Christine - Trained Doula

Thursday, April 25, 2013

God and United Rock

What a day I have had.  One that has taught me once more to rely on my God because only He knows the end of the story.

I booked a flight to visit my grandson.
 We found that it was cheaper to fly into Indianapolis instead of Louisville even with the two hour drive time to pick me up at the airport
Arrived at the Syracuse airport at 12:30 for my 2pm flight.
I'm all set to wait - have my computer, kindle, knitting, crossword puzzle book.
Little did I know how long that wait would become

Now, if you know me at all,...... really know me, you will know that I have overcome anxiety about being in unknown situations and flying by myself.  I have had to conquer fear of speaking up for myself with people  I don't know. It is something I have struggled with for decades. It is not just a butterflies in the stomach kind of nervousness.  I even got so far as to have chest pains. BUT you see I have found out that I am stronger than all of that.   I have overcome all of this only with the help of my Lord and Savior.

Through out the years, I have learned to place ALL my circumstances before him. And today was no different. At 2:00, I remained calm knowing that I would be able to board and make in to Cleveland in time to catch the plane to Indianapolis.  2:30 goes by, Praying to Jesus because he knows my situation.   3:00 we hear, flight will leave soon.  There by now is a shorter line at the boarding kiosk - 3 people.
I have been sitting around reading while Terrence (the United kiosk worker) tries to accommodate all the passengers who have other connecting flights, redirecting some to DC and boarding the on time flight to Newark.

When that still small voice says - get up now and stand in line.  Ok, why not. I have learned to listen to that voice - well most of the time anyway.
after 5 minutes, Terrence says the flight will leave at 3:30.  I can't see any one else after that last lady.  ME.

I patiently wait my turn and by now there is no way I am going to connect.

I muster up all my courage and say
" I'm not going to be able to make my connecting flight in IN.  Can you get me a complimentary flight to Louisville."
and terrence said - I can do that.

BUT that isn't the end of the story.
my daughter who was to pick me up in Indianapolis had car trouble.  She was stranded in Louisville.

SO you see God works ALL things out for good ....... because he knows the end of the story.
To me this is just another way for God to show me that he is in control.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

WHERE YOU HOMEMADE TOO??


Six year old Annie returns home from school and says she had her first family planning lesson at school. 
Her mother, very interested, asks "How did it go?"  
 
"I nearly died of shame!" she answers. 
"Sam from over the road says that the stork brings babies.
Sally next door said you can buy babies at the orphanage.
Pete in my class says you can buy babies at the hospital." 
 
Her mother answers laughingly, "But thats no reason to be ashamed."
 
"No, but I can't tell them that we were so
poor that you and daddy had to make me yourselves!"

Saturday, April 6, 2013

It's Saturday and .......

That's correct.  I am dyeing to experiment.
Since I needed some turquoise yarn to finish a soaker I started last Sunday, I wound up 4 mini skeins of 12 wraps along the drying rack and put them in a vinegar solution to soak.  In the meantime, I started my kettle to boiling and put my dyeing jar in.  The jar was from last weeks dyeing leftovers and I put into it the remaining 4 small bottles of varying turquoise colors.



Added the skein and let them cook for awhile.
Drained and they are drying on the rake.  
Might be a tad too light in color but we shall see.


Dry wool that I set on the bye water and let it naturally sink in.
Then I took the dye jar, added some vinegar, brought it back to a simmer and 
added a dry skein of yarn to see  - what will happen.  Letting it soak for 1/2 hour or so. (not very scientific)  After removal it looks good.  Darker than I thought.  

Almost fully emmersed.
Before rinsing with soapy water.

NOW ON TO BIGGER AND MORE ADVENTUROUS THINGS.

I got out the easter egg dye ---
mixed 4 oz. water and 1 T. vinegar.
the red didn't do anything.
I added food coloring and ended up with
4 bowls of purpley, blue, green and yellow-orange.
Took a small 1.2 ounce skein and colored four different sections.



wrapped in plastic and microwaved. 1 minute.
let cool and micro'd again
let cool, rinsed and hanging to dry.









Now, I am getting the "what would happen if" feeling.



I took the easter egg dyes - separated them, added some food color to some.
Soaked some yarn I found over at the house - white wool.



Added dye using my finger tips
Worked it into the yarn
Then rinsed - it diluted the colors and blended them.

Re-dyed, and repeated several times.
Microwaved it and am waiting to see the results.

let cool and unwrapped and it looks pretty nice. 
shades of blues, purples and pinks. 
it is drying and we will see how it looks tomorrow. 
































Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Dyeing for results

I really liked the last way I dyed my wool although it was a bit time consuming, 
and I didn't dye enough to finish the soaker.  



hand painted before knitting 


hand painted after making garment


hand painted individual mini skeins. 





Next project is to master photography. 
I never seem to get the correct color. 

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Dyeing part 4

Ok - here I go again.  Trial Number Four. 



Wrapped my drying rack in plastic. 


Making small hanks for dying 


 Each hank will be dyed a progressively darker color. 


Wrapped and ready microwave - steam


 After steaming


Rinsed and lightly wash to get out all the excess dye.


Separated back to the original hanks to dry. 





Tomorrow - this will be knit into another soaker. I think this is the way to go. 

Dyeing part 3

In my quest to get what I want in a dye job I moved onto attempt 3. 


I had a soaker already made in bare wool so I tried my 
hand at painting directly to the garment.


Soaking in vinegar and water


Garment is weighted down so it stays continually in the water. 


Color left over from 1st dyeing. 


Darkest bottle is applied to leg cuffs and crotch area. 


After steaming in the microwave. 


Nice color but that's because my camera is finicky.


Partially dry.


Finished product.  I wanted more gradation from light to dark but it's ok. 
I think I should have started with stronger dye stock. 


Thrift Stores Along the Mohawk

I LOVE going to thrift stores, finding that bargain,  a feeling a satisfaction, but my schedule doesn't make much time for it.  Never the less,  I still try to stop in to one once in a while.


Money Matters: Holiday shopping at thrift stores can lead to merry bargains




I Love the Mohawk Valley: Wink and The Clinton Coffee Cup




  • NEW 2 U Thrift Store
    • CNY Veterans' Outreach Center and Parkway Senior Center
    • 726 Washington Street Utica NY  315-724-6600
      • Mon & Fri 10 - 3; Tues & Thurs 10 - 2 Wed 9 - 3
      • All proceeds benefit Veteran and Senior Program
  • The Walk-In Closet on Facebook
    • 8010 State Rt. 12 Barneveld, NY  315-896-2050
      • Wed 10-4; Thurs 10-6; Fri 10-4; Sat 11-3
      • Consignment Shop
  • Revolve Consignment Shop
    • 2051 Madison Street Rome, NY  315-336-7467
    • open daily 11-3 - call for summer hours
  • Wink and the Clinton Coffee Cup 
    •  11 ½ W. Park Row in the village of Clinton
    • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday
  • Salvation Army
    • Rome 1184 Erie Boulevard West
    • Utica
    • Ilion

Bittersweet Pines Pre-Owned
4900 State Route 233
Westmoreland, NY 13490

Comin' Around Again
101 Mohawk Street
Herkimer, NY 13350

Cornerstone Consignment Shop
68 Morgan Street
Ilion, NY 13357
(315)894-0477

New York Connection
163 Genesee Street
Utica, NY 13501
(315)733-8008

The Sellers Avenue
190 West Main Street
Ilion, NY 13357
    (315)895-8929

Things You Like
6754 Martin Street
Rome, NY 13440
Phone: (315)339-5560

Thread of Life Thrift Store
100 Oriskany Boulevard
Whitesboro, NY 13492
Phone: (315)736-9956