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Crazy as a Loom

Monday, December 23, 2024

The apprentice.


I recently realized that maybe I had been weaving a bit too much.  
Both my shoulders were on fire, and it made it very hard to sleep.

So after talking to my usual Physical Therapist, and another friend/Physical Therapist 
who I recently taught to weave, I formulated a plan.

1.  take a break from weaving for a bit
2. On restarting weaving, have a schedule that
is more balanced and less "production weaver" mode.
3.  Take Aleve twice a day for at least a week, to
dumb down the inflammation.

So far, it is working.  My shoulders already feel better after just 4 days.

Last summer, when I bought a second hand Baby wolf loom, I was given 
a bunch of stuff from a weaver who had gone to a nursing home.
Among all that stuff was a stack of quilting squares, plus all the material 
necessary to finish it and put it together.

So because I couldn't weave, I have been doing this for the last 3 days.
Unfortunately, I do NOT like it.  
I'm not a pastel girl, after all.
So I am selling this quilt top for $100, and someone else can put the batting
and the backing on it.





Before I took the break from weaving, I was busy on the Megado, making 
Möbius shawls.




Just throwing in my new tea kettle here.



A couple of months ago, I had a basic weaving class here, and one of the 
students was a lovely young woman who lived close by. Let's call her 
"T".

She was a super quick learner, and I was pretty sure she would be a weaver someday.


After the class, she messaged me that she would love to come help me in the studio, just 
for the chance to learn.  So for the last month, she has been coming one day
a week.  She has been learning, and helping.  
It's been great for both of us.
Here she is, modeling a Naya cloak, that I helped her make from a piece
she had been weaving.





It really turne out great, and I am very pleased to have her here.  She's
 going to be  very good at this!





The last two nights have been brutal, Zero and below.  So on Saturday morning,
when I happened to see Goldie on the porch, I slipped out, and grabbed him.

He has been prisoner in the studio for two days and two nights.


He wailed and cried, unless I was in there with him, and then he settled down, and was the best house cat.   

Willie and Naya were at the door whining to come in.
Then when I left Goldie and went into the living room with the dogs, Goldie started crying.

It was interesting to be caught between the two of them.  When I was with one, I felt like
I was cheating on the other.  Good grief.

He went back outside today, even though it's still very cold, but I knew that's what he 
wanted.  He went right into his solar house with the heated pad.  I can only hope he's ok.
I  went out there several times this afternoon, called to him, hoping he would come.  But nope.
I guess when it comes down to it, even though he LOVES the attention he gets when he is 
inside, he loves his life outside even more.




Today when I was on my way to pick up my friend and take her to PT, my car decided 
to give me grief.
I called the Subaru garage, and they told me not to drive it, so $163 later, the Subaru
Assistance truck picked it up and took it to the dealer.
I have heard nothing all day.  But that's not surprising.  They had a day full
of appointments, and they were going to try to slip my car in at some point.

My car is only 3 years old, and only has 33, 000 miles on it.  After much thought I think I know what is wrong with it.
The other day when I took Willie to the vet, I think he stepped on the console between the
front seats, and stepped on the button for the emergency brake.  I haven't been anywhere since.
The the car sat there in below zero weather.
I think the emergency brake froze, and when I tried to drive it, all the lights
on the dash started lighting up.

So here is am, two days before Christmas, no car.

But you know what?  
I'm still blessed in too many ways to count, so I will just forgo the whining, and 
thank my higher power for getting me to where I am today.

Happy holidays all!!!!!!




Monday, December 9, 2024

Today

After much ado, I finally got my Megado electronic dobby 
 working, but not before I bought a new Windows laptop.

Apparently, my Mac laptop was "too new" and had some security measures on it, 
that would not allow my software program, Fiberworks, to operate the loom.
So I ordered one from Staples on their Black Friday online sale.
Anything to avoid going to the store on that horrific day of consumer 
madness.
With the new computer, I was able to get it up and running in no time.


This makes it all worth it though.   I do love this draft.


I thought I might need to buy something to put the laptop on, so I could see
it well, but then I had the brain storm to us this stool, with the bed risers under
the legs to get it up to the right height.
Easy fix, no $ spent.



Which turned out to be a very good thing, after my surprise today.




I went to my local auto garage, to get my oil changed in my Subaru Forester.
I thought I would be out of there in no time, and it would be no big deal.




But unfortunately, that's not how it happened.   
I needed new brakes, all around.
Groan.

Then " I'm sorry, but you need tires all around, as well, you could wait until spring, but we don't recommend it".
So I called my ex son in law, who I trust in these matters.  Told him how much tread I had left, and he said. since winter is here, and the roads often suck, I needed to do it now.

They very kindly gave me a rid home, so I didn't have to sit there all day, and then I called a neighbor to take me back to pick it up.
So after  a $15,000 summer....new furnace, roof repair, dog fence repair, I am now out $2400
more.
Why not, eh???  End the year in the way it's been going.





So I came home and sat down to weave.

Probably not wise at that moment.

I was so distracted that I totally screwed it up, and ended up
"unweaving" several inches.
Horrors.





So I took a little coffee break, and had a little talk with myself.

Yes, it did hurt my pocketbook, a lot.

But truth?   I have SO MUCH to be grateful for.

I sit here warm and comfortable with my dogs, watching it snow outside.
I have my studio that nurtures my soul every day.

I have family that loves me.

I have friends that care about me.

I have gotten through a lot worse situations than this, and I will be fine.






So once again, gratitude is the attitude today.  I am ok.  It's all ok.  

And, I have a safe, reliable  Subaru in the driveway.



Welcome to my world.

Because every thread counts

Because every thread counts