Mossy Cottage Knits

A Gift To You

Having a bad morning?

If it rains for one more second, are you going to start slowly and deliberately pulling your nasal hairs out?

Is your coffee too strong, too weak, too milky, too bitter? And did your usually sunshiny barista just really annoy the crap out of you this morning?

Did your cereal get soggy before you put even one spoonful in your mouth?

Did your commute make you think darkly murderous thoughts that astonished even you?

If your computer hiccups one more time, are you going to find a high window to drop-kick it from?

Are you wondering what you ever saw in your husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, significant other?

Is your gauge off and are you cursing the name of that stupid person who ever got you hooked on knitting in the first place?

Well, have I got the cure for your morning blahs!

Those of you who read Cuzzin Tom’s blog will surely remember the time he made perhaps not the brightest decision of his adult life, entered an alpaca enclosure alone, and was knocked arse-over-teakettle into a pile of hay by an alpaca herd sire overcome by the alpaca version of road rage. After having been warned that that was exactly what would happen. What you may not know is that, after learning about the Dulaan Project from The Cuzz, Susie Homire, the owner of that alpaca and of the farm where he lives, Dogwood Hill Alpacary, was inspired to name one of her 2006 crias after the project!

So, it being alpaca birthing time…

It is my indescribable pleasure to introduce “Dulaan!!”

Don't you just want to go, "Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?!" Even you macho guys out there, I know you want to go "Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Dulaan's mother is Noire (whom you will see below) and her father, who belongs to a different breeder, is named Silver Legend. Dulaan's fleece is silver-grey.

Some more photos, all taken by The Cuzz:

Doesn't the self-satisfied smile in every photo just kill ya'? Methinks she knows she's special. I also suspect that, when she's older, Mom and Dad will have to beat the boys off with a stick but that that won't prevent her from sneaking out her window at 2 a.m.

My hope is that, while The Cuzz is in Mongolia, we will be able to get more photos from Susie of "our" cria growing up. In the meantime, Susie, a heartfelt thank you to you for acknowledging The Dulaan Project in such a wonderful and unique way.

Thanks to an unexpected but astonishingly productive mention by Stephanie of the now-named “50 State, 10 Provinces, 3 Territories, and 1 District” Project, we’ve seen some faboo progress!

Drrrrrum rrrrrroooolllll and loud trumpet fanfare!!! I am officially able to mark Yukon Territories (!!!) off the list, thanks to my new best Canadian friend ever, Tasha, who now lives in Ottawa but is mailing a pair of thrummed mittens she knit while living in the Yukon. Ka-ching!

(Note the use of the phrase “the Yukon.” How cool am I? I now know to say “the Yukon” instead of “the Yukon Territories” and to say “PEI” instead of “Prince Edward Island.” I am sooo happenin’. If I cut myself right now, I’d find tiny maple leaves swooshing around in my bloodstream. But then I’d faint, so, nah...)

Thanks to my other new best Canadian friend ever, Michelle, I can also mark Newfoundland and Labrador off the list! Ka-ching! Ka-ching!

And thanks to my other new best Canadian friends ever, Jennifer, Jessica, and Jessica's grandmother in Iqaluit, look what's happening on the Nunavut front! I find this remarkable. (Jennifer, pleeeease take a photo of the hat and mail it to me before you mail the hat to F.I.R.E. I must to see a picture of this hard-won contribution to the project!)

I also have a nibble from Northwest Territories and am awaiting final confirmation from the knitter. Er, ka-ching?

So, Canada-wise, we are left with: Northwest Territories (just until I get a final confirmation), Nunavut (ditto), and Prince Edward Island PEI.

Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Iowa, Nevada, and Washington D.C. and are now officially marked off the U.S. list and I have some 99% fer sher nibbles from Wyoming, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

So we still need: Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi (just until I get a final confirmation), North Dakota, Oklahoma (ditto), and Wyoming (ditto).

Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that we are receiving at least one item from China! Awesome, just awesome.

Six, almost only three, states left, people! Three, almost only two, provinces/territories left! 43 days until everything has to be in Arizona! We can DO this!

Posted by Ryan at May 19, 2006 11:12 AM