- my mom got in on Tuesday afternoon, yeah, back up!
- our anniversary was also Tuesday, 8 years.
-still pregnant
-that's about it for now
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
what?
OK, it is immensely disturbing to log onto my own blog and see that my baby ticker is messed up and it says I am 19 weeks pregnant instead of 39 weeks pregnant! ummm.. nope. not going backwards. not now. I'm not halfway there, I'm there. done. finished. baby cooked.
that's not even what I was going to post about, but it totally sidetracked me and now I haven't a clue.
Some pants for the new baby, top pair is boyish, the other is girly. these are made out of scraps of leftover yarn from many other projects, then I added to the craziness by doing various textures as well. I love how they turned out.
I'm not 19 weeks pregnant. That is seriously throwing me for a loop.
that's not even what I was going to post about, but it totally sidetracked me and now I haven't a clue.
so instead of posting, here is a picture of Joyana, being simply adorable as usual. she had her well child check the other week and simply wowed the doctor. Apparently, she is perfect. Why did I have to pay a co-pay to find that out?
Some pants for the new baby, top pair is boyish, the other is girly. these are made out of scraps of leftover yarn from many other projects, then I added to the craziness by doing various textures as well. I love how they turned out.
I'm not 19 weeks pregnant. That is seriously throwing me for a loop.
Friday, August 8, 2008
66 years
66 Years.
In some countries that is longer than the life expectancy. Jeff's Grandma passed away last week and yesterday was the funeral. I wasn't able to go (too far away for me to travel this late in pregnancy) but he went and got home last night.
Grandma and Grandpa had been married for 66 years.
They ran away together and got married when she was 17 and he was 21. They had 5 children together, 5 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren... with number 13 due to arrive soon (that would be baby J).
She was a thoroughly modern woman, as she liked to call herself, long before anyone was modern. This self-dubbed modernity stemmed from the simple fact that she couldn't cook at all... never made anything that didn't start out life in a can. She was famous (infamous?) for messing up a green bean casserole by putting chow mein noodles on it instead of those crunchy onion rings. By the time I joined the family, it was tradition to have green bean casserole with chow mein noodles, on purpose, and she would gleefully recount the story of exactly how that had happened. However, there was far more to her than her lack of cooking ability. She was an artist, accomplished in both photography and drawing/cartooning, and a published author with at least one full length novel published (and many more manuscripts), and widely published in various magazines as diverse as children's stories and antique guides.
Speaking of my joining the family, Grandma actually proposed to me before Jeff did. The first time I met all that side of his family was for a 4th of July party at their home (even back then Grandma had a hard time getting around so all functions had to be held on her turf). She called me in for an audience, grilled me pretty good, then pronounced my name to be beautiful... except that last name is a mouthful and I should probably go ahead and change it... what did I think of the last name of Luck? When was I going to marry her doted upon grandson? I replied that while I didn't have a problem with this suggestion, I was going to go ahead and wait until he asked me. I'm not sure when she got to him, but she must have gotten the message across since he did ask me shortly thereafter.
The last time the kids and I saw Grandma was this spring at a party. She was very ill by this time and couldn't get around at all. We had the party in a small house on the property and went up to the big house to visit with her, a few at a time. I took the kids up to see her and after Jeff took them back down to the other house for dinner, I sat with her for a while. We talked about everything...and what stays in my mind is how she wouldn't let me leave. I would mention that I needed to go down and fix a plate and she never said not to go, but would simply reach out and take my hand and keep on talking. This went on for over an hour, we talked and she would just keep an eye on me...if I so much as shifted next to her, she would reach out and take my hand.
I'm so glad now that she did.
This summer she did really go downhill fast and Jeff took the time to go see her, but she was really too ill to take the kids so I didn't get to see her again.
66 years together. Grandpa is lost, his whole adult life has been centered around her, especially the last few years with her declining health--and her stubborn streak about who exactly was allowed to come and help care for her.
A lifetime together, and even though you know it is coming to an end soon... when it does, it's still a shock. Realistically, Jeff and I got married too late to have 66 years, you kind of have to elope as children to pull that one off and we were both staid and pushing 30 when we got married (and honestly Grandma, he did ask me as soon as he could and we got married in an utterly indecent rush after that!), but the life together, the devotion for each other...that we can strive for.
One thing Grandma showed me during that last visit was a poem. I could tell that it was a statement and a reply type dialogue, but what I couldn't tell until she told me, is that she wrote some stanzas and Grandpa wrote the others. They were so in tune... their life was such poetry, that their words and thoughts flowed in sync as if from the same mind.
We miss you Grandma.
In some countries that is longer than the life expectancy. Jeff's Grandma passed away last week and yesterday was the funeral. I wasn't able to go (too far away for me to travel this late in pregnancy) but he went and got home last night.
Grandma and Grandpa had been married for 66 years.
They ran away together and got married when she was 17 and he was 21. They had 5 children together, 5 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren... with number 13 due to arrive soon (that would be baby J).
She was a thoroughly modern woman, as she liked to call herself, long before anyone was modern. This self-dubbed modernity stemmed from the simple fact that she couldn't cook at all... never made anything that didn't start out life in a can. She was famous (infamous?) for messing up a green bean casserole by putting chow mein noodles on it instead of those crunchy onion rings. By the time I joined the family, it was tradition to have green bean casserole with chow mein noodles, on purpose, and she would gleefully recount the story of exactly how that had happened. However, there was far more to her than her lack of cooking ability. She was an artist, accomplished in both photography and drawing/cartooning, and a published author with at least one full length novel published (and many more manuscripts), and widely published in various magazines as diverse as children's stories and antique guides.
Speaking of my joining the family, Grandma actually proposed to me before Jeff did. The first time I met all that side of his family was for a 4th of July party at their home (even back then Grandma had a hard time getting around so all functions had to be held on her turf). She called me in for an audience, grilled me pretty good, then pronounced my name to be beautiful... except that last name is a mouthful and I should probably go ahead and change it... what did I think of the last name of Luck? When was I going to marry her doted upon grandson? I replied that while I didn't have a problem with this suggestion, I was going to go ahead and wait until he asked me. I'm not sure when she got to him, but she must have gotten the message across since he did ask me shortly thereafter.
The last time the kids and I saw Grandma was this spring at a party. She was very ill by this time and couldn't get around at all. We had the party in a small house on the property and went up to the big house to visit with her, a few at a time. I took the kids up to see her and after Jeff took them back down to the other house for dinner, I sat with her for a while. We talked about everything...and what stays in my mind is how she wouldn't let me leave. I would mention that I needed to go down and fix a plate and she never said not to go, but would simply reach out and take my hand and keep on talking. This went on for over an hour, we talked and she would just keep an eye on me...if I so much as shifted next to her, she would reach out and take my hand.
I'm so glad now that she did.
This summer she did really go downhill fast and Jeff took the time to go see her, but she was really too ill to take the kids so I didn't get to see her again.
66 years together. Grandpa is lost, his whole adult life has been centered around her, especially the last few years with her declining health--and her stubborn streak about who exactly was allowed to come and help care for her.
A lifetime together, and even though you know it is coming to an end soon... when it does, it's still a shock. Realistically, Jeff and I got married too late to have 66 years, you kind of have to elope as children to pull that one off and we were both staid and pushing 30 when we got married (and honestly Grandma, he did ask me as soon as he could and we got married in an utterly indecent rush after that!), but the life together, the devotion for each other...that we can strive for.
One thing Grandma showed me during that last visit was a poem. I could tell that it was a statement and a reply type dialogue, but what I couldn't tell until she told me, is that she wrote some stanzas and Grandpa wrote the others. They were so in tune... their life was such poetry, that their words and thoughts flowed in sync as if from the same mind.
We miss you Grandma.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
ramblings (yes, again)
I know, I know, I hesitate to guess how many posts in the past year or two are called "ramblings" but hey, it's my blog.
so, yes, I'm still pregnant. I should have learned my lesson with Joy and just never even announced I was expecting.. it sure did cut back on the end of pregnancy comments. So yes, I'm miserable, yes I still have a few weeks to go, no we don't know what it is (well, we are pretty sure it's a baby).
Today was our MOPS registration party. Of course it's totally possible to do MOPS registration without a mid-summer party, but we pretty much are deep into withdrawal by this time of summer and really need to have a get-together. We had a great turn out and it looks like we have a number of new mommies joining us, some from our church and some from other places. The theme this year is "Adventures in Motherhood" so it's kind of like a theme park/carnival type theme. In keeping with this, the event today was kind of carnival theme. They (it sounds so weird to say they... for the past three years I've had some kind of official role in MOPS and this year I'm sitting out) hired a bunch of youth group kids that work in the clown ministry to do balloons, face painting, play games, and had little booths with popcorn, snow cones, and candy.
Interesting tidbit, I met a lady who was registering for the first time and we got to talking about kids and school and she is homeschooling this year for the first time. She was saying that she was still confused about filing her NOI (notice of intent) so I got her email addy to send her a link to one of our state homeschool associations that has sample letters. When she wrote it for me, it looked very familiar... her name with the numbers 81900... mine is the same, thing, 8192000, so I asked her if those numbers were meaningful and sure enough, they are her anniversary-- just like me. So that was cool. I have another friend at church with the same anniversary too.
Note: large WHINE ahead!
Now... you all know that I have laid down the law concerning any more sickness in this house, right? it has simply gotten out of hand. first Jeff, then Jeff some more, then Jessi...
Well, dontcha know that Jeff just went and got his toenail cut out last week? Yeppers. I thought the appointment was for a consult with the podiatrist. Nope. I took him in (with all the kids of course, since I found out about it the night before and didnt' have time for a babysitter) and they cut half of it out right then and there. I KNOW he has been suffering with ingrown toenails for 6 months. NO I don't want him to hurt, but by george, I am the one who is hobbling around now...having us both shuffling like senior citizens is just not good!
Now... I do have to say that he is doing GREAT, very little pain at all. Which is good, because he had his follow up with the surgeon today and UGH UGH UGH UGH NOOOOOOOOO WHINE GROAN OWEEEEEEEEE, sure enough he says that he has to go BACK in AGAIN and work on the incisions. On August 14th. Ok ladies and gentlemen, I fully plan on having a baby right about then, if not before! It's not the procedure so much as the recovery I dread. the last time they did this, Jeff was in MORE pain than he had been from the first time (as far as recovery goes that is). I need him in one piece. Seriously, I know that if it has to be done then it has to be done, but come ON!!! Do I eventually get dibs on laying around and getting waited on? If so, when pray tell?
Whine over, it's safe to start reading again.
I have to brag on the kids. I have been feeling really crummy and just not up to much at all, the kids have totally stepped up, at least as much as a 5 and 6 year old can. Obviously they aren't doing cooking and cleaning, but as far as taking care of Joy/keeping her entertained, they have done great, Jessi especially. Joey has stepped up with chores too, not only with his part of the dishes but helping with laundry too so I don't have to carry anything, and even loading the washer and dryer. In fact, today I got a surprise, I knew we had put in a load this morning and then this afternoon went back to switch them out and he had already moved the wet clothes from the washer to the dryer and started refilling the washer from the dirty bin. We have front loaders so he can't reach the controls and I wouldn't want him messing with the detergent anyway, but I was so pleased! I never told him to do the switchout, he just went and did it. Sorry moms of girls, he already has two girls picked out to marry and is quite concerned about which one he will actually choose.
Well, I had another cute story to share but 2 out of 3 kids are asking to go to bed. I probably should take them up on that.
so, yes, I'm still pregnant. I should have learned my lesson with Joy and just never even announced I was expecting.. it sure did cut back on the end of pregnancy comments. So yes, I'm miserable, yes I still have a few weeks to go, no we don't know what it is (well, we are pretty sure it's a baby).
Today was our MOPS registration party. Of course it's totally possible to do MOPS registration without a mid-summer party, but we pretty much are deep into withdrawal by this time of summer and really need to have a get-together. We had a great turn out and it looks like we have a number of new mommies joining us, some from our church and some from other places. The theme this year is "Adventures in Motherhood" so it's kind of like a theme park/carnival type theme. In keeping with this, the event today was kind of carnival theme. They (it sounds so weird to say they... for the past three years I've had some kind of official role in MOPS and this year I'm sitting out) hired a bunch of youth group kids that work in the clown ministry to do balloons, face painting, play games, and had little booths with popcorn, snow cones, and candy.
Interesting tidbit, I met a lady who was registering for the first time and we got to talking about kids and school and she is homeschooling this year for the first time. She was saying that she was still confused about filing her NOI (notice of intent) so I got her email addy to send her a link to one of our state homeschool associations that has sample letters. When she wrote it for me, it looked very familiar... her name with the numbers 81900... mine is the same, thing, 8192000, so I asked her if those numbers were meaningful and sure enough, they are her anniversary-- just like me. So that was cool. I have another friend at church with the same anniversary too.
Note: large WHINE ahead!
Now... you all know that I have laid down the law concerning any more sickness in this house, right? it has simply gotten out of hand. first Jeff, then Jeff some more, then Jessi...
Well, dontcha know that Jeff just went and got his toenail cut out last week? Yeppers. I thought the appointment was for a consult with the podiatrist. Nope. I took him in (with all the kids of course, since I found out about it the night before and didnt' have time for a babysitter) and they cut half of it out right then and there. I KNOW he has been suffering with ingrown toenails for 6 months. NO I don't want him to hurt, but by george, I am the one who is hobbling around now...having us both shuffling like senior citizens is just not good!
Now... I do have to say that he is doing GREAT, very little pain at all. Which is good, because he had his follow up with the surgeon today and UGH UGH UGH UGH NOOOOOOOOO WHINE GROAN OWEEEEEEEEE, sure enough he says that he has to go BACK in AGAIN and work on the incisions. On August 14th. Ok ladies and gentlemen, I fully plan on having a baby right about then, if not before! It's not the procedure so much as the recovery I dread. the last time they did this, Jeff was in MORE pain than he had been from the first time (as far as recovery goes that is). I need him in one piece. Seriously, I know that if it has to be done then it has to be done, but come ON!!! Do I eventually get dibs on laying around and getting waited on? If so, when pray tell?
Whine over, it's safe to start reading again.
I have to brag on the kids. I have been feeling really crummy and just not up to much at all, the kids have totally stepped up, at least as much as a 5 and 6 year old can. Obviously they aren't doing cooking and cleaning, but as far as taking care of Joy/keeping her entertained, they have done great, Jessi especially. Joey has stepped up with chores too, not only with his part of the dishes but helping with laundry too so I don't have to carry anything, and even loading the washer and dryer. In fact, today I got a surprise, I knew we had put in a load this morning and then this afternoon went back to switch them out and he had already moved the wet clothes from the washer to the dryer and started refilling the washer from the dirty bin. We have front loaders so he can't reach the controls and I wouldn't want him messing with the detergent anyway, but I was so pleased! I never told him to do the switchout, he just went and did it. Sorry moms of girls, he already has two girls picked out to marry and is quite concerned about which one he will actually choose.
Well, I had another cute story to share but 2 out of 3 kids are asking to go to bed. I probably should take them up on that.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Parenting help?!?
Jessi (our 5 year old daughter) is very sensitive, I'm sure I've mentioned that. It's a good thing and a bad thing... she is very tender hearted spiritually, but also very volatile and quick to fly off the handle. We have been working on this trait through discipline, training, Bible memory and other ways, and really she has improved.
This morning, I printed off some coloring sheets for Joy (age 2.5) and Jessi wanted some too, Joy asked me if I would make Jessi a coloring paper and I said sure and I *assumed that Jessi was behind me and heard me say this. So I turn around to the computer and start to pull up the files so Jessi can choose a picture... I hear loud paper crumpling and Joy start crying. Jessi had snatched Joy's coloring sheet out of her hand and balled it up and ruined it!
I was aghast and asked her what on earth she had just done!? She said that Joy wouldn't give her the picture that she wanted, so she ruined it. Honestly, I was too mad to deal with her, it would have been out of pure ANGER and not corrective, and I'm afraid I yelled in anger too (yes she comes by the quick temper honestly...) and told her that was the most selfish brattiest thing ever and go to her room!!
I sat for a minute to calm down and got ready to go deal with her. It took a few minutes (I was HOT) so I printed out papers for Joey and then was about ready to go to her when Jessi came out crying SO hard.
I was not very compassionate I'm afraid, and asked her what she was crying about, and she stammered out that she was sorry for ruining Joy's picture and being bad.
Ok...my dilemma. I'm sure that she WAS sorry, and not even sorry just because she knew she was about to get trouble, but really sorry... she loves Joy and Joy worships her and for her to do that to Joy was SO out of character. However, I was annoyed that by crying she was turning this around and it was all about her--Joy came over and hugged her and comforted her and I think she was expecting me to do the same.
I did not.
I told her that I was glad she was sorry and I forgave her, but she needed to go back to her room and pray and tell Jesus what had happened and ask him to help her build her walls (referring to her memory verse about self control) and then when she was done crying she could come back out and tell Joy she was sorry.
Here is my question... I realize that one of the weaknesses of the super sensitive personality is to find some sort of weird pleasure in the guilt that you feel and then enjoy the crying and moaning and then finish it up with the emotional "high" of being forgiven. I do NOT want Jessi to develop a habit of indulging in such behavior. I do of course understand that often tears accompany penitence and repentance, but other than saying "she's my kid and I can see this turning into something ugly" I just can't explain why, just that I truly see this as a slippery slope.
I really wanted to tell her to stop her bawling and if she was REALLY sorry, just to make sure she practiced self-control next time, I didn't because I didn't think it would do much good.
Am I making any sense? How much of the crying and guilt and sorrow do I allow? How much of the crying and guilt and sorrow is actually just another part of her ultra-sensitive personality? Even as I write this it seems so harsh to say that I don't want to allow her to cry when she is sorry for doing wrong... I'm not trying to be harsh, I'm trying to prevent a twisted enjoyment of her guilty feelings.
The upside to her sensitivity is that Jesus is as real to her as I am, that she prays with faith that is amazing, and that she is quick to see the needs of others. The downside is... well, all of the previous part of this post- a quick temper, an enjoyment of "vain imaginations" such as worst case scenarios of sadness or in this case, guilt, and being too sensitive to imagined slights by others.
So... words of wisdom? Success in training a personality like this? Am I on the right track or am I just a mean mommy who doesn't get that some people actually have feelings (I am SUCH a non-girly girl!)? Talk to be about this please!
Please understand that I am not trying to "break" her personality, merely to mold it and train her... no one likes "those" kinds of women, and I don't want her to grow up to be one. I do appreciate the personality that God created her to have and have been touched (as have those around us who know her and our family) by her faith and prayers. Also, please understand that as far as imagination...I am the poster child for this, I'm not talking about normal (or even beyond normal) childhood imaginary games. I'm talking about vain imaginations that get our eyes off of reality and into a pattern of worry and despair.
This morning, I printed off some coloring sheets for Joy (age 2.5) and Jessi wanted some too, Joy asked me if I would make Jessi a coloring paper and I said sure and I *assumed that Jessi was behind me and heard me say this. So I turn around to the computer and start to pull up the files so Jessi can choose a picture... I hear loud paper crumpling and Joy start crying. Jessi had snatched Joy's coloring sheet out of her hand and balled it up and ruined it!
I was aghast and asked her what on earth she had just done!? She said that Joy wouldn't give her the picture that she wanted, so she ruined it. Honestly, I was too mad to deal with her, it would have been out of pure ANGER and not corrective, and I'm afraid I yelled in anger too (yes she comes by the quick temper honestly...) and told her that was the most selfish brattiest thing ever and go to her room!!
I sat for a minute to calm down and got ready to go deal with her. It took a few minutes (I was HOT) so I printed out papers for Joey and then was about ready to go to her when Jessi came out crying SO hard.
I was not very compassionate I'm afraid, and asked her what she was crying about, and she stammered out that she was sorry for ruining Joy's picture and being bad.
Ok...my dilemma. I'm sure that she WAS sorry, and not even sorry just because she knew she was about to get trouble, but really sorry... she loves Joy and Joy worships her and for her to do that to Joy was SO out of character. However, I was annoyed that by crying she was turning this around and it was all about her--Joy came over and hugged her and comforted her and I think she was expecting me to do the same.
I did not.
I told her that I was glad she was sorry and I forgave her, but she needed to go back to her room and pray and tell Jesus what had happened and ask him to help her build her walls (referring to her memory verse about self control) and then when she was done crying she could come back out and tell Joy she was sorry.
Here is my question... I realize that one of the weaknesses of the super sensitive personality is to find some sort of weird pleasure in the guilt that you feel and then enjoy the crying and moaning and then finish it up with the emotional "high" of being forgiven. I do NOT want Jessi to develop a habit of indulging in such behavior. I do of course understand that often tears accompany penitence and repentance, but other than saying "she's my kid and I can see this turning into something ugly" I just can't explain why, just that I truly see this as a slippery slope.
I really wanted to tell her to stop her bawling and if she was REALLY sorry, just to make sure she practiced self-control next time, I didn't because I didn't think it would do much good.
Am I making any sense? How much of the crying and guilt and sorrow do I allow? How much of the crying and guilt and sorrow is actually just another part of her ultra-sensitive personality? Even as I write this it seems so harsh to say that I don't want to allow her to cry when she is sorry for doing wrong... I'm not trying to be harsh, I'm trying to prevent a twisted enjoyment of her guilty feelings.
The upside to her sensitivity is that Jesus is as real to her as I am, that she prays with faith that is amazing, and that she is quick to see the needs of others. The downside is... well, all of the previous part of this post- a quick temper, an enjoyment of "vain imaginations" such as worst case scenarios of sadness or in this case, guilt, and being too sensitive to imagined slights by others.
So... words of wisdom? Success in training a personality like this? Am I on the right track or am I just a mean mommy who doesn't get that some people actually have feelings (I am SUCH a non-girly girl!)? Talk to be about this please!
Please understand that I am not trying to "break" her personality, merely to mold it and train her... no one likes "those" kinds of women, and I don't want her to grow up to be one. I do appreciate the personality that God created her to have and have been touched (as have those around us who know her and our family) by her faith and prayers. Also, please understand that as far as imagination...I am the poster child for this, I'm not talking about normal (or even beyond normal) childhood imaginary games. I'm talking about vain imaginations that get our eyes off of reality and into a pattern of worry and despair.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Christmas in July (& a shameless brag)
For Christmas for the past few years, my in laws have given us a family pass to the Virginia Living Museum, which is located just a few blocks away from us. I LOVE having this family pass and highly recommend that you look into asking for annual passes to your local zoo or museum the next time grandparents wonder what the kids would like for a gift.
We visit often (although not as often as the short people think we should), and every time, I am able to remind the kids that Grandpa and Grandma gave us our tickets, for which they are very grateful.
Today we went specifically to see "The Giant Dinosaur Puppet Show" that is running in conjunction with the big dino exhibit going on now.
The following are pictures of the kids on some of the dino props and with some of the creatures they brought out before the puppet show. Check out Joy's strangle hold around Jessi's neck. It makes me laugh. 
With one of the puppeteers and small puppets (Some of the puppets were VERY large).
Joyana touching a snake. 
Joey touching an alligator.
Before the show, Jessi was waiting and sat in this circle of sunshine from a skylight, I thought it looked neat.
Joey touching a blue-tongued skink.
A dragonfly I spotted as we walked through the native Virginia garden. He was so nice, let me get up close and take a number of shots before flying away.
This is where the shameless brag starts. Joyana enjoying her chocolate ice cream cone. She is so funny, if you ask her where she got her green eyes, she says, "God", but if you ask her where she got her curly hair, she goes into this long explanation that I only understand about half of, but has to do with "last night she got bonked on the head." Go figure.
This was right after a nice big lick and she still had her eyes closed in ecstasy.
Oh, the above pictures were just bragging on her cuteness, this is where I brag on her smartness. :-)
She is two and a half, look at her draw... she must take after Mom-Mom (my mom), I love to be creative, but drawing certainly isn't my niche.
This is "tiny baby Jesus", of course, she thinks all babies are baby Jesus, this could get interesting when our new baby comes...
This is Daddy. The line on his chin is his beard.
All that, and she can count to 11. Why 11 and not 10? I really don't know. At least she has now learned her odd numbers, there for a while she was counting by 2's. I did figure that one out... when I knit I usually count by 2.
This is Daddy. The line on his chin is his beard.All that, and she can count to 11. Why 11 and not 10? I really don't know. At least she has now learned her odd numbers, there for a while she was counting by 2's. I did figure that one out... when I knit I usually count by 2.Wednesday, July 9, 2008
My "piece de resistance"
I've posted before about my dyeing and spinning and of course knitting. I'm sure I've posted pictures of items I've knit out of yarn I dyed, but I do believe this is the first that I've shown of an item that I dyed AND spun AND knit. I spin on a drop spindle and to make enough yarn to actually create something takes a while (probably because of my crafting ADD which makes me change gears every few minutes!).
So, without further ado...
hand dyed, handspun, then Navajo plied, Targhee wool yarn. I did everything but raise the sheep for this! *Ok,everything except raise the sheep, shear the sheep, degrease the wool, comb the wool...but really, this is pretty much "from scratch."
The Navajo ply is what makes each strand a different color at any given point in the yarn and gives it the sudden random color changes.
I made brown trim yarn to tone it down a bit, although I love all the jewel colors, I think the brown helps to anchor it a bit.
Another close up of the scrumptious yarn.
This is a wool soaker that I will use for Cloth Diapering BabyJ. Wool, when untreated, has natural waterproof and antibacterial properties that make it a wonderful choice to use as a "moisture barrier" for covering cloth dipes. Here it is in progress, still on the needles.
And now, the finished soaker. I am just so thrilled with how it turned out. I made it a small so I wouldn't run out of yarn, and ended up having a little bit left. I think when baby outgrows this I will rip it out and redo it one size up so he/she can wear it again.
So, without further ado...
hand dyed, handspun, then Navajo plied, Targhee wool yarn. I did everything but raise the sheep for this! *Ok,everything except raise the sheep, shear the sheep, degrease the wool, comb the wool...but really, this is pretty much "from scratch."
The Navajo ply is what makes each strand a different color at any given point in the yarn and gives it the sudden random color changes.
I made brown trim yarn to tone it down a bit, although I love all the jewel colors, I think the brown helps to anchor it a bit.
Another close up of the scrumptious yarn.
This is a wool soaker that I will use for Cloth Diapering BabyJ. Wool, when untreated, has natural waterproof and antibacterial properties that make it a wonderful choice to use as a "moisture barrier" for covering cloth dipes. Here it is in progress, still on the needles.
And now, the finished soaker. I am just so thrilled with how it turned out. I made it a small so I wouldn't run out of yarn, and ended up having a little bit left. I think when baby outgrows this I will rip it out and redo it one size up so he/she can wear it again.
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