Welcome: Noah

I was catching up on old New Yorker's yesterday and a line caught my eye about how blogs are really a form of procrastination.  There is definitely truth in that, at least for me.  And then I found myself not procrastinating as much now that I don't have a 9-5 gig, hence the void of posts there.  Interestingly enough, there is a slew of new posts - why may you ask?  Well, I have some work - free-lance style.  So welcome back dear old friend, procrastination!

This last month has been full of a ton of great times I'd love to capture in posts but unfortunately I've already forgotten half of them, and have no pictures of course.  So I decided I'd welcome some (potential) new readers.  It's always fun reading about yourself.  I get a little thrill when I read my name (or know it's me) - of course around good stuff.  I have a rule that  my blog is for my friends and family I don't see often.  A way to stay in touch.  For those friends I see on a daily basis, there is no need for the blog.  I see them and share with them all the same stuff in person.  It would get a bit repetitive and there is something that goes against my grain about using technology to communicate with people instead of just talking.  Technology is great when you don't see people.  But face-to-face trumps all.

Alot of my friends I saw daily - we all worked together.  But now we've all flown the coop so I'm sharing the blog to a larger group.  One dear friend I've recently shared the blog with is Noah (who benefits of having pictures posted from our days in Paris.  You may remember him from my Paris sojourn last summer.  He's off at Duke this year enjoying the academic life pursing a graduate program in aqua-enviro-fishy-law.  It's an official program - honest!  Ok, not really and Noah is going to kill me I still can't remember the name of his program and that I threw in stuff that probably isn't in the program.  We spent a whole day on me trying to memorize the name (it's really simple, it's just me) when I was in Paris.  He made it back to Boston for a quick visit the other weekend in early January and Dawn, Colleen, he and I had a too brief get together one Sunday evening to catch up outside of Harvard Square at a quaint turkish style coffee place.  Yes, I'm really bad with names and too lazy to look it up.  It was good seeing everyone, just like old times.

I was just downloading pictures from my camera and found these Paris shots.  It was a fun time and strange having two worlds overlap.  Noah is like my little brother from work and Nick is like my real little brother.  And there they were together!  Strange.  Below is Nick and I at the Paris apartment with Noah and his cousins.  The little girl had the biggest crush on Nick.  I just don't get it ;)

The other shots are from the market we'd visit twice a week for fresh food - produce, bread, butter, cheese, eggs.  All the goodness of french food.  I'd order sometimes, but Noah had a real repartee with the vendors.

This last picture I love.  The old lady in the background is hilarious.  She was probably cursing the bloody americans that descended upon her marvelous city.  We were in the Luxumborg gardens enjoying a Chopin concert.  (Again just made up the names - it might have been Schubert but the park was definitely in Paris).

Welcome Noah!

Maggie's Sweater

Non-knitters beware - two knitting posts in a row!

Backing up, to put things in context, I do pretty well with my Christmas shopping. I have most of it done before the summer is over, keeping an eye out for gifts throughout the year.  But there is always the mad rush at the end of the year to close up the holes for the missing gifts.  One person who fell in that category (and in no way reflects my level of love) was Maggie.  I got her brother a bunch of stuff, but for her, I just didn't really come across anything.  As her mom puts it, when asked what she'd like for Christmas, she replies, "Cameron".  She loves her brother and is pretty chill about playing.  So when, in doubt, knit something, right? 

Unfortunatley I have no pictures to show for my hard work done initially.  I knit a striped sweater - pink and red out of leftover yarn.  It was so cute and modern.  Only it wasn't enough.  So it stalled.  And Christmas came and went.  And she is only 1 so of all the years to not have something, this is the one.  And Maggie's sweater slowly disappeared into the void. 

Fastforward and I was recently over visiting, knitting, and Cece asked about the sweater.  Turns out, it's not that Maggie would appreciate yet another sweater, she really needs one.  I didn't realize she had only one at the moment.  I thought she must have a closet full.  I felt horrible to leave my poor girl out in the cold.  So went home and cast on immediately using other stash busting yarn.  It's not pretty girly pink, but a nice staple - grey.  I know.  It doesn't sound snazy - but will go great with all the pink outfits (and she has a lot of pink hand-me-downs).  I rustled through my button collection I inherited from my grandmother and found these cute (and I'm sure vintage by now) pink buttons. 

Pattern: 
- Drops Design 0-684 Baby Cardigan with Short/Long Raglan Sleeves
- Size for 2 year old with the short sleeves

Yarn:
- Wool-ease by Lion Brand color light grey (I no longer have the tags)

Needles:
- US 6 and US 8 for both circular and DPs.

This was a quick knit for most of the project I wondered if it would be a little too plain and blah.  But then I got to the yoke and I like the lace work.  If I did it over again I'd probably get a little creative and add a little lace work at the cuffs too.  I like the pink buttons as it makes it a little more snazzy.  Initially I tried to morph the short and longsleeve instructions to get something in between but then thought better and ripped it back and just stuck with the pattern for the short sleeve.  I left out the bottom buttonhole as she really only buttons the top.

The yarn was easy to work with.  It's not my favorite but I have a ton of it.  And when I say a ton, I mean a ton.  My very first project (socks) and my first sweater is made with this same exact yarn (same color).  When I first started knitting I was not in on all the secrets of where to shop so went crazy when I found a Jo-Anns that had a bunch of color selection for the Wool-Ease.  On the upside it's a good washable yarn so am trying to knit it up into kids stuff.  It's a good solid yarn - just not anything super luxurious.  But then again with kids and all the washing it is a good fit.

I can't wait to see it on and will try to add a picture later of it being modeled if I can snag one.  I really hope it fits.  It looks small, but then again baby sweaters always look small.

Here's an adorable modeled shot:

 

January Socks

For non-knitting readers, beware.

One day early in January, Cece and I put together sock kits similar to what the yarnharlot did last year for her self-imposed-sock-club.  Strangely, simply putting the yarn and the pattern together in a ziplock bag makes a world of difference getting you all that closer to getting a project done.  I brought all my sock yarn over (not much compared with Cece's collection, but much more than I thought I had since I don't knit socks much) and some favorite patterns and we spent an afternoon figuring out just the right combos.  At first I was going to do 6 kits for the year as I still have two pairs of unfinished socks started in 2009.  Figured a sock a month was more realistic than a full pair.  Well, I'm happy to report, I exceeded expectations for January.  Behold my first pair of socks for the year - completed a week ahead of schedule.

Pattern:
- Cozy Armchair Socks by Nora Gaughan in Weekend Knitting
- Size: women's 9.5 (second size)
Yarn:
- Reynolds, Signature color 022 (magenta)
- Brown Sheep Co., Lambs Pride Superwash color SW90 Northern Lights (dark purple)
- Brown Sheep Co., Lambs Pride Superwash color SW08 Mowtown Mauve (light purple)
Needles:
- #7 DPs

Fast knit partly because I loved the colors and the yarn.  This gauge (18sts/4") is much more my cup of tea - quick knit - think the initial socks only took about two days to knit.  They were cuff down with an afterthought heel.  I really wanted to use up all the yarn, so after I finished, I picked up stitches on the cuff and added another 4 inches almost.  I like tall socks.  Short socks = cold ankles.  You can barely tell where the transition is.  Also, the foot was initially about 1.5" too short.  So I ripped it back and added more and now it is about 1/2 an inch too long.  Room for growth!

The yarn is a funny congruence.  They almost match the picture of the original pattern.  It calls for Reynolds Signature and I was surprised to have some.  It was a half ball that I had picked up from Cece's disposal pile - I have trouble letting go of yarn regardless of quantity.  And the Brown Sheep yarn I do believe I picked up almost a decade ago when I was in Berkeley, CA.  Not sure what I thought I'd do with the two balls, but this just goes to show it all comes together in the end.  Overall, very happy with the socks and I now have  happy January feet. 

Now on to the next sock project.  I'm choosing a different approach than Cece.  She blindly picks her next project.  For me, I peek.  I'm thinking of trying toe up and doing some more stripped socks in an attempt to stash bust.  Although I may need to go needle shopping.  I don't have many double pointed needles - lots of holes in the sizes and strangely am missing one here and there.  I don't know how I only have 3 #6 dps.  I'm sure when I bought them, they had more sisters and brothers.  I'm usually so good with my needles.  Oh well.  New year, clean slate.

Job News

I was driving home this afternoon and was just marveling over the beauty of the sunny day and the freshly fallen snow.  It was so beautiful and crisp and shiny out.  I was thinking I need to blog about it all and then realized that 1) trying to write about what it feels like when it snows out is really hard and not my forte, and 2) my last post was about the new snow so I really should change things up even though we are getting a ton of snow.  Since the last post we've had several more snowfalls without melting between so the snow drifts are above my head in some places.  Gotta love it!  Here's a picture my step-mum just sent of dad's work up in VT shoveling.

Instead of snow I will report on the job front.  I feel like it's official since I finally filed papers today for unemployment benefits.  I am happy to report that I am currently jobless.  This last summer there were some massive layoffs in my office which basically changed things for me and gave me the heads up of what was in my future.  I don't want to write much here as 1) I legally can't disparage my work place and 2) things in writing have a tendency to show up later when you least want it.  But let's just say I was ready to move on and am enjoying a little break from the daily grind.

One of the first things I did was write a list of all the stuff I could work on now that I never had time to do before (or at least didn't think I did).  Things like jumping back into my book I started writing or sorting through the boxes of papers I've accumulated or doing more art work and knitting and all the chores I never get to.  Granted, I've not really done much on the list other then the knitting and even then only a little.  Instead, I'll give you a list of what I've found I've enjoyed so far having a much more flexible lifestyle:

1. Shopping in the middle of day.  The grocery store is no longer a crowded bumper car craziness.  Actually, if I realize it's evening or a weekend, I shy away from running errands.  I'm getting soft.

2. Knitting/Ravelry.  I took stock of my knitting and yarn supplies at the beginning.  Organizing is my happy place.  I went through and organized my yarn, knitting books/patterns and projects.  My list on ravelry (a knitting website) has grown exponentially recently of projects I want to start.  But I've been good.  I haven't started anything other than a pair of socks.  Trying to finish the 6+ sweaters I have that are soo close.  More to report on that in another post, hopefully.  I love yarn. 

3. Started Spring Cleaning.  I don't clean much and when I do I don't dust.  Five years of dust has gotten me to start an extensive spring cleaning.  At first I was frozen as it was too much.  Now I just work on a corner and stop when I want to stop not when the room is done.  I got most of the bathroom done - walls, ceilings, floors.  It's uber clean.  I'm just hoping that by the time I finish I don't have to start over again.  It's all about maintenance.  I need to get better at that.

4.  Hanging Pictures.  I've got all this great art work - most of it framed.  And some blank walls and I keep trying to figure out what to hang where.  I've tried hanging a coat hook and that doesn't work - it falls down.  Long story short - I've gotten closer to having just the right configuration - pictures later on progress.

5.  Watch Movies.  I've been enjoying lazy mornings and emy netflix and hulu.  I found tv shows I'd never thought I'd find again - try looking up something on the internet when you don't have a title, actors names or anything. I've come across a lot of great movies and shows.  I love how netflix categorizes selections based on your ratings.  Apparently I like not only comedies and action/adventures but also "Emotional Military 20th Century Period Pieces" and "Quirky Indpendent Road Trip Movies".  It's been fun watching and knitting and just recharging the batteries - much needed, especially after the holidays.  At first I went a little overboard, but I deserved it.  Now I have a more balanced schedule.  Having the office up in the loft helps - the ladder is arduous enough that I don't make too many trips each day.

6. Visiting friends.  I'm not as stressed out squeezing in seeing folks when events and parties pop up.  A lot less to juggle makes that so much easier.  I had a great time at a farewell party for some dear friends last weekend - hopefully I'll do a post on that in a moment, it deserves it's own.  The biggest indulgent is seeing my god-son, Cameron and his sister Maggie (and their parents of course).  I just downloaded pictures from the camera and here's one of Cam from this summers fourth of July festivities. 

I'll end on 6, a perfect number.  The only thing that is a downside is that I'm worried I'll get a little too used to this lifestyle.  It's like being retired in your thirties, only I'm not independently wealthy and still have about another thirty years of work in front of me before I officially can consider retiring... and even then.  But for now, I'm enjoying my little hiatus break from the daily grind.  And taking stock of what I want to do next.  Still trying to figure out that magical question - what can you do that is a ton of fun, pays a ton of money and doesn't take much time each week.  None of this full time craziness!

Snow and Plastic

First, Happy New Year! It’s crazy how I get on blogging bursts and then go silent – ebbs and flows… and apologies for disappearing there. I am blaming my 7+ year old digital camera that has dead batteries in it right now.

But pictures or no pictures I have to post about the wonderful blizzard we had Wednesday. (I snagged this picture via google from the Indianapolis newspaper – strange they had a good boston photo). There was the one earlier this year that got mixed up with delayed holiday travel and the chaos of my brother crashing a few extra days at my place, my step-sister and her family driving back to Richmond instead of flying, me attempting to drive my bro to NYC only to have to do a side of the road trade off with my dad and step-mum along the MA turnpike since my car wasn’t doing well.

This snow storm that fell Tuesday night was completely different. Nice and peaceful without all the drama. There’s nothing better than waking up to a super quiet day after a fresh snow fall. The snow kept falling all morning long and there was so much of it. Granted not all the other snow melted, but the snow banks were up to my waist at least without any shoveling and after the shoveling they were almost taller than me!

Now I used to help with the shoveling. It was our job growing up and the only yard work I enjoy (I hate raking, think I mentioned that before). But my landlords got a snow blower a few winters back so I got to be all toasty and enjoy being bundled up in a big old snow hug.

I came out of my cocoon late afternoon after everyone was done with moving most of the snow and worked on shoveling my car out of the snow drift it was in. I’ve come to love shoveling in the early evening night. There’s something peaceful about this other end of the day. The roaring of the snow blowers have died down and there is something about shoveling under the stars.

Now I have to admit that I’ve been lax in my physical labor routines. I have none, so shoveling three feet of heavy snow onto a snow bank that is almost over my head was no easy feat. But I would shovel some, take a breather, and then get back to shoveling. And got three sides of my car cleared, and entered through the passenger door and I was able to drive my car out of the spot. Instead of parking it somewhere so I could finish shoveling the last bit of snow that was on the driver’s side, I impulsively decided to make a run to the grocery store. I had run out of eggs and milk and brown sugar which makes my breakfasts very hard to make. Granted the store is just around the corner and would only take a two minute walk, but I decided to drive.

No worries, I made it to the store no problem, but the plastic part enters in here. I forgot to bring my plastic cards – credit or debit. I almost turned back, but I scrounged up some money I had in the car and entered the store (which was surprisingly open). It was very strange to shop with a limited amount of money. I don’t think I’ve done that (sans vacations) in a very long time. It was a very weird feeling. I had to keep track of the total as I added items to the cart and was surprised how quickly I maxed out of spending money. I use the plastic credit card very responsibly and never spend beyond my means, but there was never a specific limit. There is a general limit of don’t go crazy buying the super-pricy items (like my favorite juices – Naked and Odwalla). And the fear that you’ll get the total and you’re short ten cents.

All in all it was a very different day – opened my eyes to my money spending ways and gave me an invigorated sense of completion seeing the massive amount of shoveling I did in my corner of the drive way (granted the area isn’t massive, but the banks I was shoveling too were high – did I mention that?) I had that pleasant sore arm feeling the next day.

And the irony of it all was I decided to park my car facing out as I figured it would be easiest to get it unstuck from the snow this way. Well, unfortunately my landlord got a little too close to my car door with the snow blower and damaged it. I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it before, but the driver side door has been bugging the hell out of me since I got the car - the color is off and it’s the first thing I see when I glance at the car. But I’m sure it’s ridiculously expensive to fix. And the nick from the snow blower? It’s on the passenger side front door. Wrong side – should have had the car the other way around and I would have gotten my door fixed (maybe). Now I have two doors that are going to drive me nuts with the imperfections. Sometimes I miss my pretty plastic car. Oh, and it could have been worse - I could have parked in a spot on the street that someone else cleared and come back later to find my tires slashed.  True story - just happened to some dear friends in Somerville yesterday - who knew?!