Dawning Dreams

Well CRAP!

2011-10-22T11:32:00.000-05:00

Nothing is more true then this little saying right now! So I log into my blog this morning to make sure I get the address correct for a form I'm filling out, only to find that my blog background is totally obliterated and most of my pictures from previous posts aren't even showing up! WTH!!!! As a result I have to spend an hour or more figuring out SOMETHING to make it look halfway decent before I publish the address someplace. And I mean only halfway, cause with all the fancy smanchy stuff that they have in here, you can see that this post looks like CRAP! What is it with these people that manage these things like blogspot and facebook? Do they just get a real surge of power and control by totally messing with everything!

Where did July go?

2011-08-06T14:21:00.001-05:00

July 20, 2011

Decided to start my monthly entry in a word document off line and then maybe I can get it posted before “the month” is up!
(note post date above...this plan didn't work either)

July 21, 2011

Thought that crossed my mind today as I am sitting here knitting on my socks, is that I realized I get excited as I finish each pattern row and it comes out correctly! I think that’s a good thing. It’s a sense of accomplishment/mastery. I don’t think I ever want to just knit and not get that feeling.

July 21, 2011

So since my June posting I have pretty much been away from home. Flew up to Chicago-O’Hare to be with my mom and we went up “North for the 4th” for a week with my brother and sister-in-law.

Fireworks in Tomahawk, Wisconsin

Got several projects completed and enjoyed the cooler weather (80’s instead of 100’s)

Of course we snuck in a Friday night Fish Fry at a typical Wisconsin eatery and had a great visit with my cousin, who drove over from her place to spend a couple of days and lend us a hand with our projects.

In the meantime, I’ve been working on socks, socks and more socks…even acquired some new yarn for some more socks! And to think I procrastinated on starting on this kind of project! What was I thinking? . I brought my shawl along to work on, too, but at the last minute in order to clear out the clutter from my project bag, before I traveled, I took out the crochet hook and beads that were rattling around in the side pocket…only to realize, after I was at my destination, that the reason they were in there was because they are an integral part of the shawl project! Flflflflffl No progress on the shawl.

Found the triangle loom I made 2 years ago

and left up in Wisconsin for future vacation activity, but didn’t really have any yarn to mess with, so I brought it back to the city and did an experiment. since it didn’t turn out the way I envisioned, I have only been inspired to construct a new (and larger) loom when I get home and try some more projects!

July 27, 2011

Back in Oklahoma again…dang it’s hot here! So the new roof is on the house doesn’t look much different then the old roof, and that’s a good thing! And the backyard n’bor put up a fence, not the one she told me she was going to put up, and I was going to pay for ½ of it, but at least there is finally a fence up there so the dogs can be outside as long as they want to (unsupervised) but let me tell you, that’s not very long! AND…I’m not paying for any of the fence! $$$ in the bank!

Next is the garage door and the service door (w/doggie door) then it looks like we are looking at a painting project as soon as the weather breaks (so that the trim and eves match the new garage door and gutters) I can’t get a new garage door to match the current paint scheme and I’m not about to paint a brand new garage door to match the old paint job…that has faded anyway. I’m just glad that the little bit of painting that needs to be redone can be tackled from an ordinary 6ft ladder. Yeah for a brick ranch house! (you’ll have to wait for those pictures until after the projects are completed)

In the meantime the garden is a lost cause. < insert picture of lost cause garden, never mind it’s not worth it! > I am however managing to harvest my onions, in fact I roasted a bunch with a large beef roast I cooked last night and they were delicious! They are the size of big radishes, instead of full size sweet onions that they were suppose to be, but at least I got something of substance out of my first Oklahoma garden! My plans are already in progress for next year’s garden that will be in the ground the first of April, so that I can be done by the end of June. No sense in fighting with Mother Nature, I’m much smarter now that I am older!

July 29, 2011

My thoughts on my Vacuum… You'd think in this day and age, somebody somewhere would be able to come up with a vacuum cleaner that actually worked! And I don't want to hear anything about dyson or orek, they don't work any better then my bissell and it sucks! Or rather it doesn't!!

Ok, I feel better now...back to cleaning all the nooks and crannies of my machine out so that maybe I can get it to pick up some dog hair and dry Oklahoma dirt.

July 31, 2011

Oh yeah, speaking of getting older…Happy Birthday to ME! Thanks Mom (and Dad) for making my life a reality, I love it!!! <3 <3 July 31, 1954; 12:03PM; Chicago, Illinois
You know what was so great about my birthday? I got to spend it with my husband, my mother, my daughter, my Marsha and my dogs, and it was just another day…YEAH!

Me and my Dad in a
row boat on Bass Lake

One last picture to share.
When I was at my mother's house she found some old pictures and this is my favorite!

Keeping a Promise to myself!

2011-06-28T10:54:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I kinda promised myself I would post here once a month. AND since the month will be over with day after tomorrow, I figured I better get busy. (I wonder how many other bloggers post a sentence with that content?) Anyway...

Lest you all think I am just sitting around doing nothing I thought I would include a few highlights since I last posted in May.
1. Cleaned up the yard from 5+ years of sticky balls from the Sweet Gum trees, planted grass and watched it grow...literally!

2. Planted and nurtured my garden (first one in probably 25 years!) Harvested a few radishes, and several "grape" tomatoes, and 1 onion. There is more to come, and I'll have to get better at this Oklahoma gardening stuff.

3. Lived thru a tornado and we're still cleaning up and making repairs from that one.

4. Finished knitting two pairs of socks. Here's the best pair, the others were for an online class and I used scrap yarn.

5. Cast on a shawl with the intention of wearing with a special dress I got to attend the June weddings that multiplied on my calendar, but I didn't get it finished.

6. Attended 2 of the 3 weddings that were on the calendar for the month of June (the tornado and other issues prevented us from getting to the 3rd one)

7. And now I have cast on another pair of sock intended to first get entered in the Oklahoma State Fair and then be given as a gift.

(I'm also working on spinning some FinnSheep fiber and some pretty red stuff for entry into the Fair also)

8. I have also been working with the Rock Island Arts Festival on a couple of fundraisers and then getting the artisans lined up for the actual festival which is scheduled for Sept 30-Oct 1.

Now I'm off to Chicagoland and then North for the 4th.

I can't wait to breath in that pine filled air and take a sauna...it's been way too long!

Ok, so that plan didn't work!

2011-05-19T13:45:00.002-05:00

But then again, my mantra for the past 2 1/2 years has been:

"Life is all about how you handle Plan B"

So here we go again...

You know I often hear "Oh I don't know what I'll do with myself when I retire? or I think I'd go plum crazy if I didn't work! (meaning outside the home) And I have let my mind ponder those two statements every now and then over the years, but really, now that I have been there, I truly don't know where they were coming from, because I have so much to do in a day that sometimes I don't do anything! And you know what? That's OK, too!
I really do think that if I had stayed on the path I was on, it would have been a good thing that I had insurance, cause I would be needing it for my hospital stay for some reason!
Even my brief stints with employment since my retirement were probably a little bit more then I needed. Don't get me wrong though I'm not saying I shouldn't have taken those positions, they were great experiences. I'm just saying the next venture into the world of work is gonna "look" different. I don't know what it's gonna look like just yet, but it's gonna look different!

In the meantime, back to my knitting cause I think it's gonna rain any minute now.

Redo! Redesigned, Refocused, Ready, Set, Gooooo!

2011-03-09T08:11:00.002-06:00

After following several of my friends blogs here lately, I decided it was about time I return to mine. After all it's been almost a year and a half!
Now I'm not planning on making daily entries that's for sure, but I'll work at coming up with something more profound a couple times a month...here goes!

More of the Wisconsin Trip Favorites

2009-10-16T15:04:00.002-05:00

The second day!

AND...One if these days I'll figure out how to mobile post more the one picture at a time.

Wisconsin Trip Favorites

2009-10-16T14:32:00.001-05:00

The first day...

1 October 2009 - A new month, a new path?

2009-10-01T08:29:00.002-05:00

Changed all the calendars already today! Made my list right next to my computer and there is a lot to get accomplished today. BUT...I am going to take a nap at some point, need to take care of ME, too!

2009-09-30T16:04:00.001-05:00

Trying out this mobile blogging thing

30 September 2009 - I'm Baaaaack!

2009-09-30T12:37:00.004-05:00

Well, I just about made it a year without posting on my blog. Actually I'm not sure that is a good thing, but it is at least a fact. My year living in Wichita Falls, TX and working for River Bend Nature Center was an adventure to say the least. The absolutely BEST thing was getting to know some fabulous people, many of who will be life long friends (I hope!). Then again there were some people that my life will be MUCH better without. 'Nuff said on that subject.
I'm unloading my van today, and trust me it is going to take all day, and probably some of tomorrow. You would truly be surprized at how much stuff you can get into an AirStream! I know I am, and it all came out of my house to begin with, now I just have to figure out where I can put it back.
Then I get to load it up for the Rock Island Art Fesitval, to be held at the renovated train depot here in Chickasha, OK, Friday and Saturday, Oct 2&3. Lots of music and art of all kinds all in one historic place. My daughter and a friend have a booth at the festival and will be showing and SELLING (emphasis on selling) their fabulous pottery! Looking forward to seeing you there.

29 November 2008 - small but cozy

2008-11-29T14:21:00.010-06:00

Most of you know my mini-van: after all I have been driving it for almost five years now, no need to spend "girl's money" on a vehicle for me to drive for work...OH, WAIT, I bought this mini-van with my own money that I earned by working a full-time job, with no overtime pay! Silly me!!
Anyway, I digress....so back to the original intent of this post...

and most of you know my current housing arrangement for my new job entails living in an RV park.

So I'd like to introduce you to...

My mini-van on steriods!

Otherewise known as "the silver bullet"! Isn't it the cutest little thing?
Of course I look like the orphan stepchild next to all the HUGE units that surround me, but that's beside the fact that for me it's plenty big enough, and it doesn't take very much electricity to keep me warm (or cool) and I can see the TV from any place in the trailer...oh wait, in the Airstream (I've been reminded by the owners that you only refer to an Airstream as an AIRSTREAM, not a trailer!

I have two single beds (room for a visitor) and the couch unfolds into a double bed, too! The beautiful blue striped awning out front hasn't gotten too much use, because it has either been too windy or I have really wanted the sun to shine in the windows anyway. Almost everybody around me does a lot of cooking outside, guess I'll have to bring my grill down one of these days.

The only thing I miss is being able to stand in the shower and let the water run on my head (the shower head hits me at about my shoulder and there is only a 6 gallon hot water heater) and I could use a big storage closet. So for now my mini-van has a new use, too ... a big storage closet!

9 November 2008 - My how time flies!

2008-11-09T22:06:00.006-06:00

I just checked in here on my blog to see if anybody had left any comments and realized I have been very lax on posting. Sorry!

I can't hardly believe it has only be 3 weeks, because I have been going non-stop!

Look how beautiful this place is!

Inside the conservatory

Learning Center and conservatory River Bend facilities

Butterfly bush!

Looking AWESOME!

I don't think I have to say too much more (becaue the pictures say it all!) about why I am just loving working here, do I ?

27 October 2008 - Butterflies!

2008-10-27T22:22:00.003-05:00

This just going to be a quick update to say, "All is good!". I have been going none stop since I started working at River Bend Nature Center, a week ago. I am really enjoying working here. There is LOTS to do, but I'm loving every minute of it. Even when I haven't been "at work", because this is a new community for me, I have been exploring. And then there is just the regular stuff that comes with life...sleeping, eating, etc.
My life in this little Airstream is an adventure. Actually it has been very relaxing, because there really isn't anything to do but come back here and relax watching TV and fall asleep. No laundry (till I go home to Chickasha next weekend), no home improvement projects and cleaning up after myself is done in a matter of minutes. Mmmmm
So my plan is after this second week I'll post a big update and maybe even have pictures!
See ya!

18 October 2008 - Still gettin' ready, It's all about me!

2008-10-18T15:38:00.005-05:00

I'm still packing. Back of the van is only 1/2 full, hubby says don't take too much you haven't got that much room...don't worry I'll fit it in! ...says I.
I really am trying to remember I only have to go for two weeks and then I can come home and get everything I forgot...AND I'll have an empty van again :-)
I think the only thing left to go in is my bathroom stuff, the electronics and the food. I'll take care of all of that stuff in the morning.

14 October 2008 - Gettin' Ready

2008-10-14T19:25:00.004-05:00

I picked this beautiful purple color to write tonight because it reminds me of butterflies.

Am I getting "hooked" or what?

Today in Wal-Mart I was walking down the aisle and a pair of butterfly earings caught my eye. I was soon wandering throughout the jewelry department and found five more pairs of butterfly earings. I quickly became aware that I will need to be disciminating in my butterfly collecting or I will soon become overwhelmed. There is no shortage of Butterflies on anything and everything!

I will really have to get down to business and start some kind of packing tomorrow, not sure what I did today...oh yeah, dinked around with the unemployment office and their forms that I neede to fill out to prove I wasn't cheating them out of any money because I have substitute taught 4 days in the last six weeks! I know, I know...I'm over it now.

Then I spent a better part of the day working on the first draft of the registration brochure for the 2009 American Indian Scouting Association seminar brochure. I am on the PR/communications committee again this year and doing the layout/design of the brochure for the 4 year. I really enjoy being able to do this project. Hopefully I can even get to the seminar next summer. It is going to be held in Pocatello/Ft. Hall, Idaho. Idaho is one of the states I have not been able to visit. (there are not very many of them, I counted once, but can't remember right now) Anyway, it would be nice to go up there and see in person the beautiful scenery that I have only seen in pictures.

I'm drawing a blank for any more comments, besides I read that Blogspot is gonna be off line for a bit sometime this evening, so I might as well get this posted and move on!

10 October 2008 - River Bend Nature Center

2008-10-10T16:53:00.002-05:00

It's official! As of October 20th I will be gainfully employed once again! YEAH!!! And I am really excited! Haven't been this excited about going to work in quite a while (and yeah that "while" was even before March 1st).
The place is River Bend Nature Center in Wichita Falls, TX. Yep, you read that right, Wichita Falls, TEXAS! I will be the Executive Director, and they can't get me down there soon enough, so my start date is Monday October 20th. Here is their website, check it out: http://www.riverbendnaturecenter.org
I am making arrangements to borrow an RV trailer and will be parking it at an RV park, not far from the center. I'll be living there and coming home to Chickasha to do my laundry, lol. Wichita Falls is only 90 miles away, just a little too far to commute even though gas prices are falling by the day around here (yesterday morning $2.81, this morning $2.79 and @ 2:00 this afternoon $2.69), anyway I digress... It will be quite the adventure and I'm up for that, without a doubt.
I'm sure I'll have room for overnight visitors in my little Airstream, so ya'll come ya hear!

8 October 2008 - More pictures of my projects!

2008-10-08T23:36:00.005-05:00

Here are the pictures that I promised of projects that I have completed lately

Fall Color Scarflet
Leafy Headband

And here is a picture of the beautiful Finn Sheep Roving

So, I mentioned previously about my participation in
the Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf, and posted my
starter scarf, sent on it's way to my "down stream" sister
in Conneticutt back in September.
And here is a picture of my "up stream" sister's scarf (she
lives in Chicago) as it leaves my house tomorrow headed
on to Conneticutt.

When my scarf gets back to me (hopefully before Christmas) I will
be able to post here for you not only a picture of the masterpiece,
but an itinerary of where my scarf has traveled. Probably more
than I will have traveled this past year!

7 October 2008 - I'm Baaaaack!

2008-10-07T19:27:00.007-05:00

So I know it has been a few weeks since I posted. I can't even think of a good excuse, except for maybe last week when I was with my mom in Wisconsin. See for yourself:

I figured it out I probably hadn't been up in Wisconsin for the "colors" since I was in Jr. High. It was really nice. AND on the trip up there Mom and I got to stop at a Finn Sheep Farm http://blog.fireflyfield.com to visit with the owner SpinFinn (a new friend I met on RAVELRY), her absolutely beautiful flock of sheep and her loveable dog who really "took a shine" to my mom and just followed her around like she was one of the sheep!

I did get some knitting done on a cute little headband that I got from another RAVELRY friend on her blog http://happyliving.blogspot.com/ Suhail is from the United Kingdom and I have really enjoyed getting to know her and the others in the Happy Living group. As soon as I get a picture of it, I'll post the headband project. i also have been working on a scarf knitted with my prize winning mohair novelty yarn. You'll have to wait to see that when it's completed, too. No "sneak peaks"!

I am also participating in a sisterhood of the traveling scarf adventure. I sent off my starter piece several weeks ago and finally received the starter piece from my "upstream" sister. Of course it came while I was in Wisconsin, so as soon as I got home, I added my section to hers and will be sending it to my "downstream" sister probably Thursday.

21 September 2008 Oklahoma LIVE! 2008 State Fair

2008-09-21T10:11:00.003-05:00

What a BLAST! Spent the day at the Fair, first walking around checking everything out, then spent the rest of the day at the Spinning demonstration Booth in the Agtropolis Building. This is the display set up specifically for kids to see, touch and participate in Oklahoma Agriculture. I got to sit and spin and talk the whole time. Barely had time for eats, drinks and potty break. The weather was PERFECT, so the Fair was packed. Kids and parents engaged in the spirit of the Fair, yep, it was a good day.

Oh yeah, got to see my yarn on display with ribbons and eveything. But because they were behind glass, photos didn't come out very good. I'll just post my first place yarn here:

I guess in the lower left corner of the picture you can see the top of my "Willie Wool" and Willie's picture!

19 September 2008 - Off to the Fair!

2008-09-19T14:29:00.004-05:00

I'm packing my things and headed to the Fair! I get to spend the day tomorrow being a demo person for spinning fiber into yarn in the building the Fair has set up for the kids to learn all about agriculture. That will be fun! I love stuff like this. I will also be able to see my yarn on display and take some pictures.

Recently I joined a group that will be producing a "traveling scarf" for each member of the group. You knit your starter section, and mail it off to the next person on the list, while waiting for the person in front of you to mail you her section...add to that and send it on. In about 4-5 months I should have a one of a kind treasured piece of my wardrobe! Here's what my starter looks like:

I have made it out of some of my own handspun yarn. Sooooo you are looking at the first project made with my own handspun yarn. Up until now, all I have done is look at the completed yarn!

My plan is to use some of my handspun yarn as each scarf from my group comes to me for my knitting pleasure. But a lot of that will depend on how the scarf makes me feel. I might just have to dig deeper into my stash of yarn and find something else that better suits the project. This is going to be so much fun!!!!!

17 September 2008 - Work?, Work?, what's that?

2008-09-17T22:23:00.006-05:00

Yep, I actually WORKED (outside the home) today! YEAH!!! Chickasha Public Schools called me to substitute teach today. It was only half a day, but I had a great time. Because of a previously arranged commitment (see next paragraph), I could only work the half day, but they really needed the bodies, so they took what they could get. I was at the middle school subbing for Mr. Lassiter, Geography and History. Good thing it was Constitution Day, Channel One has a program (15 minutes), discussion about constitutional right to vote at age 18 and who in the classroom would be 18 by the next Presidential election in 2012 (5 minutes), attendance (3 minutes), rest of class time spent doing word search and/or crossword puzzle on the constitution (left by the teacher)...Whew! I survived...to do it again someday. Even had Shalonda's son Jimmani in my 3rd hour class, think I took him by surprize that I knew his name, until he figured out who I was.

Now about that previous commitment mentioned above...Tuesday I made arrangement to go down to Wichita Falls, TX, on Wednesday, to meet with the Executive Committee of the River Bend Nature Center http://www.riverbendnaturecenter.org/, for my second interview for the Executive Director postion with this organization. I feel it went very well, I'll let you know the end results someday soon.

So as a result, not much creative stuff happened today. I did get a chapter read in my book at my lunch break at school :-)

15 September 2008 fiber update

2008-09-15T22:30:00.000-05:00

Even though I haven't seen it myself, I have been told by more then one reliable source that all of my handspun yarn entries have won ribbons at the Oklahoma State Fair! Obviously more on that later, including pictures. But I have to get to the fair first!

I did manage to get 5 more squares done on the afghan. I'm going to set a goal for Christmas, and chart my progress here. I even got three chapters read in my library book, that I will have to renew tomorrow, and continue to earn my newly bestowed title (by the library clerk) "the queen of renewal"!

15 September 2008 I'm baaaaaack!

2008-09-15T20:39:00.001-05:00

Whew! What a trip...we went to Chicagoland for a family wedding. Here are some highlights!

At the Alter and "She said, Yes!"

It was good cake, too and First Cousins twice removed (?)

The last dance

I'm sending Lisa and Matt my best wishes for...
"As long as you both shall live"!

11 September 2008 - packing, cleaning, cooking

2008-09-11T18:04:00.001-05:00

busy, busy day! Packing, cleaning, cooking...didn't even have time to READ! Knit one, Kill two by Maggie Sefton.

10 September 2008 - Projects

2008-09-10T14:41:00.000-05:00

Here are two projects, 1 completed

(the scarflet, two views, w/ and w/o button)

This project takes exactly 1 skien of yarn, it just so happens

I aquired 9 skiens of this yarn for 1 penny each!

(Don't you just love it when computers screw up!?!)

and one in progress (the afghan)

45 of 78 squares completed, so I still have a way to go.

The intended recipient is chomping at the bit!

Guess who that is!

Neither of these are with handspun yarn. That will come later!

Keep checking back for more posts.

9 September 2008 - ordinary day

2008-09-09T22:17:00.000-05:00

So for the most part I feel I had a pretty productive day.

But the days end has brought me to relating to this little graphic!

Think I will take some more pictures tomorrow of yarn and things.

I'll post them here for all to enjoy as much as I do :-)

8 September 2008 - Oklahoma State Fair entries

2008-09-08T16:00:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I took my handspun yarn entries to the Oklahoma State Fair. Judging will be sometime this week, and when you go to the fair you'll be able to see my entries and any recognition they received. I won't know how I did until I go to the fair, so if you get there before I do PLEASE call me!

They are (from left to right) "Mohair novelty" in blue/greens and purple; "Exotic" or what I call "Willie Wool", this is husky wool plied with shetland sheep wool; "Silk blend" in Glacial Green this is a blend of silk and merino wool.

8 September 2008 - My first Blog entry!

2008-09-08T15:52:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is...my first blog entry. I think it will take me a few days to get this all figured out. Then we will see where this goes!