A wild and crazy coupla weeks

The end of the summer is always a little nutty and bittersweet round these parts. King Thing sadly says goodbye to his beloved beach, the kids head back to school and I reclaim the house from its constant state of being overly lived in for four months. Its eeriely quiet, lonesome and blissful all at once.

King Thing hit a major milestone birthday - the big 4-0. I'm careening toward 40 though I get to put it off for a couple of months. Thing 2 started his first year of public school and so far so good. He's loving math, science and spanish so far. I'm keeping fingers, toes and eyes crossed that he continues to like his new school. Thing 1 hasn't played in a football game yet but hopes to soon (picture me as scared Mom in the stands).

And oh yeah, the job thing for me. I'm still employed with my organization (insert happy dance) while we rework my position and its responsibilities. I know better than to jinx negotiations until after the ink is dry but if all works out, I'll still have a job after October. I'll keep you posted (still doing happy dance).

I've been knitting like a fiend since we've been home more and on the road less. I finished a drop stitch scarf that I just realized I haven't photographed yet. I made a little wiener dog for a friend of mine earlier this summer.




And I finished the Mandarin collar tank but royally effed up the depth of the sleeves. (((sigh)))



So I picked the collar off, shortened the shoulder seams and just need to reapply the collar. Now I just need a tall drink before I undertake that process. Taking the collar off alone nearly brought me to tears (but I did it dammit).

My favorite new project is by the very talented Stephen West and is called Daybreak.



I'm making mine with Karabella Boise (a yummy 50/50 merino/cashmere blend) and Punta Mericash (a 30/70 cashmere/merino blend). Great yarn, great pattern, not enough hours in the day to finish it faster. I've got a touch of carpal in my left wrist from overdoing it this weekend - ouch!

I've joined the 2nd She-Knits Mystery KAL on Ravelry and can't wait until it starts next week. I get a little antsy when I don't have another project planned as another one is winding down. Not like there aren't enough FOs in my knitting room that could use some attention. We'll just shut the door and pretend that they're not there.

Oh and I almost forgot to mention that I'm Twittering now as theindigomuse. What's your Twitter name? I'd love to follow your tweets too. Have a super week!

Two Teenagers in the house

Another major milestone in the Muse house. Thing 2 turned 13 on Monday.



Its so weird to think that my boys are developing into young men.





There's alot of nekkidness around the house in the summer so sorry for the bare bods. I'm the only chick in the house besides the Piggie (who's in the picture with the Things) so I don't have much say in the matter. I should have taken a picture of them when they both looked so very nice in their polo shirts before we headed to lunch with King Thing. And don't ask me what's up with that hat and Thing 1. King Thing bought it for him after a trip to Canada last year and he's taken to wearing it every night this summer while he plays on the 360. It has a big Maple leaf on the side. What strange kids we have.

I'm still recovering from some sorta flu/virus. I got it thanks to a colleague who sneezed on me during a conference I attended last week. Nice, huh? I hope it was H1N1 because I hear that once you've had it, you can't get it again. I really don't want to be this sick again anytime soon. I say all of that so that you know why I look so hazy in this picture with my boy.



It was all I could do to make his birthday cake without ruining it. BTW, it was a very cool and uber yummy recipe from Hershey Kitchens "Especially Dark Chocolate Cake". You add boiling water to the concoction before you plop it into the oven, go figure. Twas a hit with all of the boys so I won't doubt the process. I iced it with my special buttercream icing that included almost a pound of local Homestead Creamery butter - YUM!!!

Thanks for all of your kind words and words of encouragement. I truly draw strength from them :)

And yes, I'm still knitting though not much since I've been both out of town and sick. I'm working on the Mandarin Collared Tank and am in the home stretch. Let's hope I look good in it.

Another one bites the dust

Well as of August 31st, I will join millions of other unemployed people in the US. Our non-profit has taken some serious hits over the past few months and while I've dodged the bullet for the last three cuts, I didn't make it through this last round. (((Sigh))) So now the soul searching and fun begins as I try to figure out what to do next. There might be some contract work in my field as there are a couple of grants that will come up in September so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. In the meantime, I'm going to do some teaching at the LYS Yarn Explosion and try to keep my chin up. At least I was able to get through the summer with a paycheck. I found out right before our vacation but decided that I didn't need to ruin everyone's fun by dropping the bomb on them. I'm lucky to have a nice stash of fiber and yarn so I shouldn't want for any hobby related goodies. Unfortunately, we'll have to pull Thing 2 out of private school to keep our expenses in check. I think he'll be fine but I'm nervous about the world of public school for him. I'm not going to commit to a new job until at least October so that I can focus on the transition with him. So much happening all at once.

We have had a fun summer inspite of the news. We spent the week of Fathers Day, 4th of July weekend and another entire week in July at the beach. On the spur of the moment, we jaunted off to DC last weekend to see Paul McCartney perform at FedEx Stadium (What a HUGE treat! The man played for three hours non-stop!). And we're thinking about getting another Corgi nearly two years after saying goodbye to Mavis.

There has been some weaving and knitting though not a ton. I kinda lost my mojo for a brief stint. I'll post some pictures when I can take some with good lighting.

So what have you been up to this summer? BTW, go show some birthday love to my knit bud Robin(who I REALLY missed seeing at knit nite) whose birthday is tomorrow -August 7th.

A bummer of a month

That's how Thing 2 summed up the past several weeks in our household. I couldn't agree more. King Thing's grandmother passed away unexpectedly last Saturday. She was making good progress in her recovery from surgery but I guess her body was just done with the entire process. Its a sad time for his family and I just hope that some serious healing can begin for those left behind. Thanks for all who offered prayers for our family - they're always appreciated.

A more lively post is coming ...

What a long strange trip its been

Busy, busy, busy. Its now my middle name. So much has happened in such a short period of time. I promise to add pictures before the end of the day (if you don't want to wait, check out my Flickr photostream HERE) but in the meantime here's an update:

Thing 2 was reassessed recently and was found to have severe ADHD and significant problems with executive function. (((sigh))) I know he could have worse things to deal with but I couldn't help but feel bad for him. And contrary to rational thought, I felt like a bad mom because its likely I have it too and passed it on to him. Long story short, we decided to give Straterra a try inspite of my anti-medication stance because he was quite miserable at school. Several weeks in and he's doing very well, no side effects and is thrilled with the ability to focus. Praying that he continues to do well into the future.

My best bud's sister had her twins (the ones that I made the stroller blankets for). I made them some cupcake hats to match their stroller blankies and some teeny tiny socks to keep their little tootsies warm.







We spent Spring break with The Dead (minus the late Jerry Garcia) - thus the title to this post. Thing 1 and King Thing went to the shows in Greensboro, NC and Washington, DC. Thing 2 and I joined them for the show in Charlottesville, VA. It was quite the 90s flashback for me and a first for Thing 2. Thing 1 made his rounds to several shows when he as a baby but of course he doesn't remember any of it. After the kids were quite appauled at first but eventually they settled in and had a blast people watching. I'm always amazed at how laid back everyone is and how the police don't bust anyone's chops. If only the weather had cooperated - brrrrr!





Sadly, during Spring break week, my grandma's sister (Great Aunt) and King Thing's grandmother were both hospitalized :( My great-aunt didn't make it and we said goodbye to her on April 24th. She was one of the neatest people I had the pleasure to know and her antics and eccentricities will truly be missed. I feel blessed to have known her as long as I did. While I'm sad that she's gone, I'm so glad that she no longer has to suffer.

King Thing's grandma is still in ICU, on a ventilator, trying to recover. We feel pretty helpless and just continue to pray. Her recovery is in God's hands and those caring for her now.

I hit Maryland Sheep and Wool in the midst of all of this crazy train that is life and was so glad to have had time to visit with my buds Ei and Heaz.







Look who else we got to visit with - Carrieoke! And we got to meet her sister, Ysolda and so many others at the Ravelry meetup this year. I think this was my fourth trip and the wettest to date - ick! But we still had fun in spite of the rain. Heaz is getting married soon - squeee! Ei and I coaxed each other into buying rigid heddle looms this year so I came home with a Schacht 20" Flip. Wee doggie, there is so much to learn about weaving. I feel like I have to learn yet another fiber related language. Warp, weft, sett, arghhhhh. It's coming slowly but surely and after three practice projects, I've warped the loom for a "real" planned project - a wrap.







Keeping my fingers crossed that I did the calculations right and I have enough weft yarn to complete the project. Math is NOT my forte so I won't be surprised if I'm off in my calculations. I'll just chalk it up to yet another learning opportunity.

So in general, life is crazy but good. The sun and warmth and green is back and I'm loving every minute of it. I've got some other good news to post about but that will have to wait for another post. I promise it won't take me two months to get to it :)

A year of firsts

Sorry I've been mia. Work has kept me very busy up until yesterday. I'm not complaining. I'm so very grateful to still have my job especially in light of the fact that many friends, family, co-workers and colleages are losing or have lost theirs. I'm trying hard not to get overwhelmed but some days its hard than others. I've been given notice that I might only have a couple of months before I need to start looking, depending on funding. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and am sending a blanket prayer to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation.



The year of firsts reference is to our first year without Mavis our beloved Pembroke Welsh Corgi we had to put to sleep last December. Not a single "first" went by without someone in our family remembering it. The first Christmas was the hardest, the first time we dropped food on the floor and she wasn't there to slurp it up, the first snow that she didn't get to roll in, the first trip to the beach without her, the first fourth of July that we didn't have to calm her down from the fireworks, the first Thanksgiving. The last of the firsts was this weekend - the first anniversary of her leaving. I still get choked up when I think of her. I miss her so very much. The Things want another dog and I can't bring myself to do it yet because I'm not ready to have to make the decision to take a life again anytime soon. I doubt myself everyday, that I did the right thing. I pray for her forgiveness if I was wrong. Our lives are richer for her having shared it with us and yet missing something now that she's gone.

Okay, this entire post isn't an entire downer. Just needed to get some stuff off my chest. Since I posted last a lot has happened. I celebrated my 39th birthday (40 is coming fast), Thing One got his learner's permit (yikes!), Thing Two is hitting puberty (ack!) and I've cast on for a few projects. See, I am still knitting...

The penguin was part of a birthday gift to a dear friend, the chalet socks are for me and hubby for the holidays and yes, the thrummed jacket is finally finished but I'm still weaving in a zillion ends.

Viva Playa del Carmen Mexico

Since May, we've not only been blessed with the opportunity to spend a good percentage of weekends on the beach in Norfolk but to spend tons of time with our best buds from college.



We took our first family vacation together (all eight of us) to Costa Rica two years ago and decided to tempt fate again with a trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico in June.







It couldn't have gone any smoother. The flight in and out of Cancun was almost too easy. Playa del Carmen was a 30 minute scenic drive from the airport on some of the best paved roads I've been on in years (rivals most of those in the states or at least in the VA/DC area). Every driver we had during our stay went out of his way to make our trip enjoyable. We stayed at the Mayan Palace resort which boasts the largest pool in Latin America (it was ginormus).



Courtesy of Travelhero.com




The rooms were huge and included a well appointed kitchen so we cooked several meals during our week stay (a great cost saving when you have to feed eight people). We spent a good amount of our time on the beach and by the pool doing absolutely NOTHING.





After frying to a crisp at the beginning of the week (that sun was brutal), we finally reserved a Palapa (cabana) to lounge under, perfect for naps after a hard day of doing nothing.











The guys played golf and hit the beach, I hit the spa, the kids swam for hours and hours, Thing 1 hit the gym and we all ate yummy food. Our big adventure was to the ancient ruins of Tulum and downtown Playa del Carmen.


















The ruins and the view were breathtaking. And yes, there was some knitting. I made quite a bit of progress on my Morning Surf wrap that has officially visited three beaches and two countries in its short life.




I highly recommend that if you get a chance, visit the Mayan Riviera. Its easy enough to travel to (less than a two hour flight from Charlotte, NC), is clean and beautiful, the water is really THAT color blue, the roads and taxis are excellent, its easy to spend US dollars in most places and you can get by if you don't speak Spanish though it is most helpful if you do (poor King Thing was odd man out with the espanol and was occasionally challenged in communicating with the locals). The only downsides were the mosquitos at night (Autan saved us in a major way), the high humidity (didn't bother to curl my hair all week), having to take shuttles from our room to the pool and having to take taxis to get anywhere off premises. We're already planning another trip to perhaps Cancun or Acapulco if we can find more great deals on airline tickets. Viva Mexico!

Clicky for more pictures of our trip...

Bored with my blog design

I'm sure you're probably more bored with it than I am. I actually loathe it at this point. I had a cool layout for a couple of years with autumn trees and leaves. And then when Blogger upgraded, it would no longer work with their new layout. I could fiddle with it but then I get sucked into the blog vortex and I just don't have that kind of time or energy these days. Anyone up for trading some handspun yarn, a handknit or a custom knit design for a blog redesign? PM me on Ravelry or send me an email at indigomuse AT verizon dot net (replace the "at" and "dot") and we'll chat. I don't need anything fancy just not so boring.

I have much to post about but not until the remnants of two near migraines subside (caught both of them with four ibuprofin before they had a chance to go full blown). My head is sore, my eyesight is off and for some reason caffeine triggered the second migraine on Sunday so I've had no coffee or anything caffinated for the last two days. Needless to say, Momma is NOT happy. I'm just thankful that the migraines didn't happen until the very end of almost two weeks of vacationing in Mexico and the beach in Norfolk with our best buds and our kids.

Scenes from the last few weeks

A few shots of what I've been up to over the last few weeks. Time sure has flown by quickly. It has been cold, really hot and now kinda chilly. I've been to the beach twice, the pool many times and got sunburned, yet again. King Thing and Thing 1 refurbished our deck and built a pergola at the beach house. We celebrated the end of the school year for the Things and are so ready to officially kick off the summer in a big way. I've been knitting a bit, spinning a ton, solar dyeing on the deck and am learning quite a bit about dyeing with natural flowers, etc. I planted a garden for the first time in ten years and have been nursing a cold for nearly two weeks. Phew! I'm tired just thinking about the past month.

Clickie if you want to see the pictures even bigger...



Thing 2's year end art project



The beach house pergola project with King Thing and his best bud



Finished my first skein of yarn from my 2008 Maryland Sheep and Wool fleece purchase



Solar Dyed BFL bumps



Gradiant dyed BFL singles



Solar dyeing BFL roving in Copper Penny blue solution



The beginnings of my Morning Surf Wrap at the beach for Father's Day



Our piggie chillaxin on the beach with us



Thing 1 catching a croaker in the sunset at the beach

Snow Day!!!!

After many weeks of hearing from Thing 1 and 2 "when is it going to snow?" We finally got a decent snow and thus school was closed today.


View from the front door


View from the deck

I love a good snow day as long as we don't get too many of them. Some of the magic of a snow day has disappeared since I've been telecommuting for the last four years and am home most of the time anyway. But it is nice to watch big fluffy flakes of snow fall quietly outside of my office/knitting room window. Even the piggie got to play in the snow though I can tell you that she doesn't like it nearly as much as she does the beach.

Piggie in the snow



Brrr. Let me in guys...

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been a spinning fool since the holidays. For some reason, I hit my spinning stride every January and don't slow down until late Spring. Robin told me about NaSpiMoMo - National Spin More Month that was started by Margene. Its cool to see what people are spinning up daily around the globe. And I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who tends to spin and pet the resulting skeins of yarn. I hope that this is the year that I actually figure out what to do with some of the yarn.

One of my spinning goals for 2008 is to spin finer weight yarn. After lots of practice and disappointing results, I've finally been able to harness the power of sweet Arwen, my wheel and spin fingering weight plied yarn. These two practice skeins came off the wheel within the last week. Both are 28 WPI (plied) with approximately 110 yards per ounce.

Woodbridge "Raja" gifted to me by Robin




"Creatively Dyed Corriedale"



I'm thrilled that I can spin this fine though its not something I want to do all the time. I feel like a spider spinning threadlike singles except not as fast. I have two ounces left of the Raja and about 6 ounces left of the Creatively Dyed fiber to spin this fine and then I think I'm going to take a break from fingering weight fibers. The fun part about spinning the Creatively Dyed roving is experimenting with how I split the roving. The first ounce was split in half and then torn into 8 inch sections in an effort to produce long lengths of color. The second ounce that I'm working on now was also split in half but then I split each length into 6 sections. I can't wait to see how different each ounce spins up.

Not much happening on the Jeanie front. I've knit almost an inch over the last day or so its almost mini skirt length.



Since Jeanie will take many a fortnight to finish. I plan to periodically distract you with other FOs. Like these convertible mittens that were finished and gifted to a friend's daughter after the first of the year.



I'm about to cast on a couple of Shaun the Sheep projects to help break up my current knitting boredom. Anyone have some ideas on what I should cast on next?