Boy, is my face red!

For two reasons... First, that box of unique glass buttons I bought at the Tucson show? The one I left at VY&T and had written off as lost? Found it! Apparently the elusive little bugger leapt out of my knitting bag sometime between coming home and my next knitting session. It was tucked under the edge of a bookcase. I wonder if a cat had anything to do with that?

I also have a bizzare facial rash that so far is a complete mystery to medical science. No new soaps, detergents, foods, etc. It's been a week now. The raised red blotches are all over my face and ears, but nowhere else. At first it was just ugly, but after two days of feeling like a bad sunburn (radiating heat, tight & itchy, tender to the touch) with pitting edema, we've resorted to steroids to kill the inflammation. This pic was taken 5 hours after the first dose, and the blotches are much reduced already. BTW, for you science-y types, the anti-SM, VDLR, ESR, WBC, ASA, RF and ANA levels were normal, so no RA or Lupus.

Great news: Wallace has been adopted by a nice (medical!) couple in Texas. Good thing he's got A/C!

Recruitment complete

Emma, my newest spinning protege, just scored a sweet Ashford Traveller. Matt chauffered us on our trek down to Spanaway, braving rain, snow, and yes, HAIL! On the way back, Lady Totty's handicapped / wheelchair seatbelt came in handy, and some roving provided padding. Yippee!

Moving in May

Matt's residency starts June 11th. We will be relocating earlier than expected, in mid to late May. We're sorry to be leaving our family & friends here, but excited about getting started on the next stage of our lives.

Welcome home, Lady Tottington!

In keeping with our tradition of naming cars after Wallace & Gromit characters, our newest bundle of joy bears the moniker of the flame-haired Lady Tottington. We felt a landed title was important for her as she is an "FX4S Plus" model. Come by and take a ride!

Secret Pal Part II

Here's the amazing yarn my Secret Spinning Pal made me. She really went all out: Thick & thin home-dyed Merino, plyed with mohair, and studded with felted & beaded flowers. I'm going to weave it into a blanket for the back on my taxi. She included some fun surprises wound inside. I loved that idea so much I stole it for my downstream Secret Pal. I'll post what I made for her after the mailman delivers.

Here's a felted lunch bag-style purse I made, sans pattern. The straps are actually one long felted loop. They can come up both sides, as a short shoulder bag, or I can snug it up into one long across-the-body strap. It's lined in red muslin and has a nifty internal pocket.

Happy Valentine's Day! aka Ode to my Husband

This embracing couple was found in Italy, and are 5-6,000 years old.

I know just how she feels: I'll hold on to my Matt for eons! I am so lucky to have a husband who supports me and challenges me, while giving me absolute freedom to be myself. We have so much fun together... even when we are killing time waiting for a tow truck he makes me laugh so hard I nearly soil my pants. Our life is awfully good.

When we didn't know if we were going to Match, there was a possibility we would Scramble into someplace horrid, but we realized much of our happiness lies inside the walls of our strange little apartment. We can duplicate that anywhere.

Matt just sent me a text message: "Happy Valentine's Day, my love, you made my life crazy magic."

A word of advice to the still single: Hold out for the real thing. It's worth it! I'm so glad I didn't settle for any of those romances that made me happy, but not blissful.

Drumroll please....

And the winner is.... PHILLY! Matt got matched with St. Joe's, so that's where we'll be! It's a great academic fit. We are pleased. :)

Sparkly Sisters

January had two more attacks in store for us: Matt's computer CD/DVD drive went belly up, and I have a hairline fracture in my right foot from all my walking. Geez, how's a girl supposed to get in shape?

On a happier note, we visited the Rose clan for the Tucson fossil & gem Show. This is a monster gathering of jewelery and mineral wholesalers, plus the world's best palentologists. Every hotel room in the city is a different vendor, and you see specimens that rival or exceed anything in museums.

More importantly, I got some real quality time with my new(er) family. His parents have taken me in, and Matt's sisters are now mine, too. I feel undescribably warm and happy having sisters again (for those who don't know, my only sibling, Jill, died at 16). Matt is with Nancy The Lobster Provider, and of course that's Mom and me. Mary was also there, and Nadine, who is technically a cousin but has been adopted in.

My best shiny finds at the show: An ammonite bracelet and citrine ring, courtesy of Mom's generosity, and a scrimshaw pin from their personal collection. The ruby zoisite wand was a prezzie from Nancy.