Krafty1

Meals on Wheels...socks giving

Yesterday was Kelly's birthday.  These are Kelly's new birthday socks on her little ol' feet. (Kelly, please notice...no hairy legs showing!)  Kelly is the director for Sheboygan County's Meals on Wheels program (and frequent supplier of humor comments on this blog). 

Today is Thanksgiving in the US...time to give thanks for what we have and help those who are in need. I'm very proud to be involved with our local Meals on Wheels program.  They work hard to make sure that no one who asks has to be without a meal because of "wait lists".  They serve a variety of special diet needs and have a volunteer force like none other around!

Kelly and her crew also make sure that none of their clients will be faced with "empty" holidays. A spare office in the building now is home to elves wrapping presents...knit/crocheted/quilted afghans that will be presented for the holidays.  The stories that accompany these lovingly made gifts are often heart tugging...like the woman who crocheted one because she remembered how much the one her mother had meant to her.

And soon, these boxes will be filled with cookies for clients (those w/o sugar restrictions).  While delivering Kelly's birthday socks, we discovered that Skyechild had assisted in the decorating of the cookie boxes at a recent Young Woman's forum.

In honor of Thanksgiving (and Kelly's birthday), I'm adding the link for Meals on Wheels donations here. If you can help or want to give "thanks", please consider them.

Today, I am thankful for my family and all of you!  The past few months have been incredibly difficult and you've been patient & loving. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! (I can't say it enough.)

Darn it! Part II

Remember the blowout I discovered in January?  Well, it's happened again...this time with the other sock of the pair.  Well, the patch job that I came up with worked SO well, that I've decided to try it on the second sock. Just think...they'll match again! A project for this coming holiday weekend...since I surely won't be going out for Black Friday shopping.

Since I'll be fixing things...

 

I noticed another pair of sock that could use a bit of loving attention.  My St. Nicholas socks (the ones that were completed while spending Easter in Sint Niklaas, Belgium) could use a little fill.  These would probably be best taken care of with a bit of duplicate stitching instead of darning. (Stay tuned for step-by-step photos, maybe.)

While we're on the topic of repairs, I've taken some wise advice and decided that current situation or not, the van HAS to go into the shop to get the repairs it requires. Otherwise, the girls and I will be completely without transportation!  Waiting until my estranged husband is employed again is no longer an option.  The snow of yesterday proved that the tires, oil, steering system, and battery can't wait a minute longer.  Thank you one and all for your encouragement in your comments and the wonderful emails that I've received "off-blog".  They mean more than you can know...darn it!

First Snowfall

There it is...the first snowfall...and I was not entirely prepared for it.  Oh sure, I had my trusty knit hat and mittens ready to grab and go, but I hadn't even heard that we were supposed to get snow overnight.  Add to that the fact that the old snow blower/thrower (What do you call it?) needed replacing long before my spouse became estranged, or was fired from his new job by his new girlfriend, or left me to take care of the kids, the house, and the bills without money or insurance.  (There...now you all know what's been going on "behind the scenes".) 

I did what any grown woman does whose been given a load of crap to deal with...I got out the shovel!  The snow was a mild surprise compared to the numerous surprises I've had over the past three months.  (At least the snow is pretty to look at!)  Thankfully, I can still take delight in the little things...

...like Nutella on toasted Oat Bread. My good friend, La Fuji Mama has been busy baking all kinds of bread lately (plus having her very own "bun in the oven"!).  Last week she wanted something to dip in hot chocolate and found this recipe.  Of course, Skyechild and I just had to try making our own loaf this past weekend...especially after seeing Fuji Mama's slathered in Nutella! 

And the baking didn't stop there.  While at the counselor's office (yes, the kids are seeing counselors now), Skyechild spotted a couple of recipes in the latest edition of Midwest Living magazine that she wanted us to try.

Eggnog Muffins!  YUMMY!!!!  They'll definitely warm you up right to the bottom of your soul...well, at least if you are an eggnog lover like we are.  This typically is the time of year where I like to treat myself to an eggnog latte (or twelve!)...but this year, with the espresso machine gone and watching where the $$ goes...coffee with eggnog muffins will be a great substitute.  Plus, Skyechild and I get to play in the kitchen together with the music cranked for an afternoon of baking pleasure...that results in having something warm and wonderful to enjoy on a cold morning when you've just finished shoveling the first snowfall from the driveway...it's all good!

Catching Up

This past month, teaching knitting classes has gotten me back into my knitting.  My Toe-Up (not Throw Up) sock class resulted in these lovely socks just for me.  That's right...socks for me!

These are pair #35 for the year and pair #16 of 25 for the 52 Pair Plunge.  Yes, things have slipped a bit, but that's what happens when life throws you a loop.  (One of these days it may be time to tell "the blog" what's been going on, but not just yet.) 

The pattern is of my own creation.  It's been written up for class handouts and I'm not sure what I should do about it here or on my Ravelry design page.  Suggestions are always welcome.

Last week's class had "throwers" learning to be "pickers" and beginning to knit a fair isle design...all within two hours.  The ladies were fabulous and were amazed at how quickly they caught on.  We decided that instead "old dogs...new tricks" that you CAN teach "seasoned" knitters new "flavors" to enhance their knitting "recipes".  (Once again, no one wanted their faces photographed...all in some kind of "knitters protection", maybe!?!)

The hat pattern is another class handout that I'm not sure how to handle here or on Ravelry...see I'm always asking for your suggestions!  Then again, you are always SO good about sharing your suggestions. Thanks for helping me catch up.

The Red Vest

Years ago, when I was in high school, Wisconsin's governor was Lee Dreyfus.  Gov. Dreyfus ALWAYS wore a red vest.  It was his trademark.  No one is quite sure how it got started but I find it interesting now that it was from his time at UWSP (a current Panda favorite in the college selection process). I didn't really pay much attention to politics back then, but I still remember there was a charisma about Lee Dreyfus and his red vest.

Red has always been one of my favorite "go to" colors when I need a list.  When we lived in Madison (school colors: red & white), it was a staple of my wardrobe. But, we've been gone from there eight years and there hasn't been much red added to the wardrobe in awhile.

Recent weight loss has meant that the wardrobe is in need.  Vests are the perfect thing for me to throw on those days where I just need a little extra layer...not an entire sweater.  And what color? Red, of course.

The pattern is Kirsten Kapur's Dr. G's Memory Vest.  Kirsten gives the pattern away in exchange for a donation to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation.  Very cool.  While the pattern looks complex, it's actually been very easy to memorize.  Thumbs up, for sure.

The pattern's instructions are for "flat" knitting, but with an adjustment or two to the "math", I'm working it in the round instead.  Soon it'll be ready to be "split" to work the front and back separately for the armholes and neckline.  It's exciting to know that in the next week or two there will be a new knit item (that fits) in my wardrobe...and it will be a red vest...Thank you, Lee.

Actual knitting in progress

Here it is Boys and Girls...actual proof that there really is actual knitting going on.  That's not to say that it's flowing at the same rate it did pre-August.  But it's a much steadier stream than the trickle that was August/September! 

Heck...I might actually post something new on my project page for Ravelry soon!  Each of these lovelies will get its own moment in the blog spotlight very shortly.  (But maybe we should worry that there are THREE wips instead of my usual monogamous knitting!)

Wednesday night I taught the second half of my toe-up sock class (no longer considered "throw-up" socks by one).  It was a great group!  They did really well.  (However, bad blogger here forgot to take a photo of their socks in progress.)  Last night we turned the heels and then we laughed.  Boy, did we laugh!  There were tears streaming down my face...but it was from laughter!  What a great night!

Good News, Bad News

The good news is: Woke up Friday morning and read ALL of the wonderful messages of encouragement that had been left.

The bad news is: It made me cry.

The good news is: Discovered that the socks that another knitter had made were the ones in my suitcase...someone else's love and care for my feet.

The bad news is: It made me cry.

The good news is: The universe tried to send me a message.

The bad news is: It made me cry.

The good news is: The recent discovery of Knit Map meant a review of a good LYS was at my disposal and a destination for post- college tour was set.

The bad news is: We initially couldn't find it.(But, I did NOT cry!)  The map I'd printed didn't have many street names on it and we were "guesstimating" where the shop should be.

The good news is: Just as we were about to give up, we saw a street sign: "Ferguson Street". No, the shop isn't on Ferguson, but my "Cosmic Sis" shares that name.  She's been encouraging me so much through all this that we took "Ferguson" as a sign that we were on the right track because she would want me to find a shop. Next corner...there it was!

The bad news is: It made me cry.

The good news is: They had a lovely purple yarn to use for knitting these socks.  Since the competition was already underway and there was little chance I'd have a good finish, I decided to pick purple...all the recent college visits have Panda leaning strongly towards the school with purple spirit colors. I've never given up on anything...and just being out of medal contention is no reason to give up.

So, with needles, yarn and a print out of the pattern Panda drove the first two hour leg home so that I could knit.  Cuff and one repeat is as far as I got, but it felt good.

The bad news is: Once home, a quick peak at the finishing board showed that the top three spots had already been nailed down.

The good news is: The competition was over.

The bad news is: It made me cry.

The late news is: Sunday evening the moderators of the competition agreed to grant me a nineteen hour "handicap".  However, I'd already put my sock knitting aside.  But it was gracious of them to "handicap" me...even if the notice was a bit late.

However, there are so many who have written and leant there support that I feel like a winner no matter whether or not there is a "medal" attached to my knitting.

The GOOD news is: It made me cry.  Thank you all for being so supportive!!!!

(It turns out that all these tears isn't uncommon...someone shared a link too Crazy Aunt Purl's story which included crying to the pizza man!)