December 3, 2007
RAK Reporting Day & Sneak Peak
We had to have a mini photo shoot for something today, so I thought I’d include a photo of the Loopy Elves for you to see! (Do you like how I’m knitting them all together from above? I had fun tangling the all up in yarn.) So the middle row - Sue, Kathy, Wendi and Diana, and sitting down - Susan and Vicki. Wendi has taken over doing the photos for us (although WH still does alllll of the color correcting on the computer every week) and Diana does the bookkeeping. (My least favorite thing in the entire world.) Aren’t they wonderful?
Today is our weekly RAK Reporting Day! Have you done any RAKs that you can comment on and inspire us with? Remember, although we all love doing them secretly, when you share it on the blog, it gives others some good ideas about things that they can go out and do, too. I’ll do the weekly Loopy Gift Package drawing on Wednesday before I blog that day. I did the “pay for the Starbucks in the car behind you” a couple more times this week. Although I’ll keep doing that, I want to come up with something else for this week, just to keep it fun. So I’ll be interested in all of your new ideas! I loved the ideas that people had about giving out knitted items. Back in my “just getting back into knitting after 20 years” days, I knit sooooo many scarves. Many have been worn once (or …. not at all) and I thought I should wash them all and then be on a mission to give them away this month.
I also wanted to give you a Sneak Peak at the new Dream in Color colorways - their 400 series! (And a special thanks to Veronica at Dream in Color for sending the photo so that I could share it with all of you on the blog!) We’ve had these on order forever (it seems like) and they’ll be here this month, as soon as they can get them labeled and shipped. (It will be a fun Dream in Color month with more Smooshy, more Classy, all the new Lace, and all of the new colors!) The colors, starting with the orange/peach and going counter clockwise: Flamingo Pie, Butter Peeps, Go Go Grassy, Lunar Zazzle, Pansy Golightly, Punky Fuschia, Into the Mystic, and Midnight Derby. YUM!
Sheri hadmylastspinningclass&nownotspinningalickuntilsomeknittinggetsdone

Melissa Featherly said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Yeah Loopy Elves! What a great picture! Knitting them together… to cute. My random act of kindness was letting a women with a crying toddler cut in front of me and my kids at Target. I have so been there before. Well back to the knitting.
Kirstie said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Ooh - yummy colours.
My most recent RAK would have to be a bunch of hats that I knitted up and donated to StreetKnit, which distributes knitted winter wear to people in need in Toronto. I knit up four hats in bulky blue yarn, throwing in some random cables for interest. I’m looking forward to doing a few more of these - they’re a lot of fun.
Liz in IN said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:43 am
What a lovely group of elves (and their fearless leader elf, too)! I bet it’s fun being a Loopy elf! The best job I ever had was working for a yarn wholesaler, up to my elbows in skeins, daily. Yum.
No ’special’ RAKs to report. I regularly let others go ahead of me in line at the grocery store, esp when they have seven items and I have…well…exponentially more than seven items, as I always do. If it’s just a regular RAK, does it still count?
LOVE the new DIC colours. Hmm…it may be time to acquaint my dh with the ‘wish list’.
Except, he thinks I have enough yarn. Enough? What is this ‘enough’ of which you speak?
Hillis said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:50 am
I so love this idea because it inspires me to be kinder. Since I have retired and so many of my friends still work I have decided to bake their cookies for them for the Holidays. I will surprize them all with a tray of their favorites. I still have lots of kintting but I love to bake,too..
Michelle said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Those colors look great! My RAK this week (I would’ve done it anyways) was to let a woman behind me ring up her one pack of gum in front of me since I had a bit more than her. I’m glad I did because afterwards she said that she was late for a hair appointment.
Sarah said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:51 am
I bought breakfast for the young family in line behind me at Chik-Fil-A this morning…a crying newborn, a harried looking daddy, and a very tired mommy were very appreciative!
Tanya said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:51 am
Aw, neat to see the elves!
Sigh - more DIC choices. I think I might need all of them eventually…
Michele in Maine said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:55 am
So fun to see all the elves. How lucky are they to touch and feel the yarn all day!
The new DIC colors are dreamy!! Love the “Flamingo Pie” and the great purple-y ones. Oh, dear.
My latest RAK was to give a skein of cashmere sock yarn (Posh) to a co-worker who mentioned she loved the yarn I had given her a year ago (when I was in Posh’s sock club). I have so much yarn, and still have some left (un-knit) from being in that club, so I just left it on her computer keyboard one day. She wanted to pay me but I told her it just made me happy to know she would knit it up into cozy socks for herself.
Carrie said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:55 am
I’ve been making an effort to let people into traffic in front of me when they’re waiting to come out of a parking lot.
Wendy said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:57 am
Lovely yarn colors! Can’t wait till they are ready to purchase! I will be cruising the on-line shelves of The Loopy Ewe this month for some delicious yarn for a swap. Better put aside several hours for browsing!!!
My RAK this week is for a friend who is going through a rough time with her husband, excuse me - possibly ex-husband. The details are rough and twisted. She will sometimes stop by for our local knitting group to grab a cup of joe but then always has to rush back to the family. She’s always saying how she wants to learn to knit but never has time because she’s trying to take care of everything at home. Now that she’s got a little more time on her hands, I think I’ll surprise her this week with a set of needles and some lovely yarn from my stash and get her knitting. It’ll help keep her mind off of things at home as well.
Robin Bromley said,
December 3, 2007 @ 11:59 am
For my RAK, we have a refugee family from Samolia that resently moved into my area. There are 9 children ranging from ages newborn to teens. Needless to say they have very little and since I live in Utah and it snows and is cold I thought I would help with some warm cozy hand spun knit wear. I had been making hats of many different sizes for a couple of weeks, I didn’t really have a plan for them, but I knew that someone would be in need if I just kept my eyes and ears open. Sure enough when I heard about this family I knew that here was a family that would cherish these hats. I finished and delivered 10 hats ( one for each child and dad) and one shawl ( for mom) last week. This is one way that wool can warm twice, one the person that wears the item and two, the heart of the giver.
Have a happy holiday season.
Trish said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
It’s freezing cold here (think -5 for all you that think in farenheit) and while I was at the supermarket yesterday, I saw a boy pushing all the carts inside that everyone had left out. He looked frozen. So, I grabbed the last 5 and zoomed them in for him so that he could go inside. He looked so grateful, LOL. Poor kid.
Loving the new colors of DIC!!!
Elise said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
I don’t have any super special RAKs that I did to report, but when I got on the elevators today and was trying to hold onto my two bags and my breakfast a nice woman asked me what floor and pushed the button for me. That was great because I was feeling rather bedraggled.
I did tell a woman at the bagel store Saturday morning that she dropped her glove, but I just didn’t want her hand to get cold.
I think I need some more ideas too, hopefully I will get some here.
Joannah said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
I’ve had a temperamental furnace all weekend. When it’s chilly inside, that’s a great time to sort through the stash for yarn to make mittens. I finished one pair and have another almost done. As soon as the weather cooperates and I can safetly get out, I’m going to take them to a local shelter. Warm hands, warm hearts, right?
Kelley said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
What a great picture of you and the Elves, I would love to visit some day but am afraid I’d probably drool over everything. hahaha
I have a few RAKs…
After my husband told me that Starbucks revenue was down for the first time ever, I’ve made it my goal to try and save them by stopping by at least once a day. (that isn’t my RAK, I hardly expect anyone to think it’s anything other than me being crazy) On one recent visit, I was headed to have my nails done so I brought my nail tech her very favorite coffee (RAK 1)….and while I was there I paid for the person behind me (RAK 2).
Husband and I were wandering the mall just passing some time when I noticed the local CCA collecting toys for underprivileged children. We headed to the nearest toy store and picked up a couple of items. (RAK 3)
There are a few other things but I can’t remember them all. December is my favorite time of year so I’m always trying to find other things to do. I love the idea of giving out knitted items, I also have a few scarves that I’ve knit up that have never been worn. (ones that the neighbor children haven’t already taken!) I think I’ll take them with me today and see who I can give them to.
Laura said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
Great picture!
Friends of mine are hosting a Christmas party this Saturday. They had the brilliant idea (IMHO) of taking gifts for the local homeless shelter (hats, scarves, gloves) instead of accepting host(ess) presents. Fortunately, I have some bulky wool in my stash and am halfway done with a hat that I love! It feels good to help someone tangibly.
Also, in case anyone else does this: be careful what colors you use to give away hats, etc. to urban areas. Areas that suffer from significant gang violence sometimes have restrictions about what colors they can accept. Neutrals and dark colors are usually fine. But yay for generous hearts!
Amy said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
What a fun photo of you and the Loopy elves!! I just love the red sweaters, but then, Red is my color and I just may be predispositioned to it! : ) And, the new Dream in Color yarn looks fun too!
I took your Starbucks (SB as I call it) idea and gave it a slightly diffferent twist. Nearly every morning I make a trip to the nearest SB around 9:30 or 10:00 in the morning and I pass by the nice security guard at our office building. I can’t imagine how many people she sees come and go each morning, yet she is always friendly as wishes everyone a good morning. I see countless people carrying in their SB and thought, she doesn’t have the luxury of being able to randomly get up from her desk and go to SB like the rest of us do - why not give her a treat as well?! So, I did have to ask what she would like and treated her to a morning SB…she definitely appreciated the thought. : )
Melissa B. said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
I haven’t really been out much lately due to my family of 6 with the stomach flu, but I was able to squeeze one RAK in this week. I was at the store this morning and there was a mom with two kiddos doing some shopping. The children were asking their mom if they could have something to drink and she said they would have to wait until they got home because she was out of cash. I asked her if they could pick a drink, on me, from the “cold” section next to the check out and she said “yes”. The kids eyes lit up like I had given them gold. It was so sweet! The clerk couldn’t believe that I had done that. But it was something very simple to do.
Karen in Toledo said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
This week, Buddy Bill and I are baking cooking and packing them into holiday-themed take-out boxes. We’re leaving them for all the residents in his apartment building. Some of them are older and don’t get out much, or receive company.
This morning I anonymously mailed $50 to my niece. She’s a single mom and over the weekend, at a family dinner (at a restaurant), she accidentally left her purse in the bathroom. Her money was stolen, but everything was recovered. As someone who makes only minimum wage, she was devastated.
Know what? This is fun!
Kirsty said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
Hi Sheri, love the photo! Wish I could be a Loopy Elf!!
A few times a month for about the past 2 years, I have given away any items that are in really good condition, that are no longer needed.
I tend to think of this as my random act of kindness. This past weekend, I gave away a toaster oven, hardly ever used, but what is the use of keeping something if you are not going to use it, and there is a family out there that will? That’s my motto anyway!!
Angie said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:23 pm
I helped DH cut up some venison on Friday. Which given that the smell of raw deer meat makes me a little queasy counts as a RAK for me. Well, really not. But we were in a cold garage with no heat for about 4 hours. DH told me that he really appreciated my help, and took me out to dinner.
MY official RAK was sending some money to our local firefighter’s “Shop with a Firefighter” program. The firefighters gather the money and take young boys and girls shopping for Christmas presents. Depending on the money raised, the children get at least one, if not two, presents. Last year, they raised $16,000 and were hoping for $20,000 this year.
Jocelyn said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
It’s so fun to see the picture of the Elves — now I can put faces to names
Do RAKs count if they’re not anonymous? Last week at my doctor’s office, I got up to open the door for an older man pushing a woman in a wheelchair (in spite of being farther from the door than almost everyone, AND knitting — I even tangled up my knitting and ripped out stitches on the way to the door). I also agreed to take on seven students in an independent study for a class they need to graduate, and then am doing another separate indep study for another student who needs a class to grad in the spring. That’s it for this week — thanks for thinking of such an inspirational project!
Kim B. said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
Great photo!
My latest Random Act of Kindness was to buy another book at B&N for a needy child. I plan to keep doing this all through the holiday season.
Robin said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
My husband did a wonderful RAK this weekend. We got an ice and snow storm over the weekend and he went out and blew the snow off of two of our neighbors driveways.
I also had someone do a wonderful RAK for me. She picked up and brought home my daughter from Brownies so I wouldn’t have to get the other kids out in the 5 degree temps.
Love the picture, and the Dream in Color is so pretty.
Jenn said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
My RAK was that I paid for someone’s shipping last week in the sneak-up.
Can’t wait for the new DIC colors!
Lani said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Joan said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
My latest RAK is to “accidentally” leave a dollar bill in one of the pockets of a coat or jacket I’m donating to a local thrift shop. I’ve also been known to pass out seasonal goodies to dept. staff members at work. For Thanksgiving it was clementines, for Easter it was fuzzy chenille chicks.
Yes, I AM eccentric. Why do you ask?
Bobbi said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
We had two RAKs in our house this week. One, we paid for dessert for an older couple while at the local Festival of Trees. They were shocked and didn’t want to accept it, but I insisted and asked that they do the same for some random stranger along the way. We heard them telling others and I can’t help but think of the “ripple effect” you’ve started.
Later that day we won a gingerbread display at the Festival raffle and have donated it to the school for the children’s enjoyment. It was fun to deliver it and watch the kids eyes light up. A photo is on my blog http://krafty1.typepad.com
Chan said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
What a fun photo of you and the elves! As a bookkeeper, I understand that not everyone likes it, and I’m glad you’ve found someone who does.
RAK - I let a lady trying to juggle an armload of things in front of me at the grocery store. I continue to let cars merge on my daily commute too. Short as I am, I was still able to reach something on a top shelf at the store for someone.
Julie said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
My RAK this week, took a meal to a sweet friend who’s son had just passed away. I also took breakfast foods. When my FIL passed that was something someone did for us. So nice, especially with young kids in the house. Everyone thinks of cakes, cookies, desserts…but there still needs to be nourishing, healthy food there.
I am also taking a meal to an elderly couple at church tomorrow. The wife is not doing too well and the husband just seems lost. So a little visit with dinner is just the ticket.
Debbie O. said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
I have to RAKs to mention today.
Every once in a while, my husband leaves my favorite kind of donut for me at the front desk as a special treat. I had teased him that it was very unkind to leave goodies for me, but nothing for the security folks that have to sit there and look at it until I pick up my treat. So, last week when he dropped off my donut, he brought a dozen more donuts for the security crew at my office.
The other night I went to the local Handweavers Guild sale with 2 friends — K & H. Well, K found a wonderful pair of twist stitches mittens and a large skein of handspun/handpaint yarn. She decided she could only splurge on one or the other and was trying to choose. Without even saying a word to each other, I grabbed the mittens and H grabbed the yarn, and we bought K a Christmas treat. I’ve promised that I will design a special circular yoke sweater to show off the yarn, too.
Dina said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
Instead of the usual $10 stocking stuffers for everyone in my husband’s family (in addition to the regular Christmas presents), I bought a “Flock of Hope” from Heifer International (www.heifer.org) and will put a little note in each stocking.
Linda in Ohio said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
I knitted hats and mittens (2 sets) for my husbands “mitten tree” at his club to be given to needy for Xmas!!!
Jessimuhka said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
Mine isn’t all that random, but my neighbor at work has had some crazy deadlines lately and mentioned how tired she was of ordering lunch in from the one place that delivers. I went out at lunch to run my errands and picked her up some lunch from a different take out place, so she could have a little variety.
Patricia said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
Those colors look gorgeous! I can’t wait to see them in a sneak up.
My random act of kindess happened at Macy’s this time. At work we get certificates for the friends and family event of 20% everything with no exclusions. I took several more that the one I was going to use and walked around handing them out at the registers to customers who did not have one. I am a believer in random compliments too. It is wonderful to give the gift of a smile to someone when you tell them something you like about what they have on, such as that is a great color on you. The smile never fails. Sometimes it is a shocked smile and that is even better.
Monica said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
What a great picture. And all in red, how festive. I made the picture big so I could admire all the CTH in the background yum. I so envy the elves being able to handle alll that yummy yarn every day : )
The new dream in colors, colors are so pretty.
RAK you know what it is already Sheri.
graygirl said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
I have a good friend who has a “troubled” daughter, 19, that has had several issues and a hard time growing up (much like many kids her age, including my own!!!) Anyway she saw me spinning and was looking at several examples of my handspun. She jokingly said “I want this to make a beanie”….well, it was a skein of wool and silk, one of my favorites. I gave it to her and she was thrilled. Hey, if i can encourage her to do something positive, and its knitting to boot, its a small price to pay. Made me smile to see her so excited.
I love this “theme”….has made me appreciate how full my life is.
Susan said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
I’m feeling inspired by everyone’s stories of RAKs here on the blog, so last week i made a special effort to take time out and donate blood. This time of year is when donors are so busy with family and finishing up end of year projects in work - so the blood stocks can become low.
Also, it was a lovely ‘time out’ for me to sit and relax for 20 minutes, plus staying in that night and knitting in front of the TV was me following medical advice to take it a litlte easy after the donation!
Tammy said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Oooh, I so want the Go Go Grassy DIC Smooshy! Yum! My RAK was a blessing to myself, too - I injured my foot in January and had just purchased 10 pair of new dress shoes that I will no longer be able to wear because I have to have special insoles. I gave all the new shoes that were taking up closet space to a teacher friend of mine who is going to give them to a couple of her students who really need them.
Sherry said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
Oh how I wish I could work in the Loopy room. I can dream, can’t I?
In the RAK department, I’ve been using the CVS coupons ..”spend $20 get $4 off” to buy presents for http://www.thehome.org/site/PageServer?pagename=events_big_wishes Christmas Drive. I’ve also used them to buy items for
http://www.womenslunchplace.org/
Funny thing is often when I use the coupon in this way, another one is generated at the register. (It’s kind of like Pay it Forward).
Anne said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
My advisees and I bought a gift for a DSS child for their Christmas party next weekend, I agreed to drive an extra swimming carpool, pledged to knit some slippers for the Soaring Eagles Project (do you know about this effort?) and I have bought some goodies to donate to d#2’s classroom (extra kleenex top on the list!). My mom’s exploit of last Friday still tops the list of recent RAKS done for me … yay, Mom!
Karen said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
Flamingo Pie? must must must watch for sneakup of that one. I have a credit burning a hole in my jeans.
RAK — I guess not so random. With my cat being so sick over the last month and the vet’s office being so nice to me, I’m taking them in another batch of homemade peanut brittle “just because”.
alyson said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
RAK: It’s a sneaky one. A coworker joked that I needed to knit him a hat for a trip he’s taking soon. I don’t normally knit for coworkers, and he was only kidding, but I’m going to knit him the hat anyway. I like knitting RAKs
And I know this was last week’s discussion topic, but I have to mention a HUGE RAK that was done for me this week. Actually, a number of RAKs - I have a lot of good karmic retribution to exact! One of my two dogs had an unplanned and pricey emergency surgery last week, and when I blogged about it, suddenly I had a bunch of readers/friends/bloggy people offering the most uplifting kind words of support and sweet sentiments, and even donations! There was a total run on my Etsy shop, my destash benefit sale totally sold out, a Ravelry group took up a collection, and a few fellow Etsy artists sold items to benefit my doggie - it was completely amazing! All those RAK people totally blew my mind! (I love you all, RAK people!!)
Petunia said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
I do my RAKs on the roadway. Not in a position to buy items for others, but I can slow down and allow someone to safely enter the highway, I can signal to let that person know I’m holding back so they can go. I’ll make things easier for a large truck, knowing he’s got more gears to go through than I do! I LET people get over when they need to change lanes. I do what I wish drivers would do for me.
Michelle said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Let’s see… as an individual, I give my grocery cart to others, and do not accept the quarter that is needed to use the shopping cart while at the grocery store. It’s a small thing to do. How many times have I forgotten my quarter and used a basket for heavy items.
As a family, we adopt a family at church and buy gifts for Christmas.
My personal RAK that I do every day, is to use nice language, and to be cheery for clerks at W-Mart and the grocery store, regardless of how cherry (or not) they are.
I try so hard to ingrain this into my children! To be kind and giving!
Love he picture of you and the elves.
MaryEllen said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
My RAKs for this week are actually things I’ve been doing for a while.
1. Our church always has a “giving tree” with tags listing gift items for the needy in the community. I always pick a few and try to select something nice so they will have gifts for the holidays.
2. This one stems from something that happened to me, and I’ve tried to carry on the sentiment. When I was a cash-strapped student, I once found a grocery coupon that someone had left on the shelf next to the item I wanted. Every penny counts when you’re on a budget, and I was thankful for the help. Although it’s just a small gesture, now when I grocery shop I routinely leave coupons on the shelves so that someone else can benefit.
Gay said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
I was at the fabric store and the woman ahead of me was getting her farbric cut but didn’t have a 50% off coupon so I gave her an extra one that I had.She was very grateful.I felt great in helping her out!
Also I had a coupon for a free turkey but donated it so that a family that couldn’t afford one would have one for the holidays!
These small things do alot to brighten my days!
sara l said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
Lovely Dream colors!
My RAK this week is to get the christmas presents to my elderly/nursing home friends and family done this week. I sent an amarylis bulb kit off to an elderly friend last week, in hopes it would help her anticipate the holidays coming up. She doesn’t get out much - or put up a tree so i thought this would be just the right amount of cheer. Also sending a christmas cactus( much less care) and two $5 coffee shop gift cards to another friend in a nursing home - the gifts card are for her family to treat her to some coffees on us and the small denominations are so a couple of members can have them to treat her with their visits. Spread the cheer early!
Julia said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
I stayed up till 3am with a friend who had just lost his grandmother, even though I had to be at work by 7 the next morning.
After having been up the whole night, I told a coworker to go home to be with her family who is out of town, even though it left me as the only technician in the hospital.
I bought a coworker breakfast, since she didn’t have the money to put in a order with everyone else.
Amanda said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
I LOVE the photo of you all! So cute! And I can’t wait for those DIC yarns to come. I think I’ve got a spot in my stash for some Classy!
Sarah in Ohio said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
My Raks- Last Wed. and today I paid for a drink for the car behind me, luckily they both only had 1 person with one drink order. I was wondering what I’d do if the person behind me orders like 3 drinks, would offering to pay for just one be weird?
Emily said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
My RAK this week started out as a not-so-great experience for me, but ended wonderfully for someone else. My family ordered pizza for lunch the other day and one of the pizzas arrived with wrong toppings. I called the pizza place, and since my kids had eaten it anyway, I declined to have a new pizza made for me. The pizza place made an error and sent out 2 new pizzas anyway about 2 hours later. I took those pizzas to our local homeless shelter. I recognize ordering pizza is a luxury not everyone can afford.
Kinelle said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
RAK: Taking my complete and used once Denise set of circs back to the yarn shop and asking the owner to give them away to a deserving knitter who couldn’t otherwise afford them.
Christine said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
It’s nice to see the beautiful people with beautiful yarn at the Loopy Ewe!
My RAK last week was a spinoff from the Starbucks RAK: to pay for shipping for the next person who ordered at the Loopy Ewe after me. I learned that the recipient was a first-time customer! Yeah! Thanks for the idea!
Terri said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
My RAK of the week was spurred on by snow. We are not used to lots of snow here, just enough to play in now and again. Oldest Son had a birthday party Saturday afternoon that was scheduled to end at 6pm. Well the snow was falling and the house was full of teen-age boys who were all newer drivers. I told them all to call their parents and let them know they would be spending the night, no driving in the snow/ice for them. The streets began to thaw come early afternoon Sunday and everyone went home safe and sound.
Kristi said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Our RAK is heading out to get mittens and hats for the local shelters as part of my kids church program. I will also be cleaning out the closets for my kids old winter coats for donation.
Deborah Squires said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
What a wonderful idea - RAK it should be year long and not just seasonal.
I read about this and decided to try it, while shopping at a “Bath” store I had 2 get free things coupons. I used one and turned around to the ladies behind me and gave them the other, the look on their faces was priceless. A few days later I was in line at a dept. store and a kind person gave me her unused coupons for my purchase. To contine with the RAK, while in my favorite bookstore, I paid for a book to be donated to a needy child. The process continues. I have also shared this idea with my middle school child, hopeing she would try it out as well. Keep up the wonderful work
Bev in SC said,
December 3, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Love the picture of the Elves…
I’ve always been a practioner of “Pay it Forward” (RAK (even before the movie came out.) I’m on a fixed income but it makes me feel rich to be able to do something for someone else. And if someone is having a bad day, you can just see them brighten up.
I loved the idea of buying breakfast for that harried family, but how does one do that? Just give the drive-through a certain amount of money? Or do you just choose something? In other words, how do you know what the cost will be? Or what they might want? Breakfast or a hamburger?
My RAK this past weekend was to take 3 portions of apple Clafouti to friends who have taken another friend under their wing while she’s recovering from surgery. We all had a nice visit and I’ve gotten at least one of them back into the fiber arts and she’s crocheting a neat layette in jewel colors for her future grandson.
susan said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
My RAK was to take care of my sisters dog (for 8 days), after
her dogsitter cancelled. She is in Disneyworld, and I am
sitting here knitting with 3 dogs looking at me!!
Crystal said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
My RAK last week was to leave my left over change from lunch in a jar for our local food pantry.
Katie said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
My RAK this week was to donate some knitting books to my local library. Since I learned from books at the library, I thought others might like to do the same and have some newer books to look at.
Paula said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
My RAK is really my DH’s. We got weird weather here on Saturday - snow, sleet, rain and ice. Most of the streets were fine on Sunday. However our church parking lot was a sheet of ice. My wonderful DH helped several little old ladies across the ice and into the church. One of the many reasons I love him.
Kristin said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
My not-so-random act of kindness is that I’m giving away a $25 gift cert to the Loopy Ewe on my blog….you may check it out if you wish! Good luck!
It makes me happy to think that someone will have a great skein of yarn (or money towards some accessories) to use for whatever they want! YEAH!
Virginia said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Great Picture!
My RAK was to give a bunch of coupons to a woman behind my at Bed, Bath Beyond. I get tons of those and she had an armful of presents to buy and she could use them. I also bought a hot chocolate when I got my Starbuck’s treat and gave it to the chilled Salvation Army bell ringer so they would stay warm. Yes, put the change in the red pot too. I’ll figure out some more to do soon.
Thank you, thank you for having this ‘contest’ … it’s made me a little more aware on a daily basis.
hugs, Virginia
Sarah said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
Well… How ashamed I am that I didn’t make an effort to do a RAK this past week! Baby boy had the tummy flu and then I got it. It was a pretty quiet, cranky and homebound week here. However, my hubby did come home a few hours early from work to watch the sick baby, while sick mommy could sleep! That was such an act of kindness done for me and I appreciated so much!
Stacey said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
My RAK-
I took a batch of raspberry scones, fresh from the oven, up to my Moms work. She works with a bunch of great ladies who have always given to My Boys at birthdays and holidays. So sometimes they become my “guinnea pigs” when I try out new recipes (the scones were a new thing for me. I start my job this week at a local coffeehouse and they want me to become their “in-house baker” some day!!). Even though I try to convince them they are doing me a favor, they insist that this is the best thing someone can do for a person- fresh baked goodies!!
TMTTYRR said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
**waving** Hello Loopy Elves! I love the picture, especially the color coordination!
My RAK for the week involved a friend of my mom’s who is a HUGE help to us generally, and a lot of other people, in spite of many challenges in her own life. Anyway, she’s about my mom’s age — late 70’s — and was hit last week with what is either the cold from h*ll that has been going around or a version of the flu, and either way, I suspect that it kicked up her diabetes, though she wouldn’t let the paramedics take her to the hospital. Anyway, very much unlike herself, she stayed in the house all last week with her husband (who is one of her challenges for so many reasons I won’t go into). It was probably better for her health, as she seems to have started getting better, but I think it was a bit challenging emotionally. Anyhow, I picked up a box of special tea for her and dropped it off on Friday as a “Hope this helps you to feel better” present. I also picked up some information from church for them on Sunday.
So, not much, but something. I have more somethings brewing for this week.
Tracey in mi said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
RAK….I belong to a local “freecycle” group. While cleaning for Christmas— I realized I…. ummmm… have enough yarn to be able to share…..
Someone posted they wanted yarn to make Christmas gifts. IO responded. Culled my stash…..then went back and picked out some really good stuff… sock yarn and las=ceweight and wool…. and some magazine with witer patterns… and a pair of colonial ebony straights…. and some bamboos- and yes. Some Addi’s.
I packed it into a HUGE Ikea bag and set it on the porch—- RAK= random act of knit— was able to help someone with their Christmas love spreading— by doing a little stash dive.
For this upcoming week- I’m knitting a few “cup warmers” and will be taking them to starbucks with me…
a little handknit cheer- for the cranks in line— and will probably buy some coffee’s too;)
Tracey in mi said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
bummer- can’t tell from that post I was an English major……
I swear I CAN spell— I . Just. can’t. type;)
Meghann said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
AHHH! I wish you hadn’t shown me the picture of the new DiC!!!! I don’t need more yarn!!! lol
As for RAK this week……I don’t have a lot to report. The best this week is that my hubby has been having a very difficult time lately and so I spent an afternoon cleaning the house top to bottom, making a nice dinner and having the kids all ready for bed so that he could come home and relax after a monster of a week.
Doris said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
I just had an RAK on Saturday. My husband and I are still involved with the Boy Scout troop that my husband was in a s a kid and that my two sons (now 20 & 22) went through (the 22 year old made Eagle). Our banquest will be in January and a friend of mine was holding a meeting on Saturday to get things rolling. SHe called me about an hour before the meeting and said that there was a water main break in front of her house and she’d need to cancel. SHe was getting ready to cal the women she was expecting and let them know. I told her to give me the names, looked up the numbers and made the calls for her. Before I got rolling I called my husband at the camping trip the scouts were on and got him to send her husband home (he never turns on his cell phone). Fortunately the trip was only about 30 minutes away, so he got home to help. Later that night I took her out to dinner so that she’d be away from the jack-hammering. To me it all seemed like no big deal, but she told me that I really helped her to stay sane through the whole thing.
Leslie said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Not totally random, but certainly unplanned… I’m always knitting socks. Guess it comes from being a participant in the 52-Pair Plunge. This morning, while waiting in line for coffee, one of my co-workers came over to see the latest pair in progress. I’d planned on keeping them for myself but she so obviously loved the colorway and pattern that it was easy promising them to her — provided they fit (one was already done). We came back to the office and she tried one on. Fit like a glove. Hmmm, well actually more like a sock that had been custom knit for her. I think this pair is going to have a very happy home.
Liz said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
I (think) I have a whole bunch:
I paid for two of my coffees at Starbucks, with the request that they give the other to the next person who ordered the same thing I had (a Venti Mild — nothing too fancy). The Starbucks is not a drive-through, and I wanted to be anonymous, so I couldn’t really just buy for the person behind me.
I gave some yarn from my stash and a set of newly-purchased Denise interchangeable needles to a good friend of limited means who is just learning to knit.
I ran into another mom from our church and found out that her husband was in the hospital in the ICU, and nobody knows what’s wrong. After offering to take care of her kids or bring her food (both of which she indicated others were doing), I emailed our minister to let him know the situation. He called her that evening, and she thanked me the next day — but it had honestly never occurred to me *not* to do that.
We took care of a friend’s elder child for a few hours one night when she had to take the younger child to the Emergency Room.
There are others, but I’m starting to feel obnoxiously self-aggrandizing, and they weren’t entirely random things because they weren’t for strangers and were not unexpected. So I’ll stop here.
Thanks, though, for helping me to focus on the good that I do — so often I beat myself up for the bad things without remembering also to feel good about the good things.
Flyin' Needles said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
One not-so-random kindness this week was bringing a meal over to a family in need.
On a more random note, I let a young man in front of me at Target - he had only a card to purchase and I was pushing a cartload. He looked rather startled!
Tiffany said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
Love reading about everyone’s RAKs - so much inspiration for little things that can make a big difference. My RAK for this week was yesterday. A group of friends and I got together and baked and decorated holiday cookies for a local children’s hospice. We’re going to wrap them up in nice gift bags and drop them off for the children later this week.
Kelli said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
Covetousness thy name is Kelli. lol Random Acts of Kindness. Here’s one that happened to me today: one of the other grad students decorated my desk. lol I was going on about how everyone else has stuff that makes it look like they actually live at their desk and mine is boring. She up and decorated my desk while I was walking my papers to the recycling container.
As for what I did, mostly letting someone merge in front of me in busy traffic. That’s all for now, but there should be more to come.
Debi B said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
I took six extra coupons for “Spend $10.00/Get a product worth $11.00″ from Bath & Body Works and handed them out on Saturday to people who were Christmas shopping. I knew I didn’t need any more “stuff” and I loved to see how their eyes lit up when I asked them if they wanted a coupon. Especially the guys who looked SOOO out of place!
The new yarns are so pretty. I am on a “yarn diet” and all these beautiful yarns are making me think about falling “off the wagon”!
moirae said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
Debi just reminded me - a couple of weeks ago I was at the local Ben Franklin Crafts and Frames shop (which sells yarn btw) and had an extra coupon. I gave it to a mother and her daughter who had just come to the check out line as I was entering the store.
Liz said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
Reading through, I’ve been reminded of one I’ve started doing — and it *is* for complete strangers: I make an effort to let other cars pull out in front of me, or turn in front of me, or merge into my lane, or whatever it is that they need to do. It goes totally against my insticts, having been born and bred in NYC (and learned to drive there, too!), and I must admit that I worry that even though I am being kind to the person I allow to go in front of me I am being unkind to the person stuck behind me. But I’m working on it, and I think I’m making progress.
Carla said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
Okay my RAK this week came early today Monday. We have Secret Santa at work and I knew a co worker REALLY wanted me to get her as she wanted Fingerless gloves. I did not get her but I did make her a pr. and gave them to her as a happy winter gift. Now off to make some for my real secret santa pal!
Samantha said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
I know my what my RAK is - I just got my licnese about….2m onths ago. And I have a bad habit of switching lanes right in front of someone - not dangerously, but it does scare them. And they beep.
So my RAK is I haven’t driven for the past week!
Sarah said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Does an attempted RAK count? Today on the subway a man was asking for food and/or money for breakfast. He kept emphasizing that he was really hungry and wanted food. Now I don’t give money to people on the street, I choose to help those in need by donating to charity, but I did have an apple that was going to be MY breakfast. So I tried to hand it to him-he responded by saying “No, I already have a bunch of apples in my bag. I don’t need anymore” and went back to asking the rest of the subway car for food!
So I tried and it was rejected, it was a little bit disheartening.
Kit said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
Some of the little things were things such as allowing people to pull out in front of me when trying to get out of a parking spot on a busy street. I also wrote my boss a note thanking him for his patience as I adjusted to this new job. It made a difference because he’s really gone a bit easier on me and is friendlier to me. It’s such a small thing to say thank you but I find that it really just changes a day.
Laurie said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
How much fun to see all the Loopy Elves! Thanks for posting the picture, Sheri!
My RAK for this week was to purchase a couple of bags of of food at the grocery store that will go to our local food bank for the holidays. I have also made it a point to be courteous to other drivers whenever I can. I know how frustrating it is to not be able to get out of a parking lot this time of year!
I am so excited to see the new colors of Dream in Color - I adore Peeps and Flamingo!
Tigger's Mom said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
Hi Loopy Elves! Thanks for all your hard work!
Yummy yarn colors. Love love love Dream in Color!
My RAKs included letting two people in front of me at check out in two different stores, mailing an unexpected gift to a far away friend, giving my dry cart to a woman with a kidlet and finding another dry one for myself, letting a harried woman into my lane (many kids in the car), and paying for lunch for a friend. I find the less appreciative the recipient of my RAK is, the happier I am that I did it because I figure the person I RAK’d must have really needed that kindness.
Frieda said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
I am often asked to knit a chemo cap for someone. This past week I was asked to knot one for a little girl who is only 22 months old. These always break my heart. I knitted her the prettiest pink cap and sent along a crocheted cupcake purse. I’m told she was very excited. Not totally random I know.
Donna said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Thank you for encouraging and sharing RAK’s! Inspired by the SB stories, I gave a $5 credit to the person behind me in line at the grocery store. (RAK1) I asked the cashier to wait until I’d left the store to tell the young woman with the fidgety toddler about the gift.
Like someone above, I’m always extra pleasant to cashiers, particularly at busy stores.
I read to a kindergartner on my lunch hour two days a week, but this past week she wasn’t there. I had a brought a book that had belonged to my kids when they were younger and then ran into the little boy that I had read to last year. I whispered to him in the hallway that I didn’t need it anymore and asked if he wanted it. It was about a cat that had the same first name as his - Tom! He said yes.
Sandy H. said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
With the colder weather here I start cooking for our neighbors who work, are divorced, widowed, or are elderly. Each week I make a huge pot of soup and an equally large pot of stew or chili. I pop containers in the freezer and make sure that deliveries are made by my husband in our little court of nine houses twice a week. Gives me a chance to experiment with new recipes and I know that our friends and neighbors appreciate it.
Cat said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
I was heading into Borders and there were a few other people also heading for the door. I ran up ahead of them and I’m sure by the look I got they thought I was trying to beat them into the store. Their faces sure showed astonishment and total surprise when I didn’t head in, but held the door open for them to go in. I did the same for a gentleman when I was leaving, and he also looked at me with total shock. LOL loved seeing their faces.
Hugs!!!
Valerie said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
What a great picture of you knitting the elves together! Actually, I think you knit together all of us who get to take advantage of all you offer at the Loopy Ewe, not only the yarn etc. but the friendship and sense of community which we all get from your blog and emails.
As forRAK’s, on Saturday we had a snow storm and got about 7 inches of very heavy snow. When I went out in the morning to shovel, my neighbour to the south had already cleared off our sidewalk, so I shovelled my neighbour’s to the north. I like to think that this might start a chain reaction, with each person doing their neighbour’s walk all the way up the street. I don’t know if it went any farther than us, but I hope so!
Nancy said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
This week my husband and I both donated blood at the Red Cross. My extended family also cuts, splits and stacks a seasons fire wood for several older friends. As my husband says, warms many ways, once when you cut , again when you split and stack, again when it is burned and lastly, when it warms your heart knowing that you have helped another human being. As the children, as soon as they are old enough to be safe in the task, are always involved, it is also good to know that you are teaching the next generation that this is “just the way one does things”. I will not say that the young ones are always volunteers, as the draft is still active in our family. I will say that, once to the task that they always have fun. Last year we had one of our adopted wood orphans marvel that our grandchildren, whom he does not personally know, would do such a thing for him. Pay ahead. You never know when you yourself will kneed the favor.
It is really a pleasure to read all the imaginative ways everyone has found to pay ahead. Let’s keep up the good work.
Shari said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
Our grocery store is giving out $25 gift certificates when you spend over $200.00. As I was leaving the store I gave the certificate to a young mom as she was entering.
I love reading all the comments!
Kat said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
My RAK was to buy the cat food, water bowl and new litter box for an elderly lady who was in the process of adopting a cat at Petsmart. She said she had planned to get a kitten after her old female cat had passed away, but got an older cat (who had been abandoned by his former owner) instead (I have two older rescue cats of my own!). She was excited and a little daunted by all the store’s choices as she was collecting all the things he needed. I was buying supplies myself and handed her several of my coupons for $1 off litter. Then I offered to bring her items to the register as she had to also handle the cat carrier. When I got to the register I had the manager ring up her purchases with mine, added the container of litter too, and he then put it all in a cart and helped her out to her car. It felt more like an act of kindness for ME as it made me feel so happy to know the cat was getting a great start on his new life.
Stacy in NC said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
My not-so-random act of kindness for this week was bringing a meal to a family in need.
More random was letting a young man in front of me in line at Target; he had only a card to purchase and I had a cartful. He looked rather startled!
Joannah said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
I thought I was going to come up short on RAKs this week. I already posted about my main RAK (the one that really seems random) and here I find I have another! I teach an evening class, 7:30-10 on Mondays. Here in western Massachusetts, we’ve had off- and on-again snow all day. Nothing terrible, but the first real snowstorm of the season. I emailed my students not to come to class tonight. Who needs to drive in messy weather at 10 o’clock at night trying to get home? Even more to the point, who needs to risk an accident at this time of year and at that time of night?
Michelle said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
I was shopping this weekend for a new outfit to wear to a job interview (wish me luck!). I had a killer coupon for one store - $25 off a $50 purchase…but I didn’t see anything there that I could wear to the interview. So on my way out of the store, I gave the coupon to someone who was in line with several items. She got out of there a little cheaper, and I got a smile.
Oddly enough, when I did find my interview outfit at another store, the cashier told me that she was giving me a 25% percent “Friends and Family” discount…I don’t know if everyone got that or if she just did it to be nice to me…but it was a great discount!
This made me so happy that as I left, I went out of my way to tell the woman who had just come out of the dressing room that the green top she was trying on looked great on her (because it really did and she seemed uncertain about it).
Kindness begets kindness…such a simple thing, but something that can be so easy to forget…
Jennifer said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Wow the yarn is beautiful and the elves look like the wonderful people they are!
Recently my daughter and I were out for ice cream sitting in a booth at a shop. Well, a family of 5 came in and were trying to squeeze around a little circle table, so I suggested to my daughter that we move (being 6 she gets attached to certain seats) so that they could sit more comfortably. She was happy to, and we let them know that the booth was available. What bothered me a bit was how appreciative they were — while I like thank yous, it makes me feel that enough nice things aren’t done, so that when they are we are doubly appreciative. Does that make sense?
This is such a great idea to spur kindness!
thanks!
Barbara said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
As you know, I am not well and my friend Melinda makes my soup for me. Well
the last two weeks she hasn’t had a car so Norman who lives in this building has
been taking her to the store. Sometimes I give Melinda money (besides for the groceries) so this time
I gave her enough money to buy food (she loves to cook),to make Norman a
nice meal. When he takes her to the store I benefit from that also. The other day
she needed to go to the store and Norman couldn’t take her, so I baby sat a dog,
so the other lady could get her to the store. I was feeling really bad so it was
a real RAK for me. The dog was sick too, so we commiserated with each other.
Misery loves company. The new colors look very nice. I’m sure they won’t last
long. There have been several RAK for me this week. I needed them and they
were wonderful.
Dana said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
My RAK this week was to bake up a special dessert for my boyfriend’s mother, who just had major neck/back surgery and is pretty much going to be out of commission until after Christmas. She mentioned that she wanted something sweet, so I made her a dessert.
Elizabeth said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
I emailed my daughter’s kindergarten teacher and asked her to let me act as a book fairy to any child who was not able to order books from the scholastic book fair.
The children all get order forms to bring home…we live in a fairly well off area but there are still some children (about 7% of the school) who are eligible for free/reduced lunch. I do not want anyone to go home empty-handed on book distribution day. I asked my daughter’s teacher to talk to the other two teachers and figure out how many children come in with blank order sheets. I will subsidize a book for each of them. The teachers will have the names..I will not know the names nor will the children know that I am the book fairy.
Heddy said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
I love the new colours (and it is nice to see a festive picture of the Loopy Elves - very holiday modish!)
It doesn’t feel right telling the RAKs one does … but I do love a contest, so let’s think — today in the snowstorm (it was a mess here), I scraped the snow, slush and ice off off my 2 co-workers cars who parked on either side of me … one had no gloves, was in spiked shoes and wearing a mini skirt
chilly!.
Over the weekend, I let a lady go ahead of me at the grocery store (she had whacks of stuff and kids, I had 2 things, seeemed like thhe right thing to do. And I am knitting a couple of cute hats to give to the Salvation Army Giving tree for kids in need.
Also, I spent some time on the weekend piling our winter wood in the basement, something that is usually my husband’s chore, or we share, but he’s been so busy at work and dead tired when he gets home, I thought I’d do an armload or 2 … but it turned into nearly 2 hours (and a huge dent in the pile!) He was pretty pleased and very surprized when he got home.
Feels good to do nice things, but also makes you wonder why we don’t do more things like this naturally.
Kathi in Fenton said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
It’s hard to say this is a RAK because we have so much fun doing it. We adopt a family each year through my sisters’ church. We all get together one night & go to Target & shop for our adopted family. My sisters, our daughters, grandkids & my mom go shopping & we have a blast filling up the carts. People look at us like we’re nuts - there is nothing quiet about my family esp when you get 10 -12 of us shopping together for the same family! I wish I knew if anyone in our adopted family knits - it would be fun to throw in some knitting needles & a couple fun colors for them to knit!
Carol Lee said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
Sheri, I love RAKs,as does DH. One of my favorites is letting someone, espeically young men, go ahead of me in the grocery store line. The look on their faces is always priceless!! DH frequenly pays the toll for the car behind him. And while I can’t always afford to pay someones entire grocery bill, I definitely have provided the extra $$ they’ve needed so no items had to be removed from their shopping trip. One young man really wanted my name and address to he could return my money - I conviced him to pass on the gift to the next person in need :>.
Thanks for the thoughts - I’ve needed the uplifting power of the season this year!!
Trish said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
Yum….Dream in Color lace. I’m drooling on my poor keyboard.
For our RAK, hubby and I shoveled our neighbors driveway and sidewalk during the last snow fall we got. We figured we were already shoveling out ours so why not do our neighbors too.
She was so surprised to see her driveway clear. Come to find out she had just gotten over a horrible head cold so the last thing she was wanting to do was go out in the snow to shovel the driveway.
Meridith said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
looking forward to the new DIC!!!
our RAK this week was putting gas in my sister’s car. I used one day, and it was low, so rather than just putting $5 in it and calling it good, we put in $20. So, not anonymous, but she seemed to really appreciate it.
Lou said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
Here’s my RAK for thsi past week: I was X-mas shopping in Target on Saturday, and I had a coupon for $10 off a $100 (or more) purchase. When I realized I wouldn’t be buying enough to use it, I looked for a Mom pushing a cart full of stuff and gave it to her for her use. She was very appreciative.
Katrina said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
Wow! I can’t wait for the DIC Lace! My RAK for the week was to donate some diapers to a local charity.
Loribird said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
My RAK this week happened very randomly: I was in the post office, and the lady walking out as I walked in dropped a striped glove. I scooped it up, and turned around to hand it to her, saying, “Ma’am? Ma’am?” but she didn’t hear me. I ended up chasing her down in the parking lot to give it back (she looked at me like I was mildly insane, but said thanks.)
Perhaps she would have cared more if it had been handknit.
Kim said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
I had a good week for RAK.
I recently was given a new digital camera as a present for an occasion, so I offered up my older but still in excellant shape digital camera to someone in need on one of on-line groups I participate in. I got two responses that were especially deserving, picked one and sent the good news. While talking about the situation with one of my tenants, a camera shop, in a shopping center we manage, they matched my gift to the other deserving party. So now a stay-at-home-mom with a small business who dropped her camera will be able to keep her income stream without dipping into the kids present funds and a rescue group for French Bulldogs will be able to help some of their foster families document the dogs so they can find new homes.
Cathy said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
My not-so RAK is that yesterday I finally got to bring home a cat that I am fostering (with the intention of adopting when she fully recovers) for the SPCA. She has been through a rough time and still needs a lot of care, but I am happy to be able to give her a room to herself instead of a tiny cage. Hopefully when she gets the oppoutunity to meet my other cat they will get along!
Marsha in Colorado said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
Love seeing you and all the elves!!
My RAK was for a friend who wanted to knit caps for another friend who has cancer-my friend couldn’t find her knitting stuff, so I gave her 2 different skeins of yarn, and downloaded a free cap pattern, and loaned her some circs, so she could get started.
Sarah said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
At my studio tour this weekend I watched to see who really had to make hard decisions on what they could afford and gave random discounts. Never told anyone, they’ll never know unless they check the price tags as they take them off. It’s so much fun.
Wierdlings said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
For my RAK I paid for the person behind me in the KFC/Taco Bell/Pizza Hut line. Though I am determined to keep doing other things.
Also, though its not really random, two swaps happened at my favorite of all time MB. Unfortuantely, the same individual for both swaps flaked on her partners. Not only was that sad, but one of them was my swap I hosted.. and the second was the one ’she’ hosted herself. I was already, in the wings, making a kit for the person left out of my swap, cause I was just not going to let her partner get nothing… but then I thought.. hey, I have a little bit of money, so I made both kits for the other swap too. They were sent off last week and are even now arriving on their doorsteps. I hope I made them smile.
~W
liz said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
Can you count the one that I commented about last week on the day you announced the last winner? ;> I paid for the groceries of the guy in front of me.
Meg said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
The new colors are dreamy
My RAK was just a simple one - holding a heavy door for a woman who had her hands full and looked like she was going to drop/spill her Starbucks if someone did not give her a hand - can’t let that happen! Also, I’ve been seeing the Pay It Forward exchanges popping up on various blogs - so I joined up with that. I’m still hoping one more person will sign up and let me send them a handmade gift this year.
Marsha in Colorado said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
Just read RAK about donating knitting books to library. I’m headed to the Public Library now and am taking some of my knitting books!! Since I’m on the Board of Trustees for the Library, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that……
liz said,
December 3, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
I have one more:
I gave someone my umbrella. It wasn’t the nicest umbrella, but she had a baby with her and no umbrella (and probably no car) and my daughter and I each had umbrellas so… I gave her my umbrella.
Janice said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
Love the Loopy Group picture! Your RAK contest was the final push I needed to purchase a Kitchen Aid mixer for a friend who wants to start a catering business but just couldn’t afford one at this time. I left it for her anonymously with a note from ‘Santa’ saying the elves had gotten her gift done early this year. Not sure if she has figured out who left it, but that makes it so much fun! I just love trying to think of a little RAK to do each day. I do think I get more from it than the person I am doing it for!!!
Amanda said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
I found an abandoned library book on public transit last week. Instead of giving to the bus driver to put into the lost and found, I decided to bring it back to the library so that the person wouldn’t be charged any fines.
hopalong682003 said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
I love reading these! You guys are wonderful! I had some RAKs this week. I went to a very busy mall. It was raining and there were some parking spaces available; however, people had left carts in the middle so nobody could drive in. I walked through and gathered the carts so that spaces were available.
At the library, I noticed a bunch of books that were shelved wrong. I put them in their proper places.
Gina said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
This week’s RAK…This past Sunday afternoon I went to my FLYS to spend some time knitting some Christmas presents. Well, at the table were all these people having “issues” with their knitting projects. So I spent most of the afternoon helping them with their “oops”. Even though I didn’t get much knitting done, it was fun to help others with theirs.
Maria said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
I was sitting in church yesterday morning, wondering how to avoid buying stuff for our 5 kids who need nothing!!! I came up with a great idea. After church we got the kids together. I told them that i’d already purchased one really nice gift for them. I asked them how they would feel about providing Christmas for a family at our church. They’re having their 4th baby soon and are on food stamps. I told them we could buy an outfit for each member of the family, a toy for each child, some new baby things, and some groceries. I was so pleased when they all jumped on the idea. Usually one of the kids has to complain, but nobody did. They all agreed it would be a lot of fun. We usually do anonymous gifts, but we’re thinking about bringing everything to them in person. We’re thinking it may create a relationship with them. We want them to know that there are people that care!
Deb B (knitiot) said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
OOh I’ll take one of those and one of those and….
This week I helped a woman who was didn’t quite have enough cash on her to pay for everything she was buying. I’ve calculated wrong in the past and it always seems to happen when you have left your wallet at home or something like that and it was just a small amount that it was really no trouble.
I’ll never pay for someone’s coffee at Starbuck’s. They managed to put our local coffee roaster/house oof business for good this month. That hits home. It feels like another Walmart situation. So I will gladly do anything else for someone, but not that. Sasafrassafrika…..(cartoon swearing LOL)
Marianne Y said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
I love the new colors of Dream in Color! And, I love seeing the picture of you “knitting the Loopy Elves together!” Thank you to all of you at Loopy for all that you do for us! And thank you for putting the names with the pictures, so we can associate faces with names.
My RAK’s are rather limited because of a health problem. Last week, my husband and special needs son went out of town with me to a medical appointment. That appointment took forever, and they kept running me around the clinic, literally. I was totally exhausted and in real pain, and my special needs son had been really crabby for a good 4 hours. (I was there a good 6 hours, literally.) When I was standing with my walker, in line to check out, so I could leave, an elderly lady came up. She was beside herself because she had a long distance to drive home, and her elderly husband could not drive after dark. With a smile on my face, I let her cut in line ahead of me to check out, so she could a little head start, anyway.
Ellen said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
About a month ago, I was driving by a house near our neighborhood (but I didn’t know the people at this house) and saw a whole family of skunks going into their open garage! Yup, a mama and 5 babies and while I thought they looked quite beautiful from afar, I figured the people didn’t want to be sharing their home with the family so I quickly ran up to the door and told the nice little old lady and nice little old man and their nice little doggie about their “guests”!
Liz said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
Nothing spectacular for my RAK. I just noticed that the lady ahead of me in line was strugging with an over-stuffed bag to find her money, so I paid for her snack. She tried to give me the money, but I said no, just pass an act of kindness on to someone else. She thought it was a great idea!
Rae-Ann said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
After pondering a bit I realized I had a RAK that wasn’t something I thought was a RAK at the time I was doing it. We have a knit and chat at the LYS and the owner was quite sick the evening we had it. As she was closing out her drawer I put all of the goodies away that she always provides for us - coffee, tea, snacks, etc. and put the table away so she could get the heck out of dodge and go home and get some rest.
Pat said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
Lots of great RAK I work in a nursing home. Many of the family members chose to eat a meal with the loved one who lives there. It only costs 3.00 to have your meal with the nursing home residen\t. But it makes my heart warm when I have handed the tickets for free meals to the family and said no charge today. The kitchen is serving you a free meal. Two acts at the same time. The kitchen staff (sometimes sadly taken for granted) gets credited for a few free meals and secondly the familty gets a meal and warm thoughts about the home. They never know it is me. sometimes I just leave tickets in the room.
Lauren said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
After standing on the subway for a while on my way home from work the train pulled into a station and a seat became available right near to me. I sat down in it, but then three older ladies got on the train. I immediately hopped right back up for them. I always do this anyway, but a few moments after I did it this particular time two more younger passengers stood up to allow the remaining older women to sit down as well. Standing up myself didn’t feel like a random act of kindness as much as inspiring two other people to do the same did.
Deb B (knitiot) said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
I was just reading everyone’s RAKS (very inspiring) and wanted to mention that most areas have a freecylce group. You can visit freecycle.org and find a link to a group in your area.
We never throw anything out and I find that I actually give away stuff that i would have normally kept but have decided that someone else would appreciate it more than we do. My last couch has gone, TV’s have gone, Old craft supplies (sadly knitting patterns from just before I started to knit that came from my ex mother in law) but since they are in a presumably good home and made someone happy, it’s ok.
On the flip side, we got a beautiful set of hard wood french doors from a wealthy couple who didn’t need them anymore.
You should check it out!
Amy Scott said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
It’s not much, but I had a sick daughter, so I was a little limited on what I could do. My RAK was giving up the parking spots closest to the door for the cars behind me. That was a hard thing to do too considering how crowded everything is for Christmas. It was alright though, I got my exercise in!!
I love those Dream in Color colors and the group picture! It’s great to see all those smiling elves!!
Hope everyone has a great week! I have some books that might need a good home at the library too!
Melissa said,
December 3, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
My random act of kindness was for my mom. We put up the lights outside in 20* weather so she wouldn’t have to do it. Boy was she surprised and thankful.
I love the new dream in color shades! So beautiful! Cute pic btw!
Sharon said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
My RAK: My ex-husband is having a very difficult time financially, so I paid a small amount on a bill of his. Although… I may have reversed any good karma that I might have gotten from this when I told God He better give me extra points for this.
I was also asked by a co-worker if I would knit a pair of mittens in Ohio State Buckeye colors for his 3 yr old grand daughter. I told him I would, and, I already have yarn to do it.
Sharon said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
Oh yeah, He doesn’t know I paid on the bill.
Phoebe said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Love the new colors…and haven’t been to the drive-thru Starbucks in awhile but plan to soon so I can put your RAK into action.
Here’s my RAK. Instead of rushing around campus like I normally do, I have stopped to help a number of people over the last week get to wherever they need to go. Our hospital campus with all the construction is quite confusing. One day I helped a mom who was carrying a sleeping child get from the heart hospital to medical records the short way round. Then another day an older woman who just was released from the hospital (and was utterly confused) needed to get from the heart hospital to radiology clear on the other side of campus so I arranged for the golf cart to come get her and take her over. Then today a new mom with a 6-week old was loaded down with all of her paraphenalia and was having trouble getting to her doctor’s appointment so I helped carry items for her and get her to the doctor (she had just the carseat carrier to carry the baby and no stroller).
Also plan to adopt some of the other RAKs I have read here.
Barb said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
My RAK this week was to knit up a couple of pairs of Thrummed Mittens for troupsin Afghanistan (sp?) I can’t spell, but I can be nice to our freezing troups:-)
I also paid for the person behind me at Dunkin Donuts this morning on my way to work. It really does feel nice to do this kind of thing for people. Working in retail makes me forget this sometimes.
I am all done shopping and everything is going into the mail tomorrow morning for my family’s Chanukah gifts. It starts tomorrow night, but I figure I have eight days to get the gifts to people;-)
Two Silver Cats said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
I don’t have a true RANDOM act of kindness to share– well, sort of. It’s the reciprocity of it that makes it so beautiful. The first snows have come to Maine, and I haven’t had a chance to put on the snow tires yet… ugh… and a few days ago I was traveling along, and of course the road was slipperier than I thought it was going to be, and I fishtailed right instead of left and ended up with the nose of my car in one of those loose slate walls in someone’s front yard. The people who lived there rushed outside– an elderly couple– and asked me if I was okay (I was fine, just shaken up) and they welcomed me into their home and they were so very kind and they treated me like a long-lost granddaughter, which was so sweet. While the man called the tow truck his wife offered me chocolates– I was so grateful. These people were so nice even though I had demolished their wall! Anyway, the tow truck finally arrived and pulled my car out– no damage– and a few days later I came by their house again. Nobody was home, so I snuck onto their porch and left a thank-you card and a box of chocolates.
I’m thinking of keeping a stash of chocolates and thank-you cards in my car for future moments like this.
Kristi ~ Ohio said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
Hi Sheri, Thanks for including the picture of the Loopy Elves. It’s nice to put names and faces together. I too love the new DIC colors. My RAK this week - I went to my LYS on Saturday and at the entrance, the shopowner’s Dad was putting up Christmas lights. He was balancing a folding ladder on two different steps and then climbing up to put up the lights. I held the ladder for him while he finished putting up the lights. Kristi
Katy said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
Not sure if this counts, but, on Saturday I was a volunteer for holiday party for disabled kids. When I got a hug from one of the kids, it totally made my day!
I also stopped at a local bookstore and picked a child’s name and bought them a book that they wanted. I’ve always loved to read and love to pass that onto others, especially kids.
Love the new yarn colors! Very drool worthy!
Alexis said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
Those DIC colors are so spectacular!
Not particularly random, but I did go through my closet this weekend and bag up all the clothes I don’t wear anymore. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to drop them off at the Salvation Army this week. This post series is such a good idea…. I’m constantly brainstorming about other RAKs I can do in the coming weeks!
Sandy Ziegler said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
I loved the pictures of you Sheri and all your elves. Wish I could be there to laugh and have fun with all of you. My RAK this week was babsitting. My daughter and her best friend both teach elementary school. Her friend has four children ranging from ages 11 to 5 years of age. They wanted to go out to a nice dinner with just their husbands. Babysitting for my daughter does not pose a problem as I AM ALWYAS available. But, it’s another story for her girlfriend. It costs them an arm and a leg to hire someone for a few hours on a Saturday night. So, I offered to babysit all the kids for a few hours so they could unwind and enjoy a nice meal. I enjoyed having all the kids and hearing laugh and play.
Happy Knittin and Spinnin…
Sandy
Tracy said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Not sure that this is completely random, but our local food bank is in desperate need of toiletries. Since they were especially asking for toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant, I made a trip to a local store at lunch last Friday and picked up a set of 10 of each of the 3 (half guy DO, half for gals - do you know there aren’t really any generics for guys, but there are for gals? Weird).
Along these RAK/not-so-RAK lines, our local bookstore collects book for a needy local school (guaranteeing a book per child with additional books going to their school library). That will be my fun thing to do Friday night - I can get a Starbucks drink for myself and then I really enjoy browsing the kids’ books and picking some out (I’m a big reader myself - I *love* encouraging a love of books in children!).
meg said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Hi Sheri,
Well, our RAK is to be Secret Snow Shovelers for our elderly neighbors:) this is fun for our son to be a part of, at age 4, so he can learn to think of others! The funny thing is the neighbors that we secretly shovel snow for? Their son is now retired and he comes over to snow plow and he always takes care of our front walkway and sidewalk as we have the new baby and haven’t been out as much! He did this last year, before baby #2 and one time I managed to run out and give him a plate of warm-out-of the oven cookies.
What fun to read these posts!
Maria said,
December 3, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
My RAK was for my boyfriend. I left on Thursday for a 17 day trip to Australia! (I’m having a blast but still keeping up on my Loopy Ewe!) and before I left I left him lots and lots of post-its all over the house with different messages for when he got home. I also watched someone’s bags at the airport for them…and saved a snack box for the sleeping man beside me on the plane (it was a 14 hour flight and I figured he’d be hungry when he woke up and no more food was coming along!).
Betty H said,
December 3, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
I knit a pair of socks for every person in my diabetes education class using yarn I purchased from Loopy Ewe this year. It was a total of twelve people (men and women). During our three week session earlier in the year I jotted down everyone’s size when the educator was doing a foot check and we were all sharing our foot size as she wrote down comments about our feet in her log. We meet recently for a progress check and everyone had lost some weight. I thought that would be better than buying them a Starbucks with extra whipped cream. I did actually have a Tall Mocha Peppermint the other day and they are really good.
Beverly Shaw said,
December 3, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
i GOT MY Groupie package last week. Thank you, Sheri. I love the Urban Gypsy. I saw a homeless person asking for food on my way to work the other morning and gave her my can of soup. BTW the can was a pull tab.
Juliet said,
December 3, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
I can’t wait for the new DIC colors! I hope I can check your website in time to snatch some up before it’s sold out!
Anyway, RAK submission…
I am continuing to help out my co-worker who cannot drive. And I found a cute ornament for my mother…So I bought it and I am just going to give it to her, just because.
Liz said,
December 3, 2007 @ 9:15 pm
What a fun picture! I wish I could work there