Looking into the Past

With researching my hubby's ancestors, as well as mine, it can feel a little eerie sometimes reading about these other people's lives that somehow merged into becoming part of ours; these people that I've never known and have such different lifestyles and upbringings from mine have helped shaped who I am today. It seems like a huge effort on their part to have worked hard, suffered and enjoyed the events of their lives so that I could be a part of this world as well. It does put a larger perspective on things and make me realize that it's not just about me, never has been and never will be. I'm a part of the ongoing process of keeping life going, learning and enriching my life to benefit someone down the road, someone perhaps not even born yet. I need to help bring that past to the present and to the future, contribute as much as I can, however I can, to help this process in the best way I can. Learning about the past and present is so very critical to the future, so important for people to know and understand in how they came to be what they are. Looking at Grace's grave the other day, it struck me how much her life means to me, how her efforts gave me my hubby, and consequently my two beautiful kids. I wonder if she ever thought of that, ever thought that what she was doing and the kids she was raising would have such a profound effect on someone like me. Here's to Grace and her wonderful person, who she was and what she did for me. 

New skill coming up

So, I've signed up for a spinning class; spinning with a drop spindle that is. It's an inexpensive way to learn how to spin yarn without having to invest several hundred dollars in a spinning wheel. 

There are so many beautiful colors of roving to buy at local shops and on-line at sites such as Etsy; I can't wait to be able to buy some and be able to spin it. There are a few alpaca farms local to Portland, am looking forward to visiting some this spring and being able to buy some of their fluff. My hubby has talked for years about having an alpaca farm and, believe it or not, I used to laugh at him because I thought it was a silly idea. Lo and behold, he's the one laughing at me! Sometime in our future we will buy a house with a little property so we can raise an alpaca or two, plus have plenty of room for our kitties to run around. In the meantime I can visit someone else's farm, or even buy some yet-to-be sheared alpaca fluff through Etsy; lots of fun possibilities. I have to wait two weeks for the spinning class, it is so far taking forever to get here. Hmm...... then there's weaving too. 

In search of the McGregors

Whew, looking through old census records for tidbits of information that may or may not be accurate is time consuming work. I started a family tree for my husband's mom's family and it's very slow going. Not alot is known about the family so trying to piece together the little info we have is a challenge. The challenge is also a lot of fun, and very addicting. Finding something new to add to the tree is very exciting. Only a few generations back from my mother-in-law is a father who was born in Scotland. That will lead to new adventures, I can imagine. 

The Pink Panther strikes again

While searching on Etsy, I came across a cool artist (TinyArk) who makes buttons out of polymer clay. The buttons are adorable and have lots of detail in them. What do ya know... she makes custom buttons. Whooo Hooo! I zipped her a convo to see if she'd make some Pink Panther buttons (what could be cooler?) and she had them done and posted in a matter of hours. They are the cutest thing I've seen-such great detail and all colorful. Well now, the possibilities are endless and only limited by my imagination. I can't wait to think up something more for her to create. Here's a picture of a  stitch marker I got from another artist on etsy.

Saturday Happenings

I finally busted out my gift card to the local yarn store yesterday and splurged on several skeins of yarn. I had ignored it since Christmas but couldn't wait any longer. I actually was trying to save it to take a spinning class, but since I have to be careful about spending these days I didn't want to start something new and then want to get a spinning wheel. I'm working on the Envelope purse so got some wonderful pink/purple Noro yarn to finish it up. Can't wait to felt it and see how it comes out. 

I spent the day in Corvallis visiting my dad and helping him get some chores done. It was a nice sunny day and it felt good to help him catch up on stuff again. Melvin went down with me and I much enjoyed spending time with him again, even though he was asleep a good part of the day (having got in at about 5:00am this morning, he didn't get much sleep before we left for Corvallis). Never the less it was good to see him again. I'm grateful he still is willing to spend time with his ol' mom. 

No such luck

I thought I had a good chance at solving my soon-to-be jobless status by applying for an opening in the office; it wasn't to be. I'm fast learning that I'm having to put spending and decision on hold. I don't know exactly when my job will be over so it's hard to know what to expect. In the meantime, I keep knitting to de-stress; luckily I have some stash to work from. I figure the money I'm saving from a chai every day will allow me to get a new hank of yarn every now and then.