Wyoming Breezes

Indian Summer started November 2012 Indian Summer , a Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket, is all garter stitch. I used Caron Simply Soft (Deep Sage) for my four-inch section. Knit on size 8 needles and 110 stitches. Update : April 1, 2013

Kathyb's comment was the one selected by the Random Number generator. I'll send the headband to her this week. Congratulations, Kathyb

The last few Foreign Friday posts have been uncomfortable for some readers, and that is understandable. However, the only way we can truly learn from history is to see it as it is, warts and all. Display in Nagasaki museum April 1980 (click to enlarge) Some commenters in recent weeks asked if the Japanese people were uncomfortable around Americans. I did not sense discomfort from any of the Japanese people I encountered in my two years living and traveling in Japan, and I travelled from the north to the south. Nagasaki Peace Park Memorial April 1980 The Peace Park Statue in Nagasaki is 33 foot tall and dominates the park. The man represents a combination of Buddha and Jesus Christ. His right arm is reaching skyward in fear of the atomic bomb, and his left arm and hand are reaching out in peace and giving comfort. It was a dreary day when we visited the Peace Park, and the overcast sky made it difficult to get good photos. Yet, I loved the birds perched on the statue, gi...

Browsing through thrift shops is one of my favorite activities: I enjoy the hunt for specific items as well as items that sometimes catch my eye. Many people don't like to go into thrift shops because they can be jammed with clothes and dishware and are often not the cleanest places. However, an observant and patient shopper can find real treasures. In the past, I have found Longaberger baskets , new clothes with the tags attached, gently used, quality products from Lands End, LL Bean, C.J. Banks, Cold Water Creek, Pendleton, Woolrich, etc. - all things that I purchased for considerably less than retail. Last week, I stopped to donate a few items at a local thrift shop and made a tour through the store. I found a nice, cotton blouse for summer, a book, and some new knitting needles. Out of curiosity, I perused a stack of souvenir plates from someone's travels, and at the bottom of the stack was a plate that I simply had to purchase because it was so beautiful and because ...

The 1960s was the final decade of graduates for Pavillion High School, a mere sixty year span for a school district that started in 1909 in a humble log structure, funded and built by community members. Graduates from the 1950s and 1940s  can be seen by clicking on the previous links. Observant readers will notice a different photographer was used for the senior portraits during this decade. The senior portraits of the 40s and 50s were taken by O'Neil Photo in O'Neil, Nebraska; all the senior portraits in the 60s, by Lehman Studio in Riverton, WY. I want to thank the following individuals for helping me identify some the photos in the class composites for this decade: my cousin Bob and his fiancee Anna, my sisters Marilyn and Evelyn, and good friend Nancy J. As always, click the photos to enlarge. Please send any corrections to me via a comment or email (address given in the righthand column). Class of 1960 Pavillion High School Pavillion, WY Top : Eugene Tolman, ...

March in Wyoming usually means WIND and lots of it. Even with the wind, it is a great time to get outside to walk or to work in the yard. When I found a partial skein of Manos del Uruguay in my yarn basket, I decided to make a headband to wear on my morning walks. Since the headband is a quick knit, I made two. Adult-sized headbands 20 inches in circumference Bea's Headband size 10 or 10.5 circular needle (16" length) worsted weight yarn (double stranded) Holding yarn doubled or using two worsted weight yarns, cast on 72 stitches Begin knitting in the round being careful not to twist stitches: K2, P2 for 5 rows Knit 7 rows of plain stockinette stitch K2, P2 for 5 rows Bind off loosely Headband will be approximately 4 inches wide The headband shown at the bottom of the top photo will be given away this week. To have your name added to the drawing, leave a comment and tell me about your favorite worsted weight yarn. Even if it is too warm in your area ri...

American Pride I 56.5 x 70 inches Quilt of Valor I am managing to make a few Quilts of Valor albeit not as many as last year. The center of American Pride I is a printed panel (the stars are at the top and bottom of the panel). I have a lot of the striped yardage and decided to use it for a piano key border, and I am pleased with the look it gives to this quilt. I have one more of the eagle panels and may make another quilt like this with similar fabrics.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Hiroshima, Japan April 1980 History is a vast early warning system.   ~ Norman Cousins ~ Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up. ~ Author Unknown ~ The  Memorial Cenotaph can be seen in the center of this photo, and the A-bomb Dome is directly behind it.

Spring Violet Vest started January 16, 2013 I first saw the pattern for the Spring Violet Vest in the vendor's area at the Reno show . I don't know how many times I went back to the booth, drawn by the samples on display. The booth had many varieties of the vest on display and kits available, but the pattern was not sold individually. When I returned home, I contacted the company to see if the pattern was available and again was told it was not sold separately, only as a kit. My friend Cheryl must have grown weary of me talking about the vest. Before Christmas she presented me with a wrapped box and said, "This is NOT a Christmas present." I was shocked and pleased when I opened the box to find the vest kit. The vest is knit on size 6 needles, using three different weights and types of yarn: a superwash wool, a soft twist rayon, and a rayon loop. Specifics about the vest can be found on my Ravelry project page . The photo on the kit, and on the pattern...

This week, the graduate composites for the 1950s are featured. Last week, the 1940 composites were posted. According to Irene Jones' book, Pavillion City, very few changes were made in the school buildings during this decade. 1950 the second addition was added to the Ag Shop. The seventeen graduates formed the largest classes in the history of the school to this year. (pages 62 - 63) 1955 a class room addition was added to the high school. (page 65) Click images to enlarge. Please email any name or spelling corrections or leave a comment. Class of 1950 Pavillion High School Pavillion, WY Top : Paul Herder, Kathryn Gordon, Kenneth Stultz, Mildred Schneider, Morris Hill, Barbara Richardson. Center : Arlan Kintzler, Robert Jacox,  Lila Hollenbeck, Bill Cox, Reta Wall, Dessie Honeycutt. Bottom : Ralph Starks, Mrs. Merrial K. Clark (class sponsor) Harley K. Kittle (Supt.), Wanda Olson. Class of 1951 Pavillion High School Pavillion, WY Top : Marilyn...

The present is the ever moving shadow that divides yesterday from tomorrow. In that lies hope.  ~ Frank Lloyd Wright ~

Fourteen Pillowcases pressed and ready to become QOV presentation cases Marilyn called a couple of weeks ago and asked if I wanted to sew and Skype. Since I had these cases ready, I joined her. We gabbed and sewed for nearly two hours via Skype. The cases were made from odd bits of fabric and leftover binding (for the trim).

Hiroshima diorama illustrating the extent of damage from the atomic bomb, dropped August 6, 1945 (red ball at top of photo depicts the atomic bomb) Hiroshima Museum Hiroshima, Japan April 1980 Hiroshima following the denotation of the atomic bomb August 6, 1945 (photo taken from a museum display - April 1980) Hiroshima following the denotation of the atomic bomb August 6, 1945 (photo taken from a museum display - April 1980) According to Wikipedia , within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects of the bombs killed 90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000–80,000 in Nagasaki, with roughly half of the deaths in each city occurring on the first day. Those who survived the blast(s) suffered  radiation illness , cancer, and disfigurement the remainder of their lives. Survivors' stories can be found here . Like all wars, World War II changed the world in many ways, and individuals from all the countries involved suffered greatly, dire...