Weaving

I started working on some towels today.  Aren't they pretty?

I wound up this warp a long time ago...last year some time?  But I just couldn't motivate myself to weave.

Now that I'm living alone and don't have to worry about the time I'm spending away from my partner, I can weave whenever and for however long I feel like it...and that's a pretty amazing feeling.

So, some towels are begun!

I saw a beautiful sunset

...so yesterday after putting the loom together and working for 8 hours and just in general being a really tired and grumpy self, I went out for ice cream.  Actually I was going to do the frozen yogurt thing and went to the place near the Safeway where I like to shop...big fail there...so off to Safeway to grab a few yummy pints (and some coffee because man did I buy some nasty coffee).

And I walked out of the store looking to the west and oh-man the most beautiful sunset.  Clouds over the mountains, bright yellow rays of sun beaming through.  And I got to drive all the way home looking at that. I'm so glad I didn't wreck into anyone because it was incredibly distracting.

And moving.

I cried, y'all.  I've never cried because of the beauty of a sunset before, but I did yesterday.  (Hell, I'm crying now thinking about it).

My heart felt full.  I felt beauty and it felt so good.  I was happy and I knew it.  I wanted to sing and shout and talk to everyone I know and tell them how amazing it is to live in Reno and be able to see a sunset like that all because I decided to give into my craving for ice cream.

I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to experience such a wonderful thing and for opening up a world of opportunities here for me.

I have no idea where my life is going and right now I'm totally ok with that. I love where I am and the lofty ideals and goals have no place for me. I'm going to have fun, meet people, get to know myself, and just enjoy the riches and bountiful beauty that's all around me.

I'm truly blessed.

-----

As you may recall, one of my favorite things about living in Texas, and one of the things that I missed the most all those years I lived in Kentucky and then Mississippi was the bluebonnets.  Now that I'm living in Nevada, I'm not likely to see them again for a while, so Mom bought me some metal ones and aren't they just the thing for my patio.

The kindness of strangers

Well...the loom arrived this afternoon as planned.  So nice to know it is here.  One of my work colleagues volunteered to come by and help me with it if the FedEx guy wouldn't deliver it up to the apartment, but I'm happy to report that the FedEx guy delivered it to the apartment.  The neighbor came out to help.

It took a while to get it all back together because it wasn't closed up properly before shipping so all of the harness cables had come unhooked.  It took a while but I managed to get them hooked back up.  All but one and it was broken so I've already ordered a replacement.  Yea!

SO, the weaving will commence soon.  If you want something, let me know.  I sell at a fairly reasonable price and the stuff you get is AMAZING (I couldn't lie about that!).

Anyway, One day, if I manage to build some inventory I'm going to open an Etsy shop, but until then, just send me a personal message to lesliestbutler at gmail dot com and I'll talk with you.

(I don't typically promote my wares on my blog so I hope you'll forgive me for doing so, but I've not sold for a long time and wanted folks who've been asking to know that I'm ready to start taking some orders!)

The Loom

I just received a phone call letting me know that the loom has arrived in Sparks and is ready to be dropped off at my apartment.

I'm very excited about this.

I'm also a touch worried because said loom is rather large and won't be easily lifted up a flight of stairs.  Impossible to do alone, and I know so few people still.

I'm hoping for the kindness of strangers, or for one of my work colleagues to be willing to come along and help me out...I'll let you know what develops.

For now, it's a retro picture of me on my loom...

One month ago

So, yesterday it was one month since I left Mississippi to embark upon my great adventure of yarn, love, and taking care of myself.

And it's been such an amazing month.  I've done so many things I didn't know I could do:

• walk 10000+ steps on a regular basis at work
• drove 4 days straight in a car with two cats, all by myself
• lugged huge boxes up a flight of stairs, again all by myself
• built many bookshelves, all by myself
• slept on the floor for 3 weeks

I've also cooked, cleaned, grocery shopped, gotten gas in my car, and explored my neighborhood.  I've found the Post Office and know where the parks are.  I know where the major shopping areas are as well, though I haven't gone to them to shop because I'm trying not to spend too much money.

I've started getting comfortable in my apartment, am hanging pictures and feel that a routine is settling in somewhat.

I'm loving my job and "mostly" avoiding spending my entire paycheck on yarn.

And the kitties...the kitties are loving life in Reno just fine.

Smoke, Part 2

The smoke continues to be really bad.  My reactions to it today weren't so bad as they were this weekend, but I do have to say I do not want to be outside.  This is what it looked like when I left work today:

If you need a comparison, go to my other blog post where I was bragging about the awesome mountain scenery I would see everyday when I leave work.

-----

I knitted away on that shop sample hat last night but I got tired...it was a hard day at work yesterday.  Today wasn't so bad and I did get to get on the phones and "eavesdrop" as Jeanne talked with customers.  I will do this for a week or so until I'm comfortable with all the things I'll need to do and then I'll start taking the calls and have someone eavesdrop while I interact with the customers.

JBW continues to be such an awesome place to work, and everytime my brain tried to think of the divorce or the changes in my life, I reminded myself that I picked myself up and got here and that this is a great place for me to be and that I am going to be wonderful.

And it worked, y'all.  The negative thoughts went away and I wasn't even aware that they'd gone away.  I love the power that we can have over our attitude and our circumstances.

Life is, indeed, good.

Smoke

I'm learning all kinds of new things living out west...like there's fire season and it comes with some amazing sunsets.

And smoke that makes it really hard to breathe and apparently irritates my sinuses and eyes something terrible.  Hopefully my eyes won't look like they did yesterday.  That was really bad.

-----

I worked the 9:30-6 shift today.  It was hot.  And smoky this afternoon.  We had to close the warehouse bay doors to keep the smoke out.  It got hotter in there without any air moving.

I was tired at the end of it.  I'm so glad I cooked soup yesterday because dinner tonight was super easy and tasty...and now I'm done and can finally go shower this stinky self.

-----

But before I go I want to share my shop sample that I'm working on.  It's the St. Stephen's Hat by Classic Elite Yarns and is knit in Fresco.  If you buy the pattern and the 5 colors needed to do the colorwork hat you can actually get 4 hats out of all that yarn!  I'm going to do both the stripe one (that's what's on the needles right now) and the colorwork one and then see if I'm interested in continuing to do two more.  Could be good give-aways or Christmas gifts or something.

----

and finally, if you want to go look at the awesome people that I work with, please do!  I'm so proud to be part of this team (and tomorrow, they're putting me on the phones...)