'California, here I come...'

Californian bee in California Poppy at The Getty, LA, May 2007

Al Jolson sang it in the '20s and I'm singing it now. Why? Because tomorrow I leave for sunny California to visit my favourite sister. A few days and a birthday celebration or two in LA, then we jump in the car for our road trip adventure through the Arizona desert. Not quite the Thelma and Louise trip we originally planned, more like Thelma, Louise and Dad's road trip to the Grand Canyon. Yep, a trip with Dad and his two girls. We're gonna love it.

Probably won't be posting while I'm away. But I bet she will.

Have a nice day, y'all.

Bushfire quilt

In the first weeks of shock and helplessness after the Victorian bushfires in February, many bloggers and crafters offered time, money, skills, compassion, knitting, sewing, driving, collecting and love to those who had been affected. One such person was Anne over at pinsandthimbles. She offered to auction off her talent, fabric and time to make a quilt and donate the proceeds to the Red Cross. Yay, I won. And here is the delightful quilt made from beautiful vintage sheets in colours and size of my choice.

It's for ma minette to cuddle into when she comes to visit. I think she'll love it. I do. Thanks, Anne.

The postman cometh

Some time last year I met a few knitters for the first time at a lunch in Canberra organised by Jejune, as PomPom was in town and, well, what better excuse for a knitting lunch. We had a few laughs, all of us, we knitted at the table in the restaurant, we had someone take a group photograph. I wasn't sure that I'd get to meet PomPom again, but through the wonders of blogland and Ravelry, I could add her to my list of knitters whose work I admire and continue to read about.

Lo and behold, a Ravelry swap had us 'twinned'. I was putting together a parcel of goodies for PomPom at the same time as she was for me, unbeknown to each of us. Until the postie came and all was revealed...

Lovely sock yarn (purple and bush colours),

fabric with little balls of yarn - perfect for a project bag,

Koolaid (yay, my first - purple of course), a knitterly card by Jejune (just like the one I sent PomPom!), and...a beautiful purple hat, knitted for me by my swap partner. Thank you, PomPom! Sets off my greying locks nicely, don't you think?

Is it too warm in Arizona at this time of year to wear woolly hats?

Earth Hour 2009

Just an update

I blogged a few days ago about some work in progress. Here's an update.

Compared with some other fabulously productive Canberra-and-district knitters, my offerings to the Blankets of Friendship thus far are fairly meagre. But it is in lovely Bendi machine washable wool. And every square counts, right? At any rate, it's an ongoing project and the knitting of squares does not stop here.

The knitting of squares has, however, been interrupted recently by the need to complete a swap article. This is for a Ravelry favourite colours swap, and I really hope my secret swap partner not only likes it but uses it for its intended purpose. It's knit in SWTC bamboo which is lovely and soft in the ball, but surprisingly harsh knitted up in this stitch. Still, it's a market bag, after all, meant for a bit of rough handling, no? I do like the look of it, and may yet knit another, and another.

So what's next on the needles? Well, there is a certain item for a certain person that cannot yet be disclosed (no, sister, it's not for you). Let's just say that it's looooong and vibrant.

And there is some serious thought being given to the ideal project to take on a road trip around Arizona in two weeks. Should it be a small, easily portable item? Maybe some socks for a certain nagging person? (what's that , sister? you think it might just be you this time?) Yes, maybe that's a good idea. Ahh, which sock yarn to choose... Don't you just love these sorts of decisions?

Luckily...

Just one more, firstly because it makes me laugh, and secondly, because I really did find me on the net.

Luckily, Nettie had gotten there a few minutes before me.

Luckily Nettie was on duty…

Luckily, Nettie is always ready to welcome them into her Mistletoe Manor for some rest and relaxation.

Luckily Nettie also gave me some DVD's to watch and you know how well knitting and Pride and Prejudice go together (the Colin Firth version, of course). (hey, that really is me!!)

Luckily nettie had spare shoes!!

Luckily, Nettie had her super-high-tech GPS-radar-laser-force-field-wrist-band to tell us how far we were going.

Luckily Nettie helped me pack, she's very clothing conscious.

Luckily, Nettie had kept back a container of lemon bars 'cause when the Feds came, they sure did need some sweetening.

Unfortunately...

Others are doing it. I thought I would too. Just use the Great G search engine to do it for your name too. It's pretty funny.

Unfortunately, Nettie’s story is not a unique one.

Unfortunately, Nettie fails to mention that Jaunty's Deadside incarnation is that of a snake with a skull for a head donning a tophat ...

Unfortunately, Nettie was sold when my trainer thought I should move to a medium pony.

Unfortunately, Nettie as a narrator does not allow the voices of these women to speak through her.

Unfortunately, Nettie soon discovered the joy of men and left the young stable hand for a life of frivolity and debauchery.

Unfortunately Nettie did not realise the necessity of keeping this stunning news a secret.