Wind and War

Greetings from beyond the wind tunnel! I had the carpet guy (aka Da Hubby) deep clean the carpets, and now every fan is on HIGH and I feel like I'm in Chicago during the windy season. Or in the Dust Bowl without the dust! The incessant blowing is starting to get to me!

Good news, though. While catching the last few minutes of History Detectives the other night, I found out what I'm going to be doing in September. Ken Burns, that poetic purveyor of delicious documentary, has hit one of my own personal fanatic buttons. From the press release:

"THE WAR...The seven-part documentary series, directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, explores the history and horror of the Second World War from an American perspective by following the fortunes of so-called ordinary men and women who get caught up in the greatest cataclysm in human history."

Starting in mid-September, South Carolina's PBS stations will be broadcasting a whole lovely array of related programming, culminating with The War beginning Sunday, Sept. 23. Anyone else notice the fabulous coincidence of that being the first day of Autumn? Love it! Or there's always the option of catching a screening somewhere around the state--my personal favorite choice being aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown. I don't know, though. I tend to cry when I'm on the Yorktown, so it might be hard to actually see the movie! Yes, WWII history means that much to me. And I'm a big crybaby anyway! The kids think I cry during movies, etc, just to embarrass them, but it's just not true. But I digress.

What a great opportunity to start a scarf for a WWII veteran (probably my very own Papa, a Marine Raider who served in the Pacific). And I'll need to lay in a good supply of tissues! Thank you, Ken Burns!

Who's on first??

The following exchange took place a few weeks ago, before the trade which brought Teixeira to Atlanta and re-arranged the line-up.

My 6yo Braves fanatic: Mama, do you know who bats after Chipper?
Me: Is it Andruw?
Braves fanatic: Yeah, do you know who bats after him?
Me (trying to do something like, cook): Umm...Francouer?
Braves fanatic (surely going somewhere with this line of questioning): Yeah. Do you know who bats after him?
Me: Um....no.
Braves fanatic: Me neither, I can't remember his name....but the one after that?
Me: No, baby, I don't know.
Braves fanatic: Aww come on, Mom, it's your favorite Braves player!
Me: Oh, McCann!
Braves fanatic: Right!

And that was it! Was this some sort of test that little boys give their moms? Did I pass? Am I cool? I don't know the answer to that but I do know that I'm extremely glad of one thing: He hasn't asked me "who bats when" since the line-up got changed. Don't tell him this, but I haven't been paying as much attention!

Another Good Thing About Summer

Well, Clarence (the tomato-eating cat) is perennial, but those tomatoes!! The cukes!! Awesome stuff! I'm choosing to focus on the good stuff right now, since we our heat index is something like 116 degrees. Ugh. Good tomato weather, though :)

I'm glad he's influential!

quoting from The Wall Street Journal, 7-15-07:

Jürgen Habermas, influential German intellectual, member of the originally Marxist Frankfurt School of philosophy and self-described "methodical atheist," has revised his view that modernization inevitably leads to secularization. In a 2004 book, "Time of Transitions," he hailed Christianity as the bedrock of Western values:

"Christianity, and nothing else, is the ultimate foundation of liberty, conscience, human rights, and democracy, the benchmarks of Western civilization. To this day, we have no other options [than Christianity]. We continue to nourish ourselves from this source. Everything else is postmodern chatter."

One good thing about summer

Sure, there may be other good things about summer, but it's August in South Carolina and I've yet to come up with a good answer to, "Mommy, why did God make mosquitoes?"

So I give you, the Crepe Myrtle:

When we were in the throes of house hunting, my daughter, then aged 6, decided she wanted a pink tree. If you doubt that God listens to adorable 6 year old girls, just take a gander at our lovely pink tree. I'd like to say we added the Spanish moss for southern charm, but this ain't no movie set, and we spend lots of time trying to keep the moss OUT of the tree!!

Miter-ing

I can't say I wasn't warned...it does say in plain English, right there on page 106 of Mason-Dixon Knitting "Miters are one of the most addictive of knitting pleasures." But I just assumed it meant addictive as in, "Oh, that's fun to knit, I think I'll casually make 20 or 30 as gifts." You know, normal addictive knitting. Maybe that's where I miss it. Truly addictive knitting must not be normal.

I am obsessed by these miters. I started one with leftover dish cloth cotton (ok, it's sorta my favorite yarn anyway) just to see how it was done. The colors, striping into that square, it just blew me away. So now I've been to every possible local outlet for cotton yarn, in desperate search of this teal color...but to no avail! Why is this an issue? Because I MUST MAKE A BAG out of these miters!!!! I've dropped all other knitting projects in a dejected heap to do this thing that I MUST DO. It's like I no longer have the power to make a decision about what I'm going to knit. I've started squeezing knitting time into little snippets of time that really aren't that ideal for knitting. As if I didn't haul the knitting around a lot as it is!

Even just thinking about mitering and the resultant planned bag have distracted me to the point of doing things I don't normally do...like put the detergent and water in the washer, but not the laundry; forget to cook meals; and, here's my favorite: be an idiot at a fast food drive-thru. There I was, salivating at the thought of a Schlotzsky's original (hold the onion), pulling up to the drive-thru. Oh, good, there's another car, that gives me time to peruse the menu, just in case I get really crazy and decide to order something different, which I haven't done since 1988. Nah, I'll stick with the Original. And I'll just knit a few rows of this miter while I wait my turn.

Huh, what? Oh. My.

How long HAVE I been sitting here, at the speaker and menu, while the poor guy inside has been waiting for me to order???? I didn't SEE the speaker. But it makes sense that they would put it right next to the menu, right? Golly. Give order, drive forward, pretend not to be so stupid I don't know how a fast-food joint works. Play it cool. Oh, wait, hide the knitting!

The benefit of the compulsive mitering is that maybe it'll be like a summer storm---violent, noisy, intense, but over soon---and I can return to my normal (there's that word again) life. Or I could start making blankets...the Mitered Square Blanket on pages 108-109 only takes 80 squares! I can DO that!!

Food Ruts

Do you ever find yourself in a food rut? I'm in one now. For months now, if I'm not hungry for anything else, I can easily work up an appetite for nachos. Yes, I know what you're saying. You're saying, well, being from the Tex-Mex capital of the world, what's the big deal about your craving nachos? But it's not really a craving. It's more like one of those things kids do: eat peanut butter sandwiches and only peanut butter sandwiches for like, 5 years. It's a rut, I tell you.

I was standing in the kitchen last night chopping up a fresh batch of salsa (it's so yummy with our homegrown tomatoes and bell peppers! I love having a farmer girl in da house!) to go on a plate of nachos and I came to the conclusion that, as a snack food/meal food, nachos have edged ahead of my all-time favorite, stove-popped popcorn. And I wondered, am I alone in this? This pointless introspection, this categorizing of my eating habits, this food rut-ness? Or are there others like me, standing in the kitchen late at night, preparing yet another plate of something they've eaten 3 times this week already?

What's your food rut?

Finished bags

Here are some pix of the bags I made, oh, back in April.

First the red one, since I made it first...and then the tan one, since I made it second...
And, then the innards of both, with copious thanks to my daughter for helping me choose fabric and put in the linings.

I think they turned out quite nicely. Of course, since I made them up as I went along, I guess I oughta know!

Christmas in July

My son came lugging this lumpy padded envelope in from the mail box and honestly, for some reason I thought to myself, "looks like trouble". Now is that a glass-half-empty attitude or what?? Well, regardless of what I thought, I was WRONG! It was a lovely surprise from my lovely friend Becky. All I did was mention on her blog that I was supremely jealous that she would be attending the Stitch N' Pitch at the Braves game. And now the girl's gone and sent me the goody bag! It's enough to change my outlook on incoming mail.

Naturally my son the Braves fanatic has claimed the bag, and I thought the lime green needles would be especially appreciated by my daughter, who adores lime green. Of course, like many knit junkies, we do share needles...

Thank you so much, dear friend, for making my day!! You rock!

Head for the hills!

Perhaps I stick my head in the sand, live in denial, whatever, but I pretty much avoid watching news shows on TV. Even the kids have figured out that TV news = bad news. Between the scary things in the back of my veggie drawer and the relentless recurrence with which everything in this house needs to be cleaned, I've ample opportunity for dread.

And lets not forget blogland (the land of blog?) wherein the unsuspecting inquiring mind can be led to something like Caffeinated Lip Balm. So help me. And Shower Shock Caffeinated Soap. No, really. Scary, ain't it? What will Stardollars coffee do to counter-act this blatant infringement on their turf? Think about it--if everyone's getting their caffeine buzz elsewhere, it could lead to vacant storefronts on every corner in America. Thousands of out-of-work barristas with no marketable job skills, forming their own special-interest groups, gathering for a Billion Barrista Bevy, tossing out sound-bites to news services ("the very structure of our society is eroding", "it's time to stop the insanity--we must bring back coffee", "if not in my generation, then for my children").

It's a scary world out there, people. Stick to tea.

Looks like a two cuppa day

Looks like a two cuppa day (that's English Breakfast, 2 lumps, with a dash of milk).

Late-ish last night I finished the roll-brim hat made with my lovely Knit Picks circulars (really, getting my first Knit Picks order was a sort of milestone for me, I don't know why), and it's entirely too small for a grown person's head. Unless that grown person has a freakishly small head--not that there's anything wrong with that.

So, instead of working toward some measurable and/or attainable goal this morning, I'm sitting at the computer finding all sorts of interesting websites:

* Captain Bob has this cool site all about education, natural learning, motivation and, of course, tall ships.

*Oh, how we all wish we had a Crazy Aunt Purl. It's nice to know that cat hair makes one loopy. I thought it was something hereditary and unavoidable---at least cat hair isn't hereditary!

*Could it be that punks will save me from my knitting errors? Stay tuned...

Time to put the kettle back on for the second cuppa...right after I shuffle out to the back yard in my pajamas and slippers and throw pool toys at the squirrel hanging upside down from the bird feeder. Again. Grrr...

Happy Birthday, Bill Watterson!

My First Knitpicks Order!

Wow, that was fast! My first ever order from Knitpicks arrived in 5 business days. Maybe that doesn't sound fast, but since shipping was only $2.49, I think that's quite expeditious! Oh, and I just love what I got---16" size 6 circs. I had knit a hat on 29" circs, but it was a pain, and I understood then why the pattern specifically stated 16"! So now, in addition to everything else I have on the needles I'm happily knitting a roll-brim hat for a local Seafarers Ministry. With my luxurious Knitpicks circs :)

Knitting Doesn't Have to be Hard

It's definitely summer down here in the South, a time for mosquitoes, humidity, ceiling fans, the beach, and sweaty glasses of iced tea (or as the locals say "sweetea" or just "tea", with the tooth-decaying sweet syrup unstated but understood. I take mine straight---no sugar!).

Recently while saying, "Thank you, God, for air-conditioning and ice makers," I realized our old thirsty stone coasters weren't as, well..... thirsty, as they once were. So, naturally I decided to KNIT SOME!!

Happy Beginning of Summer!

In honor of the official start of summer, I'd like to share this WWII propaganda poster that I found somewhere recently (I keep a virtual collection of them that I use as screen savers). I think it's the most unusual one I've ever seen....somehow I doubt they posted it at the Charleston Navy Yard during the war, since I'm sure they were already pretty hot!

World Wide Knit in Public Day

I discovered while surfing some knitting blogs today that this Saturday, June 9, is World Wide Knit in Public Day.

I went to the website and THERE IS NOTHING PLANNED IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA!!!!!!!! Of course, I have found out about it too late to officially plan anything. Not that officially planning anything is my forte.

I'm just wondering if maybe there might have been some confusion about the title....of course there's nothing wrong with World Wide Knit in PUBLIX Day, and I do happen to be on very good terms with most of the weekday staff at my own local Publix, but you just can't assume that everyone will have the guts to actually go knit at the grocery store.....and then you have to ask, why Publix? and not Piggly Wiggly or Kroger...

Regardless, I'll have to come up with some place to land with my knitting this Saturday, which makes me think--why not:

World Wide Knit By the Side of the Road Day
World Wide Knit By the Campfire Day
World Wide Knit While Boycotting Camping Day
World Wide Knit Like a Pirate Day
World Wide Knit at the Movies Day
World Wide Knit Door-to-Door Day

and one that just might catch on...
World Wide Knit When You Should Be Cleaning Day!!

Hmmm....

It's the first day of June---Time for:

My plans for the summer....


**Catch some Palmetto Bugs and train them to do a circus act

**Meet more of the neighbors---put a car on concrete blocks in the yard and see who drops by first from the home owners association

**Find a way to feel good about the fact that the thought of going camping makes me shudder

**Knit wool sweaters while sitting on the beach, within the path of kids dripping ocean and sand on everything in sight

**Form a support group for those of us who'd rather have dental work than go camping

**Once a week, frantically load bottled water and batteries into a cart at the store, muttering loudly, "Storm's coming... oh dear oh dear... such a big storm...gotta stock up..."

**Begin blogging the minutiae of my day....8 am: Got out bed. 8:05 am: Went to the kitchen 8:06 am: Put kettle on for tea....

**Plan a camping trip for the hottest day of the summer

**Talk like a pirate while in line at the grocery store

**Pick the squirrels off the bird feeder with a super soaker water gun. Laugh maniacally...while talking like a pirate...

**Pull all the grass and leave the weeds. Put up signs that say "Wildflowers: Do Not Mow"

Today's (Song) Quote

Today is Irving Berlin's birthday (1888), and man is it ever hard to pick ONE favorite out of all his songs!! So I've picked my all-time favorite Fred and Ginger dance featuring words and music by Birthday Boy Irving Berlin:

"Let's Face the Music and Dance"

"There may be trouble ahead,
But while there's moonlight and music,
And love and romance,
Let's face the music and dance.

Before the fiddlers have fled,
Before they ask us to pay the bill,
And while we still have the chance,
Let's face the music and dance.

Soon, we'll be without the moon,
Humming a different tune, and then,

There may be teardrops to shed,
So while there's moonlight and music,
And love and romance,
Let's face the music and dance."

Be glad it's only five

Someone recently forwarded to me a very worthy email, all about choosing to have a good attitude and deciding to be happy.

At the bottom of the missive was a list, and if you are a regular reader of this blog (it's possible---there could be someone!) you may have noticed that I have a penchant for lists.

So here is the list from that encouraging little email....

Five Simple Rules to be Happy:
1) Free your heart from hatred.
2) Free your mind from worries.
3) Live simply.
4) Give more.
5) Expect less.

While the average person may read this (heck, since it was one of those notorious forwards, chances are EVERYone has read it!) and be inspired, nay, strengthened in his or hear daily existence, I however find it only leads me to compose my own list. Perhaps due to my streak of cheeky sarcasm, exacerbated by lack of sleep and too much PG Wodehouse...whatever the reason, here are my very own...

Five Easy Rules for Complicating the Simplest of Endeavors

1) Muck about with your Netflix queue so that instead of a witty, urbane romantic comedy, you end up with "Barney: Shake Your Dino Tail" for a date night movie. (No apologies to Barney)

2) Promise to knit something for someone, but only after you have UFO's (for the non-knitter: UnFinished Objects) on every pair of needles you own. This works best if at least 2 UFO's are for rapidly approaching birthdays, and the newly promised knitting has a very short deadline.

3) Decide to homeschool, then surround yourself with public school teachers who moonlight as truant officers and curriculum experts. Extra points here for having teachers who are directly related to the children in your homeschool. (Not that there's anything wrong with that...)

4) Spend a morning creating gingerbread houses with the kids. Add lots of candy and frosting, then leave them on a 3-foot high table. Go out of town for the day. Leave the dog in the house. Enjoy coming home to clean up what she DIDN'T eat; really enjoy the fun groaning sounds she makes for the next several hours.

5) Paint your nails before leaving the house for the kid's dance practice, thinking you've got adequate time for the polish to dry. Arrive at the studio in time to wire plastic leaves on real trees (it's a recital prop, of course!) for 2 hours. For maximum impact, wear a knee-length skirt that makes it impossible to crawl over scenery.

Today's Quote...

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."

e. e. cummings
(poet, painter, essayist, playwright)