Knitting!

So now, hooray, classes are just about done. I have one more semester, and will graduate in December. Yay! Better yet, I have this summer as a great big break. I have begun to celebrate by knitting!

I told Sylvia yesterday, I want to bust through a good bit of my stash. My stash isn't as big as a lot of the knitters I know, but I am not one for the clutter so I want to cut it down before I buy more. Also, I don't really have the money for buying yarn and it is easier to justify as a *necessity* if I have no yarn to knit up. The yarn I have should keep me busy for a while; I have enough yarn for 4 or 5 sock projects and then lots of random balls of yarn waiting to be something.

I also told Sylvia that if I can shave down my stash pretty well so there is actually space in my "craft cabinet", I will reward myself this fall by buying, you guessed it, MORE YARN. I'm pretty excited about it all.


Right now I am working to finish a scarf that I started in 2006. It's a funky boucle-ish cotton yarn in white with a denim-y blue streak through it. It's already pretty long, about 4 feet, but I like l-o-n-g scarves. Also, I only have about a ball left which will add about a foot to the length. After I post this I am going to work on that. I am not putting up pictures, because frankly it's old news (did you read the "2006" part? this is 2009) and I will post pictures when it is actually finished, which I hope will be a couple of days from now.


As for F.O.'s, I have two to share. The first one is a "Dittoro" that I made based on a Totoro pattern. It is actually a crocheted project, but I do not discriminate. The first link is to the wiki page for the Totoro movie, the second link is to the actual pattern. The only thing I really took from the pattern was the body and the belly, I just made up the ears, arms, and tail. I really like it and everyone thinks it's too cute. Here is a picture of me and Dittoro:



And here is a picture of Ditto the Cat, my inspiration for this project, with her toy-self, the Dittoro:

They totally look alike. Ditto even has a round orange belly. She really didn't care about it, although when I was working on it, she liked to come up to it and attack and try to eat it's whiskers. I haven't seen her do that since I finished it though.

The Dittoro was actually started a couple of months ago, I just never had time to work on it. I have been super super busy with school and all. The socks I posted a few posts ago need to be frogged, somehow they are way too big. I would like to blame this on the stretchiness of the socks, but I am pretty sure it is a gauge mistake that I made. The one I have is nearly to where the heel should be started, so it won't be a tragedy to rip it out. I would just salvage it, but I don't have cankles and I don't want a sock that falls down all the time--I would never wear it and that just defeats the purpose.

The next project was actually finished in about a day or two. I started it after my busiest school day to relieve stress, and will give it to one of my friends tomorrow. She just loved the Dittoro so I made her this:

No, not the cat. I am talking about Mousie. His pattern was about $3, but well worth it I think. I used some yarn Sylvia had in her stash for him. I liked the gray stuff, which I think was some type of wool blend meant for socks, but the pink was a very light pink baby yarn. I think this is actually the remainder of some acrylic I gave her a few years ago. Because it is acrylic it looks a little stiffer and less organic than the gray but I think only a fiber snob will notice, or a knitter with a really discerning eye. I still think it's cute. The pattern was created by a Scottish designer named Ysolda Teague, I have always loved her stuff but it takes a lot for me to want to actually purchase a pattern. There are so many free ones out there! But when a pattern is this much genius, you can't pass it up. The best part of this pattern was that it was all one piece. At the end of the i-cord tail you switch to gray and knit the body. You then pick up stitches and knit for the feet and ears. It's a really awesome pattern.

Mousie fits in the palm of my hand, but you don't have to make him this size. Sylvia and I were discussing the possibilities of making bigger Mousies out of some gray and pink Vanna's Choice.

Speaking of buying patterns online, I have started reading the Yarn Harlot, and she was knitting a sock that captured my heart. The pattern is called Viper Pilots and I love it. I am going to buy it as soon as I am ready to cast on. It's $5, which isn't too shabby. Pearl-McPhee was using some kind of yarn that is blue with silver (yes actual silver as in the metal) to knit them, and they look awesome. The pattern writer, Glenna, used a deep, dark blue that is also very beautiful. I picked up yarn at the lys, Yarn Mart, about two days after I saw this pattern. It is Crystal Palace bamboo in a beautiful white and blue, it was on sale for $4.50 a ball, and thus I could not resist. I will post pictures as soon as I start the project. I am not sure if I will start that after I finish my scarf or if I will do something else. Needless to say, I am excited.

So excited, in fact, that I am going to go and add the pattern to my queue on Ravelry, and also show off Mousie and Dittoro. Its about time, I don't think I have actually posted on Ravelry in months although I still log in at least once a week.

Procrastination Alley

Okay, I'm not in an alley, the title just popped in my head and it amused me...I am easily amused. I should be reading the last 10 pages of my reading for Senior Seminar, in the book "Examining Cultures Scientifically". Now, don't get me wrong I like this book a lot. It has been making me think. Specifically, it has been making me think about what theory I adhere to in Anthropology. Also, some essays we have been assigned are pushing me in the direction of thinking about these things. It is really making my head hurt, and I can't stop thinking about quantifying culture, what is it that changes when cultural changes happen, etc. I guess that it is probably a good process, albeit painful, because I am coming into "professional" thinking, and no longer look in a book for information. Mostly because I am becoming very critical of some of the things I look up. Here's hoping that the pain of professional development doesn't last too long. And here's a random cartoon to distract from the fact that I just wrote a blog about not just nothing, but a lot of boring nothing.



You may laugh, but Orangutans are pretty damn smart, despite all that they lay around like hairy deflated footballs.

In which I return to the blogosphere.

I have been doing stuff. I have been busy. This semester has been crazy. I am just going to start with last week, and try and keep updated from now on. For example, on Saturday I went to a performance of Carmina Burana, and it kicked ass. Last night Sylvia and I went to "Viva Violins" which was a quartet of lady violinists from the National Symphony Orchestra. We had to drive to the Conway library, but it was well worth it. Programs are below. I have fallen in love with the piece by Ravel that they played. I'll look for it at work.




Yesterday afternoon, I climbed Pinnacle Mountain with my friend J.P. We were going to go in the morning, but it was wet and nasty. About half of this week (which is spring break by the way) has been nasty, rainy, and stormy. Its supposed to be severe tonight. Back to the point. We were going to go early but it was gross so we cancelled. However, by noon I was super bored, hadn't seen a drop of rain despite the overcast, and told him I was going despite the weather. He agreed and joined me.



It was pretty difficult climbing the mountain. I am not in the best shape, but I run 2 or 3 times a week. I had to rest on the way up, and today the front of my thighs (especially the left one) are killing me. I need to make tackling this hike a weekly thing, definately. I really really enjoyed it though, and the hour we sat at the top was the best, the landscape was beautiful.

Back at mi casa, Spring is in the air. Here is our dogwood, which is in full bloom:


Our azaleas are beginning to bloom, and they will be super pretty very soon.

While I was taking the previous pictures and the upcoming sock pictures, nosey Ditto watched me.

Here are a couple of shots of the socks I am working on now. The are Paton's stretch socks, a cotton/wool/nylon/elastic blend. The color is 31306, so creative, right? I am looking forward to being able to wear them not just when its chilly. I was so excited when I heard about this cotton blend. They are actually going really fast. I started them (from the cuff, which I did months ago) on Wednesday, and they are already pretty far along. Hopefully it won't take months to finish. I told J.P. I wouldn't be finished until this summer most likely...he was suprised how slow a process knitting is. I'm pretty busy so not everyone is so slow, but yes it is relatively slow...

But totally worth it.

It has come to my attention that I have no organization in my knitting stuff...so I have decided I need to go through the yarn stash AND the WIPs...and I am going to frog what I won't finish and organize the rest. I may take pics...either way it seems like a good idea.

Finally, the gloves come off (the needles)

I have been working on these things since about July. I had to completely re-knit the second one, as the first time I knit it it looked as if it were meant for webbed fingers. I am pretty pleased with the result. He still needs to come and get them of course.

I felt pretty bad as I was taking so long, and we've already had some pretty cold weather. However, the friend I made them for has the worst memory in the history of the world and they were almost like a new surprise for him when I was finished. I'll see if he will model them when he comes to get them.

And, since it is the new year, I have had resolutions on my mind. I am not one of those people who makes a resolution for the year, I make them as a lifestyle change. For example, "loose weight" is not a valid resolution. My only resolution last year, however, was "be healthy". I have done a pretty decent job of that, I try to make sure to get plenty of vegetables and whole grains in my diet. I also starting going for multi-mile walks in June, and have been running since September or October. I have not really lost much weight, about a pants size, but I feel SO much better and my clothes fit better, and I have way more energy. I also feel less stressed and depressed, especially compared to last year at this time.

So, I will list a few resolutions that I would like to incorporate into my life.

1. Try new things, and try things I tried before and didn't like again.

2. Knit more.

3. Enter and run in a 5K before the end of the year--I can already run that distance, but I want to build up speed and of course officially enter one. I am hoping to do that by November.

4. Whenever possible, anything I need to buy I will buy either used, locally, or handmake. I have already started on this, as I spent a little extra yesterday to buy honey made in Arkansas instead of cheaper Kroger brand honey that has been shipped across the U.S. This means that I will have to make the effort to go to the Farmer's Market every week this summer (which will contribute to healthy living as well), and will need to make sure the sellers are the growers, not just distributors of stuff from places like Georgia or Washington. Today we went to the thrift shop to get a canister for our coffee (we have been using a paper sack!) rather than get a new one from the dollar store. In the end, the situation was win-win-win-win-win because A) Canister cost 75 cents, rather than a dollar B) The used canister is way cuter than anything at the dollar store C) Did not buy a new product that was manufactured and shipped from overseas D) Thrift shop donates all proceeds to a charity called Our House which works to keep families that find themselves in poverty and bad situations together and E) Sylvia found a really nice two-piece suit for $6.50, it was an Isaac Mizrahi for Target that was probably originally $50 to $60. It looks like it was worn once.

So I am already trying to live by my new resolutions. I think its a good thing.

This is what saving money and creating less waste looks like. Pretty cute, huh?

Yes we did!

I am so proud of my country. The great majority of Americans banded together yesterday (and in the previous days of early voting) and sent the message that WE are the ones with the voice, and no amount of scare tactics or mudslinging can distract us, WE decided what direction we wish our country to go in the future.
This country can now get back to being the great nation it is. Hopefully we will regain some of the respect other nations once had for us. And we can get a little self respect as well. I proud to say that my president is Barack Hussein Obama.

Sleepytime on the busyville express.

So, I have been really super busy. And I am extra sleepy, as a result. I just woke up from a 2 hour nap, and am still pretty sleepy. But I have stuff to do! I am going to post, too. I have so much to talk about!


Like the fact that I met Richard Leakey. Yes, THE Richard Leakey. Photographic proof below.

He is a very charming man. But most importantly, I am pretty sure he is the smartest man I have ever met. Thats saying a lot for me (I admit sometimes I am a total jerk about these things, and maybe am not impressed by the intellect of much of the general public). I was so starstruck, considering his "Origins" was the first science book I ever read, and he is the first scientist I ever knew of. Yes, I knew who Richard Leakey was before I knew who Einstein was. Thank you, Daddy. And that copy of "Origins" now bears the signature of Dr. Richard Leakey on the title page. I can't tell you how unbelievably awesome this is.

So basically, this was a huge deal and I am now very happy. Considering I saw the remains of "Lucy" in Houston last April, I don't know how 2008 could get any better!

Okay, on to more recent things (Dr. Leakey was here October 8th). The dogwood tree by our driveway is starting to blush out. Its so pretty when its red. I think I took pictures of it last year. I will try to this fall, too, as it wasn't as dry this summer so it may even be prettier this year.



On to more knitty news. Sylvia was using some kind of yarn that she got at Michael's that goes from fine to chunky and back again. She was trying to knit a shrug or wrap or something and ran out near the end. So what does she use it for? A wig? Order in the court! Judge Sylvia is going to kick your ass!

I am pretty sure this is the biggest smile I have ever seen out of her. We all thought that putting knitting on your head is hilarious. Maybe you needed to be there. Or we are just very goofy.

Ysolda Teague, a great designer from Edinburgh, designed some grown up booties and is offering the pattern for free until November 1st. I saw the pdf and said GIMME THAT. Such a quick and easy knit, and a great way to use this wool yarn.

Sorry for the poor photography. Photographing your own feet is very difficult.
Although they give me funny square toes, they are comfy and nice. I thought I made mine a little too big because they felt like they were about to fall off, but they haven't yet. I highly recommend them, and am making a pair for my sister for Christmas using Paton's SWS. I'll post those when I finish.

I also made some sideways dishcloths the other day. I totally love this pattern. I have linked to it before, but I can't recommend it enough. Its so simple, and so nice. Because it is garter stitch, the ribs created are great for scrubbing that stubborn cheese left on the side of the casserole dish. You can see I got a little excited about the Sugars N Cream colors. The one on the left reminds my roommates of Sprite.

And for the first time in literally months, its a brand new episode of Cats on Tuesday. Enjoy!

I am totally blown away by the cuteness inherent in the Ditto. She can't do anything wrong that she can't schmooze her way out of. Including sleeping in people's laundry.

Rainy.

So. After weeks of bright sunny weather I woke up this morning to rain, lightning, and thunder. The lightning and thunder didn't last very long, and it has been drizzly/sprinkly off and on since then. As you can see, our flowers are in the end of the year slump. The rain isn't helping matters.

One thing about rainy days is how sleepy they feel. Apparently if you are a cat, this is especially true.
Poor Stubble is trying to sleep. So what do I do? Harass the piss out her! Here she is peeking at me with her little mean kitty eye. She's probably pretending to sleep, hoping I will give up and go away...

Wake up sleepy cat! I want to take pictures and harass you endlessly! Poor kitty, just oh-so-tired. She worked so hard sleeping all this morning, I should feel guilty for disturbing her rest.

This picture is so cute. At this point I think she was like, OK, really, go away stupid human.

In other cat-related news, Ditto apparently loves my knitting bag. She doesn't often sit on the couch, but she probably thought that the bag was hiding her. Look at those glowing eyes, she takes some creepy pictures:

She doesn't quite understand why she bothers to let us associate with her. She forgets how much she enjoys kitty kibble. We never forget how much she enjoys it. For that matter, all you have to do is look at her tracter-trailer sized butt to see how much she enjoys kibble.

Poor kitty. We love her though, even though she takes up more chair space than some people I know. Look at the cuteness!