Winston's Mom

Take Two!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:20:00 +0000

Okay, this is the NEW version of the Baby & Bears Sweater for Grown Ups! I'm now knitting a size Large instead of the XL. I also changed the color scheme up a bit, using the Baltic Sea for the cuff and then doing the striping as before. I actually like this one better, not sure why, I just do. I probably won't be doing much more knitting on it for a bit though. The holidays are less than 2 months away and I have some holiday knitting to do! Mainly, I have volunteered to do some knitting for a charity event my friend Val hosts at her house every year for AWAIC (Abused Women's Aide In Crisis) - the local shelter for women and their children who are trying to escape from domestic violence. What Val does is she has folks make things or donate things that she then sells at this open house at her home and all the proceeds go to the shelter. She's been trying to get me to donate stuff for a couple of years, and this year is it! I'm going to do some stash busting and hat knitting! I'm also still slowly working on the sweater for my Sweet Baboo, maybe I'll have that finished for the holidays too. I seem to have temporarily lost my sock mojo, I say temporarily because I'm sure it will return, but socks and I are taking a break for right now.

In other news, my Sweet Baboo and I went to go see a really good movie this weeked, It Might Get Loud. It is a documentary film about guitarists Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White. The filmmakers had these three musicians come together for one day in January 2009 to talk about music, and specifically, playing guitar. It was really interesting! If you like rock music at all you would probably take something away from this film. Also, something that was really cool is that here it opened at one of our second run theaters (although it never played in the first run houses..) so the price was only $3. Pretty sweet!

Finally, my work has really been rough these last few weeks. I am finally seeing a little light though, once I get through this week one big project will be done. I'm one of two coordinators for implementing the PLAN Test at our school. The PLAN Test is a precursor for the ACT, it is a pretty neat test and should give kids some really helpful information. Our district got stimulus funding to give this test to all 10th graders. There are over 600 sophomores at our school! That is a HUGE thing to organize!! I don't recommend taking on a project of this magnitude - I keep wondering why I spoke when I said, "I'll help with that". I wasn't thinking! Oh well, it is nearly done. Just a few more rough days to go...

Halloween is soon - we are going for the superhero approach in our house. What are you dressing up as?

And We're Off! Also - I'm a Moron!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:30:00 +0000

We started our B & B Sweater KAL on Thursday! You can still join us! It is totally open to anyone who cares to play along. I cast on and started my cuff of my first sleeve on Thursday. I didn't get any knitting done on Friday, but here is where I got to on Saturday:

It's looking pretty good! But then I slipped in on my arm and I discovered a problem. After all the work I did with knitting gauge swatches and getting the correct needles I wasn't careful about deciding what size to make. I just assumed that I'd make an XL and that would be perfect. On my arm I discovered, not so much:
This is a pretty baggy sleeve. I guess that is what happens when I assume things! So, I went and did real measurements on myself and on a sweater that I have that fits me nicely. I need to knit a Large.
I could hide all sorts of extra stuff in a sleeve like that!
I did learn something from this experience though. I learned how I want to use my two colors. I had originally thought that I would make the left sleeve all the blue/brown - Baltic Sea with a green cuff and then go to stripes in the body. I was going to make the right sleeve all green - Wasabi with a Baltic Sea cuff. What I discovered is something that I actually already knew:
I love the way these two colors play off each other. I don't know why, I just do. So, since I have to rip out what I've started and start over what I'm going to do is make both sleeves with Baltic Sea cuffs and then do the striping every four rows - makes it easy to keep track of increases. And then continue the striping on the body too and use Wasabi to make my edging all around the body and the neckband. I think that will turn out great!

F.O. - Quick & Easy Baby Hat

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:41:00 +0000

This is the Quick & Easy Baby Hat. I made it for a co-worker, who as I type, is at the hospital having her first baby. I don't know if she is having a boy or a girl, so I tried to be gender neutral. My co-worker's favorite color is brown, and I thought this light green went well with the chocolate brown and wasn't too girlie or too boyie. The details:

Pattern: Quick & Easy Baby Hat, free from Ravelry
Needles: US 6
Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly DK, a superwash that is really soft!
Method: Circular
Cast On: Saturday, October 10th
Bind Off: Tuesday, October 13th
A view from the top! This truly was quick and easy! It was a lot of fun to knit and I really liked the yarn. I hope the baby enjoys it! :0)

F.O. - Bella's Mittens

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:09:00 +0000

I have a F.O. to share:
These are Bella's Mittens. They are a Christmas gift for my DH's cousin and our friend, Katie. She never reads this blog so I don't have to worry about her seeing them. She is a HUGE Twilight fan and so I know that she'll love these! And brown is her favorite color too. Here are the details:

Pattern: Bella's Mittens - free from Ravelry
Needles: US 8 Circular and DPN
Method: Magic Loop
Yarn: Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande - very, very soft!
Cast On: Mid September
Cast Off: October 9th - I would've finished sooner if I had not caught the flu!

We've been experiencing a beautiful fall here in Anchorage! This photo was actually taken a couple of weeks ago, but is shows some of the amazing fall colors around Westchester Lagoon:
Isn't that great! The mountains don't have that much snow anymore, we had a warm, southerly wind blow through. But, you can feel it in the air that snow is not far away at all!

My friends and I are starting a KAL this week for the Babies and Bears Sweater for Grown-Ups. We have a group on Ravelry. You should join us!

Flu!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:26:00 +0000

It has hit me. I caught the flu. I tried so hard to avoid it, if I didn't feel so bad I'd be really irritated. It came on very suddenly and it hit hard. The irony is that there was a shot clinic at work on Friday in which I totally intended to get my flu shot, but I missed it because I was home with the stupid flu! Oh well, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I've been feeling really run down with the hectic nature of the start of the school year that hasn't calmed down yet. And I do work in a public high school, a cesspool of disease. I just HATE feeling this way!! Ugh!!

I am doing a little better than I was at first. For the first couple of days all I could do was sleep, occasionally eat, and drink water. I now can do a little reading, a little typing, and a little knitting.

Holiday Knitting

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:59:00 +0000

I have begun my holiday knitting. I don't have a super long list, but I just don't knit very fast and so if I don't start early it won't happen. I'm thinking of who all I should do holiday knitting for. I have a few ideas, but it is a short list. I'm trying to think of things that are fast, because frankly, although they don't seem big socks just aren't that fast. At least not for a slow knitter like me. I would love to do some charity knitting, I have a friend who I know would love for me to donate some knitted objects to a charity function she runs. I just always feel like there are not enough hours in the day. Maybe I'll focus on charity knitting instead...??? Hmmm...???

There is already snow on the mountains here. Winter is around the corner. It was snowing in Fairbanks this weekend. The start of the school year has been absolutely INSANE! I keep waiting for it to calm down so I can catch up! Haven't found that yet. Hopefully it isn't too far away because I really need to feel like I have a handle on what is going on with my 350 kiddos.

My friends and I have not yet set a date for the start of our KAL on the Baby and Bears for Grown-Ups Sweater yet. We will be together on Tuesday, so maybe we will get a decision then. I'll let you know. With holiday knitting having started and looming in my head it is hard to think about knitting something that is totally unrelated and just for me. But at the same time I haven't knit anything for me in awhile. Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Rest of the summer - summed up!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:41:00 +0000

I've decided to take a page out of my friend at One More Project's book to sum up the rest of my summer. She does these Friday Photos entries where she just has images. I'm going to provide some words, but not many, and just a lot of pictures. First, a video:

This is what 10,000 teachers sound like when they get together! It was crazy! And for me, totally overwhelming!
This is the AEA President, Jim, standing next to the Alaska banner. He is modeling the Kuspuk that NEA-AK loaned to each of us to wear as an Alaskan delegate. They were really nice! They were embroidered on the back with the big dipper, so just like the Alaska Flag. I wish I could have kept mine.
We spent a lot of time at RA sitting. And eating, this is Jerry and Lisa doing both. And listening to folks from CA argue about stuff. And voting. It was COLD in the Convention Center! I had to go outside to get warm. I also went out to get food because the food they sold at the convention center wasn't that interesting and it was really overpriced!
On July 3rd, we went to a Padres game at PetCo Park. It was a lot of fun! They played the LA Dodgers and it was the return game of Manny Ramierez after his suspension. Pretty interesting! There was a GREAT fireworks show after the game! I video taped it but it is pretty long. It would have to be it's own stand alone post I think...
Here I am knitting at the game. I was able to get a lot of work done on Arctic Knitter's socks at RA! All that sitting = all that time for knitting. The only other distraction we had was the announcement that our Governor at the time, she who must not be named, was resigning her post. That led to a lot of texting, emailing, and calling folks at home to try to find out more news.
When I visited the USS Midway I got the boys sailor hats. Don't they look cute!
In mid-July my BIL Paul came to Alaska for the first time. He came to meet his girlfriend, Kerry's, parents. We had dinner at the Double Musky.
Also in mid-July I hosted a tie-dye clinic one Monday evening at the house. I had some friends who wanted to learn how, and although I'm certainly no expert I did say I could teach them. Here's a very pregnant Julie Bean and Heather working away.
Here's Heather, Jenn, and Dave letting those artistic juices flow! The pictures are not great because I took them with my phone and the lighting wasn't very good. Our dining room light sucks...my darling electrician husband keeps telling me how it needs to be changed...and that is as far as the conversation goes!
In late July my best friend Wendi came to visit me for my birthday!
We took a Segway tour of Anchorage! It was FUN!
Here we are being goofy taking pictures of one another taking pictures with our iPhones!
For my birthday my sister, Wendi, and I got pedicures! And my dad made my traditional Thanksgiving Birthday dinner! YUM!
Just after my birthday I was able to hob-knob with Senator Begich at the Dog Jog. Winston didn't have much to say to the Senator, there were too many dogs to speak to!
In the first weekend of August I attended the Sock Summit in Portland, OR. This is the clock in the Convention Center. I really liked the clock, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out how one was supposed to tell time on the clock!
I was able to meet and take a class from Cookie A.! It was a great class! It brought me a lot of inspiration!
At Sock Summit Sandy, Sylvia, Arctic Knitter, and I along with a bunch of other knitters worked at breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people simultaneously knitting. I think we did it! This picture was, of course, taken before the clock was actually started.
We went on our annual camping trip to Seward for Labor Day weekend. It was the same campground as the last couple of years, so I figured I'd show a picture that showed something different. Here's a smiling Winston in the field next to the Seward Elementary School with a hanging glacier behind him.
A self-portrait of my love and I.
Winston wants everyone to know that he is hungry!

Thank You!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:19:00 +0000

Thank you to all who provided input into my knitting dilemma. I think I have figured out what I'm going to do. I'm going to make the socks because I think I will enjoy the process, so long as I don't think about the circumstances with the recipient. And I think I need to get it done just so it isn't weighing on my soul any longer. I will definitely take many photos of the socks and make a production of the giving - even though the giving will not be in person and involve mailing. Finally, my good friend Subarctic Mama gave me a beautiful little bag that is perfect for a sock knitting project for my birthday. I think that if I carry it in this bag it will give me warm feelings and that will be good. Then it will be done and I can move on to other, less conflicted, projects.

Thank you also for the advice on gauge swatches. I had not thought of washing the swatch, because honestly, after I knit the swatch and measure it I pulled it out and then used that yarn in the sweater itself. I'm going to have to do another fitting on my beloved soon, hopefully things will be fine with the US7. I think we'll be okay. I really appreciate everyone's help and input on both situations! Thanks! It is also nice to know that folks are reading too!

F.O. Old & F.O. New

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:31:00 +0000

Okay, I have two F.O.'s to share today! One is over a month old, the other I finally finished this week. First, a pair of socks:

These are socks for my BKFF Arctic Knitter. They are her birthday gift I got them to her only a month late! The yarn is Blue Moon STR lightweight in the colorway Lucky. It was one of the colorways from RSC of 2008. Arctic Knitter's favorite color is green, so this seemed perfect.
The pattern is Biological Clock from The Eclectic Sole. I liked the pattern, but I ended up knitting these socks three times. I seem to have some kind of issue that I don't understand with knitting toe-up socks with a gusset and heel flap style heel. I don't get it. I've made four or five pairs of toe-up socks where I used a short-row heels and those were fine, so, as I said, I don't get it. It is hard to correct it when you don't know what you are doing wrong. Anyway, the way I finally solved the problem (or how the third time became the charm) is that when I started the gusset I went up a needle size. Then I went back down again at the leg. That seemed to work.
Why this pattern for my BKFF? Well, that is easy. She's a Science teacher, more specifically, an Anatomy and Physiology teacher, so a pattern that features a DNA double helix seemed so perfect for her that I couldn't pass it up. I delivered them to her when we met up at the Sock Summit. It is hard to see the double helix from this photo right now, but if you click on it and make it bigger you'll be able to see it. Arctic Knitter seemed to be really pleased with them, I hope they keep her toes happy and warm this winter and for many winters to come! I'm very blessed to have her as my friend and I wanted to show her some of my appreciation for all the wonderful things she has brought to my life.

Now, the new F.O. - a Baby Surprise Jacket!
This is for Killian, my good friend Julie's new baby boy! This is actually the second BSJ I've made for Killian. I made his first one before he was born and before I knew he was a boy. That one was made with a kit I had bought from Blue Mood and used their Sock Candy yarn and a US2 needle. Killian was born weighing 9 lbs., 7 oz. - too big for the sweater I had made him! At birth! So, I bought new yarn to make a new sweater at Sock Summit. This is worsted weight yarn, it is Spuds & Chloe yarn. It is 55% Superwash Merino and 45% Organic Cotton, I've never used it before and it was really a pleasure to knit with. I chose these colors to represent the University of Notre Dame. Both of Killian's parents attended Notre Dame and continue to be big fans of Notre Dame football. Look at the buttons:
They are little footballs! I looked for shamrock buttons, for the Fighting Irish, but couldn't find any. I thought the little footballs would be perfect though. I actually got this knitted in record time - the knitting was done in two weeks - including the i-cord bind off, and this was my first time using this type of finishing. You can tell because I didn't space out the buttons very well, but it is good practice and I don't think that Killian will care. It then took me a week to get the buttons on...it's been a really rough week...but it is now done! I have washed it and it is blocking right now, I hope it will be ready to go on Sunday when I'm going to get to meet Killian for the first time!

A Knitting Dilemma

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:33:00 +0000

I have a dilemma. Do you make a second pair of socks for a friend who denies, then can't remember ever receiving, and then thinks they may have gotten rid of the first pair of socks you knit for them? This is my struggle. I carry around the yarn, pattern, and needles - but I haven't cast on. I'm angry and I'm hurt. But, I also already told this person that I was making them a second pair of socks - that is how the dilemma started. What do you think I should do? I appreciate your thoughts.

A Lesson On Gauge

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:45:00 +0000

Okay, so the post I'm sharing now I've been thinking about and meaning to write since August 23rd. Life has just been so hectic that I haven't had a chance to sit down and write it. So here it goes:
This is the top-down v-neck sweater I've been working on for my beloved. It was going along great! Then I had a thought, "Hmmmm...." I wondered, "what gauge am I getting on these US6 needles that the pattern calls for?" So, I pulled out my handy-dandy measuring tape and started counting - 5-3/4 stitches to the inch! The problem with this is that gauge for this sweater is 5 stitches to the inch. Shoot! I didn't do a gauge swatch, I hate doing gauge swatches, I figure I'll just magically knit to gauge, and that is... a lot of wishful thinking. So, I grab my US7 needles and knit a gauge swatch and that comes out to 5-1/4 stitches to the inch. Still not gauge, but I didn't think I wanted to jump up to US8, that just seemed crazy and US7 seemed close enough.

You see the yellow line? I put the sweater on my beloved, measured to where it still fit good (just under the arms), marked it, and started threading a life line. Then began the RRRIIIIIIPPPPPPP-ing!
Here it is after I ripped back to the life line. Sigh. That's a lot of work lost that I have begun to start again on my US7 needles. My beloved said to me, "you don't have to rip it out, it will fit somebody". At which point I said, "No! I specifically chose this yarn for you and I specifically chose this pattern for you - it is NOT going to just fit SOMEBODY!" I'm determined to make this work, because it is something special I've been wanting to make for my sweet husband for a long time now.

Also on the needles...
This is the wrong side of a sock cuff - it is a fold-over cuff. We're looking at 5-1/2 inches of cuff. Of course, this is the start of the Rhiannon stockings that I started a bit ago for my sister. I haven't progressed beyond this for a couple of reasons. First, I got stuck and I was awaiting guidance from the fabulous Cookie A. She did respond quickly to my cry for help, thank you Cookie A.! Second, I got distracted by other projects.
Here, I'm attempting to show the right side of the cuff. It is all pretty cables. I'll definitely show more once I have more to show.
This is the project of the Sock Innovation class I took with Cookie A. at Sock Summit. (I know, I'm still behind and haven't even blogged about Sock Summit yet - shame on me!) I am reluctant to call this an original design. What happened is that Cookie A. brought a lot of different stitch dictionaries to the class and had us find something that spoke to us. This was a lace and cable combination that I found in a Japanese stitch dictionary. Then, Cookie A. helped me to modify it so that it would work well for socks. Then, I spent a fair amount of time charting out the pattern and then I finally got to start knitting it. I think it looks great thus far, I need to do some more planning with it to figure out what type of heel design to use, and if I should consider having the pattern continue onto the top of my foot or to modify it in some way. Too be continued...
Here's the yarn I'm using. It was yarn that I had in my stash that I had forgotten about. It is blue faced leister, in the colorway sugar snap. I really like it! I wish I could recall where I got it or from whom.

A couple of my knitting pals, including Arctic Knitter, and I are thinking of doing our own KAL of this:
The Babies and bears Sweater for Grown Ups from Cottage Creek. It is very similar to the Baby Surprise Jacket, but it is a little different in the way it is knit and it is an adult pattern. If is knit in two halves - from the cuff, up the arm in stockinette in the round, then switching to garter stitch knit back and forth. You do this until you get to the half way point. Then you do the other half and kitchner the back stitches together to create a finished sweater. Pretty cool!
I'm going to make mine using these yarns. I got the idea of combining these yarns from this:
This is a swatch I have from a color class I took the first time I attended Madrona. These two colorways look really neat together. At first I bought the yarn with a different idea for a sweater in mind, but the more I think about it the less I like that sweater idea. But, I thought this yarn would still be great for the Babies and Bears for Grown-Ups pattern. So, I'm excited! We haven't set a date yet, but I'll let you know when we do and you can join if you'd like to. It will be fun!
Finally, I have a picture of the swag I picked up at Sock Summit. Not a ton, but enough. I got some really nice yarns. I tried to find yarns I had not heard of before and that wouldn't be easy for me to get elsewhere. And I got a lot of stitch markers, which was fun. The yellow and blue yarns on the right are for a Baby Surprise Jacket for my friend Julie's baby, Killian. I had knit a BSJ for Killian before he was born, but it was with a smaller gauge yarn and then he was born weighing 9 pounds, 7 ounces! He was born too big for it! So, this is worsted weight yarn and since both of his parents went to Notre Dame University it seemed appropriate. I'm actually finishing the new BSJ now, but I don't have a photo to share. Soon.

That is my lesson in gauge. I learned it the hard and painful way. Don't be like me.

San Diego & the USS Midway!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:54:00 +0000

After being home for a total of 51 hours I hopped on a plane to San Diego, California. I was headed there for the National Education Association's Representative Assembly (RA). I've been becoming more and more involved in our union in Anchorage and this was my first time attending the national gathering. I've been San Diego before, but it is a lovely city and before the real business got going I had a chance to visit the USS Midway, the aircraft carrier that is on display in San Diego Harbor. San Diego is home to a HUGE naval base, so this was no surprise. After watching the PBS show "Carrier" I had a real interest in seeing one up close and personal.
This was the view of the harbor from my hotel room. My room was on the 25th floor, which was really high up, I actually got a little vertigo the first time I looked down!
This was the view towards town from my room. My room was midway through an elliptical shaped building, so I got a view in each direction. What a great city!
Here's part of the Midway. It is a HUGE ship! So there was no way to capture the entire ship in one photo.
Just next to the Midway is this great statue of "The Kiss", that famous picture of the sailor and nurse kissing in Times Square at the end of WWII. There was also a tribute statue to Bob Hope, but I didn't get a photo of that.
Here I am in the brig! The USS Midway has this self-guided audio tour that you go to all the stops and then listen to what is said about that part of the ship.
Here is the laundry room. The USS Midway when it was running did something in the neighborhood of 6,400 pounds of laundry a day! That is more laundry than I want to do! And all of those clothes had to be pressed too...yuck!
There are four different dining rooms on the USS Midway. There is the general seamen's dining hall, the airmen's dining hall, the petty officer's dining hall, and the officer's dining hall. In the petty officer's dining hall they also had this. It is a table for one with a red rose in honor of the POW's and MIA's. Apparently, all carriers have one of these tables. I thought that was nice.
Here on the main deck you could sit in the seat of an F-15. It is an eject-able seat. At this point in the tour they had a little video of Top Gun stuff and played "Highway to the Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins.
Part of the main deck also had a glass floor to show you the depth of the carrier. My friend Pam, who went on the tour with me was afraid to step on the glass floor.
This is the view from one end of the flight deck looking back at the city. As I stated before, the USS Midway is HUGE! It was a great tour and I'm really glad I went!

Silver Falls State Park

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:37:00 +0000

One other thing we did while visiting on the farm in Oregon was we went to Silver Falls State Park. Uncle Dave took us there, it is near the little town of Silverton, Oregon home of the nation's first transsexual mayor. The town is charming and we had a great lunch there! Then on to the park, which is beautiful! We only got to see a small portion of it. Apparently there are seven different waterfalls and there is a trail you can take through the park to see all of them. We only had time to see the main falls, which was fantastic! Here are some pictures:
Here's the main falls. The trail actually winds around behind the falls, which is really cool! I had not ever gotten to go behind a waterfall before, so I was excited about that!
Here's a picture from behind the waterfall. This certainly wasn't the most powerful falls we'd ever seen, particularly after going to Niagra Falls in '07, but we couldn't go behind those falls. Every place offers it's own something special, it's own beauty -- at least that's what I've found.
Here we are on the other side of the falls. Uncle Dave was kind enough to take a photo of the two of us together, which we really appreciate!
One of the things we love about the Pacific Northwest is the tall, tall trees! Trees can get really tall in some parts of Alaska, but it is just not the same as those tall cedar trees in Washington and Oregon. As you can see, we had a great day - it was sunny and warm!

Okay, So I'm going to try to catch up...

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:53:00 +0000

There is still a lot from the summer to write about, and I haven't done it. The summer is now over, in teacher speak, and heck, I'm wondering where it went. But then I look at the photos and remember that I've been crazy busy! So, we left off in Tacoma at the end of June. After that we went to the farm in Molalla. I've written about this location many times and how much we love it there. I only have a few photos to share this time.
First, sunset on the farm. I never tire of how beautiful it is there!
Next, skeet shooting! Having 5 acres allows for things like skeet shooting. Here is Dave in the foreground and Tucker further back. They look like pros with the shotguns!
Then there's me... In my defense this was only the second time in my existence discharging a firearm of any kind. My stand isn't correct and I guess I may be lucky that I didn't hurt my back! I did hit my first 3 out of 5 clay pigeons though! Not bad for a girl who has no idea what she's doing! I did develop a nice bruise from the shooting though...oh well.
Here is my "Sarah Palin has nothin' on me!" picture. It was a lot of fun! As I said before, we always have such a good time down on the farm!

Family Reunion in Tacoma

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:26:00 +0000

After a couple of days in Portland, we headed north to Tacoma for Father's Day and to connect with the bulk of Dave's family. The fabulous Sandy was our hostess, she's so awesome! On Father's Day is when we had the biggest group together for a BBQ dinner. Then everyone gathered in the living room for family photos.

This photo has the entire group except Sandy and myself. Someone had to hold the camera. Dave's parents had come up from Yuma, Arizona and everyone else was from Washington except Katie from Portland and of course us from Alaska. We haven't had this group all together since 2006, I think. It was great to see everyone all together again. We hadn't seen Dave's parents in a year and a half, so it was particularly great to see them!
Dave's family is mostly male, so after the group photo, they decided that they wanted a picture of "just the ladies". This time they got me, Dave took the photo. Somehow Sandy still managed to avoid getting photographed, she's an elusive one that Sandy!
We were in Tacoma until Wednesday. On Monday I drove out to Gig Harbor where I had lunch with my Aunt Frances. This is Frances with her truck. Her Chevy truck is a 1983 model, I think, and still running great! It was nice to see Frances, she's a lovely lady. And she's one of only two aunts I have - she's my mom's only sibling and my dad only has one sister.
On Tuesday, we went to dinner at Harbor Lights in Tacoma. It wasn't the whole group, but there were still eight of us, so a decent sized group. It was a very nice dinner! And it was our last night together before we headed down to the next phase of our adventure. Family time is such a gift, we are so glad we got to visit.

Portland & Carbon Leaf!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:05:00 +0000

We started our trip to the Pacific Northwest in Portland, spending a couple of days with Dave's cousin Katie. Katie was able to get a couple of days off of work, which was fantastic, and we spent one day touring around downtown Portland.

Here is Katie at Portland State University, the school that she had just graduated from the week before. Yeah Katie! Finishing that college degree is a BIG step! She showed us around the main part of the campus where there was a farmer's market taking place, it was pretty neat.
One of the things I love about Portland, or visiting most places for that matter, is the houses. Anchorage is such a young city that you don't see houses from the beginning of the 20th century. And the few (I can think of one actually) that exist are not grand, big, houses. This house is just an example of one of the houses in NW Portland that I snapped a picture of. Beautiful!
Here are Katie and Dave awaiting the start of our evening entertainment. On June 20th we went to see one of our favorite bands, Carbon Leaf!! Katie was new to Carbon Leaf, so she didn't know what to expect. The concert was in SE Portland at the Aladdin Theater. Carbon Leaf is a band from Virginia, and they don't make it to the west coast often. They have a new album that came out in May, Nothing Rhymes With Woman, and so they are on tour promoting this new album. We checked the tour dates and were excited to see that they were going to be in Portland while we were in the area, Dave and I knew it was a sign and that we needed to go!
Here's the band performing. I actually filmed a little of the show, but don't feel right about posting a bootleg video, so just a still photo. It was an AWESOME show! It was one of the best shows I've seen! They played all the songs I love and they played more and more. It was just the best!! Great music!!
After the show all the band members came out to meet the crowd. Here I am with the lead singer Barry! All the band members signed my poster! I tried to convince all of them that they need to come to Anchorage and they were interested. A few of the band members like fishing, I think I've found my hook - excuse the bad pun! They are a really nice group of guys, I'm really impressed that they stayed to talk to the crowd and were willing to get photos and sign stuff. I'm going to work on encouraging them to come to Alaska because I'd LOVE to see them in concert again!! This was the best start to our vacation!!

F.O. - Cleopatra's Stockings

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:53:00 +0000

Okay, I promised some pictures of knitting. Here is the F.O. I had for June, it is Cleopatra's Stockings. These were knit as a thank you gift for a work colleague who helped me out in a big way last school year. I was trying to get them finished in May before we ended the year, but that just didn't happen. This was finished on June 17th, before I left for vacation, which was my goal. I found that the pattern is pretty, but it was fiddel-ly and not a pleasure to knit. I got really tired of it really fast! The yarn is gorgeous though! I love the purples in this yarn! This was a Rockin Sock Club kit - from May 2008. I have now completed 2 of the 6 kits from being in the RSC last year...I guess I'm not the best at knitting on a deadline.

So, the details:
Pattern: Cleopatra's Stockings
Yarn: Blue Moon Socks That Rock Lightweight - love this yarn!
Colorway: Incredibly Shrinking Violet - great color
Needle: Knit Picks size 1 - 40" - 2 at a time magic loop - toe up
Modifications: I knit the size large and I added the extra rows for the higher arch. I also modified the cuff a bit when it came to having the bands continue into the cuff. By that point I was so ready to be done with the pattern by this point!

I hope that my friend likes these socks and that they fit her well!

Have You Ever Had This Problem?

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:53:00 +0000

So, I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything. And I have two weeks worth of photos of all kinds of stuff that I saw and did both on vacation and while attending Representative Assembly of the National Education Association. But all of this will have to get written about later.

Tonight, we were cooking dinner, homemade pizza, it was in the oven. The timer went off and I was at a critical place in the knitting I was working on -- I was in the middle of a cable for goodness sake! Dave looks at me and says, "Are you going to get that out of the oven?" and I, of course, reply, "Just let me finish this...". I didn't get to finish this line because my Darling Husband jumps in with, "just let me finish pushing the plunger of the needle in my arm"! He's equating knitting to IV drug use! Earlier in the evening he said that there not only needs to be a recovery group for knitters, but one for the family and friends of knitters. So, not only a Knitters Anonymous, but a Knit-Anon. Now, I'm willing to admit that I have a passion for knitting, that at times some of my self-imposed knitting deadlines interfere with other daily living obligations, that my yarn purchases can inhibit closet space (and other storage space) in our home, and that I have a knitting queue of projects that I may not complete before I die and that I keep adding on to. But, does all of this equate to a true addiction? Am I in need of an intervention? Is there a support group I should be looking for? Inquiring minds need to know...

Social Justice in Anchorage

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Okay - so I know that I originally set out to write a blog about knitting and my sweet doggie. And I know that there have been more than one occasion, particularly in the past year, where I've used the blog to express my personal beliefs about political issues. So, I edited the header of Winston's Mom to include "social justice" and "political activism". I'm not going to apologize for my views or not write about them when I'm inspired politically, if this means I lose one of my four readers, that is unfortunate.

Last night social justice came to the forefront in Anchorage. The Assembly is considering adding two new groups to the city's Anti-Discrimination Ordinance, so basically including two new categories of protected status: veteran's status and sexual orientation. It is no surprise really that no one had an issue with veteran's status, although there was one man who spoke about it. What drew the crowds and started the circus was sexual orientation. I went to support the addition of both of these groups to the ordinance. My friend Julie and I carpooled there, we wore matching shirts, and didn't realize until we arrived that many folks were going to assume that we were a couple, oh well! The side in support of adding the two groups wore blue, the color of peace. I don't know for sure, but I think this was misinterpreted by the folks who were against the change as a political party affiliation or something else, they chose to wear red.
Outside the Assembly chambers in the Loussac Library the two groups stood across the drive from each other chanting things back and forth. It was pretty wild! Inside the Assembly Chambers were packed and so was the theater next door. Julie, our friends, and I were in the theater watching the proceedings on closed circuit TV. Over 300 folks signed up to testify!
Last night they heard testimony from almost 100 citizens. Some of them for the change, some of them against the change. We heard some heatbreaking stories of discrimination, mainly from transgender citizens, but also from citizens in the homosexual community.
Probably the most surprising part of the evening - for me - was that I testified! I had not planned on testifying, I generally don't like public speaking, it makes me nervous. But, it was one of those getting "caught up in the moment" things. It would have been better if I had prepared some remarks, but I did the best I could to jot down some points as I waited in line to speak after the called my name from the list.
What did I speak about? I spoke about the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law for all citizens. I spoke about the Golden Rule, that we should treat others as we would like to be treated. I told the Assembly that I'm a big believer in both of these principles. I said that sadly, there have been some groups that have needed to have their protection under the law specifically spelled out. I said that it was time that the GLBT community get that same protection under the law that all the rest of us enjoy.
It was quite the experience all around! When we walked into the library both sides of the entrance at that point were flanked with people all in red waving signs. I have never felt so visibly different! It was probably a really good experience for me! Listening to the testimony was sometimes hard, I was trying to really hear all the points of view, but some of the language was so hateful and so hurtful. Part of my testimony was a response to what many others before me had said. They were arguing that since there is no documented record of discrimination against LGBT citizens in Anchorage that means that there must not be a problem with this type of discrimination in our community. My response was that if you belong to a group whom it is not illegal to discriminate against you have no legal recourse when someone denies you employment, or housing, or education and therefore there will be no record of it. That doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.

There are still 200 folks that can testify. They are holding a special meeting next Tuesday, June 16th, to hear the rest of the testimony. Julie has yet to go, so I'll be there to support my friend in her testimony and to support protection of all of my fellow citizens of Anchorage!

She Returns!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:11:00 +0000

For the past couple of years now we've had the pleasure of having the same moose cow come to our neighborhood to have her baby/ies. We know it is the same cow because she has some pretty distinctive scars, this girl has seen some action in her day! Last year she had twins and I made a movie that I posted of her and the twins in the backyard.

This year she has just one calf. They were eating dinner across the street and I stepped out into the yard to snap a few photos of them. It is neat to watch them eat - the way they strip all the leaves off a branch all at once! Last year when I filmed her she was feeding the twins and really didn't like me close by. This year she didn't seem to mind me at all. She occasionally glanced at me with curiosity, but then kept munching away. Winston generally goes crazy when moose are nearby and so he was locked inside the house where he couldn't disturb this sweet momma and her baby.

Wildlife outside your door, one of the great advantages of living in Alaska!

Fairbanksian Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:04:00 +0000

We were very fortunate the past couple of days to get to visit with our good friends from Fairbanks! Nicole, TJ, Cedar, and Coral hopped in their VW van and headed down the Parks Highway to come to "the big city", sometimes also known in parts of Alaska as Los Anchorage. We were so happy to get to see them and to help the girls check off all the items on their "to do" list. First, the Imaginarium!
The girls both loved the cave with the slide. Cedar had a whole story that went along with playing in the cave, it involved polar bears who were afraid of cameras, hidden alcoves in the cave, and sliding into the water.
The bubble station provided a lot of good, clean fun! Cedar showed us her ballet skills while dancing with bubbles while Coral gave her foot a bath in the giant bubble machine!

Here Coral is demonstrating what she would look like if she was a bee. Coral told me there were, "many, many Margarets"!

Our second stop is a visit to 'Ol 556, a place I affectionately refer to as train park. It is an old coal powered steam engine from the Alaska Railroad that has been retired and has been in service as a park on the Delaney Park Strip for as long as I can remember.
Here Cedar has climed through one of the windows from the engine room and is walking along the side of the engine. I have many, many memories of doing this as a child, but when I looked at the windows this time I have to say I didn't remember them being so small. So, I just helped Cedar through instead of going myself!
Coral poses for a pretty picture beside 'Ol 556 - here she is showing us how BIG the wheels on the train are!

Stop three on the girls list was H2Oasis, Anchorage's indoor water park. I didn't go with them on this adventure, Winston had an appointment to get to. But, I heard from everyone later that a good time was had by all!

The final adventure was a visit to see Sleeping Lady, also known as Mt. Susitna. There is an Athabascan legend about Mt. Susitna that she is actually a giant who sleeps until the return of her true love. He will return when there is peace in the world.
Here Coral and Cedar take in the beauty of Mt. Susitna (in the distance) from the Coastal Trail by Elderberry Park.
Coral communes with nature after taking in the Sleeping Lady. :0)

It is always so great to get to visit with good friends! We will have to make a trip to Fairbanks soon!

So, what's on those Needles?

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:53:00 +0000

I spoke a couple of posts ago about doing an update on what knitting I'm currently involved in. So, here's that update! First, Cleopatra's Stockings. I'm knitting these two at a time using the magic loop - I love socks that are toe up and I love doing them two at a time, so you would think this pattern was meant for me. It wasn't. While it is a pretty pattern and I have no complaints about the yarn, it is a fiddely pattern that, for me, doesn't flow. These are a gift for my friend and department chair from work. The school she is counselor for has purple as it's color, so it seems that these were destined for her.

As I said, they are pretty to look at, but they are fiddely and honestly I'll be happy to have them done and checked off my list. They were also the RSC installment from May 2008, it's time to move on and get them done! Says the woman who has only thus far finished one of the six RSC installments from 2008...

Next, is a scarf for my cousin Martina. For me, 90+% of my knitting is a gift for someone else or is destined to call home someplace other than my home. Usually a combination of patterns and yarn "speak" to me, I look at it and I think, "Hmmm, that looks like so and so", and so the knitting goes from there. This yarn combination said "Martina" to me! I don't know if it is because her birthday is in November and it has an autumnal feel to it or because she lives in a big city in a cosmopolitan sort of lifestyle which in my humble opinion scarves fit nicely into. It is a pattern I learned from Sandy two years ago - a Fleece Artist kit - don't actually know the pattern name.
One of the best things about this scarf is that it truly is a pattern that can go anywhere! I'm not making lightening fast progress on it simply because I tend to save it for travel when I need something that I can knit on anywhere - like meetings and things like this.

Next, is a sweater for my beloved. This picture doesn't look like much, but the not much in this photo is the top of a top-down sweater with a v-neck. I have a couple more rounds to go and then I set aside the stitches for the arms and start the body. It is in shades of blue, which is my sweetheart's favorite color.
This is another great, knit anywhere kind of project, albeit is a little more bulky than the scarf. I did take it with me to an Aces hockey game recently and it was perfect! The yarn is Cascade 220 Painted - great yarn! For those who are not already aware, Cascade 220 is some of my favorite yarn! If there was an election I would vote for it as the best all around yarn! :0)

There is a fourth project on the needles, but I can't show it here, it is a top secret endeavor only to be reveled to the light of day upon completion! So, to make up for it I thought I'd show you some of the things I have "on deck" for this summer:

First, I'm going to make my first attempt at knee-high stockings!
This is the Rhiannon Sock Pattern by Cookie A. If you aren't familiar with this pattern you should click on the photo so you can see how crazy this pattern is! I don't expect to have these done by the end of summer...if I tried that I may lose the fragile grip I have left on my mind entirely! I'm hoping by Christmas. They are a gift for my sister Lou, she loves stockings. Next to it is the intended yarn for this endeavor.
It is Korppi from Blue Moon's Raven line of yarn. It is fully saturated color, so it is mostly black but has hints of underlying colors in it too. You can kind of see that in the picture above. According to the pattern I may need 4-5 skeins of yarn to do the stockings...that gives an idea as to what kind of stockings these will be. I may need to buy a special needle to be dedicated to this project alone...that's an idea! I took a photo of one skein outside in the sun to try and get a better idea of the colors:
There are hints of green and purple in it which I thought was suitable since purple is Lou's favorite color and green is mine.

Next is a pair of socks for my BFF Wendi. A year and a half ago Wendi was looking through a small selection of the sock patterns I have and picked out the Acorn Lace Socks as a pair of socks she'd like to have. Then she went through a small selection of my sock yarn (we weren't at my house, I was at Madrona, so she only was looking through things I had bought) and picked Jewel of the Nile as her yarn of choice. I meant to have these for her birthday in March...clearly that did not happen. Ahh best intentions...
Finally, my family continues to multiply in number. When Lou had A-star & K-man I decided that making a baby blanket for family member's babies would be my "thing" that I do. After the boys were born there was a three year period in which eight babies were added to my family, including two more sets of twins. There has also been another born this past year. So, despite my best intentions, I am again down by two baby blankets. This is the yarn that I purchased awhile ago to make Amber's blanket:
I use acrylic yarn or some kind of acrylic blend on the baby blankets because I figure the last thing new moms need to contend with is fussy care instructions. Machine wash and dry are the way to go! The blankets are crocheted...no particular reason except that the patterns I have are crochet patterns. It is also good to mix things up a bit I think. So, I need to get started on this project this summer - Amber just turned two and her brother Caleb will be one in October.

That is my knitting update! Hope that everyone is enjoying summer, finding time to relax and play and knit!

Walking the Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Sun, 31 May 2009 01:09:00 +0000

I've learned that there isn't anything better than going for a nice walk with Winston. Lots of folks, and I'll admit that I have been in this group too from time to time, think of walking the dog as this chore that has to be done. When it is -20 degrees or when there is horizontal rain and wind that can be easy to understand. But those days are rare, even at this northern latitude, and most of the time I find that a nice walk is one of the best things going. I have thought on many occasions that Winston is saving my life. I don't have any terminal illness, or even chronic condition, but Winston helps to keep me grounded and prevents me from getting lost in my own head. He depends on me and reminds me of the greater world.

I have a tendency at this time of year to fall into a slump, it feels more like a pit, and it can take an awful lot of effort on my part to crawl back out of it. I guess it is part of the change from being so busy and interacting with so many people on a daily basis to having a much shorter "to do" list and seeing only a handful of folks. All of a sudden I find that I have a lot of time on my hands where most of the people I know and love are at work and it is easy to walk right into that pit. Winston keeps me from falling too far and he helps me to get out quicker. He looks at me with those big, brown eyes and says, "Come on mom, let's go for a walk". Getting outside, out of my pj's, out of my house, out of the dialogue in my head saves me everyday. If I didn't have Winston I wouldn't have to go - or more correctly - I would have to go but I would be able to rationalize that it was not required.

So, although Winston needs me, I need him too. I've had people (people who don't have dogs) say that they can't believe that I walk him everyday. And to be honest, I don't walk him everyday; he goes to daycare two days a week, so I'm only walking him 4-5 days a week. Unless I want to go on a daycare day; Winston is always up for a walk with mom. But, what these folks don't get is I don't know what I would be like if I didn't walk him those 4-5 days a week. That's how he saves my life a little bit everyday. That, and walking with Winston helped me quit smoking.

There isn't anything better than going for a nice walk with Winston.

Happy Birthday Sandy!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:12:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Sandy! It's hard to believe that you've managed to pack so much life and love into such a short time on the planet! Today in particular we celebrate you and are thankful that you are a part of our lives. I wanted to look and see all the things we've been able to do together...

We have walked important paths of history...
We've communed with nature... Big birds...
And small birds...
And bears - oh my!!
We've bought yarn. Lots, and lots, and lots of yarn! ;0)
We've segwayed around the greater Anchorage area...so sexy in those helmets! Can you sing with me, "I like Ike, I like Ike..."??
We've cuddled with glaciers, so cold and hard, must be like cuddling with a Cullen!
We've rocked out to Rush! And Pink Martini - I just don't have a photo of that one!
You've let me Kinnear you from across the room. Wait - did you let me if you were Kinneared? Probably not, but I got away with it anyhow!
We've enjoyed a beautiful sunrise on the deck of your houseboat!
And to think - the thing that made all of this possible is our shared affection for these two! Who woulda thunk it?! Thanks for so many wonderful memories and fun times! I hope that on your special day you get everything that your heart desires! I look forward to many more memories with you!

We love you! - Dave, Mags, & Winston

SUMMERTIME!

noreply@blogger.com (Mags) — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:12:00 +0000

Okay, I've been totally remiss on regularly posting to my blog! My apologies! I could come up with a list of excuses, but what it basically boils down to is there are a limited number of hours in a day and other things win out for my attention. Here is some fun stuff I've been up to that has happened since my last post on March 31st (eeegads!):

The boys turned 7!

My wonderful, talented friend Nicole came to Anchorage where she did some of her amazing performance poetry for "The State of the Hood" poetry event celebrating Alaska's 50th birthday.

Julie Bean wore her new socks to school!

Winston turned 5, Dave turned 37, and Dave & I celebrated 9 years of wedded bliss!
This is us at Kincaid Park on our anniversary. We got married at Kincaid and so every year for our anniversary we go there and take a picture. Since it is generally just the two of us, sometimes Winston is with us, they are generally self-portraits like this. We haven't figured out how to get Winston to take the picture without drooling on the camera! ;0)

Jennie had her baby boy, Jared! (Jennie I can't believe I'm posting this before you...oh wait - I can - you have a new infant and I don't!)

Look at Ana - proud big sister!

Winston started getting acupuncture treatments for his allergies - these seem to be helping him. He generally doesn't mind the needles and he really likes his acupuncturist Dr. Palmatier.

Winston - Yes, there is a needle in the top of my head, and one behind each of my ears, and a bunch down my back!

All of these pictures were taken with my iPhone. I love my iPhone! I never knew that I could have such a strong attachment for a phone! In addition to my love, Winston freaks out at the sight of a camera, which is not a good idea when he's getting acupuncture, but with the camera on the phone he doesn't realize that I'm taking his picture (no flash).

I worked on some finishing of knitting and a lot of tie-dye for little people. Not as much knitting to show as there should be but there you go.

This is the finished Baby Surprise Jacket #1. It has sewn seams on the shoulders and the buttons have been put in. It is for Bump Barry. There are plans to make a BSJ #2 also for Bump Barry before Bump Barry arrives. I'm going to alternate the color combos - so where there is lavendar and toffee in this one there will be celery and terra cotta in #2 and so on. It was a very addictive knit, perhaps because it was so easy!

I also did some tie-dye for Bump Barry in the form of 4 onesies.
This is the front of my favorite one - it turned out so bold and colorful!
The back of the same onesie. Pretty cool! I'm fairly new to the world of tie-dye, but I have to admit that I think I'm getting better at it, these certainly turned out better than some of my earlier attempts. Some of these turned out better than others though.
This one I'm particularly proud of because it worked with what I was trying to do with the color. I need to learn more on how better to control what I want the color to do, but at the same time I love that with tie-dye anything can happen and you have to be open to all possibilities.
This one was my attempt at a homage to Notre Dame. Both Julie Bean and Ben attended Notre Dame and so I was trying to get some blue and gold for Bump Barry. Here the color didn't work as well for me, the dye didn't saturate quite as well as I wanted it to and that was largely due to me trying to keep the blue and gold from blending too much into green. It is still pretty cool though.
This one is a bit of a homage to SWS - where JB and I worked together and became friends. It again had the issue of the color not saturating all the way through. But, it's still pretty sweet.

I also did some tie-dyeing for my cousin Ben's babies. My cousin Ben and I share a deep love for Elvis. When I went to Ireland 3 years ago I gave him my 24-hour Church of Elvis t-shirt, a shirt that I had worn and loved for ten years (it was laundered and Ben understands what that kind of giving means - he still has not managed to get from me my first Run for Women tee and he's not going to!). Ben and his lovely partner Kiri have two children: Amber and Caleb. Ben also has a son Dubletach from a previous relationship, he's now fourteen. When Caleb was born this past October I was told my sources that will remain unnamed that his second name was Elvis. So, I set about trying to convince the woman who runs the 24-hour Church of Elvis to make some wee shirts for me. She gladly did and I got three made. One I left white, but I tie-dyed the other two:

This is the first one. With these I decided to do one in warm colors and the other in cool colors. I show both the front and the back on this one because with this particularl folding pattern the front and back turn out quite different.
Here's the cool colors one. I think they both turned out really well. I hope the wee people like them!

Finally, we had a surprise baby shower for Julie Bean, Ben, and Bump Barry!

She seemed really surprised and happy. It was a lot of fun! Ben was there too, but we didn't get a picture with him before the battery in the camera died. Sorry Ben!

I have now surpassed my own record in longest post ever! That's what happens when I go so long between posts! But, it's not that life wasn't continuing, it certainly was. I'll have more about knitting soon - I currently have four projects in the works that I need to get pictures of and get posting.