Summer in the city

I won’t say hot time, summer in the city, since yesterday was the first actual hot day we’ve had t his summer. It’s been super mild and everything in the garden is so far behind. I was finally able to pick some tomatoes yesterday. They were tasty but I don’t think our yield is going to be that great this year. You can already smell fall in the air when the sun goes down and I’m back to wearing a hoodie when walking to the bus in the morning. Winter is coming! Thank you Eddard Stark.

So far this summer has been all about:

Gardening

More gardening

Fun with the spoils of the garden

Decorated bus stops by interbenchion.blogspot.com

Stella discovered the joys of the frisbee

New glasses were acquired

Silly faces were necessary to ease the pain of having to get progressives.

Sock Summit was attended. Learned so much and spent *so* much!

I miss you Sock Summit!

Oh Powell's Books. I could live in you forever!

Mmmmm, food trucks!

Except for this one. That is the worst name ever for a food truck. Blargh!

While sniffing for free wifi this was my favourite network name.

Irony? Going to Sock Summit and buying a metric tonne of sock yarn then casting on a shawl. Nicely done!

This is Dancette in Plucky Knitter Primo. Really nice yarn, REALLY nice. So, how’s your summer been so far?

Beets, it’s whats for dinner (last night that is)

Last week ( I think it was last week?), I put out a call on twitter asking folks for some dinner veggie suggestions.  Heather came up with one of my new favourites, beets!  Unfortunately I didn’t have any in the house, but the thought of those lovely ruby-red roots (nice alliteration eh?) stuck with me.  Finally, yesterday I could stand it no more and to the grocery store I went.  For those of you who’ve never cooked beets, be prepared for your hands to look like this:

This was after washing with soap and a nail brush.  I had decided that my beets wanted to be Borscht.  Wanna see some made crazy colour?

Can you imagine that colour in yarn?  Mmmmmmmm.  Hey, Yarnpiggy or Damselfly, can I dye with these things?  After all was said and done and cooked, super yummy soup with a sour cream topping and lot’s of fresh ground pepper looked a little bit like this:

It was awesome, and those little crusty multi-grain buns were the perfect addition.

Now, Stella would like to thank all of you for your well wishes.  She’s doing really good and her ear is looking great.  She’s still in the cone of silence for another week, but I think she’s sort of getting used to it.

I also wanted to answer some questions from comments.

• Monica asked how old Stella was.  She’s about 6 or 7.  She was an SPCA adoption so we’re not exactly sure.
• Elan suggested we get her a puppy friend so that one day (bahahahaha) Mr. B and I could possibly take a vacation.  I wish that would work.  Stella doesn’t like other dogs, even though she lives with two other dogs.  Mind you, she could just be doing a big act to ensure that she gets to go on vacation.  Hmmmm, I wonder if she’s that smart?
• Suzanne (No blog?  Why no blog Suzanne?  Join us!) suggested that maybe my heels are not as much the problem as high arches are for my sock shaping issues.  I think she is exactly right.  Yay, my feet are deep, not wide!  LOL.
• Ginger, you are absolutely right, Abbie needs some form of comeuppance.  I keep threatening her that I’m going to bring in Cesar Millan to whip her attitude into shape. 
• Lizz (I miss your blog posts Lizz. It was so nice to see you on twitter though!) spoke about how much she likes Guy Gavriel Kay and about another book of his, Ysabel, which I also really liked.  See, two sets of thumbs up.  He’s really that good, and Canadian.  Go on, give him a read. 

Okay, I’m out.  I’m making Chicken Madras for dinner and it’s time to get started.  Oh, wait, one more thing.  Look at this super happy killer colour sock that I’m currently knitting:

Take that grey and windy days!

Monday, or as I like to call it, Second Sunday

Seriously, the best part of my job?  Today.  We get Good Friday and Easter Monday as stats.  Swoon!  A four-day weekend.  Got a few things done, such as a pair of socks:

These are really comfortable.  The pattern is called Harris Tweed and the yarn is Socks That Rock lightweight in a colour called Oregon Red Clover Honey.  I liked them so well that I knit each sock almost twice.  I tried, for the first time ever, to just blindly follow a pattern and not ask any questions.  Bad idea and so very much not the pattern’s fault.  It called for 32 rows for the heel flap.  I did that, finished the first sock, cast on the next, did 32 rows again and almost finished second sock.  Then I thought, hey, maybe I should try these babies on.  It would appear that I have the longest heel in the history of the world and 32 rows of heel flap was not even close.  Ripped ‘em both back, decided I might like the leg a little longer anyway, added an inch or so, and added almost an extra inch on that heel flap.  Ahhhhh, perfect fit.  Might explain why store-bought socks never sit right on my feet. 

This was also the first time that I just flat our remembered how to Kitchener stitch.  Just cut the end and wove those toes.  Today, I am officially a sock knitter.  Know how I know this?  These socks had been in the tub soaking  for maybe 5 minutes and I had already cast on another pair.  Then last night, I cast on another pair.  I’m out of control I tell you!

I was very interested to see some of your favourite movies.  Some I’d not seen too but now want to.  Hubby pointed out that I forgot some of my most favourites.  Isn’t that always the way.  He remembered Trainspotting, Henry V (with Kenneth Branagh), Wit, and Dumb and Dumber.  I’m very highbrow don’t you know.  Now I’m sort of thinking of my go to books.  Ones I’ve read more than once and will probably read again.  So, here we go again, in no particular order:

1. The Fionavar Tapaestry – Guy Gavriel Kay- yes, all three of them.  I think of it as one big book.
2. Tigana – Guy Gavriel Kay
3. Things as They Are? – Guy Vanderhaeghe
4. Good to a Fault – Marina Endicott
5. Lamb:  The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal – Christopher Moore – Funny!
6. The Princess Bride – William Goldman
7. Doomsday Book – Connie Willis – actually you could sub in just about any Connie Willis book here, she’s great!
8. Anansi Boys – Neil Gaiman – a caveat here, this is the audio book read by Lenny Henry.  This is honestly one of the funniest books ever and a great deal of that is down to Henry’s talent in the reading.
9. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – A Trilogy in Five Parts – Douglas Adams – yes, all five.  Again, I think of it as one big luscious book.

That’s all I’ve got for now.  I KNOW I’m forgetting a tonne of amazing books, but that’s just the way my brain works I’m afraid.  Okay, now go, tell me your faves!

When the rains come…

the phlox has no chance of remaining the tallest flower in the garden!  Remember when it was sooooo hot here?  Come on, you must remember me whining (as I so often do in the summer) about the heat?  Well, the phlox in the garden was so tall and lovely.  The smell was absolutely intoxicating.  I would sit out on the deck as the sun went down and just breathe in the scent of the five foot phlox and the eight foot sweet peas.  Gorgeous!  Felt like my own little corner of heaven.

Then the weather finally broke and last night we got some rain, boo rah! we got some rain.  It was glorious and massive and loud and gutter overflowing.  I loved every second of it.  The phlox?  Not so much, actually.

Before:

After:

Yeah, that’s sort of really sad, isn’t it?  They still smell really nice but they are smothering all the shorter plants in the bed.  Mother Nature is the ultimate equalizer.  No wait.  That’s not right, is it?  As an aside, could there be any MORE English name than Edward Woodward?  I just enjoy saying it.

In other news, I’ve finished 10 repeats of the super secret project, lace & beads.  Very cool.  I promise you, all the kids will be doing this lace knitting  soon.    I’ve only had to tink one row and having said that I am thumbing my nose at the knitting gods and all knitting hell will now break loose.  Lifeline?  What’s that?   Snort.

Not much else going on really.  Oh wait, there was this.  I need your opinion.  I knit one of these socks.  My first sock in Socks that Rock (note, you family members and loved ones, this stuff is the bomb and I would be over the moon to find it under the tree this holiday season!  Just saying.  I love you!)   In eight days.  A new personal best, thank you very much.  But when I try it on, it’s all twisty and weird and just odd.  I’m not sure if it’s just me or if I’ve done something horribly wrong or well just whatever, really.

Exhibit A:

Toe pulls to the left and will NOT sit flat over the top of the foot/toe area.

That’s dinner in the background, marinading. 

Top View

The heel pulls funny too.  Sort of to the outside of the foot:

With a little bit of Stella:

Oh, wait, that’s isn’t part of the problem.  Anyway, I’m assuming the sock is a victim of bias of the knitting form.  I was going to do the second sock reversed, so they would be a perfect pair.  Now, I’m not so sure.  Will I go insane because my left foot pulls left and my right food pulls right?  They don’t feel particularly nasty or really odd on my foot, just sort of funny.  You know?  The fabric from the Socks that Rock yarn is drool worthy and gorgeous and all that it’s supposed to be.

What would you do?  Would you knit that second sock?  I await your wisdom.

I knew this day had to come…

I’m 40.  There.  I’ve said it and I’m just going to have to suck it up buttercup.    Actually, it’s been a pretty good day.  This morning I finished my essay and sent it off to be graded.  The mailman brought me this:

click to see notes

And then I went to Toys R Us and got this:

Because secretly I’m five and I love my Nintendo DS and I’m sick of Mario Kart

Had some lunch at Taco del Mar with the spousal unit.  Yummers.  Then on the way home we stopped and picked up this:

Mmmmmm, Treatzza Pizza in the peanut and chocolate fudge flavour.  Hubby got a Skor one.  Whatever, peanut and chocolate fudge is where it’s at.

And I have this all ready to be spun up on my wheel:

Mmmmmm, 4 ozs of BFL (Blue Faced Leicester) in Mahogany from Spunky Eclectic’s fibre club.

Now, it’s 4:30, homework is done, dinner is dealt with (by way of a very late lunch), dessert is in the freezer, sock yarn on the couch, new game for the DS, and some lovely fibre ready for the wheel.  Truly, everyday should be a birthday.  OH!  I just got an email from amazon.ca that my book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has shipped!  Sweet!  It is truly the most perfect of perfect days.

Today,

Looked a lot like this in our house:

The dogs were outside and the sun was in my lap which magically led to our invisible cat coming out and being in my lap too.  This is Mo Cuirdh, we call her Mo Mo.  She’s always been a little skittish, even after living with us for the last 14 or so years.  I love it when the sunshine makes her sluggish and she cuddles with me though.

Today also looked a bit like this from Nate’s couch:

There’s some Christmas knitting there.  That’s the first Father in Law sock.  Going to make me a heelflap and turn it tonight!  Boo rah!

Today also looked like this from my couch:

Everything a girl could need.  Two socks on two types of needles, various wee boxes of knitting implements, caffeinated beverages, a tiny computer with wireless internet so I can cruise Ravelry without disturbing the kitty on my lap, and if you look closely you can see that my orchid is sending out a flower stem.  Whoo hoo!  Not only did I not kill the phalaenopsis but it’s actually going to bloom for me.  So cool.

Earlier in the day after my blood donation we went to the tile store and finally found some tile for the fireplace hearth:

That decision only took forever!  The reason this decision was finally made is because last Saturday we finally made this decision, which will be installed on October 18:

With this type of fiery stuff inside it:

It’s been chilly at night lately.  I seriously cannot wait for October 18th.  The cats and I will be laying all over the place in front of that thing!  This fiery insert doodad is called ‘creekside’.  Vaguely pretentious?  You bet your bippy.  Hey, I’m almost forty, I got to start acting like an adult sometime.    Snork!

In other news there will be some other casting on for Christmas knitting tonight but I can’t show you or talk about it because SOMEONE reads the blog and will see it and know it’s for them and then the surprise is ruined and blah blah blah.  If you’re on Ravelry you could go have a peak there though.  SOMEONE doesn’t have Ravelry so they can’t peak there. I’m using Dream in Colour Classy.  So soft and lovely.

Okay, I’m going to go make some tacos for dinner then it’s back to the books & knitting for the night.

Picture intensive post

This post is for when you don’t really feel like paying attention or bothering to read all those pesky words that other blogs are always full of. This post is about visual stimulus and almost finished spaces. Let’s begin.

The fibre space is almost done:

(Click to see notes)

Need to sew new cushion covers, the burgundy is not liking the Olive Garden colours.

Loving this space so much. It’s so quiet. I can’t even hear the tv and that makes me unbelievably happy.

This past Sunday I couldn’t make it to the Terminal City Yarn Wranglers meet up due to this:

There was plenty of shoveling, let me tell you. Then last night and most of today it did this:

Because there simply wasn’t enough snow (10 inches) on Sunday, we needed another 8 inches or so today. I am so over shoveling as a form of winter exercise.

Then, this arrived in the mail:

Rocking Sock Club 2008 – January – Dragon Dance colourway and a very pretty pattern called Serendipity by Adrienne Fong. Wonderful reds to banish the wintertime blues. There, how’s that for eye candy?

That’s a wrap

Well, it will be as soon as the socks that are currently soaking in Euculan have dried.    I’m done, I’m done, I’m done!!!!!!!!  Happy dances all around.  I’m going to eat bonbons and read knitting magazines on Christmas eve.  How sweet is that?

I’ll try to get a pici of the socks (.pdf)tomorrow.  They are really nice.  Great pattern!  Now, I’m going to go get a jumpstart on those bonbons.

Final stretch

We’ve had plague at our house this week and by that I mean that hubby brought home some sort of bug that caused him to almost poop himself to death. He then kindly passed it on to me. Ah, it really is the season of giving. Needless to say, we have not Christmas presents, barely any stocking stuffers, and no Christmas baking.

But you know what? That’s really okay. I got hubby a bit of candy for his stocking and a new game for the Wii (don’t worry, he never reads this). I got my wheel last month so I am happy as a clam. We did manage to get out yesterday and buy some groceries and really, for me, Christmas = all about food. The only thing I forgot was Hawkins Cheezies darn it. Now I’m going to have to go out at some point today and pick those up. You can’t have Christmas without them, at least I can’t. That and Triscuits are huge memory foods for me. We always had them at the holidays and now I must have them every year too.

In other more fibrey news, I did finish the Tidepool socks:

I’m really happy with them. Very soft and the pattern is really nice too. I don’t think I changed a thing with the pattern and for me, that’s rare. Usually I fart around with the pattern and then forget to note what I did so the second sock is very “experimental”. I think I’d like a pair for me but in something more colourful. The Knitpicks Gloss did give off some colour when I soaked them though and I thought that was a bit odd. I only have 1/2 a sock to go on the pair for FIL. Oh, and about those, I was calling them the Lava Flow (.pdf) socks, yeah no, I’m on crack or something. They are of course the Not Cable Socks (.pdf). I don’t know how I make it through the day sometimes.

So, MIL and FIL will each get a nice warm cable touque and a pair of socks for Christmas. Then I want to make me a nice warm hat, seeing as we woke up to snow again this morning.

It is so very Thursday

Thankfully, that makes tomorrow Friday.  I’m whipped and then some this week.  I’m going scrapbooking with a friend tomorrow night from 6 to 12.  Seriously, the things I will do for social interaction and a bit of crafting time.  I’d be just as happy to sit there and knit and shoot the poop but then the other scrapbookers look at me like I’ve lost my nut. 

Tonight I’m going to turn the heel on my Lava Flow sock then I have full plans of falling asleep on the couch.  I I never fall asleep on the couch and I may be mistaken about the whole concept of it.  Perhaps you’re not supposed to pre-plan these things.  Typical, I’ve overthought the whole thing.

Happy thanksgiving to those of you south of the 49th parallel.  We’ve been watching all the commercials on tv for the stores and their black Friday sales.  Seriously, will any of you actually be at JC Penney at 4:00 am tomorrow?  ‘Cause that’s just wrong.