Dear Diary, We opened and sorted more lovely wool gifts yesterday ...

Ardis and Emily joined me at AFSC to open packages from all over the US (plus Canada and Surrey, England) for the people of Afghanistan. Then, we cruised around the changing neighborhood on a beautiful SF Spring day while El Nino was out. We were all too camera shy, but the garments are what you really want to see ...

131 newborn super-cute hand-knit wool socks ...

142 newborn super-cute hand-knit and crocheted wool hats ...

We also received a few hundred fantastic wool hats, socks, and mittens in other sizes. Thank you to all the generous and talented donors. We did not have time to sort and count everything.

Wanted to let you know that we are not yet showered by too many newborn items, so if you were worried that everyone would be knitting and crocheting only for babies, no fretting yet. We welcome more wool hats and and socks sized for newborns for the hospital. Please check our website guidelines for measurements.

Thought you would want to see this message about these newborn hats and socks knit in memory of Sgt Zachary Tellier ...

I found this tag in my file from 2008 ... thank you to our long-time knitter for this continuing tribute ...

We headed out to explore the transformed Art Deco furniture mart that is now home to Twitter. Mind-blowing changes to the area where we have been sorting and packing for Afghanistan since late 2001 in the basement of the Friends/AFSC building. Inside the historic SF furniture mart, we were greeted by this mural of women spinning and quilting ... looks like a WPA mural, although the security guard couldn't confirm ...

Twitter on the right. Dolby on the left. AFSC stuck in between the huge buildings filled with tech workers.

On the north side of Market Street, the last century ... with our favorite vegetarian place, where Judith always suggests not over-tipping since the funds probably go to the Mothership. Sometimes after packing, we stop in for lentil soup, NEATloaf, 9-grain bread, berry tea, and some knitting time. Hope the place never changes.

My, this post got long and meandering ... hopefully, interesting though. Why don't you tell us about your a4A projects here and something about your day or world? A chance for far-flung a4A friends to connect.

We opened packages today at the AFSC Basement!

Long-time volunteer Christy from Seattle is visiting San Francisco. Guess what she did first thing after arriving on a rain-delayed fight ... No, not drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. No, not hop on the Cable Car to Ghirardelli Square. No, didn't head over to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.

Guess ... Christy helped me open boxes of wool gifts in the AFSC Basement! She didn't even take time for lunch after landing and dropping her luggage at the hotel, We sure do have wonderful, dedicated, generous volunteers!

Such a good time seeing the wool gifts that are starting to arrive. Here's Christy holding Louise's amazing collection of baby socks with colorful patterning. A lot of little feet are going to be warmer and happier because of Louise's talents!

These baby hats from Diane in Gold Country are a perfect design for newborns. The stretchy ribbing will be comfy on the baby's forehead and grow some with the baby. Christy brought Frangos for the packing volunteers -- SAVED for the next packing session as incentive! -- and I put the box in the photo to try to give perspective for the hats, but that didn't work. These hats are sized for newborns, although the hats appear larger in the photos. Oh, well.

Here's Christy with her own duffle of 100 knit wool hats that she hauled on the plane today. One hundred warmer Afghans next winter, thanks to Christy! We're all warmed by your generosity and energy. A true pleasure to have your involvement, and I am very glad we had the opportunity to see each other again today.

The beginnings of our boxes filling up with baby socks and baby hats for newborns ...

Heartfelt thanks to all who have mailed in packages so far. And, thanks to all working on wool garments now.

After the ASFC Basement, Christy went out swing dancing with her husband tonight at Le Colonial! FUN-FUN-FUN.

Anyone else coming to San Francisco over the next few months? Get in touch with me. I might have to start offering pick up service at SFO.