Star Wars Toys (The Pressure is Off)

Another month down. Not yet sure if I'll sign up for February. Keep checking back though. I seem to be on a roll!

Now for something completely different....The bad boys of Star Wars and another of my latest obsessions.

Birds on a Wire Cowl (Knitting Pressure Difused)

I never did finish Kathy's sweater. I did however make myself this cool cowl while I was house sitting. I have had this book out at the library off and on for weeks. Making a cloche hat from it now.

I am giving myself permission to quit stressing over the sweater. Deep breaths. You'll get it done eventually (she said not really believing it)

Almost a Sunset (Pressure to See Beauty)

I like living in town but one thing I miss about the farm is the sunsets. This is the only way I get them now.

The Start of my Next Collection? (Pressure to Find More)

I've always been a collector. Rocks, bugs, tins, bells, kaleidoscopes, books, knitting needles, yarn, beads, fabrics, it goes on and on. I have calmed down quite a bit but still have the urge.

Laura gave me this purse recently. It matches my jewelry treasure chest. I feel a new collection coming on!

Frost Flowers (Winter Pressures)

I have had it with these prompts. Well, that and winter in general. Long hard winter, yeah I said it. Long, hard and cold and I have HAD IT!!!

But beauty lurks in the worst oof conditions. These are frost flowers on my bathroom window.

Where I Stand Sunday (Almost Over this Pressure)

Standing with my besties at my first ever Steampunk event.

Change (Could Bring Pressure or Not)

Free writing Saturday, away from my picture stash (new computer woooohoooo!). Guess it's time to suck it up and write.

Let's talk about change.

I, for one, embrace change, but I am always in close contact with people who hate change and they somehow make me uncomfortable with my choices. Is this the peer pressure we have been talking about? I don't think so. It's just that I get tired of defending myself about change.

Bring it on!

New home? No worries.
New clothes? Love them!
New friends? How exciting!
New job? I can do that.

New art techniques, different foods, unknown authors, travel. Oh the thrill of discovery!

For me change makes the world go around.

That said , don't think I am not sentimental. I absolutely am. Love my keepsakes. I just want NEW keepsakes once in awhile.


What changes may lay in store for me 2014?

New business endeavor with a friend involving plants, gardens, cool stuff and flea markets.

Later this year, maybe a new residence.

And all the glorious unforeseen changes that pop up along the way- I can't wait!

Rebel Base to Gold One (Pressure)

Friday, January 24, 2014
Does pressure ever make you want to rebel and do the exact opposite of what is being asked of you?

 Pressure doesn't do that. It's usually the butt-munch people demanding asking  me to do something that makes me want to rebel. It's all in the attitude people.

Flashback! In high school I wanted to be a rebel but I didn't know how. I didn't want to be one of the kids sneaking out to smoke cigarettes, I wouldn't skip school, didn't drink. Imagine my delight when I got my SAT scores back and it said Tutwiler, Rebe L. I think I even made a beaded bag to commemorate the event.

Now the closest I come to rebelling is have a Rebel Mouse account. It's over there on the left hand side of this  page. It grabs your social media posts and tries to make some sense out of them  lol,

And there's always Billy Idol.

Not Only Possible but Probable (Enormous Pressure)

Thursday, January 23, 2014
Do you think it's possible to control your temper when facing enormous pressure?

Of course I do. And I have. And I've lost my temper over trivial things. But all in all I think I keep a handle on it way more often than not.

I think that the best way to keep your temper is to avoid pressure cooker situations in the first place. Try to have calm friends, keep healthy if you can, take walks, listen to music, pray. Knitting and crochet helps too as long as you don't pick the world's hardest pattern lol.

Another temper buster is laughter. Make fun of yourself next time you want to blow your top. If that doesn't work, make fun of me. I can take it.

Temper (Under Pressure)

Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Do you have a bad temper? How often do you lose your temper?

No I do not have a bad temper (normally). I only lose my temper now and then like once a year and there are usually smart mouthed children or teenagers involved. Haven't lost my temper over an adult action in ages and ages.

You Must be Perfect (Intense Pressure)

Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Do you feel pressure to be perfect? How much of it is tied to what you see online?

Not anymore I don't but for a huge chunk of my life perfectionism ruled with an iron fist. Odd you should ask if it is tied to what I see online because it was an online Yahoo group that helped me break free from perfection

http://www.flylady.net/

Flylady helped me put away the stinkin' thinkin' that I had to do everything perfectly.

I totally recommend her.

Conformity (Pressure)

Monday, January 20, 2014
Do you still feel pressure of conform? If no, what age did it stop?

Conformity

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms. Norms are implicit, unsaid rules, shared by a group of individuals, that guide their interactions with others. This tendency to conform occurs in small groups and/or society as a whole, and may result from subtle unconscious influences, or direct and overt social pressure. Conformity can occur in the presence of others, or when an individual is alone. For example, people tend to follow social norms when eating or watching television, even when alone.


Yes, I still conform, but it's to different things depending on whom I am with. I have several groups of people in my life and they all have their own rules to live by. I will follow said rules to a point but if I feel the urge to veer don't think I won't (remember the mixed fiber knitting story!)

Here I am with my Acoustic Pond  friends Meg and Blondie. In this istance am NOT conforming to the world's standard of beauty lol

Where I Stand Sunday (back off me Pressure)

Me and a childhood friend standing at The Taste of Danville Sept 2013

The Year of The Owl (No Pressure)

Just a few owl pics that came my way in 2013. The trend continues.

Get a Handle on It (Your Pressure that Is)

Friday, January 17, 2014
Do you think you handle pressure well, or do you usually fall apart?

Oh I absolutely handle most pressure well. No matter what it is it's only temporary. You have to keep a good attitude in the face of adversity. It really ticks your enemies off, lol.

I am the calm in the storm, the person who refuses to scream at spiders, mice and snakes. If a situation really freaks me out I excuse myself from it as quietly as I can. There's no sense in falling apart especially when you know you have only yourself to fall upon.

Oh don't get me wrong, I have a great security network of friends and family. But they are all too busy screaming at the spiders to be much help.

Me or Them? (Putting on the Pressure)

Thursday, January 16, 2014
Who puts the most pressure on you -- yourself or others?

Definitely me. You know what happens when other people pressure me? I walk away. I can't handle the stress and moreover at this point in my life I really don't want the drama.

But it's hard to walk away from yourself. So if there is pressure it comes from within.

Here's a nice Pressure conversion chart to ponder. I'll be over there knitting >>>>>>>

Grace Under Pressure (That's Me)

Wednesday, January 15, 2014
"Courage is grace under pressure" is a famous quotation by Ernest Hemingway. Tell us about a personal moment of your grace under pressure.

Sept 9, 2012 I held my head up high and walked in to my ex husband's visitation/funeral like I belonged there. I went for my kids and my grandkids and I was glad I did. I talked to ex in laws and a lot of Benny sympathizers who hated me after I left (even though HE was the one who had the girlfriend if you recall) and I stayed till the very end. I even pretended I didn't see that little witch girlfriend when she showed up even though by now I realize she did me a favor.(They didn't last of course and I actually LIKED the girlfriend he had when he died. And just because she did me a favor doesn't mean I have to like her anyway).

RIP Benny Combs see ya in the next world

Doing the Un Doable (A Different Kind of Pressure)

Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Marge Piercy said: "A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done." Tell us about a time when you did what couldn't be done.

OK this is one stupid story, lol.

Once upon a time, when I lived in a green house in a cornfield, I took my knitting into town to show the old lady who lived in the green house in the cornfield before me. She took one look at my knitting and exclaimed "You can't do that! You can't mix wool and cotton and acrylic all in one piece!"

I looked at her and said "Mable, I got some news for ya sweetie. There are NO KNITTING POLICE and if I want to mix fibers in this shawl I will"

And I did.

The end.

Now you can do the same. Go gather up all your odds and ends of yarns and for the love of God Make Sure they are DIFFERENT Fibers!

Here's a free pattern to get you going

http://andra-asars.com/free_patterns/art_class_mixed_fiber_c_c_pat.htm

A woman is like a tea bag...(Under Pressure Again)

Monday, January 13, 2014
Eleanor Roosevelt said: "A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water."  Tell us about a time you felt your strength.

2001- Hateful year indeed. Found out my husband had a girlfriend in the same week I found out my daughter needed brain surgery. Got rid of the husband and got my daughter through brain surgery only to face the events of Sept 11 and the downfall of my craft business.

Thinking back, I did have a breakdown late that year but I was really strong during the actual brain surgery and medical-everything leading up to it. My daughter and I both look back fondly on the whole ordeal. She's fine, by the way. It wasn't cancer it was an AVM which is evidently genetic as my cousin's daughter had one also. We all toyed with the idea of having our children tested but let's be real. We couldn't afford CT scans or MRIs so until they get symptoms we're just gonna act like it ain't happening again.

Here's a link to a neurosurgery site so you can understand what AVM is

http://neurosurgery.ufl.edu/patient-care/diseases-conditions/arteriovenous-malformation-avm/

Where I Stand Sunday (Avoiding Pressure)

Here she stands getting ready to go to the last quilt guild meeting she got to attend. At least she's wearing her spiffy new apron she just made. I wish my daughter would hurry up and find that black top. I miss it.

Silly Saturday (Another Way to Avoid Pressure)

Those Victorians sure knew how to take some awesome pictures didn't they?

Acupressure (Pressure Points Again)

Friday, January 10, 2014
Have you ever tried acupressure to treat a problem? What was your experience with it?

This makes me think yesterday's question was actually literal.

Yes, I have used acupressure to try to relieve headaches. You push your thumb into the point formed by your other thumb and finger when you make an OKAY sign. Here's a pic:

Here's how you do it:

and a Youtube demonstration. The neck massage looks promising!

I have to honestly admit it doesn't help all that much but hope springs eternal and I keep trying.

Tender Spots (Pressure Points)

Thursday, January 9, 2014
A pressure point translates in Japanese to "tender spot." What are your pressure points?

I'm not quite understanding this question. is it literal as in "Where are the tender spots on your body?" or is it more like "What are your emotional tender spots"?

When in doubt answer both.

My body has one for sure tender spot on my lower left back. It was a sure sign of my impending period. Ugh.

Emotionally there are things from my past that are still "Sore spots". One is the farm I lived on for 13 years out by Cissna Park. I still don't like to drive past it. I don't want to talk about certain subjects either, like my recent divorce. I prefer to live in the here and now not dwelling on these things. But trust me, they still hurt.

Dissecting the Peer Pressure (Pressure THIS)

Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Can peer pressure be positive? Why or why not?

Of course it can be good. One might associate peer pressure with only bad things, smoking, drugs, mob action...but in reality your peers can influence you for good also. If you hang with good people you will get good peer pressure.

I try to hang with good people now that I'm older and wiser.

Are all my friends "good"? No, but I try to limit contact with those. I still love 'em n stuff but I know I will benefit more by "walking with wise persons". Age does have its advantages.

Proverbs 13:20 says it all.

Blizzard Update

We interrupt this Pressure filled blog series to update on the blizzard/arctic pulse. I am fine and well but eating myself silly as a result of some sort of survival instinct. I got some things done though and have been playing my guitar, painting, knitting,reading, semi-organizing stuff and testing the little flowerpot heater (works great!)