It's a family thing

When my Mum used to travel, she always brought me home a souvenir teatowel. Yes, I've had some beauties in my time - Ayers Rock (that's what it was called in those days), some dolphins somewhere, lots of Australian wildflowers. I use to think it was all a bit daggy.

Mum returned from one trip with no teatowel! Where was my souvenir teatowel? She knew that I thought it was daggy (well, yes, but I still wanted one). She did actually bring me some lovely teatowels, and after she died, I found some that that she had kept, pristine, maybe to give to me one day?

These days, my girls have taken up the baton and they bring me teatowels from their wanderings around Europe, and gorgeous almost-too-lovely-to-use teatowels from the States, where they call them dishtowels. Now the Four Sisters play. We all love it.

So when my favourite sister undertook to find me an Obama dishtowel (I am, of course, in love with the man), she had something delightful up her sleeve. Look at the masterpiece she made me for my birthday. (Photograph shamelessly stolen from Hashi's blog.)

He is, isn't he?

Hip to be square

I can't begin to express the helplessness I have been feeling for the past week. I have my life, my home, my loved ones. Many Victorians do not.

There are lots of things I can do to help: donate $$ to the Red Cross, RSPCA or Wildlife Victoria; give blood; make lovely things to donate or raffle or auction; buy raffle tickets. Lots and lots of things - there are lists of ways to help all over Australian blogland.

Most people prefer to give help quietly, discreetly, privately. As well as their own private ways of supporting the fire survivors, many Canberra knitters are knitting squares.

Through the wonders of Ravelry, Canberra knitters are getting together, literally and virtually, by fetching and delivering yarn donated by the good people of Canberra, and by knitting and seaming squares to make 'blankets of friendship'. Interested? Go here.

Meet Gail

This Long Lacy Summer project has not been my favourite knitting. My preference for cooking is a step-by-step, written list of ingredients and a well-explained method. Translating this to knitting, I like my patterns to have every stitch clearly explained. I didn't quite get this with Gail. This is no criticism of the designer, but more a comment on my naivete with lace. Ravelry provides the evidence that many, more-experienced knitters have breezed through this pattern.

The result though, is a pretty and tiny shawl, which will probably be more suitable as a scarf. That is, if this summer ever ends.

Specs: knitted using 3 ply wool, hand-dyed and gifted to me in a Ravelry swap by Sarah on 4.5mm Knitpicks interchangeables.

Road trip

I'm planning a trip to the desert.

Which desert? This desert...

Woo hoo!