Belated Barbie Birthday Greetings

Before the Ides of March are ushered out for our April showers, I want to lift up the name of Barbie! Happy 50th Birthday, Barbie! We had a great run.

In my lifetime I have met women my age that claim to never have had a Barbie doll. They claim that their progressive thinking mother or their very own feminist understandings, prevented them from indulging in what they perceived to be harmful feminine role play via the Barbie Doll.

I embraced Barbie and Ken with all my young heart. She was born in 59, when I was 4 years old. My mother would not allow me to have such a mature doll until I was 6. So, in 1960, for my 6th Birthday I received the red head bubble hair Barbie. No one asked me. I did not chose her. Back in the days when gifts were gifts, not prescribed lists of must haves! She uncannily resembled my Mother?

I had played with my school chums collections and coveted all things Barbie. Being a very conservative toy spending family, this was the only Barbie I ever received and I have her still. I also have my original Ken doll and all of the clothes and accessories I ever received. It is not a giant collection. My parents divorced when I was 6 and toys were low on the list of expenditures.

I role played the perfect family with my Barbie and Ken. She was the perfect Mother and he was the Perfect Father to the 10 cent plastic baby I bought at the S.S.Kresge Store. It was a tiny baby replica no bigger than 3 inches. The eyes actually opened and closed. I made a diaper from toilet paper and scotch tape that to this day adorns it's bottom. I sewed clothes for the girls and even knit a few tiny garments on the size 2 needles I first learned on.


My friends would rush through a long list of cleaning chores on Saturday morning so we could take our coins to the Dime store. I always had enough to buy a trinket and sit at the soda fountain counter for the 99 cent lunch. A grilled cheese sandwich, potato chips, pickles and soda. It also included a "pop the balloon" to see how much a hot fudge sundae would cost you. Priced between 1 penny and 69 cents! Budgeting and value shopping were instilled early on.

Barbie was an inspiration. Her career path was unheard of for women of the day. She was a revolutionary, ground breaking doll. I do not regret a minute spent with her and her kind. I feel sorry for the misguided girls that eschewed all things feminine, maternal or domestic during their youth. May I be so bold to say, in my observation, many of these ladies are in perpetual pursuit of a feminine perfection and perverted body image that they claim Barbie represented? My brushstroke may seem broad, but I defend my right to wield it as my own observation.

Tea and Rest is the Only Cure

My doctor has ordered me to put down the knitting! I am feeling too sick to knit right now, so I will comply. He wants me to take 2 weeks off with anti-inflammatory meds and wear the rigid arm brace 24 hours a day. I can do this- but it is not what I want to do. I do not have carpal tunnel. It is simple tendinitis. There is the good news. So, Brian, Brynn, new babies (a gaggle of little girls) and charity projects, I apologize. I sip my hot tea, swallowing tentatively. Rest is the only cure...

Sick in The Sick House

There has been a lot of coughing going on in this house. Husband has been walking around with a chronic cough since Christmas. Allergy or asthma related perhaps.

The teenager started over two weeks ago with a serious, keep you up all night cough. The Dr prescribed codeine cough syrup and fluids. One week later, after no improvement we were back at his Dr for a Z-pack as a preventative for whooping cough which had been reported at his school. He is somewhat better.


College girl arrived for her last spring break, exposed herself to her brother, and flew home, straight to her Dr and her own antibiotics RX.

As a Mom, I never get sick. I have that mommy immunity that comes with caring for really sick people and the germ ridden detritus they leave behind. However, the random gob smack has occurred and I find myself sick as I can remember.

My throbbing head, swollen glands and sore throat feel monumental. I have been caught. My Dr was so sweet. He said he was actually thinking of me recently as one of his few patients that only come in annually for a check up or when very ill. He had not seen me for a year and wondered what was up. Now he knows. Not only about the strep throat diagnosis, but my weight creeping up, life at the Wenskay Casa and my sore wrist and hands. I left with a brace RX, my own Z-pack, a lecture on weight loss, and the potential abuse of red wine??!!

We are usually stoic sick people. This is the very first Z-pack for Evan and me. I believe that we over use antibiotics in this nation and I want my system to respond well to them when I need them. I also have a pretty healthy family. So I am thankful for the medical care we have access to and the fact that we do not need it often. If I can get some sleep and swallow with ease, I will be down right happy. So if you are looking for me, just follow the tissue trail to the messy bed...

Knitters Block

My hands hurt. No needles for me. I am lost!

You Know You Are Too Fat...

When your friends actually suggest you audition for your favorite TV show. When your number would appear in neon lights and your photo in spandex would make Bernie look pretty. When your friends think it would be fun to get away to the Biggest Loser ranch. As an actual contestant in spandex, with no bra, bare feet, and your number in neon...

Chicago Yarncon- Call Me

I was browsing the web and came across a post on a blog I follow about this great fiber event in Chicago.
YarnCon is the first weekend in October and it is a great way to bring fiber loving folks together.

There is a photo stream on Flickr that shows the vendors and exhibitors. I was skimming along when what to my wondering eyes did appear? A vendor was selling these pins and the price was clearly printed as $29 each? They were made with shortened metal needles, not sharpened bamboo kabob sticks- but really?? I made one for each of my KnitWits for Christmas...

How Knitter's Enjoy St. Patricks Day

Drink a lot of green beer or red wine. Take some green yarn, and knit anything but this silly leprechaun!

Hats Needed In Africa

Here is Brynn in Africa with the orphans that snagged hats. We can make them hats that fit! .

The little hats went to the little babies in the hospital. These were too big for the sick babies. Unfortunately, they were too small for the big kids!

I will bring free patterns for beanies to KnitWits Wednesday and I will bring them to Knitting Guild next month. So knitters, get your sticks ready to go. We want to show these kids we care! Thank you in advance for your loving time.

One Ridiculous Situation After Another

Tonight I am watching DVD's. I started with my favorite opera film, "La Traviata". It is a Franco Zefferelli film, which makes it visually beautiful. The lead is sung by Placido Domingo in his prime. It is the most soul stirring music that I have in my heart. My sad won't let me knit.

Next I watched "La Vie En Rose". A more recent film that combines the tragic life story of famous singer Edith Piaf (The Little Sparrow), with some of the most remarkable hand knits in film. That is a true double whammy for moi.

Having the soundtrack laid down for depression helps me process the details of my bad day. It is just one in a series, known as my bad week. Evan took a miss step in his repentance today. I am at a loss to explain his poor choices. Parenting 101 did not cover this. My advanced study courses in Special Ed and AP status as Ryan's Mom, has been worthless with this "normal" kid. Being mentally handicapped is one thing, stupid decisions are something else entirely. He is so remorseful that it breaks my heart. Heartbreak hurts, regardless of the source.

Financially, we are going down the tubes. We have not had a payday since after Christmas. No money in the bank is no money in the bank. IBM revealed to Don that they are not paying their bills. 80% of Don's practice is IBM work and they owe us a boatload of money for the work he has done. What is this world coming to?? GM going bankrupt means anything can happen. How can a man as accomplished as Don be in a situation like this? He has such a heart for his family and our well being. I think we are going to go all the way down to the bottom of the $ thing. It is such a surreal experience. I just hope I am the right kind of women for such a time as this. God willing.

Patio Pup

We are so codependent.

Going Off the Grid

Our neighbors are building lovely raised planting beds that look oddly like coffins to me??

Going off the grid for our economic future, or just going organic. Both suit their personalities. It is impossible to grow people food that the bunnies will leave alone, without these enclosures.

Hopefully, they will send a tomato or 2 our way.

Under Surveillence

Watching every move I make.

Begin Again Throw

Here is the beginning of the Four Seasons Throw for my brother Brian. I love the color. It is called brick red and the Manos feels so good to have run through my fingers again.

I have been experiencing serious wrist pain from repetitive stress injury. Both knitting and using the computer are hurting the same tendons and muscles.

Switching needle sizes and yarn gauge helps me change the movements slightly, which in turn, helps my wrist feel better. Subtle, yet helpful. Thanks Brian! I want one of these for me...

Misti Alpaca Ribs and Ruffles Scarf

Another free pattern from Knitculture. This store in LA deserves a visit after all of this blog interaction.

I knit this in one evening of watching TV and catching up episodes of trashy
DVR selections.

This is a short and sassy scarf and the stitches are just plain fun to make.

Knitting Bag Delight

Gretchen joined KnitWits after Christmas to learn to knit. She quickly mastered and surpassed the basic scarf.

Within a week of casting on her first bag, she has finished the knitting and will be ready to felt any day now.

She is a winter visitor to San Diego from Seattle. She will soon return to her summer home and take her new bag of knitting tricks with her.

Gretchen is an accomplished seamstress. Last Wednesday she whipped up a beautiful knit bag for me to tote my projects around town in. She did it to thank me. I do this post to thank her. I love it!

Keep Your Eyes Open

You never know when something will conspire to inspire you! I have one ball of chunky Debbie Bliss yarn with just bit of cashmere in it. It is navy blue and so soft, I keep it in my knitting bag to touch when I need some comfort.

I saw these buttons while strolling through Walmart with a friend. She needed cheap fabric. I envisioned these buttons on the brim of a hat made from my navy cashmerino chunky.

One ball only has 70 yards, so as I shot this photo I saw my color palette and graphics in the hot tub. Life is good. I plan to have a soak, find a complementary yarn and knit a hat tonight.

Amazing Atmosphere

Last Sunday, Ryan and I drove home from church under the blanket of a thick, heavy cloud coverage. It was oddly warm and muggy.
I could barely concentrate on driving the winding roads homeward. Eyes upward focused, the road was blessedly empty.
I ran into the house with the car running in the driveway. Grabbed my camera bag and a bottle of water for Ryan.
I drove to the top of the hill just beyond my driveway, engaged the emergency flashers and took these photos.
In these clouds, you could see the world. Dimensional and magical. The heaviness was palpable.
They were comforting, not threatening. Look at the house and the road for perspective. Just beyond the fluffy comforter of cloud the blue sky stays tucked away for later. Mother nature and Father God I love you.