FiberTribe

Tsunami Story - Two Degrees

If you have a spare farthing after all the wretched and delightful excess spending over the holidays, please consider giving even a few dollars to any one of the charities sending aid to Southeast Asia.  Even $5 will help, especially when you multiply it times all the wonderful knitbloggers we all know. Oxfam is a great charity as is Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders). The Red Cross and others are rallying to help as well.  So what's the story, you ask???

Those of you who've been reading here since last September may remember that I travelled to Bhutan with a friend.  Kathy and I used to work together long ago at a bank far, far, away. She has risen through the ranks and the acquisitions and now commands a very senior position based in Hong Kong. Fairytale flat in the midlevels, the whole expat dream.  I stayed with her in HK briefly on both ends of the Bhutan trip.  To cut to the chase, I remembered that she told me she was staying in Asia this Christmas rather than travel again to the states after coming in September for a conference and again in October for her brother's wedding.

And I remembered that she usually goes to these divine spas located on islands in Indonesia or Thailand. This is dawning on me as the horror of the tsunami aftermath is hitting the BBC and CNN broadcasts.  I email, no response. It's too late to call her office and too late to call her flat and wake her housekeeper.  I finally get through late last night my time, early Tuesday morning her time. Her Indonesian housekeeper answers and I manage to get her to remember me from my visit.  To my relief she tells me that Kathy is in Bali, she's ok (Bali is sheltered from the tsunami), and she's on her way back early.  I heave a sigh of relief.  Then early this morning I miss a call on my cell phone. It was Kathy. She called to let me know she's ok but that one of her staff, a woman, the woman's mother and brother and others of the family were swept away while walking on the beach in Sri Lanka on holiday.  The woman left behind three young children. Kathy is heading back to headquarters to see what they can do to help the family and others so devastated by the death, destruction and deepening chaos.

It's a small world, folks. There but for blind luck and ferverent prayers could have gone most of Florida and the east coast( instead of only major swaths) this year in the pinball wizard of hurricane alley this state became.  So now you are officially at 2 degrees of separation.  I hope you'll help with whatever you can afford to contribute. And I know you'll send love and light, 'cause I just know how you are.

Scarfing It Up

I'm scarfing it up in every sense of the word. All the Christmas edibles are still tempting me from every direction, home, office, even my desk stash drawer. But mostly I'm scarfing it up yarn-wise since I gave the Rosehips (shades of ruby red) Mountain Colors Moguls scarf to Gomez (she does live in Finland, after all). Plus she was whining and kvetching about never having received a knitted gift from me despite the mountains of stash and years of tolerating my knitting commentary. And there's a bit of chill in the air. It was 45 degrees in Miami this morning. Yes. 45 degrees Farenheit. Brrr. With an 18 mph wind blowing, with windchill it was close to freezing. And me without a scarf.  So I've started another Rosehip Moguls scarf (so sue me, I'm a slut for reds) as well as another modified Irish Hiking Scarf for Patrick (he of beneath the seas pictures from June/July blogging). Patrick is temporarily, he hopes, landlocked in Sussex County, NJ whilst looking for his next dive job. He's freezing his jewels off and none too happy about it.  We're going to try a variation on the reverse knitting curse. The reasoning is as follows:

If I don't knit him a scarf, he will continue to be stranded high, dry and freezing in the wilds of Sussex county. If I DO knit him a scarf, he will immediately find a job on another sub-tropical island where he will never have any reason to wear it.  Whaddaya think? Will it work?

The scarf will have at least two cables on it since I'm knitting it in much smaller gauge Mountain Colors aran-weight smooth wool in a lovely variegated blues with a bit of toasty gold-brown in it. (picture & colorway details to be inserted here when I get the camera in gear) It won't match his eyes which are Irish blue sky blue, but it will match his Irish temperament and proclivities. You should have seen the expression of scorn he shot my way when he told me he'd had a wolfhound once and I innocently asked if it was a Russian wolfhound. You see, I really love Borzois and had no idea Irish wolfhounds existed. O, the shame.

And I have it in mind to knit a couple of frilly Eros-type scarves for the Finnlettes before they leave next week.  You see, I've corrupted them already. The Saturday before Christmas I took them to the LYS to pick out yarn and needles for their learn-to-knit lessons from Uncle Caroline.  (think Uncle Tanous from the old, old Danny Thomas show?) When we were on the way there and they asked the inevitable "where are we going and are we there yet" question, I informed them that we were on our way to the yarn store to pet the yarn.  I explained that it was like a petting zoo only without the nasty smell and with a lot more colors.  They totally got it. And I noticed that most of the petting was of brilliantly colored frou-frou scarfs with long fifi fringes. Still a little bit beyond their skills.

So. I scarf therefore I am. For the forseeable future.

Christmas + The Finnlettes

This is Christmas with Finnlettes. That's Eli to the left with her new stuffed snake and Laura to the right with her Three Bears.  To their left is Marlene, my friend Grace's wife.    Dinner ran a little late since the roast pork (lechon) took longer than expected. Then the high Episcopal church service Marlene, Gomez, and the girls went to took waay longer with all the processing, incensing, intoning, responding etc. that even the Catholics dropped way back when. So here we were opening presents at 1 a.m. Some fun even so.

So to you and yours Merry Christmas from Caroline, Gomez and the Finnlettes!

All Quiet

All is quiet here at the office where I've sent all the staff home and am covering the silent phones just in case. Been catching up on the blogs and sending merry, happy comments to all.   Last night was a late night as Gomez prepared two pumpkin pies and the black beans and I prepared the mojo to marinate the lechon (pork loin) for tonight's Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) dinner for 10. I also chopped veggies for appetizers and salad and we discussed the timing of who does what, when so that dinner comes together all at once.  We did it all while scarfing homemade fruit salad laced with peach brandy (yes, bomb the kids so they'll sleep. joking) and drinking Lakka, a Finnish liqueur made from cloudberries. Which, if you've never tried it or them, are these yellow raspberry-ish berries that grow up in Lappland in the bogs. They are absolutely exquisite as is the liqueur. Though the Finns kind of sneer at it, it's actually quite good.

Gomez also wrapped presents and played Santa and we ruminated and harassed each other as best friends will. We estimate that we've known each other for 39 years, since the start of 7th grade. (we both hit 50 this year, how did that happen?) We've got a lot of catching up to do since it's been 2 years since we've seen each other and some things just don't translate to email. In the week before she left her divorce became final, she bought her ex- out of her house and finally became lord of all she surveys. Peace, even bittersweet peace is just the best gift ever.

Well, it's time to blow this popsicle stand, so I'm off to the post office to mail off some gifts for her then home to whip the house into shape for the dinner tonight. Have a wonderful, peaceful and warm Christmas and/or weekend from this Finnish/Spanish/Cuban/Italian/Ukranian mutt household to yours!

Kerfuffle

Isn't that a great word?  I learned it in Toronto where it is used for everything from a minor disagreement to a knock-down, drag out fight. Soooo Canadian to mute it all down to a genteel word, eh? Well, too much doing and not enough being took me to the point of a kerfuffle with myself last night. The grey, oddly still and humid weather this morning didn't help.  I love my friend Gomez dearly and yet she's in motion ceaselessly the entire day in a scattered sort of way that just ruffles my kerfuffle terribly.

No time, no time for that! is her cry... Yes, she's a single mom and a self-employed musician and ESL teacher to boot. And yet, it hits me between the eyes that she could scale back all that she expects to do and do less with more calmness and enjoyment. Everything is half-ass and scattered and last minute.  And this is a vacation for her!  It's a real revelation to discover in her opposite extreme how much I value quiet, still time. It's ok if the kids sit and draw or read. Where is it written that "ye shall entertain and keep thy kids occupied"?  Bullshit.  Her kids love books (oh, yes, she raised them right) and love to draw and make up their own games with whatever is to hand.  I'm seeing how she's so used to frantic running like Alice's rabbit, that she's become uncomfortable with just doing no-thing.   

I think the girls and I will be taking off on our own on Sunday so Gomez can have a day of not much to do. She can practice (her music) if she likes, or read (!) or lounge about in her tshirt all day for all we care. And we will read and walk on the beach and we will knit and maybe we will take a nap. So there.  Sigh.

Precious little knitting done here.  Gearing up for Noche Buena dinner. And do you know what we call midnight mass? Missa de Gallo, literally the Rooster's Mass! How cool is Cuban Spanish? 

Need a Laugh??

Holiday craziness got you tied up in knots knits? Stressed and overwhelmed? Go see the Boy's blog...I defy you to keep a straight face. He calls me up at midnight and tells me to go look and see what he wrote. I'm dyin' ovah heah... mwah. 

Irish Kochoran Hiking Scarf Finito

This is the third time I'm writing this post. What the Fuck is up with Typepad? I'm really getting tired of this. Does anyone have a blog host with a better track record of not burping and losing all one's work? If so please share it.  I just paid for a full year subscription but will be happy to ask for my money back if anyone has a better host.

Ack. Ok. As I was saying, here is Nancy's Irish Kochoran Hiking scarf. Finally done and just in the St. Nick of time but for weaving in the ends and maybe blocking some. But since it's 3 days before Christmas Eve, I think it will go as-is. Here are the specs:

Yarn:          Noro Kochoran, color # 36, wool, silk, angora, 1 skein

Pattern:     Irish Hiking Scarf from Hello Yarn, adapted.

                    Cast on 18 sts. do 1 cable repeat only, knit till yarn is gone!

Measure:   61" x 3-4" (55 cm x 8-10cm), depending on how you stretch/block it

Here's a close up, the yarn is just so incredible:

I started and promptly took off the needles (it's nigh on impossible to frog it) the shades of sky blue Maggi Ireland mohair loops scarf for ex-SIL Sabine. The fabric was just too dense and furry even though I was working on size 13 needles. I think it needs a drop stitch openwork pattern that I don't have and would need to hunt to find.  soooo...I'm not sure what to make her nor what to cast on next. Maybe Eloise? Michelle and I are talking about the Hourglass Sweater from Joelle Halvorsen's Knitted Gifts book. Anyone else out there looking for some stash reducing fun?  Let me know, we might start an Hourglass along. In January. heh.

In Finnish offspring news, the Finnlettes decorated our tree today so we're on the hunt this afternoon for tinsel and an angel to crown it. And some last minute gifts. AND some of the makings for Christmas Eve/Noche Buena dinner. Black beans and rice, lechon, salad, tostones, platanos maduros, yuca, salad and a hamburger for the Boy. Pictures of the Finnlettes to come next. And thanks again for all the kidlet advice. We went to the LYS on Saturday and picked out the yarn and needles and we started the knitting lessons yesterday!  Laura is really catching on quickly and next up will be Eli(na). I think they'll be thrilled to be blogstars. Later, gators...

Free Finnish Kids, Here!

Yes, folks, get 'em while they're still cold...Actually, you can't have them, they are temporarily MINE and I won't give them up for anything. My bestest friend in the world, Gomez, and her two kids, Eli(na) and Laura, ages 9 & 10 landed yesterday and will be with me for the next 3 weeks. Those of you who are parents (or grandparents) help me out here. Listen, we're among friends, you can tell me, do all kids eat this much? And run in and out, in and out endlessly? You can stop snorting your coffee any time now. I'm adjusting, really I am. I gave up saying 'shut the door' after the 50th entry and exit. The only one not dazed chez FiberTribe is Kiley the cat who thinks she's died and gone to cat heaven. Endless laps to lounge in, thighs to be kneaded, fresh suckers doorpeople to let her out and let her in endlessly. Infinite cans of cat food opened, expense be damned. Life is good.

Highlight of Life With Kids yesterday?  Asking them why they were crawling on hands and knees from the front door to the bathroom. Answer? 'Our feet are so dirty mom told us to go wash them.' p.s. they were black up to the ankles. How do they do that within 10 minutes of arrival?  Then there was the mystery of the grapefruit sectioner.  They are convinced I live in a tropical paradise because when they said they were hungry and wanted fruit, I took them outside to pick a pink grapefruit off the tree in the backyard. This is evidently terminally cool if you are 10 years old. So then we had the "How to prepare and eat a grapefruit lesson." They got it. First try.  This was 20 minutes into the visit. All those ideas I had for entertaining them? I figure we will have burned through them by tonight.  I think they need to learn to knit, yes? That ought to take up 10 minutes or so. heh. 

And did I mention laundry?  How the hell can two kids produce an entire basket load of laundry in 2+ hours? Is this normal or am I dealing with special talent here?

All righty, then. This is where you, fearless reader, survivor parent/grandparent of pint-sized humans, get to dispense sage advice to this clueless Auntie Mame-wannabe. I am waaay out of my league, clearly. All ideas/advice cheerfully accepted for entertainments, coping mechanisms, how to fool them into playing peacefully with each other, etc.

Knitting to return as soon as I can gather my scattered wits. I understand this may happen sometime around when the kids hit 21....

Bitchin' Cold

THe WeatherPixie should NOT be wearing a midriff blouse when the temp says 54 degrees, eh. And it is waaay colder than that, actually. It might be 48 degrees. South Florida houses are not very well insulated. In fact, they're not insulated at all. Even the cat was yowling to come in after 5 minutes outside. Yes, I know. In Toronto I would have put on my t-shirt to go outside should it ever have hit 48 degrees (Farenheit) in December. But you do lose your cold tolerance.

Frame of reference on how cold this feels to a Floridian?  The Boy just stomped back inside to retreive his forgotton cell phone. I asked, "Why are you walking funny?" Quote, Because my d*ck is frozen solid. End quote.

Say it with me, How Cold Is It???

Sunday Night and Calmness Descends in the Face of Chaos

Chaos, thy name is my front bedroom to where in less than 48 hours my best friend, Gomez, and her two daughters, Laura and Elina will be descending from out of the skies jetlagged as hell from the flight from Finland.  Yarn is strewn everywhere, their chest of drawers included. Scuba gear hangs in what should be their closet. Shoes and clothing to be donated adorn the wall where the blow up bed should be. Heh.  And there's a KnitNightOut up in Ft.Lauderdale tomorrow night that I most certainly will not be attending. sigh.   

So how is it that calmness blankets Casa Gaudiosi? Um, dunno. I'm just really loving this holiday season against all odds and am refusing to get all het up. It will be what it will be.  I took a break just now from wrapping presents to my formerly secret pals and other knitblogger friends so that they'll reach their destinations well before Christmas.   I also strung a ribbon up on the wall and have taped up the Christmas cards received so far, all white against a white wall hung on silvery ribbon. Sometimes I amaze myself...I'm also no longer promising pics, they'll happen when they happen, so please forgive salute me for keeping to the joy of the season rather than the madness. All who know me will tell you that I'm lousy at letting go of perfection, so who knows where all this zen is coming from or how long it will last. I'm loving it while it's here.  I think Margene is somehow involved, myself. She's good inspiration for most anything...

As to the knitting, the Irish Hiking Kochoran Scarf is now up to 4 ft. long. I think if I knit to the end of the ball it will come to near 7 ft. which is a good length for a narrow scarf. It can be doubled and looped in the Italian style so popular now and still drape nicely. And did I mention that it's only one skein of Kochoran? Even at $20 per skein it's a great gift. While at the LYS yesterday, I fell in love with about 5 other colorways of the same yarn. And at least the same in Noro Iro. Migod, Eisaku Noro is some fierce kind of genius.  I found a pattern in Joelle Halverson's book on knit gifts (forgot the name just now) that calls for Noro Cash Iroha. I purely hate to re-gauge patterns but I'm really taken with the simple raglan hourglass sweater in that book. And no, knitting the smallest size won't work, I already calculated that. Story of my life, eh? So after the holidays, I'll go stash diving and find something as lovely as the Iro that I've totally forgotten I have. and fall in love with it all over again. 

I wish you all the joy of the season and as much calmness as you can find.  And store-bought cookies/ruggelach are OK to take to the kids' Christmas/Channukah parties, ya know?  This is the season of light and joy, remember?  No guilt, mes cheres, only joy! I promise...