I am working on Cyriac's new coat, hoping to get it done by Christmas, but not holding my breath on that one. Estrella is the main goal. He wants this very elaborate emboidery on the back. It is a heavy wool flannel, and doesn't seem to me like a very good base for a lot of detail. So should I stitch it onto linen and thn "applique" it on? Should I go ahead and stitch it directly onto the coat with more strands to make it show up? Or should I just tell him that this fabric won't work for embroidery. The coat is already cut out so the fabric choice is not negotiable.

I missed baronial council last night because we went to look at some "new to us" car. We got a silver 2003 Ford Taurus. Yeah! No more worries about the transmission going out on the road!

Well I have been spending part of my daytime learning the ins and outs of my new Murphy Loom, while looking longingly at my Warp-Weighted Loom, and my night card weaving on my modified inkle loom. Thought I'd post pictures.





The pictures don't look as clear as I would like, but there ya go. I'm no longer worried about starting and stopping new weft, as I am going to fringe the edge if I keep it for something anyway, have not got the hang of selvage. The tablet weaving is done and ready to send off, and I have no promised pieces in the works, though I want to do something for the 12th Night.

Back in August when Lane cut my 2 yards of Helga's leg wraps off my off my loom, I didn't cry. I didn't beat him, I didn't even yell. I calmly walked away from him, and then it took me 2 more months to get them done. It was my fault for leaving the scissors hanging on it with a 2 year old in the room.

Fast forward to tonight. I have worked on the current wire brocaded section for about 4 hours. When I stopped at the barn on my way up the driveway to feed the horses, I told them they could unbuckle but to stay in their seats. When I got back 3 minutes later the backseat was 2/3 empty. With dread I glanced in the hatchback and saw 2 little heads in the dark trunk on top of my loom. There was instant anger. There was flinging of little children out of the trunk there was yelling. There was door slamming. I can't think of another time I have been that angry with my kids. When I got the loom in the house, it was almost as bad as I had imagined. It was still on the loom, but 1 wire was broken, the last 3 or 4 sheds were stretched tight beyond recognition, the top peg which had been weak, was now broken, and I was missing a shuttle of wire. Went back to the car to find the shuttle, and now the tears started flowing, why me, why can't I keep anything nice, why did they not listen to me this time. In some ways its my fault for laughing when they have "hidden" in the back before. But I explicitly told them to stay in their seats because I knew my loom would be in danger. Waited till I calmed down to deal with my babies, because I was in no condition to be dealing with consequences in that mood. I suppose I'll take out a couple inches and try to salvage it later when they are in bed. And start looking for a nice little STURDY box loom again. And Craig will ask me, just how many looms do you need? 5 and counting...

Khalja and I went to look at a floor loom with me today. She declares it beautiful and in good shape. I see fabric in my future! My warp-weighted loom is going to be warped up with wicklebanders to start with pretty soon. And my inkle is busy busy with wire brocaded stuff, and trim for Their Majesties step-down. I did a bunch of extra stuff to trade, and put on Casey's new apron dress, and to put in a scrapbook because I don't think its good enough for garb. And very soon on my list is fake fur for Cyriac, and wire brocaded for me, and, and, and.... But I assure you I'm not obsessed!! If someone had told me 5 years ago that I was going to spend most of my spare time sitting still at a loom I would have told them that they were nuts!! Ahhh how 5 short years will change a family.

On the sewing side of things, I have a new apron dress for me in the hand finishing stage, I need to make a new underdress with trim this time. Casey needs a whole new under and apron dress, (darn those growing kids). Corey needs new pants before the season starts, and Cyriac would like a coat and his hat done! I'm also taking a gothic fitted dress class this weekend, and shhhh.....I'm making a burgundian gown for 12th Night that is half done. I just glanced at my "current projects box" Casey has a dress I let the hem down on and now need to make some finger-loop-braiding to cover the line, Corey's coat is half done, and needs a large cuff added because as Leif assured me he has already grown since I cut it out. There are 2 (shudder) mundane skirts that need mended, and the remains of a hat I started for Lane. I think I could be kept busy for most of the winter! But strangely I don't feel overwhelmed by this list...maybe that should worry me. I just feel strangely excited to be working on all of it at once!

And did anyone notice that there were several projects just for me in that list... :)~

Oh I forgot, I think I'm weaving for a Prince too...hee hee!

Laundry, dishes, weaving, nap, horse riding, meeting with personal trainer at new gym, horse trimming (feet), nap, 70 B-Day Party for Dad, more weaving, getting sick, having insomnia. Can a person fit all that into one day.

Asa, I'm not sure how you can have a crush on that Manazon of yours! I spent 30 minutes of which I was only working 3 minutes, with this trainer at the gym, and he almost killed me. Now I can see respect, maybe even liking him, but I don't think I could crush on someone who has the potential to kill me in the 45 minutes he wants to work with me. Don't know if I can afford him anyway. But it was interesting, he gave me some free advice and then told me "You're pretty flexible." (I let that one go, no explaination for the new guy about why I was smirking.)BTW, weight not moving but lost 1 1/2 inches off waist.

Got on my pony later (Quest) discovered he was lame, found some slight heat in his hind leg about 4 inches down from his "knee" (for the non-horsey types). But no swelling, and he could put full weight on it, just not taking comfy steps. Ended up trimming his feet instead and cleaning a stall.

Dad is 70. Once again a house full of 20 kids and 16 adults. And to think I tried to weave in the middle of all that caos! Worked though, made 2 inches in about 1/2 an hour. Geeked with my sis-in-law, whose daughter is starting to tablet weave.

The rest is kind of a blur...

Well thanks to the awesomeness that is Leif, who pointed out the one small flaw I was doing, I am much happier with the band I did tonight. Feeling bad for Khalja who is so much more an amazing weaver than I am. But going to see if I can help her speed her process up on Sunday. Very late, I should be sleeping. Night all!

Well Quest to Be Wild came home today. 6 years old, Appy Sport Horse Gelding. 15.3 hands and still a winter to grow. I'm going to spend the winter training him to the games then perhaps in the spring he can find a new SCA home. Though he would be cheaper now, before I put all the training into him.

Well I got my wish, the gym kicked my ass tonight. I took a friend, who is going to join with me, so that made it good. And I upped the weights so I was actually working out instead of playing, and that was good. Worked with the weight balls and my partner, and did good cardio after. All in all SUCCESS. I am looking forward to being sore tomorrow, and then go do it all again!! Yeah!

Taking a short break from weaving to post.
 
I went to the new gym for the first time today. I don't think it kicked my butt, and that bums me out a little, 20 min joggin', 20 min biking, 10 min eliptical/stairs. Then weight machines. I feel a little focusless on the weight machines. I will be making an appointment with the trainer in the next week, but for now I'm on my own. I'm hoping I have some sort of soreness tomorrow to prove that I did something right. Normally I just run, so the bike and elliptical are new to me.

Went to Corey and Casey's School Halloween Carnival tonight, and won a membership to the brand new gym  in the raffle!!! How freakin' perfect. I am so excited, and since Craig was the one stuffing the raffle box for me I know he isn't going to have a conniption about me taking off after the kids go to bed most nights. I can hardly wait to start!!! After the month is up we will see, its awfully far out of my budget, but there is another less expensive gym in town too.

Happiest of Birthday's to you Inga!!

173#, that's 2 pounds down...Yeah, I really thought I would fail this week in the beginning when I hoped to be good. Now I'm happy and even more motivated. Decided to do measurements too.
Waist 37, Hip 42.5 and the hip is where I will lose it first, then the boobs, and lastly waist.

Got Helga's first leg wrap done, I had such a hard time getting it done after Lane destroyed the first attempt. Now I think I can get through this one in my usual quick time. But when I went to warp it today I realized that when you use uphalf your warp and it gets ruined, you need to order more yarn. Eee gads, well its on its way and I should be warped up and running by Saturday I hope. In the mean time I want to order silver for wire brocaded weaving and play with that.


Diet is....well....going. I feel great about today, not so great about last weekend, but that is what makes Wednesday a great weight day, you have 3 days to fix what you ruined on the weekend. Bad thing is....the hard working hubby type wants chocolate chip cookies, wonder how many of them I'll have to taste test.

Horses are getting fuzzy for winter. Martin tried to attack and bite Rhodi for being an attention hog, and got Leif instead....sorry again Leif, for like the 100th time. Want to get lots of riding time on Quest this winter so that he is ready to sell come spring, unless someone wants to take him now for $1500. If he is all game trained in the spring the price will climb. Appy/TB cross, pushing 16 hands, will probably grow a little more, Bay roan. And I'm looking forward to an upgrade on my horse trailer when he sells.

Lasic, went for an exam and I am a perfect candidate...now to save the money, because we won't finance it. And if you pay cash its $200 less. $1400 its already at $150 in the envelope, thats over 10% there. Yeah!

Well since it seems to be taking on a life of its own I though perhaps there should be guidlines, and a prize, so since I started this ball rolling down a short 3 month hill I'll list the guidlines, and they can be edited as others involved see fit. So far I know for sure that aelfgyfu, ya_inga,  and I are interested, please add your name to this list if you wish, and aelfgyfu, you may want to repost this on your journal, as some people seem to be interested that are not on my list. 

Guidlines:
Join anytime, but in the next couple weeks would be best.
If you want in on the prize at the end put in $10. Payable at 12th Night to the winner.
Post every so often how you are doing, maybe once a week. I'll be posting on Wednesdays.

If you have anything to add to this feel free.


Starting Weight for me 175#, as of this morning. Ready, set, GO!

ETA: It seems we are going to go with inches or pounds for those of you who want in but want to lose inches. We split the pot at the end between the pounds loser and the inches loser. Does this mean I want to be a loser?? Hmmmm Must examine that one later.

 I seem to be approaching winter like a  polar bear does, fattening up, unfortunetly for me I don't sleep the winter away and lose it all. There are feasts, and holiday dinners in my future.  To put it bluntly, I have reached critical mass. I am determined to get back on the wagon and start losing this extra weight that snuck up on me. Wish me luck!

Wanted one last camping/party weekend, and Dragon's Laire did deliver. Had a good time on Hondo, since I didn't take Martin the Wonder Pony. Gave my fav DL Baroness a little riding lesson, and celebrated Talon's White Scarf all in one day. It was made of win! Now for an eventing rest until Yule.

The Weather: I didn't mind the weather very much. It rains in the NW, get over it! LOL  The fact that it pushed the EQ championship back a few hours annoyed me more than anything, but it worked well in the end, we road in the sunshine, instead of the rain. Our fabulous Panther A-frame doesn't leak, so its all good. We had fire, we had friends, it was good!

The Fighting: Supporting Arns and Leif was awesome as always! I love the massive amount of love poured out between all the fighters and consorts. The twins were super duper cutey patooties! There were a lot of really great fights to watch and cheer for our guys. Awesome job to Octa!!! Molly was the cutest thing sitting on Mom's lap in the finals.

The Kids: Thank you Lord for the nanny. Corey pretty much glued himself to Devon for the weekend, I knew that was going to happen. But Casey and Lane wanted to glue to me, Casey took it in stride when she had to stay, but Lane had a little meltdown everytime I went somewhere. Mornings were rough, as we tried to keep them semi-quiet while waiting for the rest of camp to wake up. But they were great and we had absolutely no midnight crying...YEAH! Thanks Jessica!

And finally the EQ Championship!!
I think it was more my luck that won this for me. Allison and Miranda both kept me on my toes. Cyriac had left at 8am to run home and get the plethora of stuff we forgot or didn't think about. He still wasn't there when I went in the ring for my run. Then as I was waiting for the all clear to begin I heard him cheering me from the sideline! I cried! I didn't realize how much him being there ment, and now it means all the more that he was there. My run went fabulously, Martin was a star! He's the most awesome boy for me when it matters. Missed one reed, and two rings, I think I hit everything else right on. It was a short course because it was supposed to be timed. Because of the rain we didn't time it, which made a huge difference with my Martin boy. Most of you know the kid isn't fast (though he showed some speed on the victory lap). Going into the finals it was Allison, Miranda, and I in the finals, along with Raph, and Francesca. After coming out round one in the lead I knew it was going to come down to me missing the target in round two archery. Instead I got one lucky (and I do mean LUCKY) shot. Archery is hecka hard at a run. While I got lucky, no one else did. Hence I get to spend the next year promoting EQ in An Tir!! Yeah, and I get to go to Estrella as a Champion!! Whoo Hoo!!!

Standing behind the Thrones: I found out I can't stand there and look pretty like everyone says I need to. I must have a job, Inga knows what I mean. I was stepping in as ret, getting things for the queen (got in trouble for that one), etc. If I stand back there with nothing to do I will go nuts or get into trouble with G. The peanut gallery in the front row was as always entertaining.

So I just noticed today that I wasn't signed in any longer, who knows how long ago that happened. But  I actually thought there  was nothing going on in anyone elses lives right now and no one was posting. So this is for all I missed.

Toe cutting friend: Ouch, don't do that again! Happy healing.
Ranting getting in shape friend: What a bitch (the boss not you)! I hope that boss of yours is fat!
Teachers with bad days: Just remember you are shaping the world, and in the eyes of at least one child you are their eyes to the world.
Parent that worries about daycare changes: Keep a close eye on this new teacher, she better take the best care of little Apple.
Madder growing friend: I wanna come play sometime, do I have to wait 3 years? Awesome pic in the paper!


Don't know who I've missed but I'm sure its someone, and I'm super sorry. Hope everyone has as awesome of a weekend as I did, and I hope that this week goes better for all of you!!

Crown update when I'm not so tired.

I think I hate homework as much as Corey. There is crying, flayling around, throwing himself on the floor. Moaning that he hates school, and he hates homework, and he's so stupid. None of which are true. And its only day 5, this should be a fun year. I so want to tell him he doesn't have to write in cursive, why should they anyway. I think cursive is as stupid as he does. Pointless really. I haven't written in cursive in at least a decade.  I'd rather he was practicing printing so that I can read it.  I think I'm going to cry and throw myself on my bed now.