Little Things That Make You Happy

Hi Mae!

She never sits still, so this is a good thing.

An FO! Wow! Technically it shouldn't count...this is Loreli, from Fiddlesticks Knitting. I actually finished it last fall, but didn't put it together until a few weeks ago. When I had finished knitting the pieces, I figured I wouldn't be able to wear it for months - so there was no rush to do the finishing. Or, I was just intent on starting something else. Probably that.

But, here she is, all stitched together! I omitted the crochet edging - it looks fine the way it is, and besides. My crochet skills suck. I tried. And it looked pretty lousy. So, I left it as is. And the details -

Lorelei, by Dorothy Siemens of Fiddlesticks Knitting. Knit with Fiddlesticks Knitting Silk Sensation (100% un-smelly silk) in the Cream shade, on 3.5mm needles. Nice, easy knit, with brilliant results. I am very pleased at how it turned out - and she fits! Always a good thing.

And look! The Boy is looking so much better. His Fuzziness is starting to look like his old self, now that his fur is growing back. He may not be so happy once I attempt once again to take him to the vet's office next Friday for his check-up.

"Did you wish my Auntie Lorraine a happy birthday last week? I did. AND I sent her a cheesecake photo of me too."

Hey! You know what else makes me happy!?

Winning a Virtual Yarns contest! (Did I mention how happy happy HAPPY that made me? Huh? Huh?!)

It arrived! It's the Thistle Bag in the "Clover" shade of Hebridean 3-ply! One of my favourite colours too.

*sigh* I really want to start knitting it now, but...um, I really should finish up some stuff first. I will have more pictures of knitting I HAVE in fact been doing. But, next week...

"I waited and waited, and I didn't see the Easter Bunny, Mae. Are you sure? Really? You're not pulling my leg? Do you think he left us some of those awesome Creamy Dairy treats?!!"

As for the apartment situation...what to do, what to do...

Do I stay here? Do I take the soon to be vacated apartment below (did I mention that she handed in her notice? Heh.)?

My landlady has been away on vacation, so I haven't actually spoken to her about it. Which is a good thing - it has given me time to think things through. Weigh the pros, and cons. As of today, I am leaning towards staying here, and moving a few things around. Switching my bedroom and spare room around for starters (my sister should note that curtains may be needed. Just sayin'.). Which in itself will be a mini-move. It would give me more bedroom space, and force me to clean up some of the non-knitting stuff I have in this room.

I always hesitated in making this room my bedroom, due to the west facing windows. It can get pretty hot in here during the summer. But, with the right curtains kept closed during the day, and a window fan, it could be fine.

I'm still mulling it over... I now work at least 3 days a week at home (soon to be more), as my company is trying to have as many of it's technical people working from home in order to free up floor space at our downtown Toronto building. It's pretty pricey real estate... I think it's a great idea - it saves my commute, allows me more flexible work hours, and I'm much more efficient without the distractions of an office. They provide me with everything I need - the phone, printer, and they pay my Internet service. I will still go in at least one day per week - if anything, to see my co-workers. A lot of them are friends. I do lose my workstation though, so when I do go in I work out of a "hotelling" station on my floor. Win for me, and win for the company. And in these times - whatever helps them out can only be good for me.

All that to say - I really want to make my workstation here at home a distinct, separate area from the rest of my spare room space. So, if I'm going to go to that extent - I may as well move everything around.

So - pros and cons. But still, the prospect of moving stuff around and redecorating? LOVE IT. I'm just weird like that...

Whoa, Has It Been That Long?

Gee, I thought for sure I had posted last week! Phew... I need a break.


Isn't this lovely?!! No, it's not an early spring picture - I took this a week ago. It's hail, and it has effectively ended my tomato planting experiment (and pretty much the rest of my flowers). What the hail didn't claim, the squirrels have... At one point, there were nearly 30 tomatoes growing on the vine, in various sizes. I think I've had 2 maybe? Possibly 3, if the ripening one that was hanging on the vine when I left for work this morning is still there when I get home. Oh well.


I've had to cut it back so much that it's really looking rather homely. I've since had to hack off one of the "branches".


*sigh*


Wow, it's pretty slim pickings on the knitting front! I have done alot - but it makes for boring pictures. But Loreli is done!


...just not blocked or seamed.

And the Hearts Tunic has both a front and a back! I could show that, but it looks pretty much the same as the last picture...


And the Summer of Socks sock? Um. I ended up having to rip it out, and start all over as it just wasn't *working*. I couldn't get it to not look so droopy.


*Grumble*

Socks. I've decided to stick to plain ol' boring knit socks. It's about all I can manage right about now.

Look what I picked up!



No, not various kitty body parts (hee, look at Mae's little nose!).

It's some Socks That Rock sock yarn in a special-edition "Lettuce Knit" colourway! Nice colours, aren't they? Right up Lorraine's alley - earthy moss green, rust and cream colours.


Memory Lane

Can you see me? I'm seated on the middle camel, taking the picture. These are the dunes of Erg Chebi of the western Sahara desert in Morocco.

Camel rides? Not the most comfortable, but after awhile, you really don't notice it. Seems everything else around you pulls you in, and and your discomfort at being atop a crabby animal shrinks when you contemplate the vastness of the Sahara desert. And that you are standing at the western-most edges of this amazing marvel. A dropped stitch suddenly doesn't seem that big of a deal.

Have I mentioned before how much I love Morocco?!

...And What's Next?

A visit next week to visit Finnegan and his Moms!

"...zzzz...mmmph...wha'...?..."

For a special, milestone birthday! Lordy, Lordy, look who's...no longer going to be in her 30's (yes, that would be me!). Can I tell you though? Turning 40? ROCKS. I'm really, really looking forward to jumping feet first into this next phase of my life (corny? oh well...).

And besides, I love celebrating my birthday.


Who wouldn't?!

What I Woke Up To

I woke up on Sunday morning to this little squishy surprise.

"Oh...wow. Hey! Don't look at me, I can't quite make it up onto the counter..."

"What?!! Mom! WT... I mean! Look at what happened! How did...? Do you think they rolled off of the counter on their own? Whoa...that's trippy... Cherry tomatoes jumping out of the basket and rolling onto the floor... Now I've seen it all."

Uh huh.

Of course, that was after I stumbled out of bed, seconds before the Little Dudes jumped to the ceiling. I don't remember hearing it, I just know I woke up as it happened (a good 10 km away from me), and the cats definitely heard something.

Sunday was a trippy day, to quote Gandalf.

And it was all about the sleeves.

OK. So it's one sleeve... But, I have started the second one! And look how purty Laleli is...! (Well, I think so.)

And Loreli, my cute little cardigan from Fiddlesticks Knitting (now, why isn't there a Fiddlesticks Knitting group in Ravelry?). And probably a record holder for the fastest project in the "Lace Details Non-Wool" category. Heh. One bell sleeve down, one to go!

(No, I'm not a crappy photographer. It's "artsy". Yeah, artsy. As in "fartsy".)

(Oh, I really have to stop posting after crappy work days...)

Heh.

Memory Lane

In this installment...

Why, who is that? That would be me, in 1971. I would have been 3-ish.

I don't remember exactly where we were living (and if I did, boy would that be a loaded story...), but I do remember Sabrina, the cute little doll I'm holding. It was a gift from my grandparents for my birthday. I can still remember what she looked like - the pink bonnet, the soft face with the big "smiley" eyes, and the polka dot pink dress. And I remember she had little sewn-on booties, and a soft stuffed body. Oh, and the perpetual smile and oh yeah, she also had rosy cheeks and eyelashes, although I think they were painted on.

And, I also my sister trying to flush her down the toilet.

I loved Sabrina... I do seem to remember having her for a few years after that, but I don't know what happened to her.

She was the first doll I was attached too, and I still look out for one similar to this day. I'm sure there has to be one somewhere (have you seen Toys 'r' Us??). After Sabrina, I was in love with my Oscar the Grouch hand puppet. That's another memory though.

If you haven't already - drop by Carrie K.'s blog and wish her a happy birthday! She is a wonderful blogger I'm proud and happy to say is a friend, and I hope she gets the castle she so deserves for her birthday! And the Bentley. Oh, and Don Draper too.

Lorelei

I keep meaning to show pictures of my little tomato plant.

I've had one ripe grape tomato so far, and I have about 12 or so in various stages of growth. Not bad for a container plant!

I love my little deck garden...

Oh! And guess what else I've been wanting to share with you!

Lorelei! Another beautiful design from the very talented Dorothy Siemens of Fiddlesticks Knitting.

The cardigan is worked in one piece to the armholes, where you then start working the left and right fronts, and the back separately. Very easy going. And I'm thoroughly enjoying this project, it's moving along so quickly. Of course, the fail-proof instructions mean you don't have to spend any time scratching your head wondering what to do next...

I haven't abandoned any of my other projects. It's either been too hot, or the progress doesn't look too...progressive. I'm thinking by next week I may have a significant update...hopefully...

Memory Lane

I've decided that every so often, I'd like to post an old picture on this blog, and recall what was going on, and what was behind the taking of the picture. I was going through my photo albums the other day, and so many of them popped out at me, I had to smile.

It's a bit of a blurry picture, but still a goodie. It's one of my favourites, as it was taken in one of my favourite places in the whole wide world - Marrakech, Morocco.

I took a trip there in 2002 for 2 weeks - and a wonderful experience it was. Here I am; and this was taken near the end of the trip, inside the "hidden" gardens of the Sa'adian tomb in Marrakech. The tombs had been walled in and forgotten about for years, until the age of flight and a chance sighting by a pilot flying over the city. They were re-discovered, restored and re-opened to the public. And just beautiful... Of all the places I've visited, Morocco remains my #1 spot in beauty, culture and the friendliness and hospitality of the people.

So Sad...

"Um. Mae?"

"What's up?"

"Why did that poor man die on the bus?"

"Well, humans do bad things sometimes."

"But, that was just really bad! I mean really bad. I think it really upset Mom."

"I know...and a lot of other people too. Sometimes, well, sometimes humans do things that don't make sense. Actually, it's more than sometimes it seems."

"But, cats and other animals, like the ones on Animal Planet, we don't do bad stuff like that!"

"Humans do. Who knows why? Humans don't always make sense."

"But, his poor family! His friends! And for what? I don't understand humans."

"Neither do I."

"It makes me sad."

"I know. Me too..."

"You know what Mae? Sometimes I think we kitties have it good. We may live in the world of humans, but we seem to be much smarter than them."