last few weeks

Let me tell you about our last few weeks….. You might want to get a cup of tea, as it is a long story………
This month started well enough……… okay it started well for about 10 hours lol
In this part of the world we are unaccustomed to truly cold weather, we tend to freak out if we have to put coats on…… so when we heard a big storm was coming…. no one was really concerned about it, even though we were seeing what it was doing to the rest of the country. We tend to worry more about the 100 plus degree weather for weeks on end with no rain…….. you know desert and all……. until last week I have never seen snow last more than a day down here …..
So while we bundled up and got the extra heaters out of storage…. never once did I think to store water……..
Coming from Wisconsin I did know enough to try and keep our water from freezing, couldn’t do it….. froze while it was running……… it was coming out like a icy machine…..
Not only did our sink pipes freeze but our toilet lines did too……..we were some of the lucky ones…..our family next door were able to keep some of their water running…… and while our sink drains froze our toilets could still be flushed with buckets of water……..
One of the reasons we couldn’t keep our water from freezing besides the sub zero weather, was the power kept going out….yep we heat with all electric…..couldn’t even keep the gas oven on ( electric ignite )….. for two days between power outages Jorden keep it from going below 44 degrees with his candles… he was making them as fast as we were burning them……he keep a dozen or more candles going….and kept the cats away from them, not even a whisker lit up :d
Brent was also able to get more hay for his dogs and my sisters as well as my aunts dog. With the tarps, warmed up food and defrosted water, they did pretty good. Better than I thought they could be, when this all started we had just had a party at our place, the girls got so excited I thought we were going to lose them that day….Pretty Girl wouldn’t stop walking around for hours until her hips started to give out, and Coco wouldn’t stop trying to bark and was paying big time with her allergies……I should have realized they were having too much fun to slow down……the weather took care of that lol they are doing good now….
After three days of frozen pipes we saw how that clearly wasn’t the end of our issues…..as our pipes slowly defrosted…..the leaks started to show themselves……..
Over the course of the next few days Brent spent every minute he was awake trying to get us water……he was soaked to the sink more than once in below freezing temps crawling under our trailer in the dark most of the time….. We had a total of 5 breaks….most of them were the pipes split along the length of them……..as I said were are among the lucky ones……not only can Brent do work like that….but he had most of the parts to do it……it was only $30. for a few parts…….. It did cost him in his work hours as the whole town came to a stand still…… however we have water and some people in town still don’t…..everyone else had the same issues going on….the few parts Brent needed to fix things were hard to come by……stores were selling out of everything from water pipes to water…..the only time Brent stopped was to help fix my Dad’s furnace……
After a few days he got water to the yard so we didn’t have to haul it as far…another few days and he got it to the house……just past midnight……he was able to take a long bath and go to bed before Jorden woke him saying something was wrong….that Brent should turn off the water heater….. Brent couldn’t see any reason to do it but did it anyhow……..when we woke up he went out to look, the water pipe to the heater had burst while we were sleeping, we could have not only drained our propane tank but killed the water heater as well….pretty lucky in our eyes……after coming in soaked to the skin again he called his voice mail as he had missed a called while we were asleep…… that’s how he got the news his father passed away….
We are not going back to Wisconsin this time ……..…..and I must say another life and death trip across country didn’t sound like the best of ideas to me…..so we did our own little thing down here in honor…..
there is a good side to this as hard as it is to say, I believe his dad is happier now….he was in bad shape for a number of years
All of this is going down when we discover we are missing the guys “papers” good thing were not headed to Arizona lol …………they may have been tossed with some old mail…….good thing we don’t get a chance to take the trash to the dump yet, even better that it’s been pretty cold so not as many bugs to dig through lol ( knock, knock, knock ) so there is a bit of hope we still have them……. I can tell you for sure they are not in this trailer…..I have gone over every inch of it twice…. it wasn’t easy…..no water for a week can really trash a place……just coming up for air now…..
As of right now we are coming down with a cold… Jorden is right in the middle of his…….but it seems to be moving fast thank goodness for Reiki
Speaking of Reiki before I had Reiki I couldn’t stand the cold at all….. my knees would go out and I would be in such pain it was unbearably from the cold alone ( that’s one of the reason we left Wisconsin ) … while the last week or so was hard it wasn’t undoable I was cold but not in pain….
Going through things like this can make you take a good look at how your spending your time, getting things done……
We have decided to call off all but the next workshop out of Pi Yoga. Life is too short to spend a day or two of recovery after every workshop or share….. We are doing the master workshop as we have people signed up for it already and don’t want to go back on our word…..I would have been very upset if it happened to me lol
We have had a lot of fun working out of Pi, Ellen is great, we now count her as a friend……with these new hours of Brent’s we get about 3 hours of sleep before workshops and shares, that makes our allergies even harder to control, we end up getting very spacey…..than spend the next day or so unable to go about our everyday life as breathing becomes a issue…….it’s not that Pi smells bad, it smells great, it’s just that it smells at all lol we can only take a limited amount of any smell not just nasty smells……oh that would be so nice to only have to stay away from ugly smells……
We will still be doing Reiki workshops and shares but out of places we have more control over the environment and can do later hours…. ( I will not not spend time with Brent every night :D )
We will miss going to Pi….. We wish them well……
All in all I’m really looking forward to Spring :D
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　

Brent's folks

Melva and Neil Szabrowicz 1955

I think we maybe keeping our wash clothes a bit past prime ;) funny part is even though I asked him to please give up on it this time, it made it back into the wash lol

Fun times

We got an another drum to add to our tools :D it feels great

we also picked up this.... talk about sweet, clear quartz and I have had our issues in the past... not this one :D ( both from Pi Yoga )

A friend gifted this to us knowing how much we like Bill Davis's art work

if you ever get to the Las Cruces Farmer's Market stop by his and Kelly's booth. They have wonderful feeling hand made items. I can not help but to smile when I look at or use any of their mugs plates or jewelry.

New pattern book and basic scrubbie pattern

My mom just sent this book over, they're so cute lol I'm going to have to make a few of these :D


I'm a huge fan of scrubbies, acrylic round ones. I just love them, I've got a lot of my family and friends hooked on them. I've made dozens. So how is it when I went to make a few the other day I was at a loss..........I could not recall what my cast on number was, I know I have it written down some where........


I've seen at least half a dozen patterns for close to the same style as I make. Could I find one, nope my Internet hook up was not going to help me out at all :( I couldn't get any of my knitting sites to pop up.
After playing around for a few minutes it came back to me....... but what if next time it doesn't lol


Like I said I've seen more than one pattern out there on these, I started by using one of them ( couldn't find that site either ). I changed it up some to suite me a bit more. I like a larger needle size not only for speed of knitting but the little bit looser stitch is great for scrubbing dishes, acrylic is also great for scrubbing. Redheart works very well. Holds up so long you'll forget how to make the pattern ;) I have some a few years old and still going strong. Just toss in the wash with your towels and your good to go again :D
I'm posting it here so I can find it again lol


About 3 1/2 inches
15 yards worsted weight acrylic yarn
needle size 11 US
yarn needle for seaming

K = knit
k1 f/b = knit the next stitch in the front and back, making new stitch
k2tog = knit two stitches together

Cast on 21 stitches

1) k1, k1 f/b, k16, k2tog, k1
2) k1, k2tog, k16, k1 f/b, k1

repeat these two rows 6 or 7 times, until you are almost out of yarn saving enough to bind off and seam together.


After binding off sew the cast on edge to the bind off edge, tie off with other tail from cast on. This helps keep the scrubbie's shape when you go to pull your yarn tight in the next step.

Weave tail of yarn through the open edge as you would a drawstring and pull tight. Turn right side out and weave through the last edge as before and pull tight. ( Don't worry about any other tails of yarn if using scrap pieces or color changing. They just add a bit of thickness, just tie the new yarn with the old when adding a new color to keep them from loosening up with use. )

Sew through the center a few times to weave in the tail end of the yarn, this adds firmness to the center of the scrubbie adding to it's longevity.

Christmas

We had the best Christmas to date this year :D
For years we have been trying to talk my family into not going all out on gifts. That's just not what it's all about.
This year we got them to agree to only shopping at the dollar store :D one gift from each person to each person. It was the most fun we have every had at Christmas. No one felt bad for over spending or under or whatever lol
We laughed so hard all night long, even the food came out good ;)
Everyone agreed to do the same next year :D
I hope you all had a wonderful time as well :D

Winter Moon

The was just the most wonderful night. We got to meet new people, spend time with new friends and old alike, and this moon :D Sweet

Small gift bag

I've been making more smaller gifts, necklaces, ear rings and the like. So another bag was in order. It is on the small size.
Hangs great on trees :D

Small gift bag

2 by 2 1/2 inches
Size 4 US needles dpns or cable needles
exact gauge is not essential to this project
about 8 yards of 100 % cotton worsted weight
　
k = knit
k1 tbl = knit 1 stitch through the back loop
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
k3tog = knit 3 stitches together
yo = yarn over needle

Cast on 6 stitches, join in the round

1 ) * k1, yo * to last stitch, k1
2 ) * k1, k1 tbl * to last stitch, k1
3 ) * k1, yo * to last stitch, k1
4 ) * k1, k1 tbl * to last stitch, k1

Knit 12 rounds

Yo * k2tog, yo * to last 3 stitches, k3tog

Bind off.

Weave in ends.
　
Make cord as long as you like. Mine is about 9 inches. Made with a crochet chain stitch, using a size G hook.
Weave cord through the yo’s, start with the first yo made. You end up with the k3tog between the cords to add strength.
　

26 years today

Brent and I have had the most wonderful time this weekend celebrating our 26th anniversary.

On Saturday after sleeping 3 hours ( we had just got used to his new later hours well almost ), we had so much fun with our Reiki class. Even though I couldn't keep a straight thought in my head it was great. The energy in that room was out of this world. I don't know if I would have been able to keep my line of thought with a full days sleep ;)

We are meeting the coolest people :D Reiki has been so good to us, and so have our friends and family.

We went from our workshop to an art fair,

Brent said I could get what I wanted. That was this bag it feels great. Kelly makes all of her art work feel wonderful.

Bill Kelly's husband, gave this plate to Brent as an anniversary gift, Kelly gave me a braid of sweet grass :D Truly nice people, they even gave Jorden Reiki :D

From there we went to our favorite restaurant Roberto's, I love their red sauce and...... well all of it lol. I like most Mexican food but I would rather go their then any other place, good thing the guys feel the same way. It was great :D We even we're lucky enough to have a friend come with us :D

All the gifts were just so kind and thoughtful. Thank you all :D

all is well (knock knock knock )

I've have my fair share of crazy days but yesterday is right up there on the top of the list.
We live in a area that doesn't usually get very cold, this last week has been really cold, just like the rest of everywhere lol.
Down here we aren't really equipped to deal with it though. So everyone starts up there fireplaces or whatever they burn things in.
Our trailer has been blanketed in smoke for the better part of a week now. I have blankets over every door and window in this place. We can't use the furnace because it draws in air from outside. For 3 days we couldn't get it up to 60% in here. Thankfully is a bit warmer today and no one is burning.
My husband's work hours just went from working early mornings to evenings and part of the night.
While trying to get used to the new hours I stayed up until 7am yesterday. I was so tired I didn't wake up to take my allergy meds.
By the time I woke up, it was too late. I started to throw up uncontrollably, I got so dehydrated fast.
This has happened before and I came close to not coming out of it by waiting too long to get medical treatment.
After a few hours I decided to go to one of those quick care places. They wouldn't see me. Told me to go to the emergency room. Still unable to keep a sip of water down, we went.

Now while all of this is going down I had gotten a call from my Mom saying my Dad has skin cancer, and she was having problems with her diabetes.
I wanted post for prayers and Reiki to be sent to them on Facebook. My sister who lives in another state didn't know any of this. Not wanting to freak her out by just saying this online. I tried calling all the while throwing up. That's when I realised I didn't have her new phone number as they just moved.
My other sister called first sisters kids and I was called back while at the emergency room, just as they were trying to talk to me.
This is where things got even crazier, at the emergency room I started to get way worse, they have those automatic air fresheners, I am even more allergic to that then wood burning ( whatever our neighbors were burning smelled more like plastic ). I could not stay in the waiting room as I was losing my ability to breath on top of the throwing up. The place was full to boot. I tried going outside but the whole town was covered in that burning smell.
Some how my niece got things mixed up, could have been because there were people crying be side us, or because I had to stop and gage so many times in the short time I was talking to her, but she called my sister in a panic saying our Dad was dying and I had just taken him to the emergency room.
Good thing Mom had gotten a hold of her and was on the other line talking to her right then. I didn't tell my parents we were going to the emergency room first off because that wasn't the original plan. I didn't want to worry them any more, I knew what was wrong. I just couldn't control it this time, I couldn't even get my Reiki to kick in much as I was so dehydrated.
I couldn't keep water down so I was staying that way.
Even with a mask on I was starting to pass out at the hospital. I had to leave. It was the only thing I could do. We got back in the van. The guys had been giving me Reiki, but all the smells just keep setting me off.
I have no clue as to why but Mt. Dew seems to help me stop throwing up, I didn't think about it before that. I had gone hoping they could give me something to stop my stomach from spasming.
I had Brent stop and get me a soda, as crazy as this sounds it worked, that with the fact that we were in the van with no outside air coming in. He drove us outside of town on the mountain side, long enough for me to keep my meds down. The whole time the guys were sending me Reiki.
At this point my Reiki kicked back in as I was able to keep some water down.
The night before when I was trying to switch to his new hours I had gone to town at night something I never do. The whole time we were in one nasty smell to the next, my car always brings in outside air, so that was no help. It was one thing after another. My car started to make odd sounds, so I didn't go up the side of the mountain as I had planned.
We got home late last night, he had to miss work due to all of this. Not good. I passed out pretty much as soon as we got home I was so tried. Still all night they were burning, and smoke was filling up our home. Thank goodness for Reiki I don't know what I would have done without it, the guys pulled me through.
Today is a new day thankfully.
It is warmer, so no one is burning right now. Dad went to the doctor and they think they can remove 100% as he caught it so fast. He goes in for surgery tomorrow, as they had a cancellation. Mom is sounding better, she goes to the doctor in a bit. Brent got my car working again. I'm okay just feel like a truck ran over my gut lol
the difference a day can make.