tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69010857785919056392024-03-13T14:09:49.424-05:00PurlsBeforeFrogsAngeluna knits into the wee hours of the morning and ponders life....and her stash! So much stash, so little time.Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-72880983504496815452011-09-12T00:49:00.000-05:002011-09-12T01:14:59.831-05:009/11 Remembrance and an Odd Momento<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Has it been ten years? It seems so much more recent. The world has changed and we've become accustomed to the unthinkable.</div>
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I remember well the horror of that day and watching it unfurl from almost the first minute. My complete disbelief when the first tower fell and the awful realization of how many people were probably still in the building. A Canadian friend was visiting and I don't think we could tear ourselves away from the news for at least 24 hours. Such a sad day.</div>
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You see, I knew those towers very well. I was included in several meetings with the architects, discussing the incredible engineering which would allow almost open floorplans. I first saw the site while they were constructing the "bathtub". Then those towers began to rise. Wearing a hard hat, I visited the towers while they were under construction. I talked to the steel workers who were so proud that they were constructing something far beyond any ordinary skyscraper strength or actual requirements. The steel would withstand anything, or so they thought! I rode up to the 112th floor on a freight elevator that had a gap of a couple of feet from the floor level. You had to swing the elevator and jump off when it neared the floor. Wow! And when I say 112th floor, it was the top of the building plus another level, then the elevator finished on top of that platform and you walked down some steps. There were no guardrails on the building. You were above the clouds and any airplanes. You were even above the wind. It was the tallest building in the world then.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFxDaTKugqEcbW_JiU-RfTA-gqixct1Uoo78yhZ27bDBnIrT7LmOdc7SLXFOytNtaYx4Gt94RLaIASqPEx8mTDZUw17elOj9AIG1f_FDPwQvfEBJbZxw0bhFnjHDvz3h8Q8t2xZaymkw/s1600/WTCDeckPass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFxDaTKugqEcbW_JiU-RfTA-gqixct1Uoo78yhZ27bDBnIrT7LmOdc7SLXFOytNtaYx4Gt94RLaIASqPEx8mTDZUw17elOj9AIG1f_FDPwQvfEBJbZxw0bhFnjHDvz3h8Q8t2xZaymkw/s320/WTCDeckPass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now here is a momento. My permanent pass to the observation deck on top of one of the towers. For myself and my "guests". I lived in Paris when it was issued. And it is signed by the president of the World Trade Centers, Guy Tozzoli, who added the "permanent" comment. An odd bit of history.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK6fnb9UGs6r3ikpUZQcdbaBLjDyJPxq7z0ukBDzuzURHthwz7RFJUWnv008EBgO5Al-oNSdQcMlLGDW-0GJSElMv8OdaPheMoQPpQ6-_MzFzPy8x16nZXtowSeV93SYhx-IBnRZQnxw/s1600/WTC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK6fnb9UGs6r3ikpUZQcdbaBLjDyJPxq7z0ukBDzuzURHthwz7RFJUWnv008EBgO5Al-oNSdQcMlLGDW-0GJSElMv8OdaPheMoQPpQ6-_MzFzPy8x16nZXtowSeV93SYhx-IBnRZQnxw/s320/WTC.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
And this was my 4th of July birthday celebrated at Windows on the World with several International World Trade Centers characters, note the ties. Better days.<br />
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There was a cocktail party held on the 110th floor for some reason while the building was under construction. Although they had cleared a space, it was still a worksite. It was night with lights rigged. The floor to ceiling windows looked as though they had metal covering them, which I found strange. I walked over and put my hand up to touch the "metal" and my hand went straight through. It was the lights against the clouds outside and not metal at all. You could put a hand on each side of the opening and lean out over the city. It was a long way down. I was also there for the gala opening dinner when Windows on the World absolutely sparkled with tuxedos and ball gowns. Many, many memories tied up with those towers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/FEMA_-_3921_-_Photograph_by_Andrea_Booher_taken_on_09-16-2001_in_New_York.jpg/393px-FEMA_-_3921_-_Photograph_by_Andrea_Booher_taken_on_09-16-2001_in_New_York.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/FEMA_-_3921_-_Photograph_by_Andrea_Booher_taken_on_09-16-2001_in_New_York.jpg/393px-FEMA_-_3921_-_Photograph_by_Andrea_Booher_taken_on_09-16-2001_in_New_York.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea Booher photo for FEMA, note sphere in background</td></tr>
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One odd thing I've noticed with all the memorial programs. They refer to a globe that was in the plaza as though it was just a ball of metal. In fact it was a most beautiful sculpture by Fritz Koenig, a huge orb representing world peace through world trade. It was still visible in some of the aftermath photos. I wonder where it finally ended up?*<br />
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The memorial garden looks beautiful. I love the footprint fountains and the trees. I hope it will be a peaceful place.<br />
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<i>*<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sphere"> follow up</a></i></div>
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<i>The Sphere</i> is 25 feet high and cast in 52 bronze segments. Koenig considered it his "biggest child". It was put together in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremen,_Germany" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Bremen, Germany">Bremen, Germany</a> and shipped as a whole to Lower Manhattan.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Adlon_0-0" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sphere#cite_note-Adlon-0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a></sup> The artwork was meant to symbolize world peace through world trade, and was placed at the center of a ring of fountains and other decorative touches designed by trade center architect <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoru_Yamasaki" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Minoru Yamasaki">Minoru Yamasaki</a> to mimic the Grand Mosque of Mecca, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masjid_al-Haram" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Masjid al-Haram">Masjid al-Haram</a>, in which <i>The Sphere</i> stood at the place of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Kaaba">Kaaba</a>. It was set to rotate once every 24 hours, and its base became a popular lunch spot for workers in the trade center on days with good weather.</div>
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At its current location in Battery Park, a plaque alongside <i>The Sphere</i> reads as follows:</div>
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<i>For three decades, this sculpture stood in the plaza of the World Trade Center. Entitled "The Sphere", it was conceived by artist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Koenig" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Fritz Koenig">Fritz Koenig</a> as a symbol of world peace. It was damaged during the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but endures as an icon of hope and the indestructible spirit of this country. The Sphere was placed here on March 11, 2002 as a temporary memorial to all who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="World Trade Center">World Trade Center</a>.</i><br />
<i>This <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_flame" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Eternal flame">eternal flame</a> was ignited on September 11, 2002 in honor of all those that were lost. Their spirit and sacrifice will never be forgotten.</i></div>
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Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-59887222886766760372011-09-01T22:33:00.000-05:002011-09-02T21:25:54.458-05:00What I Did on My Summer Vacation...in Vermont...with Irene<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Needed a little vacation at the end of an entire summer of 100F to 110F temperatures, every day perfectly sunny, like a furnice. Decided to visit some very old, very dear friends who live in the perfect climate. I wanted cool and rain. K & W have plenty of that, plus mountains and forest and a brook at the foot of their hill. Plus a perfect huge dog.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I Love Lucy the Irish Wolfhound</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I was of course in Vermont...in Killington, on a mountain, on Roaring Brook Road, as in Roaring Brook is at the bottom of my friends' front yard. As in Roaring Brook that flooded all over the place. As in Roaring Brook which <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2d0IGtOOBg">washed away the bridge</a> on the road below the house.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organic round stone house dug into the mountain</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For the first few days, we had a lovely time driving around the area. We even went to Webs in Northhampton MA, that mecca for knitters. We returned home by way of Battleboro, Ludlow, Woodstock and Mendon. Lots to see. We also made an excursion to nearby Rutland with its Green Mountain Yarns. The mountain ash in front was in full bloom, or is it berries. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Ash</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Mountain Fibers in Rutland</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">And a visit to Mr. Twitter's.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The delightful Mr. Twitter's in Rutland</td></tr>
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Found a wonderful yarn shop in Proctorsville...<a href="http://www.sixlooseladies.com/">Six Loose Ladies</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Six Loose Ladies in Proctorsville</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Historic covered bridge in Woodstock</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We made still another run to Woodstock for <a href="http://www.gillinghams.com/">Gillingham's</a>, the famous <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ8S_8fRrCw">Farmer's Market</a> and the hardware, foraging supplies for the coming storm. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 27px;">We didn't expect much weather, but better to be safe than sorry.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gillingham's Store Cat and Supervisor...Adelaide</td></tr>
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Then we planned to spend the day Hurricane Irene was expected to arrive safely at home. The rain started around midnight on Saturday and continued for about 18 hours. It didn't seem too heavy and the wind was not impressive, certainly not for three New Orleanians who had survived many a hurricane, including Katrina. We stood out on the terrace several times and remarked that luckily, we had dodged a bullet this time. We could hear the brook below roaring more than usual, but we didn't have a clear view through all the trees. We were totally nonchalant. Then we lost power. And with the power went the pumps, so no water, no flushing toilets, no telephone, no cooking, no fridge, etc. etc. We thought this would be repaired before too long so we just went to bed around dark.<br />
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Neighbors woke us early morning bringing news, none of it good. First off...Killington was now an island. Killington had lost all connection with the rest of the world. Route 4 that ran through town was washed out on either side of the village. Rutland was hard hit and that road was impassable. We couldn't get out to anywhere and no help could get in. The same neighbors had a generator and kindly invited us up for hot coffee and news. Various people kept dropping in, bringing a little more information each time. They were projecting a couple of weeks before power could be restored. And no one could get out of town.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN53gAEVtx9fVzI3GW3WQVXH_U6emWu2BC8HulEtmH4ahXMyCkQY1N5a5h0bHZgv3xXJc4LmFbaRDmaZGhMwSCDQuKprQ5QXOx8v-m52WqakFqRQDkz8ThRC7T66exYUEZSLbosLZd6k/s1600/OrvisFlowers2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN53gAEVtx9fVzI3GW3WQVXH_U6emWu2BC8HulEtmH4ahXMyCkQY1N5a5h0bHZgv3xXJc4LmFbaRDmaZGhMwSCDQuKprQ5QXOx8v-m52WqakFqRQDkz8ThRC7T66exYUEZSLbosLZd6k/s320/OrvisFlowers2011.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers in Manchester VT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After several days of eating peanut butter on crackers and cold pasta with beans (quite good), I began planning a somewhat risky escape, using a driver to go out over a mountain road (we later heard that was a white knuckle adventure and really just took you to Bridgewater, which had been severely hit itself and where the road was also washed out). Then someone knocked on our door one midnight and told us there was an escape plan in the works. A local contractor had built a temporary bridge which he would keep open and maintain for two hours the following morning. Anyone wanting to leave should be there waiting to cross. And if the bridge started to fail, they would close it. No one could return, and it would be possibly weeks before anyone could leave again.<br />
<br />
The driver arrived before dawn. We were about the twentieth car in a line of perhaps fifty or sixty. At the appointed hour, they began waving us over. Policemen warned each car that we were using the roads at our own risk and made us acknowledge that. They warned us of crumbling roadways and unstable bridges. We were to cross sections one car at a time at 5mph, trying to stay in the center thread of the road, which was sometimes barely a car's width. Everyone was reasonably nervous. We saw houses and bridges and cars simply washed down the streams. Fields were flattened. Of the stores we had visited so recently in Woodstock, two were flooded and one was simply gone, not there. The covered bridge across from The Green was still there, but damaged. The highway in front of the Farmer's Market was barricaded and we had to go over the mountain to reach the town. Several of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WyO18one8fU">old covered bridges</a> were washed away on swollen streams.<br />
<br />
It took time, but we eventually made it to Lebanon NH where we found buses and airplanes. Eventually I arrived in Boston and then home, exhausted and needing a shower badly, but none the worse for wear.<br />
<br />
For my part, I have no complaints. It was an adventure vacation. But I do have concern for the people who couldn't escape, particularly the ones who lost so much. I found Vermonters simply amazing. They didn't wait for the government's help or even permission. They held meetings at the school. One local man took care of building the temporary bridge. Others organized a 24 hour phone bank at the school, to answer questions and make things happen. First they checked on everyone in town to make sure no one was isolated and that there was food which didn't need cooking for any children. Today they arranged for supplies to be trucked to one side of the break in the road, then people carry them across the rubble and load things onto the fire truck which takes them up to the market. Walgreen's in Rutland came up with a similar plan for prescriptions, delivered across the Mendon chasm and available for pick-up at the fire station. At the school, they even have cat food and litter available.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVJTtAAlYjM&feature=related">Here is a video</a> of someone else in our caravan crossing that temporary bridge out of Killington and the road to Woodstock. Please excuse their language, but the video is interesting. Here are videos of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=KBKvytaKa9M">Route 4</a>, again near <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=dK4e0Mir3as">Mendon</a>, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncbEC-lFk4s&feature=related">repairs being made</a> by that local contractor.<br />
<br />
Who would have thought all this could happen in Vermont? My friends moved up there after Katrina because they never wanted to worry about hurricanes again. So much for that idea.<br />
<br />
Would love to give a knitting update. Lots going on. Although not much was accomplished in Vermont since we had no light and went to bed with the chickens. Next time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-38274592123902853242010-09-18T00:10:00.004-05:002010-09-18T01:03:55.980-05:00A Nod to the Ancestors<div>Five months have passed without a word on the blog. I've no idea why I've been so mute. There has been a lot of knitting, as usual, a bit of traveling, some time spent on genealogy. But none of that fully explains the lack of blog time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of those ancestors, I tripped over this interesting article in an old, old newspaper:</div><div><blockquote type="cite" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(46, 40, 29); line-height: 18px; font-size: 12.5px; ">From an English paper Jan 5, 1740 - "The Dolphun of New England, Nathaneal Coit, Master, from Cork, is wrecked on a great rock called the Roane Corrigs, in the Bay of Bantry, about four leagues from town. The vessel was staved to pieces and a passenger drowned, but the captain and crew, who were six in number, got upon the rock. The bad weather continueing, nobody would venture to save them, but nine brothers, sons of Marten Sullivan of Beershaven, who, after obtaining their father's leave and blessing, boldly ventured forth and brought the captain and sailors ashore."<br /><br />Nathanael worked the Irish trade routes and later the West Indies from his home in Connecticut, evidently maintaining a residence in Cork. In later life he opened a "house of entertainment", the Door of the Red Lion, in his father's house in New London. I popped an e-mail to a friend, Richard Mills, who is a photographer for the Cork newspaper and asked if he knew of that rock. Within five minutes of my e-mail, he sent this photo.</span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8zy3S4sAwT2hFd7b64deejCd20GJvUcR0LMtm4kLT_hfDOkBuWo4L1gE6GqhuX6gSJPEX0dA5j3e_7zmFO1ZThkkjl3Q3rwQAFasXbsiMWjg2DHfeQix_T5Dyi09jUzi2V3HezC8USw/s320/Roancarrig.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518120013607323362" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18.0556px; "><blockquote type="cite" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(46, 40, 29); line-height: 18px; font-size: 6.02817px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: 6.02817px; ">So I can picture my Capt Coit and his crew waiting on this forlorn rock, battered by the storm and wondering if they will ever be rescued. There was no lighthouse then, and there are many wrecks to be found around Roancarrig.<br /><br />The story gets better. Descendants of these nine brave Sullivan brothers from tiny Bere Island were most certainly the five Sullivan brothers from Castletownbere who served - and perished - together in the US Navy in WWII. They had asked not to be separated, and their wish was granted; but afterwards the rules were changed so that such a total loss within one family would not happen again (remember <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>?). The US named the battleship USS Sullivans in their memory.<br /><br />History is indeed incredible.</span></span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></span><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWSDAWebK0xQ7kOHNSV0avPZEmUhxxjfnDXFZl2k4cWHYeETRYtIxjdcJiiI4eRqIMBDlKzITjuL4tBudGi6kRddm5lNGpvxk4pivEOAsM7W_RxqC5mfuxzUxy-ysaCB6nOXvMUK1SKk/s320/JTWarrenAngora2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518120009840767330" /><div style="text-align: left;">And here is proof that I come by my love of fiber naturally. This is my Great-Grandfather with his beloved prize Angora billygoat. West Texas around 1930. The family were among the earliest importers of Angoras to the States. I wonder what he did with the fiber?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYFTMAvOMWIa6m6NszUC0iyHIVV611k6EsKnSX0aPt9KOYi_PYLoF64-rFBc0KzVrLoG6Rz87TFFlIB1LWlXgkuvpEsyxFX0wV6W5Agw0NQQ01GXFePYRWJTr1eqi1XgEDNaYtMi78E/s1600/IMG_1153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYFTMAvOMWIa6m6NszUC0iyHIVV611k6EsKnSX0aPt9KOYi_PYLoF64-rFBc0KzVrLoG6Rz87TFFlIB1LWlXgkuvpEsyxFX0wV6W5Agw0NQQ01GXFePYRWJTr1eqi1XgEDNaYtMi78E/s320/IMG_1153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518120001714721922" /></a>And here is proof of knitting. A test knit done for Mimi Kezer, Double Striped Moebius Redux. Great fun and very quick, all things being relative.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDFeBZy86ZOZkiWx4O13ZOG7FW_R80LOli09J2_Noih8bcO2BR8qw_2bfNy6XIIiVHjdDeoNzMnj0ZGKd4xISHabRcDaFCPl5vg14dDfp2egJWDWcbYwWewob5lBXC2fTVhuKKrZXXSI/s1600/IMG_1154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDFeBZy86ZOZkiWx4O13ZOG7FW_R80LOli09J2_Noih8bcO2BR8qw_2bfNy6XIIiVHjdDeoNzMnj0ZGKd4xISHabRcDaFCPl5vg14dDfp2egJWDWcbYwWewob5lBXC2fTVhuKKrZXXSI/s320/IMG_1154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518119980980361442" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-size: 18.0556px; ">Another test knit in progress, this one for EinsteinsLogic, 9 Pearls. A scarf full of holes and loaded with beads. Can you see them?</span></span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDFeBZy86ZOZkiWx4O13ZOG7FW_R80LOli09J2_Noih8bcO2BR8qw_2bfNy6XIIiVHjdDeoNzMnj0ZGKd4xISHabRcDaFCPl5vg14dDfp2egJWDWcbYwWewob5lBXC2fTVhuKKrZXXSI/s1600/IMG_1154.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqc35wERKwJHpFO7w-YESsWyET8HCbdtuIK_Qp69XJUKhR45c-YmcV-II6eluOYGCwwRxR08E9Yzb-PJqbtBSVCqAmTjMa7khKTSOjq7JkCky05bt1n0alnZlptwTUk13xqL7iOoHYpJk/s1600/AidansHat7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqc35wERKwJHpFO7w-YESsWyET8HCbdtuIK_Qp69XJUKhR45c-YmcV-II6eluOYGCwwRxR08E9Yzb-PJqbtBSVCqAmTjMa7khKTSOjq7JkCky05bt1n0alnZlptwTUk13xqL7iOoHYpJk/s320/AidansHat7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518119949209646194" /></a>For Kay, who lives in Vermont, we have a warm hat. The pattern is a variation of Aidan's Hat from Module Magic. The lovely model is <a href="http://thedrolleclectic.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=18">Taya</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>All the above were knitted with Noro, Silk Garden, Kureyon and Kureyon Sock. Nice to knit down some of the stash (did you hear that stash?).</div><div><br /></div><div>Then speaking of the above Richard Mills and his partner, the delightful writer Jo Kerrigan (<a href="http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com/">CelticMemory</a> to the knitters), they have just published their first book together, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/West-Cork-Place-Jo-Kerrigan/dp/1847171664/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284789118&sr=8-1">West Cork, A Place Apart</a></i>. They invested all of their passion into this book, and it is a beautiful marriage of stories and photos. I couldn't wait and got my copy direct from Ireland. You can take a look inside <a href="http://www.obrien.ie/book897.cfm">here</a>. I'm just dreaming of packing a small bag and heading over to this magical corner of the Emerald Isle.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next time with a report on Vermont and a few of the ubiquitous yarn shops up there. And some more knitting. I've no idea what this is going to look like as Blogger seems to have a mind of it's own tonight with my text, but I'm pushing the publish button for better or worse.</div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-19187150631154223412010-05-07T18:12:00.021-05:002010-05-07T20:18:17.118-05:00Not Holding a Wake for the Blog, Not Just Yet!<div><div>Blogger is making changes and I'm not sure just what to do about it. So the above mentioned wake may be a forced one. Plus, on three different browsers, I'm having a heck of a time posting, going from one computer to the next. Move photos a bit with one, then go to another to add text, but can't move photos. Etcetera ad infinitum. Already, it was getting more and more difficult to find the time to catch things up. Now to worry whether it is all going to disappear. We'll give it another chance. <div><br /><div><a href="http://mustaavillaa.blogspot.com/">Mustaavilla</a> just said one day that she couldn't think of one more thing to say about hand-knitted socks, so her blog said bye-bye. Everyone seems to be talking away on Facebook and Twitter, but I must say I can't seem to find the time in my day to find out what my friends (love 'em) ate for lunch.<br /></div><br /><div>As to the blog issues, Blogger still doesn't want me to move my photos around, so this may be another strangely disconnected posting. But here goes, lots to catch up on.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468676189682307138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEfs6uwR-9oA2AIoPvfKE0SbV-CTULpPggcbgopfa0vtrZKmR6ejnlfDioC__7HLH8TQ5mRI0KFkALP5jPsAQhYfMMtH1UvkS35OPjl7L1v7OBiyNkkNcVIu7Tru9RtvTPLwxrAj3fT8/s320/Valentine2010.jpg" /></div>Valentines? Yup, it's been a while. Strange to say, but I've never even met the man who sent the champagne and chocolates.<br /><div> </div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468687799145029266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3izcpWrFzSNf94heaeOK2o4Xtt-2UyCFOeADlwNma5Z7d7I9DMJq5rYq42aNxJgwj59wPv4fjDMnH5jq7lZfYtUDrr5TGgz3k7kLrEUyu-VeTvsEEp4XVUjpGyNZdJcGfFsmwR17MJK8/s320/ValentineSnow2010-13.jpg" />Then, there was the Valentine's snowfall. It was utterly beautiful while it fell, a strange otherworldly light. I could have read a book outside at 3AM with a totally overcast sky and snow falling. About 15" here, unheard of. The branches moaned a groaned and creaked...and broke.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468687791469562642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinubazQIHz99p84eFqpwuiijxMrPik5_2lQBNGPn1wLyPQcoQOHrt4yL0c3OYz22fsIIymlUypNG0B69O4mdov_gDpnHDZNiErNRVWn-qG-KQXj5nLIKW81OvgwFIPrK4sgGlYCmvQNU/s320/ValentineSnow2010-12.jpg" />Most of the snow had melted off by the time I took these photos.</div><div><br /></div><div>FINISHED OBJECTS:<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468676166404790562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAmC_Lg4eqOxA-NbhYaiJDHXv-0MqIUEE_1asrvMq8qYGhTH-4bo-5IzDyGiri-AZcXmS7B1E1vyZtz2-8nM6PAHiA-oV9XyO5TS6ZKrVPWAxGlGIFyMQ0sKWjz0gQsz3jDu7VqL7_38/s320/Stulpen5.jpg" />Stulpen Fingerless Mitts in Wollmeise. Can I tell you how I love these? Let me count the ways.<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468672793663123058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nre6fnUSCEWwVMdjm2ZUYg9GrX6IbyY_Anj98YN6Bf7RQT9Qy5XarKZieqbBCB0osz20Q5rG0EQgjz8BkhB3yW-lEJ-omgyQSZyNfTlryCwxSCBZVKKXQYtHbknvHZp2t210LdQUR5E/s320/IndianPeacock3.jpg" />And I managed to string up an old Indian pendant I'd had lying around for twenty plus years.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468672787275815458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9nrqAgMhmNAHkBOHJeS63aWczMnMC2kCRVjlhiu8LUFSOjiUvKW8F7mZ0zTOujjlTn6hdKWtK4SK50-2xeLEY_Ls8PO69c-0aHPck-X6j4kogx7oHMX_s1WnyfutRt7zb_58OJHmOeI/s320/Fetching3.jpg" />Fetching in Socks That Rock, Dutch Canyon. These went to Jana to keep her hands from freezing (they are always cold). I would not do this pattern again. Although it is modified and is better, those thumbs are just hideous.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468671230492252530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXJ_4bd7Bm2tEwQJOOtF88BNTGq-qGqwGZN2IASK4VLrXVhYNBCmvkPLyUQblYVlsjKTFLzYFkmu2rSrHvJ78hNZszv2WmtlciBEbDyFngu8PRkXIaBKrMoyKbrmtxa-loviBdg5j4VU/s320/ClapotisBlk2.jpg" />And here we have a finished Clapotis. I had plenty of yarn (Elsbeth Lavold's Silky Wool), so I just kept knitting. And knitting. And knitting. For years. And ended up with a ginormous comfy cozy wrap that should do three seasons. Love it.</div><div><br /></div><div>SOCK MADNESS:</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468676158892476050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL1w3YGg2EaM9F3Dg01RcX3-h8Ktlo9MTV5jwnQcfd3OwvW_xAjOyIllLcwB5CRDVhPhgHqO20abE-CgAwdBHnbBbgDqMZfTzjzhs5Snn3LdKMdKrZYmz6DxDq2rhfAXGx5_JsIYHeZY/s320/Side2SideSock3.jpg" />Sock One, a sideways number by MountainMom. A fast knit, very effective.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468676173580915074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThE1KiyOARxKrfh5BqDJNSeviNwgGdZUt5KpHpTcFiR91ZW_Ok3u7wjmdMrq2wu4MrqY6wav3NuJGg03C-KWUCE6Y_6Gqj2ZNBCwb2elz2Dx-kL_ZvaGdEPwEshvqj7j8AIdR0mr_uOI/s320/SMSide2SideSock.jpg" />Knew these weren't going to fit, so used her favorite colors and shipped them off to Jana. Who loves them dearly.<div><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 295px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468671239277785170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4peOp3fLALk_c19wB2h8sqerJLxVJHWvf_r6KQx_dU_gpc3iZoLzGok2lHAHsbo8BQ4J6KieYahPcYKr-N0FU0jk7f1anS41SLQj1KVQg_3f_YDgwfa6hXhFza7RZb4eLW1NLCMhLiTU/s320/CoolBeans1A.jpg" />Sock Two, Cool Beans. This was my first cast on. The yarn just wasn't working at all. So I frogged and started over.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468671247911320098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0j_P0SNGntyYvtOcGHscicHmUGjVhj6xB1Xox-kztizK3d_6dWDKTt0lrrmuHXd1W1_GyIdMzGAZgsM0jJEXnTon3WoZWQG5bWRVirRBWelCw8auXbhLXJovBQMq4NKOjg3xJEJ9HqY/s320/CoolBeans5C.jpg" />Being a novice at colorwork in the round, these took a while. But I came up with multiple methods for handling the two colors. Learned about dominant color. And really downright enjoyed them.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468671256850009026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl5uGVbRoO8rR5YnCOTPgD8lrK66Ucw7Lz0pCZvm1zxcu07d8ffd1895jd70095ycXIHxKZZlym-fAtSo7talt1S2W8YHUwvQ6ZI2eHnEhzkpuk_Ka-sa0D0miYQs9hJqNkxo0b6PJI4/s320/CoolBeans4C.jpg" />Knew they were going to be too small for me, but thought I would give this pair to Kay. Well, they wouldn't even fit Kay. Jana got these, too.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468687784335450082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAbbwnVquYg0LM0c_0MQbolRGHH8v28yPlvGsrCLM0pFYUrq_HIxobFJTfmXSrMaO6LqvQxJ0MADe_8oturU2Q3RKmJRzQzcaKoJs5-lv1qFf0hAphSLdgILqCUSW3v5mTPWVbr_OoXk/s320/SMGAMS1.jpg" />Sock Three: GAMs designed by our very own Taya. Made sure these would fit me by adding 7 stitches. Used Noro Kureyon Sock, which I loved working with. Now let's see how a single holds up. I knitted the soles so tight, I had almost negative row gauge.</div><div><br /></div><div>With round 4, I dropped out. A knee sock that went on, and on, and on. Just the idea of me in knee socks reduces me to giggles. So...I wandered over to Sock Knitters Anonymous and cast on for the CookieA Mystery Sock.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 233px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468687786040243618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tPrV4G1Z9xNON01mBhbQqK9nDTKTXRnHLpZ1Qsqo2HMfO4N89Ra1hh0EQYVztfBaQKgPFuR28YkwSBqGyYRBQ4R2LBiX8YxUYDQ71O8-KN7duSCXXHmQtBm6__HFeEsD-FEMYXKUrp4/s320/SKAMAY10-1.jpg" />And here we have Clue 1. Clue 2 comes out tonight. So these should look very different in a few days. Wollmeise Twin in Amethyst.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468676188822616274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeImmiofkpcktyU1C4UJ1bKDj9EeAx5piWZ16gehGlozM577SrpZXUHVm65gIm6gT-mb3OnxGaghgAPtKpNdn0DMlfRX6kcPJ5QpbBQxeaxrLizej0EAr2NMR8a0z67Nukiik3Erhvkwc/s320/Wintergeist1.jpg" />I felt so badly about Kay not getting any Sock Madness booty, that I cast on a pair in Opal Hundertwasser just for her.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 193px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468672781940578530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Iag6NF4iXdj510Er7SKnlkKHUsre3GrdNczv7U90wCAlQjc7I4Y6_VPwbGnt2g6q1WsZ95xrUJCP1xSeQdtireA3TcE8xsYtD4XprpKeet2aFLlvFoeQ4bzICRWuIOTPJ6hwEGYksds/s320/DibaduOne3.jpg" />And for me, pulled out a skein of Dibadu Wild Funnies and started a very simple ribbed sock, which may turn out to be my favorite of all to wear. Thin and fits perfectly.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9s7IrtMSkOAesYAZvgxZPqfw1Fm3ljSX5m4EkFwW-IV0PgOEfztF0rq007ntwOsJX_FVw_ly8efu3-2wMQ04vSje_3PGbp1FPk-wiE6OaQqORiyL7a_DAuWaBcCyQw5Wv0yPu_ENrDjQ/s1600/WMGroup.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9s7IrtMSkOAesYAZvgxZPqfw1Fm3ljSX5m4EkFwW-IV0PgOEfztF0rq007ntwOsJX_FVw_ly8efu3-2wMQ04vSje_3PGbp1FPk-wiE6OaQqORiyL7a_DAuWaBcCyQw5Wv0yPu_ENrDjQ/s1600/WMGroup.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 320px; display: block; height: 130px; cursor: pointer; " id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468672809021495458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9s7IrtMSkOAesYAZvgxZPqfw1Fm3ljSX5m4EkFwW-IV0PgOEfztF0rq007ntwOsJX_FVw_ly8efu3-2wMQ04vSje_3PGbp1FPk-wiE6OaQqORiyL7a_DAuWaBcCyQw5Wv0yPu_ENrDjQ/s320/WMGroup.jpg" /></a>Just for the sheer beauty of it, here is a shipment of Wollmeise from my friend Doris in Germany. The joy of opening such a package is hard to describe to a non-knitter.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9z4HYGQ1tdzh0whzh9gDyp1pumvnyktSX2MwxEzb8pDtesZiYjoFweGG-mPE3JEP_4_qA4uEBX8oYEjhb69iVk-BmmN55JFylBXWAtFJaBlXMoqWAPtMK5Hmb1xJ0nOxnVQY2PQyFHyk/s1600/PandoraPattern1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468672804372669762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9z4HYGQ1tdzh0whzh9gDyp1pumvnyktSX2MwxEzb8pDtesZiYjoFweGG-mPE3JEP_4_qA4uEBX8oYEjhb69iVk-BmmN55JFylBXWAtFJaBlXMoqWAPtMK5Hmb1xJ0nOxnVQY2PQyFHyk/s320/PandoraPattern1.jpg" /></a>And here are my helpers. Pandora, who manages to sit on two copies of the same pattern at the same time, preventing knitting.<div><div><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468671264484914562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Yc_hyphenhyphenY5wH9diRc5nGNj9sBYuCqQ7nIpFd_MsgVxC3zmctvKGf4skvZMWThr_VYs4UYJUatl6IMnZkaB8W57Cfn8h2z2O4P3XHxBcO2L-mRYa4UtnvpQTmn4tjirj9HYffo9-QvwDffo/s320/Copy+of+GalatoirePrinter.jpg" />Big old Galatoire, who does disturb the printing process, even if it doesn't disturb him.<div><div><div><div><br /></div><div>And Bad Boy, who was supposedly helping me file...until he pushed over the stack of folders to the floor, then knocked off the stack of CDs waiting to be mailed as he leapt down and pretended he had nothing to do with any of it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRxciy016Xb3Ik16_PpJHXGBefxIgxSS7uf-KKX7TQTM6A95PHoJIj7CZN0ar6YHR8rMv8v7Pjt4XNMvurltjEqC7zyU9trLOywm_nFjTNbQUXh6Qz0Utkc7PCY1wWP0OiuLL1wtEeSw/s1600/BadBoyFiles1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468670045713719058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRxciy016Xb3Ik16_PpJHXGBefxIgxSS7uf-KKX7TQTM6A95PHoJIj7CZN0ar6YHR8rMv8v7Pjt4XNMvurltjEqC7zyU9trLOywm_nFjTNbQUXh6Qz0Utkc7PCY1wWP0OiuLL1wtEeSw/s320/BadBoyFiles1.jpg" /></a> </div><div>Whenever I hear a crash in the house, I know exactly who did it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now to press the button and see if all this publishes. Hold your breath.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-39509854970784823012009-12-29T17:51:00.010-06:002009-12-30T07:45:16.058-06:00Another Blast from the Past<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7a1xa_j-5x2eaxLGjmX89k1ECnzJfQf-zbZLjCUY8Jv7kwd3Y4UvkMNGJCie5mG-avtgi58ZCk5c_aiSsedk06F2smVv8nF_q8bFKYEjWxIjOhcSRnBiManqs7R3w58gLcZj4LTUCWE/s1600-h/SteveDavidSanta.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7a1xa_j-5x2eaxLGjmX89k1ECnzJfQf-zbZLjCUY8Jv7kwd3Y4UvkMNGJCie5mG-avtgi58ZCk5c_aiSsedk06F2smVv8nF_q8bFKYEjWxIjOhcSRnBiManqs7R3w58gLcZj4LTUCWE/s320/SteveDavidSanta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420813040642626018" border="0" /></a>Perhaps you may remember this photo of the boys, probably Christmas 1968, wearing their fisherman's sweaters which I had made them. I had seen the patterns in one of those women's magazines at the checkout counter of the grocers and thought they would be nice. I hadn't knit in at least five years, and certainly had never knit anything this complex. But, blessed with ignorance, I had no idea they were supposed to be difficult. And what luck that the patterns actually worked without reams of errata. So I just cabled and popcorned away. Of course I saved them, some of those things you want to keep for future generations. When I moved to Europe, I stored them in a cedar chest at my mother's house. My mother, being my mother, found them and gave them away to Goodwill or the Paralyzed Veterans or somesuch. How I wish I still had them. But at least there is this photo!<br /><br />Going through some of the boxes of inherited photo chaos, I found these two old school photos. Ta-da! Documentation of another set of sweaters, the 70s this time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-Qxca_7yDSLAWhILieiiSN2Mw4MWHtE0eZdGuVPfYS7IOyVHtXMGA6wj_Egb_2IK9ufG2cyYVdzcUL3FvCigcZGnYxeJ0KMRpeEItQzSjm8BGyymHT8wY20CEewkzSVwf99PKSYMYUI/s1600-h/VestSteven.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-Qxca_7yDSLAWhILieiiSN2Mw4MWHtE0eZdGuVPfYS7IOyVHtXMGA6wj_Egb_2IK9ufG2cyYVdzcUL3FvCigcZGnYxeJ0KMRpeEItQzSjm8BGyymHT8wY20CEewkzSVwf99PKSYMYUI/s320/VestSteven.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420813033594115218" border="0" /></a>Steven in his vest...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbgKYUwsDCplNcWiSVJ5_FkGgU7DtYlEdispVz80cLXFAGp0k0gBoBQeCtALDOkAGU9lDndYUx5fTZWKLsLo7tqhWQ_Xz_rwNhJKUQxsO6AI3wq9sG9dzUn03U3zpAg6LkDDAq2X98Go/s1600-h/VestDavid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbgKYUwsDCplNcWiSVJ5_FkGgU7DtYlEdispVz80cLXFAGp0k0gBoBQeCtALDOkAGU9lDndYUx5fTZWKLsLo7tqhWQ_Xz_rwNhJKUQxsO6AI3wq9sG9dzUn03U3zpAg6LkDDAq2X98Go/s320/VestDavid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420813028764151346" border="0" /></a>...and David in his. No idea where I found the pattern, but I'll lay a bet this yarn came from Woolworth's. We had moved to New Orleans and I don't believe there was even a yarn store there. Or if there was I never found it. We lived on Bourbon Street and rarely left the French Quarter. It was wool, and I remember thinking the variegation was interesting. Now I wasn't a serious knitter then, I just knit from time to time as the urge struck. Wish I had thought to document everything.<br /><br />There was at least one more set I knit for them, very nice mixed greens with stripes. One was a turtleneck, and by the time I made them the boys had decided they would absolutely not wear T-necks. I don't believe a photo exists of those. Too bad.<br /><br />Finally got through the Christmas knitting and gift making. These were a big (did I say huge?) project:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4YD13H_m04zahRYCMSLZzRZPn0QYFBNYJ1Rw8POH8ohyphenhyphensnhDgu422A6RR9dLBf7fSZMsNkkI0U82B37tsQ6XPwPHCTEb76z4wux3yZFbERThIQYVCaz2-WFvfbpeavD25Y5qIyhCxVg/s1600-h/RowCounter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4YD13H_m04zahRYCMSLZzRZPn0QYFBNYJ1Rw8POH8ohyphenhyphensnhDgu422A6RR9dLBf7fSZMsNkkI0U82B37tsQ6XPwPHCTEb76z4wux3yZFbERThIQYVCaz2-WFvfbpeavD25Y5qIyhCxVg/s320/RowCounter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420813021019138754" border="0" /></a>Beaded row counters, each one different. Doreen and I got together to make fifteen or so for our knitting group. As we did our shopping for all the elements (at least three stores, twice or three times), went through my bead stash (at least as extravagent as my yarn stash) and worked through the night until 6AM to find we had only finished five or six, we decided if we were selling them on Etsy, we would have to charge at least $200 each to break even. Suppose I'm not cut out for beading row markers for the general market. Several more sessions, plus making some for myself and for other giftees, I finally stashed the beads and baubles again yesterday. Now some of you still haven't received your packages, so please act surprised.<br /><br />And what have we here?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCzIYPJ40ptmCbq94Vo351XUaB6SqsGs_u163ZBIN2KyBZNG4S0SWTHlxe4iiEfLlrqVps4py5qWUjqfhXfpFjHxBAlj6UMpoNBkfHcSdyyKiezZ3EI9XYMw3gCOONBcqsHt1T6rfBa0/s1600-h/Blizzard09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCzIYPJ40ptmCbq94Vo351XUaB6SqsGs_u163ZBIN2KyBZNG4S0SWTHlxe4iiEfLlrqVps4py5qWUjqfhXfpFjHxBAlj6UMpoNBkfHcSdyyKiezZ3EI9XYMw3gCOONBcqsHt1T6rfBa0/s320/Blizzard09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420813009683162290" border="0" /></a>Believe it or not, a white Christmas in Texas, the first one on record for this area. This photo was taken early in the day on Christmas Eve. We got quite a bit more, about 4 inches where I live. It was no trouble getting out to our Christmas Eve party. But by the time we left to go home, the temperatures had dropped dramatically and everything was frozen solid. Getting home was a definite drama. Being Christmas Eve, no one had gotten out to sand the bridges (inexcusable) and the driving was definitely hazardous. David was on call at the hospital that night and his car doesn't do well at all on ice. I worried all night about that. By Christmas day afternoon, the roads had cleared up a bit and the driving was less treacherous.<br /><br />Wonder of wonders, it is snowing again today. And it's cold. Thank goodness there is not a photo of me at the moment. Already in PJs, I'm typing away wearing orange fingerless gloves and my full length hooded red parka. Cute, really, really cute!!! As soon as I finish, I'm going to attack some major closet re-organization and there are a lot of closets in need. Must take photos and show you next time. I'm drowning in "stuff" and a lot of it just has to go. And as a result of the snow which must have been blowing in the right direction to block the dish, no television tonight. We're just not getting a signal. Darn, I'll miss the 5 millionth discussion of how to get on an airplane with an underwear bomb!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGeMmZElO8aS01FdC2_aTQmh16GXIIn5rKIjfjS7TeY93UwJpok7Kgr2r1oKCTle6-dpUQOmybyj1BTpmeQcYAVPkX1TpcRW0_tKXKt-ONIUplIBr-vEEV9DRVxjbUzgxn9RsTrB8pEw/s1600-h/BuffaloGold2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGeMmZElO8aS01FdC2_aTQmh16GXIIn5rKIjfjS7TeY93UwJpok7Kgr2r1oKCTle6-dpUQOmybyj1BTpmeQcYAVPkX1TpcRW0_tKXKt-ONIUplIBr-vEEV9DRVxjbUzgxn9RsTrB8pEw/s320/BuffaloGold2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420811628763072098" border="0" /></a>I mentioned in the last post that I had scored some Buffalo Gold in Boerne for a shawl but didn't show a photo. This is it, with a lovely pattern. I can't wait to start on it, but MUST finish a couple of WIPs before I allow myself. Perhaps that 3/4 done Clapotis? Definitely the orchid colored socks. One of the four sweaters that are half to 90% done? Decisions, decisions.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbnDGkESuNon5JmBJOUx7wxxUcvUUQK8yE3TmltXdz8bBo9DzUeKaHpayWXhFWanaBVW0DKKIjfrA2fhQAq25rg5pSkaqTtKeFZlfuWjmc5xJn7kl0ahaYqhw3Jpaab8-qD8nYkf5tkY/s1600-h/SmudgeDivan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbnDGkESuNon5JmBJOUx7wxxUcvUUQK8yE3TmltXdz8bBo9DzUeKaHpayWXhFWanaBVW0DKKIjfrA2fhQAq25rg5pSkaqTtKeFZlfuWjmc5xJn7kl0ahaYqhw3Jpaab8-qD8nYkf5tkY/s320/SmudgeDivan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420811621695703522" border="0" /></a>Just to make you laugh, this is the still un-named Bad Boy cat in his usual lounging position. Notice the divan is white? Well actually natural cotton damask. Not for long I'm sure. Bad boy has single-handedly spotted all the carpets with his barfing, if not worse. Broken several items. We switched his dry food which has solved the barfing and worse problem, but the new food is staining his white ruff. I'm sure we'll eventually solve all these issues. In the meanwhile, he is just so funny he keeps us in giggles. And extremely affectionate.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqwU9LHdrFYJ7R5nW9PVaDqTqNKc80ecb7kTtksj2x58-e482AMoXGDnsepGaUDyV6SlpyIQa76U1_EgbMYXk8SFIeIPUPtAZIkxlEiR2aajwiby2t-z87-JahEhqGdOEFtDkZl-mdJU/s1600-h/Hypoteneuse1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqwU9LHdrFYJ7R5nW9PVaDqTqNKc80ecb7kTtksj2x58-e482AMoXGDnsepGaUDyV6SlpyIQa76U1_EgbMYXk8SFIeIPUPtAZIkxlEiR2aajwiby2t-z87-JahEhqGdOEFtDkZl-mdJU/s320/Hypoteneuse1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420811613112885954" border="0" /></a>Here is one of the Christmas presents, for the BF, the very tall BF so it is a very long scarf. The pattern is the scarf version of <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/knitting_pattern/hypoteneuse-stolescarf-p-24.html">Hypoteneuse</a>. I donated my Plain & Fancy charcoal yarn (bought for a shawl) to the project because it was just so perfect (must call to see if I can't get some more). And the BF, the most impossible man in the world to buy a present for, seemed to really love it. Scored with this one.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pAwFFjsmDhnE-EzoA9k-ej6toPVbJMOCACbuRTuwo8EbV67RU3vijrvKFwepSUUsVSPnEZFAIxc9H6qxepWb1_AtjtM3v-9doEbuwufR3zeDs_6xz9rTKkMkfMNLB4y4HHtiBhY0DGY/s1600-h/Absorba2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pAwFFjsmDhnE-EzoA9k-ej6toPVbJMOCACbuRTuwo8EbV67RU3vijrvKFwepSUUsVSPnEZFAIxc9H6qxepWb1_AtjtM3v-9doEbuwufR3zeDs_6xz9rTKkMkfMNLB4y4HHtiBhY0DGY/s320/Absorba2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420811606654808242" border="0" /></a>And here is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/absorba-the-great-bathmat">Absorba</a> the Ultimate Bathmat, made for Dr. Persnickety, another impossible man for presents. Think it took 30 skeins of cotton knitted 6 at a time. He LOVED it. Score number 2. And he would like another smaller one. Yay, birthday in 4 months. And...OMG...he indicated he might actually like a sweater. I'm immediately thinking some lovely fair-isle sort of project, with colors to go with his red hair. I do so love to actually have ideas for the future, if only I remember when the time comes.<br /><br />Truthfully, I completely enjoyed knitting the log cabin pattern, just not in six strands of cotton. I must look into adaptations and variations of log cabin. It is very Zen. I'm not doing hand-knitted afghans because of cats and those pests called moths. So it has to be a sweater or a shawl. Must apply the Thinking Cap...or spend some extra hours on Ravelry.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT91ESkpaZrDqZiUZuRxxiaeCEvo0KkZQtDGIB7WREKvPaxWJ1X1uWFVAlBPdnsmI3pQEQUs3o5kM6uszxqKCdbyRKKmsLi9fYG-oN9dEhyphenhyphenu3e3y0_as1y1DhTaxxkzJkaVIzgMgmVIFQ/s1600-h/LizScarf09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT91ESkpaZrDqZiUZuRxxiaeCEvo0KkZQtDGIB7WREKvPaxWJ1X1uWFVAlBPdnsmI3pQEQUs3o5kM6uszxqKCdbyRKKmsLi9fYG-oN9dEhyphenhyphenu3e3y0_as1y1DhTaxxkzJkaVIzgMgmVIFQ/s320/LizScarf09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420811601173923714" border="0" /></a>And this is what I'm knitting on now. Perhaps you can't tell, but this is an eyelash scarf knitted with just the eyelash. A horror to knit on large needles. It was even hard to find the yarn. But this was a specific request to replace a scarf I made fifteen years ago (hated knitting it then, too) for my friend Liz in Ireland. One day it blew off her neck and away over the bogs, never to be seen again and she really, really wanted another one. Only love would get you through knitting like this. At least I'm two skeins into a three skein project.<br /><br />Hope your holidays were merry and that a wonderful New Year awaits us all.Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-77250209935085924982009-11-16T15:42:00.001-06:002009-11-17T06:04:32.423-06:00Off and On the Needles - Fall Report IIWell now, I've survived another trip to the Kid n Ewe Festival in Boerne. The Hill Country was incredibly green this year, most unusual. The downside of that was an abundance of flies and mosquitoes that we don't usually notice so much. I didn't even take a single photo since I've taken so many over the years. But of course, there was modest replenishment of stash, notably some Buffalo Gold for a beautiful lace shawl. Then some single skeins from Brooks Farm for mixed skein projects. My goal had been to buy only grey yarns, but that proved difficult. I wanted enough for a sweater from Brooks Farm, but they didn't have any grey this time. I did score some grey from Plain and Fancy for another lace shawl, a skein of Smooshy in grey for socks and a skein of thick and thin in grey from the Tinsmith's Wife for another little ruffled neck thingy like I made last year and wore constantly.<br /><br />Susan and I took a Fair Isle class from Leif Bloomenstahl the last day. It was fun and we accomplished a lot. I'm totally fired up now to start a vest, dare I say Starmore? Unbelievably, I have no appropriate yarn in stash.<br /><br />There were six of us on the trip this time. We stuffed ourselves at all our favorite eateries. I've had enough chicken fried steak to last me for months. We added two new restaurants this trip, or perhaps three (new to some). All successful. The draft hard cider at the Dodging Duck is almost worth the trip all by itself.<br /><br />On our departure from the bed and breakfast in Comfort, I kept my eyes peeled for another surprise visit from Celtic Memory Jo (remember last year?). Sadly, she didn't pop up this year.<br /><br />And now for the second part of the current projects update.<br /><br />An amusing knit was this pair of CookieA's Wanida pattern. Done in Socks That Rock lightweight, the colorway was Dixie Chicks, scored at Sock Camp a couple of years ago. These were for my dear friend K to help her survive the Vermont winters after a very, very many decades in the tropical swamp temperatures of New Orleans. They were well received and evidently fit well, always a concern when knitting for a pair of feet at a distance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtj3VKxcokdS6LyYZeIbl9SUyBFmKZxyq8rRLl3J-NfzTmsDu4VMj7Ll3tz59sXFbFNQdjmiEu0wtUFU4b5KchqmUJJz8CwpR9BfLw1CeSWAABpawrI-pZSi8TjW6YlKAQSomWzCQIHo/s1600/Wanida2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404820869545322898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtj3VKxcokdS6LyYZeIbl9SUyBFmKZxyq8rRLl3J-NfzTmsDu4VMj7Ll3tz59sXFbFNQdjmiEu0wtUFU4b5KchqmUJJz8CwpR9BfLw1CeSWAABpawrI-pZSi8TjW6YlKAQSomWzCQIHo/s320/Wanida2.jpg" /></a> Another finished project is this Rivolo scarf from Ann Hanson's lovely pattern. Also done in a Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn, Seduction this time, colorway Rooster Rock.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHwm1uWdY3SZnV1pfp2ZMNkyNhIIVEAQT3FQ1AvmvOJ4Gp7gZVQP1IuLp2OCcwDkD1vrbGpjXySbBLbKXYv4if0NfaQRtGVOR8JRTwrH2Qy4wLBzkN2qDKi75mQDrBJQWxkPH-9jYRbs/s1600/Rivolo1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404820864539815874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHwm1uWdY3SZnV1pfp2ZMNkyNhIIVEAQT3FQ1AvmvOJ4Gp7gZVQP1IuLp2OCcwDkD1vrbGpjXySbBLbKXYv4if0NfaQRtGVOR8JRTwrH2Qy4wLBzkN2qDKi75mQDrBJQWxkPH-9jYRbs/s320/Rivolo1.jpg" /></a> The Rooster Rock colorway is even more beautiful than the photographs show and has a wonderful texture and luster. It has some tencel content, a nice hand, was pleasant to work with and it blocked very well. I started this one when Steven was in the hospital and worked on it during many hours spent there. It took me almost a year to finally bind off the last stitch and it was really emotional, as though I was letting go of some of that. This is a scarf I shall keep, although I might use the pattern again in a different yarn.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TxLrg578g9CtWwZ5XNVUohMxfWN0GdcVYz3-n3Sh9quDfR7KXzdlfvaIVIki14bSYiRbRrmWGI9fnkyNprXx5QCXe4g5Il874TVZvOViCNBs-SPuOfO0t1XTqNkoyix-9GQpgooj9X4/s1600/Rivolo3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404820865306401266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TxLrg578g9CtWwZ5XNVUohMxfWN0GdcVYz3-n3Sh9quDfR7KXzdlfvaIVIki14bSYiRbRrmWGI9fnkyNprXx5QCXe4g5Il874TVZvOViCNBs-SPuOfO0t1XTqNkoyix-9GQpgooj9X4/s320/Rivolo3.jpg" /></a> And then we have what is left of a very large shawl which had been done in Prism Wild Stuff. It was sticking out of a drawer the other day, and for some reason I pulled it out and frogged it. Punishment for its keeping the drawer from closing? Not sure quite what I will do with these two skeins of very pricey yarn. I wouldn't buy it again today for sure, but perhaps a purpose can be found.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JJzxX7N-XIY82o61Xd5bkhudcXX1jcKGyeJEaXM8w_fwy2LUoNDOQV8tBAfEkOe6X7nq81ItRVZ-igidUfvvS8zWEbvY7IW0SF4gI9G4DlqFY-s__r2U0aWtv86Jt55TmbIQCMKE02I/s1600/PrismWTBalled.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404820858385055474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JJzxX7N-XIY82o61Xd5bkhudcXX1jcKGyeJEaXM8w_fwy2LUoNDOQV8tBAfEkOe6X7nq81ItRVZ-igidUfvvS8zWEbvY7IW0SF4gI9G4DlqFY-s__r2U0aWtv86Jt55TmbIQCMKE02I/s320/PrismWTBalled.jpg" /></a> And last but not least is my current Fascinate scarf in another color of Kureyon sock yarn. As I said after the last one, I think I will probably keep one of these in my purse at all times. At least until I've run out of friends to gift them. Easy knit and very effective.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp4ejL-wP2HB9_6busIk2UumtXeiHGdbJMQE7SPkAomlpy8T67TUuF-TQgs22RBvYJyFNVha_bWxY6By4S22QYRr0efTNBndzUIs8cj7koTIIcWRbcDhAvSJJhIS8HOn-O7krErKt-7s/s1600/FascinateNoroTwo1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404820854596803794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp4ejL-wP2HB9_6busIk2UumtXeiHGdbJMQE7SPkAomlpy8T67TUuF-TQgs22RBvYJyFNVha_bWxY6By4S22QYRr0efTNBndzUIs8cj7koTIIcWRbcDhAvSJJhIS8HOn-O7krErKt-7s/s320/FascinateNoroTwo1.jpg" /></a> A class with Cat Bordhi on her new sock technique looms next week-end. Cat is always fun and inspiring. Who knows what ideas she will put in my head? But I am really over-socked at the moment. As soon as I finish at least some of my WIPs, I'm seriously thinking some bigger projects are in order.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-1462009868036942802009-11-07T06:38:00.004-06:002009-11-07T14:56:27.739-06:00Off and On the Needles - Fall Report IIt's been so long since I've posted. The blogging fairy has gone AWOL. But yes, I've cranked out a bit of knitting over the past few months.<br /><br />First, I apologize for the wonky order of the photos. Blogger and I are having a huge discussion and Blogger won't let me rearrange them, so please forgive me if the lack of logical order is perplexing!<br /><br />First on the agenda (Blogger's agenda, not mine), a pair of Par 5 Socks by Ingrid Hiddessen in wonderful Eidos yarn from the Sanguine Gryphon. Fun pattern and the Eidos is a pleasure to knit. These are most definitely still WIP as I keep getting distracted by other tempting ideas.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 276px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401341910285414642" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8HsYvwX2rKGTQBGUqVY9EsXboUyGGkAYVTiGipen7I7BRpJmn_oGc95eN1tC0-WQpTedQkQbcQV7VnmmQO-1iGeM7cYqQ-gSm4jb9JM0aQmjfHA_skhf2WjnED0NgnL1Utz5IObai9k/s320/Par5-1.jpg" border="0" />Then a huge hurrah for the finished Morning Surf Scarf knit in Micki's incredibly beautiful handspun. I'm very, very happy with this one. The roving came from Crown Mountain Farms and bled like a stuck pig when I blocked it. Must add vinegar next time, although Micki did a vinegar soak after spinning it. Oh well, third time's charm. This is evidently typical for CMF.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYcQMwEGt5tV5EDEqiATOZlArgeBMlrcMjQOVHcqSxujGsI21Igx6Xc0eO2I3iY8vH7br6_IpCFUeGPRHY5Dfs6B9w2-GAJb_ADkTrkrHuO97ziIceBMttYsv706yhuVpXPIkoQEkL4k/s1600-h/MorningSurf2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 234px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401341906697069794" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYcQMwEGt5tV5EDEqiATOZlArgeBMlrcMjQOVHcqSxujGsI21Igx6Xc0eO2I3iY8vH7br6_IpCFUeGPRHY5Dfs6B9w2-GAJb_ADkTrkrHuO97ziIceBMttYsv706yhuVpXPIkoQEkL4k/s320/MorningSurf2.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here is the beginning of a test knit of Everything's Connected Socks by Jeannie Fanihi. The test pattern was beautifully written. Love the socks. I'm using Wollmeise 100% in Fliederbusch that sweet Doris sent me from Germany. Adore the color.<br /><div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 232px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401341901864935266" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDbka5HlHG4W-ruJ3UiePtKxUb9GAoPHM2moIIyGZEyCNCYK9CJf0r9xU2zVAqtuB8H8Xua7cj1IxqqzOtvwPsJjfM3BrurVFSUijRGOdJx2fFNnO3W7FppRBp5zQMBmbQ7FohDgcRu0/s320/EConnected1.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Another WIP is a pair of broken rib socks, again in Eidos, again set aside for something else that caught my eye.</div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401341895956086354" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDExHbtIVTYgM40hHXDQTiRqyeTpx-s3Ok0j6CD8Hp2QAZt0BMRWdAOhtkwaWoCHm_NPh7M83RDCxBQn5HGTwLH47bj6lpVDeUKHYpO2Dg-Bpu2-JmdzGWE9RQC5woU0A5xjBSp9NDj4/s320/AltRib1.jpg" border="0" /> And here is another progress shot of Everything's Connected. Told you the photo order was WONKY! The pattern is very logical and hypnotic, so much so that I seem to fall asleep on them every time I start to knit. But thank goodness I'm approaching the toe of sock one. Jeannie assured me I needed to use the 84 stitch version of the pattern, and I'm so glad I did. With all the cabling, they are still snug. But that's a whopping lot of stitches on small needles.<br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401341893489584562" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIG7EZrFPHdbDgIf0FNRz4RoBireRl7icmxo4l5oKOIGDcTyUyoNh4tufl9GjNPWOXNR2L_NrZ24slGWP01quh6yeXgg1z0owyc6Zxa8iY6GOPPxA5Z799gsQVr1nDXCk65x3N-5toLc/s320/EverythingsConnect.jpg" border="0" />And here we have another "Off the Needles". Fascinate by Berroco in Kureyon Sock Yarn. One skein, one very long scarf. This one was shipped of to Lizzie in Ireland for her birthday. I love this drop stitch pattern and may well keep one on the needles at all times for the rest of my natural life. And yes, I already have another one on the needles and yes, I bought a couple of skeins more for the stash.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HCorbUmcYIcdpLTIpEd0r236TANuzccJyU9xmyTahxRm7gLjFldXVBUA_gxFhPVMTbem32yjU1QQBt1dK7X9w8X8FW1ccwnFQUSkSQ99usroDXSvFZCtQYQUGfpTaL6MOljsTdhzACY/s1600-h/FascinateNoro4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 216px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401341149421974546" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HCorbUmcYIcdpLTIpEd0r236TANuzccJyU9xmyTahxRm7gLjFldXVBUA_gxFhPVMTbem32yjU1QQBt1dK7X9w8X8FW1ccwnFQUSkSQ99usroDXSvFZCtQYQUGfpTaL6MOljsTdhzACY/s320/FascinateNoro4.jpg" border="0" /></a> Nothing knitted here, just the belly dancer who was also behind the cookstove when Doreen and I took a Middle Eastern cooking class at Central Market. BTW, the dancer donned a chef's jacket while she prepared the food, then danced between the courses. She was also teaching the belly dance moves and we were all semi-costumed. Hilarious. Excellent vegetable cous-cous.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3P_7i28UErMnTfN4rIGauFsMUwcgDaamHYvTCktqufB3sXPXqqC0aXMXuZl7Om6UAi17iYtDAPE15AOiZPh8LG8qB-WLw0CovFJD1qcw7y3PEjlbWoSyhdajv7wlT4yYDjTbIjlhI74/s1600-h/Bellydance1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 232px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401341145292688514" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3P_7i28UErMnTfN4rIGauFsMUwcgDaamHYvTCktqufB3sXPXqqC0aXMXuZl7Om6UAi17iYtDAPE15AOiZPh8LG8qB-WLw0CovFJD1qcw7y3PEjlbWoSyhdajv7wlT4yYDjTbIjlhI74/s320/Bellydance1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Another "Off the Needles" is this pair of Angees by CookieA, done in Jitterbug. Nice socks.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoVeZCwTytfWT83cfK8uFU5JhLNsj9X84hcIbASgeWm5LNy9jMa-aqb56JIEPH8m9kBXilZeIxYkWMnA_7E2lrN8Z-bCdahYe3pLGbzENZXHHqhkeM5m8mUZBlL0E_Tre765ZAeZtPwQ/s1600-h/Angee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 242px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401341139752661154" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoVeZCwTytfWT83cfK8uFU5JhLNsj9X84hcIbASgeWm5LNy9jMa-aqb56JIEPH8m9kBXilZeIxYkWMnA_7E2lrN8Z-bCdahYe3pLGbzENZXHHqhkeM5m8mUZBlL0E_Tre765ZAeZtPwQ/s320/Angee.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here is a close-up of the pattern. These were fun and went quickly. I finished them in time to wear to a class with CookieA at the Woollie Ewe. It was on sock design and Cookie was quite inspiring. I still remember her from Sock Camp years ago, sprawled on her stomach knitting incredibly complex German socks. What a girl!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2naaFhOph2UmgjBrp6KLb98qHLWoX0umDo3Qur902bB6NbtB6o5ztsQCjLic91wfC5sYaMAn9o5lgNBC3-Nz4oN8SX_hPd8TkgS1d_WhsIYZV02mJGv4FZGG77zjnDa7TNLVD_nL2vE/s1600-h/Angee1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 251px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401341138266569458" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2naaFhOph2UmgjBrp6KLb98qHLWoX0umDo3Qur902bB6NbtB6o5ztsQCjLic91wfC5sYaMAn9o5lgNBC3-Nz4oN8SX_hPd8TkgS1d_WhsIYZV02mJGv4FZGG77zjnDa7TNLVD_nL2vE/s320/Angee1.jpg" border="0" /></a> And now we have a gigantic WIP, an Absorba done with 6 strands of cotton on size 15 needles. Reading others' comments on Ravelry about tangling and aching hands, I almost didn't attempt it. In the end, it is a fast, addictive knit which could easily be finished in a few days. I've had no tangling whatsoever (knock on wood) and not much hand trauma. Except when I tried to switch from the bathmat to a pair of socks and the sock needles kept falling out of my fingers. Lesson, start on the smaller needles first.<br /><div>Absorba is a Christmas project for Dr. Persnickety. He is so perfectionist, I never know what to get him, let alone make for him. I thought a lovely thick bathmat couldn't go far wrong. Taya said the only problem is this mat takes a very, very long time to dry. </div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 257px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401341130806927554" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0ijfqk4cHcYCcGWh2kZ98lVCXnw3lRhZDcPRJRb3pRdxI41MhNUM8Xo1-5p0ly2vIHIaPNc_G1sEeb2kd46T3hsdIr7E74sStsj8NQJhyphenhyphen4cN-caqnYEWp2aBrER0_q-SX3qWhV7zIH8/s320/Absorba.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>There will be at least another segment to this report. Hope the picture placing works next time. This was frustrating. Next time I will try to plan first. Fancy that.<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-10546045954403455932009-08-07T03:37:00.006-05:002009-08-07T04:29:25.191-05:00Fell into a Black HoleOh my, it's been forever since I did a blog posting. I was organizing some papers after my father's death and realized I knew little to nothing about his family so did a bit of research. Luckily, I found some distant cousins through the internet and was able to fill in a lot of the blanks back to the old country, or countries as it were. Deciding to write all that down somewhere, I started a family tree with an online service. One thing led to another and I pulled out the incredibly extensive genealogical notes of my maternal grandfather and thought I would just add some of that in, too. Then there were the stories that had to be told and the photos of great-great-great-great grandparents to be scanned and before you know it, you are spending 24 hour stretches entering data. It's addictive! It's a serious black hole. It took real fortitude to finally shove all those papers aside for a while. <div><div><div><div><br /><div>And yes, of course I was doing a bit of knitting, but it seemed I made mistakes on everything I did. I've been very distracted for some reason. These Kiila Socks, a mystery pattern for Sock Knitters Anonymous on Ravelry designed by the fabulous Yarnissima, truly kicked my butt. You couldn't find a more detailed pattern, and it was really quite simple. The gusset/heel section was ingenious. But I knitted and frogged and knitted and frogged until I could have knitted six socks in the time it took me to knit a pair. The yarn is Wollmeise Twin in Single Malt, which held up beautifully to all my abuse. After several attempts, I am still not very fond of toe up socks.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367146276344794226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPrs4GulzHBRrUNE4NfHPOddo8I1wULSrVo4l-MOnqiEnJIR85g7q5B9d-QzkGEdCsojW_quyTbScCxOz6CQmXkLU2Z4vO8zbkG12Dek79UHMXcHgVE9JEsXcSCRDLWgx9skxzc_lv-Y/s320/Kiila13fin.jpg" /></div><div>Then I knit these fabulous Shurt'ugals as a KAL in the Socks That Rock group on Ravelry. Knit on a deadline, these turned out beautifully, a pattern I will certainly do again, and again. The STR Lightweight in Pond Scum was a dream to knit with and produced a very dragon scale look in a well fitting sock.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367146283431659362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4s6y5AyvxkS7PhjbgLHqvYjv_SGAEPI19tjYr-fvK8SWtJFlqRMLpoUul8k3LmNi214tokmsID9ubxZMPy9z2it0VKw7Rhi-sKESdQYf5Jse2Hq4dVsMvV7o7ImueNT4OKogVBPIUvQ/s320/shur'tugal7.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367146286317732370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUCQDRH74iswBplqyQKjuJ1dlmOHrM_iYsHCo1g_AUZ2XgW_TODW0YauIaa-dJtEHf-fn2BPIruAlB2lHyWqJ9fgiTgMxPtuG1nMBWLFDfI5g8l2BMJszW455mx8VotYni6cKLZtY28w/s320/Shur'tugal3.jpg" />And then of course I started this amusing scarf in Kureyon sock. Fascinate is a one skein project and a totally addictive knit, perfect for on the go knitting.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 252px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367146271571874818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-7j0a6YM9suXGTzqY2dwiGx7uxZJ450ceXL1BCdOQ3nOW79GrLNVQBYqK5_0wF007W17uq9FnsopcLbqsz8PbTpzEyFt3UAeNJm-dvJoVxL2Epr6dfpD5HWnTnbXw69JWiwq_tWSDtI/s320/FascinateNoro1.jpg" />There was more knitting and finished projects, but I will save those for later.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Today, I need to find a home for this sweetheart of a Persian cat. This is Grand Champion, Regional Winner Black Jack of Jude. My friend Judy is moving across the country in a couple of weeks. She breeds champion Persians and Himalayans. Her new home will be much smaller than her current one, and she needs to find new pet homes for several of her prize show cats. I've known this boy since he was a kitten. He is about 3 years old now, neutered and out of the breeding program, and he really wants to be a lap cat. He's gorgeous, has a gentle loving nature, and needs someone who will adore him. Is that you by any chance? You can see Judy's beautiful cats at <a href="http://www.judepersians.net/">http://www.judepersians.net/</a>.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367146264462119186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9s_GMLfRuWKjTWYWmcpCVw6p-AMVjFOy77-eA6CxedXclj1k5q-ub1MNzUuRgl5ui8W9dY5aiJ19nd1nn0DduBTpHAOu8xF5ZTm3u1qN8ulae8g9k2CDMWXqNhrBSyDFHpKtrk05Rd4/s320/Blk_Jack_9_months_pict_one_brown_corners.jpg" />Look at BJ's blue eyes and those curly white whiskers. He's famous for those whiskers.<br /></div><div>There are about six others who need homes, too. Two lilac point Himalayan girls about a year old. A 3-4 year old Calico girl, beautiful and regal, quite the ornament. A precious one year old black and white boy. Judy lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area now, but not for much longer. If you love Persians and have room for one of these beauties, do let us know.</div><div> </div><div>I couldn't resist. I took a one year old rare Lilac Tabby girl, Talullah. She's very small, as wide as she is long, with huge copper eyes. Pictures later when she has settled in. Her little legs are so short, she can't get off the floor as much as she tries. Pretty funny.</div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-11115477176282877862009-04-22T05:15:00.011-05:002009-04-23T06:48:14.094-05:00Oklahoma is to Dye ForA couple of weeks ago, there was a master spinners course being taught in Sulphur, Oklahoma by instructors from Oldes College in Alberta, Canada. They added on a 100 Colors Dye Workshop which our favorite spinner Judi mentioned and Susan, Doreen and I jumped on it like pigs into mud.<br /><br />Susan slept over while we waited for Doreen to finish her night shift at the hospital, then took off in the dark of night so to arrive in Sulphur for the beginning of class, a bit the worse for wear, albeit with a yummy healthy breakfast at a McDonalds somewhere near the Texas/Oklahoma border. And the class was not playing around at all. We dove into some serious work, masked and gloved, mixing colors, toting canning pots full of jelly jars around to available burners, boiling, draining, spinning dry, etc. etc. <div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327458356175961186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2ilqxow1BGu2YPBIYxiYFC5pUSVDz7UyuYd6nH1hJUh9gozuTuv23w2PTvf7fbjadOAAfYXdW73gUKgErtNSxV0TNIxeg2NGda_Ew8vrua1vejRjpZB5xiDgxiB-x56CvzySl2ju5_g/s320/ColorsTree.jpg" border="0" /> The principal of the course was that we took three primary colors, then mixed 100 colors from them, as you can see above.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327461270967482466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 211px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxQlW14fZZ15K_wDC4xhP7DXmz5lXPWTfHnQ77kPlAyMJ7lz1hCAXJrgEQsPKJWXhnj_pyweKjTFqKIh2bAcs7NkPM8ZlCdu9rAypGE48UthXCEz4DOZFCEM5smpkVv8SNhsX57T5aSo/s320/EllenMunro.jpg" border="0" /> Ellen Munro was our <strikethrough>taskmaster<strikethrough>/teacher. She was reeling off information at lightning speed. Being rather quiet, we had to follow her with ears cocked and notebooks in hand to catch every pearl of wisdom she offered.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327458363505517442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLI2xqEaHq4lbKXsAh9bVSewiBmbrmbuHOed4Brk6HTMk5VGo18Pp_wKxFIdi6vLEiwXgRP2E8IOlYiiv3KWmDfuMB10aNLmI__b1J81uVySmghutPCfKK2LlNF4pL-K9zf1FZEvaNuIM/s320/DoreenCookpot.jpg" border="0" /> Here's Doreen slaving over a hot stove. She was quite the ace at this since we did our measuring with medical syringes. She has obviously had a lot of practice.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327459147699010994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHhyphenhyphenumTw5si6ZvtTgZKbh5AdzYTF7VEzyfDNrXZsNYgQNtNpJk_IPxtHACnbxwb0AchmYZNHSpyycgmW-nTDnQsJR_9Q6PAl6lLEkbW0Q_CNaKthg-sMt8ZiAI-jdkDZSe7lOHOyeQlA/s320/MyColors2.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327458367831832466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePze9501_a3Y8pP4eW2dWp_mj1YEFU93LZl_HKNqx38a4y8plnQufoYj9mjLqEvpYy6Vxv0J0kzhbIaUnRhdf4Pnvrc8UG26Ucg-ShZZJF5ECnuQ7Eg09gcQeV_H_tt4gaCmMpKiGe-A/s320/Dyeing5.jpg" border="0" /> We paired off to do our work. Each pair was responsible for 14 colors. I got the lovely Rina as my partner and enjoyed every minute of working with her. In fact, a nicer group of women you couldn't have found anywhere. They came from all over the country. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327459150174234834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40EvEHWKDZnTmqYkmiiZQRkAMPLLyi8Py0GeriOWQNpS3NQ55F8gnrS4dnxVgIhUBsYi024o8Fm3-4wMIhz1jUjUWCpm2EWPPtvUNmzxhPRx3lgGgbk9W5CY7iuRLTBH9ghVBaaAoUxo/s320/RandomPotDyeing.jpg" border="0" /> After mixing all the colors and dyeing our sample skeins, we were allowed to exhaust the remaining dyes on our own fibers. Here were some interesting rovings and skeins dyed with various techniques. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327470384083814258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBABxOvWwU74zknYwGKRZdyGR5uh37n20lOGZijsBQtP8wUJ4eyTVXODdnSb6Jd-Cu9qNiFwR4OdupTCW7dJlSXG7y6UlF0gaEvAKwWAOFsbHN6SCcxZ3gtwojPLwgfXgveUfOsTinfY/s320/Bamb2StpHandDye.jpg" border="0" />Here is the skein I painted. I'm quite happy with the colors and learned about a product which really helps keep the color in place. It's so funny, when I buy clothes, I always choose subtle colors. But when I buy or dye yarn, it is usually outrageously colorful.<br /><br />Our thoroughly exhausted threesome limped out at the end of the day to our shared room at the nearby Indian owned motel, where we immediately crashed and burned. Waking an hour or so later to the smells of curry wafting through the halls (an odd smell for Sulphur, Oklahoma) we left to have dinner way out in the boonies with friends. Following them through beautiful landscapes on narrow wildly winding roads, we eventually tumbled onto this treasure.....Steve's Steak Barn.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327459158723104930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1q3vOZW_Ke2JnLuOsyt6fVQ6z8FfC54XHJuTEkZo1JRIFQKS9noXU3E1lZ6JpnJBm7wDBHXyHDhnl5ae5H7ibbZ85oVphnIqGHICOOljum0jQjBOjtbRyWur20jzmrbil_v0YtSTaWtA/s320/StevesSteakBarn3.jpg" border="0" /> Here are Carol, Roiana, Susan and Doreen standing in front of the above mentioned establishment in the middle of bloody nowhere. Starving one and all!</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjYbR8QhBldDAAKKFtTUk6_vTsMawXgEQTEqjdUXtR_kYbxuHEi9pwHWzlByiLTUSaeC7elRsE_uruVsxOpnWqS0iN41KmvvdAj3urhEKKBaTbNkx3hGqsVHSMeDakyM4bt04789EHAI/s1600-h/StevesSteakBarn6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327460168015440354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjYbR8QhBldDAAKKFtTUk6_vTsMawXgEQTEqjdUXtR_kYbxuHEi9pwHWzlByiLTUSaeC7elRsE_uruVsxOpnWqS0iN41KmvvdAj3urhEKKBaTbNkx3hGqsVHSMeDakyM4bt04789EHAI/s320/StevesSteakBarn6.jpg" border="0" /></a> We had elaborate decor.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOkGz68T43AlI5pKGYnMo2-zeb3UCZSNQEfulZOcKqEDaFDlhPIhmqPwiib1ztXJHl2QpQpZDt0wGIqrBenVeLwe8HRH9EGJfkh0TROW03lWYyJtLSfRex8t-ZQWmm1TEfS6wzKI3UCU/s1600-h/StevesSteakBarn5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327460161407121442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOkGz68T43AlI5pKGYnMo2-zeb3UCZSNQEfulZOcKqEDaFDlhPIhmqPwiib1ztXJHl2QpQpZDt0wGIqrBenVeLwe8HRH9EGJfkh0TROW03lWYyJtLSfRex8t-ZQWmm1TEfS6wzKI3UCU/s320/StevesSteakBarn5.jpg" border="0" /></a> Exotic water features (note the hound puppy drinking from the outdoor shower/bathtub). </p><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDHpgHria9hnBX00haak2xqDlPPgK6V-JFGzxwhiqpOdhJFWM4OTWzpMDjhRYMwFwlqX2-Qa9BaboVLgSitxtKLUxKh1gf5HTAGIYxOhe_ROSsrRElQAqZ_AI09aoN3bA_KC-ipPXJhE/s1600-h/StevesSteakBarn4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327460160985936770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDHpgHria9hnBX00haak2xqDlPPgK6V-JFGzxwhiqpOdhJFWM4OTWzpMDjhRYMwFwlqX2-Qa9BaboVLgSitxtKLUxKh1gf5HTAGIYxOhe_ROSsrRElQAqZ_AI09aoN3bA_KC-ipPXJhE/s320/StevesSteakBarn4.jpg" border="0" /></a> Even more exotic locals arrived on strange machines.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmI0EwLUuNXnv-G_1tMyaZeh7uTAfaJ6foyJ-zlLlTqhZbdjwroN2JrfliSBHEFiXUSHloWWpNhfRoewqMI98mMP9ZccDebLoegwxRJ9pPtFn8t7pJXmY6qeCaZeoxzUjN813RBVtvUk/s1600-h/SusanCat2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327459150656836242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 234px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmI0EwLUuNXnv-G_1tMyaZeh7uTAfaJ6foyJ-zlLlTqhZbdjwroN2JrfliSBHEFiXUSHloWWpNhfRoewqMI98mMP9ZccDebLoegwxRJ9pPtFn8t7pJXmY6qeCaZeoxzUjN813RBVtvUk/s320/SusanCat2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Susan seriously risked taking home an adorable kitty with extremely sharp needle like claws.<br /></div><br /><div>Gotta tell you, though we swatted lots of flies off our corn on the cob, Steve's steaks were pretty fabulous, as was Steve. Evidently, he had a huge crowd that night, a couple of staff didn't make it, and Steve solved the problem by inviting his biking buddies for kitchen duty in exchange for beer. Not sure how clever that was, but it was rather hilarious. We found our way back home with a different scenic route, not quite so curvy, and by 9PM, we were all snoring.<br /></div><div>The next day's class consisted of cutting all of those color samples into tidy little strips, tying them neatly onto pages, then using everyone's work, assembling books of samples with the formulae that we could refer to in the future.<br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327851529907705858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuzqlptSr8mYQ6836lTi2o4x_O76YJhVupZy6D4ITZEVYwN28kfHzEF7wvUoDHvOiVp7-P0MU304et-v5cgzdqYBWCN4wmXOKhWxK4-5N-Fo1h9yhldlvXfAvV0Yk6-dLO-9WVFDgYwQ/s320/ColorBook.jpg" border="0" />Wouldn't have missed this for the world.<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-79233223664165633982009-04-18T15:06:00.008-05:002009-04-18T16:12:33.995-05:00On Becoming an OrphanSome things just have to be said. I was trying to avoid posting sad news on the blog, but it seems I can't get back to talking about knitting until I honor "my old guy".<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326126357312273346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 233px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd7v6IFKlq_4CXSBRHoMQK5gTe7izlh5LTcGGRdedfjkN_YuqlA-ZCt911oOu1b9qesZcdPGiLlzetnHKQGNidWFYDFO-gnMk0F_1vs5BRfkn6v2Xopq40_je5yGW4h5j3uuzQpDhwkE/s320/DJAPortrait.jpg" border="0" /> <a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dfw/obituary.aspx?n=david-james-andrews&pid=125828660">http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dfw/obituary.aspx?n=david-james-andrews&pid=125828660</a><br /><div>My father passed away last week, just after the stroke of midnight on his 90th birthday. During the last year, when he said he might not be around much longer, I always replied that he had to make his 90th because I was throwing a party. Then after the cake, we would discuss 91. Well, he made it. It was quite a shock to me to lose him now, although I suppose at 90, one shouldn't be surprised at anything. But what seemed to be a mild pneumonia turned out to be something much more serious. He was surrounded by those he loved, a good end to a good life.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxTIEAzvD5SbkOEphAOt7u_nwf6fHqUuRGL926BgU1bpdx5uEZKo4Y3ZzWbh9Py0RhkTj9qgsgjepAiLvgn06wGtcKlGR4wtkK80nWUX-R4hoAzzaoleiG0U7DxgADxgld4pRuv2aduk/s1600-h/andrewsboys.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326126360026525874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxTIEAzvD5SbkOEphAOt7u_nwf6fHqUuRGL926BgU1bpdx5uEZKo4Y3ZzWbh9Py0RhkTj9qgsgjepAiLvgn06wGtcKlGR4wtkK80nWUX-R4hoAzzaoleiG0U7DxgADxgld4pRuv2aduk/s320/andrewsboys.jpg" border="0" /></a> My father LOVED his family, they were very close. Eight boys and one girl. The two youngest are missing from this photo taken when my father was 4, second from the right.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326126361244678994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 202px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Nn3GGxqOGSoDbiUTQu0njsu2JTSNewjAG3dOjJa8UooANEy-YJ-36lEO4rKJnG7mRDqjPM78NBrBjrdXHIWR7dzqbYCExEghlbL0OGA4jp_m7xyPuhqeN7QU8gBcar-n3aTxGjeBf8I/s320/djaannis.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>His mother saw him off to war with the Air Force in 1942.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326126362925238002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJdg7ruRLe6xCQald1KowcwZqpZPQjW-Xtv4ssBFNOJL1EDA2zqpUybjkvNiv9fPMafYWKQHQSLZBgD_5R9a6gW7uO4_sFPh3KPYZmXPWowotrRB3TKlybyzjXNR4zeoYEsXZyUkTz1Y/s320/danadjagg.jpg" border="0" />Here he is in the fifties with his brother Dana and Greer Garson. </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326126907468734034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaC95fsHOlioDHdOxkCDzbzmR7-G26Y5xAJxvrqhKdGJlk6Gs6lXEv5Lj2VUFgJ2Rv1J_MYj1vvznJFZtqM1v3sfBm2Mao-1eMQ7yvyUY_OPT_aNAl-njS11ygf2c_aGpVFtBtq-_gUA/s320/billyndavid1.jpg" border="0" />The last few years, there were only two of the tribe left, my father and his youngest brother Steve. Now there is only Steve. Although Steve couldn't travel from California to be with his brother that last week, he called every day and the two reminisced with laughter and tears.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfRATAhxsnuuDzQ1Ixlr57absVRCpk7zENzuyosbLrZXxCmcaZP5Jrx6Q1Jg9qk6Vecd5UP3oZAwDym_j8QLTNyDQ40X7ehBX3WbCIlpDbnUMTVQADuivGdX7qVaHAUNk_AUTNgHHQrM/s1600-h/DJAFuneralSalute.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326126354658932722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfRATAhxsnuuDzQ1Ixlr57absVRCpk7zENzuyosbLrZXxCmcaZP5Jrx6Q1Jg9qk6Vecd5UP3oZAwDym_j8QLTNyDQ40X7ehBX3WbCIlpDbnUMTVQADuivGdX7qVaHAUNk_AUTNgHHQrM/s320/DJAFuneralSalute.jpg" border="0" /></a> There was an honor guard to send off this veteran of two wars. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>My father certainly wasn't perfect, but he never told a lie and he never intentionally hurt anyone (although that bit about not telling even a white lie sometimes had that effect). He was an idealist. He remembered every date of everything ever. We shared a love of words and language and history and art and classical music. We had crossword puzzle challenges; even the last few months when he had lost much of that incredible memory, we would do the puzzles together. When I quit piano for ballet, he was so furious that he sat down with my books and taught himself to play, only Chopin for the first 25 years until he retired and finally began lessons. Perhaps three days before he died, my neice and I were sitting with him near midnight. Suddenly he began joking and teasing us and the nurse and it was my father of the old days, sharp and lucid and funny. After half an hour of this amazing gift, he fell asleep and the next day it was gone, but what a lovely memory he gave us.</div><div></div><div></div><div>My friend José Feghali played a Chopin nocturne at his service, so beautiful it brought everyone to tears. I miss him. </div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-76748113996176338852009-03-11T03:40:00.008-05:002009-03-14T08:13:14.698-05:00Here Comes the RainSheer joy, the rain came and it stayed...for several days. The whole landscape is coming alive here. Now if that rain would just come back once a week, we might escape terrible drought and not turn into desert. When said rain first came well past midnight Wednesday morning, I went out to dance in it, well actually I was hauling the recycling bin out to the street for early morning pick-up, but I surely enjoyed every drop nonetheless.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWaiD2p2fp35szggUPUU3ErxM0pAL1H9CMR-a69Rw3kaIbT78_YCx0jGaW1TY_w4ra-4HGz-yvAVrQ22wqccf090qTbhiWr61H6f9zFRLp3O5wnpdOXHVemT14FEPaW85jX5gTapzC1Y/s1600-h/SohoMag4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313014174457881106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWaiD2p2fp35szggUPUU3ErxM0pAL1H9CMR-a69Rw3kaIbT78_YCx0jGaW1TY_w4ra-4HGz-yvAVrQ22wqccf090qTbhiWr61H6f9zFRLp3O5wnpdOXHVemT14FEPaW85jX5gTapzC1Y/s320/SohoMag4.jpg" border="0" /></a> I'm still slogging away on my Soho scarf, finishing skein 3 (1200 yds) and about to crack open skein 4 (1600yds). The pattern only called for 1,000 yards but I fear that would have been a bit short. Skeins 1, 2 and 3 are each very different colors as you might be able to see in the above photo. I will divide skein 4 to finish the two ends and I'm hoping it will look artfully intentional. In any case, I'm having to flog myself into finishing this project before even thinking about another. My fingers are itching for socks.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgEQEPCRW7m_pLcqxevQEsDMeYqVmjP8_ifBsp-YuFxokwhRlqBuKS9frzMwTtUyZipiwQRM9pEupR2l0szh46zFxlNWFoN0xZC7P_Ec9vxyVB4dLlglzwXNk8ZdO-Oo7GbBFc2AKRu8/s1600-h/SG2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313014168194664194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgEQEPCRW7m_pLcqxevQEsDMeYqVmjP8_ifBsp-YuFxokwhRlqBuKS9frzMwTtUyZipiwQRM9pEupR2l0szh46zFxlNWFoN0xZC7P_Ec9vxyVB4dLlglzwXNk8ZdO-Oo7GbBFc2AKRu8/s320/SG2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Stocking up for Sock Madness III, which starts next Thursday, I garnered some Sanguine Gryphon Eidos. Isn't it luscious? I haven't knit with this yet, but am excited to try. I think three of the designs will call for at least two colors, so as any good boy scout, I'm prepared.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313021631353788018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPIx2yswXoUBweWIZT5EDzcCo37cd2zoMjBP3h1To3gFAuZrss0BuxBStZuNkrvbsOzfLRLZ8IbotYCaDdEPUY4KN3fKGW79zxdOYRvsWCEgdrI75U_YOX1hwBVvKyT12kWAw3LMtkzc/s320/SGSapphCome2MeFmCrete.jpg" border="0" />Another gorgeous skein from the Sanguine Gryphon is this Sappho Laceweight in <em>Come to Me From Crete</em>. Be still my beating heart. And Gryphon is a delight to deal with.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Things are really heating up on the Sock Madness Forever board on Ravelry. The teasers we have seen of the mystery designs look devilishly challenging. I'm suspecting my cousin <a href="http://beautifulknitting.wordpress.com/">Mountain Mom </a>is responsible for one of them. The cheerleading squad led by <a href="http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com/">Celtic Memory Jo </a>is in full force, getting quite whacky with excitement. The Droll Eclectic, who is at a sort of boot camp/school upgrading her training to protect her country, has figured out a way to have three young guys coach her on her tests while she speed knits socks. Now if those guys were wearing kilts, it would be a pretty picture indeed and probably quite inspiring.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVp6r5ERIidaI1iaH2ujPW0twlZMsAlO11CVIV_t93cH5E8iGoiLJvNsZ0zyZKifkxst_SV2w27DlpgCFtCo2c5OXxU1uObTy9Qb0UAyCUWy9DvnHmtS_44XVUZu3QAVGG5DPVMFubK4/s1600-h/PrismWTBalled.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313014169598111362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVp6r5ERIidaI1iaH2ujPW0twlZMsAlO11CVIV_t93cH5E8iGoiLJvNsZ0zyZKifkxst_SV2w27DlpgCFtCo2c5OXxU1uObTy9Qb0UAyCUWy9DvnHmtS_44XVUZu3QAVGG5DPVMFubK4/s320/PrismWTBalled.jpg" border="0" /></a> These balls and bits used to be the shawl below. Two skeins of Prism Wild Stuff, which might be too wild for me these days. In any case, a cat somehow caught on the shawl, panicked and ran, hooking the shawl on a piece of antique wicker. Cat escaped harm, shawl did not. Very large hole was pulled in shawl. Shawl is now balls, waiting for an idea.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGyI9lIWTqkam4GE5Zwgg-L3kUZgTzUilkmxSl6Eil9vUk-YGPnlwP7aWIFCUcALg9tbblcwU5jAlvaL7c9I4Kfu073BDSEqy64QprOgRIcvT1OGWcEclxnmfIxzGSghwPAbSJ4bOKYo/s1600-h/Shawls1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313014154176618434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGyI9lIWTqkam4GE5Zwgg-L3kUZgTzUilkmxSl6Eil9vUk-YGPnlwP7aWIFCUcALg9tbblcwU5jAlvaL7c9I4Kfu073BDSEqy64QprOgRIcvT1OGWcEclxnmfIxzGSghwPAbSJ4bOKYo/s320/Shawls1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />KnitTx, Doreen and yours truly are plotting and planning for our dye workshop in Oklahoma next week-end with a gaggle of psyched spinners. A drive through the Arbuckles to finish our journey in Sulphur. 100 colors in one day plus another day's work on a detailed notebook. We're doing some creative time management to suit everyone's schedules, but think we can arrange to arrive at dawn in reasonable condition for a day's work. Three camera nuts so we should be able to document the whole experience. Promising you a full report!<br /><div> </div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-32170772980452222932009-02-22T08:16:00.013-06:002009-02-22T09:35:12.070-06:00Of Blooms and Kittens and an STR RoosterFor those of you in the frozen North, who can't imagine anything but snow and ice, let me show you what flourishes in winter in North Texas.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305626926224516818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFgfWnj_NTBNT3M723xFa6VVfKOo4FNbA6qLWe39Hzujs3ioojrSIP3RziOJx870cdYKpFKaZvWXpcx1lz-doqfZvgOPRna0sxqDXjM2uu_ZnB5ba0n67vqSTXNZH0jpHYSvheVJKdeM/s320/Pansies.jpg" border="0" /> <div><div>Monkey-faced pansies are a winter flower here, protected only when the temps drop into the teens, Farenheit that is. By March or so, it is just too warm for them and we bid them fond farewell until the weather crisps up in the fall.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305626149633637234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mqHbpWh_T0QlU-dcKoNZva0tXqGjtjQkCsoBtr8A4MFtpkVxXUpGKzmlpy2Ar7OpRsOIvf3HEHhy5WOh3V_V2wY7xF7VCFSBTdvkuLF4INXOgQH4wOhyOTs2re5hBq4PvVcpx_aWPUw/s320/JapMagTree.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>This Japanese Magnolia thinks it's spring in mid-February, foolish tree. It froze again last night, though just barely.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305626142144887346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuASkWirYE0Clz53pyk7wlrmWUyc2l9bkT1eOQwCwI9vTGw5MfOu63c-S14C5bVsf3wEGIyzHhqGA0tc-HlBPU-y3o-sOsmb2TF0G6siCrwNwiUlt7fude5NQyYHvxjMBBoCt8cN0cCts/s320/Cyclamens.jpg" border="0" />Cyclamens bloom in the pots in front, covered only when it drops below freezing. For years I thought they were a delicate hothouse plant. In New Orleans, I would bring them home to live indoors as I was told and watch them croak after a week or so. Little did I know they were truly a rather hardy outdoor plant.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAGnIyb4Lz4QpOuyYF0_L-a9Fsn48LKqSw8q0G2Kcffzi_RMeV4GJyqgIzJrTG78wrtYD2C4KVVbwhPWMIu-h3bLjqRFhSowYNQJHGR8ScTTbdilsjaVKNPUoxtNqNYI_IMfLQ-BrHF0/s1600-h/ValFlowers2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305626938076635986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAGnIyb4Lz4QpOuyYF0_L-a9Fsn48LKqSw8q0G2Kcffzi_RMeV4GJyqgIzJrTG78wrtYD2C4KVVbwhPWMIu-h3bLjqRFhSowYNQJHGR8ScTTbdilsjaVKNPUoxtNqNYI_IMfLQ-BrHF0/s320/ValFlowers2.jpg" border="0" /></a> My goodness, the flowers just kept coming on Valentine's Day. The doorbell rang and rang with still another delivery. Aren't they just beautiful? No chocolates, though.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNg-f2T5ZgMX4H_fEjOq_5q7KRgy50_IjursNfVaMmetfmsOJ3BYgyo5VXBCHev8PuBx50CY-4P4ThWCYbMOwf00lceQKeR12XDHEMitj2QYgMzKXDM7D741eAY4ljesrAmDjims4kKU/s1600-h/ValFlowers1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305626930207064994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNg-f2T5ZgMX4H_fEjOq_5q7KRgy50_IjursNfVaMmetfmsOJ3BYgyo5VXBCHev8PuBx50CY-4P4ThWCYbMOwf00lceQKeR12XDHEMitj2QYgMzKXDM7D741eAY4ljesrAmDjims4kKU/s320/ValFlowers1.jpg" border="0" /></a> The base of the orchid arrangement was particularly lovely, sprouting into 4 foot bamboo canes.<br /></div><div>Have we knit lately Chez Angeluna?<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSkmYT5OX0EjZY0qkqTxVf41I9qNBp7SPPIKLx8NSVF5PZNZeh-mwfT1d0_0hCrWUQCuZ3WnbT6EEbcnIXFobeYKKdU4iCuetcciIuMCjskkKNCDPKt2rUkLmkT5cJ8KdgM06BKluC4g/s1600-h/STRLeyburns.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305626933284858706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSkmYT5OX0EjZY0qkqTxVf41I9qNBp7SPPIKLx8NSVF5PZNZeh-mwfT1d0_0hCrWUQCuZ3WnbT6EEbcnIXFobeYKKdU4iCuetcciIuMCjskkKNCDPKt2rUkLmkT5cJ8KdgM06BKluC4g/s320/STRLeyburns.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yes, indeed. Here be the finished Leyburns. My sock knitting Mojo is back with a vengeance after a year's hiatus. There is a Socks That Rock Leyburn KAL on Ravelry. The idea being to knit the Leyburn pattern in as many colors of STR as possible. There are well over 100 pairs done so far, one more beautiful than the next.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305626933931071666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0lA6JgNNv7dkN0Upz-Y703YaxGOL9F0ucnRicJOgQzrbQow6cq6LYhn1TQ1ODu6i5jhUhH3d_dqO2omVwW3KVwmAnlSQT6Xyv8YTdYf1W1XpxMoQNjJ9EAvccjS__6dous4_tDUEl-s/s320/STRLeyburns3.jpg" border="0" />Mine are in Mid-Weight STR, Chanticleer from my stash, knit on 2.5mms, 66 stitches on the cuff. They fit well and are incredibly cushy. Look at the sole, Chanticleer has speckles, most unusual for STR. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305637948616619202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwixtLXX7r_Jc0_VRZUmMDOw0Zcc-9L-28QFG2Z9oG4nH8EVTSzfggu4mMWn2mHkxzGrAF_X9iJwLgymN-J-IgJc6Ux5LhbyN1vKvwYF9MfBnntxXmTQDTP8FQhbJU-OscCo7RoiU_is/s320/STRChanticleerMd.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Here is the skein. It knit up in quite unexpected fashion, at least a surprise to me.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7TwQdfy5Zundgr86jOkbJtwrSl0MV68H4MHffe_iC2dFt0XGDJ9iBW_FQfByuXGdHiHA-Jw0dBNUhVHpbN9RnL_xBUvPfVJ67tQhenuYJFG-cISdMBmSuIMIi_4l3VEZ7CF3tspgXxQ/s1600-h/MorningSurf2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305626153414982658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7TwQdfy5Zundgr86jOkbJtwrSl0MV68H4MHffe_iC2dFt0XGDJ9iBW_FQfByuXGdHiHA-Jw0dBNUhVHpbN9RnL_xBUvPfVJ67tQhenuYJFG-cISdMBmSuIMIi_4l3VEZ7CF3tspgXxQ/s320/MorningSurf2.jpg" border="0" /></a> And I started the Morning Surf pattern in Micki's gorgeous handspun, 56 stitches, size 6s. The skein had been sitting in plain sight for months, waiting for the right pattern to claim it. Not so spectacular on the needles, but blocked, it will be fantastic. Micki's policy is that if you haven't knitted a skein by your next birthday, you don't get another one. No problem here. This pattern is addictive. Micki used the same pattern in a scarf for herself and it was obviously the perfect pattern, from Spin-Off by the way, designed for handspun yarns.<br /><div><div></div><br /><div>And I'm working on Soho again. Frustrations with the pattern seem to be resolved. Received another skein of Plain and Fancy from Grayce, which will be needed. Should you be thinking of making that pattern, plan on more yarn than the pattern calls for. I'm using 600 yards more. It's still a bit of a blob in photos, so I'll wait until it's further along to show it off. Soon, soon.<br /></div><div><div>Many of you have asked if my kitten has arrived. Well, the blue tabby/white bicolor is not going to happen. I'm a bit heartbroken as I so anticipated his arrival, but unexpectedly, an important breeder claimed him and it would have been unfair to my friend to have to refuse the deal. She said she would make me another one, or let me have one that she already has.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHXoRbypVdLhY2yt3LjxqLiXmU4PgWsvVShdnoatw83PT_J85-ndCfL9zgISZhif_JRcdwxNaLGrkWyVhyQ66NT6QacU72G0URzDsUcYajl0kZFr5EERuBvcAPwGVuc9TtpBY9qZfKC8/s1600-h/FullHouseMale3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305626151143599634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHXoRbypVdLhY2yt3LjxqLiXmU4PgWsvVShdnoatw83PT_J85-ndCfL9zgISZhif_JRcdwxNaLGrkWyVhyQ66NT6QacU72G0URzDsUcYajl0kZFr5EERuBvcAPwGVuc9TtpBY9qZfKC8/s320/FullHouseMale3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Like perhaps this little guy out of Grand Champion Regional Winner Black Jack of Jude. He's a Seal Point Himalayan and he never stops purring. He's four months now. I'm not getting attached until another top breeder takes her pick of the litter.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1todnn_1WQzbCnwi4mzZCRbwxbNAO7jzVRLoict0LP-H2W0fvxo2E7IuS0fCfDGUYEI_MAgckeNt9AQ3ObxslINTZHuLknEBQhkN2uGVWuWWMFvPefGfdP9CZ6bhgg54v6u5prMxNU0/s1600-h/full_house_one.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305626143647034674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1todnn_1WQzbCnwi4mzZCRbwxbNAO7jzVRLoict0LP-H2W0fvxo2E7IuS0fCfDGUYEI_MAgckeNt9AQ3ObxslINTZHuLknEBQhkN2uGVWuWWMFvPefGfdP9CZ6bhgg54v6u5prMxNU0/s320/full_house_one.jpg" border="0" /></a> He's one of this litter that we call the "Full House". Three Seal Point boys and two black girls, all show quality. How cute is that?<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-43985430109534192532009-01-28T06:58:00.020-06:002009-02-22T08:16:37.979-06:00The Ice Storm Cometh, and Leaveth Soon I HopeIt's been so long since I've blogged, I wonder if any of you are still out there?<br /><br /><div><div><div><div>Can you believe, it's freezing here? All night long I heard the sound of frozen rain falling. Good coating of ice on the roads making for some spectacular (and spectacularly stupid) wrecks shown on the morning news. Schools are closed. It looks like this outside.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296335033122871042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9L0Y8rVneVGUWEaOjd-YSaBZBx2wCuszEazFoantEmEkOHhPeuOt6LlFFaoAvscgGSKDQEe0yMM-4deQw-4fSpnXS43Js9b_C7fb0oB3VV3doGy8R0nbY9g9Egorfa3-3D79HM0Qtkw/s320/IcicleBirdfeeder.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The squirrel baffle on the bird feeder looks like a tasseled lampshade. I did fill it and shortly thereafter I had trees full of birds waiting in line, some I hadn't seen in a while. Two sorts of woodpeckers, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">chickadees</span>, cardinals, titmice, doves. I couldn't thaw out the birdbaths, though. I poured in warm water, but it was frozen solid in minutes.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296335038156219234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtubbyXQonZr4q6kKfU8SDxQ3BXP-BtSIg4OrPalaGnga9LJI6gJjRyLsJyOY_03aS_OzF2LA-fjN0aTj4PzedvAytpLcXkn5x1ElyHGJCO_ap-0dj0VnnlmF6VSu0ncm1a_hUqQU5kE/s320/IcicleTrees.jpg" border="0" />It is quite pretty though. The ground is white, but it's an inch of ice, not snow. The squirrels are clawing at it to get to their food. It should melt off this afternoon, but no driving for me until it does. I live on top of a steep hill and there's really no good way down as long as it's slick. </div><br /><div>What did I do last week-end you ask? Well, perhaps you didn't but I'll tell you anyway. I went to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">CFA</span> cat show in Mesquite. We are down to the one "local" show a year and I hadn't been to one in ages.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJmqnyetQuuI_z14yVsZdGZI3wshABJT_eSkN7lkvp6k8uAiQJZtsyVg2RrFPORL9zl0XOz8Z9XKBiuk_pzIAgcD4EVbBK5T2iDt4JuuiWiuyyKkIto5-YfQEMhdahutx9fHKAj_yKho/s1600-h/CatAnita.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296335043479106978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 156px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJmqnyetQuuI_z14yVsZdGZI3wshABJT_eSkN7lkvp6k8uAiQJZtsyVg2RrFPORL9zl0XOz8Z9XKBiuk_pzIAgcD4EVbBK5T2iDt4JuuiWiuyyKkIto5-YfQEMhdahutx9fHKAj_yKho/s320/CatAnita.jpg" border="0" /></a> My friend Anita was grooming up this gorgeous little girl for the ring, kitten class. She did very well indeed.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296335047509648914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUD5pO-GNliKv1JMhu3buaiEeqI0ACT7cFR8HVfZeYHdvcDf4qzXLWvf24x9lIm4kzuX9iwNdYYGyapgQtFPDq72COFB7ZpmqJvTYPRsDfyFEAHgBxoM1G-9c8icoEyA9IGqN2AHIf9Q/s320/CatAnita3.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNJP620x0LdiWJd_Xy2bt9CGA_HiJJ7rwAYT3M-HdXszC3zxXzZ4q9OqECOdePuFEljzY7jJBdNYTcLyzOE6dR_njY1p40x2f3pa-UMhPPI_B4x_zL069hDwbNJ5kE-Wj7HNkhk41nxo/s1600-h/CatAnita4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296333755168908354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNJP620x0LdiWJd_Xy2bt9CGA_HiJJ7rwAYT3M-HdXszC3zxXzZ4q9OqECOdePuFEljzY7jJBdNYTcLyzOE6dR_njY1p40x2f3pa-UMhPPI_B4x_zL069hDwbNJ5kE-Wj7HNkhk41nxo/s320/CatAnita4.jpg" border="0" /></a> She's a rare chocolate tabby out of a regional grand champion, Jude's Rocky Road, FIRST CHOCOLATE CLASSIC TABBY EVER TO GRAND IN CFA. FIRST CHOCOLATE OR LILAC EVER TO BE CFA'S SECOND BEST OF BREED NATIONALLY.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296333748090169586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKBS45cGKw-LdTqRGf9kSlnnTXsQadosfsg3tAF7335RIb35W6eLW1xicdgZoBTzLa5_EspzmNWhb3l83tf-kwEnmZVDQKNtnRey6unQ_zgJszldOeMh63ld_8H2pCyQRVlxG_8Q-eOM/s320/CatJudy2.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>And here is Judy grooming up Jude ROCK THE LINE OF <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">DREAMZ</span> aka Linus. He's a Chocolate Lynx-point Himalayan and just out of kitten class.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296333753143396882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixh4SM6l0DzbCnj8aYfcL_oxZZfpDQTeUbbHX4J0vqALnNN_YlQ6TT5v7F7kCdB3O_dVvYDLrMRMFJCg3QMut5Wp850WpZ3kXyfRGAvRmlkRIahtVFSsnbv8YvTyr-ay3NuMjQi6IMRGg/s320/CatLinus2.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Here's Linus ready to go into the ring. Wow! Judy's grooming is peerless.<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296333753131430370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0xqR-gmqn-zAL1a-9xg2i3-jcmerAB1w9unuj0ZB9fvgDAARLExczelp0KLe5nR75UTnu4ZFKg22Y27yAUX_Nr1Wwft271yojlh8Og6oEIYykK-o1nWkBZXeVUzixhFmxDpRr8xSKts/s320/CatLinus1.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>And here he is with some of his ribbons of the day.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwWzXifZa7vR9tZlWf4O_dWSNig78GR82Rga-bHuUpzkDrSF0OMgSo5sQnUvP6ZqoKMLB0YKRfJt8s19ayx4PRFVqpZklkTs8QvNgnUfToOuDIAYodJThyphenhyphenSBHy9ke_OkMwUqr8H_dUtw/s1600-h/CatWave2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296333749997518898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 293px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwWzXifZa7vR9tZlWf4O_dWSNig78GR82Rga-bHuUpzkDrSF0OMgSo5sQnUvP6ZqoKMLB0YKRfJt8s19ayx4PRFVqpZklkTs8QvNgnUfToOuDIAYodJThyphenhyphenSBHy9ke_OkMwUqr8H_dUtw/s320/CatWave2.jpg" border="0" /></a>And this little bit is Jude's Wave, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tortie</span> Lynx Point <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Himmy</span> also out of Rocky Road. She was the tiniest kitten in the show at 4 months.<br /></div><br /><div>Judy has decided I need a kitten to cheer me up and has picked out a precious 8 week old boy, blue tabby and white Bi-Color out of that same famous Rocky Road. I'm rather delighted because all of the Rocky boys have the sweetest temperaments imaginable. It all started with Rocky <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Raccoon</span>, a champion who sired Rocky Road, a not quite two year old who has sired multiple champions including the adorable Chip off the Old Rock (aka Chippy). These cats are all such lover boys that they kiss the judges and roll over on the show table for tummy rubs. They are quite famous for this. So I shall need a name for the new boy, ideas welcome. There's nothing like a kitten to make you smile. Just waiting another month or so. He needs to be weaned and learn to eat. His sister is doing well at the eating bit, but my little boy just wants his Mommy still. His photo is probably in the kitten section at <a href="http://www.judepersians.net/">Jude Persians </a>if you want to take a look. I just checked and indeed he is at the top of the kitten page 2 with his black and white sister. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296357090584430834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 244px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkh6E-hMyq9qWRP0q8jj4-V9JfgjC81sJyG0s61_-hS36E5O6swhIDg4Twuv6UEsCmrqUfvBwT6x5oHD-lfPu1C72EvUJBJYJV97ZL-e5yPAHCMrdAC91dW-k5rYk36VkquYlWJhuITF4/s320/BlueTabbyWhiteKitten.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>The caption is "He's not heavy, he's my brother."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>OK, let's hear some names. His Father is Rocky Road and his mother is Tallulah. My other boy is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Galatoire</span> and another we had was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Tujagues</span>, both New Orleans restaurants. Somewhere I made a list of restaurants, but the only one that comes to mind right now is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Yuglesitches</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">sp</span>?) and I just don't think this little boy could wear that.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Knitting? Well yes.<br /></div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6ng7aU273Sw5t0Hd7Ot8zpkpI1xRqGNAlfkQWCUspzcDvK6oIqaTCezprGijaXp8cCtudBDqy25ol684esriTGf9gpTO4g5dXQYrNIueVCA5G0PoNjuexLh0FWOJptEvNWoT9t9hD_c/s1600-h/JuliaChildShawl1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296332466350387618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6ng7aU273Sw5t0Hd7Ot8zpkpI1xRqGNAlfkQWCUspzcDvK6oIqaTCezprGijaXp8cCtudBDqy25ol684esriTGf9gpTO4g5dXQYrNIueVCA5G0PoNjuexLh0FWOJptEvNWoT9t9hD_c/s320/JuliaChildShawl1.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is the Nancy One Skein Shawl from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Schaefer</span> in Julia Child. Quick and a delight to knit, and wonderful to wear because of the curved neckline and the tails. This was my second one.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296345234273472594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2lMtrYQ2fXo3DRj6nYUyGOnXfHNNsJ5T02zHxem1MIwB-nARpZp8YNHAZbWSC8Ljg8iKlid1duPbAhbS2t_6RjYQNJgsmRL37DiDIZzZe1EHRUzY1Brr7e85N3A8OksnoxTQh5Pp__w/s320/NancyShawl-DianeFossey2.jpg" border="0" />Here is the first one that I finished at Christmas. The colorway is Dian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Fossey</span>.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296345243382664306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHYZmURXQSkCroh0Btq9MzTzF5QVr-JfhlmQHzbLPLZXp5pqRpvZML3d3eTUuSZWppbkahG2lHhKLHfSG_OsanHsWmzTKTuYWJ7a6qAEIlsHDZUz31TdVsnFflScweKyFEXK8KEhF5MI/s320/NancyShawl-DianeFossey3.jpg" border="0" />You can see that the back is not long and pointed, but makes a gentle curve. Just love them both.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlxaGw7uFmizyjGauQwXPLCDE0ekG7J7Qgat6eLjyDqmqtL3waWESSKPggsHsMhkeimFIWsMmD6DKS5jtd0DYZBbFh_o0jFublXvqWUeDQHSeY1tqksWYm1PdgVtcyHqXU1eitM2ibWU/s1600-h/SchaefferCowl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296332460859261794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlxaGw7uFmizyjGauQwXPLCDE0ekG7J7Qgat6eLjyDqmqtL3waWESSKPggsHsMhkeimFIWsMmD6DKS5jtd0DYZBbFh_o0jFublXvqWUeDQHSeY1tqksWYm1PdgVtcyHqXU1eitM2ibWU/s320/SchaefferCowl.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here is a cowl in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Schaefer</span> that I did a year ago, but forgot to document or photograph until now. Actually it was lost, but now it's found. It's a made up pattern and is really perfect for this weather.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg7WvNvhKIZMB0f6LAQXLsjPV4DrT5DPbUxCw9n7jl0BsCB9tpn43X24UkRCz7AeWl0Exxq2VKP10MMZuzxC5B7gi-NMW5gRVH-aHbDN4Ot3NLogCaFhEyOwsdgpGFq1Qmewqnl6vQE8/s1600-h/Leyburn1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296332458077151570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg7WvNvhKIZMB0f6LAQXLsjPV4DrT5DPbUxCw9n7jl0BsCB9tpn43X24UkRCz7AeWl0Exxq2VKP10MMZuzxC5B7gi-NMW5gRVH-aHbDN4Ot3NLogCaFhEyOwsdgpGFq1Qmewqnl6vQE8/s320/Leyburn1.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here is a sock I started a couple of days ago. It is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Leyburn</span> done in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">STR</span> Chanticleer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Mediumweight</span> on size 2.5mm needles. I reduced the stitch count to 66 and knit cuff down, so I suppose they are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Leyburn</span> in stitch pattern only. They are quite thick because of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">slipstitch</span> pattern, but so far are fitting quite well. To be honest, they didn't fit at all at first, but I kept knitting and suddenly the Knitting Fairy waved her magic wand and they fit beautifully. I've finished the first heel and am picking up for the gussets, so we shall soon see if they fit over my arches. Sure hoping they will. I got sucked into these as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">KAL</span> where people are trying to knit up as many colorways of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">STR</span> possible in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Leyburn</span> pattern. Worth a look on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Ravelry</span>. Pretty amazing colors and interesting to see all the different ways knitters went about making the same pattern.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296331032126188962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-gY9BZzGXhDFCGOQrTHd-4DFpu8mXQBM4Df2tfFtQ06uZ9nUW3uRkCVeYh_7sYExzzsqF8fBHm0sr47Z49i6lSVbH-5Cv6AquSFfBgTEm2sg1MZt4pdrLjlzZyaNDFn8QzNcS3D0FHc/s320/SOHOMag2.jpg" border="0" /> Another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">KAL</span> is with my Sisters of the Wool group. Several of us set about knitting SOHO mostly with yarns we bought at Kid n Ewe. Most are from Plain and Fancy in their incredible <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">DK</span> weight that resembles <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Malabrigo</span>. Susan is using Brooks Farm Solo Silk, Grace is using up some glittery stash and I can't remember what Angele is using. They all look wildly different. And you should hear the cursing about the pattern. It is really quite simple, only the instructions are confusing. My main problem is simple sloppiness. But I think that will soon be a thing of the past as I'm nearly off the mitered center section.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvN2xhAXkk6hlFNy5WvyC1ncp8RGt1QYs-M3dJsOv0jtlBsjJZc_J5GKqDiPw24b_S9B1tKKgTYZ-yrhjYsFK_iG9edudcuwFsK62FHHEfZHUO7Frfy0mRBONDfhCLwYaAGMVBwwnnDA/s1600-h/SOHOMag3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296332453569488386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvN2xhAXkk6hlFNy5WvyC1ncp8RGt1QYs-M3dJsOv0jtlBsjJZc_J5GKqDiPw24b_S9B1tKKgTYZ-yrhjYsFK_iG9edudcuwFsK62FHHEfZHUO7Frfy0mRBONDfhCLwYaAGMVBwwnnDA/s320/SOHOMag3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here it is looking like a grand lump on the circulars, but with one more row, I'll bind off and start knitting the sides, so we'll be able to see what it looks like.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK7_B63Fs2l9Bif1eUUzF6tM234q3Duh-lEibdQAr2DPkkkgBk6D1dF5xoCWRuGYg-H_aHcmX1BFP_YkV5NpEt2dmJFWHeaLE-EpjOz7-k3Lfwqj4ecZWxXOuERMmYg0Z1zUE9VmO2D0/s1600-h/Thorpe4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296332452143217282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK7_B63Fs2l9Bif1eUUzF6tM234q3Duh-lEibdQAr2DPkkkgBk6D1dF5xoCWRuGYg-H_aHcmX1BFP_YkV5NpEt2dmJFWHeaLE-EpjOz7-k3Lfwqj4ecZWxXOuERMmYg0Z1zUE9VmO2D0/s320/Thorpe4.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here is a Thorpe that I made for my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">niece</span> in freezing Brooklyn. Love Thorpe. Here I've used <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Noro's</span> Big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Kureyon</span> with a Highland Wool edging. Yes, that's crochet. In this photo you can see my edging choices. Were it me, I would have gone with the pumpkin color, but for my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">niece</span>, I decided the brown heather was the safest choice. The colors are showing too bright in these photos. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiRiLllJza2sW3D6YaEVhdBVQFCDBcabM0UIYNhv7_diTLhq9zfweaco4ZAqneec_0PGbng7J3wbCj0ddtQX8ypO8kx5dAd_BKk4DdeRrSzYumniZSNPmSKhpVDgc2Yv-UEVy_d02Xro/s1600-h/Thorpe1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296331022164803410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 271px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiRiLllJza2sW3D6YaEVhdBVQFCDBcabM0UIYNhv7_diTLhq9zfweaco4ZAqneec_0PGbng7J3wbCj0ddtQX8ypO8kx5dAd_BKk4DdeRrSzYumniZSNPmSKhpVDgc2Yv-UEVy_d02Xro/s320/Thorpe1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's the finished hat.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296350140284221586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FX2XMYvqQnRXjFX5NuKfliAs_aA8AqaDBsXOe1uhSdt7-wkq1Izn-hu7ev4VnOYVGniOzUp9SuDF-PNnFETMyc2Y8n3Fomir06P2bqWYmfxetUhGikpng2RSHRET9qFAs7Mkm-ETnSo/s320/Thorpe5.jpg" border="0" />And here is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Taya</span> modeling the finished version. My <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">niece</span> is quite thin and tall with micro short hair, so it will look quite different, but equally good I hope.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div>Some sad news, our lovely <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">LYS</span>, Yarns <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Ewenique</span>, is closing after only two years. They have done so well, but one of the partners has to move to California and the other wants to move to a cabin at the lake. They had a wonderful atmosphere in the shop, a good selection of yarns in good quantity and a wall of knitting tools and needles that was matchless.<br /></div><div>More to come, hope you are all warm and toasty. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-64540283503542317932008-12-20T04:31:00.006-06:002008-12-23T08:54:50.840-06:00The Grinch Lives HereHearing my friends moaning over their Holiday knitting, I'm so glad I decided years ago only to knit for those who really understood and appreciated it, and would know how to wash fine fibers. Which meant only two projects this year. <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281824037021287042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTlwJiZcuSFrlrAE-QMEpToy01mLjBNi5ukNc_u_EAt__ddoNDBsWvfNXtq7f942VBYu3e3BexI3_yh9lnzmcrFQ2VEvbosn1sw_ilhqIM9AS0HE8ew_Xx3Sz5Gxsq_UAMzmCt6TD_54/s320/ArgosyTwo3.jpg" border="0" />Here is one, an <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTargosy.html">Argosy</a> scarf. Since the USPS e-mailed today to say that it had arrived, I can finally post a photo. I still haven't gotten the "hang" of the new camera and colors just aren't making me happy, but voilà .A bit under three skeins of Noro Silk Garden. Having examined the colors in the skein, <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281824047113810194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 272px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVLJHO17g3bIFL1Os280kmuEaUdczNagx_Lc57C9DxMj4dLsBt9mAeLlrv4zIiUPHweglYuw-ZpTTYMvvIq9BRTyiRF5A7VSYI6ukUJW9dmDLacBPvzNUw5Lw1STEky3BeLn4yrJhrQ8/s320/ArgosyTwo1.jpg" border="0" /> <div>I was totally surprised by what came off the needles. You just never know with Noro. Very wabi-sabi, but I decided I quite liked it. Hope the recipient, who lives in a very cold climate, likes it, too. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281824041487610290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 194px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHX9G35DDJTEP8EDtnF6qTRJtQJb3XAmrSn812Yl3qaw7YRTfbkQq-Qb8wReY9ZauFM6mkVWEIo3Y9sV2n365L5_oAROV92XsnWXC8cCY6W4bHqD4T1j1h4WPC0citKdoEf3Weql5OL0/s320/ArgosyTwo4.jpg" border="0" />Really a fun pattern to knit. It came out a bit narrower than I expected, not that I paid any attention to the given specs, mind you. But all in all quite pleased. Glad I broke down and ordered some blocking wires before going to work on this one. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281823607181026450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3APe7MHUZ3JgWnkk4h9-2cvkXDD76GvQakuItXcnYk7F6y4M4fIIkDXJOk2AulIKYynEy7d4OZwD2RQb2DqUcowfefmjAoyAWd9hTNmXJJ4oVIDYong91MblYMVhpjEznp4cQJZ3j-Q/s320/squaresSweater1.jpg" border="0" />And here is a glam shot of the front of my new Very Square sweater. I'm using Brooks Farm Solo Silk procured at Kid n Ewe on size 7s. Measured my favorite cashmere Eskandar, swatched and dove in. A joy to knit this yarn. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281823615064179890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLDr_-XB5dFBsLtjJYM71LHgasm0JE5IsINmiy2g1UEYmx204A3aqOfixWw0E0UXTBbccrjphT_fsnZPPta7rbtY3SfJKFYZXgwjb35dXIPREmURPB2esl1n5eXuIb4HRL5qhnHe4huc/s320/EskandarCashmere.jpg" border="0" />Here is the Eskandar, so you can see it is the inspiration, not copied. Well, I wouldn't want to knit a big boxy sweater on size 000s, thank you very much. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281823618887629026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQxSpc7c6kJimIg6g1N8P-Jd-BoEK6Qhu3vs4d5Rr1YjvIYJkrbbDPYaPlbyXR5usE21tmeQJ_YheQW5vctXpbnJ-q3t-0yb-1vOm0ulFMECADWrPAK7gcEarjDy8uLPGD_wSRrIpdsI/s320/NancyShawl-DianeFossey1.jpg" border="0" />And this lump is a skein of Schaefer Nancy (Dian Fossey) in their One Skein Shawl pattern. It's a lump because that outer edge waiting for a bind-off is 1,000 plus stitches. Of course, I ran out of yarn 1/4 of the way around, as did half the knitters on Ravelry for this project. Lucky me, I called the shop I bought the yarn from, the Tinsmith's Wife in Comfort, Texas, and asked the darling owner Wendy, who had knit one the same color, if she had any left-overs. She did, and she popped them right in the mail. The minute they arrived, I started binding off, and continued the next day, and finished today in time to wear it to dinner. That was a huge bind-off for sure. In fact, I'm quite fond of this shaped triangle shawl. It sits well on the neck and shoulders and should do a good job of keeping my neck warm tomorrow when the temperatures plummet again. Finished photos next post. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281823622327224802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 224px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMu4AafyDFcF-XeZZ-Dmi4YTeUuDzyA5nqOcOZSF5zJoVDbeo5a3QKXmwZyKlEuKdwXfvIDfgk7ZbjIjC_WAp_rO4h-hPT5zH5hOB9W3Mhn_ZZmmyFBYT_fOMdB3paKcqGDpgaK6KaFM/s320/MocoRust1.jpg" border="0" /> <div>Oooooh, and here is a lovely skein of Qiviut, a gift from the above friend of the cold clime and new owner of Argosy. The color is Rust, I've 400 yards, and I'm searching patterns to choose the perfect one, probably one of <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/knitting_pattern/little-nothings-c-13.html">these</a>. It's a light fingering weight and it is beautiful.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281823627273381442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 204px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdJOLpM2EMPS_6TRpLV8AEjxFLmzH8d9wRaxsxOBGxCle6dR1JJ7Z7g-FnhtXa6fBNiNXbVydi_hf9B3v4dDSOPnjTVQNFMauUO8hrjpBZI6gPp2t6-AdAwfPSdqlI6tZn9Y7Rwmk90w/s320/PorchPots2.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The Harlot's Rat Bastards have moved to Texas, specifically my back yard. See these pots...<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281819035052394370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBfgShuQxWD3YBDh6q7jrSLNfofxmH5mnsQWKyZA-6EbmP9Y9PfmyzHEumiQU00K40KyWPET-JeV9SVBPYfedOBGqaOheSG0YMZ9aH54zq9fh9QCPuS-O_kIFdDBCNmjaDh20Ef1IhLc/s320/BasilPot3.jpg" border="0" /> and these... </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281819031426540786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKtjqH-iYWEg07sGZYKTaUGc_L-BAGulfK6EYims2k9XGShkXDQrCwZvIFHmKVmRZYDZqwrkToAH0oOBLGT7YugLPMprcUsDK6sP6qzNnZc4cA2mgCMQ0f8uYZZ-fFY3xDHfFgtXMSrc/s320/PorchPots1.jpg" border="0" /> and these??? </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281819040108351010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 273px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufV4U303GR8kYeWrXs8IBC2x-5cW8-xcA91jibboOQn6k6DKLRW5wdDvU56QS9ZyoxEkndpWamOIW6NC0OJvdyJsEwBqWKbPf04S1qeVpTRfjLeXMkE3Y6v3UInPZi8ZPtsi7_-QJ91Y/s320/BasilPot.jpg" border="0" /> Well this is what those cute rodents do to them. They uprooted all the cypress vine and basil in these pots. The sticks are improvised squirrel guards. They didn't work too well this year, witness every basil sprout in death throes. </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281819041716764994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcV9pj4KkOoXeJa6qVyy5UpT0JRL3ORN0eknNOstN5Razk7kUZz1deiHMuwfBoUXa8bKwcbi5nez-sVY0Y0Dvg8VOVKY0KWVzGbjnnrybFpP_TcL0F3cgfRfiok-v-0-uh6pXmQ4TKA0/s320/PotSquirrel.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Then they destroyed the begonias in this one. These were photos from late summer, but the situation has only gotten worse. Perhaps only a third of the pansies I've planted in all those pots are still upright. All of the bulbs in all the pots have been surfaced and will not come back this year. The squirrels are hungry, they're going a bit crazy. Normally, my back garden under all those oaks is ankle deep in acorns. They bombard the roof for a solid month as they are falling. This year nada, nothing, zip. The neighbor's overhanging pecan trees, that usually leave my yard a disaster, haven't produced a pecan (please don't plant pecan trees in the city, please, please). Then I saw on CNN that this phenomen is being seen all over the country and beyond. No one knows the cause for now. There was speculation on rainfall and when the rain fell, but it is so widespread that the theory doesn't hold up. In any case, these miserable destructive little monsters are God's creatures and they are hungry and I'm buying bags of food for them as I can't bear to watch them starve. Unbelievable, isn't it? I'm actually feeding pests. They have sent out the word as to where they can chow down and the garden is absolutely teaming with them.<br /><br />In other furry news, Pandora and Paprikas were both quite sick when I returned from Boerne. Wonderful cat sitter, but she has dogs and evidently some stray fleas had hitchhiked in. There were clumps of clawed out fur all over the place. Trust me, flea infestations and Persians don't mix. Advantage did the trick there, thank heavens. Then one of them, we suspect Poppy, had puked all over the place, I literally slid in it walking in the door. Stomach upsets continued for a month. Pandora had totally quit eating. Finally hauled both of them to the vet. Pandora had lots of blood in her urine but no infection. Poppy didn't show an infection either but had chronic intestinal upset. Lots of tests and $1,200 later (happy Holidays to me) they are getting better. Then the vet called yesterday to add some more meds at another $140 ($90 for eyedrops that have already run out after three treatments). Guess that yarn diet is going to be a tough and long one. Popping pills and syringing food into felines would qualify for one of those "Worst Jobs" programs, trust me. Wish us good health, please. Now I'm freaked out about leaving the house for very long.<br /><br />I'm the Grinch this year. I've only bought one present for the kids; can't even think about other presents, panic in crowded stores. If I don't shape up, I'll be empty handed and embarrassed on Christmas. Finally hung a wreath on the door two days ago, but that's it. No more decorations. I do have some plans to cook some goodies, but since I've set off the fire alarm twice in two weeks with my cooking (so absent-minded I forget things), this will have to be approached with much caution. People keep telling me the holidays are very difficult the first year after you've lost a loved one. I will be so happy the day after all the hoopla is over.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281819045221255266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGZhzqg8kziB-PxBzE_DRK4l7rJ5H5cYhDxLGY0KbJ7lMLvBVOhafXQGDg6SBoyBbzlPVfp-TmRY9n6hkPTNg8cR7S_MU7KIdn0DGFERHrzwgtLdswZY5C-4yx-WqBSuH3102rmCXuEM/s320/Sugarplum.jpg" border="0" /> And just for fun, here is a sweater I'm lusting over. Sugarplum from a Rowan collection book some years old. I would have to find a yarn, this one is of course discontinued, so it must wait until the yarn diet is over. </div><div></div><div></div><div>Bloody %#*%*~$@##, I just spent over an hour putting this post together, linking everything, organizing photos...only to realize I had posted it to my son'sblog, not mine. Guess what, you have to manually reimport all the photos and you lose your links. Sigh, done, all's well that ends well.</div><div></div><div></div><div>Not much Ho, Ho, Ho around here this year, but sincerely wishing all of you very Happy Holidays. Hold your loved ones and cherish the here and the now.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-58013564913262079322008-12-01T05:13:00.014-06:002008-12-02T07:05:14.826-06:00A Jolly Good Time was had by all! Surprise!!!!Girls Week-end at the Kid n Ewe and Lamas, Too festival in Boerne, Texas (that's "Burney" to the uninitiated). Five Sisters of the Wool set out on Thursday with an unbelievable amount of luggage in two cars on the back roads through the Hill Country to arrive in Comfort by nightfall. The same B&B where Susan and I stayed last year, very funky, hot tub and killer breakfasts, owned and run by the lovely Sandi.<br /><br />Now you would think that much knitting would be done, that we would loll around in the hot tub with Margaritas? Hah! After a hot tub the first night, we usually collapsed pretty early, very little knitting, Lucy Neatby's videos put us all to sleep (glad to know it's not just me that is lulled into dreamland by Lucy's soft voice), the wine we brought came home unopened. Susan did get her loom set up and warped finally, after a year, with lots of advice from the peanut gallery.<br /><br />The first night's dinner was in Comfort at your typical German/Cajun (???) cafe, Guenther's. OK, Weiner schnitzel and blood sausages. Stewfish and the Couch Potatoes were playing...loud, very loud, really really loud and totally off key. Although the more they drank, the more notes they hit. We finally fled to a porch room that was a decibal or two quieter. We ate well and went home a bit deafened.<br /><br />After one of Sandi's fantastic breakfasts, we headed off early to Boerne for the main event, planned to arrive just before they opened the doors.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_gny4E3hCMMruQJIXAC-7M6PEvzdAogU-q_dIZ0eJ6AsnfKRCHHY3p70AVrkQ8SQuNeFlHvfwxGzY2okawPPkjHq_nMZJvy9SdI-J0a4K6bzo5kwxd1ib-xwFBoAO6mmbRa1QISGX2Q/s1600-h/TayaBigWheel.jpg"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274781540017267058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67QoXev7uQBCtJxy5O37o_JJvqZmloUViBLx5qyIWzqhNOOPqcuoZxh63vyul1DgQDD6PCj3MIaot5vwavZ-xIKa1D4HvxavrwWEiurFROd_SfL_MW9Spm4OvPy4PfebXvQ-3rzbr2_A/s320/CardedSilk.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>We saw lots of fiber, the above being the loveliest combed and carded, hand dyed silk bats.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274781544751910562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 237px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsePtyqiAh0Ye7G7UEU0rXKW6juuQAq395BpRjXJanaav99s-7Se8DxhA2lWufly_mfvsJ4dJgVVVERGefAQ34SVV509AcCfqX9ix4-8GzxdJZ6V1Ff5O6rAb5bmxdm9ryiJ7Y2fpRkCk/s320/Cuervo.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>We saw Alpacas!! This cutie is Cuervo, a bit on the shy side. He kept up the sweetest little nervous hum. You just wanted to cuddle him and tell him it was OK. No lamas, though.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274783685289514274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSiU_-nGHAgeHSeade6VNP0Yv2f-QlUM8zivjHDlkm5dOVwHfCpkDuCdrWJzljhAsAB0oYuH6SGyv3Cv0ZxoCiKZ11TnsssyR0RreDQICONDto74V2YqQ6zYMKcgKmF3xmSmDGELd2qQ/s320/MidnightStar.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>This super adorable six month old is Midnight Star. Taya was trying to figure out a way to get him home in the car. Although they won't sell just one, nor even two, but insist on three so you have a herd. That neck fiber is just the softest stuff ever.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274781566819536690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0BPkm1AXjIfRRydeVzdDaHEzLNUVyxI5l2QcGPZpv99aNxWt8csGsFtwvE2vJyRUfbKH_Q4Ij-hxwQn7wnvNnzgxyFa3wOHimDThGHsUHSgGJn9qdTK3ievSnVOsmCh5Q9aRBZfV26Y/s320/Goat1.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>We saw Cashmere goats, including this impressive (and rather bad tempered) ram.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274781563481161506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVx7gDqFCOfzn3XQZCVv-FeYeMsfa7tF0H5nOA1hfKi4qhHbc40f-JSiR2-ICZjE-a3nMG-oWbGcCOdZkb5YZQFBZresm-xuu_cbV0OeTdYXGTDf_a5abrK7rdlCMElSnqJeovoPNEujw/s320/GoatsRing.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>We watched some of the judging and were shown the cashmere fiber and taught how to evaluate it.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274783673573883170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSel1hgyEhLipoL-3oaiRE_Vs_emstzbWd1A6FCI5spk-Fr4nzjwc_3y0VNLn9nbD5mfwrW3XJQsQBZ4Wh_YugoMPJ06fOH5D1P-UZLaCQ8ZVAoxz1mWKulNba4KOFBJ4L-FXvZ5SqFpc/s320/TayaBigWheel.jpg" border="0" />Taya investigated the Great Wheel.<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274790378073907090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-f25vEcWFZ0SLrKQm3IYwyk1DD4dKzTH36BGoPmIwADQoktqYXDPeX5hDC9l9L4LiubKEbuYl9AKlBroSrMEmPmx4mBAdSbBxSWLICpnlOy7CBjHsJBOPRTeSdHZt4PJ99mHScESHDM/s320/DoreenPegasus.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Doreen was seduced by the glorious Pegasus. She caught serious spinning lust.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275175463404393890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUzVC9C0Nwto0TOI2E-5cY5jKchMy7tPKka27O7wgZ1v5durYBQir9rylO90lO8lCLm9IgDFqEqkbalda5LY1d_vWvBUXE426O66X4_HdZ0mJpxm0q4R7LIAxw2Ggi0Z1KIU3RcOp4jA/s320/MarketDaysBoerne.jpg" border="0" />Micki, Susan and I caught Market Days in Boerne. It was a bit of a disappointment. Shitloads of beads, but nothing very special. There was one jewelry maker who tempted me with a pair of "rainforest" mineral earrings, but not much else. It was so sunny and hot that we were shortly searching shade.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274786578877661890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxm1q52spCV15rhcJXQbGwo1MyL2y47eyz2sTUyB-2iQohF_LoIE_ug1bsl2b2XWYpBwXDeea2Dkyk0gc-qS7KvOjCapEe5_dcPUtylehuz-deOP9MBPKd6DKol5PjAb7jk_G5-E760aY/s320/HaulDay1.jpg" border="0" /> Stash was accumulated Day One. This is the entire groups goodies, just sayin'. My part was limited to Brooks Farm Solo Silk and some of that lovely Plain and Fancy kettle dyed. As well as a skein of Schaeffer to do a one skein shawl, bought from a charming daughter and mother who've just opened a knit shop in Comfort, The Tinsman's Wife. Wishing them luck. And oh, five skeins of Jo-JoLand to do a Swirl Shawl. Plus I found a lovely hand carved darning egg in cedar from some delightful ladies from Louisiana.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274786587299578994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1VNP7cwCFFQ1_zQ8TrJs8POyNW9bO-QjdyJRSrp0Svp8lKgf3w0U2S9WmdaCMQABIV12Ve_-Y78_sMAsKwALMTRb9YFWk0uQg-_zoFF5A64wJ-ccaMjk-P1OD-KcdUtBa4yVSGUTyv8/s320/HaulDay2.jpg" border="0" /> And more stash Day Two. I missed Day Three's haul, but there was still more.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_nwDV8y_hH7sgDwWAqlDQka6uUmRqNniTvwyv8ogH5CzoWJdbrm9_U_Bib_MbtAwxj87E2Si97Sw2Xmt1Nwf1V6APKtxGLBpN7PPhBlhKg_uuHFLks_Rwip8w7hAulXrqikkYEoVM7I/s1600-h/WelfareCountryClub.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274783689449539890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_nwDV8y_hH7sgDwWAqlDQka6uUmRqNniTvwyv8ogH5CzoWJdbrm9_U_Bib_MbtAwxj87E2Si97Sw2Xmt1Nwf1V6APKtxGLBpN7PPhBlhKg_uuHFLks_Rwip8w7hAulXrqikkYEoVM7I/s320/WelfareCountryClub.jpg" border="0" /></a>Couldn't resist this sign. Admit it's hilarious. Actually it was the town of Welfare, but a bit more imagination might have made for a more appropriate name.<br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzRkbpFxBUXlkHjx7ukiMbk0aXFKdoM27zW3_TvKDEr1FyKReAl0B7jXpUcB_grRHdo43_NAdJz64Vg8N5LjfXCJ2KA2q9FWA5ybH_BZLbox7q_kL1gBI1ZIOpOC96i5rPBwXHq6Hrl8/s1600-h/PoPo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274782882990148274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzRkbpFxBUXlkHjx7ukiMbk0aXFKdoM27zW3_TvKDEr1FyKReAl0B7jXpUcB_grRHdo43_NAdJz64Vg8N5LjfXCJ2KA2q9FWA5ybH_BZLbox7q_kL1gBI1ZIOpOC96i5rPBwXHq6Hrl8/s320/PoPo.jpg" border="0" /></a> Phenomenal biscuits were had here at PoPos, as well as chicken fried steaks and huge racks of ribs. A serious winner.<br /></div><div>And now for the surprise, possibly the most incredible surprise I think I've ever had. Are you sitting down, gentle readers? On Sunday as we were leaving, actually already in our cars, an automobile pulled up and parked on the far side of mine. Sandi was panicked that she had forgotten a reservation. A lovely bearded gentleman came up to me speaking in French and shooting photos of us the whole time. He knew my name. I was thumbing rapidly through the rolodex in my brain trying to figure this one out. I must have met this Frenchman last year, or somewhere before. I do know a handful of people in the Hill Country, but this just wasn't computing. Finally he said in English, "You haven't a clue, do ya?" with the slightest Irish lilt and it all clicked. Richard!!! Celtic Memory's Richard. Which meant Jo must be close at hand. Look at this!!!!<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274780757828485202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf97dsrDXJAxs5pqGAaTyj2fe66BxtT0ymM4qotyfoqu9k4QB0VgZXTdAXXMNDzo1SKunr9RGPQC9Rgu8r6L_3akUxF-QwdD1HwtFSGru9vXO5Sl2fsSfHoWYjHB6ZdLw7gk3STfbBxLM/s320/AFJo1.jpg" border="0" /> Look at the faces of the Sisters. Susan was crying. Micki was floored. Taya was levitating and we have a photo of it. Doreen was mystified since she had never met Jo. And I was completely overjoyed. Jo said although the internet was very useful for some things, she thought I needed a hug so she came all the way from Ireland to give me one.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274782840665649314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 202px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxshbMgHz0rjiPCpfWnISw6sqYohJAMwMs_v9zCU-rCIWS8yzPZ3a-or579VJDMNtzFrgbgYy6F7AXcXG0PcYhSql71BNL0kZvTmTxnDfIo1lz2Ui5oK0gZsWH4AnYLAXY3gQ24S5tL4/s320/JoRichard2.jpg" border="0" /> These two were certainly proud of themselves. They found tickets on Friday morning, caught a flight that night and arrived in San Antonio Sunday morning to drive out to Comfort. None of us had any idea whatsoever that they were on their way. I had only given Jo the name of the town where we were staying. This is the kind of crazy I want in my life. Daft, mad, and ever so welcome. Thank goodness the weather was splendid to give them a couple of days break from the miserable weather at home.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275173383785591010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdmSap58Dq3rzW8YnAxpBzh64YzZGMMEjBFv5PLpiU-3ODzVeLNWp1B5yREwyaCvjLvYvBUIm46jlkALjSsKkO7WuZ8PLdlKrnzvFags9YnzUrpJAk0y777iUoefE7hu36R7kxskSveg/s320/GroupCarrington.jpg" border="0" /></div>A very happy sun-warmed group in front of the Carrington House in Comfort. So, no question of Micki and I heading out early, we all trooped back to the Festival with our friends to show them around.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLkzJyxmQhs5ptXMCUztFh7-_jUPLiKYSCngv1zakM6QIEL0kt2o7bMm9W0M7xDGHVmkNfh0cNsXENoTkC_0WO_o1g257617sPzujh38COYdDV0HhqTtZrY0rwg3gsCQj4wwhnU_a0pM/s1600-h/JoPegasus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274782863139679218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLkzJyxmQhs5ptXMCUztFh7-_jUPLiKYSCngv1zakM6QIEL0kt2o7bMm9W0M7xDGHVmkNfh0cNsXENoTkC_0WO_o1g257617sPzujh38COYdDV0HhqTtZrY0rwg3gsCQj4wwhnU_a0pM/s320/JoPegasus.jpg" border="0" /></a> Now Jo had to try the Pegasus. It is a dream of a wheel.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzg8PhGFfrgg4P8WM3XMe-o6JAdf71ljZNvK1gxorhUeSnbU0Fe_elvT0UJ6OtROhgUO6hKGGC_MebVC51rR0PnDuRU21JJO4clCp0oNGsPrnPZ0FdL9S-0RAfH3GTpkMmmR_3plVp6c/s1600-h/JoBrooksFarm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274782852217100690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 205px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzg8PhGFfrgg4P8WM3XMe-o6JAdf71ljZNvK1gxorhUeSnbU0Fe_elvT0UJ6OtROhgUO6hKGGC_MebVC51rR0PnDuRU21JJO4clCp0oNGsPrnPZ0FdL9S-0RAfH3GTpkMmmR_3plVp6c/s320/JoBrooksFarm.jpg" border="0" /></a> And she was seduced by our lovely Brooks Farm display. In the meantime Richard was out in the park trying to photograph some butterflies with a camera lens the size of a Gatling gun.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-nh9aA43zPlW9hZ1EUjm0hoZ6szpZG1bgegFA0tsdt1bIQVKbKsFF9240PD-M_x9YRhEzg28zz1lWaurUtPsap5CPotRmbOwEnFbDiAIHTFdbbPyQFMFXEWXS_u8R0uqgY_PPfm14Z0/s1600-h/AFDelighted.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274780762597716642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-nh9aA43zPlW9hZ1EUjm0hoZ6szpZG1bgegFA0tsdt1bIQVKbKsFF9240PD-M_x9YRhEzg28zz1lWaurUtPsap5CPotRmbOwEnFbDiAIHTFdbbPyQFMFXEWXS_u8R0uqgY_PPfm14Z0/s320/AFDelighted.jpeg" border="0" /></a> It was sad to say good-bye, but now I must plot how to give them an equal surprise.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274786574309814546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTpv1Eb5s7MlNwmbrZSG2EpuQac0Z29lUgPAo6cWpSc5dlEcDRaKO-pty1IJr-_sAhIKpEZ2FYg1NXZIMfpeO6YP8K6sc9x1KOTDqmFXGjara8InekIIRpNHAWntor1m9k6XnXe8_hPM/s320/Fredericksburg1.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Micki and I finally headed out through Fredericksburg with the car stuffed full of luggage so the other three could make it home in the convertible after a day of classes.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274786568896245970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dHYQdcTfkUytswLO6g64U_0GcDMkhKa9Dk-x_udW3MwxlQ5PjUZnfR0pwsRMkwjzq7ABJWtxrzsywQpVLlWP0AKBSaTpi8fLoZm8icGo8MbUWoTQiWCsnZjduukSVdyayX4WHdr3jso/s320/Fredericksburg2.jpg" border="0" /> Gorgeous skies with strange ploughed cloud formations. It almost made up for the incredible amount of road kill we saw. Deer, deer and more deer. One carcass, minus its rack, in the middle of a street in Fredericksburg. Gross. We had to pay phenomenal attention for errant wildlife while on the roads. <div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYYIWO_n5l6_x0G70PVN8ToHCJZhk9zsYjB-CgOHnQW20nKgL2ODYbWL50eIByanJHvfAxqe6Cp9zDAg1TMD2uY9oHjYbz2GL7_rV6XU0AUXwLuFoOSOdbw7o4r7Ur3zsIn95dNn5y2s/s1600-h/Cyclamens.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274780750045841298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYYIWO_n5l6_x0G70PVN8ToHCJZhk9zsYjB-CgOHnQW20nKgL2ODYbWL50eIByanJHvfAxqe6Cp9zDAg1TMD2uY9oHjYbz2GL7_rV6XU0AUXwLuFoOSOdbw7o4r7Ur3zsIn95dNn5y2s/s320/Cyclamens.jpg" border="0" /></a> Planted these lovely cyclamen on Thanksgiving. I always thought they were an indoor plant when actually they love the cold (which it doesn't say on that tag) and make it through our winters with just a bit of cover when it drops below freezing.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274780730377059410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTUQxzHSaZGtRtH_8saiOpdG-OGcLIWbdTZwIms-f1gdcnB4m7XN0LtEobLeuCcVDLSDkYuWvzY29uPniLmm8gLeaNTGE5RroHwPb3Xpf9Wb4y9Dg4QptqpV-CI5gob-27yan8ptE_Wk/s320/HoxbroCablesFront.jpg" border="0" /> And here you can see I've completed the front of my Hoxbro Cables sweater. While I'm dithering about how to do the collar and sleeves and if I'm going to like it as designed or want to change it, I swatched for another sweater and fell in love.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCDGoOBzs98ZF8dN9wrm_C6Q_EjmVzkhBkZiBJDzLXDsL7s-AU9JzcayxmqRgiAV12ZFix1cNLgo3JcZOTr51FLOXKZaftMTq894zONYGdy0HDRNApaOp7-FLOmwE3MseUKGyLL4FmOo/s1600-h/BFSoloRedSwatch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274780740709840610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 203px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCDGoOBzs98ZF8dN9wrm_C6Q_EjmVzkhBkZiBJDzLXDsL7s-AU9JzcayxmqRgiAV12ZFix1cNLgo3JcZOTr51FLOXKZaftMTq894zONYGdy0HDRNApaOp7-FLOmwE3MseUKGyLL4FmOo/s320/BFSoloRedSwatch.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is Brooks Farm Solo Silk and it is gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Patterned after my favorite cashmere Eskandar. I've almost finished the front already. I'm so bad at startitis, but I do see myself wearing this for the holidays. The color is more of a persimmon red. I had to get a new camera and it's still in learning curve mode.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274791984947092162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vqwA5i7UmyaDgf1NaIUvoPKIVjKoVF4QCRH66FtRMacno4Rtz3Kz5qRmajrhvBMNvgS08giRTjIzW-xugUWVA_1FbJyl7E4O5cTC3-Dg2SB7wKMNWOghQygAhONRPCvLs57R06p81sI/s320/STRGift.jpg" border="0" />And this arrived on my doorstep last week. I was most confused as I hadn't ordered anything from Blue Moon and that's where this big box was from. There was a card inside and a friend, who would like to remain anonymous, said perhaps what I needed was some exciting new knitting in Raven colorways. OMG. There is a Sock Monkey Kit and two skeins each for three pairs of socks and a humongous skein of laceweight, all in Ravens except for the fabulous Brick. I don't know what to knit first. Although I think the Sock Monkey may be calling my name and demanding precedence. What a thoughtful friend! I cried.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>Survived Thanksgiving, thanks to friends. Last Thanksgiving was the day I realized Steven was very ill, although I didn't have a clue how seriously. But it was a normal day with Steven preparing the dinner. Now here we are a year later and he's gone and it's surreal. Thanks to everyone who has called and written to make sure I got through this time.</p></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-63931196015977844912008-11-01T08:07:00.033-05:002008-11-02T21:10:24.560-06:00La Toussaints...All Saints Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUugbec4IZ2r0MO0SKLDCTUY9LpXf-zAxB67l5SbNNkMbwR7kU2LEhpkp_1f9ad7tmMQe8h2L-jYVIHgAAc60SPk13ogjtU77AgWUIPLT5TUsPtQ0JD1ZaLYTcXa7Hr5-H0XyqooxMcRw/s1600-h/DayDead1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263766364761583634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 238px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUugbec4IZ2r0MO0SKLDCTUY9LpXf-zAxB67l5SbNNkMbwR7kU2LEhpkp_1f9ad7tmMQe8h2L-jYVIHgAAc60SPk13ogjtU77AgWUIPLT5TUsPtQ0JD1ZaLYTcXa7Hr5-H0XyqooxMcRw/s320/DayDead1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Today is <a href="http://www.sparealites.com/fo119401.html">La Toussaints</a>. The origin of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints_Day">All Saints </a>followed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls_Day">All Souls Day </a>is quite interesting. The pagan Celts celebrated <a href="http://www.chalicecentre.net/samhain.htm">Samhain</a> on November 1, the beginning of the dark cycle, a day of the year when they believed the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest and communication was possible. The incoming Christians had finally been made aware that their heavyhanded tactics didn't work so well at eradicating the old beliefs, so they took this sacred festival time of the Celts and declared it All Saints Day, a time to honor all the Saints that didn't already have days of their own. In this way, they intended to obscure the original beliefs and dissolve them into their own more circumspect calendric celebration. Eventually, but only in the middle of the last century, the event became an occasion for children in princess and batman costumes to knock on doors and solicit candy on the Eve. The Mexican celebrations for the <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-history.html">Day of the Dead</a> perpetuate the rituals of communicating with those who have passed over. Legend has it that this was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate. Families move into the cemetaries for two or three days, groom the graves with fresh soil and elaborate flowers (cockscomb and marigolds), build an altar with the favorite things of the deceased, food, alcohol and cigarettes, light candles, and camp out with small children and infants sleeping propped against headstones. Sugar sculls with the names of the living and the dead are set out, a way of mocking the powers of the grim reaper.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263766373938245874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLuyRcOGbxMeUey5ocGBu5-D2c0gjIcg9SZqjpTmm1qVJjeAl2RlzavCbLDC5xBT4BGZG8G3DSnmU7vA9VZAbtGCTwnLtH3ka5T3TqMqFG023UVspn5CKNbWTIpbpckX4lZ6d57ePMHU/s320/DayDead2.jpg" border="0" />Breaking the silence, I am beginning to force myself to live in this world again. Before we found that Steven's leukemia was coming back, I had signed up for a 2 day workshop with Sally Melville, along with Susan and Doreen. Thank goodness for that as it was not only good therapy, but an excellent and information filled week-end. Sally is charming and quite the taskmaster. Linda at <a href="http://www.jsyarns.com/">Jennings Street Yarn </a>organized the event most graciously.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263746699283702482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJJpwVR0R3Iwe5dmQ0DAqo6ZbG36SJY3dBfZkvmKSbNxwPNbpk0rcG8cyz9F5r3Js6OpsiVy1RT-i39OTwd9wxbk0FgVvOyxZ3AO1qiZ7y8nmsjEZU0chvd-dkZ9z8_fAD284GPWNbdk/s320/Melville3.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />We had homework:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263768284661678338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhaWmbb38Zc5DpXutCctRWgaBCRo822S_54tA6gcNLtCrMT9wVFUzqO5egd7E3ovKptVfQA0DX8iVice9kO0J9dWjeJyCcgV18-e1VG00f6A6zVc-vTPU74Q1GjY2YYq6d6a5WckdesU/s320/HomeworkSwatches.jpg" border="0" />That turned into bigger swatches (being supervised by Paprikas in lower right corner for scale): <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263748049715763122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCBurm2nSFk01TDOGo3OaI9oeGlCT2956qQuA1wPT0NX4wr86RtwaoLDtliw7UzJUX19tUm2qUJJ8sT40a4bliiE2d_w6AUtUrxHhXXlx4wj-wbOg6WWJQn0xzyWyL_5YeFXSEdHkaUg/s320/Melville4.jpg" border="0" />We learned clever edges and picking up formulas and lovely buttonholes and some colorwork. Along with how to recognize and rescue disasters. By the end of the second day, all of our heads were so stuffed that we couldn't absorb any more information.<br /><br />For a few weeks there, it was impossible for me to knit...or blog. All of my current projects had hospital memories attached. So I dove in and started a very different new project, the Cables Sweater by <a href="http://www.viv.dk/English/default.htm">Vivian Hoxbro</a>.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263746692402889698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArcwU2kdYIkASVH4bWIEN5_etm-DiZ7lwQpx5i2UqHM9gJbUp7kT-2JuTit2Z12nZ5j-sQTAi3h-ch6gSdX57JmO3CqDINQrssRWnhTdyCujj8ODagGSo5akBfGyZxFxNFT5U3y9c_NE/s320/Hoxbro2.jpg" border="0" /><br />The yarn is a DK weight Harrisville Tweed and it knits on sock needles. It might just be sufficiently lightweight to wear in our climate. If so, it is my new favorite yarn. The construction is so fascinating that I've been completely sucked into the project. You knit vertically, then horizontally, then vertically, etc. etc. Each section attaches the previous section and it's exciting to watch the sweater build. The righthand side in the photo is the center front panel and it's awaiting the neckline shaping.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmOtb__gSKRYUBJiXXei968wa9wMhjzlLCdZ4XEwvtLvN9OaaOCa4WaSiQNieTwi8_CVxfQdUQOYjSgPPGoy4o1U3DHIuFE8nunPAd7wl2ouXNPcW8LNoEnsXTZxDeiBhHMw98qWo6_c/s1600-h/HoxbroCables1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263755826239734850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmOtb__gSKRYUBJiXXei968wa9wMhjzlLCdZ4XEwvtLvN9OaaOCa4WaSiQNieTwi8_CVxfQdUQOYjSgPPGoy4o1U3DHIuFE8nunPAd7wl2ouXNPcW8LNoEnsXTZxDeiBhHMw98qWo6_c/s320/HoxbroCables1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Right after the Sally Melville week-end, several Sisters of the Wool made an excursion down to the Ranch to see Lorelei and Sue at <a href="http://www.heritageartstexas.com/store/">Heritage</a> Arts. We packed into my small car, which was the largest we had, and set off for adventure. That backseat looked like a sardine can and they were all knitting! A test drive for Kid n Ewe next week-end.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263745303720041970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeQVizMcFawtt2EX0gabCDrnkrC7HQoXAinmfQB9Z5idcX54TgTv1UMN9hsds8NSteTfcAUI0BuN5SozJd6VmEFl114s15b98tSyvl2bYSSmX-bUWFK4_mIDRZUv5vtKHyE7fsRZwB6k/s320/Carful2.jpeg" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://thedrolleclectic.blogspot.com/">Taya</a>, <a href="http://thing4string.blogspot.com/">Micki</a>, <a href="http://defiantlyblogless.blogspot.com/">Susan</a> and I were glad to return and to introduce Doreen to something new.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263745307613520722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuhD9bzfKvZeBhfjF-yTEbCBcyblF2W-PTTUSUrk_NpiDWoK9p5hETEgxBNM8N73PhsAt0KMN6LnasiWPD7qDlE2tGSocDHChqz9kCoikLWAznsMJ6QGIXyOTMwAhC1pIioRj7DNTPno/s320/DoreenSpinning1.jpeg" border="0" /><br />Doreen and Taya were looking at wheels and giving them a test whorl with Lorelei's input, although Taya isn't in this photo.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263745311629424386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHWnCoJe0wRwGwoIV1QyHSMhc28HPGEWoz-RX10To5hqjnN5MQvzOGqexT3VaX500K6Vi6W6A5p9mVDKRvCQ0v4_ULeKJToCf7Fl6Go3NbSPDto2xWOvrsr0Kc2MWTIuyGFQHhbLfHP4/s320/DoreenSpinning3.jpeg" border="0" /><br />The Beaumont Ranch had taken down many of their famous and very non PC life sized pumpkin characters for a children's party the day before, but they were putting them back out before we left. You saw the pumpkin characters last year so I will spare you, but they did have the coffins in place.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263745306656278226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcWBAOtoOaphDTBZWpl8EwbHhtwkBYiemnOPEmkmr49f31KvM9hl_hJ8JHANgHqmeNZgDg__hAQUsXb81KSWux_iiJ9MxjidP7FwLLBxcDp7AdYhbNMf3D2_OfQjZCOvgdqPT6zXH32E/s320/Coffins1.jpeg" border="0" />All in all, a delightful day with friends. And I always love seeing Lorelei. <a href="http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com/">Celtic Memory</a>, she asked after you. Says you should come to see her in Boerne.<br /><br />While furniture shopping for my father the other day, I bought a small cabinet/bookshelf for myself. It was desperately needed to get some of the books up off the floor. It is Indian. I love it.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263746683582920146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 164px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSqmtV2dHPs2_9IG9KkbmEWNJprJzg4LnUZJWTRAXTC3i7YrhReQkdzN4UlRpP_R5LNdXWjYLNXcgqR5SyD5A7XMoXmvwnX4moWsz_tkfaeEDSGJmx9V5eC7ES8_gLKpleDpDNdhPkz0/s320/IndiaCabinet1.jpg" border="0" />Trust me, that photo was only day one. It is now quite full and organized. A close up here will show you some of the tea bowls I made way back in the Dark Ages when I was throwing pots.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0PU0t5dZiaaC_Mg3yfIRefomvoghpCPMdqSDDgA5KdP6AYQVJKIf3tdzhQKXxhCoaTZlRwG9SD4ObSlQ8w2i3BzkkxBm5MLvyCQGQR-tEnH7IT6lYPCEj8lxMUAnmZr0sDjuhZJIIEo/s1600-h/IndiaCabinet2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263746690247504162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0PU0t5dZiaaC_Mg3yfIRefomvoghpCPMdqSDDgA5KdP6AYQVJKIf3tdzhQKXxhCoaTZlRwG9SD4ObSlQ8w2i3BzkkxBm5MLvyCQGQR-tEnH7IT6lYPCEj8lxMUAnmZr0sDjuhZJIIEo/s320/IndiaCabinet2.jpg" border="0" /></a>So many of you have asked how I am getting along. There has been inertia for the most part, although I'm trying to kick myself in the pants and get going. During a time of grieving, when you sit quietly, your thoughts go back to the beautiful newborn they placed in your arms, the smiling infant, the happy little boy who loved anything mechanical, the bookworm adolescent who secretly took his pet mouse Arthur to school in his pocket, who wanted to ride horses despite his asthma, who loved animals (that loved him right back), who worked in the trade library in the summers as a kid to earn pocket money, who loved walking the streets of the French Quarter where he lived, who married his childhood sweetheart and much later had the children he had always wanted so much, whose childhood passion for computers never waned, who took care of everyone who needed him. Any mother knows that you worry about your children. You worry about their health and their school and their friends and their future. At a certain point, you take a deep breath and say to yourself they've made it, they're good, they've passed all the imaginable hurdles and they are going to be OK. You've raised a strong man with a good family that he loves, a good profession, good health, strong heart, low cholesterol and blood pressure, nothing to worry about, right? You've done your job and now, barring some random accident, you can watch him raise his family and live out his life. What a cruel joke! Or perhaps just downright silly arrogance. We have no crystal ball to predict something so unimaginable as leukemia in such a healthy man, before which we are utterly powerless despite all the wonders of modern science. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Thought I would share a portrait with Steven done when he was about ten. He's the kid with the aviator glasses. His brother wouldn't hold still so the artist, Jana Napoli, threatened and finally painted his bird in front of his nose. David protested and said he would hold still now. The response was, "Too late!" <div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHvdForv2Hr4y1nPLkKs-x_s0SpCfHA7s2rYaRs71qQV2u8kmdYs4VUJgmFrc4JiLHOCiqQM_Jx4rG4v0PGiFKEtXH7XecSLiKXBronJ-s7f9ilzsbriyId4NfXiDP-LOsd54j47nPq8/s1600-h/PortraitCloseup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263746679350129586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHvdForv2Hr4y1nPLkKs-x_s0SpCfHA7s2rYaRs71qQV2u8kmdYs4VUJgmFrc4JiLHOCiqQM_Jx4rG4v0PGiFKEtXH7XecSLiKXBronJ-s7f9ilzsbriyId4NfXiDP-LOsd54j47nPq8/s320/PortraitCloseup.jpg" border="0" /></a> This close-up is from the much larger painting. I'll show you. It was painted for New Orleans and European ceiling heights and is 115" tall. Larger than life-sized. Too tall to hang in any room of my current dwelling except sideways.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL4y-Ht2Fz9r9-lOdsmszGMxWYh0O7tDxY417hfZ-jGdmX6eJVIJs7F9ZMEUF97VmH6fQhsd4G3nXekN_nPrC12EZr_j__Z6DM34lEGDY-6-AG8CJ3fyMNVfW6FIfAyabeW8AD3zDuDY/s1600-h/Portrait4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263745313949562706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 162px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL4y-Ht2Fz9r9-lOdsmszGMxWYh0O7tDxY417hfZ-jGdmX6eJVIJs7F9ZMEUF97VmH6fQhsd4G3nXekN_nPrC12EZr_j__Z6DM34lEGDY-6-AG8CJ3fyMNVfW6FIfAyabeW8AD3zDuDY/s320/Portrait4.jpg" border="0" /></a> Many, many thank yous to all of you who wrote with kind and comforting words. Darn the luck, many of your e-mails came with no way to respond thanks to Blogger. Please know that each and every one meant so much. That total strangers the globe over would have compassion for a family going through such an ordeal ultimately says good things about the world we live in.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-54490101556870529942008-09-20T01:23:00.016-05:002008-09-24T13:43:26.874-05:00On a Beautiful Day in SeptemberFriday was a beautiful crisp day of Indian Summer. Steven lost his courageous battle with leukemia.<br /><br />My heart is breaking. My dear, sweet, loving Steven of the ready smile, my firstborn, is gone. I just want to lock myself in, pull the drapes and talk to no one for a few months/years. Maybe not bathe. We fought so hard. Steven was so incredibly brave and uncomplaining. He suffered everything for the hope of being a father to his children. He asked who would walk his daughter down the aisle? Who would teach his son to change the oil in the car? To be a man? I thought if I hung on tight enough I could pull him through this. The Fates laughed.<br /><br />When Steven was first diagnosed and was sent to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, it occured to me he was born there many years ago. A chill went through me. Though we have lived all over the world, it would be in that same place that he completed the circle of his given days.<br /><br />The day last November when he was diagnosed, I set myself to know everything I could about the disease. When they told me which chromosone showed damage, I knew that it was one of the worst. I knew the statistics. I kept them to myself, not daring to whisper them out loud to anyone for fear of jinxing our meager chances. For two months after the transplant, things looked like maybe, could be, possibly we had a miracle. Finally I dared to breathe a little easier, to begin to hope. Then one week later, disaster struck. My worst nightmare. I had planned to bring him home with hospice care on this same Friday, to take good care of him, to find a way to continue transfusions and buy him a few more days, weeks, dare I say months? I negotiated with Hospice. I pulled some strings. You see, I would take such very good care of him. His brother is a doctor, he would help. I would get him to eat and drink. I would at least delay the inevitable. The rapidity of this ruthless disease's return robbed us of even that.<br /><br />As hard as the last ten months have been, I had so much time with Steven and there are a lot of wonderful memories. That will be a comfort to me when I run out of tears, if ever I do. I just really enjoyed being with him. He was smart and quick and funny. We managed to laugh about the most dreadful things. The many, many, many nights alone at the various hospitals, just the two of us. The few weeks out of hospital he stayed here with me. The countless trips to the clinic in Dallas. No matter what indignity he was going through, we mocked it and laughed. He never complained about any of the horrors he was undergoing. That last trip to the hospital for still another chemo and hopefully a second transplant, knowing full well what was in store, the only complaint Steven had was that he just didn't know how he could take hospital food again.<br /><br />I love that three of his friends came last Monday night to watch the Cowboys game with him at the hospital. They made quite a ruckus and a neighboring family member came to fuss at them and ask "Didn't they know, people are dying on this floor?" Steven found that totally hilarious. He was so exhilarated when I arrived for the night, just happy, giving me a blow by blow on the final winning touchdown. That was a scant four days ago.<br /><br />My Hungarian step-daughters Lydia and Alexa flew in over the last couple of days and they were wonderful. The step-sisters were so good for Steven. Lydia took over and ran the show. Alexa was hit very hard, but we will try to comfort her. My other son David is being a rock for me, but he told his step-sister it feels as if someone amputated his right arm. As you know, there is no comfort really. Just the slow march of time to dull the edges.<br /><br />One really funny scene today, if things can be funny with your beloved son growing cold on the bed next to you. A young man arrived and Lydia sort of "challenged" him at the door of Steven's hospital room. He said he was Steven's brother. Lydia was gobsmacked. She said she was Steven's sister and she'd never heard of him. Evidently he'd never heard of her either. It was Steven's half brother through his father. Alexa laughed at one point and said she had a totally step family. When she married and acquired a step-daughter, she called to apologize to me for how she had behaved many years before.<br /><br />As you can see, it is my habit to handle grief and pain and troubles with wry humor. And scrubbing, lots of scrubbing. Somehow today, in addition to the painful time at the hospital, I've cleaned windows and pitched papers, sorted through Steven's belongings from the hospital and thrown out almost anything that reminded me of those terrible times, gone through mail that has piled up for months, cleaned litter pans, washed sheets and towels, mopped the kitchen floor and various other tasks. I'll keep this up for a while (poor cats, poor house). I may be begging my friends to let me scrub their houses, too.<br /><br />No knitting content today. Knitting has been replaced with the above mentioned scrubbing. But I will add a photo of Steven and his proud mother the day he graduated from university...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247993979961179938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpC0a8B__RHAaNxbYDzGeJDXyrVi1o2-zDYsng_Fgr-fEHhyj8So2NTMFEp7NXZNlAbfVsuiW-xklEBltbu51fmqNMmVhPZViOWDovvuLSN1_Z_ow_WYbocDDEYdXPq6fKAgUzT2t6OnU/s320/Steven.jpg" border="0" /><br />And with his brother the Best Man on his wedding day...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247998861005625778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJ0u5UFL9VxrFGR7nl0aiXfUYdd4DDB94ffQ1LqKiu_pUwa9yA315N2NtlxIUej-aeO4ktEHZLDbl7ALQ-P-pN9sc85j2u4F_kEaFKmTp0TaLHeJ5hAOk2XJ73Tr8JxKbvyfdgGvawlI/s320/WeddingASD.jpg" border="0" />Life was so full of promise then.Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-25370796865219571112008-09-13T01:31:00.007-05:002008-09-13T10:23:25.271-05:00A Truly Horrible, Awful DayYou haven't heard from me in a while. I've been trying to keep up two blogs and Steven's was the more urgent. I've done some knitting.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245390717927167778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaNyJ-nCy-La8WzyO1a4aHhMrjqSI5f3JyhCrUvjul201k9zdnRIjoRCG9vHshVTb1rMOOF_XOl6K752GfzqS4HacNg5i4DnZFqCSDxVnT_t0vr4qAojZv24L9RsJ0tynofux6EDBIRQ/s320/Argosy4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Argosy Wrap is finished but not blocked. Noro Silk Garden, approximately 7 skeins on size 8 needles. Very happy with it, now waiting for a very cold day.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245390724099293186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnn2oXRkrsSk4y7qQlvzndQvH0OfjiFCw_rC9YEwuP1euMvgzc7latJ3U5O33ySf4AlqK32fitd6Dok1gBrEyQOxDd_znXdxNP0z7oajuihaWkO4x5lQIHX6-AmVh0KAoV79vRJthG8k/s320/ArgosyTwo1.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Kay, my writer friend of 39 years (OMG), has been sending me books and books and books to help me through the interminable waits at the clinic and late nights at the hospital. I started knitting a pair of socks for her before Christmas. But my mind and inability to count straight right now won't let me finish the complex pattern, or strangely any socks for the moment. First it was chemo hats, then shawls and scarves. Since I don't see those socks being finished any time soon, I started an Argosy for her since I'm "in the groove". Although the Argosy pattern is different from the shawl, I actually find it easier and more repetitive. Silk Garden again. Aren't Mr. Noro's color choices fascinating? You never know how they will knit up once you start. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245390728648799986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaVxJWjJG43nvRt8JpDObBusbgP5uiRTYURjCqWt8leySGWnvOq-Fm9vvvqANm3ZsslVkcIqZMxK3VrUsK4qP9PwPEHwX-3Zz0utLGtYhD0pUNvAujAqsAr1dCLK1U30KlljKdMTrTgw/s320/ArgosyTwo2.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>The color sequence totally surprised me as I knit the first few repeats. Where is the rusty red, the browny green, the purple, the warm turquoise? But now that I'm twice as far, I'm actually quite fond of it. There is a Japanese expression for this sort of "let the surprise happen" (as in Raku) that escapes me right now (it's on the tip of my tongue), but I'm embracing it. Aha, it came to me...wabi-sabi (represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience).</p><p>So what is awful and horrible about this day? Steven's doctor called and asked me to arrange a meeting with the family. As some of you know, the leukemia came back three weeks ago and Steven has been fighting it with chemo and hopes of another bone marrow transplant. He is actually coming through the first chemo round surprisingly well considering, but a bone marrow test yesterday showed that it hadn't touched the leukemia, which is now 90% of his bone marrow. So no transplant, no more chemo, no options. Lots of tears. A lot of hard decisions must be made.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245390733597018898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JCcYKd9gWaRiodAFRPkn-IZRGiWafty9DSjgpKu80plfi4tPESEXjcfx1LN65dABsj3G1x53ucuSwc0tRfWHaN_2Q_vwBb5053lKEm1xWRvGjw9a5coOazmNHz8xv4iQbJYd51FlqWM/s320/scan20003.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Here is a photo of my firstborn three or four years ago in healthy times. Kind, smart and funny.</p><p>Only fellow knitters will understand. All through the meeting with the doctor, I knitted ferociously, if not correctly, on Argosy. When I came home, I sterilized and refilled the hummingbird feeder at midnight, did some laundry, cleaned cat boxes, replenished the bird feeder, stared blankly at repetitive news of Hurricane Ike on CNN and I actually might run the vacuum before falling into bed, hopefully so exhausted that sleep will find me. It is very strange the things we do to cope. I should have continued knitting chemo hats. As long as I knit chemo hats, I kept Steven safe. He finally told me to stop. How many chemo hats did he need? I should have kept knitting those hats.</p>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-25382493927994528582008-08-16T03:02:00.027-05:002008-08-16T14:30:11.377-05:00A Breath of Cool Air in God's CountryGod's country...that would be Idaho. Four days of breezes and altitude and cool nights and no air conditioning necessary in Sun Valley visiting my friend Marge, the secret knitter. It was wonderful. Here is the view from Marge's terrace!<br /><div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235040375837121602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vPIcJY3nG7dJN9kC68SNYZoNgzQGY-HFjfN0HGSaK0wnI-vLcZq6VoDzu2WFe6H10VJLZMnQBlWHPodJ8kGku7SpiueyrUb1tilradSTfZyS5b_qvphA7WTWztGxpRgc9sdIFeqroMw/s320/SVPonds.jpg" border="0" />And for a bit of kitty content, here is 18 year old Spike being walked on his leash on that terrace.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235025951078940002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVkkbPYX2advic_l1OKTeI-M8je9uS7Ux3UpdBLWAhITw4QFp98aGofYWtfctjP07K0KpbS8hH4PGNpl5l9PFrjDqjntwl5oBVRVw8asRoUDS8bIoDwgvoMjkrV85gzVjyOdW6w1EvGI/s320/Spike1.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The BF and I went for the opening of the spectacular new amphitheatre in Sun Valley, complete with an amazing performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and mezzo Denyce Graves. But we managed to catch the Sun Valley Arts Festival in Ketchum, too. 100 booths of carefully chosen artists from around the country. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235026680142657906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSJYK6uvY_ktrrKqKNkvDLmSXDPU8qw_4EVd7Q8hdZw_E8qhTeE781lcjSDjzF9SWCdSXT4YFnHKeBYRvdv938AQ-yZ18Qe5uexZFol2aRb-yob-n2IoLm3Ncy51xbwGuHKxQmT9BrW0/s320/SVArtfest5.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>How's that for scenic surroundings? It rained for the first time in quite a while that first morning, but the sun broke out just in time.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235026680197665554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91jVOw8WNAppeLQagJyBw1IuBevVoat00TB_c4aB1Ke5Jks5ayfyjtbHq7tprYZWuKvbvj6y-w-BEAKPxpfP6T187flXfR0tZpgt-4-XwW8b43rav-MSR0y1xx7UqXLtQYdjuXK36eso/s320/svartfest4.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Booth after booth after booth of sculptures and glass and wooden carvings and pottery and paintings and jewelry. Strolling and perusing made for an interesting afternoon.<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235026687153521282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNMJkXp3e6jsLg5oXOzkgOi7j8lIhyphenhyphen1jJOBUyudjATjfF7IGzC-nTmkqphvrVy8Cm_E3xKeUZwdGy8SWKrAK3wc5T5cRk6lvSWlZGpzgUgktFy9eS5gTD-HZ3EN6PU7xpFQk0ZXG4KLo/s320/SVArtfestglass.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235027351652322034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-6GdGH0PbafxUgEILHA-Bk8cRoeLKhbPHFph8ibot_zXpzBDax6VuDnA9u5o3y_yzoZwopV5nvg33h2ol3xbCpmgyjfMOI8VrbNdTBwM9s6xr_XJWb9NCctNrbKSzgPFc8QvGu1PWs8/s320/SVButtonPants.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>These overalls were actually a sculpture made from buttons and glitz. Oddly enough, there was little fiber related goodies, just one weaver. The BF snagged a bronze sculpture of two crows sitting on a pedestal. I fell hard for two of the jewelers there from California but didn't make the big purchase, although I'm still debating. <a href="http://www.teripelio.com/">Teri Pelio</a> worked with Hill Tribe silver in stunning designs and <a href="http://www.sallybass.com/Sallysgallery/necklaces/necklaces.html">Sally Bass</a> with a lot of vintage bakelite. Here is one of Sally's necklaces done with shell, peridots set in silver and green pearls.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235033039557222994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P6B0LSxtvBDlCwyyCvWZHoi2Z1a_lEVg5EZ2rOjOxtW4APRNkOgMGRRmAe18Ekkkb77ubTHB0mBVoDIEAdCgkNwtIAL4Cf8IZMR12HFgzBCbUnSlpFunmBQU4mVL0Mb0mvG_LCjGwzM/s320/SVNecklace.jpg" border="0" />The flowers in Ketchum are stunning everywhere. You really feel you are in a Swiss village. The food is wonderful. Jeff at Vintage is so creative, blueberry pancakes and celebrity spotting at Christina's bakery, dinner on the terrace at the Lodge.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrs8LTkyC6dRmLue9hOWHqzOEeM0ouPcz0mCLoFy3eWtMsqimKsD4fhCE6CPk9VsD_rbrzhfcuaWsixSbYX8Z2ffD_sIhOsFiBnvq_qcbq1HSbxtcoYKWDsi1lUwL7MCQVzvCsYyH3sc/s1600-h/SVFlowers1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235027973040939410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrs8LTkyC6dRmLue9hOWHqzOEeM0ouPcz0mCLoFy3eWtMsqimKsD4fhCE6CPk9VsD_rbrzhfcuaWsixSbYX8Z2ffD_sIhOsFiBnvq_qcbq1HSbxtcoYKWDsi1lUwL7MCQVzvCsYyH3sc/s320/SVFlowers1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ljHK0dbAhxBZkgwmHhk1TzS8Ol6cetFQNW-8oclPEE-JhOMiBMaiIcGUBpd9wOupH-QV3W9O7uoF1lwrVPyGt0hfSARZg6luMqLM_vQInzEuWlnXZ2h2z2y4TgdjJLg5PdwxT9Sgf1s/s1600-h/SVFlowers2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235027976716463906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ljHK0dbAhxBZkgwmHhk1TzS8Ol6cetFQNW-8oclPEE-JhOMiBMaiIcGUBpd9wOupH-QV3W9O7uoF1lwrVPyGt0hfSARZg6luMqLM_vQInzEuWlnXZ2h2z2y4TgdjJLg5PdwxT9Sgf1s/s320/SVFlowers2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Hemingway is buried in his beloved Ketchum next to Mary. I'm not sure what the tradition is for leaving coins on his grave, but there are plenty of them.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235027354366186642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9-vBslTPRL8WOI6FaTohJgaepOqBNIGsc42QX5kNsYuUBpeVKpv0lidga-x9a7nCeLriNbhPhYTUR06pQph8tGWTiU-qhcc09xNK1YYwmiMoSlhfiLcG3xtLim_GgN9NkCAyu5_ZgIY/s320/SVHemingway.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>The gravestones are under this little bouquet of trees in a cemetery with headstones dating to the earliest settlers, or possibly passersby who didn't make it further.<br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235027350265700866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzpgOVEPEL7TRpEoWgWlxSQTfw8YZvFi1APS-9QE0HPjur0k05fJv9QYWBh06vm-ebk4HVVbCt1hHfNZJuyPQySGXfXkoBk56ITKuwJgHcEbwDn6ggdJu2RbJS1Q_uV8nTEG4BE75HfU/s320/SVHemingway2.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>One morning we headed out in the crisp of dawn, over the Galena Pass to Stanley just to have sourdough pancakes at the Baking Company. Definitely worth the early wake-up and the drive. For many years, Stanley had a national weather station which regularly posted the coldest temperatures in the country. The weather station has moved elsewhere and there is not much left in Stanley but a few hardy souls, including the two sisters who run the bakery and are renovating an old, old log built hotel there.<br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235027353589720786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nz30TUyZYP_VJ8uZxoMXeuYYR-BHeYmkNJPyeF4getNTDASO1fOCnQTXeFwRE8V-QRiS4r4qy2I5kEZkuKtBlqjbbx0kdHoCut3s6d-W0KEEVU7xNY9oi4YCBBTImsbNisR-Uj3LwYs/s320/SVStanley2.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>We continued up the road, following the Salmon River from it's modest headwaters into full blown raging rapids. Impressive. We stopped at the salmon hatchery project, which I thought would be boring but was anything but. They've been working at it for years, trying to reintroduce sockeye back into the streams and had almost given up. Last year only 4 or 5 made it upriver, the year before 2. This year to date...111 and it's only mid season!!! No one knows why they are suddenly showing up but it is causing a lot of excitement. It was fascinated to watch these big fish, some spotted and some very red, leaping up the series of ladders.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235039138722867682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMUZ7XFmI-k11EhDpr-giDaMSTYcNWdm5kn2R_e5coNHSnipqefBLbgnp5R8BElmc9kdclUGQNq9j01sc1Rk79spYkq_8LfACfowPwnPmN9p1xaUP3bgy6NrsGJM2rDVjR2TaocKhuLE/s320/SVGalenaPass.jpg" border="0" /> We also visited Redfish Lake, high in the mountains, which got its name from the fact that there were so many salmon in it that it looked solid red. No more. Knitters, Nancy Bush is teaching at a retreat there in September at the Lodge. I would soooo love to be there. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235051963619766034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkoDXjOvb3MFhjhgKW4jfEaTIHnr0MjI-6fn5GGEbNtoZTsUQ8lJY71pyzHrwgGnKHOYgc3g514XR-YPxHA0-A0io3XO4ivYhgW-LJhcV-aIWninCNv0gOnhR4yPJu-dRBV50eEZx-io/s320/RedfishLake.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>You may note in both the above photos that the clouds are hanging almost below us in the valleys. Mysterious. A bedraggled group of hikers arrived while we were there. Said they had been pelted during the night by hail for a couple of hours, ripping all their tents to shreds. There is a lot of hiking done in Idaho. As lush as all these photos look, there is a lot of parched, desolate and empty land between Salt Lake City and Sun Valley.</div><div></div><div></div><div>You ask, was there any knitting involved on this trip? Well yes, some. I took two projects, one was <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/knitting_pattern/rivolo-p-113.html">Rivolo</a>, a Little Nothing Scarf from Anne Hanson of Knitspot, supposed to be an easy travel project. Well, I think my knitting was negative on that one. Although certainly not a difficult pattern, I couldn't keep track of it when with people. Think I knitted it back to break even, or perhaps a couple of repeats more on the plane ride home. But the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction in Rooster Rock is beyond beautiful. Love working with it.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235025944464791938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS2uvx-XOr_M-LumvecSSZTUB8ppuVMj01tizzyoce5cSyFrrpw6sMk3NxhQDwEF0wZNnfLDOQj5b_i0ZolL2DGnv2YkZymk7UzZ4Kaui5SlOgAiuLOfnjLrZqv_EI8vzqt6v8YHYCJg/s320/Rivolo1.jpg" border="0" />And then there was a bit of progress on Argosy. I had hoped to find a skein or two of different colors of Noro Silk Garden to add in, but Isabel's in Ketchum has stopped carrying Noro. Darn. Here is the Argosy Wrap with five different colored skeins knitted in, definitely the shawl that will go with everything in the closet.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235025947183845138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNW8a2SOFFH-NiYA0-UY4oqYLaD3E8fE2lOZGOJHk_jgBQmubO9ldK5DFrWx9eoWOcb1oViHwV2z8wBhdLElZvVZK3YQB2Be4vk6CdKU0hjEmAgwewQJ1YTQIoaRRGwuMmOR5N_83OKE/s320/Argosy2.jpg" border="0" />Marge hadn't been into the knit shop all summer, waiting for my visit. We went together and I did allow myself one purchase at <a href="http://www.isabelspocket.com/">Isabel's</a>. A glorious skein of Blue Heron Mercerized Cotton Lace. There is 1000 yards in the skein, enough for <a href="http://pinklemontwist.blogspot.com/2007/02/hanami.html">Hanami </a>or possibly <a href="http://www.knitty.com/issuefall07/PATTmuir.html">Muir</a>. We shall see what it wants to be when it has time to mature in the stash awhile. Marge bought several colors of Koigu to use in a pair of stranded mittens.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSyYn56A1MFN-pUttsZM-pUtpjTH-vs_SKxWt5ogZq4__moQfg8HGfuKkRzESvoPjPTCxSZMagp3_U2xSPhyphenhyphenVeOAipgRhEHEiFq8n10_aGwBl82cFIXSXw8UgFrINFVEURsa7BzrajRE/s1600-h/BlueHeronCottonLace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235025943145643458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSyYn56A1MFN-pUttsZM-pUtpjTH-vs_SKxWt5ogZq4__moQfg8HGfuKkRzESvoPjPTCxSZMagp3_U2xSPhyphenhyphenVeOAipgRhEHEiFq8n10_aGwBl82cFIXSXw8UgFrINFVEURsa7BzrajRE/s320/BlueHeronCottonLace.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />On the personal front, Steven is hanging in there, although there is some concern that the leukemia is trying to come back. They are taking him off all the anti rejection drugs to let his donor's system fight it full out. We shall see. There is finally some hair starting to grow on the back of his head. We are so accustomed to "bald is beautiful" that we will have to readjust. And 89 year old Dear Dad is being basically thrown out by Stepmother so I've put down a deposit on an assisted living apartment for him and am scrambling to set everything up and buy an apartment's worth of smaller scale furniture to move in when the current tenant decamps. Fun, fun, fun. I am so not a shopper.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Sadly, <a href="http://cairokate.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html">CairoKate's</a> brother Robbie lost his battle with leukemia today. My heart goes out to her and her family. I noticed at the Baylor Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic today that they are having a bone marrow donor drive this Sunday at the Highland Park Methodist Church on the SMU campus from 10 to 2:30. It is free and only involves a cheek swab, no blood donation necessary. If any of you have been meaning to sign up, this is an excellent opportunity. We bless Steven's donor every day.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Did I mention it rained yesterday? Totally wonderful glorious rain. I went out in the garden and stood in the rain in the middle of the night. The temps have been down for a few days, although it hit 100F on Thursday. This morning is a frigid 71F with a high of only 88F expected. Just a hint that the heat will be over before too long. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVS1ooSJBlm5bNWNWQ-OlasSSaNruBcnenenQrlUhYyCf_JGl__jCjmHjvREfDEQhd2iD7kRVZgl28AnpYj7HmI9wnOxAM6s7dvHcAdG5RTGjFJEUNq1-cP-dQO6bB_YBaYLgWSDgYdhY/s1600-h/Spike2.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-31594639705789850432008-08-02T05:12:00.009-05:002008-08-02T05:48:46.800-05:00A Shawl of Many, Many Colors...Noro of CourseHow are all of your summers coming along? Not as miserably hot as ours in Texas I hope. Several days in a row of 100F plus temperatures have reduced me to a quivering lump of humanity, emptied my brain and drained my energy. One day my garden thermometer said 108F. The air was so dry you couldn't suck it into your lungs. Then after a couple of rumbling thunderstorms accompanied by a pathetic few raindrops, the heaviness of the humidity made it feel you could drown in plain air. Yes, it's true, I'm not a devoted fan of high temperatures.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Still managing to knit a tiny bit, although holding a lapful of wool is not the most pleasant sensation in stifling heat. But having been totally inspired by a wonderful <a href="http://inahappycamper.eponym.com/Argosy%20Wrap.pdf">Argosy Wrap </a>(from In a Happy Camper) done in Noro Silk Garden draped over a rack at The Shabby Sheep, I came home and tossed out some stash and dove in. I'd been meaning to make this for years, in fact had challenged <a href="http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com/">CelticMemory</a> to join in with me last year. Of course, the colors I had in stash didn't work so well together, so I've actually frogged a couple of skeins back out of it. And since you probably know of my aversion to blue, you won't be surprised that I have removed whole sections of it from the skeins as I knit. In the photo, you see a little ball of extracted blue which is going to <a href="http://blogs.litfan.com/">BookGrump</a>, a worthy cause. It will end up decorating an Amigurumi of some sort, I'm sure.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229869543982776386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcH2E_u9M4lIXFRxngP00JtO_8ZsyM78AdH6hnNlZwpEPRzPzvg2_kwAQLXEXCKpAOTzbqSUbJtBFbkDJ1vfkifWK8_taOJbUXIguY1073AScuRXyaUzqTPwcGnANRi5r14s4idTzv7II/s320/Argosy1.jpg" border="0" />Here is an early photo. I'm double this by now as it is a very addictive knit. I originally intended to use eight skeins, all different. But I couldn't begin to find eight skeins that would work together even after hitting two LYS. Argosy may have to marinate a bit until I can locate another skein or two without blue in them. Or much red. One of the skeins I frogged out was the most beautiful red but it totally clashed with the other colors and finally just had to come out. Stupidly, I forgot to take a photo before frogging all those skeins. It would have made an interesting study. My knitting group was pretty much laughing at me, but I knew it would always bother me, so out it came.<br /><div></div><br /><div>I thought this would be perfect travel knitting for an upcoming jaunt, but it seems not so much. It's getting heavy and a bit bulky, so I need to search for something else to take along. Not boring but not so complex I can't talk and knit. Not heavy for sure (thank you airlines). Seems that all my WIPs are at the wrong point of development to travel. Perhaps one of Knitspot's <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/knitting_pattern/little-nothings-c-13.html?zenid=uhhih3irggcso51e4dp67fc824">Little Nothings </a>in a sock yarn would do the trick (how much do we love instant downloads?). Goodness knows I have the sock yarn for it.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>There will be a follow-up report with my final decision, although around here a decision is never final.</div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-25988509335940539922008-07-22T02:08:00.005-05:002008-07-22T04:07:11.012-05:00Another Year has Passed! Not possible!Where does Time go? Another year has passed and another birthday come and gone. Being born on the Fourth of July has advantages...and disadvantages. First, no one forgets your birthday! And on the other hand...no one forgets your birthday! And for some reason, they want to add up the years and remind me of fleeting time. Good grief, I have to hang around long enough to knit up my stash, OK?<br /><br />Back to the Fourth, I always think of my poor mother having her very overdue first baby on Independence Day, July in a hot climate in a hospital with no air conditioning. Most miserable I am sure. As children, of course those of us born to firecrackers are told all the foll-de-roll is just for us. And I do have great fondness for and fascination with those pyrotechnic displays. Living in Europe for many years, my birthday wasn't "special" in the sense of a holiday. Usually we were already in Monte Carlo for the summer so every day was vacation in good European custom. Someone always gave a dinner outdoors near the sea. We could watch the fireworks competition over the harbor. It was quite different from sweltering in the Texas heat where even tissue thin clothing is too much. Yes, I had a HOT outdoor dinner in my honor this year before going for the fireworks display.<br /><br />My mailbox was overstuffed with birthday goodies. I will stick to reporting only the knitterly ones. Dear thoughtful <a href="http://www.proseknitic.de/">Proseknitic</a> sent <a href="http://www.amazon.com/2-at-Time-Socks-Revealed-Knitting/dp/1580176917/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216716704&sr=1-1">Socks 2 at a Time </a>(which I have been meaning to tackle) and a positively charming little book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Radiation-Sonnets-Love-Sickness-Health/dp/1565124022/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216716610&sr=8-1">The Radiation Sonnets </a>(a loving and humorous look at a cancer patient's ordeal), which I read each night before falling asleep. <a href="http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com/">CelticMemory</a> Jo sent a huge skein of undyed "Stinky" (silk & cashmere???) which is named for its pungent fragrance when damp. Mmmmm, perhaps you shouldn't wear it for walks in the rain? This woman knows how to make me smile. Gorgeous lovely stuff, it arrived with its own delightful clear plastic project bag bearing an impressionistic Parthenon on the front, booty from a recent trip to Greece.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225743770534965842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkE6L7CAqHxLqeLKvy0DwlDNa6OCe_5l_9QysMhyGY5xDY3RQDTixRgvFG3eB0DuM1r6TU9Ou0sgQwSJ_51WBxmPolXzQ4OEUEmEvmiUmZBzR0eiTp9kOrNsDUHSUFSyHaLe-JVwGTsk/s320/JoGift.jpg" border="0" />My dear "old" friend Kay from New Orleans (now Vermont) sent a dreamy skein of QUIVIUT, hand dyed by Mountain Colors!!! Delicious stuff. Kay wanted something special and hunted this down. A <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/knitting_pattern/little-nothings-c-13.html">Knitspot</a> "little nothing" scarf should be perfect for this treasure. And it will be so much fun to go around saying quiviut, quiviut, quiviut...don't you think?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225743780057009522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrr60lvojTgTSkcHfiMHDQ0H9_bpEMZxhubojSaUN8tZgKheyAXGZZLyHrCUwVzpydmkLVc8YW_K1zglAwFCj3wVwjsCzZQ8znY-TQANZUQfirXJPufeh5epqPvZl_azleCxwOptSCeMI/s320/Quiviut1.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>And this lovely wonderful exciting skein is from <a href="http://thing4string.blogspot.com/">Micki</a>'s wheel. I'm sure you could hear me squealing for miles when she gave me this. How sentimental to knit with yarn a friend (and a very talented friend at that) has spun with her own little hands. I've had so many ideas for this. It's just too special for socks so I'm sifting through ideas for shawls or scarves. As the knitters know, this plotting and planning is a huge part of the pleasure of the craft.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225743774881776578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVx3t1Nr2xxdZh2E8sdxsffBJAWbSxR9a2ntAYsT-yOZniDGDP3BQqzT9arx-k6EysuPckNEgpL8bxoT_-vB5OFnT1LTE9SE9vrNynVjAnCJ7-PmM5jWGnoFjtYaql0E6qV-jEDjM7dsM/s320/MickiSkein2.jpg" border="0" />Second son David presented me with an elegant project bag and a sweater's worth of gift certificate from Yarns Ewenique. When I expressed pleasure with his choice of shop, he was quite surprised as he thought I didn't know about it. Now stop laughing. Tried to explain to him that there wasn't a LYS in a hundred mile radius that I (or any knitter worth their needles) didn't know and that his inheritence was going to be yarn so he had better learn to knit or marry someone who does.</p><br /><p>OK, just one non-knitterly gift will show up here, and this because the picture is just so gorgeous I can't resist. My Hungarian Ex and his current wife Betsy sent the most beautiful bouquet of roses. Can't you just smell them?</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225743771286335922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXREl2vgGV-aivPvPfPklvxXjb55I8ITnA6h-wpujSz9GQLEQBWZLzA89ocWzAfRDCwPFpq8EMImC04lFO9Nmjz0FawEZOEikrdlhZRVSlc0Vv7Fp_AQKp4uTsJlG8RAaUGm9Er0-l-ts/s320/BDayRoses08-2.jpg" border="0" />Many, many thanks to all my dear friends who went out of their way to make me feel special knowing how difficult this year has been. I love and treasure all of you. I owe so many proper hand written thank you notes and just don't seem to get there these days. Please forgive me, I shall return to normal soon.<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225743771992474274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQVIk2TPlsfMKHhpwPXcyCwETnJFGrkpCFmUrWZUhLgfSVdOeowq4NQYj8mJQ1jJ86U_Q9X1ui9mPD5qSTm9k8sJAzDeYAsTc4Xb2_NVLNyM9X-jYGJWqb2uvioRvknOOvbxq9LfJ0ZE/s320/TheBluesBkFrnt.jpg" border="0" />And now for the obligatory knitting content after all that yarn pron, here is the front and back of The Blues. This has been frogged and tinked as much as it was knit for one reason or another, usually having fallen asleep on it mid row and doing very creative knitting when I came to consciousness again. It is finally to the point of joining the shoulders, basting the sides, and trying on, hopefully to find a perfect fit. The pattern called for knitting everything in pieces then joining. But I like to use a 3 needle bind-off on the shoulders for neatness and stability. Then I think I will just pick up stitches around the armholes and knit the sleeves down instead of cuff up. For now this will not be a mindless project and it will become bulky and cumbersome, so I shall have to find something else (a new project?) that is simple enough to take on clinic days for the long waits.</p><br /><p><a href="http://www.steverutledgetransplant.com/blog/steves-blog.html">Steven</a> ended up back in the ICU for eight days with a couple of infections. He got out of the hospital again last week and came here since Lisa had surgery on Thursday. He did well for three days, then had a 48 hour stretch of non-stop puking over the week-end. I thought I would have to take him back to the clinic a day early on Monday, but finally the meds kicked in and he was able to eat and keep fluids and pills down, so we waited until today's appointment. It was a tough call to make. He goes from OK to very sick so fast. The good news is that no leukemia has shown up yet in his labs. He is still not producing red blood or platelets, very slow on that and they aren't sure why. Nothing transfusions can't fix for the meanwhile. No leukemic cells...Life is good!</p>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-14508543628090555722008-06-27T05:37:00.010-05:002008-06-27T06:40:10.658-05:00All the News That's Fit to Print, and Then SomeWhere have I been the last month you might ask. On an emotional roller coaster would be the answer.<br /><br /><div><div>First the good news. Steven received an amazingly good report on his first bone marrow biopsy. Donor system 100% of marrow and they don't see any leukemia cells for now. His doctor said it is a miracle. He has put on some few pounds and gone out in public. After seven and a half months in the hospital, a trip to Sam's Club is totally exciting. He is still dealing with extreme fatigue, tremors and unbelievably bad mouth and throat ulcers, but that is a small price for what he has been through. </div><div><br /></div><div>And yes, I am still knitting, sort of. It is more knit one row, tink half a row for the moment, when I can keep my eyes open long enough to do so. I started a Manos pattern, The Blues, in their Stria cotton. It is a lacy wide cropped top which I am hopeful can be worn in Texas in some season. Here is the pattern:</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216518144515355282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8UhGMXDNlN0-RIZ1gk0WQx7af3Sc6RWY6Pdf63UjBN2-tvRtkoh1VimWsswLFIKGhy1GAf4jFOP6_WKSLmiMrvcGXf_ZoA9sRnWrfrJbPvP7QsG4szSIYdYFpdam0T4CE6KmY8Yxjoo/s320/Manos-theblues.jpg" border="0" />And here is the back:<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216518148939428674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEH3U5jYZ62WbgLpWWbfyHBbPlv9_cvSBQt9E2c1Km6sxM2JRdZoXu595GNGwMFgZPrVA-Le5xOk40DZ4SyRf2RvU4SYNFMdIrtku99r0I1g6X_QnNdibKQsQKus_Pd9W_rD_hbMBXQk/s320/TheBluesBack.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>And here is a close-up of the lace:</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216518145362070722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJGNZVWBF_XbLD1j54lGc11JCzKkfawdtz3bGjXKcBa5kn98BuMoD7kLcRVahe0HohKRfAdSslZxX6NrZODXA9p3JkgKaGCj2NRqsGXo-wsECO82G-mMvBIfT6iZI-xMYubzh2hKW5BA/s320/Manos-theblues1.jpg" border="0" />And here is what a skein of Stria looks like when you break it at each knot and hand wind it. Six knots in one 116 yard skein is bloody annoying. Look at that little piece that is not much more than a yard long. Working in all those ends on a lace pattern will not be what I would call amusing. These darn knots, which they cut very short, are the main reason for all the tinking I've done while knitting this.<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216518372578290786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAll4WZdLy3160ueWND1Ve0tboFDqT1qXowS3PKMV1D7ZTrR3spmbRYhCC0Cg2kkZ5TD2CEJCsfXTcO3CCGicBiuu4NNQ6LHzFz40Q3g88ZQU8noKKUwHbvKKI1Zvg9qdAMaL_eomq_rs/s320/StriaBalls.jpg" border="0" />The Manos pattern is cryptically written. A newbie knitter would be very frustrated. I seriously scratched my head at one point, but after knitting and frogging a couple of times, I came up with a solution. Unfortunately at my current slow pace, a sweater which should take only a couple of weeks has required almost a month just for the back. Oh well. I've got to pick up some speed if I'm ever going to use up my stash.<br /><br /><div>What I am really being tempted to do at the moment is make jewelry. Some of you may not know, but I have a background in precious jewelry design in France and Italy. Of course at the moment I'm dreaming more of stringing seeds and glass rather than setting rubies and diamonds. I could make a hundred parures in the time it takes me to knit a sweater, or a pair of socks for that matter. Think I might set aside the knitting for a week-end and see what happens. Of course, I should also be painting the entry hall and the guest bathroom and the cabinetry that was eaten by the Irish Wolfhound Katrina refugee. Though putting my office back in shape should be the priority at the moment. Decisions, decisions, decisions. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Leukemia Society is collecting donations today. I should have taken a photo of the piles of bags on my front porch waiting for pick-up. All I can say is I wish I had managed at least twice as many. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now for the sad news. This week I lost my adored cat Tujagues. He was an Exotic (short-haired Persian) only barely four years old and totally healthy. My friend Doreen, an emergency room doctor, had just come in the house. Tujagues came up to be petted, then walked away a few feet and had a seizure of some sort and was gone instantly. Thank goodness Doreen was with me and she really took care of me as I was simply in shock. And thank goodness we had just gotten the good news about Steven. I wanted to mention this here because of how important Tujagues was in keeping my spirits up these last difficult months. He could put a smile on my face no matter what was going on. Here is the little guy's baby picture and yes, he had attitude with a capital A.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216518142966919602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBWPjYKKuQ2Q6jzHx1HPm4TwDEnwMR8nmEBxuMLy6-BwO3VTlMpuGggBy-qzD6nKDTScJ0ObLTk-b4Z82dR4O5c_vslesjouGyPzipq51Yuqw4u7-CmuktOC_KUEE_VOxNJnekMAe3Aw/s320/Tujagues2mos.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216518153106841106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpDCYynKdgsx42ziAWksKqrOrjRQR0TFDGcah7LCcTr8PwMYjfUYUiqP7t_tQxPTfjVtXt7qf5IJPvZwc7SCrLf5oGUPrnKesaVSYUou-laUwsjaHsVQXoBx_HS3kdWOuKxGXdhRO9fM/s320/TujaguesSW.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com/">Jo</a> called him the Beautiful Bowl Cat. His absolute favorite place was in this Mexican bowl. He was a splendid little representive of his species. It is way too quiet around here without him.<br /><br />There is still a report to be given on WWKIPDay, but that shall come next time.Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-9249254518218024282008-05-09T05:49:00.005-05:002008-05-09T06:06:48.665-05:00Transplant Day!!!!!!!<div>It's Transplant Day! My son is receiving his bone marrow transplant today, which is exhilarating and terrifying. I couldn't sleep. I won't go into details here, but it is all on <a href="http://www.steverutledgetransplant.com/blog/steves-blog.html">Steve's Blog</a>.<br /></div><div>Knitting has been sporadic lately. Basically I fall asleep on the first row I try to knit. I've even bungled Clapotis, which is very, very hard to do.<br /></div><div>I did finish another chemo cap, in a cheerier color of dark red Rowan's Calmer this time. Shedir again, but with a cuff which Steven likes. He's still bald as a billiard, and perhaps this will comfort him through the fevers.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198332698284522434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoM29WjE3-U-RxulKPFXeUJotN_bNCO3TIFXHoaY7VTpUG0nhwTYTgs84IhVW51pjmhYM5NBhATa-K19f36E1-vIkm1-MZriA9kAaw53C9_qWARkPESqhOewobWTjz-pa7H8_JlwI7aCs/s200/ShedirCuff.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>And then there is the anticipation of the next pattern in Sock Madness II. My cousin <a href="http://beautifulknitting.wordpress.com/">MtMom</a> has designed one of these last two patterns. Is this THE ONE? We'll know shortly. I just checked her blog and this one is hers. Way to go, Cousin!</div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-72108644031826041792008-04-10T18:00:00.011-05:002008-04-11T23:13:47.023-05:00RAVELRAISERS...You give, you take! RAVATARS!This is my second post of the day, so to find out what's going on in my normal (?) knitting life, scroll on down to the next one. These photos are gifts to generous RavelRaisers!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187757128388761490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRyDxgHluZx3GeXowwvwutytzqVrQw-iGdS347C0V4_zeAUfTTLo9xsziQZ_Skrh9_U9JYCJ5UngVfmTMmKpvQG8V80pq1uuTbOgCA3kK-EUOLodHPxPoyZ08MJsbFwqQJLha9WfSYeQ/s200/Bassano1.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187757141273663426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUa4ypBnGr42JWH8pA89UiGM5fn3wkZJteamM9HAf3jw56665cKi4yDgJP048tbKp45RkKYq4WXHM8HgFnQCOqvxvXZm5tZJli5FByUSO1FmY4-RMBgGUhHd9t0diZjk71Lq7aLsphyphenhyphend4/s200/CS1.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187758013152024626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKAPisJZuF55LlbOPcsevfXovFkl_f3S0kfMoqVsgDG9uT0MNQT4RAfGUA-UsMDX2jExk031AqW5_RqdAeND27s16FyYlbvRRqRv7DKO7ldbz_5WeYbZfbn_kf2Fgw1-Dv61ZUmg-THU/s200/WomenWashing3.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187757132683728802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo73p_4heVkllBtBdet4q-123xvkAin6YaxFxpXFRZGlRWTbqsLhcnrme-FCcFOxnXidj7_GmWY9wbaUR07ezyU7kR8voJIqlcTa5pBm57bKnbPS8B7ITp2wraHJOyRW9WB1FahgETA8c/s200/Bassano3.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187757124093794178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNF5UyE3afYXyyZGdRkhK6OWCi5KF0YxcbG5MrFIXdb6ltCq5nUmgNdBPZHs2zPdAT4L7Q11JWRKEf0_8BBMOMEzAzTXOnmoUvcguWcFa3aDhQXijy8Wz3fhfXRmpBFKXyqvfh2dHqiWs/s200/Ballerina1.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187757502050916338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJbF7gVC1pflA-Pbu6rmwXJlw7Nxq7-iIoffJ_39S5Ykj6fl-hg-YhLXsE0Vkf7Q65DndwFYhyphenhyphennr_RW1bUpxULaQNOhjJpYB5LkpWrgxaMp-swvk3le3X29_b3wiYHWlUYdp5Ez348XI/s200/Iggy.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187758008857057314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEHDJOJZyC0jAYyP8RAXfpyX8vcBRJ5s-Wp6EaIjPB_Jfba2D4Fraw-Zp7rfkU7dmLD0GUURUMPMTPcHTUED8ab3H1VYcXtjubNe7ziajy0wwQU0p5vD0TEtNUarVyQT1DEFQYR8f5qw/s200/WomenWashing2.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187757502050916354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1gR-eAU5D0e8ReKJVsrg8X-va_moX_Vh2clOTOF9EjxN7XSIfUqVckg_qOX2Bf6ICsvNkJk0ZNVe3ymOoV-dBc0gCeGIDrXPCTmUsfhflP6hyWeiPffBZfpPwF8pH1Wb0WhOrHrJvTQ/s200/Mr.Big.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187757502050916370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf8gPJtwotW61X2kulhFxaHnO83QThrFWZR1rLKNx-5FKVzwxUfxfWUBY8jCZK0RQVgUCj3Gey9gK5cA1AyRcLnXm1FrsmNa1YQZs-1JOxR8ojRsF5GzKLnXOCXoZciozDwLh-PbTlWw/s200/Pirate.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187757497755949026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg_CyXx2NTYOe4PTSadcrPHTg5Kw484VSvYm8QNSytw822P79MZApGracmdJ82KxZowe-gj6CagMMWUAIry3ADXHQyZZFCX33-q50WUk0QNeqO2Z_UvePCkjV037JnaOmvWjiRYISkEQ/s200/Iggy2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu91LPvgXue0re2it0IfxqEYri5OL1cbkoy3ZbRDpiqYDvilz-1S38AQY1Wz24wnoiHNFT2DsIYVKIqelDHCZyr8x8JgXoB2qbUABuSFUiouMTrZgMDyOVGrxx5NiXHYONjlG7Crjdkb0/s1600-h/Cat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187765731208255762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu91LPvgXue0re2it0IfxqEYri5OL1cbkoy3ZbRDpiqYDvilz-1S38AQY1Wz24wnoiHNFT2DsIYVKIqelDHCZyr8x8JgXoB2qbUABuSFUiouMTrZgMDyOVGrxx5NiXHYONjlG7Crjdkb0/s200/Cat.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A0TPMeHgEAh15yW2ii51AZ4i4p8lMkqHIVu22dkXkR8l8D5z4LvtEYUNQrtbk-PMu12unANTwJZawauNVIMhekAulUbQ1kw1-0Hq0yqQhRza3RnuSKUU-3xlLRUdfADdj3FVIM9n1uQ/s1600-h/DayDead2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187759945887307970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A0TPMeHgEAh15yW2ii51AZ4i4p8lMkqHIVu22dkXkR8l8D5z4LvtEYUNQrtbk-PMu12unANTwJZawauNVIMhekAulUbQ1kw1-0Hq0yqQhRza3RnuSKUU-3xlLRUdfADdj3FVIM9n1uQ/s200/DayDead2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5enZECrex_Jsm2mB7T7VyEAQqO8PHLJYd1v9LWdtr3x1B31FwVitaO-QK56LXYj8rrlYh6zLnXoSu-T8uUUjHJkrs3r1Txs3lQA9K9ZO4YeOZ8PlgvWGIK3iWPvkMdWO7uXMByFZQ0nA/s1600-h/WomenWashing1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187759950182275282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5enZECrex_Jsm2mB7T7VyEAQqO8PHLJYd1v9LWdtr3x1B31FwVitaO-QK56LXYj8rrlYh6zLnXoSu-T8uUUjHJkrs3r1Txs3lQA9K9ZO4YeOZ8PlgvWGIK3iWPvkMdWO7uXMByFZQ0nA/s200/WomenWashing1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF59cWbL-ICOmf5ZbUCQTPhzDJUrfS39tzMQwGeLM_ZvJrmlPferWrKEXPxlHgTqr2RSvmS9mXz0H80o2Oderpr_xv9W0pOBf_dkgt3sKMBNmEg_aTaitSesf3S7bxeSjqeoVsgb58bU/s1600-h/Parrot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187759954477242594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF59cWbL-ICOmf5ZbUCQTPhzDJUrfS39tzMQwGeLM_ZvJrmlPferWrKEXPxlHgTqr2RSvmS9mXz0H80o2Oderpr_xv9W0pOBf_dkgt3sKMBNmEg_aTaitSesf3S7bxeSjqeoVsgb58bU/s200/Parrot.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187766074805639474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTu4HCKgIedhVFkyrco_AnUHYDwHVO00cWvIXYSvByqxY0gy3ca1aDIIfHDG7eXHK6mC6DDt7ef6xAV8eFBMa2FmV0-IIEAO_2NWoEsT6JEaMsI_LLpUbQQiookAAXWqh6XIaWVLUNN4/s200/Hanuman.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaIGbYOD-SMJ-0McPt_LldWcaPWASm1DcW4pLwbfy-dUjgtsvTWegj1hd-hpdwmSLBYILsVAwDpMC3oDEeSq10G88dlwqKdFvw40lvALs3zpLy-XXdU1rhayX0MRG0AOlrkVaayI9z2c/s1600-h/Mask5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187759958772209906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaIGbYOD-SMJ-0McPt_LldWcaPWASm1DcW4pLwbfy-dUjgtsvTWegj1hd-hpdwmSLBYILsVAwDpMC3oDEeSq10G88dlwqKdFvw40lvALs3zpLy-XXdU1rhayX0MRG0AOlrkVaayI9z2c/s200/Mask5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWms8rHiwHmhmCuDohQvPHIXw71K1anAxsRhoeGNb_c-Rj-MHL7FCj7lbCa9PWUkc7yKz6PHCZvSgcp7_4u2MAASoYPdn3Hirs8LQOj7cRPiBk31IIhOtKWYhaTmpCiJnObsqWoUh5YU/s1600-h/Mask1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187759967362144514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWms8rHiwHmhmCuDohQvPHIXw71K1anAxsRhoeGNb_c-Rj-MHL7FCj7lbCa9PWUkc7yKz6PHCZvSgcp7_4u2MAASoYPdn3Hirs8LQOj7cRPiBk31IIhOtKWYhaTmpCiJnObsqWoUh5YU/s200/Mask1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHLNkusSr4dFRBeav3mUD_bR31-g-lud6_ToPGzT1VuqnnkHIbiWUocJgJ7fbev0etu5IR26eRy5NL3tyMasHDvGjeX6IY1rcCcSvd3AJRregaZbdTeD0Sy5VlGkQZ663gL6J1gzCB2M/s1600-h/Bassano2A.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187759469145938034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHLNkusSr4dFRBeav3mUD_bR31-g-lud6_ToPGzT1VuqnnkHIbiWUocJgJ7fbev0etu5IR26eRy5NL3tyMasHDvGjeX6IY1rcCcSvd3AJRregaZbdTeD0Sy5VlGkQZ663gL6J1gzCB2M/s200/Bassano2A.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkZdOHxYDqE8cGRvSc0tzl4S2QfxoGJEQyoKiS2gKao34wF3TOJvjVYOM_bKA1WsINJTNKWUQ8vQBw0fKSc8HsmPez4WkkhuWnWdLjLwrfdUmdOvn2NQnRQU_uK94ELmzOyKuoEhnRco/s1600-h/Cleopatra.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187759473440905346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkZdOHxYDqE8cGRvSc0tzl4S2QfxoGJEQyoKiS2gKao34wF3TOJvjVYOM_bKA1WsINJTNKWUQ8vQBw0fKSc8HsmPez4WkkhuWnWdLjLwrfdUmdOvn2NQnRQU_uK94ELmzOyKuoEhnRco/s200/Cleopatra.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhna0wZ_cOmw3uo5CTbysVgpt7VYYr5O4VPUpGnRm1IoNX1StL33RjSX9sUKc5VUfiM2tvqAhNeuFHkW7vtvLQhzPS3rampcOl6J-hPNoQYjxjT5wVO1LT41ioodQYAQy9HNScJyvGi5Y8/s1600-h/csMasked2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187759477735872658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhna0wZ_cOmw3uo5CTbysVgpt7VYYr5O4VPUpGnRm1IoNX1StL33RjSX9sUKc5VUfiM2tvqAhNeuFHkW7vtvLQhzPS3rampcOl6J-hPNoQYjxjT5wVO1LT41ioodQYAQy9HNScJyvGi5Y8/s200/csMasked2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNss1qYohI0ef_8hMeWmjzr-kL9XEuaYPTi8QnR1LKCkcUqdYlf4t0UI9mTVsgy8adsQtjbjyEFHgf9GrVqJMthZyqMQuMnv6U74IxWDmKl9MOGRYJewqqGBtrI6mFBPq2ByrvjJI9ZBM/s1600-h/DayDead1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187759482030839986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNss1qYohI0ef_8hMeWmjzr-kL9XEuaYPTi8QnR1LKCkcUqdYlf4t0UI9mTVsgy8adsQtjbjyEFHgf9GrVqJMthZyqMQuMnv6U74IxWDmKl9MOGRYJewqqGBtrI6mFBPq2ByrvjJI9ZBM/s200/DayDead1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhych5jLeCruUupWMYpp1oszVCCWnqp_PyrtJgecwYX5bMlv5SQnnQ4tMlEAOaPEnI-pWfxPsMwkbOnvdct6sI0fKSvsn69XnjQ4tB8W37nmduLSx8wJAaAjTqn9H6TNccZzzH2Qsp-Z1U/s1600-h/WomenWashing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187758013152024642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhych5jLeCruUupWMYpp1oszVCCWnqp_PyrtJgecwYX5bMlv5SQnnQ4tMlEAOaPEnI-pWfxPsMwkbOnvdct6sI0fKSvsn69XnjQ4tB8W37nmduLSx8wJAaAjTqn9H6TNccZzzH2Qsp-Z1U/s200/WomenWashing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3-yCTldSuqlvllbNH0WRbmWP3lXnMbc0hWAH4VAL87CFLBhqcvEjeofiQUzjk5A9MBdrv_4J6WHkXe8Rmo1T7_n67JMb3S4lI9lUABp35ZGC2V73gkzFrNZyEv2wtK0hL53wB31-7YQ/s1600-h/Ballerina2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187758017446991970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3-yCTldSuqlvllbNH0WRbmWP3lXnMbc0hWAH4VAL87CFLBhqcvEjeofiQUzjk5A9MBdrv_4J6WHkXe8Rmo1T7_n67JMb3S4lI9lUABp35ZGC2V73gkzFrNZyEv2wtK0hL53wB31-7YQ/s200/Ballerina2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q7roATUBJO7LWmWOFvyGbVGyhhdFGz3GcevnmT110DkwCqbF3VK4qovlG8mDv3LwZ86f6V_0QzwRYHd_L1Uwn4ntjlVa5so1TsSUIyN6vBrPgUccWCe6BuxVl55vQphLeVDDvqBwcio/s1600-h/DevilMaskGirl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187757493460981714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q7roATUBJO7LWmWOFvyGbVGyhhdFGz3GcevnmT110DkwCqbF3VK4qovlG8mDv3LwZ86f6V_0QzwRYHd_L1Uwn4ntjlVa5so1TsSUIyN6vBrPgUccWCe6BuxVl55vQphLeVDDvqBwcio/s200/DevilMaskGirl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV1xw0IRa5lX3RWTId57Lq9M4SaI_l-SzE-l2Z1eMXtEU-jdKx6Tmz4Wta0GCQAEzDBX5fef6zD0CglxN4zxyFh_sLHvYt60osipHW19wyVZo20R1xFQofeeE-EIg1Pp2IwBQAv8Bij8/s1600-h/Calavera.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187757136978696114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV1xw0IRa5lX3RWTId57Lq9M4SaI_l-SzE-l2Z1eMXtEU-jdKx6Tmz4Wta0GCQAEzDBX5fef6zD0CglxN4zxyFh_sLHvYt60osipHW19wyVZo20R1xFQofeeE-EIg1Pp2IwBQAv8Bij8/s200/Calavera.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here are some Ravatars which are yours for the taking. All photos were taken by me of my possessions, and you have my permission to use them for your Ravatars. Some are already photoshopped. Others are photos which you may grab and edit for your pleasure. You can take them to <a href="http://wigflip.com/roflbot/">ROFLBOT</a> to add text. <div><div><div></div><div>Artist's works photographed are by Elizabeth Taggart, Jana Napoli (parrot) and Martin Laborde.<br /><div>Please enjoy them and thanks for your donations to Ravelry!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901085778591905639.post-6864849601919314932008-04-10T01:03:00.023-05:002008-04-10T15:59:58.922-05:00Here be ZombiesFinally I was able to take photos of the Zombie Socks! It is a bit sad that Sock Madness closed the first division early because I actually would have finished them in time and perhaps gone through to Round 2, but I'll get over it. Since I like my socks longer and my feet are hardly petite, I am already at a speed knitting disadvantage. Friends made me promise to continue knitting along, but I can do it without pressure while also altering my socks to fit. Not so bad. I've found both patterns that were released so far to be quite attractive, so complements to both the organizers and the designers.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Drumroll</span>.........Here be Zombies!!!!<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZoQrks3eVW-h2JcDwBg3EkOcHPRBzw-_NrhHuMU7NuGrheV9CGr4tgXUhPXbbVFuehl3lvj25jQZ7RESivQPwBesdwKugmi4vKRwK_4iC2vjoydPAKyE4KxqbeoCG_V89QpvCc3YynQ/s1600-h/ZombieFin4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187494250620442290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZoQrks3eVW-h2JcDwBg3EkOcHPRBzw-_NrhHuMU7NuGrheV9CGr4tgXUhPXbbVFuehl3lvj25jQZ7RESivQPwBesdwKugmi4vKRwK_4iC2vjoydPAKyE4KxqbeoCG_V89QpvCc3YynQ/s320/ZombieFin4.jpg" border="0" /></a> To better see the color and stitch design, we have this photo:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSLOqWlTiHtNvrXpxNyS3hfXXmBD0hBvXDzI4Z9KeI7tIbDhaMqWIZOZS349oGAjIF_n74UWh34duvl7rocaBsDgnmWU4lkId4uD5E92T7N_JwtaV0KRMCyBNemnTZrg34msWRczPXYQ/s1600-h/ZombieFin2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187494259210376898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSLOqWlTiHtNvrXpxNyS3hfXXmBD0hBvXDzI4Z9KeI7tIbDhaMqWIZOZS349oGAjIF_n74UWh34duvl7rocaBsDgnmWU4lkId4uD5E92T7N_JwtaV0KRMCyBNemnTZrg34msWRczPXYQ/s320/ZombieFin2.jpg" border="0" /></a> One of my sons gave me the most lovely Christmas present, a rare orchid every month for a year. This last one looks very Zombie-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">esque</span>, don't you think?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyTvaKm4PEqwmjbIRjXCAEQXQZ204cw4zlEA3Og-sm3426s4yVXfOrmNCR4uVJYyJXGJMkbTO5m-XXUQWeY52Jhb4yXZ0VfX5FvvbrWyvjF6rxCweihGjbtTycqMfytDGlp5lYMwittk/s1600-h/Orchid5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187494259210376914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyTvaKm4PEqwmjbIRjXCAEQXQZ204cw4zlEA3Og-sm3426s4yVXfOrmNCR4uVJYyJXGJMkbTO5m-XXUQWeY52Jhb4yXZ0VfX5FvvbrWyvjF6rxCweihGjbtTycqMfytDGlp5lYMwittk/s320/Orchid5.jpg" border="0" /></a> One of my fiber friends is headed to the island of Crete. It made me think that 35 years ago on a trip to the Greek Isles, I had bought several lovely carved pieces of spinning/weaving tools on the island of Santorini. Amazingly enough, I knew just where one was, living in my umbrella stand, most logically. I took photos of this delightful distaff. Those of you who know how many marriages, relationships, transcontinental moves, thefts, etc. that have occurred over these years must share my astonishment that I still possess this little bit of history. The other spinning utensils and old textiles and rugs have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">disappeared,</span> sadly but not surprisingly.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohW_8KYVONrwt9y1Blz8GGAj5FyLvIJmrNzfczkesBwEdEm0kr01e9TW8s7J38MDZ3uj8_udrAI0jHc0fTTl4M5NpMqFZebDYL-AoGlDzobRn9DiU5SHPSY2Z3WCEyI5lhKWQO-JbFA0/s1600-h/Staff1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187494263505344226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohW_8KYVONrwt9y1Blz8GGAj5FyLvIJmrNzfczkesBwEdEm0kr01e9TW8s7J38MDZ3uj8_udrAI0jHc0fTTl4M5NpMqFZebDYL-AoGlDzobRn9DiU5SHPSY2Z3WCEyI5lhKWQO-JbFA0/s320/Staff1.jpg" border="0" /></a> This piece is about 3 feet long, and a close-up of the head will show you the lovely carving, almost Celtic in feeling. Oh yes, it was pouring rain when I took the photos. There is a wooden hook on the back of the head to hold the fiber for spinning.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187494632872531714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wr2w1dJ9ztEMXn6O7xtUrb6OdTBpqt2o1z8FTkHdOpvL4lAVDwWZMOcGiGl-gemyKdygyBbwLYnH3WJPY1HgMrGkh92VEbv3RTI4k8TtW0mz_n92IaNUvn9fcpfWtfr-RyhuOzNVTQI/s320/Staff2.jpg" border="0" />Fun news of the day for fellow fiber fanatics, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ravelry</span> is in the black! Some devoted <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ravelers</span> decided to launch a little fundraising drawing for some pretty incredible prizes (like each prize is an entire stash of yarn or fiber or whatever) and they very quickly raised $30,000 and the total is still rising. Jess and Casey were able to pay off their initial investment and buy a new server. They have put together such a wonderful concept, I hope they will also be able to pay their new employee and perhaps buy some new shoes and premium kibble for Bob! It reminded me that I had been meaning to donate again. And once you donate, you can give yourself a cool new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ravatar</span>. I went into <a href="http://wigflip.com/roflbot/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ROFLBOT</span></a> and created these:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187495298592462610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2Q31HOAxvTDcHorz2gYLWMk34A98mMcFVG4Ni7nuJDMsn88pUAptat-WvUw6P7cHaNjXlvBKXuDQO961DGRmEHxQ-ASW7OTddX1JZWzDTsMI_ExXqWrdyzVuDmWE1MXIfQuoLU44MaA/s200/Ravelraiser2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187495302887429938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT-XklNZ9pQiywmtIb__wzT4Zhz_B0aZ_mlgscDpwFZbc0ZXMesHh8Fyu0BEVI4l84pdYE0FhBfqkY7U-eMI6ijuHd5cGqRoA6Z0SbxC0cvt-KJAIQN0Ysfk0l2VfDnPcOIkyrLMVjsg/s200/Ravelraiser4.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187495307182397266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9ido4u0CqAyhUgYY024VkGOnVG3kYK49czkO4LWvuCBVs1j3ThqAK56JW1vHczJrRbuIwo9FUziFgD6Kz5Xo0FO2J3F3mlkgDk_yw4WvI5cR1ydsAQykXfvP21jP17Ssxc1wf9fJY0E/s200/Ravelraiser.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187495302887429954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2l9F3bHE7JBDDzOkpwI0UEJgP8njLFpo2AUsvISt1YSEcRPpo9ALSR-mHGMgwHCqKs9LdnzDyLFPos0zs1-zm2kH1Hh_V-aAC5tu2I6InFTd3p7wT2DnMnczSNNlO9WjJkI9rc4Fpmg/s200/Ravelraiser5.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187495710909323106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRta_J56MhjcVtEyT2OU3Lk9LPXh9k98LUJ232b9PTvN3fYDyagt7CoTcsz_uBPfMYprNDYixAkmJPJzs3Lz5x3mO1XrliPfITKufhzQrUhT3iroYxA2OHzOKFf-zXNUn2jdJq4ENyRSo/s200/Ravelraiser3.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>All of these were done using paintings of my friend, the Irish painter Elizabeth Taggart. And just for good measure, I made one for <a href="http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com/">Celtic Memory </a>using the most spectacular photo taken by Richard, the bird lover. Perhaps she will make her own, but I couldn't resist.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187495710909323122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5FM7LnLC_NOiEGbxvghWf-NyABUIhJjZ8o0uH7WAi4G6E5hX_pJr0Y7KlObSWIOll0cIVwbX_bjMZT9Ktn6gfXC7KUpR1N1i37eLX3mD2JCtGSqthiOdd2-LZJV_PlyGD4gvt1qADG0/s200/JoRavelRaiser3.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Now isn't making yourself a cool new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Ravatar</span> a good reason to make a donation?</p><p>*PLEASE RAVELRAISERS...These are not mine to give away. I have used these copyrighted photos with permission for the blog. But, I PROMISE I will make more for you and post them tonight!*</p><p>Feeling a bit better. I was laid low for 48 hours due to either food poisoning or some nasty hospital acquired bug. It hit from one minute to the next while I was at the hospital with my <a href="http://www.steverutledgetransplant.com/blog/steves-blog.html">son</a>, who is toughing it out through the latest round of chemo, pretty miserable. I wasn't sure I could make it home, but have survived and things are looking up. I missed knitting night so you know it was pretty bad.</p><p>Knitting is sporadical. I tried to work on the second sock of a Christmas pair for a cherished friend. The complex pattern quickly fried my limited brain function these days. I'm so ADD it has ceased to be funny. After botching a repeat, I tucked the sock away for a calmer day and pulled out an old friend, which I re-discovered in a knitting bag that had gotten squashed behind a larger project bag. My <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html">Clapotis</a>, my very first one, knitted in Lavold's Silky Tweed. I was thrilled to find it (out of sight, out of mind) as it is just the perfect level of mindlessness for my current situation. Quickly memorized, possible to stop in the middle of a row, just what I needed. Already thinking about making another one in Wollmeise.</p><p>It has been quite difficult to finish this post. There is an unbelievable storm going on. The electricity has cut out umpteen times. Just as I save and prepare to shut down the computer, the electricity comes back again so I've managed to finish more or less. I just peaked out into the back garden which is littered with large branches and some broken pots. Think I'll go look out front now. Ooops, there went the electricity again. Fun times.</p>Angelunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333889782201425122noreply@blogger.com4