Exploring The University of Virginia & Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson, an interesting yet controversial man. Knowledgeable, a man before his time in some regards, forward thinking in some areas, and yet without backbone in other areas. He understood principals of building and invention...things if in use today, we would be warmer when we needed to be and cooler when we needed to be without being hard on the enviornment. He used materials, lay of the land, position of the sun etc. as well as building above or below the ground to accomplish this. Certainly he was a man before his time there. A man who didn't believe in slavery, and yet had slaves that he never freed. Even if you don't accept that he fathered children from his famous slave, Sally...it is proven that he didn't free his slaves. And yet, he thought highly of them, they traveled with him and were his clothes friends. A man of principals, but no backbone perhaps to do what he knew to be right? Financially, also a man of controversy, one hard to respect. He died a pauper, things had to be sold to pay his outstanding debts, and yet he had vast holdings in land, furniture, people (his slaves). He never used his own money and always lived above his means....sounds all too familiar with todays problems, doesn't it? He must have been charming and able to convence people to support him all along the way, while others worked hard and had very little....makes no sense to me. He's primary believe was that man needed to be indepdant and self sustaining..........he wasn't at all. He depending on the work of slaves, he depending on others money. Loved touring the Unv. and highly recommend it.

**Finished the 2nd red scarf pictured in previous post

***Started 3rd red scarf (should be finished with it today), in order to mail those 3 tomorro..picture later

****Made one slipper, need to make the 2nd one AND tuck in threads on pair thats finished

*****Hope to start a scarf for The Special Olympics during the OSU game tomorrow night

******need to work on the pink and purple ghan pictured several posts ago, haven't made progress

Have a good weekend all

Time to Scarf!

One red scarf done, one in the works. Both to be sent to The Red Scarf Project (link on right side of blog). Remember the month of Sept is the ONLY time these scarfs can be sent to The Orphan Foundation of America. The completed scarf was knitted, the one in the works is being crocheted. Look at the close up...I'm really liking the texture. (texture is 2 dc, followed by fpdc, 2dc across...then instead of putting a bpdc in the next row where the pfdc is, I've continued to use fpdc. This is making a nice thick scarf. Hoping to get one more Red one done for this project and get them in mail. Goal to wrap this up this week...fingers crossed.

Then would like to work on some rectangles for HAP, and blue scarfs for The Special Olympics Project...and many other items, but those probably on the top of the list.

Ohio State Football Game yesterday. Yes we beat Ohio University; but we did not play well. Weather was nicer than the previous week in that I didn't feel like I was going to melt from the heat.

Headache, sore throat today...not good, have a very long week ahead at work.

Motto for the week:

Be kind, it makes the world a better place.

Keeping People Warm, sooooooooo many ways!

If you glance back through the last couple of posts, you'll see a bit of a Military Theme. Adding to that, another box going out today. Though this one is heading to Lil Troopers for the wee ones of our men and women in The Army (Previous one was Marine Corp Kids).

Items to warm seniors in the post before this one, as well as those with Cancer; and now...adding Pine Ridge. So many needs, to much yarn; but never enough time

Next up...hum

Still in the works is the Candy Corn Ghan

The Pink and Purple stripped ghan (maybe a baby blanket, or perhaps a ladies lapghan)

Though those items are started, believe I need to switch gears...it's time to reav up for The Red Scarf Project. Remember Sept 1 is when we can start sending in those scarfs to benefit foster care kids in college who need some encouragement. And rectangles for HAP...few other places in need of squares as well.

Can someone clue me into a hat project? Also, can someone tell me how to place the little graph thing here on blogger showing the percentage on a WIP?

Also, question...who's made the Guidepost sweater? Knitted or crocheted version? Do all those sweaters go abroad? I was unclear reading their website whether any of our own kids here in the US get the benefit of them?

Mr. Mailman.......PLEASE

Things are piling up.....where's my mail carrier? Donde'? Silly me, I need to get up away from the computer and go to the post office. What's in need of being mailed, you might be wondering.
Squares:
6 red 8 inchers to be used in a joint effort to make lapghans. Goal 100 lapghans for senior citizens at a nursing home through Stitches of Love, check in with Sissie, if you'd like to lend her a hand.
Scarfs, 3 of them (all knitted), for ladies with cancer through Scarfs from the Heart




And to more pair of baby booties I got done before sealing the box for Marine Corp Kids (see previous post).
Once these were all addressed, I turned my attentions to the pink and blue baby blanket (picture in previous post), and while watching the closing ceremonies last night got it done. Picture later....gotta get to the post office remember. Then once I photograph I need to decide where to send it. Got another pair of booties started last night, but just barely.

Weather is much nicer here today than it's been for several days, not nearly so hot AND we got rain last night!!! YIPPEE. We really needed it.

**updated my mileage knitted and crocheted
****updated my counter towards my charity goal
*****Since my last post, I've only managed to get above 10,000 steps once while wearing my pedometer....wish I could figure out how to walk and knit or crochet at the same time?

Projects I'm focusing on:
Some baby items to mail with the pink and blue blanket
Some Squares for Pine Ridge
Finishing Candy Corn Ghan....started long ago
Finishing the pink and purple ghan picture in previous post
Rectangles for HAP

M = Military

Been busy knitting and crocheting and thus far here's what I have ready for Marine Corp Kids:
This blue, green and yellow baby ghan is just under 40 inches square, crocheted with V-stitch and sc from knitted worsted weight yarn. The yarn is called The REal Worsted Yarn. I've never used it before; but really like the feel of it. Softer than Red Heart, but much more durable to work with than Caron Super Soft which I find splits very easily.

AND






Booties, slippers, and a little hat. Most of the booties and slippers are knitted, the mutli colored booties are crocheted. A little size variation; but basically newborn size.

In the works, this blue and pink knitted baby blanket which will be a bit larger than the blue and green one. This is about 8/10th complete. My hope is to finish it in the next day or so and then be able to ship out this donation.



PROJECTS IN THE WORKS:
Candy Corn Ghan 1/5th done for Victory Gang?
Squares and slippers for Pine Ridge Reservation
Pink and Purple Baby for...whom, not sure which charity yet.



**updated my mileage
***updated my numbers and items for donation
****managed to wear my pedometer 4 days last wk and walked the following:
Monday 12,023 steps
Tues 11,943
Wed 11,418
Thurs 10,736

today forgot to put it on, probably would be less though am heading outside to do some yard work. So that counts as exercise...right? My new pedometer doesn't convert steps to miles but some where here on line I found a scale...basically 10,000 steps equals 5 miles.

Anyone know what happened to Joansie, Knitting by thje Ocean?? Her link no longer takes you to her blog. You get a message you must be invited. It says to email her for an invite...however, there is no email ady to so. I do hope she's ok.

My Octogenarian--My Mom

Webster's list the word octogenarian as a noun, a word from the latin word octogenarius which means containing eighty. My mother, is far more than that simple definition.

I finished the yellow shawl. Knitted with double strand Caron Wintuk. Using double strand made a nice cushy feel to it, plus I think it will help to hold it's shape better than many lighter weight yarns. A silver claps holds it on her shoulders. The picture of her unwraping it is from her special 80th birthday surprise luncheon.




My 2 brothers, their spouses, and my oldest nephew went together and got her a ruby ring. She was quite surprised. It matches the ruby bracelet we got her for her 70th quite nicely.



My younger nephews and their wives blew up and framed a picture of Mom and Dad taken at last years 60th Wedding Anniversary Party, everyone signed the matted area. This made a nice gift.

Everyone had a good time and mom was truly touched by the families love.

Been super busy with work, and working in the yard (man things have gotten overgrown). Even the muscles in my hands are sore.

Projects:
80% done on blue and green crocheted baby blanket
60% done on knitted blue and ? maybe pink baby blanket
301% done on crocheted candy corn ghan

Heading out of town again tomorrow. This trip will be the family vacation with both hubby and daughter! We're going to Williamsburg. Driving, so there will be no flight troubles this time. Taking yarn to work on squares for several groups, yarn for scarfs for people with cancer, maybe some odd squares to stitch together for hats or ???

Adding one final picture of our traditional cake my sister-in-law always makes when we're all together for the family 4th of July cook out.