Happy New Year!

Another new year! Another bright and shiny clean page in the book of life!

I don't know about you, but I can't start my year without reflecting on the past year. On the whole, it was a good year for the Merry Karma. I celebrated a milestone birthday in October and there were many other blessings bestowed throughout the 365 days.  

One of the past year's blessings is that The Kid graduated from college. It has been a long time coming, but we are beyond thrilled and proud of him. Another blessing is our grandson's graduation from high school. And still another, I became a great grandmother. Of course, I also count my health, my family and friends, the roof over my head, the clothes on my back, the food in my stomach, and all kinds of things as incredible blessings for which I am humbled and grateful.

However, and I know y'all knew there had to be a "however," it had some bumps. I suppose the overriding, or under riding, theme of the past year was and still is to some extent, I've lost my place. I'm not really sure what I want to be or who I am right now. Having that milestone birthday made me reflect on the whole of my life thus far, and while I have more blessings than I can count and a heart full of gratitude, there is a feeling of time slipping by and so much left I'd like to do.

I suppose I am now a woman of a certain age (WOACA), but what does that mean? On the inside, I feel 27 on my best days and not all that much older on my worst. On the outside, well, I certainly don't look as young as I feel, but I can deal with that.

Since moving to Fort Worth, I've tried to make new friends, join new clubs and really engage with my new town. I've been successful at some things, and not so successful at others. I follow some precious young women on Instagram who have kept me abreast of all my new town has to offer. I've met some in real life, and they are fun and precious, but I had a startling realization recently, which added to my cloud. I don't really fit in. There are a plethora of women-empowering platforms in this city, but when I look around, they comprise groups of younger women. I feel as if they are thinking, "What's this old lady doing here?" 

Don't get too sad for the Merry Karma though. In the last several weeks, I've been feeling the sunlight. I've been trying to figure out what I don't like and how to change it, as well as what I want and how to attain it. 

I hope to share the journey with y'all from time to time. It helps keep me accountable. 

Now, I will get back to my regularly scheduled New Years Day activities and let you get back to yours.

MK out.

Reflections

Although I do try to savor the Christmas season as it is happening, I think there's so much going on before Christmas that it sometimes gets away from me.  During the days after until the end of the year, I do take time to reflect on the past month and the past year.

I still listen to Christmas music (although SiriusXM already stopped playing Christmas music - I thought tomorrow was supposed to be the last day). I keep the decorations up until at least January 7th. I also catch up watching the last of the Hallmark Christmas movies that premiered this year and I recorded. It's a nice peaceful, yet festive time.

I am looking forward to a fabulous year and wish one for you too.

MK out.

Don't Faint

For those of you who have followed my blog for a while, you will know the significance of this picture.

MK out.

The Long-Awaited Eclipse Post

I've been meaning to write this post for weeks...WEEKS!

By the time I had processed the awesomeness of the eclipse experience and was ready to sit down to share it with you, Hurricane Harvey entered the Gulf of Mexico. My brother and his family evacuated (early, thank goodness - thereby avoiding traffic issues) and came to our house. Between The Weather Channel's continuous hurricane coverage, spending time with the princess niece and all the other stuff called Life, the post was forgotten. They did go home, and very gratefully were spared any damage. Other friends (and people I don't know) were not so lucky. My heart goes out to all of the Hurricane Harvey victims.

Now, there's been another hurricane threatening life and limb in Florida and surrounding states, where many friends and family members, as well as a whole host of people I don't know live. I've been thinking that it would be inappropriate to write a post about a really cool thing when so many people are about to lose, and have already lost, their homes, possessions and even lives.

Then I thought about how Life is a dichotomy.  It's tough and not always fair, but it can be really, really beautiful and wonderful. So, even though we have property directly in Hurricane Irma's path that will most certainly be damaged and/or lost, I need the reminder that this world has much good in it. It's the good with the bad, the bitter with the sweet...Life.

So, let me tell you about the eclipse.

Several years ago, The Husb noticed that there was going to be an eclipse on August 21, 2017. He thought it would be a fun event to witness. Fast forward to mid July 2017. No further thought had been given regarding said eclipse. Until, the news mentioned it. Then, while going over hotel reservations for an upcoming trip to Colorado, The Husb noticed that we had plans to spend a few days in Fort Collins beginning August 20 as part of our trip - and we had made the reservations months before. He was happy, because he figured that we would already be up that way, and we could just drive up to Wyoming that morning to pretty close to the line of totality for a great vantage point.

Let this sink in for a second. By sheer dumb luck, or maybe the universe felt that The Husb could use a happy, we just happened to have reservations 150ish miles away from a most awesome astronomical event. We knew that there would be traffic. We knew we'd have to get up at the crack of dawn. If we had not had those reservations already in hand, however, there was a good possibility that we wouldn't have been able to witness the eclipse in totality. 

I can not begin to explain the degree of eclipse fever we encountered almost a week before the 21st. All the Denver area news could talk about was the eclipse. There were news reports about getting on the road early, the lack of hotel rooms from Denver all the way up I-25 into Wyoming, making sure one had the correct eclipse glasses and what to do if one didn't have any glasses. It was crazy!

Finally, the day arrived. 

We got up at 5:15 and were on our way by 6:15. We turned on the Waze app and it got us to the highway, avoiding the most congested intersection. We headed towards Torrington, 
Wyoming. There were a lot of cars on the road, but it really wasn't that bad. 

As we got closer, the road was getting fuller. We came up to a rest stop and thought it would be a good idea to utilize it in case before the traffic became impossible. We pulled in and pulled right on out who we saw her many cars were parked and how many people were waiting in line to use the restrooms.

So, off we drove. About 20 miles south of Torrington, the traffic was still light enough that we decided to look for a last chance place for a potty break. We found what was basically a bar that was open. While standing in a short line for the WC, a local man recommended a back way that would take us to a little town called Lingle. His son had reported that there was a two-mile back up getting into Torrington that was basically a parking lot on the highway. We thanked him, did our business and were on our way.

After a few miles, we came upon a couple offering part of their land by the side of the road. It was $10 to park, but they had amenities! They had parked their travel trailer with two bathrooms there, and they had drinks and snacks. 

By then, it was about 10:00. In thirty minutes, the eclipse was about to begin. There were a few other people who had parked there and everyone was settling in for the show. We ate sandwiches with the fixings we had brought along. The air was charged with the electricity of anticipation.

Of course, I had eclipse knitting with me.

Here's The Husb assuming eclipse watching position.

When the eclipse started, I put on my NASA approved glasses and saw a cookie bite taken out of the sun. It steadily got bigger and bigger. The light around us started getting eery.

Finally, totality started! The corona was magnificent! It was much darker and cooler. The temperature got down to 71 degrees. Venus appeared in the sky. There wasn't a sound around us, except for the periodic "whoop!" from a fellow watcher. Otherwise, all of nature was at a standstill. I cannot adequately describe the awesomeness of the experience. It was truly a magical moment.

I couldn't get a good shot of the corona with my iPad. It just looks like a normal sun in the sky; so, I decided to soak it all in. For about two minutes, we enjoyed the corona without our special glasses. I felt so alive and connected! 

There's supposed to be another eclipse in about seven years. Totality runs right thru Dallas. I'm already making plans.

MK out.

Seriously?!?

I was cruising along on my Find Your Fade shawl. Last Thursday, I was using the third color and into the sixth section.

Soon after the picture was taken, I noticed a dropped stitch in the first couple of rows of the lace section. I frogged back and put the project aside to cool off for a bit.

Through the weekend, I picked it up here and there and did a few rows.

Last night, as I was finishing the last row in the lace section and I noticed a dropped stitch.

Son of a Beach!!!

I really don't have the heart to rip back all that work. I think I will put the shawl aside for a while and think about what I want to do.

Suggestions welcome.

MK out.

Merry Christmas 2016!!!

Ho, ho, ho and fa-la-la-la-la!

We are having a nice time at Chez Merry Karma. Family has come and gone. Presents have been opened, dinner has been eaten and things are back in their places.

This week was busy, but not in a preparing-for-Christmas kind of way. I had finished the Christmas sewing a while back. Now that they've been distributed, I can show you the official 2016 Christmas Gift.

Everyone got Christmas themed pillowcases.

Even Bitty Baby got one.

I'm wishing all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Serene Solstice and Joyous Kwanzaa!!!

MK out.

A Little Early Christmas Cheer

I have an online group of knitting friends.  I've met quite a few of them IRL, as we have had some meet ups in the past.  Every year, we hold a Secret Santa swap and I have participated several times.

This year, my Secret Santa is someone who has been my Secret Santa before.  She has also been my Scarf Swap Sister too.  She is one of my good friends in this group, and she holds another special place in my heart because she lives in The G.  She keeps things under control for me there, since I can't get down to the place often enough.

As she has on the previous occasions, she sent me some really cool stuff:

Here's the group shot of the opened packages:

Can you guess what this little gem is?  I've seen them before and thought they were really cool.

It's a purse/bag hanger! Isn't it clever? I know I will get good use of it.

There's some needle point protectors:

Aren't these wooden buttons cute?

She crocheted this snowflake:

I love this cute note pad - I am a sucker for note pads.  I love to write down the things that are swirling around in my head so I can make room for more:

The Knitter's Reference Card will come in handy and the yarn is to dye for: (Did you catch the pun?)

It's a gorgeous MCN (merino-cashmere-nylon blend) in an aptly named color - Wine on the Deck. It's Special Delivery Sock by Catawampus Farms and a portion of the proceeds is donated to support midwifery care for women and children in the US. I think that's really cool!

And she included lots of saltwater taffy from one of my fave spots on The G - La King's Confectionery. It's an old fashioned soda fountain kind of place.

I cannot thank her enough for all the Christmas magic she included in this package!!!

MK out.

WIP Wednesday 12/10/2014

I took some pictures on Sunday in the hopes of writing a Start Something Sunday post, but things got away from me.  It's that time of year - the one of the frantic running around, lists that seem to grow longer despite crossing things off of them, events to attend and people to see.

My house looks like a tornado went through. I've set up stations in the den and kitchen: card addressing/envelope stuffing/stamp affixing, ironing, sewing projects, general paperwork shuffling/attending, knitting (for Christmas, of course) and wrapping/packaging to mail.  It's not the most efficient way to get things done, because I bounce around from thing to thing and get sidetracked within each category, but for some reason - I do get things done and it's comforting in a manic sort of way.

I am giving handmade gifts (read knitted and sewed) for the first time in a while. I don't relish deadline making and finishing. Historically, my handmade gift forays have been of the last minute variety.  Two months ago, I noticed that the gift box is rather full. I enjoyed making all the items, I loved the yarn and was thoroughly charmed the whole time I worked on the projects, but I cannot keep everything! So, I am down to three items still to make.  I cannot tell what each item will be yet, because there's a slight chance (as in 10 to the minus 14) the recipient will read this post before Christmas and his or her surprise will be spoiled.

So, here's what is on the needles - First up, I am making something out of these yarns:

I've already started this item. I am using some of my leftovers of Lion Brand Wool Ease. It's a good yarn to make things for easy care items. 

Secondly, I am making something out of this yarn - and I have started this item also. I think it is by Lamb's Pride:

I haven't quite decided what to make for the third gift, but I still have a little time. Don't I?

Finally, I have started my final project for Loopy Academy this semester - mittens!  

As you can see, I am not very far along, but I have until the 31st to complete them. The pattern is Outbound. The yarn is Dream in Color Classy with Cashmere in Lipstick Lava.  I may keep these, or they will go into the gift box for some future occasion.

I think this elf better get busy!

MK out.

It's a Christmas Miracle!

We bought a new tree Sunday. Today is December 2nd and I just finished decorating it. 

It's not a record, but it is a Christmas miracle.

MK out.

A Recent FO...

...of sorts:

That's my completed passport from my adventures participating in the Yarn Along the Rockies yarn crawl.  (Sorry for the blurry picture.) This year, crawlers had from September 13th until the 21st to visit 24 shops.

Since I was in the area due to Fall Fling and visiting with family and friends, I thought "Why not?"

I hit 12 shops the first day, 9 on the second and 3 on the third.  It was fun.  I've been going to the Denver area for the last 29 years and I had never really seen Denver.  Well, now I can truly say I have.  There are some really neat neighborhoods and 24 shops I'd like to revisit.

I purchased the official bag of the crawl to place all the pins I collected from the shops along the crawl:

One pin is missing because they had run out! 

It was fun and it made me get ready for the DFW Yarn Crawl that's coming up next month...in fact it starts next Friday!

Hope to see y'all on the crawl...

MK out.

Just Shellin'

Growing up in the G, we'd go to the beach frequently, but we never really went shelling.  We'd find shells and sometimes take them home with us, but it was more of a "Oh, that's pretty!!!" spontaneous or happenstance moment - not a dedicated activity. 

We have some friends visiting and since we are at the beach, we had to go.  

My friend Harriet taught me how to shell.  Her family has been taking beach vacations for years and that's an activity they enjoy.

My first day's haul:

Harriet turned me onto the shells known as Kitten's Paw.  They are the ones on the bottom row of the picture. The shells are found in nature attached to coral. They are a bivalve - like clams and mussels, but instead of a hinge holding them together, they depend on their attachment to the coral.  

My second day's haul:

I found a plethora of Kitten's Paws - in many different colors and sizes.  They really charmed me, as you can tell.  I picked up about a hundred of them. (There's a penny in the picture for scale.)

I got lots of the doubles:

I like this double that has a smaller one attached:

Here's the teeniest one I found:

My third day's haul:

Shelling is fun...

...I highly recommend it.

MK out.

The Reluctant Gardener

I told "those people" I wanted a low maintenance garden...because I'm not a gardener.  

I went for a power walk in the neighborhood this morning.  It was a beautiful morning...there was a nice breeze, it was cooler, the birds were singing...I call such a morning a Katina morning, because my momma and I would enjoy those kinds immensely.

My neighborhood is beautiful.  Everyone keeps their gardens and yards so nice.  Probably because most people around here have gardeners.  They have the kinds of gardeners that change out the seasonal flowers, maintain the current flowers and plants, put out mulch and pick weeds...in addition to the basic lawn mowing and bush pruning.  My gardener falls into the latter category...he's just a lawn mower and bush pruner.

Remember Shirley MacLaine's character, Ouiser, in Steel Magnolias? I've always wanted to be a Ouiser type character in my old age - but figured I wouldn't make a good one, or at least a complete one, because I don't wear big hats and garden - as all good southern ladies do.  I can make a mean pitcher of lemonade though...

Anyway, I have many, many knockout rose bushes at the new house.  They were all blooming and going crazy about a month ago. You can catch a glimpse of a few along the back fence in this picture:

Well, about two weeks or so ago, all the blooms on every stinking one were dead - in the front and back yards.  

I was miffed.

I spent about an hour this morning deadheading some of the bushes in the front:

See that one bush in the top picture?  It's getting pretty with blooms again. Yay. See those sickly looking abelias next to those pretty blooms, and again in the left side of the bottom picture?  Yeah...I don't know where to begin with those...

I still have these groups of roses in the front to go, but it was getting a little too sunny for me to be out there for too long:

I still have the whole back yard to do too - see them?  Under the crepes?:

...and that's just part of the bushes along the fence.

Oy.

Now, these beauties...they don't ask a thing of me:

I cut the three biggest blooms to bring inside:

I just know my momma is looking down and having herself a good laugh.

MK out.