FiberTribe

Back in Boulder

Like back in black only with snow and rain, heh. It was a white knuckle flight over Boulder mountain on Wednesday late afternoon. Evidently it had been raining and then froze and converted to snow. About 4 inches of snow. Even a light tap on the brakes would start a skid.  So we crawled over that beast at about 10 - 15 mph. A normally 45 minute drive turned into double that. Whew. Welcome home, eh? I had temperature whiplash on top of altitude whiplash.  From sunny and 79 degrees to 29 degrees and snowing a blizzard.

Just now coming up for air after working 13+ hours yesterday serving Thanksgiving dinner to more than 100 folks at the Bone (slang name for the restaurant where I work from time to time).   I still haven't adjusted back to Mountain time so to me it seemed like 2:30 am when I finally got home.  ack.  Also, I haven't been standing on my feet for that many hours in a row for some time. Standing on a ladder painting, maybe but then I get sitdown breaks.

Woof. We did get to share sips of a bottle of Shafer cab at the end. wow. that is one fine wine.
So what shall we do with a Black Friday, eh?  No shopping but much nesting, soup making, and going off to see my friend Scotty's open studio. Go take a look. She is an amazing artist and captures this country better than any other artist down here I've so far encountered.  Then  it's off to work on the 2nd to last night of the season here. On Sunday we clean the place and then, O my Peeps, it is OVAH for the year.   Finding the next income earning proposition comes next. 
And the Miami house has not yet found its new human...send good vibes, please. 

So Close...or Ya Gotta Have Friends

Sing it with me....was it Bette Midler?  Well, she was right on. 

My friend Neesy worked through the night and into the wee hours of her birthday (today) Happy BDay, Miss Thang! and came back again this morning to help with the painting and caulking, etc.  Christopher has likewise been a trouper, painting, hanging light fixtures and blinds, more painting...you get the idea. Leni has swept, organized, kept the wine flowing and generally provided moral support and perspective. And a wonderful dinner from time to time.   Rocky mowed the lawn and edged the front.  Didn't ask, just showed up and set to.

So, yeah. I am gobsmacked and grateful beyond belief.  Maybe I'm a good person after all? Maybe my friends care about me?  Oah, yes.   I'm trying hard to keep this light but srsly, the love and quiet caring they have all shown me these weeks has helped me keep my heart open to hope and possibility.   It'll be a skinny Christmas chez Fibertribe but as the snows of January fall, I'll be knitting away and looking for other ways to pay this forward as well as shower these beloveds with all manner of warmth and love, knitted and otherwise...

What or who has helped keep yer boat floating in these troubled waters?  would love to hear...
Giant hugs from Paradise South.

WAAAHOOOO! I can haz helpz...

this is the divine Ms. Neesy...She's da housepainter extraordinaire...I am SO blessed with my friends.
that is all from Paradise South.

'dja ever have one of those jittery days?

humpf. Just now managed to shift my energy back to the positive courtesy of my friend Joanne.  Feels good to regain that feeling, "All is well."  And Esther Hicks/Abraham has a new video clip (topmost clip on the page)  up today dealing with Wall Street and attitudes about money. It's just great.  

I'm still painting, still loving this little house AND getting ready to let it be an oasis for some wonderful person who will find it as healing and peaceful as I did when I moved here.   Not much painting done today and I'm off to run a few errands.  Then back to the painting and maybe I'll give myself a treat and water the yard, buy some plumbago for the backyard and impatiens for the front.  Maybe I'll shock us both and even post some pictures of the casita so you can visualize right along with me...

I got no knittin' fuh ya today. Though last night at our stitch and bitch of two, I did hem the second to last sleeve of baby Isabella's Helena.  I know. The progress is glacial, heh. 

Time Traveling the Old Fashioned Way

Yes, still painting...and painting. Now I remember why I didn't repaint the interior of the house whilst living in it for 10 years, heh.    And part of this whole deal is going through the boxes that remained behind after moving 99% of my crap out to Utah back in April. Which, btw, is still sitting in boxes in the basement out there.  Can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to going through THEM this winter, ugh.

So I'm tearing, literally, through moving boxes that haven't been touched in 3 prior moves some dating from the early 80's.  Dude, I found my first knitting project (as an adult) so can you top this? Anyone out there have an UFO older than 1976?  Hunh?  didn't think so.  Christ on a pogo stick, most of ya'll weren't born then.  I actually still like the yarn but will have to rip it and redo to get rid of the 24 stitch floats on the back. Didn't know then that you're supposed to weave them in every 4-5 sts.  so we shall see. when the boxes finally wend their way out to Boulder and after I beat the dust off the yarn, I'll haul it out so we can all have a good laugh.   

 A bit more heartwrenching was finding two of my father's hawaiian shirts. He died in 1990 at the age of 89 or 90. Hard to tell  because that bad boy lied about most everything, including his age.  One of the shirts is a Sears & Roebuck but the other is the real deal vintage purchased in Tampa, Florida. Oddly enough, they're both yellow and red, the real Hawaiian shirt is red, yellow and gray.  Not exactly my favorite colors and I'd imagine they looked truly dreadful on him given his coloring.  When he died all he had was a few papers and pictures that all would fit in an 8 x 11 envelope, these two shirts and a few white shirts, vests and pants. And one ancient suit. That's it.  My cousin Emilia, who had taken care of him for the last 15 years of his life sent me the shirts and the papers along with his death certificate.  In the papers was an 8 x 10 portrait of him, taken in St. Petersburg, FL where he was living at the time on his birthday in April 1975. In his writing it says that it was his 75th birthday.  I had never known my father's birthday so that was special. I hadn't been able to look at the stuff when he died and probably just stuffed it in a box. Which box I opened today.      

So all of you holders-on-to-things out there?    When your friends and spouses tell you to just chuck those boxes out because after all, you haven't looked at them for 20 years so you must not need anything in there, right?    You tell them this story then sit carefully down in the middle of the living room floor, open a few boxes,  and take a walk in the past.  

Knitting news?  O my peeps, I did find amazing quantities of vintage Rowan yarn,  kitschy old Vogue (1969) pattern magazines,  and are you sitting down?  a bunch of A St@rmore books in mint condition. Those puppies aren't going into my friend's garage but will be sent out media mail insured to B-Town.  And photos, migod, the photos...it's  real jolt in the morning to get a look at yerself vintage 1980-something before you've got enough coffee anaesthesia in you...woof.

Pictures when I get back to paradise west.  Back to ladder for me.

Too Noisy

Sigh. A lovely woman came by just now to see the house.  She's a concert violinist and of course planes flew directly over (they seldom do), ambulances exploded all over the place, the neighbor's circular saw droned on and you could hear the metro 7 blocks away and the highway traffic 6 blocks away.  She's very sensitive to sound and needs quiet to compose during the day. So it was a no and I'm a  bit discouraged.

But the day is just luminous, the blue jays are harassing the neighborhood cats and so life goes on and all is well.

Had wonderful reconnections with two old friends this morning. One found via facebook and the other mined from the depths of my contact list.  Much laughter and encouragement all the way around.  And friend number two tells me she's shifted to knitting from needlepoint and is in need of some instruction. Tomorrow I'm invited over for an impromptu stitch and bitch of two. Up, down, sideways, you just never can tell what twisty roads life will take, eh?

Cooler Weather and Bright Sunshine

Literally and figuratively, eh? A front came through last night and the temperature has dropped easily 20 degrees.  And it's very windy. Yes, there is wind chill even in Miami.  The sunlight through the jungly trees is amazing.  Did I mention that I love my little house?
The painting of the house is moving along. Am slowly getting my housepainting chops back.  It's pretty damn satisfying to see the work progress.  And thanks to several days of evening rain and one day of rain on and off all day, the chopped back grass is greening up beautifully.

Not sure what vibe is out there in the universe but more news this morning of one of teh boyo's extended family hitting bottom and on the verge of being homeless, threatening suicide and not taking any of the many offers of help she's received.  Cold comfort in not being the only one dealing with this.  Have got two dear ones going through this or the edge of this myself, the ex- and my mother.  Must be something in the air of giving ourselves the opportunity to confront our longstanding patterns and issues and finally, hopefully take the lesson and push through to the lightness on the other side. 
In the sense that a rising tide lifts all boats, I'm putting my energy and attentiveness to those same things in my life, those lessons.   Since we really ARE all connected, if I shift my own energy and confront my own lessons there's a subtle and not-so-subtle impact on all those around me. 

So hoist yer Sunday morning beverage of choice with me and let's laugh and get on with it, eh?

Knitting news?  not a damned thing. I'm loving what all ya'll are putting up on Ravelry, though.  If you want and eyefull of inspiration, go check out Villapeiko's project file. See especially her version of the Central Park Hoodie, created totally without the pattern!  You're welcome. 

POWDAH! ETA: Old post inadvertantly left in draft from April 2008 (fer yer amusement)

O, my winter wonderland peeps, I have been up on the mountain and looked down in the valley and it is FULL of  POWDAH!!  ahem.  I (really foolishly) drove 8 1/2 hours through a blizzard, most of it on I-70 which was down to one totally unplowed lane, from southern Utah to Steamboat Springs.  I saw eight bad multi-car accidents before I stopped counting. And 3 of them were rollovers... Certain portions of my steering wheel will forever have my finger prints embedded therein.  It was seriously the worst weather I've ever driven in and I used to commute once a month from Toronto to Philadelphia. In the winter. Including the bit between Syracuse and Scranton. I can drive in snow but this was a whole 'nother animal. 

All that to say it was totally worth it.  My destination was a week of skiing and lessons in Steamboat Springs. Lessons courtesy of an ex-now-friend who was probably equal parts eager to enable my skiing obsession and tired of hearing me moan that I'd never get to be as good as he (he skis only  backcountry stuff, no groomers for him).  Ah, but he signed up for the same week-long package to learn telemark skiing. Lo and behold on the last run of the last day we found both our classes on the same (blue! Yay!) run. So I got to see him wobble a bit and he got to see me ski pretty damned well down an easy blue slope.  Yes, yes this is supposed to have knitting in it but humor me here.  Trust me, one day I'll be good enough to knit while I ski a bunny slope. but not just yet, heh.  Screw the Pitch and Stitch, how about Ski and Stitch?

And did I mention the SNOW?  It snowed easily over 48 inches in 6 days. I have never seen anything like this. I had to get off the mountain and on the way out of town before sundown or I'd never make it and I'm still driving Precious, the AWD Subi.  Folks, don't be suckered in. If you're gonna live in such a climate buy 4WD. AWD (all wheel drive) is not the same. in a bad way.  The weather warmed on Saturday and by Sunday I had a quick and non-snowy drive home. Only 7 hours, heh.

So. knitting.  I was glad to see Carolyn's store, Knitch on the Mountain, is still going strong. The store name is no joke for you can walk there from the lift line or the Slopeside Bar.  She was having a great sale and I picked up a Rowan mag and Cat Bordhi's Socks Soar, etc. plus a handful of older patterns at a buck a pop.  If you happen to be in Steamboat there are several yarn stores but do check out Knitch. Carolyn's a great lady and I'd like to see her continue to flourish.

On those blizzardy evenings after banging my shins to a pulp all day, I did also manage to get within a few inches of finishing the back of Titicaca. The yarn and the colors are just wonderful. And so far so good on outlook for being able to finish the front before running out of yarn.  The sleeves will be another story.  I'm really enjoying this pattern, too. If you haven't see The Mirasol Project book (and yarns) yet do check them out. It's a great cause and great patterns courtesy of Jane Ellison, the designer.

Got to Admit it's Getting Better....

I'd always thought that song by McCartney was sappy, but what-ev-ah. Merciful goddess, in this case it's on the money.   I showed the house to a wonderful couple this morning. He's French, she's American, they're documentary filmmakers.  I doubt they or their friends (a couple with child relocating from Paris) will rent the house but the vibe was so good I'd like to have them as friends. So? positive steps, positive steps.

And in preparation for showing the house, despite the painting worksite that it is, I straightened and cleaned off all the surfaces the ex- had piled with his day-to-day stuff, some food items, pet care stuff. Ack. His style is to cover all surfaces. Mine is to have very little there since the house is small and easily looks cluttered.  Just cleaning a little bit and putting piles more stuff out in the trash feels so good. It feels more like my house now, definitely much more like I kept it when I lived here full time.

Took a small break to finally have the morning coffee and feel much rejuvenated.  After I paint dutifully for 4 or 5 hours, my reward will be a trip to Home Despot to buy some new flowers and hopefully some crotons for the front yard.   Tonight?  Cook a nice fresh meal of all the sorts of things I can't easily get in Boulder, Utah and smile while I wolf it all down. Sounds like a plan, eh?

There may be wine involved. There may even be knitting...I did bring the Shibui Silk Cloud with me, hehe.
It's destined to be the Everyday Wrap but in a luscious, glowing wine color. 

I'm not too sure about the ruffle. I may do something else there though I'm not sure what.  If it knits up quickly enough, I may make one or three as gifts.  A lap full of mohair and silk is a wonderful thing on a cold day in Boulder Town.  Oh. And did I mention I found a treasure trove of my 80s and 90s knitting books here? Heh.  I may ship them back before I leave. More on that vintage goodness later.

Waving from Mi-am-uh

FAIR WARNING:  not such an upbeat post...

Episode no. 345 of As The Stomach Turns: Miami 
In which yer heroine pays (dearly) for her sins of the past 2 to 20 years. Getting her ex- finally out of the house, painting the entire interior, refreshing all the landscaping, re-caulking and grouting the bathrooms, all on a budget of $0 so said house might be rented and therefore saved from doom.

Did I mention how much fun this is NOT?  Yes, Virginia, she did bring her knitting but she hasn't had the heart to touch it.  Surfing yer lovely blogs is about all that's keeping me sane these days. And frankly, some days I'm not even up to that.     I fully realize that many of us are in even worse straits. yup, I do.  And I am profoundly grateful to my amazing friends who have come through for me in ways I couldn't have imagined. When my long-time mechanic serviced the aging and halt transmission on my ancient Honda and wouldn't take any money for it (he knows of my situation), I just about cried.  A wee sample of the kindnesses large and small that have shown up.  So yeah, blessings abound as I muddle through this dreadful shite.   I truly hate it when that old bastard, Nietzsche, is right about things. 

I'm learning how to humbly receive and how to balance my world and fate on the trust that when right action is taken, what is needed shows up.  I might wake up in the night with the screaming meemies from time to time, but I'm doing the next thing, and doing the next thing, etc.  So my loyal peeps, thanks for listening.  Here's to cheerier times PDQ, yes?   Over and out from Paradise South.