Alma and the very bad cats

We've moved!

2009-12-20T13:19:00.002+01:00

I couldn't bear to keep being reminded that I've managed a total of 3 posts this year.
4 including this.
So we've started over, over here

Sheepish!

2009-06-30T19:40:00.004+02:00

I know I shouldn't be playing with my food, but it's a bit hard not to, when your pasta is sheep-shaped
Now vegetarians too can have lamb(s) on their plate.

It's hard work

2009-06-23T23:22:00.002+02:00

... keeping a tail clean. But so much easier lying down.
And it doesn't end there

We're still here

2009-04-14T19:05:00.003+02:00

Just very busy. And a bit tired.

Earthquake and Hemlot Ring

2008-12-16T19:08:00.009+01:00

This morning at 6:20 I woke up to the strangest feeling that everything was shaking. But it wasn't just a feeling, everything really was shaking. The wardrobe doors, the cups and bowls and plates on the shelves in the kitchen, everything...
And then the sound of little cat feet racing to safety in their human's bed.
And they dived under covers just as it was all over.
And you think "Wauw, that was just like an earthquake", but then you think "We don't have earthquakes in Copenhagen". But we do.
4,7 on the Richter scale.
Which is probably nothing to those who live in areas where the weather and the geology have far more to offer when it comes to adventure, but here it's quite something.
Everything was fine though, no damage, noone hurt. But the very excited geologist they interviewed for the morning radio news had almost choked on his cornflakes!
And it was quite the topic of conversation on the bus this morning.
"So did the earthquake wake you up?" "Yes" And then varying descriptions of how much everything had been shaking. Some had been wise enough to seek safety in a door opening. Another man's dog had peed with fright. All very exciting.

And I've finished the Hemlock Ring Blanket for my lovely colleague.
890 meters of Kauni 2,5/2 on 7 mm needles.
I was afraid I would run out of yarn before finishing the never-ending edging.
It measures just a bit over 160 cm from edge to edge. It's big.

And I had nowhere to block it properly, but then nor does she, and she probably wouldn't have been too keen on her Christmas present if I had given her instructions on how to block it after washing or to steam press it.
So it doesn't look nearly as perfect and sharp as so many other Hemlock Ring Blankets.
But she loves it.
Almost as much as Laurenz loved it

And Vincent too knows how to appreciate wool blankets.

December already

2008-12-07T12:50:00.005+01:00

I have been busy.
Work mostly, and a lot of knitting.
To put it very nicely these are interesting days in the financial sector.
So I think we all run as fast as we can and do our damnedest to prove our worth.
Last week I went to Oslo. I had not been there since I was a child and it was my first visit to our office there.
Of course on one of the few days when it's really important that you look professional and tidy you wake up just that bit too late to a home without electricity.
(I will have to figure out how to make coffee with only candles and a lighter at my disposal.)
So if it had not been for the mirror in the airport bathroom I would have arrived with mascara in funny places.
There was not much to be done about the cat hair, and next time I have to lint-roll clothes in the dark, I should probably chose not to wear a black woolen dress.
There is something incredibly marvelous about having breakfast (warm rolls with cheese, orange juice and coffee) with a view to morning sunshine in a blue sky above white clouds. I will have to bring my camera next time.
And then approaching Gardermoen with a view to a snow covered landscape looking like something out of a fairytale.
It completely evened out the less than perfect start to the day.

I can barely believe it's December already.
We had snow here in the end of November. Actual snow that stayed on the ground and rooftops for more than a few hours.
I like snow. It's pretty and in addition to its sparkly prettiness it serves as a layer of insulation up here in our little home under the roof.
The cats are happy that their stupid human has finally understood the importance of turning on the radiators.
But my camera refuses to talk to my computer.
So instead of roasting cat boys we have the pair sleeping on their bench in front of the french doors. Before the drafty season started.

I'm almost done with the Henry scarf.
The sewn bind'off is however driving me completely mad. Or is at least trying to.
I'll probably have to get mildly drunk if I'm to find the courage to attempt it again. The ribbed pullover is very nearly done. But I'm having second thoughts.
So I've cast on for a Hemlock Ring Blanket for my favourite colleague.
And a Lily sweater for myself.
And a Bainbridge scarf for lovely ex-colleague.
Laurenz would like to request that all yarn always be sent wrapped in paper:

Yesterday

2008-11-06T15:36:00.004+01:00

I don't think I'll ever forget waking up a minute to six on the morning of Wednesday November 5 to the news of this:

Yes, we can. And yes, he did.

Baked tomato tarts :-)

2008-10-08T22:35:00.005+02:00

I'm not the greatest recipe writer of all times. And I usually just wing it.
But here we go:
For tasty baked tomato tarts you need

Tomatoes:
Small tomatoes - they should be "meaty", vine tomatoes are good. As many as it takes to fill your tart cases.
Olive oil
Salt, pepper, fresh basil, a bit of dried chili (not much)
Cut the tomatoes in halves and put them in a low oven-proof dish before drizzling with olive oil and sprinkling with salt, pepper, a bit of dried chili and a small handful basil leaves. Give them a good toss before baking at 200 degrees (celcius) for half an hour. (They can share the oven with the prebaking tart case)

Mix
3 eggs
2,5 dl. sour cream
50 gr. Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper
a handfuld fresh basil shredded somewhat roughly.
(This is good for a normal sized tart or 3 small ones)

Pastry
You can buy perfectly good pastry for the tart case or make your own. I like mine with a bit of graham flour. And maybe a bit more Parmesan. I like Parmesan.

Getting it together
Sprinkle parmesan on top of the pre-baked tart case, arrange the baked tomatoes on top of this (leave the juice and oil behind in the dish) and spread the egg-mix before sprinkling a bit of extra Parmesan on top.

Bake for 25-30 minutes at 200 degr. C. until golden and set.
It's delicious both warm and cold. And it's perfect picnic food.
I'll have to see if I can remember how the nectarin tarts started.

Oh, well

2008-10-08T19:52:00.008+02:00

Oh, life.
I probably don't have to say too much about life working in the financial sector these days.

Since the last time I wrote anything here there has been opera in the park. Requiring a suitably equipped picnic basket:
Small baked tomato and basil tarts.
And small nectarin and marzipan tarts.
"Oh, look they've brought their own little cakes"

And I've had the pleasure of a day with the lovely Linnea and the Economist. An all too short day with me being too tired and them being wonderful.
Copenhagen seems so much more exotic when you have visitors, I'll just have to brush up on my guide-skills.
Linnea brought yarn. Including some of her own beautiful hand-dyed, which is almost too beautiful to use for knitting. And books! Knitting books.

And I have been knitting. And I've finished the February Lady Sweater for my lovely colleague but couldn't find the camera before gifting it, so you'll have to take my word for it.
She loved it. I like knitting for her!

And a few days in bed with a cold and cuddly cats and knitting have proved very productive.
I'm actually knitting a sweater for a man.
Sweater curse or no sweater curse, he needs a hand-knit pullover. (He particularly needs the ribbed pullover from VK winter 06/07.)
And I've realized that I have no clue about men's sizes. But I'm sure that at least one of the boys at work is of somewhat the same height so that I can measure the length of his sleeves. And if there are two or more I can check for consistency.
(Must remember to send out cryptic mass email requesting height of colleagues)
The yarn is Pakucho, an organic fair trade cotton.
I love this. I love that the people who create it are given a fair price, that it enables them to make a proper living - and that it takes up space that could and maybe would be used for coca plants. No pesticides or any chemicals are used at any point from seed to hank. It's soft and lovely and treads softly on the environment.
I am in love with this yarn.

Scarfs are much easier. Henry from Knitty. Fun, interesting, and wonderfully soft and luxurious in a blend of silk and baby alpaca.

And the cats are just being their own cuddly selves.

Knitting for a baby

2008-06-30T19:38:00.007+02:00

The past week has very much been work and knitting.
And not just any knitting, but knitting for a baby.
Not something I've tried before, but it's hugely enjoyable and somewhat addictive, I'm afraid. There is no other way you can finish a dress, a hat and a pair of socks in less than a week if not knitting for a wee one.
She's not due to arrive until August, but her mother, my lovely colleague, will be going on maternity leave by the end of this week.
But I could not wait until then to present her with this:
(I was in a bit of a hurry to take the photo as I was running late for work. So it really does look much better in real life, not as if it has just been dropped on the floor and then stomped on by a horde of mad cats. Which is a fairly close description of the situation seconds before the photo was taken)

The dress is largely based on a pattern from Drops/Garnstudio. I changed the waist and borders from boring garter stitch to a pretty ribbed pattern. At least I think it's pretty.

The hat I made up. I had a few gos at the bonnet that's part of the dress pattern, but I don't think tying satin ribbons around the neck of a wriggly baby would be much fun on a regular basis. And the babies I've seen have been very wriggly.
So I decided to do a little hat instead. And it's terribly cute. And I hope the little girl has a small head (a hope shared by her mother).
And the socks are actually "Perfect Baby Booties". I think I would like to make more of them. But attempt to knit the whole lot in the round and maybe top-down, as I suck when it comes to seaming.
My seaming really is wonky and my crochet shows how challenged I am in that particular area, but then it shows its loving handmadeness only so much better.
And handmadeness is very good according to the trend types.
And the mother truly appreciated it.
Her reaction was every knitter's dream.

Stormy weather and what happens when you try to sort your stash

2008-06-23T22:47:00.007+02:00

It's madly stormy outside. Probably one of the more autumnal Midsummer Eves.
And I wonder if the summer is ever coming back.
The cats are cosy.
Very much so.
And I'm knitting Coviellos Ruffled Jacket from VK's 25th anniversary issue.
And I've never seen myself as a ruffle-kind of girl. But it is very pretty.
I attempted some tidying up this weekend which extended to sorting the stash (Oh, I have quite a stash by now), and I found this black aran weight wool which should have been a sweater but obviously didn't want to.
And that was the end to the tidying and the start of the Ruffled Jacket.
At present I have a sleeve and the left front, and that's insane as I only started it yesterday afternoon.
It really is a very pretty jacket - but the amount of seaming involved is crazy and the thought of it nearly makes me want to reconsider the yarn's vocation.
But only nearly.
I think it might be only a week or two before I have a brand new handknit jacket.
That's amazing!
The V-neck dress is taking forever and I'm currently in the middle of a very long, monotonous stretch of plain stockinette in the round. Boring.
So for now that is assigned to be knit only when waiting, watching something very interesting on the telly, or for transport.

Now I'm just wondering if I should cast on for another sleeve or the right front or the back. And when to set the alarm for tomorrow morning. The cats usually wake me up, but they're not fail proof.
I'm not expected to be at the office until 11-12, which allows for a lovely, long, slow morning - and some doing laundry and things. And cuddling soft morning cats.
But .... I'm just looking forward to going to work. And I don't know if I want to wait until noonish.
I have not been there since Friday, and it feels like a very long time.
And this is a feeling it's really very strange and hard getting used to. Actual looking forward to going to work.
After all that time dreading the other crappy job.
Besides there is fresh baked bread in the morning.
And sometimes there are bits of pineapple or fresh berries. Meant for yogurt but fine for just nibbling.

Mid-year look at the big plans for 2008

2008-06-21T17:41:00.005+02:00

So, on the first day of this year I set up a list of great, big plans for this year.
And since Mid-Summer's Eve is nigh it would perhaps be a good idea to have a look at them.

I will finish the Elfin Bride.
It's finished. It's a bit tight around the chest, and I need to find a way to fix my cast off on the back, as it's a bit too tight. But otherwise it's finished. And very lovely.

I will finish Elizabeth I.
Erm,... I've frogged her. I could not figure out how far I had come, and I decided I would much rather knit her in the round. Besides it's a very enjoyable knit so I will start over - and maybe even finish her this year.

I will knit the second Spiral Boot sock...
I had completely forgotten about this. Probably because I want to reverse the spiraling and have yet to figure out how.

I will finish the City Coat even if it is hard work.
I know it will be worth it, but it still has a long way coming.

I will finish the Saturday in the Park dress from Fitted Knits, even if it’s boring.
It really is boring!

I will finish the Hex coat....
That's such an autumn/winter thing. It will get done in time, I think

I will finish the Fitted Jacket-gone-tunic. I have a major crush on it and it’s very addictive knitting. I just have to read up on the dominating-yarn-thing.
I have yet to read up on the dominating yarn thing, and steeks frighten me. But yes, it's fun, and yes, I'll get back to it.

I will finish the Cashmere lace blouse. It would be perfect for spring….
Maybe next spring.

I will accept and embrace the fact that I suffer from a bad case of castonitis. That is not very likely to change. But I could of course try to control it a bit.
I've chosen to just accept and embrace it.

Once done with the WIPs I will knit the Knitted Robe of Insanity! I will!
I may start a bit sooner.

And I will knit more socks.
There's still time for that. And more is a somewhat loose term anyway.

I will take better care of my skin. By the end of January I’ll be closer to 40 than to 30 and so the days of going to bed without using cleanser and cream etc. are officially over. No matter how tired or drunk I am. I swear!
I've improved a lot. Let's just keep it at that.

I will take very good care of my pancreas!
Oh, yes.
And remember to appreciate the fact that my inner bits and pieces are actually functioning perfectly again. And not cease to be amazed by the complex mostly-silent ever-busy wonder that is the human body.
Oh, yes.

I will spend less time online and more time outside.
I think this one has worked for me. But that's easy to say when the sun is shining and the park is green.

I will read more for entertainment without reading less for education - meaning more fiction but not less non-fiction, just more pleasure reading.
I do get great pleasure from reading non-fiction.

I will be better at taking credit for my work. And learn to toot my own horn a bit.
I'm doing much, much better in that department.

I will learn to recognize flirting when I meet it.
I still have to work on that one.

I will try to work less.
Ha! Not bloody likely, but now I actually enjoy it. A lot!
And play more.
Knitting is playing. As is teasing the cats. So, yes.

I will knit sweaters for the cats. Even if they’ll absolutely hate me for it.
I have not yet gathered the courage.

And I will get my bachelor’s degree this summer! That one is certain.
It was not as certain as that. Unfortunately. But it's OK.

So it's not madly impressive, but then it's always nice to know there's still room for improvement!

Oh, Stockholm. Oh, Rudolph. Oh, Anthropomorphic cloud in the sky.

2008-06-16T19:05:00.008+02:00

Oh, Stockholm was wonderful.
It is one of my favourite cities.
If Copenhagen and Paris had a lovechild it would be Stockholm. It is so beautiful, and pleasant and calm even with its big-city vibe.
And we were spoiled.
I had my very own hotel room with armchair and desk and bath robe and a huge bed with crisp white linen and thick, soft towels. I could happily have stayed there, but I'm glad I didn't.
We had dinner at Operaterrassen with a stunning, panoramic view of the castle and the water. It was so beautiful it was almost surreal!
And when I couldn't figure out what renytterfilé was, my charming Norwegian colleague kindly translated it as "Rudolph".
I may see myself as a vegetarian, but when I'm a guest I eat whatever is being served. Even when it's called Rudolph.
And I can even bring myself to find it rather tasty. And I probably need the protein from time to time.
And the food and the wine was just wonderful. In particular the passion fruit cheesecake.
As was the band and the DJ, and quite against character I decided to stick to water for the evening so as to better enjoy it all without being numbed by alcohol.
And I may do that more often.
I had no less fun, and I had a lot more energy on Saturday.
Enough to go for a long walk with a colleague while the others were still snoozing.
And it was of course fun and interesting to meet our colleagues from the other Nordic countries. Even if I feel we had far too little time.
Less time as we had to wait for 1 1/2 hours for take off because a wheel had to be changed.
I think I drove the poor young man next to me bonkers by going through three newspapers and a documentary podcast before knitting a few rounds, then going through the newspapers once more and knitting some more and generally having far too much energy confined in a narrow window seat.
And then I kept pointing out interestingly shaped clouds to him, even after he had shown very little interest in the first five.
I didn't take any photos, so here's one of the cats instead:

Bird bath

2008-06-11T22:26:00.004+02:00

It has been raining today. Enough for big puddles to remain in the gutter and the holes in the streets.
And waiting for the bus home I enjoyed watching a pair of pigeons bathing joyfully in the puddle by the bus stop. They were completely drenched in water, and looked happy and calm and playful and unusually charming, considering they are big city pigeons.
Suddenly a car came racing and the pigeons rose like little wet, feathery cannon balls. And one hit a young man right in the crotch.
I hadn't seen him coming either.
And I don't know which were more startled, the poor bird or the poor birdstopper.
And now I cannot help wondering how he must have tried to explain the big, wet splash of water with "You see, this big wet pigeon came zooming at me....".

For lack of pigeon photos, here's Laurenz, the Master Snoozer

And Vincent's paw.

Sunday

2008-06-08T12:23:00.006+02:00

I think I can say for all of us, that we love the new litter. As much as you can love litter, that is.

The dressmaking didn't turn out quite as planned.
I soon realized the satin is far too heavy for what I had in mind, and I also thought it better to spend the afternoon and evening and most of the night drinking white wine with friends.
And today I do not feel like sewing at all. It would require far too much thinking about what to do. And I'd rather just eat melon, drink strong mint tea, and knit.
Instead I've rummaged through the mess that is my wardrobe and found something wearable which will have to do.
It's not very summery, but it's fine. And I cannot stand myself when I waste too much time obsessing over what to wear.

The gold skirt is one of my favourite pieces of clothing. Ever!
But I've never worn it.
The silk is a very delicate silk and metal weave and I've always thought that it was either too pretty for normal day wear or too delicate for wild parties.
So I've just looked at it and stroked the fabric very lightly and hung it back. Every time, until now.

This weekend is for fancy new cat litter and dressmaking

2008-06-07T13:01:00.004+02:00

Okay, this may not be as exciting as I think it is. But anyway:
We have new cat litter. Very fancy cat litter.
Apparently the cats recognized the bag from the pet store and thought I brought home food. But it was our new Fresh Haiyu Crystals. Stupid name.
It means I will only have to remove the poop.
And with a very fussy Siamese boy who sings songs on his way to the litter box to have me ready to scoop the second he's done, this will be an advantage.
And I'm tired of carrying home not only big bags of food, but also big, heavy bags of litter.

The two bags I've bought are meant to last a month, and thus they cost the same as, if not less than, the usual super market variety.
The bags have been thoroughly examined by the cat boys, with a good deal of rubbing against and sniffing and jabbing at them.
But when I brought the bag to the bathroom rather than their food bowls, I think I saw traces of disappointment.
They have both done a quick test pee, though. So there'll be no need for an adjustment period as it kindly says on the back of the bag (which I didn't read until after replacing the old litter with the fancy crystals.)
I think we're happy with the change.
Less waste, less carrying things, less scooping - and I think it's actually nicer for the cats to use.

Far more interesting is next weeks trip to Stockholm with the Big Investment Bank, for a day of getting to know our colleagues from the other countries and such things.
And there's a big party in the evening. I like parties.
But having nothing to wear I've spent an hour or two going through fabric stores today before deciding on a lovely heavy satin in an oystery colour. I have pretty beads and rhine stones and a very clear idea of what I want to make of it.

It's always a bit difficult dressing for work functions such as this, especially when the only hint at dress code is "festive", which can be interpreted in a myriad of ways.
And the first time you find yourself amongst all your colleagues and the big bosses you do not want to stand out for being under or over dressed.
So I'm aiming for something elegant and fairly simple - but not too simple.
And something to match my gold dancing shoes.

Monday is work and fruit and black dye

2008-06-02T20:28:00.005+02:00

Last year's laundry crisis was tough on some of my favourite clothes.
Either hand washing is harder on the fabric than I thought, or I did it wrong.
Maybe both.
So I've had a favourite black dress and a few favourite black t-shirts hiding at the back of the wardrobe in their faded sadness.
But with the arrival of summer I had to bring them out of their hiding place and into the dyepot before being put back to good use.
And rather than let it stay on the to-do list for ages it's done.
A bit smelly and messy and quite fun, and I really should have worn gloves.
But it's done.
And I feel unreasonably proud.
And I have fruit. Lots of fruit.
And I feel like I could launch my own little banana boat.
The cats are still furry little sun-worshipers, and I really need to remember to water those plants.

I just want to knit and play with the sunbaked cats

2008-06-01T14:37:00.006+02:00

Exams are over for now.
It didn't go quite as planned, though.
And for the first time ever I've felt stressed.
Not mentally, but physically. My heart racing like mad, the feeling of tightness in the chest, chest pain, trouble breathing fully. And it has scared the hell out of me.
More so since I have been feeling quite calm and collected although a bit more busy than I would prefer.
I've never felt stressed before, or even thought I could, especially since I've always believed that stress could only truly "happen" when you felt overwhelmed and without control of a situation. And since this is of my own choice I thought I was immune.
But then I may have had too much on my plate this semester.
Work has been busy - both have gone through a months-long period of rebranding and restructuring and that has taken a lot of time and energy.
Now I have set up a meeting with a student adviser at the University - and one with my doctor. And I hope and expect that both will be able to help me find tools and ways to avoid this in the future.
So, when I realized what was going on and why I canceled the exams. It seemed to be the best and safest and easiest way to get around it, and I will work on finishing the papers during the next half year.
And work on not having this reaction at another time.
And so I've been knitting.
I fell in love with Teriokhin's V-neck Dress in the Spring/Summer issue of VK. And I found a lovely cheapish cotton/bamboo blend which seemed perfect and affordable.

I did get gauge using 4 mm. For once. But I liked the fabric better using 3.5 mm needles, so we're already off to a great start. (And I'm working it in the round.)
I didn't like the eyelets in the bottom border. So I skipped those.
And now I'm wondering if those pleats would do anything for me. I doubt it.
I think they're fine for a tall, slender thing like the model wearing it, but with my curvy 164 cm, they are probably .... not quite right.
So for now it's starting out as a V-neck dress and only time will show how it turns out and in which form.

The cats are enjoying the extraordinarily sunny summer weather we're having.

They are far better with sun and heat than I am.

The Sunshine Boys

2008-04-22T12:21:00.003+02:00

My camera doesn't do bright sunshine very well.
The cats do bright sunshine extraordinarily well, though.

And ... I don't have much to tell about anything really.
Work, writing, work, writing, work, writing....
Not much knitting happening.

Good things

2008-03-20T14:39:00.007+01:00

Life is good. Busy but good.
There are the jobs, the university courses, and a lot of reading.
And the cats of course.
So there has been very little time for knitting.
And very little to tell. Or show.
The red thing was actually done, but it needs a bit of tweaking - that is frogging and reknitting. And I haven't yet been able to get myself to sit down and figure out just how much frogging is needed and how to go about getting it right.
So I've started knitting a little cream sweater for the lovely little son of a lovely former colleague.
That seemed the natural thing to do.
And with the Easter holidays should come knitting time.
A total of five days off. One good thing about having real jobs is not working holidays. Or weekends.
Another good thing about having real jobs is the Easter egg!
Big Investment Bank doubled as Big Easter Bunny and we were given this incredible box of luxurious, handmade chocolate goodness:
I love being back with the Big Investment Bank. And I've come to believe that there really is something special about the place.
For some time I thought that that particular spirit and feeling was something which could be found anywhere, where people worked together. But I was wrong.
There is a rare and high degree of respect and generosity (not just of chocolate but of spirit) I have not met in any other company I've worked for. And I feel at home there.
And I feel very useful and happy being there. And I really shouldn't, considering that I'm a bloody art historian amongst economists.
But I do.

And I have tulips.
With Easter and tulips around you would think it was spring.
But we've had snow. More snow than we've had all winter.
The snow came as quite a surprise after a lovely sunny morning, and I found myself walking home through a snow storm dressed in tulle and a short jacket and silly little shoes. Next time I would like some kind of warning, thank you!
Luckily the wintry madness didn't last more than a few days and the cats can once again enjoy a sunny spot and a bit of birdwatching rather than clinging to the radiator.

And my orchid is once again blessing me with it's fresh purply pinkness.

So, life is good.

The happy birdwatchers and the red thing

2008-02-19T17:54:00.007+01:00

Work has been a bit crazy and busy and time consuming.
But: the cats are happy.
We have a French door opening up to not much else than an all too intimate view into our neighbour's bathroom and the rooftops and the park beyond.
And recently some nice little sparrows playing and twittering in the gutter.
Until yesterday I had an ill assortment of not too healthy houseplants gathered in front of it.
But seeing the cats jumping around in same houseplants for a better view of the birdies, I decided to give them a better and more comfortable spot for birdwatching.
(With less risk of downtrodden orchids and mulch all over the place.)
So away went the plants and instead an old padded bench was installed.
And the cats have been happily twittering at the twittering birds and can now keep a closer eye on our neighbour's grooming habits.
And they didn't sleep a wink all afternoon, which is very unusual.

As for the red thing. I'm actually very nearly done!
And it's very exciting. Mostly because I've made it up as I went along. And also because I may have invented the seamless set in sleeve.
Knitting it has been a bit of a challenge. Not because of the inventing things and making it up, but because the yarn is Laurenz' all time favourite.
He wants to lie on it, play with it, groom it, cuddle it. Anything but let me knit it.
He has very good taste when it comes to yarn. And so when I've wanted to knit this is what I've met:
But all I have left to do now is the neckline. If only Laurenz will let me.

I'm not sticky

2008-01-27T13:15:00.001+01:00

Knitting, cats, and cake

2008-01-27T10:14:00.000+01:00

So, I spent the first two weeks of 2008 in bed with pneumonia, and the rest of the time catching up with work and the rest of the world.
But the time under the duvet wasn't entirely wasted. Even if high fever gives me the attention span of an 8-weeks old puppy I have indeed been knitting.
And I've even finished something:
Lois Young's lace tam from A Gathering of Lace. It's very pretty and very warm.

I also very nearly finished Harwood from Rowan Studio 2. And I actually cast on for it minutes after making the list of all the things I wanted to finish. Have no idea how that happened.
And I was very, very, very nearly finished when I decided to try it on (Having sewn one shoulder!). But it was a bit ... narrow in the fit. And I measured, and measured again, and then started counting, and somehow my gauge had changed from 12 st. to 15 st. per 10 cm. Same size needles, same yarn, same ... me.
Again I have no idea how it happened, but it makes a bloody big difference.
(Please note the freshly washed cat-butt)
I have not frogged it yet.
I look at it and feel very pleased with my changing the direction of the cables (because I'm such a sucker for symmetry), and with having stuck with something so long that I nearly finished it. And wonder if blocking would make up for the gauge-problem.
I doubt it.

And because a lot of cables all the time was a bit much, I started something else and sweatery from a very lovely dark red SoftWoolSilk bought in December when I felt rich.
(Please note the freshly washed cat-legs)
Much stockinette, and a lot of making-it-up-as-I-go-along.
It may turn out a mess, it may turn out brilliant. It's too early to say.

And to add to the wip-insanity I cast on for gloves yesterday, having lost or maybe just misplaced the only pair I had left. The Cabled Gloves from VK's anniversary issue.
I love VK even if they have very crappy subscription service.
Yet sometimes keeping an eye on a chart while keeping an eye on your knitting and keeping an eye on the cat, whose butt is likely to cover the chart anytime while the other end of same cat is pawing a bit too enthusiastically at the yarn, and keeping another eye on the movie you are watching is a bit much all at once.
Therefore I missed what may be a vital part of the pattern but I do not mind too much since I'm no big fan of bubbles anyway.

And so I have added a few extra projects to the list of things to finish in 2008.

The cats are now adjusting to the fact that we are no longer staying in bed all day.

And after several long mornings of complaints they have returned to getting baked on the radiator.

Oh, yes, it was my birthday this week.
And since I have two jobs, that means two cakes to bake. Which should be no big deal.
One big carrot cake baked Tuesday evening to bring to job #1 on Wednesday, there are only 10 of us there, so that was just fine.
Except that the company also bought cake. A giant marzipan-covered wonder in no lack of fondant roses and gold dust, and I couldn't help wondering if somewhere there was a medium-sized wedding of the posher sort looking for their cake.
That was a bit overwhelming. And very sweet. My carrot cake looked a little lost and misplaced next to it.

Wednesday night then meant baking for job #2. We are close to 30, meaning Very Big cake.
Very Big carrot cake, because I lack imagination and because I've developed a kick-ass recipe for one!
I mixed egg yolks and sugar and cinnamon and orange juice and oil and grated carrots in a big bowl, while humming merrily and chatting to Vincent, who was yelling at me from the overhead beam. As he likes to do when I'm in the kitchen. Don't ask me why.
And then I went to answer the phone.
And then I had to hang up rather abruptly due to loud crashing noise in kitchen and cat yelp.
But before I made it to the kitchen I met Vincent racing past me covered in lovely egg yolks and sugar and cinnamon and orange juice and oil and grated carrots.
And before I could catch him he rolled on our pretty Oriental carpet.
Then Laurenz went out into the kitchen to investigate. And walk around in egg yolks and sugar and cinnamon and orange juice and oil and carrots. And probably taste it before walking around in it a bit more. Before going back into the living room to wander across the carpet a few times, because that's the sensible thing to do, apparently, if you're a cat covered in egg yolks etc.
And so I had two very sticky cats and a sticky carpet and sticky floors - and only 6 eggs left, by the way.
All I could do was cover myself in layers of hopefully protective clothing and carry a very angry Vincent out into the shower.
And I hope I'll never have to wash him again.
Laurenz only needed his legs and face washed, and he's a bit more laissez-faire in his approach to the world.
And with all the cleaning of the cats, and the kitchen, the floors, and the carpet, I forgot to add the egg whites to the second cake-attempt. Resulting in a very moist and dense carrot cake. But there was no way all that mayhem, and the mess, and the first sticky then wet-and-grumpy cats should have been wasted.
So they would bloody well have to eat it and nod approvingly and say how delicious it is.
But luckily the boys at work think cake is cake, and cake is good.

I felt rather happy I came too late into 2008 to think of inviting guests for my birthday.
Even if I could have used an extra pair of hands when washing Vincent.

First day of a brand new year!

2008-01-01T15:38:00.000+01:00

So the first day of 2008 is a bit grey and wet.
But for once I didn't wake up to the new year with a hangover and champagne breath.
New Year's Eve was spent in bed with pneumonia - and the cats.
Quite cozy in its own way, and it seems the entire neighbourhood shot their fireworks across our roof and my bedroom skylights.
And the cats did not bat an eyelid in spite of the noise and general mayhem outside. I was very proud of them, remembering too well my big red cat, Oscar, who hid in the farthest corner of the wardrobe most of the fireworks season.

And so I've had time to make big plans for 2008:
I will finish the Elfin Bride. I'm so very nearly there.
I will finish Elizabeth I. It's almost done.
I will knit the second Spiral Boot sock and give them to Katharina as planned, even if I’d rather keep them myself.
I will finish the City Coat even if it is hard work. It will be worth it!
I will finish the Saturday in the Park dress from Fitted Knits, even if it’s boring. It should be worth it.
I will finish the Hex coat, even if I’m mildly bored with it and the yarn seems a bit odd at times.
I will finish the Fitted Jacket-gone-tunic. I have a major crush on it and it’s very addictive knitting. I just have to read up on the dominating-yarn-thing.
I will finish the Cashmere lace blouse. It would be perfect for spring….
I will accept and embrace the fact that I suffer from a bad case of castonitis. That is not very likely to change. But I could of course try to control it a bit.
Once done with the WIPs I will knit the Knitted Robe of Insanity! I will!
And I will knit more socks.
I will take better care of my skin. By the end of January I’ll be closer to 40 than to 30 and so the days of going to bed without using cleanser and cream etc. are officially over. No matter how tired or drunk I am. I swear!
I will take very good care of my pancreas!
And remember to appreciate the fact that my inner bits and pieces are actually functioning perfectly again. And not cease to be amazed by the complex mostly-silent ever-busy wonder that is the human body.
I will spend less time online and more time outside.
I will read more for entertainment without reading less for education - meaning more fiction but not less non-fiction, just more pleasure reading.
I will be better at taking credit for my work. And learn to toot my own horn a bit.
I will learn to recognize flirting when I meet it.
I will try to work less.
And play more.

I will knit sweaters for the cats. Even if they’ll absolutely hate me for it.

And I will get my bachelor’s degree this summer! That one is certain.

Vincent's lucky day

2007-12-31T11:36:00.000+01:00

The radiator turned into a Sunny Spot!

Bah, humbug

2007-12-25T20:12:00.000+01:00

I do think Christmas sucks.
I try to enjoy it, enjoy the lights and decorations.
And it's easy to enjoy the fairy lights in the darkness of December.
But I don't know if I'll ever find any true joy in Christmas again.
I've practiced for ten years now, and it has become easier, but not easy.
I miss having a family.
I miss my mother.
On Christmas eve even more.
And seeing and hearing my neighbours leaving to go see their families, or welcoming them, the excitement of the kids, the lights on the Christmas trees.... does make it hard to feel thrilled about staying at home with the cats and a dressed up ivy.
I thought I was OK with Christmas, and with being alone, and that I didn't really care. Anymore.
The past years I've been working Christmas eve, and the years before I earned enough to be able to flee to Venice - or Nijmegen.
And it is easier that way.
Much easier than sitting at home alone pretending it's not much different from any other night, and that it doesn't really matter anyway.
I dread going back to work and the obligatory questions "did you have a nice Christmas?" and "did you get any nice presents?".
Especially since the truthful answer would be "I've rarely felt more alone" and "I didn't get any" respectively, and I have to find a nice, neutral answer instead.
But I really want to be able to enjoy Christmas, with myself and the cats and whichever potted plant I choose to decorate.
I just have to figure out how.
I don't want to become another Ebenezer Scrooge.
That would be too bloody sad.

I don't have "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...."

2007-12-25T17:35:00.000+01:00

But I do have nutty cats keeping toasty on top of the radiator.
Even if they tell me to sod off and knit something.

White Christmas - and dressing up Ivy

2007-12-24T10:05:00.000+01:00

I think this is the closest we'll get to a white Christmas this year.

A very misty morning.
It was much mistier a little while ago...

And for a while I wanted a Christmas tree.
Then I decided against it.
Then I wanted a Christmas tree if only to amuse and entertain the cats.
Then I looked at Christmas trees and they were either too big or too small or too ugly - and generally just too expensive.
So I decided against it. Again.
Then I wanted a Christmas tree again.
This morning. Much too late.
For anything but a dressed up Ivy.

But the cats do seem quite content with it - if not wildly entertained.
And no matter what I do my stupid old camera just doesn't cope well with the odd light of a misty Christmas morning.

Do they know it's Christmas?

2007-12-16T15:25:00.000+01:00

Now the bad cats do.
Maybe.

Laurenz and his big butt - and the fetchings

2007-12-15T15:40:00.000+01:00

I wanted to wrap up the fetchings for Katrine, so that I can deliver them tonight.
But this is what I found.

Laurenz seems rather intent they get to smell like cat butt.

I know he's not a huge fan of Katrine, but this is taking his dislike a bit too far.
Or maybe he just likes the feel of alpaca and silk against his nether regions.

Hey, I've actually been knitting

2007-12-15T13:51:00.000+01:00

I have finished knitted objects to show!
A pair of fetching fingerless gloves for Katrine, using the softest, most luscious blend of silk and baby alpaca. I hate how much I love that yarn.

Somehow one keeps looking shorter than the other in spite of same number of stitches and rows, same yarn and same needles. But I don't really care too much.
It just adds to the lovely and unique handknitted softness.
I hope she'll appreciate that.

And to add to the long list of WIPs I have started knitting the Vali dress from Rowan Studio 2. I came across the pattern and fell head over heels in love with it.
And they have a finished version on show at my not-so-local-but-favourite yarn store, and it's even more beautiful in person.
Having worked my way through the first 10 cm I feel somewhat confident that the dress will be finished some time this decade.
And I'm using sock yarn. I have a severe crush on Filcolana Arwetta, a soft and lovely superwash merino sock yarn. And now it's dress yarn too.
I have however decided against the lace skirt after a few repeats of the pattern, instead it has become a very nice lacy border matching wonderfully with the bodice stitch pattern.

I want to be able to wear it to work. At the big Investment Bank, where for some odd reason the boys are just too boyish for a lace skirt to be wearable.
Even in their thirties they appear to be still rather amazed and surprised by the fact that women have breasts, and anything hinting at transparency or giving unexpected glimpses of skin seems to disturb them.

And there will be no angelicats this year since Vincent, not so very surprisingly, ate his set of wings.
Maybe next year.

Every time tuna is served a cat might get its wings

2007-12-06T18:43:00.000+01:00

My dance muscles were sore all weekend.
I had forgotten how a Christmas party with the Big Investment Bank meant a Christmas party with only little time off the dance floor due to a 1:5 ratio of women to men.
Which is good when you love to dance.
Not so good if you don't.
Good food, very good wines, good music. And once in while a sip of G&T.
And I managed to behave myself etc. while having Very Good Fun.
And I had no hangover on Saturday, due to lack of opportunity to drink, and only a bit of soreness in all too rarely used dance muscles. But no sore feet.
Luckily I had chosen to wear my golden dance shoes. I love those shoes.
Far, far beyond reason. Sometimes I take them out of their red shoe bag just to look at them and pet them a bit.

Dance Naturals, Art. 22, 3 1/2". I have another pair but in a slightly more sober black. Bought ages ago when I made quite a bit more money than I do now. And was mildly obsessed with Argentine tango.
I wish I could wear them every day, everywhere.
And I wish I had much more time to dance.

And today my boss at the Big Investment Bank asked if I would like to stay with them after my contract ends December 14th.
And, oh, do I want to stay!
It's a good job at a good place, surrounded by good people. (And the lunch is very, very good.)
And I feel useful. And good at what I do.
I had actually forgotten how you feel when you leave work, knowing you've done a good job, and knowing you're appreciated not just for what you do but also for who you are. We should all be allowed to feel that way every day.

And now even I have admitted that it's Christmas. The fairy lights are up again, and I've bought a poinsettia.

I like those. I think they're pretty. And I don't understand why so many people claim to hate the very sight of them.
Now the fairy lights and the red flower may be the full extent of my Christmas decorating, but at least I've done something about it this year.
And I'm not dreading Christmas as I usually do.
Even if I will not be working Christmas this year which has always been a nice easy escape.
Christmas will never be what it once was. But dreading it will not make it any better, so I may just as well enjoy it and make the best of it.
And I still try to convince the cats to wear some fun, feathery angel wings I bought for them. If only for a minute. Just to make me happy.
But they're not buying into the idea.
Not yet.
But I still have much tuna, and much patience.

That was it

2007-11-29T23:36:00.000+01:00

I'm never going back to the Crappy Call Center.
And the weekend is mine. All mine.
Christmas party tomorrow.
There is only one thing I'll miss about the Crappy Call Center and about working Sundays:
Every Sunday a beautiful elderly lady would be waiting at the busstop outside work, and I will for some odd reason miss saying goodmorning to her, and I will miss her smile and her goodmorning in return.
It was as if that very brief but repeated exchange of a smile and a single word was a secret we shared.
And I wonder if she will wonder where I am.

Worth waiting for

2007-11-28T19:16:00.000+01:00

I went to the library after work.
And they finally had four books I've been waiting for for ever.
Or at least since April in the case of Victorian Lace Today.
The others have been a mere few months to arrive from other libraries.
And once again I had to explain that no, it is no mistake, yes, it is possible for one person to have a keen interest in both cognitive neuroscience AND lace knitting.
The new young man at the library is terribly adorable, though.
I'm deeply grateful to whomever chose to give him the job.
He's sweet.
And I had to go back to him no less than three times to have the books checked as the alarm kept going off when I tried to leave.

I have to get Victorian Lace Today for myself to keep. I don't think I've ever seen knitting book photography that gorgeous. Nor a layout so beautiful and "functional".
The layout of A Gathering of Lace annoys me.
It's too scattered and ... just annoying.
And I have Trimble's The Soul in the Brain. Oh, have I been waiting to get my hands on that one!
Opening line of the Introduction: "If you fear that opening your mind will cause your brain to fall out, then this book is not for you."
Big day!
And I have the monster book of monsters.... or just a bloody big book: The Cognitive Neurosciences (III). There was much happy giggling at the sight of it!
"Uh, this is better than Christmas"
It's one of the biggest books I've ever brought home from the library, and the weight of it made me skip the thought of buying milk and cat litter.
That will have to wait until the weekend.
Oh, what a wonderful weekend it will be.
Cats, books, and no work at the Crappy Call Center! Well, some cleaning is absolutely needed around here, and hopefully laundry can be done, but still.... Cats and books. And knitting.
And right now I have lovely fresh spinach and ricotta tortellini waiting to be tossed into boiling water.
And water on the verge of boiling.
And of course happy cats keeping their bellies warm on top of the radiator.
Life is good.

Count down

2007-11-27T20:56:00.001+01:00

In one hour I can leave the Crappy Call Center.
And then I will only have to return once - and then only for another four hours.
And I have the weekend off.
I have not had a full weekend off for as long as I can remember with any precision.
And I have a real company christmas party to go to Friday night.
Not the Crappy Call Center's travesty costing each DKK 100 (USD 20) to cover the bad food and the Bacardi Breezers at a discount, but a real Big Investment Bank Christmas party.
I've missed those.
Even if, as we all know, your main goals when it comes to company parties are to behave yourself, not to get too drunk, and absolutely not to get off with anyone.
And still have fun.
While to some extent succeeding at the three first.
I have nothing to wear of course, and little time to go shopping.
But there's always a little black dress hidden in a corner of the wardrobe.
And I have my shimmery golden, handsewn Venetian 3½" dance shoes.

And more important I have cuddly cats waiting at home.
I don't know if they cuddle more now that it's cold. But they do spend a lot more of the cuddling time under cover, if not choosing the radiator over me.
Skinny little beasts.

Bad lightning, bagged milk, and big blue eyes

2007-11-26T18:47:00.000+01:00

This is really mostly for Linnea.

Sadly there will (most likely) not be any disco light in the laundry room.
It was just an excited, hurried not-very-good cell-phone-photo in bad lightning.
But I will get to use it.
And I still cannot wait.
They're still working on it, but I hope that come this weekend laundry can be done - not in the shower, not at the laundromat, but in the basement laundry room.

The bagged milk is ecological, and not non-fat. (I hate non-fat milk.)
And the bag works wonderfully. Surprisingly so.
I bought it because it was the only eco-milk in the store, and of course the bag itself made me laugh with wonder. And squish it. Gleefully.
It seems to close itself almost as if by magic, and the bottom is shaped so that even the last bit of milk is enough to keep it nicely upright.
(Milk never lasts long enough to go sour here.)
And the bag is made from nice environment friendly .... something chalky and some polymer-thingy. I'm sure it is explained here.
Very clever.
And since I'm easily entertained I giggle just looking at it.
And the yogurt was delicious!

This morning brought snow! It didn't last long but it was there.
But sometimes you just don't want to leave your nice and warm bed in the morning.
Not because of the weather, but because of this:

What a difference a week makes

2007-11-24T18:24:00.001+01:00

After months, and months, and months with laundry done in a bucket in the shower and no improvement to the hole in the ground ... this has happened during the past week:

Tiles and a drain. And hopefully a washing machine soon.
And my beautiful landlord mentioned the addition of a dryer!
I cannot wait!

Will November ever end?

2007-11-24T16:53:00.001+01:00

November has been good.
I have discovered bagged milk! And bagged yogurt. And it both puzzles me and makes me laugh. And if all the entertainment provided by the packaging wasn't enough, it is very good ecological yogurt!

And I love being back with the Big Investment Bank.
I almost hate how much I love being back.
More so because it's only temporary, a small detail I seemed to miss with the first excitement.
The woman, who took over from me when I left, is ill, maybe long term - bad damage from using a computer mouse it seems.
And I'm only filling in for her.
With a contract ending mid-December.
But oh, how I want them to want to keep me anyway when she returns.
Even if that doesn't seem very likely or really necessary.
But they have noticed how their presentations are just that bit sharper and more elegant once they've been through my hands.
And I've had a chance to say clever things about communicating and using visual means and telling stories.
And so I'm a bit hopeful, but not too much, and I try to just enjoy it, while it lasts. Hoping that it will. Last.
I really enjoy my morning walk past Marmorkirken and through the yard at the Museum of Arts and Crafts.
And the late afternoon ride on the bus home through Kongens Nytorv with its glitter of Christmas fairy lights.
But twice a week I have to go straight to work at the Crappy Call Center.
Which is why I cannot wait for November to end.
Leaving home at 7:30 in the morning not to return until 22:30 at night at the earliest is not my idea of a good day.
I miss the cats. And I think they miss me too.
And I will have had a total of two days off this month, counting next Saturday.
And so I'm tired.
And I have not had time to do as much knitting or as much cat-belly-stroking as I would like.
But then the cats do have their radiator to keep them warm and cosy.

And tonight they have me too. Only too happy to scratch ears and throw toy mice.
And I have a very nice bottle of wine and a lot of double moss stitch to knit, as I really, really want Norah Gaughan's Hex Coat to keep me warm and cosy, since there's not room for me too on top of the radiator.
It doesn't look very interesting, but I'm a bit surprised how much I like knitting it. It's not very exciting but not too boring either.
Quite perfect for my tired self.

It looks like snow

2007-11-11T18:38:00.000+01:00

But it cannot possibly be snow?

Can it?

Oh

2007-11-08T21:16:00.001+01:00

I'm tired.
I had my first day at the Big Investment Bank from 8:30 to 16:30.
And since it's either four or five years since I left them I was surprised by the many people happy to see me back and the happy hugs.
That's a very nice thing when you tend to feel not so very unforgettable.
From there I went on to the library, which was just manageable in spite of mad rush hour traffic as I had to be at work at the Crappy Call Center at 18:00.
(Where I still am, by the way, until 22:00)

I want my cats. And a shower. And my silk pajamas. And my bed.

And while at work this evening some devious devil possessed me into buying nearly a 1000 kr. worth of yarn.
Yarn I've coveted and which is on sale.
But still a lot of money.
And a lot of lovely yarn.
A lot of lovely, lovely yarn!
But after today I think I deserve it.
And considering the rest of November.... I bloody well deserve it.
Currently I have three jobs:
Job Co, a nice two-days-a-week administrative/creative thing, which I enjoy.
Job Ab, my three-days-a-week return to Big Investment Bank, but this may be for just a month or so, I don't know yet, and don't really know if I care. It's good to be back, but I may be reminded why I left. You never know.
And finally there is Job Ad, the Crappy Call Center, which will be history come the end of November.
And so I'll be working Mondays and Wednesdays 8:30-16:30 at job Co.
Tuesdays and Thursdays at Job Ab from 8:30-16:30 followed by job Ad from 18-22.
And then Fridays at job Ab 8:30 to 16:30.
And Sundays 10 to 18 at job Ad.
So if that doesn't make the yarn much deserved, I don't know what would.
Luckily the only course I managed to follow this semester ended last week, and luckily I'm feeling much, much better.
I even think I'll dare opening a bottle of wine tomorrow evening.
That's how good I'm feeling!

But not until after voting.
Big election will take place Tuesday 13th.
But on account of my mad working hours I have decided to place my vote tomorrow after work, as it is in fact possible.
Besides I do not care much what they say, or do, or promise during the election frenzy.
It's what happens inbetween elections that matters.

The elephant in the shower

2007-11-04T22:12:00.000+01:00

Most of the time I'm a fairly reasonable grown-up who can say clever things about semiotics and cognitive psychology and such, knows her Köchel numbers, and has a fair understanding of the workings of the financial markets.

But sometimes I'm 5 years old.

The cat cave

2007-11-03T12:12:00.000+01:00

Of all the places they have to chose from the cats very much prefer their cardboard box.

In my odd little home there are a few surprising little details and "fun" little solutions.
One being the way the bathroom was extended into the living room to make space for a shower. Creating a perfect platform for cats to watch and sleep under the ceiling slope.
With easy access to running and roaring on the beams.

And I wonder why I ever bothered to knit a kitty pi when all I had to do was buy a printer and hand over the box it came in.

On a roll

2007-11-02T21:31:00.000+01:00

This has been an extraordinarily good week.
First good thing:
Tuesday I quit my job at the call center.
Out of anger and frustration and fed-up-ness.
I've never been overly fond of it, but it has offered me the flexibility needed to follow courses at the university while working a full week (as needed in order to feed cats and pay rent and buy a bit of yarn now and then). And I've liked a lot of my colleagues. A lot.
And most of the time I've really enjoyed helping the people calling.
Although not the incredibly rude and aggressive ones.
But the pay has been bad, the environment less than charming, and it has been rather draining and tiring. And to make matters worse we got a new so-called team leader a few months ago.
A very ambitious 23-years old girl. And she wants the best team, she says. But only with regards to quantity not quality.
She shows absolutely no knowledge of how to lead or motivate - nor any respect or consideration for neither her colleagues nor her team members.
And Thursday I finally got fed up. Probably as I found no reason in being asked to explain my lack of efficiency in the two weeks following the endoscopy-gone-bad.
I've been told never to quit a job on impulse or in anger. But it felt rather good.
At least until I started worrying. The next day.

But then all tests showed great improvement in the pancreatic and spleenish areas. That is good thing number two, by the way.

Good thing number three: The library finally got me Lace Style.

And number four: Today I dragged my monster of a king-size duvet to the laundromat for its pre-winter washing.
And listened to Bach and knit a bit while watching it whirl around, trying not to think about my being nearly unemployed in less than a month.
And so tonight I have a perfectly clean and fragrant duvet.
And I gave a nice, elderly woman a good laugh as I tried in vain to make the duvet fit into the centrifuge. Not possible. But a good clown-act - and thus good thing number four and a half.

And I do indeed have a new job. That is good thing number five.
Years ago I worked with an investment bank. It was my very first real real job.
Working full-time, 9-5 (or rather 7-21, as it became most days).
And I loved it. During the first two years I took only one day off, and I missed my colleagues. That's how much I loved it.
Until ... I fell in love with a young man I met at a yoga retreat, my step-father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and suddenly working so much wasn't as fun as it could be. And had been. Of course I had also been burning the candle at both ends for far too long.
And when everything seems to close in on you, well,... I decided the one thing I could change was my job and so I did. There were other reasons. Of course.
But it's a place I've been proud of having been employed with.
And it was, and still is, my favourite job ever. And sometimes I miss it.
And this afternoon I got a call from them asking if I would like to come back, part time, my terms. They understand I have courses and exams.
Of course they would like me to start Monday, but with a bit of work Tuesday should be possible.

I really wish I could have a glass of wine to celebrate. But in a few weeks that should once again be possible.

Oh, yes. Good thing number ...six. My hyacinths, which I have for too long left for dead yet not quite remembered to throw out, have decided to give me a repeat performance.

I just wonder if I should make them little paper hats as you see in photos.
But you never see hyacinths with paper hats in nature, so they should be able to do what they do - without accessories.

Oh yes, I've started knitting the jacket from Norsk Strikkedesign. I'm nearly done with the sleeve. And I'm besotted.

My choice of colours is quite different from the original, and I want to make it into a tunic rather than a jacket. I don't do jackets much. Coats yes, but jackets and cardigans not so much. And I like something I can just slip over my head without fiddling with buttons.
It's very addictive knitting.
So far there's only a tiny bit of puckering and unevenness, but I don't care too much. I still look at it and pet it a bit and feel very proud for being able to manage more than one colour yarn at a time, and for mustering the courage to start it.
And I think I read somewhere that in the good old days they didn't give a f*ck about a bit of puckering here and there as it would all even itself out once given a good wash. I hope it's right. And not just something I dreamt.
And, as I said, there really isn't too much of that anyway.
That has to be good thing number seven.

All's Well That Ends Well

2007-10-18T23:10:00.000+02:00

Or, to quote the great Lloyd Cole, nothing very good or very bad will ever last for very long.
Things didn't go quite as smoothly as expected.
The endoscopy itself went fine. It seemed.
I even went home by bus. Somehow they had the idea that my non-existent husband would come to get me, so they had not arranged transportation and in my still semi-sedated state I found it easier to climb on the bus than find a taxi.
And I had planned to be at work as usual Tuesday afternoon.
Instead I spent the early hours of that day in the emergency room.
All I have left to say to the odd woman waiting with me is that if you're wearing a pale blue coat it is a very bad idea to upset the girl vomiting blood any further by telling her that 1 in 200 endoscopies is fatal.
It's not only unkind but also rather unwise.
If only I had better aim.
And so I got to spend a bit more time in hospital than planned.
But all is well now.
I am home. I have happy cats and plenty of pills, and I have new pajama pants. Very pretty in white and blue with a thin silver stripe. Very pretty!
And I have no plans other than read P.D. James, knit socks, and admire the cats for a few days.

Bruckner, beer, and bed socks

2007-10-13T10:28:00.001+02:00

I have been knitting. Really.
My knitting mojo came back to me in a little brown box all the way from Germany, thanks to the lovely Linnea.
With whom I had the privilege of spending the sunnier part of a beautiful Saturday last week as she and her handsome husband went to Stege for their first wedding anniversary.
It is a very beautiful place, probably the ideal of Denmark, and they are very beautiful human beings.
And the beer was great. A local micro brewery. Very good beer.
There are very few things better than good beer and sunshine.
As I seem to have tossed the camera cable somewhere here is a photo of a flag in a pretty garden - and the reflection of my hands holding my mobile rather awkwardly.

And the bridge to Møn over very calm waters. See how the pattern in the water (on the left) looks just like a swan taking flight. But it's just water.

And here is evidence of me knitting in public.

The bed socks for Laurel using yarn from her very own alpacas. I think this might be the most luxuriously soft yarn I've ever had the privilege of playing with. Fluffy and soft and very warm.
So warm I could not knit with it all summer. But perfect for knitting while doing laundry.
Our basement laundry room is still just the same big hole in the ground, and so the bucket in the shower is still quite busy, but my bed linen does get to go on a trip to the nearest laundromat.

This is what I usually see when reading or knitting in bed:

Or this:

Or:

Or the Tyrolean Stockings from Interweave Knits using Telemark from Knitpicks (from Linnea) in a luscious heathery colour - on a decorative backdrop of cats and white linen.

And the soundtrack to all this is nothing less than Bruckner's Symphonies, mostly the 7th. I've grown a bit obsessed with the good Anton recently. Or maybe just listen more and more attentively than usual.
Besides the beauty of it, I have also found that it is very good for measuring time.
If I start playing it the second I lock the door behind me, I will hear the final bars of the second movement the minute I walk into the parking lot at work. If not I'm early - or late. Considering the morning traffic here early is rarely the case.
And it will also be the soundtrack Monday, when they remove the as yet not completely identified lump of unwelcome tissue in the pancreatic neighbourhood.
I have by now gathered enough images of being prodded and poked and scanned by people in white coats to dream about alien abductions in interesting detail for years to come.
And Monday is likely to add new and interesting layers as they will not knock me out cold, but only keep their work space senseless.
I'm not too keen on that thought.
I've asked if I could at least drink myself senseless, but they say that's not an option.
At the merest whiff of whiskey I'll be sent back home.
But they kindly asked if I had a piece of favourite music I would like to listen to while they rummage about. And I chose Bruckner.
And those 64 minutes should be just enough.

Bah

2007-08-23T21:42:00.000+02:00

Well, today I saw a man walking with a gorgeous green parrot perched calmly and happily on his shoulder.
I like parrots.
A lot. But so, I'm afraid, do the cats.
Otherwise a mysterious case of acute pancreatitis has been keeping me occupied.
While it in return seems to continue to ignore the very expensive pills I've been prescribed for it.
It has just about a week to go away before the new semester starts.
Very little knitting is being done.
But the cats are happy, healthy, and very, very cuddly.

So many photos, you would think it was a new kitten - not a new Hard Drive

2007-08-04T13:53:00.000+02:00

I finally gave in to the fact that the Hard Drive in my much loved PowerBook needed to be replaced.
And so I searched for a DIY solution on apple.com, but soon realized this was not one of the parts they gladly advice you to replace yourself in this particular model.
So .... after a good bit of half-arsed research I ordered a Seagate Momentus 160GB 5400 rpm drive from somewhere else.
And found a half-arsed guide at ifixit.com (which didn't look much like the right guide, once I got down to it).
Friday, feeling both fearless and capable, I picked up the drive (trying to ignore the snigger from the sales-nerd when I mentioned I would do it myself), put out the good tablecloth, folded little, wobbly origami screw-holders (with clever notes of where the screws came from) and found the big set of tiny screwdrivers.

And I set to work.
The fearlessness started fading once I found myself actually holding the screwdriver, and I did consider a good, healthy dose of Glenmorangie before opening the wonder-machine. But I decided against it on account on the tininess of the screws and the delicacy of a CPU.
And of course the fact that it was not even lunchtime yet.
(And the fact that my pancreas is in less than stellar condition these days, now that I think about it. And it is hard to forget that. For too long at a time.)
I did my best to keep the cats away using a good serving of their favourite special treat wet-food. But they have always been fast eaters.
However, Vincent had much helpful advice to give, while Laurenz was happily chasing a fly in the living room.

It took a good bit of very gentle and increasingly nervous wriggling to get the top off, but off it went, and this is what the wonder looks like on the inside:

Once I got over my fascination with finally seeing the inside of the wonder that is a PowerBook - and once I got over myself for fiddling around the same inside with little idea what I was doing while armed with pointy screwdrivers - getting the old drive out was rather easy.
Quite a bit of yellow tape had to be removed, and since I didn't know whether or not it was very important or reusable, I just tossed it.
And in the new drive went.
Soon to be followed by all the little screws in correct order.
Vincent was making sure the screw drivers didn't go anywhere.

And I could soon start reinstalling everything on my new healthy and happy Hard Drive. The operation took less than half an hour.

Although I still wonder why it says 148GB, when I was expecting 160GB.
But pride and a feeling of smug coolness for replacing it myself is stronger than the wonderment of the vanishing 12GB.
And if I find myself in need of more than the 148Gb .... heck, I'll just replace the drive. Now that I know how.
And the beauty of the old drive is something I cannot quite get over, yet unable to decide whether it looks more like tiny islands in the ocean or stars in a summer sky.

And Vincent could take a well earned nap.

And Laurenz did catch the fly in the end.

Trying to read slowly

2007-07-21T17:32:00.001+02:00

I stood in line for what felt like ages but was in reality less than half an hour.
And I managed to catch one of the earlier (k)night buses home and read a few chapters before deciding to go to sleep.
And now I'm halfway through and I really, really want to make the book last. At least until evening.
It had me cry on page 175. For no apparent, explicable reason.
And that's really all I have to say on the subject.
I'm not the spoiling kind.
To keep myself from racing through the book, as part of me does want to, I take a break every chapter, or even mid-chapter, to knit a row or two on the Mystery Stole.
(Much needed after the tedious boredom of knitting the Textured Tunic. I did finish it on time, but I also frogged it this morning while rereading the first chapters. The lovely green silk can easily find better purpose in life.)
I am using sock yarn for my stole, though.
The lace weight I tried with at first drove me mad and had me start over three times a day for a week before giving up.
But sock yarn is my friend.
And so I really don't care if that's not kosher.
I can just exactly manage to concentrate on a row or two at a time before turning my full attention back to the book.
And much to my own surprise I have not even had so much as a glance at the final chapter!

Getting ready

2007-07-20T12:34:00.001+02:00

The reading spot is all set up and ready.
I have fruit, sun dried apricots, and home baked oat & coconut biscuits and spicy crackers.
I have much green tea. And orange juice.
I also have a sofa with stuffing poking out.
And theres a good blob of cat vomit on the floor.
Naked feet are brilliant cat vomit detectors.
We really need some of these brilliant cat vomit warning signs! And for the cats to learn to use them.
But otherwise our little home is tidy, dishes and laundry all done, and I'm waiting.
In twelve hours I will stand in line waiting for the book.
Until then Vincent will keep the sofa ready and in working order.
When not playing pillow cave.
And if Laurenz is willing I may be wearing my new green silk textured tunic from Lapel's fitted knits.
If I had not put myself on a slightly insane deadline to finish it for the book release it would have been put in the pile of Very Boring Knitting to be Done at Work.
But for some odd reason I really, really want to finish it. And have it finished by tonight.
And I do have twelve hours.

Portrait of my Mother as a Young Woman

2007-07-15T20:44:00.000+02:00

I think my mother is 19 or maybe 20 in this photo.

Not much younger than that, and not much older, as I was born a week before her 21st birthday, and there's no sign of me to be found in this photo.
Today it is 11 years since she died. Very suddenly from a coronary thrombosis at the age of 45.
It is one of those days you will never forget, while never really remember.
I remember a three hours train ride crying the whole way, when not holding my breath, making an odd bet that if I could hold my breath until past that tree or that house or the next station or while counting to a mad number, then she would have woken up when I arrived, and it was all just a mistake or a bad joke.
Or a bad dream.
But it was not. And she didn't wake up.
I remember spending an entire afternoon ironing the white silk pajamas, I gave her for Christmas, wanting her to wear it in the coffin. The ironing board being my safe, quiet place away from my stepfather and my evil stepsisters.
I remember being angry and heartbroken.
And I stayed angry and heartbroken for a very long time.
But today, so many years after, that raw - and then not so raw - cold, hard, numbing grief has gone, and what I remember most today is her love.
The completely unconditional all-accepting love.
And her dry, dark sense of humour.
The bad elephant jokes, and our making stories together from everything and anything, be it a hardware store catalogue or a man driving past, there was always a story to be found.
She loved cats (and dogs), and wanted two Siamese cats. I thought she was silly and then forgot until I had my own set.
I remember her hands. And her laughter.
I know she was not perfect, but she was all and more than I could ever have asked for.
And I miss her.
I still miss her.
And I still love her.

Order

2007-07-14T10:22:00.000+02:00

Not so much order in the orderly sense as in "Order of the Phoenix".
I thought I would wait a while before going to see it, but I couldn't and am going to in less than two hours!
It is a very nice thing being able to decide absolutely singlehandedly and - headedly how to spend your Saturday.
I could do more bucket laundry and dishes and some tidying and cleaning.
And I may do a bit of that later.
But first I'm going to watch a movie!
The cats really would prefer I spent those hours feeding them tuna and gently rubbing their ears, but democracy rules here, and votes are distributed by weight, which is both objective and sensible - and does not discriminate between cats or human - yet this does mean their votes only count for 6% per nose.
So I'd better get my things together and get going before my ticket is given to someone else.
Who does not waste precious time discussing democracy with their cats.
And, yes, I do have a Time-Turner. I'm still on hold with customer support, though, as I cannot get it to work.
But it's pretty.
And just a tiny bit silly.

Oh, I should perhaps have noticed this a bit earlier.

2007-07-12T10:22:00.000+02:00

I realized late last night that the wobbly oddness of the ribbing in the not-so-cashmere Lace Blouse may not be caused by me suffering from a rare lack of rib-knitting ability as much as my using one 3½ mm and one 3 mm needle, when I really, really meant to use two 3 mm needles.
And in yarn this fine it really does make a difference.
But my big fat fingers don't quite feel that same difference.
And I wonder if this ranks next to the pea on the list of signs you're not a princess.
I'll just start over.

I've actually finished something

2007-07-11T11:15:00.000+02:00

The Monkey socks are done.
I should get into some sock-blocking, as it would most likely make for prettier photos.
But, well, I think washing and wearing is all I really need. Still there may be some important point I'm missing. I wouldn't be surprised.
And I am now working on the Spiral Boot Socks, enabled by the lovely Linnea.
They are meant as a birthday present for the wonderful girlfriend of one of my best friends.
And I hope I will have them finished on time. Which is in less than two weeks.
Right now I doubt it.
But then there's always Christmas.
Filcolana's Arwetta is by now my absolute favourite sock yarn.
It is gorgeous.
The colours are incredible, and it's soft and wonderful to work with - and not at all expensive.
However I am using the also very, very lovely Regia Silk for my not-Cashmere Lace Blouse. And it works wonderfully.
As always my ribbing looks odd and wobbly, but as usual I trust it will straighten itself out with a bit of careful and hopeful washing and blocking.
Otherwise I'll just ignore it and still be happy.
I love this lace pattern.
The first of the eight rows has me entirely confused every single time. And then I feel utterly brilliant being less confused the remaining rows.
Even if it's probably one of the nicest, simplest lace patterns there is.
Gauge is a bit fun for this one.
40 sts and 40 rws to 10 cm in ribbing.
30 sts and 42 rws to 10 cm in lace pattern.
And that made me think sock yarn.
And for once I wasn't completely off target.
I have stitch-gauge perfectly, and it seems quite right row-wise too, but I will check that again. Later.
I cannot wait to finish this.
Just as I cannot wait to finish Elizabeth I.
Or the black Elfin Bride.
Or the City Coat.
I want more arms. Or learn to knit with my feet as well.
Or maybe just learn to finish things before starting others.

In the meantime the weather continues its unsummery oddness.
Today we have so far had very heavy rain, a bit of thunder, and now brilliant sunshine paired with strong wind - and a rare glimpse of blue sky.

Today I worship at the feet of Teva Durham

2007-07-07T09:50:00.000+02:00

While the postman brought neither yarn nor books yesterday, the library had good things waiting for me.
And one of these good things was the incredible Loop-d-Loop.
It is beautiful. Very, very beautiful.
And the patterns and the reasoning for and the thought put into them ... all awe-inspiring.
I wonder how it took me so long to discover it.
And now I have two knitting-heroines.
Stafford and Durham.
And so, to add to the unfinished need-only-four-pattern-repeats Monkey socks, the unfinished, not-even-halfway-there Elfin Bride, the unfinished but-getting-closer Elizabeth I, oh, yes, ... and the just cast-on Spiral boot socks, and the unfinished oh-my-where-am-I City Coat, .... I decided to cast on for this.
The Lace Cashmere Blouse.
My not-so-little play-swatch in Regia Silk loves it and clearly wants to become like it when it grows up and into shape.
(Yes, I do have that much Regia silk, in a lovely cream even. It was on sale, and I went greedy.)
At first I was stupid enough to think it could become Elizabeth I ... making the second attempt Elizabeth I II, or something, but gauge went off once I moved from swatching to actual knitting.
But now the poor little yarn finally has a direction in life!
And a beautiful one it is!
But I really, really should finish something. Just something.
For crying out loud.

Waiting

2007-07-06T10:21:00.000+02:00

I am waiting for some books to come for me.
Stefanie Japel's Fitted Knits and Alice Starmore's Celtic Collection.
And I'm waiting for some yarn as well.
I have the day off. Much, much needed, and in spite of the long to-do list, I have done nothing but read Le Carré, finish the bottom border on Elizabeth and gaze at the cats.
And a bit of wondering.
I have, of course, pre-ordered the last Potter. From my favourite book store Arnold Busck.
Mostly because of my expectation that instead of being open very, very late Friday night, they would open very, very early Saturday morning.
Just like the last time a new Potter arrived.
In my mid-thirties I feel just a tad too old to stand in line in a book store past midnight. Besides I badly need my beauty sleep, even if it may be too late for that.
And I loved the quiet early Saturday in the inner city paired with the giddy excitement of carrying the book home.
And then spending all Saturday reading it. In bed. With cats snoozing and a pile of biscuits, only taking a break to make tea and send non-reading friend an sms per chapter with a brief recap.
Not going to sleep until I was done.
But they've decided to do like the rest of them and open the store midnight to 2, and then open as usually at 10 on Saturday.
So now I'll be standing in line with all the kids at midnight.
In 2 weeks and a few hours.
There is no way I would be able to wait those extra ten hours!
Eight hours, yes - ten hours, no!
I'm stupid.
And waiting.
And wondering if it comes in a nice paper bag again.

Rain and work, knitting and jumping

2007-07-04T11:40:00.000+02:00

I have been at work every single day for the past ... 9 days.
Two more days, this included, to go before I have a full two days off.
So I'm tired and cranky.
More so because it has been terribly busy. Not just busy, but terribly so.
And as I'm currently working on both Elizabeth and the second Elfin Bride, and both require a certain degree of concentration I am saving the Monkey socks for knitting at work.
For which there has not been time.
And this is really not something I should complain about.
Even if knitting a bit does help during a long, long day.
But: I have finished the back of Elizabeth I!
55 stitches mid front are on hold, hence the slightly crumpled crookedness in the photo. She will be very pretty once done!
And I have cast on for the front. The sleeves are already done, and so she should be all fine and finished before .... the last Potter book comes out.
See, that's probably the highlight of my summer. The last installment in the Potter series.
(Sad, really.)
But: First sleeve is done on the Elfin, stitches for the second one has been picked up and I'm getting very close to the gusset cast-on. All very exciting.
(80% cotton, 20% cat hair)
Knitting the sleeves of the first Elfin was a bit of a drag after all the excitement knitting the body. So I've decided to finish the sleeves completely before moving on to the really fun part.
And the slight boredom of sleeve-knitting will let me finish Elizabeth I first. I think.
I have a serious crush on both of these patterns.
I think that the shaping and the details in both are in a league of their own, and I want to knit them both in every colour possible.
I could easily become the one who knitted the same two patterns for thirty years.
(But then my Ravelry queue says something different.)
I wish I had things to tell about travelling the big wide world, or whipping up a lace shawl, or something immensely interesting and fun.
But life these days is rain and work and knitting.
And a lot of jumping not to step on the myriad of snails occupying the sidewalks.
Some of them are pretty. Some of them are incredibly gross (but no less fascinating in the mind of my inner 5 years old). And both make me wish I brought my camera.
But then I would probably be late for work.

Heart shaped wholegrain

2007-06-26T14:24:00.000+02:00

I am going to a wedding tomorrow.
I usually dread those, feeling less like a welcome guest than like a hired extra in the staging of the Big Day.
But this is a small and relaxed and rather informal one.
Very early ceremony at the city hall followed by brunch, prepared potluck manner by the friendly crowd.
Before the happy, beautiful newlyweds take off to Bolivia in the afternoon.
I have been asked to bring crackers and fruit.
The crackers are nearly all done.
And I think I'm now getting there with perfecting the recipe. And thus feel safe to share.

Crackers:
250 g wholegrain rye flour (or graham flour or wholegrain wheat, it all works fine)
200 g wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
- mix before adding:
150 g butter (if you grate it in cold, it is much easier and faster to crumble)
Then add
1 dl wheat bran (or oat bran)
1 dl sesame seeds and
1-1,5 dl water.
Knead into a soft but not sticky dough.
Roll out thin (2-3 mm), and cut into any shape you like.
You may sprinkle with salt or herbs before baking for 15-20 min. at 180 degr. (celcius).

And Elizabeth I has not been ignored.

PED and WIPs, but no FOs

2007-06-24T20:29:00.000+02:00

I have been tired.
And wondering if there is such a thing as Post Exam Depression.
I have enjoyed the past week of having nothing to do other than go to work, eat, sleep, knit, and play with the cats.
But I have felt like a flat tire. A pretty worn down flat tire.
I have spend as little time as possible by the PowerBook, although I have been playing around with Ravelry, which is a dangerous place.
Not only does it confront you (that is me, actually) with your bad case of castonitis but it also makes you want to knit everything, looking at and admiring the many wonderful and inspiring FO's.
And reconsider your own.
I honestly don't think I want to muck about with short rows and things in order to make the Waist-cincher top wearable and so I have more or less just given it up as a bad job.
But for now I've just put it aside.
Instead I have come quite close to turning the heel on the second Monkey Sock, and I have started my second attempt at the Elfin Bride, this time in a wonderful, luxurious black cotton.
And I have given Elizabeth I a bit more attention.
So far I've actually finished the sleeves, and have come nearly halfway through the back, and it all looks terribly dull in photos. But I have made stitch markers.
Using cheap split rings and beads from the Big Box of Things I once meant to use for something and then forgot about.
And maybe, just maybe, I have finally figured out how to use my bad, old camera.
The laundry room is still a big hole in the ground.
But I'm getting pretty good at doing the laundry in a bucket.

We all need someone to lean on

2007-06-13T14:31:00.000+02:00

I have turned the heal of the first Monkey sock.
And I have such a crush on this yarn.
I don't know if it reminds me more of water over rocks or of pennies at the bottom of a wishing well. I rather prefer the latter.
Deadline for exam paper is Friday.
The Powerbook still shows all signs of being willing to work with me until the end. Humming happily and healthily.
Still I upload the paper to Google Docs every few hours.
But, oh, do I need to do a lot of checking and rewriting and .... thinking.
I'm slightly afraid that I have once again have jumped in at the deep end.
Trying to be brilliant mixing Cezanne and neuro-aesthetics may not have been such a good idea, after all.
I should just have done a nice, simple summing up of things.
But this is more fun.
In spite of the slight panic.
And I really shouldn't be knitting.

We very nearly have a curtain

2007-06-12T11:48:00.001+02:00

I've lived here for two years.
Still I have not managed to do something about the curtain situation.
Mostly because of the windows being as they are - and for the non-existing need to keep out prying eyes.
However the "garish sun" is something entirely different, and it hits my favourite working-spot for a few hours around noon making it unbearably hot and nearly impossible to see the screen (not to mention my fear of an overheated PowerBook) - and I'm sweating over this paper already as it is.
But take an old Kenzo shawl and four pins and voila - you (almost) have a curtain.
Or at least some shade from the sun.
Very colourful shade, that is.
And now I can go back to work.

How Vincent spends the afternoon

2007-06-12T11:17:00.000+02:00

Monkey socks and .... cats

2007-06-11T12:05:00.000+02:00

It's just too bloody hot outside these days.
And our little home under the roof is also just too bloody hot these days.
Luckily, or maybe not, the last exam paper is to be handed in Friday, and so I have an absolutely valid reason for sitting in a heap of books and paper on the floor in my pajamas all day, working and eating strawberries, while the cats take turns napping in the chair when not stepping across the keyboard.
And after the Waist-cincher/Boob-enhancer top fiasco (read: challenge I have yet to take up), I desperately needed a quickish knit with guaranteed success (more or less).
Monkey socks!
The pattern reminds me of water falling over rocks more than monkeys, though.
And the Opal Party has finally found its calling.
(Lured by the glamourous life of Linnea's travelling Jaysocks, The Party first wanted to become Jaywalkers, but since trips to Florence and German castles are not part of the pattern and could not be promised, becoming Monkeys was the next-best thing)
I have, of course, chosen to ignore the twisted rib, as I cast on for them at work yesterday, and somehow the word twisted escaped my attention.
Ordinary rib is good enough for me. Much less work.
(The Party first had a short stint as potential Pomatomus, which may or may not be spelled like that, but THAT was too much hard work, and not enough fun. For me. They are beautiful though.)

OMG!!!!!!!80081ES!!!!!

2007-06-07T21:11:00.000+02:00

I'm afraid that this Waist-cincher top is not really a good look for me.
To put it mildly.
It may be because I feel bloated and sweaty, and tired and a bit grumpy but .... no!
I would have posted a photo of the before-finishing-the-second- sleeve-trying-on-session.
But it is practically obscene.
If the lacy part is to stop right under the boobs, as I think it's meant to, .... there really is not enough fabric in the part above that to cover my boobage adequately.
They just suddenly look ..... huge, trying their best to stay inside.
(Sorry)
But I do think keeping it around for a while will help keep me away from the chocolate. And the ice cream.
While I wonder just how much short rows can do.
Or if I should just let it be transformed into the lovely bed jacket.
And pretend nothing ever happened.

And so, instead of a photo of me in the role of the rare red-faced humpback whale, we have Vincent insisting that stripes will have a slimming effect.
And that he will gladly take care of the ice cream for me.
(I could of course let the cats keep the waist-cincher/boob-enhancer top and knit sleeves for the kitty pi, and see how that fits. G knows the bad cats have slept more on the top than in the pi.)

We're nearly there with the Waist-Cincher Top

2007-06-06T21:36:00.000+02:00

I have finished the front and the back and one sleeve.
And I am now in the dreaded process of stitching it together, so that I can try it on before I knit a second sleeve, which may need adjusting.
Well, actually anything and everything may need adjusting.
The fake bust darts are ... fake, and serve no other purpose than decoration, and as I don't feel a strong need for holey decoration in the boobage department I have omitted them.
There is no actual shaping of the front top, and I'm slightly excited to see how that will fit. Well, hopeful more than excited, but still prepared for frogging and figuring out a way.
I gladly admit to being pretty impressed with my sewing it together. Except for the lumpy shoulder.
(I have to figure out how to do a not so lumpy one.)
And I wanted to show off the progress, if for nothing else, then at least to show something other than Laurenz sleeping.
But the cats are such camera bugs.
And I barely caught Laurenz before he dozed off.

First Vincent stepping around. (He has unusually long toes)

Then Laurenz suddenly getting sleepy. Again.

And then me giving up.

Mmmm, wool

2007-06-06T10:46:00.000+02:00

Sleeping cat. In wool destined to become the City Coat from Domiknitrix.
The rest of the City Coat that is. I already have a finished sleeve. Somewhere.
And the ring of trouble.

Sleepycat

2007-06-03T22:19:00.000+02:00

I love watching Laurenz sleep.

He would prefer I didn't.

Female Intuition vs. Tech Support: 1-0

2007-05-31T13:28:00.000+02:00

It worked!
It really, really worked.
The package was delivered shortly before noon.
And now my Powerbook is once again humming happily.
Watching the post-install countdown to restart was extremely nervewrecking.
If I were a nailbiter, I wouldn't need any dinner. For a few days.

So I guess this is 1-0 to Female Intuition vs. Tech Support
The nice young man at AppleSupport wasn't exactly convinced, but still happy to play along and send me the upgrade.
And I promised to let him know if I was right.
And I was.
And I will.

I need to go get some ice cream!
I got a bit hot and bothered by all the excitement.

The waiting room

2007-05-31T09:05:00.000+02:00

Today I will not leave the house.
Not until I have received my care package from Apple.
I called Apple on Tuesday.
I told them about my problem and what I had so far done to fix it.
And I told them about my suspicion that the trouble is caused by a recent security update not working with a recent iTunes update on OS X 10.3.9.
My intuition. Not valid proof, just .... intuition.
(The iTunes update makes it impossible to verify Permissions in Disk Utility on 10.3.9 - and that's a known problem.)
And now there's an OS X 10.4. upgrade on its way by courier, and it should be here today.
They regretted they could not deliver it sooner.
During my 8 years as a Mac-lover I've only had reason to contact them twice.
The first time because I had spilled wine into the keyboard of my then 4 years old iBook and needed a replacement, as the spacebar and the n had stopped working.
It was with me within two days.
I was prepared for some sniggering because of the age of the iBook and the wine, but it never came.
I was also prepared for it to cost a small fortune, but it didn't.

I would never dare fiddling with the roots if I had a PC.
(Actually I would never even dare go on the internet with a PC, I see too much trouble with worms and Trojan horses and .... germs amongst my PC-using friends).
Not to mention all the fun you can have with Windows Vista.
I have never had a Mac freeze on me until now.
At work I have a visit from Dr. Watson at least once a day.
I have never had a Mac refusing to restart either. Not until now .....
Or ask me to restart it. In the middle of something important.
I have never had to search for a driver.
This may be why the PowerBook is breaking my heart.
But it is also why I still love and trust it.
Oh, and I have never bought the AppleCare. I have thought about it, but never actually gotten around to doing it.
Still they give outstanding and very caring service.
Just a few reasons for my hearting Apple.
And now I'm all dressed and ready to run down and hug the courier once he gets here.
I may get some knitting done, while I wait.
And ponder my back-up procedure in the future.

And because there's more to life than reading and writing, knitting and waiting, I also have a very secret project to play with.
Involving this:

And sorting through the old photos I found one of kitten Laurenz.
When he was a wee one still living with his sister and the rest of his big cat family.
And was called Lorentin.
"Who's a cheeky little monkey?"

When all else fails, there is always knitting - and tuna

2007-05-30T13:35:00.000+02:00

Well, now I have finished knitting the back of the Waist-cincher top.

And I knitted most of it while running Disk Utility, attempting clever things in Single User mode, and doing Hardware tests, as my beautiful Powerbook has refused to restart since Monday.

No errors, no nothing, there is absolutely nothing wrong, and as such nothing to fix.
But my beautiful machine nonetheless refuses to restart.
In spite of everything saying that a healthier and happier computer would be hard to find.

Tech Support suggests tuna. Tuna is always good.
And this is no fun as the deadline for two large exam-papers is Thursday, and I have not set up a proper back-up process, even if I knew I should.
Well, the deadline was Thursday, as I have just returned from the university where I handed in the signed slip of paper cancelling the exams.
End of that story.
I'm awaiting a package from Apple which may/may not bring my PowerBook to move beyond the lovely startup sound, the pretty grey apple, and the promising progression wheel to actually letting me access my computer.
So now I'm back on the faithful little old iBook.
And I can concentrate on the Cézanne paper.
And it really makes no big difference anyway.
A small difference, but not in the great scheme of things.
So I may/may not have to rewrite the other two + one exam papers, but if that's the case at least I have until January to do so.
And they'll probably be better for it.
At least that's what I've decided.
And with help like this, I will be just fine.

The Waist-cincher top

2007-05-26T13:59:00.000+02:00

I have already finished the first sleeve for the Waist-cincher top.
And I love it so far.
However I have found a few annoyances with the book at this point, as I find the schematics a bit lacking.
It has very nice drawings of Front, Back and Sleeve.
But the Sleeve drawing only shows measurements for the width at cast on edge and the widest point and the length of the sleeve before decreasing for the sleeve cap.
There is no measurement for the full length of the sleeve, nor for the sleeve cap. And in the pattern this part is only given in number of rows.
And this bugs me a bit.
Same with the front, which gives only the measurement of the height of the lacy part - as also stated in the written pattern.
No waist width, no indication of the width of the overlapping parts or the height from under the bust to the shoulder.
And add to this that the pattern itself is also written without an indication of the finished measurements.
Of course I can calculate my way to these measurements counting rows and stitches and using the gauge given.
But then it had been handy if she had also given her gauge for the part using the smaller needles.
This may not be super important, but sometimes it's nice to assure yourself everything is right by using your measuring tape.
And sometimes it's nice to be able to adjust for a narrow waist by knowing beforehand if adjusting is needed.
(And again I think I have been spoiled by the Domiknitrix, as her patterns and schematics are extremely detailed.)
So I'm slightly annoyed - but still very, very happy with the book.
And the sleeve.

And the best morning sunshine is found leaning against the book case.
And I really, really need to chase away some dust bunnies.

When a knitting book makes the bookseller blush

2007-05-25T19:53:00.000+02:00

I have been very good today and have worked very hard on my exam papers, and so I allowed myself to go to the book store to get my very own copy of Joan McGowan-Michaels Knitting Lingerie Style.

The very nice man at the book store was business as usual until he looked at the cover again:
"But it's a knitting book?!"
"Yep, it's a knitting book."
"My aunt used to knit."
"Oh, did she?"
"Yes, but mostly sweaters and they were usually itchy, and ... this is not .... sweaters ... (another glance at book cover) and not itchy .... I hope".
There is something rather endearing about a middle aged man blushing because of a knitting book.

And the fun didn't stop there, I also allowed myself to buy yarn for the Waist Cincher-top.

As I simply cannot imagine wearing an angora blend next to the skin I found a very nice cream coloured cotton/wool blend which should work. With black for the edges and stripes.
Because I'm boring.
I did fondle a lovely dusty lavender angora/wool blend, which would perhaps have been suitable for the waist-cincher top, but will instead be perfect for the bed jacket.

And there are pretty socks. Many pretty socks. But these are the laciest.

And these interesting leggings would very likely be perfect for both yoga and cold winter days.

And there's a gorgeous skirt.

Of course I think about knitting this in a cotton/linen blend, as I apparently lack respect for yarn choices - even if I should know better.
But my excuse would include that none of the yarn used in the book is available here. None.
And there are no suggested alternatives, nor a description of why the yarn is chosen or what to look for in a substitute. Or whether it is deliberately knitted loosely or tightly compared to the standard gauge for the yarn.
The brilliant Domiknitrix has spoiled me in this regard.

There are also plenty of bras and beautiful sleeveless tops.
And while I do not do sleeveless myself (thanks to being overly self conscious about my arms, having suffered from a bad eczema most of my childhood and teenage years), there may be made many fine gifts for the girlie friends.
And now I can knit and watch Judge Deed and McCallum on the Granny Channel and drink a bit of wine.
Sadly, or maybe not, that's very much my idea of the Perfect Friday.

Mmmmm, merino

2007-05-24T22:50:00.000+02:00

Vincent likes wool

Laurenz is little better

Vincent and the Purple Roving

2007-05-23T12:14:00.000+02:00

Actually I am not sure if it really is roving.
Was roving, that is.
(If roving is the correct term.)
It was a lovely purple merino wool and according to the sign in the yarn store it was perfect for both felting and spinning.
And I meant to send it to someone in Germany along with a yoga dvd.
But that was before Vincent found it.
While I was in the shower.
I don't know if the wool benefits from being grunted into, chewed and stomped on (I know next to nothing about spinning).
If not it is beyond salvation.
And in that case I could just as well just let the happy cat stay happy - and just document.

Still suitable for spinning?

Cozy

2007-05-22T15:17:00.000+02:00

You cannot make a silk purse ....

2007-05-21T14:58:00.000+02:00

Well, actually you can.
I have been wondering what to do with the gorgeous recycled sari silk yarn Linnea gifted me. (Bearing absolutely no resemblance to sow's ears, except perhaps for a fuzzy softness)
I thought about Calorimetry, as I could use a headband to keep my hair from falling into my face while doing yoga.
But the sari silk didn't want to be a Calorimetry. Nor did I really want it to become all sweaty.
But by then I had become fixed on the idea of bringing the sari silk yarn with me to the shala. In one form or another.
And so it became a purse.

I have for a long time wanted something to hold my money, phone and jewelry (and keys and iPod) during practice, as the changing rooms are most often unlocked and unguarded.
Shoving them into the bottom of my yoga mat bag is possible, but not ideal, and I want to keep the things with me without disturbing visually or otherwise.
And this is perfect.
The yarn became a bit fuzzy, probably from all my petting it lovingly.
And it was amazing to see the colours appear and blend.
It still is.

The Seven Random Things Bandwagon

2007-05-20T12:38:00.000+02:00

I don't want to be the only one not doing the seven random things thing.
1:
After many, many years of trying I still cannot tell left from right without thinking it over first.
When I just started doing yoga this meant that when our teacher said "and left leg ...." (for example) I would just start with whichever leg felt right.
And when he said " and right leg", there was a good chance I would choose the same leg. No time to think.
And I would be wondering why we always started with the same leg....
After my having been corrected a few times and after explaining my lack of ability to tell left from right, my lovely teacher started saying "and left leg - wall - ....or "and left leg - window".
As one side of the room had windows, and the other did not, and that solved it. For me.
At least in the shala.
I still don't have a driver's licence.
2:
I not-so-secretly dream of moving to Sicily to live in a small cottage near the ocean, and do nothing but yoga, read, knit, swim and eat much pasta and much fresh fish.
When not playing with my cats and my mohair goats.
I don't really need an MA to do so.
But I would probably need a bit of money.
3:
I'm not very tall. 164,5 cm. But then I'm also not very wide.
So I manage to look taller, most of the time.
And these help a lot.
4:
When working at Big Investment Bank, I was asked to find something special for the Friday's After Work Glass of Wine as it was someone's birthday, or we had a new big client, or something. I've forgotten exactly what.
But it was something needing special celebration.
And so I hired a balloon clown.
He was a big success once the initial surprise wore off.
Although I was later told a plate of tapas or something had been enough.
5:
I have such a huge crush on Roland Barthes.
I nearly blush speaking about him.

6:
I cannot eat anything I cannot clearly identify.
And I am generally suspicious when it comes to Chinese food.
7:
I have danced with Pablo Veron. A complete tanda.
Mmmmmmmmm

The clothespin theory and the Wonder Wash

2007-05-20T10:23:00.000+02:00

This is mainly for Linnea.
I think you may very well be right about the clothespin.
If only one is being used. And I wonder how I can find so many things wrong with a pattern - and still want to knit it.
When hardly any of the original pattern will be left unfiddled-with.
But then it is beautiful.

As for the bathroom - no I don't think I will get to use it.
It is for my Gorgeous Landlord's very own use.
But it will be beautiful.
And now I think I have found the perfect solution to my laundry problems:
The Wonder Wash Portable Washing Machine
As a child I would spend my summers with my grandparents in their summer cottage.
No electricity, no hot water - and the bathroom was not much more than a bucket in the shed.
(But I cannot imagine a better place or a better way to have spent those childhood summers.)
And my grandmother had a washing machine very much like this.
While I do have hot water, and electricity, and a fine bathroom of my own, this would still be very useful.
And once the laundry room is done, some day, this wonder machine would still be fine for attempts at dying fabric and wool, I would think, and for the quick little pile of laundry.
And for felting!

That Chevron sweater - and the big hole

2007-05-19T12:45:00.000+02:00

Some time ago I fell in love with a picture of the Chevron sweater in Erika Knight's Glamour Knits.
Finally getting hold of the book, thanks to the lovely library, I'm no longer quite as infatuated.
It is constructed by something as simple as rectangles with no shaping at all.
And being anything but rectangular myself that will no doubt need some shaping to work for me.
In particular as I do like a bit of shapeliness and a good fit to my clothes.
And I always get a bit distrusting of the fit of a pattern if the front and the back are shaped the same, as my front and my back definitely are not.
But I still think it is beautiful.
And I think I could make it work, with a bit of tweaking here and there.
And it may well become my simple mindless knit while writing the last two papers and waiting for the time to come for the second Elfin.

And the great big hole:
My gorgeous landlord is converting the old laundry room into a beautiful bathroom. While the space under the stairs will become the new and improved laundry room.
But now, after five weeks, this is the state of the new laundry room: big hole.
(bad lightning + bad camera + less than talented photographer = bad photo of hole in ground)
I may very soon need to find a laundromat.
But it seems that this neighbourhood, while being lovely, is too bloody affluent to support one.
And as I have not yet felt the urge to take my laundry for a bus ride, I've been keeping myself with clean clothes with the help of a bucket in the shower. For quite a few weeks now.
And I probably will until I run out of clean towels and bed linen.
In a few weeks.
Not sooner.
I hope.

Ooooh

2007-05-17T22:01:00.000+02:00

Doing a bit of catching up here and there in blogland, while being incredibly bored at work, I found this:
The most beautiful, simple and elegant peace button.
Created by the beautiful and very, very talented Erica.

In love again

2007-05-17T00:16:00.000+02:00

"Everything we see disperses and vanishes, doesn't it? Nature is always the same, but nothing remains of it, of what we see. Our art has to inspire a feeling of permanence while still showing the elements of all its changes. It has to make us sense it as eternal."

I am reading Paul Cézanne's letters.
A small book, very small, published in 1942.

I have decided to let the Cézanne paper be a somewhat "pure" dialogue between the master's own words (and works) on one side and cognitive and perceptive theory on the other.
This way I will be able to focus on the subject, which is first and foremost neuro aesthetics, and I will not be tempted to touch upon the subject of cubism.
I'm so thrilled to be thrilled about a paper again.
And happy.

"They like having their portraits painted. It's as though they sought your forgiveness for becoming discoloured. Their essence is emitted with their perfume. They come to you in all their odours, speaking to you of the fields they've left behind, of the rain that's nourished them, of the dawns they've witnessed. In defining with fleshy touches the skin of a beautiful peach or the melancholy of an old apple, I glimpse in the reflections that they exchange the same tepid shadow of renunciation, the same love of the sun, the same recollection of dew, a freshness."
And this was the man they called Le Sauvage
"Still Life with Curtain and Flowered Pitcher", c. 1899, Oil on canvas, 54.7 x 74 cm, The Hermitage Museum, Leningrad, Venturi 731

Very pretty kitty

2007-05-16T12:27:00.000+02:00

I don't know why, but this chair is the cats' favourite place for throwing up.
It's also good for napping, and for looking pretty, but there's a reason it has two removable, washable covers.

Some days are better than others

2007-05-15T13:12:00.000+02:00

And so today has been very good so far.
I've baked oatmeal biscuits and done laundry (in bucket in shower).

And I've had my synopsis approved and made progress on the paper on Cézanne - Cézanne put into a neuro aesthetic frame with focus on cognition and perception.
The dying of the harddisk allowed me to reconsider the subject of this paper. And I chose to make a complete change.
And now I'm flirting with Cézanne again.
I fell in love with him last year and am strangely excited about this paper, especially as I'm still in the process of making up things and finding out and investigating.
And reading more than writing. Other than the stray thoughts and things to remember and wild ideas.

And I've done the dishes and knit a few rounds on Clessidra, (which looks black and boring right now and is covered in cat hair, but will be lovely and warm and is at some point to meet the lint roll).
And I've invited our gardener up for tea (and biscuits) as she's really, really interested in meeting the cat who barks at her.

And I still have a few hours left to do things before going to the library (to pick up Erika Knight's Glamour Knits and some more neuro psychology - and returning a few overdue books) and then to work.
And the sun is shining.

Oatmeal biscuits (Hello Grandma!)

2007-05-15T09:58:00.000+02:00

I seem to be on a crackers and biscuits roll these days.
Most likely there is still a lingering hand to mouth impulse connected to a certain degree of stress, and as I am no longer smoking, that means munching on something.
And that something may as well be just somewhat healthy and rich in fiber.
The crackers recipe needs some perfecting still, but in the back of my grandmother's cooking book I found her recipe for oatmeal biscuits.
And I remember and loved her oatmeal biscuits.
They are not as sweet as the ones you buy.
But they are better. In my humble very biased opinion.
And they're square! Nearly.

And I love my cheap blue tea cups from IKEA.
Mostly because of the large saucer-turned-plate, leaving plenty of room for something to eat while easily being held in one hand.
And the colour. Of course.

I am as bad at writing out recipes as my grandmother was, but here it is:
Oatmeal biscuits
250 g butter (I used half butter half margarine, for lack of butter)
2 dl milk or water (I couldn't decide so I used half of each)
- melt butter and add water and milk.
Mix:
6 dl oatmeal
7 dl flour
2 teaspoons baking ammonia aka salt of hartshorn (baking ammonia gives crispness and lightness and during baking it smells as if a fox just took a pee in the kitchen - if not available, or not appealing, substitute with 1 tsp baking powder and 1 tsp baking soda, it's almost as good and not stinky)
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt.
Add the still warm butter/milk/water and quickly gather into a soft dough, which feels funny and warm and very delightful between your fingers.
Divide in two and roll first part out directly on to the baking sheet, cut into squares and prick with fork or similar.
Bake 15 minutes at 200 degrees (celcius!)
And then you do the same with the second part.
Depending on the size of the squares you cut (genius!) and how many you eat before counting, you should get anywhere between 60 and 80 biscuits.
Good sized biscuits, that is, plus some odd looking side biscuits, you had better eat first.
I'm not sure if they would not benefit from a bit more sugar and maybe some vanilla and perhaps even some ground almonds, ... or orange zest and a bit of cinnamon, ... or raisins ... just for the days when the sweet tooth is on the prowl.
It takes little more than half an hour - a bit longer if you forget you have biscuits in the oven.

But Laurenz is only happy to eat the burned ones.

Guard cat extraordinaire

2007-05-13T10:52:00.000+02:00

While Laurenz is beautiful and sweet he is not the brightest cat.
He is very good at fishing edible things out of handbags, though.
Vincent on the other hand is a very good guard cat. And a very patient one.
And I wonder if, with proper training, the two wouldn't make a brilliant addition to Airport Security. Laurenz could search through handbags, and Vincent could stare down the suspects untill crumbling under pressure they would admit to trying to sneak through too much handlotion - or worse.
(And so they could help bring home the tuna and I could switch to working only part time.)
Vincents motto could very well be constant vigilance (something Laurenz thinks interferes too much with quality nap time - and besides we would wake him if something important was happening).
For half an hour Vincent sat like this, staring intently at something on the roof:

Not making a sound.
Which is very unusual and so I got curious as to the object of his stare:

And then it moved.

And a bit later it left.

And Vincent could go get a snack in the kitchen knowing he had saved the neighbourhood from being taken over by a pack of pigeons.

Saturday

2007-05-12T22:05:00.000+02:00

So it is Saturday evening and in the ideal world I would probably be out in the world getting drunk on gin and being very charming.
Instead I got fed up with writing and took the longest shower in the western world before finding my very old grey flannel pyjamas and the Pride & Prejudice DVD.
Mind you it is the "new" version (with the incredibly adorable little stick insect Kiera Knightley) and I had not seen it before for lack of time and so I did a lot of skipping back because it is beautiful and because I had decided to treat myself to some sock knitting, and Clessidra is an interesting thing to knit and easily competes with even a beautiful film.
And I have red wine.
And crackers.
And cats sleeping.
And I didn't even miss Colin Firth. Or the wet shirt
...
Thinking about it I did miss the wet shirt.
But then again, you cannot always have it all.

High on crackers

2007-05-11T12:40:00.000+02:00

I've baked crackers.
Just because I could.

And because I felt a need for something crunchy while writing like a mad woman trying to make up for lost time and lost hard disk.
I am trying to do some sort of stream of consciousness-kind of writing, hoping that it is all stored on my hard drive.
If I don't think too much or too hard while writing, it may all come out.
If not I'll switch to hard thinking - and much of it.
In the meantime the crackers are incredible.
Crunchy and a just a bit crumbly and very, very delicious.
And fun to make. And easy. And quick.
And strangely meditative once I got to the cutting and pricking.

From tablecloth to tunic

2007-05-09T12:28:00.000+02:00

I have not had much to show these past months with regards to the Pledge, but I hope next semester will be more refashioning-friendly, timewise.
While the thrifted tablecloth was much smaller than the tag said, I have now a finished, albeit shortish, tunic top, with the help of a very old Burda pattern.

I actually think finding the pattern sheet took me longer than the actual sewing.
I am (at times) both lazy and practical and thus let the woven edge of the cloth be to form the edges of both body and sleeves.
And the subtle woven pattern shows itself beautifully in the simple shape. But does not photograph well.

And while it is a bit big I love the way it has turned out, and I'm sure the linen/cotton blend will keep me cool and comfortable on the hot summer days to come.
I like the thought of the table cloth having been witness to (hopefully) many happy family dinners.
And now it will come out with me to see other parts of the world.

Of the two white shirts one has found a new home with a friend of mine, who was quite terrified I had thought of "doing things" to it as it was
A. his size
B. a very expensive brand.
And I've just started using the other one to sleep in.

Thrifty goodness

2007-05-03T15:02:00.000+02:00

I have not had time to do much about The Pledge.
But as I'm still waiting for the verdict on the hard drive, while still swearing at Vogue Knitting and, more important, still pondering whether or not to start the great rewriting of exam papers, I may get just a little bit done in the sewing department.

I brought home a bag full of goodness from the local thrift store yesterday.

Two men's shirts, in luxurious white cotton, which I intend to turn into something much less masculine and much more suitable for the hot summer days ahead.

And I found a white table cloth which may become a dress or maybe just a tunic-like thing, as it is a bit smaller than I thought (cats helpfully wandered in to indicate scale).

And if this wasn't enough I also got a set of bedlinen, with one stripey side and one blossomy side. This is now destined to become a pajamas.

All for the Danish equivalent of $10. Benefiting the Red Cross, and thus making me feel a little bit guilty for not paying more, but the lovely little old lady insisted that was the price.
I hope to get something done about it this weekend.
Starting with the first white shirt, once washed and ironed.
Even if laundry these days is something done in a bucket in the shower.

Yes, Laurenz...

2007-05-02T14:00:00.000+02:00

.... your behind does look big.

Pretty and very pink

2007-05-02T13:58:00.000+02:00

My seven years old orchid is blooming again.

That leaves only three

2007-05-01T13:53:00.000+02:00

No wizardry at the exams office.
Not that I expected it but I was indeed very hopeful.
And since the paper & project due yesterday was closely tied with one of the papers due end of May I now only have to rewrite three papers, if the tech wizard is magicking away in vain.
And no news from him yet.
As consolation I've started working on Elizabeth I again.
Which does in a way make "her" Elizabeth II.
First yarn choice was rather bad.
And Vincent has decided that the best sunny spot is in the top drawer.
Which would, if not for him, be sadly empty by now, as we have not been able to do laundry for four weeks.
Making for rather interesting combinations in the wardrobe department.

There is hope

2007-04-30T10:34:00.000+02:00

I have hand delivered my beautiful machine to a friend, who claims that one of his colleagues is a well known wizard when it comes to help the Apple-kind into remembering where they put their hard drive.
I am keeping my fingers crossed.
All the way to the exam office, where, hopefully, there will be another wellknown wizard when it comes to help rather overworked students into sitting their exam this term in spite of lost hard disks.
I'll worry about the other papers on the disk another day.
When I have a verdict from the tech wizard.

This doesn't happen in the real world

2007-04-29T15:07:00.000+02:00

It's just something you hear happening to someone else.

My hard disk has died.
Actually it may not have died, it may just have left.
Even if I've checked and it's still there.
So while it's still here physically, it is not here in spirit, or whatever it would take for disk utility and diskwarrior and fsck to find it and repair it and make all well again.
And I still have a paper to hand in tomorrow. A full 12 pages of thorough wellwritten cleverness to hand in, plus the practical website project, of course.
Not to mention the other four papers due this semester.
All on the non responsive hard disk.

And I very nearly want to say to he** with good healthy sleeping and eating patterns, I'll just write a quick and nifty little replacement, and let them get the gist of the site from the test-page I uploaded just to check if the menu really did work across platforms.
The rest of the site is in the little sites folder on the hard disk.
But.... I've spent far too much time and energy on this, and it cannot just be replaced in a night of frenzied writing. Even if most is still somewhere inside my head, right now I'm too stressed and tired and stunned to find it.
And hoping that someone can bring my hard disk back.
That if I wait ten minutes, maybe it will suddenly be there when I turn on the machine. Again. While holding my breath. And wishing.
The beautiful machine, that cannot find its own bloody hard disk.

So I've sent my very nice teacher an email letting him know the situation and asking if there is any way I can sit the exam before next winter.
A dead hard disk is not illness.

Back up. Back up. Back up.

Now I'll go for a walk, kick some trees.
Refrain from returning to smoking, even if I suddenly wish I had not quit those many months ago.

There are things I just don't get

2007-04-26T16:53:00.000+02:00

And one of them is now the point of subscribing to a magazine you either receive several months after publication date - or not at all.

A lovely friend gifted me with a subscription for Vogue Knitting in December.
However the first issue I received was the Winter issue, which would have been fine, if I had not had to wait until early April to receive it. Last season's wintry knits just aren't very interesting when every thing around you is yelling Freshly New Spring.
And I have yet to see the Spring/Summer issue, which came out late March.
And now my actual seeing the Spring/Summer issue of Vogue Knitting will require that I find a place to buy it as I received a very nice email from them saying that they "apologize that it is permanently out of stock".

And here I was in love with that paper chase dress and the heirloom baby knits (because I have a very new god daughter) and the lovely white lacy knits.
But that's just .... bah. Too bad. Because for some odd reason they forgot to send me my copy before they ran out.
So at least now I know there is no point in racing to the mail box to see if it has finally arrived.
Because it will not.

I wish I wasn't so very disappointed. As it is after all just a magazine.
About knitting.
With beautiful patterns.

But I do have more important things to think about, and I should, and it's still just a magazine, and so I will.

And I hope the nice people at Vogue Knitting don't expect a renewal of the subscription once this expires.

There was only room for one in the Kitty Pi

2007-04-25T12:13:00.000+02:00

But sunny spots enough for all to enjoy.

Kitty pi in the sun

2007-04-25T12:04:00.000+02:00

The kitty pi has been largely ignored since its first, and only, day of Being of Interest.
In spite of costly wool and not very comfortable knitting with incredibly large needles.

But being placed in a sunny spot it has finally returned to the list of Best Places to Take a Nap.

Finishing the Elfin

2007-04-19T13:11:00.000+02:00

I finished "her" this morning.
And I love it and so do the cats.

Mmmm, Silky Tweed.

Move? Who? Me? I'm not going anywhere.
I've managed a few catless photos - but they're to be found on the Domiknitrix KAL

I have....

2007-04-15T14:11:00.000+02:00

First of all I have a new modem. The second new modem in one month.
The old one burned out.
The first new one did too.
But the second new one is still not burned out at all.

I also have what may very well be the most beautiful yarn in the world.

Recycled Sari Silk Yarn. It is gorgeous and shiny and so very soft and glistens in the colours of all the jewels of the world.
I am so very much in love with this yarn and pet it very gently while wondering if I ever can bear to knit with it.

It came in a box full of wonders (which Vincent the Helpful assisted in unpacking) from the lovely Linnea, along with a pattern for fingerless gloves and matching dpns and chocolatey goodness and a wonderful, beautiful and very inspiring book:

I've seen this book, and read a bit about it. But none of what I've seen or read has done it justice. It's so very inspiring, and I really like the focus on who, why and how rather than what.
And I will absolutely use it and try to do something good for someone - once I've done my bit on the five exam papers and projects I have to hand in during the next two months.

I also have cats enjoying the return of the sun.

And I have a garden which has exploded in colours and floral abundance this past month.

My gorgeous landlord isn't much the gardening type, so it's all a bit wild and left to itself - and it's probably the prettiest garden in the street, even if it's trying to escape through the fence:

And I wish I knew the name of this one:

It has a few days yet before it once again becomes this glorious fairytale tree of flowers, and then it will be only a day or two before same flowers are strewn across the lawn.

I also have made progress on the Elfin Bride. In spite of myself, and red wine, and a strong inability to properly read patterns.
But I plan (hope) to finish it this week, so that I can concentrate fully on the exams. It is the most interesting and exciting and beautiful piece of knitting I have ever encountered (not that that really says much, but still....).
And it's very addictive.

And I have two weeks before handing in the first exam paper/practical project.
And I have a cold, which may actually be some kind of hay fever.
And I have new shoes. Beautiful shoes.

And no actual news or interesting things to tell. At all.

The jacket gone bag

2007-03-06T17:31:00.000+01:00

The bag is finished! I can barely believe it, but it is!
I had the old leather jacket, as already mentioned.
In addition to this I had an old thrift store bag, made from a strange, slightly greasy piece of crochet but with a gorgeous handle.
And when the handle met the bits and pieces salvaged from the old leather jacket, this is what happened:
With lots of lovely little pockets inside for keeping me organized. Or attempt to.
And breaking only one needle in the process.

Four needles in one day

2007-03-05T14:40:00.000+01:00

I have the day off sick and even if the cats would very much prefer I stay in bed, I thought I would try to use the day well.
So I started on the from-jacket-to-bag-project.
Mostly because I could use a bag other than the Hayden Harnett wonder I carry around everywhere I go, but also so that I can show off something to prove that I live up to The Pledge.
Not having bought anything new isn't really enough.
The leather jacket I bought in New York 10 years ago and have worn spring to autumn ever since is no more.
It was torn and worn and had more than done it's duty.
Still there were patches and bits of leather here and there not worn to paper thinness.
And since parting with the jacket completely would nearly break my heart, I thought those bits and pieces could become a bag.
But four broken needles later all I have is a very pretty lining.
And all this is to become a lovely bag:
Once I have more needles.
So I'll just return to my knitting.