Settle down

My little inner voice is telling me to slow down today. No more bunnies, no more owls, let the orange sweater sit--it will be there tomorrow. I've been kidding myself that I've really been resting as I should. I think that as long as my butt's parked on the bed I can tell everyone I really am taking it easy and I'll be better soon.


But my body knows the truth, and this restless search for the next thing to make, ways to increase my sales, when the next big show is and what is everyone else up to isn't getting me anywhere except keyed up. It's not even the direction I mean to take, or the underlying point to what my knitting is really all about.


Today is different for some reason. Like a horse that finally succumbs to the saddle or a child who quiets after a thirty minute tantrum, I've put away the yarn and needles, turned off the t.v. and picked up one of my favorite books that I re-read every few years because it's just that good.


The title is Dakota: A Spiritual Geography written by Kathleen Norris. In it she writes about her life in western South Dakota in such a poetic way that it draws me in and makes me want to book a trip. She doesn't sugar coat the hardships people face there, or paint a romantic, unrealistic picture. Rather she's quite frank and honest while still reverent, capturing it's physical beauty in a way that astounds me from a writer's perspective.


I didn't grow up in a small town like the one she describes in the book but now find myself living in one. Despite it's growth and newcomers/outsiders like myself, it still has much of the charm, character and social complexities of small town life. I bring this up because ever since I've been sick, it seems the much of the community knows. Even the kids wonderful, want-to-keep-her-forever bus driver was giving me tips this morning on what to do to get better.


Kevin and the kids went to church last night for Wednesday night supper and choir practice as per our usual routine. Kevin returned and said as he did last week, "everyone asked about you. I told them you were still wretched."


"Gee thanks" I said, "what do you mean everybody?"

"Everybody."

"Like who?"

"Everybody!" (forever resistant to elaboration)


This stirs up an uneasy feeling in me. While it's nice to be thought of and know that people are concerned, it's unsettling to a girl who finds it and more comfortable to fade into the background and observe, rather than be the subject of observation. But in a small church and a small town it's hard to hide, especially when you tow with you the whirlwind that is three young, exhuberant outgoing children everywhere you go.


I take no offense to being the subject of conversation, nor do I think anyone is speaking ill of me, at least if they are they're not saying anything to Kevin. I'm just somehow under the illusion that I can participate without being noticed, blend in with the crowd and escape when necessary. The strange dichotomy of wanting attention but being unsettled once I have it.


All this to say, gossip is the title of a chapter in Dakota and it's one that hasn't left my mind from the first time I read it years ago. I'll share my favorite excerpt here:


"Like the desert tales that monks have used for centuries as a basis for a theology and way of life, the tales of small-town gossip are often morally instructive, illustrating the ways ordinary people survive the worst that happens to them; or, conversely, the ways in which self-pity, anger, and despair can overwhelm and destroy them. Gossip is theology translated into experience. In it we hear great stories of conversion, like the drunk who truns his or her life around, as well as stories of failure. We can see that pride really does go before a fall, and that hope is essential. We watch closely those who retire, or who lose a spouse, lest they lose interest in living. When we gossip we are also praying, not only for them but for ourselves."


If she's right, if gossip is a form of prayer, I'll take all I can get.

Meet Hoot

My crochet hooks were feeling neglected, what with all the bunny nonsense going on around here, so I decided to pick them up today. I've seen so many cute stuffed and sewn owls floating around on Etsy that I thought it'd be fun to crochet one and put my own spin on it. There's actually a real one that likes to hang out in the tree outside my son's bedroom. We hear him at night and I've even seen him there during the day. We'll call him Hoot. This one's for you, buddy.


He's a little guy, measuring about 4" wide by 4" tall. I think I should make a giant, pillow-sized one too, what do you think? The fabric from his eyes came from the cute dresses that my girls outgrow. The hot pink is actually a fine wale corduroy. I love being able to reuse these because the patterns are so pretty.


Bunny update: in talking with my test knitters it sounds like the bunny pattern is coming along nicely. One caveat, tail is optional based on personal preference. He doesn't have feet either, so it's your call. And I'd offer this owl pattern as well, but I know how averse you all are to crochet, so I won't push. I don't think it needs testing anyway.


Recognize the yarn Anne Margaret? Yep, it was in the bag of leftovers you gave me. So far that's one pair of socks, one bunny (haven't shown him yet) and now Hoot. I'm keeping track, don't worry.


I've been so happy to have the computer and knitting/crocheting to occupy me these past weeks. I've done some online exploring that I otherwise don't have time to do, especially with the persistent dial up problem. I've added myself to yahoo and flikr and really have no idea what I'm doing. Someone contacted me through flikr yesterday showing me some neat bags she makes, but I have no idea what to do with that information. I've joined yahoo groups and have my flikr photos with the other knitters in my etsy knitting group, but now what? I realized I've just hit the tip of the iceburg and don't know where to go from here. Trial and error is my biggest teacher, I guess it will take me a while to get it. Just like I'm still learning things about etsy and I've been there for over a year! My kids will probably have this stuff all figured out by the time they leave elementary school. Scary!


Wish I had good news of recovery to report, but I'd say I'm about 50% better with the mono issue, but I caught Allie's cold, so that's a little setback. I'm determined to take Allie to school tomorrow and see if I can go somewhere, even if it's a quick trip to Michaels or something, just to get out of the house.

Too much too soon

I'm not one to stay down for long, so I decided to test myself today with a trip in to Target. I won't bore you with the details but let's just say it was a bad decision complete with a minor meltdown by Allie and so I've resumed the position of rest I should have stayed in all day. Of course I ran into four women I know who I'm sure were thinking "go back home and keep your mono germs to yourself", so I did just that and don't intend to venture out again soon.


And the new attitude for today has as its focus all the things I can do rather than what I cannot. I find this always to be the best mindset, so I'm happily watching cooking shows (Ina Garten--Barefoot Contessa is my favorite), doing things on the computer I don't ususally think to do and am taking a minute to breathe and evaluate my business. Okay, I know that doesn't sound like complete rest, but I'm enjoying it.


Switching gears, I'd like to take a moment to send thanks to an etsy friend who wrote about me yesterday on her blog. If you have a minute please take a look and be sure to check out her beautiful shop of hand sewn creations. She uses wonderful fabrics and makes some bags and pillows that are hard to pass up. Thanks Kathi!


Last piece of business, I mentioned a bunny purse a while back and realized I never delivered. So Jill, this one's for you. Don't know if it's what you were picturing but as you may have realized I've got a thing for the applique and this bag hopefully doesn't dissapoint. It's all I can do to keep my girls from swiping it as their own.







Stay well everyone, Spring is on it's way!!

I've fallen down the rabbit hole

Just call me Alice. I can't seem to stop knitting bunnies:







The top one is gray, I realize it may be hard to tell by the picture. The yarn I used is a heavier gauge than the cream colored ones. I had to see if it would work, and I like the results. These are about an inch taller and 1/2" wider than the original. They seemed to be crying out for floral so I added the applique. What do you think? To applique or not to applique? I'm still on the fence. The blue one is up in my etsy shop, so we'll see the response the public gives and I'll make my decision. Of course you're welcome to voice an opinion as well.


The test knitters are in place and are fired up to get started! (right ladies?) They've been given the option of either gauge yarn so we'll see what they come up with.


In the meantime I'm still here, alone in the house, kids gone, husband gone, everyone taken care of. If I didn't know better I'd start wondering if I was expendible around here. Kevin has done double duty as dad and mom these past two weeks and we've had so much help from friends and family with the kids, doing things with them and shuttling them from place to place that I've had ALOT of quiet time. But I'm happy to say, the worst of mono is over and I can feel the fog slowly begin to lift. My thinking is clearer, my thoughts are more energetic and I'm convinced it had everything to do with that pie.

I love mail!

Even the snail variety will do. My new business cards arrived today.

I'm thinking the pie will help

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I don't usually snack on chocolate pie in the middle of the day, but when the urge hit I thought, who am I to deny my body what it's asking for? Something's gotta work. It's day #13 with mono (my calculations the past few days were off--I blame it on being sick) and there's no end in sight. My brain is so foggy that by lunchtime I can barely remember putting the kids on the bus or if I packed their lunches right or if everyone left the house with what they were supposed to.



But, not to worry, Karen! Your sweater is coming along nicely. I just can't resist playing with Blue Sky Alpacas organic cotton. I'm tempted to submit the pattern to Knitty for consideration, seeing as how I'm suddenly into writing my patterns down. The deadline for submissions for summer is March 1st, or just a week away, so I don't think I'll make that one. It'd probably be more appropriate for the Fall anyway and that deadline is June 2nd. If I decide to submit the pattern I can't show it on my blog first soooo, here's the only view you'll get for now:







And what blog post would be complete without including a shot of the kids decked out in last-minute-momhasbeensickfortwoweeks-homemade costumes for Famous American Day at school? Please take note of the crocheted beard (as promised) on Honest Abe.






And my sweet little Betsy Ross, clearly adoring her big brother.

...and Flopsy and Mopsy...

Meet the rest of the family:




I made John's with brown eyes, the green looked a little weird. A darker green would have worked, but I didn't have one. Allie's is in the middle with the flyaway ears, a tribute to her sometimes unkempt and wild hair. The pattern is finished as well and is going to be handed off to some friends tonight for test knitting. Think they'll be done tomorrow? Kidding!


And just as I finish one little project, new yarn arrived on my doorstep today. This is 5 skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas dyed organic cotton yarn from jimmy beans wool. Oooooh!







I've been commissioned by a friend to make the adult version of the little orange sweater with cream pockets you see at the top left corner of my blog. Except hers will have a fitted shape and will fall at more of a tunic length, with side slits at the bottom and probably wider straps to balance it all out. This is going to be fun.


Must leave the posting till tomorrow. It's Famous American Day at the kids school tomorrow and mommy still needs to come up with costumes for Abe Lincoln and Betsy Ross. Wish me luck and don't be surprised if you see a black crocheted beard on Abe!


mono update: day 11, still not right but better than yesterday.