I have been rather remiss in posting... it's called, "life happens". My surgery in April went rather nicely.
May, of course, brought some unusual rains... yup, right into my basement with nasty brown water. Ohhhh, what a mess! To top that off I also needed to clear out the loft of the barn and bring all my leftover inventory to my property. Okay, still working on that part, but the inventory should be here before long. I will be listing a lot of stuff on my website and here because I need it gone!
In mid June I started the sad feelings because Ed's birthday and anniversary of his passing were coming up in July. I chide myself thinking, I should be beyond these bouts of great sadness... it just hasn't happened yet. This is what's been going through my mind... A few years ago... that real hot summer we had... I was working in my storage units when I realized it wasn't the roof dripping condensation but my head.
I decided to take a break and placed a chair up front to try and catch a little air hoping for a breeze to start cooling me. Boy, all of a sudden I really missed my guy~ I knew he would have set a chair up for me and gotten me a glass of water or whatever it took to make me comfortable... he was just that kind of a guy... sweet and caring. I started to cry softly and the tears streamed down my cheeks as others drove by going to their storage unit. I was heavy into my own sadness when I suddenly felt Ed's presence. I could almost feel his arms around me and I could smell him, his essence.
"Okay, if you're truly here, Show Me!" I stammered as I tried to think of something he, his spirit, could do. I said, to no one in particular, just noting I wasn't crazy. "Show me," I thought of him shoving something off a shelf. I quickly decided that may not work and I'd never know if that feeling was him, but I was sure it was him. I wanted proof for me! "Show me," I continued to stammered, until I hit on the right thing. The sky had been one of those great Seattle blue skies, without a cloud and hardly a breeze and close to 90 some degrees.
"Show me," I said in a confident voice, like, ah ah, caught you. "Show me a submarine!" I thought I was brilliant! I had no idea where he'd find a submarine in my storage shed but I really needed to know that the presence I felt was him.
Just that fast, a big, huge, puffy cloud settled in front of my view, on the backdrop of the pristine blue Seattle sky. My eyes couldn't leave that huge mass of white, as a submarine, like the old diesel model, took shape before my eyes. It had the conning tower and looked very much like a side view of a sub he once served on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Diodon_(SS-349) When the touches were being added to shape the tail fins, a small puff of a breeze distorted and pull the submarine out of proportion, as it slowly drifted away from me. I was pleased, stunned and mystified beyond words. I could only stand and stare as the white submarine slowly drifted into other clouds that had just as suddenly appeared.
You may ask, why I've brought this up so many years later? I saw a Physic this past weekend and she also, confirmed that Ed had made the submarine. When I asked the Physic the question she took awhile to answer. Before she could say a word, bits of brown stuff came flying at me from my right side. I'm sure it was him since I strongly believe he was also there. The brown stuff was from a tree, but it wasn't to my right at all. She told me, Ed said, "Yes," so fast and so many times that she became unsure and asked him again. I really think it was him scolding me for asking. And yes, I know a lot of you are very skeptical. I'm fine with that since I know, what I now know.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Life Happens
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
One Fidget Scarf Finished and Given
Wouldn't you know, as luck would have it, the sun came out nice and hot on the day I give the scarf. Even so, the recipient seemed pleased with his gift.
I thought he looked very sharp sporting his Fidget. I did need to give instructions on how to wear it. People don't know what to do with a scarf that has buttons. I hope to be able to capture him in a photo wearing the scarf. He's one of the local poker dealers for tournament style poker. He had told me, if I was going to knit at his poker table I needed to make him a scarf. I felt it was a small enough price to pay to get good cards.
The Fidget was knit using Kross by Mondial 100% wool. Buttons and yarn both came from my huge stash! I have plenty of this yarn left in red if anyone is interested?
This is a fun scarf to make. It only takes a few hours to knit using one ball of yarn.
It felt good to finally get one of the scarves completely finished, blocked and with buttons sewn on. Took longer to set up the blocking screen than to knit. (I set the screen over the bathtub where garments dry between wet towels for final shaping.)
One more item I can now scratch off my to do list of gifts to knit and give. Woo Hoo!!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Knitting Teacher: Goals and Patterns
I always found when I was teaching that a new knitter does NOT know what should be hard. If you tell them they can and have a positive attitude, they will knit it and complete the project. I started all my beginners on circular knitting needles and making a simple cardigan, tank top or hat. Requirements were that the garment must have shaping of some sort and use only stockinet stitch. The item needed to be for themselves or someone they truly wanted to receive a gift of love. My goal was to create an independent knitter in 4 - 8 weeks during 1 1/2 hour classes. After that amount of time people were unable to absorb anymore instruction. I limited class size to 5 - 7, the number of students I felt I was able to get around to during class time. I wanted to get a knitter over being afraid to try a pattern and knit whatever they wanted. All students learned: 1. to read a pattern 2. be able to see and make a knit and a purl stitch 3. to do the frog stitch 4. to pick up stitches 6. to increase and decrease 7. work with light enough color to see the stitches 8. to assemble the finished pieces 9. to block the finished garment 10. NO novelty yarns. Patterns: Knitting Pure and Simple Fiber Trends Ann Norling Patons Cascade The above patterns were hands down some of the easiest to read and knit of the patterns available. They all helped to create successful knitters. I do think it was a big help to take classes from the Craft Yarn Council of America where I'm a Certified Instructor for Knitting and Crochet. http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/teach.html Being a good knitter does not make a good teacher. The best way to solve a students knitting problems is for an instructor to be a good listener. Even though my knitters started with circular needles they all had the brand that worked best for them. There were times I would explain a technique many different ways until I saw the light come into the students eyes. That's when I knew they truly "got it"! There is nothing more rewarding than teaching a person to knit, it will be their best friend for life. I have seen knitting be the life line for many people in different situations that were beyond their control. You can view a few of our knitters and their finished garments at, http://www.ritzythings.com/gallery.htm If you are thinking of being a knitting instructor remember, S M I L E a lot!! I wish you the best, it's so rewarding, Arlene
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Poker Sweater
Been working on Cottage Creations, Babies & Bears Sweater for Grown-ups.
I apologize for the poor color on my second photo. I couldn't get it to appear in the proper shade.
It's been fun making this sweater since I can still play poker while I knit. I'll do anything to put some of those poker players on tilt. No, casino's do not allow knitting needles. They are considered a weapon. This is pub - tournament poker and sometimes the players over deliberate their move to the point of distraction. I needed something to keep a calm non-caring poker face and Zen knitting is it.
I love the way this pattern starts at the cuff and knits up the sleeve. There are a number of circular knitting needle lengths required to complete each half of the sweater. The longest was 36". This is required for holding all the stitches from the front, side and back on one needle.
I played with making this in two colors. It took a bit to get the right combination of rows but I did rather luck out.
The one thing I did not do was mark every 10 or so rows to keep count for ease of matching the right sleeve length to the left. I was reminded by a dear friend to go to the inside with the purl bumps and count those. They are so much easier. Even doing that, I lost count and had to resort to using a marking yarn by dipping under each 10th row.
I am so intrigued by this design that I only waited a day or two after completing the left side to start on the cuff for the right side of my "poker" sweater. (Gee, I wonder how it got that name?) I was rather concerned I'd wait too long to continue and would totally loose interest in completing my poker sweater. I've only taken a short break to knit a couple of fidget scarves, which still need to be blocked.
Monday, January 14, 2008
ME
This came to me in the middle of the night, a few nights before my husband died. It woke me in a flurry to find pen and a pad, to jot down what was appearing in my minds eye. I have shared this with a few friends that have also had big losses. Maybe it will help you as it has me. When I read it to my husband the next day, a tear slid down his cheek. If it helps anyone to have understanding or gain peace, that makes it all the more wonderful.
ME
Tell me for sure in words that I hear.
Friday, December 7, 2007
If You Wondered Why
Wondered why I have not reopened my shop in my home, as it was when I started my business? Here's why...
And here's the driveway coming in and going out... Need I say more? So, when you place an order and I say, I may need more time, please be understanding. I've never seen it flood this bad in all the years I've been here. December 2, 2007. Hopefully this will also pass.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
How I got here from Ritzy Things
I only had a 30 day notice that the lease would not be renewed on my knit shop. It was not enough time to sell off the contents of the shop plus, new inventory was being delivered daily. We were not only overwhelmed but broadside by this news. My husband and I diligently slaved for that last month trying to liquidate the inventory and move the complete contents of the shop.
We had plans on how to sell off the remaining inventory once we moved out and caught our breath. We had enjoyed a wonderful group of customers. Many of our saddened customers came in to help us pack things up and load boxes onto the truck for the storage units. It was just too much to sell off that quickly. With heavy hearts we closed our doors never to open again.
I never had that chance to catch my breath... Let me step back in time to the prior September 2002. I faintly started to hear a soft voice echoing in my head that continued for months. The voice repeated these words and only these words, over and over again, "It only takes an instant." Being a mother with adult children, my thoughts immediately turned to some tragedy that might involve them our grandchildren. At odd moments during the day I would hear this phrase repeated in my head.
I than came to my senses, I realized I didn't have control over my children or grandchildren and their lives. I began to doubt that this was a warning that meant they were in danger. Still, I heard... "It only takes and instant".
I stood in front of my shop, admiring the success I had created with the beginning funds of only $250.00 many years ago with the help from my darling husband. Oh, yes, it had taken time and lots of energy, but I had created what I desired. Wow! It was a powerful feeling. Joy, pride and the greatest fullness that comes with success, all washed over me. I stood in the parking lot, proudly gazing at the neon sign above my store, which I had seen, but not seen for years. I again heard the voice. "It only takes an instant." Of course, I did the only logical thing, I strongly ignored it!
Then when the "voice" continued to ring in my head, I felt the warning must be meant for me. I started being more cautious in my regular activities and always saying what I meant... but that's a good thing over all. This seemed to send the voice a ways farther back into the distance.
I was happy with my life, I'd achieved my goals, not perfectly but my dreams were fulfilled. I was on top of the world. I was madly in love with my guy and he was head over heels in love with me. He took care all the household stuff and I took care the shop. He treated me like his queen, as if I were a precious commodity, cherished and very loved.
My guy was a romantic at heart. A sweet and tender soul, he loved nothing more than to make me happy. He did so many little things to light up my day or just because. He'd be the one to get lunch for us or get our morning latte. He'd come back with hugs and kisses as though he'd been gone for a week. In other words, we couldn't stand to be apart. We truly enjoyed each others company. He had traveled the world in a submarine but wanted nothing more than to be by my side. His years aboard a submarine had given him a talent for packing goods into small spaces. He always amazed me how he could make a huge quantity of stuff shrink into a tiny space.
He was my forest of protection, always there offering his arms for safety. My strength, my very being was securely entwined in him. We were two strong individuals but one whole. We were close as though we breathed for each other. He was my senior and that always gave me pause, yet, he didn't act that old. He acted and behaved much younger. He had learned to take time to smell the roses too.
One early dawn he came back into the house and gently woke me. "Come quick, you have to see this." He wrapped my robe around me and threw my jacket on top of that. It was a cold November morning at daybreak. When we stepped off the porch and looked to the east over the top of the barn... we became bathed in the most glorious sunrise ever. We shared that moment as close as two beings can, as we shivered in the morning crispness watching the sky unfold its glorious show. He gave me one of his lushes big hugs and placed me back on the porch with kisses a bunch. "I love you sweetie," he said as he planted a parting kiss on my lips, as though he was going out to sea for months.
Back to the July 17,2003 ten days after closing. We were starting our new life without the shop and all our shop friends. We still hadn't tried to move any of the many stacks of boxes that cluttered the house. We did a little jig-jag to dance around them when going from room to room. We knew we had lots of time to figure them out. First we would eliminate the storage units and than un-clutter the house.
A week and a half later we needed to buy groceries and decided a trip to the base would be something to cheer us up. He seemed tired but I thought he was still trying to catch up on rest from the move. I knew I still felt deflated. He had made a doctors appointment for the following Monday morning. He took more time and waited in the car while I did some of the shopping. When we got home we both unloaded the groceries from the car. He took the foods to be frozen down to the basement freezer.
We were both exhausted from our trip out and had a simple dinner. We popped in a movie since nothing else sparked our interest. I started to lie down on the couch and realized I just might fall asleep. I quickly sprang back up and looked him in the eye from across the room.
"I love you babe," I said.
"Ahhhh, you do?" He answered back with one of his big lopsided grins and a question in his voice.
"With all my heart," I reassured him.
"I love you to babe," he said as he continued to eat a bowl of fruit.
I laid back down with the knowledge that all was right in my world.
Sad to say, it didn't last long. I soon realized I was at the threshold of change. The clock revealed 2 am. He wasn't in his recliner. I didn't know what, but something seemed very wrong. I was aware that I was not hearing the voice and the lack of it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Those events have been the hardest I have ever had to walk through. The realization that there was nothing I could do to change them, that hit me hard.
I now appreciated how the Hawaiian King, in the book Hawaii, had climbed to the top of the mountain and gouged out his eye at the loss of his beloved wife. If I could just find a high enough mountain or a sharp enough knife, I too could cut out my pain. It has been a long hard road. 
Our last trip together, New Years 2002 to Vancouver BC.
In fond memory of my beloved CPO Edward D. Ritzhaupt
07/12/1929 - 07/18/2003
