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!

Finally, I am back online again!

After a major computer crash and other realities of life, my son is loaning me his laptop until I can save enough for a new computer. Which may be a while!

I just moved into the senior apt that I had applied for, waited for, prayed for! Of course, not one to do things the easy way, I managed to have fever and diarrhea for two weeks before the move! Lost 14 lbs. (I do NOT recommend this as a diet strategy!) Had to go to the ER one Sunday as I was so dehydrated to get an IV. And keep packing whenever I could manage to sit on the edge of the bed for more than a few minutes!

Thankfully my church came and moved me into the new apt., helped Pat get moved into his new apt. Pat comes over now and does my shopping, laundry, etc. We've come through the worst of it!

I kept myself from going totally crazy by knitting socks for myself. We had one huge snow storm that dropped 2 ft of snow on us here in upstate NY. I have a lovely view of the city from my apt, perfect for snow watching! I'm on the fourth floor, the apt. has elevators (no stairs, hooray!) and I go out as rarely as possible!

Ann is going to share some of her acrylic stash with me so I can make baby things and kid things for the Rez. Hard washing, hard wearing lovely acrylic! I love knitting with wool, but new moms need easy things to take care of and no worries about shrinkage.

I may soon have a female cat. I contacted the local Humane Society and as always, they have an abundance of cats ready to be adopted. They told me that they have a number of cats that have very reduced adoption fees, which is what I would need with my skinny budget! But it would be so nice to have a furry little companion! I will have to make a place on the window ledge where she can watch the snow come down. There is a large tree by my living room window and the top of it can be seen. I got up the other morning and it looked like the tree had been dusted with powdered sugar! Of course, Spring will bring green leaves and birds to visit, which will be a treat for the cat and I.

I hope all of you have a happy holiday season with your families. Patrick is going to visit friends, so it will be a movie/knitting day for me, which is fine.

Pictures at Last

I finally took some pics of the socks I've been knitting for Akkol. Here they are:



The red/white ones are Joan's Socks pattern and the red/brown ones are Wool of the Andes with afterthought heels. The blue/white ones at the top are another pair of Joan's Socks in progress. I really like that pattern. I use one strand worsted and one strand of sock yarn--both wool. You can find it here:
http://www.knitlist.com/95gift/joan.htm