The weather is starting to turn a little in Michigan. Acorns are falling out of trees onto the pavement like machine-gun fire, it rains in the evening, and the leaves are just beginning to turn. Tracy and I went to the Renaissance Festival last Sunday (another sign of fall), and I took a few pictures:
This weekend was bad. Grandma Mae passed away on Friday, while I was at work. I really wanted to go visit her recently, and I have been thinking about her a lot, but I let stupid things like work and doing dumb stuff on the computer prevent me from driving the whole mile and a half to see her. I suppose it's a wake up call- I only have so much life to do what I want and to spend with the people I care about, and I am not going to live anymore in the service of anyone but me and the ones I love. I am sad because she is gone, but she had a long life and was surrounded by her family. She was the last of her generation in our family, even though she wasn't the youngest. She was a stubborn woman (a stubbornness that granted her ten years of life after beating aggressive breast cancer), so if she thought it was time to go, I believe her. The family has planned a fitting tribute- we're going to rent a hall, eat till we burst, cram some dessert in on top of that, and sit around, looking at pictures and laughing about that time she made grilled cheese sandwiches with the plastic still on the cheese. (But seriously, she was a really good cook, by Midwestern standards. Her magic bars were better than your grandma's.)
So that was tough, and I was already feeling pretty low on Saturday when my sister called to tell me that the dog died. The family dog, my childhood pet, called it quits after sixteen years. She was a good dog, and old. When I look at my puppies (or, rather, when I am being pinned to the ground and kissed by my puppies), I am reminded of the boundless energy she had as a pup. When we adopted her, the previous owners had said that she needed more room to run than they had for her. She was never a particularly athletic dog, but she loved to bound up and down the fence until she was pooped, and then she liked to sleep under the ping pong table in the garage. She never lost her puppy fur, and even as a big old smelly dog, she was still bunny soft, and she loved to be patted on the head. At the end, even my father, who used to joke about giving Angel her "monthly pet" would sit with her and stroke her fur. She was gentle, friendly, and patient. I loved my fuzzhead. I am glad that she lived a long life, but I'm sad to see her go- it's like watching the end of my childhood pass me by.
Secret Pal: I owe you some glamour shots of the soap you sent (I think my husband is going to steal it- he is a soap connoisseur). I've got some progress to show on the Jaywalkers and Petal, but it will wait till I feel like knitting again. Right now I just want to sit around and watch baseball with my family (yes, you heard me- I have watched a number of collegiate and professional sporting events on television. Alert the authorities- I've gone mad!).
And we had a great time. I'll upload photos eventually- they're almost finished. What I do have to show, however, is the cute gift my Secret Pal sent me while I was gone:
Hello, Secret Pal! Here's the questionnaire. You might want to flip through the old one, too, if you want to see what I wrote last round (I swear I haven't changed that much). If I may just whisper in your ear a single word to describe my current knitting obsession: socks. That is all.
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Right now, superwash wool sock yarn. I am in love! For regular-style knitting, I also like Noro, for the color, and Mission Falls wool, for the hand. Paton's wool for felting. I am open to trying a lot of things, but I shy away from mohair (allergy).
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a couple of needle rolls, and a vase for my straight needles. My circulars are on a hook, and they fall down. A lot.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
It's been a while, a few years? I'm a middle-of-the-road knitter. I fear colorwork, but I can do lace no problem.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Amazon and etsy are in the sidebar.
5. What's your favorite scent?
Right now I'm on an essential oil kick. I desperately want soap/lotion that's all natural with EO scents. I really like the combination of grapefruit and mint, as well as ginger.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
CHOCOLATE. I love it. All kinds. I especially like Vosges chocolate with hot pepper in it.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I like crochet, photography, candle making. I would like to learn to spin, but I have no equipment and have no idea what I'm doing. :)
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
At the moment: Gogol Bordello, Magnetic Fields, Scissor Sisters, ohmygod. I love mp3s, and I love discovering new music. Bring it on!
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Green, orange, brown. I don't like pink and blue together, and thus avoid all sock yarn and Noro like that (unless it's RED, blue (aqua), and pink, and then it's my kitchen!).
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a husband.
And some monsters.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
No ponchos. It's like drawing a knitted arrow to my (ample) ass.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
SOCKS. I never thought I'd say it, but there you go. I also love top down raglans- no seaming. Yay!
13. What are you knitting right now?
um, SOCKS. :)
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes please.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer cheap ol' aluminum and plastic. Seriously. A big box of grandma's hand-me-downs gives me shivers. I knit mostly with circulars and dpns. I think I could learn to love bamboo, though.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Sadly, no.
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Ugh. Too old. And it predates my knitting career.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween- costumes + candy = bliss. Also, Christmas for the family whirlwind. I don't generally like my birthday because I don't like being the center of attention, and I don't like Thanksgiving because I'm vegetarian.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
White milkglass vases. Someday I'll photograph what I have. It's nothing special- mostly from the Sally Ann, but I like it.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Fitted knits. Knitting Nature. Vintage Socks. Socks That Rock. Hell, any sock yarn, especially handpainted stuff. I have no subscriptions.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Colorwork.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I'm a size 9-9.5. My foot is 9" around at the ball and 9" long. Surprisingly, my feet got smaller when I lost weight. Weird.
23. When is your birthday?
June 10
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I wish. Soon, my pretties. I've already begun the stash organization.
Posts
All Comments
© Free Blogger Templates 'Photoblog II' by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008
Back to TOP
