Author Archives: Jean

Knitting

The Last of the Prizes

Posted on by Jean

I’ll post a grand total once I get a chance this week to get up to see Claudia at Countrywool and pick up the hats she has waiting for me.

We did the drawings last night and in order to get them up here, I’m just going to load up the winner with the prize. If I know the link to your Ravelry ID or your blog off the top of my head it’s linked below.   I’ll try to get the packages mailed out tomorrow. Definitely by the end of the week.  The winners are:

Marta: Socks That Rock Crayon Colors

Heather: Vesper Knit & Tonic

Tammy: Socks that Rock Firebird

Kimberly: Vesper Meteor

Norma: Happy Feet 

Sarah: Socks That Rock Nodding Violet 

Carol, Jenna and Nancy: Stitch Markers Set

Suzann: Socks That Rock

Elizabeth: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride 

Amy:  Secret Life of a Knitter Book

Suellen: Stitch N Bitch Book

and we have a new prize that goes to Tammy donated by Jennifer at Blue Stocking Yarn:

Knitting

More Hats and More Prizes

Posted on by Jean

  Yes!  I’m still collecting hats!  In fact, as long as you want to send them, I’ll take them down toe Midnight Run, so keep ’em coming.  I’ll have another drawing on January 2nd.  

More hats arrived in the mail over the last several days.   I finally got a chance to sit and open the packages and take a picture:

We are now over 200!  I’ll have an exact number next post.  I’m still in awe.

Amy (thank you, Amy!) has sent some prizes (sorry about the pictures, pretty grey here today):

2 skeins Plymouth Yarn Company’s Happy Feet in Rapunzel:

1 skein Lamb’s Pride Bulky in Sunburst Gold 

Three different sets of stitch markers:

IMG_0105

Two books:

Friends, Knitting

Hippo for Sandy

Posted on by Jean

I’ve been knitting more than hats…  I finished Helena but forgot to take a picture before giving it to my neighbor.  Gotta get that back so I can show you.

When I saw this video of Sandy’s (Sandy’sKnitting), I cracked up.  What a hoot.  I immediately Googled “knit hippo” and found this pattern and cast on.  She’s a quickie folks.

I named her “Joy” and stuck her in the mail to Sandy.   It was perfect timing as Sandy had just had to say goodbye to her sweet little Fig.  I’m so glad that I didn’t hesitate and just got it done.  Sandy makes me smile lots with her blog.  It was nice to return the favor.

I thought Sandy flew the coop but she’s having blog woes.   Her post about Joy can be found here.  Love the picture of her tail. lol.

Knitting

Prize Time!

Posted on by Jean

Bet you all thought I forgot, huh?  To be honest, I almost did!  Here’s a quick run down of the 15 items we drew for tonight.  We’ll do another drawing for the rest of the prizes on January 2nd.  As long as you keep the woollies coming, I’ll keep getting them down to Midnight Run Charity.

Joseph did the honors of drawing the names and this is how it rolled:

Julia  – Sundara yarns in Blooming Fuchsia:  

Cookie (Shut up and knit):   Ann Hanson’s Punch & Judy pattern with Judy’s Sirena, our super soft dk merino / silk  from Manise. 

Ann P in East Islip:  Socks that Rock Henpecked

Blogless Fran in Cornwall, NY: Socks That Rock Flourite

Sophia: Socks That Rock Scaponia

Bonney in NH:  Blue Moon Seduction in Lucy:   

Linda B in the RV (ha. I’m a poet):  Lorna’s Laces in Gold Hill:  

Pat S (friend of Elizabeth): Apple Laine Sock Yarn in Party Time: 

Anna of Thimble Anna:  My Birch Shawl knit in Kidsilk Haze:

Sarah:  Mason Dixon Signed Book #1

Karen: Mason Dixon Signed Book #2

Jennifer aka Nerdgirl:  Two balls of Geisha in baby blue.

Billie G:  These Monica Ferris books (well read, but still…)

Susan B in Maryland:  Kids Kids Kids: 40 Winning Patterns from the Knitter’s Magazine Contest

LaVerna Modular Knits.

Friends, Knitting, Travel

Maahhtha

Posted on by Jean

Two of my neighbors and I headed down to the city very early yesterday morning for a Martha Stewart Show taping.  There was some confusion because when I got the tickets they called me interested in getting a bunch of Army wives from West Point down for a show.  They asked me to look for a certain person when we got there to make arrangements for a future show.  So,  we’re sitting there waiting for our number to be called and they say, “Can the Army wives please come through now.”  We were surprised, looked at each other and got up.  At the same time a group of about 20 women in front of us stood up as well.  The other audience members were kind. They clapped and yelled stuff like, “Go Army!”  Come to find out these ladies were all from Ft Monmouth, NJ. 

The woman that had asked the Army wives to come forward was the same woman I’d talked to on the phone a few weeks back.   I told her who I was and reminded her about our conversation about the Army wives from West Point and she said, “Oh yeah…” then she asked my two friends and I to go back and sit down until they were ready for us.  It was very humiliating to walk back in the waiting room and be separated from the other Army wives like that.  We felt like all the other audience members thought we were phonies or something.

When Joey was working everyone up for the show, he introduced the NJ group (who were seated on the other side of the studio from us) but not us.  It was just weird and uncomfortable.  It’s not like we were looking for any kind of attention or anything.   In fact, when they called “the Army wives” were were surprised.  What they don’t get is that Army wives… really all military… are a great big family.  It doesn’t matter where you’re stationed.  We all got a kick out of all of us showing up for the same show and we would have had fun sitting together.  When she asked us to go sit back down, we thought it was just a big mix up and that the number on our tickets was our seat numbers and it was just too late to switch the seats this close to air time.  Not so.  The numbers on the tickets were simply how they called you into the studio.  They easily could have let us go in with the NJ group.  All I can say it was weird, embarrassing and it stung a little.

We still had a great time.  It was very interesting to see how it all worked.  It was great to get out with my friends, too.  One is moving next month and with us leaving in June, I want to do as much as I can before we move.  That’s the hard part of being military. Saying goodbye so often. The good part is that you have friends pretty much anywhere you go.

All I had was my little pocket camera so the pics aren’t that great.

These are the cookie cutters we got for these super cute cookies:

Afterward we headed back up to Times Square for lunch at my favorite pizza place, John’s Pizzeria. Then over to Junior’s for cheesecake.  Terrible picture but it’s all I’ve got. 

Over the last few days tons of packages with hats have been landing on my doorstep.  Holy cow, you guys!  58 more hats (163 total)!  I’m sure there’ll be more later today.  We’re getting a couple of deliveries a day with the Holiday help at the Post Office.

Knitting

Sure To Bring A Smile…

Posted on by Jean

Drrruuummmm rolll please!  Four more packages arrived today with a total of ten hats which brings us to 105!!!  Whooo Hooo!  If I thought it’d be cute I’d do a video of me doing a dance for you guys!  Trust me.  It wouldn’t be cute. It’d be humiliating and you’d feel sorry for me so we won’t even go there.  Just know that I am grateful and that I’m doing you a favor.  If you want to see someone dancing that is sure to bring smiles keep reading.  I promise it’s worth it.

I have some other news regarding the hats.  When I started this I thought I’d have like maybe 50 hats.  I think I scared the organization I was working with when I told them it snowballed and in my excitement… well, I think I scared them.  I think they imagined way more hats than they could pass out.  I felt like I was being a pain and that is certainly not my intention.  They do great things, but I think they’re main goal is food.  I saw it as a way to get the hats to those on the streets but I didn’t think about the fact that it would be difficult for them to concentrate on getting the food out while getting the hats out as well.

The good news is I found a better fit for what we’re doing.  I was talking with a woman from our parish about the hat drive.  She mentioned that our church’s youth group does a trip to the city each year with Midnight Run Charity.  I contacted Midnight Run and this seems like the way to go.  Baby, it’s freezing here in NY and I just want to get the hats out.  I don’t sleep well at night with all these warm woolens just sitting here in my home when they could be helping someone on the streets.  So I took a trip to Dobbs Ferry this morning  to drop off the 105 items I had so far and I’m really glad I did because I saw a lot of ice on the cliffs along the river on the way there.

Now for the dancing…

If you like that one, follow the link and watch the one with the Huli Wigmen.  I love it when Matt says, “Holy Crap!”  Heck, watch ’em all.  He even made it to Shetland!

Knitting

There’s Always Next Year

Posted on by Jean

Navy wins… again… 34-0.  Well at least the Cadets looked good.  The new uniforms were a big hit in our house.  A little something will be in the mail to Kathy Knitgator this week.  Like she said in her very non-gloating email.  All these guys are winners. 

Right when half-time started my doorbell rang.   It was the Mailman with a huge package for me.  These are all from just Karen of Madison Knits (Ravelry).  She said she’d been knitting up stash through the Fall.  Cue “The 12 Days of Christmas” melody…

On the day of Army/Navy, Karen sent to meeee… 15 knitted hats, 10 garter scarves,  three fleece hats, 1 pair of mittens,….. 

and a miiittteennn foorrr the tree.  

Thank You so much, Karen!  You went above and beyond.

Family, Friends

Eat, Drink and BEAT NAVY!!! Hooah!

Posted on by Jean

Army Strong, Baby!  Kathy Knitgator just e’d me and challenged me to a little Army/Navy wager.  Fact is, I grew up a Navy brat, but my heart belongs to the Black and Gold.  Go Black Knights! 

It’s a big week here at West Point.  The post is full of excitement all leading up to this day.  I tried to get tickets way too late or we’d be in Philly right now.  But fear not.  Brewskys and snacks are ready!  Joe thinks he’s part of the team since he was on the Junior Black Knights this year so he’s ready to root for “his guys”. The stats are against us:

Navy: 52 wins
Army: 49 wins
7 ties
Longest streak: 6 years (Navy; ongoing as of 2007)
108 total games played
10 years in which game was not played

but I think it’s our turn…. GO ARMY! BEAT THE HELL OUTTA NAVY!!!  Crap.  Navy already scored while I was sitting here doing this.  Gotta go.  My team needs me.

  I was asked about the hat on the lower left corner of the photo in my last post.  It’s the Picot Hem Stranded Snowflake Hat by Kathleen Taylor.  The one on the bottom right is the Salsa Hat by Nanette Blanchard.

Cooking, Knitting

It’s a Good Day for Comfort Food

Posted on by Jean

Food is a tricky thing to photograph.  This looks much creamier in person. Since Kim of Woolen Rabbit shared her Carrot Soup Recipe the other day, I thought I’d share a favorite in our house, Chicken and Cheater Dumplings.  I call them that because I cheat and use Grands Biscuits.  If you’re a purist, go for it and make them from scratch, but I swear, these taste just as good.  It’s cold, wet and icky here in the New York tonight.  This is just the ticket.  Click on it for a larger image.

Twelve more hats arrived today and yesterday!  That brings out total up to 66!  I want to explain why I’m not writing out each person’s name with a photo of the hat(s) they knit.  I had some very well-meaning little helping hands when I opened the first few packages and, to tell you the truth, things got a little mixed up.  I have who and how many, I just don’t know which ones. Plus, I don’t know most people’s blogs or any kind of info really.  I have people’s first and last name but I doubt everyone wants that posted.  Anyway, I just wanted to explain in case anyone was wondering.  I didn’t want anyone to think I was ungrateful or anything.  I really do appreciate the support.

Family, Knitting

Calling NYC Knitters

Posted on by Jean

We’re at 54 knitted items already!  Mostly hats but there are a few pairs of mittens, scarves and gloves.

So, I’ve been emailing back and forth with The Coalition for the Homeless.  I think I scared them because I got an email saying they didn’t think they could store more than 2-4 boxes of hats.  Store?!  Who said anything about storage?!  We want them to get out as soon as possible.  So Dan and I are going down to the city (not positive of the date(s) yet) so that we can go out on the food vans and help pass them out ourselves.  The woman I’ve been contacting has even offered to go out with us.

If this is ongoing, I might need someone down in the city to help out here and there with getting them passed out.  If you’re willing to do this, let me know in an email (upper left sidebar).  KatyKnitsNYC has offered to help out this first go ’round.  Also, I just found out that the youth group from our church makes a midnight run down to the city in January, so they’re going to take what hats I have then.  Seriously, I’ll continue doing this as long as people are sending hats.  I’ll have the first drawing on the 15th of December and then I’ll do one a week until I’m not getting hats anymore.

I’ve taken a break from hats.  My next-door neighbor is going in for a C-section tomorrow so I cast on Helena the night before last.  I didn’t have any superwash wool in the right colors so I’m using Bernat Softee Baby.  I want it to be easy to care for.  I usually do the February Baby Sweaterfor my baby girl gift but I needed a change.  Gotta say that so far it’s not a lot different. 

On a non-knitting note, I think I’m going to do a bunch of these up for gifts for my neighbors.  LOVE them.  You can find the instructions here:

And for Joe… it’s the best!  I did this poster for his room.  Total cost?  $9.95 for the template from Easy Digitals and $11.99 to have it printed into at 16×20 poster from Shutterfly.com!  How cool is that??  I can’t wait to see his face when he opens it!