Crafting the Nation

Happy the birthday, Speeeeeeakkkkkerrrrr

2009-06-08T16:47:59Z

Not that you'll see this, but I have it here in writing :)

Oh!!!

2009-06-01T17:38:08Z

And...

Happy Birthday, Alexandrite!!!!!! :D

argggg! Why for no peekshures? Why?!?!

2009-06-01T17:03:45Z

Why no pictures yet from Than & Sarah wedding? Why you hold me in suspense, people? Why why why? I've never had to wait so long for peekshures! C'mon now!!!

doo doo doo

2009-04-27T03:14:31Z

doot doodeeeeeeee doo doo...doo doot de doo...dodododeeeeeedoooo

Yep, even though it's Sunday and I'm up past my bedtime, I'm in a great mood. Why? Because after being knocked to eternity by the flu last week, I'm finally feeling like ME again! I always forget how nasty the flu is. The whole aching and chills and not wanting to touch anything and the blah blah blah. Oof. But I better now :) And that is exciting. Now I just need to make sure I take it easy so it doesn't come crashing back on me, which has been known to happen.

I'm also debating calling my doctor and saying, "Um...I'm sure that it wasn't, but should I report to you that I had the flu just to make sure it wasn't swine flu? Cuz the media is like woah."

To be continued.

Doot dooo deeeeeeeee dum dum doooooo dum dum deeeee doot doot.

How does my garden grow?

2009-04-26T03:25:34Z

Pretty well so far!

Coming out to my deck, if you turn to your left you will see my resting corner, squarely in the shade this year...

Go ahead and lie down! This is what you'll see:

You probably didn't know that you can grow a farm on a deck, but that's just what I'm planning to do:

A close-up? Sure.

In the back are beefsteak tomatoes and yellow pear tomatoes and green beans. The boxes have a variety of things -- the top left box has marigolds and random tomatoes. The second box is lettuce, mesclun, and basil, and the third one has teeny tiny sprouts of thyme. Hopefully rosemary will grow there as well. On the right, more lettuce and mesclun, in the middle I have spinach, and I'm hoping for some parsley in the third one.

The sunny corner of my deck is kind of a death trap, but here's to hoping. sun loving grass, a geranium, some pansies, a columbine, and a small white & yellow flower whose name I can't recall right now. And then purple alyssum hanging from the basket.

Now have a seat at my table and look at my begonias and pansies while I get you something to eat:

:)

Gosh darn it...

2009-04-25T19:12:45Z

...

Huh?

2009-04-25T14:07:47Z

I was having a dream last night that had something to do with cooking...I'm not really clear on the jist of it though I think it might have had something to do with pot roast...? Anyway, quite randomly I ended up in a cafeteria (ew) and someone that had absolutely no right to be in my dream showed up at a table, eating alone.

I walked up to him (apparently my duties as chef were done?), put my arm around him, and said "you know, deep down I really love you."

He said, "It's about time."

I went to sit down (I had no food so not sure what I was going to accomplish) and turned back, and his table was empty.

And then I woke up.

I can only hypothesize that I have issues with roast :(

I just have to say...

2009-04-22T12:39:42Z

Nathan Fillion posted yesterday on Twitter that he was following someone. It took more strength than I think I have ever exerted in my life not to post, "FOLLOW ME!!!!! YOU SEXY MAN-BEAST!!"

I was successful, but these are the perils of twitter.

Meep.

Penny Homespuns

2009-04-20T02:56:40Z

So I was watching tv and this ad came on about a guy that started collecting pennies. He has raised $7 million so far and it's become a great way to let kids donate to charitable causes. That got me thinking that maybe Homespun Helpers could do something similar...

The idea is to start asking people to sponsor our group, if you will, by pledging a penny for every item we make. The Penny Homespuns (as these folks would be called) would all donate all final proceeds to one charity at the end of the year -- the group is voting on which charity right now. The choices are:

Red Cross

AMFA

Cam Neely Foundation

UNICEF

American Cancer Society

Please let me know your thoughts about this idea, positive, negative, or otherwise.

Thanks!

Something to ponder

2009-04-05T22:57:27Z

Recently, some photographs that were taken the night that MLK was killed came to the surface. No one knows why it took so long for these pictures to be published. It's not like the photographer was some indie unknown -- he was a photographer for Life Magazine.

Whatever the explanation, the photographs are available now, and apart from being humbling and poignant at various times, the photographs are interesting because the photographer was a white man photographing MLK's friends and circle of peers before the riots, before the violence...maybe before the full realization of what had happened set in.

For me, this photograph that I'm linking to is the sort of thing that sends shockwaves through my whole sense of being. In one photograph, tangible proof that life is a fragile thing that should never be taken for granted.

http://www.life.com/image/85755075/in-gallery/24651

MLK's brief case open on his bed just as he had left it. He had not been feeling well on his trip to Memphis but had made his famous speech anyway and by all accounts, he was feeling fairly jubilant on the night of his death. He went out to get a breath of fresh air, and only his brief case remained unmoved. It's worth thinking about, albeit a day later than I should be posting this.

After two long years of trial and mostly error...

2009-03-02T00:45:38Z

I have learned how to make socks that have heels :D

11

2009-02-09T01:58:11Z

These hats & socks are all going to Warming Omaha.

Interesting to think about

2009-02-01T22:42:05Z

I watched good ole Sunday Morning this morning. They are celebrating their 30th anniversary and so a lot of the show was dedicated to talking about Sunday and all of the traditions surrounding this particular day of the week.

Someone raised an interesting point. Not too long ago, families tended to gather together on Sundays for Church or brunch or Sunday dinner, but now, with technology the way it is, families may not gather on Sundays, figuring they keep in touch with each other every day of the week, maybe multiples times a day. But are any of those communications as meaningful as gathering together at someone's house, sharing food, and talking in person? Discuss.

Crafting the Nation Update

2009-01-30T22:52:01Z

Kansas and Nevada are going to be in the mail shortly!

Alabama
Alaska: St. George's Anglican Catholic Church Knifty Knitters
http://www.anglicancatholic.org/
8892 Duran Street
Juneau AK 99801 US
~~Arizona: Ninjasezzy preemie drive~~
Arkansas:Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Northwest Arkansas
2510 N. 17th St.
Rogers AR 72756 US
California: Operation Gratitude and/or Afghans for Afghans
Colorado: Warm Hearts Warm Babies
~~Connecticut: Salvation Army w/Priscilla's Guild~~
Delaware:Newborns in Need, Delaware Chapter
http://www.newbornsinneed.org/delaware
13 Grace Court
Newark DE 19702 US
Florida: VA in St. Petersburg
Georgia: www.emmazinggracefoundation.org
Hawaii
Idaho
~~Illinois: Greater Chicago Ferret Association~~
Indiana
Iowa
~~Kansas:Victory in the Valley~~
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine: Nest Jean Lee
NestMaine
P.O. Box 6011
Falmouth, Maine, 04105
Maryland:
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital
Caroline Langrall,
Child Life Specialist
1708 W Rogers Ave
Baltimore, MD 21209
Massachusetts: www.afghanproject.org
Michigan: South Oakland Shelter
Minnesota
~~Mississippi: Wings Cancer Foundation through Caps For A Cure~~
Missouri
Montana
~~Nebraska: Robyn's preemie hat drive~~
~~Nevada: UMC hospital for Bev Q~~
New Hampshire
~~New Jersey:Ocean of Love (Chemo caps)~~
New Mexico
New York:Lincoln Medical Center Room 2D5, 234 E 149 St, Bronx, NY 10451 Attn: maria Edwards.
North Carolina: Newborns in Need
North Dakota
~~Ohio: Items made and donated for a local homeless women's shelter~~
Oklahoma: Crosh-aid
Oregon: Baby Love Blanket Drive
Pennsylvania: Bonnie's Ronald McDonald House (Danville, PA 17821)
Rhode Island: East Bay Community Action Program
South Carolina
South Dakota: Pretty Bird Woman House
Tennessee
Texas: Prayer shawls for Crazigriffen's mom's church
Utah
Vermont
Virginia: Warm Up Winchester
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
~~Wyoming: Caps for Kids~~

Testing, Testing

2009-01-29T14:03:21Z

Hi Everyone,

It seems that livejournal is kind of dying here, so I've been thinking that I would maintain this account just to keep moderating Homespun Helpers, but that I would blog and what-not elsewhere. To this end, I want to see who all still checks for posts here. Please virtually nod via your keyboard if you still read this here thing.

In the meantime, I have some questions about Lost.

1. How is it not changing history for Farraday, Locke, Sawyer, and Juliet to go and talk to the young Others? Farraday told Sawyer not to even try to knock on the hatch door, but they can all talk to the Others? Shmeh?

2. Is it going to end up that Charles Whidmore actually knew Desmond from the 1950s and that's why he was so anti-Desmond?

3. So help me God, the thought occurred to me that Desmond & Penny's son Charlie might end up being THE Charlie. If that happens, I will be...........frustrated.

4. If Locke can remember moving around in time, why can't Richard, who has been doing it longer?

5. If the military knew about the island, wouldn't they notice when it suddenly disappears over the years, or changes location?

6.Did anyone else find the plot turn in the Charlotte story just a little too confusing to let pass? She's in a coma, traveling through time, and then she's going into a coma on the island?

7. Who was in the picture with Farraday when Desmond was in his old office? It was a blonde chick. I'm sure I'm supposed to know who that was.

Grr!

16

2009-01-26T00:36:56Z

The baby hats are going to Bev's drive for the Nevada hospital. The big hat is going to end up with the Bridge Project, but I want to make more stuff before I send it on down.

Marked

2009-01-20T13:22:02Z

Today is a day to be marked, to mark your emotions on this day, to mark what is happening in the world today, to mark what has happenend before today.

Today I mark the election of the first Black President of the United States. I see a marble Abraham Lincoln looking benevolently down and I hear the words of Martin Luther King through the voices of his friends and peers. I mark the history, not the politics, being made today.

Today, I mark the people that are mentioned when we talk about today. The Tuskegee Airmen, who wanted only to die for their country like everyone else. The Little Rock 9, who only wanted to go to school like everyone else. Rosa Parks, who only wanted to sit down on the bus. Thurgood Marshall, who only wanted to fight for his people in the highest court. Jesse Owen, who only wanted to save the world by running as fast he could. Jackie Robinson, who only wanted to play a game. And then that group we all try to run away from, that group that haunts our history, but we do not hear their shackles shaking. That group that was enslaved in our country. The group that men felt so strongly about they were willing to die just to keep that group enslaved. The group who had to develop their own language, their own religion just to survive. I mark them in our not too distant history. I mark them and wonder if what we have done has come to late to save our souls.

Today, I mark the last 8 years. An attack on our country that murdered 3,000. A war that was waged irresponsibly, murdering another 3,000 of our people and hundreds of thousands of others. Today I mark the people who were collecting houses in 2000 and who are now collecting unemployment checks. I mark them. I mark the people that the media highlighted through the long and arduous election process, the people that the candidates hugged or not. I mark the people who couldn't afford to go to the hospital, and I wonder if they are still with us. I wonder if they are well. I wonder if they feel hope now.

Today, I mark the transition from a man who lamented not being able to be a dictator to a man who wants everyone to pitch in, and I wonder if we can. I mark this cliff that we are looking over. Will you mark where you stand or will you jump over the edge into something new and grand. I mark your response. I mark your feelings.

I mark how eerily everything worked out in this election. A fairytale story ending the day after Martin Luther King Day on the steps of a house built by slaves in a mall that was used as a slave market. But I cannot be 100% happy. My own life has taught me that fairytales aren't what they seem to be in books. Nothing will work out perfectly, and I mark the impossibly high hopes placed on this new President as he carries the weight of his race as well as his country. I do wonder what today would be like if we were electing a woman rather than a Black man. Not Hillary necessarily but a woman. Would there be as much rejoicing? I mark my thought: Probably not. But would it not be just as victorious? Have not women been enslaved? Are there not still women who are?

I mark my fears today. I mark my fears that we have once again gotten cocky and that we feel that nothing could possibly harm this charismatic man whom we have elected. But I am afraid for his safety today, I am. And I mark it.

All days should be marked so long as you are not six feet under, but some days should be marked a bit more than others. Not all days were created equal. I mark today. I mark it in the hopes that someday I can look back on this moment and remember the real emotions that surrounded it, so that I can remember Obama rather than OBAMA. I mark it. And that is all.

12

2009-01-19T00:23:50Z

And so, the journey begins...and I'm already well behind :)

The squares are going to Warm Up America. The hats are going to a place called Victory In The Valley, my Kansas cause.

Nevada!

2009-01-15T03:33:35Z

Found me a cause for Nevada :) But I lost my California. I think I'm going to count my work for Operation Gratitude coming up because they're centered out there. Either that or Afghans for Afghans.

Alabama
Alaska: St. George's Anglican Catholic Church Knifty Knitters
http://www.anglicancatholic.org/
8892 Duran Street
Juneau AK 99801 US
~~Arizona: Ninjasezzy preemie drive~~
Arkansas:Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Northwest Arkansas
2510 N. 17th St.
Rogers AR 72756 US
California: Operation Gratitude and/or Afghans for Afghans
Colorado: Warm Hearts Warm Babies
~~Connecticut: Salvation Army w/Priscilla's Guild~~
Delaware:Newborns in Need, Delaware Chapter
http://www.newbornsinneed.org/delaware
13 Grace Court
Newark DE 19702 US
Florida: VA in St. Petersburg
Georgia: www.emmazinggracefoundation.org
Hawaii
Idaho
~~Illinois: Greater Chicago Ferret Association~~
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas:Victory in the Valley
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine: Nest Jean Lee
NestMaine
P.O. Box 6011
Falmouth, Maine, 04105
Maryland:
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital
Caroline Langrall,
Child Life Specialist
1708 W Rogers Ave
Baltimore, MD 21209
Massachusetts: www.afghanproject.org
Michigan: South Oakland Shelter
Minnesota
~~Mississippi: Wings Cancer Foundation through Caps For A Cure~~
Missouri
Montana
~~Nebraska: Robyn's preemie hat drive~~
Nevada: UMC hospital for Bev Q
New Hampshire
~~New Jersey:Ocean of Love (Chemo caps)~~
New Mexico
New York:Lincoln Medical Center Room 2D5, 234 E 149 St, Bronx, NY 10451 Attn: maria Edwards.
North Carolina: Newborns in Need
North Dakota
~~Ohio: Items made and donated for a local homeless women's shelter~~
Oklahoma: Crosh-aid
Oregon: Baby Love Blanket Drive
Pennsylvania: Bonnie's Ronald McDonald House (Danville, PA 17821)
Rhode Island: East Bay Community Action Program
South Carolina
South Dakota: Pretty Bird Woman House
Tennessee
Texas: Prayer shawls for Crazigriffen's mom's church
Utah
Vermont
Virginia: Warm Up Winchester
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
~~Wyoming: Caps for Kids~~

I'm asking you to motivate me

2009-01-12T00:10:15Z

Hi Everyone,

I've decided to take on a big challenge this year in parallel with my Crafting the Nation challenge.

I'm going to try to make 1,000 items for charity this year.

To spur me on, I'm asking for "sponsors" of a sort. Signing on means that if I happen to succeed, you will donate $20 to the American Cancer Society. It is one of many societies that I wish I could help with my work, but they don't really need hats...they need financial support.

I will have until midnight, December 31 2009 to complete this goal.

I have chosen the American Cancer Society for many reasons. I know too many people who have dealt with cancer themselves or who have dealt with Cancer indirectly through loved ones. I may not be able to crochet or knit a cure, but I can crochet or knit in support of a cure.

I appreciate your support in this endeavor. Wish me luck!

Well that's interesting

2009-01-06T18:55:05Z

Rumors are flying that Livejournal is in BIG trouble financially. Apparently several people were fired from the company today although numbers are varying. There is talk that it might be sold to another company or some such.

You can certainly see that Facebook especially has taken a big chunk out of LJ, but I've gotten cozy with it over the last 7 or so years and it would be sad to see it go. Most especially sad because apparently the archive feature you can use to save your journal doesn't work on Macs.

Anyway, I guess keep an eye out and save if you can! :)

Tengo una pregunta

2009-01-05T13:53:57Z

Did public elementary schools close early on 9/11/01? I know that I didn't have any grad school classes that day.

Let me know!

It's that time of year

2009-01-03T15:57:19Z

So I guess it's worthwhile to post resolutions, just so you can look back and say, "Yep...I did that." Let's see how I did in 2008 first.

I didn't do any fun traveling but I did go to Chicago for business, so that was alright I guess.

I am somewhat driving on the interstate now, every day to and from work. Step by step.

I did not move but that is in part because my rent didn't increase in price as astronomically as I thought it was going to.

I have a new computer thanks to a family friend offering me an AWESOME deal.

Didn't do quite as well on the exercise regimen over the Summer but I'm getting back into it. I'm still not back to my Fat Elvis period, so that's good.

In 2009, I have two primary goals. One is to take a really real vacation. Not work related, no business involved. Just a straight-out vacation that does not involve cleaning my apartment.

I'd also like to complete my goal of making charity items for causes in all 50 states. I'm finding that perhaps the hardest part is finding a viable cause in all 50 states! Who woulda thunk?

Ideally, I'd like to revamp my apartment. Get new furniture and what-not. I still have a lot of hand-me-downs from when I first moved, and I love the furniture I have, but I'd like to make my home filled with my actual stuff now :)

I'd like to conquer knitting socks with heels. I'm close, or at least I was. I haven't tried in awhile!

I'd like my deck garden to be even better this year. I am thinking about buying seeds online in a few weeks instead of relying on local plant places, which tend to offer all of the same stuff for way a lot of moneh.

I need to learn to make things for myself. The one time I tried to make myself a scarf it came out horribly! I want to make myself some shawls and maybe some stitching to put on my walls.

Hmm, this is kind of adding up, isn't it? :)

Last present for 2008

2008-12-28T04:29:19Z

And my last craft project of the year too!

I have worked on this project on and off for 2 years. I was worried the whole time about the final washing of the work because there are so many dark colors. The longer I worked on it the longer I worried about washing it. But, it has now been washed. Now it just needs to dry, be ironed, and be framed. And I'm a week early!! (It's going to be given at a family party on the 3rd :) )

I am so so so so so so so glad to be done with this project FINALLY!!!!

Updates!

2008-12-03T02:46:09Z

I know it's not Wednesday yet, but oh well :)

I wanted to let you know, for those of you who are not into the Yahoo thing yet, that we are going to experiment with having a drive of the month here in December. One of our members, Sandy, is working on a very local, very personal drive in her hometown. Sandy has posted about this drive over at http://homespunhelpers.blogspot.com and you can also read about it at the messages posted on the yahoo page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HomespunHelpers/

I have learned that the group is set up right now so that only members can click on files and other places where information will be stored. I don't want to change this because folks may want to post their address for drives, and I want that information to be as protected as possible. I'm not going to let this be an obstacle - if you don't want to join the Yahoo group but would like access to the labels document, let me know and I'll e-mail it to you. If you want to know where to send items each month, I'll still post Wednesday announcements and will be able to more readily e-mail you with information that you need.

It will be easier to get information on your own if you join the Yahoo group, but you will still be able to get the information you need.

Again, as we work out the bugs before the beginning of the year, give me feedback, ideas -- anything at all :)