Little Wit Knits - Unplugged

I have been asked numerous times over the weekend to list off what I would like for Christmas. My blessings being what they are I don’t really *want* for anything. I finally compiled a list of cool knitterly tools to send to the boy so that perhaps he can reference that when he is scheming up ideas. I have listed it below. Perhaps it will give you ideas. Can you think of any others?

In non Knitterly items I would like a skillet that is about 10″ in diameter and would go both on the stove and in the oven - cast iron comes to mind. I would also like a fireplace tool set. I am not s’pose to buy one but leave it out there for someone to get us for Christmas.

Is there anything else I should be asking for?

Note: I already have a ball winder and swift. Also of note, are the links to my Amazon wish list and Loopy Ewe Wishlist in the sidebar.

Clogs - to keep the toesies warm when getting the mail. I would like to see if they still sell them with flannel linings and probably in a brown. (7)

Knitter’s Blocks - for drying blocked items on. 18 blocks would give more surface area to work with/on.

Signature Needles - these are made at a machine shop and I am sure you could totally get behind their story.

Addi Click -  This link is to a shop that sells them. For some reason they aren’t showing on the manufacturer’s website anymore. I find that suspect, since I heard they weren’t in full production yet because they were going to fix something.

Ashford Turkish Drop Spindle - this is the spindle I currently have. I wouldn’t mind a second one so that I could have more than one spinning project going on at once. Especially since drop spindling takes longer than spinning with a spinning wheel.

Blocking wires - these are used when blocking shawls and other such larger objects. It makes the side a little more straight than with me just pulling it wide and sticking a pin in it. (these are just two types, they sell them all over the place)

Wooly Board - this thing is just cool. It’s simply designed to make drying sweaters a faster task

Sock blockers - you know what these are for and yes I have been too lazy to make them. Maybe I need inspiration.

Yarn meter - this is cool because you can use it to count off how march yarn you are winding off the skein. I have heard that you can find it cheaper in fishing shops.

Fibre samplers - sets of different fibres to try out spinning. Kind of a neat idea for learning what type of fibre you like best. Kind of moot if I don’t spin quickly or have more than one spindle.

Niddy Noddy - You saw me make one of these out of the plastic legs from that shelf. This would totally come in handy for dyeing yarn, spinning yarn and with some crazy skeins of yarn.

Down the road I think it would be pretty cool to get a spinning wheel and some Wool Combs/Carders (these are used when working with spinning fibre.) I still need to do more research into this area. Probaby starting here.

I took these pictures at the end of October and finally managed to wrest them free of my mother’s memory card this week. They are of a tree in our front yard at just past the peak of it’s fall glory. The best part is, this was a relatively dry summer. As we get more rain, the colors will only grow with intensity.

Front tree with Fall colors

Front tree with Fall colors

fallen leaves from the front tree

Every year, my company sponsors several fundraising activities for the Brendan Sail Training Program. The Brendan Corporation is a 501(c) 3 charitable organization that uses sailing education to build confidence and improve self-esteem in youths with learning differences. Each year, through sessions in Annapolis, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Atlanta, Brendan students learn more than just how to sail – they learn about themselves and build social skills, often with life-changing results. Founded in 1984 based on the transforming effect sailing has on many children, Brendan kids learn by doing and master the mechanical skills required to rig, launch and operate a small boat. At the end of the program, students formally graduate and have the opportunity to showcase their sailing skills to family and friends.

While Brendan benefits enormously from generous contributions of boats, facilities, labor and supplies, we do have a significant number of costs that require money. That’s where you come in.

There are only 300 tickets being sold, which will raise $30,000. Half of the amount raised will be given to the raffle winner. The winning ticket will be drawn Saturday December 20, 2008. Each ticket is $100. While we realize that this is a hefty sum, especially in these economic conditions, it’s a bargain when you consider that each ticket represents a 1 in 300 chance to win $15,000.

Please send me an e-mail if you would like to purchase a ticket. We can discuss payment at that time. Thank you for considering supporting this wonderful charity.

Today I send my deep and heartfelt thanks to all the men and women who have served our country. Their sacrifice and bravery has allowed me to lead the life I have today. Thank you.

For all my fellow Americans, go vote today, unless you already have.

I used my telecommuting ways to my advantage today and hit the polls around 930am. There were more people than I expected but it was completely manageable. My polling place is a local elementary school rather close to my home. They had 10 electronic booths and a table for filling out paper ballots. I learned afterward that our Secretary of State mandated the paper ballots be available to help with the lines. I opted to go for the electronic booths even though it was no waiting for the paper ballots because this is the first time (please don’t hate me) that I have finally rocked the vote. In 2000 I was a freshman in college and I filled out my absentee ballot and then promptly forgot to send it in. In 2004 I had just moved to a new state and wasn’t sure about navigating changing my registration and I was starting a new job and . and . and. You get the picture.

So the electronic booth it was for me. Before I headed to the polls I wrote out all the people I had chosen to vote for because there was no way I was going to remember all of their names. I also wrote out which way I intended to vote on our state issues. I had 21 issues and people to vote on today, which does not include the uncontested elections. This made it super easy for me to fill out my ballot as I just went down my list.

My voting experience was not in fact as the Simpsons would have you believe. Any vote for a presidential candidate did not result in a vote for John McCain. Sorry Simpsons creators, you’re funny a fair amount of the time but your stunt on Sunday rather irritated me. Ohio is not some backward hicksville, (ignore the fact that Hicksville, OH exists and that one of my former colleagues lived there) state where everything is rigged to come out “red”. In fact the votes for the two ladies running on the Green Party ticket counted.

After I got my sticker I headed out to the car, without any baked goods. I was kind of sad about that as I was looking forward to supporting the local PTA and eating some yummy baked goods. They decided to close the area schools today for safety concerns. Mixed in there was also the anticipation of larger than normal voting crowds. All in all it took me just over 30 minutes door to door and I managed to get a couple rows in on a sock. I think I will use this method in the future.

Now to see what all I can collect from area businesses for showing my sticker.

And for tonight’s fun, if I choose to watch election returns after knit night I think I may color in this map or knit some more.

Oh and for those who want to see the kids’ vote. Check this out.

If you are still reading this, what are you waiting for? Go rock the vote!