Better Late than Never? Even very late?

I was working on this blog post and I got a cold. Pretty much wrecked my Sunday and I took Monday off to recover. Then I worked a short week as I took some time off work to go see my Mom. One of her sisters is visiting and I wanted to see her, too. Plus, Mom had some paperwork/estate stuff she wanted to settle now, before I'm left to deal with it.

Then, the events at The Pulse in Orlando, Florida. It just wrecked me. I'm cishet (het for heterosexual and cis means my gender experiences match the gender I was assigned at birth) and I feel devastated.  One note about the opening paragraph, it's the largest mass shooting in modern US history (Wounded Knee, for example had 300 dead).

I'm finally to a point, I can write in my blog again.

I went to the demo at the Mordecai House in Raleigh with other tatters. I worked on a bracelet; it was the first time I'd been tatting for awhile, considering my wrist. I made sure to stop and do something else every once in awhile. I've finished and it's a cute, summery one. I need to block it and photograph it.

I had to get a new cellphone. My carrier said it wasn't supporting my phone anymore. So now I have an android. And I have to learn how to use it. And program all my contacts into it. Not fun.

I went to my last Employee Forum meeting as a delegate on June 8, my term ends June 30th. We held the peer recognition awards (I helped review nominations) and at the end, the Kay Wijnberg Hovious Distinguished Delegate awards. To my surprise, I was one of the three people honored. Looking at previous winners, I'm in impressive company.

Friday was my supervisor's last day at work, as he is taking vacation for the next two weeks until his official retirement. We had a big retirement party for him on Wednesday afternoon. There was cake, punch, chips, and M&Ms with his face and name on them.

Friday, we had a little potluck for him in the office. We had cupcakes, chips, dip, cookies, little ham sandwiches, and punch. I'll miss him, he's been a good supervisor.

Saturday was Free RPG Day so I went to a local game store to pick up some of the freebies and play Pathfinder's release. It was another Goblin adventure; We B4 Goblins. It was fun.

I wanted to play the Doctor Who RPG, too, but it turned out that was a miniatures game. Which is not the same as an RPG.

Sunday morning I called my Dad to wish him a happy Father's Day.
Here, have some pretty pictures.

Oops, lost track of time

Sorry, (to all 3 of my readers) I lost track of time and didn't post. The Friday after I came back from Md Sheep and Wool, mom totaled her car. She was completely unhurt and well, it was an old van. Takes less to total it. I drove to see her the following Saturday. I was going to help her get stuff out of her van; except the place where it had been towed was only open Monday - Friday, 9-5. Yeah.

She bought a new Honda (2013) on Monday. And she has declared that if anything happens to that car, she's stealing mine. So I'll have to go car shopping and not her.

I did stuff the weekend after, but cannot remember. I finally took the hand/wrist brace off today, for more than a brief span of time. I'm still going to wear it at night, and not type as much, and not tat....she types. 

For my birthday, I went and volunteered at a charity golf tournament; Chancellors' Cup, to benefit the Janet P. Royster scholarship. This year it was at Tobacco Road Golf Course, in Sanford. I was taking a table so we got a minivan from motor pool. I drove it down there, and got there at 7:30 am, with a golfer, too. Ramses came for a visit and was a big hit. Even people who aren't UNC fans had fun; like the guy who said, 'I can't have my picture taken with him, I'll get thrown out of the family; we're all State fans.' Ramses did a little golfing, too. Until we sent him back to the clubhouse. It was really hot and he'd been in the sun most of an hour and a half. He came back again for a short time.

sometimes it was rough

After, CD took me out to supper. We had a lovely supper. He had left my birthday presents waiting for me when I got up in the morning. He left balloons, too.

And this is one of my presents:

 There is also a couple coloring books, a novel, and another nonfiction. Oh, and a gift cert to B&N.

Then this past weekend, I went to see Mom again. Her car is nice, newer than mine, and has a backup camera. We got stuff ready for Aunt S's visit. Mom was to meet cousin AJ, who was bringing her from the coast, in Efland.

Oh, and my latest Kumihimo project.

I've done a necklace length and I'm working on a bracelet length.

Mom's present to me was to pay for my bids on the Tatting Corner auction. I bought some thread, beads and books. I'll need to take pictures of those to add to my Pinterest board (thread I own, books I own).

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

Autumn Breeze is looking for some more sheep to increase her tiny flock. She decided to look at actual sheep before deciding on breed and the best place (this spring) to see lots of different breeds in one place is the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in Howard County, MD. I took pictures of sheep. Lots of pictures.

this breed sheds hair

lambs

more lambs

Dorset horned, I think

Trio of Dorset horned? (like Ramses)

shorn, I think

almost ringlets

border leicester, maybe

definitely border Leicester

another border Leicester

Jacob sheep, male and female

Jacob lambs

Finnsheep, I think

No idea, but they look like life-size plush

another Jacob

another breed that sheds hair

And a few videos

And I finished the 2nd tatted cross. But oh, my left wrist is really hurting. I called my mom and asked her advice. She said to get a brace and take some anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen. The brace is helping.

Sunday, I made some purchases and took pictures of yarn (after asking). #TheBuffaloWoolCo (American bison), yak, alpaca, angora, and Gotland sheep. There's also Peavine Hollow Farm angora goats.

Their wool is so soft

this is a display piece

here's one of the yarn mixes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

shorn alpaca

and here's some alpaca yarn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

yak yarn

more yak mixed yarn

display made from yak yarn

home of the angora goats I took pictures of

1 nanny and 2 kids

no live sheep here

they had full fleeces, though

and yarn

 

 

 

 

and sheepskin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were also a bit of a crowd (I waited until no one was facing me). This is from the lower corral. 

I made a few purchases on Sunday. I bought some hair sticks (aka shawl pins), a couple of music cds, some soap, and a kumihimo kit (black and royal satin cord, bead, and end caps). I restrained myself and bought only one skein of yarn, for socks. I made good progress on the kumihimo braid because tatting is awkward with the brace. I have a bracelet in Lizbeth Fruity Fizz started. 

I don't know what went wrong with the trip home, but it took 8.5 hours, without a meal stop and without going through DC. I was so tired. Luckily, I was able to get some sleep in the car.

I called Mom on Sunday and she said she would like part of a goat for her present. Dad said K likes the earrings I sent her (I bought them at the Scottish shop in Williamsburg).

The 1st of the tatted crosses is on the blocking square. As soon as it dries, I'll block the other one.