Sunday, August 27, 2006

Secret Pals - above and beyond

I got a cute card from my secret pal this week. Even though SP8 is almost over and she has revealed her identity, she continues to stay in touch and I think that is the sign of a really super Pal. Thanks Karen - you've been terrific and I hope we stay in touch as time goes by. See Karen's blog at http://jazzyfaz.tblog.com/.

I've also really enjoyed spoiling Kim my SP. See Kim's blog at http://www.knithole.blogspot.com/. We keep up an email correspondence and I plan to continue that.

I have to say that participating in SP8 was a really interesting experience. I was introduced to two very unique, creative and fun women. Both are younger than me. Both have very different tastes than I do - yet I have learned lots and found great ideas through their blogs. They live on opposite coasts and have very different lives from each other and me. It's been terrific. Thanks to you both.

Socks can be hard to fit...

Click on the sock to see it up close

So - I have finished one of my socks. This is for my sister who has a longer and narrower foot than I do. The sock is definitely longer, but narrower - no. It is hard to get sock fit just right when a person lives a thousand miles away. So - I'm using my son's foot which is the same size and narrow. I'm going to have him try on the sock and then I think I may wash it to get it to shrink down. It is only not narrow enough near the top of the foot. I know this because it is too big for my foot near the top. I'm not sure I see the point in knitting another one until I get the fit on the first one right. My son is out playing golf and so I'll have to wait until late today before I can get the fit. I'm so impatient. I'd really like to see if it fits now. (Do you think he would mind if I showed up at the 5th tee and said, "hey - try this on for size" - ha! - talk about embarassing your teenage son!) I try to keep the "process vs. product" thought in my mind at times like this. Enjoy the process and worry less about the product -otherwise it is for naught (and it will drive you crazy!). Send positive knitting thoughts my way.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

The Great Northern Diver


Well - here I am at the top of East Rattlesnake mountain in New Hampshire. You can see Squam Lake in the background. This is my most favorite place in the whole world, and once again I cried this past Sunday as I stood on the Greenwood Lodge dock to say good-bye to the lake for another year. And as I was standing there, wondering how I would make it - not seeing the sights, smelling the smells or hearing the sounds - I saw two loons in Bennett Cove trying desperately to take off. Loons are large birds, very large, and they have the most beautiful haunting calls. Every year they must find a way to launch themselves, however awkwardly into the air, to migrate south for the winter. I think these two loons were practicing. It's not yet time for them to leave. It takes them a VERY long time to take off. It's hard grueling work. They stumble and run across the top of the water for several hundred yards, all the while crying out. They work so hard for that one (of two) important take-offs they make each year -for heading south and returning north. Their landings, I hear, are equally ungraceful - a big ker-splash into the water - more like a crash. They are meant to be swimming in the water, not flying in the air. Well the comparisons to my leaving the lake were enormous. It was if the birds were saying to me, "we know it's hard to leave - but if we can do it, so can you." They made it easier for me to walk off that dock.


I often feel like a loon - (o.k. I can hear you laughing out there) - awkward on my take off and even more so on my landings. I can only hope my song while I'm on the lake, though, can be half as beautiful as theirs. Thank you Lord for the Great Northern Diver.