The WoolWytch

Waking up this morning, I go downstairs, obligatory bathroom trip followed by the kitchen to get some coffee.  Grabbing my cup of coffee (god bless the maker of the Keurig) I am startled as the cat jumps on the counter, piteously wailing that her little girl didn’t feed her yet today.

Of course said little girl doesn’t have that as an official responsibility yet – but Delilah doesn’t care.

Shooing her down I ask her if we’ve Dog in the house yet, and she looks at me like I’ve committed a mortal sin.  Laughing at her plight, I look at the cat straight on and tell her that until we have a dog, she doesn’t get to eat on the counter.

Now, I know she can not truly understand me, but I swear if cats could shoot laser beams from their eyes, I’d have taken a direct hit.

Out of revenge, she runs off with some hand dyed roving.  I wonder if that is her mouse of the day.  Good thing this one is Yellow – last time she took off with Grey and the Diva screamed “MOMMY DELILAH MASSACRED A MOUSE AND LEFT IT ON THE STAIRS!!!”

So yeah, hoping that we don’t have a repeat performance, although a wool mouse in Yellow is a lot easier to identify as a toy than in grey.  She did come back when I poured food in her bowl and set it on the floor.

The weather outside has just been amazing the past couple of days, which has led to much spring cleaning.  The walls in my stairwell are now free of winter schmutz (Oil heater residue, and the reason we switched away from oil heat this winter) and my kitchen while not perfect yet, now looks far better than it has in a long time.  It was not warm enough in there over winter to give it the real heavy cleaning it deserves, and as it warms up my kitchen will be alternately emitting smells of bleach, food cooking, lysol, more food cooking, pine sol, amonia, and yet more food cooking.  And of course the sound of the dishwasher groaning as I run the pots from under the cupboard through it just for measure.

With being unemployed as long as I have, I have been giving thought to how I’m handling things in the future and I have a basic three year plan.

in that time I will have gotten the following done.

*Doula Certification, initially with IntuitiveDoula or ToLabor (which was ALACE) and then DONA, and Birthing from Within
*Hypnotherapist Certification – this will compliment my Doula services.
*A decent paying job that will help finance the previous two as well as help me keep a roof over our families head and clean up my personal credit.
*My Etsy shop really flourishing and helping support the family.

These all are do-able.  Really.  I just have to make the time for it all to work out.  Today I’m riding a wave of anxiety as I didn’t get my unemployment filed yesterday, and my husband had his SSI initial interview – it looks like he may not be elegible for anything because my unemployment compensation is too high.

Tomorrow I call the local midwife friendly hospital and find out if they have a Doula program at all… and if so if they know of any scholarship/grant programs for it…  I need to start shadowing and then once I’ve gotten my training far enough along I can take on a client as a student Doula.

I think I may need to just sit and spin for a while.  Focusing on nothing but the spin is very theraputic and a great way to help release anxiety.  Something which I have scads of today.

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hours later I realize I know why I was anxious.

Today is the my late fathers birthday.

Happy Birthday Daddy.  I hope the fishing is great wherever you are.

First – yes I know I’ve been posting a lot that wasn’t fiber related.  Re-breaking your ankle over the summer means if you don’t take letting your ankle heal seriously, you are going to suffer for life.

Believe me – I am aware of it.

BUT – I’ve been knitting a little.  and have found something that I think I really want to get, if nothing else but to be able to start on projects for next year.  It’s called the WonderSock II Loom.  I’d link to a picture of it with the web page to it – but they have their pages copyrighted, and that’s ok – once I get one, I’ll just take a picture that way.

That said – I’ve been missing spinning, and as my HitchHiker Roadbug is a double treadle now, I’ll be breaking out the teak oil and oiling down both the HitchHiker and the Ashford Kiwi this weekend – the weather is going to be warm enough for it… I’m hoping that I can get some time to spin this weekend, and have to get some of the yarn I have for the etsy.com store inventoried, and then hopefully get it listed.

This means I can get back to an old order that has been shelved – with a very patient mama waiting for several skeins of a custom order.  Once those get finished, and sent on to the Mama, I’ll start working on the Etsy Shop for newer stock.

I’m still looking for a full time job – our economy stinks.  Thank heavens for barter – as my daughter wouldn’t have dance class if not for it this year.  One other contract is paying for some of my other interests, including financing my daughters Recital Costumes for this coming recital come June – that and her home school tuition.  If there’s anything left after that – then Mama gets a little sanity time for herself. 

Along with the nice weather, I’m looking forward to being able to actually clean house on the weekend…  my kitchen needs a major spring cleaning, and I’m going to even wash down my walls.  I figure I’ve got some time hopefully, and if I’m lucky my kids will get the idea and are going to be helps vs hindrances.  As it’s spring cleaning time – I’ll probably also go through my cupboards and try to determine what I can put aside for a yard sale to help cover the Diva’s Aunt’s wedding in September.

Pic of the happy couple there to the left, swiped from her Facebook.

Things I just don’t use , and have no intention of using really – things that are just taking space in a cluttered, disorganized mess… will be boxed for the yard sale or put on freecycle and a pet peeve of my has always been a disorganized kitchen… not that you’d believe it if you saw my kitchen right now LOL.

I am downloading music however, and working on getting things organized for my cleaning list.  My goal is get my kitchen thoroughly done and then once I’m done with that – on to my kids toy room, and the living room.  My idea here is to get things organized so if an opportunity to move for work comes – our family is ready to go… that and of course, to get ready to eventually have another child.

ahhh life.

for now – spring cleaning, spinning and if I get time – a little Second Life.  And looking forward to my Saturday and Sunday.

So we’ve been considering adopting a dog… Calvin’s now three, and gets along wonderfully with my inlaws Bichon Frise, named Izzy, doesn’t play too rough with her, and The Diva has been begging for a replacement for Daisy – “It’s been a year Mom, I’m bigger and I miss Daisy.”

They want a dog and a new sibling. I’ll give in on a dog, but presently a new sibling isn’t on the agenda.
So with that in mind I went on Crazedlist.org – a search engine for Craigs List that pulls up multiple regions.

We found a Chihuahua in NJ that the owner has to part with, as she’s moving to Albany on Tuesday. The pup is 6 months old and has been raised around small kids.

Awesome right?

Nope.

She wants 520.00 for a Teacup Breed (there is not Teacup Breed) Chihuahua, and she needs it in cash asap.

Um NO – this is not a re-homing fee – this is not a reasonable charge, this is making 220 on a dog she told me she bought 4 months ago and has diaper trained for 300.00

I politely told her that it was an unreasonable amount, that this was not a re-homing fee, and she herself called it a sale – which is against policy of Craigslist.

I wished her luck, and said goodbye – as I don’t care how cute and pudgy a dog is (and a chihuahua shouldn’t be pudgy – their little hearts can’t handle that.) I am not paying someone that much money for a damn dog. Hello – if I had 520 to spare I can think of a lot of other things I’d put it into than buying a dog.  We’re looking to rescue a small dog, not buy something that may have come from a backyard breeder, and honestly – her listing the dog this way is reprehensible in my book

So – this is me putting it out in the universe. If we’re supposed to have a dog, we’ll find one, we do want one, and while Calvin and The Diva swear we’ll not have to do a thing to take care of it, we are well aware that Gaelon and I will be the actual caregivers of this dog, and are prepared for the time and labor investment that goes with Dog ownership… we’re looking to expand our family, and expect that whatever we end up with for a dog, that it will be with us a minimum of 11 years, and could last 15-16 years.

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This is the ad I”m considering (meaning writing it was cathartic, but really it’s a bit snarky) putting on Craigs List.

Loving family of 4 in Bristol CT seek a rescue pup to give a forever home to.

Mom works from home, as does Dad and kids are home schooled – there is always someone here.  We used to have a Brittany, but she had a heart problem from birth, and a year after her passing we are now considering adopting a new dog…

We expect that the dog we adopt will be with us for years.  We’re not looking to adopt a puppy and then get rid of it when it grows out of cute puppy stage.

We aren’t looking to buy – don’t contact saying it’s a rescue with re-homing fee when you are out to make back what you spent and more on it. That’s despicable.

Just because we live in CT don’t expect that we’re made of money.  We live modestly in a nice little house, with a nice little backyard, have a cat, two kids, a minivan and drive to the playground as it’s got acres and acres of space to run in – and we used to take our dog to the dog park for the same reason.  We not only don’t want to buy a purebred, but we can’t afford it.  Money spent on a purebred would be better spent on well pet checks and toys for the dog.

If you are looking for a family with common sense to re-home your small dog to, and don’t expect to run a FBI level background check on us (Hello – we do value our privacy and running a credit report for an adoption and conducting a white glove inspection on a house with small children in it is ridiculous…) then please consider responding to this ad.
Thank you.

My little prince charming will be three years old tomorrow.
I am just amazed at how time has flown, and how he’s grown.

For a three year old he is rather erudite…
For a three year old he is rather witty, beyond the norms of what amuses most three year olds….
For a three year old he sometimes behaves like he is much older… and then in an amazing show of cuteness decides rapidly that he’s still the baby and has to curl into mommy or daddy’s arms and get snuggles.

He knows his right from left, far better than his Grandma
He is identifying numbers when flashed them

He wakes from dreams to tell us a chocolate bar will solve the worlds woes, and that listening to John Barrowman is the only way to go to relax at night  to go to sleep.
He has dreams of being a fireman, and riding on a ‘fire twuck”

He’s this amazing little man, who always seems to know when someone needs a hug, a kiss, or be shown any type of love.

His father and I are so very blessed by our children, we often babble on about our first born, but our second is just as special and wonderful and a treasure in our lives.

Happy Birthday my little one – may your days always be filled with brightness and creativity.

So my bank is inside my Grocery store.  As is the Pharmacy and Florists…

Much like any mega grocery store in the area…

After depositing my check, I ran over to the pharmacy to pick up medicine for my little ones who’ve not slept well recently and still have a barking cough.  Looking up from the boxes upon boxes of medicines for too many symptoms… I was almost bowled over by a little old man who was trying very hard to read the small print on the box of condoms he held in his hands and not watching where he walked.

Highly amused by this, I accepted his apologies for this and made my way to pick up dish soap, and again was almost run over by another little old man with box of condoms in his hand and a goofy smile on his face.

What are the odds of this.

In the express line I stood waiting for the customer in front of us to use his coupons, and I chuckled at what I overheard as he was trying to use another grocery store’s double coupon for yet another box of condoms by yet another octogenarian.

As the elderly man stood in front of me, I tried to keep a straight face while he told to the cashier “I’m gonna have a good time tonight!” Finished with his purchase ambled off, with a bouquet of flowers, bottle of KY and Trojans in the grocery bag.

The cashier and I held our giggles as long as we could…

I’m gonna watch the obituaries soon… and I wonder just how happy they will be when they draw their final breath.  I expect verrrrrry happy.

On Friday I received a job offer, for part time work, from home, working as an independent contractor from home for an online ed company.

YAY!

If they like what they’ve seen and I am deemed an asset then come end of March they will extend my contract and my hours / responsibility.

Yesterday was my Mom’s birthday, but we’ve got a sick whole family is sick and we spent it snuggling, and sleeping for the most part.

so Happy Birthday Mom!

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Also – on Friday my laptop heaved a heavy sigh and began not staying turned on for more than 5 minutes at a time.

The netbook works for small stuff, but thanks to my best friend and dear cousin, I am now the owner of an ASUS K50.

Thank you Cuz.  I think I’ve said that a million times, but I’m saying it again.

I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, They are driving me insane. I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children, I love my children

My step brother in law has a girlfriend and together they have a little baby.

The Girlfriend also has three children – putting my mother in law in a similar position to my own mother.

These not grand children are given the same love by the family as if they were grandchildren, and it hopefully helps them in a sucky situation as their Bio dad is a twit who plays head games.

The eldest is 11, followed by the 7 year old – both girls, and then a 5 year old boy.

The younger two plus the Diva were playing wedding yesterday.  it was very cute…  the boy was the groom, my Diva was the bride and the 7 year old sister was the reverend.

It was all fine for the Diva… until he didn’t want to kiss the bride.  I had to explain that we never make someone play games they don’t want, and make believe weddings can happen without kisses. The Diva whispered in my ear that she wanted to kiss him though.

Flash forward to midnight where we get a call.  The Diva was going to stay the night with Grandma, but she wanted to come home. Grandma was sick and there was something she wanted her mommy for that she wasn’t talking to Grandma about.  Only Mommy.

One AM.  I am laying in bed with a weeping Diva.

“But Mommy – why wouldn’t he kiss me.  I thought I was pretty enough”

it doesn’t matter to her that little boys at age 5 don’t wanna kiss girls.  She has had her first heartbreak, and I am glad she felt she could come to Mommy…

I suspect there will be many more heartbreaks in the years to come, and I hope she comes to me through all of them and am thankful she felt she could turn to me to say why she was so sad.

They grow too fast.

So – October we passed around the swine flu with our family, and then had a week or two where we weren’t sick.

a few days ago I got hit with the worst sinus headache in a while.  Turns out it was likely a sinus infection.

Brushed my teeth with tea tree oil – man that tastes foul, and whoa!  It also managed to start breaking the infection.  I am now clearing it, and am coughing goo up.  Greenish goo – but it’s coming up, and clearing out.  I’ll do another Tea tree tooth brushing today as it really helps me recover.

Traditional Medicinals teas rock by the way.  I have been using them as well.  Their cold tea as well as a licorice tea.  Yummy, and hey – even if they may not be making headway in this cold – it sure feels like it.

Other than that – I’m ok.  getting back to spinning a little bit and that feels good, and resting to recover from this cold.

oh yeah – and submitting resumes to the Seattle area as that’s where the job inquiries have been coming lately.  I could handle living over in the Pacific Northwest.

Ok – I am alive. I just had to replace my keyboard for my laptop again. Thank you Garret for spilling coffee on it last week when I needed to be clear and coherent in written communications, and couldn’t.

Thank you Ebay for coming to my rescue with a replacement laptop keyboard for my Toshiba A-135.

Still no news on the job front.  I am seeing more leads – but am about to start my second federal extension.  UGH! I tell you it sucks.

The kids are awesome, and growing like weds.  Life could suck worse – but it doesn’t.  So for that I am thankful.  I have been listening to Juanes more and I have to say I’m just in love with his music.  It reaches me and makes me smile on a bad day.