I’m enjoying the Suggest-a-Contest contest entries–keep them coming! Let’s put a cap of, oh, say, Wednesday at noon (EST) as the deadline. Some of the ideas have been really creative, which is what we’re shooting for! Again, don’t worry about practicality. It could be a contest to guess how much yardage of yarn you could get from a specific sheep–there’s no real way to ever put it into action–but it’s a clever idea! The idea is to come up with something fun!

I started plying my apple green singles last night. I thought the plying would go faster (it has in the past), but these singles are not only finer than previous ones, so that there’s more yardage per bobbin, but I’m sorely out of practice. Not to mention that this is the first time I’ve tried plying on my Lendrum and from a tensioned Lazy Kate. (Which, as an aside, sounds completely contradictory. Is Katy tense or is she lazy? You can’t be both!) It took a while to get the tension for both to where I needed it, and meantime, the singles had broken, so I unravelled, retied them on, then one of them broke, only I didn’t realize right away and Z-spun some singles onto my bobbin. Naturally, as soon as I realized and tried to pull them off, they broke because I had unwound some of the twist. We finally got things moving along, but by then it was 10:30 and I was completely wiped out. (You’ll remember, it was a busy day yesterday. The fact that I managed to sit in front of my wheel at all deserves extra points, I think. Not because spinning is a chore–in this century–but because I was tired enough that reading took some work! And normally, I can read indefinitely!)

On the bad news side, my tooth hurts today–the one the dentist worked on on Thursday and is wearing a temporary crown. It was mostly fine all weekend, and now it’s sore. (sigh) Hopefully it will be better tomorrow, but in the meantime–more Advil!

On the plus side, though, my ring is back! And it made a friend!

I know I mentioned (on the 19th) that I’d bought a ring as a souvenir, but ended up needing to take the runner-up in the choice sweepstakes because the glue holding the peridot in the setting had melted. Fine. I loved this ring, too. It’s a citrine–my birthstone–in a pineapple cut, which is just stunning for light-catching–and with tiny diamond chips on the side. Beautiful ring! But after we were home from vacation, I wore it to work–its first time out of the house–and by the time I was home from a day of, you know, typing, the stone was loose. (And, I type pretty well, but I’m not that fast!) So, I shipped it back to the store and they fixed the stone for me, and sent it back today. And look! A little Martha’s Vineyard charm snuck into the box for me! Wasn’t that nice of them? Moonstone Jewelers in Vineyard Haven, folks. Nice store. (And I checked; they don’t appear to have a website.)

Okay, I’m going to get some more plying done, take my shower, make some tea, take some more Advil, and then sit down with my knitting. I’ve reached the armhole shaping on the back of my NbaT. I think that when I’ve finished the back, I’ll pick up my Peacock again. She’s feeling a bit neglected.

• Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:Contest Counting Down // 6 Comments »

I mentioned the other day that I cleaned out my yarn stash, and so now I have some yarn looking for a good home.

Naturally, the first person I thought of was you, my blog-reader. Except . . . how to fairly distribute the goods?? I mean, I could anonymously send stuff to RAOK people, but then how do I know that they’d be getting something they’d really like?

Contests are fun, but frankly, I’ve been so busy today with more cleaning (that scary book-overflow corner of the office) and cooking (potatoes for potato salad, pound cake, the berry topping for the pound cake) doing laundry (the regular, weekly load, but also bedding–and if you think reassembling a feather-bed and a duvet-cover is easy, think again!) . . . anyway, the point is that I’m too tired to think of a cool contest.

So . . . that IS the contest!

Suggest something that would be fun as a contest–either something practical or something so far out in left field that could never, really, be put into effect. Whoever comes up with the best, most fun idea (the judges will be me and Mom) wins first prize:

  A pile of Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran in a nice, pale beige color (plus one almost-black skein of her Aran Tweed which got in there somehow . . . a good accent color, anyway!).

Second prize is a choice between:

  Ten skeins of this pretty, wool/silk/microfiber yarn I found at the bottom of my pile. Small gauge, somewhere around sport weight. The name on the label is “Setana” which I believe was discontinued quite some time ago. It’s in good shape, though and pretty dust-free, considering it’s been in there for at least 10 years now!

  Or a pile of Reynolds Lopi, which has also been in the closet for quite some time. My first two sweaters were Lopi and I had bought enough to make another and then got distracted to other things. I’ve tried to convince myself over the years that I would do something with it–I’ve heard that it felts beautifully–but finally decided I was just fooling myself! Again, even though these have been in my closet for years, they are in good shape (or, really, would I offer them as prizes??).

(Note: If the first-prize winner would prefer any of the other options, all she has to do is say so. These are very, very loose rules we’ve got here!)

Curious about some of the other stuff I want to get rid of? (This entry is turning more into a garage sale than a contest, but really . . . if you see anything you like, make me an offer . . . ! Anything!)

  A cone of enough Denim yarn for a sweater, which I got from Elann a few months ago, fully aware of the fact that I don’t like knitting with cotton. Really, I have no idea what I was thinking. It’s nice yarn, though, great color, and still in the plastic wrapping it came in! If it weren’t, you know, cotton, I would definitely be keeping this.

  Before I rolled these into three, very unequal-in-size balls, this was one huge skein of yarn from Uruguay which I bought thinking it would make a great shawl. I still think it would, but I’ve lost interest in in. The blue part is actually quite dark and actually photographed lighter than in looks in indoor lighting. It’s nice with a cool texture, just . . . I’m over it now.

  This is just nifty, I thought–pencil roving to be made into woolen bootliners. (Another cool idea I just never got around to.) It involves knitting, felting, trimming and the idea is that you end up with cushy liners for your winter boots.

  Three skeins of Red Heart acrylic, three skeins of Lion brand wool, in blue. Really, I have no idea what they’re doing here, but again–still in their shipping plastic!

  Miscellaneous embroidery things–a scroll-like embroidery frame, a tiny, unopened kit, and a larger, opened kit that I just never started.

Miscellaneous quilting kits, for small, picture-sized things.

• Tags: Knitting/Spinning, Uncategorized • Permalink:Suggest-A-Contest! // 22 Comments »

  So, today we partied! Here’s the birthday girl and birthday boy, my niece and nephew. Their birthdays are four years and four days apart, and so we’ve always had a combined family party on the Sunday of memorial Day weekend.

We had a nice time, though it was a long day. We left the house at 12:50 and didn’t get home until quarter after 8:00. For a kids’ birthday party, that’s long! My sister’s brother-in-law was there with his fiancee (they’re getting married in August), and my B-i-L’s aunt and cousin were there, too. It was nice, and the weather was great. A group ended up playing basketball in the driveway.

  My mother made these two, lovely, cross-stich maps of Martha’s Vineyard for her grandkids’ birthdays. Identical except for the color of the material and the frames. Wasn’t that great of her? And aren’t they beautiful?

  And here are the kids opening them. I think my niece–since she’s fond of decorating and all–liked hers just a little more than my 12-year old nephew, but I know he appreciated his, too. Or at least appreciated that his grandmother made it for him! (And sometimes, you know, true appreciation comes later, like, you know, when you grow up!)

  Here’s the obligatory cake-and-candles photo. (His is cheesecake, hers is chocolate, all chocolate.)

Chappy was good as gold all day, didn’t even bark when the other guests arrived. He was patient while we ate–which I know was hard for him because I only gave him half a breakfast this morning (since he does still have a tendency toward car-sickness and the last couple of miles to my sisters resemble an asphalt roller coaster). He was cute and charming and oh, so fluffy from yesterday’s bath!

I knitted on my sock while I was there–another inch or so of ribbing and sock number two will be done!

I also finished spinning up the apple green roving I got months ago into singles. I’m going to try to ply it tomorrow . . . and about time, too! That poor yarn has been waiting for ever for me to get to it.

Okay . . . tired. Going to bed!

• Tags: Family • Permalink:Post-Party // Add Comment »

Just to back-up my claims to super-hood, here are some photos:

  My closet, with moving hangers. (Altogether now: “ooooh!”) And, okay, this is only half my closet; the other half is all pants and skirts. Mostly just blues, greys, browns, blacks–boring photograph. You’ll just have to trust me that it’s in good order, too. It is.

  The yarn closet. Note how there’s no yarn piled on top of the books! No magazines falling out! All the yarn is in bins on the top shelf, or politely hanging from hangers! (And, I lied down on the floor to take this picture–Chappy was VERY intrigued.)

  The kitchen–which actually looks like a real, working kitchen. Because it IS!

  The lovely new faucet.

  Tea or coffee, anyone? (Possibly my favorite of the newly-organized cabinets.)

  The pots. In a drawer. That rolls! Gotta love this!!

All my baking pans, miraculously not falling into one another.

Now, as to future organization projects? There is no question in my mind as to what needs to be addressed next. The Overflowing Book Collection:

Yikes!! Not only don’t the books fit on the cases anymore, they’re overflowing onto the floor, the chair, the table–which is full to overflowing itself with files and papers and stuff to mail as WELL as filled underneath with boxes of books (of course), luggage, the sewing machine . . . For a truly neat, organized, obsessively tidy person–which I really am–this is driving me insane. And should explain why I avoid that end of the house . . . (grin)

Now, today?? Birthday party! Because these two, cute little kids are growing up. Would you believe they’re now 16 and 12??

• Tags: Family, General • Permalink:Super-Saturday Photos // 1 Comment »

So let’s see . . . today I:

• Got up, got dressed, fed Chappy . . . normal morning stuff
• Started going through my closet, pulling out old shirts I no longer wear–space was getting tight!
• Stopped because Mom was ready to go run errands
• Fed my car
• Took Mom out for coffee
• Stopped at the post office to mail a few packages
• Ran into Michael’s for some beading things. (This is a little ridiculous because I haven’t done a single thing with the beads I already have, so buying more–if different–stuff is kind of jumping the gun, but . . .!)
• Went to Linens & Things to buy a whole bunch of organizing things for our now-functioning kitchen
• Stopped at the grocery store to pick up things for the salad we’re bringing to my niece-and-nephew’s birthday party tomorrow
• Came home, lugged in about 7 bags of stuff from the car
• Organized the silverware drawer with its new tray, set up some of the things for the kitchen (like the new cutting board, the on-counter paper towel holder), and put some stuff in the dishwasher for sanitizing (new colander because we threw away the old one, new knives, etc.)
• Wrapped birthday presents–my brother-in-law (birthday was the 11th), my nephew (the 20th), my niece (the 24th), and–in the spirit of planning ahead–my sister’s, whose birthday isn’t until the 7th
• Gave Chappy a bath so he’ll be particularly soft and fluffy for the birthday party
• Chased him around the bathroom with a towel
• Made a cup of tea and sat down for a whole ten minutes while Mom went across the street for “alarm” lessons for the neighbor heading out on vacation
• Came upstairs and continued emptying out “extras” from my closet.
• Interrupted by my parents’ going out to dinner. Paused to go cook some pasta
• Gosh, the water’s taking a long time . . . decided to move some of the stuff into the cabinets . . .
• Oops, water’s boiling! Dump in pasta, move in more stuff.
• “Stuff” in this circumstance can be defined as all the pots, all the serving bowls, all the mixing bowls, all the baking tins, the blender, the mini-food processor,the salad spinner, the bag of potatoes, the Kitchen Aid accessory box, the Atlas pasta roller, the cake box, the extra vitamins, the storage containers for leftovers, the “works” to the ice cream maker that lives in the freezer, the corkscrew, the marble pastry board, the marble rolling pin . . . Left some scattered odds & ends in the dining room
• Ate my supper. Fed Chappy. (I think he’s kind of bored.)
• Came upstairs, finished clearing out the closet
• Now have two full, plastic bags to take to donate, and the hangers actually MOVE on the closet rod!
• Moved some new clothing arrivals–who have been waiting patiently in the craft closet for a few weeks for room to open up–into the closet. Hangers still move
• Organized the beads and their accompanying tools
• Took shower
• Made a cup of tea. Sat for another 10 minutes. Got up to put mug in dishwasher
• Collapsed into comfy chair for an hour to read and to knit (!)
• Decided to bypass doing Chappy’s nails for the evening–the poor boy’s been through enough personal-beauty for one day!
• Came upstairs an hour early so Mom can watch a movie
• Decided to take advantage of the extra time by organizing my yarn stash, the knitting magazines, the overflowing knitting books
• Sat down to check e-mail
• Hmmm . . . am oddly tired. Can’t think why!

• Tags: Family, General • Permalink:Super-Sized Saturday! // Add Comment »

Okay, I answered my questionnaire for Secret Pal 5, and it follows below. It will probably be a bit boring for most of you, but, what can I say??

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I probably am a yarn snob–no, actually, I am. I like natural fibers (wool, silk, but not so much cotton), and I like fibers that are really soft. Which does make me kind of picky. It’s not that it needs to be expensive, and some microfiber added can make for a really nice yarn, but it’s a tactile thing–I like soft and lush, and I like great colors, and that usually brings me to Debbie Bliss or Rowan or Jo Sharp. Lorna’s Laces. Brooks Farm . . . not the more run of the mill stuff like you’d find at Walmart. But then, Knitpicks has some great yarn for fabulous prices, so . . . !

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I do spin, though I’m still pretty new at it. Again, I like the soft stuff, though I haven’t yet tried spinning angora or pure silk or any of those really soft but hard to spin things. I know how to crochet, but haven’t made anything that way since my nephew’s baby blanket 12 years ago–I like the less-stiff knitted fabric better. I embroider, too (cross-stitch, crewel work, I like playing with stitches). I also quilt–Amish quilts are my ideal because they’re simple, elegant, and use solid colors. I’m not a pattern-girl!

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

Seasonal allergies, yes–some years good, some years bad, and some sensitivity to cats/dogs, (but not too bad). I’m sensitive to strong smells, though–I get more sinus-triggered headaches than any kind, so I try to stay away from things that are too strongly-scented–and that includes smoke.

4. How long have you been knitting?

Since college, about 1989. (Unless you count faltering squares of garter stitch, in which case you can go back to when I was about 7, but . . . 21 is a more accurate spot to mark!)

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yes, Amazon.com. There’s a link on my blog (over there, on the left).

6. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Subtle is the number one answer, there (see answer to number 3 above)! Fruity scents over flowers. Vanilla. Peppermint. Citrus. Not a big fan of scented candles, though, since I really don’t have any place that’s dog-proof to burn them.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Well, doesn’t everybody??

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I think I answered this already. But in addition to the fiber things I mentioned, I read. Constantly. As in, reading is a bigger addiction than knitting (gasp!). I also love to cook–though I actually bake more than I cook (always from scratch).

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

No MP3s. I pretty much only listen to music in the car, so CDs are the way to go. I never really know how to answer this question, though–I’m kind of eclectic in my music, but at the same time I’m picky. (Yeah, I know, I seem to be picky about a lot of things!) Classical music. The Beatles. Harry Connick Jr. Barenaked Ladies. The Proclaimers. Light jazz/New Age. Ella Fitzgerald. Gershwin. Broadway shows. Savage Garden . . . I like music that has melody and I love music with good harmony. Nothing too weird or screechy. Not punk or anything too “country.” Almost anything with a good chorus with a strong soloist in front (kind of gospel-ish). Love good, strong, talented singers.

10. What’s your favorite color? Or–do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can’t stand?

I like rich, saturated colors that aren’t too bright. Tomato red rather than scarlet red. Medium apple green. Blues that aren’t too “baby” or “navy.” Golden yellows. Almost any autumn color. Coral/peach tones. Darker greys over lighter greys. Not a big fan of pastels, but I’m not afraid of (most) colors. I look best in autumn shades, though, and mostly wear reds, greens, golds . . . and blue jeans!

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Single, living with my parents (something you don’t hear from just anyone past the age of 25), with my wonderful dog, Chappy (of course!)

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

Uh . . . happiness. Contentment rather than excitement. Fulfillment. Being useful to my family. Having time to relax (I’m pretty selfish about that, actually!).

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Right now? Rowan’s Calmer. Brooks Farm (anything). Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. Knitpicks Shimmer. Koigu KPPPM. Zephyr.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Cotton . . . most of the time. Rowan’s Calmer is, so far, the only mostly-cotton yarn I’ve ever loved–because it’s got “spring.” Cotton usually only works for me in blends. I’m not a huge fan of chenille or most nubbly, novelty yarns.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Lace. I’m definitely on a lace kick! Cables, too.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Sweaters. Shawls. Socks. Rarely ever do scarves or mittens. Never do tank tops. (”Summer knits” don’t really do anything for me.)

17. What are you knitting right now?

Fiddlesticks Peacock Shawl. The Nothing But A T-Shirt. A pair of socks. And then there the UFO of Rowan Elfin, which I haven’t touched in months and don’t think I’ll ever actually finish.

18. What do you think about ponchos?

Don’t particularly like them. I’ve seen some that are pretty nice so I won’t say I hate them all, but . . . I’d rather wear/see a shawl than a poncho any day! Some capelets are nice, too.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Absolutely circular. No question at all! (I almost shouted this, but restrained myself.)

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Um . . . none of the above? Addi Turbos are #1. THEN comes bamboo. Plastic is just about doable in a pinch (the Denise set is nice), but I haven’t even tried an aluminum needle since I switched to circulars back around 1989.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Yes. Not madly passionate about them like some people, but I enjoy knitting them and have made 5 1/2 pairs since I knitted my first one about a year ago.

22. How did you learn to knit?

Pretty much book-taught. I love reading about and trying new techniques and I’ve got a pretty full library . . . though I’m always happy to get more knitting books! (The trick is finding books I don’t already have.)

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

About a year–that’s the Rowan Elfin–and it’s the only “inactive” project I’ve got. The others have all three been touched within the last week.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

I don’t know that I have one . . . loved Mickey Mouse when I was little, and still enjoy watching Disney and Pixar movies, but I don’t at all have a favorite animated character. And, I think it’s pretty obvious that my favorite animal is a dog–specifically a Boykin Spaniel.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas. I love to get all the “chores” done by Thanksgiving so I can just enjoy the Christmas feeling in December. To me, it’s a holiday about being with your family . . . with presents! My birthday’s nice, too, but for some reason, no-one outside the family seems to consider it anything special. Odd, huh?

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Not specifically. I accumulate books, but that’s just because I read (constantly; had I mentioned that??), but I don’t go out of my way to “collect” anything.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Knitters. Interweave Knits. Vogue Knitting. Spin Off. . . . I think that’s it. There are a couple others I’ve tried but didn’t like . . . I really have all that I want!

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Principles of Knitting by June Hemmins Hiatt, and Spinning for Softness and Speed by Paula Simmons. . . both hard to find, rare, expensive books. Also Here be Wyverns by Nancie Spies. Most current books I pretty much buy when I see them . . . I have serious problems restraining myself in bookstores!

• Tags: Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:For my Secret Pal 5 // 2 Comments »

  Our kitchen counters were installed today. Hurray!

Except that . . . the group “coordinating” the cabinet refinishing projects never sent the faucet. The guys finished installing the counter tops and then asked for the faucet, so they could drill the hole for the plumbing.

Um . . . you’re supposed to have that!

  Mom called the company, they’re doing an 8:00 am Fedex delivery tomorrow so that it will be here before the plumber gets here to connect everything–about 8:30.

Assuming everything goes the way it’s supposed to, at least that will work out!

Here’s a closer look at the cabinets (though they don’t look quite so dark in person).

Then, I had to leave work 15 minutes early to go to the dentist for a temporary crown and a scolding from my dentist for not coming in so long. (Yes, I know. Please don’t lecture.) It’s not the dentist I avoid . . . he and his staff are all nice, friendly, sweet . . . some of the nicest people you want to meet. It’s not even the work in the chair that I dread. It’s the novocaine.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the stuff while he’s drilling or whatever, but I’m sensitive to it. After a normal-size dose, I’ll feel ill and slightly feverish for the rest of the day, and it will take over two hours to wear off, instead of the usual one hour. For example, he gave me half of one dose for this work, where he usually gives people two doses. Since he had to drill so deeply (this is where the lecture occured), I did feel a twinge or two, especially toward the end, but it’s worth it to not feel so sick tonight.

  But then, things got better! Look what I found when I got home!

A box.

From my KR Secret Pal!

Here. Safely in the house!!

  A Burt’s Bees sampler pack. A nice, woodsy candle. A container of carob-dipped doggie biscotti for Chappy (which he loved). Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock yarn in a very nice colorway (the same kind of yarn I’m using on my current socks, and am loving, so I’m thrilled to have more of it). Cinnamon Altoids (because she somehow knew I would be dealing with Dentist Breath tonight). Handmade beaded stitch markers (which she must have chuckled about when she saw that I brought beads home from vacation with me). And a very nice note–including the information that she also loves Martha’s Vineyard. See how nice she is??

  Here’s a closer look at the stitch markers. Aren’t they pretty??

Thanks, pal!!

Now, I promised actual knitting content in this post. I actually worked on my sock at the dentist’s office, in the waiting room. There were periods I was sitting in the chair, waiting, when I would have liked having it handy, but unfortunately, by then it was tucked away in my purse. I turned the heel last night, though, and am working my way up the ribbing toward the cuff. I’ll be glad to finish–much as I love the yarn, I keep getting frustrated with the DPNs (and losing stitches off the ends in my purse). I’ve used DPNs before, and concede that they are valuable knitting tools . . . but Magic Loop is still my preferred sock method!

  Here’s a look at my NbaT . . . though it looks a lot pinker in the photo than it does in person. The color is called “Coral” and while I would actually have liked a touch more orange to it . . . still, it’s not really this pink. (Not that there’s anything wrong with pink, just . . . well . . . it’s not and I’m trying to be accurate in my reporting!)

And, lastly, I’m sure it won’t be a surprse to any one . . . I signed up for Secret Pal 5 today! Now, I’m going to go and get the button for my blog!

• Tags: Family, General • Permalink:Not such a bad day after all // 5 Comments »

(Warning: Non-knitting help needed; no knitting content in this post.)

Since my research skills obviously aren’t up to the task–are there any legal experts or history buffs out there who can tell me how hard/easy/complicated it would have been to adopt an orphaned child in 1912? The book I’m hung-up on writing is stuck at this point–I don’t know how much of a complication this needs to be for my main character. Is it a bump in the road, or a full-stop, major roadwork ahead kind of deal. To borrow the analogy I used in an e-mail earlier, the story is not willing to risk its suspension without knowing and refuses to move forward until I can provide a map.

The other sticking point–the child to be adopted has a nice inheritance coming his way (though probably tied up in a trust-fund); the woman doing the adopting is middle-class–she has a nice house and some money to live on, but is not wealthy herself. I can only assume that the money issue makes a difference–if it were a poor child from an orphanage, I doubt there would have been any trouble at all in 1912 for this woman to give the kid a home. It’s the fact that his recently-deceased father was rich that would cause complications . . . I just don’t know how big a complication, and without knowing, don’t know if I need to end the book with lawyers and judges and messy legal battles (about which I would have a hard time writing), or if it can be a simple sit-down meeting with a lawyer, a few papers to sign and boom, it’s done. I’d like it to be as historically appropriate as it can be, for fiction, and so . . .

I have looked, but I haven’t been able to find a resource out there that would give me details on the history of adoption, but of course, I know nothing about law or how to research legal precedents (or, you know, have a law library). So, on the off-chance that any of you can help figure out the answer for me–or know someone who could–please, let me know! If the answer is helpful enough, I’d be happy to send some yarn to whoever provides it!

(And, I promise, there will be some knitting content in my next post.)

• Tags: General • Permalink:Legal Advice? // 3 Comments »

Did anyone see today’s “Loose Parts” comic strip?

• Tags: Uncategorized • Permalink:Loose Parts // Add Comment »

I must be a far less secure person than I like to think I am. I’ve noticed a frightening mental trend as I troll through the knitting blog world . . . the first thing I seem to look for is whether my blog is listed on their list of “Blogs I Read.” I notice with envy the number of people subscribed to other blogs on Bloglines. And then, I try to think of ways to boost my readership when I think it’s “flagging.” (”What flashy, impressive thing can I post a picture of? Where can I post a link to my blog that will get people to stop by?”)

Is that just the silliest thing, or what?? When did I become so needy for praise or feedback? I’ve managed to knit for years with only the small, appreciative audience of my family and friends. They aren’t knitters themselves and so might not always understand the “craft,” but they are also therefore that much more impressed by the magic that is knitting. (”I can’t believe you made that!” followed by my modest scoff, “Oh, it was nothing. A few skeins of yarn, some twiddling with some sticks, and voila, a masterpiece. Really, it was no trouble.”)

I suppose part of it is that I want that Wow-Factor, now, from actual knitters. The old, simple fix isn’t enough; I’m moving into the harder stuff. Who knew that I had this hidden (?) need to be adored? And, wouldn’t you think I would get enough of that from my dog? (Really, Chappy’s quite good at the whole adoration thing, but then, he’s been studying my adoration technique since he was 7 weeks old.) It’s a nice little high, though, to be told that you do beautiful work by someone who really knows how much work and skill and effort went into a FO. But it’s a slippery slope, where you start wanting more and more Oohs and Aahs when you used to be content with just a few from the people physically closest to you!

Anyway, sad to say, I don’t have anything worthy of “Wows” to post today. Nor am I looking for “Oh, but we love you, Deb” kinds of comments. (Really, I’m not.) I just think it’s an interesting state of affairs, this blog-world we’ve got going. It’s a community, like Annie says, with “cool kids” and the obviously not-so-cool-kids. I never aspired to be the cool cheerleader with an entourage of friends in high school; nor did I want to be part of the brown-nosing crowd. I was quite content to have just a handful of good, close friends, and I feel like I’ve gotten that here, too . . . Do I really need 800+ people reading my blog each day to feel secure? The answer, believe it or not, is absolutely no. I’m really frankly thrilled that I’m averaging 80 a day, and have even had days where I hit 350. That’s pretty impressive, I think!

But . . . I suppose I wouldn’t object if 800 people wanted to! Like I said, it’s a slippery slope, people! And all the pressure to perform comes from yourself–feeling like you need to do something “blog-worthy,” you need photos, you need to be funny, charming, smart, appealing, accessible.

Humph. Next thing you know, I’ll be trying to impress my yarn so it can admire me, too! (Not to compare those of you who read this to yarn, but, well you’re knitters . . . it’s not like you would be offended by that anyway, right?)

Now, to get away from this self-indulgent nonsense:

My Amazon order yesterday also included Teva Durham’s “Loop-d-Loop” book, which has some very nifty designs in it. The one I like best, though, is the “Bias Fair Isle,” which has such an interesting take on Fair Isle and which looks eminently wearable. As in, it’s entirely possible I’m going to make that one! (Actually, it’s the first pattern I’ve seen lately in a magazine or a book that I’m this tempted by. That’s good, right??) (And, thanks Andrea for taking the picture so I didn’t have to!)

And, lastly, let me ask your opinion–considering my recent history with, er, secret pal gifts, am I crazy to be thinking of joining SP5?? I just found out about it yesterday and the deadline for signing up is Monday . . .

• Tags: General • Permalink:Blog Envy // 13 Comments »

I actually did some spinning last night, for the first time in about three weeks. And I just realized–I’ve missed it!! I only spun (span?) for about half an hour, but it was nice, and I was delighted to see that my hands haven’t completely forgotten what to do. We’re still doing short-draw, mind you, but it was nice! It’s just unfortunate that I only really think of spinning at night when I watch TV in my room–which means at 10:00 or later, and about the only show I watch at 10:00 is “Medium” on Monday nights. Otherwise, I tend to come in and turn the computer on instead.

Knitting, you see, is easily portable in a bag, down to the family room for evening television viewing (8:00-10:00). My spinning wheel on the other hand . . . yes, it’s a Lendrum, and yes it’s technically portable, but it’s still a pain to carry up and down the stairs. So, basically, it sits in my bedroom, looking needy . . . though not as needy as my Kiwi, which has barely been touched since I got the Lendrum–poor thing!

I’ve decided I’m going to let my Peacock rest for a couple weeks–until the beginning of June–so that I can time finishing the shawl as closely as possible to the finishing of work in my bathroom, at which time I can move the stuff back where it belongs and have access to the guest room bed again! (Of course, I’m not altogether sure that the shawl is going to FIT on the bed and may end up using the floor . . . is it possible to pin into wall-to-wall carpeting??)

Hey, do you all know that June 11th is World Wide Knit in Public Day?? Be sure to get out there that Saturday and knit!!

I had a delivery from Amazon today: Sharon Miller’s “Heirloom Knitting,” which is supposed to be the bible for lace knitting. I’ve only had a chance to flip through it so far, but I’m impressed. I was amazed when I pulled up the link for all of you, though. This was a lot cheaper when I ordered it a month or so ago! This, by the way, brings my library up to 2,645 volumes.

Also, I must wish my niece a happy 16th birthday. I cannot believe she’s getting so grown-up. (Actually, let’s face it, she practically IS grown-up, I suppose I’m just still in denial.) The joint birthday party for her and my nephew (who you’ll remember turned 12 on Friday) is on Sunday. Can’t wait.

• Tags: Family, General, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:As the Wheel Turns // 4 Comments »

I’ve got that happy, post-book glow about me.

I just finished a just lovely book: “The History of Love” by Nicole Krauss, and I loved it. Such a sweet and touching book. Leopold Gurzky is a man in his 80s, alone and lonely in New York, unknown to his son. Then there’s Alma, a teenager named for a character in her father’s favorite book, a book which her mother has just been paid to translate from Spanish. These two have very different stories, but there is such a wistfulness to this book, and a sweetness. I was enjoying it from the beginning, but the closer I got to the end, the more I loved it, and the ending was just . . . sweet. (I’m sorry for using that adjective so many times, but what can I say? It fits. It just was.)

I just love that warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you finish a book that was everything you hoped it would be–or even better–unexpectedly wonderful. I thought this looked good, but it turned out to be so much better than that. Literary serendipity, and easily one of the best books I’ve read this year. I am just so happy I picked this up the other day!

Otherwise, let’s see . . . started the edging on my Peacock. I’ve got a little dilemma there, actually. I’ve got 12 more pattern rows, which means about 12 more nights of knitting, and then it’s done. Which is wonderful. The problem is that in two weeks, they’ll be here to start work on our bathrooms–still mostly emptied into the guest room–which means I don’t have any place to block it when it’s done. And I won’t for at least three weeks.

So, do I knit onward at my usual pace and then leave the poor thing a crumpled ball at the bottom of my knitting back for a week or two until I can block it? Or do I resolutely set it aside right now and work on something else for the next two weeks so as not to finish until the shawl can be finished properly?

If anything, I’m leaning toward the second option. I’m definitely at the point where I want to see this luscious bit of knitting done and looking grand in all its Peacock-glory. (Hey, I love the process as much as the next knitter, but there’s an indefinable line somewhere along the line when I’m close enough to being done that eagerness to see it finished takes over. Guess where I am with Peacock?) But as much as I can’t wait to see it in all its glory, I think I’d have a harder time having it finished and not being able to block it than I would just letting it sit in my bag for an extra week.

I guess I should pull out my NbaT!

• Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning, Reading • Permalink:Book Glow // 3 Comments »

  So, one of the things I did buy this week was a selection of beads from Beadnicks in Vineyard Haven. I’m sure it’s not actually true, of course, but it seems like so many knit-bloggers have these lovely, beaded stitch markers and, well, I want some too! Except, I can’t, you know, ask for them, and the ones I’ve seen available to buy are uninspiring, so I thought I’d try making some. Which is quite a reach for me, mind you, because I haven’t done a thing with beads–any beads–since I was about 10 years old.

Even though I’ve been thinking of this for a couple months, I waited until now to buy the beads, because I figured getting them from MV would be more meaningful than if I’d just run to AC Moore or something. I’ve heard such nice things about this bead store from my mother, sister, and niece, I decided to wait. Now, I’ve never been to a bead store before, but they had some lovely things (although, also, a little too much incense or some kind of scent which through Mom’s nose into a tailspin). Here’s a closeup of the beads I bought. Ten each of the ones in the little packets, and the other vials, well, they just looked pretty!

The next thing to do, of course, is to figure out how on earth to assemble these things into stitch markers!! I bought wire, pliers, and a wire cutter . . . now I just need to figure out how to use them!

Really, any suggestions or advice you’d care to give would be appreciated. (grin)

Today, Mom and I reassembled the upper half of our kitchen–everything from counter-level down is waiting until, well, we have the counter. Already, though, it’s easier to find things in the dining room, so no complaints. I made pot roast and baked potatoes in the oven for dinner–everything wrapped in foil so as not to have any big things to require washing. We had bought pound cake yesterday, and fresh strawberries which I macerated this morning, so we had dessert, too. It was so nice, having a home-cooked dinner at our own table!! I can’t believe I have to go to work tomorrow….

• Tags: General • Permalink:The Bead Goes On // 3 Comments »

  In addition to having our entire kitchen piled in the dining room…

  …And to having the bathroom scattered about the guest room…

  …As of today, we no longer have a driveway.

  Our kitchen is looking great, you understand, except for the little detail of not having a counter or sink or plumbing of any kind. Which means that while we can technically cook, we more or less can’t wash a dish or a pot, unless it will fit in the bathroom sink. To make a cup of tea, it’s necessary to walk into the dining room, find the tea (card table in the corner), find a mug (dining room table, right side), and a spoon (dining room table, left corner). Carry those to the kitchen, put them–for lack of a better place–on the stove. Take the kettle, carry it to the bathroom, fill with water. The next bit, of course, is actually normal–stove, boil, pour–then find the sugar (kitchen table) and the cream (unbelievably in its usual spot in the fridge). Stir, then carry the spoon to the bathroom to rinse it off. You know, I really hadn’t appreciated how nice it was having everything for tea within a three-step distance, with only the refrigerator a couple extra steps!

We’re going to make a pot roast for Sunday dinner, though–in a foil bag in the oven. Baked potatoes. Mom and I figure we can handle washing three real dishes and sets of flatware (as opposed to the disposable stuff) instead of going out to eat–again! After a vacation’s worth of meals taken either in the car or out of styrofoam with plastic silverware, the idea of eating off of real dishes at the kitchen table almost makes me giddy!

So, let’s recap, shall we? Kitchen in chaos. Bathroom in chaos. Now, the driveway in chaos. This week, we’ll also be getting a watering system installed for the lawn–so that will be a mess. Our annual air-conditioning service is this week. I have to go to the dentist on Thursday for a temporary crown. And, oh yes, I consider myself lucky to be able to post tonight at all–while they were tearing up the driveway this morning, the pavers hit the cable–losing us both television and internet connections. (It wasn’t their fault–the cable WAS marked and they were being careful, but the cable was actually so close to the surface, there was no way they could have avoided it.) Mom and I were out, and the paving company called Optimum Cable for us, and it was repaired this afternoon–whew! With all the rest of everything in such a mess–a stressful situation for a household that’s usually so calm, quiet, organized, and neat!–if I couldn’t have gotten on to check my e-mail too . . . well, that would have been the end!

Ah well, you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs . . . or a working kitchen!

• Tags: Family, General • Permalink:Breaking Eggs // 1 Comment »

Much as I love going on vacation, and much as I really love going to Martha’s Vineyard in particular, I am always so glad to come home. Even to a home such as this, with all the kitchen contents strewn about the dining room, and all the bathroom’s in the guest room, and so on. The kitchen cabinets are done and look beautiful, but we’re waiting on the new countertops, which should be here Tuesday or Wednesday. Our bathrooms won’t be started, now, until June 6th. It seems silly to bring all the stuff back in, so for tonight I just moved in some of the absolute necessities. (You know, toothbrush, shampoo, a towel for my shower, the shower curtain….)

I promised you some photos, now that I’m home on my nice, wireless, cable connection. First, my knitting update (sans photos)–the sock is exactly at the heel-turning point. I worked on it on the ferry ride this morning, but stopped when I reached that point since I knew I wouldn’t have time to do the actual heel-turn before docking and didn’t want to get stuck midway. My peacock–I’m on the very last row of the pattern charts, and once that’s done tomorrow (I just really didn’t have the energy tonight!), I get to start the edging. I can’t even begin to estimate the amount of time that will take, but I do know that I am definitely closer to the end than to the beginning!

I did take a picture of my sock on the ferry. I’ve been jokingly calling this “Doing a Harlot” because, of course, Stephanie has been photographing her sock all over the country as she’s toured around on behalf of her bookbookbook. This was the “Martha’s Vineyard” ferry the other day, which holds about 6 dozen cars and trucks, and over 1,000 passengers. We would have taken the “Islander” home this morning, except we got an earlier ferry–meaning I’ve lost my last chance to ride on the Islander. It’s being retired this year, after 51 years in service. A lot of memories on that boat!

The Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs, Mom’s favorite building on the island. (She used to go to Sunday School there when she was little!)

  This little group of statues is outside the Colonial Inn in Edgartown, and I can’t help but love it–a group of kids and their friendly, inquisitive dog. It’s fun (grin) to try to pose with your own dog nose-to-nose with the bronze one, but challenging, as you can imagine. (Especially if your dog–like mine–is freaked out by statues of dogs. “It’s not moving! It doesn’t smell right! Get me outta here!”) You can’t see Chappy in this picture, but it looks like he and the statue are greeting each other in traditional canine fashion, so…)

  Here’s the Sweet Life Cafe in Oak Bluffs. We didn’t eat here this trip, though, I recommend it. It’s expensive but really good. So why did I take its picture? Because this used to be my great-grandmother’s house, and is the one my grandmother grew up in. My Mom and I have only been there once, and sat outside on the patio for dinner, with candles, and . . . our candle would NOT stay lit. All the other tables around had no trouble; the waitress tried changing to a different candle; nothing any of us could do stopped our candle from winking out. We feel that it was the Grandmothers–Mom’s and mine–who were playing tricks on us that night. (Okay, maybe there’s a more scientific explanation, but what? And anyway, isn’t it nicer to think that they were happy to see us there and wanted us to know?)

  Another beautiful old house. The Corbin-Norton House, right on Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs. The house dates back to 1891 and had become a terrible eyesore before it was completely renovated in 1994. (It even made an appearance on “This Old House” to show off the fabulous work they did restoring this beauty.) Then in 2001, the whole thing burned to the ground. And this is what it looks like today–as if it had never happened. It’s a beautiful Victorian house, and would be no matter what, but when you know the story, too . . . really phenomenal. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Who says they don’t do this kind of craftsmanship any more? Here it is, folks!

  Mom and Chappy, in Vineyard Haven, watching the ferry.

  The obligatory Edgartown Lighthouse shot (with Chappaquiddick in the background).

  The Islander, heading off into the sunset. (Well, so it was cloudy, you get the idea!)

You know, we didn’t get “up island” at all this trip–just kept circling around through the three main town centers (Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, Edgartown), stopping by the beach (to look, not to splash–too cold!), getting food from our favorite restaurants (Linda Jean’s, Espresso Love, The Wharf, The Newes, Among the Flowers), visiting our favorite shops (Claudia’s jewelry, Moonstone Jewelers, Sanctuary, the Black Dog). We seem to get caught up in that touristy “rut,” and we both feel kind of guilty about that. There’s so much more to MV than just eating and shopping! There’s some substantial family history, too, since my grandmother grew up there, and Mom spent all her childhood summers there–my genes have been going to the island since long before it became trendy (and my great-grandmother’s got the grave marker to prove it). So, it is too superficial of us to enjoy buying shirts that say “Martha’s Vineyard” or to look forward to getting coffee at Espresso Love in the morning? (Although, really, is it our fault that they serve one of our favorite cups of coffee, anywhere? Or that The Wharf has our favorite clam chowder and Linda Jean’s our favorite lobster roll? Where else are we going to get them??)

Although, I will say that travelling with Chappy does put a damper on what we can do. He used to get terribly carsick, so that a trip up island to look at scenery wasn’t exactly something he’d appreciate. (Even still, he’s so much better in the car, but he has a nervous stomach when he gets excited and, despite my care at diet and water-changes this trip, he spit up/threw up about four times this trip.) We can’t take him for a bike ride. It’s too cold this time of year to count on a day at the beach (and besides, I burn, no matter how much sunscreen I slather on). Meandering around town is just a pleasant way to spend some time!

Which we did. We all had a good time, and we are all glad to be home! We’re going to restock the upper kitchen cabinets tomorrow, but the lower ones have to wait until we’ve got a counter top . . . and in the meantime, we’re trying to figure out how we can manage even the most basic kitchen tasks without counters or–more importantly–plumbing! Mom and I are just grateful that this is only for a few days. How on earth do people manage with renovations that go on for months?? (grin) (My hat’s off to anyone who has. It would drive me nuts!)

Speaking of nuts–do you have any idea how many blog entries I have to catch up on, now I’m home? Sheesh!

And, of course, today is my nephew’s 12th birthday . . . so, happy birthday!!

(Not only that, I’ve been out of college 16 years today . . . wow.)

• Tags: Family, General, Martha's Vineyard, Uncategorized • Permalink:Home at last! // 4 Comments »

First thing to say about today is that the weather was beautiful. All day. None of this “only nice after you’ve had lunch” thing. It was perfect weather. (As in, why couldn’t it have been this great the other days?) But really, not complaining, because I said the most important thing was for it not to rain, and it didn’t. I even bought a baseball-style cap today, to keep the sun off my face. And I don’t even like baseball caps on me!

Chappy’s exhausted. Right now—quarter to six—is about the first chance he’s had to lie down and relax all day. We started by driving into Edgartown for breakfast (Espresso Love again—the best coffee, really), and then walked up to the lighthouse and then sat and admired the view for a while. (Insert perfect picture here—clean, white lighthouse, crystal blue sky, a fluffy cloud or two for effect, Chappaquiddick in the distance.) We walked back along the harbor, stopped to get a small snack, and then bumped into the woman who used to run the Stephen Huneck gallery, and then managed the Point Way Inn for a while (which is no longer an inn, but now a private residence). She’s the sweetest lady, and it was nice to see her.

Over lunchtime, we sat in the car by the beach, overlooking Vineyard Sound, and finished our “trip book.” (“The Witch of Blackbird Pond,” you’ll remember.) That was really nice. Perfect, again. We had the windows open and the salt breeze blowing through. There was a bank of clouds over the mainland (and, apparently, the smoke from a fire somewhere on Cape Cod), but again, nothing but cottonballs overhead.

We went into Vineyard Haven to pick up my ring. I mentioned this a couple days ago, how I’d bought a peridot ring and they were sizing it for me. Turns out, when we went to pick it up yesterday, there was a glitch. The stone had apparently been glued into the ring, which wasn’t necessarily a problem, but it didn’t take kindly to the heat of resizing, and when they reglued it in . . . you could see the bubbles in the glue, as if the stone were impure. Very disappointing, but when I picked it out, it had come down to a choice between that ring and the very first one that had caught my eye when we walked into the store. So, um, guess which one is coming back to New Jersey with me. (The good news is that it’s even the cheaper of the two rings; how often does that happen?)

We walked up the road to the “business” end of Vineyard Haven harbor (Owen Park) and sat there for a while, until Chappy got too antsy about being so close to the water without actually being allowed IN the water. We met a friendly, young, rambunctious, and wet golden retriever named Pilot, who came bounding up the hill after us and chose to completely ignore her owner (the Harbor Master) when he called her. Basically, she ignored him completely until he had walked all the way up the hill himself and actually had hold of her collar!

We’re back at the room now, for the night. Chappy is taking advantage of the peace and quiet to finally get his nap, and Mom and I are both sitting here, saying, “Gosh, I’m so tired!” We leave tomorrow on the 9:30 ferry and then have the 6-hour drive back home. From what Dad said on the phone yesterday, it’s possible we won’t have a driveway to pull into—we’re getting it repaved and they wanted to start today. (Mom freaked just a little at the news—I think she feels there’s a little too much going on at once!) I’m just as glad, though, that I’ll be able to give Chappy a bath tomorrow night—or maybe Saturday. He (and my car) are rather dirty!

And, lest you think I’ve been neglecting my knitting. I’ve got my sock just about to the heel-turning point. It’s not enjoying travelling, though. No matter how carefully I put it in my purse, I’m forever losing stitches off the end of one or the other DPNs (another reason to love Magic Loop, in my opinion). As to my Peacock, I’ve got three more rows of the pattern, and then I get to start the edging. Yay!

• Tags: Family, Martha's Vineyard • Permalink:MV Day Five // 5 Comments »

It’s just after lunch on Wednesday, and we’re taking a break in the room. It’s been cold and misty all morning—not actually raining, not even wet, just . . . as you walk along the air feels wet, and there are little pinpricks of moisture on the windshield of the car. We did some shopping in Oak Bluffs—including in the “Good Dog Goods” store, which has (Chappy tells us) some of the nicest doggie treats around, especially the Cheese Stars and the Peanut Butter Hearts. Not only do they have good treats, but the people there remember him from year to year, and always make a fuss over him. You know, of course, that I hate having people gush over my dog.

Unfortunately, because the weather hasn’t been cooperating quite as much as it could be, Chappy has not yet gotten to the beach. It’s just too cold to let him get himself soaked with salt water, not to mention having to come back to the room to give him a bath.

Well, really, the salt water is bad for his skin, and bad for him to lick off. And anyway, after Katy’s first visit to the island, she was sick for a couple weeks after we got home—throwing up about every other day, until she was dehydrated and had to be admitted at the vet for three days—but we never quite figured out why. The best cause we ever came up with was a combination of the kibble (instead of the home-cooked moist food she was used to), the salt water, which can adversely affect the digestion, and the possibility of having swallowed sand and/or seaweed while romping in the ocean. But considering how expensive that 3-night stay at the vet was (plus the x-rays and the normal visits before she got to the point where hospitalization was necessary), it’s not something I care to risk again, and if that means giving Chappy a bath while on vacation, so be it!

We talked to Dad this morning—our kitchen and bath refacing is NOT going to be done by the time we get home. The kitchen should mostly be done except for this little thing called the counter. And therefore the sink and running water. They’ll be installed early next week. Okaaaaayyyy, but the bathrooms? Should have started on Monday, were delayed until today because their last job went long (well, okay), but apparently the fellow has had a family emergency, and now the bathroom work has been pushed back to June. Argh! We’re all being pretty accepting of this (Mom remarkably so), but . . . the one thing we said when we scheduled the work was that the bathrooms, more than anything, needed to be done the week Mom and Chappy were out of the house. HAD TO. And so this, of course, is the one thing that will actually NOT be done. (Sigh.)

Here’s a picture Mom took of Chappy and me, waiting in the car for the stores in Oak Bluffs to open this morning. (It was definitely too cold to wait outside!)

And, may I just say how upset I am that two of my favorite tv shows have not been renewed?? “Jack & Bobby” and “Joan of Arcadia.” Not fair!

• Tags: Family, Martha's Vineyard • Permalink:MV Day Four // 3 Comments »

The weather today was much the same as yesterday—cloudy in the morning, with sun in the afternoon (although it didn’t last as long today, either). I don’t think I brought enough sweaters with me, though—it didn’t get above 63 today, and even that, I think, came and went pretty quickly!

I suppose most of the day was spent shopping, more than anything else. I bought a Chappy charm to put on my puppy’s collar, and a new ring for myself, as a treat. It’s actually my favorite kind of souvenir. Instead of just getting t-shirts, or mugs, or refrigerator magnets, or whatever—things that don’t last—I buy one, nice piece of jewelry. It’ll last pretty much forever, and will always remind me of where I bought it—and I’ve gotten some nice jewelry over the years, too! This year’s is a gold ring set with a cabochon peridot, which is being resized for me.

We did have a couple nice walks around Vineyard Haven, and Edgartown. We also had a front row seat for “Nature in Action” at breakfast. Mom and I bought breakfast and then parked down by the harbor to eat (“Café Volvo”). There, we got to watch a seagull catch and eat not one, but two crabs for its meal. (For some reason, I wasn’t particularly in the mood for crab salad at lunch!) That’s just a little too Animal Planet/Discovery channel for breakfast, don’t you think? A few people walking by just then were entranced, though, and took a picture of the seagull and [now-dead] crab. (There’s a memory you’ll always treasure—“Hey, Alice, remember that time on the Vineyard when we saw that gull eat a crab? Boy, those were the days!”)

At least we watched this little nature special on a good night’s sleep. Chappy won his argument and spent the night on my bed, blissfully snoozing, rather than having a pity-party in his crate. (Really, he’s not spoiled at all.) And, this after I found a tick on him earlier in the evening, too! (Herbal bug repellants can only do so much on this island that ticks thrive on. But my little “Ticked Off” removal spoon does wonders and that little parasite is history.)

Here’s my sock, doing a “Harlot” in Vineyard Haven last night. And, I picked up some Opal sock yarn today, too! Yay! (See? Knitting content!)

• Tags: Family, Martha's Vineyard • Permalink:MV Day Three // 2 Comments »

It’s the second day of our trip, and boy, are we tired!

You would think that was because we’d been so busy, running around, doing the tourist kind of things. But no. In fact, we’re tired because somebody didn’t want to sleep last night. I said yesterday that we have two bedrooms, and Mom and I had decided that we’d use one to keep all our “stuff” and the other for actual sleeping, because Chappy would no doubt be happier about having us where he could see us. (He likes to keep a close eye on our whereabouts when we’re away from home—got to keep together!)

Apparently, that wasn’t quite good enough. He was reluctant to go to in his crate—kept looking up at the bed, hinting that he’d like to sleep up there—but he did . . . only, around midnight, he started to whimper and throw his towels around. Not constantly. Just a single whimper every few minutes, followed by a “They don’t love me! I can’t get comfortable in here!” toss of bedding. Because, I took him outside at 1:30 to go to the bathroom, on the off-chance that was his problem. (May I point out that it was raining, too? Always fun, getting out of a warm bed to stand in the rain! Although technically, there is a small roof just outside the door, so I wasn’t actually IN the rain.) He did take advantage of the opportunity, but still . . . we came back to the room and . . . same thing, all over again. He basically didn’t sleep until about 7:00 this morning. Of the three of us, I got the most sleep.

Ah well! It was foggy and a little chilly this morning, but it’s cleared up pretty well for the afternoon. We went into Edgartown this morning, and I bought Mom a blueberry scone from Espresso Love for her “Mother’s Day” breakfast. (I know, of course, that Mother’s Day was last week, but the last several years, we’ve been here on M.V. on that day, and . . . you’d be amazed at how quickly these things can become tradition!) We walked around and did a little shopping, and right now, are back at the room. We brought our lunch back from “Among the Flowers” and now Chappy is snoozing on the couch, and Mom is reading–which I’ll be doing myself just as soon as I’m done posting!

What did we buy? Well, one thing I can tell you is that—even though I’m really not that much of a stuffed-animal kind of person—we bought a little Boykin Spaniel “puppy” yesterday. Really, crimpy, dark brown fur, docked tail, spaniel ears–this is so obviously a Boykin, how could I, I mean, really, tell me how I could have resisted! Besides, really, I bought it for Chappy. (Yeah, that’s it!) We–I mean he–has decided to name him “Quiddick.” Yes, I know that sounds remarkably like the Harry Potter game, but in fact, it pairs with Chappy’s name: Chappy-Quiddick. I guess maybe you have to be a Vineyard person to really appreciate the silliness of it . . . (grin).

Pictures, incidentally, are taking forever to upload through dial-up, so don’t expect many for the next few days! At least I got you a couple.

• Tags: Family, Martha's Vineyard • Permalink:MV Day Two // 3 Comments »

So, we left this morning. As you can see, the trunk of the car is quite full. I love my car, but my one complaint is lack of trunk space. I mean, the issue only comes up about once or twice a year, but . . . this is two small suitcases, two totebags, a folding crate, some towels for Chappy’s bedding, and jackets. Not a whole lot of stuff!

I did a “Harlot” while we took our lunch stop in Mystic, Connecticut, and took a picture of my sock at Olde Mystic Village. We strolled around there for about an hour–Chappy was VERY glad to get out of the car–and we were all glad to stretch our legs. I worked on my sock in the car, and we started our “trip” book: “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” by Elizabeth George Speare. (I’ve been taking advantage of these shared-reading experiences to make sure that Mom gets a chance to read some of the classics she somehow missed as a child.)

We were lucky, and got on an earlier ferry to the island–the 2:30 instead of the 3:45 we had tickets before. Earlier is always better! Chappy finally fell asleep in the car during the ferry ride. He doesn’t get [that] carsick anymore, but he wouldn’t quite let himself go to sleep, either. I consider it an accomplishment for him that he was willing to lie down and relax for so much of the drive.

As soon as we got to the island, instead of checking directly into the inn, we stopped first in Vineyard Haven for a snack–we were all hungry, and tired, and figured that refueling was a good idea before we had to lug all the stuff into the room.

Did I say room? Try more like an efficiency apartment. We’ve got a living room, a small kitchen, and two bedrooms. Wow! I’m just excited about being able to sit on real furniture tonight instead of perching on the end of a bed. Chappy, right now, is sprawled out on the hearth (yes, we have a fireplace), and we’re catching our breath before going out to pick up something for supper.

Have a good night, everyone!

• Tags: Family, General, Martha's Vineyard • Permalink:On Vacation! // 4 Comments »

I did get all my packing done last night, chose a few books to bring, finished emptying the kitchen and bathroom–and still had time to watch an old, silly movie with Mom. “The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!” Have any of you seen it? From 1965. Brian Keith, Carl Reiner, Alan Arkin, Eva Marie Saint, Jonathan Winters. A Russian submarine–at the height of the Cold War–runs aground on a fictional, New England island and sends a party ashore to find a boat to tow the sub off the sandbar. Crazy, hilarious panic ensues. Mom’s favorite part is poor Muriel hanging on the wall with her clueless husband eating breakfast right in front of her. I love the group of sailors saying “Emergency. Everybody to get from street,” in unison, in thick Russian accents, to a little boy . . . like that was going to work! And of course, the stirring ending, the kid on the church steeple (an idea stolen by the TV show “Early Edition” a few years ago).

For that matter, we watched a 1966 movie the night before: “Yours, Mine and Ours” with Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball, Van Johnson, and a young Tim Mathieson as the oldest son. Henry has 10 children, Lucille has 8, so of course they get married! Love the shopping trip–four, fully-heaped shopping carts of groceries for a total of $126. (Wow!) Sweet little movie.

Chappy, I think, is just glad this day is over. He looks confused and worried–the kitchen is in the dining room, the bathroom is in the guest room, I’ve got a suitcase . . . I’m afraid he thinks we’re moving, or evacuating, or something, but he’s been wandering out, checking out everything and NOT letting me out of his sight!

Anyway, as Mom, Chappy and I are driving up to the Vineyard, today, Sunday, I don’t want any of you to be completely bored so, here–even though it’s not knitting related, at least it’s something! I picked it up off somebody’s blog–I’ve seen it on so many of them lately, I don’t specifically remember whose I took it from, but I couldn’t resist it. It is, after all, about books!

Total number of books in your house

Well, let’s see. I have 2,635 books. My parents have about 200, so . . . That’s about 2, 835!Last book bought

Well, I don’t buy them singly, but in groups. In the last week or so I’ve bought:

Lapsing into a Comma by Walsh, Bill

Sanctuary by Lackey, Mercedes

Paris 1919 by MacMillan, Margaret

Blind Lake by Wilson, Robert Charles

Slight Trick of the Mind by Cullin, Mitch

Never Let me Go by Ishiguro, Kazuo

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Foer, Jonathan Safran

Saturday by McEwan, Ian

Books you often read or that mean a lot to youI re-read my favorites over and over again, so it’s hard to pinpoint specific books. I’ll name some authors that I revisit, though: Jane Austen, Sharon Shinn, Anne McCaffrey, Sean Russell, Diana Wynne Jones, Elizabeth Peters, Robertson Davies, L.M. Montgomery, Mary Stewart, John Myers Myers, Jasper Ffordes, Dorothy Dunnett . . . (stopping. getting tired now.)

Who are you going to pass this on to and whyI’m not going to actually pass this to anybody, but anyone who wants to join in, please do!

• Tags: Reading • Permalink:Book Meme // Add Comment »

Well, I suppose that I’m officially “on” vacation, even though I’m still at home and haven’t strayed more than a couple miles from my house all day. But I’m leaving for Martha’s Vineyard tomorrow morning, with Mom and Chappy, and I don’t have to go back to work for a week, so this is, technically, vacation time.

Except that, so far, it hasn’t been very vacation-like. I took my car out to feed her for the drive, and to get all the green tree mold washed off so that she looks silver again and not green (blech). (Don’t get me wrong, I like green as a color, but I don’t like the gritty layer of green dust clinging to my windshield, my doors, and basically every outdoor surface. My car is meant to be silver!). I went to the bank to get some cash for the trip and to make a deposit of–honestly–three different checks that add up to a total of $13.72 (and that includes my NJ state tax refund!). Mom and I stopped to get coffee at Starbucks–and saw that “Martha’s Poncho” woman from last week stroll by!–and then we came home . . .

  . . . And started moving even more things from the kitchen to the dining room, and from the bathroom to the guest room. About the only thing left in the kitchen is 2 dishes, 2 bowls, a mug, and the tv and coffee-maker on the counter. Almost every drawer and cabinet is empty. Ditto for the bathrooms–a single bottle of shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush/toothpaste, a roll of t.p., and a towel for tonight’s shower. It’s very bizarre. And at this point, finding anything is challenging. Not only has everything been moved willy-nilly as time and energy levels permit, but there’s no rhyme or reason as to where each item or box of items has ended up . . . and some boxes have contents from more than one cabinet.

I tell you, reassembling the kitchen next weekend has me scared!

It turned out to be a pretty day, though, and some time has been spent sitting out on the (green-tinted) deck with Chappy. A thing that’s very bad for allergies, but very good for the soul, you know? I’m going out to eat with my parents because, well, I can’t very well cook, can I? (Not only are all the utensils and pots and such–the “hardware” as Alton Brown calls it–scattered throughout the dining room, but we taped plastic inside the pantry door to keep out dust and . . . well . . . basically, if it’s not in the refrigerator, it’s not really accessible.

  And, oh yes, tonight ,I really do need to start packing! Except, of course, I need to run a load of laundry first . . . and can’t do that until after I’ve taken my shower. (Because, well, we are going to have workmen in the bathroom next week, and they will be laying floor into the linen closet, and well, I just don’t want to leave any dirty laundry in there . . . it may be silly, but . . . !) Anyway, I suppose I could start assembling clothing and such on the bed, but don’t really see the point. Toiletries are always packed and ready to go (I topped off the shampoo bottle the other day). Underwear is a no-brainer, and anyway, needs to wait for the laundry, and why start folding shirts and sweaters now? I just sincerely hope the weather cooperates and is DRY (or even mostly dry) because otherwise, Chappy and I are going to get awfully wet waiting outside on sidewalks for Mom!

The hardest part of packing, anyway, is choosing which books to bring. Not only do I need an assortment for myself . . . usually about five. I may only get through 2 or 3 of them, but there’s no way to know in advance which ones I’ll be in the mood to read. And while the Bunch of Grapes bookstore is wonderful, there have been times I haven’t found anything to buy, so . . . I travel with my own little library annex. (It’s just a crying shame that “1776″ by David McCullough isn’t out until next week–I would LOVE to get a signed copy from him, and I’m so looking forward to reading that one!)

There’s our shared book to pick out, too. Every trip, Mom and I bring along a book to read together–while the other is driving, or in the room at night instead of watching TV. We carry it around with us and, when there’s a likely spot in the day, will read a chapter. I’ve got it narrowed down to a choice of three, but haven’t quite settled on the choice for the year. (Next year, though, I’ve already got covered–Harry Potter #6!) In the past, we’ve covered all the Harry Potter books, “Archangel” by Sharon Shinn, “The Best of Enemies” by Nancy Bond, “A Little Princess” by Frances Hodgson Burnett (which Mom had never read, and, sorry, it’s a must), “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” was a good one, too–I always loved that run-away-to-the-Metropolitan-Museum-of-Art story! For whatever reason, Young Adult books seem to work best–they’re usually just about the right length for the trip. It’s great, though, because that way we’re still doing something together, instead of sitting near each other, but reading our own, separate things. Mom doesn’t like audio books, either, but we both enjoy both reading out loud as well as the listening, so . . . it’s fun.

Knitting-wise, I’ve decided to bring my Peacock and the sock I’m working on. My NbaT will stay at home (to make room for, you know, books).

  On the plus side, Chappy’s packed. That’s food in individual ziploc bags (Flint River Ranch Dry Water food–one of the only dog foods I’m willing to let him eat). Two plastic dishes, a zoom-groom brush (wonderful for loose fur!), and a couple of toys. Pick-up bags are in the front, Mom’s got some treats in her purse . . . all I need to do is remember his crate and towels for his bedding, and we’re set! Or at least, he is . . .

• Tags: Family, General, Martha's Vineyard • Permalink:Pre-Vacation // 2 Comments »

  So, I was here in New Jersey for the last several weeks–I really was–and yet, I have some wool from Maryland after all, thanks to Liz. Wasn’t that great of her? Such pretty, Martha’s Vineyard-inspired colors, too . . . not to mention the sweet, hand-written note.

See? You toss something nice out into the Internet waters, and look at the pleasant ripples you get floating back toward you!

Of course, this forces me to admit that I’ve been sadly neglectful of my spinning wheel, though–do you know I still haven’t even taken the plying head out of the plastic yet? And it’s been a week since I spun anything. I’m a terrible person! But now, somehow, I’m feeling newly inspired. . . . (just in time to go on vacation and well, I know the Lendrum is a portable wheel but trust me, there will not be room in the trunk!)

Okay, maybe I’m not really terrible . . . I’ve just been focusing on my knitting. I’m pretty close to that magical, invisible line in a project where I’m ready to move from “enjoying the process” to “wanting the product.” I’m on row 204 of my Peacock,and look! I’ve got proof:

  I wanted to try to get a picture of the status of my shawl, so I cleared off one of the bookcases in my room and caaaaarefully stretched my shawl-in-progress across the top, so you can more or less see the progression from the tiny neckline pattern (to the right) to the “eye” section (middle) to the “tail” section at the left.

  A closer look at the end–where the pattern’s more interesting. I think that the variegation in the yarn is going to work just fine with this. I was worried that it would take away from the lace pattern, but . . . just looking at the way this shows up, laid out over my bookcase, I think once this is blocked, the colors aren’t going to take anything away at all!

  One more, closer view of some of the stitches. It’s interesting to me, because when you look at this in close-up, it doesn’t look like much of anything, but from a little distance (like this thumbnail), you can see the “eye” of the feather pattern quite clearly!

If I haven’t mentioned it before, I’m very much enjoying this pattern. It’s interesting with something new going on all the time. The Knitpicks “Shimmer” is a lovely yarn. 70% baby alpaca and 30% silk. It’s soft, it’s lovely, it’s reasonably strong for its thickness. I haven’t (so far) found a single knot, the color is really lovely, and you simply cannot beat the price. I’m just about at the end of my second skein and will definitely be using at least some of a third, but considering the yarn was only $4.99 each . . . such a bargain. Like I said above, I’m really happy with the way the colors are working out–the variation is subtle enough, I think, that it works . . . not bold, stark changes that would stand out like a sore thumb. Just blue to green to blue to green . . . soothing, and very “peacock.”

Yep, I’m definitely moving quickly toward impatience at seeing this done . . . and being able to wear it!!

We learned about a glitch in our remodeling scenario for next week. We had coordinated having the bathrooms and the kitchen refaced the week that Mom, Chappy and I were away–so save on wear and tear on their nerves. We made sure the company new this and everything was on track . . . until today, when they called and said the job they’re working on is going to take just a little bit longer and while they’ll be starting the kitchen on Monday, they won’t be here to start the bathrooms until Wednesday. Yikes! This is going to create a serious logistical problem–not only for the weekend we’re back (when, really, we need at least one functioning bathroom/shower), but also for the following week when I’m back at work and my parents will have to figure out some baby gate configuration that will keep Chappy out of the way while the workmen troop up and down the stairs . . . Uh-oh!

My 10 Favorite things:

Liz tagged me for this meme (well, she hinted). So here are my ten favorite things (although I’m sure you could have deduced at least part of the list by now!)

1. Chappy. I mean, of course, I named my entire blog after him. The sweetest Boykin Spaniel you’d ever want to meet. I just love spending time with him–sitting, playing, going for walks–he’s great company. He takes good care of his mom, too–and is especially sweet if I’m stuffy or coughing from allergies. He’ll come over and quite seriously sniff at my breath, making sure my lungs are doing okay. Really. Without meaning to anthropomorphize this too much, I’m sure that’s exactly what he’s doing–he started when I had bronchitis in December, and coughing very deeply, and he would sit and stare at me with such concern. He’s a good boy! I would expand this to include our other, gone-on pets, too. Katy. Jilly. Muppy.

2. My family. I have the best parents in the world. Sure, you might think that you do, but–while they might be wonderful–you’d be wrong. I’ve got the top pair. Why else, I ask you, would I still be living with them in my late thirties? They’re good company; they’re fun; they’re loving and generous; they adore my dog . . . we three people (plus dog) get along really well and the tempo of the house is just suited to all of us. And of course, there’s my sister, BIL, niece and nephew. They live an hour away so I don’t get to see them quite so often as I’d like, but they’re all pretty much wonderful, too!

3. Reading. Yes, it comes in above knitting because it was my first love. I’ve been reading since I was 3, and cannot live without it. I seriously cannot go to sleep at night without reading first, and if I finish the book, must get a “fresh” one so I have it to pick up first thing the next morning, and then carry with me all the rest of the day. I actually remember the exact moment that “reading” made sense to me–I was looking out of the car window, up (up, up) at a sign, when suddenly the alphabet Mom had been teaching me made sense. I distinctly remember the realization that all I had to do was learn the words, and I could read absolutely anything . . . and the family joke is that I’ve been trying ever since.

4. Knitting. Well, sure. I had about a five year hiatus from when I brought puppy-Katy home, but have otherwise been knitting pretty regularly since college (about my junior year, 1988). I love trying new things and am not afraid to challenge myself. In fact, that’s part of the fun. And even better, I end up with soft, warm, cozy things at the end.

5. Other fiber arts. I’m going to lump all the others together, because I haven’t done nearly as much of them in the last several years as of knitting, but I also quilt, spin, and embroider. I’ve been known to use a sewing machine, though have never been thrilled with the way my finished products look “homemade” (good for cake, bad for clothing). I’ve made at least 5 quilts, all by hand, and I’ve got a slew of embroidered pictures around the house–I’ll do counted cross stitch, but also like to stitch in different stitches. I like the variety and the challenge. Spinning, of course, is new. I only started that in December.

6. My job. I love my job. I’ve worked at the same place–a magazine fulfillment company–since 1991. Fourteen years. I’ve hit almost every department we have and am in exactly the right spot, in a position that was basically created just for me. Love it.

7. Movies. I haven’t regularly gone to the movies since I got my dogs . . . frankly, I’d rather be home with them, my books, and my knitting, than spending several hours in a dark room . . . but I love wa