The World's Largest Granny Square, Part 3

Well, loyal follower, I've promised at least twice that I am trying to crochet the largest granny square.  Here's the update.  I haven't given the subject much thought lately, what with holidays, and so forth, but a great article appeared in the New Yorker a few weeks ago which profiles Ashrita Furman, one of the greatest world record holders in a number of categories.  The article got me thinking about my granny square, which is currently sitting on a sofa in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin.  So I decided to do a bit more serious investigation on the topic, only to find that there is no World's Largest Granny Square, most likely because when we are seeking something that is the largest in it's category we must be able to clearly define the category.  Granny Square, unfortunately, is not an entirely clear category given to the whims of the craftsperson and the designer and even the yarn.  There is, however, a record held by an American woman, Daphne O'Connor, which is the record for the largest crochet blanket.  When I read about the object, I must admit that my interest was piqued, but only kinda-sorta.  This woman, (who also holds a record the largest quilt), spent the better part of Two Years working on this ginormous object, measuring 24.68 by 11.58 meters (that's 81 feet long, friends).  While I love the idea, given the stack of multiple yarn art projects I've got sitting around at any one time, this one most likely won't happen...there are just too many great little ideas for me to focus on one giant task.  One thing that I learned from the New Yorker article, which doesn't really surprise me, is that there are very few world records that don't involve some incredible training and/or endurance to complete.  You aren't just gonna sit down on the beach one summer and crochet the biggest darn blanket, but heck, a gal can dream, huh?

I just love this picture!!!! Granny square, granny square!!! Me & Dad.

Couldn't I ride this while crocheting a chain?

So there you have it. Will I add on to my beloved Granny Square next summer on a cool evening?  Probably not. But the topic has led to other slightly absurd dreams.  I did find a great link that led me to a description of multiple crochet-related records.

One that is particularly interesting is the "crochet while marathoning" record.  Susie Hewer holds this record, set in 2010 in the London Marathon.  What about Crochet while doing an Ironman?  Has anyone attempted to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 and then do a marathon while crocheting?  NOW we're talking, huh?  I better start training, ha ha!


And so it goes...just a few more days before the 2012 season starts and I start holding myself to ridiculous training schedules and demands. For now, it's one workout a day and dreams of silliness and fun.  So, who knows?  One day I'm gonna wake up and just keep being silly, after all, life is too short and there are some great projects waiting for me to start!

Yokohama Mama Shawl

I Finally took a sick day yesterday, after running a fever all night Tuesday.  It was a giant relief to be able to stay on the couch all day. In fact, I was able to finish one of the multitudes of yarn projects that I am working on.  Not a minute too soon for holiday snug wear, it's the Yokohama Mama crochet shawl designed by Doris Chan.  It's based on a patterned that Doris'  mother used to crochet a spectacular doily for her post-war trousseau.

Doris wrote, in Piecework, My/June 2011:
...Everyone knows about Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the war, but few remember the Great Yokohama Air Raid that occurred a few months before. On May 29, 1945, American B-29s firebombed Yokohama and in just over an hour killed an estimated 8,000 people and destroyed nearly half the city. It was like rain, she (Doris' mother) remembers, like terrible rain that burned everything. Her parents had sent her away from the city before the bombing to stay with Older Sister and her husband, to shelter underground at the foot of the mountain. To keep busy during those long weeks, she had learned to crochet by watching and listening to Older Sister.  ....She's copied the lacy table doily in her hands from pictures in one of Older sister's books. She can't know that half a century later this doily, the only piece of her crochet that survives, will be cherished lovingly by the baby she expecting (Doris).

Doris goes on to say that her mother married a US serviceman who, like many other US servicemen was sent to Japan after the end of the war.  She soon moved to the United States, leaving home and family. 

Here's a link to what Doris said about the original doily in her own blog post: backstory.

Photo courtesy of Ashby

Photo courtesy of Ashby

Photo: Ashby

So my unveiling for the faculty party was just perfect. Cathy, bless her heart, called me Joyce Carol Oates when I walked in with my glasses and big flowy red shawl.  Nan and Ashby were oohing and aching all over the place.  According to Ashby, I need to make her a shawl...probably true, but it's quite medicating for me to be able to create almost exclusively for myself.

Forget shopping!!!!!!

Life is far too short and they already have too much stuff.  Went for a walk in the forest preserve & here, in the trailside museum, which I usually find too depressing, is this gorgeous coyote that I immediately fell in love with. The holidays can be hard, especially for sensitive people like me who need time, home, and quiet. I'm going to visit tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow. Take care of yourself, just in case you need that little bit extra.

Where's karen at?

Holy mackerel, this workaday week thing is a killer.  I'm snapping at the kids, yelling at Peter, so much so that by the end of the week I had no voice (actually, I have a terrible cold).  Peter proclaimed that he sort of likes it when I can't talk.  Yeah, right.  Oh well, it is a mere week before Christmas and we're feeling it around here, big time.  It's completely dark before 5:00 and we just had our first snowfall of any sort of accumulation.

The la-di-da song!!!!!!

Today was a good day, though.  We headed out for a midday show of Redmoon Theater's Winter Pageant  and followed it with a great afternoon supper at Mana.  Redmoon's Winter Pageant is a wonderful holiday tradition with Nan and the four of us.  Every December Redmoon creates some delightful show.  Timing is crucial, because whatever day it is we are heading to the show, I'm tired, stressed, and simply down on the grey and increasing cold.  Everything is sort of buzzing in my ears and I wonder, what can I possibly do to save myself?  The show, without fail, is a surprising delight.  This year's show is The Teeny Lounge.  All children were invited to don some costume-wear and sit at tiny cabaret style tables before the stage. We knew we were in for a different performance than that we've seen before.  We laughed until we cried, all five of us pleased with our afternoon.
Then off to Mana, shared plates of sesame noodles, hummus w/bread & veggies, brussels sprouts with miso mustard sauce, potato pancakes with apple sauce and sour cream, chili, spanikopita, and mushroom sliders.  It was all terrific, and we can't wait to go back again!  In fact, on weeknights 4-7 there is a special, 7.50 for two sliders and a beer, yum!!!! Can I get there and back during the kids' swim practice?

The Subaru's Farewell Tour of Florence and Vicinity

Siuslaw River Bridge
Scott took the car out for a goodbye drive on a brilliant coastal day.  Really, it still rains on the coast in December, but you wouldn't know from these recent pictures. We're looking at highlights of the places that Dad visited in the car for so many years. Scenic beauty and local haunts alike. That's our Florence.

One of my favorite restaurants

My favorite Lake--Cleawox

My Favorite Hangout

My favorite chainstore

Coast Guard Tower, North Jetty

North Jetty Siuslaw River

Heceta Head Lighthouse

Sea Lion Caves

Cape Creek Bridge

Devil's Elbow Beach

Bye Bye Beach

Where I used to live in Florence

Subaru sweet Subaru....needs a few more bumper stickers

 It's here!  And just in time for our first dusting of snow!  The delights are many of driving an early nineties car around suburbia. Addie says:  "Hey...it's so simple!!"! No CD player, only five pre-set buttons for the radio, a few simple buttons for the heater, and no lighting dashboard, so you better know where everything is, get the setting, and roll!  It's also, of course, miraculously clean and tidy, a testament to the proper behaviour of my Dad, for all of these years.  There are a few lonely pine needles that I hope to keep into perpetuity.

The big truck

Embellishments courtesy of Scott: I DUNE euro sticker, Florence, Oregon & the iconic I heart Oregon Map. The rest is all Dad.

Addie! Take a picture of me driving w/the snow in background! 

Two Hundred Seventy Seven Days 'Til Ironman Wisconsin

But who's counting? In fact, after a run around town with wonderful Bob, I may have miscalculated.  Whatever the number, it's coming, and when September rolls around, this capital view will look a wee bit different. But for today, on a road trip with my teacher friends, Madison is as stunnng and lovely as ever.

You can take the girl out of Oregon, but can you take the Subaru, also?

Have bumper stickers, will travel...

95k and counting...

We're shipping Dad's car from Oregon all the way to Illinois. Silly idea, but we want to give it a try.   On this December day on the Oregon coast it just happens to be sunny and mild.  Here in Oak Park, well, you guessed it...grey, cold, dark, wet, lack of visible greenery, rough streets, siren in the distance, alas.  I guess if you can take an eighteen year old girl away from Oregon, never to return, you can just as easily transport Dad's beloved 1994 Subaru Loyale.  It's all a matter of wear and tear.   The creaks in my joints, the wrinkles, worry lines, and stress headaches that I endure. What sort of physical drama will be bestowed upon our car?  But I digress, this is a time for the lilt of the heart that comes only when one is about to embark upon ownership of a new car! In this case, a car loaded with memories, love, and a rather solid engine.  So....bring it on, and thank you Scott for the safe delivery on the other end!