in search of harbor seals

For Thanksgiving this year, M & D helped me get out to California to see the sister unit (Non-profits don't pay all that well..).  While Southern California isn't really my cup-o-tea, I had a fabulous time with Messy.  She's currently working on her Masters in Evolutionary Biology at San Diego State University.  She studies whales... Fin whales (Balaenoptera sp.) to be exact.  More on that later.  

Check out the harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) Messy took me to see.

La Jolla Beach, CA

Mess on the Beach

There are more pictures, if you're interested.  They're on facebook.  Just let me know if you'd like to view them, and I'll gladly send you a link.  

thoughts

I sit on our porch.  The breeze is cool, I'm terribly warm.  I'm in my underware trying to feel numb.  Trying to let go of the things that swim around and consume my thoughts.  I can't.  There's something bringing me back from my deep meditation and absolution of guilt and dread.  

Why is it nagging?  Why won't it leave?  

I close my eyes and let the air and breeze consume me.  I'm one.  I'm nothing.  I'm invisible.

spinning my wheels

Since I have some free time, now that I'm out of school, I've been spinning again... and thinking of buying my own wheel.  It's been almost a year since I started spinning and I'm not showing any signs of stopping or slowing down.  There are currently several 5 gallon buckets full of fluff in our apartment as we speak.  Taunting.  Teasing.  Pleading to be carded, stroked and spun.  Finances have been solid, but finding space in the budget for a $500 - $800 purchase is proving to be slightly more challenging.  It'll happen soon.  I'm almost to the point were I can swing it.  Until then, I'm distracting my fingers with the drop spindle, knitting, collecting, and weaving.  But... I can only hold off for so long...

weekend weaving

Over Halloween weekend, Erin and I signed up to take a Beginning Weaving workshop with the Gainesville Handweavers Guild.  It was a two day intensive class where we learned the basics of the loom, how to read patterns, and most importantly (and also the most difficult part) how to 'warp' or 'dress' the loom.  

The first day, I used a table loom which belonged to the GHG.  However, on the second day, Erin lent me one of her extra table looms so I could continue to work on my project at home after the class finished.  I'll post more pictures of my current project soon.  Until then, check out some shots from the workshop.