Are you Energized?

Energize, to give energy to, to activate or invigorate. That's the definition I found when I looked up the word. I knit and I crochet each and everyday; but I'm not the one that makes the most to donate, nor are my skills the best of those that donate to Bridge and Beyond.

Bridge and Beyond is a grassroots charity I started to aid the local homeless in Central Ohio. Through the help and generosity of many other knitters and crocheters, we've accomplished quite a bit over the last couple of years. My blog, Bridge and Beyond focuses on the need, documents the donations, and reaches out to attract others who can help.

I knit and crochet hats, scarves, mittens, slippers; and I assemble afghans from donated squares. But, I believe my biggest asset is that I Energize, Activate, and Invigorate others. Through my blog, my computer...I Energize others into action, and together through the help of many pairs of busy energized hands we make a difference.

*This is my E post for the Z-A challenge.
**Apologies if this post seems conceited, it's not my intent to sound self important; rather to draw attention to how we knitters and crocheters come together**

Diagonal Buckeye

Geess...totally forgot I had this scarf in the works. Found it when I was moving things around in my office. I see I must have needed the size 10 needles for another project and even removed them. Thankfully, I left a note as to the size I was using on the card with the pattern; but...I didn't leave a note about where I was in the pattern. I may have to take this to my LYS to see if they can tell me where I am. I'm not good at looking at the stitch and seeing what I did last...that's a real problem. I can do that easily with crocheting, but not with knitting.

Dang it, why didn't I leave myself a note! I was making this around Christmas as part of a gift and it just didn't make it. Using Lion Brand Woolease, size 10 needles and am probably 1/4th done?

Any suggestions as to how to tell where I am in the project to keep my increase and decrease going correctly?

Flat Stanley

Do you know me? I'm Flat Stanley here to tell you a little bit about me; you might or might not know. I'm a creation, a character out of a series of books brought to life by Jeff Brown. He first wrote about me in 1964, 47 years ago. I don't look that old though, do I?

Jeff Brown wrote a series of books about Stanley Lambchop. The story briefly told is a bulletin board with pictures fell during the night on Stanley, making him flat; but not dampening his spirit. He made the best of things. He still played with his brother, and went on adventures. Because he was flat he could be a kite and sore; or be slid under a door to play with friends. He in fact could go "everywhere". He could visit people by mail. He could be folded, put in an envelope and mailed around the globe, meet new people and have all kinds of adventures.

Some book titles by Jeff Brown: Flat Stanley, Stanley in Space, Stanley and the Magic Lamp, Invisible Stanley.

In 1995 in London, Ontario Canada his life was altered by Dale Hubert, an English Teacher. He got the idea, kids might enjoy and learn more about writing if they wrote letters about Flat Stanley and his adventures. So, a huge project began. Flat Stanley was mailed off to places around the world and returned to his original destination with letters about his travels. The kids learned alot from Stanley and the project spread through out the world in classrooms with kids of all ages.

Through Flat Stanley, students had writing assignments, learned geography and history. The project expands further when the internet becomes part of children's education. They are webpages, blogs, clubs and more filled with Flat Stanley fun. It's a project suitable for kids of all ages, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. It's a wonderful way for kids to stay engaged and learn during the summer months when they're not in school.

Here's 27 adventures Flat Stanley has to share with you. Though my Friday series of Fun with Flat Stanley is currently on hold; it will again become active, so please keep checking in. In June, Flat Stanley hopes to launch a new series, and a special contest for kids of all ages. Flat Stanley knows there are many ways to learn about math, art, music, history, geography and life. Join him.

Mom's Iris

Though it didn't appear to be a very pretty start to the day, cold-dark-gray; this is what I saw looking out my window. Mom's Purple Iris's lining 3 fence rows. A few had opened yesterday; but apparently during the night and or early this am they burst forth with this magnificent color display. They were gorgeous. I looked out, then up and waved to Mom. I've had these Iris in my yard for a good many years, but the starts all came from her yard. So, everytime they bloom I am reminded of her. I put on a pair of shoes and went out before my first cup of coffee to get these pictures. You can see the dew still on the flowers. They have a lovely soft scent too.
Here's a cluster of them. They generally bloom a good while. Later, when it's less wet out, I'll cut some to bring indoors so I can enjoy them in and out. I've given lots of starts of these to others to enjoy as well. Aren't they beautiful!

*I post for Z-A challenge

Red Lace Finished...whew

Red lace if you wrap once,
but long enough to wrap twice and then hang shorter (my method, dressier I think);
and a close up.

Red Lace finsihed, just in the nick of time, as it's needed for a party for this evening. I don't like deadlines, sorta takes some of the enjoyment away from working on a project. But, if my work schedule hadn't changed, it wouldn't have been a problem.

I'm happy with the way this turned out and hope the person for whom it's for is happy with it too. Next time I do something along this line, I think I may like to try and work it lengthwise for a little different look, though the idea of casting on that many stitches makes me groan. The longer rows also makes it harder if you get interrupted and have to put it down...still though I think I might like to see how that looks.

Have you ever done a drop stitch scarf lengthwise vs widthwise? If so, how many did you cast on and did you like the result?

Much to do today, so this is a shorter than normal post. Happy wkend all.

Jake in Review

This adorably little Toehead is Jake. He's sporting a knitted Ohio State Sweater I made for him several years back. The sleeves needed to be rolled up, my questimation on the rest was pretty good. Didn't have a pattern, used the basic rectangle approach and knitted this on my Bond.
Jake here tromping through the grass with hubby. He loved to pretend he was mowing back in the day. Our plan is when he's old enough to really mow...show him the picture and convince him he still loves it. lol We keep the mower in the shed and we'd get it out and pretend we were mowing when he came to visit.


Warming up after pool time here.
Jake getting his veggies drinking V-8. He loved it, knew where I kept it in the fridge and would point and say 8?
Exploring out in the yard with is binoculars.
I always kept bubbles on hand which he enjoyed on our deck.
Nothing like a wheelbarrow ride through the backyard. I'd take a break in my yard work and he'd climb in.
First summer, before he got all his curls.

This is my Jake in review picture post. He's various ages here. Hope you enjoy!
J post for the Z-A challenge.