Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

About town

Here's one sign we never saw where we used to live. This is at a local gas station.



Anything strike you as odd about this sign?



For me, it's the implied message that comes before it. The tone of it seems to say that this church is deeply disappointed that our new administration is actually following international law and not violating human rights. The invisible "well, even though they won't torture people anymore..." that precedes the message on the sign.

Knitting
Not much has progressed since I last posted. Knitting time has been sparse lately - except for when I'm at the laundromat. I'm alternately working on the Violets By The River shawl and the baby blanket.

I have not cast on a new project yet, but I'm close to doing so. I really want to try Vivian Hoxboro's Net Duffel Bag from the Spring 2009 Interweave Knits.

Summer festivals

This past weekend, Smalltown, USA had a festival that centers around the race of a specific watercraft on the local river. It was 4 days of activities, most of which I missed as I was helping my mother-in-law with their garage sale.

I did manage to catch the fireworks on Saturday night. DH and I sat on our front porch and had a great view - we're only 2 blocks away from the river where the fireworks were set off. The other advantages - no crowds and not having to use a porta potty.

One good shot (not bad for a point and shoot camera)...


among many that weren't. I wasn't using a tripod and it shows.


What I, unfortunately, didn't miss was the band that played at the local fairgrounds (basically next door to us) until 5 o'clock Sunday morning. I think I finally fell asleep about 2 a.m. Note to self: Next year - ear plugs.

Pandering

Since I'm short on blog fodder...

Deadline

So DH has been gone since May 16th and is returning tonight. He was rafting in the Grand Canyon with his brothers and nephews - repeating the trip he and his brothers went on 20 years ago. (They'd been on a waiting list since then.) Work has been so busy, I haven't accomplished half the projects I'd hope to complete while he was out of the house; this includes knitting.

My goal was to complete as many WIPS as possible before June 1st. Considering how limited my knitting time has been, I think I've managed to finish a fair number. Many of the projects have ends that need to be woven in but I consider the project finished once the knitting is done.

The first pattern is from Vogue Knitting Scarves. It's the Geometric Scarf. The yarn is Knit One Crochet Too Ambrosia (70% baby alpaca, 20% silk 10% cashmere). The yarn is wonderfully soft.

Warning: None of the items have been blocked and none have been de-furred (enormous amounts of cat hair are on each).

This show's the pattern...


and this the true color.


This is the Garter Stitch Scarf kit from the Argyle Fiber Mill.


A close up of the colors.


Another Farrow Rib scarf made from Malabrigo worsted. The color is Loro barranquero - a mix of browns, yellows, pinks, reds, and cream.


And there is Girasole - finished but not blocked. It turned out much smaller than I anticipated. Even after blocking, I think it will only be lap robe size.

This shows the pattern...


and this the true color. The yarn is Cascade 220 Heathers - a lovely brown.


I've decided to continue the Dealing-With-The-WIPS until July 1st. I don't do well concentrating on just one project at a time, but my knitting promiscuity was getting out of hand. Who knew I had so many needles?! Unbelievably, I haven't cast on any new projects. I was this close so many times during the past few weeks. Oh, the deprivation! I'll try to put off casting on any new project until July 1st. But I'm not making any promises!

I'll end with the sunset from yesterday's drive home.

6-1

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have yet to read the full decision issued by California's Supreme Court - so I can't speak to the arguments presented by the majority.

I do applaud the one dissenting justice who, according to the story at CNN, rightly stated that it is a defeat for "any minority group that seeks the protection of the equal protection clause of the California Constitution."

For those of you who are interested in contributing to the efforts of the Human Rights Campaign on this issue, please visit their website.

For those of you living in California who are interested in signing a petition to get the issue of equality onto the ballot in 2010, visit here.

You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free. Clarence Darrow.

For those of you living incommunicado since this came out last fall and haven't seen Prop 8 - the Musical - enjoy.

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... from Jack Black

Holy Ducking Mit

Readers who have not met me in person may be astonished at the following confession.

When experiencing high levels of anger or surprise, I have the unfortunate tendency to swear like a sailor. I can't blame my parents for my unfortunate lapses in the proper usage of the English language. The worst expletive I've ever heard my father utter is "Good Night" (or it could be "Good Knight" - one just never thinks to get a clarification at the time). My mother's language is much racier in comparison. Under extreme duress, she has been known to utter "hell" or "damn" under her breath. I believe I personally have heard her mutter each of those just once which, in my opinion, is astonishingly restrained considering the antics her 5 children engaged in.

A guild member approached me at our meeting a couple of weeks ago and handed me a package. I didn't have a chance to open it until I got home. It was a package from an angel swapper.



Isn't this a sweet sheep. (And, surprisingly, the cats have let it alone.)


Cascading Leaves Shawl.


A sheep notebook.


I really didn't say holy ducking mit - but I think you get the general idea of what was actually exclaimed when I got a closer look at the yarn.

Beautiful, isn't it?


Then I saw the label.


Holy ducking mit, indeed! The holy grail of yarn, if some knitters are to be believed. And Kniteurope gave it to me as part of swap! I fear I could never measure up to such generosity and part with such a yarn!

I was also in Swap On A Budget. I was a bad swapper this time around - the deadline for receipt of the package was Friday and, due to work overload and getting sick last week, I didn't mail out my package until Thursday.

As an incentive, I did not allow myself to open the package I had gotten until my spoilee's was mailed out.

My cup runneth over. Take a look.



My swapper, kannwilson sent a whole box full of goodies! She sent a magnetic shopping list, 2 knitted cat toys, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, butterfinger and snickers bars, a package of wheat treats, a baby hat for donating to charity, the pattern for Muir, and 3 skeins of KnitPicks Gloss Lace in Chipotle (I love this color!).




A close-up shot of the yarn - but the more true color is in the photo above.


I have been well and truly spoiled!


And this proves that good things can come in small packages that don't contain any yarn at all.

Hodge Podge

Knitting
Knitting on WIPs continues. I haven't had much knitting time this week and what time there was was spent on Violets By The River. For those of you who know the pattern, I'm working on the river portion. I'm hoping to not have to rip back (again) because I might not have enough yarn.

I located some misplaced patterns for other WIPs, so maybe I'll work on something other than Violets today.

Spring
This crabapple tree and lilac bush are not far from the entrance to the building where I work. They look and smell best at this time of the season.



Weather
We had some severe thunderstorms this past week that I ended up driving through. Behind me the clouds were black and a few minutes later tornado sirens sounded.



Life Before Knitting
I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch before I learned to knit. I still pick it up from time to time. Unfortunately, it's like my knitting - many works-in-progress so none get finished quickly.



Excuse the spot from the flash - but this was the best of the photos.

Mother's Day
"Spend at least one Mother's Day with your respective mothers before you decide on marriage. If a man gives his mother a gift certificate for a flu shot, dump him." -- Erma Bombeck

DH and I are splitting up to be with our respective mothers tomorrow. We had intended to be with mine for lunch and his for dinner but his family's plans had to change and there was no way for us to accommodate both families tomorrow.

I hope that those of you who are mothers have a special day tomorrow.