There's winning, and there's winning...

Well, it's official: I did NOT win the Cat Sweater contest sponsored by Crazy Aunt Purl. It's a shame, too, since 1) The grand prize sounded wonderful, and 2) We had to wake Clarence up to put the sweater on him. Oh, well!

And I had a couple of thoughts about chillen's today. I was watching JrBravesFanatic playing ball in the backyard when a large airplane flew overhead. He stopped what he was doing and looked to see what kind of plane it was, and I thought, that must be what it means to have a boy: someone I can count on to stop and look at passing airplanes. And, since I try to be a fair kind of Mom, (hehe) I must add that having a girl around means someone I can count on to help me shop for clothes, and really feel comfortable telling me, "Mom you do NOT want to buy that pair of pants! Ewwww!!"

Just a couple of examples--there are really so many more reasons why having these kiddoes around is a great thing. It makes me feel like a WIN-AH!

Thankful

I recently discovered that Jan Karon has written a new book--not a Mitford book, but a book still starring Father Tim Kavanaugh. I breathed a sigh of relief and went to the library. I wasn't looking for the new book, though. I was looking for the last Mitford book, Light from Heaven. I have thus far steadfastly refused to read it, knowing full well that I wouldn't be able to handle saying a permanent goodbye to all the characters I've "known" for the last 10 years. BUT! If Father Tim carries on in a new book (maybe even a new series!), then so can I.

The timing is perfect to read this book, too, as Thanksgiving is upon us. Karon's novels make me feel so thankful, so appreciative of the way God moves in the lives of people, and so much more aware of the beautiful things in life.

I'm thankful for my friends and family, too, virtual and otherwise. May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!

What type of yarn are you?

You are baby alpaca, soft and warm, and cute for everything Take this quiz! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

I (Heart) Cables!

Ok, why didn't anyone tell me how easy cables were? Ok, then why didn't I listen?? I have a new knitting obsession, and I call it--Cable-liciousness. This all started because I wanted to make a new scarf and I wanted to try something different and I finally got brave enough to open the package of cable needles I've had for a year, and it all happened on the same day. And I love love love cables!

It's so nice that knitting is filled with lots of new things to discover. And become obsessed with!

Lately I've been...

**Schlepping children to multiple fall festivals, with and without costumes.

**Collecting as much cat hair as possible on everything I wear.

**Switching out the short sleeve t-shirts for the long sleeve t-shirts--hey, nothing like a diverse wardrobe! Now that our daytime highs are only in the lower 70's (and the humidity is down---hooray!!), it's time to pull out the winter clothes . I finally caught on the to fact that, around here, winter clothes are best limited to cotton sweaters and thin long-sleeved shirts. This is, after all, South Carolina, where the heat gets blasted indoors if the temps outdoors fall below60 degrees. You know what they say about cooking a frog by turning up the heat gradually? Well, I so get that now.

**Reading about our own personal star of the month, Loretta Young: beautiful, inspiration, role model. Seems she probably spent more time helping others (hospice, etc) and pointing them toward God, than she spent in front of movie or television cameras. Very cool. ALSO...did you know Ricardo Montalban was her brother-in-law? And Van Johnson once made a guest appearance on "Fantasy Island" (starring Montalban, of course)? And I was once in "Showboat" with Van Johnson? Him: Big-name star attraction, complete with trademark red socks and incredibly boyish grin. Me: Nobody stage crew with walk-on part. We play this little game around here. Kevin Bacon notwithstanding, I can connect to just about any movie star from the Golden Age of Hollywood via~~~~~VAN JOHNSON!!

**Enjoying our first-of-the-year wood fire. No, it's not really That Cold, but it was cooler and quite lovely to crank up the fireplace again.

**Trying not to spaz (does use of that word date me like I think it does??) that Thanksgiving is so close and Christmas is hot on its heels. I have a mere 3.8 things from the Top Secret Christmas Knitting list completed. Not enough to relax yet. Has this stopped me from working on the Shawl to End All Shawls or reading knitting books for more project ideas? Hardly. But it would be so nice to have that yummy bit of alpaca-osity ready when we have our 3 days of winter. And I'll need something to knit once the Christmas projects are done. And I have no self-control sometimes. At least I can admit it.

**Trying to think nice thoughts about whoever came up with Daylight Savings Time. Grrr.....

World Series Angst

I like happy endings. I know we live in a real world, a fallen world even, and happy endings don't always happen. But, still, I prefer them.

Which is why I'm experiencing World Series Angst right now. You see, DaHubby is a Red Sox fan from way back when, so naturally he's pulling for Boston. And well, though I hail from the Lone Star state (aka God's country), I was actually born in Colorado and as such have always felt a certain fondness for my natal state. Also, rooting for the underdog has long been a tradition in our house (see: "DaHubby is a Red Sox fan from way back when").

Last night I apologized to DaHubby for rooting against his team in the Series, and he assured me that it was ok.

So why the angst? Because Boston leads 2-0 and if I'm going to root for someone, I want to see them WIN, that's why!!!! I mean, have you seen some of these guys? We're talking "old Boston" for sure! What are you whippersnappers on the Rockies doing?? Surely you can beat a bunch of old men like the Red Sox!!

Ok, tirade over.

Go Rockies!!

Edited Monday, 10-29: Well, my Rockies didn't last the weekend, so I guess that, as they say, is that! :(

Polar Bears, Elephants, Cats and Alpaca (Oh, My!)

Still trying to find the time to square away things on Ravelry...I figured out Flickr, but need to take more pictures of knitting (I never thought I'd feel the need to say THAT!) to upload, yada yada yada.

And thanks to these guys,
I now have to share the computer with the kids on a regular basis. Normally I do not get into the hype of the latest greatest new toy or gadget. For years I have shaken my head in disbelief at friends who have spent precious time and money tracking down the most recent toy fad for their children. No longer can I scorn such actions, for we have officially entered the Webkinz World. I have mixed emotions about WW, ranging from:
1) what on earth were we thinking agreeing to bring such things into our lives so the kids'll tie up the computer doing their thing when there seems to be precious little time to do my thing, and this just as I get into Ravelry and not to mention I have subjects of dubious interest about which to blog!?!! to
2) how do I come up with something that'll hook kids aged 4 and up and require their parents to spend precious time and money tracking down my most recent toy fad?????

The only thing I can fall back on is the fickle nature of children and the hope that in a few weeks they'll tire of all the online fun and I'll get my computer back. Otherwise it'll seem awfully lame to have to go use the computer at the library 'cause mine's been taken over by all that fuzzy cuteness.

In knitting news, the weather has sufficiently cooled to bring out the alpaca shawl and work on it some more. By sufficiently cooled I mean that the inside temps with air conditioning blasting are now low enough that I can stand to work with this really warm yarn and finish this everlasting slogfest that is the shawl to end all shawls.
Yes it really is as boring as it looks, but I like the charcoal color and the softness and the drape and I plan to wear it. If I ever finish it. Those size 6 needles really make it last. Forever. I got the idea for it from a pattern in Greetings from Knit Cafe, combined with the look of a shawl that a friend made. Of course, the smart friend used something like size 11 needles and some beautiful fuzzy mohair so it only took her a couple of months of knitting around an active toddler...

I'm also searching for the "perfect" sock pattern to cast on for pair #2. (Dale, I have taken the proactive step of procuring a second set of dpn's so I can make two socks at a time, instead of facing Second Sock Syndrome---again! I so hated the second sock until it was finished.) It's supposed to be a part of the Top Secret Christmas Knitting Program, but unless I find a pattern soon, it might be part of next year's program. Especially since I now have to leave the computer for WW time! Oh the humanity....

Busy

Can't talk now---I got my Ravelry invite yesterday, so you know where I am. And yes, it's cooler even than I thought it'd be! Now to figure out Flickr....

So many birthdays!

"I know I was writing stories when I was five. I don't know what I did before that . . . just loafed, I suppose."
P.G. Wodehouse, born on this day in 1881.

"Can't I open a present a day early??"
JrBaseballFanatic, born on this day in 2000.

"I can't believe you made socks for me!!!"
DaHubby, born 10/07/??

Yes, I did make socks and I finished them in time for his birthday, and I had successfully kept them a total secret! Take that, Second Sock Syndrome!

In honor of two out of the 3 birthdays celebrated in this blog post, we have spent the last week hiking and observing trees, birds, animals and books. How, you ask, does one hike and observe books? At the
Carl Sandburg Home, naturally! It made my day when SuperCraftyDancerGirl told me she was jealous of all the books in that place---I think they said there are 20,000 or so of them. And to think, she's only 10. I suspect that we have another book addict on our hands.

So we hiked...in Flat Rock, at King's Mountain, and then later in the week at the zoo. Photos to come...but until then, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my men! And to Plum, too! That'll be all, Jeeves.

Today's Quotes

Our quotes today come from Eleanor Roosevelt, born on this day in 1884--a woman who endured much, accomplished much and just happened to be our WWII First Lady. Oh, and she was also famous for hauling around a large bag of knitting. I read somewhere where she and Mrs. Herbert Hoover even traded knitting patterns.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
(Thanks to the movie, The Princess Diaries, every little girl in America has now heard this quote.)

"Never be bored, and you will never be boring."
(This one goes right next to my quote from Eloise--"Being bored is not allowed!")

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people."
(Ok, I remembering hearing this one when I was in middle school, but I had no idea it was attributed to Eleanor!)

"A woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water."

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

A Funny Day in History

It's the birthday of one-half of that comedic duo, Abbott and Costello. "Bud" Abbott was born on this day in 1897. As a child I fondly remember their movies (in re-runs on tv, people, I am NOT that old!), but have as an adult discovered that they were really good on radio. The smallfry and I have been listening to a cd collection of A & C on radio shows from the 1940's (of course!) and I laugh so hard I can barely see. Not a good thing, since I'm the one driving!!



It's also the birthday of Julius Henry Marx, known and loved as Groucho.

And it's the anniversary of Johnny Carson taking over the desk at the Tonight Show.

Is it just me, or is all that enough to declare today some sort of national holiday?

As of today, I'm only behind 9024 people in line at Ravelry. I think that's a huge jump from the last time I checked, which was Tuesday, when I was 11386 back...whew! Celebrate, it's only 4 digits now!

And it's a good thing, too 'cause I took a very scientific quiz and it turns out I'm a Knitter!

You are a Knitter, with the capital K. You are never found without needles and yarn in hand. Your favorite place is the yarn shop and you can never seem to leave without buying needles or wool or a pattern or those fantastic stitch markers. Darn yarn fumes. Your stash of yarn is the kind that spills out of closets and is taking over the house. And it's still growing. Beware of SABLE (Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy). You may need to bequeath yarn to people in your will. Knitting is a lifestyle for you, not just a hobby. You do it for fun, to make presents, or to cool off. We need more of your kind in the world. Go start a knitting club at your school or local coffee shop.

I did have someone say to me recently that they hardly recognized me without my knitting in hand! And I had to ask myself, am I that bad? Must be!

However, I was honestly shocked by the implication that I should only acquire yarn I will be able to use within my lifetime. This was a concept I had never before considered. I must say I'm not very fond of this concept either. So there.

The junior set in our house have been delving into the study of Ancient Egypt (Thank you, Staff at our local library, you totally rock!!). I'm wondering if it's worth the effort to find some evidence that any of those tombs had knitting needles in them for afterlife projects. Instead I should just be grateful that no one has yet suggested we try to turn the cats into mummies! There's already been talk of making gingerbread pyramids for Christmas this year....

Sleigh bells ring....

What?! You don't hear the sleigh bells??? Christmas is now a mere 3 months away. That's like, 90 days(ish)! Isn't anyone else panicking yet?

Actually, I finished one project on the Top Secret Christmas Knitting List this morning. I can't tell you what it is...but it's done! Only 8 or 9 left to go. Sigh.

Speaking of Christmas, seems I will NOT being receiving a certain handbag for that holiday. Maybe an alpaca won't seem like to much to ask for now...

And this puts a whole new spin on holiday crafts. Textile artist Alison Murray has created a giant gingerbread house made of knitted items to raise funds for charity. Yarnalicious!

Ahoy there, Mateys!

Scribe Tarred Eye here from the sea dog ship Calypso's Dishonor to inform ye that today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. My good friend Black Morty Rackham so kindly reminded me of this fact. And it be a good thing, too. Me and the little pirate lass and the little pirate lad have been busy of late. We were watchin' that excellent show "Pirates of Penzance" and completely lost track of what day it be.
So remember that tis a glorious thing t'be a Pirate King and have a pleasant day. Aaarrgh!

Friday Funny

Studies show that laughter is good for you--so what are you waiting for?

Q: What do you call a female moth?
A: Myth!

Q: Why do whales live in salt water?
A: Pepper water makes them sneeze!

Q: What do you get when you cross an otter with a duck?
A: I don't know either but it would be otterly reduckulous!

Ok, now, big finish....
A little girl walked into a pet store and lispingly asked the owner if he had any "widdle wabbits" for sale.
The shop owner thought this was adorable and crouching down replied," That depends. Would you wike a white widdle wabbit, a bwack widdle wabbit or a wed widdle wabbit?"
Replied the girl,"I don't fink my pyfon weally cares."

International Items

You can file this one under WhoMakesUpTheseHolidaysAnyway? or StuffTheyShouldHaveTaughtUsInSchool, but it's....

International Chocolate Day!!!!!!

Is that ever a great holiday or what? You don't have to give gifts, but if you do, well, give chocolate! And you can eat chocolate. Sounds like a great holiday, doesn't it?

And on other international notes...

My Permission to Knit has been lovingly translated into the language of love. And since I love to knit, it's just so very appropriate. I must admit, my 8 years of French wasn't equal to the task. Merci, Startare!

So, with permission to knit in 2 languages, and some Russell Stover dark chocolate on hand, let the top-secret Christmas knitting continue unabated!!

Shhh....if you're reading this, and you know me, be very careful how you enter a room. If I'm in that room, and I'm knitting, you might not want to sneak up on me. Christmas is just around the corner, you know! And I'm coordinating all knitting to the whereabouts of all my giftees. So don't dig in the knitting bag, and make a lot of noise when you approach. It's for your own good.

On a more public note, I've just finished my first Accidental Bobble Cloth, found at a perfectly lovely blog that I don't remember exactly how I got to! I'm calling mine the Awkward Bobble Cloth as these were my first attempts at bobbles and well, they look a bit awkward to me. But I love the cloth and how it lays flat. Lies flat. Whatever. Planning to make several, especially when I'm surrounded by everyone I'm knitting for. For whom I'm knitting. Whatever.

As of this a.m., I'm only behind 16556 people in the Ravelry waiting list. I wonder if it helps to email them and tell them what a bad waiter I am. How bad I am at waiting. Whatever. I'm really not very patient. Or good at grammar today. Who knew that knitting required better grammar than I'm able to muster today? Sigh.

$10 Worth of What???

So I'm frying up some sausage for supper (yeah, I know, I know, health food it ain't, but I live in the South and hey! at least I'm cooking!), and here comes JrBravesFanatic ("Mommy, if she gets to be SuperCraftyDancerGirl on your blog, who do I get to be??").
Behold the Silly Putty fashion show:

Which just goes to show you that you never really know what they'll do when you let them buy $10 worth of Silly Putty. Yes, that's right, the world being in the shape it's in, I let JrBravesFanatic spend $10 of his own money on Silly Putty. Instead of putting it in his college fund. Hey, he's only going to be young once! And I ask you, has Obi-Wan ever looked so stylicious?

Nine step program for miter addicts

This is what happens when you try to wean yourself off of making miters. I had to do something miter-ish when I finished the fabulous Mitered Bag.

Thanks to the Mason-Dixon Knitting blog, I found these Ninepatch dishrags to ease me back into miter-less knitting. It only took three of them to accomplish that! At least temporarily, as I'm planning some miter-ing for Christmas gifts. Shhhh....!




This last one I'm keeping per Da Hubby's request for more autumnal-colored dishcloths. What is up with that green square?

Quake!

It was on this day in 1886 that the Big Quake of '86 occurred in Charleston, SC. There's a nice write-up at the History Channel's website.

I have to wonder what went through their minds...only 21 years since the end of the Civil War, and the folks here weren't exactly living it up. Economic conditions in Charleston never really began to recover until WWII (see, I told you it was an important time!). So then this huge quake hits. It must have been bewildering, to say the least. And destructive. They estimate the number of chimneys that fell to be around 14,000. When you think about the fact that these chimneys weren't just recreational, but vital to cooking and heating, you get an idea of the mess they were in. You can still see evidence of that long ago quake in areas around Charleston--among them ruins of grand houses that were damaged beyond their ability (financial or otherwise) to repair.

I wonder if anyone blamed the US government for the quake, for not warning the residents fast enough, for racial profiling (or it could have been regional profiling in this case), or for moving too slowly in supplying assistance. I wonder if, on the subsequent anniversaries of the quake, the survivors joined together to criticize the current administration and reaffirm their status as victims. Or did they rather give thanks for being alive, continue to rebuild, and look to the future? I wonder if they could have foreseen what Charleston is now and how the lack of wherewithal that plagued the area for so long has helped contribute to Charleston's status as an historical treasure of old homes, old buildings and quaint cobblestone streets. (Somehow I doubt it! I think they probably hated those cobblestone streets as much as I do!)

So that's your history lesson for today. Now go knit something!