Loving my vacation...

I'm having a great time on my vacation.  Loving being home with family and friends. Celebrated my son's 16th birthday here with cousins and siblings!

My son celebrating his 16th with family

Also during my down time I've been working on my Question Bag in the pretty turquoise color that I picked out.  Here it is so far:

Can't wait to hit up some of the local yarn shops.  I checked the Fiber Arts blog to see where the local yarn shops are located.  Want to check out: Trumpet Hill here in Albany, there are a few others in the area, including: BeauKnits and Eastside Weavers that I hope I will be able to visit as well.

Happy Knitting from New York!

Later today:

Bummer, all the yarn shops I visited were closed. Not open on Tuesday's, what is up with that?!  Anyway, I will try to hit-up at least one of them before I leave to head back west!

Like To Give A Shout Out!

I follow quite a few blogs and I enjoy reading the informative, often funny, and most times interesting blogs on my follow list.  But I'd like to take the time to just give a little shout out to some of my favorites.

Shout out to my fellow knitter/spinner: Savage Daughter, who just recently started a blog about her spinning exploits.  You can find her at Savagely Spinning With A Wee Bit of Knitting - catchy name huh?  I love it. And you will really enjoy her beautiful spinning product she has done so far.  She is a beginner spinner, but you'd never know it from her work.  I am what you would call a novice/beginner spinner, you've seen my work, but her progress with the technique has far surpassed me.  Head on over and take a little peek at what she's currently working on.

Shout out to Katie, The Knitting Mama, who I recently discovered when I accidentally typed my own blog name wrong (see what you can discover with your mistakes?). You can find her at The Knitting Mama. She has some awesome finished projects that you can peruse (which I'm amazed that she gets so many done with four children at home - Go Knitting Mama!) as well as some great posts about life as a stay at home mom, who stays sane by enjoying her fiber arts.

Shout out to Pam of Knitter Bugs and Dust Bunnies, who graciously follows my blog and gives me great comments. Follow along as she keeps you up-to-date about her cat Nigel and latest finished projects, which if you'll take a peek at her blog you'll see she's making some really great knits for a grandchild that's on the way.

Shout out to one of my most favorite blogs to follow: Fiber Arts, hosted by the online Times Union Newspaper, my hometown newspaper. When I'm feeling a little homesick, I just pull up the blog to see what's happening in the Capital District fiberwise. I'm always entertained and I ususally feel better, especially this winter when they got hit so hard with all the snow. It reminds me why I moved to the Pacific Northwest -you don't have to shovel rain!

Want a little satirical comedy about knitting, life, politics, and everything in between, check out Joe at Queer Joe's Knitting Blog. Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I am guaranteed to find it on his blog.  I love his dark humor and his great attitude about life.  And he's a damn fine knitter to boot!

Learn all you want to know about the Crafty Adventures in the World of Fiber with Nikki at Stitch.Tac.Sew. She gives honest reviews on knitting books and products, yarn, fiber, and producers of yarn and fiber.  Go check her out.

Like a little whimsy with your blog posts with some great recipes to go along with it? Then you'll love reading the adventures of Tink at Tinksmeadow. Go on over and try out some of her yummy looking recipes, you will not be sorry!

Come back again, I'll give you the low-down on some of the other fun and interesting blogs I like to follow. Or you can just go to who I'm following and check them out yourself.  Happy blog reading!

A Blog I'd Like to Share...

I try almost every day to check out my favorite blog, Fiber Arts hosted by the Albany Times Union which is the Capital Region's local newspaper in my home state of New York.  I grew up in Troy, NY, right outside of Albany.  And I try almost every morning to pop over to the blog to read what's happening in the region in regards to the fiber community, which I've become increasingly interested in these last few years. 

Today's post was as informative as always, but the closing of the post today caught my attention:

From the Fiber Arts Blog - This Just In... March 18, 2011 by Ellen R. Margulies:  I’ll close today’s post with a lovely story from Lisa B. Adams. I found Lisa’s blog through Twitter (more about that next week) and her posts about her battle with cancer, her family life and dealing with loss and grief are powerful and so well written.

This week Lisa’s post about her mom and daughter knitting, obviously struck a chord with me. I’m sure it will with you too. Please go here and enjoy.

The mention of Lisa's posting of her battle with cancer definitely struck a chord with me and so I clicked the link to read the most poignant story I've read in a long time, it brought tears to my eyes and a flood of memories of my Dad who I lost to respiratory failure in September 2007 from a malignant tumor in his throat. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like to deal with this crippling disease I only know what it was like to watch someone I loved who was the strongest person in my life be brought down by it.

My Uncle Charles (left) and my Dad (right) - December 2006

Reading about her mom and daughter knitting together, made me think of all the things my Dad and I did together as well as the time he spent with my son, Aiden.  He was "Poppa" to Aiden and they were very close, even with 3,000 miles between us, they talked on the phone often and whenever he came for a visit during the summers they would sneak off together and do "guy stuff".  I know Aiden misses him, but hope that many wonderful memories of the times they had together will bring him joy and peace when he thinks of his Poppa. 

Aiden was twelve when Poppa went into the hospital that final time.  We flew out immediately when we got the call.  And the six and half hour voyage was the most intense time in my life.  I didn't know what I would find at the end of it and I was really surprised to see my bigger than life Dad lying so still in his hospital bed hooked to a breathing machine.  He had to be given doses of morphine for the pain at regular intervals and it saddened me to know that he was losing his battle to this disease and he had called all his children to his bed to say 'good-bye'. 

I regret that I didn't allow Aiden to see him in his last days, I thought he was too young and I feared that what he saw in that hospital bed would be the only thing he remembered about his Poppa.  But at twelve years old my son was braver than I gave him credit for.  He told me on the plane ride home that he understood what was happening to Poppa and that he just wanted to say good-bye in his own way. I'm sorry I never gave him that chance, but I'm glad he was there to meet all those who knew his Poppa and hear all the stories of the man he was.  Aiden was my rock all throughout the funeral and he made me so proud when he looked out for his younger cousins who didn't understand what was going on.

We talk often of the adventures we had with Poppa, including the 3,000 mile trek across the northern part of the US from New York to Washington, about the stops we made along the way, all the unusual and beautiful sites we encountered.  How at six years old he got to sit in the front seat of Poppa's F150 truck and talk about the things that interested him and how Poppa listened intently to what he had to say.


Aiden & Dad Summer 2003 - First visit home (Troy, NY)
after moving to Washington in 2001

I know the Summer of 2003 will always be a memorable summer for Aiden.  I flew him out to New York to spend six-weeks with Uncle Scotty and Poppa.  Aiden had a blast, he went to visit his cousins in Maryland and Virginia, hung out with his older cousin Tent who lived downstairs from Poppa.  Poppa took him fishing and even bought him a brand new bike to ride to keep him from getting bored on his visit. And at the end of the summer Poppa flew him back to Washington, because I couldn't afford to fly back to NY to bring Aiden home, and Dad didn't like the idea of Aiden flying alone on the way back.

These memories are what bring me happiness and smiles in those dark moments when I realize I can't pick up the phone and call Dad just to tell him the latest news in Aiden's sports exploits or just to chat about what's happening in my life or what's going on in his life.  I miss him dearly and we should all cherish the moments we have with the ones we love.  In closing, I'd like anyone and everyone who is dealing with loss and/or grief to check out Lisa B. Adam's blog - she not only talks about her battle with cancer, but she talks about the changes you go through in life when you're dealing with grief and/or loss or fighting a debilitating disease, she talks about life, love, family and hope.

In loving memory of Lester Tucker

June 12, 1942 - September 4, 2007

Let the Holiday Knitting Begin - Have you started yours yet?

Now that Thanksgiving is over, time to get in gear for all those holiday handmade gifts you committed yourself to make for your Uncle who lives on the Eastcoast, all your nephew and nieces scattered across the country, your best friend who you know will look good in one of those many great hat and scarf patterns you've been hoarding for just this time of year.

You only have 25 days before Christmas, how far have you gotten in your holiday gift making?  Me, I've been knitting non-stop for about 4 weeks and still going.  I'm one of those people who just can't say "no".  I volunteered myself to make socks for our office annual adopt-a-family, fortunately there is only three children - two girls and a boy.  The two little girls (2 and 6 years old) are getting a matching - what I call my Pippi Longstocking socks! I found this really great sock yarn that reminded me so much of the character and when I was a kid I really loved reading the stories of her many adventures - I really loved the movie version The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking. I may be dating myself here, but it's a classic that just doesn't go out of style. Huh, I think I found another gift for my younger nieces - I bet they would get a kick out the of the movie - I hope I can find a copy of it somewhere!

Here are my version of a pair of socks I could see Pippi wearing in one of her adventures... I certainly hope the little girl that I made them for have just as many adventures while wearing them.

My Pippi Longstocking socks! Made for our office
adopt-a-family 6 year old - her 2 year old sister
will get a matching pair

I've committed myself to making socks for the kids this year (3 nieces, 4 nephews) and my one adult nephew will be getting a hat and scarf. Since learning the two-at-a-time toe up socks, I found that I enjoy making socks now. I'm even passing along my knowledge by teaching a couple of friends the method too.  I've already started a new pair for one of my nieces - I picked up this pretty sock yarn about a year ago with the idea of making socks with it of course and now that I've started them using the two-at-a-time toe-up method the kooky pattern on the yarn doesn't seem to allow me to make matching socks!  So, the pair actually will look completely different from each other - how funny is that?  Well my niece Joi, will definitely have a pair of socks that Pippi would adore - she never seemed to wear matching socks!

So how far have you gotten with your holiday gift-making?  I read this really great article on Fiber Arts - Let the sleep deprivation begin - about scouring thrift stores for knitted items to give as gifts - not a bad idea if you find yourself not able to finish your long list. Is this cheating?  Not at all, at least I don't think so, if you're lucky you can find some really unique items, including some vintage handmade knits!

This time of year is great for all those cowl, hat, scarf, mitten, glove, and sweater patterns you've been collecting to try out and give as gifts.  Some really beautiful patterns can be found on Ravelry or check out Knitting Pattern Central for those sought after cowls you've always wanted to make - not a knitter, there are patterns for the crocheter in you too at Crochet Pattern Central.  You can always visit your Local Yarn Store, they will have plenty of designs by local designers and yarn in all the wonderful colors of the season for you to choose from. 

One of the LYS - Renaissance Yarns holds classes for those new to knitting or advanced knitters who are looking to learn something new - and on their website they have some free patterns for the season like:

The Green Gable scarf by Michelle Maurer:

The Evergreen Mitts by Nancy Skorupa:

The Easy Neck Warmer by Jessica Richey:

Can also double as a headband!

Or the Cozy Slipper Socks also by Nancy, just to name a few.

So, if you haven't already started you better get going...there isn't much time left!  Well get knitting or crocheting!!!

On a side note: I finally got my new knitting motto t-shirt that a friend's boyfriend designed for me and I absolutely love it!  I think it came out really great. I wore it at work yesterday...my co-workers seemed to get a kick out of it!

Charity should be a way of life - not just during the holidays

Yep, you know it's that time again when the holiday commercials start bombarding you between your favorite t.v. shows.  I'm so glad for my DVR, I get to skip right over them.  I don't need to see one more commercial about that new gift idea that my child must have!

On a more serious note, it's that time to also think about our less fortunate during this time of year.  With the economy as it is many of us who were feeling pretty flush last year are finding themselves cutting back more than they've ever had to before. Perhaps even having to sell possessions they received as Christmas gifts last year to help pay their rent, buy food for their families or winter clothing for their children.

One of the many things that bothers me this time of the year is the commercials advertising to go out and buy, buy, buy.  Well what about some commercials on give, give, give.  There are so many charities out there at this time of year who need our help and no one's saying anything about money either, you can donate your time, food, gently used clothing (coats, hats, and gloves - particularly this time of year).  At my day job we participate in a giving tree program, feeding the elderly on Thanksgiving and Christmas at our local senior center, an adopt-a-family program, a food drive for our local food bank, and well you get the idea. Every little bit counts, this year more than ever with so many people out of work and trying to make ends meet on unemployment, social services, and relying on food pantries to feed their families. 

It's our moral obligation to help where we can - does your child really need that $400 X-Box this year?  When you could give a quarter of that in a donation to your local food pantry and feed probably a half dozen families.  Forgive my soapbox speech but I can't help but talk about this.  It something we should be thinking about year 'round not just this time of year - but I particularly believe we should make an effort to give -when there are so many that need.  I also believe that we should teach our children about community service, helping where they are needed, and about giving. 

In a not so distant past I found myself in situations where I was unable to pay my rent, or buy groceries, or diapers for my son and there were organizations and people willing to help, most organizations that solely relied on donations but they were there to help me in my time of need.  So at this time of year, I like to give back to those who are in the same situation. I try to teach my son, that when you have it, there is nothing wrong with sharing it.  He really gets into the spirit of giving this time of year - I'm hoping that he will want to do it all year 'round.

Some charities that I make a point of giving to each year is my local Salvation Army and the Seattle Union Gospel Mission.  My small donation oftentimes helps over 15 individuals or 5 families in need of a hot meal on Thanksgiving or Christmas.  As well as going through my son's clothes and outgrown outerwear and donating them to a Salvation Army Red Box, so that a child doesn't have to go without a coat during the winter season.

This year I was looking over some charities for knitters and few have caught my eye that I read about on the Fiber Arts - Times Union Blog - Make a Hat. Save a Life. post. It inspired me, with all the yarn I've accumulated over the last couple of years (see Has Your Hobby Turned into An Obssession?) I could make enough hats to cover hundreds of heads, or scarves, or slippers, mittens, sweaters - the list goes on and on and it could be done with just my remnant stash!  I can't wait to get started.

Giving isn't limited to just people, there are animal shelters out there who could use our help too.  The ASPCA is always in need of our help - they are on the front lines when it comes to saving abused and neglected animals.  And you wouldn't believe the number of animals that start off as a gift and ends up in a shelter or on the street somewhere.  It breaks my heart that many of these animals have to be humanely euthanized due to someone's neglect or abuse. (Can you tell Animal Planet was my viewing choice during this weekend's knitting frenzy?)  There are many organizations that are looking for knitters/crocheters who can donate knitted/crocheted blankets for abandoned and/or abused animals at local animal shelters.  One such organization I discovered is the Snuggles Project.

The Snuggles Project was founded by Rae French, in 1996 because of her heartfelt need to do something for the innocent victims who find themselves in animal shelters without a bit of comfort to call their own. Picturing them in their hard cold cells made her heart ache to do something to help. So she got the idea of security blankets for shelter animals. The security blankets are called "Snuggles." Did you know that a knitted blanket can help calm a frightened or injured animal and makes the shelters look and feel more homey. Animals are more at ease when visitors are more at ease. This makes for better matching and better adoption results.

So animals as well as humans can benefit from your craft.  I'd like to hear from you, what is your favorite charity or how do you give during this time of year - or do you give all year 'round?  Leave me a post, I'm always looking for more ways to spread the joy of the holiday season - even in July!

P.S. Here's what my latest knitting frenzy weekend produced:

Toddler socks (size 9) - using toe-up
technique I learned two weeks ago!

Fun fur trimmed caplet, scarf, and hat set by Lion Brand
pattern: 40255

Lion Brand Fun Fur & Homespun
hat and matching scarf