Monday, May 31, 2010

A Finish

A new spring sweater, all finished.  Very soft, very comfy, photographs poorly.  :-D  (Although, to be fair, not my best seaming job.  I always have trouble with seaming knits...)   Overall, I'm quite pleased with how it came together and the nice, long length.


Pattern:  Debbie Bliss Magazine, Spring 2010  Yarn:  DB Eco Baby organic cotton  in duck egg and apple. ( The colours are better in this photo as our weather has not been conducive to quality lighting.)

Friday, May 28, 2010

Cuff 'Em!

I had a pile of socks that had given up the ghost and had holes beyond repair that, for some strange reason, I was reluctant to throw away. When organizing my yarn stash, I came across a use for the cuffs.
Cut the cuff off the sock and use it to hold together a partially-used skein. The loose ends are secured underneath it, the ball band can be kept with the ball, many can be thrown haphazard into a pile without fear they will tangle, and a center-pull ball can stay that way without the outer end twisting and knotting while the center end is worked. The sock cuff will tighten around the skein as it's used.  And they will never snag your yarn.

Why the heck didn't I think of this before?

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Cynical Rainbow, Happy Student



Before you think I have lost my sense of sarcasm and gone even warm-fuzzier than ever, I should point out the tiny blue sign just to the left of the proverbial pot of gold.

It's a Wal-Mart.

Even Mother Nature can crack a joke. And the fainter, second rainbow lands gracefully on the university campus. Being that I will be a student there again shortly, spending all my pennies on tuition and books, I find that very funny indeed. My letter of acceptance has arrived this week and it is official... I'm in!!

And they've already asked for money.  :-)

Monday, May 24, 2010

Bean there.



Beans.
I always decide I want to make a bean-filled recipe about twelve hours too late. Legumes have oft been recommended to me as (surprise, surprise) I am a little on the anaemic side. The virtually transparent side. As a matter of fact, I've often been accused of having no blood in my blood and rather than dine on me, a vampire would more likely ask what I use for SPF.
But I can be an impatient cook and never remember to think ahead for beans. This weekend, in a fit of cupboard and closet cleaning, I made a plan! I budgeted some time, orchestrated enough bowls on the counter and proceeded to soak four varieties of beans. The next day, I cooked, parcelled, labelled and froze.
Now, I have a freezer full of magic beans ready for when I lazily wish to eat the same day I pick a recipe... 21.5 cups in fact. I'm thinking delicious soup some day soon. And maybe THAT will shush the naysayers asking me, "What's with all the beans?"

Either that, or I won't hear them over the beans' effects! :-D

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Beginnings...


The satisfying click of needles when you finally cast-on after a long drought.
A second project, started when intricate lace was knit during first periods and taken back during first intermissions. It's hard to tell whether it was the games or the mistakes that affected my language more. "He shoots, and it goes wide. There's a penalty coming up..." and I have lost my place for the fourteen hundredth time in the last twenty minutes.
Tomatoes. I have zero luck with gardening. Gardening requires you to run on the garden's schedule. You can't put it aside until inspiration strikes or you find the right shade of yarn. You can't say, It can wait until next week. But I am hopeful. See - they're 4 inches high and I haven't killed them yet. :-D [Insert tiny, quiet 'yay' that couldn't possibly court contempt from the gardening spirits here.]

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Goosed


Lately, when I'm driving along the river, particularly on my way home from work, I see the gangs gathering.
They threaten and mark their territory. People go out of their way to avoid walking too close.
I wonder when we lost our parks.
To tell the truth, it reminds me of that Monty Python sketch where the roving gangs of grannies took over the neighbourhood, frightening all the youth and wreaking havoc.
The other night, on my way to a meeting, I was stopped behind three cars at at apparently clear underpass. Wondering what the hold-up was, I started looking around and caught sight of a bad-ass goose strutting across the street to get to his buddies on the other side. No playing chicken. He was full of intent.

No one's messing with an intentional goose.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Atmospheric Phenomena


Sundogs.
Pretty incredible to see one. Even more incredible when they go all the way around.


Pretty darn tricky to photograph with an automatic. Never stops me from trying though... :-)

Vegreville, Alberta. April 30th, 2010. Approximately 5pm.