It's not that I don't want to blog. It's just that I am rarely near a computer when I have an idea I am itching to write about. And by the time I am at a computer (like now), I completely forget what I was so excited about and meant to write about.
So my ideas are just floating out there in the ether somewhere, because I frequently say out loud that I need to blog about something, but never do, because I forget.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
I have seen the future, and it is PINK!
Ok kids, let's take a few minutes out of our day and talk about color choices, or how more does not equal less.
The next time you think that adding barbie pink yarn to bright rose pink-on-medium pink-on-just-lighter-than-barbie pink twist yarn will somehow mute the pinkness, remember, THERE IS NO WAY TO MUTE PINK. Not real pink, anyway. Baby pink doesn't count, since it's already muted, probably so as not to sear baby's eyeballs with its pinkness. But adding pink to pink, well, I've made enough wrong turns into the barbie aisle to (you'd think) know by now that pink + pink = PINK.
I am currently working on an item I have dubbed The Pink Panther scarf. For anyone who remembers the cartoon, I mean that sort of pink. Now, I love pink. But I'm almost appalled at how pink this is turning out. It's not 80's neon pink, or let's-play-princess-pink. It's PINK. I don't think pictures will do it justice. And this is a custom order, for which I picked out the yarn, after makingan attempt to describe it on the phone, completely forgetting the above equation in my excitement. I have told the recipient that if she does not like it, I will gladly remake it in colors that are either more (eek!) or less pink. I'm not worried about being stuck with this one, because as soon as I put it up for sale, I know some pink loving soul will snap it up and love it forever. But it will come with a warning that colors may be brighter than they appear.
The next time you think that adding barbie pink yarn to bright rose pink-on-medium pink-on-just-lighter-than-barbie pink twist yarn will somehow mute the pinkness, remember, THERE IS NO WAY TO MUTE PINK. Not real pink, anyway. Baby pink doesn't count, since it's already muted, probably so as not to sear baby's eyeballs with its pinkness. But adding pink to pink, well, I've made enough wrong turns into the barbie aisle to (you'd think) know by now that pink + pink = PINK.
I am currently working on an item I have dubbed The Pink Panther scarf. For anyone who remembers the cartoon, I mean that sort of pink. Now, I love pink. But I'm almost appalled at how pink this is turning out. It's not 80's neon pink, or let's-play-princess-pink. It's PINK. I don't think pictures will do it justice. And this is a custom order, for which I picked out the yarn, after makingan attempt to describe it on the phone, completely forgetting the above equation in my excitement. I have told the recipient that if she does not like it, I will gladly remake it in colors that are either more (eek!) or less pink. I'm not worried about being stuck with this one, because as soon as I put it up for sale, I know some pink loving soul will snap it up and love it forever. But it will come with a warning that colors may be brighter than they appear.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Rippit Rippit
Ok, usually I love frogging. The pop pop pop of stitches coming undone, the zzzzzzziiiiiiippppppp of the yarn, the almost hypnotic pattern as the yarn moves from side to side.
But frogging something of beauty hurts. I learned this. A friend, we'll call her "Tracker", hand-dyed some fluffy (yes, fluffy) Icelandic wool into beautiful shades of pink and green and blue. She did it with fades, and it came out so well. And when she knitted it (plain garter stitch in ridiculously perfect stitched), it patterned itself, the colors in a sort of repeating serpentine pattern. And.........she decided to make something in stockingette that will be more useful than skinny scarf. And thus started the frogging, and I had to watch this lovely item zigzig its way back into a ball of yarn. Sigh. She decided to so a different stitch pattern on the redo, and while the stitches themselves were lovely, I still liked the first one better.
Note to self: If you are frogging something lovely, just don't watch...
But frogging something of beauty hurts. I learned this. A friend, we'll call her "Tracker", hand-dyed some fluffy (yes, fluffy) Icelandic wool into beautiful shades of pink and green and blue. She did it with fades, and it came out so well. And when she knitted it (plain garter stitch in ridiculously perfect stitched), it patterned itself, the colors in a sort of repeating serpentine pattern. And.........she decided to make something in stockingette that will be more useful than skinny scarf. And thus started the frogging, and I had to watch this lovely item zigzig its way back into a ball of yarn. Sigh. She decided to so a different stitch pattern on the redo, and while the stitches themselves were lovely, I still liked the first one better.
Note to self: If you are frogging something lovely, just don't watch...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Design Elements
So I've been pecking away at this scarf for about a month. Lamb's Pride Worsted in a varigated brown colorway. It's a pattern I made up. Please forgive me as this is the first time I am writing out a pattern. Cast on 22 stitches. Row 1-4 k2p2. Row 5 k22. Row6 p22. Row 7 k22. Row 8 p22.* Repeat rows 1-8 until it is as long as you want it.
This is not a rocket science pattern. This is not intarsia, fair isle, or lace. It has no color changes. It doesn't require DPNs or stitch markers. There is no cableing. It completely lacks increases and decreases. It is a beginner's pattern. Right?
So you can understand my frustration when the right side becomes the wrong side and vice versa. Ok, in one part I know what happened. I did purl rows when I should have done knit rows. Fine. But then even when I got it right (and I swear I got it right) the right side still became the wrong side. Then the right side for a few repeats. Then the wrong side again.
I have ripped back and tried again. I have had other people rip back and try again. And it's still wonky.
I'm calling it a design element, because I really don't want to rip back two feet of scarf I have worked very hard for.
But really, either I'm stupid and cannot be trusted with a beginner's pattern, or the yarn just hates me. I know it hates starbucks, because that's where it acts up the worst. But last night, it started rebelling at B&N. What's a sort-of knitter to do?!
This is not a rocket science pattern. This is not intarsia, fair isle, or lace. It has no color changes. It doesn't require DPNs or stitch markers. There is no cableing. It completely lacks increases and decreases. It is a beginner's pattern. Right?
So you can understand my frustration when the right side becomes the wrong side and vice versa. Ok, in one part I know what happened. I did purl rows when I should have done knit rows. Fine. But then even when I got it right (and I swear I got it right) the right side still became the wrong side. Then the right side for a few repeats. Then the wrong side again.
I have ripped back and tried again. I have had other people rip back and try again. And it's still wonky.
I'm calling it a design element, because I really don't want to rip back two feet of scarf I have worked very hard for.
But really, either I'm stupid and cannot be trusted with a beginner's pattern, or the yarn just hates me. I know it hates starbucks, because that's where it acts up the worst. But last night, it started rebelling at B&N. What's a sort-of knitter to do?!
Felting
Let's talk for a moment about one of my other fiber hobbies, felting, specifically wet or flat felting.
Wet felting involves laying layers and layers on animal fibers on each other, then soaking them and squashing, pressing, rolling, and beating them until they form a piece of fabric. Theoretically, thick felted fabric is waterproof and insultating. Theoretically.
So here are a few tips if you decide to enter the wonderful world of beating-the-heck-out-of-a-pile-of-wool-until-it-gives-up:
1. When making warm, soapy water, remember that a shampoo is sudsy. A little goes a long way. Too much means you are scooping piles of soap suds off your workspace while more spill out of the pitiful pile of wool you are abusing. Too little and the wool just laughs at you and refuses to get felty.
2. When covered in aforementioned suds, your partner will laugh at you from the safety of the sofa.
3. The person you are teaching to make felt will have no such soap issues whatsoever.
4. Felty when wet can mean poufy-like-a-pillow when dry. Unless you are the person in #3, for whom felt takes the WYSIWYG path.
5. In some cases, no amount of beating/stomping/rolling/mashing the fiber will cause it to get all nice and solid. Unless you are once again the person in #3, who manages to produce good quality felt with a few twitches and presses and rolls.
6. Abstract felted designs are not appreciated by partner-on-couch, despite the fact that they truly believe a white piece of canvas painted white is art.
7. There is no cure for UGHly.
Wet felting involves laying layers and layers on animal fibers on each other, then soaking them and squashing, pressing, rolling, and beating them until they form a piece of fabric. Theoretically, thick felted fabric is waterproof and insultating. Theoretically.
So here are a few tips if you decide to enter the wonderful world of beating-the-heck-out-of-a-pile-of-wool-until-it-gives-up:
1. When making warm, soapy water, remember that a shampoo is sudsy. A little goes a long way. Too much means you are scooping piles of soap suds off your workspace while more spill out of the pitiful pile of wool you are abusing. Too little and the wool just laughs at you and refuses to get felty.
2. When covered in aforementioned suds, your partner will laugh at you from the safety of the sofa.
3. The person you are teaching to make felt will have no such soap issues whatsoever.
4. Felty when wet can mean poufy-like-a-pillow when dry. Unless you are the person in #3, for whom felt takes the WYSIWYG path.
5. In some cases, no amount of beating/stomping/rolling/mashing the fiber will cause it to get all nice and solid. Unless you are once again the person in #3, who manages to produce good quality felt with a few twitches and presses and rolls.
6. Abstract felted designs are not appreciated by partner-on-couch, despite the fact that they truly believe a white piece of canvas painted white is art.
7. There is no cure for UGHly.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Swap-o-spoilage
Swaps are wonderful things, especially when you realize that while karma can be a beeotch, she can also smile upon you in the form of lovely cable knit scarves with matching hand warmers, balls of Noro Kureyon, and rubber duckies.
Coffee Shop people
Inspired by a post by Franklin on Panopticon:
1. Knitters can be snooty. There were five of us in a Starbucks one night, and not three feet away at another table were three people actively knitting, talking about knitting, helping each other which knitting, and they would not even make eye contact with us. Not that we wanted to be their best friends, but an acknowledgement that we are all KIP knitters would have been nice.
2. People pray loudly at Starbucks. People also cuss loudly.
3. Starbucks' baristas like a challenge. Come up with something wildly exotic and order it with a smile, and chances are they will come through like champs, taste your drink, and never ever forget you. Of course, they probably also laugh at you when you leave.
4. No matter what hour of the day or night, at some point during your visit there will be a herd of cackling teenagers, plus two sorority-type girls that need VACANCY tattooed on their foreheads and two painfully metrosexual guys.
5. Starbucks, home of poser musicians with more hair product than good taste.
6. Remember my last post, when I said knitting was a great way to get people to leave you alone in a crowded place? This does not apply to Starbucks.
7. Stay until closing time, and then ask if they have any iced coffee or tea they are going to throw out. Chances are they will, and you will be caffeinated beyond your wildest dreams.
1. Knitters can be snooty. There were five of us in a Starbucks one night, and not three feet away at another table were three people actively knitting, talking about knitting, helping each other which knitting, and they would not even make eye contact with us. Not that we wanted to be their best friends, but an acknowledgement that we are all KIP knitters would have been nice.
2. People pray loudly at Starbucks. People also cuss loudly.
3. Starbucks' baristas like a challenge. Come up with something wildly exotic and order it with a smile, and chances are they will come through like champs, taste your drink, and never ever forget you. Of course, they probably also laugh at you when you leave.
4. No matter what hour of the day or night, at some point during your visit there will be a herd of cackling teenagers, plus two sorority-type girls that need VACANCY tattooed on their foreheads and two painfully metrosexual guys.
5. Starbucks, home of poser musicians with more hair product than good taste.
6. Remember my last post, when I said knitting was a great way to get people to leave you alone in a crowded place? This does not apply to Starbucks.
7. Stay until closing time, and then ask if they have any iced coffee or tea they are going to throw out. Chances are they will, and you will be caffeinated beyond your wildest dreams.
Since I'm a slacker
It's been a while, so let me begin with the biggest event of the last few months, my trip to Comic-con.
Thank goodness that I now like to knit, as it kept me from wanting to kill people. Seriously. But in addition to the joys of knitting in public, I learned the following very important lessons:
1. Knitting is a great way to keep open seats around you in a crowded room. People will either not sit next to you or, in one case, a guy GOT UP AND MOVED when I pulled out the WIP. And it wasn't even scary little pointy needles. It was chunky yarn on bamboo 15s. What did he think, I was going to gouge his eyes out? And ruin the lovely wool? In either case, a giant thanks to the knitting gods, for knitting is nearly as useful as earphones to keep people from talking to you (unless they are other knitters, which is ok).
2. Knitting dark-ish yarn in near darkness while distracted by the faces of Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Finion leads to a very wonky scarf.
3. Trying to knit a pattern while distracted by Harold and Kumar leads to realizing when you get home a week later that you you completely and hopelessly screwed up the pattern and the project requires full frontal frogging.
4. Trying to knit a pattern while distracted by Kevin Smith leads to not even bothering to rip back the disaster and just hoping it works out.
5. Realizing you might run out of yarn before you run out of convention leads to panicked phone calls to SO to find a yarn store on a bus/trolley route so you can get more yarn. Better to miss a couple hours of convention than go yarn-less. Note: I should've gone to the other store, but I completely forgot that rather than take the hour+ bus trip to get there, I could've taken the 35 minute trolley trip. Oh well. I got yarn, which is all that mattered, and it is a Lamb's Pride Worsted brown varigated colorway that has everyone around me slobbering. Jealousy yarn = bonus! And pink Silky Wool for ridiculously cheap - double bonus.
6. Knitters are everywhere, even at the World's Biggest Gathering of Scificomicbookvideogameanimepopculture geeks.
Count: projects started and completed - 1; project brought with nearly completed, but back burnered because of the thought it required - 1; project started and later frogged due to John Cho and Kal Penn - 1
Thank goodness that I now like to knit, as it kept me from wanting to kill people. Seriously. But in addition to the joys of knitting in public, I learned the following very important lessons:
1. Knitting is a great way to keep open seats around you in a crowded room. People will either not sit next to you or, in one case, a guy GOT UP AND MOVED when I pulled out the WIP. And it wasn't even scary little pointy needles. It was chunky yarn on bamboo 15s. What did he think, I was going to gouge his eyes out? And ruin the lovely wool? In either case, a giant thanks to the knitting gods, for knitting is nearly as useful as earphones to keep people from talking to you (unless they are other knitters, which is ok).
2. Knitting dark-ish yarn in near darkness while distracted by the faces of Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Finion leads to a very wonky scarf.
3. Trying to knit a pattern while distracted by Harold and Kumar leads to realizing when you get home a week later that you you completely and hopelessly screwed up the pattern and the project requires full frontal frogging.
4. Trying to knit a pattern while distracted by Kevin Smith leads to not even bothering to rip back the disaster and just hoping it works out.
5. Realizing you might run out of yarn before you run out of convention leads to panicked phone calls to SO to find a yarn store on a bus/trolley route so you can get more yarn. Better to miss a couple hours of convention than go yarn-less. Note: I should've gone to the other store, but I completely forgot that rather than take the hour+ bus trip to get there, I could've taken the 35 minute trolley trip. Oh well. I got yarn, which is all that mattered, and it is a Lamb's Pride Worsted brown varigated colorway that has everyone around me slobbering. Jealousy yarn = bonus! And pink Silky Wool for ridiculously cheap - double bonus.
6. Knitters are everywhere, even at the World's Biggest Gathering of Scificomicbookvideogameanimepopculture geeks.
Count: projects started and completed - 1; project brought with nearly completed, but back burnered because of the thought it required - 1; project started and later frogged due to John Cho and Kal Penn - 1
Monday, July 14, 2008
Time Management
Ok, for the record, I have way too many creative things to do (is there such a thing?:) )...so this is my record in case something happens to my notebook.
by 7/19 Mail Rav ATCs (completed, ready to fly)
by 8/6 Mail Rav Cardmakers (completed, ready to fly)
by 7/18 Mail Rav Knit Treasures
by 8/1 Mail Rav Scarf Exchange
by 8/29 Mail Rav Swap on a Budget
by 7/23 Mail YG ATC Pinup Girls (6)
by 7/23 Mail YG ATC Cuppa Joe (6) (bases done, needs embellishment)
by 8/27 Mail YG ATC Pink/Orange (3)
by 7/28 Mail Rav Oddball Stash Busters
by any Mail YG ATC Newbie (5)
by 7/19 Mail Rav ATCs (completed, ready to fly)
by 8/6 Mail Rav Cardmakers (completed, ready to fly)
by 7/18 Mail Rav Knit Treasures
by 8/1 Mail Rav Scarf Exchange
by 8/29 Mail Rav Swap on a Budget
by 7/23 Mail YG ATC Pinup Girls (6)
by 7/23 Mail YG ATC Cuppa Joe (6) (bases done, needs embellishment)
by 8/27 Mail YG ATC Pink/Orange (3)
by 7/28 Mail Rav Oddball Stash Busters
by any Mail YG ATC Newbie (5)
New Place
So our Monday night knitting group moved fro mthe old BN to the new BN. Apparently, the powers that be at BN did not see fit to stay in their small location with the big cafe so we could knit happily. The inconsiderate bums decided to move into the chi chi new shopping center. The store is larger the cafe is smaller, the tables are round (not so easy to push together to accomodate a herd of people and I can't weave on them), and the chairs are decidedly more uncomfortable. I'm pretty sure we'll stay there for a while, but it's just not the same. The old BN has slightly worn wooden tables and chairs, the sort you expect to see in a bookstore cafe that caters to students with books and laptops and the need for caffeine. This one has "retro" tables and chairs, not conducive to hours of sitting. We were also quieter than usual, and I doubt that this BN will put up with the sort of adult language that you'd expect from a group that calls themselves Skanky Knitters. So we'll see.
In other news, besides some minor hyperventilating with regards to tinking part of a scarf I am working on, I got several inches done, and Boku in stockingette is just gorgeous. Worth the thought it takes me to purl.
In other news, besides some minor hyperventilating with regards to tinking part of a scarf I am working on, I got several inches done, and Boku in stockingette is just gorgeous. Worth the thought it takes me to purl.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
gone roving
Ok, so the last blue-and-green is off the loom, replaced with another blue-and-green, with a subtle color change yarn. Problem is that the transitions are very slow and long, and the green was lookinga bit monotonous. Thankfully, the LYS we were at is mostly a fiber store, and I found a great sample bag with a ton of rope roving in colors that would look lovely in current project.
So for the first time I am incorporating roving into a woven piece, and it looks wonderful. And it's a dirt cheap was to dress up something dull, because I am using pinches of roving each time. And I mean little pinches. This bag-o-soft-and-lovely-dyed-wool will last fo-evah. I need to do this more.
I love some of the funky and/or lovely double stranded stuff I've been doing, but this is waaay faster and easier. I'm just hoping this one doesn't go weird on me, or I'm going to consider this project cursed.
So for the first time I am incorporating roving into a woven piece, and it looks wonderful. And it's a dirt cheap was to dress up something dull, because I am using pinches of roving each time. And I mean little pinches. This bag-o-soft-and-lovely-dyed-wool will last fo-evah. I need to do this more.
I love some of the funky and/or lovely double stranded stuff I've been doing, but this is waaay faster and easier. I'm just hoping this one doesn't go weird on me, or I'm going to consider this project cursed.
gone wonky
Ok, so the project I was working on got cut-off early. It was just not working. I unrolled it to check the length, and low and behold found big gaping holes where there was once nice tight weaving. The cool part is when I slid the yarn around, it made some really groovy ripples and holes. The bad part is that it was completely impractical to wear, and I really did not want to deal with another 5 feet...plus a piece that is loose early on gets worse over length. So I decided to stop and cut my losses. I decided to wet it and throw it in the dryer to see what would happen. All I got was a fuzzy rippled creased thing. I'm going to block it and put it away until I find a use of a home for it.
Oh, and GF once again said she liked it and it was nice, and I asked her if she liked it enough to put it in her closet, because that's probably where it would land. She did the uh...uh...uh... stutter stall. I told her not to tell me she liked something if she would not want it in her closet. I think that will put a stop to the polite approval of items.
Nothing breeds honesty like threatening to put in a UGH in someone's closet because they (politely) say they like it.
Oh, and GF once again said she liked it and it was nice, and I asked her if she liked it enough to put it in her closet, because that's probably where it would land. She did the uh...uh...uh... stutter stall. I told her not to tell me she liked something if she would not want it in her closet. I think that will put a stop to the polite approval of items.
Nothing breeds honesty like threatening to put in a UGH in someone's closet because they (politely) say they like it.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Officer, git that goat offen mah mercedes
Heard on WLRH (local public radio) and seen in Huntsville Times:
(some paraphrasing-WLRH) Tuesday: In Limestone County [where we live], a dog and goat were taken into police custody last night. It happened on Hwy72 and East Limestone Road. A person saw the animals and got out of their car to help them. They called the sheriff when the goat jumped up on the hood of her mercedes. The sheriff loaded the goat into this patrol car and when he opened the back door, the dog jumped in. Anyone missing a dog and a goat should contact the Limestone County Sherrif's Department.
and the follow up in the Huntsville Times-apparently, the sheriff who is holdingthe goat has get-togethers for goat stew. He is asking for someone to claim the animals. People have asked to adopt the goat, and so far it has a stay of execution.
Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of Dog and Goat...
(some paraphrasing-WLRH) Tuesday: In Limestone County [where we live], a dog and goat were taken into police custody last night. It happened on Hwy72 and East Limestone Road. A person saw the animals and got out of their car to help them. They called the sheriff when the goat jumped up on the hood of her mercedes. The sheriff loaded the goat into this patrol car and when he opened the back door, the dog jumped in. Anyone missing a dog and a goat should contact the Limestone County Sherrif's Department.
and the follow up in the Huntsville Times-apparently, the sheriff who is holdingthe goat has get-togethers for goat stew. He is asking for someone to claim the animals. People have asked to adopt the goat, and so far it has a stay of execution.
Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of Dog and Goat...
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Darn Distractions
I meant to get more weaving done last night. Really I did. But the lure of the last night of 50% off sale at a book store proved to be too much, so I got somewhat less done. I also got postcards and cards I don't really need, and which I will most likely return, much to the irritation of people around me.
So back to the fiber at hand. I love the colors I am working with, but did not give myself enough variation in texture to keep it from getting repetitive. Repetitive is not bad, just not what I was intending. It may or may not go to its intended recipient. But as always, I have a backup plan. Stash is our friend. Stash allows for last minute changes in plans or backups in case a YUM turns into an UGH! Stash allows us creative freedom. Stash allows us to have a wide variety of resources at our fingertips, so we can be ready for any fiber arts emergency. Stash may not always cooperate, and certain parts of it might go into hiding at the worst possible moment, but at least it gives us options. And really, what bad day can't be made better by pawing through stash to fondle the fibers? Can we file cost of stash under mental health aid?
So back to the fiber at hand. I love the colors I am working with, but did not give myself enough variation in texture to keep it from getting repetitive. Repetitive is not bad, just not what I was intending. It may or may not go to its intended recipient. But as always, I have a backup plan. Stash is our friend. Stash allows for last minute changes in plans or backups in case a YUM turns into an UGH! Stash allows us creative freedom. Stash allows us to have a wide variety of resources at our fingertips, so we can be ready for any fiber arts emergency. Stash may not always cooperate, and certain parts of it might go into hiding at the worst possible moment, but at least it gives us options. And really, what bad day can't be made better by pawing through stash to fondle the fibers? Can we file cost of stash under mental health aid?
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Reloaded - weekend
The loom is reloaded. Blue and greens and sari silk. A special project. It's going to be fabulous.
About to get a new toy--will squee the blog when I do.
The race yesterday was great--TNT live feeds on the computer and radio coverage for sound.
Today's homemade ice cream--so-so, but cold and creamy, so that's good enough.
Fried cheese for dinner--outstanding.
Birds on my birdfeeders--very cool.
Birdcage in the DVD player--reminds me that I am frequently in the company of a Very Gay Straight Man Who is Not My DPs Best Friend. And that John Wayne really does walk that way.
About to get a new toy--will squee the blog when I do.
The race yesterday was great--TNT live feeds on the computer and radio coverage for sound.
Today's homemade ice cream--so-so, but cold and creamy, so that's good enough.
Fried cheese for dinner--outstanding.
Birds on my birdfeeders--very cool.
Birdcage in the DVD player--reminds me that I am frequently in the company of a Very Gay Straight Man Who is Not My DPs Best Friend. And that John Wayne really does walk that way.
Dogs and Fireworks
A little tail from the 4th of July.
We live in a county area, which means no fireworks restrictions. Which means lots of people setting them off. Which means lots of cracks and bangs and pops and whistles. Which means two little dogs go bats**t crazy barking and barking and barking. We are trying to watch one of the two tv shows we care about, and the tv does not go loud enough to drown them out. So we decide to send them out into their yard, figuring if they are going to bark anyway, they might as well bark out there. After a few minutes, we go to check on them, and decide to watch the neighborhoods' fireworks displays.
And wouldn't you know it. Outside amongst the flashing lights and cracks and bangs and pops and whistles, the dogs....are absolutely quiet. Yeah. One bark in thirty minutes. Yeah. These are the same animals that bark if they hear a car door next door. They bark if you close a cabinet door and it goes bump. They bark if you drop anything. The bark if a cat is being naughty. But outdoors, with fireworks going off 100 yards away? Nada.
So we decide that Saturday night, we are going to preempt the Loud Dog Headaches and put them outside ahead of the fireworks. We decide not to because their is CRAZY lightening and thunder....and the dogs are, yes, completely silent.
Someone care to explain this to me?
We live in a county area, which means no fireworks restrictions. Which means lots of people setting them off. Which means lots of cracks and bangs and pops and whistles. Which means two little dogs go bats**t crazy barking and barking and barking. We are trying to watch one of the two tv shows we care about, and the tv does not go loud enough to drown them out. So we decide to send them out into their yard, figuring if they are going to bark anyway, they might as well bark out there. After a few minutes, we go to check on them, and decide to watch the neighborhoods' fireworks displays.
And wouldn't you know it. Outside amongst the flashing lights and cracks and bangs and pops and whistles, the dogs....are absolutely quiet. Yeah. One bark in thirty minutes. Yeah. These are the same animals that bark if they hear a car door next door. They bark if you close a cabinet door and it goes bump. They bark if you drop anything. The bark if a cat is being naughty. But outdoors, with fireworks going off 100 yards away? Nada.
So we decide that Saturday night, we are going to preempt the Loud Dog Headaches and put them outside ahead of the fireworks. We decide not to because their is CRAZY lightening and thunder....and the dogs are, yes, completely silent.
Someone care to explain this to me?
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Done!
Productive day:
13 handmade sets (5 each) of stitch markers - done
craft area completely cleaned and organized - done
all yarn in zipper bags - done
fragrance oil cleaned up after it spilled all over work surface - done
watched Nascar Race - done
fabulous dinner, featuring fried cheese - done
chocolate milkshakes with homemade ice cream consumed - done
and.......
the ugly scarf - done done done!
There is a strip club chain out there with the motto "Hundreds of beautiful girls...and three ugly ones.". Well, my FO bag is now 35 beautiful objects...and one butt-ugly one.
13 handmade sets (5 each) of stitch markers - done
craft area completely cleaned and organized - done
all yarn in zipper bags - done
fragrance oil cleaned up after it spilled all over work surface - done
watched Nascar Race - done
fabulous dinner, featuring fried cheese - done
chocolate milkshakes with homemade ice cream consumed - done
and.......
the ugly scarf - done done done!
There is a strip club chain out there with the motto "Hundreds of beautiful girls...and three ugly ones.". Well, my FO bag is now 35 beautiful objects...and one butt-ugly one.
Craft area cleaning and the law of gravity
Yesterday, DH and I decided to do a major garage clean and reorganize. This means we found craft stuff-papers, yarn, pencils, etc-and they need to move inside. So I decided to redo the craft room/area to organize and makeroom for more stuff (thank goodness for three drawer rolling carts). And apparently the universe decided that I needed a remedial physics lesson. Yarn, stacked and unconfined, tumbles downward. Boxes, when overfilled, heavy, and lifted improperly, tumble with a great crash. And containers haphazardly stacked with cards and paper and bags and other ephemera, eventually lose their balance and tip....all over the craft and living room floors. Oh, and as yet untumbled yarn, when subjected to bumping and banging, decides to head south.
The moral of this story: Gravity works.
The moral of this story: Gravity works.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
A Good Thought Gone Bad
When one is contemplating lace, one should not look at a pattern with lots of big numbers next to lots of little letters.
One should stick to their original idea of combinations of k and yo and k2t.
One should also be proud that when a Knitter rattles off a pattern, one can follow what Knitter is saying.
One should not then look at something on the internets that is the same pattern writen down.
Just sayin.
One should stick to their original idea of combinations of k and yo and k2t.
One should also be proud that when a Knitter rattles off a pattern, one can follow what Knitter is saying.
One should not then look at something on the internets that is the same pattern writen down.
Just sayin.
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