packing over Cristmas is hell

how the BLEEP did I accumulate all of this crap. I have a closing Date of January the 8th. And eleven years of crap to move before then. Oh and a place to move into. One that won't Break the bank, and I won't hate within six months. I never want to move again.
I have been packing it all on my own. With the exception of Joe taking apart all the beds and hauling them down to a reasonably accessible space, I have been sorting and heaving on my own. It is very cathartic. And an incredibly huge job. Nasty even.
I am going to be so glad when it is over. My house is a sea of laundry, and boxes. oh, and PILES OF USELESS CRAP!!!!!!
The kids left about half an hour ago to hang out with thier dad, I am spending the evening at a friends place doing laundry and toasting the tree. Tomorrow is the marathon packing and chucking session. Just me and a 100 pack of garbage bags, no kids to plead with me, no guilt over silly sentiment just HEAVE HO.
I had a little meltdown today over the change in the closing date, the incredible lack of money in my life and the stress of the first offer being so sketchy. The new offer is better, but I am just sick that there might be something that will cause a snag. I think this is the most stressfull thing I have ever done. But I guess it will all be over soon. January 8 is the day I am going to relax and take a deep breath, then start my christmas shopping. Boy oh boy are we ever in for a nice Christmas in January.

the waiting game

I got an offer on my house. It certainly was quick, and quite shocking. It did not even have a sign up, and hadn't yet hit the MLS lists. Damn my realtor had not even stepped into the place to do the write up. The offer was really close to what I was asking, so I guess I can't complain. So now we go the rounds of inspectors and finance etc. And then the fun of house hunting, and cleaning out eleven years of accumulated CRAP.
I am an artist. We artists tend to collect stuff. A lot of stuff. Way more stuff than we will ever use. oh. and I was married to an artist who also collected stuff. and left it behind. My sister suggested a dumpster. She may not be far off the mark.
Now I need to gather forth my minions to sort and chuck and otherwise purge my life of the unneccesary bits and pieces. I am not strong enough to pull it off alone.
I am hoping all goes well with the sale, the buyer wants to close on the 28th, and I want to be in a place with my kids by Christmas. What are the chances???
pray it all goes well will ya? I certainly could use a good luck break.

socks on the wall

 
Well these are my latest creations folks. I have been sewing socks like nobody's business. India drew a lovely elf sock one day and I just new they had to be made in cloth. Well lime and hot pink faux suede to be exact. OOOH the remnants I get at work are lovely.
I was finishing up some loose ends while having a post sale drink with joepoet on sunday when we realized the wall of Isaacs way was the best possible place to hang them. We left one for the staff but the rest are home with me now.
Cheers
Lizzie
I also made some very elegant silk ones in taupe with brocade trim. yummy. 

A small slice of my life

Last night I listed my house for sale.

Today I stumbled onto the blog of our minister of energy, this is an exerpt from his announcement regarding the banning of power disconnection in the province.

"If a single mother with 2 kids has to decide whether to pay the power bill or feed her kids this Liberal government wants her to feed her kids every time! NB Power and Family and Community Services will help her work out a schedule whereby she can pay the bill over an extended period of time. Let's not make any assumptions, everyone must pay their power bill. There was never any intent to give ratepayers a free ride in the winter time. If you have the financial means to pay but just decide not to and cannot prove financial hardship , you must pay. This is good news for folks in financial hardship and are worried about picking heat over eating....this government will pick feeding your children every time."

this is all very interesting, especially since the power company won't negotiate a payment plan with me. I was told they only negotiate with welfare recipients. Too bad my protestant work ethic kicked in,
It has been such a hard year, the family court, the losing school funding, the unemployment have taken thier toll.
I have no power and water hooked up, am crashing at a friend's and trying desperately to pay of the debts that accumulated over the past year. My children's father refuses to help, financially or by taking them for extra time so I can work.
Not that the job is making much of a difference at this point. Bare minimum, and transport is killing me.
Family and community services refuse to help me negotiate a payment plan, apparently thier rules are that I have to be on welfare, and mentally incapable of paying bills.
NB Power says they only negotiate with family and community services.
SO long story short, I work, so that I can live without utilities and be forced from my home
All I want for Christmas is a decent job. And my home back. Even an apartment would do.

actual fiber content.

I bought yarn. well ribbon masquerading as yarn. first fiber stash enhancement in months. photos later after battery purchase

Alittle Spot of Sunshine

well Last evening we celebrated the marriage of my oldest niece.
This first photo is her and her dad, dancing at the reception.
 
and this is the happy couple. Mr and mrs Daniel and Courtney Rickard
 
What a welcome bit of celebrating it was, a good time was had by all, as evidance, I have this charming picture of my sisters, well into the evening, And near the bottom of a bottle of something grandma would definately not approve of... 

The one in the middle is the mother of the bride, just tipsy enough to try out the belly dancing belt borrowed from the sister on the left. What kind of example are they setting for thier baby sister???
I am thinking a pretty darned good one!

Family Fun with the Girls.

 
This trio of lovely ladies are my Nieces. Left to right, Ashley, Courtney and Melissa. This photo was taken at Courtney's bridal shower on Saturday afternoon. It was really a fun time. I am not usually a fan of these hen parties, but this was truly a good time. The food was great, the company was pleasant and there were absolutely no family feuds brewing anywhere. Life was good, all round.
It is hard to believe that I have neices old enough to get married, where does the time go. It seems like only last week I was sewing little rompers for her, and borrowing her for home ec class fashion shows.
I am not sure that she would be keen on matching dinosaur shorts with her auntie any more.
The wedding is next month, October 20, I will have to start building up my kleenex stash, I am sure there will be many tears of happiness shed on george street that day. 

Stolen Meme from Jackie

5 Things always in my purse
In summer, I carry a purse. In winter, my parka has huge pockets

1. Asthma puffer
2. dirt/garbage from candy
3. wallet
4. agenda
5. Pen

5 things always in my wallet

1. Drivers license
2. Receipts
3. Medicare cards
4. blue cross cards
5. Library card

5 things always in my refrigerator

1. sambal oleck, and or jackies killer hot sauce
2. science experiment fodder
3. veggies of some shape form or description( see science experiment fodder)
4. cheese
5. coffee cream, and butter( This rarely runs out, if that happens, life is not pretty.) I vowed when I seperated from the ex, I would drink REAL cream in my coffee and Have REAL butter on my bread) I will sacrifice most things for these two items

5 things always in my closet

1. stash
2. books(large bookshelf, no where else to put it but have a huge closet)
3. Clothes
4. saganishiki loom, as yet unused
5. box of unknowns from my last apartment. 11 years ago

5 things always in my car
I don't own a car, but if I did I would surely have the folowing( insert dream sequence here) ...
1. A map, or several maps
2. Armour bag,
3. pertinant emergency tools and such
4. coffee
5. music, lots and lots of music

5 things always on my desk

1. Computer
2. picture of DTL
3. Pencils and pens
4. Paper
5. kid fodder, toys, beads, un finished sewing, beading stuff

as for people to tag

1. insert
2. your
3. name
4. here
5. if you want to play

Not Dead Yet

Yes folks, I am still alive. Though busy as a one armed paper hanger. or a one handed weaver, whatever works for ya. I have been hangin out at the highland games, weaving some tweed, shoulda been some tartan, but reggae night interfered.
Aside from sewing bags and doing the artist market I have been searching for a job, being artist in residence, and trying to drum up some enthusiasm for life.
Yup, hard to be enthusiastic about yet more impending court dates, putting my education on hold -again, and looking for work that will pay the bills, without the ever lovin response of "if you had your degree..."
Yup, that is the clincher, If I had my degree I could get get a job, if I had a job I could pay for a degree...
The end result is the same. I haven't got a job, I have a huge lawyer bill to pay and an ex with a propensity for litigation paid for by mommy. nice work if you can get it.
A girl could go loonie.
but hey, i do have a duffle bag full of quiviat sp?? well, muskox fluff, and a gig teaching two nights, residency next week and again the first week of september. so It ain't all bad. really.
Well all. gotta fly, and get prepared for teaching the fine citizens of freddy to felt.
ta ta for now
lizzie

Sewing Like a fool...

I have been a busy little beaver these past few weeks. I have been chained to my husqvarna and sewing like a demon. I have certainly made some progress on the production work. I listed four new bags on etsy today, I am pretty excited about this new line. I am really enjoying the painting and the sewing. There will be more up in the next few days, but etsy was slower than molasses today so I got bored and took an extended break. Check em out at the etsy store penelopespiderworks.etsy.com

World Cup Fever, My little lady, and the England - Sweden Game

 
This folks is my little lady, behaving like all good footie fans should in a pub. Our local watering hole, known for its lack of tv has rented a huge mother of all tv's for the world cup festivities. Each day at three thirty, we can watch a game and sip some local brews among some true fans of the sport. We have not attended any of the games until England vs Sweden. Let me tell ya this little princess was letting everyone know who she was rooting for! 

How I spent My Saturday

 
 
 
This lovely couple is my dear friend Jason, and his lovely new wife, Patti. The wedding was beautiful, I cried like a baby. I wish them both all happiness. A blessing on them. 

666 the number of the GIRLS NIGHT OUT...New Brunswick Style

So today was Jackie's birthday. I will leave it up to her to expound apon her loot. Suffice it to say that Kate and I had the booze makin supplies, chocolate, and fibre all wrapped up. Joe poet covered the caffiene vessel area. But i would have to say that the star of the evening was Nigel. God bless Nigel.
WE descended on his lovely, quiet pub, created our own little party, drank his booze, abused him mercilessly, I think there was even partial nudity at one point ( his not ours, but I digress). Brain a little fuzzy, might have been the Irish Car bomb....\Suffice it to say, a good time was had by all. And Nigel is a little dizzy from the excitement of us. But hey what's not to get excited about? Imagine, Me, the Oddball, and jackie+ booze, and chocolate-children and husbands= one hell of a whirlwind party. We might be a little hard to take for the uninitiated.well ta for now. must weave drunkenly so I can finish up the scarves and put on the wedding gift warp.
ta fer now, lizzie

Carleton Artists Market.

Tomorrow marks the first Saturday that Jackie and I will be attending the Carleton Artists Market as vendors. It is pretty exciting I must say. We will be sharing a space and switching off weeks, and well sometimes, like tomorrow we will be together.
Up for grabs will be a variety of handwoven, and felted goods,and some hand sewn bags and purses, when we get it done we will have some hand dyed yarn as well. I am hoping to put together a couple of kits for felted handbags with the lovely rovings I dyed last weekend. I have a few wovens, but not nearly as many as Jackie, I gotta catch up to that girl! She's a machine I tell ya!
I haven't finished the scarves that are currently on the loom, but maybe this evening after I take my first medieval dance lesson I will have some time to weave. My goal for today is to put some last minute finishing touches on some "Done-Buts" and attach some hangtags to the goods.
Here is a little sneak peak at what I am taking for sale, so if you're in the hood stop by. Oh, and if you are heading our way- bring coffee !!!
Carleton Artists Market.King Street Fredericton, Beside Brewbaker's. Rain location, inside Carleton Place. See You There!

blanket memories

So Jackie got me thinking about the whole learning to weave issue. We were taught by the same teacher, albeit, a few years apart. I did not persue weaving as my major course of study, instead I wandered downstairs to play in the mud. Although I chose to study pottery, and dropped the weaving after first year, I had my blanket. I have used this blanket for more than twelve years, it has been darned more than once, and it has moved from room to room. It has been dragged around by kids, and kept me warm while nursing babies, snuggling kids on the couch, and while sitting around the kitchen shelter with friends when camping. It has travelled to Vermont, and to Pennsylvania with me, and is still going strong.
I love this blanket. It holds a lot of good memories. The beat is pretty good for a first time weaver, the fringe is a little ratty, but still basically intact, and the colours are a little brighter than I would choose today, but all in all, it ain’t a half bad effort for a first try.

Some "craft porn"for Jay

Our dear Aussie friend, Jay has spoken of his love of Craft Porn. He wants to show the process, to see the process, peep into the making of craft. so these photos are for him, and anyone else who wishes to take a peek.

this is a photo looking in to the front door of my friend Darren's wood fired kiln. darren has been experimaenting with local clays and has built this kiln at his studio at Browns Flats NB. He is coming up with some really amazing stuff.Check out his site

The crazy fires we build in the backwoods of NB eh?

Now I would like to travel back a few years to when I was playing with fire on a more regular basis. the following few pots are ones that I made while pregnant for my oldest, he is 12 now.


Well that is all for now, I am sure that I will scrounge up some more "Dirty" pictures for Jay later. ta for now, thanks for reading
Lizzie

Full Circle, or a trio of shawls

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A few years back, while working at the Craft College, I gathered up a few of odds and sods from my stash and put on a very long mixed purple warp. The results of this weaving were three shawls. Each of the three shawls was different from the next because of the weft I used. All were woven in plain weave, all were different lengths and all were very warm and lovely after washing and finishing. Well, all but the one that has yet to be finished. The longest of the three, I will be digging it out soon, and creating a fringe, finishing it off and sending it on its way.
I know not where its home will lie, or even if it will leave my home at all. Only that the time has finally come to take it out and finish it. Pictured above is the second of the three shawls, and the smallest. The first left for its home in March of 2001. A gift.
I began this project in January of 2001. It was a messy, turbulent time in my life. I had been ill for several weeks with Pneumonia, and my marriage was in trouble. In a way these shawls were my therapy, and in a way they were my nemesis. I designed them with my mother in law’s birthday in mind, wove them and finished hers in time for her birthday in March.
Mere days after giving her the shawl, my world was turned upside down. I was served legal papers, and my battle to keep my children and my sanity began. I did not touch the shawls again for many months. As time wore on, the two remaining shawls, lay in the bottom of a trunk, waiting their final tweaking.
In April of 2002 while preparing for medieval event I was attending with the children I pulled out the trunk, and I finished the second of the three to keep wee little I warm in the spring chill.  The third shawl remains in the trunk, and waits.
In March of 2006, my world went upside down again. I fought the good fight, went back to court, and it begins again. The final shawl has been calling me, it is time. Perhaps in finishing the shawl, embellishing it, washing and owning the shawl will in some way bring this latest battle to a close, I will have come full circle, tied up the loose ends, and will be able to breathe, on my own, and steadily move on.

sunday at the spiderworks.

After a wonderful barbeque with the gang from one thread two thread, and Joepoet on Friday, the rest of my weekend became all about getting to the dyepot. I spent Saturday afternoon winding skeins, and gathering fibres to dye today. I rifled through the shed and came up with a dyepot. I raided the fridge and found an icy cold beer( or three) and settled down with a few skeins and a few cups of dye.
It felt so good to be back at the dyepot for even a few hours. As usual, I only accomplished about half of what I intended, but all in all I think the day was fairly productive. I managed to dye three large skeins of B&L country roving, a large skein of laceweight wool, and one small skein of spider web weight silk. Not bad for an afternoon filled with distractions. As per usual, despite the gloves, I managed to dye one finger green. Tomorrow I will get at the cottons, and maybe some more silk. If the weather holds out, I should be well under way into knitting a bag proto type for my kits with some of the dyed roving. I have two patterns already, but am itching for some design work in something more fancy than my simple casual bags. I have a truckload of great beads and baubles that are screaming for use and this just might be the venue.

New Chenille Scarves

Well I am finally ably to post o progress shot of the log cabin chenille scarves currently on the loom. After a few minor glitches with the threading, I have them well underway. I am really enjoying the feel of the chenille and the pattern is so beautiful. I just love the colour and weave effct. It is a simple plain weave, pattern appearing as the shuttles are switched, one colour for another. I am really pleased with this set, but am really anxious to finish so I can sart on my lovely blue and chocolate brown tweed.I guess so many beautiful warps waiting will keep me at it. Just have to keep up the warping ahead. Thanks for reading must get back to the weaving!

Launched the Etsy store.....

So I have ventured out into the world of online selling with etsy.com. Check out my store, it is penelopespiderworks.etsy.com I am pretty excited that things are up and for sale and out of my hands. The setup was really simple and the price seems super reasonable. I only have four things up right now, but am told that Jackie will list a few things with me too. That should beef up the spot a bit.
In the process of picking pictures from my stash I came across some older photos of things I had done, since I have not much newly photographed I will share a few pics from the past.

This is a galvenized steel handbag that I knit a few years back. I just wanted to see if I could. so I did. The handles and the top band were woven in my inkle loom. I really love this little bag and I had a blast making it. might do some more someday.

This little number was from a series of bags I made, and sold. this is the last one I have, will definately make some more when I can. These bags sold really well. I have this one up on etsy right now.

this little box is made from some hand painted fabric that I was doing when India was a baby, I really enjoyed the process and I love the little box. I think that I will do up a few this summer and embellish them a bit more. maybe take the idea for a walk. I had made a few little boxes while taking a bookbinding workshop a few years ago, but have no photos of them.

this is another of my woven silk bags. This one I own, and use all the time. I love this bag. It sadly is wearing out on the strap where it joins the bag, but I love it so much that I am going to weave me a sturdier strap and let the bag soldier on, for a few more years anyway. It has absolutely no wear and tear anywhere else on the bag.
well thanks for reading, gotta run and weave me a scarf.

Productivity, No... REALLY!

Boy do I feel like a little worker bee. Nigel's scarf was the catalyst, project given, challenge met. Then there was Katie's wee scarf, gave myself the week, but hey look its done!!!! don't have a camera so bear with my scanner photos. I just cannot wait until someone appears with camera in hand. I have to share. After months of ufo's I have completed two entire projects!!
oh and smarty pants me added a bit extra on the warp for Kate's scarf and I now have a lovely piece of fabric for a handbag.
Well just colour me HAPPY would ya?
But no folks it doesn't stop there, I also made two new warps this morning for scarves while chatting on the phone. I have these lovely cotton chenille yarns from my stash, that just screamed to be woven. One warp, (two scarves) is a deep rust and a lovely warm beige. The other is the same beige with olive green. They are too yummy for words!
I have already threaded the green and beige warp and am ready to tie on and weave in the morning.
oops fatal scanner thingy won't let me show you the progress. Well trust me there has been some. Lots even.I am sure that kate will have her camera when she arrives to block the shawl that time forgot in the morning.
Ta for now must medicate and catch some zzzzzz's

So I am trying the selling thing.

Well the time has come for me to clean out the stash, and start selling a few of my finished goodies. I have placed a couple of items on ebay, and we shall see how they go. I am planning to start selling some things at the local artists market, if they'll take me that is...
I am just getting started so it will be a few weeks before I can commit to every saturday, gots ta build up the stock so I don't have a chintzy looking booth, and Jackie is going to join with me in this fine endeavour, we shall post pics of the work and the booth. Wish us luck!
For now I shall show ya what is on auction as we speak

Nigel's Sulky Scarf

So this is not exactly knitting, but I used yarn to make it so in my books it counts as blog fodder. I wove this scarf for my dear friend Nigel. Poor dear was scarfless and sulking, and he is such a good pouter, that I caved at his expert sad puppy act.

Man he's good!

Seems his nose was a little out of joint when his girlfriend started knitting a scarf for his equally sad puppy best friend/room mate. Now these are two very lovely boy's who are excellant friends, but WHOA are they competitive. Now I normally wouldn't put my self in the middle of their little competitions, but hey, it was a week moment. I was lagging in the fibre creating, slacking on the sock from hell, and grabbed the first diversion to come my way. I had a blast. Took my normal weaving style for a walk and ran screaming away from my usual wool. I rifled the stash of both my girl's Kate and Jackie, added it to my long forgotten cottons and voila, Nigel's sulking scarf was born from the remnants of several dyeing projects, and stray bobbins of silk.

I believe I have created a monster, I need to do a series, I have Kate's on the warping board as we speak, ready to thread the loom over the next few days, and hoping she will have it in her hot little hands by the weekend.

I love weaving in the summer. It rocks my world fer sure.

I wove this scarf on a table top loom, but the rest will be woven on Jackie's spare floor loom which is currently being stored in my workroom. The weaving is much quicker on the big loom, and much easier opn the old creaky back. Well I must run off and prepare my residency foprms for the tomorrow deadline, Kate the keener is already done. sheesh what a brown noser!!!!

ta ta for now, thanks for readin'

Lizzie

Literature, Knitting and the state of my reading these days

I stumbled across this meme on someones blog, it made me think. And I see that I am more well read than I had thought. I won’t tag anyone, but would encourage you all to give some thought to what you read. My personal reading habits of late have been either purely academic, or pure trash fiction. I am glad to realise that it has not always been this way. I have read a surprisingly large number of the books on this list, though I must say that I read most of them many long years ago. Doing this meme has made me realise that I need to take time once in a while to read some valid and new works, toss in a few classics, and get back a bit of where I was before all hell broke loose in my life. I realised that with the exception of the Harry Potter books, and the DaVinci code, most of these books, I read before even thinking about giving birth. My oldest is twelve.
If this has done one thing for me, it has opened my eyes. I am going to make a list of books that I have always wanted to read. I will go through them one by one until I have completed the list. Now I tend to lean toward the classics, and the safe (ie recommended and or loaned from trusted friends) so therefore, To add to my torture/pleasure, I will pick some books that are new and written by people I have either never heard of, or just never bothered to read.
This is going to be a toughie for me, so bear with me through it all. I will include a brief blurb from time to time so y’all will know I am keeping my word. But fer the most patrt I will discuss… My Sock!!!!! (after the meme and first draft book list)
Book Meme!
1. Copy & paste.
2. Bold the ones you’ve read.
3. Add four recent reads to the end.
4. Tag!
The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams
The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgerald
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter 6) - J.K. Rowling
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Animal Farm: A Fairy Story - George Orwell
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
1984 - George Orwell
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) - J.K. Rowling One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4) - J.K. Rowling
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter 5) - J.K. Rowling
Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Book 1) - J.K. Rowling
Neuromancer - William Gibson
Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) - J.K. Rowling
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
American Gods - Neil Gaiman
Ender’s Game (The Ender Saga) - Orson Scott Card
Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson
A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Good Omens - Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
Atonement - Ian McEwanThe Shadow Of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz ZafonThe Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
Dune - Frank Herbert
The Unbearable Lightness of Being - Milan KunderaHey
Nostradamus! - Douglas Coupland
The Nature of Blood - Caryl Phillips
Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules -Ed. David SedarisI
Know This Much is True - Wally Lamb
Empire Falls - Richard Russo
American Pharaoh: Mayor Richard J. Daley - Adam Cohen & Elizabeth Taylor

1. Devil in the White City - Erik Larson
   First Man In Rome- Colleen Mccullough ( current Read)
   Alias Grace- Margaret Atwood (current re read)
   The Sun Also Rises- Ernest Hemingway
   Candide- Voltaire
   Wide Sargasso Sea- Jean Rhys
   
   The great unread list of books, soon to be tackled by Lizzie, draft # 1.
   Angels and Demons_ Dan Brown.

Loved the code, have been waiting to read this one.

Frankenstein_Mary Shelley

Read it in High School, but feel the need to do it again. I enjoyed it then, and enjoyed the movie as well. Maybe I will treat myself and the kids to movie night to celebrate the finishing of this book.

1. The Illiad and the Odyssy_ Homer

I have read bits and pieces and am familiar with the works, but have never set out to read em cover to cover. S’bout time I did.

Several biographies.don’t know the names of most of the works, but will list the people I am interested in

• Peter the Great of Russia


• Anne Boleyn


• Marie Curie


• Donald Sutherland( what can I say Canadian, wicked good actor, hottie)


• Pierre Elliot Trudeau_ My political hero


• Frank McKenna_ Kind of a political dynamo, here in this neck of the woods. And a wicked businessman. Nuff’ said.


• Andy Warhol


• Robert Roschenburg


• Keith Haring


• Jackson Pollack


• Paul McCartney

Of Mice and Men

Angela’s Ashes

Art Of War_ Sun Tsu

Of course this list will morph into others as my sock project grows. I will be hiting the library for fodder soon after I finish my American History paper.
Have a good one, Thanks for readfin
Lizzie

More Inner Journey, and Some Sock Talk

"When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure."-Peter Marshall

Yup, still doing the soul searching. It is funny this looking inside oneself. For the most part I am liking what I see.  I am proud of where I am and what I have accomplished in the last five years. I have won a few battles and lost a few battles, but the war ain’t over yet.

We all have people in our life that enter and exit, but never really leave. They are no less important to us for their brief encounters in our lives. In fact they may very well be the ones who have the most profound effects on our being. They are the ones who show up when you least expect them. Their moments are not always long (or pleasant) but are certainly never meaningless. They may even be the ones you seek out when you want the gut wrenching truth. No matter how hard it is to swallow, you know they will hold up that mirror and make you acknowledge what you see. I am blessed to have this. In the past few weeks I have been touched by three of these people who matter, each in their own way have helped in my journey, becoming an integral part of my processing. It feels good.


Sure I have made my share of mistakes, and will probably continue to do so while I stumble on down this crazy path. I am thinking of taking up knitting a sock for the journey. I just need a simple recipe and the where withal to cast the bugger on. I am going to take a page out of jackie’s book and dye me own yarns I have some crazy pink lemieux wool from the good old days that might make a lovely overdying experiment…
If I don’t screw up the first one too badly I may even make the second one. Don’t hold your breath though, I am not big on committing to a matched pair of anything.



But first I really must read a crapload of European history for my final on Monday.
And then it is on to ancient Greece for Wednesday.

I suspect sleep will elude me yet again…. Aah those crazy Brits, not to mention good old King Louis (and there were a couple of those to deal with…)

St Andrews, July 20 2002 

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

Circumstances being what they are in my life, these days are ones of reflection and of seeking the truth inside of myself. The road thus far has been long, and pitted, and full of dangerous curves. By times there have been exciting hills, and wide open fields either side, full of sunshine and summer breezes. Though they may be brief and far apart, they have given me the strength to survive the steep and narrow paths through dark forests and around craggy cliffs. My current craggy cliff is not as scary as the one five years ago, but I learned a lot on that last precipice, and lost a beautiful treasure over the edge half way through the steepest curve.

I have learned not to be so careless with my valuables.

Going through my photos tonight, I stumbled across two images that brought immediate feelings of peacefulness and utter joy. These photos were taken on the happiest day of my life so far. At the first glimpse of these photos my heart skipped, and the day flooded back to me in rushing images. The winding country roads, the airstream trailor with the two-story addition and chicken coop in the yard, the wooden castle and dinner from a paper bag, enjoyed by the ocean side. There is nothing I would change about this day at all, except maybe the disappointing chowder that my fellow traveller had for lunch. The weather was beautiful, the company treasured, and the moment forever imbedded in my heart. I will treasure it always. If there was time travel, this is the day I would visit.

Tomorrow the photos get blown up and framed. Inspiration for the days to come.

Loom update

Well, we have lumber, we have yarn, and we have a bottle of Australian wine. I have the power tools necessary for cutting, drilling and screwing the beast together. So why is the warp weighted loom not done?  Well folks, it will be worked on this fine evening for sure. I have been inspired by my recent trip to Jackie’s where she was busily dyeing wool, and snapping photos of her progress. Her warp is pretty, beautiful even. Stunning might come to mind. I am so very inspired by it that I have hauled out my yarns and am going to embark on a marathon Dye session of my own. My warp is going to be much smaller, and will definitely be less painterly. But it sure will beat the crappy colours that it is at the moment. The yarn is a lovely fine merino pilfered from Jackie’s stash, and bound for a reproduction Roman fabric. It has an unfortunate, 1980’s country blue colour that does nothing for me. It shall become a lovely rich indigo colour before the evening is done. I may even find a cool colour for the crap green that accompanies it.
I have tablets threaded already for the tablet weaving samples to accompany the loom, and am planning a bit o’ weaving on them while my warp simmers in its bath of rich blue dye. I am thoroughly enjoying this wee project, and don’t even resent the paperwork involved. Will post yarn pictures soon.
Night y’all, gotta get at it…
Lizzie

Cause I have SOOO Much Spare Time, I am taking the challenge

Well I am up for the challenge. I am preparing myself for Jay’s contest. Though time is at a premium right now, what with papers to write, projects to finish, and money to earn, I think I need something fun to fill in my off hours. I am likely not going to knit, because that requires too much time, I shall sew, embellish and weave my way through this, I have beads being ignored, and silk calling my name. Or maybe it is time I finally made the damned boiled wool jacket… decisions, decisions.
I give myself till tomorrow to decide what I am making, commit to a fabric, and do some sketches. Jay will have my entry verified by tomorrow evening. I swear it. I may even have swatched some stuff by then!

My Fabulous Day

Went to the library today all by myself. There was no one saying “I’m bored” , no one needed to pee. No one even had the urge to fight and expect me to mediate. I left when they rang the little almost closed bell, stress free, not ready to kill and maim. I have made progress on my homework, and feel able to breathe. For all of these blessings, I thank Jackie.
Merci beaucoup, ma belle amie!

Why I Love My House, Warts and All

Every now and again I have to remind myself what it is I love about my house. I have had a particularly event filled week regarding my humble pile of sticks. It is an old beast, and needs constant fine-tuning. This odd winter we are experiencing has played havoc with my pipes.  And I sadly need to save for new windows, and sewage drain pipes,. Within the next few years I have to rid myself of my oil-burning furnace, and replace with Gas or electric. I have had the old girl for 10 ½ years, and we have had a love / hate relationship for most of it. So bear with me while I share what I do love about her.
I love my Kitchen. It is a work in progress, but I love it. I love the counter top of beautiful tiles that Jackie and I designed over a pint of beer. I love the sandy tile floors, and the warm, rich, pumpkin walls. I love that when we tore off the hideous vinyl wall board and cheap pine wainscoting that was poorly installed, we found original beaded board on walls and ceiling. When I finally put up the crown moulding and cup shelves it will be EXACLTY the kitchen I want. I love that when I look out my French door in summer, I see a crazy vine laden with grapes, and know we will have jelly, or wine in the fall. I love the art that hangs above my table. It is vibrant and warm and meaningful.
I love that all the baseboards are lovely wide pieces of wood, I love the random pine floor in my Bedroom, The tiles I am laying in the hall, and the sloppy ceilings on the second floor. I love my walk in closet. When I finally organize it I may move in to it.
I love my location, I don’t need a car to function day to day. I can walk to the grocery store, my sister’s office, liquor store, pub, and all the good restaurants. I have a hardware store and art supply store and a yarn store close enough to practically spit on. There are two used bookstores and a great independent bookseller within a block of each other sandwiched between my favourite pub, the art supply store and my favourite restaurant
Jackie, her DH and kids are two blocks away, and the kids are old enough to make the journey on their own. Finally. We have two indoor and one outdoor rink within walking distance, should we get the urge to skate. The police station is three blocks away, so when Kate makes soup, I can generally get some before Fredericton’s finest descends upon it like a herd of locusts.
My kids and I can walk to school and everywhere else. We like that.  All in all, it ain’t such a bad place to be. Except when the pipes burst, and you are ankle deep in mud trying to solder copper pipes that won’t stop dripping. Or when your drain freezes and your washer spews all over the laundry area, and through the floor to the basement. But thank the gods and goddesses for dirt floor basements!

But the really good things are:
I do now have fully functional pipes to all of my water areas, both hot and cold.
I can now solder copper pipes, and have the tools to do it should the need arise.
I know how to shut off water supplies.
I saved approximately $200 in plumber fees, and survived the adventure..
I don’t hate my house, and nobody caught a tirade of swearwords. NOT EVEN ONCE!!!!!

Totally stolen from CanKnittian

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

Stormy Weather - Sarah Harmer, Songs for Clem

A great re-make of a fabulous song. I can’t get enough of this one, the whole album really works for me, but this song has always been one of my faves, and she just does it ever so well.

Raised on Robbery- Joni Mitchell
Every good Canadian girl should have this song in her repertoire. It is the ultimate dance around, housecleaning, ruising- down –the –highway with the top down song.

American Idiot- Green Day
This one just says it all.

Skater Boi- Avril Lavigne
This one is courtesy of the wee missy in my house. She has given up on the girly girl fuss and is wearing combats and singing along with Avril dancing up a storm. I am thoroughly enjoying this phase in our life. She keeps me real.

Down to The River to Pray- Alison Kraus
This song levels me, brings me to a place I can deal with, when shit is going on.

Sugar Magnolia- Grateful Dead
This song never leaves my playlist. It has been there in many forms for more years than I can count. I never met a version of it that I didn’t like.

I’ll Fly Away- Alison Kraus, Gillian Welch

Just plain brilliant on every level, great song, great singers.

Tied for number 8 for many reasons are the following

Uncle John’s Band- Indigo Girls, Deadicated
Ripple- Jane’s Addiction, Deadicated
Big yellow Taxi- Joni Mitchell
Canadian railroad Trilogy- Gordon Lightfoot.

And on that note, I tag:
Kate, Jackie, Joe, Kelly, Jay, Deb, Diana

work in progress

Just a little update on the goins on here chez lizzie. I am working on a project for my power of images class, and am having a blast. The assignment was to appropriate an image and make it something it isn't. I chose to cut wee missy here from a photo and play around with her a bit.
The original photo has her father and brother on either side, all hangin out the window first thing after nap time. Messy hair and sleepy eyes and such. I am making her a glamour queen. kinda wierd, buit definately out of context no? not sure what the final product will look like but the playing around is kind of fun fer sure.
they may become stitched papers, or they may just be apprpriated in other ways. dunno yet. I think she would make a great t-shirt. or poster. 

Craving a Fibre Fix, and I Don't Mean Muffins...

All I want to do is weave. I don't care about the war between Sparta and Athens. I am fast losing interest in the various idiosynchracies of Early Modern European kings. I am not particularly thrilled with the pragmatic philosophy of early 20th century America. and quite frankl;y have too much to say about NAFTA to even start worrying about at this point.
Can't complain much about my Roman Classics, cause I get to weave, ( after I build the damned loom) and My fine arts project is way to cool for words.
So two out of six ain't bad.
But I really just want to weave.
And sew something cool.
So I bought a pattern today. It is really quite cute. A bag for missy I to carry the dog in. Yeah I know, I coulda drafted a pattern, but why f around when someone else has already done it. I will probably morph the damned thing beyond all recognition anyway.
If I ever get Five spare Minutes to sew.
The boy child is not feeling so hot tonight so I may get to stay home tomorrow...
Three hours of sparta versus Athens, small healthy lunch, then three hours of sewing time sounds fair to me...
Lord knows I can't really spare the time to warp a loom, and actually weave something in that time.
Sigh, need a fibre fix bad.
Maybe I'll pull a jackie a dye something to get that instant hit of satisfaction!

Wise Words to Live By

  "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne in one hand - strawberries in the   other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming
" WOO HOO – What a Ride!"

When in Rome

When in Rome…

Yes well, I am not really in Rome. But am buried deep into Classics 1413, Rome during Classical times. Lovin it, lovin it lovin it. My professor has decided we can do a project, and short write up in lieu of an essay. I love it. I get to MAKE something odd and obsolete, with a built in F***k off factor of approximately 1 billion.
Oh and I get to do double duty and appear at my local SCA shire spring Schola and blow the rest of the ninnies sideways. Not that I disrespect any of them in any way. But I am a little sick of a few snarks who think they know it all from Genesis on.
So my project is a reproduction Roman warp weighted loom. I am building it myself, and making the clay weights myself, weaving the header on cards in a lozenge or broken twill pattern. Joe poet and I visited the local Home Hardware yesterday. Lumber is ordered and project is underway.
Jackie kindly donated some lovely fine merino that will become the header band, and Joe has kindly taken on the role of Chief photographer for the project. Kate the Oddball, is moral support in the wings. Oh - and she owns the cards that the header will be woven on. Posts will be short and sweet over the next few weeks but will keep y’all updated on the progress.
Sorry it is not exactly knitting, but hey at least there is yarn, and yarn snobbery involved.
Cheers all, and happy knitting!

Well Katie tagged me

Well Katie tagged me…then claimed I was stuck in Ancient Greece and wouldn’t respond. Hah this is way more fun than Thucydides. So here it is gals, the fab four quiz/easy-peasy blog fodder for the girl with no knittin’ goin’ on

Four jobs I have had in my life.

1. Waitress/shooter girl at a crazy fun pub in Montreal. Met some wonderful people, had some laughs, and played a crapload of pool. Made friends there that are friends for life.


2. Fundraiser/Resource Librarian for a provincial AIDS organization. I loved every part of this job.


3. Chief Curator at our local Museum. Loved/hated this job. We won’t get into that.


4. Nanny

Four movies I could watch over and over

1. The Importance of Being Earnest (both versions)


2. The Italian Job/Oceans Eleven tie for second place, tried hard to choose, but couldn’t.


3. Sweet Home Alabama


4. Ten Things I Hate About You

Four Places I would love to visit

1. Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland


2. Africa


3. Newfoundland


4. Morocco

Four Places I have lived

1. Fredericton New Brunswick


2. Windsor Ontario


3. Waterborough New Brunswick


4. Montreal Quebec

Four TV shows I love(d) to watch

1. Crossing Jordan


2. Black Adder


3. Friends


4. Law and Order

Four websites I visit daily

1. University of New Brunswick

1. arseblog


2. Dysfunktional Knitter


3. Oddballknittery

Four places I have been on Vacation

1. Slippery Rock Pennsylvania


2. Burlington, and Stowe Vermont


3. Eastern Townships of Quebec


4. Southern Maine

Four things on the floor/ trunk of your car

Well I don’t actually have a car. So this is not a good question for me. I am instead going to name four things in the bottom of my backpack.

1. Translation of Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian Wars


2. Half a pack of sugar free gum


3. Three liquor store receipts ( priority for reading the aforementioned book)


4. labello lip balm.

Four friends????
Can’t tag no one cause all my friends are taken. I could retag Joe, since Jackie’s tag didn’t stick. So yeah, I tag Joe, and Kellie. Wish I could think of another person…

All Hail the weekend.

This has been one long and crazy week. I am soooo glad it is over and the weekend is here. It may sound crazy girls, but I have the urge to scrub, haul and generally turf the shite from at least the ground floor of my house. I actually want to clean. Not just wish for faeries to come along.
Well sure, I wouldn't turn them away if they showed up, there is a lot to do afterall.
I must say, I am a little concerned about this change in temperament. I normally avoid housework like the plague. There must be mischief afoot. But seriously, I am making room for a new loom, arriving sometime vaguely in the near future, to grace my living space. I am not entirely sure when I will find time to weave, but with one neice getting married, and one friend with a baby on the way, me thinks that there needs to be some serious loom action between now and august. I'm a gonna put the great effort out to do some overshot name drafting. Jackie says it isn't too difficult...
Well folks, I am off to do my cleansweep, and then some homework, cheers, and happy knitting.
I also have to

helooooo out there!!!!!

Yes folks I am still alive. Lots has happened chez lizzie. so now for the update.... and then the political rant. Read what you will, then ignore the rest.
Hmmmm... where to start?
Ahh yes, Christmas.
Chapter one: a christmas story

well, Me -yes me, who never gets more than a head cold, (like that'll stop me)
got knocked sideway by the flu. I was well onto flat on my ass, when joe poet said (and I quote)
"call the doctor"
I looked at him like he had sprouted several heads.
"you are really sick" he says.
no shit.
Why do I need a doctor I think. Men. wimps all of em.
so Later that day, my instant message thingy says "did you get a hold of the doctor?"
damned joe.
but I did feel pretty shitty, and he was really worried, so for his sake I call the doctor.
I never call the doctor. I don't get sick. I do the once a year, girl go to the doctor thing, but I do NOT ever have reason beyond that to go to a doctor.
The receptionist says , OH my god, can ya be here tomorrow at 4.
sure. that was quick. Joe will be happy, he can goto NS knowing I am not avoiding medical attention.
or dead on the couch.
I was pretty sure the doctor would say its a cold, sleep, eat , yada yada. But noooo. She says very slowly and clearly, looking me straight in the eye "You my dear, are officially SICK. You need someone to take care of you, and someone to take the kids. True influenza. The big one. The one that kills people flu.
I was stunned. Never have I been to ill to take care of my kids. Even when I had pneumonia, and was inches from the hospital door, I could cook a meal, and wipe snotty noses. wasn't supposed to, but I did.
there must be a mistake. I can do this.
Apparently not.
Thus enters my favourite sport:
It is called "hunt down the deadbeat sperm donor, and see if he can do his duty and care for his offspring" I have purposefully contracted a terrible illness in an attempt to foil his plans for holiday revelry, and gaming.
Cause I am just like that, really.
Wow! I am sure ranting, it is not likely to end soon, so sorry.
SOOOOO, there I am , sitting in a borrowed car in the medical centre parking lot; dialling his number, bawling like a baby, on an ex husband hunt.
Work phone says try cell, cell says he is unavailable. i leave a message, take a deep breath, wish for the stars to align themselves just so, and call his MOTHER. ( I had to be REALLY sick to do that, eh Kate?)I really thought I had no choice. I left a message. She called me back, said she would hunt him down, and if not would come up from her place to get the kids. That means a major commute, 2 hours ish, and HE has her car.
Eventually the genius called me. He says, it is inconvenient, could I try harder to find someone else to care for the kids. He has plans for a party he would rather not cancel.
I want to cancel my influenza --- BUT I CAN"T!!!!!!!
deep breath, caughing fit, followed by near spontaneous combustion. gritted teeth. calm voice. "Your mother would like to speak with you"
he hung up on me.
Five, maybe ten minutes later he calls back. Mommy has spoken, he will take the kids.
this was my start to the Christmas holidays.
My friend Amy came and took me to her house to get better.
I got better, had ok Christmas, and spent some family time with my sister , brothr in law and neices, happy things occurred, a niece got engaged. Nice hand made, custom designed princess cut diamond solitaire with a wide gold band. He must have mortgaged a kidney to pay for it. Nice boy, we should clone him. I'll take one, about 15 years older.
Oh my god Kate wasn't it only last week we made the crinoline from hell to fit under the promdress???? it was yesterday, and it is the same boy, again with the cloning.
She was gorgeous wasn't she.
Fuck I am dripping tears on the keyboard.
October 20th i will be a mess
But I digress
The resident genius, in shear and utter, orneriness decided not to give kids back. NICE.
Looks good in the courts.
He wonders why I have sole custody. (By the way that RARELY happens in NB.)
You have to really suck to not get joint custody in this province.
Not only did he neglect to return my kids, he bought India a puppy.
Don't get me wrong. I like puppies, and dogs. But I had had the grownup discussion about veterinary care, feeding etc. YADA YADA with the kid and we were working on a two- three year plan.
My darling beloved deadbeat spermdoner bought her a miniature chihuahua. nice. should get along great with the rotweilers and labradors in the family.
Miximus comes home next week. Maximus Killer Haines. now daddy wants to keep the dog at his house. who's dog is it? She sees it once every two weeks, not her dog.
I was not impressed about the dog at first, but the Idea is growing on me. She is so excited about him. I am ok with having him here, if it can be arranged.
will post pictures when available.
She has been knitting up a storm. He will be the bast dressed dog in freddy for sure.
That was Christmas in a nutshell. New Years Eve was a nice quiet evening with friends, playing board games. eating fantastic Lasagna from Darlene, and PIzza made by Mason. oh yeah, and booze, booze was here. But I only drank a little, cause I was still sickish.
Later in the holiday sperm doner boy called and wanted a vist with the kids. I said sure, a few hours. On the way home from the restaurant, attempting to be there on time to meet the kids, I fell and cracked some ribs.
nice goin healthy girl.
Missed idiot boys dropoff, had to invovle the oddball it departmet to retrieve my offspring from the hostile territory. boy did I need a drink that day.
Ribs didn't hurt til 4 am whenn I was sure I was dying of a haert attack.
Question all you nursy types out there- why if I fall on my hip and shoulder do my ribs crack in the left off center of my chest directly under my underwire??????

Since Christmas

Well folks not sure how it came about, but I am back in school. I decided to finish my degree. I am not entirely positive that I was sober at the time, but here I am. I am reading thucydides, memorizing maps and wars and a whole lot of greek shite.
I am studying the romans---WAY COOL. and European history. But surprise, surprise my favourite course so far is American History, Civil War to Present. OH and North American Politics. more on that in my political rant.
Yeah so I am the old chick in alll of my classes. I turned 36 on the 14th of January and I am sure that I am as old as two of my profs. wierd.
but who knows how long I will be ther. I have beenm fighting funding with my EI/training and employment guy. He is a really nice fellow, I am just not sure he gets it.
IN NB if you qualify for ei or have done in the last whatever months/years, you are eligable for training allowence from the gov. Help with tuition books daycare etc.
BUT, most people seeking this service want to study a trade. easy peasy. done take the money and run.
Most do not go to University.
I cannot be a tradesmen. I have a little problem with a hand and some permanetn nerve damage in the opposite side that is caused by overuse. BLAH BLAH BLAH.
I want university so I can teach. not rocket science.
Have all my teachables for art, now nead a core subject. History,easy peasy. Every one needs history. getting it all, europe, rome.greece America.
I now know what drives men/women to grab an ouzi and hit the post office/bank/local gov office.
I don't fit the mold
I could make em a new one, but hey.
so that is school. except I have embarked on a cours in personal imagery, in the education department. I am making a way cool project, joe will take a photo and we shall post it when it is done. It ain't exactly knittin, but it is textile-ish.
so now for the political rant.


We in Canada are having a Federal election.
For those of you who follow Jackie's blog one thread two thread, you will have her take on the current situation.
I will state my fears.
I fear a Prime Minister who believes he has the right to condemn the populace based on thier sexual orientation, thier economic status, and thier geographical location.
I fear a Prime minister who will sell us to the George w
I fear a Prime Minister who will assume the right to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her own body.
I fear the privitzation of healthcare, for my children would surely suffer.
I fear a man who would cut taxes to big business, and cut social programs to pay for it.
I fear a man who would go to war cause theguy next door did, so why shouldn't we?
The reality is, that we have a balnced budget, we are ready to go. Liberal, NDP even Bloc, aside from the separatist issue, are all better bets than Harper's conservatives. Racism, sexism, and socio economic bigotry have no place on parliament hill.
CFheers, my next post will at least have yarn in it
Lizzie