It's way longer than 45 seconds, and some of it is repeated from that last post. So go get a beverage of your choice and put on a CD and we'll get this started. And if you've got a short attention span, too bad. I am naming Everybody here so you don't want to miss your own name.
In no particular order, I would like to thank my DD, for getting through the day with grace and maturity. I forgive you for forgetting my shoes! My parents, for their love and support both moral and financial. Tan, for some lovely Wollmeise, and a wonderful girls' day out. Come to Rhinebeck! Kim and Val, for sock yarn, chocolate cake, and well wishes. Rita, Brenda and Tina, for being such neat LYS-people. Monica and Cheryl, for the beautiful pink laceweight yarn. Tina and Ronda, for pizza and company, and good girlfriends. Liz, for the wonderful experience of a three hour pedicure! That was so relaxing and thoughtful. Rae, for being an awesome boss. Sheron, JeCo, JeBla, Cory, Jean, Stan, Jacq, Michelle, and all my other teammates at Convergys. I will miss seeing you. Pam, for tea and sympathy. My doctor Deb, for making a house call to see to the ulcer on my dad's leg, and talking to me and DD at all hours of the day and night. My home teachers Marcus and Pat. My visiting teacher/RS President Becky, for saving my arse at the last minute. My neighbours Mindy and Darin, and Chelcie and Jesse, for taking my extraneous stuff. Daryol and Rena, for schlepping my bed up to Idaho, and for running the music at the wedding. I will miss you guys immensely. Jeanine, Barbara T, Barbara A and Barbara C for helping my mom. Kolette, for being so patient and waiting arounnd until we got there, and for keeping me company while I got dressed. Marjorie and Kelsie, for insisting on trying to make my hair look sort of presentable, and for being in charge of photos on my camera. Emily, for waiting as long as you possibly could before going home to a hungry infant. Flora and Aggie, for being our best man and matron of honor, and for doing our flowers and general fix-it folks. We love you So. Much. Mole and Mani, for being game enough to dress up in your card gowns. You both looked absolutely beautiful. Tamar and Jamukha, for bringing your children and also Christian and Carol with you. We are so glad you joined us. Paul, for going through what was probably one of the hardest things in your life. Don't let this affect you negatively, please. Shauna, for always being such a wonderful example to me. I am so glad I followed my prompting to find you. All of our guests from 11th Ward and 1st Ward. I am glad you thought enough of us to come see us on our day, even though we were so delayed. Kevin, for marrying us, even though you'd only been a bishop 2 weeks. Any wedding after ours will be a piece of cake! Josh and Charity, for upstaging us by being in the hospital having a baby! Luke, for sending me a congratulatory text. Guy and Machel, for not only coming to help us clean, but also for helping us re-pack the RV. The staff at the hospital in Kimball NE, for hauling the doctor-on-call out to look at my infected finger on Christmas Eve. Walgreens, for being open on Christmas Day. Flying J, for having such nice showers and restaurants. Mary and Duncan, for meeting us in Middlebury IN for lunch. I wish it could have been longer. Paul and Alison, for helping us unload the RV while wearing church clothes in a downpour. Barbara T again, for taking DD with her to Baltimore to visit her daughter while we drive across the country. I didn't have to worry one minute about her. Helen and Adrian for hosting Barbara and DD, and for letting me covet your pink wool blanket. It exactly matches my yellow one and it will be very happy with us. Liz and Ronda again, for calling me this week. I really miss you guys. Tina again, for sending me random texts. I have this terrible feeling that I am forgetting folks. If I've forgotten you, leave a comment reminding me. I promise to get thank-you cards out as soon as I can find them!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
We Tied The Faery Knot!
I got married on Friday, but I've been so incredibly busy that I'm just now posting. We are in a Flying J truckstop in Evanston, WY where we slept in our rented RV last night.
I don't have all the photos yet, only those taken on my camera, by our 14-year-old photographer. As soon as I get the photos from other people, I'll post some more.
We had under-estimated the speed the RV could travel and, as a result, were 90 minutes late to our own wedding! But we were forgiven, and everyone had a good time. We took about 10 minutes to get dressed, then flew down the aisle so that we could get to the good part of eating dinner! My DD had forgotten my box with the things in it that I needed, including my shoes, so I didn't wear any! Our dear friends Aggie and Flora were our best man and matron of honour, and they dressed as the Snow King and Queen.
The poor bishop had been put in less than 3 weeks ago, and it was his first wedding. But he did very well, and it was all fine. I wish you all could have been there, but we had such fun with those who were able to come. I want to give particular thanks to Daryol and Rena, who brought my bed from Logan to Rexburg. I wanted to give it to my folks for their guest bedroom, and more particularly my grandmother who is currently occupying that room. I also want to thank Kolette and Marjorie, who helped me get dressed. And Emily, for waiting as long as she could before leaving to go home and feed her baby. Mole and Mani, for dressing up in their card dresses and looking so beautiful. To Shauna, for being Shauna. To Paul, for coming so early, and staying so late. To Barbara, Barbara, and Jeanine, who helped to decorate and put the food together. I'll have to do some more thinking and continue this post later.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Countdown
So I'm going to post this and then pack up the computer.
Last week I spent time with my friends. Monday, I met Tan and we shopped and had lunch. She gave me a skein of Wollmeise in this incredible black/purple colourway. And the bag it came in, has knitting instructions in German, which will be helpful if I ever run across a pattern written in German and I need to translate it.
And then Tuesday I got together with Val and Kim. I got some lovely sock yarn, and I got to see Val teaching Kim how to use a drop-spindle. Also pictured is some sock yarn I received from Tina on Thursday.
Also Thursday was our LYS's gift exchange. I had brought a skein of KnitPicks Bare superwash worsted. I had meant to buy the Bare sock yarn but I made a mistake. What I got was some Regia in a colourway I've been wanting for a long time. There should be enough to make a full pair of socks for myself. Friday was regular fiber night at the other LYS, where I received a beautiful skein of pink laceweight yarn. 
Tonight I'm getting together with three more friends, and Wednesday is my last SCA meeting. Thank you, everyone! I will miss you all very much.
Last week I spent time with my friends. Monday, I met Tan and we shopped and had lunch. She gave me a skein of Wollmeise in this incredible black/purple colourway. And the bag it came in, has knitting instructions in German, which will be helpful if I ever run across a pattern written in German and I need to translate it.
And then Tuesday I got together with Val and Kim. I got some lovely sock yarn, and I got to see Val teaching Kim how to use a drop-spindle. Also pictured is some sock yarn I received from Tina on Thursday.
Also Thursday was our LYS's gift exchange. I had brought a skein of KnitPicks Bare superwash worsted. I had meant to buy the Bare sock yarn but I made a mistake. What I got was some Regia in a colourway I've been wanting for a long time. There should be enough to make a full pair of socks for myself. Friday was regular fiber night at the other LYS, where I received a beautiful skein of pink laceweight yarn. 
Tonight I'm getting together with three more friends, and Wednesday is my last SCA meeting. Thank you, everyone! I will miss you all very much.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
In Search Of . . . .
Please, if I could get all you little detectives out there in blog-land to help me, I'd really appreciate it. I am looking for a specific item. To wit: Pentel brand R.S.V.P ballpoint pen, fine line, pink colour. I have tried in office-supply stores, but they have the more basic colours. I need pink, because that is how I make notations in my scriptures, and have done for over 15 years. I don't really like gel-ink pens, I much prefer ballpoint. So if any of you are out shopping and run across this little gem, please let me know. Thank you!
Back to our regularly-scheduled program of packing.
Back to our regularly-scheduled program of packing.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
Update
My jaw is still sore, but the pain is much less.
The counter is down to 14 days, and I am beginning to Freak Out! Several wonderful people have come over for an hour or two and we have gotten quite a bit done. Tonight my plan is to clean out the pantry, and take all the canned goods to the concert on Sunday at the Tabernacle. If you're in my area, please come to this concert. Craig Jessop is directing our choir on two pieces. Since this is the closest I will ever get to singing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I am very excited.
Only one more week of work, and I'm taking Monday off to go play with my friend in Ogden. Tuesday night is a hen party with some more friends, and Thursday is our gift exchange at the LYS.
I am currently having severe knitter's ADD. I need some Knitalin I think. I have only one FO, and I actually already wrapped it up without photographing it. I am just 10 rows and the toe away from finishing PB's socks, so those should be done tonight. They have been so incredibly boring, so it has taken me over a month to knit them. I've taken many breaks to knit on more interesting projects, but as a consequence, I've finished nothing. Okay not totally true. I finished a Monstersocken yesterday. Now *those* are interesting to knit. Not boring at all.
I've still got space on my calendar for packing/cleaning help.
The counter is down to 14 days, and I am beginning to Freak Out! Several wonderful people have come over for an hour or two and we have gotten quite a bit done. Tonight my plan is to clean out the pantry, and take all the canned goods to the concert on Sunday at the Tabernacle. If you're in my area, please come to this concert. Craig Jessop is directing our choir on two pieces. Since this is the closest I will ever get to singing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I am very excited.
Only one more week of work, and I'm taking Monday off to go play with my friend in Ogden. Tuesday night is a hen party with some more friends, and Thursday is our gift exchange at the LYS.
I am currently having severe knitter's ADD. I need some Knitalin I think. I have only one FO, and I actually already wrapped it up without photographing it. I am just 10 rows and the toe away from finishing PB's socks, so those should be done tonight. They have been so incredibly boring, so it has taken me over a month to knit them. I've taken many breaks to knit on more interesting projects, but as a consequence, I've finished nothing. Okay not totally true. I finished a Monstersocken yesterday. Now *those* are interesting to knit. Not boring at all.
I've still got space on my calendar for packing/cleaning help.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Little-Known Fact
Apparantly you can sprain your jaw.
Last Wednesday (you know, T minus one) there was no school. So DD stayed home and "packed her stuff". I called her about halfway through my shift to remind her that before we could leave for Grandma's house, all the trash had to be taken out and the kitchen thoroughly cleaned. I should have just left right then, when she told me that she couldn't take out the trash, because the outside bins were full. But I didn't listen to that mother's intuition. She called me awhile later and said she was "finished", and could she please go to her friend's house until I got home. Again, I should have gone home. I didn't.
When my shift (full of even stoopider and crayzier people than usual) ended I went home, expecting to load up Moby Dick (did I forget to mention that I'd been driving the white Cadillac since Halloween?) and get going on up to Rexburg. DD wasn't home, but all her stuff was hanging out next to my front door. I looked a bit askance at it as I unlocked the door and rushed upstairs to use my very own, private ladies' room (see previous post). I proceeded to round up all the trash and take it out myself, because I never leave the house for more than a day without removing the trash and making sure the kitchen is clean.
~~Dun dun DUN~~
The outside trash cans were all lined up neatly, ready to be taken away by the City of Logan. They didn't look stuffed to the gills; their lids were barely pushed up. I opened a lid, ready to throw my Hefty bag in. I saw clothing. And books. And videocassettes. And appliances. And lamps. And red.
The DD was able to hear me tell her to come home from two blocks away without the benefit of Cingular.
She decided (for the first time in about ever) that discretion was the better part of valour, and that she had better help me remove all non-trash from the trash bins in a very timely manner. This done, we proceeded to wash two loads of laundry, take out every trash can in the house, and get that kitchen the cleanest it's been since we moved in. And then we loaded Moby Dick.
I don't really like driving. I prefer driving a standard to an automatic, because if I'm going to be stuck behind the wheel, at least I want to be entertained by having something to do. Clutching and shifting, preferably while eating, drinking, or talking on the phone, qualifies as entertaining. I can drive with my knees for several miles, when need be. I totally want to drive on the Autobahn and see what I'm capable of at 120 mph.
Moby Dick is a car that our family was really grateful to get. He came to live with my folks right after my uncle died. It had belonged to my aunt, and it was her errand-running outfit. He's a two-door Cadillac El Dorado, in pearl white. At age 38, I felt a lot conspicuous driving it, even if it were for only a month while my cute little beluga whale (white Ford Escort) was being convinced to keep going for just a few more weeks.
Ol Moby has been feeling his age the past little while. He chose to manifest it by refusing to warm the interior of the car, on the coldest day of the year so far. It takes two and a half hours to get to Rexburg from Logan, mostly going the speed limit. I hate being cold. Once I'm cold, it takes a lot for me to get warm again. I clenched my jaw the whole two point five hours.
It's been a week now, and I am still breakfasting on 600 mg of Advil, with a 10am chaser of Tylenol, followed by a 1pm second round of Advil. (Rinse and repeat.) And copious amounts of Diet Coke and chocolate. (And don't think I haven't noticed that I can buy Diet Coke Plus in Idaho, but not in Utah.) I've returned Moby Dick to his parking space in Rexburg, and retrieved my cute little beluga whale and have been quite entertained by driving it around town this week.
It's for sale. Won't pass Utah state inspection, but Idaho doesn't care. I hope the car I get in PA will be a standard. I like shifting.
Last Wednesday (you know, T minus one) there was no school. So DD stayed home and "packed her stuff". I called her about halfway through my shift to remind her that before we could leave for Grandma's house, all the trash had to be taken out and the kitchen thoroughly cleaned. I should have just left right then, when she told me that she couldn't take out the trash, because the outside bins were full. But I didn't listen to that mother's intuition. She called me awhile later and said she was "finished", and could she please go to her friend's house until I got home. Again, I should have gone home. I didn't.
When my shift (full of even stoopider and crayzier people than usual) ended I went home, expecting to load up Moby Dick (did I forget to mention that I'd been driving the white Cadillac since Halloween?) and get going on up to Rexburg. DD wasn't home, but all her stuff was hanging out next to my front door. I looked a bit askance at it as I unlocked the door and rushed upstairs to use my very own, private ladies' room (see previous post). I proceeded to round up all the trash and take it out myself, because I never leave the house for more than a day without removing the trash and making sure the kitchen is clean.
~~Dun dun DUN~~
The outside trash cans were all lined up neatly, ready to be taken away by the City of Logan. They didn't look stuffed to the gills; their lids were barely pushed up. I opened a lid, ready to throw my Hefty bag in. I saw clothing. And books. And videocassettes. And appliances. And lamps. And red.
The DD was able to hear me tell her to come home from two blocks away without the benefit of Cingular.
She decided (for the first time in about ever) that discretion was the better part of valour, and that she had better help me remove all non-trash from the trash bins in a very timely manner. This done, we proceeded to wash two loads of laundry, take out every trash can in the house, and get that kitchen the cleanest it's been since we moved in. And then we loaded Moby Dick.
I don't really like driving. I prefer driving a standard to an automatic, because if I'm going to be stuck behind the wheel, at least I want to be entertained by having something to do. Clutching and shifting, preferably while eating, drinking, or talking on the phone, qualifies as entertaining. I can drive with my knees for several miles, when need be. I totally want to drive on the Autobahn and see what I'm capable of at 120 mph.
Moby Dick is a car that our family was really grateful to get. He came to live with my folks right after my uncle died. It had belonged to my aunt, and it was her errand-running outfit. He's a two-door Cadillac El Dorado, in pearl white. At age 38, I felt a lot conspicuous driving it, even if it were for only a month while my cute little beluga whale (white Ford Escort) was being convinced to keep going for just a few more weeks.
Ol Moby has been feeling his age the past little while. He chose to manifest it by refusing to warm the interior of the car, on the coldest day of the year so far. It takes two and a half hours to get to Rexburg from Logan, mostly going the speed limit. I hate being cold. Once I'm cold, it takes a lot for me to get warm again. I clenched my jaw the whole two point five hours.
It's been a week now, and I am still breakfasting on 600 mg of Advil, with a 10am chaser of Tylenol, followed by a 1pm second round of Advil. (Rinse and repeat.) And copious amounts of Diet Coke and chocolate. (And don't think I haven't noticed that I can buy Diet Coke Plus in Idaho, but not in Utah.) I've returned Moby Dick to his parking space in Rexburg, and retrieved my cute little beluga whale and have been quite entertained by driving it around town this week.
It's for sale. Won't pass Utah state inspection, but Idaho doesn't care. I hope the car I get in PA will be a standard. I like shifting.
Monday, November 26, 2007
For Sale or Trade
I am down-sizing, and I have some magazines that need new homes. I have several years' worth of Martha Stewart Living Weddings, including the premiere issue. All are in very good condition, except the premiere issue, which I bought off Ebay and it's seen better days. I also have about eight years of Herb Companion. All six issues of Breathe magazine (it was short-lived), and several years' worth of Yoga Journal and Yoga International. All of these are in good to very-good condition, as I take care of my things. If you're interested, send me an email or leave a comment. I really don't want to just toss them.
~~ETA~~
The Yoga Journal and Yoga International have found a new home.
~~ETA~~
The Yoga Journal and Yoga International have found a new home.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Mayday!
Which, translated from the French, is m'aidez. That means "Please help me!" See that ticker on my banner? It is counting down days. Now subtract a day, and that's how many days I have left to pack up and clean my apartment. My DD thought it was all beyond her, and so she went to stay with Grandma until it's all over. So I have no help at all, and I desperately need some! Mostly I need someone(s) to come and keep me company while I do what needs doing. If someone(s) *wanted* to dig in and also do what needs doing, I wouldn't turn them down. Add to this, a pair of socks for the VIP's DS, a pair of socks for my friend PB, a pair of socks for the VIP, the second of a pair of wristwarmers for my DD, *and* a Baby Surprise Jacket for my nephew who is due around Christmas. All of my extraneous furniture has new homes, except my entertainment center. I just have to empty all the shelves and drawers so that said furniture can go live at their new homes. I have plenty of boxes, and I know where to get more if I need them. I have plenty of packing tape. I have all the cleaning supplies. But please, I need someone to come help me. Please?
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Antsy
You signed up on October 28, 2007
You are #49865 on the list.
3945 people are ahead of you in line.
6886 people are behind you in line.
79% of the list has been invited so far
You are #49865 on the list.
3945 people are ahead of you in line.
6886 people are behind you in line.
79% of the list has been invited so far
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Random Pet Peeve
*Warning* Absolutely no knitting content
The ladies' room where I work has 16 stalls. I really really hate it when I've entered a stall, and someone comes and occupies the stall right next to me. I like my privacy, and I've been known to move stalls just so that I can get it. Or I wait until the other person has finished and then I take care of my business.
Does this bug anyone else, or am I just strange?
The ladies' room where I work has 16 stalls. I really really hate it when I've entered a stall, and someone comes and occupies the stall right next to me. I like my privacy, and I've been known to move stalls just so that I can get it. Or I wait until the other person has finished and then I take care of my business.
Does this bug anyone else, or am I just strange?
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!
My
pumpkin
didn't
win
the
grand
prize,
but
I
think
it
was
the
best.
In knitting news, I've made Halloweenie Socks from Trekking 81. Siri made some too, and called them Starfish Socks, because they reminded her of the purple and orange starfish along the Oregon Coast. I made them 2x2 rib, all the way down on 68 stitches, and then gave them to DD because they fit her better. She loves them, and I'll be making another pair for myself, because I really love this colourway. I also made a pair in Trekking 155 for the VIP, but they have been lost by the USPS. So that means I get to re-purchase this yarn and re-knit this pair.
These are made from the sock yarn I bought at Woolbearers when I went to visit the VIP last month. I really love this yarn so much. It has some nylon in it, but it's not superwash, so they have felted just the tiniest bit, and this makes them so incredibly soft and lovely. I have two more colourways of this, and I cannot wait to knit them into socks.
And that's about it. Don't eat too much candy!
~~ETA~~
Big thanks to the VIP who spent three hours on the phone with me, getting my wireless router and laptop all hooked up. He has the patience of an almost-saint!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
I Cannot Even Believe This
If rappers, gangsters, and prisoners want to off each other, I say fine. Less tax-payer money being directed that way if there are fewer of them. But now, Lucky Dube's luck has run out. I am so sad.
I first heard Lucky when I was in college at BYUH, from 1990 to 1993. He had an inimitable voice and style. You could always tell a Lucky Dube song from the first few notes, just like you can tell a U2 song. It's just his "sound". His voice was sweet and unique, like Jon Anderson's. He wrote and sang about social problems in both his native South Africa and around the world.
Rest well, Lucky. God bless your family.
I first heard Lucky when I was in college at BYUH, from 1990 to 1993. He had an inimitable voice and style. You could always tell a Lucky Dube song from the first few notes, just like you can tell a U2 song. It's just his "sound". His voice was sweet and unique, like Jon Anderson's. He wrote and sang about social problems in both his native South Africa and around the world.
Rest well, Lucky. God bless your family.
Friday, October 19, 2007
He's There!
After wasting ten minutes goofing around on Google Maps and getting him lost, I called the Borders store and got better directions. In case anyone wants to know, the Borders in Marlton NJ is just south of Brick Road on Route 73. He walked in, told me there were at least 150 people there, and then the call dropped. Poor Steph is unfortunately not feeling well, so hopefully she doesn't overdo it. More updates as the evening progresses.
~~Later~~
Here is her blog report. And here is the photo that is on his camera.
~~Later~~
Here is her blog report. And here is the photo that is on his camera.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Why Yes, It Is Slow at Work
Because Tina asked if it was.
Big huge thanks to Kim, who found me a ball of Trekking 126 on Ravelry. Since I haven't joined (although Tina, Kim and Val are threatening to sign me up under dark of night) I asked her to please scout out and see if anyone had a ball they no longer wanted, and someone did! I'm so grateful, because I've been wanting this yarn for quite awhile now.
Today at work, we were greeted with the dismal news that Comcast is cracking down on us, and no longer will any non-Comcast material be allowed on the call floor. This means no more knitting. A moment of stunned silence while we mourn. I have so much nervous energy that I must do something with my hands while I am waiting the seven and a half hours to go by. I took eleven calls today. Four of them already had the Comcast Digital Voice (which we are not only required to actively sell, but will be terminated if we don't sell enough), one of them had had it, but had cancelled his account a month ago. The remaining callers were not interested in any way, shape, or form in giving even more of their money to Comcast. I don't blame them at all.
So I couldn't knit. Although I did hold the WIP in my lap for part of the day, I only actually knit on it while I was on my break. I wasn't supposed to surf the blogs or news sites, although I did. I tried to read some Conference talks, but I just couldn't concentrate. After the people that I talk to left, I listened to podcasts on my pink iPod. I've now finished the second season of Cast On and I'm almost caught up with Lime and Violet.
Ms Knitingale got our blanket squares. Scroll down past the spider story to see. And I made a KnitPicks order, but I ordered DK weight Bare yarn, not sock weight. Anyone want it? Six bucks (plus two if I have to mail it) and it's yours. Or I'll trade for bags of Razzberry M&Ms. I'm not interested in DK weight, and it's not really worth the trouble to send it back. I'll just be more careful to order the right stuff next time!
No photos right now, for two reasons. One, the camera is never upstairs when I am blogging, and yes, I am too lazy to go and get it. Two, most of what is on the needles right now (or recently off the needles) is SSK and hasn't reached its new home yet. Although, I couldn't stand it a minute longer and cast on Trekking 108 for a pair of socks for me. I got through the ribbing and 5 rows into the leg while listening to Whistler's show last night. Whistler is a dear friend of mine. I think we've known each other about five years. He invited me to the Jethro Tull concert last Tuesday in Salt Lake City, and it was awesome! I wished that DD had been able to come, because she plays flute in her school band, and I think she would have liked to hear Ian Anderson do his thing.
So that's it for now. Need to start going to bed at a more reasonable hour because these nightmares are affecting my sleep.
Big huge thanks to Kim, who found me a ball of Trekking 126 on Ravelry. Since I haven't joined (although Tina, Kim and Val are threatening to sign me up under dark of night) I asked her to please scout out and see if anyone had a ball they no longer wanted, and someone did! I'm so grateful, because I've been wanting this yarn for quite awhile now.
Today at work, we were greeted with the dismal news that Comcast is cracking down on us, and no longer will any non-Comcast material be allowed on the call floor. This means no more knitting. A moment of stunned silence while we mourn. I have so much nervous energy that I must do something with my hands while I am waiting the seven and a half hours to go by. I took eleven calls today. Four of them already had the Comcast Digital Voice (which we are not only required to actively sell, but will be terminated if we don't sell enough), one of them had had it, but had cancelled his account a month ago. The remaining callers were not interested in any way, shape, or form in giving even more of their money to Comcast. I don't blame them at all.
So I couldn't knit. Although I did hold the WIP in my lap for part of the day, I only actually knit on it while I was on my break. I wasn't supposed to surf the blogs or news sites, although I did. I tried to read some Conference talks, but I just couldn't concentrate. After the people that I talk to left, I listened to podcasts on my pink iPod. I've now finished the second season of Cast On and I'm almost caught up with Lime and Violet.
Ms Knitingale got our blanket squares. Scroll down past the spider story to see. And I made a KnitPicks order, but I ordered DK weight Bare yarn, not sock weight. Anyone want it? Six bucks (plus two if I have to mail it) and it's yours. Or I'll trade for bags of Razzberry M&Ms. I'm not interested in DK weight, and it's not really worth the trouble to send it back. I'll just be more careful to order the right stuff next time!
No photos right now, for two reasons. One, the camera is never upstairs when I am blogging, and yes, I am too lazy to go and get it. Two, most of what is on the needles right now (or recently off the needles) is SSK and hasn't reached its new home yet. Although, I couldn't stand it a minute longer and cast on Trekking 108 for a pair of socks for me. I got through the ribbing and 5 rows into the leg while listening to Whistler's show last night. Whistler is a dear friend of mine. I think we've known each other about five years. He invited me to the Jethro Tull concert last Tuesday in Salt Lake City, and it was awesome! I wished that DD had been able to come, because she plays flute in her school band, and I think she would have liked to hear Ian Anderson do his thing.
So that's it for now. Need to start going to bed at a more reasonable hour because these nightmares are affecting my sleep.
Monday, October 15, 2007
How to Learn the Names of the States and their Capitals
Sing to "Turkey in the Straw".
Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Indianapolis, Indiana
and Columbus is the capital of Ohio
There's Montgomery, Alabama south of Helena, Montana
Then there's Denver, Colorado under Boise, Idaho
Texas has Austin, then we go north
To Massachusetts, Boston and Albany, New York
Tallahassee, Florida and Washington D.C.
Santa Fe, New Mexico and Nashville, Tennessee
(Elvis used to hang out there a lot, ya know)
Trenton's in New Jersey north of Jefferson, Missouri
You've got Richmond in Virginia; South Dakota has Pierre
Harrisburg's in Pennsylvania and Augusta's up in Maine
And here is Providence, Rhode Island next to Dover, Delaware
Concord, New Hampshire, just a quick jaunt
To Montpelier which is up in Vermont
Hartford's in Connecticut, so pretty in the fall
And Kansas has Topeka; Minnesota has St. Paul
Juneau's in Alaska and there's Lincoln in Nebraska
And it's Raleigh out in North Carolina and then
There's Madison, Wisconsin and Olympia in Washington
Phoenix, Arizona and Lansing, Michigan
Here's Honolulu; Hawaii's a joy
Jackson, Mississippi and Springfield, Illinois
South Carolina with Columbia down the way
And Annapolis in Maryland on Chesapeake Bay
(They have wonderful clam chowder)
Cheyenne is in Wyomin' and perhaps you make your home in
Salt Lake City out in Utah where the buffalo roam
Atlanta's down in Georgia and there's Bismarck, North Dakota
And you can live in Frankfort in your old Kentucky home
Salem's in Oregon, from there we join
Little Rock in Arkansas; Iowa's got Des Moines
Sacramento, California; Oklahoma and its city
Charleston, West Virginia and Nevada, Carson City!
That's all the capitals there are!
Song courtesy of Wakko Warner
Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Indianapolis, Indiana
and Columbus is the capital of Ohio
There's Montgomery, Alabama south of Helena, Montana
Then there's Denver, Colorado under Boise, Idaho
Texas has Austin, then we go north
To Massachusetts, Boston and Albany, New York
Tallahassee, Florida and Washington D.C.
Santa Fe, New Mexico and Nashville, Tennessee
(Elvis used to hang out there a lot, ya know)
Trenton's in New Jersey north of Jefferson, Missouri
You've got Richmond in Virginia; South Dakota has Pierre
Harrisburg's in Pennsylvania and Augusta's up in Maine
And here is Providence, Rhode Island next to Dover, Delaware
Concord, New Hampshire, just a quick jaunt
To Montpelier which is up in Vermont
Hartford's in Connecticut, so pretty in the fall
And Kansas has Topeka; Minnesota has St. Paul
Juneau's in Alaska and there's Lincoln in Nebraska
And it's Raleigh out in North Carolina and then
There's Madison, Wisconsin and Olympia in Washington
Phoenix, Arizona and Lansing, Michigan
Here's Honolulu; Hawaii's a joy
Jackson, Mississippi and Springfield, Illinois
South Carolina with Columbia down the way
And Annapolis in Maryland on Chesapeake Bay
(They have wonderful clam chowder)
Cheyenne is in Wyomin' and perhaps you make your home in
Salt Lake City out in Utah where the buffalo roam
Atlanta's down in Georgia and there's Bismarck, North Dakota
And you can live in Frankfort in your old Kentucky home
Salem's in Oregon, from there we join
Little Rock in Arkansas; Iowa's got Des Moines
Sacramento, California; Oklahoma and its city
Charleston, West Virginia and Nevada, Carson City!
That's all the capitals there are!
Song courtesy of Wakko Warner
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Harlotty News
The Harlot is coming!!! The VIP has graciously agreed to go and see her and get a book signed for me. I informed him of the Really Good Idea to bring her beer, so he entreated me to quickly knit her a beer bottle cozy. He is planning on wearing his Opal Tiger socks pinned to a headband to look like ears, so that hopefully he will get enough notice that she will photograph and blog him.
He is a very good VIP, so good in fact that it is hardly necessary for me to print out and distribute Ms Harlot's Helpful Holiday Hints Post. So I am going to go home and grab the scraps of Opal Tiger and hurryknit a beer bottle cozy, then shove it in a box along with my copies of Knitting Rules and At Knit's End so that hopefully it will reach him before Oct 19.
He is a very good VIP, so good in fact that it is hardly necessary for me to print out and distribute Ms Harlot's Helpful Holiday Hints Post. So I am going to go home and grab the scraps of Opal Tiger and hurryknit a beer bottle cozy, then shove it in a box along with my copies of Knitting Rules and At Knit's End so that hopefully it will reach him before Oct 19.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Mr Rogers
I found this nice piece about Mr Rogers today while wilfing. Take a moment and read why we all miss our best neighbour.
Monday, October 01, 2007
'Pider
So we have a cute little boy who lives next-door to us. I think he is 3, his name is E, and he is very very cute. But we have to keep our door locked because if we don't all of a sudden he is inside, trying to let our bird out of his cage. Well yesterday, we neglected to lock the door after taking some trash out. Since we were expecting our home-teachers, we didn't think this was a big deal. The door opened, and E walked in.
"Wanna see my daddy-long-legs?"
Have I mentioned this kid loves bugs?
"Oh E, take your friend outside. Hurry!"
"Okay. Oh, where did he go? Bye!"
Since my vacuum broke two months ago, you can just imagine what my brown carpet looks like. There is no way on earth we are going to find a stray spider. Happy October!
"Wanna see my daddy-long-legs?"
Have I mentioned this kid loves bugs?
"Oh E, take your friend outside. Hurry!"
"Okay. Oh, where did he go? Bye!"
Since my vacuum broke two months ago, you can just imagine what my brown carpet looks like. There is no way on earth we are going to find a stray spider. Happy October!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Le Sigh
Remember I said I was making Nagini Socks for the DD? They don't fit. I am through seven repeats out of nine on the leg, and I had her try it on. It's way too tight. Since she picked out the yarn and the pattern, I am going to have to rip it back totally, and figure out how to add repeats to the special snakeskin cable. The pattern is written toe-up, but I figured out how to do it top-down. I am getting gauge, but either I need to increase the needle size (I'm on a 2 1/2) or else I need to increase the stitches. Any ideas? Has anyone made these socks?
However, these are very very nice, and not only because they come in a pink package. So far I can only find them in single-serving size, but I'm hoping I can find the bigger bags soon.
However, these are very very nice, and not only because they come in a pink package. So far I can only find them in single-serving size, but I'm hoping I can find the bigger bags soon.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
New Convert
I got my friend Allie to start a blog, because she is probably the funniest person I know IRL.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Friday!
Except I have to work tomorrow, so that's not much fun.
So I've been learning stuff during the Summer of Socks. I've tried two different short-row heels, I've done toe-up, I've done one of the new Cat Bordhi designs (same sock, actually), I've done Jaywalkers, I've experimented with dyeing my own sock yarn, and now, just in time for the last day, I've learned not only how to cable, but cable without a needle. (I think there are far too many commas in that last sentence.)
For my final trick in SoS, I'm making the Nagini socks for my DD. I'm using the green sock yarn I bought for the VIP in Chicago. It's okay, I have more interesting stuff for him now. But I am witholding these socks until she has no more scabs on her legs. She is an incessant scab-picker and it drives me crazy! I swear, she got those mosquito bites in June.
So today is the last day of summer. I believe I will keep knitting socks though. Autumn of socks sounds just fine to me!
So I've been learning stuff during the Summer of Socks. I've tried two different short-row heels, I've done toe-up, I've done one of the new Cat Bordhi designs (same sock, actually), I've done Jaywalkers, I've experimented with dyeing my own sock yarn, and now, just in time for the last day, I've learned not only how to cable, but cable without a needle. (I think there are far too many commas in that last sentence.)
For my final trick in SoS, I'm making the Nagini socks for my DD. I'm using the green sock yarn I bought for the VIP in Chicago. It's okay, I have more interesting stuff for him now. But I am witholding these socks until she has no more scabs on her legs. She is an incessant scab-picker and it drives me crazy! I swear, she got those mosquito bites in June.
So today is the last day of summer. I believe I will keep knitting socks though. Autumn of socks sounds just fine to me!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
TLAP
Well blow me down, it's Talk Like a Pirate Day!! Or over here for those of you across the pond.
What do pirates knit with? Yarrrrrrrrrrrrrn
Where do pirates go to have fun? The Carrrrrrrrnival
Got any others?
Oh, MDK has a good post today, as well as PDF links.
What do pirates knit with? Yarrrrrrrrrrrrrn
Where do pirates go to have fun? The Carrrrrrrrnival
Got any others?
Oh, MDK has a good post today, as well as PDF links.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Catching Up
In a random-type order, we have some catching-up to do.
This last weekend was not only my uncle's funeral, but also the Great Basin Fiber Fair. I saw my LYSO, 5 ladies from my knitting group, and Tan! I think I scared her because I recognized her on the spot, and I don't recall ever seeing a photo of her full face on any of her blogs. But we also ran into Val and Kim, so we *had* to have a group photo.
I like how Tan and I coordinated our colours, but she looks better in it than I do. It matches her hair nicer. Wow, I need to go brassiere-shopping. Why didn't anyone tell me???
There were also fuzzy alpacas to be seen and petted. Wow are they ever soft! I just love those hair-dos.
And a couple of photos of my trip to Philly. Me and the VIP, and the new sock I started while there.
I caught the VIP being put to work, winding hanked sock yarn into center-pull balls. He is a fast learner, and he's so cute too!
Okay that's enough random-ness for today.
This last weekend was not only my uncle's funeral, but also the Great Basin Fiber Fair. I saw my LYSO, 5 ladies from my knitting group, and Tan! I think I scared her because I recognized her on the spot, and I don't recall ever seeing a photo of her full face on any of her blogs. But we also ran into Val and Kim, so we *had* to have a group photo.
I like how Tan and I coordinated our colours, but she looks better in it than I do. It matches her hair nicer. Wow, I need to go brassiere-shopping. Why didn't anyone tell me???There were also fuzzy alpacas to be seen and petted. Wow are they ever soft! I just love those hair-dos.
And a couple of photos of my trip to Philly. Me and the VIP, and the new sock I started while there.
I caught the VIP being put to work, winding hanked sock yarn into center-pull balls. He is a fast learner, and he's so cute too!
Okay that's enough random-ness for today.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Arrivals and Departures
Departure first:
My dear uncle Richard was escorted home on Sunday morning. I will miss him, I wish he could have stayed longer. But he was so miserable at the last that I am glad for him now that he has gone. The services are Friday and Saturday, so we will go down to SLC Friday after school.
And now the trip:
I hate air travel. But so far I've never missed a flight or really had a tough time while flying. I got to Newark Friday night, where my dear VIP was waiting for me with two dozen red roses! My bags were offloaded quickly and we waded through the thick air to the car and onto the route into NYC. We wound up on the wrong tunnel, but we eventually found our way to 42nd St, and a parking garage. But then the real *fun* began. We didn't realise that Chez Josephine was literally across the street and up just a couple of doors from the parking garage, so we walked clear up to 7th, never finding what we were looking for. I called my brother who was waiting for us, and we got even more lost. Finally we decided to go back where we started from and start again. But my brother had already decided to come looking for us, and we were found! We were greeted warmly by Jean-Claude himself, and he took my roses and put them in the "refrigerateur" while we ate. We sat and ate and drank for 2 hours, and then since we still had driving to do, we parted. It was a wonderful experience, and I'd like to recommend the seafood sausage.
Saturday morning we went to Mt Holly and Woolbearers. I met Suzie, Beth, Kelly, Meghan, and Val. We stayed for probably two hours, enjoying the company, knitting, talking, eating, winding hanks of yarn into center-pull balls. I love this group already, and I feel really fortunate that I'll have a ready-made coterie once I move to PA. Suzie took our picture and blogged about us. We bought some of their lovely hand-dyed sock yarn in Midnite Sea, and I started the sock already. It is striping up wonderfully, and DD expressed interest in a pair out of this colourway as well.
After Woolbearers we went to Trader Joe's and bought a whole lot of food and goodies. I picked out some things to take back to DD, including sour Jelly Bellys, some fun tortellini and tiny ravioli, and Joe-Joes, which are like Oreos. I love this store, it is so awesome!
Sunday was church. We got there and had quite a time finding a parking space. It turned out that they were having Stake Conference, hence the parking issues. Since I haven't attended Stake Conference in years, it was interesting. There were eight speakers, four of which were recent converts. It was nice to get their perspectives and views, as well as a bit of Baptist spirit. The congregation had a few folks in it who haven't quite gotten all the "amens" out of their systems. It was really enjoyable to hear, because sometimes I think Mormons are too quiet. After church we went back to Mt Holly where we went to the farmer's market and bought some lovely German smoked meats and cheese. I cannot remember the names of them, but the cheese is incredibly wonderful. It would make awesome grilled-cheese sandwiches. (~~ETA~~ It's Cooper Sharp, and only available on the east coast.) After there, we went back to Woolbearers, because the VIP had bought me some sock yarn before I got there, but he had neglected to get it wound into center-pull ballls. I stopped in another shop quickly, and he went on ahead to get started. When I walked in, he was in the back, busy with the swift and ball-winder. We talked with Suzie for a few minutes, and then got on the road to get to IKEA before they closed.
Of course, you must eat when you're there, so we did. And then we wandered around for a long time, gathering up various and sundry necessary items. As we were exiting, my mom called me, telling me about my uncle. It was a quiet ride back home. We unloaded the car, and went for a snack at Cracker Barrel. I wasn't really hungry, but I had a salad. When we got back to the house, we started building a CD tower. We got almost finished, but were at a point where we needed to use a hammer, and it was too late at night to do that. It got finished the next morning.
Monday I had to leave. It was quite the adventure, getting all my chocolate souvenirs packed up safely. We got to the airport in plenty of time, and the security line was the shortest I've ever been in. The plane was a bit delayed but not too seriously. It was one of those new Song Airlines planes, with satellite tv. Movies and games cost money, but tv and radio were free. A cool feature was the map that showed your exact location, and minutes elasped and remaining. It also showed altitude and outside air temp. I knitted on my new sock, and I ate chocolate, and I napped a bit, and listened to podcasts.
It was a wonderful weekend, and I had so much fun. Obviously I have skipped over some stuff, but that is stuff I think I want to keep to myself for awhile.
My dear uncle Richard was escorted home on Sunday morning. I will miss him, I wish he could have stayed longer. But he was so miserable at the last that I am glad for him now that he has gone. The services are Friday and Saturday, so we will go down to SLC Friday after school.
And now the trip:
I hate air travel. But so far I've never missed a flight or really had a tough time while flying. I got to Newark Friday night, where my dear VIP was waiting for me with two dozen red roses! My bags were offloaded quickly and we waded through the thick air to the car and onto the route into NYC. We wound up on the wrong tunnel, but we eventually found our way to 42nd St, and a parking garage. But then the real *fun* began. We didn't realise that Chez Josephine was literally across the street and up just a couple of doors from the parking garage, so we walked clear up to 7th, never finding what we were looking for. I called my brother who was waiting for us, and we got even more lost. Finally we decided to go back where we started from and start again. But my brother had already decided to come looking for us, and we were found! We were greeted warmly by Jean-Claude himself, and he took my roses and put them in the "refrigerateur" while we ate. We sat and ate and drank for 2 hours, and then since we still had driving to do, we parted. It was a wonderful experience, and I'd like to recommend the seafood sausage.
Saturday morning we went to Mt Holly and Woolbearers. I met Suzie, Beth, Kelly, Meghan, and Val. We stayed for probably two hours, enjoying the company, knitting, talking, eating, winding hanks of yarn into center-pull balls. I love this group already, and I feel really fortunate that I'll have a ready-made coterie once I move to PA. Suzie took our picture and blogged about us. We bought some of their lovely hand-dyed sock yarn in Midnite Sea, and I started the sock already. It is striping up wonderfully, and DD expressed interest in a pair out of this colourway as well.
After Woolbearers we went to Trader Joe's and bought a whole lot of food and goodies. I picked out some things to take back to DD, including sour Jelly Bellys, some fun tortellini and tiny ravioli, and Joe-Joes, which are like Oreos. I love this store, it is so awesome!
Sunday was church. We got there and had quite a time finding a parking space. It turned out that they were having Stake Conference, hence the parking issues. Since I haven't attended Stake Conference in years, it was interesting. There were eight speakers, four of which were recent converts. It was nice to get their perspectives and views, as well as a bit of Baptist spirit. The congregation had a few folks in it who haven't quite gotten all the "amens" out of their systems. It was really enjoyable to hear, because sometimes I think Mormons are too quiet. After church we went back to Mt Holly where we went to the farmer's market and bought some lovely German smoked meats and cheese. I cannot remember the names of them, but the cheese is incredibly wonderful. It would make awesome grilled-cheese sandwiches. (~~ETA~~ It's Cooper Sharp, and only available on the east coast.) After there, we went back to Woolbearers, because the VIP had bought me some sock yarn before I got there, but he had neglected to get it wound into center-pull ballls. I stopped in another shop quickly, and he went on ahead to get started. When I walked in, he was in the back, busy with the swift and ball-winder. We talked with Suzie for a few minutes, and then got on the road to get to IKEA before they closed.
Of course, you must eat when you're there, so we did. And then we wandered around for a long time, gathering up various and sundry necessary items. As we were exiting, my mom called me, telling me about my uncle. It was a quiet ride back home. We unloaded the car, and went for a snack at Cracker Barrel. I wasn't really hungry, but I had a salad. When we got back to the house, we started building a CD tower. We got almost finished, but were at a point where we needed to use a hammer, and it was too late at night to do that. It got finished the next morning.
Monday I had to leave. It was quite the adventure, getting all my chocolate souvenirs packed up safely. We got to the airport in plenty of time, and the security line was the shortest I've ever been in. The plane was a bit delayed but not too seriously. It was one of those new Song Airlines planes, with satellite tv. Movies and games cost money, but tv and radio were free. A cool feature was the map that showed your exact location, and minutes elasped and remaining. It also showed altitude and outside air temp. I knitted on my new sock, and I ate chocolate, and I napped a bit, and listened to podcasts.
It was a wonderful weekend, and I had so much fun. Obviously I have skipped over some stuff, but that is stuff I think I want to keep to myself for awhile.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Desperately Seeking . . . . .
. . . . Trekking XXL in colourway # 126. Yes I know it's been discontinued, which is why I'm begging for it here. I'll buy it or swap it.
On my way to Philly in the morning! Eating dinner at Chez Josephine tomorrow night.
On my way to Philly in the morning! Eating dinner at Chez Josephine tomorrow night.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Hiccup
So my daily wakeup call from the VIP came just a little further east than Philadelphia. Anyone care to hazard a guess just how far east? No guesses? Okay I'll tell you. Dublin. As in Dublin, Ireland. My 6:30am is 1:30pm over there. He got communication from his cousins two days ago that his uncle is failing. Bizarre, don't you think? My uncle and now his uncle. So he packed his bag and found a flight and got flagged by TSA for extra-special security checks. The flight was scheduled to leave at 8:45pm, but actually left at 12:22am. I know this because I tracked his flight through the US Airways website. When I went to bed he was still in the air, and he rang me this morning on the train from Dublin to Limerick. "It's so incredibly green here, not at all like Utah/Idaho!" *blink* "So take lots of pictures and get me lots of postcards so I can see too." I'll post some photos when he sends them to me, that way we can all enjoy them. And just so you know, I am *really* repenting letting my passport expire.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Things To Do At Convergys When It's Dead
(With apologies to Mr Warren Zevon)
1 -- Knit. That's obvious. What is currently on my needles? Well, it's SSK (Super Secret Knitting). Other stuff is a Miner's Blanket Project square, sock yarn I've dyed, sock yarn I've won, as well as various and sundry UFO's that are *still* haunting me. "Aawooooo".
2 -- Read the news.
3 -- Read and comment on lots of blogs. (Not linking, you can click on anything on the lists at the right.)
4 -- Listen to podcasts. I stick one iPod earphone in my ear, underneath my headset. When a call comes in, I pause the podcast and take care of the customer. If I got caught, my @$$ would be grass, but oh well.
5 -- Make lists.
A -- Stuff I need to pack for my trip.
B -- Phone calls I need to make.
C -- Errands I need to run.
D -- Things to do in Denver when I'm dead. (Just kidding. I meant to say things to do in Philly when I'm there.)
It's pretty much interminable.
6 -- Write blog posts.
~~ETA~~
7 -- Chat with Marti on the secret g-chat!
8 -- Enter Coke Rewards numbers to get cool free stuff.
9 -- Play Bejeweled.
1 -- Knit. That's obvious. What is currently on my needles? Well, it's SSK (Super Secret Knitting). Other stuff is a Miner's Blanket Project square, sock yarn I've dyed, sock yarn I've won, as well as various and sundry UFO's that are *still* haunting me. "Aawooooo".
2 -- Read the news.
3 -- Read and comment on lots of blogs. (Not linking, you can click on anything on the lists at the right.)
4 -- Listen to podcasts. I stick one iPod earphone in my ear, underneath my headset. When a call comes in, I pause the podcast and take care of the customer. If I got caught, my @$$ would be grass, but oh well.
5 -- Make lists.
A -- Stuff I need to pack for my trip.
B -- Phone calls I need to make.
C -- Errands I need to run.
D -- Things to do in Denver when I'm dead. (Just kidding. I meant to say things to do in Philly when I'm there.)
It's pretty much interminable.
6 -- Write blog posts.
~~ETA~~
7 -- Chat with Marti on the secret g-chat!
8 -- Enter Coke Rewards numbers to get cool free stuff.
9 -- Play Bejeweled.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Still Here
So I went to my niece's wedding this weekend down in Salt Lake City. She is actually my cousin's daughter, not my sibling's daughter, but in our family we don't freak out about correct nomenclature. It was a lovely reception, even though I got lost driving to it. I was able to see all my cousins and their spouses, and my aunt's brothers were there as well. I had gone to IKEA first and gotten some more chocolate, which I was afraid would melt. But the reception treats were ice cream sundaes courtesy of Leatherby's which is a local ice cream parlor chain. I was able to borrow room in the ice cream freezer and so my chocolate stayed nice and un-melted.
Afterwards, I went back to my uncle's house, to eat some supper and see him. I told him we all missed having him there. He really would have loved being there. It was a beautiful venue, and there were lots of people to talk to, not to mention ice cream! I also told him my VIP sent his greetings. As I reached down to give him a hug, he asked me: "Why can't I just die? Why am I still here? I just want to go." What do you say to that? I told him that maybe somebody is coming to see him, but I honestly don't know. I reminded him that his father, his brother, and his son are all waiting to escort him when it's time to go. I am going to miss him so much, but for his sake I want him to go soon.
My brother in Idaho Falls apparently has asked my mom a couple of times if he should come see our uncle, but my mom is kinda not able to make decisions right now and she didn't give him an answer. So I called him up yesterday morning and told him if he could manage it, to make a quick trip and go down. I hope he does, but it's all right if he can't. I've no idea if my mother's other daughter has bothered to show up or call. Since she just lives in Layton, you'd think she would. My brother in Brigham City has gone twice, and so have I.
So basically I am just waiting for The Phone Call. We will go about business as usual, with Harvest War and DD's birthday this weekend, as well as a nephew's baptism. And then my trip to Philly is the next weekend. We have so much planned to do, including dinner with my youngest brother in the Theatre District. I haven't seen him since February, and I miss him.
Next post won't be so sad, I promise.
Afterwards, I went back to my uncle's house, to eat some supper and see him. I told him we all missed having him there. He really would have loved being there. It was a beautiful venue, and there were lots of people to talk to, not to mention ice cream! I also told him my VIP sent his greetings. As I reached down to give him a hug, he asked me: "Why can't I just die? Why am I still here? I just want to go." What do you say to that? I told him that maybe somebody is coming to see him, but I honestly don't know. I reminded him that his father, his brother, and his son are all waiting to escort him when it's time to go. I am going to miss him so much, but for his sake I want him to go soon.
My brother in Idaho Falls apparently has asked my mom a couple of times if he should come see our uncle, but my mom is kinda not able to make decisions right now and she didn't give him an answer. So I called him up yesterday morning and told him if he could manage it, to make a quick trip and go down. I hope he does, but it's all right if he can't. I've no idea if my mother's other daughter has bothered to show up or call. Since she just lives in Layton, you'd think she would. My brother in Brigham City has gone twice, and so have I.
So basically I am just waiting for The Phone Call. We will go about business as usual, with Harvest War and DD's birthday this weekend, as well as a nephew's baptism. And then my trip to Philly is the next weekend. We have so much planned to do, including dinner with my youngest brother in the Theatre District. I haven't seen him since February, and I miss him.
Next post won't be so sad, I promise.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
On Going Home
See this handsome guy? That's my Uncle Richard. The other people are my DD and his wife Mary. Photo taken two years ago at my brother's wedding. Why am I posting this? Because my dear uncle is about to be Called Home. DD and I drove down to Salt Lake City yesterday. We literally drove up to the house at the exact same minute as my mother in her car, and my father and grandmother in his car. My other uncle passed away 18 months ago, while everyone was at my great-aunt's funeral in Oregon. My poor grandmother really hasn't quite recovered from that, and here she is, about to lose her oldest son. If you're at all spiritual or religious, please include our family in your prayers and good thoughts. This man saved my life when I was a child. He has always been so happy, kind, generous, and loving. I have so many stories to tell.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Thinking of Others Today
Go give Alicia some love. She had to put her sweet dog down on Wednesday.
And please go look at what Flo is proposing. Knitters (especially those with Utah connections) let's make some blankets for our miners' families.
~~ETA~~
Go here for an update on Flo's blanket squares, including more details and an address to send them to. C'mon Utah knitters, let's represent.
And please go look at what Flo is proposing. Knitters (especially those with Utah connections) let's make some blankets for our miners' families.
~~ETA~~
Go here for an update on Flo's blanket squares, including more details and an address to send them to. C'mon Utah knitters, let's represent.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
What I Did Yesterday
Any guesses?
How about now? For all my love of pink, most of what I dyed yesterday is shades of blue/teal. But that's because I had six skeins of nasty-coloured mustard-yellow worsted-weight yarn. Three different dye-lots, so I am not exactly sure what I am going to do with them. I did immersion-bath dyeing, using Jacquard's Brilliant Blue. I am not unhappy with the result, but I wish it had dyed a bit more evenly. The ball is 4 ounces of natural wool, dyed with the injection method. I had a small bit of chartreuse, a bit larger amount of lilac, and a lot of turquoise. It is still wet, sitting out in the sunshine trying to dry. I will probably make Moebius scarves with this, and edge them with purple mohair, to use it up. The bottom row is what I am most proud of, though. From the top: 50 g of Univeral Pace, originally yellow, overdyed with Jacquard's Pink. Turned more orange than salmon, but I may re-dye it at a later date. Next is 100 g of Opal Zebra. Immersion-dyed in the same pot as the Pace. I do like pink and black. Then we have two 50 g balls of Paton's Kroy sock yarn. I used Jacquard's Pink, Lilac, and Brilliant Blue. The next hank is 100 g of KnitPicks Bare. I used only the Pink and the Brilliant Blue, and overlapped them in the middle. After that is another 100 g hank of Knitpicks using Lilac, Brilliant Blue, and Chartreuse. What a violent green it produced! Below that is two 50 g hanks of Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool, using the Lilac and Pink again. And at the bottom is two 50 g balls of Sirdar Snuggle Baby Bamboo, in Brilliant Blue and Chartreuse. It's only 20% wool so it took the dye much differently. But I do like it! I won't be giving Scout a run for her money anytime soon, but I can see why she likes to do it.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Monday, August 06, 2007
What A Difference A Year Makes
MCM has been gone a year. The first 10 1/2 months were so incredibly hard, but the last six or seven weeks have been a complete 180* change. I still miss him, I will always miss him. But I don't cry anymore (well hardly, anyway).
So the VIP came to visit. It was wonderful. Now if you'll notice my ticker, I've got a month to go before I see him again. He brought me some wonderful fibery presents, some of which have already been sampled. I got four 50g balls of Soxx Appeal yarn, in three different colourways. One colour there is two balls of, because it is green, and he wants socks out of it. I've already completed one pair of short socks for me. This pair took me a whole week, instead of just three days. The Soxx Appeal yarn only has 3% nylon and 1% elastic, but it is a highly-twisted yarn, so it has a long of sproing. It took me twice as long to knit with, because I was worried about keeping my tension loose. But I really like the resulting socks. Row gauge is off a bit, so keep that in mind if you decide you'd like to try some.
He also got me two balls of Opal Tiger. Two balls will make three pairs of socks! I am going to have to be a bit creative here. And he also brought me eight ounces of Romney/Columbia roving, dyed bright pink. I wound one hank of it into a bump yesterday, and began spinning with it. It is so nice and greasy, it feels wonderful.
And so here is the FO gallery:
Obviously the first pair is Trekking 100. I love this yarn. I think I am going to try to collect as many dyelots of this as I can. Who wants to help me? The second pair is Cat Bordhi's Coriolis Sock from Knitty Gritty. I totally FUBAR'd it up, but it's not too bad for a first attempt. They fit fine, and they are very warm. Instead of using the Austermann Step like she did, I bought two skeins of Brown Sheep sock yarn in two different colours. I really like how they turned out, plus I still have yarn left over for some short socks. The third pair is my Soxx Appeal short socks. You can see that they are quite short. I ended up with two feet of yarn left over. That's a bit too close for comfort, in my opinion. But I will definitely knit with it again, although I will probably go up to a size 3mm needle. The last pair is Fortissima Disco. Although this is very pretty yarn, I didn't like knitting with it. The metallic strand made it not as stretchy as wool yarn usually is. These socks actually went into time-out twice: once while I did the Trekking 100, and again when I did the Soxx Appeal.
So hopefully all these photos will appease you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have about a hundred errands to run today. I need to drop a bag of stuff off to the DI, fetch my meds, print some photos, go to the LYS . . . . . stuff like that.
So the VIP came to visit. It was wonderful. Now if you'll notice my ticker, I've got a month to go before I see him again. He brought me some wonderful fibery presents, some of which have already been sampled. I got four 50g balls of Soxx Appeal yarn, in three different colourways. One colour there is two balls of, because it is green, and he wants socks out of it. I've already completed one pair of short socks for me. This pair took me a whole week, instead of just three days. The Soxx Appeal yarn only has 3% nylon and 1% elastic, but it is a highly-twisted yarn, so it has a long of sproing. It took me twice as long to knit with, because I was worried about keeping my tension loose. But I really like the resulting socks. Row gauge is off a bit, so keep that in mind if you decide you'd like to try some. He also got me two balls of Opal Tiger. Two balls will make three pairs of socks! I am going to have to be a bit creative here. And he also brought me eight ounces of Romney/Columbia roving, dyed bright pink. I wound one hank of it into a bump yesterday, and began spinning with it. It is so nice and greasy, it feels wonderful.
And so here is the FO gallery:
Obviously the first pair is Trekking 100. I love this yarn. I think I am going to try to collect as many dyelots of this as I can. Who wants to help me? The second pair is Cat Bordhi's Coriolis Sock from Knitty Gritty. I totally FUBAR'd it up, but it's not too bad for a first attempt. They fit fine, and they are very warm. Instead of using the Austermann Step like she did, I bought two skeins of Brown Sheep sock yarn in two different colours. I really like how they turned out, plus I still have yarn left over for some short socks. The third pair is my Soxx Appeal short socks. You can see that they are quite short. I ended up with two feet of yarn left over. That's a bit too close for comfort, in my opinion. But I will definitely knit with it again, although I will probably go up to a size 3mm needle. The last pair is Fortissima Disco. Although this is very pretty yarn, I didn't like knitting with it. The metallic strand made it not as stretchy as wool yarn usually is. These socks actually went into time-out twice: once while I did the Trekking 100, and again when I did the Soxx Appeal.
So hopefully all these photos will appease you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have about a hundred errands to run today. I need to drop a bag of stuff off to the DI, fetch my meds, print some photos, go to the LYS . . . . . stuff like that.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Too @#$% Hot
I've got FO's to show off, as well as presents. But it is just too freaking hot to go outside and take photos. How I wish my fridge had an icemaker. How I wish my house didn't have a west-facing living-room window.
But, I am grateful that I have a lovely house, with a fridge. (Just in case Someone thinks I'm not grateful.)
Short of showering with my clothes on (which I have done, BTW) how can I keep cool?
~ETA~
I found this short movie about Crown Fountain. I'm going to think cool thoughts.
But, I am grateful that I have a lovely house, with a fridge. (Just in case Someone thinks I'm not grateful.)
Short of showering with my clothes on (which I have done, BTW) how can I keep cool?
~ETA~
I found this short movie about Crown Fountain. I'm going to think cool thoughts.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
My SCA Name
I will be registering the following as my official SCA name shortly:
Duchess Tola the Charitable of Wimblish upon Frognaze.
The VIP has been named: Emperor VIP the Idle of New Invention.
Find your Peculiar Aristocratic Title here.
Duchess Tola the Charitable of Wimblish upon Frognaze.
The VIP has been named: Emperor VIP the Idle of New Invention.
Find your Peculiar Aristocratic Title here.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Blasphemy
I do not like Jaywalkers. There, I said it. I love the yarn I used for them, which was Austermann Step, and it was a minor miracle that they match exactly. But I did not enjoy knitting them nor do I like how they fit. To be fair, I will probably try them one more time, but not decrease quite so much during the gusset because I cannot for the life of me figure out why she has you decrease to fewer stitches than what you started with. If anyone knows, I'd appreciate some enlightenment. So fighting with the Jaywalkers is why it took me so long to post. Mleah!
However, I do have a few projects that I finished and enjoyed and here they are. I tried a short-row stockinette heel for the very first time. It was excruciating to work through the pattern instructions, but I made it and here is the proof. The yarn is Online Supersocke and I like it very much. My LYS doesn't have very interesting colourways of it, but I know they exist. The hat is for the DD. She chose the yarn from my stash (yay!) and designed it, and I knit it to her specifications. It is Plymouth Encore in black and off-white, basic stockinette cap. At the end, instead of drawing the yarn through the remaining loops to finish it off, I did a few inches of i-cord. DD made a pompom to go on the end, and she proudly wore it all day every day for the rest of the week. It looks incredibly cute on her and I am proud to say that I made it and she actually wears it! The short socks are made from the Regia that I bought while on my trip in Chicago. I really really love this yarn. And my new KnitPicks size true 2 needles had arrived in time for me to use them and I have found my favourite needles. I did the short-row heel again and I think it looks a bit better. I know it was easier. 
And now for something completely different! Look at this wonderful yarn. My friend Val dyed and spun it and was showing it off at Fibre Night last week. Of course since it has so much pink in it, I was admiring it muchly. And she gave it to me! She is not in love with pink as much as I am, and knew that I would give it a good home. I love this yarn! Here is her post about it, you'll need to scroll down a bit because it happens to be a biggish one. She doesn't think it's spun tightly enough for socks, but I think I will try it anyway. I will get some reinforcing nylon for the heels and toes and just see what happens. And see my ticker? It is slowly but surely counting down the days until the VIP arrives. We are both extremely excited about this event. He went looking for a LYS the other day, and found Woolbearers. He says he is bringing me a bag of squishy goodness so that's another reason to be excited!
And in case you were thinking that I was going to completely ignore the Huge Event of the week, rest assured that I am not. I pre-ordered my copy and showed up at my local Borders store about 1:15pm yesterday to get my purchase wristband. I was #123 in the silver (second) group so I only had to actually wait about 45 minutes after midnight to get my copy. I came home and read the last 2 chapters and went to bed. Now I can rest, and actually enjoy reading the whole thing. And I won't watch a movie unless I am with someone who has seen it and will tell me how it ends. Yes I am very well aware of my extreme weirdness.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Monday, July 09, 2007
Inspirational
Knitting Iris's most recent post has inspired this.
When DD was born, I was newly-divorced and living with my parents in a house that they rented. We were happy there for almost two years, and then an old college friend invited me to move to Tulsa and tend her daughter for the summer and possibly think about staying. We went, but we didn't stay. When we came back, the people who owned the house my parents were in, sold it. And the house that they found wasn't big enough for us to re-join them. So we found a basement apartment in the same neighbourhood and moved in. I loved that house. It had the Most Hideous carpeting and paneling, but it was warm in the winter and not too hot in the summer. The basement portion was actually older than the upstairs portion as it had originally been a basement house. The upstairs had been added about 20 years later. Of course, when the Teton Dam burst in 1976, it was filled to the top with water and mud. Some of the original beautiful oak paneling was damaged and unsalvageable, and it was replaced with far inferior stuff. It was fairly dark, what with the chocolate-brown carpet and all, but I still loved that house. We were there for six years and would probably still be there, except . . . . .
We were asked to vacate because the landlords had a grandson who had just gotten married and he wanted to live in my house. So we moved. I was (and still am) so sad about that. I have to pass that house every time I go to my folks' place and I still cry, even though it was five years ago that we left. Eventually the landlords bought a house a couple of blocks away, and have turned the whole property over to the grandson. It has gone very far downhill and it is so sad.
But about the photo: I worked at the fabric counter at WalMart and I got that lace there. I had enough to make curtains for both sets of windows in my bedroom. Being a basement house, the windows were quite short so I was able to make the most of the small amount of fabric I had. I liked the fact that it was quite a thick pattern, and although it let light in, you really couldn't see into the house. I would lay on my bed and read, with the curtains wafting in the breeze and watching the light play across the fabric. And one day, I just grabbed the camera and popped off two shots. This is the better of the two, although they are both nice. I took it on real film, not digital, and when I first got my scanner, this is one of the first images I scanned.
When DD was born, I was newly-divorced and living with my parents in a house that they rented. We were happy there for almost two years, and then an old college friend invited me to move to Tulsa and tend her daughter for the summer and possibly think about staying. We went, but we didn't stay. When we came back, the people who owned the house my parents were in, sold it. And the house that they found wasn't big enough for us to re-join them. So we found a basement apartment in the same neighbourhood and moved in. I loved that house. It had the Most Hideous carpeting and paneling, but it was warm in the winter and not too hot in the summer. The basement portion was actually older than the upstairs portion as it had originally been a basement house. The upstairs had been added about 20 years later. Of course, when the Teton Dam burst in 1976, it was filled to the top with water and mud. Some of the original beautiful oak paneling was damaged and unsalvageable, and it was replaced with far inferior stuff. It was fairly dark, what with the chocolate-brown carpet and all, but I still loved that house. We were there for six years and would probably still be there, except . . . . .
We were asked to vacate because the landlords had a grandson who had just gotten married and he wanted to live in my house. So we moved. I was (and still am) so sad about that. I have to pass that house every time I go to my folks' place and I still cry, even though it was five years ago that we left. Eventually the landlords bought a house a couple of blocks away, and have turned the whole property over to the grandson. It has gone very far downhill and it is so sad.
But about the photo: I worked at the fabric counter at WalMart and I got that lace there. I had enough to make curtains for both sets of windows in my bedroom. Being a basement house, the windows were quite short so I was able to make the most of the small amount of fabric I had. I liked the fact that it was quite a thick pattern, and although it let light in, you really couldn't see into the house. I would lay on my bed and read, with the curtains wafting in the breeze and watching the light play across the fabric. And one day, I just grabbed the camera and popped off two shots. This is the better of the two, although they are both nice. I took it on real film, not digital, and when I first got my scanner, this is one of the first images I scanned.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Happy 4th!
To celebrate the day, I present to you my first completed pairs of socks for Summer of Socks.
I am not officially enrolled in Summer of Socks, I am just playing along from the sidelines. At first I thought I wanted to see how many socks I could knit in the time period, but now I've decided to use the time to explore new sock techniques and patterns. Obviously I had to get my Stars and Stripes socks done first, so that I could wear them tonight at the barbecue and fireworks our SCA group is doing. But the second pair I learned how to do short-row heels (Cat Bordhi's version) and while I'm not sure if I'm in love with the technique, at least now I know how to do it. It's quite amazing how that pair happens to match nearly exactly, which was totally accidental. For my third pair, I am doing the ubiquitous Jaywalkers. I have never done a patterned sock yet, and this one is fairly easy. If you click on Cara's banner enough times, eventually you'll get to her photo of her pile of Jaywalkers. And I need to post two other pairs that I finished before my trip to Chicago. The short ones are for my doctor, they knit up super fast. The long ones are mine and I got the yarn from my LYS and it is totally bizarre how one pooled like crazy and the other striped up like it's supposed to. Weird.
~~ETA~~
Confidential to VIP:
Pooling happens of its own accord, you cannot really do much to encourage or discourage it. The next pair of socks I have on deck for you are plain green, with yarn I bought in Chicago. And why would I want to knit a sweatband? Are you going for the Mark Knopfler look?
I am not officially enrolled in Summer of Socks, I am just playing along from the sidelines. At first I thought I wanted to see how many socks I could knit in the time period, but now I've decided to use the time to explore new sock techniques and patterns. Obviously I had to get my Stars and Stripes socks done first, so that I could wear them tonight at the barbecue and fireworks our SCA group is doing. But the second pair I learned how to do short-row heels (Cat Bordhi's version) and while I'm not sure if I'm in love with the technique, at least now I know how to do it. It's quite amazing how that pair happens to match nearly exactly, which was totally accidental. For my third pair, I am doing the ubiquitous Jaywalkers. I have never done a patterned sock yet, and this one is fairly easy. If you click on Cara's banner enough times, eventually you'll get to her photo of her pile of Jaywalkers. And I need to post two other pairs that I finished before my trip to Chicago. The short ones are for my doctor, they knit up super fast. The long ones are mine and I got the yarn from my LYS and it is totally bizarre how one pooled like crazy and the other striped up like it's supposed to. Weird.
~~ETA~~
Confidential to VIP:
Pooling happens of its own accord, you cannot really do much to encourage or discourage it. The next pair of socks I have on deck for you are plain green, with yarn I bought in Chicago. And why would I want to knit a sweatband? Are you going for the Mark Knopfler look?
Friday, June 29, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Letting Go
That was the hardest thing I think I have ever done. It feels as though a previously unknown knife has been removed from my heart. But now I can go on and do the things that I need to do, and not need to dwell on the pain.
I had a wonderful time though. I met his friends and they were so good to me. We spent a day in the city, and I took loads of photos and had a great time. Some of my trip is already becoming a blur, so I'll do my best to get it all right.
It all started with my harrowing drive to the Salt Lake airport. Traffic was heavy, and I had drunk too much diet Coke so I kept having to stop. I was afraid of not having enough time to get through security, so I left my house at 6am for a 10:45am flight. I made it, it was all fine. I got to Chicago, and was told to call a phone number to meet my ride. It was a white stretch limo! In the spirit of Stephanie, I took a picture of the sock enjoying the limo ride. It took about 45 minutes or so to reach the suburb of Aurora, where I stayed. His friend MMC (not to be confused with him, as he is MCM) and her sister PC were my lovely hostesses. PC has two very sweet children (LilBoy and LilGurl) and they pretty much accompanied us wherever we went. MMC is the BEST auntie I have ever met in my life. When she built her house, she included bedrooms for these two lil ones, and her garage was stuffed full of their outside toys. I hope I can be like her when I grow up.
We went out to a local Italian place for dinner. I had fried calamari for the first time in my life. I think if you didn't know the difference, you would think you were just eating onion rings. I'm not sure I'd like it prepared any other way though.
The next day was June 14, his birthday. MMC worked half the day, so PC took me with her to run her errands. She dropped me off at Fringe where I browsed for awhile. After the huge brouhaha over at Alison's blog a couple of weeks ago, I am going to be very careful about what I say. The staff was very nice, I didn't feel ignored or hovered over. They have a lovely selection of books and yarn and accessories. There is a huge table where you can sit and browse a book, or knit, or chat. If you buy yarn that is in a hank, they will wind it into a cake for you (I asked). However, there wasn't a very big selection of sock yarn, and all their other yarns were arranged by colour. It makes for a very beautiful and striking display, but it is very difficult to find what you want. I bought 100 gr of dark green sock yarn to make a second pair of socks for the VIP, as well as a house-brand needle gauge.
MMC met us for lunch at a soup/sandwich place in the mall, and then she and I went on to the cemetery. She stopped at a grocery store so I could get some flowers to bring. I chose some pink gerbera daisies, and some green fluffy things that are kind of like chrysanthemums. I liked them, and the colour went well with the salmon pink daisies. After I laid them out, I added my LiveStrong wristband. I know it all won't stay forever, but I feel better now.
To cheer us up, we went to Trader Joe's. I bought chocolate. Lots of it. It is very good, and if any of my readers have a Trader Joe's nearby and wish to supply me with chocolate, we can definitely work something out.
The next day was Friday, and our adventure in the city! We started out by walking to the shores of Lake Michigan, then we went to the Crown Fountain at Millennium Park. The kids splashed in the reflecting pool and I enjoyed watching the faces change on the glass towers. Then we walked over to the Cloud Gate sculpture, which is more affectionately known as "The Bean". I absolutely LOVE this thing. I couldn't stop taking pictures of it. If I lived there, I would go all the time. I would play in the fountains, too. Then we caught a cab and went over to Navy Pier. I made sure I got my pressed penny and my caramel corn from the Popcorn Palace. I am not a huge popcorn fan, but I could eat loads of this stuff every day. I am going to have to see about mail-order because it is so yummy! There is a lot to see at Navy Pier, but as we had the two lil ones with us, we didn't want to drag it out too much. So we grabbed another cab and hopped over to the American Girl Place. MMC collects dolls, and LilGurl has a birthday in a couple of weeks. My DD has never expressed interest in American Girl stuff, so I didn't get her anything there. Of course, now I am sure she will tell me she just LOVES it all and why didn't I get her anything there??? Mleah. And across the way from there is a Hershey's store. I bought chocolate. And then we walked. It seems like we walked for miles and miles, but I'll bet it was actually less than one mile. By chance we decided to have dinner at a place right across the street from the AMA building, where he worked. That was hard for a couple of minutes, but I was able to put it aside and enjoy the company. A friend joined us for dinner, and it was good to get to know her. Then we walked a whole lot more, across the Chicago River, past the Chicago Theater, and back to the parking garage. It was a long day, but so much fun. I want to go back and do it all over again!
Saturday dawned, and I slept in, resting my aching bones. The kids and MMC were up and playing in the water in the backyard. It was a really low-key day, which was very nice. That afternoon, PC came by and she took me into Downers Grove to Knitche. Now that is a way cute shop. Again, the staff were friendly and helpful, but not hovering. They had a nice selection of Lorna's Laces and Cherry Tree Hill, but as for the "regular" sock yarn, only Opal and Regia. I was a bit disappointed about that, and bought just 50 gr of Regia. But if I lived there, I would definitely shop there. Then we took the long way home, and I asked her to stop at Target so I could grab a couple of necessities. Like chocolate.
That evening, MCM's former long-time girlfriend RK came by. I would just like to say that I admire her so much. I didn't feel weird or anything, she made me feel so comfortable. The more we chatted, the more I liked her. I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet her. We ordered Chicago-style pizza, and while it was yummy, I find I prefer the thin crust rather than the deep-dish. But I am glad that I tried it.
Sunday was church. Being of Irish heritage, my hostesses are very definitely Catholic! I requested to attend church with them, and I had a lovely time. The church is HUGE! You could hold Stake Conference in there and not need any overflow rooms at all. There are beautiful stained-glass windows all around, which I was informed had been reclaimed from a church in the city that had been demolished. As I love to sing, I was hoping I would be able to follow along with the hymns. To my surprise, the opening hymn was "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" but with different words. I really miss that hymn, as it's not in our current hymnbook. And then there was a lovely sermon, and a darling little girl had her first communion. The closing hymn was set to that old familiar Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts". Afterwards, I asked MMC to take me to greet the pianist. He was amazing, and his playing really set the tone for the meeting.
I had a wonderful trip, and I am so glad that I went. My greatest thanks to MMC and PC, and RK. I don't know if I will ever get back to Chicago, but I enjoyed my time there. For some reason, MMC wound up with all of MCM's family photos. She allowed me to paw through the boxes (out of six boxes, I only had stamina to go through two) and I chose a few photos to keep. I'd love to have more, but just going through those two boxes took so much psychic energy.
Here are some photos. Clickety Biggety!
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