Calorimetry & Mario

The perfect hat for playing Wii:


Yet another skein of SWS, this time in Natural Navy. Do you see any navy there? Me neither. But I do like the way it striped -- looks like I planned it that way.

I made this for myself, but it didn't look so cute on me. Maggie tried it on, and Sarah said it looked like I made it for her. So it is hers.

As was advised on the the Knittyboard, I did reduce the number of cast-on stitches to 80 and used #8 needles; if I were to make another to fit me, I would probably do something to reduce the width of the band, as well.
Wii watching:

(Doesn't he look distinguished with that little bit of grey in his hair? This deep thinker should have been reading his Literature assignment instead of watching Maggie conquer her game.)

In the good old days of family video gaming, we all became addicted to Super Mario. Last week, Will bought a copy for his Wii. It is simplistic compared to the games he plays now, but it still kicks my butt, and he is having his troubles, as well; he was little when we first played, and he most enjoyed running Mario off the edge into oblivion then giggling like it was the funniest thing he had ever seen.
The girls, on the other hand, seemed to pick up right where they left off (after a few early tragedies for Mario and Luigi). Maggie zipped through levels, and I heard Will say, "How'd you do that?!" more than once.

They get their love of video games genetically -- we were in college during the advent of Space Invaders, Asteroids, Galaga and Frogger, and spent countless hours and quarters at the arcade.

Back when you actually had to leave your dorm room to play a video game.

Back when the only computer game I played was guessing how many fatal errors I would have in my Fortran program after I sent all my punch cards through the one huge computer we had access to on campus. (Clay tried to help me through that class -- I think we almost broke up because of that. I barely squeaked through with help from Jeff, and swore never to look at a computer again. Go figure.)

peace and Pong

Warning: Knitting Content Ahead with Cute Models

I posted a picture of Andrew's hat in November, but here is it on Andrew:

Made up in Patons's SWS in Natural Blue using #9 dpn's. Just a basic little hat with some help from Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns.

Sarah Kate's Tam with SWS in Natural Geranium, again using #9's and Ann Budd's tam pattern:

Here is is flat:

And Abby's scarf, using the shiny yarn I found at Hobby Lobby for $1.00. She can even jump rope with this scarf!
And finally, my Green Grocery Sack I made up for Knit Night last week. You can see all the details here.
peace

Overwhelmed, and the Year Has Just Begun . . .

I feel sort of like this

Last Tuesday evening, I sat down to take a little personal inventory: what I am doing, what I really want to do, what I am responsible for.

When I was finished, I wasn't sure if I wanted to laugh, cry, or throw up. It was a long list. I'm not going to list it all here; I don't think there is anyone who would want to read it ("Where is the knitting?!" I can hear them shout.)

My main problem is that I have accepted an office on the National Council of my sorority. This is not a bad thing; I love my sorority and all the good work that we do (think millions of dollars raised for cochlear implant and cleft palate research, hearing aids, literacy, assistance dogs, scholarships, orchestras and all kinds of other good things.) But this also means that I need to eliminate some of the other things I do to make room for this in my life. That is the problem.

So, I am quite stressed about this. I know I am not irreplaceable, it's just that I really love to do most of the things I do. And if I quit doing them, someone else will have to take my place (or, they won't get done).

So I have decided to adopt this philosophy:

WTWTCH?

What's the Worst That Could Happen?

(doesn't the purple look dramatic?)

(This motto, which I read on a Sew, Mama, Sew blog post, is also the 2008 motto of our Knit Night Group. )

Things will change and I will probably still be overwhelmed, but life will go on.

peace

Blogstalking, Assignment # I'm Not Sure

I am behind in the assignments again, but I think last week's was "What is your worst habit?" I have been putting off writing about this because my worst habit is

procrastination

I would write more, but now I have to go finish up some things I should have done last week.

peace

We shall never have more time. We have, and always had, all the time there is. No object is served in waiting until next week or even until tomorrow. Keep going . . . Concentrate on something useful.

Arnold Bennet, British novelist, playwright, critic and essayist, 1867-1931, who probably got everything done in a timely manner. Well good for him.

You Know Christmas is Over

when your silver tree falls over,

and your golden "P" falls down.

Taking down Christmas decorations has to be one of my least favorite things to do. But I try to do it neatly and in good order, so I can thank myself next December. (Thanks, self!)

Just a note on the silver tree, which I got at an auction about 5 years ago for $1.00. My Grandma P, who was all about over-the-top, had a silver tree when it was first cool -- I am guessing about 40 years ago. She also had the rotating color wheel (very cool) and the turning, musical stand (extra cool.) She decorated her tree all in pink, which I do as well, so I can be cool like her. A few years ago, a friend gave me a bejeweled silver "G" ornament. It is the perfect finish to this tree, as my grandma's first name began with G, like mine. (Gaynell -- you certainly don't hear that name any more.) So I call it my G tree -- a little glitzy, a little gaudy and a lot Grandma.

This was the prettiest little live tree we have had for many years. Douglas fir. (I am adding that so we will remember what kind of tree to look for next year.) It will be almost sad to see it go up in a blaze of glory on Good Friday. I am, however, looking forward to making a little film of the fire, one of our most anticipated family traditions, and adding it to the blog. Stay tuned.

peace

Back to Business, and a Poem

Ode to a Sock Monkey

I pass you on to one I love,
But parting brings great sadness;
Remembering hours that we shared
Drives me near to madness.

My search for you began last fall
But failure made me sobby;
At last I found your sockish pelt
At the rear of Hobby Lobby.

Directions? Pattern? Incomplete.
That didn't make me sway!
I stitched by hand and by machine
And guessed along the way.

The intimate moments: who could have known
Your crotch was made for stuffing?
Your legs, your tummy and your bum,
All required fluffing.

A slender tail, curvaceous arms
Would soon endure some tugging;
I sewed them on as best I could
With double thread and snugging.

From ebony eyes to curled lash:
Floss gave you your style.
But you were born with ruby lips --
From a heel you gained your smile.

So go your way, my monkey friend
And bring joy to another;
Two more socks in my sewing room
Will soon become your brother.


Griffin and his monkey, on his sock monkey quilt. Sharon and I saw this fabric on a trip to Craft Town in Salem before Griff was born -- I was so glad to see it was still there when I went back this November. The quilt isn't quite done yet (surprise, surprise) -- I'll post a better picture next week.
Here are a few more Christmas projects: Nate's hat, modeled by Will. Just a 4x4 rib cable, knit up using a double strand of Cascade 220.



A scarf for Carly, and a matching poncho and hat for Riley, her AG doll. All made from Caron Simply Soft, the scarf is granny squares set together with a double crochet border. Riley's poncho is 4 of the squares set together in a larger square with the center left open for her head. The hat is double and single crochet worked in the round -- I didn't have a pattern and just made it up while we were at Will's wrestling meet in Terre Haute the Saturday before Christmas -- I wish now that I had written down what I did.
Getting back to blogging after a break of a few weeks is really hard -- too much to talk about. I'll try to get caught up this week.
peace

Reflections

2007 was a good year, as most of them are. I:
- celebrated 25 years of marriage
- travelled to NYC where I saw my first Broadway show on Broadway
- overcame several of my fears to go on that trip (flying, crowds, heights, depths and speed boats)
- started this blog
- started teaching piano lessons again
- sent our baby off to high school
- marked two years of teaching knitting at the library

I don't like to make resolutions, because it just makes me feel awful when I realize how poorly I have kept them. So I just plan to:

Be happy

Be loving

Be healthy

Be fearless

Also, write enough on my story so that Steve will have something good to read in May. I really hate disappointing him every year.

Rid the house of wallpaper. (It seemed like a good idea at the time, but that time has come and gone.)

Learn to play the cello. Or the drums. Or both.

See as many nominated movies as possible before the Academy Awards.

Keep working my way through The Joy of Cooking.

That's it. peace.