Knitting

I have some photos of my knitting to share. I haven't been doing alot of knitting but some as I can. I finally felted the Iceland Felted Bag that I finished knitting months ago. I found a whole or two in the seams on the side and need to patch them up and then I think I'll felt it some more. It isn't quite as tight as I'd like.

Next, I have a photo of the scarf I made to give a friend for her birthday. I only have the progress photo as I was down to the wire to get it finished in time for her birthday and forgot to take a picture of the finished scarf. I like the colors and have enough yarn left that I could make another one. I probably will make one for me. :-)

I'm also back to work on the never ending Sampler Afghan. I haven't made much progress, but I'm slowly working on it. I've been wanting to knit the Tahoe sweater from Knitty since it came out, but now that I'm losing weight, I don't want to knit something that might would not fit by the time I was done. Anyway, I'll close with the picture of the Sampler Afghan.

That is the second block of the first panel. I think I'm about halfway finished with this block. And that is the progress of my knitting.

Blessings,

~*~

Quiz

I saw this quiz on Blogickal and decided it looked interesting...

p>


You're Ulysses!

by James Joyce

Most people are convinced that you don't make any sense, but compared
to what else you could say, what you're saying now makes tons of sense. What people do
understand about you is your vulgarity, which has convinced people that you are at once
brilliant and repugnant. Meanwhile you are content to wander around aimlessly, taking in
the sights and sounds of the city. What you see is vast, almost limitless, and brings you
additional fame. When no one is looking, you dream of being a Greek folk hero.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Rough week...

Last week was a very difficult time for me and my family. My Grandmother passed on a week ago Saturday. One week ago we buried her. It was harder than I thought it would be. I am happy for her that she is out of pain now and she is in a better place. But I really miss her.

On top of that, I had an uncle pass on Friday. I loved this uncle very much and love that part of my family, but I just couldn't take another funeral right now. Not to mention it was over 8 hours from where I live and I would have missed another day of work.

Thursday night at the football game turned out to be a nightmare. I never should have gone and as I was leaving my house my intuition told me not to go, but I didn't listen. I went despite every instinct I have telling me not to, and I have really regretted it. I will listen to my instincts from now on.

I haven't really felt like blogging. I haven't had much to say. I've missed so much work last week and I am so behind that I'm going to have to do some work from home today.

I know this post is really scattered and I'm sorry, I'm just typing as it comes to me.

I did finish the scarf I was working on as a gift for a friend. Today is laundry, cleaning and bill paying day. I start back swimming and work tomorrow morning.

Well, I'd better get started. Unlike Mrs. Weasley, I can't make the laundry and cleaning do themselves! :-)

Blessings,
~*~

Can you say...football?

I can! Yes, folks, it is that time of year... football is starting up and I'm thrilled. I'm leaving in 30 minutes to go see the Steelers take on the Panthers. I haven't seen a Steelers game in person in almost 30 years. (Wow, I'm old!)

Go Steelers!


Blessings,
~*~

Tarot Card

I saw this quiz on Rilana's Blog and thought it looked fun...

You are The Magician

Skill, wisdom, adaptation. Craft, cunning, depending on dignity.

Eleoquent and charismatic both verbally and in writing,
you are clever, witty, inventive and persuasive.

The Magician is the male power of creation, creation by willpower and desire. In that ancient sense, it is the ability to make things so just by speaking them aloud. Reflecting this is the fact that the Magician is represented by Mercury. He represents the gift of tongues, a smooth talker, a salesman. Also clever with the slight of hand and a medicine man - either a real doctor or someone trying to sell you snake oil.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

I suggest...

I've seen two movies today. After a full morning of exercise, including 1 1/2 hours of swimming and then yard mowing and weeding, I went to see The Bourne Ultimatum. What a thriller! It was fabulous! I love all three movies and will have to get them all on DVD so I can watch them again. :-)

When I came home my Netflix video was waiting for me.



I highly recommend Premonition. I love Sandra Bullock. I have always liked her movies. I hadn't really heard much about it and wasn't sure what to expect. I really loved it. :-)

So, two good movies today and a great swim this morning. Yay...

Blessings,
~*~

Mabon, anyone?

I'm sorry I missed wishing everyone a Happy Lughnasadh. I hope you had a great day!

Now I'm ready for Mabon! I'm sick to death of the heat and want to feel the cool fall air in the mornings. I LOVE fall! I think I love it almost as much as I do winter. I don't know about you all, but I'm ready for the change.

What say you? Shall we wish for an early fall?

Blessings,
~*~

Eye Candy Friday...

I want to go back there... I miss the blue of the ocean, the white sands... I really miss it.

They're here!

I'm so excited! I found them on my doorstep when I arrived home from work. I'll be starting them tonight. I can't wait to go through the whole thing. It will be interesting to see how long it takes me to get through all 7 books.

Anyway, tonight I begin!

Blessings,
~*~

I've done it!

I've finished it! I started yesterday morning around 10 and finished the book this morning at 2.



There will be no spoilers here. Just this comment: Absolutely LOVED IT!!!!!!


On Friday afternoon, I went to see Order of the Phoenix. Same comment applies! :-)

Blessings,
~*~

Eye Candy Friday

So much to say...

I have so many things on my mind lately. When I sit down to post on my blogs, I do not know where to begin. I haven't been blogging much due to health issues, work, spirit, just too much "stuff". There is so much I want to say, so much I NEED to say. But there is no one to listen. The one person I could talk to about anything, that I felt closest to, blew me off after the New Orleans fiasco. I've tried talking to my mum, whom I'm pretty close to, but she listens with only half an ear and usually doesn't understand the things I'm talking about anyway.

I've contemplated writing it out here. I am not certain, however, how much I should share in the blog world. So here is a question for those who read this blog. How much should be shared? How much do you share on your blog? Is it all or nothing, or just bits and pieces.

Maybe your responses will help me figure out where to start... or even if I should.

Blessings,
~*~

Eye Candy Friday

Summer Solstice

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. The summer solstice is a beautiful day. It always makes me a little sad and a little happy. I'm sad because I know that the days will start to get shorter and the growing season will start is soon to be over, but I'm happy because the cold is my favorite. I look forward to the winter and the chill in the air and snow on the ground (if I'm really lucky where I live!).

So enjoy the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and remember the Oak King.

Blessings,
~*~

Random things...

I finished the first panel in my afghan and started on the second last night. I'm very excited to be working in a different colorway now. I'll post a picture when I get a chance to take one.

I also finished reading "The Moon Under Her Feet" by Clysta Kinstler. It was an okay read. I read it for my book club which meets tonight. I am so proud that I have finished a book before the meeting! :-)

Tomorrow is Solstice and we are moving my Grandmother so I'm not sure what my day will hold as far as being able to do ritual. There is a solstice gathering in a park near my house, but I do not know if I will get to go.

I'm also participating in a Solstice group ritual this weekend. I'm re-dedicating myself and am looking forward to the ceremony.

I just wanted to post a little to say hello and let you know I'm still around.

Blessings,
~*~

Eye Candy Friday

Dreaming

I am exhausted. I am physically, mentally and spiritually exhausted. But, I do not know why.

Every since New Orleans, I dream. I have always been a big dreamer, but now I dream all the time. Every time I wake up at night, I am waking from a dream. I feel like I have had no sleep at all. Seriously, my brain just will not shut down and rest.

I know I'm supposed to be learning something from these dreams, but they all seem so random. I went to bed last night at 9. I woke during the night at the very least, 5 times, but more than like, more that that. I could barely drag myself out of bed this morning when the alarm went off at 6.

Does anyone else have this problem, or something similar? Or maybe a suggestion as to what to do? Drugs to make me sleep are out of the question. I'm tried meditation before bed and it just seems to make me dream more. I know that the lave tet that I had in New Orleans opened me up psychically and spiritually, I just didn't realize it would be this open! :-)

Blessings,
~*~

Eye Candy Friday and New Orleans trip

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. It has been a long couple of weeks and I haven't had much to say. My trip to New Orleans was interesting and created some changes in my life. From a spiritual side of things, big changes came about as a result of my trip. There is so much that happened, I'm not sure what to say.

A lot of it should probably be kept to myself, but what I will say is that my life is different now. I'm back to being pretty much solitary. While I thought that the trip would reinforce my friendships with those I went with, it turns out that it pretty much ended them. One friendship in particular was "put on hold" although it feels more like it was ended than anything else. One thing I learned from this trip is that people really are not always what they seem.

So, enough of the moping, and on to the pictures. I will say, if you ever have an opportunity to go to New Orleans, you should take it. I'm glad I went and wouldn't change that for anything, even if I would change the way it ended.

Above is a photo of Bourbon St. Below is a gate that is an entrance to Jackson Square. I really liked the gate and thought I should take a photo.


Here we have a photo of a guardian on top of the New Orleans Museum of Art. I thought it was pretty cool.


Right above we have a photo that I took in St. Louis Cemetery #1. I loved the tombs and the intricate detail on them and the gates surrounding them. And below is the tomb of Mam'zelle Marie Laveau.

And last we have a picture of the French Quarter and leftover remnants from Mardi Gras.



Well, I have many more pictures, but I'll save them for later. I'm going with any of the above pictures as my Eye Candy Friday post.

Did anyone do anything special for the Blue Moon last night? I did a ritual and spell that I think went pretty well. I certainly felt better during and after the ritual.

I'm off for now. I'll try to post more later.

Blessings,
~*~

Eye Candy Friday

My first Rhododendron bloom. I love the color. Maybe next year I'll have more.

I am about 24 hours away from leaving for New Orleans. I am unbelievable excited! There is still so much to do, but I feel confident I can get it done and be ready to go. I hope I can sleep tonight. Usually when I'm going on big trips, I don't sleep the night before I leave. I better sleep tonight. :-)

I still have not gotten a picture of my knitting progress. I hope to do that tonight. I am planning on taking my knitting with me for while I'm riding in the car. I have a small flashlight I can use to see while we ride. Gosh, I can't believe I'm going to New Orleans!

I am also taking my camera so I hope to bring back lots of pictures to share.

Well, I can't think of anything else to say so I'll say bye for now.

Blessings,
~*~

Only 4 days left....

....before I head to New Orleans! I'm so excited! I found my white skirt and shirt that I need for the lave tet. I also found the coolest little dress for walking around NOLA. My friend that is there already says it is HOT. The dress I got today isn't really something I would normally wear out of the house without a sweater over it, but my whole goal of this trip is to do something I wouldn't normally do and to maybe come back a little different than I am now. So, I have a cute green sundress to wear. Yippee!

I have so much left to do and yet it seems to be getting closer and closer. I hope I get it all done and can get a good night's sleep the night before we leave. Usually when I am going on a trip, I am unable to sleep the night before I leave. That would be bad in this case as we are driving!

Gosh, I am so excited I can barely contain myself. I do have knitting class tonight and tomorrow is book club, which I am probably going to skip out on. Tomorrow at lunch I have to shop for shoes and a new bra ( I know... TMI!).

Oh well, I hope to get some pictures tonight of my current knitting project. If I can get it done I'll post a photo so you can see what I'm working on. I still haven't felted that bag I made a month ago. I will make that a priority when I return from NOLA.

Blessings,
~*~