In which there is actual knitting content...

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...or at least discussion thereof.

First of all,

I AM AN ENABLER!

I believe I've found a kindred spirit in my new friend and coworker L., (yes, of the much belabored hockey stick story). She mentioned in an instant message a few weeks ago that she was on her way to a sewing class, and I knew immediately that she possessed the crafty gene and was therefore easy pickings for knitting instruction. I told her I was a knitter, and she then shared that she crocheted and wanted to learn to knit. (Mwaah-ha-ha! My evil plan was working!) So last week I packed a ball of yarn and a nice pair of Brittany #8 straights in my suitcase, just in case an opportunity arose to teach her. (I think I'd read that the Yarn Harlot always carries extra yarn and needles with her when she travels, for just such an occasion. One smart cookie, that Stephanie.)

Sure enough, opportunity did arise after dinner Wednesday night, and L. picked up the knit stitch with lightning speed. (I cast on for her, to speed the class along. She'll need to learn that, as well as purling and casting off, in this week's lesson). While she knit, I gave her a little primer on yarn (crap yarn vs. good; craft stores vs. yarn shops), and have convinced her that we need to stop by the Columbia LYS sometime this week. So if anyone in the Baltimore-Columbia area is reading this, we may go there this Wednesday between 5 and 6 pm. I'd love to run into other knit-bloggers.

[Edit: I forgot to mention that during L.'s lesson, I told her about the difference between Continental vs. English/American style knitting. I'm right-handed and currently only know English style, which is the method I taught her, but since L.'s a leftie, she took it upon herself to go to KnittingHelp.com and teach herself continental knitting over the weekend! I think I've discovered a knitting savant!]

When we were both back at our respective homes on Friday I sent L. an email with a list of Toronto yarn shops. Turns out she lives just a few blocks from the infamous Lettuce Knit, (not to be confused with the LYS here in Richmond of the same name, but which has no website whose website is here). L. was so cute -- she asked me if it would be "cheating" on her instructor (me) if she went to Lettuce Knit over the weekend to check it out. Can you imagine? I told her "Vaya con Dios" and to tell me all about it this week.

And so, fellow knitters, there's a new knitter on the planet. Rejoice!

Secondly,

Scout's UFO Meme:

Darn Scout, for casting the spotlight on all my unfinished projects! But, sometimes it's good to make lists - they can motivate productivity. So, here in its entirety, (I think), is a list of all my unfinished projects:

• Chemo cap (yes, it is truly shameful that I've never finished this)
• Plymouth Sinsation felted chenille scarf in turquoise (I just have to weave in the ends and felt this! What's my problem?)
• Plymouth Sinsation felted chenille square in navy for the Warming Grace project (again, what's my problem? it's a doggone square!)
• Lorna's Laces sock via Magic Loop method (I'm at the heel flap and just need a kick-start, no pun intended, to move forward)
• Blue Heron Rayon Metallic shawl (yards and yards of garter stitch - zzzzz)
• Pink Heart Scarf for Syd's "Think Pink" challenge (I'm so close on this)
• Eros skinny scarf (I actually knit on this last night so I can wear it for work this week - I think I'm almost done - should finish tonight)
• 9½ more mini-stocking ornaments for my nieces & nephews
• 25% left of secret knitting project for secret gift recipient (who might be reading this)

and several dozen other projects and skeins of yarn waiting in the wings.

And because that list up there is surely not long enough, I think I may cast on yet another project this week while traveling -- a Mason-Dixon Knitting ball band warshrag. I received the book for my birthday and read a few pages each night when I'm home in bed. Last night I read the pages that included the warshrag pattern and I closed the book and hugged it. Hugged it! Needless to say, I love this book and those ladies.

And finally, here's the lovely yarn that lovely-and-talented Courtney sent me after winning her blog contest:

ArtYarns Supermerino, color # 138

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Extreme close-up

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Those purples are hard to capture accurately, whether indoors or out, natural light, flash or incandescent. Neither picture is quite right, but you get the idea. I think this yarn may become a hat for my purple-loving niece's birthday in November. Anyone have any hat patterns that an 11-year-old girl would like? Anyway, thanks again, Courtney! I love this yarn!

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Welp, that's it for now. Another (even longer) week of vendor demos ahead of me. I catch a 4:40 train today, so must get my act together to leave on time.

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Saturday Sky and a Tribute

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In response to Sandy's "Saturday Sky" meme, I'm posting pictures of last night's beautiful sky at sunset, taken on a beach in Kitty Hawk, NC.

After a long day of driving to OBX, attending a funeral, a graveside service, and a gathering at the home of the bereaved, we decided that, before retiring to our borrowed condo for the evening, and since we were, after all, at the beach, we were by-gosh going to go to the actual beach, walk barefoot in the sand and dip our toes in the ocean. It had been a miserably hot and muggy day, but right at sunset, the breeze shifted, the sky turned miraculous, and the ocean was cool and felt fantastic. A lovely way to end the day.

Here is some of what we saw:

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A Tribute

I dedicate last night's sky and this blog post to Vernon Clair Wingenroth, (1928-2006), my sister's father-in-law, and, as one of his sons so eloquently eulogized yesterday, a great man.

An ordained UCC minister, Vernon had a heart for the poor and underprivileged, as was evidenced in many events of his life, which included when he marched for civil rights in the 1960's, delivered food at great personal peril to those displaced by race riots, and was heart-wrenchingly fired by his congregation when he attempted to integrate their church.

But in addition to his public life, Vernon was a fantastic father to his three sons and an equally fantastic husband to his wife, their mother. Vernon was also an accomplished painter, and my own parents are fortunate to own one of his seascapes.

For five of the last seven years of his life, Vernon and his wife displayed tremendous love as they took daily care of their bedridden special-needs son Chris in their Nags Head, NC home, until Chris' death at age 40, in 2004.

Vernon was diagnosed just a month ago with liver cancer which progressed incredibly rapidly, and died in the same room as their beloved son Chris, with family all around. His life is a shining example to many. His funeral, blessedly simple in format, was one of the most beautiful I've ever attended. He leaves behind a heart-broken but resilient and dynamic wife, two sons and their wives, five grandchildren, and many other relatives, friends and acquaintances who admire him. I feel blessed to have known him and to have had the chance to pay my respects to him and his family. My thoughts and prayers are with them now as they continue to grieve their loss.

May we all live such inspirational lives and be loved and admired by so many.

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A Teeny Tuesday Meme...

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...thanks to Beth for the inspiration.

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Name 5 places other than your house or a knitting store where you have knit...

1) At a beach house in Nags Head, NC
2) At a lakehouse at Lake Gaston.
3) Along the parade route for the Ashland Christmas Parade.
4) In countless airports and planes.
5) On a train.

A few more I'ved added, 'cause my list is not very exciting:

6) At a church.
7) Watching the Redskins lose a play-off game at my brother Pat's house.
8) Watching the Olympics at my brother Tommy's house.
9) At Barnes & Noble.

Finally, a place where I recently kicked myself for forgetting my knitting: a Richmond Braves game last Thursday. (Pictures forthcoming in the near future).

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Tag - I'm IT!

I've been tagged for my very first meme by greyhoundchaos, so here goes:

* Four jobs you have had in your life:

1) Shoveling elephant poo on a wild animal preserve
2) Ambulance EMT
3) Virologist
4) Healthcare I.T. Consultant

* Four movies you could watch over and over:

1) Sense and Sensability (Emma Thompson version)
2) Emma (Gwenyth Paltrow version)
3) Pride and Prejudice (BBC/A&E version)
4) Ocean's 11/Ocean's 12 (Clooney versions)

* Four places you have lived:

1) Falls Church, VA
2) Richmond, VA
3) Harrisonburg, VA
4) Kailua-Kona, HI

* Four TV shows you love to watch:

1) Lost
2) Grey's Anatomy
3) Andy Griffith
4) Dick van Dyke/Mary Tyler Moore

* Four places you have been on vacation

1) Maui
2) Puerto Rico
3) Bahamas
4) Outer Banks, NC

* Four websites you visit daily:

1) TimesDispatch.com
2) Dynomite
3) Virgin Wool (of course)
4) My Yahoo

* Four places you'd rather be right now:

1) In my bed, asleep
2) On a table, getting a massage (for my sore back)
2) In a whirlpool (again, for sore back)
4) On my honeymoon (need a groom first, though)

* Four bloggers you are tagging:

1) DustBunniesCanWait
2) Beth
3) Ranger Susie
4) Maggi

Later!

Is My Blog a Secret?

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Kathy, over at Grumperina's knitting blog, tagged her readers yesterday with the following meme:

"How about you? Who knows about your knitting and your knitting blog, and what are your reasons for revealing (or not) its existence to these folks? Don’t just leave me a comment – rather consider this a meme and answer on your own blog ;)."

I've accepted the challenge and will document my response below.

Who knows about my knitting blog? Let's see.... My SIL Jenny knows. She taught me how to knit, and I started this blog so that I would not be harassing her 20 times a day with knitting-related emails and phone calls. (I still harass her, but only 5 times a day now). As a busy mom of three, she doesn't have time to read it regularly, but on occasion I'll forward a post to her if the content is such that I'd like her feedback. I don't think anyone else in my family knows about the blog, (or if they do, they forgot or don't really care), basically because I don't think anyone else is really all that interested in knitting or in reading what I have to say about knitting.

I know my dad probably isn't all that interested, although he might like to read my post about his mother, my Grandmére. I didn't forward that to him because his Christmas gift is also documented on this blog. I may spill the beans after Christmas, but I don't expect him to be a regular reader.

My mom is not a knitter and is not computer literate and never will be, so there's no point in her knowing. I'm not sure she'd remember what "blog" means, anyway.

My sister Anne learned how to knit as a kid, and even taught her daughter -- my niece Rosemarie -- recently, but Anne doesn't knit as an adult. She's too busy to read a knitting blog and frankly isn't particularly computer savvy.

My sister Terry also learned how to knit as a kid but doesn't knit as an adult. Santa is going to give Terry's youngest daughter Leah a knitting kit for Christmas, and so Terry says she'll probably re-learn as she helps Leah learn. Here's hoping she gets hooked -- I would love another addict in the family! If she becomes passionate about knitting, I'll tell her about the blog, and she may end up reading it on occasion.

My sister Julie doesn't knit and I doubt would be interested.

My brothers? Ha! They're men. 'Nuf said.

Basically, everyone in my family is either not interested and/or too busy to read a blog about knitting (or any other subject, for that matter), so there's really no point in shoving it in their face.

I've given a couple friends the link to my blog, and I know at least one has read part of it. They don't knit much or at all, and are very busy folks, so I know it's not of much interest to them either.

I'm guessing some of my friends/family might read it semi-regularly if they had an email subscription, but as far as I can tell, blogger doesn't have that type of functionality except for blog owners. I haven't researched to see if there are any hacks available to set up email subscriptions for readers, but as my readership is quite small, I don't have a need for it, currently. Most knitting blog readers are knitting bloggers themselves who tend to read their blogroll via Bloglines or some other service, rather than wanting to read them via email.

In summary, my blog is not a secret, per se, but I'm not pushing family & friends to read it, either, because I don't know that many (or any) are interested, and frankly, they just might think I'm a little pathetic (if they don't already).

I also have a gardening blog which I don't maintain very regularly because I've not maintained the garden regularly, at least not this year. I'm going to try and be a better gardener and garden blogger next year -- a New Year's resolution! The garden blog is also not a secret and has been mentioned to others on occasion, but there's not a lot of interest from them, and therefore not much traffic.

Was this as boring for you to read as I think it was? If so, my apologies!