Ch-ch-ch-changes

Yesterday, the recurring virus issue overcame one of our desktop computers.  So, after much research and thought, we paid a visit to the Apple store.  And came home with something completely different.

Since it wasn't for me, I was just the chauffeur and tag-along eyes and ears.  So I was free to look around and appreciate the experience.  And, oh my, what an experience it was.  First of all, we had to drive to an up-scale mall in the city.  Made the nicest local mall seem pretty low on the market pole.

This store is the most aesthetically pleasing place I've been in - ever!  Walking through the doors, was like walking into computer heaven.  It is so light, bright and airy it is like being on a cloud.  That iCloud thingie seems completely appropriate.   The effect is achieved with light and no clutter.  Every housekeeper's dream.  The lights are so bright, I wish I had even one when I'm knitting at night. 

The store is huge.  There were at least 35 blue T-shirted angels staff busy with customers everywhere.  They were selling, explaining, training and problem-solving with mostly older customers.  The floor has several large, light wood tables - long enough to hold three computers.  There are no cables trailing - they are all in one spiral umbilical cord from floor to underneath the table top.  The computers appear to have no tethers and seem ready to float off into the air. So light and thin they are.

Look, ma!  No wires!

The walls are white.  Most of the products are brushed silver or white.  The packaging is white.  The lettering is a discreet gray and the logo just floats on its own without words.  Who needs them?   Our angel was a very nice young man who was patient and chatty and helpful.  When the deal was made, there wasn't anything as crass as a cash point - it's all done with handhelds and texting.  Lovely.  The receipt discreetly emerged from somewhere under the table.

Soon another helpful young man is patiently helping Anne set up her very own Mac.  I did a lot of browsing on the shelves during this time.  I loved some of the product names...my favorite is Bento Box.  Don't ask me what it does. I know what a bento box is but I couldn't translate that into a computer function.  Then another young man carried the purchase out to the car and the adventure was all over.  For me anyway.  Now, someone else's learning begins.  There are frequent cries of delight as some new trick is discovered.  And the occasional moan when things get a little too different.  I am not tempted - yet!

The Zen of Ruffles

When is knitting like meditation?

This bear is wearing six feet of ruffles!

When you're knitting one of these ruffled scarves.  I used this pattern by Jill Bujold for the first one.  Yes, I've done several now.  They are so easy and I can do all kinds of variations.  Where does the meditation come in? I can hear you asking.

The trick with these ruffles is to start with x number of stitches.  It doesn't matter because you can make this as long or short as you want depending on yarn and love of ruffles.  Every other row is doubled - I have four increase rows - so you can imagine the stitch count rocketing upwards.  Knit each row (simple) and then you bind off.  The spirals and ruffles are the magic result.

They are such a relaxing knit to me.  The needles are huge...well, I think anything over 5.5mm is huge.  And because they are so big I tend to knit slower than on the smaller sock sizes I prefer.  And when I'm knitting with mohair-type yarns, there is a certain catchy fluff factor that slows me down, too.  So, I just take my time, don't fret and it's like walking a long distance.  You get into the swing of it and when you get to your destination in a couple of hours.   Then guess what?  You want to do it all over again.

I read in one of the descriptions that this was a variation on the 'potato chip' scarf.  I thought at first that it was because the ruffles resemble Pringles chips as they emerge from the can.  But it could also mean that you can't stop at one.  I've made four already and I'm sure I'll make more.  There's lots of yarn and I think they'll sell well at the seniors' shop.

So, whenever I feel stressed, I'll just get out the big bamboo needles and knit up some ruffles.  Stress and stash busting...that's just about perfect!

The bear, for anyone interested, is one of several Bluenose Bears that I made about fifteen years ago.  I bought men's jackets at the thrift store and used vintage buttons.  This is the Harris tweed bear that I made for my Dad.  From the time I was old enough to register what my Dad wore when he dressed up, I remember the Harris tweed jacket.  They were all Bluenose bears to honor my birth province of Nova Scotia.  Most were sold or given away - there are three left at home.  They're staying put.

Front porch chattin'

It's time to visit Patrice at the farmhouse and I'm looking forward to a nice hot cup of tea at the end of the road today.

It's definitely getting to be fall-ish here and quite cold.  Hat and mitts kind of cold.  The nice thing about being a knitter is that there is no end of choice in the woollies drawer.  I'll be fine.  And, with fingerless mitts, I can knit and talk, too.  Let's see who's here and what they're all talking about today. 

Alison asks: What's the biggest obstacle you've overcome or need to?  My shyness.  I have managed to overcome it mostly by getting out and pretending I'm not.  Inside I'm cringing but no one, I hope, knows it.  I think my mother was quite shy and she had me reciting poems at school  concerts...I think this was my only talent when I was 7.  I've gone from there to teaching, to chairing meetings and making speeches.  Now, when I'm handed the microphone, I might turn beet red but I'm very comfortable, really.  I just wish everyone wasn't looking at me!

Patrice asks:  When do you start decorating for Christmas? Not until the last day of school.  It was just way easier on the kids - and me - if they didn't have the excitement of Christmas too soon.  But that may be me, too.  I am not a fan of beginning Christmas season as soon as the Hallowe'en pumpkins are off the store shelves.  


Julia asks: If you won $100,000 what changes would you make?  I don't think I would make any changes at all.  I'm very happy with my life the way it is.  So, I would  definitely share it with my kids.  When you're young there are so many expenses.


Patrice asks:  What's your favorite type of magazine to read?  That's easy.  Knitting magazines, of course.  

McGuffy Ann asks: What's the most unusual pet you've had?  I don't think I've ever had a really unusual pet.  My younger brother had a pet chicken for years.  She was a reject from the hatchery and he and a friend saved her when she was a chick.  I can't remember how long we had her - years - and she laid an egg most days.   Our family has always had cats around and the occasional dog.  This is the first time in my life to be without a cat, actually.  



It's been nice to take a break and visit.  Did I mention that Patrice had some chocolates for us today?  Of course, they're the very best kind - virtual - and exactly what we want on a cold day.  If you want to join in the chat, just hop over here and sign in. 

The day after

Now that it's all over for another year, I can share some musings on Hallowe'en .

The other day I was reading about how parents learn to let go - a little - when their kids want to trick-or-treat by themselves.  It was an interesting article until I got to the part which stated that these are kids of 12!

Now, I know  "the past is a foreign country" but, really?  These kids are wanting to go door to door for  candy?  I know that anyone who was twelve years old when I was younger (under 12) was a BIG KID.  They could do all sorts of cool stuff that I couldn't do.  But one of the things that I could do was dress up and go trick-or-treating.  It was a little-kid kind of event for us.  The only big kids who ever did this were looking for trouble, not treats.  And they didn't really dress up, either. 

Living in the city is a vastly different experience to being a kid in the country where I grew up.  I know that.  And, I know that, as I get older, I worry about all sorts of fears that I never even thought of before I was a parent.  O,r more recently, a grandparent.  My kids are all grown-up but I still can't hear a siren without thinking about where my kids are.  Not that I actually have any clue on an hourly basis as I did when they were little - mostly. 

But back to Hallowe'en.  The concerned parents were advised to make sure the kids had buddies, cell phones and a curfew.  And a further admonishment not to eat anything 'til they got home and had a parental review of the takings.  I seem to recall hearing and saying this - minus the phone - myself.  Just common sense, I think.  But apparently what was common is no longer. And the kids aren't learning it for themselves when they are young.  The message seems to be delayed years longer than necessary.  Or presented with a big fear factor.

So, my brain segue'd to a faraway time when we kids played outside for hours and hours without anyone having any real idea where we were.  Sure, we got into some scrapes but it was just part of growing up.  I vividly remember when I was nine cycling with my younger brother all of three miles very early one Saturday morning.  We were going to suss out our new house.  No one knew we were gone and I'm not sure they ever knew.  We knew the rules of the road  - or we wouldn't have had the bikes!  And, yes, there was chilly thrill of heading into the unknown.   Three years later, we were both heading off with our bikes loaded with newspapers in the early morning darkness. No adults came with us after once showing us our routes. 

Hmmm...I'm digressing again.  I'm not sure why I was shocked at the tight control of kids lives.  I know this is true these days - especially in urban areas.  Maybe it was just realizing how old the kids in question were.  And I wonder if all the safety nets keep kids from actually learning how to protect themselves.  Maybe, this is a much bigger thing than Hallowe'en freedom?

There.  Glad that's off my mind.