And here's another map

Where I've been in the States:


visited 49 states (98%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

Places I've been!

How's this for a cool web toy?


visited 18 states (8%)
Create your own visited map of The World

Episode 72 is Live!

LOOK! A bear in New Zealand by Knitopotamus!

Add yourself to our CogKNITive Listeners Map!

What's On My Hook/Needles/Spindle: I'm almost done my first bear for The Mother Bear Project CAL/KAL.

See the previous entry (Episode 71) for details

Post a picture of your bear right here as a comment or here at Ravelry.



Look what Straphanging donated as yet another prize for this KAL/CAL--1600 yards of cashmere lace-weight!

The CogKNITIve Meet-up at STITCHES WEST will be at 3 PM on Saturday at Booth 111--the Mother Bear Project booth.
Bring your bear to turn in OR
bring old yarn or needles or hooks to donate OR
bring $5. for the pattern OR
bring $10 to sponsor someone else's bear and have your name put on it.

If nothing else, bring nothing, pay nothing, get love from Dr Gemma for even showing up, and take a brochure to give to your local knitting group to inspire them to make bears.

Just COME! Bring YOURSELF and get a warm hug!

I'm exactly at the same place on all my other projects! ARG!!! No knitting time!

Dizzy Blonde: We had a lovely spinning get-together at the home of the lovely Libertyknits, and I tried out some SW merino from Freckleface Fibers of Etsy and the last CogKnitive Fiber Retreat fame.

Strategy: When in doubt, consult.

Something I Really Like: Some new podcasts: Jewish Diva Diaries, The Knitting Show, and Yarns From the Plains

Blather: Different yard, different responses to the holidays. And a little paranoia circulates in the housing unit this week.

Stay tuned for details of the next CogKNITive Fiber Retreat! Planning has begun!

Episode 71 is Live!

Post a picture of your bear right here as a comment or here at Ravelry.

Add yourself to our CogKNITive Listeners Map!

What's On My Hook/Needles/Spindle: The Mother Bear Project CAL/KAL has begun! Roll your cursor over each bear here to see the name of its fabulous creator.

HERE ARE SOME DETAILS:

**Use the instructions from one of the links below to knit or crochet a bear for the Mother Bear Project.**

Details and donations buttons (you can get the pattern by giving $5 and emailing them that you'd like the pattern)

Various links to the (free) patterns available:

Knitted bear

Crocheted bear

Bear knitted in the round and also here.

The wonderful book, Knitting For Peace by Betty Christiansen

**The CAL/KAL starts Jan 1st, officially, and it stops when I am done at least one bear!**

**One entry for the yarny wonderful prize per bear knitted or crocheted!**

Get out those scraps and warm up those hooks and/or needles! **You can publish your pics in January right here!!**

**Send completed bears with $3.00** to cover cost of postage for shipping to Africa to:

Mother Bear Project
P.O. Box 62188
Minneapolis, MN 55426

Volunteers will sew a red felt heart onto your bear's chest. If you did not buy a tag from them, volunteers will also fill out one for you, with your name or anyone's name you suggest on it, to be attached to your bear.

**These bears are meant to be personal, so each child will know the name of a person who loves them and is thinking of them!**



I'm heading up the cuff of the first of my Not More Socks in a bamboo blend. Still not moving on the Eliina Shawl.

Strategy: Give from your abundance as a way of expressing joy in the New Year.

Something I Really Like: Knitting for Peace by Betty Christiansen

Blather: How the Lendrum landed, eating at Hobees in Palo Alto one more time, and a chat with Gigi of The Knitmore Girls.

Stay tuned for details of the next CogKNITive Fiber Retreat! Planning has begun!

Episode 70 is Live!

Add yourself to our CogKNITive Listeners Map!

Coming in January...! A CAL/KAL! Made for you to use up all those annoying scraps! Details forming here on the CogKNITive blogger blog or on the Ravelry group here..

What's On My Hook/Needles/Spindle: This was recorded on my way to San Francisco to pick up my new Lendrum. Meanwhile, I am finished the Rippled Afghan! I'm finished the 2nd crocheted Country Cotton Shawl. I'm finished the Branching Out Scarf . I'm heading up the cuff of the first of my Not More Socks in a bamboo blend. Still not moving on the Eliina Shawl.

Strategy: Accept love gratefully and gracefully when it's freely offered.

Something I Really Like: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens!

Blather: Thanks for all the love! You are THE BEST podcast listeners I could ever ask for.

PS. A pleasant surprise came with my new Lendrum: Carolina Homespun wants to be a vendor at the next CogKNITive Fiber Retreat!

Episode 69 is Live!

This is one honkin' BIG afghan!

Add yourself to our CogKNITive Listeners Map!

Coming in January...! A CAL/KAL! Made for you to use up all those annoying scraps! Details forming here on the CogKNITive blogger blog or on the Ravelry group here..

What's On My Hook/Needles/Spindle: Still saving for a Lendrum wheel. BUT! Meanwhile, I am finished the Rippled Afghan! I'm nearly done the 2nd crocheted Country Cotton Shawl. I'm back on the Branching Out Scarf , learning to handle lace. I've reverted to my sock fetish and am making a new pair in a bamboo blend yarn--VERY soft & pretty! And still finishing my third quickie Knitted Neck Scarf--a 1-2-day project. Still not moving yet on the Eliina Shawl.

Strategy: Make a New Year's Plan--even just one! Instead of vague resolutions, spell out one detailed plan for success.

Something I Really Like: The joys of fresh salmon and a DH unafraid to use to use it!

Blather: It's a short episode, a kidney stone, a head cold, and holidays in a prison...it ain't pretty, but we're hanging in there!

My Salmon:
In 2 TBS olive oil, cook 2 tbs crushed garlic, then add salmon and pan fry until cooked through. Toss in lots of parsley and cook until it wilts. Add generous amount of lemon juice. At the last second before finishing, add a HUGE pile of grated parmesan. Put it all over curly pasta of some sort.

Out-takes Episode: Goody Bag Winners, Thanks to More Donors, and Sneak Peak Announcement of a KAL

Why are all these adorable little bears hanging out on my blog page, in a picture shamelessly lifted (for a good cause) from the Mother Bear Project website? Read on, Gentle Listener...

First, many thanks to the generous folk whose names I mention within. These are the latest batch of donors to the podcast. Many Thanks for your kindness and support!

Next, a rousing HUZZAH! for the winners of the 2 goody bags:
Sherri M from Elk Grove, CA
Nanette the Nanny from Arlington, VA

And here's the info about the KAL/CAL to begin in the month of January, 2010:
Use the instructions from one of the links below to knit or crochet a bear for the Mother Bear Project.
Details and donations buttons (you can get the pattern by giving $5 and emailing them that you'd like the pattern)
Various links to the (free) patterns available:
Knitted bear
Crocheted bear
Bear knitted in the round and also here.

The wonderful book, Knitting For Peace by Betty Christiansen

The CAL/KAL starts Jan 1st, officially, and it stops when I am done at least one bear!
One entry for the yarny wonderful prize per bear knitted or crocheted!

Get out those scraps and warm up those hooks and/or needles! I'll start the threads to publish your pics in January!