Wish You Had Been There

We raise our glasses to Ryan and Cuzzin Tom! Two photos were needed to capture everyone who attended the Dulaan Project Knit-In.

Only 7 months ago, when I first moved to Berkeley from Seattle, I wrote a plaintive email to Rachael; the subject line read "Lonely knitter seeks company." Last night Rachael had to struggle to be heard over the crowd at the Dulaan Knit-In that I hosted, laughing at me while she looked at the standing-room only group who had gathered to enjoy each other's company and to make garments for homeless children and adults in Mongolia.

(In no particular order) Susan, Yvette, Joy, Jewel, Lolly, Nathania, Rachael, Bethany, Wren, Marge, Sylvia, Joanna, Emily, and Celia were all able to come. Some of us had met before, and others were newcomers, but you'd hardly know it from the noise level. We had waaay too much food! And yarn: Susan brought a box of donations to add to my large tote box full. And ideas about what to knit: hats and mittens were greatly in evidence. Wren brought a completed Coronet Hat (a free pattern from Knitty), and several people cast on the same pattern. A spirited argument about mitten thumb placement broke out--we are passionate knitters with lots of opinions for sure!

Marge, a middle-school student, had prepared a list of Mongolian words, which she shared with us. I wish I had thought to ask her for a copy.

Rachael and sister Bethany.

Nathania was alert to the camera, but Celia, Lolly (reaching for the wine), and Marge were taken unaware.

Wren (back of head), Susan, Joy, and Yvette

Yvette, Emily, Marge, Sylvia, and Nathania; Celia near the window. Emily was happily munching on the Terra Chips when Sylvia exclaimed, "Oh! I thought that was a bowl of potpourri!" Whereupon Emily said, "You watched me eating this for the last five minutes and thought I was eating potpourri? And you let me do it?" Just a funny moment.

Shadow was very much in evidence.

It amazes me how the world works. Just when I'm nearly fed up with violence and short-sighted self-interest and the myriad forms of tyranny that the newspaper keeps us abreast of, I am faced with this simple fact: 15 well-fed, well-educated, well-off (and we all are, no matter what our status with the IRS, in comparison to the majority of the world's people) women gathered in a city near the Pacific Ocean to show our concern for people unknown to us whose lives are not as easy as ours by a long shot. What else can I say? Thank you, everyone who came.

I promised to include my recipe for Spicy Peanut Noodles, so here it is:

Spicy Peanut Noodles

10 ounces thin spaghetti

2 Tablespoons toasted sesame oil

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons minced garlic

2 Tablespoons hot chili oil

Cook the pasta until al dente per package instructions (don't overcook). Toss with the sesame oil.

In the meantime (this is just like knitting instructions, isn't it?), stir the remaining ingredients together in a saucepan over medium heat until they form a smooth sauce. If the sauce is thicker than mayonaise, add some hot water to it.

Stir into the pasta.

Comments

[vanessa]

wish i could be with you :-) love the way the tomten is turning out!

[Cuzzin Tom]

Two words: Un. Believable.

I became a Buddhist monk because I came to believe that compassion was the greatest force there was (and, clearly, I was running out of Saturday night options) -- it's what knits us all together, is it not? These pictures simply offer more lovely evidence.

Truly, I'm in love with all of you. Thank you so much.

[Nathania]

Janine, it was a wonderful place to be, with fellow knitters united in a common cause.

[Frances]

That's just beautiful!

[Silvia]

I'm very sad not to have made it, but there's no stopping me next time. Plus I LOVE eating potpurri (why does everyone think those chips are potporri?)...

Your totem turned out beautifully!

[Sharlene]

Wish I could have been there too! Looks like a great time was had by all. :)

[Lolly]

Oh *sure*! They always capture me reaching for the festive adult beverage. ;-) Thanks for a wonderful evening full of wonderful people. As a news junkie, this kind of gathering is the perfect antidote to my usual state of social cynicism. {hugs!}

[Katie]

Janine, it looks like you have found yourself in a wonderful community down there. What a great evening, for a great cause!

[joan]

What a great time you all must have had. Maybe there are more parties waiting to happen! If I go to one, I'm taking those spicy peanut noodles - thanks for the recipe and the happy, hopeful story.

[Maia]

Pardon me for dredging up such an old post (I am greedily consuming your entire blog in chronological order) but I love this idea of the Dulaan project. Any chance you will host another? I can bring the wine (we make our own and it is tasty IMVHO).