Paying it forward

Santa came early to my house, look what he brought! Well, actually I had to go out and get it, Santa didn't know how to get a loom down the chimney. It's a very old Macomber, the previous owner thinks 1940's. Everything is in pretty good shape, just in need of a little cleaning and love. Oh yes and tie ups for the treadles. I haven't figured out what the original system was or what I'm going to do. Research is ongoing. It's amazing (or not) how few people take photos of their treadles and tie-ups.

Any help out there would be appreciated.

Paying It Forward

I was lucky enough to be commentor one on Gurnseygal's blog. So here is my pledge:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

So have at it folks.

Much Thankfullness

Yes! The Mediterranean Lace Shawl is done. I started it at the end of May '06, but didn't touch it for about 6 months solid after Paul died. I picked it up again and it went like gangbusters for a month or two then I hit the border. When the number of stitches in a row numbers over 1,000, things just don't go fast. Add to that the ripping back of all those wrong leaning decreases, and I'm pretty amazed at my speed.

I blocked on Thanksgiving Day while watching my first Packer game this season. It's such a joy to see them playing this well! And Sophie picked up a new phrase. All Thursday night she kept yelling "go! go! go!" I tried to get it on tape, but as soon as I pull out the recorder, she shuts up.

My other FO is Peacock Plumes from Elann.com. I made this for my Singers of Summerville performances. It turned out very nice. I made both the body and sleeves a bit longer. I wanted more of a jacket length. I added one extra pattern repeat on the body and I can't remember how much on the sleeves. If there's one thing I dislike, it's too sleeves that are too short. The pattern says to just make the cuffs deeper to adjust sleeve length, but I was adding a couple inches so that would have looked a little ridiculous. I think I added two pattern repeats and the sleeves are just a tad long, but look great when I'm holding my music up. Definitely a success.

So after watching the game and blocking the shawl, it was time for Thanksgiving dinner. I didn't really want to go to friends and get into a big family type thing this year, I think it'll be a few years before I stop associating Thanksgiving with Paul's death, so I bought a nice roasting chicken and experimented with twice baked potatos. For me, this was a major cooking experience. It all came out very nice. I set the table with my nice blue dishes, lit a candle, put on some nice music and enjoyed my meal.

And Sophie got a plate too. I find it vaguely cannibalistic, but she loves chicken...and corn.

The girls got some chicken too. Hmm, considering I call them the Hairy Chickens, maybe that was cannibalistic too. Oh well, they gulped it down in a flash then ran back into their house. Lately they've been hiding in the house or under the swing a lot. They keep rushing over when I come out, looking for protection from the horror that has invaded the yard.

I believe they're called leaves.

In Honor of a Veteran

One thing that has always bothered me about patriotic holidays, we seem to forget that there are many who have served who did not see combat. They may not have died for their country, but they still dedicated their lives to it.

Paul served over 19 years in the Air Force. He would have done more, but his body gave up on him, at the age of 41 he had a disabling stroke. Over the next 10 years he worked with the local Disabled American Veterans chapter. He went to the Veterans hospital and gave out cookies and soda to the patients - and being Paul he also gave out a lot of bad jokes and smiles. For several years we went to a local cemetery with the Boy Scouts and helped decorate the graves on Memorial Day. And he always made a point of being present for any ceremonies for the fallen.

One of the last things he did was ride on his DAV chapter's float in the Veterans Day parade last year. When he got home he told me he felt he didn't have the right to be up there with men who had served in WWII, Korea, VietNam and the Gulf. It hurt me to hear him belittle his life so.

So on Veteran's Day and every day:
Not every Vet has served in combat,
but every one is a Hero.

In Honor of Paul G. Sholette 1955-2006

Thank You.