Inspired = New Project Underway...

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So some cooler weather has finally arrived in the Southwest, and thus Forecast is finally getting to come out of the closet. But let's face it, I'm not going to get too much wear out of Forecast in West Texas (except when I go home to Canada in December for the holidays [YAY!]), so I'm casting on for a new project which will get much more wear down here on the Panhandle: can you guess? Here's an INSPIRED hint...

I wrote to "The Brown Sheep" to see how Parikha would feel about my Zephyr Girls' Rusted Root being a version of hers. She was so cool about it, and so now, I'm underway. BTW, this isn't the first time I've been totally inspired by Parikha--see? see?

Who inspires you?

Have a good weekend everyone--

Blog Action Day Continued

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"Not Just a Platform for My Dance"*

this land is not
just a place to set my house my car my fence

this land is not
just a plot to bury my dead my seed

this land is
my tongue my eyes my mouth

this headstrong grass and relenting willow
these flat-footed fields and applauding leaves
these frank winds and electric sky

are my prayer
they are my medicine
and they become my song

this land is not
just a platform for my dance.

-- Marilyn Dumont, Cree/Metis poet


*This poem is from Marilyn Dumont's collection, _A Really Good Brown Girl_ (1996), which I highly recommend.

I wanted to quote Marilyn Dumont's poem for yesterday's Blog Action Day post, instead of listing the several things that my partner and I do to try to live green, but my copy of Dumont's book was at the office. I think we all know now--or at least the resources abound for finding out--the changes we need to make in the ways that the people (of the First World) live (if to consume is to live).

Therefore, I wanted to use my little blog space to ask ourselves to remember that in these noble efforts to "save the earth,"--which, of course, is a bit silly given that eventually the earth will be just fine--it'll be us humans and many/most of the animals that will be long gone--that we need to listen carefully to indigeneous peoples from around the globe who have always lived closely and respectfully with the earth. Indeed, to quote Barry Lopez, "what is it going to take to get people to start listening finally to our world's aboriginal peoples and to take their very important knowledge seriously?"

Blog Action Day--Unite!

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You can go here to find out more about Blog Action Day, and you'll find there a link to the Action Blog where you can find tips and ideas for living green from other bloggers. Of course, we knitters also have a great resource on Ravelry--the Green Craft Discussion Group [that link only works for those who have a Ravelry account].
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{BTW: I took the poultry photos from the last post when I attended my first County Fair last month and ate my first fried cheese on a stick (eewww)}.

Feeling Cocky

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So thank you all for your kind words on Forecast. I was really flattered by your comments.

But I'm also waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy late in thanking two other women whom I admire so much: Olga of YoLaTejo and Parihka of TheBrownSheep. These two talented, intelligent and gorgeous women tagged me for two awards: Olga honored me with a "Schmoozer Award" and Parikha, a "ROCKIN' GIRL BLOGGER" award weeks (months?) back, just when I was forcing myself to step away from all the blogging/ravelry time for a rest from the computer world (and to get some work in the so-called real world done!).



These awards mean a lot to me, because, as Olga says in her post, "I probably wouldn't still be doing this blogging thing if it weren't for you all." It's true for me too. The group of warm, genuine, supportive women I've "met" via this blog--and theirs--has added immensely to my creative life. Often the blog seems like another thing I have to do on an already full list, but then I think of you all, and how much I enjoy interacting with you, and I know for sure that I want to keep blogging--even if it is really sporadically, at times. So a big shout out of LOVE goes to all you--even the silent lurkers!!

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And this photo is for Al Gore, who just might be feeling a bit cocky today as well :) YAY GORE AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS EVERYWHERE!! YOU'RE ALL DEFINITELY ROCKIN'! And so, in honor of this wonderful day for Gore and the UN panel and the EARTH, I'm going to point you towards a few of my favourite environmental websites: SewGreen; localharvest.org.; and treehugger.com

~ And remember: 15 October is Blog Action Day: Unite!

Can You Tell?

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Can you tell how much I love my Forecast? How pleased I am with the results? (BTW, the above photo was inspired by halfandhalf's photoshoot of her fantastic Forecast).


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No? Well, let me give you a few hints...


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How's that? Need more?




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Pattern: Forecast, by Stefanie Japel of Glampyre Knits, free from Knitty
Size: XS
Yarn: Cascade 220, 4 skeins
Needles: US 5 and US 7
Modifications: I used the now famous, original modifications of Winnie and Pinku, which are posted at the Forecast KAL.

FORECAST: LIGHTENING!! (I love this photo best!)

My heartful thanks go out to Stefanie Japel (who's pregnant! congratulations!) for creating such wonderful (and often free) patterns for us to knit. I now want to rush out to buy Fitted Knits to make the U-shaped vest and the classic V-sweater. And my heartful thanks go out to the many wonderful knitters, such as Winnie and Pinku, and those on the Forecast KAL, who inspired me to go ahead and make this beautiful sweater. Merci beaucoup!

Coming Out From Under A Rock

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Thanks to my dear friends-readers who welcomed me back to blogland so quickly, so warmly. I've missed you all so, even though I've been quietly reading y'all in the background. I don't want to talk about what's been going on. Instead, I want to use this reemergence to talk about what I want to do. And, dear readers, having been inspired by all of you, there is oh so much I want to do.


Stay posted :) I'm coming back...

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