More fingerless mitts

I'm almost done with my matching glove with the long cuff - but I found this easy pattern and had to play with it. I added ribbing, but other than that it's simple and easy :) My daughter wants her own pair. A good way to use up scrap yarn :)

Link to pattern: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=10620.0

Still crocheting and knitting

With my WIP bin overflowing and not much actually getting finished - I had to try some quick projects just so I can say something was complete. My daughter's sweater is giving me fits because when I BO at the bottom it was too tight! My LYS is going to help me, but I need to find time to swing by and seek out assistance.

I have been admiring fingerless gloves and found a pattern I wanted to try - so I knitted one last night and today. It was quick and satisfying, now I just have to compelte the other one.

I made it with Inca Alpaca which is really, really soft. I love the yarn!





And I also had some alpaca yarn I was dying to try so I crochet this scarf. I miss crochet!



Ignore my feet in the photo! I am crocheting a coordinating hat to match the scarf and I have some finishing to do on the gloves - I have to thread in some yarn and add a flower to the wrist area. It it is a little more loose than ideal - so next time I will have to check my guage first!! Bad I know - I'm terrible at checking the gauge before charging ahead!

Gotcha Dad!!!

We had a suprise party for my dad. Unfortuantely most of my pictures turned out too dark - who ever used my camera must have turned off the flash. I had to lighten this picture. But let's just say dad went down - hard :) It was a lot of fun and I'm glad we were able to celebrate dad's 60 years!

Janeen's sweater

I am using a top-down book to make sweaters. After making my son a sweater (which I still have not finished!!) I got very sick of sewing. The book I am using knits from the top down and there is really no sewing - it's great and fast. Here is my progress on her sweater. The first picture shows how you start the top and proceed through the shoulders. The second shows afte I started a sleeve and am amost to the ribbing in the body. Isn't it cool! Nothing has been sewed in! Here is the website for the book I used - Sweaters for Everyone: http://www.onepieceknitting.com/index.html The only thing I am not happy with is a purl much looser than I knit - so when I switched to knitting in the round the patter is much tighter and you can see it in the fabric below :(

A letter to my representatives and president

I have been so increasingly angry the past few days, that I had to let my representatives and president know. I hope they have had fun spending money on highways and pet projects the past few months - and can now pull that money back to do some real work.

Here is my letter:

I have been extremely dissappointed with the response of the federal government to this tragedy. It appeared that we responded faster to war in Afganistan and Iraq, as well as for Tsunami victims then our own citizens. This could very easily be any city in America with a natural, nuclear or terroist event. It is a disgrace, and I would like to request my representative to become involved in fixing this so we are never as embarassed by how poorly we can take care of our citizens again.

I do not accept the blaming of the victims. Most who did not leave could not leave. I do not accept the slaps on the back from FEMA and other agencies because while they have done their best (apparently) their best was not enough and that is not what we pay them to do. We pay them to be able to execute - quickly - to address emergencies that local goverments cannot handle. The fact that they have been so ineffective in this instance is inexcusable. They need to find leadership for FEMA and Homeland Security that can be effective in a time of need as we so clearly have had in the past week.

I have summited it www.congress.org - and if you feel equally as disappointed you can contact your congressperson and president there as well.

On a Lighter Note...

You are elegant, withdrawn, and brilliant.Your mind is a weapon, able to solve any puzzle.You are also great at poking holes in arguments and common beliefs. For you, comfort and calm are very important.You tend to thrive on your own and shrug off most affection.You prefer to protect your emotions and stay strong.

World's Shortest Personality Test

These are my test results folks. Those of you that know me - is this true?

Did we not learn anything with 9/11?

This is a bit of a rant, but I have got to get it off my chest...

As a nation did we not learn anything during 9/11? The so called hurricane effort is the most pathetic excuse of a response I could have imagined. Let's hope we do not have a major terroist attack, because if this is any indication the reponse will be useless.

I think the Americas who are bonding together to help are tremendous. HOwever, the very slow coordination of goverment response is astounding. Apparently - different agencies rarely plan for emergencies together. How could we have so quickly moblized in Afganistan and Iraq for a war - but not get at least 1 meal and water to those stuck in New Orleans, Louisana, Mississipi and Alabama. There is a huge body of water by which supplies can be shipped in, one would think. And in 4 days why aren't there military ships with supplies on hand?

I just don't understand - it does appear that anything was learned after 9/11. What in the word have they been meeting about for the past 4 years. It's just amazing to me. There is no excuse.