Obituaries...Planning Ahead

I'm at that age now where I enjoy reading the obits. The other day there was one for this lovely looking old gentleman. Part of it said "he contracted polio at age 6, and had a deformed leg ever after" or something like that. Katie and I were trying to 1. figure out WHY his family thought this was something they needed to state (there was no further mention of him rising above the disability, working to cure polio, or anything like that), and 2. what we would or would not want said in our obit.

I promised Katie that I would say (should she predecease me): "Katie feared growing a tiny limb somewhere on her body, but this never happened."

I would like to state for the record that I DO NOT want any picture of me with tubes in my nose. Should I die as a result of a) being left behind by a scuba boat and being eaten by sharks (presumably) or b) being scared to death by a clown, I would like it mentioned that my worst nightmare was tragically fulfilled.

And please bury me wrapped in my Snuggie with sufficient yarn and knitting needles to keep me busy in the afterlife.

A Second Pair of Socks

Two more to add to the 'finished' list! These are Pomatomus by Cookie A. I reknit the foot of the second sock no less than four times bc I kept screwing up the lace pattern. So I am patting myself on the back super-hard for persevering and not abandoning this project entirely :-)

Finished Pair!

I managed to finish a PAIR of socks! Woot woot! These are "Pyroclastic" socks, with an interesting arched sole. And I think they are stretchy enough for cankles. Triple woot!

Brave Little Toaster II

Just have to report that yesterday I actually let one of the chickens sit on my shoulder! And I petted its head. Baby Steps, People. Of course, Al claimed that said chicken pooped on me. Not true, but it departed from my shoulder in a hurry :-)

BTW, the 3 surviving chickens are getting BIG. Eggs soon I hope. Li'l Honey (Mikey's), Grizelda (Al's) and Sprints/Stripes/Something Else (RJ's who has about 18 names) are enjoying searching for bugs and worms in the yard. And no further hawk attacks.

For Katie & Pia

Cuz they love them some Bear Grylls. And he's on the cover of this month's Outside magazine.

It's Being Published AT LAST!

Knitter's magazine "Think Outside the Sox" book with the pattern I submitted to their sock contest is finally being published! Knitpicks has it at 40% off here.

I'm so excited to be in a REAL book, just hoping maybe I'll get a free book or even paid a few bucks (or get my socks back)

Knit for Victory

Google has the photo archives from "Life" magazine (you youngsters don't remember Life, but it was a grand mag, with amazing photos every week. Kind of People without the gossip). I found some cool pictures from World War II, when the Allies were all 'knitting for victory:

This lady is knitting a sock, while defending freedom.

Soldier modeling his handknit fingerless gloves, great for a smoke break.

Here's a practical hat/scarf combo.

Oldies But Goodies

It's nice to know that kids are still chanting the same rhymes as we did when we were little (with some political correctness to Eeny Meeny...)

Here's what the boys are chanting currently:

"Eeny meeny miney mo,
catch a tiger by the toe.
If he hollers make him pay
50 dollars every day.
My mother said to choose the very best one,
and you are not IT."

"Bubblegum, bubblegum in a dish.
How many pieces do you wish?"

There's something so sweet about hearing them recite these rhymes (at least until they start pounding each other about who is IT). We are still debating over Eeny Meeny, and whether you ARE it or AREN'T it when the counter lands on you. What is your opinion on the eeny meeny controversy? And what rhymes do you remember?

The UFO Hall of Shame

UFO = Unfinished Object. Of which I have plenty right now.

1. My Sirdal cardigan, because I ran out of yarn 3/4 of the way through the 2nd sleeve. I have purchased 2 different colors of red, and neither of them is an exact match. I may just finish it anyway and have 1/4 unmatching sleeve.
2. "Duck Soup" baby cardigan. I intended to give this to Katie's friend Allison as a baby gift but didn't get it finished in time. All it needs are the toggle closures and some buttons. And a tiny baby.
3. Mittens from a 1911 pattern book. I'm trying to adapt/update the pattern but am stuck at the top shaping. Knitters in 1911 evidently were ok with wonky instructions.
4. A 'fascinator' (a lacy head scarf) from a 19th century pattern book. Again I am trying to update the pattern, but not sure I love the design.
5. At least 4 pairs of socks with one sock done or nearly done. Second Sock Syndrome is alive and well.
6. "Quincy" hat, which is nearly done. But the next step involves twisting the strip of yarn and I get confused every time I twist, not sure exactly HOW it's supposed to twist.
7. And one that isn't in the picture: "Nimbus" short sleeve cardigan that just needs to be sewn together.

This may be my week to try to finish up some stuff. We'll see. And I actually DID finish one pair of socks (Pyroclastics) which had been waiting to have the toes sewn up. I was out of double point knitting needles so had to finish that one off!

Field Trip!

I went to the Mobius Kid's Museum last week with Mike P. He has been begging me to go on a field trip with him for months, and I finally made time. AND had to renege on my promise to go to Alex's 3rd grade Earth Day concert and hear his solo, which was at the same time.

This guy completely ditched me for his beloved Teacher Kim's high school daughter. She came along, and Mikey was totes in luv. I was allowed to carry his wet painting back to school, but otherwise I was yesterday's news.

I sure hope his mom fares better next week at the Junior Livestock Show!

The Weekly Update

I made it to weigh-in yesterday. Lost .6 lbs. About what I deserved. But it's in the right direction at least!

Podcasts

Now that I have an IPod (which could be the greatest invention since, well since EVER), I've been adding some podcasts so that I have something to listen to when I'm waiting for the boys to get out of school, tae kwon do, appointments, etc. Here's what I am listening to currently:

1. "This American Life" a weekly program on NPR, which features kind of wacky essays and stories around a weekly theme. This week is "True Urban Legends" (can a rat actually crawl up your toilet?)
2. "Fresh Air" also from NPR. Terry Gross is the best interviewer I've ever heard (no Larry King brown-nosing here!) and she always has interesting guests on the show.
3. "Cast On" a podcast about knitting and more. Brenda Dayne lives in Wales and lives the life I dream about.
4. "A History of the World in 100 Objects" from the BBC. 15 minute stories about various objects from the collection of the British Museum.

What podcasts do you listen to?

Awesomeness!

FINALLY. This guy won the 258 million Powerball, and for once it's someone who really could use the dough. And he's getting his teeth fixed. Yay!

Happy "Talk Like Shakespeare" Day!

Today is "Talk Like Shakespeare" Day! Here are some guidelines for thee:

1. Instead of you, say thou or thee(and instead of y’all,
   say ye).
2. Rhymed couplets are all the rage.
3. Men are Sirrah, ladies are Mistress, and your friends are all called Cousin.
4. Instead of cursing, try calling your tormenters jackanapes or canker-blossoms or poisonous bunch-back’d toads.
5. Don’t waste time saying "it," just use the letter "t" (’tis, t’will, I’ll do’t).
6. Verse for lovers, prose for ruffians, songs for clowns.
7. When in doubt, add the letters "eth" to the end of verbs (he runneth, he trippeth, he falleth).
8. To add weight to your opinions, try starting them with methinks, mayhaps, in sooth or wherefore.
9. When wooing ladies: try comparing her to a summer’s day. If that fails, say "Get thee to a nunnery!"
10. When wooing lads: try dressing up like a man. If that fails, throw him in the Tower, banish his friends and claim the throne.

And if thee'd like to print out and wear thy very own Shakespeare mask, prithee click here

How Cute Is This?!

I made this darling baby hat in 2 days, for one of Katie's friends. It's the "Upside Down Daisy" Hat from Susan B. Anderson's delightful book "Itty Bitty Hats". Love it!

DOES Zaids resemble her granddaughters?

You be the judge.

The Chicken Fort

It's a little hard to tell in this picture, but Jon is building an amazing Chicken Fort. He's using sod to build this bad boy, which I'm sure the chickens are going to LUV, what with the worm and bug possibilities. Not sure what happens when it rains, though.

September 1958

I may have posted this picture already, but it bears a repeat showing bc I love it so much.

Here's our happy family in 1958 at Tata and Baba's house (the world's BEST house, I loved that place like you wouldn't believe).

Dad (handsome devil) and Mom (love her bullet bra!) in the back row. Front row left to right:

Judy (always Miss Priss), Susan (I think she still has her super-long braid in this pic, and she looks JUST like Peter), Lavs (I'm wearing the EXACT SAME PANTS at this very moment and look just as scrappy), Ray (little man in his tee shirt and slacks plus belt), B-Z (OMG I heart her Little Lotta ankles and shoes plus fudgies!), and Joey-Love (scrappy version of Raymond).

Good Times, Good Times...

Seattle Mariners' All Star Club, we bid you a fond farewell. And many thanks go out to good ole Uncle Bob, who treated many of us to a wonderful evening watching the M's play while seated in the lap of luxury.

The buffet...the dessert bar...the alcohol bar...the popcorn...the great seats.. the convenient parking...the waitstaff who took such good care of you.

Back to the 300 level. Boo.

Race For the Cure

Katie and I walked (briskly) this morning in Spokane's 5th annual "Race for the Cure". It was a gorgeous day, and there were over 8,000 participants, pretty good for our little burg.

Lovin' Life

Lucy is out at Camp Cross with Katie today, for a clean up for summer party. Obvs., Lucy is working very hard cleaning. I think she is headed down to the lake to make sure the dock is ready for jumping off. Put this girl to work, Mommy!

Back At It! A New Week #1

Katie dragged me back to Weight Watchers today. Thanks for making me go, K!!! I really need to get back on track with healthy eating and exercise if I don't want to look like Gladys over there on our tropical getaway.

The good news: I didn't regain ALL the weight I had lost last year.

The bad news: I weighed in at 195.6 lbs. Gladys territory.

Oh, well, at least I'm back on the horse.

Hug Your Dad Today

Today is our dad's birthday, he would have been 85 today (right, Susna?) I miss him every day, and I often think about how much he and I would have enjoyed discussing history, books we've read, hiking together and hanging out with the rest of the family.

I couldn't find my photo albums, so Susan sent over a scanned pic of Dad, which I had to rescan (and that didn't do the picture any favors). I'll try to get a better one so you all can see what a handsome guy he was.

Love your dad, appreciate him, give him a hug and a kiss, and know how lucky you are to have him with you!

Buds

Pals Mike P. and Jon S. hangin' in the backyard.

1911 Mittens

I don't have much exciting to blog, so here's a picture of one of my many projects in the works. I'm updating a pattern from a 1911 knitting book, making a pair of lady's mittens. The yarn is really nice (Classic Elite Fresco, a wool/alpaca/angora blend that 1900s knitters would have loved!), and the raspberry color is yum. I'm kind of stalled on the top shaping because the old instructions are really wonky, but hope to have some thinking/knitting time this weekend to get 'er done.

Video of the Year!

If you haven't met Sue Sylvester from "Glee", you are in for a treat! She is so awesomely evil on the show, I love her to pieces. And here is Sue, absolutely killing Madonna's "Vogue" (how great is her line "Will Shuster, I hate you"?!)

Separated At Birth?

Liam P and Ed Grimley?

Farewell Little Chick

Cocoa Brown aka Chunklet didn't make it. Why does this have to happen when I am babysitting!? Poor Liam is super sad. However, we are planning a nice chicken funeral for after school (which means I'm going to have to dig the plastic bag with the body out of the garbage can.) Wonder if I can knit a chicken shroud before 3 pm...

It's Tough Out There for A Chick

Yikes! Chicken disaster (almost)! Jon rescued Liam's chicken from the talons of a ginormous hawk the other day! Poor little Chunklet is not looking too good, but Liam is nursing her carefully and we hope she'll survive her run-in with a bird of prey.

I'm planning a chicken funeral just in case, though...

Yet ANOTHER Sock Project

I seem to be in 'start something new every day' mode. I was itching to try out the turquoise yarn I dyed a while ago, so yielded to temptation and started the "Solid Sock April Mystery Socks". So far it's coming along nicely. And I'm knitting both socks so that I may actually have a PAIR!

Happy Easter!

Here's the hackysack I just finished knitting for Alex (took me about a half hour). We dyed a skein of yarn using the leftover Easter Egg dyes. He'll love getting this in his Easter Basket!

The Tropical Vacation!

Here's the scoop: Christmas 2010 in BELIZE! The Longinottis (Pia, Cara, Katie, Tony and Dad Tony & Patty) have included me in their Xmas vacation getaway plan! Since the Virginians outnumber us West Coasters, my Hawaii idea was kiboshed and we are looking at Belize. I'm fine with it, as long as there's sunshine and a beach/poolside I can lay on and read I'm up for it.

Now to work on a beach body...

Should I Get This??

Seems like this would be a GREAT gift for Katie's birthday! The "Fiji Desk Getaway Kit" There is a cabana tent charging station for your electronics, a snorkeling-themed keyboard wrist support, a sandy beach sleeve for your coffee, and a palm tree pencil topper. Along with a colorful floral lei to hang on your computer monitor and a great white shark stapler cozy to chomp through stacks of paper!

I know you hate felting Kate, but wouldn't your work station look all beach-y and vacation-y with this? It might give you (and me) the incentive needed to be in bikini shape by Xmas for our tropical getaway...