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I am THRILLED to see on the Masterpiece Theatre schedule the CRANFORD series shown last fall in England…. on of my fav bloggers Random Jottings wrote about its airing on her blog (BTW a very Highly entertaining blog – full of Opera and Book reviews and, recently Knitting!).
Excerpt:
Cranford is one of my favourite Mrs Gaskell books and the first one I read. I am re-reading it at the moment and have a delightful little World Classics version which pops into my bag nicely. I am being enchanted all over again with Miss Matty who is being played in this production by the peerless dame Judi Dench who I love. Her elder sister is played by Eileen Atkins and I also spotted Imelda Staunton and Julia Mackenzie in the cast list and the new young doctor played by the same actor who played Bingley in the latest film version of Pride and Prejudice and then next week we seem to have Sir Michael Gambon making an appearance….and I could go on and on. We appear to have the Who's Who of the theatrical world and his dog in this production with three cast members of Gosford Park appearing as well. I felt as if I was sitting watching the preparation of a gourmet meal containing only the finest ingredients accompanied by the finest choices of wine.
I am not sure yet if I am going to read the books first… as its not airing til May here, I have a little time ;o
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MANCHESTER, N.H. — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York rode a wave of female support to victory over Senator Barack Obama in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday night. In the Republican primary, meanwhile, Senator John McCain of Arizona revived his presidential bid with a Lazarus-like win.
Both candidates called their victories comebacks, because both followed their defeats in the Iowa caucuses, where Mrs. Clinton placed third and Mr. McCain fourth.
Mr. McCain’s victory was the fruit of a meticulous and dogged turnaround effort; his second bid for the White House was in tatters last summer because of weak fund-raising and a blurred political message, leading him to fire senior advisers and refocus his energy on New Hampshire.
Mrs. Clinton’s victory came after her advisers had lowered expectations with talk of missteps in strategy and concern about Mr. Obama’s momentum coming out of the Iowa caucuses.
Mrs. Clinton told supporters, “I want especially to thank New Hampshire. Over the last week I listened to you and in the process I found my own voice.”
She added, “Together, let’s give America the kind of comeback New Hampshire has just given me.’
Mr. Obama conceded the race to Mrs. Clinton, congratulating her on a “hard-fought victory.”
…
Several New Hampshire women, some of them undecided until Tuesday, said in interviews that a galvanizing moment in the race had been Mrs. Clinton’s unusual display of emotion on Monday when her eyes filled with tears and her voice cracked as she described the pressures of the race and her goals for the nation.
“As voters began to see the choice they have and heard Hillary speak from her heart, they came back to her,” said Mark Penn, Mrs. Clinton’s chief strategist.
more at NYTIMES


The Super Dome has been a home away from home for the LSU Tigers in recent seasons, and it was the same story in 2008, as LSU rolled to a 38-24 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes to claim its second national title in five seasons.
Big plays on offense, defense and special teams (and an uncanny ability to convert third downs) propelled the Tigers on a 31-0 run to put the game essentially out of reach midway through the third quarter.
The championship gave Les Miles his first with the school and validated a program still trying to escape from the shadow of Nick Saban. For OSU, it was a second-consecutive disappointing finish in a title game — and a humbling loss all the way around.
It's one of those nights – what to watch/listen :
at 630 pm EST 
DIE WALKUERE Prima from the MET on the Sirus Met Opera Channel with Maazel ; Gasteen, Forbis, Pieczonka, Morris, Blythe, Petrenko
at 815 pm EST

The BSC Championship Game between LSU (alma mater) and Ohio
at 9 pm EST 
Berlin Nights from Carnegie Hall with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic
oh and then there is the NONSTOP ALL THE TIME CNN Coverage of the New Hampshire Primary… 

as it is I am babysitting and so will be recording the two musical events and hoping my nephews will be asleep by kickoff and will knit and watch the pigskin not the politico contest and will catch up on the other two later.
Starting a Central Park Hoodie for the First January Project – this Friday!
Yikes!
We'll see how much I can get done by then!
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I was in the Deep South with only Dialup (you really DO NOT want to know how slow that is anymore) so missed a lot of blogging time over the holidays. And REALLY missed reading blogs – but finally convinced Mater to get the fiber optic network connection from her phone company – so future visits will be much less painful!
Lots of knitting was done but mainly on the Christmas Stocking – its now about 60% done and for my FIRST major color/stranded work I am pretty pleased…. photos tomorrow. It was quite addictive and once I had found an alphabet and charted the name (and its a long one) it is now moving fairly quickly. It’s been quite an interesting experience for me – and feel more confident on a Fair Isle Cardigan for a future WIP for me.
Speaking of addictive – I am finding color work really fascinating – I would love to paint and never learned so this is the closest I have ever come – and its really satisfying – especially knitting a tube (the stocking shape) and not worrying about shaping (although that is coming with the toe) Also really love the Jamieson and Smith Shetland Jumper Yarn (from Schoolhouse Press). Gauge doesn’t matter on this – i am a loose knitter usually but have been working on my tension with this. Good news – my stranding is really getting better! (And several at Knitting Group today commented too – which made me feel very proud). More about this anon.
I am already dreaming of my next color project – can’t wait!
As for the Christmas knitting, did I get everything done? NO but did get the West Coast packages done and off in time (430 pm on Sat Dec 22nd!) to be delivered – well, at least Christmas Week (and the recipients were kind about that) and, well, the rest got the “here’s the photo and the yarn and the project will come soon, I promise” .
So starting the New Year with three projects/presents in the hole and of course, now I have a Sister’s B day (this FRIDAY) and two nephews (19th and 20th) LOOMING – sigh, I really am going to rethink next year – with Channukah and Christmas and then these three b-days all together I think another strategy will need to be put in place or I really MUST start MUCH earlier than two weeks before!.
As it is, the Sister’s b-day present (Central Park Hoodie) is also her Channukah/Christmas present (its a mixed marriage) and the 19th Jan Nephew’s b-day present is 95% done – the Aran Blanket in my Ravelry project list and to the right there- and the 20th Nephew’s birthday present will be a Tomtem (by EZ) which needs one sleeve half to be finished and the other done and then the edging. His Christmas Stocking may be done in time but if not – it will be done when its done and he can’t use it til next year anyway (oh sigh).
After that are three sweaters for the three nephews – the frogged guernsey/Ganseys – but I have decided (hopefully the last time!) on the Snowflake Sweater from the Falick/Nicholas Baby Book …for the two brothers in two shades of blue. As for the third one… I may just do a seamless Raglan from EZ and not complicate my life anymore!
Promise to catch up with lots of news and PHOTOS of FINISHED OBJECTS!!!! Until then Ravelers can check some of them out here
Ok Some eye candy for all
Remember The Pilgrims’ Progress? Well, that’s how I feel – so much knitting is going on chez connemara (that’s the name of our house!) Since last Monday I have been knitting, knitting, knitting, knitting. We are in the home stretch truly – there were a few aborted projects last week – most of Tue and Wed night’s knitting was frogged – on Thursday I regrouped and got myself sorted out as to who and what and what yarn etc. Monday I had gone to Michael’s for a stash of Patons Classic Wool and then on Wed I ordered a bunch of Brown Sheep Lambs Pride from a great e bay store – Oregon Trail Yarn (she is VERY nice and helpful and has good prices). So once I sorted myself out and made my list…
well I am ok until I search the patterns at Ravelry – but even though I have changed some items a few times since last week – am happy with the choices – and add my praises to the creators of Ravelry – Bravi!
So its been All Knitting All The Time at Chez Connemarra – and the weather has helped – it was REALLY YUCKY on Sunday – just the best weather to stay in – sleety icy rain/snow mush fell most of the day – then Monday was REALLLLLY very windy and that helped too. Today was still cold – actually moved the car from one parking spot to another to make sure it wasn’t frozen in place – on Sunday in a lull I scrapped and pushed off all the ice/snow (4 inches) that covered the car – this is my second Northern winter with a car and NO garage or driveway (sigh). anyway, the weather has helped to contribute to knitting-all-the-time.
The first project took a bit longer than I had hoped but the second one went much faster and should be able to do the third one tonight – its about 30% done…. of course knitting to TV , some mindless, some not.
Have actually caught up on my netflix dvds (rebus set 2) and sent them back today and pray that the next three (the first set of Inspector Alleyn) come REALLY SOON. Watched all of last week’s GH (yes I do) and am holding off on Mon and Tues eps for later tonight or maybe tomorrow night – the storyline is a bit mysterious and want to watch several in a row to catch the arc. Caught up on all last week’s Gilmore Girls and Monday too. Now have started in on my old VHS tapes of Inspector Morse eps on which I am discovering there are other interesting items too – to wit last night after watching TWILIGHT OF THE GODS I found the next item was EYEWITNESS (Hurt/Weaver) [love him but didn't feel like watching it] , then the very LAST episode of Spenser For Hire (loved that series – still NOT available on DVD at this time) and then a funny odd episode of Remington Steele (loved both of them)…. funny what I taped in those days – must be the mid 90s! Tonight will continue with the Inspector Morse tapes (and see what other goodies are on them) as tonight’s TCM selection is really boring as far as I am concerned although there is an NCIS that I don’t remember seeing before …and still have the last three eps of DAMAGES where ALL is revealed.
Anyway, here is the list of knitting … well actually I can’t post the list cause its all for family and friends and some of them (i think) read this blog . So instead a list of destinations, giftee and status
Current Holiday Knitting
California
Sister – DONE Need to wrap and mail (wed)
New Mexico
Sister – DONE
Sister and BinLaw – started about 30% done – to work on tonight
BinLaw – not started – to start tonight and finish tomorrow
Laignappe (small item) – not started – to do tomorrow or on a break tonight as its a very quick project
New York
Eldest Nephew’s Blanket (Channukah) – Need to measure and then determine how much more to knit (we are talking a few inches here) and then soak and block – due date is Saturday (This was started several years ago, most of the knitting is done)
Youngest Nephew Birthday – Snowflake Sweater was the original item but NO WAY that will be done by Sunday morning (we are celebrating at a brunch since he was born at 11 am last year)…so may whip up a little hat for something to give and do the sweater later (luckily he is too young to know from presents being his first birthday)
Louisiana (These are being carried in my luggage so their due date is Dec 24th eve or later)
Sister - not started, pattern chosen, yarn at hand – to start after the above are done.
BinLaw – not started, pattern chosen, yarn at hand – to start after the above are done.
Nephew – one big item – needs sleeves finished and buttonband and buttons (80%)
Nephew – MS Christmas stocking – yarn and pattern at hand – not started.
Mother – Two items – one will be done by Christmas, the other will be in progress and completed during visit after Christmas.
Other folks – two hats for men, one hat for woman – can do while there .
All are in my Project list in Ravelry….some have photos some not (can’t promise when)
Now, my rice pilaf is ready and I will have that with the sausages cooked last night and a new pot of tea and ….knitting and tv..
onward
To the Manor Born: Audrey cracks the whip
Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles
To the manor reborn: Penelope Keith, Peter BowlesLast Updated: 12:01am GMT 19/12/2007
Peter Spence, the creator of ‘To the Manor Born’, talks to Janie Lawrence about updating the ’80s sitcom for a Christmas special – and says he’d love to do another series
Being asked to dust down his old notebooks and write a new episode of To the Manor Born was not something Peter Spence had ever envisaged. So convinced was the writer that the series had been consigned to history that he had binned them all a long time ago.
“We’d always all agreed that nothing would look as good as people remembered it. But, once I’d got the call in May and knew I had the same principals from the original cast and the original director, I changed my mind and didn’t have any reservations.”
The result is the forthcoming one-off, one-hour, lavishly filmed Christmas special. If it’s risky to resurrect any TV classics, it’s particularly so with TTMB. The original was a ratings phenomenon, once pulling in an extraordinary 24 million viewers, at that time half the British population.
To the over-forties, the plot needs no explanation; to younger readers, it probably sounds rather twee. Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, the newly-widowed and impoverished lady of the manor, is forced to sell Grantleigh Estate to pay off her late husband’s debts. She is aghast when it is sold to Richard DeVere, a nouveau riche, East European, supermarket tycoon. Cue three series of verbal sparring between the couple.
The final episode, broadcast on November 29 1981, featured the culmination of their comic, will-they-won’t-they romance, as Audrey (Penelope Keith) married Richard (Peter Bowles).
Read the rest ….To the Manor Born: Audrey cracks the whip – Telegraph.
‘To the Manor Born’ will be broadcast on BBC1 on Christmas Day.
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