'the box' (and some yarn stuff)

Colleen has asked for an update - and while I WAS collating email addresses and putting together an email to the folks interested.... this is way easier. (DUH moment)

So, 'the box' has made huge progress here. A couple of Target gift cards have arrived to be stuffed in the box, and emails from 3 people that packages of goodies are on their way to me for the box, mailed out to me either yesterday or today.

Some of the cash donations thru paypal went to good use yesterday. Santa found out about a couple of things that had been long on a waiting list for her (score 1 for ebay) and they are on their way to her today, ahead of 'the box'. I don't want to spoil it for Santa and tell you what was purchased so you'll have to wait until after 'the box' and the wishlist items are received.

A check came in the mail that I've combined with other cash donated towards a gift card at the local grocery chain for the family. I grew up with this grocery chain and I'm here to tell you that it's not just food - it's pharmacy, clothing, housewares, you name it - it's there. And it's not wal-mart... This chain has had everything in their stores since before I was born (and we will not discuss that date any further). Anyways, a dollar goes a long way there and I'd love to see this amount doubled... right now it's at $75.00. You can paypal me funds at gwynivar @ hotmail dot com and put 'secret santa' in the comment/note/subject line.

Still waiting on some things coming in the mail that folks have emailed me they were sending. If you've mailed it to me, please let me know so I can anticipate things here. If you have not mailed it but still want to, get your keester to the Post Office asap. I'd like to get this box on it's way Jan. 2nd at the latest - depending on who emails me with cries of "It's on it's way!!".

**Very Important: If you commented that you wanted to participate but have not had a chat with me via email or Ravelry mail, you need to get in touch with me asap at jennifer @ nysfarm dot com. I have not ignored anyone, I simply could not find your email address thanks to the blogger system. There is still time to play your part as Santa for a family making ends meet - out of the string in her stash. Give me a shout!

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Yarn Stuff:

For xmas, I knit my MIL a scarf. Nora announced she wanted to dye it. And so, the scarf:

And then here's Nora getting ready to dye it....

And, the finished scarf (we won't discuss what time christmas eve this photo was taken):

Pat, Lisa, you'll please take note of a couple important things here. First and foremost, I FINISHED A PROJECT. Second, it even has design 'features' (not mistakes or 'bugs').

Big deal you say, it's a scarf! Ya, well, Pat & Lisa know that knitting hasn't EXACTLY been my forte lately. I've knit circular lace shawls on the fly in the past, but recently haven't been able to knit, well, anything without completely screwing it up so we're pretty pleased with the basics right now. So, if you'll excuse me, I've got an appt with an ice pack for the migraine. Ta for now!

The other side of the black hole.

Apparently, my house is the other side of the knitter's blackhole.

Could someone let The Harlot know that I found her tape measure? Thanks.

Pics (found the camera cable)

So, if my daughter were made of money, this is how she would look:

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I don't know how they do things where you live when it snows like a new ice age is starting, but here... folks get to work just like any other day, just using different modes of transportation.

This is Casey, who works here on the farm for me. The storm closed the schools but didn't keep her from coming to work! I must say, excellent work ethics out here in farm country. And no, she is not looking for work. She's mine. All mine. (dudes, she even gets to work here EARLY.)

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These are some of the skeinlets/balls of colors ready to go into colorwork for The Nine Tailors:

I missed something in my 'in progress list' on my last post... Colleen - I am spinning as fast as I can!!

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Ok, about this secret santa thing. It's not going to be in time for christmas, but perhaps that makes it all the better. I met someone the other day. No not THAT kind of someone - I already got me one of those!

This was a someone who touched my heart. There's this family see, with not much in the pocket so to speak, but plenty in the heart. There is a spirit here that deserves to be preserved, lifted up, and promoted to continue. Without this kind of person in the world, it would be a darker, quieter, bleak world. She supports her family with things you and I take for granted. And she has dreams, people. Go to school sort of Big dreams. And you know what? They really have very little to do with herself until you realize that the most important thing to her.... is helping others. She has nothing, and the most important thing to her is getting things in order so that she can give to others.
I don't think she reads my blog, and she doesn't know I'm doing this. I would like to ask those of you with a little extra, to help me out here. I've got a box. I am filling the box. She is a knitter. You see where I'm going with this maybe? Maybe not. Sure, I want to fill the box with yarn, but I also want to fill the box with the things she needs. Family to support, husband who works very hard and 3 beautiful children to raise with strong values. So, I'd like to add some gift cards. Wal-mart, Target, the local grocery chain. If you'd like to help in that way, and can pretend for a moment that you have another person on your christmas shopping list, then send me an email at jennifer @ symbol nysfarm dot com and we'll put something together. If you'd like to send on some stash that needs a good home where her knitting literally clothes the family, email me for that as well and we'll work that out.
I leave you with this thought. Take a look at what you spend on 'required' items each month. Now, take a look at your grocery bill. Could you support a family of 5 on half of that? on a quarter of that?

Added afterthought: Folks, thank you for pitching in. For those of you who've left comments wanting to do your part.... if you haven't heard from me it's because blogspot has not given me your email address or you forgot to fill it in. I've tried all day to send you psychic vibes, but obviously sunspots are getting in the way or something.
You really need to email me for best results here at jennifer @ nysfarm dot com.

Quickly!

So Eric & I both have terrible head colds (again)... have simply slogged through life here, moving from room to room (or, kleenex box to kleenex box if you look at it from my point of view) forcing myself to at least keep going because some progress is at least SOME progress.
So, until I find the camera cable, this post is pictureless but here's the finished list:

The Nine Tailors: Mailed out, every single lovin' one of them. And this should have way more to it, because what it really means that I've finished is this:

• dyed what felt like hundreds of skeins of what someone on Lisa's blog titled 'floodwater gray'
• dyed and divided smaller skeins of cuff gold
• dyed really only a couple each of the 8 colors for the color patternwork cause each sock only needs a couple of yards each.....
• and then wound those all into balls and divided them into smaller balls for each kit (you'll be thrilled to know I pulled them all at the same time saving myself from winding each color individually, wound them into a center-pull ball, put each one in a small ziplock with the center-pull ready to knit. No work for you :) I have pictures, but can't find the cable.
• Remembered to put one of each (main color, cuff color, packet of colorwork colors, AND emerald bead packet) and a pattern book into it's own little ziplock (love ziplock) and mail them.

One Rosy Hat: Finished - it's slated for a spot in a store on Thursday

Christmas packages mailed to (most) family members.

Still on the to-do:

Make soap - that's what I'm doing right now, this blogging is just a figment of your imagination.

mail the REST of the xmas stuff today.

start brown hat to be finished by I would say the 23rd at the latest...

order cousin Austin's 'stuff' for them to mail today.

order Grandma's 'stuff' for them to mail today.

Finish project for MIL coming for xmas. (feel free to re-read that last one, it's a whopper, since I just cast on last night and Nora wants to dye it when it's done so it's in boring white right now)

Finish mystery gift

If anyone has any ideas for Eric that do not involve knitting a sweater in record time, or moving to the beach cause he's sick of snow, please let me know. So far I have one of those Toblerone Chocolate Oranges you 'whack' to break into slices. Not much for christmas presents, ya know?

Find camera cable.

So, that's the to-do list for today. All bets are off.

Oh, and remind me to tell you all about my 'secret santa' idea cause I'm going to need your help to make it really good.

It snowed here...

Am I not the cutest?