Friday, September 30, 2011

Eye Candy Friday - Allman Edition

The eye candy today isn't Gregg Allman, although he is good looking.  What is appealing to me is the updated tour schedule. 

Click to enlarge.  Use your Back button to return here.
Going to a Gregg Allman concert and visiting Savannah, GA are two things near the top of my must-do list so this seems like an ideal combination.  Add to that the fact that it's warm in Georgia in January and cold in Calgary and it's an easy decision.  Tickets don't go on sale for three weeks.  I hope I can get something close to the stage.

I still need to see the Allman Brothers Band.  I'll keep watching the tour page and hopefully something will be scheduled before long.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Jigsaw Afghan - Gathering Yarns

Beginning next Wednesday I'm going to start making a lap blanket based on a quilt pattern by Janet Wickell.  You can find her free quilt pattern here.

(c) Janet Wickell
I'll post my knitting directions.  It's going to be knit in mitered squares.  I have quite a bit of fingering-weight yarn in all types, including sock yarns, baby yarns, shetland...  I'm not sure which ones I'll use and I might pick up a couple of new colors between now and the start date.  You can use any yarn:  solid colors, variegated, some of each, brights, earth tones, pastels.  The possibilities are endless.  It's a great way to use up small amounts from your stash.

My afghan is going to be a small lap robe.  Each block will be about 2-1/4 inches square (5.7 cm).  If the blocks turn out to be a wee bit larger or smaller, that's okay.  With this block size the lap robe will be 32.5 inches wide and 49.5 inches long (82.6 x 125.7 cm).  Add to this the border, about 1 inch per side (2.5 cm), adjustable of course.

The graph is adapted from the picture, above, just a little fewer blocks.  There will be 20 incomplete puzzle pieces and 15 complete ones for a total of 35 pieces.  Knowing this will help you decide on colors.  You can choose as many or as few as you like.  You might want to include some black pieces that represent jigsaw pieces that haven't yet been placed into the puzzle.

I'm going to use size 2.5mm/US 1-1/2 needles.  If you use a different yarn weight you'll need to adjust the needle size accordingly.  More on that next week.  On Wednesday we'll start with a swatch.  Don't worry, it's a small one! 

<----  If you're going to join me, here's a button for your blog. 

Why not email me or leave a comment with your website address so that I can come and visit your blog and see your afghan.  No two will be the same so it would be fun to check out yours!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Gina Brown's

My tour through the yarn stores of Calgary and area continues.  The latest one I visited is Gina Brown's located at 107, 5718 1A Street SW. 


The outside is like many other shops in a strip mall, but inside...check this out!  If a picture is worth a thousand words, here are 4,000 words for you to describe the store:





Gina Brown was the lady who opened the store 41 years ago.  Obviously they are doing something right to stay in business for such a long time.  Now it is owned by her daughter, the charming Diana.  She and I had a very nice conversation.  There is also another Gina Brown's located in Vancouver, owned by Diana's daughter, Gina's granddaughter, Kristina.

The shop is well-organized, complete with a large variety of yarns in all weights and colors, lots of patterns, needles, notions and accessories.  There is an area near the front of the shop for those who are interested in needlepoint or smocking.

Some yarn followed me home - enough to make a sweater but it will be a stealth project for a while.

This store is across town but well worth the drive.  I'll be back.

ps...to my friend, Barb B.  There was an entire binder full of Cowichan sweater patterns like the ones we bought.  I wasn't able to sit and browse as someone else had the binder.  Now, I have an excuse to go back to Gina's, as if I needed an excuse!

I have one shop left to visit, The Knitting Room.  I've heard good things about it and I'm looking forward to seeing it.  I will also go back to Pudding Yarn as it's been years since I was there. 

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Ten On Tuesday 9.27.11

Carole, from Carole Knits, emails a topic each Monday for Tuesday's blog posts.  You can participate every week or occasionally.  You can sign up here.  This is my first Ten On Tuesday post, so let's see if I can come up ten answers (aside from all the obvious ones):

10 Things You Do Every Day

#1.  Okay, the top of the list has to be knitting.  It's right up there with breathing and eating.  I wonder how many bloggers/knitters put that at the top of their list?  If I don't knit at least a few stitches in a day, check my pulse!  Add to that, thinking about designing, coming projects, yarns and the odd guilt feeling about the size of my stash!

#2.  Watch the news.  I need to know if there is trouble in the world.  If the world is ending, I will need to knit faster to complete a few projects first.


#3.  Email or talk to my friend in Georgia.

#4.  Browse Ravelry.  I like to see what friends are making, check out trends and often I end up trying to avoid temptations!

#5.  Read.  Currently I'm reading "Skydog" by Randy Poe.  It's the life story of guitarist Duane Allman, a very talented musician who packed a lot of living into a very few years.  In the same vein is...

#6.  Listen to music.  I like all kinds of music, except country.

#7.  Nap.  My idea of happy hour?  Taking a nap!  Z Z Z z z z   z   z  z  z  .............

#8.  Think about travelling to places all over the world, domestic and foreign.  So much world.  So little time.

#9.  Okay, I'm running out of ideas other than eating, showering, brushing my teeth, etc. etc. etc.  I'll continue on with things I do often:  watch Jeopardy.  I've been following the show since I was in high school.  I often do well from the comfort of my couch but I know if I ever went on the show the categories would be:  Chemistry, Medieval Battles, Men Named Thaddeus, Country Music (see #6), Ballet, Japanese Phrases and Places Beginning With X.  I'd set a new record for the largest loss in Jeopardy history.

10.  Blogging.  I enjoy blogging and try to post something almost everyday.  I also like to check other's blogs, but I often fall behind.   

Monday, September 26, 2011

Qiviut on the Hoof

On Saturday I went to the Calgary Zoo.  It's been decades since I visited a zoo.  The last time was in Basel, Switzerland in the early 1990s.  It was very enjoyable, especially with a 20-month-old toddler who is fascinated with the animals.  I paid for a membership and I'll be back from time to time, so there was no need to see everything in one day.  For this visit I wanted to see the Canadian Wildlife section.

It was amazing to be so close to grizzly bears, moose and more.

Grizzly bear, above.  Moose, below.  Scroll down to see the muskox!

However, my goal was to see another animal from Canada, from the high Arctic, one I've never laid eyes on before:  the muskox.  How can a knitter resist seeing the animal that gives us such wonderful yarn, qiviut, made from the undercoat of the muskox.  And so, there they were, basking in the warm sunshine.  I wonder if they were missing the cold of the northern tundra.


I've been lucky enough to knit with qiviut quite a bit in the past.  I've made scarves and a cowl.  It's a wonderful, soft yarn, often referred to as "cashmere of the north".  It is hypoallergenic, eight times warmer than wool, doesn't shrink or shed, odorless, durable, and rare.  The current retail price is $90/oz!!


I still want to go to Alaska and the Arctic and learn more, but for now, one more thing has been checked off my knitter's list of things I want to do and see.  Now that I'm living in a colder climate I must dig out the Muskox Mitten kit that I bought (online) years ago from Folknits.  A must-have knitting book about qiviut is "Arctic Lace" by Donna Druchunas.  It's an interesting read and the patterns are beautiful.  I was lucky enough to do a bit of knitting for Donna and read the manuscript-in-progress.  If you're interested in all things qiviut and you're in the Banff, Alberta area, you must visit the Jacques Cartier store. 

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Replying To Comments

I've mentioned this pet peeve before and I'm still irritated.  Blogger doesn't appear to have the option to ask a commenter for their email address, which is not published.  As a result, I'm not able to reply unless I, personally, already have your email address .  I certainly understand that you may not want to see your email in the comments.

I've toyed with the idea of changing to another blogging program, but to be honest, it would be a lot of work and I'd rather be knitting.

So.... I have a suggestion.  I'm going to start a little list that I'll keep on my computer.  It will have names and/or screen names, along with the associated email address.  This way, if I have something to say, I can write back to you.  If you want to leave a comment, or think you might comment in the future, why not send your contact information to me privately.  You can email it to me at: 

joanne  @  jconklin  .  com  (remove the spaces). 

I promise you, your email will be used only for this reason and won't be shared.  By the way, if you leave me a link that begins with "https://", I'm not able to access it.

I've checked some Blogger message boards and this seems to be a common complaint.  Perhaps Blogger will listen.  In the meantime, this is the only solution that I can think of that will keep your email private and allow me to respond.

Thanks everybody.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Eye Candy Friday

I've heard many times that Canadians are very polite.  For the most part, I would agree.  When I was in Canmore a week ago I saw this bit of graffiti.  I think it's a shame when surfaces are defaced, but at least this person was polite about it and for that reason I chose it as eye candy.  A polite graffiti writer is something you don't often see.

"Sorry About Your Wall"
The picture is a little blurry and I snapped it quickly as I was driving by.  Distracted driving, I know.  Bad Joanne.  I'll be good from now on! 

Thursday, September 22, 2011

S & S Socks - Finished

I finished the S & S Socks tonight.  The colors didn't line up exactly but I'm satisfied that they are close enough.  The socks are, more or less, in Colorado Avalanche colors.  I've had the yarn for a while but chose to knit the socks now to honor two hockey players, former members of the Avalanche, who died in a plane crash in Russia on September 7th of this year, Karlis Skrastins (left) and Ruslan Salei (right).



THE DETAILS
Pattern: Generic, 60 stitches
Stocking stitch with short row heel
Worked top down

80% Superwash Merino / 20% Nylon
100 grams/420 yds

Needles: U.S.#0 / 2.0 mm
double-pointed

Size: Lady's medium

Note: There was plenty of yarn remaining.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Cables

Check out this cool cable-knit rug design from Flor.  I like that it's simple.  It comes in tiles so that you can mix and match and make the layout your own, either a large room-sized rug or a smaller one, or a runner.


I could be tempted.  Okay, so I ordered a sample tile for a whopping $1.75 (incl. tax) and the free catalog.  If nothing else, it will be nice to see the actual tile.  I wonder which one they'll send me, and what color.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Knit & Caboodle

Downtown Canmore is beautiful, surrounded as it is with mountains.  As with any tourist-y mountain community I've been to there were a number of outdoor clothing stores, restaurants, souvenir stores and fudge shops.  What's with the fudge shops in these places?  I'm not complaining, but I wonder why they are so plentiful.  I also found a really good bagel place, the Rocky Mountain Bagel Company.

This is 9th Street, a block away from the main Street, and across from a yarn store.  Check out that mountain.  If you looked down the street in the opposite direction you'd have a similar view.  Yes, that's my vehicle on the left.


No trip is complete unless I visit a yarn shop, if there is one, and I found a very nice place called Knit & Caboodle.


I was immediately impressed when I walked in the store.  There was quite a variety of yarn, many that I recognized, Cascade, Sirdar, Manos del Uruguay, Madeline Tosh, Malabrigo, etc., and some that were new to me. 


What I really liked was the support of local entrepreneurs:  a couple of independent dyers, TwoJuniper Yarns and Bohoknits and yarn bowls by Canmore potter, Katie Borrowman.  One of the bowls followed me home as well as a skein of yarn for my Travel Afghan - more on my purchases another time.  The lady who was working was very nice and a talented knitter.  This is a shop that I look forward to visiting again.


The drive back to Calgary was much quicker.  It turns out that I really was on a secondary road when I went to Canmore.  I was on highway 1A, the old Trans-Canada, not highway 1, a busy, well-maintained divided highway. 

Monday, September 19, 2011

Canmore

First of all, the answer to guess-the-name from yesterday.  The yarn is called "Lipstick in the Dryer" and that made me chuckle.  I liked the thought that it might be called Sock Monkey.  I'm starting to lean towards making a long, narrow scarf, but that could easily change.

Yesterday I drove to Canmore and it was really pleasant, once I got going.  My GPS couldn't guide me out of the city because it didn't recognize the construction areas.  I finally worked my way to another part of the city and then found the highway heading west and I was on my way.  It started out with the GPS telling me where to go and ended with me telling it where to go!!

I was really surprised by the highway as it started out as divided, then narrowed to two lanes, and then to a long stretch where there were no shoulders and wasn't in great condition.  This is the Trans-Canada highway? 

Click on the picture to enlarge.  Press the Esc button to return here.
(Blogger appears to be enlarging photos differently than before.)
 The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, so close to the mountains and with the river at the base. 



I was disappointed that I couldn't pull over at one point as there was a field with at least 30 donkeys grazing.  I would have loved to take a picture of them. 

The landscape is very rugged as you can see. 


There was snow at some of the higher elevations:


Close to Canmore you see these peaks named the "Three Sisters".  My daughter and her husband hiked on the trail (you can't see it in this picture) up to the top of the "Middle Sister".  They do things like that.  They're very athletic and it totally exhausts me just to hear of their activites.


The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny. 

That's all for today.  Tomorrow, Canmore - and the yarn store that I found.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Guessing Game

Today I'm having a little guessing game.  I won't call it a contest as there is no prize.  Here is a picture of a sock yarn that I couldn't resist even though I have enough yarn to stock any good-sized store.  I liked the yarn but I also liked the name of it.  It's mostly gray with one splash of bright red.  If you have a mind to leave a comment with your guess, or tell me what you would call this yarn, it will be fun to read your ideas.  I'll post the answer tomorrow.  If you already know the answer, please don't post it!


I'd also welcome ideas on what to make.  Which sock pattern?  A shawlette?  Which design?  Something else?  A scarf, maybe?

I started the second S & S sock last night and knitted while talking to friends who came over for the evening.  It's going quickly and I'll be turning the heel later today.  Yay....another finished project is coming up very soon.

Today I'm going to take a little road trip, driving about an hour west of Calgary to the town of Canmore.  I've heard that it's very beautiful, and oh, there is a yarn store, too, and it's open on Sunday!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

One Down, One To Go

The first of my S & S socks is finished and blocked.  Now, let's see if I can make the second one match up with the first.  I didn't make a note of exactly where in the blue section I started when I cast on for the first sock. It might take more than one try to get it right.


There'll be no second sock syndrome for me this time around.  The second sock will be started right away and I have another single sock in my knitting bag when this pair is finished.  Finishing.  What a concept!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Missing Kaaterskill Quilt

Today I learned about a missing quilt.  It's a heartbreaking story about a stunningly beautiful quilt that took four years to create by hand.

You can read the whole story herehere and here.

Please keep your eyes open for the quilt:  quilt shows, eBay, anywhere.  If you have a blog, a Facebook account, a Twitter account, etc. you might think about passing on the word.


I'd love to see this story have a happy ending, wouldn't you?

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Rule of Four

My Damson shawlette is underway and I've completed 32 rows.  The Madeline Tosh Merino Light yarn feels really nice and is a joy to knit with.  I'm on the garter stitch section and the pattern is easy to remember.  The number of stitches is increasing quickly with 8 stitches added every two rows. 

The pin attached to the middle lets me know which is the right side of the shawl.
I'm limiting myself to working on no more than four projects.  The Damson shawlette is one.  Two, the S & S socks:  I've heading down the foot towards the toe of the first sock.  Three, the Paul Smith cardigan:  the back and both front pieces are finished.  I'm undecided at the moment about number four.  I've ordered the yarn for my daughter's Effortless cardigan so that will likely be it, or maybe I'll complete another pair of socks first.

My friends will remember "The Rule of Four".  You could only have four projects on the needles at any time.  If you wanted to start, or work on, something new you had to complete one of the four projects to create an opening for the new one.  The only way to open up a spot is to finish something, you can't just exchange one unfinished project for another.  This gives added incentive to finish.

You have to be careful when you choose your four projects.  If you pick four sweaters, or four projects requiring a lot of attention to the pattern for example, what would you do for a carry along, or group knitting, project?  If you need to make a gift, you have to plan to have enough time to make it so that it fits into the queue.  If you have four long term projects, will you be able to knit the gift in time?

I wonder how many of my knitting friends are still adhering to the Rule of Four?  I strayed from it for quite a while but now I'm back on track.

To change the subject:  if you are interested in writing a guest blog post, drop me an email and tell me a bit about your idea.  Perhaps you have something going on that you want to share, or maybe you don't have a blog but would like to say hi to the knitting world or just see what it's like to post.  Whatever the reason, I welcome your email.   joanne @ jconklin . com

Monday, September 12, 2011

Cast on 3 sts...

Knit 6 rows.

Why, yes, I did start another project.  How did you know?

On Sunday I started the beautiful Damson shawlette by Ysolda Teague.  A few weeks ago I was given a gift of a skein of Madeline Tosh Merino Light by my friend, Sheila.  She had visited Loop in Philadelphia and picked up a skein for both of us in the "Nostalgia" colorway.  What a perfect name given the fact that I was about to move to a new city.  The color is one of my favorites:  mauve/gray, very slightly variegated. 


We decided to choose a pattern that we both liked and do a little knitalong, and agreed on Damson.  I'll post a picture of the shawlette-in-progress later.  It's hard to get a good picture indoors at night.  Besides, I don't have much done yet.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Tapas Sock Club

Last night I went back to Make One Yarn Studio for the launch of their Tapas Club.  Roughly 30 people showed up and it was a nice group.  I met some very friendly knitters.  Tapas is a sock club with an original pattern, yarn dyed specifically for the pattern and extras being offered.  The pattern was called Sangria and the yarn was a wine color with specks of yellow running through it.  Also included in the kit was a recipe for roasted bell peppers and olives (the yarn color has the same name), a stitch marker in the shape of a lemon and a fabric bag that was close in color to the yarn.  There was sangria and lots of hors d'oevres for the group.


The pattern was designed by Jen (left) and the yarn was from Sam (right) of Yummy Yarn Studio.  The owner of Make One is Bess, in the middle. 


The kit was nice and it was popular with the knitters but it didn't "speak to me", so I passed on buying it.  The next kit will be offered in November.  Sam had a couple of large baskets containing skeins of sock yarn and there were several colors that I liked.  I picked out this less-than-subtle color:


I love it. 

The yarn:  425m - 464yds/100g
2.25mm-3.25mm (US 1-3) 32-27 sts/10cm/4in
80% Bluefaced Leicester/20% nylon.

From the dyer:  "BFL is a fibre with character. It loves the dye pot and I always smile when I pull it from the dye pot. 20% nylon means it is ready for the hardcore wear and tear we require from a sock yarn."

Thursday, September 8, 2011

S & S Socks

Yesterday I heard the news that the plane carrying a hockey team went down in Russia.  Among the dead were two former Colorado Avalanche players:  #3 Karlis Skrastins and #24 Ruslan Salie.  I don't know these men but I felt their loss just the same.  I've been to games and seen them play.  I've cheered them on, hoping that they'd get the puck, score a goal, avoid a check from an opposing player.......

This time the opposing player was bigger and tougher.  A plane crash.  It's hard to believe that all of the young men will never take to the ice again.  I can't even imagine how their families must feel at a time like this.  I feel badly for all on board, and, on a personal level, I'm thinking of Skrastins and Salie.

In honor of Skrastins and Salie I'm knitting a pair of socks in the Colorado Avalanche colors.  It's nothing much really, but makes me feel a little bit better.  These will be called the "S & S Socks".  The colors in the picture aren't accurate.  It's was too bright outside when I clicked this photo.  The blue is really more of a sky blue and the other color is burgundy, not magenta.  For now, however, this will have to do.  Somehow, right now, it's feels too trivial to think about.


This statement was released by the Colorado Avalanche yesterday:

Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club Statement On The Lokomotiv Hockey Team Plane Crash
Wednesday, 09.07.2011 / 3:27 PM /

“The entire Colorado Avalanche organization is deeply saddened by this morning’s horrific news regarding the Kontinental Hockey League’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl,” said President Pierre Lacroix.

“Moreover, we are all in a state of shock regarding the deaths of former Avalanche defensemen Karlis Skrastins and Ruslan Salei. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families as well as those involved in this devastating incident.”

“I am still in disbelief about today’s tragic news,” said Executive Advisor/Alternate Governor Joe Sakic. “Both Karlis and Ruslan were unbelievable individuals and great teammates. They will be sorely missed. My condolences go out to their families and all those affected in this tragedy.”

Skrastins spent four seasons with the Avalanche, appearing in 275 regular season games from 2003-2004 to 2007-2008. He set an NHL record of 495 consecutive games played by a defenseman, while playing for the organization.

Salei spent three seasons with the Avalanche, appearing in 101 regular season games from 2007-2008 to 2009-2010.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

R.I.P.

I don't usually post twice in a day but I just heard this horrible news.  I'm pasting the entire story from CNN here.  A list of the names of the victims can be found here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Lokomotiv_Yaroslavl_plane_crash

Russia plane crash kills 43, officials say

By the CNN Wire Staff
September 7, 2011 -- Updated 1601 GMT (0001 HKT)

A picture of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team taken on August 21.
A picture of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team taken on August 21.

Moscow (CNN) -- A plane carrying Russian, German, Swedish and former NHL hockey players crashed as it took off Wednesday afternoon from Russia's Yaroslavl airport, killing at least 43 people, Russian emergency officials said.

The Yak-42 aircraft was taking members of a professional hockey team to Minsk, the Belarusian capital, the Russian aviation authority told CNN.

The Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team -- which was one of Russia's leading teams and included players from Germany, Slovakia and Sweden -- was scheduled to play a match in the new Kontinental Hockey League, RIA Novosti said.

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl had a number of players with ties to the National Hockey League, according to the U.S. National Hockey League's official website, NHL.com.

The NHL cited Russia's Sov Sport website as confirming that the entire main roster of the team Lokomotiv was on the plane, along with four players from the youth team.

Lokomotiv's head coach, Brad McCrimmon, 52, who was born in Canada, previously played in the NHL and served as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings, NHL.com said.

Others who played in the NHL include Karel Rachunek, a 32-year-old Czech native; Ruslan Salei, 36, from Belarus; Karlis Skrastins, 37, from Latvia; Pavol Demitra, 36, from Slovakia, and Josef Vasicek, 30, from the Czech Republic.

Demitra was a former Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks center, RIA Novosti reported, while fellow center Vasicek was formerly with the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes. Salei previously played for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Colorado Avalanche and the Red Wings.

A Russian Emergency Situations Ministry representative said there were 45 people on the plane, including eight crew members, of whom two had survived. It had earlier said 37 people were aboard.

Twenty-nine bodies have been recovered from the crash site so far, the ministry spokesman told CNN. He added that the plane crashed on the banks of the Volga river, with parts of the plane falling to the ground and other parts into the river.

The Russian Federal Aviation Agency said earlier a number of people had survived the crash, but their condition was critical.

A national championship ice hockey match between Salavat Yulayev and Atlant was halted in the city of Ufa after reports of the crash.

Players from both teams and spectators observed a moment of silence before leaving the stadium. Many in the audience were crying, Russian state TV footage showed.

The president of the Russian national hockey league, Alexander Medvedev, took the microphone at the stadium to say representatives from both clubs had asked for the match to be called off because they had ties to many of those at Lokomotiv.

He said: "I would like to assure you that we'll do everything we can to make sure that the first-class ice hockey in Yaroslavl will continue and that the Lokomotiv club will remain as one of the strongest clubs in our Kontinental Hockey League."

An aviation agency spokesman, Sergei Izvolsky, told CNN the crash occurred around 4 p.m. (8 a.m. ET) during takeoff because the plane couldn't reach a safe altitude fast enough.

The aircraft collided with the antenna of the airport beacon, fell to the ground and broke into several pieces and caught fire, Izvolsky said.

It was a charter flight with a plane operated by Yak-Service Airlines, he said. Yaroslavl is about 155 miles (250 kilometers) northeast of Moscow.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev instructed the country's Investigative Committee and other law enforcement agencies to probe the crash.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also asked Transport Minister Igor Levitin to go to the scene to organize efforts to examine the cause of the crash, Putin's press office reported.

The crash came as an international political forum opened in Yaroslavl, with participants expected to include Dmitry Medvedev, the prime ministers of France, Spain and Italy and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

Medvedev plans to visit the crash scene to pay tribute to the victims before attending the forum on Thursday, the Kremlin press office said Wednesday.

CNN's Maxim Tkachenko, Josh Levs and Jennifer Deaton contributed to this report.
The original story is here:  http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/09/07/russia.plane.crash/

Former members of the Colorado Avalanche, Karlis Skrastins and Ruslan Salie are believe to be among those who died.