Another Dozen

Day 100: Even while I've been knocked flat by the combination of flu and pneumonia, my fingers have not been idle. Okay, there were times when getting through a single row felt like climbing a mountain, but the same principle applies: just put one foot/finger in front of the other and keep moving forward. You'll get there eventually. My sincere thanks go to Kelli (wife of my good friend Kevin) for her generous gift of yarns. Five of the hats shown here were made from her donation. Thanks are also due Jean, our former campground host for her contribution to my "Joppa Flats Hats" project. Much of the yarn used in previous dozen came from her stash, as did the material for three or four of these. Proceeds from the sale of these hats (to be sold in Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport MA) go exclusively to support their bird-banding program. I am thrilled to be able to contribute...long-distance!

Joppa Flats Hats

Day 54: I like to call this the "Flats Hats Project" (a little word-play, though some of you may not understand the reference to the NPS "flat hat" without this word of explanation). Last week, I learned that the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center ("Mass" for Massachusetts) has had volunteer knitters working for them for the last several years, producing warm-fuzzies for sale in the Center's gift shop. I had visited Joppa Flats when I was staying with a friend in New Hampshire and was very impressed with their interpretive programs, especially those geared to young people. It occurred to me that this was an opportunity for me to contribute without significant financial burden. I immediately picked up needles and yarn and started working. In the past week, I've turned out five hats and have just started a sixth. When I have 10-12 done, I will mail them off. All proceeds go to support Mass Audubon's bird-banding station.

In these tortured political times, I am driven to do more for the environmental causes which are so close to my heart. While National Parks are obviously suffering under the current administration, smaller conservancies are being hard-hit as their funding organizations are shut down or reduced. Although I don't know that Joppa Flats has been affected, the Nisqually Land Trust certainly has. These smaller environmental groups may be our only hope. Please, if you can, find a way to give them support, even if you knit it.

No Idle Hands

Day 49: Of the many things my grandmother taught me, one basic piece of philosophy stands out: keep your hands busy. She expressed this tenet by saying, "Idle hands are the devil's playground," and while I don't believe in devils, it's quite true that boredom opens doors for mischief in most people, mild or otherwise. It may manifest as something as simple as snacking too heavily. After all, your hands want something to do. Why shouldn't they pick up a scoop of nuts or a piece of chocolate and convey it to your mouth? Busy hands are happy hands, and as you might infer, mine have had plenty to do with more to come. This display doesn't show what's already boxed for shipping, just a few last-minute projects to keep my fingers out of trouble.