Happy New Year's Eve!

Yes, it's almost time again to pop the cork on some Champagne. England maybe the closest to the year's turning now... Russia may have already experienced 2008.

As the Earth turns towards the new year, we can all HOPE for a better year, and as you know(because Emily said so):

"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me."

Let's all keep hoping that Year 2008 will be, instead of an Human Infant who always seems to fail, a sweet little Blue Bird of Happiness.

I think we'll have to tie some folks down and tickle their toes with one of the bird's feathers to get them to confess their sins. Perhaps this should be a Peking Duck feather instead? (Chinese Duck feather torture?) Let's do this! Let's also make them promise to end the suffering they've caused or we will take ALL THEIR MONEY AWAY! I so love appropriate revenge.

Chubby Koi, coming up to eat

 

This is a very big fish and he really loves to eat. That's food floating on the water, and this fish can be visited at the Japanese Gardens.

Koi at the Lily Pond, Balboa Park

 

These fish are so beautiful and so friendly. The ones in the Japanese Garden are bigger, probably because they are older. Or they get to eat more. Spend some time with these guys when you are in San Diego.

This morning I spent a lot of time just reading, keeping warm, and trying to fend off a nascent cold. So far, I'm winning! DH, his best friend Jim, and my Bro went to a guy thing yesterday, the Car Show. There was a car made out of Legos! And DH's dream car, a $107K Porche, used. I just can't imagine why it was so expensive. I'm so glad that he doesn't get obsessional about cars but then, IF he did, the garage might be cleared out by now, Yes? Sis and I watched "Waitress". We had a nice chin wag. I can tell she is getting very, very tired. If only someone we were related to was rich and generous, I would suggest that they get her a housekeeper. She needs to rest when she comes home from work everyday. It can't be me as I haven't got the oomph for cleaning two houses.

Mother 1942

 

This picture was taken after my mother gave up the California bungalow and moved to the army camp with my dad. From there, when he was shipped overseas, she went to live with her parents on their farm. She and her two married sisters stayed with my Grandparents while their husbands were in the European "theater". My brother is here this week, and we've been going through the old photos.

Koi photos coming right up. There are two areas in Balboa Park where Koi are kept, and they are extremely well cared for, watched over and fed. They love to nibble fingers.

New yarn Little Bitty Needles and *warning* a Political Assassination RANT

 

This is it, I've had to formally shelf my Hedgerows aspirations for lack of the right sort of yarn. So, I did find this at a LYS, and the little needles, Not all that much shorter than the Clovers, but still shorter. I'm still not convinced I need them but what the heck. Another pair of sock needles isn't exactly a BAD thing. *snickers*

DH loved the colors of this yarn, so I'll make him a new pair with it. He is wearing all the other pairs and asked me when I was going to make him another one. Well, Darlin', here ya go!

I'm really very sad about Bhutto. I knew she lived on the edge of it, but *cover the children's eyes* DAMN! I will have to go into retreat to recover from this earth shattering murder. She really was a hope for the future of Pakistan. I wonder just how much more the human race can take!

Update on Jack the Great Pyrenees and, a little pre-Christmas Yarn crawl

I was just cruising through my blog list and came across this update on Jack's surgery and how it went. This is the first surgery for correction of his back legs. I'm just thrilled that Yukon Jack is on the way to recovery and a much happier life! Donations for the February drawing, spinning wheel and some beautiful yarns and rovings are listed at the Jack's site.

Now for some other news. The twins came for Christmas and are now back home. We had a great visit. R started a Noro sweater from yarn she bought at Black Sheep, and S wanted to complete a tea cozy out of the felting book by Vogue in just three days. You know the book, part of that series of very small white books with delicious looking projects in various techniques? It is going to be so cute but of course we had only a few days, and one of them was taken up by a yarn expedition to two LYS, neither very local- the Black Sheep and Needlecraft Cottage. The cozy went home with her to be further felted. It needs a few more trips through the washer/dryer. You know what felting something is like. It takes a steam roller and patience.

Walk with Beauty

 

A yarn shop where we stopped in one day had this beautiful bloom out in front. It was irresistible as a beauty shot.

Tide Pool At Carlsbad

 

I thought these things were called chitins, but that isn't rigth. I'll have to remember what they are tomorrow. They are very ancient sealife. We have had a whirlwind of visiting favorite places this wrap end of two weeks, I'll tell you. The twins fly home tomorrow and I will miss their energy and their humor. So far I've been able to show them a little about crochet. They are right handed and aI crochet left handed, have no large hooks and baby yarn to work with. I guess there is nothing for it but to dash out tomorrow and buy some larger hooks.

I'm glad that they love to do stuff with string. Our big regret is that we live too far away from each other to do this on a regular basis.

More pictures soon of the lily pools and koi in them from Balboa Park, a must see when you come to San Diego.

Trip to Carlsbad

 

Rachel, taking a picture of her own shadow.

Egads, this is my mother's birthday!

Mother would have been 85 this year but she's been gone a long time. She died two weeks after her 64th birthday. A week after mine. "Nemesis" (Psycho Dad) lives on but he's got his dragon to fight; she's my age and scrappy! The old goat finally more than met his match. Anyone who married that monster was going to have to be one tough bird. He's the reason we have so few pretty stories about growing up.

Growing up very poor wasn't all that bad because we never felt poor. We had acres to roam and a little river curved right through it. Our imaginations, and books from libraries, both ours and the public ones, gave us Kingdoms to defend, submarines to build, and we when we weren't creating armies, we ran through the woods on our steeds, "Air Horses" you would call them today, looking for the bandits we knew lived in them. We had a good time. What two feet couldn't make in the proper sound for running horses, "slapping our chaps" on each side made up for. Kids, when left to their own devices, will always make up better worlds than they live in.

I have been reading about other lives and other times of knitters, quilters and just people trying to live their "loosely patched together" lives day by day. It's been a very interesting insight into what will happen if our economy doesn't stay together. We are a tough people and we'll make it. Everyone will have to help out, though.

The worst Christmas card I've gotten so far is from my Uni roomie. She has no hair, and she's still in chemo, from BC, the thing women dread the most-next to surviving their children. Pat is the best woman friend I have left in real life; she is joyful, steady, clear eyed and now so very sick. I'm trying to figure out how to respond to the news in her card because, though we've kept in touch from time to time, we haven't talked much since her son passed away at 21.

I adored this person from a few minutes after she walked into the dorm room and announced herself as my roomie. She's the best big sister a freshie could have had, great personality and sunny disposition, and so sweet! She was also a senior, fun loving and someone who just wanted the last year to be on campus. We had a whole lot of fun that year. We met a few years ago again, and Pat hadn't changed one bit. DH and I and she and her DH drove around the city and the bayside, stopped for fish and chips for dinner at the tuna boat landing, and caught up on the years that had passed.

That's the story for tonight, a love story of sorts. Please say a little prayer for Pat, and if you are inclined to, please light some candles for her? She would do that for people all the time.

Busy!

Busier than a two legged flea on a monkey.

So, well, I'm going to wish everyone who reads my blurbs a very Merry Christmas.

We have got another window rattling chopper searching for something again so I have to get out the Gatling Gun, I guess. It shoots marshmallows.

*cough*

I had so much to say but I've just got to go shake my fist at this pilot!

For the big doggie, Jazzie is adding this yarn

 

Jaz has given his little (BIG really, but he's rather small) WOOF of approval for this yarn to be added to Jack's Yarn Stash! It will be a prize for the raffle coming very soon! This is Noro Transitions and will make two nice warm hats!

Big Fella, Little Red Dog wishes you the best Buddy!

Take note you spinning wheel fans. There will be a spinning wheel in the February Raffle.

I feel Merrier already!

Have a great evening.

Christmas MEME

I saw this on Jung At Heart's Blog, so I stole it. Wheeee! Catch me if you can!

Christmas MEME

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, because it depends on the sort of gift. I love the bags for any party we go to, and gift wrap for family gifts, and sometimes the nice bags with beautiful tissue toppers.

2. Real or artificial tree? Artificial. Ours is about 15 years old. It should go a few more years

3. When do you put up the tree? Sometime before Christmas. Sometimes we didn't get the tree up until a couple of days before Christmas.

4. When do you take it down? March, or whenever winter seems to finally be over.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, I do but it doesn't like me. I haven't found a vegan egg nog yet.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A tea set that my mother saw that I loved, and she bought it for me.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.

8. Hardest person to buy for? DH. He never wants anything for Christmas. We have solved the problem. See #9

9. Easiest person to buy for? DH as we don't exchange gifts anymore at all!

10. Worst Christmas present you ever got? Some green fabric to make something out of, and I just can't wear green. It was a lovely gift, though.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? For several years now, I've just sent cards out as they came in. This year, if there is email for a pal, it's going to go out on the email.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year long. I make things or we make fudge, cakes or breads to give to relatives.

14.. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Over the years I've re-cycled them to the Salvation Army or Goodwill after keeping them for a time.

15. Favorite thing to eat on Christmas? Dinner? I like Ham. For overall general eating, I love Fantasy Fudge with Pecans.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored lights. We have white lights for outside but inside I love the colors.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's Reindeer? Yes.

20. Angel or star on top of tree? Angel.

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning. Always did it in the morning. One time, only, we tried that Christmas Eve thing and we just didn't like it.

22. Most annoying thing this time of year? I really want to get away from the selling and buying push at Christmas. That really annoys the heck out of me.

23. Do you decorate your tree in any theme or color? We now have a tree that is all clear glass ornaments. This developed after the kids all moved away and we knew that a change was called for.

24. What do you leave for Santa? We used to leave milk and cookies. I do think it's a fun thing for kids to see that it's gone in the morning. I'll bet the raindeer like their little treats, too.

25. Shopping... We've quit going to shop. Well, no one we know wants any prezzies!

26. Do you decorate outside for Christmas or just inside (or at all?) We haven't been good about the outdoor decorations for a few years. We always decorate indoors. We used to put a wreath on the little truck grill. I love seeing that. And, speaking of outdoor decoration. On the freeway for a long time there was some sort of little conifer growing. It was about ten feet tall and very cypress like. Someone would decorate it every year, for years. Then it was cut down, well, obviously it couldn't really stay there between the dividers.

27. Favorite Christmas cookie? linzer cookies. They are great! And snowballs, made like Russian tea cakes, almost...

28. Do you own Christmassy clothing or jewelry? My sis and I go out every year around this time for lunch, and I always buy us both a Christmas pin. It's tradition!

29. Do you believe in Santa? I believe very much in Saint Nicolas. Very much. Hi Saint Nicolas! *waves*

An Appeal for a very big hearted doggie..

Pugknits is having a drawing, of some of her wonderful wool yarns and dyed fleece, which you can enter for a donation to the Fund for Jack, A Great Pyrenees. These are huge dogs and they are used to guard flocks of sheep. She knows this dog and knows his history and felt compelled to try to help him get the surgery to save his life.

You can go to his Site, set up by Friends of Jack, or to Pugknits blog for more information. I'm going to go dig through my stash for a tidbit or two.

Amen, and Well Said...

Thank you, Meribeth!

Peace is truly the gift of the season. It is the defining characteristic of the kind and compassionate Prince of Peace whose birth date is celebrated. For my part, it's time to crank up the old Victrola and play some carols and get out of this funk.

DH has become intrigued by UGLY quilts, so I've saved back some of the ties to make roll up ties for three Ugly quilts. He wants to help with the stitching and stuff.

All my patterns are going except for a few. There's a theater here that expressed interest, and I hope it makes a merry time for some thrifty seamstresses! With no babies to sew for, or anyone whom I know to be sewing for children, the grandmothers who scout the aisles of the thrift stores can have what the theater doesn't want. It's so great to re-cycle and to give. It's not good to Mother Earth to be stuffing the landfills.

Rissa, I emailed you about the ties. Pictures will be sent shortly. I just have NO Christmas spirit this year. I guess I am still in shock that a Christmas tree was up at Macy's here, a mere week after Halloween. Sheesh. Macy's?

So now it's back to work and rest, but with some "Rejoice and be Glad"! Time to eat some reindeer shaped cookies. I just reminded myself that I can't drink eggnog! Maybe with enough rum in it, DH said, it would fool my body. heehee. I so want that to be true! Time to knit Gretchen.

Speaking of Gretchen, beware in Ravelry! Their smiley faces are more than mere symbols of your happiness with your progress. Poor beautiful Gretchen was listed as an UGH, and I was invited to attend the UGH group- my only clue that something was amiss- because I was not happy with my progress ("Lazy Slacker" should have been a choice!) in knitting my Pi shawl. I saw that when I tripped on over to the UGH group and there was my beautiful Gretchen, listed as an UGH! Nothing could be further from the truth. I am ashamed!

One post card done, one finishing up today.

Something is wrong with my Christmas Spirit

Maybe it's the two wars? Maybe it's the continual saber rattling? Maybe it's commercialization that finally went way, WAY overboard this year because of the fright of the economy tanking if we didn't get out the plastic and smoke it across enough readers? I did manage to store some of the yarn in bags into two newly emptied rubbermaids. I'll make some quilter happy when they find the ten thousand- this is a gross approximation of the amount- men's ties that my mind finally felt like it could release back into the junk store re-cycle rounds. It's time to lean heavily on my guilt pedals to get rid of a huge box of saved jeans OR decide to FINALLY get mooooving on using them up on totes and quilted items. Now, with four intense hobbies to fit into a day, time is running out for some of the peripheral deeds. When I was only 40, the amount of work I'd get done was stellar. This is no longer true. Is it ever easy to become a minimalist without regretting the move later?

I don't know when I'll ever start knitting again. All I really want to do is read and drink copious cups of tea while doing so. A very good book, Into the Void, by Joseph Simpson, will grip you and not let you go until you have read every single word. It has been made into a movie as well.

Everyone just get on the high horses and let's get the uninsured children some health care. It's time to stop letting the politicians have it all for themselves, The good schools, the parties and the great hospitals. One unnamed Hospital System, presumably operated by the UC system, is operating two hospitals here, one for the marginally middle class, and one for the ultra rich and famous. I wonder what it is doing for the children without insurance. My guess is, not a whole hell of a lot. I'm sick of them. They should be scourged and set into the stocks until they see their mission differently.

I can't drink or I would. This would be a good time to get into the pie crust vodka or the rum for the fruitcakes. Yes? Yes! I'm not taking back a single word. Someone stole my Christmas Spirit and they should be made to pay dearly!