Kicking About

I spent the day waiting in the hand surgeon's office today. I hurt my hand during our Disaster Services most recently deployment. They say they can fix it. At the moment my pinky on my right hand is not working.

At this point it has not hindered my knitting or typing. I am not sure if anything can hinder my typing since it so bad to begin with. Well I digress because that is a long entry all it's own.

On a totally unrelated subject the good officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been ruining a site called baitcar.com. They have a bait car program where they leave unlocked cars for people to steal. They have cameras in the car and are capable of turning the car off.

they have not been updating the site recently. Still, it is an interesting thing. And they were just running it on one of the ABC news shows here in the states.

It is getting me thinking about video blogging again. I have wondered if anyone would truly care about what is going on in my life. From a knitting perspective much of what I am doing it truly interesting. The whole Marley scarf thing is really neat. And the Judy was also interesting. We are also going to be getting to be getting into some other very interesting project.

There is also a lot of trash out there on the Internet. I am thinking about it. It does not get much more wholesome than a knitting group of clowns.

Unfortunately with the new blogger setting I cannot upload video from utube onto this blog anymore. Well I will figure it out I suppose. Or even if it is a good idea.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Small Crowd at Hive Knitting

We only had three people at Hive Knitting this evening.

We started our Vacation Bible School today. We had thirty one on the first day. That is about what we had the entire week last year. So at least there is a lot of progress of that front. Our Corps has a long way to go on many fronts. It is great to see it making progress in the Children area. We are even going to start a Cub Scout Program this fall. I grew up in the scouts and this program has always been near and dear to my heart.

Well I just wanted to check in. Murphy's law is on Murder Monday on BBC America. And you all know how I love a good murder story. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice. Unless you live in London. At least one of you have to be killed this evening so Murphy has something too investigate.

Savage Chickens

Flood Water is Mostly Gone Devistation Remains

I finished up my time on the Flood detail and can get back to knitting and blogging.

I do believe I missed the South Hill Knit Together. Well there is always two weeks from now. The chances are slim that something else will flood that week end as well. The sad thing is that much of the destruction could have been avoided if we had only dragged a couple creeks that flooded two years ago.

I don't like to get political on this blog. Still, everyone from local mayors to the President promised that the creeks will be dragged. I am going to vote for an entirely new slate of people. I wonder is Rudy or Barrack will respect my knitting night.

That makes me wonder. Are any of the candidates knitters. I am not saying that I would vote for them simply because they are knitters. Since their politics change once they get elected it is as good as any reason to vote for someone.

By the way if anyone knows if a candidate knits let me know.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Power Out and the Water is Rising

Hi everyone, I blogging today from The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services Headquarters in Green Tree PA. We are having a bit of flooding and wide spread power outages.

They have not told us when we are going to get power back on. Every time we call they move back the time that they say it will be working again. So what can one do?

It does appear that we are post the worst of it for the flooding. As with most of our disaster in Western Pa. I find myself at a desk. My job is to answer the phone and talk to the units. It is not terribly exciting but it is needed. And it is always good to be useful.

There has not been much knitting done in the last couple days. And it does not look like there will be any knitting today.

If i have a chance to check in later I will. Be safe and dry dry out there.

Messing About

Well today I have been playing with some Lopi Yarn that came into the Charity Knitting Bin. There is enough of an off white color to make a sweater and I have been playing with that. It is nothing terribly interesting, just something that is not a chemo cap.

I am looking for a Hat Scarf pattern to make scarves and hats for our kettle workers. I am thinking of something in red and white. Perhaps a burgundy and Navy Blue. I am not sure. Being that I am not rich I will have to find an affordable yarn for this project. On the up side we have so few kettle workers that it will not be hard to make enough of them.

On another, slightly related subject, if you live in the Pittsburgh area and enjoy standing outside in cold weather. I have the volunteer oportunity for you. There is a hand knit scarf and hat in it for you. Email me if you are interested.

I am definitely not putting the Corps name on the hats. Steel Valley Praise and Worship Center. that is just a bit much. Homestead Corps would have been doable. Although Steel Valley Corps is not that hard. Maybe on the Scarves.

Churches do have rather long names. Well it looks that may to me. If I ever have to start a church it will just be Zeeppo's Church. Simply, easy, you know what you are getting. A clown preaching to you every Sunday and Tuesday {Feel Free to insert your own joke}. I would have Tuesday service just for the heck of it. Hundreds of years later it would become something that fanatically people would fight to the death over. I would make sure that I make it clear that Tuesday service is only because I like to golf on Mondays. That way we could avoid holy wars down the road.

Oh and if you are into clowns preaching to you I will have the pulpit again this Sunday. I have no idea what I am preaching about yet. I set aside a block of time Friday afternoon. I will write up a sermon then. I have been reading Mathew this last week so it will probably be something from Mathew.

Well I must be off to do something useful with myself today. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Zeeppo's Knitting Blog Store

I am looking for a way to make a buck off the old knitting blog. So I am starting a Yarn Shop on line with a selection of celebrity endorsed products.

First off is a new line of Super bulky Merino Yarn from Australia. Each sheep is gently punched out by the yarn's namesake before they are shaved and turned in sheep kabob. Yes these are sheep that are only used once for the finest wool that money can buy.

Introducing Russell Crowe Super Bulky Merino Yarn.

Russell Crowe Super Bulky is available in several exciting colors

Big Bucks Green

Bell Boy Crimson

Banged Up Blue

Footballer Filthy Brown

And coming soon

Friday Evening Variegated Black and Blue

And every Skein of Russell Crowe Yarn is guaranteed to have fewer ends. Really, He got a bad batch of yarn and beat up the manager of the factory. If you are not satisfied, he will personally beat up the person responsible for your bad yarn.

So place your orders he knows where you live.

Knitting at the Waterfront

We had an excellent day at the Waterfront Today. There was a small but intrepid group at the meeting. We did have some take out from Taco Bell and made sock from pure wool yarn. Well when the cat is away and such.

I was knitting a very exciting net out of acrylic yarn. It is part of the decor for our Vacation Bible School. We are having an aquatic fishing type theme. Yes I know that is a very bold and original. Still, we have a lot of boat related stuff.

Well just wanted to check in. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Savage Chickens

To the Bee Hive

Yet another night of knitting happiness at the Bee Hive took place this eveneing. I was working on a tie this evening our of Brown Sheep Wool. It went well and after I block it should be done.

I really like this Brown Sheep wool I hope a local shop starts to carry it.

Anyway just wanted to check inbefore I turn in. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Only a Little Kntting

I did not get much knitting done today. We had the Munhall Community Days and the Brigade and I helped represent the Corps. WE did balloons and the usual clown stuff. It was an annoyingly hot day and very few people showed up. Still, it was an event within walking distance of the corps and we were able to give out some information about the fall schedule.

Well anyway, our officer are away and I am preaching tomorrow. So i need to be getting some sleep. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Hello Quatar

The Good people of Quatar have stopped by the Blog. Like many of the nation that have visited here I only have a limited knowledge of their history. That is all part of being an American. Anyway, This nation was once a favorite stop off point for Brits on their way to India. Since the discovery of oil and British partition it has become a wealthy and comparatively liberal nation.

Well thanks for stopping by.

Savage Chickens

I Can't Beleive People Read This Thing

I am still amazed that people read this thing. I am even more amazed that people would link to this thing. I would be embarrassed to be associated with this blog. Heck I write this thing under an assumed name.

In fact I am really living in New Zealand and have a remote control robot keep up the appearance that I live in Pittsburgh in The United States. And the horrible truth is that although I am male I am actually a Kiwi and not Human at all. By the way in the Kiwi world it is only the men that knit. Fortunately Kiwis are very good at robotics. Thus we are able to build special gloves that we can wear on our feet to knit with. There is also the taking over the world thing with giant Kangaroo robots

Of course the Giant Kangaroo Robots are so New Zealand has plausible deniability when we are trying to take over the world. Yes if we fail to take over the world we are going to blame it on Australia. Take that Paul Hogan. Yes the Crocodiles are in it with us. They are tired of people from America coming to Australia and jumping on the backs because they saw someone wrestling an Croc in a movie.

Well they are not that annoyed because they say Americans are very tasty because of their high fat diets. And they are not half as salty as Brits and Australians. But I am a humble Kiwi augmented with high tech robotic gloves.

By the way back to my original point.People link to this blog. For the love of all that is good in this world why would someone want to link here? I have no idea. But I am a simply a Kiwi with a plan to take over the world and blame it on Australia.

Alright back to the point. I have discovered two other blogs that link here. The first is Teen Knit Rock. This blog features a knitting cat that is pretending to be a teen age female human as she rids that world of dogs one household at time.

The second is Dancing Bare Foot. This is a machine knitting blog with free pattern and other cool stuff.

Both of these blogs are now listed on my Blogs that link here section. Visit them they are very brave people.

And if you have read this to this point be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savager Chickens

Hi Everybody

I finished up the experimental Red Heart Bag. It is everything that you would think of for a bag made from Red Heart

On another front a area knitter name Carla K has a new blog. This is the link to her new blog.

http://carlakcreations.livejournal.com/

Go there and see it. She is really talented and you will read about her someday when she is famous. You can read about her before her fame overtakes the rest of us.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

On My Way Out the Door

I am still hard at work on playing around with making the perfect messenger bag on the Knitting Machine. Even with lining the bag it still looks as if the best way to do it is to felt the bag.

I have been playing around making swatches and felting them. At Waterfront Knitting today I will finish is the Red Heart Rainbow Variegated bag. It will need to be lined and it is not quite everything I have hoped for. Still, it has been a help in making patterns.

On other fronts not much has changed at the Corps. Things are still moving along there. Our officers will be away for the next couple weeks. When they get back it will be time for Vacation Bible School. The Soldiers are getting the building ready for the event. We are having an aquatic theme so foam rubber fish abound. This is our second VBS and it is better put together than the last one. So progress is being made on that front as well. Still, the first time you do something it never goes well.

On the clown front we have decided to start and accordion band. It may be a slap at Army tradition. Still, none of us can play a brass instrument. About half of us have had piano lessons. We also have a bunch of accordions for some odd reason. One of the clown said that was God working things out for us. I am not sure about that. I am reminded of the Far Side Comic where people going to Heaven get a harp and people going to Hell get an accordion.

It is either going to be funny or incredibly offensive to the accordion playing community. And if you know Pittsburgh they are a terribly powerful lobby that has built and brought down Mayors and Governors alike.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Raindbow Bag

A great day of knitting wass had at the Bee Hive Yesterday. I am working on a bag that I made on my Knitking. It is a messenger type bag made from Red Heart Mexican. I am trying to come up with unique things for the Clawn Brigade. This book bag may be just right for our various books and notebooks. I am considering making a felted version of this bag as the final thing. There would be much less work involved in lining it and the edges would be block rather than crocheted.

For this one I am not crcheting the edges as I normally would. I strips on the machie and I sewed them on. this appears to be doing farily well at keeping the edges from curling.

One of the clown did take some pciture of it. And as soon as I get them I will post them.

I have to run. We have a deck that needs some tending. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Knitting at Home

It has been another good day here at the homestead. I have gone through another Chemo Cap and are once again working on Knitting Machine.

I have had a handful of people pass through the beginning class and should probably start to look toward doing projects on the machine. I have managed an ugly sweater that I did not even put together. I have had some success with a one piece vest. I think this will be the nest class that I should offer.

I am a bit disappointed that no one has taken a men’s knitting class at Knit 1. I have had several men take classes at the Bee Hive but none at Knit 1. It seems odd to me. I am sure there is some sort of reason but I do not know what it is. I have started writing up a lesson plan for the vest class. I am definitely going to ask to so a design your own bag class. I think the bag class should be popular.

I have a circular bottom draw string bag or a messenger type bag. The Messenger Bag is much like my ill-fated black bag from last year. With the exception of felting the bag, if you are into that, the either bag should be able to be made in one two hour class.

On other knitting front the second session of the Knitting Group in the South Hills now at the Boarders was another fun evening of knitting. The folks there continued to roll out the welcome mat and make us feel at home. Our space is around a fire place and there are tons of comfortable chair and rocking chairs. I simply cannot say enough about these people and great environment of their store.
Well be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice

Savage Chickens

Some Really Random Stuff

A good day was had knitting today.

Our show yesterday went very well. We had thirty kids and it looked as if everyone had a good time. I am very pleased with the progress that the Brigade is making

In knitting news , if you can call it that. I have been working on using the ring gizmo to help me throw the yarn with my right hand. I did a chemo cap using this gizmo and it makes my knitting supper tight. I still have some progress to make with this thing. It does appear that i will be able to knit faster with it.

On a totally random thing how come no one told me that Billie Piper sings. Or I suppose she was a a singer. I really feel like someone should have told me this.

And what is wrong with the Doctor. He is the last of his kind and when he finds a woman he likes he gets rid of her. I don't care what the Face of Boaz says. If he is not alone than it is probably the Master and not a female Time Lord that he could save their race with.

At least they didn't kill her off. I suppose there is hope that there will be little Time Lords again someday.

From what I am told David tenant is the best looking Doctor thus far. Still. I think our standards are a little high. It is hard enough to find a woman that can put up with the Universe being destroyed every five minutes. What you find one that can you need to hold onto her.

Alright that was a bit random even for me. For some reason that is really bothering me with new companion. For the Brits that are reading this was are only on Series 3 over here. So don't ruin it for me.

I have been working on my book during all of my spare time. I am pleased with how it is going as well. I am at the point where a fleet of ships the fights the Slave Trade enter the story. I am

having a hard time naming this type of ship. I am currently calling them Anti-slaver ships. This does not have much pizazz. I am open to suggestions.

I am also having a hard time name the ships in this fleet. I am thinking of naming one after Brengle.

Well that is it for now. Be safe out there everyone and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Not Much Knitting Done Tonight

I was busy with this and that. My wife and I did get a little time to stop by Knit 1.

I got through another chemo cap and spent a little time getting ready for our show Wednesday. As always there is much to do and little time to do it.

Things have been plugging along at Hive Knitting. The Monday knitting group met yesterday with most of the usual suspects. This was a good time as usual.

Well i need to get to bed. The thing about performing for kids is that they get up early. So on occasion I need to be up before noon.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Hello Everybody Again

It has been a super busy and some what stressful week. My wife has been in the hospital, the cat is sick, the dog is crazy and we are having our first stage show outside Homestead on Wednesday. And there was a Fire Expo in the somewhere. Oh, and everyone is well and life is good again.

I have not touched my book, except I wrote longhand, let alone blog. I have had a great deal of time to do Chemo caps. including the one I just finished I manage to get thirteen done. That is usually my monthly total.

By the way I should thank every one who helped with Carol, advice and offers of help on the Cat and my Clowns who have rehearsed without me and did what they needed to do.

It has been a busy week for many things. It will probably take me while to recount all of the excitement and drama.

Well I did want to make mention of the Boarders near South Hills Village. They went way out of their way to make us feel welcome. And not only was the staff much friendlier the entire store was more conducive to the Knitting group. It is a slightly longer walk but it is well worth it for the Atmosphere. Besides the fact everything was nicer for the group it is simply a nicer book store. I am very pleased with how this all worked out. I only wish the Barnes and Nobles had a bit more of a notion what customer service is.

Well that is for the moment. Everyone be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Busy Week

For those that were at Knit 1 on Sunday Carol is fine. She is home from the hospital and all is well.


I just got in and know I have not posted for a while. Be safe out ther eeveryone.

Knitting with Fire Fighters

I have spent the last couple days at the Fire Expo here in Pittsburgh. We do recruiting for our Disaster Services there. If you are into fire stuff it is great time. I am not one of those people. Although it is is good to see all the emergency people I have gotten to know with out there being a disaster.

Being that I stood around outside one of our Canteen for two days I got to do a lot of knitting. I finished several Chemo Caps. There were even a couple people there who knew people that needed a cap. On the up side I should have plenty of time to go to knit 1 on Sunday for Charity Knitting.

Most of my spare time has been spent working on the book. It is coming along and I hope to have it finished by Christmas.

We still have our canine house guest as well. Ike has been a good pup and is even getting along with the cat. It almost makes you want to to get another pet. Still, that may be my developing mental illness surrounding chemo caps.

Well there is not a great deal to post so I suppose I should simply sign off. Be safe out there.

Another Chemo Cap

I am told that my total on Chemo Caps if 54. If that does not count as a mental issue then i do not know what does. I have never gotten into a knitting rut like this before. It is truly bizzar.

We had a good practice on Wednesday. We did mostly balloons. After it we went to Flag Staff Hill for a Movie. We got some practice working the crowd.

It is early I need to be in bed so I am turning in. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

This is so true. Mathew, Mark and John always got the girl.

Super Busy Begining of the Week

I have not had much time to post this week.

First thing first. I have been trying to get in tough with the district manager of the Barnes and Nobles with not the slightest bit of luck. Some say he is on vacation other say he is unavailable while still other claim he got my message and will be calling me this afternoon. Well it is clear they do not care. It would be nice if they were at a closer book store anyway.

I have been working on my book and it is progressing well. I am into the second chapter and things are going nicely.

The Monday group was awesome this week. Only one of the regular showed up and one sometimes person showed up. Everyone else was completely new. Some were in town at doing Act 40 classes and other were just passing through. It is also the first time that the group has been mostly female in nearly a year. A lively evening of knitting was had. It is amazimg to be able to take over the back third of the Bee Hive during the summer with a knitting group.

On the clown front there are now five shows on the books for us to do over the next two months. So like I said busy times.

I will post later today. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Flooding and Fuel Spills

No knitting today.Today I painted Radiators at my mother's house. Not quite as exciting as knitting. Still, it is rewarding to not have chipped paint on the radiators. Although now that I think about it I have no radiators in my house. Why should i care if there is paint chipping on radiators across the city. Odd how the appeared to be so important this morning and in retrospect it does not.

Ho hum onto other stuff. We have a house guest this week. Ike, the dog of the officer in new Kensington is staying while his owner are on vacation. He is a Lasaopsa {Don't quote my spelling}. He a cute little guy and very friendly.

We have been up to our eye balls with the flooding in Alaquipa and now there is a fuel spill in Stowe Township. With half our volunteers on vacation and half our staff unavalible this has been a hard couple of days for EDS. As I type i am trying to find relief crews for the people in Stowe and we still do not have people for Sunday's shift at the flooding. At this rate I may have to skip church and go myself. Although that will get me out of a family keger that I am supposed to go to.

Well I will have to cut it short. I need to send out another page. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Fire, Chemo Cap, Sergeant Major Maybe

Another day of this and that. Did another Chemo cap.

Well there was not actually much happening today. Well nothing that is terribly exciting. I have been trying for a week to get someone at Barnes and Nobles to find out why they are being so mean to the Friday knitting group. Well I tried the manager of the store who is not available and the regional manager who is also not available. I wonder if this is how Micheal Moore feels when he is looking for an interview?

Well hopefully the group will find a new place to meet. This thing has been a bit strange from the get go.

On other front I continue to work on my fiction book. I am into the second chapter and things are going well. Perhaps they are going too well. I am sure that working on the book has been cutting into my blog time. Well when someone pays me for the book I can say I am an author. Then I will not have to have a day job and could have a good hour or so a day to just work on my blog. they I can help flood the Internet with more irrelevant stuff.

And for a change I have something of substance to mention. My Corps Officer asked me to be the Crops Sargent Major. For those not in the Army most churches do not have a position like this one. They are second in command of the Corps behind the officers. they also have dozens of duties ranging from record keeping to making sure uniforms are worn properly.

It has been occupying my thought for the better part of this week. I have not accepted because I need to pray about it and consider if I can do it. Our Corps does not have very many people. Still, I cannot help but wonder if I am old enough and experienced enough to do this.

Also a Prayer Request we responded to a fire here in Mt. Oliver Today. The woman who own the house was as her first radiation treatment for stage 4 cancer while her house was burning down. Fortunately none of her six children were home at the time.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Savage Chickens

One Tired Clown.

The Fourth of July is the only holiday that is when everyone is trying to hire a clown. For this reason it is a supper busy day. The high point of the day was my shop from the West End Over Look. Needless to say it was a great show. Everyone is happy on the Fourth and that is a good time to be a clown. I am sure I will ramble on about this at great length later. Still, it was nice to be busy with clowning. It was like the old days if only for a little while.

As stated in the title I am super tired. And for all I know I may not actually be typing this. Well obviously I am typing something. I may typing gibberish or a carrot cake recipe. The grand total for Balloon at the the West End show is over 500 hundred. That is a lot for such a relatively short show. For this knitters out there that is like doing a seven color fair ilse sweater in a week end. It can be done but there is little time for anything else.

That makes me wonder who is reading this thing. I have been getting lots of hit from Army people these days. And I have a clown emailing question about my make up. If you read this and have a moment post and let me know if you are a knitter or it you have been drawn into the blog for some other reason. You do not have to use your real name if you do not want to admit to reading this drivel.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice. I should stop before I fall asleep on the keep board. I hate waking up with that keyboard imprint on my face. My wife makes for of me for such things. If I have a picture of me slkeeping as Zeeppo I would post it. As it is Zeeppo just take all of my evnergy and leave when I run out. Rather incosiderate if you think about it. Good night, Goodmorning and or Good Afternoon.