Happy 2023! Yarn Stuff and Life.

 Happy 2023! I do realize its a little over 1/3 into 2023, but it still can be a joyous thing. I know we need that more than ever now. I'm going to just leave it at - life as we know it has changed over the last couple of years.

I'm still knitting and crocheting. Not as frequently as I would like, but still going at it. Most of it are on the smaller side of things (scarves/cowls/gloves/etc vs sweaters or blankets). I was turned onto Kumihimo a few years back and have enjoyed the results from that. I'm still trying to figure out how to incorporate it into my knitting/crocheting projects.

Also, to help keep me inspired I've created a knitting bingo card. Some of the spaces are for specific areas of the body (like for your head, for your hands, etc), playing around with yarn (like using only 3 shades of color or rainbow colors only, or play yarn chicken). Some of the ones I'm interested in are the 2 destashing squares (one is for 5lbs and the other is 10lbs) and finishing a WIP (looking at you crochet blanket I started in 2009). I am also hoping to post some of my finished stuff here.

We've been doing a garden-ish thing for the last couple years, nothing too serious, mostly growing tomatoes. This year I was hoping to get some herbs growing. Might not be TOO late for some. Idk. I do enjoy drying herbs and using them in loose incense. I am hoping to be able to create my own incense cones or sticks. I do have some catnip growing and hoping to use it for the cats. 

Anyway....here's to keeping up the blogging!

Getting Fancy

 I'm excited for having 'Spirit Week' at work. I wasn't planning helping or getting involved, but it should be fun.

I'm currently working on a chunky rainbow shawl and using the Springtime Bandit by Kate Gagnon Osborn. I'll say it's one of my favorite patterns to do. One of the things I like about it is that the size is customizable. 

Baby Plant

 So, I got another plant from work called the "Macho Pepper". It has a fairly high Scoville rating, but I look forward to cooking with it.

General Chit Chat.

 Here's to getting back into blogging again! Wheee!

The last couple of years have been a bit of a blur for me, but I feel like it's been that way for a lot of folks.

I want to be able to show off some of my knitting and crocheting. And possibly other creative stuff. So here's a start!

The State of Things

So, it's been a while. Almost 3 years to the date.

And so much has changed.

A world wide pandemic. A reality tv star is running the White House like their former television show (or worse), and it's been more than a fiasco to say the least. More, unjust deaths of black folk. I am grateful that people are protesting and creating civil unrest to put the pressure on, making the call to action. To get the justice needed for those killed.

People, if you have a face covering - a mask, a bandana, an old t-shirt that you can repurpose - plase wear it. It helps more than you think it does. No, it isn't the n-95 medical grade masks, but anything to dampen the moisture coming out of  your mouth from spreading to surfaces etc (You glasses wearers know what I'm talking about when you come in from the cold). Remember to wash your hands for the count of 20.

I'm also trying to navigate this world and be the best ally I can be to those who experience more disparagy than myself, owning up to when I make mistakes and trying to become a better person from them. As a white person, I've found these resources helpful to my understanding of things and what I action/s I can take to help others:

• White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo - A quick blurb from her website: "Professional: I have been a consultant, educator and facilitator for over 20 years on issues of racial and social justice. I have worked with a wide-range of organizations including private, non-profit, and governmental." With her book, DiAngelo addresses, in part I feel, the elephant in the room, of how white people have a responsibility to challenge their own perspective and actions, in the way it can drastically impact non-white people. To be able to change the invalidating behaviors (to say the least) to more supportive one, one of ally-ship. (Some are excelling at this, but as a whole, we need to better at this).
• 13th - a shot film that was originally on Netflix. I was able to watch it on YouTube, but as of publishing this, I'm not sure if it's still available there or not. A little search on the internet will be able to tell you where you can watch it. It's about an hour and forty minutes
• 97 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice by Corinne Shutack - This article does date back to 2017, but lists things that you can do, resources for people to learn from. 
• And support locally if you can.

This is no way an extensive of exhaustive list, but it is a start.