Monday, February 26, 2007

You'll have to wait

The purple mystery picture I posted a couple of days ago was planned as an illustration for an article in this week's Piker Press. However, West Coast editor and doyenne of art Sand was so taken with it that she rescheduled the article so that my art can be on the cover. Squee!

You are going to have to wait a month for the unveiling. Sorry. But then again, Squee!

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Backyard


I went out in the afternoon to do some snowblowing, and I also knocked some of the snow off of the lilacs. It looks like we lost a limb or two, but all in all, they held up remarkably well.

The snow plows have been by, the snowblowers have been out, and the snow is no longer picturesque. It's always nice while it lasts, though.

Daybreak


Since I took the picture a couple of hours ago, the snow has picked up again. The footprints and the tire tracks at the bottom of the picture are being filled in.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Just before midnight

My friend Wendy wrote a few days ago about how they finally, in February, had snow. Her beautiful winter wonderland has just arrived in the Midwest. Starting last night, we had rain, hail, and thunderstorms. Today, the rain changed to sleet and freezing rain.

Frozen, see?

And before I could get the pictures posted, sleet and blowing snow.

I worked on an art project today, about which, more later. As in Monday.

I blame the bad weather on Terry and his new toy.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Lent 2007

What I'm giving up: Potatoes. Last year it was potato chips. This year it is potatoes in all forms. This one was an issue even before I got out of bed this morning. A few days ago for breakfast, we had one of those meat - veg - potato things that you scramble up with eggs. It serves 4, and we always have leftovers. I was lying in bed at 5:32 this morning when I thought, "Mmm, that would be good for breakfast." Shortly followed by, "Oh, crap."

For discipline: The Easter Egg socks. Work on them every day. Half an inch a day should be more than enough to have them finished by Easter. Once I realized I couldn't have potatoes for breakfast, I got up and knit.

So far, so good.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Three cheers

It warmed up above freezing today. Terry and I went to Gray's Lake and walked the full circuit - about two miles, I think.

The KnitWits gathered today for an emergency "Holy cow, let's go knitting" session. It was quite productive for me.

First, I finished the Nebula socks.


It was notable because this is the first time I have ever Kitchenered in public. (Non-knitters: Kitchener stitch is a way of grafting a seam closed so it looks like knitting. It is sort of like darning.)

I struggled with Kitchener for a long time, until I finally rewrote the instructions in a way I could understand. The "insert needle as if to knit/purl" required WAY too much thinking. My version cuts it down to "from left to right" and "from right to left". It works for me.


The third cheer was for turning the heel on the Jaywalker sock.

Yes, you see both wood and metal needles in there. The heel flap and gusset are too long for the 5" Brittanys, so I put the long parts on 7" Boyes.

Meanwhile at home, Katie made her bed, and is now lying in it.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Turn off the lights

That was my Valentine's Day gift from KnightStar. It's without a doubt the cutest bar of dark chocolate I have ever seen.

The sun came out today, which was enough to initiate some melting of snow. We didn't do a darned thing worthwhile all day, unless you consider knitting and hanging out at bookstores to be worthwhile. We took our cue from Katie, who found a sunny spot on the kitchen counter this morning and plopped herself down in it.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Art and science

I went to the eye doctor this morning, and am spending a little time at home waiting for the dilation to settle down before going to work.

(Everything was fine. I don't have to go back for six months.)

When Sand and I talked about making 2007 the "Year of Art", I was eager to learn about drawing and painting. I got a pocket-sized Moleskine for my purse... and then ignored it. Drawing in public still seems somehow dangerous to me. I'm not a "real" artist, just a scribbler, I tell myself.

But we were early enough for church Sunday that I pulled out the notebook and sketched the lectern.

And now I'm showing it to you. There. One scary fear smacked on the nose.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all


To those who stop by faithfully, and to those who just check in once in awhile - thank you. It tickles me to see the same folks showing up on the hit counter time and time again.

To those who come looking for more information about Cesar Rodney, I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but I wish you luck in your search.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you.

(Heart courtesy of http://www.cryptogram.com/hearts/ )

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Eat, Sleep, and Knit

It's been cold, really cold, here. Temperature never above freezing cold. Wind chill of -20 cold. Who wants to go out when it is like that? Days (and nights) like that are made for knitting.

Here's what has been happening. The good news is, the colors are much truer than the ones a couple of posts back. My sad old bedspread seems to do the trick as a background for yarn photos.

The Easter Egg socks: After frogging the first sock, I kept knitting on the second sock until I got to the place to do the heel. Then I cast on the first sock (or third sock, depending on how you count), and am working my way up the foot. I want to knit the legs more or less concurrently, to keep track of the amount of yarn I have available.


The Nebula socks: I'm not convinced that socks are the best use for this yarn, but they are so pretty, I could use them as art objects. If I ever cave in and get a wheel, I am definitely getting some of this roving.


Socks That Rock Jaywalkers: I still can't believe I bought this colorway. An astronomy teacher saw me knitting on it last weekend and asked, "Are you making a worm hole?" Dude, don't say "worm" and "hole" around a woman with wool.


And so to bed.