Innocent Victims of an Obama Presidency by Marcia Segelstein
The good news out of Election 2008 is that all the predictions that racism would ultimately prevent Barack Obama being elected did not come true.
There is, however, a tragic irony that may well also occur as a result of this election. James Kushiner, publisher of Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity, writes about it on the magazine’s website:
“[W]hile blacks have risen from the indignities and injustice of slavery in which their bodies were sold and consumed as property, and have endured segregation and second-class citizen status and racial discrimination, and have now one of their own elected to the highest office in the land, this very president-elect, Barack Obama, will increase the death toll among black human beings if he fulfills his promise to enact a Freedom of Choice Act, which will serve as a firewall around Roe v. Wade, the Dred Scott decision of our times…Discrimination based on the color of one’s skin is not now the burning issue of our time…It’s that we’ve forgotten the value of human skin in the first place.”

This came to my attention this morning and I found it sadly true. The value of human skin. It sickens me that this and other moral issues were not taken into consideration by so many voters at this last election. It seemed the only thing people cared about was #1: money, and who could get them more of it, and #2: upsetting the status quo. Yes, it was past time for a black president, just as it is past time for a woman president. But neither of the choices hold the same moral standards as I do or place the same value on issues that I believe to be more pressing than gas prices and the stock exchange. The moral fibers that still have a loose grip on our society are quickly unraveling and we will soon be in a free fall that no man, black, white or purple, will be able to save us from. We must make a firm aboutface and return to the convictions of our forefathers, the steadfast faith that formed this great nation. God is the only safety net. He will catch us in His arms if we let Him. I pray that America will let Him.

My new hat!

1920’s Inspired Hat

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun in Cream. 1 skein (6 oz, 185 yards)
hook: size 10 1/2 or K
gauge: 8 hdc in 8 rows = 3.5 inches

To Start: Ch 4 slst in first ch to form ring. Ch 2 (does not count as first stitch, here and throughout.)
Round 1: 8 hdc in ring, making sure to catch tail within sts. Join by slst in first hdc. Pull tail to tighten ring. Ch 2.
Round 2: 2 hdc in each st. Join by slst in first hdc. (16 hdc) ch 2
Round 3: 2 hdc in next st. *1hdc in next st. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to joining slst of R2. Hdc in that st. Join as before. (24 hdc) ch 2
Round 4: 1 hdc in next st. 2 hdc in next st. *1 hdc in each of next 2 st. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to joining slst of R3. hdc in that st. Join as before. (36 hdc) ch 2
Round 5: 1 hdc in each of next 2 st. 2 hdc in next st. *1 hdc in each of next 3 st. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to joining slst of R4. hdc in that st. Join as before. (54 hdc) ch2.
Round 6: 1 hdc in each of next 3 st. 2 hdc in next st. *1 hdc in each of next 4 st. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to joing slst of R5. hdc in that st. Join as before. (81 hdc) ch 2
Round 7-15: 1 hdc in each st. join as before. Ch 1. (Does not count as stitch, here & throughout.)
Round 16: 1 sc in each of next 7 st. hdc in each st to last 7 sts. Sc in last 7 sts. Join to first sc with slst. Ch 1 turn.
Row 17: (wrong side) 1 sc in each of next 7 sts. * hdc in each of next 4 sts. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to last 11 sts. Hdc in next 4 sts. Sc in last 7 sts. Join to first sc with slst. Ch 1 turn.
Row 18: (right side) Repeat Row 16.
Row 19: (WS) 1 sc in each of next 7 sts. *hdc in each of next 5 sts. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to last 12 sts. Hdc in next 5 sts. Sc in last 7 sts. Join as before. Ch 1 turn.
Row 20: (RS) Sc in first 7 sts. Inserting hook through yo part and front loop of st, 1 hdc in each of next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st, *1 hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st*. Repeat * * to last 11 sts. Hdc in next 4 sts. Sc in last 7 sts. Join as before. Do not chain, do not turn.
Row 21: Slst in next st and in each around. Join. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
For flower: I used the pattern on page 74 of the Sept/Oct issue of Crochet Today!, and didn’t fasten off or change colors. Pattern is for Flower Pin contained within Floral Cloche pattern.

Well that last post was very bleak. I'm still sick of hearing about the Divine Mr. O, but I'll just keep my head in the sand and continue crocheting and cooking and doing my own thing. Praying that the next four years will go by fast and that we as a collective whole will come to our senses by then.

Josh, Kellen and I have all been sick with a cold. Kellen the longest. His just doesn't seem to want to go away. Running nose and a bit of sneezing, which is not a good combo, let me tell you. I've been working on a long pointy hat for Josh. Got it mostly done and he decided the pointy part wasn't long enough, so he helped me frog it all and I started over, modifying the pattern as I go. I told him he better understand how much I love him. Bought the yarn for a sweater for Kellen also. Really pretty dusty green color, called Meadow. Lorenne wants a sweater, too.

Josh got an eleven pointer the afternoon of November 1. Lorenne, Kellen and Ian (my nephew who had spent the night) went out to see it in the morning. Ian didn't want to touch the deer at all, but then settled for the antlers. He made sure that I knew that he knew that the deer was dead. Kellen kept petting the deer's back with his finger tips and Lorenne just touched the antlers too. They didn't stay out there very long. But they weren't really afraid of it either. He's getting the hide tanned and ground all the meat into burger. I think he'll make jerky out of it.

Anyway, the wind has begun to howl around our house. I'm sure this will be a season long occurance until our pine trees get big enough. So in ten years we'll have one heck of a break. Not much else to report, we don't like a whole lot of excitement. Oh, having one of the three Thanksgiving meals here at our house. My mom, mom's boyfriend, sister, sister's boyfriend, neice, nephew, and grandma will be over the Sunday after T-day. I'm making the turkey, mashed potatoes, lemon pie, pecan pie, berry pie, and cranberry salad. I should probably start cleaning my house right now. See ya round...

Slightly depressed...

well, crap. That's really all I can say. CRAP!!! I did not awaken to happy news this morning. Mr. McCain is not our president-elect and I'm really not a very happy camper about it. But, I continue to tell myself that God's ways are not my ways. He has a plan which I cannot fathom and He alone knows what is in store for this great nation. I can only pray that Mr. Obama is the correct man for the job and that he will lead this nation to the best of his ability.
But, I am deeply afraid that our moral compass is completely broken. Our sights are set not on what we can do for each other, but what can be given to us. We are not unlike those spoiled heirs to massive fortunes who've no skill, no drive, no determination, who end up spending daddy's billions on idiotic ventures and then expect a pat on the head, or worse world-wide recognition, for their "accomplishments". Our ancestors fought for the freedoms we now squander, frittering it away like so much fluff. Because we did not expend the energy to build the country we've no idea how to keep it. And we will loose it, if we do not make a sharp aboutface and return to some standards. I cannot go on, I really am sick to my stomach with the thought of it all. Open your eyes and see what's coming at us full force.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Here are the kids in their costumes this year. Kellen is Super Why, a PBS cartoon super-hero, who, together with three storybook characters solve problems using alphabet and reading skills. (I swear that was his choice.) Lorenne is Word Girl, also a PBS cartoon super-hero, who, with her trusty sidekick, Captain Huggyface, battle against incorrect word usage. (Again, all her choice.) Yes, the costumes are homemade. The first time they tried it all on, they didn't want to take it off. They were running around the room, "flying", trying to get their capes to fly out behind them. Well, be safe tonight. Use a flashlight, don't eat any of those milk chocolate gold coin candies and try to wear something reflective. Have a Spooktacularly GOOd Time!

When I got home today, Josh showed me a political sticker he had gotten from a friend to put on the ol' grape jelly bean van. It made me think about what my grandmother said about the upcoming elections. She said the only thing she can do now is pray to God that the right man is elected. No matter what party. We can only hope that the man who does win is the right one for the right time. I like that. That's all we really can ever do. Just pray. So that's what I've been doing. Praying for the leadership of this country. Not for my guy to win, but for the right guy to win.

I bought a two skeins of yarn Monday at Serendipity Stitches in Lincoln, a yarn store I just found out about. I tried making it into a hat but the style I picked out just didn't suit my head a'tall. So I've ripped it out and started on a baby sweater instead. I really like the yarn though. It's the first wool yarn I've worked with. And it's spoiling me. I've used cotton before but, this stuff is 70% wool and 30% soy, and there is just something about the way it feels. Sooooooo much better than that cruddy acrylic stuff I've been using for so long. Anyway...

Here's a picture of my latest set I've added to my collection for sale at Horsefeathers.

A little acorn hat and matching mittens. I needed to add something for boys and this actually was really fast.

Well, that's all for tonight. I'm gonna go throw a load of wet laundry into the dryer and crawl my way up to bed. Good Night to you...

Just realized that I've not written a thing in a very long time. I've been busy crocheting projects and reading books, to myself and the kids, cooking, cooking and more cooking, at work and at home. I've put up three batches of apple butter, three batches of applesauce, and one batch of peach Jammin' Jelly. (I call it Jammin' Jelly because it's not jam and it's not jelly. Lorenne doesn't like chunky jam [she has a texture problem] so I run the fruit through the food mill or processor and make it very smooth for her. The things we do for our kids.) Anyway...

Our landscape has changed again. The conglomerate that farms the land around us came and harvested the corn in about a day using four combines and four tractors. Kellen was in heaven watching the "trackers" and "ombines" out in the field.

We had his birthday party here too. He got a big boy bike (instead of a tricycle) and a big wagon, plus lots of clothes and some other things. He had a train cake (I also dabble in cake decorating).

And this is a picture of the coat I made for Garrett, my best friend's son. He turned one in August.

So that's what's been going on here. I recently started to stitch up some Christmas presents also. A sweet little jacket with an off center placket, made in this beautiful fushia Lion Brand yarn that feels like suede, and a long pointy stocking cap for Josh made in some camo print yarn. He's really excited about that. All for now...