tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55930802024-03-13T12:48:29.469-04:00Vie VaedriWarning! Have caffeine handy!Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.comBlogger299125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-7376120130768964982011-04-08T18:35:00.001-04:002011-04-08T18:35:54.838-04:00StorytimeLately, I've had the itch to tell stories. I go over happenings and incidents in my day, thinking about the most entertaining (and maybe funny) way to tell people about it. There's really not much that happens in a typical day, so older stories have been creeping in, too.<br />
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The other day, I shared this story in a forum of friends, and thought it would be a good way to get back into using this space the way I used to. More recently, I've been all about the pictures, and wouldn't think of using this space if there wasn't a jpg involved.<br />
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So, I’ve been plagued with moths for a few months now. I see on average one a day, sometimes in the living room, sometimes in the front hall, and sometimes in the bedroom. In response, I have developed “moth vision”. This is an almost super-power that allows me to locate the tiniest spot on a bare wall and identify it as a moth. (side effect of this is my slapping at every speck on every wall)<br />
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I’ve unpacked and repacked my entire stash several times, as well as my hall closet and my clothes closet. I shake out all my knitted scarves and hats daily, before leaving the house in the morning. I’ve layered my clothes in the closet with dryer sheets. The boxes that hold my stash also hold sachets of lavender. My less-used stash is all in giant ziploc bags.<br />
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The most maddening encounters are in the evening, when I’m finally just sitting, knitting in front of my laptop, tv on in the background, and I see movement flutter in front of the tv screen. I leap up, casting my knitting aside, knocking the cat off my lap (his back claws ripping through my legs in startlement) and clap madly across the room. Only to lose sight of the bugger when it flies in front of a less contrasting surface. Light colours are my kryptonite. And the whole time, I’ve been trying to find the source of my torture. The nest. The pit of evil.<br />
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Today, I’d killed 2 or 3 of the venomous little arsebites, and when another fluttered out of sight somewhere under the end table, I trembled on the edge of an emotional breakdown. The moths were winning the war with their campaign of mindgames and deceit. I went a little mad, pulling out everything under the table, trying to find the escapee. I pulled out a basket with yarn ends that I’d only half-examined in my previous investigations. The yarn ends were all acrylics, and therefore not nearly as tasty as the other options in my house. Halfway down, I found two inches of a clapotis in tencel. I noticed a little fluff on the roll of yarn that pulled apart when I tugged at it. I put this aside and kept digging to the bottom of the basket. There, I found a horrifically demolished pile of used-to-be-baby-sock. The bottom of the basket was covered in some kind of white detritus that I didn’t want to look at too closely. When I looked at something that had stuck to my fingernail, I found that it was a tiny white larva. That was it. I wanted to be elated at finally having found the source, but was way too squicked out.<br />
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I ripped out the clapotis, cutting it off the circular needle when it wouldn’t pull off, and casting the yarn bits to the wind off the balcony. The only other ball of natural fibre and the roll of tencel went into the freezer after a quick but careful examination. The basket, four flour sack cotton bags, and about ten partial balls of acrylic all went immediately into the garbage can near the building’s rear entrance. All the furniture was pulled away from the wall, the floor and rug vacuumed and washed. The clothes I was wearing were taken out to the balcony, vigorously shaken, and then put into a grocery bag before going into the hamper. The socks I was wearing (knitted, of course) were also shaken, then put into another plastic bag and chucked into the freezer with the yarns.<br />
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I’m hoping that this was the only place they were really reproducing. I’m hoping that I got all the eggs and various other life stages sucked up or sprayed dead. I’m hoping the nightmare is over.Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-59909320916453240692011-01-31T20:23:00.000-05:002011-01-31T20:23:41.591-05:00Lake IceToday started with what my boss called a "Saskatoon morning". A perfect day to walk in the park and look at the ice.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/5406404730/" title="365031 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/5406404730_2a5287265a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="365031" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
If you're not all that bright.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/5405798501/" title="Ice by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5405798501_4dc8f41c53.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Ice" /></a><br />
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Next time, I wear more woolies. Or wait until spring.<br />
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<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=f54fe20574&photo_id=5405740257"></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=f54fe20574&photo_id=5405740257" height="300" width="400"></embed></object>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-3260110358919338292010-12-17T08:06:00.002-05:002010-12-17T08:09:27.173-05:00It's kind of mesmerizingYes, it's been forever and a day. Here is a fun video of everything I've been up to. Ever. (Well, anything I've taken a picture of since starting my Flickr account. That's close to 'ever') Partly to make up for my blog absence, but mostly because it's a fun video.<br /><div><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Ti8_kb78xo?fs=1&hl=en_GB&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Ti8_kb78xo?fs=1&hl=en_GB&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><div><br /><br />You can make your own at <a href="http://pummelvision.com/">Pummelvision</a>. It takes about two minutes to set up, then you just wait for them to put it all together. Good times.<br /><div><br />P.S. If Chuck is one of your guilty pleasures, doesn't this make you think of the intersect? No? Just me watching? K.</div><div><br /></div></div></div>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-505176900196984052010-07-18T17:09:00.001-04:002010-07-18T17:26:50.622-04:00Summer Sprouts<div style="text-align: left;">The cat thermometer tells me that its a bit hot here today.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4806243316_c9dae88cfd_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4806243316_c9dae88cfd_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
On the positive side, my poor little balcony-bound tomato plants are loving the warm weather, as long as I keep remembering to water them on those days we aren't blessed with an afternoon rainstorm. I even have my first wee tomato.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/4805622855/" title="Tomato scale by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Tomato scale" height="300" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4805622855_c24e692a5e.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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There really is a tomato there! See?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/4805622177/" title="Wee tomato by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Wee tomato" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4805622177_86bf986e4e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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So far, it's the only one, but I have hopes for those little yellow blossoms.<br />
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Other areas of my little urban garden are producing crops, too. The basil patch seems to have sprouted a giraffe.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/4806245676/" title="Gerard by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Gerard" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4806245676_b4ce806874.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/giraffe-10">Giraffe</a> (rav link) pattern from <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Itty-Bitty-Toys-Animals-Dolls-Playthings/dp/1579653766/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279487029&sr=1-1">Itty Bitty Toys</a> by Susan B. Anderson.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/4805624641/" title="Giraffe face by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Giraffe face" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4805624641_167a8a7fed.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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He is a cutie. I think my favourite part are the little horns, complete with pom-pom toppers.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/4806248202/" title="Giraffe back by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Giraffe back" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4806248202_912b4121ba.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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The yarn is Peer Gynt, in giraffe-perfect colours. Aside from the yarn substtitution, I made no pattern modifications. This is the second creature I've made from this book. The first was this little guy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/4718926550/" title="Baby Bear hanging out by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Baby Bear hanging out" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4718926550_4593b7ef58.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
He was also a lot of fun to knit up, and has since moved to Calgary to be best friends with a new little girl named Kathleen.Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-86451095402013134892010-07-07T22:41:00.000-04:002010-07-07T22:41:03.728-04:00Not quite one year later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3830857524_fb6b08ab13_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3830857524_fb6b08ab13_z.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">[Insert standard “Sorry it’s been so long” explanation and apology here]</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s summer again, and for the first time in about three years, we are getting a true summer, with all of the H’s well-represented. Hot, hazy, humid galore. We’re already four days into a heat alert, topped with a smog alert. Air conditioners are chugging away earnestly, exchanging hot drips of water outside for cool, dry air inside. This is one time when I truly appreciate the luxuries of artificiality.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As the anniversary of last year’s European cruise approaches, so do I approach only about the mid-point of editing all of the pictures I took on that trip. I'm hoping to maybe be able to finish the editing before I hit the day we arrived in Venice. Here are some of the pictures so far, anyway. Not quite one year later.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/3830074415_829251b892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/3830074415_829251b892.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/3872308416_0a3e1a0e72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/3872308416_0a3e1a0e72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/3897877806_11aba3940c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/3897877806_11aba3940c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/3898347535_2e3b6fddb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/3898347535_2e3b6fddb1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/3916555419_119bd1aaa1_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/3916555419_119bd1aaa1_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-91629057895830108072009-07-12T21:57:00.000-04:002009-07-12T21:57:36.040-04:00The Past Few DaysI'm playing catch-up again, but it's not so bad this time. Only a few days have passed since the last batch upload of my 365 pictures. Which, by the way, the Flickr uploader makes a lot easier. (except when it doesn't work and won't put your pictures into their sets like it's supposed to)<br />
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Anyway.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3715186348/" title="365.189 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="365.189" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2674/3715186348_4a1bb6cf75.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Wednesday was another Knit Night in Burlington, where we and our matching knitting accessories gather to debate which of the cheesecakes and tarts are the best of the night's pickings.<br />
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<a href="http://rambleonblog.blogspot.com/">Vivian</a> is at the fun part of her <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html">Clapotis</a>, and shared the dropping of several stitches with us.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3715187728/" title="Clapotis stitches by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Clapotis stitches" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/3715187728_bc610be344.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Thursday was not an exciting day, but local strawberries make any day special.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3715189666/" title="365.190 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="365.190" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2584/3715189666_81c3db3773.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Saturday the GTA was hit with a very dramatic <a href="http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_35891.aspx">thunderstorm</a>. I love a good storm, and this one was a doozy. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3715194336/" title="Stormy by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Stormy" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/3715194336_fcac9ac489.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Just when it seemed the storm had passed, I heard a 'fwump' and saw a flash outside the window. Lightning had struck a tree across the street, bringing down a smallish branch. I snapped a quick picture on my walk to the yarn store, where I was meeting up with <a href="http://knittedsquirrel.blogspot.com/">Wendi</a>,<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3714387655/" title="365.192 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="365.192" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/3714387655_3dd73ec1d6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And finally gave in and brought home the skein of sock yarn that's been calling to me for weeks now.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3715207084/" title="365.193 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="365.193" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3715207084_0090ca3bb1.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
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Overall, not a bad few days.Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-85536329777225459292009-07-07T21:42:00.001-04:002009-07-07T21:42:02.069-04:00365.188<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3699932376/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2624/3699932376_6c5d43eca1.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /> <span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3699932376/">365.188</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vaedri/">Vaedri1</a>.</span></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> I picked up this gorgeous "Fall Leaves" batt at the Grimsby Fleece and Fibre festival.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3699121879/" title="Fall Leaves Batt label by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/3699121879_acab42cd72.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Fall Leaves Batt label" /></a><br /><br />New rule: no buying more spinning fibre until I use up enough that I can fit it in my fibre stash tote.</p>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-7678501761291093532009-07-03T21:46:00.000-04:002009-07-03T21:46:21.229-04:00Why I Live HereIt's easy to forget, sitting on my dingy little loveseat in my crumbling old building, surrounded by "colourful" neighbours.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3686146554/" title="365.184 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="365.184" height="362" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3587/3686146554_ec8d3e809a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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But a quick walk, less than five minutes, straight down the street...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3685339535/" title="Clear Water by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Clear Water" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2540/3685339535_7d35099ed0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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is an easy reminder.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3685337675/" title="Reverse sunset over the lake by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Reverse sunset over the lake" height="333" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3685337675_6e798342d4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I really do live in a pretty place.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3686144830/" title="Yellow flowers by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Yellow flowers" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3559/3686144830_7e88de3550.jpg" width="375" /></a>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-165092416620334772009-07-02T21:57:00.001-04:002009-07-02T21:57:53.775-04:00365.183<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3683409674/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/3683409674_f1e84c1ac8.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /> <span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3683409674/">365.183</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vaedri/">Vaedri1</a>.</span></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> When my grandfather passed away, following my grandmother by only a few years, we had the sad task of going through his remaining belongings and disposing of the bits and pieces that had no special attachment to anyone left behind. Throwing the bags and boxes into the donation bins was the saddest part of the whole affair.<br /><br />When we were sorting everything out, I was most drawn to those items that triggered memories - the red glass candy dish that was always full of those sweet and somehow dry pastel-coated almonds, the silly tartan tam with the red pom pom. And this painting. <br /><br />Visits to my grandparents' home were not particularly exciting for a child. They lived in a small apartment with scratchy white stucco-ed walls. Looking back, it was a rather charming place, with arched doorways, and cunning little glass doors for windows. There was even the little metal door outside the apartment, decorated with an engraving of a bottle, that swung open to provide a place for milk delivery way back when.<br /><br />But when I was small, it was a boring place, with no backyard, no toys, and no animals. My brother and I were not actively 'entertained' and were left to find out own amusements. One of the most popular activities during our visits was to dump out a jar full of pennies, both shiny and dull, and lay them out on the intricately patterned rug, sliding them about until our fingers turned green. We'd alternately sip at frosted glasses full of off-brand ginger ale and try to convince the rabbit ears to tune in something fun on the giant console tv.<br /><br />Another favourite activity was daydreaming. I remember gazing at this painting, letting the adult conversation going on over my head fade to a distant drone, and imagine sitting at one of those tables. Under a red umbrella, maybe. And after tea, I would go up to the castle, maybe clambering up the steep, green rocks, or maybe I would wander up the cobbled High Street, stopping in the tourist shops as the road climbed higher and higher. <br /><br />This is a memory that has in some ways become stronger as I've grown up, given structure and reinforcement by my actual visits to the city.<br /><br />But I never did find that terrace.</p>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-15706481338771552722009-07-01T21:10:00.001-04:002009-07-01T21:10:13.880-04:00365.182<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3679516569/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3679516569_aee1970ec0.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /> <span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3679516569/">365.182</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vaedri/">Vaedri1</a>.</span></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> Today's pic is also an FO pic. <br /><br />This year's summer "cottage" trip will actually be my very first cruise, and I'm very excited about it. I wanted to have something I could bring to throw over my shoulders, without packing a jacket. This will be perfect, I think. <br /><br />It turned out quite long, at about eight feet, so it's long enough to wrap around and tie, and I can use it as a blanket if need be. <br /><br />It's knitting using Diamond's Bamboo Cotton, which is just perfect for this kind of thing, with a lovely weight and drape to it.<br /><br />I can wrap this around myself, and just imagine that I'm standing on the deck of a giant ship, gazing out over the Mediterranean as the moon rises over Italy. <br /><br />Project notes and more pictures are over in <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Vaedri/cozy-2">Ravelry</a>, if you're interested.</p>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-88362079331495334482009-06-30T20:42:00.000-04:002009-06-30T20:42:30.327-04:00Out of FocusWay back in Januray, when I started Project365, I was intending to use the pictures that I take each day as a starting point to post a little ntry each day. That way, I could have a record of my year both pictorially and textually. Well, that didn't happen. Obviously.<br />
<br />
Instead, it's been months since I posted anything at all. In part, I blame Twitter, becuase tweeting makes me feel like I still am part of the online community, without having to go through a lot of writing, editing, and posting. But I still want to be filling in the blanks that are left by the pictures I'm taking for the project. So now, at the halfway point, I'm going to try to go back to my original plan. I'm not going to do anything so foolish as to promise a post a day for the next half-year, but I am hoping that I'll be able to note some of the day-to-day happenings in my (admittedly largely uneventful) life, and also to share some of the background stories behind the objects, places, and people in the pictures.<br />
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Today's picture is kind of a two-for-one, and I know it's a little freaky.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3677064754_2240037314.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3677064754_2240037314.jpg?v=0" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today I had the pleasure of visiting the optometrist for my biannual (is that the right word for every two years, or does that mean twice a year?) eye exam. I don't remember my eyes being this badly dilated after prior exams, and I still can't see straight. This post is brought to you entirely by touch typing, and some serious squinting to correct typos. I'm going to have to come back tomorrow and fix more, I'm sure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I was informed that the health of my eyes isn't super, most likely due to my wearing my contacts too much. I had an incident last fall where the inside of my eyelids became inflamed and ever since, I am hyper vigilant about never wearing the lenses for more than 12 hours. So this news is rather disheartening. I am to not wear the contacts at all for the next two weeks, and then go back in for another exam and eye test, and where I'll also be given some super oxygen-permeable lenses that should be better for me. Ugh. </div><br />
Anyway, if you're interested in my Project365 pictures so far (I haven't missed a day yet!) you can see them <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/sets/72157611978807081/">here</a>, or you can use the Flickr link over on the side there. <br />
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I promise this is the only day with pictures of my eyes. It's safe.Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-71158107525447493392009-02-25T21:02:00.000-05:002009-02-25T21:02:25.514-05:00Branches on my Living Room WallThe walls in my apartment are basically plaster over concrete. It makes it really difficult to hang anything without causing some significant, lose-the-deposit kind of damage. But this is a big wall that just can't be left bare. Vinyl decals are perfect for the job. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fRKxrY62fN4/SaX3LcpGoCI/AAAAAAAAAUY/vVHlixOq_X4/s1600-h/365.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fRKxrY62fN4/SaX3LcpGoCI/AAAAAAAAAUY/vVHlixOq_X4/s400/365.56.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I used to have big, red poppies on the wall, until they started to lose their stickiness and their petals started to fall. I wasn't into that much veracity regarding their fresh cut flower realism. I'm hoping this one lasts a little longer, since the pieces are all smaller and lighter. This has been up since last July, and so far I've only lost one piece.<br />
<br />
Both the poppies and this branch set are from Ikea. But now vinyl decals are just about everywhere. Even Home Depot carries <a href="http://www.whatisblik.com/">Blik </a>decals (love the <a href="http://www.whatisblik.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=B&Product_Code=BL-106A">Space Invaders</a>). And holy crap - I see they've just added a whole line of classic <a href="http://www.whatisblik.com/nintendo/">Nintendo </a>game themed decals. How fun is that?<br />
<br />
And there are all kinds of people on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=tag_title&search_query=decal">Etsy </a>doing really neat things with vinyl. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5208238">Elephannie </a>is one of my favourites, with lots of pretty and whimsical designs.Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-89371848978773810182009-02-11T22:08:00.007-05:002009-02-11T22:11:56.402-05:00TrifectaIt's cute, it's geeky, and it's knitting. It's today's 365 pic.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3272758373/" title="365.42 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="365.42" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3356/3272758373_fe484c3066.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
I stopped in at my friend Jen's house and stole her baby, and then felt guilty while she ran around and made dinner. I was assured that I was an immense help just by being a baby holder. Not much more done on the scarf in the picture, which is unfortunate, as it's 'due' for a birthday on Friday. Well, that's not gonna happen. Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-90128198138068208322009-02-10T21:24:00.032-05:002009-02-10T21:42:10.381-05:00Cat Toes and RadiosToday I got a nice big chunk of knitting done. Not that I have a picture to prove it. No, knitting pictures come few and far between when it's dark when I leave and dark when I get home. <br />
<br />
But the reason I got lots of knitting done is related to my car stereo. I have a 2008 Ford Focus, which comes with the nifty new "Sync" system. I can plug in my iPod and use my voice to select songs, playlists, podcasts all using simple spoken commands. It really is a nice setup, and great for my frequent 3 hour road trips, preventing me from having to click around to find what I want.<br />
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(Now, this is not an exciting story. I invite you to skim. Really. I will share a picture of furry kitty toes to break up the monotony some of the way through here, too. Promise.) <br />
<br />
Sadly, a few weeks ago, I plugged in my little iPod one morning, and ... nothing. It didn't recognize the little guy, no matter how many times I restarted and unplugged and plugged in again. I checked my cable, the pins, the iPod. Nothing seemed to be wrong. I hopped on the Sync support site and found that some people had solved the problem by downloading and installing the updates available on the site. So, I got my little geek stick (USB drive), downloaded, and plugged it into the car. Nothing. As far as the car was concerned, there was nothing plugged in.<br />
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I called the dealership, and dropped the car off one morning. Came back at the end of the day, after they'd ordered a part, replaced a cable and failed to fix the problem. They didn't know how. They said they'd call "the hotline" and get back to me. Today, a week and a half later, I go in again - I'm told it'll be half an hour, and so I run over during my lunch. Two hours later - "Um, when can I have my car back please?" Their laptop is messed up, and they have to call the hotline again to get them to fix the laptop, and then they can recalibrate and reset the system, which will take half an hour. But they don't know how long until the hotline gets back to them. So I leave. They will call me when they can fix it.<br />
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We interrupt this boring story for kitty toes:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3268369882/" title="365.39 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="365.39" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/3268369882_87a2634d8c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Carry on.<br />
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<br />
As I drive to knitting group tonight, I decide to give it another shot with the geek stick. Nothing. But I spot a 'Master Reset' in the menu tree, and try that. After some grumbling and thinking, the system is reset and it now recognizes my iPod and seems to work fine. I had to redo my phone/bluetooth setup, but voice commands are working fine.<br />
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So what I really want to say here is - car companies really shouldn't introduce fancy new features in their cars without making sure their service centres know how to fix said fancy new features.<br />
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Sorry for the boring story. But if I have helped one poor Sync owner, then it's been worth it. Sniff. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3271052840/" title="365.41 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="365.41" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3271052840_a1d322f219.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I'll call the dealership tomorrow and teach them how to fix it.Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-6061110803400362982009-02-09T21:04:00.032-05:002009-02-09T21:26:57.093-05:00365 Days In a RowSo, yeah. It's been forever since I blogged. Again. But I have been busy on the net in another way. I signed up for <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/project_365/">Project365</a>, a personal challenge on Flickr. I've committed to taking and posting a picture every day for 365 days. In a row.<br /><br />So far, so good. Not every day is a great pic, but it's been keeping my eyes open, looking for new photo opportunities and new ways of looking at things every day.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3268469292/" title="The First 30 Days by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3268469292_49273e714e.jpg" alt="The First 30 Days" height="417" width="500" /></a></span><br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This little mosaic shows my first 30 days of pictures. Yes, I foresee a lot of fibre and knitting and cat pictures this year. My life is generally just not so fascinating that it earns a picture every day. But I'm learning more about what my camera can do and how I can use Photoshop to fix and enhance. It's a fun personal challenge, and I'm hoping it's something I can stick with right up to New Year's Eve.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm enjoying having a little reminder of every day, even if it wasn't a special one.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's picture:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3268371304/" title="365.40 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="365.40" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3268371304_e1e198b809.jpg" height="340" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stopped in at Chapters on the way home and bought my first ever self-help book, "What Should I Do With My Life?" by Po Bronson, which comes recommended by a friend. We'll see if I come out knowing what I should be when I grow up. If I grow up. It doesn't seem all that appealing, really.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I may also have picked up Interweave Knits. Maybe. But I resisted the sugar and caffeine trap at the entrance, so I did pretty well.</div>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-28639776583033150922009-01-13T14:10:00.000-05:002009-01-13T14:15:00.072-05:00My First Sweater. Yikes.This Christmas was my knitting-est Christmas yet. I knitted up no less than nine gifts, which for me is definitely a record. <br />
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<div> </div>I'll start with the biggest, though not the best. Back in the summer, I asked my mum if she'd like something knitted for Christmas, or if she was getting tired of socks and scarves and hats. (Particularly hats - when she was going through chemo, I probably made her about 20 or so hats.) She hummed and hawed for a bit, and finally asked, "Like what kind of knitted things?"<br />
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<div> </div>I started to list my typical projects: socks, hats, scarves, dishcloths, blankets... Nothing seemed to appeal. I kept going, now moving on to theoretical knits: sweaters, cardigans - "Oooh! Cardigan? I'd like a cardigan!"<br />
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<div> </div>Shoot. I'd never done a sweater. I've had one started and sitting on a precious Denise needle for over a year now. I know I've messed up some of the "at the same time" instructions, so it's been hidden in a little basket until I can get up the gumption to rip it all out and start over. Again. I'd hoped that my first sweater would be inflicted only on myself. But now I'd opened my mouth and committed to punishing my poor mother with what would no doubt be a comically oversized and misproportioned garment. <br />
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<div> </div>I at least had the sense to include her in the choosing of the pattern and the yarn. I sat down and showed her the wonders of Ravelry's projects pages. We agreed on the basic cardigan pattern from Stitch and Bitch, without the fuzzy mohair edging. I happened to have with me some Knitpicks Comfy yarn from another project, which Mum liked the feel of. She picked the colour "Crème Brulée" and I ordered it right then and there.<br />
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<div> </div>Several months passed, and we ended up with this. Which isn't too bad, after all.<br />
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<div> </div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3161878362/" title="Cardigan Finished by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Cardigan Finished" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/3161878362_6b6ef47f1b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<div> </div>Mum insisted on a 'neck down' shot. (Which reminds me of a funny story I need to share another time about prom pictures and my mother's photography skills.)<br />
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<div> </div>As mentioned, I passed on the crocheted mohair border, instead picking up stitches around the neck and adding a few rows of garter stitch.<br />
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<div> </div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3161876940/" title="Cardigan neck by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Cardigan neck" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/3161876940_9ac02f9723.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<div> </div>Also, because I wasn't adding the edging, I thought the plain stockinette would curl way too much on the fronts and sleeves, so I added ten rows of seed stitch to each.<br />
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<div> </div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3161042965/" title="Cardigan sleeve by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Cardigan sleeve" height="240" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/3161042965_0be42df163_m.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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<div> </div>You need to ignore the strange, radioactive purple of my mum's hand there - not sure what happened. She is not an alien.<br />
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<div> </div>Good:<br />
<ol><li>The yarn is lovely and soft, and warmer than I would have thought a cotton blend would be, which my mum loves.</li>
<li>It fits better than I thought it would. For now. More on that below.</li>
<li>My mum likes it and wears it.</li>
</ol><br />
<div> </div>Not so good:<br />
<ol><li>I should have added the seed stitch border to the bottom of the back, too, but didn't think of it until it was too late to reknit.</li>
<li>I have a feeling that the yarn will be pill-y. Don't know why, but I suspect.</li>
<li>Mum says that the sweater is growing already, and is looking baggy. Damn you, cotton and your heavy dragginess!</li>
<li>The sleeves are too long. For which I don't have an excuse, because I know my mum has short arms, and I even measured. But once I finished the increases as instructed, I was already too long and wasn't sure how to fix, and time was short.</li>
<li>My seaming is awful in the neck/shoulder/sleeve area. I didn't know exactly how they fit together, and tried a few different ways before figuring it out. Which just made everything messy and loose or messy and tight.</li>
</ol><br />
<div> </div>So overall, not a disaster. And next time, there will be more on the 'Good' list, I think.Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-3516593308218810412008-11-17T14:03:00.000-05:002008-11-17T14:04:43.478-05:00First Christmas FO 2008Christmas knitting has well and truly begun. I can even claim one completed finished project.<br />
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This is the Inner Truth (cashmere) Scarf, an old pattern from the now-defunct MagKnits. I say (cashmere) because I used plain old Knitpicks Gloss, in cranberry. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3036084993/" title="Inner Truth FO by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/3036084993_a9f0f2b85e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Inner Truth FO" /></a><br />
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It’s lovely and soft and squishy, and will feel lovely and warm against my father’s neck while he wanders the frozen Little River Wetlands with his dog this winter.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/3036920646/" title="Inner Truth FO2 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/3036920646_bcfd3625b8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Inner Truth FO2" /></a><br />
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I knit up the Reversible Cable Scarf for my dad last year. It was in a nice, neutral beige, and, as requested, was short enough so that it didn’t ‘get in the way’ all the time. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/418167036/" title="Dad's Reversible Cable Scarf by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/418167036_b24f7e0db2.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Dad's Reversible Cable Scarf" /></a><br />
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As my dad gets a wee bit older, it seems he’s valuing warmth and comfort over convenience, so this scarf is almost Doctor Who-like in its proportions, probably over seven feet long. It should wrap snugly around the neck at least a couple of times, and, in a pinch, can be used as an emergency dog leash.<br />
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More details on Ravelry, if you’re interested in that sort of thing.Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-69414018485080915932008-11-06T20:57:00.000-05:002008-11-06T21:14:52.451-05:00Life HappensOnce again, I find that I've not updated in far longer than I like. But it's boring and annoying to hear the apologies over and over, so I'm moving on.<br />
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I often jokingly complain that I have no life. But the past few months have been unusually busy for me, starting just about before the annual cottage vacation, and they seem to be starting to wind down now. And, aside from a few exceptions, all of the things that have kept me busy have been very good things: travelling and friends and family. I'm just not really used to being so short on 'me' time, and when I don't have it, I find that things start to break down. Important things like my patience, my temper, and my living room. <br />
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But, like I said, things are starting to wind down, and it feels like the perfect timing, really. The days are getting shorter and the leaves on the trees are fewer and fewer. The nights are cold and the air is definitely crispy. It's getting close to hibernation time, and I have to admit that I love the chance to curl up under blankets with steaming mugs of tea and hot chocolate, watching weather lashing against my window. I'm sure I'll feel very, very differently in a few months, when I'm longing to open a window and go outside without layering, but right now, the beginning of winter feels like a comfort.<br />
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Keeping up so poorly with things lately does mean plenty of fodder going forward, and so here's a taste for now of the lovely things I've been up to.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2919543555/" title="Horseshoe Canyon by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2919543555_c51e05b578.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Horseshoe Canyon" /></a>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-54738177769167525252008-10-12T20:04:00.000-04:002008-10-12T20:16:51.100-04:00Happy Thanksgiving!I love Thanksgiving. It falls in my favourite season (pun not intended, but I'll let it stand.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2935665115_7c52bb777a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2935665115_7c52bb777a.jpg" /></a></div>The drive down to Windsor to spend the day with my family is always the best one of the year, with the glory of the changing leaves and the crisp evening air. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2935662829/" title="Living Dead with mutant plant by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Living Dead with mutant plant" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2935662829_3cf7cc5c33.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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I love the sentiment, the whole idea of Thanksgiving. Taking a moment in a day to think about all the ways that you're blessed, and be thankful for them. To keep in your mind your family, your health, your friends. To be mindful and appreciative.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2936524198/" title="Pumpkins by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Pumpkins" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/2936524198_fc9236cfac.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
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And the best part of Thanksgiving - all the pumpkins! Being in an apartment, I don't really have a place to display a Jack o'Lantern, but I always make a trip out into the county to pick up a little collection of gourds, in all their funny shapes and sizes.<br />
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This year, my brother and I stopped in at a place I've been driving past for years. I never think to stop in, and that's been a big mistake. These people probably love pumpkins as much as I do, and they're definitely huge fans of Hallowe'en. They have a maze/haunted house, a graveyard, and a barn rigged up with "interactive zombies" that, when tugged, open up different coffins and crypts.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2935669049/" title="Punishment by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Punishment" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2935669049_57a9bbd87d.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
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Happy Thanksgiving!Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-36097672184051823392008-09-22T17:40:00.000-04:002008-09-22T17:42:01.912-04:00Rainy Saturday - In Detail<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The other day, some friends and I decided to share our day in pictures. This is something we’ve done a couple of times now, and always with interesting results. This time around, our “day” fell on the same day as the Kitchener-Waterloo knitter’s fair. I wasn’t sure I would go, but felt like I had to do something picture-worthy. And if I’m going to take all kinds of pictures and tell stories, then I might as well blog it. Here is my apology in advance for a VERY long post. Feel free to skim. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After lounging about all that morning, I decided to get in the car and drive to Kitchener-Waterloo for the fair. It was a chilly, rainy day, but the roads weren’t bad.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I started to take the most direct route to the fair, but saw signs that directed me differently, and I ended up taking the route I knew best, past my old stomping grounds in Guelph. I loved being back on roads I knew and have driven dozens of times.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2876675339/" title="driving to Bingeman's by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="driving to
Bingeman's" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/2876675339_638ff4c78d.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I arrived at Bingeman’s without incident, and my first thought as I drove into the parking lot was, “I’ve been here before”. I can’t remember why – I think maybe there must have been an Engineering career fair or something way back when.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2876677981/" title="Bingemans hall by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Bingemans
hall" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2876677981_dae3c1d238.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As I’d had such a long, lazy morning, I didn’t arrive at the fair until almost three. So I didn’t get to check out any of the workshops the website had mentioned, but there was still plenty to see.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I guess in previous years, the vendors had all been in one big room, and the place was jam-packed. This was the first year they expanded to two rooms, and everything was well-spaced, with wide aisles. There were lots of deals to be had, but I was fairly restrained. But not saintly.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I wandered both rooms, visiting every stall with varying degrees of interest. I had just wandered into my last stall, and was thinking it was weird that I hadn’t found the Linda’s Craftique booth, when I heard Linda call out my name. I turned around to find that I was, in fact, in her booth. It was nice to see a few familiar faces (and familiar F.O.s).</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2876676355/" title="Knitting show by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Knitting show" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2876676355_e9545f8ebd.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2877509486/" title="satellite by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="satellite" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2877509486_8d2024f1c5.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It continued to pour all day, which didn’t really bother the knitters, as they scurried from hall to car laden with fibre and tools.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I stayed right up to the end, at 4:30 (partly in hopes that some vendors might suddenly decide to lighten their loads home and offer ridiculous deals) then headed back to my car in the suddenly empty parking lot.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I was a bit confuddled to find a satellite dish in the middle of some bushes by my car. Next to… nothing at all. Okay.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2877510508/" title="on the road by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="on the road" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2877510508_13d4edb42f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Then it was back on the road for me. Despite the rain, it was a lovely drive along familiar roads.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2877510976/" title="horses by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="horses" height="349" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2877510976_e3faf384f3.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I love driving back roads at this time of year. Even better is a couple of weeks from now, when the leaves have started to change, and the world is awash with sunset colours.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2876679407/" title="rainy road by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="rainy road" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2876679407_c5935c6fd4.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">But this time of year is lovely, too, with the rich browns and yellows of the fields, all on a backdrop of lush greenness.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2877512284/" title="fall approaches by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="fall
approaches" height="367" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2877512284_46ac65ed0a.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And every now and then, in the distance, or – more startlingly – suddenly in a field flashing by, you can see bright sheets of brilliant yellow canola.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2876680651/" title="distant yellow by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="distant
yellow" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2876680651_5bf245a347.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Yes, I know I probably took too many pictures, but I don’t get out this way nearly often enough these days.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I didn’t even notice the big windmill behind this house until I was going through the photo files later at home. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2877513232/" title="rain and wind by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="rain and wind" height="349" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2877513232_b5384bdb1a.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I took the long, slow way back to Guelph, and then through the city, driving along roads that took me back in time about nine years.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2877513824/" title="field by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="field" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2877513824_95018fe505.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It’s been bothering me that I couldn’t remember the name of the street I lived on in second year, so I swung by that way to remind myself that it was “Keats Crescent”. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2876682109/" title="keats by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="keats" height="371" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/2876682109_270ba101a1.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I drove south on highway 6, past the lawn furniture/camping equipment place that has life size dinosaur statues. (no idea)</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2877514762/" title="dino furniture by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="dino
furniture" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2877514762_92a15cfe42.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And when I got home, I drooled over my purchases. I got some lovely green roving, a spool, and this beautiful niddy noddy.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2876683211/" title="niddy noddy by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="niddy noddy" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2876683211_b5deced6b0.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I think I became interested in spinning mainly for the beautiful tools and their fun names.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After playing with my new toys, I got dinner together. The last of my homemade tomato sauce over shell pasta with plenty of parmesan.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2876683585/" title="dinner by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="dinner" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2876683585_f549be6444.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Then I flaked out on the couch. I was not alone.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2877516372/" title="bliss by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="bliss" height="348" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2877516372_1809013002.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-23050289197990486982008-09-17T20:38:00.000-04:002008-09-17T20:38:58.842-04:00Harrow FairA couple of weekends ago - Labour Day weekend, in fact - I paid my second annual visit to the Harrow Fair.<br />
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I wasn't terribly surprised to find that not a whole lot has changed in the past year. There were the same giant sunflowers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2838409048_3449334ce1.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2838409048_3449334ce1.jpg?v=0" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The same very, very tall sunflowers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/2837575173_dded7645cb.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/2837575173_dded7645cb.jpg?v=0" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did notice the Lego category, which was new to me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2838411780_18fd02f3e7.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2838411780_18fd02f3e7.jpg?v=0" /></a></div><br />
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And last year, I don't remember seeing quite so many categories for flower arrangements. They included 'Best single red rose in a white vase - 10" division', and the one below, 'People put flowers in the darnedest things'.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2837577535_f4b1f74c59.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2837577535_f4b1f74c59.jpg?v=0" /></a></div>Those 'darned' things included a soup can, an old banjo or guitar, and a bedpan.<br />
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The critters were pretty much the same. Though I'd imagine they were the next generation, as they were advertised for sale by the pound in many cases.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2837580475_537b06524a.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2837580475_537b06524a.jpg?v=0" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2837581531_5bd9482134.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2837581531_5bd9482134.jpg?v=0" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2837581879_474daa0bf8.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2837581879_474daa0bf8.jpg?v=0" /></a></div><br />
I didn't see one of these last year - a display on knitting and crocheting.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/2838412668_44be055a81.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/2838412668_44be055a81.jpg?v=0" /></a></div><br />
I guess I was still developing my 'fibre art radar' last Labour Day.<br />
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Unfortunately, the turkey was not one of little Kiona's highlights. While she found it hilarious when I or her mum would 'gobble' at her, it was not at all funny when a giant, ugly bird did it face-to-face.<br />
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This was just before things got a little teary.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2837581317_2aaeefd61f.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2837581317_2aaeefd61f.jpg?v=0" /></a></div><br />
Which leads me to the biggest difference between last year and this year.<br />
<br />
Last year (please note bulge):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1342/1325320782_9d9d33d740.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1342/1325320782_9d9d33d740.jpg?v=0" /></a> </div>And this year (please note bulge is now walking and has developed high levels of cuteness):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2837579419_81e4810045.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2837579419_81e4810045.jpg?v=0" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Who knows what next year will bring.</div>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-42134520651157828502008-09-09T21:12:00.000-04:002008-09-09T21:27:55.162-04:00SurpriseThe second project that I finished up this weekend was this little bluey greeny item.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/2838422784_797300f8ca.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/2838422784_797300f8ca.jpg?v=0" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If it looks vaguely familiar, that's because yes, I did just make another one of these. But it also means that you saw it on Ravelry, because I have been a bad, bad blogger. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, here's my first:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2772246679_be26d75d41.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2772246679_be26d75d41.jpg?v=0" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are both <a href="http://www.schoolhousepress.com/spunout.htm">Baby Surprise Jackets</a>, knit from <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/felici%20self%20striping%20sock%20yarn_YD5420165.html?">Knitpicks Felici</a> sock yarn. It's wonderfully soft and perfect for baby projects. The socks are cable rib socks, from the "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/better-than-booties-baby-socks">Better than Booties</a>" collection from Interweave knits. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2773093480_e23ecd29bf.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2773093480_e23ecd29bf.jpg?v=0" /></a></div><br />
The pink/blue/green (Coney Island colourway) jacket and bootees went to my cousin's new little one, Tristan, out in Edmonton. The blue/green/brown (Schooner colourway) is destined for an as-yet unknown baby, due in about three weeks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/2837589409_5a9cc4d991.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/2837589409_5a9cc4d991.jpg?v=0" /></a></div><br />
These are really cute, fast projects, and I can see myself doing plenty more in the future. I do have to say that I did not have much luck following Elizabeth Zimmerman's pattern. The style of writing there just didn't click for me. It was the <a href="http://www.3gcs.com/adcock/free%20patterns/BSS%20Notes.htm">Baby Surprise Notes</a> by Dawn Adcock that made it possible for me to knit - and enjoy knitting - these jackets. The notes don't give you the pattern - that, you still need to buy or borrow. But they give you the pattern instructions line by line, more like a modern pattern. <br />
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Which, yes, may be a bit of spoon feeding, but apparently, that's what I need, so I'm glad it's available.<br />
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I know! Two posts in two days! Crazy!Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-54809355546950604962008-09-08T19:51:00.001-04:002008-09-08T20:17:49.273-04:00Wee Things<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2837592745/" title="ends by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="ends" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2837592745_15ea8f35a9.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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There's really only one thing a picture like this can mean to a knitter. Things have been finished!<br />
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I spent most of the weekend seaming, weaving in ends, sewing on buttons, and blocking. I rarely left the couch, which was pretty much the plan going into the weekend, after a somewhat hellacious Friday spent hopping from one waiting room to the next, as I tried to deal with a messed up cornea. Which, by the way, was made much worse by doctor number two (of three) scraping at it because he thought there was something on my eye. Turns out, he was seeing a scratch and misinterpreting it as some kind of foreign material. Thanks, doc! Oh, well. He did send me off to an ophthamologist, who gave me very good eyedrops.<br />
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Anyway - knitting! The first project I finished up was my pair of Embossed Leaves socks.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2837585431/" title="Embossed Leaves 1 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Embossed Leaves 1" height="465" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2837585431_82c18fff86.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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These were knit out of some lovely hand dyed yarn from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=103438">Sunnyside Ellen'</a>s etsy shop. The yarn was dyed to give a gradual descent into darker shades. I started with the lighter end, as the socks were knit top-down. I was a bit disappointed that I never made it to the darkest green shades.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2837584163_1297a732f6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2837584163_1297a732f6.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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If I did this again, I'd likely choose a toe-up and go the other way, since I'd rather see more of the darker green. But that's really the only disappointment, and it's a minor one.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2837585033_c75618bd3c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2837585033_c75618bd3c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The pattern was easy to memorize, and gives really lovely results. It also gave me the chance to try a star toe for the first time, as shown in the awkward photograph above.<br />
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The only really unusual thing about these socks was the way I finished them up. I used a nine inch circular needle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2838417562_f8b8c8996a.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2838417562_f8b8c8996a.jpg?v=0" width="420" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Apparently, this is a new offering from Hiya Hiya, and Linda my LYSO of <a href="http://www.lindascraftique.com/">Linda's Craftique</a> was kind enough to let me try this out. I admit that it's a bit awkward at first, as the needles themselves (as opposed to the cable) are very short. I think that a lot of people just wouldn't enjoy using these, but it works for me just because I happen to hold my needles just right for them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2837583565_c66e5a8581.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2837583565_c66e5a8581.jpg?v=0" width="344" /></a></div><br />
They're ideal for a purse knitting project, and I like them well enough that I've used them to cast on for my next sock project. Which are the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/uptown-boot-socks">Uptown Boot Socks</a> from <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Favorite-Socks-Timeless-Designs-Interweave-Ann-Budd/9781596680326-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527favorite+socks%2527">Favorite Socks</a> (that's really hard to type without the "u", by the way), in safety orange.<br />
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Up next - more finished stuff!Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-4863122117072163582008-08-19T20:48:00.000-04:002008-08-19T21:24:00.819-04:00For me!I won a contest!<br />
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A couple of weeks ago, I added a comment to 1600 others to congratulate <a href="http://www.theloopyewe.com/sheri/">Sheri </a>at <a href="http://www.theloopyewe.com/">The Loopy Ewe </a>on her second anniversary. And I was chosen as one of sixteen winners, much to my shock and amazement.<br />
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The package arrived today, and was just a fabulous way to celebrate a beautiful, cool summer day.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2779874546/" title="Loopy prize wrapped up by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Loopy prize wrapped up" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2779874546_3429f5f41a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I knew the yarn would be yummy, so I left it as the last thing to be unwrapped. What a fun little package. There's a Loopy Ewe mini tote bag with a little tag that reads "Sock yarns don't count as stash!" and a cute little pin. The pattern is for Making Tracks socks, by <a href="http://wendyknits.net/">Wendy</a>. This is one I'll definitely be trying out. Sorry it's not really in the picture, but <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/making-tracks">here</a>'s the Ravelry link.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2779018375/" title="Loopy Ewe prizes by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Loopy Ewe prizes" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2779018375_08ec3bd21f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And then there was the yarn. Oh, the yarn.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2779019031/" title="Loopy Prize yarn by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Loopy Prize yarn" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2779019031_1c8c74ee0f.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
There is a skein of Wollmeise in a vibrant, yummy fall colourway called Campari Orange.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2779020699/" title="Wollmeise Campari by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Wollmeise Campari" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/2779020699_06744362bc.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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It feels lovely and soft, and seems to be a thinner yarn than most of the sock yarns I've used. I may actually need to swatch to make sure I use this to the best of its abilities. And since this is "the" yarn right now, I want to make sure I get the most out of it.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2779876806/" title="Wollmeise Campari by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Wollmeise Campari" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2779876806_8886df353c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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But as lovely as the Wollmeise is, I have to admit that I've fallen for the Yarn Love Juliet.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2779875666/" title="Yarn Love Juliet by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Yarn Love Juliet" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2779875666_380d8c24d0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I doubt I would ever have picked out this colourway on my own. But as soon as I held it in my hands, I knew it was the colourway I never knew I always wanted.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2779875930/" title="Yarn Love Juliet by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Yarn Love Juliet" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/2779875930_c38b791214.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
It's all my favourite colours and combinations rolled into one. It has the warm, toasty fall colours, the rich brown, and the bright, sunny-skies-blue. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2779019949/" title="Yarn Love Juliet by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Yarn Love Juliet" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2779019949_e9baf18de4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And if you happen to know what I do for a living, you'll know why the name of the colourway is particularly appropriate and cracks me up.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2779020189/" title="Yarn Love Juliet by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Yarn Love Juliet" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2779020189_b7da815f61.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Thanks to Sheri and the Loopy Ewe!Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593080.post-53140800293635253342008-08-15T17:42:00.000-04:002008-08-15T17:53:35.194-04:00In a SpinI'm still not entirely sure how it happened. I was in Romni Wools, picking up some yarn for a very special project (not sure if I can blog about it yet) and I wandered down to the basement. This is where the sales rooms are, full of bins and boxes that you can dig and dive through in hopes of finding treasure. On the way to the sales rooms, you pass by the spinning supplies: wheels, roving, spindles, and miscellaneous mysterious gadgets. I rarely give these a second glance, beyond making sure my sleeve doesn't catch on anything as I move along.<br />
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So I still don't really know how I came to be standing at the checkout, paying for this:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2669219643/" title="Spindle by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="Spindle" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2669219643_b7cdbd9da8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And this:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2670042676/" title="First Roving 2 by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="First Roving 2" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/2670042676_87a3982db9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I haven't been really all that interested in spinning. It just seemed the slow way to get yarn. But I'm finding that I'm enjoying the movement and the feel of the fibre in my hands. And it's rewarding to start with a bag of fuzzy blue intestines, and end up with a cute little skein like this.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaedri/2732798413/" title="My First Yarn by Vaedri1, on Flickr"><img alt="My First Yarn" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2732798413_eaca0f6404.jpg" width="500" /></a>Vaedrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14868689454740544831noreply@blogger.com2