Week 2

Last Thursday, I started posting a once a week guide to disaster preparedness. This weeks list comes from the hardware store.

- Heavy cotton or hemp rope
- Duct tape
- 2 flashlights with batteries
- Matches in waterproof container for outside use only with appropriate camp stove or BBQ

Additional: Leash or carrier for your pet, extra set of I.D. tags

Action steps:
- Sign up for a First Aid/CPR class at your local American Red Cross (I need to do this again!)

So, in reality where does one keep all this stuff? I figure if there's an earthquake (our most likely disaster here in the PNW) I need to be able to get to the stuff I've stored. We have some built in cabinets in our basement that we used to use for toy storage. We've managed to clear out a good portion of these, so it made a great solution for me to have an emergency pantry of sorts. The cabinets latch, so I would just have to be able to get to the basement. Doug has a lot of tools, so pretty much anything like rope, duct tape, etc. is here and in good supply. I do always keep a flashlight next to the bed, because you just never know when the power may go out!

On the knitting front, I did post last night (Wed 11/12) that I finished the Tilia sweater. I forgot to take pictures today, due to massive raking of leaves and Madrona registration. Tomorrow? I did finish the first of another pair of Christmas socks too.

Ahh, Madrona. Well, I did get into the two classes that I wanted (I did ideally want others, but just too much money) Judith McKenzie McCuin Dyeing for Socks on Friday morning, and Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Speed Knitting Saturday pm. That will give me time to be able to visit with friends too. I'm really not sure why the registration opened up at least 2 hours before the scheduled time...perhaps the company used (in Colorado) forgot to set it for Pacific Time? I was happy that someone on a list I'm on sent out a quick message and just happened to see it come across. Regardless, I think everyone will have a great time.

Done!

I just finished seaming the last seam on my Tilia sweater - hopefully if the rain slows enough, I'll have some pictures tomorrow!

Progress

Doug and I (and my brother, Dave) headed over the mountains to Pullman to visit the boys this past weekend. My nephew also attends WSU, (he's a year older than Patrick) thus, the reason my brother went along. It was Dad's weekend and while there were some planned "activities", we chose not to participate and do our own thing. We played some video games, watched a movie, went out to eat, played cards and just chatted. We also went to the football game. Now for some reason, the big three football teams (Seahawks, UW Huskies and WSU Cougars) are having terrible, terrible years. So although the Cougs lost yet again, at least they scored 4 touchdowns this game. All in all, we had a really nice visit, and we are looking forward to having Patrick home for a week at Thankgiving.

Since it is a 5 hour drive to Pullman, I did get a lot of knitting done on the Tilia Sweater. Below is how things looked on Thursday morning (back done, front lace section started):and this is where I am tonight. Just the sleeve caps to go and I'll be seaming. Most likely this will be done tomorrow and I'll continue on with some Christmas knitting. I think between the two photos, the bottom one is more true to color.

I've done some spinning too - when Naomi and I went to OFFF she bought 8 oz. of Superwash Merino from Crown Mountain Farms in the Born to Be Wild colorway and she very kindly split it with me. I wish I had taken a before picture of the fiber but sometimes I just get too anxious to spin it up and just have the finished product to show! So, if you want a before, you can find it by clicking on the Born to be wild link above, and here it is in all it's spun up glory:

I ended up plying this as a 3-ply yarn. I didn't think it would be so pink, but I absolutely love it! It's just pretty and I plan to knit it up into a pair of socks.

Another two storms are supposed to be rolling in tonight.....we shall see!

Are you ready?

Are you ready for fall weather? We are supposed to be under a flood watch in our region this weekend, with the usual fall storms and some wind forecasted. Where I live it would be next to impossible to flood (on top of a tall hill, with ravines all around) but it is definitely a concern for people in the low lying areas. We are prone to windstorms, and of course earthquakes. Naomi and I were talking last week about how we both like to be self-sufficient in cases of power outages and the like and it made me think I should go through and update the supplies that we keep on hand.

It's fairly typical to have the power go out in our neighborhood. We basically live in the woods/surround by woods and so if someone sneezes too hard, our power just may go out! I thought it might be a good service to remind you all to see that you have enough supplies on hand to be able to take care of your own needs and even community needs if necessary in the case of something like the aftermath of a windstorm or earthquake or whatever disaster may happen in your area.

My first inclination was just to post a quick link to the American Red Cross or Ready.gov, but my favorite resource from them apparently has been taken off line. I have a 6-month (24-week) calendar helping you to get ready for pretty much any type of disaster. I'm thinking I will post each week here until I've gone through all 24 weeks. It's yours to choose to follow or ignore. I just know that when we had our power out for 5 days because of a windstorm a few years ago, I was really happy that I was prepared!

Okay, week one, if you choose to keep reading..... (note - there is an * after some items. That means you get one of these for each person living at your residence, or have spares to share)

GROCERY STORE

1 gallon of water*
1 jar peanut butter

1 large can of juice*

1 can meat* (I'm flexible on this - sometimes I get bean less chili, tuna, or stew - you are after protein here)

1 hand-operated can opener

Permanent marking pen

Additional: pet food, diapers, baby food

Action steps:

- Date perishable items with marker (so you can rotate items in your pantry - I mark them 1 year out - you decide what's best for you!)

- Decide upon and notify out-of-area contact who can coordinate information for scattered family members

There is actual knitting content going on - I finished the back of the Tilia sweater and have cast on for the front. I hope to get the lace section done before heading off for the weekend so that I just have the stockinette section to work on in the car. I also have some giftie socks I'm working on (no picture) and am really liking short row heels now that I've figured them out.

Didja vote?

I did! There were not really even any lines to speak of at my polling place. I waited about 3 minutes, then it was my turn. I think I was a bit disappointed I didn't have to wait a bit - I anticipated waiting for awhile, so I brought some sock knitting. Didn't touch it. I did see some 20-something poll workers there - it was nice to see that age bracket represented - it's usually the 60-70 something age range volunteering where we vote.

I did go and get my free tall drip coffee and I also bought a pumpkin scone (yum!) to make up for the fact that they were giving away so much coffee today. I know it really doesn't cost them that much for drip coffee, but still, it was a nice gesture on their part. I know some cynical people see it as a marketing ploy - me? I try to see the happier side of life. I decided to pass on the free Trophy cupcake, the free Krispy Kreme and the free B&J ice cream.

Wow - it just started hailing here. Cool!

So I think I will be settling in for the evening -I just started a nice fire, and we will be watching election results, eating leftover chicken enchiladas, and I'll be knitting on my Tilia sweater. Enjoy your evening!

The start of something good!

It's not a very good picture - but the color is fairly accurate. This is nearly 3 repeats of the lace edging of the Tilia sweater. It's a really easy chart (gotta love the K3togs!) so I'm hoping I will just breeze through on it.

I've also started some Christmas knitting - I know that some of my gift recipients read this, so suffice to say I have finished 4 hats and one pair of men's size 12 socks. Still more to knit but I'm happy to be making progress. I cast on for another pair of socks today, and we will be heading over to visit Patrick at school soon and therefore will have some car knitting time. I really like Brooklyn Tweed's Turn a Square hat - it's my hat choice for this season, using Berroco Ultra Alpaca and Noro Silk Garden.

I felt a bit of a sense of relief today - Naomi and I went together to drop off our fleeces at Superior Fibers to be processed. They seem really nice - I spoke with Bill on Friday afternoon, and we met his wife Inge today. She thinks there turn around is about 4 weeks right now. I can't wait to see Tilly and Jemima all made up into roving! I did try washing the white fleece in the tub, and did card some of it, but I'm just thinking it really isn't my sort of thing. I don't really have a great area that I can have equipment set up - it tends to happen in the living room or kitchen. At least I will know the process when others talk about it!

For my U.S. readers - don't forget to vote tomorrow! I never talk politics and try and stay right in the middle, but it is an important right that we have. Besides, at least in the Seattle area, the coffee place that starts with a "S" is giving out free tall drip coffees! Whoo Hoo!

Tilia

I think I found my sweater. It's Tilia from Elsebeth Lavold, Book 8. Ravelry link here. ( I hope this works!) I really thought I had picked out another sweater, but after swatching and knitting the first 3 inches, I realized I had recently completed two other sweaters that were basically 2x2 ribbed sweaters and maybe I should try something new! So no progress pictures yet, but I know I have gauge, so I can at least cast on tonight. Fortunately there is only one very small errata published, so it should be a quick knit!

Happy November!

November, the month of NaNoSweMo (National November Sweater Month) and NaBloPoMo (National November Blog Posting Month). I'm not signing up for anything official, but I am going to try and get another sweater done this month and be more regular (note - I didn't say everyday!) about posting.

As for the sweater, I still need to decide what I'm going to make. I have a ton of Evilla preyarn that I spun, that I think will turn into Ruth's Rhubarb Cardigan. I loved hers when she was out, and I'd really like one too. I'm not sure if she did hers out of Evilla or Kauni, but since it's really a sweater based on gauge and measurements, it doesn't really matter.

My second option was to be the Elsebeth Lavold Margery, but after seeing finished pictures of it on Ravelry, I'm not sure I like it as much as I did. The sleeves seem rather bell like, and there is definitely some errata attributed to the pattern. I don't really want to spend a ton of time rewriting the pattern, so I think Margery has officially been frogged. Next would be to look for some other Lavold patterns that I can do a 38-40" bust with 7 skeins of silky wool.

I do have finished objects. I completed what I call my "Lint" sweater. I used Karen Alfke's top down pattern and then winged it from there. It's a deep v-neck, just a comfy sweater to through on. Not all that flattering, but it's warm. The yarn is homespun, in that I spun it. (not the Lion Brand - yuck). I had about two pounds of Spinderella's Thrums that I spun to a bulky yarn (3 sts/inch on size 10 needles) The reason the sweater was named the Lint sweater is that I was trying to describe the yarn to Naomi one day. I said it was sort of a grey with purple-y and teal bits and sparkle thrown it, sort of like dryer lint with lumps of color.

Socks were finished too - I already posted the Rocktober Charade socks, but I also finished the Rivendells and a pair for Sara out of Meleinweit Meeting. The Rivendells, once I had a chance to really pay attention to the pattern, were actually fun. I'd make another pair.








I'm off now to visit with friends, and knit and spin for the afternoon. Have a great day!