Two.
(Please ignore the bin of sock yarn in the background… um, no, that’s not all the sock yarn… why do you ask?!)
Category Archives: Alongs
Saturday Sky (bad news about the moon) and socks on cats!
I actually took a Saturday Sky picture on Saturday and am only posting it a day late! Woo-hoo! That said, I have some bad news about the moon:
Probably particularly bad for Minneapolis, which is at the bottom of that trajectory.
Here’s my entry for Jane’s sock photo contest – allow me to present socks on cats!
“I can’t tell you how relieved I am!” – Chaos
Vacation, Day #2
MajorKnitter is having a contest to collect supplies for a school knitting project. She has a list of supplies needed to get a K-5 knitting program going – the kids will be knitting for different charities. Mail your donations by October 21.
Reading Update (probably will be quite a few of these during my vacation!)
Burying Ariel by Gail Bowen. Another $0.70 mystery from the thrift store, set in Canada (Saskatchewan this time). Joanne Kilbourn teaches at a university in Regina and one of her colleagues is found stabbed to death in the library. This was a well-written mystery that touched on some tough subjects and I’ll be looking for more in the series.
The Diamond Cat by Marian Babson. Ok, I love the covers of Babson’s books. The contents, not always so much. This was an ok book – I finished it, which I won’t do if I hate a book. And I’ll probably read the other book of hers that I have. But I don’t think I’ll look for any of the others.
Look! I actually took a Saturday Sky picture on a Saturday! (Please ignore the fact that it’s Tuesday right now…) The exuberant ash at the top of the picture has dropped all of its leaves while the other trees are still trying to decide whether to change color.
Really, I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my vacation (well, other than being in my car heading southwest across state lines!). It’s been unseasonably warm and dry here the past few days, and I’ve spent a lot of time walking around my neighborhood, sitting outside at cafes reading and knitting a bit. Today is supposed to be rainy, but hopefully I’ll hook up with Renee for a movie and some knitting – I might even finish my Regia Silk waffle socks!! (I’ll wait for you all to collect yourselves at the rumor of a finished object here at SoC.)
Since I have to be very careful about the angle I take pictures of Chaos from (so his naked butt isn’t revealed – he needs to retain some dignity, bibs notwithstanding), you might see quite a few pictures of Mayhem in the near future.
“Which is as it should be, seeing as I’m so cute and all.”
Hmm, I think I’ve posted at least one or two very similar pictures of Chaos…
“Where do you think you’re going, my pretty?”
“Ha, you’ll not get away from me now!! Off to my lair under the shoebox.”
Vacation, Day #1
Megan is participating in the Tour de Cure. She’ll have a prize drawing for those who support her in this endeavor. You can even support her by buying a sock pattern!
Rebekah is having a contest. She’s curious about how all those lone shoes end up along roads (I’ve always wondered about this, too). Take a picture of one such shoe and send her an email with the picture and your explanation before November 1.
Amelia is having a contest – leave a comment with a family story about your grandparents and you could win a yarny prize if you’re lucky commenter 3501.
Lorinda is having a ‘fess up to your oldest UFO contest. Leave your comment before 10 pm Central, October 8.
Chaos Update
Adding the additional antibiotic Thursday night seems to really have helped the Chaos Kitty. Things aren’t perfect yet, but they are definitely much better. Again, I cannot thank all of you enough for your support and words of wisdom, which have helped me so much. You guys are great!
Reading Update
To Feel Stuff by Andrea Seigel. Trying to expand a bit beyond the mysteries now and again… This novel revolves around Elodie Harrington, a Brown University student who lives in the infirmary due to her ongoing medical maladies. The story is told from the perspective of Elodie, a doctor studying her case, and another student (in love with her) who is confined to the infirmary for a time. A good read, and I’m definitely going to read other works by this author.
Coyote Cowgirl by Kim Antieau. Reading a book that starts on the Day of the Dead may be as close as I get to participating in the Day of the Dead Knitalong… This contemporary magical realism novel made for a compelling read and some aspects reminded me of Like Water for Chocolate.
The Magyar Venus by Lyn Hamilton. Love how the $0.70 mysteries I pick up at the thrift store often introduce me to a good series or author. This archeological mystery, set in Canada and Hungary, was enjoyable and well written; I will read more from this series.
On Friday, my KnitFlix package arrived! My pal was Anna of Knit-Write. Chaos and Mayhem inspected every aspect of the package, starting with the lovely gift bag.
“Smells… gifty.”
Chaos took it upon himself to perform the initial inspection. (Please note that a bar of lovely dark chocolate may or may not also have been included, although it is not pictured…)
“This is green, but I don’t think it’s catnip…”
Finally, he did allow Mayhem to check things out, too.
“Everything’s so interesting!”
“But this, this stuff is really interesting.”
Oh oh… Thanks, Anna, for a fun swap package! I’ve always wanted to have my own copy of Shrek, and am looking forward to trying the exotic popcorns and WildCAT Popcorn Salt.
In which I post about contests, books read, Saturday Sky belated, and yarn dyed (yes, some cute cat pictures are included)
Limedragon is having not one, but two contests! The first is a Sock Hunt – guess which color of Opal in which pattern Limedragon will knit first and win a skein of Opal Petticoat. The second is a Dragon Hunt – from a selection of pictures, guess which picture contains the elusive Limedragon and win a skein of Habu Silk-Stainless Steel laceweight.
Becky is having a contest – guess what Mark Twain is reading in the picture and let her know what you’re reading to win a bookish prize when she gets back from vacation.
Don’t forget about the Think Pink Challenge, which is trying to collect 1000 knitted or crocheted pink scarves by October 15 to be distributed to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.
I’m starting to fear I may never catch up on Bloglines… I’ve been getting things ready for my vacation, hoping that Chaos is recovered before next Saturday so that I can actually go. He’s very lively and is eating Science Diet ID for cats with intestinal, um, issues. Hopefully that will have him on track in a few days… but he’s also licking away the fur at the base of his tail, which is not good. I think we’ll be back at the vet tonight…
Reading Update: Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes. Keyes’ books have focused on the five Walsh sisters, and now it’s Anna’s turn. Very well done chick lit!
Snow Blind by PJ Tracy. This is the fourth mystery about two homicide detectives in the Minneapolis Police Department and the eccentric software geniuses of Monkeewrench. The entire series has been excellent – highly recommended, but you should read these in order. (Monkeewrench was the first book.)
Lime Ricky by Jill Winters. Totally trashy romance with a hint of mystery, and I devoured every minute of it! *fans self*
You may or may not have noticed, but I’m terrible at being part of Saturday Sky – I forget or am too lazy. But I actually remembered this week… I just didn’t manage to post it. Improvement? Or not? Anyway, this was taken Saturday at 4:30 pm from inside my car. The rain was heavy enough that the windshield looked clear.
Remember a few weeks ago when Jeanne, Deb, and I dyed some more yarn? Well, I finally wound up one of my self-striping skeins, made by special request for a friend:
“I don’t know why the big cat said I had to come up here to check out the yarn and report back to him. Hmph.”
Speaking of Chaos and Mayhem, they seem to be getting along pretty well. Here Mayhem nurses from Chaos… Um, yeah, there are some challenges to this endeavor!!
“Maybe she isn’t very bright… At least this way, she stays still so I can clean her properly!”
S is for…
Hold that thought! 🙂
MrsPao is having a contest for her first blogiversary! Come up with a mnemonic for her cats’ names (Jasper, Ariel, Merlin, Perdita, Ophelia, Phoebe) by 9 pm GMT on Tuesday, September 12.
Jeanne is having a contest – guess the number of socks in her sock pile before midnight, September 15, CDT.
Ok, so where were we? Oh yeah… S is for Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.
Yesterday, Deb, Jeanne, and I (along with many other Twin Cities knitters) journeyed east to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to see Yarn Harlot Stephanie.
First, we met a lot of great knitters and knitbloggers – more on that later this week. Then we walked to the Temple of Free Masonry to hear Stephanie speak.
She was, of course, terrifically funny. She showed off her Olympic sweater (the heap by her feet in this picture, as I was too slow with the camera) and her Icarus shawl:
Then Stephanie signed copies of her books at Yellow Dog Knitting (we provided the Leinenkugel Honey Weiss – thanks for the tip, Louise!):
And graciously posed for a picture with us (pretend I’m not in this picture, because it is a horrific picture of me! What the hell am I doing back there?! My simple photoediting program didn’t have a red X or dot to put over me – drat.):
Curious about Chaos and Mayhem? Chaos likes to keep a close eye on May, whatever she might be doing…
“What are you doing in there?!”
Um, yeah, two guesses, Chaos…
I’d like to say that May is unconcerned about Chaos, but she keeps a wary eye out, since he’s been trying to beat the crap out of her. She is safely shut in the bathroom when I’m not around to supervise! (It’s funny how sleek she looks in pictures, because she’s still got some kitten fluff and is amazingly gangly.)
“Man, that big cat is crabby! I wonder where he is right now…”
R is for…
Q is for…
Of yarn and keychains
Heather of What’s Cluttering My Couch is having a contest. It’s different. And nice.
Celia of Unraveling is doing the Asthma Walk. If you contribute, you could win a pair of handknitted socks, tailored to your preferences!
Reading
Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher. The most recent Dresden Files novel. This series about Chicago PI and wizard Harry Dresden continues to be enjoyable, funny, and unpredictible. Definitely recommended.
Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton. The most recent Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, novel was ok. The bit about unpredictible being good re: the Dresden Files? The Anita Blake books are seeming awfully predictible these days. I ripped through the book, but I can’t say that I really enjoyed it.
The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman. Kristi recommended this book so highly a few weeks ago that I had to check it out. This is the first book in a series about LAPD Detective Peter Decker and Jewish widow Rina Lazarus and I already have the next book on my library list. For a more eloquent review, head on over and read Kristi’s.
China Trade by S.J. Rozan. MrsPao recommended this book to me and I’m very glad she did! Another enjoyable read that’s also the first book in a series about PI Lydia Chin, based out of NY’s Chinatown, and fellow PI Bill Smith.
I did a few things besides read this weekend. I knit – I’m now on the borders of my Moderne Log Cabin Baby Blanket! I did a tiny amount of catsitting. I touched up some dyed yarn. I rode my exercise bike and watched it rain outside. I walked around my neighborhood on Monday when the sun came out and took a few pictures. I played with the Chaos Kitty. I contemplated getting him a little sister… but maybe that should wait until after my epic vacation this fall. Anyway!
The sky was so dreary on Saturday and Sunday, I wasn’t tempted to get my camera out. But on Labor Day, I was. So here’s my Saturday Sunday Monday sky.
Last week I mentioned that I was saving the pictures of my dyed yarn and fun stuff from Deb until this week. Here’s the nifty keychain sock blocker and skein of Online Supersocke from Deb. Thanks, Deb! I hadn’t even seen the Supersocke before and that keychain is amazingly cute! Must knit minisock for minisock blocker…
“Hee hee – you think you’re going to knit a teeny little sock like that and keep it out of my clutches?! Don’t you remember the miniskein?”
I dyed more than one skein of yarn, but the self-striping hot pink and black not only defies photos, it’s also drying again – I had to redye the black because it was blotchy after the first time around. I think the skein below is my favorite so far of the skeins I’ve dyed, but I just couldn’t capture the colors. This is the best that I managed, but the colors are more intense in reality:
“You can drop that yarn, Mom. I promise nothing bad will happen to it…”
I also picked up some Silk Garden DK, inspired by Julia’s gorgeous socks.
“Um, excuse me? You put this on my why?! And you expect me to not rip it to bits?!! Hmph.”
O is for…
Hold that thought for a minute, because first – Lisa of Black Sheep is having a contest: if you pledge in support of her son Brett’s MS 150 bike ride, you’ll be entered in a drawing for something fun.
Some of you might remember that I skipped O in the ABC-Along and I’ve fallen terribly behind – I should be on R, but I haven’t done Q (or O) yet. So, let me present…
O is for Oddity. This ever-so-Odd “knitting machine” is something I found at the thrift store a few years ago and was forced to buy – I sure couldn’t resist the hyperbole:
The KNITTING MACHINE: Knitting! Made fast, easy & beautiful! No knitting experience needed! Knit GRANNY CIRCLES in seconds! Create afghans, pillows, purses and shawls incredibly fast! Patterns for 24 projects included! As seen on TV! Full 1 year warranty!
Wow! Of course, if using this machine means that my living room is going to look like the one pictured on the box and booklet……. Chaos seems pretty skeptical, doesn’t he? (I highly recommend clicking on these pictures to get the full effect from the larger versions.)
“I think you’ve reached a new low here, Mom…”
“Yikes!”
Hmm, you can see why he was startled, can’t you?! Here’s the machine (made of lovely and sturdy plastic), the project booklet, and a somewhat alarming looking project that the previous owner left in the box. After consulting the booklet, I believe that’s “Peter Pinworm” – I’ll wait while you wipe coffee and Cap’n Crunch off your monitors…
Here’s a page from the booklet, explaining how to knit a “puff” (aka a “knitted granny square,” albeit not square). I’ve always wondered if I could use this thing for making the ever-do-tedious felted bag handles, but based on the warnings, I would have to be very careful with worsted weight yarn… unless it was Orlon. Ewww! I don’t think they make Orlon yarn anymore, do they?! And that’s a good thing…
