Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/503391
Ilovetoknit.Thatis not to say that I am a fast knitter or even that good at it. Mostly I make things that turn out marginally, and then I tear them out and start over on some- thing else. But here's the funny thing: It's not the finished prod- uct that I find so enjoy- able. It's the process. It's the gentle rhythm, the pulling of one loop of yarn through another, over and over again. Curiously in all of knit- ting — and I'm talking about even the most com- plicated and breathtak- ingly beautiful works of knitted wear — there ex- ist only two stitches: knit and purl. That's it. And no matter how fast I knit or how slow — how intri- cate the pattern or ordi- nary, one thing is sure: I can make only one stitch at a time. And one stitch makes absolutely no visual difference in whatever it is I'm working on at the mo- ment. Now and then I come to the last stitch, bind it off and surprise myself by what I've created. How did that happen? It's remark- able, really, that just one stitch at a time can bring such pleasing results. I love the story au- thor Jaroldeen Edwards ("Things I Wish I'd Known Sooner") tells of the trip she took with her daugh- ter one bleak and rainy day. She wasn't that thrilled to drive more than two hours to see flowers some woman had planted. But her daughter was in- sistent — "You're going to love this, Mom!" And tell me what mom could resist going along with that kind of enthusiasm. They drove along the Rim of the World High- way, inching their way to- ward Lake Arrowhead through fog and driz- zle in the San Bernardino mountains, north of Los Angeles, California. By now, Jaroldeen was so ag- itated, she was certain she was being kidnapped by her daughter! Still not convinced this could be worth the trouble, Caro- lyn parked next to a small stone church and an- nounced they would need to walk along a path, through huge, black-green evergreens and over a thick blanket of old pine needles. Just as they turned the corner of the path, Jarol- deen stopped dead — lit- erally gasping in amaze- ment. "There before me was a most incredible and glorious sight! So unex- pected and unimagined." From the top of the mountain, sloping down several acres across folds and valleys, between the trees and bushes, follow- ing the natural flow of the terrain, were rivers of daf- fodils in radiant bloom. Every color of the spec- trum of yellow — blazed like a carpet before them. Why? How? Her mind flooded with questions for how this could be. The Daffodil Garden is the handiwork of just one woman. A former Los Angeles High School art teacher and her hus- band still live on the prop- erty. Their small home (newly rebuilt after having been destroyed by fire two times) fits perfectly into the scene in the midst of all the glory. This one woman, begin- ning in 1958, planted each daffodil bulb by hand, one at a time. No short- cuts. Year after year, plant- ing just one ugly, dried up, lifeless bulb at a time, by the time she'd planted more than 1,000,000 bulbs, she'd forever changed her world by cre- ating something of mag- nificence, beauty and in- spiration. As Jaroldeen ap- proached the mountain home situated in sea of yellow, she saw a sign posted by someone tired of answering the same ques- tions: "Answers to the Ques- tions I Know You are Ask- ing: One Woman, Two Hands, Two Feet, and Very Little Brain. One bulb at a Time. Started in 1958." Sometime ago, and on a total whim, I bought up enough yarn to make a beautiful coat I saw in a pattern book. Seriously, this was way beyond any- thing I'd ever knitted. My expectations that I'd ever finish it were low. But one stitch at a time, over and over again, it began to grow and take shape. The coat was for a very special lady in my life, so I had in- centive to finish it. As she modeled it for me, all I could think about was that sign at the en- trance to the Daffodil Gar- den. Mine reads: "Why? How? One woman, two hands, two needles and very little brain. One stitch at a time. Started about 6 months earlier." What do you need to do in your life? Build an emergency fund? Pay down your debt? Downsize to a smaller lifestyle? Why not get started to- day? Take that first step. Then do it over and over again, just one baby step at a time. You will be amazed at where you will be with that over the com- ing months. And if you don't get started now? I'll let you answer that question. For 40 years, Gene Bauer opened her prop- erty for three weeks each spring, free of charge, so the public could bask in the glory of all that yellow- ness, in the passion and hard work of a woman in- tent on making the world a more beautiful place. Bauer said the people who flocked to her home each year were generally polite and respectful. But she's 88 now, and prepar- ing the property for visi- tors has become too much to handle. In 2009 she posted signs around her house saying the daffodil garden was closed forever. It still is, but now Bauer has filled the void with a different offering of beauty: her collected artis- tic works in the book Bo- tanical Serigraphs: The Gene Bauer Collection. Wouldyouliketosend a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@ everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Ste. B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE It'sonlytoolateifyoudon'tstartnow Mary Hunt The annual Red Bluff Arabian Horse show is scheduled for May 1-3 at the Rolling Hills Equestrian Center in Corning. The show will feature purebred Arabians and Arabians crossed with other breeds such as quar- ter horses, thoroughbreds and Appaloosas. A variety of events will be held as the Arabian horse is a very versatile breed and competes in many disciplines. There are three sessions scheduled daily starting at 9 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. Sunday is championship day with the show ending in the afternoon and now evening session. The show has been held since 1971 and moved to the Corning venue in 2014. Admission is free and children are welcome. Arabian horse show set in Corning CORNING The annual Re- lay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer So- ciety was held Saturday at Corning Union High School. Organizers say more than 200 people partici- pated, including 35 can- cer survivors. As of Tuesday, more than $10,000 had been raised with more expected to come in. There were 12 teams that participated repre- senting businesses, com- munity organizations such as 4-H and the city of Corning, Corn- ing High School and community members of Corning and the sur- rounding area. There was entertain- ment on stage through- out the day and a special lap with a different theme each hour. RELAY FOR LIFE Fundraiser brings in more than $10,000 Thankyou! PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. COURTESYOFFORRESTBLISS,FORRESTBLISSPHOTO.COM The Red Bluff Arabian Horse show is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at Rolling Hills Equestrian Center in Corning. TO DO CHIP THOMPSON-DAILY NEWS Supporters complete a lap during Saturday's Relay for Life fundraiser at Corning Union High School. Passages:HICAP, Caregiver Resource Center, Volunteer Services, Multi-Purpose Senior Services Program, Ombudsman, Information and Assistance Health Care Options Independent Living Ser. Of Northern California Medi-Cal Northern Valley Catholic Social Service Rolling Hills Health Clinic Senior Nutrition St. Elizabeth TRAX/METS Community Resource Fair for Adults Join us at the 2015 Community Resource Fair for Adults to learn about available resources for health care and prescription insurance coverage, nutrition services, independent living and more. Take advantage of this opportunity to talk with professionals from different agencies all in one location. Get your questions answered and see what programs you may qualify for! Tuesday,May12th|10a.m.to12p.m. Red Bluff Community Center 1500 S. Jackson St., Red Bluff Brought to you by PASSAGES, helping caregivers and older adults lead healthier, happier, and more rewarding lives by providing and supporting the critical services and community resources they need. Watch for more information coming soon! PassagesCenter.org Presented by: Participating Programs: And More • • • • • • • • • This publication/project was supported by HICAP with financial assistance, in whole or in part, through a grant from the Administration for Community Living. Confused About Hearing Aids? We'll clear up the confusion! • What is the relationship between aging, hearing loss, and dementia? • What is "Nerve Deafness"? • Why do some hearing aids whistle? • Why do I have ringing in my ears? • Why do hearing aids cost so much? • When is a hearing aid a bargain, not a bargain? Leave your checkbook at home. Nothing will be sold during the educational seminar. Welookforwardto hearing from you! GUEST SPEAKER: Nationally respected Audiologist Lisa Olson, MS, CCC-A Anyone over the age of 60 RSVP: Seating is limited, you MUST RSVP to attend. 40ChestnutAvenue Red Bluff 530-330-1096 BRING BALANCE TO YOUR BODY Bring balance to your LIFE Tabata Bootcamp startinginMay 6:30am, 7:00am, 5:30pm $100 8weeks. Regular Haircut $ 2 00 off KWIK KUTS FamilyHairSalon 1064SouthMainSt.,RedBluff•529-3540 ANY RETAIL PRODUCT 20 % off withanychemicalserviceof $50 or more Notgoodwithotheroffers Expires 4/30/15 With coupon Reg. $13.95 Locallyowned business offering high value, low cost energy for decades. Call Liam at 526-1551 or visit www.sacriversolar.com Lic# 996900 www.tehamafamilyfitness.com Tehama Family Fitness Center 2498SouthMainSt.RedBluff•528-8656 Are you unhappy with the way you look in your bathing suit? We want to help! Start losing now and enjoy the way you look and feel this 4th of July! 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