2008 Donation to Knit One Save One

Little Gerri Jean and 31 baby caps

I previously posted about my participation in a donation of baby hats in 2006 which was a political statement presented to President Bush regarding the need for increased health care to infants and mothers. This year, I set a goal for myself to make of a total of 100 hats, which I finally finished today. I earlier sent 69 hats to Newborns in Need. So that left 31 hats which I wanted to donate to the project Knit One Save One, which is part of Save the Children, and sponsored by Warm Up America. You can find out about these organizations and donations at: www.warmupamerica.com and then click on "Save the Children". The original deadline for donations for this year was December 31, but it has been moved up to January 31, 2009.

This is the letter I wrote to President Elect Obama to go with the hats, which was suggested by Warm Up America.

Dear President Obama,

I welcome your new administration and the opportunity to save millions of newborn lives! In recognition of the 4 million babies who die each year in the first month of life in developing countries, I made 31 caps. I am sending this letter to you today to encourage you to help more babies survive by increasing support for maternal, newborn and child health programs.

My husband and I voted for your administration, and my husband campaigned tirelessly. We are very much looking forward to the changes you will bring.

Enclosed are 31 baby caps which I crocheted.

The rest of the grandchildren

Here are some photos of Lee and Mark's pets.

The dog is Sophie, a black lab/blue heeler cross, who is 3 years old. The cat is Ari, a bengal kitten, who is 7 months old and weighs 15 - 17 pounds.

Ari, who is fast and difficult to photograph.

Grandchildren

Here are some great school photos of my two beautiful grandsons.

This is Bailey, 13 years old.

This is Izik, 7 years old.

They are the most wonderful children in the world.

Postscript on the cake

All of Greg's comments on my post earlier today are true. He is a champion dishwasher at every meal.

The cake made it to the party without incident. It was all eaten or given away. The cake plate made it home unchipped, uncracked, unscathed.

Red Velvet Cake

This cake has a couple of stories—well, actually, “layers” of stories.

I first heard of red velvet cake when I was way little, less than 10 years old, and the recipe called for seven bottles of red food coloring. Of course, what kid would not want to make that? And, because of the seven bottles of red food coloring, my mom didn’t think it was a good idea. So the red velvet cake didn’t get baked.

A couple weeks ago, we were watching the Food Network (a long time favorite). Bobby Flay and The King of Cakes were having a red velvet cake bake-off. Greg had never heard of red velvet cake, so I told him my old story about wanting to make it since I was young.

I seldom go to the staff meeting at my job because I don’t work on Thursdays. Once a month, there is a birthday party and potluck at the staff meeting. My dear friend, Sandra, asked if I was coming to her “birthday party” (actually, staff meeting) this week, so I said of course I was. Sandra announced early that she was expecting a birthday cake at the potluck, so being the excellent friend that I am, I expansively volunteered to bring the birthday cake, and wrote “birthday cake-Elaine” in large, black letters all the way across the sign-up sheet with a Sharpie, as the pen wouldn’t work because I had touched the sign-up sheet so many times with greasy hands, all the while loudly and exuberantly proclaiming that no one else should bring a cake!

I effusively exclaimed to Greg that I was “making Sandra a red velvet cake for her birthday”; it’s Christmas, you know, and the cake is red. This prompted his recollection that I hadn’t made him a birthday cake in August, or last year, or the prior year, etc. My guilty conscience turned out to be a good thing, as I have no experience making red velvet cakes. Greg got his birthday cake four months late, but the “practice” cake was delicious nonetheless.

Now, for the last 50 years, I have been taking the lazy way out in making cakes, happily and thoughtlessly pouring cake batter into 9” x 13” pans instead of making layer cakes, with the philosophy “I’m not foolin’ with layer cakes”—it’s a cake, we’re just eating it anyway.

At any rate, I learned some important things about layer cakes. They have to be cut off totally flat to stay together and not slide off the layer below. But, it is even better to cut the tops off a little concave, which I could have been practicing even when I didn’t need a layer cake. You will end up cutting off one-third of the cake, so it might be good to make two cakes, so there are extra layers to work with. You can either throw away the trimmed off cake, or you can recycle it as chopped up cake and eat it at every meal (which is the method we used as we never throw away food). Sometimes it takes half a century to learn simple baking tips. And, red velvet cakes are indeed worth the wait; the batter is shocking, atomic red. And, it is a good thing to make your husband a birthday cake every year, preferably a layer cake. And, this cake really has a short-cut and takes only two bottles of red food coloring. And I made up my own frosting recipe because I couldn’t find a recipe that was just right. And this will take every plate, pan, knife, fork, cookie sheet, and bowl you have before the cake is done (Greg washes the dishes at this house); plus three hours to cut the layers, trim the layers, and measure the layers; admire your cutting and trimming ability and after every layer, ask your husband if he doesn’t think you can really trim, cut, and measure cakes; make the frosting; stick the layers together; and carefully carry the cake plate which is extremely heavy and slippery, so that photographs can be taken.

The cake has not yet been presented to Sandra. Hopefully, there are no mishaps from my house to the car to the clinic via the freeway, which is another horrible story, and from my car to the staff meeting. Wish me luck! And, Happy Birthday, Sandra!

More Valley Weather

The sun is shining! This is highly unusual for this time of year. And it is 30 degrees, which is also unusual for this time of year. It doesn't usually get below freezing until January. Our garage is doubling as a refrigerator with the extra holiday food. I cleaned the inside of my car windows as they were making driving dangerous. I don't understand how the insides of car windows get dirty--where does that dirt come from? And greasy. I'm not doing any cooking in there.

How I spent my time this week

Here are some photos of my rush crochet project that kept me from writing my blog.

Greg has a friend who is raising her two month old grandson and two year old granddaughter, and unfortunately, her husband lost his job. Greg is very kind hearted and generous and wanted to help out for Christmas, so he asked me to make a blanket and hat for the babies.

And, yes, I get paid even when it is my husband who is the customer.

This is Gerri Jean wearing the hat and blanket for the two year old girl. I was showing off for myself and got carried away with the cropping and didn't save the original.

This is Jerry Gene wearing the hat and blanket for the two month old boy.

Gerri Jean and Jerry Gene

Hi everyone, My blog has kind of been on hold for a few days as I had to crochet a rush project that I will post tomorrow or the day after.

For years, I have needed a model for my hats, blankets, and baby clothes, and promised myself I would get a life-size doll, but never got around to it, thought I couldn't afford it, forgot to buy a doll when I was at Toys-R-Us, didn't need more stuff around the house, or whatever--it just didn't get done. Yesterday, I took the time and a gift card to Target and got a doll. I really thought I needed an androgynous doll, but this doll was dressed in a very cute pink sleeper, so I have a very cute girl doll. But, then I went through Walmart and found a cute premie outfit in blue, and thought if I bought that, then I would have a boy doll with just a change of clothes. I gave no thought to a possible name--this is just a model, you know? Greg thought the doll would need a name, and I said it would have to be a uni-sex name, like Ray or Jan, or something like that. He suggested Gerri, after my dear friend. That was great! He/she can be Jerry/Gerri. Then I came up his/her middle name today. So now the little mannequin has a name.

This is Jerry Gene

And this is Gerri Jean

They look like twins!

Never mind

I just deleted today's blog regarding the crime. It didn't happen.

Earlier today, I wrote about all the phone calls involved in trying to locate a missing Christmas gift that was UPS'd and the receiver didn't get it. Turns out, the snow had covered it up for five days after the UPS driver delivered it to the side of the house that doesn't have a door, instead of to a door. Crime case solved.

Lawn Ornaments

I know, I know—not everyone has a living Christmas ornament in their front yard. It’s not a Christmas tree, but I don’t think we could ask for a better red/green combo. I took this photo yesterday.

Valley Weather

Yayyy! The fog has lifted, and all is right with the world, or at least definitely better. The fudge has been cooked, the exercise circuit walked, the plants watered, the photographs taken, and the shopping done. None of this can happen when we are socked in with fog. I am a sunshine, summertime, 100 degree + kind of gal and don’t take kindly to night, winter, rain, sleet, snow, fog, or wind.

I know the fudge recipe is called “never fail” but I have prior bad experiences making candy in humid weather so that project was on hold for clear weather. The exercise can’t progress if I think I might get wet. In the fog, I forget I even have a backyard, mostly because I can’t see it. I should have probably tried for some photographs of the fog, but I’m sure I will have another chance for that one. And as far as shopping goes, I don’t even like that on the best-of-weather days.

I’m talking valley fog that stops traffic, fog that makes you unable to find your house, fog that keeps you from getting to work on time or at all, fog that keeps you in the house so even the mail doesn’t get picked up. Well, today we got a break from it and hopefully it will be more than one day.

Look! This is six pounds of home made fudge.

Tomorrow, another photograph I took today that I have been waiting to get for weeks.

2008 Newborns in Need

I finally got my 2008 contribution finished for my donation to Newborns in Need. I got a late start this year, realizing in October that I had not crocheted one single blanket or hat for my donation. I like to use up my leftover colored yarn and use off-white as a contrasting color. The project involved going to Beverly’s and Walmart at least three times to pick up some off-white yarn.

I ended up with 20 blankets and 69 hats. They are in a big box and I am now awaiting a return e-mail from the coordinator for the best address to send them. On the website, there is only one chapter identified in California, and that is in Fountain Valley. I am hopeful there is a closer one.

The next project: Finish my box of hats to be donated to Warm Up America.

Are these two gorgeous--or what?

Thanks to a photo session which occurred on Thanksgiving at John and June's home, my sister-in-law forwarded this great picture.

This is my mom, Esther, and great niece, Isabelle. They must have been having a great time as they both look so happy.