June 15, 2007
The Pictures Just Keep Coming!
The problem with being too sensitive to nature and living things:
I spent considerable time this week digging grass out from between the cracks in my driveway because I realized that my house was starting to look abandoned, even white trashy. My choice was either to haul in a rusted truck on blocks, start planting everything in gilded tires, and git me some chewin’ tabaccy, or actually clean up the yard. My efforts came to an abrupt halt when I discovered that I had disturbed an ants’ nest and had to work gingerly and ineffectively around the ants because I didn’t want to kill or hurt any of them. But, as always, TMK, who does not suffer from this hypersensitivity, was sitting on my shoulder, stamping her foot and saying, “For God’s sake, Ryan! They’re ants! You need to get this grass removed. Just keep going!” So I did, wincing every time I smooshed an ant. And then...what’s this? What’re they carrying? What are those little white…? Oh, my God, they’re ant babies!
That was it. I went inside. I have to draw the line at ant babies.
Knitters, raise your hand if you’ve ever done this:
You’re driving along and you see a green light turn to red ahead of you. And you speed up so you can spend more time at the red light and knit a few stitches.
My hand is raised. My face is red.
A few more pictures for you.
I thought I’d start with this one not just because of the priceless face but also because this gives a good idea of the condition of the clothes we're trying to replace. Take a good, long look at that jacket, Brigadiers.
I have a personal thing against pixie hats. I don’t know why. Probably because I don’t understand the logic of knitting something so far removed from the actual shape of a human head. However, this picture goes a looooong toward helping me understand why people knit them:
This picture made me chuckle because adults and kids are the same everywhere:
Look at the sweater in this picture! Handmade? Not handmade? What do you think? And that’s definitely a Dulaan hat.
Here, I may have struck gold. Look at the the picture of my Cloud Hat; look at the picture of the man. Yes? No?
Even though I know it's not the case, this picture just says "abundance of warmth" to me, and makes me proud of all the work Dulaan has done.
Lastly, a picture of what it's all about, clothing the children so they can go to school:
The pictures are wonderful. I keep searching to see if I can find any of my knits. How cool that you have found one of your hats. I sent my box of yesterday! This is such a great project and you have done a great job spearheading it.
Posted by: Jennifer on June 15, 2007 12:47 PMI keep looking for my knitted items, too! It is GREAT to see "our" items so well received ! I HOPE HOPE HOPE htere will be a Dulaan 08!
Posted by: Pat in Virginia on June 15, 2007 01:06 PMLongtime lurker here... The pictures are killing me. Must. Donate. More.
Posted by: Libby on June 15, 2007 01:25 PMWell, if I wasn't hooked before, I'm hooked now. I sent my 5 off this morning, and with a whole year to go, I'm fired up to see how many things I can knit for next year.
Posted by: Donna on June 15, 2007 01:29 PMWell hush my everlovin' (and too often bellyachin') mouth!
Posted by: marylee on June 15, 2007 01:33 PMI think it definitely looks like the same hat--score!
Also, has anybody else noticed that the adults we're getting pictures of all seem to wear their hats up above their ears? Think that's just a Mongolian thing? Because I know I really like to have my ears as warm as possible--it struck me as a little odd.
Posted by: Emma on June 15, 2007 02:07 PMI sent my box earlier this week. I spread myself a little thin this year, but I got 14 items done for Dulaan! In the spirit of "they need more adult items", 1/2 of the 14 were adult-sized hats... though they may be too big if they want to wear them above their ears!
When pulling weeds, I don't look to closely at the ants... when they seem to be overtaking the sidewalk, I go in, get a cool drink, come back out and start another area. Invariably the ants I disturbed had returned to their area and I pull weeds and disturb a few more. I didn't intentionally kill any, but I didn't purposely avoid it either! :)
Posted by: Kathleen on June 15, 2007 02:15 PMI'm so sorry - I have a deep and abiding hatred for ants, because every spring they invade my house in droves. I'm in TMK's corner on this one; stomp away!
Please forgive me. I am kind and sensitive toward all other living things, I promise. :)
Ahh, more Dulaan pictures! I do love the Dulaan pictures. Love the little one in the pixie hat!
Posted by: Julie on June 15, 2007 02:36 PMTry thinking of the ants as more of a collective entity. A few lost doesn't mean the end of the colony. And if that doesn't work, just head south and stomp around in a fire ant nest. You'll feel a lot less charitable after an experience like that.
I sent off my box to Dulaan today - 7 handknits and a couple of commercial items (SpongeBob fleece blanket and an alpaca scarf that needed a home) - along with a check to help fund the shipping costs of my own and several more. I also have a sweater on the needles that will go out next year and a good bit of yarn to work with.
Posted by: Mel on June 15, 2007 02:50 PMCongratulations Ryan on organizing such a spectacular collective effort towards a clearly worthy and worthwhile cause - not only helping others to help those in need but in really connecting people to others a world away!
Re the ants - I actually put rotting stumps in the back of my yard to house ants (and attract bird life interesting in eating them - the whole circle of life thing) but surprisingly (to me)the ants have now come to see our brick home as another piece of rotting wood and have invaded in a big and destructive way so as to create satellite nests in our wooden eaves. So now I have to have an exterminator come in to deal with the infestation and he is going to have to spray the entire perimeter of the house to kill them all. I am sick about it!
Posted by: Marie on June 15, 2007 03:13 PMDefinitely your hat. Photos to kvell for. I'm loving it!
Posted by: Rebecca on June 15, 2007 04:33 PMWhen I was neatening some stepping stones at the foot of the deck stairway a few years back I disturbed an ant colony. My two boys were watching me work. When the ants became alarmed at what I was doing, they started scurrying down into their tunnels. The boys immediately started saying, "Dive! Dive!" in their best submariners' voices. When the ants reappeared carrying the precious little white bundles, we all started chanting in high squeaky voices, "Save the babies! Save the babies!"
This is just to let you know you are not the only insane person/knitter/blogger out there. There are lots of us :-)
Posted by: kmkat on June 15, 2007 09:32 PMOhMYGOD, that pixie hatted-kid is gonna kill me. Squeeeeeeeee!
Posted by: Norma on June 16, 2007 08:46 AMI am guilty of the red light maneuver to knit a bit.
Thanks for posting more photos. It is mind-numbing to think these children can't attend school because of the lack of warm clothes. I must learn to knit more than hats!
I love the photos - I'm getting a thrill that people are recognizing their items on the people because they can see the direct impact they have on a person half way around the world!!!
I'm sorry to do this to you but you've been memed!
Go to my blog and read the 7 random things about me and what you need to do!
Don't kill me, ok?
Posted by: Naomi on June 16, 2007 11:36 AMLoved the photos. Just amazing the huge smiles in those children's faces. I mailed my package of 7 things yesterday
Posted by: Teresa on June 16, 2007 02:41 PMOur 100 plus items are on the way ( from the Dulaan a thaan.) FYI
Posted by: kim on June 16, 2007 03:05 PMThat pixie hat looks sooooo central-asia. Does anyone else think it looks like something you'd see in a picture of Genghis Khan and his followers? Any hoo...I think it will keep the little ones ears very warm!
Another lurker and first-time Dulaan contributor checking in. I just sealed up a box of 11 items to mail off tomorrow.
Love the pictures!
I'm with you on the stoplight! I've noticed when I have my knitting in my lap - I hit all the green lights - Darn it.
Posted by: Threadbndr on June 17, 2007 08:21 PMaieeeeeeeeeee! That first picture!!! I sent box #13 this morning with 6 more items--I think I can get a few more things done by next Monday. Any news on Dulaan 08?
Posted by: Nancy O. on June 18, 2007 08:58 AM