Washing wool

Travis' cousin Toby gave me a bunch of wool from his wife, Sheila's, sheep. It's from the tails and bellies, so it is short, so if I can't spin with it, I will have to learn how to felt properly. Planning to wash it tonight using directions on this site:

http://www.spinderellas.com/washing.html

It seems to have good information, similar to that which I've heard from people who know what they are doing, so hopefully it turns out well! Updates later!

Experimenting in the kitchen

This post doesn't really have anything to do with food, though yes, I was in the kitchen.  I made lip balm last night, kinda sorta following this recipe:

http://www.crunchybetty.com/3-simple-homemade-lip-balms-your-lipsve-never-been-yummier

I used the top recipe, only I used coconut oil instead of almond/jojoba/olive, and only used 3 ingredients...the oil, beeswax, and honey.  It turned out nicely, and as of today at least, it seems to be working quite well.  Better than the crappy chapstick stuff I had.

Also started some eucalyptus oil.  All of the tutorials I read said to use freshly cut eucalyptus.  As we don't have fresh eucalyptus in these parts, I used some dried stuff that I've literally just had in a vase for years.  (I decided I wanted it to be more useful than decorative.)  So, I put some in a jar, crushed the leaves up, and poured some olive oil on.  Then closed the lid, and put it in a sunny windowsill.  I need to add some more oil tonight, as I only had about 1/3 a cup.  It's supposed to be good for your skin, and soothe aches, so we'll see.

Next projects:  I need to make Travis linen pants, linen tunic, wool tunic, and my cotehardie.

Crafty things

Ok, so it's been awhile. I've decided I need to post the projects I begin and finish as a way to keep track of them. So, here's the first two.

First off, I learned what was called the Coptic naalbinding stitch at a class at Gulf Wars this year. It is almost stupid easy once you figure it out, and I made a very nice pouch with it. I'm quite please. Interestingly enough, it's the exact same technique for basic wire-weaving, it just starts out a little differently. The first photo is a close-up of the stitches (it looks knitted!), the second of the finished pouch, with a penny as scale reference.

Also, I made a basket a Gulf Wars this year. It's quite cute. It started out easy, then became interesting, then "oh-my-gosh-why-am-I-doing-this difficult." Luckily that stage didn't last very long, and it then became just "interesting" again! I like "interesting." Anyway, I'd like to acquire some more period materials for making more of them sometime. I was carrying the basket in the merchants that evening (for date night), and the man from the really awesome uber-period viking merchant shop, the name of which I cannot remember (any help???), said that it looked exactly like the ones that friends of his from Poland make, which are supposedly replicas of early medieval Norse baskets. How they tell that, I don't know, since I doubt any of them survived, and at least in Saxon England, precious few decent artistic renditions seem to exist. But I was pleased, and it is certainly a plausible design. Mine is made of rattan; he said they make theirs from the bark of pine root, which is supposed to be dug up at a certain time in the spring. Oh, the woman who taught the class did say that archaeologists have found slabs of clay with basketry patterns on them...as though baskets were lined with clay to make them waterproof. I'll have to look into this, as it sounds like a really cool idea, and a good way to deduce weaving patterns. Anyway, enough of my poorly-written blather (it's late, I'm hurrying)--here's the picture of my very first basket!!

Those are the most recent projects that I'm proudest of. Hooray for learning fun, new things!

It only makes it worse...

I need to remember to stop trying to fix things. It's far better to work with what is available, than to "fix" things that I have no right to try to fix. To change the nature of things to try to make it more "useful" to myself.

And I'm not talking about darning socks.

books

My sort-of goal for myself this month was to read 10 books. It didn't matter what they were. And I was going to include the National Geographic magazines that I had to catch up with.

I'm not sure I'm going to make it.

The reason for making the goal in the first place was to try to fit in more time for reading. After college, it just seemed harder to actually sit down and pick up a book and focus on it. College gave me bad reading habits. I learned how to scan. I learned more in less time, but forgot it more quickly than from a slower, deeper reading.

So I'm trying to teach myself to really read again. Fiction, non-fiction, whatever. So. This month I've read:

Beowulf. I loved it. Unfortunately, I can't remember off the top of my head who did this particular translation. Oh wait...Burton Raffel. (Behold the powers of Google!) It was quite good. I think he was aiming more for poetry than historical accuracy. I appreciate poetry, but love me some history as well, so while I definitely enjoyed it, it might not be my first pick. Not to say it was inaccurate, it was just odd how he interpreted some of the names and such. Like Heorot turned to Herot, and Edgetheo turned to Egtho. I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

I also finished my 2 back-issues of the National Geographic. They're pretty much book-length anyway, so I counted them. Always fun, there were some good articles. It's interesting to see the different slants that different writers take. Nat. Geo. has a definite bias, but it can manifest itself differently in various authors...or not at all.

And I'm working my way thru "1066: The Hidden History in the Bayeaux Tapestry" by Andrew Bridgeford. I'm trying to make myself more knowledgeable about Saxon stuff in general. Of course. Because as much as I love being a Saxon in the SCA, I keep finding that there are so many basic things I don't actually know, that I should. So I'm working on it. This is actually a fascinating book, and while some of his arguments might seem a bit lacking, what he says does have sense. At least in my limited knowledge. It also has the benefit of being easy to read. :D

We'll see how far I get on my goal. I've only got 2 weeks left!

Cut You Down

So I've been listening to some of my old favorites on a youtube playlist this morning: Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, etc. Mostly just background, as I'm working, but I stopped to actually watch the video for one of the songs: "God's Gonna Cut You Down," by Johnny Cash. I've heard the song before, but I started wondering as I listened, because it almost sounds like an old black gospel style song. So I backed it up and watched the whole thing. (link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxh-FfElY0M&feature=BF&list=MLGxdCwVVULXdRVjSHfbDCLVST9FbUoGwD&index=27 ).

And the lyrics in the chorus:

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later God'll cut you down
Sooner or later God'll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down

I'm really curious what the video producers had in mind when they made this video. Basically, it shows images of celebrities from ZZ Top, to Pink, to Kid Rock, to Justin Timberlake, Johnny Depp, Bono, and others, mixed with Christian symbolism. Naturally, a lot of the comments on the video were about how such horrible people didn't deserve to be on the video, and that the producers completely missed the point of the song. However, I think most of the commenters missed the point.

The song isn't about God sending people to hell. It's about redemption, for everyone, no matter what you've done. It's about asking forgiveness. I think Cash thought a lot about forgiveness. He had a lot in common with many of the celebrities that we like to spurn today. He was a hard drinker, he was a drug addict, he was a womanizer. And then he found redemption. I think if you don't understand where Cash was coming from with this song, you might see it as a warning; a picture of hell to scare people into behaving. I don't think that's right.

I think it's a picture of broken people who want to be redeemed. I think it's a song for everyone.

In Retrospect...

...I should have applied for the wrangler job.

Next time I apply for a job, remind me that I want motion, interaction with the living, and variety.

Handy

I just discovered this fabulous website. Perusing just the first page, there are at least a dozen tutorials that I would love to make use of!

http://www.howtohistory.com/video-tutorials/

And it's fun seeing how many different directions one can go with historical geekiness.

Just for Reflection

A friend posted this to Facebook. I giggled, paused for reflection, and giggled some more. So now you can do the same!

I don't really make New Year's Resolutions, I make Every Day Resolutions. One of them: making fewer snap judgments about people. We all like to think we are modern, open minded people, but I've noticed that we ALL tend to do this, no matter how open-minded we think we are. I'd like to start being more accepting of people from social circles outside of my own, without automatically assuming they can have nothing to say that will interest me.

I'd also like to be more motivated. This one is simpler, but probably harder!

Any Every Day Resolutions of your own?

Because Everybody's Doing It

I guess I should blog about the New Year, since everyone else is, eh?

While there are a lot of wonderful things to look forward to in 2011, I'm not sure I'm ready for 2010 to be done. I mean, I still haven't figured it out. Did it have a theme, or a particular direction? Surely there wasn't time for that, it only started yesterday, didn't it? I'd say that for 2011 I hope to be more observant of my days as they slip past me, in order to somehow make better sense of my life, but that doesn't happen. I'm kinda too busy living in my life to actually understand it. God-willing, the years will only improve with time, with or without my understanding.

And I've stolen the following benediction from Neil Gaiman's blog, as there really isn't a whole lot else that can or should be said, besides that, and my own brief addition at the very end:

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."

And may God grant us peace and love in all the years to come.

Bliss doesn't look like you'd think it might...

It's Monday, and I'm at work on my 26th birthday. I have no real birthday plans, no party to go to. I have 2 dollars in my checking account. But I saw Travis this morning, if only for a few minutes and I have a bouquet of bright, colorful flowers on the table in my office; a gift from my in-laws. I've had dozens of birthday wishes from family and friends, and I'm looking forward to going home and having a supper of Thanksgiving leftovers, mulling over fresh holiday memories with loved ones, drinking rum, and having a bonfire in the middle of the living room with my roommate. (The plan is to pull out all of the candles we own and light them all at once. You have to be creative when you're too poor to have a fireplace.) And it's snowing on my birthday for the first time in years. It's shaping up to be a pretty good way to celebrate! And I don't think I'd do anything differently, after all.

Thanks everyone for birthday wishes, gifts, and love. Love to you all!

Introspective and Extrospective

So, when you discover what the root of your problems are, isn't it logical to pull up the root and get rid of it? What do you do when you realize that People are the root? Just plain old human nature? Sometimes they're well-intentioned and caring, but other times just thoughtless, self-serving, or even mean-spirited. You can't just root up humans and get rid of them, can you? When an old friend ignores you for a newer one, or when gossip is thoughtlessly spread, and it comes back full circle--can't you just retreat into yourself and away from society, and dispense with the whole mess altogether? Declare yourself to be neutral and isolated? Why can't you be a human Switzerland? Self-sufficient. Why did God make us to need other people? It would be so much easier to be a lone survivalist in the wilderness.

And what about when you realize, suddenly, shockingly, that you're a People too? That you, yes, YOU, as an individual, to the core, are not just an individual, but a part of the group, the People, and as such, you are also sometimes well-intentioned and caring, but also thoughtless, self-serving, or even, yes, even mean-spirited? You don't necessarily mean to be, but sometimes you just are. Because believe it or not, YOU are a flawed human being too.

What's the solution to the problem then?

You can try to be better, but you know you're gonna fuck up again, and everyone else is going to fuck up again, and again, and again. No matter how many times they/we/I get it right, it's also gonna go wrong. Does that give us enough reason to stop trying not to fuck up, at least too badly?

I know the answer to that last question, at least.

But sometimes you just really want to stop trying, and just go be a hermit, where no one is going to hurt you, and you can't hurt anyone else.

I'm off in 1o minutes to a new adventure! I'm doing something I've always wanted to do...going to the Sturgis Rally on a motorcycle! Now, everyone knows I'm by no means a hard-core biker chick. (Or even moderately-solid-core). But as a former Nebraskan, and a neophyte South Dakotan, the Sturgis rally is an event I hear a lot about, and have always been curious to see. So I'm pretty excited to be going. Besides, the Black Hills are always a great place for a road trip, and I haven't yet spent a weekend with the boyfriend that I haven't enjoyed. So I'm pretty excited!

And prayers for safe travels never go amiss. Hint, hint.

Tea

I will write an ode to tea some day. Besides babies and horses it might be the most wonderful thing God put on earth. Just inhaling the scented steam while it steeps is soul-soothing. It's effects begin before you even take a sip. It's not the caffeine; it works with herbal teas too. It's like nirvana in a cup (Buddhism, not the band. Not that the band is bad, I just don't find them quite as calming).

Ok. The day can proceed again.

Vegetables

My garden is up! The tomatoes and cabbages and peppers I had planted from seedlings are looking well...the Roma even has baby green tomatoes on it. I'll have to watch it carefully though; the plant itself isn't very big, and as awesome as early tomatoes would be, I don't want them killing the plant before it can really start producing. The corn, and beans are about 2 inches tall...I swear, one day they weren't there, and the next I looked out my window to see thin rows of green in my garden. The peas are only just starting to poke out of the dirt. At least, that was last night. Then we got rain overnight, and now it's warm, so they'll probably be looking pretty good by the time I get home. The spinach is also just starting to peek out. There are a few cucumber plants about an inch or so high as well. I'm pretty excited; I'll have to post pictures one of these days!

The strawberries, however, are being preyed upon. Every time I see a hint of pink in the strawberry patch, I get hopeful...then I check them later to see how they are doing, and they've been eaten! Just the red bits...the culprit tends to pick out the red cheeks of the strawberry, and leave whatever is still green. I've caught both birds and squirrels cavorting in the patch, so I might have to see what I can do to put up some netting or something around them. Poor strawberries! Don't even have a chance to get ripe.

Debating on planting some butternut or acorn squash yet too. I think acorn.

First Time in a Long Time

I went fishing this weekend! I haven't been fishing since I was 16; that was the first year that I had to buy a fishing license, and I wanted to go snagging for paddlefish with my dad. So that would be the last time I'd been fishing, up until this weekend. The boyfriend got me a fishing pole, so I got a license, and off we went, to the Palisades along the Big Sioux River. It was a good time...I caught 3 bullheads, and he caught a couple as well, along with a smallmouth bass and a mud turtle...which we threw back. (Though I hear turtle tastes like chicken...)

I also got a couple of tomato plants, and a bunch of seeds to put in my garden. I'm so happy that my new place has a garden patch in the yard. There's a strawberry patch as well, with some of them already turning pink! It's very exciting. Planting corn, beans, peas, cucumbers, spinach, and basil, at least. My mom also gave me some tomato plants, a few cabbage plants, and some peppers. I said "Mom, I don't eat peppers. What am I going to do with them?" And she laughed and said, "well, maybe Sarah will eat them." I guess I can make salsa out of them, that would be good.

New Era, definitely

It's been awhile, hasn't it? I'm enjoying my new job. Working at the Oral History Center at USD, if you missed that memo. I probably shouldn't be posting this while I'm at work, but hey, you need quick breaks even from jobs you like, right? It's been a good experience: I'm learning new things, I have employers who care about what actually goes on, and who are motivated. My co-workers are easy to get along with. The work is interesting, and I can take pride in doing it, because it's something that actually needs to be done. It doesn't feel so futile, working here, you know? It's mentally stimulating work, so my brain isn't fermenting anymore, and I feel like this job could actually take me somewhere that I want to go--instead of being stuck in storage all my life. Ok, well, technically, I'm still in a "storage" room of sorts, but it's a dynamic storage room instead of a static storage room.

Hey, it made sense to me. Deal with it. :P

I'll be moving into a house in Vermillion this weekend. Rental. It's got a yard, and space for gardening, which is mostly what I care about! And I have a place to do all of those messy SCA projects that you don't want to do indoors now! Like retting flax!

I'm going to miss a number of Sioux Falls peeps. But I was already missing a number of Vermillion peeps, so what can you do? It's been great reuniting with some people down here tho. Well, not that I ever really lost track, but it's wonderful to be able to actually hang out with them again. And it's even better being in Vermillion this time around, because I got to choose to be here, instead of feeling like I was stuck here until I finished a degree. I really do like this town.

Of course, the timing was somewhat unfortunate...of course I had to start dating Boy in Sioux Falls the day before (literally!) I start a new job in a town an hour away. But an hour isn't bad, and I think that space is a good thing to have in a new relationship. It seems to be working, anyway!

I guess this means that any plans I had for grad school will be put off for awhile longer though, if I still decide I want to go. This job is grant-funded for 2 1/2 years...after that, who knows. I mean, I'm sure I could get out of it if I really wanted/needed to, but I'd like to finish the job I start, instead of being here to get things started, and then go gallivanting off to England or some such to take more classes. It's ok though...I'm still not sure what I want to go for, because all of the programs that look REALLY awesomely perfect don't really offer me too many future job prospects other than teaching college, which isn't something I think I want to do. And I just cringe thinking about how much MORE in debt I'd be when I finished a degree that wouldn't get me a job to help pay off said debt. Sigh. Well, I have at least 2 1/2 years to think about it!

So that's mostly what's new with me. What's new with you?

Oh...and I'm going to Crown Tourney this spring. In a week. As a consort. I still haven't decided if I want him to win or not...

Wish me luck, however it turns out!

New Era, or just a New Job?

I've FINALLY found a new job, which I will be starting on March 23rd, 2 days after we get back from Gulf Wars. I'll be working for the American Indian Studies program at USD, cataloging the collections in the Oral History Center. It looks like it will be an exciting job, if only I can figure out how to do it! I'm looking forward to it: to getting out of Sioux Falls, to getting away from hell...I mean, the Lab at Augie..., to being in a smaller town, and to having a new challenge. Oh, and to having my job provide me with health insurance and paid vacation time! But I do have some apprehensions about it as well. Mostly that I won't be able to do everything necessary for the job. It's pretty important that it be done right, and I have to figure out how to catalog this stuff on my own. It doesn't look like I'm going to have a lot of direction here! But I'm willing to give it my best shot. I will make something work! Anyway, so I'm nervous, but very excited. And not too nervous just yet, because I have Gulf Wars to get ready for first! One thing at a time. Wish me luck!

Changing Direction

Before I drifted off, last night, into a sleep full of many very strange dreams, I had what may have been an epiphany. Ok, maybe not an epiphany, but a very significant thought, anyway.

I miss horses. And dirt. And hay. And kids. And pulling weeds. And going for walks. And wind in the grass.

And I want them, more than I want England. More than I want an important job in an important museum. I'm not sure I can have both.

So I need to do some serious thinking about what I want to do, where I want to go, my personal goals in life. Maybe it's not as tricky as I've always thought it would be. Actually, thinking about it, there is an overwhelming sense of peace that has come with this realization. Maybe I've found the right track.

In Which I Am Tired, and Actually Want a Normal Week Ahead of Me

Last week was interesting, to say the least. A week of firsts, and then seconds. A week of disappointment and hope. A week full of many new things to think about. A week of spending a lot of time with very good friends, and other acquaintances as well. And, because of all that, a week of very little sleep.

I am physically and emotionally tired. I have plenty of things to keep me busy. Please be nice to me this week, Universe. And all the rest of you, too!