Category Archives: Dear Katie

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Enjoying Reading Again

When I found out I was accepted for a job in my local ISD I decided to treat myself and bought a nookcolor by Barnes and Noble. I love this thing! I have read and read on it! It is very easy to use and fun too. I have my knitting patterns stored on it as well, it is one of the best purchases I have made in a long time.

Books I have read on my nook:
Spinning Forward
Casting About
Knit in Comfort
Joanne Fluke’s Baking Murder series #1,3&4 (looking forward to borrowing more from overdrive library)
Madam Bovary
The House of Mirth

Reading is fun! To keep up with what I am reading you can find both Katie and I on Good Reads

Happy Knitting and Reading
Hanane

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Knitting Our Way to Peace Texas Gathering

Ok, I have decided to do something drastic. I think what we started here is a good thing. I think it needs to move beyond just posting our random thoughts. Not that our Random thoughts are bad, in fact I think we have great random thoughts, and to be perfectly honest the Texas Gathering idea was a random thought that I am kinda running with!

I have a helper on Ravelry WarriorMom. Thanks Sweetie I appreciate the help.

I think it is time! Time to honor ourselves and each other. Here’s to those of us who are trying to understand each other over one stitch at a time.

Katie you wanna design the flyer?

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Cell Memory Vs Gift from God

Tonight a friend (Hi Mary) and I were talking about cell memory as in DNA. Ok, To be honest, I don’t think that there is anyone out there with “original” talent. I believe that somewhere in family history someone did it just as well if not better that we do it.

I have always felt as if something was guiding my hands when I knit, crochet, spin, embroider, tat. My mom had these skills, she learned them from people in her family.

My friend has healing abilities. Katie has talents that she can speak about herself if she chooses too. I am sure someone, somewhere in her family roots had this talent too.

To put it short, I think families were given gifts from God. And that those talents have to be nurtured and brought forward. How would I have known that I had a talent for knitting if I hadn’t picked up a pair of needles, met some super people who encouraged me, oft to the point of enabling.

Talents can lay dormant in people until they are pulled or pushed to the forefront or fingertips. Then they just seem to flow and “click”. I hear this word all the time “it just clicked” “i just knew how to do it”.

It is part of your DNA. DNA is a gift from God and your talent was nurtured by people around you. You allowed it to flow out of you and voila!

Ok…these are my thoughts for tonight. Rambly? Your Thoughts?

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Muslim Woman Approaches the School

I don’t know if you know or not, but I work as a substitute teacher for the local school district. It is always a joy to pull up in front of a new school walk up to the door ring the bell to be let in. The looks I get are amazing. You can physically see the discomfort in people’s faces. At two schools I was at recently, after getting inside signing in and heading of to my days post. It realized it was not a look of discomfort, but a look of “Ahhhhh, Sh** another one” Because they had Muslim employees on staff. Today I had the privlidge of working with “Muslim Nurse Mary Rose” (name changed to protect her identity) at a previous school I had the chance to work with “Teacher Samira” (name also changed)

I love the comments I get when working in these situations.
Staff: “Ahhhh you follow the same religion as Nurse Mary Rose/Teacher Samira” So where are YOU from?
Me: Oklahoma
Staff: No originally Nurse Mary Rose/Teacher Samira are from (insert middle east country of your choice here)
Me: Born in Kansas. Raised in Oklahoma.
Staff: Ah so where are parents from?
Me: Oklahoma
Staff: Orginally?
Me: Yep
Staff: So why do you dress like that?
Me: Because I follow the same religion as Nurse Mary Rose/Teacher Samira
Staff: But if you are American you should be Christian
Me: Well I chose to be Muslim
Staff: Why?
Me: Because it fits.

etc etc etc

Having a book discussion.

Me: Oh what book are you reading it looks interesting.
Staff: Oh you would be interested it is about Christianity.

Sitting at ‘my’ desk
Staff: Oh excuse me I need to get MY BIBLE
Sitting at “my” desk
Staff: Oh here is a copy of today’s bible verse. I made a copy for “Everybody”

The looks are priceless too when you walk in and say, “Good Morning” They want to know of course if they can help me. That’s when I ask for the sub sign in. The very quick looks that shoot around the room.

Today I was most fortunate in my sub position, I actually knew the Vice Principal. I worked with him last year at another school in the district where he was a teacher. He is a very very nice man, and I am going back next week for another job. You have your good ones and you have your bad ones.

Like Wednesday of this week. 1st I got lost trying to find the school because map quest sent me the wrong way! I called the school, it’s raining, pouring really. I am lost in “Little Mexico” Looking for a school, and no one knows where it is. Get the number from my daughter because like an idiot I forgot to write it down on my directions. Call the school “Good Morning **** Middle School. How may I help you?”
Me: Well I seem to be lost. (I give my location)
Secretary: Well which way are you headed on Lavon.
Me: North
Secretary: (honest to God I am not kidding) Well I don’t know my directions. (Then why did you ask)
Me: Ummmmm Okay
Secretary: Do you see a Burger King?
Me: Yes
Secretary: Go past the Burger King.
Me: Which Way?
Secretary: Which way are you going?
Me: Ummmm (what do you say to this? she doesn’t know her directions)
Secretary: Well
Me: Toward Buckingham
Secretary: Ok Turn on Castle
Me: See this is where the problem is. There isn’t a street sign that says Castle.
Secretary: Well it’s there.
Me: What is at that intersection. Can you give me a landmark.
Secretary: I don’t know
Me: Do you really need a Sub?
Secretary: I am trying to help you M’am
Me: Then where do I turn
Secretary: Ok I am going to send you in a big circle

Proceeds to speed speak a set of directions to which I interpret go up Lavon and turn on Castle.
Low and Behold there is a signal light on Lavon for Castle just not one on Broadway and no street sign, I double checked when I left for the day. It had been run over. Hmmmm “Little Mexico”

So I get there walk in, and Oh if looks could kill. But that is not all! Here’s the best part of the day at **** Middle School my phone got stolen. Yes my cell phone my life line. Stolen off my desk! Happy Hump Day to me.

I did get it back. It was discovered ditched in a hall way.

Thank You ***** Middle School. Had an awesome day! 😛

These are the things that happen when the Muslim woman approaches the school.

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Why?

Ok….I have a why question in your typical two year old fashion. Why is it when someone passes away, you feel the urge to tell them everything. Every thing I have conquered I want and need to show my Father in law.

I picked my spinning back up in March and I keep thinking I can’t wait to show him. Why?
I picked my tatting back up this month and I keep thinking I can’t wait to show him. Why?

I keep thinking I want to go to Morocco and go to the wool market with him. Why?

I guess it is because I know he would appreciate what I am doing with my fiber arts because he loved them too.

He was a remarkable man really.

Last week before the end of finals I dreamed of him and my dad. They were playing cards together. My dad considered him a friend and he considered my dad a friend.

I have read some where that when you dream of the dead it is a real thing, because the dead can not deceive. So perhaps this was a way for them to let me know everything was okay. That they are happy and together playing cards.

I am also guessing that there is no language barrier where ever they are. 🙂

I am sure that eventually I will get over wanting and waiting to show him my finished projects. Someday.

I miss you guys very much!

Hanane

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Knitting for College Credit!? YES

Well let me be the first to say, I hope this visiting professor visits somewhere in the DFW area because I will be first to sign up. Geography of Knitting is being offered at Gustave Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, and I for one am extremely jealous. I have been following along on their blog and getting more and more jealous each day I read. At least you can follow along online. I just want to say that Professor Dowd needs to take this class to colleges around the country, because I for one would sign up!.

Drop in to the class and see what they are up too and what they have been working on. It is really very interesting.

Hanane

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Neckwarmers, Cowls, Ruffs, Gaiters!!!!! Can we say OBSESSION!!!

I have a new obsession! Yes the title says it all, I google them, ravel them, look for them in my books. It IS an obsession. They are quick, which is good, small (read portable in the corner of my book bag [school starts monday] ) and just fun, who knew there were so many styles. My queue, and faves on Ravelry has grown and grown over this past week.

I knit the Scarflette, I am working on the Ruff from One Skein Wonders, I have a plan for some yarn from Liz that is going to be be a neckwarmer from the One Skein Wonder Designers book.

Plus tons more that I have saved in one form or another on Raverly. My next two will be the two cashmere cowls from Purl Bee. #1
#2

Ok that is all about new obsession!

The reason for my obsession. Well I hate scarves. I knit them, but I never wear them. I mean how practical is a scarf with a scarf? So when I wear the triangular scarves and it is cold and windy outside, I can put on a neckwarmer and then put my scarf on and my neck stays warm, my head stays covered ( that is the problem with scarves, they cause my scarf to slip).

3 Cheers for Neckwarmers the Muslim Girls Friend!!!!!!!

Oh and one more pattern!!!! From Knitty (OK I LIE 3 MORE) the Ice Queen , Sugar on Snow and Aibhlinn

Ok that is it for the Obsession!!!!!

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Hello All!

Well, today I may have stuck my foot in it on the Ravelry boards. In particular the qustions on Judaism. Zionist question! Yes…open mouth insert foot that is me! What else is new right.
If I fall under attack, any suggestions?

We have only one rule on the group and that is play nice, I played nice, I truely did, I just stated my opinion, and offered facts to back my opinion. We’ll see if it brings down the fire and brim stone.

Have a great day!