Monday, September 29, 2014

Just Thinking

I suppose most parents wish, more than once, that their children wouldn't grow up so fast.  My husband and I tried to never talk about "big boy" or "big girl" things --- we thought it would make our children think the age they were was one to get out of;  that being older meant being better.

Tonight, for whatever reason, I am glad my children have grown up.  Thinking about having a baby in this world, this cruel, tense, polarized, scary world gives me shivers.  Something horrendous is going to happen --- humans tend to do those things to one another --- while my children are alive.  Horrible things have already happened in their lives.  I am very grateful that they are both adults in "these times."  Adults capable of making good, smart, and kind decisions for themselves and for other people.

Nice Things to Look At (For a Monday)












Saturday, September 27, 2014

Blues

Thank you all for being so kind to Hannah.  She is still quite wrung-out, but okay.  Her roommate bolted out of town to be with her parents, which I thought was a little insensitive, but everyone deals with things in their own way.

Latest finish for the etsy store is this cowl:

It's a Red Heart pattern, and goes so quickly.  Three inches of seed stitch, six of easy yarnovers, garter stitch edge.  The pattern builds great drape, and it's one of those knit things that looks glorious and fancy, but was pretty much a cinch to make.

Friday, September 26, 2014

One of Those Times When Life is Hard

We had a rough afternoon here yesterday.  Daughter and her roommate had to put one of their cats down.  He had been given to them by a friend only a few months ago.  I took them to the vet's office and waited.  Neither of them had ever actually been witness to a euthanizing;  my daughter was surprised, and relieved to see/know that the process was so peaceful.

So, Jack's not sick anymore, but there are two girls in town with pretty heavy hearts.

And it's the kind of hurting that a parent can't help with much.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Sherlock?

I was binding off the other night, and this happened:


I still can't figure out how.

Monday, September 22, 2014

State Line

While the contests were going on, my life was lurching along.  There've been 4 changes in my medications over those weeks;  my depression has been spelled with all capitals.

Knitting went on, though.  I've built quite a collection of mini-skeins of yarn, and decided to use some to make a fairly simple cowl.  

For some reason, as I was making it, calling it "Arkansas" popped into my mind.  Anything I'm going to sell on etsy I give a name, and "Arkansas" worked.  The stripes led me to think of "state line."  So, very on-the-spot, and completely unexpectedly, I decided to use the mini-skeins to make a "line" of items, each named after a "state."  So far, I've made "Idaho" handwarmers, a "Washington" scarf, and am working on an "Oklahoma" wrap.

I can't explain it.  Sometimes things just come to you, you know?

Saturday, September 20, 2014

It Seems Fitting

Chris' "Mike's Dirty Little Knits" won yesterday's vote, and she shall be receiving her prize next week.  So, too, will Lora, whose "My Rowe-mance" drew strong support as well.

The reason Chris winning is fitting is because every year --- every single one since this contest started --- she has nominated Mike.  No one else.  Just him.  She is nothing if not devoted.


A few quick thoughts about this year's contests:
They included, without question, some of the hardest-to-pair-up-photographs nominees ever.  There were people who smiled in most of their photos against people who almost never smiled in theirs.  There were people whose best side was obviously their left versus ones who decidedly favored their right.  There were age/era differences.  (Do you know how many photos there are of Betty White?  And how many of those might actually "match up" with ones of, say, Scarlett Johansson?)

The most difficult was Harper Lee.  (Who, by the way, was the genius nominee I mentioned way back when.)  There seem to be only about half a dozen pictures of her, some in black and white.  That made it hard if the only photos of her competition were all in color.

For the second year, I was very, very surprised that no one nominated Norman Reedus.

For the first year ever, no one nominated Colin Firth.

There were more nominees that I had never heard of than ever before.  

My age is showing. 

Friday, September 19, 2014

Un-Tie . VOTING IS CLOSED


Alright;  it's time for the last vote.  The two women who nominated Mike Rowe have submitted their ideas for knitting a hat-and-socks set for him.  They've also come up with a name for their set.  Please choose which you like.  The Grand Prize package is at stake.

Which do you prefer?


pollcode.com free polls

And thank all of you for participating this year.  It was a little wonky there at first, but you were patient with me, and that is much appreciated.  Hope you had fun, and here's to our reigning champions!



Thursday, September 18, 2014

Down to the Wire

It's very weird to be here and not be posting pictures and polls. . .

I just wanted to remind you that there is still one more vote to take.  The two women who nominated Mike Rowe have submitted their answer to the question I gave them, and I'm going to put them here tomorrow.  You are to vote on which is your favorite, and that will decide to whom I send the Grand Prize package.  The runner-up will get a prize package, too, just not one that starts with capital letters.

Do you have one more vote in you?


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Victors (But Voting Isn't Over)

The 2014 Knitters' Hunk is

Mike Rowe.
(Whose vote total was more than double that of Ewan McGregor.)

The 2014 Knitters' Chick is

Dame Maggie Smith.
(Who becomes our first two-time champion.)

Two people nominated Mike, so we will be having a tie-breaker to decide who will receive the Grand Prize package.  (The runner-up will get things, too, don't worry.)  Dame Maggie went into the contest automatically, so the Chick Grand Prize will go to the person who nominated Rashida Jones.

Also, since it is Wednesday, there is one last Nominator of the Week winner.  And that honor goes to Melanie.  I'll be in touch. . .

Okay, the tie-breaker.  Lora and Chris G. both nominated Mike.  What I want each of them to do is imagine they are going to knit Mike a hat and matching pair of socks.  What color(s) will you use?  And what will you call it?  ("Michael's Must-Haves"?  "Rows for Rowe"?)

Please send your answers to me via e-mail by Friday morning.  Then, I'll put your answers here (anonymously), and we'll take one more vote.  The one whose set is most popular will get the Grand Prize.


Monday, September 15, 2014

Day The Last



The 2014 Knitters' Hunk should be


pollcode.com free poll



??????????????????????????????????????????????????????



The 2014 Knitters' Chick should be


pollcode.com free polls




Winners announced Wednesday morning.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Day 26 / VOTING IS CLOSED

Very near the end.  Those you choose now will be The Final Two.  Usually, the results aren't hidden from you until The Finals, but I thought I'd back that up a round.  You know, to build suspense, and increase the fun.  Because that is all this contest has ever aimed for: FUN.


KCS#1
Julianne Moore
Maggie Smith
Poll Maker




KHS#1
Viggo Mortensen
Mike Rowe
Poll Maker







KCS#2
Rashida Jones
Lucy Liu
Poll Maker







KHS #2
Bryan Cranston
Ewan McGregor
Poll Maker

~Interlude~

Just a little break in the action while the match-ups are made, and the photos are found, for The Semifinals!


And 7 people are still in the running for the Grand Prizes.*  Good luck to everyone.







*If you nominated Ryan Gosling for Hunk, could you please let me know --- either here or through e-mail?  I'll explain when you contact me.  Thanks so much.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Day 25 / VOTING IS CLOSED

Ready to choose the other Semifinalists?  Good --- 'cause that's what you need to do.

Hope you're having a really good weekend.  Champions' crownings soon!



  • Lucy Liu
  • Julianna Margulies



  • Nathan Fillion
  • Ewan McGregor

###############################################



  • Helen Mirren
  • Julianne Moore

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



  • Liam Neeson
  • Mike Rowe


48

If you've ever rented a movie on Amazon Prime, you know you have 48 hours in which to watch it.  (By the way, why do we "watch"...