“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” — Julia Child

“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” — Julia Child

Beautiful New Design

http://blog.sweaterbabe.com/knitting/112-dramatic-lace-top-down-wrap-cardigan/

TV Time

I have been trying to get my family together to watch some special Netflix movies and to catch up on Lost episodes but everyone is busy and not in the living room at the same time. Lost is almost over and we are one month behind. Pitiful and frustrating! Actually, I watched an episode by myself yesterday because I couldn't stand waiting any more. I don't mind watching episodes twice because I'm usually knitting when I watch TV and miss stuff. Also, that show is so crazy, a second viewing can only help.

At the last Project Linus Blanket Bee I attended, I received free yarn to knit blankets. Other members of my knitting guild were able to choose yarn as well and I've been using their stash to make several crocheted blankets. I'll get the photos up as soon as they are finished. I prefer to crochet blankets as it goes so much quicker. I do have a beautiful knitted log cabin blanket on my needles for PL. Those are just fun to make. I'll be casting on for my niece's 16th birthday soon with another log cabin in purples and gray. I'm using a variety of yarns for texture and I know it's going to be fabulous when it's finished.

I'm looking forward to getting back to my February Lady Sweater in a few days when my list of "must knits" has been whittled down. I just completed a Baby Surprise Jacket with a matching Boston Beret for my friend. I really like the way it turned out. Unusual or modern color combinations really make this pattern work for the fashionable baby.

Sense and Sensibility

Would that I had the sensibility to have watched this movie sooner. Perchance I would have been able to love it longer. Alas, I have loved it less than one hour, for that is how recently I viewed this delightful movie by Ang Lee. Did it win a Golden Globe for Best Picture? Yes, it did. And well deserved, too. Of course, I cried at the end. The entire movie was completely wonderful and except for the muddy roads, rudimentary medical care, and lack of indoor toilets, I would like to spend some time there. I would even venture to wear the clothes which, although not completely unflattering, looked a bit cumbersome. Would that we all still had such proper manners and spoke in such delightful manner.

Some Like it Hot. Marilyn Monroe did not wear any sort of girdle in this movie I can tell you that. She was jiggling all the way and that seemed unusual to me for the time period. She was no skinny Minny either. She was round everywhere. I wonder what size she was. Compared to the starving actresses we see now, she was a blimp. Makes me wish for the old days. Except for all the butt pinching women had to put up with. At least in Austen's time period, there was some decorum towards women even though they couldn't own property, etc. I suppose women were treated according to their class.

Born Yesterday was a fantastic movie. I understand that Judy Holliday played the role on Broadway before starring in the movie. She had lots of practice and won that Academy Award. She was wonderful. That movie is a lot of fun. It has a great message about education, the democratic system, and empowering women. Who woulda thought you could get all that in a fun, old black and white film?

And for the record, I'm glad we have universal healthcare and I hope whatever problems come up, we can fix them through legislation the way our forefathers intended.

Blankets for Haiti

I was so happy to meet my goal of making three blankets to be sent to Haiti for the relief effort. I hope that they make a difference. It seems like such a small thing to do when the people there need so much.

Granny square blankets work up pretty quick so it was good choice for blankets that were needed right away. I delivered the blankets to Quiltz where they keep Project Linus blankets for pick up by another volunteer.

This coming weekend is a Project Linus Blanket Bee and I'll be attending that. I always meet new and friendly people there. I am also looking forward to hanging with some knitting guild friends and catching up on how they're doing. It's always a positive experience to knit and crochet with other people who enjoy making blankets for kids.

Now, Voyager

Yup, I've heard of it - but I've never seen it. Until now. TCM is running Oscar-winning movies all month long and how fun is that? I check the on-TV schedule and set to record any movies that I think I'm interested in or maybe should see to round out my movie-watching education. Now, Voyager was a wonderful movie with Bette Davis. The nerdy young woman she is at the beginning of the movie looks exactly like my son's 13 year old friend at school. Yuck. Middle school. Do we ever look worse than we do in middle school? No. It's our transition period. Except for my youngest son who looks cute at every age. Lucky!

So, I was thinking about how the movie ended. I don't think it would have ended the same way if the story were re-made. We have really relaxed our morals in current times. I suppose there was a certain strength of character to be admired in Charlotte. I think it's interesting how now, I have observed, if you want to look frumpy - like a before and after - the girl has curly and usually frizzy hair to begin with. Then she gets all this product and blow drying and irons that tame her hair and she's transformed into the "swan." Ex: The Princess Diaries; Pam Beesly on The Office; I even saw it on one of the women in the show Mercy. She usually has made-for-her curls anyway, which are gorgeous. She has "black" hair, so who knows what it looks like when she lets it go. Black people are always having to treat their hair to fit in it seems like. Michelle Obama and her girls do it most of the time and then sometimes they get to just let their hair be. Why do we have to do these things to fit in? Even my 15 year old son fights against his gorgeous curls to flatten them out and have straight hair like all the other guys.

Embrace what's yours. I guess that's all I can say.