May 25, 2007
Just When You Thought the Post-Office Wackiness Was Over...
The good news: My sister found a copy of the photo of my father at the post office in Borneo and sent me a scan.
The bad news: She’s going to force me to admit that I may have exaggerated a wee, but I’ll cowboy up and show the photo anyway. I still contend that I wasn’t that far off. So here it is, ladies and gentlemen, probably the oddest thing to appear in a knitting blog, a picture of the blog mistress’s father at the the world’s smallest post office. (The dirt road? The main drag of Wallace Bay, Borneo. The white shirt, shorts and knee socks? Standard executive dress.)
Since I don’t have handy any photos of the Scarf in Drag, the 4-Acre Sweater or the Yo-Yo Sweater, thank God for the Brigadiers like, in this case, Marianne Robinson, Nancy O., and Emma Meadors, who often send me photos of what they've been working on.
Here, some cozy hats knit by Marianne. I’m particularly enamored of the amethyst one. The colors, the pattern, everything works.
Here, her charmingly staged photo of her Dulaan socks. I mean, look—the pink socks match the flowers! Oh, but she puts my photographic skills to shame.
These two photos are from Nancy O. who, at last count, has, all by her lonesome, sent 11 boxes of items to Arizona.
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Lastly, you may remember that Emma Meadors has been running her own Dulaan Drive Extraordinaire at Sweet Briar College at which she is a student. Take a gander at the amazing results of her one-woman drive! I believe I even espy an Avalanche Vest in there.
P.S. ¡Abby, mi amiga! ¿De veras que Vd. habla espanol? ¡Debemos charlar!
In my defense, “El-Speck-o on El-Map-o” was merely my tongue-in-cheek play on the “ugly American” version of speaking Spanish. In the real world, my Spanish is actually quite respectable. And, just between you ‘n’ me, I’m highly motivated to keep up my skills in this area since, whenever I bust out in a little bit of español, TMK swoons. I say, “Buenos dias. ¿Cómo estás?,” and behind me I hear, “thud.”)
No posting Monday, Dear Readers. See you on Wednesday!
The post office is exactly as I pictured it in my mind. You do have a way with words!
Also, I packed up my Dulaan items today. Thanks for all the encouragement on your blog.
Posted by: Lauren on May 25, 2007 03:03 PMWell, then, ya'll come on over and set a spell, and we'll whip up fajitas, margaritas and some of the hottest salsa ever to crack the enamel on your teeth. My Spanish isn't all that great, I can pretty much ask politely for a) two cervezas (beer) and b) where is the ladies room? Two VERY important phrases if you ask me. :)
Box #12 is almost full and will be on its way Tuesday morning. Yay long weekends--and we are expecting LOTS of rain--more time to knit!
To all my Dulaan friends, have a safe and happy holiday weekend! Hugs from a soaked San Antonio!
Posted by: Nancy O. on May 25, 2007 03:52 PMOh my gosh, Nancy O. is just amazing...and Emma! What an amazing number of items and they're all just beautiful.
Thank you, Ryan, you're very kind. That 'hat' is knit using a slip stitch going on and I was just playing around with it, it DID work! Perhaps next time I'll write down what I do when I do it...the joys of having addlebrainitis...
What a gorgeous bunch of Dulaan items - but I especially love the teetiny baby sweaters Nancy O. made! They are so sweet!
Posted by: Julie on May 25, 2007 04:36 PMJust when I think I MAY have heard it all from you, or at least most, you use an expression like "cowboy up." Ryan, you are absolutely one in a million. Love you, MaryB
Posted by: Mary B on May 25, 2007 05:19 PMPerhaps, MaryB, since Spanish was our other Theme of the Day, I should have said "gaucho up."
Huh.
Doesn't have the same ring.
:-)
Posted by: Ryan on May 25, 2007 05:22 PMDo I spy some Mason-Dixon ball band warshcloth patterning on those socks? What a clever idea -- might have to steal, er, borrow that. We are leaving on a 3-week camping trip in a couple days, and my main packing duty is to cram enough yarn in my alloted space to finish my Dulaan commitment. Knitting in the van, knitting in restaurants, knitting by the campfire (by the light of an LED reading light that hangs 'round my neck), knitting by the stream, knitting in the mountains, knitting in the valleys... Well, you get the idea.
Posted by: kmkat on May 25, 2007 06:09 PMI got a mention in the blog! I'm feeling special.
Ryan, I'm curious now about where you grew up. Were your parents diplomats, business people, military, missionaries, or something else altogether?
Could you post about those days sometime? I'd love to read about it.
As for speaking in Spanish, perhaps yes. I'll be visiting the Seattle area sometime in late Summer/early Fall as my partner wants to check out UW for grad school. Perhaps we can charlar then?
Posted by: Abby on May 25, 2007 06:21 PMJust filled out my inventory sheet and will tape up the box tomorra -- 30 items. Fewer than in years past, I believe, but I'm fairly proud of it anyway. :)
Posted by: Norma on May 25, 2007 06:35 PMYou people put me to shame. I've gotten sidetracked from the knitting, but seeing all those hats has reignited the flame. Must dig out the remainder of the Dulaan yarn stash.
Posted by: daisy in the Shenandoah Valley on May 25, 2007 07:50 PMI sent in my "5"items for Dulaan....actually 14 items including a quilt,2 baby blankets,2 scarves,socks and slippers along with the usual hat or two.Now on to next years projects!
Posted by: carol on May 29, 2007 07:26 AMLove those hats that Marianne Robinson made. Is the pattern available anywhere?
I just found the Dulaan project and have some wool yarn set aside to make some items. Not sure what I can make to send in time. Will get something together.
Posted by: Alina on May 30, 2007 04:43 PM