19 Cranberry Street

Catching Up, Changing Channels

2011-07-12T09:39:00.009-04:00

EATING
We planted a rather nice produce garden, and it did well all winter and spring. It's dormant now, except for the Arugula that seems immune to the extreme heat and humidity.
So lately, I've been finding lots of ways to eat Arugula! My favourite so far is wilted with pasta. A recipe will probably show up here on the blog at some point. Also, I fell in love with Kale over the winter. Sauteed with lots of garlic and some red pepper flakes, finished with really good salt. Joy.

KNITTING
The most recent finished object to come off the needles is the Old Man of Storr Shawl, which I made for a swap. The yarn is a delicious Merino/Cashmere/Silk blend, handdyed by K of Gherkin's Bucket. The pattern, available on Ravelry, is Old Man of Storr, an easy knit, and an enjoyable one.
Currently on the needles is Travelling Woman, which I'm making in Fresh From the Cauldron MCN in a colourway custom dyed in NFL Eagles. It was going along great, until the tip of my needle came completely out of the ferrule while I was knitting last night! I think I lost three rows (honestly, I don't want to look) of lace. Guess KnitPicks will be getting a message from me later today.

COOKING
I suppose this could go under EATING, but whatever. Tonight, we are having grilled fish and I'm going to throw together a salad using some leftover cooked rice, green lentils, cucumber, scallions, tomatoes, olives, mint, parsley,lemon and grape seed oil. We'll see how that goes, and if it's good, I'll write down the recipe and take pictures. If it's not, we'll just pretend it never happened.

Never Mind all of That. Now This

2011-07-12T08:56:00.003-04:00

So, uh, yeah. I abandoned my blog. It happens.

Never mind all that previous stuff, there's new stuff. Or, there will be new stuff. As I get to it, and as I feel like it.

So, yeah. There you go, here we are. Let's get started.

Uh.
Key points?

My closest friend became very ill. She's well on the road to recovery now, but she sure scared the crap out of me, and everyone else who loves her.

We went to Italy again, in November, for my birthday. Our third trip there. It was grand.

Lulu passed away on January 17th. It was peaceful. She was really sick (cancer) and it was her time to go. I miss her.

Other than that, I am just trying to enjoy life.

Time is the Concord

2008-07-23T08:00:00.004-04:00

Seriously, where in the flippity-gibbet is time going?? My last post was a month ago? More? Feels like days, honestly.

Well, pub quiz on the 20th went fairly well - we came in 3rd and we won a round of drinks (as if we needed them!) thanks to Skully's mad librarian statistical skillz!
Do you know what the "E" in "EPCOT" stands for? We sure didn't!!

Sales over at the Velvet Hippo are moving apace. Maybe I'll donate to my favourite political candidate with some of the windfall!
Speaking of donating, I'm giving 25% of the purchase price of anything pink bought at Velvet Hippo to Susan G.Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.

He doesn't like it when I post too many details about him, so I will just say that The Biscuit is reaching his last few days in the Coast Guard. The day of his retirement is set and is imminent! Wow.

Today is my brother John's birthday. Hope it is a good one for him, and that he gets my birthday wishes. One of these days, I will actually be able to talk to a real live person; his work schedule is my sleep schedule, and there is a little person in his house, so knowing when to call gets tricky. Plus, the time difference, forgot about that.

Well, that's what little is on my mind today...

Oh, the E? Experimental.

Q is for Sticky Bitches

2008-06-30T09:57:00.005-04:00

Do you know what the Q, as in James Bond's Q, stands for? If so, you should have been on our pub quiz team last night!

In spite of my very sketchy knowledge of state capitals and world capitals (I only THINK I know), our team - which kept getting mis-named as "the sweating betties", "the sticky bitches", "the stinking betties" and "sweaty bitches" - managed to pull off a fourth place! Not too shabby! Thanks to Skully's and The Biscuit's mind-blowing grasp of all things superhero, we beat out nine other teams. One of them was quite put out by it, too. ha ha

I think our team name should be The Sweaty Betties or Exactly Your Brand of Heroin. Plus One, of course!

Here are some of the answers we missed:
Quiff
Roger Federer
Joe Jonas
Tokyo
Boston (I have shame about this one. Deep shame)
Moscow
Back to the Future
Torres
Nelson Mandela
and the answer to the question I posed at the start of this post? Quartermaster.

Bad Blogger! No Cake!

2008-06-28T11:27:00.003-04:00

Yes, it has been awfully quiet over here lately, hasn't it? Want to know what I've been doing?? Well...

I started driving again after a 6 year break
My mother came to visit
I opened an Etsy shop! www.velvethippo.etsy.com
My husband retired from the Coast Guard after 25 years of service
I started my very first stitch marker Club...and it is a success!
I went to see Elvis Costello and The Police in concert
I went to hear Barack Obama speak
I realized I've got some pretty awesome friends in all sorts of places
I went to see The Cure in concert twenty years on, and still love them
I knit in public with some awesome people and some great dogs

No pictures of any of it. I'm very, very naughty. But at least I've updated!

purrrrrrrrrrrr

2008-03-27T17:55:00.004-04:00

Go, watch, drool. ahhhhhh

OH!HENRY

Knitty

2008-03-24T23:02:00.003-04:00

These are the projects I am working on:
Another Tomato tee, this one in bright purple.
The Central Park Hoodie, in black Cotton-Ease.
An incredibly tacky fuzzy pink sweater with skulls and tattoo-like stuff on the arms.
A sooper sekrit present for a swap partner.
Coordinating a charity blanket project that is just sailing along...so happy about that one. Lots of great people are participating.
There will be photos, eventually, honest.

la la la

2008-03-19T10:50:00.001-04:00

la la la
Wow, I love fog.

Beauty

2008-02-27T18:25:00.004-05:00

Can you believe this is real? This was the view from our hotel room in Siena, Italy. Kind of messes up your mind, doesn't it?

Ciao!

2008-02-13T16:21:00.002-05:00

We're off to Italy! See you later!!

Got My Hairs Cut

2008-02-01T11:13:00.000-05:00

Yay! I love a new 'do!

Mara

2008-01-17T08:16:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the World

2008-01-11T09:22:00.000-05:00

Miss Mara has made her entrance! I'd love to show you pictures, but as her parents are a little busy at the moment, I don't have any yet. Here are the details:
Mara Jade
January 7, 2008, 8:55p.m.
7 lbs., 12 oz.
20.5 inches long
Healthy, happy and hungry.

This tree, which lives in Tower Grove Park in St.Louis, MO, has nothing to do with Mara. It's just pretty to look at.

Snappy Gnu Ears!

2008-01-06T11:28:00.000-05:00

I'm still here!

Wow, have things been crazy here at Wits' End! Parties, and visitors, and games galore. We've been having a blast, and eating everything in sight, and staying up late and waking up late.
Oh, and shopping. Shoes, makeup, clothes, pots & pans, linens and dishes...shop shop shop! Cheetah bought like seventy pair of shoes! Not really, but that is just because the store didn't have every style in our size. I forgot to take pictures (Bad Blogger, no treats!) so sad, too bad. We had a lovely outing to Sephora (boys went to the Apple Store), which yielded goodies galore and was so girly and fun.

Who else thought that we could have had snow on Wednesday? brrr. I even got to wear a coat. Yay! My freakish northern DNA makes me happy when it is cold outside, what can I say?

Last night, we ate at Chima Brazilian steakhouse (meat on swords, yum). It was very good, we all really enjoyed ourselves. Moo.

Now, the house is quiet. Lulu and the Biscuit have gone back to sleep, and I am going to go for a ride on my bici. Later, Taters

Happy Sweeney one and all!

2007-12-26T00:53:00.000-05:00

A bunch of us went to see Sweeney Todd today, and then went back to my house for...what else? PIES!!! Pies, and GingerDead men, and cider and ale and, and, and.

A wonderful time was had by all. And hardly anyone had their throats slit.

lalalatrythepriestlalala

I gotz a daemon, duz you?

2007-12-21T13:39:00.001-05:00

Antici...pation

2007-12-17T08:24:00.000-05:00

I've been spending a large part of each day making things. How I love to make things! Some of the things have been knitted, some have been sewn, but mostly I've been making jewelry and stitch markers. Whoa boy, have I got stitch markers!

So many exciting things are in the works!
Tonight is the Secret Santa exchange with the Betties, which should be a lot of fun. Honestly in the giddiness of putting together my gift for ...., I forgot that someone is doing the same for me! I hope my giftee likes what I put together for her.
Our Bloody Sweeney Christmas plans are at a stand still since I still don't know when the dratted movie is playing. But we'll carry on regardless. Meat pies all 'round! Extra heart for me, please!
My very bestest friend, and her wonderful man are coming for New Year's Eve! Such fun, I cannot wait!! We had a blast last year, and I am sure that this year will be just as crazy. If you have any tips for visitors to where I live, let me know. We're always interested in trying something new. Last year, we went on the airboats through the Everglades, and we went on a glass-bottomed boat in the Keys.
The niece-to-be continues to grow at a healthy clip, and her birthday is impending. Her head's dropped, and it sounds like things are ready to roll.
The waiting continues...

Yes, I Still Do

2007-12-07T15:24:00.000-05:00

Fifteen years ago, The Biscuit and I drove to San Rafael to go to the court house and get married.

He took half a day off work, and I wore a pair of gold shoes.

Farewell, Sweet Nero

2007-12-01T16:52:00.001-05:00

blob
Originally uploaded by heyfatlulu torii

My mother's cat, Nero, had to be put down today. He had FIP and it caught up with him finally. It has been a struggle for both my mum and Nero for the past couple of weeks.
He really was the sweetest cat. My mother spent a very long time coaxing him into her house (he was a neighborhood stray), and once he finally trusted her, I don't think he could have imagined a better life than the one she gave him.
Mummy, I know you will miss your little black-furred friend. Take a little comfort in knowing that you gave him a marvelous life, and a peaceful death; we should all be so lucky.

Thank You

2007-11-25T09:17:00.000-05:00

More updating to be done. But first, I must say thank you again. This is a small part of the bounty that was gifted to me this birthday.
Knitpicks Harmony needles! Boots made of sex! Febreeze! (what? you have your thing, i have mine)

And then, later, there was even MORE:

Pamplemouse Rose!! (my favourite soap!) Coffee bean bead stitch markers! Velvet jeans!
I feel, and am, SPOILT.

Thanks again Mummy, Scott, Chris, Annie, Judith, Skully, Andrea and Charlie and everyone who took some time out of their lives to wish me a happy birthday. I really, really appreciate it.

November Spawned a Monster

2007-11-19T22:46:00.000-05:00

So, time for a big update.
My mother came to visit me for my birthday, and we got up to all kinds of hijinx. (some words are just more fun than others)
We kicked off her visit by going with some friends to The Cheesecake Factory (I'm sadly addicted to the Kobe beef burgers there) and then to see
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D! It was awesome; pumpkins flying over our heads, and all kinds of fun. We enjoyed it very much.
Hallowe'en night we went to Grumpy Dick's and had crab legs: one pound for ten bucks. Can't beat that! Yummy.
On my birthday we went to Hosteria Romana and ate like goats. Seriously, at one point I felt like if they put a piece of paper or a tin can in front of me, I would have eaten it! We ate, drank, and made very, very merry.
(At this point in my story, if you're getting the impression that I eat a lot, and that my mother's visits with me revolve around food, you wouldn't be wrong).

Let me stop here and say that I was gifted like whoa for my birthday, and I want to thank everyone. My mother, husband, friends, and bestest friend were all very generous with me, and I am a lucky girl. Thank you.
Saturday, we had hangovers.
I don't remember Sunday, there might have been shopping.
ETA: my mum informs me that we went to the Jazz On the River thing in Ft.Lauderdale. Of course we did! It was a beautiful day, and we saw a huge Harlequin Great Dane (which always makes my mother smile) and we ate (gasp!) a really nice crepe from a food stand. The music was good too, but the people watching was stellar!
So, what else? Yeah, I took my mother with me to knitting with the Betties on Monday night! She and Barb sat on the sofa together, making comments and laughing. It was great! I was happy that my mum could meet all of these great ladies I'm always on about. Oh! Plus, we got to show the group Phentex. Scary shit.
Speaking of scary shit, when we got home, Intrepid Biscuit told us that our former next door neighbour in St.Louis was being searched for by police in connection with a rape and murder . Charming. So much I could say about this guy, but as this is a public forum, I will refrain. Draw your own conclusions.
There is so much more to tell you, and so many more links to add! but this girl is sleepy, so that's all you get for now.

be patient.

My brain hurts!

2007-11-17T17:41:00.001-05:00

Oh, I know, I know! I need to update! So much to tell you, so much going on...

Here are some tidbits:
Went to see Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D!!
My former next-door-neighbour has been arrested for rape and murder. eeeep.

K, bye. More later-like.

Reflection

2007-10-28T11:40:00.001-04:00

Debut

2007-10-25T12:36:00.001-04:00

tomato
Originally uploaded by heyfatlulu torii

I finally wore my Tomato the other night (Tuesday). We went to dinner (Legal Seafoods) and a movie (30 Dayzzzzzzzzz, oh sorry, 30 Days of Night).
The Tomato was declared a success, although I have plans to add a couple inches of ribbing to the bottom. It's snuggly comfy, though, and I like that a lot.

incognihungover

2007-10-23T14:45:00.001-04:00

incognihungover
Originally uploaded by heyfatlulu torii

hiding out in my mother-in-law's Clapotis. too much giggle juice the night before, hence the glasses.

Lament for Icarus, and how time flies

2007-10-18T09:41:00.000-04:00

So, today is the 8th anniversary of my father's death. It really does not seem like it was that long ago, and yet it feels like it was a lifetime ago. So many things in my life have changed since then. So many.
Time was, I would curl up and hibernate in October, cursing the month that had once been my favourite of the twelve because of the sadness it brought me in 1999.
Time really does heal. You move forward, you grow or regress, but you change. You become accustomed, you adapt, and the thing that once was the lead shoe you wore becomes just another part of your history.
huh.

Very quickly now...

2007-10-14T11:52:00.000-04:00

We're on our way out the door to do boring errands.
Here's what I've been up to lately: I read Memories of My Melancholy Whores, Water for Elphants and re-started Dust. I knit a hat for a woman who has cancer, and am knitting her another. I watched Pushing Daisies and loved it even more; Desperate Housewives and decided that I'm done with it. I went out with friends for lunch and yarn shopping yesterday and picked up some yarn for gift knitting.
More later, errands must get done, before i completely lose interest!!

I'm a hep cat, daddy-o

2007-10-06T18:34:00.000-04:00

It's a flashback to the late fifties kind of night here at Wits' End. I'm listening to Chris Isaak and Tom Jones, drinking a banana daiquiri, and The Intrepid Husband is fixing meatloaf and tater tots for dinner. Maybe later, we'll play pinochle. Although I would rather go bowling, personally.
All of this could have been sparked by this book I picked up a couple of weekends ago. I'm making some stuff from the book for some people. Can I vague that up for you? You know, gift things best kept Secret.

trying out button placement

2007-10-04T16:36:00.001-04:00

trying out button placement
Originally uploaded by heyfatlulu torii

The finished Mason-Dixon Baby Kimono. In Lily Peaches and Cream "butter cream ombre" 100% cotton yarn. 2 skeins. size 7 needles.

I am trying out the button placement, and deciding if I want one button, two buttons, four buttons or ties. What do you think?

Where "Bright" goes to relax and be itself

2007-10-03T13:56:00.001-04:00

my finished Clapotis, the coat that is the perfect backdrop, and those fabulous gloves.

The Clapotis was knit by me using SouthWest Trading Company's Bamboo

Up Close and personal

2007-09-27T17:43:00.003-04:00

Okay, not the most clever of post titles, but I am very tired lately and the wit, she has left me. This is my Clapotis in progress. The photo was taken on a rainy day, so you can't really get a feel for how vibrant this yarn is, just trust me. It's really pretty in person and looks fabulous against the red coat I plan to wear with it! (thanks for the coat, Mummy!) Oh! and I just remembered - I have some gorgeous purple gloves that I got in Florence last October!!

So, what did YOU do this weekend?

2007-09-24T12:52:00.001-04:00

I've: created some jewelry; tried to comfort The Boy after his very painful mouth surgery; made more pots of soup than I care to think about; wished a cherished friend a happy birthday; busted my ass cleaning for a guest who didn't come; made my first (and hopefully last) batch of ChiliMac; had an absolutely ridiculous conversation; bought books for half price; met a new friend; went to a baseball game where there was rampant public knitting; cooked some more and fell into a heap. I am dog tired, and it's Monday. whee.

Update Type Thingy

2007-09-12T13:14:00.000-04:00

An update, this time with pictures!! After the fun with lightning of last week, we took our time hooking everything up again, so I am just getting pics up now. Deal. My hands are very sore, mostly from making stitch markers all day and knitting all night. Apparently, my right wrist doesn't like that.

The Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty is finished and ready to get in a box and be sent to someone...
and so is The Scarf!

And here are some stitch markers that have something to do with someone else's blog...

Yarn Lust (Cross Post)

2007-09-12T13:10:00.000-04:00

I'm not usually a sheepy girl. Sensitive skin plus living in the tropics doesn't really equal wool yarn. However, I fell in love with this Jitterbug from Colinette. It's the colour, you see. It isn't reproduced in all of its luscious glory here. It's called Velvet Bilberry, and it is super-dark-almost-black-truly-absolutely Purple. aaaahhhhh

this is cross posted at the Second Wave Clapotis KAL

This Day

2007-09-11T18:03:00.001-04:00

This day of the year, I think of my friend Muriel. She passed away three years ago, unexpectedly - despite the fact that she was in her old age. I met her in 1999, in San Diego. She was a fellow artist at the co-op gallery I belonged to. Muriel was one of those amazing elderly ladies that just had so much LIFE in her, it was hard to believe that she was in her 80s. She was also an amazing fiber artist, and could find an artistic use for the stuff that most of us overlook. Like bottle caps and old bricks. She was fun and funny, but wise; when she told a story, you stopped to listen, because you knew you were going to hear something important, maybe even life changing.
On this date in 2001, Muriel's son, Gerald, was killed at the Pentagon.
I don't generally watch 'memorial' or 'anniversary' type television broadcasts, but each year, when all the stations are doing 9/11 memorials, I watch. I watch until I either read or hear Gerald's name.
It's a simple, little thing that I do every year. I do this for my friend Muriel.

Oh, computer, how I missed you

2007-09-09T15:03:00.000-04:00

Last week, we got hit by lightning! I don't know if we really did or not, but something in my area did, and it fried my computer's speakers, the ac/dc adaptor on the plug, and the ethernet card and the logic card in the motherboard! That's a whole big bunch of geekery that I don't really understand, but it added up to me not having a computer. Quel horreur! There was updating to be done! Now, to do it in backwards fashion...
*My Mummy is coming to visit me for my birthday!!!
*I started the swatch for my Clapotis, the one that I am making using 500 [turned out to be 750, actually] yards of SWTC's Bamboo. The Swatch has become something else. I'm up to the last repeat of the increase section. Fast knit, and I really like it!
*I have FINISHED The Scarf for Cheetah! It is ready to be wrapped and sent, along with some other giftie type things. I sure hope she likes it! I really like the yarn I used, I am glad that I kept looking for the 'right' stuff.
*Luciano Pavarotti died, taking that magnificent voice with him. The rest is silence, and it is deafening.
*Steve Fossett is missing in Nevada. This breaks my heart at the same time that it makes me very greatful that my father had the time (and inclination) to radio his position when he was going down. If there is a tiny bit of silver lining in this, six other previously uncharted crash sites have been discovered, and will be explored and mapped.
*We had knit night at the Falcon Pub on Labour Day, and there was merriment! There were prizes for telling stories about penii! There was hilarity coming up with Roller Derby Girl names! Best of all, I got to spend time with some fabulous guys and dolls, and have a couple of Strongbow ciders. It was grrrrreat.
*I got to celebrate a whole big bunch of birthdays last month! Happy birthday to The August Betties, Spanko, and (September) Cheryl!!
*I started September by buying yarn! Tell you all about it later, taters!

Jumping on the Bandwagon

2007-08-28T17:09:00.000-04:00

or: I've got the Clap, too!

I've joined the Second Wave Clapotis KAL and I am going to be using this lovely Bamboo yarn that I've had sitting around since April. Yay!
Yarn details: SouthWest Trading Company's "Bamboo" 100% Bamboo yarn in colour "Serendipity". How cool is that?*

*serendipity is my favourite word!!

buzzzzzzz

2007-08-28T16:56:00.000-04:00

Two of the many things that I have been working on lately:
The Everlasting Bagstopper, from this summer's issue of Knitty. I love this pattern, it works up quickly, into a nice sturdy bag that requires minimal finishing. The handles are still TBD. Knit with Lily "Sugar and Creme" 100% cotton yarn.

The Scarf in progress. This is version 3 or 4, I can't remember. After several false starts with yarn that just was not going to work, I got this lovely Sonata cotton and it is working up beautifully. This should be finished very quickly, I am half of the way through it already, and I just got the yarn a week ago.

Not so articulate

2007-08-26T18:57:00.000-04:00

I keep meaning to update this thing, but I am feeling so inarticulate lately! It's okay, nothing all that earth shattering has been going on, but I like to keep up to date anyway.

I need to go on a photo taking binge also, so I can show you what I've been making lately. (the public stuff, anyway, because there's a lot of gift making going on here too)

I realized the other day that I am slowly being surrounded by Virgos!

Oooh, snappy!

2007-08-11T18:55:00.001-04:00

I am a
Snapdragon

What Flower
Are You?

"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

Ma Tomate

2007-08-06T15:54:00.000-04:00

My finished Tomato!!
2.75 skeins of Lion Brand's Cotton Ease in Terracotta, on size 7 bamboo circulars. I didn't keep track of how long it took to make, but it was dead simple. You know, once I got done screwing around with knitting the wrong size! I like this pattern so much, that I am going to make another one right away in another colour. Wheeeee!

Update Type Thingy

2007-08-05T08:49:00.000-04:00

While waiting for my sleeping husband to wake up so that we can watch the Hungarian Grand Prix (Formula One motor racing, for those of you saying "huh?"), I thought I might do a little catching up. Time flew, and it got kinda quiet here at No.19. So, it seems that it is update time.
Let's see...
We have a new Betty baby! Master Wong, as he will be known by his Betty aunties, came into the world on the 25th June, surprising the heck out of said Betty aunties, who are now furiously knitting away on the projects they were certain they had at least 3 more weeks to finish. Myself included, but I'm not showing you what it is. So there. You'll just have to be patient.

Another of our number is not feeling so hot these days, and we're all hoping that she recovers soon. xo

I had the worst pizza ever last Tuesday. Bleurg. I ordered a bacon, onion and tomato pizza ( I used to live on these when I was in school! ) and when it got to the table, it looked okay...The first bite told me that the bacon was off, however. Then the owner of the restaurant tried to tell me that the flavour I had complained about wasn't rancid meat, but "the flavour of the plastic container that the bacon was in". Whatever, dude, I ain't eating it.

I went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix again. This time, on IMAX! In 3-D!!! Frelling awesome, let me tell you.

Last night, I had the best pizza ever. Anthony's Coal Fired. Proscuitto, onion and tomato (see a trend here?) OMG so good!
I don't see the point of ordering pizza anywhere else ever again. Really. Well, except for in Rome, duh.

Before going out to eat said fabulous pizza-ness, I was watching the NASCAR Busch race from Montreal, and giggling to myself. Those cars on that track...ouch, my brain! While watching and giggling, I was also working on this:

My Tomato! Version two. The first incarnation didn't work out, I had a moment of stupid and made the wrong size and the thing was just enormous. Luckily, I had only knit 2 skeins worth of yarn, so it was not terribly tragic. I just started over and the next thing I knew, I had an almost-finished top that looked just the right size.
I will tell you all all about it in my next post.

A Finished (Knitted) Object II

2007-07-27T11:32:00.001-04:00

A little knitted gift, for my young brother's birthday (July 23).

A Finished (Knitted) Object

2007-07-27T11:28:00.001-04:00

This is the little cardigan that I've been working on between bouts of hating Tempting II. I made it for the little boy of some friends, and I will be giving it to them today. Sure hope that it fits.

AH! HAHAHAHA!

2007-07-25T14:16:00.001-04:00

My Harry Potter Spoiler of Doom is:
Severus Snape gets pregnant by Voldemort dressed as a Morris Dancer
Get your Harry Potter Spoiler of Doom

HP Spoiler!

2007-07-25T08:18:00.001-04:00

My Harry Potter Spoiler of Doom is:
Severus Snape becomes an obsessive Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan with some Bulbadox Powder
Get your Harry Potter Spoiler of Doom

Harry Potter is Illuminating

2007-07-22T14:29:00.000-04:00

I licked Harry Potter, and light sprang out of my head!

Sarah took this picture in the parking lot of Borders bookstore. A caffeine high and the general giddiness of having The Book led us to think that I had Harry Potterness pouring from my noggin. Surely, you had to be there.

So stupid, I could cry

2007-07-16T14:17:00.000-04:00

I made a big ugly dumb mistake. A knitting mistake, so those of you who are expecting earth-shattering revelations can click somewhere else now.
Back to what I was saying; a big stupid mistake in my knitting. Freaking Tempting II, of course. Which is my nemesis once again. I thought we'd reconciled once I finished the neck (yes, finished it this morning!), but alas, a happy ending was not meant to be.
Because I, dear reader, am a dumbass.
After the success I (finally) had with the neck, I decided to press on and kitchener stitch the armpits closed. No problem! I know how to do that. So, off I go...not bothering to look at any of it other than the stitches I'm grafting together, until I get to the end. Aaaaannnnd...voila!...wait, no! Not voila! Oh crap! My ribs don't match up. What the f***???? How can it be?
After picking out (ever UNdone kitchener stitch?? Not fun), I found my mistake. I put the sleeves on backwards. The left sleeve is on the right side of the sweater and vice versa. Now, normally this would not be a problem, just switch the sleeves, and you're back to happytown. But Tempting II is knit in the round, to the sleeves and then all the stitches are worked together until the end. So, I either frog back two skeins worth of work, or figure out some other way of fixing my dumbass error.
Suddenly, I am so, so tired.

Crabby

2007-07-16T07:07:00.000-04:00

This turned out well! Crab wash/dish cloth, the pattern for which I am too lazy and caffeine deprived to get up and look for. Later. Suffice to say I did not design it, I am not claiming to have designed it, I only knit this here cloth from that not mine pattern. Anyway, as I say, I like it, for the most part. It kinda bothers me that there isn't an equal amount of free space top and bottom, but oh well, life is random.
Thanks to Skully for shooting the pattern to me.

Knit in Lily Sugar&Cream, Red on size 7 straights.

Creepy, yet cool

2007-07-13T13:23:00.000-04:00

Sonograms kinda freak me out, I've got to admit. Usually I wonder why people want to show pictures of alien-like creatures floating inside giant kidney beans. But, in true hypocrite fashion, all that goes out the window when it is a family member.
So, everyone, meet Mara, my niece.
Oh, yes, my friends, there will be knitting.

A Calm Image to Start the Week

2007-07-09T07:48:00.000-04:00

This photo was taken by me while in StLouis. We were at the Lily Ponds in Tower Grove Park, a place that I like very much. My husband and I went to brunch with some friends and then for a nice walk around the ponds.
After the psychodelic roller coaster of last week, I thought I'd start off this week with a good memory and a nice relaxed feeling.
Enjoy!

I stole this from Sarah

2007-07-06T12:17:00.001-04:00

Here are the rules:
~Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following.
~They MUST be real places, names, things…NOTHING made up!
~If you can’t think of anything, skip it.
~Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial.
~You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Have fun!

Your Name:Victoria
1. Famous Singer/Band: Violent Femmes
2. 4 letter word: Vite! (not a swear, and not English, but hey!)
3. Street Name: Via Veneto
4. Color: Violet
5. Gifts/Presents: Veueve Cliquot
6. Vehicle: Vespa
7. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Valise
8. Boy Name: Viktor
9. Girl Name: Viola
10. Movie Title: Viva Las Vegas
11. Drink: Velvet Hammer
12. Occupation: Vice President
13. Celebrity: Valerie Plame (another stretch)
14. Magazine: Verve
15. U.S. City: Valparaiso
16. Pro Sports Teams: Vikings (Minnesota)
18. Reason for Being Late for Work: Virus
19. Something You Throw Away: Video tapes
20. Things You Shout: Voldemort!
21. Cartoon Character: ? Veronica (thanks to Debbie for this)

Okay. Your turn!

The Cat Toy Sphere recipe

2007-07-06T07:59:00.000-04:00

Okay, I missed the imaginary deadline for getting "Tempting II" finished. I still have a half inch to knit before the decreases and the neck band.

Still, I have to get this off my plate also, so here you go. This is by no means a pattern; it is a recipe.

Find the yarn you want to use, and a set of DPNs that are 2 sizes smaller than what is recommended for the yarn (that handy dandy info on the ball band). Make sure you leave a tail at the beginning of your work (about 6").
Using the long tail method, cast on an odd number of stitches over three DPNs (for my example, 5 stitches on each needle, for a total of 15 stitches).
Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches.
Knit two rounds plain.
Next round: K2,M1,K3 on each needle (you now have 6 stitches on each of the three needles).
Knit two rounds plain.
Next round: K2,M1,K2,M1,K2 on each needle (8 stitches on each needle)
Knit 3 rounds plain.
Next round: K4, m1, k4 on each needle (9 stitches on each needle)
Knit 3 rounds plain
Next round: Begin the decreases, in the reverse order of the increases. (so all the M1 instructions are now Dec.1)
Decrease until you have THREE stitches on each needle (yes, I know you started with five on the other end, but there is a method to my madness)
Last round: K2tog all around until you only have 3 stitches left, draw them up with a tapestry needle.
Now, stuff the other end with fiberfill and catnip. You can do what I did, and put the catnip in a ped (those useless little socks they give you to try on shoes) so that the herb doesn't squeeze out between the stitches. Weave the beginning tail through the backside of your original 15 stitches, and draw up; it should close the opening rather nicely. Now make a knot or two to secure everything, weave in the ends, and you've got a cat toy.

Really?

2007-07-02T23:01:00.000-04:00

An open letter to You Know Who You Are:

Really? Drunk dialing? At your age?
Did you really think that phoning, while drunk, at 11:30 p.m. (don't deny it, I heard the tape, with the date and time stamp) could be construed as an honest attempt at reconciliation? Did you really have the nerve to tell her that the ball is now in her court?
Shame on you, if you are even still capable of feeling shame.

Market Bag

2007-07-02T22:58:00.000-04:00

One of three that I've made. This is a demo of how much they'll stretch; there are 16 skeins of yarn in that bag!

Wiki Waki Meme

2007-06-30T18:12:00.000-04:00

Ganked from Carol,

Here's your assignment should you choose to accept it. Go to Wikipedia, type in your birth month and day.
Then post the following on your blog.
3 Events
2 Births
1 Holiday

I already know a few off the top of my head, but here goes anyway (I cannot resist these memes, it's like I am an exhibitionist or something -- hush up, Cheetah!)

Events:
the 'birth' of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
1895 - The first gasoline-powered race in the United States. First prize: $2,000
1947 - In California, Designer Howard Hughes performs the maiden (and only) flight of the Spruce Goose; the largest fixed-wing aircraft ever built.

Birthdays:
Marie Antoinette
k.d. lang

Holiday:
the Day of the Dead/ Dia de las Muertas

The Mother of the Groom

2007-06-26T09:51:00.000-04:00

She's a tad eccentric. What you can't see is that she is wearing the party favours, which were silver bells with curls of white ribbon, as earrings; she's also got a huge plastic flower in her hair.

You Can't Go Home Again?

2007-06-25T17:43:00.000-04:00

I used to think the above was true. I did find it to be true on a few occasions when I have traveled back to cities I've lived in, only to find them changed beyond recognition. Worse is to find the city the same, but your friends different.
This past weekend, I discovered that sometimes, if you are very very lucky, you CAN go home again. If you are lucky enough to have wonderful friends, true, kind, life long friends, then you can go home again. I had the most amazing weekend! I got to spend time with some friends that I haven't seen in a few years, and at one point on Thursday evening, I realized that it seemed like no time had passed at all. I know enough to know that those moments only happen with the people who are keepers; those moments happen between lifelong friends, and I am feeling so lucky right now I could sing.
I would, too, if I weren't so tired!

2007-06-15T12:18:00.002-04:00

This is especially hilarious because I frequently trip over my own feet. But I suppose class and grace are two entirely different things. Also? I totally ganked this from skully.

Your Score: Myrna Loy

You scored 26% grit, 28% wit, 28% flair, and 35% class!

You are class itself, the calm, confident "perfect woman." Men turn and look at you admiringly as you walk down the street, and even your rivals have a grudging respect for you. You always know the right thing to say, do and, of course, wear. You can take charge of a situation when things get out of hand, and you're a great help to your partner even if they don't immediately see or know it. You are one classy dame. Your screen partners include William Powell and Cary Grant, you little simmerpot, you.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the
Classic Leading Man Test.

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

I'm too busy procrastinating!

2007-06-13T14:11:00.000-04:00

I did mention that I was going to publish/plop the recipe for the knitted cat toys here on my blog. I will, I will, but right now, I am too busy procrastinating!

Honestly, I am knitting on Tempting II, Jenna Adorno's lovely ballet necked jumper from Knitty. I really want to show it off, I mean wear it when I go to St.Louis in couple weeks.

Right now, my hands are so tired and sore that I can barely type, and oh boy, hte typose!

ass hat

2007-06-07T14:19:00.000-04:00

Sam Talbot, (click on ass hat to see him!) from Top Chef. prrrrrrrrr
feed me.

A meme with a cause

2007-06-05T09:19:00.000-04:00

I would love it if you'd answer this meme, I am going to use the answers in some upcoming artsy-fartsy projects.

Please tell me your favourite and least favourite of the following things:
word
sound
smell
colour
flavour/taste
tactile sensation

Here are mine:
Serendipity, Moist
Waves crashing, Snowplow
Salt air, rotting garbage
Red, Beige
Black Cherry, artificial watermelon
Velvety, Gummy/Sticky

What are yours??

You've done something different with your...

2007-06-04T22:14:00.000-04:00

I changed the font on my blog, and some other minor colour changes. You like?

Taggity Tag Tag

2007-06-02T07:57:00.000-04:00

4 Things About Me
Que Sarah (jeez, I wish I was smart enough to make that into a clicky) tagged me with this. This same meme has made the email rounds chez moi, but I love polls and questionnaires, and memes, so...

4 Jobs I have had in my life
Bartender
Proofreader
Girl Friday ( I think it sounds better than "office help")
Jewelry maker

4 films I can watch again and again
So I Married an Axe Murderer
Moonstruck
Amelie
Enchanted April

4 places I have lived (what? I only get to list FOUR?!)
Montreal, Quebec
Novato, California
Nahant, Massachusetts
St.Louis, Missouri
(there are more, but I am following the guidelines)

4 TV series I watch
House
ER
Ugly Betty
Grey's Anatomy

4 places I have been on holiday
Stowe, Vermont
Sanibel Island, Florida (this was 20 years ago, before living in FL was even a remote idea)
Oahu, Hawai'i
Italy (Rome, Florence, Liguria and Alba)

4 things I do every time I go on the Net
Check my email
Check my blog
Check my other blog
Look at others' bloggy goodness

4 things I would NOT eat for anything in the world
Horse
Dog
Cat
Bugs

4 places I would love to be right now
In a home I know I don't have to move away from
In Italy
or San Francisco
or St.Louis

I will tag facebook people with this!

New meaning

2007-05-29T15:07:00.000-04:00

Went to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie yesterday.
Can I just say that I would very much like to wear Orlando Bloom's ass as a hat?
purrrrrrr

Awwwww Yeaaahhhh

2007-05-25T18:26:00.000-04:00

Finally! I got a haircut tonight. At last!

*cue choir of angels*

I've been tagged. I need more friends.

2007-05-23T15:26:00.000-04:00

Ms.Skully tagged me with this meme

The rules:

Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

1. I speak fluent French. I'm not sure French deserves a capital F, but that's another story.

2. I grew up in Montreal, Quebec, but I was not born there.

3. I got a message today from a girl I went to high school with. My mind is blown.

4. I'm a really good cook. I make excellent soup.

5. I'm far-sighted, but only in one eye.

6. My husband and I were born in the same hospital. Considering that neither one of us grew up in the city (or in my case the country) we were born in makes this fact all the more freaky.

7. I am so proud to say that I've had the same best friend (Cheetah!) since I was 14 years old.

I have not tagged anyone for this meme; I really do need more friends! I just realised that there are seven random facts about me in my About Me under my photo to the right there. Huh.

Selling Yourself

2007-05-23T10:55:00.000-04:00

So, at knit night with the Betties on Monday, a few of the lovely ladies I get to knit with mentioned that I could sell my beaded knitting needles. One of the comments was "do you have any idea how much you could sell these for..." After thinking about it for a while, I realised that, no, I don't have any idea. What would you pay for a pair of knitting needles with beaded ends? Seriously?
This is one of the ongoing problems faced by many people who sell their crafts/handmade items/services. The question is: what is my time worth vs. how much will someone realistically pay for my handmade item? Sure, you can charge 5 dollars for something and get it, but if that item takes you the better part of a day to make, then it is hardly worth it. On the other end of the spectrum, there are very few people who would pay double digits for an "everyday" item. (like 25$ for a bar of soap, or 45$ for a pair of socks).
So, if you are reading this, someone, anyone, please click the button below this post that says "Put Two Cents In" and tell me: What would you pay for a pair of beaded knitting needles?Yes, I'm assuming that this is the sort of thing you would buy.

thanks!
p.s. While I can't tell you what to do or how to do it, I would very much appreciate it if you didn't leave your comment anonymously.

Lessons

2007-05-20T15:57:00.000-04:00

This past week, I learned some new things.

I found out that:

FEAR = the person you love, the person you've loved for 15 years, waking you up and telling you to call 911 because he thinks he's having a heart attack.

The question "is he an organ donor" is a lot easier to answer when you're sitting at your kitchen table eating toast than it is when said person is in a hospital bed.

I love my husband more than even I realised. Thankfully, I get to keep him some more.

(the details: After having gum surgery earlier in the day, my husband had some very severe chest pains in the middle of the night on Thursday. He did not have a heart attack. he did have a drug interaction that caused a spasm in his GI tract. he's home now, all better, and I'm breathing normally again.)

Cat Food!

2007-05-14T09:29:00.000-04:00

Lately, I've been using up little bits of yarn by knitting catnip-stuffed toys for charity. Since I had a lot of creamy white yarn left over from an aran sweater I made, the natural choice was to knit rice and pasta type food items. As for stuffing, aside from the catnip, I used the most abundant fluffy thing I have -- dryer lint.

My collection of knitted cat things is growing. Over the weekend, I added a raviolo and a carrot to the sushi. Mr. Mouse looks on, pretending not to be a penguin.

Booooooks

2007-05-09T07:14:00.000-04:00

Well, knitting books.
No Sheep For You and Fitted Knits arrived a few days ago. I'm both excited and disappointed. Both books had a lot of eye candy, which is nice. To be honest, I have not had a chance to sit somewhere quiet and read either book, so I haven't absorbed any new tricks to speed me along on my knitting endeavors.
FK especially had just too many things that I Would Not Wear for whatever reason. (which is fine, I do realize that Ms. Japel did not write the book for ME).
NSFY is gorgeous, many contributors, lots of 'oooh, I want to make THAT' moments for me. We'll see. My budget doesn't really run to buying 29 skeins of pure silk yarn.

wow, it's early.

Score!

2007-04-28T09:58:00.000-04:00

Ooh, new books coming my way!
Last week, my very generous and wonderful friend A gave me a Border's gift card that she said she wouldn't use. So, yesterday, I ordered "Fitted Knits" and "No Sheep for You". Very excited about No Sheep, since wool is not something I can wear, and I am still baffled by yarn substitutions. I don't know if it is because it seems like there is math involved (in which case my brain seems to automatically shut down) or if it is something that I will learn with practice. I'm hoping that book will help me unravel some of the mystery. I'm also looking forward to Fitted Knits, even if it only ends up being eye candy. My "knit this" list is too frelling long anyway! Free shipping means that I won't get them until the first or second week of May.
*putting on patience hat*

This is so cool!

2007-04-27T15:40:00.001-04:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070427/ap_on_sc/hawking_flight

More knitting

2007-04-25T10:30:00.000-04:00

Last night, I broke into the skein of Cotton Ease (New) yarn that I bought at the under-lit and poorly-staffed Michael's near my house. It knits up nicely, bit bulkier than I was anticipating, but so far I like it. Once I give the sample piece a wash, I'll be able to tell if it is a good candidate for me or not. Hopefully, Lion Brand won't take it off the market again. (hopefully they'll come up with some less yawn-inspiring colours!)
My "knit this" list is growing to ridiculous proportions. It is time to cull.

Knitting Clutch

2007-04-24T08:23:00.000-04:00

So, last night I went to my first knit night with the Sweet Stitching Betties. It was really nice; good atmosphere, friendly people, great coffee. I wish that I had brought along something more interesting to knit, though. I brought along Cheetah's scarf, since stockinette is simple, and I could knit whilst listening and chatting. Well about 5 rounds into it, I was already boredy boredy bored bored. Seriously, it made me sleepy.
I haven't even dipped into the yummy new yarns I scored over the weekend. I've got Bamboo, Corn, some lovely cotton/wool, and some cotton/Modal that I bought only one skein each of, to swatch and see what I get as far as gauge. Plus, I bought some single skeins to make hats and pet toys for charity.
Maybe I'll make a list of what I've got, and what I think I want to make with it. Then again, maybe I'll just stuff it all in a bag, and then whine that I don't have anything to knit!

Nothing to see here, move along

2007-04-23T16:42:00.000-04:00

What? You thought I was kidding? This is just a test, go away and find something important to do!