Possum

How can I describe it?  A furry animal that seems a bit evil:

Opossum: A marsupial with a ratlike prehensile tail and hind feet with an opposable thumb.

In New Zealand, it's a pest.  Hunted by the gajillions just to get rid of it.  Making a killing in more ways that one... now used up to 40% in various yarns in combination with merino wools.  Get your souvenir Possum Fur Nipple Warmers here!
In Australia, it's a protected species!  (I didn't declare my yarns at Australian customs for fear of starting a protest.)  Can't touch the hair on their heady-head-head!
Worldwide: Available at Etsy.


 After a chilly walk around Auckland in great contrast to the South Pacific islands I hastily picked up needles and planned for some ear-warmth by our next stop.  The rest of our cruise would be in the colder southern climes. My little bit of heaven made from Touch Possum Yarn, merino wool 60%, Possum Fur 30%, Nylon 10%.  My fashion design and toasty.  (I could tell others were envious.)

See previous blog for modeling on-site (NZ).

Ivories, That too!

Keeping in shape.
My hub is very envious.  He works his tail off keeping his lip(s) from becoming mush. I go away and don't see a keyboard for 5 weeks.  I rehearse/practice/play two days later.  There's something about using your fingers, (maybe it's the computer keyboard - however, iPods don't help) and everyday knitting that makes it not that difficult.
So much for philosophizing on dexterity, but what about playing the pedals on the organ?  That's memory too.  And I really feel that that talent is subjective to... so many things.  One minute it's working, and the next I tell my heel from my toe.  When pedaling goes awry for someone else, I'm the last to smirk.  I don't even roll my eyes... It's a phenomenon that scares the B-G-B's out of me every time I play.
Unlike knitting, which I can throw in the corner, or stomp on, rip it out, and/or ignore, pedal notes played in a highly resonant chamber are out there never to be retrieved.
Such is life.  And we organists become calloused by it. Oddly enough, the public will withstand a great deal before dealing with it... When it goes well, "how sweet it is!"

Karmøy, Norway, M and his trumpet (August 2009)

More Ideas from Hege

Her Ravelry site has given me inspirations to... KNIT!!  I probably don't need all that much of a push but I've been slowed down for a month or so by "activities" of the cruise/holiday sort.  Time to buckle down!
Here's an idea for a kerchief called Criminal Minds Mystery Kerchief.  It's a KAL... etc.

Meanwhile I'm knitting a-long on my Europa Shawl.  After many detours in the past few months (i.e. FO's & UFO's) I sat down yesterday and was able to complete 3 rows with no dirty words attached!  I blame it on the ship's motion.
Here's my new view:

How much did I accomplish on the cruise (in 5 weeks)?  Not so much on this project.  This one was the go-to project when I had the deadlines met for my other works.  See the three horizontal sections? When I left home I was in the middle of the middle section.  When I arrived home I was half way between the top and the lifeline. (Gotta move that lifeline...)

Oh, my friend, Hege!

Want to know what wives thought about in the 50's? Complete with 2010 update. See how easy it is to blog, when you read others and they are so industrious, and talented?  Here's a link for all of us:
Cloudberry

She almost never has this kind of thing posted and I found myself LOL!
PS: Cloudberry Jam is the best.

Still knitting

13-1/4 hours over the pacific with needles in my hands. Soon I'll have new progress to report. And fond thoughts of a month of travel at top speed of 25 mph.

Home:  Realizing that I missed (in random order) seeing the stars at night, Fall leaves, hanging out in PJ's, the quietness of no roaring humming engines, a solid floor, and a hubby who loves and feeds me.

Sent from my iPod
Julia

Pictures

I have had such ^&%*&*&%^$#### luck at posting pictures.  Here's my LAST attempt before crossing the Pacific AGAIN.

Fake phone booth in Wellington, NZ

Juju in the Fun Zone

My newly knitted possum fur headband... Just in time!  Brrrrr

Last Days at Sea

Somehow a month has gone by and we are sailing the roughest part of our trip. Around the southern end of New Zealand and across the Tasman Sea.

The waves have been rough and we are proficient at stepping sideways.

Juju is now sipping water from a straw, feeding herself great gobs of scrambled eggs, riding a mini tricycle with foot/wave power, saying "mama" and touching her nose on command. (on command doesn't sound so nice but that's what we do...)
We, adults, are still speaking civilly to each other and haven't given up on forming a winning Trivia team.

New Zealand was very beautiful even in the rain. After being on a tropical island cruise it was shocking to need layers of wooly clothing. P and I gladly shopped for yarn. I quickly knitted up a head band/ear warmer which I used on the south island.

Current conditions and position:
Thursday October 21
Traveled 9507 naut miles since San Francisco
670 NMiles to Sydney.
Rough seas waves 7.5 to 12 feet
Traveling at 17 knots per hour
Wind is 45 knots at 90 degrees across the deck.
Position is 39 degrees south 163 degrees east
The air and sea temperatures are 53 degrees F.

Swimming days are over! Hot tub, maybe.