tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-93529182024-03-12T22:51:49.894-04:00KnitSox and ChocolateWhere I occassionaly write about various obsessions, including knitting and the Red Sox. I'm trying to cut back on the chocolate.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-64462306101882529432009-01-11T18:57:00.001-05:002009-01-11T18:59:38.770-05:00Knitsox is MovingThe <a href="http://knitsox.wordpress.com/">new place </a>is still kind of a mess, but you are more than welcome to stop in and check it out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-24052516342475165032009-01-06T18:53:00.012-05:002009-01-06T19:26:40.329-05:00Isn't it amazing......how you can take two weeks off and only two days after you return, be right back into the same old routine?!<br /><br />Before I could say Happy New Year, I was right back to it, up early, on the road to a client meeting, writing another proposal, editing a spreadsheet, and ducking to avoid the office politics. That explains the need for this at the end of the day. Really, to be completely authentic, this blog should be titled Knitsox and Chocolate and Wine.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFO4UC152QJpdR05FFP_46BAeorVRt8kfPnCdyyIaK0dqLttPU_IGp1PMVxij-QvsxGgeNpS-9xAHheTIWDy5DrMueZUs5YnCrFBgGvLuDByZkQz0htLbUmhjN7So2fbtO5hQ0/s1600-h/20090106_0055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFO4UC152QJpdR05FFP_46BAeorVRt8kfPnCdyyIaK0dqLttPU_IGp1PMVxij-QvsxGgeNpS-9xAHheTIWDy5DrMueZUs5YnCrFBgGvLuDByZkQz0htLbUmhjN7So2fbtO5hQ0/s320/20090106_0055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288334796280166338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />To try to bring my mind and heart back to that feeling of vacation joy, let's review some of the projects from the blissful two-week break.<br /><br />First, there was <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/PATThoneycomb.html">Honeycomb</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwYUqN_NgEWFeo2uGOZNuIVMckBxpoMk3qYVFQWuM0st4A_2jvxFbe3zXhBoVCQFRNTlcVGEkCwSKsPmBGMCjbHl1Gtoo0SvejaDPShyQHZQco8-xowAqoZrjhrP9seuG0VV4/s1600-h/20090106_0044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwYUqN_NgEWFeo2uGOZNuIVMckBxpoMk3qYVFQWuM0st4A_2jvxFbe3zXhBoVCQFRNTlcVGEkCwSKsPmBGMCjbHl1Gtoo0SvejaDPShyQHZQco8-xowAqoZrjhrP9seuG0VV4/s320/20090106_0044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288336819574488130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The second photo shows more stitch detail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghULuGiRqPZypLaALkH3DDP5cmfV6YNG434fv1NRflPCPqlRzOlGLA4uuRRAl8zumof_jK5z2mgOzCzFEDYrot4xhTmxVSEk2iFEN2fFs0UozfzH3g0n9aCF0lt5zsx-qWCJEL/s1600-h/20090106_0046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghULuGiRqPZypLaALkH3DDP5cmfV6YNG434fv1NRflPCPqlRzOlGLA4uuRRAl8zumof_jK5z2mgOzCzFEDYrot4xhTmxVSEk2iFEN2fFs0UozfzH3g0n9aCF0lt5zsx-qWCJEL/s320/20090106_0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288337392940566930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I finished the back over the weekend. It is knit in <a href="http://www.yarn.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/categoryID/E2AB2957-FA64-4734-9962-53AA2A644DBD/productID/FBB3F6AB-CC49-4462-8425-B3D5B7D12364/">Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed</a>, purchased during the amazing Webs blowout sale the day after Christmas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Second, there is a pair of socks that will be gifted to someone very special, very soon. The first sock was knit plain old vanilla stockinette.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Dq07z7A5A-uJzQuDvxnGgrc1N4EaAh_rWEM8APWHmKHC-JSWo1p7e1DI4qrg8Aa7hKyWrMJ2bhgdi_AIyaUElndeQAUrqWtXju6arP6hklnrxHhPFXuM6dxQjsWboW2HPcfx/s1600-h/20090106_0047.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Dq07z7A5A-uJzQuDvxnGgrc1N4EaAh_rWEM8APWHmKHC-JSWo1p7e1DI4qrg8Aa7hKyWrMJ2bhgdi_AIyaUElndeQAUrqWtXju6arP6hklnrxHhPFXuM6dxQjsWboW2HPcfx/s320/20090106_0047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288338041161435234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then I saw this pattern for <a href="http://www.cidermoon.com/cm0120.html">Campfire Socks</a> by Cider Moon in a broken rib pattern that looked <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> much more interesting. So, of course, I began the second sock in the new pattern, which means I have to reknit the first sock, which just means more knitting, which is really what its all about, right? More Knitting!! Yippee!!<br /><br />Here is a closer look.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSr_WxuPT0qMRGXiTBhqTdxgjwuR8bhdeNFjfrgOhl9wr0etlDMr8L-_I1s3_THPRuWPQ2jnNd4HUoQSuc-Q_NYdV0C4ORhqZm2Fqp1sePM1wcTvpjpva2etSzWsbfxFwU9un/s1600-h/20090106_0050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSr_WxuPT0qMRGXiTBhqTdxgjwuR8bhdeNFjfrgOhl9wr0etlDMr8L-_I1s3_THPRuWPQ2jnNd4HUoQSuc-Q_NYdV0C4ORhqZm2Fqp1sePM1wcTvpjpva2etSzWsbfxFwU9un/s320/20090106_0050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288338714520873202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The yarn is Araucania Ranco Multi, color 314. Jeff says they look like Grateful Dead colors and I have to agree. The first pic shows the first 28 sts in the broken rib pattern. Mostly pink and green, right? But flip the needles over to opposite 28 sts and it is blue and purple. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpWNs7SPIo4K7TnDSOl_qY04kTcSpGAXvLyocPdHADqMBGprIsKEFDnfg2zXcg5V557b_8r72Dj3AjnnKPpfzLkoehJJDTLzeF3oKJkb9Pw6yZCUhKtKZJeYJ7LDS7txL_v6u/s1600-h/20090106_0054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpWNs7SPIo4K7TnDSOl_qY04kTcSpGAXvLyocPdHADqMBGprIsKEFDnfg2zXcg5V557b_8r72Dj3AjnnKPpfzLkoehJJDTLzeF3oKJkb9Pw6yZCUhKtKZJeYJ7LDS7txL_v6u/s320/20090106_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288340043511632898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some people call that pooling. I just think its cool.<br /><br />So to everyone else out there who is trying to ease back into the usual work-week routine, I raise my glass and my needles in salute. Hang in there. Tomorrow is Wednesday. We are almost half way through.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-23541801548135066532009-01-04T17:50:00.000-05:002009-01-05T18:06:40.637-05:00A Much Needed BreakFor the first time ever, I took time off between Christmas and the New Year. With the holidays falling as they did on Thursdays, that meant almost two weeks off. In other words, a long break from my usual routine.<br /><br />I didn't travel or do anything that most folks would consider super-exciting. Others might be bored just hanging around home for two weeks, but for me, this was the best vacation I've had in a very long time. It was a perfect stretch of relaxing, day dreaming, knitting, blog reading, organizing, and preparing for the new year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-11888142331185043682008-12-31T07:08:00.001-05:002008-12-31T19:13:01.240-05:00ResolutionsFor what it's worth, here are some thoughts for the new year. In no particular order, I resolve to:<br /><ol><li>Knit with solid color yarns</li><li>Say thank you<br /></li><li>Knit a sweater that fits me, that I actually will wear in public</li><li>Volunteer<br /></li><li>Write and publish a knitting pattern</li><li>Sell at least one skein of hand-dyed yarn</li><li>Appreciate my wonderful friends and family<br /></li><li>Use more coupons</li><li>Listen<br /></li><li>Be patient</li></ol>All the best for a happy, healthy, peace-filled 2009.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-48698689309719650582008-12-29T18:11:00.003-05:002008-12-29T18:49:28.147-05:00DecisionsOn December 26, C and I headed off to Webs for the annual blow out sale. OMG. What a scene. I'd been to Webs for the first time just a few weeks ago. That first time, the store was quite and peaceful, yet still overwhelming in its abundance of yarn. This time, the store was packed to the rafters with crazy knitters. It was true insanity. 99.9% of the shoppers were kind and friendly, but there was that one crazy lady who made a very rude comment to me and C about our use of a shopping cart. A very loud and ridiculous comment. It is the first, and hopefully only time I will come this close to slugging someone in a yarn shop.<br /><br />Anyway, the bargains were incredible. In the first room, there were piles of Noro Silk Garden. Bags upon bags of color 246 for a mere $50 a bag. My friends, this stuff normally sells for close to $12 a skein and I scored a whole bag for $50!! Jeff, the ever vigilant entrepeneur wondered why I didn't buy all of it to sell on Ebay for a profit. Honestly, that thought didn't even cross my mind, though I wonder if others were doing just that. There was also boxes and boxes of free yarn. Yes, that's right. I said free!!! It was all ribbon shiny yarn. Not anything I really wanted, but I'm sure some creative crafters will put it all to good use. There was one lady who was stuffing her shopping cart full of the free yarn. She must have had twenty or thirty bags. I was a little embarrassed for her. Maybe she is going to sell it on Ebay??<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9TsgdiJFBbdN4OLjUFpx-Wp4yigkNz0fExvH8q4VRfatpluYlXk1Mnupgguc1B1wZXkN6SHsM0mDEdHh6msZ82nPHavtS90QHOoQF_ISf368tOVksaxzJpWa7MdrCbbduFEk/s1600-h/20081229_0032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9TsgdiJFBbdN4OLjUFpx-Wp4yigkNz0fExvH8q4VRfatpluYlXk1Mnupgguc1B1wZXkN6SHsM0mDEdHh6msZ82nPHavtS90QHOoQF_ISf368tOVksaxzJpWa7MdrCbbduFEk/s320/20081229_0032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285358797728558482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So now I'm wondering what to do with all this bargain Noro...it is color 246. Green/grey/purple/and a just a hint of very ugly mustard yellow. I wonder about those nutty dyers at Noro. Do you think they all sit around and say, "hmmmm this looks beautiful just as it is, but wait, let's really screw with all those addicted knitters and throw in a pinch of baby poop yellow! Ha Ha Ha, do you think they'll buy it?? Of course they'll buy it!! They are like crack addicts. They can't control themselves." And then they add an extra knot in the skein, just to make us all extra crazy.<br /><br />So, yes, I bought ten skeins of the lovely 246 with the ugly yellow and now I need a pattern. Any ideas out there? I did a quick search of Ravelry and found mostly the lovely Noro striped scarf, designed by Jared and much loved by the Yarn Harlot. But honestly, I think I have plenty of scarfs. Maybe another <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/klaralund">Klaralund</a>? Or a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/clapotis">Clapotis</a>? Maybe a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/doodlesknit/gesta">Gesta</a>?<br /><br />Fellow addicts, I need your advice.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-40357543635027689262008-12-24T15:15:00.002-05:002008-12-24T15:22:52.802-05:00Finished Just in TimeWhew. It is 3:15 PM on Christmas Eve and the nephew and niece socks are done and wrapped. Apologies for lack of photos, but I was on a roll, what with the finishing and weaving in, that I just jumped right into the wrapping and never got the camera out. Maybe tomorrow I will photograph the socks during the unwrapping.<br /><br />In addition to the socks I've finally finished wrapping all the other gifts, baked a tray of candy cane peppermint brownies (yum), hand washed three sweaters and finished a full load of laundry. All that's left is to make a salad to bring to dinner tonight at my sister's and I'm done. Jeff is probably right when he says why bring salad, no one ever eats it anyway. But I was asked to bring salad and bring a salad I will. Salad and peppermint brownies. (Yum).<br /><br />Merry Merry Happy Happy. God Bless.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-56002103724095877272008-12-22T18:46:00.003-05:002008-12-22T18:59:42.128-05:00Go Elf Yourself!I should be wrapping gifts and finishing up the last pair of nephew socks. Instead I am doing this.<br /><br />And, despite photographic evidence to the contrary, Jeff does not have a giant melon head and Max really is a good dog.<br /><br />Happy Holidays!<br /><div style="background-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); width: 425px;"><object id="A308569" quality="high" data="http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=fVxP4e976tEweLzZ&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="319"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="movie" value="http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=fVxP4e976tEweLzZ&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself"><param name="scaleMode" value="showAll"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="FlashVars" value="external_make_id=fVxP4e976tEweLzZ&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object><div style="text-align: center; width: 435px; margin-top: 6px;">Send your own <a href="http://www.elfyourself.com/">ElfYourself</a> <a href="http://sendables.jibjab.com/ecards">eCards</a></div></div><img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTIyOTk4OTUyNDA*NyZwdD*xMjI5OTg5NTY1Mjk3JnA9NDE4ODEzJmQ9MjAyNjczJm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTImdD*mbz*5ODY1YzdhMWUxYTM*MmY3ODYyZDI2NjUzOTVmMjk5ZA==.gif" border="0" width="0" height="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-12821638155877363012008-12-11T18:52:00.004-05:002008-12-11T18:59:07.607-05:00The More Things Change...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW89vqbiNc_4jS-Gf77k585okNjv3Sd89mVSUbGTnZ0o0HI8fZFhjdYgWxmsyCekjGjiafJjj-Rn-YTiWUC65cYU-tzoutl6mzAfbMS4N0jPXxxGSXuT7WAdK4hGV-P2ogQRgo/s1600-h/1968_lisa1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW89vqbiNc_4jS-Gf77k585okNjv3Sd89mVSUbGTnZ0o0HI8fZFhjdYgWxmsyCekjGjiafJjj-Rn-YTiWUC65cYU-tzoutl6mzAfbMS4N0jPXxxGSXuT7WAdK4hGV-P2ogQRgo/s320/1968_lisa1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278684796179747282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />1968, sitting beneath my Grandmother's Christmas tree, it really doesn't seem that long ago. And believe it or not, I remember wearing those snazzy red shoes. Even at age two, I knew a cool pair of shoes when I saw them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-91518387815073740642008-12-10T18:31:00.003-05:002008-12-10T19:03:51.657-05:00Cookies, Luncheon, and Crustaceon!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_MUmWAHCDZcNCfnfgi2Q29yL-cxcajYOuVphJeVScOfkgl51yPil-iGhepb0pRLDjRmzDUP3zlG6x5qQPMwdX9iFGMClmwK49e86noo_4iKx0JU-2bGV4llQwOitoBfoIXCq/s1600-h/IMG_1395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_MUmWAHCDZcNCfnfgi2Q29yL-cxcajYOuVphJeVScOfkgl51yPil-iGhepb0pRLDjRmzDUP3zlG6x5qQPMwdX9iFGMClmwK49e86noo_4iKx0JU-2bGV4llQwOitoBfoIXCq/s320/IMG_1395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278308604348113250" border="0" /></a>Another holiday season brings another office Cookie Swap! Over the six years I've worked at this company the delicious-ness of the cookies has remained top notch, but I will say I've seen the packaging and presentations improve greatly. Everyone is so creative and talented. Can you say Martha Stewart??<br /><br />This year's cookies included:<br /><br />Chocolate Sugar Cookies<br />Stained Glass Cookies<br />Spice Crackle Cookies<br />Biscotti<br />Chocolate Mint Cookies<br />Oatmeal Raisin Cookies<br />Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies (Yummy)<br /><br />All were delicious and very festive. And to add to the fun, immediately following the Cookie Swap, we all headed off to a local restaurant for the company sponsored Holiday Luncheon. Perfect timing, because the smartest folks agree, it is always best to eat your cookies <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> you eat your lunch!<br /><br />The luncheon was followed by the traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_elephant_gift_exchange">Yankee Swap</a>. (It was a full day of swapping, dontcha know?)<br /><br />I think I've mentioned before, my coworkers are a pretty mellow bunch. The annual $10 limit Yankee Swap gifts are always very nice and cheery, but sometimes a little, well, how do I say this....they can be sort of dull. You know what I mean, a Dunkin Donuts gift card or a reindeer mug with hot chocolate mix. Nice, but not all that F-U-N.<br /><br />All that changed this year, when Ms. C chose the plainly wrapped shoe box from under the tree. She held it up, gave it a little shake, started to carefully remove the wrapping paper, and then yelled, "It's ALIVE"!!!!<br /><br />That is when we all noticed the antennae peeking from under the tissue paper.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiUhZjtm9YAEExj0MUTXkQeyzP_PbZJFV7kGLeEhH5Cq6KBsKu1i1etci2QRGOFpgw29ztCe0LgKjA1BF83rar8fj5w4H6YFAOa4I0FHhyphenhyphenKg_hx587NLugqGZtSY29WrBrH5R/s1600-h/crustaceonchristmas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiUhZjtm9YAEExj0MUTXkQeyzP_PbZJFV7kGLeEhH5Cq6KBsKu1i1etci2QRGOFpgw29ztCe0LgKjA1BF83rar8fj5w4H6YFAOa4I0FHhyphenhyphenKg_hx587NLugqGZtSY29WrBrH5R/s320/crustaceonchristmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278313649271628338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo altered to protect the innocent.</span><br /><br />We all had a great laugh and a fun afternoon. And I suspect Ms. C will have a tasty lobster salad for dinner this evening.<br /><br />Happy Holidays!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-87123038032466043992008-12-09T07:50:00.003-05:002008-12-09T07:52:06.988-05:00Happy FeetNeed a lift to get you through the holiday rush? Take 5 minutes and watch this before you head to the mall. Thanks to <a href="http://scottishlamb.typepad.com/the_scottish_lamb/">The Scottish Lamb</a> for sharing.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1211060&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1211060&server=vimeo.com&%3Cbr"></embed><br /><br /></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-70909350971442025282008-12-08T18:55:00.005-05:002008-12-08T19:10:22.810-05:00DistractedI should be knitting socks. Christmas is only weeks away and the niece and nephews LOVE their hand knit woolen socks, so really what I am I waiting for?<br /><br />I have no excuse, except to tell you I've been distracted by this simple beauty.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwL-X5u47mrWQe5wanPMwROIlhYAzU0An6S6lFNxNcPWQI2GaMf6AmktYQ37XORE1X3h5vvTbM8EkUIZuMCCH5rKqHEOEdKzfXGUovNheIrX4mvcm_yHMfg_r8nBs55mv_M2l/s1600-h/IMG_1393.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwL-X5u47mrWQe5wanPMwROIlhYAzU0An6S6lFNxNcPWQI2GaMf6AmktYQ37XORE1X3h5vvTbM8EkUIZuMCCH5rKqHEOEdKzfXGUovNheIrX4mvcm_yHMfg_r8nBs55mv_M2l/s320/IMG_1393.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277573121914235394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/multidirectional-diagonal-scarf">MultiDirectional Diagonal Scarf</a> (Ravelry Link) knit in Noro Silk Garden #282. I've been happily knitting on it all weekend, and with any luck will finish tonight so I can get back to the serious business of Christmas sock knitting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-39094478706881352522008-12-04T18:58:00.013-05:002008-12-04T19:36:04.490-05:00Welcome to the Sports BarIt happened so slowly that I never really noticed.<br /><br />When we bought this little house almost 9 years ago I spent a lot of time thinking about how I would decorate it. I'll admit, I'm no expert at interior design, but one room that truly excited me was our 'sun room' or 'family room'.<br /><br />After nine years, we still haven't decided what to officially call this room. It is an addition that is comprised of four walls with windows and two skylights, located off the kitchen. It's not a large room, but it is sunny and bright. It was, and still is, my favorite room in the house. I love the sunshine yellow walls, the simple peach colored tile floor and the warm happy feeling I get when I'm sitting there.<br /><br />When we first moved in, I found some simple, sweet, inexpensive prints that I thought best highlighted the "sunshine/garden" feeling of the room.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgABTouS9LowJD_izwtRebGwbsbUFHKRJPRjWT-1x0B2MOkaZMoE2H8uV2o89T9tl3WaxOiE_WCLIY1EU3ydMZ-GRCct6ZQBEFtyfEE_L0U0m8_U2Q-oVQm5axFkHa7LXlACYM/s1600-h/welcome+sign.jpg.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgABTouS9LowJD_izwtRebGwbsbUFHKRJPRjWT-1x0B2MOkaZMoE2H8uV2o89T9tl3WaxOiE_WCLIY1EU3ydMZ-GRCct6ZQBEFtyfEE_L0U0m8_U2Q-oVQm5axFkHa7LXlACYM/s320/welcome+sign.jpg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276090401811585378" border="0" /></a><br />And, because I am such a tea drinker, I thought it would be nice room in which to showcase my little collection of pretty teapots.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzOVtzQt1D6wrs4LMcXQj1B8mbF22HP1ZN8F7msWi9D_ZYxvKutBHat5TkfZN3idaQuooPoQA6pxabwsKBDAbT5TSR-7CHwuxsXw_l71HDTOARizJQy1oLQjEVh03KmYh2qUr/s1600-h/teapots.jpg.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzOVtzQt1D6wrs4LMcXQj1B8mbF22HP1ZN8F7msWi9D_ZYxvKutBHat5TkfZN3idaQuooPoQA6pxabwsKBDAbT5TSR-7CHwuxsXw_l71HDTOARizJQy1oLQjEVh03KmYh2qUr/s320/teapots.jpg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276091122207251938" border="0" /></a><br />All was well in my little sunny room. Then slowly, very slowly, things began to change.<br /><br />First there was this..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH5oAhPjnUzdu9SsKSa7Dx4Y13YhDYwvyHgWXVi8zxTvMyjK2e8pJjlxE65rjEz-eyvZsUO7_MhSY02Sfr_PnpQQaurAqJgMd3Eq-zc47G9xqqK9DZito2nwCf8xc-o67AYTW/s1600-h/worldseries.jpg.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH5oAhPjnUzdu9SsKSa7Dx4Y13YhDYwvyHgWXVi8zxTvMyjK2e8pJjlxE65rjEz-eyvZsUO7_MhSY02Sfr_PnpQQaurAqJgMd3Eq-zc47G9xqqK9DZito2nwCf8xc-o67AYTW/s320/worldseries.jpg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276091647430624674" border="0" /></a><br />A gift from my truly wonderful brother-in-law. He knows how much we enjoyed the 2004 Red Sox World Series win and wanted to help us commerate that historical, wonderful, super-fantastic, event. I love this photograph.<br /><br />And then this...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjWaZHD7WuqvEx9gp3ImTJAZust1ToVr_Z18007KGRPfv0eoMYE-H_471NdoPS20aPJ-m3FF-daLmkGAuPGwT3jAcLo6ER7usU_q6jyzkF2ajzU3dvLBRkPBaiq86FiB3axrs/s1600-h/wallyandthegang.jpg.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjWaZHD7WuqvEx9gp3ImTJAZust1ToVr_Z18007KGRPfv0eoMYE-H_471NdoPS20aPJ-m3FF-daLmkGAuPGwT3jAcLo6ER7usU_q6jyzkF2ajzU3dvLBRkPBaiq86FiB3axrs/s320/wallyandthegang.jpg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276092454730818306" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, the teapots are still there, but they've been overshadowed by the gang of collectibles, figurines and stuffed animals that now watch every game with us. You can't really see them all in this photo, but trust me, the Pats and the Sox are well represented.<br /><br />It's not just baseball and football. A few months ago, at the end the Sox season, Jeff and I were enjoying our last game at Fenway. We happened upon an auction to support the Ted Williams Foundation and before I could sing one chorus of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Jeff had bid on and won this photo of the best basketball player ever...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHrM1w6qOT9971DIzu1Mkq6ljdLvyEmgDx3G-h2RDs-9eiVNamMBESDEGNVKUDtIPK_mYDbXGYKg-WiRyhMOdlRIFWWTtEpZnp9OI8JzoEpbRfjXyx-FF7D0RGNPU3_HQ60qS/s1600-h/birdpic.jpg.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHrM1w6qOT9971DIzu1Mkq6ljdLvyEmgDx3G-h2RDs-9eiVNamMBESDEGNVKUDtIPK_mYDbXGYKg-WiRyhMOdlRIFWWTtEpZnp9OI8JzoEpbRfjXyx-FF7D0RGNPU3_HQ60qS/s320/birdpic.jpg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276093358040489586" border="0" /></a><br />Other (non-photographed) sports related items have become part of this room too. The Red Sox pillow from ny nephew, the photograph of the Patriots "Snow Bowl" game that hangs over the doorway.<br /><br />It goes on and on.<br /><br />Finally today, when I arrived home from work, I saw that my little garden 'welcome' sign was no longer in its place.<br /><br />It had been replaced by this...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhT3ohtZte6hP5p9O5JSERQucT668bU4ekVYnsjzkthiIANCPDi1wLA5_w0x1_vom4plcYtLhvgzosIA474lgtC8BFTqWiAWv9wZZd20sJhoIZStuiHMOXjPU8rbPPUONmSm8O/s1600-h/mannygame.jpg.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhT3ohtZte6hP5p9O5JSERQucT668bU4ekVYnsjzkthiIANCPDi1wLA5_w0x1_vom4plcYtLhvgzosIA474lgtC8BFTqWiAWv9wZZd20sJhoIZStuiHMOXjPU8rbPPUONmSm8O/s320/mannygame.jpg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276094902627925026" border="0" /></a><br />It was then that I realized my sunny garden room had somehow become a sports bar, minus the bar.<br /><br />Then I remembered that just the other day Jeff mentioned how he almost bought the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kegerator">Kegarator</a> he had seen at Bed Bath and Beyond.<br /><br />I love my little sports room, but I'll admit it - now I'm getting scared.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-51845874048917438132008-12-01T19:02:00.004-05:002008-12-01T19:17:15.705-05:00Sixth Folder Photo Meme - Oh What a Game!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOiyXm2YWny_YNgn-wofpEGUNJ_1q5s8JzFEm8A3dALWwuGggPpLAtr9O-CcPfq4VZulqGZIQrHJWSidZXt1xwMovPXOL67MHOIxzznh5deMIIdoFUNmmmIVyeIpzpSIrZneI/s1600-h/sox_smile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOiyXm2YWny_YNgn-wofpEGUNJ_1q5s8JzFEm8A3dALWwuGggPpLAtr9O-CcPfq4VZulqGZIQrHJWSidZXt1xwMovPXOL67MHOIxzznh5deMIIdoFUNmmmIVyeIpzpSIrZneI/s320/sox_smile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274980029747930642" border="0" /></a>Don't you just love a good meme? Perfect for the Monday after a LOOOOONNNG weekend when you are beaten to a pulp by the unanswered emails in the office InBox?<br /><br />How to:<br />--Go to your sixth picture folder and pick the sixth picture<br />--Pray you remember the details<br />--Tag five others<br /><br />Ha! I wasn't sure what this picture was as I uploaded it, having the thumbnail feature turned off I only saw the picture name. "soxsmile.jpg". Remember the details I do!<br /><br />This wonderfully joyous photo is not one I can take credit for. I believe I copied it from Boston.com and sent it to some friends at work via email, as we all shared in celebration of the Red Sox fantastic, improbable, most tremendous comeback in the ALCS 2004 series against the Yankees. I distinctly remember one co-worker responding with the message, "that guy looks like he ate a bad sausage".<br /><br />I really hate tagging, so I'm not following that rule, but if you do want to play, leave a comment, ok?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-8342037138470020602008-11-30T10:33:00.004-05:002008-11-30T11:04:46.478-05:00Sunday Bread<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2X_zhgWyUwI6XEGWz-ofpbtoNJqdLV_FkoxcDC4JmMn5RcOhLzGEmPZXNWwrsQqoYVj3_htLmsHuAY5aTzniUa0ffW0SM327JmSsRJ7za1C7Jq-r8YT-yv8lVvKbBYZDucqY/s1600-h/IMG_1357.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2X_zhgWyUwI6XEGWz-ofpbtoNJqdLV_FkoxcDC4JmMn5RcOhLzGEmPZXNWwrsQqoYVj3_htLmsHuAY5aTzniUa0ffW0SM327JmSsRJ7za1C7Jq-r8YT-yv8lVvKbBYZDucqY/s320/IMG_1357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274474906667456834" border="0" /></a>Breakfast today is delicious banana bread, along with freshly brewed coffee. Both prepared by my talented husband. Few sounds make me happier than the whir of the coffee grinder on a Sunday morning while I'm still buried under the covers. And few treats make me happier than his homemade banana bread.<br /><br />Jeff has become a bit of celebrity at my office, mostly due to his superb baking abilities. He regularly bakes Amish Friendship bread*, so often in fact, that there is no way the two of us could ever eat it all. My coworkers have become the lucky recipients of this tasty treat. If you work in an office, you know that any home-baked treats disappear as soon as they are placed on the break room table. It is no different when Jeff's Amish Friendship bread arrives.<br /><br />I unwrap it from its aluminum foil package, set it on a plate, place a knife and a post-it saying "Help yourself" alongside and in under an hour the treat is gone. His bread is so popular and is devoured so quickly that the folks in Accounting on the first floor are often too late, arriving only to find a plate of crumbs and a few stray grains of cinnamon and sugar. I've taken to notifying them by email so they won't be left out.<br /><br />And as delectable as his Amish Friendship bread is, his banana bread is even better. So much so, that I will not share. He has tried to hand me a loaf as I'm heading off to work, but, I'm embarrassed to say, I've refused, wanting to keep all the delicious goodness for my self. It is shameful, I know.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >*Amish Friendship Bread requires a "starter". If you'd like one, let me know and I'll see what I can do, or you can follow this <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Amish-Friendship-Bread-Starter/Detail.aspx">recipe</a>. I'm afraid copyright restrictions don't allow me to share the recipe for Jeff's Banana Bread, which can be found in </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span id="btAsinTitle" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Bible-Rose-Levy-Beranbaum/dp/0393057941">The Bread Bible by Rose Levy-Beranbaum.</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><br /><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-84192758660187058442008-11-29T09:47:00.000-05:002008-11-29T09:47:46.811-05:00Don't Tell My Mother In LawLate to the party as always, I've just discovered HBO's True Blood. It happened as my television discoveries often do. I was knitting while watching TV. A commercial came on and I got annoyed.<br /><br />I have absolutely no patience for commercials. Expect for those Mac PC commercials. Those are adorable. Whenever Jeff speeds by them while watching the DVR I make him rewind just so I can watch. The Mac guy is adorable - is he still Drew Barrymore's boyfriend? - and the PC guy is just so pathetically sweet. Being a PC person myself, I feel his pain. But that Mac guy has me almost convinced to cross over. Almost.<br /><br />Distracted from my knitting by the noisy commercial, I grabbed the clicker and found my way to the wonderful world of On Demand, where I uncovered two full screens worth of HBO series just waiting to be watched. I don't know about you, but I've never met an HBO character I didn't like. From Carrie Bradshaw to Tony Soprano to Ari Gold to even Bill Henrickson, I've loved them all. Oh and don't forget Lucius Vorenus. Sadly the Roman Empire had to fall and Lucius and his crew are gone forever.<br /><br />I'd seen some news about True Blood and decided to give it a whirl. (bonus points if you can name that movie...)<br /><br />The first episode hooked me right away, though I must say, it's not a show to watch with the kids. It's a bit "piggy" as my mother-in-law would say, but is a show about vampires, so I guess the S-E-X is just to be expected. Consider yourself warned.<br /><br />Jeff and I have watched three episodes so far and we can't stop talking about the characters. Is Sookie really human? Is she a witch? Is Sam a vampire, or maybe a werewolf? What's the story with that stray dog? Is Jason hooked on vamp blood? Doesn't Sookie look a little like Holly Hunter? Didn't she play Holly Hunter's daughter in the Piano?<br /><br />Thanks HBO. The perfect alternative to noisy commercials.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-54371746161838843202008-11-26T18:04:00.004-05:002008-11-26T18:18:48.798-05:00Use the Good Stuff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRu_nWUNDmDhT_RzCrQhKGS3Lmyl4qRvjP6t7kdaJoXIO6zxh4_8f0EcfooONUICkAVwtVNiCwwIdi1M8QU-vh3LnHTQI-qXqdgFjaVJA6j_atNHiV4SH0ZrxWRW9XkBDgjw-/s1600-h/mychina.jpg.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRu_nWUNDmDhT_RzCrQhKGS3Lmyl4qRvjP6t7kdaJoXIO6zxh4_8f0EcfooONUICkAVwtVNiCwwIdi1M8QU-vh3LnHTQI-qXqdgFjaVJA6j_atNHiV4SH0ZrxWRW9XkBDgjw-/s320/mychina.jpg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273106615289523266" border="0" /></a>At the last minute I decided against using paper plates tomorrow and dug all of my china and my mom's silver out of storage. This meant hours of polishing and washing today and much more hand-washing tomorrow, never an easy feat in the little kitchen of my little house.<br /><br />But, in the end I realized that Thanksgiving is a all about family and tradition. And you know what, my family deserves the good stuff.<br /><br />And if you think about it, eating off paper plates with plastic forks on Thanksgiving is a little like knitting with Red Heart. Nothing against Red Heart if its all you have, , but if you also happen to have a big bag of Noro Silk Garden, you tell me which you'd pick.<br /><br />To everyone in the U.S., happy Thanksgiving. To everyone everywhere, happy Thursday. Make it special.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2GREMHPAlATpfXZQscufvaiJlq0XTQXxdiD0UxHXc8yZI3YTCuoifyEmUIKMeDB7MMx5GKTrzdbEU1i3gIeTAI21zI0Hb9EJXPb8ww5UgCE3DifAiNVdKOnETg7-HiuWLwoo/s1600-h/momssilver.jpg.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2GREMHPAlATpfXZQscufvaiJlq0XTQXxdiD0UxHXc8yZI3YTCuoifyEmUIKMeDB7MMx5GKTrzdbEU1i3gIeTAI21zI0Hb9EJXPb8ww5UgCE3DifAiNVdKOnETg7-HiuWLwoo/s320/momssilver.jpg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273106261908344370" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-37048320698952511362008-11-25T13:16:00.003-05:002008-11-25T13:59:50.619-05:00For Today<a href="http://stitchesofviolet.blogspot.com/2008/11/simple-woman-day-book.html">Inspired by Marguerite</a>, with instructions from the Simple Woman's Daybook<span style="font-weight: bold;">...<br /><br />Outside my window</span> the rain is drumming on the windowsill and I can see a neighborhood squirrel eating the last of my neighbor's Halloween jack o' lantern. November rain is so dreary. I hate to say it, but I'd almost prefer snow.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am thinking</span> about what last items I must pick up from the grocery store tomorrow to prepare for Thursday's dinner.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am thankful for</span> being so fortunate to live where I do, to have a good job, to have a pantry full of food and even some extra pennies to buy new knitting needles or some glorious yarns. Some days it is easy to forget just how lucky I am.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">From the kitchen</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span> I can hear the dishwasher running. It is full of serving dishes, platters, and a collection of mismatched wine glasses which I've brought out of cupboards and uup from the basement in preparation for Thanksgiving.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am wearing </span>my workout clothes. They are comfy, but a bit smelly, as I haven't changed since getting home from the gym a few hours ago. It was nice to finally get back there after missing a week or maybe more. It felt good to get moving again. I could have done without the guy on the treadmill in front of me who insisted on running backwards. Show off.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am creating</span> a pair of socks for my niece Kathryn. Next on the list is a pair for nephew Steven.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am going</span> to poke around <a href="http://www.ravelry.com">Ravelry</a> for a few minutes before I head back to the kitchen to continue cleaning and organizing. A friend has asked me to research a pattern for a hooded scarf. I'm wondering if she's thinking about the one in <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/">IK Winter 2008</a>? I especially like the pockets. They look pretty but do you think they are really practical?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am reading </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Big-House-Century-American-Summer/dp/0684845172">The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>by George Howe Colt. I've just started, but the introduction has taken me back to idyllic summers spent eating crabs and steamers on the beach at my grandparents little cottage on Buzzards Bay. My family's summer home was nowhere near as grand as Mr. Colt's, but the memories of family are just as special.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am hearing</span> my Blackberry buzzing as I write this post. I am trying to restrain myself. I am on vacation this week and have vowed to do my best to to ignore what's happening at the office.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Around the house</span> things are a bit of a mess. Holidays always require much cleaning and rearranging. There are dishes and utensils on the kitchen table and a large amount of clutter that needs sorting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">One of my favorite things</span> to do is to visit the <a href="http://www.riws.org/">Rhode Island Watercolor Society Gallery</a> at nearby Slater Park. Sunday was the first day of the annual "Holiday Little Picture" show. It's a great way to see local artists' work and pick up an original painting for very little money. Jeff and I bought two, one is a gift for his grandmother and the other is for us, a little painting of the Boston skyline. Very sweet.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A few plans for the rest of the week</span> - get the house ready for Thanksgiving, get my car inspected before the end of the month, go to the gym at least once more, finish Kathryn's socks and find an interesting but masculine pattern for Steven.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-77700059814776611432008-11-24T17:53:00.009-05:002008-11-24T18:19:02.508-05:00It's Not the Journey, It's the Destination<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDAFFIbgl7oFHEbDq89IadAZGVVAWtjVCbQzseFaKaB99rHUpJgbKC-l1duX32PrD415YEUX5GPSKIq9ldKgN9WBrlDySlzDo5hD8tGpJfga4G69yXbAhfEizgoOfg5R54Ojf/s1600-h/IMG_1314.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDAFFIbgl7oFHEbDq89IadAZGVVAWtjVCbQzseFaKaB99rHUpJgbKC-l1duX32PrD415YEUX5GPSKIq9ldKgN9WBrlDySlzDo5hD8tGpJfga4G69yXbAhfEizgoOfg5R54Ojf/s320/IMG_1314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272363128618105314" border="0" /></a>We pulled into the parking lot just as the dashboard clock blinked from 9:59 to 10:00 a.m. I was extremely grateful when I saw that ours was the second car in the lot, and that the lovely ladies at <a href="http://www.yarn.com/">Webs</a> would not have to actually unlock the front door for us. Something about never wanting to be the first to arrive at a party I guess.<br /><br />All I can say is Wow. WOW. WOW. WOW.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTDF1SQqDw5xDx4b95Y2XFcq3JXCCacaPFCaBmMKrjhh5_QnMKOd7yVPF1Ar3VxNq9RdZyob-WJz4tFLNi48CkzcwGUOuaahvk3N1IPmbFln_0MSYJkZrkdDd_T9qCfztwkiN/s1600-h/IMG_1313.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTDF1SQqDw5xDx4b95Y2XFcq3JXCCacaPFCaBmMKrjhh5_QnMKOd7yVPF1Ar3VxNq9RdZyob-WJz4tFLNi48CkzcwGUOuaahvk3N1IPmbFln_0MSYJkZrkdDd_T9qCfztwkiN/s320/IMG_1313.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272362773278643042" border="0" /></a>For those that have been, you know what I mean. For those that haven't yet made the pilgrimage to yarn mecca, I hope you someday find your way.<br /><br />It is difficult to describe how overwhelming it was to be surrounded by so many skeins of gorgeous yarn, all of which I wanted to KNIT RIGHT NOW. I'm serious. They have these lovely high tables and cushioned bar seats all around just beckoning you to wind up a skein, grab some needles off the wall display and get to work. It was hard to restrain myself.<br /><br />I splurged and bought two Addi Turbo circs for sock knitting. And yes, there was just a teensy bit of stash enhancement - really I tried to control myself. Some <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/knitsox/stash/silk-garden-2">Noro Silk Garden</a> for a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/multidirectional-diagonal-scarf">multidirectional scarf</a>, some for me and some for my co-worker and fellow knitter who was back at the office. It is always fun to shop with other people's money, isn't it?? Some <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/knitsox/stash/ranco-multy-2">Araucania Multy</a> for socks. Some <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/knitsox/stash/trekking-xxl-7">Trekking XXL</a> for socks. And some <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/knitsox/stash/2-14-alpaca-silk-hand-dyed">Valley Yarns hand dyed laceweight</a> for a stole.<br /><br />Despite the title of this post, the journey was also very enjoyable. (And it's less than 2 hours from home, who knew??) Thank you Cheryl for doing the driving and thank you Carol (the awesome crocheter) for giving up the front seat. It was a fun fun day and I am looking forward to making the trip again!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-66304652537750904722008-11-16T09:52:00.003-05:002008-11-16T10:06:13.733-05:00Where Have All the Acorns Gone?Max's feet are happy. Last year at this time when we walked on our little street, he could barely find a spot to set his paws without crunching down on the sharp edges of a broken acorn. Poor doggie was limping on every walk. This year, there are no acorns in sight. Normally they rain down upon our little yard, and litter the end of our street, but this year we've seen none. And apparently, <a href="http://www.topix.com/forum/home/gardening/TEIANN0MSC7UNC9JQ">its not just my little neighborhood that has noticed</a>.<br /><br />The neighborhood squirrels are being very creative in their food gathering. They've completely chewed through all the pumpkins left sitting since Halloween on neighborhood porches, to reach the treasure trove of seeds inside.<br /><br />So if you are like me and missing your acorns, here's an <a href="http://mysweetcherryblossom.blogspot.com/2008/10/acorn-obsession.html">alternative</a>. The squirrels may not approve, but they are certainly gentler on puppy feet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-44218362765524654002008-11-09T18:45:00.003-05:002008-11-09T19:13:22.872-05:00Lace Knitting / Life LessonToday was lace knitting class with Annie. It was lovely to spend another few hours in the honey-colored Slater Mill Community Guild studio, surrounded by like-minded knitting folks, learning the ins and outs of knitting lace and reading lace charts.<br /><br />Today's class was larger. 20 of us today. As a result the whole experience was far less intimate, less like a group of knitters at a S 'n B and much more like a class.<br /><br />As usual, I thought I knew it all, and plowed ahead. I do this a lot, not only in knitting but in all areas of my life, rushing in headlong, thinking I'm the smartest person in the room, not needing to pay attention or follow the rules. As you can imagine, this is rarely the best strategy. And so it went today.<br /><br />I've knit lace projects many times and felt very confident that I could read a lace chart, no problem. I quickly knit the first two rows of the pattern and then sat smugly as Annie slowly and calmly instructed my fellow knitters who were still making their way. Smugly that is until she asked us how many stitches we had on left on our needles. We were supposed to have 5 (the magic number). What was all this "magic number" talk, I had 6.<br /><br />Not such a smarty pants after all, huh?<br /><br />I think Annie felt bad for me, because later she came by to check on my work and proclaimed that it was "very nice" and even held it up to show the rest of the class. She was being sweet.<br /><br />After the third or fourth repeat, my brain finally clicked and I began to understand about the magic number. I guess it's all about patience, which for me is a somewhat (very much) lacking virtue.<br /><br />So, I took a knitting class and learned less about knitting and more about life. There you go.<br /><br />It was a good weekend.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-53434846868470932742008-11-08T19:00:00.005-05:002008-11-08T19:23:09.313-05:00Combination KnittingWow! My head is spinning. The <a href="http://www.anniemodesitt.com/">Combination Knitting</a> class with <a href="http://www.modeknit.com/">Annie Modesitt</a> was mind-bending. I've been knitting forever and truly didn't think I could learn anything new about knits and purls, but in less than two hours I was a convert. I will never knit or purl the same way again.<br /><br />The class itself went much too fast. There were only about 10 of us, sitting around a table, knitting and learning together. Annie is an incredible teacher. She has very firm rules about who talks when, and asking questions. I imagine she would be a very good middle school teacher. She certainly kept us adults in line. (At one point someone's cell phone rang and I was just a teensy bit afraid,)<br /><br />But despite her discipline, or more probably because of it, her lessons about knitting with passion, keeping the stitches happy, and her belief that we knitters are much smarter than we or the businesses that sell to us are willing to believe, were truly inspiring.<br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.berroco.com/">Berrocco Yarns</a> for the very, very generous gift bags. Not just a little skein of yarn, but THREE skeins. And not just yarns, but CHOCOLATE. What a treat!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSzv0iTRo0Lzgwr_NnH276Kh5AEpszhdGkeEOYOvIVfqYn1_4tjmKhuNu6UC9Lpnoi4nMlCi4nYnvK6xCBhV7URfP-m93cmts6tCR3zs_ycsua63bxp-7cAe1VbxGstZdK_fq/s1600-h/IMG_1297.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSzv0iTRo0Lzgwr_NnH276Kh5AEpszhdGkeEOYOvIVfqYn1_4tjmKhuNu6UC9Lpnoi4nMlCi4nYnvK6xCBhV7URfP-m93cmts6tCR3zs_ycsua63bxp-7cAe1VbxGstZdK_fq/s320/IMG_1297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266444346408256018" border="0" /></a>No pictures of the class as I was too busy knitting and purling and being inspired, but here is the outside of Slater Mill on a lovely, misty November morning.<br /><br />I am so excited for tomorrow's lace knitting class that I'm afraid I will get no sleep tonight. It's worse than waiting for Santa.<br /><br />I didn't see any ghosts, but at one point there was a very loud crash, and we all looked over to see that Annie's bag of books and knitted samples, which was sitting on a chair on the far end of the room, had fallen to the floor. I have to admit, the chairs were a bit slippery, but I'm telling everyone it was ghost.<br /><br />Yes, it was most definitely a ghost.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-37362611326976479362008-11-07T20:42:00.010-05:002008-11-08T19:00:13.717-05:00Friday Night at Slater Mill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-_6HLSV6KkA_Ir79D-Gaiai400JbUxdZ4M6EKWXKavfpva3AfhmT1nSi0F8fmptWYQcDrI9upH3vBqTuyJrIwDknGJZNRgYlDWPuNi2So9oTERHdPN8BPvhYg8uyDR90J3YH/s1600-h/IMG_1294.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-_6HLSV6KkA_Ir79D-Gaiai400JbUxdZ4M6EKWXKavfpva3AfhmT1nSi0F8fmptWYQcDrI9upH3vBqTuyJrIwDknGJZNRgYlDWPuNi2So9oTERHdPN8BPvhYg8uyDR90J3YH/s320/IMG_1294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266436028752395058" border="0" /></a>Just returned from the first of three events at Slater Mill's Knitting Weekend, and had to do a quick entry to say what a knitter's dream it has been so far. Last night was the book signing and Q&A with Annie Modesitt and Nora Gaughan.<br /><br />Apologies for the dark photo of the mill, but I was sitting in my car, having arrived early, and took the photo without a flash. Thinking about it now, the flash probably would have not helped out at all. And during the evening I learned that the mill just might be <a href="http://www.turnto10.com/jar/entertainment/local/article/is_pawtuckets_slater_mill_haunted/1507/">haunted</a>, so this spooky photo may be perfect after all.<br /><br />Back to the book signing / reception / Q&A session. If you EVER have the opportunity to meet one or both of these lovely ladies in person, DO IT. Annie and Nora are so funny. What a joy to listen to how they both came to be shining stars of the knitting world, to hear them laugh and poke fun at each other with such friendly ease. And what a thrill to learn a tip or two or three from Annie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo8rTm5sL0EUzT3__A81SnaAFI9f0JrNxhJ5Vd0WyrOuxG2pqr8L-3UZTDGQekNRyNRhsDv9i9uwjU17K0vFW3BQrlhYTMD744qJjh04wlSSuVH9O0WvQkags6t7hgKk-hFlo/s1600-h/IMG_1295.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo8rTm5sL0EUzT3__A81SnaAFI9f0JrNxhJ5Vd0WyrOuxG2pqr8L-3UZTDGQekNRyNRhsDv9i9uwjU17K0vFW3BQrlhYTMD744qJjh04wlSSuVH9O0WvQkags6t7hgKk-hFlo/s320/IMG_1295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266436754610177394" border="0" /></a>Thanks to Ruth, Janice and Chandler for pulling it all together. Fantastic job! The Slater Mill Community Guild room is stunning, with it's beautiful wood floors (on which Samuel Slater did not stand, but stunning nonetheless), the dark beams, and the lovely old windows looking out onto the roaring Blackstone River.<br /><br />In addition to Annie and Nora, I met Suzanne, who is starting her own knitting / fiber therapy group in Johnston, RI. I also met Guido of <a href="http://www.itsapurlman.com/">It's a Purl, Man</a>. Be sure to check out his guild in Boston, <a href="http://www.commoncod.com/">Common Cod Fiber Guild</a>, which on November 14 will be host to Susan Gibbs of <a href="http://marthasvineyardfiberfarm.com/">Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm</a>, the world's first yarn CSA.<br /><br />[Sidenote - taken from Guido's blog- Susan Gibbs of <a href="http://marthasvineyardfiberfarm.com/" target="_blank">Martha’s Vineyard fiber farm</a> is in need of your clicks. Amazingly, she is in the lead for a technology grant from Intel which is based on votes. You don’t have to register, all you have to do is click on the “I like it” button at <a href="http://www.needatechmakeover.com/2008/09/mvfiberfarm-needs-a-tech-makeover" target="_blank">this site</a>.]<br /><br />It is with great great expectation that I prepare for the the rest of the weekend. Saturday morning I'll be learning Combination Knitting, and Sunday morning Lace Knitting. Both with Annie.<br /><br />And I'll be keeping my eyes and ears open for ghosts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-4522583810234169622008-11-06T19:44:00.003-05:002008-11-06T19:47:32.818-05:00Flickr Mosaic Meme<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS2PdLSItX_aqXiJv5o5NQWxn4ozAUQlhIAfEKVOirQiusdJ-Bb1g2moA3PpQDovYdCD-NnmtZweTtO5NsUj6LUblsf5qDwo8f2ZCmVhL0uGMnGVKOkJcUzGTAd_1aX1Q7KmD/s1600-h/3008575655_6115c28654.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS2PdLSItX_aqXiJv5o5NQWxn4ozAUQlhIAfEKVOirQiusdJ-Bb1g2moA3PpQDovYdCD-NnmtZweTtO5NsUj6LUblsf5qDwo8f2ZCmVhL0uGMnGVKOkJcUzGTAd_1aX1Q7KmD/s320/3008575655_6115c28654.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265710513641431682" border="0" /></a><strong>Instructions for the Flickr Mosaic Meme:</strong><br /><p>a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.<br />b. Using only the first page, pick an image.<br />c. Copy and paste each of the image’s URLs into <a href="http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php" target="_blank">mosaic maker</a>.</p> <p><strong>The Questions:</strong><br />1. What is your first name?<br />2. What is your favorite food?<br />3. What high school did you go to?<br />4. What is your favorite color?<br />5. Who is your celebrity crush?<br />6. Favorite drink?<br />7. Dream vacation?<br />8. Favorite dessert?<br />9. What you want to be when you grow up?<br />10. What do you love most in life?<br />11. One Word to describe you.<br />12. Your flickr name </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-37423881749576192472008-11-03T18:08:00.005-05:002008-11-03T18:16:43.976-05:00What is that Camel Driver Looking At?You know times are stressful when you are reading the latest entries to <a href="http://ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com/">Found Cameras and Orphan Pictures</a>, and you think, Hey, these photos are calling out for some silly captions. It was the photo of the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXh4mNu6jIfMLPv8Yk-Nk3ilsgvuW36ULA__5cLBF-OMyhD7ReIqGKnpyniBHtdUItHcpqSoFLEdG-zgkDMrPsWqWumhyphenhyphenJoLTy8hoER5HATdwUVBCNQ14Ce9lYa_fvWW11tKJ/s1600-h/switz370.jpg">lady on the camel</a> that got me thinking this.<br /><br />So readers (all two of you), I invite you to leave me a comment with your best funny photo captions. I may just send the funniest a skein of yarn, hand dyed by me.<br /><br />Please entertain me. I need a laugh. Thanks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352918.post-39047455426227643062008-10-31T18:32:00.006-04:002008-10-31T19:01:51.358-04:00A Long WeekIt's been a long week. Actually, it's been a long three weeks. This week I've been dealing with a "family emergency". That's how I've been describing it to all those clients and potential clients I've had to reschedule. Last week I was in Boston, attending a three-day conference. Week before that I was in Toronto, ostensibly for work, but mostly looking out for the Yarn Harlot.<br /><br />So the details. Not that you need them, but I need to write them.<br /><br />Just about a week ago my Dad was admitted to the hospital with a serious case of pneumonia. He's 72 and diabetic - a man who loves to eat and does not follow his doctor's instructions well at all. It's been a week where I've learned just how broken our U.S. health care system is. (Who can help? McCain, Obama, anyone??)<br /><br />I spent two days spent working out the details of signing his health care proxy form, designating me as his health care agent. A time during which not one hospital nurse, physicians' assistant, or even orderly would give me the time of day. Apparently <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIPAA">HIPAA regulations</a> do not allow daughters to be informed of their parents' health situations. I was fuming. Oddly, the HIPAA restrictions magically disappear when a patient is discharged. Days of no information culminated in reams of paperwork and chaotic instructions for care, upon my Dad's release from the hospital.<br /><br />This was soon followed by the pharmacy battle, wherein the daughter delivers prescriptions, Medicare refuses to pay, the patient's primary care doctor disagrees with the hospital's instructions, (at 4 PM on Halloween no less) and the daughter is left standing at CVS, confused, befuddled, and then ready to kill.<br /><br />In the end, most of the prescription issues were resolved, and Dad is settled in his apartment happily eating sugar-free Jello with pineapple while watching <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bargain_Hunt">Bargain Hunt</a> on BBC America. Daughter is finally home, sipping red wine from a balloon sized glass, finally catching up on blogs and reading about knitting. A long week indeed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0