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Dr. Horrible

Teaser from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.

Have you heard of Dr. Horrible?  Looks weird and cool and fun and strange.

Speaking of weird, cool, fun & strange . . . finally saw Juno. I dug it. And the music was quite good.

Speaking of music. I'm way into the new Death Cab for Cutie -- Narrow Stairs -- which is totally cheap at Amazon, so you should really go buy it. If you like Smashing Pumpkins, Jane's Addiction, Built to Spill, et al. you will feel right at home with this CD. (Can I still call it that now that it's more accurately a grouping of mp3's?)

Orange Bumpy Scarf

As I mentioned, the current issue of Spin-Off really got me in the mood to spin -- and more specifically to spin yarn to knit up into the Morning Surf scarf. 

Seeing as how this is shockingly orange (it's okay -- that's my favorite color) the name just wasn't working for me, so I have christened it the "Orange Bumpy Scarf". 

For those of you thinking about making this scarf -- my yarn was about 11wpi if I remember correctly and I am using a US 8 circular needle and cast on 36 stitches to start.  The pattern is something like 12 rows long, but super easy to remember and the drop stitches are not only fun, they really show off the handspun yarn.  It's a great pattern for even slightly irregular yarn (mine gets a little thick and thin in places).

I'm having so much fun spinning that I just purchased some luscious fiber from Spunky Eclectic and spun up a bunch of it yesterday.  More info and photos soon!

Intertwined

As I am getting back in the groove with my spinning, I couldn't resist picking up Intertwined by Lexi Boeger when I saw it on the new arrivals shelf at the library.  Like many of you, I followed Lexi's blog for ages and admired the wild and sometimes outrageous yarns she made, but thought it was something I a) couldn't do myself and b) even if I could do it I would have no use for the yarn.  This book changed all that. 

First of all, the book has detailed instructions and tips for each kind of yarn it covers -- and there are a lot of different yarn styles.  While I might not want to make yarn out of cassette tape (although this book will tell you how), I do want to learn how to make wrapped yearns and thread plied yarn and even thick and thin yarns.  All covered.

The patterns are diverse -- hats, scarves, shoelaces and more -- and these projects are not only for knitters.  Techniques used include weaving, felting, knitting, crochet and even sewing.  And there are tons of great photos of yarns, techniques and finished goods.

If you are a spinner, or even just a yarn lover, I think you'll really enjoy this book!

A Punch Bowl and Indiana Jones

Thrifting went much better this weekend than it has in ages.  I got a pyrex bowl for 25 cents -- like this one but without a lid.  That was on Friday -- the day that Maddie and I like to hit the garage sales.  Then on Saturday we took Pete along for more garage sale-ing and I spotted this punch bowl set all boxed up.  This is actually the second time I found a set all boxed up.  The first being the set of ice cream dishes I found last summer.  While I located some information on those, I haven't been able to find out anything about this punch bowl. 

Sunday was supposed to include more treasure hunting via a trip to the Sandwich Antique Fair, but Maddie got some blisters on her feet from her new shoes and we knew there would be no walking happening today.  So instead, despite the beautiful weather, we decided to go see a movie -- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.   It was so good!  Harrison is still looking hot and the movie was full of excitement.  Nothing deep -- just a good old fashioned movie. 

***UPDATE***

It turns out that the punch bowl set is by Jeanette Glass and is the "Feather" pattern. It looks like it would cost $208 to replace the set, so I think I got a pretty good deal having paid only $5!

Teaching Kids to Cook

This summer -- as part of homeschooling and part of life, really -- I am teaching Maddie to cook.  Since I take nutrition very seriously, I didn't want to start her out cooking the usual junky foods that kids like. 

So what do you teach a kid to cook that is simple but nutritious?  I didn't turn to a kids' cookbook, but rather turned to Mark Bittman's How To Cook Everything: Simple Recipes for Great Food.  We made a super quick and easy pasta dish with peas (her current favorite vegetable) and not only was she very proud of the meal, it was also very tasty!

Talking a little more about nutrition, we are quickly becoming mostly vegetarian -- eating meat only a couple times a week and then only in small portions.  If you want to learn more about why the Western diet is killing us, check out Bittman's Ted talk:

 

A cliché

I grew up in a very Catholic town (and in fact, have moved back here as an adult) filled with Catholic schools.  *Everyone* (at least pretty much everyone I knew) went to Catholic school and I was no exception.  I went to St. Paul the Apostle for grade school -- following in my mother's footsteps -- and then went on to St. Francis Academy -- a college preparatory school for girls -- again following in my mother's footsteps. 

Yes. . . I said for girls. 

The cliché begins.

Are you picturing wool plaid skirts?  (Actually polyester blend by the time I was in high school.)  White shirts with Peter Pan collars? You would be correct.  No boys to be found in the halls before or after school (well, unless you count band members who had practice first period.)  And our dean was in fact a Catholic nun -- Sr. Sue.  I have a vivid memory of her yanking on the tail of my blouse which was *gasp* untucked on one of the hottest days of the school year.

Then there was the ultimate cliché -- taking 4 years of Latin from Sr. Irene.  The final two years were spent translating Vergil's Aeneid from Latin.  Oh. My. God. 

What made me think of all this?   I just finished reading this:

Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin is the retelling of the Aeneid from the perspective of Lavinia -- Aeneas' wife (or last wife, as the case may be).  It was an interesting read and I enjoyed the story which brings a very human perspective to Vergil's epic poem.

And best of all -- it is written in English.  Ha!

Way Behind

I've been reading quite a bit lately, but I know I haven't kept the book section of the blog updated.  I'm sure I'll forget something, but here's a quick update:

I re-read Atonement and if possible, it was even better the second time.  What a book!

Blue Mars -- the third book in the Mars trilogy -- by Kim Stanley Robinson was a satisfactory ending to the series.  At his point I was very invested in the characters and enjoyed reading more about them.  This is one of the most amazing sci-fi series I've ever read.

Another Pullman -- this time The Tin Princess.  Really enjoyed this book -- still a Pullman fan.  I just checked out Count Karlstein and Spring-Heeled Jack from the library, so there is more Pullman in my near future.

I mentioned this book in conjunction with my reading of the Norton Anthology.  It is the Seamus Heaney verse translation of Beowulf.  Such a well written translation -- it captures the original Old English feel.  Love the facing page Old English and side margin notes.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart is a "children's book" but I'm quickly learning that many so called books for kids are equally enjoyable when you read them as an adult.  This was a fun little mystery book that kept the action moving forward.  Fun!

The Lazarus Project by Aleksandar Hemon is my latest finish.  Pete loved it and I have to agree that it was quite a book.  The symbolism is heavy and it is a book that you could read more than once.  Themes include disillusionment and the plight of immigrants or the disenfranchised in general.  Another impressive book from Hemon.  (I also enjoyed Nowhere Man.)

I think I'm caught up now, although I can't be sure since I went so long (over a month!) between updates.  Currently reading Ursula K. LeGuin's Lavinia and working through the Canterbury tales in the Norton Anthology.

From a caterpillar. . .

Forgive me this strange comparison, but when I first took the orange cormo/silk yarn off of the niddy noddy, all I could think was that it looked pretty rough.  Perhaps you are a fan of the caterpillar, but I much prefer the butterfly.  In this case, a freshly washed and dried hank of yarn. . .

It just puffed up and filled out so nicely.  Amazing what a difference a little soak in some bubble bath can do for some yarn. 

This yarn had the added problem of being composed of one bobbin that had been laying around for who knows how long and one freshly spun bobbin.  There was no real way to tell if I had the correct amount of ply until after the bath.  Either I did a good job or cormo is really forgiving because it hangs as straight as can be.  Whew!

A Gift and a Bug-a-boo!

Toni sent me a lovely gift in the mail -- a washcloth made with SWTC Bamboo yarn.  Isn't it pretty!  And just my colors too.

And mostly for her papa's benefit -- here's Mud's new sleeping spot.  She's in a bucket cooler (that is currenlty filled with Maddie's outgrown coats) in the corner of the little eating room.  Doesn't she look cozy?

Inspired to Spin

I received the latest issue of Spin-Off in the mail the other day and for the first time in a long while I was inspired to spin.  It was the gallery of Morning Surf scarves that really got me excited -- so many different beautiful scarves from one pattern. 

As I looked through the stash to see what I might start spinning up, I came across this luscious orange, cormo and silk blend.  It's a joy to spin and I'm looking forward to seeing where the strips fall when it is plied.  I may even make myself a Morning Surf scarf with the finished yarn.

Finally

Okay, I'm excited. . . really. . . I am.  The path to get to this point was just so convoluted and looooong.  I ended up disliking Hillary Clinton more than I ever thought was possible, and I look for reconciliation within the party for the sake of all Americans.

So now I'm going to sit back and allow myself to actually enjoy this moment.  I've been an Obama supporter for a long time.  When I heard his speech -- The Audicity of Hope --  at the Democratic National Convention in July of 2004 I was completely, utterly and totally blown away.  THIS was what it was all about for me and I was amazed that I was hearing it in a national setting.  (I'm used to being on the fringe.)  Then when I had the chance to vote for Obama as my representative in the Senate, I was overwhelmed and overcome.  A politician that I really believed in and agreed with on so many points was now representing *me* in our government.  Democracy in action -- truly.

I almost didn't dare hope that he would run for president.  It was too much -- too good to be true!  And now that is exactly what is happening.  Pinch me!

The old excitement is bubbling back up!  Thank goodness the battle for the nomination is behind us -- the presidential election should be a breeze in comparison!

A Wonky Little Piece of Knitting

Okay, admittedly it doesn't look like much but I'm quite satisfied with this little piece of knitting.  I've had a plan to make some scrubbies for a while and even purchased a cute little Japanese craft book with some patterns, but it all came to nothing because I couldn't figure out what yarn to use.  Cotton such as Sugar 'n Cream seemed the obvious choice, but there is no real scrubbing power there.  So when I saw the scrubbie tutorial at Berlin's Whimsy, I knew it was time to get knitting. 

While at Hobby Lobby yesterday buying adhesive for patterns, I decided to walk over to the fabric section and pick up some tulle -- so cheap at $1 a yard -- which led to picking up some Sugar 'n Cream to match.  The scrubbie pictured above is Maddie's combo -- pink tulle and a lavender ice yarn. 

The tulle was easy to cut into strips with a long ruler and rotary cutter -- I think my strips were about 3/4" wide.  Knitting the yarn and tulle together was a bit tricky because the edges of the cut tulle are easily snagged on the cotton yarn.  It was also easy to knit too tightly -- thus the wonky little scrubbie.  And casting off was difficult -- I did it way too tightly -- as everything wanted to snag but it's a scrubbie, so who really cares?   It was quick and satisfying and ended in a usable item, so I'm happy!  I think I'll use the tulle/cotton combo to make some cuter scrubbies -- maybe it's time to pull out that Japanese craft book.