Lots of sweater!

One of the best things about holiday, is just being in my house. Just having the time to play in my kitchen, to watch actual movies, and to do my dishes. To have time to dream up knitting projects, ‘gobble’ books, and to start the job of sorting through almost 9 years worth of accumulated stuff and clear out as much as I can.

I’ve been pretty much monogamously knitting on my Hitofude so that I can leave it with a row and a cast off to do as soon as Stash Dash starts. I added a repeat before the increases on the body started, but now I’m really wondering if I should have added one more. I’m going to have to see where the length is once I finish Chart E; I might add another repeat or two of the non-increase part of that, since I’d rather have more lace than ribbing. I can already tell I’m going to love this cardigan, and I totally want to make it again in wool! Maybe this time I’ll make the sleeves full length…

The only other knitting I’ve done this week is to finish off the third brioche baby hat. I ran out of Felici, so I had to improvise with the least jarring Stroll I have left out here. I think the pom-pom helps cover the issue. Also, why did they tie the wrong end of the yarn on? Notice how the color sequence reverses towards the top…

Speaking of Felici, for the KnitGirllls self-stripping knit along, Mary is Knitpicks, and I have decided to use my two skeins of rainbow Felici to make a chevron cowl. I saw a pattern I really liked awhile back, but I think I can figure out near enough what to do rather than paying almost $6 for the pattern. Famous last words, I know, but the stitch pattern is easy enough, and I can do basic math, so here goes! Now of course I want to cast it on THIS MINUTE, but I’ll have to wait until May so it can count. I’m a little afraid the stripes will be super narrow because of the wider circumference; we’ll just have to play that by ear I guess. I’m also a little afraid of not having enough yearn, but I’m going to use some black as edging for sure, if not also between the repeats of rainbow.

Speaking of holiday and being in the kitchen, I got homesick for Easter in the South, and so I made avocado deviled eggs and cake balls. Note to self; the ratio of icing to cakes wasn’t quite right and getting the chocolate to proper dipping consistency was a pain, but they turned out fairly well in the end, and I’ve been eating them all week.

I have been inhaling various books this week and reveling in the ability to sit down in the evening and properly watch movies; I can’t recommend Neverending Story II, but I did enjoy The Lone Ranger and Thor: Ragnerok. As for books, I finished the first Percy Jackson series, and read the second book in a series that I can’t wait to read the first and third books in.

Tomorrow I head to the Copper Belt for the rest of the week; dentist, shopping, visiting with friends, and eating out are all on the agenda! I guess I should go pack then, huh?

So...It's been awhile!

I have been so busy with various things since leaving Sakeji that blogging just hasn't been at the top of the priority list. That doesn't mean I haven't been doing anything; I've been cataloging my parent's books and DVD's on Libib, I have been cleaning and sorting, I have been doing Christmas shopping and related projects, and I have been spending time with my family. Because, I've missed them terribly these last two years. So, here are the highlights of the last few weeks.

During my whirlwind London trip, I decided to swing past Kings Cross Station and find this rather unusual platform. If only!

I worked on my pink lemonade Slide sock as I traveled by plane and train.

I made some project bags with the nerdy fabric I ordered a few months ago. I'm made a few of the reversible ones too, but for now I'll just post pictures of the zippered ones.

My Desert Vista Dyeworks Firefly yarn came and I'm trying to be good and not cast on a pair of Vanilla is the New Black socks until after my Christmas knitting is done.

And yesterday afternoon my family and I went to see Rogue One together--loved it! That being said, I am not much of a Star Wars fan, so if you didn't like it I can understand why. While I'm glad that they let the movie be about sacrifice for the greater good, I am sorry that those characters are gone.

While I was watching, I was knitting! I got 1 1/2 dishcloths done during the movie. Yay for peppermint mocha dishcloths!

Well, that's plenty for now. I really aught to start wrapping my presents... No matter how much more fun knitting is!

Knitting and Tea Pretty Much Saved My Life This Week

This past week was pretty awful. By the end I was physically and emotionally exhausted, and it was a rough weekend on. However, I had my knitting, I had chai, I prayed a lot, and I am now coming to a place of peace with the storms around me. Also, I got my birthday box, and there were some things in there that helped a lot. Like these fun bits of media!

I also got these fun bottle toppers to make my on hand oil more elegant.

Probably one of the best things in the box in terms of this week was the wild colored hair extensions. Green, pink, and blue hair in the evening helps for some reason. Here I am modeling my finished Pogona shawl (much in need of a blocking) and some green hair.

Here is the shawl drying on my oh so glamorous towel after it's bath today.

While down at the river I got some good work done on my Groovy Socks. I found an interesting 'forethought heel' in one of my sock knitting books; if I had two balls of self-stripping yarn I think I would have gone for it, but as it is I'll just do a classic afterthought. Measuring for the foot length will be a bit interesting though...

The other big news for this week is that I have not finally seen The Force Awakens! Some initial reactions:

* BB8 is adorable and I want him.
* That being said, how does he work?
* Finn is adorable too!
* Why does everyone look at the Falcon and say, "Junk!"
* I love Sci-Fi mechanic/tec jargon.
* Why was the Falcon conveniently fueled and charged? It was parked a scavenger depot! Like no one would have checked it out?
* Since when is light sabar fighting intuitive?
* What is wrong with the Skywalker boys?
* Why did R2D2 randomly wake up at the critical moment?
* Whatever they paid Mark Hamill, it was too much. Talk about being trolls!
* Did they let Josh Wheddon get at the script? Really? Han?

All in all, it was a fun ride, and I think they did a great job of bringing in thrills for fans of IV-VI, and I thought the score was particularly well done. Unlike The Hobbit where they quoted too heavily from the original trilogy, this one used snippets of old themes beautifully, and had a fresh, new sound for the rest. Watching this 'with' my mom was one of the best parts of the weekend.

Oh, the other fun thing this week was 'falling down' at Knitpicks and socking up on 5 socks worth of their self-striping yarn Felici. I got more Time Traveler, and a few other colorways that took my fancy. It really is a great deal on sock yarn, and I look forward to knitting it up.

Well, I need to look up some pictures for my history lesson tomorrow, so I'll sign off. Things can only get better, right?

Parting shot:

Another movie review, and some knitting FO

This Friday I took Jasper to see Monster's University, so I thought I'd post a few brief points.

* Nathan Fillion as a frat boy was too funny!

* I liked that the message that you don't have to be popular, cool, or the usual definition of talented in order to be awesome. Mike, while not scary, brings out the best in Sully. Together, they are a team that accomplishes more than they ever could alone.

* The whole concept of door design was pretty funny, and the short at the beginning of the movie was really cute!

So, here is my updated summer movie ranking:

1. Star Trek Into Darkness

2. Iron Man 3 and Now You See Me

3. Man of Steel

4. Monster's University

A parade of finished knitting projects!

A cardigan out of the delightfully drapey but very splitty Lion Brand Microspun. Love the color!

The cowl is finished and blocked (despite the challenges in blocking a loop)--huzzah! Next time though, no nupps.

I made another little bag, but forgot to transfer the picture. Instead, here is my reward for surviving contract week with my dad--delicious yarn!

Now I'm starting to plan my trip knitting and reading...serious stuff man!

Movie!

My mom and I went to a movie that I've been wanting to see for awhile--ever since my brother recommended it to me in fact. Now You See Me is a magician heist movie--one that is intense because you are always asking yourself what is really going on in the face of the glitz and stage presence you are seeing on screen. I have to admit, I didn't see the ending coming, but I sure enjoyed the ride. I think I'd have to watch it a few more times before I got it all sorted out in my head though. I'm trying to decide where to put it in the ranking of my summer movie going spree... I think I'm going to have to call a tie...

1. Star Trek Into Darkness

2. Iron Man 3 and Now You See Me

3. Man of Steel

Now that they are safely on their way to a dear friends house, here are the socks I was working on while flying to the States and in the weeks shortly thereafter. This yarn has just a little bit more yellow in it than I like, but the it fits the name "Brazil" quite well. I've been using this to make up a couple of those little beaded bagletts as well. I definitely like the i-cord finishing rather than crochet.

I'm working on a pair of toe-up socks in a beautiful colorway for my mom right now, and plan to bock out my cowl this weekend (now that I have some time). The sock yarn I'm using has a little bit of mohair in it, which is rather disconcerting when you live in a house with three cats. I keep thinking I'm catching more cat hair than normal... I'm trying to keep from accumulating too much of a 'home stash,' so I might need to pull that ladder yarn out of the eave-space and play with it. If only sock yarn grew on trees...

Bowling and Man of Steel

This week I did something that I haven't done for a long time-

I strapped on some dorky bowling shoes and played two games with Jasper and Lucy. The first game Lucy won, but the second game I got three strikes!

I will admit that having bumper rails (they happened to be up on the lane we were given!) probably helped my game quite a bit--next time I want to go 'hard core' and see what I can do. This is only the third or fourth time that I've been bowling, and I have to say that I really enjoy it. Throwing heavy balls at pins? Sign me up! The only thing I don't like about is that layer of gunge and 'scum and villany' that just seems to be a part of every bowling alley ever. Our local alley has a pretty good deal going all summer, so I see more bowling in my future. Now that's a sport I could get into--not much sweating!

I have a FO (finished object) with my knitting, but as this is a gift I'm only going to show a sneak peek-

I'm working on something else with the same yarn that is also a gift, as well as playing with some little beaded bags. Pictures to follow!

I've been thinking about Man of Steel this week, and figured I'd put in my two cents worth of review on it.

* I liked the first half, but the second half was like a demolition fest. I realize that it is an accepted part of super hero movies that the hero knocks half the city down in the process of saving the day, but I found that this was a bit much.

* I really liked what Hans Zimmer did with the score--there was some of his signature BOOM BOOM sound, but the introspective theme used in the trailer was a lovely change of pace for him. I approve. Listen to the track, "What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World?" to see what I mean.

* I really liked how they handled the 'Kryptonite' issue--a fresh take on it that wasn't cheesey at all.

* I find the relationship between Clark and Lois irritating--what is it based on? Him saving her from the trouble she keeps getting into from stalking him!

I don't think I'll ever turn into a Super Man fan, but it was a nice Father's day excursion. As I continue to indulge in summer movies, I think I'm going to have to see The Lone Ranger when it comes out. If we still had a dollar theater I would totally go see Star Trek: Into Darkness again since it was AMAZING! So far my ranking of summer movies is as follows:

1. Star Trek Into Darkness

2. Iron Man 3

3. Man of Steel

Oh, and I just have to say, WHAT was up with the Warehouse 13 Season 2 Christmas special?