Purls and Lace

1/365 GIST (Grace in Small Things)

2009-11-11T01:03:00.000-08:00

Reconnecting with old friends
my family
having a job in this economy
bubblegum
anything pink

Thursday Thirteen, Thoughts on Thursday, Whatever, It's Thursday!

2009-11-05T06:24:00.000-08:00

I like Thursdays. I always have. It's the day before Friday, which is the last workday of the week. It's the day before payday. It's way past Monday. There are just alot of good reasons to like Thursdays! So, because I've been a good girl, and worked way more than my normal hours so far this week, I am taking today comp time! Another great reason to like Thursday! So, here I sit, on my day off, at 6:28 in the morning! WTF?! I'm wide awake! I could be sleeping in, but no, I'm wide awake.

So what am I going to do with my Thursday. I always have these plans in my head for the things I want to accomplish on the weekends, or my days off. Somehow they never really do work out, and then I get upset cuz I didn't accomplish what I wanted to do. For example, for the last two years, painting the hall bathroom has been on my "accomplish" list. You know, it's still that light blue it was two years ago. Never do manage to get that one done. So, today, I'm not making an accomplish list. I would like to get some weaving done, and maybe make a cake, but if I lay around all day doing nothing that's okay. I think I can live with it. So have a happy Thursday everyone!

A Tea Cozy, my kingdom for a Tea Cozy

2009-11-03T22:19:00.000-08:00

I want to make a tea cozy for my mother-in-law. And I've searched and searched for a simple pretty tea cozy, but haven't been able to find one that I think she would really like. There are so many out there, but I'm none of them are really jumping out at me. I've search Ravelry, Knitting Pattern Central, and almost every page that Google came up with, and I still can't seem to find one I like. In the process, I've found a lot of patterns for sale which are just copies of older patterns. So, that brings the question, is it legal to sell something that is now in public domain? Or moral? If I had a pattern that was in public domain, I would offer it to anyone who wanted it. Am I that greedy that I sell a scanned copy of a public domain pattern for 8 or 9 dollars? Just doesn't seem right to me. So, I keep looking.

It's been a long day, started a conference call at 6:00 this morning, it ended at 1:30 this afternoon. And then I get to actually do my job after that! Yeah! Oh, and I get to do this all over again tomorrow! Good thing I really do like my job!

Again, this is another short post, but hey, it's a post!

Day Two of NaBloPoMo!

2009-11-02T18:34:00.000-08:00

And I've already screwed up!!! I forgot to post yesterday. Kept meaning to but forgot. Oh, well, upward and onward...

I just got some news from my son, who is in the Navy. It looks like he will not be finishing PMT school, so he will be going to Fleet Marine Training for Hospital Corpsmen. I think I knew this was coming, but I hoped he would like PMT school. I'm afraid that the next step after that is deployment with the Marines. Not a happy Momma, but this is his life, and his decision to make.

I finished the first scarf, with BriarRose Grace, with my Knitter's Loom, and am very pleased with the results. Pictures to come later. I have already warped the loom and started a new scarf! I'm making it out of Rowan Tapestry, and hindsight being 20/20, I won't be using this yarn again to weave with. It is just to fuzzy and sticks to itself, and it's taking much longer to weave because of this. But it is turning out very pretty. I already have plans for the third scarf... On a weaving frenzy!

I'm not sure this NaBloPoMo is a good thing or a bad thing. I've rushed to get this posted before the end of the day, and because of that, I haven't taken the time to really think out my post. So, it's short, with no pictures. But I'm going to hang in there (it's only been two days!) and see how it all works out. Later days, kiddos!

Been a Long time, Been Lonely, Lonely, Long Time.....

2009-10-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

I know it's been years since I posted on this blog, and I really do want to get back into it, since there are just so many new and wonderful things I am learning to do and want to be able to share with others. And yet, there are so many ways to do it. Do I do it here, do I do it on Twitter, do I do it on Facebook, do I do it on Ravelry? Or do I just get so overwhelmed with all of my options, that I just don't do it? The last has been my option. I wish I had a program where I could just post on one spot and it automatically feed to all the other spots! I bet there is something out there that will do this, but I've yet to find it. So, let's just get started in one place, and make that one a habit. So, I will go with the blog, which really is where I started, and should continue.

Lessons learned!

I have two new "hobbies"! Like I don't really have enough to do, but I couldn't resist, absolutely could not resist. The first new thing is weaving! I've always wanted to learn weaving, but could not really justify the cost of a loom, and where I would put it, but with all the lovely scarves being woven out there in blog land, I broke down. I actually looked for a loom on craigslist, and found one advertised for $100. I could justify that! So, went and looked and ended up being given the loom for free! It's a 4 Harness Floor Loom.

So, it is a bit intimidating, and I really just wanted a small table loom to try it out to see if I like it, so, along comes birthday monies! Gotta love birthdays! And we now have a Knitter's Loom!

The other hobbie is quilting. I've always loved quilts so after, again, see so many beautiful quilts out it blog land, I pulled out my sewing machine, which by the way, is brand new, and been sitting in the closet for a year! And viola! quilting!

So, that's a start!

The 4th of July

2008-07-02T16:50:00.000-07:00

I wrote this in 2002, still applies today:

In April 1975, I lived on Clark Air Force Base, at Angeles City, Philippines. I was 19 years old. One night I received a call from the Catholic Chaplin asking that I come to the church. When I arrived there were at least 30 or 40 other people gathered in the chapel. We were told that in 20 minutes a plane from Vietnam was going to land at Clark. It's purpose was to airlift babies and children out of Vietnam. It was necessary to establish a temporary housing facility for these children on their way to the United States. Volunteers were needed to take care of these children during their stay at Clark.

We boarded buses which drove us out on the tarmac of the airfield. A large C5 was sitting on the tarmac with it's doors open. We filed off the bus and climbed up the stairs to the plane. I can't even describe the emotions going through me as I stepped into the plane, and saw what seemed like hundreds (though I know it was less) of children sitting on the floor of the plane. No seats, or anything else that I can remember just children. As we filed through the plane, we were each handed two children, and we disembarked to get back on the buses. We rode back to the base gymnasium where it had been converted. Through out the gym there were mattresses laid out, and we each were assigned a mattress. As I walked to the area assigned to me, a young airmen with two infants in his arm came up to me. He was obviously at a loss with what to do with an infant. I had two toddlers. Without even exchanging words we switched children. We stayed with the children, bathing them, washing them with Quell shampoo to de-lice them, feeding them, playing with them and sleeping with them. I don't remember, but I think we worked in 12 to 14 hour shifts. I remember going home a couple of times during the next week, to take a shower (in Quell so that I wouldn't get lice myself) and then going back to start over again. Somewhere, I have one picture of me with a little boy I took care of. If I find it I will post it.

One of the last groups of children I took care of were actually I think from Cambodia. This last group were obviously children who had been abandoned. From their clothing and attitudes it seemed obvious to me that they had been living on the streets alone. With the older children we would take them in buses to the mess hall to feed them. We would file in with our charges and sit at the tables, and other volunteers would bring trays of food to the tables. This last group I had literally pounced on the food, eating as fast as they could, stuffing the food into every pocket, in their shirts and pants, and then when they couldn't eat anymore, stuffing their little cheeks to hold for later. I remember trying to put the food back on the trays, telling them over and over that there would be more. It was obvious from the looks on their faces, and the food in their clothes and cheeks that in their lives, this had not been the case. It was months, maybe even years before I could sleep without that image in my mind.

I have lived in several interesting places in my life, and the one thing I have learned is that freedom is not a worldwide notion. Too many of us take our freedom for granted. In my mind, unlike what the constitution says freedom is not a "right", it is a privilege. It is something we must earn. We earn it every day with the lives of our soldiers who are out fighting for this privilege. You may not agree with what ever political action is going on in the world, but we still must thank every soldier who has ever gone to fight for this country and our privileges. Every soldier from those who fought in the War of Independence, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Gulf War and now the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Those who go out and are stationed at every base throughout the world, and every embassy throughout the world. As I celebrate the 4th of July this weekend, I will be silently thanking all of them for giving us and maintaining our freedom.

Heredity bites me in the .......

2008-06-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know that I have a really weird strange sense of humor, and it has become more and more apparent as my children grow up that they have inherited that trait.

This is the shopping list my oldest boy left

me the other night....

Been a Long Time, been a long time, a lonely, lonely time....

2008-06-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

It seems like forever since I last posted, been through a lot of personal turmoil, the most tragic being the passing of my brother. He was a very young 53 years old. I miss him terribly. This drawing was done by his wife's sister. I love this drawing.

It's hard to lose someone so young, and it sure makes you question your own mortality. One of the things I did come to realize with his passing was that I do not have one picture of him and me together as adults. In fact, I don't believe that I have any pictures of me with my own family since I was about 12 years old. Pretty odd, or rather telling depending on how you look at it.

I have been keeping myself busy as I go through this grieving by knitting. I completed three Baby Surprise Sweaters for my two new nieces and one new nephew. Excuse the pictures taken in the car on the way to Father's Day, but I knew it I didn't take the pictures then I wouldn't get them taken at all.

Friday Fill-Ins

2008-06-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

1. Idle hands are the bane of my existence. The only time my hands are idle is when I am sleeping..
2. I love to be alone in the shower.
3. My favorite time of the day is when everyone else is sound asleep.
4. The last tea I drank was Saturday.
5. I like to wear dresses in the Summer.
6. My mother always said don't ever write anything that you would not want to see in the newspaper.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to starting the Tempting Sweater, tomorrow my plans include going to the new Farmer's Market and clean house, and Sunday, I want to see Shell for a Girls Night Out.!

Stolen Meme......

2008-06-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

1. Paulette class 4, 2. coffee and chocolate mousse cake, 3. JFK Aircraft Carrier, Boston Harbor, 4. Sunny Side Up, 5. Mick Vamp Bite1R, 6. Long Island iced tea, 7. OIA, handmade houses, 8. cheesecake for Lianna!, 9. happy happy..., 10. Tropical bench, 11. Madeline, The Cupid Pixie!, 12. dancer

The concept:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name

Wee Tiny Sock Swap

2008-03-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

I absolutely loved this swap. It only took about 1 1/2 hours to complete the sock. Did it while I watched "Alien", one of my favorite sci-fi movies. I got my swap on Friday, but didn't start until last night, and finished last night. It turned out so cute.

My Celebrity Look Alikes

2008-02-27T08:27:00.000-08:00

My Lame Excuse for not Posting.....

2007-12-05T11:06:00.001-08:00

Okay, so I really don't have a good excuse, but that he has come to live with me!

Isn't he adorable?

I do have some knitting to show, here is another BSJ (I just love this pattern).

I also am knitting a scarf out of some GORGEOUS Karabella Empire Silk I just got from Char off of DeStash. Pictures later after the sun comes out. Also, have finished a Palindrome Scarf out of SWS. Again, pictures later.

Strangely True!

2007-09-14T22:50:00.001-07:00

You're Anne of Green Gables!

by L.M. Montgomery

Bright, chipper, vivid, but with the emotional fortitude of cottage
cheese, you make quite an impression on everyone you meet. You're impulsive, rash,
honest, and probably don't have a great relationship with your parents. People hurt
your feelings constantly, but your brazen honestly doesn't exactly treat others with
kid gloves. Ultimately, though, you win the hearts and minds of everyone that matters.
You spell your name with an E and you want everyone to know about it.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

A quick update....

2007-08-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have been around, just really tied up lately... First off, word of advice, don't commit to deadlines if you are in the middle of a remodel. Happy to say that the remodel is almost over. Saturday, the windows go in, and then the final touches on the granite, the next week. Here's what it looked like before:

and here's the after:

My sockapoolza socks should be completed tonight, and mailed tomorrow, with a few extra goodies to make up for the lateness. Oh a definite shout out to my pal who sent me the most beautiful pink pomatomus socks. Pictures to come later.

Encyclopedia of Me Meme - A

2007-08-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

A is for Adak, Alaska. I lived there in the early sixties for three years. It was quite an interesting place for a child. Here's a picture of the school I went to.

When in Rome.....

2007-07-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

Of course, the summer is the time for vacations, some of us take them, some of us don't. I haven't had a vacation in since August of 2002. Calling on Kahlo is having a unique little contest in regards to vacations, and their relative wackiness.

Vacations aren't quite the picture perfect times for us. I think every major vacation we have taken, there has been some strange and/or weird aspect to it. My last vacation was a 10-day cruise to Alaska. I got kicked off the cruise in Ketchikan. Long story, a hospitalization was involved, however, that is not my wackiest vacation story.

A around 11 years ago, I flew to Kourou, Fr. Guiana to meet my husband who was working at the launch base. I spent a week in the middle of the jungle and absolutely loved it. It reminded me of home, which to me is Guam. One day we took a trip up into the hills to a Hmong village, which had been transplanted from Vietnam to Fr. Guiana by the French at the end of the war. On the way up, we stopped at a lovely roadside restaurant. There was a six or seven foot long snake skin on one wall, and an adorable, al beit, dirty little monkey jumping from table to table.

Now you must remember that this is in the Amazon jungle, and the natives have some very eclectic taste in food. Jungle food with a french twist. We all ordered and my husband and his friend both ordered Pac or Paca. I order Coq a Vin, since I was not nearly as adventurous as my husband. Our meal was served, and the Paca was served as a type of stew. As our friend was eating, he suddenly turned the most awful shade of green. I asked him what was wrong, and he pointed to his plate. He has pulled out a piece of buckshot from his stew. Again, as we are sitting at an open-air restaurant on the side of the road, in the middle of the Amazon, where every one around us was native or French, we were quite surprised when out of nowhere comes the comment: "What? You think the rats just walk up to the back step and keel over?" in the most American mid-western accent you can imagine. I never laughed so hard in my life. However, I think the last laugh was on me, as I was the only one who became deathly ill from eating chicken at the little roadside restaurant.

Just goes to show you, when in Rome.....

Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream dream

2007-06-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely in love with this pattern. It looks like the Pomatomus socks to get in some practice on the pattern.

Actual Pictures.....

2007-06-20T17:56:00.001-07:00

So here are some pics of items 1 through 3 of the last post:

The log cabin blanket out of Caron's Simply Soft.

My chevron scarf, which ended up about 86 inches.

My monkey socks which I just absolutely love!

And here's a shot of a baby blanket I am making out of Paton's SWS which is a dream to work with... my own pattern based on the multidirectional scarf pattern that floats around the internet.

I am such a Lemming.....

2007-05-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

I really have been knitting. But I have just now gotten back my camera from the elves in this house who think it belongs to them. Hopefully, later today the sun will come out, and I can take some pics. But this is what I have been working on..

1. A log cabin blanket for a baby out of Caron's Simply Soft. Completed.
2. A pair of monkey socks out of Regia Color. Completed.
3. A Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts out of STR Colorways of Fairgrounds and Foofaraw. Maybe halfway done, maybe not... it's one of those knit until you can't f@#!ing stand it anymore projects.
4. Circle of Friends Garter-Stitch Blanket from Last Minute Knitted Gifts out of Caron's Simply Soft in blues. Halted. Ran out of one of the colors and I haven't been able to find the same color anywhere. Damn.
5. I joined Sockapalooza 4 and am trying out different sock patterns for my partner. I think I'm going to use this one.
6. Designing a baby dress for a friends' 5 month old baby sister, who was extremely patient while we measured her.

Oh, and one more thing. When a pattern says do dec. row. then repeat dec. row every 8th row twice more. Do you count the 1st dec. row as row 1 or the row after the 1st dec. row as row 1?

Kazim Ali: Poet, Performer, Teacher, Yogi

2007-04-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

Profiling at least, bigotry at best....

Kazim Ali: Poet, Performer, Teacher, Yogi

Actual Knitting Content

2007-04-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

So, I figured that I should at least have some knitting on this site. Below is the Horshoe Cable lapghan I knit for my friend at work. I actually loved knitting this, and am thinking of doing it again, much larger for my home.

Below is a picture of my new office mate, Geneva. She loves to give out advice everday....

I also finished a log cabin baby afghan for a friend, whose baby passed on at two weeks. I was in a hurry to get her the blanket so I never did get pictures. I am currently working on another log cabin in pastels for a little girl who will be born sometime in August.

What the F......

2007-04-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

I don't know how to knit and I'm colorblind, but I made this.....

A New Dyson in Your Future?

2007-03-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like a chance to win a Dyson vaccuum.

Thursday Thirteen

2007-02-22T11:00:00.000-08:00

Thirteen More Things about Paulette

1. I consider every day a learning experience, for example, today I learned where to look on my car to find out if it has Federal emissions or California emissions.

2. My best friend is only 23, the same age as my oldest child.

3. Every Monday I bring in fresh flowers for my office

4. I was almost in the movie Apocalypse Now.

5. I won tickets to see the Beatles on their last tour of America and my mother wouldn't let me go.

6. I love old musicals.

7. I am NOT a morning person.

8. According to my office mate I am a party all by myself.

9. I have three children, two boys and a girl.

10. I have three cats, a bird, and a turtle.

11. I often threaten to shave my head. It would be so much easier!

12. I will do anything for the people I love.
13. I only weighed 2 lbs 12 ounces when I was born

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