Thankfuls 11-20

 

Day 11 - Thankful to all the veterans.

Day 12 - Thankful for the U.S. Postal Service, and a tolerant delivery person who still gets my mail to me despite all the times a neighbor blocks my box.

Day 13 - Thankful for the opportunity to study Torah with Rabbi Salem of Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life - ISJL.

Day 14 - Thankful to be able to finally shut off the work computer and unwind with a movie and crocheting.

Day 15 - Thankful for kind and understanding paramedics, doctors and nurses and ER staff, and supportive home health aides. Also that the damage is mostly bruises and a lumpy head. (As it turned out once all the X-rays and scans were done, Mom has two cracked ribs. Thankful it was not more serious.)

Day 16 - Thankful for a calm Sunday, with nice weather and talking to family, and knitting, and THREE online fiber gatherings. (Plus the Bears beat the Vikings!)

Day 17 - Thankful for the doctor (routine checkup) telling me to "come back in two years".

Day 18 - Thankful for neighbors who can take great photographs of our beautiful sunset:

Day 19 - Thankful I could get out for a midday walk. It was warm and sunny today.

Day 20 - Thankful for food trucks when my day (which started with a 7:00am meeting) goes long and is jampacked and I don't have time to cook. Thankful for the small businesses and other people cooking.

"Leap together"

The title of this post comes from the most-cited part of Kermit the Frog's commencement speech, but I like this rhyming part better:

Life's like a movie.

Write your own ending.

Keep believing.

Keep pretending.

 

This is Memorial Day weekend, and I plan to go to the annual commemoration at the community center.

I have a red, white, and blue scarf to knit (because I fidget), one in the car and one in the house, depending upon whether I walk or (if it's rainy) drive over.  These are scarves I usually donate to veterans hospitals and other programs through the WWII Museum's Knit Your Bit program.

I've also been making progress on my Giverny Shawl:

Almost ready for the third and final skein.

Yesterday I went to Open Studio time for fused glass at the gallery.  The instructor forgot to slump my last piece into a dish shape, so I have to collect it later, but it came out very nicely and he was excited to show it to the group:

I made two new pieces, one inspired by the flames-shaped piece I found, and another just playing with some glass-dust-infused "paint" solution:

I think I will make four pieces featuring translucent glass, all using the same clear glass base (although they are unlikely to remain perfectly square or the same size - glass does that) and set them into a wooden frame, with a light inside.  That will look fantastic.  I have a piece set aside as the focus of the second one, and I'll see what the inspires me for the other two.

I picked up my other two previous pieces, one of which was shaped into what I hoped would be a candleholder but it's a bit shallow, so it might remain a dish:

The large picture, suggested by a piece of glass I found and used as the background, really pleases me:

You can see how two of the lilypads
glitter a bit.  The eyes really add life
to the fish, and the wisteria is dimensional.

Cloudy day light filtering through.

Memorial Day 2024

 

Tomorrow the local Veterans' Club is having their annual memorial service and I will attend.  They always have a special guest who talks about a special program that helps veterans.

One of their leaders posted this message:

The National Moment of Remembrance is an annual event that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to pause for a duration of one minute to remember those who have died in military service to the United States. The time 3 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying time off of work for the national holiday. The Moment was first proclaimed in May 2000 for Memorial Day that year, and was put in law by the United States Congress in December 2000.

The idea for the Moment was born in May 1996 when children touring Lafayette Park in Washington, DC, the nation’s capital, were asked by the Commission’s Director what Memorial Day means. They responded, "That’s the day the pools open."  A May 2000 Gallup poll revealed that only 28% of Americans knew the true meaning of Memorial Day. The White House Commission on Remembrance was established by Congress (via PL 106-579) to promote the values of Memorial Day by acts of remembrance throughout the year.

The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events, but is a specific time designated to remember the legacy of the holiday. As detailed by the official act, "Congress called on the people of the United States, in a symbolic act of unity, to observe a National Moment of Remembrance to honor the men and women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace."

I will try to remember to pause whatever I am doing at 3:00pm local time.  The event I mention above is happening early in the day.

I am working on a red, white, and blue scarf that I will donate to a veterans' group.  Not sure which one; I used to send them to the WWII Museum but they aren't collecting currently.

Thankfuls, Part 2

10: Thankful for those who survived Kristallnacht, and grateful to those who teach about it so hopefully it won't happen again - even though, in this age, it appears inevitable.

11:  Veterans.

12: Grateful for the ability to celebrate in person, and for my co-leader of the lay-led Congregation Beth Israel services last night.

13: I made progress on projects, including some I've procrastinated about.

14: Thankful for mechanics who squeeze in services before I travel.

15: Thankful for electricians who address all the issues and install or uninstall things quickly and tidily. Also for being able to listen to the Dallas Winds online, and happy they are continuing to make this available for their far-flung fans.

16: A negative COVID-19 test!  That "Mountain Law" tonight with States of Play ended early enough that I could get some sleep before my oh-dark-o'clock flight in the morning.

17: Thankful for Southwest Airlines helping me be a Toys for Tots elf.  (Two large and very stuffed pieces of luggage - my clothing was mostly in a carry-on bag.)

18: Glad to have an extremely busy workweek ending, so I can catch up on things over the weekend.  Thankful to have a job I enjoy with colleagues who respect and appreciate my abilities and knowledge.

19: My father is healing from some medical treatments. Grumpy but improving.

Knitting Update

I finished the Falling Leaves shawl.  It will look better once the ends are run in and it is blocked, but that will have to wait until after I return from celebrating Thanksgiving with my family.

Memorial Day 2022

I finished the Miss Purl's Party Shawl and switched for the weekend to working on scarves for veterans.  I know it's Memorial Day, but they have fellow soldiers who returned and can use a scarf.

I also did the University of Chicago Alumni & Friends 5K.  Technically it's a fundraiser but I didn't feel like asking others to support me since it's a do-when-you-will sort of thing.  That started during the pandemic and they kept it because it enables more people to participate.

I wore some of my favourite UChicago gear, and took pictures while on my walk:

It's the first time in a very long time that I've not had to work during at least part of a 3-day holiday, especially the Monday.  I am not entirely comfortable about it, but I can adjust and accept it.

When the cat decides, and putting a scarf on a tank.

I decided I'd try to blog at least once a month, and of course the month has been busy.  Among other (non-job) things:

• Saturday morning farmers' markets, which I have sold pickles and jams for the CSA farm.
• Occasional Tuesday evening markets, ditto.
• An evening concert at the Butler-McCook House, for which the weather was wonderfully cooperative.
• Envisionfest (photos of a fellow MakeHartford person at #82 and #83), for which the weather ditto.
• Creative Cocktail Hour, with the Hartford premiere of "Eight Days a Week", which I found quite fascinating.  And again, nice weather, so we danced and partied outside.
• Attended a Social Justice Shabbat at which a friend and some of her colleagues were honored for their work in providing care and educating others about international health needs.
• Random parties, movies, and etc. as well.  Some time outside, some time working on the house.  Helping at MakeHartford's Papermaking Workshop.

And of course, a certain amount of travel.  I managed to connect a business trip to the North Carolina Opera premiere of "Das Rheingold", which was the first time the opera had been performed in the Southeastern USA since it premiered 147 years ago.  And although not fully staged, it was quite a wonderful production - and I've seen a lot of operas, a lot of Wagner, and several Ring Cycles.  The benefit of a partial staging is that the performers and characters and story really get to shine.

I've decided not to enter the Berlin Fair this year, but I will work on a couple of projects with an eye towards next year.  I was thinking of being on a retreat that weekend, then some other things came up, and I'll be traveling elsewhere.  Either way, it complicates the dropoff, or pickup, or both.

I finished the last set of blankets for my niece's birthday gift, and when I counted I realized I made one more than needed (she's 16, I made 17 total), but I had been having fun playing with yarn and of course they were handy sizes to carry around and work on whenever.

I'd made another in these colours, and
had plenty of yarn left for a second one.

Basic diagonal pattern, different yarns.

This one is based on the Ten-Stitch pattern

This extra number came in handy because my niece's cat decided that one of the blankets is HERS.

I also made pieces for the Sherman Tank at the WWII Museum in New Orleans.  They asked people to make pieces of a certain size and yarn and colours to celebrate the Knit Your Bit 10th Anniversary on September 17th, at which they gave scarves to veterans.  (They distribute scarves regularly, and have established local outposts to shorten the travel.)  I was going to make one piece, but someone posted about doing one in every colour, and I managed to find all of them (some stores had sold out), so I did also.

The pieces I made - US#35 needles!

Museum staff model the finished scarf.

The Sherman Tank with its scarf.  Booyah!

Now I'm working on baby blankets.  Which I decided to do somewhat spontaneously, and will post more about once they are done and delivered.

Some yarny things I've created recently

I'll catch up on where I have been lo, these many months that the blog has been dormant, but as a quick kickstart back into blogging, I'll post a few photos of items I have made.  For some reason, this post doesn't look like what I created - there shouldn't be a big blank area, and the pictures should be more neatly organized!  Sorry about that.  Obviously, I'm out of practice.

First, the annual collection for Mittens for Akkol's annual collection of items for graduates of the two orphanages in Kazahkstan.  One set of grads were known and asked for specifics; for the other orphanage we had just genders and had to guess what they might like.

The two "known" grads for whom I made items - one boy wanted a white and spring green set, for which I crocheted a scarf, and the other wanted a white sweater (but he was OK with off-white) and black accessories.  Someone else volunteered for the accessories, I just knit the pullover.

Wrist-to-wrist yoke, vertical body.

Very slightly green in the white, an ancient fingering wool used tripled.

Sweaters are usually the last things for which people sign up, so I tend to make a lot of those.  This year, I got to make a few sets, which I enjoy because the accessories are more portable.

Handdyed multi from Fiberlady and Patons Classic Wool in
'Lemongrass' - mittens are the Siena Mittens from Knitscene
and the hat is  a variation of the knitpicks 'Garter Stripe' hat.

Scraps of Lopi from another project.

Patons Colorwull, Lion Brand Fisherman, and various other yarns.
Knit mittens and hat, crocheted scarf.

Patons Classic Wool in 'Shades of Gray' with some of the related
greys and black solid for the scarf.  Knit mittens and hat, crocheted
scarf and sweater (knit neck and wrist ribbings on the sweater).

Mostly Lion Brand Fisherman yarn used double,
with some oddballs added for accents.

        

For the sweaters, I made up the patterns based upon measurements.  At this point, my hands and brain have "go to" patterns for mittens, hats, and scarves, so that mostly autopiloted.  I've put links where specific patterns were used.  Even the white sweater was mostly designed on the fly.  I was not going to do a very complicated pattern, partly due to time limitations, but also didn't want to do an absolutely plain white sweater, so this is my compromise.  And yes, the cables on the sleeves twist in two different directions, that was a deliberate design choice.

I also created a number of scarves for the Knit Your Bit collection at DFW Fiber Fest.  The scarves will go to veterans, and they asked us to use mostly neutral colours as there are more male recipients than female.  These photos show just a few of the ones I made, mostly in plain stitches (garter stitch quite often, or a 1dc 1sc crochet stitch) with interesting yarns.

Lion Brand Kool Wool (left) and Wool-Ease (right)

Lion Brand Tweed Stripes.

  

Loops and Threads "Charisma" in Ashes and Woodland.

Anne Geddes Baby yarn from Red Heart, doubled.

Grey and blue Caron Simply Soft held together, with accents
of Lion Brand Wool-Ease left over from other scarves.

Lion Brand Wool-Ease in the
KYB Mistake Stitch pattern.

Top Scarf is Red Heart Super Saver, left over from another project.
Bottom Scarf is Lion Brand Vanna's Choice 'Woods Print' with
some stripes of Wool Ease in 'Forest Green Heather'.

           


































Lastly, my grandmother snuggled under her birthday blanket, knit from a new Bernat yarn called "Home Bundle" which is available only at Joann's.  It goes through four different yarns, so there's very little work involved, but the end result is soft and warm and light, and she loves it!  Since my grandmother is always cold, blankets are an appreciated gift, even for her May birthday, and even though she lives in Florida.

The teddy bear was a gift for her birthday also, which my grandmother had to spend in hospital because her gallbladder has been giving her grief.  Hence, the rather medical-looking surroundings.  My grandmother is itching to get home, and should be soon!