Quick and dirty

Sofia and Micaela took off yesterday for San Francisco to spend time with their grandmother and uncle. I whipped this up for Sofia in 1 1/2 hours just before they left.


The craftsmanship leaves something to be desired (the lines are not even I didn't even bother to measure), but it works and her colored pencils won't be swimming around at the bottom of her backpack. And of course she was happy and thought it was perfect!

Flashback...Fast Forward

Yesterday an old friend of mine sent me this picture...

I was 17 and in my very first apartment after a time spent squatting in an abandoned factory, and then in an abandoned house. The house was busted while I was on a whirlwind adventure to Virgina Beach in a car that was too small with a limited soundtrack (we had exactly one tape in the car; Metallica's Ride the Lightning). When I got back to DC all my stuff (conveniently stored in a big black trash bag) had been removed by the police, all I had left was what I was wearing. A few months, and several sofas later, I was living in a basement apartment in a building that was owned by a friend's father. I was the youngest tenant, but most of us were young, unemployed and irresponsible. These were my "dorm" years.

Now the fast forward...

We took my mother-in-law to San Antonio for the day. Somehow when I was 17 it seemed like I would always be 17. This past week I have been encountering my past at every turn...A friend sent me this book and I saw lots of familiar faces, including a picture of the friend who sent me the picture. I watched this movie and re-lived quite a few shows I went to, and I had two old friends find me via the internet. I plan to meet up with them, and my friend the photographer, when the girls and I head to DC in July.

Time marches on...

Roots

While I'm on the subject of trees...Here is something I completed as part of an offline swap with a group of people from my former hometown. The recipient was Tumbling Blocks and this was really an extra, as the main swap gift was the Cosima hat from Hip Knit Hats. Hopefully Dorie will post a picture of herself in the hat, as the one I took of myself in it, well, I just can't post it. I am that vain. It is appliqued to a piece of red felt (Sarah, I cut up the felted sweater you gave me, forgive me! But there are plans in it for you too, and I thought it was fitting that it has a bit of both of us in it.) and I appliqued pink paisley fabric on the back with this poem written on it. Spring required more than a hat knit with baby alpaca. I received a very cool planter with a knit "cozy" from Sarah When I decide what to put in it I will post a picture

I'm feeling a bit more settled here mostly due having some set moments in the week where I get together with people with whom I share some interests (one day of the week it is food and the other fiber) and a lot of laughs. In my experience (having moved 5 times in the span of 10 years and living in 9 different States/Countries over a lifetime) it takes about 2 years to really feel like I can put down some roots; I'm almost at the one year mark here. I've also realized over these nomad years that my roots really have to do less with places and more with people. I definitely envy people with strong roots and historical connections, but I also have a group of people from all over the world who I know I can count on and who would take me in if I ever showed up on their doorstep. I also know that I have what it takes to make it anywhere, even if it means suffering quite a bit initially (and this move in particular has been harder than any before it). Juan's mom is here right now, and now that I have been with Juan for 15 (!!) years she is definitely a big part of my life and it is great to have her here with the girls. It is nice to have some constants in this life of continual change.