WHY ARE THESE WOMEN SMILING?

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY

GOOD LOOKIN' BUNCH

HAIL, HAIL, THE GANG'S ALL............

KNITTER'S REVIEW RETREAT 2008
WILLIAMS INN, WILLIAMSTOWN, MA

SMOKE RINGS

WIMPLES, SMOKE RINGS, COWLS?
I haven't the foggiest, but I had such a good time knitting these two. I used the same yarn in different colors for both and it is the most glorious yarn for these patterns. Just the thing you want to swaddle around your neck and face. It's Handmaiden Fine Yarn Swiss Mountain Cashmere and Silk. I prefer the semi solids in these yarns and these patterns make the most of the suble shade differences. The pink is in the colorway Rose and the blue is the colorway Topaz. The blue has already found a home and the pink will be stashed away with other FO's for just the right recipient. If you're interested, the blue pattern is a freebie and can be downloaded from here. The Pink is a purchased pattern and was a breeze to memorize and you can find it here .
Now I remember why I have kept this dumb vase all these years. Kind of creepy, but it works.

The Secret of the One-Skein Shawl

This summer has had lots of dramatic episodes, some welcome, some definitely not welcome. My knitting has been constant but my concentration has been less than adequate. What to do? I put all of my beautiful complicated lace in progress away. I went to Knitter's Review and made a copy of Clara's One-Skein Shawl pattern. I pulled out single skeins of yarn that I adore. Some I combined, some I used solo. Some I knit exactly as the pattern read, some I added twists, ribs and holes. For some, I had a specific person in mind, others I just knit without knowing who will wear it.
This has been one of the most delightful knitting interludes. Here are my little "glories". Oh, you will see one ringer among them. See if you can spot the impostor.

OUR VERY DEMOCRACY

A statewide story which looms large in our house.

BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOPIC

I lost my emotional footing once during the past week, described in the above post. I was able to attribute it directly to a complete lack of knitting that day. I'm perfectly serious. Now that I no longer smoke and try not to use food as a panacea, I truly need my knitting.
Although I have no photos to prove it, I have actually accomplished not a little knitting in the past two months. I also had the opportunity to venture outside my knitting comfort zone while attending Knitter's Connection in Columbus, Ohio last month. More about that later.

I have also started teaching knitting to young and old alike. My new volunteer career has offered me lots of opportunity to share my love of knitting. My students range in age from 7 to 67 and from English speaking to Spanish speaking. I do believe my students have taught me more that I have taught them. The women and children I have the privilege to know in this setting, are brave, resilient, determined, funny, talented, smart, beautiful, and strong. I am officially Miss Rosi when I'm there. That took some getting used to, but I've grown to love the sounds of the voices, no matter what they call me.

Next time: my adventures in Columbus and list of finished projects

THE PARTY'S OVER

After all of the hoopdidoo, time and effort I spent on the "other blog", I was not able to attend my 40th class reunion after all. My family suffered the tragic loss of a young family member and I spent last week far from home, mourning with the rest of my extended family.

SHE DID IT!!!!!

Some time ago, I wrote about my courageous sister and her 50th birthday. Well, she did it! I am so proud of her I don't really have words. My youngest daughter met up with the group in Columbus, Ohio and finished the last leg into Washington, D.C. to the Lincoln Memorial and finally to dip those front tires into the Atlantic at Bethany Beach, Delaware. The following pictures will tell the story.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN? TOO LONG!

I realize that all 6 readers of this blog have come to the conclusion that I have abandoned Knotasissy. Let's just say I took a sabbatical. Why a sabbatical? Because I took a vacation from one writing project to work on another more pressing. It had not a thing to do with knitting, and my personal knitting has suffered. That explanation for another post.
You see, I have been cheating with another blog. My (gasp) 40th High School Reunion is this summer. Shhhhhhh, I graduated when I was 5. The crazy thing about this blogging venture is that I was never a school spirit kind of girl and I never had a desire to go to any of the other reunions. Of course, until now, they could never locate me. The net has changed all of that. So, you might well ask how did I come to be the one to create, curate, administer, and author this communal blog. Either my classmates are the biggest bunch of con artists (a distinct possiblility) or none of them has any clue about setting up an "idiot" blog on blogger. Now, I ask you, which is the more plausible answer?
I hereby resolve to stop this foolishness and start paying attention to my first and most beloved blog. However, I have learned that I am something of a hussy and I will continue "enabling" my elderly classmates of yore. She's not nearly as lovely as Knotasissy, but there is certainly more pathos and not a little "spunk". I hate "spunk"! (Mr. Grant on MTM Show)
Did you think I was going to give you the link after that build up? Maybe I did.

Pretty grown up for 5, don't ya think?

Rosi,
who's leaving for Knitter's Connection tomorrow, so look me up if you're gonna be there

TIME

Living in the heart of PA Dutch country, lots of silly half German words and nonsensical sayings written on tourist kitsch, creep into your every day vocabulary. Lately I keep thinking of the cartoon depicting a farm wife with a very large backside saying "The hurrier I go, the behinder I get". When I first moved here 30 plus years ago, I didn't get the joke either. First I was too young, second I didn't know about the curious "Deutsche/English" grammar that life long residents sneak into everyday conversation.
There are days when time seems to hang luxuriously all around you and the possibilities of completing tasks, small and large are a pleasure. But
thereareothertimeswhentimeseemstoracefasterandfasterandeventhoughyoutrytokeepup, (sigh) y o u s e e m t o g o s l o w e r a n d s l o w e r .

It's good to be busy, but I dislike it when I'm busy and out of sync. My mother always blamed these anomalies on the changes of season. I think she may be right.
Tonight I start my 40 hour training to work with Domestic Violence Services. It is something I did long ago when my children were babies and I always said I wanted to volunteer again when I had more time. Since time seems to be racing past me these days, I'd better not wait for "time".
So tonight, I start a new adventure in hopes that I can at least serve as a warm body, so that others with experience can do the very important work that happens every day in every town in this country. Would that it were not so.
Oh, and I am hoping to start a knitting class for the clients! Great way to reduce the stash, dontcha think?

A NOOK OF ONE'S OWN

Virginia Woolf may have wished for an entire room of her own, but I've decided that even though that is my desire, I don't want to wait any longer. Our home consists of 6 down and five up and a fully finished third story. The basement is out of the question......did I say it's a realllly old house? You have to have an exoskeleton and have six to eight legs to live in our basement. I know I've whined about this before, so I'm not going explain why none of this space is available for my exclusive use. Instead I'm going to post pictures of my newly cobbled nook which measures a little less than 3 feet square. Most of my stash is in plastic tubs in the attic, stacked 5 deep so it takes up a very small space. I had to get rid of some clothing so that I can I have the luxury of having close access to my immediate stash in the armoire right next to my nook. Do I have to count that as part of my nook? I think not; I just recycled a space that was already mine to use, before anyone else could claim it.
This stash business is tricky when you have other family members with far more "serious" collections and avocations (god forbid I should use the word hobby for what they do in their leirious time (combination of leisure and serious). ba dum bum!

Who, What, Where

I don't think I'm alone when I say that with the advent of Ravelry, I'm finding that I'm ignoring my blog. It's not that Ravelry and Knotasissy are so similar. T'hey both chronicle my knitting, but Knotasissy is much more personal and Ravelry takes less emotional energy when I'm feeling like shutting the world away. I have to be careful to resist my temptation to hibernate completely at this time of year. To that end, I'm going to bore all who stumbles in here.
FAIR WARNING!!!

First and most exciting is the news from my sister and my youngest daughter that they will be participating in Ride for World Health . My Sis will be riding the entire cross country route. My daughter will ride the final leg from Ohio to Washington, DC. I'm so proud of them both, I could pop. This year's ride will benefit Medecins Sans Frontieres Imagine that! As we know this is a charity near and dear to the hearts of many knitters. Quel Coincidence! By the way my sister is on the far left in the bottom row of cyclists.
This is a gift she's giving herself for a very big birthday. She is one of the most focused and determined people I know. She is my baby sister and I am constantly in awe of her achievements and contributions to the greater good. This is a woman who, while working as an RN on weekends, raising 3 children, caring for a home and husband, commuted 200 mile each way to midwifery school during the week. She is now a practicing midwife with a very successful practice. But hey, she's conquered that and her two sons have graduated university and are on their own. Her daughter is about to graduate High School and her life just needed a new challange. So while she is still a midwife and a community activist, social change is slow and she needed something else. Hmmmmm, how about riding a bicycle cross country for world hunger? See what I mean? I'm tired just writing about her. I'm sure I've forgotten something, but I wouldn't want anyone to think she was toooooo good.

Ok, from the sublime to the "ordinaire". What do I do when I hibernate? Knit, of course! I also remove layers of accumulated "stuff". In this big old rambling house, I had yet to find a spot for myself. I finally carved out a corner, and I do mean a corner, of our bedroom in front of the fireplace. I would say it's about 3x3 with a small cabinet and end table with a chair wedged in between. I have an ott floor lamp behind me. I haven't taken a picture yet because I must find a different chair as the one I'm using is literally falling to kindling. The result of this little change is that my knitting productivity has risen considerably. In the last two months, I've started and finished most of what is on this page.

I've decided that I'm going to the Knitters Connection again this year. Last year was the first year and I had a great time. This year, the classes are too good to pass up and best of all it means I'll be away for my birthday. Birthdays have never been all that successful for me. There was the year James surprised me with a trip to the laundromat while I was pregnant with our first daughter. We lived in a three story walk-up, so I suppose it was a treat of sorts.....but you see what I mean. This year I'm flying and I'm not renting a car. I am hoping to meet some KR people who will be there, especially the now "World Famous Clara Parkes", the Queen Bee herself. I'm just so totally looking forward to seeing her. (wink, wink)

THEY'RE POPPING OUT EVERYWHERE

Seems babies are popping up all over in my daughters' lives, as well as my husband's office. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to knit baby hats. No pattern neccessary, just wing it: On the left is a simple meandering cable which looked far too plain for a little girl named BLUE. A little felted flower added just the right girly touch. The Irish cap next to Blue's hat is for a little girl named RUE. (I'm not kidding here folks) It seems Rue has an Irish Daddy, so the cable is borrowed from an Alice Starmore sweater called Inishman. The other hats were made long ago and given away, but it was fun to bring them together so that my other daughter could send samples to another new mother on the west coast, so that she can choose a style, color, etc. that suits her little girl SIDNIE?