Numbnut Secret Pal
While in Belgium, I signed up to do Secret Pal 12. I've participated 3 times before and I've met many nice people because of it. I don't fancy myself as the best "SP" but in the past I've done pretty well keeping up with people and sending out snail mail along with e-mails. However, life was so much busier this summer than planned and I haven't been the SP I had hope to be this time. So, apologies go out to my upstream pal (who I don't know yet) and my downstream pal (who doesn't know me yet).
Luckily, it's not over yet and I can try to make it up to both of them during this last stretch. Over the past several weeks participants were encouraged to answer questions on their blogs and I've been very lax about that. I kept thinking I'd get back to it and post more about knitting and it didn't happen. So to my very sweet upstream pal (who has a busy life of her own) I will finally answer the questions. (SP: I know you're getting my package ready or have already mailed it, so this is only information to get to know me better.)
What is your favorite summertime drink??
I like to make a variety of ice teas in the summer, but I must say I think the perfect summer drink is a gin and tonic.
As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?
Camping. My family would take our camper somewhere for 2 weeks and it would be great to have all that time together without TV and phones. Hmmm, it's different now with cell phones and i-Pods isn't it? I've recently asked some family members to conider camping equipment when they feel an urge to buy us gifts. It's about the only time I like to be dirty.
What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?
One large plastic tub full. That's it. Is that what I have? Uh no. I have about three times that much.
What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?
Sometimes I run across a pattern that calls for a specific yarn that I'd love to try, but nothing comes to mind right now.
What yarn do you never want to be without?
All my knitting buds know the answer to this question.
Dishcloth cotton.
And you know what? That's not so bad. It's inexpensive, easy to find, utilitarian but also comes in a great variety of colors. (Peaches & Cream is my favorite.)
Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday?
Golly, I loved Belgium and San Diego, California. I lived in both of these places for a short time (2 months and 2 years respectively) and I think part of the appeal is being familiar enough with them that it's easy to get around. Of course, they're also both quite beautiful and we have friends/family to visit in both places. However, we went to Vermont last year to a fairly remote cabin on a swim-able pond and I loved it. We were also with very good friends and that seems to kick it up a notch.
Where is one place you’d like to go?
Are you kidding? One place? Ireland, Italy, Norway, the Grand Canyon, the Northwest, Costa Rica, Africa, various parts of China and thousands more that escape me for now.
What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?
If I were better at them, I'd say socks since they are so portable, but really something easy that doesn't require too much concentration. I almost always have a ball-band dishcloth on some needles but a fairly simple scarf or hat works well. Clothes for kids are good because they're small and often times just require a stockinette stitch. So, basically something portable and easy.
Tell us about a time that you packed too much knitting or were stranded without knitting.
I almost always pack too much knitting so on the trip to Belgium I was very conscientious about packing only enough. I didn't get it all done, but I was satisfied with the amount. Plus my knitting buds sent me even more yarn just in case. I'm rarely stranded without knitting.
What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit?
I don't like to miss out on knitting opportunities, so every place is my favorite.I once took my knitting to Disneyland while Hubby was at a conference and I went by myself. You can imagine the looks I received from people standing in line! I knit in church, at the movies, during Buttons' swim lessons, waiting for various appointments, at playgroup, in the car (passenger only) and many more spots. So, "Knit in Public" day is pretty much any day for me. However, my usual places are in front of the tube or with my knitting buds at the local bookstore/coffee seller.
What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?
Knitting buds (or a good movie), coffee or tea, a comfy chair and good lighting.
What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?
Something I can order in an air-conditioned restaurant. I'm not fond of the heat. There are two restaurants (one near here and one in my hometown) that serve chicken salad with pecans in the middle of delicious seasonal fruit with a poppyseed dressing. It's a wonderful summer dinner.
Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair?
No.
Would you ever consider it?
Never say never, but I doubt it. I always want knitting to be pure enjoyment and I think I would worry too much about it if it was entered in a competition. I'm not the best knitter and I'm okay with that most of the time, but I know it would stress me to truly be judged. I've toyed around with selling stuff, but I think that wouldn't work well for the reasons above combined with the fact that I'm not a very fast knitter either.
So, now you know a little bit more about me, Secret Pal. Can't wait to hear more about you!
Luckily, it's not over yet and I can try to make it up to both of them during this last stretch. Over the past several weeks participants were encouraged to answer questions on their blogs and I've been very lax about that. I kept thinking I'd get back to it and post more about knitting and it didn't happen. So to my very sweet upstream pal (who has a busy life of her own) I will finally answer the questions. (SP: I know you're getting my package ready or have already mailed it, so this is only information to get to know me better.)
What is your favorite summertime drink??
I like to make a variety of ice teas in the summer, but I must say I think the perfect summer drink is a gin and tonic.
As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?
Camping. My family would take our camper somewhere for 2 weeks and it would be great to have all that time together without TV and phones. Hmmm, it's different now with cell phones and i-Pods isn't it? I've recently asked some family members to conider camping equipment when they feel an urge to buy us gifts. It's about the only time I like to be dirty.
What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?
One large plastic tub full. That's it. Is that what I have? Uh no. I have about three times that much.
What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?
Sometimes I run across a pattern that calls for a specific yarn that I'd love to try, but nothing comes to mind right now.
What yarn do you never want to be without?
All my knitting buds know the answer to this question.
Dishcloth cotton.
And you know what? That's not so bad. It's inexpensive, easy to find, utilitarian but also comes in a great variety of colors. (Peaches & Cream is my favorite.)
Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday?
Golly, I loved Belgium and San Diego, California. I lived in both of these places for a short time (2 months and 2 years respectively) and I think part of the appeal is being familiar enough with them that it's easy to get around. Of course, they're also both quite beautiful and we have friends/family to visit in both places. However, we went to Vermont last year to a fairly remote cabin on a swim-able pond and I loved it. We were also with very good friends and that seems to kick it up a notch.
Where is one place you’d like to go?
Are you kidding? One place? Ireland, Italy, Norway, the Grand Canyon, the Northwest, Costa Rica, Africa, various parts of China and thousands more that escape me for now.
What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?
If I were better at them, I'd say socks since they are so portable, but really something easy that doesn't require too much concentration. I almost always have a ball-band dishcloth on some needles but a fairly simple scarf or hat works well. Clothes for kids are good because they're small and often times just require a stockinette stitch. So, basically something portable and easy.
Tell us about a time that you packed too much knitting or were stranded without knitting.
I almost always pack too much knitting so on the trip to Belgium I was very conscientious about packing only enough. I didn't get it all done, but I was satisfied with the amount. Plus my knitting buds sent me even more yarn just in case. I'm rarely stranded without knitting.
What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit?
I don't like to miss out on knitting opportunities, so every place is my favorite.I once took my knitting to Disneyland while Hubby was at a conference and I went by myself. You can imagine the looks I received from people standing in line! I knit in church, at the movies, during Buttons' swim lessons, waiting for various appointments, at playgroup, in the car (passenger only) and many more spots. So, "Knit in Public" day is pretty much any day for me. However, my usual places are in front of the tube or with my knitting buds at the local bookstore/coffee seller.
What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?
Knitting buds (or a good movie), coffee or tea, a comfy chair and good lighting.
What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?
Something I can order in an air-conditioned restaurant. I'm not fond of the heat. There are two restaurants (one near here and one in my hometown) that serve chicken salad with pecans in the middle of delicious seasonal fruit with a poppyseed dressing. It's a wonderful summer dinner.
Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair?
No.
Would you ever consider it?
Never say never, but I doubt it. I always want knitting to be pure enjoyment and I think I would worry too much about it if it was entered in a competition. I'm not the best knitter and I'm okay with that most of the time, but I know it would stress me to truly be judged. I've toyed around with selling stuff, but I think that wouldn't work well for the reasons above combined with the fact that I'm not a very fast knitter either.
So, now you know a little bit more about me, Secret Pal. Can't wait to hear more about you!
Labels: Knitting, Secret Pal
posted by Katie J @ 1:26 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
You were an AWESOME SP in my first round, SP9!! You initiated me into the whole SP thing and gave me such a positive experience; you will always stand out among all of my pals for that. I liked that you sent snail-mail cards and stayed in touch with chatty emails, and I truly felt like you put so much thought into every package (plus made GREAT stuff for me - and I am a picky sort who's difficult to please.) I'm sure that now you're back in the US of A, you'll be all over the SP thing this round. It would be hard to do from outside the US or Canada, I think, b/c the postage is so expensive and more importantly, you need so much lead time to send them. That's why I didn't opt for an international pal this time, after having one on both sides last time, despite having a great experience there too.
Awe shucks. Thanks Robin! You were a great downstream pal.
Gin and tonic, huh? Did I know that about you? Did you know I too love gin and tonics as a summer drink? Hope to share one some time!
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