It’s Tuesday. I know you know this, I’m reminding myself. I’m in recovery from my mother being here for a week. She left early this morning. It was great to see her and we had a wonderful time together. We also managed to go from Portland, to the coast and to the center in less than 48-hours. All in the name of a view of the ocean and some spectacular quilts. However… I’m dead dog tired and in a bit of pain (from all the car travel). I’m also on a deadline to pitch some business. It’s not much. It’s a long shot. It’s keeping me busy and engaged.

So what’s the upshot? This is not a long post. But it’s a post. I promise to write a longer blog this weekend on what’s up in my life, some big knitting decisions and the quilt show we went to in Sister Saturday. I’ve uploaded some photos from the quilt show to my Flickr account (see side bar).

Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach Garden

Blue Beauties

Designed and pieced by Jean Wells. Her inspiration was a tree stump with age rings.

The Grand Prize Winner. The picture does not do it justice.

PS: Dear nudge buddy, I’m somewhat back on track this week and will get you an update Friday!!!

Please excuse grammar and sentence structure today. I’m giving myself 10 minutes (or less) to post today.

I’m late. I’m late to the Tour de Fleece. I signed up on the 4th, sadly I did not start on the 5th. I’ll get going this week. I’m not setting a goal as I’ve not spun since the surgery. I’m just now able to really sit up straight for long periods of time without to much stress. YEA!!! I have the following in the stash.

Merino

Fun!

Unknown…

Silk/Wool blend.

It should be fun. I have about three weeks. No pressure, just some fun and a great way to get reengaged with Spinning since the surgery.

Other news? I’m getting ready for my Mom to arrive tomorrow night. I still have to work/look for work while she’s here. I’ve limited that to Noon each day (Wed./Thursday). I’ll be taking taking Friday off to head to the beach for the day. Saturday morning we’re getting up early to go to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

Job front. I’ve started to network. I have a couple of project leads. I’m still debating (working with my professional coach) on next steps and move. I do have some runway and I’m trying not to stress to much.

Times up. Have a great one!

If you’re in the Northwest you’ll know that it’s been hot, muggy and not conducive to knitting. At least for me. I can’t get motivated to put yarn and needle together at times like this. Instead of knitting I’ve dived into a needlepoint project that I need to get done. My sisters Christmas present was ready to be picked up this week at InStitches.

Don’t you just love it! It’s a white jean jacket with the yoke removed and replaced by a needlepoint design that she picked out (both the jacket and design).

I find that I’m have a wonderful time reacquainting myself with this other art that I love. I’m not giving up knitting, but in this heat, with limited air conditioning, it’s something I can do and enjoy.

I did manage to do some serious yarn winding this weekend. I did want to stay connected to yarn this weekend, just not knit anything. So in preparation for when it’s not so hot and muggy I wound:

New Year of Lace 2008 second project. I’m very excited about this design (I wasn’t so keen on the first one). I have a feeling I’ll be casting on this weekend. It’s light weight and I’m itching to do lace these days.

Three hanks (665 yards each) of some lovely natural brown Peruvian Alpaca. T’s sock yarn in the back ground. Not sure what I’m going to make yet with the Alpaca. T’s socks have been started.

I’m still on hiatus from looking for work. Not totally. I have made some calls, but no serious efforts yet.

Have a great 4th of July!

It’s been an interesting three months that has culminated with a whammy. A strategic restructuring of my workplace. Result? Monday, June 23 was my last day. Sudden would be an appropriate word. I’m surprisingly at peace and hope they are able to move towards success. I’ve had several calls and emails from ex-colleagues wishing me well and making sure that I know they are there. A wonderful testament to some neat people.

I’m taking a week off starting tomorrow end of day. I may blog. I may not. I will be back after July 4th.

I had hoped to get to Black Sheep this weekend to connect with friends. It was a no go.

I had a set back on Friday. I went in to see the Dermatological surgeon per a follow up from my recent six-month skin cancer check up. I go every six-months since my basal cell skin cancer removal 3 years ago. I thought I was going in to have a small culture taken from an area around where they had removed a mole during the check up. I wasn’t. I was in to have a 2.0cm long x 1.5cm wide (down to the fat) chunk of skin cancer removed (melanoma) from my upper left back. I was lucky. They only do radiation and chemotherapy at 1.0 mm. The actual culture indicated ~ .33mm. They’ll run tests on the removal this week. I’ll find out if they got it all next Friday. My surgeon was hopeful. Unfortunately, the incision and the medication made me very tired and a bit sore.

In a nut shell? Well hell.

I continue to work at finding balance as do many of you. However, today and the last several days I have given my self permission to just not be OK with it all.

Tomorrow will be a better day.

I’m back from my whirlwind trip to Ohio and California. I’m exhilarated and just darn tired. I did well on the flights with the neck. A wee bit sore, but not as much as I expected. I kept my evenings out to a minimum (no later than 10:00 PM). On the California trip that was a tough. I was with clients. They’ve all been very supportive and have wished me well these last months. It was great to see them.

On a separate note, my two Shetland fleeces arrived from Stonehaven Farm. I made the decision to send them out to be processed (washed, carded, etc.). I can’t wait to get them back to begin spinning. I have an idea for the Grey, not quite sure for the camel colored one yet. I have time.

Cordelia

Viola

I’ll write more later. I promise. I’m very tired and need to get some sleep.

The Eclectic Sole by Janelle Laidman has arrived. Wahoo!!

I curled up and read it cover to cover last night. There are a couple I think I’ll try. I personally love the anklets! My kinda socks. I’m not a huge sock knitter - I do knit socks - just not obsessively as some of my knitting friends do. I’m a sweater kind of gal.

We have a wee bit of sun today. I’m determined to get out to Forest Park early this evening to get some walking and fresh air in. I’ve about had it with all this grey and rain and sub 60-degree weather. It’s June 3 for heaven sakes.

More later. I need to finish up some fiddly things for the press tour next week.

Many of you know that the run up to DAC is, well crazy. For those of you that know this, no words necessary. For those that don’t it’s nuts. You can read about it here. I leave Thursday (June 5) for a one day thing on Friday, then on to LAX Saturday for the blessed event, returning home June 13. It’s my first trip since my surgery. I have pain killers, Motrin, heating pads, walking shoes and yoga mat.

The weekend started off with T headed out to France until the 16th. He’s on his annual bike trip that he helps friends lead. It may not be my idea of a holiday, but he loves it. Actually France is my idea of a Holiday, cycling 80-miles a day. Not.

Friday evening started with dinner with some great friends. Sarah, Teresa and Ross.

Sara and Teresa

The weather was gorgeous! We managed to eat something, have a cocktail and enjoy a wonderful Friday evening in sunny Portland. Teresa, Ross and I then headed up to the Catherine Lowe lecture. I ran into Deb and many others that I’ve not seen since the surgery. OK, I saw Deb at the Fiona lecture and workshop. What to say? Wow, wow. I’ve admired her (and Jean Wong) for like forever.

The lecture. I’m still absorbing the information. It was amazing really. To say that I had several Ahah moments would be to lie. I’ve had so many questions over the years about finishing and details and well the fashion of hand knitting. I love fashion. I just do. My mother is a Couture level sewer and pattern drafter and my grandmother worked in the fashion industry her whole life. To say I grew up with a ’sense’ of fashion would be to be putting it lightly. I started sewing when I was about 10 and learned how to pattern draft in my late 30’s (love it!). Don’t get me wrong I’m not gaga over fashion. But if I have a choice of one fine piece from a fashion house or one of there Pretea-Porte shops vs.a lot of things from a lot of places. I’m goin’ with fashion house. I’ve definitely skimped on the grocery money for that pair of shoes, suit and/or jacket. Yarn and spinning included!

I finally felt like here was someone that got it. Way before me. But got it.

I also managed to pick up a set of Journals that she’s writen over the years. I was shameless. I heard her speaking about them with another attending at the reception an inserted myself into the conversation instantly. I’m nose to the bindery on the first one and learning about selvedge stitches.

The Reception: Friday

Catherine

The Journals

Off to work on an email for a reception at DAC. Ug.

What is it with this Oregon weather? I tell you it’s even worse (rainy) than normal!!! We had a decent Saturday. I went for a brisk walk in Forrest Park and ran errands all day. I managed to take several snaps of the lovely sunset from my balcony. About an hour before the thunder and lighting storm and the torrential rain.

Sunset

Sunset 2

I managed to get some knitting in this weekend. I’m playing with a moving cable stitch pattern for a sweater idea and did some research for an upcoming class. I also started my swatch for a class with Catherine Lowe this weekend with Knit Purl. I can’t wait. I’ve admired her for a long time. I’m resting up this week to attend her lecture Friday and class Saturday. She sent our ‘homework’ this past weekend in a neat brown bag, with a specialized ‘workbook’ with swatch directions and a ball of her 100% Merino wool. It’s scrumptious.

Swatch, workbook and yarn.

The other BIG project of the weekend was to get the shelves up in the garage so that I could get my car in. It’s been on the street for about 4-months. Not that it was very messy, I just haven’t been able to lift some of the boxes my brother ‘dropped’ off while I was recovering. They went in the garage when the car was on the street. T did a great job of starting the shelves (the top two were to long for the space - we’ll exchange them when he’s back from France) and lifting the heavy stuff so that we could get the car back in. What didn’t make it to the shelves went to the recycling center.

Start of the shelves! Notice the organized recycling. Love it. Just love it.

Car IN the garage. Now to just get the bikes hanging from the ceiling.

I finally, finally managed to figure out what was wrong with the camera download issue and the Mac. Software! It only took a bit to sort it out compared to the financial files move to the Mac. That one took a new software program, a different download to the PC, upgrade to a newer version on the PC, a new save as, an email over to the Mac another software download/upgrade, open, save and done. T has his ‘new’ laptop now. Sigh. Big Sigh. It feels good to have transfered, cleaned and updated both laptops.It’s all done. Sort of.

The last cog in the wheel? In reviewing the paperwork on a loan during the transition I noticed an oddity. I have to call the bank tomorrow and find out why I’ve been charged a ‘periodic fee’ (I already pay interest) every month on my loan. It’s happened more than ‘two’ months in a row now. Is it just me or does periodic to you mean every now and then NOT monthly? Cough. Yea that’s what I think to. We’ll see what they say.

The upside to sorting the camera download are pictures. I’m always intrigued by texture. Below are some of my favorites from my old neighborhood - NW Portland.