Monday Miscellaneous

Moving Disarray:

The picture pretty much speaks for itself.

We spend a lot of time asking each one another where various items are located and whether or not said item has already been packed.  We're at ten days and counting.

You can see more packed boxes behind Marko.  Unlike the rest of us, he's totally unconcerned. That's what our critters are for though, right?  To remind us that life isn't so tough.  (I love this picture.)

Marko

Hands No Longer Idle:

Progress.  I chose this yarn because the majority of my wardrobe is blue, purple, and green.  I think I've covered all my bases.

And no, Eric didn't take this picture either

Desperate Times

When we decided to move, Lori and I began feverishly packing.  Initially I thought I would leave my hand work project, the New York Beauty, available in the event I got a chance to work on it.  After relocating the blocks several times, trying to keep them out of the way as we worked to pack the non-essential items, I finally gave up and packed it.

Now we're into what I refer to as the "dog days" of the move.  We've packed most of the non-essential items, but with twelve days still to live in this house, it's too early to pack the items we need for our daily existence.  Lori and I are finding we have a lot of nervous energy and little to do.  We were both lamenting having packed our hand work.

A trip to Wal-mart for yarn and needles became warranted.  Lori is now crocheting, and I am knitting a scarf.  Besides being an outlet for my need to keep busy, the scarf will come in handy during the Kansas winter.  A win-win!

JKP's Lucky Day--It Pays to be the Runner Up!

I announced the winners of the Eight Days of Book Giveaways on Wednesday, September 8th.  At that time Lisa had been selected to be the winner of the Big Book of Knitting.  Unfortunately, Lisa left me no way to contact her by email, and has failed to check back in order to send me her mailing address.

This unfortunate situation resulted in a new drawing for the Big Book of Knitting.  JKP must be living right, because on this second go round, she came up the winner for the Big Book of Knitting--in addition to her original win, Customize Your Sewing Patterns.  Congrats JKP!

Lesson learned:  In any future giveways, remind people to leave their contact information at the very beginning of the giveaway.

I owe all of those waiting on books an apology. Waiting for the missing Lisa to contact me, I have not made it to the post office yet.  However, the books will go out today.  Thank you for being patient.

Book Giveaway: Day Number Four

 (Another picture with a glare from the camera flash)

Today's feature presentation is for the knitters among us:  The Big Book of Knitting by Katharina Buss.  From the back cover:  Turn to this all-in-one knitting book for every technique you need--plus fabulous projects.  Would you like to cover the basics?  You can with the detailed information, diagrams, and color photos.  Do you already know how to knit?  Then this book is also the right one for you.  See how to give a remarkably distinctive feel and a one-of-a-kind look to patterns with different stitches and embellishments.

This is a great book for which I had high aspirations.  The book is nearly an encyclopedia of knitting.  It discusses the basics like casting on, the various stitches, how to do bands, hems, ribbing, facings, necklines, collars, pockets, and buttonholes.  Plus there are several projects--sweaters, gloves, mittens, and socks--so that you can try out your newly learned skills.  What I realized after studying this book, is that if I wanted to learn to knit things that aren't flat (I've knitted afghans and scarves), I'm going to have to give up quilting to learn to do it.  That ain't happening!  (Are you seeing a trend here?)

So I hope there are some knitters among us who will be interested in this fine book.  Or perhaps you know a knitter who would enjoy this book.  You could try to win it for them.

Okay, I think you know the drill.  All you have to do to enter the drawing is to comment.  It's okay to comment even if you don't want to enter, but be sure to make it clear you're not interested.

And if you're just now coming to the eight days of book giveaways, it's not too late to check out the books from previous three days.  The giveaways will close at noon (Pacific Standard Time) on September 7th and winners will be announced September 8th.

From the Desert to the Prairie

A move is in the works in the Desert Quilter household.  In eight weeks, we'll be leaving Nevada for Kansas.  (Hopefully, the moving gods will smile on us and we can get everything done!)  Actually, it's a return to Kansas.  We've lived there before.  At this point in our lives, my mom and I feel it necessary to return to where we have family.  My grandparents are happy to be returning home.

We originally moved to Nevada to escape our allergies.  As you can see the landscape is quite barren compared to most places.  In regard to allergies, the move was a mixed a success.  With the dry climate there is almost no mold here.  That was wonderful!  But all those weeds you see still produce pollen and over time I've become allergic to it, along with the trees planted around houses for shade.  The experts said that moving wouldn't solve the allergy problem, but for several years, I was in pure heaven.  That said, I've reached the place where allergy shots are again in my future, so the original reason for the move to Nevada is moot.

I know many of you are looking at the sparse desert landscape and are finding it rather ugly.  I did too at first.  However, the colors of the desert are subtle and it takes time to see their beauty.  It doesn't hurt that the surrounding mountains change colors with the sunlight and are decorated with snow in winter.

So the clean out has already begun.  Guess what I found?  Eight, yep I count eight, books on quilting, sewing, crocheting, and knitting that will not be making the trip to Kansas with us.  They're all nice books.  Some we bought hoping to learn new techniques--but found ourselves sticking to our old familiar techniques instead--and others we've enjoyed and are ready to pass along.  What that means to all of you is eight days of book giveaways!

Each day for the next eight days starting tomorrow, I'll be featuring one of the books I'm giving away.  All you have to do to win is comment.  It's that simple.

On Wednesday, September 8th, I will announce the winners.  Please be sure to provide your email address so that I can get your contact information should you be one of the winners.  Good luck everyone!  And please wish us luck too.