This is for Carmi over at Written Inc. He does a thematic photo every week and this week I thought I’d hop in. The theme is What I Did On Vacation and he has a very similar photo posted. I just couldn’t resist adding my version of “They don’t always get along as peacefully as we’d like. They’re bright, creative and engaged kids, so it’s inevitable that they have their moments – with each other and with us. But sometimes, when the stars align, they manage to make our hearts melt.” Yes, Carmi writes that beautifully. And yes, I totally stole his words there.Feel free to join in!

This is copied straight from She Shoots Sheep Shots. You can see the original here.

As of today, the OFA has just barely 1300 scarves. They need 3000 for the Red Scarf Project, to send in care packages to college students formerly in foster care, who are going it on their own.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of these kids. This isn’t just some nutty knitters feeling good idea. The students truly appreciate what you are doing, knitting something by hand for them. Not only is it likely to be the only handknit they receive, it will likely be the only care package.

Here’s the plan:

1. Cast on for a red scarf and work on it as much as you can this week, and if you’re in the US, especially over Thanksgiving. Pick a simple pattern and you’ll maybe finish it by Sunday. Or next.
2. Be thankful for whoever supported you with a care package when you were a student. Think what it would have been like without them. And if there wasn’t anyone? Then you really know how it matters.
3. Tell another knitter about it . There’s info on the Red Scarf blog. And patterns.
4. STEAL THE POSTER above and put it on your blog. Really! If you click on it, it’ll go to my Flickr page, just steal it from there.
5. Call your local yarn store and tell them about this. If they need a poster to print out, there’s one of this one, print sized, linked to the Red Scarf blog. Offer to print it out for them & hang it in the store. Maybe they want to offer a discount on any red yarn for one day to perk things up?
6. Knit! I’m determined to finish the one I’m on now, and crank one more by the December 15th deadline. It is do-able. Join me?

My last pep talk on the subject is here, it has additional suggestions for helping out.

I was listening to the 25 most played songs on my ipod in the car this morning. On shuffle. It is very odd to bounce between Mama Mia, Dr. Horrible, Glee and AC/DC (the kids are obsessed). In related news: I’m apparently obsessed with show tunes.