The DISHY DOZEN.....

It is official! THE DISHY DOZEN completed the Dish Rag Tag 2008!!!!! Y'all were wonderful and I had more fun than I could ever have imagined. Wendy, you were a great team captain! Thanks for everything you did to keep us on track! And huge thank you goes to Emily for organizing this whole thing. I hope you are willing to do this again next year...can you say DRT, a 3-peat without paying a royalty to someone? I definitely have DRTWS - Dish Rag Tag Withdrawal Syndrome! Hope all you dishy girls keep in touch!!!

Dish Rag Tag, the Sequel!

After flying from Ft. Worth to Mobile, the Dishy Dozen DRT box finally landed in the mailbox!












Look at all the goodies that Katherine sent me! Note the Scrubber!

Look at the great stickers! And, look at all that packing tape!









At 12:55pm I walked out to the mailbox with my fingers crossed. I wasn't disappointed! In the mailbox was the Dishy Dozen DRT box from Katherine! I couldn't wait to get inside and open this treasure trove. Notice the stitch markers, needle gauge, the dishrag made by the official pattern, and a great scrubbie crocheted with cotton yarn and netting (or tulle). By 1:15pm I was knitting away. For a brief period of time it was quiet at work and I was able to get 1/2 of the cloth knitted up. Then, as is typical of Friday afternoons at the church, things got very busy. I was finally able to duck out and I went to the park near the post office to finish knitting. By 4:30pm I had completed the cloth and I began packing the box. At 4:50pm I walked into the post office and sent the box on its way to Sara! Fly like the wind little box! This has been great fun! Go DISHY DOZEN!!!

GPS Tracking Needed For Wayward Dish Rag Tag Box!!!

I was so disappointed on Thursday when THE DISHY DOZEN Dish Rag Tag Box was not delivered to me. Alas, the mail box was empty. I checked the Track & Confirm at USPS.com and look what I found...the box just passed me by...it went winging right over me! This little box went from Ft. Worth, Texas to Mobile, Alabama and by-passed Gulfport, Mississippi! I realize they process the mail at different regional facilities but I think this is ridiculous! How silly! I would have helped them process it right here! With any luck the long awaited box will arrive to my waiting hands today. Updates at Noon!

Dish Rag Tag Ready!!!

Goodie Bag!










This is a bag filled with goodies! I just knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the letter carrier for this rural route would deliver the box belonging to The Dishy Dozen to me today. This was, of course, wishful thinking on my part!

I have been picking up little things along the way in the hopes that the next person in line would be delighted when she opened the box! It was a lot of fun to shop! Of course, I never need much prodding when it comes to shopping.

Anyway! Here is the evidence! I am ready, sitting on the bench, waiting for my turn in the "big game!" Go, Dishy Dozen!

Tag! You're It!

*** My 100th Post!!!***

Empty Needles...
Not For Long!!!!!

Well,...I have been tagged! My needles are presently empty but with any luck they will have some type of cotton yarn on them soon!

I received the official "tag" in the Dish Rag Tag. The box is in the mail and winging its way here from Kat's home in Texas.

I have been following the progress of our team under Wendy's capable leadership. It has been fun to cheer each other on as the box travels across the country. This is my first time to participate in any kind of swap. Maybe I am too shy. Or, maybe I just ponder the decision too long. This has proven to be lots of fun so I think there are other swaps in my future! So, until the DRT box lands on my desk at work I urging it on with my good thoughts.

My hat is off to Kat, who knit like to wind and managed a quick turn around.

67 DEGREES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is September 16th and this morning's dawn brought a breeze from the North and a temp of 67 degrees! How refreshing!



On the injury front, I think my thumb is finally beginning to show signs of recovering. So, whether it is a sprained thumb or just my arthritis or a flare-up of carpal tunnel, my thumb is finally feeling more normal! Yeah! That is a very good thing because my turn will soon come up for the Dish Rag Tag, The Sequel. I am looking forward to my turn to be tagged. I have my strategy mentally prepared and I have collected an assortment of goodies to put in the box before it goes on the my fellow teammate!

Hope this finds you well! Keep praying for the victims of Hurricane Ike! He was a mean one!

Tornado Watch!

The Outer Bands....













...Of Clouds, Wind, & Rain!













A Diversion from the Weather!







Even though Hurricane Ike is expected to impact Texas one of the things that cannot be ignored are the outer bands that circulate from the eye of the storm. In the case of Ike, these bands extend about 275 miles or more from the center or eye! This means that Ike literally fills the area of the Gulf of Mexico with bands of tropical storm force winds and rain. The other thing that a storm like this carries is water. Since Thursday, 9/11, low-lying areas along the Mississippi Gulf Coast have had to deal with flooding. These waters are being pushed over the beaches and seawalls and other barriers. Parts of Highway 90 or Scenic Highway, have been closed since early yesterday morning because of the wind-driven water.

The first 2 pictures show the bands of clouds that greeted me first thing this morning. What the pictures can't convey is the force of the wind! When I snapped these pictures the wind was gusting at 42 miles per hour. I really had a hard time standing upright long enough to take the pictures. And, we are under a tornado watch which means conditions are favorably for the formation of nasty weather...we have been put on notice!

As a diversion from the weather, I picked up the Anne Scarf that has been hibernating in one of my project bags. I was able to spend a little bit of time on it this morning and was able to add about 6 inches to its length. Hopefully I can finish this scarf before the Dish Rag Tag box arrives at my door. I am looking forward to my turn to help bring victory to The Dishy Dozen!

"The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of His feet." Nahum 1:3 (NIV)

Look What We're Tracking Now!

Ike's Present Path







Well, you can tell that it is storm season. Everytime we turn around there is some kind of storm to monitor. The track above is for Hurricane Ike from Bob Breck, weather authority at WVUE - Fox 8 New Orleans. Historically the month of September is the height of hurricane season. Any system that shoots across Africa into the Atlantic is worthy of observing. It looks like conditions are quite favorable for Ike to continue on this track. My prayer is that cooler, dryer air would miraculously wrap itself around this system and disintegrate it. None of us, including the Cubans, need another storm. Besides, these storms could seriously interfere with the Dish Rag Tag! Perish the thought! LOL!

In Training!

Dishcloth Knitting
for Training Purposes!

Feather & Fan








Several weeks ago I injured my right thumb. For what seems like decades (actually 4 weeks) I haven't been able to put any pressure on it which means I can't knit or crochet. The time I would have used for knitting I spent with my hand wrapped in a heating pad. But, with my turn in the Dish Rag Tag looming ahead I knew I had to start getting into shape. I have to be able to knit with red hot needles so I can complete the official pattern and get it and all the goodies I have accumulated in the mail. So your good thoughts for my thumb will be greatly appreciated.

Go Dishy Dozen!

Eye Candy Friday!

I don't think any words are necessary. These are pics I snapped during the course of the week! Needless to say, my eyes were able to feast!

On another front, my DRT team, The Dishy Dozen, seems to be knitting quickly and the box with goodies is moving well. I am actually quite excited to receive the box and give my best for the team. However, my wait will be lengthy. Since I live one state away from the "miracle' household it was only logical that the team members from Mississippi and Alabama would be the last to get the coveted box. I will just have fun cheering my teammates on until it is my turn!

Blessings!

We Have A Name!

Well, Team # 10 now has an official identity!

We are now THE DISHY DOZEN!

Let the games begin!!!!!!!!!!!

Injured Reserves!

The Injured Thumb!

A couple of weeks ago, in a hasty moment, I hurt my right thumb. I cannot even recall with clarity what I was doing when it happened. I just know that when I tried to knit it hurt! So, my husband, being a former high school baseball coach, recommended that I sit in the dugout for a few days to let the injury heal. Now I realize that his advice was sound but I really hate to go a day without knitting! Isn't there an old saying, "Seven days without knitting makes one weak!" Well, I did manage to keep my hands idle for a couple of days but then I was enticed by an intriguing crochet project,...the Practically Hyperbolic Dishcloth! Well, I whipped up a couple of those without very much pain so I thought I was home free. Then, I got an email announcing the teams for the upcoming...

the equivalent of "The Big Game"!




So, I thought I would get in a bit of practice knitting to warm up for my team's blindingly quick finish. However, I tripped over one of my darling kitties and jammed my thumb yet again. Given the need for knitting excellence and speed in the Dish Rag Tag, I have placed myself on the injured reserve list to rest my thumb. Typing doesn't hurt, thankfully, so I can still work.

So, Team # 10, the team to be named soon, I will be ready to knit with great speed and agility when called upon because I want our team to win the "tag"!

Blessings! GO TEAM # 10!!!!!