Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Cats + Boise = ??

I was happily knitting on my couch next to one of my cats when I decided I wanted a slice of cheese. In the time it took me to go to the kitchen, find the cheese I wanted, slice some, and get back to the couch, the other cat was happily curled up in my spot giving herself as well as the Boise shawl a bath. I had looked at her just in time to see her eyes squinty and pleased as she took a nice long lick on the section closest to her.
At least she wasn't eating it.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

What crafts?!

Ok. This needs to be discussed. WHY would someone think this is a good idea?! And WHY would anyone make those earrings with RED on the bottom half of the heart? No, not solid red, but... well.. look: http://www.tamponcrafts.com/halloween.html

What were you thinking?!?!

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Back to Dance

Monday night was my first night going back to dance since Wednesday, October 4. The week after that I was too tired both Mon and Wed to go (Monday night I feel asleep at 8pm!!) and that Thursday was the fun funness of surgery so last week I was still focusing on trying to stand without the room spinning, so dancing was out of the question. We did some warm up drills that I had only done a few times; just when you're getting used to the drills they switch to something else so that your body doesn't get locked into one thing. So that was nice and complicated. We were working on arabesques (standing on one leg with the other extended straight behind a few inches off the floor, with the hips both still even and facing forward), which is something so easy in concept, but I am particularly bad at them because my big glutes are still pretty weak. I was also slow to get into first position and poiting my toes was hardly happening. I haven't felt this uncoordinated in dance since I first started. I felt all floppy and lacking grace. We also did dragging turns where the left leg is slightly bent and the right is dragging on the floor to the side while you turn. We were *supposed* to use our arms for momentum to get around, but for me, again with the no grace night I couldn't get around myself. It was aggravating, but oh well. It's what happens when you don't dance for alomst a month. The one thing that did go right, and quite to my surprise, was that I can almost do complete splits. During every class, we have a mmoment or two to work on splits, and I try (although I have to support myself on my hands) and on Monday, I was so close to being all the way down. I am going to be super excited when I don't have to use my hands and will be able to stretch on top of my split. Now if only my straddle split was going as well ;)
I am going to try to go through one more 10 week rotation of dance movements and then start going to the Fusion course where I have a fusion of middle eastern dance, western styles and finger cymbols! During the week of the workshop, I stayed one night to watch one of my new friends take the class, and it looked really cool. Only 3 people were taking the class, which is good adn bad I guess, but the things they were doing looked awesome and fun.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Socks!

I have broken my monogomy on Saturday (for a moment, it's only really going to be a short affair, I swear!) and cast on socks. I decided that I wanted instant gratification.. as instant as it can be when knitting, that is, and didn't want to have the potential for second sock syndrome, so I decided to try knitting two socks at once on two circular needles. It took a couple of tries to slip the socks on the needles facing the right directions, but I got it! I have them facing the same way, and knit one whole round with pattern in it for both socks. Right now I get a little lost when knitting them, because both socks look *exactly* the same and the neeldes are exactly the same, so I initially couldn't tell if I was knitting the same sock over and over or if I was actually switching socks. I put a teeny piece of orange tape on both ends of one of the needles so that I could have some sort of visual cue.
Success! I am very proud of my new ability, and Mr. A will not have mateless socks when I am finished. Now that I have completed the first pattern row (again, just to make sure that it was actually working) I am leaving it alone until I finish the shawl, which is going awesomely!

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Today's Lesson

Today I learned that it is very hard to think of gifts for someone that I don't know and have limited information on. I decided that I would make an attempt at searching for things for my Secret Pal, and I am not sure how successful I was. I did get a few things which I really hope she likes. I bought some things that she didn't specifically say she liked, but I hope that with what I was reading from her blog that she will really like the items. I am also discovering how hard it is to spend only $60 and not blow it all on one or two things. I am excited to be sending things out and to be participating in this swap, and really can't wait to see what my pal thinks of the things I am giving her. :o)

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

October post!

Okay, so it seems as though I haven't had a "real" update in a while. So this is it! In all of it's October glory. Last weekend.. as in the last weekend that I was concious (note: October 12-16 2006 does not exist in my life since I was not here for it) Mr A and I went out to find a pumpkin patch and to do the search for Pumpkins, play, and poke at cute little farm animals thing. It was a huge success. We found pumpkins, two of which I made into a pie ALL from scratch, including the crust. Mm! The first image is clearly the pie mush going into the crust, and the second is the first slices after coming out of the oven.


You can kinda see how there was more filling than space in the crust buuuuut I made it fit. :o) Mr A is spoiled for only having ever had my homemade pumpkin pies that he is scared to try store bought pies. I love the fall season specificall for the fact that I can make yummi warm foods such as these. Oh, and this year's pie came out slightly better than last year since previously we did not have a blender. Yeah, go ahead and contemplate that scenario.

I have also been knitting up a storm on my Boise shawl. The photo is what it looked like about this time last week. I was nearing the end of my second ball. Now, I am about the same place in my third ball. I was making good time and really chugging forward, aside from GIANT mishaps yesterday. I spent about 4 hours trying to figure out where I made a mistake and how to get back to it to fix it. But the problem is now solved! So the only way to go from here is up! Or forward.. And I must say that with my last week (that one that didn't exist, remember?) one of the things keeping me sane was knitting. While I was inable to move and barely able to stay awake for longer than 1.5 hours at a time, it made me feel really good to feel like I was accomplishing something and making progress somewhere. Knitting, you are my best medicine.
Happy October, everyone :o)

Monday, October 16, 2006

Knitting questions

A little contest that I just became aware of via my hostess's blog. I figured it could be fun since I am still in recoup time.

1. Where is your favorite knitting spot?
There can be two answers to this question; the physical spot and the mental spot. My favorite physical knitting spot has to be (like most people) on the couch in front of the tv. This gives me the best place in the house to be, first of all. I can see everything, I am in the middle of everything, and I have have my knitting on my lap. What's better than that? My favorite metal knitting spot can really be anywhere physical, as long as it is more or less comfortable. I like to be relaxed, enjoying myself and all over getting that feeling of accomplishment.

2. If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead?
Since I have so many things I love to do, this is (fortunately?) an easy question. I would play my guitar, paint, draw and dance. If the question were instead worded "if your fingers fell off and you could never have the dexterity again that you do now" then I think my only option would be to dance. Luckily, it is something I love to do.

3. If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why?
Anywhere? I think I would have to go back to Fiji. It was so welcoming, so beautiful and in the midst of the lack of technology (where we were on the Island at least) it felt so much like home that I had missed for too long. I could have stayed there forever never even thinking of picking up a computer again and still have been the happiest in my life.

4. When you were little - What did you want to do "when you grew up?" Are you doing it?
Who says I grew up? Who says I'm not little? Who says that I can't go do something else if I decide I don't like what I am doing right now. Oh boy, I have plans. One day I am going to cullinary school to be a chef. I am going to be a dancer too. I am also going to cure the world of diseases, one at a time.

5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Right now I really just want the basic strawberry flavor. Icecreams have too much packed into them now with the flavories, swirlies and other goop. What happened to the most basic and satisfying single flavor. Mm strawberry.

Friday, October 13, 2006

Non-craftiness

Well, this is supposed to be my crafty blog where I only talk about my knitting and dancing, but this has beena big deal to me for the past 2 days so I figured I should talk about it. Fair warning: GRAPHIC.
Yesterday was my wonderful appointment to get my 8 teeth out. I was given a sleeping pill to take 1 hour before getting to the appointment. It's a good thing I told Mr A how to get to the office as we were leaving the apartment, because I must have started nodding off even before we got on the bridge. All I remember was waking up to see him taking the wrong exit to which I screamed "Not this exit! The one after Rowland!" and plopping back out. I remember parking the car and trying to sit in the waiting room. They took my right into the back room and told me to lie down on the chair. Two women were in the room, and one of them handed me a little blue stress ball and told me to keep squeezing. I thought I needed to squeeze it to puff up my vein so that they could give me my IV. I remember closing my eyes, listening to the TV that was on and thinking "I need a break. I can't squeeze" The same woman told me to keep squeezing, and at some point a mask went over my nose. I stopped squeezing again. After the third time, I began crying because I couldn't squeeze any more. I remember the Dr coming in and talking and someone wiping my face. That was it.
I don't remember waking up. I don't remember having to pee (Mr A asked if I remembered peeing and I asked if I managed to make it to the bathroom... luckily I was auditory so i was escorted) and I don't even remember making it up the three flights of stairs to my home. I do remember going to the bathroom to pull gause out of my mouth and not knowing the difference between numb lip and wet gause. Red spilled all down the front of my shirt. I took a nap with ice on my cheeks. Mr A brought me chocolate pudding and a vicodin. I was only able to eat one spoon full. At some point I tried having a smoothy. Apparently trying to ingest anything did not work well. I also tried taking vicodin, my antibiotics and my antiinflammatory, all of which have the side effect of upset stomach and nausea. I couldn't keep anything down. I was so hopped up that I didn't care at all about the work they were doing on my roof. I slept through it. Yesterday was very hard. Last night was very restless and I didn't sleep the whole night through. I kept tryig to get comfortable while not touching my cheeks.
Today went a little better. My left cheek is bruised and my face is puffy. I've been eating better even though it is mostly jello, pudding and a bowl of mac n cheese. Ice has been a very close friend of mine. I'll be looking forward to the weekend being over and being over this fun time.
The only crafy thing I have to say is that I have finally commited to memory the boise shawl pattern. I am proud of that. :o)

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Remember the Blanket?

Yeah, that thing that I spent 3 weeks chugging out as quickly as possible to send to my old friend who's baby came 3 months early and I was caught off guard by his early arrival? Well, I heard from my friend today that his wife *loved* the blanket, the detail and the color. She announced that it would be the blanket Brandon would be wrapped in when he receives his blessing at church in November. Guess who's beaming!! Yeah, that would be me and my baby blanket making skills. ...Okay, it was basic K, YO, and K2tog.. But non-knitters don't know that! It made me very proud and with a week like I am having this week, it really made my week.
(Why the bad week? In brief: yesterday was an ultrasound for ovarian cysts, Thursday I am getting 4 wisdom + 4 other non impacted teeth pulled and during the weekend while I am recovering they have decided to do roof work on my apartment building o_O ..I'm gonna be a happy camper!! Maybe I'll get a bit of knitting done those 4 days. Oh, anyone have good mushy food suggestions? Jell-o, pudding, creamed spinach, icecream... what else?)
Hooray for knitting!

Friday, October 06, 2006

Boise Update

I know I haven't posted anything recent on the boise shawl. I am crawling along. It is really nice and soft to work with and really glides for the most part. I am maybe a row away from the end of ball one, and have just finished my 8th 12 row repeat. However, it feels like the shawl has been this length forever. Anyway! I show picture now.


One of the pictures is with the flash on, the other with the flash off. Show slightly different textures. I can't wait to actually be able to wear this thing. Especially since it is getting colder. Mmmmm how I'd love to wear it right now :o)

SP9

I was emailed my spoilee's information today. Hooray! I'm excited :o)

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Secret Pal 9 Questions

There has been a lot more belly dance talk here than normal, and so much more than knitting lately. I am participating in Secret Pal for the first time, and they just put out their survey. So here goes:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I really like everything. I have grown out of my Lion Brand phase when I was first learning and it was lots of yarn for not so lots of money. I think that is the only thing I would scrunch my nose at. I am very open to all sorts of yarns. Except fun fur. No fun fur.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a case dedicated to circs, one for straights, one for long straights, and one for hooks that (even though it is made from the same company) is too small to fit any of them in, diameter-wise. Sometimes the needles actually make it into the cases, and sometimes not so much. Those cases? Usually on the floor somewhere.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
History: I learned to crochet by teaching myself single chains 8 years ago. I was frustrated that I could never find good crochet patterns and everything was knit, so I decided I had to learn how to knit to make all the cool stuff. I tried teaching myself from a book 5 years ago, and that failed when I couldn't figure out how to cast on. Almost 2 years ago a group at school got together and learned to knit. I've been doing it since. I would consider myself intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, I can't keep track of things like that and I know if I had one, it would make me spend way more money than I need on random useless things.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
Oh, goodness... Just about anything. I love scents. Vanilla especially, jasmine, plumeria. I absolutely *love* Indian spices.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Those little chocolate things that look like flattened out kisses with the white candy dots on them. And chocolate stars. Mmm. Chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin. Too poor to get that hard core. I paint though, but not as regularly as knitting. I also draw and color, I cross stitch, and I love love love cooking. Just about anything crafty is on my to-do list.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love all types of music... seriously. I am big right now on anything I can dance to. I am also ashamed of my very small Arabian music collection. Shakira, Jurassic5, Gorillaz, Gnarles Barkley, D.Mode, John Mayer, and Corrine Bailey Rae are some of my tops right now. The one person I can't stand? Dave Matthews. And yes, I can play mp3s

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love cool colors; blue, purple, green. Pink is the only color I can do without.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married and have 2 kitties. They are my babies and are so spoiled... yes, I knit a kittypi for them... the cats that is.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I have made myself more scarves than I can count, but surprizingly only one hat. Hmm.. I have never caught onto the poncho phase and am still unclear how I feel about them. I do love accessories, though so I'd probably welcome them all.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I've caught the sock bug lately. Soon I am going to be starting my first sweater, scarves are always easy and most of my gifts to friend tend to be scarves. I'm working on a Karabella shawl right now. Favorite items? I love everything!!

13. What are you knitting right now?
Karabella Boise shawl. I am crawling along and it seems like it has been at the same length forever. But it is so cozy to knit!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
They are the best! It shows thought and care. :o)

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I'm really feeling circulars right now. I love bamboo, although for socks I've been using addi turbos. I'm very curious about the knit picks regular circs and the interchangables. I am also a fan of addi turbos and Naturas. I'm also trying to get my hands on some longer circs so I can learn to do the magic loop.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Lucky me, I own both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I am monogomous. If there is a UFO in my stash, it is because I have decided that yarn is hideous and I will never finish it out of disgust (read back to growing out of the lion brand phase). Actually.. I think a few months ago I threw it out. It is possible for someone to have no UFOs and only one WIP! :o)

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I love Christmas. I don't know. Not necessarily the gifts, but things just feel different around that time. The winter atmosphere. And the massive amounts of food and cooking. Aww comfort foods.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I used to collect model horses (Breyer) but at $30+ a pop, it's not something I can keep up with, especially if they are just going to sit there and be looked at. I am a packrat. I collect everything I get. Things that smell good, yarn, I love anything by Amy Brown, candles, potpourri, little scented tarts that you can put in a burner and let fill the house with yummy smells for hours. Also, anything belly dance related.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Hmm. Well, I have a subscription to Interweave knits, and am letting my subscription to Creative knitting expire (I like IK better). I'm intrigued by Vogue knitting and Rowan. I have a few knitting books: Sensational Socks, Fabulous felted bags, Vogue Stitchionary, Vogue Knitting on the Edge, SnB Handbook and Happy Hooker. I am always welcoming new books.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I ususally don't know I want to learn a technique until I have to use it in a pattern I am working from. The one thing I do want to learn is how to knit 2 items at the same time using the magic loop. What is stopping me? I don't have long enough circs and I need a project for it. (socks, gloves, leg warmers... hmm there are 3 ideas) Maybe knitting backwards?

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I love sock knitting! I've made one! ..single sock. A knit along distracted me and my monogomous self from finishing the seacond one. I think I am going to have to start cheating soon. Circumference: 8 1/4" Heel to Toe: 8" Toe: 1 1/4" Heel Height: 2 1/4" Calf: 11"

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
08/22