the dread pirate J

Having dreads isn't non-maintenance like many think it is. I wash my hair a few times a week and maintain my locs on a daily basis by palm rolling, light pulling on each dread, applying aloe and one or another home made scalp/dread freshener to perk 'em up. Basically, clean dreadlocks are happy dreadlocks.

Sometimes, though, the scalp can become unhappy. My theory is that scalp unhappiness occurs because with dreadlocks, you can't brush thru and stimulate blood flow under the skin like you can more easily with un-dreaded hair styles. Well, that along with things that can dry the scalp out, and you can be one uncomfortable dread head. By trial, error, and advice from others with dreads, I have a new "no poo shampoo" recipe!

Jamie's dreadlock wash recipe

1 liter (1000ml) bottled or filtered water
4 TBSP sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
1 TBSP Dr. Bronner's liquid soap, peppermint
juice from 1/2 fresh lemon

Mix ingredients together. Divide recipe into a few small containers and store portions that won't be used right away in the refrigerator. Shake very well prior to use! Apply to entire scalp area and massage well. Rinse after a minute or 2 with cool to cold water - always do final rinse with cold water! Cold water closes the cuticle and leads to less frizzy and much happier dreads ... as well as pleases even the most upset scalp!

Another recipe I use is for a daily spray. I use it to wake up my dreads in the morning or refresh them midday, or when ever.

Jamie's daily dread tonic recipe

3&1/2 ounces fresh water
9 drops peppermint essential oil
2 TSP vegetable glycerine OR
1 TSP jojoba oil

Mix ingredients together in a glass 4 ounces spray bottle. Shake well before use. Spray onto dreads and more directly on scalp as desired, for good smelling and more touchable dreadlocks.

It's really hard for me to resist referencing Jack Sparrow when talking dreads so, why try? :)

round up

Not much happening this gorgeous, but hot, May morning. Just relaxing in the air conditioned tv room with Bird, watching The World of Beatrix Potter & Friends on dvd. I'm taking a break from trying to figure out what went wonky with the lace pattern I am using on a traveling scarf. It looks fine ... until I start the new pattern repeat row ... that's when it starts to look like something went amiss. Hmm...whatever the wonk is, I'll figure it out today...eventually*.

Catching up on getting some recent photos I've taken off of my phone, and on to my laptop, it's time for a little photo run down ...

Trying to tame my dreads a bit on a warm day

My Ishbel. Blocked, beautiful, and making itself a lovely shade covering :)

Miss Babs lace weight was used for the main stockinette and beginning of lace pattern section, and Mini Mochi combined because I was running short! It turned out fabulous!
A growing project with Bird. Wild flowers, butterfly bush, and delphinium are sprouting up in the window sill. Outside (and not pictured here) are more wild flowers, and a recently transplanted Lemon Queen Sunflower. They are doing good as well! I'll share pics as soon as it's more comfy outside for hanging out and taking photos.
That's it for this photo round up. Hopefully I'll figure out my lace issue and post pics of it's gorgeousness soon!

*Yep! Figured it out! It seems that when you toss in a K2TOG that isn't part of the repeat, but only the first stitch on the row, things go awry. Who knew?! ;)

When is a bag not a bag?

When it's rendered "useless" by the jaws of a Labrador.

My cutesy pink woven straw knitting bag only cost me 2 bucks via thrift store, and it definitely paid for itself 100 fold by the time it met it's maker ... Or should I say, "destroyer"? :)

My almost 3 year old is slightly traumatized by this development. I think she's taken the blame a half dozen times this evening. Such a sweet baby girl :)

Fortunately, my in-laws rock, and only days ago I received a birthday package that contained two bags - one Oakland Raider re-usable bag (go Raider Nation for being environmenta,l as well as *mental*) and two, a fabulous pink Chico bag! I've wanted one for a long time now so on it goes as my WIP bag!

...action shots to come :)

and in my head, I just keep screaming....

...over and over! Was I the only one half way between tears and yelling at the tele last night, during the second season's finale? I mean, I know an intimate relationship between Beckett and Castle could mean sure death for the show but, couldn't we just have a taste, writers?? For goodness' sake! Satiate my need to witness the consummation of their desire, only to return in the fall to find out the finale was all a dream while Bobby was in the shower, if need be, ABC! I can't stand it anymore!

Gahhhh! Is it fall yet??!!

two of my favorite things ...

If you don't know whether or not you have a PBS station that features the "create" channel, you need to find out. Right now I am watching a cooking show called Everyday Food, and this paella recipe is making me crazy! Living in Northern VA, I don't have much choice but to not make a late night dash to the grocery store with a list of ingredients, however. Honestly, I couldn't tell you if there's even a 24 hour store anywhere in the state. Woe is me!

Instead, I knit. Less fat anyway.

While smacking myself in the head for enlisting in two scarf round robins at the same time, I've got one square just about finished up. Both "knit-a-longs" are on Ravelry, in the "Scarf Travels" group. I'm moderating the lace/skinny yarns group, and just knitting along in the USA group.

I learned from the last traveling scarf round robin I was involved with that not everyone shares the same taste in yarn, or gives the same care to knitting on a stranger's scarf, as they would their own. This time, I'm sending along my own yarn for each scarf, and not relying on the other person to decide for me what fibers and colors to use. Someday, when I wish to relive being disappointed, I'll share pics of the scarf that resulted from my first traveling scarf experience.

Anyway, here's what I have so far for my USA group scarf ... and the photo doesn't do the color any justice. Check the link for that :)

Kamchatka Sea Moss by Peace Fleece

For the skinny yarn scarf I'm going to send along a gorgeous burgundy merino/tussah silk lace yarn that I picked up at Maryland Sheep & Wool from Spin-A -Bit. I have yet to get a good photo of my freshly wound cake. Will share as soon as I get one!

Another (no-pressure) knit-a-long I'm working thru is with some other dread headed knitters on Ravelry... and we're all making our own ;) We're working on Ziggy by Woolley Wormhead. I'm really enjoying the flat knitted hat, and when I'm done it will magically turn into a slouchy rasta hat. The yarn used is Mir-Atlantis Periwinkle - also a Peace Fleece yarn.

3 panels, 6 to go

Well, awesome! Typing this out has taken up enough time that the food show is over, and I've regained control over my late night craving for a gourmet meal! Information about who polished off the Keebler Fudge Shop Grasshoppers ... can't help ya!

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm pretty sure Mother's Day is an invention born in the USA but, to all the mamas around the world, Happy Mother's day!

ch-ch-ch-changes

Over the next few weeks some changes will be happening to my little blog here. Instead of trying to keep up with the several blogs I author separately, I've decided to cram 'em all into one. For the most part, that is.

Instead of never posting on my Mommy Loves Candy blog, I'll just start posting what I would have shared there, in the past, over here. The same goes for my dreadlock stuff at This Mama's Dreads, too. Witch @ Heart is going to remain on it's own - the others will be "archived" for lack of a better description, and link over here!

I hope you enjoy my little blog here. Everyone is invited to comment and encouraged to fill my email box with lurve!

Stay calm, and carry yarn! xoxo

Maryland Sheep & Wool = happiness

Near the entrance of paradise ...aka Maryland Sheep & Wool

... about noon on Saturday the 1st.

Every time I see an alpaca, I want to take it home!

A view from behind the selling tables in the "official gear" barn. I volunteered a few hours with my friend, Shawn. We had a fun time, and it was a great break from the beaming sun!

At the Frivolous Fibers booth in the main building. Silversmith and fellow knitter, Brenda Rajkovoch, had some of her creations on display. She makes gorgeous shawl pins, stitch markers, earrings, pendants - you name it! She's fabulous!

"Best In Show" Lyra by Raveler, Bryony.

Angora bunnies! So snuggly and sneezy.

A "best in show" felt creation. Awesome.

My take home goodies!

www.sassafrascreations.etsy.com for these lovelies

I had a great time! Till next year! xoxo