December 10, 2007
Wee Stockings and RAK’s!
Aren’t these stockings adorable? Eva submitted them to our photo gallery (for the Q4 Challenge – and how are YOU doing on that?) and I asked permission to share this photo on my blog. You can get the pattern free from this site. (I love Julie’s website and am the proud owner of some of her wonderful knitted toys. If you have never heard of her, please do not ask to be put on her email list for updates in her shop, as that is just that many more people that I have to compete with when I want to get another one of her toys get on her email list so that you will know when she updates. Her toys are so fun and beautifully done. Each one is a treasure.)
I know I said this last week, too, but I have just so enjoyed reading about all of your RAKs. Truly, they are so inspiring. (If you missed them, you’ll find them in the comments here and here, although there have been others left in comments on other days of the week as well. We’ll continue having RAK Reporting Day every Monday in December.) Today is another RAK day, so leave your comments telling us the things that you have done in kindness to others since last Monday’s blog post. Before I post on Wednesday, I’ll draw another name for the winner of this week’s Loopy Loot gift package! (We have had patterns, books, and even skeins of Wollmeise from Claudia herself, donated to our RAK gift packages! Yay!) One thing that several people have commented on and I have often thought about, too – isn’t it a little sad that doing something kind for people is so surprising to so many? You show them a common (or uncommonly kind) courtesy, and they can’t believe it. Their response is, “Oh my goodness – why would you do that?” I guess that is just proof that there isn’t nearly enough of this RAK stuff going on around the world and we need to do more. It shouldn’t be so astonishing to people. So I’m glad we’re all working on it, and really glad to have all of these fun ideas every week.
Thanks for weighing in on Spring Fling sign-ups. What we have decided to do is open up signups next week (details in next Monday’s blog) but we won’t require your first payment until mid-January. That way, everyone is happy. 
College Guy is coming home this week for Christmas Break (yay!) and we’ll work on getting the information page done so that you can check out the details of The Fling. We’ll also keep signups open all week next week, so that you don’t have to stress about being first in line. (Or we’ll keep it open longer than that if it hasn’t all filled up. We really have no idea what to expect. If we get more than our limit, we’ll pull names and keep a back-up list in case anyone cancels at the last minute.)
Is anyone done with their holiday knitting? I’m woefully behind.
Sheri obviouslyneedingaFlingRetreatrightnowtogetthisknittingdone
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tracey in mi said,
December 10, 2007 @ 11:39 am
This week- I went through our bookcase- and culled a huge box of books of an encouraging type- and fun too- and we donated them to a local site- thats loads of encouragement gifted to who knows whom!
Will also be taking another box of books to give to a local shelter for battered women and children- put those kids books to use;) Along with the books- I’m taking some knitting supplies- therapeutic knitting- always good;)
Elise said,
December 10, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Sheri:
I have my holiday knitting done, but now am on deadline again trying to get some baby knitting done and out to the mother-to-be before Christmas. I look forward to the day I can selfishly knit for myself.
I was riding the bus back from DC on Sunday and thinking about RAKs and what I could do this week. We stopped at a rest area for about 10 minutes and when the driver was pulling out of the parking lot I noticed the girl sitting in front of me wasn’t on the bus. I started yelled that someone was missing, which got him to turn around and get out to find this girl who would have been left behind at a rest area on the freeway. He found her and we left about 2 minutes later. She thanked me, but in all honesty I would have felt horrible if I hadn’t said anything and can’t believe that I was the only one to speak up. Imagine being left behind at a freeway rest area, how would you get home? That is one of my worst nightmares.
Karen in Toledo said,
December 10, 2007 @ 11:47 am
It has been cold here, and driving out of the bookstore parking lot the other day, several people were waiting to cross the drive to get to their cars. It was unbelievabley windy, so I stopped and let them cross in front of me. They looked so happy to not have to stand in the wind and wait for a car to drive by! The car behind me honked impatiently so I waved cherrily with my mittened hand. The driver waved back, with one finger.
I decided to let a few more cold walkers pass by since the light to get out of the parking lot was red anyway. 
My next stop was to drop off a bag of toys that my kids cleared out of their toyboxes to Salvation Army.
Danielle from SW Missouri said,
December 10, 2007 @ 11:50 am
I’m behing on holiday knitting too! I dont know if this counts for a RAK or not but my Hubby loves baked items especially my bread and any sweets I decided last week to not only make him his favorite meal (Stroganoff) I also made him some Pecan Cinnamon Sticky Buns, we took these and the Stroganoff and shared it with his mom that evening.Hows this for an RAK, My 13 yr old son (he lives with his dad) when he is here ofton times will suprise us with breakfast (he cooks really good scrambled eggs) and coffee, and last weekend he downloaded a bunch of Star Trek Pics from the Internet for my Hubby so he could use em as a screen saver. I cant think of any other RAKs to report just now. Back to the holiday Knitting.
Angie said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
My RAK is actually an on-going RAK. The secretary down the hall comes in before the rest of us and always have the coffee done when I get to work. I keep a bag of Starbucks in my office and I will brew the two of us up a pot for the mid-afternoon pick-me-up. She is always so appreciative.
I had an RAK given to me. I had a run-in with a mailbox last week and my car is in the body shop. Our good friends offered the use of their daughter’s car so I could get around. I would feel so bad if anything bad happened while I was driving it. So, I told them that if I needed to borrow, it might be this weekend to do some Christmas shopping. They are such nice friends!
My Christmas knitting is going. However, I need to redo two hats. I had no idea that hats could be that complicated. One is woefully too large and one is too short. At least the short one can be fixed in a couple of hours. And finish the mate for a pair of hand-warmers and a moebius. Whew…I will be glad to get back to socks for me.
Anniebananie said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
I’m so behind on my holiday knitting – if I get my son’s mittens done at this point I will be happy.
My RAK is for my church. Every year my church has an Angel tree. This year we chose a little boy and a little girl, and got them everything on their lists. We wrapped the presents up and dropped them off at church yesterday morning. I took the kids with me to get the presents, and help them pick everything out – I think it’s important to teach them at a young age that when you can do for another person, you should. I think my 6 yo is starting to get it. My 3yo just like picking out barbie clothes!
MaryEllen said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
Sheri – your RAK suggestion has really inspired me to spread some cheer this holiday season. For this week:
- Ran into an older gentleman from my apt complex at the coffee shop, and paid for his order
– Gathered up the knitting magazines and yarn that I was planning to sell on ebay, and donated them to Project Linus instead
- Baked a batch of cookies to bring to the small local gas station, where they always pump your gas for you. In the age of credit and pay-at-the-pump, I bet no one ever tips the gas station attendants…
My husband thinks I’m a little crazy for that last one, but I guess I just enjoy the really “random” part of RAKs!
Kathryn Sigman said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Does it count if I am still knitting on Christmas Eve??
My RAK was to pick up two shivering students this morning on my way into school.
My youngest son and I made little care packages for the homeless. We do this every year. We fill a quart size baggy with toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, gum, and gift cards to McDonalds or snack bars.
My students at school are also doing an angel tree which is quite wonderful of them since many of them are so needy themselves!
Have a very Happy Holiday with your family.
tracey in mi said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
ps- the little stockings??? Totally going to be the giftcard holder- money holders for the few gifts of cash/cards I give:) thnx for posting the link
Kristin said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
I’m also woefully behind on the Christmas knitting…..sigh.
RAK – I cleaned the snow off of a co-worker’s car last week, as she was worried during our meeting time that she didn’t have a scraper. She went outside to find her car clean and ready to go at the end of the meeting.
I also paid our friend’s restaurant bill yesterday, and invited him to join our table (ok, not so random) when he was sitting by himself.
Totally love the RAK’s – the contest doesn’t even matter at all, because I’m having more fun for the sheer joy of giving or surprising someone. And in the end, I’m the one that’s truly blessed!
Karen said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
Holiday Knitting? Almost – 1 1/2 objects left to knit and less than a week to do so. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.
RAK: donated all winter coats to NY Cares coat drive for the homeless this morning
Is the spring fling here yet?
Anne said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
This week I did an RAK for the daughter of a colleague. She really can’t tolerate crowds, bright lights and loud music–but wanted to buy an item exclusive to Toys “R Us for her niece. So I went to Toys R Us, looked for the item, couldn’t find it, asked for help from the clerk on the floor who had never heard of the item, and finally went to the front desk to inquire. To cut a long story short, an hour and 20 minutes later I had the requested item in my hand! And the whole time I was thinking, “this isn’t even my errand, but I’ll get to tell the Loopies about it.”
Lexy said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
Oh I am definitely behind on Christmas knitting, however the reason is that I decided at the last minute to make a mitten/scarf/hat set for the little girl in the family that my office has “adopted” for Christmas. I wasn’t planning on it and so it has kind of cut in on my planned christmas knitting.
My RAKs… well I twice decided to pay for the people behind me in the drive-thru only to discover that there was not actaully anyone behind me, so that’s too bad. The grocery store was really crowded yesterday and I let a young woman with a couple of little ones in front of me in line, she had a full grocery cart like me, however unlike me she also had two children who obviously wanted to get out of there
Sarah said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
I helped a very nice, but agitated and embarassed, young man who had been sent to Target by his fiancee to get some, um, feminine items, for her. I bumped into him in that particular aisle and after watching him look totally clueless for a few minutes, asked him what it was she told him to get, plucked it off the shelf for him, and stuck it in his hands. He was most appreciative, and he got the heck out of that part of the store as fast as he possibly could. Poor guy!
Sara said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
I haven’t decided yet. Either I’m on track with my holiday knitting or have more to finish than is humanly possible. My opinion changes daily.
Last week I donated to every Salvation Army bell ringer I came across. The weather has been pretty nasty here so I’ve been making sure I let all the shoppers go in the parking lots. Whether they are going in or coming out. And I donated at my daughter’s school for their “fill the stockings” drive. Anyway, nothing major. Just trying to be more considerate.
Happy knitting
Suna said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Being down in the dumps ’cause I was laid off right at the holidays (random act of non-kindness from Corporate America), doing little things helps cheer me up.
So, I did two random acts of restroom kindness:
1. I flushed toilet that someone hadn’t bothered to do, so the next patron would have a more pleasant experience than I did.
2. I put new toilet paper in a stall that had none, from a stall with three rolls. I know someone appreciated THAT.
I also removed a coffee pot that had been left on a burner when it was almost empty, and saved the nearby cubicles from having to smell burned coffee.
I bypassed a convenient parking spot at the grocery store because I saw that the person behind me was elderly–I parked farther out because I can walk easily, and they may not have been able to.
Christina said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
I was at walmart, had just finished putting all the groceries in the back of the truck and was taking the cart to the cart thingy when I saw this little old lady standing looking across the parking lot looking a little lost. I asked her if she needed some help. She said no she had just realized that she went down the wrong aisle and that since there where big medians between the aisles she was going to have to push her cart all the way back to the front of the parking lot to get going down the right aisle where she parked. I offered to help her get her cart across the median so she wouldn’t have to walk all the way around. She was so happy and perked right up. We managed across the median with no problems and she was off down the right aisle in no time and it only cost me a couple of extra minutes to make her day a little easier. Too bad that a little further down the road when I was trying to get on the highway no one showed me any courtesy and I was literally ran off the road while trying to merge. Ah well, the holidays.
Loribird said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
I’m in Maine, and we had a bunch of snow last week (you may have heard?) My neighbors, a lovely couple in their 50’s, have two 2-wheel-drive vehicles. Our driveways share a road access, on a hill, and my husband and I did a neighborly amount of helping push/pull them up the driveway and once out of a ditch before the plows came around. That’s just common courtesy when you have 4-wheel drive, a winch, and two healthy young backs.
But Wednesday morning, when everything was back open, I noticed that one of their cars was stills snowed in. Since I know she goes to work after I come back from taking the kids to school, I shoveled her out. She was thrilled, of course. Good deed done, and I can skip my class at the gym!
Loretta said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Well I was the recipient of a very nice rak from someone in August. The rak helped me make my daughter very happy and picked up our spirits that month and in Sept. I could never say thank you enough. The people that rak’ed me may not think it was much but it really was to us!
Well we had a bit better finances in November so I purchased extra yarn and made pretty socks for 2 of my daughters friends who are always admiring her knitted items. Both girls live with their single moms and don’t get a lot of extra’s. My daughter was in on the rak and decided which pair would go to which girl and then just put them on their desks at school with a note to let each girl know they were for her. My Daughter and I had fun writing the little cryptic notes and she had a lot of fun sneaking them onto the girls desks at school without them seeing her.
Lisa said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
I have 1 whole sock and 3 partials to knit yet for Christmas. I should also finish a prayer shawl. Not sure I will make it though.
Last night I cleaned out a bunch of my kids clothing. I set aside 4 bags for the local Goodwill and I brought 4 big bags to the little girls across the street. Their mom is trying to make it on her own, and rarely has extra money for nice clothes. I hope they found a few things to love in those bags. (I will admit to at least a partial ulterior motive, I REALLY wanted that stuff out of my house!)
Anniebananie said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
I forgot to add one more RAK – last week my sister was feeling sad- she had to have her beloved doggies “put down”. So I sent her a GC from TLE. I told her that yarn always makes people feel better when they are sad.
wednesday said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
It hadn’t occurred to me that this was out of the ordinary until now, but I left a few bags of loose green tea on my co-worker’s desk the other day. (Her job is hectic, and I keep a running supply of the stuff, so I figured she needed it.)
Mind, apparently she didn’t look too close at first and thought it might have been something… stronger. *eep*
Tanya said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
Done with the holiday knitting? Bwahahahahaha!
(That’d be a [i]no[/i]…)
I love reading all the RAKs from folks!
Lori said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
I attended three kids birthday parties this weekend–and at the last, had several RAK opportunities.
I located napkins for and cleaned up a babyfood spill in the general area for the games.
I held the door for the worker at the sports area so she could wheel another party’s pizza and drinks in.
And finally, I had the opportunity to comfort the birthday girl after a tumble, give her some one-on-one attention, and send her happily off to play once again, all without adding stress to her parents (who were running two kids parties at once).
Julia said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
*g* It’s Books for Soldiers time again. And, like the person above me, I culled the bookshelf for the books I’m not reading and sent them off to my Dad. Dad scours the wish lists of soldiers over seas and pulls books off the massive donation shelf and matches them up. He then sends the books, along with a care package of goodies, to the soldiers in question.
I haven’t been buying as many books this year, so I only culled a hundred or so to send.
Lori said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
My brother-in-law was recently separated and has moved into his first bachelor’s place ever. I found out that he was without groceries and worried about paying rent, so he was eating over at his ex’s. I bought him a boxful of groceries. He was completely blown away!
KT said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
RAK of the week was signing up for Socks for Soldiers and preparing to embark on knitting a pair of enormous black socks.
As far as Christmas knitting goes…after two hand-knit scarves went almost entirely unappreciated by friends, I try not to knit for the non-knitter or non-family. I did knit a Ravenclaw scarf for my friend two Christmases ago that she still talks about, so that was a good call. I’m knitting a Dark Mark illusion scarf for my brother and am finally finishing the first pattern. I’m pretty bad about knitting for deadlines but for some reason I always feel the need to knit things for him. Probably because I can knit all the cool stuff like the Arrrgyles and he appreciates it more than anyone else in the world.
Sandy H. said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
When I took my grandson to nursery school this morning I noticed that the sign-up sheet for the holiday party was ready. Knowing that time is short for working Moms and remembering how stressed I was when I worked and my daughter was little I decided to sign up and do all of the baking for the party. It will be a pleasure to break out all of those yummy cookie and treat recipes! Also told the teacher I would dress up as Mrs. Santa for the party.
TMTTYRR said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Well, my RAK this week is really woefully sad. I let several people turn in and out of parking lots, creating blocks on traffic-choked streets to allow them to do so. Otherwise, they’d be there until NEXT Christmas, don’t you know? Not like I’m really going to get through that red light any faster if I’m two car lengths farther up, though, so I’m not sure how kind that was.
I did take my mom Christmas shopping, and pulled all the stuff up from the basement for her, then took down what she was done with to minimize the clutter.
And I offered to make some kid-sized wool socks for a friend whose son has a brain tumor and needs them to keep his feet warm. I need his foot measurement, otherwise I would have just done it.
Otherwise, I will admit that I didn’t work too hard at it this week. I am a horrible person.
And done with holiday knitting???
Yea, right. Though there does still appear to be a reasonable amount left, so I might just be able to pull it off this year. 
I take time out to happy dance every time I finish something, which perhaps slows me down, but hey, gotta find that extra joy somewhere, for the hard times, you know? 
Pamela B said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Whew! I wove in the ends and washed my last pair of Christmas gift socks this very morning. They are for my DD when she comes home. I had mailed a package to her and her boyfriend in CA last week, since her boyfriend will be out of the country at Christmas. They allowed themselves to open the package and called me, both wearing the socks I made – happy & comfy footsies.
RAKs: I let people with fewer items ahead of me in line on a regular basis so I don’t count that. I give to Salvation Army Santa bellringers every Christmas too, and I did that last week. But one thing I do each year is fun & special for me. There is a TJ Maxx in the same strip mall as a drop-off box for Toys for Tots. I go to the TJ’s and buy a bunch of toys, walk down and plunk them directly in that box. There were some great toys this year…dump trucks with Legos, books, dolls with clothes, Play-Doh. I try to get a toy for each gender and age range. I
Chan said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
RAK report. I love shocking other shoppers by letting them “cut” in front of me, especially when it is a mom with a toddler or two. However, I’d really like to that the two men, unknown to me, who stopped and helped me when I had a bad black ice experience on Friday. I didn’t even have to dig in my purse for my cell phone; they offered theirs, and one held my dog while I call my husband.
I don’t even want to talk about holiday knitting… I’m woefully behind.
Jocelyn said,
December 10, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
Holiday knitting? Alas, no. One of my RAKs this week (although the recipient doesn’t know it yet) was to make the pair of socks I’m test knitting of a size to give to a friend, instead of keeping them for myself (which meant making them three sizes bigger, too!). I think she’ll love them. Reading everyone else’s ideas over the past two weeks also reminded me to let people come in front of me in line as we were leaving a crowded parking lot after a concert yesterday. And I spent all day Saturday flying up to the northern part of the state to document the stories of some people up there who are going through some horrible things, so that they could use the documentation to argue their case to make it better (can’t be too specific here). I also let a fourth person into my Pay It Forward circle (have you seen that one going around — I am loving all the kindness-inspired things out there right now; maybe I should do another round in July…). Thanks for inspiring all of us!
Jessi said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
I had a RAK turned around on me. I was shopping at a store that doesn’t have cart corrals, and I always try to return the cart to the store, as it is a pet peeve of mine when people leave their carts in the middle of the parking lot (even more so when there *is* a cart corral) but I digress…Anyway, there was a woman with a child and another woman who had left before me, walking her cart back as well and I offered to take hers as I took mine. Well, she graciously turned me down as her ride was meeting her at the front, and then offered to take *mine*. Well, shoot. Okay.
I did however get to hold a semi-heavy door open for a nice older lady with a cane – I was walking into the rest room and she was making her way out. As it was kind of heavy and sticky with the humidity of our recent snow, I held it open for her so she could concentrate on navigating the tile floor with her cane. She was very appreciative and wished me a merry Christmas.
I also chased after a lady who left here medical card on the counter at the doctor’s office ’cause I know what it is like to lose one of those
I have to say, I like this RAK thing – I try and do it year-round, but the day to day bustle of life sometimes bogs me down and this reminder has definitely renewed my wellspring, if you will.
Janice said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
I finished my Fetching mitts for my niece and just have a felted bag left to finish and my Christmas knitting will be done! (And then back to my socks!) For my RAK this past week I made a large batch of frosted sugar cookies and Calico bean dip and brought some over to my next door neighbors house with a bag of chips and to our Youth Pastor’s house (who has 4 little ones and his wife has very little time to bake these day!) And I knew the bean dip was a favorite of both households! It was fun to see their surprise when I showed up with the goodies! Trying to decide what fun things to do this week…..
I’m ready to start the count down to Sping Fling…….
Robin said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
RAk, this last weekend we got dumped on with snow, about a foot and half of hearvy wet snow!!! I decided since I had the snow blower our I would clear the side walks of my neighbors on either side of me. It was a great day. Christmas knitting? I skipped that this year and went right to birthday knitting. My daughter in-law has a birthday the 27th of December, so I’m working on a shrug for her. I love knitting and spinning when it’s snowing outside.
Thanks for the incouragment and getting me to think out side my own family
Melissa Featherly said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
My RAK for the week was having a small birthday party for a women from my church who never really had one growing up. My kids (6 and 3) and I baked and decorated a cake and I knit her some socks. She seemed very toched and shocked that we would have thought to do that for her. She has become a very dear friend since I moved down south. It was nice to do something speical for her.
Christmas knitting is slightly behind but I will be busting my butt to get things done in time.
Bobbi said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Last week was very cold in our area. While shopping Friday evening, I delivered hot cocoa to the SA bellringers. They were thrilled and so surprised!
Liz said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
As a family, we bought a gift for a 13-year-old girl, with the same name as my eldest child, living at a family homeless shelter.
We also provided new facecloths and kids’ games for another family homeless shelter.
I sent an email to the music director at our church, telling her how much I appreciate all her efforts and what a great program she is running.
I am continuing to make a concerted effort to allow other drivers to pull in front of me.
Jan said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
Most of the things I see here just seem to be normal things that normal, courteous, kind people would do anyway. I guess there aren’t as many of us nowadays. I do have plans to make cookies for the guards here at my building — like the gas station attendants, I don’t think many people give them appreciation.
My RAK wasn’t so very Random, but last week, a lady fell down when the train stopped with a jerk. It was inside the train, down a short flight of steps. Plenty of people were around to help her up, so I got the conductor down there, then stayed to make sure she could make it down the outside steps to her car. Not such a big deal.
Today my husband is taking an old artificial tree, a tree stand, and a tree skirt to our local charity. I hope someone can use them!
Holiday crafting – not doing so well. We’ll see!
Brenna said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
I donated two handmade items (baby blanket and potholder set) to my childrens’ school for their winter raffle. I figured someone would win them that may not have had the money otherwise. Sadly my daughter won back the baby blanket after trying to win a barbie and putting it in the wrong drawing box.
I am also cleaning out kids clothes this week for the donation box they have at the school for the needy.
Christmas knitting, it makes me want to hide. I just can’t finish everything I wanted to and I’m going through a period where everything I start is just not right. Oh well, back to the needles.
Beth said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
I did a RAK this week that I don’t recommend to others. I’m sure it was foolish but I felt compelled nonetheless.
While driving home from the grocery store on Friday, I saw a well known local couple walking home in the bitter cold with their groceries. Sadly, the couple is well known because of their drug problems. I pulled over and drove them home. They were SO very thankful.
I promised my neighbor (the Chief of Police) that I will not do this again as he reprimanded me terribly. Still, I must admit, it felt good to be able to help them.
Monica said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Christmas knitting is no where near done. I don’t understand how this sneaks up on me every year!
RAK: knitting hats for the Giving Tree at my daughter’s school. They didn’t have the giving tree last year and I missed this. They give the items to the kids who are in need in the school first and then to the community. My daughter says it always makes her smile to see someone wearing a hat I made.
Rachel said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Yeah, a quick 4 day retreat is just what we all need!
Castiron said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
Though I didn’t think of it that way at the time, my RAK was to help a little boy who was trying to fill his cup with ice and having trouble getting the ice machine to work — he wasn’t quite tall enough to get the right leverage.
I’m very tickled because I found the perfect present for my nephew — an alphabet book done with hockey terms.
My Christmas knitting is way behind, but my family knows not to necessarily expect Christmas knitting in time for Christmas. (Besides, between the twelve days of Christmas and counting Eastern Orthodox Christmas as part of Christmastide, that gives me until about January 18….)
Teresa Mc said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
I have one RAK, done unto me, that I’d like to mention. I pulled up in front of the grocery store to drop off my mom and elderly aunt , nice and close to the door. I always get out and help them get out of the car. Most of the time people give us dirty looks and impatient attitude at having to wait, but instead, this time the Salvation Army bell ringer came over to open the door. He chatted happily with them and greeted me with a terrific smile. Golly, he really MADE my day. Getting old is so inconvenient! ( sarcasm alertt**) People need to look and see how they could make life easier for an older person.
Now, getting off my soapbox, I also did a small RAK. On my way to teach a knitting class, running late, I saw a car a couple of blocks from my house parked with its lights on. I pulled over and went to the door to tell them. The response from the young man was “Oh, S***”!! I think what he meant to say was “Gee, thanks!” Anyway ,he went out to shut them off and waved at me as I pulled away!!
Doris said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
My late father-in-law’s best friend, Tom, is a dear man of 80 years. My husband and I try to get him out to luch at least every other month. We try more often, but sometimes the schedules just don’t mesh. Last week we saw him and my husband asked about his Christmas plans. He said he wasn’t sure, as he had no money to buy his three daughters anything for Christmas. He had a VA pension that had inadvertently been paying him too much, so they have cut him off rather than asking him to pay any back. He voluntarily turned in his car to the bank, as he could no longer make the payments and got a very old used car so that he’d have something to drive. His statement about broke my heart, so this weekend I made three watches (when not knitting, I can often be found making beaded jewelry) that I will quietly give him tomorrow at lunch, so that he will have gifts for his three daughters. He has no idea that I have done this, and he can’t tell me not to, as the watches are already finished and in little silk bags ready to be gifted.
Bonnie said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
I live in an urban area with a significant homeless presence. I try to make it an ongoing RAK to look people in the eye and smile at them even if I don’t give them money when they ask for it. A couple of weeks ago someone asked for money and I smiled at him and said, “no, I’m sorry, not today”. There was a startled pause and he said, “thank you for acknowledging me”, and I thought how awful it must be to spend days being invisible.
graygirl said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
I love the RAK on-going theme….I was buying a chai tea at the local coffee shop on Saturday when the woman behind me, who was having trouble getting her dog to behave, asked how much hot chocolate was. It was $2.25. “Oh well”, she said, and ordered a coffee because she didn’t have 25 cents. I turned to her and said, “hot chocolate sounds better than coffee, here’s 25 cents to get what you want. ” She just couldn’t believe I did that! She went on to tell me how coffee upsets her stomach when she is out walking her dog but it was so cold out that she needed something to warm her up. It’s so true that the littlest thing, like a quarter, gives back so much gratitude. I too am amazed at the astonished resonses to RAK’s. I was even telling a friend about your blog, and RAK’s and my experience with the 25 cents; we had a long conversation about how this should be an everyday thing all year ’round. I offered to give him a ride home so he wouldn’t have to walk in the cold and he was, again, astonished!!!!! He couldn’t believe I drove him home, right to his front door! But what I really like the most about doing RAK’s is that it has taken me out of my self and make me more aware of those around me. Thank you!
Lee Cockrum said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
These two things occured on Saturday and Sunday. The first on was while shopping at a bead craft store, a small local place. I filled my little basket with various items, which hubby kindly paid for. I was pleasantly surprised by the final cost, and even said “wow, that is less than I thought.” When we got in the car, I was looking through things, and realized that the low cost was NOT due to sale items, but rather that she forgot to put a $50 purchase on the ticket! We called immediately and had her rectify the situation via credit card. She was very thankful.
The next was at a bar where my husband was trying his first open mike/jam session playing blue grass music on his guitar. (He had lots of fun!) He paid the check for us, and then mentioned the low cost when we were getting in the truck. When he told me the amount, I said that we needed to go back, as they obviously added wrong! So back in we went to add to give them some more cash. The waitress was so surprised that we would come back. We go there several times a month, and they have good prices, we have no need to cheat to save a bit of money!
Laurie said,
December 10, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
Last week I had the opportunity to help several people locate their doctor’s offices while I was out delivering my work. Whenever I see someone looking puzzled when trying to find their doctor’s name on the board by the elevator, I always offer to assist, and when I when punching elevator buttons and someone isn’t sure where to go, I can usually point them in the right direction. I have also made it a point to let others out of the parking lot ahead of me when I can and have made it a goal to drop a little change in ever SA pot I pass this holiday season and thank those bell ringers! I think it is a very noble act to stand out in the heat or cold (depending on where you live) for hours at a time ringing that bell!
Antoinette said,
December 10, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
My RAK happened this morning. A co-worker of mine always keeps a candy dish in her office choc full of goodles. Today we went to lunch together, and then stopped by the store her to fill up the dish…I told her I would pay for it this time! I think I’m the only one who has brought in candy for the dish! The best part is we all get to enjoy it!!
Marsha in Colorado said,
December 10, 2007 @ 2:05 pm
RAK was shoveling out driveway from 24″ of snow so WH wouldn’t have to do it! Also completed baby cap and booties for folks I don’t know, but WH does.
Love the little socks!!!
JoAnn-WI said,
December 10, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
I picked up my mother-in-law, who doesn’t drive, so she could attend our son’s church Christmas program and then had her over of a warm bowl of chili before taking her back to her apartment last night.
I do have my Holiday knitting done!! As a filler now, I started Loopy’s Red Sock Kit that came with one of my Loopy orders. I just have to decrease for the toe and then it’s getting hung on my Christmas tree. What a fun little project, Thanks for sending it!
I love the little sock website and I’ll be sure to print off the pattern to make more for the tree, or little gifts – for next year…..
Valerie said,
December 10, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
I know what you mean about the rarity of RAK’s; this always makes me quite self-conscious about the more interesting and generous ideas I have. On Friday I had a container of home baked cookies left over from a class party and wanted to hand them out to strangers but of course everyone was too leery of someone handing out food to eat them. I gave them to a girl in my class to take home for her and her husbnad. Usually I just end up doing the more ordinary things, like giving up my seat for elderly people or children in the subway or bus. Let’s see, this week we helped push out several cars that got stuck in the snow at the Christmas tree farm, when the rest of the people were just walking away. What else…I don’t know if kindness to (dead) animals counts, but there was a poor dead (very large) rat in the driveway of a house up the street and the owners of the house just left it there for days. This morning it had been run over, so I finally removed it so that at least it could rest in peace.
I still have a pair of socks and two sweaters to finish before Christmas so I’d better get back to work! By the way, I’ve been doing lots of darning this week with my new darning egg and it’s beautiful; it makes darning almost enjoyable. Thanks, Sheri, for making those available.
Laura said,
December 10, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
True confessions: this RAK isn’t random, because it’s been planned for awhile, but it touched me so much I have to submit it. My pastor is dying of cancer…and the end is very near. I’d been knitting a prayer shawl for her, and decided that I wanted the entire congregation to be able to pray for her over the fringe they could attach to it. It meant so much to me to be able to help so many folks “do something” with their grief when they cannot see her right now (she’s had to restrict visitation). I got to give the shawl to her this morning, and even though it is so hard for me, it is such a blessing to see how much these prayers, cares, and love mean to her.
sara l said,
December 10, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Let’s see.. i was super nice to all of the salespeople & fellow shoppers ( and it was a crazy bump-into-me with a carriage kinda day )while christmas shopping all day on sunday, but i had two little RAK’s that came up while shopping – gave a busy salesclerk my only pen because he couldn’t find his and had a line a mile long of customers. Then when making a quick dash to the grocery store, there was a young boy ( 9ish) with one item and a handful of cash. He didn’t have enough to cover so i gave the cashier the change he was missing once he left.
gotta go – lot’s of wrapping and knitting and knitting and wrapping to do.
Katrina said,
December 10, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
I’m actually on track for my Christmas knitting this year, first time ever! My RAK this week was calling my MIL to tell her that my daughter and I are going to spend a couple of days visiting her this Christmas. This is a kindness because my husband won’t be with us, and we don’t get along, at all! But her mom will be there, and she is a real sweetie!
Heather said,
December 10, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
My RAK:
School was two hours late. I went in to find that school had then been canceled. Three of the five teachers were sick with the flu. So, I stayed and called parents to let them know and to make sure that everything was running smoothly.
Linda said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
A couple of examples, but I’ll only take credit for one.
After my 2-year-old’s Christmas concert at our onsite daycare here at work, we headed out to the parking lot. Our truck was covered in snow, so I pulled out my ice scraper and a little one for my son. I was working on the truck when I noticed he wasn’t right beside me. After the momentary panic, I found him dusting off the wheels of the minivan parked next to us. It happened to belong to a good friend of mine, and when I asked him what he was doing, he replied that he was “scraping Erin’s van so she don’t have to.” So, I helped him finish the job. My friend mentioned the next day that it was so nice to come out to the parking lot to find her van already cleaned off after a big snowfall and a long day at work.
The second happened at Wal-Mart. All the cashier lines were full, and after waiting over 20 minutes it was my turn. As I started unloading my very full cart, I noticed the woman behind me had three things in her arms. I told her to go ahead, and she was stunned. She almost didn’t take me up on the offer, but I assured her it was fine.
Thanks for promoting this, I’m enjoying reading the stories and creating some of my own.
CLS said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
I put my neighbors Christmas lights up, and removed a nest of mice from her house. Does that count for two RAK’s?
liz said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
My bag of rice burst open on the checkout stand at the grocery, so I asked the checkout clerk for some paper towels and cleaned it up. She told me not to worry about it, but I insisted and at least got it cleaned up enough so no one would slip on all that rice. (Neither one of us could figure out how the bag of rice split open in the middle when I put it on the conveyor – I guess that was the random part ;>)
liz said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
The SuperTarget where I shop has a Starbucks in it. The security guy is always outside in the parking lot zipping around on a Segway (which is pretty hysterical). He always makes sure I get to my car safely and we chat frequently. We had a big cold snap yesterday and it’s now in the 30s. I don’t know what he likes to drink and I imagine the store has rules about what he can do on duty – not to mention the navigation issues of a Segway and coffee. So, I bought him a 5 dollar Starbucks gift card and told him his next break was on me. He was tickled pink that I thought of him on such a cold day.
Melissa said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
What wonderful acts! I love reading all about them. We’ve done a few the past couple of days…
While out to dinner the other night we noticed donation envelopes on the table. We placed a donation into the envelope and gave it to our server as instructed. She seemed shocked – apparently no one else has donated yet this year, let alone a group of youngins’ (we’re in our 20’s).
While at work yesterday it got a bit slow in the afternoon due to impending snow. A young girl and her mom came into the store. The young girl just had hip surgery due to falling and breaking her hip (OUCH!!!) and was using her walker. She wanted to come into the shop to get yarn for a holiday hat for her American Girl doll. I wrote her a pattern, helped her pick out yarn and then taught her to use DPNs. She was a natural.
I knit a shawl for hubby’s granny for Christmas. She doesn’t have a scarf and looked cold the other night after we made them dinner, so I gave it to her early.
Joannah said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
I am really apreciating reading all the RAKs and looking for opportunities during the week to be kind just because you can. This weekend I had several errands that took me to stores with the holiday bell-ringing/kettles. I had a bunch of change and made a point to put something in every kettle I came to, and to say something nice/encouraging/appreciative to the folks ringing those bells.
Linda said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
Karma or RAK?..a little of both. My husband takes our dog swimming at a lake very early every Sat. morning – while he was driving out of town, he noticed a wallet right in the middle of the road. He stopped and picked it up and continued on his way. He was going to call the person that lost it when he got home. This big, fat stuffed wallet had this young man’s whole life in it…SocSec card, credit cards, library, business, phone, passwords, etc, …AND $500.00!!…We looked up the name in the phone book..no luck..finally found his volunteer fireman card and called the station, left a message…he later called back and arranged to meet at the fire station where he was working that day. My husband handed him the wallet (not expecting anything)…he took it, said, “thanks”…turned and walked away. No show of appreciation whatsoever. If we were dishonest people, his whole life was in that wallet – he would have lost alot!…Anyway, that next week at work (Mon or Tues) a fellow worker handed my husband $500.00 for helping him with a huge project while he was gone. I thought my husband was joking around when he told me, coz this never happens – I’m glad it did – he helps alot of people and doesn’t expect anything back. It was just kind of a “goose bump” moment. A good lesson in doing the right thing.
Linda said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Well, all my friends know that if they receive their Christmas kniiting by Christmas, that they are just lucky. I should be done by the end of January. But I figure that this way it just spreads the joy out a little longer.
Last weeks RAK, I went to the Rehab facility that my Mother used to be in and brought care packages for her two former roommates. Then on Saturday I went really early to the mall, and followed into the store a young mother and her two little boys, one of whom was in a stroller. All the way in, one or the other boy would drop something and the mom kept stopping and picking up. However, once in the store she could not hear things fall on the carpet and I would pick up the item and give it to her. Well she went one way and I went the other and while I was heading back out, I spotted on the floor the stuffed bear that her oldest had and picked it up. I was able to find her still in the store, her son was just beside himself as his bear was gone and she was also very upset. Turns out, she had put $200 into the bear for safekeeping! Needless to say, they both were very happy to see me. Her little boy said he wanted to have the bear for his Santa picture and would ask Santa to make sure I got what I wanted for Christmas.
Maja said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
Hi Sheri,
We had our first snowstorm of the season this weekend here in Reno. After I finished shoveling my front walk I went ahead and shoveled my neighbor’s walkway too. She’s an elderly woman and I’m sure she was pleasantly surprised to discover that she didn’t have to go out in the cold and snow. It felt so great to do something nice for someone else.
jessica said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
What cute mini stockings – And I will so have to go to the spring fling! Its on my calendar already!
For my RAK – I do alot of frequent flying – and have so many upgrades I cannot use them all – so when I’m at the counter – either airport check in or gate – I ask if there are open seats in first or business and up grade a military person – Some have been heading home from their tour, or holiday, and some are just heading out to begin their tours. They are always grateful and have such moving stories. I support the troups, even if I do not agree with the conflicts.
Hope to catch the sneak!
Amanda said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
A co-worker was way way overtired and over stressed. She had piles and piles of work on her desk so one night when I was working late, I decided to pick up a few files and do the bit of work that had to be done on them so she’d have less to do the next day. Not sure if she noticed but it made me feel good to take a little off of her plate.
Crystal said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
Over the weekend we went out and finished up most of our Christmas Shopping (at least until the new releases come out). While waiting to checkout a woman with only 1 item got into line behind us. I was going to let her go ahead of us until we found her a line with no waiting.
With Christmas baking and such going on, I got almost no knitting done. Thankfully My Christmas knitting is done.
Kelley said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
RAKs
As per my new habit – I paid for a few folks in line behind me at Starbucks this week. To make it a bit more special, I added a Starbucks ornament to their order and had the Barista give it to them with their coffee.
And why stop at Starbucks? I paid for the person behind me at McDonald’s too, who had a small child with her. If she’s anything like me, I end up leaving my purse in the backseat beside the carseat all the time. oops!
My mom has been complaining that she never gets any help from my dad or sister (who lives at home) in getting any house chores done. So my husband and I went over this weekend and decorated her house for the holidays.
I found a cell phone on the ground in front of the house across the street and rang the bell to give it back (I’m assuming it was their phone) but nobody was home so I placed it in their mailbox.
tabitha said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
I found a fun way to do a mostly random act of kindness. There is a challenge going on in the blogosphere now called Pay It Forward. The idea is put a post on your blog to promising to send something handmade to the first three people who leave a comment on your blog asking for it. The only catch it that the recipients then have to offer to do the same for three others. You can make any item that you choose and you have 365 days to do it. How’s that for a way to beat the winter blues?! If you are interested in participating there are slots available on my knitting blog.
Deniasha said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
This week’s RAK:
1. Made brownies for the garbage men since they’ve worked really hard the last few weeks as I’ve cleaned out my house.
2. In the process of cleaning out the house, donated about 50 books to the high school.
3. On a dare to each other, my sister and I spent 2 hours at the local grocery store putting away grocery carts. You should have seen the look on the cart boys face when every single cart was in the corrals!
Kim said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
My RAK will be on-going. I joined Macuwitasni, which is a Yahoo!group. Members are knitting sweaters, hats, mittens, etc. in the warmest possible wool or wool blend for Cheyenne River Sioux folks. I cast on a size 4 sweater for a little person. I am using up odds and ends of wool…kids like color and it will keep a child warm. I am going to knit something each month for this project. Hope others join too.
Amy Scott said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
There’s a lady at work that is moving, and I noticed that she was snagging boxes randomly throughout the office. I just recently moved and had a bunch of empty boxes, so I put them in her cube so she would find them. It wasn’t necessarily an annonimous RAK because of some of the markings on the box, but it did make her day, and I was happy I was able to help her out.
Tracy said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
I really look forward to your blog this month – definitely keeps me in the right spirit of the season.
On knitting – just as I was feeling I had entered the black hole with this final knitted project (socks for my mom) I suddenly realized last night that I was done with the foot – I have only the toe. The other sock is a bit more than half done – ready to turn the heel. I’m beginning to think there might be light at the end of the tunnel.
RAK – at work we sign up every December *if we want* to donate to one of several selected charities. I dug a bit deeper this year for my twice monthly contribution and have gone with the Humane Society for 2008 – I really do have a soft spot for all those cats and dogs in need of homes (I’m seriously resisting the urge to adopt another cat right now but I already have 3 so…..). Also, my property manager last week was instrumental in wheedling the roofer into doing the permanent fix for my condo last week instead of waiting until after the New Year (as he told me) so I’m picking up twin gift cards for her (book store & Starbucks). I guess that’s a RAK in progress
I almost got in a (play) fight this morning with one of the guys from work as we each tried to buy the other’s coffee 
The girl behind the counter was amused and perhaps worried that we were going to arm wrestle for the privilege.
Heather said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
I hate to say it, but I’m right on task with my Christmas knitting. Even the knee socks from you-know-where are coming along. I figure I have another 12hrs or so of knitting them & they will be done.
RAOKs:
- while at the commissary there was a young mother with three small children trying to wrangle them (wrangle wrangle wrangle) into a cart. One small boy was crying inconsolably because there were no more “little” carts (the mini kid-sized carts). He was so sad, obeying his mom but obviously very disappointed that he couldn’t have his own cart. I had just seen one abandoned at the other end of the commissary so I walked across the store & fetched the little cart & caught up to the mom & her family as they were entering the first aisle of the store. On our way out a little later we saw her loading her children & groceries into her van…parked in a “spouse of a deployed soldier” parking space.
- I’m also knitting baby socks for all the new and to-be mothers on my message board for military spouses. I’ve made four pairs of socks and three baby hats so far w/ at least three more pairs of socks and four more hats to go.
Jana said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
My RAK was due to an email from a knitter in Scotland (via Ravelry) who wanted to knit her Mother a pair of Duet socks in the Chocolate Crunch colorway. I happen to have a skein and she asked if I would be willing to part with it. My own Mother died the day before Thanksgiving, she went in for bowel obstruction surgery the previous Sunday and she had cancer throughout her colon/intestines etc and she never really awoke from surgery and we had to decide to shut off the ventilator (she had a living will, but they still made us choose) when her kidneys shut down. Anyway, I quickly packaged up the yarn and hurried to the post office and mailed it to her (I had no idea what a hassle international mailing is – I feel sorry for you Sherry) and sent her an email telling her it was my gift and I told her to knit those socks for her Mom and have a Merry Christmas. It is still sad here (it’s only been 2 1/2 weeks) but it helped to know I made a Mom happy.
Lou said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
As for my RAK – it’s just a little one and it wasn’t that random, but I still see it as a kind act. I was given a bag of Christmas candy, including chocolate, and I gave it to my co-worker who has grandchildren so she could give it all to them. I guess one could say it was selfish because I didn’t want the calories (trying not to gain weight this holiday season), but I know her grandchildren will enjoy the sweets more than I would after the guilt is added in.
As for gift knitting, I’ve done one sock and started the second. I like these a lot so I’m trying hard to remind myself they are not for me. After the second sock is done, I have to get back to work on the baby blanket for the baby due Jan 2!! Doable, if I didn’t have other Christmas stuff to do.
Kristi said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
Does knitting stuff that you were going to give LAST Christmas count?
Today is my daughter’s birthday (11)–she wants to know if her sweater is done. It is big enough (or she is petite enough) that I think I still have a couple years leeway–give or take five.
My RAK today was buying a new bag of ice melt for my apartment house. The woman upstairs takes care of the steps and front sidewalk most of the time, but the kids and I do our share of walking in and out!
Barbara said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
I have made a few gift bags with handknit washcloths and some soaps and
frangrances for some of the people who live in our senior center building and
do not have much. I also am sending a little gift basket to someone in a nursing
home. I know this person so I’m not sure it’s an RAK. I am still receiving
RAK’s for which I am so grateful. Nancy has finished the last six rows of my
scarf for me.
Gina said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
Our 7 year old daughter was in our church Christmas pageant this past week. All the younger kids were assigned an older teen/college student to partner with to ensure the kids were safe on stage, got where they needed to be on time, helped with costumes, etc.
Our daughter’s buddy was a charming young woman from the local Bible college. She brought our daughter a gift bag the other night containing craft supplies because my daughter told her how much she enjoys craft projects. Yesterday she gave us two framed pictures she took of our daughter with her digital camera. Understand that before last Sunday night, we had never met this young woman! Her kindness to our entire family just blew us away.
We decided the least we could do was take her out to dinner last night. It doesn’t seem like much but we remember being poor Bible college students ourselves…the dining hall is closed on Sunday nights which usually means PB&J.
Amy said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
I am planning to gift a co-worker with some lovely hand dyed yarn – I know she won’t be expecting it (and she does not treat herself to the good stuff very often, if at all). We were out a few months ago at a LYS in DC during our lunch hour and she happened to notice a particular color that she liked. I mentioned I thought I had that in my stash. So, rather than let it continue to marinate in the stash or try to sell it, I’m going to pass it along to a good home.
Otherwise, I helped someone out with directions last week. I noticed someone looked a little lost and sometimes I can be hesitant about approaching people I don’t know. Well, the gentleman was so pleased that someone had taken the time to help him out.
Oh, and I am also behind on both Christmas gift knitting (which is very limited this year) and the 4Q challenge – I hope to get both done, but I’m mainly focusing all my time on the Loopy Swap to keep on track with the timing and because I’m completely in love with the pattern myself… : )
Kirstie said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
I wish I wasn’t at work, so I could read all of these! It’s so heartwarming to see so much kindness being shared all over.
My RAK isn’t so random, since I had to make an appointment. In one hour, I’ll be donating blood. This is something I try to do as often as I can, and it never fails to make me happy, knowing that I’m giving something that is such an essential part of myself to someone who is really in need of it.
Dorothy said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
I did the grocery store coupon thing again today.
I work at an elementary school as a lunchtime supervisor. Today I left a pair of knit mittens in the sleeve of a little boys coat, because I knew he had no mittens to wear out in the snow. No one saw me, and I denied it when asked if I did it
Rae-Ann said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
RAK… at about 10:30 Saturday night we were leaving my daughter’s Nutcracker performance and a guy asked us for a jump because his car wouldn’t start. He had his 2 small kids and a 4 week old baby with him. As it turns out the car wouldn’t start at all and we were about an hour away from home. He lives about 20 minutes past our town. We found someone else going the same direction and split up the kids and gave them all a ride home. He was going to try to call someone to come get him (which made no sense since they would have had to travel over an hour to get him and his 3 kids would have been sitting in an car with no heat). It was a good lesson for my daughter as well, because she was exhausted, crabby, tired etc and just wanted to get home. It made her realize that life doesn’t revolve around her and that it’s important to help others even though it may not be what you want to do at the moment.Needless to say, the gentleman was most appreciative.
inky said,
December 10, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
My RAK: I had a gift for a co-worker today, since she celebrates Hanukkah. I made another gift (candies, a pretty pin, and some funny sticky-note paper) and stuck it into a mailbox (eyes closed so I didn’t aim for someone specific).
I heard later this person went on and on about how wonderful it was because she was having such a miserable day after a not great weekend and it picked her up so much. I felt like such an elf!!
Sophiekat said,
December 10, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
i can proudly say that all my christmas knitting is done — because i’m not knitting christmas gifts this year! good thing about a new baby — throw a picture in a frame and everyone’s happy.
i do need to get to work on my little sister’s birthday socks, though, her birthday is 3 days after christmas.
my RAK was helping an elderly man navigate the bizarre world of the do-it-yourself postal kiosk.
Lynda Hitt said,
December 10, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
This last week we were in Rapid City, SD at the truck stop there. As we were coming back through the tunnel to go back to our truck, we passed the laundry room. There was a woman in there wrestling with a comforter, trying to fold it. I stopped and offered to help her fold it and then recommended that she add a tennis ball or sneaker the next time she has to dry it as it was all lumpy and stuff. She had never heard that before and was not only thankful for the help folding it, but for the suggestion. Something that took me 30 seconds to do, made her life just a little easier.
Michele in Maine said,
December 10, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Not sure if this counts, since it was for my own daughter.
Today she has an “away” basketball game that she went to directly from school. I can’t make it to the game, but I knew one of my co-workers was going (her husband is the coach and her daughter is on the team), so I sent a brown paper bag to my daughter through her containing a clementine, a homemade brownie, and my loopy kisses (just arrived today), with a note, “To ___, love, Mom xxoo”
Just a little something to get her through the afternoon!
Heather said,
December 10, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
My RAK was scraping the snow & ice off the car of my neighbor, who happens to be a single mother with a tiny baby. I don’t know if she has any idea who did it, but I hope it brightened her day.
I’m soooo envious of those of you who will get to go to the Spring Fling! I doubt that I’ll get to go, thanks to my husband’s school schedule & school bills, but it sounds like SO much fun! I expect lots of pictures, y’all…
Barb said,
December 10, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
I spent Sunday afternoon volunteering with my synagogue’s sisterhood at a local soup kitchen. This is always rewarding. I love making people smile. This week we were giving out small toys to all the children. We told them they were Chanukah gifts and had interesting conversations with these people of different backgrounds.
What a cool way to spend the evening.
Mary said,
December 10, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
I bought a gift for our church’s Angel Tree. I’m so behind–it’s the first Christmas gift I bought this year!
amy said,
December 10, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
I love the link for the little stockings. But it was slightly cruel because I fell in love with her knitted toys, especially the monkey, and it seems as if they are a very rare find. Her work is absolutely wonderful. As a new knitter, only in my dreams.
Ahhh, Christmas knitting. I learned to knit socks this year. A great year. I started Socks in August for each of my 3 sisters as their Christmas gifts. I lack about half of the last sock. I think I hear Chariots of Fire playing in the background everytime I break out this sock. I will finish. I unfortunately will not have time to whip up a few more pairs like I was hoping to do. I must work to support my sock habit you see…. which really interferes with my knitting time. Ha! Ha! Just kidding. With trying to run my Christmas errands on my lunch hour, my daily lunch special has been cut a little short. I love it though. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Making hand made gifts is such a joy. I have sewn for years and I am usually making something on Christmas Eve for someone. It is just part of the season for me. Crank out one more gift….
Michelle said,
December 10, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
A RAK that was done “for” me was immediately returned to someone else. I was the the God-forsaken mall UGH yesterday driving in circles for a good 20 minutes looking for a parking space. A wonderfully kind elderly gentleman tapped my window… told me he was parked at the end isle and said sllllllloooooowly follow me. I did and he made sure I got that spot. It was so nice! I immediately returned the favor after I finished shopping and made a young couple very happy
Joanne edwards said,
December 10, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Happy Holidays to all!!! I have been good at my RAK, but can I tell you that people are quite suspicious of me, and I see these weird looks that I get. In the end, tho, I do have to say that they are smiling and I guess that’s what really counts. I gave a pair of hand knitted mittens to one of my students who did not have any, and he said,”What’s these for?” which I replied, “DA!, for your cold hands,” and he actually said, “What’s it going to cost me?” I said, “Nothing but a smile,” But I was kind of annoyed, too….like my giving was sort of deflected. One of my co-workers saw me put a wrapped gift (a knitted headband)in another’s mail cubby, and I smiled and said “shhhh, secret Santa.” Well, she looked at me like I was demented. So I tried to go outside of school to do my RAK’s and gave another pair of hand knitted mittens to the Salvation Army lady along with some $ and she asked me if I really was giving her the mittens. What I’d like to know is why it is so hard to accept these small gifts. I left a box of candy for my mailman, too…and when I made cookies, I wrapped some up for one of may older neighbors, put a note that said…Kris Kringle left this for you. So I guess I did my good deeds, but I can’t believe how suspect many people are. I must be more careful next time. Take care, everyone, and watch out for icy roads. MERRY CHRISTMAS ans love, Jo
Jessi said,
December 10, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
During my lunch hour today, as I was returning to work, I was the eighth or ninth car and I noticed that a car was trying to turn right into the street from the gas station on the corner. I made a mental promise to them and myself – “If no one has let you in by the time I get up there, I’m letting you in.” Sure enough, she was still there as I came up, so I paused and let her turn in. She managed to make it through the intersection before the light turned yellow, so I got to wait thru another light – but funny thing is, I didn’t mind at all
Amanda said,
December 10, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
While shopping with my mom yesterday we came across an elderly lady who was trying to make her way to a self-checkout line before anyone else got there. We held the line for her and she was just so happy. The smile she gave us was priceless.
I’ve been offering anyone who is behind me in line at the store the opportunity to go ahead and it’s so surprising to see their reaction. It’s almost like they can’t believe someone would offer them that.
I know it’s small, but it’s something I can do on a regular basis and I love to surprise people with it.
Samantha said,
December 10, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
I try to start working on my Christmas knitting early, but it never seems to work out right. This year we got engaged and bought a house so there hasn’t been much spar time between wedding planning and fixing up the house. I sort of promised people socks for Christmas, but it seems the plans are changing to hats, mittens, scarves, and dishclothes. Next year, I will do myself a favor by keeping mum about intended presents until I am actually done! This weekend I realized that I only have 2 weeks to finish presents before I go home to Indiana. I put the proverbial petal to the metal!
My RAK was over the weekend at PetSmart. We have all had jobs that are not conducive to cold weather. (I worked at a casino as a valet so I know what it’s like to freeze your tail off!) Here is Colorado, it was very cold and windy- and snowing of course! This girl was going around all getting all the carts from the parking lot that people had left out in the freezing rain. I pulled into a spot that had 3 carts around it so instead of ignoring their existence, I got the carts and took them inside. She thanked my when I came back out.
It was small, but it warmed my heart on that chilly night.
Patricia said,
December 10, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
I have decided to give up the deadline of Christmas knitting. For my two co-workers I will be giving them some homemade treats with a picture of their work in progress which I will work on until it is complete. I will complete them though and not to far into next year because I am moving next summer to the other side of the US so it has to be before then!
For my RAK I noticed that a woman was having trouble walking towards the entrance of astore with her cane. I offered assistance and she smiled at me and declined saying that she had to get used to the thing sooner or later. LOL. I have also been taking a share of our dinner to a neighbor down the street whose wife recently decided to leave. She did the cooking while they were together.
Love the stocking ornaments!
Teresa (NC) said,
December 10, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
I was in the Dollar Store this week where there was a very long line. There was a man behind me huffing and puffing in a very annoyed way, as if to say, I should not be in this line. I looked around at him and he had nothing in his hands to pay for. We got to the register and I noticed him getting two soft drinks from the cooler. So, I asked him to let the clerk ring them up with my items so he wouldn’t have to wait longer. He was very shocked and said “No its okay”, but I wouldn’t take no and the clerk smiled and said “I have to listen to her”. It was rather funny. I smiled at him and said “Merry Christmas”. The way he looked at me, you would have thought no one had ever done anything nice for him. Anyway, I hope that made his annoyed time in line a little easier and his day a little brighter.
Sarah said,
December 10, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
I’ve been trying to be nicer to others in traffic. I’ve been letting people into the line whenever I can. Not only do I let them in, I say a prayer for all in the car. I ask for safety in their journey, blessings on them, and love in their hearts. It’s amazing how doing this changes my perspective. And if someone is speeding by or honking their horn, instead of grumbling about them (which I usually do), I’m also saying a prayer for them too. I am going to try to continue doing this during the holiday season, and hopefully longer! Have a great day! –Sarah
Deb B (knitiot) said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
One of my coworkers feel out of a tree while trimming branches and is now paralyzed. Unfortunately, he didn’t elect LTD insurance, therefore, he has no income and he and his wife are realy struggling. I am heavily involved in a fundraising effort for them that is happening this week. Many employees are donating food and equipment so that we can cook breakfast for the entire building (about 6 companies in this building with well over 1000 people). The price will be on a donation basis.We are also having a tea cup raffle, silent auction, and a used cookbook sale. All items were donated and all proceeds will be given to this family. I also came up with an idea to have a “No Can” Can drive asking for monetary donations and Gift Crads to local Supermarkets. The benefit hasn’t even happened yet and we already have $1500.
I knitted a pair of mittens for the tea cup raffle and I am donating half a day for the benefit to cook and donating food and equipment for the breakfast.
Walking out of work tonight, I decided to take the stairs. Glad I did because I found $100 in the stairwell. That’s being donated too!
I know this doesn’t sound random, but the beginning ideas were random and it just grew from there so i hope you’ll still count it.
Mauri said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
After losing a pair of mittens, some knitting in progress, and my dad’s hat, I spent yesterday afternoon for things that had been left behind in the science and math classrooms and turned them into lost and found. Today, I did the same thing for the Humanities building.
Kristi ~ Ohio said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
Thank you for the cute little sock patterns. I can’t wait to try them out. RAK -I love to read and I buy a lot of books. I took a large box of the books I’ve read to work and gave them to my co-workers. Many couldn’t believe I would give them out for free!. I also followed your lead Sheri and bought coffee for the next person. Kristi
Dawn said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
I have 2 RAKs and they have taken up a substantial amount of my time since December 1st.
First, I am subbing at a school for a nurse that had a baby. This school is a low socioeconomic school. They have developed an Angel Tree so that different teachers and staff can anonymously adopt students who are in need this Christmas. My knitting group has adopted 2 girls and we are having the best time coordinating and shopping for them. So far, each girl has 3 outfits, socks, underwear, and a few other things they have specifically requested. If we have $$ left over, we are going to buy Walmart gift cards for their parents/grandparents (one is being raised by grandparents). It is so cool because I am getting to know them without them knowing why and our group is getting to participate in something that helps someone else.
The other RAK is that I started knitting for the Soaring Eagles Project and I am knitting for it until December 14th. I am making Fuzzy Feet from my stash and am going to donate those slippers in my children’s teacher’s names rather than buying a Christmas gift for them. I have put aside all of my other knitting and am only working on this until December 14th.
I would say this Christmas my focus is on sacrificing time and my own things rather than just writing a check. Money does have its place, don’t get me wrong, but I think sometimes the gift of time and talent is just as meaningful.
Am loving the RAKs!!
Alcariel said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
After our last snowstorm, I was out blowing the snow off my driveway and noticed that my next-door neighbors weren’t home from work yet. I know that they don’t own a snowblower, so I headed over there and cleared off their drive too. They don’t know I did it and haven’t said anything to me, but I hope that I made their day since they didn’t have to come home from a long day of work and go outside to shovel.
Terri said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
I offered my cell phone to a woman who was obviously stranded and in need of calling someone. She did not have a phone and the business around us were closed. She was able to contact someone and the story ended well.
Yes, I am done with holiday knitting. Woo Hoo!
Jill said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
The RAK I planned to do this week turned out rather well. I made a point to slow down (especially during this season’s rush) and let others go first. I’d let someone go first in line or out of a door, or let them in with their car if they were waiting to turn, etc. You know, it felt really good and I was surprised to find that I wasn’t really as behind as I would have guessed…it didn’t take much extra time to be nice and let someone go instead of rushing. (Not that I usually do, I just made a point to let pretty much everybody go, you know?) The best part was seeing how happy people are when you let them cross the street or through a line, etc.
Thanks for running this contest–I really enjoyed doing something special for people this way. This year’s been a little tight for us, andI’ve been feeling like I don’t have enough to “give” lately. This really helped me remember that it’s not the THINGS you give, it’s the time and effort, and love. You are the best!
Oh, and I didn’t even realize this one until my hubby pointed it out, but I took two ornaments off the tree at the YMCA and bought for two kids who are in need. I drop the coat and shirts off tomorrow, and I can’t wait. Just think of a 12 yr. old girl who’s asking for one thing for Christmas and it’s a t-shirt! How could I not fulfill that for her?!
I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s kindnesses, too. This is wonderful!!
Liz said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
Let’s not talk about holiday knitting. It involves stringing beads onto wire. I’d have to be home to do that, and I’m at work all the freakin’ time. *sigh* This place considers paid OT to be a perk.
This week’s RAK: I gave the barista at the local coffee shop some money and asked if she would use it to pay for the next person’s coffee. A couple came in and ordered while I was doctoring my own coffee, and the man had a big grin on his face as he put his wallet back in his pocket.
janna said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
My RAK wasn’t so R. My mother lives on her own in the family home several hours away from where my sister and I live. She has wonderful neighbors who mow her lawn if I can’t get up to do it and shovel her dirve and walkways. They never expect to be paid in any way and are just lovely people. My sis and I were home this weekend and while there it was snowing. We got up early Sunday morning to clear Mom’s drive before we left and decided to shovel the neighbors’ drive and walk too while we were at it. So, they woke up to a clean drive and we got to do just a little somthing for some very nice people.
Hillis said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:49 pm
My RAK this week was to take the neighbors dog a treat of a dog bone. The Black Lab, just had knee surgery and is confined to his cage for 4 weeks. I felt so bad for him because he seems so sad. I hope this made him feel better and he would have something to chew on while confined .
Phoebe said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
I am actually going to have 3 comments to post…each from one member of the family who all decided to get in on the RAK spreading around Tampa. I will go in chronological order…
first my 11yo brought in money to have a Sharkie (frozen ice treat that I’m sure that many can’t fathom this time of year) last Tuesday at school. A younger kid in the lower school forgot his money so my son gave his $$ so the youngster could enjoy the cold treat.
Phoebe said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
Then hubby joined the action…he decided to pay the toll for the person behind him going to work and on his way back last Thursday….he was having a bad day so he thought that maybe things would turn around with his RAk (Friday was better!)
Phoebe said,
December 10, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
Every year all the departments of the hospital buy gifts for the kids at our local elementary school for the holidays. A co-worker said that if they bought something for the kids in our adopted grade that he would bounce a check so I purchased enough toys for both of us to give (and no one in the department will be none the wiser).
Paulette said,
December 10, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
My friend invited me over for lunch, along with another friend and the 5 kids of both of them. My friend went up to put her 3 kids to bed for naps. I decided to do the dishes and clean up the kitchen for her. She came down, of course, before I was done (this was a nice Italian meal!), so I told her to sit down and knit and just let me finish up! She let me and I think she appreciated havving a clean kitchen without having to do it herself. I’m really enjoying the RAKs. Here’s a good quote I read recently. “I slept and dreamt that
Life was joy
I woke and saw that
Life was service
I acted and behold
Service was joy.” —Tagore
Sherry said,
December 10, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
I recently received an e-mail with a nice idea that could be considered a RAK. Here’s the info that was in the e-mail:
When you are making out your Christmas card list this year,
please include the following:
A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington ,D.C. 20307-5001
I’m planning to send some cards, I hope others who are reading the RAK ideas will too.
As far as the holiday knitting, I’m knitting what I can. What gets done, will get done … anything not completed will be delivered at a later date. I think people will enjoy it just as much a little after XMAS. Additionally, I don’t see everybody on the actual day.
Helen said,
December 10, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
I was walking to work last week. There is a short service alley that I cross a half block from work. Occasionally trucks back up into it which is normally not a big deal for the average pedestrian. However, one blustery morning last week with everyone hurrying to work I noticed there was a truck that was already parked there leaving only a two foot clearance never the end of the alley closest to the street.
Still not a big deal right? Well there was a woman with a cane who was visually impaired and couldn’t tell what was blocking her way. No one was stopping to help her. When I came upon her, she was muttering to herself trying to figure out what was blocking her way as she obviously could not tell.
I saw her when I was walking past and stopped to guide her but at the same time I explained, “There’s a truck blocking the alley you have to step out to the right.” She said, ” I couldn’t figure it out” and “thank you so much”.
Something really simple, it didn’t cost me anything but twenty seconds, yet no one else did it.
Have a great week Sherri and thank you for encouraging this!
Karen said,
December 10, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
I work in Baltimore and take the Light Rail into the city every day. As I’m on the first train at 5:45, I am able to park my car in the same spot, as do many of the other early morning commuters. Baltimore had its first snow storm of the season last week, totaling about five inches in the county, and I was able to leave work a few minutes early to hopefully beat some of the inevitable traffic problems on the way home. After clearning my car of snow, I thought, why not use a RAK and clean the car next to mine? This person, whom I don’t know personally, also takes the same morning train and is in the same parking space every day. I knew the individual would be on the next next train, so I worked fast and finished just moments before its arrival. I drove away smiling, hoping that this RAK would bring some cheer and possibly offset what may have been a long, frustrating drive home.
Phyllis said,
December 10, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
Christmas knitting is finally done! Still needs to be blocked, but I’ll do it tomorrow.
My husband was the good guy this week. He has a PO box at the mini PO in a local mall. Friday he came out to find a man in a wheel chair trying unsuccessfully to get into his van. Some selfish scrooge had parked in the area along side the van that was plainly designated as no parking/handicap access. There were a least a half dozen handicap spots that were taken up by people without handicap permits, but a whole bunch of vacant regular spots. This is a personal pet peeve of my retired cop spouse, so he hauled out his cell phone, dialed 911 and explained to the dispatcher how someone had blocked this poor man from accessing his van. He waited there with him for the few minutes it took for a patrol car to arrive — followed by a tow truck. With luck, someone learned an expensive lesson.
Brenda said,
December 10, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
I was in the grocery store and the elderly woman in front of me had a total of $9.84. She was searching in her wallet and purse and only had $7 and change. She was very embarrassed and started to tell the cashier to take things out so that the total would come down. I quietly handed her $3 to make up the difference. She was shocked but very grateful.
Donna said,
December 10, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
Last week I was the recipient of a RAK. I had been Christmas shopping with my Mom, and when I got home, I realized I was missing a bag with a gift for my husband. Of course, this gift was the last one in the store type of deal, so I was in a panic. I called both stores I was shopping in hoping someone had turned it in, but it was not there. On a chance, I called again the next morning, and someone had turned it in. The monetary value wasn’t great, but I probably wouldn’t have had an easy time replacing it. It’s good to know there are honest people! It truly helped my Holiday spirit.
The RAK’s I’ve been doing have been the small everyday things, just on a more frequent scale (letting people in front in traffic/at the grocery store, being sure to give everyone and extra smile and a thank you, etc.) Thanks for the inspiration Sheri!
Andi said,
December 10, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
Reading all of these RAK’s is definitely getting me into the holiday spirit! I’m a neonatal ICU nurse and sometimes we have families that live several hours away and can’t visit the baby every day. If the parents can’t come in I will often take clothes or blankets home to wash or take pictures of the baby so they can see what has been going on while they were gone. They really seem to appreciate a little extra help during a very stressful time.
Sharon said,
December 10, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
Today I spent 10 hrs taking my niece and her husband to her eye doctor’s appt. It’s a 2 hr drive each way and then she needed to be seen by a few doctors before her surgery on Thursday. I could have been home baking cookies…but I “donated” my time to them (since they live in London and don’t have a car here) At least I was smart enough to bring my knitting along!
Donna said,
December 10, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
I’ve been playing Santa Claus at work for the last week. I’ve been paying attention lately to all the little things that my co-workers gripe about. You know how it can be in an office! One woman has been searching for a particular brand of barbeque sauce and can’t find it. One guy constantly complains about how ratty his mouse pad is, but never seems to remember to get a new one when he’s out and about, etc. etc. Everything from never having a box of tissues at their desk, to wanting to try a new herbal tea. Since I get to the office at such an early hour (7:00) I’ve been secretly leaving little elf presents for them. They’ve been inexpensive items, but have been well appreciated, and it was a ton of fun for me to do! I even had to get myself a little something to throw them off!
Erin in Minnesota said,
December 10, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
Ok, I keep feeling like mine are so small, but then I remember that I live on a small college campus so the only people I have to give RAK too are students like me. Thusly I have a couple from our Cafeteria
There is sometimes this extra salad bar where you can make Caesae, Chefs, Italian, Greek, etc salads, but they don’t keep it well stocked with plates so people always have to leave their tray in line, go get a plate and then come back hoping they can resume their place in line. So today when I was in that line I grabbed a pile of plates and stacked them at the beginning of the line so people behind me don’t have to leave. i did this a few weeks ago and the whole line behind me cheered and one of the caf workers thanked me for making her job a little easier.
Likewise tonight at dinner they ran out of trays and everyone was swarming whenever any clean ones came out, so when they did I grabbed a few and gave them to people who had been wandering in search of trays for as long as I had.
Finally, yesterday I was going to meet my friends for dinner and I got to the door at the same time as a big group going out, I just stepped aside and let them go on their way before going in myself, a few more seconds out in the cold didn’t matter much.
Julie S. said,
December 10, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
Last summer I was in a yarn stash swap, and I sent a great batch of yarn to my “downstream partner”, but the person sending yarn to me (a different secret “upstream” partner) send me a very modest collection of yarn that she apologized for, but she said she really couldn’t buy yarn anywhere but Walmart’s. After reading her blog, I understood some of the tough times she was going through, so a while later I sent her an anonymous gift certificate for yarn from a great online source (sadly not Loopy Ewe – I didn’t know about it then). I hope she enjoyed an unexpected chance to treat herself in the yarn department.
Cathy said,
December 10, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
I was at our local Knitting Guild’s Holiday luncheon this weekend and we were discussing how great the RAK’s on your blog are. Way to go Sherry! I need to think of something to do this week while I’m studying for finals – being nice to people while i’m stressed may be all I can muster, but is a challenge! Also wanted to share two things – one done by a friend of mine and one by me last year (but I plan on doing it again!).
1) A friend of mine was pumping gas and the woman at the pump next to him said she had forgotten her debit card and had no cash. They were in a not great part of town where he says he is often approached for money, so he politely said he couldn’t help and got in his car. As he began to start the car, he got out and told the woman he would put $5 worth of gas on his debit card for her so she could at least get out of that part of town and make it home. She was very appreciative!! ‘Tis the season!
2) Last year, a 24 hour Starbucks opened down the street from me and I was surprised to find they really are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year including holidays. SO…on Christmas morning on the way to my parents, I brought them a tray of homemade cookies to cheer up the people having to work so we could have coffee. I was AMAZED at the amount of people actually getting coffee on CHRISTMAS morning!!! I plan on doing this again! There are certain places that just don’t NEED to be open on holidays. As much as I enjoyed my hot cocoa I ordered while I was there!
Nancy said,
December 10, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
This week has been a busy one. I often speak to older folks or folks that do not have English as a first language in my seasonal job. It takes just a few minutes to speak slowly and listen carefully or just chat with a shut in or lonely person for a minute or two. It seems that their day is brightened considerably, and, coincidently, so it seems is mine.
jane said,
December 10, 2007 @ 10:45 pm
I have no random act of kindness. Just hoping you’re not too badly affected by the ice storm. Ice storms are nasty.
Diana T said,
December 10, 2007 @ 11:13 pm
This week I offered to take a friend’s Toys for Tots donation and drop it off for her. I also took some empty jewel cases for CDs to my local library to see if they could use them( felt sure that their cases must get damaged quite often). Miss Mary was so happy that she gave me a hug! That really made my day. A co-worker forgot to take care of something before she left and I did it for her, only took a second, but will make her less stressed when she comes in next.
Tammy said,
December 10, 2007 @ 11:25 pm
I’m not quite done with the Christmas knitting or sewing, but I still have two weeks left.
And two of the items can continue to be knit Christmas Eve if necessary.
I love reading all of the different RAK’s here. I don’t know if these are RAK’s or what, I hadn’t planned all of them. We have in years past adopted a family for the holidays. This year I hadn’t found a family and wasn’t real enthused about it.(I organize it and wasn’t feeling like it) We had some massive flooding here last week and one of our local homeschooling families was caught in the flood and lost a lot of stuff on their ground floor. I decided that they were the family in need this year and set out to figure out what was needed. First off were shoes for mom and the 14 yob. We went to the local little shoe store and bought tennies for both and some fluffy slippers for mom. As we got to the store though there was a man wanting to cross that section of the parking lot, so I let him go in front of us. When we went into the store he was there as one of the employees and thanked me, he said no one ever lets you cross there. That was the best RAK. Later in the week I volunteered to go out and help this family clear some of the debris from their bottom floor. It was hard, yet rewarding work!
Take care this week.
Minnie said,
December 10, 2007 @ 11:28 pm
i was at the grocery store last week, and going through the self-check out, when a woman on another machine asked me if i worked there. i told her no. she asked if i could help her. i told her to hang on, and i finished up ( i was almost done anyway, lol). i went over, showed her how to scan stuff, what button to hit, and how to put her money in. she thanked me. as i turned to go, the cashier, who had been stuck behind a # of carts full of items that needed to be put away, thanked me as well. she knows me (i’m in that store on an almost daily basis, if not more often at times!), and she told me, you didn’t have to do that. i told her that i could see she was busy, and i wasn’t in a hurry. made both ladies smile!
and tonight? with the madness that is pre-storm shopping, i had gone to get milk. the gentleman in front of me saw me struggling with 3 gallons of milk (i never grab a cart if i can help it, lol, i move faster that way), and offered to let me put my milk in his cart. when his turn came, he let me go ahead of him! RAK’s given and received! and he wished me happy holidays as well!
Rebecca said,
December 10, 2007 @ 11:37 pm
Well, I haven’t been able to pay for anybody’s coffee behind me in line but I did treat my boss to a coffee on Friday. Then, when I was in the longest line ever at the post office I told a lady behind me to go ahead of me because she was holding a big box that looked heavy and by standing in front of me she could rest it on a counter. She was astonished and I had to kind of pull her jacket to get her to move. Does it count if you have to force someone to accept your RAK?
Pat said,
December 10, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
RAK-On the Loopy Ewe group on Ravelry someone was asking for spare knitting needles for their church group. I had some so I sent a package off to her.
Keri said,
December 11, 2007 @ 12:19 am
My RAK was ongoing, but it is over now. A few weeks ago, I was in my LYS/LQS to pick out some sock yarn. Once I got over to the cash register, the owner was busy helping a woman plan a quilt, so I was going to have to wait. Instead of sighing, I jumped right in and helped the woman figure up her yardage for the quilt (the shop owner is more of a knitter than a quilter). I also offered to lend her some tools that would make cutting the blocks easier, as the shop owner didn’t stock this particular set of rulers. Upon finding out (AFTER she had paid for $150 worth of fabric) that she had only made simple 9 patch quilts, I volunteered to teach her how to make her queen sized quilt top. The pattern she had picked was quite a step up from 9-patches (50/40 or fight blocks, for anyone who quilts). She looked at me rather askance for a moment (I’m 33, she was in her late 60s), but took me up on the offer.
It took 3 weeks (about 12 hours of lessons, including fine-tuning her machine so that she could manage her 1/4″ seam allowance better), but the quilt top just got delivered to the quilter this week. She was very thankful, and I felt good that I’d helped someone succeed at a difficult task. Of course now I am having to beat the shop owner off with a stick – she wants me to teach quilting classes, and I don’t want to work at my hobby! As a matter of fact, all I want to do at the moment is knit socks (I just learned to knit in October, and already have 6 pairs done)!
Nicole said,
December 11, 2007 @ 12:38 am
I donated some canned goods to my local food bank and helped some first-year students study for their math exam.
Carrie said,
December 11, 2007 @ 1:05 am
This weekend was Holiday Baking at my house and I volunteered to run to the grocery store to pick up some supplies. Right away, I made a beeline to the almond bark and sliced almonds since they always go the fastest (around these parts anyways). I got my stuff and made the rounds to get everything else on my list. I had to make another stop in the baking aisle to pick up some marshmallows when I saw a woman desperately searching the shelves for something. I asked her what she was looking for, in case I could help locate it. She answered she needed chocolate bark for her daughter’s 2nd grade class party. She promised that she would make something homemade, instead of store bought cookies as she has done in the past. She was near tears as all the bark was gone by this time. So I reach into my cart, pluck out my package of chocolate bark and placed it in her cart. She could not believe that I would do such a thing. I told her that I could still stop back some other day to pick up more, she obviously needed it more than I did at the time.
Ronni said,
December 11, 2007 @ 1:25 am
Lets see. A couple of days ago I let a gentleman go ahead of me to check out at the grocery since he only had 5 things and I had a half a cart-full. He was oddly amazed too. Makes you wonder doesn’t it. I do that all the time though so I’m not sure it really counts as a RAK since pretty much anytime someone would qualify for the express lane and I wouldn’t I offer.
This evening I promised to ship a package that had come here by mistake on to its intended recipient but I don’t think that really counts as a RAK since it’s from a friend of my mum who mistakenly addressed it to my daughter along with the package that really was for my daughter. And besides, I haven’t had a chance to actually send it on yet.
I think my daughter deserves the credit for a RAK from this household this week because at hubby’s office party this weekend she kept two of the other, younger, children busy with “dancing” (to the uninformed it no doubt looked like marching around in circles) to the band while their parents ate once the little ones were done eating. They’d been a bit shy, being only about 3 and 5 or so and she made them comfortable, getting down low to their level and whatnot first.
Cathy said,
December 11, 2007 @ 5:30 am
I love those little stockings, but unfortunately I am way behind on my projects, so maybe next year….
A few days ago there was a toy drive in my local area and they were getting lots of toys, but as always there were some gaps for various ages that they needed to fill so I went by and donated some money to help them buy gifts for those ages that they did not have enough donations for.
Lois said,
December 11, 2007 @ 8:16 am
I rounded up the shopping carts in the parking lots of two different stores. These days, the carts are a real hazard to every car in the lot, so I spent a bit of time and effort to get them corralled into their rightful place.
Can’t wait for the Spring Fling info to be posted! Looking forward to it!
Sarah said,
December 11, 2007 @ 8:47 am
Oh dear, hoilday knitting… Need to finish one sock for my mom and then my sisters gift to do yet. My daughter is sure she needs a hat, scarf, and mittens as she lost hers.
Not too far with the Q4 challenge.
RAK, I was knitting in the waitning room at the hospital and a 14-ish year old girl came up to me quite interested. She wanted to learn to knit her own socks. I handed her my work and started to show her how to knit (quite a quick learner too) Whne she finally got to abandon her waiting room spot I let her keep the whole thing- needles, yarn, etc and jotted down a site she could get on to find more about sock knitting.
Em said,
December 11, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Our receptionist is a temp, but she’s been at the job longer than I’ve been in my position. She works really hard, and I know she’s not being paid what she’s worth. I often wonder if she’s being taken advantage of, and how she’ll be doing over the holidays… While I always try to say thank you for the things she does to help me out, today I’m going to take her out for lunch (she doesn’t know it yet!) It’s not much, but I hope it will brighten her day.
Tara said,
December 11, 2007 @ 10:28 am
DONE with Holiday knitting? Bwahahahahaha!!!!! What a hoot!
sarah lou said,
December 11, 2007 @ 10:49 am
bah, i finally got to pay for someone behind me at starbucks yesterday (kept going when it wasn’t so busy, apparently) and then forgot to post it.
the guy told me one day someone payed for the person behind her and people kept doing it for a string of 24 orders!!! how cool is that?!?!
Laura said,
December 11, 2007 @ 11:45 am
Thanks for starting this “thread” on RAK, Sheri! It does make you think about spreading a little kindness more often.
My RAK on Monday was to spend some time listening and encouraging someone whom i don’t know very well, even though I was running late and had plenty of my own stuff to do. I hope it made a difference for this person.
Sharon said,
December 11, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Watching news reports of snow and ice out your way. Hope you, Loopy and the elves are staying warm with all that wool.
shadkitty said,
December 11, 2007 @ 12:23 pm
My RAK…well actually there are two right now.
- I was at the mall and paid for the girl behind me in line at the pretzel place. She was VERY pregnant. I like to think she had been craving pretzels all week.
- Around Thanksgiving, someone burned down my tattoo shop. They caught the guy, but it was still very sad. There were many memories in that building, and some irreplaceable items (awards, autographed guitars, art, etc). So, I donated $40 to them and some of my art for a benefit.
Amy said,
December 11, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
Most people in Minnesota do this, but I am still surprised by it when people do it for me… Stop traffic with their car so that you may turn left (and sometimes right) out of a parking lot on a busy street. Bless these people… I try to do it when ever I can.
Michelle said,
December 11, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
I know I’m a little late for my RAK reporting but I still want to tell about it! I took a little twist on the “buy a Starbucks coffee for the person behind you.” It was getting late and I was studying at the library finishing up some projects for finals. I was sharing a table with another girl and we were both pretty occupied with our work. I offered to go downstairs and bring back some Starbucks for her. She was so happy, but unfortunately didn’t have any money, so I said “don’t worry about, my treat.” She was left speechless. But it’s that simple act that caused me so much joy. I’m just happy to know that something I did made her night a little easier.
BTW, it’s been simple crazy here. I wish someone would do a little RAK for me.
I don’t mean to sound whiny! (LOL) Just wish I wasn’t so stressed out because of school and graduation…
Chrissy said,
December 11, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
Today was pretty cold. I was at Michael’s (again) and I grabbed 3 carts from the lot and returned them to the store. The parking lot attendant probably will never know, but I saved them from a little extra time out in the cold.
Kirsty said,
December 11, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Hi Sheri, While at the local coffee drive-thru this morning, I purchased a coffee for the woman in the car behind me! It felt great!
Juliet said,
December 11, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
I made a pie for a co-workers birthday.
I am really behind on my christmas knitting. I hope to knit a sweater for my dad, but I’m still waiting for the yarn to arrive…hopefully tomorrow, if I’m to have any chance at all.
Tigger's Mom said,
December 11, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
My Christmas knitting is finished. Yay! But those little stockings are so cute I might need to make some to put on gifts.
RAKs: I made an Amy Butler bag for a friend. She picked out the fabric so that part wasn’t random. What was is that she didn’t expect it before Christmas, and I put a Loopy tape measure in the bag. She was very happy. I let people in, in front of me both in stores and on the road. I also bought toys for foster kids and I held a few doors. Slow week!
Susan L said,
December 11, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
This past week we had our first snow of the season. Our next door neighbor is an elderly woman who we rarely see. Her daughter (in her 50’s +/-) usually shovels the walk. So I bribed my daughter into shoveling their sideway & driveway.
I also “consolidated” the shopping carts at the grocery store that were taking up the whole cart-coral thing even though there weren’t that many of them. (Actually, I do this fairly often!)
I also cast-on for a hat for the woman who used to clean our offices, but has had to go on permanent disability. She’s been diagnosed with inoperable/incurable stage 4 stomach cancer, & is undergoing chemo just to buy her as much time as possible.
Lacey said,
December 11, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
I gave one of the teachers at my school a free ride home the other day. I guess this counts. I would have done it anyway, but she was in great need and I was able to help her out. I also helped an old lady tonight. She was trying to find her car in the Winn-Dixie parking lot. She was standing behind a car that was backing up. I yelled and got her to move, that sounds bad, but I got her attention and the driver hadn’t seen her. So gold star today.
kristin said,
December 11, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
I love to do those Angel Trees at the mall, but I kind of hate the mall and all the hub-bub. I was in the grocery store a few weeks ago and saw a different kind of tree. It was sponsored by Home Instead, an organization that visits elderly people in their homes. I adopted two people, a man and a woman, and just like the angel trees, they had a list of things they would like. The woman wanted earrings, cologne, thigh-highs and a sweater. The man wanted “Shirt, size L, and anything else.” That broke my heart. I’m only 26, but I can’t imagine going through decades of Christmases and suddenly being alone.
Kate said,
December 11, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
I’m half-way through the ribbing at the end of the last sock of my Christmas knitting.
another Michelle said,
December 11, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
Actually, I realized today that I’m not going to get all the knitting done that I’d like to have ready for Christmas…so, I crosed the projects off the list and bought a few things to give instead!
Robin said,
December 11, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
I let someone go ahead of me in the line at Walmart. I didn’t have much but the gentleman only had a donut. I have noticed when you do nice things for people that they tend to talk to you and say hello. I don’t do Christmas knitting really but I am always behind on the projects I want to make.
Mary said,
December 11, 2007 @ 10:30 pm
After church, my daughter, son-in-law and grandbaby were all going to a local pizza place. They asked friends if they wanted to meet us there. I paid for their meal as they came in. The sweet husband was trying so hard to pay me back. I just told him to put it toward the Christmas gifts for their kids. I was there once and so remember how difficult it is to make ends meet.
Felicia said,
December 12, 2007 @ 2:13 am
I gave away my umbrella! The Salvation Army bell ringer was outside of a store as I was leaving. As I popped open my umbrella, I asked why he didn’t get under the store’s awning. He replied that the store required them to be out further away from the door. He didn’t want to take my umbrella either. Once I had assured him that not only did I have another umbrella, but probably another one in the car, he was willing to take it. I was very happy about that. Here he was volunteering his time in the rain and cold.
Janelle said,
December 12, 2007 @ 7:32 am
I just finished gathering a collection of crosswords, search-a-words, and suduko books from different stores (to create a varied selection) to send to the troops through a local charity. I am already planning my next collection as there are numerous local groups who can always use the activity books.
Along those same lines I have been taking advantage of all the sales and purchasing quite a number of board games and craft kits for various ages. They make great interactive gifts for kids through any number of local charities: hospitals, small schools, and needy families. I really like to do gifts that can involve the parents or older children. Clothing, while necessary, is not nearly as exciting to receive as a gift as something that you can do.
Rachel said,
December 12, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
an annual rak I do is to collect the stamps the grocery store gives out the month before thanksgiving and easter. I fill up the card and then give it to someone who looks like they could use the discount.
Another one is to offer my first cup of coffee to my husband. He usually doesn’t drink it but some days he really looks like he could use it. (it also keeps him from drinking it on the sly)
m.o.M. said,
December 15, 2007 @ 10:42 am
I saw this news story this morning and immediately thought of you.
http://www.knbc.com/news/14856317/detail.html
Chris/Buttercup said,
December 16, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Confessing my sin…
I haven’t reported any RAKs because they didn’t seem like much. Letting people into the line of traffic when they’re clearly just cutting the line-up has been my daily RAK because it’s something that irks me to my bones.
I also have been extra nice to all Santa’s helpers. I’m usually pleasant to all wait staff and store employees, but instead of a thank you, I’ve been adding little extras, “You’ve been very helpful” or “Thanks for explaining that to me” or “I appreciate the time you’ve spent with me.” I usually get a genuine smile instead of “HaveanicedayNEXT”.
Then I went to the mall after work on Friday. I know that isn’t a great time to go, but it was just a quick run in and out. I rode around the parking lot looking for a space, which I fully expected and wasn’t at all annoyed at. Then I spotted a Mom with a stroller opening her car and I pulled up and put my blinker on. You know I waited a while – till kiddo was locked into the car-seat, packages were unloaded in such a way that the stroller could then be folded down and wedged into the back of the car. Then Mom got in the car, fixed her make-up, made three calls on her cell and finally pulled out.
As soon as she drove away and I started to press on the gas and pull into the spot, a car load of young teenage boys whipped past me and pulled into the parking spot. I laid on the horn. There was no way they didn’t know I was there. They didn’t budge. I even heard one of the little snots yell “What?” like they were innocent of being little snots. I laid on the horn again. I yelled at them from my closed up car.
I had a “Fried Green Tomatoes” moment. I knew I was older then them, but did I really have more insurance than “Daddy” was carrying on the Beemer? Could I really afford to accidentally run into them 17 times?
Just as I was coming to my conclusion, they backed out of the spot and drove away. The driver looked slightly ashamed from which I took a small amount of pleasure.
So all my little RAKs and the karma I built up from them have been on the way to you know where in a hand basket since Friday evening.
Do we get points for trying?
Kathryn in Minnesota said,
December 17, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Still picking up dog poop from dogs other than our dogs as the general daily RAK. I didn’t post on Dec. 3rd because we were busy in California for the national agility invitational — I got half a sock knit, my dog took seventh place in her jump height, and I picked up a LOT of dog poop from other dogs. Couldn’t believe how much was left behind at a dog show. You’d think people handling at the national level would be more responsible, but I suppose the point of the RAK is to be kind and not to kvetch. : )
Adding to this, we are collecting spare dog stuff — toys, extra leashes, treats our guys won’t eat, etc. — and taking it to a canine rescue group before Christmas.
paula c rowe said,
December 5, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
With a friend at the doctor’s office, we met someone who had just finished a round of chemo. The woman had lost her hair because of the chemo and she was self-conscious (and cold). This gave me the idea to make chemo caps and leave them at the doctor’s office to be given to chemo patients. I left several this week and plan to continue. The doctor and nurses have let me know how much they have been appreciated.