To yours.....
A Very Merry Christmas to All!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
December 21st
December 21st, 2004 was the winter solstice, just like today. It was also the day my Dad died.Julia has been talking a lot about her Pop recently, knowing that this day was coming. The other night she said to me, "Mommy, you know Pop's star is the first one that comes out every night." I like to believe it is true.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Moving On again
About 150 of our sheep have been living up on a neighbor's pasture two miles from our farmhouse. I talked about how they got there here. Now it is December and the pasture is hidden under several inches of snow. The Farmer has been feeding hay to these sheep but that entails driving an uncovered tractor 3 miles to the field with a large 800 lb. bale on a spike, depositing it in the field so the sheep can eat for a few days and then doing it all over again. Needless to say, this couldn't continue. He is getting more wrinkly by the day out in this weather. It was a matter of timing and weather to make the moving day happen.
Saturday it was. The weather forecast predicted a nasty storm coming in on Sunday. We had to move fast. We called a few friends to beg assistance. This move was going to be harder than the last – the sheep had to travel three miles and most of it on paved roads on which people are used to driving too fast. This is the country but you wouldn’t know it. Everyone is always in a hurry. But Saturday, this particular Saturday, they would have to stop and slow down.
Here are the sheep deep in the middle of a field. There is a track from the tires made by the tractor into the fenced in area. The snow is about a foot deep. If you look hard, you'll see The Farmer in his lovely brown Carhart jacket and overalls and our little friend Matthew. The two dogs Nessie and Phoebe are there too.
The tractor tracks are very helpful - the sheep are moving nicely along them. They are obviously confused and several tried to head back but were slowed by the deep snow.
"Run, Julia run - please - they are coming fast. We've got to get down to the road to slow them down and turn them the right way."
As you can imagine, that last part didn't go too good. Oh well - she is a little trooper. Next the sheep ran past the barn and the farmhouse they have been visiting. Two by two - along the tractor tracks.
"Oh my goodness, which way should we go," say the sheep. Julia and I say, "Please, please, head up the road towards Eden Trail."
Yes, they chose the right way. Here they are with Matthew, the dogs, and The Farmer in hot pursuit. Do you see the truck at the end of the road? That is our friend Lynn and her two children Cody and Sarah. We enlisted them too.
With Lynn and her truck and kids' help, the sheep turned correctly and off they went at warp speed down the road. Julia and I tried to keep up but we couldn't. We hopped in Lynn's pick-up and got a ride closer. The whole trip was a game of catch up with the sheep.
Everyone kept keeping on - the truck and Julia, the kids, The Farmer and me and my camera. Down, down, down we went, past many bewildered neighbors. The traffic began to pile up behind Lynn's pick-up. (A pile-up around here is six cars.) Not to even mention, we had a front-man - our wonderful neighbor Sid - He drove his Jeep quite a bit aways ahead of the sheep and made oncoming traffic slow down. Can you imagine? "Please wait, 150 sheep coming through. And yes, that Christmas shopping will have to wait a while."
That there was the famous hairpin turn - you'll see Nessie doing what she's supposed to be doing. And below, that's the steam coming from the sheep.
More down, down, down..... Through the woods, following the road...... Here we are - 150 sheep, The Farmer and 3 young assistant shepherds sprinting down the hill towards the great opening.
Ah, yes, here it is the opening of the woods to the beautiful fields, antique farmhouses and barns.
But to sheep? "Hey, let's fly." Who knew they could run so fast.
We all keep on going - some better than the others. We let some backed up cars pass in amazement. Only one in six was irate. I guess that's good. Poor woman, she didn't know what she was missing.
We pass three beautiful old farms, travel through some more woods, and then approach The Farmer's neighbor Mrs Dyer's antique home. There a hunter gladly pulled over and let us pass, watching and laughing.
Just past Mrs. Dyer's, we were met by the DHL truck. This guy comes out of Springfield, MA I think. I guess he must see it all, but this must have been one of the best.
"Okay, he's gone. Let's push on. We're almost there."
Down, down, down - although not so dramatic. Here we are approaching The Farmer's brother's barns where he raises and milks dairy cattle. The sheep sense familiarity. They are sprinting and it's hard to keep up.
Sid has the road blocked off and we're all hoping for the best. No worries - the sheep easily turn into their lane.
Look hard and you'll see Jeremy, our guard llama, waiting there in the fancy schmancy greenhouse barn.
Here they are - all safe and sound. They are back where it's home sweet home, no matter how humble.
Saturday it was. The weather forecast predicted a nasty storm coming in on Sunday. We had to move fast. We called a few friends to beg assistance. This move was going to be harder than the last – the sheep had to travel three miles and most of it on paved roads on which people are used to driving too fast. This is the country but you wouldn’t know it. Everyone is always in a hurry. But Saturday, this particular Saturday, they would have to stop and slow down.
Here are the sheep deep in the middle of a field. There is a track from the tires made by the tractor into the fenced in area. The snow is about a foot deep. If you look hard, you'll see The Farmer in his lovely brown Carhart jacket and overalls and our little friend Matthew. The two dogs Nessie and Phoebe are there too.
The tractor tracks are very helpful - the sheep are moving nicely along them. They are obviously confused and several tried to head back but were slowed by the deep snow.
"Run, Julia run - please - they are coming fast. We've got to get down to the road to slow them down and turn them the right way."
As you can imagine, that last part didn't go too good. Oh well - she is a little trooper. Next the sheep ran past the barn and the farmhouse they have been visiting. Two by two - along the tractor tracks.
"Oh my goodness, which way should we go," say the sheep. Julia and I say, "Please, please, head up the road towards Eden Trail."
Yes, they chose the right way. Here they are with Matthew, the dogs, and The Farmer in hot pursuit. Do you see the truck at the end of the road? That is our friend Lynn and her two children Cody and Sarah. We enlisted them too.
With Lynn and her truck and kids' help, the sheep turned correctly and off they went at warp speed down the road. Julia and I tried to keep up but we couldn't. We hopped in Lynn's pick-up and got a ride closer. The whole trip was a game of catch up with the sheep.
Everyone kept keeping on - the truck and Julia, the kids, The Farmer and me and my camera. Down, down, down we went, past many bewildered neighbors. The traffic began to pile up behind Lynn's pick-up. (A pile-up around here is six cars.) Not to even mention, we had a front-man - our wonderful neighbor Sid - He drove his Jeep quite a bit aways ahead of the sheep and made oncoming traffic slow down. Can you imagine? "Please wait, 150 sheep coming through. And yes, that Christmas shopping will have to wait a while."
That there was the famous hairpin turn - you'll see Nessie doing what she's supposed to be doing. And below, that's the steam coming from the sheep.
More down, down, down..... Through the woods, following the road...... Here we are - 150 sheep, The Farmer and 3 young assistant shepherds sprinting down the hill towards the great opening.
Ah, yes, here it is the opening of the woods to the beautiful fields, antique farmhouses and barns.
But to sheep? "Hey, let's fly." Who knew they could run so fast.
We all keep on going - some better than the others. We let some backed up cars pass in amazement. Only one in six was irate. I guess that's good. Poor woman, she didn't know what she was missing.
We pass three beautiful old farms, travel through some more woods, and then approach The Farmer's neighbor Mrs Dyer's antique home. There a hunter gladly pulled over and let us pass, watching and laughing.
Just past Mrs. Dyer's, we were met by the DHL truck. This guy comes out of Springfield, MA I think. I guess he must see it all, but this must have been one of the best.
"Okay, he's gone. Let's push on. We're almost there."
Down, down, down - although not so dramatic. Here we are approaching The Farmer's brother's barns where he raises and milks dairy cattle. The sheep sense familiarity. They are sprinting and it's hard to keep up.
Sid has the road blocked off and we're all hoping for the best. No worries - the sheep easily turn into their lane.
Look hard and you'll see Jeremy, our guard llama, waiting there in the fancy schmancy greenhouse barn.
Here they are - all safe and sound. They are back where it's home sweet home, no matter how humble.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Last Minute Ideas
Here are a couple of very easy ideas for last minute handmade holiday gifts.
One of Julia's nurses from school last year just reminded me of what we gave her and how much she loved it - a hand-stitched heart of felted sweater scraps filled with lavender. I thought you all might like to see it too, considering I completely forgot the "gift of 2006." Still cute after a year.
I've been pulling out the decorations slowly and hung up this fun pom pom wreath. It's made of multi-colored pom poms of Julia yarn "hot-glued" to an embroidery hoop. The bow is a piece of felted wool fabric. I love this thing a year later.
Good luck with the last minute projects.
One of Julia's nurses from school last year just reminded me of what we gave her and how much she loved it - a hand-stitched heart of felted sweater scraps filled with lavender. I thought you all might like to see it too, considering I completely forgot the "gift of 2006." Still cute after a year.
I've been pulling out the decorations slowly and hung up this fun pom pom wreath. It's made of multi-colored pom poms of Julia yarn "hot-glued" to an embroidery hoop. The bow is a piece of felted wool fabric. I love this thing a year later.
Good luck with the last minute projects.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Shall I knit you.....
..... A Hat?
This is the title of a lovely children's book written and illustrated by sisters Katie and Sarah Klise. If you are looking for a book about knitting to share with a young child this holiday season, you will love this one. By now, the gift will be late, I'm sure, unless you can find it in a local bookstore.
The story is about a little rabbit and his mother. He convinces his mom to knit all his friends a hat for a Christmas gift - something that is going on like wildfire this December on many knitter's needles. The resulting hats are fanciful and totally unique as are all the rabbit's friends. A nice gift for children or the knitter who still enjoys children's books.
This is the title of a lovely children's book written and illustrated by sisters Katie and Sarah Klise. If you are looking for a book about knitting to share with a young child this holiday season, you will love this one. By now, the gift will be late, I'm sure, unless you can find it in a local bookstore.
The story is about a little rabbit and his mother. He convinces his mom to knit all his friends a hat for a Christmas gift - something that is going on like wildfire this December on many knitter's needles. The resulting hats are fanciful and totally unique as are all the rabbit's friends. A nice gift for children or the knitter who still enjoys children's books.
Monday, December 17, 2007
It must be December
More wild winter weather here in western Massachusetts. I can’t say I mind it – everything looks beautiful - like a picture postcard. The snow isn’t stopping. We thought something was up this November when Cookie and Ginger, two of our cats, grew incredibly fluffy, long coats. The Farmer and I talked about it, saying we must be in for a rough winter and so it is. Compared to 2007 when it was 60 degrees in late December, I will take this anyday.
Farming continues, no matter the weather. Animals need to be fed and cared for. But Friday was the day I have been dreading. It was the day the appointment was made for my three, now big, pigs. I have raised pigs for four years and know that with the arrival of each new set of piglets, they will then leave about five months later as much larger animals. They live very happy, if short lives rooting around in the earth and eating well. This year’s pigs even began as pasture raised pigs and grazed with the sheep for about a month until they began doing lots of damage to the pastures with their snouts.
The past month or so has been an adventure for them. They have been busting out of their confines and visiting the neighbors up and down the road. They have been exploring the apple orchard, grazing on fallen fruit. Luckily our neighbors are rather patient. Todd and Jess down then road call them the Visiting Ladies Auxillary – three pigs digging around their yard in the frozen earth not finding much. Alicia's pumpkins were mighty tasty.
But then winter hit. They haven't wanted to venture too far. This past week has been mightly dicey walking out on the ice with a large bucket of grain and a large pail of hot water, trying not to fall on my butt while hiking out to feed them. We had a foot of snow Thursday which was going to make moving the livestock trailer difficult to say the least. Luckily, some of our neighbors are also farmers and they came down with a plow and helped The Farmer load the pigs. It went smooth as silk and we got them to the slaughterhouse in New Hampshire and were back in time to pick Julia up from school.
I always feel very sad the first few days my pigs are gone. I'm so used to hearing them snorting and cavorting in their pen everytime I come out of the house. I will miss them and the daily task of talking to them each morning and feeding them. But my chickens are still here and I should be getting some eggs soon as the days become longer. Tonight Julia and I will pick up the pigs and they will feed us and several others for the year to come. In a few weeks the hams and the bacon will be done too.
If you are interested in learning more about raising pigs, here are a few good websites: Sugar Mountain Farm in Vermont, British author Hugh Fearnley-Whittenstall's River Cottage, and Jimmy Doherty's Essex Pig Company.
Farming continues, no matter the weather. Animals need to be fed and cared for. But Friday was the day I have been dreading. It was the day the appointment was made for my three, now big, pigs. I have raised pigs for four years and know that with the arrival of each new set of piglets, they will then leave about five months later as much larger animals. They live very happy, if short lives rooting around in the earth and eating well. This year’s pigs even began as pasture raised pigs and grazed with the sheep for about a month until they began doing lots of damage to the pastures with their snouts.
The past month or so has been an adventure for them. They have been busting out of their confines and visiting the neighbors up and down the road. They have been exploring the apple orchard, grazing on fallen fruit. Luckily our neighbors are rather patient. Todd and Jess down then road call them the Visiting Ladies Auxillary – three pigs digging around their yard in the frozen earth not finding much. Alicia's pumpkins were mighty tasty.
But then winter hit. They haven't wanted to venture too far. This past week has been mightly dicey walking out on the ice with a large bucket of grain and a large pail of hot water, trying not to fall on my butt while hiking out to feed them. We had a foot of snow Thursday which was going to make moving the livestock trailer difficult to say the least. Luckily, some of our neighbors are also farmers and they came down with a plow and helped The Farmer load the pigs. It went smooth as silk and we got them to the slaughterhouse in New Hampshire and were back in time to pick Julia up from school.
I always feel very sad the first few days my pigs are gone. I'm so used to hearing them snorting and cavorting in their pen everytime I come out of the house. I will miss them and the daily task of talking to them each morning and feeding them. But my chickens are still here and I should be getting some eggs soon as the days become longer. Tonight Julia and I will pick up the pigs and they will feed us and several others for the year to come. In a few weeks the hams and the bacon will be done too.
If you are interested in learning more about raising pigs, here are a few good websites: Sugar Mountain Farm in Vermont, British author Hugh Fearnley-Whittenstall's River Cottage, and Jimmy Doherty's Essex Pig Company.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Icy Days and Cosy Crafts
We've had some wild weather around here this December. The other day, I braved life, limb, and automobile to take these photos for you, my dear blog readers. It truly was a winter wonderland. Everything was covered with a thick layer of ice (including the roads).
If you look closely, you'll see some coyote tracks heading out over the snow. It was the middle of the day but it sure was gray.
These rose hips were the only bit of color.
I loved how these birch branches look against the cloudy sky.
Our Christmas crafting is continuing. Being in our cosy house at this time of year with a wood fire in the furnace and snow outside feels so safe. Given the success of Julia's gingerbread house, I think this is the year she may be able to make some little gifts for her teachers. I've stocked up on glue (both Elmer's and hot glue), lots of glitter and lots of found natural materials including birch bark.
So about my new obsession with birch bark..... You didn't know about it, did you? It started with a visit to my sister Nancy at Thanksgiving. She showed me some terracotta pots she had covered with birch bark and then filled with paperwhite bulbs. I thought to myself - perfect teacher gift - cheap and thoughtful. Then the December issue of House Beautiful arrived and I fell in love with this room.
The home featured is in the Adirondacks and has so many amazing, handcrafted details. The walls and furniture in this sweet bedroom were covered in birch bark. I am crazy over this, even if it does lack color - but the texture was amazing. Buy this issue if you are at all interested - it will be off the newstands soon.
Out we went to scavenge the woods for fallen birch trees. I found some big ones and stripped the bark as Julia watched. Then we collected pine cones, lichen, moss and whatever else looked good and wasn't covered with snow. At the grocery store, I snagged lots of little boxes destined for the trash. Hot glue gun in hand, I built several little houses.
I used the different layers of birch bark for the siding. Julia's job was to coat each roof with liquid glue and then go crazy with the clear glitter. She had a blast. We added some more glitter to the windows to resemble ice and glued on some little pinecones and moss. Here they are - sweet, yes? No box is safe now and the glitter will probably remain in the floor cracks until the next century.
If you look closely, you'll see some coyote tracks heading out over the snow. It was the middle of the day but it sure was gray.
These rose hips were the only bit of color.
I loved how these birch branches look against the cloudy sky.
Our Christmas crafting is continuing. Being in our cosy house at this time of year with a wood fire in the furnace and snow outside feels so safe. Given the success of Julia's gingerbread house, I think this is the year she may be able to make some little gifts for her teachers. I've stocked up on glue (both Elmer's and hot glue), lots of glitter and lots of found natural materials including birch bark.
So about my new obsession with birch bark..... You didn't know about it, did you? It started with a visit to my sister Nancy at Thanksgiving. She showed me some terracotta pots she had covered with birch bark and then filled with paperwhite bulbs. I thought to myself - perfect teacher gift - cheap and thoughtful. Then the December issue of House Beautiful arrived and I fell in love with this room.
The home featured is in the Adirondacks and has so many amazing, handcrafted details. The walls and furniture in this sweet bedroom were covered in birch bark. I am crazy over this, even if it does lack color - but the texture was amazing. Buy this issue if you are at all interested - it will be off the newstands soon.
Out we went to scavenge the woods for fallen birch trees. I found some big ones and stripped the bark as Julia watched. Then we collected pine cones, lichen, moss and whatever else looked good and wasn't covered with snow. At the grocery store, I snagged lots of little boxes destined for the trash. Hot glue gun in hand, I built several little houses.
I used the different layers of birch bark for the siding. Julia's job was to coat each roof with liquid glue and then go crazy with the clear glitter. She had a blast. We added some more glitter to the windows to resemble ice and glued on some little pinecones and moss. Here they are - sweet, yes? No box is safe now and the glitter will probably remain in the floor cracks until the next century.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Don't let schooling interfere with your education.
Mark Twain wrote this. It is a quote I wholeheartedly agree with. Perfect attendance is not necessary but an interest in many things and a zest for life certainly is.
Julia and I are continuing our tour of famous writer's and artist's homes. Last week we went to Hartford, CT to visit the home of Mark Twain. I hadn't been there in a very long time and since then, they have built a lovely visitor center with special displays, a short movie by Ken Burns and a lovely gift shop.
The house was built in the 1870's and Mark Twain wrote many of his most famous works here. I wasn't allowed to take photos inside so this is what we saw on the outside. The light orange and black brickwork were actually painted and spoke to me "knitting chart" all the way. Turrets and balconies and gingerbread abound. What a fanciful place.
All through the home there are stencilled and painted wall and ceiling treatments which gave me many more ideas for "knitting patterns". These were done by Associated Artists, a firm that was a partnership of Louis Comfort Tiffany, Candace Wheeler (she did the amazing textiles and wallpaper design), and Lockwood de Forest.
The place is so totally over the top - as you would assume giving Twain's larger than life personality. The restoration was done beautifully considering the home had been used as apartments and offices during the 20th century. The world is lucky to be able to visit this amazing place and see how Mark Twain and his family lived. Take the virtual tour if you can't get to see it. You will be delighted as Julia and I were to visit such an amazing and creative home.
Next to Twain's home is the lovely, more liveable home of Harriet Beecher Stowe which we also took toured. The home is full of her artwork, her over 30 books including Uncle Tom's Cabin which was translated into many languages and lots of family furniture.
Julia and I are continuing our tour of famous writer's and artist's homes. Last week we went to Hartford, CT to visit the home of Mark Twain. I hadn't been there in a very long time and since then, they have built a lovely visitor center with special displays, a short movie by Ken Burns and a lovely gift shop.
The house was built in the 1870's and Mark Twain wrote many of his most famous works here. I wasn't allowed to take photos inside so this is what we saw on the outside. The light orange and black brickwork were actually painted and spoke to me "knitting chart" all the way. Turrets and balconies and gingerbread abound. What a fanciful place.
All through the home there are stencilled and painted wall and ceiling treatments which gave me many more ideas for "knitting patterns". These were done by Associated Artists, a firm that was a partnership of Louis Comfort Tiffany, Candace Wheeler (she did the amazing textiles and wallpaper design), and Lockwood de Forest.
The place is so totally over the top - as you would assume giving Twain's larger than life personality. The restoration was done beautifully considering the home had been used as apartments and offices during the 20th century. The world is lucky to be able to visit this amazing place and see how Mark Twain and his family lived. Take the virtual tour if you can't get to see it. You will be delighted as Julia and I were to visit such an amazing and creative home.
Next to Twain's home is the lovely, more liveable home of Harriet Beecher Stowe which we also took toured. The home is full of her artwork, her over 30 books including Uncle Tom's Cabin which was translated into many languages and lots of family furniture.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
And the Winners Are....
I have heard back from all the lucky winners in the Julia Yarn Giveaway. The 20 assorted skeins of Julia are going to Karen in Virginia, Margo in Massachusetts, Nancy in North Carolina, Robin in Massachusetts, and Jennifer in Maine. Aren't they lucky knitters?
I can't tell you all how much fun this Yarn Giveaway has been for our family. I thought I might get 100 people to enter but the numbers kept climbing and climbing and climbing. Every morning, I would report back to Julia and The Farmer how many entries came in. Don't feel bad if you didn't win, it was pretty impossible to be one of the lucky winners.
I thank all of you who wrote me such lovely letters with your entries. It seems like lots of knitters are wishing for my new book for Christmas gifts - I hope all your holiday wishes come true! It warms my heart to think about all of you browsing through my book on Christmas morning. How fun. Get you double pointed and circular needles ready everyone!
If you posted about the Yarn Giveaway on your blog, thanks so much. I could tell from my stats where the readers and entries were coming from and so had the chance to check out many new blogs. I'm sorry I didn't comment on too many of them - this dreadfully slow internet connection makes it pretty impossible to leave a comment, especially on Blogger blogs.
And what about those Norwegian blogs? Wow - you knitters in Norway are fabulous - I must have gotten at least a hundred entries from there alone. Maybe I can try to get Westminster to export the Julia to Norway - there's a thought. Then I could go and teach although I can't imagine what I could teach them - their blogs are filled with beautiful, extremely technically proficient knits. You all seem so interested in color and pattern which is what I'm all about.
I want to thank the generous people at Westminster for supplying the yarn for the Giveaway. Without them, this would never have happened.
We'll have to see if I can do another one of these again someday.
I can't tell you all how much fun this Yarn Giveaway has been for our family. I thought I might get 100 people to enter but the numbers kept climbing and climbing and climbing. Every morning, I would report back to Julia and The Farmer how many entries came in. Don't feel bad if you didn't win, it was pretty impossible to be one of the lucky winners.
I thank all of you who wrote me such lovely letters with your entries. It seems like lots of knitters are wishing for my new book for Christmas gifts - I hope all your holiday wishes come true! It warms my heart to think about all of you browsing through my book on Christmas morning. How fun. Get you double pointed and circular needles ready everyone!
If you posted about the Yarn Giveaway on your blog, thanks so much. I could tell from my stats where the readers and entries were coming from and so had the chance to check out many new blogs. I'm sorry I didn't comment on too many of them - this dreadfully slow internet connection makes it pretty impossible to leave a comment, especially on Blogger blogs.
And what about those Norwegian blogs? Wow - you knitters in Norway are fabulous - I must have gotten at least a hundred entries from there alone. Maybe I can try to get Westminster to export the Julia to Norway - there's a thought. Then I could go and teach although I can't imagine what I could teach them - their blogs are filled with beautiful, extremely technically proficient knits. You all seem so interested in color and pattern which is what I'm all about.
I want to thank the generous people at Westminster for supplying the yarn for the Giveaway. Without them, this would never have happened.
We'll have to see if I can do another one of these again someday.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Meeting the real Holly Hobbie
Last Saturday, our local bookstore World Eye Bookshop was sponsoring a booksigning with none other than Holly Hobbie, the author of the fabulous Toot and Puddle series of children's books about two adorable pigs. Holly Hobbie lives somewhere around here and so for the past seven or eight years, I have taken Julia to meet her as she introduces yet another Toot and Puddle book to our local area and the world.
This year, as in the past couple years, Holly Hobbie has recognized Julia as she walked in the door to buy two signed books – one for herself and one for her cousins. The welcome reception she got made her feel so special – it was sweet.
Many of you probably recognize Holly Hobbie’s name because of the “little girl” illustrations she did back in the 1970’s. I grew up surrounded by these images, as many young girls did. You can read more about my memories here. It is so refreshing to see an artist move on and find success with a second style of illustration. (It's difficult to do because the public just keeps wanting more of the same, as do publishers who are earning money from an author's past continued success.) The Toot and Puddle series has been extremely successful throughout the world of children’s books for the past ten years. The stories are simple and sweet – about friendship and family - and the pigs are beautifully represented by Holly Hobbie’s delicate and colorful watercolors.
Last year, she told us this new book Let It Snow would be her last in the T & P series. This year, we found out that Holly Hobbie has just finished a new book about a little girl named Fanny and it will be out next year. I’m not sure if Julia will have outgrown picture books by then but I doubt it. She loves to meet and talk with the authors that she has been fortunate enough to meet as do I. And yes, Holly Hobbie is delightful.
Monday, December 10, 2007
It's a Virtual Book Launch Party and Yarn Giveaway!
NOTE TO REGULAR BLOG READERS: Posts from November 26 until December 10th (the date of the drawing) will be showing up below this post. Don't worry, I haven't stopped posting. There's lots new to read below. I just need to keep the Virtual Book Launch and Yarn Giveaway at the top of this page because there are so many new visitors!
How do you launch a book in cyberspace? I’ve been thinking about this for a good long time now. I can’t invite you all over to my house and entertain you with fine wines and fancy desserts. I wish I could – we would all have such a great time, wouldn’t we? I know there are lots of great ideas out there and I wouldn't mind being interviewed on a blog or two. But for now, here's what I have planned.
Since I can’t have the party of my dreams and because everyone in the world is just too busy preparing for the holidays, I’ve come up with a secondary plan with a little help from my friends at Westminster Fibers, the distributors of my Julia Yarn.
We’re having a free yarn giveaway! Five lucky knitters are going to win twenty 50 gram balls of Julia Yarn in assorted colors. With these 20 skeins you should be able to make lots and lots of the multi-colored projects in Kristin Knits!
Here’s what you do.
1. Send me an email at this address: kristinnicholasATgmailDOTcom (replace the AT and the DOT with the appropriate symbols).
2. In the subject line – write yarn giveaway or something similar.
3. Make sure you spell my name my way - kristin NOT KRISTEN. Evidently there is another woman with the same name and email address as me, but her name is spelled differently. Poor woman - she's been getting lots of requests for a yarn giveaway!!!! I bet she's struggled with her name being spelled incorrectly for years just like me!
4. Tell lots of your real and virtual knitting friends about Kristin Knits and the free yarn giveaway.
Julia and I will be drawing the five lucky winners on December 10th so enter soon. Please only one entry per person. This entry will be staying at the top of my blog page until the drawing occurs.
Spread the word!
How do you launch a book in cyberspace? I’ve been thinking about this for a good long time now. I can’t invite you all over to my house and entertain you with fine wines and fancy desserts. I wish I could – we would all have such a great time, wouldn’t we? I know there are lots of great ideas out there and I wouldn't mind being interviewed on a blog or two. But for now, here's what I have planned.
Since I can’t have the party of my dreams and because everyone in the world is just too busy preparing for the holidays, I’ve come up with a secondary plan with a little help from my friends at Westminster Fibers, the distributors of my Julia Yarn.We’re having a free yarn giveaway! Five lucky knitters are going to win twenty 50 gram balls of Julia Yarn in assorted colors. With these 20 skeins you should be able to make lots and lots of the multi-colored projects in Kristin Knits!
Here’s what you do.
1. Send me an email at this address: kristinnicholasATgmailDOTcom (replace the AT and the DOT with the appropriate symbols).
2. In the subject line – write yarn giveaway or something similar.
3. Make sure you spell my name my way - kristin NOT KRISTEN. Evidently there is another woman with the same name and email address as me, but her name is spelled differently. Poor woman - she's been getting lots of requests for a yarn giveaway!!!! I bet she's struggled with her name being spelled incorrectly for years just like me!
4. Tell lots of your real and virtual knitting friends about Kristin Knits and the free yarn giveaway.
Julia and I will be drawing the five lucky winners on December 10th so enter soon. Please only one entry per person. This entry will be staying at the top of my blog page until the drawing occurs.
Spread the word!
Friday, December 07, 2007
Gingerbread Dreams
I try to get inside Julia’s head sometimes and I find it impossible. I wonder why she can’t sit down and do something (like color an entire coloring page in a simple coloring book) and actually finish it. I understand that she may get bored and that she wants to move on to something else. But I know there are other things going on in her brain that I really will never understand. I think to myself “Finish something, please, just once.” That’s what my just short of 50 year old brain says but then I’m not a 9 year old with hydrocephalus. I don’t say anything and I just hope and try not to be negative or a nag……. Be encouraging and supportive, but it is hard.
It’s difficult for me because I’ve always been focused as long as I can remember. First child of five girls, classic overachiever. Not always successful but there was enough sibling rivalry to try hard and do my best. But then I’m not Julia and she’s not me nor will she ever be. I worry…. I worry more…. I wonder how she’ll grow up and get on – something all mothers do with any child -- with a disability or not.
I’ve tried a bunch of stuff to help Julia with her manual dexterity but I don’t want to turn her off and make her feel inept and a failure. Sewing cards – not a prayer. Needlepoint – forget it. Knitting – we’ll just hope for one day. I just have to let it go and I do. These are things I like and have always liked. It’s not fair to ask her to do any of them if she isn’t at all interested. I really try not to push. Every once in a while, I re-introduce something to see if there is a spark. I don’t want her to hate me nor the things I enjoy doing. Perhaps I let it go too frequently to a fault but you never do know what you are doing is right, do you?
It seems that once Julia’s brain is ready, she may get interested and try. She may not be successful but she gives it a go. The other day, she was sitting on the floor with a box of Polly Pockets. Last summer, I bought these for her because her cousins had them and she seemed mildly interested. She likes colors and fashion and hair-dos and the romance of travel. Polly Pocket goes to Paris and London – oh yes, that sounded like a good thing. But she just couldn’t do it – the dolls and the clothing pieces were so tiny and fidgety. I had to dress them for her. She couldn’t stretch the rubber to make them fit. My goodness, she can’t yet button her buttons or tie her shoes – thank goodness for Velcro.
Last weekend, she sat there on the floor and she actually changed the outfits on the Polly Pockets. I saw her, as I was washing the dishes in the sink. I was so excited I wanted to run over and hug her and congratulate her. But I didn’t. I didn’t say a thing – I just watched, amazed. I didn’t want to make a big deal. I am so very proud of her.
I bought this crazy Wilton Gingerbread House in a Box the other night at a giant craft store because Julia seemed interested. I’ve tried this gingerbread house thing before. It was a disaster. For $8.00, I thought we should have another go and at least I didn’t have to bake anything. When she was in kindergarten, I baked a zillion gingerbread cookies and brought in all the goop and candy and all the kids went crazy decorating and eating. Julia wasn’t the least bit interested. She sat there, not knowing what to do nor how to do it. It broke my heart but the other kids liked it.
The sweets and sugar thing is a tough one for us. Sugar isn’t good for a child with diabetes and cookies and gingerbread houses are full of it. I just keep telling her not to eat it or lick her fingers…. I feel like a broken record. Baking used to be such a fun thing for us – all the flour and the butter and the sugar and the goopiness of it all. But I’m glad she had the dexterity and the actual interest to sit there for at least an hour plopping all the sugary goop and decorations on the pre-baked house. I knew I would have to adjust her insulin at dinner although it could have been a lot worse.
Since there’s not a chance we are going to eat the gingerbread creation, I brought out the glue gun and glued the whole thing together. Much easier than our first attempt with the sugary icing that didn’t set up overnight and fell over the first time we moved it. I highly suggest the glue gun for others struggling with getting these things to stick together. (How do those professional gingerbread house builders do it anyway?)
And I did get a kick out of Julia – After an hour of decorating with the icing, sprinkles, gum drops (boy Mommy, these are disgusting), gum balls and more, she whipped out the Elmer’s glue to finish it all off. Smart kid in her own right. She squeezed it every place she wanted it and plopped down the rest of the decorations. There was a time when she wouldn’t have been able to even squeeze the Elmer’s bottle. She’s making slow progress and I feel so fortunate.
I’m hoping we’re going to get to building little holiday houses with natural materials – like birch bark, pine cones, fungus and sticks. We’ll see how we do with that. Definitely not the allure of the candy in bright colors but at least they don’t taste good. And of course a little metallic glitter could save the day.
It’s difficult for me because I’ve always been focused as long as I can remember. First child of five girls, classic overachiever. Not always successful but there was enough sibling rivalry to try hard and do my best. But then I’m not Julia and she’s not me nor will she ever be. I worry…. I worry more…. I wonder how she’ll grow up and get on – something all mothers do with any child -- with a disability or not.
I’ve tried a bunch of stuff to help Julia with her manual dexterity but I don’t want to turn her off and make her feel inept and a failure. Sewing cards – not a prayer. Needlepoint – forget it. Knitting – we’ll just hope for one day. I just have to let it go and I do. These are things I like and have always liked. It’s not fair to ask her to do any of them if she isn’t at all interested. I really try not to push. Every once in a while, I re-introduce something to see if there is a spark. I don’t want her to hate me nor the things I enjoy doing. Perhaps I let it go too frequently to a fault but you never do know what you are doing is right, do you?
It seems that once Julia’s brain is ready, she may get interested and try. She may not be successful but she gives it a go. The other day, she was sitting on the floor with a box of Polly Pockets. Last summer, I bought these for her because her cousins had them and she seemed mildly interested. She likes colors and fashion and hair-dos and the romance of travel. Polly Pocket goes to Paris and London – oh yes, that sounded like a good thing. But she just couldn’t do it – the dolls and the clothing pieces were so tiny and fidgety. I had to dress them for her. She couldn’t stretch the rubber to make them fit. My goodness, she can’t yet button her buttons or tie her shoes – thank goodness for Velcro.
Last weekend, she sat there on the floor and she actually changed the outfits on the Polly Pockets. I saw her, as I was washing the dishes in the sink. I was so excited I wanted to run over and hug her and congratulate her. But I didn’t. I didn’t say a thing – I just watched, amazed. I didn’t want to make a big deal. I am so very proud of her.
I bought this crazy Wilton Gingerbread House in a Box the other night at a giant craft store because Julia seemed interested. I’ve tried this gingerbread house thing before. It was a disaster. For $8.00, I thought we should have another go and at least I didn’t have to bake anything. When she was in kindergarten, I baked a zillion gingerbread cookies and brought in all the goop and candy and all the kids went crazy decorating and eating. Julia wasn’t the least bit interested. She sat there, not knowing what to do nor how to do it. It broke my heart but the other kids liked it.
The sweets and sugar thing is a tough one for us. Sugar isn’t good for a child with diabetes and cookies and gingerbread houses are full of it. I just keep telling her not to eat it or lick her fingers…. I feel like a broken record. Baking used to be such a fun thing for us – all the flour and the butter and the sugar and the goopiness of it all. But I’m glad she had the dexterity and the actual interest to sit there for at least an hour plopping all the sugary goop and decorations on the pre-baked house. I knew I would have to adjust her insulin at dinner although it could have been a lot worse.
Since there’s not a chance we are going to eat the gingerbread creation, I brought out the glue gun and glued the whole thing together. Much easier than our first attempt with the sugary icing that didn’t set up overnight and fell over the first time we moved it. I highly suggest the glue gun for others struggling with getting these things to stick together. (How do those professional gingerbread house builders do it anyway?)
And I did get a kick out of Julia – After an hour of decorating with the icing, sprinkles, gum drops (boy Mommy, these are disgusting), gum balls and more, she whipped out the Elmer’s glue to finish it all off. Smart kid in her own right. She squeezed it every place she wanted it and plopped down the rest of the decorations. There was a time when she wouldn’t have been able to even squeeze the Elmer’s bottle. She’s making slow progress and I feel so fortunate.
I’m hoping we’re going to get to building little holiday houses with natural materials – like birch bark, pine cones, fungus and sticks. We’ll see how we do with that. Definitely not the allure of the candy in bright colors but at least they don’t taste good. And of course a little metallic glitter could save the day.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Cold and Frosty mixed with a little Shameless Self-Promotion
The holidays are getting closer and I can feel the tension beginning to build. I haven’t bought a gift yet and hopefully will get to some decorating this weekend. I don't like to do things too early - I prefer waiting for the real hustle and bustle.
Outside, we have a few inches of snow which is a pleasant surprise. The weather feels like January and keeping the house warm is a full time job. We have a combination oil and wood burning furnace and The Farmer is trying not to burn any oil. It’s a big job keeping the furnace stoked though and every morning the house is frightfully chilly. I’m starting to feel like a pioneer woman although I think I may have just dropped dead if I had to do what they did way back when. It still amazes me that this house has been here since the mid-1700’s. If only the walls could talk.
The big yarn giveaway is coming up – if you haven’t entered, don’t forget. We’ll be drawing the winners on Monday.
Thanks to Siri over at Knitting Iris for the lovely compliments on my Julia Yarn. Over at the new winter issue of Knitty, there's a nice book review about Kristin Knits. Thanks Jillian and Amy. Ardeana Hamlin writes a wonderful craft column for the Bangor Daily News and she put Kristin Knits on her list of Warm and Fuzzy Holiday Gifts. Thanks Ardeana. I really appreciate all the support I am getting from all of you on the web. Thank you to all of you including those who wrote about the Yarn Giveaway on their own personal blogs.
Now for the shameless self-promotion –
If your husband, daughter, boy or girl friends are looking for gift ideas for you this Christmas, I am still taking holiday orders for my books and postcards. I’ll be happy to autograph any of my books to you or whoever might like to have a signed copy. There are Pay Pal buttons on my website now so hop on over to the books page or drop some subtle hints to your loved ones. I love going to the post office – Tony, Alice, Jim and I are becoming very good friends!
Another gift idea for knitting and fiber friends is my postcards. The images are below. You’ll also find them here on the Artwork page of my website. Although a pack of assorted cards isn’t an option on the website, I’ll be happy to send 2 of each design (there are 5 designs total) for $7.50. Just add a note in your pay pal invoice. And make sure there is a note to whom the book should be signed to also!
Back to the regular chit chat tomorrow, I promise.
Outside, we have a few inches of snow which is a pleasant surprise. The weather feels like January and keeping the house warm is a full time job. We have a combination oil and wood burning furnace and The Farmer is trying not to burn any oil. It’s a big job keeping the furnace stoked though and every morning the house is frightfully chilly. I’m starting to feel like a pioneer woman although I think I may have just dropped dead if I had to do what they did way back when. It still amazes me that this house has been here since the mid-1700’s. If only the walls could talk.
The big yarn giveaway is coming up – if you haven’t entered, don’t forget. We’ll be drawing the winners on Monday.
Thanks to Siri over at Knitting Iris for the lovely compliments on my Julia Yarn. Over at the new winter issue of Knitty, there's a nice book review about Kristin Knits. Thanks Jillian and Amy. Ardeana Hamlin writes a wonderful craft column for the Bangor Daily News and she put Kristin Knits on her list of Warm and Fuzzy Holiday Gifts. Thanks Ardeana. I really appreciate all the support I am getting from all of you on the web. Thank you to all of you including those who wrote about the Yarn Giveaway on their own personal blogs.
Now for the shameless self-promotion –
If your husband, daughter, boy or girl friends are looking for gift ideas for you this Christmas, I am still taking holiday orders for my books and postcards. I’ll be happy to autograph any of my books to you or whoever might like to have a signed copy. There are Pay Pal buttons on my website now so hop on over to the books page or drop some subtle hints to your loved ones. I love going to the post office – Tony, Alice, Jim and I are becoming very good friends!
Another gift idea for knitting and fiber friends is my postcards. The images are below. You’ll also find them here on the Artwork page of my website. Although a pack of assorted cards isn’t an option on the website, I’ll be happy to send 2 of each design (there are 5 designs total) for $7.50. Just add a note in your pay pal invoice. And make sure there is a note to whom the book should be signed to also!
Back to the regular chit chat tomorrow, I promise.
Yarn in Egg Cups
Yarn Eggs
Yarn Balls
Sunflowers in Cloisonne
Sheep in Autumn
Monday, December 03, 2007
Growing up Dover
I was talking with a close friend of mine the other day and in passing she said to me, “I didn’t know you grew up in such a rough town?” I was a bit taken back by this question and I said to her “What do you mean?” She said a friend of hers heard I was from Dover, NJ and couldn’t believe that I had grown up in there. I have been thinking about this conversation for quite a long time now – mulling it over in my mind, thinking about what my friend’s friend thought about my hometown. (She had grown up in a neighboring municipality.) By no means was I “worried” about what she thought – I just thought it was odd.
Dover, NJ is located in northwest New Jersey – about 35 miles west of New York City. It is a town that has always been a destination for new immigrants. My paternal grandparents arrived separately in the early 1900’s – my grandmother from Germany and my grandfather from southwest England. Dover was full of immigrants from other places too – Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, eastern Europe, and more which today I can’t quite remember. The town had many brick factories and a bustling downtown full of more brick storefronts. People came in droves from all over the world during the great migration to the USA in the early part of the 20th century and many settled in Dover. Different neighborhoods had different nicknames –including “Little Italy” and “Germantown”.
Growing up in this town, everyone was from somewhere. We often talked amongst our friends to see where their families came from. It made our lives very interesting – there were all kinds of different cultures in our classrooms which made holidays like Christmas and Hannukah especially fun.
As we grew older, many of my parents’ friends began moving their families out of town to suburbs that were being built around the town. They didn’t want their children to go to school in an urban environment. Perhaps they thought they had gotten too good to remain that they had to move on – up and out. As these families moved out, others moved in – immigrants from other places. I had friends from Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other South American countries along with many friends who were grandchildren of the immigrants that had come earlier in the 20th century. My sisters and I just thought this was normal and commonplace. My parents couldn’t understand why their friends were leaving.
As this was happening, the surrounding countryside began sprouting shopping malls replacing the woodlands and farms. The towns around us grew and grew and Dover languished. The storefronts became empty – people became afraid to come to downtown Dover. Why – I’ll never know. I think they were afraid of shopping where everyone wasn’t the same as them. Or they were afraid of the unknown.
It wasn’t until I went off to college that I found out that I grew up in a different kind of town – a town that seemed to celebrate different cultures – now it might be called “ethnic diversity.” For me, it was just plain normal – people from all over the world speaking different languages and having different customs. It made it fun to visit friends’ homes and to see how they lived. I learned that no one particular culture’s way was right or wrong.
Now when I return “home to Dover” I am amazed by the bustling success it has once again become. All the beautiful old brick buildings are full of businesses. Most of them cater to the Spanish speaking population. But there’s also many of the old businesses still doing business the way they did 100 years ago. There’s also been some lovely additions including an antique center, a few thrift stores, and the famous Joe Kubert School for Cartooning. It is so good to see so many families enjoying the turn of the century homes and celebrating life in America.
As we ready ourselves for the upcoming December holidays, I must say I feel thankful for the upbringing I had in a funny little diversely populated town in NJ where I felt loved. I am sure it is where my interest in textiles from all over the world began. When I started studying textiles at university, I naturally wanted to learn more about textiles from different lands. I still retail this interest today and “ethnic fabrics” remain an important design influence in much of my work.
This year, I am going to try to introduce some of the cultural richness I grew up with around Christmas to Julia. Where we live now, although there is so much natural beauty, the cultural diversity is severely lacking. I'll also try to share it here with all of you on the blog.
Dover, NJ is located in northwest New Jersey – about 35 miles west of New York City. It is a town that has always been a destination for new immigrants. My paternal grandparents arrived separately in the early 1900’s – my grandmother from Germany and my grandfather from southwest England. Dover was full of immigrants from other places too – Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, eastern Europe, and more which today I can’t quite remember. The town had many brick factories and a bustling downtown full of more brick storefronts. People came in droves from all over the world during the great migration to the USA in the early part of the 20th century and many settled in Dover. Different neighborhoods had different nicknames –including “Little Italy” and “Germantown”.
Growing up in this town, everyone was from somewhere. We often talked amongst our friends to see where their families came from. It made our lives very interesting – there were all kinds of different cultures in our classrooms which made holidays like Christmas and Hannukah especially fun.
As we grew older, many of my parents’ friends began moving their families out of town to suburbs that were being built around the town. They didn’t want their children to go to school in an urban environment. Perhaps they thought they had gotten too good to remain that they had to move on – up and out. As these families moved out, others moved in – immigrants from other places. I had friends from Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other South American countries along with many friends who were grandchildren of the immigrants that had come earlier in the 20th century. My sisters and I just thought this was normal and commonplace. My parents couldn’t understand why their friends were leaving.
As this was happening, the surrounding countryside began sprouting shopping malls replacing the woodlands and farms. The towns around us grew and grew and Dover languished. The storefronts became empty – people became afraid to come to downtown Dover. Why – I’ll never know. I think they were afraid of shopping where everyone wasn’t the same as them. Or they were afraid of the unknown.
It wasn’t until I went off to college that I found out that I grew up in a different kind of town – a town that seemed to celebrate different cultures – now it might be called “ethnic diversity.” For me, it was just plain normal – people from all over the world speaking different languages and having different customs. It made it fun to visit friends’ homes and to see how they lived. I learned that no one particular culture’s way was right or wrong.
Now when I return “home to Dover” I am amazed by the bustling success it has once again become. All the beautiful old brick buildings are full of businesses. Most of them cater to the Spanish speaking population. But there’s also many of the old businesses still doing business the way they did 100 years ago. There’s also been some lovely additions including an antique center, a few thrift stores, and the famous Joe Kubert School for Cartooning. It is so good to see so many families enjoying the turn of the century homes and celebrating life in America.
As we ready ourselves for the upcoming December holidays, I must say I feel thankful for the upbringing I had in a funny little diversely populated town in NJ where I felt loved. I am sure it is where my interest in textiles from all over the world began. When I started studying textiles at university, I naturally wanted to learn more about textiles from different lands. I still retail this interest today and “ethnic fabrics” remain an important design influence in much of my work.
This year, I am going to try to introduce some of the cultural richness I grew up with around Christmas to Julia. Where we live now, although there is so much natural beauty, the cultural diversity is severely lacking. I'll also try to share it here with all of you on the blog.
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