When Knitting Was a Manly Art

It’s amazing how much work you can get done when the Internet doesn’t get in the way.

No telephone, which means no modem connection, which means no email/web wandering.

Finished about 12 rows this morning, which means the sixth pattern row is completed and I’m well into the seventh. I’ll post an update picture tomorrow. I really enjoy knitting lace and I guess it shows in the amount of work I’m getting done, especially when compared to the lack of work on the Aran. Oh well… The sweater will be completed, just not right now.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Heard the latest political joke making the rounds?

George Bush is taking a stroll around Capitol Hill with a senior member of Congress when he meets a little girl carrying a small basket with a blanket over it.

Curious, he says to the girl; “What’s in the basket?”.

She replies; “New baby kittens” and opens the basket to show him.

“How nice” said Bush. ” What kind are they?”.

The little girl says, “Republicans.”

Bush smiles and pats the little girl on the head and they continue on.

About three weeks later, he and another Congressional colleague are again strolling around Capitol Hill when he sees the little girl again with the same basket.

Bush says to his colleague; “Watch this, it’s very cute”, and they approach the little girl.

Bush asks the girl how the kittens are and she says fine.

He then says, “What kind of kittens are they?” and she replies,”Democrats.”

Somewhat abashed, Bush says, “Three weeks ago you said they were Republicans!”

“I know,” she says, “But now their eyes are open.”

Popularity: 16% [?]

Pumpkin Ridge - NW Oregon
8:00am - Clear - Current temp. 62.6F(17.0C)

Max 79.3F(26.3C) - Min 59.9F(15.5C) — 0″ precipitation

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Phone lines down since 3:30pm yesterday afternoon. Still down this morning. No telling when I’ll get to post this.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Pumpkin Ridge - NW Oregon
7:45am - Clear - Current temp. 56.7F(13.7C)

Max 78.3F(25.7C) - Min 55.6F(13.1C) — 0″ precipitation

Popularity: 6% [?]

If you haven’t seen the pattern for the Lotus Blossom Shawl, it has an intriguing shape. Kind of a triangular shawl with arms…

This isn’t much of a drawing (I’m a better knitter than a draftsman), but you will get an idea of the final shape of the shawl.

Popularity: 6% [?]

A quick update on the Lotus Blossom Shawl before we start unloading the truck and trying to figure out where we will store all these plants.

Finished the 5th pattern row this morning. Also switched from Crystal Palace bamboo circulars (which I swear I’ll never use again) and onto a longer aluminum tipped circular. I much prefer the joins and the slick aluminum works best for me.

This is a much better photo this morning and shows much more of the detail of the pattern. I really like the results of natural light photos, though the color always seems to be a bit washed out.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Pumpkin Ridge - NW Oregon
9:00am - Clear - Current temp. 64.4F(18.0C)

Max 69.3F(20.7C) - Min 54.7F(12.6C) — 0″ precipitation

Popularity: 6% [?]

We have around 1000 plants in the back of Eileen’s pickup.

Most are small (1-2 inch plugs), but they all need to be potted up.

I think I’m going to be one busy OF for the next month or so.

Pictures tomorrow.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Pumpkin Ridge - NW Oregon
8:30am - Overcast - Current temp. 55.8F(13.2C)

Max 72.9F(22.7C) - Min 53.6F(12.0C) — 0″ precipitation

Popularity: 6% [?]

Blatantly stolen from Zed’s Dead, Baby, but too funny not to post here.

You throw an aluminum can in the trash and feel guilty.
You never go camping without water-proof matches and ponchos.
You stand on a deserted street corner in the rain waiting for the light to change.
You’ve ever ordered a half caff/decaf, nonfat mocha grande with sugar-free cranberry whip.
The bride and groom registered at REI.
Know at least eight people who work for Intel or used to work for Tektronix.
You make $30,000 a year, yet still can’t find a place to live.
Know the vast differences between Coffee People, Torrefazione, and Starbuck’s.
You can list more than five reasons why Starbuck’s is evil.
Every July 1st, it takes half a day to find your sunglasses and sunscreen.
You blame anything that is not right on ex-Californians.
You remember the date, severity, time of day, where you were, and how long you were out of power for every winter weather event for the last five years.
You know what and when the Columbus Day storm was. Bonus for having been there.
You go to a coffee bar and see two guys get into a fight over who makes the best IPA.
Own more than 10 articles of clothing that have microbreweries/brewpubs printed on them. Bonus for embroidered stuff.
You know that Boring is a place, not an adjective to describe your job.
You can point in the direction of two or more volcanoes even though you can’t see them due to clouds.
You have a bookstore, coffee bar, and brewpub within walking distance of your house.
You can give a 30-minute monologue on infill and the Urban Growth Boundry.
You think downtown is ’scary’ because you were panhandled there once.
When you drive out of town, every other guy in a pickup truck looks like the governor.
When you drive out of town, even the Hondas have gun racks.
You can name more than 10 kinds of berries and where to get them.
You can name more than 10 beer styles and their hop profiles.
When the weather gets above 50 degrees, you put on your shorts, but you still wear your hiking boots and parka.
When the weather gets above 60 degrees, you replace your hiking boots with sandals.
You think people who use umbrellas are wimps.
You can recount more than five anecdotes why the east side is a crime-infested jungle,
*OR*
You can list more than five reasons why the west side is a boring, snobby, white-bread suburb.
You know what is between the east side and the west side, and how to pronounce it.
You know that Couch the street is not pronounced like the couch that you sit on.
You are sitting at a red light surrounded by Subaru Legacy Outbacks.
“Today’s forecast, showers, followed by rain. Tomorrow: rain, followed by showers” doesn’t faze you.
You can’t wait for a day with “showers and sunbreaks”.
You can go skiing after work.
A tree or mudslide has ever damaged your house or car.
You live equidistant to a symphony hall, a winery, and a volcano.

Popularity: 15% [?]