Posted on July 11, 2007 in Photography
Posted on July 10, 2007 in Books
Posted on July 10, 2007 in Food
Posted on July 9, 2007 in Knitting & Crafting
Monkey Socks, started May 25th, 2007, finished July 9th, 2007
Pattern: Knitty’s Monkey Socks by Cookie A.
Yarn: Regia 4ply Ringel Color 100g/420m (75% New Wool 25% Polyamide)
Needles: US#2/2.5mm bamboo DPNs (5)
Lessons Learned: Lots: heel flap, turn heel, short rows, kitchener stitch, all the goodness of making socks
Cost of Project: $13 yarn + $5 DPNs = $18
Would I knit it again? Most definitely. I would probably reinforce the heel next time because I wear my heels out often.
Pattern Notes and Comments: These are my first part of socks. It wasn’t hard at all! It only took so long because I actually finished two projects and started another one while knitting these socks. They didn’t actually take that long as the pattern is not that difficult. I really liked this pattern which is very well written and with the right details, perfect for a first pair of socks if you’ve already done simple lace projects as I have.
The yarn is from a LYS that was closing; there was not a lot of selection, but it was 100g, nice yarn, and less expensive than usual. The colours are crazy; much louder than I prefer, but I’ll just wear them indoors mostly in the winter. They’re clown colours and remind me of Fruit Loops. I still have a lot of yarn left so I think I will make a beret for a friend’s birthday.
I would block the socks if I had sock blockers because it would make the pattern stand out. I’ve become a sock knitter because I’ve already bought two skeins of 100g sock yarn. I want to try toe up socks and Magic Loop eventually. They are addictive to make. Just as with scarves and hats, I was never big on these items before, but now I love them because I can make them. It’s addictive in the bad way when I go to the yarn store and look for discounted sock yarn for no specific reason to possess it for possible socks. Overall, I have been very pleased with with my first socks and definitely look forward to making more.
Posted on July 7, 2007 in Knitting & Crafting
I went to the best yarn store in the region (about 15-20 min drive) to get the Rowan Felted Tweed for my Shedir and possibly some 4ply for a beret, and ended up with all of this. In retrospect, most of the above yarn were impulsive buys. I do intend to use them for possible projects. For example, I can knit a hat with that discounted Rown Silken Tweed, and the three chunky skeins I want to use for Ester. The Rowan 4ply was on sale, but still too expensive for $5/25g in thought, but I can make a beret from each small hank. No idea why I bought the one skein of grey worsted wool other than the fact it was a bargain for $5 as well. As for the superwash sock yarn, no need to explain that I have become a sock knitter and thusly buys sock yarn for no specific pattern or idea. It is affordable sock yarn, I must buy. Even with all the money I have spent on this yarn, I am still in need of worsted weight yarn for my thrummed mittens. I think I will use some aran lopi for it when I go to my LYSes.
As for pattern updates, I am on the foot of my second Monkey Sock; I am definitely finishing this coming week. I have started making a Swell hat for my mom with the left over yarn from the wool hat I made Dad. I don’t think I have enough yarn which means I’ll need to buy some more worsted yarn of complimenting colour because I don’t wan to buy another 100g skein of navy yarn. I intend to start on my Swallowtail Shawl since I have both the needles and the yarn for it, but I know that I will be casting on for the Knitty Knit Along (join and spread the word!) two weeks from now. Shedir takes priority, and Ester (which I am apprehensive about since I purchased chunky 14ply for it).
While at the yarn store, my eyes landed on this very lovely and elegant cabled cape from a Debblie Bliss Cashmerino DK book. The book costs half the yarn in the above picture, but it was a very beautiful pattern. My heart aches for it.
Posted on July 7, 2007 in Books
Posted on July 5, 2007 in Books
What, in your opinion, is the (mythical) Great American Novel? At least to date. A “classic,†or a current one–either would be fine. Mark Twain? J.D. Salinger? F. Scott Fitzgerald? Stephen King? Laura Ingalls Wilder?
It doesn’t have to be your favorite book, mind you. “Citizen Kane†may be the “best†film, and I concede its merits, but it’s not my favorite. You don’t have to love something to know that it’s good.Now, I know that not all of you are American–but you can play, too! What I want from you is to know what you consider to the best novel of YOUR country. It might be someone the rest of us haven’t heard of and, frankly, I think we’d all like to get some new authors to read. – BTT
Shamefully, I’ve read more American books and authors than Canadian ones. I’ve read more British books and writers as well. So I’ll take a stab at the American question because I’m quite the fan of John Steinbeck. I also grew up with the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and the TV series. I also think Jeffrey Eugenides novels are very American and modern classics. There are a lot of books I would consider great American novels. Edit: I must agree with the comment below that I love Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. The movie blows my mind as well.
As for Canadian novels, I must concede Margaret Atwood here. I haven’t read all of the Orpheus trilogy, but Robertson Davies falls in this category as well. Probably L. M. Montgomery, but I have not started on my Anne of Green Gables yet. I’m inclined to think children’s novels and stories usually make great best novels for countries.
Posted on July 4, 2007 in Photography
Posted on July 3, 2007 in Books
Like Nancy Willard the author of this book, I loved William Blake’s poetry from the first time I read it. I even made a layout inspired by and using “Tyger” for this domain about five years ago. In high school, I chose a Blake poem for a history assignment which allowed me to further delve into his work and biography. Blake was a unique poet and artist in his time, and often considered eccentric by his Romantic movement contemporaries. He’s definitely one of my favourite poets, and I’ve always been fascinated by his work and philosophy, art and ideas. I have not read a picture book in awhile, but I do love children’s literature. This book is splendid too. I read it before bed. It made me smile with its homage to Blake and the whimsical pictures. There is such imagination and creativity in itself, and it’s a wonderful introduction to Blake’s work for all ages. I can see myself reading this again just so it can make me smile and feel like a child again.
Posted on July 1, 2007 in Musings
Happy Canada Day!
Sadly, I must work later today, but I’ve already been having fun. I went to a big party and BBQ yesterday and will go on another mini vacation tomorrow. Have a good long weekend, everyone!
Posted on June 28, 2007 in Movies
This is at least the fifth adaptation of Jane Eyre that I have seen. In 2005, I saw almost every major JE adaptation including the BBC version with Samantha Morton and Ciarin Hinds, the 1940s Orson Welles version, the 1983 TV version with Timothy Dalton, and the Franco Zeffirelli version with William Hurt. The only other notable JE adaptations I have not seen are the 1973 TV version and the 1970 film version. Clearly, I love the book. Before watching this Masterpiece Theatre version, one of my favourite versions was the 1983 Timothy Dalton TV version. Yes, he is too conventionally handsome to be Mr Rochester, and the production values were practically nil, but my goodness was he good in it. He made it for me. I’m delighted to say that I love this Masterpiece version even more because it had good acting, better production values, and I found the adapted screenplay had just the right length. They cut just enough, and added the details to Jane and Mr Rochester’s relationship that I often felt lacking in other adaptations. I only remembered after that Toby Stephens was the Bond villain in Die Another Day, and he was Duke Orisno in Twelfth Night. I also completely forgot that his mother is Dame Maggie Smith. There are only fifty actors in Britain, and they tend to be related and star in Doctor Who or Harry Potter movies. I found it hard to remember TS’s roles because he was very much the part. He and Ruth Wilson had great chemistry, and it was romantic enough that I didn’t roll my eyes (though, I don’t think I would for this story). Wilson could be too pretty to be called plain, and she bears a striking resemblance to a friend of mine especially with her hair down. All in all, a very good adaptation, but I’ve come to expect good things from Masterpiece Theatre.
Posted on June 28, 2007 in Books
What’s the most desperate thing you’ve read because it was the only available reading material?
If it was longer than a cereal box or an advertisement, did it turn out to be worth your while? – Booking Through Thursday
I once read a Scientology booklet. I think that’s the worse of it. It was not worth my while. I’ve read bibles in hotel rooms, but I don’t find reading the bible all that bad because I’ve studied it. But I do like reading labels and ingredients in food. Most of the time, if there is reading material near by, I’ll read it when I’m waiting or bored. It’s not often worth it, but it’s not that bad either.