Hey, remember this project that I started in January? I finally finished it!
The yarn is really lovely–a merino from a farm in Michigan. It’s very soft and got nice and fluffy in the final wash. I used this pattern but I kept the silhouette more boxy than fitted, for easy layering. That worked well everywhere except the sleeves, which turned out way too wide. (I might have to rip those back and re-knit them on smaller needles.)
But overall, I’m not going to complain too much. Because it’s DONE.
Y
Thing #21, aka IT’S BOOZE TIME
I finally bit the bullet and stocked my home bar over the weekend, accomplishing Thing 21 on my list of 30 Things:
The scotch is for sipping, not for mixing.
Right now my “bar” is in an upper kitchen cabinet but someday I will arrange all the booze on a fancy tray or cart in my imaginary living room:
Yes, it feels good accomplishing my alcohol-related goals.
Friday Unrelated Information
1. I think adults going all-out for Halloween is silly, but there’s a party at work so I made a costume (or a really big necklace):
I’m a “cereal” (serial) comma! No one will get it!
2. Speaking of, Jason posted a real-life example of someone who should have used a serial comma to add clarity. It is important punctuation, people!
3. And, because it’s Halloween, here are probably my favorite seven words ever uttered on TV:
(See more of the episode here.)
Teleport!
This is a cool program that lets you see different parts of the world (or, conversely, illustrates the chilling reach of Google): Globe Genie. It basically just randomizes Google Street Views but it manages to suck you in. It also reminds you how much of the world looks the same, landscape-wise: Central France could be Wisconsin, Russia looks like Wyoming, Tuscany like Northern California, etc.
Check it out–the button to randomize really does say “Teleport.”
Are You Tired Of This Yet?
By “this,” I mean posts in which I tell you that I’m watching a new TV series and it’s really good and I have a crush on the main actor. I hope you’re not too fed up, because guess what? I watched a new TV series!
The series is the modern-day interpretation of Sherlock Holmes on PBS, Sherlock. Yes, the actors are fun to watch:
Holmes gets to stand in front. Because he’s Sherlock Holmes.
Why hello, Sherlock. Are you deducing something?
But if you know me you know that before I was a Dune geek, before I read any Tolkein, I was a Sherlock Holmes fan. Holmes is my geekery of choice. So imagine my delight that the writers of this new series (who write for the new Dr. Who series, oh the colliding worlds of geekdom) did such a good job adapting the Holmes canon to the modern day.
Seriously, if you’re a fellow Holmes geek, it’s worth a watch to catch the in-jokes (deductions are made from a cell phone instead of a pocket watch; Watson’s a veteran of the modern Afghan war; he’s similarly confused about where he was shot; no, they’re not gay; etc.)
You can watch the first episode–“A Study in Pink”–online, with new ones airing Sunday nights for the next two weeks.
Tuesday Project Roundup: Repeat Of A Sellout
Look, more baby stuff!
This is for a co-worker who adopted a baby boy after waiting a long time. I wanted to do something a little more than a hat or booties to mark the occasion, so another owl sweater it was.
This time I used superwash wool instead of wool-cotton, because the baby is in Park City instead of sunny Asheville, and I didn’t impose my love of color on the recipient quite as much. (I did get some contrasting blue eyes in, though.)
Who? who? Baby owls!
Reading Cookbooks
I was going through some Laurie Colwin again last week and found this:
You want comfort; you want security; you want food; you want not to be hungry; and not only do you want those basic things fixed, you want it done in a really nice, gentle way that makes you feel loved. That’s a big desire, and cookbooks say to the person who’s reading them, “If you read me, you will be able to do this for yourself and for others. You will make everybody feel better.”
Let’s read some cookbooks!
Friday Unrelated Information
1. As much as I talk about wanting fancy hi-fis and home decor, all I really want is a house. A house that doesn’t require a roto-rooter visit every other month because the upstairs neighbor insists on using her defunct disposal for things like celery stalks and Chinese takeout. (Guess how I know what foods she’s trying to grind up! And guess what I’m doing this morning!)
2. Speaking of, I looked at my 2oth house this week (in person). I’m still holding out for one that’s north of 21st South, west of 13th East, and isn’t a fire hazard or a pit of asbestos. Do I ask too much for my price range? Perhaps. But I’m holding out.
3. I’m holding out for a hero, too.
Did You Know?
Did you know that Ray and Charles Eames designed speaker cabinets back in the day? Which were then marketed with kitten pictures? (Click for big)
Yes, I’d take an Eames three-way.
When I think of my imaginary house, I think of getting adult electronics like a stereo and a TV with two functioning speakers (imagine!). Except I would want all my equipment to look like this. Then I would listen to Ethiopian jazz and bebop on vinyl, like this:
You can see more vintage hi-fi goodness here.
The Moral Of This Poem
…is the last line. But the build up is worth a read, too.
Filling Station
by Elizabeth Bishop