I sort of followed

The hat pattern Henya gave us this week. It was not intentional that I did not, but I think it was a happy accident. (See Abby #6415 in the background begging me to let her have a package of hot cocoa. Of course I said yes:)

It is being modeled by my precious Jonah, #6518. In Henyas' pattern, she had us make three triangles on the top. I inadvertently kept knitting and made four. It still sewed together just fine. If (when)I make any more I am going to alter it just a bit to make it a smidge larger. We have huge heads in our family. I will probably start with 35 stitches and work to 45, giving me a bit more for roll up. I think this pattern is also compatible to enlarging by just going up a needle size or two.

Henya made her hat using Noro. The yarn shop I visited did not carry Noro and I did not wish to drive an extra 20 miles to go to the one that does. Especially since I have found this shop in the next town north of me. Anyhow, I used 100% wool by Twilleys of Stamford called Freedom Spirit. It made a very soft hat which I like, especially knowing Noro tends to be a bit scratchy. It is not machine washable or dryer compatible, so whomever inherits this will have to be very careful in laundering it or it will fit someones doll.

I made this hat yesterday evening and sewed it up this morning. A great quick gift idea.

Thanks Henya for your kind gift.

By the way, if you missed my post before this one, please be sure to read it.

Skin Cream Contains Aborted Fetus Tissue

I found this article on a "New" Blog friends blog. She writes under the title of
Conservative Lakota Woman's Unclogged Blog.
If you have not found her yet, just click on my link and go pay her a visit.

Please read this through, even if it seems to be a bit long. It was posted on the World Net Daily site today. Friday October 30, 2009.

If this does not outrage you then I can only say we have become to callused.
MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH
Confirmed: Skin cream contains fetal proteins
Company's anti-aging products built on cells harvested from aborted baby

Posted: October 28, 2009
10:24 pm Eastern

By Drew Zahn
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

One of Neocutis' skin products containing PSP

A pro-life organization is blasting a Switzerland-based cosmetics manufacturer whose website openly admits some of its products were developed from the tissues of an aborted baby.
Children of God for Life is a non-profit organization focused on the bioethics of embryonic tissue use in medicine and manufacturing. One of its current campaigns includes petitioning pharmaceutical companies to produce safe, effective alternatives to vaccines derived or cultivated from aborted fetal tissue.
But the organization's attention has now turned Neocutis, a company with offices in San Francisco which has developed a line of anti-aging products that include an ingredient the company has trademarked as Processed Skin Cell Protein, or PSP, developed from skin cells harvested from an abortion.
"It is absolutely deplorable that Neocutis would resort to exploiting the remains of a deliberately slaughtered baby for nothing other than pure vanity and financial gain," said Debi Vinnedge, executive director of Children of God for Life, in a statement. "There is simply no moral justification for this."
The website for Neocutis, which is privately held with estimated annual sales of in excess of $2 million, explains that its research began years ago, when scientists discovered fetal skin's unusual ability to heal without scarring. Scientists at the University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland, then created a process to extract proteins from fetal cells in the attempt to obtain an optimal, naturally balanced mixture of nutrients.
The scientists then infused those nutrients into a line of cosmeceutical anti-aging products: Neocutis skin cream, Lumière eye cream and Bio-Gel bio-restorative hydrogel – products Vinnedge is advising women to throw in the garbage before contacting Neocutis to voice their concerns.
"There is absolutely no reason to use aborted babies for such selfish motives," Vinnedge said. "It is anti-life, anti-woman and counter-productive, as Neocutis is about to find out!"

Children of God for Life boasts that it has been a watchdog on pharmaceutical ""companies using aborted fetal cell lines in medical products and has received thousands of inquiries from the public on the use of aborted fetal material in cosmetics. But this is the first time, the organization says, that any company was bold enough to put the information right on its own website and in product literature.
In fact, the Neocutis website openly explains the history of its PSP ingredient:
"A small biopsy of fetal skin was donated following a one-time medical termination," the website states, "and a dedicated cell bank was established for developing new skin treatments. Originally established for wound healing and burn treatments, today this same cell bank also provides a lasting supply of cells for producing Neocutis' proprietary skin care ingredient Processed Skin Cell Proteins."
The company adds, "No additional fetal biopsies will ever be required."
But Children of God for Life finds little consolation in the company's statement.
"You note in your literature that 'no further fetal biopsies will be needed,' as though the life of the one child you have exploited has no value," wrote the organization in a letter to Neocutis' CEO. "It is deplorable that you would attempt to mollify the public and whitewash your badly tarnished image so thoughtlessly."
Vinnedge also told WND that companies aren't required to disclose their research history to the public, so there may be facts conveniently omitted from the Neocutis story.
"What we don't know is how many other fetuses were involved before they perfected that one cell line," she surmised. "There's a possibility there were more."
WND contacted Neocutis repeatedly for comment, but phone messages were not returned. A Businessweek web report says the company was founded in 2003 and its directors were identified as Frederic-Edouard Koehn, Patrick Hohlfeld, Diego Braguglia and Jennifer Pearson.
Children of God for Life, however, is actively calling for a boycott of all Neocutis products, beginning a campaign to contact the company's investors and even offering free publicity to companies that will certify in writing their products are free from ingredients derived from aborted babies.
"We know there are companies using moral sources for collagen and skin proteins," Vinnedge said. "We intend to publicly promote these other cosmetic companies competing with Neocutis that are willing to step forward and contact us."

It has been one year

Since I made the trip of my lifetime to Africa. I came home with many plans of what to do to help. But then life happened. My mother became ill, grandchildren needed babysat and on and on. I have done nothing to help. I feel totally impotent as to what I am suppose to do.

This week I got word that my dear friend Pastor Mwenebalongo, in the first picture, was wondering if we would really build a church for him and his faithful. The second picture is where they worship (and I do mean worship) currently. It is a carport with tarps strung above it to protect them from the elements. Rain or shine they are there.

I have been thinking and trying to make excuses for my lack of action, but can come up with none. I know we are experiencing a recession and we do not have much in the way of disposable income, but they have even less. I am thinking if any of my readership would care to, they could donate to the project. I do not care how much you give $1.00 or $100.00 it will all be counted.

Donations can be made to Warm Beach Free Methodist Church with a notation on the bottom to go to the African Refugee Team, Pastor Mwene. I will tell Pastor Pat to keep an eye open for them. The address is Warm Beach Free Methodist Church 20815 Marine Dr, Stanwood Wa.

You do not even have to tell me you donated.

If any of you have any other ideas as to how I can raise money for Pastor Mwene and his church, please send me a note, either comment or by e-mail @ grammasrightagain@gmail.com. All help will be appreciated.

I am going to put a connection on my sidebar, and perhaps you would be so kind as to do the same on your blog, maybe in this time of great need, we can turn as a family to help someone who needs more than we do.

Thanks to all of you and God Bless you every one

I truly do love my blog family and friends.

Evy

Random Dozen:

Frizzy at Heaven's Gift and Therese at Musings of a Mom posted this meme and I thought it might be fun to play along. If you play along, let me know so I can come see how you answered.

1.Candy corn: Your thoughts ?
Bletch!!!

2. Briefly, what was the first conversation you ever had with your spouse? (or best friend, if you're not married.) (Or someone significant, like your librarian.)
I do not remember, after all it was more than 45 years ago.

3. Could you ever become a vegetarian?

We have been. Actually liked it, and have thought of doing it again.

4. Have you ever dressed up your pet in a costume?
No pets.

5. Name something about childhood that you miss (like Clark Bars, Tea berry Gum, Malibu Barbie, cracking fake eggs on people's heads with your fist and "It's the Great Pumpkin" airing only once a year).
The smell of waking up to daddy percolating coffee on the wood stove. (Gads that makes me old doesn't it? Percolating and wood stove in the same sentence.)

6. Have you ever won a trophy? If not, what do you deserve a trophy for?

Does last place in bowling count?

7. When do you think is the appropriate time to begin playing Christmas music each year?
Around December 1.

What is your favorite board game?

Sequence. A fun game of strategy and easy for young and old.

9. How do you feel about surprises (receiving, not giving)?
I love surprises. Stan hates them. He does not surprise me at all, and gets mad at me if I do him so it is not a part of our life.

10. Is it easy for you to say "I'm sorry?"
If I am wrong, I have no problem saying I am sorry.

11. What is your favorite candle scent?
I love the clean sent of Vanilla.

12. October is traditionally "open house" time in public schools. If you had a literal open house in your home (like a reception) what light snacks would you serve visitors and what would you show them (as in art projects, graded papers) that would uniquely represent you?
Since I love Mexican, I would probably have a Mexican Buffet. What would uniquely represent me? Pictures of my family, our times together and my handwork.
Posted at 8:33 AM

I was wishing I had something cute to write about

today, but could not come up with anything. I then went to my e-mail and opened this from my good friend Therese @ http://themusingsofamom.blogspot.com/ For some reason, I could not get this to link in its regular way, so I am just leaving it this way.


FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY
In Florida, an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter and Passover days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring,"Case dismissed!"
The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the Ruling , "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays.."The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."
The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day.
Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.'
Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day.. Court is adjourned.
You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture!

Finished

I started these on Thursday. Finished them tonight. Think I will keep them for myself. Not a gift for anyone, nor a giveaway this time. The yarn is from my stash. I do not even know where it came from. I think I may have picked it up at Goodwill. Contents are a mystery. I know there is some synthetic because I lit a piece of the yarn with a match and it melted. I am hoping there is also some wool in it. It kind of smelled like there may be.

The pattern is the basic sock, knit from the top down. I added the cables down the front only. There are five four stitch cables.

If you look closely at the socks, you will see flecks of red in the top, but none in the foot. You remember, I think I bought this yarn at Goodwill, and probably did not even notice that the two skeins did not match. So, in order to have two matching socks, I knit the tops with one yarn and the feet with the other. Only you and I will know, because the feet will be inside my shoes, or if I am not wearing shoes, my pant legs will cover the top of them. I still have enough yarn to knit a little pair of booties for some baby sometime. Now I think I will go start a hat or some mittens. I did buy yarn for two more pair of socks today, but do not know when I will get to them. I do love wearing hand knit socks though. Mmmmmm good.

Gina, Sebastian and the kids

were over this evening.
We were all sitting around the table, having just finished dinner and Jonah crawled up into my lap. He was snuggling as close to me as he could, with his little nose buried in my neck just sniffing and sniffing away. Knowing I had perfume on, I asked him what I smelled like, you know expecting something about my perfume.
His answer, "An old gramma."
I restrained myself, I did not knock him off of my lap to the floor, in fact I hugged him a little tighter so he could not see me laugh.
So, if you ever smell something that reminds you of an 'old gramma' look around, I may be standing near by.

Thursday was Olivia's 5th birthday

Her cousin Cooper sent her a moose from Build-a-Bear in Anchorage so Olivia, her mommy, cousin Jonah and I made the 36 mile trek to the nearest Build-a-Bear to have Moosie filled up.

Unfortunately, I forgot to check the battery in my camera so I did not get very good pictures.
The above picture is of them filling up the doggy we bought for Cousin Darius's 2nd birthday.

Here Olivia is fluffing Moosie up after she filled him. Jonah is holding Max his camo bear. You know you cannot take one five year old in to watch his cousin get a new bear and not get one yourself. After Build-a-Bear it was off to lunch at Applebee's but because the battery was not charged there were no pictures.

Olivia and I had spent the week working on her birthday cake. It is a Barbie wrapped in fruit leather to resemble a mermaid, sitting on her throne with Nemo Gummie fruits swimming around her.

Now if Caleb will feel better, we may manage to have a birthday party for him too. It has been canceled two times because someone at their house is throwing up or running a fever.

I do not celebrate it, but

This was to good to not share

Grammas right again

http://grammasrightagain.blogspot.com/
I am hoping you will click over to my "other" blog to read today's post.

Wordless Wednesday

Is there anything more glorious?

Silenced

One of our blogging friends left us yesterday. We did not know he was ill, but today he is in the arms of the Lord. A great voice for our Republic was silenced. A might warrior stilled. I was just getting to know him and his wife and was always impressed with their insight to today's problems.
When God chooses to take someone home, we are always left wondering why? I am reminded, it is not ours to know why, it is by Faith that we are to travel the road set before us.
If you have the time, please go over and leave his wife a comment of love and support. She will be needing all of our prayers and support in the ensuing days.
Thanks to all and goodbye Mr Z, God keep you til we meet again.

It has been a quiet lazy kind of a day

So I finished sewing this up. It is made of 100% washable Merino wool from a pattern I found in an online knitting site. Debby, I think it is the same as your Christmas Sweater from last year, but am not sure. It went together quite quickly and I am mostly pleased with the results.

Now I have a pair of socks to finish and feel like I should knit up a winters supply of mittens. In a family our size, there never seems to be enough mittens, socks or hats. Better get busy.

Just like a Grandpa

He wants to know if she gets the rest of the dress when she finishes paying for it.

Gramma thinks it/she is beautiful.

Do Bears Poop in the Woods?

Yes, they do!! How do I know? Cause I saw it on my way up to Blue Lake with my family today.
I know, TMI but I just could not resist.

We had a great day hiking. It was a short easy mile in to Blue Lake in the Mt Baker National Forest. It is in the Northern section of Washington State. A 75 mile drive from my home.


Bryan, Darius (#1419) and Chelsea (#1102)

David and Olivia (#3417)

Climbing on the logs at the edge of the lake.

Chelsea (#1102) soaking up the rays and contemplating life.

Walking on logs. Can you see the blue lips. She had just finished a blueberry feast.

Eating blueberries

Throwing rocks into the lake.

This is a glacier fed lake. It is so clear and blue, you can see all the way down to the bottom. Right here where I took this picture, if you were to look down into the water, it was a sheer drop of at least 25 feet.

Blue Lake

Mt Baker with a new coat of snow. It is not unheard of for her to get in excess of 100 inches in a winter.

Probably our last hike before the weather turns on us and we cannot get out into the mountains.

Wordless Wednesday

Jonah #6518

The rest of the story can be found here.
Tomorrow

Mr. President

Have you seen this picture? What are you doing to make sure this daddy makes it home to this little girl and her mommy and brother? I have a feeling it is nothing~

Today Darius #1419

turned two years old. His mommy and daddy were gone to a convention in Oregon, so it fell to Gramma, Shaylene #3206 and Olivia #3317 to make sure he had a birthday cake.
I drug out my trusty cut up cake book that was published by Angel Flake coconut at least 43 years ago. I am sure of that because I baked the same cake for his daddy for his first birthday and that was 43 years ago.

After a quick trip to Safeway for decorating supplies, we came home and got the first crumb coat of frosting on it.

Then I realized I had forgotten the coconut, so Papa and Shaylene made a second trip to Safeway so we could finish decorating his cake. Good thing the store is just at the bottom of the hill from us.

Here Darius is blowing out his candles while his sister Chelsea #1102, in the yellow blouse and his cousin Amanda #3101 look on. He loved blowing out his candles and asked to do it again. So of course Gramma lit them a second time.

Olivia got to enjoy the fruits of her labors by licking the spatula clean once the decorating was finished.

Mommy and daddy and Auntie Angie and Uncle Dave got home at eight o'clock and we all enjoyed birthday cake.

Now mommy has to do a real party for him soon. Gramma just did a fill in for the day.

Happy Birthday Baby D. Gramma loves you "the most."

Hey Dave

If you were to keep your pants zipped up and the bimbos who work for you kept their panties on...................................no one would be able to attempt to extort $2,000,000.00 from you and you would not have to explain anything to your son and wife. Novel idea, even if I say so.

Knitting

I have a neighbor friend who is having a baby this week. I think she sometimes reads my blog, so Becky, if you do, still act surprised when I give you this.

It is a shrug, made from 100% cotton. I found it in an Interweave book that I bought last week. It goes in size from 3 months to two years. I made it in about two days. I actually finished it while I was up in Kotzebue, but did not have a teddy bear large enough to model it until Darius #4119 came over this week. Bear goes with him almost everywhere he goes so I just waited patiently until he came.

Am hoping baby Faith and her mommy like it.