Major Knitter

Still Alice

I'm ahead on my homework assignment.  I read November's book club selection and October's not even finished.  I don't know the last time I did that.  This one was an easy read.  It's a tough subject that hit close to home.  

Still Alice by Lisa Genova is a thoughtfully written book about a 50-year old Harvard professor struggling with the news that she has early onset Alzheimer's disease.

Lisa Genova's website is another gem.  If you have someone in your life suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, I highly recommend checking out her site for support, insight, guidance, and ideas.

In our town of Westport, CT, we had a wonderful success story yesterday about a 75-year-old woman suffering from dementia who was last seen at one part of town.  Our Reverse-9-1-1- system sent out a computerized automatic phone call to every registered home and cell phone in town alerting residents of the missing person.  One alert mother coming home from her child's Halloween party at school noticed the woman wandering down by the beach about 5 miles from where she was last seen.  You can read three lovely accounts of this story here, here and here.

I love a story with a happy ending.

Finishing Friday - a Review

I managed to check off quite a few things from my To Do List this week.  

First I finished Secundogeniture's school socks

 

Then I managed to finish my Knitting Central Sock Club socks by Danni Conway - Chutes and Ladders

 

And finally, I finished a special order for some Boy Scout Vintage Sock Ornaments which is part of our great scholarship fundraiser.  Woohoo.

C'mon now, sing along with me.  I Feel Good!  Nanananananana.  I knew that I would now.

Hope your Finishing Friday goes half as well.

Chutes and Ladders - End Game

It only took me 54 weeks, but I finally finished the Chutes and Ladders socks by Danni Conway.  This pattern is for sale on Ravelry - click HERE.  It's a fun pattern that never gets boring and elicits memories of my childhood with this happy game.

 

• US Size 1 Turbo Addis
• Magic Loop method
• Toe Up
• Lorna's Laces Woodlawn colorway

There.  I have brought my WIP list down to a somewhat manageable (or ignorable) amount - twelve.  I don't start my KAL until Sunday.  There's a slight chance I could finish one more project before then.  Hmmmmm.  I'm thinking.  I'm thinking.

Just in the Nick of Time

With a bit of determination and a goal, I managed to finish a pair of socks

 

 

 

 

Wilma approves!  

Surely It's Socktober Still

We're in the final days of Socktober.  In fact, my calendar tells me it's the 27th.  Surely there's time for me to finish a pair of socks for Socktoberfest.  In fact, I'm nearly there.

 

My goal is to finish these socks in the next day or two.  They've been in my WIP pile far too long.  I started these in Portland at the Sock Summit 2009 - and they have been one of the slowest pair of Garter Rib Socks I've ever made.  Surely I can kick it into overdrive and have them ready for the weekend.  They'd be done sooner except for the fact that the recipient has very large feet.  Not much I can do about that.

Welcome to My World

Do you know what this picture means?

If you're a Boy Scout parent you do.  It's that time of year.  It's Boy Scout Popcorn Sales.  This is everything we DIDN'T sell at our show and sell promotions this fall.  I have to inventory it, do the data entry for each Scout, compare it to what each Scout sold on the Take Order forms and then figure out how much has to be returned.

Anyone want to buy some popcorn.  Seriously.  Please.  Pretty Please.  As you can see, I'm literally drowning in popcorn here.

Sundays with Wilma

Sundays are often thought of as lazy days, days of no work, days of prayer, thoughts, rest and recovery.  Wilma apparently believes all that jazz.

 

She's complete asleep on BF's lap.  Of course, he's trying to get some work done - but she doesn't care.  She's relaxing in one of her favorite places.  Life is good.

Provocative

Yesterday my Book Club met to discuss Julie Metz's memoir Perfection - a book about betrayal and renewal for author Julie Metz as she realizes the marriage she thought she had, wasn't the marriage she had at all. 

It was a disturbing book (what Book Club books aren't disturbing?) that made for some great discussions, confessions, and sharing among our members.  Additionally, one of our members emailed author Julie Metz all our questions, which she thoughtfully took the time to respond to one-by-one.  I was thrilled with our open and honest discussions about life, love, and marriage.  I am so privileged to have such a bright, talented, thoughtful group of friends.  

If you haven't read Perfection, I highly recommend it for your Book Club.  By itself, I may have just walked away being depressed about yet another marriage falling apart, but as part of a bigger discussion among friends, it was a delight to read and discuss.  

Finishing Friday - Benjamin's Red Wonderful Wallaby

Yippy Skippy!  I'm on a roll.  I've finished two-thirds of the Wonderful Wallabies for my nieces and nephews.  Just two left.  Check it out.  This is Benjamin's Washington Wallaby.

Hmmm.  What's your vote for the next one - orange or green?  Let me know.  I have two more to go.  Even I'm a little tired of red after knitting two red sweaters simultaneously.  

Remnants of a Late Summer

The leaves are starting to really show off their wonderful colors here in Southern Connecticut.  I love getting outside and basking in their glory.  But less than a month ago, I was home in Iowa, enjoying the remnants of summer in a friend's glorious garden.  Check this out.

 

 

 

 

Ah, I love the seasons.  Each is so strikingly beautiful.  Enjoy these pictures until I can get you the perfect fall foliage photos.