A bird tried to commit hari-kari using our kitchen window this afternoon. I was just taking a break and making a cup of tea, when, thud! The poor thing (no idea what species) managed to flutter onto our deck and panted heavily for a minute or two, getting more and more still, until it slumped over to the side and then didn’t move at all. I watched the whole thing from the window, feeling sadder and sadder about it–such a stupid way for a bird to die. After watching for a few minutes, I turned away to pour my tea water, glancing back over my shoulder . . . wait, the angle looked different. Was its head in a different position? I hurried back to the window, and it was! The bird was sitting upright, moving its head from side to side, very obviously not dead. Feeling better about it, I took my teabag out, and carried my mug over the window, telling the bird that I wasn’t going to be happy until I saw him fly away, and after a few more minutes, it did. I don’t know which of us was more relieved, me or the bird.

Chappy–except for one brief, “What’cha’ doin’, Mom” check-in while I was standing vigil–ignored the entire incident. Not because he wouldn’t have been interested to get a closer look at the bird. (It landed just outside of his “bathroom,” and if he’d gone outside, he certainly would have been able to get some good whiffs, though I’m sure the bird wouldn’t have apppreciated it.) But instead, he was playing with a long-lost toy. The one he grabbed right out of the huge pile of toys I dumped onto the family room floor before. It must be two years ago that I split his toy collection in half. I put half in a bag stashed in the guest room closet, and left the others out, intending to swap them out after a few months.

Okay, actually, I admit that the plan was that he would only have about 5 toys out at a time and they’d be swapped almost weekly, but that very quickly became impractical. But dogs, you see, are just as happy to get an old toy they haven’t seen in months as they are to get a brand-new toy, and I figured that way he’d get that new-toy excitement every week (or couple of months) with no real work on my side . . . but, um, well, that bag was in the closet for about two years . . . Mom and I have talked about it, but have never both had the inclination at the same time to weed out the “good” toys. Until today.

Today, Mom and Dad went up to my sister’s house for the afternoon. Chappy and I were invited, too, but since I had a whole slew of chores I wanted to do AND since everything would be impossibly muddy after the 6.5″ (yes, over six inches) of rain we had yesterday and therefore he (and I) would get filthy going out for his bathroom needs . . . we opted to stay home. Not only did I do the usual Sunday things–laundry, cleaning the bathroom, dusting and vacuuming my room–but I tackled some projects I’ve been putting off. Like that basket of Chappy’s toys. And adding a splitter to the tangle of cables going amongst the cable box, VCR, DVD-recorder and television so that we can record one show on the VCR while watching something else via the cable box. You know, like Extreme Home Makeover and West Wing tonight. (I even labled all the cables so I’ll know where they’re going in the future.)

I also went through my yarn stash . . . sort of. I mean, I did go through it. I even sorted a whole lot of it into large, white mesh laundry bags for a little more organized keeping. (Sock yarn in one, lace yarn in another. A bag for Miscellaneous. A bag for Kid Silk Haze–yes, you heard right. An entire bag stuffed full of knitter’s crack. That kind of thing.) What I didn’t do, but really need to, is weed some of it out. For example, I have way too much Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran yarn. I love it, but I have enough for about four sweaters, and I just don’t think that’s going to happen. I also have a nice collection of Manos wool which I keep telling myself would make a great afghan (the colors are perfect for my bedroom), but that’s been sitting there for far too long now, and . . . well . . . it’s unlikely. On the other hand, there’s a sweater’s worth of Rowan Calmer which isn’t going anywhere; nor am I willing to get rid of my Rowan Wool & Cotton (that dates back to when they still used the ampersand in the name). But there are miscellaneous balls of yarn that are either leftovers from other projects or things I’ve been gifted that I just don’t see myself doing anything with (lovely though they are), but certainly don’t want to throw away. (Re-gifting is one thing, trashing entirely another.)

And the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran I was hoping I’d be able to use for that cabled Karabella cardigan? No, apparently the gauge is completely different. Which is a shame, because I’ve using lighter-weight yarns lately and was thrilled to finally find a project for that yarn, and . . . nope. It’s going to languish a while longer. Although–it’s confusing. The gauge on the pattern calls for 24 stitches over 4″. But the Aurora 8 yarn the pattern uses and the Cashmerino Aran both say 18/4 . . . unless all the websites I’m looking at for the Aurora 8 are giving the wrong gauge? Or is that gauge over the cabled pattern of the sweater, not stockinette? I’ll have to check that when I get up. Maybe it would work, after all? But I’m leery–I tend to knit loosely to begin with–that kind of a handicap right off the bat . . . ?

Maybe what I should do is offer some of this yarn for trade, or for sale, huh? It’s all good yarn, just . . . sitting. The Jo Sharp alone fills up an entire storage bin, and even I think that’s kind of crazy, no matter how much I like the yarn. (Hmm, I wonder how my secret pal would feel about getting a box full of Jo Sharp…?)

Anyway, the rest of my day? I colored my hair–something I’ve been badly in need of for the last week or two. One of these days I must remember not to wash my shower walls before I color my hair. It’s unfortunate that the reddish-brown color I use looks (very unfortunately) rather like a bloodbath by the time I’ve gotten it all out of my hair and then, of course, I’ve got to wash the walls again! For supper, I mixed some leftover mashed potatoes with two eggs and ate that (cooked, of course) with a side salad and a fresh-baked corn muffin studded with walnuts and chocolate chips. Pretty tasty!

Next question: is Chappy going to sleep on the bed tonight? Last night, for the first time ever, he opted to sleep in his crate rather than up on the bed with me. No idea why . . . he couldn’t be mad at me, this is two days now that we’ve spent entirely together . . . too much togetherness usually isn’t something a dog exactly disapproves of!

Tags: Chappy, Family, General, Hair, Knitting/Spinning, Weather by Deb
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I’ve read, now, I believe all of Ann Patchett’s novels (absolutely adored Bel Canto), and have been enthralled by the way this woman tells a story. So when I saw her “Truth and Beauty: A Friendship” at the book store, I had to pick it up. It’s not fiction, but is instead a so far very sweet, very touching tribute to her friend Lucy Grealy, telling of their friendship of some twenty years. She writes so beautifully, and since they were both writers, she intersperses her own prose with excerpts from Lucy’s letters, and it’s just . . . moving . . . and I thought I’d mention it, because, well, that’s what you do when you find a really good book, isn’t it?

Here’s a quote for you, with the birth of the title right there in black and white:

“We were a pairing out of an Aesop’s fable, the grasshopper and the ant, the tortoise and the hare. And sure, maybe the ant was warmer in the winter and the tortoise won the race, but everyone knows that the grasshopper and the hare were infinitely more appealing animals in all their leggy beauty, their music and interesting side trips. What the story didn’t tell you is that the ant relented at the eleventh hour and took in the grasshopper when the weather was hard, fed him on his tendered store of grass all winter. The tortoise, being uninterested in such things, gave over his medal to the hare. Grasshoppers and hares find the ants and tortoises. They need us to survive, but we need them as well. They were the ones who brought truth and beauty to the party, which Lucy could tell you as she recited her Keats over breakfast, was better than food any day.”

Tags: Reading by Deb
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Rain.

That’s what today is all about. It’s been steadily raining all day–not torrential downpours (though it’s gotten heavy from time to time), but pretty much non-stop showers. Something like 3.5″ of rain (that’s 8.75 cm) since yesterday.

We need it badly, but . . . blah. Grey. Wet. Dreary. I’ve been home all day. Mom didn’t want to go out for coffee this morning, so I’ve spent most of the day curled up in the dining room window with Chappy. Reading mostly, but I also did some work on that Christmas knitting. Made some tea in the afternoon. Helped Mom transfer some pictures from digital camera to computer. But really . . . nothing much. It’s just been that kind of day.

Not so for Risa–whose twins are having their second birthday party today. I bet her day’s been busy! Or Jennifer, who was written about in the New York Times. Or Sandy, whose (safe and unhurt) daughter was in a car accident. There was a death in Stephanie‘s family. And of course, there’s something fishy going on over at Lu‘s.

The one bright spot? I’ve been reading about the NaNoWriMo challenge. Apparently, November is National Novel Writing Month. (I mentioned this a couple days ago.) But I hadn’t read through the rules for the actual Challenge. Listen to this:

The idea is to write a 50,000-word novel in thirty days. You can’t start writing before 12:01 am on November 1st and you must have passed 50,000 words by November 30th to succeed at the challenge. You can’t add to a novel you’ve already started. You can’t start writing earlier than November 1st. You can plan, plot, develop characters, outline–do as much preliminary work as you want–but you cannot write an official word of prose for the challenge. As they say in the FAQs, it’s about quantity not quality, enthusiasm over painstaking craft. And frankly, it sounds like fun!

I haven’t decided if I’m going to participate yet–more than starting a brnd-new book, I’d rather have the incentive to finish the already-50,000 word manuscript I’ve got sitting right here on my computer. And yet–where’s the thrill in that? If the point of the challenge is to inspire you to just sit down and let your creativity out of the box, no holds barred, no worries about whether the plot ties together–just to get a first draft down on virtual paper . . . why start with a book that’s been stalled on my computer for over a year and a half without being touched? Great idea, though! At least something made me smile on this otherwise grey day.

Well, other than Chappy, of course!

Tags: General, Weather by Deb
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Hyrna H is still waiting in the knitting bag. Instead, I started this, my Christmas project. I told you I couldn’t show you the yarn (Cascade 220 superwash) because the colors would give away, to those who know me, the intended recipient. But then, it occurred to me–black and white photo! You can see how cool this is, but can’t see the colors. There are five, arched sections, and I’ve about 2/3 through my second section. So . . . about 35% done. Gotta love fast projects.

The challenge? It’s knitted with two colors that rotate every other row, and uses two strands of each color. So, I’ve got two skeins of yarn and am using both the center and outside strand from each. All the strands twisting around are . . . challenging. It’s a fun pattern, though (which, again, I don’t want to link to, just in case, but you may have seen it online a couple months ago). And the knitted fabric is nice and thick and plush. It’s going to be warm. I think ___ will like this! (This will also be the last and only photo you’ll see of it until after I can safely show you a color version.)

  It probably won’t surprise anyone to see the pattern that showed up at my door today. The Karabella pattern that I admired so much on Kerstin‘s blog the other day. And, oh yeah, the Rowan Cafe “Classic Woman” book. (Um, because, of course, I needed to make the order worth the shipping fee. Of course!)

Now, let’s talk about reading for a moment, shall we? I just finished the Julie and Julia book. Not really all that impressed. It had some interest, and it was a quick read, but I was bored at parts and frankly thought she came across as a self-absorbed whiner. Cooking all those French recipes was an impressive feat, and some of the writing was good, and I certainly didn’t hate it (Also, yes, the language and the various discussions that I wouldn’t consider “polite conversation” bothered me a bit. I admit it; I’m a little prudish that way.) Didn’t hate it; didn’t love it. Probably won’t read it again.

Now I’m trying to read Castle Rouge by Carole Nelson Douglas. It’s the sixth in her Irene Adler series. (Irene Adler, you’ll remember is the only woman ever to outsmart Sherlock Holmes.) She started the series years ago and I loved it–I loved her take on Irene and the mysteries were really kind of fun–especially when Sherlock himself got involved. In the last couple of years, she’s started writing books in this series again, only now, they’re much darker, much more “noir,” and not nearly as much fun. Frankly, I’m struggling. This one (and Chapel Noir which came before it) mix in Jack the Ripper, as well as Nellie Bly, and the the other nuclei characters are used less and less. I’ve never enjoyed reading Jack the Ripper stories; I don’t like horror or real crime genres, and this series is definitely heading in that direction. Now, her writing is always excellent, and if this is your kind of “thing,” by all means check these books out, but I think I’ll stick to the original four.

Yep. There seems to be some reading ennui going on. Maybe I really should focus on my own book, huh?? (It’s finding the time around the knitting and, you know, that full-time job that’s tricky–not to mention the temptation, when sitting in front of the computer, of checking e-mail, blogs, and that kind of thing–but I acknowledge that at least some of that is just an excuse.)

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning, Reading by Deb
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See the cool and misty view I had as I drove over the hill on my way to work the other morning? It’s that time of year where we wake up to fog that burns off by afternoon, but at just the right time of morning, the sky is clearing and there’s just some fog settled in the valleys and the lower areas.

It actually looked prettier the day before, but I didn’t think to pull out my camera until I’d rounded the bend and it was too late. I had an impatient SUV driver behind me and didn’t trust that he would stop in time if I tried to pull over, so . . . I just hoped the same light/mist thing would happen again. The next day, it came close!

And speaking of things emerging from the mist, I worked on my Union Square Market Pullover tonight. I know, it’s shocking. I haven’t touched it in days. Over a week, even. You’ll be pleased to know that I have split for the front/back and just finished the armhole shaping for the back. Isn’t that just so exciting? I knew you’d be thrilled.

I left Hyrna H (aka the unpronouncable shawl) in the bag. It’s been so difficult lately, it didn’t deserve to be worked on tonight. I’ve seen it on several blogs lately–including by people who think it’s easy and quick. I’d even be inclined to agree–the actual lace design is pretty straightforward. And it’s not like I haven’t made lace shawls before. Or that I can’t follow a chart. There’s just something about the center section of this shawl pattern that just doesn’t like me. So . . . humph . . . it can languish in the knitting bag for a night or two. It’s not like I don’t have other, better things to knit if it’s going to be difficult.

On a completely unrelated note (unrelated other than the fact that I knit in front of the television with Mom, and so this occurred while I was knitting that nice, simple, straight-forward stockinette stitch), we were watching “Everybody Hates Chris,” tonight–which is, I think, about the only funny sitcom on television right now–and 7 minutes before the end . . . the cable went out. So . . . no idea what happened. Did he play in the basketball game? What happened with the new tenant? I’ll have to check TwoP tomorrow to look for a recap. Frustrating, though. Not only that, the cable has since been going in and out, and I’ve gotten knocked offline a few times, too. On the plus side, I took advantage of the chance to go through my Documents folder and clear away some of the junk that’s accumulated in there. That’s something, anyway.

It’s not like we didn’t have entertainment while the cable was out, though. Chappy took that opportunity to play. Like a maniac. First, he grabbed his pillow in his teeth and started shaking it all over the room–he dragged, pushed, shook it from the hearth, almost to the door, and then halfway back again, leaving it in front of Dad’s chair. Then, he grabbed his Airbud toy and started tossing it in the air so he could pounce on it, and pushing it just underneath the furniture so that he could pretend to rescue it. Except for this time (photo), when he pushed it too far and it actually got stuck beneath the ottoman. He’s very cute at times like these–he’ll try to reach under to grab it; he’ll “woof!” at it under his breath (I don’t know where he learned that kind of language); and when all else fails, he’ll stare at me, waiting for me to pull it out for him. He’s really pretty patient.

This is a “game” he’s played since he was a puppy, and we’ve got the “rules” down pretty pat by now. When it’s well and truly stuck, and he’s not just complaining because he’d rather not get it himself (typical boy), I’m happy to pull it out when I’ve reached a reasonable stopping point at whatever I’m doing–the end of a paragraph, the end of a row of knitting. And the rule is I’ll fetch it three times, but if he pushes the toy out of reach a fourth time, he’s out of luck until tomorrow. (This last rule became very important early on.) But in the meantime, he’ll wait nicely–often with his front paws crossed–until I can get to him. If I’m taking too long, he may come over and nudge my knee, but mostly, he waits.

May I just say how smart it was of me to teach him how to be patient when he was still a puppy?? This is a cute kind of game–I love watching him entertain himself. When he was still really little and more interested in chewing “illegals” like my slippers, he was really sneaky. He’d take an officially sanctioned chew-toy, like his chocolate-flavored Nylabone and lie down with it right next to my slippers. He would lay there for a while, chewing innocently away, edging closer and closer to the slippers. When he felt I had reached a sufficient level of complacency, he would–with bone still between his paws–turn his head to stick his nose in my slipper instead. And then, if I didn’t notice, would quietly start chewing on those instead. The alternate version of this “Trick Mommy” game was when he would actually chase his toy right into the slippers (he bats at them with his paws, as well as throwing them with his mouth), and then, “Oh, I picked up the wrong thing!” grab the slipper rather than the toy. All a perfectly innocent mistake, you understand!

Oh, the other thing I did today? After reading about how Typepad lost some of Snow’s files, I went through and copied all of my blog archives into Word documents and backed them up. Wasn’t that prudent of me? One of these days I’ll even print them out and put them in a binder. The one, big difference blogging has made is that I rarely make an entry in my paper journal any more. It’s sad, really–the poor thing just sits on the desk feeling lonely, getting dusty. And meanwhile, my handwriting–in use less and less–is getting worse all the time, so any entries I do make are practically illegible. Poor book. It just wants to be loved. Obviously, what I need is to practice my handwriting.

Hey, while I’m in clean-up mode–do you think my blog page is looking too crowded? I’m thinking it looks kind of cluttered, and I hate clutter . . .

Tags: Chappy, Family, General by Deb
5 Comments »

First–thank you all for your replies to yesterday’s post. I agree–a Christmas Tree hat really shouldn’t be considered a “religious” item–all you need to do is leave the star off the top and it’s a tree, after all! But who am I to argue? I sent it in to MagKnits last night, and I’ll see what happens. I should know in a couple weeks whether they want it or not, and if they do–wonderful! And if they don’t, I’ll “publish” it myself for a couple dollars here. I’ll even (as Snow suggested) host a Knit-along for it! (Although that, of course, will be tricky until the pattern is available to the public, but . . . it’s a quick knit, so . . . hopefully, in November!)

Then–in some important news–forty-two years ago today, my parents got married.

Isn’t that great news?? Because, of course, if they hadn’t, what would you be reading right now?? And, then, where would Chappy be? (Unthinkable)

Anyway–Mom and Dad went into New York today to see Spamalot, which I very much hope they’ll enjoy. I took the day off from work. Partly so Chappy wouldn’t be alone all day (poor baby!). I got up at my usual time, though, went downstairs, and started making pancakes for breakfast. Mom knew I had the day off, but Dad didn’t and he was really surprised! I figured, a special breakfast couldn’t hurt, huh? But also, I had some chores planned for myself. Like, putting together a sausage-and-peppers baked ziti dish for tomorrow night’s dinner (using turkey sausage because Mom is deathly allergic to all pork products). And, mopping all the downstairs floors–something we’re more neglectful of than we should be. I figure, Dad got pancakes, Mom gets clean floors. (Although, really, I wish someone would explain to me how swishing all-too-quickly-dirty water around on the floor is going to get it clean. I have yet to find a method or a tool that really gets the floor clean, not just kind of cleaner. We have laminate floors, too, and they show every possible streak–not to mention moist paw prints!)

Anyway, Mom and Dad left around 10:00 to go into the city, and I made a quick trip to Barnes & Noble. I don’t know why, but lately I’ve been having the hardest time finding fiction that I’m in the mood to read. I’ve been thinking that maybe it’s a “sign” that I should focus on my own fiction for a while. In fact, one of the tricks I use on myself when having trouble writing . . . like, you know, the last four or so years . . . is to not allow myself to read any fiction. Eventually, the craving for a good story drives me to working on my own. At least, in theory. So, maybe this disinterest is a sign from my subconscious that it wants to write again. But . . . for added incentive . . . look at the cool site Julie left me in comments yesterday. November is National Novel Writing Month. Who knew?

Oh! And, speaking of books.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. Silverlock by John Myers Myers. (The author, as I understand it, was named for his grandfather but they wanted to avoid the dynastic “II” and just gave him the last name twice. It suits him.) It has been a favorite for years. And it’s been out of print for about a decade now. (It’s one of those that comes and goes.) I got it for the first time during my Sophomore year in high school. Read it in one night and then lent it to my English teacher. (No, really.) Because part of the fun of this book is that A. Clarence Shandon, aka Silverlock, meets up with a whole slew of people out of literature in this book, and part of the fun (and it is fun) is trying to identify them. Some, like Robin Hood or the Mad Hatter are easy. And when he finds himself in the middle of a Midsummer Night’s dream, it’s pretty easy to spot, or when he bumps into Zeus in the woods, or joins Chaucer’s pilgrims, or descends quite literally into Dante’s inferno. But some of the references are really obscure, but every now and again, you’ll meet up with them in other reading. (Like, in my Junior year English class, I scrawled “Silverlock!” next to my notes about the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.)

Anyway, I lent it to my English teacher, who ended up keeping it over the summer. She brought it back the first day of school, with apologies, said she’d loved it, and I immediately read it all over again. In fact, I had it in the car as we drove to my Grandfather’s funeral a day or so after school had started. In further fact, the minister–who rode with us–looked at it and asked if he could borrow it when I was done. So that Sunday, I lent it to him. It’s just that kind of book. In my first three months of ownership of my copy, I had it in my possession for less than a week. (I’ve since bought a second copy.) But the exciting thing is that it’s back in print again. It’s a completely unique book–Shandon apparently never cracked a book open in his life that he not once recognizes a single soul he meets, and he’s wholly selfish and unlikeable as the book begins, but it’s a growth experience. It’s good. I think I’m going to need to pull my copy out soon . . .

But for now–the floors are dry (if streaky) and I’m going to go get some lunch!

Tags: Family, General, Reading by Deb
6 Comments »

  First, Jane wanted to see pictures of socks.

I’ve knitted more than these, really I have, but the other three pairs have been gifted to Mom, my sister, and my niece and are therefore unavailable for photographs.

The yarn for that Christmas gift came today. I’d show you pictures, but can’t. If the person for whom the gift is meant saw it, that person would immediately the gift was meant for him/her. So, I’ll just say that it’s here, and leave it at that!

Sprang, anyone? Check out what Cassie discovered this weekend . . . yet another fiber craft to explore. (Just what we all needed, right?)

Oh, and I heard back from Knitty. (1) They hadn’t gotten my pattern submission, so I’m glad I asked, but more importantly (2) my pattern isn’t usable because they don’t do “religious” patterns. I hadn’t really thought that a hat shaped like an evergreen tree was really all that religious, but there you go! (Apparently I’m not the only one who’s missed that in the submission guidelines, so I at least feel a little better.)

Now what? I’ve gotten a lot of encouraging comments from a lot of you saying how much you liked it. (Although, part of me is saying, “They were probably just being nice!”) I could try submitting it to someplace like Magknits or some other magazine. Or, I could just put it in a nice pdf and offer it here. Either for free or for a few bucks.

What do you think??

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
16 Comments »

I went out to buy new jeans this weekend. A simple thing, really. You go to a store which sells them, you try on a pair or two, and you buy some. Easy. In. Pay. Out. Done.

Well, not so much. First, there’s the genetics thing. Dad is about 6’2″ and Mom is about 5’2″. Guess which of them “won” when it came to determining height for my sister and me? Yep. Mom. Like it would have killed Dad to have given me an extra inch or so of leg, a little more height? But no. I’m just about 5’3″ and shop in the petites section. Which, okay, fine. Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft–two of my favorite stores–both have perfectly good petite sections and usually, buying things like trousers in the correct length is no trouble.

But jeans. See, here’s the problem with jeans. They shrink. Not necessarily the first time you wash them, or the second time, or even the third. But eventually. And then the perfect-length jeans you came home with are an inch above the top of your shoes and simply unwearable in anything other than a flood or–if you’re desperate and stretching matters–possibly over a pair of boots. (Not, I might add, a practical solution during the summer.) And so, I try to shop the regular section, not the petite section, for jeans. Except, of course, different styles have different inseam lengths. So sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Not only that, for whatever reason, as I browsed through the Ann Taylor Loft store on Saturday, different pairs of jeans in the exact same style (and theoretically cut from the same pattern and sewn to the same specifications) were fitting, well, differently. I normally wear a size 6 in pants (don’t ask me how–I wore 10s and 12s for years and then one day, 6s were fitting. I really have no idea). But of this one, specific style I tried on three separate pairs–one pair in a 6 was too big, one fit fine, and one in a 4 actually fit perfectly. A four. There’s no way I wear a size 4! (In fact, I bought this beautiful green jacket in an 8P and it fit perfectly. First try. That’s much more like it.)

Anyway. I ended up finding two pair of jeans to buy. Also that jacket. And, did I mention they were having a “Buy 2 Get 1 Half-Price” special”? Or that I happened to have a coupon in my purse good for a 20% savings off of a sale over $200? Well, it’s possible that I may have bought another item or two or three as well . . . Really, I got a great deal. I love shopping trips like that! Six items for about the price of three of them. I was surprised while putting things away, though–everything was in shades of blue or green. Not a speck of red or orange, gold or brown, or any of the autumn colors I usually gravitate toward. I’m thinking that’s a good thing. (Variety being the spice of life, or something like that.)

There was actually a sweater (or two) that I was tempted by, but I held strong. I try very hard not to buy sweaters I could just as easily (in theory) make. I have no objections to buying myself those really fine gauge, twin-set kind of sweaters, for example. They’re great to wear–lightweight, can be dressed up or down, go with anything–but boring to knit. I’m really not that interested in getting 10+ stitches to an inch. So–buy those. No problem. The occasional other sweater, if it’s on sale for a really good price. Yeah, I’m not above buying one. Sometimes you just want to be warm and looking fabulous right then, not three months from now, after buying the yarn, the pattern, and spending hours in your favorite knitting chair.

But then there’s the joy of making a sweater that just comes out perfectly. Like the one Kersten blogged about this weekend. That sweater is so gorgeous, I think I’m in love. Interesting? Check. Unique? Check. Can be worn for casual warmth? Check. Can be dressed up (say, with pearls)? Check. Cables for interest, but not so bulky they’re going to make you look like you just gained 10 pounds? Check. In fact, the whole design is body-skimming and looks like it would hide any, oh, waistline bulge you were hoping to camoflauge. And the best part? I could buy the pattern (you know, if I were really that interested) for under $4 and from the looks of the Karabella yarn it calls for, could actually use some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in that fabulous, rusty orange, that I actually have in my stash right this very minute.

You know what this means, don’t you?

I’ve really got to get a move on with that Union Square Market Pullover of mine. I pulled it out of the knitting bag to breathe tonight and actually read the next section of the pattern. I’m in luck! I don’t have to deal with scary, short-row calculations until the back is completely done! I’m just at the spot where I need to split for the armholes, and then basically, it’s a straight knit up the back, with just a couple rows worth of short-row shaping at the very top. Four rows, I think, not really enough for my completely-different row gauge to throw things too far off in terms of shaping. Which means I can actually knit this for a while longer before being confronted by the scary math. What joy! Calloo, callay!

And, lest you think less of me for being intimidated by the math, let me just say this in my defense. It’s not just the stitch gauge that’s completely different. (You remember my ranting about this when I started the sweater, right?) It’s also the row gauge, and the shoulders and general shaping on this sweater is being done by short rows. I don’t have the numbers handy at the moment, but since I am getting far, far fewer rows per inch than the pattern calls for, if I were to knit the number of short rows specified, well . . . let’s just say the sweater would be somewhat . . . mishapen. I need to figure out a way to do approximately 2/3 the number of short-rows in the front, all while shaping the neck-flap of the sweater, making sure I get the same number of rows as are in the armholes in the back, and while making sure I end up with the correct number of stitches for the shoulder seams. Do-able? Absolutely. But definitely intimidating. And I’ve been avoiding sitting down with my calculator to figure this out for weeks.

Is it any wonder I’d rather struggle with the unpronouncable but lovely H.H. shawl? But, really, it’s time I stood up to confront this fear. Faced it head-on, just me and my calculator!

. . . Or at least . . . um . . . it will be . . . you know . . . er . . . when I’ve got the back done. There’s really no reason to rush these things . . .

Hey, and, not to toot my own horn or anything, I was actually the first one to comment on Wendy’s post today. Pretty impressive, huh??

Tags: Family, General, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
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Here’s my book list for September. Twenty-six books, including a really nice mix of genres. Fiction. Non-fiction. Mysteries. Sci-fi. History. Knitting. A really good month for books!

1. WRAPT IN CRYSTALby Sharon Shinn (324 p). You already know she’s one of my favorite authors. Sci-fi book with a murder mystery. Someone is killing women of a religious sect, and Drake is sent in to solve the murders. Excellent book, though it’s not my favorite of hers. But still, really good.
2. JUST LIKE HEAVEN by Marc Levy (229 p). The book the new movie with Reese Witherspoon is based on. She’s a young doctor who’s involved in a car crash and left in a coma. And yet . . . her spirit is able to walk around, and so she goes back to her old apartment, which just happens to have a new tenant who can see her.
3. ISAAC’S STORM by Eric Larson (273 p). I wanted to read this after Katrina—the story of the 1900 hurricane that devastated Galveston Texas. Good story, though reading about its destruction and death while watching the news reports this month on CNN . . . they complimented each other, and yet also dulled the pain of each other. Well done book. I liked it so much better than his “Devil in the White City.”
4. MURDERING MCKINLEY by Eric Rauchway (213 p). A look at the social implications of the assassination of Pres. McKinley back in 1901, which moved Theodore Roosevelt (who did not like to be called Teddy, thank you very much) up to the Presidency. A look at the man who pulled the trigger (an anarchist who the other anarchists didn’t believe was sincere), and the consequences.
5. CLEVER MAIDS by Valerie Paradiz (191 p). You know the story about how the Brothers Grimm went around collecting fairy tales from old women, saving the stories for future generations. Well . . . they DID collect stories, of course, but most of their sources were actually their sister and her friends. Apparently, telling fairy tales was a popular past-time among the bourgeois class, and sister Grimm had some very imaginative friends. Interesting little biography.
6. DIVIDED HIGHWAYS by Tom Lewis (294 p). The story of the US interstate highway system. Some parts were more interesting than others, but it was a decent book. Learned some stuff I hadn’t known before, what more can you really ask for from a history book?
7. ENDER’S GAME by Orson Scott Card (324 p)
8. ENDER’S SHADOW by Orson Scott Card (467 p). The same story told from two different perspectives. Excellent sci-fi, set in the not-too-distant future when Earth is at war for its survival against an invading alien species—one which has been fought back twice, and in preparation for the third wave, they are raising and training the best military minds on the planet—training them via “The Game” as children. Ender is the hope of the planet and the focus of the first book; Bean (his “shadow”) is the focus of the other.
9. THIS IS ALL I ASK by Lynn Kurland (422 p). Pure, fluffy, romance-kind of book. Okay and enjoyable enough, but pretty much no substance whatsoever (grin).
10. ALTERKNITS by Leigh Radford (115 p). A creative knitting book, with some really amazing patterns.
11. DRAGONFLIGHT by Anne McCaffrey
12. DRAGONQUEST by Anne McCaffrey
13. WHITE DRAGON by Anne McCaffrey (734 p for the first three, in one volume)
14. RENEGADES OF PERN by Anne McCaffrey (384 p).
15. ALL THE WEYRS OF PERN by Anne McCaffrey (404 p). One of my favorite sci-fi series, and these are the nuclei. A great world, a great planet, a great premise, and great dragons. What’s not to love. The first book isn’t the best, writing-wise (it was an early in her career), but the series as a whole is wonderful.
16. THE YARN HARLOT by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (219 p). Funny, wonderful, delightful. You know I love Stephanie’s blog, and this book is like reading a month’s worth of her best and funniest stories. I liked her first book (At Knit’s End) quite a bit, but I absolutely loved this one.
17. JEEVES IN THE MORNING by PG Wodehouse (254 p). Jeeves and Bertie Wooster. Silliness. Laughter. Great fun. Does it matter what the plot was? Bertie gets himself in a jam, and Jeeves helps him out.
18. HOLIDAY HANDKNITS by Melanie Falick (178 p)  Another book of knitting patterns, including some really lovely ones! Very nice indeed.

19. THE WITHDRAWING ROOM by Charlotte MacLeod (188 p)
20. PALACE GUARD by Charlotte MacLeod (176 p)
21. THE BILBAO LOOKING GLASS by Charlotte MacLeod (204 p)
22. CONVIVIAL CODFISH by Charlotte MacLeod (220 p). Four of one of those light, humorous mystery series. Enjoyable.
23. GIRL SLEUTH by Melanie Rehak (317 p). The story of Nancy Drew and the women who created her—the Stratemeyer Syndicate, the ghost-writer, the world in which the stories were created, and why. Good.
24. ALEXANDER HAMILTON by Ron Chernow (731 p). The biography of the founding father. I’ve been working on this for almost three months and was starting to think I’d never finish, and yet I was enjoying it quite a bit. Learned a lot of things about Hamilton I hadn’t known—like why he was so instrumental in getting our country’s finances off the ground. (At last, why the man was important enough to be on our $10 bill!) He was also born in the Caribbean, which I didn’t know. He was G. Washington’s right-hand man through most of the Revolution—which I did know—but also helped start the Bank of New York, which still exists today, and was instrumental in getting the Constitution ratified. He was also the first Treasury Secretary. And wow, the man could write. Excellent book about an intriguing man. (My favorite tidbit? During the war, Martha Washington named one of the prowling tomcats after him—apparently he had quite the reputation with the ladies.) The author was clearly biased in Hamilton’s favor, but I don’t think that really harmed the book at all.
25. THE KEEPING DAYS by Norma Johnston (238 p)
26. GLORY IN THE FLOWER by Norma Johnston (198 p). Two of my favorite books back when I was around 14, and still enjoyable to read. Tish Sterling is the narrator, telling her family’s story in 1900, the year she was 14, the “sensitive” one of a large family. They’re excellent.

Tags: Monthly Reading List, Reading by Deb
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