Celebrating MLK in Yarn

Suzanne's sweater honoring the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This has become a tradition on "L.A. Is My Beat."  For the past ten years I have been featuring Suzanne's MLK sweater on my blog in honor of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I will repeat  again this year because I'm so in love with this idea and in awe of Suzanne's mad skills. 

The sweater pattern is from "Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines."  The name of this sweater is "Margaret," designed for the book by Mary Neal Meador.  The instructions state that the sweater may be embellished after knitting with chain stitched quotations of the knitter’s choice.  The sweater in the book has poetry added to the front and back. 

When I saw Suzanne's ("owlknits") sweater, I was touched by the words she chose.  This is from Suzanne's project page on Ravelry: 

I knit this sweater for a local art exhibition that was organized to honor the ideas of Martin Luther King, Jr.  I used quotes from his “I have a dream…” speech to embroider on the front and back of the sweater: Front: Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. Back: The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the day of justice emerges.

These words are still true today.  I am still blown away by Suzanne's sweater and her choice of quotations.  One day I will make such a sweater for myself.  Bravo!  Excellent work, Suzanne, honoring an eloquent man and his ideas! 

Follow this graphed chart to make a different sweater honoring MLK

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Marin Luther King, Jr.  This year, 2021, we are dealing with the world-wide Covid-19 Pandemic and much unrest throughout the world. In two days we will inaugurate a new President and Vice-President of the United States, Joe Biden and Kamela Harris. I have hope for our democracy.

The Murals of Santa Monica

During the pandemic, it's rather difficult to schedule a birthday field trip. The museums are closed, as well as movie theaters, amusement parks, most places of interest and all dine-in restaurants. Today is Larry's birthday. I decided I would take him on a tour of the murals of Santa Monica. I'm extremely familiar with Santa Monica. I was born there, I went to school for a bit there. I worked in the City for 15 years. 

Bay Cities Italian Market on Lincoln Blvd., SM has some of the BEST take-out food!

We started out at Bay Cities Italian Deli to pick up a sandwich for lunch, later in the day. The Godmother Sub-sandwich is fabulous! I made sure to have a cooler in my car for our sandwiches and drinks.  Then, we proceeded on a driving tour of some of the murals of Santa Monica!

"Surfer" on apartment building at 2901 4th St., SM

"I Dream of Equal Rights," 2408 Lincoln Blvd., SM

Mural and detail (below) along the Santa Monica Synagogue, 1448 18th St., SM

This guy was lurking in the corner of the Temple

Angel Larry at DK Donuts, Santa Monica & 14th St.

The Santa Monica Pier, behind DK Donuts

"The Guardian" at The Red Cross, 1450 11th St., SM

Aquatic Mural at Ladd's Liquors, SM Blvd.

Santa Monica Dog Town Boys, 10th & Wilshire, in the alley behind El Cholo

Pulitzer Prize Winning Food Critic and Author, Jonathan Gold (RIP)

1534 Montana Ave., SM

The Divine Godmother Sandwich

Lunch at Virginia Park, SM

"Our Pico Neighborhood" by East Los Streetscapers, 2115 Pico Blvd., SM

"Create," 2116 Pico Blvd., SM

"A Place Called Home," 2019 Pico Blvd. (alley)

I love this boring 60s apartment building painted to look like colorful row houses

We happened upon this Disney-like mural near 20th and Pico, SM

All in all, it was a pretty good day! We wound around the streets of Santa Monica and saw some very interesting street art. The sandwich was great too!

This evening, there will be cocktails, presents and a lovely dinner provided by Chef Arnaud at , Bloom Cafe.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!

Happy Birthday Larry

Last year at The Musso & Frank Grill

Today, we welcome Larry to the Pandemic Birthday Club. Sigh. It's been 10 months since this scourge darkened our world. We will celebrate today in the safest way we can. Last year and many years prior, we'd celebrate at Musso & Frank's for dinner. I wish we could go there this year.

Happy Birthday to my photogenic, adorable, sweet, talented husband! I love you!

Larry is the S*T*A*R of my blog and my most favorite photo subject!

Joyeux Noël Avec Suzette

Suzette, at her first ukulele lesson

I've been wanting to document the wonderful knit and crochet ornaments that Suzette has given me over the years.  As we were taking down our aluminum Christmas tree this past weekend, I saved out the ornaments created by Suzette. She is truly the Queen of Christmas!

We exchange ornaments every year. Sometimes, Suze surprises me and gives me little creatures during the year. I hang those on the tree too! I'm lucky to receive Suzette's ornaments. She is very sweet to hang my less than stellar attempts on her tree!

Barbie borrows the slipover sometimes but not the mitts

Santa Slug

Figgy Pudding and Mr. Santa Gnome

Xmas Tree Drink Coasters. I hang these on the tree too!

Here are some more Suzette Creations that aren't particularly for the holidays, but I like to hang them on the tree anyway! #fibertastic

Henny Penny is my favorite!

Frida Kahlo

My other favorite!

The Bluebird of Crappiness. A mid-Covid observation

Thank you, Suzette for years of knitted and crocheted wonder and talent! Happy New Year! Here's hoping that we can knit, crochet and play our ukuleles IN PERSON very soon!