American made needles have been one of the most difficult things for me to find as a relatively new knitter.
It seems as if every one of the big name brands like ChiaoGoo (made in China), Lykke (made in Nepal), Knitter’s Pride (made in India), and HiyaHiya (which are also made in China, I believe) are made abroad. While there is nothing inherently wrong with that, it’s really quite nice to be able to find and support domestic products when you can.
Herein lies the problem: it is VERY difficult to find knitting supplies made in North America! Not a single one of the Local Yarn Stores that I’ve visited carries American-made knitting supplies, though I’m trying to order a set of needles… hoping they’ll be able to accommodate this request.
So I started researching, doing a little online sleuthing as it were, and here are five brands that I found. As of writing this blog post, I’m sad to say that I haven’t had the chance to purchase any of these, but I hope to get some in the future and share my experience with them.
My mother is a Registered Nurse who works in a local Neonatal ICU as one of their Head Nurses. It is a very busy unit, one of the busiest in the hospital, and requires specialized care be given to the patients. About a year ago, she asked if I could make socks for the micro-preemie babies in the unit and I thought to myself, “Why not?” After all, you’re not really a knitter until you’ve knit a sock. 😛
What is a micro-preemie, you ask? Well, in my mom’s NICU, a micro-preemie is a baby born between 23 to 26.6 weeks gestational age. For reference, a full term pregnancy lasts 39 to 40+ weeks.
These premature infants are not able to regulate their own temperature. Their brains, eyes, lungs, and other vital organs are not developmentally mature. It takes a tremendous amount of skill and dedication by nurses and love from parents to help these infants be discharged home.
If you’ve been around for a little while, you’ll know that one of my goals for 2020 is to read more and, since I have limited shelf space, I plan to get many of these books from my local libraries. I will be trying for the Library Addict level, but may go on for the Library Card on Fire level… we shall see.
If you’d also like to participate, here’s what you’ll need to know:
The challenge runs from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
You can join at any time and sign ups will remain open until December 31, 2020.
Put a sign up post on your blog (or dedicate a Goodreads shelf or LibraryThing) and link it in the linky on the host’s site. Make sure it’s public.
There will be a Monthly Email dedicated to the library love challenge that will focus on the monthly posts.
Please link back to both challenge hosts and include the challenge button in your sign-up posts.
The goal is to read at least twelve (12) books from the library, but you can read more. While twelve is the minimum; there is no maximum limit.
Any format will work for this challenge (prints, eBooks, or audios); as long as you checked it out from the library, it counts.
You can read any genre you want!
Crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed, including re-reads. The goal is to support your local library and save money.
As an added bonus: MONTHLY GIVEAWAYS will be offered with this Challenge. On the 1st of every month, a link-up will go up on both Angel’s Guilty Pleasures and Books of My Heart where you can leave your links for your reviews on the books you read from the library.
(Optional) Reviews: Write a review to enter the giveaway. 2 sentences or an essay, whatever works for you, but there is a minimum of 2 sentences.
About Sunshine Blogger Award: It is given to those who are creative, positive and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.
As a small-time-blogger, it’s always nice when someone opens up an award or quiz to their readers. I feel that it helps to build the community and make people feel welcome. As such, I will say “Thank you!” and continue NothingButKnit‘s example… if you are reading this then consider yourself nominated!
Rules are simple: a. Nominate 11 people and notify them via comment. b. Ask them new 11 questions. c. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog. d. Display the award logo on your blog post. e. Answer the 11 questions asked
Dog or cat? Dogs.
What is your least favorite food that other people love? Hot dogs.
Where on Earth would you like to go but you know you never will? Why do you want to go there? Why will you not? Korea. The culture is very interesting to me, but I don’t have a travel buddy interested in going, so I probably won’t make it.
What is your favorite household chore? Why? Make me love it too because I detest all of them. Vacuuming! I love driving that sucker (ha, sucker ;P) around and watching stuff get picked up and off my floors and baseboards and windowsills. Good times.
Your house is on fire. All living creatures will get out safely but you can only grab one sentimental item. What do you grab and why? The stuffed horse I’ve had since I was tiny. I plan to pass it on to the next generation.
Would you rather eat a slug or a spider? Ewww, neither.
Do you prefer houseplants or cut flowers? Houseplants since flowers are a migraine trigger for me.
What is the absolute hardest thing you have ever had to do for another person? Say goodbye.
What was your favorite food as a child? Spaghetti?
Be honest, do you exercise as much as you should? No, but that was mostly because I worked night shift for so long and had absolutely zero energy for working out. Now that I’m back on days, I can already tell that I’m more active, have more energy, and am moving more.
Have you ever met someone and you felt like you knew them? Did the relationship continue and did the feeling continue? Once or twice, yes. I am very good friends with one of them and am currently in a long-distance relationship with another.
And, without further ado, here are my questions for you:
If you had the world’s attention for 30 seconds, what would you say?
What is the last book you read?
Chocolate or vanilla ice cream?
What is your favorite vacation spot?
What is your favorite season?
What is a skill you posses that you are proud of?
Have you ever done something dangerous just because it was fun? What was it?
If you could say one thing to the person you miss the most, what would it be?
Do you recycle? Why or why not?
When is the last time you visited a library?
Did you enjoy these question?
If you decide to participate, please leave a link in the comments below so others can see your answers and play along. Looking forward to reading what y’all have to say!
1. Do you like mustard? Nope, can’t stand it (except in my family’s homemade spaghetti sauce) 2. Choice of carbonated beverage? Root beer!!! 3. Ever traveled to another country? Yup, I’ve been to both Canada and Ireland. 4. Whiskey, Tequila, Vodka? …where did all the Rum go? 5. Hot dogs or Cheeseburgers? Cheeseburgers. 6. Favorite Type Of food: Spaghetti 7. Do you believe in ghosts? Nope. 8. What do you drink in the mornings? Coffee or water, if I’m feeling healthy, lol. 9. Can you do a 100 pushups? Nope. 10. Summer, Winter, Spring, Or Fall? Winter!!! 11. Favorite hobby? Reading (and knitting and video games and travel) 12. Tattoos? Nope. 13. Do you wear glasses? Yep, otherwise I’m totally blind. 14. Phobia? I have a stupid fear of the Xenomorphs from the Alien movies, but I don’t know why. 15. Nickname? Meesh, Shelf, Sly. 16. Three drinks you drink? Water, coffee, and iced tea 17. Biggest Downfall? Impatience, maybe? 18. Rain or Snow? Snow, all the way. 19. Piercings? 4 ear piercings (1 in the left and 3 in the right) 20. Age? I’m as old as my nose and my two big toes and a little bit older than my teeth. 21. Taken or Single? Taken 22. How long taken or single? About a year now 23. Kids? None 24. Favorite color? Blues, greys, and greens 25. Employed? Full-time 26. Can you whistle? Yes. 27. Where were you born? Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia. 28. Brothers or Sisters? One each, both younger. 29. Ninjas or Pirates? Ah, here is where the rum has gone… Pirates. 30. Surgeries? Yes, I’ve had a frenulectomy, my wisdome teeth removed, and a mole removed for biopsy. 31. Religious? Trying to find my way back. 32. Shower or Bath? Shower and THEN bath 😛 33. Like gambling? Not really, no. 34. Are you loyal? To a fault. 35. Broken bones? Nope! 36. How many tv’s in your house? Umm, 3? 37. Worst pain ever? Migraines. 38. Do you like to dance? Love it! 39. Are your parents still alive? My mother is, but my father is not. 40. Do you like camping? I like the idea of camping and would very much like to try it out again, now that I’m an adult.
Our planned outing with the TnCIS group was today and we headed out early to get to the Newgrange site. (http://www.newgrange.com/)
Older than even the Egyptian pyramids at Giza and Stonehenge, the Irish passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth are some of the most impressive buildings of ancient times. These three sites are located along the River Boyne in an area that is perfect for the agricultural communities that settled there.
Ancient Irish peoples cremated their dead and placed them in great passage tombs. Unlike today, ancient people did not forget their dead and would commune with them at special times of the year.
Newgrange is one such site and has a roof box which allows the mid-winter sun to penetrate into the innermost chambers of the tomb.
One of the reasons Newgrange and its sister sites are so impressive is that much of the building materials were gathered from far away areas and floated upstream to the building site. Huge stones were dragged up from the river, had incredibly intricate designs carved into them, and were placed in their final resting spot. Many of these stones are still intact and in place today! Perhaps we should take lessons from the ancient people on how to build things that will last through the ages.
Although we cannot ask these ancient Irish people their thoughts, much can be learned from what they left behind. It is highly likely that only respected elders were allowed to enter the innermost chambers, with public rituals held outside the tombs.
Feminine symbolism is found in the egg-shaped stones and the passages within the structures while masculine symbols are seen in the various phallic objects and the stone balls.
This is especially interesting because of the connection that ancient peoples saw between death and rebirth.
As an aside to the wealth of history in the area, I found it really cool that the areas around these tombs had once again become agricultural. Farmers keep cows and sheep on the land and crow crops in the same soil of old.
On the drive from Newgrange to our surprise, the town of Bettystown, a beachfront community, I noticed something… The major roads in Ireland are called “Motorways” instead of “Interstates.” Once I’d considered it for a moment, I realize that it makes sense. In the United States we have a system of roadways that connect the states, an interstate system. However, Ireland has counties and would not need an interstate system. Instead, they have a motorway to travel across the country.
Personally, I think “Motorway” sounds quite hip, but I am definitely still attached to my “Interstates.” I’ve traveled all my life. 🙂
At the beach, many of my classmates and I removed our shoes and played in the chilly waters of the sea. Water is the element I most identify with and whenever I get the chance to experience the nature of it, life is good.
Brianna and I stopped in a small cafe for a snack of french toast and we talked with the waitress about the trip we were on and what we had seen so far. She was quite sweet and said that most tourists passed right by the cafe, but that it was nice to hear we were having fun.
Our first experience riding the Hop On, Hop Off bus wasn’t particularly great. The driver, a Dublin native, rather brusquely stated that he didn’t like to hear his riders’ speaking. We were told, “Your talking has made me lose my track.” which appears to be interchangeable with the Americanism, “You made me lose my place.”
My instructor commented… “Not very nice! I didn’t hear this.”
I have noticed that the Irish phrasing sounds more solid, almost as if it carries the weight of age. The American way of saying things is often very impudent sounding, often quite brash. We are a young country, after all, and the older I get the more that I am able to recognize this.
Knowing the Irish are particularly proud of their breweries, I looked forward to getting a tour of one of the local facilities…
Teeling Distillery is the only working Distillery in Dublin. It is a small, family-owned business that returned to Dublin and became the producer of the first Dublin whiskey to be distilled within the city in over forty years.
Peter, a fast-talking, highly knowledgeable young man was our tour guide. He explained how the distillery tried to purchase the original land and when they couldn’t, decided to locate in the historic Liberties. The Liberties were located beyond the city walls and residents felt “at liberty” to brew whiskeys and beers without having to pay taxes on what they produced.
Peter sitting in front of Natalie.
We learned about the different ingredients and cooking processes that the Teeling Distillery has used for years. From the selection of grains to the three copper vats where the solution is cooked down to become their signature whiskeys, everything at Teelings speaks of quality.
Traditions of old and new techniques come together in the three vats named after the Teeling daughters — Alison, Natalie and Rebecca — to create a wonderfully smooth small batch whiskey.
During the tasting portion of the tour, Peter explained the correct way to drink good Irish Whiskey…
Start by swirling it in the cup. The natural oils of a good whiskey will leave a residue called peaks and tears on the glass.
Second, smell the whiskey, breathing in the different scents.
Third, take a small sip and swallow, breathing out immediately afterward to allow the alcohol fumes of that first taste to escape.
After these steps, one may continue drinking, allowing each mouthful to sit on the tongue as the flavors and depths are revealed.
As the Teeling family says…
At the Farmer’s Market next door, a kind sort of haggling over prices occurred as vendors and their customers decided the worth of vegetables, fruits, meats, and more.
The people in attendance were of the community, speaking familiarly with vendors and other customers, reminding me of the small-town grocery store where I grew up. It seems that much of Ireland still has that small-town sense of community. The people truly care about each other and their country.
We traveled through Dublin by Hop On, Hop Off bus and hopped off across the River Liffey at the Story of the Irish show.
Guided through history by an actor portraying an ancient Celtic god, Crannog, we learned of the origins of the Irish people in their own words. Crannog is one of the Tuatha De Dannan, a people of magic who are honor bound to tell the truth, and is the guide who protects you as you travel through history.
The original Irish people migrated up the coast of Europe at the end of the last Ice Age. A few of these people crossed the water in skin boats to the island of Ireland, leaving the coast of a Britain still connected to the continent.
From that first landing the island was able to escape much of the war and conquering forces of the mainland. The island of Ireland was (and has been) so isolated from the world that the gene pool remained undiluted for thousands of years and a prosperous agricultural community developed. This group of people were technologically advanced and traded with lands as far away as Persia!
The most wonderful thing I was able to take away from the show is that there is currently a revival to bring back many of the ancient Irish traditions, the culture, and language.
Hearing tales of ancient Irish kings and of the steadfast, enduring soul of the people was truly inspiring.
Meandering Michelle 