ARE YOU NICE?

Well, I can only read this stuff in small snippets.

ReadThisArticle!!!


If you are not eating anything right now, and you have a strong heart, go read the article about sheep.

I thought that surely Knitters would know about this, and DO something. I've seen what can happen when Knitters set their minds to it and take action. Well, I was horrified to read about Merino Wool (mostly from Australia, New Zealand, and some other places--read labels, check sources) ABUSE. I'm more surprised to find that many Knitters I've written to don't even respond. What's UP with THAT? Either people don't know, or they don't care. I HAVE to believe that they care, and they just don't know. We'll see. This shows the real story: photos of innocent sheep . And, sorry I had to be the one to inform you, but it's "got" to stop! If you agree, here is info on how everyone can help: What We Can Do.

Just a little over a year ago, there were no knitters in our house. Now, there are two Knitters (DD and me), and one little knitter (youngest DD). When we found out the real story about Merino, it made us SICK.
Our stash is shamefully (wonderfully) LARGE, with three of us always finding more wool. You can imagine! BUT. We check what we are buying before we buy. (You should, too.)



If you are brave, and if you really care, read up and let me know what you think! Help spread the word.

KTS 3 BOUNTY

Look at all these goodies from my swap pal, Isobel! Luscious yarns in my favorite colors:











And check out that dessert!!! Talk about tea and cakes! Well, she didn't SEND the cake, exactly. But the recipe book with that, and lots more, in it. And how about that cute pack with hand cream, a tape measure, marker, pen and all. Then the tea! I've never even seen such a fancy tea infuser, and now I have a fancy tea infuser. We can really make a "proper" cuppa' tea now.






























Isobel even sent a gift for each of our three children. They were so excited. It was fun for them to help me open the box and see all the tea and yarn and goodies, but they really felt special having a gift of their own in there. That was SO thoughtful, and I appreciated that lots n' lots.














And there was CHOCOLATE, of course. Yummy kinds we don't have in the U.S. We do have Walkers, but these are not the same Walkers as in Ireland. I'll do my own version of a taste comparison later (Walkers from U.S. vs Walkers from Ireland). But, I can tell you right now, they're both very yummy.

Thank you, again, Isobel. Your swap package to me could not have been more wonderful. I'll be posting some FOs with my new yummy yarns (and needles--did you see them, Peace Fleece needles!!!!), but do NOT hold your breath. I haven't been knitting TOO long. I do get there, but speed-knitter, no.

Books by the DECADE

So, we are going to document our reading this summer thanks to a challenge over here. I'm joining the challenge mostly to accompany and encourage our children. LORD knows I am busy enough and probably won't need to add something like this to my schedule. But. They found the challenge, and I am NOT going to discourage reading! Besides, I found some books I'd really like to read (or reread).



"Attorneyback" just got back from camp, and so he has a lot of deciding to do, to finalize his list. He will likely read twice as many books as he is listing, so it will not be a problem. He just has been away for two weeks, and is EXhausted right now.

Here is the list for "Attorneyback" , for (20) books, so far:

2000's. TBA
1990's. TBA
1980's. Bourne Identity
1970's. God In The Dock, C. S. Lewis
1960's. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee.
1950's. Hornblower, C. S. Forester
1940's. There Is A Tide, Agatha Christie
1930's. Flying Colors, C.S. Forester
1920's. Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, C. S. Forester
1910's. TBA
1900's. The Sea Wolf, Jack London
1890's. TBA
1880's. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
1870's. TBA
1860's. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky
1850's. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
1840's. The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas
1830's. Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo
1820's. Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott
1810's. Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen


Here is the list of (15) books for little "PinkBalletToes":

2000's. The Tale Of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo
1990's. Running Out Of Time, Margaret Peterson Haddix
1980's. Sweet Valley High/Lost At Sea, Francie Pascal
1970's. Nancy Drew/The Mysterious Mannequin, Carolyn Keene
1960's. Harriet The Spy, Louise Fitzhugh
1950's. Mary Poppins/In The Park, P.L. Travers
1940's. The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint Exupery
1930's. Mary Poppins Comes Back, P.L. Travers
1920's. The Fairy Caravan, Beatrix Potter
1910's. Daddy-Long-Legs, Jean Webster
1900's. Secret Garden, Frances Eliza Hodgson
1890's. Blue Fairy Book, Andrew Lang
1880's. Heidi, Johanna Spyri
1870's. Little Men, Louisa May Alcott
1860's. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
(and might read more!)


Here is the beginnings of my list. (I am still exhausted from getting kids home and settled from camp, but I promise I will work on my list this weekend!)

List of (12) books for "KathyinDC" is as follows: (as you can see, I want to totally "live/read" in the past, heh)

1940's. The Diary Of A Young Girl, Anne Frank
1930's. Murder At The Vicarage, Agatha Christie
1920's. Mysterious Affair At Styles, Agatha Christie
1910's. The Tale Of Mrs. Tittlemouse, Beatrix Potter
1900's. Heretics, G. K. Chesterton
1890's. Personal Recollections Of Joan Of Arc, Mark Twain (he states this as HIS favorite of all his writings)
1880's. A Study In Scarlet, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
1870's. TBA, undecided.
1860's. TBA, undecided.
1850's. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens (the book he wrote midpoint of all his books, and his most "autobiographical")
1840's. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
1830's. Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo

Ninja-Kitty.

First, some seasonal Eye Candy for you:















Now, the ceilings. See what I mean? Those are 25 feet UP! It literally took 2 1/2 years to find anyone willing to climb up there and paint all of it. It looks nice. With the white (primer-white) gone, all the angles just look striking, not disturbing.
Check out crazy ninja-cat!!!! She even jumps from the top of the cabinets to that window sill 20 feet up and sits there looking outside! She's a wild 'thang'.

Nightmare ALMOST Over . . . . .

We've got these 25-foot tall cathedral ceilings, which looked like they had never been painted ever (just white primer). It has taken us 2 1/2 years to find a painter willing to climb up there and teeter on the edge of ladders, risking life and limb, but we finally found one--thank you, Louis. So, our house has been looking like THIS lately:









It was a NIGHTMARE all through Father's Day, and the whole weekend when we had lots of things planned, and it is going to take a few days to put it all back together (and clean all the floors, rugs, etc. ). But it will look fabulous when we are done.








This is some swatching I'm doing to plan for a garter stitch jacket EZ-style. I see why EZ said she loves garter stitch. I'll have to get some other color for accent/trim. Maybe a red?

Check back soon and I'll try to post some "after" paint photos.

Sugar and Spice, and Everything Nice

So, here is the sugar:

Something about it being "rough cut" cubes, and of course, it is pure cane sugar, minimally processed, all that crunchy goodness. If you have a cup of tea you want to sweeten, it really is good! So, I promised to post it, and here it is!

Think I better show some knitting after all this tea sweetening, and traveling to Paris and all!


Here are some socks I am (SHhhhhhh) secretly knitting for my son. He loves all things "weapons" (hmm, have to watch him), but also loves ships, chess, Sudoku and similar puzzles, DEBATE, and reads like a fiend. That's a good thing. Anyway, he is going off to Debate Camp for TWO WEEKS later this month. SO. Didn't want him to forget about (or miss too much?) dear mom, so, I'm sending him off with some appropriate handknits.



I think he'll like this:
Lorna's Laces hand-dyed yarn in "camouflage"! A dream to knit.

Catching Up

So. We are back from a week in Paris, which was like heaven. This cat (and another cat, and the two don't get along, and a big dog--also doesn't get along with either of the two cats), were a handful to catch up on.

I guess last few times I tried to post, Blogger was just having a bad day. Couldn't do it! I'll try to organize more photos and post some of France here soon. Here's a cup of tea for you from Paris:

Posting Problems

Not sure why, but the camera and computer are not *talking* right now. This has happened before, so I got a card reader (as opposed to just connnecting camera directly to computer). That worked. It seems that when we fill the camera until it can hold no more shots before downloading, it gets "jammed" or something. But. Now the card reader doesn't work!!!!!! Have to figure out what the problem is. Computer and camera are both new enough that there is no excuse. I'm working on it! (Any suggestions anyone????)

FIRST SOCKS EVER!!!!!

So, finally. I'm so excited. Remember the first time YOU knit a pair of socks?
They are not perfect, but close. It's a pattern from Knitty. They are 75% cotton, 25% wool. A very nice, cruelty-free wool.

I'm giving them to DH. Soft, handknit, socks!












Knitted on 4 dpns. I used metal needles, I think they were a US2 size.


Nice heel, pattern on the leg. I'd do this pattern again, but in a finer gauge next time. These are nice and snuggly. Might be "thick-ish" for wearing with shoes. Would be nice with tennis shoes or boots though!

Holiday Goodies

We did stick to mostly raw food during the holidays. Here's a tour of yummy goodness.










THE biggest pears ever, and SOOOO yummy.



















7 Layer Salad REDO (healthy)
That is not mayonnaise-it's "nut mayo".
Tastier and healthier.











Happy New Year!