Bounty!

I am nearing the second week in my new abode - and I am pretty much loving it . . . there is LOADS of space - so, feel free to visit and stay awhile!

Here are some positives:

--The drive to work is less than 10 minutes.
--I am within walking distance of the cutest natural foods market (that has strangely good wine prices).
--There is a bike trail which is nearly across the main street from my road (which means now I NEED to get the bike fixed).
--Downtown Easthampton is just about a mile away - and a nice evening walk.
--The neighborhood is really nice - lots of families and kids.
--There is conversation land behind my house - which makes bird/squirrel watching good for the Gem.
--The nasty carpet in the TV room is the perfect ground for Gem to fling himself around and fall over at will.
--I am on the 'right' side of the river - which makes getting to Hamp super easy.

Speaking of Northampton - I figure there is really NO excuse at the point not to check out the Saturday farmer's market . . .

$20 in 20 minutes gets you this:



Rhubarb, collards, carrots, basil, squash, cucumber, raspberries - and 5 herbs for planting: margoram, oregano, basil, thyme and rosemary . . .

Now, I need to figure out what is for dinner!

hmmm, should this be embarrassing?

You Should Be a Romance Novelist

You see the world as it should be, and this goes double for all matters of the heart. You can find the romance in any situation, and you would make a talented romance story writer... And while you may be a traditional romantic, you're just as likely to be drawn to quirky or dark love stories. As long as it deals with infatuation, heartbreak, and soulmates - you could write it.

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

FO and OF

Two milestones were attained this past week.

The first, a Finished Object:



Yes, that's correct. I did actually finish a project- within a fairly reasonable amount of time (well, okay, that is up for debate). This is a scarf that I promised to knit for my niece (said promise was made over Thanksgiving weekend 2005). I started it in mid-January, but got a little off-track due to two baby hats for a very cold little newborn in western NC and the knitting Olympics. This is the "Cabled" Indiecita Baby Alpaca Brush Scarf from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio. I used the called-for Baby Alpaca Brush (Plymouth Yarn Co.), in color 1620, which is a light baby blue. I used two skeins, resulting in a scarf that is 53 inches long- perfect for a 7 year old. This was quick and easy to make, and is the first cabled project I have, um, finished to date. YEAH!

The second, an indication of being Officially Finished:


Okay, so admittedly, I have already officially finished my MSLS . . . but, it never hurts to get the piece of paper to prove the two years of blood, sweat and tears.

And lastly, another photo of the Gem.



This, is Gemini last weekend in a state of fear and panic because I had a weekend visitor. He somehow managed to find himself in a pillowcase, underneath the pillow. Poor Gemini . . . yes, yes, I hear you . . . he needs a friend . . . another kitty may have to move to the front of the list to prevent anymore pillow hiding!

Susie has provided another quiz . . .

You're Jurassic Park!

by Michael Crichton

You combine all the elements of a mad scientist, a brash philosopher, a humble researcher, and a money-hungry attracter of tourists. With all these features, you could build something monumental or get chased around by your own demons. Probably both, in fact. A movie based on your life would make millions, and spawn at least two sequels that wouldn't be very good. Be very careful around islands.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Blogless- no more! Yes, Susie, I have been trying to figure this whole posting thing out- in concert with figuring out how to take photos with my fancy new camera . . . but then I got all caught up in the knitting of Clapotis for the Knitting Olympics.

This is *so* not going to get done by next week . . .

(Looks a bit like a loincloth for a Sumo wrestler, eh?)

While the yarn is beautiful (Koenig Farm & Spinnery, 100% laceweight mohair, colorway: Lily Pond), it probably isn't the best yarn I could have chosen for the project. This particular mohair is:

1. sticky (like most mohair)- so, stitches don't drop easily
2. wiry . . . it is two-ply wiry, in fact- and a little, well, stiff.

What does this mean? Well, it means that dropping the stitches is a pain in the butt. I basically have to 'rip' at the little hairs to separate the stitches. The wiry nature of the yarn means that the fiber is going to go in the direction that is most pleasing for the yarn. So, you will notice that two dropped stitches are, in a sense, clustering closely together.



You'll also notice that the twisting action of the stitches on either side of the ladder is quite evident. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Too late to do anything about it now! I know you aren't supposed to block this thing too harshly . . . but when it is all said and done, we'll see what can be done to make things a little more even and spaced-out.

And finally, here is another picture of the Gem- wedged in between my bedframe and my futon mattress . . . we are getting along famously . . . look at those stripes! PPPuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrr!