Progress

There’s been great progress on the garden, and I’ve got the blisters to prove it.

The potatoes went in last Thursday. I need to lay chicken wire or something over the bed because the frakking neighborhood cats are using it as a litterbox.

I eventually had topsoil delivered from Viking Topsoil. He was very efficient and more reasonable than Pacific Topsoil’s delivery. So, Mt. Dirt arrived Monday.

On Monday, I also broke up the subsoil in the base of the bed. Tuesday, I moved Mt. Dirt to the raised bed with the aid of Nancy’s wheelbarrow. Here's the before (actually, after about 4 wheelbarrow loads).

That’s when the blisters really came up. But here's the after:

As the cold, cold rain started to fall Tuesday afternoon, I planted the starts I bought at Sky nursery last week (kale, collards, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage). 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. I covered the whole thing with a floating row cover, held down with some convenient rocks that I dug out of the subsoil.

It’s a good thing I used the row cover, since it’s snowing today. Oh, and here's a cheerful article about our likely spring weather.

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^nd wedding anniversary (we didn’t invite ourselves to their anniversary – they invited us). We had a lovely dinner with them, then headed to the Triple Door to see Habib Koite. We not only found street parking within a block, we also had a front row table. It was an amazing show. We’ve seen Habib Koite 2 times before, and this was by far the best show. We didn’t get home until midnight, and I had to be up at 6 this morning, but it was worth it.

Tour 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.

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).

Random notes:

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.

To Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings: you totally rocked. Zoo Tunes 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.

To Gardenburger: please resolve your production difficulties 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.

*DNF = Did Not Finish, fyi for those of you who don't spend as much time as Trent and me following cycling coverage.

Sad lack of pictures

We had a busy weekend, but I have no photographic evidence. Saturday morning I did manage to motivate myself to do my third run of the week. (Special note to concerned friends and family: yes, I am wearing supportive undergarments, and yes, I am being very careful to avoid the ice.) Saturday afternoon Nancy and I went to Ballard and visited the Quilting Loft (a bit of fabric was purchased). Saturday night we met up with friends and went to Mesob for Ethiopian food. It was very, very yummy, and I ate too much. Sunday we went to Accordi-o-Rama at Town Hall. It was pretty darn cool. Accordion players, by and large, don't take themselves too seriously, and the show ended with a polka band, so what's not to love?

This morning I hauled myself out of bed in time to go for my morning waddle. I'm repeating week 1, on the grounds that I'm pathetic. It was really damn cold this morning. Ouch.

I've got lots of projects in progress at the moment, but most are in an unphotographable state, and the camera's batteries are dead besides. Crap. Maybe later.

House concert

We hired a security professional for our house concert. We wouldn't want any ruffians spoiling the show.

Trent and Misty performing. They did a short set and sounded great. (That is of course my unbiased opinion as wife and friend.)


Michael Fracasso performing. He was amazing, as we expected, performing both old and new songs.

Michael, merch-girl Jenine, and Trent. There's a story here. Our friend Jenine asked for a job at the house concert. Since we already had Chloe as security, we asked her if she'd do the cd sales for Michael. Jenine has amazing sales skills, and sold more cds to our guests than Michael sold on any other night of his tour - so he gave her the shirt off his back, and that's the shiny silver shirt Jenine is wearing here.

So, to summarize: great music with a fun party in the comfort of our own home. Next time, y'all should come over.

(There is some sewing and knitting going on, but there are also ongoing shoulder problems, so progress is slow and computer time limited.)

Real live music

Trent Hill & Misty Weaver
Saturday, Oct. 27, 8:00 - 9:30
Mr. Spot's Chai House, Ballard
Trent will perform about 30 minutes solo, then Misty will join him for songs about lovin', drinkin', dyin', and stalkin'. Mr. Spot's is a delightful venue with delicious beverages (caffeinated, alcoholic, or neither). No cover charge, so y'all come on out.

Michael Fracasso
Saturday, Nov. 10, 8:00 - ?
Chez Nous
Michael Fracasso is an insanely talented, Austin-based singer-songwriter. Go visit his website to hear samples (no, really, I'll wait). He's going to be performing at a house concert at our place while he's out here on the west coast, and we even get him on a weekend night. I'm afraid we don't have a keg this time, but we'll have wine, home brewed hard cider, soft drinks, and munchies. $10 cover charge. Please contact me at mkmorrow at yahoo (dot com, duh) with inquiries or to RSVP.

Now ketchup

Oy. There was Trent's gig on Friday of Labor Day weekend (fun! successful! you should have been there!). Then I had a cold. Then I had to grade a lot. Then there was work. Ugh.

But, I did manage to sew a knit wrap dress that fits, with no pattern modifications. It fits really well - I didn't have to tug at the neckline to protect my bra all day. (Let's pretend my waist is as skinny as the dress in this picture, okay?)

I also made a messenger bag. I made up the pattern, and I'm going to be teaching a class on this at Bernina Northwest in November.

I've started another one using needle felting and the super spiffy free motion couching foot for my Bernina. This was about the most fun sewing thing ever. The lining-to-be is lost in the laundry right now, but I'm really looking forward to getting this done.

In other class teaching news, I'll be teaching a class about my Bat Shawl from Vickie's Not Another Teen Knitting Book.

The class will be 3 Wednesdays, Oct. 2, 9, and 16, from 7-9 pm at the Northgate Pacific Fabric and Crafts. We just scheduled it, so it's not on their website yet. I really hope people sign up - it's a fun and gratifying lace project (size 17 needles!) and just the thing for Halloween parties.

Incidentally, I caved into peer pressure (is spouse pressure peer pressure?) and joined Facebook. I can see that it's going to be a tremendous time-suck. But, hey, if you've joined the Borg too, add me as a friend.

Live music, Friday night

My dearest darling Trent, along with singer Misty Weaver, will be performing Friday night at Mr. Spots Chai House in scenic Ballard. They're scheduled to go on at 8:00, and you can stick around to see and hear Aubrey Birdwell and our good friends The Ensemble Sub Masa. Mr. Spots serves chai, coffee, wine, beer, and some food. The show is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

For a preview of Trent, you can listen to some of his songs on his MySpace page.

I'll be there with my knitting, of course.