KnitCrit

A Patchwork of O

In this case, "O" refers to my dad, Oscar.  My dad was a character.  He smiled a lot, had an amazing sense of humor and made friends wherever he went.  This was a man who always and I mean always had a joke to tell.  Sometimes they were funny and sometimes they were horrible; yet the recipients always laughed, because he did.  That's simply what people did around my father.

And then there were his clothes.  I don't know where he found most of them.  The frightening fact is that he paid big bucks for these.  They served to further define his sense of humor; his sense of optimism; his sense of life.

This past Christmas, my 15 y.o. son received a very special gift:

This is a quilt that was sewn together using remnants of my father's wardrobe of "casual clothes."  Look closely and you will see strips of his yellow and blue seersucker shirts, as well as his multi-vivid-colored calico print ones.  There are the anchor embroidered summer pants, the dog stitched corduroy winter slacks and the lobster embroidered shorts; just to point out a few. What brings back the greatest memories are the Scotch plaid shirts that were always worn throughout the Christmas holidays.    

Can you imagine being a teenager and having him as YOUR Dad?  Just think of the total and utter humiliation when friends came over; especially boys.  And OMG, when I ran into people I knew, and those I didn't, and here he was, my dad, dressed like THAT???  What's funny is that, thinking back, I don't think anyone really saw them as weird; not on him.

He used to say he liked to be "gay," long before and then even when that adjective took on a different meaning. 

There is not a single strip of fabric that doesn't remind me of him.  What a lovely gift to my son...and to me. 

I leave you with a collage of the wild, wacky, colorful, "Oscar-like" clothing bits...

2008 Thankfulness

If you were to completely rely on the news headlines, not only would you be totally misinformed but also a candidate for deep depression.  That is particularly true of their take on 2008.  I have heard "worst" and "disastrous" and other such words that spell out nothing but doom and gloom.  But, I tend to be on the "glass half full" side of things, and would like to thank some wonderful knitter friends who made my own 2008 a better year.

• To Amy, thank you for such a warm and loving acknowledgment in your most recent book, Knits for Bears to Wear.  I miss you so much and hope that 2009 may include a visit to Alaska to visit you and the family.  
• Barbara, what fun this year has been; you, my traveling knitting friend.  Most memorable were the annual trek to the Virginia Fall Fiber Festival and the Countryside Artisans Tour.  Thank you, too, for understanding that every good road trip begins with a stop at Starbucks.
• Our newest family members, Mia and Sophie, came to us in 2008 as a result of Carol's blogging love of her kitties.  Then, at the end of the year she posted a sweet tribute to me on her blog.  Thank you.
• Rebecca, how do you do it?  You have this incredible combination of energy, enthusiasm and a sense of humor.  You are an inspiration.
• Here's to Hannah, Abe and David for another year of deep conversation and great friendship.  I can't wait to see where we venture, literally and figuratively, in 2009!
• Just about every time I post to my blog, Cici takes the time to enter a comment.  I only wish we had the chance to get together more often for knitting.
• In 2009, I hope to get to know my neighbor - 2cvite on Ravelry - better.  Thank you for "friending" me on Ravelry; letting me know that there's a fellow knitter just down the street!
• And speaking of neighbors, 2008 was a year for learning of the extraordinary yarn spinners and dyers who reside nearby: Kate, Dalis, Erin, MB, Annie and Gryphon.  I can't wait to see you all at the 2009 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.
• Lisa Souza, you remain at the top of my favorites and in 2008 it was your yarn that I chose to knit the very special rehearsal dinner shawl for Katie.  There's more of your yarn in my stash that is planned for 2009 projects.
• Lastly, podcasts continue to be my favored form of entertainment while I knit.  My list of favorites in 2008, many that are repeats from prior years are: Stash and Burn, The Knitmore Girls, Lime and Violet, Stitch It, Ready Set Knit and Y Knit.  Thanks to you all, who spend your own precious time researching and coordinating the best of information in the fiber world so that we can all be kept in the know, while being entertained, too.  Others come and go in my "refresh" list on iTunes, but yours are the ones that I listen to as soon as possible after downloading them.

There are so many other new friends and old friends that made 2008 an amazing knitting and spinning year for me.  As I become more and more absorbed in this amazing community that we have of fiber creators, I am humbled at its beauty and the friendships that it brings. 

Happy New Year!

Why I Have Not Blogged Lately

The Wedding of My Son

My gift to them was Cheryl Oberle's Fir Cone Square Shawl, which I knit as an afghan in worsted weight.  The yarn, Brooks Farm Willow, a scrumptious bamboo/wool blend, was the perfect pick.  Pictures will be posted soon.

Empty

It has been a long time since I last posted on my blog. In recent weeks, there has been a lot of travel.  Three trips to the Asheville, NC area and one trip to Dana Point, CA.

First, Dana Point.  The organization that I work for has four fund raising balls each year that my husband and I attend; the last one in this beautiful coastal area of California.  The balls are formal Marine Corps extravaganzas since our mission is to provide scholarships to children of Marines.  My liberal politics aside, these are tear-jerk events. At this ball, there were additional tears shed because my boss, the CEO, was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.  The ball would be the last time that the senior staff and Chris would be together at such an event; a fact we did not know at the time since he had a major seizure three days after we returned.  Just prior to the trip, I had knit him a scarf and hat in "Marine gold," thinking that this winter it was extra important for him to stay warm.

Now, I'm not sure he will ever wear them...                 

Three trips to Asheville, NC.  What a beautiful area.  Near Asheville is where my teenage son entered a wilderness program about eight weeks ago.  The decision to send him was a long time coming and the matter is one that I have second thoughts about sharing here.  But, if my wonderful experience can somehow make a difference to another family who is trying to also make that very tough decision, then it is worth it.  (If that might be you or someone you know, please have them contact me.)  My guy's issues are from a diagnosis of ADHD with ODD.  It's the ODD - Oppositional Defiance Disorder - that made life around our home very hard. 

Last Monday, we met him at the edge of the woods as he exited his seven-week-long experience; during which time we only spoke to him once.  Despite having dirt from his head to toe and an overwhelming smell of smoke, I hugged him for a long time and told him over and over how much I love him.  From there, we spent the day in the mountains of NC - his environment - while he showed us the extraordinary skills he had learned.  These included: striking a fire without matches, in a couple of ways; building a trap for small catches (they did not actually catch small animals); cooking food with a minimal of supplies; setting up a group tarp; and doing a bear hang for our trash and food.  Yes, he set a group tarp, under which the three of us slept on Monday night, prior to the "graduation ceremony" on Tuesday.  Here are before and after pictures taken of him:
                                                                                                                                   
  

From there, we enrolled him in a small boarding school for boys. With him away at school, we are now "empty nesters," at least for the next year. 

Does that mean I will have more time to knit, podcast, ride my bike, read, work harder and do a variety of things that I have put off for a long time?  We'll see...

Bethie, You Blew Me Away

I was all set to post another pattern critique when my sister threw me a curve.  First, please allow me to supply some background information.

I am the oldest of four; with two sisters and one brother.  How four people who are so totally different were produced by the same parents has always been a total mystery to me.  All four of us have different coloring, even.  I, with my brown hair and brown eyes, am the more obvious offspring, since Mom and Dad both had brown hair and brown eyes.  Next in line was my brother, with blond hair and brown eyes.  My sister, Beth, has very dark brown hair and very dark eyes, with olive toned skin to match.  Then, there’s Annie, with her flaming red hair, and brown eyes, and pale skin (cousins on my father’s side actually have the last name Redhead and yes, they all have red hair).

My mom was very crafty, which is a surprise to a lot of people, because her interests in sewing, knitting and tapestry waned in her later years.  I not only remember her craftiness, but she taught me how to do all of it at a very young age.  Honestly, I cannot think of a time that I did not know how to knit or do needlework, and I sewed clothes for friends, children and myself for many years (recently, I’ve been actually thinking of buying a new sewing machine).

Beth got the knitting bug for awhile and knit some of the most beautiful Fair Isle sweaters I have ever seen!  One, for my son, has been set aside as a true heirloom.  I wish she had kept it up, so that we could knit together now, but she got into open water swimming and that has been her focus in recent years.  How many people do you know who swam around Manhattan Island?

This week, she emailed me a link to her Flickr site and I finally got a chance to open it today.  I cried.  Her photography skills took my breath away.  So, instead of posting my next pattern review, I am introducing others to her amazing photography.  Enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/earwdigitalphotos/

I Feel Good About My Neck

This post has absolutely nothing to do with Nora Ephron's entertaining book on "women thoughts."  No, it's about the Northern Neck of Virginia, the place to where I run away as often as possible. 

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you may have read a post or two about particular days, evenings or various adventures at "the Neck."  On the other hand, if you have no clue where I'm referring to, let me introduce you to this little area of Virginia via this link.

We have spent the last two weekends at our little house on the Neck.  Last weekend was a special one because, not only was it Mother's Day, but we bought a new boat!  Please allow me to share some pictures.

The new boat, The Breakaweigh (you cyclists will
certainly understand the name):

The "sly" look of my son as he
unveils the Mother's Day gift (a Garmin GPS).  Also, he pulled the lovely flower from a vacant lot down the street, and gave it to his Mom :-)                     

Earlier in the day, the big doggie pictured, as well as his "dancing fool" sister, were bathed.  His sister, a border collie mix, loves to dance.  We have a large living room at the Neck house, so we dance.  Why not?  And when we do, the border collie always wants to be included. Isn't that weird??? 
"Well, Dad dances, too, and since he feeds me; it must be alright":

Then there's the sign at the little antique junk shop down the road:
                               Doesn't it make you want to stop by and see if they have vintage undies?

I'm going to stop here.  I had intended to post about both weekends, but there is enough here for one.  I'll save the rest for the next post and I will leave you with a few more pictures from the Neck that I love:
                                   

Colors of the CA Coast

I don't have any finished projects to share at this time.  While in the Bay area of California last weekend, we hiked around Montara Mountain.  The wildflowers were beyond beautiful.  These are the colors that inspire my knitting.  Enjoy!
                      

The New Girls in Town

Please meet Mia and Sophie.  Mia is the gray girl, a long-haired twin of Mosby, who we adopted several years ago.  He is not in the picture because he has decided that he is not fond of his new little sisters.  Instead, he is hanging out with the dogs; all three doing their fair share of moping.

The tiger girl is Sophie.  Thank heavens that the 14 y.o. son obsessed over adopting her, also, when we went to the Washington Humane Society to look at kitties.  She is very active and mischievous, making me laugh at her every move.

Sadly, they both ended out bringing severe respiratory infections with them and are currently on antibiotics.   Mia was worse and gave us a real scare when she would not eat for a couple of days.  We spent a lot of time with syringes-full of liquefied food, a series of events that were not working for her.  Finally, late yesterday, she ate a full bowl of cat food laced with canned tuna and is clearly on an upward track to wellness.

I can thank my SSK and Ravelry pal Carol for sending the cat adoption fever our way.  While reading her blog, I was reminded what pleasure a household with more than one cat can provide.  We lost two kitties over the last 18 months; both to old age.  Now, they have been officially replaced with two cuties. 

Eventually, they will get to know their doggies up-close and personal.  For now, however, we are giving them time to seek out the good spots for bird-watching and such, free of the hassles of a 100 pound lab mix and his side-kick border collie mix.

   

Blog Contest for Equal Justice Foundation

A couple of weeks ago, my 25 year old son sent me information about an auction to be held in Washington on March 20, 2008.  The goal is to raise funds to assist law students who plan to intern in the area of public interest organizations. 

He, a first-year law student at American University, asked me how I might be able to spread the word.  Of course, my first thought was to approach my knitter friends, close friends and blog readers - many of whom are one in the same - for donations.

If you have met my son, David, you know that he is passionate about serving the disability community.  From the time he volunteered in high school as a counselor in a community program that blended inner-city teens with teens with developmental disabilities, his focus has been on equal rights for persons with all disabilities.  Now, the pathway to achieving his ultimate goal has been set as he attends American University's Washington College of Law.

What does this have to do with knitting or a knitting blog? 

All persons who donate either a gift card or cash, at least $10 in value, will be entered in a contest to receive yarn.  The organization is a 501(c)3, so your donations are tax deductible. 

So far, the prize package consists of a skein of ArtYarns luxurious Silk Rhapsody and a skein of Lisa Souza's SOCK; over $50 worth of yarn!  I will add more as the donations come pouring in!
                                                                                    
All you have to do is leave your first name + last initial, with the amount of the contribution/gift card donation here as a comment.  I will match the name and the amount to the information received by EJF.  All entries received by Saturday, March 22, 2008 will be eligible for the drawing to take place on Sunday, March 23, 2008.

The law students who are so deserving of the assistance that the auction provides thank you, and I do, too!

Good luck!

Resolutions?

It's that time of year when all most of my thoughts turn to the new year and the opportunity necessity to determine what resolutions to make. 

Why do I do this to myself?  Why not just let the new year begin peacefully and happily; gliding into it with a sense of newness?  Just like that feeling I experience when I purchase new yarn for a project.  Come to think of it, that's it!  That's the feeling that I should bask in and relish, without any pressure.

But, wait a minute.  If it's like the purchase of new yarn, then what about the part when I buy the yarn and then feel some commitment toward starting and completing the project?  I purchase the yarn with enthusiasm toward the FO, right? 

More relevancy here: I finish the project because I have finished other projects and reflect on the wonderful feeling associated with completing those.  Just like achieving a resolution.  Sixteen years ago, I quit smoking as a new year's resolution.  It was cold turkey and after many years of struggling with quitting, I stopped on January 2nd and have never since taken so little as a single drag off of a cigarette.   All these years later, I just feel so good when I think about that accomplishment. 

Okay, so that was just one resolution amongst the decades' worth of others that haven't been so successful.  But, damn it felt good.  My knitted FO's look good, too, despite there being several UFOs in bags, dispersed here and there throughout the guest bedroom.

Actually, when I sat down to write this post, this was not the direction I was headed.  Yet, there really is a correlation here. 

It may be during the day on January 1, 2008 that I finally decide what my new years' resolution for 2008 will be.  I have to lose some weight.  I need to increase my exercise weekly, particularly the miles on the bike.  Since I am starting a new job, it presents the perfect opportunity for a new routine, one that is less stressful and more peaceful.  Or, perhaps I should strive to spend less money on yarn; maybe more time reading; blog more often; possibly save more money for retirement.

No matter what I do, it will come to me in the same way that a yarn purchase ultimately occurs.  It may be random or it may come with a complete, detailed plan.  No matter, it will come and I will hope that my resolution for 2008 is just like a beautiful FO that I can post about and be proud about for many years to come.  If not, it'll go in the UFO bag to be achieved...later.

Happy New Year!