I Love My Hat

How adorable is this? My "hate-fest" is over! I went to my LYS yesterday and whinned shamelessly about how the hat did not cover my earlobe....(they were kind enough not to point out that I had been told that by following the directions to the "t", the hat would NOT cover my earlobes. They were also kind enough to not remind me that I actually tried on the sample hat, made EXACTLY as the directions stated and it did in fact, not cover my lobes...but I digress). Someone had the BRILLIANT idea of adding a little crochet boarder around the bottom (see it?) and TAAAA-DAAAA my earlobes are now very toasty warm when the hat is on my head. I would have taken a self portrait, but did not want to mess the hairdo with hat head... The yarn is Debblie Bliss' Cashmereino - sinfully soft. I am sure when I wear this in public, Knitters and non-knitters alike will rush to me to feel the softness of this hat..... or not.....but they should. On the other knitting front - I am very excited that: 1. I am almost done with the first sleeve on my Tilted Duster.. Yippee for me... and that tomorrow my friend heather and I start our KAL... a pair of fingerless mits (bum gloves, as my daughter calls them). Purchased some lovely roytal blue kid mohair last night at Knit Wits (the LYS) to go with the yarn I purchased last week.. a sock weight yarn in browns and beige.. the blue really POPS in the contrst.. Heather and I agreed, we'd both cast on on the first....

Above The Clouds

Here is a view off our back deck this morning. I love Fall!! Not sure if you can tell from the picture, but our deck is above the clouds as they float up the canyon. Normally, our view is of a canyon and the hills on the other side.... but today... today we were socked in the fluffy stuff. About 30 min after the picture was taken - we were IN the cloud.... I love it. Its now pushing 1pm. and we are cool, but sunny. I love this time of year!!

I knit up a cute little cable hat/beanie this weekend, only to have been bit in the arse by the karmic forces... I followed directions EXACTLY.. and even after being told/shown a finished hat by Devvy, my LYSO, that by starting the decreases at 5.5 inches from CO, the darn thing will not actualy cover the entire earlobe. *&^%$#!. I used a lovely lavendar yarn from Debblie Bliss (cashmerino) - I think it needs a pompom on top and now a little flower or something to cover one of the first cables I did, but with the yarn in front.. pitty I did not notice that sooner.. oh well. I'll take pictures of it after I am not totally pissed off at it (directing my anger at a knitted hat, how mature!). OK, back to work for me. .. not yet - this weekend i'll be spinning in PUBLIC - at some living history thing.. I don't even know what it is I am going to.. but I said I would do it and it sounds like fun.. so I am in!!

Don't Forget

I rec'd an email today, which contained a Non Sequitor cartoon. The cartoon would not cut and paste into this post, so imagine if you will - this: Little girl sitting on park bench next to older man, who is reading the paper. She says something like "Geez, mister - that's a boreing tattoo, it's just a bunch of numbers." He says "I got it when I was about your age to remind me." She says "of happier times?" He says "No, when the world went mad" - then in the next panel she has her knees drawn in and i tear comes down her cheek..... then:

Please read the little cartoon carefully, it's powerful. Then read the comments at the end, and please - forward it!

We cannot, we must not, ever forget what happened in Europe over 60 years ago, because it could happen again. Anyone, any group, could be the target. It has been said that those who refuse to study history are doomed to repeat it. In this case, those who are attempting to rewrite history are probably planning to repeat it! The hatred is already there, in place, taught to the children from infancy, with promises of glory and honor to those who carry out the plans. Forewarned is forearmed, and I'm doing my small part by forwarding this message. I hope you'll do the same.

In Memoriam

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated .

Now, more than ever, with Iran , among others, claiming the Holocaust to be "a myth," it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.

I can't imagine someone being so ignorant that they think the Holocaust is a myth or that it just did not happen - amazing. Please share, and if you have a tip for how to cut/paste the cartoon into my blog, let me know.

Wise Words

OK, most of you know that I belong to Socks for Soldiers, we knit black socks on tiny tiny DPNs and send them off to Kim, who ships them off to our soldiers. Here are two little ditties that were posted from someone on the group:

First...Do It AnywayBy Mother Theresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful,you will win some false friends and true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.


Second, from the book "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz.

THE FOUR AGREEMENTS

BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS

Find the courage to ask questions and to expresswhat you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

LWAYS DO YOUR BEST

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment,self-abuse, and regret.

(back to me: Amazing hu?? Feel free to cut past and pass on. Try for one month to live by these principals.. Like that church who is doing the no complaining for 30 days thing.. it has taken some months to go 30 days straight without complaining!!)

Red Shirt Friday

If the Red shirt thing is new to you, read on:

(This is an email that has been going around for about a year. I can't verify if the story is true, and have not checked it out via www.snopes.com, but even if the story is not true, the wearing of RED on Fridays is a nice way to show support. Here's the email text:

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together.

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home. No, he responded.

Heading out I asked? No. I'm escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up? No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq , I'm taking him home to his family.

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do. Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers.

We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is. "We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

(OK, a note from me: Today on The Today Show, both Merideth and Ann were wearing shades of red!! Could have been a conicidence. I am wearing RED today and will try my darndest to do so every Friday until they all come home. This is one reason why I knit Socks for Soldiers... they are my little hug from home.)

What's On The Bobbin??

A sort of recent purchase of Louette roving - 100% wool top in "Cotton Candy" - 8oz, think lots of pastels - pinks, yellow, lite oranges, etc. I purchased 8oz and spun away. When the bobbin was "about full", I decided to ply it. I transferred from the bobbin to my "handy andy Andian plying paddle" and then plied back onto the bobbin.

I then transferred said 2-ply on to my niddy-noddy, yielding 117 yards. I look the bag of un-spun roving to KnitWits (my local yarn shop) to weigh it (and buy some mohair roving). Doing some quick math - turns out 1 3/4 oz was used to get the 117 yards of 2 ply. For easy math - lets call it 2 oz = 117 yards; or 4 oz = 234 yards x 2 again for 8 oz = 468 yards of 2 ply from an 8 oz bag of roving. Is that enough to make a pair of socks?? I'll have to get out my little do-dah thing to see how many wraps per inch, but comparing it to sock yarn in the store, i'd say its sock yarn.

I was checking out one of InterWeave Press' "Knitting Daily" freebie patterns and printed out the Summer Shawlette" it looks cute, but I think I'd prefer it a bit longer, say to the elbow. (The picture shows it a few inches above the model's elbow.... anyway, not sure how to make it longer and not screw up the pattern. Any thoughts?? OK, i am off to go spin some mohair and take pictures of cotton candy handspun sock yarn!!

Thank You SP11 & I'm A Sh*thead

OK, First let me say, SP11 Pal, I am so sorry I took so long to post these pictures. Here is a run down on the haul: the book Knit Kimono, by Vicki Square!! I have been drooling over the pictures and can't decide what to make first! The Lindor truffles are now gone. I have this rule (which I broke) that says "You can't enjoy the bounty until you've given a proper thank you" but the chocolate sitting there on the table was too much and I caved. The bath "poof" which you can make out in the picture along with 4 bath/shower gels: Manhattan Freeze, Strawberry Smoothie, Hazelnut Blitz and Italian Parfait!! Some bath salts and bath bombs (the leaf and the fish) If you look left to right, it's the bath poof, a candle and then a little piggie bath scrubby thing. It's got like washcloth grade texxture to one side. Very cute. A piggy note book and piggy shaped note pad, that I have been using to keep track of rows on my knitting - very handy!! the above mentioned candle and little tray for it to sit on. the cutest sheep card ever. On the outside she's got her woolies on, on the inside of the card, along the bottom are skeins of yarn and the sheep is "nekked" (smile). Thank you SP11 Pal - you're the best. Her card said it was for a spa day and some light reading - I'll say!! Thanks again - I love all of it

Hogwarts Trivia - Round 2

Well, I messed up. I was out of town when the snitch was released, making it too late to post my trivia answers to count towards house points. Here are my answers anway:

1. In Deathly Hallows what does Harry step on when exiting his room to wash his cut?

a. A small figurine
b. A saucer
c. A teacup
d. A coffee cup

2. Which two members of the Order of Phoenix came to escrot the Dursleys to a safe place?

a. Arthur Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt
b. Dedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones
c. Dedalus Diggle and Kingsley Shacklebolt
d. Arthur Weasley ad Hestia Jones

3. In order to throw off the Death Eaters, several of Harry's friends take Polyjuice Potion to resemble him and each Harry goes with a different member of the Order of the Phoenix to a different location. Where do Ron (disguised as Harry) and Tonks go?

a. Aunti Muriel's house
b. Tonks' parent's house
c. Kingsley's house
d. Mad-Eye Moody's house

4. At Bill and Fleur's wedding, Harry must disguise himself by taking Polyjuice Potion and takes on the appearnce of a redheaded Muggle boy from Ottery St. Catchpol. He was introduced to wedding guests as Cousin . . .

a. Jimmy
b. Davy
c. Barny
d. Willy

5. Kingsley sends a message via Patronus to warn the Weasleys and wedding guests of the coming Death Eaters. What form does his Patronus take?

a. A German shepherd
b. A lynx
c. A bobcat
d. A coyote

6. In the Half-Blood Prince what drink does Romilda Vane try to give Harry?

a. Pumpkin Juice
b. Elf-Made Wine
c. Butterbeer
d. Gillywater

7. What is the name of the person that heads the Holyhead Harpies?

a. Gwenog Jones
b. Glen Jones
c. Gwenog Smith
d. Glen Smith

8. What tatoo is Harry reported to have on his chest?

a. Blast Ended Skrewt
b. Hippogriff
c. Unicorn
d. Mermaid

9. What color robes do the staff at Weasley's shop wear?

a. Buttercup
b. Magenta
c. Royal Blue
d. Aqua

10. Where do Nicolas Flamel and his wife Perenelle live?

a. Kent
b. Surrey
c. Manchester
d. Devon

the First of 2 posts today

My first post today will be pictures of my Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap - Will you check out the cool stuff that Natasha sent me?? Amazing or what?? I have take two pics of the bag she made (now I want the pattern) - the lining is just as cute as the outside!! The box also included such other goodies as (of course) sock yarn. I love the colors. Fall is in the air here (a brisk 54 this am) and needles to knit the socks up with. Stitch markers in my house colors!! You can't tell from the picture, but there is also a sock pattern, what I like to call "row counters" but muggles probably call "candy" (fudge, if you need specifics); a candle that smells heavenly and a book on knitting tips and tricks. I have not seen this one before and have enjoyed looking thru it. I have mentioned before that I knit for Socks for Soldiers, some of our knitters knit on sock knitting machines (see current issue of Spin Off magazine for cool article on thse machines), anyway, the books has info on the knitting machines. Something I have never really heard of before and now s uddenly - it's everywhere!! In addtion to the swap items for the exchange (sock kit), Natasha was kind enough to send some roving too. I am in love with the Llama she sent.. it's the dark brown in the picture. You just don't know how soft it is.. and while reading my current Spin Off magazine, the next "submit your yarn" due date is 12/01/07, the category for yarn includes camel, and other short hair fibers.. I am really hoping llama falls in this category and am I seriously thinking of submitting the required 5 yards. The yarn is then donated to a worthy charity - so everyone wins!! OK, gotta run - back to work. I'll try to post again later today about my SP11 goodies.