Knitting Passion

This is the Clover Tweed dish cloth. As it uses small amounts (less than half a ball) of yarn, it is wonderful for using up those odds and ends that you have left over from your cotton projects.

I didn’t count this morning, but I must be closing in on having 30 cloths done for the fall ladies retreat. Not all of them are this pattern, of course, but several are. It’s also a quick knit. I finished one last night - from cast on to cast off while watching So You Think You Can Dance and the late news. Cast on a new one before heading to bed and it is about a quarter finished.

The pattern is easy to memorize and don’t be skittish about the changing of colors every two rows. Simply carry the new color up each time - DON’T cut each time . . . goodness! That would necessitate a LOT of weaving in of ends once finished.

I just bring the new color up and over the old color so it kind of holds it in against the cloth as I work. Kind of hard to explain, but when you get to going you will understand.

In the meantime . . . we got some much needed rain last night. Yesterday it was really muggy - for our area - and I had to keep my window open at work because the building was so stuffy. As I was leaving an afternoon meeting off site the rain started - big PLOPS of rain drops at first - later it became a lovely spring shower.

This morning the birds are trilling and waking up and everything just looks greener because of the moisture.

Ahhhhhhhlaska!

. . . love, love, LOVE the show. Tonight’s cuts were hard to watch and I cried with several who were cut and with several who were carried to the next step.

I’m a dancer in my soul . . . not in body - the ankles don’t hold up to it. To be honest, they never have. But, I have music and rhythm in my heart and in my soul.

So, to carry on with the knitting theme that this blog is all about . . . how CUTE are these dancing women? Both pairs were knit by the designer, Karen York. The red pair is shown at Ravelry. The blue pair and the pattern can be found in the Summer 2006 issue of Knitty.

Probably wouldn’t see many dancers wearing these while auditioning - they are more apt to wear leg/ankle warmers. I totally can see dancers wearing something like the Ballet Sweater from Speed Knitting. Maybe not in the fuzzy angora type yarn (sticky when sweaty, I think), but a soft yarn that is flatter - smoother. Yes, that would work.

So . . . who’s up for dancing around the room with me? We don’t have to be good at it - we just have to love it. Right? Right.
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In other news, Mt. Redoubt came out of hiding this afternoon - still steaming away. The steam was angling northwards toward Anchorage today. We here in Kenai have really been blessed not to get more ash fallout than we have.

I do think I might have to change my air filter in the car, though. Hubby and I peeked under the hood to check fluid levels and my engine is DIRTY - DUSTY - oh, so very Alaskan.

So, it’s June . . . the very beginning of June . . . and the knitter’s thoughts turn to what? Well, Christmas, of course!

This is the time of year when I begin to think ahead to what I am going to make THIS year for all of those grandyounguns. When you have seven grandkids, two daughters, a son-in-law and a hubby to plan for, you have to start a bit early.

Of course, thinking and planning sometimes come to naught. I have had THOSE years when NOTHING got accomplished as far as knitting for everyone.

My idea is that just as long as I have something special done for the grands, the rest of them will forgive me. (or not - their choice - grin)

That said . . . is not THIS the cutest???? It’s a knitty pattern and, I’m thinking, PERFECT for the youngest grandson. He’ll be entering kindergarten in the fall and I can just see him wearing this to school.

Now, if I can just see me getting TO it and getting it made.

While you are checking through knitty’s patterns, be sure to check out Babez in da Hood. I am cracking UP at the looks on that little one’s face! S/he looks like something has curled up in his/her tummy and soured in the process. Right? That is some sorta frown on that little guy’s face. Makes me giggle everytime I look at it.

I love the issues of knitty . . . hope you are checking on them, too. The patterns can stretch you and your abilities and give you just that many more things to knit for your family.

Now, off to find things to knit for the other 6 grands, their parents, and their grandpa.

. . . someone tie a piece of yarn around my waist and pull me back out when I’ve been in there too long, okay?

This was taken yesterday evening. Aren’t they the cutest? Moose babies are orange/red in color. That doesn’t show up too well in this picture. Could be the early evening lighting - could be because I was shooting from inside my car. That’s always a smart thing - not to get out of the car and get into mama moose’s face. They are pretty protective of their babies.

This is what I do when I am not knitting - I drive around with my camera by my side, hoping that I will get such a chance as this - a shot at newborns. Sometimes it’s all about being in the right place at the right time.

Thanks to hubby I was. He called me as I left work to let me know where they were (essentially in our back yard) and updated me as I drove home. I was about three car lengths away from them as I took several pictures.

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On the knitting front . . .

I am still knitting dish cloths for the ladies retreat. I have 20 completed and will be working towards getting 30 made. That should be enough for everyone.

Am thinking about making the Wishy Washy Fishy Tawashi - for extra gifts for the ladies. I did make one last night and I’m not so sure now. It turned out kinda small - and I used the size 9 needles as the pattern says . . . don’t think I’d want to go any bigger, but it just seems a bit small to me. Well, small to be used as a dish cloth, that is. I might think about doubling them to use as pot holders - or, if I leave it open at the tail end, they could be used for handle holders.

Hmmmmmm - thinking cap is firmly settled on my head now. I’ll have to give this a bit more thought.

So, this is granddaughter number 2 . . . with the hat that she made all by herself. Okay, her sister helped her get it onto the loom and then a lady at church helped her figure out how to take it off the loom, and then her sister helped her close up the top of it . . .

but she made it all by herself! I am so tickled with her industrial nature and how she stuck with it. She is quite pleased, herself.

The hat was made for me . . . as hubby and I celebrated our 40th anniversary earlier this month. But, I don’t wear hats very often . . . and this one was a bit snug . . . so I asked her if she wouldn’t mind wearing it FOR me.

She beamed! As you can see by this picture of her on her recently celebrated 10th birthday. She loves it - and wears it quite well.

And, we discovered just how much she REALLY loves it recently. Hubby and I had taken her with us to watch her auntie J take part in the Gold Nugget Triathlon - we spent the night in a hotel and everything! (a hotel with a pool just for the Pup!)

All went well - auntie did great! and we had a wonderful time.

After auntie finished her race we all went to Chuckie Cheese (lawdie - it’s been awhile since I have done that! Fun for all the kids - and the adults who think they’re still kids - hahaha - auntie . . . but noisy!)

Of course it was late when we headed home - 150 miles away - when she stirred from her back seat slumber and told me, complete with quivering chin and sobs, that she had left her hat back at CC. Could I please turn around and go back for it?

Afraid not, sweetie - that is 100 miles away and we are only 50 miles from home.

Oh, my!

The good news? She found her hat while unloading her stuff from the car once we arrived home. YAY!

And, she is a happy camer again - and will be knitting up a storm soon, to boot.

Where the mountain . . . THE mountain . . . Mt. Redoubt . . . continues to vent and steam at her heart’s content. This eruptive phase has already had more action than the previous back in 1989-1990. That one lasted six months - this one is only going into its third month and has already emitted more than the last.

Ain’t we got fun?

So, the question for yarnies is this . . . how do we protect our precious stash? At least, that has been the question over at ravelry among Alaskan knitters checking in between eruptions. (yes, we are good about turning off our computers and covering THEM during eruptions - who KNOWS what might happen to our equipment if left unprotected?)

I have my yarn stored in plastic units - office file cabinet units - but IF (always a big if in there) an ash fall occurs over us (so far it has mostly gone northwest or southwest of us) that stuff can get into everything - through cracks in windows, etc.

So, I’ve invested in some gallon sized zip lock bags and am storing my yarn in those - inside the office units. Better safe than sorry I always say.

And, it’s sorta nice having them color coordinated - while being kept like yarn with like yarn (i.e. sock yarns, dish cloth yarns, etc.). And, rather than rustling through the drawers looking for that PERFECT yarn from my stash, messing them up and/or (horrors!) tearing ball bands - I can peek into the drawers, pull out a bag with my sought-for color, and see if I have enough for the project.

Gracious! Why did it take a mountain to erupt for me to think of this?

yeah, not foot long subs . . . BUT . . . it is nice to be in the right place at the right time. Stopped at Michael’s in Anchorage on my way back home (work related trip to the big city), thinking I’d pick up some cotton for dish cloths if the price was reasonable.

Sugar N Cream on sale for $1.19!!!! Until I got to the register . . . where it rang up at $1.69 per skein, which is full price. I was still getting some of my 10 skein booty out of the cart when I noticed the prices being rung up and asked about it.

Of course, they had to go back to make sure there really WAS a sign there and that it really DID say $1.19, and, of course, that took some time . . . but eventually the clerk brought up the sign I had seen. The cashier took it and noted it was “an old sale” sign . . . then proceeded to give me the 50 cent discount per skein . . . thus the five dollar title above. I saved five dollars on the ten skeins.

Bought all solids . . . bright colors and a couple of muted colors . . . but am in GREAT shape now for whatever pattern my little heart desires to whip up.

There is going to be a Ladies Retreat from my church in September - will be held in Homer, south of us. I was told a “secret” about the theme . . . creativity or something like that. And the organizer mentioned that anyone who would like to donate “made” items for the door prizes would be much appreciated.

Soooooooo . . . dish cloths it is.

Teen aged glee! Oldest granddaughter (aka Peppermist) brought her first scarf to show me tonight. She is understandably pleased that she DID IT, Nana!

I told her that the world is her oyster now . . . a simple garter stitch scarf is just the first of what I hope will be her life long love affair with knitting.

I was just about her age when my friend taught me the basic knitting stitches. While I was more apt to take up a crochet hook after my babies were born, I fell back into knitting easily later on. Now, all these years later I am pleased to pass on the tradition.

Nah, it won’t bother me if Peppermist drops it down the road - she has the basics under her belt - and a scarf around her neck - and she can always pick it back up again.

In the meantime I will just enjoy the glee on her face and hope that you will do the same.
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Hubby has gone up to the big city for the next few days. He should be home sometime Saturday I believe. And, then? Well, I have to go to the big city Sunday and won’t be back until sometime Thurday. We’re like passing ships at this point.

My trip is work related - and, I am even being put up on the agency’s nickel. We are a non-profit and next week my boss and I and our bookkeeper will be attending the annual funding meetings. Hopefully we will be funded at least at the same level as last year. Status quo would pinch a bit, but status quo is better than cuts, right?

It would be LOVELY if there were extra funding this year. I know you all know what I mean.

In the meantime, won’t you teach someone you love how to do something that you enjoy doing?

. . . that is lambcam!

Watching it this morning before I go to work - and at this time there looks to be a mama in labor - she is in the white round “box” and seems very restless. She keeps getting up and moving around and I see a lot of panting.

Yeah, I’m a city girl . . but I have had two babes of my own and have seen three of my seven grands enter the world and I know from panting - you know? (I learned my “hee-hees” well, thank you very much)

I am mesmerized by the lamb cam - this is actually the first time I’ve gotten to see any action - I somehow seem only to check it out when it is night time here in Alaska - and, we being 4 hours behind the east coast, that means that it is 0-dark-thirty there. Poot!

We tend not to think of it getting dark “Outside” (as we call the lower 48 states) at night this time of year - our daylight hours are increasing every day - and the sun does not set currently until after 9.

So, it was fun to check the cam this morning to see little lambs gamboling about the paddock and playing amongst the chickens. Called the granddaughter back to see, but they did not cooperate while she was watching. And, as it is about that time, she needed to finish her breakfast so she can catch the bus on time.

Looks like there are 23 kids so far - as of yesterday’s count - they don’t say how many are left to kid yet. Like I said the one looks like she might be ready any time.

Enjoy - I’ll check in with you all later.

There are lots of ways we can be good neighbors - we can help shovel driveways when there is fresh snow. We can run to the grocery for milk or medicines for a neighbor who can’t get out. We can car pool or ferry the kiddos back and forth to school or sports activities.

It can be as simple as a wave across the street to the folks you don’t know very well yet.

It can be a little thing to us - but a big thing to that neighbor. It’s all in how we do it.

Knitters can be good neighbors by donating time and talent to charity knitting causes (caps for premies, for one) or helping organize some sort of cause to help others.

Writers can be good neighbors by promoting other writers when they request a helping hand - or link - or click - as the case may be.

So, I’d like to introduce you to a fellow 451 Press writer, Jamie, who writes (among others) the Long Relationships blog here for the 451 community.

She’s asking for a Helping Hand . . . and even offering prizes to those who do help out. It’s a simple request - follow some links and click some stars saying that you like her writing. Help a friend out . . . and be a good neighbor.

Oh - and guess what???? You could be a winner of a Chicken Soup for the Soul book . . . just for helping Jamie out. Now, really, just how cool is THAT?

And . . . Jamie . . . I haven’t forgotten that I promised to write a guest article for your blog. It’s coming soon.

Yes, that is a mountain there . . . and yes, it is spewing out some ash and steam . . . that is Mt. Redoubt (pronounced read-out) - about 50 miles west of us across Cook Inlet. It’s been erupting on an off for about a couple of weeks now - and I only have been able to get pictures this week.

This picture is from this morning - hubby and I watched the mountain while having breakfast at a local hotel - columns of steam lifting up . . . then collapsing in on themselves . . . only to lift up again. It was fascinating to watch.

We are in no danger - not even from ash from this eruption. The plume was headed towards Ninilchik and Homer to the south of us today. We have mostly been missed by the ash . . . and that is just fine with me. It is a pain - electrical equipment (computers, etc.) need to be covered and you need to take extra precautions with your cars - change oil more often, change air filters, wash (not brush) the ash off, etc.

It’s all part of the price we pay for the beautiful place in which we live.

And, you can’t beat that.

And, yes . . . the yarn is in plastic. My stash is too good to be ruined by volcanic dust and ash.

Interesting reads:
Alaska Volcano Observatory (check for updated info on the mountain)

Anchorage Daily News article Story about this morning’s eruption

If a Volcano Erupts and Nobody Hears It . . . The local paper did a great article about who may or may not hear a volcanic eruption and why.

Here’s most of the family with the Big Sock during one of our knitting days.

How in the world did the first quarter of 2009 slip by like that??? Boggles my mind how much more quickly the days go . . . the older I get. Sorry I haven’t been here - I took last week off my day job and was lazy the entire week. One day I didn’t even get out of my pajamas! L.A.Z.Y. was the word of the week. And, today when I went back . . . I found that even though I was busy busy I was not nearly as stressed as I had been the week before I left.

So, apparently it worked.

As I mentioned before I did get the Big Sock sent off - and am now working on the new, middle, section. I’ll be sending it out next week - after pay day. The new section will go to Tennessee and there are several places lining up to be next in line. I’m sure you’ll be able to check up on its progress at the Big Sock blog.

Joanna wondered how big it had gotten . . . it was 61.5 inches or so before going to Anchorage and Fairbanks. So, I imagine that it is nearly 70 inches - give or take a few.

The new piece is about 3 inches right now . . . I work on it a bit each night in front of the television. But, it is almost time to box it up for shipping . . . probably do that this weekend. I promise I will take a picture before I seal up the box.

Yesterday my hubby and I carried this (oh, so lovely) box to the local post office . . . it contains the (H.U.G.E.) Big Sock I’ve told you about before. It came to Alaska and wandered about in the Kenai and Soldotna areas before going to Anchorage and then Fairbanks.

In November the Sock came back to me and has been sitting in my front room ever since. I just could not get past the thought of sending it back to Joanna in the UK - bad of me, perhaps . . . but finances were part of the reason. Poor Joanna - neither of us could believe how BIG the sock had gotten and with size comes weight - the folks who sent it to me had paid over $100!

That scared some folks off, and the decision was made to ship it back to the UK and to begin a smaller piece (later to be joined with the first and also with the last portion - the heel back in the UK.)

So, I confess, I was a bit nervous about going to the post office to ship this big portion. Several very nice folks had contributed to the shipping kitty (thank you L. and others whose names I don’t know) and hubby and I were determined to bite the bullet for the rest.

I was pleasantly surprised when the cost (to the UK, mind you!) was less than the $100 I had feared. The poor clerk was bewildered when I thanked her.

Hubby was surprised the other way - he didn’t expect it to be that much, I guess. (Poor hubby)

Hopefully Mt. Redoubt will calm down enough to let the box go by air - the planes are not flying because of caution, which is as it should be.

I’ll share pics of the smaller portion before I ship it on to Tennessee. Whoot! The Big Sock lives on! Follow it as it grows.

. . . or maybe that is just ash. (Mt. Redoubt, which sits about 50 miles westward across Cook Inlet from us is erupting.)

No . . . spring is definitely in the air. Check out this (last year’s) cute baby from Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm.

Awww . . . spring and babies go together. Fiber farms and knitting . . . also go together, right? You can watch for the new babies via Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm’s “Lamb Cam.” Step right up and get your overdose of cuteness right here, folks.

And, you can get your eye candy here, too . . . there are some gorgeous hand-spun yarns for sale. Love that chocolate color! And, the buttercup, too.

Makes my fingers itch to have and to hold. But, for now, I will just have to savor the eye candy.

. . . . and the cuteness of the lamb cam. It will be so much more fun once the little critters start arriving. The last update of 3/26 said Miss Linda was in labor. Maybe it was a false labor? Didn’t see any lambkins frollicking while I was watching.

This is the Gift of Time cloth that was one of last week’s cloths from the Ravelry dish cloth KAL (Knit Along).

You can’t really tell the color - it’s a gorgeous yellow - because my camera, nice as it is, does not seem to be able to pick up the colors in the cotton yarns very well. I’ve tried both natural lighting and light bulb lighting - no flash and flash . . . so, we just take what we can get, huh?

I am taking this next week off work - I’ve accumulated so much annual leave that our bookkeeper is literally “forcing” me (in a totally non-violent way, of course) to take time off before the end of the fiscal year. Otherwise, I will not accumulate any more hours and will “lose” out on those hours.

So . . . while there are no real plans for the week - other than the requisit “clean house” thoughts - I hope to get on here more often and update a couple times a day - at least this week.

There may be a run to the big town up north, too. We’ll see.

Happy Sunday!