Sometimes - It's a Wheel ....

Sometimes - It's a Wheel .... Sometimes spinning is all about production.

I will admit to loving the meditative state spinning provides: it is relaxing & stress reducing! I feel my blood pressure lower and the endorphins surging! I will also admit that sometimes I need some 'big honkin' skeins' to get me through a project.

Enter: The Wheel!

I feel that the added bonus of wheel spinning is the caloric burn. How can one NOT consider it exercise when hands, arms, feet & legs are all in sync in a woolen dance??... (That is a discussion for another day.)

Over the next week, I will be bopping here & there. BloG posts might suffer, but I do look forward to see how much I can do/create in set period of time!

This is what I have been doing over the last 2 weeks .... instead of "WhEEEE" - today it is "WHEEEEEL"! Comments - Please!
Remember: Imaginations create ... those that don't - copy.

Sometimes - It's a Spindle ....

Sometimes - It's a Spindle ....

Sometimes that is *the only thing* your mind & body can think about. Weird, I know.

I haven't been in the knitting frame of mind of late. Again, weird. Over the last several weeks, with Motu being ill, I had taken to bring a spindle with me outside when it was her potty time. It allowed me several very precious moments of creation & sanity.

While Motu was still with us, DH & I had been discussing the importance of 'moments'. Each one is so valuable - but most are dismissed without much thought or consideration. While seemingly important in bunches ... the single moment seems to have no purpose no rationale to our industrious minds. It's life span is brief ... but then again, so are ours.

Appreciating moments is work ... hard work. But, imagine all that we can do in a life time of moments! Imagine all that we can appreciate too.

While I freely admit to being a Wheel Girl - moments sometimes are best served by a spindle! Check out my Grenadilla wood Bossie!

And then again, sometimes our spindle-moments are best served when passed on to those in need .... if you have extra yarns you don't want - maybe you could take a moment and pass them on to Heavenly Angels in Need I did!

Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

Yesterday, September 20, 2007 .... My Motu crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

My heart is broken. There is a huge sadness & emptiness that I am sure will diminish in time - but today, I am numb.

We shared our lives with her for over 12 years. To NOT see her this morning, waiting for her breakfast was nothing short of strange.

I miss you, Mo .... I love you too. And thank you for loving me ....

Looky what I did while listening to Gregorian Chants by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos .....They are called Move Heaven & Earth! Inspirations are boundless!

Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

I debated on whether I should write about the fact that my Motu's last days of her journey on this planet are coming to an end. It is a sad reality that pet moms & dads face on a daily basis.

My friends have spread so much love around her - that I know her *next* journey will be made easy & comfortable. Thank you, dear friends.

But, nervous energy is abundant! It is actually a good thing to get so much done. Random spindles with fiber softly caressing their shafts - which had been long forgotten - have been resurrected: spun & plied!

Spindle spinning is perfect where mobility is a priority. If you are new to Spindles - or would just like to gain some insight - try NANnette's Spindler's List! It is a chock full, jammed packed list with SO MUCH info - your head will literally SPIN!

One of the little doo-dads I obtained when I first started spindling was a wee niddy-noddy. PERFECT for those full spindles I dare say!

This weekend - I also managed to finish my 'Classic T-Top' Sweater for charity. I want to mail my box to the reservation in a month ... hopefully, I will be able to put one or 2 more things inside!

Time to go hug Motu .... and Diesel & Kiwi. In times like these - hugs are even better than knitting or spinning! Remember: Imaginations create ... those that don't - copy.

Hearts are broken and enlightened everyday. Sometimes people break hearts - sometimes it is disasters. While neither situation is good - it is 'people' who can make things better.

I am blessed by many things. 'People' is one of them. Sometimes disasters occur & our 'people' can't save us from them.

My fiber artist friend, Ann, is incredible. She teaches. She creates. She spins. She weaves. A little known fact about FAF Ann: she rehabilitates squirrels.

Ann has 'people' too. Chris, Mike & Jessica Beatty run the Florida Wild Mammal Association. To rescue & assist animals like squirrels, foxes, raccoons - it all seems quite exotic to me. They, on the other hand, have made it their life work.

Unfortunately, their hearts broke when disaster struck in the form of a Fire. While their 'people' couldn't prevent the fire ... their 'people' are stepping up to the plate to help them.

Maybe 'we' could all become their 'people' too. Having 'people' is good ... having even more 'people' is better. Donation addys are listed on their website. Whether if you have $2 or $20 to send - I am sure that the Beatty's would be most appreciative.

As FAF Ann pointed out when she first broke the news of this disaster (and I for one will use myself as the example here ...) sometimes I mention stashes or projects lying in wait. Sometimes I mention the need to declutter the studio when it is jammed packed to the windows ... and sometimes I just love the fact that I have 20 - 30 fleeces waiting patiently to just become something. How weird to have absolutely nothing but the clothes on your back? That is food for thought ... but they lost that too. And the animal's food as well.

Please consider becoming one of the Beatty's 'people'. New sock yarn is nice ... but when you have nothing, having new socks is better!
Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

The Motu watch continues. I will admit that her wound is not healing - the location of it could not be worse. I do have hope but I am also realistic. I know she is failing. Last evening, while I had her outside, she noticed that DH was home before I did. She tried SO hard to run to greet him. Of course, since I walk her in a sling under her hind legs - she couldn't run, but - oh - how she wanted to.

I appreciate her zest and her non-complaining. When she tries to lie down, I assist so she will lay on the side that is best for her wound. I don't know what to expect when I take her to the vet this week .... good thoughts & energies appreciated.

Of course ... watching Motu means more knitting time. I finished one half of the Classic T-Top Sweater. The other half has already been started .... woo-whoo! I love the fact that someone in need will wear it this coming winter. Three cheers for wool!

Lucky for me today is gray & misty. A perfect day to snuggle with dogs & knit!
Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

For those of you on the "Motu" watch ... she is doing as well as can be expected. (For those of you new to "Motu" - she is my elder dog - the Grand Dame of the canine world in which I live.)

Her leg sore is still ever present. Part of that is due to it's location (she always lies on it & uses that particular portion of her leg to move, get up and /or walk. ) Her age is also making the healing process take that much longer. Suffice to say ... I have probably used at least 5 miles of tape & gauze.... it is a good thing those First Aid classes have paid off.

My Motu now wears a shoe on her paw constantly. While offering protection from the constant friction of walking & moving - it also provides a safe haven for her bandage. My Grand Dame likes to rip off her tape & gauze. This is no easy feat - although she does make quick work of it. Since the sore does need to breathe on occasion ... I have taken to putting a food container on her leg as a wee bit of protection.

It has helped a bit ... but just like a child, supervision is the key! So ... while I sit & knit on my latest charity endeavor ... The Classic T-Top Sweater - I will be knitting with one eye on my Motu.

(To prove she is a Grand Dame - don't think she will put on a 'lamp shade' without a fight! She is still feisty and - if it isn't a crown - she isn't wearing it!!)

Off I go! I must make sure her bandage is still in one piece. Send healing thoughts her way - or maybe just some bandages!
Remember: Imaginations create ... those that don't - copy.

Labor Day in the US has come & gone. To me, the unofficial start of Fall has begun. Soon, sweater weather will be beating upon my door and I, for one, will celebrate its arrival. Cooler temperatures mean more knitting, spinning, dyEing & carding!!

Three day weekends mean there is more time to be spent with folks you love. It also means that there are a few extra moments to reflect & take stock of current events, both in *the* world & in *your* world. I did both.

The internet has made me some wonderful, cherished friends. Friends so treasured, I would be lost without them. You all know who you are ... thanks for being there and picking up my head when I feel defeated & my heart when it has been shattered.
I also thank you for the kick in the knickers when my journey leads me astray. You guys are the BESTEST!

Three day weekends are also for creating ... I finished the Cashmere Baby Red Sox!
Cute, or what?

AND .... here is some REALLY great news!! .... I also opened up another Knotty Sheep! Of course ... it will be stocked with all sorts of fun stuff! What do you think of an Apricot Mango Margarita?? to kick off the Grand Opening??? WhEEEEEE .... Remember: Imaginations create ... those that don't - copy.