December 27, 2004
Downs and Ups
Despite a wonderful Christmas and vacation, Dear Readers, I find that the horrendous earthquake and tsunami news has me feeling more than a little blue. I strongly believe that, to maintain your sanity in the face of information overload, it’s crucial to compartmentalize the news, identify what events affect you in a tangible, concrete way (elections, taxes, local traffic issues) and which simply amount to national gossip and should be treated as such (sensationalistic kidnappings or murders that take place 3,000 miles away from your community and sphere of influence), but this... It may never physically or financially affect me personally and I have lost no one, but what a tragedy. Nine countries! But then I remember we live on an unpredictable, still-changing, still-forming ball of molten lava and rock, and I realize that the earthquake would have happened whether humans inhabited this earth or not, and then I realize there was nothing inherently “evil” about the quake and the tsunamis and then I begin, just begin, to be able to wrap my head around it.
Wow. That was not at all how I thought today’s entry would start. I had in mind something much more celebratory and upbeat, but apparently I had to get that out of the way before I could tap into my usual blogging persona. Fortunately, I think I can salvage this entry with two photographs that brought a smile to my face this morning, despite my blue-ish mood, and hopefully will to yours as well. If you’re curious, the stocking contained two tennis balls and some chewsticks. One of the chewsticks has now been consumed and both tennis balls are under the couch, where they will most likely remain.
I am pleased to report that I was treated to more than two tennis balls and a chewstick. A lot more. Suffice it to say, I think everyone who lives in this winter-dreary city should own a brightly and joyously pearlescent tangerine umbrella. And their own tin of Almond Roca. And a copy of Poetry in Stitches. A million thank yous, Big Sister and TMK!
Knitting Knews
A picture of a moment that I thought would never come: Me, sewing in the ends of Faina! When all was said and done, I did the pattern repeat six times, instead of the three called for. Long about repeat 5.5, The Mysterious K informed me that even she was bored with the scarf. Apparently there is an unspoken law that we knitters have an obligation to change yarn, patterns or projects in a somewhat timely manner in order to keep our significant others entertained with what we are doing. Who knew.
And here, one end avec scraggly not-yet-blocked fringe:
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and are gearing up for an even better New Year's! Thank you, Rebecca, for the Christmas card, and thank you, CarolineF, for beating into submission the hundreds of spams that hit the nwkniterati blogs last week.
Posted by Ryan at December 27, 2004 09:58 AMWelcome back!
The tsunami news was frightening. Thanks for posting about it, I'm glad that someone else has managed to calm themselves down--I feel less like a callous ogre now.
On another note, I'm glad to hear that you had a lovely holiday. I thought of when I was in the process of making 14 new best friends after going into my sister's pasture with a bag of carrots. Horse slobber all over my coat, my hat, and my gloves (it was 10 degrees in IL)--I had forgotten just how pushy they can be when carrots appear!
Posted by: Kristen on December 27, 2004 10:52 AMFaina?? Faina who? I'm sure I don't know who you're speaking of....
The News has me overwhelmed and blue too. It is simply overwhelming when you try to piece it to fit in your head.
Frankie is such a cutie pie...what wonderful pics of her!
SO GLAD to see you back, Mizz Ryan, I've missed my Mossy Cottage Knits!
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on December 27, 2004 10:55 AMWhat an adorable...Corgi, right? She looks like a Pembroke, but could be a small Cardi, a fitting dog for a knitter. I appreciated reading your post about the tsunami and was also heartened by the photos of your adorable Frankie. Thanks!
Posted by: Martha on December 27, 2004 11:29 AMMartha, too funny! I never made the Cardigan-dog and Cardigan-sweater association before! But, no, Frankie is a Pembroke, as you guessed.
Kristen, loved your image of all the horses in the pasture. I bet, in 10-degree weather, they made lots of warm, steamy horse breath, too.
Lisa, as always, faboo to hear from you, dahlink! I'm sure your Faina will get done some time although, if I'm reading your blog right, Faina is competing against the ever-popular "Rogue"--and that's a battle no scarf pattern can win!
Posted by: Ryan on December 27, 2004 11:35 AMWelcome back - we missed you.
The scarf is beautiful as is Frankie - is that her very own tree?
Inquiring minds want to know ... .
SO - what do you want to make from Poetry, now that you CAN do color knitting AND cut steeks? Huh? huh??
Posted by: CarolineF on December 27, 2004 11:37 AMWelcome back - we've missed reading your posts. More Frankie pictures - yaaayyyy! He is so darn cute I want him for my own.
Re: the earthquake and tsunami. My whole family lives in SE Asia. I heard about it on the radio at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific Coast time) yesterday, and literally could not speak for about 30 seconds, just imagining the horror. Then I ran for the phone and thank goodness, Mum picked up and said everyone, and everything, was fine. I don't think I've ever felt so grateful in my life.
Hi Ryan dear. I have nothing witty in me this afternoon. I'm feeling like I'm coming down with something and had to go to the MALL with my daughter to do some returns. At least I made it through Christmas without even stepping one foot in that ghastly place. But it did me in. I left with a sore throat, sore back, and thinking I'm coming down with something. Just a coincidence, I'm sure, but I wanted to say I'm glad you had a lovely holiday.
Posted by: Norma on December 27, 2004 01:30 PMChilde, I think the tree became "Frankie's own tree" just this Christmas. TMK has owned the tree for a few years but it wasn't until Friday night that we noticed that they had a small dog/small tree relationship. Add a small stocking and you've got yerself a Christmas photo!
CarolineF, the two sweaters in Poetry in Stitches that I love, rather unoriginally, I'm sure, are the light-blue-on-blue leaf motif cardigan and the black-on-pine-green leaf motif one. They are just awesome. Unfortunately, none of the patterns come in my size. On the bright side, someone at Ferals is knitting the green one, so I get to participate vicariously!
Yvette, although I don't know anyone who lives in SE Asia myself anymore, it was weird to think that, not so terribly long ago, my family visited the beaches (like the one on Penang, Malaysia) that have been obliterated. I'm so glad to hear your family is fine.
Norma, are you saying you have a raging case of mall-itis? I hear knitting is the perfect cure!
Posted by: Ryan on December 27, 2004 02:02 PMso what woody prezzies did tmk get for christmas? and i would LOVE to see caroline beating the spammers into submission, mental images are wonderful :-) so glad you're back posting, i missed you!
Posted by: vanessa on December 27, 2004 05:06 PMWelcome back Blog Mistress!! You were greatly missed. Faina is looking gawgeous and Frankie is adorable as always.
Like Vanessa, I would love to know what kind of wonderful woodliness...woody....woodly...whatever things she got for Christmas. I also want a pic of that umbrella! It sounds like a scrumptious color.
Re the quake/tsunami. It took me a while to accept that the event in and of itself is not evil as well. But I am still finding it difficult to understand why it is necessary for the AP to post pictures of dead children and weeping mothers. This is a horrible tragedy. How are these pictures supposed to help? Sorry. Off my soapbox now. Bad stalker. Bad bad bad.
Hope everyone has a great day.
Posted by: Stalker Angie on December 27, 2004 07:47 PMthere is a wonderful post dated dec. 27 at:
http://grnydgrl.typepad.com/
it shares your sentiments-
frankie is such a poster girl for 'happy dogginess' and i am glad that all of you had a happy christmas-
faina is lovely- worth the bazillion stitches and many pages of directions for sure- and yeah, yeah, yeah, i'm going to get around to it one of these days-
stay happy-
Posted by: barb in texas on December 28, 2004 01:47 AMRyan -- looks like you had a fantastic Christmas along with Frankie and TMK. The sad news from the other side of the world is sobering. Instead of further (after Christmas) shopping, I'm planning on donating to help the relief efforts. Hope to see you soon, I promise (really!) to be at the next guild meeting.
Posted by: Rebecca on December 28, 2004 08:59 AMThere have been inquiries about what woody gifts I received for Christmas (Devin stop snickering!). Let's see. From Mom (with a big nudge from my woodworking stepfather), I received a profile sander http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=91173-000000546-9444. I have some idea what it is for, but I will be researching more about its uses. From Ryan, I received two gift certificates--one for Restoration Hardware (I love this place) and one for the woodworking store I frequent. I spent last night surrounded by every woodworking book I own, trying to decide what my next project will be. I'm leaning towards an arts and crafts bookcase with glass doors. The other project I'm considering is a shaker bed frame for the guest bedroom. The poker chip box was completed and pictures will be posted tomorrow. Thanks for your interest!
TMK
Posted by: The Mysterious K on December 28, 2004 09:24 AMHmmm. I think it's about time TMK got a blog of her own....what do you say? Or at least a day of the week at Mossy Cottage Knits....and Woodworks.... ;)
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on December 28, 2004 10:58 AMOh, oh, I know!! Sorry for the double post, but I HAVE IT!
TMK should post on Tues and Wednesdays!!! I, for one, would love to get my MCK fix on those days....
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on December 28, 2004 10:59 AMI second Lisa's motion!
Posted by: Norma on December 28, 2004 01:31 PMMake that a third!
Posted by: Kristen on December 28, 2004 02:28 PMLisa, Norma, Kristen: TMK curtsies (or bows, in her case) in your general direction and says “Thankee very much.” However, she also says, don’t wait for her to start her own blog. She *can* write; she just doesn’t wanna. Besides, what do you expect from someone who’s chosen nom de blog is The Mysterious K? (But she says she's reallyreallyreally--no, REALLY--flattered.)
Posted by: Ryan on December 28, 2004 02:58 PMwell, she could do a guest spot once a month perhaps?? Just to dip her toe in the blogwater???? :) Soon we'd have her snared....
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on December 28, 2004 05:03 PMI always enjoy pictures of Frankie, who is adorable.
If I ever break down and get a dog (the child's got notions), I'm getting a corgi.
My best buddy just got back from visiting her brother for Christmas, and she reports that the two corgis, disturbed by the way she disappears from the flock all the time and then doesn't show up for a year or so, herded her the entire time she was there -- go here! go there! -- and slept on the bed.
Who knows what they're doing now, since she did escape the sheep pen despite all their efforts, and is probably even now being eaten by wolves.
Or whatever it is that eats the sheep in Wales.
Posted by: Anne on December 29, 2004 03:32 AMAnne,
I also have a Corgi and was delighted by your description of the pair of them doing their jobs! As TMK can attest, we do not own Corgis, we become their Personal Care Attendants. This involves being an appreciative audience as well! Thanks for the great visual!