Hat...Check

Over at the nut knit house, projects have been started and, praise be, completed. Over the weekend, I finished one pint sized chemo cap, only it's not so pint sized. It's amazing how big a child's head really is. My 21 year old has the same sized noggin as the 6 year old so it was nice to have a live-in model. I used the Seaman's Cap pattern I found on Ravelry and it turned out well in the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I love the color.

And even though I said never again, another pair of Fetching was also completed. I knit so many of these a few years ago, that I was all fetched out. It's a reliable pattern and goes really fast. I can knit a pair of these in about 8 hours. It beats the heck out of me how the designer got a pair of these from one skein of Cashmerino. That's impossible. Even using every last scrap of yarn, I can't get it done without busting into the second skein. I love the cable border on this and thought I should create a hat using that ribbing. Good thing I checked Ravelry first as I'm not the first one to think of this, and there are already patterns (free ones) to select from.

I'm between projects now. Instead of letting the Fetching leftovers go to waste, I'm swatching with it. I wanted to see how the Every Way Wrap would look knit up in the Cashmerino. I can't really talk about this though because despite checking for errata, I'm having a hard time getting past row one. I have a horrible time interpreting cable charts. I think I may use the color coding trick after I blow up the pattern. I've ripped the swatch 6 times. Somethings gotta give.

Fairwell

Opening up my work email today, I found a wonderful note about Ruby from a coworker. She had been to the fair on Sunday and was surprised to see my name on the shawl. It was the reminder I needed to run down to the fairgrounds to pick Ruby up and deliver her to the yarn shop. I was a little sad when I left because the state has withdrawn funding for the fair (the country's oldest state fair) and this may be the last one for awhile, maybe forever unless a benefactor steps forward. I think that's unlikely. I thought I'd share a few photos I took this past week.

When we walked the 2005 Breast Cancer Three Day, the fairgrounds were where closing ceremonies were held. We heard a lot of people plan on where they'd meet up that day if they were separated, and "meet me by the stove" was a frequent refrain. You really can't miss this.

It would be nice to see a return of a bull market. Since Michigan won't be needing their bull mascot, maybe we could send it to Wall Street.

This was some sort of insane ride apparatus. Though I'd never get on a ride like this, I can't help but think that the photo composition is pretty fabulous. I can't remember if I took this with the Sony or the Nikon, but I have a feeling it was probably the latter.

When my husband and I were leaving today, we took the opportunity to drive around the fairgrounds. The Budweiser trucks were there to pick up their Clydesdale horses. They were pretty spirited and I regretted leaving my cameras behind. Most of the rides were packed up and leaving and the fair was beginning to look desolate. I'm hoping that somehow, the state will find the money to keep this going, but I do understand the need to withdraw the funding. In a state that has had to lay off employees due to lack of assets, we need to be reasonable about what can stay and what has to go and right now, I think it's the fair.

I wonder what they'll do with this land? JL Hudson donated this property for fair use. If it's sold to be just another strip mall, that will be a shame.

At the community arts center this morning, I ran into the woman from the fair who'd called me about the man who wanted to buy my shawl. She told me it would be her favorite fair story for the year. I just hope that next year, we can get her a new story to tell.

Lather, Rinse & Repeat

It's the end of summer around here, so I've decided to let my mind have a nice long weekend off. I don't want to consider anything too deep or moving--I'm saving that for Obama's scandalous speech for kids to stay in school.

When the shampoo bottle instructions recommend to lather, rinse and repeat, do you? Repeat, I mean. I think it's a waste of money--right up there with expensive shampoos and wool wash. Though I like the smell of wool wash, at $64 a gallon, they can keep it and I'll use good old fashioned dish soap.

Of course these thoughts came unbidden during a shower this morning as I uncapped the $3 bottle of Pantene and thought it smelled pretty nice. Not as nice as the really expensive shampoos I used to wash down the drain, but it does the job.

I picked up the Pantene at Target yesterday. As usual, I went with a mission to buy an inexpensive steamer, and only the steamer, for my yarn and clothes. It was modestly priced at $30. I ended up forking over 5 times what I'd intended to spend just to buy more crap I thought I needed. Have you priced razor blades lately? They're out of their minds, and if hair on my legs were something that didn't bug me, I wouldn't have bought them. Since it's been awhile since I've shaved my legs, I bought a box of band aids to keep around just in case tragedy struck while shaving. And neosporin. And jammies for Rachel. Oh... and some hand cream. I congratulated myself on that one, because I had been planning on going to Bath and Body works and spending way more on hand cream than what's necessary. What I won't spend on wool wash, I will on hand cream.

Finally, after reading the news today, I was amazed at the gimmickry Wall Street is up to again. There are groups of investors who'd like to buy your life insurance policy off of you before you die. Of course, they're only going to give you a percentage of what it's worth when it becomes clear that you have a more definite expiration date. When you're six feet under, they'll cash it in for the full amount. Instead of your family getting the money they thought was coming to them, some invisible investor will. I guarantee that this investor will have nothing to do with swabbing your mouth and wiping your behind while you're dying.

Pondering this news in the shower, I got to thinking that this may indeed be the ultimate death panel. I mean, what if you're told you're dying of cancer? You take your diagnosis home and decide that rather than treatment, it's time to live it up. You see a Wall Street Flim-Flam Man who makes your wish come true and with a new jingle in your step, you tear up the town. Two weeks later the doc calls to tell you, "um, they got your slides mixed up with somebody else and I need to tell you that to our knowledge, you not the one dying. Some other poor schmuck is. Great news, isn't it?" Ya think? I foresee a posse of Wall Street Fat Cats--or their designated vermin-- that will ride out and make sure that those who danced with this particular devil will pay the price.

Money for nothin'...No such thing.

Gotta go start the grill. I hope you're having a lazy weekend, too.

Ticking Away

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

You fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way

Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Pink Floyd

It's only taken fifty two years, but I've come to embrace the fact that I love deadlines and the ensuing pressure to get a job done. Take those afghan squares I knit for my sister as an example. She sent me the yarn back in April or May, but I waited until right before they were due in August to finish them up completely. I didn't even start them until mid July. How's that for dawdling and denial? I couldn't knit them until the fire was nice and hot to urge me forward.

Today I looked at the calendar and realized it's September 4th. It doesn't seem like it should be, and I believe that's because Labor Day is late this year. I've been ignoring the calendar, but while looking for when the full moon falls (today), I realized that once again, I've been procrastinating. I have a deadline for a few items that are due on the 19th, and here I've been dawdling and whining saying that I just can't knit...I've lost my muse...I'm all used up after knitting Ruby.

Nonsense.

All I've needed is a deadline and now that I've let one get uncomfortably close, my needles are flying again. You see, one of my colleague's grandchildren is sick. Really sick. I'm knitting some items to raffle off at a benefit for him on the 19th of September.

First up, is a hat for him for when he loses his hair. This is his second dance with chemo, so he knows it's coming and just in time for the cold weather. Well not to worry, he'll have the hat I started last night and I've mostly completed. Forty more rows and it's a done deal. Next up will be a pattern out of Nicky Epstein's book, Knitting Never Felt Better. It's a stockinette scarf that will be felted using nuts (still in the shells) as molds to create a bubble effect. It's two thirds done. I bought enough yarn to make a pair of fingerless mitts that will be raffled, too. I'm thinking that for the heck of it, I'll throw in some felted bars of soap, a skein of handspun wool and a pattern for a scarf or neck warmer to top it off.

See? That's all I needed: a purpose and not a lot of time.

Dear XM

For several years now, I have been a faithful subscriber to your satellite radio services. I've carried your service in 3 vehicles. This past month, we completely lost our minds in an effort to support our economy, my husband and I bought our son a brand spanking new Ford Focus. We just couldn't see him driving into the city in his old hooptie anymore and quite frankly, we were worried that he lacked the skills to make the car go like Fred Flintstone could. Any day, his feet would have gone right through the floor boards of his old, beat up, though well used and loved jalopy. Along with his spanking new car, he got the fancy option of attaching his Ipod to listen to the music HE wants to hear. If you can imagine, it really is commercial free which is something you promised to be, but no longer are. He also got 3 free months of satellite radio which we'll take but aren't likely to renew when done. So you see, he doesn't need you anymore. He really only needed you because Mr. Larger Than Life broke his antenna and he couldn't get the more attractive free radio in the first place.

Imagine our surprise when not two weeks later, my husband totaled his own car. Although I'm sure the junkyard employees would appreciate satellite radio, we can't listen to that particular account in that car anymore. And guess what? His new ride also has free satellite radio and the same option to play his Ipod music, commercial free of course. Yes, he got a Ford, too.

That leaves just me, but you're billing me for 3 accounts when I only need one. Truth be told, I mostly listen to local AM radio when I'm working out of my car so I know where the traffic kerfuffles are located. These days, I only spend time in my car when I'm working and last I looked, AM radio is free. I think you can plainly see that I don't need you either. Because of that, we desperately need to close these accounts but doing so has been an exercise in futility.

I've been trying to accomplish what should be a simple task for some time now. Today, your company has taken valuable time spinning yarn away from me. My calls have been transferred all over the world from one department to another where I have spent a disgusting amount of time on hold only to be disconnected for the effort. You know, I went through this with an AOL account I had years ago and I'm a little concerned that although we have good reason to close our accounts, seeing as we have little need for them, I worry that your business is impossible to navigate to get this job done.

If I didn't already have a head of gray hair making it impossible to count them all, I'd think you gave me 20 more today.

Sincerely,

RudeeK

Sticks on Fire

I'm still not knitting much these past few weeks. It's as though I burned myself out trying to get through the must do knitting and left no fuel for anything else. Maybe I can set fire to my needles to see if that will spark a flame. Or...Or I could start a knit along. Why not?

One of the things that sparks my creativity is knitting or spinning with a group of like minded people. I usually have an incredible time and I love having the opportunity to draw on the experiences of others, while simultaneously gleaning priceless information I didn't know I couldn't knit without.

Rose and I have been going back and forth with this KAL idea since first seeing the fall Interweave Knits Magazine. There isn't an unattractive pattern in the entire issue. Well OK, the Fair Isle patterns don't entice me, but they're still pretty. It's just not my cup of tea to knit with all of those colors. Maybe it's yours. Hey! Someone has to knit that stunning Bohus sweater.

Consider this your formal invitation to join this KAL being hosted at Sticks on Fire, a virtual knitting circle. This is a BYOP (Bring Your Own Pattern) group, so grab your fall issue of IK Magazine, select your yarn and needles and be ready to cast on by September 21st. It's that simple. All skill levels welcome.

Rolling Apples

They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but what do they know?

Saturday, I went to the grand opening of my daughter Sara's restaurant. It was the second such opening in about 6 weeks, but this was the formal unveiling, with the first being a soft opening where what could go wrong, inevitably did. Sara has had no formal training in how to open a restaurant, but for the past year, this is the project that has consumed her life.


From the beginning when Sara took over an old building, she's worked with architects, contractors, artists and vendors and now the art of negotiation is a feather firmly attached in her cap. She has become adept at the art of schmoozing politicians and licensing organizations as though she learned at the knee of Donald Trump. During the build-out, this child of mine learned to put up with a lot of nonsense from petulant, and sometimes threatening tradesmen. She is now an employer to mostly youthful humans, many who are 10 to 12 years her junior and she's handling them with aplomb. Some of her employees waited weeks to start work just to be able to have a job. During these hard economic times in the Detroit area, she's proud to be an employer.


Where did she learn all this? When? I know she didn't inherit any of these skills from me. I mean that. Sara has always been a bundle of energy and incredibly intense from the day she was born and it seems she's found a way to channel all of it into something creative. I couldn't possibly be more proud of her than I am today...except maybe on the day I had her 28 years ago today.


Happy Birthday, sweetie. After so many years, you continue to amaze me!