A Day in the Life of.....

10th Annual Walk of Hope for ALS

Just wanted to shoot you a quick post about a walk that Mary and I are doing. Mary's cousin Willie died from this horrible disease about 10 years ago leaving a young widow and small daughter. Now his father, Mary's uncle Bill has been diagnosed with this disease. We are walking on Saturday to help raise awareness and money for research. I am hoping that you can make even a small donation so that Team Sweet Williams can reach it's goal. Thank you in advance.

Mary's Uncle Bill and his lovely bride Aunt Kitten

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/sweetwilliams/10thannualwalkofhopeforals

Baby Hat with Pompom

Baby Hat with Pompom
Originally uploaded by ADITLO

One of the women who works near me is expecting her third child the end of this month. Now by the time you have 2 and are on your third, most everything is a hand me down. So since I had some baby color yarn, it is a little girl, and I wanted to practice making this hat and the pom pom - I cast it on on Monday and after a couple of false starts, finished it up last night. It calls for you to put the ear flaps first but I found it easier to do them after. I also like my decreases better then my increases so it worked out well. Hope she likes it.

New England Classic 150 & 550

As many of you know, I have type 2 diabetes.  I have had it for about 5 years now.  Some days are great, others not so good.  But I am living with it.  A co-worker of mine is going to be riding 550 miles to raise money for research for this disease that is becoming more and more common, especially in our over weight youth.  She rides for her father, who had type 1 diabetes and passed away this past winter.  I know that things are tight for most right now, but instead of buying that sock yarn, or maybe those addi turbos, or even some roving, you could find it in your hearts and wallets to donate to a great cause.  Anne is a great person, a new mom (her son will be a year in the fall) and is definately worthy of your donation.  To see her personal page follow this link My Tour de Cure in honor of William James Craig, Jr.

To learn about her team follow this link. New England Classic Team Adipose.  Anne is 70% to her goal.  As knitters, spinners and great people, I know we can get her to her goal.

Fleece, Fleece and still more Fleece

Fleece
Originally uploaded by ADITLO

Several people have heard the story of the 37 fleeces in my garage so I thought that I would provide photographic proof of said fleeces. If you look very closely in this photo you can see some fleece escaping from the bag. We have robins again this year and I think she used some to line her next. There is more than enough to go around.

Help Sponsor Crystal at March for Babies!

Crystal's Sponsor Page

My friend Crystal is walking in the March for Babies walk that is sponsored by the March of Dimes.  As the mom of premie twins, born at 31 weeks, 4.1 lbs and 3.13 lbs, who are now healthy 16 year olds I am proud to sponsor Crystal and her son Colin as they walk to make a difference in babies lives.  Thousands of babies are born prematurely and the March of Dimes helps not only these babies but other sick babies as well.  Won't you help Crystal as well?  Just click on the button and it will take you to her personal website where you can donate.  Every dollar helps.  Thanks.

This is also my 100th blog post so lets really help Crystal by surpassing her goal by $100.00.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm

The other day, I noticed a sign in the lobby of the building that I work in.  It said Help Save Giovanni.  This intrigued me.  I recognized the little boy's face from newspapers and TV news reports but also remember that it was a while ago that I had seen it.  What it was was a poster for a Bone Marrow Registry drive, to be held in the cafe of the building that I work in.  Beautiful I thought - I will make it a point to go after work and sign up. Hopefully there won't be too long of a line and maybe I can even get Mary to sign up.  So Wednesday came and in I went.  Imagine my surprise when the man that greeted me was so excited to see someone.  SO - I asked, "Have you had a lot of people today?" and his response almost knocked me to the floor - "You are the 13th person today - 13th?????? It was 5:00 p.m. - they had been there since 1:30 p.m., 3.5 hours, how could this be??????? There are hundreds of people that work in my building, why was I only the 13th person?? This didn't seem right.  So of course I went out and got Mary - she was very willing as I assumed she would be, but this got me to thinking - why???  Why wouldn't you register? What were people afraid of? Were they afraid that it was going to hurt? Were they concerned that their DNA would be stored somewhere? I could not and still can not imagine not registering.  You could save a life.  Maybe not someone you know but someone's son, or daughter or mother or father, another human being that is cherished and loved and valued but someone somewhere.  Below are a couple of reasons that this is near and dear.  So what can you do you ask???? You can register! It is easy, quick, and painless and free.  Please go to this web site and ask for a kit.  They will send it to you and you follow the directions and send it back.  5 minutes that is all it takes - just 5 minutes.  So go there now - and register - www.savegiovanni.org.  Believe me you will feel better after you do.

These are the couple of reasons that this is important to me: Quite a few years ago, when my kids were about 2, the husband of Jared's godmother, a man my own age, passed away from leukemia because the bone marrow that he received was not a perfect match.  Not that long ago, my uncle (father's brother) also passed away from non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, another disease that requires a bone marrow transplant.

Squares for Fire Victims (Everett)

First a HUGE thanks to all that have sent squares for the afghan for the fire victims in Everett.  You all know who you are!  Special thanks go to Joanne from Chester, NH who knit squares with her knitting guild and sent them to me - over 20 were received.  I am still accepting squares, so if you would like to donate, please feel free to.  Leave me a comment and I will get back to you with my address. 

I know that 2008 has been in full swing for a bit now but I have finally decided what I would like to accomplish the year.  First and foremost I would like to be my healthest this year.  Not sure exactly how but am working on it.  Second I know that everyone knit from their stash last year - but I am slow to jump on the bandwagon (always afraid it will move and I will miss), so this year I will be knitting from my stash.  Of course sock yarn doesn't count and anything I need for a gift that I can't find in my stash but other than that I have enough yarn and thoughts about what to use it for that I could knit my stash for probably 2 years. Third, I would like to learn to dye yarn more professionally.  I am intrigued by colors and what to work on that.  Fourth, I really think that as a family I would like to take a vacation.  My kids have been on a real vacation only twice in their lives - we have been away for weekends but only twice for longer than that.  So that is something I would like to do.  And finally, I am going to be a better poster/blogger/commentor.  I will be trying this post every day starting in February (my birthday month) (also the shortest month of the year) and we will see how it goes.

SO SEND IN YOUR SQUARES NOW - and keep on knitting!

Miracles do happen

As some of you maybe aware, yesterday morning there was a blazing inferno in Everett, MA due to a fuel truck accident.  Mary and I found out late last evening that her neice Laura and her boyfriend Chris were able to escape the fire, although his car was not so lucky.
Chris' family home was damaged with smoke and fire.  I am not sure at this time exactly to what extent but I would still like to do something to show that people care so being the good (as in charitable) knitters that you all are, I am asking for donations of squares. I want to let Laura (that is her in the picture taken at the scene) and Chris know that people care and are thinking about them.. I know that we all have holiday knitting/crocheting to do, so I am hoping that you would be able to get them to me by January 5-6.  It gives everyone a month.  I would love the squares to be 9 x 9.  Any color, any weight *although dk or worsted would be best* and I would like it to be washable.  Other than that - it is up to you. 

I would appreciate knowing one way or the other if you would be willing to undertake this project. 

Thanks so very much from both Mary and myself.

I've got 2 .....

Do I hear 3?  I have two players for PIF.  Woolyhead and my not bigger, not older sister in law, who even though she is blogless will absolutely PIF and may even have a blog after the first of the year so she can then post it.  So if there is a 3rd player out there who is interested, come on down.  Ladies, I have sent you both an email so let the charity game begin. 

OK I Bit

Pay it forward - Like the movie-do unto others like someone has done to you. Pay It Forward

This is a great movie!!!!!! Watch it with the kiddos..... Makes them think.

The idea of the exchange is I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on this blog post 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 - now if you don't have a blog but want to play - let me know.  I have no problem making something for someone who doesn't have a blog as long as they promise to pay it forward. Of course I do need to limit it to just one non-blogger, that way it continues.  NOW if no one wants to play..... I will pick 3 people and give them a gift anyway.  Then it will be up to them to decide if they want to continue it or not.