If I'd known you were coming... Part One of Two

disaster averted... so far.

I've had this book for three years.


I bought it with a gift card because when it says "Sedaris" you usually can't go wrong. In addition to being ridiculously funny, it is full of recipes. Up until today I've never made any. This morning I made a white cake from scratch. GO ME!

Inspired by Amy's whimsical fancy, in addition to the regular ingredients, hiding in the back, there is food coloring for the buttercream frosting and a can of "ready to decorate" frosting with decorator tips.



When/if this cake is consumed, we will have eaten two full sticks of butter. All natural butter though

For all of my lack of direction following and cooking skills, somehow, somewhere, I learned to separate eggs. How did that happen? All three on the first try.



What I did not realize was that House of Sophanne lacks anything resembling a mixing bowl. First I tried this



and some vision in my past of my mother with chocolate cake flinging it's way across the kitchen came to mind. No mixing bowls? Time to improvise.



While I have no concrete recollection of cake-making in our house (except for the chocolate one), I must have learned something from my mother. I instinctively knew how to grease and flour the pan, checked to see if it was done by putting a butter knife in it and seeing that it came out clean, and when the cakes came out of the oven for cooling, I went straight to the dinner plate, put it over the cake pan and turned it upside down.



As the cakes were baking, I did some blog reading and found that Kristen says "save your egg whites and make meringue." That was a little ambitious for me and Liza was a little miffed at not getting to lick the sugary-buttery bowl. So instead-



I can't begin to tell you how much I am looking forward to making and coloring the frosting. And while a stranger to this blog might scoff at the simpleness of this post- you, my regular readers, understand the mountain I have scaled!

Stuff

So I've just finished reading this book:

Stuff- Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things Randy Frost


and while I'm feeling pretty good about the fact that I'm not a compulsive hoarder, I do live a more cluttered life than some and there were many points in the read which resonated with me.

One of the clients in the study says If I put my clothes in the drawers, I won't be able to see them and I'll forget I have them. The author expounds This dependence on the visual connection with objects is a common trait among hoarders.

This is Reason Number One that my life is so cluttered. It's especially true of clothes. I regularly leave my clean clothes stacked on the dryer rather than put them away. In this case, laziness is not the issue. Mr. Sophanne's clothes are regularly washed, dried and put away. If the clothes in whatever cycle I'm wearing are out in the laundry room, I know their status. When they go in the closet, they disappear.

It's also true of yarn and books. I want to see what I have. What I've noticed lately is that in spite of being in full sight, these items, once grouped together become and organic whole rather than individual items. Do I really think I have to remember everything I have? Do I really need to? Given the latest duplicate book buying episode, I'm thinking, YES! but is that realistic?

Another point made by the author is ...that possessions allow the owner to do or accomplish something.

I've got a nice collection of art supplies- water color paper, brushes, paints, gesso, the works. These, along with various other art supplies take up a 2-drawer filing cabinet in my stash room. They were purchased after a great workshop at the Andy Warhol Museum. I used them that summer and have gotten them out once or twice since. I've created a couple of things that I love by accident. Mostly for the past 5 years since then they sit in the drawer representing unlimited potential and me as an "artist." One of the reasons people hoard is based on the potential of objects. There is a lot of potential in my room.

It was suggested in the book that maybe hoarding is creativity run amok. You can see so many possibilities in the yarn, in the small boxes, in the ribbon, paper, colors. It's overwhelming. This I believe is profound. I have used the Saturday Night Live skit from the 90's with the tag line That's another one of those things I'm never going to do as a personal mantra at flea markets.

Another idea from the book one young girl believed that her toys would die or feel betrayed if given away or discarded and anthropomorphizing-ascribing feelings to an inanimate object is not uncommon among hoarders

When I was around 9 I had a bed full of stuffed animals. I think at the time I believed I was being philanthropic by giving all but a few of them away. What I believe now, looking back, was that I felt badly that I liked some better than others and felt the need to give the others "better homes." One example in the book was of a woman who felt badly for the yogurt container in the garbage- that maybe she should have washed it out to make it more comfortable. Thankfully, I'm not there yet.

Then there's the "magical thinking." As in "I wore this when I was young and beautiful and happy- I must keep it so that I can have that feeling again." I go through a sine wave of this experience- keeping these things until there are more things in my closet that I can't wear than things that I can.

The book only lightly touched on the accumulation of digital data- I won't really go there but will only say that I do have an external hardrive of 100G that is 80% full. Last month I seriously considered purchasing a second external hard drive to back up the first one. This is thanks to a perpetual fear of loss.

It was an interesting read- I may be able to throw out some professional magazines and clarinet music from college that I'll never use again.... or maybe not.

The main deliniation as to whether collecting and keeping is hoarding or not is determined by quality of life. As I do not yet have "goat paths" that I must negotiate through my stuff, I'm feeling pretty secure. I can also throw things away with relative ease. But I do believe I'll keep an eye on things, for the line between creativity and madness is surely a fine one.

Summer 2010 Rant #1

Phone rings

Hello?

This is blahdohblah from blahdohbas INDEPENDENT survey company. Will you take a poll regarding the 2010 election in the state of Pennsylvania?

Who's paying for this survey?

I just work for this independent company

Fine-

Benign questions continue for about 5 minutes. Are you going to vote? Are you likely to vote for A or B? What's the biggest issue in your area? Then...

Will the fact that candidate A kicks his dog, steals from his kids, and doesn't change his underwear alter the way you decide to vote?

click.

Resistance-Futile

Extra free time means playing on Ravelry. I had favorited this this Queen Annes Lace pattern on more than one occasion.

Accidentally looking through the stash I found about 1600 yds of malabrigo laceweight baby merino.

And so now there is this.



Beginning with 8 stitches of laceweight yarn on size 7 dpns and getting past the first 5 rows was absolutely a Force Of Will. I had the same mental state as I did 2 winters ago when I was determined "I WILL NOT GET STUCK IN THIS DITCH" (and didn't.) Now past that point and onto a circular, this is WAY fun. The row repeats are easy so far. There have been a few mistakes but I'm thinking if I'm 95% accurate I can live with it. I either skip a k2tog or add a stitch as needed and that's only happened twice.

The search for things to plant in the dirt may have to wait until next week. I think I'll be knitting today.


Last night's Hamburger Helper experiment was a success. I used ground meat, taco seasoning mix, cavatelli, milk, water, cheddar cheese, cornstarch and stewed tomatoes. The recipe came from the blog- chickensintheroad. I could have easily skipped the taco seasoning mix and tried it with chili powder and paprika but that was just on the "little bit too much risk" side of life.

Could there be more "I"'s in this post?

Today I visited the Babybabies. They look much more like babies these days. CUTEDORABLE!

I had a peanutbuster parfait (DQ seems to be the theme of the summer) for lunch with the mama.

I learned of a dog more afraid of thunder than LizaJane. Poor Roxie-dog chewed her way through a garage door trying to get inside away from the thunder. Bloody scary scene (even after the initial clean-up) but dog's o.k. and now has sedatives. (makes me think of Young Frankenstein seda- give? seda give?) Seriously- the clean up guy should get a sedagive.

I shared some life story and recovery from life story with good friends. It's nice to know when you're not alone in the world.

I played in the sand and looked at the garden of Big Brother of Babybabies. There is not a cuter kid on the planet. Here he is fishing. Mountainmama mama has the picture on her blog so I'm pretty sure it's ok to put it here.



I came home with some sage, oregano and chives to plant in the dirt, which I promptly did. Friday is the designated look for stuff to plant in the dirt day

When I got home Mr. Sophanne had string fries and burgers a cookin'.

Tomorrow is a hospital visit to the recently new-kneed secretary from our school and then lunch with my "spitting her food out laughing" lunchtime friend. For dinner I found a recipe for "homemade" hamburger helper so we'll just see how that turns out. I'll wait to post that link until I find out if it works!

I'm on the last rows of wool peddlar the two- thanks to knitnightjudy who said "Eight rows and a bind off? You better start now-that bind off is going to take some yarn." I'm going to predict that she has saved me much grief and indecision.

Life is good. I love summer.

I have no title- it's just a mishmash

Summer vacation is in full swing. Today I went to school. Heh heh. A beloved custodian was secretly retiring (or attempting to keep it secret) and I was recruited (gladly) to deliver KFC and a DQ cake. Work would be so much easier if it only involved eating lunch with your friends daily. It's what I miss most in the summer.

I've made dinner once. (Spanish Rice with Chicken) It tasted good but then Mr. Sophanne requested some Hamburger Helper this week. He won't eat macaroni and cheese because it reminds him what it was like to be poor but he's all in favor of Hamburger Helper. I've been reading Kristen's blog about responsible eating. Living in southwestern PA (and being too chicken to drive much to Pittsburgh) makes really difficult to make any big changes but I have been thinking about the ingredients in my food. I'm pretty sure hamburger helper doesn't make the grade (is there in fact a more "natural ingredient" way to make hamburger helper?) I'll serve some freshly steamed vegetables with it.

I've been to the gym 2 days (not counting the weekend heh heh) in a row and walked 2.75 miles each time. According to the counter on the treadmill that should negate the calories in part of one of the Hostess apple pies that always seem to be tempting me. (the words on those pies are too small- I can't know the ingredients- I'll assume they're all very healthy.)

I finished the Traveling Woman shawl making it 5 down and 5 to go. I'm one skein of Elsbeth Lavold Silky wool into a second Brandywine. I love that pattern.



I mailed what I thought was "Knitted Lace of Estonia" to Yarnhog only to find it on the dining room table when I returned from the post office. I am such a dork.

And while perusing the estate this evening, we found this abandoned piece of architecture- apparently it's a Mr. Sophanne wishing nest





Extra Life and Monkeys- a dream come true.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow- who does? - so I'll plan to do what I end up doing. I'm not sure about the blog template change but I'll try it out for a few days.

It's finally happened.

The nice part about being in the 10 in 2010 group is that when you go visit the group to see if anybody (loves) what you've posted, you browse the rest of them to find the ones that you love.

Seems like every shawl I clicked on for a closer look was from Knitted Lace of Estonia. I noticed this happening last week too. I thought to myself- I'm going to get that book. I stealthily ordered it (and a couple of others)- it was during school hours.

After ordering I looked at the rest of the patterns in the book on Ravelry. Imagine my surprise-there was something there I had already knitted. A scarf named "Raha." Oh, I thought to myself- that must have been published somewhere else.

Magically-thanks to the power of memory loss and too many knitting books to keep track of- the book was at home when I got there. Yes- now I will have two Nancy Bush's Knitted Lace of Estonia. I'm not sending it back. I'll send it to whoever emails me and says, "hey- I'd like that book." (blts At windstream DOT net) And if nobody wants it, it goes to Yarnhog because I know how much she loves lace knitting! (mwah hah hah hah!)

This Could Be Yours!

(once I get it from Amazon!)
eta-never underestimate the quickness of a Yarnhog- she's the lucky recipient!

Brandywine

Horrible picture- slightly horrible blocking but I will not get the "does not count no finished picture posted" in the 10 in 2010!

The traveling woman shawl is finished as well (this means I have completed 5 so far- and there's a wool peddlar in malabrigo that has only one skein to go) **

The thing about having multiple projects is that eventually you get near the end of all of them and it's easy to feel quite helpless.

Romi to the rescue. That woman can design. I haven't tried any of her more difficult patterns but I will. when the "pressure to produce" eases.

Right now I have some Plymouth Encore in Christmas red that was intended for a crochet project that didn't pan out. I started LoveSquared at knit night with it. According to the pattern it's a one-panel-three block scarf in fingering weight yarn. I have 3- 200yd skeins of this plymouth. I'm thinking 3 panels and 9 blocks will make quite the heartful comfort shawl!

**No one is more surprised at this than I am- except for maybe Yarnhog! =]

because I must keep knitting

and my knitting corner is a little too cluttery to find any the charts that go with the WIP's, I started Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante (rav link). It's another free pattern. It's another one of those patterns that I've tried to "mark as favorite" several times without realizing I was marking the same pattern over and over. It's really no surprise that I like this one because in terms of design element- knitting motif- it is much like the Wool Peddlar's Shawl. It also called for the exact amount of the STR (from February) that I have.

Regarding elements of knitting- the Barbara Walker Treasury of Knitted Stitches books came in the mail last week. Don't expect any finished object beautifully designed any time soon. I just like to look at the pictures. Have you seen this site- The Walker Treasury Project? It's a swatching of all those stitches done more recently, in color and photographed in a much more pleasing way. I dare you to take a peek at it and then not want to dig into some swatching.

Regarding gardening- I've never done it. Don't know the first thing about it. I DO know that you have to clear the beds of weeds and today I went to a box store, bought 2 little garden tools (a shovel and a cultivator?) and started clearing away the "stuff." Given that this area was once a flower bed, I'm no doubt clearing away the good with the bad. There will be photos and requests for assistance (though neighbor Marilynn helped the last owner do this so I've got some nearby help as well) in the coming weeks unless, of course, it becomes "another one of those things I'm never going to do."

If indeed I find myself with a patch of flowerless dirt, it will remind me of what I like best about blogland. Since there's no real time to have to make forced casual conversation, no one will ask me how my gardening is going. It just disappears into the annals of blogland!

Shawl the third

Shawl the third- Nancy and Judy- is finished and skewedly blocking. Mr. Sophanne said "too bad it's not a triangle." I said "it kind of is". Aunt of Sophanne said (before it was off the needles) "It looks like a diaper." I said, "hmm." It's a horrible picture but I had to grab one quickly so as not to be disqualified again in the old 10 in 2010.

After our weekly trip to the grocery store I realized that today is indeed Sunday but that tomorrow is like Sunday and then some so it was a nice surprise.

End of the year wisdom

Today in first grade we dance with abandon. At the end of dancing, in the last five minutes, we lay down, listen to ocean waves with tibetan bells and feel our breath. Caleb said "It feels like you're unleashing your body."

May we all unleash our bodies for a few minutes today.

pretending is good

If I could pretend that finishing something is as much fun as casting on and figuring it out, I would be amazing.

Here's the lastest of 10 shawls in 2010 (I'm just going to bypass the details of everything else on the needles.)

This is Nancy & Judy (a FREE rav pattern by Heather Zoppetti). My new favorite shawl to knit. I'm using some malabrigo superwash sock yarn that I got from someone's destash and am hoping I won't notice that 5-7 yard discrepancy between the called for yardage and the actual amount of yarn I have.



And while I haven't purchased a big 'ole pile of yarn since the Mabley workshop, I couldn't resist Sharon's alpaca laceweight from stitchjones.com That woman knows the colors in my head.



Speaking of fabulous women, let's talk about Ruth. Not only did she send me a kicka$$ workout cd (it starts with Queen's Fat-Bottomed Girls!), she made sure it got here safely by wrapping it in sock yarn.



I give puppy kisses to all of my friends!

Forever Done.

I sang. They clapped. Mamas sniffled but I'm pretty sure it was thanks to Bob Dylan's fabulous poetry and had little to do with my singing. What a relief. And it felt really good to do.

Nine, my friends, nine.

And while I know that I will try to catch up on knitting 10 shawls, it occurs to me that my summer schedule of events (excluding family visits) is pretty short. Maybe I'll spin. Maybe I'll paint the bedroom. I plan on extending the gym visits and moving on beyond cardio. I know I'll spend time with that fabulous dog. I'll visit Aunt of Sophanne and will definitely spend time with the new babybabies (that's what I like to call my friend's twins)

Sometimes it feels like cheating if I read,knit, and nap all day. Especially when Mr. Sophanne comes home and asks "what did you do today?"

Maybe if I actually prepare dinner every few days he will be fooled into thinking that I am a productive human being. But I don't remember "productive" being on the list of marriage vows. If that were the case I'm pretty sure I would have included "not being jealous of my teacher vacation" as a part of them.

So my bloggy friends- what would you do?

checking in again

The evil Strep has struck again. It's on the downside but man do I hate strep.

There's little to report but I love blogland and want to stay connected.

There are 10 teaching days left. I like it when I can count it on 2 hands.

I voted last week. Apparently in Pennsylvania campaigners must only stay 10 feet away from the door. I like West Virginia where it's more like 50 yards. It was all I could do not to say Leave Me T F alone! Mr. Sophanne's much more cheerful about it. If someone asks him to vote for their candidate he says, "I don't like him." (whether he does or not.)

Last night began MaggieMay's softball season. Her younger sister is playing as well and I sat with G-mal (grandma as they call her) and we went out to eat afterwards. Nothing like surrogate children that you can do for but aren't responsible for. Makes me happy.

So there's a child management technique that I observed last week when the family was here. The Mama, in a wise attempt to give choices rather than an opportunity for kids to say "I don't want to," phrases her requests like so- "Do you want to put on your pajamas or brush your teeth first?" It works pretty well but I imagine those kidlets will eventually get wise to it. Or else it will come back to haunt mama in her later years- "Do you want to go the the rest home or would you like Dr. Kevorkian to visit?"

Tomorrow is my singing debut at the Wadestown Baptist Church. As 4th and 5th grade classes came to my room this week I asked them to be the practice audience. I knew I was good when I could give the hairy eyeball to misbehaving kids and still keep singing. That's how I determine whether I know the song well enough or not. Too bad they weren't around in college. I would have aced every jury!

House of Sophanne- better than an amusement park

Little Liza Jane was SOOOOO very happy to have kids to play with. Hazel liked her because she was a "girl" dog. She also declared the house that our house was mine and not Grandfather's because I was the girl.



Next on the agenda was to paint the bird houses which are now hanging in the backyard. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have gone wrong if I had purchased a bird house for everyone. Several rocks are now painted and in place.



Taking a break from painting adults and kids alike took turns with the hula hoop. There's really no need to see the adult pictures of this. Really.



Grandfather took them to a train where they got to blow the whistle and wear the gloves. And unlike amusement parks, there was no waiting in line.



The Waynesburg Sheep and Fiber festival took place on Saturday. They were attending a graduation and missed out on the 5 or 6 booths the organizers managed to round up but I scored some nice souvenirs. The yarn is handspun by a woman who I purchase yarn from each year. At first I bought 750 yards. Then I wound it, tried it out and went back for another 750. The picture doesn't capture it's depth of color but it reminds me of tigers eye gem stones and will (so far) be a giant and simple Praire Shawl from Folk Knits.

Oh yea, now I remember

Now I remember why I don't join groups or engage in "official" knitting things.

I finally got a picture of Kilkenny finished.



I went to edit my FO April post in the group 10 shawls in 2010 and I found this on my post.

**ETA BY PILLEN: This shawl does not count due to no finished picture...**

When I signed up I don't think I realized it was a follow the rule sort of thing. I thought it was a "hey let's do this" sort of thing. I understand why Pillen had to edit my post. She needed to make it clear to all of the contestants (which I didn't really know I was) that as I had not followed the rules by posting a picture of the finished object, I would not qualify for any of the prizes randomly drawn in April. Seriously, I understand how people are when it comes to prizes and I'd be CYAing if I were in the same position.

Still and all, it does not do a body good to complete a 1540 yard shawl and read on a post "does not count." The situation was remedied by posting it in the May FO thread - so I guess now it counts.

Lesson learned- read the fine print- make sure it's not a contest-knit for fun.

oh and did I mention...

I agreed to stupid SING that Forever Young song at a church dinner for seniors graduating from high school. Granted they are kids I've known since kindergarten but I'm used to them singing with me.

It's that librarian that wrangles me into these things. I agreed to do it because I wrangle her into a fair share of disorganization which I am certain often unnerves her.

I am no American Idol. I figure it's a good thing to do and if it's really really awful they won't have to ask me to do it again.

Here are a couple of pictures that didn't make it to the last post.




Mr. Sophanne is heading to the airport to get son daughter-in-law and grandchildren (2 sweet girls) of Sophanne. The sheets are clean, the beds are made, dinner is pre- prepared for tomorrow, there is plenty of sliced fruit and apple juice in the fridge and Ben and Jerry's for the grown ups in the freezer...and still I walk around feeling incompetent. Go figure.

continuing on...

While it hasn't been written yet, I believe, for those of you who like to know what you're getting into, that this will be a random bullet sort of post.

The set up for the wireless fence/collar in Steubenville went fine on Sunday until it didn't. It seemed to be fine while we were there. Once we left, the charge was up too high and the perimeter was to small. This has made for several phone calls and a scottish terrier that is now terrified to go outside. Period. Accepting the fact that all dogs are not as smart as Liza and the fact that this may not be the dream solution everyone was hoping for is a little distressing.

The trip to the Children's Museum in Pittsburgh was delightful. I'm pretty sure these country kids were as impressed with the chartered bus as they were with the actual museum. Overheard several times was "This is the best day I've ever had!" Makes a body feel good knowing that I was the one who introduced the field trip organizers to the museum.

Visiting the new twins yesterday was Dee-Light-Ful. When there are two babies, there's never that awkward feeling of "Gee I'd like to hold the baby." There's always one that needs holding. I stuck around for 3 feedings, a bath and big brother and it was time well spent. No maternal instincts popping out. Just enough cuteness to make it a great day.

Tonight Mr. Sophanne's son, wife and 2 grandchildren get to the airport at 10:30 p.m. There is a little sheet-changing and grocery shopping to do but other than that, we are as ready as we can be for house guests. Is it just my selfish-a$$ self or does everyone feel (in spite of looking forward to an enjoyable family visit) just the teensiest bit resentful of space overtaken? I guess that's what comes from not having children. I'm just not used to it.

There are 17 teaching days- 3 1/2 weeks- until the start of the upcoming summer vacation. I keep saying "after this week it will go fast." I've been saying that since April. So far, not so much.

Although I'd much rather sit in this cozy chair all day, forward I must go.

Pete and Repete- I mean just Repeat

Here's why-

Last week I stumbled upon a children's picture book


based on Bob Dylan's song, Forever Young. It's been a little ribbon of a theme running through life these days as the school year ends and the summer begins. And while I've never been a big fan of the sound of his voice, that Bob Dylan can sure write some poetry.



May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,

May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,

May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,

May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

Happy Birthday Mr. Sophanne

Things went smoothly after I cried this morning when I was "busted" for taking a day off to prepare the festivities. I'm not sure it's because I thought he thought I was a liar or because the surprise was a little disrupted.

I just sat down to eat lunch and heard his car pull up (an early day on the railroad.) This was a good thing because I wasn't sure how I was going to be patient and wait for him to get home.

Yes my friends, that's the love of my life.

slow progress

This is about 30 stitches worth of the Fassett patterns I am playing with. For the record the 5 stitches on either side ended up being stockinette rather than garter stitch because my brain can only hold so much.



Above the schoolhouses there is a quilt-like pattern that will be shades ofgreen that I am pretending are mountains. Above that a larger pattern that had a sunset/cloud feeling to me.



The colors aren't terribly accurate- apparently I own a vampire camera that only comes out in the evening when I'm by the computer.

The design sort of goes from smaller elements to larger ones- from cooler colors to warmer ones - with hints of warm at the beginning to tie it together. Believe me, it's simply fabulous in my head. No doubt a future Bobby.

Fortunately, Mr. Sophanne believes that he will be winning a red mustang at the casino this evening (they've called his name for various drawings at least 3 times last month) and I was able to get through the stickiest parts of my own stupid chart.

Today was a RedLobster kind of day with my NYC traveling pal Mags. She got her learner's permit last month and drove me to the pharmacy on the way to the "city." She likes the FAR right side of country roads better than the middle but I was pretty calm, she did a good job, and it was kind of cool. The bonus at the end of lunch was the LavaCookie with chocolate sauce and ice cream. It is decadent and I didn't eat all of my salad at the front of the meal so I would have room for that at the end. I'm pretty sure lunch wiped out all 4 visits I made to the gym this week.

Adventures are on the horizon- Mr. Sophanne's birthday is Tuesday- I'm going on a school field trip with my little school to the Children's Museum in Pittsburgh the following week (it is my favorite place)-I'm going to go visit the new twins on the day off we have that week-Mr. Sophanne's son, daughterinlaw and grandkids (2) will be paying a short visit before moving off to Switzerland for 2 years-and there are only about 25 actual kid-days left of the school year.

And yes, the passport is renewed and there may be a post or two from Geneva sometime in the next 2 years.

It's all relative

So I've made a giant design with some Kaffe Fassett patterns. It was going to be the back of a sweater but if I'm going to intarsia and fair isle at the same time with 4+ colors per row on occasion, it's not going to be hanging around on my back and I'm certainly NOT going to be trying to figure out sleeve decreases.

I've decided it will be a work of art worthy of hanging on the wall- or in the closet. 130 stitches by 109 rows. I can do one or two rows a night (the bottom of the chart is particularly complicated) as long as the phone doesn't ring and Mr. Sophanne isn't watching t.v. I foresee completing this sometime in 2012- hopefully before the end of the world as we know it.

The bonus of something so ridiculously impossible that may still end up looking like crap is that it makes that Brandywine shawl seem easy peasy and the malabrigo wool peddlers shawl feel like stockinette. It's all relative.

Brain A was defeated again this morning but didn't give up trying. I was dressed and drinking coffee and it said "hey you don't really have to go to the gym. It's not too late to go back to bed." Seriously? I might buy that if I'm still laying in bed but it's lame to try to pull that when I've already gotten up. Pathetic, brain a, simply pathetic. Liza Jane's been pulling a fast one on Brain A as well. She's been whimpering for walks around 7:00 pm each night and there's an extra .5 mile added to the daily count. No tangible results but it's better than feeling like crap for doing nothing.

In a crack me up moment- I have a friend in medical school who recently posted that getting a headache while studying neuroscience leads to all sorts of false diagnoses. I told her that such occurrences were endemic to becoming a professional in the world. I can't go past a farm animal without breaking into song.

my brains

At 9:00 last night my brain said "You could really use 2 or 3 macadamia nut cookies."

I had to ignore my brain.

At 5:00 this morning my brain said "Sleeping in with the cuddly dog is much better than the treadmill. You don't have to go."

I had to ignore my brain.

I want to know what it is that is doing this ignoring. Is my brain so smart it can ignore itself? What is this brain that wants me to become like a giant hog waiting for slaughter?

This fight with my brain- at least I know what's going on now and know that my brain (let's call it Brain A) isn't always right. Sometimes though, it is so very powerful.

In fact, early this morning Brain B started telling Brain A that it wasn't going to get a garlic/tomato/feta white pizza at knit night tonight no matter how hard it tried. Brain A, it seems is addicted to carbs and sweets. Small amounts do not satiate it. They only whet the appetite.

It's very possible that Brain A will concede defeat on the pizza, only to order 3-4 pastries at knit night or possibly stop for donuts on the way home. Brain A is a wily sort.

Anyone have any thoughts as to how to go about tricking Brain A?

as if I needed more opportunities for chaos

This is just a picture of the mess I've made with that small messenger bag and color play. Somehow I know for sure that if I pursue the fabulous Kaffe Fassett patterns in my head, things are only going to get worse. I could pretend that this concerns me, but given that much of my knitting without fancy color changes ends up looking like this as it lies in wait tells me that secretly I'm not really all that concerned.



I ordered this book last week. No garment patterns. Just patterns and designs.


Oh the possibilities. There are 190 of them.




I've learned to knit with ease. I've learned to purl with ease. I've learned to knit fair isle with relative ease. If I want to do something more than in a circle I'm going to have to learn to purl fair isle with relative ease and make friends with the concept of just grabbing a length of yarn and sticking it in there intarsia style. I cant find the exact quote but somewhere in this book it says if you're not sure of the color combos- add 20 more colors. Somewhere else it also says start small and simple. As if.

Kilkenny is soaking preparing for blocking- soon my friends- soon. And by "soon" I mean "Soon it will be folded up and put in the closet.

ribbit (really)

So today in kindergarten I wanted to play a "magic trick." All kids turned their backs to myself and Hunter. When I played magical music, Hunter was to run to the corner and hide. I would replace him with a frog (fake.) When the kids turned around it would feel like he turned into a frog.

I was trying to quietly explain this to Hunter while their backs were turned and said, "They'll think I turned you into a frog!" He said "but not really, right?"

Them kids are fun-nee.

hi.

I've been playing with the persian poppies and a mini-messenger bag- look! No Pattern! Garter stitched the bottom- picked up around the rectangle- poppies poppies poppies (though Mr. Sophanne says they look like aliens.)

The green in the bottom poppy is not such a good design element but what the hell ever. I like the way the other two turned out. I did an i-cord bind off on the front and sides and am left with the flap which I may or may not enjoy doing because it means stranded purling- something I've never been really thrilled with.

Three. More. Rows. on Kilkenny- then I have to find a place to block it. Then it will be all malabrigo all the time as the 2nd wool peddler's shawl and Brandywine are next in line to be finished.

thanks after hours clinic

I got the zpak and had an extra unplanned day off. After about 18 hours of sleep I'm compelled to share some stuff.

First - about my friend Chris- we are the same and the opposite so much that it is delightful.

This is Chris's workspace. Note the neatness of yarn, pattern, and pencil. She knows where stuff is at all times.



This is my workspace. The pattern is not to be seen- the strands of yarn in the distance are a part of my work area. There are no pencils or scissors anywhere in sight.


What you don't see is that we are both sitting on the floor rather than in the chairs provided. We can pretend it's for comfort or ease of getting at the yarn but I secretly believe it's the anti-social tendencies that we both share that sent us to the floor. Being a part of the chair conversations was just a little much perhaps.

I can't really tell you what Brandon Mabley taught but I can tell you that we all got better at playing with color and that is certainly not something I would have done before attending the workshop.



In this photo, his hand is on Chris' sample and mine is diagonal to the right.

He suffers fools lightly and it was interesting to see as needy women started whining for attention how he bluntly said what he thought. Go Him. I worked quietly and in the afternoon when I had a chance to say "what about this?", Brandon Mabley called me a "show off." So I think I passed the colored poppies exam. Words like Sassy and Daring and Snappy and Jewel-like were also heard. Come on Mr. Sophanne- we're moving to work at Kaffe Fassett studios. And if you don't want to go, Chris will because she got some pretty astounding compliments as well. I was so self-absorbed with my success, I failed to take note of the exact words he used with her.

If inclined to attend, you'll enjoy this workshop more if you already know how to trap stitches in Fair Isle and how to weave in ends as you go (there is a video of him demonstrating this somewhere on the internets). You don't have to know either of these things to play with color but if you have a chance to take the time and figure it out before you go, you won't be bogged down in strings and things.

sick day

A person shouldn't have to be sick just because they took a sick day. Stupid Strep. Anyone who used my yarn at the workshop- you've been warned. More later when I'm not stupid sick.

Yip.

2 days 5:00 a.m. not really worthy of a full yippee- maybe just a "yip." Thank you thank you thank you for the you can do it comments. I've seriously considered printing them out and putting them next to the alarm clock.

This morning, as per my request, Mr. Sophanne walked into the sleeping place at 5:00 a.m. and said "Hey Old Lady, Get Your Arse Out of Bed." I did indeed request that particular phrase. I wanted to get up laughing.

Yesterday I was on that treadmill, cruising at a cool 3.2 mph when a young kid came in, got on the one next to me and started speeding along. He was going at least 4 mph- maybe even 4.5. It cracked me up! There we were-he was running like crazy and he never got ahead of me- we stayed perfectly even. There's some kind of time-space continuum joke happening there.

re: knitting- does anyone remember whether I "used smaller needle for border and switched to larger needle size" for the pattern on that Kilkenny shawl? No? Bueller? 28" later and it seems to have slipped my mind.

re: the unexplainable- yesterday 2 parents came to school and asked if we were having a moment of silence "for the homosexuals" on Friday. Because if we were, their kids weren't coming. One clever tech teacher said (in the privacy of the lunchroom) "Oh was that this Friday? Shoot. We did that LAST Friday... oops." Anyone have any idea where this came from? I know we're pretty close in the calendar to Yom Hashoa (Holocaust Remembrance Day) but that's quite a stretch.

Tomorrow is the Brandon Mably workshop- now that's worth a full YIPPEE!

short unassuming post

i joined the gym again today-all encouraging words accepted. we'll see, we'll just see.

Knitting Blogging and Compassion

I can tell you about my blog friends. I can tell you the ones who suffered tragic loss, life-threatening illnesses, incapacitating accidents and downright scary stuff. When I read their stories, my heart fills with compassion, I want to reach out and hug them. I search for the magic words to make them feel a little bit better. I know this works because when I've needed their compassion for things not nearly so heart-wrenching, they have been there to make me feel better.

What I wonder about this evening is what makes this so much easier to do this in blogland with "strangers" than it sometimes is in life with real people. The "real" of a person telling the story and the fear of not having the right words in real time makes the same kind of compassion much more difficult face to face. I can't "click to the next blog" in real life. Once there is compassion in that moment, what else can meaningfully follow? And yet day to day conversation returns. There are the rare moments in real life with friends where we share our stories, our deepest exposed feelings- and then we laugh at Chicken Bob. Not because we're irreverent or lack compassion, but because we have to. The duality of this is a mystery to me and I suppose that is as it should be. I don't have to know everything.

Is something lost in faceless communication with people I've never met, or is something gained. Am I really feeling compassion for their circumstances- I believe that I am- or is it just easier and safer than listening to someone face to face.

Tomorrow I will try to be as compassionate in real life as I often feel in blogland and see what happens. Throw some insight my way if you have any thoughts on this, would you?

Bedtime

she's at the top of the steps waiting for us to join her.

What's Up?

It's the movie I just watched. Liked it.

It's Spring Break here in these parts. We've had the whole week off. I used to be able to explain how that can happen while missing the month of February, but the logic of the WV state department eludes me. (this is also the state department that said schools would start earlier next year and then forgot to legislate on extending the contracts of all of the service personnel.) The weather has been friendly. The dog has been walked. My allergies/sinuses kicked into high gear so there was plenty of rest for the weary.

Come to find that the Brandon Mably workshop is on a THURSDAY. I've paid my money- I've purchased my 12 skeins of light and dark yarn. Looks like I'll have to take a personal day. Sometimes I'm just calendar stupid. I think my friend Chris may have given me the date and omitted the day so that I wouldn't realize it until it was too late. Now that's a good friend.

( and while I realize that the colors don't pop in this shadowy picture, there are daffydils and LizaJane so it had to make the cut.)

There's some malabrigo buttercream on the needles to become another Wool Peddler's shawl. I hope I don't see anyone who I think it will look beautiful on. Also on the needles is Romi's Brandywine in some malabrigo chocolate sock yarn. I've shifted my shawl knitting from chart reading to text reading and seem to tink just a little less. That pattern is written from the bottom up and is clever clever clever.





Now lets talk Swallowtail.I made it through the first three charts- nupps and all- with the correct number of stitches. And now, as I start number four I've tinked nearly every row at least once. This due to my overconfidence when finishing a row- I don't need to count stitches- I'm sure I've concentrated enough. Some of the nupps are nuppettes- either I forgot it on the make a nupp side or dropped some stitches on the purl a nupp side. yea, yea, whatever. (Kauni on the swallowtai- Blackwater Abbey on Kilkenny)



Kilkenny is in the background- while I had other pictures- this one most reflects the color and the vastness of it. One and a half skeins to go until it's done.

kids and the internets

It was a bad day in choir last week. I believe that the major contributing factor was that these 5th graders had just watched the movie (in separate rooms) "boys get erections and girls get periods." That might ruin any happy-go-lucky 11 year old's day.

While no one actually mentioned the actual viewing of the movie, kids responded according to their personalities. They were loud, sullen, silly, and annoying. Mostly running the gamut, as only 11 year olds can, of emotional responses to having to "know" this knowledge in a group setting.

One girl in particular sat staring at me, while everyone else was "singing", with her lips sealed, her eyebrows furrowed and a decidedly "you can't make me sing" look on her face. In regular music class I let these things pass- it's not everyone's favorite thing- in choir (where they elect to be) it's a "no-go." When I asked her what the problem was she said "I don't like this song." (of course one of my favorites.)

I offer up one of my rare rants (not specifically to her) that includes "if you can't pull it together to sing here, maybe we Won't sing at the 5th grade graduation" and "I'm really disappointed in you" and "I'm going to quit talking and you're just going to sing so I won't say anything that I don't mean" and "I sure hope things change when we get back from Spring Break."

While their behavior was aggravating, given all of the contributing factors, it was to be expected. I realized this a little later and got over it mostly

Last night "you can't make me sing" girl friended me on Faceb00k. This afternoon she sent me this message:

Hey Mrs. Sophanne,
I am sorry for having an attitude in choir!!!! Next week after break I will come in ready to sing even if I don't like the song!!!! :)

The internet is nice for adults as a way to express themselves that might be less scary- more honest-true to themselves. Seems kids can find some use for that opportunity too.

Wool Peddler's Shawl Done

About 900 yards of malabrigo later, we have a Wool Peddler's Shawl from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawls.

I added an additional repeat of the pattern but other than that I just followed the rules. Go Figure.





There is a favorite thoughtful kindergarten aide at school who has the most beautiful red hair. I was working on this the other day while student teacher was teaching and realized that I really want to give this to her. All of me except the part that loves it too much to give it away. I'll let it finish blocking, admire it and then I will probably give her a surprise.

So There 10 in 2010. One Is Done. I cast on for the Kauni Swallowtail last night. I'm using the green transitioning Kauni rather than the traditional one.

Gotcha!

Nothing says Happy 6th Anniversary like an Asian Ladybeetle Trap. In fact, we love each other so much we got "His and Hers" Ladybug Traps. They don't come that way but a Sharpie will make just about anything His and Hers. Much more practical than the iron sculpture the internets suggested. And hopefully will prevent us from wanting to burn the house down to get rid of those beetles.

While we're at it... we have His and Her alarm clocks. A necessity when he gets up 2 hours earlier than I do.

What we don't have are His and Her refrigerators. Not that it hasn't been suggested. He's such a bed-time snack-eater. I never was a treat buyer therefore didn't have to deal with the treats in the refrigerator. Now there is a constant supply of yummy fatty goodness which he eats only at bedtime and which I eat every time I'm a little "noshy." He was opposed to the separate refrigerators- anticipating, I suppose, the begging and whining for the combination and/or key to the treat fridge.

Happy 6th to us and if those Ladybeetle Traps catch the bugs the way Mr. Sophanne "caught" me, we're good to go. (holy crap was that corny-and he doesn't even read the blog to appreciate it.)

ETA- for clarification- these aren't your regular red and black ladybugs. These are swarming Japanese beetles that disguise themselves as ladybugs. You can still love ladybugs.

Clammy

I am not frequently sick (insert wood knocking). Usually I can feel my body starting to get something and some sleep kicks it right out. Today, however, I went home early feeling mostly "clammy." That's really the only way I have to describe it. So blog friends, not wanting to go to a doctor for "clammyness" and ruling pregnancy out as a possible diagnosis, what terrible illness might I have?

some advice

If you're knitting a project with Blackwater Abbey Yarns and you get some Malabrigo in the mail, finish what you're doing BEFORE starting the Malabrigo project. In fact, probably unless you're knitting with cashmere, don't start a Malabrigo project until you've finished what you're working on. The softness sucks you in like nobody's business.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I'll finish the Wool Peddler's Shawl in Malabrigo before the end of March.

The two babies in my friend's belly are now on the planet. They couldn't wait any longer. Welcome Samuel and Jacob!

the lunch room - my new laughing place

I've told you about Chicken Bob's non-sequiturs at lunchtime (physed guy)

Today we planned a little lunchtime special day. And by "we," I really mean "I." Today was to be non-sequitur day. Nothing was to relate to anything else. There would be no real conversation only endless amounts of unrelated facts and questions. The "gang" was all for it.

This was planned while Chicken Bob was at another school to be undertaken the next day he was here. We practiced a little bit to see if we could do it and mostly we did.

Today everyone showed up exactly on time for lunch. No hallway lollygagging for this devoted group of teachers.

And we did a pretty good job of not talking any sense. I'd like to tell you what ridiculous things everyone said but I was thinking so hard about my next unrelated comment that I didn't have the capacity to retain the words of others.

I do know someone said "I hear blue is in this spring." Someone else said "My dog has to have two teeth extracted."

Chicken Bob seemed puzzled but laughed along with it all. I don't think he ever figured out what might have been going on. In fact he said that today at lunch was funnier than last night at the bar.

The funniest part of this adventure into the absurd was my most favorite secretary (the one I will knit socks for if that tells you anything.) She's the best tricker on the planet. I figured she would be the most successful at maintaining absurdity. (She did in fact lead to the success of the candy-machine caper.) All she kept saying at various intervals was "The principal didn't call yet." and "I had spaghetti for dinner last night." That she kept repeating these was pretty funny. But then she poured the pepsi that she was drinking out of a bottle into her bowl of popcorn. This was not intentional. It was just that she was thinking so hard of what to say next she forgot to actually drink from the bottle. And it was the best part of the experiment.

Good teachers that we are, at the end of the half hour we discussed our success and failures and ways to improve the activity.

Failure Number One. Everyone started immediately machine-gunning their irrelevant pre-thought of phrases. After about ten minutes, we were fresh out and really struggling.

Failure Number Two. It's really difficult to completely ignore people when they mention a topic and talk about something else.

Plans for the future.

Not all conversation has to be unrelated. A topic can be introduced and after some commentary someone else can interject something irrelevant.

I may be wrong, but I think I've brought the joy of the absurd to the lunchroom.

miscellani

I don't have any kids. I think if ever I would have been with child I would have been the funniest most amazed pregnant person on the planet. I'm pretty sure I would have spent my time walking around pointing to my belly and shouting to the world "THERE'S A BABY IN HERE!!!!!" (to which everyone would regularly reply "yeah? so? You're not the first.")

As that has not happened, I am of late living vicariously through my friend who is on hospital bed rest with twins- scheduled to arrive in the next few weeks give or take a week.

Yesterday when visiting I walked in, pointed and said "YOU HAVE TWO BABIES IN YOUR BELLY!!!!! HOLY COW!!!!" This is slightly improved to the response I had several years ago when I would ask pregnant friends if they felt like Sigourney Weaver in Aliens.

And then the nurse came in to listen to the fetal heartbeats and I got tears in my eyes. It's a crazy life.

In other very different news...

A hero around these parts is "Big Ben" (Pgh Steeler QB.) He has found himself accused, for a second time, of sexual assault. His public persona does not really fit these accusations and it became yesterday's lunchroom topic of conversation.

Slightly Tacky Lunch Eater- So, what does everyone think of Big Ben?

Everyone- mumble mumble yeah, yeah, whatever.

Clever Lunch Eater (to slightly tacky)- What do YOU think?

Slightly Tacky Lunch Eater (ignoring the general rules of propriety in a public school even if it is the teachers lounge-and not really understanding you can't say anything anywhere-and she's over 50 so I don't think that will change) WELL... I think she offered to give him a blow job and he took her up on it.

Yours truly can keep up with the best of the pirates and rap stars and isn't reluctant to do so when she knows the environment doesn't frown upon it. This however, was not one of those moments and instead in the room, after a few spit takes, there was silence.

Our physed teacher "Chicken Bob" broke the silence. Yea, once a guy gets accused of something like that, others come out... like copy cat killers.

At this point I could NO LONGER keep quiet. With eye contact and a slight plea for forgiveness I sought the tentative permission of those who might be offended and said "Must have been a Serial Blower."

***Insert Spit Takes and Hysterical Laughter.***

Finally-10 in 2010 update

After yesterday's post, Yarnhog suggested that she would enjoy my efforts (however delusional) at trying to complete this Herculian task. In a small way I took this as a personal challenge. When I got home from the hospital, I wound a skein of Malabrigo and cast on for the Prairie Shawl. Clearly the solution to not finishing 10 in 2010 is to at least START 10 in 2010.



EDITED TO ADD: HOLY CRAP- I can't even repeat my own jokes... I didn't say Serial Blower. I said "Copycat Blower."

10 Shawls in 2010

So I joined the Ravelry group 10 Shawls in 2010. And it occurs to me that it is indeed March. March is the 3rd month of the year. I am only close to finishing one of these potential 10. It also occurs to me that the odds of me really finishing 10 in 2010 are slim to none unless of course they secretly mean 10 shawls in the next decade.

The yardage requirement for these shawls are much less than the shawls I have planned but I hates me a skimpy shawl.

In spite of the poor odds, I am going to continue to delude myself that I'll be able to do this.

I thought I'd document my delusion here by listing the shawls that I'm going to make. (all rav links)


Kilkenny Cable Shawl from Folk Shawls- in the yarn called for is about 2 skeins from being finished

Highland Shawl from Folk Shawls - in the yarn called for- about 50 rows into the whole thing.

Not started but planned include:

Eliina in some noro sock yarn

Wool Peddler's Shawl - in some malabrigo worsted

Matilda- in some laceweight that I have on hand from one festival or another.

Swallowtail- I ordered some Kauni for this one- somehow once it gets here I imagine it will go to the top of the list. If you plan on clicking any links, click this one. It's MonaR's swallowtail done in Kauni and it is scrumptious!

Romi's new Brandywine - in the yarn called for color birch

I realize there are only seven and not ten listed here but I'm betting that in the next 10 years there may be 2 or 3 more shawl patterns to love and add to the list.

Here in Whoville

I read the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Recommended by a "what are you reading" blog. I recommend it as well.

I watched the movie The Soloist. Liked it. Usually I don't love movies that have music/musicians as part of the plot (in the same way lawyers don't like Law And Order) This was different and worth the time.

I started a sock in a (k) 2 rows (k2p2) 2 rows pattern.

I walked the dog.

I was invited and will be attending a Brandon Mably knitting workshop. So glad for the invite and relieved to have plans for an adventure.

Yarnhog has some baby chickens.

I've got two and a half more skeins of yarn to go on Kilkenny from Folk Shawls.

I watched Mr. Sophanne play Super Mario Galaxy on Wii.

The sun was out today and it made me smile but that whole "change of the season" thing requiring me adapting to change leaves me a little tentative. But you know, something has to.

I haven't anything clever to say. But I missed the blog. Just count this as a Whoville post- We are here! We are here!