Saturday, February 28, 2009

A weather report

It seems that I am obsessed with giving weather reports. I got a new telephone an iPhone (oh yes and iPhone!) I love my new iPhone! Each time I've come across "iPhoneites" especially knitter "iPhoneites" they have gushed and giggled and compared their "apps" and shared all the knitting related and totally unrelated to knitting "aps" and I had iPhone envy. 

First I must confess that I am phone challenged. I do not know when this started happening to me but I am suspect that it was one of those gradual afflictions but I hope this is as bad as it's going to get. The good old days when "MaBell" was in charge I would go to THE telephone store, sort of like the DMV or DWP and get a telephone number. Then THE telephone guy would come out and install a plug and I plugged in my telephone and that was the spot I had to go to if I wanted to talk on the telephone.

There was no answering machines if I was lucky enough I would hire and answering service where a real human being would answer my phone when I was not at home. Then I could call the answering service and they would either say no calls for you or here are your messages. Depending how popular or busy I was at the time. The connection was crystal clear no fuss no muss no choices. Today I have my cell phones my cordless phones my digital cable telephone not to talk about how many phone numbers my family has.... then the dropped calls both at home on the "land line" which is not so land because it's with TimeWarner cable and wireless phones. Half the time I lose the person I'm trying to talk to the other half the time the connection is "fuzzy". But this is the way it goes for me and I know I have to get used to it because I do not see this changing anytime soon.

What does all this have to do with my weather report? Well I'm being a recluse and spending time at the house loading up my iPhone with the cool apps and learning how to use it sitting at my desk freezing. I have wool socks on a turtle neck shirt and a wool sweater over that. I took a look at my weather icon that I now have for my iPhone and according to it the temperature outside is 82 degrees. My son walks in and takes a look at me as I'm "freezing" at my desk and asks if I'm sick? Mom do you realize it's hot outside? No I don't realize it's hot outside because I'm inside and I can not go outside right now because I must add another app to my iPhone.

I don't want to get up and open windows and let the warm air in because I'm busy reading about my new iPhone and typing things and sending messages and making phone calls and checking and editing my contacts right now. No manual to read, this phone loaded with bells and whistles is on a "need to know" system, the information of how to's are sort of like a scavenger hunt. Which button turns the darn thing off is the first challenge then how to install this and that, how to "sync" your phone numbers etc. it's all like somebody hands you this little computer and no manuals to it and you go ahead and try and figure it out.

 You see I live in an older Spanish style house and it cools off in the cold night and then holds the temperature. The walls are thick and when it heats up in the summer it's like an oven and in the winter it holds the cold. 

Well thank you for letting me vent about my freezing toes and my new iPhone.


Monday, February 23, 2009

Back from Madrona and recovered.





These short trips are exhausting! Especially when there is knitting involved. Sleeping is always a bit tricky at a strange hotel with a roommate, hoping that I would not disturb her and that she will not disturb me. We had our moments, one night I was over tired and restless and the next night she was restless and uncomfortable..... so sleep was not as restful as I needed or would have liked. Add to it the stimulation of all that was going on, the colors the textures the new friends, visiting with old friends....... by the time I got home I was exhausted. Then my DH was sick and needless to say he was not a happy camper nor was I......actually DH was acting like a wounded bear and I as nurse "Ratched" from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". This is the reason women have the babies, men just do not tolerate pain and discomfort well.... I'll just leave it at that.

My new best friend Tina from Blue Moon Fiber Arts (home of the fabulous sock yarn "socks that rock") wrote a really nice review about her favorite things @ Madrona. Tina also has some nice pictures so take a look. Tina is one of the organizers for the upcoming "Sock Summit". They recently posted the list of teachers and it's impressive!


Dyeing Yarn with Traditional Japanese Dyes......Kakishibu is the traditional Japanese dye made from the fermented juice of persimmons. This was the first class I took but I did not realize the colors were very limited mostly browns sort of cafe latte colors and no wool could be used. Very interesting and Chris Conrad was very nice and had done a great deal of preparation. I don't think I will be doing much of this but it was interesting.

The ArtFelt booth is always a lot of fun.... I love this stuff... the "paper" is a bit expensive but so is everything else involved with this hobby.
The "Yarn Harlot" Stephanie Pearl-McPhee who is always great fun to listen to was one of the speakers.
My friend Kay and her sister, cute and as sweet as can be.


The pear martini was delicious! My sox I was knitting may not be perfect but I started from the toe up so hopefully nobody will see the mistakes I've made.

Leslie great new knitting friend.

Kathy enjoying her beverage before the show.


Cat Bordhi and her innovative designs.
Sally Melville, cute and elegant and a great teacher.


Vivian Hoxbro and her colorful an interesting designs.


The wonderfully colorful and talented Lucy Neatby
Janet from Acorn Street Shop in Seattle.