Kate came to me with a little bit of memory about knitting a long time ago, if I remember right. She has been working on this baby blanket for many months, but she kept at it. This is a big project for a new knitter, even for an adult. She did such a great job!

She made a version of my Cushy Blankie pattern, adjusted slightly because she chose a worsted-weight yarn rather than the DK weight (thinner) yarn I specified originally. This pattern requires some paying attention, and she learned to come in when she got stuck and get some help from Rae or myself.

Today we met so that she could learn how to finish off ends… and how to bind off (her first time ever). She also needed to get a refresher on how to cast on, because she had only done it once. Go, Kate!!!

And do you know what she said today? She’s ready to start another one of these, in order to secure the lessons in her mind and hands. I think she’s going to be with us for a while now. I’m delighted.

I will not talk candidates or parties… but it is voting day at least in my corner of the world.

I will say that in Lansing, we are voting on whether to support our library system. The current funding system doesn’t support the buildings. In Williamston they had a leaky roof, as only one example of the need out there. Too much water coming in and we have no books or computers, you know?

If you can say you do not need a library, because you can buy a computer and books for yourself… please consider how lucky you are. (Never mind out of print items available only at a library.)

The kidz I work with at Foster Center, and some of the Seniors I teach, use the computers and other services at local library locations. There are free computer classes used by folks who worked at a time when computers were not part of everyday living. There are story hours and other programs to make summer go by more peacefully (I always spent my summers in the Hope Borbas library, in their reading programs… I even had Hope Borbas read me stories back in the ’60s).

For about the cost of one latte’ a month (or less) you can support this vital part of our community. Please get out there and vote on behalf of the big picture, even if you do not cast a single candidate vote.

Thank you for your consideration.

Ewe-Kniss has mentioned before that she likes it when I post garden photos. This year I’m doing more than last year (when the flowers got watered in their flats for weeks, I was so ill). I’m not doing as much as I had dreamed, of course. That is the nature of life for a passionate creative person.

Do you see that my flamingo under the mailbox is nearly hidden? It is in the middle of a thriving and beautiful peony bush. Four years ago we moved that bush from a shady spot five feet away, and the thing almost died. It went down to one sad leaf. One. I would come home and the leaf was drooped all the way to the ground. I’d water it, the leaf would perk up maybe an inch above the soil. Next morning, repeat.

I was just sure I’d killed this plant… but it taught me my favorite gardening rule: Water the Stick. When you think it’s over, it might not be. It seems to take about 3 years for a plant to really get going after planting, or so I observe in my yard. So now even when I lose all faith I water the stick. Sometimes wonderful things happen, if I’m patient. And now my flamingo is hidden by a bush that was once a single leaf.

I do have one red tomato on the plant which had flowers on it when I took it home (far left, white container). That is pretty exciting.

My herbs are iffy, I planted 5 kinds and one is coming up from seed, two others which came in pots are struggling. Go figure that the parsley I planted in the garden soil 2 years ago is coming up for an extra year (they usually last 2 years). And why the one herb happy from seed is basil, when the last time I tried it I failed miserably, is a mystery.

I tried nasturtiums and at first thought the squirrels had eaten the seeds. In spite of my fears, they came up and have beautiful leaves. I got my first flowers this week, just a handful but they are lovely. Maybe we will put them in a salad with that ripe tomato!

Other than that, I’m happy with my flowers in containers again. Thank goodness for geraniums and petunias in pots! They never were favorites of mine, but they soldier on when I ignore them, and continue to blossom in spite of neglect and strong afternoon sun. I’m all about loving what works!

Gloria knit a tiny pair of my Fast Florida Footies and put a photo on her blog. Adorable! She used a bamboo blend yarn in beautiful cool colors. This child will be stylin’ for sure!

Gloria, thanks for letting me know. I’m delighted to link to your photo, and to make your acquaintance.

Anyone else out there not saying hello? Any other photos? If you don’t have a blog I’d be delighted to post a photo here… whether you knit from my handpainted yarns or any of my patterns, I’m quite happy to show the world what you are doing.

Or not. Your choice. Meanwhile, thanks again to Gloria for making my day.

(Photo here is my own version of the footies in a baby size. I don’t remember the yarn, it was a DK weight wool rather than the specified Cascade Fixation in the pattern.)

I almost never play along with these things… but it’s fun and I don’t need to process a photo to post it. It’s interesting, though… I think the word “favorite” is a very changing-target sort of thing. I don’t go in for pairing the words “favorite” and “forever,” I’m not loyal here. I guess I’m very in the moment, and I love many things.

Trish of Bloomin Knitiot posted this one. Play along on your own blog if you feel like sharing!
My favorite:
Sport: None… well, I like to watch Olympic Figure Skating. No team sports, thanks.
Game: Spider Solitaire
Color: Turquoise
Movie: None
Broadway play I have seen: none
Broadway Musical I have seen: none
Song: This is impossible, I love so many songs!
American city I have visited: Chicago (If American here means “US,” note below cities are both North American, technically)
Foreign city I have visited: Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Also loved Merida, Yucatan, Mexico)
Book: That’s hard… one I wished would not end was Shelter for the Spirit: Create Your Own Haven in a Hectic World by Victoria Moran
Children’s Book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… lesson in being rewarded for being authentic.
Classic television show: The Jetsons, Laugh In
Recent television show: None
Actor: George Burns?
Actress: Katherine Hepburn?
Perfume: None, I’m allergic to anything with flowers, pretty much… food scents are easier to take.
Food: Stonyfield Ice Cream, especially vanilla on buckwheat pancakes with strawberries.
Dessert: Pumpkin Pie
Chain Restaurant: none
Local Restaurant: Altu’s Ethiopian Cuisine
Car: VW New Beetle (mine is 1998 bright blue, black fabric interior, 5-speed manual, named Joy)
Condiment: Eden Brand Gomasio (sesame seeds mildly ground up with sea salt), or good Olive Oil
Kitchen Appliance: Blending Wand or Crock Pot
Home Appliance: Rowenta travel steamer
Beauty Product: Not into beauty stuff… maybe Dr. Bronner Liquid Soaps or Aveeno hand lotion
Piece of clothing: African/Mideastern caftans/floor-length dresses
HGTV Show: Don’t watch TV
Food Network show: See above
Author: Priscilla Gibson-Roberts
Male Songwriter: ??
Female Songwriter: ??
Holiday: Thanksgiving (other than the nasty weather)
Ballet I have seen: Joffrey Ballet Company in Chicago
Disney character: Belle from Beauty and the Beast (Not originally Disney but I like strong/smart women)
Flower: Red Carnation
Alcoholic drink: None
Non-Alcoholic drink: Hot black English Breakfast Tea by Twinings
Magazine: Interweave Knits
Animated movie: Aladdin (the moral is “be yourself” which overrides the weaknesses of the film, in my mind)
Television network miniseries: none

Season: Summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Male vocalist: Impossible to pick
Female vocalist: Annette Hanshaw (early jazz singer in mid-1920’s to early ’30’s, click here for video in .wmv format viewable in Windows Media Player)
Day of the week: Tuesday (my day alone, most weeks)
Household Chore: Watering Flowers outside in summer
Ice Cream: Mint Chocolate Chip (with real chips, best brand is Miller’s Ice Cream from Eaton Rapids, MI)
Candy: Tootsie Rolls (can’t eat them anymore but still favorite)
Artist: Matisse, perhaps.

It’s a crazy-busy weekend once again. I spent Friday helping 2 friends and then dancing at Aladdins at night. Saturday is JazzFest for us. All good, but that gets in the way of much writing here.

So… here is a photo for you until I can chat more. This is the front panel of a dress I bought from another Habibi Dancer who purchased it in Egypt (near the pyramids) in the 1970s.

She lived in the Middle East during that time and worked full time as a dancer to support herself. This was a housedress, sort of what they would wear when we in the US would perhaps wear jeans on an ordinary day.

The dress fits me perfectly. It has been worn and washed and worn again so much that I do wear it and enjoy it without worrying too much about wearing it out.

The embroidery was done with very thick, very round (tubular) spun cotton threads. It is releatively coarsely stitched, and very definitely hand-produced. I love this dress! Whether or not you love embroidery as I do, surely you can see the enthusiasm and energy the colors bring to my life. Love it.

Have a wonderful weekend, no matter what you find yourself doing. I plan to do the same.