Thursday, August 30, 2007

My Sockapalooza haul


At long, loooong last, may I finally present to you, the lovely socks I received quite a long time ago from my excellent Sockapalooza pal, Angela.



Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, colorway Cool
Pattern: Landlocked Socks from I'm Knitting as Fast as I Can (seems this may not be available any longer?)

They fit great, very soft and comfortable, and a yarn that is among my favorites.
There were several other goodies in the package, including a beautiful bracelet that I failed to photograph, but have already worn many times.

Thanks again, Angela!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Are we in for a rude awakening?

This may hit a little too close to home.
Hide your stash and don't turn out the lights.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Utterly pathetic

I blame knitting.

1001 books you must read before you die (spotted at the much better read Fillyjonk's Progress )

2000s
67. House of Leaves – Mark Z. Danielewski

1900s
214. The Passion – Jeanette Winterson
249. Dictionary of the Khazars – Milorad Pavi?
272. The Color Purple – Alice Walker
291. Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
301. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
375. Slaughterhouse-five – Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
417. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater – Kurt Vonnegut
434. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich – Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn
436. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey
437. A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess
444. Stranger in a Strange Land – Robert Heinlein
456. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
494. The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
495. The Talented Mr. Ripley – Patricia Highsmith
508. Lord of the Flies – William Golding
529. The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
547. Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell
564. Animal Farm – George Orwell
574. The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
592. The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
608. Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
610. The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
649. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
663. A Farewell to Arms – Ernest Hemingway
699. The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald

1800s
797. The Time Machine – H.G. Wells
804. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
825. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain
897. The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne
916. The Fall of the House of Usher – Edgar Allan Poe

Hmmm....
Well, in my defense (defensiveness) I forget a lot of what I read, so I may have missed a couple. Also, I do own several on the list that I haven't gotten around to yet.
And, too, I have read several books I did not have to read before I die. I wonder if those books would be available to read in the afterlife, or if they simply have no effect on whether you die or not.
It follows then that I am better off taking my time reading these books, thus preventing my death indefinitely.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Inadequate

Well, I'm back. I've actually been back for nearly a week now, but once again, I've been procrastinating posting for lack of photographs.
You see, and I know its lame, but I am somewhat of a Luddite. I don't actually own a camera, much less a digital camera. Now, my husband is a photographer, so I do have cameras available to me. Still I have never touched those fancy cameras. I have a talent for breaking things that don't belong to me. Scott is happy to take photos for me, but its hardly top priority, so we'll just have to take 'em when we can get 'em until I get a camera of my own. Preferably one with very few knobs or buttons.
Anyhow, here's a quick breakdown, and I'll go into detail when I get my act together:

- I did receive my gorgeous Sockapaloozasocks the day before I left on my trip. The socks are lovely, and my wonderful sockpal, Angela, included a handmade bracelet that I have already worn several times, some cute notepads, and postcards from her hometown, Cincinnati. Funny coincidence, I had a layover at the Cincinnati airport the very next day. Anyway, this deserves its own post for sure, and very soon.

- My trip to Mexico was wonderful. Had a beautiful time. Knit socks. Not so wonderful. Post with pics soon.

- Other knitting...I made Scott a Zeebee before I left. The pattern is amazing, it looked great with the yarn. It didn't fit. Why didn't I measure one of his other hats? Why didn't I check gauge after knitting a while? I'll reknit after I've given it a timeout in the UFO closet.
I haven't touched the sleeves to my princess pullover. I am so uninspired.
I started aura but am only a few rows in.
Finally, the last project I have on the needles is one about which I could write a novel. I'll leave you with a link and let it suffice to say that I have made this hat at least 3 times now, without success. I am so not a crocheter, nor am I skilled in the ways of colorwork. I give you the Peruvian Motif Banded Crown Cap . In its latest incarnation I am attempting to knit it. Let me say, in its defence, that those Hatternique patterns are really brilliant and the fault is mine, not the pattern.

That's all I have strength for now. More when I can provide evidence.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

who doesn't love the smell of cardboard in the morning?



what do you think the movers will think? i'm guessing not much (i dont think they care nearly as much about my stuff as i do), but it's still kinda funny.

during my last move, i realized that i am a very bad box labeler - what? who would have guessed that "fans and crap" isn't descriptive enough? and that 3 boxes labeled "bathroom" didn't help me find my soap any faster.

so this time (since we are moving waaaaay more crap), i've been trying to be as exact as possible, it is really quite funny. we'll see how well it actually works, i'm still expecting a near meltdown when all i really want to do is take a shower and i can't find the freaking soap!

so knitting, eh? yeah haven't been doing much of it. i left myself the anastasia socks and the ivy sleeve (that still needs to be ripped) and a very old WIP languishing at that bottom of my knitting bag. but honestly between work and packing and TRYING to squeeze in some summer fun i just haven't knit a stitch.

here's to hoping i'll pick up the needles soon.

Monday, August 20, 2007

shakespeare socks

my sockapalooza socks had their first outing this weekend, thanks to a cold spell here in the northeast (at least my part of the northeast).

the socks arrived packed away with a sweatshirt as part of my "just in case" plan...it wasn't long before they were in use.



the socks committed a fashion faux pas, but since they are german, they were excused.



the socks thoroughly enjoyed othello...



they are incredibly warm and comfy (i can't wait for winter!)

Sunday, August 12, 2007

schöne socken



my sockapalooza socks have arrived and they are absolutely beautiful! tanja, these socks are perfect! they fit like a glove and are amazingly vibrant. can you believe she dyed these herself? they are one of my most favorite color combinations too!



the socks are 100% merino and the pattern is out of a german sock book. i love them, i love them, i love them! they are going to be perfect once the buffalo winter sets in. :)

thank you tanja!

Monday, August 6, 2007

Socks and Itchy Feet

Much to say, no photos.

My socks are winging their way to their new home, where I hope they'll be well recieved. Its exciting stuff, and I can't wait to recieve my own new socks as well, but sadly, I won't be here when they arrive.

I depart on Wednesday morning for sunny Mexico to rendevous with the man of my dreams. I know, I know, eat your hearts out.

8 hours of rarely interrupted knitting.

THat's what you were jealous of, right?

I am a little sad that I will miss the climax of all this Sockaplooza knitting and schemeing, but I think we can all agree that it'll be worth it.

THe fella and I are meeting in Puerto Vallarta, then we will proceed to lolly-gag our way down the coast, spending the nights in quaint fishing villages and our days playing in the surf. Finally, when we hit Acapulco, we will head inland to Mexico City, and fly home from there.

That means I get the bonus of car knitting too! Awesome. I think I'll focus on small bts of lace- but I'm conflicted. Perhaps you'll have some input? Here are my options:

1- The lace sleeves to my Princess Pullover
This sucker was started in summer 2005, and all I have left are sleeves!

2- Aura in Rowan Calmer for my niece who lives in Long Beach. She'll be home to visit shortly after I get home.

3- Droppy scarf in Artfibers Tsuki for my best friend who lives in Santa Cruz. She bought me a big box of Artfibers goodies last birthday, and I promised half would become gifts for her. So fart, only delivered a hat, so I have some knitting to do there.

4- some kind of socks, cause socks are that perfect sort of thinking, but often not thinking too hard, portable knitting.


Thanks for your input- you know I'll probably bring at least 2 of those!

Pics when I get home!

Thursday, August 2, 2007