An Update

I have used the time that Eric is home sick to catch up on cleaning and making things. Nap time is a perfect time to cut up old t-shirts and sheets for rag rugs.  I did not buy the special rag rug cutter as I feel that between my scissors and rotary cutter they do the job. After I finish my rag rug series, I will be creating a series for the Taglit Program at the JCC, I am hoping that they will go in the fall fund raiser, but I don't know for sure.

Knitting is getting done in bits and pieces, mostly while I sit with Eric. I am finding after a full day with Eric I am too tired to knit more than a couple of rows a night. I am hoping that Eric will go back to program on Monday. If he does, then I will spend the whole day on me and things I want to do. Two weeks of Eric being at home sick is enough to tire anyone out.

Well yesterday was the 1st 100 degree day at our house so its time to go get the laundry started so I can give the appliances the afternoon off.

Secondary

Eric has a secondary infection after last weeks tummy bug.  He was in good form at the doctors office, he not only coughed up crud, but also threw up on the floor. He had to prove to every but me just how lousy he was feeling.  We stopped by the pharmacy on the way home. Once home Eric went back to bed. He has started his medicine and slept all afternoon which gave me a chance to have a nap after being up half the night with Eric. 

I got the loom partially wrapped. Then I cut up some more t-shirts. Starting with clean old t-shirts the fabric balls came out much better than the bits and pieces I used on the last rag rug.  I am also cutting up,some old sheets which will be in the next rug.  

In the no good deed goes unpunished area.. My finger nails have started to crack and split all over the place from the 3 weeks of working with the polyester towels. This seems a bit odd to me, because my cuticles are starting to heal up very nicely. So until they stop cracking and splitting I will have very short nails.  

I have the Lendrum spinning wheel up and running, so tomorrow I plan on taking it to Grandmas Spinning Wheel for the afternoon spin in.  I am still learning all about the wheel and getting to know him.  Yes this wheel seems like a him to me.  So I will be taking small bits of fluff and making some very artistic yarns tomorrow.  If you want to see my new to me wheel bring your knitting or spinning and join us from 1 to 4.  

Now I just need to unwind from a very busy day. 

A Sensory Pad

Today I spent most of my free time gathering materials which took about 3 hours and sewing which took about 45 minutes making a sensory pad for a friend of Eric's. Since he likes the sound of Velcro pulling along with music, I incorporated those things in the pad. Along with a few things to play with. The smile and happy noises were well worth the time spent. Let me know if you want directions. Here is the finished project.

I am still very tired from Eric being sick over the long weekend, but I hope to catch up on sleep soon.

Sick Boy

Eric is sick again. There seems to be a very bad tummy bug with a high fever going around Tucson. Eric is holding on to the baby Elmo that Candy knit for him, it is the only thing besides me that he wants.  

Eric is now on Pedialyte. He seems to be tolerating it at 20 ml per hour. I wish I could get it higher,but I don't want the eyrping to start again.  As soon as he is asleep, I will try to get to my bed instead of sleeping in the rocking chair tonight. 

I did not finish the rag rug. I did however finish a hat that is was being knit on size 6 knitting needles. I also cast on the next hat and tinked it because it was not big enough to turn into a mobis scarf.  I am now about 1/2 inch into the brim.  

If Eric is feeling better tomorrow, more will get done. 

My random comment of the day is, if you want a fast check out at the store, don't get behind the person with the full cart and stack of coupons. By the way, I saved over $45.00 with coupons today and my friend Lisa saved even more. 

Exhaustion

Exhaustion and pain hit hard and fast today.  Thank goodness Eric was in a nap mood today. 2 naps latter and all I can say is my pain level is down. I am not sure why exhaustion and pain seem to go hand in hand for me.  I am hoping for a better day tomorrow.  My semi grand to do list was only half way done. As John says there is always tomorrow. 

Clarfication on Today.

This is to clarify that Blue is not a type of fiber but a color. Any farm girl should know that, no matter how tired you are.

If you reek of cigarette smoke don't cram yourself into a full elevator, just wait for the next one. You left Eric and I gaging. You were also lucky that no wild eyrping went on because of the smell.

I can't figure out where the time went, but my best friend / love of my life and I have been married for 31 years as of today.

It is possible to design a hat pattern in 48 hours and have it typed up too. Pictures take longer. Where are all my models at midnight?

If you find yourself weaving all over the road, just maybe you should put that phone down.

Not everything gets finished in a timely manner when a big and urgent project lands on my sewing table.

A Senior Recital

I have been lucky enough to be invited to Brianna Finkelstein 's Senior Recital at the University of Arizona Holsclaw Hall.  I have know Brrianna since she went around on her mothers hip. It does not seem possible to me that she has graduated from the U of A.  This is her last performance in Tucson before she heads off to grad school to continue her studies in oboe.  

The program includes Oboe Sonata in G Minor, S 1020 with Allergo, Adagio and Allegro, Attributed: C.P.E. Bach.  Overheard on a Saltmarsh by Erin Goad.  three Romanzen, op,94 by Robert Schumann, Nicht Schnell 1 and 3. Finishing off with Fantaisie on Flotow's Martha, Op. 23 by  T. Lalliet 

I really enjoyed the piece Overheard on a Saltmarsh.  The only way I can really describe it was that the music flowed like silk in amazing colors of sound.  The English Horn played by Rachael Kamradt added a wonderful layer of texture to the music.  

Meily Mendez was wonderful on the Harpsichord and Piano.  She showed mastery and passion in her music. Although I do have to say that Brianna stole the show.   Brianna showed both mastery and grace while playing the Oboe.  She coxed a full range of notes from her Oboe.   All in all it was a very enjoyable evening.  If you ever have the opportunity to hear Brianna, Meily or Rachael in concert please take the time to enjoy a few hours of wonderful music. I am quite certain that Brianna will make the world a better place where ever her life leads her.  

Spinning Styles

I was taught to spin by the wonderful Kathy Withers and I really enjoy spinning. I aspire to be as creative as Kathy someday. I learned even more from the Journey to the Golden Fleece, I learned to get more creative. Although typical me, I did not finish the paper work. The yarn I learned to spin is gorgeous.

I really enjoy playing with fiber and seeing what develops. I find it calming. I find spinning relaxing.  I enjoy creating new yarns. I enjoy weaving and knitting with my handspun yarn. I have even mastered lace weight yarn on my spinning wheel, not just the drop spindle.  

I have learned to wash, card and comb my fiber from raw fleece.  I love to pull out my drum carder to create special batts to spin on occasion. I found that I prefer to send my raw fiber to Spinderella's Fiber Mill.  I do not need to process my fiber from fleece to yarn for every project. They also have a special needs adult child at home that requires full time care like Eric. I feel it is right to support those in my community that keep their children home like John and I do. 

That is why I don't like the trend by some in my local spinning community to master every spinning style from worsted to silk thread. Don't get me wrong I find learning something new everyday is essential.  To buy the raw fleeces, skirt, wash, and do everything including dying the fiber.  Then to do this with every project. It is not that I am lazy, but have a finite number of hours to play with fiber.  

Its not that I don't enjoy learning new things, but the constant push is just to much sometimes.  I do not feel the need to take classes on a weekly basis.  I do not need to become a master spinner. I am not going to become a professional teacher.  I prefer to be an artist. My need to create and relax are my priority.  I hope that this is the right track for me. I wonder what my fellow spinners feel about this.

Please feel free to use the links that I have provided to find some wonderful fiber people. The opinion's are my own and I have not been paid to include these links in my blog. I trust and like these businesses. I have also not asked for permission to include these links, so if you see blank spots in the future, it is because I have been asked to take down the link. 

My Fitbit

For those of you who know how much I love my Fitbit, you will understand why I was upset when I found out this afternoon that the battery died sometime yesterday.  I never received notice on my email that the battery was running low. 

Even though my numbers don't show it today I did a fantastic 55 minute workout today with biking, stairs and rowing. Well there is always tomorrow's work out. 

Have a great weekend everyone. Try to stay dry and safe. 

What Makes Us Good Mothers

With Mothers Day just over in the United States it brings yesterday's encounter even more revelant.  It always amazes me that whenever people learn about Eric and ask if he has any siblings.  When I say yes, the look I always get is should I ask her about her other child?  Some people start out by asking if they are in the same day program. Other just want to know if she still lives at home too.  Yet all are stunned to find out that Teri is a Copyright Attorney in California.  Like how is this possible?  

Motherhood gives each mother a unique opportunity to interact with each child as an individual. I have found that both my child are very unique. My children are polar opposites.  My job as a mother has been to help Teri and Eric each reach their unique potential in an optimal way for their learning style.  

Since Eric was about 6 months old I have always stressed to Teri, that Eric is her brother and not her responseability.  I have always stressed that mom and dad are responsible for the care of both Teri and her brother.  That Teri's job in life is to be the best possible Teri possible, even if it meant leaving Eric behind at times.  In that endeavor Teri has exceeded what I thought was possible.

Each child has made my life so much better in their own unique way. Eric has helped me learn patience. Teri has help me learn to dig deeper for the answers, although on technical issues I am quite sure she hates the line "wait until your father comes home".  Eric has helped me find the time to knit 100's of warm winter items for kids in need. Teri has taken me to England and Italy, which were life time dreams of mine. I would still like to go again and explore some more.  It is not possible now.  Eric has taken me to our nations capital and explore all the history, something that I have dreamed of doing.  Yes each has given me so much. 

I guess in my own meandering way I am trying to say thank you to my 2 increadable kids. They along with John have made my life so rich. For that I am very thankful. 

The Last of the Week

As I write this post load number 30 of the week is in the dryer.  I am thankful that this week of sheer laundry madness is almost over.  I am also thankful that I did not run out of Tide Unscented this week. Just to let you know the wonderful people at Proctor and Gamble did not pay for this blog post and all the opinions are my own.  However, I am grateful for the Tide coupons in my Sunday Arizona Daily Star and the sales on Tide that occur about the same time. 

I know with Eric being sick, that I had a few extra loads of laundry this week. This is a picture of just 2 days worth of laundry for Eric when he is feeling good.  Yes he did go through 5 night time t-shirts in 2 days. That is just Eric. Also if I did not wash the dozen bibs, I would have had a whole lot more laundry to do.  Every bib saves me from washing 1 additional outfit. 

I hope to do a few less loads of laundry next week and spend more time creating. 

Over 800 Yards

I just finished spinning and plying over 800 yards of Merino, Alpaca and Silk today.  Now what should I do with it?  

25

Today is only Wednesday and I hit the 25 loads of laundry mark. I know part of this was do to Eric being sick, yes he made 4 loads in under an hour on Monday night. So I asked Eric if he could possibly slow down his laundry production for the rest of the week and all he did was laugh at me. I think that he is taking his job of being the chief laundry maker a bit too seriously this week.

You would think by the amount of laundry that I am doing this week that I either had a larger family of a small washtub. Sadly neither is the case. There are only 3 of us at home and I have the largest washtub in my machine that Whirlpool made 20 years ago.

On a lighter note Eric is feeling better and is back on formula. His fever is also down below the 100 mark, the 1st time since Monday night. With Eric feeling better I also took the time to clean the stove and the kitchen like I should have done before Passover. Better late than never.

Well I think that I am finally unwinding form my busy day and week. So I think I will try to get some sleep.  It will be time to get my day going again in a little over 5 hours.

The Laundry Monster Rears its Ugly Head

Laundry seems to be my downfall this week. As of this morning I have done 15 loads of laundry since Sunday, 4 of them were made in just a few hours last night. Yes Eric did have a very eyrpy night last night. The outlook does not look much better for today.  I have at least 3 more loads of laundry as of 7:00 am this morning. Its only Tuesday morning!  

I asked Eric if he could slow down in making more laundry this morning explaining that after I finish what is in the laundry room I will have done 18 loads of laundry this week. That we still have 4 more days to go this week. I asked if he could limit his laundry production to only 7 more loads this week to keep his total at 25 loads of laundry. His response was to roll his eyes and give me the look like its my job to make laundry.

Thank goodness Target had Tide on sale a few weeks ago so I won't run out of laundry detergent. Laundry detergent is like gold around here, I can never have too much. I seem to go through detergent like water, even using line one on the cap I am lucky if the 75 ounce bottle lasts for 2 weeks.

So I plan to spend the rest of the day doing laundry and knitting. If Eric does take a nap, I will see how many of the 5 towels that I can get finished, so I can can get more sewing projects out of the way and get some weaving done.

A New Record

Today I actually did 9, yes 9 loads of laundry.  I really wonder if The Whirlpool Corporation makes anything similar to the Imperial Serries Washing machine that I got so last century.  It has a tub big enough to wash 3 bath sheets in 1 load. Also a whole set of California Knig sheets in 1 load.  I just can't imagine how many more loads of laundry I would have to do per week with a smaller tub.  

Conversely I wonder why it is getting harder to get parts for a 20 year old washing machine.  All I need is a work horse that can keep up with Eric's average of 25 loads a week.  I must have laundry on the brain tonight.