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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Number 200

I've really been holding back on this one, as I've no idea what to say.  I wish I had a poem to give you.  Failing that, how about a brief book review?  I finally finished The Map of Time, and boy howdy was I surprised at the final chapters.  I really had no clue as to where this story was headed.  I understand there's a sequel; for the first half  or two-thirds of Map, I figured I wouldn't bother with the sequel.  Now I believe I'll have to read it!  I don't want to put out any spoilers, just say that it this book may "start" slow but you will be hooked.
I'm still working on Shadow of Night, the sequel to A Discovery of Witches (Deborah Harkness).  I'm interested, but I keep putting it down to work on other things.  One of those things is a Mercedes Lackey book, Crown of Vengence -- which has totally sucked me in; I have a very hard time putting it down. 
The Plaidman & I have been "jonesing" for the last book in A Song of Ice & Fire, which as far as I can tell hasn't been published yet.  So he bought the first season of Game of Thrones!  We'll be watching that whenever we can.  I'd like to get ther first seasons of Downton Abbey too.  And just to be sure I get enough variety in my reading, I finished Mary Roach's Packing for Mars (HILARIOUS! I laughed out loud about every third page.), started her book Stiff, and just yesterday picked up Catherynne Valente's The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland.  Not realizing that this is actually a sequel to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making; so I suppose I'll have to request that on from the library too.  God bless the library; the Plaid Patrol loves to read. 
I have been knitting too; still working on the Cenote socks, and the fruit salad socks, and the large lace beret (Janet's Beret, if you want to find it on Ravelry.)  I knocked out a hat to match the ruffled scarves I made for myself & Disco, and have more than 1/2 of another knit (we must match!).  All small projects, although I keep buying yarn for larger projects.  I need to destash, or ask Disco to move out (not gonna happen!).  OR -- and here's a radical idea -- I need to knit up some larger projects.  EEP! Time to knit a vest, maybe?  I don't know why it's so difficult to decide what to make with a pile o'yarn; could it be that once the decision's made, the loss of other possiblities is disheartening?  But there's yarn everywhere; it's not like I live on a desert island with only "this" much yarn available.  And heavens, I may have reached SABLE status already. You don't know that acronym?  It's Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy.  Yarn, I haz it.  Some of it can go bye-bye (I'm looking at you, acrylics!), and some of it is in single skeins that have been admired for years without being knit.  I've started making pom-pom sheep with some of that.  I'd like to bring about 1,000 pom-pom sheep up to the office.  Or maybe I could make up a mix of sheep & bunnies, and call them Easter decor?

Friday, February 8, 2013

199 notes to self

This is my 199th post.  I am knitting a good bit anymore, having finished Disco's pink hat, finished the heel flap for the second fruit salad sock, and added another inch or so to Pup's sock #1.  No two-color knitting yet!  But I've been looking at patterns, from extremely simple to (only) slightly more complex stranded patterns.  I'd like to start with something small, like a hat or mittens.  Of course, now that she's got the hat & scarf and gloves, we need to be thinking about legwarmers for Disco -- and for me, the hat & legwarmers.  After all, we're a team in the Komen Run for the Cure; gotta have team togs!  To that end, I've been to Bliss Yarns to get some pictures of "the ladies" holding my socks and to pick up an Addi Lace 40" circular, size 8 (5 mm).  Disco's hat was worked on birch dpns, which developed splinters & splits before I was finished!  I kept having to stop & sand down the points again.  I've worked the Thistle Hat's cable crosses on my hat, now just need the crown. 
the wall of Cascade at Bliss Yarns!  And they were getting ready to add more.....
I may have put this one up before, it's Disco nearing the finish line after her 5K walk for the cure last October.  I made a scarf for each of us, and I figure I'll add to the outfit yearly. 

I don't know why no one has left a comment in like, forever, but please don't be shy!  I usually try to say hello or "nice work!" whenever I visit another blog.  But whatever you say, please say it nicely: I moderate, and I don't publish comments that are derogatory.  It's my blog, after all.  

Happy Valentines Day! XOXOXO

ETA:  I can't put up pics of Bliss Yarns, without a pic of my "other" home away from home, the Haus of Yarn on White Bridge Road. 






Today's their 10th anniversary celebration, and they had cupcakes (Disco indulged!), and dark chocolate with pomegranate (I indulged!).  And I found something fun that had to come home with me:  Zauberball!
Is that wild, or what?  I see some rather snazzy socks in my future...