Breathless

I'm breathless. Saul Leiter.

For Fun

Though the week seemed mostly about getting well and trying to function with the still-fogged head, a surprising amount of things were accomplished. Foremost among them was getting a new item off to Knitscene. I set the worst example for my kids when it comes to deadlines, always working at the 11th hour no matter what...everything will be ready and I'll get sick and out of commission and you'll find me dragging my sickness-filled-husk to the Post Office shelling out extra beans for overnight shipping. Oh well. Know thyself. Know thy will be thwarted when one tries to outsmart thyself.

I also got lots of swell goodies in the mail. I've been on a photograph-collecting binge. Blame it on Megan and her photo swap. I got some gems here and here.

I'm happy to be knitting for fun again. Really the best kind of knitting don't you think?

And how about my sweet hedgehog bag? A treat from Amber's shop.

Montreal for a Millisecond

I travel quite a bit to Montréal, zooming 5.5 hours across Quebec and Maine. I rarely get to stay very long, usually just overnight. I've tried several times to visit yarn shops or this time a crafty little shop but I am always thwarted! Atelier Woodenapples was closed unexpectedly, but I did get a nice shot of the tired Birthday Girl with her new Mohair and Alpaca Instant Mittens. I also made her some Llama and Wool ones out of a variegated yarn. I always like variegated yarn in the hank so much better than the finished knitting....which always looks so kindergarten to me. In any case they were fast and will be warm. Need to be, still TONS of snow! Crazy parking in Montréal too, you just back up into a snowbank and call it good!

happy birthday to me

1. Temple Lanterns, 2. Happy Birthday To Me, 3. lanterns, 4. Img_0876, 5. Buon compleanno a me!!!, 6. color+color, red and yellow, 7. Many lanterns, 8. guinea dots, 9. Sky Lanterns Festival in Pingsi, 2007/3/3 pm 18:19:51

Ours is a house of pestilence. Even this birthday week. Boo. Though I wish I might be 25, or still look 25, I'm not, but it is the date! For my birthday I got a gocco printer and I am excited, only very blurry with the flu and all the directions being in Japanese. Know any good gocco sites? Do share.

Color Surprise

There you are, knitting happily away, imagining you're the most clever girl ever. Those colors, simply brilliant, truly gifted you allow yourself to think. You open a book, why there they are! Serendipity!

Still working away, days later. A quick glance at your socks. Oh dear. Hmmmm. why there they are again....only they've been there all the time......

and that disappointment was before all the undoing!

A Little Song For YOU

I can't resist this song. I found it by way of the always delightful Mama Urchin. Who can resist knitted puppets as hosts? And those of you who knew Miss Mink back in the day will surely understand the relevance of the song!

I wish a happy day to the grand ones!
and A Happy Valentine's Day for all,
may you enjoy lots of Chocolate
.....it's medicinal you'll recall!

Cassoulet-Off IV

Still in Recovery!
Read Petula's wrap-up here.
The 4 time winner, tells all here.

Oh No!

Oh dear. Don't tell me she's at it again...taking pictures while driving.

I just wanted to show you where some of my color choices come from.

See those oak leaves?

How about how red the twigs are?

Also notice the dark green, nearly black that matches the fir trees.

Agreed the pictures are a little out of focus. What can I say? I was late for work.

The yarn? Jamieson and Smith, 2 ply jumper weight of course...can't have too much of it. And they're having a sale ! Live nearby and need a fix quick, no patience for overseas shipping? Happily Unique One is having a sale too!

Countdown

The weekend...ah the weekend.... it started blissfully like this



But soon, all was moved, shifted and cleared to make way for this

Which is all very well and fine, in fact the result is beautiful smooth walls. And we all worked together harmoniously....for the most part. I'll admit there was some muttering and growling about "chaos" (who me?)...just because our only real indoor party of the year



is Saturday, and I had imagined a weekend of leisurely cleaning and organizing.....!....prepping and planning. With maybe... a little knitting.

So,if you're in the neighborhood, please join us beans or no beans, furniture or no furniture!

The Olive Plan

What started out as a Valentine for my beloved, has progressed to something bigger and better for the whole beloved world. Miss Em-En from I Like Lemons, has created the best project of the new year using my knitted olive pattern. In her words:

I intend to knit at least one olive every week this year. Why olives? Well, olive trees/branches/fruit symbolize peace, prosperity and love ("olive you"). By the end of the year I should have a jar full goodness. Ok, ok. So I also need to use up some yarn, but with each olive I knit I'll be reminded of the things I wish for myself and the people I care about.
..and..
I think some black olives will be knit to represent naughty and mischievous wishes. The giant olives will be for the most important and biggest wishes.

What a wonderful, thought provoking idea. Visit her blog to see the giant olive she's developed and the chubby jar she intends to collect the peace olives in; there are even more olives on her flickr page, where she reveals:

While knitting the black one this week, I was trying to think of a particular person, but ended up craving olive and mushroom pizza instead.

If I can find the right shade of reddish-purple yarn, I might try to make some kalamatas too. :)

Oh happy day! I love it when things like this happen. For me, there is no greater gift, than the validation of one's own work by someone who has given it wings, to take off in a new direction. Oh happy blogesphere!

Winter White Sunday

It has been a lovely week of winter white, taking pictures and looking at everyone else's. Thanks for being a great hostess Shari.