Now Norma Knits

Terrier Tuesday: THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO BE SAVED FROM THE DEVIL QUALIFY FOR PRIZES BY DONATING TO THE RED SCARF FUND

2009-12-15T00:28:00-05:00

Dear Readers,

This is serious. This economy is bad, no question about it. (Look at me -- I have a new red scarf.) We have fallen far short of our fundraising goal in the Red Scarf Fund for this year. (Aren't I cute? I have a new red scarf.) We understand, we really do. But if you've been sitting on the fence and have a little spare change to throw our way, while in the process giving to a great cause and qualifying for the great giveaways of all the wonderful prizes that Alpha-Alpha has collected from all her generous friends, listen up:

My Alpha, the alpha of all alphas (she made me say that) has extended the deadline for entering for prizes to tonight at midnight Eastern Time. Get your donations in now! You get one chance at all those lovely prizes for each $5 donation you make through Paypal.

Buddy, can ya spare a dime?

And then she says she promises she will shut up, and she won't pimp her poor little grand-Yorkie anymore. Well, at least until she starts harping on you for getting an early start on knitting red scarves for next year. I know, I know, you haven't even sent in yours (or you just barely have) for THIS year yet -- what is she kvetching about next year for, huh?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: She's difficult.

But I'm impossibly cute, and she knit me this ridiculous red scarf when she really should have been knitting on her mother's Xmas sweater. And she's makin' me wear it and pose like some sort of show dog or something till you cough up some money. And she's the one who feeds me and walks me and teaches me tricks and gets me toys and lets me sleep in her bed, so what'm I gon' do?

Do exactly as she says and turn on the charm and beg, of course.

Love,
Mr. Jefferies

Still a Bit Under the Weather

2009-12-14T00:16:00-05:00

I'm glad I took a few photos at Mount Vernon that I can slap up here to give you a little photo album, my style.

This is where I took a photo of the arches and got a warning that photos are not allowed inside the main house. Bingo! My reputation for causing trouble everywhere I go remains intact, and I won't even tell you about how much fun the TSA officials have (not) with my neti pot salt. I really don't know why -- it's only 7 or 8 ounces of crystalline substance inside a plastic baggie, after all.

That's Lynn in silhouette there on the right, trying to pretend she didn't know me.

The Father of our Country had a pretty decent view with his morning coffee on the piazza.

Totally random fun fact I learned (but probably should have known before then) while at Mount Vernon: General Washington was 6'4", and Martha was 4'11".

For the spinners:

For the organic gardeners:

A wicked awesome compost bin

For the Foodies:

We dined at the Inn At Mount Vernon, and it was fabulous. A bit late, I was reminded by Cheryl that A Good Blogger would be taking a photo of the amazing peanut-chestnut soup I was oohing and ahhing about, instead of just scarfing it down. It's their signature soup, and it was crazy-delicious. Sorry for those allergic to peanuts. It probably makes you itch and wheeze just by having me mention it.

Cheryl did a little writeup about our day and has a photo posted of me....I don't know...holding court, I guess. Go see.

For the bakers, or just anyone who can appreciate the talent, artistry, and hard work that went into making this:

Sadly, my photos don't begin to do it justice. But it was a purely WOW piece of gingerbread genius created by the former White House Executive Pastry Chef.

Dear People

2009-12-13T08:33:26-05:00

Norma is busy right now. She is steaming her head and rinsing her sinuses and gargling her throat and drinking hot tea and lemon water and taking elderberry syrup and making chicken soup.

I guess you know what that means.

Sincerely,

The Blog

Red Scarves At Mount Vernon

2009-12-12T00:20:00-05:00

"I will honestly admit I was not prepared to take a college exam."

~ a post written by Sean H., one of the OFA students you are helping by knitting a scarf or sending in a donation to the Red Scarf Fund for Foster Youth.

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Yesterday I had the most delightful day being entertained by Cheryl (you rock the interpretations at Mount Vernon, Cheryl!), chauffeured around by Tracey F. (thank you, Tracey!), and regaled with hilarity as usual by Lynn from the OFA. We all went to Mount Vernon, where Cheryl works, to have a fun tour, a grand luncheon, and take a few photos of red scarves.

It was pretty brisk out there, but that didn't stop us from having a great time. I took responsibility (I have broad shoulders) for bringing the frigid northern temps with me, but the sky was blue and the setting was gorgeous and educational and the company was wonderful. Oh, that Lynn and I, we are a dangerous duo -- and I rather think that our superpowers were enhanced by Cheryl and Tracey -- making us a rather formidable foursome.

Cheryl was strong-armed by one of her fellow interpreters to take over his job in the great Mount Vernon main dining room, so we were privileged to see her deliver a little of her stuff. She is delightful, as was the whole of the tour. We weren't allowed to take photos inside the main house, but we managed to lay out our scarves and shoo people out of the background so we could take photos on the front porch. Cheryl once again saved the day and very diplomatically asked people to move -- blaming it on "that lady" (me) who is "artistic and difficult to work with." What a blast. I had the best day!

Tracey, Lynn (lugging her bag o' scarves), and Cheryl

Well, It Had To Happen Sometime....and PRIZES!

2009-12-11T00:39:00-05:00

My first-ever worn-out handknitted sock. These are Fleece Artist socks that I knitted for myself from yarn that was received from a secret swap a few years ago, and they popped a hole when I was walking Mr. Jefferies the other day.

R.I.P. Fleece Artist socks. And now, I suppose the inveterate non-sock-knitter will have to knit another pair of stockinette socks. I lerve my stockinette socks, and my 4X1 rib socks, both of Trekking yarn, the best of all my handknit socks, and I just happen to have a few balls of Trekking "in stock," so one of these days, after I finish my mom's sweater and after I perhaps knit something for our family Yankee swap (or perhaps not), I will get out the Trekking and force myself to knit a damn pair of socks. It'll be character-building, I reckon.

Today I am off having fun, cavorting with red scarves, maybe learning something, and probably getting fat with Lynn Davis of the OFA, and Cheryl and Tracey and another Lynn. Of course I will tell you all about it later, but this seems like a great time to give out a few prizes in the Red Scarf Fund drive, no?

In the latest impromptu drawing that I made, this is the tally:

1. Melanie has won the elegant Cloisters wrap pattern from Miriam of Mimknits.

2. Susan G. has won two of This Susan's lovely patterns of her choice.

3. Luise E. has won the wonderful luncheon napkins handmade by Carol.

4. Christine C. has won Thea's excellent Nantucket Red sweater pattern, with vintage buttons.

5. Helen has won the lovely SigNit beads donated by Marcia.

Thank you to everyone for their generous money and prize donations! And there are plenty more prizes to win.

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I completed the basketweave scarf just in time to be able to hand-deliver it to the OFA.

For this pattern in particular, I am very partial to the steam block. What a beautiful and sophisticated fabric this makes! And it's very economical with the yarn. This 6-inch-wide, 60-inch-long scarf took 1.25 skeins of Cascade 220 Heathers. I paid $7.95 a skein. Pretty economical. Downright cheap, actually, and this is soft Merino wool, in just a gorgeous color.

This took three days of not-very-much knitting time. This was maybe 6 inches long when I arrived at AnnaMarie's house the other day. It was probably 12 inches long when I left. A little bit here and a little bit there, and it's DONE! I produced the final 12 inches during the 6:00 news the other night. Who says there isn't time to make a scarf?!