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November 30, 2006

Sweet Charity

Yo! Bloglines! WTF?!?!

So. Charity Knitting. Norma and I were discussing the other day how it used to be that when she talked about charity knitting the silence was so deafening all she could hear was crickets chirping. And I've been trying to figure out why that would be the case.

Basically, I think charity knitting is like any other charity donation and people react the same way as if you're asking for money. And asking for money, well, that can evoke all kinds of emotions and responses in people. One theory I have is that thinking about charities and people in need can make those of us with so much feel a bit guilty. So we say nothing and pretend that people don't really need our help. But another theory I have is that maybe people already have charities they support and they just don't want to support another one. And they don't feel like they want to tell you that because it will just sound like an excuse so they say nothing. I know I feel guilty when I see commercials on television for St. Jude's or other charitable causes. I want to contribute to everyone! But, the truth is that I only have so much I can give away and I have a few key charities that I support. I've researched them and believe in their causes and that's where my money goes.

And I'm thinking that maybe the same thing is true for charity knitting. I know there are some people who knit for charity all year long. And I know there are some who will never knit for charity but they're generous in other ways. I guess the point of all of this (you knew I'd get to the point eventually, right?) is that it really doesn't matter whether you do or don't knit for charity. And it really doesn't matter whether you give money away or not. What matters is how you find your way through the world. For me, I need to give back. See, I grew up in a family that struggled financially. I remember running out of oil for the furnace. I remember seeing our name in the paper for nonpayment of property taxes. I remember food stamps. And now I have much. I have a home with heat and plenty of food. I pay my bills and buy gifts for my children. I have yarn and fiber and multiple spinning wheels. I can afford to give some money away. And I can afford to spend some time knitting for people who will be comforted by my handknits.

I know that many of you feel the same way. I know for sure that Norma does. There are 3 days left for Knit Unto Others if you want to join us. Or not. Do what's right for you. Find your place in the world. And, please, tell me what you think. I can't abide the sound of crickets chirping.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (57)

November 29, 2006

Meme and Ping

So there's this guy with a blog and he's asking for help in the Name of Science. See, he's presenting a paper at MLA about how meme's circulate around the blogosphere. I saw this over at Cate's and told her I'd play along. I also told her I'd get all you guys to play along to. All you have to do is write something about this on your blog, link to the project, and then ping over here and you're done. Simple, right? I'm sure the whole thing is way more complex than this but, whatever, I'm no scientist or linguist or professional blogger. I'm just another knitter with a blog. And we're a mighty force to be reckoned with, ya know.

And just so you don't think you came over here for nothing, howzabout a meme? Anne wrote a fun post a while ago about the things she sees while driving to and from work. In a flash of brilliance (or desperation for something to blog about) I thought this would make a fun meme.

So, here they are, the 5 most amusing/unusual/weird things I have seen while going to work and the frequency with which I have seen them:
1. sheep - every day
2. deer - sometimes
3. turkeys - frequently
4. red tail hawk - almost every day
5. pheasant - rarely

Will you play along? Tell me what you see while driving to work. And don't forget about the blog project up there at the top of the post! Thanks, guys.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (13)

November 28, 2006

X is for Xmas Decorations

Boy, coming up with a post for the letter X was tough! And I'm breaking one of my strict rules because I don't ever refer to Christmas as Xmas. The things I'll do for the blog, man oh man. So anyway, yeah, X is for Xmas Decorations. I have a few shitload.

This is the mantle in the living room. The print that hangs there is one that Dale and I bought together for our first married Christmas. It's the first Christmas decoration that goes up, usually on Thanksgiving night.

A close up of the mantle shows the Nativity that I cross stitched on perforated paper about a million years ago. It was actually a really fun project and I'm so happy to pull this out every year.

Also from the living room, this is how I decorate over my windows. Of course the greens are artificial (remember W is for Woodstove) but I think they're pretty with the red berries and pine cones.

I have four of these Swedish Dala horses. I think I started collecting them when I was in college. My mom used to buy me one every Christmas but as they got bigger they got more expensive so she stopped. I'd love to get more, though. (hi Dale! hint, hint)

Finally, there are the many, many snowmen. These guys hang out in the dining room on the hutch.

And these guys hang out in the kitchen. There are more snowmen on the piano and on the kitchen hutch, too.

Of all the snowmen, though, this guy is my absolute favorite. He has to be placed on top of the refrigerator, though, because Mason has a thing for his fur collar. I kid you not when I tell you that the cat will drag this snowman, and he's pretty heavy, through the house and hide him from me if he's not placed somewhere beyond reach. So, it's the top of the fridge for this guy. I think he likes it up there, though, where he is Lord of All He Surveys.

Of course, this is just a sampling of my Xmas decorations. There are more greens and more lights. There are wreaths on the doors and lights on the bushes and a decorated sled by the back door. There's no tree just yet (remember again W is for Woodstove) but things are quite festive at Chez Carole Knits.

I told you yesterday that it looked like Christmas had thrown up all over my house. Now you know I wasn't kidding!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (45)

November 27, 2006

What I Learned This Weekend

I've got random bits to tell you about so I'm borrowing a page from JessLu's play book and doing a "What I Learned This Weekend" post.

*I learned that charity knitting, while great for the soul, isn't so great for producing exciting blog posts. Do you really want to see yet another Red Scarf? I didn't think so. But, just in case, here it is, one finished red scarf.

I've got yarn for another one but at the moment I'm knitting a hat for Christmas At Sea.

*I learned that I can get my house decorated for Christmas in less than 4 hours. It looks a bit like Christmas threw up all over the place. I'm happy.

*I learned that online shopping is much better than dealing with the crowds at the malls and big box stores. Of course, when the garland that goes over the kitchen window is missing (how does a garland of greens and lights go missing, anyway?) it means a trip to the big box craft store is in order despite the best of online shopping intentions.

*I learned that Bobby is a wonderful film. Emilio Estevez did a brilliant job with this picture. Go see it.

*I learned that spinning thick yarn is harder than spinning fine yarn. But I managed to successfully spin two Grafton Fiber batts into bulky yarn. See?

*I learned that I can spin sock yarn. Here's my finished "Twist and Shout" Superwash Merino Roving from Crown Mountain Farms.

That's 550 yards, plenty for socks!

*I learned that going back to the YMCA after a 4 month absence is a good thing. You know what's not so good, though? Pushing yourself to do the same number of repetitions with the same amount of weight that you were doing 4 months ago. Perhaps I should have eased back into the routine a bit more slowly. Ahem.

Finally, I learned that hanging out at home with nothing special to do, is a really good thing.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (51)

November 24, 2006

Eye Candy Friday

One of the traditions of Remembrance Day is to put wreaths on the battlefield monuments. I took this picture at one of the New York memorials and I love how you can see just a little of the writing on the monument through the center of the wreath.

Happy Weekend, everyone!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (10)

November 23, 2006

Thanksgiving Meme

This is another wall hanging that I made back when I was quilting more frequently. Tiny one-inch strips are used to make the corn and the bow and leaves are applique.

Happy Thanksgiving! Yesterday I made four pies: pumpkin, mincemeat, cranberry-pecan and chocolate cream. I saved the apple for today because it really is best on the day it's made. In between pie baking I did some more Red Scarf knitting and some spinning, too. But again, not much worth showing the blog. So, I saw this meme over at Knit Think and decided it would make for an appropriate Thanksgiving post.

1. Which do you like better: Cooking at your house, or going elsewhere? I have to say, I enjoy entertaining and would rather cook at my house. However, I don't cook at home, we go to Lois'.

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen bird? I prefer fresh but I get a frozen turkey from work every year.

3. What kind of stuffing? Pepperidge Farm with lots of sage.

4. Sweet potato or pumpkin pie? Pumpkin pie. And apple pie and mincemeat pie and pecan pie and chocolate cream pie . . .

5. Do you believe that turkey leftovers are a curse, or the point of the whole thing? I love me some leftovers. There's nothing like hot turkey sandwiches for supper on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

6. Which side dish would provoke a riot if you left it off the menu? Homemade cranberry sauce.

7. Do you save the carcass to make soup or stock? Yes, I save the carcass and make soup. Turkey soup is one of the best soups ever.

8. What do you wish you had that would make preparing Thanksgiving dinner easier? My mom always wished she had two ovens so I'll go with that. At Christmas I always wish for an extra fridge.

9. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to have dinner ready in the early afternoon, or do you eat at your normal dinner hour? I really like a candlelit Thanksgiving dinner so I prefer to eat in the late afternoon.

10. If you go to somebody else's house, what's your favorite dish to bring? I bring all the pies. And I love making pie so it's definitely my favorite dish to bring. I also bring the homemade cranberry sauce.

11. What do you wish one of your guests wouldn't bring to your house? I don't have guests but if I did I wouldn't complain about anything they brought because every little bit helps.

12. Does your usual mix of guests result in drama, or is it a group you're happy to see? There's no drama with this group. Lois is the closest thing I have to a sister so it's like being with family. I'm always happy to see everyone.

13. What's your absolute favorite thing on the menu? Ooh, this is tough. I tend to fill my plate with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy. I could live without the vegetables, honestly. I suppose my favorite part of the meal is the stuffing.

And I added this one:

14. What are you thankful for this year? I'm thankful that I have a terrific family. They put up with my quirks (yeah, that's the nice word for it) and love me and support me in everything I want to do. I'm also thankful for the wonderful community I've built through this blog. I never expected it but it's turned out to be an amazing thing.

Now it's your turn. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (24)

November 22, 2006

One Word Wednesday

Thank you all for the compliments on The ManLace. And the compliments on The Man, too. Let me just say, it doesn't take any arm twisting to get him to pose in his uniform.

The knitting right now is all charity knitting and I don't have much to show you just yet so I'll throw you a meme. Hope you like it.

It's only words
You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.

No.
Explanations.

1. Yourself: content
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend (spouse): funny
3. Your hair: perky
4. Your mother: missed
5. Your father: minister
6. Your favorite item: wheel
7. Your dream last night: forget
8. Your favorite drink: martini
9. Your dream car: Mercedes
10. The room you are in: cozy
11. Your ex: alcoholic
12. Your fear: death
13. What you want to be in 10 years? retired?
14. Who you hung out with last night? Dale
15. What you're not? thin
16. Muffins: nah
17. One of Your Wish List Items: Golding
18. Time: evening
19. The last thing you did: spin
20. What you are wearing: flannel
21. Your favorite weather: sunny
22. Your favorite book: classic
23. The last thing you ate: chicken
24. Your life: good
25. Your mood: relaxed
26. Your best friend: constant
27. What are you thinking about right now? knitting
28. Your car: Jeep
29. What are you doing at the moment? typing
30. Your summer: fun
31. Your relationship status: married
32. What is on your TV? Chronicle
33. What is the weather like? cold
34. When is the last time you laughed? tonight

Now I'm off to bake pies. Mmmmmmm.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (14)

November 21, 2006

ManLace in ManTown

You may recall that last week, when I showed you the blocking photos of Hypotoneuse, I told you I had a special photo shoot planned for the weekend. Never one to disappoint my readers, I traveled all the way to Gettysburg, PA, to have Dale pose with the new ManLace. Okay, well, we may have been going anyway for Remembrance Day, but still, I didn't let you down.

These photos were all taken in front of the Michael Jacobs house on Middle Street. We had a special purpose in finding this house because Michael Jacobs was the great-great-I don't know how many great-grandfather of my good friend Judy. He was a Professor at Gettysburg College and actually published the first account on the Battle of Gettysburg. He was also a recorder of weather conditions. All the information we have about the weather and temperature during the battle of Gettysburg comes from Professor Jacobs. Pretty slick, I think.

Speaking of slick, check out these photos of Dale wearing his ManLace.

ManLace with a Union Army uniform. A Captain, no less. It doesn't get more manly than that.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (74)

November 20, 2006

W is for Woodstove

There is something incredibly soothing and spiritual about burning wood. It provides heat, of course, but it also provides entertainment as I never get tired of watching the flames. I grew up with a fireplace, the first house I purchased had a fireplace, and while I do sort of miss the open-ness of a fireplace, a woodstove is a pretty good consolation prize.

The woodstove we have is a very efficient, as well as aesthetically pleasing, model and we bought it 10 years ago when we got married. It seemed right for our first major purchase to be something that would be a source of heat and comfort for our family for many, many years. While heating with wood doesn't necessarily save us much money, it provides a warmth that's comforting and soothing and it pleases us.

Well, it pleases me. I'm not the one who stacks the wood and carries it into the house. I'm not the one who gathers kindling and starts a daily fire in the fall when it's not cold enough to keep the fire burning all night but not warm enough to not have a fire at all. And I'm not the one who gets up in the night to check on the fire and add wood.

I'm just the one who sits by the stove and enjoys the comfort and warmth. Old fashioned, for sure. But we I wouldn't have it any other way.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (38)

November 17, 2006

Eye Candy Friday

Eye Candy Friday is going to get a lot harder when all the pretty Fall stuff goes away. I'm just saying.

ETA: I'm sorry about the confusion on Friday. Apparently, I went over my bandwidth and had to get some more before I could post again. And, I spent all day Friday traveling to Gettysburg, PA, so I couldn't fix this until late. But, all is well now and the blog is back.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (22)

November 16, 2006

An Inspirational Story

picture from The Covenant Companion, September 2006

Last Sunday in church the pastor read an article from The Covenant Companion, the monthly magazine of our denomination, The Evangelical Covenant Church. I've never talked about church here on the blog before (and don't worry, I probably won't again) but the nature of this article was too timely to ignore. You can go read it here. Yes, it will take you a few minutes, but it's worth it, I promise. Go ahead. I'll wait.

This story spoke to me for various reasons. Of course, there is the underlying theme of faithfulness to God, and that's important to me. There is also the Swedish heritage I share with the author and her family. There's no denying that Swedish people are proud to be Swedish and I always love reading about Swedes and their lives and particularly their role in settling the midwestern United States.

And finally, there's the knitting. Even when this family had practically nothing, Thua Harrison was knitting for the poor. They never considered themselves to be poor for they had one another and they had God. Packages were assembled every Christmas and they always contained handknit mittens for charity. When Mrs. Harrison couldn't even remember her name, her hands could still remember how to knit and mittens for others were found among her possessions after she died.

I'll admit, this is the part that really spoke to me. Charity knitting isn't something that's part of my regular knitting. But starting on Saturday and continuing for two weeks, you and me and so many other knitters will be participating in Knit Unto Others. I know that I'll be thinking about Thua Harrison and the legacy she left and the lives she touched.

I've never been so proud to be a knitter.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (30)

November 15, 2006

Walk With Me (and Dixie) Wednesday

Dale and I and Dixie, our yellow lab, went for a walk together last weekend and I took it as an opportunity to prepare a Walk With Me Wednesday post for Judy. Plus, after reading Mason's post on Monday, the dog is demanding equal time.

We walked where we almost always walk, to the river behind our house. Our family calls this "down back" and it's where Dale's brother Randy and his wife Mary live. The walk is nice for the dog because she doesn't have to wear a leash and she gets to take a dip or two along the way. It's nice for Dale and I because we see deer prints and turkey tracks and get to experience being in the woods while really only being minutes away from home. It's a wonderful escape from the real world and we don't take advantage of it nearly as much as we should.

There used to be a dock just about where the dog is in that photo. When Dale and I were dating we used to visit this spot and sit on the dock quite often. We would sometimes share a picnic of sandwiches or wine and bread and cheese. And we would talk and talk and talk. We talked about the past and the hurts and disappointments we had both experienced. And we talked about the future and what our lives together would be like. We built a very strong foundation for our relationship right in that spot. Sadly, the dock washed away in a storm a few years ago. But the memory of the time we spent sitting together on that dock is something I'll always cherish.

And now here we are, 10 years later, with a blended family that includes a lovable dog and a very precocious cat. And we're still walking and talking together whenever we have the chance.

Dixie says, "Thanks for coming along on the walk. I'm going to go harass the cat now. Woof."

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (40)

November 14, 2006

On and Off the Needles

First things first: Mason says thank you for all your wonderful comments on his post. He had no idea you all would enjoy it so much. And he's rather pleased (or as pleased as a cat gets) that he met so many other dogs and cats of the knitblog community. Of course, from my perspective, the last thing that cat needed was to have people telling him how great he is. There will be no living with him now, you know.

To satisfy your curiosity about Hypotoneuse, I thought you might enjoy seeing some blocking photos.

I've got a photo shoot planned for this weekend at a surprise location so you'll just have to wait until then to see Dale modeling the ManLace. Trust me, though, it's quite nice. And if you thought it matched Mason's eyes, well, wait until you see it on my man.

And what's on the needles now, you ask?

Ruffles from Scarf Style for Hannah. I'm using my handspun. The pattern is boring as hell but the handspun is wonderful and Hannah thinks it's funky. I've got a long way to go but I'm anxious to finish so I can start Knitting Unto Others.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (49)

November 13, 2006

A Word (or two) from Mason

Hi Everyone,
I'm Mason. The cat of the Carole Knits household. The only cat, of course. It's bad enough that I have to share the house with that damn dog, Dixie, I certainly wouldn't tolerate another cat. So, I want to talk to you today about my person and this thing she does all the time. You know what I'm talking about. You call it Knitting.

I actually don't mind the knitting. There's lots of yarn for me to play with. Sure, sometimes I make a big mess of it and I get yelled at. But only for a minute and it's totally worth it. Besides, all I have to do is look at Carole with this cute face of mine and all is forgotten. I like the yarn so much that sometimes I bring it to Carole in the middle of the night. I grab a skein of yarn in my mouth, the most expensive skein I can find, of course, and I jump up on the bed with it. You would think, given how much time my person spends with yarn, that she would be pleased by this. But she never is and I get yelled at again. Then she laughs, though, and I'm forgiven.

The other thing I like about yarn is that when Carole spends time knitting, she sits on the couch. Right by the wood stove, in fact. And oh boy is that cozy! I like to sit right in her lap, preferably on the knitting, because it's warm and soft. My person is always pulling the knitting out from under me, though, so I mostly sit next to her with my head in her lap. It's very very nice. Purrrrrrrrrrr.

Finally, I have to tell you that I love those finished knits. Just this weekend Carole finished something for my other person, Dale. It's a shawl or something. I'm a little confused since he's a man and I thought shawls were for women but I've given up trying to understand these people. All I know is that Carole called it Hypo-something and she's really glad it's done. I am, too. I think it should be for me. After all, look how beautifully it matches my eyes.

Well, thanks for listening to my rambles about my people and the yarn and the thing you call knitting. Next time, I'll talk about that other thing my person does. I think that's called spinning.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (49)

November 10, 2006

Eye Candy Friday

The shadows are lengthening and the ferns are yellowing. More signs of changes to come.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (17)

November 9, 2006

It Was a Thumping

Finally, words from our President that I can get behind.

Can you stand to read another blog post about the voting process in America? If you can, great. If you can't, well, you might want to go somewhere else today.

I did something I've never done before this past Tuesday. I spent 3 hours volunteering for a local candidate running for the House of Representatives here in Massachusetts. I sat at a table and checked off names as people voted. The list was made up of the names of known supporters and if someone we were counting on hadn't been out to vote by later in the day then phone calls would be made encouraging them to come out and vote. It was very simple work but quite important to the cause.

I had my knitting with me but I honestly never even pulled it out of the bag because I was completely absorbed by the people watching. I saw so many different people - young and old, dressed up and dressed down, some with children and some holding hands. There were people laughing and joking and there were people who were serious and hurried. They were all different and yet all alike because they were all there to participate in our democracy.

My favorite people to watch were the ones with children. I loved hearing moms and dads explaining what it means to be able to vote and then showing their children how the process works. I kept thinking, "that's right, teach 'em while they're young so they'll never doubt the importance of their voice."

Later in the evening I went back to the polling place with Dale because we have always gone to vote together. We waited in line and chatted with neighbors and then we cast our ballots. And guess what? Not only did the candidate I was working for win but so did every other person I voted for. And the news across the nation yesterday just kept getting better.

I'm gloating a bit, I'll admit. Might as well do it now. You know, before they actually get in office and start screwing things up.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (39)

November 8, 2006

48 Things You Could Care Less About

Because, really, I've got nothing for today.

1. FIRST NAME? Carole.
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, the movie actress Carole Lombard.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? The other night when I watched Breakfast at Tiffany's.
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? When I take the time and write neatly, yes. But it's gotten rather messy in recent years because I depend on the computer so much.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Boar's Head Honey Maple Ham.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Oh yeah. I'm a lot of fun. And loyal, too.
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? What do you call this blog?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yup.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Not on your life.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Grapenuts.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Most of my shoes don't have laces but if they do, then, yes, I untie them.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically? Maybe. Emotionally? I've learned to be.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Peppermint Stick.
14. SHOE SIZE? 9.5
15. RED OR PINK? Red.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I get angry too quickly.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mom.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? WHAT FOOD WILL GET YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? HAVE YOU EVER MADE A PRANK PHONE CALL?* I was at a slumber party once and other girls did, but not me. I've always been a bit of a goody-goody.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black pants, black/rose floral blouse, black lace shawl, black shoes.
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Leftover chili.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Today's episode of "As the World Turns"
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Why would I want to be a crayon?
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Roast chicken.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Dale.
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Eyes.
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? Oh sure.
27. FAVORITE DRINK? Everyone can answer this for me, right? A Dirty Grey Goose Martini. With extra olives, please.
28. FAVORITE SPORT? Women's College Basketball.
29. EYE COLOR? Brown.
30. HAT SIZE? Beats me. But Dale wears a 7 5/8.
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? I used to but my eyes are too dry so I had to give them up.
32. FAVORITE FOOD? Mashed potatoes and gravy.
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I love scary movies.
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer!
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Kisses.
37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Pie. Any pie. So long as it's home made.
38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? WHAT SIDE OF THE BED DO YOU SLEEP ON AND WHY? WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?* The best, and most consistent, compliment I've ever received is that I have a beautiful smile. It makes all those years of braces totally worth it.
39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING TODAY? IF YOU HAD TO PICK ONLY ONE COLOR TO WEAR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?* It would be black. Because it's so, errr, slimming.
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? The Greatest Story Ever Sold.
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I don't use a mouse pad.
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? No TV last night. I was at the library for a spinning night.
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Camping sounds. Birds in the trees, a crackling fire, and low conversation.
44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles.
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Salt Lake City to visit Margene!
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I can make people laugh.
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Stoughton, MA.
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I saw it first at Cara's and then lots of other places. Most recently, though, at Vicki's.

*Ann replaced the original three for Vicki and then Vicki replaced them for me. Thanks, Vicki!

And because every blog post deserves a picture, my November calendar for Debi.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (24)

November 7, 2006

V is for Viking

I bought my first sewing machine in 1997. I remember calling my mom and asking her what features I should look for in a machine. She told me to cover the basics and then make sure it also made nice buttonholes and had a blind hem stitch. At the time, I didn't even know what a blind hem stitch was, but I trusted my mother's advice completely and off I went.

You know where I wound up, right? At Saftler's with Lois. She pointed me right to the Viking's. Whooo boy, they had all those features my mother mentioned and then some. And a big fat price tag, too. And that's when Lois said the magic words. "You know that Viking is made by Husqvarna, right? The chain saw people." And she smiled knowingly.

You see, before Lois became my best friend, she was Dale's best friend. And she knew that nothing would sell Dale on a hefty-price-tagged sewing machine like the knowledge that it was made by his favorite Swedish chain saw company. Off I went, home to convince Dale that $600 for a sewing machine that I didn't have the faintest clue how to use was a perfectly reasonable expense.

You all know Dale pretty well by now so you know that of course I wound up buying that sewing machine. And then 10 months later I turned it in for a fancier model. And then 10 months later I did it again. You see, Saftler's has a a wonderful trade in policy. If you trade in your machine in less than 12 months after you purchased it, they give you 100% of your purchase price towards your next machine. Sweet.

So, it took me 3 trades but I finally wound up with the Lily, my dream machine. She and I have been together for several years now and I wouldn't trade her for anything.

V is for Viking. A wonderful sewing machine. Made by the chain saw people.

V is also for Vote. Today's the day. So go out there and vote. It matters.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (35)

November 6, 2006

Knit Unto Others Year 2

It's hard to believe that a year has passed since Margene and I started the Knit Unto Others charity knitting blog. And yet, here we are again, asking you to dedicate the two weeks arround Thanksgiving, November 18th to December 2nd, to charity knitting.

And there's certainly no shortage of charities needing handknit items. There's The Red Scarf Project. There's Dulaan Knitting. There's Afghans for Afghans and Newborns in Need.
There's also Caps to the Capital, a group sponsored by Save the Children. And, if these organizations don't strike a note with you, there's a fairly comprehensive list that Interweave Press has compiled called Knitting for a Better World. You probably also have local charities looking for help. It really doesn't matter what charity you choose, the point is to pick one that inspires you.

This year, as an added incentive, we're going to be offering prizes. Each item you knit and donate to charity will earn you one entry into the prize pool. We're lining up those prizes now but I can tell you that one of them is a $75 gift voucher donated by our friends at kpixie and another is a $25 gift voucher donated by our equally wonderful friends at Crown Mountain Farms. Margene and I will also be offering a prize each, as will Susan and Karen of Sleeping Dragon Yarn. There will be updates and information and "rules" for participating on the Knit Unto Others blog in the coming weeks so head over there to get the latest information.

So, come on, what more do you need to get going? There's the chance to win a prize and that's fun. But even more important, there's the chance to feel really good about using your talent to help a stranger. And that's the best prize of all, I believe.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (30)

November 3, 2006

Eye Candy Friday

Bittersweet. What an appropriate name for a plant that signals the coming of winter.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (24)

November 2, 2006

Toast My Toes

My Toasty Toes socks arrived on Monday and my secret sock knitter was Julie. I think it's very cool to have had my socks knit by someone that I've actually met and hung out with a number of times. If you've never visited her blog, you really should go check it out. Just don't go over there when you're hungry because Julie often talks about something yummy that she made for her family to eat.

As you can see, the socks are perfect.

The colors of the yarn are fabulous, the cables are intricate, and the fit is absolutely divine.

I would never knit socks this complex for myself and that makes them all the more special.

Julie went above and beyond the call of duty, though. Not only did I get perfectly fitting socks but I also got an adorable pincushion that she made, a handknit flower petal washcloth, and a skein of custom dyed yarn from Yarntini. Julie also included some tasty treats - homemade pralines (along with the recipe) and some mixed candy, which Dale has already claimed. There was also a very pretty pad of paper and matching pens.

Thanks for being so generous, Julie! And thanks for organizing a fabulous sock swap, Amanda. I feel so lucky to have been a part of this.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (30)

November 1, 2006

Handspun, Handknit

Dale and I took a walk the other day and I promised Judy I'd write about it today in honor of Walk With Me Wednesdays. We tromped our way "down back" to the woods and it felt great to get outside and enjoy the fall air together. I had an ulterior motive, though. I wanted photos of our new scarves.

Dale's scarf is knit lengthwise in garter stitch. The yarn is all my handspun, except for the dark blue tweed which is some leftover Peace Fleece. This was a great way to use up all those odd skeins I made when I first started spinning. The length is perfect, the colors are all his favorites and he loves it, as you can see.

My scarf is the Chevron Scarf from Scarf Style and it's also knit with my handspun. This is a batt that I bought from Indigo Moon at Cummington last May. I separated out all the colors and then I just spun them randomly and Navajo plied the singles. I wore it at Rhinebeck so I know you've already seen several pictures of it. But you don't know about a really cool experience I had while wearing it there. I was in the Indigo Moon booth and the owner recognized my scarf as having come from one of her batts. She was very excited to see how it turned out and said how nice it was to see an actual finished project. I felt really good about it right then, let me tell you.

And my fingerless mitts are the Voodoo wristwarmers from Knitty. Also with my handspun. I believe this was some Ashland Bay merino that I bought at one of my first spinning lessons. They are soft and warm and perfect for the cool-ish days we are having right now.

I'm here to tell you: knitting with my handspun is fabulous! I may never buy yarn again.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (62)