose a bit more, the sky,and water, lit up.
Finally, it was bright enough to see the Cascades in the distance.
And then Mt. Baker was revealed in all it's glory.
There was more knitting.
And a bit of bird watching as we were visited by a young bald eagle.  Redbird1 was with us in spirit (and yarn.)
On the way home, we stopped by PinchKnitter's Yarn Shop in Stanwood for a bit of Stash Enhancement.  As a group, we finished over 11 projects during the retreat.

We have tagged them with ESSRetreatMar2015 if you want to check them out on Ravelry.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with a weekend of knitting.

Friday, March 20, 2015

First Annual Eastside Stitchers Knitting Retreat

Guess what we are doing at the First Annual Eastside Stitchers Knitting Retreat?







We
Are
Knitting.

 Ok, ReadnitDream is spinning.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet from Camano Island.
P.S. Everyone else, Hurry up and come!