Places I've Got to See

Three years ago I wrote about Places I'm Dying to See where I listed exotic locales that I'm determined to see at some future date. But a funny thing has happened the older I get . . . while I still want to see Giza and Petra I'm more interested in ever before in my own country.

Andrew and I traveled a bit before we had children--goodness, our honeymoon alone involved nine separate plane rides--and we took our little red car and drove from Utah to California then back again and then from Utah to Washington D.C. then back again. A year later we went north and drove as far Winnipeg, Manitoba up through Montana and North Dakota then back south through South Dakota and Wyoming. A total of forty states, six countries and counting.

I guess I've finally grown an appreciation for some of the amazing sights America has to offer and I've been keeping a list of places I'm determined to visit. Here's the list I'm saving for when the kids leave home and I can tap Andrew on the shoulder and say, "Wanna go for a drive?"

1. The Outer Banks. I've never been to North Carolina but three years ago some friends of ours had a family reunion on the Outer Banks and listening to their description of the area was the only taste I needed to decide that I must see this place some time.

Beaches are my very favorite thing--mountains and lakes and valleys are great but something about the sound of the waves on the shore and the slightly decayed salty smell of low tide completely relaxes me. I can't get enough and if I had my choice I'd live on a beach somewhere. Anywhere. But this particular beach is appealing because I've never been to this part of the world and it seems spread out, airy and wide open rather than the narrow, crowded California beaches I'm used to. If you know differently please don't ruin my vision, I'm enjoying it way too much.

2. Death Valley. Yup, you read that right. If I live in a place that boasts the highest point above sea level in North America then it makes sense that I'd like to visit the lowest point.

Actually, I'd like to go to Death Valley not just for the chance to say that I've been there and the fact that it has a menacing, uber-cool name I want to go for the wildflowers.

I've read that somehow the desert gets some years of heavier rainfall which produce amazing wildflower displays. This doesn't happen every year, just some times and when I read about the phenomenon several years ago they were saying that the heavy rainfall of 2005 produced wildflowers that you'd rarely ever see again. Sigh. I would have loved to have seen it.

3. Prince Edward Island. Okay I'm totally cheating here and I know this isn't even in America but I'm going to fudge just this once because I've wanted to visit ever since (you guessed it) I fell in love with Anne of Green Gables.

Since then I've seen pictures of the real Avonlea and the real island and it appears every bit as picturesque and beautiful as described in the famous book though I bet they get a lot of us dorky tourists all coming to see the places Anne lived as if she was a real person or something.

Ah well. It would be fun.

Nearby Nova Scotia too has always held a fascination--my father went there in the 90s and ran into former President George Bush (the elder) who was also enjoying some fishing. Small world huh? I found this site that lists the best camping places in Canada which probably deserves a post on its own.

4. Redwood National Forest. I've been to California a million times but mostly stuck to the southern part of the state. Something about being able to see a tree so big you can drive a car through it appeals to the kid in me I guess. It seems like I might have actually been to the forest when I was too young to remember but what good does that do me?

I was listening to NPR last week and there was a program where the host goes on these excursions and narrates his trips, describing everything he sees and hears and experiences. Last week he was in northwestern Australia in the middle of a jungle and was describing the bats that were coming out as dusk fell. I was driving in my car in Alaska during break up but in my mind I could see the bats overhead and feel the steamy heat of of the forest as if I was right there with him.

The only thing is, he described the trees he saw and it was completely beyond me to see them too. The description was so fantastic I just couldn't get it--he talked about tentacle-link roots descending to the forest floor and trunks and branches that looked like dragon tails and I haven't a clue what they look like. So that's another forest I'd like to see but that's hardly a qualifier for this week's list.

5. Charleston, South Carolina. I'm afraid my list is rather heavily based in the south because that's the part of the country I haven't seen much of. I've been all over Florida and to the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport (ditto Atlanta) but that hardly counts.

This city, however, has held my interest for years. My father went there for a business trip years ago and I still remember the gorgeous pictures he brought back of the Georgian mansions on the water and the wrought-iron work everywhere. So old and historic I couldn't help falling in love. The people I've known from Charleston have such a soft, gentile-sounding, aristocratic southern sound to their voices that it just reinforces my certainty that should I ever make it to this town I'd be helplessly in love.

6. Savannah, Georgia. The same can be said for Savannah. Before Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil came along to make the city famous I was already longing to see it for myself.

To me most cities tend to be very much the same. Stick me in the middle of Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis or Atlanta and I doubt I could guess which city I was in. There are a few though that have such personality: Boston, New Orleans, Nashville, Washington D.C. . . . to see them isn't just big buildings and fancy restaurants it's a cultural event.

So I put Savannah on the list too. It's not that far from Charleston, relatively speaking--I'll make it there someday.

7. Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Confession time: I've never read Misty of Chincoteague but . . . I have a daughter who did. Grace went through a huge horse-loving phase where she read every horse book she could get her hands on and I was forced by motherly love to live vicariously through her.

More than anything she wanted to visit Chincoteague Island where the wild horses live (though she informed me they're not really true wild horses but have turned feral). Apparently each June they have "Pony Penning Day" where some of the wild ponies are rounded up and sold at auction and Grace wanted to be there to get her own pony.

Now I'm not quite the sucker for horses that she is but after all the talk about the island and the plans she had to get there I would like to see it myself. My brother and sister in law were there and sent me a box of conch shells like you see here and so far that's the closest I've had to going.

8. Niagara Falls. I know this is probably cliche but I've heard that the falls are so much more impressive than can be imagined or photographed. One of those things that you have to see for yourself and though I've been to New York I never made it that far north.

When Andrew and I lived in Washington D.C. before we had kids we were scheduled to drive back west to Utah after our semester was over. Our money was gone, we needed to get on to the next task of earning more money to support ourselves so while our friends decided to take the leisurely drive back through upstate New York we opted for the more efficient way of straight through. I don't know how many times over the years we'd wished we'd taken our time and taken the detour with them.

Oh well. Woulda coulda shoulda. We'll just have to save Niagara for another time.

9. The Grand Canyon. I've been around Arizona several times but have never seen the biggest natural tourist attraction ever.

And while I would never have turned down a trip to the canyon it wasn't until some friends of ours went on a hiking trip there last summer that I realized what I'd been missing. I lapped up the details of their trip and pictured myself hiking through Sedona and Red Rock and seeing the Painted Dessert and the Superstition Mountains (best name EVER) and it all just clicked. I wanted to go very badly.

I think what really did it was their description of the hike they took to the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado rivers. They said that very close to where they camped is the Hopi Sipapu--or the place where the Hopi people believe that man emerged into the world. It's a natural spring covered by a dome of rock that has been shaped by the water over the millenia and the place is supposedly sacred to the Hopi even today as the birthplace of mankind.

Our friends tried to hike to the spot and find the spring themselves but the location is kept as a bit of a secret (the picture above is the only picture I could find and it's from a book--I don't know if it's even legitimate). It's so difficult to find they never got there.

Something about their narrative made me want to go backpacking along the river to see if I couldn't find it myself. What a trip it would be.

10. Mammoth National Park, Kentucky. I can't remember where I heard about this place, it must have been years ago, but I read that Kentucky has these underground caves and rivers that are really amazing. I've never been spelunking before--never been in a cave of any kind--and I find them fascinating.

I don't know if you've seen the series of BBC videos called Planet Earth but one of the discs is devoted entirely to caves and it's my favorite of the series. I've watched it four or five times now and every time I get this feeling that's a mixture of horror at being in a dark, damp, spooky place and excitement at the exploration of it all.

So a place with caves would definitely have to be on my list.

11. The Oregon Vortex. Okay you're going to think I'm just silly on this one but stick with me here. Supposedly there is this place in Oregon that claims there's some kind of a bubble or warp in the gravitational field of the area such that the laws of physics and gravity do not apply the way they do to the rest of us. It's become a roadside tourist attraction where the buildings on the site lean in odd ways, producing optical illusions.

I know this doesn't make much sense but as best I can deduce there are many places around the world where the slant or the line of the environment produces an illusion on the brain, forcing it to think that it's seeing something that it's not really seeing and I'd like to see it for myself.

For example, a road may appear to run uphill when in fact it's running downhill so that a car left in neutral will appear to roll uphill. Likewise will a tennis ball on the floor appear to roll uphill when it's in fact rolling downhill just as it should be. You can see a hoaky but fun video demonstration here.

I don't think that there are any laws of physics being broken here, no alien force fields, no warps in the space-time continuum--just a fun optical illusion and I'd like to see it. Shoot there are plenty of things I'd like to see in Oregon, starting with the coast, so I figure as long as I'm there I'd pay a visit to the Vortex and see if it's as the pictures make it out to be.

Probably not. It reminds me of how as a kid I wanted to see Madam Tousseau's Wax Museum when we went to London. Forget the cultural icons like the Tower of London or Parliament, I wanted to see the wax museum. Go figure.

12. Tennessee. I'm a little vague here because I'm not entirely sure which parts I want to visit, I just know that after studying the Civil War I want to see the plantations and mansions that I've heard are still standing. Tennessee sent more soldiers into the Civil War than any other state (so I've been told) hence the nickname "the Volunteer State" and I've heard it's just amazingly beautiful. Besides the mansions I'd also want to visit the Civil War battlefields--more battles took place in this state than in any other. Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Johnsonville--I'd love to tour the battlefields and make my way east to west across the state.

Whose with me?

Photos courtesy of National Geographic, Western Colorado Publishing, Prince Edward Island National Parks and Mammoth Cave National Park

Sponsored by Wedding Paper Divas for wedding invitations.

Our Latest Gaming Obsession: Quatro

I saw this game at my sister's place last weekend and my first thought was "Wow, this is fun!" followed by "Yea, I can make this!" and here it is.

The game is called Quatro (Spanish for "four." Or a German luxury car, take your pick) and it's pretty darn addicting.

To play you have sixteen wooden pieces, each slightly different from the next, and players take turns trying to place pieces on the board such that they can make a row of four that shares one of four characteristics.

For example, the first player picks a piece and hands it to the person at his or her right. That player takes the piece and puts it anywhere on the board, trying to somehow make a row of four. After placing that piece they pick another piece and hand it to the player at their right who also places it and tries to complete a series of four.

Around and around you go (you can have as many players as you'd like), each player playing the piece they were given and choosing a piece for the next player to place. As soon as someone is able to complete a row of four in any direction the person who handed them the winning piece is out and the game continues until only one person is left to claim victory.

The trick lies in the connections. You have round pieces and square pieces, white pieces and brown pieces, short pieces and long pieces, hollow pieces and filled pieces. Of the sixteen total pieces no two share all four characteristics and it's very tricky to train yourself to see all the possible combinations on the board.

If you look at the picture at left here you can see, for example, that the bottom horizontal row can be completed if someone places a hollow piece in that empty spot because then all of the row would be hollow pieces even though some are short and some are tall and they are of different colors. Same for the diagonal--one more brown piece in that upper right hand corner and you've completed a row of four brown pieces diagonally even though the pieces are not all exactly the same otherwise.

What makes the game tricky is that you might be concentrating on the fact that there are three hollow pieces in a row but not notice that you also have three square pieces in a different line so things can sneak up on you and get you out unexpectedly.

It's a great game for children but entertaining for all and we've been playing it all weekend.

How do you make your own game? Well I'm so glad you asked!

For the board you can use anything you want--a piece of plywood, a pre-cut piece of craft wood from Michael's, a plastic lid, a piece of cardboard, whatever you've got on hand. I used a $2.79 piece of pine from Michael's then sanded it a bit and stained it with a light stain.

Then I used sixteen wooden discs (also at craft stores) and stained those with a dark walnut stain and glued them with wood glue in a four-by-four grid on the top. I drilled a hole in the corner of the board and attached a drawstring bag with a leather lace to hold the pieces when they're not in use.

In a burst of creativity I also used my woodburning tool to write the instructions for the game on the underside of the board should anyone forget how to play (though as much as they're playing around here I doubt very much that will happen).

As for the playing pieces I used a square dowl and a round dowl then cut them into eight 2 1/2 inch segments for the tall pieces and eight 1 1/2 inch segments for the short pieces. I drilled part way into the tops and bottoms of eight hollow pieces and then stained eight of them with a light stain to match the board and half with a dark stain to match the discs. Easy huh?

Here's a breakdown of the kinds of pieces you'll need (one of each kind for a total of 16):

short white round hollow
short white square hollow
short brown round hollow
short brown square hollow
short white round filled
short white square filled
short brown round filled
short brown square filled
tall white round hollow
tall white square hollow
tall brown round hollow
tall brown square hollow
tall white round filled
tall white square filled
tall brown round filled
tall brown sqaure filled

Total price to make? Not including the paint stain, leather lace, scrap of fabric for the bag and sandpaper (which I had already on hand) about $10.50 with some discs leftover. Not bad.

Sponsored by Tiny Prints for the holiday party invitations for children.

A Pepsi & Mountain Dew Throwback Giveaway

Pepsi and Mountain Dew are going back in time to offer their original formulas--including being sweetened with natural sugar over the high-fructose corn syrup--for two months starting April 20th.

Have you had pop with real cane sugar? It's sooooooo good!

The drinks are sold in 12-pack cans and special single bottles and to celebrate the whole affair they're offering a special prize package to one of you wonderful people.

The prize package includes what you see here:

One Pepsi Throwback Trucker Cap

One Retro Pepsi Tin Lunch Box

One Retro Clock Radio/CD Player

One USB Lava Lamp

Pepsi Throwback & Mountain Dew Throwback

Here's how to win:

Before 12 am Thursday morning, April 30th click here to reach the giveaway entry form then enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names at random, contact the winner via their email and publish the winner's first name and home town in next Tuesday's post. See the bottom of the entry form for more details.

This giveaway is only open to readers with a U.S. address.

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As for other giveaways (they're everywhere I tell you) congratulations to Taj of Andover, Massachusetts for winning this weekend's Bliss Living Giveaway which you all appeared to like as much as I did. If your name did not come up this time never fear because I have another giveaway from Bliss Living that is even bigger and will be open to all those who are subscribed to my Scribbit Newsletter.

So if you haven't subscribed might I suggest you do so? Get your name into the pot! Details of the prize will be in the newsletter coming out Friday May 1st and I'll probably tantalize you with a picture in a later post just to show what you'll be missing if you don't sign up.

Sponsored by Greetings of Grace where you can find beautiful pressed flowers.

Someone I'd Like You to Meet: Antique Mommy

Now I’m going to start off by confessing a little here—when I first started blogging Antique Mommy was one of the first five or ten blogs I found and I loved her writing right away. I lurked quite a bit but at some point I must have got up the guts to leave a comment because I still remember the thrill of finding a comment from her here at Scribbit.

So I had a hard time with questions this time but after you see how well she's handled my attempts at conversation I'm sure you'll be sold on her too if you aren't already a fan.

And I completely want to join her on one of those photo safaris!

***

I have to start by saying I’ve always been impressed at how friendly, generous, or accessible you are as a blogger (pardon my gushing). So I guess my first question is . . . how do you find time for visiting and reading blogs? Is it hard to keep up with this as your site grows? Any tips for those who might be struggling with this?

Wow, that’s really nice to hear! But in the interest of honesty, I have to tell you that I don’t keep up. The blogosphere has grown exponentially since I started blogging, and I can’t keep up with everyone anymore. Last fall I relieved myself of that expectation. When you come to motherhood as late as I did, time is always the overriding theme and the onus to spend it judiciously is pressing.

These days my blog reading is sporadic and serendipitous rather than systematic. I do respond to quite a few of my comments though because to me, blogging is a conversation, not a lecture. I’m in my email off and on all day, so it doesn’t take but a second to reply with whatever thought I had when I read the comment. If someone made me laugh I want to let them know. If they shared something, I want to acknowledge that. I think the comments are the best part of my blog.

You’ve written a short story serialized on your blog—have you done more fictional writing? Do you have any goals in that area?

I haven’t done any more fictional writing only because of lack of time, but I would love to do another serialized story for the blog. I have a couple of family sagas in mind, one that includes a scalping, as well as some children’s stories, which do not include scalpings, although compared to what happened to Hansel and Gretel, maybe a scalping isn’t so bad.

Again, it’s a time thing. I thought that once Sean got a little older and more self-sufficient I would have more time, but it turns out I have less, so it is increasingly harder to find a quiet time and space to write anything of length.

The categories that you assign your posts have some of the best titles I’ve seen—everything from “Tuna” to “Crow Casserole.” What kinds of posts are your favorite to write?

I love to write character studies and there is no shortage of characters in Tuna and Wal-Mart and the other places I find myself. I love to write stories that speak to the amusing and perplexing condition of modern life.

If I can get a little more personal here—though it’s on your blog so it’s fair game right? Within 10 years you seem to have been through tough things most women pray they never have happen to them. How do you think those experiences of being widowed, the joys of remarriage, then dealing with infertility and now raising a son at a later age has affected you as a person? How about your writing? Did you write before all of this?

I have always loved words and loved to write stories, but it wasn’t until I started my blog back in 2005 that a mechanism was in place for me to write consistently. I think of the trials of my life, those that you mention, as sort of these gritty wind storms that have swept through and chiseled me into who I am. There will no doubt be more storms to weather and more chiseling ahead for me. And while these storms have shaped me, they do not define me. I never wanted to be one of those people who made a career out of their woes.

After going through so much how do you view it all in retrospect? Could you go through it again? What would you say to someone whose life isn’t going quite as they’d hoped it would be?

I would go through it all again ten times over to be where I am today and who I am today. In a way, I feel sorry for those who have never had their boat rocked because it is the darkest and most uncertain moments of life that bring you face to face with your own frail humanity and powerlessness. There is a certain wisdom and blessing that comes from being so completely emptied, a truth so beautifully told in the book of Job.

What to say to one who is suffering disappointment? Sorrow is a complicated and personal thing and something that can’t be addressed on a bumper and I wouldn’t want to trivialize anyone’s pain by trying to do that here. “Keep your chin up” doesn’t quite cut it when you are broken and hurting.

All I can say is that Michael Angelo’s “David” was but a hunk of rock until he took a chisel to it. None of us will leave this life unscathed and having weathered a few storms, I wouldn’t even want to.

You’ve mentioned you’ve traveled quite a bit before you had a child. What are some of your favorite places you visited?

These days, there is no place like home. I’d just as soon go to Paris, Texas as Paris, France.

Any advice for women raising children later in life? Or grandmothers raising their grandchildren? Surely you have a pearl of wisdom somewhere you can share.

I’m probably the last person who should be doling out parenting advice. I have no idea what I’m doing. I mess up a lot. I’m quick to say I’m sorry when I’ve over re-acted or yelled and Sean is quick to forgive. My child knows I love him fiercely. I tell him daily that I was glad he was born, glad I got to be his mom and that he is a source of joy to his mommy and daddy, that we like him.

My prayer is that the tremendous amount of love I have for my child will cover over the myriad of mistakes I will make as a parent on any given day. That’s what I pray for anyway.

You take lovely photographs—have you had much training? Any tips for improving the photos on one’s blog?

Thank you! No, no training. I totally bumble around, the same approach I take to motherhood and life. I intuitively know how to compose a picture, but I have no idea how the box works. I am going to learn. As soon as I have time.

How do you deal with writer’s block?

I keep a list of story ideas, little snippets of scenes from life I want to capture. When I get an idea it goes on the list, which is currently about three pages long. If nothing noteworthy has happened during my day, I go to the list. I’m an observer. To me, life is theater and there is always a scene unfolding somewhere that deserves to be put to words.

Now, if I were trying to write something profound everyday, I’d be in trouble. I’d have about three posts in my archives!

Do you see your writing changing as your son gets older?

Yes. The older he gets, the less the writing is about him. A boundary is emerging that increasingly shouldn’t be ignored or crossed and I want to be careful to respect that. I have watched a number of my blogging friends with children a bit older than Sean negotiate this and I’ve taken heed.

If you could take tomorrow off and spend the entire day pampering yourself (just hypothetically right?) what would your day include?

I’m a simple girl; I don’t require much physical pampering. For me, pampering means the opportunity to indulge my creative spirit which I guess would be a pampering of the soul. I would get up very early and slip on a pair of old cargo pants, flip flops and a tank and then I would jump in my car with my camera and go on a photo safari.

In the afternoon, I would go into my studio and work on a painting using one of my photos as inspiration. In the evening I would have some good Mexican food delivered and I would sit down with a glass of Sangria and work on a story. Obviously my son and husband are off on an all-expense paid trip to Lego Land.

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

The Eskimo Olympics

I'm sure you're aware of the history of the Olympics--how the Greeks liked to strip down and wow each other with their prowess at running, throwing and jumping while naked? I guess that's what happens when you live someplace that's warm and balmy all year long and men get together to show off.

Well here in Alaska we have our own version of the Olympics but which involves considerably more clothing.

In 1961 in Fairbanks the first World Eskimo Olympics was born as a way to preserve some of games and competitions the Native people of Alaska have played for centuries and just as the original Greek Olympics honored the skills it took to stay alive in ancient Greece the Eskimo Olympics represent the skills admired among the Native peoples.

Now besides the official World Eskimo-Indian Olympics which are held every March in Fairbanks there are also the Native Youth Olympics held every April in Anchorage and various other games events during the year. Forget the 100 meter dash and the high jump--these events tend to meld the physical prowess of the traditional Olympics with the entertainment of the Peking Acrobats. But everyone has their clothes on.

In the summertime we often have "Family Olympics" where we get together in the back yard with the kids and play our own version of the Olympics. I'm thinking that maybe this summer we need to do a Native Alaskan version and incorporate some of these new events.

The kids would have a great time trying out their Eskimo Skills.

If you happen to attend sometime here's what you can expect.

The One Arm Reach
With one elbow in your stomach and your hand on the floor balance your body parallel to the floor while reaching up to touch a ball high above you. You must touch the ball and bring your hand back down to the floor before any other part of your body touches the ground. Truly a Jackie Chan move.

The One-Foot High Kick
Stand with both feet on the ground. Jump up into the air and with one foot kick a ball that can be as high as a basketball net then land on that same foot you just kicked with.

Yea. It's tough. This is really the "premier" event at the W.E.I.O. (World Eskimo-Indian Olympics) and supposedly it came from the time when hunters would signal to others of a successful whale hunt by jumping high into the air. Yes I know cell phones would have been easier but would they have looked so cool?

The Toe Kick
Stand with your feet together and a one-inch diameter rod on the ground in front of you. Jump forward enough to kick the stick with your toes but kick it backwards as you jump forward. You have to land ahead of the point where the stick was at the beginning.

As the competition progresses the stick is moved farther and farther away so the distance you have to cover is longer and longer while still having the balance and agility to kick the stick backward with your toes as you fly by.

The Four-Man Carry
I really should enter this event because I swear I've done it before and it pretty much is what it appears to be. One guy carrying four.

You can train by getting your kids to jump on your back or legs while you walk around the house--I swear I've learned to vacuum with children wrapped around my ankles so I should be a natural at this one.

The Wrist Carry
This one is a harder on the carried rather than the carrier.

Wrap your wrist around a pole like a hook and hold on tight to your forearm while two people carry you, the object being to travel the longest distance without crying "uncle."

Be sure to remove your wrist watch first.

The Alaskan High Kick
I personally think this one of the coolest ones. Balance on one hand and your opposite foot. Hold the other foot with your free hand then with your balancing foot jump up into the air and kick a ball high above you and balance once again when you finally get back to earth.

I don't care if you're all about yoga and tae kwon do--this is hard to do. As with most of these moves this one emphasizes balance and strength which the hunters valued while searching for food on the ice packs.

The Knuckle Hop
Long before break dancing was popular Native Alaskans were playing this game mimicking the way a seal moves across the ice.

Lay on the floor with your hands flat in front of you, you weight on your toes. Lift yourself off of the floor and hop on your flat hands and toes and you've got the general idea. Not nearly as easy as the picture would indicate. And you don't want to be wearing a skirt.

The Ear Pull
This one is kind of hard to watch. You take a long cord with a loop at one end and a 16-pound weight on the other then loop the one end around your ear and have at it.

You can't rest the weight against your cheek and you have to walk as far as you can with that thing swinging from your sagging ear. Before they had nice little compact weights they used 25-pound sacks of flour and could go as far as 2,000 feet. Ugh.

Leave the earrings home.

"Drop the Bomb"
I've wondered where this game got it's name because it's obviously not of Native origins but the object is to race in four-person teams.

If you want to play the difficult part of the bomb then lie face-down on the floor with your arms outstretched side to side and your feet together. One of your team mates grabs your ankles, one your right wrist and one your left wrist. You get as stiff as you can while they raise you one foot off the floor and try to carry you as far as they can before you give out, sag and they "drop the bomb" (i.e. you).

The Blanket Toss (Nalukataq)
This is the picture you see at the top and it's probably the quintessential picture from Alaska--what most people see in their minds when they think of Alaska.

No matter, it's a fun image--better than picturing a bear devouring a biker or a moose isn't it? And as a kid growing up before trampolines were everywhere this always seemed like the most fun anyone could have and it is still very much a Native tradition that you can see at most events such as Fur Rendezvous.

Photographs courtesy of AP.

Sponsored by Starlooks Boutique for high-quality, made in the USA clothing for children.

Spicy Beans and Pork Stir Fry

I think my favorite part about eating Asian food is that I get to bring out my Asian placemats and dishes. We've got the chopsticks, the bamboo placemats, the fun ceramic spoons and tiny sauce dishes which give us all a thrill (and the plates are slightly smaller so I end up eating less--always a benefit).

This is a new recipe for us and while it is spicy I didn't find it overpowering. I tend to be a hot-food whimp and was worried it would be too hot for my delicate palate but it was just hot enough for a kick.

Originally in a Family Fun issue I've changed it just a bit here and there but the basic recipe is still under there somewhere.

1 pound boneless pork chops, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon spicy bean sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons sweet chili sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 pound green beans
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
4 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds

Toss pork with 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of the vinegar and pepper in a bowl and let it set while you mix the last tablespoon of soy sauce, the last of vinegar, the broth, bean sauce, hoisin, sweet chili sauce, sugar, sesame oil and cornstarch.

Heat your wok on high until if you hold your hand about an inch above the pan it's uncomfortable. Add a tablespoon of canola oil and a tablespoon of peanut oil and stir beans until they turn brown. Spoon them out and let wok reheat a second then add pork, garlic and ginger, cooking until browned.

Add the beans, the green onions and the sauce to the pan, stirring until the sauce is thickened. Serve over rice with sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

Sponsored by Pink and Blue for unique baby gifts to make them "ooh" and "ahh."

Bliss Living Giveaway

When I tell you this weekend's company is called Bliss Living you won't be surprised when I tell you they have all sorts of things for blissfully pampering yourself and your children.

If you fancy some jewelry they have a lovely collection for commemorating those motherhood moments--just in time for the big Mother's Day next month.

If clothing is your thing then their cashmere and cotton onesies are a fun luxury that soft baby skin can enjoy and can only improve the snuggle time you'll be enjoying.

Some of my own personal favorites? Check out the following:

• Elegant diaper bags on clearance
• Fun "Moses" baskets for carrying your baby in style
• Personalized children's clocks for fun decorating
• Blossom Meadow Play Tent
• Rainbow Crystal Bead Blocks

And my VERY favorite. My most absolute favorite--the swinging tent cavern playhouse you see above. Isn't it something? I can only imagine how my kids would have loved one of those when they were little.

I just wish they had one big enough for my bed--I'd totally sleep in it.

Their toy collection is quite good--lots of unique wooden blocks and creative play tools that I'd recommend from my time spent window shopping.

Anyway, thanks to the generosity of Bliss Living I have a $50 gift certificate for this weekend's winner for you to decide what you think is your own personal favorite should you win it for yourself.

Here's how to win:

Before 12 am Monday morning click here to reach the giveaway entry form then enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names at random, contact the winner via their email and publish the winner's first name and home town in next Tuesday's post. See the bottom of the entry form for more details.

This giveaway is open to all readers so good luck!

Making Mozzarella at Home

I can't remember where I saw this idea but somewhere out in that great swirling cosmos of the blogosphere I came across a recipe for making your own mozzarella. Really.

The idea was so intriguing, so wild, so "COOL!" that I had to give it a try that week and here are the results.

Somehow it's nice to know that should I ever be out of cheese but in possession of a cow I can make unlimited cheese pizza.

I wonder . . . can you milk a moose?

Forget I asked that.

You'll need:
one gallon of whole milk
one crushed Rennet tablet (found in baking aisle near tapioca)
2 teaspoons citric acid (found at health food stores)
1 tablespoon sea salt

equipment:
large stainless steel pot
large strainer
slotted spoon to scoop and drain
heat proof bowl
thermometer

1. Dissolve the crushed rennet tablet in about a tablespoon of water

2. Pour your milk into a large pot on the stove like you see above. Whole milk is best but you can use 2% or even skim it just won't be as rich.

The very very best to have is farm fresh milk straight from the cow (or moose?) but if you're like me you may not have access to a bovine beast so do what you can. Did you know that authentic mozzarella is made from buffalo milk? I'm full of trivia today.

3. Get your thermometer ready and put the heat on the milk to medium low. Add the citric acid and stir it into the milk. Citric acid isn't too expensive, I think I got that huge plastic thingie of it for about $5. Enough to supply the entire western hemisphere with mozzarella for a month.

4. Stir in the diluted rennet tablet and stir it thoroughly up and down into the milk. With the citric acid and the rennet into the pot you'll see the whole thing begin to curdle like you see in picture 2.

5. Continue to heat the mixture as it curdles, up to 105 degrees, stirring gently, then turn off the heat and let it set for about 30 minutes.

6. Strain the curds from the whey (the watery liquid that has separated from the curds--remember your Miss Muffet? Now you know what that stuff she was eating is). You can reserve the whey and make your own ricotta which is my next project to post but more on that later.

In the meantime put the curds in a heat-proof bowl and squeeze them gently to get rid of any extra whey that might be lingering then break them up gently with your fingers. Sprinkle the salt over the top and stir it in a bit. Also, if you wish to add any spices such as basil now is the time to add a dash of herbs to your concoction.

7. Okay here's the tricky part--really tricky. If you're doing this with children this is where you'll really need to supervise. You're going to have to heat the curds up again to about 165 degrees to be able to form a nice smooth ball of cheese.

You can do this by heating up the whey to about 180 and pouring a bit of the hot liquid over the curds but this didn't work well for me. Instead I used my microwave but you'll have to watch it carefully. Better to put it on very low power and heat it slowly than to heat it too much and cook it. Zap it bit by bit until it becomes pliable and stretchy but not melted.

8. Don't burn yourself and work the cheese into a smooth ball either with your hands or with the backs of a couple of spoons like you see in picture 3.

Mine here isn't as smooth and pretty as it should be but this was my first batch which I heated with the hot whey method and it didn't work so well. Plus I put herbs in it which gave it some more texture.

Your mozzarella is now ready and you can eat it any time you choose but the best way to save it is to wrap it in plastic wrap or in a plastic bag where it will keep for about 8 days give or take.

It would be great in a Caprese salad with fresh tomatoes and basil and some high-quality olive oil or on a pizza which is how we ate this batch. VERY good.

Sponsored by Dimples and Dandelions with the Serena and Lily Bedding Collection for children.

Are You a Polite Guest? Party Etiquette Part Two

Last week it was all about the host when we talked etiquette. This week I'm flipping the pancake and applying some heat to the other side of the matter: the guest. After all, it's not just the host who has responsibilities for being polite, right?

Thank you to all who left their thoughts and opinions in last week's post, I realize that etiquette can inspire some strong feelings and as Fawn mentioned in her comment it's a bit like grammar. There are rules and it's wise to be aware of them if nothing else to know when it's acceptable to tweak them to your specific circumstances and when to stick gracefully by them.

Etiquette certainly isn't about knowing the rules so you can feel superior to the slug besides you. I'm sure I've read something about that one in a book somewhere--something about pride going before the fall--though I don't recall it coming from Miss Manners, seems like that came from a higher authority . . . who was it now??

But I do believe etiquette helps us remember the other person and how to treat them by thinking of their comfort over our own which also comes from that same higher authority if I remember correctly.

Anyway, here's week two. As before, to see the answers to the quiz you'll have to click and drag your cursor over the blank area below the multiple choice selections which will highlight the answer.

1. You've received an invitation to a barbecue that mysteriously says "R.S.V.P." What does this mean?

a) Nothing, it's like "esquire" and no one really knows what it signifies.
b) Respondez-vous, s'il vous plait. Pardon my French.
c) Don't forget to bring the chips and dip, or in the common tongue: "Ranch, Salsa, Veggie tray, Potato chips"
d) Please come a little early to help me set up.

B is right. Starting out nice and easy, huh?
Yes it's French and the translation is: Please respond. Or, more correctly, the command form of the verb as in: "RESPOND! Please." And it should be treated as such--a command. If someone has been so nice as to invite you to an event and they ask that you let them know if you're coming you'd better do so. If for nothing else so they can get a head count and know how many guests to plan on.

Now I myself have been lazy from time to time in dealing with this--guilty along with so many others--but really, it's very rude not to let them at least know if you will or will not be attending. There is nothing on earth that says you must go or even that you must provide a creative excuse. A simple, "I'm very sorry but I have another engagement that night" does the trick very well though I'd also add that if you can't come it's nice to at least let them know you very much appreciate the invitation and would have loved to have been there. Otherwise it tends to sound like an "I've got to wash my hair" kind of an excuse.

2. You've been invited to an event, you've responded and said that you'd come (so far so good) then it turns out that you can't come. What do you do?

a) Drag your bleeding body to the party anyway. I don't care if the operation was scheduled at the same time.
b) Notify your host as soon as you find out that you can't make it. They'll understand you got a better offer.
c) Arrange for a replacement to show up in your place--you know? A body double?
d) Don't worry, they'll probably not notice that you're not there anyway. Forget the whole thing.

The answer is B. Kind of. Sort of.
I was tricky, very tricky here and if you had no clue what the answer is it's just because I was wording my questions in a slimy, used-car-salesman kind of way. If you're going to a party and then you have something else come up then yes, you should immediately call your host and let them know you can't attend after all.

The problem lies in the reason you're canceling. You see I've had several incidents where someone told me they were coming to a party but then canceled because they wanted to go to another event. Of course this is pretty irritating for the host because it says, in essence, that "I got a better offer and you're just not as important as the other person/event." Nice.

If you're having emergency open heart surgery, if your mother has died or if western culture has collapsed in a fireball of ruin then yes, you have my permission to cancel on your host. If, however, you've been invited to another party, event, obligation, whatever there is no polite way to cancel the first. Your duty as a guest once you've committed to attending is to stick to your word. When you get that second invitation that is the one you must politely decline by saying, "Thank you very much but I've have obligations to attend another event. I wish I could be at both but I've already committed to the first."

I've had this happen to me and it's happened to my kids--maybe it's a hint? Don't do it, trust me it hurts.

3. To which of the following is it acceptable to show up "fashionably" late?

a) A wedding
b) A funeral
c) A cocktail party
d) A business party
e) A dinner party
f) None of the above

C is right. I shall enumerate.
Of course "fashionably" late is up for debate as it is--the microtrend right now says being on time is the hot new "it" though I'm wondering who it is exactly that's seeing this new fad sweeping the nation because it hasn't yet reached Alaska.

If an invitation to a wedding, funeral, graduation, dinner party, business event or other formal affair that is dependent on a ceremony says it's starting at 7 then 7 is the time you shall arrive if you care to be polite.

The things that allow some squeeze are the ones that are more casual--getting together with friends informally--or that are later at night or don't rely on a certain event such as a dinner where food preparations or other preparations are involved. Dances, open houses, those kinds of things one can arrive slightly late to and still be free from mockery. The "fashionably" late window is about 30 minutes too, if you're interested. Apparently later than that means you're no longer fashionable and are rude. Who knew?

4. You've just enjoyed yourself at a holiday party with friends. Which of the following is appropriate?

a) Offer your host a twenty dollar bill to cover the expenses of the evening.
b) Politely extend a "thank you" as you leave.
c) Write a thank you note after the event.
d) B and C are correct.

D it is! Too easy huh?
The word is: the proper thing to do after attending a party is to send your host a thank you note. Period. I need to be better about this and I'm guessing I'm not alone out there in my oversight.

It's funny but actually offering people money can be rude--when someone is trying to be a gracious host by offering them money for their efforts it can demean their gesture of hospitality. Something about putting a price tag on the evening you've just enjoyed by saying, "Here's what I thought the party was worth--go treat yourself" seems a little tacky.

Of course if someone is hosting an event such as a baby shower and you'd like to help with the efforts and expenses then approaching the host early on in the preparations could be a nice gesture possibly. It's the tipping-the-waiter-move at the end that is so gauche.

5. You've been invited to a dinner party and would like to be a proper guest. You could:

a) Offer to bring something to the meal such as a side dish.
b) Do nothing--it's not your party is it?
c) Bring a box of candy for your diabetic hostess.
d) Show up early to help with the preparations.

A is the answer. And I like cheesecakes--bring one of those, please.
While you remember from last week's rampage that it's impolite of a host to expect a guest to pay for their own meal or entertainment there's nothing that says you can't politely inquire as a guest to see if there is anything you can bring. We do this all the time for things like Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations and the host can either decide whether they'd like help or not--it's up to them.

Doing nothing isn't really wrong either, so it's kind of a trick question though I think at least offering is a nice gesture. As long as you mean it and follow through with whatever you're asked to then bring.

It's a nice thing to bring a hostess gift and this can be tricky. You don't want to bring something that causes problems or that must be served at the meal. No no no. Anything that can be easily set aside, put in a vase, saved for later or enjoyed by the host is perfectly acceptable. I've seen bottles of wine, loaves of fancy bread, boxes of candy, flowers, all sorts of nice little tokens. My favorite was when a beautiful Russian woman and her husband brought me a box of Godiva chocolates which I then hoarded and savored bite by bite. I really should have offered one to Andrew. Was I rude not to?

6. You've been invited to a dinner party and don't know what to wear. What DO you do?

a) Dress down because more casual is always better.
b) Call your host for clarification.
c) Dress up because fancier is always better.
d) Get your spouse to match you because then you'll at least have someone else in the room inappropriately dressed if you're wrong.

B. So there.
Though I do admit to trying out D myself from time to time--I figure if I've got Andrew alongside joining me in my faux pas then I'm not alone--I'm a trendsetter.

Usually if dress is important to the event it should specify it on the invitation. That's part of the job of being a host, notifying your guests of things like that. However what was often common knowledge in the proper etiquette for dress is now more difficult to discern so if you're really in doubt a quick call usually does the trick. And I don't think you're breaking any laws by requesting clarification.

My own personal opinion is that it's better to err to the side of more formal than more casual. Why? Well because when you're dressed more nicely it implies that you care enough to take the time that a more formal outfit requires which isn't a bad thing. You don't want to overdo it of course but in general I'd rather be in a casual skirt when most are wearing jeans than in jeans when most are wearing skirts.

7. You're at a dinner party--which of the following is acceptable to do?

a) Ask for a tour of the home.
b) Ask if you can help clean up.
c) Stay late to talk with your host and "catch up."
d) None the above.

B. B. B.
Of course you aren't required to offer your services and are perfectly in line if you do not.

It is, however, rude to ask for a tour. Though honestly? If someone asked me to see my home I wouldn't think so--though maybe I need to wise up. The thinking is that you should wait for your host to offer (maybe the rest of the home is messy and asking for a tour would be embarrassing? Maybe?) but then as a host I'd feel kind of uncomfortable about asking people if they'd want to see my home because what if they didn't want to? I'd hate to push a tour on those who didn't want one. I'd probably wait for them to ask to see it before giving a tour so apparently my guests and I are at an impasse. My home will never be shown. Unless I have "rude" guests who ask. Whatever.

As for C the thinking is that as a guest you shouldn't do anything that monopolizes their host. It's impolite for the host to be occupied with only one or a few of their guests, they need to mingle with all. Maybe that's where the tour thing comes in because if you ask for one then your host has to take you all over the place away from the other guests. Who knows?

The host is supposed to see to the needs of his or her guests so you're supposed to be respectful of their time and not take them away from the rest of the party.

8. You've been invited to a wedding and want to bring your sister who also knows the bride but the invitation is only addressed to you. What do you do?

a) Bring her along, after all it was probably an oversight.
b) Bring a date instead, that would be more fun anyway.
c) Call the bride and get it cleared with her first.
d) Go alone--weddings are supposed to be a good place to pick up guys, right?

Tell me you picked D. Right??
Okay while some of the things on this quiz are rather frivolous and would hardly get you kicked out of finishing school this one is pretty important. You do not, under any circumstances, bring extra guests to a party. Never. Ever. Ever.

Etiquette is firm on this one and there's good reasons for it. If you're addressing invitations you're supposed to make sure you address them correctly to establish who it is exactly that is invited. Guessing who the invitation is for is never a fun place for ambiguity. I was once with my roommate at a college party and these two guys were talking to us and they started talking about how fun it was to have barbecues in the canyon and then one said to both of us, "Do you want to go?"

We both smiled and said, "Sure! Sounds fun!"

To which he stumbled, looked awkward then said, "Oh--um--I just meant YOU," pointing to my roommate. Apparently she was the only one they wanted to invite. Awkward. Let's just say their stupidity didn't make a good impression on either of us though she did go. And got food poisoning. The whole group of them. To which I often point to as proof that there is, in fact, justice in the world.

So make sure your invitations are clear. Then on the other end make sure you follow whatever it says. If it says "Your Name and Guest" then that means you're free to bring a guest. Even your sister. If it just has your name then you're flying solo. If it has you and your husband's names you do NOT BRING YOUR CHILDREN. Can I emphasize that enough?

If it says "Mr. and Mrs. Your Name and Family" then, and only then, are you free to bring the rest of your adorable brood.

Calling and asking the host if it's okay to bring an extra guest isn't cool because it puts them in the awkward spot of having to either say "No" or give into your request and deal with the change in the number of guests.

9. You've just been married and received lots of wonderful gifts. Except for the three eggplant peelers. You want to get them exchanged for something else. Which is the only thing you should not do?

a) Take it into the store and see if they'll exchange it.
b) Call the giver and ask where they got it to facilitate an exchange.
c) Regift it for the next lucky contestant.
d) Send a thank you notes and enjoy some ratatouille.

The answer is a shining B. Most definitely.
While regifting it can be an option I beg you to do it in such a way that the giver does not suspect your lack of affection for their offering. It's just not nice. Ditto on the store exchanges--while there's nothing that says you can't try to get a gift exchanged there most definitely is a rule that one does not call the giver and let them know of your intentions. In fact calling the giver to ask where they purchased their gift is about as tacky as one can get.

Call it two-faced if you must but the rule books call it courtesy. Regardless of how you feel about a gift everyone who sends one deserves a thank you. And another note about thank yous: if someone gives you a gift and they are there to see you open it and receive your verbal thanks then you need not send a written thank you note.

You thank them right then and there and that's the appropriate response. However, most parties--such as wedding receptions--say that to open gifts in front of the guests is wrong so the happy couple open things privately or with a few friends in which case thank yous should be sent to those who were not able to be thanked in person.

Birthday parties are tricky this way because as I said, you're not supposed to open gifts in front of the guests but at parties this has become part of the entertainment and parents often want to use the experience as a tool for teaching their little host the proper present-response etiquette. So this rule isn't always obeyed, I'm just letting you know it's out there and why it's proper for someone not to open a gift in front of their guests if that's what you encounter.

10. Oh here's a good one! Okay . . . you're at a party and your host or another guest has a run in her nylons. Do you tell her about it?

a) Yes.
b) No.

B--No. I'll explain.
Now this item isn't so much about parties though it does tie in. Do you ever see something horribly wrong with someone--say they have toilet paper stuck to their shoe--and you wonder if you should say something? Well the rule to get you through this is simple: if you see something wrong that the person can fix then quickly and discreetly tell them so they can do so.

If, however, you see something wrong--such as a run in the nylons--where the person really can't do anything about it then the best thing to do is to ignore it altogether. See? Simple.

To be told that you've got something wrong with you that you can't fix is irritating. It just feels like criticism but if it's something that can be quickly corrected then it's a blessing. The line is there, make sure you're on the right side of it.

11. You've been invited to a wedding and don't know which gift is appropriate. Which could you properly do?

a) Don't go so you can avoid the problem entirely.
b) Gift certificates--who wouldn't love 50 Bird Bucks for the local pet store?
c) Give the happy couple money--they'll know how to spend it.
d) Give them a toaster. Everyone can use a toaster.

Ah, trick question. If you answer B, C or D I'd give it to you.
Really the only one that would steer you wrong is A because whether you go to a wedding or not if you receive an invitation you should send a gift. Now I don't know if this extends to receptions and you must bring a gift if you're invited to the reception but not the wedding but regardless, the point is to celebrate the happy event by bringing a gift and helping the couple to set up home.

Though I wouldn't have known what to do if someone had given me Bird Bucks at our wedding. That would have thrown me for a loop. Though I did get three picnic baskets and I have to say that even though there were three of them I kept them all and loved each. What a creative and fun gift.

12. You've been invited to a party and the host asks that you donate $10 to cover the cost of the meal. What do you do?

a) Send him a copy of Miss Manners so he can see how very wrong he is.
b) Ask the other guests discreetly if they think this is odd too.
c) Go but don't pay, he's totally got it coming to him.
d) Stay home.

Are you surprised it's D?
Seriously, this is the whole thing about etiquette: there are "rules" and then there are "RULES." While it may be rude to do one thing incorrectly or to stumble and make a faux pas to belittle, gossip, criticize, condemn and feel self-righteous are usually considered the greater sins.

So someone makes a mistake--oops. So what? Get over it. If your host's tackiness so offends you have the option of refusing his invitation--nothing says you have to accept, you know.

That's what really makes me laugh about most of the Miss Manners columns you'll see. They seem to fall into one of two categories: you have those who want to see if they can get away with doing something to save a buck or go against the rules for selfish reasons and then you have those who have been offended by someone else's error and want vindication. What did I say about etiquette last week? It's the art of making others feel comfortable. If your purpose is to make those around you feel comfortable and happy then not only are you going to do fine, you'll get invited to plenty of parties because everyone will love being around you.

So how did you do? Here's the highly scientific breakdown for your score:

10-12 correct. You deserve an engraved invitation. And I'm sure you'd R.S.V.P.
7-9 correct. You're probably the life of the party and people forgive your mistakes.
4-6 correct. Well, I guess you have some new skills to work on.
1-3 correct. Well at least your family still loves you, right? They'll invite you to their parties.

Sponsored by Manfred Mantis for play sets for play equipment for the 21st century.

A Thank You and a Correction

A couple things I wanted to mention--first, a big thank you to those who have been so kind as to mention my ebook Blogging in Pink: A Woman's Guide on their sites these past two days. I really appreciate the kind words.

If you'd like to see what they've said here they are:

Littlemummy
The Marketing Mama
Zakka Life
Metropolitan Mama

plus thanks to @crazycanuckblog, @thisfullhouse, @momofsixteen, @PeanutIsMyBoss, @ktcat, @mrshart03, @Nana Cheryl, @sandierpastures, and @Chrisbookarama for tweeting it. You guys are the best.

Second, it seems that gmail is out to get me because in the course of this month's Write-Away contest I missed two entries that were apparently sent to me but must have ended up as fodder for my spam filter (I've had terrible trouble with the filter the last few weeks). Anyway, while I do check my spam box for such possibilities I must have missed two and I feel horrible.

I've updated the entry list to include these two entries but I thought I'd mention them especially because I so appreciate those who participate each month and the guest judges--the contest wouldn't be anything without you all.

Diapers and Divinity with My Life Was an Inspirational Movie

and

My Thoughts on That with Not the Worst Day

East Meets West

Okay maybe I'm a sucker but this is brilliant, just brilliant.

You know if the Chinese had come up with this idea we'd all be speaking Chinese and eating rice for breakfast because they'd be ruling the world.

As it is I'm a doofus when it comes to chopsticks.

Which is probably a good thing because it slows down my eating--kind of like a speed bump when it comes to scooping calories into my mouth.

I should use them at every meal.

A Springy, Lacy Knit Scarf

Spring weather is a great time for this wardrobe treat and scarves are so "it" right now.

This particular scarf isn't the easiest knitting project mostly because to work the lacy pattern with a cotton thread on biggish needles is tricky. The yarn slips around a bit and it takes a while to get used to the tension being looser but after a couple repeats on the pattern you get it.

Though I'll tell you, if you make a mistake there's no way you're going back and fixing it with all those yarn overs making holes, just forget it and move on. Which means that the beginning isn't nearly as well done as the end but who's going to notice besides you right?

Here's the pattern:

Using sport weight cotton yarn (ecru) and size 8 needles cast on 25 stitches.

Row 1-5: knit

Row 6: start lace pattern with k3, ssk, yo, k5 [yo, k1] 5 times, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, k3 (31 sts)

Row 7: k3, p25, k3

Row 8: k3, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, [k2tog, yo] 2 times, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3 [yo, ssk] 2 times, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k3 (31 sts)

Row 9: k3, p25, k3

Row 10: k3, ssk, yo, k3tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, k1, yo, k5, yo, ssk, yo, sl1-k2tog-psso, yo, k2tog, k3 (31 sts)

Row 11: k3, p25, k3

Row 12: k3, k3tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo, sl1-k2tog-psso, k3 (27 sts)

Row 13: k3, p21, k3

Row 14: k4, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k3tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, sl1-k2tog-psso, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k4 (25 sts)

Row 15: k3, p19, k3

Repeat rows 6-15 until the scarf is long enough then knit five more rows to match the beginning (knit each row). Bind off stitches loosely.

Code:
k3tog=knit three together (a decrease).

k2tog=knit two together (a decrease).

ssk=slip a stitch, knit a stitch then pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch to make one (a decrease).

yo=make a stitch by throwing yarn over needle in between stitches--an increase (yarn over).

sl-k2tog-psso= slip one stitch purlwise, knit the next two stitches together then pass the slipped stitch over.

sl2-k1-p2sso=slip two stitches together knitwise, knit the next stitch then pass the two slipped stitches over the knitted stitch

Sponsored by Wedding Paper Divas for wedding invitations.