Life Began...

I am an old new mommie. This means that approx. 84 months ago, at the much ripened old age of 43, and 20 extra years after MY mother, I laid an egg~ and it actually hatched! Surprise!! Yep, I found myself with a life-changing, yet amazing little dragonette in my arms–Little Drake, to be exact. The drake wouldn’t have it any other way. He is literally the joy of my life… the drake is, too, but THIS little guy… well, just needs me more.

I should explain that this mommie has too many interests to count; and one of them has got to be a love for writing or I would not be here. I will go with the more recent ones that I am actually active with right now. I love to knit and crochet, as well as spinning and loom knitting. Once completing my first pair of socks using the magic loop method, I cannot go back to any other way…. that also goes for loving “toe up” socks.  Magic Loop Method refers to knitting them, two at a time, on one set of circular needles.  I’m quite the extremist learning more than one major technique for one project.   In addition to that, I did not follow the instructions for using markers. Now I know why I should have used them.

My Little Drake actually got me into knitting. He was premature when he was born and he had received a tiny little hat. The second I saw it, I knew that I wanted to be involved in this ministry. Just having had this mind-blowing little boy (long story for another time), I knew that I could not knit in the volume needed for donations to hospitals, so I just filed it away in the back of my head. Months later, I discovered the KK looms in a craft store and knew that I could now knit in the volume needed in a very short time. I can now make a complete, finished hat in 30 minutes. I’ve donated them in batches of 30 to 40 at a time and now I am working on my third batch which will be well over 200 hats… YEA! I also have in between projects so that I don’t get bored out of my head with hats. I’ve made adult hats, scarves, mittens, fingerless gloves, cell phone holders, and working on a poncho and socks.

I’ve been waiting for the smaller gauge looms to come out so that I could use 1 strand of worsted yarn, instead of 2 or more, and ordered what they call a long loom set. I was severely disappointed because the instructions say you need to use 2 or more and you can pretty much tell by looking at the space between pegs. The item’s description online indicated that you can use one strand; so I mean to call up the company to send it back. I will keep this blog posted on what happens with that.

Another love of mine is singing. I always loved to sing, but everyone always said that I couldn’t do it well. I sing anyway, for it’s my love. The most recent comment was from my neighbor upstairs. One day we were talking about hearing things from each others’ apartment because this is an old house. I told her that I hoped that my singing didn’t bother her. She said something like, ‘it didn’t sound like singing to her’. Oh man, the most direct comment I ever got! Then, the drake was always saying that I should “join the choir or something” at our church because I was looking for things to do here in the, at the time, new neighborhood. So, I joined the choir. It was my chance! I don’t care who you are or how shy you are. If you like to sing, you WANT someone to HEAR it and LIKE it. Singers have immense egos. Check out any rock star, or any rock star wannabes. Anyway, I joined and as it turns out, HOLY COW, they actually LIKE my singing! I have even led some hymns and singing responses during the mass (we are Roman Catholic). There is some conflict here, though. Now, as far as the singing goes, if I am not practicing church songs, I have no voice. Weird, right? One day, a priest commented about a psalm that I sang. He said that I was right on the money, every note. I had to tell him that I really can’t sing; that God gives me “the voice” when He needs it.

I also love to read. I read all the Dragonriders of Pern books right up to the time Anne McCafferty said she was retiring…then she came back and I did not have the time I once had to truly get into one of her books. I also loved her “Rowan” series, and read all of those, unless there is more. Now that my hair is graying, I fancy myself looking like Damia, who has black hair with a single fat white streak of hair in the front… love it. But our similarities end there! Sometimes I use a red temporary color on my hair and all the white becomes a bright RED! LOVE IT.

When I get to reading, now it’s mostly religious-background reading. The supposed fact-finding kind and hopefully, non-fiction. I’ve got to say that I learned MORE about my own religion by researching other religions, NEVER by getting coherent answers from clergy….. interesting. I love to write poems and letters. Basically, I love to use and appreciate the use of language to express and enhance the writer’s personality and style of expression (is that the same thing?). I love unique, witty puns to the extreme! oooh, I love themed, pun-oriented stories. Does that surprise you? One time I wrote one about taking the car to a mechanic. I’ll just let your imagination do the rest.

I’m active in our church, Immaculate Conception. In addition to being in the choir, I am the president of our Rosary Society, The Drake and I are both Lectors; which is someone who reads from scripture before the priest reads from the gospel. I am on the Why Catholic? steering committee and soon-to-be involved in helping to facilitate changes to better our church. Can you guess? There is no name for that committee yet! Oh, and I also write the prayers for the weekly mass.

Me and Little Drake fooling around with 3D glasses

Though I can’t envision this to become a really popular blog, please enjoy. I invite any comments and suggestions that you may have. Though I welcome negative responses, as well as positive, I will not tolerate obscenities or behavior that is uncalled for. Please keep in mind that this is a family friendly blog, so don’t write anything you would not want your child to be exposed to. For this, I thank you in advance.

**Please be aware that due to unwanted SPAM, I have set my comments to require that I approve every one. I’m really sorry if this inconveniences anyone, but I’m usually pretty good with keeping abreast of new comments.**