Virtuousness abounds...

(yeah, I don't think it's actually a word, either)

I feel virtuous in so many ways...

* after my hysterectomy, I started taking supplements on the advice of a specialist in women's issues. I ran out a couple of weeks ago and waited to replenish the supply till I could afford them, and what a difference! I turned back into PMS Deirdre, whom we haven't seen for a bit, and it was a really good indication of why I should always, always keep up with these things. So I am taking them again and feeling virtuous in knowing why.

* I am doing a strength training class on Monday mornings and am in week 5 of an 8 week training program run by the same gal, plus for those days I miss (like yesterday, because Ben is out again with a stomach bug) I have a dvd that I actually use. And I actually do. Again with the feelings of virtuous.

* About a year ago I bit the bullet and ripped out a sweater that I loved making, but that looked like utter crap on me (Welcome Back Old Friend) - . I kept the several and various resulting balls of yarn within eyeshot for the past year, waiting for the perfect opportunity to play with them again.
Found it! The Garter Yoke Cardigan, which I cast on a couple of days ago and which I am pleased to report seems both quick and pretty. I am not putting in as many buttonholes as recommended, but otherwise am happily following along mindlessly... all about the mindless these days.
So I am recycling yarn - virtuous little me...

* I finished the Pleated Vest, which is blocking as I type. It's always nice to finish something, and to be happy with it, but this is especially nice because I got it done for Vest-uary. Why is this significant, you may ask? Well, I love to sign up for things like this - sock-alongs, shawl-alongs, they always seem like a fun idea at the time. But I have never, ever finished anything within the suggested time frame.

Until now.

Which makes me feel... what now? Say it with me, people - virtuous.

Am I making y'all sick yet? Yup, I thought so - feeling that way myself, frankly. I can only gloat so much...

did I mention how virtuous I'm feeling?

My first "official" tag / meme

Wow, I can't believe how excited I am to have been tagged personally by someone - I am obviously in need of getting a life, no?

So, Tamara tagged me - thank you - to do the following:

Link to the person who has tagged you.
Write down six things that make you happy.
Post the rules, tag six others and let them know you did it.
Then tell the person when your entry is complete.

Six Things That Make Me Happy...

1. My boys, Tanner and Ben. The funniest, dearest people I know, even with the various teen / pre-teen angsts (does that pluralize?) and issues.

2. My dogs, Charlie and Maggie.

3. My books. I have a shelf (or two) of unread books, waiting for me. I love knowing that I can achieve so much escape in so little time.

4. My yarn. I have been, um, collecting yarn (like other people collect stamps or spoons, except that this is more practical), largely on sale, for at least 20 - 25 years, and I cannot articulate the deep sense of contentment, unadulterated pleasure, I take from looking at it, going through it, feeling it, and imagining the possibilities.

5. Blank notebooks. Again, it's a matter of potential and possibility - having a bound stack of clean, fresh pages waiting for deep thoughts, inspiration, or just scribbling. I like the smell of a new notebook, too, like a new book.

6. Hot sunshine and sand - while I love being out anywhere in the heat and yes, even humidity, I am at my happiest on a beach, in the sun, with the boys, a book and my knitting at hand. One of those rare moments that cannot be improved upon. While I am even annoying myself with my complaints about this winter, you will never, ever hear me whine that it's too hot, or too humid.

Anyone else want to play? Help yourselves, and let me know what you come up with... thanks, Tamara!

Dated...

I know, I know, twice in one day - so sue me

Tanner just asked me if the term "jive turkey" is offensive, and if not, can he use it in conversations with his friends.

I am crying with laughter, and I can't stop - I think the last time I heard the term "jive turkey" was from Huggy Bear on Starsky & Hutch...

I'm totally dating myself here, aren't I?? Still shovelling, but now at least I'm laughing...

Catch-up

a.k.a. catsup, or ketchup

so, it's been an interesting couple of weeks - we've had a snow day, other snowfalls which didn't warrant days off, and then the last two days feeling like spring. Honestly - I was driving with my sunroof open yesterday, feeling like someone who had been held captive in a ship's hold for months on end (forgive me, I am reading The Book of Negroes and got lost in the moment). My 5-foot long icicles melted, the driveway and walkway were clear and dry...

of course I know better, I mean, I've lived in Canada my whole life - I was in Thunder Bay for 2 years for grad school so I know from winter... but I was lulled into that false feeling of hope...

idiot...


We woke up to maybe 4 inches, and it's still falling, has been all morning.

I am way beyond the "pretty, fluffy" crap - I believe I voiced my objection to any more of this a while back, and I'd like to know why I was ignored.

Sigh.

So as I work on my computer drafting course this morning, I find that Bob Marley combined with a short weight workout which makes me sweat gives me a sense of warmer times. If it wasn't so early, I'd be busting out the tequila... just for the effect, you understand...

Maggie's cure for the winter blechs? A little mini-sticks, of course. She followed me for almost half an hour like this till I finally caved and played a little. And yes, she is in dire need of a haircut...

Well, maybe if it lets up I'll try to go out and get a few things - I figured last week I probably need to buy some new bandages . These were all I could find after I tripped and slashed my finger on a door jamb (you know the metal part? Yeah... hurts...), and frankly, they do nothing for the image, nothing at all - just ask my teen / pre-teen...

of course, I'll probably be snowed in or something - or worse, maybe I won't...

off to shovel (heaves deep, deep sigh of disgust)...

A Book Deal???

For Britney Spears??

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=34829

Hell, I didn't even know she could read...

Life Lessons

as learned at last night's AC DC concert...


* at a certain age (specifically, at Angus Young's age), it should be mandatory to maintain shirt and hat at all times, particularly when there is a Jumbotron involved. Long strands of thinning hair plastered to scalp, and moobs flapping behind a guitar, are not something anyone should be subjected to, particularly on a huge screen.


* red plastic horns are a nice souvenir for the 20 and under crowd , but look silly on those 50 and over.

* however, when the lights go down and the venue becomes a sea of twinkling red lights, it's kind of a nice effect.

* "non-smoking " apparently does not include cigarettes or joints.

* Rogers Centre security, several of whom appeared to be significantly out of shape and totally bored with the proceedings, cannot be relied upon to enforce the "no smoking" policy.

* Said security staff does not make one feel very secure.

* Headbangers come in all ages - I thought I would be an older attendee, but judging from the small sample I could see, I was young to middling.

* Although I may have looked like a young to middling type, I know today that I am old, as old as the hills, because the hearing still has not returned to my left ear, almost 24 hours later.

* Opening bands have not improved since my last foray into concert-land. These guys were called The Answer, as if in reply to a Jeopardy-style question, "Who can make really loud, tuneless noise, have a lead singer resembling Cousin It (The Addams Family) in both appearance and coherence and suck collosally?"

* Beer does not make people better dancers; it just makes them think they are better dancers.

* I don't think I had enough beer.

That was fun...

and now the streets are lined with naked trees waiting for composting, like so many used up... well, I was going to say hookers, for some reason, but that's not really the image I was going for, so I'll let y'all come up with one of your own -

so, anyhow... we survived Christmas and the holidays in general. Gifts were given and received , some so big that they could hardly be held up . There were actually two of those, but for some reason these guys like to fight over them one at a time. Like kids, except the dogs don't usually talk back. And they are generally hairier.

In between his fights over the bone with Maggie, Charlie has also become completely obsessed with the mini sticks ball (for those who don't know, mini sticks is played with small hockey sticks, small nets and a nerf-like ball). He will drop everything else to go after this ball, and takes the greatest delight in chewing it down from a sphere to a flat donut. Sometimes I would like to know what actually goes on in his little mind...

There has been more snow - a LOT more snow, which I won't bother to photograph as it's now pissing me off. It's white, it's covering everything, and I have nowhere else to put it. 'Nuff said.

So what better to brighten up the post-holiday, over-snowed mind than a package from Wisconsin? . Kelly puts together the most wonderful packages, and includes something for everyone - the dogs (bones), the boys (cocoa with marshmallows), and me (everything else). I should mention that the yellow dishcloth yarn is not from our super thrilling find in November - at least, I don't think it is? The price isn't the same, and if you'd seen Kelly's reaction, you'd appreciate how unlikely it is that she'd share, even with me...

there has also been knitting, some of which I am feeling quite virtuous about. My first FO of the year is a Celtic Cardigan by Fleece Artist, which I started last year (Feb 08), and just polished off. And I love it.

I also started some Pomatomus socks which I have been planning to make with this yarn (Fearless Fibers 100% superwash merino) for AGES, and which I love quite beyond reason . Deb's colours are just wonderful, deep and rich, and the yarn is a joy to knit with. Happy, happy.

In keeping with this year's theme (which, apparently, is all about me), I am also working on Berroco's Scrunch cardigan - at this point it is an endless sea of k2p2 ribbing, which I know I will love upon completion but is for now a mind-numbing PITA. Which is probably okay for the Christmased-out, snowed-in mind.

There is also work knitting, which actually occupies most of my knitting time right now, the colours of which I just adore .

I am actually planning to give my Celtic cardigan it's inaugural outing tonight, as we take the boys and two of their closest friends for another big Christmas present - to see AC DC in Toronto. I must confess, I have grave doubts about this, at least where I'm concerned - I am a rock concert-goer from way back, but am not a huge metal fan (read: I don't like metal. At all). So I am going to spend a couple of hours listening to what I'm sure will be deafening noise, my ears will be ringing all weekend - my God, don't I sound like an old coot?? I think the fun will be in watching the boys, as this is their first real concert, and in checking out the crowd. I am expecting a fairly wide age range, and am almost sure there will be some characters of note.

Just the thing to ward off those post-Christmas blues, no?

SNOWMAGEDDON

my new favourite word - I want a t-shirt...

They sure weren't kidding - over a foot of snow, blustery winds, just generally curl-up-by-the-fire kind of stuff - although, of course, some of us were undaunted by the whole thing

apparently, there's another similar storm coming by here tomorrow, and then another one - maybe - on Tuesday... thank God I have a neighbor with a snowblower who appreciates a good bottle of wine as payment -

so when last we spoke, I was finishing up my Wisconsin saga - as Kelly pointed out in the comments, I forgot to mention that one of the things we had been seeking was Christmas dishcloth cotton - hard to imagine, but it was almost impossible to find. Until we got to a Ben Franklin in - help me, Kel, I don't recall where - all I know is that we found a few skeins in the back, priced at $1.49 (or 47), and Kelly SCREAMED and dropped to her knees in front of the yarn cubbies tearing through them, ripping out all the skeins she could find - we tried to be casual when we cashed out, but I think the gals working there must have seen us, because they were less than impressed with the whole thing. Can't beat the price, though...

so my last trip tidbit was on my way home, at the airport, after I had checked through and was going through security. I had all my little lotions and potions appropriately bagged, sent my carry-on through the xray and heard "BAG CHECK", in a Selma Diamond-type voice. Idiot that I am, I had carefully packed a souvenir from Kelly in my clothes, so it wouldn't break -

Never even dawned on me that it was more than 3.5 ounces...

So I got a tour through the back part of the security area (and seeing it, I understand why some of these folks are less than happy at work), went through the check-in line all over again and checked the damn bag.

And I came home to full-out Christmas:

the welcoming committee;

the gift knitting (which is almost, but not quite, done, as is the tradition at this festive time);
the baking, which will be undertaken in full force tomorrow.
Oh, and these... I have to mention these, which I found on Glenna's site - the pattern is called Korknisse, each one takes maybe 15 - 20 minutes for me to make, and they are completely addictive. Plus, since each one uses a cork, well, you follow my logic here, right? So in addition to everything else, I am making these for people, attaching them to gifts and thinking that, with the crocheted loop I am attaching, they can be used as decorations. I LOVE THEM.

So now we're in the homestretch. Some of us are knitting, or baking, or shovelling. Some of us are waiting, maybe for Santa, maybe for a squirrel dressed like Santa
.
And some of us are already in the spirit, and just can't help celebrating

Ho, ho, ho...

Home Away From Home, Part II - The Road Trip

So, after our leisurely Thanksgiving Thursday and Black Friday events, Kelly and I hit the road on Saturday for a trek north of Eau Claire. Our goals? Yarn and lattes, natch.

We started out badly, with Kelly experiencing severe discomfort in her left eye almost as soon as we headed out. She had forgotten her glasses, and we couldn't go back home because it had sapped almost all of her energy to pry herself away from Sam, her son, who was not pleased with our plans. So on we went, made an emergency stop at a drug store en route for eye drops that, from the sounds of it, burned the original pain right out of Kelly's cornea and gave her something else to focus on. The girl's a trouper, though, so we carried on.

My recollection of the order of things may be off, so Kel, feel free to correct me where necessary. We found ourselves a couple of cute little church craft sales in St. Albans , where some Christmas purchases were made. Lots of interesting items, some very handmade and others not-so-much. We also found the first place Kelly had written on her list of things to see, which was a goldmine - really nice selections of yarn, books, pottery, paintings - really, they have the whole arts thing covered. Across the street, we found some more items of interest (well, they were of interest to me, coming from well-behaved, buy my meat at the grocery store Southern Ontario) - all your bow hunting needs in a festive, Christmasy setting...

After the excitement of the craft sales, we needed nourishment pronto, and so found ourselves here , where we got ourselves Nutty Englishman lattes and the BEST donut ever - fried cinnamon. Need I say more?

We achieved our destination after a couple of hours, Kelly's eye still smarting but bearable - , located in the town of... what??? Are you ready?? CABLE, WI. I'm sorry, but that is just too perfect.

And the shop itself is just lovely, well worth the trip. In fact, Kelly was completely overwhelmed at one point , and we both had to catch our breath. I would like to point out here that I am wearing an $80 Hanna Anderson sweater that Kelly got at a thrift sale (like a garage sale, but more of a religious experience in WI) for $1, and which didn't fit her - SCORE!

We went across the street from Pine Needles to a book/craft sort of shop owned by the yarn shop owner's daughter, which was fabulously sophisticated and small town corny, all at the same time . How come we don't get chili and hot dogs before our Christmas parade, huh??

It was time to start making tracks south again, before it got dark, so we made one more latte stop at a cute little shop right beside this - no, we didn't "bite", but I will always wonder how big a world record musky actually is. There was one more quick stop which I did not photograph because my lens was not big enough - Bargain Bill's - think of the biggest dollar store ever, with everything you can imagine, and then triple it. Still probably not big enough. It was honkin'... 'nuff said.

And with that, we got ourselves home before dark (which is important in deer country), got into our flannels, watched Elf (which was a nice change after 2 nights of highly depressing flicks) and knit.

next time: Part III - The Trip Home, The Homecoming, and OH MY GOD Christmas is how soon???!!!

Home Away From Home, Part I - The Trip

I was lucky enough to be invited again to visit my BFF Kelly and her family for their Thanksgiving celebrations last week. I agreed on the condition that we did NOT get up at 3:30am this year to shop on Black Friday, to which Kelly agreed - I think it took both of us a week to get over the whole thing -


So I left last Wednesday, having printed off my boarding pass the night before, and got to the Toronto Airport with one carry-on and my purse - all smug and prepared, that was me.


Until I went through security, where I found that my cherished Swiss Army knife, which I thought was in another purse, was in fact with me. I asked if I could put it in my bag and check it, but was told that because I had chosen the 'No Check' option when I bought my ticket (back in September, when gas prices were scary-high, and luggage was being charged for), I could not. I asked if they could mail it to me and got a small, smug smile.


So it's gone. Sigh.


The flight was uneventful, except for the young gal sitting next to me who asked for a piece of my granola bar. She didn't get one.


My first day state-side was spent poking around Minneapolis and St. Paul, and finding some fabulous yarn shops, some of which I forgot to take pictures of. We went to the Yarnery, which is very nice and well-stocked, and bought nothing (I know!). Next stop was Borealis Yarns, which is one of my two favourites from this visit. The shop is big and bright, TONS of stock, the girls working there are utterly friendly and helpful, AND there is a sandwich shop/cafe next door. The only improvement I could see would be a wine/sandwich shop/cafe next door. We both did our best to help them out in these financially unstable times, and when my box from Wisconsin gets here, I'll show you how I helped. Yes, that's right, I mailed myself a box. Of stuff that I bought. So?


We found another beautiful shop, Depth of Field, and entered through their back door, which was nicely marked .
The shop is lovely, old floors and exposed brick, and two levels of all kinds of yarn , including a decent supply of blaze orange yarn , always important in hunting country.

Kelly introduced me to a few members of her knitting group, which, incidentally, she started, and I got to show Jill and Kelly how to use Jill's swift and Kelly's ball winder . In the first shot, I am wearing the Cozy V-Neck Pullover in Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits, which I finished especially for the trip. It was, in fact, still damp from blocking when I got there so I had it wrapped in plastic in my suitcase.

Thursday was, of course, Thanksgiving, and after a great meal at Kelly's in-laws, why, we shopped, of course. Some stores were open, and they were selling things at their Black Friday prices. Much more civilized than 3:30am, in spite of the fact that we were served by a cashier from the backwoods of Deliverance-territory, and as a result missed out on lattes by 10 minutes. But we survived, mostly because we are so mature and wise. A bout of serious cussing in the car helped, too...

Next up... The Road Trip...

Update...

as promised, a peek at the knitting that has been going on here in post-op world...

my B-Side Cardigan

The flash makes it a little shinier than it is, but the fabric, which is wool and silk, has the nicest weight and drape...

the Metropole sweater coat

yeah, it's boring to look at - charcoal grey linen stitch ad nauseum... but I think it will be most serviceable when done...

Shibuiknits Transition gloves, made with their sock yarn, which is SO YUMMY


these socks, made using Flat Feet yarn, were finally wrapped up - they were started in May!!

When I started these, I wasn't wild about the yarn - felt plastic-y, not very soft - but perhaps my fingers have changed or something, because I'm actually quite happy with them, and looking forward to wearing them.

There's been some sample knitting:




and there have been sock clubs:


including a couple of the BEST sock club packages ever unleashed on knitters


Between you and me, I am overloaded at this point, and will be stopping all but two or three of these clubs in the very near future...

There's been some Hallowe'en
My son is on the left, wearing a sign saying "Pull my finger for $1", because he figured that a hobo would have to do something creative to earn money. Yup, he gets it all from me...

Leaf raking (ohhh, did I mention I can't rake? Gee... those poor boys...).
And not 12 hours after they got the backyard cleared, both big trees just kind of stretched and sighed, and now you can't see any sign of lawn whatsoever...

I have discovered that, although I can't rake, I can use a small leaf blower, and I am having fun (yeah, that's right, yard work can be fun) with it - in small doses, of course.

I'm just wondering if I'll be able to spin this post-op fragility out a little more, once there's snow on the ground (which feels like it could be tomorrow!) ... I probably won't be able to shovel till... hmmm, maybe May?? Think they'll buy it?