Pell-Melling

Me and ANita Loos

2009-02-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

Sometime in the early 1970's I read an article in McCall's magazine about Anita Loos, a playright and author, and her knitted washcloths. I had already read about Mary Martin and her needle point. The needlepoint article cost me money as needlepoint became and still is an obsession and is not cheap! When I read the Anita Loos aticle I thought I could do that for less money and started an obsession for my husband.
Ms. Loos used Knit-cro-sheen held double and I think it was size 5 needles. Since then I have moved to many different threads including organic yarn, and other knit/crochet threads. I knit at least one a year for my husband who loves to wash his face with them. While I spend a fortune on face cleansers he uses a handknit washcloth and his face is a soft as mine. The only problem with the article is Ms.Loos took about 3 hours while waiting back stage and I take a lot longer than that. Of course, hers were mainly in garter stitch while I love patterns. This one has a twisted drop stitch and was a lot of fun to knit.

It is a great stocking stuffer!

Elizabeth Zimmerman

2009-02-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

I had the best of intentions but they still did not prevent me from going astray. My idea of a picture a day is way way behind.

But I do have a sweet and cute and satisfying knit to show you. Many of the knitters in our Meet-up group decided to knit Elizabeth Zimmerman's baby surprise jacket. I had yarn already left from a baby blanket that never was and I was off and knitting. To me it was challenging but rewarding.

I chose to add the optional collar and I am very glad I did. My daughter

searched my stash and found the lime

green cotton. I think the little collar

finishes the jacket. She also searched for an E-bay purchase made last year of a stash of buttons

and found these darling little bugs. The jacket has

button holes on both sides of the front. We are awaiting the birth of the baby still. SO the buttons have another button on the back so they can be removed and buttoned on either front is the Mommy choses.

Who is the Mommy? The office manager for my chiropractor who haas been so pleasant, helpful, and just generally a great person . . and she loved the jacket from the first day.

12th Night

2009-01-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

The Three Kings came and left their presents, a coffee press for daughter, wine stoppers for husband and a lovely heart with cross for me. Now I need a gold chain for it. I hope I don't have to wait for my March birthday!!

I promised photos of my favorite ornaments and here are two. This one is handmade and was purchased at a church bazaar. I admire the maker so much. About 5-6 years ago I took a class in smocking. I fell in love with the look when we visited the China Fleet Club in Hong Kong. I should have known I could NEVER achieve the look the chinese achieved on those dresses. I have three of these ornaments but I just love the candy canes on this one.

John and I were married on December 29
1962 and for Christmas 1963 we were on the road
to California for US Navy orders to attend USC for Safety Officers. While living in Los Angeles for four months we visited former squadron mates in San Diego and even went to Tijuana. I did not get out the Mexican ornaments this year.We returned by way of San Francisco and the Rocky Mountains to Jacksonville, FLorida to pick up our sailboat and tow it to Norfolk for the next duty station.

The little cable car is a fond memory of cioppino, jumping on and off cable cars, the zig-zag street, Horchows and the great market place.

Next to the cable car has to be one of my most favorites. The photo is not the best but try to see my aviator in his flight suit in the almost 50 years ago style. His goggles are adorable and I always give him a smooch as I hang him on the tree.

What are your favorites? I am fascinated by what we put on our trees.

One good memory

2009-01-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

I was photographing the tree for my favorite ornament photo for today when I got a tiny bit sentimental. I got down one of many photo boxes to look for past Christmas pictures. But I found this instead,This is my mother and I in spring 1943 on the front porch of 14 Lenox Place, Staten Island, New York. I know the address so well after all these years because I was taught it and I had it engraved on a locket I wore all of the time. My father was in the south pacific, and my mother and I lived with my grandparents during the war. Mother worked as a secretary in New York. My grandmother told me she knitted and sewed mother and daughter outfits for us, and argyle socks. I was very inquisitive and I think the look I was getting from her had to do with my hand on her knitting bag. I do not ever remember her with a knitting needle in her hands. But she often remarked that she was glad I knew how to knit. She lived her last 35 years in Key West, Florida. It was too hot for knitted wear so I never knit for her. My daughter thought the photo had a scratch but we determined it was the wool hanging from the needle. How thin it seems.

12 Days of Christmas

2009-01-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

I am always amazed at the Christmas trees at the curbside on December 26. My family felt December 25 was the Christ Mass and January 6 was the day of gifts, the day the Wise Men came. They bowed to tradition and we had many gifts on December 25 but always had a special gift on January 6th. I've always enjoyed the tree more after the 25th when I could sit and remember the occasion for each precious ornament and laugh with the family over the silly ones. Since we traveled so much the tree has ornaments from all duty stations and travels around the world.

For years I succumbed to collecting various versions of Father Christmas. Friends and family gifted me with many selections. Soon they were too many and the real joy got a little lost in the abudance. So I pared down by sharing the collection. This one is my favorite, a gift from my daughter. He is about 30 inches tall. I wish I had his coat but I would settle
for the gloves. They are so plush. The little lamb will be a remembrance of the yarn share I have purchased from the Martha's Vinyard Fiber Farm. Every time I looked at him I thought of the newborns growing their coats (my fiber) and dreamed of yarn to be.

Our Christmas was special for the friends who shared it with us. We made topiaries and kissing balls, wreaths and a gingerbread house. I could not help with the house as I was the recipient of the Christmas Cold. I am just getting around again, what a doozy it was. But the house, well the house was just perfect!

Tomorrow I will try to show you one or two of my favorite ornaments of 50 years of collecting. I'll be caught up on my photos and ready for the Three Kings. Would they bring us frankincense and myrrh or even a little gold to help the economy? But no, I'll settle for peace and well-being for you and your loved ones, and for all the peoples of our earth.

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009

2008-12-31T12:41:00.000-08:00

I can not remember being so excited to see a New Year. I read about Carly Simon taking a photo a day to track her days. So I hearby resolve to do so also. I am so not ready to resolve to lose weight or any of the other not kept resolutions I have made in the past.
Norfolk and Virginia Beach, 2 cities so tight together one ends at the same point the other begins, are very much into "Going green" and protecting the environment. The Chesapeake Bay is under a great environmental threat. This year Virginia is buying back licenses from crabbers to help protect the growth of the crab populace. It is just one of many attempts to Help The Bay! So when I saw this sign on top of the storm drain in downtown Norfolk I had to share it.

Very little knitting this season. I am much more into the pattern and the yarn than giving a present. Instead we made topiaries and kissing balls for ourselves and others. We stepped the season back a step or two and enjoyed the reason for the season. It all meant so much more, especially when son and friend came in at 6 PM Christmas Eve. We have 2 children, one 42 and one 44. We have been together every Christmas except one. I consider us very lucky and very much loved.

Today was collards, black eye peas and hopping john. Did you have yours? I have never managed to eat one pea for every day of luck I want. 365 black eye peas is a lot! This year daughter made the meal. Her collards are heavenly and yes, I did eat too much.

Alphabet of me

2008-12-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

this is for Vickie who always tells me, "It's time to post!" I found this and it was a lot of fun to do . . I think I learned a lot about ME!

Accent: I don't think I have one but I got a job as a radio disc jockey because I did not have the local accent.
Breakfast or no breakfast: Love it, eggs with spinach and salsa, oatmeal with fruit, french toast, eggs benedict, yum
Chore I don’t care for: Cleaning the toilet.
Dog or Cat: Dogs for me. we are on our second Rottweiler although I like other people’s cats
Essential Electronics: I use them all but often wonder what it wold be like to give them all up for a wk, esp the tv
Favorite Cologne: shalimar
Gold or Silver: Gold. but my daughter is a silver so I have the best of both
Handbag I carry most often: Vera Bradley in green, it was a gift but I want one in black
Insomnia: no, as long as I don’t drink caffene late or eat chocolate
Job: retired and happy
Kids: 2., one daughter and one son, there were no other choices left so quit
Living Arrangements: Married. 2 bedrooms, 2 bath.
Most Admirable Trait: How can you judge yourself?
Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: my parents were very strict, so my worst was getting so engrossed in reading a book that I did not hear them
Overnight hospital stays: The birth of the kids, havng ankle bones pinned and set, 2 arthroscopic surgeries, knee relacement, rotator cuff surgery, eye operation and stay for rheumatic fever as a child, Whew
Phobias: heights even on the tv make my stomach turn over,
Quote: from Helen Keller, “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish snall tasks as if they were great ad noble.” Wow!
Reason to smile: My husband John can always make me laugh, he really enjoys life
Siblings: one brother who is deceased, I wish I had more
Time I wake up: 6AM every morning
Unusual Talent or Skill: I am so boring!
Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: I don't think there is one that I refuse to eat.
Worst Habit: leting the housework slide to knit, sew, read, needlepoint and on and on
X-rays: Back, Arm, Head. knee, mri of shoulder and knee
Yummy Stuff: Sushi, Chocolate, iced Coffee, creme brulee
Zoo Animal I Like Most: seals, ask John what they sound like. He does a super imitation

MY NEW TOY

2008-09-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

Actually it is not a toy. . .more a lifeline. Walking is still a chore except for short chores and of course, shopping. But this is a dream. It has 21 gears and can go like the wind as long as I power it with my legs. Therein is the key. I have been trying to ride every day. But I have a long way to go to be able to ride with John. I can manage 5/6 miles per hour. . . he can average 18. But I really enjoy it. How it will be when the winter winds blow, I don't know. But I am going o find out.

Some can walk on a treadmill and knit. I can not knit while biking . only drawback!

I'M HOW OLD?

2008-09-17T14:25:00.000-07:00

I have always been delighted when people say " You don't look that old!". But how do you know if they are telling the truth? Age has never bothered me, basically because each age brought new adventures. I also worked for 21 years with a group 20-25 years younger than me, so I never related to my actual age. NOW, suddenly it is time for my 50th year high school class reunion. It can't be!!

I graduated from high school in Morehead City, NC. My father was the commanding officer of the USCG cutter Conifer at Fort Macon and we spent 2 1/2 idyllic years there in Morehead City. While we were there an opportunity came up to become a disc jockey after school and I took it. I also broadcast from a glassed in booth at a drive in on the oceanfront. What fun!! I had a class of only 70 some so I should know everyone at the reunion.

I looked up the top 50 from those days and some immediately made a memory. Some must have been from an alternative universe. Remember 45's? Careful, you will tell your age! So here are some immediate thoughts.
1. Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu), Domenico Modugno-I remember the Bobby Rydell version
2. All I Have To Do Is Dream/Claudette, Everly Brothers-great brother act
3. Witch Doctor, David Seville- drove me crazy
4. Catch A Falling Star/Magic Moments, Perry Como-"put it in your pocket", oh yes!
5. It's All In The Game, Tommy Edwards recorded by some of the greats
6. Return To Me, Dean Martin I can still sing this one
7. It's Only Make Believe, Conway Twitty he never stopped singing this
8. The Purple People Eater, Sheb Wooley-don't play this again
9. Get A Job, Silhouettes- "get a job, get a job" classic lyrics
10. Little Star, Elegants an original do-wop
11. Stood Up/Waitin' In School, Ricky Nelson
12. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands, Laurie London still hear this today
13. Twilight Time, Platters - I love to listen to this one
14. At The Hop, Danny & The Juniors my head starts bobbing with the beat
15. Yakety Yak, Coasters-" yakety yak, don't talkback" more classic lyrics
16. Poor Little Fool, Ricky Nelson didn't think much of him but a #1 hit
17. Wonderful Time Up There/It's Too Soon To Know, Pat Boone oooh those white bucks
18. Just A Dream, Jimmy Clanton not the same one as Carrie Underwood
19. Sugartime, McGuire Sisters be my lil sugar and love me all the time
20. Rockin Robbin, Bobby Day Jackson 5 sang this also
21. Tom Dooley, Kingston Trio - I became a fan of folk music that lasts to today
22. Sweet Little Sixteen, Chuck Berry rockin on the bandstand
23. Topsy II/Topsy I, Cozy Cole what a drummer
24. Looking Back/Do I Like It, Nat King Cole the dreamiest of voices
25. Book Of Love, Monotones - I love this sound
26. Tea For Two Cha Cha, Tommy Dorsey Orch. & Warren Covington
27. Tears On My Pillow, Little Anthony & The Imperials - same with this one
28. Short Shorts, Royal Teens who wears short shorts??
29. Great Balls Of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis could not stand the man
30. Lollipop, Chordettes oh, lolli, lolli, lolli
31. Splish Splash, Bobby Darin - "I was taking a bath"
32. Who's Sorry Now, Connie Francis debuted on American Bandstand and straight to #1
33. My True Love/Leroy, Jack Scott you can hear this on you tube
34. Do You Want To Dance?, Bobby Freeman yes, yes, yes I do
35. To Know Him Is To Love Him, Teddy Bears oh my
36. April Love, Pat Boone- I think we all swooned
37. Rebel-'Rouser, Duane Eddy-don't remember this
38. Oh Julie, Crescendos
39. The Stroll, Diamonds- danced to this many a night
40. Hard-Headed Woman/Don't Ask Me Why, Elvis Presley
41. Shared - Peggy Sue, Buddy Holly and Oh Lonesome Me, Don Gibson

so there are a few rememberances, I know I'll have more, lookup your year and indulge in some sweet memories.

I' m off to go back in time to some really fine days!

Fruits and Vegetables

2008-08-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

A book found its way into my hands 3 1/2 weeks ago. It was put there by the nutrition NAZI that has taken up residence in my kitchen. No that's cruel, she is a newbie nutritionist with all the zeal of a crusader. I had often wondered what prompts someone to become a vegetarian but I never thought it was as easy as reading a book.

My daughter has a number of allergies and food sensitivities. You know, you've heard many speak of "can't eat wheat, corn, dairy, eggs, etc." I am due for another knee replacement in late September. So at one of her friends urging she read "The Swiss Secret to OPtimal Health" . My refrigerator looks like the produce section at the grocery. The coffee pot is unused, the bar is closed and the sugar is out of the house. I have never felt so good. Vegetables that I never knew existed have appeared on the table. Vegetables I never thought of eating raw are now favorites.

My Cuisinart and steamer are almost worn out from all the activity. Wow!. I'll keep you updated on our adventures in nutrition healing our bodies but for now we are all proponents of this approach. More to come.

Knitting, biking and all that jazz

2008-08-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

Greetings,
I truly did not realize it had been so long since I blogged. I guess I had nothing to say!!

I am bringing you today my latest Finished Knitting for Ravelympics. A deadline sometimes is a good thing. It really pushes the finishing. My good friend Cheryl and I decided on Super Bowl Sunday, while we were at a yarn sale, to knit a pair of clogs with the bounty we found. Finally Ravelympics pushed us to cast on. These were so worth it.

The ones on the left are Cheryl's and the ones on the right are mine. I had never felted before but I had the top loader washer. We started at 1030 and finished posting to Ravelympics at 4.

In between I smelled at lot of wet wool but was fascinated as all those lovely stitches disappeared. My clogs are not nearly as bright as shown but it was a very sunny day. Since the photo was taken Cheryl put our clogs in the dryer to felt them a little more and it worked so well. I have formed them to my feet so nicely. It is almost worth wishing for cold weather, almost.

Now I have some lovely Malabrigo that is crying to be a felted bag. I am on my way!!

just a little drink

2008-07-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

It was a happy, sunny, relaxing soak in the pool after a bike ride.

What is that noise?

It had better not be that dog in my Budweiser again!

Tour De France Kal entry

2008-07-09T05:51:00.000-07:00

I am a hostess for the TDF KAL and we were all challenged to enter a contest to tell about our knitting, our cycling or our love of France. What a choice! I found myself dithering back and forth.
So simple but so difficult. I felt I fit all 3 categories !

I cycle and I wanted to knit some anklets for cycling socks for my TDF project. I have a red recumbent 21 speed with 3 wheels due to a balance problem. With my basket on the rear I look like a granny and I wanted to spice it up! My red, white and blue socks will look great. They remind me of riding in Norfolk with all our family on July 4, 1976 at noon as the bells all over town rang out and people came out on their porches to cheer America's 200th birthday.
I just happened to be reading JOHN ADAMS by David McCullough. Mr Adams had been sent to France to lobby for suport of men, money and ships when I found the 1776 yarn by Schoeller Fortissima. It seemed I was meant to knit these socks. The descriptions of the trials and successes with Adams and Franklin , their living arrangements and the language are very much on my mind as the Tour winds its way. It was boggling to read how these men labored to form a government that we take for granted, especially in light of the election soon to be upon us. Our forefathers had never had to think of starting a government. They already had one in the King. France was watching very closely to see how Adams, Franklin and jefferson worked the problems out.
I’ve always had an affinity for France and was very intrigued at the start, I am Irish with a little French. The Breton coast has long been a dream visit. When I first met my Mother-in-law I found she was a superb cook with French cuisine. Many of her recipes are our favorites. An early present from her was my dog-eared Julia Child and a love of spinach souffle.
SO there you are, Not all one option but a little of each. Win or loose, I love my socks, Mr. Adams and French cuisine. Bon Appetit!
And here they are on their way to the frog pond. Everything from the cuff down is being redone..better!

WWKIP

2008-06-14T04:35:00.000-07:00

This is my first knit-in. I truly am excited because like bicycling, knitting needs a bigger audience to introduce people to the pleasures to be found. I have often been accused of being very naive but I do believe if more people would just "try it" we would have happier, healthier people.

However, I am wondering about my mental facilities today. Am I nuts? The smoke from the two North Carolina wildfires AND the fire in the Dismal Swamp are being blown this way due to a change in weather pattern. The temperature forecast for today is 91. The lys we will be at will be in the sun until after 12 o'clock and I am taking a medicine that does not allow me to be in the sun. So I have now applied the third coating of sunscreen. I have an umbrella, a construction-worker sized jug of ice and water and cannot find the fan.

Enough!! We will knit, we will laugh, we will compare yarns, patterns, problems and joys. We will have a great day and show the world (our little part) what enjoyment knitting can bring to our lives. To that end let me share this joy with you . . .

This is fishing lure bag from the Bass Pro Shops in NewportNews. I kept reading on knitting people's blogs about these bags and had to go take a look. I am hooked. See the plastic inside the lid. It is divided, zippered compartments that hold every little thing a knitter needs. There is one on the the other side also. The bags inside are the ziploc style on rings. Extras are available also. I have stored all my circulars in here. But, but, but my hubby found a DOUBLE SIZE, that had a divider in the middle and the bags on the other side can hold dpn's!!! Oh my gosh, I have it all together . . . I will have mine at WWKIP day. Come and see!

Crumble!

2008-06-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

Last night I took my knitting life in my two hands and ripped out my pride and joy. I finally tried on my Monkey sock and it did not look good on my leg! About 25 tears ago, while playing football, I broke my two leg bones at the bottom and completely severed them to the extent both needed to be pinned together, one actually had to be threaded together. Both muscle packages had to be cut to get to the bones and therein began my problems. My ankle swells and bone growth at the site has meant my ankle is very thick from the heel diagonally up to the point where leg meets foot. SO . . unless I have very stretchy yarn I need to increase the needle size as I start the heel flap and continue to the end of the gusset when I will shift back to the smaller needle. And only on one sock!!! I loved the way it looked but the 16 stitch pattern and the yarn I chose did not look good on the larger needles and on the smaller it just was stretched so far it lost definition.

As is my habit there is good news. Now that I know what to do I can return to yarn and pattern and needle selection with much more of a confident feeling. Whew!

So now I am starting over. The color is coffee, in an Austerman step yarn with aloe and jojoba.

There is a tiny stripe of a very soft orange so I have some strong orange reinforcement yarn for the heels. Might as well make a statement for all the time I am taking!

Gosh I love knitting, it's so relaxing. tee hee hee

Bicycling and Knitting

2008-06-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

If you did not already know, we are a family of cycling enthusiasts. John is the only one riding, for now, I SAG, follow behind to pick up the pieces, and Megan remembers with uncanny accuracy, who won what, and what team, etc. She is a repository of Tour de France knowledge.

Yes, it is that time of year again. 14 days of TV and French countryside. I have managed to combine 2 loves by joining, again, the Tour de France Knit a Long. This year I am helping to hostess and assigned a "team" of knitters. We have the name of the Slipstream-Chipotle team, go Argyle! Their jersey is an argyle of orange and blue. Each of us will knit a project during the ride and hopefully finish or at least challenge ourselves.

Since the cycling world was blown apart with scandal last year, Landis, Team Astana, and on and on have created an uncertain tour. The cyclist favored to win this year is ???? This could be great. BUT, just today the great Tom Boonen has been accused of using cocaine for recreational usage. It never seems to end.

If you are interested look up http://tdfkal.blogspot.com/ and see what we are all about. We also have a group on Ravelry. Some beautiful items are planned . Come and join us!

107

2008-06-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

With the heat index, the temperature for Virginia Beach, Virginia today with no wind was 107F! I sat on the couch and tried to enjoy the AC. John was riding in the early hours and all I could do was think of how hot he must be.

Shep is in Miami at a friend's wedding. Megan is in Chicago at NEOCON, a trade show for commercial furniture, etc. John and I went to Dairy Queen, woo-hoo!

Here for your viewing pleasure is the latest photo. Unless it is a wearble I know the part I always want to see is the stitch . . so the baby blanket is a shell stitch (the knit 4 together through the back loop is nasty until my LYS owner showed me a trick with a crochet hook, I bow to your knowledge Sue) and the Clapotis can be see full length on Ravelry, I loved the yarn. One Christmas present done!

Tag I am it!

2008-06-08T08:11:00.001-07:00

While I was busy getting my paperwork all in order for the Tour ( ie, checking teams, reading my team members blogs, e-mailing them, etc) , Cheryl snuck in and tagged me for this meme . so here goes . .

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? I had been working for Navy Federal Credit Union for 12 years and loved it. Megan had Graduated from VCU, Shep was off to DC to work on a masters from GMU, John was playing house husband. I was the only woman I knew whose husband did the shopping, vacumning, washed the clothes and the dishes. Then my knees started to go bad. drat. I bought a 3-wheel bike with 21, yes, 21 gears and rode the Bay Bridge tunnel that fall.

2. What five things are on my to-do list today. I have already dug nut grass from the new bed at about 9 this morning, found the recipe for pork souvlaki, did a sewing job on a new shirt for Megan to wear to Chicago, plan to clear the coat closet of old coats, swim in the pool if it hits 101 again today.

3.Snacks I enjoy, pecans, string cheese, fresh fruit (bananas, strawberries, Rainier cherries,)

Pumpkin seeds, peanut butter

4.Things I would do if I was a billionaire. I have always had a list if things I would do for family if I won the lottery, and things for me were not ever on the list. My favorite was to endow the Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters with one million dollars to pay for bone marrow typing for anyone who wished to donate. A few years ago a young teenager here at the beach died because a marrow donor could not be found, I HATED that. .Make sure every family member who wanted an education had the funds to do so. Now to think for me I would book about 6 months worth of cruises, Panama Canal, Australia-New Zealand, Greek islands, North to Alaska, then get a smaller RV, start touring US and Canada esp. New England. and then go touring in Europe. No 7 cities in 5 days for me. I am a slow tourer. Purchase a home in the FLorida Keys big enough for visitors, and a compound for the summer near John's family in New York, preferable along the Hudson, either side! .

5. Places I have lived. Too many to list. I was a Coast Guard brat, and then a Navy wife. All my life I have moved every 2-3 years until 1968 and I am now 67. I have been across the USA four times on military moves. I have been here in Virginia Beach since then. I lived in Venezuela for a year, the US Virgin Islands for 3 months, and the Phillipines for 3 years.

I am tagging whoever wishes to answer these questions. Most times I find reflections very interesting.

News, news and more news

2008-06-05T09:15:00.001-07:00

I had to take some time off to come to grips with my life. Events, deadlines, family and knitting kept swirling into one another. Lately things have coalesced and I am back into everything again. The next knee operation is for September 6th and the diet is back on BIG TIME!

First biggie for Vicki and Cheryl are the finished projects ta da . . . .

a pure white baby blanket in a shell pattern . . try that with a black rottweiler shedding hairs.

Second is my Clapotis . . I probably will knit another as I would like it to be longer. . . if I wrap I like to really wrap up!! I am adding a tassel to each end (something to fiddle with) and sending it to my cousin in Tennessee for Christmas. I love to think of her wandering out in the morning to check the chickens or cows or just to wander around in my handiwork.

Then finish 2, start 2 . . For me, yes, yes for me . . look Jae, Monkeys . . . at the urging of Suki I tried 2 circulars for my socks vice the dpn's and I am hooked. I guess my old hands can fiddle with 2 needles better than 5. I wish I felt guilty but I spoke with my teacher and admitted how happy I am. She spent a lot of time with me on those dpn's. But she owns a yarn shop and now I can buy all her sock yarn!!

Then in keeping with learning something new each time . . . I will start a fingerless mitt set with a beautifully intricate cable pattern on the back of the hand. I love the colors in this yarn. They glisten like little jewels in the sunlight. This will cast on on July 5 and finish in 14 days, YES, it will

Because I have been asked to be one of the hostesses on the Tour de France 2008 Knit a Long. I am really excited about this. We watch the TDF like some watch the super Bowl, except for 14 days instead of a few hours. We read all the blogs, make charts, eat in front of the TV, etc. Yes we are addicts. (see above for my project) . My team is called Slipstream-Chipotle which if you follow biking sounds like a hot-paceline. Hopefully my knitters will burn up the roads (yarn).

With the Olympic knitting trials coming up. the summer knitting is all in place. Grab your needles and join me!

2008-03-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

So it has been another very busy month . . this is only one of the finished objects, done in time for Easter. I have enough left over to do a tam to go with it. I have fallen hard for sweaters that knit from the neck down. You can check the neck immediately, and at the end check arm length and finished length. For a child very necessary! The photo was taken by my daughter who worried more about color and composition. I wanted you to see the bunny buttons. We found a marvelous side street button store while on a trip to New York years ago. I am so glad I saved them for this. I havemore pictures coming but I want you to take the time to ooh and aah at each one, rather than be over whelmed.

I have a clapotis on the needles chosen for a very casual look. I said I wanted one to go with jeans and large enough to cuddle in on the sidelines of a soccer game. I think I have it.

My very, very good pal is in Germany for a while on a visit. Hi CHeryl, I am hoping you and Rachel are having a super time. Cheryl is bringing home SOCK yarn. Rich told me of the surprise he gave you prior to leaving. What a great husband. Money to enjoy on a vacation just for you, could it be any better than being in yarnland with money.

It's been 3 months?????

2008-02-20T06:19:00.000-08:00

Yes, romelda, it has! You have slacked off for too long. Inquiring minds are asking where are you? what happened? are you ever going to blog again? and the best . . post some photos, NOW!

I began this blog January 6, 2007 because I was using a rolling walker and bored with my lack of mobility. The worry over the future of my knees was getting to me and I needed an outlet. I also needed a hobby. Retirement was on the horizon and did not look at all like what we had planned.

Two marvelous things happened. We won't list the bad things that ensued. I found a correspondent through SP10 who turned out to be a BEST FRIEND. Go figure how a group that had members all over the world had one who lived two blocks away. Do you sense a hand in this other than ours? She also is a nurse who steered me through the medical wilderness I soon encountered and made sense as well as allowing me to use her shoulder. Yes I succumbed to small valleys in the process. An equal marvel (other than a new knee that works!) has been the realization that my sock teacher (who was the subject of a pinstuck voodoo doll after the first lesson) has become a best of friends. How often do you find 2 patient, charming, interesting, individuals who answer all questions, discuss possibilities, and be as interested in you as you are in them. My life has been enriched far beyond what I have to offer in return.

I have also found a little anti-depressant is a good thing. The very small progress in physical therapy and the knowledge that we will do it all again in September look less daunting. I have broken the TV habit, begun to pick up the threads of my life which my husband had assumed for me, started to drive again, figured how to get in and out of my house unaided, (ah freedom) and can look a UFO in the eye without crumbling. I also have the desire to visit the library again. I actually WALKED through a grocery store this week. Poor John can be relieved from the shopping list. I can get quite anal about picking out vegetables and exactly what milk, yogurt, etc I want. John has learned a lot about how to select asparagus, etc. and I have forced myself to learn patience. I love to cook a wide (global) variety of foods and I enjoy it again.

So many of you have been so kind to care and I'd need a REALLY BIG blog post. You know who you are and I have treasured every e-mail and comment. When the motor home hits the road I hope to see each of you and give you a hug for every hug you sent my way. I figure we will be on the road at least a year!! Thank you. I wish I had words to let you know how much you have lifted me up. You are all a wonder!

Alpine Roses

2007-11-13T20:39:00.000-08:00

This is the last item in my last box to my Secret Pal, Julie Schramm, in York, Maine. My own design I call Alpine Roses. The label in the foreground is for the angora "snow" on the mountain. It was angora I used on my daughters outfits . I loved it and hope Clover will also.

Picture Friday

2007-10-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

I think this book came from my Secret Pal...if so, THANK YOU very much as I really like it! I've already put 2 things on the list and I am looking for yarn for a third. WOW!

But this definitely came from my Secret pal! You can tell how much parts were enjoyed by noticing the empty candy package on top. Yes I ate them all and I am proud of it! The two skeins are a hand printed rayon chenille and 2 balls of ribbon yarn. I have so many ideas it is hard to choose. Definitely will need to use stitch markers though so I can use the lovely ones pictured. Lovey green yarn, my favorite color, that I may just fondle and look at. AND the very delectable scented tea lights to warm up the stuffy air winter brings to a closed house. Thank you SP, for a most thoughtful and generous gift package.

This should round out a very busy week. My across the street knitting friend who organizes us all to knit out in public ( we now have 3 different MEET-UPS for knitters) had a friend visiting from Germany and I think I just laughed the week away. She may move here and I can't imagine a more welcome knitter than Rachel. We took her to the Thursday knit-up and she fit right in. She was missed this week as she had to return home. Too bad, because we could have used her Saturday and Sunday afternoons as we knitted prayer shawls for breast cancer patients. This is a real labor of love as each one takes 3 skeins of k3,p3 on and on and on. I would be so bored if it was not for this worthwhile cause. The reason is so compelling that I chastise myself and start another row. Must knit with good thoughts so the shawl will be full of comfort!! Thank you Susan and Sue from my LYS, THE KNITTING CORNER for organizing this.

I did treat myself to a set of pink Denise needles. They really help with the good feeling! We were about 12 of us and we ate pink M and M's, and won pink prizes. Really rewarding work. I also won the door prize, a set of pink and white nylon scrubbies. Love them for a good scrub!!

It's been great week and my hands ache but my heart is full! Happy week-end!

Not a Cat

2007-10-12T06:31:00.000-07:00

I know everyone oohs and aahs over the cat photos but this lovebug, all 75 pounds of her is my rottweiler, Ein Liebchen or Liebe. Dismiss the drool, it's a hazard of big dogs. What I wanted you to see and she would not turn away, is her collar. It's new, bright yellow and from the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and bears the logo, LIVESTRONG. A real eye-catcher and has a very important meaning for us since we have lost 2 dogs to cancer. So look at this sweetie good, she just wants to be petted, fussed over and sit in the drivers seat of the motor home. The intense stare is for the 3 miniature poodles at the next campsite who were allowed to run wild off-leash. Liebe is very disgusted at their antics and huffed at them for their bad behavior.

A bunch of things

2007-10-02T03:24:00.000-07:00

I have so much just stick with me. . . we will be jumping around! This is our new (1995) RV and did we have fun. We went camping locally for a "shake-down" and filled 2 pages of "we needs", "we wants" and "wow, look what they are doing". We also had many lookers at our spit rotisserie set up where we roasted a chicken, a pork roast and a beef roast at the same time. We had a very experienced Girl Scout and a Boy Scout Troop leader along! Camp fire cooking tastes so great, as the roasts cooked we just took a knife and sliced off a piece, added more rub to the spot and keep turning! The French toast my daughter made for breakfast in a 60 year old cast iron skillet over a backpackers stove was from Italian bread and tasted like a custard filling. Many oohs and aahs. Only problem is I am not a paperplate, plastic spoon gal so I am the official dishwasher. It's ok to me as it was a great tradeoff, I just don't cook!
First don't these booties look like they are talking to one another? This set is going north to where US Route 1 starts from my home where US route 1 ends. It's a "lemon".

Wow what a week! We have torn my living room apart and made an Art Studio. When you have 2 ladies in one house who dabble in it ALL, this is what happens. From home made cards, gift wrap, sewing, watercolors, seasonal decor, knitting, needlepoint, scrapbooking,wedding invitations, do I need to say more. We desperately needed a space to create. The living room was rarely used. Since DH retired from military service, our socializing is very informal. So we are very excited. Guests either gravitate to the den or sit and craft, What a life! Photo to follow tomorrow when I flash my stash.

EXERCISE . . I got quite a cramp/strain in my right calf from one hr a day biking and after a rest have restarted at half an hour twice a day. This seems to feel better. CLimbing up and down the steep camper stairs was quite a workout. Lifting my weight was better than a gym.

SLEEP . leveled out at seven hours a night. I do not seem to be able to stay there for eight. Maybe I just need less. I sure did sleep in the RV. It has a queen size bed so it was like home.

WATER . . I have a cup of cappucino in the early AM and only want water the rest of the day. It is true that it is the best thirst quencher. We have great water here at the Beach. I take mine straight or on the rocks. Tee Hee!

NUTRITION/HEALTHY EATING . . The style continues with small variations, mushrooms, spinach or asparagus in the omelet, some type of salad with a protein added and dinner. Well, last night we had Moroccan chili made with turkey and Ten Thousand grains of Sand. I am rediscovering some spices that I really like. This was full of coriander, cumin, paprika, chili powder and fresh lemon at the end. The couscous cooked in defatted chicken broth with some apricots, raisins and fresh parsley was delicious. If only I was Jane Brocket on Yarnstorm you would have great photo but alas, we ate it all.

AND NOW TA DA!

WEIGHT . . another two pounds bit the dust. For the little exercise I can do this was great. The doctor does not want me to lose too much before surgery but I feel fine and I am eating very nutritionally. The camping weekend put back 2 pounds but they should come off quick before they get stuck

JOY TO ME!

2007-09-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

I received 2 of my favorite cards from my secret pal. Hoops and Yo-yo have been my favorites since I first saw them. They can brighten the gloomiest day. These were about FALL ... I got quite a giggle from the first and then the second was a beautiful calm one! I did not know they could be calm and quiet!! My secret pal included the news that she was sending me a subscription to KNIT SIMPLE. I did not know this magazine and of course had to go look it up. I'm excited!! This was totally unexpected and guaranteed to help use up the stash, I hope. Thanks you SP for such a novel idea.

Knitting pictures have to wait . . mostly knitting for secret pal!

Biggest news. . . . drum roll, please! We bought a motor home. Yessir a 35 footer complete with queen size bed, full kitchen with side by side refrigerator/freezer and a bath with shower. Our dream was always to hit the open road and my knees have really delayed plans. SO we will make some small trips here in SE Virginia and tune up our skills. Everyone is excited so we are busy with maps and campground directories, as well as combing the house for all the things we can use in it to cut down costs. Anyone with suggestions? Jump in, because we love help!

Maybe we will see you in the coming months!!

The Week in Review

2007-09-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

Let's see . . . .

Bummer of the week - The Redskins lost. A real downer

Exercise- I biked for an hour each day. Friday my foot and ankle began to really ache and I decided to forgo biking until it stopped. Normally I would have pushed on BUT the injuries and trauma to that leg make me gun shy. Tonight it is much better and I will be back on the bike Monday AM.

Water-Lots of water and one glass of wine this week . . not too bad.. 2 glasses iced tea, no sugar

Weight-I am down 3.5 pounds for the week. I know it is probably water weight but it sure felt good on the scale.

Sleep- I actually got 6-7 hours each night, a real success for me

Relaxation-This was a surprise flop. I substituted knitting simply booties instead. It felt good and I finished them.

Nutrition-first week of SBD, no flour, no sugar, no fruit, no problem

so to sum up it onward and downward. I feel good. Could be that John's cappucino's really can do the trick . . they sure taste good. Come on over, he is a frothing genius!

How to make a Box of Chocolates

2007-09-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

First you scour the LYS's for the ingredients, then you "cook" the ingredients and load the box...

be sure to

label

them

and

add a

cover.

Now what do you think I should do with this???

Conversation

2007-09-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

I was invited to join my daughter and friends at their monthly book club meeting. They usually meet on the beach with wine and brie, etc. but I cannot walk over the dune with these knees. Due to a rain that evening they met at a local Mexican restaurant to discuss a book about the chef of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". Julie Powell wrote a book called "Julie and Julia" in which she resolves to cook all of the recipes in Julia Child's book and do it in one year. I've laughed, winced, commiserated and been astonished that she succeeded. The discussion was almost better than the book. I've missed the exchange of ideas between a variety of ages. We all brought views from different experiences, travels and jobs. They all had an interplay with the occurrences in the book. I have always believed that this cookbook has never-fail recipes because Julia tells you exactly what to do, how to do it, pitfalls and what to do if something does go wrong. We all recommend this read!

Breaking the Fast

2007-09-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

My son sent me the following picture of his breakfast. Like me he has discovered the joy of breaking the over night fast. I have perfected the egg-beater omelet. It's fluffy outer has contained many a good thing recently:mushrooms, salsa, asparagus, spinach, lo-fat cheese. Coupled with a cup of John's luscious cappucino topped with clouds of foam, it slips me into another beautiful day. Early morning on the porch the birds sing, the newspaper even reads better. Shep has found a frozen mixture of black beans, peppers, corn and onions that he uses but I have not found it yet. Yummo! Knitting continues with pictures later today.

Fit to Knit

2007-09-20T03:23:00.000-07:00

Once a week I will be accountable to myself (and you because you are reading this) in order to help track my progress. Please feel free to jump in with any thing you thinks needs saying.

Water . . . Dr. Oz said water makes no difference in keeping your skin healthy, however it is necessary to proper bowel function along with fiber. I have no problem drinking water. Over the past years of trying to find a Diet I could live with I discovered I like water. It satisfies thirst and when you are tired, it often is the pick-me up solution. Also I try water first if I start thinking of food.

Healthy eating. . . I have egg-beaters every morning adding Canadian bacon, or spinach or mushrooms and 2 T. of salsa. Then in 2-2 1/2 hours I need a small snack. Usually 10-15 cashews or pistachios or a slice of turkey in a romaine leaf or a wedge of Laughing Cow Lite in a celery stalk. Lunch is a salad. I love salad WITHOUT dressing. Another thing I discovered looking for a "LIVE-IT" is that drencing my salad with a fat dressing covered up the taste of the veggies. I like the veggies. So, no dresssing or maybe a little fresh lemon or lime or white balsamic vinegar. These freshen up the veggies. I have edamame, spinach, field greens, 1 oz. cheese, 2 oz meat, cucumber, peppers, or any combination of lo-carb vegetables. Mid-afternoon a snack again. Supper has always been the downfall. WOrking and coming home to prepare a meal with no processed food was a B-----! Now it is a lot easier. Megan has gotten us on a healthier supper routine and we are looking for a downward trend!!

Exercise . . . Here is the real bug-a-boo. Walking is out as is any weight bearing exercise for longer than a few minutes. So my recumbent bicycle and I had a discussion. We set up in the living room near the new small TV and yesterday I biked for an hour. Easy to judge as it was the length of the TV show. Not very fast, no resistance, burned 30 calories 12 of which were fat. It's a start. I don't intend to set the world afire right away. Just get the knees moving around and strengthen he quads.

Sleep . . I get up at 6 every morning. My knee, hip and back never let me sleep more than 6-7 hours. I am working on this. Hopefully as I lose weight, I can sleep on my back.

Relaxation . . This is funny as I knit the days away. But watching TV and knitting is not the unwind I think I need. So I am having a 15 minute break every morning and afternoon to meditate. Sit in solitary splendor and concentrate on nothing, clear the mind and let any tension flow away. I did it in college those many years ago and it worked then.

So those are the goals and along with the weight I will report each week.

I am excited. I have 8 weeks to surgery, and the more I can get rid of, the easier the recovery.

Secret Pals

2007-09-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

s-s-s-s-s-h!! It's a secret!! What fun...packages being wrapped, knittery things arriving from on-line orders, shopping around with lists in hand, surprise e-mail cards, and just tickled giggling when some item worked out well!! Whoopee!! And then. . .there are the surprise friends you make from reading blogs. During SP10 I read 2 blogs in particular. One resulted in a knitting buddy who lives 2 blocks away. Some one who comes and spends the afternoon in companionable knitting and "knittip" (that's knitting gossip). We ride together to knitting groups at LYS and coffee shops. How great is that! And then.. there is the knitter I may never meet. I hope to meet her one day but she lives across the big pond in England. Her heart is so-o-o-o big. How big, you ask? Well, she knitted MS3 and sent it to me! I could never have let it go. I just sit and admire the hours of tiny knitting and marvel if I will ever master stockinette!!

My secret pal this year has sent messages and e-cards. They are so much fun to get. Suddenly they just pop up in your mail and you know someone somewhere got up that morning and thought of you. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

My downstream pal is about to be gifted. Because of the surgery in November I decided to get it all together now. The hardest decision now is what to send when. I am a terrible gift person about waiting. Christmas is torture. At 66 I am the first up that morning and I want everyone to open now!! Fortunately My family understands and jollies me around. They take the paper off so-o-o- slowly!

Knitting news . . . the lace socks have gone to the bottom of the barrel. The pattern was distorting because my tension was not dependable!! I am a self taught knitter and picked up some terrible habits. One of which is throwing and it is not conducive to even tension. So I am putting myself through Cheryl's knitting school of "picking". I quess in all the years of baby and childrens knitting I never ran across these lovely patterns that require a certain degree of continuity in tension. The variance never seemed to make a difference and now it does. I am still knitting, booties and some hats and dishcloths.

Knee and general health. . . . the lack of exercise has resulted in a hip spread that is deplorable. My daughter, however has stepped in and shown me the way. SHe is going to lead me to weight loss and better health. I hear my son cheering in the next state over! I have gotten very slack about diet and exercise. I found "Fitter Knitters" and "Diethack". I also used South Beach Diet last year and liked it. These are my tools and I will report every Tuesday after our check in with each other. Megan created a visual to help me achieve my goal. Don't you like my new ME!

WOWEE!

2007-09-01T03:06:00.000-07:00

At my age in life to be nominated for anything is a treat but to be considered ROCKIN" is fantastic!! Thank you Christine! You made me grin from ear to ear! Up till now my chair was the only thing rocking!

Too Funny

2007-08-31T09:38:00.001-07:00

I posted about this TV show and I quess someone had the house bugged. Can't you just see this! Instead of Rhumba, Jitterbug and Samba they could have Socks, MS 4, Baby Booties, Aran Cables, Bobbles and Beads, Mittens, and on and on. Oh my gosh! I hope they haven"t bugged this post!!! AAAGH!

Down Under

2007-08-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

I read a wide variety of books and love books to be recommended to me. I learn something of the person as well as the book subject matter. So it was a very satisfying read to delve into DOWN UNDER by Bill Bryson. It was given to me by my son on his return from his 2 week turned into 8 week trip to Australia. AU has always been my number one dream destination. I got as far as the Philippines and Hong Kong and Japan and Thailand and Vietnam but could not find a way to go down under. Now through blogging I have met some really delightful bloggers in Australia. I am not sure what they would think of this book. At times it is a hoot and at times irreverent but I loved it. Bill B. travels as I like to, stopping at every nook and corner, cross roads and bump in the road. Some people have to stay at the big resort but I much prefer going off the byway. After all, I can stay at the Westin, Holiday Inn, or Marriott here and anywhere else they would look the same. I am glad to say my son took after me and wandered hither and yon on the East coast, met a lot of people and never stayed in a resort hotel. Even rented a camper van and went to a ute round up. He loved AU and wants us to plan a long trip back. So I have marked a number of pages. I may have to see some of Bill B"s little known but treasured spots.

I discovered the source of the sock malady. I knit the lace too loosely. My teacher says I was afraid of it. So I RIPPED it back and started over one needle size down and I love them again. 2 weeks of knitting shot but a great lesson. I also need a better way to hold tension of my yarn. I am trying continental on a smaller piece but this is my usual throwing. Now I look at people's hands while they are knitting. I dislike to knit the last stitch on a dpn especially if it is a purl. It is still very awkward and I fumble as I move the spare dpn into play. Ah well, things to practice. If we were perfect right off the bat, there would not be anything to learn and have fun doing it.

So you think you can knit!

2007-08-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

I feel like the TV show "SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE" where I have a new dance/knitting dilemna each week and succeed or am voted off. Our hostess gave us a tiny set of questions to answer. My knitting projects are tumbling down a black hole and she actually thinks I know anything about my knitting???? SHe has great faith!!

The one knitting accessory I cannot do without is a steel crochet hook that belonged to my father's mother. It is the smallest size and I use it to tink mistakes, a lot of them lately. My latest is a missed yarnover about 8 rows back. I've tinked down to it but cannot get it to yarn over. I also have a lamp by my chair with a great magnifier that helps with the size 1 needles I seem to be always using.

I use to always have a book with me when I left the house. Now I always have knitting. My SP10 pal sent me a sock sized tote and I always have it with my handbag ready to go. If I am off for antyhing more than the day I take about 4 or 5 projects and 2-3 books. ALways a sock, a baby hat, some charity knitting, maybe some yarn I want to start if I get bored or frustrated with the others and always space to pick up something on the way.

WHen I go on vacation I go to relax totally or to go, go, go. It never seems to be halfway. My favroite vacations were trolling around NY city with my daughter visiting button shops, ribbon shops, fabric stores and a tassel shop. She is an interior designer and we had a list of shops to explore. I have two of those tassels in my bedroom now. The other favorite was a trip to Hatteras Island on the North Carolina Outer Banks. We had a popup camper and I laid back, let the breezes blow through and read and read and read, Bliss!!!

A favorite knitting book is impossible. I have so many, all with bits and pieces of paper sticking out marking patterns. I re-read them occassionally and always find something I forgot about. I also write in them notes on former projects or ideas for a future one.. However the Yarn Harlot's book about the knitting rules is so funny I read portions aloud to anyone I could get to listen.

I have to admit I do not know what a pod-cst is or how to get one!

I'm off to bedevil my very patient knitting teacher and the yarnover problem.

Ravelry

2007-08-25T04:14:00.000-07:00

Whew! Ravelry has created a problem. I've been in it for a while, 2 months or so and a little overwhelmed. I had to sit back and decide where to start. I am a slow learner! SO I started cataloging all my books in LIBRARY THING and books started appearing from all over the house. When sock books start disappearing under the bed and baby bootie books are in the bathroom and scarvf books are in the garage, there is an accumulation problem! Now 2 shelves in the studio (ex-living room) hold my knitting books. Another shelf has quilting, needlepoint and cross stitch, But at least I know what I have, bookwise. Next was the yarn. Hey, I only started knitting seriously last November. But then there was some holiday money and the my LYS went out of business and then I discovered I like to touch yarn and cuddle it and it follows me home! I haven't found the authoritative voice to say "bad yarn go back" and so it just comes on in to the house and takes up occupancy! Ooooh, what a lot of yarn and in less than a year. So, Rav has been a big help in making me face THE YARN ADDICTION. I have no idea what I am going to kit with this stuff. Most of it I just like to look at and cuddle. The project page gave me a severe case of the FINISHIES as I faced my worst nightmare. Bag after bag of unfinished (UFO=unfinished and formerly unfound objects) items are not sitting in plain sight and everyone can see. A-a-a-agh there are so many! Enough to cover the top of the bed. So I swore (yes dear reader, I do swear, mostly in 5 or 6 letter Spanish or French but once or twice in American, but not often because everyone knows what you are saying) but I swore not to buy anymore yarn until. . . and I promply succumbed to a skein of sock yarn that I saw knitted up. I never would have believed it would look THAT good, so I just had to purchase. I've 22 UFO'S which I am not going to list, noting the number is embarasing enough. It will be sufficient enough to show them as they are finished. Stay tuned.

Charting A Course, of Course

2007-08-20T03:28:00.000-07:00

OK,OK, all you lacey people with your cobwebby-like threads and your 32 pages of charts, UNCLE. UNCLE. I get it! I started my Lupine Lace Socks and after my initial very wobbly start, I'm cruising. This IS fun! Of course I'm knitting in the round, so my chart is a lot easier (and smaller). I, by no means, am ready for a peacock shawl or a mystery stole. I have however invested in some chocolate brown cashmere for a scarf from the book, Scarf STyle, for Shep for Christmas. Invest is the right word, Wow, is that stuff expensive. That little glob of deliciousness is like gold. I've ripped out the first inch 2 times so the third time should be a winner.

Funnybones

2007-08-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

I have a rare Secret Pal in SP11. She found my funny-bone and it wasn't on my questionairre answers. I love Hoops and Yo-yo. If you haven't seen them go to the Hallmark e-greeting cards and look them up. Their dancing alone can reduce me to giggles. Thank you SP, you were a high spot of this day!!!

I wish you many wishes also!

Dreaming

2007-08-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

Maybe because I have been housebound so long now but my dreams are all of travel. I plan the whole trip and have developed the ablility to recall the dream and continue it. I've been to London and need to continue into the country side. I've begun the trip to Australia but the long plane ride has me a little weary. Maybe a boat! I found this little quiz and might need to start the trip to Ireland/Scotland. Ater all, Christina can tell me about the Hebrides when she returns. I've only been on one pub crawl.

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions.
You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

BUT. . . .

I could not decide which answers I liked best ...so here is the second set

You Belong in London

You belong in London, but you belong in many cities... Hong Kong, San Francisco, Sidney. You fit in almost anywhere.
And London is diverse and international enough to satisfy many of your tastes. From curry to Shakespeare, London (almost) has it all!

What European City Do You Belong In?

Photos

2007-08-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a blog (http://yarnstorm.blogs.com/} for 6 months or so for sheer delight in her photography. She can make the simplest cupcake or flower into a bright spot of joy. I have tried to emulate her photos but her writing and photography skills leave me by the side of the road admiring. I offer this one photo in homage. Thank you, Yarnstorm, you brighten my days.

John and Liebe to the races

2007-08-06T16:03:00.001-07:00

The family that spent three weeks glued to the TV and the Tour de France got a chance to go to THE race. The dad, John, is on a bicycle race team, The Fat Frogs. His team was in the running for a state wide Best All Around Team award, so all team members had to race to earn points. .John raced in a time trial for over 70 year olds. The daughter Megan, the rottweiler Liebe and the mom, me, had to go to cheer on the Dad!. It was really hot so we stayed near the car to turn on the AC if needed.

Liebe was quite composed until Dad came in and won a Silver medal. Go Dad!! Can't you see the expression "that's my Dad" and the rapt attention in the pose. Then we went home and Dad celebrated. Liebe is in her guard Dad position. Please note medal on chest! What a day at the races! No illegal substances were consumed, no blood was injected but some beer was definitely enjoyed!!

Lizzie's bits!

2007-08-06T15:17:00.000-07:00

This adorable little hat is for a 4 year old friend of ours. It was great fun to knit out of Tahki Cotton Classic. I seem to make all my hats for her but she loves them... so Lizzie's bits!

Secret Pal 11

2007-08-03T19:50:00.000-07:00

Here we go again! The last was so much fun! I've updated the answers to the questionairre but feel free to ask away!

1. I've been knitting off and on for 35 years mostly in worsted and baby yarn. I am amazed at all the new yarns and am having fun trying them out. I want to try bamboo, linen, cashmere, etc. I am not too keen on fuzzy frou-frou yarns. I like a more natural look.
2. I store my circulars in top-loading plastic sleeves in a small 3-ring binder. My dpns are in plastic bags and my regular needles in a vase.
3. I taught myself when I was pregnant with my first child; ripple afghans, baby hats, a romper set. I knitted for friends children but never for me. Now I'm looking forward to knitting for me. I consider myself a very enthusiastic intermediate with ambitions! I took a class and made my first pair of socks. Now I have signed up to make a pair of lace patterned socks. I would like to make a pair of monkey socks.
4.I do have an Amazon wish list but I would read anything on knitting. Can a knitting library be too big?
5.My favorite scents are floras but no rose. I also like citrus but no WHITE LINEN. I love garden flowers, freesias, lavender, geraniums, carnations,
6. I have never met a chocolate or toffee I did not like.
7.I quilt, sew, do needlepoint, dabble in stamping, etc. for home made cards, and I've made Japanese ornaments, I have never had any desire to spin or dye as I do not think I have the eye for it or the patience
8. I've very eclectic tastes, from folk music to the classics. I own original Leadbelly, Weavers, Miriam Makeba and have Sting, Chris Isaak, a little Bohemian Rhapsody, Irish folk music, Andrea Bocelli, Yo-Yo Ma, etc. To get my children to listen to our music I had to listen to theirs and it continues through to today, I recently watched ROck STar Supernova and was entranced. Good music is good music whatever the genre.
9. I love greens, Shabby Chic Pastels, pewter gray, stark black, lots of colors, happy colors, except I am not fond of oranges or neon's
10.I've been married 44 years and 8 months. I was a service brat and a military wife, 2 children, daughter 41 who is an interior designer of high end residential/ commercial, and a son 39 who can make a computer do somersaults. We have a rottweiler, and all are active in fund raising for Cancer research as we have lost 2 dear pets to cancer and many family members.
11. I love hats, scarf, mittens, I want to knit a fingerless pair, but no ponchos. I am a heavier woman and ponchos look like tents!
12. It seems I like to knit anything I see that I like. I love pattern and color. I would like to learn to do entrelac and try mitered corners.
13. see the above post, I try to knit a hat a month for charity . I knit mostly for others as I like to make others smile and be happy.
14.Yes, isn't it nice that someone would want to make something for you!
15. Most of what I have is old plastic, or metal. I have used the bamboo circulars and like them. I understand new needles in aluminum have very sharp points and I would like to try them. I have 2 pairs of Addi turbos . I like to have 6”metal dpns for socks
16. No I guess I sure get one though.
17.My oldest UFO is a sweater over 10 years old for son who informed me sweaters are too hot. I am frogging it to make it into a scarf for him now.
18.Christmas is always a favorite and we do celebrate 12th night with a gift to remember the Gifts of the Magi. But I lived in Venezuela and in the Philippines and I love the Fourth of July. We had birthday parties and the children sang Happy Birthday to AMerica. Also my BIL was born on July 3rd and I lost my mother on July 3rd. SO we always have a do!
19. I inherited a house full of antiques from my parents, lots of fish plates and a vast collection of salt dishes. I'll post pictures. I try not to collect as you wind up getting a “collection” rather than the one of a something you really love.
20.I do not have any subscriptions. DO you recommend one?
21. I just want to be the best I can be and learn to knit beautiful garments for myself.
22.My first pair of socks is done . I’ll have to measure them!
23.I am a happy 66 year old, born March 27, an Aries woman married to a Taurus man. who is 75. He is an avid bicyclist and we are recovering from the Tour de France marathon tv of 3 weeks. Lots of lively banter and stubbornness in this house.

Tour de France At Home

2007-07-16T06:20:00.000-07:00

The first few days of the Tour de France, for us, are always the same. Who did not make the teams, (Bobby Julich you were missed) who is new, what teams were reorganized, who went from here to there and so on. We like to be able to pick out the little things in a race and not depend solely on the announcers. At 2 hours and 40 minutes the "bathing suit" was interesting! Not my style but interesting. At 4 hours forty minutes the guy in the bermudas who was clothes-lined off the course by another spectator before he caused the bike rider to hit him was a joy to see. How often I have waited to see other "stupids" pulled off the course. Then watching our Discovery boys and trying to figure out what, if any, the team strategy was. Contador definitely proved himself a climber. Our hopes for George Hincapie faded as the climbs continued. Levi played it cool. He loves the Pyrenees and there are only 1 and 1/2 minutes separating 3rd and 14th places. Go Levi!
But you have to love Rasmussen, all alone and asking for nothing. What a ride!!

My knitting has suffered but the rest day will allow this team to regroup. I have been mulling over the design on my TDFKAL dog cape and I may have solved it. I have been working the KAL baby hoodie and I am ready to shoulder seam but I am going to graft or 3 needle bind off the seams. Less scratchy and bulky. Never tried it so I am out here on the Col alone and bracing for the climb! Bring me good fortune, Rasmussen, I was pulling for you!

Shep just returned from 6 weeks exploring the East coast of Australia so we feel we have a vested interest in the Aussie riders. It was wrenching to watch Michael Rogers slowly slip away until he finally had to acknowledge it was over for this year. I used my kleenex a lot. ABout 5 years ago my husband touched a wheel with another rider and went down into a roadside ditch. His new bike, a birthday present from me, was OK as everyone kept telling me. But my John had 4 broken ribs, a broken collarbone and a punctured lung. 5 days in hospital, and a long recovery at home ensued. Since the breaks were in the back and side, sleep was difficult, and he wound up sleeping in a recliner on an eggshell crate mattress. I thought he looked like a baby bird in a nest. So our sympathies are also with Stuart O'Grady as we know what lies ahead. Robbie, how we have missed you. You bring us such great joy as we look and look for you at the sprints, trying to be the first to spot you before you burst from somewhere and take it all. Your fall must have been worse than we knew and your courage was admirable. Riding with banged up knees and wrists are murder on a cyclist and we ached with you. You'll be back soon for more last minute thrills.

After yesterday's stage 8 I am exhausted, (where is MY masseuse) and some slow pedaling on the in home recumbent are in the works while I wonder what tomorrow will bring. Wonder what Lance thinks of all this?

Tour de France KAL recipe

2007-07-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

We love asparagus, never met a spear I did not love. My favorite way is to grill them after marinating. Last night I had . . .in honor of the yellow of the competition
Asperges pour les maillot jaunes. .

1 pound asparagus, wash and remove woody end

Mix in blender
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
grated rind of one lemon
juice of that lemon
dash of cracked pepper
1 tablespoon capers
1 teaspoon sugar

drizzle over spears, rest at least 30 minutes
grill over low flame about 5-8 minutes or until color change
and grilled to your taste
we like a little crunch

Bon appetit!

Bob is on a Roll

2007-07-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

Bob Roll has always had a special appeal to us. Maybe because like me, Bob cannot talk without his hands. It has been said that I cannot describe a spiral staircase without using my hands. Have you noticed that his bobble-head doll is the only one whose hands move! I do enjoy his comments and I learn more from him than any other.

I just finished a book by Eric Delaney "Inside the Tour de France", containing the little told and untold stories of the tour. Each is just one page making for pick up and lay down reading. Some great, some not so but the photos, especially the older ones are captivating. I found it at the library and really enjoyed it.

My Tour de France KAL project is suffering, it may qualify for the Lantern Rouge at this rate. The yarns have had to bring forward another team member. Oh, yes, we have plenty! This is a blue and yellow hoody in a sixe 1. It is all stockingette stitch and I call it my knitting yoga. I can watch the race and knit with so much pleasure. I'm seeing the knitsters on Thursday to find out how to encourage the dog cape.

Crash and burn

2007-07-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

In Dunkerque the Tour de France peloton crashed near the finish and I did too. I had to regroup as my design-on-a-dime dog cape had to be redone. I have never designed a pattern before and it is and is not easy. HUH? Well, the sizing was great but the edge curled up terribly and I can not figure were to put the holes for the legs. But if the riders in the peloton crash can ride to the finish cradling their arms, wrists and sore heads, I guess I can try again. To the Tour de France, allez, allez!

Has anyone seen Whitney's "Giotto-go-with-the -flow" socks posted on her website. See her name under the polka-dot jerseys listed on the TDF KAL, I am awarding her my personal huzzahs for good knitting/good idea. You inspire me Whitney. I did not think I was ready for a second pair of socks but for these I am, I am.

My husband did his three-four times a week ride this AM. He rides at a bike shop here in Virginia Beach called Fat Frogs. They ride every morning at 7:30 AM. He got up to 28 MPH today (not for long) after all he is 75 but he is amazing. While I wait for knee surgery he keeps the cycling going for the family. He has been impressed with this KAL. I can keep him updated with little tid-bits of info. Keep it up Debby and Meg, you make me look good.

The Tour de France ended in Gand/Gent/Ghent, Belgium . . we have a Ghent (same pronunciation different spelling) Historic District here in Norfolk. A lovely section of town where the water , the Hague, curves through and houses line one side. They are very European in look and the roof lines resemble those in Belgium. I wish we had the Belgium bike paths.

IPHONE MANIA

2007-07-08T05:12:00.000-07:00

Just when this Apple fan thought iPhone thought of everything . . this Mom (GrandMom) knitted one!! No kidding see for yourself and even included instructions to knit your own. Grandmom knitters rule!!
http://daddytypes.com/2007/07/04/my_mom_handknit_an_iphone.php

Frankly, I think she just won the Tour de Knit!

MyTDF KAL project is a "knit by the seat of your pants" design. The teacup pug belongs to my cousin who has never asked me for anything in her life. Her baby "Miss Beulah" named for our grandmother is 11 1/2 weeks old and weighs just under 2 pounds. I have never seen her BUT I am told this is a similar image. Now my personal choice for a dog is one who can warm your feet on a cold night and growl loud enough to wake you if there is danger AND protect you if needed. My rottweiler Liebchen is 72 pounds and a real love bug. But my cousin is in love. Her pug is black so we have the Neon pink cape in progress.

VIVE le TOUR

2007-07-07T18:38:00.000-07:00

Vive the Tour de France Knit along!
Last night the yarns of my house discovered the Knit ALong. They came for the prologue from my knitting basket, from under the couch, from the basket in the side table, from under the pillow on my bed, the depths of the old armchair, from the boxes on my shelves, from the little sock tote bag my secret pal sent me, and even the shopping bag from my lys, the Knitting Corner that I bought today. They came from places where I did not know yarn had been stashed. The excitment among them was palpable. The chatter built as the time for the start neared. Soon they began to form into teams, the greens seem to model Discovery. I distinctly heard one say he intended to be carbon negative. Once they chose up teams, the race began in earnest, each one trying to be THE ONE to be knitted first. A small skein of neon pink was not a favorite but really put up a good show and had an perfect gauge on the test swatch. We have a winner. Destined to be a cape for a teacup pug this yarn came in first. All the others were gracious, after all, we have many days ahead. As I cleared up from the prologue I heard a yarn who had been here a while explain to a newcomer, a laceweight, that the peloton could be hard on the newbies and to stick close.

J'aime tricoter
J'aime le Tour de France Knit Along!

postscript

2007-07-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow's start of the TDK has pushed me to finish at least one UFO before I add another. So, Viv, I now present 2 of my favorites, my very first socks (yes, both of them are done) and my daughter who is very happy for me and proud.

AFICIONADO

2007-07-06T06:37:00.000-07:00

Described as one who has an intense, occasionally overwhelming liking of . . . . as in my liking of the America's Cup race, and the Tour de France. We tape, and back up and argue about what we saw, look up terms on the web, rules of the road (water) and argue over sportscasters. We fawn over Bob Roll. We read articles in Bicycling, Yachting, pour over web sites, pass over the front pages of the sports section grasping for the tiny paragraph buried in the middle pages about Floyd Landis, Tyler Hamilton and the fight for better policing of the testing procedures for possible doping violations. We root for New Zealand to return the cup to New Zealand and died 10,000 deaths when New Zealand was awarded the first penalty ever in AC racing. The last 5 minutes of the last race were possibly the most exciting in yachting racing history. A one second difference, a near photo finish to win the America's Cup.

Today I entered the Tour de France KAL. I am going to attempt to build a team and knit the peloton! First I have to get the logo on my blog. This is possibly the hardest part of the whole race.

Voila! a tour de force for the logo! See the sidebar for my jersey choice. if you want to knit along with the riders you have until 3pm, London time, on 7th July 2007 - that's when the official tour begins. Come join the fun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA

2007-07-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

When my husband was active duty USN we were transferred to the Philipines. Megan was 1 and Shep was born over there. When our orders came to return to the States Megan was 3. She could not understand going "home" or going to the "states". Shep turned 1 the day our ship sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge. In the ensuing year we tried to explain the concept of our country and had a birthday party for America on the fourth. We invited all the neighbors, had all the traditional favorites and sang "happy birthday" to America. This continued for a few years and gradually fell away when the kids wanted to go places to see fireworks and to the beach. I miss it. This year Shep was on a plane from Australia today and will be landing in DC as fireworks go off over the Capitol. Megan and her friends are going to the beach for fireworks. I will stay home with a swollen ankle. I will miss festivities but not the day. Independence day lives in my heart aong with my pride in the USA.

so Happy Birthday America. You are still my favorite country and I am proud to be an American. I still get chills to say the Pledge of Allegiance and I have sung all the verses to the Star Spangled Banner. When we lived overseas, the base movie would always play the National Anthem at the start of the movie and show scenes of home. On the last line " ... and the home of the brave" they would show the WHite House and I always choked up. Many brave citizens have given their lives to protect the ideals I hold dear and I pledge to protect them also. So Happy Birthday America and many more to come.

SP 10

2007-07-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

Dear SP 10 pal, I feel awful and I don't know how to reach you. I am not sure what happened but I
did not get the e-cards. I checked with COX who dumped my Ravelry invite into a JUNK file. Aargh!
(I hope you signed up . . it is a knitters heaven there.)
But no e-cards were in there. Your last package was so great, I can not imagine what more you
can send. I use my beautiful blue Sock Bag all the time. It is such a perfect size for the car and
wherever I have had to go sit and wait. . If you have read my blog you know how awful some of my
last 2 months have been. Knitting has been my yoga. Since my family wrapped me in spun cotton
and don't let me drive, the few time I have been let out the blue bag has been on my arm.
Last night the thoughtful lady from last week (Hi Cheryl) picked me up and took me to the local
knitting guild. She also has me in bubble wrap and dropped me at the front door while she went to park.

Harry Potter? Hmmmmm? I'll have to sit on the front porch!
Thanks for thinking of me. Just that thought is fun to ponder. While I was here, you were there, shopping
and packing and whatever . . . hmmm. Can't wait!

RAVELRY

2007-07-02T02:50:00.000-07:00

I kept waiting and waiting . . patiently , ,, only to find out that COX . . bless their tiny hearts . . had sorted my acceptance into the JUNK file! Junk!! I was incensed . . I wish I could dump the JUNK sort!

Anyhoo . I've started inputting . it looks like just the organization I need. First problem, however, is listing the books. I have a very extensive library of knitting books. I was going to put them on a computer log but if I can add them in to Ravelry mores the better.

Daughter ordered her last J.K. Rowliing book. I do wonder what J.K.will do now that the series is finished. Is writing something you can turn off? I don't think so. I could not stop knitting. So what does she do now? I can understand a break but I feel we will see something else before too long.

I've read them all, have to keep up with the younger generation, don't you know! and finally decided to find out who I resemble. . what a surprise! This must classify as one of those "you can fool some of the peole sometime....." things.

You scored as Albus Dumbledore. You are very wise, observant, and analyctical. You have a very "well-organized" mind, which makes you function in a calm and fair manner. Though you get angered easily, its rare of you to ever act our of temper. You are constantly seeing the good in people and are naturally forgiving because of it. You're easy to please and a great person to learn from.

Harry Potter Character Combatibility Test
created with QuizFarm.com

Maybe now I'll have to find a house. I finished a cranberry and navy scarf resembling the Hogwarts scarves for a young friend. He is a Potter and these were the colors he chose. So we made him a House of Potter scarf. hah, hah! It is actually very attractive. I want a navy coat for fall and maybe I'll do myself a scarf. He has a nice house I could dwell in!

Son is leaving Australia on July 4th. Very bummed as he wanted to be gere for the fourth, instead he'll be on that long flight to CA and then on to DC. He'll see fireworks over the Capitol from the plane. He is having mixed emotions. Time to come home and get a job and leaving the joy of exploration and discovery. He has not only learned about AU but has had a lot of time on his own for self-exploration and introspective thinking. Judging from the lo-o-o-ng phone calls he did a lot of thinking. I feel he found a soul in that country that called to him. Many aspects of the life style and way of thinking were attractive. We all feel that we need to take a long trip down under to see what it is all about.

SP 10 is over. I have very mixed emotions. I have not heard from Kristen Since June 2. I feel her accident stirred up some life actions that had been dormant. I miss her postes and hope all is well. I'm intersted in what Louisa Harding project she will take on. The SP that was my spoiler is a mystery. I had a message in the beginning and then one big box in the middle and quiet. I was never able to contact her and could only thank her through the blog. I tried Yarn Junkies 4 but it was a oneshot affair and over. However the SP blogs led me to a blogger in England and one 3 blocks away so I am thrilled.

We will go to the beach for the 4th. My daughter has a group of friends that gather on the bayside. After the kids are exhausted we eat all the great goodies that this marvelous group of talented cooks prepare and then see the show. The location is such that we see about 4 different shows by turning our heads. Can't get any better than that. I will be making Gazpacho so I ned to be off to the store. It needs 24 hours to meld flavors and really get chilled.

Kindness

2007-06-29T20:28:00.001-07:00

An act of kindness came my way this week. I've been scanning the blogs of the participants of SP10 and found a knitter who lives only 3 blocks away. She is a rare person, one who is truly, truly nice. She picked me up Wednesday and we drove to the next town to an evening knitting group. I've almost become a shut-in because parking and walking a distance is very difficult. Cheryl dropped me at the front door and went to park. SHe is also very thoughtful! We have much in common, her son is in Israel and mine has not come home from Australia YET. We are also service wives, hers USAF and mine USN. AND we knit. How lucky for me! Monday she is taking me to the TIDEWATER KNITTING GUILD. Sounds like fun.

We bought a new color printer and scanner. This one has many color cartridges and we hope will use color ink more wisely.
I'm busy printing many good things to knit and sew. I want to make a needle roll but haven't found just the pattern. I also want a project bag that holds 2-3 skeins.

John was the head of the SAGS for the MS-150 earlier this month on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I was not allowed to go because of the chest cold and diminished immune system. They raised lots of money but had rain Sunday so finished early. This was our 6th year to head up the SAGS. I was also supposed to help with the accounting for the Relay for Life and had to bow out also for the same reason Thanks goodness for knitting. I'd be stir crazy with all I have missed.

My daughter is a Interior Designer ( more than a decorator and less than an architect) Like the proverbial shoemaker whose children had no shoes, her schedule does not allow her to work for me, often, BUT when she does it is always a joy. Today I had wide wooden blinds hung on the side by side windows in the den. They are almost the same color as the paneling and make the room look so much bigger. The room also feels much cooler due to the filtered light. It also feels more like my hometown of Key West where the rooms are also shaded from the sun. So I just sat for a long while and enjoyed. It is a luxury to have something that is just so right!

I am again waiting for a call for a knee replacement date. I think my family is tired of waiting also. My knees have both gotten so bad that the bulk of running the house has fallen on them. I do have a stool that can run the kitchen so I can chop and cook while sitting. For a change I cooked every night and we ate on the deck. The evening breezes made it very pleasant.
Things are slowly turning my way again.

See you on the needles

I'm back!

2007-06-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

I finally feel like posting again. For a while everything I had to say was so blue and sad I did not feel like writing about it. I've been taking some vitamins and some new meds and I have perked up. Of course I have not been anywhere or done anything so I really have nothing to blog about.

SHep is still in Australia and given half a chance I think he would stay. We are all green and want to plan a trip for ourselves. He dived on the Great Barrier Reef and gave us an e-mail update on flora, fauna, history and all he met. How small the world is today

Hubby was in a time trial for bicycle racers ( there were not too many in his age bracket of 60 plus) but he did manage to win a point or two for the team. At 75 I think it was fantastic. He has held us together during all these trials I"ve added to our lives. I am again waiting for a date for surgery.

Megan is busy working on me. Trying to find ways to get more exercise and better nutrition. With her busy schedule I am impressed she has found time. She has been a cheerful encorager when I needed it the most.

Thanks to everyone for the e-mails, phone calls and cards. They reaaly do help.

UPS, DOWNS and SIDEWAYS

2007-05-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

What a strange few days. I was riding the high (UP) after the good heart news. SLept all week-end, result of medicines and stress relief. Monday got up with a killer lower backache (DOWN) from sleeping in the recliner, bed, computer chair, porch chair, etc. I kept falling asleep anywhere. But because of backache, John gave me the heating pad and about 30 minutes later I started itching. Itched Monday, Tuesday, scratched Wednesday and Thursday broke out in a rash and started ripping skin with my fingernails and backscratcther (BIG DOWN). Saw my Gp who thinks I might be having a reaction to the dye in the procedure and either of the medicines I normally take. I'm wondering if it is the Zocor since the American Diabetes Assoc has recommeded diabetics take a low dose of a statin drug for cholesterol as it appears diabetics are prone to plaque build-up. The Zocor is new and could be the culprit. However I look like someone deranged as I itch literally allover. From knees to the top of my head there is not a pore of skin that I have not scracthed, continually. Friday returned to GP and said "help now!". Got a cortisone shot and 2 more medicines, with the 3 from yesterday I am now taking 6 different drugs including prednisone, Zantac, Allegra d, Atarax and more, UGH. Now it is Saturday, Gp called this morning, no change, Blood tests at least show it is all external and no internal organs have been bothered. Good kidneys, Good Liver. Ice packs and cold showers help. He will check in with me on Monday.

I have done A LOT of knitting in an attempt to keep my hands busy at something other than scratching!
I had successfully finshed my last charity knitting for the great Pirate Party Megan organized for FOR KIDS. They cleared 180K (big UP). I made another ladybug hat, a bumblebee hat and a tiny pink cloche with flowers on top. Photos are the pits due to lack of time and John did something to the camera. I'll reknit and rephoto later (SIDEWAYS)

I'm knitting a darling hooded sweater for a 12 mos size. The pattern is in this book "BABY CASHMERINO" by Debbie Bliss. Very navy blue and gold as his Daddy is in the NAVY. I can't get the hem to lay flat. In all the knitting I have done I have never blocked anything. I guess it is time to be a big girl and get a more professional look. I love the metal needles I found in my stash, Long narrow points that glide with the yarn. I dropped one yesterday on a tile floor and blunted the point end. I was ready to cry until John said he would sand the point smooth. Metal? Sand? Well, he sure did and now a piece of sandpaper lives in my knit tool kit. You can not tell the point was ever damaged. Sure is nice to know!

Christine, I have decided what I will do with my JOY yarn. It is a special project just for me. I'll post as soon as I have finished. Hope you will approve.

Heart Happy

2007-05-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

I am still groggy from the medicines BUT if I remember correctly Dr. Mahoney said my heart was OK. The nurses in recovey were so happy for me. The procedure went through the artery in my right wrist rather than my groin. Dr, Mahoney thought with the state of my knee joints and an old back injury that lying prone for 6 hours after the procedure was too much. So I had to be still for 2 hours but I could be elevated. No knitting for three days as I am bot supposed to bend my wrist. So I'll read pattern books and my new KNITTERS magazine from my SP.

I had so many messages on my phone and e-mails. Your prayers, your well-wishes, warm thoughts and reiiki all worked for a very easy day. Thanks to you it appears I can reschedule my knee replacement. Oh happy heart news!!

Memories of childhood

2007-05-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

My SP10 hostess, Kery asked us to post our favorite flower. Little did I know what memories that request would invoke. Thank you, Kerry!

Do you ever see something or smell something and be immediately transported in memory to another time and place? Whenever I smell roses I am in the warm Key West summer sun at The Convent Of Mary Immaculate in an un-air conditioned classroom. Due to the island makeup of coral in the soil only the roses on the old Cherokee root stock flourish. They had the scent that so many of today's hybrids have lost. Every morning we would pick the island roses fresh with dew, wrap them in waxed paper and bring in to lay at the Virgin Mary's feet. During the day they warmed up in the heat and the scent was so powerful.

This is a hibiscus blossom and in Key West there are hedges of them in every color, singles and doubles. http://www.trop-hibiscus.com/ is a link for just a sampling of the colors. This one is at my front door and has been grown into a tree. Like many it is a lovely orange in the morning that fades slightly by afternoon. The blooms last only a day and remind me always to live each day for its own joy and perfection. I remember each family member by their flowers. My grandmother loved the bright yellow singles the size of saucers, my Aunt Crissie had pink small singles. My Aunt Nora had small red ones and my Aunt Florence had so many different ones. My brother loved a large white single with a blood-red center called a Delores del Rio and my mother loved the large red ones. I think of each of them as I wander the nursery. One year I had one called a Rum-runner than went through a color range of about 6 different hues from morning till evening. Just looking at it was like seeing all my family again. How lovely that a single bloom can bring back such intense happy memories. I wish you a flower of your own memories.

Mail call!!

2007-05-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

A treasure arrived in the post yesterday! If there is a better secret pal I do not know who it could be. My secret pal sent YARN.. oh lovely, lovely yarn, and she knows ME because she sent the patterns to use for each of the yarns! I am in love with the blue, green ELLA RAE. it's 100% wool from Romania.
It immediately went outside to look at the pool. like colors call to like, right. Actually the colors will always remind me of the water around my family home in Key West so it was perfect.
The LINIE 194 SOLO has been requested by my daughter IF I will knit the ruffled scarf pattern shown here in green. We saw this yarn on the Yarn Harlot's site in a much brighter color (too bright for me) but this color will be great this fall. Now, I have these yarns and patterns
AND an autographed copy of CAST ON, BET'S OFF, a kniting mystery! I did not know there was such a thing! and this great magazine that will accompany me for the heart catheterization Friday. And she wasn't through YET. I also found and I needed so badly a small project bag, just right sized for socks or childrens hats and she made it! in my favorite colors! AND when I opened it, look what was inside The photo of this yarn does not do it justice. It is Trekking pro natura, 75% wool and 25% bamboo. I will get to knit bamboo! What fun! she also included the right sized needles and they are the 5" size I have wanted to try.

If you look at the patterns ( note they are each encased in a plastic sleeve ready for putting in my notebook - how thoughtful can you get!) you will see the pattern for the Waterlily Socks. It calls for some very small beads to be inserted in the cables and tucked under the ball band was a small container of glass beads in the perfect color. Go ahead look close, you will see them.

Oh you beautiful, beautiful secret pal. You are so kind and so thoughtful. All the things I have wanted to try and been a little timid about. It is such a wonderful, wonderful day. I have been knitting charity hats and Duduza dolls and hats for friends children and Now . . I will be knitting for me. First is this great scarf that Megan wants. I'll cast on tomorrow . . for now I just want to look and think great kind thoughts of the lovely person who put so much time and effort into pleasing me. I hope it pleases her to know how much she did. Thank you, secret pal! Thank you!

Mothers

2007-05-14T05:52:00.000-07:00

See the reasons for my Mother's Day happiness! My husband has sent me cards thanking me for being their mother. I am thankful to be their mother. They bring me such joy and delight. They are as different and yet as alike as can be. In this day of dysfunctional families, they love each other and are there for each other, and they love their parents. We are blessed. They each have a close group of true friends, a rarity in this day. Megan is a tiny feisty ball of energy who believes in people and tries to keep love alive in people with her helping hands. She does not know "NO" and sees the world as one people all as one. People seem to be infected with her cheerful helping ways. Shep is a handsome guy who has always wanted to change the world in some way. He travels extensively whenever possible and would like to mean something to people. He expressed it when he was younger as wanting to be a "superhero" that would come in and save a town. With his intelligence and computer knowledge he will. He is a force for good, looking for a place to happen. Both of them have a wide range of acquaintances but when you become a friend you are a friend for life.
I remember my Mother today who taught me my love of books and learning, my Mother-in-law who taught me a love of cooking especially French dishes and entertaining, my god-mother/Aunt who impressed upon me the joy of serving in my church, my great aunt who was never a mother in one sense but all her life cared for a younger sister who had scarlet fever at age 5 and remained at that age for another sixty years, and my grand-mother who taught me to look for good not bad, to be joyful not sad, to remember that while I put up with others they were putting up with me and through her example taught me about God and the beautiful world He gave us.
I hope you all had a happy Mother's Day.

SP10 package

2007-05-10T16:44:00.000-07:00

I just read a post from my SP, you
know the one who said she would spoil me!
SHe said she sent a package yesterday. She kept finding things to add
and finally just had to send it. WOW! I am so excited. This is my first secret pal
and I have had so much fun with Kristen, the one I got to spoil.
Stay tuned for this excited receiver! I squeal! Loudly!

new found pleasures!

2007-05-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

I have been mostly house-bound due to complications awaiting knee replacement surgery and have relied on my spouse for so much. He is a treasure and a great pleasure! But a new found pleasure is the luxury of organizing. Since I have difficulty walking, standing, etc. I sit alot and go through drawers, shelves, stashes, etc. Things that piled up for the past 21 years that I was working are outta here! As a service brat then wife I was used to moving every 2-3 years. You clean house often and pare down to meet your weight allowance when that happens. . I remember those times fondly. We have been here 40 years! As I look around at the accumulated "stuff" I am horrified at how fast it piles up.

But now (please imagine great smile on face) it is on the move OUT.

One of my found pleasures today was a book I got for Christmas from my son. He finds the most extraordinary presents. One year at a holiday in Key West he took pictures of all my family homes, schools I had attended, anything with sentimental value, put them all in an album and surprised me with it under the tree. What a treasure it was and he is! This book is an explanation of kitchen science. If you are an Alton Brown (TV Food Network) fan you will enjoy this. Can you really fry an egg on the sidwalk? Does belching contribute to global warming? These and many other mysteries and myths are explained. Virginia Purl you would like this, I bet! So while I wait I am de-stuffing. I'll bet George Carlin would be proud of me.

I am also knitting Duduza dolls. What a neat way to use of little bits of yarn!

No daffodils

2007-05-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

The cherry tree in my backyard bloomed late due to our strange winter. The blossoms began to drop immediately. Then winds blew them off and away, This is from the previous year. The prevailing winds blow toward the camera so the pool often fills with the blossoms and looks like Cleopatra's bathtub. We do not have a picture because we are always too busy unclogging the drains! Why don't we cover the pool, you ask? Because I like to look at the water from my windows.
I was born near water, always wanted to live near water and refuse to pay the outlandish home and insurance prices to do so! The pool and deck were designed by my daughter and have been a summer delight for all. Extra wide steps provide places for kids to play and nap. The tree shades the table and the stoves are in an alcove next to the house than can be closed off

from the children with a gate. Our rottweiler Liebe stands guard and greets one and all. The house is on a corner and she runs from side to side gleefully barking Hello to all who pass. In midsummer the tiny Clematis began to bloom and continued until cold temperatures came. I don't think it will reappear this year. We will look for another one as we all enjoyed it so much. There were no daffodils in my yard this year. We went from hot to cold to hot too many times and I think they all gave up.

Healing Thoughts

2007-05-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

I have been very concerned about my SP, the one I spoil!. I had a very brief e-mail early in April and she had hurt her leg. Time went by and I did not hear anymore until the last week of April. Her injury was quite serious. She fractured her leg and injured tendons when a load of lumber fell on her. She is very, very nice and very appreciative of the Easter basket I sent her. (see April 6 entry) SHe wrote that the color of yarn I used as grass was the perfect shade for a project she had wanted to knit. How lucky can that be!

Kristen has a problem healing as I do and has had quite a time of it. It is difficult to accept that I heal so much slower than others. A cut on my finger, a bruise on my toe, any injury takes ususally twice as long. I have had to really work on not feeling guilty that I cannot do as I used to do and focus on the future when I can again. John has become my personal shopper and while that is nice, I am itching to go.

Kristin has to keep her leg elevated for quite some time yet so I see knitting in her future. When one is as housebound as I have been it is deeply satisfying to bring a little joy, however small to another. I’m sending some knitting books to her today and hope to cheer her as she heals. Keep her in your warm, calm and healthy thoughts, please. I know only to well how good that feels!

As for my saga. I saw the cardiologist yesterday. My daughter's medical friends picked him out for me. He is very patient, kind and reassuring. I have to have a cardiac catherization (run a snake with a camera up from my groin and take pictures). I asked if I would be awake. He said he would give me a " 3-4 martini lunch" and I would not remember a thing. I also received a call late in the afternoon from my G.P. asking about the appointment. How blessed I am to have such caring doctors. I slept well.

Thank you for all the e-mails and good wishes. What a treasure bloggers have turned out to be. I love you all!!

He's not 75!

2007-05-01T15:20:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was my husband's 75 birthday. He rides with a bicycle club 3 times a week and on Saturday we had a huge cake with this picture on it and OJ and bananas and bagels. All things the riders like. He had a silly hat with a propeller on top that said "I don't want to grow up". I just love the man so much! Sunday we had a back yard surprise with a diverse age group of friends that also love him.I've made arrangements to get him a new Smith and Wesson target pistol to replace the one that was stolen. He also picked out a new teak round table and chairs to go on the deck. He loves to sit out there and read. Happy Birthday my love!

I have recently read (again and for the third time) the historical fiction novels of Inglis Fletcher. She was such a firm believer in extensive research and so committed to accuracy that she steeped herself in details of everything from historical events to what people ate and wore. I have actually traveled the pathways of some of her novels and can pick out the scenes she wrote about. Her characters and their descendants reappear from book to book, take part in intricate plots, adventures and love stories that blend with actual past events and personages. I read of English and Scottish settlers that walked the very grounds I live on and I can feel their presence. She definitely makes me appreciate those early settlers that helped to give me what we have today. The books were all written in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s and are definitely not the novels of today. No titillating sex scenes, but beautiful command of the ENglish language depicting 200 years of Carolina history told in a compelling style that makes me always want more. I have my Mother to thank for the recommendation when I was much younger, i reread them when we moved to the area in the late 60’s and now I am enjoying them again. In you like historical fiction grounded in real events try these, you ‘ll like it!

Tomorrow I see the cardiologist and we will finally start things moving. I look forward to that!

Th Family of Friends

2007-04-28T03:33:00.000-07:00

I am married to a retired Navy pilot and my father was in the Coast Guard. I have lived many places and missed having a lot of family. So I learned early how to make a Friendly (that's a family of friends). Today my daughter has acquired a large Friendly. When this heart problem came about, her Friendlies went to work. Many of her Friendlies are in the medical field. They vetoed my original cardiologist and found a friend they like better. I have not seen the cardiologist yet but I know much about what the medical procedures will be. I am being very well looked after. My family doctor is married to my children's former baby sitter and I consider him a Friendly. . He put me on Zocor and Loprol even though my cholesterol is not over the guide lines and my blood pressure is fine. He feels why take any chances. Until I see the cardiologist this is what we will do.

My knitting Friendly is growing each day. Jae, I felt your warmth from cold Michigan and Chris, the offer of your own joyous hand dyed and spun yarn carried a hug all the way across the Atlantic. Vickie, I so hope to see you next Thursday with good news.
I am so very blessed. Knit yourself a Friendly, and wrap yourself in their warmth, it is the very best hug you can have!

WHat's in your glass?

2007-04-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

Remember the debate about the glass half full or half empty? I've had opportunity to dwell on that situation this week. Yesterday was to be the much anticipated knee replacement. I was ready, I thought, but it appears my heart was not in it. The EKG that was done for the medical clearance had an abnormal result. That led to a stress test that had to be medically induced because I can not walk fast enough to put myself in enough stress! That was Tuesday and finally Thursday afternoon the operation was cancelled because the stress test showed a "reversible defect in the anterior wall of the left ventricle". I had that deciphered into english which meant I have a narrowing of one or more arteries. Now I go to a cardiologist who will probaby run a cardiac catherization to look at the arteries. SO half empty . . the operation I had looked forward to for relief and an improved walk was cancelled. Half full . . better I found this now before it became so serious to be a danger. We are standing down and awaiting the next set of orders. Life never gives us more than we can handle, right?

Hats and Hats

2007-04-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

In the midst of my charity hat knitting as my Lenten observance, a friend had her first grandchild. This yarn was too cute to pass up for a bouncy baby boy. The pompom is just full enough to rustle with each little movement of baby making it even more precious. All the other hats are on their way, one struck the fancy of a friend and I had
to knit one for her daughter who is fascinated with lady bugs. I've given her ladybug boots and a ladybug raincoat in the past.

I thought everything was a go for Friday's knee replacement but a call this morning informed us that the cardiologist saw an abnormality in the "underlying muscle of the left ventricle". So I am having a stress test tomorrow . Apparently medicine can bring my heart rate up to the rate they need, so all I have to do is lie there and be read. The stress in my heart rate at this moment is thundering. I had rheumatic fever as a 7 year old but have never had any problems. I hope I do not now.

Easter Blessings

2007-04-07T19:02:00.000-07:00

As you come around the corner of my street the dogwood tree stands out front of my house like a great white cloud. It always blooms between my birthday, March 27 and my daughter's, April 6. Every year this also happens to be at Easter-time. It should not grow where it is because it lives in full sun and dogwoods like forests with shade from pine trees.
It also should not grow on the crest of the sloped yard because the water drains away too quickly. It has also been hit by lightning and the center is missing. But the neighbors love it and we pamper it.

This year it has been especially full, white and quite beautiful. Old legends say it was used for the crucifixion cross because it was so strong like an oak. But Jesus took pity on it and said ever after it would only grow slender, bent and twisted so it could never be used for that purpose again. The blossoms form a cross with two long and two short petals. In the center of each petal there is a crown (of thorns) and the outer edge of each petal bears the nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red. To me it is my personal reminder of the meaning of the day, a new awakening to all the beauty and a reminder of God's blessings.
Happy Easter to all of you!

A TISKET, A TASKET

2007-04-06T03:27:00.000-07:00

A knitting Easter Basket, complete with mohair grass, bunnies in their Easter finery, knitted Easter eggs, some citrusy soap and candy. Miss Bunny is ready to do some some hand work with her thread cutter medallion hung around her neck and Mr.Bunny has a key ring on his arm with Purell inside for emergency hand cleansing.

My weekly review:
WHAT I'M READING “At Knit”s End, Meditations for Women who KNIT too much” by Stephanie Pearl Mac-Phee, the Yarn Harlot. I give thanks for a woman who can write directly to my heart.

WHAT I'M COOKING:! Chicken tenderloins breaded in Panko with lemon zest and fresh ground ginger then baked, fresh mixed green salad, red onion slices, thin red pepper slices and a dressing of duck sauce, rice vinegar, scallion and garlic, plus a cup of chilled homemade vichyssoise, yummy for our tummies. The chicken and salad were from Rachel Ray and now is one of hubby's favorite salads.

WHAT I'M KNITTING: I need to finish my socks and make 2 more charity hats before the 20th of April and the operation, got to make those needles move!

WHAT I'M WEARING: a bathrobe, knitted socks, flannel gown, and drinking hubby's nectar of the gods (his special blend of coffee) because the temperature bottomed out last night. I was so cold I had to get up and change clothes! But still nothing I have knitted for me. I took the class in “what not to wear” from our local yarn store and decided I need to lose weight before I knit for me.

WHAT I'M WATCHING; gave up on BBC’s Robin Hood, as husband and I thought it got a little stupid, but I am still stuck on LOST and watching the Planet Earth series. Last Saturday my daughter and 3 of her friends took me out to the local cinema and cafe for drinks and dinner to see Hugh Grant's latest. I feel very blessed that she AND her friends want my company. They are a special bunch of friends. We were minus another one who was home sick. 2 school age children bring home all sorts of nasty things!

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO: walking around the block and shopping, it has been 2 years since I strolled though a shopping mall

It's a wool thing

2007-04-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

I really got a chuckle from this Easter card.
Off to my Secret pal goes a 2 week orgy of spend and knit. Gosh, what fun! Can't wait for her to get it so I can show you!. I hope everyone has been having this much fun. Isn't it pleasant and rewarding to think of someone else and hopefully bring them joy.
My mother always said I knew how to give better than to receive.

I had the last visit with the orthopedic surgeon today prior to the replacement. He quoted that 19%of people with knee replacements still have pain afterwards and 5% wish they had never had the surgery. I will, I will be in the 81%! If there is anything to positive thinking I will be there. I loved long walks and look forward so much to be able to walk around the block or to stroll the boardwalk at the oceanfront. We have a lovely seashore park with great walking paths. Oh I can think of so many places I want to walk. The rest of the discussion of morphine pumps and machines to move my leg is too much for here, so I'll return to a happier thought of Easter baskets and Easter blessings for you all.

A SWEET FO

2007-04-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

My dh is going to a baby shower. Since this will not be a first child the new mommy has requested gifts that can be donated to a charity that my dh recommended. FOR KIDS is a program that works with disadvantaged and homeless children. I made a couple of children's hats and took a class to learn to make these booties. They are seamless and done on 5 dpns. I figured the more practice I get on dpn's, the easier the second pair of socks will be These were a lot of fun. I am still learning to use this camera. It is a very small digital, KODAK EASY SHARE C533, very easy to stowe and carry and to shoot. BUT the user's manual is a flat out zero for usability. I took 20 shots to get this fuzzy image.

Whats!

2007-03-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

I think I will choose one day a week to decide WHAT is going on . . . SO....

What I’m reading: Sock patterns, and collecting books for the recuperation. Got any to recommend.
What I’m cooking: Roasted new potatoes, brussels spouts roasted in balsamic and meat loaf, I know most do not like meat loaf, but the maid I had when we lived in the Phillipines made a tasty one. I always do 2 and freeze one., That will be a meal for the family while I am recuperating, That’s 5 in the freezer!
What I’m knitting: lady bug hats, did one for a charity hat and now I have requests! And Easter eggs for a basket for my SP
What I’m wearing: nothing I have knitted because I have not knitted for myself. My LYS has a class on March 31 on WHAT NOT TO WEAR and we will learn how to find, measure and adjust patterns for ourselves. WHEE
What I’m watching: I confess to an addiction for some BBC shows. I am hooked and I see John and myself in “As Time Goes By”. I struggle not to be Judi Dench at times. I like the BBC newscast esp. Nice to see what the rest of the world is doing while we watch Anna Niclole.
What I’m looking forward to: I look forward to being able to walk around the block again. I can’t believe I ever took that for granted. I will be getting the new woman’s knee. I’m told it fits better and recovery is better.
What I’m thankful for: Daffodils, this is the month of my birth and they always bloom for ME! At least, that is what I like to believe. I ordered yarn from CIDER MOON and I received a birthday wish from Lufah. Cider Moon has the lovliest daffodils and daffodil colored yarn on their site. SO yummy. They did it just for me, didn’t they?

Happy Birth Day Celebrating

2007-03-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

Today, March 27, I celebrate the day I was born 66 years ago. I hear people groaning and complaining about growing OLD. I have never been bothered with the years and instead have marveled at the changes time has brought with each stage of life. Except for the knees I like where I am and who I am. I am the sum total of all I have done and seen. It has been a great ride and there are many more curves to peer around in the road ahead. I think the following says it all...

Life can't be counted in candles
or measured in number of years,
it's counted in small joys
and good times and laugh lines,
as well as in heartaches and tears.

Life can't be counted in candles,
but in things done with effort and pride
with dreams followed boldly
and hopes kept alive- -
in times when we've failed - -but tried.

Life can't be counted in candles
or measured in years that have flown- -
it's counted in kindnesses
close friends, and loved ones,
and in all the sweet blessings we've known.

Tickled over Secret Pal Stuff

2007-03-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

Why is it that when you are pleased with something, you have an OVERWHELMING urge to share it even if it is a secret?
Of course, someone else's secret is theirs and theirs alone to share but this one is my own. I have a project for my SP and I think it is so cute that I am bubbling over. This is worse than Christmas and hurry hurry open your present. I always want to see the faces. My children say I am much worse than they ever could have been with anticipation. I have had to get three months worth of gifting ready since April 20 is knee replacement day and I won't be albe to get out and shop. Everything I have ordered from the internet has been perfect. That was a very pleasing surprise as even the colors were true!. My LYS had a class that fit right into my project and oh have I had fun with that!. ANother LYS is changing owners and I have had fun with yarn purchases from them.
I want to put in a plug for Cider Moon (http://www.cidermoon.com/). They are one of the online shops I used. Ordered saturday at 10:30 AM and it arrived Monday at 3:30PM. They are also very cordial.
SO, my SP has yet to receive anything other than e-mail but my couch is full of things, Anyone know if a BIG box?

Oh, the photo is one basket in a collection of baskets I inherited from my parents.Tthe basket is quite small, so small that we had to use an Easter garland instead of Easter Eggs to fill it.

INTROSPECTION or WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

2007-03-17T02:43:00.000-07:00

For 3 weeks we have been too ill to do much of anything including knitting which really hurt. It gave me time to reflect on this blog and my knitting future. Both started with a willy-nilly pell-mell approach. Dive right in,damn the topedoes and see what happens. Probably a result of all that had been dammed up before I retired. When the flood gates opened I had no direction. I have journaled in private for years but no one read my wonderings. Now out in the public domain I need to decide what I want others to read. Definitely things I would like to read! Lots of photos are a must. I am not a writer in the published sense. But I enjoy the act of writing. To find this direction I have decided to finish all the projects I have unfinished or move them on to another owner.
3 quilts tops, pieced but unquilted
1 floral needlepoint, 3/4ths done
1 rottweiler needlepoint canvas, not started
1 croatan needlepoint canvas, not started
1 fruits/vegtables needlepoint not yet boxed into a pillow
2 xstitch santa dolls, complete with miniature toys and baskets
1 Bilbao Scarf knit from Morehouse Farms, 1/10th done
1 childs hat in Tahki cotton, 7/8ths done
pair of socks with only toes to finish
scarf in chenille and eyelash, 1/2 half done
pair infant booties, 9/10ths done
Do you see the lack of direction? So I am going to dig down, finish and discover what I really want to do. I have gathered all crafting supplies, including scrapbooking, stamping, papers, calligraphy, etc and cleaned house of what I did not want. Now only the fabric arts remain. Heady stuff but mind clearing, Photos to follow.
I have also signed on for a new class at my lys entitled "What Not To Wear" . I am a big woman and this class will teach us how to measure, adjust patterns to fit and what patterns to use for our shapes. Finally I can knit for me. 2 previous attempts had all but convinced me not to ever knit for me.

Thank you SP10 ... answering your questions and listing 100 THINGS were very good for clearing my cobwebs.

Sssssh! It's a secret.

2007-03-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

I received a tantalizing e-mail from my Secret Pal in SP10 saying Hi. SHe said she was looking forward to spoiling me.
Now I ask you . . could anything stir you up and get you more intrigued than that mesage. This is my first time in something like this and I am excited. I have a name also and have begun the secret preparations. Let the fun begin!

100 things about me

2007-03-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

This was very hard. I found out I don't often thinkabout me, my likes and dislikes. I found out a lot about me.

1. I cannot crochet to gauge
2.I am allergic to dust and cleaning sprays,
3. Shalimar perfume reminds me of summer
4. I started knitting 47 years ago
5.I love to do needlepoint
6. I have varied taste in music, from Sting, to Miriam Makeeba to grand opera and a lot in between. Current likes - Andrea Bocceli, Barenaked Ladies, Chris Isaacs, Cecelia Bartoli
7.I like to sew odd little projects
8.I have a rottweiler, our second, named EIN LIEBCHEN
9.we plan to buy a pop up hard side camper in May-June and visit all those people who keep asking us to come. We’re coming
10.I like most yarns except mohair (itchy)
11.I love wood and circular needles, hate plastic
12. I have friends who call me “The Knitting Hot Line”. They think I am great, and I think anyone who can successfully understand directions over the phone is fantastic.
13. Dh spoils me rotten with coffee at 6 a.m. every morning, He makes his own mixture of 2 blends and cinnamon.Yummy!
14. Love to sing but I cannot carry a tune
15.the older I get the less time I have to get upset over trivia
16. I miss my sister-in law. I need a tea drinking, knitting buddy
17. My hubby and I fell in love at first sight 45 years ago
18. I get joked up when I hear “Fascination”
19. I love Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
20. I love coffee, I love tea, I love my sugar and my sugar loves me
21. We will be married 45 years on Dec. 29, 2007
22. I have a letter my father/his pet monkey wrote me from the south Pacific in WWII, heavily censored of course, with his monkey’s paw print. I was 2 and the monkey was writing to me
23. I always wanted to live near water so I have a backyard pool and I love to watch the waves in the pool when it storms
24.I was born in Key West, Florida
25. I wear socks. Sometimes 2 layers all winter long, so I took up sock knitting
26. I love to read, mysteries, romance, biographies, autobiographies, travel
27, I miss reading to children
28. When we were stationed in the Philippines, I read to Filipino schoolchildren. Trying to explain snow was challenging
29, Math was my favorite subject
30. Now history would be my favorite
31.My DH and I fell in love at first sight, true!
32. My DH says every time he hears “Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific he thinks of me
33I have to have my knees replaced
34.I love to garden but can’t kneel…….yet
35.My favorite flowers are daylilies, pick them in the evening and new blooms appear the next day
36. I also like the tiny Japanese iris, freesias, flowering almond, spirea,
37. I always wanted a pen pal
38. I have a bog that hardly anyone reads but me
39. Is that because no one knows it is there?
40.or is it boring
41.I have no friends my age
42.but all my daughters’ friends call me instead of their mothers
43.I want to be a master knitter, to be splendidly perfect
44.I am an Episcopalian who is confused with her church right now
45.I’d like to get out of debt, I was until we bought the car and did house repairs.
46.I have a fabric stash for quilting
47.I have a fabric stash for crazy quilt Christmas stockings
48. I have a yarn stash
49.I have a scrapbook stash
50.I have too many projects for my lifetime
51.My DH is 9 years older than me; my father was 9 years older than my mother
52.I do not like rap music
53.It’ s more important to be kind than right
54. I spend an hour (or more) each day reading blogs, I am an addict
55.I have 3 quilt tops hand pieced
56. I love green, esp. celadon green\
57. Actually I like all colors, except muddy colors
58. I’d rather go barefoot than wear shoes
59.Since my ankle was fused I cannot wear anything with a heel
60.I love Bjorn shoes
61. I love to sit and watch snow fall…especially listen to the sound
62.I have a seat in my shower
63.I f I could afford the water I’d take 30 minute showers
64.Romelda is Teutonic for “glorious battle maiden”
65.I have a temper that I fight to keep under control
66.I am an Aries and DH is a Taurus, life is fun when we make decisions
67.I am a massage addict, love it!
68.I like to decorate gingerbread houses
69.I was born in a Marine Hospital later converted to military housing, once I had dinner with friends living there and found their dining room was the labor room I was born in
70.I was a radio disc jockey for 2 years
71,Many generations ago my husband and I had family in the same town in Ireland
72.I will have a knee replaced April 20, 2007
73. I cannot decide if I am excited or afraid
74.I read Harry Potter books and really like them
75/I lived in Caracas, Venezuela for a year
76.I lived in the Philippines for 3 years
77.My son was born there
78.I can get very sad at Thanksgiving because I lost my father then.
79.I am the oldest member of my family and my DH is the oldest member of his
80.Both my mother and my brother died in their sleep. I check on my husband during the night
81.I cry too easily
82.I love that moment in live theater just before the curtain goes up as everyone begins to hush and the expectation rises
83.I love opera now that our opera house has subtitles
84.I love berries, black, blue, red but cherries are the best
85.I like to share a beer with DH because I only like beer when it is COLD, icy cold
86.I had rheumatic fever when I was 7 and spent an entire year in bed; I had to learn to walk again.
87. I have a ribbon stash.
88.I like to wrap presents and decorate the packages
89. I just took down the Christmas tree

WHO AM I, PART 2

2007-03-09T02:29:00.000-08:00

After I found out that like Elinor Dashwood, I am practical, circumspect, discreet, tremendously sensible and allow my head to rule, I found I have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.

Get Your Sexy Name

WOW, who knew!

Who Am I?

2007-03-04T15:04:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I do but I have so much fun with these little quizes. My dd and I took this one together and were entranced by how differently we viewed each other on some answers. We both like these novels very much. Now I must read "Sense and Sensibility" again and pay attention to Elinor.

Take the Quiz here!

We have all been very sick for over a week with what started as a cold. Drat these viruses. This was vicious and was as bad as any flu bug I ever had. Today is the first day I have picked up my knitting. Socks, hats and plans are nipping at my fingers.

A SPECIAL POST FOR MY SECRET PAL

2007-03-02T07:01:00.000-08:00

I read the posts of other sock knitters and noticed the happiness with which they noted they had "turned the heel". With glee I have turned the heel of both socks and finished the gussets. Oh joy, it's on to the toes! Now I understandt the Joy of Sox.
On the needles I also have 80% of a pair of booties, a child's hat, a hat for charity, a scarf, and my socks. There are so many things I want to knit I just keep adding projects. Happiness for me has been discovering that while I was working, knitting and yarn grew into a whole new world and I am now just dabbling my toe in an ocean of new pleasures. There is so much to read, to knit and to see. How can someone not knit?

I joined SP10 and am anxiously awaiting my secret pal to spoil! Here are my answers to the questionairre.

1. I've been knitting off and on for 35 years but only in worsted and baby yarn from the local craft store. I see there are so many new exciting yarns, I can't wait to experiment with them all. I buy yarn at my LYS just to hold and feel it!!
2. My circulars are in zip-loc bags and the others are in a 12" tall round vase.
3. I taught myself when I was pregnant with my first child; ripple afghans, baby hats, a romper set. I knitted for friends children but never for me. Now I'm looking forward to knitting for me. I consider myself a very enthusiastic intermediate with ambitions!
I have signed up for a class in designing for myself.
4.I do have an Amazon wish list but I would read anything on knitting. Can a knitting library be too big?
5.Mostly florals but no rose. I also like citrus but no WHITE LINEN. I love garden flowers, fresias, lavender, geraniums, carnations,
6. I never met a chocolate I did not like, or a toffee.
7.I quilt, sew, do needlepoint, dabble in stamping, etc for home made cards, and I've made Japanese ornaments
8. I've very eclectic tastes, from folk music to the classics. I own original Leadbelly, Weavers, Miriam Makeba and have Sting, Chris Isaak, a little Bohemian Rhapsody, Andrea Bocelli, Yo-Yo Ma, etc. To get my children to listen to our music I had to listen to theirs and it continues to today, I recently watched ROck STar Supernova and was entranced. Good music is good music whatever the genre.
9. I love greens, Shabby Chic Pastels, pewter grey, stark black, lots of colors, happy colors, colors to try,
10.I've been married 44 years and 2 months. I was a service brat and a military wife, 2 children, daughter 41 who is an interior designer of high end residential, and commercial, and a son 39 who can make a computer do somersaults. We have a rottweiler, and all are active in fund raising for Cancer research as we have lost 2 dear pets to cancer and many family members.
11. I love hats, scarf, mittens, I want to knit a fingerless pair, but no ponchos. I am a heavier woman and ponchos look like tents!
12. It seems I like to knit anything I see that I like. I love pattern and color
13. see the above post, I also am committed to a hat a week for charity as my Lenten gift. In giving to charity I have had to give up time for other fun things so I feel it is acceptable
14.Yes, isn't it nice that someone would want to make something for you!
15. Most of what I have is old plastic, or metal. I have used the bamboo circulars and like them. I understand new needles in aluminum have very sharp points and I would like to try them.
16. No
17.My oldest UFO is a sweater over 10 years old for son who informed me sweaters are too hot. I am frogging it to make it into a scarf for him now.
18.Christmas is always a favorite and we do celebrate 12th night with a gift to remember the Gifts of the Magi. But I lived in Venezuela and in the Philippines and I love the Fourth of July. We had birthday parties and the children sang Happy Birthday to AMerica. Also my BIL was born on July 3rd and I lost my mother on July 3rd. SO we always have a do!
19. I inherited a house full of antiques from my parents, lots of fish plates and a vast collection of salt dishes. I'll post pictures.
20.I do not have any subscriptions. DO you recommend one?
21. I just want to be the best I can be and learn to knit beauuftiful garments for myself.
22.My first pair of socks is done thru the gusset, I'll have them on this week and I'll let you know about size,
23.I am a happy soon to be 66 year old, born March 27, an Aries woman married to a Taurus man. Lots of lively banter and stubborness in this house.

I am looking forward to this...I am very easy to please and I think very young at heart.

Poetry

2007-02-26T07:49:00.001-08:00

I have always loved poetry although my tastes have changed over the years. I tried to chose one for February 2, the Blogger SIlent Poetry Reading Day, only to find my tastes had again changed. While looking though some old magazines I found this by Mokichi Okada and was moved.

Born
As human beings,
It is our duty
To strive our utmost
For peace in the world
And the happiness of others.

Those
Who love humanity
And help people in need,
Are always loved
And protected by God
Wherever they may go.

A person
Who strives constantly
To help others
And better the world,
Is like a diamond
Buried in the sand.

I'd like to see a world of peace, health and prosperity for all. Albert Pine said, "What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal".

SHARING

2007-02-19T09:13:00.000-08:00

If we want our family to like and join us in OUR adventures we have to reciprocate, which is why I found myself last night watching the Daytona 500. It was an amazing race. Some of us watched with companions. My daughter watched with an 80 pound rottweiler. I watched with a Mary Kay pink dishcloth I was knitting for my favorite skin care lady. My spouse who is the race fan, went to sleep on the floor.

I WON

2007-02-18T11:08:00.000-08:00

In January I spent a bit at “The Knitting Corner” my LYS. To my surprise they notified me earlier this month that I had won a drawing for those who had spent likewise. The adorable arrangement held 4 differnt kinds of yarn ( oh the experiments I can do) and a very fragrant bath soap . The snowman is so adorable I hate to dismember him., but I will. I can't wait to knit the bath mitt. I never win so I was elated.

sock-it-to-me

2007-02-17T06:14:00.000-08:00

I have not posted for a while because I have been in the sock dumps. I finished the gusset, yeah, and decided something was wrong, terribly wrong! I deceased every round instead of every other. Never had ripped anything on size 1 but bravely blundered on. Ripped back an inch and shed a tear on the way. Through sheer will power I got all the stitches back on a needle but they were every which way, some were split and some on the wrong needle. Fortunately my instructer Sue Von Ohlsen ( a more patient person never lived) took my little sock in hand and straightened me out, told me where I was now in the pattern and sent me forth, again. I love my socks and am back knitting. I actualy picked out the next pair, a silvery gray color in a simple lace pattern.

I also knit two dishcloths/washcloths for my DH. I started this years ago after reading an article about Anita Loos. She was a novelist and screen writer, who wrote GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, and made her own facecloths. DH loved them for his face in the AM. I hadn't knitted one in a year or so and now that I am retired, DH requested some new ones. I did the "LOVE DAY WASHCLOTH" from http://tricotine.typepad.com/ which had hearts knitted in and gave it to him for a Valentine.

That evening we were watching a PBS presentation of "South Pacific". I suddenly saw him get up, come over and hold my hand as the star began to sing "Some enchanted Evening". WIth a little catch in his voice he told me he always thought of me when he heard that song. DH always said he saw me one evening and never saw me again for a year. I had gone to live in Venezuela for a year. WHen I reurned, the first time he saw me again he asked for a date for the following day. After the date he told me he believed in love at first sight. I was able to tell him I did also. It has been 45 years ago this month and he still remembers. How lucky am I?

The past two weeks have also been very disturbing as my church seems to be in a turmoil. I am an Episcopalian and there has been a lot of discord in the Anglican Communion. I offer this prayer for us all.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:19-20 (RSV)

Tech Support

2007-01-28T04:02:00.000-08:00

I called my son with some questions about web design. We call him the WEB DESIGN HOTLINE and he returned my call as TECH SUPPORT. He advised me that "my account" had a negative balance as I had not yet ridden my miles on my bike that day. After much joshing and fun we moved on to the support. He has always been in my corner . Through rotator cuff surgery he was the only one who could jolly me through another set of the very painful exercises. You are gift Shep and I am very glad to be the recipient. Thank you! 11.54 down and on to 100!

First Socks

2007-01-26T15:03:00.000-08:00

Here is the current view of my first socks .. soft lovely colors for ME!

Here I Am

2007-01-26T13:28:00.000-08:00

My first effort to include some photos..here is hubby and Liebe.

Recumbent Rambling

2007-01-25T06:14:00.000-08:00

I did another 2 miles for a total of 8.28 miles. The cold snap has severely affected the arthritis in the knees. That has limited the amount of miles I can do. We all think we have it so hard. My friend is battling lung cancer. Can I do three miles tomorrow? 2 for me and 1 while in prayer for Bon. I admire her so much.
Have I mentioned how I love my socks? I hope to take a picture tonight.
Socks for Christmas all around, Yeah!!!!

DOING THE SOCK DANCE!

2007-01-24T07:51:00.000-08:00

Last night I mastered the 5 needle dpn technique. I can knit the square and am dancing up a storm. I love my socks, even the ruffly top. Woo-hoo, the world looks bright!

Trials and Tribulations of SOCKS

2007-01-23T09:05:00.000-08:00

1st, I rode 2.02 miles in 17:55 for a total so far of 6.28. My knee is very stiff and it was difficult. Next is the heating pad and the SOCK. Got the ribbing almost done for the second sock and discovered the color change is backwards. I started the first with the yarn from the center of the skein and silly me, stated the second with the yarn from the outer wrap. Megan is an interior designer and knew immediately when she saw them what had happened. Lucky I can laugh at myself! I have always been the person who makes all the mistakes ONCE but once only. I also notice that the ruffle at the start of sock 1, due to the instructors VERY loose cast on, has worn very well on me. I like it. So I have to rip one sock back and I can't decide which one.
I wonder what the world would be like if all the problems were this small!
Knit on!
I've fallen for a Lady Eleanor scarf and am looking for the pattern if anyone is reading!

2 Miles

2007-01-21T15:54:00.000-08:00

2 miles today took 16.28 minutes, for a total of 4.26 miles. I read National Geographic while biking. Probably should look for some better literature if I intend to bike longer.
I cast on the 2nd sock of the pair. Some people knit socks on 2 circulars and that seems worth trying. But I'll finish these first.
I want to felt a pair of clogs. Found some daffodils for this March baby on a Sicks Knits website that look cute for decoration.

100 by April 1 report

2007-01-20T08:05:00.000-08:00

I plan to do "100 by April 1" and so far have 2.26 miles on my recumbent. It is supposed to be good for the knees and I can use all the good I can get. 1 mile today took 10.28 minutes. That will be a time I hope to reduce.
My son's BOSU (balance trainer) arrived yesterday. It is slightly smaller than hubby's and now I have to decide. The pelvic lifts using the dome are horrendous to do but have great results. I am basically a lazy person and physical exercise as such never appealed. I do love to walk, which is extremely hard currently. But "one, two" routines never did anything for me at least not as much as a good read or some knitting-!! Tee-hee! BUT my physical therapist punctuated her exercises with an exact description of what the exercise does for me. Now my body and my mind are in a battle to see whether exercise wins. It has to at least by April 20.
Hubby just arrived home from his 3 times per week bike ride. Today was 21 miles at 37 degrees with a good wind. They went out with the wind at their back and returned with a quartering tail wind. It could have been worse. At soon to be 75 John loves to ride with the 30 somethings and show the flag for seniors. Sometimes he leaves them wondering just how does he do it. He does not look his age and loves to see them when they find out how old he is. He has great buns and Megan often says she would enter him in a "wet buns" contest if she finds one! Go John!
My sock looks strange due to the "loose" cast on required by my instructor. I am still fumbling with the 5 dpn's and intend to inquire WHY start a beginner on size ones and on 5 dpns. It seems to me that size 4's at least and a 4 needle system would have made a better start. I wish I could convert these. I still love the yarn. They will definitely be anklets as I cannot see myself going very far up my leg in this manner.
As soon as son figures out how to post photos, I will.

ROcky sock start

2007-01-18T06:49:00.001-08:00

Have you ever been absolutely sure you can do something, only to find out when you start you are very inept….bungling, uncomprehendingly, all fingers, falling all over yourself! Tonight I had my much-anticipated first class in knitting socks. After knitting for over 41 years, I found I was the least capable in the class, dropping stitches, casting on much too tight, unable to hold 4 needles and knit with a fifth, on and on. IT WAS NOT WHAT I HAD ANTICIPATED!

So switch on the brainpower on, Romelda! Why does the pattern call for 5 needles? Maybe when I reach the heel I will need that many? For now I see no reason so I have moved all stitches to 4 needles and suddenly I am not the clumsiest person in the universe. The triangle is a LOT easier than the square! I’ve done an inch in less than an hour as opposed to 3 rows in 2 days. It’s only 72 stitches for gosh sake!!

I read a blog entry on “Some Knitting Required” concerning her request for sponsors for KNIT MICHIGAN. What a marvelous idea. I am so amazed at the creative efforts to raise money to fight cancer. I’ve lost so many family members, friends, a next-door neighbor, parents of friends, and even 2 dogs to this horrible disease. Jae and her friends have found a way to help and have fun knitting. Impressive! I sent a contribution. You can too!

Dearest hubby bought me a balance dome to celebrate my last day of current physical therapy. It is very helpful in lunges and keeping my core in good balance. My surgery is for April 20th and I will then return to physical therapy. Lots of work to do to be in best shape for my new knee!! With great happiness in my son’s next phone call, I explained his Dad’s unexpected gift. He said I could keep that one or the one he had sent which should arrive the next day. How did I deserve 2 such great guys. I am truly blessed. Now to work. With my biking “100 by April 1” I estimate I will put in at least an hour each day. May be I will track it here so Shep can follow. He has been encouraged, I think by me, and now has a personal trainer. Many years ago his left femur was shattered in a freak accident and he has had a weak muscle structure in that thigh. He was my very best supporter during a rough recovery from rotator cuff surgery so we encourage each other. Not that other family members don’t help, they are VERY supportive. Shep and I just have a very personal understanding of physical trauma and it’s hard recovery.

5 projects at once

2007-01-14T15:43:00.000-08:00

I find that I am acquiring knitting projects faster than rabbits reproduce. One project is a Tahki child’s hat that is really adorable. I’ve only done about 12 rows but I love the feel of the cotton and the pattern. I need more colors than are available in the local yarn stores. The yarn is more expensive on the web. WHY? The additional postage is understandable but the price per skein varies from $4.99 locally to $6.50 on the web.

Another project is a scarf I ordered from “knitty” in merino wool called BILBAO. My daughter and I have always wanted to see the Frank Gehry museum at Bilbao so the name appealed to me. The order process was simple (they get 4 stars for that!) and the response time was 3 days. WOW! The color was listed as “tin” and I expected it to be lighter but my daughter loves the color so it’s all right. After all it is grey so I can KAL to Grey’s Anatomy. It has been years since I knitted in fingering yarn but it is good practice to knit on this yarn before Tuesday’s class when I start my sock’s on 1’s, and dpn’s to boot on fingering yarn.

I knit another triangular scarf (see photo) in basically a burgundy color mix but at the end when I unraveled, I unraveled the long edge instead of the triangular one and had to frog the whole thing. So I am starting that again. The chenille and eyelash will never be my favorite thing to knit. Too many strings to get picked up and add stitches but we love the scarves.

Just finished the Yarn Harlot’s “Knitting Rules”. First I started laughing, then reading passages aloud to the non-knitters and then MAGIC happened. I hesitate to call them “tricks” because these are things discovered by making mistakes, correcting them, then admitting them and sharing the results. It recalled to mind the first armhole facing I ever did. I won a sewing machine in October. Newly pregnant, I was going to the Virgin Islands for Christmas. We were living in Norfolk, VA. I did not want to buy winter and summer maternity clothes so I sewed some simple “tanks”. The first facing went in 6 times. By the time I had it perfected I was a facing expert. I can teach anyone!!!

Overboard

2007-01-09T17:53:00.000-08:00

I jumped into the swim today with both feet. I have been reading so many blogs and have become so enervated. One of the local knitting stores has a sock class starting Tuesday, so I signed up and bought some lovely yarn. It has to be knitted on size 1 dble oints which has me a little fearful. It has been a long time since I used ones. My children are 39 and 41!!
Then one of the children of a friend fell in love with a hat she saw in a book , "TOO CUTE" by Debby Ware. The patterns are all in Tahki Cotton CLassic and the colors are just yummy. So I bought that yarn and cast on to start. The color changes are a fair isle style?? and I have never done that, so I really have picked up some different challenges. I was strict;y an afghan and scarf knitter until a few days ago.
I am awaiting a knee replacement on April 20, so I also picked up the "100 by Aprril 1" and I will do mine on my recumbent Bicycle. I am recovering from arthroscopic surgery on the same knee (that did not correct the problem) so the exercise will do me good. Can you knit and bikde at the same time???

plethora of knitters

2007-01-08T12:06:00.000-08:00

I've been roaming the web for a few days and am amazed at the world-wide range of talents and ideas for knitters. My retirement date is 1 February 2007. I have been looking forward to it and to knitting all day, every day. all yarns, all colors, EVErYTHING.
But I am almost overwhelmed with the choices. I need a knitting group. Perhaps I can find a web ring to join. I have currently finished 2 scarves in chenille and eyelash. It was a cute pattern and I will post a photo to view. Many friends have asked for one and it is so simple I may just supply them with one.

First day

2007-01-06T08:11:00.000-08:00

In the true sense of pell-mell, in mingled confusion, I am starting. I have the overwhelming sense, mingled with great glee, of "what the heck have I done".