Sheez - time flies

OK, I am not a total dork. I was obducted by crazy hurd of crocheters - who took me off into the hills and made me crochet with acrylic yarns!! They made me eat cheese whiz on saltine crackers and drink grog... or I am a sh*thead who does not realize how fast time flies.

Here is the scoop - I walk out the door in the am to head for a conference. Fun, but lots of work too.

I did receive a killer package from my SP12 buddy and need to post pics. the best part, besides the yarn - she sent me 1.25 reader glasses that are just very funky and cool. I'll do a proper thank you post when I get back.

My fiber swap outgoing package should leave the office today or tomorrow if my helpers follow thru with notes that are left all over the office for them while i am away.

that's it.. more later when things settle down.

Looking for a few Angels

Hi all you (2 or 3) blog snoopers! I have a favor to ask. As most of you know, I knit (slowly) for Socks for Soldiers. We knit regulation military socks from an approved pattern and use approved sock yarns. Some folks want to help, but don't knit socks - or don't like the committement terms of the program - that's ok... but you can still help out.

The care packages we send include beanies (we have a pattern and a list of approved yarns) - we send washcloths - handknit of course; and personal items. Some even donate handmade soaps!! The primary mission is SOCKS - and again - not being snooty, but we must use the official pattern andyarns. Why? Well, and this could be upsetting - acrylic yarns melt - so when a soldier gets "hit" we don't want his handknit socks to melt like molten lava to his leg - or his beanie to melt to his head - no do we??

If you can knit - beanies, washclothes - or donate anything at all (even a few bucks would help) let me know. just email me or reply to the post. Socks For Soldiers is not a political group - we don't advocate for or against the war - we simply want to support our deployed soldiers - regardless of the branch they serve in.

Thanks

Find a Penny - Pick it Up

This is long, but worth the read:

Subject: A PENNY

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spendthe weekend at the husband's employer's home. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway. He was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of her and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. She wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts.

Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

Look at it.' He said. 'Read what it says.'

She read the words ' United States ofAmerica ''

No, not that; read further.''

One cent?'

'No, keepreading.''

In God we Trust?'

'Yes!' 'And?''

And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him.

For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

When I was outshopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient..

SP 12 Question of the Week

Hi there strangers!! It's been a week or so - getting ready for conference, attending conference and the truck load of post conference work... all done in the name of love - the SP 12 question of the week is:

"what's the best thing you've ever received in the mail?"

Hmm, one may think FIBER or YARN or some other thing like that. To me the bestest ever thing I receive in the mail (real mail, folks, not email) are letters from my kids. Specifically, the best mail ever was when my son was in the USAF. He did not have ready accesss to email like he does now - and during basic training - i think they may have been "ordered" to write home!! Anyway, I saved all those letters and cards - to read how he was growing as an adult and realizing the opportunities he had growing up - compared to some of the other guys he was going thru training with - to appreciate - really appreciate something so simple as a piece of pie after a long march - was/is such a blessing. Now that he's in the Army and has access to email - we exchange email, talk on the phone, I visit his FaceBook page, etc. But I got to tell you - the best thing ever is getting a letter from your soldier son - miles away - and sharing his day with you!! That's better than anything - ever!!

SP 12 Question of the Week & Pics

Here is the next edition of the "question of the week"!





I'm sure most of us have a proudest moment when it comes to knitting. A project or technique that you've tackled and completed beautifully. What is your proudest knitting moment??





Hands down - I think my best bet so far has been the Interweave Knits Tilted Duster sweater. It was the biggest project and my very first sweater. I'll have to post pictures.





And on the flip side? What is the one thing that you can't get right? What is that one project that you've never been able to complete? Or that you did complete but then hid away instantly because it was too embarrassing?





Well - this is harder. I guess the one project that seriously kicked my butt and was never finished was the Mystery Stole 3. It was my first lace project and I just could not get the whole chart thing. I'd get the clue and wait a day for the MS3 angel to convert the chart to a written pattern (Excel spreadsheet) and go. I ended up substituting yarn to a non-lace yarn, so I could see the stitches. and then decided I really did not love the yarn for that particular project...so - in the stash closet it sits - all alone and unfinished..



PICTURES: The "pastely" picture of the roving (braided) is from my Fiber of the Month Swap. The roving is called Glass Beach - and my assistant tells me that there really is such a place - not sand but glass - obviously its smooth glass or who would go?? then there is the lavendar "beak balm" and soap - it smells so good. My smart a## husband says "but you don't have a beak" - men, they just don't get it - do they?? The soap smells devine and inspired me to make some soap... what a disaster. Never again! I'll continue to get my handmade soap from qualified soap making swap buddies or the craft fairs... this gal ain't gonna try that again!!

I was gone doing some wine tasting in Napa, then off to a conference - now I leave again in the am for the famous (see the food network) for the Reno Rib Cook-off!! Yummmy for your tummy!! I'll be better at posting - i swear.

OHHH YA: SP12 buddy who spoils me? If you sent me an ecard - It accidentally got deleted (again). It was in my spam folder - and as I was hitting the "delete all" button I did one of those slow motion things "noooooooo - doooooon't deeeeleeeeete thaaaaaat onnnne" and Poof - it was gone. I am so sorry. If you send another, send me an email letting me know to be on the look out for it.

Swap Parcels

See how well I am spoiled? My Hush Hush Handspun Hootinany pal sent me a delightful parcel - as did my Ravelry swap buddy. One swap is spin 4 oz and send 4 oz, the other is just send 4 oz. Now, I take really good notes when a parcel arrives so I can post details.... except my notes are at home and my only computer with internet access is at work... which is why it is saturday at 5 pm and I am at the office.... boo hooo... should be home spinning or knitting.

I'll do my best..First, who could not use a diz?? That's the little wood gizmo in the top picture. You can measure your wpi (wraps per inch) in the notch and use the holes to thread your roving thru when you spin. Also, the wallet card for conversion of wpi to needle size - LOVE it. The handspun is about 440 yards if I recall from memory and the roving is a fiber I am not familiar with - i'll have to google it.... Finally, some tea! The Ravelry swap is a tad different - we just send 4 oz of fiber.. but I got a bonus - a delightful coaster/swatch, a little book made with homemade paper, the picture/postcard and my new fav - the money pen!! Even the pen is felted, not just the body of the monkey!! Thank you to both (all) of my swap buddies.

It has been rather hectic with life in general and with the swaps. I 've mentioned before that i signed up for 3 swaps - not realizing at the time that htey would all be happenig at the same time... so.. here I am - SP 12, HHHH and Ravelry fiber swap - keeping track and trying not to go nuts.

SP 12 Question of the Week

I forgot to include this in my other post.. The question is: have I ever entered anything in a county/state fair? No. and here is the real rub. I belong to our local spinning guild - we have one member who is the pro on all things "fair" related - she takes her Jacob sheep to the fair she knows the book inside and out, etc etc. etc. Even with her loving reminders, gentle prodding and sometims downright scolding - I fail to enter completed projects in the fair. Each year I say I am going to and something comes up. I am out of town the day for forms must be postmarked (i wait for the last minute to do lots of things). I forget or think my project is not good enough. But NEXT year, I'm gonna do it.