a diet high in fibre

I often find tiny bits of fluff have wandered into my food. And once my toothbrush. It's all over my life. One morning while walking to the buss stop I found a little piece of my handspun yarn on the ground. When we were eating at Copper Canyon, which is at least 15 miles from my house, I pulled a fiber out of my mouth and everyone laughed. It's a problem.

nummy

When a waitress says nummy, I want to die. When she says in 10 times, I want to die faster.

learning

I took 2 classes over the weekend. Carding and blending and then dying yarns. It wasn't a loss, but I didn't learn as much as I hoped. I have done a lot of reading and utubing and asking, and I have really given myself and education over the last 2 years, it's amazing. The face time with the instructor makes it worth it because I get a good chance to ask questions I've been saving questions for several months. And there was an awesome dinner at Copper Canyon. I would recommend this place, I had a polenta with mushrooms, a bowl of smoked salmon chowder, a glass of wine, and shared some dessert for about $20.00. I was happy, and ate my leftovers for lunch.

snuggle me!

I slept over at Keren and Aaron's because Fiona is good. She convinced me, and this morning she was an aggressive snuggler. She brought me a teddy bear and a music box and demanded I make room for her on the couch. I did, because a person just doesn't say no to that.

is it wrong of me to want to buy terrible paintings from regretsy? Because I thrift them sometimes, but getting them new, is that bad?

slow and steady

wins the race. I made a huge bezel today. It was hard. It took 3 hours. It is finished and I'm real happy.

in hot water

while at the beach I purchased an electric kettle. I never planned on bringing it home, but I did and I love it and I'm not sure why I didn't have one before. I live in a tiny space and so that was just one more thing, I always used the stove, but this thing is so fast. And it's bright 1970s orange. I would really like one with a base that detaches someday, but for now this is great.

Lady Tigra

Keren sent this photo of FiFi. I asked her if she would consider changing her name to Lady Tigra, but she said that was too long.

tiny yet important

today in class I got a little tiny glass sliver. This has happened before, and it's amazing how much it hurts. We are working on our enamel unit and I enameled a puffed square shape. Before I did that, though, I made a bunch of little glass shards to layer onto the bigger piece. I did that by melting granulated glass into a thin sheet on top of a piece of metal. Then when you want your bits and pieces, you bend the metal and the glass breaks off into pieces. Those pieces can then be used as what I like to think of as sprinkles. I was very happy to get all that done, it feels like a large portion of the work for this assignment is now done, and I mostly now have assembly to accomplish.

It is amazing how much stuff I passed on today as I was getting ready for my dad. There is a lot to be gotten rid of. But I also found some stuff I had been thinking about, mainly music. I have been wanting to listen to The Frames and The Album Leaf, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, and I found those plus some others in the music box. I had been meaning to look for them because I kept singing them in my head this week, so I'm pretty happy about that, a little music to recharge the ipod. This music was emotionally charged for me, I listened to this stuff when I had a boyfriend, and so I haven't really had it around because of that, but that was a long time ago, and old things are new and great.

My dad will be here today and I am supposed to load my car with moving things and take them to his hotel so we can put them in his truck. He is just staying over night on his way from Mexico to Coeur d' Alene. I feel a little paralyzed. Moving is hard, and if you know me or have been to my place, you will know that unpacking is hard too. I have lived here just over a year and there are still packed boxes. Some of them will go today, and some of them must go away. If I was not planning a big move, I would keep them, there are art supplies, fabrics, that sort of thing, but in light of my plans to go abroad, that stuff must all go. And it's sort of relieving to know that downsizing is coming, because I have been living with a lot of stuff in small places for a while now. And I am also looking forward to the idea of living an unpacked life, as in no boxes, just the stuff I need. I'm making a cup of coffee and the poolish is going, so that will keep me grounded today. I am skipping class today, first time all semester, to get this done, plus I need to get my oil changed and car washed before my dad sees it, he likes the cars clean, even if it's not his own. And I didn't take any pictures of merit all weekend, so I really would be unprepared. That's allowed once in a while, right?

there is a lot going on for me right now, inside and out. When I feel the pressure, I want to play with kids. I went to Keren and Aaron's today and horsed around with the girls. FiFi was in fine form, crashing from the candy withdraws, she is an addict. Kat was trying on swimsuits and drawing out of control pictures of her birthday party that will be happening in February. They gave me lots of hugs, and kids really help to calm me down. I don't feel bad when I'm with them. We ate dinner, and then Aaron played the piano and Ija and FiFi got out their trumpets and played what they consider to be jingle bells, which is just the rhythm with no regard for the melody. Moe was in the bath when all this was happening, so it wasn't as loud as it could have been, but close. I am really going to miss all of my kids when I leave. There are 4 families with a total of 14 children pluss one on the way that I see on a regular basis. I should take a photo of each for the road.

imperfect is fine with me

I don't spin perfect yarn. I don't care to. I don't mind the bumps, I can buy perfect yarn. This is what I have been telling myself. But the truth is, in school often times the expectation is for perfection, even on the first try. Well, then, yarn is a place for my brain to relax and my hands to move. And it's more about making something than making something perfect. The bumpiest stubbiest overspun and underspun yarn is what is making me happy. And besides, they say once you go smooth, it's nearly impossible to go back, no matter how bad you want it. I can spin a pretty smooth singles, but why would I want to?

when I am old

I will live in a house, just me, not above a garage, not with a meth dealing neighbor who made me feel like I was living the movie Blue Velvet, not in an apartment complex where people are always pulling the fire alarm. It will be quiet there. I will take a nap, and wake up, not because of the phone or the neighbor's radio, but because it is time to get up.

I really want to make a pie, which is a funny story. I went out with a guy a few times about 7 years ago. He was very nice, and I am very bad at dating. After about 6 weeks he stopped calling, and I was relieved because though I enjoyed his company, I didn't really feel comfortable. I am a person who requires a large amount of personal space, and he required less, in reality a more average amount. These stories are hilarious to me now. When he tried to put his arm around me at the movies, well, that didn't go so well. When he hugged me goodnight for the first time, I was real bad at that. If I have learned anything, it is to try to be less shocked/visibly uncomfortable and more polite. And to date people I like in the dating sort of way. One night he suggested we go for pie. Pie isn't my favorite, and instead of being polite, I told him I hate pie. So in the end he had pie and I had a blt. A few years after that I decided that I should learn to make pie crust. I made a lot of pie for about a month. I don't think I've made a pie since. Okay, 2 years ago I made a pecan pie, but that was the last time, and it was more of a tart. So maybe I'll make a pie this weekend, pumpkin and shepard's would be good.

I just wanted to tell you

I called my mom and asked her how to make chicken soup not from scratch, because I have always started with a whole chicken. I ended up buying a rotisserie chicken, some broth in a box, some veg, and assembling it, throwing some matzo balls into the mix. I am not kidding, I am so good at chicken soup. And while I was not making things from scratch, I made stuffing from a box and mashed potatoes from a bag. I'm full and happy.

status

it's snowing, tiny flakes, in Boise

the look

I started a hat yesterday, it's part of Christmas knitting, and it's really got the hadspun look to it. It's 2 different rovings, one that was red and orange and one I called dirty yellow. The red one I bought at the farmers' market at the beach, and the other one I dyed while I was there, and I spun them both while there. The spirit of the style of hat is part of what I'm talking about, it's striped, but not evenly, and there are some yarn overs and the most basic of color work. I'm really very pleased. It was never in my brain to make this hat, it's part of my mindset that I should do more and think less.

talk me down

I talked to my mom on the phone tonight, and I love that mom of mine. There is some stress, with graduation, and moving, and jobbing. I am working on the Japan application, and have a job lined up for something to do before the overseas adventure. (I have a back up plan if Japan fails me.) My folks are going to help me move, and my mom confirmed what I was already thinking: get rid of it. If it's replaceable, don't keep it. So long garage sale espresso maker, you have served me well. See you later crockpot, who I have treated as a spouse-you cooked for me! George Foreman, I know we haven't spoken in a long time, but remember the kebabs? The paninis? Toaster oven, I was so happy when I got you, you were on sale and I had a coupon and a gift card. Cheap and easy used to be my thing. Rice cooker, in the short time that you have been in my life, we have been to Seattle, the beach, Portland. You've made rice and lentils and oats and spaghetti and curry. You have been selfless. Sauce pan, you came into my life over 5 years ago, and eventually you got a lid that fit. Your bottom isn't flat, but nobody wants that anyway. You have heated and reheated, we have had soups and sauces and popcorn and nearly everything imaginable. You have been a servant. I will fondly remember you all, and I hope you find new deserving homes. I will work on that.

sew there

I sewed it. I was confident and happy with the results. The crit was weird. This week has felt strange.