redheadknits

It's important.

2010-01-14T12:06:00.001-08:00

Stolen from a blog I read:

"I'm blessed.

I sent my yarn money to Doctors Without Borders (website for Canada here, for USA here and other countries can find their site here) this afternoon. All donations are gratefully received. If you are able to donate, please, when you go to the website and get the drop-down menu, choose "Greatest Need" or "Emergency Relief" as the target for your donation. That way they will be able to apply the funds where they will do the greatest good.This is a country that is so poor that even before the earthquake they were eating mud."

I sent my yarn money there, too. Right now, it seems all donations they receive are being targeted towards Haiti, so you may not have to worry about selecting the "Greatest Need" donation target. DWB are an amazing group of people who do great work and perform small miracles in the world's worst places every single day. Also, if you're a knitter and you make a donation, click here to represent. Like the above-quoted blogger said, I have no idea how they will survive this. Perhaps, with our help, they can.

Battle Cry

2009-12-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

OK, I know, I'm blog fail. But I've been thinking about this post for awhile, since fall started. One day, walking home from getting coffee or lunch or something, a page from a book hit me in the face. No, seriously. It blew up from the sidewalk and literally hit me in the face.

Here's what I read:

"'I sometimes wonder, Danny, if we all aren't a bunch of wild, crazy animals. I guess we all wonder that. But we've got to try to go on living and loving and hating and feeling and touching and smelling whether there's a war, or not.'
'Professor.'
'Yes.'
'Would you lend me your ID card?'
'Why'
'I want to get crocked.'
Norton put out his cigarette and shrugged. 'Is it going to make it easier by going out and getting drunk?'
'Ive got to do something or I'll blow by stack. Don't give me a lecture.'

And it goes on from there, for a brief time. He talks about drinking and bartenders and giving or selling good advice. He mentions Frank Sinatra singing in the background (odd, that, with me walking around in Hoboken - or maybe that's the point). He talks about Danny having a girl be in love with him and should he let her wait for him, and how poeple grow old fast in wars. And then I got to the end of the page.

Hmm. So, I've been pondering what Mr. Uris was talking about. I only had one page of the book (Battle Cry). Also, I've been wondering why that one page hit me in the face. Any theories, please do share. Just an interesting thing that happened to me recently.

Oh, and I knit a few things, too. Will post pics once I take them off the camera.

My kit arrived!!

2009-08-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

My kit from the supremely excellent Perenelle arrived yesterday. Took a few wobbly phone pics today to share.

Check out the awesome handpainted Phillies bag she made me! What a great project bag and a great way to show my love for the fightin' Phils!

The pattern she sent along is great, too: A Noble Cowl (rav link). Looks fun!

Inside the purple tissue was two skeins of Mission Falls Merino Superwash in an excellent navy blue/purpley color. Inside the red tissue she also sent a great little notebook, a small tins with some very useful knitting notions and a small sharpie (in green! love!) and some other fun little things!

She also sent along several of my favorite candy bars bewitched to be turned into Dementor Recovery Sticks!! Handy!

Thanks again, Perenelle! I love it!

PHX

2009-08-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

Stuck in the airport in Phoenix, wishing I had some of these to nibble on:

Hope all is well -- home soon, thank goodness!

Almost!

2009-08-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a travelling fool lately (vacation last week, work travel next week) and have yet to send out my HSKS kit to my spoilee, Thistle. I got it all together today and walked myself down to the post office only to find out it had closed 5 minutes earlier. Boo. (My apologies, Thistle!) Either I take it with me and mail it from my travels this week (if I can fit it in my suitcase, that is) or I won't get to mail until NEXT Monday, 8.24. Sometimes this work thing really gets in the way of important stuff like knitting and swaps. I'll use the extra time this weekend to post a few pics if I can a.) take the box apart without wrecking everything and b.) find the camera.

And, just because, 5 songs that have helped me get through the day of having to work on a gorgeous, sunny Saturday:

Suspicious Minds, Elvis Presley
Monkeys Gone to Heaven, the Pixies
Falls Apart, Stabbing Westward
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want, the Smiths
and P. Y. T., the late, great Michael Jackson

This week: Albuquerque Monday and Tuesday, San Francisco Wednesday thru Friday. I'll wave as I fly over!

East Coast Tour!

2009-07-30T16:13:00.001-07:00

Well, friends, heading out on vacation tomorrow...starting the week in Florida, flying home on Wednesday AM, and then driving up to Gloucester, Mass to see the Johnson side of the family! While I'm away, check in with my spoilee, Thistle as well as my spoiler, Perenelle and say hello to both of them! Back on 8/10, have a great week!!

Game 5...Pffffbbblt.

2009-07-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

That's the sound of a raspberry. Which signifies me getting nothing done on Game 5 of the swap. Instead, I offer you some yarny goodness. This is the awesome prize Heather sent me for winning earlier at camp:

It's Malabrigo (squee!) Baby Merino Laceweight in the "Ibiza" colorway, and I could literally stare at it for hours.

Along with this Leaf Lace Scarf pattern by twistedknitter:
And this is the start of a Baby Surprise Jacket for my new little homie, Cooper. Yarn is two strands of Online Supersocke held together:

Happy Friday!!

Swap stuff...

2009-07-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

Nutty week this week, friends, doing a little travelling and working on the road. Am in Nashville, one of my favorite towns, and looking forward to spending the weekend with my best mate!

SWAP STUFF
I've been zooming around the HSKS universe looking for eggs, but haven't found any new ones yet. Will keep looking. And as far as my house assignment goes for the week, I give you...

Billywig Fizz!

Fill a tall glass with ice and then add:
One shot blue curacao
One shot blueberry flavored vodka
Splash of pineapple juice

Top off with Sprite or 7-up and garnish with a cherry and lemon slice. Nom!!

Hope everyone's having a great week - will post pics of my awesome gift from Bevin and some other fun stuff when I get home!

Riddikulus!

2009-07-10T10:31:00.000-07:00

My boggart. Seriously, the thing that will make me move fastest in all the world is this:

Riddikulus!! And voila...

I think I do pretty good work, if I do say so myself...

Game 2, Part 2 and Three Truths and a Lie Guesses!

2009-07-06T12:07:00.001-07:00

Gah, was busy with the holiday weekend and didn't get a chance to post this!

Quote: "When in doubt, go to the library."
Quoter: Ron Weasley

Here are my guesses for our house game, Three Truths and a Lie:
Bevin: coffee
Celestina: kids
Dan'Azarella: wrestling
Helga: TV
Rowan: piano
and Winnie: country music

And, just because, 5 random songs that have come up on the iPod today but have provided me with great background sounds for a very productive day:
"Caring is Creepy," the Shins
"You Look Like Rain," Morphine
"Amie," Damien Rice
"Expo '86," Death Cab for Cutite
"Grace," Jeff Buckley

Enjoy!

...And Game 2 answers!

2009-06-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

In the second volume of the HP books by JK Rowling, The (#1)CHAMBER OF SECRETS, we continue to learn the incredible adventures of Hogwarts student (#2) HARRY POTTER and his friends (#3) RON WEASLEY and (#4) HERMIONE GRANGER. Belonging to the house of (#5) GRYFFINDOR, they attend Defense Against the (#6) DARK ARTS taught by Wizarding celebrity (#7) GILDEROY LOCKHART, a none-too-bright fellow who cannot even handle pixies!

In The (#8) CHAMBER OF SECRETS, we also meet Dobby a (#9)HOUSE ELF for the first time. Determined Dobby seeks to sabotage the return of (#10) HARRY POTTER to Hogwarts and is pretty persistent but is unsuccessful. After a few weeks at school, the deceased Ravenclaw student who haunts the girls lavatory, also known as (#11) MOANING MYRTLE, shows (#12) HARRY POTTER and (#13) RON WEASLEY an old empty diary that dropped through her ghostly form out of thin air!

Many nifty things continue to happen for the next several months… we won’t go into all the juicy details right now… however, the ending is prime reading indeed!! (#14) HARRY POTTER finally kills Tom Riddle’s (a.k.a #15 VOLDEMORT) sneaky diary (which we now know is a #16 HORCRUX) and saves the sister of (#17) RON WEASLEY, (#18) GINNY WEASLEY!!!

Oh! Of course, we must mention that the thickheaded (#19) GILDEROY LOCKHART unintentionally erased his own memory, so he won’t be back for book three, The (#20) PRISONER OF AZKABAN!

So, I've got to get going on my swap kit...

2009-06-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

...and I know my swappee is WAY into Herbology, so that means some lovely lace stuff coming her way. I'm thinking something with a plant or flower theme would be perfect, I just have to research.

On another note, there is an awesome recipe site that has been running alongside some of these previous (and current) swaps that has allowed folks to share their favorites. It's great -- I feel like there will be baking happening in the near future to have some treats for the big 4th of July bash on Saturday!

I also noticed that I have about 10 things on the needles right now, and not one of them is even close to being finished. I need to get cracking, seriously.

And to finish, a list of five excellent songs that came up on the ol' iPod today:
1. Evil Urges, My Morning Jacket
2. Alibi, David Gray
3. When the War Came, the Decemberists
4. New Speedway Boogie, the Grateful Dead
5. London Halflife, Metric

That's it for now - happy Tuesday!

HSKS8: Summer Camp and first activity!

2009-06-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

So, I'm back participating in the latest and greatest HSKS event - Summer Camp! Check out the official blog for details. Here's my first activity:
Three truths and a lie - can you spot the lie?
1. I have two brothers.
2. I play three musical instruments.
3. I speak four languages.
4 I have five binfuls of yarn stash!

Looking forward to a fun summer!

39 things

2009-02-14T13:01:00.000-08:00

So, I've been dinged with this, like, 900 times on Facebook. But I'm going to respond here because about 200 people too many will actually see it on FB. And, well...no one reads this, really.

39 odd things...

39 ODD Things about you!

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yup.
2. Have you ever been drunk? Yup.
3. Do you own a gun? Never in a zillion years...
4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? Grape
5. What do you think of hot dogs? Burn mine over charcoal, please. Unless it's 2 in the morning and I'm drunk, then it doesn't even really have to be cooked, just hot.
6. Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas Vacation
7. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee
8. Can you do push ups? I sure do try. My goal is 30 man pushups in a row by end of 2009.
9. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Jade heart necklace
10. Favorite hobby? Knitting
11. Do you have A.D.D.? Good lord, yes.
12. What's your favorite shoe? Don't really have one - comfy ones are best.
13. Middle name? Ann
14. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? I should be working more. I'm kinda hungry. I should really take a shower.
15. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Coffee, tea, red wine
16. Current worry? Work stuff
17. Current hate right now? Nothing springs to mind
18. How did you bring in the New Year? I fell asleep on the couch at 11:15. Sad.
19. Where would you like to go? Someplace warm.
20. Name three people who will complete this? no one, his brother, and his mom.
21. Do you own slippers? I do and I wear them almost every day.
22. What color shirt are you wearing right now? Grey
23. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Eww.
24. Can you whistle? Yes
25. Favorite color? Green
28. Would you be a pirate? Nope
26. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't usually sing in the shower. Everywhere else, but not in the shower.
27. Favorite girl's Name? Elizabeth
28. Favorite boy's name? Charlie
29. What's in your pocket right now? $17. Lint. A paper clip.
30. Last thing that made you laugh? My mom.
31. Best bed sheets as a child? Peanuts
32. Worst injury you've ever had as a child? I ran into a wall (?!) and took a huge chunk out of my forehead.
33. Who is your loudest friend? It's a tie between Mel and Shan, but only after we've had a drink or three
34. How many dogs do you have? 0
35. Does someone have a crush on you? I'm quite certain that's not the case.
36. What is your favorite book? The Great Gatsby
37. What is your favorite candy? Skor bars
38. Favorite Sports Team? The Philadelphia Eagles
39. What song do you want played at your funeral? Broke-down Palace by the Grateful Dead

So much for that...

2009-02-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd really blog more in 2009, but I'm not off to a very good start. Here's some randomness:

Your rainbow is shaded indigo.

What is says about you: You are a proud person. You appreciate cities, technology, and other great things people have created. Friends count on you for being honest and insightful.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Whatever that means.

Rockin' Sock Club 2009

2009-01-22T06:38:00.003-08:00

So, I've always wanted to get in on this and this year, I have...

Evidently, you pay your $$$, and every once in awhile, you get a box filled with sock yarn and a pattern. And there's a pretty chatty blog/website you can post on and meet folks, too. Box should get here early next week (maybe on Tuesday for my birthday?), will post pics of what I get.

I haven't been knitting much since I finished my Christmas stuff, I need to get back in the swing. I have, however, been listening to the news 24-7 and am pretty pleased with the goings-down of this week. I'm hopeful, and willing to be (a little) patient.

Because I have no pics to post, here's some random thoughts...

1. I've been going to the chiropractor (4 times so far), and today I actually think I'm feeling it. Yay to not being in pain!

2. Also been going to the gym a lot and working with Liz the Wonder-Trainer. So that's good.

3. I wish I had someone who's job was to make me breakfast. Srsly, they came in for, like, 30 minutes, put the coffee on and whipped up a little something and left. That'd be so rad. As it is now, I hem and haw about what to have for breakfast and the next thing you know, it's time for lunch and I'm starving.

4. Snooty, condescending people at work get on my nerves.

5. I might go to England in March! I really hope that works out. Need to get with Cam, make plans.

6. Need to decide if I'm doing the HSKS swap again - sign-ups are tomorrow.

And there you have it. Oh, and today is my Ma's birthday, so happy birthday, Ma! Have a good one!

Happy 2009!

2009-01-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

So, I really don't make New Year's resolutions, but one thing I am going to try for is to blog more. We'll see if I have more of a history of 2009 at the end of the year than I did with 2008.

Here's a great thing I stole from my friend, Mary.
1) Look at the list and italicize those you have already read.
2) Bold those you intend to read.
3) Place ** after the books you LOVE.
4) Post your list so we can try and track down these people who’ve only read 6 and force books upon them.
(Mary searched for books that are available on LibriVox and have linked them. There are a few Wikipedia links, too0

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen librivox link
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte librivox link
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling **
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee**
6. The Bible (Can't really say I've read the whole thing.)
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte librivox link
8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott LibriVox
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare librivox links
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - J D Salinger
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch** - George Eliot librivox link
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald** (In fact, favorite book of all time.)
23. Bleak House** - Charles Dickens librivox link
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy librivox links
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky libriVox
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll libriVox
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy librivox link
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens LibriVox
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34. Emma - Jane Austen librivox link
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres (Really?)
39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41. Animal Farm - George Orwell
42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (Again, really?)
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery librivox link
47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50. Atonement - Ian McEwan
51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen LibriVox
55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas librivox link
66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure** - Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones’ Diary - Helen Fielding (One more time, really?)
69. Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville LibriVox
71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens librivox link
72. Dracula - Bram Stoker LibriVox
73. The Secret Garden** - Frances Hodgson Burnett (thanks to librivox & kayray)
74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses - James Joyce LibriVox
76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal - Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession** - AS Byatt
81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens LibriVox
82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert librivox link
86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle LibriVox
90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92. The Little Prince** - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94. Watership Down - Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces** - John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas LibriVox
98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

So, I've read a lot, but I see a few I should add to my list. Greg got me an awesome thing for Christmas, and with it came 100 free "classics" (not sure I agree with every title being called a classic, but they're free so I won't split hairs). I'll just have to decide where to start. Happy reading in 2009!

The only knitter in the NYC area...

2008-10-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

...who DIDN'T go to Rhinebeck, evidently. Boo. Because I was feeling sorry for myself, I started a new sweater in some super-cool yarn:

Pattern: Tangled Yoke Cardigan by Eunny Jang (from Interweave Fall 2007)
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed in the "Watery" colorway
Needles: circs in US5, 4 and 0 (I think) and a set of US5 DPNs

Have a long way to go, but it made me feel better. Also bought a great pattern to start on some hats for brothers and husband for Christmas - now need to get some fiber to make them! If you went to Rhinebeck, hope you had a great time - but we had fun here in Hoboken, too!

Hoboken

2008-10-13T16:43:00.001-07:00

No time for blogging since we've moved...had tons of travel both for work AND play (Florida, Colorado, Nebraska, back to Florida), and am finally settling in. Been doing a smidge of knitting, nothing picture-worthy yet (surprising, what with all the time on planes and stuff) but have tons of beautiful new yarn and lots of ideas to work with.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with the view along the running path from this side of the Hudson:

It's me who's crooked, not New York City, just in case you were wondering.

FO: Dream Swatch

2008-07-23T10:27:00.001-07:00

Great, inventive stitch pattern and lovely yarn - makes for super-lightweight fabric:

Just call me Squinty McWrinkles...

Chevron and on and on...

2008-07-22T14:43:00.000-07:00

The Chevron Scarf
Pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: One skein Koigu (blues/browns), one skein of some other fun bronzey yarn (lost the label!)
Needles: straight US5

Loving this:

Too bad it's a gift, I want to keep it for myself! Oh well, will have to make another...

On a completely unrelated note, I have decided that I need to start running. Running is a good thing - it's free, it gets you outside, my husband does it. Only one problem: I hate running. But I've vowed to force myself at least until I can run five miles. In a row. Without stopping.

I started today. I did a bunch of research here and here to find the best way for a non-runner to start running and even ordered a book or two. Here's what I know so far: boy, am I not good at it. How can you be bad at running, you ask? Well, I can't really tell you, you'd have to come watch for yourself. I suck major wind and get all blotchy in the face, really, it's quite attractive. If you see a redheaded lump on the side of the road dry-heaving into the bushes, please, send water and an oxygen tank.

Today's "run" (and I use that term looooosely):

5 minutes of warm-up and stretching
20 minutes of intermittent running, walking and limping at certain points
5 minutes of sprinting for home at the end just to see if I could indeed sprint for 5 minutes. OK, so really it was about 2 minutes of sprinting, two of slowing down almost enough to be loping along and the last minute trying not to puke before I hit the front door.

All in all, a good day. Have to start somewhere, right?

Harry Potter people...

2008-07-14T16:31:00.000-07:00

...are the best kind of people. And I am a Harry Potter people. Person. Sure, we wish the world was magical, full of scary and sometimes venomous creatures, but there's mischief and a natural curiosity there, too, which I personally think is rad. And they are super, SUPER nice. Because they send you gifts.

I've mentioned before the Harry Potter knitting swap I've been participating in. Today, just for blogging on my character blog, one of my "housemates" sent me this:

440 yds of superwash goodness in the "Crookshanks" colorway:

Out of the clear blue sky, yarn and Starbucks appear in my mailbox?? I mean, come on - sure, we're a little batty, but clearly after seeing this, you can't argue with the awesomeness of Harry Potter people.

Dream swatch, dream weekend?

2008-07-11T09:36:00.001-07:00

This is Wendy Bernard's Dream Swatch pattern that I'm doing for a knitalong - very cool pattern with the long, sweeping stitches. I started it in this black Reynold's Soft Sea Wool, which has incredible stitch definition, but I'm not so sure it highlights the long stitches very well.

So, then I started a second one, because now I'm kinda obsessed with the pattern. I'll definitely finish the black one, but really, what could be better than GREEN!?

I'm fascinated. It's going to be a great knitting, listening to music, sitting in the sun with friends kinda weekend!

Like I need another fiber obsession...

2008-07-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in forever...because I've been spending my weekends up in Frenchtown learning something new...

Spinning. Because I need another fiber obsession. It is So. Freakin'. FUN! I took a class that ran for 4 weeks up at The Spinnery in Frenchtown. Betty is the best teacher and the store is BEE-YOO-DE-FULL. Full of unbelievable things. And I met the nicest people in my class (Ginna, Jamie, Jody and Connie, here's a spinning shout-out to ya!) Seriously, if you're even remotely in the area and want to learn to spin, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Betty let us borrow all the spinning accoutrements one needs to go from straight-from-the-sheep stinky, dirty wool...

To the finished product!

Washed and clean, I can't believe I actually picked, carded, spun, plyed and prepped this stuff:

It might not look like much, but I love it!!

I have no idea what to make with it, but I'll figure that out. Just as soon as I convince Greg that I must add a spinning wheel to my list of prized possessions!

brothers and nephews...

2008-05-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

...are excellent guinea pigs for testing out my new camera! I really don't know how to use it yet, but I luuuuurve it so.

N. giving H. the squooshy face:

Monkeys:

Sleepy H...

Takes great knitting shots, too!

Ravenclaw yarn... (it's actually Koigu, but I got it in the HSKS swap, so it's Ravenclaw yarn to me!):

It's her sweater now, evidently...

Close-up - shoulder of the Cropped Raglan:

You should play, too...

2008-05-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

So I found this meme on one of my Ravelry friends' blogs - can't remember who, so sorry for not giving credit where it's due!

Here's da rules:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.

Opening Credits: P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing), Michael Jackson. Perfect.
First Day At School: Purple Rain, Prince. Kinda heavy for the first day of school, but can't argue with the power of His Purpleness. Must have been a very meaningful school year.
Falling In Love: Waiting for My Real Life to Begin, Colin Hay. Hmm... not sure what DH would say, but...
Breaking Up: If I Should Fall Behind, Bruce Springsteen. Aww. That's a purty song. Shoulda switched "Falling in Love" with "Breaking Up" but that's the way the fates want it, I guess.
1st date: Faster, Sooner, Now - David Gray. Well, then...
Prom: Waiting Room, Fugazi. What? You didn't have a mosh pit at your prom?
Life's OK: The Unforgettable Fire, U2. Perfect again.
Driving: There's No Home for You Here, The White Stripes. Turn it all the way up and you have the makings of a most excellent driving song.
Flashback: Do the Standing Still, The Dismemberment Plan. Sigh. Does bring back some great memories of my friends before they all started having babies which seemingly zapped their will to live (and party).
Getting Back Together: Concerto: Moderato, Rachmaninoff. Must be the sweeping make-up sex music, I guess?
Wedding: Jesus Built My Hotrod, Ministry. HA! That's genius.
Final Battle: Cold Blows the Wind, Ween. Perfect three times.
Death Scene: I Can't See Nobody, Nina Simone. And a fourth.
Funeral Song: Uncloudy Day, Willie Nelson. Nice.
End Credits: Highway to Hell, Marilyn Manson. For a fifth and final perfect event/song pairing.

I love my iPod and my tunes - good to know I'm all prepared with musical accompaniments for any occasion.

Hope you all are having a fantabulous Memorial Day weekend - props to all our servicepeople, come home safe and soon.

New Sock Kit Swap about to begin!

2008-05-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

Whew - whirlwind of travel finally winding down...

(Evidently, I'm very alliterative this morning!)

Signed up for the next round of the Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap yesterday. It was very fun to do and I got a kick-ass package of knitting goodness from my spoiler. I was a Ravenclaw last term, this term I volunteered to join the Hufflepuff to win the house contests. There's still some spots available, so if you're interested click the link above.

Day of Silence.

2008-04-25T14:34:00.001-07:00

Click here.

Blog slacker...

2008-04-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

...like I need the guilt, right? But still, I feel guilty now that I've started this when I don't blog for awhile...

Anywhoo, here's a few new knitting pics - love the iPhone, takes better pics than my regular camera!

Here's a new sock:

Pattern: Conwy, from Nancy Bush's book, Knitting on the Road
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, colorway "Tuscany"
Needles - US3, bamboo

and this one is being modeled by the old TV remote:

and a little progress on the "Branching Out:"

and another:

I also finished my "That 70's Show Leftovers" vest, but it needs blocking. Will take pics whilst modeling in the near future.

So, work is nutty, and I have two straight weeks of travel coming up - Orlando, San Francisco and Vancouver. Then home a week. Then Halifax. Sheesh. So, blogging will probably be scarce, but I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, I'll be the girl in the window seat knitting and trying to avoid talking to the person next to her...

Vacation!

2008-03-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Heading out tomorrow for a little vacation - can't wait. Feel bad that the hubs can't make it, but my ma and I will have fun :)

Here's an work in progress:

It's Branching Out in some lovely Koigu I bought last year at MDS&W - purpley-browney loveliness...

And another one, this is Leftovers (sending much knitterly love to the Knitty.com!). The yarn is a mish-mosh of all different stuff, the brown is Knitpicks Merino in Cinnamon, the blue is Cascade 220 Heathers, the gray and white is cheapo Lion stuff I bought at Michael's to bulk up the stash, the yellow is leftover Cascade from a Harry Potter scarf and the orange is Heilo. I think. It's very 70's, but I like it - I keep calling it the "That 70's show" vest:

Where I'm going for the next few days, should be loads of time to knit and read and relax...so maybe these will be finished by the next post. Enjoy!

My six-word memoir...

2008-03-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

Tagged by Lesleygirl...

Keep on knockin' until they answer...

Here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir.

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.

3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post.

4. Tag five more blogs with links.

5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

Consider yourself tagged...

I just love meaningless quizzes...

2008-03-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

...this one, however, is spot on.

Your Element Is Air

You dislike conflict, and you've been able to rise above the angst of the world.

And when things don't go your way, you know they'll blow over quickly.

Easygoing, you tend to find joy from the simple things in life.

You roll with the punches, and as a result, your life is light and cheerful.

You find it easy to adapt to most situations, and you're an open person.

With you, what you see is what you get... and people love that!

What's Your Element?

I love FOs!

2008-02-20T13:32:00.000-08:00

Been knitting a lot - finished the cool bag I was making:

Pattern: French Market Bag by Polly Outhwaite (found on Ravelry, stored on Knitty)

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Rich Red (1 skein)

Lion Brand Lion Wool Solid in Goldenrod (1 skein)

Knit on size 7 needles in the round - DPNs are helpful for when the handles get skinny.

Sorry for the fuzzy iPhone pic - had had LOTS of coffee...here's another with a new project sticking out of it, Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang. I can't tell you how impressed I am with myself that I've gotten to a point where I can actually say I'm knitting a Eunny Jang pattern!

Cute, no? Perfect for my Gryffindor Swap Partner!

And one more gratuitious Endpaper shot:

Look, Ma! I'm doing it -- colorwork!!

Queen of the Slackers, I am.

2008-02-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

So, let's recap my workday today:

1. Got up late. LATE. Didn't turn on computer til almost 8:30. I have a 14 second commute down the hall from my bedroom to my office. Laaaa-zy!

2. Called into a 9:30 conference call. Promptly turned on the mute button. Fired up the coffee pot. Began looking for tax forms for this year because I vaguely remember receiving them. Decide they must have been sucked into the black hole vortex that is my office.

3. 10:00: Office is really bad. Begin cleaning. Not one helpful comment or insight into the conversation that is still happening on the conference call. Who are these people and what do they want with me?

4. 10:30: Find tax forms. Dance with cat, who is not amused at all. Make piles of stuff to be shredded. Still half-listening and not participating at all in conference call. Yes, you know, the one I'm paid to be on.

5. Decide that the small victory of finding tax forms must mean it's time for lunch. 11:30? Who cares!! I know it's early. I can always have a snack later if I get hungry, and I will, oh yes, I will.

6. 11:45: Lunch made, I turn on the TV, and grab the bag I'm knitting:

Couch is really comfy. Decide to snooze for 10 minutes, which will certainly energize me for the afternoon.

7. Wake up. 12:45. Hmm. Must have been more tired than I thought. Dammit, have another call in 15 minutes.

8. 1:00: Dial into next call and immediately put on mute. Half-listen as I pull pictures off camera. Here's another knitting project I just finished:

Cute, no. Fetching, in awesome yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. When I die, mummify me in this stuff, and I will grant you wishes afterwards, I swear.

9. Some stuff must have happened between 1:00 and now (4:52) but I have no idea what it was. I think I had a snack, maybe?

It must be almost dinner time, right?

Can you still say you're in your "mid-thirties?"

2008-01-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

...when you turn 37? Sigh...

Today's my birthday - I'm celebrating by hanging out with my friends Alyson and Ben down in Kentuckindiana. That's a new state I made up because they live in Indiana but right outside of Kentucky and all weekend long I've been asking, "now where are we? Kentucky? Indiana?" I think they're ready for me to go home now.

I thought I'd reflect on 36 and a few cool things that I did while I was there.

1. Paid off a lot of debt. 'Nuf said.

2. I went to Jazz Fest for the first (but definitely not the last) time. Fell in love with New Orleans and tried to convince husband to move there. No go. I'll keep working on him, though.

3. Went to some cool places for the first time:
Ireland
Indiana (Shut up, I can say that, I've been here since Thursday.)
Nashville!
Did I say Ireland?
Cincinnati (good chili, for reals)
Oh yeah, Ireland

4. Moved back to Jersey after almost 10 years. Home is home, y'all, whether other people think it's crazy or not.

5. Knit. A LOT. Made some really cool things for some good, good people.

It does seem like much, but it was a good year, I think. I'll be okay with 37 if it turns out as well.

Fridays don't come often enough.

2008-01-18T15:48:00.000-08:00

What a week, y'all. Work is absolutely bananas. I think I need a drinkie (or four) to drown my sorrows.

You know what my issue is this week? That I really need to learn not to care so much. I feel like I've sold my soul for the unnamed major corporation, except that when you sell your soul, you should at least have some sort of short-term gratification or perk or something... but instead, I just keep getting shat on. And then I work harder. And still no one notices. Or cares. So why should I care? Hence my issue. And yes, I know I ended that sentence five sentences ago with a preposition, but since I am both soul-less and exhausted, I'm leaving it. That's how you know something is REALLY wrong with me.

A fun diversion, however, has been the Sock Kit Swap I'm doing - I'm in Ravenclaw house, we rock. I made awesome stitch markers for my spoilee, I hope she lurves them as much as I do. That was a really fun experience, I'll definitely make more - plus I have about a zillion leftover beads and stuff.

I have tons of knitting pics I should put up. Will do, just as soon as I open up this bottle...

Why I love Sundays...

2008-01-13T10:15:00.000-08:00

Sitting around, pot of chili bubbling on the stove, watching football and knitting. The only thing that would be better is if my Eagles were playing in the playoffs right now. I'm trying not to think about the long, dark time that's coming soon where there's no more football and baseball hasn't started yet and all we have to look forward to is March Madness. Boo. Will post pics of my oh-so-cute Fetching mitts soon, about 80% done with the second one.

HSKS4

2008-01-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

I'm in! Wahoo!

Too exciting! Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap 4!

2008-01-11T15:01:00.000-08:00

So, it's happened. I'm coming over to the dark side...as if I needed something else to keep me on my arse in front of the computer! I've joined the Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap 4 - at least, I hope I made the deadline, I think there was still spots. For this endeavor, you evidently need a blog. I learned a lot in the last 15 minutes while I jumped in head-first:

1. I have absolutely no impulse control. "Join a swap? Why, absolutely! Buy a bridge? Indubitably! Jump off it? Right on!"
2. Setting up a blog is so easy a trained monkey could do it. That's a little encouragement for all the trained monkeys out there.
3. I have been sorted into Ravenclaw - and I think that's spot on.
4. My Potter name is oh-so-much more elegant that my own. How rad is that?! I hope it gives me superpowers, just as soon as I find my wand.

Can't wait to get confirmation that I'm in!