This weekend I was busy crocheting 7 cup cozies to help out a friend. She's a volunteer at the Greater Vancouver Zoo and had made a stack of cozies to be sold to raise money for animal care. Except, she came to work the other day to found out several of the ones she made had been stolen.
She was so upset, I offered to help her out and make some too, to replace the stolen ones. Here's my collection:
The giraffee, elephant and monkey come from Repeat Crafter Me's Animal Alphabet. The fox, I can't remember where I found the pattern and I made up the tiger and the lion by copying a photo on pintrest. The lemur was completely made up by me.
Check out this link to a fabulous knitting production calculator- Project Calculator. Great suggestions isn't it?
I have one friend who seems to think I should do everything for free. I have a shop, I need to earn an income. Last time she ordered something for a Christmas present for a friend. She tells me in front of a group of people, at a restaurant that she doesn't have the cash (and I had already discounted from $30 to $20for her) but she would pay for my food- but we weren't having dinner and I didn't have alcohol because I was driving- so she got the item for about $13.. I almost cried....
Although there hasn't been much activity in the blog there has been lots activity on the other side of my computer. Not only did I have plenty of custom knitting orders in December (which I loved!!!) but once things died down, I decided it was time to rearrange my work room.
I am an employee that works from home and have a desk dedicated for my job. Although I'm constantly on the lookout for new and improved ways to work and process the jobs and to become more paperless, I still have lots of files and papers on my desk -this is not a place that I do any other work. In the same room I had a nice little desk with a hutch that I considered my personal desk, but I had buried it behind craft supplies and couldn't access the drawers or doors. I decided that it would be good to have one desk for work and one desk for personal use. The personal desk could have pretty things like candles and flowers on it. I also thought it would be good if they could be across from each other as this would put them both near the window and both near the baseboard heater plus all I would have to do is turn the chair around from one spot to another which would save some space.
This simple idea, however, took three days to do. It involved unloading two 7' tall Bonde (Ikea) bookcases and moving a filing cabinet. It also involved getting rid of as many things as I could. The task is now complete and I am happy with the results. The room is still fuller than it should be but I am happy with it and will continue to work on it. And I still have 3 knitting orders for January, which also makes me very happy.
As well over the past two weeks I was able to sit down with several wonderful ladies who've not only supported me in my knitting business but also in my dance. It is a wonderful feeling to connect with such amazing people. I also had a long meeting with my dance instructor discussing where I'm at and how I'm feeling and this has also renewed my excitement for dance and the future. I know it sounds cliche but it's definitely been a journey in so many ways.
For me, and many others I talked to, 2014 was a tough year. It's not the worst year of my life, and tragic things didn't necessarily happen, but it was hard - not much came easy that's for sure. And interestingly, it was the same for many others. But I do believe that those tough things won't exist this year and I really think the tough past was a prelude to good 2015. I already put all the hard work into building the foundation and feel I will reap the benefits this year.
I've suffered from depression and low moods throughout my life but I'm feeling really good about things right now. I'm feeling happy and I feel hopeful. I don't write resolutions but I do 'set intentions' (so to speak) for my future and I feel confident about the upcoming months. Dance class starts on Monday. Next weekend four of us are going to Seattle for a three day dance intensive training. Jp and I are both working and money's not as tight as it had been. I am hopeful my brother and I can mend our relationship this year. My mom and I are planning a trip to Europe this spring. I don't want for anything but look forward to peace and happiness and contentment. And this is the song floating around my head:
Last night after class, I went out for coffee with a fellow dancer. We were in classes together for several months before she switched to a different night but every now and again we see each other, and she always gives me the tightest hugs.
It has been a long time since I've met someone that I could talk that easily with and look in the eye when we talked to each other (eye contact is really important isn't it?) And next thing we knew it was 11:30 and I had to go because I have to get up at 6am for work.
I really hope that we're able to meet again soon. What a wonderful visit I had. Definitely worth feeling tired today. Have you recently met someone like that?
Some days it seems that if I slow down too much I feel depressed. It seems that depression is a dark "friend" that is really always there, just waiting to step out of the darkness, waiting for the right opportunity to take over.
I wanted to write something about this subject for a long time but I just kept putting it off, I didn't know how it would be received. But then yesterday I saw this collection of comics being passed around the internet and I'm sure many more people than I thought also have this issue to deal with.
Here's the collection. Does it resonate with you as well? Does it help to know that so many others are probably feeling similar?
A lot of things have come together recently - work issues, family issues, MONEY issues and then there is our depressing fall weather - it's cold, it's damp and we're experiencing monsoon rains. The weather really doesn't help me. I really hate to be cold. In times like this there are only a few places where I feel warm - in front of the fire, under the covers (especially when the mattress heater is on) and the shower.
I keep trying to tell myself I'm going through a transition and I have to get to the bottom before I can get to the top but a little part of me calls "bullshit" on those thoughts. Christmas is coming. I don't know how much money I'll have for gifts. I'm old enough that I should be able to afford nice gifts but this year I'm not so sure. Christmas is only 85 days away. Eeep!
I didn't mean to drag you down. In fact, I'd be surprised if you've read this far. It's hard enough to deal with your own depression let alone someone else's, isn't it?
I don't have a solution. It's time to go to work now. I will keep my mind busy with work stuff and not allow my brain to get idle enough to realize how I really feel today. That's the only way I know how to not sink so low. If you want to read more about this subject, I also came across this writer: Hyerbole and a Half and my friend Woz Flint posed this "beat the blues box" idea you could also try. How do you handle to low days?
And I immediately thought of my friend Susanne who rides her bike everywhere she goes (she doesn't have a driver's licence). She spends a lot of time on it visiting her elderly mother in the hospital and going to work everyday. I thought it would be fun for her as she's a very "rainbows and unicorns" kinda gal.
I have never seen her bike in person so I asked her to send me a photo and then I set about creating something for her. I changed the bunting to stars as she's a very celestial being.
Here's her newly decorated bike basket - do you think it's fun?
I used synthetic yarns so they can stay on in the rain too. Why not? That's the day when you need the most fun and colour - riding in the rain is never fun is it?
Last night I was awakened by Eco walking around the house at 3:21am. I have no idea why. Sometimes I think she just changes rooms because there's a different bed in a couple of them. After a quick bathroom break I went back to bed and I thought about a friend of mine who wears double hearing aids - this means that he takes them out before he goes to bed and his poor wife gets to be awakened by things that go bump in the night.
I am grateful for my hearing and I don't want to wish hearing loss on myself or anyone but I wondered what it must be like to hear NOTHING once your head hits the pillow and what it would be like to have a soundless sleep. Don't you think you'd have a wonderful dreamy sleep? Freedom! Short of an elbow to the ribs or an earthquake you should be able to sleep peacefully thought the night. "What would it be like?" I asked myself over and over, and soon I was asleep again.
Do you wake up in the middle of the night because of noise? Do you think a soundless sleep is perfectly dreamy?
Sheesh, first there was Monday's incident, and then yesterday my mom fell on some ice and broke her arm! And the other arm she cracked her wrist. Two big thing in two days, I was scared for all my friends and family, afraid something would happen today - so far the phone's been quiet so maybe we're all good.
My mom lives alone and will have trouble getting through her day without the use of both hands. She's a stubborn bird who's not used to asking for help, but she's going to have to start asking especially when she can barely feed herself. Luckily my brother lives near and I'm counting on him to bring her food and stuff (he's a fabulous cook so my mom should enjoy that) but I'm too far away and don't think I can get the time off work to fly out there right now. I do wish she lived closer but it's just not possible for now.
Get well soon mom, and friends I'll be checking your blogs and stuff to make sure you'll all doing okay!
Today I am crocheting some boot toppers (not exactly these ones, but you get the idea) - which is basically an accessory that goes around the top of your knee high boot for decoration, so you don't have to necessarily wear a heavy sock in your boot but it looks like you do - kinda like a dickie for your leg (I wonder how many people still wear dickies or for that matter how many know what one is?)
My work in progress:
But I'm in a weird place today because it seems so slow going - it can't be done quick enough. I have so many things I have to do and want to do but can't get them all done. For personal projects and for my little shop.
Perhaps this is because of some recent events -two of which are personal stories of my brother - a friend with inoperable brain tumours is suddenly not able to work and no longer able to take care of his children; my brother's closest friend and business partner just suddenly died last week; my dance instructor was re-ended by a drunk driver at a red light(severe whiplash); a co-worker who's 22 year old daughter who was a busy model and semi-professional volleyball player, lost her battle with cancer just after graduating from university; as well as other tragedies currently on the news - it seems to serve as a reminder that life is very short and we can't delay anything! And I am so far behind.
No, I'm not having a panic attack but I do feel that I need to expedite things. And then it's the holiday season so I'm torn between "hey, relax, it's Christmas" and "there are so many things to do!"
How many batches of cookies do I want to make? and how many kinds? And how many more presents can I afford to buy? And "who did I forget?" And, and, and...
Eeep, are you feeling it as well?
Any solutions? Suggestions?
And this song has been going through my head for the past 24 hours:
I was taught this song in elementary school, why did it pop into my head now? Is it a Christmas song as well?
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Okay so I hadn't finished shopping as I said in my last post - there were a couple of people I wanted to get things for -one was a little stocking stuffer for all the girls in my dance glass. That was kinda hard because I needed at least 8 items and I'm not exactly rich - it took days of hunting for something that wasn't too cheap but was still a cute little item and I needed to find multiples of them so just when I'd find something I'd realize they didn't have enough of them... I ended up finding a little box on a ribbon that looked like an ornament but had chocolate bells inside. I passed them out at the end of class and they seemed thrilled -Mission Accomplished.
I did get a couple more rows knit on my ripple/wave scarf - here's a quick snapshot of the progress.
It'll look better once it's finished and
I've blocked it (that gets it wet and stretches it out)
Continuing on our James Bond movie watching, we're now up to Licence to Kill (1989) with Timothy Dalton. While watching the Living Daylights (1987), the first movie with Timothy Dalton, I could see why many fans didn't like him that much but then I also didn't like that movie very much. Licence to Kill was actually pretty good. Being a bit of a Pierce Brosnan fan I'm kinda looking forward to Golden Eye(1995).
Winter in Vancouver isn't so fun. Oh sure it's mild and all that but we go for days with grey skies. I'd much rather have -19 degrees celsius and bright blue skies with the sun shining than have +8 degrees and the grey skies. And it's not the rain that gets me (lots of people complain about the rain) - for me, it's the darkness. All the lights have to be on in the house all day because it's dark. And some days it's been so dark my Christmas lights on dawn/dusk timers go off at 2:30 in the afternoon! See? It's not just me that thinks it's too dark, the electronic sensors do too!
So.. why am I telling you this, only because if you have the same type of weather, you'll appreciate this pick-me-up:
See that happy dish? That was our dinner last night - Pina Colada Shrimp and Rice. YUM. It's shrimp and pineapple and coconut and yellow peppers and green onions. Not only is it yummy but it helps put a little summer into winter! Try it, you might like it!
Well the dance show went well yesterday. I made it up to the performing area without too much panic or fear and started the performance. About 30 seconds in my mind went blank but I managed to recover and carried on until the end of the dance. I thought we were rushing it but we ended the song on time so maybe we were fine. I am anxious to see the video so I can better understand how I did.
And, as many predicted, I would consider doing it all over again. I'm not saying I'm going to rush out and sign up for ever event to perform but I am certainly more open to it, and less scared of it.
I am touched by those friends and family who expressed their pride in me and thank everyone who supported me. The ladies I danced with were all inspiring in their own way, most of them have no idea what they did to inspire, which I suppose makes it even more special (and yes I've made sure that they've been send special messages so they know first hand). There are various summer sessions around the city but most people are scattered about for the next two months, some missing altogether due to summer vacation plans or other commitments. I look forward to the fall when we regroup and begin our new lessons and work on the next choreography.
I can't remember a time when I felt so supported by others and felt so much part of a group. It's a really nice feeling when things just seem to fall into place, isn't it?
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming. Whatever that may be.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
A friend of mine told me a story about how she was sitting in the bathroom thinking her husband was asleep and her son was asleep when she heard a sound. And then the door opened and there was a stranger looking back at her. She quickly reassembled herself and found a young man standing in her kitchen, very apologetic about the bathroom intrusion. It turned out to be one of her son's friends that she hadn't met yet.
She complained that her son always having people over and she never knows who's in the house. I listened as supportively as I could and lightly encouraged her to talk to her son about it since it bothered her.
But you know, I would really, really not like that! I didn't think I had 'control issues' but it would not make me happy to find out someone drank all my soda or ate all my food or that people were in my house that I didn't even know! Heck, I don't even like people (like repair/service guys) in my house at the best of times!
For years we have been making coffee with a lovely glass thermal French Press until an infortunate accidental bump (that's all I'm going to say) in a shared sink caused it to break. I taped up the broken corner and we continued to use it while we waited for an unbreakable stainless steel French Press to arrive. However, in the mean time Jp bought a drip coffee maker. With a timer.
Now the joke around here is that I usually don't like new things*, but I take 3 days to get used to it. So he patiently waited for the romance to blossom. And blossom it did. Who wouldn't like to wake up to the smell of coffee brewing, and by the time you make it down the hallway it's already made?
Now I realize it's no $1000 machine, and it's not an espresso or cappuccino maker, but it makes dang good coffee - nice and hot. And it's waiting for me when I get out of bed. I like that.
My little friend is easy to clean, easy to use and is there waiting for me in the morning to present me with a yummy cuppa nice black coffee. Mmm. This is most appreciated as we are already a month into the rainy season. Now if I could get a friend to empty the dishwasher I'd be over the moon!
*By the way, if you think I am bad - this is an improvement from my father who took 2 weeks to decide he liked the new item.
When I was a kid we used to have rain picnics. They started when my brother broke his leg the last days of the school year - doesn't that suck? 6 weeks of the summer he was in a full leg cast and bored out of his tree - this was before VCRs and video games (well before we could afford them). One day, to ease the boredom, my mom had the idea of a picnic in the rain - in those days, we practically had the whole of Stanley Park to ourselves - and we all took turns hauling him around in a wagon with a garbage bag on his cast (oh those were the days!)
But that's not what happened this weekend. We had been planning a get together since June and the weather was fabulous almost the whole month of July, but then the date got bumped and wouldn't you know it - it rained on our new day! Everyone was a real good sport about it though and we decided to go ahead with it.Cynthia, Carol and I had planned to go to Minnekhada Park but upon arriving, we found the gates were locked and it was closed for a private function, so we had to look for another lunch location fast as my stomach was rumbling! We tried a couple other parks and ended up sitting under a big cedar tree at a nearby recreation centre and the rain sort of held off so we were able to enjoy an afternoon of terrific food, good conversation and laughter. Everyone brought yummy food - Cynthia made perfect pitas and Carol had an excellent selection of homemade cookies. I'm so lucky to have such talented friends. Because of the rain, I left my purse in the car, and so I didn't take a photo of our lovely spread.
We all had our birthdays in July so at the end of lunch we exchanged birthday presents - yay! Cynthia gave me one of her famous 'little houses' paintings (plus some other little goodies - thank you!) and Carol gave me a beautiful jar of jam - thank you too! Carol, I need more of that jam, as most of it was consumed that same night at dinner! See? It is very, very good
