Mapping
Sorry. No time to blog. Too busy playing around and making my own maps . . .
Last Mail Call!
I’m ending this year right, with a very good mail day.
Because, look what I got! An RAOK braid of really lovely Falkland wool roving in such pretty colors. Yellows and golds primarily, with hints of rose. Beautiful.
Don’t believe me? Look how great it goes with my bedroom. (It does a great imitation of a duck, too, don’t you think? Not just any roving can manage that, you know.)
The bad part? I have no idea who sent this to me! Well, okay, I cut the return address off the box, but the name is blurred. The street address doesn’t match anyone in the Fiber RAOK database. And the paper inside just said “RAOK” with a note to regift it to somebody else if I didn’t like it. (Fat chance–I think it’s gorgeous.) All of which makes it really hard to actually TELL the person “thank you,” so for the moment, this post will just have to do. Because, thank you!
And then, I got these lovely little pieces from Etsy–apparently just in time, because the “shop” says she’s travelling in Asia just now and will be back in January . . . whew! A copper necklace and almost-matching copper earrings. I do love the shine of copper–I love the color of it (which looks so good with my hair and skin tone). I also love its relative inexpensiveness in regards to jewelry. (As opposed to, say, cookware, where it’s anything but!)
Wasn’t it nice of the new roving to help model them for me? I think I might change the chain for the necklace, though. It LOOKS lovely, but it feels . . . heavy. I don’t know if it’s the weight of the pendant, or the length, or the texture, but . . . something keeps making me tweak it, adjust it, as it lays on my neck. It’s a great length, though.
I got to leave the office an hour early today, too–as a New Year’s treat (and since it was practically a ghost town in there anyway), everyone got to leave one hour earlier than usual. Chappy was thrilled to have an extra hour of “Mommy.” Especially since I decided to use it to make a cup of tea, which meant he got a biscuit. (I always figure that if I’m treating myself, why shouldn’t he get something, too?)
Tomorrow, of course, you already know my Mom’s going to see Phantom with my niece. My sister and I decided to take a raincheck because she’s really dragging from her cold. (My suggestion, by the way–there are “colds” and then there are “COLDS,” and you just don’t mess with the latter. She needs her rest.) I’ll have a fun day, anyway, though, since Risa and the twins are coming over for a visit. I even thought of a way we could spend some time in the family room, with the DVD player, just as soon as I block off the hearth-with-breakables. I bet Chappy wouldn’t mind sharing his toys, either…. Good thing we have baby gates, huh?
I still can’t believe it’s the end of the year . . . the weather alone! It was almost 50 degrees again here, today. A far, far cry from Colorado, getting socked with its second blizzard in a week . . . if this is what they’re doing for Christmas and New Year’s, I shudder to think how the city will celebrate Valentine’s Day, or Martin Luther King Day, or . . .
Oh, and speaking of New Year’s, I don’t usually DO New Year’s Resolutions, but I suppose in this case, I can make an exception:
|
In the year 2007 I resolve to: |
(Seen over at Sharon Lee‘s blog.)
Earbobs
I have even less to talk about today than I did yesterday, isn’t that sad?
I do have a lovely new pair of earrings, though, which came today. I found them through the Thrifty Boutique ezine, and ordered them from Atterg. So pretty, I couldn’t resist–even if this is a daft time of year to be buying myself jewelry.
(And yes, there are, in fact, two of them. I just photographed only one for you.) Dangly, which I love in an earring. Silver, one of my favorites. A hammered-silver circle, which catches the light marvelously (important when you have long, dark hair). And then a dangling, beaded pendant, which gleams beautifully and also catches the light. What’s not to love?
A little early, but here’s my answer (illustrated, even!) to this week’s “Booking Through Thursday.”
- Any favorite holiday books or stories that you like to read
and reread this time of year? And if so, why? What makes it so special
to you? Favorites from your childhood? (This is a perfectly good time
of year for picture books–it’s like watching the Charlie Brown
Christmas special. Adults can “do” cartoons in December.) - (Psst.
You can talk about favorite movies or tv specials, too, if you want,
even though they’re not about reading. You know, just this once.)
I have to say that ultimately, my favorite Christmas-themed book is this one, Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect, written by Richard H. Schneider and beautifully illustrated by Elizabeth Miles. I originally bought it for my niece when she was somewhere around five, but I loved it so much (naturally, I read it before I wrapped it for her), and raved about how sweet it was so often, that on Christmas morning, there was a copy for ME under the tree, too. I wouldn’t want to spoil the story for you, but it’s about a perfect little tree growing in the Queen’s forest, hoping (as all trees do) to be perfect enough to be selected for the royal Christmas Tree . . . but one night, it sheltered a rabbit from some dogs, and ended with a gap in its branches . . . and one day there was a bird . . . and suddenly, the tree wasn’t quite perfect anymore . . . well . . . I won’t tell you any more, but it’s a charming little story. And oh, really, the illustrations are just gorgeous.
Otherwise, I surprisingly don’t have any other Christmas books that I particularly love. I know, me, the huge book lover. It’s a shock. There are some classic things on film that I do love, though. Charlie Brown’s Christmas special. It’s a Wonderful Life (now that they don’t show it thirty times a day anymore). Bing Crosby’s White Christmas. Nobody sings that song like Bing does, either. Or Nat King Cole’s version of the Christmas Song. Elvis’ Blue Christmas…. Yeah, the music I love. Well, in the month of December, anyway . . . the middle of November is a little early….
Oh, but speaking of Christmas music? I don’t know if any of you watch Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, but at the end of their Christmas episode, they had a New Orleans jazz-like rendition of “O Holy Night” played by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews. It’s amazing. You can download the song, played by Troy Andrews and fellow musicians, at NBC’s Studio 60 site or via the Tipitina Foundation. Or watch the actual video tribute.
Trust me when I tell you that–whether you like Christmas music or not–this is one beautiful piece of music. Amazing. Go listen. Or save it to your computer. So, so beautiful. Really. Trust me on this one. It gives me chills . . . in a good way. You do not want to miss it. It’s just as beautiful for the ears as those earrings . . . Good for the soul, too, that kind of moving beauty….
Fun, But Tiring
I’ve had a very nice, very full, very fun, very tiring day today.
First, Mom and I went to the Morristown Craft show that we go to just about every year . . . I also discovered that there’s an observation window upstairs, from which I took this picture of all the booths.
But–different this year–we had friends! Risa, her Mom, and the twins. Okay, so Alex got a little cranky and tired toward the end, there, but really, they were so good . . . no tantrums or screams, just, well, a little whining (grin). Considering there really wasn’t much for them to actually do or look at (lots of breakable stuff, you know!), they were good. And their antics amused any number of observers, too. Anyway, I bought a couple of Christmas presents, which is good.
After the craft show, we hastened . . . Alex was hungry, remember . . . albeit by the scenic backroads . . . to a nearby diner for some lunch, and then we all came back to our house. Which made Chappy VERY happy. I think he was feeling left out. But while they were here, his tail barely stopped wagging. Nobody does that cute little wiggle-greeting better than my dog.
And then? Well, I mixed the stollen. I’ve got two heavy bowls sitting on the kitchen counter, waiting to be baked tomorrow. That’s the dangerous part. The part that makes me cranky and irritable and dangerous to be around. (I explained that last year.) To make things more challenging, Mom will be home tomorrow . . . sort of. She’s driving Dad to the airport around 2:00, and then is going to stop at Short Hills mall to try to pass some time while I wring my hands in front of the oven, until it’s safe to come home. Poor thing–it’s like she’s being banished. But trust me. She’s safer out of the house!
Now, I’m tired, I have a headache again (third day in a row, I think), and I’m going to go take a nice, hot shower to try to revive myself for the evening’s knitting.
Oh, and I finished my fourth and last skein of raspberry yarn last night. Woohoo!!
4900+
Remember how I said I had passed the 4500th comment, and was thinking about maybe having a contest for the 5000th?
Well, what with the Calendar contest and the birthday wishes (thank you), I’ve gained REALLY quickly in the comment stakes, and 5000 is coming up a lot faster than I’d thought.
So, true to my word . . . there’ll be a prize for my 5000th comment. I won’t tell you how close I am, but . . . we’re gaining!
(I cannot believe I’m coming up on five thousand comments. Wowzer! And, how about this multi-tasking, huh? Two contests at once!)
Everything
Um . . . now I’ve seen everything.
Pity Party
No real entry tonight. I went to the dentist this afternoon for what SHOULD have been an hour’s visit to get my two, new, permanent crowns cemented in. But . . . two hours later, I’ve still got the temporary, and there are at least two more visits ahead of me. My dentist wasn’t happy with the way the one in the back was fitting. He said that if I were leaving tomorrow for a year-long trip around the world, it would have been fine, but since I’m not . . . he wants it as perfect as he can get it. Oh joy. I love my dentist (not like Marcia Brady, you understand, but he’s just a genuinely nice guy), but really, I don’t want to see him THIS often. And I told him that I absolutely refuse to come during my vacation in October or on my birthday at the beginning of November–although he’s welcome to come visit at the house any time. (My parents love him, too. Well. . . you know what I mean.)
Anyway, so with the two hour visit, Chappy didn’t get out for a walk at all today, and he got a late supper–not to mention all that worry about where Mommy was, and why was she at work for so long, and, the “Mommy! You’ve got dentist breath!” inspection when I got home . . . and, really, I need to go sit back and relax with him.
Maybe I’ll eat a banana while I’m down there. You know, for dinner . . . Have I mentioned that I hate novocaine??
Buffaloing buffalo from Buffalo
Would you believe that this is a complete sentence?
“Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.”
Honest. Would Wikipedia lie? It took me some time to wrap my brain around this one, but . . . kind of cool, really. (Simple pleasures, right?)
Now, let’s see . . . I still have no interesting knitting photos for you. My bag is about 4″ tall, but doesn’t really look any different than the last photo I showed you. My peacock stole is up to row #117, just starting the next charg, but I’m not even at the halfway point for this half. In other words, the whole thing is about 3/4 of the way done . . . but still, again, it doesn’t look THAT different. It’s just kind of there.
In spinning . . . I don’t have any pictures for you there, either, but I do have a story. Well, anecdote. See, last night I finished plying the singles I showed you on Friday. Then I wound them off onto my niddy-noddy, but still . . . I wasn’t happy with the way the yarn looked. It looked underplied. But by then, I was tired, so I left it on the niddy noddy and went to bed.
Today, I slid it off the niddy noddy and . . . um, no. Even allowing for the pre-wash stage, it was way too twisty. Unbelievably twisty, in fact. And compared to the “live” sample I’d made while spinning the singles, it just didn’t look right. I just wasn’t satisfied.
So, I carried my wheel into the other room, put my skein on my swift, and started running the whole thing through the wheel again, adding more twist. Except, of course, I’d already changed back to the regular head rather than the plying head. Hmmm. Well, I thought, maybe it will fit. So, I started treadling . . . this was frustrating, actually, because the yarn kept getting caught on the corners of my umbrella swift, which kept stopping and starting in its spin . . . But still. I kept on treadling. And treadling . . . (grin). The yarn just BARELY fit on the bobbin. As in, for the last few yards I had to move the feed to the very, very end because every other spot was brushing against the flyer. (Phew!)
Then, I wound it all back onto my swift. (Note to self: I really need a new swift or skein-winder.) Tied the skein, took it off the swift, and . . . uh-oh. Twisty. But the yarn LOOKED good, so, I soaked it in the sink and hung it to dry, and . . . well, it looks good. It actually looks pretty balanced. And I love the way it came out. (Running it through the wheel again was SO worth the extra effort. It needed it, and I wouldn’t have been happy with the way it was at first.)
But, pictures? Well, not yet. I mean, I can’t take pictures of the wet yarn, can I? Not if I want to show you the pretty colors! So . . . tomorrow.
Meanwhile, here’s an adorable photo for you to admire…. I know this is a face that I can’t resist!
Uneventful
Really . . . I’ve got nothing tonight. A neckband on my sweater. Four more rows of lace on my Peacock Stole. (I’m on row 67 out of, what 250?) Halfway through that fourth bobbin of singles. Otherwise . . . Well, hopefully, I’ll have something to say tomorrow!
Meanwhile, go leave a comment for Liz/Lizzy B, would you? She had a really lousy weekend . . .
In the Absense of Greater Inspiration
In the absense of greater inspiration, sometimes it’s most helpful to borrow inspiration from someone else.
“I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find
that I lived just
the length of it.
I want to have lived the width of it as well.”
–Diane Ackerman
Spree
You want to see my Saturday Sky? Well, here it is, in all its wet glory.
Yes, that IS rain streaking past the window. Because, really, this is as far outside as I’m willing to go just now.
To be fair, it didn’t start to rain until the afternoon, but it was dark and cloudy all morning. But since it started raining here, around 2:00? P.O.U.R.I.N.G.
Luckily, Mom and I had other plans for the day. We left Chappy . . . poor, lonely, pathetic-looking Chappy, who gave us the kind of sad face where you can’t risk looking back over your shoulder as you leave the house or the guilt will be overwhelming . . . anyway, we left him and went to Short Hills Mall, where we haven’t been in months.
I even had the chance to do a good deed. While we were in the Gap (not one of my favorite stores), I found a wad of four or five $20 bills on the floor. My guess is that, since they weren’t in a wallet, they probably belonged to a kid, and that it was probably all of their shopping money. For a split second, I’ll admit, I thought about keeping it, but my better nature prevailed, and I handed it over to one of the employees. Hopefully the owner of the money came back, frantically retracing his or her steps at some point, and was able to reclaim it.
After that, I put my good Karma points to good use–because there were lots of sales. From Ann Taylor, I bought two lovely skirts, four t-shirts, and a beautiful blue silk jacket for just $159.
The shirts and skirts I know I’ll get a lot of wear from. The jacket? Well, maybe not so much. It’s a pretty formal kind of jacket, with elbow-length sleeves and kind of bolero-ish, with a deep, shawl collar. And, to be honest, it’s a bit small.
I normally wear an 8 for tops, sometimes even a 10 for jackets, but since this one doesn’t button or zip, and just basically rests on the shoulders, it fits well enough . . . I mean, at this price, I absolutely could not leave it there. If I wear it once, I’ll have more than made back my investment, don’t you think? (I know you readers will understand. Mom did, too. But Dad? He said, “Yeah, but you could have saved another $10 by not getting it at all.” Men!)
And then, Nordstroms was having a sale, too. I don’t buy much at Nordstroms, but they have a fabulous shoe department, and when there’s a sale? Um . . .
Is it possible to fall in love with shoes? Because if it is, I did for these. I tried on the red first and . . . instant adoration. They’re beautiful. They’re comfortable. They fit. They were sheer perfection and felt great, even with bare feet. And yet, being suede, they’ll carry through to other seasons. And did I mention they were on sale? I couldn’t help myself. I bought two pairs. I love them, absolutely love them!
Now, there’s a thunderstorm going through, and I’ve got Chappy huddled next to me, breathing fast. He definitely doesn’t like thunder any more. (Not that he ever loved it, but it didn’t used to bother him.) He also didn’t want to run up the stairs before. I’m hoping that’s just because he was nervous because of the storm, not because his back was bothering him. But maybe when I’m done here, I’ll go pull out Harry the Heating Pad and see if Chappy wants to use it.
Speaking of thunderstorms? Did you hear about the ones that went through New York City last night? I heard that there were something like 300 lightning strikes? And anyway, LOTS of roads and highways flooded. As in, all three major roads heading north out of the city were closed because of flooding. Can you imagine? On a Friday night, in the summer, at rush hour? I can’t imagine the chaos! And of course, the unfortunate folks in Astoria/Queens have been without electricity for six days now–naturally, for the hottest week of the year. Ugh.
…And now the lights just flickered . . . I’m going to shut the computer down now!
Achoo!
Sniffle . . . cough . . .
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.)
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)
Nothing
So, really, I’ve got nothing tonight. It’s been a quiet Sunday. Walk with Mom and Chappy. Beautiful weather. Some knitting. Some reading. (I’m just finishing up my 14th book of the month–that’s bound to slow down soon!) Laundry. Paid my car insurance. Mom and I finished reading our Vacation Book from last month (Harry Potter #6). That’s about it. It’s been a lovely day, but not exactly exciting. Hope yours was a good one, too!
A co-worker’s sister-in-law did get her Green Card on Friday, though. So, let’s just say this is in her honor:
|
You Passed the US Citizenship Test |
 Congratulations – you got 10 out of 10 correct! |
Dear UPN
Dear UPN Network,
Maybe you don’t care, since by this time next year you’ll be gone, merged into the new CW network with your friend, the WB. However, I must express my outrage at your shoddy treatment of Veronica Mars. The show is ramping up for its second season finale, trying to build momentum as the season’s mysteries come to a close. So, what do you do? First, you change its time slot from Wednesday at 9:00 to Tuesday at 9:00. I can accept that, since it was its original time slot for its first season, and it’s the perfect accompaniment to the Gilmore Girls.
But, in reality, what has happened? For the past three weeks, your New York metro affiliates have pre-empted the show for basketball. Three. Weeks. So, tonight, while the rest of the country is finding out what happens at Aaron Echoll’s trial, what Lucky the janitor did when he brought that gun to school, I’m sitting at home, twiddling my thumbs. (Okay, knitting.)
Granted, I know you’ll re-air . . . what am I saying? To “re-air,” you’d need to have aired it in the first place . . . you’ll AIR the show on Sunday at 7:00, but come on, that is not a convenient time for television watching. And, really, before you say anything, it doesn’t matter that I’ll be able to get recaps all over the internet tomorrow. I don’t want to read about what happened tonight. I want to see it. Is that really too much to ask?
Further, don’t even get me started on the whole ratings issue. You have no right to complain that the show isn’t getting the ratings it should when you don’t even ut the show on the air. What are we supposed to watch?
All I can say is, you had better not play this game next week for the season finale. Really. I would never forgive you. I’ll be on vacation the following Sunday night and if you make me miss the culmination of the entire season because you don’t have the decency to air the show when you’re supposed to . . . I mean, really, why bother moving it to a “new night and time” if you never show it? . . . if you make me miss the finale next week, so help me, I’ll help you along the road into the ether, or wherever it is that dead television networks go. You won’t have to wait until September.
Sincerely….
Bone Knitting
Kellee had a wonderful idea–to round up some knitting mojo/good vibes/healing energy for Mr. Etherknitter, whose leg bones are being recalcitrant and not knitting like they should. It sure sounds like a good idea to me! (And, I saw this first over at Bag ‘n’ Trash, which is where I got the cool button. Beth is working on it, too.)
So, Mr. Etherknitter, I’m dedicating today’s knitting to you . . . in fact, I’ll make a point to work on my socks . . . as their legs grow, so may your own!
Nothing
This is truly pathetic, but I have nothing to say tonight.
There was an interesting speech about Winston Churchill, on the anniversary of his Iron Curtain speech.
But, really . . . nothing else. I knitted, but nothing that looks different than the pictures I showed you last night. I spun while watching Medium last night, but that bobbin of singles looks pretty much the same as the last time I showed you that, too.
The only thing I’m left with is Chappy–who is as cute as ever, and paused in cleaning his paws so that I could take this picture.
Sorry to be so boring. I’ll try to be more interesting tomorrow.
Of course, there was this picture, which came out kind of oddly, and has Chappy sticking out his tongue . . . but, really, that’s the best I can do!
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