G is for Grins: a pictoral.

All my favorite people grin lots.

This one, of course:


Dea, who is coming out this weekend to visit from med school in Detroit:


Kevin, one of my four boys from college:


Eric and Sharyn at her wedding:


After my kid sister's six years of college, you bet we're all grinning in this photo (just kidding, kiddo):


Former Roommie, champion grinner:


Now I am caught up, and I promise something a bit more unique for H. And it won't even be Hanami (though the temptation is strong!)

F is for

dysFunctional... just kidding! I was out of the loop, what with the moving/computer death thing. But I wanted to catch up a bit.

F is, of course, for family. And especially, my father. I feature my mom and sister on occasion here, and I love them dearly... but you know how it is with a girl and her dad. He's the coolest man I've ever known.

Fun photos of my father:

On the fake safari he said was almost as good as his real one:


Dressed up- my Dad looks great in a tux:


Dad taught me how to boogie:


My father is the youngest of four (sadly, three living) brothers:


Hanging out in Vegas with the fish:


Mustache on or off, this is my favorite kind of Dad photo- with Mom, and a Hawaiian shirt:


F is for flamingos, too- and my dad is a huge fan. Well, actually not so much, but it's been a family in-joke since forever!


The only thing wrong with these photos? He's not smiling enough. You can tell my Dad a mile away from his allergy cough (it's loud) and his infectious smile and laugh. I can't say as to the quality of his jokes, but they're great in quantity!

Monday Me

First, I know, I know... I was two days behind with my ABCAlong entry. But jeez people, new job and excitement get in the way.

The new job? Very wonderful. On so many counts. And best of all, I'm finally better! It only took a month! I still can't do a whole ton in the way of exercise, since walking too fast and just doing crunches makes me wheeze. But I am at least able to go about my normal daily activities with a light step and a happy heart. Also, without coughing every two seconds and flipping through Kleenex at an alarming rate.

I said Hanami was done. It's still not blocked. But I already turned the heel on my first Kaffe sock, so that's something! And tonight I'm going to see a hockey game, where I will probably knit. I am wearing little black thin jeans and looking completely unprofessional AND I will knit. This makes me perhaps not the usual member of our corporate box. Heh.

My Monday Me? It's hockey-related. My kid sister is a hockey fanatic. She's been a fan for ages and ages, she's played on loads of teams (girls teams, school teams, club teams... any teams). And of course she's a Bruins fan. We are from New Hampshire, and Boston IS our default home team for everything.

So tonight, to what I'm sure will be her great annoyance, I'm going to see the Caps get resoundly smacked up by my Boston Bruins. I'm not much of a sports fan, but I do love to root for my old teams- whether it be the Red Sox, the Pats, or the Bruins. I even sometimes root for the Celtics, but not on purpose.

I have sporked a recent photo from my sister, to show her in her latest hockey regalia. I should note that we don't look much alike... but she's the short girl on the left! And by short, I mean almost exactly my height.

The thrills of December

For me it is a holiday season- I'm not Christian so this isn't the "Christmas season" and anyways, I think holiday festivities start with Thanksgiving and finish with New Year's Day. Despite the annual debates at work (Merry Christmas? Happy Holidays? Merry Xmas? Happy Chrismahanukwanzaakah?), I feel like my own personal festivities are well on their way. Thanksgiving was obviously wonderful and productive. And Chanuka starts this coming week! What insanity! I finished all my holiday shopping quite some time ago, and of course there were a few homemade gifts. Not nearly as many as last year. I did a lot of shopping with other crafters, however. I'm working on gifts for two friends, that I aim to finish and send out for Christmas. We don't normally exchange gifts, but these items just seemed so quick and perfect for the intended recipients that I thought it might be fun to send them a bit of handmade warmth. Part of the boy's gift came from a crafter on Etsy. I shipped a box off yesterday containing my handmade knitting as well as locally crafted items for my dearest friend from grad school. Mom's getting another local artisan find from the Sugarloaf craft fair- and although it's technically not a holiday gift, my father will be receiving half-handmade and half store-bought for his birthday gift this year (though of course he doesn't know it yet). Assuming I finish the thing- but I'm quite close now, so I'm not too worried. Even if I am driving down to my parents' home on Tuesday morning. And then technically I haven't finished a gift for the roommate, though I have a bit of time before that needs to be wrapped up and under the tree. Maybe I should get back to my knitting, nonetheless?

The purpose of this post was to signal something larger than just my own holiday gifting. I regret that I am not more charity-minded in general. I donate a small amount to my alma mater, since I am forever in debt to UMBC for a solid undergraduate education and being part of a special scholarship group. I join in a few crafting for charity efforts, and hope to do more of that in the coming year. I will also be participating in larger volunteering efforts over the next few months. That all still combines to a pretty pitiable showing, though. One opportunity has presented itself in the form of my Crafts Cluster, through GesherCity. Some members (with or without prodding) have agreed that we should make donating our crafts a priority, and we have already held a few "openly charity-minded" events with more to follow. One is tomorrow, in fact. We hope to make afghan squares and hats, scarves for Food and Friends' scarf drive, and little beaded animals as comfort for kids. The Celtic Knot up in Ellicott City also is instrumental in helping SOS with hand-knitted pink scarves. There are plenty of opportunities; it's just a matter of making them a priority.

I have also volunteered to knit for those in need in a slightly different manner. When I was a kid, I remember very vividly going to the local living history museums- places where the past was vibrantly alive (and reenacted). In Massachusetts I visited Old Sturbridge Village and Plimouth Plantation, and of course Canterbury Shaker Village in my home state of New Hampshire. I loved it- in fact, for years I assumed I would take my love of acting and history and become a reenactor at one of those sites or possibly at Williamsburg. Alas, I moved on to dreaming of becoming an English professor, and then falling into my current world of technical writing and software development business analysis... a bit of a jump from the 1620s environment I'd dreamed of as an ideal workplace. Being deathly allergic to horses probably wouldn't have helped. Frankly, I had rather forgotten my childhood career goal until recently, when I found the historical knitting groups on Ravelry. I already had a significant interest in historical knitting myself. Victorian lace has an obvious appeal for a former Victorianist, and the idea of knitting myself vintage stockings and vintage sweaters from original patterns is very enticing. My very first sweater was from a vintage-inspired pattern. To find a group of similarly history-entranced knittings on Rav was one thing, but then a woman posted about her job at Plimouth Plantation, which included needing to knit period stockings for every single reenactor in the encampment.

Hello, fortuitous aligning of the stars and heavens! I immediately requested a volunteer kit, and will be knitting some plain stockings as soon as I complete my last holiday knitting projects. I chose to do the basic pattern to start with, but they need a great deal of volunteer help, so I'd imagine I'll contribute more than just the one pair. My historic pattern and pretty wool have already arrived!


It may not be charity in the traditional sense, but I am so happy I can help. If you are interested in joining the effort, more information is available on their blog. They need stockings and gloves for lots of arms and legs, so I'm sure any knitter who can help would be welcome!

Sweater of doom

So. Brian is a nice guy. Fine coworker (sort of, we work rather tangentially together). But he's not tiny!



Front and back are complete. I'm just about done with the increases on the first arm. If I never see this denim bulky yarn again- it will be too soon. If I really bust my butt, I should be able to complete the sweater before I leave for Yom Kippur at the parents' place. So much for lace knitting; it's all sweater all the time around here.

My Autumn Rose won't even ship until after the 25th. I will survive, to be sure.

Apparently my sister has some good pictures that I had not yet snagged. First, knitting in action (Bobble Blue, as seen after her pinning ceremony):


My sister is a nurse now- so we have two RNs in the family. Like mother like daughter. I, however, am a knitter first and foremost. Here's proof!


Aren't we a cute little family.

I went to a new (to me) knit store recently- Knit Happens in Alexandria. It might have been on Rosh Hashana. At least I went to services first! I picked up a couple really cute things there, including Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport for the snowflake socks and two skeins of Rowan 4ply Soft for Endpaper Mitts. I think the yarn I was going to use for the socks (Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport) is instead going to become a Seraphim. Eventually.

Also at the store, I had my first Ravelry moment. You know you're overly web-enabled when you meet someone in a store, and only later realize you recognize them because you've been lusting after their FOs. I really need a knitted skirt, apparently!

Weekending

Apparently my aunt and uncle have begun reading this blog... hello! Mom said you submitted comments, but I never saw them. FYI! But welcome! For my other blog readers, I feel obligated to tell you that my Mom and her sister are possibly the greatest living crafters I know. I am awed and humbled by their speed and finesse, at everything from sewing to quilting to knitting and bear-making- and probably every other craft under the sun. I'm hoping I'll catch up to their skill level in a few decades!

It's been a pretty solid week for knitting. I'm just inches away from finishing the back of my Empire Cardigan, which I hope to complete this weekend. And I finally decided what to do with MS3. I just can't imagine myself ever wearing it with a wing- though that is sure to be interesting, it's simply not me. No worries! I cut the yarn at the appropriate point in Clue 4 (the mandatory lifeline), and started the whole thing over again tonight. I'll work the same charts, Clue 1 through Clue 4 at the lifeline, and graft the two ends together. Voila, symmetrical and beautiful shawl. I'm happy with this decision. The "secret" part of the pattern that will come out in the finished for-purchase pattern is a stole with two wings- now *that* I could consider making. I am certainly buying the pattern anyways, in support of Melanie, so I will probably work on that sometime next year.

In the meantime, I've been thinking gifts, especially holiday gifts. As soon as I finish the back of the cardigan, I am going to cast on for a few of them. I don't want to spoil any surprises, but thus far the list includes some socks, some hobo glove/mittens, a baby hat, etcetc. All the yarn is ready to go, I just need to get knitting!

I also really need to try quilting again. I don't mind it- and I loved doing the piecing. But so far I am definitely not in the groove of hand quilting, so everytime I think "hmm, I should finish that wedding gift..." I pull out some yarn. C'est la vie.

I thought about going to see my friends' band Fools & Horses tonight, but the lure of knitting was too strong. Also, I don't like driving all the way to Annapolis by myself. Nevertheless, my room is clean, I have a few more Buffy episodes to watch, and I aim to finish Clue 1 (the second time) tonight. I'd best get back to my "exciting weekend" so I can do a few hours for work tomorrow in between projects. Hopefully we'll get some good in-progress or even Finished Object pictures by mid-week next week!