Happy Birthday to my DS {Dear Sister}

I feel truly blessed to be a member of my family!  I love my parents, brother and sister.  Today is my day to say Happy Birthday to the best sister a girl could ever want!  Wish I could have been there to say it in person!  We share a lot of common interests and I wish we lived closer so we could get together more often.  

I just knew DS was going to be born on my birthday and she almost was ~ she arrived to greet the world 2 days before my birthday {same parents, same hospital, same doctor, but a number of years apart}.  Because of our age difference we did not have very many years together at Mom and Dad's.  I moved 500 + miles away to attend college and here I have stayed.

Before I moved I was always playing the piano at home, so when I learned DS was taking piano lessons I proudly assumed I was part of her inspiration.  Ahhh, how family can keep us humble. One year when I was back home visiting, I sat down to play something and soon I heard my sister run thru the room to find Mom so she could tell her that I knew how to play the piano.  It seems my ability to play the piano was a total surprise to my Dear Sister.  Oh yes, I had really made an impression on her when I lived at home! LOL {Laugh Out Loud}!

Fast forward years later when she and her now hubby were setting the date for their upcoming marriage.  When they chose the same day as my wedding anniversary, I thought it was so sweet they wanted to get married on the same day.  Surprise ~ when they chose the date they did not know it was the same day as my anniversary!  

I know if we were together today, we would be laughing and having fun!  By being a number of years apart in age and my moving away when DS was young, we bypassed a lot of the squabbles and sibling rivalry that others go thru.  We headed straight for the fun times!

Time is so precious and all too short when we are together!  So on this your special day, Dear Sister, I send to you my love and birthday greetings across the miles.

To celebrate your special day, here's some toned down Guns 'n Roses for your birthday:

And if you want a little more Guns 'n Roses:

Love,
KZ

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest Dads a girl could ever want!  Dad, you have been a blessing to me my whole life!!  You watched over me and protected me when I was growing up. I know you still have an interest in my well being and though I am an adult now, it is great to know I will always be your "favorite older daughter"!

I have always appreciated how you encourage me to learn as much as I can.  I remember one particular summer day when you were so willing to let me learn, you did not even yell when I took the spring apart in the lawn mower.  I know that cost you money to have it rewound!  I thought that was so cool when you said I could take the lawn mower apart to see how it worked.  I am sure you never dreamed I would unwind that coil.  While this was not the start of a lawn mower repair service for me, I learned not to be afraid of finding out how things work. 

When I came to you as a 5 year old and said "Dad, I want to sing a solo in church."  You so wisely asked "What would you like to sing?"  To which I replied, "I don't know."  You lovingly told me to let you know when I decided what I wanted to sing.   Then a few months later I came to you and said, "Dad, I want to sing a solo in church."  Once again you asked, "What would you like to sing?"  "I don't know."  Still being the wonderful Dad you are, you replied, "Let me know when you decide what you want to sing."   In my memory I asked you this multiple times over the coming months.   While this was not the start of a singing career for me, I learned not to be afraid to ask.  

I do not recall being afraid when I gave my first public speech in the high school auditorium the night I graduated from kindergarten.   Public speaking comes so naturally to you and Mom that I probably did not know some people have a fear of giving speeches.  I learned that I was merely speaking to friends, albeit quite a large number of friends, while on stage.  That has served me well thru the years.

So on this special occasion, I wish you a happy birthday ... and many more!!   {I blurred out the number candles so your age will remain a secret.}

Love you Dad,

KZ

Happy Birthday, DS {Dear Son}!

Happy Birthday to my favorite son!!! {Remember I told you in an earlier post that we play favorites in my family!} Well even if he is my only son, he is my favorite!! This is a picture taken of DS at work. We are very proud of him as he continues to pursue a college degree while working full-time. Yes, he cleared his desk for this picture. Normally he has a ton of files out that he is working on. Also, this picture was taken on a Saturday when dress is more casual.

He tells us it is a rough job, but sometimes someone has to move the golf cart. We arrived as he was "closing up shop" and it was very windy. Proud Dad, DH {Dear Hubby}, was wind-blown from the blustery Oklahoma wind, but obliged by hopping on board for a photo op with his favorite son.

On the way home from his first day of work there, DS called to say it was by far the most bizarre first day of a new job he had ever had. Someone was on their way to visit them and pressed on the accelerator instead of the brakes, driving down some steps and into the front door. As you can see by the plywood below, repair work is still being done on the entryway. Luckily there is another entrance they can use until this entrance is totally repaired.

Ever feel like the two days of your weekend are waaaayyyy shorter than any two days during the work week?! I had to chuckle when I saw the address right above the listing of their office hours:

So that is why my work week seems so long ~ it is 1000 hours long!!! Well it does feel that way!!!

DS became my hiking buddy at an early age. We share a lot of the same interests ~ trying new foods, love of nature and animals, hiking, music, and writing ~ just to name a few. Gone are the days of him living at home, but there is a special place in our hearts for him and we are so very proud!!

In closing, I leave you with two options for drum music {DS is one fast drummer!}.

For the younger taste, here is a drum solo by John Bonham of Led Zepplin. Double Click on the arrow to start the video:

For the older taste in drummers, I give you a drum battle that took place in 1966 on the Sammy Davis, Jr. show. Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich showing off their talent:

Carpe knitting,
KZ

Happy Birthday Colonel

{a.k.a. Knitted Zebra's Brother}

While I was growing up, we celebrated birthdays two months out of the year. Dad, Knitted Zebra's Sister and KZ were born in January. Mom and KZ's Brother were born in August. We also play favorites in my family. So on this last day in August, I am sending birthday wishes to my favorite brother and our parents' favorite son.

My apologies that I do not have a better picture to share. I have inserted his face from the blurry picture we took at Mom's birthday party into a picture I took when he did not know I was taking his picture. Right after I took this he asked me not to take his picture ~ for the record though I took this before he said that. I have included this secret picture so there is something knitting related in this post and to also show how kind he is to KZ. {That's my story and I am sticking to it!} Next post you will find out more about what he was doing for me out on the rocks.

The Colonel would walk with me to school when I was in Kindergarten and in First Grade. His school was next door to mine. In First Grade I remember hunting for him sometimes when he was heading home for lunch. One of the local teens would occasionally break into the school at night. The next morning some of the older kids would tell the first graders that the person who broke into the school was waiting on us and was going to grab us. Since this scared me, I would tell my brother I did not feel good and needed to go home.

Early on my brother would receive Elvis records for Christmas. After hearing Elvis all thru the holidays, in my young mind I decided Elvis music was Christmas music. Little did we know years later the Colonel would be the only telephone company employee allowed to install a phone in Elvis' hospital room each time Elvis was there.

Being several years older than me, I was heart broken when my brother joined the Navy and I could not go with him. I remember my parents explaining to me that the Navy did not allow young girls to enlist. I did not play with dolls very often but I really liked the Ken doll with the Navy suit my parents bought for me shortly after the Colonel headed off to Boot Camp. He sent me one of his Navy hats and my parents took a picture of me wearing the hat and holding Ken the Sailor. I included the picture in my next letter to him so I could let my brother know I missed him. Years later I learned that picture went with him on four tours of Vietnam.

During the four years he was in the military, he sent me the coolest letters. I recall one where the writing was all in wavy lines like the ocean. We moved to Corinth while he was still enlisted. I remember looking out the window of our new home one afternoon and seeing my brother, dressed in uniform, getting out of a cab. It was a surprise visit so my Mom thought I was hallucinating. I went running to the front door and was so excited that I could not get the door open. I think I was calling out my brother's name over and over. My parents came running when they realized he really was on the other side of the door.

So for the Colonel's birthday, I close with Elvis on tour in Hawaii singing "American Triology." I chose this one because it shows some pictures from Tupelo, Missisippi. You will even see a couple of pictures of Elvis' birthplace which was across the street from where we lived for five years. Double click on the arrow to start the video.

Carpe knitting,
KZ

It's a Fig, Newton!

My week in Mississippi is flying by way too fast! My parents were expecting me on Monday; however, Saturday {08.11.2007} was my Mom's birthday. Knitted Zebra's Brother, Sister and I planned a surprise for Mom and Dad. They told Mom they would take them out to eat for Mom's birthday and Mom & Dad's Wedding Anniversary. After most were gathered inside the house on Saturday, I walked in and said "Happy Birthday!" Mom said she thought she was dreaming when she looked up and saw me there. She had been trying to figure out a time when all of us could be together through the week. I live 525 miles away, so it is an all day journey to "pop in."

We are enjoying laughter, great times together and wonderful food. Some of the best food comes from the fruits of my Dad's labor. He loves to work in his garden now that he is retired. I am early for the figs and muscadines, but wanted to show you what I will be missing. Above is one of the figs. Below is a shot of one of Dad's fig plants. I am sure his figs will be so tasty!

One of my all-time favorite Southern foods ~ muscadines ~ is shown below. Muscadine Jelly and Muscadine Juice fall right in line with delicious muscadines right off the vine! I did get to taste a couple of muscadines. One was ripe, but the other was evidence that I was too early for the harvest.


I have really looked forward to some of Dad's delectable green tomatoes fried up and served hot. Yum! Green fried tomatoes are so good!


Another Southern tradition, besides Mom's outstanding cooking, is a bowl of Boiled Green Peanuts. Sometimes it is hard to find them fresh, but believe it or not Peanut Patch Green Boiled Peanuts are the next best thing. {I did not believe Mom until I tried them.}


Yes, I call them Boiled Green Peanuts and they call them Green Boiled Peanuts. To me they are green peanuts that are boiled, to Peanut Patch they are Boiled Peanuts that are green. Somehow though I am not going to let semantics stand in the way of enjoying them. {Rest assured, no peanuts were wasted in the making of this photo!}

While speaking of the South, I have to mention Elvis, especially in relation to tomorrow {anniversary of his death}. While growing up I lived across the street from Elvis' birthplace for five years. {Click on birthplace to go to a link that shows pictures of his home.} At that time the birthplace served as a "rent house" and was owned by a local lady. This type house is known as a "shotgun house" in local terminology. It is a small two room house with wooden steps and a small porch the width of the house. The front door opens into a small room with another small room immediately behind the first. The back door is at the end of the second room.

When I lived in Tupelo, I had a memory of why they called it a shotgun house, so I "Googled" the term to see if I was correct. "The Shotgun house is a narrow one-story dwelling without halls. Each room is placed behind the other in single file. The roof ridge is perpendicular to the street. The traditional description of why these houses are called "shotgun" is that if one fired a shotgun through the front door, the shot would pass through the lined-up doors of each room and out the back door." {Definition from bywater.org}

I did not live in Tupelo at the time, but Elvis held a concert at the Tupelo Fair Grounds in 1956. The following statement was made by Elvis as reported in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, August 16, 2007: "Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do 'em all together."

Knitted Zebra's Brother worked for South Central Bell in Memphis for over 30 years. During this time he was assigned to handle telephone service to the downtown medical center. It was his assignment {and pleasure} to "hook up" the private telephone for Elvis each time he entered the hospital. Elvis would always be admitted after midnight. On one occasion, Elvis left him a short note as he was being discharged: "Thanks, first name of KZ's Brother, for your help." One thing that made this note unique was Elvis wrote this at 2:00 a.m. on his doctor's prescription pad. This is to the memory of Elvis as we remember him 30 years after his death.

It is amazing what some wizards can do! Tomorrow {08.17.2007} on spinner.com and on itunes, you will be able to see a duet between a now-grown Lisa Marie Presley and her father, Elvis, who died when Lisa Marie was 9 years old. In anticipation, here is a replay of the American Idol duet of Celine and Elvis. Elvis' image was taken from a concert in 1968, the year Celine was born. Double click on the arrow to start the music.

This afternoon I went to a place my sister told me about ~ The Fillin' Station at the corner of Fillmore and Wick Street in Historic Downtown Corinth. When you walk in, it is very evident the owner is a true Elvis Fan!! A number of people were enjoying "Dogs on the Run" with slaw, homemade chili and Sweet Vidalia onions. If you are in the mood for a thick slab of bologna in a cheese sandwich or a Grilled Cheese freshly made, you have come to the right place. If I am not mistaken, those are some of the sandwiches Elvis enjoyed. I stopped in for some ice cold Dr. Pepper and picked up a couple of glass bottles of Soda Pop for memorabilia from Corinth. If you are ever in the area, I know they would love to have you drop by The Fillin' Station.

The picture above was taken at my parents' home. All of our guitars are at the homes of Knitted Zebra, KZ's Brother and KZ's Son, so a piano was substituted for a musical instrument. That is a menu from The Fillin' Station though. My apologies that the pic is blurry, I needed more light.

For those who have waded thru this for the knitting content, I present to you the start of "My So Called Scarf" which I found on Sheep In the City's blog. I first saw this scarf on Stacey's blog when I was just learning to knit. I knew someday I would knit one of these. After a few projects on my knitting needles, I went in search of the beautiful Manos del Uraguay yarn she had used. It was well worth the wait! This is the Wildflowers colorway and I am using Denise Needles, size 15. I found the yarn at my LYS, Stitches.

Carpe Knitting,
KZ

A Tribute to Bulgaria and their Knitters

DS {Dear Son} and DIL {Daughter-in-Law} spent a month in Bulgaria this summer. DS met his in-laws for the first time, DIL caught up with relatives she had not seen in a few years and the month went by way too quickly for them. When I told them I was going to blog a tribute to Bulgaria, DS posed for a picture in the neat jacket he purchased while in Europe.

They were able to travel all over DIL's birth country. Christianity was adopted as the state religion in 865. Monasteries were built as literary, cultural and artistic centres. This arch is on the road to the Bachkova Monastery, which was built in 1083. Bachkova Monastery, the 2nd largest monastery in the country and also one of the most visited, is 189 km from Sofia.

The monastery survived the first round of Turkish invasions, but later was looted and ruined. Bachkova was restored in the late 15th century.

This beautiful fountain is on the monastery grounds.

Here are some more scenic photographs, including one with the traveling couple in the mountains.

While visiting DIL and DS after their trip, DIL pulled out this neat hooded sweater that an outstanding Bulgarian knitter had knitted. This looks like it was a work of love ~ Check out the detail!

Before DS and DIL left for their trip, they asked me what I wanted as a souvenir from their adventure. Naturally I said "Yarn!" {Was there any doubt?} While in Levski, they picked up some fancy Kan Kan yarn for me to make a scarf or shawl. Here's a picture of two of the skeins they picked up for me. The third skein of Kan Kan is a different colorway and will be used for a yet-to-be-determined project. Another time I will show you the beautiful yarn they bought in Turnovo. {It's a secret project, so I can't say any more at the moment.}

I decided to make a shawl with two skeins of the Kan Kan yarn and I'm calling it "My Bulgarian Shawl." Since it is my first shawl, I am doing a simple pattern. {It did not take long to learn knitting shawls can be addictive!} I am randomly alternating between the two shades of yarn. Here's a picture of the shawl on my size 13 Denise needles with 52" blue cable {they now have pink cables in awareness of Breast Cancer ~ read the story on their website}.

The picture below was taken on my parents' beautiful dining room table. I have temporarily set the shawl aside to work on a birthday gift {will show in future blog}, but will be eager to resume work on it soon.

I wanted to close this blog with a photo of my favorite Bulgarian knitter. DIL loves to knit in between college studies and work. She doesn't have much spare time, but enjoys the moments she is able to grab. I wanted a picture of her modeling her first scarf for my blog. She has made a number of scarves since this pic was taken.

Carpe Knitting and Happy Thanksgiving!
KZ

P.S. As with any of my blogs, click on photos to view only that picture, click on underlined text to links for more information.

P.S.S. My apologies for the long delay since my last blog. I have had fits with my computer. I finally upgraded operating systems {OS} and installed a non IE internet browser, only to discover it's best not to do that. Then I bought "name brand" antivirus software and learned the OS does not like it because it's not by OS's company. Sunday my hard drive will be reformatted so I can start fresh, leaving off the software aforementioned OS does not like. Yet another reason to save up for a Mac!