Posted by Becky on October 17, 2009
I seem to be surrounded by the thought of people dying of late. My mom might have an Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm. My brother called me yesterday to let me know he might have some form of skin cancer and is waiting to find out the results of the biopsy next week. If someone comes to work with a cold, I worry for my boss and I worry about his wife, too. I worry for our Sales Managers wife and our Boiler Operators wife and Kristen, who had the Rock the Cure event last week. The list is getting too large! But then death is with me every day, I remind myself. It never goes away, it is like the air that surrounds me. I’m not always aware that it’s there unless, of course, it’s blowing.
Like today. I went to my local yarn store to see if I could leave a garment for Sarah to finish. For those of you that don’t knit, finishing is the most tedious of knitting. It cuts into our knitting time. Sarah would do it for a fee and she was great at it, which is something not all knitters can say, myself included. So, like I said today I went in thinking I could leave it for Sarah and I found out Sarah had died! It was so shocking and I was so sad to hear this news as she had successfully battled cancer before so naturally when she got cancer again, one just assumes…..
Sarah was born in Israel and she was blessed with that ability to tell wonderful stories that made you feel like you were there. I can still remember the day she told us about the first time she saw snow fall in Israel as a child. I was often amazed as I worked or was just sitting as a knitter that an Atheist, a Jew, a Christian, a Mormon, a recovering Catholic and an Agnostic could sit and knit and crochet (weapons, mind you) while discussing religion and politics with not a drop of bloodshed.
I can’t remember how often some poor soul would wander into the store with a partially finished garment that their mother or grandmother had left unfinished who had passed away. They would come in not knowing what to do with it, but only knowing that it was something that they deeply wanted to have and sought guidance. It was often Sarah who would finish the garment, sometimes matching old yarns or even working without the pattern and it was such a special gift.
I will miss you Sarah, and the table where we sat and knit and shared stories will not be the same without you, but you enriched our lives and we were so blessed to have known you and we will keep that part of you with us and in that respect, you will always be with us.
The Mourner’s Kaddish
Glorified and sanctified be G-d’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon. Amen.
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world. Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel. Amen.
He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel. Amen
Posted by Becky on May 1, 2009
Aren’t much, as we all know from the song, but murdered puppies, now that has possibilities. Oh, Sandy, I’m kidding, but if you woke up to this, you might change your tune.
Alpaca
This was how I found my yarn, dead as a doornail. This was flat out murder. And Blue was outside and Hank, Louis and Eli were in my room with the door closed. So that leaves the dead puppies.
Organic Cotton
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton
The Perps aka Dead Puppies
That’s Ziva hiding behind the bush where they ran to hide, no doubt, after they heard my blood curdling screams. Wonder what the neighbors thought?
More Dead Puppies
And if you look close, I would almost swear that Darwin has a smirk on his face.
Needless to say, they have been banished from the house until further notice. I had to throw away three skeins of yarn and have to puppy proof the rest of the house because they only like the good stuff. They didn’t touch the Encore that was on the same tray as the rest of the yarn and the tray is like, two feet off the ground at least.
And I had such high hopes for this yarn. Killed in it’s prime. Who knows what it would have become had it not been murdered in the prime of it’s life. Such a travesty.
A moment of silence,please. Preita, quite laughing!
I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a dead pup-py
No, that won’t do. A few words of my own, perhaps.
An Ode To my Yarn
I waited
Like an emotional corpse
For you to come
For a tomorrow, a promise, a sweater
That was due to arrive
And so I waited
Somewhat paralyzed
Afraid of life without you
I waited alone
For the Sun
To shine upon my flesh
That had grown so cold (Um, I need that freakin a sweater)
Longing for your touch
And I waited
Armed with but a dream
That burned secretly
Within the many chambers of my heart
Until you arrived
And so, I wait no more
RIP my sweet alpaca and organic cotton.
Maybe I’ll get a tattoo!
Turn your volume up so you can hear the words to the song.
Posted by Becky on March 9, 2009
Well, we had a great time in San Juan Capistrano at the Jane Thornley workshop and I have the pictures to prove it.
tip: if you click on a picture you can comment on that picture.
Posted by Becky on February 25, 2009
She also didn’t raise an Einstein either. I’m home today sick and I call my mom (like I always do) except today I can’t talk due to laryngitis or something along those lines. So, my mom went from thinking I was a breather on the phone to thinking I was in a hostage situation and couldn’t TALK on the phone!
Yeah, my mom has a 10 year old car with less than 7,000 miles on it. I’m definitely calling her to come and rescue me. I dont’ knwo what I was thinking by calling her when I can’t talk, but I just wanted to make sure she was alright. If I don’t call her she does things like call me, ask me to call her back because she thinks her phone might be broke as it hasn’t RANG in two days. Oh she’s good. She’ll send you on guilt trips while running the travel agency.
So, I’m home sick. I have Emergency Evacuation Training scheduled today and the coordinator (who does the training) has cancer so I don’t want to infect him so I’m staying home until I get word that he’s gone.
I got as far on my toe-up sock fromKarin’s class that I am suppose to go
Next session, we turn the heel backwards.
I also finished my cashmere scarf
As seen here modeled by Blue. I used the Harris Tweed pattern from my calendar book. I think it was December 5th.
No I am restarting a new shawl with sock yarn by Schaeffer from Anne’s Class.
I had originally started this with Noro Sock Yarn, but I think the cashmere might have ruined me. So, now I am wondering should I knit or read a book until noon? It’s so seldom I am home during the day (and alone at that! Both John and Joseph are working today) and after working the two jobs and rarely being home in the light of day, I am noticing a bunch of things that need to be cleaned, dusted, scrubbed, etc.
Egad, and Julie was here last night to watch Obama’s first Speech to Congress.
Okay, I’m definitley going to clean, but I am NOT pulling any weeds.
Posted by Becky on February 22, 2009
We all went over to Yolies Friday night to listen to Joe Paquin perform his new CD “Only Human” and opening for him were Dynamo Jump.
We all had a blast. I haven’t heard an accordian live since my dad passed so it was very special for me as I was raised with a house full of music. Both on the record player and live when my dad played piano, accordian, mandolin, violin and I’m sure I’ve forgotten something. I never did play much except harmonica and I hated piano lessons. Luckily Jacob picked up the gene and plays bass and guitar. But I do appreciate good music and I know it when I hear it and both bands were fucking awesome independent of each other and together. You know you are listenting to professionals when BOTH bands got together and sounded like the Last Waltz.
I didn’t want to go home. But hopefully we will get to hear them locally again as Yolie’s might have music during the summer on Friday’s.
It was great to hang with my knitster sisters, and John finally got to meet some of the men folk and naturally he knew Lisa’s uncle and people that David went to school with.
John did have to walk away from the music at least three time. One of Joe’s songs was written to his older brother named Mike that had passed and John just recenlty lost his brother Mike. And of course the songs that touched on Joe’s fight with cancer “You Were There For Me” and “Sobering Experience”. Which are
But I am still fucking pissed at myself for forgetting my freakin camera! I just can’t be trusted. The good news is I have uploaded Dynamo Jump and Joe Paquin to my iPod so anyone who missed the show can here them Thursday night and AFY.
Well, I’ve got a hankering to knit and have some pickles and cheese.
Posted by Becky on February 5, 2009
Not only is this year the 200th anniversary of Darwin and Lincoln, but the United Nations has deemed International Year of Natural Fibers.
How freaking awesome is that?
So, pack up the car and the kids and head on over to New York for the Sheep and Wool Exhibit. If we left today, and stopped by a yarn store in each state we could make it there by December.
Posted by Becky on January 3, 2009
And I blame owe it all to Nancie. See, she’s been knitting socks and they look so comfy. Then she sent me a link about a sock book and you can see on my book sidebar ( I need to add a “coming Attraction” header) mine is on it’s way along with a book I pre-ordered about socks. Don’t you just love it when Amazon sends you emails on books you might be interested in?
But until the books arrive, I’ll be experimenting with my new needle set that Lois got me for Christmas. I’m so lucky to have TWO great bosses.
It’s the Addi Turbo Click set. And you really just click and away you go and I found no snagging in that transitional area where needle and chord connect.
I even specifically cast on with my metallic rayon and still no snags, thus far.
So, are you using yours yet Terry?
Posted by Becky on December 14, 2008
First silly hat from Grandma.
First time seeing his uncle in a doo-rag.
First tree trimming.
First pony ride.
First bowl of ham hocks and beans.
I am happy to report he was not severly damaged by his uncle in a doo rag.
But they later had a heart-to-heart and Uncle Joseph agreed to wear a beanie OVER the doo-rag until his hair grows in.
First refusal to wear ridiculous items.
Posted by Becky on November 23, 2008
Woke up Saturday to the sound of chain says. Asplundh Tree Care Experts went up and down the street making precisely one cut per tree (I bet they get to bill per tree) and none of the cuts were necessary. So, you know the chain saw’s weren’t necessary. They could have easily used tree pruner’s and saved on fuel and noise pollution. And you can’t throw a rock in Camarillo without hitting a licensed contractor, so why the city doesn’t hire local and keep the money within the city is beyond me. Oh, well, what can you do.
So since we were up early I talked John into taking me to an Alpaca Farm in Somis that Preita had e-mailed me about and Windy Hill is a beautiful place. We met some folks from Lompoc that own Ranch of the Oaks. John and I visited with them for awhile before the lecture started on Alpaca’s which was really interesting. I ran into my old vet, Dr. Jana Smith, who use to take the best care of my Bubba.
After the lecture, we walked around and met up with Preita and finally got to meet the Mr. who actually goes by the name of Mattt. And he is just as cute in person as the pictures she posts. We walked together and oohed and ahhhed over the Alpaca’s. Aren’t they adorable?
My pictures don’t do them justice. Check out Prieta’s blog. She takes awesome pictures.
John and I left early and headed over to Somis for some lunch at a little market that has the best burritos. It’s a real cute little place. Yesterday was Sean’s birthday.
Then today we celbrated Sean’s birthday. Thirty three years old. Wow, time flies. He requested fried chicken, green beans and cheesey potatoes. I also made two batches of chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Joseph, lil John and Sean played Scrabble! I couldn’t believe it and I have to say I never realized Scrabble was a contact sport. Man,these guys are sticklers with their spelling. Roger and I watched from the sideline and I knitted as we cracked up as Sean would try to use a military acronym and Joseph would demanding Top Ramen every time he challenged and was correct. (in jail they played Scrabble for soup) I was the official Webster checker as Joseph was certain that they would find new words to spell if they looked up a word and he didn’t want to be accused of cheating, either. I guess that’s how they roll in the Texas jails apparently. Nice to know they practice their spelling, though.
So here is Sean at Thirty-three.
Oh and we Googled Jack Russel’s and Beagles mixes and there is actually a hybrid dog called a Jackabee.
I don’t know if we are having puppies yet, but John is having kittens over the whole ordeal of getting a dog we thought was fixed that obviously isn’t, yet. But their in love and Hank will not leave her side now and it is just the sweetest thing.
I hope you all had a great weekend.
Posted by Becky on September 17, 2008
So, I’m sure you all have heard Lois got in a batch of Malabrigo. And after hearing Preita go on and on about it I have come to the conclusion that she was NOT exagerating. This stuff is like knitting with butter. It is so freaking soft, it’s ridiculous. Who does that sound like?
I have started another CPH, only this time I won’t make the hood and will substitute with a collar.
Oh, and people Jean Daily ROCKS! We were at the Coffee Bean last night knitting and the music got a little too loud and we could hardly hear each other so she let loose with an ear piercing whistle that just stopped everybody in their tracks. It was classic!
I want to be just like Jean when In grow up.
So here is the start of my new hoodie.
(I suck at photography and am the first to admit it. But in any event there it is)
And now without further ado I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our newest member to the family. Her name is Sadie and she’s a Beagle and she is just as sweet as can be. 
Isn’t she cute? Hank has his hands full now and Blue can finally get some much needed rest. The only problem is my cats are a little miffed! Why Eli sleeps with one eye open now all the time!
Maybe he was a cowboy in a previous lifetime. (And yes, those are my Milk Bone jammies in the picture)
