Now Norma Knits

Random Wednesday

1. Would you please go and take this survey? It would be of great assistance to the folks at the OFA if you did. 

2. I am pleased to announce that I think we have enough scarves for this year. How is THAT for vague and ambiguous? If you've only just mailed yours this week, don't fret, because if there is a surplus, it can be stored and saved for next year, as long as we don't bury them in a ton of scarves to save. Once again, kudos to everyone for the lovely high-quality scarves that you all sent in! I'm much relieved and so proud of all of us.  

3. I have been getting such a kick out of a series of TV ads for a new medication. I can't remember the name of it, or even what it's for (sleep, perhaps?) but in the warnings it says words along the lines that the drug can cause hostility, anger, and irascibility, or something like that. "If this is unusual for you, please stop taking the medication and call your doctor," or something along those lines. HI-LAR-I-OUS. 

4. I'm a little more hostile, angry, and irascible than usual lately because I am in Phase I of the South Beach Diet. But it's working! Cheerleading will be gratefully accepted. Negativity or advice that this is the wrong diet, or whatever, is not at all welcome. I'm doing it, I believe it's healthy, and it's working, after much lack of success in several other attempts over the last two years. Some extra weight has crept on, about which I am not comfortable, and I'm giving this a go. I am slightly feral due to detoxing from carbs, however. 

Everybody has their own ideas about this subject, I know, and about health in general. I recently bought a book that I thought would be entertaining, called "Skinny Bitch," but besides the two-word title which WAS entertaining, the rest of the book was just annoying and repetitive and could be summed up in another two words: "Go vegan." Been there, done that, with disastrous results back in the '90s. (I gained 40 pounds, my blood pressure was dangerously high, my cholesterol was through the roof. I was being a super-careful whole foods vegan, supposedly doing "all the right things." It was bad, bad, bad for me.) So what is right for some people is not right for others. I should trademark and copyright that. Wait, probably somebody else already has. Nevah mind. 

In the end, South Beach is not so very different from the Blood Type Diet for Type O's that quite literally saved my life and turned all my numbers around after that six-year period following a vegan diet. But I think I have become a bit bored with it and have cheated too often of late. SB, I hope, will shake things up a bit to good effect, and so far it's looking good. 

4. I took two more little steps in the direction of a smaller carbon footprint yesterday. I bought these handy items:

Bamboo eating utensils in a nifty little carry pouch with a hook to attach to my handbag or computer case or whatever, from To-Go Ware. Aren't they CUTE? There's even a set of chopsticks in there, though I'm kind of crap at using chopsticks and will probably never use these.  Now when I'm out and about and eating to-go foods, I don't have to take and then throw away the plastic forks & knives & spoons, which are so awful and always break, anyway. And when I carry my own lunch, these are lighter and more compact and handy in their own carry case than bringing a regular stainless steel set from home.

 And a reusable, washable snack/sandwich bag from SnackTaxi.com

5. Barbara P. sent me info on this highly cool tool to make pdfs.  This could make pattern-collecting (of, say, free patterns suitable for red scarf knitting) really easy and organized.  Check it out!  

Random Little Snippets (With an Updated Red Scarf Total)

1.  Mr. Jefferies' brown sweater had to be repaired yesterday. A piece of the crochet edging came loose and I did the stupid thing: Pulled. So I spent umpteen hours yesterday pulling out the rest of the crochet edging (I was having a dickens of a time finding all the ends that I so expertly wove in) and redoing the edge. I took this opportunity to make the tummy band a bit wider, so then I had to move a couple buttons, too. I see now that I need to knit him another long coat, for times when one is either being washed or repaired. The next one will be blue, I think. I've got just the right wears-like-iron Vermont wool yarn, and I might even branch out and use a different pattern, or maybe even make one up. Dude, that dog sure is high-maintenance. And I am a bit insane.

 

2.  I'VE HEARD GREAT NEWS about the quality of the red scarves received this year!!!!!  We've finally done it! My message of "we don't need more scarves -- we need more NICE scarves" -- has finally gotten through. The number of scarves received stands at 2,697, which is a bit short of our goal. I know others are coming in, and if you have one completed that you were holding to 2010, please consider sending it in now.  But the best news for me is that the quality is HIGH, and the gift card/cash/stamp donations included with the scarves has amounted to $4,417.20 so far. Go us! Thank you for all your help, everyone! 

3.  Is anyone willing to sew something for me? I have this wonderful light-medium-weight denim fabric -- my skirt that I ripped a long time ago. It's not repairable as a skirt because the rip is in the fabric, not the seam, in the back. (I suppose I could go the patchwork route, but .... no. Not my style.) It is truly very nice denim fabric, and I've held onto it because I'd like to see it repurposed into a bag or bags (small and/or large) of some sort -- nicely lined. I'm just not good with the sewing machine. Let me know if I can send you this thing and if you'd like to turn it into something useful for me. [Yay! I have a taker!]

 4.  My arm and shoulder are still bothering me, but a couple days' rest and a hair cut and color that caused David to stop mid-sentence to say, "Damn, you look foxy!" has done much to improve my mood. (Thanks, Katie!) 

5.  I know you want a picture, but I don't have a new one. It's almost exactly like my Facebook avatar. Katie was able to finally replicate the color exactly, and the cut is pretty much the same. So for those of you not on Facebook:

And there's a hoot of a story about that. About three weeks ago, I was logged into Facebook and David walked into the room. He saw the page and said, in honest amazement, "She looks A LOT like you." I looked at him; thought he was teasing. Nope. He was serious and really didn't know it was my picture he was looking at. 

5.  After the dog sweater repair, and with the arm feeling slightly better, I was able to do a teeny bit of knitting on the Calmer sweater, which has now become mine. My daughter's reaction to it was lukewarm, so I'm going to keep it myself. I tried it on last night and it really would have been too big for her anyway. Now I can keep on trying it on as it's knitted, to get the fit just right. Fingers crossed it turns out to be what I hope. I already ripped back several inches so I can take in the waist a bit more. Or not. I'm trying to decide if I want it to be so severely fitted or not.

6. And cripes, yes, I started a new Mr. J. sweater while watching some TV last night. It's blue and eggplant-like. I wanted to do stranded knitting to make it thicker and warmer. I just used the mindless "salt & pepper" pattern that I first saw in some traditional folk mitten book, the name of which is escaping me at the moment. Fox and Geese and ... you know, that one. It looks fine and I'm pretty happy with it, but the two colors don't seem to have as much contrast as I thought they would. They sort of blur together into a subtle tweedy effect. Not exactly what I'd hoped for, but I'm not changing it now.

That funkiness in the center is the leash hook buttonhole.  I'm not even sure if this thing is going to fit, as I'm totally making it up as I go along. Criminy.

7. I keep rereading your comments on this week's Terrier Tuesday post. They make me smile and laugh over and over. I can remember when I started that series, I thought everybody would hate it after about three times. But now I worry that I won't be able to come up with more. I should say HE won't be able to come up with more. *ahem*

8. Given how paranoid I was that I was going to catch something in New York City, I decided to go and get the H1N1 shot yesterday. At least that is one thing I (hopefully) won't get. One less thing to worry about. I got the seasonal flu vaccine a few months ago, as well. So if I get anything, it probably won't be the flu. Then again, I don't think I have ever had the real flu in my life. People tend to throw that term around, "I got the stomach flu," "I have the flu bug," but I am quite sure that none of the illnesses I've had over the years have been The Flu -- just various other viruses. Anyway, now I've had all my shots, just like Mr. Jefferies. You could board me in a kennel with the other dogs bitches foxes, and I probably wouldn't even get Bordatella. 

The Right Answer

Wine, chocolate, a luxuriously soft new red scarf on the needles, and a couple of movies. Yes, these are all the right answers.   

Terrier Tuesday: Whoa. Dudes.

Jeffies McJefferstein, Certified Public Yorkcountant, here, with a final report on our Red Scarf Project and Red Scarf Fund for Foster Youth efforts for this year.

Total scarves processed so far: 2,375 (with more boxes to go)

In a single day last week -- ahem -- which just happens to coincide with the day I so fetchingly modeled a red scarf in this here blog, there were $1,685 in donations.

For the month of December so far, donations have amounted to $3,916.

Since we started this fundraising drive on September 1, 2009, the total in online donations is $10,540.64.

But wait! That's not all! There's also been cash, checks, and gift cards sent in amounting to $3,904.25, for a grand total for this round of Red Scarf fundraising of

$14,444.89

WOO-HOOOOOOOO!

Bacon treats and new squeaky toys for everyone!

The OFA says we are all AWESOME.

But we already knew that.

Phew, Prizes Awarded

That was a job and a half, and boy I'm glad it's done! Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone for helping to make this a very successful fundraiser. Everyone has been notified by email, and because my first post disappeared into the ether, I only have enough energy left to give you this somewhat shorthand list of winners and what they won. 

I don't have a final tally yet from the OFA of how close to our goal we got, with either scarves or money. I think after our trip to Mt. Vernon, Lynn has left the country never to return. I really wasn't THAT bad, Lynn! Heh. Kidding, of course. I was that bad. Kidding again!  

Think I'm punchy, maybe?

I'm pretty sure we didn't hit the dollar amount we raised last year and the year before, but this economy is a tough one, and we still did pretty well. It is all super-appreciated. More than that, we raised awareness and got some wonderful knitting groups involved and even a bunch committed for next year already, and for that I am beyond thankful. I've heard whispers (loud whispers) of 1-scarf-a-month knitalongs, involvement by yarn dyers and designers joining their efforts to make kits -- and, inspired by my own Mr. Jefferies photos, a dogs-in-scarves calendar for a fundraiser. Can I just say I'm THRILLED at all this, but can I also say, I can't take on another thing, so anyone who wants to step forward and run with these fabulous ideas, please do! I'll continue to cheerlead. I feel like all my hard work over the past four or so years has finally paid off with all this goodwill and all these positive ideas, and I'm feeling very rewarded at this community outpouring. 

More on all this later, but let me just get to this list now, mkay? 

Diane H. - $50 gift cert. from The Painted Sheep

Katie C. - The Huge Sock Yarn Stash Builder Prize (sure hope you knit socks, Katie -- or you can start your own shop with that haul!)

Carrie G. - Cranberry Lake sock yarn, Addi Turbo

Sarah R. - JessaLu bag

Debbie (I don't have a last name) - 3 Susan Lawrence patterns

Ellie - Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines, Kaleidoscope Yarns gift cert.

Barbara P. - Long Lucky pattern, Yarn Girls Journal

Phillippa B. - Short Lucky pattern, Interweave DVD & Special Editions

Gerri - Bison yarn kit

Lisa H. - The exquisite copper and silver stitch markers. Schwing!

Seanna Lea - Fridey tote bag and Malabrigo yarn

Marianne - Chocolates & chocolate yarn & jam (Some people have all the luck.)

K.T. - Cashmere laceweight! Res ipsa loquitur. 

Judy M. - Blessed Juno soap, 2 Susan Lawrence patterns, and 1 MimKnits pattern (mmmmm, memories of my friends in Salt Lake City....)

Harriet L. - Spinning fiber from Moonlightandlaughter

Anne H. - Silver & garnet buttons from Blazing Needles

Otter - Stylish Knits for Dogs and It Itches

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And now I must get to work. I've got midyear graduation to caption tomorrow, a doctor's appointment today that I had forgotten about, a big dinner to shop for and prepare next week, Abigail coming home, and I suppose I've got to make an attempt at creating a festive-looking atmosphere around here. I've already admitted defeat on the sweater for my mom. Will need to get her an extra gift and put the half-knitted sweater in a box with an I.O.U. And will I sound super-demented if I say that I have an urge to cast on for...... wait for it..... another red scarf?

And you have a nice weekend, too!  :D

Terrier Tuesday: THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO BE SAVED FROM THE DEVIL QUALIFY FOR PRIZES BY DONATING TO THE RED SCARF FUND

Dear Readers, 

This is serious. This economy is bad, no question about it. (Look at me -- I have a new red scarf.) We have fallen far short of our fundraising goal in the Red Scarf Fund for this year. (Aren't I cute? I have a new red scarf.) We understand, we really do. But if you've been sitting on the fence and have a little spare change to throw our way, while in the process giving to a great cause and qualifying for the great giveaways of all the wonderful prizes that Alpha-Alpha has collected from all her generous friends, listen up:

My Alpha, the alpha of all alphas (she made me say that) has extended the deadline for entering for prizes to tonight at midnight Eastern Time. Get your donations in now! You get one chance at all those lovely prizes for each $5 donation you make through Paypal.  [Be sure to tell her how much you gave at redscarffund@gmail.com so you get all the entries you are entitled to.]

Buddy, can ya spare a dime? 

And then she says she promises she will shut up, and she won't pimp her poor little grand-Yorkie anymore. Well, at least until she starts harping on you for getting an early start on knitting red scarves for next year. I know, I know, you haven't even sent in yours (or you just barely have) for THIS year yet -- what is she kvetching about next year for, huh? 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:  She's difficult.

But I'm impossibly cute, and she knit me this ridiculous red scarf when she really should have been knitting on her mother's Xmas sweater. And she's makin' me wear it and pose like some sort of show dog or something till you cough up some money. And she's the one who feeds me and walks me and teaches me tricks and gets me toys and lets me sleep in her bed, so what'm I gon' do?

Do exactly as she says and turn on the charm and beg, of course.

 

Love, 
Mr. Jefferies

Red Scarves At Mount Vernon

"I will honestly admit I was not prepared to take a college exam."

~ a post written by Sean H., one of the OFA students you are helping by knitting a scarf or sending in a donation to the Red Scarf Fund for Foster Youth.

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Yesterday I had the most delightful day being entertained by Cheryl (you rock the interpretations at Mount Vernon, Cheryl!), chauffeured around by Tracey F. (thank you, Tracey!), and regaled with hilarity as usual by Lynn from the OFA. We all went to Mount Vernon, where Cheryl works, to have a fun tour, a grand luncheon, and take a few photos of red scarves.

It was pretty brisk out there, but that didn't stop us from having a great time. I took responsibility (I have broad shoulders) for bringing the frigid northern temps with me, but the sky was blue and the setting was gorgeous and educational and the company was wonderful. Oh, that Lynn and I, we are a dangerous duo -- and I rather think that our superpowers were enhanced by Cheryl and Tracey -- making us a rather formidable foursome.

Cheryl was strong-armed by one of her fellow interpreters to take over his job in the great Mount Vernon main dining room, so we were privileged to see her deliver a little of her stuff. She is delightful, as was the whole of the tour. We weren't allowed to take photos inside the main house, but we managed to lay out our scarves and shoo people out of the background so we could take photos on the front porch. Cheryl once again saved the day and very diplomatically asked people to move -- blaming it on "that lady" (me) who is "artistic and difficult to work with." What a blast. I had the best day!

Tracey, Lynn (lugging her bag o' scarves), and Cheryl 

Well, It Had To Happen Sometime....and PRIZES!

My first-ever worn-out handknitted sock. These are Fleece Artist socks that I knitted for myself from yarn that was received from a secret swap a few years ago, and they popped a hole when I was walking Mr. Jefferies the other day.

R.I.P. Fleece Artist socks. And now, I suppose the inveterate non-sock-knitter will have to knit another pair of stockinette socks. I lerve my stockinette socks, and my 4X1 rib socks, both of Trekking yarn, the best of all my handknit socks, and I just happen to have a few balls of Trekking "in stock," so one of these days, after I finish my mom's sweater and after I perhaps knit something for our family Yankee swap (or perhaps not), I will get out the Trekking and force myself to knit a damn pair of socks. It'll be character-building, I reckon. 

Today I am off having fun, cavorting with red scarves, maybe learning something, and probably getting fat with Lynn Davis of the OFA, and Cheryl and Tracey and another Lynn. Of course I will tell you all about it later, but this seems like a great time to give out a few prizes in the Red Scarf Fund drive, no?

In the latest impromptu drawing that I made, this is the tally:

1. Melanie has won the elegant Cloisters wrap pattern from Miriam of Mimknits.

2. Susan G. has won two of This Susan's lovely patterns of her choice. 

3. Luise E. has won the wonderful luncheon napkins handmade by Carol.

4. Christine C. has won Thea's excellent Nantucket Red sweater pattern, with vintage buttons.

5. Helen has won the lovely SigNit beads donated by Marcia.  

Thank you to everyone for their generous money and prize donations! And there are plenty more prizes to win. 

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I completed the basketweave scarf just in time to be able to hand-deliver it to the OFA. 

For this pattern in particular, I am very partial to the steam block. What a beautiful and sophisticated fabric this makes! And it's very economical with the yarn. This 6-inch-wide, 60-inch-long scarf took 1.25 skeins of Cascade 220 Heathers. I paid $7.95 a skein. Pretty economical. Downright cheap, actually, and this is soft Merino wool, in just a gorgeous color.

This took three days of not-very-much knitting time. This was maybe 6 inches long when I arrived at AnnaMarie's house the other day. It was probably 12 inches long when I left. A little bit here and a little bit there, and it's DONE! I produced the final 12 inches during the 6:00 news the other night. Who says there isn't time to make a scarf?!

Random Wednesday

1. Oops. Both Mr. Jefferies and I forgot that yesterday was supposed to be terrier day. Here is a pic of the pupsicle taken yesterday, for the Yorkie-deprived -- well, those of you who didn't already see this on Facebook, anyway:

That's his polar fleece jacket over one of his Peace Fleece handknit sweaters, which was very warm and cozy indeed. However, those little pawses must have been awfully cold. Still, he did not want to go back inside, and I must have walked 10 miles with him yesterday, slipping and sliding on the black ice all the way. 

Yes, he does have boots, but they are more trouble than they're worth. He has a devil of a time trying to walk in the black set I got him, and they fall off too easily. The ones his parents got him in New York City, while he can walk in them fairly well, I could get arrested if I put them on him here.

You think I'm kidding.

Straight from the canine transvestite store.

2. I miss the LSAT studying. This could be a manifestation of something pathological, I'm starting to think.

3. In addition to the yogurt-making craze (I just made my fourth batch -- I ruined one batch, though, by, I think, overheating the milk), I've taken up with another back-to-the-'70s craze:

Sprouting. About a month ago, I bought a "Best of the Best of the Best" kit from Sprout People, and ohman, are we enjoying it! Mr. Jefferies gets a small serving of sprouts on his breakfast, too, which makes him very happy (he's a real greens-eatin' dawg). We're grabbing handfuls of sprouts (that one on the right is the French Mix and on the left is Beanie's Awesome Mix) to throw on our sandwiches, on our salads, and using the sprouts alone as their own salad with some vinaigrette. The other day I had a huge plate of broccoli sprouts with a can of salmon and maple balsamic vinaigrette for my lunch. Yum! And last night we had those bean sprouts on the left of the photo in our tomato/roasted-red-pepper soup. Slightly weird, but good. 

Now that the daily veg are not available from the backyard, this works as a handy and economical super-fresh and super-nutritious substitute. I know I qualify as slightly crazy in the food department, and this might not be for everyone, but I love the Madison Market Mix (nuts and seeds) sprouted and added to my morning yogurt, drizzled with maple syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon, for breakfast. Sprout People's dehulling video was (you know, without trying to be toooo dramatic) sort of life-changing. I'd tried sprouting many times before, but hated the hulls, didn't know how to deal with them, and just gave up. Now that I know how to manage them, and I found a mini-salad spinner for just $19 at my health food store, I'm all about the sprouts.

4. The basketweave scarf is now a smokin' 48 inches long. I steam-blocked it for this photo, and I am in love. With a scarf. I know. Shut up.

 

Extras in the Scarf Packages: Your Questions Answered

Several people have asked about what else to send with their completed scarves. First off, attach a small tag or a wrapper such as Melissa's wrappers, available here, saying "Knitted/Crocheted for you by (your first name)." You can add your city or state if you wish. And attach a small tag with washing instructions. There are care tags in Melissa's blog, as well, or you can just write it on a small hang-tag.

If you want to be thanked or have your scarf acknowledged by the OFA (you won't be thanked by the recipient, because you will not be identified to the recipient other than by first name and/or city/state, as mentioned above), please include a stamped self-addressed envelope, which will help the volunteers tremendously. 

It's not absolutely necessary to include anything else, but it is encouraged and will be very much appreciated. The anything else can include a check to the OFA to be added to the Red Scarf Fund, or a gift card to any national chain. Appropriate cards are to department stores, discount stores, food chains, music cards, bookstores, office supply stores, drug store chains, stamps -- you name it.  

Way back when I met the first two OFA students I ever met (the ones in the photo with me the other day), they told me things that opened my eyes to all the good deeds that the OFA does -- things like one of the girls once had a flat tire on her way to school, and the OFA helped her out. Things like, "I didn't have enough money to pay to get my glasses fixed. I called my caseworker at the OFA and she made sure I had it." 

Not long ago, through a rather funny chain of events regarding the starting up of a new Red Scarf Group in Ravelry, I became quite well acquainted with Angie, one of the OFA employees who started that group not realizing that we knitters had already started a group with the same name and with the same mission. She works in a different office of the OFA than the one I am connected with (in a different state), and much to my surprise, she had no idea about us! She started the group as a part of her work efforts to increase exposure for the OFA on the web, and was stunned when she found out that our other group was 400-odd members strong, and asked Lynn, "How do all these people know about us?"

Anyway, Angie explained to me that she never dreamed anyone else even knew about them, and so when the Ravelry prompt came up, "Check to see if there is another group with the same name," she didn't click it. She talked about that 5th-grade assignment (for me it was in 9th grade, but I'm old) where the first instruction is to read the entire test before proceeding. Then the final words on the page are something to the effect of, "Only do questions 1 and 2 of the test and then put down your pencil," and yes, Angie said, SHE was the one who, in that instance, got it right (as was I), but here she was starting up a group in Ravelry and didn't read the full instructions. We had a good laugh about it.  

So explains why there are two groups with the same name and same mission in Ravelry, but in the meantime she told me a bit of her story, and has given me permission to print it here. I think this is helpful in giving you ideas about what sorts of gift cards or items to include with the scarves if you are so inclined and able:

I’m a former foster kid myself, a former OFA student in fact. I love it when people are protective of me! ….. the Red Scarf Fund is a huge part of why I want to expand our efforts! Before I was the program analyst for OFA, I was the ETV coordinator for two of our states, meaning I worked directly with our students. There were so many situations my students experienced that we could not give funding for. It was absolutely heart wrenching!!! But being able to go to our other staff and ask for gift cards to help a student get diapers for their kid, get groceries, replace stolen books, buy a new tire for their car, get gas to make it to classes…it all helped so much, just having one more option! My kids got through some very tough financial times because of those gift cards. It allowed them to make it to finals, pay their gas bill and not worry about how they were going to get diapers, buy a nice outfit for their first job interview, get a cavity taken care of, etc. It made a huge difference in their lives and my own!…because of the kindness of these knitters, we were able to make dismal situations manageable for so many. I was able to give another option instead of just chatting with them about budgeting better next time. And even more important, each and every student who we were able to help with those gift cards felt supported by us, supported in a way they often hadn’t experienced before. And tears of frustration and hopelessness turned into tears of relief and joy.

After reading this and remembering the things I was told by the two young women I met early on in New Hampshire, and the several students I met in Georgetown two summers ago, some things that I'd never thought of became evident. For example, having that Subway sandwich card for his lunch or dinner might allow a young man to have a few dollars to buy a tie to wear to an interview, or being able to buy printer paper at Staples with a gift card that one of us sent might free up the funds for a student to get a new pair of gloves or replace a bra that just got ripped in the washing machine, or maybe even to buy yarn to be able to knit or crochet herself a hat to go with her new scarf.  

Excuse me. I need to go get a hanky.

The red brick heather basketweave scarf in progress is now 21 inches long. I love this thing.