not this year

And all through the house.....

Night Before Christmas for Crocheters
Twas the Night before Christmas (for crocheters)
If you've used this poem in the past, the info is CROCHETERS CHRISTMAS EVE, Original knit version by Nancy Massaroni, 2003, rewritten (crochet version) by Dee Stanziano, 2006. If you use this poem, please give Nancy Massaroni and Dee Staniziano authors credit.




CROCHETERS´ NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

~ Nancy Massaroni adapted by Dee Stanziano ("Crocheting with Dee")

`Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
There was unfinished crocheting not under the tree,
The stockings weren´t hung by the chimney with care
`Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep-he was no help at all.
And the sweater for him was 6´´ too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my hook to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash.
Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how far I still had to go.
When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,
I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.

And although I was tired-my brain a bit thick,
I knew in a moment that it must be St Nick.
Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed
For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

"Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!
Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite! Move over!
Lopi, don´t circle around, just stand there in line.
Pay attention you sheep and you´ll work out just fine!

I know this is hard as it´s just your first year
But I´d hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill. What I saw was amazing:
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!

And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa´s big boots stomping on the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.
As I turned around, St Nick I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his heat to his toe
And his clothes were hand crochet from above to below.
A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back.
And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran crochet sack.

His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.
The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:
"S.C." in duplicate on the cuff.
So I asked, "Hey, Nick, did YOU crochet all this stuff?"

He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.
I learned how to crochet when I was just a kid."
He was chubby and plump, a well dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself, for I´d thought up a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.
He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap
Where I had laid my crochet hook and yarn for a cap.

He began then to crochet, first one cap then 2-
For the first time I thought I might really get through.
He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,
While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.

Quickly like magic his hooks they flew,
Good Grief! He was finished by two!
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,
"Next year, start your crocheting sometime around JUNE!"

no words

I know I titled this "no words" and actually I do have a few words to say. Monday, October 22 the love of my life, Craig Andersen, died of a heart attack. I am devastated. I had been working on making another lion curtain for him for well over a year. I had gotten to the 19th level & kept screwing up in the rest of the project because of the 19th row. I actually finally managed to get past row 19 and was probably up to row 26 or so. And it sat like that for a long time. It was a filet pattern & they seem a bit complex to me, especially with no directions, just the chart. So I thought really hard and decided I was not going to continue the curtain. I was making it specifically for Craig, so I don't feel compelled to finish it. So I ripped out what I had entirely. No lessons, no moral to the story, nothing insightful. Just hold on tight to your loved ones and make sure you let them know how much you love them and appreciate them.

Funeral for a friend

In about a half a hour, I will going to a funeral for a friend, Daisy Shore. I've known her about 50 years. Yes, she was older than I am. Yes, I knew she was ill. No, it doesn't make her death any easier to take. Daisy is the mother of a girl (Sharon) I knew in elementary school. She's about a year younger than I am, so we never had a class together. But I was secretary of the Red Cross group we had at the elementary school. We met a few times a month, I think. She was the volunteer (?not exactly sure about that) from her class. And she lived right across the street from me. Somehow, along the way it was Daisy who I felt closer to than Sharon. Weird, but that sort of thing happens. Daisy was interesting to me because she did a lot of handwork. My mom had embroidered prior to my birth, but with 6 kids,a full time job, and her volunteer work, she had little time for anything. And even if she did want to teach me, I wouldn't have listened. I was a _teenager_. Those of you that have/have had teenagers know what I mean. My older sister Bee gave me the foundations of crocheting as well as knitting and embroidery. But she got busy with her future husband, so Bee had no time to help me with crocheting or embroidering. (I never cared for knitting, seems too slow). And this is the part that Daisy filled in. I sometimes could not figure out a stitch diagram in my life. Some made absolutely no sense to me. Daisy, having lots more experience) could help me understand the strange new world I had wandered into. So after homework, supper and chores were done, I'd go visit Daisy. And we would drink tea and talk about anything and everything in the world. Sometimes it was stitches or how something was worked out. Sometimes (lots of times) we'd eat her delicious baking.It was always easy, pleasant and fun. Daisy was the kind of person the world needs more of - funny, friendly, smart and compassionate. Although I know that love goes beyond the grave, that what was buried today is just the earthly form of Daisy, it's difficult to wrap my head around it. I've had too many losses and each subsequent loss feels like another weight to my heart. But I think for tonight (and a lot of days and nights after this), I will sit down with a cup of tea and crochet. And that way I can honor and treasure her memory while soothing myself.

Crochet Day:)

Okay, here it is, September 12 and it's Crochet Day. I know, every day is crochet day, but apparently this is a bigger deal than just everyday. I probably won't crochet in public because my employer has this silly notion that when I am at work, I should be working. But I will be working on preemie hats tonight, so that's when I get the crochet on.....

For those of you who are planning an active fall lifestyle, particularly the kind that includes going to places where you got to dress up, I have this amazing pattern for a party purse. Okay, it's not "Amazing" it's "Vanna's Sequins"...

here's the link from Lion Brand
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20105.html?utm_source=Patterns_20120911_Sept11&utm_medium=Emails&utm_campaign=NewPatternsAlert&utm_content=P-MoonWaterClutch

_enjoy_

scrips and scraps

yes, I have been crocheting. No, I have not finished my curtain yet. I have been working on preemie hats - they are easy to do while watching TV.

I came across this article about the crochet hyperbolic reefs and how it relates to feminism. I never would have thought of that one, but here's the link.
http://www.mcadenver.org/feminismco.php
Definitely something to ponder.

I am starting to buy yarn more online than in the stores. The biggest reason is because it's easy to get the colors I want. I wanted a skein of Ebony Lion Brand Microspun and a skein of Lily White Lion Brand Microspun. That's it. So I ventured to the store, after checking online to make sure they had that particular brand of yarn. Guess what, they did not. They didn't have any Microspun at all. I'm sure they have something else I could use, but I already have black and white yarn at home if I was going to use my stash. So I didn't buy any yarn at all (I know, hard to believe). I checked online and found what I wanted. Even with the shipping and handling, it's still about the same price it would have cost retail. So yay me;)


I received my copy of this week. It is beautifully photographed and so colorful. I happen to really like Tammy Hildebrandt's "Kaleidascope" afghan - I'd change the colors to a colorway I liked better. But that's me. I should do a review of it.....

hello again

Hi.
I haven't been saving the world or anything besides the normal stuff of working and living my life. Nothing terribly exciting (unless you enjoy compliance training) just chugging along.

I have finished a pink and white baby afghan, a giant granny square using the Fibronacci sequence. I think it looks cool, but that's me.I've cleared everything out except the BIG project I alternately dread and am excited about. It's a matching curtain for the window, the lion curtain....

I need to get this done because it is always in the back of my mind that I need to finish it. Silly, isn't it? But this UFO has been hanging around the house way too long and I will be happy to finish it.

I think the craft stores are taking a major hit in this recession. Almost every week, Michaels and A.C. Moore have a 20% discount coupon. I know, you'd think I'd be hitting that sale every week. Rubber stamps, magazines, paper and of course yarn for 20% off. Sounds great. But....
I'm only semi interested in checking it out. Is it depression? Did a pod person take over me? I don't think so. One driving force is I have more yarn than I can possibly use in my life. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of reducing my stash (don't faint!) because there is so much I'm not going to ever use. I have some beautiful bulky fall colored yarn. Absolutely beautiful. It's wool. I don't know if it's getting older or what but I find it difficult to work with wool. I get all stuffed up and itchy when I crochet with it. Same with mohair, but worse. This is a shame because I have some beautiful yarn in those fibers, but not if it is going to cause me to clog up.
Another reason is there is not enough variety of books and magazines in these stores. I mean, I wasn't that fond of "The Happy Hooker" but some folks think it is awesome. Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker I'd rather see something new such as Unexpected Afghans: Innovative Crochet Designs with Traditional Techniques or The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet: *All You Need to Know to Crochet *The Essential Reference for Novice and Expert Crocheters *Comprehensive Guide ... Charts, and Photos for 200 Stitch Patterns or Simple Crocheting: A Complete How-to-Crochet Workshop with 20 Projects or here's something I could really use The Crochet Artist Memory (no kickback for me from these authors, just saying)

just something that has been published in the last 3 years. Sometimes (*gasp*) I go to Joanne Fabrics for books and magazines. They seem to have a fresher inventory or maybe it's just stuff I don't already own. They also have British books there occasionally.

But I don't know, maybe I am just a cheapskate.

It was suggested to me from somebody that I make myself a panda bear similar to the one I made for my sister Howie that was buried with her. She suggested it may have healing qualities for me. I think she is right. (It's strange to mention this on what would have been Howie's 54th birthday). Now I just got to find the perfect yarn - I used the Lion brand microspun yarn for hers. I am not sure that's the name of the yarn, but it is so soft and smooth and easy to work with - even when your eyes are full of tears. Do I have what was left of it in my stash or should I buy more....well, I do have discount coupons;)