tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-217327002024-03-07T19:30:58.436-08:00Chicken without a HeadSeattle, pets, knitting, reviews, randomness.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-48993023961907818262010-10-28T10:54:00.000-07:002010-10-28T11:16:53.996-07:00I never really left youYeah, so it was kind of a long blog break.<br /><br />Let's get up to date!<br /><br />1. I'm now self-employed, which sometimes bears are remarkable resemblance to being unemployed. Somehow it didn't occur to me that the job mission "help independent sewing machine dealers sell high-end sewing and embroidery machines" just <span style="font-style: italic;">might</span> be affected by the Great Recession.<br /><br />2. I apply for jobs (you know, the kind with an employer who is not me, and a salary) periodically. Job hunting is depressingly like dating. You get all dressed up via your resume and cover letter, and you convince yourself that this is the one, a perfect match. And then they never, ever call you back.<br /><br />3. I went to the Netherlands with Trent this summer for two weeks. I have no photographic evidence that this happened.<br /><br />4. We adopted another dog in late April. This is Daisy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghW0ZVohqEr0EhChS9K3tnmRb4h3PB5Ldads701tjg3SiFhWPkrPBbFOHjW27Ie6SfuF4HRWnOKOn64IIZ0CjQiTtDobyA4FOGo1tWMwq2wpVny_JnkyIreGtGhG9bzQIZkN9K/s1600/dogs+003.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghW0ZVohqEr0EhChS9K3tnmRb4h3PB5Ldads701tjg3SiFhWPkrPBbFOHjW27Ie6SfuF4HRWnOKOn64IIZ0CjQiTtDobyA4FOGo1tWMwq2wpVny_JnkyIreGtGhG9bzQIZkN9K/s320/dogs+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533162369515130098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWsWPaqfULCS0WbVh59fgQvuCPxJLwT7qIX2QusHp9nwpj-7yxw-eArjPByyIabEOtOXks5EmXtIXao-MSorEioEksum9qkwGH6RR1MzPxmfjDWbiZcULalAyqoAd0LuBp-HJ/s1600/Netherlands+and+dogs+029.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWsWPaqfULCS0WbVh59fgQvuCPxJLwT7qIX2QusHp9nwpj-7yxw-eArjPByyIabEOtOXks5EmXtIXao-MSorEioEksum9qkwGH6RR1MzPxmfjDWbiZcULalAyqoAd0LuBp-HJ/s320/Netherlands+and+dogs+029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533161678844676418" border="0" /></a><br />She is cute as a button. She loves people and having her belly rubbed.<br /><br />She wants to kill Stella (which, to be fair, is a reasonable reaction to Stella's behavior around her), and pretty much every other animal in the world, with the possible exception of Kidd. It's been a rough road. We've had several dog fights that required trips to the vet for one or more dogs. Then we unwittingly made things much worse. Daisy developed spay incontinence, so the vet put her on the most common medication for that issue (Proin). Welllllll, it turns out that it's an amphetamine (and a meth precursor!), and for some dogs it increases anxiousness and aggressiveness. Daisy is in that percentage, and she nearly ripped out one of Kidd's eyes. (He looks extremely piratical now with his scar.)<br /><br />She's much nicer now that she's on a different med. It's an estrogen replacement therapy, so Trent keeps joking that she's going to take up knitting. I'd like that, actually. We're also working with a behaviorist (the lovely Christine Hibbard from <a href="http://www.companionanimalsolutions.com/">Companion Animal Solutions</a>). Daisy and Stella are currently separated at all times while we train them (separately) to sit nicely and be calm. The training regime is called the <a href="http://dogscouts.org/Protocol_for_relaxation.html">relaxation protocol</a>, but we call it doggie yoga since we use a yoga mat to be the "sit here" spot.<br /><br />It's an ongoing project. Daisy now shows no inclination to murder Kidd, and she seems calmer and happier. She's even started chewing on dog bones, which is progress.<br /><br />5. I've been making lots of stuff, so hopefully there will be pictures in the future.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-53468819905069924882010-04-03T18:19:00.001-07:002010-04-04T21:46:44.990-07:00ChloeChloe<br />Chlo-chlo<br />Chlo Girl<br />Chlozilla<br />Zilla<br />Dogzilla<br />Dingo<br />Fanga<br />Snorty McDingo<br />Chlo-belle<br />Chlotilde<br />Woolia<br />Bella<br />Princess<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFaiztirxv9eCXAVu-YvjKOjfZzJAlHel_wsx5RrfwvWQBmWhKPfKlLiRzJdchwifySA0BBCn0jDPksLaRidwf-o4mlGx_qlpN88eEuqPHQkX8KQVXOiyAGF70zXaDefwcjIS/s1600/chloe_email.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFaiztirxv9eCXAVu-YvjKOjfZzJAlHel_wsx5RrfwvWQBmWhKPfKlLiRzJdchwifySA0BBCn0jDPksLaRidwf-o4mlGx_qlpN88eEuqPHQkX8KQVXOiyAGF70zXaDefwcjIS/s320/chloe_email.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456086601142429602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We lost Chloe January 31st. The cancer metastasized. She had fluid in her lungs and a tumor pressing against her heart. We made the decision and took her to the vet for euthanasia and stayed with her to the end, and it was the hardest thing I've ever done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmQYiLfZAbJUwfKX_MuEMbOcaGPM4jaITrbF6w06bqcWjTnoveZOxAvSaSd7rZHDRLj5s3HRhewk5tDCQ2MD-dyyliH_KqG7Bple4iF6r8EA-Wje2uH7pV4KY9Gv-j-2HlJ-E/s1600/DSCF0033.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmQYiLfZAbJUwfKX_MuEMbOcaGPM4jaITrbF6w06bqcWjTnoveZOxAvSaSd7rZHDRLj5s3HRhewk5tDCQ2MD-dyyliH_KqG7Bple4iF6r8EA-Wje2uH7pV4KY9Gv-j-2HlJ-E/s320/DSCF0033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456086599075319010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I know everyone thinks their dog is the best dog ever, in the whole world. I know Chloe was. The picture above pretty much sums up her and me. We found her at the Seattle Animal Shelter in June of 2004. We were in the process of buying a house, largely because we desperately wanted a dog. In the week before closing, when we had six million things we needed to be doing, we went to the shelter. I had spotted her there on a previous visit, but she didn't have any information because she had just been surrendered. I stalked petfinder.com waiting for info to appear, and when it did, we made that trip. Dogs bounced and jumped and barked, but Chloe sat at the front of her cage with her head tilted, and those big ears, and just smiled at me.<br /><br />We took her to the shelter's little play area, and she rolled over and put her head in my lap, just like in that picture above. Trent was skeptical - her info said she was 6 (or maybe 8 - there were contradictions), and he thought she'd be boring and never play. Smart girl, when she got done nuzzling me, she bounced up, stuck her butt in the air, and pounced at Trent.<br /><br />We took a couple of other dogs out to play, in the interest of fairness, but I was clearly a goner. We didn't have our house yet, and our apartment was definitely a no-dog zone, so I said we should wait until closing, come back Saturday, and if she was still there it was meant to be. Trent asked me how I'd feel if someone else adopted her. At that moment, some other woman was checking out the paperwork on her cage, and I felt murderous. We adopted Chloe on the spot, and she went off to our vet for a couple of days. <br /><br />Don't wait when you fall in love.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzr3tGgetUXj8avPFBCgLVG1Ncq3lwV0QVlGlGO2N6t4koNIplLw402sND2NkARWNg24yreqRrxJiVAOc6_n8KjjH9r30jFCe-KCWyYRHiZ1Ivpt2IJgxKbQ_sqGfoLGco0Ci/s1600/DSCF0017.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzr3tGgetUXj8avPFBCgLVG1Ncq3lwV0QVlGlGO2N6t4koNIplLw402sND2NkARWNg24yreqRrxJiVAOc6_n8KjjH9r30jFCe-KCWyYRHiZ1Ivpt2IJgxKbQ_sqGfoLGco0Ci/s320/DSCF0017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456086588981024194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And so it came to pass that Chloe was the very first thing that we moved into our house. She came to us with 10 or 15 pounds of extra fat, a bladder infection, and skanky fur. The vet, good food, and exercise had her bounding around the park chasing tennis balls and glowing in short order. Her previous owner has obviously trained her not to jump on the furniture, but we felt that a dog's place is on the couch where you can rub her tummy and stroke her big, pointy, silky ears.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSHNvoGplnLYJa2SMqoszokNjLFGgEiRjFeklEbPPdUNJFzeXf75GksG5l_uLNUji0X-T_ZZ11AThpw8QXUE7YLHIq-N8lPXY8bgHjM_wvrx-PyK1l709Vq6si8l-J4ClQ5JA/s1600/DSCF0026.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSHNvoGplnLYJa2SMqoszokNjLFGgEiRjFeklEbPPdUNJFzeXf75GksG5l_uLNUji0X-T_ZZ11AThpw8QXUE7YLHIq-N8lPXY8bgHjM_wvrx-PyK1l709Vq6si8l-J4ClQ5JA/s320/DSCF0026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456086575547746898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When we adopted Chloe, Trent asked me if I was sure about getting and older dog. They die sooner. You don't have them as long. I argued that puppies can die suddenly too, and that it didn't matter. It didn't. She had a lot of health problems in the 5 and a half years we had her. She had ear infections, eye infections, abcessed teeth, mysterious skin growths, an injured knee, and increasingly painful arthritis. We took her to the vet, handed over money, and applied various pills and ointments. I took her to the doggy hot tub for swimming therapy. Eventually the tennis ball days were over. We walked the neighborhood and she made friends with everyone from little kids to homeless guys to biker types to the people with handicaps who exercise in the park. Friends came to our house and adored Chloe. Even a friend who actively dislikes dogs would pet Chloe.<br /><br />When she was diagnosed with cancer my heart broke. I'm still heart-broken and grieving the loss. But I've never, ever, for one second been sorry that we adopted her (or that she adopted us). <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzePifMlkTDuXjdPWkLZORHNq7_pAFZtEcBkVTujK-H6F-yGs9_1voNgl_73gewuK4RG5pElP5d3o7knT7Bqe7XpdXMBa_-z3lmjtT_Lb03r_Xm4GlzP2jn9jQQ_gSt43t_s9/s1600/DSCF0216.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzePifMlkTDuXjdPWkLZORHNq7_pAFZtEcBkVTujK-H6F-yGs9_1voNgl_73gewuK4RG5pElP5d3o7knT7Bqe7XpdXMBa_-z3lmjtT_Lb03r_Xm4GlzP2jn9jQQ_gSt43t_s9/s320/DSCF0216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456086612548561330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Chloe showed me how to love completely, without reserve. She made the world better. She made my heart bigger. She loved the world, and it loved her right back. On sunny days, she rolled in the grass and the little daisies and snorted with joy. The sun came out for her. <br /><br />Our household now has me, Trent, the dogs Kidd and Stella, and the cats Rudy and Callie. Very slowly over the last two months I've stopped feeling like there's a huge Chloe-shaped gap in the house, but we still miss her terribly. <br /><br />Give everyone you love a hug,Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-89503066478131509242009-12-02T15:43:00.001-08:002009-12-02T15:57:18.206-08:00ThanksgivingMy Chloe is still doing fabulously. She milks her 3-legged status for all it's worth, and is greatly spoiled and adored by all. It's been over 3 months since amputation. and about 6 since cancer diagnosis. It's bonus time, and I try hard to remember to appreciate every bit of it.<br /><br />In other news, knitting!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX3Ef6AYYTAWRSLwgkLVl6cCzIgR_aQRT1sJmcxfxEAbVcAVrYeDbdz57Olk6zkqhLJE2ntGJAx_yGb03t631wT5f-5wX589gWNrv1-Svn5NbbZoQGTZIDagwLAHmPz1l-JAb/s1600-h/knitting+065.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX3Ef6AYYTAWRSLwgkLVl6cCzIgR_aQRT1sJmcxfxEAbVcAVrYeDbdz57Olk6zkqhLJE2ntGJAx_yGb03t631wT5f-5wX589gWNrv1-Svn5NbbZoQGTZIDagwLAHmPz1l-JAb/s200/knitting+065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410791766953318306" border="0" /></a><br />Baby sweater for our friends James and Adria's forthcoming baby. I think it's hilariously like a little old man sweater. I even used the fake woven leather buttons.<br /><br />I have my standard 6 billion other projects going, too. This year the Pacific Fabrics KAL is using Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick, so I'm currently in the throes of both a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brioche-hat">brioche hat</a> and the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/petticoat-socks">petticoat socks</a> (Ravelry links), as well as some secret holiday knitting projects.<br /><br />Also in the ongoing project kingdom, I'm working on the quilting on a queen size quilt I'm making for my mother. I'm so close to done, but I'm having trouble getting done. But it sure is pretty.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jz2uxokzfcEmnsZBAErPCDAr8lgzWdH10QL44r8xC5SUUPKBPv8dTau9R71HrfYPVk-pKFXgs-X6K6SCaxuCxV20ZO1fER8ftPnS5p3Q_oVhf1tfoNamI5QT9yq4Z8X_eI8b/s1600-h/mom's+quilt+001.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jz2uxokzfcEmnsZBAErPCDAr8lgzWdH10QL44r8xC5SUUPKBPv8dTau9R71HrfYPVk-pKFXgs-X6K6SCaxuCxV20ZO1fER8ftPnS5p3Q_oVhf1tfoNamI5QT9yq4Z8X_eI8b/s200/mom's+quilt+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410791769115422898" border="0" /></a>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-73228861244187105162009-09-04T23:14:00.000-07:002009-09-04T23:17:54.571-07:00WonderDogChloe is amazing. Two weeks after amputation, she's getting herself up and down the stairs, greeting visitors with a wagging tail, and generally behaving like her old self. Awww.<br /><br />Here's still life with dogs and spinning wheels.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagjVkMvPYG4wai5DiZ56ZEMgezmb0O7AUSnByYLrPRpnG-SKWQ29ssSGEfKp7dQcxxZ_j7lpkjed9vI5SHGNbJf23HtohsWv5AgILnqM-tbqmm3rWg-DvlfxWdBe3pPCcX68K/s1600-h/dogs+002.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagjVkMvPYG4wai5DiZ56ZEMgezmb0O7AUSnByYLrPRpnG-SKWQ29ssSGEfKp7dQcxxZ_j7lpkjed9vI5SHGNbJf23HtohsWv5AgILnqM-tbqmm3rWg-DvlfxWdBe3pPCcX68K/s200/dogs+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377863522208154434" border="0" /></a><br />She's slowly growing her hair back. We'll get there.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-43685991132071916322009-08-25T20:53:00.000-07:002009-08-26T09:35:05.222-07:00Lots of good, and one really bad thingI've been knitting and spinning. The garden is growing, and I've had an abundance of cherry tomatoes. I've seen lots of family this summer. Trent and I got scooters, and we love zipping around town on them. I've read lots of books. All good.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk6YhJkUimfpY2lEFRGlwVSYFTtgYf0wzqRQ8t4OhFYUCuK9onoAfm16vDWfOL_I6AjaGxUMGbie8dSR1nm_YtqU9z12dOjPJv-SAmwbSVSw0846UQG5fQGY0p_b8bNmfhKld/s1600-h/DSCF2046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk6YhJkUimfpY2lEFRGlwVSYFTtgYf0wzqRQ8t4OhFYUCuK9onoAfm16vDWfOL_I6AjaGxUMGbie8dSR1nm_YtqU9z12dOjPJv-SAmwbSVSw0846UQG5fQGY0p_b8bNmfhKld/s200/DSCF2046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374311254456530818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's the hard thing: my beloved Chloe, my dearest darling of the pointy ears and the big doe eyes, has bone cancer (osteosarcoma). She was diagnosed earlier this summer, after she started growing a big lump on her shoulder.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8lF-n-8r9hrrKosvYenJ0CFexszSWLUB5hYD0JQfzDL7I24Sc036FjRX5UeHEnZh9eMjKyaXrbJuZCNfkS3Rf4H22PCqgXa6kYffjcwjjsfG9z2i7raswLs-3LCQ_o3AywP_/s1600-h/IMG_0500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8lF-n-8r9hrrKosvYenJ0CFexszSWLUB5hYD0JQfzDL7I24Sc036FjRX5UeHEnZh9eMjKyaXrbJuZCNfkS3Rf4H22PCqgXa6kYffjcwjjsfG9z2i7raswLs-3LCQ_o3AywP_/s200/IMG_0500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374311246468751122" border="0" /></a><br />I think I cried for a month. We've agonized about what to do. Osteosarcoma is hellishly aggressive and painful, and even with the state of the art treatment, only 50% of dogs are alive a year after diagnosis.<br /><br />We started with two chemotherapy treatments, and two bone strengthening treatments (the cancer weakens the affected bone, which is both painful and can lead to fractures). It brought us a little time to see if the cancer was already spreading to her lungs (the usual COD for osteosarcoma), and how painful the leg was going to be. I canceled my plans to go to the Netherlands with Trent, and we agonized some more.<br /><br />It became pretty clear that the tumor was incredibly painful, and we had to decide whether to have the leg amputated or have Chloe euthanized sooner rather than later. When we had the right balance between the pain and the sedative effects of the painkillers, Chloe was still her happy sweet self. She rolled in the grass in the sun, and made lots of new friends on all her walks. I didn't think she was ready to go yet, and I sure wasn't ready to let her go, so we opted for amputation.<br /><br />That was last Wednesday. Because nothing is ever easy, Trent left for the Netherlands for his study abroad program on the same day. It's been kind of a stressful week. I visited her in the hospital a couple of times, and then brought her home on Sunday night. The vet staff spoiled her rotten while she was there. They fed and watered her by hand, not because it was necessary but because she liked it.<br /><br />She's recovering incredibly well. I'm supposed to keep her very quiet and help her walk. That worked for about the first 24 hours, but by now she's self-propelled. I went out to get groceries, and she met me at the door when I came home. I left her resting on the ground floor while I did dishes, and when I went down to check on her, she had moved up the stairs onto the landing. She's a super hero (and I think her yellow bandage makes her look like one, too).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrNAvwcyADZTlPSiHEqUaMfylo7sybTrz5xZ8dEtODjnfxn2ca_Y33r5-z0IGX9WYKMvQt1FKdGaso-XaYzw27TTYHv_oZ0gsu995oYxuM4JIdsbdyfQcOR0FZKULK00RG_ru/s1600-h/DSCF2245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrNAvwcyADZTlPSiHEqUaMfylo7sybTrz5xZ8dEtODjnfxn2ca_Y33r5-z0IGX9WYKMvQt1FKdGaso-XaYzw27TTYHv_oZ0gsu995oYxuM4JIdsbdyfQcOR0FZKULK00RG_ru/s200/DSCF2245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374311234892197842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ39rCfRy5dF5wG1W1jmQHHfbBOV0Erg7jBJiPtp8_WeDaWx5X-Sns7Iyg0wrNHGLF_ccXvhD5Vik1kdy0IYLil_PS3KIloQCSR1b9FrHo01zw0EVSjciFV8IFwTvDuMTLwg1/s1600-h/DSCF2242.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ39rCfRy5dF5wG1W1jmQHHfbBOV0Erg7jBJiPtp8_WeDaWx5X-Sns7Iyg0wrNHGLF_ccXvhD5Vik1kdy0IYLil_PS3KIloQCSR1b9FrHo01zw0EVSjciFV8IFwTvDuMTLwg1/s200/DSCF2242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374311226823826562" border="0" /></a><br />I wish this would fix the cancer, but it won't. It eliminates pain, which is important, but we're going to have to do more chemo if we want to to increase her chances. Happily, chemo has very mild side effects for Chloe. Unhappily, it is MAD expensive, and the vet already has a big chunk of our money from the amputation. (Honestly, for what it costs, you'd think she'd come home with an extra leg, not minus one.) So the decisions aren't really getting any easier.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-35761427362563497742009-06-14T18:57:00.001-07:002009-06-14T19:14:35.066-07:00Garden update 2I do still knit and sew. I just don't take many pictures of it. But look, here's a quilt I'm making for a store sample!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2d4xANNHTNklSxI_vXEs9qQw9lR7rXJVTscRIqttI50YqN6L9RR9J6N9xiqHg4kkdRSbBRT1Yn9fyNyOck9Z2wIOEpQONJCOigkVkDF4x_fxLbznRHG5f6Z3Tu6fwhZaLmoTu/s1600-h/June+2009+013.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2d4xANNHTNklSxI_vXEs9qQw9lR7rXJVTscRIqttI50YqN6L9RR9J6N9xiqHg4kkdRSbBRT1Yn9fyNyOck9Z2wIOEpQONJCOigkVkDF4x_fxLbznRHG5f6Z3Tu6fwhZaLmoTu/s320/June+2009+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347371631444255250" border="0" /></a><br />This is called Baby Dots. It's from a pattern called <a href="http://www.ericas.com/embdesigns/smithstreet.htm">Dots and Daisies</a> by Smith Street Designs. I'm also making the version pictured on the pattern cover, but that one hasn't come together yet.<br /><br />But since Ryan asked, here's a garden update. I have peas, real actual visible edible snap peas. (Cascadia from Territorial).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXYyWk-Ns2q2Twz_fYLsnBhgD31rGusCO-HNlk_QVtn7luQdjbQCRZqRkFOAmTIcC5y3NyNzAovdB9nXcjD8Q5uxOagCtyJn0ezw7fxRMQT1q-XFwh1j-S1_VaGpvMXCzs-V_/s1600-h/June+2009+006.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXYyWk-Ns2q2Twz_fYLsnBhgD31rGusCO-HNlk_QVtn7luQdjbQCRZqRkFOAmTIcC5y3NyNzAovdB9nXcjD8Q5uxOagCtyJn0ezw7fxRMQT1q-XFwh1j-S1_VaGpvMXCzs-V_/s320/June+2009+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347370790716533602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMev-J4FsnXwvrlqrJaCHoWWBcddLVmFW2e5lslytkwJxOgAChFXlpEyQ5TjMKrPUbS-shAcs8lZrf0jIB-HLainlYZV6Xm8QRfeDVBMVauRF339knST9ceZequFbmAMuvz_v/s1600-h/June+2009+007.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMev-J4FsnXwvrlqrJaCHoWWBcddLVmFW2e5lslytkwJxOgAChFXlpEyQ5TjMKrPUbS-shAcs8lZrf0jIB-HLainlYZV6Xm8QRfeDVBMVauRF339knST9ceZequFbmAMuvz_v/s320/June+2009+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347370794314868466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have broccoli heads forming (no, really, look in the center).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0U5-6gY3u_1FKfan6oKpljUFnVeCnIqQAkjGf-hthCSzPlNyc42O-Nc_uk8ftYMR7nwYZcMMe_rjLB2mquhhAeoQWn7MxM9zyS1WM7hzQOZwRjKjiWeZ4K_mZwkIDoIa5wJ_/s1600-h/June+2009+008.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0U5-6gY3u_1FKfan6oKpljUFnVeCnIqQAkjGf-hthCSzPlNyc42O-Nc_uk8ftYMR7nwYZcMMe_rjLB2mquhhAeoQWn7MxM9zyS1WM7hzQOZwRjKjiWeZ4K_mZwkIDoIa5wJ_/s320/June+2009+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347370794965820898" border="0" /></a><br />I have very lush cherry tomatoes and potatoes, though no produce from either just yet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FkdA2h6SnkynXO-COu3DPFUx6_JS-rPCX0-bXq2zlcVb17GVPNesTmlzWS7-nBNclWvWANojkylASXQI1QJpsudpzAkCb7ub5lR_-IeacCjwOcvix5NJqx6rqYItcQO1EG2u/s1600-h/June+2009+010.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FkdA2h6SnkynXO-COu3DPFUx6_JS-rPCX0-bXq2zlcVb17GVPNesTmlzWS7-nBNclWvWANojkylASXQI1QJpsudpzAkCb7ub5lR_-IeacCjwOcvix5NJqx6rqYItcQO1EG2u/s320/June+2009+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347371626200092242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionKFksZ3lFchkaxAEf1s8VnbkOGLHnBvGDJiiPE0nwqXzB3ysQFbnJjijVz9ZU_2qHuToIoePYY6koLKGOgfyEiqz9Mu_c_gYiX_J626O-osfod1astDnQUrqOSrWX61u5KCt/s1600-h/June+2009+005.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionKFksZ3lFchkaxAEf1s8VnbkOGLHnBvGDJiiPE0nwqXzB3ysQFbnJjijVz9ZU_2qHuToIoePYY6koLKGOgfyEiqz9Mu_c_gYiX_J626O-osfod1astDnQUrqOSrWX61u5KCt/s320/June+2009+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347370789187619682" border="0" /></a><br />I have bolting arugula (with bolting collards in the background, and an Ichiban eggplant protected by a Wall of Water behind that). It was particularly nice, lush arugula before it bloomed, so I'm going to try to save some of the seeds for a fall arugula crop.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4au95N_l5Pheqw3MM1ofNnGlcVtfcc12c8X9mPNZ2Zjp2blDqnRjd1Mqxd010HsAJWikNrr3wtup6h1UlwHzHjSLChAzCqNAdRZWL_Od71XoIyBrqWxJi6zzzuW6TG6PFR6c/s1600-h/June+2009+009.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4au95N_l5Pheqw3MM1ofNnGlcVtfcc12c8X9mPNZ2Zjp2blDqnRjd1Mqxd010HsAJWikNrr3wtup6h1UlwHzHjSLChAzCqNAdRZWL_Od71XoIyBrqWxJi6zzzuW6TG6PFR6c/s320/June+2009+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347370802253623842" border="0" /></a><br />I also have<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imported_cabbage_worm"> imported cabbage worm</a>. Grr. The caterpillars are really hard to spot, since they're exactly the color of whatever brassica plant they are mowing down. Little bastards. I've been picking them off and stomping them flat. Hate.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-4591783028243210002009-05-09T15:35:00.001-07:002009-05-09T15:49:59.775-07:00Garden updateIt's a sunny Saturday in Seattle, the sort of day that makes everyone forget the cold dark dreariness of winter. I'm fully embracing the madness.<br /><br />My garden is looking positively...garden-like. I have peas well up:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjOAq4o-jbsyHI_X8KbiML3jg9zBmiaRgwEr90FyW8u8xaqeZZbC0LyHrzVJ4U8DnbI-kq3JqqFVyuGczAn22Y4TwK5O42_FgdF8CBDSrSi22dEt-vCKzMfjXOGJxVWTpEzRj/s1600-h/garden+002.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjOAq4o-jbsyHI_X8KbiML3jg9zBmiaRgwEr90FyW8u8xaqeZZbC0LyHrzVJ4U8DnbI-kq3JqqFVyuGczAn22Y4TwK5O42_FgdF8CBDSrSi22dEt-vCKzMfjXOGJxVWTpEzRj/s320/garden+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333959817389461650" border="0" /></a><br />I have Chinese cabbage that might be actually preparing to make heads (or it might be preparing to bolt - one can never say):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCk7mKbvbyLZDUck2TycHipgscf6dQA1WwweIVbH-hsR5harb8YRPdDPxI0H1MR61F1xoowPqDdI85bOrWTAjz7FW_0YXFMfServ6jcBCbsmtY_RZl9EUInzkpaYky2TjNxya/s1600-h/garden+003.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCk7mKbvbyLZDUck2TycHipgscf6dQA1WwweIVbH-hsR5harb8YRPdDPxI0H1MR61F1xoowPqDdI85bOrWTAjz7FW_0YXFMfServ6jcBCbsmtY_RZl9EUInzkpaYky2TjNxya/s320/garden+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333959820812235186" border="0" /></a><br />The kale, collards, and broccoli are all thriving, and the scallions have recovered from the pounding they took in a recent rain storm.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9uk0ke4EmI1PxuC7gmEfZIVwy_XdCb6gBQk7iLaY2qRff-55MtBaKlPjs9XKS0hHC37UjPXSfh6tZ4HTUFgc1OrUSJ24thpUxR4aeSogu8QCbIevLTDWSnpTDqpXVpPKLcqV/s1600-h/garden+004.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9uk0ke4EmI1PxuC7gmEfZIVwy_XdCb6gBQk7iLaY2qRff-55MtBaKlPjs9XKS0hHC37UjPXSfh6tZ4HTUFgc1OrUSJ24thpUxR4aeSogu8QCbIevLTDWSnpTDqpXVpPKLcqV/s320/garden+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333959820385142818" border="0" /></a><br />I planted two cherry tomatoes (Red Fig and Cherry Roma) in an <a href="http://www.earthbox.com/">Earthbox</a>, and they're currently being warmed up with a <a href="http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/product/season-starter-the-improved-wall-o-water-plant-protector-3-pack">Wall of Water</a> (each). I would have held off on putting them out, but the pets have a bad habit of grazing on plants in the house, and I didn't want to risk it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6-s71_gkHIiUfUOemrPcQMCdGlcW_d4e898zoBd_sALcyF2I3vRbWTaQ6kgqBiVgz4T_gX9bjtWpr0yZFoJnG_-NDoAEBUZ-2aN2CcqaaFpDUspqKmwoXtSzSkJwL8njeITc/s1600-h/garden+006.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6-s71_gkHIiUfUOemrPcQMCdGlcW_d4e898zoBd_sALcyF2I3vRbWTaQ6kgqBiVgz4T_gX9bjtWpr0yZFoJnG_-NDoAEBUZ-2aN2CcqaaFpDUspqKmwoXtSzSkJwL8njeITc/s320/garden+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333959825199114914" border="0" /></a><br />Additionally, I have two golden zucchini out (one protected by a Wall o' Water, one by a dog e-cone). Today I planted carrots (Bolero) and bush beans (Roma II) as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In other news<br /></span>Chloe has been diagnosed with <a href="http://www.geocities.com/ibdogsintl/whatis.html">Inflammatory Bowel Disease</a> (IBD), and is now eating gold-plated dog food. It's seriously expensive, as were all the vet bills leading up to the diagnosis. She's doing much better now, which is a relief. At some point we'll have to decide whether to stick with the Very Expensive Chow, or try some other food and risk upsetting her system again.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I've been working working working. I still knit and sew, but I never get anything done.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-54609087684073034102009-04-14T12:45:00.001-07:002009-04-14T13:06:37.320-07:00Patience<span style="font-weight: bold;">Gardening<br /><br /></span>I spend an awful lot of time outside looking at my little garden and cheering on the plants. Despite a spell of good weather a week ago, it took longer than I expected for the peas, spinach, and lettuce to sprout. But lo, a pea shoot:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDG24mftShlx8HCj0rUABf5YGGUXxq2RsFE5di1BLPIv4NQ2FI3z63Bkmil98vr5FqWxS40JmSPgfFIoPI8xuGZVm3ZZb0EKGtA8ORzUIrzeQPdWvA1aeClFM8ZuvOQiWSyhjv/s1600-h/DSCF2208.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDG24mftShlx8HCj0rUABf5YGGUXxq2RsFE5di1BLPIv4NQ2FI3z63Bkmil98vr5FqWxS40JmSPgfFIoPI8xuGZVm3ZZb0EKGtA8ORzUIrzeQPdWvA1aeClFM8ZuvOQiWSyhjv/s320/DSCF2208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324639321098931554" border="0" /></a><br />The plants from Sky Nursery are generally doing pretty well. I'm a little concerned by the yellowing of the Chinese Cabbage (background), but the broccoli (foreground) looks good.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" starts="" from="" sky="" nursery="" are="" i="" m="" a="" bit="" concerned="" by="" yellowing="" leaves="" on="" chinese="" cabbage="" but="" the="" broccoli="" is="" doing="" well="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsmD7RucM8-21xXN3e2dRjOzo9YGKIF4OAFPtSb7X4WHBfwjOOO7zeEvyFJlIhzZqnhnVcGbmq_y9q_9KlN3P2WTeTsfPRQVO9MIgmMsmCTXcBZrhg13z3xaDdbSYlTsF2aix/s1600-h/DSCF2210.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsmD7RucM8-21xXN3e2dRjOzo9YGKIF4OAFPtSb7X4WHBfwjOOO7zeEvyFJlIhzZqnhnVcGbmq_y9q_9KlN3P2WTeTsfPRQVO9MIgmMsmCTXcBZrhg13z3xaDdbSYlTsF2aix/s320/DSCF2210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324639315418603922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There's still no signs of potato sprouts. I think I may have planted them too soon, or too deep, or too something. We've had a good bit of rain, and it's supposed to warm up this weekend. If they don't start sprouting, I'll do a little excavation to see if they rotted.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Excercise</span><br /><br />I've started another long-term project...again. I've once again embarked on the couch potato to 5K plan. I <a href="http://chickenwithoutahead.blogspot.com/2008/01/another-bag-and-news-flash-from-obvious.html">tried it last year</a>, then I tried jogging again last fall, in a less structured way. Starting didn't hurt nearly so much this time around. Either I have a tiny bit of lingering fitness from the last bout of running, or I've finally learned to jog slow enough to not kill myself.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Finished things</span><br /><br />My friend Kristin is having a baby girl, which gave me an excuse to do some really girly knitting and sewing. I made a sweater<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnve3BYJf7lNkIpLmkRbNOxpp3MNGlO4ZB8eVFl4-9qP8omJtLP6CTjDxNVByRVNMPoMCs39jdRJBD7qryFmhQzwVEFCXwfHz8qYHGcX-CSvSNBNChwUSqmX2h8VZqmUEmXDVD/s1600-h/DSCF2191.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnve3BYJf7lNkIpLmkRbNOxpp3MNGlO4ZB8eVFl4-9qP8omJtLP6CTjDxNVByRVNMPoMCs39jdRJBD7qryFmhQzwVEFCXwfHz8qYHGcX-CSvSNBNChwUSqmX2h8VZqmUEmXDVD/s320/DSCF2191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324638718868985250" border="0" /></a><br />and a matching outfit.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij21kslC_H8hN3or1dxepK-9Gc8Z8pYPAv0lC_5VfbgoF7K7LnpmPuoNsR3RWeGZVx1iKa24QtD3Ft8Kewoh7B5Cbs8IUMK_ufCV5Cno3ogGBVYpoL7D2dp0r4Tuh210Jna983/s1600-h/DSCF2196.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij21kslC_H8hN3or1dxepK-9Gc8Z8pYPAv0lC_5VfbgoF7K7LnpmPuoNsR3RWeGZVx1iKa24QtD3Ft8Kewoh7B5Cbs8IUMK_ufCV5Cno3ogGBVYpoL7D2dp0r4Tuh210Jna983/s320/DSCF2196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324638740479674338" border="0" /></a><br />And a quilt covered in ribbons.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKCGC1h_WXJ65C_fR0sSicSofq-oqy4l4vYPj_cAEV3EvLaMWKu82nQ3hUcpIcKYksc1kXxDZqbGxJmak2n_hYY84IPQupCfD5Q651eBJ4yl8_KF6NkEGkdPEcf2tQVhdocR6/s1600-h/DSCF2193.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKCGC1h_WXJ65C_fR0sSicSofq-oqy4l4vYPj_cAEV3EvLaMWKu82nQ3hUcpIcKYksc1kXxDZqbGxJmak2n_hYY84IPQupCfD5Q651eBJ4yl8_KF6NkEGkdPEcf2tQVhdocR6/s320/DSCF2193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324638739146160018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unfinished things<br /></span>Remember how <a href="http://chickenwithoutahead.blogspot.com/2008/12/deep-snow-long-silence.html">I said I was going to finish all those unfinished sweater</a>s this year? I worked very diligently on Trent's fisherman sweater for awhile, almost finishing one sleeve. Then he tried it on, and the sleeve is too big. Not too long - too big around. So I'm going to have to rip the whole thing out and reknit it, starting with fewer stitches (I have a plan for that) and decreasing more rapidly. I could cry. Consequently, I've been knitting other things. Hopefully I'll make it back to the unfinished sweaters at some point.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-7026627411660259982009-04-01T22:18:00.001-07:002009-04-01T22:45:08.081-07:00ProgressThere’s been great progress on the garden, and I’ve got the blisters to prove it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbo4gnwsRRH9_Yty2K-iNnpFcaN3W8QavaWSqTZHAxsk8yP2MD_QlkNQgPxUbDZ3Bi1ImZFBL7vTYcRKzc5UqNMyt1P6kHvuyw3VMcxY6aPZbNfx9fspg-1hibvQiTySKvrsFN/s1600-h/DSCF2186.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbo4gnwsRRH9_Yty2K-iNnpFcaN3W8QavaWSqTZHAxsk8yP2MD_QlkNQgPxUbDZ3Bi1ImZFBL7vTYcRKzc5UqNMyt1P6kHvuyw3VMcxY6aPZbNfx9fspg-1hibvQiTySKvrsFN/s320/DSCF2186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319959591443175778" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The potatoes went in last Thursday.<span style=""> </span>I need to lay chicken wire or something over the bed because the frakking neighborhood cats are using it as a litterbox.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I eventually had topsoil delivered from <a href="http://vikingtopsoil.com/Viking_Topsoil/Welcome.html">Viking Topsoil</a>.<span style=""> </span>He was very efficient and more reasonable than Pacific Topsoil’s delivery.<span style=""> </span>So, Mt. Dirt arrived Monday.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66Ohr8zq7yI7j_B5FeliRz-VZVXYscJAL6W1PLqWA7IKM3nnbLNZsRSQ8yifpC0dweynvTZ5oiJohPAOojbi3c6sAsIEPVJQxN6SnN6CkeWMSNGEll3DFkUiFoyP2K9HCCAeq/s1600-h/DSCF2182.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66Ohr8zq7yI7j_B5FeliRz-VZVXYscJAL6W1PLqWA7IKM3nnbLNZsRSQ8yifpC0dweynvTZ5oiJohPAOojbi3c6sAsIEPVJQxN6SnN6CkeWMSNGEll3DFkUiFoyP2K9HCCAeq/s320/DSCF2182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319959592987743650" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">On Monday, I also broke up the subsoil<span style=""> </span>in the base of the bed.<span style=""> </span>Tuesday, I moved Mt. Dirt to the raised bed with the aid of Nancy’s wheelbarrow.<span style=""> </span>Here's the before (actually, after about 4 wheelbarrow loads).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzGWqqZHOEYjOXU62F70ZIemhFXvngylMaXtbpdVcT06fOpSXU1MO9o5FoEKSUB-THmJsP9l5gDx3BMTFFrcpxJgXvW4jjSr8IbxFk0alh9TBZntRkE3X2pPqNGxq_G9-G_vS/s1600-h/DSCF2181.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzGWqqZHOEYjOXU62F70ZIemhFXvngylMaXtbpdVcT06fOpSXU1MO9o5FoEKSUB-THmJsP9l5gDx3BMTFFrcpxJgXvW4jjSr8IbxFk0alh9TBZntRkE3X2pPqNGxq_G9-G_vS/s320/DSCF2181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319959593602684786" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">That’s when the blisters really came up.<span style=""> But here's the after:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVT50pK66w8p8gWNyoQWYzwoVfQwcINwataMjmzeNhSS9OLE_MrMw9Q3HH68LQkLPsVgwKWVjE0AJ2zxlH6xEmuDAu_xfa3czBD4OaMCU7VziipqecG00DDRSpHuxsnh7cpBq/s1600-h/DSCF2183.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVT50pK66w8p8gWNyoQWYzwoVfQwcINwataMjmzeNhSS9OLE_MrMw9Q3HH68LQkLPsVgwKWVjE0AJ2zxlH6xEmuDAu_xfa3czBD4OaMCU7VziipqecG00DDRSpHuxsnh7cpBq/s320/DSCF2183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319959592276315538" border="0" /></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVT50pK66w8p8gWNyoQWYzwoVfQwcINwataMjmzeNhSS9OLE_MrMw9Q3HH68LQkLPsVgwKWVjE0AJ2zxlH6xEmuDAu_xfa3czBD4OaMCU7VziipqecG00DDRSpHuxsnh7cpBq/s1600-h/DSCF2183.JPG"><span style=""></span></a><span style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGQtc41Lwe39MD2hdY8Pq3LRrvxA9uLK_VltkHrgDejjrX2Kqn0NZUk2eEECPnRC0u4aEU5Pm3E4jhfWcNqWtEi5pPLPoV5D2CEvdhQEKxn8c5oe3DtodOj8qYpI8XcKTjRqi/s1600-h/DSCF2184.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGQtc41Lwe39MD2hdY8Pq3LRrvxA9uLK_VltkHrgDejjrX2Kqn0NZUk2eEECPnRC0u4aEU5Pm3E4jhfWcNqWtEi5pPLPoV5D2CEvdhQEKxn8c5oe3DtodOj8qYpI8XcKTjRqi/s320/DSCF2184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319959598528957314" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">As the cold, cold rain started to fall Tuesday afternoon, I planted the starts I bought at <a href="http://www.skynursery.com/">Sky nursery</a> last week (kale, collards, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage).<span style=""> </span>Then I used my frozen fingers to poke some Cascadia pea seeds in, and sowed a row of spinach seed (Tyee hybrid) and some mesclun mix.<span style=""> </span>I covered the whole thing with a floating row cover, held down with some convenient rocks that I dug out of the subsoil.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s a good thing I used the row cover, since it’s snowing today. Oh, and <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/local/404509_weather01.html">here</a>'s a cheerful article about our likely spring weather.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tuesday evening, after I took a dose of Ibuprofen and a shower, Trent and I joined up with our friends Melissa and Paul to celebrate their 2<sup>nd</sup> wedding anniversary (we didn’t invite ourselves to their anniversary – they invited us).<span style=""> </span>We had a lovely dinner with them, then headed to the Triple Door to see Habib Koite.<span style=""> </span>We not only found street parking within a block, we also had a front row table.<span style=""> </span>It was an amazing show.<span style=""> </span>We’ve seen Habib Koite 2 times before, and<span style=""> </span>this was by far the best show.<span style=""> </span>We didn’t get home until midnight, and I had to be up at 6 this morning, but it was worth it.</p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-37579759442612611092009-03-24T22:29:00.000-07:002009-03-24T23:17:27.432-07:00Why I am not a carpenterTrent and I decided to build a vegetable garden. We bought books (because that's always the first step in new undertakings for Trent). We bought some seeds. We plotted and planned and studied seed catalogs. We shoveled a whole bunch of gravel out of the center of our courtyard. Then nothing happened for many weeks. I finally coerced Trent into going on a lumber expedition with me Saturday night. We learned that 10' boards do not fit into a Focus ZX3 particularly well, but if you drive slowly and carefully, it's doable.<br /><br />Monday I went to <a href="http://www.skynursery.com/">Sky Nursery</a> in pursuit of seed potatoes. I bought some plants while I was there (collards, broccoli, kale, and chinese cabbage). Having actual plants means that the raised bed needs to get built sooner rather than later. This is a crazy busy week for Trent, so I bravely hammered it together Monday afternoon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiD6kYlgvKktYNpZz1X7-8-hA9W0w5IpqWYHORvYdeBEFbB-QgyRHu9jJ2_7peK0M0UhTvZ7XunASdcjX6CS-vsnBAN6z9Xhy3qyyQpcX4xTcSLIVAMcWxZ8LRII86ZJ2ni80/s1600-h/DSCF2177.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiD6kYlgvKktYNpZz1X7-8-hA9W0w5IpqWYHORvYdeBEFbB-QgyRHu9jJ2_7peK0M0UhTvZ7XunASdcjX6CS-vsnBAN6z9Xhy3qyyQpcX4xTcSLIVAMcWxZ8LRII86ZJ2ni80/s320/DSCF2177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316996895647924034" border="0" /></a><br />It's lacking a certain quality of squareness that is ordinarily desirable in construction. However, it does possess a quality of doneness that I find even more desirable.<br /><br />(If anyone is interested in the construction details: 2"x12"x10' and 2"x12"x4' held together with strong tie corner brackets and nails.)<br /><br />Today I removed more gravel from the future raised bed and started working on the dirt. In the picture, the fluffy part is the bit I've done, and the smooth part is still covered in landscape cloth (it was under the rocks). I also worked on the future potato patch. It was a very pathetic flower bed, so I've ripped out most the plants growing there (the rest are scheduled for execution tomorrow, except for the rhododendron) and worked up nice fluffy soil.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxeEQrhr_UTZV2kqf5RAEu5e_qLdi5CmdUNM5_GU_X1cPgg3Jt3gHvGt1e94KulYR1A-3HMgieFiRoNku6bhv61Q8oHbh8o5-x-LW_23fL4Rm-8kglm_xwFIXavHow1ZAqqNA/s1600-h/DSCF2178.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxeEQrhr_UTZV2kqf5RAEu5e_qLdi5CmdUNM5_GU_X1cPgg3Jt3gHvGt1e94KulYR1A-3HMgieFiRoNku6bhv61Q8oHbh8o5-x-LW_23fL4Rm-8kglm_xwFIXavHow1ZAqqNA/s320/DSCF2178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316996895698295634" border="0" /></a><br />For my gardening friends, here are the veggie specifics:<br />Potatoes: Satina, Calred, and yukon gold.<br />Kale: Lacinato<br />Collards: Vates<br />Broccoli: Packman<br />Chinese cabbage: China Express.<br /><br />I can't remember the assorted seeds I've piled up. I know I've got Cascadia snap peas, but the rest is a blur. Some kind of spinach, some kind of pac choi (ching-chiang, I think), and a lettuce mix.<br /><br />Our current issue is topsoil. If I'm reading the <a href="http://www.pacifictopsoils.com/">Pacific Topsoil</a> price list correctly, it's going to cost around $140 to get topsoil delivered in a suitable quantity (1.5 cubic yards). That seems like a lot, but we certainly don't own a truck to go fetch it ourselves. <a href="http://www.swansonsnursery.com/">Swanson</a>'s gave me the number for <a href="http://vikingtopsoil.com/Viking_Topsoil/Welcome.html">Viking Topsoil</a>, which seems like it might be a smaller outfit, so maybe they're more reasonable for the relatively small quantity I need (calling them is on my "to-do when time permits" list). Alternatively, I suppose I could buy 40 cubic feet of topsoil in bags and haul it in the Focus.<br /><br />There has been some knitting and sewing going on too, but I'm not finishing anything.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-29300520652499961512009-03-02T13:34:00.001-08:002009-03-02T13:45:38.235-08:00Sewing, and the terror of the runwayAs I mentioned in my last post, I participated in a garment sewing contest that culminated in a fashion show at Sew Expo last weekend. I didn't win :(. But here are pictures from backstage before the show.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArAT1l2L6fJBQnXOeigQfFgZYCbo8JSH4z3dKho4OTSb0KmFROAAWhiDELB07bFWzMhUUw39M_9BsrXzCpbpOdQX0LL4nfUkOyZrK9uf98MqzTDdjL1x4Mi9ekXicwqfz3IOm/s1600-h/DSCF2169.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArAT1l2L6fJBQnXOeigQfFgZYCbo8JSH4z3dKho4OTSb0KmFROAAWhiDELB07bFWzMhUUw39M_9BsrXzCpbpOdQX0LL4nfUkOyZrK9uf98MqzTDdjL1x4Mi9ekXicwqfz3IOm/s320/DSCF2169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308709336612524690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzqYmKsYn_APRw5964EjpAmYkPkzEgHXagnl9kQsUTDkegul-IJhvVf5VciWlU2vBkFQpvlIUGh0PMj73Ni6azncIjSXqA-nHDVzaXI2Y3Ioo6t9XcJht-iYRs05bkEwAfbUv/s1600-h/DSCF2171.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzqYmKsYn_APRw5964EjpAmYkPkzEgHXagnl9kQsUTDkegul-IJhvVf5VciWlU2vBkFQpvlIUGh0PMj73Ni6azncIjSXqA-nHDVzaXI2Y3Ioo6t9XcJht-iYRs05bkEwAfbUv/s320/DSCF2171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308709341761304690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOd8IwkdIXg8d3HFehcA6WYdxK32G6MkH7teku_1pq6BHm-VngZo0prejvXMmVm5wBbNaP5hJ_srtPDD4WF2qf8TDxU1F6lZomXtgDhCqwWiJJS-iVJa0hUSAn7Kvr1SemNsk/s1600-h/DSCF2170.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOd8IwkdIXg8d3HFehcA6WYdxK32G6MkH7teku_1pq6BHm-VngZo0prejvXMmVm5wBbNaP5hJ_srtPDD4WF2qf8TDxU1F6lZomXtgDhCqwWiJJS-iVJa0hUSAn7Kvr1SemNsk/s320/DSCF2170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308709340075663538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Eventually, there are going to be clips and pics from the runway show itself on the Bernina website. I'll let you know.<br /><br />I thought I was going to be cool on the runway, but I kind of freaked out. I think I forgot to breathe, and I felt like I made funny faces the whole time. The show was well attended (maybe 100 some odd people), and the runway was very long and very tall. I could have given a speech in front of that crowd with no problem, but just walking back and forth while they looked at me gave me hives.<br /><br />In other sewing news, at Christmas 07 I promised my mom a queen sized quilt for her bed. Because I lack common sense, self-preservation, and good judgment, I picked a kind of crazy complicated quilt block to use, and a size that required 90 of the blocks. Then I made my life worse by deciding to do complicated sashing. I'm chipping away at it. The blocks are all assembled into horizontal rows, and the sashing strips that go between are also assembled. I've got 4 out of 10 rows put together. My photography efforts were somewhat hampered by my little helpers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity7HbjOb0fcCtUsKxfLWBmoYMNJiEbaR1lFh_rJW6zER-x8ly4MqQRCycTuOO2s1_Y-h6JNomNspxgS_ZaZx03iRi8bPm3dDYrt6rnf7DaTEofiRztkfMlKTxpyZGckLyQh_I/s1600-h/DSCF2174.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity7HbjOb0fcCtUsKxfLWBmoYMNJiEbaR1lFh_rJW6zER-x8ly4MqQRCycTuOO2s1_Y-h6JNomNspxgS_ZaZx03iRi8bPm3dDYrt6rnf7DaTEofiRztkfMlKTxpyZGckLyQh_I/s320/DSCF2174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308708639801224178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_FvDh8CUOwQDFFx2fBcxdZBA-twNMFOFUYvhAacfpfBdDJTj10oExSILVlfZuYrqzCDreEqNPBBAvacnCisMnreIL5_jE4rLF8b8YMnIag5DJIJ34h3R1H2Qgr2lYefsIia8/s1600-h/DSCF2176.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_FvDh8CUOwQDFFx2fBcxdZBA-twNMFOFUYvhAacfpfBdDJTj10oExSILVlfZuYrqzCDreEqNPBBAvacnCisMnreIL5_jE4rLF8b8YMnIag5DJIJ34h3R1H2Qgr2lYefsIia8/s320/DSCF2176.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308708642087396722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Life has otherwise been pets, work, and cursing the weather. The usual, you know?Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-47241994945568802882009-02-12T12:06:00.000-08:002009-02-12T12:21:50.622-08:00KetchupLook, I finished a knitting project!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigriVNfOombju9qP6r_t2zrHEAqstHersPxb5fEAksKnmN51cLgglBqzLbvaKwbgkSoKESpWMIwTalynIPW1drchKz5UTNaUm98bZ-T4VCyZf0IgCLEOdYQocP3dmJSW4OydEa/s1600-h/DSCF2167.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigriVNfOombju9qP6r_t2zrHEAqstHersPxb5fEAksKnmN51cLgglBqzLbvaKwbgkSoKESpWMIwTalynIPW1drchKz5UTNaUm98bZ-T4VCyZf0IgCLEOdYQocP3dmJSW4OydEa/s320/DSCF2167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302007521722313410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe9c__VtAWJjd7nh-kM1hnZrMnnxGXrDSal2WprMAIMOIRBgNa43kkMSvmT9DpQ7I2mOXVSQtfG7gr0TOv0MWCcF3ZXnVum-gU8V6OpGP61UBBde9k6K2aw_HqI7PSYUi_ktM/s1600-h/DSCF2166.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe9c__VtAWJjd7nh-kM1hnZrMnnxGXrDSal2WprMAIMOIRBgNa43kkMSvmT9DpQ7I2mOXVSQtfG7gr0TOv0MWCcF3ZXnVum-gU8V6OpGP61UBBde9k6K2aw_HqI7PSYUi_ktM/s320/DSCF2166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302007519199221730" border="0" /><br /></a><br />These are Scrunchie Handwarmers from <span style="font-style: italic;">101 Designer One-Skein Wonders</span>, out of Jojoland Melody Superwash in the color "Magic Moment." (Do you have that song stuck in your head now? You're welcome.) They were the January project for the Pacific Fabrics and Crafts Knit Along.<br /><br />Here's what else has been going on. Trent and I have decided to create a raised bed for vegetables in our courtyard, so we've started excavating, and I've spent inordinate amounts of time reading seed catalogs. Unfortunately, right after we started clearing for it, Trent got the Shitty Virus (our name - some sort of respiratory crud that lingers like the shameful memory of that time at the junior high dance when you made an ass out of yourself asking the cute popular guy/girl to dance with you). He was dog sick for a week and a half, then I got it, then I got a sinus infection. I think the grand total of time we spent moaning and groaning was over 3 weeks. It sucked. So, that was pretty much January.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I've been sewing an outfit for a fashion sewing competition. If any of y'all are going to be at <a href="http://www.sewexpo.com/">Sew Expo</a> the last weekend of February, please try to make it to the fashion show on Saturday at 12:30 (the Bernina and the Sewing Workshop "Runway to Everyday" challenge). I'll be the one with the really uncomfortable smile and the stylin' chocolate brown jacket. So, my outfit for the competition is about done, but my sewing room looks like it exploded and then was ravaged by wolves.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-39123478667990149592009-01-04T23:33:00.000-08:002009-01-04T23:41:47.402-08:00Oh snowy night...We are not amused.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6xTcuygE6X_q9My6eumCNZ8elCGsrqsKo8PPF2jIAYm-vKrFXOm-HyCC9y546O7dVHtQFeNoaQ15sMFEPvCw0HfhQo8YPRDBJey98EyC4mEIECLTvzwGEhT5JIrIW6Owb9Aq/s1600-h/DSCF2155.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6xTcuygE6X_q9My6eumCNZ8elCGsrqsKo8PPF2jIAYm-vKrFXOm-HyCC9y546O7dVHtQFeNoaQ15sMFEPvCw0HfhQo8YPRDBJey98EyC4mEIECLTvzwGEhT5JIrIW6Owb9Aq/s320/DSCF2155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287711330145091122" border="0" /></a><br />We are disgruntled, bitter, and disapproving. This wasn't in the contract when I moved to Seattle.<br /><br />(There are some folks who migrated here who sometimes say things like "gosh, I miss having 4 seasons. I like winter." I am not one of those people. The normal temperature range of about 45 - 70 is just <span style="font-style: italic;">fine</span> with me.)<br /><br />Meanwhile, I've diligently continued work on one of the UFO sweaters. I've picked up for the first arm. The pattern is symmetrical both horizontally and vertically (what's the exact word for that?), so the pattern on the sleeve matches up with the pattern on the yoke. Spiffy, eh?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSnIB_naWgdgRvOzNGWaKtoFC-NLAzq6YdAjmyjldSEIQssU5rvpCFIGM25W07-aPSY3mEhjP7hK09qXGctlqnP8OKG-r1xNZpMcw7FbOAnXvtXrkN6rZstsXEMKCCwxv_nvs/s1600-h/DSCF2153.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSnIB_naWgdgRvOzNGWaKtoFC-NLAzq6YdAjmyjldSEIQssU5rvpCFIGM25W07-aPSY3mEhjP7hK09qXGctlqnP8OKG-r1xNZpMcw7FbOAnXvtXrkN6rZstsXEMKCCwxv_nvs/s320/DSCF2153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287711332937531762" border="0" /></a><br />I'm sure the knitting gods are going to strike me down any second, though, because I've decided I know better than Meg Swansen. Her pattern has you do double decreases on the top of the sleeve. I'm doing mine on the underarm seam so they'll be inconspicuous instead of a design feature. There's a good chance that once I've painstakingly knit 20" or so of sleeve, I'll figure out why she put the decreases where she did.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-27219728634611685262009-01-01T11:27:00.000-08:002009-01-01T11:47:59.219-08:00New Year on the farmI spent New Year's Eve dogsitting for our friends <a href="http://www.dropstonefarms.com/">Lauren and Garth</a> on Bainbridge. I took Stella with me since she's stayed there before. It's kind of fun to have 3 black and white spotty dogs. Note that the pictures are deceptive - they were rarely all this still.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXh0ODYLNPpUm5fpJ_QdRoGAXpXkOXcbD4QDRXuucrqJ6NosKVgMdzu333sHDVrZ9Lvye-GNPxY0CENzJgBMFcrO4RoXQOOJuiEF8SIWUhvshJBy71GqNzUjA09Mt88EtUaiGz/s1600-h/DSCF2147.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXh0ODYLNPpUm5fpJ_QdRoGAXpXkOXcbD4QDRXuucrqJ6NosKVgMdzu333sHDVrZ9Lvye-GNPxY0CENzJgBMFcrO4RoXQOOJuiEF8SIWUhvshJBy71GqNzUjA09Mt88EtUaiGz/s320/DSCF2147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286411271872313874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMaBVOUSJ_WvF-F1rYw0872jpKowwwGCNu4xoC1iS62MF-PUnfv1ItLk1iP7lU_7ercUcqo8-lYHFvDfnvevuU5kvrRRHPMefxoVX-JDc_9AAsFH5wvjUIXTbunDnfPf8NNRQ/s1600-h/DSCF2148.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMaBVOUSJ_WvF-F1rYw0872jpKowwwGCNu4xoC1iS62MF-PUnfv1ItLk1iP7lU_7ercUcqo8-lYHFvDfnvevuU5kvrRRHPMefxoVX-JDc_9AAsFH5wvjUIXTbunDnfPf8NNRQ/s320/DSCF2148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286411288185189266" border="0" /></a><br />Staying on the wee farm is lovely. This morning I trooped out to the chicken coop and collected two eggs. Then I ate them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieT44QcAf0DGf-VgJp37OY0zLpOBT16sYxZI1cvFtkOWQ2PQvdRspC5EDNiiGRaekVPYJgUnznDSaxMbWs1VqgGsXCcGzWMEEs1a6OvW1ooRCGPa3DrGQF36SptlaALQbTlXHt/s1600-h/DSCF2151.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieT44QcAf0DGf-VgJp37OY0zLpOBT16sYxZI1cvFtkOWQ2PQvdRspC5EDNiiGRaekVPYJgUnznDSaxMbWs1VqgGsXCcGzWMEEs1a6OvW1ooRCGPa3DrGQF36SptlaALQbTlXHt/s200/DSCF2151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286413225873273634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcZ8-jPe95-qqwFm5Zk17DBQCEaCz94j8XQ99osCGhr_5ZyOIsSYPyBBZmXME5GEMS6Z6iKxnlSkhVl-8hh0XloWWwOruWmPz3Pb1t0nuf8exw84l7VggAC5igY6ExPEkCdIe/s1600-h/DSCF2150.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcZ8-jPe95-qqwFm5Zk17DBQCEaCz94j8XQ99osCGhr_5ZyOIsSYPyBBZmXME5GEMS6Z6iKxnlSkhVl-8hh0XloWWwOruWmPz3Pb1t0nuf8exw84l7VggAC5igY6ExPEkCdIe/s200/DSCF2150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286413223414061906" border="0" /></a><br />While I do have all those sweaters to finish, it was a tad impractical to tote a mostly-done sweater that requires thought for the next step. So I started a new project, the elegantly names "Scarf with edging 21 and insertion 25 from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Knitted Lace Pattern Book</span>, Thompson Bros, Killmarnock, Scotland, 1850" in <span style="font-style: italic;">Victorian Lace Today. </span>I'm using Malabrigo sock yarn in color they call eggplant. Starting a complicated lace thing while trying to sooth dogs made hysterical by fireworks may not have been the best idea I've ever had, but I persevered and have finished the first repeat of the border.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDlBSyZotxtrh9cMw2sYdBVRnUEZSlz_-50GsCXBIsLOCylZrHOBPEcb1Qgfewqz4qcwOwwMGmDnKqvJItwjuRycuFY5f7B52OT1uTm0NONdOtgPdLExtU96ykoBi1LpxuaGn/s1600-h/DSCF2149.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDlBSyZotxtrh9cMw2sYdBVRnUEZSlz_-50GsCXBIsLOCylZrHOBPEcb1Qgfewqz4qcwOwwMGmDnKqvJItwjuRycuFY5f7B52OT1uTm0NONdOtgPdLExtU96ykoBi1LpxuaGn/s320/DSCF2149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286411289596752530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This morning's big adventure (other than the chicken coop expedition) has been trying to get a fire going. I was a Campfire girl. In theory I know how to start a damn fire in a fireplace. But it's not going well. I'm on my second round of "oh the kindling is burning merrily", but it looks like the logs have once again failed to really get going. Sigh.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-68333002213892178512008-12-29T16:21:00.000-08:002008-12-29T16:46:06.389-08:00The deep snow, the long silenceFirst, let me just get it out of the way. The snow sucked. I hated it. I was ready for it to melt within 24 hours of when it started falling. Living on a hill in north Seattle meant that we got more snow than many parts of the city and it has melted more slowly. I hate my hiking boots, which is fine since I don't think they'll ever dry out again.<br /><br />Whew, now that I have that off my chest...<br /><br />Life has been full of fun <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bloggable</span> activity that I just haven't blogged. I'll try to do better.<br /><br />For today, however, I wanted to bravely state a goal for the upcoming year. I've been observing folks like <a href="http://www.rose-kim.com/rose-kimknits/">Jessica</a>, who are planning to knit a sweater a month in 2009, in much the same way a field researcher would cautiously observe rabid squirrels. Then <a href="http://redshirtknitting.com/">Erika</a> posted about her <a href="http://redshirtknitting.com/?p=166">Stash-down goal for 2009</a>, Total Stash Turnover (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tm</span>). This also seems excessively ambitious to me, but it's at least tempting in an "out with the old" kind of a way. So, after a little consideration, I've decided that my goal for 2009 is to finish (or finally frog) all the started sweaters (and sweater-like projects) I have. Here's the list, in order of how long it's been since I worked on it (with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ravelry</span> links, for those of you who are members):<br />1. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mkmorrow/schoolhouse-shetland-pullover">Trent's Schoolhouse Shetland Pullover</a> - I'm almost done knitting the body. Half a pattern repeat more, and I can <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">steek</span> and finish the shoulders. Then I'll just have the sleeves.<br />2. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mkmorrow/colette">Colette Sweater</a> - I've knit all the pieces for this, and blocked the fronts and back. I need to seam front to back and pick up and knit the band, then sew in the sleeves.<br />3. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mkmorrow/claire"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Wensleydale</span> Claire</a> - I don't even know where this is right now. The fronts and back are knit, and I was somewhere in mid sleeve when I ran out of steam. So, half of the sleeves (I'm knitting them at once), sew, and band and collar.<br />4. C<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mkmorrow/carpathian-roses-jacket"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">arpathian</span> Roses</a> - I at least know where all the parts of this are. I'm somewhere in the yoke section, and there's over half a sleeve knit. <br />5. Stupid charity baby sweater - of my own design. This is really embarrassing - its done except for the last inch or two of the second sleeve, and seaming it together. It was my "in my desk at work" project, back when I had work with a desk. I brought it home to finish it, but it went into the sewing room closet and never emerged.<br />6. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mkmorrow/scandinavian-star">Star vest</a> - All this needs is arm facings. I'm pretty sure it's not going to fit, so it's been having an extended time out. I don't know if I can find the yarn. I should finish the sucker and just give it to someone, just to get it out of my mental space.<br />7. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/linen-drape-shell">Linen-drape <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">shel</span></a>l in a completely different yarn - I'm up to dividing for the neck on the front of this. There are only two pieces - just a front and back. You don't even have to knit bands - they're incorporated. I'm done with the back. I'm a smarter knitter now than I was when I abandoned this, so hopefully I can figure out where the hell I was when I quit.<br />8. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garter-stitch-jacket-5">Garter stitch jacket</a> - one of my earliest sweater projects, in deep storage for a long time. It's on something like size 10 or 11 needles, so really, I have no excuse. The fronts and back are knit in one piece, and if I remember correctly I was about done with them, so just sleeves. Again, I'm pretty convinced I won't like this, but I showed it to my mom when she was here, and she did, so there ya go.<br /><br />Most of this doesn't <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">represent</span> that much knitting, really (except the sleeves of #1). But given my rate of distraction, I'll feel really impressed with myself if I manage to get through these in the next year.<br /><br />It would make me feel better if y'all feel inclined to chime in with stories of long-ignored projects, particularly those that are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">embarrassingly</span> close to being done.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-5342471454377916242008-10-20T22:09:00.000-07:002008-10-20T22:26:05.128-07:00Happiness and woeI finally blocked the eye searing pink shawl, with some help from Peggy and Rebecca.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xMJ9h8OVtlThIx6AGcxnWn_qvIJW42Sii1OPkFMUIn1fBCCvTZFP-MutJvefeDi-ProyCkALfzk65E6IHtPM_xHlzMMmvsQYzwtc9KMl0zUqlzbvFyIfRVfezLGiaPK28vus/s1600-h/DSCF2105.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xMJ9h8OVtlThIx6AGcxnWn_qvIJW42Sii1OPkFMUIn1fBCCvTZFP-MutJvefeDi-ProyCkALfzk65E6IHtPM_xHlzMMmvsQYzwtc9KMl0zUqlzbvFyIfRVfezLGiaPK28vus/s200/DSCF2105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259472590089200562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vlDBAN2X6M-NZcUkl560TJ00UTE0nW5J292LSzzbJni4N12fzASZPZ_GfCkn9n2BWTlQqke_B0JyrFBt5wIKUSnld6trng6OVzT4aIpUHz5NVB7tNlBD8q6nE3eGmLL4GTfd/s1600-h/DSCF2106.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vlDBAN2X6M-NZcUkl560TJ00UTE0nW5J292LSzzbJni4N12fzASZPZ_GfCkn9n2BWTlQqke_B0JyrFBt5wIKUSnld6trng6OVzT4aIpUHz5NVB7tNlBD8q6nE3eGmLL4GTfd/s200/DSCF2106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259472605708135858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_0igmpFCJU_VJYD40VCwCEBcjvr6-yciF5p9Nd9L5i6DOtT3XHE0SP1DMgjxlWONQDl_JabONm874KNJt62OZaKptNjjBwp2mvWW27y955WCnD91NJj68tb8uTbOfQB6Uxep/s1600-h/DSCF2108.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_0igmpFCJU_VJYD40VCwCEBcjvr6-yciF5p9Nd9L5i6DOtT3XHE0SP1DMgjxlWONQDl_JabONm874KNJt62OZaKptNjjBwp2mvWW27y955WCnD91NJj68tb8uTbOfQB6Uxep/s200/DSCF2108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259472593035196274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJmgxGf5YGyFcJls3Uh8nZiDjRVD7KZLb1pVcDKajEekjzM-igjtcOXh4j94vws7x10_HgyNgClkYJm3Fj4Bl_NO9-iJV_KOnwv-jHAJ-o3x93qCJ1ZtO9lLuyp7NYHp_-6Vi/s1600-h/DSCF2109.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJmgxGf5YGyFcJls3Uh8nZiDjRVD7KZLb1pVcDKajEekjzM-igjtcOXh4j94vws7x10_HgyNgClkYJm3Fj4Bl_NO9-iJV_KOnwv-jHAJ-o3x93qCJ1ZtO9lLuyp7NYHp_-6Vi/s200/DSCF2109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259472598754973778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We didn't wet block it, since it's already freakin' huge. We pinned out the loops on the edge, very gently straightening and stretching, and then misted it with warm water. It's been done for several days, and I could have retrieved it tonight at the Feral Knitters meeting, but my car is in the shop (woe).<br /><br />I also finished another Knit Along project, this time Cozy Socks for Kids (from <span style="font-style: italic;">101 Designer One Skein Wonders</span>). These are out of Cascade 220 superwash.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpzxHqC-sdjZ_-01OKvO9I4aqe50yZHrX5mfHXXwTIKRljdvlwrT2ww4UmioQlrnuM4dqtXrXk9dEhLzntvsh6VWXlKDX3affBToTzH6T9I7m95-_oyG9EzfGBdmqcUZxcxxl/s1600-h/DSCF2112.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpzxHqC-sdjZ_-01OKvO9I4aqe50yZHrX5mfHXXwTIKRljdvlwrT2ww4UmioQlrnuM4dqtXrXk9dEhLzntvsh6VWXlKDX3affBToTzH6T9I7m95-_oyG9EzfGBdmqcUZxcxxl/s320/DSCF2112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259473735922325762" border="0" /></a><br />On a bookstore trip, I fell in love with some of the critters in the Tamie Snow's book <span style="font-style: italic;">Tiny Yarn Animals</span>, so of course I had to get the book, even though my crochet skillz are sad. I really bought the book for the lemur, but I started with the elephant. He came out cute, and rather charmingly crooked.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtFAyzVTKduIBlNIdF9oi7lQgsr4_QJ6aeL5zewwRQnXqHvFJXYEtYFO1Y2CzZwHX41TY5l8IuT8hpOS6ddvAbDMeqXwWYZFq_i0O4hhYmBTU9M4brcfppVXcbLR1OgOXv04v/s1600-h/DSCF2113.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtFAyzVTKduIBlNIdF9oi7lQgsr4_QJ6aeL5zewwRQnXqHvFJXYEtYFO1Y2CzZwHX41TY5l8IuT8hpOS6ddvAbDMeqXwWYZFq_i0O4hhYmBTU9M4brcfppVXcbLR1OgOXv04v/s320/DSCF2113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259473740721100898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m-GZRfxdJpN28EUZ-tTgL4q7TUrCsjfqnApe3y-b5KxbRRepa-B_OHOjovwxvIuYnXzX-aoyZgw4t9st4xVIFPPP4JJtJVKI2Um2sqnCzt2H-p01HRUIEyjc6KHWYvyxYjwF/s1600-h/DSCF2115.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m-GZRfxdJpN28EUZ-tTgL4q7TUrCsjfqnApe3y-b5KxbRRepa-B_OHOjovwxvIuYnXzX-aoyZgw4t9st4xVIFPPP4JJtJVKI2Um2sqnCzt2H-p01HRUIEyjc6KHWYvyxYjwF/s320/DSCF2115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259473752476362226" border="0" /></a><br />Now I'm working on a lemur. At some point this evening, after 2.5 hours on the couch crocheting lemur bits, I found myself thinking that I could have used the time for something useful, like a sweater, or sewing, or house cleaning. But then I said lemur lemur lemur lemur lemur until I started giggling.<br /><br />I've been working many days in a row (woe). My boss is very sick, and since we have a wee staff, that means I'm in the trenches until she's back on her feet. Since my car is in the shop, she's sending her husband to pick me up in the morning - that's the upside of working for a wee company.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-1712547782026738722008-10-12T11:38:00.000-07:002008-10-12T11:54:00.073-07:00Shawls and capesI finally blocked two shawls that I finished knitting a long time ago, thanks to <a href="http://yarngirlstheydogetwooly.blogspot.com/">Peggy and Rebecca</a> and their basement.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ3wRPnlw4Pwxkm366uqQpj1mhkcSwKlPvPJPpq2OMtrW_YeZpY2WPnx1kj2BGBuR0pACTo3Vqj-dcGdTBdCmOlW_PmzM1vBOb2C6SKsNM6EhAKrmUWQF4pMCw4EypKlZwDgM/s1600-h/DSCF2103.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ3wRPnlw4Pwxkm366uqQpj1mhkcSwKlPvPJPpq2OMtrW_YeZpY2WPnx1kj2BGBuR0pACTo3Vqj-dcGdTBdCmOlW_PmzM1vBOb2C6SKsNM6EhAKrmUWQF4pMCw4EypKlZwDgM/s320/DSCF2103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256340624351087506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuURoqCURARCG-sXqxXDCELp1EZ4CUQLPKuROBVaDmHt2us-XHHcokBrpLNNqgdoiyfaP3DtDnJ36SeBduhDSIwNpZ0mprxCLA6N2v0oiCQtIcKG8OfrRv_-ag78-Y4msOu2w/s1600-h/DSCF2104.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuURoqCURARCG-sXqxXDCELp1EZ4CUQLPKuROBVaDmHt2us-XHHcokBrpLNNqgdoiyfaP3DtDnJ36SeBduhDSIwNpZ0mprxCLA6N2v0oiCQtIcKG8OfrRv_-ag78-Y4msOu2w/s320/DSCF2104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256340627321253282" border="0" /></a><br />The melon shawl from <span style="font-style: italic;">Victorian Lace Today</span> with a different border (I was running low on yarn). The yarn is handspun cormo/alpaca. I dyed it as roving and 2-plied. The color is washed out in these pictures - it's really a variety of soft greens.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDKrVDjcXVGPwaHSFsh99xc3EV3B6ssmN-YR49Oz_XuzgZqmNBUV1hMvHAQYhXh2sjqlhz5XwHYQou-OXgBzQiZ4XI_tLdvG-9WB6kt0cFyfSWSZGCJQZyNwrS8kzkL1ZCEug/s1600-h/DSCF2102.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDKrVDjcXVGPwaHSFsh99xc3EV3B6ssmN-YR49Oz_XuzgZqmNBUV1hMvHAQYhXh2sjqlhz5XwHYQou-OXgBzQiZ4XI_tLdvG-9WB6kt0cFyfSWSZGCJQZyNwrS8kzkL1ZCEug/s320/DSCF2102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256340621904180274" border="0" /></a><br />Another spring lace scarf, from my own pattern. I started this one as an example when I was teaching a lace knitting class. The yarn is linen that I bought years ago at Stitches West. I have no idea who dyed it, but it sure is pretty. Now I just have to figure out how to soften it up without losing all the work we did blocking it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZI0U2kIG0QRi-qg6PPt4sGzBMrD0Y58Az5SWZRPMkXvtF3GJEmYNLwSkbV7RlLXp6rUN5NtNUbiM-wm4ZwhgZiOQB_wqMCEUGI4Z9U7SDiDetmTBgE8kFXFAxpBMgkEyddd0/s1600-h/DSCF2097.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZI0U2kIG0QRi-qg6PPt4sGzBMrD0Y58Az5SWZRPMkXvtF3GJEmYNLwSkbV7RlLXp6rUN5NtNUbiM-wm4ZwhgZiOQB_wqMCEUGI4Z9U7SDiDetmTBgE8kFXFAxpBMgkEyddd0/s320/DSCF2097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256341310502579250" border="0" /></a><br />Here's my first yarn from my new wheel. This is 4 oz of Reflections Farms roving, 3 plied. It's about 390 yards.<br /><br />I also sewed a fairy cape for a friend's 3-year old daughter. I pressed the dogs into service modeling. Chloe was hiding at the time, perhaps wisely.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9teOnTrI3YPYf-AbZ3WIJltAR62XCuJHihF6Nf-2QopLSUS6sD6l-WqLXsquc0a8FFlqsLIiBIk3_llR807FpH1rcyAVXtW1wovCm59c9YanmSCVsLHP9l7Q55T_Asm7-enV-/s1600-h/DSCF2098.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9teOnTrI3YPYf-AbZ3WIJltAR62XCuJHihF6Nf-2QopLSUS6sD6l-WqLXsquc0a8FFlqsLIiBIk3_llR807FpH1rcyAVXtW1wovCm59c9YanmSCVsLHP9l7Q55T_Asm7-enV-/s320/DSCF2098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256341309181035186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ttDDs2HTFcXJM-01MIqzs47ZitZDdoj68VolkiwF6IsXd7cCNKVxKHrjLgQ1pw5N76-LCqwGwbc43PQnEyA1nwUCPjebsm3HOgeEi5UpfKukcIk6t8R7sR-n4k7wkTvJGqOB/s1600-h/DSCF2099.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ttDDs2HTFcXJM-01MIqzs47ZitZDdoj68VolkiwF6IsXd7cCNKVxKHrjLgQ1pw5N76-LCqwGwbc43PQnEyA1nwUCPjebsm3HOgeEi5UpfKukcIk6t8R7sR-n4k7wkTvJGqOB/s320/DSCF2099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256341308625427570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And finally, in the shameless self-promotion category: we're doing a series of "nifty gifty" classes at Bernina Northwest. If you sew at all, these are fun projects that make good gifts. You don't have to have a Bernina or even a sewing machine . Check out the details <a href="http://www.berninanorthwest.com/">here</a>.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-22119386076004219712008-10-06T11:23:00.000-07:002008-10-06T11:34:21.340-07:00New arrivalI got a new spinning wheel! She's made by Betty Roberts, out of apricot wood. You can't really tell in this photo, but the green inlays are sparkly.<br /><br />I love love love it. However, that means I know have two beautiful Betty Roberts wheels that I love to spin on...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ceBqtugwmH796lgtFOQMLZjugCmAd3-TtfpXkleT1h1Qw5ZMImZAADZD6nkfxWQpBbxzdwgqH4E9K-w3l9idqoe7eW6HXue5QkIkR6DGLJ1cimD4OmSQCAXW7L81vXhdtSUw/s1600-h/DSCF2096.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ceBqtugwmH796lgtFOQMLZjugCmAd3-TtfpXkleT1h1Qw5ZMImZAADZD6nkfxWQpBbxzdwgqH4E9K-w3l9idqoe7eW6HXue5QkIkR6DGLJ1cimD4OmSQCAXW7L81vXhdtSUw/s320/DSCF2096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254110625938724066" border="0" /></a><br />And that means I need to find new homes for the two wheels I am less in love with.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnR0Srd8QUwA0xADnWVwRxTnJd8BGTPuSzMmXmUQpQ3d8anGs3V5gN7ebwkGPPA1PloIcV-KzqJP0zhG6eiPxKdxHayuUdWD2GA8auOs2fdo0yZCgIkdhExln8bF9L2t1NPOfE/s1600-h/DSCF2090.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnR0Srd8QUwA0xADnWVwRxTnJd8BGTPuSzMmXmUQpQ3d8anGs3V5gN7ebwkGPPA1PloIcV-KzqJP0zhG6eiPxKdxHayuUdWD2GA8auOs2fdo0yZCgIkdhExln8bF9L2t1NPOfE/s320/DSCF2090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254110626187317074" border="0" /></a><br />Ashford Joy single treadle. This is a folding wheel, and it comes with three bobbins and a padded carrying bag. $425.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXOs665AXP_hKNNaMhfF0oinNcWiWiN8bW8b1H8u1S5wPcdOdWL_ZyM79oO006dMvpcUsknixJ38fqLsk1Np9HL7GC9fmOMzkekE6Ku7tu5RVAlZt0hoSJizpKXPub2DfHFNY/s1600-h/DSCF2091.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXOs665AXP_hKNNaMhfF0oinNcWiWiN8bW8b1H8u1S5wPcdOdWL_ZyM79oO006dMvpcUsknixJ38fqLsk1Np9HL7GC9fmOMzkekE6Ku7tu5RVAlZt0hoSJizpKXPub2DfHFNY/s320/DSCF2091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254110634835284354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvWNPxsB5jQTxXeNhhfUDVs8L2KTQPB1bTXidWcJ1TXd9c1-kWCgNJYmpsmHa2NG4KC_7omBvB1o94CTJEJC21eyQ4SV4g2ICNpAxqEK-QngNs3nvl2V70mpPwuCqyYHKJ0t3/s1600-h/DSCF2092.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvWNPxsB5jQTxXeNhhfUDVs8L2KTQPB1bTXidWcJ1TXd9c1-kWCgNJYmpsmHa2NG4KC_7omBvB1o94CTJEJC21eyQ4SV4g2ICNpAxqEK-QngNs3nvl2V70mpPwuCqyYHKJ0t3/s320/DSCF2092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254110635517623714" border="0" /></a><br />Louet s-10 with skein winder. (The second picture shows it without the skein winder.) I learned to spin on this wheel. It's very easy to use and take care of. $325.<br /><br />I'd strongly prefer to sell these locally. I'd be happy to give any buyer a spinning lesson. Contact me at m k morrow (at) yahoo dot com (take out the spaces and so on) if you're interested.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-50219271280265205672008-09-30T10:02:00.000-07:002008-09-30T10:23:49.382-07:00Parties and projectsFirst, a work/public service announcement:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Project Linus Blanket Party at <a href="http://www.berninanorthwest.com/">Bernina Northwest</a>:</span><br /><br />Can you sew, serge, or cut (or are you willing to learn)? Using fleece fabric donated by Brewer Sewing Supply, we'll stitch and serge fleece blankets that will be donated to our local <a href="http://www.projectlinus.org/">Project Linus</a> chapter to comfort traumatized and seriously ill children.<br /><br />Bernina Northwest will provide the sergers, sewing machines, and thread. We just need you to volunteer 1 hour (or more) on October 4th from 10am to 5pm. Call 206-523-4739 to sign up.<br /><br />Bring your friends and let's make a difference!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And speaking of events...</span><br /><br />I'm scheduled to teach a fair isle hat class at <a href="http://www.pacificfabrics.com/">Pacific Fabric</a>s Northgate store starting Sunday. We're using the <a href="https://www.knotanotherhat.com/productDetail.cfm?product_id=281">Fiber Trends Swirls</a> hat pattern. I don't have a picture of my (very cute) sample because it's at the store. Only two people are signed up right now, and the class won't go with less than three. So pleeeeeeease, if you or anyone you know wants to learn to do color work, sign up.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Project Pictures</span><br /><br />I recently finished a baby quilt for a friend.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJYMj7KwLMrpqK4dqtdGDPKaSN-4OYqiBppiy0HKSpqLCqur0M960lE1qiYM7jcdt4SaIMaSoJy9j45zUxPsF0V8txPYB0wqJB3NSd8AF2KqIIZWZ-oVv_cABOjf-dkGOAN_C/s1600-h/DSCF2065.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJYMj7KwLMrpqK4dqtdGDPKaSN-4OYqiBppiy0HKSpqLCqur0M960lE1qiYM7jcdt4SaIMaSoJy9j45zUxPsF0V8txPYB0wqJB3NSd8AF2KqIIZWZ-oVv_cABOjf-dkGOAN_C/s320/DSCF2065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251865750299544642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFgZqKFapzAWzmpvvJLcADUOnrVBkDab5X4SlwOqkiiy6oQ683M3azolYMnRsLUvmk6QEfn4DQ1pwZ9r96_E27SETKBnowPveBGKR6e0ewi75kfQyOF8r6ZtMddQfsQJwjVwX/s1600-h/DSCF2067.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFgZqKFapzAWzmpvvJLcADUOnrVBkDab5X4SlwOqkiiy6oQ683M3azolYMnRsLUvmk6QEfn4DQ1pwZ9r96_E27SETKBnowPveBGKR6e0ewi75kfQyOF8r6ZtMddQfsQJwjVwX/s320/DSCF2067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251865758729220450" border="0" /></a><br />I've also been knitting up a storm of project samples for the KAL at Pacific Fabrics. Here's the December project, the garter stitch loop-through scarf. Because I am cruel and heartless, I forced the dogs to model.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4p_2qzW8koCLPavP93l1Lrnm-YAYw__ZfG5gb1wj28fkw3pX5-_DzBCA7FV8ynyit085i-ONtxG5Gmz62aZSTkoI5cuLajYcdgN4Tx20lo-fn7qvGdXj6TeGhlMrPhDDX2Bd/s1600-h/DSCF2078.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4p_2qzW8koCLPavP93l1Lrnm-YAYw__ZfG5gb1wj28fkw3pX5-_DzBCA7FV8ynyit085i-ONtxG5Gmz62aZSTkoI5cuLajYcdgN4Tx20lo-fn7qvGdXj6TeGhlMrPhDDX2Bd/s320/DSCF2078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251865760250525250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6Nv9yJTo-KPS38jUM3mVEDbp5tUmhYpoqBEAsC1G67Rf0-eAwVnSBX038laWghq7MyrIdw0Th2hidNdNqsK0x_t6ZPqflW9IWbzHwKhpMtxPHjHn4B2aSJ3d8b5TRfvzIsf4/s1600-h/DSCF2075.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6Nv9yJTo-KPS38jUM3mVEDbp5tUmhYpoqBEAsC1G67Rf0-eAwVnSBX038laWghq7MyrIdw0Th2hidNdNqsK0x_t6ZPqflW9IWbzHwKhpMtxPHjHn4B2aSJ3d8b5TRfvzIsf4/s320/DSCF2075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251865760840192690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUuma_ZexHc7glDz5cZ2xWUi6jhJiS76zismslFZA2BLaxbmuasQMJ2HABAZ_zyvqGB5No65iQP1H8Uvir1UvhS7Jhs5zNSH0M-pNXEiUKd9J5k18nyy1nMKlbMIIZMyyyYDc/s1600-h/DSCF2074.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUuma_ZexHc7glDz5cZ2xWUi6jhJiS76zismslFZA2BLaxbmuasQMJ2HABAZ_zyvqGB5No65iQP1H8Uvir1UvhS7Jhs5zNSH0M-pNXEiUKd9J5k18nyy1nMKlbMIIZMyyyYDc/s320/DSCF2074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251865762426162514" border="0" /></a><br />The misery! The disapproval!<br /><br />I've got yet more projects to show you, but I think the dogs are plotting against me, so I'd best wrap it up for today.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-60341930855292115512008-09-09T22:20:00.000-07:002008-09-09T22:49:45.157-07:00There and back againSo, I went to Switzerland.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfS8lPHJ7gNE9Q-BCKI_hkNcXhATTZ6TnaJM-db3PVkCMr3VbPUAYa_tbpzVVnmfkcMgC91puYrsKIpKTLRuf9mZmtW-eq5HsL9POuLnCJfbXmL9F-8pbi6YPhPOwPLNUwCa82/s1600-h/DSCF1842.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfS8lPHJ7gNE9Q-BCKI_hkNcXhATTZ6TnaJM-db3PVkCMr3VbPUAYa_tbpzVVnmfkcMgC91puYrsKIpKTLRuf9mZmtW-eq5HsL9POuLnCJfbXmL9F-8pbi6YPhPOwPLNUwCa82/s200/DSCF1842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244260935618366802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirstfre0D7uexnRsH_EG5ELNXhCbmqcam5IN7zq10WhMr_a7NoB-R0NxPa6tmIJSCKJ68BKIq2Ps-nR71XMIjK1yteVbEizAe5uTCiWZpnuxDi0ZUd6yDXro5NUvxLNLteUiA_/s1600-h/DSCF1787.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirstfre0D7uexnRsH_EG5ELNXhCbmqcam5IN7zq10WhMr_a7NoB-R0NxPa6tmIJSCKJ68BKIq2Ps-nR71XMIjK1yteVbEizAe5uTCiWZpnuxDi0ZUd6yDXro5NUvxLNLteUiA_/s200/DSCF1787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244260941161832802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3hXYPfrgh_BG8bopD5-SRUk1TGgPUWiRLnowq5DI9Cbi8fF9ISOxuQvc5dwvvCd4Gk365k97LgJore4aFQBS8KaeEJfYgmKCO6zI6lzLLf0qK7MjltGujpJ_hE40qDhBIwDQ/s1600-h/DSCF1886.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3hXYPfrgh_BG8bopD5-SRUk1TGgPUWiRLnowq5DI9Cbi8fF9ISOxuQvc5dwvvCd4Gk365k97LgJore4aFQBS8KaeEJfYgmKCO6zI6lzLLf0qK7MjltGujpJ_hE40qDhBIwDQ/s200/DSCF1886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244260945279713810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL02pMD15OVkPuZqvVQes8x8iWAoNSEAsVy-Xw-7mDo4bkMDc5xoQkCoIgzTyKFz9AVUy9aLcyImxL9ap-xr0HUBbG3oh5dZqnE4X04lEM1JZ9skcIcANyIunuTa-s5ss_hsh/s1600-h/DSCF1946.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL02pMD15OVkPuZqvVQes8x8iWAoNSEAsVy-Xw-7mDo4bkMDc5xoQkCoIgzTyKFz9AVUy9aLcyImxL9ap-xr0HUBbG3oh5dZqnE4X04lEM1JZ9skcIcANyIunuTa-s5ss_hsh/s200/DSCF1946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244260946201138194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_23VayX4wlolanJXhtJ44DBC3j26jL55XwnUn-RROU17s_B8dN1Pfs3V8e40Vk4FZYD7ODV0Hl_h1GXDz9wYjfV3GeXk4Khak89VyTkMIgyLvjDiKBD5TJCpHEnUb4k3wgHI/s1600-h/DSCF1974.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_23VayX4wlolanJXhtJ44DBC3j26jL55XwnUn-RROU17s_B8dN1Pfs3V8e40Vk4FZYD7ODV0Hl_h1GXDz9wYjfV3GeXk4Khak89VyTkMIgyLvjDiKBD5TJCpHEnUb4k3wgHI/s200/DSCF1974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244260949087466050" border="0" /></a><br />It's a very pretty country. I have no real idea what it's like to travel there, because I spent all my time in a large tour group. I don't know how the herd all those Swiss dairy cows, but for us they had guides clad in matching blazers with jaunty scarves and signs with our group number. If I never, ever ride another tour bus again, it will be too soon. I was there for 6 days, and I selected exactly one meal for myself (I don't count the breakfast buffet at the hotel). My favorite bits were a hike above Interlaken (the last two pictures above) and the trip to St. Gallen, with its textile museum and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.st.gallen-bodensee.ch/pdf_doc/SG_Unesco_en.pdf">Abbey library</a> (the link is to a .pdf file about the library).<br /><br />After Switzerland, I took a train (10+ hours) to Rotterdam to meet up with my beloved Trent and his merry band of students. It felt like going home (but with fewer pets) because I've traveled in the Netherlands so much. Also, Trent and the students are staying in a very homey hotel, the H<a href="http://www.hotelbaan.nl/UK/start_uk.html">otel Baan</a>. While they had class in the morning, I wandered all over Rotterdam (except on Thursday, when I biked to Delft). I got to go on outings and field trips with the students, too, so I got to experience the Pancake Boat cruise, and the Hoge Veluwe and <a href="http://www.kmm.nl/">Kroller-Muller museum</a>. We stayed in Arnhem after that visit, and to our delight learned that the Arnhem was hosting the <a href="http://www.worldstatues.nl/site/index.php?page=home-2">International Living Statue competition.</a> Yeah, I didn't know that existed either. I had a great time. I love Rotterdam. I generally love the Netherlands. I miss my husband.<br /><br />I took very few pictures, because I was having far too much fun (also, Trent takes millions of pictures).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-1LFbc9rGvJUdSQDCRKCpc_yG0pbLsut3VIG8CYYiUMPNbhLCUrfAgETpzQjQx-D9-nfg26wwUmK325PyfeWQkrnbORbf61sxV8v3JrqCVaoRxGCRt9_d_5943UkHRy1TjDX/s1600-h/DSCF2033.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-1LFbc9rGvJUdSQDCRKCpc_yG0pbLsut3VIG8CYYiUMPNbhLCUrfAgETpzQjQx-D9-nfg26wwUmK325PyfeWQkrnbORbf61sxV8v3JrqCVaoRxGCRt9_d_5943UkHRy1TjDX/s200/DSCF2033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244265280805371698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZELQYDE-d56vrNaOof7PJbuAFYUyF6tXCjethvTZ4G2ClqxZkSuisfgLjReOVnlStFZRLtBALBjyZbMF5AvkTXvrZzUtYioSrGQY6JazahyphenhyphenISnDCODOGaGKluOKy7dSIjoDc/s1600-h/DSCF2019.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZELQYDE-d56vrNaOof7PJbuAFYUyF6tXCjethvTZ4G2ClqxZkSuisfgLjReOVnlStFZRLtBALBjyZbMF5AvkTXvrZzUtYioSrGQY6JazahyphenhyphenISnDCODOGaGKluOKy7dSIjoDc/s200/DSCF2019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244265285845119714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmB1LX1a9Igrx3QxWdbZ7gGiEnrW7GvMYbVZ05jAndP7CIEIwfIvVRmUJ5d2Pj4HzaU27Omn-G9raxCmWuDQUpKQ7KDsgZO1RRRx-XjhMlobfVnOSCXu_rxr3fONtbp3zkKDS/s1600-h/DSCF2023.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmB1LX1a9Igrx3QxWdbZ7gGiEnrW7GvMYbVZ05jAndP7CIEIwfIvVRmUJ5d2Pj4HzaU27Omn-G9raxCmWuDQUpKQ7KDsgZO1RRRx-XjhMlobfVnOSCXu_rxr3fONtbp3zkKDS/s200/DSCF2023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244265283072032146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNnEwyoiTbKFVNcrF3kSd4OxZYGEXOziD_uEJt9FuKGIj0NGIuViiA5_qVvjIg-kynkkSFPaG95IIpagXmcvJxTRK27Qzbe_rs-RUTpBzTp-jJYiGFGApDNHj31Mm9f8YQWIO/s1600-h/DSCF2021.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNnEwyoiTbKFVNcrF3kSd4OxZYGEXOziD_uEJt9FuKGIj0NGIuViiA5_qVvjIg-kynkkSFPaG95IIpagXmcvJxTRK27Qzbe_rs-RUTpBzTp-jJYiGFGApDNHj31Mm9f8YQWIO/s200/DSCF2021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244265282817882178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since my return, it's been pets, work, and knitting, in pretty much that order. I'll inflict pet and project photos on the blog at a future date.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-10278927471088764262008-08-13T22:28:00.001-07:002008-08-13T23:53:36.302-07:00Increasingly headlongTrent leaves for the Netherlands Sunday. I leave for Switzerland Tuesday. It seemed very far away, but tonight I started seriously thinking about what needs to get done before we head out, and I completely freaked out. It was productive, at least. I now have a packing list and know what I need to shop for. (New black leather walking shoes, and a raincoat.) I also started the housecleaning. We've been putting it off because we only want to do it once, and we create mess at such a prodigious rate that cleaning at the last possible moments makes sense.<br /><br />The last possible moments are rapidly arriving.<br /><br />So, there are copies of the keys to be made and distributed, pet and house sitters to contact and make final arrangements with, and giant dust buffalo to round up. There's also yet more shopping for the above-mentioned items, and some work stuff I have to finalize. Trent's even more crazed than me, since he's trying to prepare a class as well as a month away from home (I'll only be gone two weeks).<br /><br />It doesn't help at all that I'm obsessed with the Olympics. I really like things like rowing, that they broadcast overnight on the USA network. Sadly, obsession doesn't make up for lack of sleep.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Free sewing projects<br /></span>Remember the martini apron? I wrote up the instructions for it and an apron with more of a utility-belt heritage.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfkNRdnljp5byLAKjHIiQOAsp_ROEqdjRs32tPoA-Bp48q_HEaBJ4Tj6RS5gjMiKjY2IS090HfDjN3PRXd-VdVn84-bPHKKVFHaj4WODWfLUVU0wO7NteITSKn1RDu7M3h_gP/s1600-h/DSCF1759.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfkNRdnljp5byLAKjHIiQOAsp_ROEqdjRs32tPoA-Bp48q_HEaBJ4Tj6RS5gjMiKjY2IS090HfDjN3PRXd-VdVn84-bPHKKVFHaj4WODWfLUVU0wO7NteITSKn1RDu7M3h_gP/s320/DSCF1759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234244765403886722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8tfhZjbGhDq_ZLPMPi0VlISwiigjDb6pfZKHTVe3cxzUkQPvFsh80UT0wDt1vawssi_P2qREsR_eykfwDb3SiznyBWvsVuBhPVmO_bv4uqZl9dCfQQ0aCP0TuJMKNw_XR5AX/s1600-h/DSCF1760.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8tfhZjbGhDq_ZLPMPi0VlISwiigjDb6pfZKHTVe3cxzUkQPvFsh80UT0wDt1vawssi_P2qREsR_eykfwDb3SiznyBWvsVuBhPVmO_bv4uqZl9dCfQQ0aCP0TuJMKNw_XR5AX/s320/DSCF1760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234244768296195346" border="0" /></a><br />You can download instructions <a href="http://www.berninanorthwest.com/">Bernina Northwest's website</a> - the link is currently on the front page in the midst of the Needle Expedition instructions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New couch<br /></span>I'm such a bad blogger. We finally got a real couch<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">,</span></span> and I didn't manage to take a picture in its pristine state. It promptly became covered with the usual riff-raff: books, knitting, dogs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWQZJUbQ0RabOrNj0I235iyj-HPdzyFjymOdgWWUh1rMf-P4Ny2AlgipE4QRSqR3ysCh76t3u5QPZlf0aM3KMRh40lkpe3Lmiw4WXztlwjUijgp-KWzOKcgB_K7Uzb7QwZQK0/s1600-h/DSCF1758.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWQZJUbQ0RabOrNj0I235iyj-HPdzyFjymOdgWWUh1rMf-P4Ny2AlgipE4QRSqR3ysCh76t3u5QPZlf0aM3KMRh40lkpe3Lmiw4WXztlwjUijgp-KWzOKcgB_K7Uzb7QwZQK0/s320/DSCF1758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234244764034634370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-32808236834178581292008-07-27T22:11:00.000-07:002008-07-27T22:38:14.552-07:00Tour de Fleece DNF*Fail. I wrecked my shoulder (again) last week, and I know from experience that I have to let it rest. There's been no spinning, and very little knitting or sewing, for me this week. I'm glad I at least got the first batch plied, and I've started the second batch of singles, so it's not a complete disaster.<br /><br />The little bit of stuff I have been working on is the ongoing Colette sweater, a pair of mittens for the knit-along I'm leading at Pacific Fabrics, baby quilt projects, and a quilt for my mom (not a surprise, although she may be surprised to hear that it's actually in progress now).<br /><br />Random notes:<br /><br />To women who wear low-rise jeans: if you choose to wear these jeans to an outdoor concert, and you sit on the ground, be aware that if your shirt is short, the nice folks behind you are totally staring at your ass. Way, way too much of your ass. Please, for the love of all that's decent, pull up your pants or wear a longer damn shirt.<br /><br />To Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings: you totally rocked. <a href="http://www.zoo.org/zootunes/index.html">Zoo Tunes</a> is cool and all, but I'd love to hear them in a club where I could actually SEE Sharon Jones (she's tiny, and we were well back in the crowd), and where she didn't have to worry about keeping it family-friendly.<br /><br />To <a href="http://www.gardenburger.com/home.php">Gardenburger</a>: please resolve <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/1763244">your production difficulties</a> so that our beloved sizzling soy sausage patties return to a nearby freezer case. Boca breakfast patties aren't nearly as good (plus they're weirdly proportioned for breakfast bread products such as English muffins), and I really don't like Morningstar that much either. I've been cranky since I'm not getting my protein for breakfast.<br /><br />*DNF = Did Not Finish, fyi for those of you who don't spend as much time as Trent and me following cycling coverage.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-22242350092386438572008-07-11T21:55:00.000-07:002008-11-12T23:52:07.153-08:00My job is cooler than your jobI can't stop giggling. For various reasons which are difficult to recreate, I set out to make a very silly apron as a work project. Here's the result modeled by my lamp:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6O8xQgf8dVIf_8nYL86bMJilDo4c6EuBSc0Yfk9jwvK-90tFsRxMIsyaf4d5KhpQ-mUqEKoSDDqFhh2NrA7hKun2S6G0gCEsMzJIopVITdcUnh0s0KsnxSWfaLgTErnaxevD/s1600-h/DSCF1750.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6O8xQgf8dVIf_8nYL86bMJilDo4c6EuBSc0Yfk9jwvK-90tFsRxMIsyaf4d5KhpQ-mUqEKoSDDqFhh2NrA7hKun2S6G0gCEsMzJIopVITdcUnh0s0KsnxSWfaLgTErnaxevD/s320/DSCF1750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221988774470145666" border="0" /></a><br />It's reversible!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZS_U1zCztqFzXbtz-XNmXNeVdaVGwXwSMAcyfecG6C6aTCOEiIps29gt8JZuQXLVSn5jgssbsJrAOX4NgM78tlNzqfdWp1v8QT22St-mYX5eFRN7ggKwrpmu4jx_c5E5nNTc/s1600-h/DSCF1755.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZS_U1zCztqFzXbtz-XNmXNeVdaVGwXwSMAcyfecG6C6aTCOEiIps29gt8JZuQXLVSn5jgssbsJrAOX4NgM78tlNzqfdWp1v8QT22St-mYX5eFRN7ggKwrpmu4jx_c5E5nNTc/s320/DSCF1755.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221988366928527442" border="0" /></a><br />Check out that amazing rolled hem (which I did with a sewing machine, not a serger):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDzyueA9Zcm2JhxvwlGj7R342a6t4E6vv33JSkffpIJjMQt-WJxySQcbORNkm11wghaHngzRGKRwrX-TUvkmvAeBnvbhOKWTIc_ZgZaFt1LZRie11Pcba1_31gFzFy6OOHJWS/s1600-h/DSCF1751.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDzyueA9Zcm2JhxvwlGj7R342a6t4E6vv33JSkffpIJjMQt-WJxySQcbORNkm11wghaHngzRGKRwrX-TUvkmvAeBnvbhOKWTIc_ZgZaFt1LZRie11Pcba1_31gFzFy6OOHJWS/s320/DSCF1751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221988360795768530" border="0" /></a><br />I even created the martini embroidery design from scratch. If you embigify, you'll see that the pink fabric has tiny martinis. This, friends, is the joy of working at a sewing store.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tour de Fleece</span><br />I've been hard at work spinning. I plied. Here's 3 3/8 oz, about 700 yards:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpOYdaoazSiuIHYaz37ZasXePHa5zQFI0GEnroTS90fy1_SALZlUJNr84Mi2MH-eDuRnrVR-RWZbg3M-39cv5PwkRtk3_7II6YwNa1sRHYungixhY-mUa5cbWbbaRWVdtqm3O/s1600-h/DSCF1746.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpOYdaoazSiuIHYaz37ZasXePHa5zQFI0GEnroTS90fy1_SALZlUJNr84Mi2MH-eDuRnrVR-RWZbg3M-39cv5PwkRtk3_7II6YwNa1sRHYungixhY-mUa5cbWbbaRWVdtqm3O/s320/DSCF1746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221988362325845666" border="0" /></a><br />I tried to take a close up, but my photography skillz are lacking. It now has a baby brother skein (I had too much singles [too many singles?] to ply onto one bobbin) now, so I think I've spun and plied just over 4 oz. I forgot to weigh the baby skein before I washed it, and it's still wet. Please note that I already had a bobbin and a half spun when I started this challenge. But given that it took me months to do that, I'm not really sure how I'm going to produce a comparable amount during the remainder of the tour to meet my 8 oz goal. Ah, well.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-32891056556452752302008-07-07T15:31:00.000-07:002008-11-12T23:52:08.164-08:00Ch-ch-ch-changes1. I no longer work for that corporate university where I toiled for the last 5 some-odd years. I cut back to part-time, then I asked to not be scheduled for classes. It's not exactly like quitting - I have to option of going back if I ever want to. That's not a foreseeable future right now, but you never know. I now work mainly at <a href="http://www.berninanorthwest.com/">Bernina Northwest</a>, selling sewing machines and teaching people how to use them. I'm having a blast and learning a lot. We also sold enough sewing machines last year that I earned a trip to Switzerland (!) for a big Bernina event, so I'll be headed to Zurich in August.<br /><br />2. We bought a real sofa. It's being delivered Wednesday. Good bye, dear futon. You've served us well.<br />'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvucreN_M27T_AHBtuI42qavFqC2HBsBlfr4rPfOG0j6VE1wr7yYH0Eg_Z61tZG4aEB-8IqzRCiLAhyb__9nB-qsz9AJM80Fz7q-ZFbyh9xTV1RCwG-ayAAuycXrqho9lTvWB7/s1600-h/DSCF1734.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvucreN_M27T_AHBtuI42qavFqC2HBsBlfr4rPfOG0j6VE1wr7yYH0Eg_Z61tZG4aEB-8IqzRCiLAhyb__9nB-qsz9AJM80Fz7q-ZFbyh9xTV1RCwG-ayAAuycXrqho9lTvWB7/s320/DSCF1734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220502918819144434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />3. I'm knitting up a storm these days. It doesn't seem like I'm finishing a lot, but that's because I'm rotating between several projects. I did finish some socks out of handspun BFL:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKhyphenhyphenH-s-18J11SPNlxX8eCK6QFEJqFXjbgas77jG2m4RE4v91DGYkPNW_6n1EcvFERDzpeOl7fOqFdPo7FjLeabp6DHLEYhlqbASTNdhVw5nV5W3Yft79B2G5yeJJEBPslTPU/s1600-h/DSCF1737.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKhyphenhyphenH-s-18J11SPNlxX8eCK6QFEJqFXjbgas77jG2m4RE4v91DGYkPNW_6n1EcvFERDzpeOl7fOqFdPo7FjLeabp6DHLEYhlqbASTNdhVw5nV5W3Yft79B2G5yeJJEBPslTPU/s320/DSCF1737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220502919719627362" border="0" /></a><br />And I'm making great strides on the <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com/2008/02/first-pattern-of-yearo.html">Colette sweater</a>:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil36pZws-rOSmfa9hAQra52HLqYxYGMmvJ_6zAYsV9Jv6xoJSaPOLRXBfzJzykrpdLvTm-lYrOla4_H_e0G52vQyvJuhmsgi0AF_rALnGZqMBXqodLuE7k1tKKFfJJ_fkBuRhB/s1600-h/DSCF1741.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil36pZws-rOSmfa9hAQra52HLqYxYGMmvJ_6zAYsV9Jv6xoJSaPOLRXBfzJzykrpdLvTm-lYrOla4_H_e0G52vQyvJuhmsgi0AF_rALnGZqMBXqodLuE7k1tKKFfJJ_fkBuRhB/s320/DSCF1741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220502920603697138" border="0" /></a><br />And I'm making another Spring Lace scarf, this time out of some well-aged linen.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-44opldMZuEwxQoU4dujKEYs1V7_MEI-fT68mQ1RoqAOCKqQ4ZsAgvYUdC6PKsOk6AkYSoRO2R38N3DGBj_-9wXy2HdJE4TcALhqA8Drj2-upcgqZkb2j_xFS3Rs0_ACke3C/s1600-h/DSCF1742.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-44opldMZuEwxQoU4dujKEYs1V7_MEI-fT68mQ1RoqAOCKqQ4ZsAgvYUdC6PKsOk6AkYSoRO2R38N3DGBj_-9wXy2HdJE4TcALhqA8Drj2-upcgqZkb2j_xFS3Rs0_ACke3C/s320/DSCF1742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220502924484276226" border="0" /></a><br />4. I signed up (late) for the Tour de Fleece. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroWvX3_ipeaAHDs-4aW10XNaT923uFqe50ETNXwXGZTa4iZROFOeo6l7PeB_l2jwkSwAxTJZTr1di4tE72k7b5ft7wYR0xLo9TBiiC2UuglN43uQNMnov7pJuNJCbQsNd7rqw/s1600-h/tdf_blog_badge2.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroWvX3_ipeaAHDs-4aW10XNaT923uFqe50ETNXwXGZTa4iZROFOeo6l7PeB_l2jwkSwAxTJZTr1di4tE72k7b5ft7wYR0xLo9TBiiC2UuglN43uQNMnov7pJuNJCbQsNd7rqw/s320/tdf_blog_badge2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221095660163498898" border="0" /></a><br />I recently finished up a batch of Romney (from Maria, a<a href="http://chickenwithoutahead.blogspot.com/2006/04/baa-baa-mailman.html">s discussed here</a>) that had been languishing on the bobbins of my Ashford Joy for ages. I can't face continuing with the Romney right now, so my Tour goal is to conquer 8 oz of the pound (!) of Reflections farm blue wool that I've been slowly spinning into lace weight since last winter. So, 8 oz lace weight singles, 2 plied.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqTfrsDZHl5fM0BIVK_hvvp3QsE9mgCnWT6-DWDXJnFQl_bWqmt6Vu5vgdkx-nUr8_vJ25gBgonrmbSHYHVyhSqp85tXPx7dKfnNuXslF0sIqm1tvGd_pC3hVMTyyCi65K8yQ/s1600-h/DSCF1744.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqTfrsDZHl5fM0BIVK_hvvp3QsE9mgCnWT6-DWDXJnFQl_bWqmt6Vu5vgdkx-nUr8_vJ25gBgonrmbSHYHVyhSqp85tXPx7dKfnNuXslF0sIqm1tvGd_pC3hVMTyyCi65K8yQ/s320/DSCF1744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220503084181964626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgARFJYOAevJkD4gjBKM_DpcRCwZNcyCzNZghyphenhyphen3VobjvfySUwvdbIHh87SqgMpuLJJNy6MKmCW7pkap6H0qev9FlUfE10EqqAvVHXKnxjR4f8ZPeV2k7plBPa6-2TZFgYa_Jm6/s1600-h/DSCF1745.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgARFJYOAevJkD4gjBKM_DpcRCwZNcyCzNZghyphenhyphen3VobjvfySUwvdbIHh87SqgMpuLJJNy6MKmCW7pkap6H0qev9FlUfE10EqqAvVHXKnxjR4f8ZPeV2k7plBPa6-2TZFgYa_Jm6/s320/DSCF1745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220503089535684578" border="0" /></a><br />I've just about got a second bobbin equal to the first, so I could ply some, just to break up the monotony. I'm not sure how many ounces I've spun into singles, but since it has to be plied, I'm counting it as TdF spinning.<br /><br />5. Speaking of spinning wheels, I need to sell the Ashford Joy (portable, single treadle, with bag and 3 bobbins, $400) and my Louet S-10 (single treadle, 3 bobbins, skein winder, $225). I'll provide a starter spinning lesson with either. Contact me at m k morrow at yahoo dot com with interest/questions/etc.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21732700.post-990686094325904312008-05-13T09:09:00.001-07:002008-11-12T23:52:08.267-08:00I'm back, and a free patternHey all -<br /><br />Busy, busy. I'll abbreviate: work, work, dogs, work, trip to the Chicago burbs, cold, work.<br /><br />But hey, exciting news! Remember my green lace scarf?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFpKjpnvcHxwDvjZPVefeXmb9Z9TkPYkoj2mBmZ2HiUnudFaKtZtaLJYRfEpZ_rxZu2GlSg4pYmOYUE9EItPze1To8tsjEpmACg_-QKiuW-HBHi2Mt7TgHLM6BukIhL2N8JkR/s1600-h/DSCF1712.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFpKjpnvcHxwDvjZPVefeXmb9Z9TkPYkoj2mBmZ2HiUnudFaKtZtaLJYRfEpZ_rxZu2GlSg4pYmOYUE9EItPze1To8tsjEpmACg_-QKiuW-HBHi2Mt7TgHLM6BukIhL2N8JkR/s320/DSCF1712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199895989846411282" border="0" /></a><br />I traded the pattern to Vickie Howell (for yarn, of course), and <a href="http://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/05/lace-scarf-pattern-giveaway-for.html">it's available on her website FREE</a> for the next two weeks. Go print, folks. After that, she'll have it for sale in her store.<br /><br />For those of y'all who are local, remember I'm teaching a class using this pattern at <a href="http://www.pacificfabrics.com/">Pacific Fabrics</a> Northgate store in June. You can lace if you want to.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253277151188116050noreply@blogger.com2