Weeping at the Allergist, Brenda Dayne, WWMDfK, & the Plaited Edge

It is my opinion that Tucson has only 2 degrees of separation.
As opposed to the "Six degrees of Separation" - Tucson connections seem to be more direct, ironic...and even occasionally a little eerie. {wry grin}

Things like...

• I find the father-in-law of a good friend I met later in life turns out to be one of my favorite high school teachers.
• Once upon a time when I was a teller at a Financial Institution, a lady telling me about her "adopted Grandmother" turns out to also be talking about my Godmother/adopted Grandmother. 
• I invite a new friend to breakfast with myself and an old friend...and it turns out they previously worked at the same company (at different times), they know a ton of the same people, and they might be plotting a reunion party now...

It happens a lot. I can't help but notice when things seem to be related or cyclical on a variety of levels.
And so - the connections between the blog-post title topics inspired this blog.

Weeping at the Allergist.
The other week, as I waited after allergy shots to ensure I wasn't going to puff up with a reaction, I sat in the waiting room knitting and listening to a favorite podcast, Cast On. I was listening to Episode #43 - from late 2006.
(I know - but if I like a podcast, I start from the beginning. Thusly, I'm still living in the past of most of my favorite podcasts...)

In my opinion, Episode 43 was particularly good, but the Essay "Granny's Book" had me in tears.
E'yup. There I am, sitting in the waiting room with tears leaking from my eyes. {sigh}
But it was ok. I felt genuinely  moved, the essay was well-written and read, and there was kleenex readily available. They stuff a kleenex  up your sleeve after they give you the allergy shot. (blots any blood...) {wry grin}

Brenda Dayne & WWMDfK.
The Brenda Dayne link via podcast is already obvious, but she was also linked to what I was knitting - by a couple of degrees.

Inspired by another favorite podcast, CraftLit, I had specifically chosen to knit something out of the "What Would Madam Defarge Knit" (WWMDfK) book as I listened to....you guessed it.... Charles Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities" on CraftLit.

I (rather giddily) reviewed "WWMDfK" on Goodreads. I love the premise, the multi-media aspects of the book, and there are several projects from that book that have been added to my to-knit-list.
I also love the earth-friendly aspects of the way it was published by Cooperative Press.

I did not select a project specifically inspired by "A Tale of Two Cities" (I will later...I want to see what is knitted into the Madam Defarge shawl!).

I did some stash-diving and cast on for the Princess Langwidere Reversable Cowl.

This side is knit from Mountain Colors Bearfoot (love the colors) and the reverse, lace,
side is knitted with doubled MMMMMalabrigo Lace weight.

(This is the link to my project page on Ravelry.)

Many of you have already guessed the 3rd connection - Ms. Dayne also contributed to the patterns in "What Would Madame Defarge Knit"! She created the lovely Lysistrata's Chiton (also on my to-knit list).

WWMDfK & the Plaited Edge
Lastly, the final connections relate to CraftLit, Heather Ordover, and....the Plaited Edge Class I got to take with Heather at the end of 2011.

Heather is the mastermind behind CraftLit - and - "What Would Madam Defarge Knit"!

She is also one of my favorite teachers and introduced me to Goodreads, moebius knitting, Cat Bordhi (live and in person), and she was the first knitterati to sign the SS09 Sock Blocker! 

She visited Tucson briefly in December and offered to teach the Plaited Edge from the Paivatar Sock (her socks gracing the cover Knitting Socks from Around the World!) at Kiwi Knitting.

(I believe Heather is teaching this class again in Dallas in September.)

It was a lovely afternoon. I got to meet Linda in the class and a charming Kiwi friend, Ruthie, dropped by briefly to ask sock-related questions.

I cannot begin to tell you what a grand time I had. Heather and Linda are fascinating women and the discussion topics ranged from the next book, pattern design, farming, celiac's disease possibly relating to genetically altered wheat.... See - fascinating. 

The minor blot on my day was that I had forgotten to bring my copy  of WWMDfK to collect a autograph. {sigh/durn it} 

(Linda, Ruthie, & Heather)

Bonus...Heather made me a bracelet from her Plaited Edge Sample!

The blue on blue was my practice Plaited Edge. The colors are too similar to show well in this picture, but it's still a spiffy-looking pattern.

Not part of the Post-title relational topics - Diabetic Update.
The Little Brother continues to improve. Astoundingly well. Especially when I consider he almost died nearly 3 months ago. Woof. He does a Great job controlling his blood sugars and the doctors are pleased with his progress (almost as pleased as me!).
He's still gracing my home with his contagious laugh and the cats are enjoying the extra snuggle-time with himself.
We'll see what happens next.

And what the next 2-degrees of separation happenstance will be!

5/8/12 Addendum....Heather (and Becky) get the credit for my tears today. ;-)
On the way to the allergist (which meant Kleenex was not as readily available...), I was listening to episode 52 of Craftlit and Becky's personal story relating to and reading of the Robert Frost poem, "The Tuft of Flowers",  was entirely lovely. Thank you!