Monthly Archives: November 2012

Being a Reader

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I was talking to a co-worker the other day about a book I’d read recently, and realized how very, very few people I can do that with. In my daily life, it seems like almost no-one reads anything more than a newspaper or a fashion magazine. I only have one person I can truly chat about books with … and yet, being a Capital-R-Reader, I simply can’t imagine going through life without a book constantly at hand, or shelves of them proudly displayed downstairs. I’m proud of being a person who not only reads, but who reads a lot–not just in volume but in variety. I like having an inquiring mind. I like exploring new ideas. I love following an intricately plotted story (the more layers the better). I love BEING a reader and simply can’t imagine what it’s like to go through life without being one.

Am I the only one who feels this way? That wonders at how other people can simply NOT do something that should be so essential? Who feels almost sad that so many people seem content to go through their lives without stretching their mental wings at all?

Can you imagine NOT being a Reader? How does it shape your life? Your perception of it?

How does being a Reader affect your relationship with all those folks who are looking at it from the other side and simply can’t understand how you can sit and READ all the time?

Yep, it’s a long-winded, philosophical springboard to a ephemeral conversation … go, see what you can make of it!


Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!


In which I might be a little oversensitive

First off, yay!  Deadline knitting, completed on deadline and off in the mail today!  This is a good thing, and the natural celebration is that I did not a bit of knitting this evening, merrily ignoring my Christmas knitting obligations.  There will be plenty of time for that tomorrow.  Note:  do not mock me when I’m awake and gibbering at 3 AM on Christmas Eve trying to finish the knitting.

The rest of tonight, as I’ve been puttering around, I’ve been doing some pondering and a good bit of navel gazing.  I had this interaction yesterday that is really making me think.  I had to ask someone a question about some confusing instructions, and the response  I got back was brusque and dismissive, and worded in a way that had strong tones of “If you would just read the instructions, you wouldn’t need to bother me.”  Now, I had read the instructions;  I knew that what I was asking about was not addressed in them and I knew that I was in the right.

It would be entirely normal to be annoyed by an e-mail like that, but my reaction to it was completely over the top.  I was literally so angry and upset that I was shaking. I know I really hate it when someone acts like they think I am stupid, especially in an area where I know I am quite competent, but I was out of my head with fury.

I wrote back a snippy but polite e-mail re-explaining my point and pointing out that it was not in the instructions, and then I posted something about it to Facebook to vent a little.  I got what I wanted out of that – some sympathy, some humor (including a suggestion from one friend that I respond with “You should check to see if your e-mail got hacked, you wouldn’t believe the bullshit someone is sending from your account”, which I loved) and general cheering up.

The funniest thing in doing that though, was that one of the first people to respond to my post is someone who regularly makes me feel like he thinks I’m stupid, saying that anyone who thinks I’m stupid was not worth worrying about.  And that made me think – if this person doesn’t think I’m stupid, yet routinely makes me feel like he does, is it possible that my perception needs to be re-calibrated?  Am I carrying so much baggage that I am seeing slights where none were intended or are people unaware of how their words and actions would be perceived by any reasonable person? I think it’s likely that the answer lies somewhere in the middle, but regardless, I probably need to work on easing off my oversized reaction to interactions like yesterday’s.  If nothing else, that kind of fury and rage over a trivial matter cannot be healthy.

Now that I’ve seen the trigger and response and the pattern it creates, I need to figure out how to head the reaction off and find a calmer, healthier way to react.   Something to think about.

In the end, I got back perfectly friendly response to my e-mail recognizing that my point was now understood and I was right, and we had a reasonable conversation.  I was glad I hadn’t unleashed my initial HULK SMASH reaction on this person – that would have been impossible to recover from.  I wonder if I’ll be able to find a way to make it so that SMASH isn’t my automatic reaction.

How do you cope when you have an emotional response that you know on your intellectual side is an outsized overreaction?

In which I might be a little oversensitive

First off, yay!  Deadline knitting, completed on deadline and off in the mail today!  This is a good thing, and the natural celebration is that I did not a bit of knitting this evening, merrily ignoring my Christmas knitting obligations.  There will be plenty of time for that tomorrow.  Note:  do not mock me when I’m awake and gibbering at 3 AM on Christmas Eve trying to finish the knitting.

The rest of tonight, as I’ve been puttering around, I’ve been doing some pondering and a good bit of navel gazing.  I had this interaction yesterday that is really making me think.  I had to ask someone a question about some confusing instructions, and the response  I got back was brusque and dismissive, and worded in a way that had strong tones of “If you would just read the instructions, you wouldn’t need to bother me.”  Now, I had read the instructions;  I knew that what I was asking about was not addressed in them and I knew that I was in the right.

It would be entirely normal to be annoyed by an e-mail like that, but my reaction to it was completely over the top.  I was literally so angry and upset that I was shaking. I know I really hate it when someone acts like they think I am stupid, especially in an area where I know I am quite competent, but I was out of my head with fury.

I wrote back a snippy but polite e-mail re-explaining my point and pointing out that it was not in the instructions, and then I posted something about it to Facebook to vent a little.  I got what I wanted out of that – some sympathy, some humor (including a suggestion from one friend that I respond with “You should check to see if your e-mail got hacked, you wouldn’t believe the bullshit someone is sending from your account”, which I loved) and general cheering up.

The funniest thing in doing that though, was that one of the first people to respond to my post is someone who regularly makes me feel like he thinks I’m stupid, saying that anyone who thinks I’m stupid was not worth worrying about.  And that made me think – if this person doesn’t think I’m stupid, yet routinely makes me feel like he does, is it possible that my perception needs to be re-calibrated?  Am I carrying so much baggage that I am seeing slights where none were intended or are people unaware of how their words and actions would be perceived by any reasonable person? I think it’s likely that the answer lies somewhere in the middle, but regardless, I probably need to work on easing off my oversized reaction to interactions like yesterday’s.  If nothing else, that kind of fury and rage over a trivial matter cannot be healthy.

Now that I’ve seen the trigger and response and the pattern it creates, I need to figure out how to head the reaction off and find a calmer, healthier way to react.   Something to think about.

In the end, I got back perfectly friendly response to my e-mail recognizing that my point was now understood and I was right, and we had a reasonable conversation.  I was glad I hadn’t unleashed my initial HULK SMASH reaction on this person – that would have been impossible to recover from.  I wonder if I’ll be able to find a way to make it so that SMASH isn’t my automatic reaction.

How do you cope when you have an emotional response that you know on your intellectual side is an outsized overreaction?

Yarned by You: Marlowe Gallery

With the gorgeous glow and drape from the merino silk blend, it’s no wonder that Marlowe, like Herriot, made Ravelry’s Popular New Yarn list! Unfortunately it must not be new enough to have stayed up, as it’s gone, but I saw it! This worsted-weight variegated yarn is sold in 153 yard balls – the perfect amount for a one-skein hat or cowl!

Below liped knit up Cypress, especially designed for the JMF Marlowe yarn and pattern line by Marie Grace. It was knit in recommended colorway, 10 Sylvan. I love her slightly mischievous grin!

lizabee  owns Purl’s Yarn Emporium in Asheville, NC and knit this Drop Stitch Scarf as a shop sample. I love the fact sheet that talks about Susie so people can get to know how kick-butt she is! Wouldn’t it be great if you knew more about each company before you bought the product?

The scrumptious Anabella’s Cowl was made by tnhausfraus. I’m not typically a cowl person, but this looks so soft and silky, I could see myself becoming one!

jdunsmore whipped up this cute little hat, called Sarah’s Slouch. I asked her to take another photo so that you could see the hat (as the original was just a small portion), and she gladly obliged! Thanks, Jessica!

This Swirl Cable Hat, knit in Sylvan, was made by tricotsceletes. Whom it is for seems to be a mystery. Perhaps it will get pulled out of the gift bin to be given to a lucky recipient this holiday season!

alohalizzy knit this Daphne Cowl (again designed by Marie Grace Smith for JMF’s yarn and pattern line) in just a day! I bet that the texture helps to trap in air and keep your neck nice and warm! You can find it on display at her LYS – Northfield Yarn, Northfield, MN

If you’re making a project in Marlowe, be sure to link it on Ravelry so we can find it and admire it!

You can find Marlowe and the rest of the Juniper Moon Farm Yarns in a LYS near you by clicking here then clicking “find a store,” inputting your zip code and selecting Juniper Moon Farm as the yarn brand.

Homesick, in Pictures

I don’t think I’ve ever been away from the farm for this long, and, even though I know it’s a necessary evil, I am quite lonesome for my animals, my barn, and my own bed.

I am feeling pretty terrible today. It’s almost as if my immune system got the memo that I’m starting treatment next week and is trying to kill me before then. Mostly I’m just weak and tired, but looking at these old pictures of the farm made me feel a little better. It’s amazing how healing lambs can be.

Continuous Calendar

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I have my spiffy new wall calendar ready for 2013 at a glance. All I need is to find myself a fine tip dry erase marker.

Fiddly Little Bits

Oh, applied I-cord, you make for such a lovely finished edge, I love you for that. But why do you have to be such a pain in the bum to create?

True to form, I am flat up against my deadline, knitting like the very hounds of hell are nipping at my heels. Almost finished, though, and this baby goes in the mail tomorrow!

And there will be much rejoicing. Yay.

Fiddly Little Bits

Oh, applied I-cord, you make for such a lovely finished edge, I love you for that. But why do you have to be such a pain in the bum to create?

True to form, I am flat up against my deadline, knitting like the very hounds of hell are nipping at my heels. Almost finished, though, and this baby goes in the mail tomorrow!

And there will be much rejoicing. Yay.

Gingerbread House …

My creation


Checking In

I had to go into work tonight unexpectedly, so the blog post I have been planning will just have to wait another couple of days most likely. (My next few days are filled with meetings and birthday dinners and a surprising absence of Christmas knitting that I am not going to think about until I don’t have time to sleep in late December.) Until the, I thought I would share a couple of links that hint at what’s to come.

A big project.

And a new idea I have high hopes for.

Gets the juices flowing, right?