Vacation Report #4

It is amazing to me to look out on all of the natural beauty of the battlefields of a place like Gettysburg and know (feel it in my bones, really) how many young men died there 150 years ago. It's creepy and horrible and awesome, really, in a vicious way. One the one hand you have these beautiful rolling hills, the trees, the monuments (many of which are really very great art), and on the other hand you have the war, the three days when thousands of young men went at one another with guns and bayonets to fight and die for their beliefs.

And there is another thing - it's good that we abolished slavery - it was a righteous cause. It was good, even, to fight to preserve the union, I guess. But is it really right to fight to the death like that? Is it entirely necessary? What about those young men of the 20th Maine who were told to hold the end of the line "at all hazards"? What about their mothers and sweethearts, sitting at home knowing that their boys were being sacrificed like they were merely instruments? What justification can we give to those grieving families?

Thousands of men died. So many men died they had to bury them in mass graves. The Southern casualties laid where they fell until the 1870s, nearly 10 years later, when the South came and claimed their remains. It was awful.

And now, every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit these fields of death. Are we glorifying the destruction or honoring the brave men or celebrating the abolition of slavery? I assume that many of us have a mixture of all of this in our hearts and minds as we go through . . . at least I hope I'm not the only one who thinks of these things.


Anyway, I lighten things up for myself by knitting, and by posing with the statues. This is the only one that really made it to the camera, though, because Simon was embarrassed by me. LOL

My next post will probably be my final vacation report. Just a few more pics to share with y'all. Vacationing with a photographer (hubby) yields a lot of publishable pics.

Vacation Report #3

These are more pictures from the islands. Simon has become uncomfortable with having pictures taken of himself so we kind of have to coerce him every time we want one. He has a tendancy to look surly, so Mike has begun tickling him, etc. This first one is the two of them in front of a shipwreck on Assateague.


Simon does, however, enjoy handling the camera himself sometimes, thus the pic of Mike and I. Mike and Si took what they now both call "the death walk" by hiking along one of the nature trails on Assateague. It was, apparently, overrun with mosquitoes and didn't yield (strangely) any good birds. I had opted to sit and knit during that walk, thereby missing the bites. Yay me! Yay knitting!

Bombay Hook Delaware is really lovely. We got there on Monday around noon, and there were thousands of birds. Mike tells me that when it is migration time there are hundreds of thousands, and many more species than we saw, but I was quite happy with our afternoon there. I really enjoyed all of the herons and their ilk.


And finally, on Tuesday morning we arrived at Gettysburg, bright and early (just as the visitor's center was opening, really). This is what Si has been waiting for all Summer. He was so excited he was nearly uncontainable. We had even had to ask him to please stop talking about the Civil War while we were enjoying the nature on the coast because he'd become so obsessed with it all he was hardly even noticing the beach and birds. We did the Visitor's Center first, and then started the cool in-your-car audio tour we'd purchased at Antietam. More on this later!

Vacation Post #2

Other than visiting with my friend, Ann (more on that later), my favorite part of vacation was going to the seashore, seeing birds and ponies, and being in nature. These pictures are all from those first few days on the Atlantic coast. I think they're self-explanatory.

Vacation Report #1

One of the things I love most about being off work is spontaneity. I don't often get to be spontaneous (not nearly as often as I'd like), even on vacation! But I love it when we can be! The very first day of our trip we were to drive straight out to the Eastern Shore, southern Maryland area near Assateague and Chincoteague Islands. It's about a 10 hour drive. Well, as we were driving, we decided spontaneously to stop at Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland. It was very cool. We purchase an audio tour guide that included a book and map and other information and we followed quickly through the stops to get a good idea of what took place there. (The bridge is sometimes refered to as Burnside's Bridge where hundreds of soldiers were killed). It's hard to believe that such a beautiful place has seen so much bloodshed. It creeps me out, but my son and husband don't seem to feel it. We also lucked out and saw the reenactors demonstrating some things, including loading and firing. It was neat!
There is also a tribute to Clara Barton, who helped nurse fallen soldiers on this field and who went on to help found the American Red Cross. You will see that, all through our trip I was relentlessly trying to find things to look at and do that weren't about war. Sigh. I'll post more on the vacation soon. Also check out my other blog for more writing about our week!

Sock Wars

I don't know how to load the link with the picture (can anyone tell me?) but you must all know that I am signed up for SOCK WARS. Should be fun! Yarmando and I are getting a group of Columbus Sock Warriors together, too, so if you're local and you're going to play, let us know!

WIPs again - finally!

I finally got off my duff and took pics of what I've been working on. First is the notorious baby blanket. The baby was born only last week, and having gotten bored with the boring knitting I did not make a very large blanket, so I wanted to finish and deliver it soon so the baby is still slightly smaller than the blankie.





Second has been a really fun project, and I'm just about to cast off and block. It's a 7x9 block for the homeless shelter quilt. My LYS gives away yarn for people to knit squares. Then we can turn them in and they'll put them all together. I might make a second just like this one. I love doing cables! I'm convinced to try making a sweater for my husband . . . maybe for Christmas 2008 or something. LOL Rosie likes the knitting and is constantly "helping" me. You can see her paws there on the table.

My next unfinished project is my first attempt to make a yarmulke for a friend. I messed it up and have no idea what I'm doing so I'm going to frog it. I just thought I'd document that I did try. Also, those needles are awful - very heavy.

Third is a pair of sock/slippers that I am making for my M-I-L. She likes velour-y things, so this chenille yarn should be just the ticket. She liked it when we picked it out at Wallyworld . . . her favorite place to shop. I think I should have knit a guage swatch because this is turning out way too large. I might be frogging this, too, so it's on the back burner until I make up my mind.

Finally is the beautiful sock yarn sent to me for my birthday by my good new friend,Slang! It is a beautiful color mix, and lovely texture. I might start up a pair of socks with it - right after I finish my current sock project!

I am so excited about my current socks. I can't get any more pictures in to this post, though, so I'll start another one. :-)

Shawl Given Away

I gave away the bridal shawl without a good picture of it alone. Here is my sister, trying it on. It is knit with Louisa Harding Glisten color #1, the white with silver through it. it's a ribbon yarn, but the metallic silver bits kept snagging on every little thing (like my rough callouses, even). I knit it on size 15 circulars. it was boring, but it looks pretty and at least now it's done! I think she likes it, but no idea if she'll wear it for the wedding or not. Ah well. Such is life - full of mysteries.

Sock Yarn!

I love knitting socks . . . and I love using those nice thin needles and making other things with sock yarn. I just found this great idea and I think that blanket is a great idea! I want to do it! I'm going to start this weekend with making some small squares. Yay! She's collecting sock yarn . . . but I want to collect, too! Anyone have some schnibbles I can have?

I also found this fun blog that has links to 2 other knit-along groups. Too fun!

And, I thought I'd add this great vacation ticker!

Meanwhile, on the needles

This is an all cotton face cloth. The pattern is in Weekend Knitting, and I liked it a lot. It knit up in about a day . . . give or take. It's the first time I've knit with cotton, and it was much different, but just as fun. I knit each petal onto a dpn, then when I had knit the 5th petal, I just joined them all in the round, knit a bit, and then started the drastic decreases. I have to admit that I lost track of what I was doing near the end and did one more row than I should have! LOL I love the way this turned out! I'll be making more! It makes giving a washcloth a respectable gift experience, don't you think? I mean - this, along with a little bar of some kind of homemade soap or something - lovely gift, right?





One of my friends at work has lost his favorite hat. These next two are my attempts to find a pattern that he'll like. I had this bulky yarn, which I love to use, and thought I'd just make up a few hats until I get it right, then I'll copy the good one in black, which is what he wants. This is Bernat Softee Chunky yarn - love it! I'll get the same yarn in black for him. The first one is from this online pattern and was a joy to knit. I also like the little holes in the pattern (although my pic doesn't show them up well).


This hat is one i've created from the second of this online honeycomb pattern. Again, the pic doesn't show it well. I need to tighten up the cuff and make a few other adjustments to make the hat smaller all around, but I like the pattern a lot, and I'll share it here when I get around to fixing it.

I also have a gift started for my sister. I need to finish it by July 22 for her bridal shower . . . and THEN I will post some pics. It's not complicated, but I think it will be elegant and pretty. We'll see. I just hope she likes it. I'm not posting it yet in the off chance she ambles by before July 22.

Uncle Bob

He loved photography, nature, figuring out how things worked. He used to let me use his camera to take a roll of film and then he'd go through each picture and we'd talk about what would make it better next time. It was never threatening or aggravating because he was so patient and wise and compassionate. He was a great teacher.

He would take us to the park and we'd feed the geese and ducks and chickadees, take pictures, learn about everything in sight, talk with the naturalist and have a picnic (often just whatever fast food was handy on the way there). He loved to be silly. He'd tease and goof around, and he was always joking about "getting away with things that Ginny wouldn't let him do".

He also loved to hear what we were doing. GUB (Great Uncle Bob, to Simon) was enthralled with Simon's drawing and asked him all sorts of questions about what he drew and how he drew it. Mom says that last Sunday, when Bob had collapsed and was in the hospital (still miraculously in no pain) that he commented on how Simon seems to draw things like he already sees it on the paper and is just showing us with his pencil.



Bob had the soul of an artist, the brain of a genius and a heart of gold. There is so much more I could say about him - about his accomplishments as an engineer and all of the other things he did, but in the end, this is what I remember. He was one of the most kind people I've ever known.

Uncle Bob passed away on Tuesday, peacefully. Even though he was full of cancer, he felt no pain. I believe it is the grace of God to a good man. We'll miss Uncle Bobby a great deal. I'm certain, though, that we'll see him again in Heaven.

Knitting Update

I've started working on a hat, just on a whim, to try some two-color work. I love it! I have to concentrate when I'm knitting so I can keep track of where I am in the chart, but it's really fun to see the pattern emerge, and I think I've finally got the idea of how to keep the strands going along the back. There is a broad cuff on this, and then you turn the work and do the body of it. I like it so far!






This is the sock I'm working on, when I don't have the ability to concentrate as closely as I need to for that hat.

And then there is this little red hat I made for Dulaan.



These are the roses from the bush in my front garden. Sorry the photo is so out of focus. I think my own vision is off this morning. Hmm, if that's the case, maybe it really is in focus and my own world is off?

The Harry Potter slipper socks are finally done! He loves the, too. :D I think they look pretty swell, actually. I don't like how I did the striping on the backs . . . but I'll work on that.










These pictures are from Boy Scout camp yesterday. We just went for the day. Simon should be able to advance in rank in June!


Samwise was trying to write! I was trying to get him while he was still holding it more securely but I wasn't quick enough.

New sock that I cast on with size 00 needles. WAY TOO SMALL! Even I, the queen of no gauge, can see that. FROG!











And here you see the sock, after having been frogged from the too-small needles, cast on to the size 1 needles. Much better. When I did this number of stitches (64 for those of you who care) on the #2 needles, the sock was too loose. It was the same line of yarn, too . . . so this #1 version should be right, right?

I really love the colorway! (note the real knitterly terminology . . .normal folks would just say "I love the colors!")

Now that I've mentioed it - why is it necessary to say "colorway" when saying "colors" works? One of you needle-hos answer that for me, would you?

more WIP news

I started a new pair of Sockatta yarn socks, and I've tried to post a pic but it's not letting me. Hmph. I've also been working on the endless baby blue baby blanket. BORING! But it will be sweet and wonderful when finally finished, so I schlogg on. I try to do at least 2 rows a day.

Ok - 'nuff said.

Weekly WIP update

Weekly update on my knitting! I've finally finished those toe-up socks. If you recall, I didn't like the way the first afterthought heel was looking, but after letting it languish in the jumble of the spareroom for a while, I've changed my mind and decided it's ok. So both are done now. I think I've just finished my first in a long series of Christmas presents . . . but I don't know, yet, who will get what! hehehe








The heel has 6 points of decrease instead of 4, and it's kind of cool to look at . . . also rather fun to do. I DO NOT likc picking up all those stitches from the waste yarn, though. BLAH! POX on picking up stitches! I doubt I'll do those afterthought heels again. Best to do them while you're knitting the sock IMHO - mostly because I'm lazy.






Next in the knitting line-up is the talisman bag. I actually finished this a few weeks ago to send to a friend who was having a scary medical procedure. I didn't want to post it before he got it, you see. You can see the purple heart I made from Sculpey, too. The pic is taken with a dime so you can see how very small it all is. These are really fun to make! I think I did this one on size 1 needles, but I bought these small needles in a set with various sizes and if they weren't different colors I'd be even more confused than I am! I never know what size I'm using. I cast on about 24 stitches and then just see where the yarn takes me. I like to design it to match the coloring on the yarn. Then I add the little beads and the string, etc.

Now for the Harry Potter socks. When Simon and I were buying all those Civil War soldiers for his diorama, I made him come into the LYS (just 2 doors down from Hobbyland!) and pick out yarn for a pair of very thick, slipper-like socks. After seeing Brow's HP booga bag, he decided on these Gryffindor colors. It's delicious bulky yarn, and I've really been enjoying these socks! It took me only 4 days or so to do the first one! Helps to not have much of a cuff, but it's so nice and thick it just goes like a breeze. I'm using #6 needles. I designed and worked the lightening bolt into the heel flap. Why aren't they done? I've lost one of my needles! I need to run by the LYS on my way to work today and buy another. DRAT! They've been dormant now since Tuesday. BLAH!





Do you see how I've worked his name in, too? On the other sock I'm going to reverse it so that you can read it from above while wearing it. It'll look upside down to onlookers. ;-) I love making whimsical things!

All the students sang some Civil War Era songs first. This is during Battle Hymn of the Republic. I got quite teary-eyed.

And this is Simon with his museum display on Sherman. Each student stood by his display and answered questions as the adults went around. It really was like a museum, with a docent at every exhibit! There were several kids with foods like Johnny Cakes and hardtack. Ick.

Do you see his fabulous diorama? I am really proud of him!

Simon and Sherman

We took this pic yesterday - the final piece on the big William Tecumseh Sherman report he did for school. This is on the Statehouse lawn downtown.
He is pointing, of course, to Sherman - Civil War General, father of Modern Warfare (ick). Notice how Si is wearing his Union hat? Golly, he's a cute kid.