An Excerpt...

"I have seen some changes. Knitters increasingly combine contrasting fibers for distinctive textures, work with several colors, adapt patterns by varying sleeves, neckline, length etc., experiment with higher style, knit more for themselves than others, knit less when the economy is good because they stay home less, knit less for men who are pickier and won't tolerate that "loving hands at home look," knit less for children since most modern mothers want to throw everything into the washing machine and dryer, count on knitting to keep their hands busy and out of food or off cigarettes, enjoy knitting's "social image" that attracts conversation, knit to reduce travel tensions over late departures, late arrivals, late room check-ins, late meals and gridlocked traffic and still perceive European designs more stylish than American ones."

Page 360

No Idle Hands

by Anne L. Macdonald

1988

After cleaning up outside a bit last week, I decide to sprinkle some grass seed from last spring down on the lawn... 

And lo' and behold... I find I can't sprinkle grass seed because it's ALREADY GRASS!!! Is this a testament to great grass seed or what?

Just one of those tiny things that somehow seem to amuse me to no end.

Busy, busy weekend. Too much hockey and bustle and not enough knitting time. Almost finished the Grand River Yarn shawl, I just have to finish fringing (is that a word?) the other half. Also finished the Feather and Fan scarf and that turned out beauteeeful. These are both Christmas gifts so this pleases me to no end. Also, started and completed a scarf for my new coat using that loop method to produce an all loop kind of boa. The pattern seems a little odd at first, but once you get the hang of it, the item knits up very quickly. Still need to figure out what to knit for the kids' teachers. One is a young female so that really poses no problem but the other is an aging Scotsman and I have no clue what to knit for him. A pair of knickers for under his kilt perhaps? Any suggestions in this department would be seriously considered. I really want to knit more items for the baby charity as well so I better start looking at some easy and quick infant patterns.

Picked my mum and dad up from the airport on Saturday and my uncle loved his slippers. So glad he was pleased. I guess this knitting thing does benefit more than the yarn shop owners...

Thinking of Babies

I have added a link to my sidebar for those that may wish to donate knitted or crocheted baby items. My neighbour, Rose, works at this organization and has recently told me they lack knitted/crocheted baby items. If you wish to donate, please mail items directly to them (Attention: Rose Lintner) or drop off at the address on their site.

I'm sure the young mums would appreciate anything you have to offer.

Knit On

Added Later

Just checking the weather on my site and Holy Crap! Weather Pixie is such a ho! Check her out today

• belly top
• mini skirt
• thigh boots

That's all folks!

What you thought you were getting a 2fer? Fat chance, one posting a day is all you can handle.

Leavin' On A Jets Go Plane...

This morning I woke up at 6:30 am to take my parents to the airport for their flight to see my ill uncle in Lethbridge. Did you know the sun is not up at 6:30 am? I also did one of those "I'm not going to hear the alarm so I better check it every 5 minutes" thing for the last hour of sleep. Needless to say, I am t-i-r-e-d. Sorry early risers, but I am not a morning person.

So I am very happy my father decided to go with my mum. He was pretty busy there for a while and I thought I would have to go with her, but they delayed going for a wee bit and now they're off. There was absolutely no traffic at the airport which just blew me away. I assumed at 7-7:30 am there would be quite a bit of traffic but it was very quiet and I was in and out of there lickety split.

I knit a pair of slippers for my mother to take with her for my uncle. She also knit her first pair of socks and is giving them to my aunt. I knit them in Toronto Maple Leaf colours knowing my uncle is a Flames fan.

Knitting is going okay I guess. Still working on the shawl, HP scarf, Fan and Feather scarf and want to start working on a scarf for myself. I got this beautiful coat from my husband for my Birthday and I need a scarf to go with it. I'm going to try that loopy method and see how it works out.

Also was thinking about those knitted pot cozies featured in the new Knit 1, but as I discussed on Knitomatic, I may be skidding dangerously close to the crocheted toilet paper topper things. I dunno, it's up for debate. Where is the classy/kitchy line? Where is the separation between cute and senior craft show like?

Other than that not much happening but will post some pics soon as I get batteries for the camera.

Knitting Forever,
Housework Whenever

Remembrance Day

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

by John McCrae

Ten Things That Really Piss Me Off! (In No Particular Order)

1. People that blow their leaves onto the road and leave them there.
2. Dog walkers that do not have the dog on a leash and that don't pick up the crap.
3. The dog walker that will not pickup the crap and makes his wife do it instead.
4. Parents that let their young children stay outside playing, after dark, and couldn't see them even if they wanted to because sunset was 4 hours ago.
5. Shoppers that leave the cart at the end of the cash and expect the next person to move it.
6. Shoppers that shop with their young children, on a school night, after 9:00 while they grab/touch/eat everything it sight.
7. Cold sufferers that still use an old disgusting "hanky" and blow their noses repeatedly into this germ infested fabric.
8. People that park in "Absolutely No Parking" zones because they think their time is so much more important than mine.
9. People that blow snow onto the road and again, just leave it there for you to skid through.
10. Telemarketers that call, after 6:00, looking for my husband, then not telling me what they want or why, because they can only speak with "the cardholder." What a laugh, do they not realize as long as I am breathing and able to answer the phone they will never ever personally speak to my husband?

Put Right Needle Through Stitch

Dear Jane:
Here you have me in all my knitting glory. I got a pedicure on Friday just to do these pictures. Now I am not admitting to great knitting with my toes, maybe not even good knitting but dammit I can make a stitch and that's knitting in my books. Notice the sock lines on my legs? And btw, in the second picture my legs look ENORMOUS and I must assure you they are not that big, it must be the angle or something (***Disclaimer: Not that there would be anything wrong with legs that are like that I just don't think these look like my legs)

PS If you look closely you can see a free-spirited ball of yarn by the chair that somehow I always miss when I vacuum

Wrap Yarn Around Needle 

One Knit Stitch Made 

Shawl~ making with Grand River Yarns "Babi" 

Harry Potter Scarf and Feather and Fan Scarf from "The Little Box of Scarves" 

He has conceded

He lost.
I just can't understand it. With all that positive Knitting Karma out there, he still lost.

Notice the Little Witch is not happy beside the Zombie?

Not only is she not happy, she didn't even want her picture taken with me. Other than being scared to death of her mother, she had a wonderful time and I have been sorting through candy all morning. Chips, Doritos and Cheezies in one pile, chocolate gum and candy in another and easily unwrapped candies into the garbage. I am a freak when it comes to checking the candy. They are not allowed to eat anything til I have given it a thorough Nazi type examination. Anything that could be tampered with is pitched. Needless to say, there are at least 3 grocery bags full of candy/junk food. My kids are going to be hopped up on sugar til Christmas.

Had a great time scaring the kids and a couple were kinda too scared to come to the door so the mother had to come up the stairs with them. (If the children are very young I smile and let them know I'm just fooling) but the older ones seem to get quite the kick out of it.

We were all finished by nine, just in time for "Desperate (Dirty?) Housewives". Jeez, I swore I wouldn't get involved with another "soapy" type show after my broken love affair with "Knots Landing" but somehow they pulled me back in. I am loathe to admit I am hooked. Yes, me, the PBS-a-holic, sucked in by cheap and tawdry parlour tricks (come on, who leaves their MIL to get lifted for shoplifting so you can go screw your gardener? Okay we've all thought about it but who actually DOES it?) I am so disappointed in myself.

And today is my Birthday! *applause* I have some tidying up to do, desperately need a Silkwood shower to rid myself of remaining makeup then on to the couch for tea and knitting. Am two stripes into the Harry Potter scarf for DN2. Will post pics when done.

Knit On and Have a Greaaat Day!