Beginnings of a Bag and a Little Chivalry after and Attack

After making so many knitted hats of late, I decided make a felted bag. I love the one Peg did and I go crazy for the ones at a local knitting store, so I decided to get started. A friend wanted to learn to knit, so we are doing these bags side by side, sort of. To ensure success we both got good, basic yarn. We started with two colors of Lamb's Pride wool and will get artsy by adding in a Noro yarn. You can see how the Noro is looking once I carried it with the solid color. I thought it would be a more distinct band, but instead it is more transitional. I carried the Noro with the periwinkle for a time, then switched over to the fusha. It helped things blend better. I am very happy with how it is coming along. I am excited to get it done. Currently my knitting rides around in a plastic bag from the store. It will be wonderful to have a nice felted one instead.

On a different note, I want to praise my husband. Yesterday we had Parent Teacher Conferences. My first conference was the meeting from hell. It proves that teaching HS seniors can be a dangerous, threatening business at times. I will not go into the details. We will leave it with you knowing that a student lied to his mother. She wanted to rip me in half because she thought the lie was true. The UNFOUNDED verbal and nearly physical attack was bad enough that people from all around the room stopped to watch. Another person went to get an administrator to stop the attack. The administrator had to take her by the arm and remove her. As they exited she was screaming that she would have me disbarred (never mind that teachers do not take the bar exam - thatwould be lawyers!) Once it was done, I was upset. I went to a private room where cried and vented. In my 17 years of teaching I have never been treated in such a way. If I was not so mad, I would be embarrassed for the scene they caused for themselves. Anyhow, I called my husband telling him I needed him to be available to talk when I got home. I would need some TLC. I also told him that I did not have a scrapper in my car. I was not sure how I would clean the snow and ice off of my car. Later when I went to my car I found that my dear husband had come to my car, scrapped it off and left me a new scrapper along with a paper flower my daughter made. What a great feeling that was. Isn't it wonderful that chivalry isn't dead? At least not within my family. So I went home to cry a bit more and find comfort in the love of my husband.

The Anniversary of Meeting My Husband

December 31, 1987 - My 21st Birthday and the night we got engaged.

Wednesday, February 21, was the anniversary of meeting my husband. We met on a blind date in 1983. In many ways it is one of my favorite dates. It was a turning point in my life, though I could not have known it at that time.

I had been a very outgoing student who was ultra-involved in school. It was the spring of my senior year and I had just broken up with the creep of a boyfriend I had that had the nerve to stand me up on Valentine's day. My husband was the tall, quiet guy behind the camera at a rival school. Though we seemed unlikely at the time, we make a great pair.

As I said, we met on a blind date. We had the day off from school. My friend and I were going to the top of a local mountain to fly kites. Since we were going in her convertible I did not do my usual, elaborate routine of getting ready. Instead, I wore plain grey sweats and tied my hair up. This was such a contrast to who I had been then. I usually worn dresses or skirts, often with a petticoat underneath it. I had high heeled cowboy boots with a delicate, lacy cut brass tip on the end of each boot toe. I matched everything I worn, my clothes, my hair adornment, my make-up and my nail polish. When I got in the car she informed me that Shawn was going along with us. Then, as we pulled up to his house, she informed me that I was to have a date, too. "Fine" I thought, still feeling a bit grumpy about the recent lack of romance. I would humor them. I didn't really care that I looked a bit like a slob. I was not in the market for romance. I was going to be boy free for a while. When we entered Shawn's house I saw a tall, thin blonde guy helping Shawn's mother with something. My attitude changed. The date was fun. I was twitterpated. He was so different from so many of the guys I had dated. He was quiet, shy, thoughtful. So many guys who I dated had an over inflated idea of their worth. As we were dropping the boys off he kissed the top of my hand and said he hoped to see me again. That was it, I was hooked that quickly. It took him a few days to get the guts up to call me. I had thought he was not interested. We continued to date. We were engaged to marry on my 21st birthday and married a few years later. We were both in college and would lose our scholarships if we married before we graduated. It was hard to have a multi-year engagement, but worth it. We even spent a year apart, writing letters (no email then - and actually I am thankful for that. I love the letters I have.) I am thankful for the day I met him. My husband is a person of integrity, honest and passion. Over they years we have both changed dramatically. I am no longer a high maintenance girl. I am more natural. I traded my high heeled cowboy boots for Birkenstocks and my petticoats with skirts for gauze skirts. My husband went from quiet and shy to intense and outgoing. Thankfully, we have been able to grow together, instead of apart. How lucky can a girl be?!

Basketry Merit Badge & Organized Embellishments

Ethan has recently finished his basketry badge for Boy Scouts. At first the boys were not thrilled with this option, but elected to do it because it was too cold outside to do the badges they are excited about. However, once they go going, I think most of the boys enjoyed making the items. The ones pictured here are the ones Ethan made. I helped him a bit. At times I HAD to GIVE IT BACK to him because I wanted to do it all myself. I had no idea how much fun it would be - and so fast! Making these items was very gratifying. I think I will have to do it again, but I might add in some funky fibers as I do the weaving.

I also wanted to start some posts about things I love, things beyond the obvious, like my family. I will begin with this item, my Craft Mates Locking Caddy Organizer Tote. I have a lovely collection of embellishments that were all stuffed first in a bag, then in a box, in the containers they came in. Looking for something was a dangerous, messy journey. Now that I have my Craft Mates totes (I have two of them, nearly full) I don't have that problem any longer. What I love is that the tote holds special trays that have 14 little, individually locking cavaties. They are snug so the items, like sequins, don't visit their neighbors and mess up my organizaational system. Furthermore, they have a fail safe tab on the side that must be pushed in before the little doors will open. This prevents one opening during unexpected times. I got mine from Joanne's, a fabric and craft store. WIth their execellent coupons I got it for less than $20.