january one: May 2006 Archives

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May 31, 2006

J is for

Joyriding

Please allow me to introduce the newest member of our family: The Volvo S60R. As usual, I've gone overboard with the pictures, but it's only befitting my new love. With its 5-cylinder turbocharged engine and 300 hp, this baby does 0-60 in like 6 seconds. It's fast, but it's smooth as silk to drive. It hugs curves like a little girl hugs her dolly - it never lets you go. We got the Magic Blue exterior and Atacama leather interior, which looks and feels like a worn in baseball glove.

On the outside, this car is your staid Volvo sedan. Safe. Practical. Yuppie to the core. A family car. But what people (and hopefully the cops) don't know is that the R is a driving machine. We've been talking about taking it out to a race track. There are enthusiast clubs that we can join that do just that. Production is very limited per vehicle year, and most of them are sold in Europe. Owning an R is like belonging to an exclusive club; we've only seen two on the road - one before we took ownership, and the other one yesterday. We pulled up and exchanged the secret handshake. That's what you do when you own an R. (Okay. You can throw up now.)

Seriously though - I LOVE this car. We've got satellite radio which rocks. It's beautiful on the inside and out - the seats are the most comfortable I've ever sat in. I get my own memory setting for the seat and side mirror positions. The key looks like a switch blade (G and I have already done our "when you're a Jet you're a Jet till the end" impressions.) And it drives like a dream. Almost too well. I've already gotten the "we can always get a new car but we can't get a new Cara" lecture from G and I'm trying to be good. But it's so so much fun to be bad. I told him I'd either get bored or get a ticket. Which do you think will slow me down?

Posted by Cara at 10:26 AM | Comments (49)

May 30, 2006

It's a LOVE Game

So it's "officially" Summer. Summer and I don't get along. Almost all of my mental breakdowns have occured during the Summer. Add to that I hate being hot. ( I'm talking humid city heat not breezy by the sea heat or even dry 2 inches from a pool desert heat.) Also, this is the time when I become a tennis widow. G and I have spent sixteen summers together and every summer that I've known him he's spent the majority of every weekend on the tennis court. In the olden days, when I was young and hot (the sexy kind of heat), with long flowing hair and a twenty yr old body, I used to go to the tennis courts at the park and lay out in my bikini. Yeah. Not so much anymore. That was the first Summer we were together and I was trying to impress. Pretty much every Summer after that one I bitched and moaned and cried when tennis came around. Stay with me. Play with me. Don't leave me alone. As the years went on I would try to find something, anything to occupy my time while he was out doing his raquet thing. And then I found knitting. My Summers are now blissfully free of heat and loneliness and even the breakdowns aren't as bad as they used to be. With the airconditioning set to frigid and a good movie on the tube I can while away the hours while G plays tennis happy as a clam. Now when he tells me he's leaving for the courts, I say see ya! And when he tells me he's sorry he's home late I say, wha? Late? I think, these days, he's actually missing me. ;-)

I was hoping to work on the squares this weekend but I had a problem with the yarn so I'm still waiting. Instead, giving that I'm up to my ears in organizing the SPIN OUT, I thought I should take some time getting reacquainted with my wheel.

Reacquainted my ass. We, my wheel and I, are now inseparable. Bosom buddies. Lovers even.

I finally finished plying the remaining Hot Flash Biffle. If you remember, I was overjoyed at my results with the first Hot Flash plying adventure. This weekend was no different:

I was so happy that I could still ply after my lesson, being as I haven't touched my wheel (I think, literally) since then. In the end things were either overplied or overspun because the skein was pretty twisty when I took it off the niddy noddy, but everything straightened out with a nice wash and hang. I'm very pleased with it and I've got another 8oz.

I have to say though, I was getting sick of Hot Flash, for the time being at least, but I definitely WASN'T sick of spinning. And since I had three days of tennis to get through, I took out some of Amy Boogie's Spunky Eclectic Biffle in the Tahiti colorway to play with. I've got 12 oz. of this and spun up 4.

This is about as nice as it gets - this fiber is prepared so so well. It just falls apart in strips and you barely have to predraft at all. This is the absolute best spinning I've done to date. The singles were even and thin and the whole time I was spinning it up I was thinking of what I could knit with it. I think I might take a page from Wendy and make a shawl, but I'm not sure I'll have enough. I'm still not sure how to figure out how much yarn I have - you know - that pesky math. I counted 65 strands when it was hanging - so do I multiply that by 4, then multiply that by 18", the size of my niddy noddy? Anyway, I love this stuff and therefore you will see lots of nice pictures.

Gorgeous, isn't it? Tonight I'm going to ply up what's left on the bobbins and then start spinning more. The most important thing to come out of this weekend is that I definitely feel like I've conquered Biffle (Blue Faced Leicester) and am ready to move onto something a little more difficult. I'm not sure what yet, but I may tackle some of the merino in my stash to see how things go. I'm going to need to learn Merino soon because I ordered two different fiber colorways from Teyani so I can spin up my own Sock Hop socks!

Speaking of which, when I wasn't spinning I was knitting on my Heat Wave sock.

I'm still absolutely LOVING this yarn. I think next I'm going to knit up the American Pie colorway - hopefully I'll have a pair in time for July 4th.

SPIN OUT stuff continues! I had a great talk with Linda Cortright today, the editor of Wild Fibers Magazine. She asked me to write an article about the event! And photograph it! We're getting a page in the magazine. How COOL is that!? She also offered up three subscriptions as prizes. If you haven't seen it already, there are amazing prizes to be had in the Raffle benefiting Heifer International. I started the raffle in conjunction with the SPIN OUT, but they are two separate things. The registry will close on June 30th - a week after the SPIN OUT. You don't have to come to the SPIN OUT to participate. You don't have to spin to participate. All you have to do is spend (at least) $10 on a great cause and you will have a chance to WIN lots of FANTASTIC prizes. I'm adding new prizes everyday and right now I have more prizes than I have potential winners. I'm hoping you can all help me change that. Go HERE for all the relevant information. Thank you so much.

Car news soon. Like tomorrow. The pictures are taken I just have to work on them a little bit.
Have a great day!
L, C

Posted by Cara at 04:55 PM | Comments (29)

May 28, 2006

Spin Out: PRIZES

06.30.06 - $17360 RAISED SO FAR! THANK YOU!

Hey Everybody! Having a great weekend I hope! I've got a little problem I'm hoping you can help me with.

You know how Friday I posted this big post about the Great American Spin Out? And the equally Great American Raffle? Welp, it turns out that on the Heifer Registry I get information THAT you gave, but not HOW MUCH you gave. I know, I know - what business is it of mine how much you gave? Every little bit helps and you've got 841 other charities that you give to and you're all INCREDIBLY GENEROUS! But, see, I said that the amount you gave would determine how many chances you had to WIN the FANTASTIC, FABULOUS, FANTABULOUS prizes coming down the hatch. Why just yesterday Toni from The Fold informed me she's putting together a stunning prize package and Stephanie of Spritely Goods has generously donated one of her handblended Batts - winner's choice! You see my problem.

GRAND PRIZE ANNOUNCED 06/07/06!!
It was all Tina's idea. And then she talked to Toni and WE'RE GIVING AWAY A WHEEL!!!!! I shit you not!!

It's a Majacraft Suzie Pro - with the green wheel - and Toni tells me it's handpainted on the back.

THANK YOU TONI AND TINA! YOU ROCK!!!

05/29/06: NEW PRIZES COMING IN DAILY!!!
Julie at Black Sheep Bags is donating some patterns; Teyani of Crown Mountain Farms is donating two skeins of SOCK HOP Yarn in the never before seen colorway Love Me Tender; Lisa Souza of Lisa Souza Knitwear and Dyeworks is putting together a PACKAGE OF GOODIES just for us!! Sundara of Sundara Yarns is offering up a bunch of prizes including silky merino (both dk and aran) and silk lace! Winners choose their colors! Felicia from SweetGeorgia Yarns is dying up some yarn and fiber ESPECIALLY for us!

5/30/06 - NEW PRIZES!
Amy Boogie of Spunky Eclectic is putting together a prize package for us - if you haven't spun with Amy's fiber, you don't know what you're missing! Susan is offering up a prize - she'll let us know what she comes up with - I'm sure it will be fabulous. Linda Cortright, editor and publisher of Wild Fibers Magazine generously donated three subscriptions. Then she told Anna of Unicorn Fibre Products about us and Anna sending over some of her Fibre Wash - excellent for all things FIBER! Yahaira, of Pure Knits, is generously giving sock yarn in the Pure Knits colorway, handblended merino batts and some Nature's Palette in the winner's color choice! Yahaira - YOU ROCK! And Sheila, of Michael and Sheila Ernst Finely Crafted Glass, is donating some of her STUNNING GLASS BUTTONS. Have you seen Sheila and Michael's work? It's amazing. Linda LaBelle at The Yarn Tree in Brooklyn has graciously offered up a $25 Gift Certificate. Thank you Linda!!

6/01/06 - NEW PRIZES!
Mama-E from C*EYE*BER Fibers has donated a membership in her Project Spectrum Sock Club! That's five skeins of yellow orange green blue purple natural goodness! YAY! Marie at Brooklyn Handspun is putting together something fabulous for us! Chris over at Woolybuns is harvesting some bunny fun to share and Marie in Florida has donated three pairs of socks. Well you have to knit them yourself - but she's supplying the yarn! Ashley at Libertina Yarns is dyeing up some new yarns just for us! Thank you Ashley!

6/5/03 - MORE PRIZES!
Heather over at All Things Heather is putting together some hand-dyed yarns for us and Peggy at Rivers Edge Wool & Fibre has promised us some handspun yarn and vintage knitting needles. Thank you ladies! AND Tom Diak of Grafton Fibers has graciously donated a Swan Drop Spindle, a crochet hook and a pair of US8 circular needles! His woodwork is just gorgeous - make sure you check it out. Thank you TOM!

6/7/06 - MORE PRIZES EVERYDAY!
Paula and Kate at Woolarina are pitching in some yarn and stuff. (Go tell Paula CONGRATULATIONS on her wedding this weekend! YAY PAULA!) Allison from the Simply Sock Yarn Company has some fabulous Toasty Toes to send us. Lori Lawson, fiber artist extraordinaire, from the Capistrano Fiber Arts Studio in San Juan Capistrano, CA, is putting together a generous package of hand painted fiber and yarn for us. And last but not least, Cecil Miskin from Buffalo Gold has donated a huge gift of buffalo goodies: fiber and yarn and fiber for felting! I can't wait to feel the buffalo! (Oh and be sure to check out the contest Buffalo Gold is sponsoring over at Wild Fibers Magazine - you can win $1000 shopping spree at Buffalo Gold!) THANK YOU ALL!

06/08/06 - It's getting boring already! ;-)
Susan from Spinning Bunny has donated 16 ounces of hand dyed targhee in any of her colorways - winner's choice - and 2 skeins of 50% superwash merino 50% tencel sock yarn in any of her colorways - winner's choice. And Roxy from Roxy Yarns is sending us Serendipity Knitting Needles and Interlacements yarn. THANK YOU SUSAN AND ROXY!

06/12/06 - MORE!
Jeannine Bakriges, knitter, spinner, dyer, teacher, writer extraordinaire, has generously donated FIVE copies of Knit Lit Too and an Adam Mielke spindle! THANK YOU JEANNINE!

06/14/06 - ARE YOU SICK OF ME YET? I DIDN'T THINK SO!
Teyani of Crown Mountain Farms has upped her prize contribution from two skeins of SOCK HOP Yarn in the never before seen colorway Love Me Tender to include one skein of superwash merino fiber (in Sock Hop Colors), one set of GORGEOUS handmade Asciano rosewood knitting needles and a handmade Jenkins turkish drop spindle. Thank you Teyani and Klaus! Morgaine from Carolina Homespun is sending us a generous prize package including learn to spin kits and fiber! Thank you Morgaine! And last but not least, Patty and Maureen from Green Mountain Spinnery in Vermont are sending in a Painted Hat kit which includes the pattern and two colors of Mountain Mohair and a carry bag. The best news though - THEY'RE COMING DOWN FROM VERMONT FOR THE EVENT! Can't wait to meet you! THANK YOU THANK YOU!

06/19/06 - Get your prizes here! Right here!
I've got quite a few prizes to announce: Emily of Sophie's Toes Sock Yarn has graciously donated two skeins of her hand-dyed sock yarn in the colors "Handsome Park Ranger" and "Summer in the City" - you know - in honor of our little event! (And be sure to check out her quilts. They are breathtaking!) Stacey at Made By Ewe offered up one of her hand painted spindles and some of her yarn. Beautiful stuff! Potter Craft, publishers of the ever famous Mason Dixon Knitting and Big Girl Knits, is sending over a collection of goodies. Kelly at The Gabby Knitter is donating some of her fabulous hand dyed sock yarn. Jennifer over at Spirit Trail Fiberworks is sending us some of her hand-dyed gorgeousness! Sivia Harding has donated two BRAND NEW beaded sock patterns. You know how I feel about my Sivia (of the Diamond Fantasy Shawl fame!) And last but not least, Kathy Elkins of WEBS has generously donated a fantastic knitty prize! More details to come! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU ALL! I'm overwhelmed by all of your generosity!

06/21/06 - IT NEVER ENDS!
Dani of Sunshine Yarns has generously donated a MEGA skein of Emerald Isle Sock Yarn - enough for TWO PAIRS! And the fabulous Adrian of Hello Yarn> is sending us 8oz of her merino/silk blend! THANK YOU DANI AND ADRIAN!

And this JUST IN! LEXIE BARNES herself is donating a KNITTING BAG! How fabulous is that! Lexie YOU ROCK! I'll be sure to fill it with some of our other donated prizes for A FULL BAG!

06/29/06 - IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER!
I've got a few more prizes to announce: Linda at Stone Leaf Moon is sending us one of her inspiring and unique handspun yarn creations; Jennifer of Knit Notes has offered up a set of her amazing cards; Helen of Bay Colony Farm is sending us some of her fantastic bunny fiber and Cathy Cooper handed me some gorgeous Grafton Fiber batts last weekend! ! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

06/30/06 - LAST BUT NOT LEAST!
The original Knitgrrl, Shannon Okey, has generously offered one winner a personalized signed copy of her not even released yet book, Spin to Knit.

The book isn't do to be released until October, but the winner will get their hot copy right off the presses a bit early. THANK YOU Shannon! This is definitely one I'll want on my book shelf!

THANK YOU ALL!

I'm putting a list of participating vendors in the extended entry. These people are being extremely generous with their time and products. Please visit them.

I spoke with the expert on charity giving and she said I could ask you to tell me how much you gave. And if the Zen Master says it's okay, then it's okay.

So here's what I'm asking: WHEN YOU DONATE TO HEIFER THROUGH THE REGISTRY (and I know you will ;-) ), PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO spinout@januaryone.com STATING HOW MUCH YOU GAVE. Otherwise, you'll be put in the raffle pot ONCE, regardless of how much you donated.

Oh, yeah, and we've added a few animals. SOMEONE was really pissy about the fact that there were no PIGS. To reiterate, here's how to donate:

I've set up a REGISTRY at Heifer International.

For every $10.00 you spend on this registry, your name will be placed in the proverbial hat for drawings in the coming weeks. For instance, if you spend $50.00, your name will be put in the hat 5 times. You can win more than one prize if your name is in there more than once - we will not be pulling out multiple names after a win. There are various ways to spend:

-- Knitting Basket: $500.00
-- Share of a Knitting Basket: $50.00
-- A Full Llama: $150.00
-- Share of a Llama: $20.00
-- A Full Sheep: $120.00
-- Share of a Sheep: $10.00
-- Trio of Rabbits: $60.00
-- Share of Rabbits: $10.00
-- A Full Goat:$120.00
-- Share of a Goat: $10.00
-- A Full Pig: $120.00
-- Share of a Pig: $10.00
-- Chicks: $20
-- Bees: $30

(Yes. I've added Chicks to the mix. Mondo Chef Bakerina sent me an 8 page email outlining the virtues of chicks who grow up to become chickens who eventually lay eggs. It had footnotes and everything. This is what I read: Blah blah blah Middle Ages blah blah blah protein blah blah blah fertilizer blah blah blah CHICKS ARE CUTE. How could I resist?)

The way the registry works is this - click on the type of animal you'd like to buy - whether it be a full animal or a share of an animal. You will then be taken to a page about the animal and given the option to purchase the whole animal or just a share! It's as EASY as that!

I hope there is something for everyone here. The prizes will be awarded ALL OVER THE WORLD! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND THE EVENT TO WIN! So if you can't be there on the 24th, you can still be there in SPIRIT! LET'S BUY A WHOLE HERD PEOPLE!

I'll be updating prizes and information in the coming weeks. Prizes will be awarded once the registry is closed - I've kept it open until June 30th. PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED IF THE EVENT HAPPENS OR NOT! I'm sure the event will go off without a hitch, but say it's like a hurricane or something, in the middle of Central Park or it snows. Or whatever. we'll still be giving shit away. YAY!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

PS - I got myself a sheepie and a share of a pig. YEEHAW!
PPS - Don't forget to click below to see the GREAT VENDORS DONATING PRIZES TO THE CAUSE!!!

Below is a list of Vendors donating goods to the Raffle benefiting Heifer International. These people are being extremely generous with their time and products. I encourage you all to SHOP and SHOP HARD!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!!!

All Things Heather
Jeannine Bakriges
Lexie Barnes
Bay Colony Farm
Black Sheep Bags
Blue Moon Fiber Arts
Brooklyn Handspun
Buffalo Gold
Capistrano Fiber Arts Studio
C*EYE*BER Fibers
Cathy Cooper
Crown Mountain Farms
Michael and Sheila Ernst - Finely Crafted Glass
The Fold
The Gabby Knitter
Grafton Fibers
Green Mountain Spinnery
Sivia Harding Knit Design
Hello Yarn
Knit Notes
Libertina Yarns
Made By Ewe
Marie
Shannon Okey
Potter Craft
Pure Knits
Rivers Edge Wool & Fibre
Roxy Yarns
Simply Sock Yarn Company
Sophie's Toes Sock Yarn
Lisa Souza Knitwear and Dyeworks
Spin Off / Interweave Press
Spinning Bunny
Spirit Trail Fiberworks
Spritely Goods
Spunky Eclectic
Stone Leaf Moon
Sundara Yarns
Sunshine Yarns
Susan
SweetGeorgia Yarns
Unicorn Fibre Products
WEBS
Wild Fibers Magazine
Woolarina
Woolybuns
The Yarn Tree

If you are interested in donating a prize, firstly THANK YOU! THAT'S GREAT! Secondly, please email me at spinout@januaryone.com

Posted by Cara at 08:35 AM | Comments (7)

May 26, 2006

Spin OUT!

WARNING! LOTS OF INFO! READ CAREFULLY!

Do you know what this is?

That's right. It's a PARKS PERMIT BABY!!!

SPIN ON SPIN IN SPIN OUT!

Saturday, June 24th, 11AM - 5PM

Central Park, NYC

Cherry Hill Fountain

Cherry Hill Fountain is a beautiful location assigned to us by the Parks Commission - they hold weddings there all the time to give you an idea of how pretty it is. It's location is mid-Park at 72nd Street, West of Bethesda Terrace. It's like dead center in the park so you can enter from either the west side or the east side. Here's a link to a map. COME ONE COME ALL! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SPIN TO ATTEND! There will be plenty of knitters and spinners. Spindle spinners, wheel spinners, etc. WANT TO LEARN? I can't believe there won't be people there to help you. Don't KNIT or SPIN? Come anyway. See what the craziness is about. The raindate will be the following day, Sunday, June 25th.

There are rules to go along with the permit:

-- NO SELLING OF ANYTHING. You need a crapload of other permits to sell stuff, so please don't bring your wares to sell. Thank you!

-- NO CARS. Cars are not permitted in the park without a crapload of other permits, so please don't bring your cars. Thank you!

-- NO WHEELS ON THE GRASS! They've given us an area with a lot of pavement around a gorgeous fountain. They don't want their grass messed up so please don't put your 1908 antique saxony made from new baby oak trees on their precious grass. Thank you!

-- NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. In bottles or cans, thank you. Alcohol is not permitted in the park without a crapload of other permits, so please don't bring your beer. If you've got a prescription for the drugs, well, then, let's just say I'm bringing mine! Thank you!

-- NO PETS OFF A LEASH. I don't know whether or not this is a rule of the park, but I'm sure it is and it's a personal peeve of mine. I know you love your animal a lot, but other people might not love it so much so keep it on a leash please. THANK YOU!

-- NO AMPLIFIED SOUND. Sound is not permitted in the park without a crapload of other permits, so please don't bring your ten foot sub woofers with 20 foot amps. Thank you!

-- NO BBQs. Cooking is not permitted in the park without a crapload of other permits, so please leave the Hibachis at home. Maybe a nice PB&J lunch? Thank you!

I think that covers the rules. Now onto the fun stuff!

You can't go to the spinning event of the century without a cool t-shirt, right? I've got your t-shirts right here baby!

I went a little Peter Max, no? It's like a Rorschach test. What do you see? (Besides the fact that I'm insane.) You can buy the crazy shirt here.

Not feeling so out there? I've got a tamer t-shirt for you too!

There are also hats and bags and stickers if you want. Click here to buy the tamer tee!

There is no mark-up on any of the items in the store. You're paying the price Cafe Press has set for the items. ENJOY!

Now, it wouldn't be a January One event without prizes, would it?

We're holding a RAFFLE of sorts! We've got MANY great prizes coming!! Fiber from Blue Moon, books from Spin Off, more great fiber, tee-shirts, equipment and other goodies! You KNOW the prizes will be good. HOW DO I WIN? That's what you're asking isn't it?

I've set up a REGISTRY at Heifer International.

For every $10.00 you spend on this registry, your name will be placed in the proverbial hat for drawings in the coming weeks. For instance, if you spend $50.00, your name will be put in the hat 5 times. You can win more than one prize if your name is in there more than once - we will not be pulling out names after a win. There are various ways to spend:

-- Knitting Basket: $500.00
-- Share of a Knitting Basket: $50.00
-- A Full Llama: $150.00
-- Share of a Llama: $20.00
-- A Full Sheep: $120.00
-- Share of a Sheep: $10.00

If you have any questions about anything PLEASE SEND THEM TO spinout@januaryone.com. THANK YOU!

PS - This was my big announcement! Hope I didn't disappoint. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Posted by Cara at 09:32 AM | Comments (32)

May 25, 2006

I FEEL the NEED for SPEED!*

Last night G picked me up at the train station and I hopped into the driver's seat. Man I love our new car. It is SO MUCH FUN to drive. We took the long way pretty much everywhere, having fun getting lost, and ended up at Houston's for our favorite ribs. I don't care if they're not authentic or whatever the rib experts might say, they are the best ribs I've ever had. The meat melts right off the bone. The bbq sauce is tangy and sweet with just a little kick. They give you a shitload of ribs. Everything about the meal is perfect from the salad to the fries and coleslaw and lemonade. Ribs at Houston's never ~~fail to~~ disappoint. (Thanks M!)

Then I was back in the driver's seat and we were heading to the brand new Tpike exit right near our house that has a sick ass hairpin turn preceded and followed by two great straight aways. Except for early in the morning, barely anyone uses the exit so I was able to swing a uie so we didn't have to pay the toll (and also ride it twice.) On the second straight away I got the car to 95. G was encouraging me to hit 100, but I was nervous. Once the car gets it's first ding and I've settled into it, 100 mph will be a thing of the past. The car is only slightly less practical than the Acura Legend we used to own; I'm pretty sure we can't fit a baby seat in the back. (No. I'm not pregnant.) But luckily for me the same car comes in a station wagon. ;-)

Have no fear. All will be revealed soon. Suffice it to say I know what my "J" will be.

Fun, crazy times at my sister's. She getting ready to put her house on the market so things are in upheaval - but I got to spend some quality time with all the kids - alone and together. My sister's new house is GORGEOUS and I'm equals parts jealous and ohmygod moving is the most stressful thing ever. I was glad to help a little bit at least.

I did manage to get in some knitting time. Voila! A finished sock!

Well, actually, almost finished. I don't like the toe and am about to rip it for the third time. I've grown used to at least 12 stitches at the toe to kitchener - blame the jaywalker - and the toe right now is too tight and pointy for me. So I've got to go back and add a few rows before I start decreasing.

I LOVE the sock though! These are going to be super toasty in the winter. I knit the ribbing on Addi 2s and the rest on Addi 1s and the fabric is nice and dense and soft and they're just beautiful. I can't imagine knitting anything other than stockinette with this yarn, as I hate ribbing in general and especially in socks and I wouldn't want a pattern to take away from the beauty of the yarn and the stitches. I did engage a teensy design element though:

I don't like when stockinette socks just go right into the toe from the foot without stopping. Let's call it Gold Toe Syndrome. I love when you stop a pattern then do the toe in stockinette. It just looks like the way it's supposed to be. So I added a garter stitch ridge to my toe on the row before the decreases. I kind of like it. Nice delineation without interfering with anything really. It's like only I know it's there. ;-) I never claimed to be sane.

And look at what was waiting for me when I got home!!!

More Sock Hop Yarn from Crown Mountain Farms and Teyani! LOOK AT ALL THAT BARBERPOLEY GOODNESS!!! From left to right we've got Pink Cadillac (um hello? Bruce?), American Pie and Say A Little Prayer. I beg you to click on the picture so you can see it bigger. This yarn is just amazing. I'm thinking I need one in every color for sure. I'll be casting on for my second Heat Wave sock today. Or maybe one of the new colors and I'll do my patented alternating color second sock thing. (Teyani mentions on the blog that they're currently out of stock, but you can send her an email to inquire when it will be back in. Patience! This stuff is awesome and completely hand made. Can't rush genius!)

Today should be a great day. I'm expecting my yarn for my squares and my Amazing Lace project. Oh and check back later for a HUGE annoucement. I also hope to have the Ombre winners sometime soon. Got to get an email out to Ann and Kay. Thanks everyone! Have a great day!

*My use of this movie quote in NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM endorses the movie, or said star of the movie, because in reality I think he's a wacko that's been brainwashed by the aliens he professes to know and really an anal probe is being too kind.

Posted by Cara at 09:38 AM | Comments (35)

May 20, 2006

Sock Hop!

Yesterday I spent a very lovely afternoon in the company of my Ann and Kay. As you can imagine, there was much laughing. Apparently laughing is essential on the Core Program. It's got like negative points. We got lost in the rain in Soho, did some fabric shopping (I'm not naming names but someone might be turning on us knitters) and had an osh. I want you all to know that one of my companions called my squares crap, while the other gave me a heady thumbs up on my progress. Again. I'll let you decide who's who.

Kay had to leave us so Ann and I killed some time walking the space of one block in 45 minutes (that girl is S L O W!) We found some cool stuff at Girl Props. I tried on a WAY cool tiki girl necklace and Ann found some piggy barettes. Ask her to model them for you. Then we hit Kid Robot where I bought Ann this super awesome piggy car. Ask her to show it to you.

After all this hobbling about, it was time for the main event! Wendy Knits was reading at The Point! It was great to see Wendy again - I think she'd agree that I was in a MUCH better mood last night than I was in Maryland and it was super fun to sit and knit and meet people! Wendy was wearing her Grape Arbor Shawl which might just become a must knit. Beautiful! I might have talked her into Rhinebeck too. Blogless Margaret greeted me like a dear old friend and I'm embarassed to say I didn't recognize her name from the comments. I read every comment I get and appreciate them all, but sometimes it's hard to remember everyone! I'm sorry Margaret! Thank you for laughing at my blank stare! I got to meet the famous Bakerina Ann's always talking about! Fabulous girl. I got to talk to Snow! On the phone! (Gotta love the Internet!) There were lots of others and again, I'm sorry if I can't remember everyone's name, but it was great knitting with all you girls. We'll have to do it again soon!

One of the best parts of the night though was watching my socks grow! I'm in LOVE!

I had ripped them out early in the morning because I'm an ass and I never remember that while I like the leg of the sock on 1s, I like the ribbing on 2s. But I was quickly on my way and I can't stop knitting these socks! It's the only thing keeping me sane(ish) while I wait for my squares yarn! Look at the stripey rusticy goodness! Can you stand it?

The yarn reminds me of the Trekking that everyone loves so much only a million times better. First off, it's tons softer. These socks are super cozy. I was so surprised when I tried it on last night. The fabric is nice and dense and I love the natural irregularities of homespun. I'm hoping when I get back from my sister's I'll have a finished sock. That's the goal at least.

I love it so much I went home last night and bought three more colorways. Thanks Teyani! You've got a wonderful product here!

Oh yeah. And we got the new car. ;-) Ask Ann. She'll tell you all about it. I'm off to the train station! Have a good weekend!

Posted by Cara at 08:55 AM | Comments (30)

May 19, 2006

0.592592592592592592592

Yes. I really did put the squares in the sand. G was a bit freaked out about this and wanted to know which was the most important when he had to grab them up lest they drift into the sea to be lost forever. I said don't worry. If they get wet they get wet. The yarn will dry. And the likelihood of them being lost in that crystal clear water was pretty slim and you know what? It's yarn. That I knit. It's not so precious. They're squares for a blanket that should be used and loved and abused and it will last and if it doesn't I'll knit another one. At the heart of it, isn't knitting a functional USEful craft? You need to use the stuff, not put it under glass. (Okay - maybe when it's 100 years old and I'm dead and famous my family can leave it to a museum and put it under glass with the picture on the beach beside it, but not now.)

Before I left I couldn't stop knitting squares, as you know, and I continued to knit pretty much through the entire vacation. After the first day on the beach I came up with a goal: six squares finished. Half the blanket. So I knit and I knit and I ran out of the dark green and moved onto the solid color squares and then I ran out of almost all the medium green so I knit my last square and had just enough left over for the middle of the 8th square. Hence the number in the title. That's how much I've finished.

Borrowing from Lauren, I have the light sections to do. I've used all the green yarn I have and Tina's going to make me some more and I love this project. The light green (limestone) seems to be knitting at a bigger gauge than the rest of it, so the squares where the light green is on the outside are a bit wonkier, but overall I think it's FABULOUS. I originally thought it would be a test and then a gift and now I don't know if I can part with it. Especially since I might find bits of sand in some of the squares every now and then and it will remind me of Anguilla. That would be really nice all cuddled up on a snowy winter night. Wouldn't it? Could you give it away with memories like that knit into it? We'll see.

While I wait for my new yarn to come, I've started a new sock. I'm taking a page from the genius that is Eunny and I'm not sure if I'm going to continue the socks I have on my needles right now so I started a new one. Shut up. I am SO allowed. Anyway, they're going to be plain old sockinette socks because it seems all I can do these days is knit. But when I say plain old I'm totally lying.

What you're seeing there in the crappy dark picture above (Sorry! No Anguilla light today. Only gray rain.) is HAND DYED, HANDSPUN SOCK YARN! Can you BELIEVE it! It's all freaking BARBERPOLE! My heart can barely take it. Where did I find such gorgeous yarn? Well, the other day I was reading over at Amanda's and she posted a picture of this new sock yarn she bought and my heart actually DID stop so I rushed over to Teyani's to see if she had any left and thank god she did. The yarn is from Crown Mountain Farms and Teyani calls it Sock Hop yarn. All of the colorways are named after 50s Tunes. I bought Heard it Through the Grapevine (on the left in the picture above) and Heat Wave. I've started a sock in that. Can I tell you? THIS is what I want my spinning to be. I want to spin my own barberpole sock yarn. I fear I'm a long way off from this endeavor, but in the meantime, I'll take one in each Sock Hop color! Thank you Teyani!

Thanks for all the entries in the MDK Peaches & Creme contest! It's closed now and the entries are all really great (read them - seriously - they are so funny!) I'm going to have a hard time narrowing it down to ten. I'll announce a winner when I get back. Yes. I'm off again tomorrow. I know. Just when I'm back I'm off - but absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? My grandmother's 85th birthday party is on Sunday and it's been planned for a while now so I'm going down to help my sister and visit with the family. I'll be back sometime on Wednesday and I'll try to check in before then. It gets kind of crazy down there so no promises. Orignally our vacation was planned for the first week of May so I didn't think I'd be gone back to back, but there it is. See you on the flip side! Have a great weekend!

Posted by Cara at 11:50 AM | Comments (20)

May 18, 2006

I is for

Island

Anguilla, to be specific. Georgie and I got home last night (late last night) from our wonderful Island vacation. I've never been to the Caribbean and let's just say I'm converted. The weather was wonderful - hot and humid for sure, but the nice steady breeze kept us cool. Our hotel room was beautiful, with wood shuttered doors that opened up the living room onto the balcony, which looked straight out into the water. There's nothing like lying in bed looking out at the ocean. The bathroom was all glass and mirrors - literally. The back wall, where the bathtub and shower were located, was glass and the shower had two doors - one into the bathroom and one out to the balcony off the shower. Here's a picture. The people of Anguilla were incredibly friendly. Always with a handshake, everyone you met asked how your day was going and if there was anything they could do for you. And pretty much everyone I spoke to was born there. If I lived in such a paradise, I probably wouldn't leave either.

The one thing, though, that really got me was the water. I love water and I love to swim - but I'm very particular about it. I generally don't like the ocean - I hate salt water and I hate stepping on things and I don't want other stuff swimming out there with me. And while I love to swim in pools - I hate hate hate cold water. We have a pool at our apartment and I'd swim in it every day if I could but it's not heated. The water in Anguilla was not only the perfect temperature, the sand underneath your feet was like baby powder. Clean and clear, the water was so incredibly soft on your skin. I just felt so good to be in it, it was everything G could do to pull me out. I hope you enjoy my photographs. I wish I was there right now.

A proper post tomorrow about how all I did was knit squares from the minute we left for the airport to go to Anguilla until the minute I feel asleep on the cab ride home from the airport. That is, of course, when I wasn't in the water. Thanks for stopping by.

Posted by Cara at 08:51 PM | Comments (65)

May 13, 2006

Squared

It's like a disease really. I can't stop thinking about squares. Which is kind of funny because Ann and I are always having the discussion about how we're not really square people. (Knitting wise - not personality wise. If it's a personality thing well I'm so square I'm a freaking circle.) Whenever there's a call out for blanket squares or what not - we'd rather send money. It's a selfish thing admittedly and if that makes you shake your head and run the other way that's okay, but that's who I am. Even if it wasn't on the quiz. Anyway - here I am OBSESSED with squares. I finished another one last night:

And here are my two squares together:

Oh my GOD I can't stand how excited I am about this!!! I've already added another series of squares because I can't believe I forgot the TRADITIONAL log cabin layout. I was going through The Bible again last night and realized it was absolutely NECESSARY to the blanket.

Do you think it's bad if the blanket itself is not square-ish but rectangular? Ann wanted to know how I live with myself with these obsessions rolling around in my head and I told her it's not easy being ~~green~~ me. (Sorry, couldn't help myself!) But seriously, what do you think? Part of me thinks there NEEDS to be three of each square and that I can't leave out any of the pattern combinations - but another part of me is like it should be SQUARE! Blankets can be rectangular right? And a square IS a rectangle right?

I ordered more yarn from Tina but I have to say I'm EXTREMELY pleased with how the yarn is knitting up and how far it's going.

There you see the Beryl ball (dark green) compared to the Jade ball. Having completed the square that is pretty much all Beryl I still have a decent amount left. The heavyweight skeins are 350 yds. and I'm definitely satisfied. I think I can get at least a couple more squares out of the Beryl - especially if I do the ones that don't have as much Beryl in them. Maybe even four then. I'm taking these squares with me on vacation tomorrow (and a sock or two) and I can't wait to see what I come back with! Two down - ten more to go!!! WHO KNEW garter stitch could be so much fun!?

On to more serious stuff: CONGRATULATIONS!

CECE and STEPH

They won the Mnemonic contest. Cece was the random winner. Her entry was: Xylophonists aways carry various mallets. Which is actually quite true. And Steph's entry was: Can Victor Xerox my ass? I don't know why but this just totally cracks me up! There were other a bunch of other xerox my ass jokes, but for some reason this was it for me. Georgie laughed too, so that's a two thumbs up! Thanks everyone for playing! You were great!

And in case you didn't win that one - here's ANOTHER CONTEST for you!
When I was over at Kay's the other day and I was telling her about the contest I had for the book and how the winners were so happy she said HEY! GIVE AWAY ANOTHER ONE! So I am.

Check this out! It's the MDK PEACHES & CREME 12 PACK!

Fiesta Ombre/Peacock
Sunburst/Teal Ombre

Lemon-Lime/ Apple Green
Light Green /Pink Lemonade

Daisy Ombre/ Faded Denim
White/Shaded Denim

Apparently, Peaches & Creme comes in 4 Packs - but they're all the same - they don't mix up colors in the packs. So Ann and Kay suggested to them that they might want to put together a package of various colors that appear in the book - and there you have the MDK 12 Pack. (To get your own t12 pack, assuming you don't win here, you can call the good people at Peaches & Creme and ASK FOR IT! YAY!)

Okay. How do you win the MDK book and 12 Pack? (By the way - the book is NOT SIGNED!) It's easy! Here is a link to the Peaches & Creme colorways. Now I want you to make up your own! THE NAME HAS TO HAVE OMBRE in it because I think that is just so silly. What's an ombre? So come up with your own colorway - end it in ombre and DESCRIBE THE COLORS! Leave the answers in the comments and I'll pick my favorite ten - then I'll consult with Ann and Kay, Peaches & Creme connoisseurs, to pick a winner. I'm off on vacation until Wednesday, so I'll keep the comments open until 11:59 PM EST on 5/17/06. BE CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN! (One entry per person please.)

I'm not sure how much I'll be blogging while I'm away, but I'm hoping to come back with an I and a J! AND I will have SUPER HUGE NEWS ABOUT THE SPIN OUT! Have a great weekend!

Posted by Cara at 12:12 PM | Comments (106)

May 12, 2006

Call me Abe

Cause I'm living in a log cabin. DAYUM! When you guys like something you really like something. I'd hate to see what you're like if you DIDN'T like something! ;-) I'm here today to disappoint (almost) all of you! YAY! No really. That square I showed you was a swatch, so to speak. I have some really grand ideas involving log cabins, but I wasn't certain (still not totally) that it would work out. So yesterday I went to sit at the feet of the master and I wanted to make sure I had done my homework. I wanted to prove that I could log cabin. It's going to come in really handy later on. What I didn't count on was that I would fall down a deep deep deep dark hole and never want to come out. Seriously. This shit's CRAZZZEEE!

So I'm sitting on the PATH train yesterday knitting along and my mind is going nuts. Well, more nuts than usual. And no, not about the fact that the guy next to me on the death trap they call a subway smells or the fact that at the other end of the car someone is singing so loudly my ears are ringing or that the driver can't take a corner and I'm being knocked into the pole every five seconds while I'm trying to knit. NO!! NONE OF THAT! I was going nuts planning out my newest ~~obsession~~ project!

Let's backtrack a minute. One of my favorite, favorite parts of MDK is the part where Kay talks about being confronted with SO MANY POSSIBILITIES - possibilities of color, of shape, of texture that your brain kind of freezes on the spot because so much choice can be paralyzing. So she makes rules for herself and then lets herself go nuts WITHIN the parameters set by those rules. This being my first log cabin and all and my being extraordinarily fortunate to have lots and lots of amazing choices, I've decided to stick with the first three colors I chose.

I'm not really a green person, but this is May. (Remember that - it might be on another quiz. You guys are pathetic!) And I really like the way these three colors play together and I think it will be a good test for logcabinning (which, by the way Ann, is so too a word!) Here's the plan so far:

I've got three different types of squares - log cabin, near solid and a courthouse step. My plan is to alternate where the darks and lights go for a total of three square in three series for nine squares. My first square measures about 10"x10.5" unblocked, so I'm thinking like a crib blanket type size. I have no idea how I'm going to put the squares together but I can guarantee that Kay will be involved. ETA: This picture does not show the actual layout of the squares. That will take some hard thought and a kind of Sudoku like puzzle mentality - each row will have to have one of each series and no square will have the same color border touching. Can I do it?

I've started on one of the semi-solid squares. Kim (of the FANTASTIC sockapaloooza socks) asked what my gauge was with size 5s and Heavyweight STR and I'd tell you Kim if I could find one of the fourteen tape measures I have in the house, but I can't so I won't. (Fucking house. Fucking ME! GET ORGANIZED!!!) But Kathy in Juneau (Feel good MAX!) asked what the back of the square looks like and with that I'm happy to oblige (I CAN find the camera!)

Not so bad. I'm just loving the variations in color. The pictures DO NOT do the yarn justice.

Thanks so much for all your support of my projects. Sometimes I get carried away (no really?) and it's nice to know I'm not alone. All though I fear this might be the end of socks. Squares are very portable.

Posted by Cara at 12:00 PM | Comments (24)

May 11, 2006

Palette

Click on the extended entry for yarn information.

All yarns are STR Heavyweight. Log cabin is being done on Addi Size 5s.

Click on the picture for a bigger version. As I've said in the past, all STR yarns are available directly from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. All you have to do is call or email and ASK!

Thank you!

Posted by Cara at 08:45 AM | Comments (73)

May 10, 2006

THIS JUST IN!

You can do your part to help the police! How well do you know the alleged perpetrator? Take this quiz* to find out!! CATCH THAT THIEF!

*The quiz is a NEW MEME found over at Marnie's. Tag you're it! And the newspaper thing - well if you haven't seen that one yet then get out from under your rock.
THANKS FOR READING!

Posted by Cara at 12:32 PM | Comments (29)

May 09, 2006

Vociferous Mammals Are Xenophobic Carnivores

Let's get the business out of the way first. I honestly doubt I'll be returning to Maryland Sheep & Wool. I'll tell you why. Last year was the first year I went, and it was the first fiber festival I'd ever attended and it was the biggest gathering of bloggers I'd ever seen. To say it was overwhelming would be putting it mildly, of course, and I managed to spend an exorbitant amount of money on yarn I've yet to use. NONE OF IT. I had a great time. A GREAT time. Such a great time I couldn't wait for Rhinebeck in the Fall. By October I had met and made some pretty significant relationships with other bloggers and Rhinebeck was going to be ALL about the people. And it was. That and sock yarn. ;-) It was one of the best weekends I've ever had. Then I bought a wheel and Maryland was coming and I thought how can I miss the most significant fiber festival around right after I bought my wheel? I couldn't get anybody to go with me, so G stepped up to the plate to take me and honestly? I was disappointed. NOT IN THE PEOPLE! THE PEOPLE WERE AMAZING as usual. (And not with my husband. He's always the best.) But everything else? Fell sort of flat for me. I really didn't buy any yarn - one skein of sock yarn and two skeins for a blog contest (it's coming, it's coming!) and the rest fiber. The two things I really wanted - a stool for my wheel and a niddy noddy - I couldn't really find. The hordes of people were overwhelming to say the least. You could barely make it through the barns during the thick of it and I don't know - it just wasn't all that fun. By around 12:30 I was hot and tired and hungry and had bought all I was going to buy. Maybe if I had stayed the weekend I would've paced myself better, but I had to leave Saturday at close, so I got it all done in a hurry. Once I ate I felt better (two words: PIT LAMB), but there's too much to do and too many people to see and you get all discomboobulated. If I was cranky or called you by the wrong name or seemed completely out of it, I'm sorry!

Seeing friends and meeting new people was a blast, as always. The blogger meet-up was a HUGE success - at one point I was standing sort of at the bottom of the hill looking up at all the crazy blogger madness and it was really very amazing. We've got a great community here and when we come together we can do amazing things (have you seen Claudia's new goal? Amaze me!) I was so glad to meet all the new faces and readers and there were many people I missed or didn't get to spend a lot of time with or was too shy to say hi too. Thanks so much to everyone who commented on the shawl! Especially all of you who went out of your way to say nice things while I was walking around the barns. Way to make a girl and her shawl feel special!

I did not bring my camera. Georgie brought it for me at the end of the day when he came to pick me up but I was tired and a bit headachy by then and a big ass sheep sneezed on us (G said he spit, but I'd like to think it was a sneeze) which was kind of gross so we had some funnel cake and went home. Taking pictures is a very serious endeavor for me and I can't really do it half assed and I wanted to have fun not work so I didn't bring a camera. I'm not good at snapshots. But there were cameras a flashing and I'm going to keep the sidebar up at least until the end of the week so I encourage you to visit the blogs on the list - I'm sure you'll find a picture on one of them!

Do I sound like I'm complaining? I'm not complaining. I'm really glad I went and I really think I would've regretted it had I not gone. But I'm nothing if not honest and the whole thing kind of tired me out. Maybe because I shopped a lot? You be the judge....

They don't call it a fiber fest for nothing!

Laurie sent me over to Stefania to pick up some bug fiber. That's what she said - it's dyed with bugs! How could I resist? It's Handspun by Stefania, corriedale dyed in cochineal and madder, and corriedale dyed in cochineal. I also bought a basket from her:

I wanted a basket for my wheel, you know, to hold stuff. I'm not quite sure what stuff I will be putting in it but I've seen a few people with baskets on their wheels and I wanted one. Kind of like when you got a cool white basket with colored plastic flowers for your bike. Just like that.

I bought this stuff because it was just so freaking pretty. It's fine wool top from Shadeyside Farm in the snapdragon colorway. I'm not quite sure what fine wool top means - I asked and I think they said it's a combination of stuff similar to merino - it's very, very soft.

I also bought this because it was so damn colorful! It's Biffle from Cloverleaf Farms in Bright Autumn. What's neat about this fiber is that the last time I was at Maryland I bought their hand-dyed yarn. This year I'm going to spin it up myself. This stuff is going to make a FANTASTIC barberpole!

This is for Project Spectrum - I tried to find fibers that worked in the upcoming colors. It's merino from The Spinners Hill Shop. This is another one I'm anxious to spin up. I bought some of Lisa's hand spun hand dyed merino yarn at Rhinebeck and now I get to spin it up myself! Again I'm looking forward to barberpoling. Can't wait for July!

Some more PS fibers! This is for the neutrals/black & white in August. Jacob from Jenny Jump Farm. And some Cormo, which everyone says you HAVE to try!

This is 100% Cormo from Foxhill Farm. The woman I spoke to said it was as soft as merino and much easier to spin. I tried to ask each seller about the fiber when I bought it. I told them I was a new spinner and asked what I could expect when spinning it up. I felt really good saying I was a spinner. I'm a nerd.

This is the only yarn I bought. Someone at the blogger meet-up (I'm sorry I don't remember who) had this amazing pink sock yarn and I had to have it! I thought it would also make a nice blog contest gift. The yarn is from Three Waters Farm, Superwash Merino, in the following colorways: (top to bottom) Pansy, Sunset and Aunt Maude's Mauve. Very pretty stuff!

Okay - I've saved the absolute BEST for last. My beyond favorite thing I got at Maryland I didn't buy. It's priceless though. I've got a super special place in my heart for Rock Chick - I mean that girl is about as obsessed with her band as I am with my boy. So it was only fitting that she gave me this:

Can you believe it?!?!?! I'm still trying to wrap my head around the phenomenol gift RC gave me! SIX ROLLING STONE BRUCE COVERS! Not one, not two...SIX!!!! I put my favorite one on the top for the picture. Brooding Bruce has always been my first love. Rock Chick didn't know how apropos this gift was going to be. You see, Bruce and I had been a little bit on the outs. I've felt like there's sort of been an unwritten contract. He does a rock/E-Street album and then his folk/pseudo country stuff. Then a rock album. Then the country stuff. I support it all - I buy the albums, I go to the shows. I'm THERE. I'm ALL THERE. But then he came out with the folk/acoustic/country thing - which I enjoyed - and FOLLOWED it up with a folk/country thing. DUDE! That wasn't part of the deal. So when people kept asking me what I thought of the new album, I told them I was sort of ignoring it. I hadn't heard any of it - or seen the TV appearances. I knew eventually I'd get around to it, but I wasn't in a rush. I thought this weekend, with the three hour drive and all, might be a good time to try it. I FREAKING LOVE IT! It's so good I can't get the songs out of my head and it is very Bruce and I was coming around and being all forgiving and RC shows up with the magazines! Verklempt is being staid. I may have bawled my eyes out right there in front of the corn dog and fried twinkie stand. If you said hello to me AFTER I received this gift of all gifts I apologize for trapping you in a corner making you look at all the magazine covers and listening to me go on and on about my love for all things Springsteen. You love me anyway, right? Rock Chick. From the bottom of my Bruceloving heart, I thank you!!!

I think it's only fitting that I give some stuff away, don't you? Are you ready for the contest? There will be TWO winners and here's what you'll get:

Each winner will receive a skein of Three Waters Farm superwash merino sock yarn, Peace Fleece handpainted knitting needles (US #6), a sampler selection of Claudia's favorite Got Soap soaps, and some Sheepy Cards (taken at last year's Maryland Sheep & Wool.)

How do you win you ask? It's easy!

In the picture above are five rings I bought at the festival. They're made out of antique typewriter keys. I bought one for myself and souvenirs for a few friends that couldn't make the festival (or wouldn't go with me - see how nice I am?!) Anyway, your mission if you aren't too busy dissing TomKat, is to come up with a mnemonic using the five letters on the rings: A C M V X. You can mix the letters up anyway you want: Xanax Makes Cara Very Audacious. Or Ann Craves X-rayed Venison Meat. BE CREATIVE! One winner will be chosen by random - so you have nothing to lose by entering. For the other winner I will chose my favorite entry. One entry per person please. Comments close Friday, 11:59 PM. HAVE FUN!

Posted by Cara at 07:05 AM | Comments (155)

May 08, 2006

Redemption!

I gotta tell you, WHAT A RELIEF! We got home pretty late Saturday night - but I immediately pulled on my NEW SOCKS!

Thank you ELIZABETH! Not just for restoring my faith in the sock swap but for Lorna's Laces, which I've never tried before, and a very well done short row heel, which I've never knit to my liking before and for an all around awesome pair of socks! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

And Amysue, my sock pal, seems to be pretty happy with her socks as well. Go on over and give her some get well wishes. She's a bit under the weather these days! FEEL GOOD AMYSUE! Socks for everyone!!!

Alas, I'm pretty sure this is going to be my last sockapalanything. Too much anxiety. ;-)
That's it for me today - I'm on a deadline and then I'm going to relax. And tell you about Maryland. Just a bit of a warning: I didn't take ANY pictures. So go around and visit everyone's pictures and then come back tomorrow for a preview of my purchases and a contest. A kind of hard, hopefully fun contest!

Oh and GO HELP TERESA and her family HELP PEOPLE!

Posted by Cara at 08:17 AM | Comments (25)

May 05, 2006

GAME ON!

Look!

The knitting goddesses are smiling on us! So. I'll be the one sweating my ass off in a formal black wool shawl with beads. And dirty jeans. With the mess in the kitchen I didn't get to do laundry. DON'T FORGET:

In what's become (or at least I like to think so) something of a tradition, I'm announcing this year's blogger/knitter meet-up at Maryland Sheep and Wool!

Saturday, May 6th, 1:30 PM
By the Stage, close to the Main Exhibition Hall.
See Fairgrounds Map.

I tried to get everyone into the sidebar. If I missed you, please forgive me! It's been a bit crazy around here these days and I tried to go through all the comments and emails.

Thanks for all the good wishes about our little mishap. I will be contacting the insurance company next week. The stove's about 9 years old, so I don't know what kind of warranty it's still under. And yes, I know that we probably don't need a new one, but my god. I looked at this inside of the oven pretty close yesterday and that shit ain't coming off. So we'll see. AND THANK YOU for all the offers of socks! You guys are SO FREAKING SWEET! I really don't need any socks. I, um, kind of have that covered. And generally I go into these exchanges really not expecting anything back. I've said this before - it's like lending money. G always tells me you should never lend money if you need it back. I have had a great time knitting socks for my pals and that's all that really matters. For the record, I still haven't heard from my pal. It seems a lot of us haven't. Oh well. What comes will come.

Wherever you are, whoever you are with HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND!!!!!
(Maybe a contest with Maryland goodies when I get back....)

Posted by Cara at 09:44 AM | Comments (23)

May 04, 2006

Burn Baby Burn!

Hey little girl is your daddy home
Did he go away and leave you all alone
I got a bad desire
I'm on fire

Tell me now baby is he good to you
Can he do to you the things that I do
I can take you higher
I'm on fire

Sometimes it's like someone took a knife baby
edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley
through the middle of my soul

At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
and a freight train running through the
middle of my head
Only you can cool my desire
I'm on fire

~~~
I'm driving in my car, I turn on the radio
I'm pulling you close, you just say no
You say you don't like it, but girl I know you're a liar
'Cause when we kiss, Fire

Late at night I'm takin' you home
I say I wanna stay, you say you wanna be alone
You say you don't love me, girl you can't hide your desire
'Cause when we kiss, Fire

You had a hold on me, right from the start
A grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart
My nerves all jumpin' actin' like a fool
Well your kisses they burn but your heart stays cool

Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah
Baby you can bet their love they didn't deny
Your words say split but your words they lie
'Cause when we kiss, Fire

Words and Musice by Bruce Springsteen.

There is no knitting content today. None. Nada. NIL. It's like when I finished that shawl I was sapped of all my knitting super powers. I can't even look at a sock. I'm sad. Anyway, come back, I don't know, next month? if you want knitting. Thanks!

Last night was NOT devoid of excitement. It was about 9:45PM and I was laying in bed updating the MDSW sidebar (yes, I'm STILL updating) and watching this show about Bette Davis's life. I love Bette Davis. Anyway, I'm watching tv and computing when G calls me in for dinner. I take my time wandering into the dining room from our bedroom and as I'm passing the kitchen he comes out, frantic, practically running me over.

"I need your help! There's a FIRE!"

I walk into the kitchen - no smoke or anything - to see what can only be described as a nice bright ember glowing in the heating unit at the bottom of the oven. The chicken he was cooking is still in there and he proceeds to toss water on the coil. And when I say toss I mean throw a measuring cup of water in the direction of the oven missing pretty much everything that might be burning. I say why don't we take the chicken out of the oven so we can get a better look at what's going on? I wasn't really scared or upset or anything because there weren't really any flames, per se, but it was definitely on fire and it didn't seem to be going out. We take the chicken out and the grates and watch it burn. G's so pissed because he made corn on the cob and biscuits even and he's hungry and I say I should get the camera to take a picture for the blog and he says do whatever you want. Yeah. No burning picture. The ember travels around the coil - so it's moving - but it isn't getting bigger. G throws more water into the oven. Nothing. Some sizzling and some sparks shooting out of the coil, but nothing like it's going out. At all. It seems at any moment it's going to get A LOT bigger and that's what prompts us to get out the fire extinguisher.

I keep yelling, "DON'T POINT IT AT ME!" as G's trying to figure out how to get out the pin. Not very intuitive those things. Had it been a real fire we would have been dead before we got the thing opened. He unpins it finally and takes aim and fires it at the burning coil. Nothing. Nothing, that is, unless you count a HUGE plume of toxic talc in our faces and lungs. Cough. Cough. Great.

About this time I remember that the washing machine and dryer are right next to the stove and that there are still clothes in the hamper on the floor and pants over the door that haven't been folded or anything since the last time we did laundry so I'm scooping everything up and throwing it on the sofa in the living room and then I remember the big box of yarn that came the other day (I'll tell you about it later) and I quickly get it all back in the box and close it up and open all the windows and then go back into the kitchen.

So the thing is still burning and now we're trying water again which mixes with the fire extinguisher stuff so that we're making a paste that will be impossible to get off ever and the coil is still burning. Then I take control of the fire extinguisher and hold that fucker down so that the ENTIRE house fills with toxic talc. The fire just won't quit, moving along the track but now it's getting to the other side of the coil and suddenly more and more sparks are shooting out and the fire blooms up then back to what it's been and then I notice that the coil is burning bright orange further down the line where the fire is heading and it wasn't doing that before. I close the oven because I'm thinking if this thing gets out of hand then maybe it will contain itself in there and G says no because opening it will cool it down and it's STILL BURNING and I'm getting scared now and we've sort of run out of options and it doesn't look like this thing is going to burn itself out and we both feel like the thing is going to explode at any minute. So we do it. God help me this means people, STRANGERS will see I'm a pig, but the house could burn down and we don't have any choice. G calls 911.

"911. What's your emergency?"
"We live at __ __ __. There's a fire in our oven. We've tried everything to get it out. There's not much smoke. (There really wasn't any - it was just fire extinguisher crap.) It's electric."
"Did you try unplugging it?"
"We can't get to the plug."
"Did you flip the circuit breaker?"
Blank stares.
G runs over to where the circuit breaker is located, across from the stove IN THE KITCHEN, and we both start flipping switches. I look over to the oven. The fire is completely out. Nothing burning anymore. When I say instantaneous, I'm being slow about it. "It's out," G says to the operator. "No, no. It's out. We're good. Thank you."

I'm amazed. In shock. Complete AWE that two incredibly intelligent, resourceful, quick on their feet people could be SO FUCKING STUPID!!!!!!

My house is covered with a fine mist of silt. Soot. Whatever the fuck you want to call this dust that is in everything. Oh and that little fire that probably wasn't a fire at all - burned right through the coil in the stove. So I'll be getting a new stove. I just lay on the floor and started crying. Dude. I have to clean my hous