An Update and a Crocheted skirt

I've started a new project. It's a crocheted skirt from Interweave Crochet magazine, Fall 2006. I like the look of it, kind of an updated hippy look, without being messy. And although I love granny squares, I can only handle so much of that, too, so this will be a good change. I'm doing the first one, the prototype, in gray alpaca/acrylic blend, and if it turns out well, I'll make the "real one" in light gray, white, and black alpaca. I like the snowflake pattern on the lower hem. If there's enough yarn left, I'll make a little shrug or capelet to go with it. I'm about halfway through the prototype now, and really liking the pattern. It's working up pretty quickly. I'm planning to string a few e-beads on the yarn to scatter at random on the lower half of the skirt. Only the lower half, though...I know if I were wearing it, I'd sit on those little glass beads and split them in half as soon as I sat on a hard surface. So beads only on the lower half, where there's no weight to be mashing them.

Life here in Lima is returning to normal. We still feel the periodic tremor, but they are nothing much and causing no damage. Dearest Cupcake had a much harder time, and a very close-up look at the quake action in Ayacucho. I'm glad she came out of it okay. The neighborhood where we live and the military community (including the institute where I work) are busy collecting clothing, blankets, bottled water, and non-perishable foods to send to the effected areas. Medicines and first aid supplies have been sent and distributed where needed. I asked what would happen with those people who lost their homes in the quake, and was told that probably the government would replace them with a comparable sized house, but of better construction. Where they will be staying in the meantime, I don't know. The news now reports of the problem with gangs and criminals controlling the neighborhood streets, looting the destroyed homes and businesses, and then there is the danger of damaged houses that are still standing. The people are beginning to move back into their houses, if they are still standing, but it might only take a small tremor to bring the walls down on them, if they were made of adobe or if there was significant damage. Police and local military units are trying to maintain order and peace, but where there are desperate and unhappy people, there is little peace.

More on this can be read here, if you missed the link above.