Bedhead Hair, Bathrobes, and Baskets of Yarn

So for days now I have been trying to re-vamp my blog. I decided I needed a more personal heading, maybe by adding a photo.  So, Thursday I decided to take some pics.

Even though I am an early riser, and am up by 6:30,  I usually lounge around in my sleep gear for a little while.

I figured since we live in an older, quasi active, adult community most people wouldn't be getting active until after Regis and Kelly.   And even though we live on the main drag in our community, I thought, hey I am only going to be out there for a few minutes.

So armed with my basket of yarn, and a few other props, I headed outside in my bathrobe and slippers.

I got so caught up with trying to be creative with my subjects, that the time zoomed on by. I was so into my photo shoot, that I just stopped short of saying "okay hold it right there, don't anybody move, this is the shot";  completely forgetting that these were inanimate objects and weren't going to move anyway.

I'm sure if I could have stepped back and observed myself, I would have been very curious about what that lady was doing outside in her bathrobe, slippers and bedhead hair taking pictures of a basket of yarn.

So, by now the more active adults were starting to become active.  They passed by in their cars, heading for their social club meetings, ceramics, water aerobics or early morning bocce.
The walkers briskly walked by with ear buds in, pumping their arms in time to probably "Let's twist again, like we did last summer..."

Anyway the interesting thing was, no one even stopped to take a second look at me.   And then I remembered where I live and who we are in this community.  Since most of us are retired, most of us probably feel the same way: "Hey, we don't have to get dressed or comb our hair until we are good and ready."   And if we want to be silly and take pictures of yarn in a basket, go for it, just do it!

The new heading on today's blog is the result of hours of staging my props, snapping away with my Canon Power Shot, cropping the pics, and picking just the right background colors and fonts for my heading.

What do you think of the new me?  Constructive input and opinions are most welcome.
Oh, and even though I am still in my pj's, I did comb my hair before I wrote this.

Death, Taxes and High Gas Prices?

It's a little after 6:00 a.m on a grey, blustery and rainy morning. The perfect setting for my mood.

Rainy Blustery Gray Day

I was lying in bed thinking about what Ross and I could do today.  I have been wanting to visit my favorite LYS for a few months now, but I have been disciplined enough to remember my stash.   More importantly, like everything else for us, the shop is an hour away.  That's the second reason why I have not been to Mt. Holly.

Nine years ago, when Ross and I first moved to Barnegat, the national average for a gallon of gas was $1.36.

Here are today's prices

Today's Price

During the past month, we watched the price of gas go up daily. Sometimes, it would go up twice in one day!   Last week at this time the price at this WaWa was $3.53.

Now I know this is not a big reveal.  I also know that there are other parts of the country where these prices would be considered a bargain.

For us, the price of gas does affect us personally.  Particularly in the choices we make.  Ross likes to drive.  In fact, as he always says, he is a much better driver than he is a passenger.  He would rather be behind the wheel.  Therefore, he always volunteers to drive.

He has a standing Tuesday morning breakfast date with his buddy Sal.  The typical Monday evening telephone conversation would be:  "Sal, 8:30 tomorrow?"  "I'll pick you up."   Now it's "Sal, your turn to drive, right?"

We used to think nothing of hopping in the car and taking the hour plus drive to see one of the kids.  Now we think twice or three times about it.

Last week, Ross had plans with our son-in-law, Derek, and our grand daughter Bella to visit the Museum of Natural History in New York City.  Normally, even though it would have been out of the way, Ross would have offered to pick Derek and Bella up and drive into the city.
Instead, Ross took the bus in, Derek and Bella took the train and they met at the Museum.

My stash is where I shop now.  And when I get desperate and absolutely need a new skein or two,  I will run over to Michaels or A.C. Moore which are only 5 miles from our house.
Red Heart Super Savers are not so bad, right?

From what I understand, currently there is not a shortage of oil.  But, the decision makers, the wall streeters, the investors, are the ones who are speculating that there just might be one in the future.  So just in case that happens, they feel they better jack up the prices now.  I know that's probably a pretty simplified, explanation, but it's what I get from all of the talking heads' descriptions of the problem.

I feel frustrated and wonder what I, as an individual, can do about the gas prices.  Who do I go to for help?  Who is listening?  How can I protest?  Would Yarn Bombing the oil companies get their attention?

I find it interesting that there is not more of a collective out pouring of rage about it.  Have we all been lulled into a soft wooly trance?  Or do we all feel that there is nothing we can do about it.  Has it become inevitable like death and taxes?

When we moved into our community, we used to joke that even though it's gated, they don't lock the gates, and we can come and go as we please. But now, sadly, we do sort of feel locked in.

Knitting on the Beach on Easter Sunday - The Movie

Since we celebrated our Easter on Saturday, Ross and I had no plans on Sunday.  It was 80 degrees, and sunny in Barnegat.  Ross threw the sand chairs in the back of the car and we headed over to Long Beach Island (LBI).   Once we got onto the beach, I was glad that I had worn my jeans, and had brought a jacket.  It was about 10 degrees cooler and breezy.

What I am knitting in the video is a sock.  I like the idea of knitting socks.  Quite a challenge for me, though.  Something I will probably never master.  But that doesn't stop me from trying. 

I had bought the yarn on Friday morning, the day before Bella's birthday party.  I foolishly thought I could whip up a pair in time for the party, which was to be on Saturday at 4:00.  At about 11:00 Friday night, with bleary eyes, and about 75% of the way through the first sock,  I discovered that I had dropped a stitch.  I tried to fix it, but I had no clue how to.   I wound up with tangled ripped out mess of a sock.   

 After a few more attempts, I finished the first sock last night.  

  Not in time for Bella's party, but hopefully there will be a second to match this one.

View my Ravelry project link here  .