Things finally got real.

At first the most exciting thing I had to post this week was my coffee stained counter and my taco flower.

 

 

I have been more or less obsessed with this dumb game.

 

I also read George Takei's book ""Oh Myyy"

 

But then..... Today happened.

 

Newfrienddebbie and I first went to Ali Baba's for the lunchtime buffet. Mmmmmmmmm.

 

This was followed by a trip to a teeny tiny yarn store called Mia Sofia. This photo really is most of the yarn that they have but it was buy one and get one half off. The chiagoo (or as I like to call them chiagoogoo) needles were part of the same sale. Dare I say I love those needles MORE than Addi's?

 

 

The traffic leaving Mia Sofia was dreadful and required a detour that took us to the other LYS- I can never remember the name of it. The coolest part of this place (in addition to the Noro silk garden I convinced myself to buy) was this yarn swift. It's like my Lazy Susan one but those slanty rods accommodate the changing skein size. It's handmade (of course) and the maker has no interest in marketing.

 

 

The adventure ended at our favorite Terra Cafe where the hilarity of the art was not lost on me. The funniest part of this trip was the confession that newfrienddebbie made regarding her hibernating spring break days. Says she "there's this new app/game called candy crush" (see above) and I can't quit playing it. Come to find we've been living parallel lives all week without knowing it. Today's adventure was the only possible outcome.

Is there not a walk in closet?

I really don't like this carpet. The curb appeal is charming and adorable.

 

Once home I wound two recently acquired balls of yarn (Ella Rae dk) and purchased Stephen West's Daybreak pattern.

Now there is this much done. However I have NOT made it past level 77.

 

 

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Do Not Feel Sorry For This Cat

 

 

All attempts to get her to come inside have failed. She is a martyr. Until there is food involved. But it better be turkey and not hot dogs.

In other food news, Mr. Sophanne and I went for our usual Sunday dinner at Trob Revvens today. Why do we keep going there? Because here in this little Burg of Wayne there are no other options.

Today's dining entertainment involved our waiter Shawn who came to or table to check and see if everything was o.k. three times before the food arrived. Each time we said, everything was fine but would be much better with food. He said "Are you hanging tight?" What does that mean exactly? If it means we're hungry and waiting patiently, then yes, we're "hanging tight."

After much longer than it should have been, he arrived with food saying that "he told the cooks we were hungry and wanted our food" as if that was an exceptional stretch of power on his part. When the pancakes of Mr. Sophanne failed to have the promised whipped topping ( as suggested by Shawn when we ordered), he promptly blamed the cooks, took the pancakes back and returned with a smiley face that had eyebrows. Whipped topping art as it were. Then he stuck around as if we wanted to chat with him. While we usually do, as a general rule, we like to decide whether we're in the mood for that or not.

My family members have regularly informed me that I would be terrible as a waitress. I am happy to report that if I ever lose my teaching job, even I could find employment in the Burg of Wayne.

 

The sleeves to the Welcome Friend Kathy Zimmerman cable sweater that I am calling "Glacier" in hopes to wear it on the Alaskan cruise look like this- about 8" of 22".

 

 

The yarn festival scarf, Man oh Man, which is serving as a distraction from the sleeves, looks like this. Question. Is tencel a natural fiber? I think it's made from wood? This yarn is wool and tencel.

 

 

Given that its spring break, maybe I will find an adventure to have and post about.

 

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The results.

I must tell the truth. While I have most recently embraced a minimalist version of consumerism, making zero extraneous purchases from thanksgiving through Christmas, I make a conscious exception at a yarn festival. I try to save enough prior to going so that money is no object. It's so much fun that way. As much fun, I'm guessing as Mr. Sophanne has at the casino.

First Steven Be. Oh my. I didn't stick around that booth very long. It was just a little over the top for me.

 

His sweater was super sized yarn and camera film. He's hosting a slumber party as I type. It would have been interesting to see what he chose for sleepwear, but not that interesting. Here he is trying to work the credit card iPad combination and I can't help but noticing that he and his customer resemble one another in a small way.

Knitnighttara got to see the bunny out of the cage and grabbed this Instagram photo. Bonus gratitude points to the person who captions this one. That bunny has a Mona Lisa eye.

 

In addition to replacing my peg-missing swift, I made a few purchases.

 

Kauni for a clockwork. I have a clockwork in these colors. I had it with me. I was wearing it earlier in the day. I realized this after the purchase was final. So it goes.

Some shawl pins so that I can wear either purple black gray clockwork without them falling off my shoulders.

Some gorgeous Brooks Farms merino and a scarf pattern called man oh man.

A cool spirally shawl with a yarn color our of my comfort zone. I ceased all purchases after that one. Colors one doesn't normally get are a sign that one is buying for the sake of buying.

Finally a late lunch at a Middle Eastern place called Aladdin's. Everyone seems to be just a little annoyed at my "picture taking to blog later" self. Out of respect for them, I smoothied their faces. Enjoying the smoothie tool, I also smoothied some of the tableware and the windows. What a fun day.

End of results.

 

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Pittsburgh knit and crochet festival 2013- pregame

 

I've been to the Pittsburgh knit and crochet festival twice.

I don't remember but I think I went with knitnightclaire in 2008. It was my first cashmere, my first swift, my first drop spindle and one of my first attempts at getting past the social anxiety that has always been a part of my life.

I went alone in 2009. They changed locations. I dropped mr. Sophanne off at the casino and went in the cold February rain. I'm pretty sure this was a conscious choice. People make me nervous and I wanted to enjoy the yarn. In spite of that, I wore my Central Park hoodie hoping that it was such a recognizable pattern that people would notice it and magically be my friend. Later I sat in front of a hotel fireplace with other knitters pretending to be part of their group. Lacking adult supervision, I purchased blocking wires and a felted tea cozy pattern that looked like an orange slice. The blocking wires have been used minimally. The fruit slice was used as a hat once and discarded.

 

 

The 2009 trip reminds me of the dog pre-bath time. She play bows as I go for her and in the next moment runs away barking because I say the word bath. She is a dog conflicted. I was a social being conflicted.

Tomorrow I will be at the festival with three knitting friends gathering from hither and yon to travel together in knitnightgina's van. It is likely that I will run into another friend who is going as well.

In addition to the fine and sometimes not so fine items I have made, the greatest gift of knitting has been the funny laughing friends and the slow process of relaxing in and enjoying the company of others. If I have to increase my yarn stash as part of the process, that's a sacrifice I am willing to make.

And tomorrow if I see someone wandering alone in a hand knit sweater, I will welcome him/her and bring him/her into the fold.

 

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What's for dessert, you ask?

 

 

Anyone who has known me for a long time, likely looked at the previous post and thought, "man o day, that Sophanne hasn't said no to too many desserts lately." That much is true. Mmmmm...ice cream. But I digress. What you see above is what I say no to ON A NIGHTLY BASIS. Yes, this is Mr. Sophanne's bedtime snack. Unless its a birthday, you won't see him indulge during the day whereas I will eat any treat, any time, except at bedtime. Maybe there is method to his madness.

 

In other Mr. Sophanne news, he is in the process of applying for early retirement. As a result, he does not go to work anymore. I would enjoy this much more if I also did not have to go to work but such is not the case. So far he has spent each day working a full 8 hours filling out forms, making phone calls to bureaucracies and government agencies and visiting doctors offices bearing gifts of donuts and cookies.

All is well and it's all good- not to worry- but there has been some adjusting to do. As you might imagine, the cute LizaJane I thrilled.

In other news, hey medical friends, what is the likelihood of a false negative on those instant strep tests. The 10 minut culture test says no, but my body says otherwise. The CNP must have been doubtful as well, as she gave me strep fighting meds and I've heard those are harder to get lately.

I am grateful for those meds. The Pittsburgh knit and crochet festival is this weekend and we're having a little mini knit night field trip. Plus newfrienddebbie is going to get her first experience of fiber overload and new knit friends. Aren't you so excited for her?!?!

 

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The not really a doctor but I play one at knit night is in.

Above you see knitnightmedstudentJustine demonstrating how to suture. Below you see what I look like after a day of work when I get to have real medical instruments in my hands. Note to self- put on a little makeup before knit night, wouldja?

 

Maybe you can see on the side, I've started the sleeves to the Kathy Zimmerman sweater. I ordered the last just in case skein of yarn... Just in case.

I have some achey streppy action going on today. Maybe the Panera's pretend hospital is has as many bugs floating around as the real hospital.

As newfrienddebbie says, in the event of a zombie apocalypse, when someone (not me) has to cut her infected hand off, I will be able to sew the pieces back together, knit a glove for her, and soothe her with song as I do it.

 

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Garlic - o - Butt and some random

Now that I see it on the blog page, I'm pretty sure I've posted this before but maybe you forgot and will laugh again.  The latest Nutella rage that has me cracking up over spreads.

I'm knitting the cable sweater, some lace and finishing a pair of felted clogs for the Mr. today.

In other funny, there is a custodian that I know that has been given multiple jobs to do at once in his school.  He must enter lunch numbers into a computer, lock the doors, scrape the trays, and take care of any spills or messes that occur.  

It's a little over the top but it's what happens when there aren't enough people to do everything.  

Last week I suggested to him that because he doesn't have enough to do that he should provide some entertainment in the cafeteria.  Without pause for thought he said, "Oh yes, I've got a puppet show lined up for today and for the adult entertainment, I've ordered a pole for next week."

In movie news, the Mr. and I watched Monsieur Verdoux with a talking and directing Charlie Chaplin last night.  What a movie.  What begins as a farce about a man who is a "bluebeard" (I had never heard that term before last night) - someone who marries for money and then kills his spouses- turns into a treatise on war that kills millions versus people who murder.  I'm guessing it's where this line came from:  If you kill millions in war, you're a hero but if you murder one, you're a criminal."  I'm not getting all political here, it was just a peculiar movie (1947) that left an impression.

My favorite line in it (one I'm sure I'll remember when the drugs stop working) is 

Despair is a narcotic that lulls one into indifference.

It won and Academy Award nomination for the screenplay but was panned by the critics.  I'm guessing the change in tone didn't win them over, and apparently the perceived trivialization of murder was offensive to them as well.

End of random.

The Nutella Diaries - Season 1 Episode 1

Behold the items that have been subjected to Nutella-  so far, all have been winners.   Annie has a no bake Nutella cheesecake recipe and Becky suggested Nutella in a milkshake.

Interesting little tidbit about Mr. Sophanne.  He didn't know that milkshakes can be made by blending ice cream and milk.  He thought maybe there were some special unattainable ingredients involved.  When he brought home a half gallon of ice cream for milk shakes I was so excited about milkshakes that I forgot to add the Nutella.  

In tartar sauce news, I've found something worse than roast beef and tartar sauce.  It was a Friday night and the free casino buffet had fried fish on the menu.  A little further down, near the desserts, they had some strawberries.  Next to the strawberries was a big ole honkin' bowl of tartar sauce.  Because it was in close proximity to the strawberries and VERY far away from the fried fish, I assumed it was some sort of fruit dip.  (The casino buffet rarely just has plain delicious healthy fruit available).  The looks I must have gotten when drizzling my strawberries with tartar sauce probably didn't hold a candle to the one I made when I tasted it.

eta.. and because I am who I am and rarely finish one task before beginning the next, I just walked into the kitchen and wondered "why is my Nutella posing with all that food."

Diagramming

Please who can somebody diagram these sentence that I did got in a email today from a person what can be the boss of people.

Please read the memo and pass on any areas you would like consideration to be spoke on.

No small hanging detail

Here you see the "man hooks." Around these parts I am generally drop the layers on the kitchen table. Mr. Sophanne is the hanger-upper.

(This could possibly be because he's got the market cornered on every over the closet handy hook)

There is a new addition to this particular collection. In the middle of the giant bathrobe, sweaters, jacket and hat is a knitted scarf I made several years ago. Suddenly it is manly and warm enough to declare as his own. The number of knitted items for Mr. Sophanne has increased to three.

Happy love day

Knit night profile and a premise for a new tv show.

Subtitle: who thought it was good idea for me to have so much easily accessible technology.

Knit night profile:

Say hello to knitnightalison and a list of things I can tell you about her.

She's an ironic magic fairy princess somewhere between Briar Rose (some sort of former Snow White and last years Halloween costume) and Alice in Wonderland only smarter and funnier.

I can't use her real name because she has an occasionally stalking ex.

KNA was an archeologist for a while. She had to find a different job when the economy went belly up.

She shares my Spidey hearing sense and when the bass line in Panera's Muzak begins farting over an inadequate sound system we both begin laughing and no one else knows why.

There is always a subtle one-liner spoken quietly and with aplomb that absolutely slays me. Tonight's was "that turtle was a real jerk." The best part in that "you had to be there" moment was that she was talking about a real turtle.

And the reason for the picture below is that a few weeks ago I got schooled in Nutella (something I'd never had) and while it sounded interesting I knew and said it was one of those things I'd never buy. Tonight she brought me two giant jars. I now know Nutella.

And now the tv show-

3rdyearmedstudentknitnightJustine shared the app Speed Anatomy. My science knowledge is just about zip, nil and none. I manipulated the high school and college course selection system so that I could learn as little as possible and still make passing grades. On reflection, it was boring as hell.


3ymsknJustine played speed anatomy for a while as I watched entranced. Thn she opened the $50/mo app with diagnostic medical questions. As I joined the fun I knew the meaning of about 35% of the actual words. That did not stop me from offering my answers on the multiple choice questions. After scoring our quiz it turns out she got the highest score ever on the quiz.

Enter the tv show. Hospital show. Doctors, medical students, interns and me (or someone who plays me on tv) offering knowledge based on absolutely nothing except the words they hear that they may or may not know. Think of a show that's the opposit of House only with the same wry, smug humor in my character when I outsmart the real medical staff

Introducing Miss Deb

The first in what may be a series of mini iPad posts. I've never had a camera so handy. Welcome to 2013, Sophanne!

This is Miss Deb. She is the parent volunteer coordinator at my school and if there is a festive occasion, she is dressed for it. Maybe I'll do a series of holiday posts featuring her stylishness. It should be documented somewhere!

Cables anyone? Said Annabelle.

Someone here saved her $$ and now she has an iPad mini and can snap pictures at will.... Beware!

Drive by posting

Having not gone to knit night on Tuesday, the weekly dose of the interesting and peculiar is not what it usually is.  However....

Yesterday morning a mama at school was talking to a papa at school who was holding a little one (age 1 or 2.)  Mama said, "My look how he has grown."

I cracked up.  What if adults would say these things to each other.  Later in the day I finally convinced that same mama to play that game with me.  We both said to each other "look how you've grown!"  and laughed and laughed.


And, based on the photo below you get one guess as to what Aunt of Sophanne and I will be doing in June.  I am so excited.  And those four words have really been all that I can utter about it since it came about!

knit night and the day after

I was always horrible at science.  Sometimes I have dreams where I take a university organic chemistry test and get an A+ and walk around showing everyone that "I could do it after all."

I prefer to get any science with a dose of laugh which is why knitnight is so great.  KnitnightGina is a lab person in a blood place. (pretty fancy title, eh- I'm sure she's called something different but that's as much as I can come up with.)  Her daughter, knitnightJustine is in medical school.  She's not a resident or an intern but she goes to a hospital every day which leaves her somewhere between anatomy class and doctorville.  Last night I learned about the factor cascade of coagulation, platelets and plasma.  And in a very small way, I get it and am amazed that we all have bodies and that they work so well.

The Day After.

Today Mr. Sophanne said "Let's go out to dinner."   Because we live in ruralville, the only within 10 mile option was a place that rhymes with Mob Revans.

We learned some interesting things.  The soup container that they put on your table is to encourage you to buy soup. (no surprise there)  The waitstaff has a "soup quota" they have to make each shift.  If they fail more than once to include the empty container on a patrons table, they are suspended from work for three days.  There is also a 20% beverage quota that does not include water.

Our waitress shared this information with us freely mostly because Mr. Sophanne can get anyone to talk.  While we were eating he saw all wait staff pulled off the floor and into conference about the low soup numbers for the evening.

What the hell?  No wonder the service there is often so bad.  Everybody's worried about their carry out soup and soda numbers.  If you have customers you know aren't interested, it's time to move on to another potential soup buyer.  That's where the action is.

I might be wrong, but I'm guessing that the finer dining establishments that Mr. Sophanne and I have visited in big cities don't operate under such ridiculous premises.

When I worked for as a telephone operator for a company that rhymes with Spay Gee and Gee, they would insist that we ask people if they wanted to upgrade to person to person rather than just collect calls.  The interaction (given the area where I worked) often went like this:

Them:  I'd like to make a collect call to Sam.
Me:  Would you like to make that person to person?
Them:  What does that mean?
Me:  That means that you don't pay for the call unless you get the person you are trying to reach.
Them:  Why sure!  That sounds great.  Make it person to person to Sam.
Me:  There will be an extra charge for that service.
Them What?
Me:  It costs more to make a person to person call than just a collect call.
Them:  Well what do I want that for then.  (and occasionally something along the lines of you $%#@#$# people!)

The waitress at Tob Blevens had a funny and relaxed attitude about it.  She made us laugh on and off throughout the meal.  When she brought the check I had my plan ready.  I handed her a pile of $$ and said, "First of all, this is your tip."  Then I handed her another pile of money and said "Second of all, this pile is for some soup.  We don't really want any soup.  I just want you to sell some and maybe give it to your manager from us."

Doing the math while leaving, Mr. Sophanne said "You essentially just left a 50% tip," to which I replied, "It was worth every penny."

Oh Where, Oh Where

has this blogger been?  Oh where oh where can she be?

Well, if you must know...

Things I have been doing while not blogging.

1) once again rearranging the yarn room.  We are down to 4 bookshelves and enough room to put the piano in here as well.  Sadly, while I measured the potential piano space, I did not measure the path the piano would have to travel and now there is a big empty spot.  I am plotting and scheming plans to remedy this but will not reveal until its a done deal.

2) playing the ukulele.  I bought a new one last month.  It doesn't slide out of tune so quickly which has made playing rather pleasant.  That I have been playing it when I could be knitting suggests that it will join the list of acceptable hobbies.

3) knitting... I have nothing to show for said knitting, as I've been working on miles and miles of Elsebeth Lavold Log Cabin Moderne.  It would seem that I have committed to this project (unlike so many others) and in spite of the endless garter stitch, I will forge on.

but what about the funny?

Trust me when I say that if I had some funny, this would be one of the first places I'd share it.

I do have a piece of knitterly/driving advice to share.

If you happen to knit a malabrigo balaclava, and you happen to wear it on the -4 degree drive to school, be sure to take it off if your eyelids start to get droopy because it is so cozy.  I managed to do this in time, but I may have found a cure for insomnia!  (at least if you have it at -4 degrees while driving.)

Knubblechen on Couch

Do you remember when knitnightMarc crocheted this couch kleenex box cover?

Whilst on Ravelry I found this pattern for knubblechen

And now knitnightMarc's couch has a permanent resident.

This is the best best best pattern for leftover sock yarn.  No huge ass blanket that will never get finished that is every color imaginable.  The possibilities are endless.  Go look at them, you know you want to!

It never fails...

The Scorpion and the Frog
from the website Aesop's Fables




A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the

scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The

frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?" The scorpion

says, "Because if I do, I will die too."



The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream,

the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of

paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown,

but has just enough time to gasp "Why?"



Replies the scorpion: "Its my nature..."


No matter how many times I am "stung by the scorpion," it never fails to surprise me when it happens again.

Hot Heads

First, some non-knitted hot heads.  Just before the big vacation and the snow started coming, Mr. Sophanne and I had the pleasure of playing with da brudders at the local mall.  While we are not fans of the local mall 2 weeks before Christmas, there is an indoor play area. Woot.

Here I am with two of the 3 brudders- getting all three in one picture facing the camera is next to impossible.  This is as good as it gets.  Mr. Sophanne picked up these reindeer lids at the local Claire's and you can imagine the sight we were to behold with 2 twins and older brudder on our way to see Santa Claus.  As a side note, isn't it always the case that the man disappears from activities and returns with surprises such as these?

The next hot head comes in the adorable form of Mr. Sophanne's granddaughter who happens to be with all of her cousins in Paris.  Note last year's Christmas hat on her head.  That hat has likely seen more of Europe than I have. I am so proud.

All scarves seen (and not seen in this picture) were knitted by her mama- who took this summer's knitting lessons to heart and knit no less than 10 scarves in 3 months.  Socks are next for that girl!  Again, I am so proud.

Hot Head the Next:  CousinofSophanne has a birthday coming up and wears a purple coat.  Enter Charlene Schurch's Hat's On and the standard stockinette with ribbing thing.  The colors match her coat perfectly and it was yet more destashing.

Hot head the most- Knitnightmarc made a balaclava that I accidentally stumbled upon on Ravelry this week.  They kind of creep me out.

And yet with the recent shoveling of snow I've been obligated to do, I began to see the advantage of such head gear.  Enter this pattern called "from Russia with Love.

The cables and lighter color make it look less criminal (I'm guessing that few criminals or ninjas are sporting  malabrigo balaclavas)  but alas, it is not as finished as I had hoped.  The proclaimed advantage to a balaclava is the fact that it can be worn as a hat, a cowl or a full on ski mask thingie.  Note to self.  When it says "bind off loosely, just bite the bullet and do a sewn bind off.    The business around the eyes, while lovely is nothing less than form fitting and will not stretch over my head.

Hopefully I can solve this before the "G" storm arrives!