Tofutsies Socks Done, what's next?

Looky, looky - I figured out how to do the cursed blog tags/badges thingies for my sidebar. Seems like they coulda made that a little easier. but ANYWAY...

Finally finished Charlotte's pair of matching socks. I can't find the pictures (I actually think I deleted them because my card was full and I wanted more pictures at my sister's wedding last weekend). But, here is one of MY sock. Charlottes look just like mine, but her feet are smaller and cuter. It's just a basic vanilla sock using Tofutsies yarn.

I'm still working away on my sister's stole. Obviously, not going to be the wedding present, but maybe for their 2-year anniversary. I'm also working on the B4 Bag which I just started working on. Now, I'm going to have to try another pair of socks. Probably the new I-Love-Gansey socks from the Six-Sox KAL group

I'd also like to try the tilted duster pattern on the cover of the Fall IK.

All this, and starting to save up my pennies for the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in September, plus that whole change my life career, try to give some energy to spiritual pursuits, find time for marital bliss, etc... The plate is full, may I have another?

Willow Logo

It's In. Yay Logo

and I got the business cards in the mail yesterday. I like it, it's working for me. Thanks Anne! :)

My actual cards have the phone number on them, but I'm not going to make it that easy here.

Kniting and Knit-Alongs

Oh, how I wish I thought I could actually do a KAL with other people. I'd do this.

I'm working on the B4 bag, and a stole for my sister. I want to start another pair of socks tonight though, something to take on the train on Thursday...

Taking Steps, Baby Steps

I haven't been much of a blogger lately, but I thought I'd post my open letter to those in my life..


Hello Fambly –

I haven’t been avoiding anybody, (really I haven’t) I’ve just been trying to change the direction of my life. Which is sort of like trying to turn a really big building to face in another direction. I thought I’d just update you on the status of things round here.

The dream moves pretty slowly, but it does finally feel like there is some motion in the ocean. I had a dream last night that I was trying to make deliveries in my old car up on Mt. Tabor, but it was icy, and my car was full of a lot of garbage. For some reason, I knew I’d be better off if I cleaned that car out before I tried to navigate any more ice hills (aka slippery slopes). But I have to do it in small batches because the dumpster is a long way away, and the ground is slippery. So, baby steps, Dr. Leo Marvin, baby steps.. And I just knew I was driving the right car to keep from sliding backwards, even on the ice. My life is equipped and stable, just still needs a little de cluttering and cleaning out. And obviously, would have been smarter to clean it out before heading up the mountain, or not let it get so full of trash in the first place, but you do what you have to do.

I’m working on my web site and the preliminary version is here: www.willowbirth.com I still don’t have a logo I like very well, and my time has been pretty limited for working on it. I still find myself a little skeptical about the logistics of creating a business designed to serve people who by definition, probably can’t pay. But at the base of it all is the idea of empowering people through the birth process, and beginning to empower them as parents, in ways that the “system” just doesn’t do. I’ve been particularly interested in working with teen moms, and it seems like Catholic Charities is one of the best organizations in here in town to work with. (Thank you, Providence)

I’m working my way through my doula certification through Birth Arts International, and took their workshop in April. At the same time, I’m starting work on my midwifery program through Ancient Arts Midwifery Institute. There is quite a bit of crossover in their requirements so it shouldn’t be too difficult to do both. I’m also fascinated with the idea of eventually pursuing some sort of Childbirth Educator certification, and Birthing From Within is certainly my favorite in that regard, although Ancient Arts Midwifery has a CBE certification option within the midwifery program, so I will likely do that as well. There’s also a Gentle Birth conference in Portland this September, and I’m hoping to do the waterbirth certification workshop at that.

As with most education, it’s the cost of books that is going to be one of the big strains. The books I’ll need for my training I’ve compiled in an Amazon wish list. So, in case, you know, you have this undeniable desire to buy me a present. (that’s right, I’m begging for books *grin* - and I am not offended by used books). You can sort the list by priority and the highest priority ones are the ones I need sooner rather than later. I’m working to acquire these by selling other books I have (which also makes room for the new ones), but it’s slow going.

You can see the Wish List at:http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/3BROVHT7XI7LU

So, if anybody would like to design a logo for me (haha) I’m looking for something willowy, willow branches, willow tree, watery, and the words Willow Birth on it. I have one that I actually like pretty well, but the resolution on the graphic image makes it a little blurry for business cards. (if you want to see what I have let me know)

In other news, I’m still working my “day job.” We took a very much needed vacation in June to the beach for a week. Mom and dad came out for a few days. We have a couple of camping trips scheduled for August, but that’s all we could do this year. Keith has taken to riding his bicycle to work and he’s enjoying that. I think he actually gets home from work faster that way. Both kids are attending school this fall. Nick is going to Benson High School, and Charlotte is going to a new Charter school in North Portland called Portland Village School. I’m “hoping” this affords me more focus time to keep my irons from falling out of the fire and burning me or the house down. But we shall see.

On top of all this, we are making some remodelling/reconstruction plans for our house, some of which we hope to accomplish this summer, but the biggest bit will happen next summer.

But we are all healthy and doing okay. No major crises lurking on the horizon, or at least we are blissfully unaware if they are. Near as I can tell, it’s nothing worse than some slippery slopes to navigate, which I’ll take over steep rocky cliff climbing and running from tidal waves any day.

We will continue with the mantra of “next year it will get easier” until it comes true (or we go crazy).

Love to you all!

Vacation, all I ever wanted..

We are HERE! Lincoln City, just a teeny bit North of Inn at the Spanish Head. It's likely going to wind up being foggy and/or grey and rainy for the majority of our stay. We did get out yesterday and hike to Drift Creek Falls just far enough into the coast range to escape the fog for a few hours and hike in the woods. It's a really beautiful hike, about 2-1/2 to 3 miles round trip, with a suspension bridge over the gorge where the falls, well.. falls.

The beach has been great too. We had some kite flying fun. And some great tidepool exploring at low tide. And perhaps best of all, the jaccuzi tub, with a view of the ocean.

Well, it's beginning to rain, so that's my cue to finish up some work, and start getting ready to go do some shopping, hit the museums, and especially the yarn shops.

My other plans for this week include putting together at least a rudimentary Seers Guild Study Program, and work on my Doula Certification stuff. I also need to write up my bio for the web site, and then maybe, if there's time work on my own web site. But, I also really REALLY want some good quality knitting time this week, so we'll see how that works out.

In other news, I did a reading for a friend using my as-yet untested method of using SPAM e-mail as a divination method. It was pretty accurate. Great to find some practical use for SPAM, eh?

I'm pleased about the rain, it feels like home. :)

Busy Weekend

Still feels like nothing got done..

We went last weekend to the Pomeroy Farm Herb Festival and bought a bunch of herbs. And I SWEAR this time, they will LIVE! At least through the summer. Bunch of culinary herbs like varieties of basil, rosemary, thyme, sage. Some mints for their own pot. I even got three kinds of catnip, which have to live in a hanging basket high above the porch for their own survival. Lane will roll in it to death otherwise.

My sister is getting married this summer and I want to make them a lace stole. I may be getting ahead of myself in terms of just how fancy my knitting skills are. But we'll see. If I get to the first of July and find that it just looks like crap, I'll just make them some lovely heirloom washcloths. ;)

My joints are getting worse. My hands ache all the time. REALLY need to get my broken butt in gear and change this career path. Constant typing is just not going to work out for the long term. Oh, and I still have this weird rash on my thumbs. It's like, the pigment in my skin is turning brown. In the bright sunlight, you can see that it has some spots that are more pink, and the skin is starting to flake a little. I don't know what it is. But my medical transcriptionist brain goes right to the pathology potentials. It's probably not Alzheimer's disease, but there's always sarcoidosis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Or, as I've joked to my husband, I probably have about enough Native American blood in my veins to fill my thumbs. Maybe that's it.

Our beach vacation is finally on the horizon. I NEED this vacation like nobody could believe. Naturally, I'm taking my work with me because even though I need it, and I can have it, I really can't HAVE it. blah. I have some other projects I need to work on, my little doula bio, my web site, the ADF Seers study program... and several knitting projects.

Speaking of, I'm going to yank the yarn out of the little vest thing I started because I'm just positive there isn't enough yarn. I figure, since even when I look and think, oh yeah, there's plenty, I tend to run out. So, if I look and say, I don't think there's enough, then there is DEFINITELY not enough. But, this yarn will make a really cute tote bag.

Okay, better get moving on the mundane life... library, post office, bank... work, work, work...

Blogger Slacker and Yarn Cruises

Yep, I'm a blogging slacker. But in my defense, when I'm not working, I'm trying to spend time with knitting, so at least that means I'm not on the computer 24/7.

I'm fascinated by this whole notion of going on cruises to knit. Like this one.. Sea Socks or this one.. Spindlicity

If I ever were to do a cruise, I hope it's one of those. Too fun. I wonder if there are any more? And how do you find them?