The camera I can never find

Is invariably someplace completely obvious. In this case, in the pocket of my backpack where I always put it. Figures.

This does mean pictures! I've been doing even more knitting this week than normal. I got over my cold fairly quickly, thanks in no small part to my boyfriend G and his natural remedies. I'm an echinacea convert! I managed to destroy all that healthiness this morning, however, by slipping on some ice and ingloriously flying down five steps, landing on the side of my back. That destroyed my exciting plans for the day- running, lifting weights, brunch with some of my favorite knitters, and even latkes at Sixth and I with Chef Spike from Top Chef. DARN! I ended up chilling out on the sofa, watching The Tudors (not as good as True Blood, but better than most tv shows), and then this evening I was treated to Indian food. I even remembered to light the menorah- so a bad start to the day has ended up just fine. As long as I don't try and lean over or sit up too quickly.

I finished up a project that has been nearly complete for months- just in time to stuff it full of a holiday gift.


The cashmere shawl looks about the same all the time, and probably will until I block it, but the Endpaper Mitts are moving right along and photograph beautifully.



My favorite menorah, from the opposite vantage point of my usual sofa view.

Happy Holidays

Real-world post completed, I can get to the more important stuff. The holidays.

First, I have a lot to be thankful for. And this Thanksgiving brought that home more than usual. I am thankful for so much.
-Love from my friends and family, who are a constantly growing web of people.
-A sister who has faith in God and country, in ways different and yet not so different from mine.
-A Jewish community at the non-denominational Sixth and I synagogue, who so far have been very kind and welcoming. Even if I still haven't made it to any services there.
-A new home that is safe and warm and already full of pleasant memories, and plenty big enough for one woman.
-A job that pays the rent.
-Enough yarn to see me through this economic climate, and enough spending money to support my LYS and online retailers for just a teensy bit more should I desire.
-A local library that is sometimes my solace.
-A gorgeous city only minutes from my door- I am so thankful that I still appreciate it, and want to see more of it.

Second, after my short list of thanks, there's the holidays more generally. I don't like hearing Christmas music between Halloween and Thanksgiving. I think it's ridiculous to rush the year along, just because the weather has cooled down and retailers are doing poorly. But I admit to a hidden love for Christmas carols and festive decorations and tidings the minute Thanksgiving is over. I am already ready to bring on the holiday cheer. One of my favorite movies is Holiday Inn, a silly little thing with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, but it does get you in the spirit of the season. For a Jewish chick, I do love the Christmas songs. The new Stephen Colbert Christmas Special was a nice and funny kickstart for this year- all I need to watch now is the new Muppet special and I should be completely into the holiday mood.

I did a good bit of my gift buying online yesterday, during the Black Friday specials. Part of me wishes I could have done more through my own handcrafts, or purchased from Etsy sellers who handmade their items. But most of what I got, after thinking it through, were games and other things that will bring people together. I hope they will allow my family and friends to remember that real holiday togetherness later on, since I don't imagine 2009 will be much easier than 2008. We are all so geographically spread out, and will be more so once my sister deploys in January. We have so much to be thankful for, the main things we have been provided with. Despite all that, I still wish my family could be a little bit closer.

I have great hope for our new President, but I think he just signed up for an almost impossible task. I think most of us are hoping for the best, but see a long road ahead. What better way to begin the next year than with a truly festive holiday- a celebration not quantified in money or gifts or fancy food and drink, but a holiday of the spirit. Coming together for company, and to spread the love. I think it's worth considering, even for the most bah-humbug of us, to try just a little harder in the next short weeks to express that love, and to really cherish what (and especially who) we have. It's a challenge anyone can win, and I'm ready for it myself.

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!