Up close.

Work, work, work.
L and I cleaned today.
SPRING cleaning.  Who's idea was that?
To clean every spring.
Anyway, the studio is definitely in need of some serious cleaning, so we started with the living room.
The pellet stove generates dust, the weaving generates dust.
We organized, moved stuff, and cleaned from the ceiling to the floor.
It looks GOOD.

Our plan is to do a room a day.  You know what they say about plans, right?

Every nook, every space, got cleaned.
Do you know how much JUNK one person can collect.
Especially a somewhat crazy person.

Three looms are really too many for this room.  We could get rid of a chair or two, but then where would the kitties sleep???
Decisions, decisions.

But why 3 chairs, you ask?   Don't you have 4 cats?
Yes, you are right, I do.  But Kizzy doesn't hang out by the stove.  He's a guy.
It's a guy thing.

Someone has just eaten breakfast and was taking her bath on the landing.  

How about a nice walk in the labyrinth??
I feel like paparazzi following her around.

I have been on a hat knitting kick.  This hat is the MOST fun to knit, and I love the way it feels.
Even though I am not really a hat person.

I am also not much into putting my FACE on here.
But I am doing it anyway.
Di over at the Blue Ridge Gal is my inspiration.
She does it, and well, all the time.  So I must live up to her standards.

You might say it is my way of being in acceptance of where I am in my life.  64 and tough.  Still going strong.
That's a whole lot to be thankful for.

Unfortunately, my hair is getting grayer by the day.

And it is kind of a mess, to boot.
If I weren't having so much fun, I would spend some time on it.

NOT.

Door B

I had a great day.
I thought I was going to be doing an order, but I got stumped with picking out fabrics.  I was missing a color.  What I had just wasn't working for me.
Every now and then that happens, and I have to go shopping.
Yes, with all my thousands of pounds of fabric, I have to go BUY some more.
It sounds crazy, but this is for a very good customer, and I really want it to be right.
When I finally decided on what to buy, I went back to Joann Fabrics to get it.  I intended to buy 10 yards, and use the 40% off coupon they have in their flyer, good for one regularly priced item only.
But they ran out of flyers, and when I asked them if they would honor the sale, they said no.
So I left.  A little annoyed.  If you run out of sale flyers, do you penalize the customer??

So I have to wait until Sunday to go get the fabric, when the new flyer comes out.
So I decided that rather than agonize over it, I would just  fuhgeddaboutit, and instead, I would just do whatever pleased me.
So I did.

You can tell from the rolls of fabric that I went for a lovely bike ride today.  I found that I can also wind the fabric balls while I ride!!!

And since, I can't get the fabric until Sunday, I will have to continue to amuse myself  for two more days.
Oh drat.

I treated myself with a lovely salad.....pears, hard boiled egg, feta cheese, raspberry balsamic dressing.
It was so good.

And while I was sitting at my desk, enjoying my lunch, I happened to look up and see this.

Yes, it is Miss Bubbalee, sitting on the roof of the shed next door.  I ran outside with my camera, and she just stared at me.
What????   I wanted to yell at her........you're too pregnant to be climbing up on the roof.   WTH?????
But I knew it was no use.  This girl lives on HER terms.  Not mine.

Back to my salad, and my quiet day.  I have to concentrate on this amusing myself thing.

Cutting FA......?

Fabric!!!!
Or FAT~~!!!!!
Both.
I have been going to post about my weight loss venture, so you wouldn't think that I had given it up.  I haven't, on the contrary, I am more motivated than ever.
I have lost 10 lbs, or TWO BAGS of cheap sugar off my hips.
I can feel it in my jeans, they kind of hang, and OMG, do I love that feeling.
I remember once reading that nothing tastes as good as THIN feels.  I never really believed it, but lately, I do.
It isn't about looking good, although that is sure a bonus, but it really is about feeling comfortable in my own skin, physically.
I am loving this new WW Points Plus. I am not hungry all the time, and it helps me to eat better, not more.
When I lose at least 15 more lbs, or maybe 20, I am going to buy NEW jeans, and cut my old ones up for a rug.  Then I am going to do a little dance on that rug.

Anyway, I have this stationary bike at the studio.  I bought it at a garage sale last summer, and I have used it sporadically.  Sporadically being the key word here.  Mostly I hate it because the whole time I am doing it, I am thinking about what I COULD be doing, something a whole lot more productive than spinning my wheels.  That's what it feels like.
But last week, when I stepped on the scale, and I had gained a pound, even after being so good all week, so I decided that I needed to get my butt moving.  My problem has been the plantar fasciitis.
OUCH.  It hurts SO bad.  I have been wearing the splint as much as I can stand it at night.  I have been using the Tea Tree mineral stuff.  I have been doing the exercises, I  take Advil, but still, there are times during the day when I can barely walk.
So I decided that I would do 30 minutes on the bike every day, until it is warm enough to get my real bicula out.
But the boredom..............ACK.
Then this morning, I had a brain storm.
I had a big roll of fabric to cut, for an order.
So...................

I did 30 minutes on the bike, pedaling quite fast I might add, and I got the whole roll of fabric cut.
And more importantly, the time just flew by.

And I was ready to weave.

You don't think I'm crazy, do you?

Do you?

Time to rest my foot, and  get ready for an exciting evening.

Yes, American Idol, and popcorn in my whirly popper.

And in between, I'm knitting a funky hat.

I am trying to contain myself.

I'm listening.

Yes, I am.  Listening to the universe speaking to me.
As it often does.
The phone was ringing today, and the UPS man had a stack of boxes to pick up.
Like I said, I not only don't like doing shows, I don't need to do shows.
I just need to pay attention to what I am doing, and not get all caught up in the
"should do list".
"What I want is what I've not got, what I need is all around me".
 Dave Matthews.


I emptied the Union today.  Finished up three rugs.

This one just makes me want to turn the music up and dance.

Did I mention that I am addicted to COLOR?
I probably did.

On a sad note, my neighbor called today to tell me that there was a cat in the road in front of her house, that had been hit by a car.  She was going to bury it, but she wanted me to know, in case it was one of "my strays".
The Kingsbury cats.  She described it, while I held my breath, and NO, it was not Bubbalee.  In fact, while I was on the phone, I saw her fat, pregnant self on the porch eating.  And I exhaled.
I know the cat in the road, not well.  I saw him there eating a couple of times.  He was always running, and always scared. It is an awful life these homeless cats have, and it seems hopeless, sometimes.

On a happier note, I made a NINE foot runner.
Why? you ask.
Because I could.  And I wanted to.  And someone will love it, want it, I hope.
Lots of reds, blues, and yellows.

Then I put a warp on for an order, and that pretty much did it for the day.

I am so glad you all stop by to see what I am up to.  It makes it seem so much more fun.

I do seem to be stuck on the follower thingie, but when I do, if ever, get to 300, I am going to have another big giveaway.
You can help me think of something wonderful.

Just for myself.

It rained and rained all day.
Bubbalee is still pregnant.
VERY PREGNANT.

She sat on the table on the porch, and took her morning bath.
Taunting me.
"You can't catch me.  Na na na na na na".

When I am inclined to worry about it, I remind myself that she is FED, and she is not scrounging around to stay nourished, so her chance of having healthy babies must be improved.
And she didn't have them last week, when it was so cold.  It is warmer this week, and that is good.
Besides, I can only help her as much as she will let me.
She is the boss.
Why am I not surprised?

I spent most of the day weaving the warp off a loom, so I can weave an order on it.  Making the rugs I love to make.  Some people call them hit n' miss, but you can call them anything you want.  They are haphazard, catch as catch can.
A little of this, a little of that.
Like life.

 I love the adage, " use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without".
Anything that makes life simpler is a good thing.
I loved the book Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on a Finite Earth by Jim Merkel.  

Imagine you are first in line at a potluck buffet. The spread includes not just food and water, but all the materials needed for shelter, clothing, healthcare, and education. How do you know how much to take? How much is enough to leave for your neighbors behind you—not just the six billion people, but the wildlife, and the as-yet-unborn?

It may be a bit much for most of us, but it is certainly a book to get all of us thinking about the way we use our planet.

I am OK with my decision to bypass craft shows.  I am going to try harder to pay attention to what it is that really makes me happy and content on a daily basis. I am going to work harder at NOT browbeating myself into doing what I think I SHOULD do.  Have mercy.
 I have a tendency to get 'driven' by whatever task is at hand, and forget about the things I need to stay balanced.  It may take a lifetime to get this right.

When I  watch the news, and read the papers, it is clear to see that I can only do what I can do.  I can only make a difference in my own world, and hope that it matters.

Survivor

"I survived" a weekend with a 7 year old, just a little tired.
Ya think?
She took my camera for a tour around the studio.
She was actually very good all weekend, and I can't say that I have much of a complaint about anything.

She caught Sydney Sue trying to read my pattern.

Sydney!!!!

WHAT???

She was kind enough to take a picture of her Mimi weaving.  

These are supposed to be baby blankets.

Oh, for the perspective of a child, eh?

They see the world without all the accumulated baggage that grown ups have.

She is joyful about so much: about pancakes, or a 'short stack' as she called them, the chance to clean my desk at the studio, a ball of chained loopers  that I said she could have, her hair all washed and braided, seeing her Mom.  Everything to her is an adventure, an experience to savor.  She is totally excited about life.  

What a concept, eh?

In addition to cats, we can learn a lot from children.  Life can be pretty simple.

Life SHOULD be pretty simple.

Gabby

My 7 year old granddaughter stayed over last night.  I don't often get to spend one on one time with her, and she was overdue.

She told me, "Mimi, I don't LIKE you."  Giggle.  Giggle.

"April FOOL".........I LOVE YOU.

This morning, we colored Easter eggs.

The best part is, she loves hard boiled eggs.

She wants to take them home.  She is also taking home my old cash register.  My daughter is going to be SO happy.

Then we headed over the road to the horse farm.  Her favorite place.

She insisted that her fleece was warm enough.
But the wind was too much, and she agreed to wear my hoodie.

I suggested that she might not always be interested in horses.
She tipped her head, pursed her lips, and gave me "the look".
Ouch.

She ended up wearing her rubber boots, it was so muddy.  This girl throws herself into whatever she does.  She cleaned all the pony's feet, without a complaint.

All in all, a good day, spent with someone I love very much.
It doesn't get much better than this.

Who's the fool?

Ugh.  Everyone has been squirming all week, waiting for this spring blizzard that was promised us here in the north country.
It didn't happen.
April Fool???

It's OK.  I do not mind being fooled in this case.  Lots of drizzle, varying types of precipitation, gray skies. Good stuff.

Finished this order today.

And took two other rugs off the loom that were underneath it.

This is the time of the year that I start making rugs that look like spring to me.

Rugs and cats.  Rugs and cats.  I feel like I should apologize.
Maybe I should call this blog THE CATS OF KINGSBURY.

But today was a day of success.  We took Ringo to the vet today, and he came back  a little calmer, and a little less likely to pick fights with the other male cats in the neighborhood.  The vet said he is about a year and a half old, and he has a heart murmur.  He is also very friendly,  he came right up on the porch, and wanted attention.  He purred and cried, and was definitely more interested in getting petted, than he was in getting fed.  I almost felt guilty putting him in the carrier and taking him to be neutered.
Almost.
L said that she hoped he didn't belong to anyone.
Well, if he did, they are lousy cat owners.  He  is fighting his way across town, he is skinny, and crying, and his life is at risk every day.
He is one more cat that I wish I could find a home for.  L let him go, but he didn't go far.  He was still on the porch when she left.
So many homeless cats, so few people who want them.
It keeps me awake some nights.  I know that I am doing what I can.
Why doesn't it feel like it's enough?

OK, now for a quiz, kind of.
Really.
A lady emailed me, and asked me if I could weave some shmatas for her.
I said, HUH?
So, finally, she sent me a piece of one.
Shmata means "rag", but she liked these so well, she had them on the arms of her couch.
Then someone came into her house and shrieked that they were just meant to wipe up spills!

The warp appears to be 8/2, or something close.
The weft is a mystery.
Has anyone ever heard of these?  And what are they made of?
WTH is a shmata?

When I was about 11, on April Fools's Day, I decided to switch the salt and the sugar.  It was a foolish thing to do, but hey, I was a kid, and it seemed like a good idea.  I did it specifically to trick my mother, since she was the tea drinker.  I remember it clearly, she put two big heaping teaspoons of what she thought was sugar in her tea.  Then she took a big gulp, promptly spit it out, and screamed my name.
She was very angry, and as I recall, she didn't forgive me right away.
Tonight, over dinner, while I was telling my granddaughter about my little April Fool prank, my mother looked straight at me, and said, WHO are you talking about????
Yup, you guessed it.
She has totally forgotten it.
I guess that means she has forgiven me.