Metamorphosis

Okay!!!! Here it is...................my first homespun.

The fall colored yarn was some Merino roving from Wooly Treasures & the in the front some Wool/Alpaca sliver from Fleece Artists.

It's just like they talk about in the books............."beginner's" thick 'n thin yarn. The twist is way too tight in places & in others, way too loose. There's much room for improvement, but I'm getting more of a feel for it now.

I wish I had taken a picture of the unspun fleece cause that's the part that most fascinates me.......the transformation that it goes through. At each stage the yarn takes on a different look. I really can't judge ahead of time what it will look like in a yarn state. I'm sure some people have an eye for this, but I'm not one of them.

The "Assistant"

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!!

I think I'm gonna rename my blog "The Dysfunctional Blogger"! What do you think??? I'm so terribly inconsistent with my postings. Not to mention they are far & few between. Hey, I could make that one of many New Year's resolutions.

On with the blog...........

I was asked right before Christmas to cane a chair for a lady who wanted to give it as a Christmas present to her mother. Of course, I said "yes", but after saying so wondered how in the world I would have it finished for her in time. Then I had a "brainstorm" or a storm in my brain is more like it............I can get the "Outlaw" to help me. That is if I can pull her out of the loving arms of her nurturing father.

I did manage to distract her long enough to e-mail HH Perkins & order the right size cane for the job.

The cane arrived within a few days, so I asked her to get off of her "fat duff" & help me out.

This was the "Outlaws" first attempt at caning & she felt compelled to unwind all the cane for me in an attempt to be helpful!!!

Oh so helpful...................

We secured all horitzontals & verticals strands with pegs to hold them in place.

This wore the "Outlaw" out & she had to take a cat's nap.

Horizontal weaving begins. At this point pegs are no longer necessary, the weave keeps the strands in place.

Seventh & final step: applying binder cane around edges to cover up all 70 holes.

The finished chair in Little Professor's parking lot awaiting the drop off. Forgot to take a picture of it completed at home.

The chair's owners were very pleased, and the "Outlaw" is hoping to get an apprenticeship position in the near future.

Holiday Knits

Well the Feds got it right this year!!! Check out the "Holiday Knits" stamps. Do you think this is a holiday tribute to knitters everywhere???

An Attempt at Intarsia

This is a stocking I started for PNL in September. Needless to say it won't be ready by Christmas this year!!!

I've always thought that it would be the neatest thing to be able to knit a Christmas stocking like my mother used to do. I've cherished the one my mother made me (nearly 50 years ago). I can remember when my stocking (2nd from left) would be unpacked & how excited I would get because I knew in the very near future it would be filled with wonderful goodies from Santa. I loved running my hand across santa's soft n' fuzzy angora beard. From left to right are my son Daniel's "big foot" stocking (we've had many a laugh over this one); mine; my daughter Blake's; and my oldest grandson's.

More Firewood Than Usual

I was setting a fire in the fireplace yesterday in the chance that it may get cold enough that we can actually light it, when this overwhelming feeling of missing my boy hit me.

My son is a pyromaniac!!! I knew this from the day he can home with singed eyelashes & eyebrows at the mere age of 6. The older next door neighbor boy talked him into stealing cigarettes & matches from our house to smoke.

You oughta hear a 6 year old lie when the evidence is clearly written all over his face..............LOL

Anyway, the non-shrinking log pile made me chuckle to myself cause this time last year he was still living here in Birmingham & every time he would come over he would load his trunk up with firewood to take to his place.

When we moved into this house 3 years ago October, the weather was much like it is today! The a/c was turned way down & he built a "bonfire" in the fireplace, which he continued to stoke all day long.

As much as I complained, I miss the bonfires!!!

Only 5 More To Go

We had the pleasure of having my oldest grandson spend the weekend with us. DG turned 14 in November & his Papa thought it was high time he had a driving lesson. Papa loaded DG up in his truck & off they went to the local high school parking lot. This same high school parking lot is where he taught our son to drive 10 years ago. How old does this make us feel???

On his 3rd try, DG was able to engage the clutch & take off in 1st gear with minimal bucking & jerking.

DG was so proud of himself (I think it shows on his face) & so were his Papa & I.

Dog Park Art

Pathos, Sweet, Lost and Found

Artist: J Aaron Alderman

Medium: Steel, copper

It's incredible how this artist is able to show emotion with absolutely no facial features at all.

"Found"

While in Asheville, Susan & I took the dogs to the dog park, which runs along the French Broad River (pictured below). There was an art show going on in the park with work by various local artists.

This one was my favorite.........

The artist took a very cold medium & made it into something warm.

"Sweet"

"Lost"

"Mandala"

I don't recall the name of this piece, but I love the smooth lines. For some reason it reminds me of an Armadillo............

Jimmy Dean (after the sausage) in foreground.

and Yuengling (yes, after the beer)!

French Broad River

Asheville skyline at sunset

I know it's been a while since I posted, but my father-in-law suffered a fall last July while visiting Paul's sister in Washington, DC, which resulted in a broken hip.

He returned to Birmingham at the end of October (two days after I returned from SAFF).

I didn't have much time to prepare & I'm afraid I wasn't as perky as I should have been, as I was still in a daze from the long week & ride home.

SAFF was wonderful!!!! More on that later...............

Dad stayed with us for 3 days before he was hospitalized due to a low sodium problem. Low sodium made him lethargic & very weak & he had NO strength whatsoever. He was also found to have a urinary track infection going on at the same time. Poor man..........................what else could possibly happen to him????

Dad was released after several days and went to St. Martin's in the Pines rehab facility, where he was for a day when he started complaining of his back hurting. He was readmitted to the hospital after a MRI detected a broken pelvis!!!!

Apparently, he did this when he fell in July.

Why wasn't it detected???? Good question!!!

Paul's daddy is 84 and has never been in a hospital a day in his entire life until this fall.

Dad is on the rehab floor of the hospital & is suppose to be released at the end of the week. None of us think he is ready for this in that he can't stand up by himself. But, we have to remember that we are at the mercy of our insurance carriers who know what is best for us! Better not to get started................

Anyway, we've had a lot of out-of-town company with Paul's sister & brother and their families visiting.

And, that's what I've been up to lately............