The downside to cutting off all purchases except for essential items for an entire year, is that when it gets cold and poor Pinky and her friends are out there with their frozen, skinny legs, I can’t go out and buy the yarn to knit them proper sweaters. It’s practically a travesty.
If you do, and you have a few extra minutes in your day, you should definitely start making flamingo scarves. I mean just look at Pinky’s buddies eyeing her jealously. We definitely DON’T want to cause a flamingo riot or have her friends go all “Mean Girls” on her. I’m an equal opportunity flamingo owner after all.
If you won’t do it for Pinky, do it for the children. Do you see them frozen there? So cold they can’t even move. It’s almost inhumane.
They need your help. They need your scarves. Will you consider adopting a flamingo and wrapping her in love and yarn?
United in our fight to help the animals,
~Mavis
Please mail in your knitted donation to:
Pinky the Flamingo and Friends
C/O Mavis Butterfield
P.O. Box 2083
Gig Harbor, Wa 98335
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Melissa says
How long to they need to be?????
Mavis Butterfield says
I don’t typically wear scarves so I’m not sure what the proper length should be. Surprise Pinky. She’ll be happy with whatever you send her friends as they are all naked.
lilton says
After looking at their skinny pink heads and necks, I just had a frugal thought that might work, especially for the younglings. If you have any long socks (or even tights?) that have seen better days, do you think you could cut the toe end and slip that over their poor frigid necks until the scarves arrive? As a birdie turtleneck of sorts?
Also, how many are in your flock? And, yes, how long do the scarves need to be for a proper wrapped tie?
Mavis Butterfield says
There are 17 large ladies and about 24 children.
Deborah from FL says
You’re a hoot! I can’t decide if you’ve taken a turn toward the crazy side, or are making a profound statement about perspective. Either way, you make me giggle. 🙂
Deborah from FL says
Forgot to say the purple scarves are a fabulous color! Though I suspect Pinkie will look divine in any color.
(Still chuckling over “do it for the children”!)
Deborah from FL says
Sorry Pinky. Spelled your name wrong there.
Marian says
I can’t knit, but I crochet. Is that ok?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes of course Marian. 🙂
Rosaleen says
Hey, Girlfriend!
I love you. I love your site. I love your ideas…for the most part. This one is cute but it is bothering me. Volunteer knitters are needed for making all sorts of things from preemie hats to soldiers’ helmet liners to items for our many poor or homeless citizens. Maybe go with repurposing old socks and have that crew of volunteer yarn crafters make things to donate to local hospitals, shelters, etc.
Judy says
Definitely! It was bothering me, too. Thanks for putting it into words.
Margie Hudgins says
I surely do agree with you Rosaleen.
Amy says
Thank you Rosaleen! I had the very same thought.
Mavis says
There’s a LOT of heavy in the world right now. A lot of hurt, a lot of problems, a lot of crazy. I donate every chance I get and try to encourage my readers to do the same. I’ve even featured the knit it forward-type programs. This was just meant to be some light-hearted fun. I need it from time to time to keep me sane. I think little knitted scarves for flamingos would bring joy and some giggles to hundreds of readers, and while those little plastic things clearly don’t have an actual need, that fact alone is reason enough for me. So sorry if that disappointed you guys. That was so not my intention!!
Miriam says
If you want to donate your time to a better cause, do it. Much of the ‘ knitting need ‘ could more affordably be filled with machine made textiles for cheaper or even by buying things at a thrift store.
Sometimes people need to see the light in this world. Mavis brings a light and shares it. If people want to have a joy break, this is a fantastic project that can use scrap yarn unable to be used on other projects.
Mavis says
Thanks Miriam! I like the idea of a “joy break!”
Pat says
How wide and how long do you need these to be? You just have so much fun!!!
Pat says
I don’t know about you, Mavis, but I feel pretty burned out right from so many needs there are out there. It’s ok for you to take a few minutes todo something fun and frivolous occasionally. We need to laugh and relax once in awhile to recharge for what’s ahead. You make us laugh and enjoy life!! That’s a good thing. Tomorrow we can again worry about the rest of the world. You need to take a breather once in a while. Thanks Mavis
bobbi dougherty says
I don’t know how to knit, but would happily donate a skein of yarn. Will that do?
We can’t have those little pinkies freezing to death. 🙂
mdoe37 from the Mitt says
On the needles….why I’ve sent socks to Kazakhstan, certainly I can rally the needles for poor, cold, needy birds……
So I’m knitting away…..blue Lambs Pride Bulky from the stash….and I said to husband, “So how big around do you think a pink flamingo’s neck is?” In all seriousness of course.
He looked at me like my hair was on fire..
Sigh
Jan says
lol, mdoe37…I was busily crocheting scarves for the Pink Ladies and my husband asked who they were for…when I told him, he just stared & mumbled something under his breath…
I understand all those who are saying this is a frivolous idea and that making items for soldiers, seniors and those less fortunate…however, we need to remember also that by taking part in this little adventure, we ARE helping ourselves to see that, while there are those who could and would benefit from donations, there is a need for all of us to take a moment and be silly and indulge a frivolous cause just for our own mental health. I have made lap robes, ditty bags & bibs for our ves…I’ve donated my time and money to worthy causes…and I have also let the worrisome things in this world depress me to the point of saying “why try?”…but just doing something silly once in a while gives me (and others who also indulge) a little time to see that life has a need for lightness and frivolity…I’ll continue to do good for those in need, but this time, I’m helping the birds and myself…
Mavis, I love your blog!! I can’t wait every day to see what you’ve posted, read the serious and the silly…keep doing what you’re doing…you can’t please all the people all the time!! Just take time to do what gives you pleasure too!!
Cass says
Laffin’ my head off. (sorry to those who think this is inappropriate…but you do have to laugh)
I HATE pink flamingos. HATE HATE HATE those darn things….but thinking of them in multicolored scarves standing in the wind and rain makes me giggle.
I happen to have these tiny balls of yarn left over from all the hat making I have been doing….not big enough for another hat, but too large to throw away. I will forward them ASAP for The Girl to put to good use. (Sorry….making hats is an addiction of mine right now, so you are on your own to get the yarn made into garments for the flock. 15 made so far since Christmas….only 2 more to go for family gifts….then big left over balls are going to be made into hats to donate to Church Food Pantry )
Good luck clothing the flock…at least they aren’t real birds (like some folks knit clothing for. really. Clothing on living chickens. LOL )
vicki says
Mavis, Thank you! I needed a good laugh. 3 weeks ago my Mom was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Now yesterday my Mother in law was diagnosed with the same. So I read this and it was just what I needed. The sight of your flamingos in scarves gave me a good laugh.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m sorry to hear that Vicki. 🙁 I’m glad I brightened your day just a little.
Jan says
Have to keep those ladies & children warm….I crochet & I have some really cool yarn colors….expect a package from me in the next couple weeks (or sooner!!)…
Mavis says
I can’t wait!!
Melissa Fritcher says
My daughter said she’s willing to try to make scarves.
Shawn says
I would love to adopt 2 of your flamingos. Please arrange transportation to me in Melbourne, Fl, where there will be very little need for winter scarves!
Mavis says
Ha! They’d love that, I’m sure.
Connie says
My first thought … what. a. HOOT. Mavis … girl … love your blog because, to quote Dr Suess: “Today you are YOU! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is youer than YOU!” 🙂
Second thought … lighten up, people. Trade life’s concerns and heaviness for a smile and a giggle – even if it’s just for a moment. Verily I say, you can do lots of good things for those in need AND enjoy some silliness. One does not diminish the other. So don’t be askeerd – give it a try.
Can’t wait to see photos of the outcome of your plea … pink flamingos in lovely scarves … I’m laughing already!!
Mavis says
I love that Dr. Suess quote. One of my favorites. Thanks for your words!
Ellen in Clackamas says
Mavis I did not realize you ended up with so many “Pink Ladies” in the great HOA flock gathering. Don’t knit or crochet (but plan on learning!) but can’t wait to see the girls dressed for the weather
Nicola Simmons says
I have already made about 100 items for charity requests this winter (literally), I think I can spare a little remnant for your flamingos. It’s pure wool, so you can compost it or use it inside a dryer ball once the flamingos warm up, if you so wish :-). In the envelope and ready to post today. Coming from Canada so might take a little while.