Terry spent much of yesterday doing the final finish work on the new blanket she wove for our son-in-law, Kenny. This involved knotting and trimming all the fringes on both ends, then gently washing and wet finishing, which is fulling. I asked Terry what that meant, and she said the washing process fluffs up the material and sets the threads, tying everything together so it will last a long time.
As I said in yesterday’s blog, Terry said there would be some shrinkage, and the finished blanket shrunk 9% in width and 20% in length, which still leaves it at 57×76 inches. Plenty big enough for Kenny to snuggle up in on cold Arizona winter nights.
A blog reader asked me how much time was involved in a project like that, and Terry said from planning and laying everything out, getting the loom set up, then the actual weaving process and finish work, it was close to 70 hours if not more. A production weaver could do several blankets a lot faster that would be all the same. But for Terry, each piece is individual and made with love.
I knocked out another chapter in my new John Lee Quarrels book yesterday, and then we installed the new modem and Wi-Fi router that Spectrum sent us. A couple of months ago I signed up for faster service, although I really haven’t noticed it being a heck of a lot faster, and sometimes it was even slower than normal. I complained to Spectrum several times, and they said they would look into it, and then out of the blue, with no notice, the new modem and router arrived. I haven’t messed with it long enough to know if I can see any real difference or not yet.
In yesterday’s blog, I announced that Lois Thurston was the winner of our drawing for an autographed copy of Terry’s cookbook, Miss Terry’s Kitchen. Lois, if you’re reading this, my e-mails to you keep bouncing, saying they were undeliverable due to a policy violation or system error. I’m not sure if the problem is on my end or yours, but please e-mail me at editor@gypsyjournal.net with your mailing address and how you want the book autographed, and I will get it in the mail to you.
This brings up another issue I need to mention. I don’t make a penny off of the drawings, and neither do the authors who donate their audiobooks or written books to be used as prizes. Most people who enter the drawings are very good about following the rules of only one entry and including their full name and a valid e-mail address. And most people quickly claim their prize once they are notified.
But you know there’s always going to be that small segment of people that makes things difficult. I have sent people an audiobook code that they won and had them not redeem it for as much as two years. Then when they finally get around to redeeming it, it’s no longer good, and they want me to send them another one.
These things have a shelf life, and after a certain amount of time they expire if not used. Audible only gives authors a certain number of codes and then there aren’t anymore. I have also had people win an audiobook and tell me that they don’t like audiobooks and can they have a printed book instead, or can they exchange it for something else or get the cash equivalent instead. No, Sorry, you can’t. If you don’t want the prize, please don’t enter the drawing.
And then we have the people who enter drawings before they even start. It doesn’t work that way, either. Once I announce the new drawing in Thursday’s blog, you have until Sunday evening when I actually draw the winner to enter. If you enter on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday, your name just gets deleted because there’s no active drawing going on. Yesterday I had seven entries for the drawing that ended Sunday night. And if you enter multiple times, you wind up in the spam folder, and you don’t get in at all. I really like being able to offer these prizes to our readers, but please folks, give me a break and play by the rules like everyone else.
And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.
Thought For The Day – The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. – Walt Disney
