Catching up

I've been busy, but haven't been blogging. New additions to my apartment: an electric wheelchair, an electric lift chair/lounger and a Brother knitting machine. The muscles get weaker, but the toys keep me going!

I'm still making sweaters for Akkol, mittens for the Rez and thick socks for Akkol. I want to start making hats for the Rez soon. And try out the Brother km which Lee Cash gave to me. It is a standard gauge machine, will knit the thinner yarns up to sport weight. I've replaced the sponge bar, but still need to clean and oil it before I take on any projects. And I need to get a proper table for it. Wish I had another bedroom so I could set everything up in there, but ah well...will have to live with my creative mess!

I gifted myself with a set of Zepher interchangeable needles from KnitPicks for my birthday this month. They are acrylic, clear, slightly flexible and very easy to knit with. Very easy on my aching hands. I find that I can knit for longer periods of time with them.

Attack of the Corn Husks!

Who knew? It took a 20 lb. black and white Tuxedo cat to show me the error of my ways. All this time, I thought they were just innocent little wrappers protecting the kernels of corn.

One of the delights of summer is the wonderful sweet corn in season and the local farmer's market comes every Thursday to the parking lot of my apartment. Talk about convenient! Sweet corn is always a welcome treat--but now has taken on new meaning. Husking a dozen ears of corn can be messy (at least the way I do it) with bits of husks flying everywhere.

Valentine smelled and touched and snagged little bits to play with. He tasted the green tips, chased the little husks like the monsters that he knew they were. Protecting his loved ones from the menace of strange corn husks invading the kitchen.

I'm still finding corn husks in odd places! But he had fun and it was a delight to watch him play. Life should be so simple for the rest of the world!

OTN:
I'm working on a knitted helmet liner for soldiers. Made of 100% wool (no acrylics which can melt and burn), they keep the body heat well, don't interfere with their vision. Protecting the head to conserve heat helps them stay alert and make good decisions in a stressful situation.

Another knitter said she had problems with the pattern she was using, getting holes near the mouth area. I decided to make one and see if I could figure out a solution. It seems a strange pattern to me, but will make it AS IS. I can already think of several possibilities to simplify the process. I'll report back in later and publish any adjustments I come up with.

I'm working on Mittnz 2009 slowly. But I'd better get in gear as they have to shipped to the Rez at the end of Sept for the Blitz.

Have a pair of socks in progress for Piper, socks planned for Akkol.

And I am committed to writing family stories for Piper this year.

SEWING:
Continue to work on cool ties for the troops. Will mail what I have to Ship Support on Sept. 1st.

Miserable Hot Weather

We have had such hot humid weather for the past several weeks that I have barely been able to knit. I have some socks and mittens OTN but when I pick them up, I can only knit a few rows before putting them down again.

I have a lot of beautiful wool that was given to me and I really want to make some nice mittnz for the Rez. Several skeins of Noro Kuryeon in amazing colors. It will make amazingly warm mittens and I plan to make them teen size to delight some teenage girl. Of course, I have plenty sturdy wool worsted wt in a variety of colors for the kids and will probably use Mariella's Sideways Mittens for those. I really enjoy that pattern.

Now if my AC would ever arrive and get installed, I would be happy! Whenever I call the agency, I am told, "Next week. Next week" So far no sign of an AC, but maybe THIS WEEK!

My sewing project is cool ties for the troops. Will send them to the Ships Project on Sept 1st. Those young men and women in that awful desert heat, carry heavy packs daily, can use a little help to survive. It is not about politics; it is about caring for the young soldiers who are away from home and family serving our country. They deserve to receive a Hug from Home.

My camera continues to have problems. I think I got the wrong batteries for it because they only lasted a few days and then wouldn't recharge on the dock. So will buy a "battery pack" set and see if that will solve the problem. If not, I will have to think about replacing the camera dock itself.

Knitting--but not posting!

I am indeed getting some knitting done these days! But haven't been able to post any pics. Camera Woes!

I knitted a Raglan Sleeve sweater on the Bond for the Mittens for Akkol group and I'm working on a modified drop shoulder sweater for them as well. Both sweaters are size 40 men for the "graduates" of the orphanages. The kids age out at about 17 and then go on to a trade school or look for work. We try provide each child with a sweater, hat, scarf, mittens, and two pairs of socks. It is a little help for them. Everything is made of wool to keep them warm in those minus 40 winters. I'm using Cascade Eco-Wool and it has worked up beautifully. I like to think of 'MY' kids being warm!

I bought a lot of sock yarn on sale cheap and have lots of worsted wt wool and will be making an all wool version of Joan's Socks. Nice and thick and quick to knit! We will be sending 500 socks to the orphanages for their January "Father Frost" celebration. I'm sure there will be extra mittens and scarves, but the big push is for socks.

For Native American Support, I'm knitting thick socks and mittens, but can use WoolEase or acrylic. Will be doing Joan's Sock pattern for most sizes. Aiming at WARM of course!

Found a cute baby raglan sweater
http://carole.barenys.com/RaglanSweater.html
I like red for babies!

Haven't done much sewing. Too hot! I'm on the list to get a free AC from the Office of the Aging. Sure hope it comes through!

I've postponed my back surgery for now. Will be getting alternative treatments and check back with the doc in a couple of months.

Will try to have some pics to post next time.

Long Time No Write!

It has been a busy year, but not for blogging! Off and on computer problems for one thing. Patrick has built a computer for me so I am back in business again. It still has some quirks and interesting behaviors, but it works most of the time.

I am currently knitting wool socks for kids, some wool-ease socks for me and have been digging in my material for a quilt for Piper. Hope my health stays okay so I can keep at these projects.

2008 is Here!

A brand-new year and a brand-new start! One of the things I would like to do this year is to keep better track of my knitting projects. And sewing projects.

Sometimes when I get busy and look at all my UFOs, I wonder what if anything, I have accomplished. But I know that I did 14 pairs of mittens, 4 pairs of big socks, washcloths, various afghan squares, baby blankets, baby sweaters, flannel baby blankets, booties, hats and scarves. But this year I want to be more diligent and perhaps I will finish more.

I also have a writing project that I am working on for my family, telling about my family life growing up in Southern California and it has been fun thinking back on those years and some of the funny things that happened!

I still haven't found my camera, so no pictures until I do. I do like my apt very much.

We have had several big snow storms which were quite beautiful.

A Beautiful Christmas card

A friend sent this link to me for an interactive Christmas. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

http://ecard.ashland.edu/index.php?ecardYear=2004adm

Peace and joy for the new year!