June 21, 2006
Thank God for Books, Thank God for Knitting
How to know when you are getting better:
Day 1: Ow.
Day 2: Ow.
Day 3: Ow.
Day 4: Ow.
Day 5: Ow. Hey, is that chocolate?
How to tell when you’re spending a superhumanly huge amount of time in bed: When you packed four, not-one-stitch-cast-on knitting projects, it’s five days into your “laying in” with five weeks to go…and two of the projects are done.
One of said projects was this, a Noro Kureyon scarf you knit using two skeins of the same colorway, alternating between skeins in such a way that you generate constantly changing yet complementary stripes. (The tumor-like excrescence on the lower left is an occurrence of a "thick," à la thick and thin, that cropped up at the most inopportune moment.) This scarf, my first completed item for Dulaan 2007, was a total kick in the pants; I’m itchin' to make another one! (Speaking of itching, does Kureyon soften up with washing? Please, God, say it does.)
The other project, which is 99.9% complete, is this, the first item made from the “Rosemary Hallgarten Company 1000-Skein Yarn Avalanche:”
It has been dubbed Der Helmet, and is so bulky and warm that surely, sometime in Winter 2007, the Mongolian recipient will, in the middle of a bitterly cold, Gobi Desert blizzard, claw it off his head and utter the immortal words, “Is it hot out here, or is it just me?” And Cuzzin Tom, F.I.R.E, and I will know our work is done.
Speaking of the "1000-Skein Yarn Avalanche," I received two more boxes of yarn (with six or seven more to come. Oy.) and they included new colors. The exact colors are lost in the mists of anaesthesia but the gold/ochre/burnt-carrot color you see above is one of them (plus I used a little bit of the bright yellow). I do believe there was also a nice creamy beige in the last box but, once again, blahblahblah, anaesthesia, blahblahblah, surgery, blah.
To answer some of the comments:
Tish: For Frankie's first birthday, we took her to a local farm where you can have your dog tested for sheep-herding abilities and were gobsmacked when our goofy, huge-eared, lolling-tongued doofus of a dog immediately herded her three sheep into their pen. Oh, that's how selective breeding works!
Carrie: There's no 'splainin' this blog software. It remembers some people's info and yet others, not so much. I've had the same experience with blogs I read so I feel for ya', sister, I do.
Gerald: 102 items?!! I had no idea you had such a hive of busy-ness going over there in Ohio (did I get the state right?) And thank you to everyone for your reports of the boxes and envelopes that are winging their way to Arizona as we speak. Yes, I suspect we will break 5,000! Who woulda thunk it?
Cuzzin Sarah: Please give the Mary Unit and the Georgie Unit a huge from-one-family-member-to-another "thank you" hug for their generosity. Those're some kids, Cuzzin! I say, let's keep 'em.
Tasha, the Erstwhile Yukoner: Smooches. Just smooches.
Minnie: Don't quote me on this, but I'll bet that items received one day late at F.I.R.E. will be included in this year's shipment. I've never been to their offices but I don't think they have large portcullis gates that will slam down at 12:01am on July 2. Er, at least I hope not. 'Twouldn't be very charitable- or neighborly like!
In the meantime, Dear Readers, the Battle Royale rages on:
Posted by Ryan at June 21, 2006 04:00 PM
Wow, I got the first post. Anyways, I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're feeling better and the LYS I work at here in Washington state is shipping around 110 items to Arizona as we speak.
Hope your recuperation continues to go well!
Posted by: Sarah U on June 21, 2006 04:08 PMThat scarf is fan-freaking-tastic. I bet it looks like it is moving right after a painkiller or two.
I can't wait until you decide how you'll dole out the yarn avalanche. I will send my little shipping money wherever you tell me, so I can knit me some Rosemary Hallgarten Dulaan woolies for the pint-sized Mongol hordes. I'll even send cookies or something.
Maybe next year I'll make a weekend and go there to deliver items myself. Anything to get out of the heat. 20 degrees cooler up there in Flag, doncha know.
Oh yeah, and I just figured you had some setting in your code that indicated which commenters you wanted to mess with.
My Kentucky connection as well as my Wyoming connection report that they've mailed items to F.I.R.E. for Dulaan 2006 AND that they've already started on Dulaan 2007. I don't know if you're still keeping the map going, but those two states are covered!
And as for the Kureyon...it softens some after blocking, but it softens even more if you throw it in the washing machine! Really -- I've tested it (because it's almost unwearable otherwise) and it didn't felt, when washed in cold water and air dried. I plan to make me a sweater in it, now that I know I can make it wearable.
And I'm SO GLAD you're feeling so much better!
xoxoxox
Two things almost done! Awesome. I had such a chuckle in the beginning of your post. "is that chocolate?" Hee.
Posted by: Norma on June 21, 2006 05:19 PMYeah, you can kiss that quilt good-bye........ A few years ago my sister really splurged and bought herself a $100 pillow. She LOVED it and so did her little dog. Can you guess who owns the pillow now? I'm glad you're feeling better. Can't wait to see what you finish knitting while lolling around eating bon-bons......
Posted by: Bonney on June 21, 2006 05:26 PMOh, I think the battle's lost darlin'. Time to wave that white flag.
Posted by: Rachel H on June 21, 2006 05:40 PM“Is it hot out here, or is it just me?”
First out-loud laff of the day. Thanks, cuz.
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on June 21, 2006 06:23 PM22 more items off to Arizona today. We'll make 5,000 easy.
Go gently with the knitting and the painpills. Two hats are not going to Mongolia this year because I discovered dental surgery, narcotics and double pointed needles don't mix (but I was SO sure it was working at the time). The corrected versions will be the first things in next year's box.
Posted by: daisy on June 21, 2006 06:23 PMMaybe if you brought some sheep into the room you could get Frankie to "herd" them out and you could grab the dog bed, er, quilt. But you would probably get "the look" and you'd have to give it back anyway! We have the Many Hundreds of Dollars Cat Toy here, which is frequently disguised as an area rug under the dining room table. It gets rabbit kicked and clawed and crawled under and jumped on with claws out. *Sigh* sometimes you just have to give up and look the other way!
Lovely scarf and the hat is fab! "Is it hot out here or is it just me" *snort* Love it!
Posted by: Sharon on June 21, 2006 06:25 PMOoh, you ARE feeling better! Thanks for the giggles, great post, glad you're on the mend.
I think Frankie's doing a great job of camouflaging herself--she matches all the wood in the photo! Maybe you won't notice her and just think TMK left a table leaf lying on the comforter, ya know, so's it wouldn't get scratched...(hee-hee)
Posted by: kt on June 21, 2006 10:09 PMOK. that last photo proves Frankie is a luscious fluffball. I am beginning to suspect she is bathed and groomed for these shots - how otherwise could she be so perfect! If any of my 3 lay on a pristine white surface like that, there would be no question about its future. One brief nap would change its surface texture/colour/general appearance, forever.
I bet you even the British Royal Family's corgies would be envious of this shot!
I'm so glad you're feeling better!
That last pic makes me just want to rub Frankie's furry belly!
Posted by: Kirsten on June 22, 2006 05:29 AMlook at that picture of Frankie -- can you really deprive her of such happiness and comfort - I mean really.....that is the ultimate in happy dogs.
Glad you are feeling better -- but the first test for me would have been coffee and the second would have been chocolate -- that first cup of coffee that you actually enjoy rather than just drink. But chocolate is always right up there just barely lower than coffee :D
Posted by: rho on June 22, 2006 06:27 AMThank goodness the surgeons didn't remove your funny bone or sense of humor. That line about "is it hot here, or is it just me?" made me guffaw. (Being of a certain age, ahem, that very expression is sort of my mantra at work....) Enjoy all the chocolate you can, and it sounds as though you are being quite pampered, and are just putting in those (extremely cute)pictures of Frankie to distract us as to who is REALLY getting all the attention in your house. Keep up the good work, TMK!!!!! Hugs, Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on June 22, 2006 07:03 AMRyan, I'm glad you're feeling better. Frankie, I knew you had it in ya!
Posted by: Samina on June 22, 2006 08:46 AMGlad your recovery is going well.
As for the human vs. dog coverlet throw-down, I'm still rooting for the humans. That may because I'm going through the same fight with one of my dogs and our heavy winter duvet.
Posted by: Melanie on June 22, 2006 09:08 AMRyan,
I'm so happy to know you are starting to feel a little better each day and that you are being taken care of with so much love and attention. Yay!
Posted by: Mary Anne on June 22, 2006 01:23 PMThe box that went out this morning had 4 hats in different sizes and a child's scarf in felted alpaca that I promise is not stiff as a board. I'm gonna see if I've got enough Paton's UpCountry left to do a small child's sweater for Dulaan 2007.
Posted by: Mel on June 23, 2006 09:55 AMI'm impressed that you know the word "portcullis"!
Posted by: Diana on June 23, 2006 11:06 AMI am glad you are feeling better. Looking forward to seeing what else you are going to knit up while recovering.