Friday, March 30, 2012

Flicka movie quote

"I live on the top of the world. In the never-summer mountains of Wyoming, 8,000 feet closer to the sky, when spring finally comes to save me from a perpetual winter, and the world comes to life again, I remember what it is I am here for. I’m the only daughter in a long line of ranchers. And when we let our horses out every spring, I love to watch them rediscover the world. I can see in them an expression of my own restless spirit. Charged with an appetite for adventure, they take to the land without hesitation. They are pure power. When I see them running free, I often think of the first horses and how they were the true pioneers of America.

The stories we hear about how the West was won are all lies. The history of the West was written by the horse. Where ever a settler left his footprint, there was a hoof print beside it. Men came further and further to stake their claim in the great American wilderness. But they encountered a strength that couldn’t be tamed. Wild horses. Mustangs. The settlers called them parasites that stripped the land and starve their own herds. They couldn’t domesticate them so they destroyed them. Isolated and hungry, they were on their way to disappear from the face of the earth. Sometimes when light goes away an afterimage remains, just for a moment. Mustangs are an afterimage of the West, no better than ghosts hardly there at all. No one really wants them, not ranchers, not city people. That’s their destiny. Let them disappear once and for all, along with the other misfits, loners, and relics of the wilderness no one cares about anymore. Lucky for us, a few Mustangs survived, hidden away in the mountains. We need to protect them, for they are the hope for some kind of living memory of what the promise of America used to be... and could be again."


                         Skamp, me Skamp; Shotgun - Oh how I miss them, especially Shotgun

Another X-Files Quote

Yes I love some of the quotes that exist in X-Files.  They are so darn deep!

    "They said the birds refused to sing and the thermometer fell suddenly as if God Himself had His breath stolen away. No one there dared speak aloud, as much in shame as in sorrow. They uncovered the bodies one by one. The eyes of the dead were closed as if waiting for permission to open them. Were they still dreaming of ice cream and monkey bars? Of birthday cake and no future but the afternoon? Or had their innocence been taken along with their lives buried in the cold earth so long ago? These fates seemed too cruel, even for God to allow. Or are the tragic young born again when the world's not looking? I want to believe so badly; in a truth beyond our own hidden and obscured from all but the most sensitive eyes..."

    "In the endless procession of souls... in what cannot and will not be destroyed. I want to believe we are unaware of God's eternal recompense and sadness. That we cannot see His truth. That that which is born still lives and cannot be buried in the cold earth. But only waits to be born again at God's behest... where in ancient starlight we lay in repose"

X Files Quote

"Time passes in moments. Moments which, rushing past, define the path of a life, just as surely as they lead towards its end. How rarely do we stop to examine that path, to see the reasons why all things happen? To consider whether the path we take in life is our own making, or simply one into which we drift with eyes closed?

But what if we could stop, pause to take stock of each precious moment before it passes? Might we then see the endless forks in the road that have shaped a life? And, seeing those choices, choose another path?"


                            My Youngest Daughter and my currently only grand daughter Abby.
 

Kriston's Poem to her deceased fathter...

Poem written by Kriston about her dad.

23 July 09

Daddy

Daddy if yo could say just one thing, what would you say?
Would you say that you love me, or would you say that you're
sorry? Would you tell me that I am your world? daddy, daddy,
daddy. Just one thing, just one thought. What would you say?

You left me with such quickness, I had no idea you were
even gone. you never said goodbye, you never kissed my cheek.
You showed me your sadness, then you were gone forever.

Daddy, if you could say just one thing. what would it be?
would you tell me that I"m beautiful? Would you tell me you're
proud of who I've become? Would you say you're sorry for leaving
me alone?

You never gave me a chance to tell you how I feel. You never
gave me the chance to share my world. Daddy, why did you
have to leave so soon? Daddy, I miss you, I need you.
here I find myself searching for strength.

Daddy, If I could say just one thing. This is what it would
be. Daddy, I'm sorry I was bitter. daddy, I have always loved
you. I wish you could see the person I've become. Daddy, tell
me that you're proud, tell me that you love me.

Daddy, if you could say just one thing, what would
it be? Would you tell me that I"m worth it? Would you
tell me that I''m strong and that I can do anything?
would you tell me that you're proud to be my father?

Daddy, I miss you. I wish you could come home. If I just
had one thing, it would be to bring you home with me.
Daddy, why did you leave? I'm slowly forgetting your
voice, I"m forgetting all I want to keep and remembering
all I want to forget. daddy, why did you have to leave?

I wish you could hear all I have to say. I wish you
were here to say that it will be okay. 

Daddy, I know that you would be so proud of me. 
Daddy I love you, I never meant to hurt you.

IF you could say just one thing, what would it be?

Kriston copyright 2009


This is what he's missing now....
                                                          They both are so beautiful!

Surrender

Surrender

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. . . .

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
- Max Ehrmann


Monday, March 12, 2012

March 11, 2011

Today was just beautiful!  Very little wind. I noticed it a little bit and it almost made me turn back to go back home because I hate the wind more than anything because it makes it colder not to mention it seems to effect how I breathe for some reason.  BUT......... Something caught the corner of my eye and when I could get a better look, I could see an iceberg from a distant and that was enough motivation to continue on with the walk for me and Ichi. We walked about 2.5 hours total today and it sure was nice getting out for some nice walking and fresh air too and I know Ichi loved it too.
                                             My Florida dog Ichi who is now slowly becoming an Artic dog.  She just loves the snow I have noticed.  She loves going out as much as possible to walk and explore. I am looking forward to when Spring/Summer gets here so that we can take walks around the lake where I can turn her loose.  She will love that.

So here is some photo's of our walk from today.  They are at different angles and reference points while out on our walk today.  Some may look similar but they were taken from different parts of Qaqortoq harbor.
                                                   Qaqortoq, Greenland
 This was taken from one side of the harbor facing a small area of the village.  I just love how the snow sets off all the brightly colored houses and buildings.
                                       Qaqortoq Harbor.  One day I hope to have a nice digital camera so that I can enhance these sunshine shots more.  I just loving incorporating sun into photo's but sometimes the camera doesn't seem to know how to handle it I don't think.  This is across the harbor from another spot I found.
                                             Now is this a splendid iceberg or what?  It's a good sized one in fact and I was just tickled pink to get to see one this large in size.  I sure would love to be able to touch one in the future too.  They are awesome to be up so close and words just can't even express how magnificent they really are.
This is a close up shot of the same iceberg above.  I wish I could have got even closer physically but the snow and frozen areas near this area were entirely too treacherous.  So I opted to stay where I was which would keep me safe.  It'd been a different story though if the snow and ice were gone. I'd been down there a lot closer. :)
This one is a shot of a second iceberg I was able to get a halfway decent shot of.  It was across from the harbor and it's nice sized too.  I like how they have the darker blueish colors in them too.  My husband Nikolaj says that it is said that the bluer colors signify very pure water in them.  Makes me want to get a boat and go cut a piece off to test out that theory. :) Just beautiful what mother nature creates.  :P
Another shot of the same second iceberg at a slightly different angle and a little be closer as well.
The sun does the neatest things when it relates to still waters along with some of that water having a thin sheet of ice on it in spots too.  Creates lots of reflections.  Sure wish I had a nicer camera that I could use filters with for these kinds of shots. :) Either way I still like the photo and how it turned out.  Only thing I dislike is the red circles that sometimes makes an appearance on photo's like this.
                                                        Sunset over Lake Tasersuaq
                                                                   Qaqortoq harbor

Coming soon... Finish crochet scarf.





                                       
March 08, 2012

There was finally a temporary break in the weather.  Of course the sky looked like it was ready to drop loads of snow but I was able to get out and take myself and Ichi for a much needed walk after having been held captive for six days by the weather.  Five of which had it so we couldn't even get out the door due to the high gale forced winds that piled the snow all the way up to the roof in front of the entrance to the house.  Needless to say we couldn't get out and even if we could have, the wind itself would have kept us indoors. I think the wind has created a lot of issues relating to the snow over the past few days. I'm hoping that we won't have any like this again for awhile but I'm not holding my breath. :)



                                                    This was what my front entrance was looking like but of course by the next night that hole was completely covered and extended way out to the front of the house.

                                                This is just outside the Master bedroom window which is a few feet from the entrance.  The snow is up to the height of the roof of the entrance.




Saturday, March 3, 2012

Tunisian Entrelac

I think I have the crochet fever now.  I have multiple projects going on at the same time.  I spend time on each project just about everyday.  I decided I'd start posting my projects here with some writing about them and add to the writings as I get further along with my projects.  I'm not a big writer but I have this friend who I no longer hear from or get to talk to that showed me that writing is a great tool for unloading things that are inside or just for discussing things one does in their daily lives.  I still struggle at times with writing but I think I'm going to really make it a mission in my life to write about things more often.  Who knows, maybe I can get them put into little scrap books and then they can be given to my kids for fun reads or for keep sakes.  I think it means something to be able to leave something for our offspring that they can read and cherish not to mention pass down to their offspring if they want to. 

So here it goes.  This is my first go at what is called the Tunisian Entrelac on the Round.  When I first saw this pattern I really wanted to try it but I just didn't have the proper tools or didn't think I did anyway.  So I ordered a Tunisian hook and what I got was a very skinny one in a 4mm hook. I'm fine with the hook size but the slenderness of the hook is slightly cumbersome to work with. I have one in USA but it's in storage and I'm not sure if and when that will get sent to me along with all the yarn and stuff I left behind.  I hope sooner than later that is for sure.

So anyway thanks to an online You tube tutorial hosted by Bethintx1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npSvDgFLU7Q&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=SP8F0061A863F4F4D1

I am on the road to learning how to make my first afghan using this stitch pattern.  It's not as difficult as I thought it would be.  I am sure though it will take me a long while to make it depending on the size I decide to make it.  Either way it will be a time consuming but it will be relaxing and fun. I can work on this while watching TV or a movie or take it out with me to sit in the sun enjoying the warmth once spring finally comes to the country of Greenland.  I have to say it has been Siberian cold over the past two weeks here in South Greenland.  It was warmer in January!  February became extraordinarily cold.  I guess the fastest way to break me into the weather patterns here is to start out with the harshest possible weather first. Hehe.  I have enjoyed all the snow though. I'm just truly amazed at how soft and fluffy the snow is not to mention when it's covering brightly painted houses its just gorgeous to look at. I have been taking a lot of photo's now since moving here in August 2011 and I think that I have found a place to feel what it means to be at peace.  Everyday life here is so sheltered from the outside world.

                                                   Qaqortoq, Greenland 02/2012

Back to the subject at hand now that I have managed to get myself sidetracked on another subject while writing about the current one at hand.  I found the stitch pattern to be easy enough. When I can find some simple written directions on making the Tunisian Entrelac stitch I will add it later here. :)  So here is a photo of my first go with this pattern stitch.  I like how the colors are blending well with each other as well.

                                                Tunisian Entrelac Crochet


More writing on this subject coming soon.....

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Greenlandic Life

August 2011 was a monumental month in my life.  I think that I should back track a little bit to set the stage for the many changes that would start occurring over a two year period.

During the summer of 2009 I had a visitor from a far away land.  We had been friends online for many years and had developed a really great friendship.  He'd been there for me like so many other online friends had been during the roughest periods of my life over a ten year period.  So one day earlier in the year of 2009 Nikolaj had told me that he was planning to visit Florida and he wanted me to come and visit with him in Tampa.  He planned to spend a week down there and then wanted to come up to Lake City where I lived to visit and to go on a little bit of a tour of whatever I chose to show him being he was going to be the tourist.  This was going to be his first trip to America from his own country Greenland. 
                                         My Cowboy!  Nikolaj!

Funny thing is, more people than not don't have a clue where the country Greenland is even geographically located which is a little disconcerting as well as amusing. At that time I had never been across the big pond so other than seeing the photographs over the years of places like Greenland (Nikolaj's) native land as well as photographs relating to France (Alain's) native land, I have been lucky enough to get some geography lessons over the years because of these two men. Anyone that says you cannot make friends with people on the internet don't have a clue at all to what they are talking about.  It takes time to build a relationship but with the internet being so easy to access these days it's not to terribly hard to make friends over the years with some really great people. I have noticed that a lot of them seem to have talents in things too.  The internet has made our world a much smaller place. 
                                          Nikolaj & I - Walt Disney World 2010
                                          
When Nikolaj came to visit in August something unexpected happened between us.  Neither of us was expecting what would happen either.  We had been friends for some long but neither of us had thought anything about going beyond that at the time.  I was still feeling the effects from hardships of a previous 21 year long marriage.  It ended tragically with the death of my first husband and the loss that hit our children the hardest.  It was a tragedy in proportionate levels that would effect my children for some time afterwards due to the nature of how his life ended.  So I was still working my way through that and helping the kids and it was a tough road indeed. 
                                          Qaqortoq Harbor 2012

Then there came Nikolaj.  Like this shining beacon on a foggy morning.  The smile on his face, the humor, the way he talked to me and how he made me feel so comfortable. I had never met anyone like him.  So before we knew it we became a couple over the following months.  His first visit was incredible and I made sure to take him on some tourist visiting while he was in Florida for his first visit.  He then came back for a second trip in the spring of 2010.  He spent about six weeks with me in Florida and our bond deepened and grew in leaps and bounds.  Before he left he asked me to marry him and how could I say no.  He made me feel like a princess.  I wanted to be with him.  Of course we had a of things to figure out too over the next several months and it wasn't easy making all the decisions we had to make relating to our becoming a couple as well as being together under one roof. 
                                            Our Home - 2012

So in December of 2010 he flew me to Greenland to see how my health would react to Greenlandic weather as well as the lifestyle.  Of course I was in awe because I had never crossed the big pond so being the newbie that I was, everything was like "the first time."  I took lots of photographs too.  The flight to Greenland turned out to be rough but once I arrived in Greenland it was much better after that.  The culture here in Greenland is like nothing I had ever been exposed to.  The people here seem uncorrupted by the world that moves around this island.  Villages have no infrastructures between them, so the only way to get from one village to another is to fly or go by boat or ship.  I have to say that the entire six weeks I was in Greenland was both eye opening as well as exhilarating.  I can't remember feeling this free ever.  It was quite liberating. Then we made the decision to get married while I was in Greenland so on January 2nd, 2011 we got married.  Of course I had to return to the United States and we still hadn't made a finalized decision on who was going to make the big move. 
                                             Qaqortoq Harbor Sunset 2012

It was hard leaving him after being there in Greenland for the six weeks and being newlyweds only compounded that.  It was very difficult in fact to be so many thousands of miles apart but life goes on as we all know.  After a few weeks we had finally come to the conclusion that it was better for me to do the move than for him to.  He has this great job that pays well and right now with the current financial crisis that my own country is suffering along with the high unemployment rates being up, it only made sense for him to stay in his and me come to him and put everything in storage and sell what wasn't going into storage. 

I had four horses too and had to sell them or try to anyway along with a vehicle.  I have since got three of the four horses into new homes but alas my oldest horse which is the best horse I have ever had is still currently being boarded.  I haven't found the right home for him and I sure do miss him too.  I had been barrel racing with him for three years and I had finally started getting a lot better with my riding too.  I sure do miss riding that is for sure.

                                           Nikolaj & Ichi & I 2011

More writing coming soon.............

This is a Crochet pattern I am currently working on.  I'm having some trouble with interpreting the directions.  So I hope that somebody reads this might can help define the directions into simpler terms so that it makes more sense then the way it is currently written.  So if you can show me an easier intepertation of this, it would be greatly appreciated. :) The pattern was offered free from:
http://www.craftown.com/crochet/pat46.htm

Fan Pattern Shawl
Fan Pattern Shawl - Free Crochet Pattern

Fan Pattern Shawl - Free Crochet Pattern

Fan Pattern Shawl
This pretty fan pattern shawl is a lovely accent piece for any wardrobe.  It can be used to accessorize in all four seasons, made from all types of colors and yarns, and can also be given as a treasured hand-made gift.  This free pattern crochets up nice and easy, and your efforts will be well worth the resulting shawl. 


Difficulty: Easy

Sizes: 56" wide; 33" deep at center back, plus    fringe.
Materials: About 1400 yards of mercerized knitting and crochet cotton. Steel crochet hook No. 1.
Gauge: 3 meshes (ch 2, dc) = 1
Instructions for Shawl:
Shawl: Beg. at lower center back, ch 19.

Row 1: Dc in 7th ch from hook, (ch 2, sk next 2 ch, dc in next ch) 4 times. Ch 5, turn each row.

Row 2: (Sc, ch 2, dc) in first ch-2 sp, (ch 2, dc in next ch-2 sp) 3 times, ch 2, (dc, ch 2, dc) in last sp. (7 dc)

Row 3: (Dc, ch 2 dc) in first ch 2-sp, * ch 2, dc in next ch 2 sp, repeat from * across, end ch 2, (dc, ch 2, dc) in last ch 2 sp (do not work in turning ch). (8 dc)

Rows 4-9: Repeat row 3. (14 dc)

Row 10: * (Dc, ch 2, dc) in first ch-2 sp, (ch 2, dc in next ch 2 sp) 5 times, ch 2, * 5 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, # (dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2) 5 times, (dc, ch 2, dc) in last ch 2 sp #.

Row 11: Work from first * to 2nd * on row 10, dc in next ch 2 sp, dc in each of next 5 dc, dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, work from first # to 2nd # on row 10.

Row 12: Work from first * to 2nd * on row 10, dc in next ch 2, sp, dc in each of next 7 dc, dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, work from first # to 2nd # on row 10.

Row 13: Work from first * to 2nd * on row 10, 5 dc in next sp, ch 4, sk next 3 dc, sc in next dc, ch 4, sk next dc, sc in next dc, ch 4, 5 dc in next sp, ch 2, work from first # to 2nd # on row 10.

Row 14: Work from first * to 2nd * on row 10, dc in next sp, dc in each of next 5 dc, dc in next sp, ch 4, sc in next sp, ch 4, dc in next sp, dc in each of next 5 dc, dc in next sp, ch 2, work from first # to 2nd # on row 10.

Row 15: Work from first * to 2nd * on row 10, (dc in next sp, dc in each of next 7 dc, dc in next sp, ch 2) twice, work from first # to 2nd # on row 10.

Row 16: Work from first * to 2nd * on row 10, (5 dc in next sp, ch 4, sk next 3 dc, sc in next dc, ch 4, sk next dc, sc in next dc, ch 4) twice, 5 dc in next sp, ch 2, work from first # to 2nd # on row 10.

Row 17: Work from first * to 2nd * on row 10, ( dc in next sp, dc in each of next 5 dc, dc in next sp, ch 4, sc in next sp, ch 4) twice, dc in next sp, dc in each of next 5 dc, dc in next sp, ch 2, work from first # to 2nd # on row 10.

Row 18: Work from first * to 2nd * on row 10, (dc in next sp, dc in each of next 7 dc, dc in next sp, ch 2) 3 times, work from first # to 2nd # on row 10. (3 pats)

Rows 19-99: Repeat rows 16-18 having 1 more pat every 3 rows. Ch 1, run at end of last row.

Row 100: Sc in each st across. End off.

Finishing: Steam lightly.

Fringe: Wind yarn around 8" cardboard. Cut one end. With 8 strands together, fold strands in half, pull loop through ch-5 turning ch, pull end through loop; tighten knot. Knot a fringe in each turning ch on sides of shawl. Trim ends evenly.

 This is what it looks like so far and for some reason I feel that it is not correct.  It doesn't look like anything.
 This is what it looks like as of February 27th, 2012.  A few more rows along and it's more or less starting to look more like a pattern is developing within this shawl pattern. I still find it disturbing that the top wants to curve like that.  I'm not sure why that is either.  I will keep on working with it and see where it takes me.