Before - After - Macros

Fun with pictures....Before After




Oh yea - Knitting! Yes I still do that - but have been very busy reading all of Harry Potter - I'm on the second to last book and totally into it - not getting any sleep and not knitting much...unfortunately I can't just read all day - have been working full days and it's good! An income! Short lived - 6 more full days but better than nothing!
Weather has been enjoyable too - so spending the evening outside reading and enjoying the flowers. Just thought I'd share!
Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend - too short - I've got reading to do!

I HAVE been busy - not really productive but have been enjoying life. Molly and I decided to read all the Harry Potter books - neither of us had before and now we are into a marathon. I've finished the first three and am now into Goblet of Fire.....now I get it - they really are a delight to read. Sunday we're going to have a movie marathon and get caught up!

I also have been knitting occassionally - Notice the color on this side...

And now the color on this side....

Please ignore the Sock holder - it's only a prop - it's too hot out for wine - now Mojotos are a different matter! Back to the sock - I'm doubting I'll have enough yarn to do this - so am going to contact the manufacturer and see if I can get another skein - but as it's hand dyed I doubt it. As you remember I've tried many different combos trying to figure out how to use this. I actually even tried to start a toe up - but didn't have the concentration to be successful at something new. Another option would be to do only three repeats around of the pattern - but at 16 stitches that's quite a lot! OMG I'm doomed with this yarn! I could do different cuff and toe maybe - I'm sure I've got something that will match in the stash or left overs. The trials and tribulations we go through.

The next few weeks will be too busy to knit or read much - am working full plus time (Yea - an income!) and getting Marianne ready for school. She got her roommate assignment and so now is finally excited. Today we started - you may know the drill - bathrobe, sheets, blankets, bookcase, storage, micro, etc., etc., etc! I think we may have put it off to too late - trying to find a duvet cover that she likes is a challenge. But I've been browsing e-bay tonight and there are more choices there than in our area. It was fun and we'll go out again tomorrow and tackle more of the list.. slippers, shower caddy, school supplies, first aid kit, laundry soap....good thing I'm working.

Hope everyone is staying cool - been hot here. My garden is producing. Picked tomatoes, lettuce, cucs and zucchini last night. Yum. The raspberries are being eaten on the vine - we have to share with the birds!

Knit Peace

See previous post comments first...

Good ideas - but you can't felt superwash! I was thinking of a baby hat, but I'm selfish - I like this yarn too much to use in on someone else - It's for me!! But thanks for the great ideas!!
Knit Peace

Well Shucks!

When I was at Black Sheep Gathering last month I got this great yarn - (Duh isn't almost all yarn Great?) from Capistrano Fiber Arts Studio and I had this great pattern - Diamond Patch Socks from Heartland Knits.

This is the result - pretty - but it's not going to work! I thought my gauge was right on - but put them all together and it's way too big. Now I've cut up the yarn into all these short lengths and hate the thought of weaving them all in on another project....but the yarn is too pretty!

It's raining today - Yea I don't have to water and can sit inside and contemplate a new project!

The View from the Patio

The new bird bath - how long before they see it? I suppose it doesn't help that someone is occassionally lurking near by!

The best part - picked while listening to the Quail family - (Dan and Marilyn as they're known in the neighborhood). Now ready for a little vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. This is heaven.
Yea it's cooler tonight and guess what - my bike actually still works. A half hour ride this evening - more tomorrow!!

Too Hot to Knit

Really – up in the high 90’s during the day and still 75 at 11:00 pm – so too hot to sleep too. It’s also too hot to do anything outside but water the garden at least twice a day! (and dead heading the hanging baskets! Every year I say - No More Petunias!!! But see I've got them again!)

I have AC – but hate being inside all the time! With all this time off you’d think I’d be riding my bike or walking or something – but it’s too hot and I’m tired of it. We have spent a lot of time out in the shade on the patio – now the outdoor living room – where I’ve been reading but not knitting. I’ve read Two Cups of Tea that I mentioned in a previous post, Visible Bones – short interesting Natural History essays about the Columbia River country, Heart of the Beast – about a ranching family in eastern Oregon and now am now into Prairie – fictionalized story about the life of C.B. Irwin during the turn of the century in Wyoming.

I’ve tried knitting – did finish my sockapalooza socks – plain Jane with cable cuffs. I also tried the Montego Bay Scarf from this season’s issue of Interweave Knits. I was using the Blue Moon Seduction that I got awhile back – even ordered another skein to do the fringe. I’m not a yo person – I miss them and then of course the pattern sequence is messed up – so rip. After 5 tries – and I think I’d like to try lace? I don’t think so! Now what am I going to do with 880 yards of Footze foo! I will probably try again because I like this scarf!

Then while browsing around I found this great sweater pattern – Salt Peanuts – but they don’t make the yarn anymore and I think I’d like it in lighter weight yarn anyway – so may spend some time figuring that out. I like sweaters that have more drape – any suggestions for great draping yarn?

So life around here has been pretty boring. The girls are never home at the same time so we can’t plan any family activities either – I know I’m really complaining today – that’s what boredom does to you. I can’t wait to go back to work – August 1st for at least a full two weeks to fill in while the boss’s other assistant is on vacation and then hopefully the new project will have gotten approval and we will be on the way – yea!
Hope everyone is staying cool.

Monkey See

Monkey Face - Smith Rocks State Park. Can you see him? Middle daughter has a friend who lives adjacent to the park and can't identify Monkey Face - so while at work today (my office is a stones throw across the Crooked River) so that he could find it next time......open your eyes!

While at the library today doing some historical research - I checked out the knitting book selection - just in case there was something I needed to look at. I found AlterKNITS by Leigh Radford and Sally Melville's Book 3:Color. Since it is so so hot here (103 this afternoon) I decided that browsing for new ideas was a great idea. Fun books and lots of inspiration. I'm going to copy "Cardigans for Clark and Lily" for future knitting - it's just too cute!

I've been getting up very early these days (my bedroom faces west - so by the middle of the night the heat has seeped in the walls and it's just too hot and I don't sleep well) and have been working on two pairs of socks....I've got one of each finished and have half of the others complete. I'm getting tired of socks and it's just too hot to work on my cardigan (yes I will finish it). There is a great scarf pattern - Montego Bay Scarf in the new Interweave that came last week. I've got some Blue Moon Seduction in the Footzey Foo colorway that will be perfect. But I don't have enough - so ordered another skein to use for the fringe - I should have plenty to make it really long that way. When I buy yarn that I don't have a particular project for, I've got to remember to buy more quantity - my stash has so many singles, enough for socks but nothing much bigger. The log cabin afghan comes to mind....

Spent a very uneventful - but not quiet - 4th of July. The girls were all doing their own things (Oh yea - Molly is moved home and I've lost my parking space in the garage) - and I was home babysitting the dog...is there anti-anxiety meds for dogs - next year.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday!

Three Cups of Tea

There are not adequate words to describe the story I have just finished reading (hence no recent knitting to show). Please read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. It is the most remarkable story of one man's successful efforts to establish schools (particularly for girls) in Afganistan and Pakistan - "One man's mission to promote peace...one school at a time" This story takes place in the years leading up to and following 9/11. It will bring tears to your heart. It is an adventure, a romance and an inspiration - all a true story of the power of one. Visit the Central Asia Institute for more information about the mission.
Knit Peace

Black Sheep Gathering 2007

It was overwhelming to say the least! Only in the Northwest would you find a wool sculptured Salmon - complete with fly!! It was stunning....

This felted purse was pretty niffty too - very creative design I thought.
All you spinners out there would have been in hog (or sheep) heaven. Very few booths were yarn only - of course Blue Moon was there - but I restrained myself and bought these instead.

The camera doesn't do the colors of the two on the right justice - they are great. I'm going to "Pink Ribbon" socks for my sister with the Pine and something for me with the other. I just liked the other two and don't know what they're for other than to look at! The TOFUtsies is an interesting combo - superwash, soysilk, cotton and Chitin (Shrimp and crab shells!) I think this too is for socks for me!
Then I had to have this book - have always wanted it - it will be my sock design source for awhile I hope.
I've been looking for a daily use purse that I can store all my stuff - planner, camera, iPod, and of course Knitting (Duh) and this was inexpensive and I think will fit the bill. Plus some of the money goes to Guatemalan orphanges....so a good thing all around. But this was my best find - I swear they made it for me. I don't usually wear pins - but this was just irresistable. Had to have!
A very good day.

I am happy to report that my sister is doing really well - she is one of those people who can't stop moving - she used to knit but it's too sedentary for her - you'd hardly know that a week ago she had an 15 hour surgery. She now is cancer free, has perky breasts (or will when the swelling goes down and darn it - has a flat Tummy (they used the tissue for the reconstruction). She absolutely made the correct choice with the mastecomy and the reconstruction procedure. She doesn't have to have chemo or radiation or yearly checkups - she's done and has a new body to boot! What a deal. In the last year she has also lost a ton of weight - so was well on her way to a new body - but this takes it up a big notch!

I'm glad to be home - now I can play with my new toys for a few days before all ***** breaks loose again - my 16 year old neice and two of her swim team buddies are coming next weekend for a meet and Molly is moving home - if she can find someone to move her...hopefully her dad will step in and give her a hand - otherwise she'll have to wait til week after for me to have time. It will all work out I'm sure. I brought a load home today - but of course there is lots more including furniture that won't fit in anyones car - moving van time!

Gotta go - have a great rest of the weekend!

I Told you so...

Sockapalooza - I'm working on them. Plain Jane to show the color - but with a cable rib cuff. Not very exciting or challenging - actually the challenge was to find a pattern that didn't muddle the colorway - it's just too busy! But this works and it's easy conversation knitting.

I am so excited about my Clematis - I've always wanted one and finally broke down this spring - look at those blossoms and this is only the first year. I may have to seek out some more. Now to figure out where to prune to continue blooms all summer.

Lots of watering and weed pulling to do today before heading to the big city tomorrow....maybe I'll get a little shopping in while I'm there - for sure at Black Sheep - oh I can't wait!

Roxie - I'm going to call you if I have a chance to escape from nursing duties! If not this time - in a few weeks when I come back to take Marianne to see Body World at OMSI.

Later all!

Once again - I do knit

See I told you so - just not much these days. I want to carry my camera in my purse and a regular case is just too bulky - so I knit this up - works just great! Now on to my Sockapalooza socks!

It has been a busy week. Actually not that busy as I only worked in Camp Sherman one day and maybe a total of 10 hours on the other job. But there was a lot going on here at the girls house. The Backpackers came back - they had a blast in the Trinity Alps, sore and blistered - but tons of fun. Molly decided that it was time to come back to Central Oregon (we have way more backpacking opportunities than the Eugene area - the Three Sisters Wilderness is within a half hour drive!). So she will be packing her stuff up over the next few weeks and moving back home. Her goal is to have her own place by September. She's already arranged to transfer back to the Bend REI - so all is in motion.

I was planning to change bedrooms this summer anyway - move to the bigger bedroom at the front of the house - thought being there would be more comfortable than sleeping way in the back of the house after Marianne is off to college - so to make more room for Molly's stuff - I moved my stuff on Thursday. I love the room, (It's the one I just painted a great terra cotta color) but am a little disoriented waking up in the middle of the night. Privacy is an issue too I discovered - the family bath is in the back of the house! I knew there was something I wasn't considering - oh well we'll see how it goes. Once nice thing is all my knitting stash and stuff is neatly stored in this room - I can sit in bed, read knitting catalogs and stare at baskets of yarn and shelves of books!

My sisters surgery was yesterday - and I mean yesterday - all day - she was under all day and half the night!!! She went in at 6:00 AM Friday and got to her room at 2:00 AM Saturday!! I talked to her for a few minutes this morning - all seems well. I'm going up on Tue or Wed to look after her for a few days. I also get to have lunch with my mother's best friends - Auntie Mina and Aunt Maggie - absolute dears - second mothers to me. Am looking forward to seeing them. Hopefully I'll still have time to get to Blacksheep. I feel bad about leaving Marianee home alone that long - luckily the boyfriend is out of town with his family so don't have to worry about that! ( I wouldn't anyway - but you know!) It will be a busy week...but I must get serious about my socks. I've started them 5 times and not been satisfied. The color is a beautiful green - but I'm beginning to think a plain jane stockinette is going to be best - doesn't seem very special! Once again I'll try it and see. Should have lots of sitting around knitting and visiting time at my sisters, so hopefull there will be progress!!

Hope all is well!

Two naps a day

I am exhausted - took two naps today! Graduation was wonderful as you can see in the previous post! Marianne's speech was by far the best - everyone said so! My family was all here and we had a lot of fun together. The gods where shinning on us - Friday was the only nice day of the week - so the picnic was outside, the flowers where blooming and the wind and rain went away. We celebrated Marianne and had a great time. The graduation ceremony was wonderful - I did shed a few tears - I can't believe it's the last one.

Of course yesterday we had to go out and start spending some of her gifts - you know - dorm stuff. It was fun. I had gotten so frustrated with my camera during the celebration - I had to pose every picture because it's so slow - that I bought myself a new camera. Shopping is good.

Today I've been trying to get my knitting mojo back. I've got three projects on the needles - the Celtic Cardigan (Still!) - these great socks - I'm half way down the cuff of the second one. I've

also started my Sockapalooza socks - not enough to show yet - but a pretty green hand-dyed that I picked up recently. More to follow.

This was also the Portland Rose Festival Parade - we often go up for the weekend. Next year maybe. But the recent rose additions in our house make good picture practice. This first rose was a gift plant from my ex husbands girl friend to me - it brought me to tears - she said she had been through the last graduation too and remembered what it was like for her. This was the second time she brought me tears. During the graduation ceremony - we were sitting at opposite ends of the row - and she offered to trade places with me so I could see better. My ex is fortunate - she is a really nice lady. I hope she can put up with him! If circumstances were different - we might be friends. Weird.

This second rose is from the bouquet I gave Marianne after graduation. The house smells so good - they were still almost buds on Friday and they've really opened up since then.

The big kids are on a backpacking trip in the Trinity Alps in Northern California - they left early Saturday morning - it was so fun watching them pack and repack and repack and repack thier backpacks - each trying to weigh less than the other - who has the coolest gear. It was like listening to knitters gab! REI techno-speak!

This will be a busy week - lots of planning meetings on new development project - the final land use hearing is week after. Last two days in Camp Sherman - lots to do there. My sister's surgery is on Friday and I will be going up to look after her when she gets home from the hospital on the following Tuesday - then at the end of that week is Black Sheep!!! I better have my mojo back by then!!

I am so proud!

What a great family!

The Graduate and her mom! This is my sister and my accomplished niece. What a lucky aunt I am! We all had a great weekend with the cousins, very hectic and short - but lots of fun. Now home safe and sound and starting to panic about getting ready for our graduation on Thursday night. Of course we will all be together again. I feel so fortunate that we are all great friends - here are all the kids......

My own cousins were also celebrating with us at the party afterwards - one cousins daughter also graduated with my niece so it was really a family event. I also really enjoy my cousins and every time I am with them I wish we lived closer! My children feel the same way about thier cousins too.

Although I didn't knit a stitch - I had to wait to pick up M1 son from work on Friday and funny thing - there is a little yarn store next door to his office. I found some great sock yarn for my Sockapolooza pal - just the colorway she suggested - not that I probably couldn't find any in my stash - but it's always good to plan ahead!

I plan on doing some major stash enhancement when I go to the Black Sheep Gathering later this month.....I'm going to be looking after my sister following her surgery - she's having a total masectomy and then can bop down to Eugene and feel the fibre and spend the night with M2 daughter.

I've got a lot to do this week to get ready for graduation and company - so you probably won't hear from me for awhile - I do hope to get some knitting in - I'm afraid I will really need yarn therapy!!

Dream Knit Peace

Knitting - what's that?

Happy 18th Birthday!

First the Birthday girl - she's in the middle! What a kid - she won three more big scholarships at the High School Award assembly this last week. She's going to the college of her choice - Go Wildcats! I couldn't be prouder! The graduation frenzy has begun.

Garden up-date - this is the before.

You will have to wait a few months for the after....but the veggies are all in the ground! My back hurts! But this is the advantage of only working part-time these days (the only advantage). My yard is looking good! The kids gave me two beautiful hanging baskets for Mother's Day and this is one...

I love my Irises - next year I need to move them to a more productive spot. I've even got some scented ones!

Knitting - oh yea - I remember! I still do that, I'm actually making some progress on the Celtic Cardigan - only about 30 rows left on the last front - then the sleeves (easy), then the button bands (hard) then put it all together. I'm afraid it's going to turn out bigger than I thought and I did check gauge many times before I started. Hopefully I can block a little of it out!

On the work front - the Camp Sherman job is gearing way down - doublt I'll work out there at all next week - bummer. But the new job is gearing up - but not fast enough to make much of a difference - It looks like I'll have tons of leisure time for a few weeks. Luckily I refinanced my house awhile back (to help Molly pay off some of her student loans) so I have a little reserve. Unfortunately I have a 'got it? -spent it!' habit.

I've got to get started on my Sockapalooza project - I think I'm going to do the Diagonal Rib Socks from Knitting Daily. I have some stash that would work well. Or I might do the same "Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Socks" that I did last year. That would be appropriate it. My sister is trying to decide how to treat her breast cancer - as it turns out not only did my mom have it - but her mom too. Now we're trying to decide if we should get the genetic tests - My sister is going to have a total masectomy anyway - seems safer in the long term - but we both have daughters, so the test might be a good idea. She is trying to convince her Insurance Company to pay for it - the first family member is the most costly, then the rest of us could do it - or at least I could. I think the girls should wait, in the years to come the cost will come down and they might know more too. I'm also not sure I want to burden them with the knowledge that they carry the gene. It's a dilemna.

Hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend - it's going to be very warm here so we will enjoy it although we have NOTHING planned - kinda nice - but boring!

Knit Peace

7 Random Facts:

1. I make my bed everyday! Usually as soon as I get up. It’s easy, fast and makes me feel as though my bedroom is neat – except all my shoes are out of the closet under my dresser!

2. I have worn silver bracelets for 40 years – a few of the same ones and some additions. I lost my favorite (a totem pole) a long time ago.

3. I gave my red hair to my children – literally – with each pregnancy I lost a little more. Theirs is beautiful red, mine is now blah brown (I’ve enhanced it a little!) My mother’s was red the day she died at age 80!

4. I have a love-hate relationship with weeds. I hate to get started – but once I’m going I’m hooked. I love pulling them up! Weed therapy.

5. I love my house – hence I’m making sacrifices to stay here (no retirement fund) despite the fact that it’s built for a large family – not a lone person. My private yard is wonderful – lush and green – a sanctuary in the high desert.

6. I do not have a ‘youthful’ figure – but am often pegged for being much younger than I am so it may be worth it!

7. I haven’t knit a stitch in three days – I did hold the latest project for a few moments though!

Kim tagged me for this so thought it was a good excuse to get some content on my blog - I am so busy these days I barely have time to read the latest - but after graduation things will settle down and I'll have a moment to write the details. All is well - just busy.
My schedule this week:
Monday: Work at home (job related); clean house and cook dinner for book club here tonight.
Tues: Work in Camp Sherman all day - then to other job for a few hours
Wed: Work in Camp Sherman all day - then High School Awards Assembly (Yea - hopefully it means more scholarship dollars!
Thurs: Work at home
Friday: Take Marianne and friends to Kah-nee-ta for a day of swimming in the hot springs pools - it's her 18th birthday and senior skip day.
Saturday: Work
Sunday: Plant veggies, fertilize lawn etc.
It actually doesn't look so bad on paper - it's the work stuff - there is a ton of tasks that must be completed this week to get ready for big important events coming up - land use hearings, neighborhood meetings, finish budgets, (OMG - there is a beautiful Wilson's Warbler outside my window!) redo of plot plans to meet Oregon's every changing Land Use laws (they change daily at the whim of State agencies) the list goes on - but I'll get it all finished I'm sure - knitting will not get accomplished I'm afraid - oh well there is always next week...
I did have a great weekend - actually spent two evenings with all of my children. Molly was in town for the weekend and we all met Morgan for dinner in Bend on Friday night - then on Saturday night we celebrated Marianne's Birthday with thier dad at his house. Two in a row!
On to this weeks adventures!
ttfn and Knit Peace!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of us! We deserve it!

Roxie had a great idea - especially for those of us who have lost thier mothers - write down a special memory of your mom to share with others. I think those memories so tend to fade with time, so save them for your children and grandchildren.

The thing about my mother is that she had so many friends - it still amazes me. First there were the "Snotty Nine" - these were 9 buddies that she kept in contact with since grade school - they did a Round Robin letter to each other for over 60 years. I completed her last entry just after she passed away and have remained in special contact with one of the nine. They all lived in different parts of the country - but you would have thought they had coffee over the back fence every day.

Then there are the friends that she made when she moved to Portland as a young bride. Mostly these were families that my father had grown up with. They welcomed mom like she had always been there. They are a huge tight knit group, aging fast and we are losing them often.

There were the friends from work - she was a nurse and volunteered in a clinic run by the hospital interns. Our holiday dinner table always had an orphan or two and her weekly batch of cookies were always a hit with them. She adopted the whole bunch.

She always listened and never had a bad word to say about anyone - and I'm sure she knew all the dirt as everyone confided in her. She was polite to a fault and always insisted that her children and grandchildren be the same - this has been an extremely valuable attribute for my kids especially - even in this day and age they always get compliments about how polite they are. It has served them very well and I know it's my mom's influence. She never criticized - which occassionaly was a problem. Like all new moms, I really was counting on her help when I started my family - but I had to always ask - "what do I do about....how do I...." She wouldn't offer advice unless you asked - she thought it was intrusive!

She always did the right thing and put up with a family that I don't think she was prepared for. She was a great sport - trailing after us on backpacking trips, camping in the Canadian wilderness with my dad on flyfishing trips and one last camping trip with all of us in Yellowstone. One year she walked the entire Rouge River Trail - while the rest of us floated the river! Five days! My mother was not athletic! She was a Southern California beach girl - thrust into a family of outdoor enthusiasts!

And now that she isn't here - we know she is 'intruding' all the time. We laugh when we say "mom would have" or "Grannie Annie would". I think about her everyday - especially when I'm doing something I know she wouldn't approve of - does she know? - I hope not! She is a constant positive influence on us all. We were fortunate to be part of her life. We miss her. Happy Mother's Day Mom - we love you.

I do so knit....

I do knit - really. I'm almost finished with the first front of the Celtic Cardigan - remember that? - started it maybe last year! But I am really working on it - when I haven't fallen asleep in my chair. So what am I really doing...besides working of course.....

This is only about half of what I've got to plant - then there is the vegtable garden - at least I have all the plants and the seeds. Now I just have to til it up!


I am going to finish this weekend. I am going to sit and do nothing on Mother's Day - I might knit. And I might not.....I miss my mom.

It hasn't been a great week - my sister was diagnosed with Breast Cancer - but it's the non invasive kind and it's very very small - she's young and healthy - she'll be fine. But we've been down this road before (my Mom died of Breast Cancer) so it's still very scary - but I'm the Pollyanna type - so I'm convinced she'll be just fine! I'm not going anywhere else with those thoughts!
(Yes my annual mammogram is scheduled for June-I didn't forget!)
So all you who haven't - get a mammogram on a regular basis!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommys - aren't they wonderful!!

I'm still here

I have been so busy I haven't even had time to read blogs much less write in mine.

I have been: (In no particular order)

1)Painting another bedroom, buying a bed and bedding. Now I have a guest room - although I am considering moving into there myself after M3 goes to school next fall - it's in a different part of the house and I can almost close off the back bedrooms and maybe save a little on heat. The room is much bigger - but futher from the family bath (no master bath in this house) - so we'll see.

2)Visiting with M2 daughter - who I wrote about in previous post. She has had meds changed and is doing sooooo well - It is so wonderful to see her blossom into a self assured young women - she's witty too! Had M1 son over while she was home - gosh it was fun to have them all here.

3)Working two jobs - I'm getting confused - which job is tomorrow and what tasks are on my list? Really - each job has two companies involved so it's easy to get mixed up - who does this bill go to? Am expecting to give up the Camp Sherman job in the next month or so - I will miss the location and the drive - but not the uncertainty!

4)I went hog wild - new cell service. M3 and I had same provider - but when she goes to college in the fall she will be out of range - can you believe it - something about being away from home for more than 50% of the time - and they would cancel her and charge us for the left over contract...so I paid off the contract and went with Verizon - M2 is already a Verizon customer so we brought her over to our new family plan - and it will save us all money and we get better phones and much better service. What a deal.

5)I went hog wild again - bought a new computer - had to - my old laptop was at the end of it's daily useful life. But since you can't buy a new computer without Vista on it - I've spent the last day trying to get everything installed and/or copied from my old computer. The Easy Transfer Software isn't...But I'm almost there (Copying my iTunes folder as we speak!) I also had to buy new Office - OMG - but I got the home edition - decided I didn't need Publisher and bought Outlook separately - less expensive and girls can upgrade thier laptops too.

6) I haven't been knitting much - but a little on the Celtic Cardigan. But look what Barb (bloggless) did.... 16 Beanies for Preemies!!! OMG but they are cute

The boys at the High School had their big night last Thursday - they raised $13,000 for the NICU - and thanked all the knitters!

7)Tomorrow I'm gardening - have to get going - although it's been freezing here at night - so no pots out yet, but the Round-up has to get started on those weeds and the lawn needs Weed and Feed.

I hope you are all well and enjoying the spring. I've been going to fast to really enjoy it - but soon!

Knit Peace

Letter to "Talk of the Nation" National Public Radio

Saturday, President Bush wondered how to make treatment available to those who suffer from Mental Illness. Today (Monday) Talk of the Nation discussed ‘Forced Treatment” for the mentally ill. The tragedy at Virginia Tech has brought this issue to the forefront of many peoples concern. It has been my top concern for a long time.

My daughter has a mental illness and I say this with her full permission and encouragement.

The real issue is that Mental Illness is not recognized as a medical condition. Not by many doctors, certainly not by insurance companies or the general public. Most people account the symptoms of the mentally ill to just bad behavior.

My daughter is at times a threat to herself, but much of the time she functions just like you and I - Has a job where she is very valued, lives away from home and has supportive friends. She is on medication that helps smooth out the daily rough edges.

My daughter would be able to function better and avoid the extremely painful aspects of her illness if therapy were available – she has a wonderful therapist – but she cannot afford to go often enough to have a long term benefit. Her insurance only covers 20 visits in a 24 month period! That’s less than once a month. Consequently her therapist is only able to assist her during a crisis – not beforehand as preventative care.

This is not an illness that goes away after 20 treatments; this is a lifelong chronic issue. Can you imagine telling a cancer patient that only 20 doses of chemotherapy are available? Then you’re on your own? My daughter is fortunate that she is educated enough about her illness that she knows she has to work at it everyday, but the threat is always there. Her body is scared by the abuse she has inflicted on herself. She has been on suicide watch many times and has been hospitalized for her attempts. Yet she bounces back, learns new methods of prevention, and goes on with her life, always moving forward. She is a true survivor. I am incredibly proud of her. But no one should have to suffer and hurt like she has.

Until we wake up and acknowledge that mental illness is just that – an illness – just like cancer is an illness, there will always be those that don’t get help. There will always be those that go over the edge. And there will always be those that are discriminated against because they are brave enough to admit they have a mental illness and they need help.

Thank you NPR for your thought provoking broadcasts. Hopefully bringing this issue to light will help those that suffer from Mental Illnesses. The tragedy at Virginia Tech is horrific, and so are the lives that are lost to Mental Illness.

Hurray Hurray FO

I actually finished a long time project - my Wave scarf....I can't remember when I started this - but have enjoyed it a lot....Nature's Palette - dusky purple and two Kiogu that had been sitting around so long I've lost the ball bands. One down and two more to go - the most important being the Celtic Cardigan. I've got to finish that!! And of course there are socks in my bag.

This was prom weekend - this is the last one thank goodness! It seems it costs more each time. She had a great time and slept most of yesterday - party on!

I am having the worst time with my blogger template - I can't get my sockapalooza button to show up....It's driving me crazy. But I am participating and looking forward to meeting new friends. The pal I knit for last year doesn't have a blog - so it was hard to keep in touch. Abigail who knit great socks for me has just had a transformation - check it out - she is beeautiful!

After a raining and cold weekend - today is lovely and I actually found a few blossoms in my garden - but unfortunately the apples got frozen - so the won't be very pretty. Unfortunately I also found a few of these in the grass and will have to work at using the dreaded weed killer....

Hope everyone enjoys the week ahead. I'll be working on producing more FOs! Yea!

Knit Peace

edited: I wish blogger would show you what your post really looked like in the edit window - the pictures keep moving around...grrrrr

And the winner is....

I drew a name - and the STR is in the mail!!
Thank you all for your hard work and beautiful efforts. The Preemie babies at St. Charles Hospital will be warm and cozy!! I'll be delivering 27 hats - and I think more to come. I've got yarn to do more - they are such fun very quick projects.
Thank you all again.

Waiting for one more delivery

I haven't forgotten to draw for Beanies for Preemies - I'm waiting for one more package to arrive - I think - Barb are you out there??
By the way - I did two more hats yesterday with the yarn that Mary sent me...thanks!