Dainty Kitty

Seeking Shawl Help

It's, inadvertently, Post a Lot Day. 

So, my thought is to make a shawl with the alpaca yarn Matt sent.  I have absolutely no idea what the yardage is but I'm pretty sure I could make a really nice onw with three skeins at 100 grams, regardless of yardage.

I've narrowed it down to two (that I think I could pull off) but would love any suggestions -

The Shoalwater Shawl by Fiber Trends    

I like this but when I look at the projects on Ravelry I'm not fond of the size...I'm not sure I could pull this off.

So maybe I'm really think of something more like a wrap.  I really like the Morning Surf Scarf from HeartStrings FiberArts and thought it might look nice if I were to add more width to make it more wrap-like (plus it's pretty simple pattern). 

 

What do you guys think?

Endnote: I get to talk to Matt in a little over three hours - yaay! :-)

Knitter's Hunk 2008

I can't believe a year has already passed and it's time to crown a new Knitter's Hunk!  For those who aren't familiar: you nominate two celebrities via my friend Kim's blog, hand eye crafts, and then the fun starts as the hunks battle it out via a voting process and are knocked out one by one.  It's really fun and I'm an even bigger fan because it's actually how I met Kim. 

I was lucky enough to win last year with my nomination of Alan Rickman and, wow, what a prize package!   Alan Rickman and Hugh Laurie are automatic entrants this year so I had to really think about my nominations this year.  I'm entering the same long-shot I entered along with Rickman last year...

Elvis Costello, who was quicklly knocked out but...look at the scarf action!

And a new long-shot, Alton Brown - my invisible boyfriend - looking oh so sexy on his motorbike...

Nominations are being accepted now!

Thankful Thursday

A few hours late but with photos!

I am thankful for -

- friends (new and old) and family (I honestly think this will forever be on the list and that's okay)

- duck ponds

- crazy surprise packages* from crazy friends

-upcoming weekends packed with plans

I hope everyone has lots of things to be thankful for!

*I now realize that this needs a little clarification.  Alan Rickman fans are called Rickmaniacs.  It has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with the Asshole.  Yuck.

Danger Cake

Ravelry is good for more than just yarny goodness.  I was just perusing the forums and found this thread with this recipe:

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons cake flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tsp oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips(optional)
a small splash of vanilla essence
1 coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla essence, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake  will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

Swap Softly - Frankie

I was a day late in sending out my Swap Softly package but I think she was worth the tardiness.  Frankie is the epitome of Thinking Green (the theme for this year) - not only is she the color green but, seeing as how she's Frankenstein's monster's daughter, she's also made of recycled parts. 

This was really a pretty hard project for me.  I procrastinated much more than I should, thinking that grand ideas are always executed right the first time and without a single broken sewing machine needle (I managed to break three).  Not the case!  There were many failed prototypes, stitches ripped, horrid finished dolls flung across the dining room and crochet creatures ripped or left incomplete.   

I guess that makes me that mad scientist.  Rather apropos. 

The fact that this is one day late is just an example of how I feel.  Late.  Running behind.  Lots of blogs to catch up on, emails to send, housework to do, about four loads of laundry and a nearly empty underthings drawer.  Luckily, I can throw on a headscarf and my iPod and play catch up.  I'm adding the headscarf to my cleaning repertoire because Squeezleknits has taught me that a headscarf - tied in the front - and a vivid imagination can make cleaning fun.  That's a theory I'm willing to try out....

Note: I did not knit the sweater.  It was recycled from a thrifted rabbit.  I'm thrifty, not crazy!

Making the Best of It

August 11th isn't supposed to include so much frustration and bouts of tears but it did.   My allergies were off the charts and it, unfortunately, was a really rough Asshole day.  I was trying to describe it and came up with, "If I only had one kidney, I think he wouldn't have any problem asking for it." 

After a good cry I had to finally just leave the apartment.  I bought a cup of tea and drove over to the park.  Just moments after I spread my blanket, spilled my tea on my toes and unpacked my knitting, the phone rang.  So instead of knitting and losing myself in angry/sad thoughts, I spent an hour laughing with Matt which was really just perfect.  

Tomorrow promises to be better than the majority of today.  The ladies at my Sunday night knitting group brilliantly suggested that I come down to the Tuesday night knitting group since I'm taking the day off.  Cheesecake, a (couple) glasses of red wine, and friends.  I'm really looking forward to it.

Tonight, though, I'm building a nest in my bed.  The cats are giving off needy vibes and there's some pretty neanderthal noises coming from downstairs where Asshole is watching football - a good reason to put on some pajamas and finish up one of the projects I'm behind on.  And eat Double Chocolate Milano cookies because, as Matt said, the day before your birthday deserves cookies.  I know, it didn't make much sense to me either but...it's cookies so I'm not going to complain. 

It's Not Going to Be That Kind of Blog But

I talked to Matt on the phone early this afternoon for nearly an hour.  It was amazing.  He's just as sweet and kind and interesting as he is in his emails only now there's the added bonus of a rather sexy Hugh Grant-ish voice.  We were both so nervous and just ridiculously goofy and I giggled way more than I normally do but...it was just really great.  And he's going to "ring me" again later this weekend.  

Sigh.  

It's Borderline Obscene

I had cake for breakfast and am taking next Monday and Tuesday off - thank goodness for four day birthday weekends.  Tomorrow night I'm going to dinner with my parents and then, even though they live fifteen to twenty minutes from my apartment, I'm going to spend the night.  My mom knows that the best birthday gift is not being at home.  Plus there's the added bonus of breakfast at Youngs Golden Jersey Inn the following morning....

Happy Friday!

A Very Lovely Early Birthday Package

I spotted the note on my door the moment I pulled in.  A package was waiting for me at my post office!  Hooray - my package from Matt!  Wait, there's no address on the note...which office do I go to?  I did some very brief Internet searching to no avail and just decided to go to the one that was closest.  

Halfway there I realized my ID was in my other bag so I had to turn around.  Blurg.  Once I got there, though, I found out it was indeed the wrong post office.  The package was actually at the post office by my office...I'd driven by it to get home, for Pete's sake!  "They're not open late, are they?" I asked, tentatively.  

The magic words, "Until seven."

Thank goodness!  

I somehow managed to hit every single light red but I got there with plenty of time to spare.  After standing in line, barely able to stand still, I handed over the card and my ID and the postman went back to find my package...and came back empty handed!  Thankfully, he didn't give up and eventually found it.  

I thought about making myself wait until I got home to open the package but its size and weight and my insane curiosity made me go at it with my keys in the post office parking lot with my car door hanging open because I couldn't even take the time to close it.

I could hardly believe what was inside.

 

A leather Cross pen and leather journals that smell divine.

 And, of course, scads of lovely alpaca yarn....

Can you believe it?  I actually had tears in my eyes as I opened it, I was so stunned by his thoughtfulness and generosity.  It's really just lovely.  And to think we exchanged our first emails less than a month ago.  Amazing.

I'm one very lucky pen pal, that's for sure....

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for

- 44 oz. fountain diet Cokes (is there anything better for a hangover?)

- having the house to myself - even if it's just for an hour

- and, as always, my friends