Earlier this summer I bought a gigantic XL J. Crew wool sweater for three bucks at Salvation Army. Today I began the process of unraveling it.
Wool is wicked expensive these days, so when this spring I read about recycling old sweaters I got pretty excited. (I'm figuring there is at least fifty bucks worth of yarn in this particular sweater.)
I wasn't sure how to go about the task until Liane told me there was a website with directions. Last night I found it, and this morning, scissors in hand, I began the process.
Unfortunately for me, the sweater is made of big squares crocheted together, so I can't just rip the whole thing out. However, the yarn is big and bulky, so I can see what I'm doing and build up a big pile of unravelledness.
Anyway, I spent several hours mindlessly pulling, snipping, and untangling yarn and enjoyed it immensely. (All that time and I only finished one sleeve! It is a very big sweater.) It was just the sort of Sabbath pastime I needed.
Now all I have to do is decide what to make with my wealth of wool...
(Oh, and if you caught my inverted Shakespeare illusion maybe I'll make something for you!! Or maybe that's more of a deterrent?)
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Friday, July 29, 2005
Musings
It's been awhile...
~New York was good. Spent the time playing hide'n'seek in cornfields, tubing down rivers, watching fireworks, milking goats, and fellowshipping with most excellent friends.
~Cherry chocolate chip ice cream isn't nearly as bad as I had remembered. I learned this because my family ate up all the Fudge Tracks ice cream for Sabbath treat when I wasn't looking. To get my ice cream fix I was forced to try the nauseatingly pink maraschino stuff and found that the chocolate chips actually made it palatable. Live and learn.
~Speaking of learning, I've learned that it doesn't pay to look to closely at voice teachers while they demonstrate tongue stretches. It is difficult to keep from laughing hysterically and swallowing one's tongue that is stretching uvula-ward.
~I hate painting closets, especially when the color of the paint does not meet expectations (and in fact is bright red) and when one runs out of paint halfway through the job.
~I have a loverly cousin, who shall remain nameless, save that his middle name is William, who bought me a cd out of the blue, making my day.
I'm rather tired and am at the point of blogging merely for the sake of having a post, so I will be off.
~New York was good. Spent the time playing hide'n'seek in cornfields, tubing down rivers, watching fireworks, milking goats, and fellowshipping with most excellent friends.
~Cherry chocolate chip ice cream isn't nearly as bad as I had remembered. I learned this because my family ate up all the Fudge Tracks ice cream for Sabbath treat when I wasn't looking. To get my ice cream fix I was forced to try the nauseatingly pink maraschino stuff and found that the chocolate chips actually made it palatable. Live and learn.
~Speaking of learning, I've learned that it doesn't pay to look to closely at voice teachers while they demonstrate tongue stretches. It is difficult to keep from laughing hysterically and swallowing one's tongue that is stretching uvula-ward.
~I hate painting closets, especially when the color of the paint does not meet expectations (and in fact is bright red) and when one runs out of paint halfway through the job.
~I have a loverly cousin, who shall remain nameless, save that his middle name is William, who bought me a cd out of the blue, making my day.
I'm rather tired and am at the point of blogging merely for the sake of having a post, so I will be off.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
A Sentimental Post, not to be quoted at me at a later time
I like Aaron. (I like all my siblings, but for certain reasons I'm focusing on him today.) He's a little hard to like when he quotes proverbs about the contentious woman at me and when he won't stop singing Gilbert and Sullivan, but generally he's a pretty nice guy, as the following anecdote illustrates.
After dinner he and I went out to the basketball hoop to play a game of Pig. It went quite quickly although I was hobbling everywhere because the gravel hurt my bare feet. As we walked back to the house I threw the ball to Aaron, but because of my poor aim it hit an obstacle and ricocheted off, ending up rather far down the driveway. I sort of hoped Aaron would get it for me, but he didn't offer, so I tiptoed after it, grumpily complaining all the way. As I retrieved the ball a shoe suddenly hit the ground next to me and was followed quickly by its twin. Did he want me to carry them for him?! I looked up irritably.
"WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!"
"So you won't hurt your feet."
oh.
"Thanks!"
I slipped my feet into the shoes, which by the way were miles too big and hot and sweaty to boot (Aaron jokingly offered me his socks, too, but I figured I was better off without them.) and painlessly tromped across all the nasty gravel to the house.
A little thing you say? Yes, but it represents a willingness Aaron has to do things for others that really blesses me.
Hooray for brothers.
(Aaron, now that I've been so nice to you, how about giving me a couple extra quarters of an hour next time its your turn for the pc? )
After dinner he and I went out to the basketball hoop to play a game of Pig. It went quite quickly although I was hobbling everywhere because the gravel hurt my bare feet. As we walked back to the house I threw the ball to Aaron, but because of my poor aim it hit an obstacle and ricocheted off, ending up rather far down the driveway. I sort of hoped Aaron would get it for me, but he didn't offer, so I tiptoed after it, grumpily complaining all the way. As I retrieved the ball a shoe suddenly hit the ground next to me and was followed quickly by its twin. Did he want me to carry them for him?! I looked up irritably.
"WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!"
"So you won't hurt your feet."
oh.
"Thanks!"
I slipped my feet into the shoes, which by the way were miles too big and hot and sweaty to boot (Aaron jokingly offered me his socks, too, but I figured I was better off without them.) and painlessly tromped across all the nasty gravel to the house.
A little thing you say? Yes, but it represents a willingness Aaron has to do things for others that really blesses me.
Hooray for brothers.
(Aaron, now that I've been so nice to you, how about giving me a couple extra quarters of an hour next time its your turn for the pc? )
Friday, July 15, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Night of Horror (or Blood-sucking Beetles Blunderingly Burrow into Bria's Brain)
I suppose that I should keep standard protocol and warn Claire to beware if the title hasn't already warned her off.
Now to begin the tale:
On Sunday evening Elizabeth, Katherine, and I went for a dip in our pool. We swam awhile and had great fun. So far so good.
Around nine thirty I decided it was time to rinse off in the pool shower. I happily began to wash my hair in the warm water. Suddenly, I noticed A Strange Feeling in my ear. It felt as if there were a lot of water clogging my ear. Not liking this feeling, I shook my head on one side and gingerly poked my finger in. It met something hard and crunchy with legs. The crunchy thing Wiggled and Disappeared into my Ear.
Naturally I did not take this turn of events calmly. I frantically shook my head and banged my ear, but to no avail. At this point I knew that it was time to scream.
And laugh. The whole situation seemed so ludicrous.
So screaming and laughing in a frantic way I raced out onto the pool deck, leaving the shower running. I could feel the Thing working it's way up my ear canal. My ear felt tight and hurt a little and there were odd scratchy noises. I started to panic a little. Actually a lot. What if it never came out? It seemed like such a stupid thing, to let a bug crawl up your ear. How grotesque!
Elizabeth and Katherine weren't sure of what to do, so while they deliberated I did a strange running dance up to the house. I would run a few steps and then dance on one foot, shaking my head on my side, boxing my ear. It occurred to me that maybe the bug, or whatever it was, was trying to crawl up, so I tried tipping my head the other way, but that was scary.
I could see Daddy through the kitchen window, so I frantically banged on the window and clearly signalled that there was a giant bug (or something) in my ear. He didn't seem to understand, so I raced around to the door. By this time I was crying in a strange sort of way. My ear was hurting, and I was really starting to panic. Every time I would calm down I would visualize a bug tunneling in my ear and would go off into hysterics again.
Once I was inside the family gathered around to assist. The Thing was not in sight, as every member of the fam pointed out after peering down my ear canal. Through my uncontrolled shrieks and and all the uproar I had created I dimly heard suggestions. Aaron helpfully pointed out that the Bug couldn't go past my ear drum. Daddy suggested getting a q-tip and honey to stick in my ear to get it out. I reasonably suggested calling 911 and wondered how on earth they would get a bug out and how on earth I was going to make it through my ordeal. Mama stood still and prayed out loud and subsequently had a brilliant idea.
"Light!" She said. I wondered if this was part of her prayer, but it wasn't. Get me a lamp, she said, and got one herself. She tipped the lamp standing by the doorway and held it to my ear and commanded someone to get a flashlight. Daddy obliged with an absolutely gargantuan one. Once this was held to my ear the wiggling and pain increased, but it was moving out.
Daddy and Aaron gasped. My whole family was peering into my ear. I was grossed out myself and couldn't stand still, so Mama held me and made me. I tried not to look at the horrified faces around me. "It's coming...coming...ewwww....almost there...hang on....disgusting..."
And then it was out. Aaron ran for his camera and documented the size of the lovely little, or not so little beetle. He hopes to publish a picture of it shortly.
Well, that's enough for now. I'm startig to feel sick thinking about it again. It seemed like a good story, but now that I'm rehashing it...The moral of the story is that mothers are great and that prayer works and the strength of the human spirit will prevail. (just kidding about the last one)
Now to begin the tale:
On Sunday evening Elizabeth, Katherine, and I went for a dip in our pool. We swam awhile and had great fun. So far so good.
Around nine thirty I decided it was time to rinse off in the pool shower. I happily began to wash my hair in the warm water. Suddenly, I noticed A Strange Feeling in my ear. It felt as if there were a lot of water clogging my ear. Not liking this feeling, I shook my head on one side and gingerly poked my finger in. It met something hard and crunchy with legs. The crunchy thing Wiggled and Disappeared into my Ear.
Naturally I did not take this turn of events calmly. I frantically shook my head and banged my ear, but to no avail. At this point I knew that it was time to scream.
And laugh. The whole situation seemed so ludicrous.
So screaming and laughing in a frantic way I raced out onto the pool deck, leaving the shower running. I could feel the Thing working it's way up my ear canal. My ear felt tight and hurt a little and there were odd scratchy noises. I started to panic a little. Actually a lot. What if it never came out? It seemed like such a stupid thing, to let a bug crawl up your ear. How grotesque!
Elizabeth and Katherine weren't sure of what to do, so while they deliberated I did a strange running dance up to the house. I would run a few steps and then dance on one foot, shaking my head on my side, boxing my ear. It occurred to me that maybe the bug, or whatever it was, was trying to crawl up, so I tried tipping my head the other way, but that was scary.
I could see Daddy through the kitchen window, so I frantically banged on the window and clearly signalled that there was a giant bug (or something) in my ear. He didn't seem to understand, so I raced around to the door. By this time I was crying in a strange sort of way. My ear was hurting, and I was really starting to panic. Every time I would calm down I would visualize a bug tunneling in my ear and would go off into hysterics again.
Once I was inside the family gathered around to assist. The Thing was not in sight, as every member of the fam pointed out after peering down my ear canal. Through my uncontrolled shrieks and and all the uproar I had created I dimly heard suggestions. Aaron helpfully pointed out that the Bug couldn't go past my ear drum. Daddy suggested getting a q-tip and honey to stick in my ear to get it out. I reasonably suggested calling 911 and wondered how on earth they would get a bug out and how on earth I was going to make it through my ordeal. Mama stood still and prayed out loud and subsequently had a brilliant idea.
"Light!" She said. I wondered if this was part of her prayer, but it wasn't. Get me a lamp, she said, and got one herself. She tipped the lamp standing by the doorway and held it to my ear and commanded someone to get a flashlight. Daddy obliged with an absolutely gargantuan one. Once this was held to my ear the wiggling and pain increased, but it was moving out.
Daddy and Aaron gasped. My whole family was peering into my ear. I was grossed out myself and couldn't stand still, so Mama held me and made me. I tried not to look at the horrified faces around me. "It's coming...coming...ewwww....almost there...hang on....disgusting..."
And then it was out. Aaron ran for his camera and documented the size of the lovely little, or not so little beetle. He hopes to publish a picture of it shortly.
Well, that's enough for now. I'm startig to feel sick thinking about it again. It seemed like a good story, but now that I'm rehashing it...The moral of the story is that mothers are great and that prayer works and the strength of the human spirit will prevail. (just kidding about the last one)
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Fair Warning
Since my last post I have done the following:
(ahem)
~graduated from highschool
~gone to my last Girls' Week
~riden a dirt bike for the first time
~been to the Family Convention
~taken my first real voice lesson
~laughed a lot
~cried a lot
and....
~HAD THE MOST DISGUSTING EVENT OF MY LIFE HAPPEN!!!!!! I will share the details at some future time when I'm less tired.
(ahem)
~graduated from highschool
~gone to my last Girls' Week
~riden a dirt bike for the first time
~been to the Family Convention
~taken my first real voice lesson
~laughed a lot
~cried a lot
and....
~HAD THE MOST DISGUSTING EVENT OF MY LIFE HAPPEN!!!!!! I will share the details at some future time when I'm less tired.
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