Getting back into the groove

Lots of changes over the past year and yet not a lot is different.

Munchkin went to live with his family over the summer and the cats and I are mostly adjusted back to our lives. I don't think this will be the last placement for us, but I need to get through my busy season before I even think about turning our lives upside down. Meanwhile, I have been doing house projects galore, knitting and spinning. And decorating the house for the fall.

Pictures soon!

Long time

Sheesh, how is it already November???

I made another job change in August. Hopefully it will better fit this single parent life that I am leading. Truthfully "lottery winner" would suit it best, munchkin has been suffering from several ear infections so my sleep schedule is less than optimal.

And yes, munchkin is still with us and continues to fit right in. The cat that I thought would be the bigger problem child has seemed to accept him into the fold.....



Or has just decided that he is going to get his attention despite the baby.



There has been some knitting. Not much to show at the moment, but I think my sock yarn blankie has hit it's final width - a little wider than a twin bed. I'm fighting a fiber-loving cat at the moment so the picture doesn't do it justice.





More to share soon!

A Stashing I Will Go!

Last week, I added to my DVD collection.




That's The Loom Owners Companion (Tom Knisely), Weaving Well (Madelyn van der Hoogt), and Doubleweave Basics (Jennifer Moore).

The munchkin declared them great teething toys!

Now if I can just find time to watch them.
Think they would be a good substitute for Barney???

Long time no blog

I've thought about blogging a lot. But do I report everything that has happened in the last fifteen months? Bleh. So here are some highlights. First, the crafty stuff:

Not a lot to see, but I did finish a few long term knits and one small stitching project.

Phiaro Scarf

Sweet Thing Shawl

Madonna and Child, by Marilyn Levitt-Imblum.

In a word, my life has been about "change".

In May, I adopted these crazy cats. I was actively looking for two black kittens again, but these two kept ending up on my computer screen. They have been a great addition, displaying loads of personality.

Now, they are more cat-like and less kitten, but are still personality plus and don't know a stranger.

In July, I traveled to Sock Summit and had a blast! I took two classes each with Judith MacKenzie and Fiona Ellis. And the stashing? Oh the stashing was monumental - no pics because the credit card bills are witness enough. Besides all the walking in Portland, my other struggle was deciding on whether or not to change jobs. Bureacracy aside, I enjoyed my job and, more importantly, the people I worked with. But opportunities knocked and I decided to take a leap of faith.

July through September found me transitioning to the new job and because I can't have one major change at a time, I bought new flooring, picked out new paint colors, hired a painter, and basically emptied my house. But it was worth it.

The decluttering continues to progress, sometimes it feels like it will never end. I am hoping that some friends and I will do a destash sale this summer, but it is already so hot outside!! October through February had me with major job deadlines and some crazy health issues. Thankfully my health issues resolved without any permanent damage, though I need to get back on that "eat right, workout" path again. March was a life changer. For much of the 12 months before, I had been working towards being licensed as a foster parent. I had one short term placement and then came the little man that is hanging out with me and the cats now.

I have had a crash course (and initiation) into parenthood and it has been a rollercoaster of giggles, squeals, projectile spit up, and illness. But I have enjoyed it thoroughly. Well, not so much the spit up and the illness part.

One last parting pic of Mr Purrsonality after he burrowed under the laptop.

Passing through

A lot of changes over the last few months on a lot of fronts.

And yet a lot of things remain the same.

First things first.

In May, I decided that I needed the pitter patter of little feet around the house.

I think they like it here.

More later!

Goodbye my sweet girl

My sweet kitty crossed the rainbow bridge this morning. It was a two week whirlwind of vet visits and medications, but ultimately there was nothing I could do.

This little cat was a lot of things in my world over the last 15 years, the quiet second to her bigger brother, the touch-me-not-cat, the type-A "who are these people and did you ask me about this first" overseer, and best of all a cuddler. She was an only cat for a precious nine months and I think loved every minute despite the "work" involved in watching my every move.

Word of the Day: Progress!

Had a couple of days off from work and dedicated half of the time playing at the yarnshop and the other half straightening up the yard.

Still more to be done, but have been largely sidelined by a stupid injury that has limited not only my physical labor around the house, but use of my hands. Hoping that another chiropractor visit or two will put things back together.

Crafty stuff has been limited:

The fair isle/steeking project just won't finish

My Grandmother's birthday rapidly approaches
so the potholder frenzy is coming to an end

Spinning is (slowly) making an appearance in my everyday
(or, every other day) life

Stash culling......
is underway

More soon!