Monthly Archives: January 2012

Looking at the Open Door

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I’m ready to start a new life. Not really a new, new life. Just a new one. While I know that this is somewhat confusing to all of you, I know exactly what I’m talking about. I am ready to stop revisiting the old stuff. I’m ready to forgive and forget and move on. I want to be surrounded in positive, healthy and forward-looking.

What’s done is done. My old life is old. It will never be the same again. I can’t go back there. My life has been forever changed by this divorce and everything that I believed to be true was proved false by a cheating (now ex-) husband. But he didn’t just lie to me and our kids; he lied to himself and he has to live with that for the rest of his life. I can forgive him and move on knowing that I did everything I could to make our marriage work. I did everything I could to make the process of separating and divorcing be fair and kind. I hoped to be able to have a friendship (of sorts) because we will forever be connected by our children. He doesn’t know how to play fair and won’t take responsibility for his behavior then or now and, again, he will have to live with the consequences of his choices.

I am working to be forward thinking. Today. Tomorrow. And for each day thereafter. I am so fortunate to have a roof over my head and food in my belly. I have three healthy kids and two darling puppies, wonderful siblings, friends, and a man who loves me. I’m counting my blessings even as my ex is trying to undermine my positive attitude. He sucked me back into his whirling dervish tornado of abuse and sick thinking for a brief time today and I allowed it. But I’m back on track tonight and next time (if there is one) I will do even better at keeping my pledge.

I have a good feeling about 2012! I’ve turned around and I’m looking at the open door!

Gone knitting (after a bit of sleep!)

“Au Revior” Allergies

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Yucky Dust Mites

Anybody who knows me knows that I have this annoying (yes, it’s even annoying to me!) allergic cough. I’ve had it for years. YEARS! I’ve done everything known to man – x-rays of my sinuses, allergy shots, doctor visits galore – and all with no result … well, no positive result, anyway!

I just read a great article in Natural Home and Garden Magazine about getting rid of allergens in your house. I thought I should share them with you here!

1) We track in most chemicals on our feet and our fur-family drag in yucky stuff on their little feet. With that in mind, vacuum frequently (um, I’m making no promises on this one) with your windows open while you vacuum and for 30 minutes after. If you have pets or carpets, this is especially important: Use a HEPA vacuum. There are also HEPA air cleaners and if your budget allows, this is recommended. The best ones have carbon for chemical filtering. You might also consider leaving your shoes at the door and wiping your pet’s feet every time you go into your home.

2) Moisture makes your home a really lovely place to live for mold and other allergens. Run exhaust fans when cooking or bathing (and for 30 minutes after bathing) to get all the extra moisture out of the air. It’s really important that your exhaust fans vent to the outside … otherwise your air is recirculating. If it’s not humid and you can open your windows, do so!

Also, check outside drainage – water should be directed away from foundations – and when you have carpets cleaned, use chemical-free cleaning methods that require the least water.  Only clean carpets when outside air is dry and you can open windows. (Or get rid of your carpets … hard surface floors are nearly a prescription “cure” for allergies!)

3) Dust mites are horrible creatures. Before you make your bed, pull back the covers and air the bedding. Wash sheets weekly in hot water. New sheets and bedding are coming out that are made with chemical-free, organic wool which is naturally mite-resistant. use mattress and pillow covers woven to at least 4.91 microns. Make sure your bedding is free of PVC and antimicrobial, stain- or wrinkle-resistant treatments.

4) If you have seasonal pollen allergies, sorry, you can’t do this next tip – open your windows! Fresh air and sunlight are free remedies for particulates, mites, moisture and chemicals. For faster action, turn on exhaust fans (exhausted outside of course) at the same time.

Thanks to Mary Cordaro Inc who wrote this article.

 

 

New Year, New Promise

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I love being the Queen Bee, don’t get me wrong. Unless this business picks up really quickly and I find a way to be self-supporting lickety split, I need another job that will provide me with income and benefits. In today’s world, people need these things!

I am going to do my best to look forward and only forward. Positive thoughts will lead me to where I need to be. I will make my best effort to get myself out there and meet new people and work to find a new opportunity for me.

2012 is going to be a great year for this Queen Bee – freedom from worry, prosperity, fulfilling work for a fair salary.

Gone knitting.

Another Tumble

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I took another tumble today … literally … silly old leg fell asleep while sitting at my desk chair and when I stood up to walk over to the other side of the Atelier, crash … landed on my left knee. A little ice and a little levity and I was back up-and-at-em! A good day.

My student has learned to cast on, knit and cast off. She also learned how to weave in the ends. She did a great job with her first scarf. Part of her success is that she kept frogging it when she realized that she’d made a mistake. I love teaching. Next week she’ll learn purl. Then we’ll follow a pattern!

Tonight was my new knitting group. A great group of women … just what I was looking for. Social and inclusive and my age! This weekend is Orlando’s “Distaff Day” and I’ve volunteered to demonstrate making yarn from old t-shirts. I’ve done it once. That makes me a pro! (hahaha!)

Big Feet … Big ?

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Slippers socks! Duh!

Before ... ginormous!

I had a pattern ages ago for knitted and felted slippers. I’d made myself and N. each a pair – and I think N. may have gotten more than one pair. I made a pair for N’s youngest one year for Christmas. They’re great! Natural fiber (wool) wicks away sweat but keep feet really warm, too.

After ... drying!

I had a couple of pairs that I had not given to anybody because I had some extra wool sitting around and it’s an easy thing to make and since my pattern uses doubled worsted-weight wool and it’s on pretty big needles so they knit up really quickly. When I opened my Etsy shop, I put the felted slippers (sized to fit me … and, as it turns out, the most popular women’s size) up for sale on my shop. I learned a lesson, too!

I listed two pairs (one blue, one pink) in the same listing but as two items for sale (two pairs of felted slippers). And, miracle of miracles, they’ve both sold … but not without a “problem” … The first person to order bought the blue pair (with green toes) thus leaving the pink pair for the second buyer – who didn’t want pink! Fortunately, the second buyer was happy with a certificate that I printed up to give to her “giftee” and I’ve just knit a custom pair of felted slippers for her. I re-listed the pink slippers and, wonderful news, they’ve sold, too! I guess they’re priced right and they do, indeed, make a great gift!

Today I’m felting the ginormous socks and shaping them. They’ll take a day or two to dry completely so that I can package them and get them in the mail. Whoopee! Felting is always a bit of a science experiment and one that I don’t always enjoy but my head is in the right place and it’s going to be a good day for felting!

But for now, I have to sign off. We have a lunch date and I have errands to run …

Gone running (but not the jogging type! LOL!)