The weather outside is frightful

Snow has arrived at the TSMK household, and it has brought with it multiple revelations. Meteorological epiphanies, if you will.

First, let it be said that when if you need something to warm the cranium, your best bet is probably to find a folk festival. While you’re there, look for a woman with an odd accent. Something vaguely Russian, but not quite. When you meet her, ask her for a hat. She’ll smile at you and offer you a selection of felt hats made in the style of her people. She’ll say they’re warm. Trust her. She knows what she’s talking about. Your cranium (and ears) will thank you.

Second, let it also be known that if you’re looking for transportation in the snow and ice, you might do well to consider something rear-engined and German. For, although a TSMK-approved uber-fast Japanese FWD hatchback is fun, it has a propensity for sending you sideways at intersections. Lillian, on the other hand, is a teutonic sherpa. She will get you to your destination. You will arrive at a leisurely pace, but you will arrive. Best bring the funny-sounding lady’s hat along, though – heating isn’t Lillian’s strong suit.

Third, Christmas is almost upon us. In fact, it is thirty days away. And I still have quite a bit to do. In particular, I still need to pick out what I’m going to make for Mrs. TSMK. I have a few ideas, and have even been playing at a couple of patterns. But I need to get serious. And that means I’m either going to need to spend some significant time away from her or find a way to properly disguise what it is that I’m working on so that she doesn’t know what it is or who it might be for. This last bit wouldn’t be easy. She’s much smarter than I am, and I have no confidence that I could perpetuate such a charade for three days, let alone thirty. If anyone has any suggestions for effective gift-obfuscation – I’d be most appreciative.

~TSMK

Have Knitting Will Travel

As George Clinton once famously said: if you hear any noise, its just me and the boys.

And if you were anywhere near the northern end of Washington's Kitsap peninsula this past weekend, there's a very good chance you understood precisely what he meant. 




Assuming, of course, he was referring to the sound of three wild and crazy guys traveling around, playing the banjo, knitting and generally carousing.

This past weekend was the inaugural voyage for the newest member of the TSMK family.  Her name is Lillian, and she is a 1975 Volkswagen Campmobile.  In a word, she is awesome.

In several words, she is also loud, slow, lurchy and smells vaguely of mildew.  Or rather she did smell vaguely of mildew.  Now, she smells more like a grimy 7 year old boy.

For our first excursion, Lillian carried me and the two older boys to the banks of the Hood Canal on Friday evening, where we were treated to a spectacular view of the Perseid meteor shower.


On Saturday, she brought us to a local state park, where we camped within 100 unobstructed yards of the shores of the Puget Sound.  That evening, we hosted another family at our campsite.  They are friends who know very well the sounds described by Mr. Clinton - for they have three boys of their own.  A campfire was built.  Hotdogs, bratwurst and hamburgers were cooked.  Marshmallows were toasted.  And a great time was had by all.

And after our friends had gone, and the two older guys and I settled in for another evening of Lillian's hospitality, I pulled out the knitting.  It was fantastic, and I didn't think it could get any better.  At least not without a scoop or two of peanut butter and chocolate ice cream.  But then morning arrived, with a brilliant sunrise shining through Lillian's windshield, and Mrs. TSMK arriving with steaming mugs of cocoa for the boys and coffee for me.  We finished our drinks, and took a long walk on the beach.

After Mrs. TSMK left with the boys, I tidied up our campsite.  Not wanting to wake the campers in the adjacent site, I took a few more minutes to knit, practice the banjo, and enjoy the scenery before firing up her mighty 1.8 liter air-cooled engine and heading for home. 

~TSMK