fiberfiend

A Tribute To May and Mother

2007-05-02T00:32:00.000-07:00

Whatever happened to May Day? Back in the early ‘40’s when I was growing up in Houston, Texas, we celebrated the first day of May, both at our elementary school and in our neighborhoods. On that day, as first and second graders, we would gather on the playground where the tether ball pole had been designated as “The May Pole.” With the ball removed for this special occasion, crepe paper streamers of all colors had been secured to the top. At the appointed time for our May Pole “dance” to begin, each of us, boys and girls alike, would choose and tightly grasp our favorite colored streamer and begin marching or skipping around the pole, until it was totally entwined with our bright and variegated paper strips. Although it was an incredibly simple activity, it was very enjoyable and meaningful for us, as children, to usher in the month of May!

My most cherished May Day activity, however, during this same era, involved a lot of planning and preparation, which included a huge investment of time by my mother. No sooner was the egg shell project completed, and we would once again be shopping at the same local Dime Store, this time buying one package of crepe paper in every color they stocked! We would also purchase the smallest paper cups we could find, plus a package of pipe cleaners, and, of course, more glue.

For the next few weeks, every night after supper, I would watch, spellbound, as my mother designed and constructed beautiful and dainty May Baskets, each one different from the other. She did this by cutting narrow bands of the various colored crepe paper into the shape of petals, gluing these strips around and around the trimmed-down, shortened version of the paper cups. Then, she would take her thumbs and pinch each crepe paper petal to make it puff outward, giving the entire circle of puffy petals the appearance of a flower. Next she would glue an even narrower strip of green crepe paper to the outer colored petals. These strips had been pre-cut to resemble fronds of grass or leaves.

The green crepe paper was also used to wrap around the pipe cleaners, giving them the likeness of a curved, green flower stem. The pipe cleaner stems were then fastened into the sides of the little paper cups, to serve as a handle for the tiny baskets. With no two baskets alike, and being so completely captivating and adorable, it was very difficult to decide which was my favorite, since I was allowed to keep one for myself.

The final step in this production took place on the evening of April 30th, as we generously filled each flower basket to the brim with small candy treats, which included pastel mints and salted peanuts. The next morning, May 1st, May Day to be exact, I had the long anticipated delight and satisfaction of imparting “our” works of art, distributing them bright and early before going off to school. As I secretly, and very quietly, delivered them to the front steps and porches of my special friends and elderly neighbors, I believed my mother’s May Baskets were the most magnificent and sought after in the world, and I still do!

These are but one more of the hand-made heirlooms I wish I would have kept for posterity to share with my family.

An Egg Carton Revisited

2007-05-02T00:22:00.000-07:00

Springtime reminds me of several anecdotes from my childhood. One of my earliest memories is linked to the Easter Season, which involved sitting at the kitchen table to watch my mother cautiously puncture both ends of raw eggs with a sharp needle, perforating them just enough to allow the contents to be blown out, without cracking or destroying the shells! After emptying each one, she would set them safely back into the carton from which they came.

Before this whole process began, she had already been shopping and gathered her simple and inexpensive craft supplies from the local Dime Store (a store very much like our current Dollar Stores, but most items were no more than ten cents!) Her supplies consisted of a basic water color set, a few toothpicks, glue, scissors, and a couple of extra, empty, gray cardboard egg cartons.

The first step involved cutting out the empty carton's individual depressions, or craters, where the eggs had once nestled. These pieces were set aside to be used later for hats and pedestals-like stands. With everything in readiness, the project was about to begin, and I could hardly wait!

I would sit almost motionless, spellbound, practically afraid to breathe, as I watched mother repeatedly and fastidiously dip her tiny brush and toothpicks into the tin of paints, transforming each fragile, hollow shell into a delicate and whimsical face. There were blondes, brunettes, and redheads with blue eyes, brown eyes, and hazel! Even a few freckled-faces! How I loved watching her little eggshell creations emerge! This activity made Easter egg hunting pale in significance.

During the paint-drying process, she cleverly designed and decorated hats and stands, concocted from the carton craters she had cut and set aside earlier. After all of the faces and hairdos were thoroughly dry, she would gently, but securely, glue each delicate face into one of the awaiting cardboard stands. This added the effect of a little collar to each one. Then, to top them off, she would glue on a little hat for their crowning glory!

How I wish I would have preserved some of these charming, hand-made heirlooms to share with my family as a legacy from their Nana Erwin-Furrh.

A Septic Post Script

2007-05-02T00:02:00.000-07:00

For those of you who might be wondering why we waited so long...nine months to be exact...to have our new septic system installed, the contractors could not begin the project until there was no rain for two consecutive weeks. Last year it rained relentlessly until the middle of June!

What A Differance A Year Makes!

2006-10-01T00:39:00.000-07:00

Aahhhh…the intoxicating euphoria of a nice hot shower… the unadulterated bliss of flushing our toilets (more than once daily!)…with the accompanying toilet paper!…the calming contemplation of using our washing machine again…the sweet freedom of once more emptying our kitchen sink drains! These and other privileges are all things most of us take for granted…normal routines occurring in most American households every day. These simple pleasures came to a screeching halt in our household at the beginning of this year.

A year ago, at the end of September, during our scheduled pumping appointment, we were given the dreaded verdict…a failed septic! With the thought of two major holidays on the horizon, the disheartening decree sent us reeling in disbelief and denial. However, as we continued use into January, the reality of the diagnosis was confirmed, and we embarked on a nine month adventure of septic failure survival.

We became totally obsessed and preoccupied with prolonging what little life might be remaining in the system. Our phobia involved checking the septic hole in the backyard before and after flushes, my husband on guard in the bathroom in an attack stance, with plunger poised and ready for battle before each and every flick of the tank’s handle. Behind our closed doors, GI showers and other water conservation measures became ritualistic and compulsive!

Three months ago, June 20th, on a Tuesday evening, we were released from our captivity by Dobrich & Sons Septic Service and Thrifty Rooter, and we threw a long awaited celebration at our house in honor of our new septic system!! Mere words of “thanks” aren’t adequate to express our appreciation for their hard work and perseverance. We wish to commend Dobrich’s work ethic of honesty, reliability, and bid accuracy, as well as their courtesy and attentive respect for our questions, concerns, landscape and property throughout each phase of their work. This included staying late on the hottest and most challenging days to complete their job and clean up, leaving our grassless yard fastidiously raked, and our driveway meticulously swept and hosed Down.

Thank you Dobrich & Sons! You did a terrific job, and it is our pleasure to spread the good word and enthusiastically recommend you to anyone needing assistance in your area of expertise! You are number one in our book! Awesome!! When the going got tough, you kept going and finished the job against all odds, of which there were many. We don/t know whether we should be proud or humbled by the fact that our job gained the notoriety of placing in the top ten hardest jobs you’ve ever had!! We’re sure as you folded the “Cat’s” arms for the last time that day, you had an immense feeling of accomplishment. We did in your behalf! Thank you for a job filled with caring, concern for us, and a task well done.

Chicken, Anyone?

2006-09-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

Last week at work I had the rare opportunity to meet a young patient’s father who is an employee of North State Rendering. This facility melts down all kinds of dead animals. When I inquired about the final destination of the disposal of the rendered items, the gentleman informed me most of it goes into chicken feed!!! Horrified, I asked him if his family ate chicken? He nonchalantly affirmed that they did!! Keep this nutritional nugget in mind the next time you’re tempted to stop for a visit at Colonel Sanders.

My Postscript to 9/11

2006-09-12T00:13:00.000-07:00

May we learn to live each day as though it could be our last

2006 Insights from 9/11

2006-09-11T23:19:00.000-07:00

Today, Monday, September 11th, 2006, our country, once again, memorialized one of the darkest days in America's history.

Today I was reminded, once again, that in living....beginning with birth....each of us will experience our own individual and personal dark days and cross the path of pain....some more than others.

Today I listened anew to the many opposing stories....stories of those who were gruesomely lost....and those who were miraculously spared.

Today I was reminded, once again, that it is only by the grace of God that any of us survive the circumstances and events, often unseen, in our everyday lives....allowing us more time to live out our purpose.

Today I was reminded, once again, that God, in His mercy, doesn't reveal to us glimpses of our future....those difficult, painful journeys ahead. It must be enough for us to know with certainty that our times are in His hands....That He will be with us in our future, as He is in our present.

Today, I was reminded, once again, to ask God for sensitivity and compassion toward all humanity....that there, but for the grace of God, go I.

In Remembrance of September 11, 2001

2006-09-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

This is my invitation to you to join me on Monday, September 11th, in my 5th annual "911 Memorial Party" in my living room at home. It is a date I have been annually requesting off from work to prayerfully remember, contemplate and honor the lives of those that were lost, along with their families, friends, and co-workers five years ago. It is a day to reflect upon the changes in our freedoms we have so long taken for granted in this country. And this year, a day to acknowledge conclusive results of the Mount Sinai Medical Center's study of 16,000 of the 40,000 ground zero rescue and clean-up workers with the "World Trade Center cough." Construction workers, police, firefighters, and other volunteers who worked at the site, in the city morgue, or at a landfill where more than one million tons of trade center debris were hauled. Between September 11th to 13th, 2001, nearly 70 percent ot these workers toiled in the dust and fumes of asbestos, pulverized concrete, mercury, and other toxins that will leave them chronically sick for the rest of their lives.

So, join me this Monday, September 11th. This the only day of the year I take the liberty to remain guiltlessly, un-interruptedly glued to the "tube," to solemnly review and weigh the events, and their subsequent fall-out, from that one day of enormous history occurring during our lifetime....Tuesday, September 11th, 2001.

Easter Weekend 2006

2006-04-15T01:14:00.000-07:00

This week-end millions of people all over the world will celebrate Easter. When I was growing up, Easter was one of the few Sunday’s my mother, brother, and I attended church. I vaguely remember one or two special outfits which were purchased for just the occasion!! Other memories include finding hidden colored hard boiled eggs, small white wicker baskets (lined with shiny fake grass from the dime store package) filled with chocolate bunnies and eggs and jelly beans. If time allowed, my clever, artistic mother would empty eggs by puncturing the ends with a sewing needle and blowing the contents out. Then she would transform these delicate empty shells into faces, painting on hair, eyes, noses, mouths, and ears! I adored these little egg “people.” Some of my really lucky friends even received live “Easter bunnies!!” I never was that lucky. As I got a little older, maybe 12 or 13, my girlfriends and I became curious about sunrise services, wondering what on earth could be worth crawling out of our delicious warm beds at that early hour?? (And, believe me, in Iowa at Easter, it is still cold at sunrise!!) Curiosity got the best of us, not to mention the fact that we wanted to be a part of more grown-up activities! I can still recall the miserable goose bumps on my bare legs, as I stood reverently outdoors with the (small) crowd, shivering in my flimsy spring dress, (in spite of my short wool jacket), and watching all of the tiny rhythmic cloud puffs exhaling from all of our mouths in that frosty air!! It was a welcome relief to return home and change into warmer clothes and thaw out, comforting myself with warm slices of buttered toast dipped in hot chocolate. I never did get the connection between “Easter” eggs and bunnies with Christ’s death and resurrection??
Thursday evening, Theo, Dad, and I attended a Passover Feast hosted by our hospital chaplains. It was interesting, educational, and meaningful, complete with symbolic, ceremonial foods. The menu consisted of matzo ball soup, small red potatoes, asparagus spears, and roasted “shank bone” (chicken at our dinner), which represented the lambs slain in Egypt and the Passover sacrifice in Temple times. Josephus records the number of lambs slain from 256,500 and later to be no fewer than 3 million!
At the beginning of the feast at least two candles on the Passover table are lit, representing the light of God's face shining upon us, and symbolizing the shekinah glory of God which appeared in the Tabernacle. One of the two candles is for observe, the other for remember, reminding the Jews God is not only their Creator, but also their Redeemer.
The dinner begins with a roasted egg (hard-boiled) in salt water. The egg represents the hardness of Pharoah's heart...the salt water symbolizes the tears of the Hebrew slaves under bondage of the Egyptian taskmasters.
The matzo, unleavened loaves, represent the bread which did not have time to rise that the Israelites took for sustenance on their journey out of Egypt. The unleavened bread, or matzo dough is flattened, and before it is baked, it is pierced and striped with a pointed tool to keep it from bubbling under the flame. The prophecy of Isaiah 53:5 declares: "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."
We were reminded that Jews all over the world celebrate this special family Passover dinner on Thursday evening, before Easter. Hope you all have a blessed Sabbath and week-end as we reflect upon Christ's sacrifice and victory in our behalf. Love to you all.

A Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

2006-01-15T02:45:00.000-08:00

Here is one of our favorite family autumn outings! When I first began home schooling our children in the early ‘80’s, I discovered Book’s Family Farm and utilized it every autumn as one of our favorite field trips!! The farm began in 1984 as a small ten acre pumpkin patch, inspired by Grandma Book’s need for a nursery school field trip activity for the school she directed. The pumpkin patch/farm soon included horse-drawn wagon rides, petting farm animals, and expanded so rapidly in popularity and size, they had to relocate in 1987 to their present 250 acre site along Highway 99 in Durham, California.

The entire Book family resides at the new acreage, and includes Grandma and Grandpa Book, their three children and their spouses, and eleven grandchildren. A true family farm!! Every autumn they host their annual harvest festival, which now includes corn and hay mazes, a bounce house, local elementary school scarecrow displays, along with their draft horse-drawn wagon and carriage rides, and live music. And, of course, fields full of pumpkins to choose from!! It is always more fun to visit with our grandchildren and their parents, but even us “old codgers” still love and look forward to it!! Meet you there next October!

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An October trip to the Book Family Farm.

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What a beautiful harvest!

A Spaghetti Factory Supper!

2006-01-15T01:43:00.000-08:00

The final and favorite stop on the way home, after leaving “Apple Hill,” is supper at the famous Spaghetti Factory! Delicious, plentiful, and reasonable!! A great way to top off a wonderful week-end!!

A Stop By "Apple Hill".

2006-01-15T01:30:00.000-08:00

On the way home from Christian Women’s Retreat, we always stop by “Apple Hill,” near Camino, California, to visit the week-end crafting booths and buy apple pies and turn-overs, carmel apples, dough balls, apple cider, and a variety of apples and pears to take back home.
“Apple Hill” began with sixteen ranchers back in the fifties, with pears as their primary crop. Forty years ago there was a terrible pear blight that swept through the area, taking production from 52,000 tons in 1958 down to 8,435 tons in 1965! After visiting Oak Glen in southern California, the ranchers discovered a way to keep their farms and make the rich Camino soil productive again. In 1964 they formed the “Apple Hill” Growers’ Association. That year they produced 50,000 paper litter bags which they gave out at the California State Fair, offering two pounds of free apples to visitors who brought their bags to “Apple Hill” that season. Since then, the Apple Hill Growers’ Association has expanded from those original 16 to over 55 ranchers, including Christmas tree growers, vineyards, wineries, a micro brewery, and a spa.

One of our favorite ranches is Larsen’s Apple Barn, the oldest (circa 1860!) continuously owned and operated family farm in the area. The ranch features a dozen varieties of apples, pears, peaches and nectarines, along with apple cider, honey, and pumpkins. Clarice Larsen originated the first place to sample homemade desserts, baked goods, jams, jellies, and sauces. Other attractions to the Larsen farm are the three acres of lawn with picnic tables, a waterfall, waterwheel, the oldest living apple tree in El Dorado County, and the Larsen Pioneer Farm Museum which includes a log cabin, covered wagon, antique farm equipment, and doll houses. Most of the ranches are open daily from Labor Day until Christmas, except Larsen’s, which is closed on Saturdays. Hope you will have an opportunity to enjoy “Apple Hill!”

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One of the many Apple Hill orchards, with crafting booths in the background.

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An Apple Hill craftsman at his pottery wheel.

Christian Women's Retreat

2006-01-14T23:06:00.000-08:00

Located in the Sierra foothills, Leoni Meadows is the setting of one of our California Seventh-Day Adventist owned and operated campground and conference centers. On two consecutive week-ends in early October, several hundred women gather here to attend the northern California Christian Women’s Retreat. There are special guest speakers and musicians to encourage and inspire, workshops, a nature center and observatory, a museum, a small train, and new this year, a hay wagon pulled by large draft horses. There are also miles of nature trails for hiking/running. Saturday night is “game night,” a definite favorite, since it seems in our hectic world there is so little time for that kind of table-top recreation, with T.V., videos, and computers, etc. competing for our attention. I have had the blessing of attending for the past 20 years.
Now it’s an annual tradition for my daughters and I (when their schedules allow). We begin Friday morning early with breakfast in Nevada City, a quaint, charming, old gold rush town in the Sierra foothills. After breakfast, we stroll the streets and browse in all the cute little touristy shops until mid afternoon, when it’s time to leave for Leoni Meadows. We usually arrive just in time to check in, hug friends we haven’t seen for a year, and have a delicious and welcome hot supper prepared by the superb kitchen/cafeteria staff!! Then it’s off to the first meeting, to bring in the Sabbath hours by singing praises together and listening to the guest speaker’s Friday evening message.

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The Leoni House Museum, with one of the nature trails in the foreground.

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Here's this year's newest feature at Leoni Meadows.

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My daughter, Krystalynn, and I, following our first hayride at Leoni Meadows.

My daughter's fiber art form.

2006-01-14T22:22:00.000-08:00

This year at the Christian Women‘s Retreat, my daughter, Krystalynn, taught me how to begin cross-stitching, which is her area of fiber expertise, as the cross-stitch pieces below illustrate. In exchange, I will teach her how to knit, beginning with a simple scarf.

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Krystalynn's first large completed cross-stitch.

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Her most recently completed cross-stitch.

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Here is the current cross-stitch my daughter is creating.

SP6 Knitting Event/September to December

2006-01-14T21:52:00.000-08:00

The sixth Secret Pal knitting event began in September, and I reluctantly joined. Reluctantly, because of an extremely busy schedule the last four months of the year, including two major holidays, and the fact that the event ended in December! I was blessed with a very faithful and insightful secret pal, to which the photos below will attest. Thank you SP6 for these lovely gifts.

2006-01-14T21:31:00.000-08:00

How fun!! Haiku is my favorite poetry format. It is Japanese verse form using seventeen syllables only, and consisting of 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, respectively.

2006-01-14T21:18:00.000-08:00

A box of four cute little square tins of Adagio teas.

Annual Camping Trip

2006-01-14T18:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from our annual Summer camping trip to the Coastal Redwoods in Northern California.

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A view of the Eel River from the Avenue of the Giant's, near Founder's Grove in the Redwoods.

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A view from the top of the hill above our campground.

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Our beautiful campsite deep within the California Coastal Redwood and Pepperwood grove.

A Significant Annual Event

2005-12-17T01:58:00.000-08:00

Finally! My long awaiting updates from the end of August, interrupted by catastrophic hurricanes and good old “Father Time!”
Prior to Katrina’s violent assault along the gulf coast, I realized I had omitted a very significant annual event that is so familiar, and even expectant, to our family during our Redwood Campmeeting vacation. It occurs in Founders Grove, one of several Redwood forests along the 32 mile “Avenue of the Giants” drive near the California coastline.
Founders Grove is located in what was once a thriving town called Dyersville, a stagecoach stop, shipping port, and crossroads that played an important role in the early settlement of the area. Today there is no evidence that Dyersville ever existed, due to what is referred to by the locals as “the flood of 1964,“ the most disastrous of the many Eel River’s devastating floods that have taken place over the years.
Within the groves are beautiful walking (and a few horseback riding trails), that wind along the huge stands of trees. There are also benches strategically placed for resting and viewing the magnificent scenery. When our family first strolled through Founders Grove, we noticed a very large bench made from a redwood log with the inscription, “Bernard M. Baruch.” Hmmmmm…. We were always curious about “Bernard,” wondering who was he, and what significant thing did he contribute to have a bench dedicated to him?
Not only has our return and stroll through this grove become an anticipated yearly experience, but so has our familiar sighting of the mysterious man sleeping on “Bernard’s” bench, always coincidental with the particular time of our visit!? Incredible!! Almost unbelievable!! We’ve even considered whether it was Bernard himself, who might live nearby?? Only a few select people really know the answer to this.

A Poignant Story From Katrina

2005-09-25T01:40:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this poignant story from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in our local paper, the Paradise Post, during the Katrina catastrophe. It was originally published in the L. A. Times/Washington Post by journalist Ellen Barry. It’s entitled:

A Boy Named Love
In the chaos that was Causeway Boulevard, this group of refugees stood out: a six year old boy walking down the road, holding a 5-month-old, surrounded by five toddlers who followed him around as if he were their leader.
They were holding hands. Three of the children were about 2 years old, and one was wearing only diapers. A 3 year-year-old girl, who wore colorful barrettes on the ends of her braids, had her 14-month-old brother in tow. The six year old spoke for all of them, and he told rescuers his name was Deamonte Love.
Thousands of human stories have flown past relief workers in the last week, but few have touched them as much as the seven children who were found wandering together Thursday at an evacuation point in downtown New Orleans. In the Baton Rouge headquarters of the rescue operation, paramedics tried to coax their names out of them; nurses who examined them stayed up that night, brooding.
Transporting the children alone was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, knowing their parents are either dead or that they had been abandoned,” said Pat Coveney, a Houston emergency medical technician who put them into the back of his ambulance and drove them out of New Orleans.
“It goes back to the same thing,” he said. “How did a six-year-old end up being in charge of six babies?”
“So far, parents displaced by flooding have reported 220 children missing, but that number is expected to rise,” said Mike Kenner, of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which help reunite families. With crowds churning at evacuation points, many children were parted from their parents accidentally. One woman handed her baby up onto a bus, turned around to pick up her suitcase, and turned back to find that the bus had left!
At the rescue headquarters, a cool, tile-floored building, swarming with firefighters and paramedics, the children ate cafeteria food and fell into a deep sleep. Deamonte volunteered his vital statistics. His father was tall, and his mother was short. He gave his address, his phone number, and the name of his elementary school.
He said the 5-month-old was his brother, Darynael, and that the two others were his cousins, Tyreek and Zoria. The other three lived in his apartment building.
The children were clean and healthy. It was clear that time had been taken with them. The baby was fat and happy. All evening Thursday, as strike teams came and went to the flooded city, volunteer Ron Haynes, carried one of the two year old girls back and forth, playing with her until she was calm enough to eat dinner. “This baby child was terrified,” he said.
As grim dispatches came in from the field, one woman in the office burst into tears at the thought that the children had been abandoned in New Orleans. Late the same night, they got an encouraging report: A woman in a shelter in Thibodeaux was searching for seven children. People in the building started clapping at the news, but when they got the mother on the phone, it became clear that she was looking for a different group of seven children.
The children were transferred to a shelter operated by the Department of Social Services, with rooms full of toys and cribs where mentors from the Big Buddy Program were on hand day and night.

Reflections On Katrina

2005-09-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. Psalm 69:1,2

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The wicked flee when no man pursueth. Proverbs 28:1

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7. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. Isaiah 43:2

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He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. Psalm 18:16

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Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled. Jeremiah 4:20

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And, lo, the smoke . . . went up as the smoke of a furnace. Genesis 19:28

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And there was no water for the people to drink. Exodus 17:1 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. Isaiah 41:17

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Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. Psalm 31:9 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. Psalm 69:3

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Be not far from me; for trouble is near: for there is none to help. Psalm 22:11

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Who shall be sorry for thee? Desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee? Isaiah 51:19

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But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Psalm 40:17 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Psalm 124:7

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The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Psalm 93:3,4

Editorial Comment On Our Puniness

2005-09-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

On a more somber note, it has been both heart wrenching and mentally disturbing to watch the news this past week, and witness the catastrophic tragedy wrought by hurricane Katrina. The devastation and entrapment of the multitudes of homeless, not to mention hospitalized, coupled with the hindrance and delay in aid and rescue, is overwhelmingly grievous. This is yet another sobering reminder, that in spite of our country’s power and affluence, all humanity is at the mercy of natural disasters, as well as the actions of their fellowman, both over which we really have no control We have seen that certain mere, man-made structures, such as the levees, defy harnessing in the aftermath of attacks by “Mother Nature.,” just as the former Twin Tower infernos, in their unprecedented height, were unable to be extinguished or withstand the terrorist’s attack.

I believe it is naive to assume the government has the capability to render help and rescue in these kinds of astronomical calamities. I would like to take the liberty to paraphrase some verses from our most reliable life instruction manual, God’s Word, the Bible. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkeness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Psalm 118:8; Romans 13:12, 11, 12, 13, 14.

I pray for the comfort and relief of the thousands of victims and their families

August 31, 2005...SP5 ENDS

2005-08-31T22:56:00.000-07:00

Here we are at the end of SP5! I’ll miss it (unless I decide to join SP6). Looking forward to extracting the “secret” from my pals so we can finally reveal our true identities to each other. This is my first experience with secret pal events, and it has been fun for me, as I hope it has been for you, “YSP” in Seattle, and Wendy, in Pennsylvania. Thank you for your friendship, respect, and appreciation. You have both enlightened my knitting knowledge by sharing your creative ideas and gifts. I will contact you with my blog site info and E-mail address via E-mail.

Okay…the moment has come…(drum roll)!! Here’s “Knitmare” in all her glory!

2005-08-31T22:51:00.000-07:00

"KNITMARE!"

2005-08-31T22:45:00.000-07:00

My son, Theo, who created my Blogger name, Knitmare; my husband, Paul, the Blogmeister; and myself.

2005-08-31T22:36:00.000-07:00

A fond farewell from the all-knowing Knitmare!

A package from my Secret Pal

2005-08-28T23:44:00.000-07:00

This past week I received another fun package from my secret pal in Seattle (see picture following this post). Included were a pair of stitch markers, two skeins of sock yarn, a cute note pad and pen, some “Hula Pie” Hawaii roasted “coffee with an attitude,” from “The Bad Ass Coffee Co.” of Kona, Hawaii, and a book on Domino Knitting, a technique unfamiliar to me. In domino knitting, the pieces are knitted together while the work progresses, and it is supposed to be less stressful on the knitter’s arms and shoulders than other kinds of knitting. Domino is knitted on short, preferably wooden needles, or circular needles, using only a few stitches at a time. I’m looking forward to trying this new (to me--the technique’s been around for more than a century, also known as “number knitting”) method. Thank you, Secret Pal, for the thoughtful gifts!
The SP5 event will end on August 31st. It had been challenging to learn to work with E-mail on our very slow “dial-up” system. The blog has been fun, as well, even though I still don’t understand how to post by myself. For those of you who might be interested, the next “secret pal” event begins September 3rd. Go to hhttp://www.secretpalsix.blogspot.com. There is another event, too: hhttp://theneedleexchange.blogspot.com. I may pass this next event up since it runs to the end of November, competing with major holidays. This “old grey mare” can’t juggle as fast and as much as she used to!!

2005-08-28T23:39:00.000-07:00

Secret Pal package.

Our Return To The Redwoods In 1980

2005-08-22T22:38:00.000-07:00

Four years later, in the fall of 1979, a job change for Paul brought us to Paradise from the beautiful Napa Valley, where we had spent seven delightful years. The following summer, we fondly entertained the idea of taking our family back to camp meeting. By then we had accrued two more family members, ages three and sixteen months. Some of the older church folks encouraged us by loaning us their 9x12 tents, Coleman stove and lantern, and other miscellaneous camp equipment to “try it out and see if we liked tenting” (with such a small army). After all, that first excursion in the motel did provide almost all of the comforts of home. “Roughing it” outdoors on the ground would definitely be a totally different experience!

We decided to go forward and embark on this adventure in the great outdoors! We called ahead to the camp headquarters to reserve a spot large enough to accommodate our sizable family of eight. In the meantime, I shopped for duffle bags, canteens, and appropriate camp clothing for the troop’s ten day stint. The third Thursday of July finally arrived, the anticipated date of our departure. We fearlessly and enthusiastically crammed everything we could think of (including the baby’s diaper pail for his cloth diapers) in the old yellow, Ford, station wagon (with it’s laminated wood trim). Then one by one we all piled in and got settled for the seven hour drive awaiting us, punctuated only by gasoline and very frequent “potty” stops along the way!

During the five year interim since our first visit, the camp meeting site had been changed and moved to a new location off of US 101. It was now in a thick forest of Pepperwood trees at the bottom of a narrow, winding road, through a breathtaking and magnificent stand of redwoods called Founder’s Grove. Weary from hours of travel, we finally reached the camp site that had been assigned to us. There we discovered Les Aggers, one of the older Paradise church members, putting the finishing clean-up touches on #7 Walnut. We learned he had spent the better part of that day trimming, pruning, raking, and removing poison oak shoots, in preparation for our arrival. He couldn’t understand what took us so long to get there?! We were deeply touched by and grateful for his kindness and benevolence in our behalf. He had worked very unselfishly to clear our large, shady, corner campsite, nestled under a cluster of redwood trees. We couldn’t have asked for a lovelier location, or gesture of kindness.

We believed God had chosen this beautiful spot for us and were very thankful. By the end of those ten days, we realized tent camping, in the “wilds of nature,” was both enjoyable and compatible with our family, and all too soon it was time to leave and go back home. That was the beginning of our annual ten day retreat into the redwoods, along the north coast of California.

A Trip To Our Favorite Neck Of The Woods

2005-08-21T22:03:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 14th, Paul and I departed to our favorite “neck of the woods” along the north coast of California. We have been making this same expedition for the past twenty-five years. In 1975, when Paul was a student at Pacific Union College in Angwin, he was assigned to attend Redwood Camp Meeting to promote the college and recruit students. The college graciously allowed the entire family to go along, which included at that time, myself and our four children, ages ten, six, five, and two. We were provided a motel in Fortuna, not far from the Pamplin Grove, which was (and still is) situated by highway 36 and the Eel River, the location at that time for Redwood Camp Meeting. Having never been there before, we found ourselves in an awe-inspiring, primeval stand of towering, majestic redwoods that seemed to reach up as far as the naked eye could see. I soon realized these were one of the natural wonders that defy capturing accurately with a mere, man-made camera. There was truly a sense of sacredness about the place.

Meals were prepared in a large, outdoor, mobile camp kitchen and all the campers would gather together at picnic tables in a rustic, open cafeteria-like setting among the tall, giant trees. While Paul promoted and recruited, the rest of us planted ourselves on the front row seats of every meeting we could attend. During the ten day event, we soaked up as many inspirational and biblical messages through the spoken word and song, as possible. That was my first introduction to an “old fashioned,” church, tent camp meeting, and I‘ve been “hooked“ ever since!!.

Madison and Zachary visit Paradise

2005-07-12T01:08:00.000-07:00

Here it is July 10th already, and guess who’s come to Paradise? Madison and Zachary!! Yeah!! We have had fun visiting them nightly, at their other grandparent’s house, since their arrival from Valencia on Saturday. Danny drove them, and Mommy, Kristy, up here, and then had to return today to L.A for work tomorrow. Madison has been entertaining us as “Cinderella,” complete with her little costume, slippers, and wand. Baby Zach seems to be teething? Drooling and chewing, but good natured, as usual. He’s sitting up now, too, and trying to scoot. All changes since my trip in June!! How fast they change and grow. Here are some pictures to share them with you. Aren’t they cute??

July 5, 2005

2005-07-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

I’ve got 23 minutes to get this posted and be caught up with the calendar!! All fun has to come to an end , they say (who is “they” anyway??) So today it was back to the “old daily grind!” It was a lovely, balmy, clear evening down in Chico, and we did get to enjoy the SilverDollar Fairground’s and Nettleson Stadium’s fireworks from the side street that goes by Costco.
Tonight I have to share a fun gift idea I discovered last week at S&S Produce. It is called “wrapsacks.”I got one to send to my knitting Secret Pal, and it was very fun registering it. Go to www.wrapsacks.com if you are curious or interested in finding out more about it. Five minutes left! Gotta wrap this up so I won’t be behind anymore!! Bye!!

Happy July 4th !

2005-07-05T23:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day to all of you!! This morning we’re all more or less lazying around, visiting and trying to stay cool. I feel fortunate to have gotten a four mile walk in on the bike trail while the temperatures were lower and everyone slept in. “Everyone” except hubby, Paul. No one in this house gets up earlier than he does!! He has been laboring at the computer, trying to learn how to post pictures on my blog for me. (Following this message, there will be pictures of yesterday’s July 4th party at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s home.) This afternoon, Theo and Krystalynn and Steve (her hubby), are taking Dad (Paul) to the theater for the opening week-end of Stephen Speilberg‘s, “War of the Worlds.” I haven’t decided if I am going or not? I usually regret going because of the language, intimate scenes, etc. I just don’t find those things enteraining, enjoyable, uplifting or
wholesome! I get a steady diet of that in the ER, on the news, and on TV--free!! Why would I want to pay good money to sit in front of a huge, surround-sound screen to be made uncomfortable??? When I have capitulated and gone, I usually hear myself asking me, “What were you thinking? Did you really expect something different--better? What are you doing here, listening to and watching something that makes you squirm??” OK, so I AM a prude!!! SORRY-- just dub me “Church Lady!” It’s okay. My shoulders are broad!! Besides, I grew up in the movie theater--literally!! It was my daytime baby sitter, while my Mom was at work. I sat through many repeated episodes throughout the day, and even chose my dream profession, trapeze artist, after several performances of “The Greatest Show On Earth.” I think it was a sure cure for flicks, at least for me! (But at least “back in those days” the movies and language wasn’t so raw.) So, I hate to be a “party-pooper,” but I think I’ll stay home and fix the potato salad, knit, prepare some packages to mail to my secret pal while we are on vacation, and listen to a beautiful new CD from Sunny, called “Deep Unto Deep.” Later this afternoon, we will have the usual July 4th menu of hot dogs (vege, of course), that potato salad I mentioned, chips, corn-on-the-cob, root beer, and watermelon slices. Yum!! Hopefully, this evening we will find some nice fireworks to top off the holiday. We are investigating the Oroville Dam display. We have never been, but hear they are the best. Maybe because they reflect over the water?? May you all have a fun, safe, and sane day and celebration!!!

Celebration Party, July 3

2005-07-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

In a few minutes we will be leaving for a large party at my daughter-in-law's grand-parent's home. It is their sixth annual outdoor celebration in their backyard, overlooking one of the canyon's. There are about 150 people that have been invited, made up of family, friends, and neighbors. My daughter-in-law coordinates the food--buffet style, and it is always gorgeous, as well as delicious, with vegetarian hot dogs and burgers, corn-on-the-cob, vegetarian baked beans, chips, potato salad, a huge variety of fruits and melons, and apple pie with ice cream. There is always a program of singing, patriotic readings and historical information, a live band playing patriotic and festive music, and several vocal solos. This year David (our son) will be one of the speakers. It's quite a "shin-dig!!" Yes, there are alot of "older persons" there, but it is fun and holidayish, and it makes Grandpa and Grandma happy to be sharing with others! So that's where we will be until later this evening. May you have a safe and sane fourth of July!!

2005-07-05T22:08:00.000-07:00

Grandparents July 3 Holiday Party.

2005-07-05T22:04:00.000-07:00

View From the Backyard.

2005-07-04T19:19:00.000-07:00

A Package From My Secret Pal.

On June 30th , after arriving home totally “pooped out”, after my third consecutive 12 hour ER shift, my spirits were lifted as I discovered a package from my secret pal. I could hardly wait to see the contents, which is pictured above. What a beautiful assortment of yarns and colors, as well as a fun and unique book on hats/patterns. I’ve found my favorite pattern and already started knitting the hat for one of my grandchildren! (See picture below) My secret pal is a spinner rather than a knitter, and I have a strong hunch that the lovely skein of deep mauve mohair in the foreground, was spun by her own little hands!! I have been blessed with a generous and thoughtful secret pal! Thank you. I feel very special and spoiled, and am looking forward to using the yarns for new projects. The Noro will probably become a “booga bag,” something I’ve been wanting to begin for a long time now. The Tweed will definitely be a hat, and the beautiful mohair, a fancy scarf or small shawl. If I get these projects done before this SP5 event is over, I’ll post the results!

2005-07-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

My FavoriteChildren's Hat From My New "Knit Hat" Book.

My First July Day

2005-07-02T03:21:00.000-07:00

WHAT??? Oh, this won’t do!! My computer clock says it’s really 2:04 July 2nd!! That means I’m already late for July 1st!! That’s just too bad. It’s still July 1st. It’s just a little later than usual, and I’m just a little behind! My day began on the road at 7 AM en route to my first appointment, followed by numerous errands, followed by my son’s next appointment at 11AM down the hill, followed by his next appointment at 2;30pm back up the hill, followed by my husband’s appointment back down the hill, followed by several more errands, including a trip to the ranch for apricots, peaches, and plums, followed by the trip back up the hill to the grocery store! We arrived home at 7PM, twelve hours later!
With the temperatures today hovering around 100 degrees, and an overheating car requiring the air conditioner to be turned off (UGH!), a shower was my first priority! Ahhhhh! About ten minutes later, our daughter, Krystalynn, and her husband, Steve, and their new “baby” (a weimariner puppy), arrived from Healdsburg, where they are on summer break from their work in a high school Christian boarding academy. Shortly after their arrival, one of her long time home-school friends dropped by with her husband and 16 month old to visit, before leaving to fly home to Indiana. In the meantime, I threw together a “haystack” supper. The remainder of the evening was filled with catching up and old memories. And, last, but not least, (just prior to this message posting), there were dishes to be done and fruit to be sorted and put in a cool environment. I think that’s how I got a little behind today.

The last day of June

2005-07-01T00:58:00.000-07:00

Here it is! The last day of June!! Where did these past 30 days go??? For as long as I can remember, I have always associated "summer" with long, dreamy, leisurely, warm days and evenings when time slows down. Maybe from spending my growing up years in a latch-key (long before that phrase ever existed) type of situation in our brick apartment building on the third floor in Cedar Falls, Iowa, while Mom worked as a retail clerk, for "peanuts," and my brother, Ed, took on the role of "bread winner" in my Dad's absence, at Rath's, a meat packing plant. One of my favorite pasttimes in the evening after dark, was sitting on our screened-in porch of that third floor apartment, enjoying the summer fragrances, the noise of crickets and cicadas, trying to guess where the next lightening bug was going to twinkle, and keeping tabs on all the traffic on Main Street. (Remember, Donna?) Life was definitely alot simpler back then. All through the years since, I have looked forward to "summer," when life and time seem to move at a slower pace. Sadly, the calendar on my wall always dispels this illusion and brings me back to reality!
Reality, however, isn't all that bad! One of the loveliest gifts this last calendar day of the month has brought me, is the arrival of our son, David, his beautiful wife, Laura, and their adorable, spunky seven year old daughter, Allison, from Washington state. They have made the 17 hour drive to spend the fourth of July with family and friends, in what has become an annual holiday celebration!! Hope you, too, are planning a special memory-making event to commemorate our country's birthday! Come and join us!!

John's graduation weekend June 17,18,2005

2005-06-29T21:59:00.000-07:00

On June 17th, I drove from Danny’s and Kristy’s home in Valencia , to Palmdale, approximately 40 miles east in the Mohave Desert, to visit my youngest son, John, his wife, Rhona, and their adorable two year old daughter, Daphne. This was John’s graduation week-end from Advanced Career College where he was trained to be a multi-platform certified network engineer in computers, with certifications in MCSE/MCSA, :Messaging/MCP/A+!!! It’s way over my comprehension??, but I was very honored to be able to be a part of his celebration, and very proud of him, too. Congratulations, John!! Good job!! Rhona, did a great job of organizing, planning and decorating for the ceremony, including a lovely party afterwards! Very thoughtful and well done! Thank you, Rhona, for all of your love, encouragement, and support during his schooling and training, (towards both John and Daphne). You “kept the home fires burning and held down the fort!”
During my short visit with them I had the awesome privilege of spending time bonding with my adorable little granddaughter, Daphne, as well as her Daddy and Mommy. Daphne is quiet, observant , cautious, pensive, and loves sliding down slides, swinging, going “hikin” (in her stroller), “binkies, and singing “Five Little Monkeys” while jumping on the bed!! She has almost completely potty trained herself ! She is a little cutie, very sweet, and fun to spend time with. I only wish she and my other precious grandchildren, as well as their Mommies and Daddies, weren’t so far away.
Alas…all too soon, June 19th, Sunday, I had to leave, and drive back to the cruel world of work and multitudinous responsibilities!

Visit with Madison and Zachary

2005-06-28T22:50:00.000-07:00

June 13th, the day after our trip to Disneyland, was my son, Daniel’s 36th birthday! He doesn’t look a day older than he did as a teenager!! (Don’t know how he keeps that perpetual youthful look??) That was my first day of five to take care of two year old Madison, and five month old Zachary, while Mommy and Daddy went to work. Kristy had two weeks of teaching left before school was out. What a privilege to be able to bond with these two adorable, sweet grandchildren. Those five days sped by as though time had been stuck on “fast forward.”L Madison is full of fun and energy and loves and lives life to the fullest!! We enjoyed a variety of activities, including stirring up a couple of birthday cakes for Daddy, reading books, playing dress up (Madison, not NanaJ), going to the park, play-shopping and cooking, blowing bubbles, watching Barney, Pooh, Leap Frog, and Mommy and Me DVDs, singing, riding the trike, and taking literally hundreds of digital pictures on the camera Daddy Danny and Uncle David gave me for my birthday last year.J Zachary is the sweetest, most beautiful and cuddly little baby boy.JHe loves to play, hear and make noises, is very sociable, and enjoys watching his family’s antics!J I had a wonderful and rich time with them, and with their Mommy and Daddy, too. I miss them very much, and look forward to a time when we will not have to part again.J I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to be a part of their lives for a week. Thank you, Danny and Kristy, for both sharing and trusting me with your most valuable heritage.

Southern California visit

2005-06-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

On June 10th , I was fortunate enough to get 10 consecutive days off to go to southern California and spend some time with two of my sons, their wives, and children. A rare treat!! Spent the first Sunday at Disneyland, a place I haven’t been to for over 25 years!!. I was amazed how clean and manicured it is. This year is the park’s fiftieth anniversary, and you would never guess, everything looks so new and well maintained! I wondered when repairs, repainting, etc. does happen, since there is no sign of such for tourists! The parade and fireworks were even more spectacular than usual because of the anniversary celebration. We stayed til closing--eleven o’clock, and while awaiting the tram to the parking level, I wondered what their budget and overhead is?? It was kind of a mind boggling thought!

Anyway, I highly recommend going if any of you out there haven’t been. To top the night off, I was the recipient of a lovely random act of kindness. It was my son’s 36th birthday, and he has been a Mickey Mouse fan since he was a small boy. I wanted to get him a Mickey Mouse face balloon from one of the vendors. I had only brought my plastic, no cash. Wouldn’t you know it, the balloons required cash. Seven dollars to be exact. I went into a restaurant before they closed, to see if I could get the cash from my credit card?? No luck, but a sweet looking young woman next to me asked, “how much do you need?” She had overheard my request, and as I explained my desire and plight, she was reaching into her purse, grabbing bills. I couldn’t believe it, and asked if she would share her address so I could reimburse her? She handed me seven dollar bills, asking if I was sure that was going to be enough, then smiled and said, “This is the happiest place on earth,” as she walked away. She was like an angel.

More info June 5,2005

2005-06-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

Iv'e been busy finding things to spoil my secret pal!! Looking forward to this event and getting acquainted with other knitters out there. I'm posting my summer schedule for the benefit of those trying to communicate with me. I will have access to a computer while I'm gone hopefully?
June 11 to 18 in southern California with grandchildren

July 13 to August 3 camping along the northcoast of California

More soon. Judy

Questionnaire: May 30, 2005

2005-05-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

Depending on what I’m working on and who it’s for, I enjoy using a variety, but I LOVE the finer, more natural and higher quality yarns. I especially like the smell of those yarns.

2. Do you spin/crochet?

No, but I want to learn to crochet because there are so many beautiful patterns I’ve seen that are crocheted. No interest in spinning

3. Do you have any allergies? (Smoke, pets, fibers, perfumes, etc.)

I can’t tolerate smoke. I maxed out on the aroma after two decades of living in a chain smoking householdLL Not crazy about perfumes either unless they’re “herby/citrus-like”.

4. How long have you been knitting?

46 years, on and off (mostly off due to raising a family of six kids and home schooling them and working full time in the hospital emergency department!!!!!

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

No.! Would welcome any tried 'n'true, accurate hat patterns for babies thru adults.

6. What’s your favorite scent? (For candles, bath products, etc.)

Citrus, Night blooming Jasmine, Gardenia, mint, lavender, herb scents, amaretta(almond), and hazelnut.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

A persistent and unrelenting one!! My favorite is chocolate, especially Reese’s Pieces, M&M’s, and dark chocolate , and, of course, chocolate chip cookies!!!

8. What other crafts or Do-it-yourself things do you like to do?

I love photography and scrap booking is in my future as soon as I retire and have time (will that ever happen?)In general, I am not good at and have a strong disdain for crafts unless they are useful and practical!

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer play MP3s?

I like soothing instrumental music. Don’t know what an MP3 is????

10. What’s your favorite color? Any colors you can’t stand?

I’m always attracted to the muted colors; heathers, magentas, rose pinks, lavenders, eggplant, blues, especially turquoise, country blue, cobalt, burgundies, and multi-colored. I’m not fond of oranges, greens, yellows and golds, or stark reds.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I’m married, have a disabled 34 year old single son living at home at the present time, plus one single daughter in Florida, and three other married sons and a married daughter not living nearby. Also have four adorable grandchildren --two, two year old, and a seven year old(granddaughters), and a new, four month old grandson. No pets.

12. What are your life dreams?

To retire soon, with good health and enough money to live comfortably (modestly), and be able to travel to visit children and grandchildren. And to have plenty of TIME to knit and scrapbook !!

13. What is/are your favorite yarns to knit with?

I like wool/wool blends and some chenilles, ie Lion Chenille prints. Also love the silks from Nepal. I like the fun furs and eyelashes, too.

14. What fibers do you absolutely not like?

I don’t have any particular dislikes, but don’t like the cheap ones that ball up!

15. What is/are your current knitting obsessions ?

Hats, shawls, and purses.

16. What is/are your favorite items to knit?

Hats with a pattern.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Ready? Three different hats, a shawl, a scarf, a pouch bag, and a pair of socks!!!

18. What do you think about ponchos?

I like them and have an awesome one to start when some of my other projects are completed.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I like either, depending on the project.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, or plastic?

My favorite are Turbo and bamboo.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

I’m working on a pair right now--learning. Have never done them before. I’m on the ribbing of the second one--haven’t learned to turn the heel yet. I found the tiny needles awkward to work with, but it’s getting better--faster. Kind of tedious but disciplinary.

22. How did you learn to knit?

One of the student nurses in the class ahead of me taught me the first year of nurses training in 1959!!

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

Nearly four years old--a baby blanket started before the conception of one of our two year old granddaughters!!! It got misplaced in the garage. The yarn (Red Heart acrylic) isn’t very motivating, so this may remain a UFO forever!!

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Penguins.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving and Christmas because it’s a time for family to gather and to focus on others.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

My garage is overflowing with junk I’ve collected over the years! I seem to collect yarnJ I also have a small collection of Longaberger baskets, especially the smaller ones.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

None.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Any really good, practical books on finishing techniques; Confessions of a Knitting Heretic, by Annie Modesitt; Knitlit, by Linda Roghaar and Molly Wolf; The Knitting Sutra, by Susan Gordon Lydon; and Knitting into the Mystery, by Susan S. Jorgensen and Susan S. Izard.

fiberfiend

2005-05-07T20:13:00.000-07:00