Things I have learned in the past two days

Do NOT let your husband empty the bucket of ashes!!!!!!!

Yes, Dear Mr. Myrtle started a fire outside our house yesterday after he emptied the bucket of ashes that I'd placed outside only a little earlier in the day and that had some hot coals in it.

Do yell "Fire" in the house, to get all volunteer fire fighters to respond to said fire outside the house. They did respond quickly.

Do NOT believe fires are obvious to 14 year olds. Said fire had grown from maybe a 2' diameter circle to over a 6' diameter circle next to where I plant my garden and my second son did not see it or the smoke which was easily seen from our porch.

OK, I'll give him a break. He'd set a grass fire in our lower pasture in early January after throwing a firework into our fire pit and thinking the pit wasn't hot. The rocket launched and set the pasture on fire and burned a 50' strip down the pasture. So instead of looking near the house he was looking at the fire pit area and trying to figure out where the fire was.

Do have your spouse and children become volunteer fire fighters. This is the third fire that has been set since we bought our property 11 months ago. Twice my Dear Mr. Myrtle and once by second son. This way they are able to put out the fires they start. Luckily for me they don't do it on the worst wind days, or we might not have a house left.

Oh, and for a good learning experience, I have to say I now have my new drivers license and will have a son most likely getting his learners permit tomorrow. When you allow your children to choose the time they want to start learning, instead of pushing them, they think about it and choose a point in time that they are ready to handle it. DS1 could have gotten his learners permit 2 years ago in NM, but didn't want to because he didn't feel he was ready. A month ago he started talking about finally wanting to explore the idea and today he decided he was ready for the written test. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

-Myrtle

It's Cold! I flew back to MO yesterday and arrived just in time to experience a new cold wave arriving and bringing snow. Although all we've had is snow flurries so far, it's still only in the mid 20's for our high today.

My third son baked me a coming home cake and my first son had fun decorating it.

I worked on my shawl the first leg of my trip since I had no one else in my row of seats and could spread out the pattern. My shawl most likely won't be worked on for the next several weeks, but I'm hoping to get some time in on it at some point soon again. After knitting rows 195-201 multiple times, trying to get all the stitches right, I finally did it. I'm officially on row 205 now.

However, it was working on a new pair of socks for the second leg because it was a very full flight. These socks are from the last Rockin' Sock Club of 2008 shipment. They are using the Holidaze pattern and the Autumn Muddy Rainbow Blue Moon yarn. I think I'll call them my ThreeForks sock because the pink color is basically the same salmon pink color of my ThreeForks shirt and they will also easily go with my green and blue ThreeForks shirts as well.

Mavis is trying to talk me into going to the 2009 Sock Summit in OR. I'm even thinking about it. So Maude, do you want to join me and see about making it a mini retreat weekend with Mavis and I?

-Myrtle

it's Saturday..

It is Saturday - one of my work outside of the house days. This means it is also a day to pack a lunch. Today's lunch I can state with conviction was not one of the best. What was it? White Bean hummus on rice. One can be quite creative at 3am and not be thrilled about it by 11am. :-/

Tonight it is my 12 hour on-call night (which happens to follow the day's 12 hour shift) . I am hoping to get a good nap before I am called out.

-Mavis

PS Myrtle, Sock Summit 2009 is Aug 6-9, 2009 http://www.socksummit.com

Mavis, I too have been thinking about the procrastination and sabotaging of myself. I've noticed the same behavior from myself recently and began wondering about this. I was never this way until recently. I looked back to the way I was as a child, in college and even in my early working life and at that time I always tackled tasks as they happened. If I need to write a paper it was started right after it was assigned and I never dilly-dallied over it.

So now I'm starting to wonder if this is more of a learned behavior, which I learned actually from Mr. Myrtle. I'm also starting to think it might be a major sign of depression because I'm worst about my procrastination when I am depressed.

As of lack of self worth, I know I too struggle with this aspect in my life. It's something I've been reminded of quite often these past two weeks by our brother. I don't really care how much my adult side of me tells me I am valuable, the little child in me questions this constantly and can find numerous reasons as to why I am not worthy of good things.

I doubt this helps you much, but I do believe there are reasons why things don't happen as fast or the way we'd like. I know as we traveled I used to get so upset by mechanical delays in our schedule, but as I look back at almost everyone of these times, I can see good by what happened. Like the Christmas we were at your house and my second son was running such a high fever and hallucinating. If we'd left when we should have, we would have been on I5 when the mud slides happened and covered several cars. And I got to ultimately spend more time with you even if my son thought the bookcases were attacking him.

I think your being able to spend more time with your teens this year as they dealt with some very major issues was extremely important. I think your being available to them when they needed without worrying about classes, studying for classes, and working two jobs was necessary, so it worked out for the best you didn't start school last fall. Does it place you another year out on becoming an RN yes, but in the overall scheme of things it's not a big deal. You are a great mother to my beautiful niece and nephew. You are doing the right thing and I believe in you.

So no more procrastination for either of us. We both need to get our applications in and we will hold each other accountable. I guess I should get off here, put my knitting away, and work on the final revision of my essay. :)

-Myrtle

Mavis - Still procrastinating

I am still procrastinating. I could blame this on work responsibilities, the dark of the Pacific Northwest winters, my overstretchedness. And these are all factors. But really it is me and my way of doing things. "Fire fighting' and deadlines are my modus operendi.

Today I am working out why I am sabotaging myself. I have a feeling of hopelessness. Of deflated self-worth (if I was worth something I would have been accepted last year - not put on the wait list!). I can use my abstract and adult thinking all I want, but it isn't getting me past the hurt child.

I can say my not being accepted directly into the program was part of the universe's plan for the the very important mental health needs of y children this past year. I was able to give them the greater attention they needed rather than feel torn between a demanding academic program and my kids. It isn't working because down deep I doubt whether my needs and wants are worthy.

So what do I tell the hurt child? Probably the same thing I tell my teens. There is time. Everything doesn't have to happen today in order for you to get to where you want to be. And maybe this is a big part of the problem. I feel as if I don't have time. By the time I am done with the RN I will be well past 50. I am feeling a sense of urgency. And yet I procrastinate! I don't get it.

I know I don't want to be 'rejected' again. I know I don't want to continue working two full time jobs. Yes the money has provided for my family and yes I have had the luxury of yarn stash acquisition this year. But I feel as if I am stagnating. And yet I procrastinate!

I am obviously not going to work this out this minute. Hopefully I've opened a line of thinking for my subconscious to mull over. I do have to go work on a paid project. We do still like to eat and be warm around here. Funny thing, that.

-Mavis

Wow! I can't believe I have the first 130 rows finished. It's amazing what one can accomplish in a hotel room while listening to a book on tape and focusing on knitting for 2.5 hours. I'd never accomplish this at home with the boys around and everything else I need to do. For one, I'd never have 2.5 hours to just knit in without interruption.

The shawl now measures 18 inches in length and over 24 inches in width all unblocked. I'm beginning to think that a smaller shawl might be more than enough considering I still have another 134 rows to go before adding an additional 8 inches of edging. That would put the shawl at a 44 inches in length unblocked and I'm guessing close to 60 inches in length after blocking. I could be way off here, since I've never made a shawl like this before.

I will say I'm finally exciting about making the shawl again. I know the probability of my getting this much done another evening isn't high. But I still can see the shawl actually being finished which a week ago I didn't see when I packed the shawl in my luggage. I packed it more to get it off my needles than having it continue to sit as a UFO in my knitting basket, but I wasn't looking forward to working on it. I really dreaded it. I should have ripped it out ages ago and need to remind myself of this in the future when I'm not satisfied with a project.

I guess I should be off for the night. I need to work on my essay again in the morning.

-Myrtle

I had a great question asked of me today about what exactly safety lines are in knitting, so I will try to explain this. A safety line in knitting is a piece of yarn which has been threaded through all the stitches on a row. I do this by taking a needle and piece of yarn and threading it through the stitches of a row I just completed. For my sister, Mavis, she uses dental floss instead of yarn.

Safety lines are often used when one is working on a lace pattern. This gives you a safety net for when you make the inevitable mistakes, so you know a good row to go back to in order to fix those mistakes. You would then record the row number for each safety line allowing you an easy method of locating a good row on the pattern that makes the row on the shawl. From what I've read every 10 rows is normal, but I'm a scaredy cat and decided every 6 rows was better for me.

If you look at the picture of my shawl, you'll notice there are pieces of colored yarn threaded through the top third of the shawl. These are my safety lines and can easily be pulled out at any time. I pulled out the first 3 lines I put in last night and will continue doing this as I work my way up the shawl.

I have known about safety lines for years, but never used them before last night. Normally when I do knitted lace work it's a repeated pattern and easy to trace a mistake down a few rows and fix it. However, with this particular shawl pattern it is not a repeatable pattern. This ends up creating a beautiful design, but ultimately makes a more complicated pattern to work and not something you can put stitch markers in as easily to keep track of where you are. Basically the only thing I could use a stitch marker for is to show me the center stitch of the shawl.

Hopefully this explains safety lines a little better. I am still a new comer to them, but I think they are my new best friend for knitting the more complicated lace designs, especially if they ultimately save me more time and create less frustration from my knitting mistakes. I would really like to finish the shawl this time around. :)

-Myrtle

It is amazing what sleep will do for you. As I slept last night I finally came up with an idea for how I should write my essay. After days of struggling to get started and no more than a rough draft of my ideas and the three books I would write on, it feels good to see my essay taking shape.

I awoke this morning with a desire to write and actual words flowing through my head. I now have a good draft down, with over 4 pages written, and feel like I can finish this in a timely manner. I cannot tell you how much better I feel. I still will need to have my two editors review it and make sure it is appropriately written and really answers the essay questions. However, I now believe I can finish the process and have something ready by Friday for review. I will also be in a positon to work on the rest of the application, get my transcripts and 3 letters of recommendation, and apply for financial aid. Can you tell I am psyched and feel my goals can come true.

On Feb 15th and 16th I am scheduled to visit the seminary and meet the faculty and attend some classes. I am looking forward to this and Mr. Myrtle is planning on attending with me. Part of what made my dream become more than a vision was his finally being supportive of the plan and my calling. It helps to have my family on board.

-Myrtle

Well Mavis, you are not the only one procrastinating. I really should be working on my five page entrance essay, but instead I've been watching the TV to see what went on today with Obama and knitting on my shawl.

The shawl pattern is Mystic Waters designed by Anna Dalvi and I'm knitting it in Misti Alpaca. I will say it only took me two years, but I have learned to finally add safety lines.

The first time I tried knitting this pattern two years ago, I only made it about 1/3 of the way through it. I spent more time ripping out what I knit than actually knitting. I finally stopped and left the project for 18 months, until this past weekend when I ripped the entire shawl out. On my trip down to southern CA, I started the shawl. Again I tried without safety lines, but by today I decided I needed them when I had to rip out 10 rows because I dropped a stitch and could not figure out where.

I'm now through the first 100 rows and have been adding safety lines every 6 rows. I cannot quite get myself to put them farther apart because I'm so afraid of having to go back so many rows again. However, what these lines have done for me is give me more confidence and I've only needed to go back part of a row to correct an error. So I'd say that is a massive improvement.

I only need to go another 132 rows and I'll be where I was before ripping everything out. And I only have another 227 rows to go before adding the finishing border if I go for the large shawl. I'll see where I am when I get to row 268 and decide at that time if I'm going for the smaller or larger shawl. :)

In the morning I will be working on my essay. I need to finish my first real draft in the morning so that I can get my essay totally finished by Friday and then work on my application and getting my transcript. After that I'll still need to make sure my 3 letter of reference writers get their references in, take a timed writing test, and wait to see if I get in. And all this is still contingent on Mr. Myrtle having a job or I will not be able to afford to attend in the fall.

-Myrtle, who is working on my procrastination degree

Procrastination comes in twos

On the left - medium weight Socks that Rock "Rare Gem" that I call aubergine on the left. "Vanilla" pattern of toe-up, stockinette foot and 1x1 ribbing for the cuff. These are for me and my women's size 11 feet.

On the right - Lisa Souza Hardtwist in 'Evah-Glade'. Diagonal Cross Rib pattern - toe up. These are for my son's men's size 14 feet.

What am I procrastinating from? Nursing School applications. I applied, was admitted, and placed on the waiting list last year. Didn't get a spot. Now I'm applying again. I'm finding very hard to get any excitement about the process this time around. It's not that I don't want to get the degree. It's more I don't want to go through the waiting and hoping process again. I am trying to remind myself that I know people who have had to apply 2 and 3 years in a row before they finally were accepted. These were quality applicants as I like to think I am.

Isn't there a nursing shortage you ask? There sure is, but there is also an nursing instructor and nursing program shortage as well. 18 years ago pediatric hospitals had a patient nurse ratio of 3 or 4 to 1. 14-15 years that ratio changed to 5 or 6 to 1 because the powers that be (insurance and hospital) decided that fewer nurses was a good choice. Now the staffing ratios are targeting the 3 or 4 to 1 ratio again. In the mean time fewer jobs meant fewer nurses applying to the RN programs and therefore less need for instructors. Now the schools are trying desperately to lure instructors out of retirement or away from the active profession and into the classroom.

Back to requesting transcripts.

-Mavis

Mavis talks about her teens

Two of my very favorite people, my kiddos. I am extraordinarily pleased with how they are turning out. I like to think I have something to do with it and probably I do, but I am so amazed by these two.

Teens get a bad rap too much of the time. They are not little adults, just as toddlers are not little adults. They are growing into their abstract thinking and if you listen you hear the most amazing things. Yes there are very difficult days around here and no my two are not perfect, I would be lying if I claimed otherwise.


I know I was not as in tune with the world as my two are. The political discussions in my house are so much more than I remember growing up. The breadth and depth of their interest in the country and the world, the concern for our country and the future. Wow. Do we have 'selfish' days? Of course. But on the whole my two seem far more aware of the international scene than I ever was.

I know I am gushing. I just can't help it. These two represent what is hopeful to me today, inaguration day.

-Mavis

It was hard as always leaving Mavis' house today. I'll miss her and my niece and nephew. I had a wonderful weekend with them as I took a break from my consultanting job in southern California. I miss my family and can't wait to be back to them next weekend, but it was fantastic getting hugs from my 18 year old nephew and laughing and giggling the night away around their dinner table.

The flight back down here was uneventful. I started the shawl again which I'd ripped out yesterday at Mavis'. I'd completed about 1/2 of it, but wasn't happy with the mistakes I'd made early on in knitting it. I only finished the first 58 rows on my flight and had to rip out several rows more than once because I lost my place. So we'll see if I ever complete this shawl. I started it the first time almost 2 years ago.

-Myrtle

Partial Intro from Mavis

I, Mavis, said wouldn't it be fun to start a
three sisters blog? Myrtle ran with the idea
and here we are.  Might have to do with her
doing way more everyday work with computers.

It's been great having Myrtle here this weekend.
Getting two of us together is hard enough. The
three of us getting together is far too rare.
Probably something to do with distance, families,
and work. Maude we are still working on figuring
out a good retreat location. Who knows maybe 2010
will be the year.

I live in the Pacific Northwest. Generally I
have the nicest weather, the highest mountains
and the coldest ocean. I also have the grayest
winter skies - not so good.  Especially for
someone who spent formative years in the
desert southwest.

Knitting is my current creative pursuit.  Stash
was over acquired in 2008. 2009 will be a knit
from the stash year.  Stash acquisition in 2008
was more about adding color and potential than
filling need.

Pictures of parts of my life when I figure out
the process on blogspot.

These are the most current pair of socks I finished. They are made with Knitpicks imagination hand dyed alpaca yarn in the Wicked Witch colorway. I used the gumdrop pattern from the Rocking Sock Club. I'll have to say I like the pooling better in the foot where half the stitches are straight knit stitches versus all the stitches being in the pattern stitch like the legs are.

-Myrtle

What does one write in a blog? For me, I'll do the first post so no one else has to do it. I'm Myrtle, the youngest of the sisters.

I am the mother of 4 boys ranging from 6 to 16, who all homeschool. This has been our lifestyle for the past 9 years.

We live in Missouri on a small homestead. This move came after living in California and having neighbors crowded around me, I needed space to live. It also helped to have traveled for the past 4 years in a trailer with everyone in a really small enclosed space. So we choose the homesteading life so I could raise animals, try to live off the land, and have my space. Currently we own chickens, guinea fowl, and a dog. Some day I hope to have goats, sheep, and alpacas. Although my sons are pushing for several horses.

And so my sisters know I am currently in the process of applying for seminary to get a Masters of Pastor Studies. I'm looking at the possible future work in the field of Christian Education or a Chaplaincy, we'll see where I ultimately go.