tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52233343351865232142024-03-13T12:25:25.459-06:00I knit. Any questions?JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-28795178280526962612014-12-10T22:45:00.000-07:002014-12-10T23:53:34.923-07:00Did ya miss me?Once again I'm starting a blog post with "my poor neglected blog." But I have an excuse. Several in fact!<br />
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I have a pattern in the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEw14/FEATw14EK.php#PATT" target="_blank">Winter 2014 issue of knitty.com</a>. I did my "research" for this pattern on a Baltic knitting cruise this past summer. This crossed off a big portion of my bucket list, and yes, I know how lucky I am. I'll set up an album with a few of the hundreds of photos I took. <br />
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If you're not familiar with <a href="http://storiesinstitches.net/" target="_blank">Stories in Stitches</a>, you might want to check it out, and not just because my pattern is on the cover of the latest book. It's a knitted mandala and you can read about mandalas and Carl Jung in the essay that accompanies the pattern. Stories in Stitches is a wonderful labor of love by Donna Druchunas and Ava Coleman. There are so many beautiful stories and patterns, and I'm really honored to have been included.<br />
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So what's everyone knitting? I'm finishing grandchildren knitting and I'll post photos here and on Ravelry after the darling girls open their gifts in a few weeks. They probably have cell phones by now and I don't want them peeking.<br />
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Speaking of panic gift knitting, I'm hoping to get a quick but very cute free pattern onto Ravelry in the next day or two. Here's a peek.<br />
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<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-83162759418284464982014-06-05T11:55:00.000-06:002014-06-05T11:55:01.403-06:00Greater Than the Sum of Their PartsThat's how I'd describe my kids.<br />
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My son, for instance, seems to have an unlimited capacity for patience. This is a good trait for the parent of an almost four year old. (Both my kids probably could have used more patience from me but I'm going with the 'no harm, no foul' defense.) He's turned out to be a great parent, as well as an amazing photographer, so apparently I didn't screw him up too badly. He also had the good sense to choose a great woman to have in his life, another thing I can't take any credit for, but benefit from.<br />
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My daughter graduated from college a couple of weekends ago. Her course load was heavy in math, and since her dad and I can barely add two plus two without resorting to a calculator, we are in awe of her brainiac self. Phi beta kappa, graduation with distinction, yada yada yada. Are your eyes rolling? Yes, I've become one of Those Parents, bragging about my kids to anyone who can't run away from me—sales clerks, phlebotomists, people duct taped to a chair.<br />
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But here's the thing with my kids: their genes seem to have been amplified by the square root of the distance to the sun and morphed them into a couple of humans who are light years beyond anything I could have imagined for myself. I claim no credit. It's like winning the kid lottery just because I bought a ticket. I have serious doubts that anything I did contributed much, because at times I felt like I didn't have all that much to contribute. I got lucky on this one, and for that I am greatly relieved and eternally grateful.<br />
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<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-52546877087558595032014-05-05T13:54:00.000-06:002014-05-05T13:54:17.970-06:00Oh honey, you knew it was coming: My advice on Mean Girls design critiques I've never made a secret of my admiration for Ravelry—four million knitters, crocheters, weavers, and dyers, all in the same place sharing camaraderie and patterns, yada yada yada. How lovely.<br />
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But like anything internet-related, Ravelry brings out the snark in some of us. It's impossible to gather four million people into one place and expect everybody to play nice. Not gonna happen and I never presumed it would. I have seven sisters. I know what mob mentality can do.<br />
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There's a troubling aspect to Ravelry, though, that makes me wonder. It's the need to let all four million members know, in no uncertain terms, just how much you hate a designer's project. These people need to go right to the source and leave a comment—in some cases specifically addressed to the designer himself/herself—stating how much they hate the design. Sometime they'll leave a detailed account of exactly what they hate about the design and how the designer could "improve" it. Other times it's simply a "gawd this is hideous" kind of response.<br />
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Seriously. Who died and made you Tim Gunn?<br />
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Opinions are like anuses. Everybody has one. I've seen some designs that set off my gag reflex but I never felt the need to tell the designer. I simply clicked to another page. No super hero effort was involved; I just moved on. As a designer, I can appreciate the fact that not everyone will like everything I put out there. That's cool. I get it. My feelings won't be hurt by a "I appreciate the effort but this isn't for me" kind of comment. It's the mean-spirited stuff I take exception to.<br />
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Don't like a design? Fine. That doesn't obligate you to publicly offer up snarky, negative thoughts about it. This helps no one and makes you look like you've watched Mean Girls one too many times. You might feel all smug and happy, now you've made the world a better place for having led the offending designer to the Promise Land of good taste and stuff <i>you</i> would actually knit or crochet. But all you've actually done is hurt some feeling and provoked the ire of people who really like the design and whose taste you've now de facto insulted. You also might have scared the crap out of a budding designer who is now thinking twice about publishing their designs.<br />
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So here's my advice. The next time you feel the need to vomit in the comment section of a designer's pattern, try this instead: Just. Shut. Up. Trust me, it's not that hard. Text or PM your knitting bestie and get all "OMG, did you see that hideous shawl that XYZ just put on Ravelry?" Trash the design in private if you really, really have to, then pick up your knitting or crochet and create something positive. The sun will rise tomorrow and you'll come across designs that are more to your taste and will make you gush all happy and ecstatic. And at the same time, somebody is going to hit their Disagree button on your comment. To quote Earth, Wind and Fire: that's the way of the world. I just think the world can be a little bit nicer, that's all. Feel free to disagree.<br />
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<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-31534133336467345852014-05-03T11:47:00.000-06:002014-05-03T11:47:22.329-06:00Weekend Comedy: Yep, it's THAT day.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I always say--any day you wake up with a pulse is a good day. Happy birthday to me!<br />
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Have a great weekend, everybody.JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-17699845648973863772014-04-25T13:06:00.000-06:002014-04-25T13:09:01.852-06:00Weekend Comedy: It's the Squirrel Song! And Other Stuff to Get Excited About<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y34NSUbEjY" target="_blank">This</a> completely cracks me up. We should all get this excited about something!<br />
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Speaking of excited, I'm pretty stoked about <a href="https://ruzuku.com/courses/4001/about" target="_blank">the class</a> Donna Druchunas and I have on Ruzuku. If you want to take your lace knitting to another level with lessons, tips, photos, and lots of lace patterns for a great price, check it out.<br />
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Some housekeeping—Someone mentioned in an email to me that they're having an issue leaving comments here. I have no clue why. I'm still nosing around Blogger trying to find an answer. It may be a hint from the Universe that I go ahead and get a real website. But for now, I'll keep trying to figure out what the issue is, and keep you posted.<br />
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Last but not least, here's a sneak peek of the pattern I'm designing for Donna Druchunas' <a href="http://storiesinstitches.net/" target="_blank">Stories in Stitches</a> 4. This is a photo taken with my iPhone, which apparently can't tell the difference between yellow and cream, and orange and pink. But you'll be seeing more of this later on, hopefully with photos taken with a better camera. The yarn is Cascade 128 super wash, by the way.<br />
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<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-45623175032139039232014-04-19T16:51:00.000-06:002014-04-19T16:51:01.639-06:00Weekend Comedy<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/18/llama-dmx-vine_n_5169626.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063" target="_blank">Llamas</a> are funny! Be sure to watch this with the sound on.<br />
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And last but not least, some funny stuff from <a href="http://www.dogshaming.com/?s=knitting" target="_blank">dogshaming</a>.com.<br />
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Have a fun weekend!<br />
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<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-64860707783381842792014-04-17T17:16:00.000-06:002014-04-17T17:16:04.691-06:00Adiós, Gabriel García MárquezI've walked my dog Sophie along this trail many times. We don't usually stop, since there are a gazillion prairie dogs that live on either side of the path. They look cute, but are actually kind of nasty—they can carry diseases such as plague and monkey pox. (Trust me. Don't google that.)<br />
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But today we stopped for a few minutes. We sat on a bench, enjoyed the view, and I sent out a note of gratitude to the universe. Thank you, Gabriel García Márquez, for sharing the gift of your words with the world. RIP.<br />
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<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-15288183773656259922014-04-13T22:02:00.000-06:002014-04-13T22:05:33.824-06:00Excuses, Excuses...I'll just list the highlight (and lowlights) regarding my prolooooonged absence, which may or may not get expounded on in later blogposts.<br />
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<li>Minor knee surgery</li>
<li>Blood clot following above mentioned minor knee surgery</li>
<li>Bad attitude regarding above mentioned blood clot</li>
<li>Bad attitude regarding weight gain from meds for above mentioned blood clot</li>
<li>Work on <a href="http://dreamingofshetland.com/" target="_blank">this extraordinary collection of patterns and essays</a></li>
<li>Shock of realizing DD graduates from college in less than a month</li>
<li>Birth of DH's first grandchild</li>
<li>A problem tooth that has stumped three (soon to be four) dentists</li>
<li>Multiple viewings of Downton Abbey</li>
<li>A new JelliDonut Facebook page (see sidebar)</li>
<li>Reading too many political posts while working on above mentioned Facebook page</li>
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I'm also in the process of adding lots of my patterns to Ravelry and Craftsy, launching a Ruzuku class with Donna Druchunas, and I will be contributing an essay and a pattern to the 4th edition of <a href="http://storiesinstitches.net/" target="_blank">Stories in Stitches</a>, a publication I have been fortunate enough to help with.<br />
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You'll notice some minor changes in my blog, and there will be more to come. Unfortunately, some of the changes require the expertise of people who actually know what they're doing, not to mention a little money, which is good because a little is exactly what I have. <br />
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So please forgive my neglect of you and my blog. And know that while I might have been a slacker, many of you have been in my thoughts. Until the next post, please enjoy this gratuitous photo of my new granddog Mattie.<br />
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<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-15883962976244393722012-07-20T12:49:00.002-06:002012-07-20T12:49:40.918-06:00Do Something You Love TodayIt's hard to find words sometimes. Last night, about half an hour from where I live, 12 people were murdered. More will probably die from their injuries. The only thing they did was go to a movie and now they're gone.<br />
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I was in shock the first few minutes after I heard the news. We've had so many tragedies lately here in Colorado and the numbness hardly wears off before something else happens. It's too much to bear. You have to find a way to stop thinking about it, at least for a little while. But really, it's impossible to forget when the onslaught feels ceaseless and senseless. You don't know what to think anymore.<br />
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But I know one thing for sure. I never want to be one of those people who can just shrug it off and go on about their lives and say, "Meh, why should I feel bad about it? I didn't do it and neither did anyone else I know. Pass me the Cheez Whiz."<br />
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Right now I feel hopeless and helpless and disgusted, but I'll take that over feeling nothing at all. When we stop feeling, we stop being human. Then, we stop trying to find ways to make this kind of thing never happen again. Maybe that's just me pissing in the ocean but it's all I've got.<br />
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I have work piling up, a dog to get to the vet, and carpet that hasn't been vacuumed in so long, stuff is starting to grow in it. But tonight, I'll wind some yarn and cast on something and make a few cocktails, and try not to make sense of any of it while I feel my grief for those families.<br />
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Do something you love today. And send some good thoughts to Colorado. We can use them.<br />
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<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-79941890260762313822012-06-28T13:25:00.001-06:002012-06-28T13:25:33.576-06:00July shortened to 30 days here in ColoradoBy now you've heard the state of Colorado is one gigantic marshmallow roast. You gotta bring your own sticks, though. The High Park Fire--northern Colorado, near Ft. Collins--is about 75% contained, at a cost of $33 million dollars so far. And that's not even counting the property damage. The Flagstaff Fire--Boulder, home of the University of Colorado and <a href="http://www.celestialseasonings.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Celestial Seasonings Tea</a> and <a href="http://www.shuttlesspindlesandskeins.com/" target="_blank">Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins</a>--is about 30% contained and has grown to 300 acres. The Waldo Canyon Fire--Colorado Springs, near the Air Force Academy--is only 5% contained and has grown to over 18,000 acres. I've lost count of the number of homes destroyed, but I think it's about 500 so far, probably more. There are many other fires but I'm running out of pixels and can't list them all here.<div>
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Bad as all this is, it's not the worst part. Oh no. The worst part is the fireworks ban. I am not kidding, y'all. NO FIREWORKS ALLOWED. Not even by professionals. As of today, June 28, in Denver County, <a href="http://www.9news.com/rss/story.aspx?storyid=274645" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">there will be no fireworks displays of any kind allowed this year</a>. Ergo, we are skipping the fourth day of July entirely. One day it will be July 3rd, then the next day we go right to July 5th. Watch the video clip if you need proof. "If there's no fireworks, there's no 4th of July! It's just not faiiiiiiiiiiir! These people are professionals. They can take care of any problems that might come up." You know--just like the Titanic. (Fun fact: The Unsinkable Molly Brown's summer house is a few blocks from where I live.) Skip to about minute one of the video and go right to the part that would make Darwin want to smack somebody.</div>
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Stay safe everybody. </div>
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* <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Charles Darwin. Image taken from the <a href="http://Shimer.edu/">Shimer.edu</a> website</span></div>
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</div>JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-17126334241657805172012-06-21T11:53:00.000-06:002012-06-21T11:53:42.814-06:00Thanks, USOC!I've been into competitive sports for a while now, for various and stupid reasons, not the least of which is I can eat donuts and drink beer and (usually) not gain weight. Whatever. It's the health aspect that's important. You know, the yin to the yang of the beer and donuts. The trouble is, I've sucked like a Hoover at most of them. Now I know why, thanks to the USOC.<br />
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Knitters and crocheters over at <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> have been messing with my sport mojo and it stops now because of the <a href="http://knowledgeproblem.com/2012/06/21/trademark-protection-gone-wrong-u-s-olympic-committee-edition/">hyper-vigilance</a> of a law clerk at the USOC headquarters not a hundred miles from my house. Kismet! I should drive down there today and give them a big, fat wet kiss for being my athletic supporter. But I have a league tennis match tonight, which I will surely win now that my tennis skillz aren't being thwarted by disrespecting commie-pinko-fascist knitters.<br />
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Yes, I realize I'm guilty of having "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">denigrate(ed) the true nature of the Olympic Games," </span>myself but I don't think Ravelry is going to catch on. There's only two million members. It's not like anybody pays attention to it. So thank you, USOC, for saving me from wasting two weeks of my life trying to knit a fair aisle jumper in 23 different colors on size two needles. Although I'm not an *Olym**c-caliber athlete, it's good to know you've got my back.<br />
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*<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The term "Olympic," and any iteration thereof, including any word ending with --ympic, --ympia, --ympiad, and asshat are for the exclusive use of the USOC only. Anyone attempting to use the words, especially people with sharp needles and hooks, will be smote with as much legal bad-assness as the USOC can afford, which is plenty. </span>JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-82335783519884179192012-04-27T11:12:00.000-06:002012-04-27T11:14:49.151-06:00"Can Ikea show you how to make your own dinosaur?"If you don't think Ikea is taking over the world, or at least popular culture, I offer you <a href="http://designtaxi.com/news/352309/If-IKEA-Made-Manuals-For-Items-In-Sci-Fi-Movies/">proof</a>. The science geek in me loves this, but I guess you could say I'm just a little <a href="http://jellidonut.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-am-one-lucky-dog-you-can-be-too.html">biased</a>. The second link is to photos of my studio, which is furnished almost exclusively with Ikea stuff, in case you haven't seen it.<br />
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At any rate, I think they're on to something with their minimal word instruction sheets. If you've put together a piece of Ikea furniture with your spouse, you can cross 'hand-to-hand-combat with a rabid ninja pirate' off your bucket list. All kidding aside, it beats the heck out of reading some badly edited techno-speak manual. A picture really is worth a thousand words.</div>
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So why haven't we embraced the Japanese style of knitting and crochet patterns? Here's a photo of a cardigan pattern I got from one of <a href="http://sheeptoshawl.com/explore-japanese-knitting-sweaters-hands-on-workshop/">Donna Druchuna's Japanese Knitting classes</a>:</div>
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This is the entire pattern. One page. So simple, so elegant. So much less to read, and the decisions about things like how to decrease for the shoulders can be based on your own skills and not the designer's. </div>
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What do you think? Could you learn to embrace something like this? I realize Ikea isn't a Japanese company, but I think you get the picture. PUN INTENDED.<br />
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Have a great weekend!</div>
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</div>JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-89764117613816300552012-04-21T20:46:00.001-06:002012-04-21T20:46:55.169-06:00Pay It Forward<a href="http://pdxknitterati.com/2012/04/20/paying-it-forward-and-other-bloggy-fun/#comments">This</a> is something very cool I came across yesterday. PDXKnitterati is a fan of <a href="http://www.eskimimimakes.com/">Eskimimi Makes</a>, and so am I--her artwork is so whimsical and fun. They're both participating in a "pay it forward" project and since that stuff brings out the mynah-bird-steals-shiny-things in me, I'm doing it too.<br />
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Here's the deal (which I also stole):<br /><br />1. I will send a surprise gift to the first three commenters on this post. The gift will be handmade by me. It will be sent sometime in the next 365 days. It will be a surprise. We all love getting surprises in the mail, right?<br /><br />2. To sign up and receive a gift, you must play along, too. Pay it Forward on your blog, by promising to make a surprise for the first three people who comment on the post.<br /><br />3. You must have a blog (that is updated, as I will blog stalk you to find the right gift for you).<br /><br />4. After commenting here, you must repost this or something similar to your blog in 48 hours. If not, I will chose the next person who commented.<br /><br />Don't give up if you’re not in the top three. Just head on over to the blogs of the comments who got here first and see if you're in <i>their</i> top three. The rule is you have 48 hours after your comment appears to post the Pay It Forward on your own blog, otherwise I have to skip over you and move to the next commenter. And it doesn't matter where you're from. I'm happy to send packages to any place in the world.JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-90893586202589886162012-04-20T15:12:00.001-06:002012-04-20T15:12:04.956-06:00Look ma, no lifelines!I'm on sort of a mini roll here. I completed a knitting project early--a sure sign of the Apocalypse--and I've even put it up on my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/JelliDonut/swallowtail-shawl">Ravlery projects page</a> already. I'd be worried if I were you.<br />
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Feast your eyes on my completed Swallowtail Shawl:<br />
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Look ma, no lifelines!<br />
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Post-blocking</div>
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I'm trying to talk <a href="http://sheeptoshawl.com/">Donna</a> into using this yarn for a super-secret project we're working on. Can't tell you about the project just yet, but the yarn is <a href="http://www.tootsleblanc.com/Yarn.html">Toots LeBlanc merino/angora</a>, and it is <i>delicious</i>! As you knit, it develops this subtle, gorgeous halo. Best of all, it doesn't shed. I know you'll think this is crazy talk, but it's true. I worked on this shawl several times wearing black tee shirts and honestly, there was no excess fuzz. Not cheap, but life is too short to knit with crappy yarn.</div>
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Have a fabulous weekend!</div>
<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-55941042657996319822012-04-16T10:57:00.000-06:002012-04-16T10:57:18.749-06:00I curse you, Fab.com!A while ago a friend turned me on to <a href="http://Fab.com/">Fab.com</a>. The good news? I've bought some really cool stuff at really cool prices. The bad? I've bought some really cool stuff at really cool prices.<br />
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One of my finds was a gorgeous travel case for my iPad. It was marked down from stupid-expensive to just expensive. Yay for me. I needed something with a strap that I could thrown on and have my hands free for boarding flights while arm-wrestling for overhead bin space.<br />
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My favorite purchase, however, has been this:<br />
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It's a footstool knitted with a cotton/nylon rope. I can't remember where I initially saw this about a year ago, but I seriously wanted it. Fab.com had it marked down to a price so low I probably couldn't have made it myself for that money, not to mention the beating my hands would have taken knitting with broomstick size needles and rope. I love this thing.</div>
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Let me know if you want an invitation to Fab.com but don't say I didn't warn you.</div>
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<br /></div>JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-69020891701834325292012-03-27T21:53:00.000-06:002012-03-27T21:53:53.478-06:00Somebody Do a Rain Dance for Colorado, PleaseColorado is making national news again, and not just for our knitted uteri and <a href="http://www.prochoicecolorado.org/news/press/201203061.shtml">misogynistic senator</a> who thinks contraception is "recreational." A prescribed burn got out of hand and now there's an out-of-control wild fire not far from where I used to live, in the foothills west of Denver. When you live in these heavily wooded areas you have to be ready to grab what you can and get the hell out FAST. One of the local news stations is talking about what you should grab in case you live up there and have to evacuate at a moment's notice. So far nobody has mentioned yarn stashes. I guess everybody has different priorities, not to make light of this.<br />
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One thing most people don't think about are the animals--not just horses, and pets like cats and dogs, but also alpacas and llamas. Being a knitter, I'm wishing I had a back yard so I could help out with these stashes on a hoof. Many had to be rescued and taken to the Jefferson County Fair Grounds, not far from where I live now. I'm hoping to go by there tomorrow and see if I can help in some way.<br />
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Speaking of national news, <a href="http://sheeptoshawl.com/">Donna</a> just gave an interview with somebody from ABC news. If I get details about where and when it will air, I'll let you know, but if you follow her on Twitter (@druchunas) you'll probably find out faster.<br />
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We've had an amazing amount of coverage for the Snatchel Campaign. Last week I was interviewed by the congressional reporter for the Durango Herald. Yeah, I know. I'm thinking I should buy a new pair of sunglasses so I won't have to deal with autography seekers. But she was a very nice reporter who managed to get the facts mostly straight, something that doesn't usually happen in my experience, dealing with the media and this issue. This could just be sour grapes on my part. A Washington D.C. paper that interviewed me referred to me as a housewife. You can image how surprised DH was, since I haven't done any housework since 1997. Whatever. No offense meant to people who refer to themselves as housewives. I just don't think I should take credit where it's not due.<br />
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It hasn't been all uteri all the time. I'm working on a shawl that I need to finish before the end of May. Slam dunk for JelliDonut, right? Not so fast. We're talking lots and lots of nupps (rhymes with soups). It's the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swallowtail-shawl">Swallowtail Lace Shawl</a> (Ravelry link). <a href="http://www.keep-on-knitting.com/knitting-nupps.html">Nupps</a> can be a PITA, especially with lace-weight yarns. I did the first pattern repeat of the nupp section and decided that the remaining 10 rows of nupps were going to end up being a living hell if I didn't figure out another way. So, I went to youtube and tried <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSIzYLbasHY&feature=channel">this</a>.<br />
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Here's some photos of the crochet hook method for making nupps. The yarn, by the way is <a href="http://www.tootsleblanc.com/gallery.html">Toots LeBlanc</a>, and I cannot tell you how delicious this yarn is. So order some and thank me later. I bought it at Madronna last year and I'm not sorry either. There's actually a Swallowtail Lace shawl knitted with Toots LeBlanc on their website and it is gorgeous. I chose well.<br />
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This is one five-stitch nupp worked on the crochet hook. I'm getting ready to pull the working yarn through the five stitches, something that is much easier to do with a crochet hook, in my opinion. Don't forget to drop off that part of the stitch on the left needle. </div>
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In this photo, I've moved the nupp onto the right-hand needle. Be aware of how you transfer this stitch, and if it's backwards, you'll need to change the way it's oriented on the wrongside row. When you come to this stitch on the purl side, slip it without working it. Otherwise, you'll end up with an extra stitch row-wise. That's because for a traditional nupp you would work these five stitches together on the following row. In other words, you'd purl the five stitches together. Yes, it's as big a pain in the butt as it sounds, which is why I've decided to use the crochet hook method for the rest of the shawl. The resulting nupp does look slightly different, but not in a bad way. The slipped stitch blends in with the YO's that flank it on both sides. I like the way it turned out but you might want to try a swatch and see which method you prefer.<br />
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<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-12470942081160088442012-03-22T12:36:00.001-06:002012-03-22T12:36:16.456-06:00Mia Culpa, Mia Culpu<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I’d apologize for neglecting my poor blog for so long, but I
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In no chronological order I:</div>
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Knit this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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Watched some tennis:</div>
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Cleaned my studio (no photos because it’s a wreck again)</div>
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Went to a lecture by <a href="http://macky.colorado.edu/2012/01/23/neil-degrasse-tyson-to-speak-at-cu-boulder/">Neil DeGrasse Tyson</a></div>
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Wrote an article for <a href="http://xojane.com/">xojane.com</a>, which may or may not ever
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Knitted a uterus for Senator Michael Bennet:</div>
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Did an interview with a German radio journalist using Skype.</div>
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Became a moderator for the Ravelry group <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/government-free-v-jj">Government Free V-JJ</a>.</div>
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Joined up with Donna Druchunas and Annie Modesitt to create
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How about you? Anybody knitting lady parts? Anybody have
some awesome news on their own blogs that I know nothing about because I’ve
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Back to emailing photos of uteri. I love my
life—it’s never dull.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-14867307005305584602011-11-21T15:59:00.001-07:002011-11-21T16:58:40.526-07:00Careful what you wish for...Gawd! Will she ever shut up?!?! I guess I over did it, but I've been so cranky and anxious for about the last month, Mary Poppins would have punched me in the mouth. I won't bore you with too many of the details, but after enduring an allergy patch test that nearly drove me up the wall--and coming no closer to finding out what IS driving me up a wall--and finally biting the bullet and getting an MRI on my knee, I decided there is no way around not whining in public. I wish I could say I feel better now, but at least I don't feel worse, so hey! At least I have that going for me. Stay classy, Jelli.<br />
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My slender link to sanity has been knitting, of course. I'm posting a few photos here, and I'll give you details later in the week. I've been so <strike>lazy</strike> preoccupied I haven't even posted any of these on Ravelery--I'm an equal opportunity slacker. It's not just my own blog that I've been ignoring.<br />
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Tulips Colorful Cardigan<br />
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Sock Swatch</div>
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Pretty Baby Sweater--a gift<br />
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The buttons cost more than the yarn, but so worth it!</div>
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I started this Traveling Woman Shawl on the way home from our Minnesota road trip. I've actually finished it AND another shawl. Not bad for a slacker.<br />
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Last but not least, a few weeks ago I managed to kill my 20 year old Kitchenaid mixer. Fortunately Costco had this bad boy on sale:<br />
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It was love at first sight!</div>
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More tomorrow. No, really. REALLY! And thanks to those of you who sent me emails, wondering what the hell happened to me. I also promise to catch up on my blog reading. ::sigh::<br />
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<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-43513245368729405672011-09-22T16:48:00.002-06:002011-09-22T16:48:41.934-06:00On the road again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're off to Minnesota to visit Tilly and her parents and to celebrate her daddy's birthday. I'll try to blog from the road but you can follow our adventures on my Twitter feed. Don't miss exciting stuff, like us turning around after half an hour on the road, to get the camera I forgot at home; Ogallalalalala; and our 2nd Starbucks of the day. Did I mention the dog throwing up in the back seat? Awesome! Don't you just love car trips?JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-81525610379236988832011-09-19T15:32:00.000-06:002011-09-19T15:32:11.225-06:00Meme Monday--Getting My Lemming OnI've never been much for memes. I'd rather read about other people than tell you stuff you can hold against me in the future. But I've been challenged by <i><a href="http://tangledupinsticksandstring.blogspot.com/2011/09/monday-meme.html">a certain other blogger</a></i>, and I figure that gives me license to copy and paste her work. Also, we have a lot of things in common, which is even more of a reason. (I highlighted where we answered pretty close to the same.) <a href="http://neveradullmomentforlynn.blogspot.com/2011/09/monday-meme.html">Here's the link</a> to the person who started the meme.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><b>A</b>ge: Recently turned <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">55,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> and I act like a two year old at times, so if you take the average, I'm 28. </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>B</b>ed: Queen sized, and barely big enough for two humans and one eleven pound dog. Guess which one takes up the most room?</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><b>C</b>hore that you hate: Don't really hate any of them, although dusting seems pretty pointless--it just keeps coming back from nowhere.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>D</b>ogs: See "Bed." </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>E</b>ssential to start my day: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Quiet time</span> and coffee. Take either from me at your own risk. And I am not kidding in the slightest. </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>F</b>avorite color: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">I really can't pick a favorite color</span>. That's like picking your favorite child.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>G</b>old or silver: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Gold! White or yellow --- but, gold all the way.</span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>H</b>eight: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">5'4"</span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>I</b>nstruments that you play: Have tried piano, guitar, and violin. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Found I'm best at the MP3 player.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>J</b>ob Title: Assistant, but I really prefer Empress.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>K</b>ids: Two really great ones!</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>L</b>ive: I prefer Tape Delayed because you can cut out the parts where I look really bad and say things I regret.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>M</b>om's name: Rose, which I think is very pretty.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>N</b>icknames: I never had a nickname growing up. Now I have a husband who has about a hundred different ones for me, and no I won't tell you any of them because I will never be allowed to live them down. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>O</b>vernight hospital stays: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Two</span>, see "Kids." I should have left earlier from the first one--my roommate hadn't given birth yet and whined INCESSANTLY. The second one, I had a private room and I have fond memories of the adjustable bed and the half dozen pillows that surrounded me. I'd probably still be there if the coffee had been decent.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>P</b>et Peeves: Bad personal hygiene. We went out for lunch today and the hostess had a runny nose. She kept wiping it ON HER FINGERS then she would hand the waiters the menus and napkins as they seated people. We left. Gross! What are you, three years old? Blow your nose then wash your hands! Did I mention gross?</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Q</b>uote from a movie: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">"I'm not gonna play... by their rules... anymore." ~ Phil Connors (Bill Murray) Groundhog Day</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>R</b>ight or left: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Right</span>. I can't even wave goodbye with my left hand.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>S</b>iblings: Seven sisters. And no, I'm not making this up.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>T</b>ake-Out-Food: <a href="http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/fwi/fwi.aspx">Chipotle</a>, hands down the best fast food take out place EVER. And not just because I like their cheap margaritas. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>U</b>nderwear: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"> Clean is best</span>. Words to live by.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>V</b>eggies: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Love most of them</span>. Even eggplant. </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>W</b>hat makes you run late: Blogging and staying in the shower too long. Sue me. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>X</b>rays: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Yes --- regularly at the dentist and several other times throughout my life. </span></span></span><br /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #391723; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #391723; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Y</b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #391723; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">ummy food: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Pumpkin spice</span> latte from Starbucks--non-fat, hold one pump of the sweetener, light whip, a slice of the gingerbread loaf on the side. NOW please. </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #391723; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a221a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Z</b>oo Animals: Anything but snakes. ANYTHING.</span></span></span><br />
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JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-11107110270657184762011-09-16T18:52:00.000-06:002011-09-16T18:52:36.403-06:00Tell me about it...Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you love it? Have you gathered up all of your wool socks and sweaters, put 'em in a big pile and done a snow dance around it? Are you searching Ravelry for turtleneck patterns? Or do you hate Old Man Winter with a passion and can't stand the thought of summer EVER going away?<div>
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Tell me about it!</div>
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JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-17727478236059906332011-09-15T11:33:00.000-06:002011-09-15T11:33:26.761-06:00Here Kitty, Kitty!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i0UE5U4hOMs/TnI1UpEDl0I/AAAAAAAAAzU/g2ZUyvLDRZc/s1600/funny-cat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i0UE5U4hOMs/TnI1UpEDl0I/AAAAAAAAAzU/g2ZUyvLDRZc/s200/funny-cat1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">*</span></div>
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I keep coming across cat stuff that just will not leave my brain alone. It's like an ear worm, but with felines. One <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes/archive/2008/06/a_cure_for_earw.shtml">cure for an ear worm</a> is to sing the entire song. Here's my cat-on-the-brain solution: pass it on to you! Even if you don't like cats--and I'd keep that fact to myself--you should click on these links.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/missing_years_colo_cat_is_found_IO6bKF0KOQrH44MaLiPhoI#ixzz1Y129MqLY">This cat</a> moved from Colorado to Manhattan for five years--but didn't tell his family.<br />
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<a href="http://k1s1s1.blogspot.com/">GirlAnachronismE</a> sent me <a href="http://www.roflcat.com/I-Iz-Knitting-U-A-Sweater.php">this link</a>. I'm wondering how many lives that kitty used up.<br />
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Last, but not least--<a href="http://turtlegirl76.com/2011/09/15/thursday-special-37/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TurtlegirlsBloggyThing+%28Turtlegirl%27s+Bloggy+Thing%29">obey the kitty</a>!<br />
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And because I occasionally like to toss in something about, oh I don't know, KNITTING, here's an <a href="http://annbuddknits.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-go-lucky-boot-socks-gusset-trick.html">extremely amazing tip</a> for avoiding those holes that seem to appear at the top of your gusset out of nowhere. Sounds like a disease, doesn't it? Anyway, it's slap-your-forehead simple and makes me want to cast on a pair of socks right this minute just to try it out, because I have <strike>ten thousand other things</strike> nothing else to do today.<br />
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* <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Found this photo on Google Images. I think it's from funnyjunkz.com and I couldn't figure out if it's copyrighted or not. </span>JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-68969119557774088902011-09-14T12:47:00.000-06:002011-09-14T12:47:03.579-06:00LOS●ERLOSER<br />
los●er [loo-zer]<br />
<i>noun</i><br />
<i>Slang</i><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">a.</span></b> a misfit, especially someone who has never or seldom been successful at a job, personal relationship, etc.<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">b.</span></b> a person who wakes up their neighbors at 3 a.m. with their loud, obnoxious, illegally mufflered piece of crap automobile<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">c.</span></b> a twenty-something who moved back home with his momma because some woman probably got tired of living with a LOSER<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">d.</span></b> a person stupid enough to deprive a knitter of her sleep, thereby rendering her cranky and dangerous; see CIRCULAR KNITTING NEEDLES<br />
<br />JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-75550165404373643342011-09-12T13:00:00.000-06:002011-09-12T13:00:03.958-06:00Now that I've depressed the crap out of myself...How about something funny?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X7hekR_-rZo/Tm5VskZOhnI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/qWWt-MJgPa4/s1600/youthinkyoucan+knit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X7hekR_-rZo/Tm5VskZOhnI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/qWWt-MJgPa4/s320/youthinkyoucan+knit.gif" width="234" /></a></div>
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I found it <a href="http://charleslifeknitting.blogspot.com/2007/08/knitting-talk.html">here</a>. Anybody else got any funny knitting links they'd like to share? If they're NSFW please indicate. It won't stop me from posting the link but it's good to know. We don't want anybody fired for links to knitted codpieces. Just sayin'...JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223334335186523214.post-24004254751570167572011-09-11T19:30:00.002-06:002011-09-11T19:30:34.377-06:00Eating Le Big Mac on My SoapboxToday is the 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary of 9-11 and I’ve
been debating all day long whether or not to post something about it. While I
do have giveaways on my blog partly for the purpose of upping my readership, I
don’t like pimping, even if you think it’s for a good cause. A couple of days
ago I passed by a church in my neighborhood and the marquee out front was
inviting people to their 9-11 picnic. What the hell do you do at a 9-11 picnic?
Play pin the bomb on the mosque? <i>Picnic</i> and <i>9-11</i> on the same sign doesn't seem right.<br />
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Maybe that church just wanted people to remember those who
died and the families they left behind. Maybe that was the goal of the 9-11
television specials that were on all week, or the 9-11 anniversary pins, key
chains, and coffee mugs you can buy online. But commemorating such a horrendous
episode in our country’s history without talking about how to keep it from
happening again <i>anywhere</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> isn’t enough of a remembrance. If we’re going to print </span><i>In God We Trust</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> on our money we should still be concerned about the
lives of people all over the world without thinking we’re going to look like
commie-pinko-hippie pushovers. Patriotism isn’t being blind, deaf, and dumb to what's happening on the rest of the planet.</span></div>
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Real patriotism asks the hard questions and brings up stuff
we’re not always honest about, just like those forms at your doctor’s office
that ask you how many drinks you have in a week and if you use recreational
drugs. Let’s at least be honest about the fact that our nationalistic intuition
tells us anybody who looks Arabic is born wanting to blow up sky scrapers, and the metric system is downright un-American. These beliefs are wrong and we all know it, but we’re not the only
ones guilty of confusing patriotism with nationalism. A few years ago the city of Paris
supposedly raised over $40 million dollars <a href="http://www.gadling.com/2007/09/08/paris-raises-42-million-to-keep-out-mcdonald-s-and-other-pop-il/">to
keep out corporations like McDonalds</a>. But this wasn't really about corporations, it was about defending what it means to be French. <i>Le Big Mac</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> isn’t going to destroy French culture, but <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6Cuq-BueEs&feature=player_embedded">this
guy</a>? If I were French I would be </span><i>le worried</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, but I wouldn’t blame Americans.</span></div>
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I hope 9-11’s legacy will be more than just airport body
scanners and pat downs. I imagine those who died that day would be sad at the
idea of their surviving families still living in fear. Maybe before another ten years
pass, we can figure out how to coexist while ridding the world of the bad guys who think that destroying one way of life will save another.
I have my doubts, since we can’t even agree on who the bad guys are, but I
haven’t given up on the idea. In the meantime, I go about my daily life and try
to be the kind of person other people don’t want to blow up. It’s not much, and
it won’t keep me safe from life’s random acts of cowardice. But it does keep me
from being that paranoid neighbor who has a year’s worth of dried food in the
basement and thinks the government implanted a homing device in her head when
she had her tonsil taken out. That’s good enough for now.</div>
JelliDonuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062492342058178839noreply@blogger.com3