Catching up

Hello, hello
I know you haven't heard from me for a while, so how about a little contest to liven up the dog days of summer?

My cousin Karen is training for her 5th 60 mile+ 3 day walk to raise money for breast cancer research. Last year, the Philadelphia event raised more than $8.2 million!
Karen (right) and her daughter Carol are pictured at the end of 60 miles in the 2005 3Day walk. While I am not able to participate in the walk itself, for the first three years I volunteered on the closing day when the walkers limped and leaped their way across the finish line. The first year, I was in charge of the luggage retrieval area. Since the walkers camp out each night during this 3 day event, they have duffel bags that are transported to the camp sites each day. Year two found me preparing dozens and dozens of roses and handing them to the walkers as they passed under the arch of pink balloons. Year three was the most moving - I worked at the check-in tent where we scanned in the bar codes of the finishers and gave out the shirts. Pink shirts for the BC Survivors who completed the walk. I was hugging and laughing and crying the whole time. I am a little misty-eyed now, just thinking about it.


Due to a conflict in the dates of the event (Rhinebeck Weekend!) I am not volunteering at the walk, but I still want help - sooo...
...I have raided my stash and am offering a chance at winning a skein of a Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rare Gem:
A Rare Gem is created through overdying an established or experimental color. They are almost always one of a kind and are greatly sought out by BMFA aficionados. This one is medium weight Socks That Rock sock yarn. Click HERE for specs. or a Twisted Fiber Arts "Ember, Soulmates":
The Twisted is Ariel sock yarn. Click HERE for details on this gorgeous yarn.

How do you get a chance?
Click on the 3Day logo to get to Karen's official donation page.
1- Look for the "My Progress" on the left and click on the "donate to Karen 2009" button above the thermometer.
2- Fill out the donation page - each $5.00 that you donate gets you one entry. ie if you donate $15.00, you get 3 entries.
3- Enter a message for the honor role if you wish.
4- You MUST enter a message in the box that says "personal message for participant."
Type your email address and/or your Ravelry ID
Type STR for an entry for the Rare Gem or Ember for the Twisted.
You can break it up if you want. ie if you donate $15.00 you get 3 entries - you
can say STR = 2, Ember = 1.
If you don't fill this out, you will be randomly entered into either.
Karen will tally the entries and the winners will be randomly generated. All entries must be received by Friday, September 25, 2009. Winners will be announced on September 27, 2009. Good Luck!
BONUS: Everyone who donates at least $25.00 will get a set of my handmade stitch markers!!

A Small Town 4th of July

This is Wenonah on the 4th of July.A town of about 1300 people, it seems that half the town is in the parade while the other half cheers from the sidelines. People who moved away come back to celebrate the day long town-wide block party.
It all starts at 8:45 AM - promptly with the color guard leading off the parade.

They are followed by bands, military paraphernalia, kids on bikes, family floats, antique cars, fire trucks and more.
It is all put together by the local Lion's Club and paid for by donations from the residents and businesses in the area.
After the parade there are speeches in the park, then fire truck rides and games for the kids. For the adults there is beer and dogs at the fire house. Buy a mug and get a few refills of beer or birch beer. Everyone sort of drifts to the backyard parties and by 2:00 we are kind of lazing about and getting ready for the evening festivities.
At 6PM we go back to the park for the awards ceremony and the start of the Wenonah Fun Run.
After the run, there are more awards and a band concert to conclude the day.
If you're not busy next year, stop by and join the fun!

Soggy MDS&W

Please disregard the dates printed on the pictures - I failed to reset after changing the battery - rest assured that all pictures were taken on May 3, 2009 - that wet & sodden day!

I got to the Howard County Fairgrounds at about 8:45 in a light but steady rain. Luckily, I was prepared with my waterproof shoes and hooded rain jacket (thanks to my previous rainy trip to the PNW, I was ready!)First stop - Brooks Farm. I skipped them at Rhinebeck and couldn't wait to see what I missed.
What a steal! This Harmony, a wool, silk, angora blend has been discontinued. All 2000 yards of it for $40! How could I pass it up?

More from Brooks Farm - to make this lovely knitted Triple S Shawl.

...and some more, just 'cause I liked it
Some wool/yak blend from Bijou Bison......and then Jennie the Potter and Moving Mud

I don't know why they gave me those Idaho Spuds at Jennie the Potter - I think she is from Minnesota! I bought a mug to go with the bowl I bought at Rhinebeck and a card of ceramic buttons. The Moving Mud buttons will go on my Hey Teach sweater. The March Hare sock yarn and chi chi Signature 5" DPN's topped off my purchases.
The March Hare yarn is lovely and soft and the color is a deep beautiful dark blue - Night I also bought some in a beautiful red called Ruby Slippers, but I gave it to one of my AL ladies before I took the pictures - she loved it.
Of course I did get some pictures of sheep...
...and the Ravelry meet-up...

...and then on home to try and dry out. While my rain gear kept me relatively dry, by the end of the day my finger tips were all scrinched up - like a prune! Well here's hoping that the sun will be shining on me at Rhinebeck!