Knitter's Block

It's Thursday and I have three days of school under my belt. I told the superintendent it was a smooth start; I only lied a wee bit. For some reason everyone around me is in a foul mood. Heck, you would think after two months off - unpaid - we would all be more than ready to earn our keep. Apparently not. For some reason many teachers seem to think they are self employed and have the right to set their own working conditions. I shall say no more lest I offend.

Katrina has dealt so many a terrible blow. And to add insult to injury I heard something on NPR that was truly depressing. Apparently the city of New Orleans has been steadily sinking. Since the 1950s, the city has sunk about 2" every 10 years. The scientists believe that the current flooding will only cause increase in the drop due to the compacting of the softer soils near the Lake area. The assumption is that when the next large storm hits, even the French Quarter will be under water. No wonder so many people are saying that they will not return...the prospect is just too frightening.

I have had no time to knit. I have managed to seam four of the five panels of the Manos Afghan from Hell. We may see fringe on it before Sunday evening. Now the next big decision is to decide what to take on our trip to San Diego. Something airplane friendly. I think perhaps the alpaca cream and white alpaca.

More to come later!

I Am Thankful

Tomorrow I go back to work. Summer is over. Traditionally, this is an evening that makes me a bit sad. Instead I have decided to be thankful for the fact that

1. I have a home.
2. I have food and water.
3. I can account for all my family members.
4. I actually have a car, regardless of the cost to run it.

Let me never forget my problems are really meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

Thursday evening was the first Knitting Guild meeting of the year. We have a great program coordinator (yes, you Bonnie!). We are truly blessed with some great knitters in the Buffalo area. Each year the guild sponsors two weekend workshops. This year our own, Heather...this is her latest, most popular pattern. She also has a pattern in the Ponchos (Vogue on the Go Knitting Series). Heather will be teaching shadow knitting, in addition to double knitting, in October.

But the one that really has me is excited is our April weekend. Annie Modesitt is coming! Just open any issue of anything and you are sure to see a pattern...and they are always so clever!

And another exciting thing to look forward to...the Buffalo area is having its very own fiber festival. October 1st at Knox Farm will be the place to be! My spinning wheel is jumping up and down with glee.

In the Bag

Hey, even the teacher needs a new backpack for school! I just love this. I felted it last week as I told you, and spent the afternoon sewing on all the straps while making my chili sauce. The pattern is from Interweave Knits; the yarn was from the "ugly" pile from the annual guild yarn auction. I just need to make a trip to the fabric store for the D-rings. The pattern called for an inside and outside pocket, but I really did not want either.

I have a royal blue Lamb's Pride bag that I would like to embellish with some funky dry felted design.

We had another great weekend in Chautauqua. The kids finished their golf lessons for the season. E was thrilled; she had her best game ever. I never saw a kid so happy with scores of 15 on ONE hole. Little does DH know that she is only convincing me that Mark Twain was right: Golf is a good walk ruined. Sorry, but I would rather knit, spin, or read than spend four hours in the hot sun chasing a ball. Someone remind me that I said this if you find me playing in my post-retirement years. Truthfully, I have a real problem with the tons of fertilizers and water those prime pieces of real estate use.

We finished our weekend with a trip to Chautauqua Gorge - one of our most favorite places! Thank goodness the kids still love running up and down the creekbed looking for crayfish and salamanders! Lazy mom just dips her toes in the COLD water and reads her book in between laughing at the kids and the dog. Someone make them stop growing up so fast!

And a bizarre thing...someone came to my site through a Yahoo search looking for "homocide pictures". Heck, I know I am not a Master knitter, but what the geez Louise!

As I am typing this, I can hear the Weather Channel covering the hurricane in New Orleans. Those poor people.

Oooo, That Smell

Just a quick update on my "Eat Local Challenge". Today I made my Aunt Marie's chili sauce. Tomatoes and peppers from Dad's garden, hot peppers and onions from the local produce stand. I only made a half batch, but it smelled as yummy as a full batch! Want the recipe?

• 35 large tomatoes, peeled (I never bother)
• 8 large onions
• 4 hot peppers, 1 with seeds (use more if you like a bit more kick)
• 4 green or red sweet peppers

Grind the above ( I use the food processor) and place in a large pot. Add:

• 2 cups vinegar
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, dry mustard, and paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground dry ginger

Simmer for 4-5 hours. My mom always canned it from there...me? I just throw it in the freezer. Great on scrambled eggs and meats!

It's A Race to Finish

The summer is drawing to a close all too soon. I know my southern neighbors have been sniffing the chalk dust for about three weeks already, but we Western New Yorkers are sinking our teeth into the last few days that remain. I am now frantically trying to finish all the things from my July "to-do" list! The kids power washed and re-stained the deck, I just bought the paint for the yuckky plastic chairs and finally bought a hanging plant (half price and size of my front porch!). But you know it's over when field hockey practice starts and the "lesson" people are starting to ask for their checks.

So on to better things...


Aren't these great? These are two gifts from my very thoughtful neighbors. What is better than some Rowan directly from England! Ian dropped a hint that his wife really would not mind the orange. I just wish I could capture the colors!

And I think the Rainbow bag will come in handy for all those little shopping trips.


Next, lest you think I have been lazy... The glove is knit side to side in Noro. Only problem - my fingers are a bit shorter than those of the glove. But they are soft and snug and will make a great Christmas gift for some lucky person.




I have also finished two felted bags. One is a backback of IK in two shades of red; the other is a royal blue Booga Bag. They are currently on their second day of drying...Pictures to follow on those soon.


On the book front, I just finished reading In the Forest. I bought it many years ago after listening to a review on NPR. If you are looking for a study of everything that can go wrong in the juvenile justice system, this is your book. O'Brien based her book on an actual triple homocide: a mother, her small child, and a local priest. Next read will be Atonement by Ian McEwan.






And finally, for those of you wondering where your blog is headed - check this out! Just click here for a good belly laugh!

He looks sweet doesn't he? See what's under his chin? It's hubby's brand new sock. You think he is giving in without a fight? Not a chance. I love my dog; I really do. But there are certain things that just drive me nuts about this bundle of FUR...

The good news...daughter E is now home from camp with the socks! She had a great time and only missed me/us once! But as soon as one returns, another flies the coop! Her sister left for a one week vacation with friends. I can't say I am exactly enjoying all the little trips my children are taking away from home; I miss them!

Summer Count Down

I have been a bad blogger... did ya miss me?





Today I froze a bunch of these. Home grown and very yummy. And just like Pocket Farm Liz, I also like to keep the pointy end on.




Then I found an old recipe torn out of Southern Living Magazine and used these little gems from my friend's garden... ok, not exactly these...I never took their picture before they became an ingredient in the squash casserole. In addition to the squash, we had homegrown "musk melon", blueberries, and tomatoes. I love August simply for the tomatoes!

Last night I put up about 10 more cups of blueberry preserves. I am so addicted to the preserve concept. No need to add pectin and a ton less sugar.

Tonight my book club met. I cannot say that I loved the book. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is the fictional account of the Mirabel sisters. These women were rebels in Dominica during the early 1960s against the Trujillo regime. I think I need to re-read the book, as another club member did, and focus on one of the sisters at a time. Generally, I have no problem when a story "hops" around, but there were a number of issues that made this one difficult for me.

Daughter E's socks were finished in time for camp. She was given direct orders not to lend them, wear them outside without shoes, or leave them behind. She insisted on taking them because they were pink. Go figure...

I also finished another scarf. Move over Alison! This is a horse shoe or double cable made from Lopi that was purchased at the Buffalo Knitting Guild's annual auction. I may post a photo later, but it seems like too much of a hassle to stage the shot for another scarf; boy am I lazy.

Still working on busting that stash, I found two skeins of royal blue Lamb's Pride Bulky. I knit up a Booga Bag over the weekend. Rather than use a bag closure, I plan on turning it into a back back. And to jazz it up I have visions of needle felting some very colorful '60ish flowers on the front. Sound good? I better make it cool, because when I realized I was one skein short I snuck into E's closet and grabbed her unfinished bag and cannibalized it for mine. Yea, I know, I am a rotten mom.

Tomorrow night it is off to one of our LYS for another evening of fiber fun. Just imagine a room full of wool junkies ... I love it! Last week there must have been four wheels, as many drop spindles, my friend's loom, and tons of needles.

But right now I am crabby because I have to go to work tomorrow. I keep thinking of Sharon and her "endless" summer vacation. I am so NOT wishing my life away, but I am a tad envious. But there are still three full weeks of summer vacation to savor, so I better get out there and enjoy it!