Lukewarm enchantment

Middlefield is finally finished, and the enchantment factor that so permeated the beginning of the project ... the verve that was the driving force ... has been replaced. What's left is a sweater that, although fantasticly wonderful in feeling, is less than perfect. ARGHHH!!!

To begin, I switched yarn and concocted my own "guage".... bumped up the size to accommodate the DK yarn and accompanying needle change. The project itself was terrific ... interesting construction and elements lend a perfect balance to all the round and round of stockinette. The yoke is where my problems began. Long project short, the split yoke did not meet at the shoulder to button as the instructions/picture indicated. After a brief consulation with some true fiberistas ... I came up with a fix that works.

On another note, I went big for my birthday this year...hoarding all gift cards and holiday cash gifts to splurge on either these or this. It is truly a terrific toy - sleek and cool, but it has it limits. Not to mention it's bugs. I've had it less than 24 hours and I've been on the phone with support and at the Apple store twice. It's quite disappointing actually ... I guess I expected more. Also, editing this blog post was not possible : ( something I was hoping to be able to do (update blog entries etc.). Maybe it's user error ... or maybe not.

Nonetheless - the family is loving the HD version of Angry Birds : )

Inspiration or demand

Today I inspired someone to start a blog. OK ... that's not entirely true ... let's try that again ...

Today I (in my pushy, always-need-to-be-right, listen-to-me-now way) strongly encouraged a dear friend to begin a blog. A dashing gent oozing with creativity and talent - I believe the world with be a better place when his thoughts and ideas are proliferated and produced for the entire world to ponder. Stay tuned, for I believe I've unleashed a genius.

Goodbye to 2010 ... and childhood innocence

On the eve of 2011 - I should be reflecting, but instead I'm consumed with guilt and doubt. Today, Santa died. Well, the innocence of Santa, and the belief in the magic of all that he is was expelled in a horrible moment of vulgar truth. I really don't know how it happened ... it resembled a slow-motion train wreck that I couldn't avoid. It started with the tooth fairy, and it went downhill rapidly from there. I guess it seems fitting to close that chapter as we embark on a new year - but .... it is sad .... for all of us.





We're holding our own ... our little clan is celebrating in our jammies with yummy treats and French bubbly. Blessings, love and peace in 2011.

perfidy

"The meaning of life" said Botticelli, "is suffering, specifically the suffering of others."

...

"Ha," said Botticelli, "ha-ha-ha! You gain [their] trust, you refuse [them] and -- ha-ha -- you become what [they] knew you were all along, what you knew you were all along, not a friend, not a confessor, not a forgiver, but -- ha-ha! -- a rat!"

~ The Tale of Desperaux, p. 88, 90.

Ms. DiCamillo, brilliant and talented you are. So many times your words have spoken directly to my heart ... today, however, you broke it.

30, 31, 32 ....

Elizabeth Zimmerman is the Albert Einstein of knitting - that's undisputed . I've read some of her books and her revolutionary techniques seem to be part of so many main stream patterns, including Tangled Yoke (which I completed - thank you very much). So please tell me why counting beyond 30 is posing a challenge for me? Shown here is the sad, frogged remains of my FOURTH attempt at the infamous baby surprise jacket. This pattern is simple genius - and the reason for my knitting it is pure curiosity. I'm defeated for the moment but not conquered ... I shall return and meet success ...



Speaking of success, Yarn Harlot's Sock Recipe socks are completed. They didn't make it across the finish line for the Ravelympics ... again - the numbers !!!! I thought I had until 8:00am on Monday not Sunday!!! Nonetheless, they are pure heaven. The yarn is from Sockpixie (amazing ... you must treat yourself to a skein) ... the pattern is above. Although still perplexing is how I managed to cast on for these, as the CO number certainly exceeded 30 ; )

A *Joy*ful smile and my first Meme : )

I think someone is quite happy about the tub. She's been so patient through this all ... thanks Joy : )

So a fun part of blogging are these little memes ... far be it for me to pass up any invitation to write about myself ; ) This is my first .... and we're off .... the rules of the game:

Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

Ok here we go:

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Ten years ago ... 1998. I was submersed in the miserable abyss of infertility. I fought the daily war against myself to push my body to go places it was never going to reach. That scarring journey changed my life ...

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

1. go to my parent's house for breakfast with my daughter and Chloe (my dog) ... sans hubby, as he's away with some friends;

2. go the the pool ... pool time is short lived in the Northeast ... embrace the moment people!

3. Work on my socks for the Ravelympics ;

4. do laundry;

5. get ready for work and the week ahead!

3. Snacks I enjoy:

Call me goofy, but I L O V E edamames ... and almonds, chips with guacamole ... avocados and potato chips (basically anything salty) and dark, rich chocolate ... but I try to consume the earlier mentioned snacks more than the latter ; )

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

Family responsibility doesn't count, right ... so of course I'd take care of my daughter, parents, in-laws and my brother. The first thing I'd buy is a horse worthy of winning the triple crown (a gift for the man who's given me so much); I'd fund the building of local schools ... lots, and lots, and lots of schools ... with class sizes not to exceed 12 students .... and maybe a library or two; then I would give money to my favorite friends (MFC and MES) to open a yarn store ... then we'd travel together (when I wasn't travelling with my family) and explore yarn stores around the world ... gee, that was fun ... I felt like George Bailey talking to Violet Bick in that scene in It's a Wonderful Life!

5. Places I have lived:

My response to this is pathetic ... do I have to ?!!! I've never lived outside of Massachusetts. If, however, I could *tweak* this ... I would want to live in either:

1. Boston, right in the city. We live North of Boston now ... not too far, but I would love to live right in the heart of it. It is, in my completely biased, humble opinion - the BEST city ever!

2. Chicago ... Dolores is there - need I say more?;

3. Sonoma California ... between the yarn and the wine, does it get any better?!

4. Milan one of the fashion capitals of the world and so very close to Lake Como (with George as a neighbor and a good yarn store or two, who could ask for more);

5. Naples, FL (Nick, that's for you. However, you and I both know that wool and Florida do not mix).

6. Peeps I want to know more about aka, the "tagees":

I would like to know so much about so many more people. So, tag ... you're it! : )

I found this on Craftyloca ... she's so witty and terrific - plus she has the cutest boys!!

完成 ...

完成 = finished in Chinese ...

It's been a surprisingly easy journey

from our older bath ...

to where we are now.

I cannot thank Mike and Brandon enough for all their amazing hard work. Without the pure focused talent and the non-stop dedicated work ethic they displayed to push this along, we'd still be showering in the back yard. Instead, I'm relaxing ... thanks guys !