Cool...

Of tartan and wool...

Celtic Fling 2006 was a BLAST. Yeah, we had a Fleece To Shawl, we had fun, we got totally rained on, we sold the shawl with proceeds of around $70 for Children's Miracle Network. Aparently, despite all that activity, the guy with the camera found other things to photograph. Not a single shot of the F2S, nothing of the adorable lambs, not the sheep hearding that was so interesting...no, it seems that while I was looking at men in short skirts, my men were looking at girls in short skirts. Well, some of them are really darling girls so why not?

I love watching the Highland dancing. I actually prefer the technical aspects of the Irish step dancing more, but the costumes of Highland are by far my favorite. So feminine and attractive. The Irish Step costumes are gorgeous in their complexity, but they are just too flashy and modern for my tastes. Take a look at that little girl in the first picture. Could you make that face and sweeter with a wig of ringlets and a rhinestone tiara? not in my book.





And the latest on the mystery project. This pattern is going nicely and fast. It does have a sideways border to it so I know progress will slow down then.

BUSTED!!!

From my son's beloved Jeff Foxworthy "...You Might Be a Redneck If..." Calendar. (Obviously, June 22)





Well.........................

this would be the Ring Tone screen from my current cell phone...the third phone to have the same ringtone....also included farther down the menu are "Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels and "Hey, Good-lookin" by Hank Williams*

Yup, busted.





and here's the current project on the needles. I can't really say just what it is because there are EYES watching. ;) The yarn is Sirdar Denim, The pattern is free online, the KAL is here the needles are size 5 bamboo and I'm at the 5 stitch increase round. Crikies! what more do you want from me?!


*No, one does not have to specify Hank Williams SENIOR. Hank is THE Hank. Junior is Junior. Bocephus.. sheesh!

Amazing isn't it?

I must take issue with the term 'a mere child,' for it has been my invariable experience that the company of a mere child is infinitely preferable to that of a mere adult.
Fran Lebowitz

You don't pay back your parents. You can't. The debt you owe them gets collected by your children, who hand it down in turn. It's a sort of entailment. Or if you don't have children of the body, it's left as a debt to your common humanity. Or to your God, if you possess or are possessed by one.

Lois McMaster Bujold, A Civil Campaign, 1999

Happy Father's Day Nik, Ken and Daddy

Happy Birthday JJ !!

The knitting update: Remember that top down saddle shoulder sweater I was knitting for JJ? Well, I hated it. Sorry, but I just could not manage to reconcile my annoyance with the dimensions. It was too big around, the arm holes were too big, I knitted the sleeves TWICE and they were too big then too small and the whole dang thing just wasn't working for me. So I did what any sane knitter would do...I frogged it. Now, the tricky part here is that JJ had been watching that sweater pretty closely, so I had to be slick about it. I let it season quietly in the basket so he would get used to my not working on it for a while...then I quickly ripped it out ..reskeined it and gave it a wash before he knew what happened. Next I made sure there was something worth looking at before I let him see me knitting on it again. whew! he hasn't let on that he is wise to me but even if he is, he now has something to look forward to again.
BTW, today is JJ's 17th birthday. Say Happy Birthday everyone! I can't believe how big my baby is getting.

and my new socks... Opal sock yarn on size 1 using Magic Loop (lots of on the road knitting). Color is Partie 14 and the stitch pattern comes from the Opal sock pattern called Linda's Rainbow Ripple. It was something of a surprise to see what it would look like since the photo on the pattern is 100% useless. It's a pretty open design but it does get the colors moving around. I think I prefer the stitch on the Jaywalkers better. I know I REALLY don't like the placement of the points. It makes my foot look square or something. odd.



More Angora rabbits for sale! OK, these were among the ones I held back to see how they'd turn out. They turned out great! There is at least one there I'd keep for myself, but... remember that gorgeous Red doe? Well, I can't pass up her color so these get to move on to other homes.

Click on the album at top left to go to the photos in full size on Flickr. All three of these beauties are registerable Satin Angoras. Their mom is Chocolate and their sire is Red. There was a red in this litter so I know the mom and dad both carry those genes. These would be great in either a chocolate or a red program. Body type is very promising for show.
If you have interest in any of them, email me for prices and details. Shipping is not an option this time of year but I will deliver within a reasonable distance or try to arrange a ride to a show.

Young minds...

This treasure comes from Amy Spang. She posted this to her Yahoogroup today and it just had me in stitches! Enjoy.

I just wanted to share a hysterical story that was told today
by a friend of mine who is a local spinner and rabbit owner.
Apparently she had a booth at the local library fair last weekend
(she has a fiber business), and she was demonstrating spinning 'off
the rabbit' to the people who were there. At one point a 6 year old
boy came over to watch and hung around for a LONG time watching the
wheel spin and asking questions about the rabbit. After a half hour
or so had passed, he went on with his mother to look at the rest of
the place, and at this point my friend decided to give the bunny a
break and placed her back into her carrier on the floor behind the
table with some hay and water. At this point she began to spin
with fiber that she took out of a bucket that she had harvested
awhile ago from the same rabbit. A little while later the little
boy came back and suddenly stood there watching her spin with a VERY
upset look on his face. When she asked him what was the matter he
looked like he was going to cry and then asked, "Is that all that's
left of the bunny?"

LOLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!:):)

Oh my gosh!!!! Well, needless to say it took quite some time
for my friend to understand what the poor little guy meant, LOL, but
as soon as she realized it she quickly showed him the rabbit in the
cage behind the table and explained that no, the bunny was JUST
FINE, and the wool she was using had just been harvested from her
much earlier:). At this explanation he was very much relieved and
went away with a smile on his face, but can you IMAGINE what must
have been going through that poor boy's mind??, LOLOL!!!:) Well, I
guess we all forget how literal a child's mind can be at times, but
this is really one of the funniest stories I've heard in a LONG
time, LOL!! Just wanted to share it:).

Amy Spang:)
www.spangangoras.com
http://spangangoras.typepad.com/

and the winner is...

Wow, I was just checking referrers today and the folks in central NJ, Tenn, and California are the most frequent visitors to this and the sister blog! Vermont is coming in strong too. Gee thanks guys! It's always good to know who your reader base is. :)

Speachless...

NEW ELEMENT FOUND

The recent hurricanes and gasoline issues are proof of the existence of a new
chemical element. A major research institution has recently announced the
discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science.

The new element has been named *Governmentium*. Governmentium (Gv) Has one
neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy
neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.

These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are
surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected,
because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute
amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than
a second, to take over four days to complete.

Governmentium has a normal half-life of 4 years; It does not decay, but instead
undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and
deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's Mass will actually
increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become
neutrons, forming isodopes.

This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that
Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This
hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass. When catalyzed with
money, Governmentium becomes Administratium - an element which radiates just as
much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many
morons

Author unknown but 'borrowed' from here

Great bags!

UPDATE: Diana sent in this comment. What a DEAL!

Wow! Thanks for the plug, O Great Enabler! These bags are 12, and personalization of name or monogram is an extra 2. HOWEVER, if they say Elaine sent them, personalization is free on this month's orders.

Hi all! My buddy Diana of TLC Photography/Artemis Imaging has a new product! This is a really great little muslin bag that she can impress with any of her terrific 'stash' designs or a photograph of your choice. As you can see, she can also do some personalizing for you. I included the sock yarns to give some idea of dimension. Doesn't everyone judge size based on sock yarn? :) I honestly don't know the price and I'm sure it varies with how much personalization there is, so give Diana a shout and ask. Check out the other 'stash' designs too. There is yarn, cross-stitch, chocolate and spinning as well as the EZasPi Frog pond designs for knitting and crochet.
OK, I have to add; the photo of this spinning stash was actually taken on my sofa with MY stash. How much more personal can you get? LOL So you too can share my stash! sock yarns not included. :)

bunny goodness...

I thought I'd share a photo of the new little darling in my life. As if I didn't have bunches of little darlings in the barn, right? :)
Well, this is one I'm really pleased with. Her name is CCR's Nofrure. She's a pure-pedigreed Satin Angora doe, 10 gentle weeks old, and beautiful CLEAN red. (Yes, this is that pretty red doe in the TOAD litter of a couple of weeks ago. I should have named her 'Jennie Craig' LOL) This is the type of red that we angora breeders ache for. Dark and clean. She also happens to be a real sweetheart. Always at the door for snuggles and enjoys being held. In fact, everytime I put her down for a photo, she gets the deer in the headlights look which makes it hard to get a really nice photo.
If you wonder about the unusual name, this doe's sire is CCR's Senmut and her dam is CCR's Aziza. Now, Senmut was the name of the consort to Egyptian King/Queen Hatshepsut. There is actually a really cool reason why he was named Senmut but that's for another time. There was one daughter to Hatshepsut and history believes that the father of the child was Senmut. That daughters name was Nofrure or Nefru-Ra. Translated that would mean something akin to 'beautiful woman of Ra the Sun God' . Works for me. :)
The next photo is of a beautiful girl that turns senior (6 months old) in a week or so. CCR's Nefret, Pointed White French angora That magnificent coat is still her baby wool which is why it's so soft and fluffy yet. She'll get a clipping soon so that she'll be all ready for her next coat. OK, notice a theme in the name? Nefret is the old Egyptian base meaning 'beautiful woman'. It was the base of the names Nefertiri, Nefertari, Nefertiti...

as only another nurse might understand...

Note: reposted because Blogger seems to have lost it!

It's just not possible to describe how one nurse feels when a family member chooses to follow her into the family of nurses. The closest I can think of would be when your daughter becomes a mother herself. You cry for them. You cry because you are proud, because you know how much joy it will bring them and you cry because you already know the pain they will have to endure.
Nursing is not a job, it's not a profession, it's not even a 'lifestyle'...it's a commitment. A commitment to put others ahead of yourself. A commitment to take a bullet for someone you don't know and may not even like. A commitment to always fight for the most defenseless individual on this earth no matter how downtrodden, no matter how mean, ugly or abusive, no matter how arrogant or abrassive ...no matter how much it makes you cry. It's a commitment to cry...lots and often. A nurse, unlike any other medical professional including doctors, cannot ever refuse care to a patient for any reason. The nurse is the only medical professional whose mandated position is as the patient's advocate. Their voice when they have none. Their protector. Their confidant. Their confessor and their priest. Their best friend and their family. Sometimes their cheerleader and sometimes their taskmaster.
Do nurses cry? Oh yes. Sometimes for ourselves. Sometimes for our patient. Sometimes for the family. Sometimes for each other. Sometimes for the whole situation, but we cry. We cry in shock, in sorrow, in relief, in joy..but we cry. We cry ALOT.

Here's to praying (for in the end that's the support nurses need most - PRAYER) that the newest member of my nursing family, my beautiful neice Heather, will learn to cry for all the right reasons. How else can I possibly express how proud of her and her choices to join the family of nurses? Of course...I cried.

Words...

Listen to Your Words by Kelly Meuller

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Martin Luther King Jr.
US black civil rights leader & clergyman (1929 - 1968)

No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

Henry Adams
US author, autobiographer, & historian (1838 - 1918)

The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink.

George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language", 1946
English essayist, novelist, & satirist (1903 - 1950)

As you might notice, I have a new feature on the blog. Audio files. I honestly have no desire to do a full blown podcast, but I do occasionally find a song or audio file somewhere that just says it better than I ever could. In those cases, I'll include it here.
Right now the program I'm using only works well on .wav files which will play easily - but slowly - on Quicktime. I'm working on that to make it a bit friendlier for dialup accounts. You might find it easier to right click over the link and download and then listen to it.
Another feature I've added is a link blog. I still can't get the RSS feed on this blog to cooperate, so I created a sister site on blogspot that you can use to link over. I'll try and remember to post an update on that site so that you know I have a new post on this one. It's a real bother but until I figure this issue out... Well, it's what I have.
If you want to go to that spot and create an aggregator link the address is here http://outofhandpodcast.blogspot.com/