Alaska and summer

I don't know if you can find a better combination of words.  We've got sun, sun sun.  Hours and hours of it.  And outdoor sports.  Boating.  Fishing.  Camping.  Biking.  Hiking.  Everybody is outdoors, enjoying the lengthy summer days. 

And then there's me.  I do get outdoors at least three times a day.  When I walk my dog.  Go to the store.  Water the blackberries.  The rest of the time, I'm holed up.  Putting words into play.  Researching all sorts of cool/interesting stuff.  Playing piano.  And doing handcrafts.  You name it.  I like doing it.  Okay.  That's not entirely accurate.  I'm not much of a knitter.  And I might as well just confess it. 

I'm a counted cross stitch addict.  

Hi!  Jackie Ivie here, blogging about - of all things - cross stitch.  Why?  Because it's incredibly fun.  Yes.  I do cross stitch.  I admit it.  I've usually got eight to ten projects going - which is why I finish so many.  I have so many options on what to work on, I'm never bored.  It's a perfect craft for long, dark, cold Alaska winters.  

And it's a great accompaniment while I'm watching a DVD/researching the latest thing in jet aircraft.  Or what an updated WWII Diesel truck would sound like.  Or the night Alexander the Great razed Persepholis.  Or looking over the Temple of the Jaguar in Tikal (city of the Mayan empire.)  Or learning about the Forbidden City.  Angkor Wat.  The theory of special relativity. 

What can I say?  I do all kinds of weird/cool research, because you just never know when you might need this sort of knowledge for your vampire.  Or maybe your historical.  Or maybe just to confound your kids.  Or maybe I really am the nerd my kids call me.

Then again...it could just be because it disguises my cross stitch addiction. 

 

And just last weekend, I got to start someone else on this addiction.  The art gallery in Palmer Alaska took part in the summer art walk (really cool idea, huh?). 

 

They asked me to partner up with 9-year-old Sammantha (you read that right.  She's Nine Years Old.  She's amazingly talented.  Already.)  Sammantha designs and constructs jewelry pieces, and I have to tell you, she's good.  And Sammantha brought something extra:  she has a little sister named Megan who is also extremely creative.  I spent some time with Megan, showing her the art of cross stitch, and assisting her with needles, and thread, and counting. 

(Yes.  That's us on the floor in this picture!) 

I had a ball!  Thank goodness we had people there with cameras - since I am never prepared - and we got some great photos. 

 

 

 

 

 

One is Sammantha, me, and the gallery owner, JoAnn. 

 

 

 

Another is of me and Audrey, a lovely woman who came by and let me tell her all about cross stitch. 

 

It's not just the pattern, you see. 

 

It's the material. 

And the weave. 

And the thread manufacturer. 

And the thread count. 

It's the beading. 

It's the metallic accents. 

It's the storage systems and pattern conversion,

and...

 

Oh dear.  There I go again.

**************   

 --- Jackie Ivie

 

CABIN FEVER

Okay.  Two days ago I actually asked the DH if we could go to the hardware store.  He was fixing one of the toilets (it was leaking and he’s got plumber on his resume).  So…I asked while he was working.  I was actually thinking it would be nice to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE for a bit – even if it was to the hardware store. 

But no.  He looked at me strangely and then went and found the parts he needed from his man-cave in the garage – and handled the fix.  Great.

Now.  He knows I am un-fond of the hardware store.  At anytime.  I’ve been known to get hives and run from the area if he takes too long looking at screws, or nuts, or bolts, or whatever. And he had me assist with picking out a faucet last year?  Ahhhh!  The only thing I buy from there is duct tape.  I have a great collection.  I use it to seal the sides of my fabric as I cross-stitch.  It’s quicker than sewing a baste stitch on it.  And looks kind-a cool.  I keep it on top the hutch.

You know what the real trouble is: 

 

 CABIN FEVER

See…I retired from my old day job. I stay home now and pretty much do a lot of busy work so I can avoid housework. It’s just me and the pets. How dusty can it be? Right?

And I have lots of interesting things to do I take care of the pets. I water and talk to the plants. I move from project to project throughout the day: stitching (by hand), crocheting (I use one basic stitch), sometimes I draw (rarely anymore)

 

I’ve been known to knit occasionally (when my arm hurts too much from the other stuff.  I’m that slow at knitting), and I also play a fairly decent bit of tunes on my old piano.  I also have a cello, but I’ve only played it…uh let’s see.  Can it really only be four times?  (Yikes!)  I also have an exercise room, but the less said about that, the better.  (I do use the weight machine to hang the large comforters on when I’ve laundered them) 

Oh.  One more thing.  I write romance.  I finished and sent in another historical to Kensington in New York.  It’s called Laird Ballanclaire.  It’ll be out in October.  I also self-publish a series called the Vampire Assassin league,   which means I’m also marketing, promotion, publisher, cover design approval, blurb writer, shipping department, contest entry department, street team moderator…etc.  etc. 

All this means is I have a lot to do to keep busy throughout the long, dark, cold, monotonous cold, dark, long Alaskan winter.  Did I mention how long the winter is up here? 

 

 And how cooped up we start to feel – despite all the busy stuff?  Oh.  I do get out.  I walk my dog(s).  The lab gets three walks a day.  Over a mile distance and an hour in time total.  In any weather.   The Boston Terrier only goes along if the weather is perfect – and he’s been wanting to go lately because there’s so much sunlight coming in the windows.  So, he’s been strapped into his harness and locked into his leash and about two minutes later, he’s ready to go back.  And because he’s super spoiled, he gets to.  Know why?

CABIN FEVER

Even the dogs are feeling it.  Where the heck is spring anyway?  Even 30 degrees would be nice.  The sun stays up a decent amount of time anymore.  It doesn’t get dark until after 9:00 pm up here, and it’s light about 6 am.  But is it warm?  No.  It’s sub-zero with new snowfall.  My truck is still half-buried with snow.  Here is a picture of conditions during out morning walk yesterday.  Gorgeous sunrise coming.  March 27^th.  Geez.  Look at all that snow.  It’s almost APRIL.  

I suppose I could try my hand at baking sweet rolls or something.  Maybe cookies.  I’ve got to do something to pass the time - that isn’t cleaning house.  I’m not spring cleaning until the weather cooperates.  Let’s see…I’ve got pans.  An oven.  Eggs.  Flour.  Sugar.  No.  Wait.  I’d eat it.  And then I’d have to use that exercise equipment.  I’ll just go work on my daisy cross-stitch.

And think warm thoughts.

Thanks for listening,

--- Jackie Ivie