Yarn Rambles

What would you like to ask the Yarn Harlot?

Next week I am going to be recording an interview with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (the Yarn Harlot). The interview will be one of my podcasts soon after the recording.

But, given how much we all feel we know about Stephanie between her blog, books, previous interviews and speaking engagements, I'm feeling some pressure to have questions that won't just be boring repeats. I'm looking for some suggestions to give me a framework for my interview. I won't be able to work in everyone's questions but I'm hoping I can discover some themes.

Please feel free to add any questions to the Comments for this blog entry. I would be very grateful for your help.

Mother's Day Weekend

We had a lovely long weekend in Philadelphia. Last summer Bob's mother, Muriel, moved to a retirement communty close by Bob's brothers - David and Bill. With the whole east coast family gathered within a few miles of Philadelphia, it was easy to get to organize lots of visiting over three days.

Bob had been in Ohio so he met me at the airport in Philadelphia. We caught a cab into town to meet David at his law firm. Then we picked up David's son, James, at his law firm. Given that the most clear memory I have of James is his visit with us out here as his Bar Mitzvah present, seeing him walking out of the building where he now works in a law firm, complete with tie and dress pants, made me suddenly feel like I was in a time machine heading in the wrong direction!!

It only got worse as the "children" (nieces and nephews) kept arriving at David and Lisa's house over the weekend. Michael, Bill and Karen's youngest son, joined us Friday night because he was going to prom Saturday night.

As I looked at the photos Karen sent to us, I thought of how wonderful it is to live in a country that accepts and celebrates everyone as an individual. I know we have many things we still need to improve but when I think about the horrible things people do to each other all around the world because of intolerance, I smile to look at this group of prom goers. What a wonderful representation of the American melting pot!

Saturday night we were joined by Emily (David and Lisa's daughter), Jeffrey (Bill and Karen's son) and Ta Da! - Jonathon!!

(Here is David, Bob, Jonathon and his girl-friend, Mara)

(Then Jonathon, Mara and Lisa)

 

(And, Emily (David and Lisa's daughter), the new knitter when she has any time left over from law school studies.

The only shot of Jeffrey (Bill and Karen's oldest son) I seem to have gotten is in this family shot while we were out to dinner.

(Left and around the the table - Muriel, Bob, David, Emily, Jeffrey, Heather, Mara, Jonathon, Karen, Bill and Lisa)

Of course, Xena was thrilled to be back with Grandma Muriel!

Sunday morning we gathered for Mother's Day brunch at Muriel's place. I was only able to shoot a couple more photos before Muriel begged me to put away the camera!

(Bill and Jonathon)

(Then, David and Jonathon)

My favorite photo of the Mother's Day Weekend!

A nice spring weekend at home

Because we live at 1,500 ft., the trees, flowers and shrubs are always a couple of weeks behind the ones by our office when it comes to flowering. When I took Xena outside Saturday morning there was an insistent buzz alongside the front of the house. Bumble bees!! The fun, striped, pudgy kind!!

The warm weather energized me! Bob left around 9:00 for a golf lessons and a short round of golf. I put in my earphones, turned on an audio book and started flying around the house. No method to my madness! I guess there were a lot of little things bothering me because I didn't stop moving until Bob got back home around 4:00. When he walked through the door, all happy because his lesson helped him "find his swing again", I realized that I was more than ready to sit down and relax.

Time for knitting and reading! I am making progress on the baby blanket and I will take photos for the next blog. Oh, on Sunday I started the sleeves for my Aran Cardigan! I will take photos!

My Affirmation Marker

I had an epiphany this weekend and, even though it is ridiculously simple, I am so proud of it that I simply must share. Last Friday I decided to keep my Big Black Socks with me as much as possible in order to make consistent progress. To judge just how much knitting could be accomplished in a day, I slipped a row counter into one sock right at the top. I knit along quite happily all day.

Saturday morning I realized that moving the marker every day would be a nice way to encourage me by highlighting my daily accomplishment. Without a nice little Affirmation Marker like this, it is easy to feel as if you are making no progress at all in something like a solid black sock.

I realize from your notes over the weekend that I made an assumption of general knowledge regarding the Socks for Soldiers program. A few months ago, Bob's youngest son, Jonathon, joined the Marines. While he was in boot camp, in order to focus my anxiety, I investigated a Yahoo Group that I had known about for awhile. Kim Opperman's son, Tom, is serving in the Air Force. After he received a pair of hand-knit socks from his mother, he wrote to her saying that he wished his fellow soldiers could have a pair of comfy socks.

This year marks the 2nd anniversary of Socks for Soldiers, Inc.

What I appreciate about Kim is that she manages to keep her organization above the scuffle of politics by pointing out that all of our service men and women deserve our support.

Kim's, or Sarge's, gentle but constant commands to keep on knitting are conveniently available at a site called Cafe Press. I just bought a hooded sweatshirt with the Give Me 20 - Minutes logo. I put it on over my pjs every morning when I take Xena outside. I'm finding it to be a nice way to re-committ to knitting on my socks each day. It doesn't hurt that it is also a very nice sweatshirt. I also purchased a bag and a box of cards to use whenever I send a note to someone.

 

Sewing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kim Opperman, Sarge, from Socks for Soldiers sent me a lovely care package. We had been talking about knitting Big Black Socks in public as a way to encourage other knitter's awareness of the program. She sells special knitting bags for just that purpose. When I opened up my box from Kim I found a black messenger bag with a large red cross on it.

The second bag appealed to my love of history because it is a vintage style medic bag. It has a large section and two smaller, fold-down sections. The whole thing is designed to sit upright for better access to the medical supplies. I can see a lot of potential for this bag! Maybe add a hat in progress and a washcloth, both items Kim says soldiers appreciate, so I can have an easy-to-carry Soldier Knitting bag.   

The best part is that all that potential folds up into a compact bag.

In the back there are multiple ways to carry around my new bag. Over my shoulder, around my waist or just grab it quickly by the handle on the top.

Kim also kindly included two Socks For Soldiers, Inc. patches. Problem!!! They had to be sewn onto the bags. Again, Craft Night came to my rescue! Having quilters and companionship made it much easier to handle the stress of having to work with a needle and thread. First, I used a little magic quilting glue to place the patches.

I talked Karen into sewing the patch onto the olive green bag because she thought she could handle it with a sewing machine. It turned out she could only reach half of the patch but I was very grateful.

I spent my time tacking the patch down onto the black bag. It was amusing for everyone. Well, Xena was just puzzled by my activity.

By the end of Craft Night both bags were ready for duty including the 2-Year Anniversary pins secured onto the straps.

Now I have two good ways to work in extra knitting whenever I get a few free minutes each day.

The rain in Spain

It's hard to see but it is raining quite hard.

Comfor via Cappucino

More comfort with eating and knitting!

Finally, the sun broke through on Friday!

We had most of the day to take Roop and Rashme for a quick day trip into the hills before we had to take them to the airport.

We found a stunning little church dug into a cave in the 1600s.

The day flew by and before we knew it, we needed to leave for the airport.

That left three days for Bob and I to explore the area on our own.

Sunday in Cologne!

Ok, we have to start with this photo because it is my favorite from the entire show! Bob and Roop are on the right but I couldn't tell you anything about the other two gentlemen.

All I know is that the one fellow had grabbed a pair of needles and was trying them out. No problem except that he started walking around as he talked with Bob and Roop.

Before we knew it, we had quite a tangle of yarn all over the booth. I straightened out, identified the ball of yarn that was attached to his needles and stuffed it into his pocket. I couldn't resist taking a picture!

 

Lots more knitting!!

 

 

When things started slowing down in the afternoon, Astrid tried to help me knit faster. It felt like I was learning to knit all over again. I remember the details but I haven't taken the time to sit down and build up the muscle memory. It all has to do with tiny movements and grabbing the yarn at the very tips of the needles.

Before we broke down the booth, we had a group photo taken. Tired but very happy!

Roop, me, Bob, Rashme, Astrid, Angela and Ashok.

Saturday in Cologne!

One of the big surprises at the show, for me, was having internet friends drop by to say, "Hi".

Lena, from Ravelry, came bearing gifts! Apple wine and hand-made stitch markers.

Elemmaciltur, from the podcast, Knitter's Uncensored, saw that we had visited Daniella's shop on Wednesday. 

 

Of course, we had lots of knitters trying out the needles!

Astrid is busy answering questions!

It was a lot like a big party!

After spending the day with us, Angela went off to try her hand at being the fastest knitter of the day!

On Sunday, she won Fastest Knitter in Germany!!

Friday in Cologne

Of course, Bob just loved all the activity!

   

And, kissing our first order!

I loved seeing so many happy knitters sitting down and enjoying our needles.

I've taken up a new challenge!

Last month I read an absolutely wonderful mystery called The Flander's Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte. The plot revolves around a mysterious chess match. I learned how to play chess when I was a little girl but never really took it seriously. This book convinced me that chess would be a good way to sharpen my wits. So I downloaded a game program onto my Palm and ordered The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess.

I also sent a note to a friend whose children are on their school's chess team asking for advice. You won't believe what she sent to me! It turns out that Emily has learned that your opponent becomes completely rattled when you finish your move and then pick up your knitting as you wait for him to make his move!