Achoo!
Sniffle . . . cough . . .
Calla-Way
I started knitting my Calla Lily socks last night, but there was a problem.
The first thing to say, here, is that I know my own knitting, and I certainly know by now that I have gauge issues. You’ve heard it before–all through making my Union Square Market Pullover, and my Celtic Dreams, you heard me . . . not griping . . . but talking about how very different my own gauge was compared to the pattern, regardless of the yarn I’m using. I know that, and I accept it. I knit loosely. If I want things to fit, I need to do a certain amount of praying and/or math.
The pattern called for 63 stitches. My usual socks, to fit just right, are 44 stitches. But still, there are variations in the gauge, and I’m knitting these on size 0 needles, and there was the lace issue and all, so . . . I cast on for 53 stitches, and crossed my fingers. As you can see, though, it was pretty large. I looped it around the ball of my foot and just held it out–not pulling it tight at all–and it’s just ridiculously large.
Really, I don’t know why I thought it was going to work.
Anyway, I tore it out and started fresh, using 45 stitches this time, and look how pretty!
And yes, it fits just right.
This is six repeats of the lace pattern. There need to be eleven before starting the heel. I figure I’ll work this sock to that point, and then start the second one so I can get them to the same point. I very much like knitting both socks at the same time, but didn’t do that with my Trekking socks or the Sockotta ones that came before that. I wanted a sock to bring to the dentist’s office this afternoon, and it’s a whole lot easier to fit one sock into my purse than two, but yes, the plan is to get both socks going in sync. Then, if nothing else, I can be sure the foot length is the same for each.
So, yes, I went to the dentist this afternoon and my nice and kind dentist tried to patch the crack in the crown to salvage this for another year or two so that I can put more of my insurance dollars to the crown on the other side of my mouth that badly needs one. Joy. Do you know how much yarn and books I could buy for what I’m about to spend at the dentist? This is what I get for not going for more regular checkups (grin). And the cold? I’m really not sure that what I have is a cold–the back of my throat has felt “clogged” all day (which, I must say, made leaning so far back in the dentist’s chair lots of fun). But I’m not feeling any worse, or any sicker, so I don’t know. Maybe it is allergies? Or maybe the Cold-eeze and extra vitamins I’ve been taking have really helped.
Booking Through Thursday.
This week’s questions were suggested by Marie.
- Do you ever reread your books?
ALL the time. I just crunched some numbers from my book lists over the last several years, and it averages out that about 60% of the books I read each year are re-reads. It helps me justify the money I spend on books, too! They’re an investment, you know. - If so, which ones? If not, why not?
I think the basic rule of thumb is that, if I enjoy it, I’m going to read it again. Especially where fiction is concerned. I have books that I’ve read so many times I’ve completely lost count. As in, upward of 30 reads. Non-fiction, though, I reread less often. Probably because I love reliving good stories–like watching a movie you love over and over (and yes, I do that too). But an interesting history book, or science book? A book on writing techniques or cooking? I’ll refer back, but don’t usually bother to reread them. It’s good stories that I crave. - Do you read the books the whole way through or pick through for favorite scenes?
Oh, the entire book, no question! - What qualifies a book for the reread pile?
I think I pretty much answered that already. Although, I don’t have a TBR pile (To-Be-Read). When I finish one book, I go and browse the “stacks” of my personal library, just as if I were at a bookstore, looking for a book to pique my interest. Unless I’m in the middle of a series, I almost never arrange my books by the sequence with which I’ll be reading them. I just browse the shelves until I find something that sounds interesting, whether it be new, or an old-favorite I want to revisit.
Super Calla!
Ooh . . . this looks promising….
….And it delivers, too! We have here two skeins of Sundara Yarn in her “Calla Lily” colorway–a beautiful combo of greens and mulberries–just for the Petals Collection. A pattern (appropriately called “Calla Lily”) to go with it. A sweet little flower-shaped lollipop in a coordinating pink. A postcard picture of the flower showing the inspiration for the color. A note from Sundara herself. All wrapped in matching tissue paper. VERY nice presentation.
A close up of the colors, just for you.
My problem now? Yesterday, I wound my pretty, hand-dyed yarn from my tea-pal, Lu . . . but now I’m tempted to just dive into this, my new Calla Lily yarn . . . What’s a girl to do? (For the record, the yarn from Lu is actually greener than it appears here.)
Really, it’s just such a pretty yarn. Both of them.
Bulletin!
Really, nothing new or exciting.
- Even having finished my Trekking Socks, I have not yet started a new pair of socks. Although, hopefully my first Sundara Petals yarn installment should come soon. But in the meantime, I wound the pretty hand-dyed yarn from my Knitter’s Tea Swap pal into ball . . . they sure look pretty!
- I toyed around with the cute, baby yarn that I plan on turning into an afghan, but without a real pattern, I’m still not sure what I want to make with it. I mean, sure, a blanket, but what kind?
- Chappy and I did manage to squeeze in a very quick walk around the block when I got home from work. It rained on and off all day, and it’s raining now, but we got just enough of a dry spell to stretch our legs. It’s been a week and a half since we made it all the way around the block, and a week since we got out of the house at all, so we’re happy (and tired)
- I did actually get some spinning done last night. That was the first time in several weeks, and it felt good. These long pauses between spinning sessions, though, is doing nothing for my expertise.
- I have an emergency dentist visit scheduled for Thursday afternoon because a piece of one of my teeth broke off yesterday. (He can only yell so much, though–it happened while I was brushing my teeth.) Luckily, it doesn’t hurt, but still . . . ugh.
- Speaking of spinning, have you heard of the Summer Spinning group?
- And, oh yeah, they’re forecasting more rain for tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day. And the next . . .
Myth-nomers and Imperfections
And here I thought they were a myth!
Behold the Lendrum Plying Bobbin. (Ooooh! Aaaah!)
I ordered this from Woodland Woolworks back in November, but the bobbins were backordered and so I waited,and waited . . . and finally, today, seven months later, it arrived.
Heck, I’d almost forgotten ordering the thing in the first place. I do have one, you understand, which came with the Plying head, but really, you need at least two, right?
Of course, I’d need it more if I was actually, you know, spinning. My poor wheel. It’s barely been touched in weeks. (And I do mean “barely.” Not only am I behind on my spinning, but I’m behind on my dusting, too.)
Really, I blame NBC. About the only time I can be relatively sure each week that I’ll sit in front of my wheel is while watching Medium on Monday nights. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know why that combination works so well for me, but it does. But NBC in its infinite (cough) wisdom (coughcough) has (1) not been airing the repeats lately, though I believe it’s supposed to be on tonight, but also (2) they’re moving it to Sunday in the fall.
I think my spinning wheel is in trouble (grin).
Still, at least I’ve got a nice pair of socks to keep my feet warm.
A pair of basic, stockinette, toe-up socks in Trekking XXL color #102, to be exact.
I really love them. I love the gentle shadings of gray and cream, with just a hint of camel. I love the marled look, and the shaded striping. And I do love how these don’t match perfectly. (Hey, I did perfect last month.) They’re great.
Well, okay, they’re not entirely perfect.
Because, it’s true, the heel I knit in the dark isn’t exactly a model heel. It’s a little loose at the joins, a little sloppy-looking. But I really don’t care. For this, particular instance, imperfections are GOOD. I did this without being able to see what I was doing, and it’s there, in one piece, holding together. What more can you really ask of a sock? I’ll keep a close eye on it, watching for signs of wear, but otherwise, I’m happy to let this imperfect row of short-row joins stay in that sock. It’s like a medal of honor for a knitter–it’s wounded, but proud of surviving the battle.
(Oh, and yes, I’ll admit to getting the idea for this post’s title from the title of a book. Anyone recognize it? Click on the continuation if you’re at all curious.)
Equally Wet Sunday
It was, really, just as wet today as it was yesterday. Which is to say WET!
Well, here, anyway. Not only are there plenty of bloggers out there who had lovely weather today (you know who you are), but even around here . . . my Dad got to golf this morning and said it was perfectly dry, and yet here at the house, it was teeming so hard the gutters were overflowing. What a difference a dozen or two miles makes!
But, ultimately, I spent today pretty much the same way as I spent yesterday–on the chair in the dining room window with Chappy, reading. In fact, I got very little knitting done. Four rows on my Peacock stole, about two and a half on my Green Gable, and almost the rest of my Trekking sock–just another inch of ribbing and some heel surgery for that little, um, mishap in the movies, and that pair is done.
The really remarkable thing is that will be the sixth pair I’ve finished this year. That’s a pair a month, absolutely unheard of for me!
Now, a little “sad” story with a happy ending (the best kind).
While Dawn and I were at Anthropologie on Friday, and she was trying on all those lovely clothes, I wandered into the “sale room” and picked up this skirt–the only one in the room, and in my size. I tried it on and loved it, even though it’s really not my usual style at all. But it was pretty, and feminine, and flowy, and a full-circle skirt, which meant it had just the right amount of twirl.
Except, it had been put in there by mistake, it wasn’t actually on sale, and therefore did in fact cost $118. A price which I could not justify at all, not for a skirt I really wouldn’t wear that much, no matter how much I loved it. So, sadly, I left it behind.
But, last night, I checked the Anthropologie website and found this skirt, on the right. Almost as pretty, also a full-circle skirt, and even better–on sale! Half the price of that other one. So, I ordered it. Because, well, don’t I deserve a reward for bypassing that really expensive skirt??
You know, really, I’ve got to say I love the things they sell at Anthropologie (even if I’m too short and round for many of them), but la, those prices! Some of it, sure, is worth it for workmanship or what have you, but other prices? How do they sleep at night?
Knitting Martha’s Vineyard Lovers
I’m new at the whole hosting a blog-ring thing, but here goes . . . because I thought Martha’s Vineyard-loving knitters deserved it!
This webring is for any knitters (or other fibery-craft people) who love Martha’s Vineyard.
(Just please, be patient with me while I learn the ropes of hosting a webring.)
Meanwhile, Click here to join.
Soaking Saturday
Well, Sandy did ask . . . .
She’s asked for pictures of Saturday Skies to liven up blogland, and well, anything I can do to help!
The thing is, it’s not that pretty a sky today. In fact, it’s downright miserable. Here in northern NJ, it’s been raining pretty much all day. Some breaks, sure, but also plenty of periods of heavy rain. Blah. You can’t really see in the picture, but trust me, it’s raining. See how droopy the trees are? I took this picture from under the roof at our front door (thereby protecting my camera from water damage). It’s not much of a photo, but it IS the sky we’ve got!
I’ve spent almost my entire day doing the ideal rainy day activity–reading. Sure, you’re going to tell me that knitting is perfect, too, and believe me, I know how much it’s got going for it. But the thing is, enjoyable and soothing as knitting can be, it’s still a little bit of work, for your hands if nothing else. Whereas reading is easy–the only effort is turning the pages.
And so far today, I’ve turned a lot of them. I finished the book I was reading, read its sequel, and have since polished off two YA books, including the 2001 Newbery Medal winner, “A Year Down Yonder” by Richard Peck–a slim little book, but oh, I really enjoyed it!
Other than the reading, so far I’ve . . . um . . . well, I ate breakfast. I did write my blog entry describing yesterday’s fun. And I’ve spent a lot of time petting Chappy . . . but, well, yeah. Reading’s about it so far for today!
Hope your Saturday is a little more lively. And . . . I’m so glad Cara found an indoor spot for her Spin-out! If the weather over in Manhattan is anything like here . . . they’ll have needed it!
Oh–and look at this interesting little article on husband-training from the New York Times . . . ah, the beauty of positive-reinforcement! It’s what clicker training is all about.
Forgiveness
So, yesterday, I was out–all day–with my friend Dawn. All. Day. Which was great!
We went to Short Hills Mall for some retail therapy (she was stressed) and were there basically from 11:00 until 4:00. We had coffee at Starbucks, tried on dresses at Macy’s, jeans and skirts and such at Anthropologie, shoes at Nordstrom’s, and some pants at Ann Taylor. Actually, except for that last, Dawn tried on the most. I spent a fair amount of time sitting on the floor outside dressing rooms, working on my sock, chatting, and giving opinions. (No, really, it was fun!)
We stopped for a snack around 3:15 and Dawn mentioned how she was in the mood for a love story kind of movie. I said, “Well, actually….” and pulled out a list of movie times I’d cut out of the paper before I left the house. (I was never a girl scout, but I DO like to be prepared!)
We finished up our shopping and hurried over to Madison for the 4:30 showing–just making it into the theater in time . . . for half an hour of previews, commercials, and so forth. (Oh well!) The movie we saw? The Lake House with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. Sure, it had some logical holes and some anachronisms (like, the Paul McCartney song they danced to in 2004 wasn’t released until 2005), but we enjoyed the story, even though we both saw that big plot twist coming a mile away, and we both enjoyed tearing apart the paradoxes . . . but, darn it, that’s part of the fun of watching a time-bending movie!! Anyway, it was just right for what we were in the mood for.
Then, we called Cindy (who lives just a couple miles from there) and she joined us for supper. We walked around town for a bit, looking for a good place to eat, and finally hit on just the right kind of place. A nice little Italian-Steak-Seafood restaurant whose name, I’m sorry to tell you, I can’t remember. But the food was excellent. Good crusty bread to start. We all enjoyed our entrees–we all had seafood of some kind–and the desserts were wonderful. But the best part? We were there for three hours and they didn’t rush us at all.
But then I did the thing I had to beg Chappy’s forgiveness for. As if it weren’t bad enough that I’d been gone for over eleven hours at this point, and that he’d been sitting by the window looking for me ever since my usual get-home-from-work time. No, as if all that weren’t bad enough, Dawn and I detoured on the way home to see Cindy’s newly-decorated kitchen (which looks I can’t even tell you how fabulous). Which means we also saw her dogs. Meaning Princess and Horatio, Chappy’s very best friend. Horatio on his part was thrilled to see us, and kept staring at me and sniffing my leg as if wondering why I was there without Chappy. (Yes, I apologized to Horatio, too, because it really was kind of a tease.) But when I came home, after dropping Dawn at her parents’ house?? Oh lordy, did Chappy give me a thorough once-over. (“You saw Horatio?? Without me? After deserting me all day, you went and played with my best-friend???”) You get the idea.
Oh, and my sock? Wasn’t it nice of me to take my sock on this urban trek, looking for clothing and such? And, really, I got so much done on it yesterday, it’s not even funny. (You can see I marked the progress on the sock in the photo.) But the part that I thought was most impressive? See that line between “Jeans” and “Movie?” That’s what I did in the movie theater. As in, yes, I turned the heel of the sock while watching the movie. In the dark!
I was 97% successful, too! There were just these two little problems . . . two stitches that somehow didn’t make it into the P3tog of stitch-plus-two-wraps. (For some reason purling together the stitches and YOs I do instead of wrapping the stitch was much harder in the dark than knitting the stitches and YOs together at the other end of the row.) But still. I don’t care. I’ll weave these two, lost stitches into the sock with some extra yarn at the end. They’ll be just as warm, and the stitches just as secure, as if they’d been joined together properly in the first place, right? The mere fact that I managed a short row heel almost completely successfully in the dark, while watching a movie makes me so darn pleased with myself, I don’t care about the error. If anything, it just makes me love it that much more.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I promised Chappy a tummy-rub . . . and an ear-scratch . . . and maybe an extra biscuit . . . if it weren’t raining, he’d probably have insisted we go to the park to see Horatio–together, this time–but as it’s rather wet outside, I vetoed that one. I’m so glad Cara found an alternate spot for the Spin-Out in Central Park today!! And, good luck to Claudia this weekend!
Hmm, this doesn’t happen every day, huh?
And, have you heard about the Tour de Fleece? Like the Knitting Olympics, but for spinners during the Tour de France.
Gable Gabble
I know, you’re still reeling with the shock that I didn’t post yesterday, right? Well, that’s because we had an unexpected–but definitely welcome–guest last night. My niece asked if she could come stay over, since she hadn’t had a chance to since November. Naturally, we were thrilled to have her, and of course, I wanted to spend time with her rather than (no offense) with you folks. You understand.
We watched the movie I.Q., which Tiffany hadn’t seen. You know, from 1994, with Walter Matthau playing Albert Einstein, Meg Ryan as his niece, and Tim Robbins as the auto-mechanic who falls for her who, with Einstein’s help, pretends to be a scientist to get her attention. It’s a sweet, charming little movie. And while watching, instead of working on Miss Diva Peacock Stole, I plugged away at my Green Gable sweater.
It’s coming along nicely, I think, though I haven’t tried it on yet, and we’re past the halfway point. About 5 or 6″ more in length, and then finishing off the (blessedly short) sleeves, and it will be done.
Now, when I got this yarn, I said that the color was awfully close to that of my Union Square Market Pullover. Well, just to prove it, take a look at this. The yarn threaded through the row counter is a scrap of the Rowan Cashsoft 4-ply I made my USMP with. The knitting it’s resting on is the brick colored Cotton Fleece I’m knitting Green Gable out of. What do you think? Pretty close, huh?
Hey, speaking of the Green Gable sweater, and therefore its Knit-along, how’s this for a “It’s a Small Internet” moment? Two different knit-bloggers, both in the KAL, were actually good friends in high school but had fallen out of touch, until one posted her picture with her finished GG and the other saw it and recognized her. What are the odds, huh? I love that!
I’ve also finished my first Trekking sock. You may look at it and think “hum-drum,” what with its understated shades of grey, but you’d be wrong. This sock is really a beauty. Elegant, really, as only gray can be. (And yes, I vacillate between spelling it “gray” and “grey.” I like both. So, sue me.) I’ve got the toe of sock #2 done, but, well, it’s still a baby, so we’re going to respect its privacy.
Tonight–having left her in the knitting bag last night, I worked on Peacock,and we got through six rows without any fighting. I don’t know why this is more tempermental as a rectangle than it was in a triangle, but there you go. I mean, really, I’m joking about her temper but we ARE getting along … mostly … And she IS coming out beautifully (if not quite perfectly–knitter’s error, there).
I was reading Cate‘s entry today, posted from the laundromat on Martha’s Vineyard. (And honestly, I couldn’t even tell you where that is–I’ve never had to do laundry on my vacation, except that one time Chappy threw up into his bedding, but we used the hotel’s machines, and anyway, I’m getting distracted from the main point . . . just ignore this digression and move on.) In her comments, was one from PumpkinMama, who just returned from there. (Look at her beautiful pictures from Cape Pogue, Chappaquiddick, where her family has a home.) And I know Carole loves MV, as does Lizzy B . . . I don’t know . . . I almost feel like starting a knit-blogging, Martha’s Vineyard Lovers webring. How many people do you suppose would sign up? (grin)
Tomorrow, I’m taking the day off work and spending it with my best friend, visiting home from California. This will be my one and only chance to see her before she leaves, and I’m looking forward to it. AND we’re going to meet my other friend Cindy for dinner–because she and Cindy were in the same class in high school and haven’t seen each other in several years now, but we always have a good time together. This should be fun.
(And yes, I’ve already explained to Chappy that I’m going to be gone all day. Sometimes, he just has to deal. Oh, and since I don’t know what time I’ll be getting home tomorrow night, um, I don’t know if I’ll be posting tomorrow, either….)
Dewey Donation System
Before I forget, in amongst all the other worthy charity drives going on (Cara, Claudia, Rebekah), here’s another one, for book lovers this time. The Dewey Donation System. A chance to donate books to libraries that were devasted in last year’s Gulf Coast hurricanes. Easy and painless. No assembly required
Lace Angst
Does anyone else find it worrying that I found my Amazing Lace teammate, the Peacock Stole, at the computer last night, composing poetry?
Dark, frightening poetry, to put fear into a knitter’s heart.
Now, to be entirely fair to Miss Diva Peacock, she hasn’t been out of the bag since about Wednesday. I admit it. It’s almost a week. But this was after a week of daily knitting that included complaints, snarls, and a lack of focus in my lacy teammate, who simply was not concentrating on her part of the job. We weren’t working well together. It happens in the best of relationships.
I also fully admit that I neglected her a bit in my push to get my Celtic Dreams done. Because really, part of the stifled, suffocating feeling Peacock was complaining about was because she was underneath an entire Aran sweater in an over-crowded knitting bag. There simply wasn’t room for all of them, and it was for HER sake that I was wanted to get that sweater done and out of there. So she could stretch out and breathe again.
I explained all of this quite calmly last night, after I found the threatening poetry. I really think I handled myself quite well. The threats to stuff her into the far back of the closet with the Jo Sharp DK wool and the Rowan Wool and Cotton (from when they still used the ampersand) lasted only for a few minutes, and then we had a nice, long talk.
Then, today, I found her writing poetry again. At first I was concerned, but then realized that she was in a gentler, kinder mood. (I was really quite calm about her using my favorite Pelikan fountain pen, and didn’t even point out the fact that maybe using the tropical blue ink would have been a wiser decision than risking the chocolate brown ink that was in the pen.)
Anyway, here’s her poem, transcribed with her permission.
A hole.
Light. Ethereal. Airy.Constrained on all sides
By the bulwark of knit-two-together,
SSK.Restricted. Unable to run.
Safe.The Central Park of knitting.
Surrounded by structure,
Yet open to the air,
The sun.Free.
Bright.
Beautiful.Lace.
Really, I think we’re going to be just fine. The fact that neither of us writes poetry that rhymes bodes well, don’t you think? I mean, I won’t think about the fact that her poem says nothing about the Knitter, or about teamwork, and just take comfort in the fact that she seems to be in a better mood….
(This post brought to you courtesy of the Amazing Lace Challenge #3.)
A Celtic Dream Come True
Ta da! Here’s my Celtic Dreams welcoming you with open arms. (Wooley boards are fun!)
A close-up of her beautiful cables.
And see how much I care about you? On this hot, muggy, humid, hazy day, I put on this heavy wool sweater and stepped outside for a photo. I hope you get the idea, because I don’t plan on actually wearing this beautiful thing again until, say October at the earliest (grin).
- Pattern: Celtic Dreams by Beth Brown-Reinsel
- Yarn: Black Water Abbey wool in “Autumn,” 5 skeins.
- Started in April. Finished June 16th.
I didn’t make any design modifications. I love the whole thing. There are just two things that aren’t perfect. One, my gauge loosened as I worked the body, so the lower half of the body is wider than the top–just ever so slightly tent-like. Not as flattering as I’d like (as if I didn’t have enough trouble with my waistline). And, two, the sleeves are somehow just a tiny bit too short. Usually, if anything, sleeves end up too long for me but I actually followed the pattern and made them the length called for, and they’re about half an inch above my wrist bone. I therefore may decide (later, much later) to pick up those 48 stitches at the cuff and add a couple rows of garter-stitch, just to add a little bit of length . . . or, I may not!
Regardless, I am thrilled with this sweater. The yarn is gorgeous–though perennially hard to photograph. It seems like every other picture comes out a different shade, and close ups? Almost black and white, but I have no idea why! (The color in this photo is really quite good. My hair looks better, too, but of course, it wasn’t as humid!) But believe me when I tell you the yarn is beautiful. It feels nice, too. Not quite as scratchy as I was afraid it would be before I bought the yarn, and it did soften when I washed it. I think I’ll always choose to wear a shirt under this, but it’s very “wearable.” The pattern was brilliant–even to the set-in sleeves, and the “Skirt” and cuff design elements which I think just makes the sweater work so well. It’s also my first Aran sweater–I’ve done cables, but not an “Aran,” and there really is a difference.
Anyway, I love it. The pattern is brilliant. The yarn is beautiful. All this cabley-goodness. What’s not to love??
M is for Miscellaneous
M is for Music. Here’s most of my music collection, stored in two of my dresser drawers. Usually they’re a little neater, but they’re still in a bit of disarray from the copy-to-computer-to-use-on-my-MP3-player flurry last month. (And, we won’t discuss the actual MP3 player, ‘kay?)
M is for Movies. Our movie collection. It’s hard to see behind all the picture frames, but here’s our Video and DVD collection, stored on two bookcases in the family room. The case on the left is all purchased video tapes and DVDs. The case on the right is over a hundred home-recorded video tapes dating back to our first VCR, around 1983. (Also, the tv-on-dvd collection.) Unlike the book library, the movies are counted in hundreds rather than thousands. I have them logged in an Excel spreadsheet, just like the books, but I’ve been neglectful and haven’t kept it updated lately. I really need to do that. The estimate, though? About 500 movies.
M is for Mirror. My mother loves mirrors, and we have quite a few around the house–even on the stairs. (It’s one of my favorite optical illusions–guests often think there’s no back to the risers, but of course, there is.)
M is for Map. I suppose it’s possible to have too many, but I’m not too sure about that! I’m proud to have a complete set of the US state maps, dating back to the TravelVision brand, which used to be the Exxon maps, which are now the American brand maps, and which I consider to be the very best US road maps. My set comes from the old General Drafting company, which used to produce them in Convent Station, NJ, and where I worked, my first job out of college. (In a castle, and everything. Very cool for a first job, even if my office was in what had been the servant’s quarters. It’s a private home again, now.) Anyway, they’re really the best maps–trust me on this!
M is for Money. I know, this one speaks for itself, huh?
M is also for Middle. Do you realize that, with the letter M and the end of June, we are halfway through the alphabet and halfway through the year already? I can’t tell you how much I’ve been enjoying this ABC-along.
64
Anyone else feel like listening to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band today? Because today’s the day . . . “When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now. Will you still be sending me a Valentine? Birthday greetings? Bottle of wine?”
(Picture borrowed from Starpulse, (c) 2005, Capital Records)
Who Knew Toddlers Could Drive?
Chappy was absolutely flabbergasted to learn, today, that apparently, toddlers can drive.
See, he and I were invited to Risa’s today, to spend the day outside, in the yard, by the pool, having lunch. And it was all going wonderfully until the traffic started.
Chappy, unsure about the wisdom of letting two-year-old humans drive heavy machinery, barked his concern, causing frowns and surprised looks on the part of the drivers in question. “Of course we can drive,” you can see them thinking. “Now, be quiet.”
Because, really, who appreciates criticism when they’re driving?
Of course, all was forgiven when we stopped by the pool. This was Chappy’s first experience with a swimming pool and he simply did not know what to make of it. It was actually an unexpected detour we made. We’d spent the entire visit over in the yard, knitting (Risa and I, anyway), napping (the twins) stretching out in the grass (Chappy). We’d all had lunch together–Risa grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and corn on the cob. (Chappy thought the hot dogs, in particular, were delicious. My hamburger was excellent–as was the corn.) But really, we hadn’t gone near the pool.
But, just as Chappy and I were leaving, he expressed an interest in taking a closer look. (By “expressed an interest” I mean he pulled me over to the gate, and while he may not be a large dog, believe me when I tell you that he is strong!) So, all five of us went in to the pool’s own little enclosure and Chappy ran around sniffing . . . and before you knew it, Risa and I were sitting on the edge, dangling our feet, and the twins were sneaking further and further down the stairs . . .
Succumbing to the inevitable, Risa dashed inside to get into her bathing suit while I kept an eye on the twins. (Even I, a virtual non-swimmer, could rescue a toddler from 4 feet of water if I needed to.) All the while Chappy ran around the edges of the pool, getting more and more excited. All that splashing and floating and such looked like fun!
But the thing is that, even though Chappy’s breed is a water dog (“The Dog That Doesn’t Rock The Boat”), he himself does not swim. He wades. He splashes. He romps. He plays. But paws do not leave the ground. So while he sat on the top step, and even lay down on it (once) . . . and even though he very clearly WANTED to do what the twins were having so much fun doing . . .he couldn’t quite bring himself to jump in the pool. At one point, Risa and both twins were calling to him, “Come on, Chappy. Jump!” . . . but, no. And when Risa tried lifting him off the step, well, that was a little too scary. What are you supposed to do when your paws aren’t touching the ground, he wanted to know. And, well, how do you explain that to your dog?
Now, some people believe that you should just toss your dog into a pool, that instinct will kick in, and they’ll swim, just like that. And while I do believe that Chappy could, I know my “soft” dog well enough to know that something like that would traumatize him more than not. Some dogs are less intrepidly daring than others. So, of course, we didn’t force him in any further than he was willing to go . . . but, maybe next time I’ll dig my own suit out of mothballs (it’s been about 9 years since it’s been out of the drawer) and see if that doesn’t help encourage him. Obviously, a doggie-floatation device would be helpful, too, but somehow, I don’t think we’d quite get our money’s worth! (grin) At least he got his feet wet. (See here? He’s got all four paws on the top step, but he’s actually sitting down on the edge of the pool. But, oh, he wanted to jump in!)
Oh, and Risa? Please note how I did not post the picture of the twins in the pool after they took off their diapers but before you brought them their bathing suits. This is a G-rated blog, you know. We had a wonderful time again today–like always!
Hint
There’s some finishing to be done–ends to weave, underarm seams to sew, blocking to perform, but, um . . . I think you get the idea, huh?
Closing In
Well, the sleeve’s getting closer . . . just a few more inches and it’ll match the other one. Which means, a few more inches, and it will be done!
Just in time for hot, sticky, humid, New Jersey weather this weekend. Blech!
But . . . I suppose . . . I could always turn the air conditioning up, huh?
Oh–and go over and congratulate Eunny. TWO books coming out. Really, it couldn’t happen to a more accomplished knitter. Her attention to detail just blows me away, every time. (You’ve seen her lace and steek tutorials, haven’t you?) You know that scene in “Finding Forrester” where the high school principal fondles the essay and mutters, “Sixteen, just sixteen,” referring to the writer’s age in a disbelieving tone of voice that yet conveys huge amounts of hope and expectation for what he’ll do in the future. Well, twenty-three, twenty-three…. (Sometimes, I really do feel like I’m getting old!)
May I Have a Word?
Saw this one at Cara‘s:
Please leave a one-word comment that you think best describes me — it can only be one word long. Then copy and paste this into your blog so that I may leave a word about you.
Baaa!
Look who arrived here today–this cute little sheep, courtesy of Jennifer over at Major Knits.
In March, she asked for little balls of old sock yarn for an indisclosed project, and I won this little guy (girl?) for my contribution.
And, the project? These adorable notecards with real swatches on a real needle–and she made a point of sending note cards to each donor made from their own yarn. Isn’t that great? And even better, the rest of the cards are being sold for charity. Keep an eye out on her blog for a link–the cards are adorable.
Mom and I watched a video of Gershwin’s Crazy For You tonight, and I got about an hour and a half of knitting on my sleeve done. Gershwin, I must say, with his great rhythm . . . not to mention all the energetic tap-dancing numbers . . . is great for knitting to. Anyway, I’ve still got several nights’ worth of knitting to go, but the end is in sight. Now the question is whether I’ll need to wind that sixth skein of yarn, or if I’ll have JUST enough in this skein to finish it . . . either way, it’s going to be close! (I mean, I have the yarn here in the house, it’s just a matter of whether I end near the beginning of a new skein or at the end of the current one.)
Thanks again, Jennifer!
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