Color Affection

I watched the color affection kits for ages and none of them spoke my name. So, while at SPA I scrounged the marketplace for three skeins of sock yarn that would fit my personality, the pattern and my wardrobe. I linked to the yarn in a previous post, but it is String theory Caper sock in Viola, Pewter and Black Tulip.

For my March project I decided that the yarn was ready to be used so I cast on with my favorite of the three (viola) and started knitting. This yarn is lovely, once knit up it gets a touch fuzzy, I don’t mean pilly I mean it has almost a halo, but not quite. The viola colorway is purple/teal that creates the illusion of iridescence. The pewter is a soft, warm grey and the Black tulip does remind me almost exactly of Queen of the night tulips.

 Anyways, it is amazing. As I knit through the first section I had to decide which color to use next and I decided the Pewter would be good and then finished with the Black Tulip.

I would actually love to see shawls knit in these same three colors, but in a different order because I think the order really determines the look of the final product. At the end I used a size 13 to do the cast-off and didn’t even block it. I just started wearing it around. I LOVE IT. It’s the perfect accessory to an otherwise boring outfit and it’s the perfect warm, light, drapey scarf for a chilly day.

Documentaries: a love affair

I have opined before my love of documentaries, but let’s rehash some thoughts about what I love about documentaries. What I want and what I don’t want.

I do not want: a call to action
I do want: a connection and truth

Documentaries come in so many styles, there are what I call the nat-geo-discovery style, where in we focus on how something is born, grows, dies, etc. These are typically nature related and unless I’m in science class or specifically interested in the topic at hand I don’t seek this variety out because there is no connection. Though a decent non-nature one is Helvetica I couldn't get Jim to watch that one

Then there are those that are all about injustices. Environmental injustices, political, etc. I. do. Not. Watch. These. Films. It’s the implied (or overt) call to action. Don’t enjoy it, don’t want it. I really do think there are as many causes as there are people and there is only so much depression I can take, so I don’t seek it out in my entertainment. Plus they make me angry. The call to action is often found in the nat-geo-style, but as long as there isn’t too much it won’t stop me from watching it.

Then there are the Stories of things that don’t make a good Hollywood blockbuster. I LOVE THESE! Love them. Love, love, love them. I convinced Jim to watch 2 documentaries this weekend

1) Nat-geo-disc style one about Loggerhead Sea Turtles. Super cute turtles, I wanted to go swim with them

2) Being Elmo

Being Elmo was AWESOME! I was expecting some huge controversial facts to be revealed. Instead it was a guy who worked with his talents to become what he wanted to be and Elmo fell into the plan. I loved a point he made about the Tickle Me Elmo doll. Elmo doesn’t say “me” Think about every time you have heard Elmo talks, it’s never give me a hug it’s give Elmo a hug and Elmo like you and such. Anyways it was awesome and I kind of wish they had gone into a bit deeper where Elmo’s personality comes from. They do a bit, but I wanted MORE! Anyways, it was a good one, I suggest it (available streaming through netflix)

Someday I’m going to make it to silverdocs in DC and watch a TON of documentaries

SPA and February Roundup

Last weekend I went to SPA up in Freeport, ME. The weather was gorgeous. It threatened to snow but never amounted to much. The sun was shining so I got out and went to all of the outlet shops. Didn’t buy much, a large LL bean canvas bag I found a large with long handles for 20 bux at the outlet shop (regularly $30). I also got an insulated travel mug thing. I wanted to find an awesome leather bag, but neither wilson’s leather nor nine west had one I wanted. So I bought a cheap pair of house slippers at nine west instead. They are hideous, but so comfy and cheap. When I wasn't shopping I spent plenty of time hanging out in front of the fireplace

Then there is the yarn. I brought the pattern with me for Color Affection (you can also find it on ravelry) and I spent a good 20 minutes comparing color combinations. I ended up with three gorgeous skeins from String Theory and I love it. Rather than try to get a good picture of it, I’m going to tell you to head over to her webpage and look at

These
Three
Skeins 

I made my way through the vendor area multiple times but nothing else called my name. I was really hoping to find some cashmere (or something over 50% cashmere) yarn to make something luxurious. Unfortunately there was nothing that fit my needs in that regard. The weekend was long (4 days) and it was wonderful to hang out with friends, meet new people and just knit when I wanted to and yet I didn’t feel stuck. It was wonderful.

While at spa I ended up finishing the socks. I think they are pretty, I love the reverse stockinette sole, but they don’t fit. I was afraid this would happen. They fit in the leg, the foot is a touch wide, but wouldn’t be bad if the gusset wasn’t so huge. I hate it. I knew I didn’t need a heel flap that was so long, but I did it anyways which resulted in a GIANT gusset. I wore them once, but I’m not sure if I’ll wash and wear again or just wash and rip out and reknit. We’ll see.

At some point on Friday night I got sick of the socks and decided to break my normal monogamy rule of knitting. So I cast on the rick rack rib scarf in the duchess yarn I bought at the Hub Mills Grand opening a week earlier. I have already finished the scarf and as soon as I block it I will send it off to my dad so he has a new scarf to wear.

Front

Back

So that makes 1 January project and 2 February projects. We’ll see how much I get done in March.

Why not try?

So I run across this thing online about "10 things you didn't know you could freeze". It listed basic stuff (butter, cheese, bread). It made me think of this recurring theme in my life. How do people not know this? Why is it that there are so many things that I really do consider basic, that other people are just flabbergasted by? It is not that I believe I know everything, it's that I know what knowledge I lack and how to gain it if I want it. 

Then I was talking to my friend last week, basically about the same thing. She was just asked to be in charge of the monthly mid-week women's activity at church. We were talking about some activities that we have had in the past. I shared my surprise at how different my definition of "basic" is from other people, but an even bigger surprise is how intimidated people are by these things I have always thought of as basic. Consider this, even if you haven't tried to make bread is it really so mystifying that you wouldn't at least try it if you had an interest? Yet, how many times do you see something and think, wow, that is so cool I wish I had that talent/skill/ability. Why don't you try it? Is it fear of failure? I'm not sure that is the whole story. 

 So then I decided to explore why I think it is just no big deal to try something I've never done before. 

conclusion? My parents are awesome (not news if you have read previous posts about my family). 

 

First, my parents showed us many of the basic skills, so basics don't scare me. The following list is by no  means exclusive, my parents knowledge was overlapping, but in my memory bank I associate some things just with my dad and some just with my mom.

• My mom taught me how to get around a kitchen. Cooking is not scary because my mom never kicked me out of the kitchen
• My dad taught me money skills, I have had an account at a credit union since I was knee-high to a grasshopper and I have had a credit card since I was a teenager.  I may be married to an accountant who handles the budgeting and such, but I have the necessary knowledge if it becomes my responsibility again.
• My mom taught me the importance of being on time
• My dad made me change a car tire because it's not that hard and there is no reason to rely on some sketchy dude in the middle of an empty parking lot.
• Both of my parents showed me so many ways to use my creativity for more than just making a mess (though they let me make plenty of messes too)

Then why do I not find it odd to try new things? My parents try new stuff all the time. My mom has done more crafty things than even the craftiest poeple I know. Then after I left the house she added some crazy new fitness stuff to her life and at this point she runs marathons, triathlons and still manages to be crafty. Just because she can. With an example like that there is no reason I can't just try something new, what is the worst that can happen? I am bad at it, or I don't like it, at least I tried.

Random Happiness

Random, the first: A friend sent me a link to an adorable woot shirt, but first a story.

Our turtles are fun and every now and then we have fun with them. We were in the kitchen and Jim picked up Claude quickly flipped him on his back and spun him lightly and told me “he’s break dancing” then put him back on his feet and Claude set off to pace the perimeter. 

It was hilarious. On that same (or the very next) day my friend sent me a link to a woot shirt that was so perfect. 

 

I got one for Jim and one for me. They arrived the other day and I even convinced Jim to take a picture of us in our matching-ness. We are dorks, but I love us and our break dancing turtle shirts

Random the second: Superbowl commercials

This year I didn’t LOVE most of the superbowl commercials, but I enjoyed the full-version M&M commercial. Then through twitter or some other internet following I was given a link to something awesome. Just plain,straight up, make my day awesome. I hope you enjoy the randomly make someone’s day awesomeness as well.