tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90210628358451544012024-03-12T23:03:19.094-04:00My Little RoomEscape from the world and sit quietly with me.My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-53787408255758161602020-06-15T12:45:00.003-04:002020-06-15T12:48:42.691-04:00Rhyolite, Nevada<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just want to share a few pics of our past year's travels.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Death Valley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhyolite, Nevada</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doorknob on house built of bottles. circa 1900</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bank building, and store. Rhyolite, Nevada, circa 0900</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storefront of Jewler's in Rhyolite, Nevada. circa 1902<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who lies here?</td></tr>
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Rhyolite flourished for a few years due to mining and eastern money. When the mine played out, the investor's did too. Once home to about 8000, is now home to the ghosts, wild burros, lizards and the occasional curious traveler.</div>
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We spent the better part of an afternoon exploring the town, cemetery and surrounding desert. Truly a haunting and desolate landscape.</div>
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To learn more about this ghost town, go to <a href="https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrCwDMtpedeiwQA.gwPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTEyZmpqcmN1BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQzAxNjNfMQRzZWMDc2M-/RV=2/RE=1592268206/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fRhyolite%2c_Nevada/RK=2/RS=1txbdDu91YAkY4aOIRImDfcEYsY-" target="_blank">this page.</a></div>
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My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0Rhyolite, NV 89003, USA36.90321 -116.8281178.5929761638211559 -151.98436700000002 65.21344383617884 -81.671867tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-87056492527228537422020-06-12T10:31:00.000-04:002020-06-12T10:32:40.619-04:00Hello AgainIt seems like forever since I have written anything. I often get the urge and say I will write later. Then I don't. Always busy with something else like petting my dog, spinning some yarn, knitting something that may or may not get finished. Always something.<div><br /></div><div>Because there is always something maybe I should talk about it here. In the past that seemed to be the thing to do. Why not now?</div><div><br /></div><div>So, some of the changes since 2018...</div><div><br /></div><div>The BF and I are living in and traveling (well, not right now) in our RV. We began this little journey in February of 2019. Since then we have been from New York state to California and back again. The COVID pandemic threw us back to our starting point for the summer. Hope to be on the road again by fall.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because we can't travel, hobbies have come back to the forefront...cooking, spinning, knitting and writing of all things.</div><div><br /></div><div>Have been working on a few new recipes that I will post in my cooking blog soon. Fun stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>As far as the others:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2MqUPBdhT8/XuONKPFXvlI/AAAAAAAAAx8/Kf_u2ItucUIttS1xTFhv70cjX0FHMOiZACK4BGAsYHg/s794/silk%2Broving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="794" height="169" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2MqUPBdhT8/XuONKPFXvlI/AAAAAAAAAx8/Kf_u2ItucUIttS1xTFhv70cjX0FHMOiZACK4BGAsYHg/w200-h169/silk%2Broving.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="text-align: justify;">Purchased this amazing silk to cable ply with some equally amazing sure alpaca. Spinning silk is an art. Not one I was familiar with until a couple of days ago. Spinning silk is like trying to tame a kitten by holding it in the palm of your hand while it struggles to get away. You have to find just the right grip to keep it (the kitten) from jumping out of your hand. Silk needs a gentle hold, but not so gentle as to allow the twist to creep up into the gently held sliver. It takes a bit of practice. But, once mastered, silk can be spun into the finest wee bit of singles!</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8FE2-der3Q/XuOOKAG-KgI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/qG8qZvqFV4wdlaH6kZVCyYnR0YJogrzBACK4BGAsYHg/s1227/IMG_20200612_090332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1227" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8FE2-der3Q/XuOOKAG-KgI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/qG8qZvqFV4wdlaH6kZVCyYnR0YJogrzBACK4BGAsYHg/w200-h150/IMG_20200612_090332.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you can see it, the single is so fine that it falls between the b and the e in Liberty. I didn't notice this until I saw the photo!</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>As for the Suri, it was a challenge because of the VM, second cuts and noils in the fiber. Made for slow going in the spinning process. But, it is finished and N-plied into a beautiful, soft 3 ply.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qmGTze_Gd7c/XuOQHq-nvoI/AAAAAAAAAzg/DQI_VErH_A4rz64dazoK_5SCAOMs3i1-gCK4BGAsYHg/s871/suri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="871" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qmGTze_Gd7c/XuOQHq-nvoI/AAAAAAAAAzg/DQI_VErH_A4rz64dazoK_5SCAOMs3i1-gCK4BGAsYHg/s320/suri.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Really curious as to how the finished product will look. Have never cable plied before. Should be interesting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-49001094373147361632018-02-03T11:51:00.000-05:002018-02-03T11:51:17.656-05:00The Alice Network<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33195652-the-alice-network" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Alice Network" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480543554m/33195652.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33195652-the-alice-network">The Alice Network</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2974095.Kate_Quinn">Kate Quinn</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2282884154">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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There are a glut of novels out there covering the horrors of war. Some good, some not so good. Some are great. For me, this one was great.<br />
The Alice Network was real. It was a group of 100 or so spies, mostly women, headed by <a href="http://military.wikia.com/wiki/Louise_de_Bettignies" target="_blank">Louise de Bettignies,</a> "Alice Dubouis", in Lille, France that worked to save over a 1,000 British soldiers and fed information to the British for 9 months in 1915. <br />
Having this basis in fact, the book "The Alice Network" checked all the boxes for me:<br />
Good, solid characters - Check<br />
Mesmerizing plot - Check<br />
Satisfying completion - Check<br />
It wasn't so much about the horrors of war, but the impact that war has on the lives and souls of the people involved. It is about the profound sadness, need, and psychological pain that are the aftermath of war. It is about the ruined lives, the unfinished lives, and shattered souls.<br />
The Alice Network brings two women together at the end of World War II. Both sad, both in need of solace and closure, both in pain. They join forces, albeit reluctantly at first, to heal the wounds left by not just WWII, but WWI as well.<br />
This unlikely pair stole my heart. Eve, with her stutter, wounded by her past, drinking herself into oblivion, wanting to die. Charlie, with her overpowering need to find and save her cousin, lost somewhere in France during the war. Their stories weave together in a way that is amazing, but believable. Their stories made me feel. I laughed, I cried, I was repulsed, and I rooted for the heroines through several close calls with capture and even death.<br />
It made me question "What would I do?" "Would I have the wherewithal to stand up and fight?" "Would I have the strength and courage to give up everything?" <br />
One woman did. One woman would.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2700575-bevswatches">View all my reviews</a></div>
My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-84784369993862585352018-01-25T10:31:00.001-05:002018-01-25T10:31:49.767-05:00Take The First Step<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you would have asked me two, three, or five years ago what I would be doing, living in Ecuador would not have been one of my answers. Not because I didn't want to live in a foreign country. Not because I was afraid to travel. Not because I hadn't dreamed about living an unusual life. I just thought that it was a dream and was financially unobtainable; something only rich people do.</div>
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The second half of my life has been blessed with dreams. My BF has helped with that. Every dream I have had, he has helped make it happen. </div>
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On my 30th birthday I was alone. Raising 2 daughters. Looking at a future of hard work. I lived in fear and I wasn't happy.</div>
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Then I met my BF. I never dreamed of someone like him until he was "stalking" me at Torrejon AB in Spain (that was a dream too). I think I fell in love before he did, but it doesn't matter. We are together now, still best friends after 30 years of play and laughter.</div>
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Flash forward ten or so years. Ever since I was a child and I saw the Disney movie about the dancing horse, I had wanted a Paso Fino. On my 40th birthday - I had one. And not just any Paso, but a granddaughter of a world class Paso. She was amazing! She was a dream come true. She won ribbons and even won a class at the Rocky Mountain Regionals.</div>
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I raised sheep, llamas, and had an organic egg business for about 10 years. Why? Because I wanted to and the BF made sure I got to.</div>
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Then we moved to central New York state and another dream fell in my lap. With the help of my father and the BF, I was able to open a yarn shop. A yarn shop? Why? Same answer, I wanted to. It was fun. I made many good friends and miss them all so much.</div>
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But as with all good things, there comes a time when you have to let them go and focus on the next dream. The next dream was the BFs rather than mine, but that is alright. It was something we had been tossing around for almost 20 years. We had looked at Costa Rica back in the early 90s. My fears stole that at that time. The fear of change, the fear of not having enough money. Oh, and don't forget the fear of having young children and "What would they do?" It was all crap and I robbed my entire family of what may have been the greatest adventure of their lives.</div>
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When my BF mentioned vacationing in Ecuador I was puzzled. Why Ecuador? Well, he preyed on my love of all things Spanish. My love of the Spanish culture was the carrot he dangled in front of my nose. </div>
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"It is less expensive than Spain." he said.</div>
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"They speak Spanish there." he said.</div>
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"The U.S. dollar is the currency, so no exchange rate." he said.</div>
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"Buy the tickets and book the hotels and I will go with you." I said.</div>
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He did. We went. We went again. We sold everything and came back. To stay.</div>
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Now, we are living not only his dream but mine as well. I love the differences in the lifestyle, the ease of each day, the new sites and sounds and tastes. </div>
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Looking back at my life I see a trail of dreams fulfilled. Some by chance and others because of the wonderful man that I married. He helped me overcome my fears (there were many) and truly live. He helped me live out loud and be joyous. He allowed me to dream and never told me that dreams don't come true, no matter what your age.</div>
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They do! All you have to do is take the first step. Oh, and don't forget to take the next one as well.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>This post was inspired by Cindy Wood, and her FaceBook post this morning. Thank you Cindy!</i></b></span></div>
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My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-17830150083508514662018-01-06T14:01:00.001-05:002018-01-06T14:01:16.177-05:00My Little Ecuadorian Dog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="e2lhr-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Thought we had lost our little Ecuadorian dog this morning. We (the BF, my little Ecuadorian dog, Tessa, and I) were out walking near the mouth of the river as the tide was going out. Tessa loves playing in the water and fetching things that are tossed in. This morning, she saw a coconut floating on the current and jumped in to bring it to shore. The combination of the river current and the outgoing tide was so strong that she could not make it back. I thought about going in to help her and was thigh deep before my husband told me to stop.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="6lpfa-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">"I would rather lose a dog than my wife." was his reasoning. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="e7qkb-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">He was right. The current was so strong that we would both have been swept out to sea. All I could do was watch helplessly as she struggled to make it to shore. Then struggle to keep her head above water. Then I held my breath as I lost sight of her beneath the waves.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="15a7s-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">It was a horrible thing to contemplate - her drowning. I could not watch. But, as we turned to walk back up the river, my husband spied her on a wave, being washed ashore on the other side. A wave or two later and she was out of the water and running along the opposite bank looking for a way back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, the silly girl, jumped into the water and began trying swim back! Again, as I watched, she was caught in the current and pulled toward the sea. Again, as I watched, she struggled to make it back to shore, to us. Again, I saw her, in my mind's eye, being pulled under as the tide joined with the river to produce a current so strong. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="15a7s-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">But, this time, she was closer to the sand bar so the current was pushing in her favor. I held my breath as she struggled toward the safety of the shallows. I watched as she appeared to be carried out into the main part of the river and out to sea once again. But this time she made it. Her little feet touched solid ground. She struggled with the current still, but she was almost home free. Then, she jumped and bounded across the shallows that were chest deep for her. She had made it! </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="15a7s-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to grab her and hold her close. She wanted to stay just out of reach but close enough to know safety. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="15a7s-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">She is downstairs now, lying in the warmth and safety of her yard. I am happy she is there. My little Ecuadorian dog.</span></div>
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My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0Av Quito Sur, San Jacinto, Ecuador-0.79726628478591677 -80.521521546093709-0.82902078478591679 -80.561862046093708 -0.76551178478591675 -80.48118104609371tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-7681783661016931682018-01-05T11:25:00.001-05:002018-01-05T11:25:42.424-05:00White, Chocolate or Strawberry?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello. My name is...and I am the child of a horrible parent.<br />
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My father, who shall remain unnamed, would lie to us. Well, mostly my baby sister who was, in her youth, very gullible. The stories he would tell were so far-fetched and so funny that I remember them to this day. Among my favorites were the ones about the milk and the hot chocolate.<br />
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About once every couple of weeks, my family would drive from Sonoma down to either Pacheco or San Lorenzo to visit family. The drive down took us over the Richmond Bridge and past the oil refineries of Richmond and Benecia. It always smelled so bad that my sister and I would beg for clothespins to hold our noses shut. I would laugh at the way we looked when, once, my mother came prepared. My sister - I love you oh sister mine! - would whine about the smell, even while wearing her wooden clothespin.<br />
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Well, on one of these drives, my father became inspired. As we drove by the tanks full of crude he began to spin his tale. A tale that would make the whining stop, replaced with awe and wonder.<br />
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"Hey, M," he said. "See those white tanks over there?"<br />
"Uh-huh," she replied while mouth breathing.<br />
"You know what is in those?" he asked.<br />
"Stinky stuff." she responded.<br />
"Now, that is where you would be wrong." He said in a voice reserved for the imparting of wisdom. "<br />
"Then what is it?" she asked.<br />
At this point my brother and I were paying close attention because, being so much older the our sister, we knew that this was going to be a humdinger.<br />
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"Well, those white tanks are in the process of being filled with milk." He said sagely.<br />
"Really? Really, Dad?" She was amazed!<br />
"Yes, really. And, as soon as they are full, they are going to start running milk into the homes here."<br />
"Nu-uh." She had grown skeptical.<br />
"What? You don't believe me? It is true. I swear it is true!" he stated. "And the pink ones, are for strawberry milk and the brown ones are for chocolate."<br />
(at the time there were truly pink, brown and white tanks)<br />
My sister's eyes got big. She loved strawberry Quick and was so excited by this thought.<br />
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Then, to put the proverbial icing on the cake, he pointed off into the distance to a smoking stack and served up his last bit of tall tale...</div>
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"And, see that smoke stack in over there?"</div>
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"I do! I do!" my sister exclaimed, really excited by this point.</div>
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"They are heating up the chocolate milk so kids can have hot chocolate whenever they want!"</div>
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From that day on, whenever we would drive down to the south bay area, rather than whine about the smell, she would ask if Aunt Elsie and Uncle Jim had strawberry milk yet. </div>
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Then, one day, the questions stopped. I think she caught on. Our father was a horrible parent that lied to his children.</div>
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I think I took after him. One day I will have to tell you all about Janice and the salt mines.</div>
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My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-48710051441846521772018-01-03T07:04:00.001-05:002018-01-03T07:04:34.375-05:00Wordless Wednesday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-86622010475800531382018-01-02T09:25:00.002-05:002018-01-02T09:42:39.987-05:00Dreams For The New Year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am sure that everyone is looking back at the past year; thinking about the changes, the successes, the losses, the happiness, the sadness. All of that is a part of life. And, being human, I will do the same.<br />
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The past year was a gentle one for me - sort of. I lost my father shortly before the beginning of 2017. We are always told not to make big changes after the loss of a loved one. But, I didn't take heed. The BF and I sold everything (except the house my father left me), packed what clothing we needed, grabbed the dogs and moved. We didn't just move a little. We moved a lot! To Ecuador. Do I regret it? No. It is different. Although it is far from my children, it is alright. It is quiet. It is relaxing. It is liberating.<br />
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After that, not much more happened. Every day has been just like the last. The tide comes in, the tide goes out. Life is simple. We want for nothing as we don't need much. We have a few friends and each other. We eat well on fresh seafood and veggies taken from the earth that very day. I feel as though I am living in a movie - I just don't know what the plot is yet.<br />
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We got our Visas without a hitch. Then, the next milestone occurred when we headed to Guayaquil for our Cedulas - Ecuadorian I.D. Now is is just a waiting game until we have our residency. We cannot leave the country for more than 90 days a year for the next 2 years. But, that isn't difficult.<br />
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What are the plans for the next year? Not much. Exploring our new country is the top of my list. There is so much to see that I don't know where to start.<br />
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The top of my list is visiting <a href="https://wikitravel.org/en/Mindo" target="_blank">Mindo</a>. It is one of Ecuador's most visited locations; very touristy, pay for everything, must see.<br />
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Then, I want to take <a href="http://www.ecuadorrail.net/ecuador-train-tours/ecuador-train-trips.html" target="_blank">a train tour</a> to the last stop on the line, wherever that may be. </div>
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I want to swim in the ocean every day that I am home. I want to walk the beach every morning and evening and enjoy the tranquility. I want to savor fresh seafood daily - until I tire of it and want nothing more. </div>
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Yes, 2018. A year of tranquil living. A year of stress free existence. A year to look forward to.</div>
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My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-70136474087125000632017-12-30T15:11:00.000-05:002017-12-31T20:56:20.792-05:00"Year One", The Book She Was Born To Write<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34311452-year-one" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Year One (Chronicles of The One, #1)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1488360073m/34311452.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34311452-year-one">Year One</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/625.Nora_Roberts">Nora Roberts</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2229681769">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Where to start? I have been reading Nora Roberts since I picked up an advanced reader's copy of Montana Skies. I fell in love with her prose and her ability to paint a picture with words. And, yes, I also enjoyed the brain candy provided with her romance and family relationships held between the covers of each of her books I have since read. But, with this new novel, I feel that Ms. Roberts is truly flexing her muscles and delving into new territory. I LOVE it!<br />
In the opening chapter she begins setting the stage for a new world order. She builds the tension. She introduces characters. She weaves a spell. Then, as the book progresses, the battle lines begin to form. <br />
I also feel that this book is a statement. It illustrates the lines between those that are "different" and those that "discriminate". It paints a picture of the trodden upon and those that trod upon them. It weaves a tapestry of a polarized world, in which there is more than one side - good and evil and everything in between.<br />
Yes, this book did contain Ms. Roberts signature leanings toward all that is magical, both dark and light. However it didn't have the main character with the typical romantic struggle. The struggle contained was that of life and death; the struggle of light over dark. <br />
I cannot go into much more without giving spoilers. But, it is well worth the read.<br />
When is the 2nd in the series? I want it NOW!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2700575-bevswatches">View all my reviews</a><br />
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My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-9269897201157073472017-10-03T22:50:00.001-04:002017-10-03T22:50:24.441-04:00Life Is Crazy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been so long since I have posted. It has been so long that I seem to have forgotten my voice. Which person blogged here? Is she still around? Does she still think the same way? View the world with the same eyes? Or has life thrown a few curve balls and caused her perspective to change?<br />
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Me. Yes. No. Only one of them. And Yes.<br />
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I haven't posted a thing here since 2012. Holy Mackerel Andy! That is a lifetime! Since then, I have closed the yarn shop. My dad passed peacefully, at home, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Hijo Primero graduated from college with a degree in Bio-Chemical Engineering (where in the hell those brains came from I will never know). Hijo Segundo graduated from college with a BA in Political Science (Magna Cum Laude, again with the brains). Hija Primera is living in New Hampshire with her husband and son. The BF has retired from the Air Force after reaching the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. And Hija Segunda is living with her dad and I in...and this is the Crazy part of the Life is Crazy...Ecuador!<br />
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Yes. We have kicked everything we knew to the curb, packed a few belongings, bid farewell to our friends and family and left the country! We bought a guesthouse, <a href="http://casitalasmareas.com/" target="_blank">Casita Las Mareas</a> on the Pacific coast, in the province of Manabi' in the village of San Jacinto. It doesn't keep us very busy. Life is simple. Life here is idyllic. It is still so new. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casita Las Mareas</td></tr>
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There are days that I feel as if I live in a movie. The sun is shining, the waves are out there - in my front yard no less - doing what waves do and making the most peaceful background noise, the locals are playing their music that makes me want to dance and life is unbelievable.<div>
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I do miss my friends and my family that we left behind. There are days that I miss them terribly. But, the show must go on and life must be lived - even if it seems crazy at times. </div>
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I hope I can keep coming back and put new life into this little corner of my world. Maybe it can keep me sane. Or maybe I can just get back to sharing the insanity as it happens. Who knows. Who really cares? </div>
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My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0San Jacinto, Ecuador-0.78284809999999994 -80.513281800000016-0.8146026 -80.553622300000015 -0.75109359999999992 -80.472941300000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-855793130648000872012-08-30T21:13:00.000-04:002012-08-31T11:32:04.135-04:00New Yarn!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I love walking through the door of the shop every morning and seeing the beautiful colors, textures and fibers of the many and varied yarns. It gives me a feeling of contentment for some reason. A feeling that all is right with the world as long as there are yarns to knit, colors to absorb and soft fibers to touch. </div>
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The only problem is that I see the same things every day! </div>
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Having a shop and running it by yourself is like having one big fiber stash. You feel the need to add to it. It must be dynamic. It must change and flow with the times. It can't be allowed to stagnate. The only remedy is to buy more yarn! And not just a skein or two. It must be in quantities to fill the shelves, giving them new life.</div>
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In that respect, I have been doing my job, albeit slowly. <br />
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Often I think that my offerings are slim and limited. But, last week, as I was doing inventory, I realized that for being in business only 2 years, and with very limited capital, this little shop looks good. It doesn't have what the big stores have, and never will. What it does have is a sense of serenity and calm that only a small, intimate space can have. It has a good selection of quality, affordable yarns. There are buttons, notions, fiber, and more. All you have to do is look. It is there.<br />
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Last month I brought in three new yarn lines:<br />
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<a href="http://www.dyelotyarn.com/recoverypackage.php">Dyelot Yarns</a> out of Santa Fe, New Mexico,<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14830656@N03/7896608032/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" title="Recovery Package by emmasdaughter, on Flickr"><img alt="Recovery Package" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8042/7896608032_219e754c4e.jpg" width="337" /></a></div>
This is the Recovery Package. Includes 4 hanks of yarn! Generous hank of over 1200 yards.<br />
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Also new is <a href="http://www.doneroving.com/puresilk.htm">Done Roving</a> from Maine.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14830656@N03/7896601308/" title="Stepping Out by Done Roving by emmasdaughter, on Flickr"><img alt="Stepping Out by Done Roving" height="329" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7896601308_9d28af92b4.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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This is Stepping Out, a wool crepe/nylon yarn. Beautiful colors!<br />
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And, last but definitely not least, <a href="http://www.doneroving.com/puresilk.htm">Galler Yarns</a> from New York.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14830656@N03/7896598058/" title="Galler Yarns Prime Alpaca by emmasdaughter, on Flickr"><img alt="Galler Yarns Prime Alpaca" height="462" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7896598058_8d30221f28.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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This bin contains Heather Alpaca Prime and is significantly less full as of closing on the 30th of August.<br />
The generous hanks contain over 600 yards of the softest alpaca imaginable!<br />
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Each of these companies is family owned, and wonderful to work with. I love the fact that when I call to order I am talking to the person that actually envisions the finished yarn, the mind that combines the colors, the hands that touch the fibers.<br />
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Now I have something new to look at every morning. Something new to share and to dream about knitting into something wonderful for someone, somewhere, someday.<br />
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Until I get my hands on them, all of these yarns can be ordered if you wish. Just send me a message and get your hands on a hank or two!</div>
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My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com14 College St, Clinton, NY 13323, USA43.0482282 -75.378980243.0467777 -75.3814477 43.049678699999994 -75.3765127tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-21433464523630355012012-07-07T11:19:00.000-04:002012-07-07T11:27:03.485-04:00Melon Collie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't like to post when I am feeling melancholy. My biggest fear is that I will come off maudlin and really embarrass myself. That wouldn't be good at all! If someone in the local area read it, would they look at me and point and say "Oh, look, that is the woman that writes the melodramas!" Or, "Poor thing, she hasn't had a happy day in her life." Or, worse yet, "Quick, run, she might tell us how her day is going!" All of those things would put me into such a downward spiral that I might never recover.<br />
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So, melancholy means silence on the old blog. But, sometimes it isn't melancholy. It is simply the lack of inspiration; the inability of my old brain to transfer the thoughts in my head into something worth reading.<br />
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The past couple of weeks haven't been without blog fodder though. Took my dad to Antietam and Gettysburg. Both were awe inspiring and heartbreaking. Found a couple of lost relatives as well. One in the Antietam National Cemetery...<br />
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And the other was listed on the Pennsylvania Monument at Gettysburg.</div>
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My dad thought is was fun when I asked him to hold his license beneath name on the memorial.</div>
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We stopped at so many places and saw so many things. By the 5th day, we were both ready to head home.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">And, because this is a blog about my life and the things I love, I just have to share the picture above! It is my most </span><span style="text-align: left;">recent</span><span style="text-align: left;"> shipment of Frajous Fiber's recycled sari silk and banana silk yarns. Both are so soft and have a wonderful drape. See a color you like? Drop me a line. We can talk.</span>
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And, yes, I may be a little melancholy, or melon collie as my friend Becca would laugh, but, it will be over soon. I have my friends. I have my family. I have my wonderful life. What's to be melon collie about?</div>
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<br /></div>My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-62625014296983649062012-06-18T10:39:00.000-04:002012-06-18T10:39:11.581-04:00Knitting Knight, A Continuing Adventure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Cast of Characters (names have been changed to protect the guilty): <br />
The Red Head, aka Red.<br />
June who was born in April, also a red head.<br />
Critter Lady, not a red head, but would be if you asked nicely<br />
The Stripper Chick who takes 1s from...<br />
The Homecoming Queen who tells stories about Malanga<br />
Malanga, don't know why auto spell did that, but it stuck.<br />
Screw-up, the knitter guy.<br />
And me, the Cranky Shop Girl<br />
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The following story is true, kinda.<br />
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I had the idea of writing the Friday night knitting group's hysterical exchange as a play in 3 acts. But, as time went on and the memory of the evening began to fade, it became a most difficult proposition. Trust me when I say that the group is finally coming out of the shy closet and morphing into a raucous, fun, laughter imbued evening.<br />
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Last Friday we had 2 guests, hopefully new members, that added so much to the group. They are named above as Malanga and Homecoming Queen. Malanga is just hysterical! It seems that every word that comes from her mouth makes people laugh! She went to a bible college and has a degree in Biblical Studies. She is sweet, kind, funny and creative. She is also easily embarrassed and slightly inhibited about discussing certain things openly. (i.e. anatomy and sexuality) But, the process of discussing these things becomes a stand-up routine on its own.<br />
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Homecoming Queen feels no guilt about pushing those buttons and getting Malanga to stammer, blush, and stumble over her explanations of the human condition. You would have to be there to truly understand this phenomenon.<br />
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Red has almost no inhibitions and the word "vagina" was spoken often with gusto and zeal. The "Vagina Monologues" as recommended reading to Malanga. "Vagina" as a political issue. "Vagina" as a knitting project.. <br />
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June, a diminutive knitting giant, is the best at bringing out the quirky, hidden aspects of both Red's and Critter Lady's personalities, but sharing their latest disclosures at the knitting group they all attend the previous evening. By diminutive, I mean in stature, by giant, I mean nothing is too challenging for this woman to put on her needles.<br />
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And, Critter Lady! She knits/crochets the most adorable little toys on the face of the planet. She has made bears that will fit in the palm of your hand with room to spare. She has made bats and gargoyles and squished mice...yes, squished, flattened, with their little tongues hanging from their bloody mouths, mice. This particular evening she presented a brown bear with a large head, sporting a scarf. He has now been given the dubious title of "Shop Mascot". <br />
Critter Lady is the original knitting group member. I met her the first week the shop opened when she came in looking for "Godzilla tummy yarn". Huh? Yes, a lizardly green to make the tummy of her current knitting project, Godzilla. The group just isn't complete without our Critter Lady.<br />
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Stripper Girl is an immigrant from a now deceased knitting group. She is the lone survivor and I am so glad she made the journey to this group. Her entrance was instrumental in bring about the current level of hilarity.<br />
It began the first night she attended when she paid for her purchase with "stripper money" - all one dollar bills. The following Friday, she began to explain how she came across her bank roll. It had something to do with a boy at her door. We still don't really know the whole story because we won't let her finish it.<br />
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Also, on this particular evening we had Screw-up, the knitter guy, who was visiting us from his home in the Denver area. I am not sure if it was a sunburn he was sporting or just a permanently applied blush from our conversation entering his auditory canal. But, his face was red and he was laughing so hard that he stabbed himself numerous times with his new, very sharp needles.<br />
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Then, there is me, the Cranky Shop Girl. The proud owner of this bawdy establishment. It looks like I am going to have to do my knitting during the week and blogging during the knitting group evening so I don't forget the crazy things that happen. That will make me really Cranky!<br />
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Now you know the cast of characters. Keep watching for updates to our sit-com.<br />
</div>My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-89331929380528278112012-06-13T18:59:00.002-04:002017-12-31T21:06:17.349-05:00Wordless Wednesday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-2630774440916026482012-06-11T10:35:00.000-04:002012-06-11T10:39:08.121-04:00I Still Knit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Posting hasn't been something I do much any more, but knitting...yes, knitting still happens.<br />
Currently I am working on several things. <br />
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My favorite has been BekahKnits <a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5062762887_16e3bc2278_z.jpg">Baby Newsie</a>. My grandson is going to get one, maybe two or three. The pattern is such fun! There are a several things I would caution any prospective knitters of said pattern though. <br />
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First, CHECK GAUGE! I started using the recommended US Size 6 needle with Universal's Classic Worsted Tweed as my yarn. The thing was huge! I got 4.5 stitches to an inch. So I frogged and got it down to 5.5 stitches to an inch on US Size 3 needles.<br />
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Second, Rebekah recommends using magic loop for the knitting of this hat. At first I was wondering why, when there are so many stitches. I mean, come on! It is only a hat, why be so fussy? I started knitting with a 16" circular and was moving right along. Then I got to the top of the hat and discovered why. As you close the top of the hat, you are going back and forth, decreasing as you go. It gets tighter and tighter. The 16" needle quickly got abandoned for a longer cable and magic loop. Save yourself the time and start with a longer cable. I went to a 47" cable when I switched out. Made all the difference in the world.<br />
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Third: Just follow the directions. Don't try to second guess. If it tells you to knit to the marker, then knit to the marker. My problem was that the markers weren't named. Yes, I name my markers. Usually just an initial - like A, B, C, etc. I copied my pattern, mainly because I never write on my patterns, and did just that. Then, I went through the entire pattern and put each markers initial next to it. Made going so much easier.<br />
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I am now at the point of adding the elastic to the edge and then on to the brim.<br />
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Another project that is on the needles is a <a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/rncurlysue/78546022/Kim_s_blanket_001_medium2.jpg">Ten Stitch Twist</a> afghan by Frankie Brown. This is a free pattern on Ravelry! I am using Universal's Classic Shades, a machine washable "handpaint" type yarn with a long color repeat. The afghan in the link used the same yarn. It is beautiful and so reasonably priced! The pattern is my go to when I need a few hour of mindless, brainless knitting to distract me from...well, we won't go there.<br />
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Then, there is a simple, heart shaped shawl that I am working on for a woman that comes to my shop. She wanted a simple shawl to present to her future daughter in law on her wedding day. It is being knit with Cascade's Ultra Pima in an apricot color. Really nice yarn for a heavier weight shawl. It shines and drapes beautifully. Will be a lovely shawl when done. All I need to do is figure out how to do a lace, heart shaped motif at the bottom point. Can't be that difficult, can it?<br />
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That is what is going on with my needles this week/month/summer. And, right now, I want to get to it.</div>My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-24604200950669182392012-06-10T16:01:00.000-04:002012-06-11T10:38:42.498-04:00Giving Back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My father came out to visit for the summer. It is such a blessing having him here. When he is at his home in California, I worry. I worry that he is alone. I worry that he isn't eating. I worry that I won't see him again.<br />
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Now that he is here I still worry, only not as much. I know he is safe, being taken care of, and not by himself. It is my pleasure to have him here with me - I don't want him to leave. </div>
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As a child I was so afraid of my dad. Not because he was abusive or mean. But because he was larger than life. He made me laugh. He was a tease. He loved to be teased back. He was fun to be with and easy to be with. So I suppose afraid wasn't the right word. I was more in awe of my father. I still am.</div>
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Now that he is over 80, he doesn't get around as easily as he once did. But he is still a tease. He loves to laugh and joke. He is still easy and fun to be with.</div>
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Having him here makes me wonder why so many seniors, our parents, end up in care homes. No, not those that need round the clock care or have special needs beyond the capabilities of family members. But those that just need a comfortable chair to sit in. Those that need a ride to the doctor, library, grocers. Those that can't do for themselves as they once could. I am thrilled and honored to do this for him.</div>
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He gave me so much during my youth that it is pleasing to me to be able to give back to him. </div>
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I hope he stays.</div>
</div>My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-86873222946809734032012-06-08T09:03:00.002-04:002012-06-11T10:37:56.587-04:00One Word<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been debating the whole blog thing lately. Do I start blogging again? Do I not start blogging again? Can I dabble on paper? Or, should I go to the net and tell the world?<br />
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If you are reading this then you know what camp won.<br />
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And, it was due to something a friend said to me last nght..."It all starts with one word."<br />
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<br /></div>My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-10094138135169229362011-02-15T13:18:00.002-05:002011-02-15T13:22:05.294-05:00Amhra'n<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14830656@N03/1537355153/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/1537355153_305af820f7_m.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14830656@N03/1537355153/">Amhra'n</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/14830656@N03/">emmasdaughter</a></span></div>It has been a long time coming. But...My favorite sweater design is once again available for purchase. <br />
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This sweater is heavily cabled, worked from the bottom up and has minimal seaming. (just the collar facing is seamed) It is a bit of a bear to set up, but, once done, the pattern is almost too easy! Wouldn't recommend for a beginning knitter however. <br />
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If you are looking for a project that will keep you busy, not bored and loving your knitting, this could be the one.<br />
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You can find it on Ravelry. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amhran-gra-love-song">Just follow the link</a>. Or, if not a member, just send me and email and you can purchase it through Paypal.</div>My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-58658521673700644622011-02-14T13:36:00.001-05:002011-02-14T13:36:17.278-05:00Contrast and Color<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14830656@N03/5445884036/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5445884036_176152ea2d_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14830656@N03/5445884036/">Contrast and Color</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/14830656@N03/">emmasdaughter</a></span></div>Another pic that I just love!<br clear="all" />My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-86307863203812481912011-02-14T13:27:00.001-05:002011-02-14T13:27:05.569-05:00B & W In the Gray of Winter<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14830656@N03/5445916782/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/5445916782_a05ff16d95_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14830656@N03/5445916782/">B & W In the Gray of Winter</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/14830656@N03/">emmasdaughter</a></span></div>Just a pic using the new camera. Had to share!<br clear="all" />My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-42785314948111230122010-12-18T10:36:00.002-05:002010-12-18T10:45:22.893-05:00My Catty MuseSometime an inspiration strikes. You don’t always know where it comes from or why it strikes at that particular moment. It could be the way your brain synapses fire, it could be a color or combination of patterns, or it could simply be your muse found you. But, whatever the cause, an artist is always glad when it does strike. <br />
My muse deserted me for years; I mean years! I would get ideas, but they wouldn’t make it from my head to my hands. Something stopped the process and I would go find an already written pattern and be happy.<br />
Then, one day last week, my muse not only struck, but whapped me upside the head! “Bev,” said the annoying little being, “You are such a Catty Bitch!” And there it was! A thought. An idea. Something I could get behind – cuz let’s face it, my muse was spot on with the evaluation. <br />
I went looking through my color palette of yarns. Blue? Nah – too calm. Tossed it aside. Yellow? Hmmm…Overdone. Threw it back on the shelf. Orange? Hey – it’s a Catty Bitch, not a fruit drink! Again, to the floor. Brown? Could be a good start, we all know what brown is. Then to put some other colors with it. Heathers for the times we want a little cloudiness and subtlety to soften our edges. Rust to calm the brown in our lives. And green! Green for no particular reason other than it was incongruent with the background color. Sounds good to me.<br />
Then, needles in hand, I preceded to listen to my muse. Make it curl! Throw a few bumps in there. Braid a bit. Make it sassy! I laughed to myself as I knit. I threw myself into the project with a vim and vigor that hadn’t been mine in so long. It was fun and people wondered who the crazy person was, sitting in the corner laughing hysterically. They were afraid to come close for fear of a needle in the eye. And, yes, I had many – 5 to be exact.<br />
A few hours later what lay before me was worthy of all the laughter and fear that that laughter had evoked. What lay before me was worthy of the long desertion by my muse. What lay before me was…<br />
<div align="center">Catty Bitch Mitts!</div><div align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_pEXX792ObMs/TQzVDtkClkI/AAAAAAAAAVg/_-vh5Pl2u0U/s1600-h/Catty%20Bitch%20Mitts%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Catty Bitch Mitts" border="0" height="214" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_pEXX792ObMs/TQzVEIVG_II/AAAAAAAAAVk/SlTEKU6K-nU/Catty%20Bitch%20Mitts_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Catty Bitch Mitts" width="244" /></a></div><div align="left">And they are now available on Ravelry. If you aren't on Ravely, you can get a PDF copy if you ask nice. Have a blast making yourself or for some dearly beloved Catty Bitch of your own.</div>My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-71856361414750393062010-10-01T12:17:00.000-04:002010-10-01T12:17:48.269-04:00Patterns Anyone?<blockquote>I have just uploaded two Emma’s Daughter original designs onto Ravelry. </blockquote><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_pEXX792ObMs/TKX-7T17gnI/AAAAAAAAAVE/qUN2kIu7zxk/s1600-h/Amhra%27n%20Pic%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Amhra'n Pic" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_pEXX792ObMs/TKX-8VDvQ4I/AAAAAAAAAVI/3y7l3coYMUs/Amhra%27n%20Pic_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="Amhra'n Pic" width="184" /></a> The first one is a sweater that I designed a few years ago for Knit Picks. It has been languishing within a pile of patterns that I have sold in the past. Now, resurrected, it is again available either on Ravelry or by going to my Sweater Patterns page, above.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_pEXX792ObMs/TKX-9MTzDQI/AAAAAAAAAVM/LwvGH-kdS_4/s1600-h/003%20-%20Copy%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="003 - Copy" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_pEXX792ObMs/TKX-9mfPVRI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/rGEyRdGfwGA/003%20-%20Copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="003 - Copy" width="184" /></a> The second is a new pair of socks made with a sport weight sock yarn. These are quick and easy to knit. Slipped stitches add an extra layer of warmth, making them an excellent winter sock! The pair pictured were made using Zwerger Garn’s Opal 6ply.My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-62997495052133801042010-09-14T09:07:00.000-04:002010-09-14T09:07:28.584-04:00Cascade Cash VeroI am currently knitting samples for the new store. <br />
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Sample garments sell patterns - of which I don't carry many because of Ravelry being so rich with free ones. I am knitting up a pair of <a href="http://www.dancingewe-yarns.com/PDGCommTemplates/DE/images/FreePatterns/DancingEweYarns_SusiesReadingMitts.pdf">Susie's Reading Mitts</a> for a future class. And let me tell you, they are so soft that they may not make it to the sample display!<br />
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But, sample garments also sell yarn. And the yarn I am using now is like knitting with butter! It is Cascade's Cash Vero DK. I have to say it is similar to Debbie Bliss CashMerino in that it has just a small amount of Cashmere. But oh does that Cashmere pack a punch!<br />
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Cascade's blend is 55% Extra Fine Merino, which gives the yarn a wonderful elasticity and makes it behave as a good wool should. Then they added 33% microfiber acrylic to the blend which gives the yarn a nice handle and added sturdiness. Add 12% cashmere to the mix and you have knitting heaven! <br />
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I don't know how it washes up yet. But I can tell you it is truly a dream to knit with. The mitts slide on and off so easily. They are so warm and so soft that I want a pair in every color! And there are many to <a href="http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-CashVeroDK.asp">choose </a>from. Currently I have given this yarn top place in my baby yarns. I carry the soft baby colors of pink, blue, mint green and white, along with black, wine and gray. As the cash flow pick up I hope to bring in more colors.<br />
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If you have never tried a cashmere blend yarn before I would highly recommend this as a starting point in your fiber exploration. It is easy to knit with, relatively affordable at under $9 a ball, and so soft that you will want to spoil yourself and knit up something to keep! Head to your LYS as soon as you can and give it a touch and a fondle. If you don't have it locally, give me a holler - here, on Ravelry, or Facebook and we can get you taken care of. You have to try this yarn!!!! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I give it a Blue Yarn Ball!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pEXX792ObMs/TI9yVqDl6HI/AAAAAAAAAU8/J3S6rvwTin8/s1600/cpy-yarn5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pEXX792ObMs/TI9yVqDl6HI/AAAAAAAAAU8/J3S6rvwTin8/s320/cpy-yarn5.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">+It is soft to the touch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">+It is easy to knit with and doesn't have a tendency to split</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">+It show great stitch definition</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">+Is relatively affordable</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-Only has 125 yards per ball. </div>My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-33919442790322720212010-09-10T17:12:00.000-04:002010-09-10T17:12:26.191-04:00Too Much To Say!After a couple of months...who am I kidding...after a summer off from blogging I realized too much has happened and there is too much to say to leave the doors closed any longer. So here I am, dusting off the bookshelves so to speak and sticking my toe into the blogging waters once again. (How do you like those mixed metaphors?)<br />
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It was a busy summer.<br />
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The beginning of June saw the Boyfriend and I taking our first "couples" vacation in over 20 years! We drove down to the D.C. area to visit our mutual and much loved friend Becca. She gave us a whirlwind tour of the monuments and the city. We stayed at her home and branched out from there. It was only 3 days, but it was 3 days that changed my life.<br />
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As a result of our visit I went back to work. Not just any work mind you. With a bit of prodding from Becca and the support of the BF, I am now the proud owner of a small yarn shop in Clinton, NY. I. Love. It!<br />
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Shortly before the shop opened I was in a bicycling accident and broke my shoulder and my wrist. That was a minor set-back, let me tell you. Talk about crazy! Still, almost 3 months later, it is still painful.<br />
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But the shop is now open and an internet store is under construction. This minor change in my life has lent new focus to this blog and will undoubtedly give me so many more things to chatter on about. Yarn, knitting techniques, knitting groups, new friends...it will all find a place here.<br />
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Hope to see most of my old friends find there way back here and hope many more stop in. I am glad to be back!!!My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021062835845154401.post-13255496786056131292010-05-13T12:19:00.000-04:002010-05-13T12:19:20.349-04:00Closing the DoorThis is a post to let any reader that remains know that I am closing the door to my room. Well, not really. I am still babbling away. But for personal reasons the babble is now on Facebook and available for my FB friends to see and read. <br />
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Why the move? FB allows for a bit more privacy. And, most of my friends are there anyway. If you aren't sign up and look for me there! Bev Warner, at Face Book. My logo is my avatar. Looking forward to seeing yo there.My Little Room In The Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10340743805782365705noreply@blogger.com3