My oldest son Aidan is just on the brink of his formal education--he starts kindergarten in the fall. He's so excited by the prospect that the greatest compliment you can give him now is to say he is acting "just like a schoolkid." He role-plays the school day all the time--our family dinners become cafeteria lunches, drawing sessions become homework, and time at the park across the street becomes recess. I hope this enthusiasm continues once he really is in school!
But there's one part of his education that I think we'll need to supplement, and that's his education in music. My own music education was woefully spotty. I had a few private instructors teach me (first on the organ, then on the guitar), but they never followed any particular curriculum. I came away with bits and pieces of knowledge from one teacher, and a little bit of something from the next. And what I learned in school didn't fill in any of the gaps.
So, in the time-honored tradition of wanting better things for my kids, I've decided to find a good music teacher for Aidan. But where to start? There are countless private teachers in this area (with the same potential pitfalls I faced). There are schools that teach the Suzuki method, the Yamaha method, the this-method, the that-method. It's all very daunting to a musically untrained person like myself. I want a logical, systematic curriculum, but most of all, I want it to be fun for him. Much of the reason I gave up music lessons was because of being bored to tears with scales and exercises. I want better for my kid.
But not only that, he also wants to play soccer.
I live in fear of becoming one of those stressed-out families, with too many time commitments and not enough time. One of those families that never eats dinner together and only sees one another in passing from one lesson to another. I won't let us become that, but I want the kids to be able to explore the things they're interested in. It's going to be a balancing act.
The knitting is coming along just fine. No photos of the progress on Quinn, but I'm getting into the home stretch on the main part of the bag. A few more quiet evenings of work on it, and I'll have something to show!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
new projects, not all knitting
I have new projects to work on these days, but the first isn't really new. The other day, I made the bold decision to start keeping my journal in handwritten volumes again.
This was a big decision for me. When my first son was born nearly 5 years ago, I abandoned the handwritten volumes and started keeping my journal on the computer. After all, I can type so much faster than I can write, and keeping the journal electronically would allow me to keep up the habit of a lifetime during a very busy time of my life. But as it turned out, I hated the Microsoft Word journal. Even though I was able to capture my ephemeral thoughts more quickly, the electronic words had no life of their own. (Ironic that I should say this at the very moment I am creating more electronic words.) Anyway, I was in Harvard Square and went to a wonderful stationers shop, where I found a delectable orange leather journal, with pages and pages of space to write. I bought a new pen and a giant cup of tea, and set about the task of writing all my personal stuff down. It felt so good! I started my first journal in 1974 and have never stopped writing since. Yum.
And more knitting projects on the horizon. I'm making a purse with the Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran I bought at Wild and Woolly in Lexington. I'm using Yvonne's pattern Quinn, and it's turning out beautifully so far. The top of the bag is a cabled band worked horizontally, then stitches are picked up along the edge of the band to work the remaining part of the bag.
I have to say, Rowan has just not impressed me with this wool. I've found not one, not two, but THREE knots in a single skein of this yarn! Not only that, but in places the yarn is so weak that it breaks. I'm not a tense knitter--my knitting tends to be on the loose side--so that really means the yarn is weak. All I can say is that I'm glad I got the wool on sale. I would have been mighty angry if I'd paid full price for this knotty, weakling yarn!
Not only that, I received my first shipment of Knit Picks yarn. I've read so much about it on other people's blogs that I just had to try it. I bought their merino yarn for my husband's new sweater, and spent a whopping $37 on it! The yarn is silky soft, and I can't wait to get going on it!
With the yarn for my husband's sweater, I also received enough yarn to make another tam...
This was a big decision for me. When my first son was born nearly 5 years ago, I abandoned the handwritten volumes and started keeping my journal on the computer. After all, I can type so much faster than I can write, and keeping the journal electronically would allow me to keep up the habit of a lifetime during a very busy time of my life. But as it turned out, I hated the Microsoft Word journal. Even though I was able to capture my ephemeral thoughts more quickly, the electronic words had no life of their own. (Ironic that I should say this at the very moment I am creating more electronic words.) Anyway, I was in Harvard Square and went to a wonderful stationers shop, where I found a delectable orange leather journal, with pages and pages of space to write. I bought a new pen and a giant cup of tea, and set about the task of writing all my personal stuff down. It felt so good! I started my first journal in 1974 and have never stopped writing since. Yum.
And more knitting projects on the horizon. I'm making a purse with the Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran I bought at Wild and Woolly in Lexington. I'm using Yvonne's pattern Quinn, and it's turning out beautifully so far. The top of the bag is a cabled band worked horizontally, then stitches are picked up along the edge of the band to work the remaining part of the bag.
I have to say, Rowan has just not impressed me with this wool. I've found not one, not two, but THREE knots in a single skein of this yarn! Not only that, but in places the yarn is so weak that it breaks. I'm not a tense knitter--my knitting tends to be on the loose side--so that really means the yarn is weak. All I can say is that I'm glad I got the wool on sale. I would have been mighty angry if I'd paid full price for this knotty, weakling yarn!
Not only that, I received my first shipment of Knit Picks yarn. I've read so much about it on other people's blogs that I just had to try it. I bought their merino yarn for my husband's new sweater, and spent a whopping $37 on it! The yarn is silky soft, and I can't wait to get going on it!
With the yarn for my husband's sweater, I also received enough yarn to make another tam...
Friday, January 19, 2007
snowy day
It's the tiniest of snowy days today, by New England standards. Maybe a quarter inch of wet slushy snow has fallen on the ground, not even enough to shovel. But there is something about snow, even a little bit, that makes the world slow down and become quieter. It's as if Mother Nature is putting a blanket over the world and telling you that humankind isn't really in control here. Today's snowfall isn't even to keep anyone in, but it's enough to dredge up memories and stories about snowstorms of all kinds, especially the Blizzard of '78. I wasn't in New England then, but I've heard the stories, and it gives me a healthy respect for what Mother Nature can do.
For me, though, snowy days make me really want to curl up on the couch and cover up with the Magic Afghan.
The Magic Afghan was knit by my mother probably 40 years ago, from acrylic yarns in then-fashionable shades of avocado green and harvest gold. It became known as the Magic Afghan because it used to always make me fall asleep when I wrapped myself in it. It's one of my prized possessions, and my kids are growing to love it the same way I do.
For me, though, snowy days make me really want to curl up on the couch and cover up with the Magic Afghan.
The Magic Afghan was knit by my mother probably 40 years ago, from acrylic yarns in then-fashionable shades of avocado green and harvest gold. It became known as the Magic Afghan because it used to always make me fall asleep when I wrapped myself in it. It's one of my prized possessions, and my kids are growing to love it the same way I do.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
more hats!
I finished my hats for Portia and Throsby and put them in the mail.
Portia's hat is made of wonderfully heathery purple Cascade yarn knit in the Coronet pattern from Knitty. I made just one small modification--I created a small hole in the back for Portia's ponytail to poke through, so she can wear a hat and keep her whole head warm. Now she'll have a purple hat to match the one that her American Girl doll is wearing...which was supposed to be Portia's hat, but it came out WAY too small!
Throsby's hat is a double-layer hat made from Reynolds Andean Alpaca Regal yarn in shades of black and grey. With a provisional cast-on of black yarn, I knit ribbing for a bit more than 4 inches (twice the depth of the cuff when flipped up), then knit a basic stocking cap out of dark grey. After finishing the dark grey cap, I then picked up the stitches from the provisional cast-on and knit another stocking cap going thr other direction in a lighter grey. When the second cap was finished, I turned one cap inside the other and tacked them together at the top. This hat should be wonderfully warm, which should keep Throsby's ears toasty warm when he's on his paper route!
Next on the knitting agenda is a cable knitted bag called Quinn. I'm using Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran in a deep chocolatey brown that I bought at Wild and Woolly's semi-annual sale. Yum!
Portia's hat is made of wonderfully heathery purple Cascade yarn knit in the Coronet pattern from Knitty. I made just one small modification--I created a small hole in the back for Portia's ponytail to poke through, so she can wear a hat and keep her whole head warm. Now she'll have a purple hat to match the one that her American Girl doll is wearing...which was supposed to be Portia's hat, but it came out WAY too small!
Throsby's hat is a double-layer hat made from Reynolds Andean Alpaca Regal yarn in shades of black and grey. With a provisional cast-on of black yarn, I knit ribbing for a bit more than 4 inches (twice the depth of the cuff when flipped up), then knit a basic stocking cap out of dark grey. After finishing the dark grey cap, I then picked up the stitches from the provisional cast-on and knit another stocking cap going thr other direction in a lighter grey. When the second cap was finished, I turned one cap inside the other and tacked them together at the top. This hat should be wonderfully warm, which should keep Throsby's ears toasty warm when he's on his paper route!Next on the knitting agenda is a cable knitted bag called Quinn. I'm using Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran in a deep chocolatey brown that I bought at Wild and Woolly's semi-annual sale. Yum!
Sunday, January 07, 2007
tempus fugit (time flies!)
Saturday was a magnificent spring day (in January?!), and the boys and I decided to wander parts of Boston to "see what we can see." I had my camera with me, so you can see a little part of our long walk. Warm and sunny, the day was a real gift.
We started our walk in Downtown Crossing, with a visit to Windsor Button to buy some size 7 circular needles. (Yes, I have a million sets of circulars, but no size 7s. And I think I'm doomed never to have size 7s, because the pair I bought disappeared as soon as I brought them into the house. But I digress.)
Just outside the knitting shop, I looked up and saw this wonderful torch. I love the Art Nouveau styling of the building number. The shopfront here is completely nondescript, but fortunately no previous renovator decided to dismantle the lovely torch.
We picked up some lunch and decided to have an urban picnic. We found a place to sit near Macy's, where we spent some time people-watching while we filled our bellies. This part of Downtown Crossing is a great place to watch people, because it is such a crossroads for the city. The kids loved watching the taxis and police patrolmen and hotdog vendors.
This is an area of real change. Longtime Boston residents lament the closing of Jordan Marsh, and more recently Filene's. Chain stores have moved in--and moved out--of the area. Some things seem eternal, like the chiming of the bells on the old Filene's on the hour, every hour. And then there are new discoveries, like the solar-powered trash compactors.
Here's a view of Washington Street heading north. Like many older cities, it's a real mishmash of architectural styles, including the 18th-century Old South Meetinghouse, generic skyscrapers, and a humble little 1970s-era CVS. Just a short walk from here is Boston's famous Faneuil Hall, as well as its hideous City Hall. Such a city of contrasts.
Look up when you're in Boston, and you'll see some interesting details.
This medallion is over the side entrance of a once-grand building whose first floor has been remodeled beyond recognition. Perhaps because this medallion was on a side street, nobody thought it worth the effort to remove in the name of "progress."
Here's one we saw later in the day, a small detail of a building on Boylston Street in Back Bay.
Sometimes this amount of detail can seem almost overwhelming, but it amazes me to think about the value that businessowners and architects used to place on detail. I think fewer people think about the longevity of buildings today, so they often aren't as willing to invest in the effort to create beauty.
Aidan shares my interest in old graveyards, so we went to explore King's Chapel Burying Ground.
Most of the graves there are from the 1600s and 1700s, though I did notice one from 2003! Anyway, we used this visit to talk about the imagery we saw on the gravestones and what they symbolized. Most are quite somber, but this one made death look quite cheerful.
This one was more somber and serious, in keeping with the many skeletons and skulls we saw carved upon the stones. If you look carefully, you can see the skeleton holding a candle-snuffer, ready to snuff out the flame on the candle. Heavy stuff indeed.
Something lighter was in order next, so we walked over the Boston Common to see what was happening (along with 99.9% of the city's residents who were out enjoying the glorious day.) A few brave souls ventured onto Frog Pond for some ice skating, but the surface of the ice refused to freeze. As some of the more accomplished skaters made quick turns, water sprayed off the blades of the skates and glistened in the sunlight.
Time to be an airplane!
Here's another part of Boston that is about to change--the Ritz-Carlton. Later this week, it will become Taj Boston, after having been sold away from the Ritz-Carlton company. Actually, this isn't really part of old Boston--it only goes back to 1927--but there is so much changing in Boston that a lot of people are getting very nostalgic. I have to admit, I'm one of them. I always fancied having "tea at the Ritz," but it doesn't sound the same to say "tea at the Taj" (though that sounds like it could have an exotic appeal, doesn't it?).
Dazzling display of cherry blossoms in January.
Delightful, beautiful, and yet so sad because the cold weather will come and shock the living daylights out of the trees. I wonder if we will have much a spring after getting this preview so early?
Our usual stop to see Mrs. Mallard and her babies, the bronze statues in the Public Garden modeled after the characters in the book Make Way for Ducklings. Douglas and Aidan seem to have a built-in homing device that alerts them when we're within walking distance of Mrs. Mallard, so we go visit her just about every time we're in town.
This time, though, we had a little drama of a quarrel between two stubborn 4-year-old girls over the next-to-last duckling, Pack. Despite the fact that Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, and Quack were all free, the girls fussed and shouted screamed about sitting on Pack. Both little girls were as cute as their behavior was horrid, but their parents laughed off their behavior, even when one of the girls smacked her mother and told her "I hate you!" Her mom saw that other parents were watching, and she simply laughed and said "see what I have to put up with?" Oh dear, her future is going to be mighty grim...
But at long last, our day of discovery came to an end. With the sun dipping low in the sky, it was time to cross the bridge in the Public Garden and head back to the car. Two weary boys and one weary mom, but it was a beautiful day. I'll remember it when the snow comes...later this week, they say!
We started our walk in Downtown Crossing, with a visit to Windsor Button to buy some size 7 circular needles. (Yes, I have a million sets of circulars, but no size 7s. And I think I'm doomed never to have size 7s, because the pair I bought disappeared as soon as I brought them into the house. But I digress.)
Just outside the knitting shop, I looked up and saw this wonderful torch. I love the Art Nouveau styling of the building number. The shopfront here is completely nondescript, but fortunately no previous renovator decided to dismantle the lovely torch.We picked up some lunch and decided to have an urban picnic. We found a place to sit near Macy's, where we spent some time people-watching while we filled our bellies. This part of Downtown Crossing is a great place to watch people, because it is such a crossroads for the city. The kids loved watching the taxis and police patrolmen and hotdog vendors.
This is an area of real change. Longtime Boston residents lament the closing of Jordan Marsh, and more recently Filene's. Chain stores have moved in--and moved out--of the area. Some things seem eternal, like the chiming of the bells on the old Filene's on the hour, every hour. And then there are new discoveries, like the solar-powered trash compactors.
Here's a view of Washington Street heading north. Like many older cities, it's a real mishmash of architectural styles, including the 18th-century Old South Meetinghouse, generic skyscrapers, and a humble little 1970s-era CVS. Just a short walk from here is Boston's famous Faneuil Hall, as well as its hideous City Hall. Such a city of contrasts.Look up when you're in Boston, and you'll see some interesting details.
This medallion is over the side entrance of a once-grand building whose first floor has been remodeled beyond recognition. Perhaps because this medallion was on a side street, nobody thought it worth the effort to remove in the name of "progress."
Here's one we saw later in the day, a small detail of a building on Boylston Street in Back Bay.
Sometimes this amount of detail can seem almost overwhelming, but it amazes me to think about the value that businessowners and architects used to place on detail. I think fewer people think about the longevity of buildings today, so they often aren't as willing to invest in the effort to create beauty.
Aidan shares my interest in old graveyards, so we went to explore King's Chapel Burying Ground.
Most of the graves there are from the 1600s and 1700s, though I did notice one from 2003! Anyway, we used this visit to talk about the imagery we saw on the gravestones and what they symbolized. Most are quite somber, but this one made death look quite cheerful.
This one was more somber and serious, in keeping with the many skeletons and skulls we saw carved upon the stones. If you look carefully, you can see the skeleton holding a candle-snuffer, ready to snuff out the flame on the candle. Heavy stuff indeed.
Something lighter was in order next, so we walked over the Boston Common to see what was happening (along with 99.9% of the city's residents who were out enjoying the glorious day.) A few brave souls ventured onto Frog Pond for some ice skating, but the surface of the ice refused to freeze. As some of the more accomplished skaters made quick turns, water sprayed off the blades of the skates and glistened in the sunlight.
Time to be an airplane!
Here's another part of Boston that is about to change--the Ritz-Carlton. Later this week, it will become Taj Boston, after having been sold away from the Ritz-Carlton company. Actually, this isn't really part of old Boston--it only goes back to 1927--but there is so much changing in Boston that a lot of people are getting very nostalgic. I have to admit, I'm one of them. I always fancied having "tea at the Ritz," but it doesn't sound the same to say "tea at the Taj" (though that sounds like it could have an exotic appeal, doesn't it?).Dazzling display of cherry blossoms in January.
Delightful, beautiful, and yet so sad because the cold weather will come and shock the living daylights out of the trees. I wonder if we will have much a spring after getting this preview so early?
Our usual stop to see Mrs. Mallard and her babies, the bronze statues in the Public Garden modeled after the characters in the book Make Way for Ducklings. Douglas and Aidan seem to have a built-in homing device that alerts them when we're within walking distance of Mrs. Mallard, so we go visit her just about every time we're in town. This time, though, we had a little drama of a quarrel between two stubborn 4-year-old girls over the next-to-last duckling, Pack. Despite the fact that Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, and Quack were all free, the girls fussed and shouted screamed about sitting on Pack. Both little girls were as cute as their behavior was horrid, but their parents laughed off their behavior, even when one of the girls smacked her mother and told her "I hate you!" Her mom saw that other parents were watching, and she simply laughed and said "see what I have to put up with?" Oh dear, her future is going to be mighty grim...
But at long last, our day of discovery came to an end. With the sun dipping low in the sky, it was time to cross the bridge in the Public Garden and head back to the car. Two weary boys and one weary mom, but it was a beautiful day. I'll remember it when the snow comes...later this week, they say!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
new year, new projects
After the dismal failure of Portia's purple hat (which ended up too small and now graces the head of her American Girl doll), I have started a new one. This one is based on the Coronet pattern from Knitty, but I made one small change. I loved the idea of a hat with a hole for a ponytail to poke through, so I added one just above the braided border. Portia wears her ponytails low like that, so I think this should suit her just fine.I have to say, though, I don't like knitting in the round on double-pointed needles. Despite the fact that I inherited my grandmother's massive collection of knitting needles, I didn't have a set of size 8 circulars. Every place I went was sold out, so I've had to do the whole thing on the dp needles. They really slow me down! With circulars or with regular flat knitting, I can fly, but the dp needles are so awkward for me. Needless to say, I have no desire to try knitting socks....
I know I'm completely in the minority here, because I see from so many blogs that knitters everywhere love knitting socks. How many thousands of socks were knit for Socktober? How many of you have lovingly posted the pairs and pairs of socks that you've made for yourselves and your family? But I just don't get it! Apart from the dp needle issue, I would find it heartbreaking to knit something that will get worn out! I've worn holes in countless socks, and I've felt no compunction about tossing them out. But a handknit sock? I'd cry!
Maybe the appeal is the small size of the project? If that's the case, I'd much rather knit hats and scarves (can't have too many!). Next, after Portia's hat, I'm making one for her brother Throsby. His will be a double-layered hat in some deliciously soft Reynolds Andean Alpaca Regal. I made a hat for Aidan out of that yarn two years ago, and not only is it wonderfully warm, but it wears beautifully.
Now if only I could find more time to knit! I have such a backlog of projects--and my favorite yarn shop is having its semi-annual clearance sale next week. Yes, I will be one of the insane knitters queuing up at 7:00am to be one of the first in the door...
Friday, December 29, 2006
time for knitting again
As usual, Christmas went by in a flurry of activity, and now life begins to calm back down. In and amongst the presents, the cookies, and the Christmas cake we somehow forgot to finish making (!), I had time to work on a couple of projects. Astounding!
The first is a basic tam, using the pattern in Mary Rowe's Knitted Tams book and that luscious Mountain Colors hand-painted yarn that I bought at Windsor Button in November. I flew through this one, finishing it in a mere two days after casting on. I'm not a huge fan of variegated yarns, but I like the way this one made almost a spider-web pattern, with the swirls of the decreases looking like a subtle shadow-spider.
It will need a little elastic around the ribbing to help keep it snug, though. I've made two other tams using Mary Rowe's pattern, and the small amount of 1x1 ribbing isn't enough to keep the hat on my head, especially in Boston's sometimes ferociously windy wintry days. A little bit of cord elastic, though, and this hat (like the others) will suit me perfectly.
There's something almost unbearably optimistic about a tam or beret, I think. You can't help but wear it at a sort of jaunty angle, which never fails to give me a jaunty attitude.
Next is a work in progress that should be finished very shortly. My two stepkids gave me the most thoughtful gift--two balls of Artful Yarns' Flirtation, a wonderfully nobbly yarn just right for a playful scarf. This yarn has been a very quick knit, and I've finished up one skein and am midway through the next one. I love the way the colors fade from one to the next, with a texture that reminds me of the toy poodle I had many years ago. (My mother used to say that it would be great to save all the hair from that poodle to knit into sweaters. At the time, I thought she was nuts, but it's not sounding so crazy to me these days. How many people do you know have an authentic poodle scarf? :)
And today I made a trip to one of my favorite metro-Boston yarn shops, Wild and Woolly in Lexington, for some yarns to make hats for my stepkids. The purple hat I'd made last week was woefully too small, so that became a winter hat for Portia's American Girl doll, and I will start again for one for Portia. And Throsby could certainly use a warm hat to keep his ears warm on his paper route, so I will be making a double-layer wool hat for him. More to come as I make progress on these ones.
The first is a basic tam, using the pattern in Mary Rowe's Knitted Tams book and that luscious Mountain Colors hand-painted yarn that I bought at Windsor Button in November. I flew through this one, finishing it in a mere two days after casting on. I'm not a huge fan of variegated yarns, but I like the way this one made almost a spider-web pattern, with the swirls of the decreases looking like a subtle shadow-spider. It will need a little elastic around the ribbing to help keep it snug, though. I've made two other tams using Mary Rowe's pattern, and the small amount of 1x1 ribbing isn't enough to keep the hat on my head, especially in Boston's sometimes ferociously windy wintry days. A little bit of cord elastic, though, and this hat (like the others) will suit me perfectly.
There's something almost unbearably optimistic about a tam or beret, I think. You can't help but wear it at a sort of jaunty angle, which never fails to give me a jaunty attitude.
Next is a work in progress that should be finished very shortly. My two stepkids gave me the most thoughtful gift--two balls of Artful Yarns' Flirtation, a wonderfully nobbly yarn just right for a playful scarf. This yarn has been a very quick knit, and I've finished up one skein and am midway through the next one. I love the way the colors fade from one to the next, with a texture that reminds me of the toy poodle I had many years ago. (My mother used to say that it would be great to save all the hair from that poodle to knit into sweaters. At the time, I thought she was nuts, but it's not sounding so crazy to me these days. How many people do you know have an authentic poodle scarf? :)
And today I made a trip to one of my favorite metro-Boston yarn shops, Wild and Woolly in Lexington, for some yarns to make hats for my stepkids. The purple hat I'd made last week was woefully too small, so that became a winter hat for Portia's American Girl doll, and I will start again for one for Portia. And Throsby could certainly use a warm hat to keep his ears warm on his paper route, so I will be making a double-layer wool hat for him. More to come as I make progress on these ones.
Friday, December 22, 2006
never start a knitted gift this late!
I should know better. In fact, I've patted myself on the back for knowing better. But then I succumbed to the temptation to make a knitted gift at the last minute.
Bad news.
About a week ago (not quite the last minute, but close), I found a wonderful pattern for a hat (Piggle from the latest issue of Knitty). I picked out the most wonderful purple yarn (Dalegarn) and started knitting. It was a lace pattern, which was new to me (despite having knit for 30 years!). Finally got the whole thing finished, and it was just adorable.
And it's too small.
It's supposed to be one size fits all, but it's not going to fit. Was it my gauge? I didn't do a test swatch (bad Tracy!), so that's the likely reason. And I know I don't have the time, patience, or fortitude to do it again in time for Christmas.
So, looks like I'll be stretching out Christmas into the new year.
Bad news.
About a week ago (not quite the last minute, but close), I found a wonderful pattern for a hat (Piggle from the latest issue of Knitty). I picked out the most wonderful purple yarn (Dalegarn) and started knitting. It was a lace pattern, which was new to me (despite having knit for 30 years!). Finally got the whole thing finished, and it was just adorable.
And it's too small.
It's supposed to be one size fits all, but it's not going to fit. Was it my gauge? I didn't do a test swatch (bad Tracy!), so that's the likely reason. And I know I don't have the time, patience, or fortitude to do it again in time for Christmas.
So, looks like I'll be stretching out Christmas into the new year.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
the cardigan, at last!
Here is Aidan's cardigan, finished at last! The sweater is deliberately a bit too big, because this boy grows at supersonic rates. He loves the sweater, despite saying it's itchy (hardly!), and was very keen to wear it the very day I finished it. Phew!Next to him is Douglas wearing a cardi I made a couple years ago. Yes, it's a hand-me-down from his big brother, but that's the benefit of having two boys. The sweaters have two lifetimes this way!
The Christmas cake is in the oven, courtesy of Delia Smith and two enthusiastic sous-chefs (alias Aidan and Douglas). Yes, the cake is about three weeks late, but better late than never!
Later today...the Christmas tree. The holiday is fast upon us!
Friday, December 15, 2006
to be jolly
It's been a hectic week, what with doctors' visits for checkups, work, school visits, etc. I finished Aidan's sweater and put the buttons last night, and he's proudly wearing it today (though part of it is covered with an enormous "I had a checkup!" sticker he received from the dentist today). Pictures to come as soon as I wrangle them out of my camera.
But to keep the healthy habit of blogging going, here's a little meme for the day, thanks to Amelia at My Fashionable Life.
Egg nog or hot chocolate? That’s a difficult choice. Either is fantastic, as long as they’re homemade.
Does Father Christmas wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Here the tradition is changing. When I was a kid, Santa put the unwrapped presents under the tree. But there weren’t any other little kids in the house, so it was clear that every unwrapped present was mine. Now that Santa visits my two boys, he wraps and labels the presents so they know whose is whose!
Coloured lights on tree/house or white? Mostly white. We—meaning I—broke down and bought some lighted reindeer for the front yard. I haven’t giggled that much in ages as when I saw them lit up for the first time. Who says Christmas is just for kids?
Do you hang mistletoe? No. Too many years of seeing it grow like the parasitic weed that it is in the trees in my Texas backyard.
When do you put up your decorations? It’s an ongoing thing. It all starts to come out after Thanksgiving, but the tree will go up this weekend.
What's your favourite Christmas dish? Do cookies count? I love the cookies my mom makes—Dutch speculaasjes. Just the best ever!!
Favourite Christmas memory as a child? I remember the sense of wonder and awe the year I was five, when I came into the living room and saw that Santa had really been there. I’d thought I’d heard him up on the roof on Christmas Eve, and how happy I was when I saw he’d brought me the Little Kiddles dolls and dollhouse that I really really wanted.
But I also had a very special Christmas the year I lived in Austria as an exchange student. Though I was sad to be away from my own family at Christmas—the first time I’d been away—it was wonderful to experience the holiday with a loving family with traditions of their own, some familiar, some not.
When and how did you learn the truth about Father Christmas? I don’t remember when I actually stopped believing, but I remember when I started to question. I asked my mother if there really was a Santa, and she told me that he would continue to come visit me as long as I truly believed. And he continued to fill my stocking until I had kids of my own…
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I did when I was a kid, but no more. Why spoil the fun?
How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Complete mishmash of ornaments I’ve collected over the years. And this year, we’ll add my mishmash of ornaments to my husband’s for a truly spectacular tree.
Snow! Love it or dread it? Depends on the time of year. The early snows are the best, simply magical, but by April, I’m getting r-e-a-l-l-y tired of it all.
Can you ice skate? Only under duress.
Do you remember your favourite gift? Actually, my favorite gift wasn’t one I received, but one that I gave. Way back in the 1980s, I was a member of my high-school yearbook staff. We had a big clear-out of one of the storage closets and came across some yearbooks from the late 1960s and early 1970s, all in brand-new condition. They wanted to throw them out to make room, but I saved a few of them from oblivion. And I gave them to my sister, who had never gotten the yearbooks while she was in school but really regretted it years later. I gave her back a piece of her childhood, and that was simply the best.
What's the most important thing about Christmas for you? The joy of children.
What's your favourite Christmas tradition? Making Christmas cookies. And this year, I can get the boys involved in the floury, frostinged mess!
What tops your tree? Um, not sure yet. We’re combining ornaments for the first time this year, so we’ll see what my husband has for the top of the tree. I’d made an angel for the top of mine years ago, but she looks a little demented. I wouldn’t mind it if she were replaced…
Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving, by far. I just find it so much easier thinking of ideas for other people.
What's your favourite Christmas song? Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmastime. It’s just so cheery!
Candy canes? Thanks, but no thanks…
But to keep the healthy habit of blogging going, here's a little meme for the day, thanks to Amelia at My Fashionable Life.
Egg nog or hot chocolate? That’s a difficult choice. Either is fantastic, as long as they’re homemade.
Does Father Christmas wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Here the tradition is changing. When I was a kid, Santa put the unwrapped presents under the tree. But there weren’t any other little kids in the house, so it was clear that every unwrapped present was mine. Now that Santa visits my two boys, he wraps and labels the presents so they know whose is whose!
Coloured lights on tree/house or white? Mostly white. We—meaning I—broke down and bought some lighted reindeer for the front yard. I haven’t giggled that much in ages as when I saw them lit up for the first time. Who says Christmas is just for kids?
Do you hang mistletoe? No. Too many years of seeing it grow like the parasitic weed that it is in the trees in my Texas backyard.
When do you put up your decorations? It’s an ongoing thing. It all starts to come out after Thanksgiving, but the tree will go up this weekend.
What's your favourite Christmas dish? Do cookies count? I love the cookies my mom makes—Dutch speculaasjes. Just the best ever!!
Favourite Christmas memory as a child? I remember the sense of wonder and awe the year I was five, when I came into the living room and saw that Santa had really been there. I’d thought I’d heard him up on the roof on Christmas Eve, and how happy I was when I saw he’d brought me the Little Kiddles dolls and dollhouse that I really really wanted.
But I also had a very special Christmas the year I lived in Austria as an exchange student. Though I was sad to be away from my own family at Christmas—the first time I’d been away—it was wonderful to experience the holiday with a loving family with traditions of their own, some familiar, some not.
When and how did you learn the truth about Father Christmas? I don’t remember when I actually stopped believing, but I remember when I started to question. I asked my mother if there really was a Santa, and she told me that he would continue to come visit me as long as I truly believed. And he continued to fill my stocking until I had kids of my own…
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I did when I was a kid, but no more. Why spoil the fun?
How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Complete mishmash of ornaments I’ve collected over the years. And this year, we’ll add my mishmash of ornaments to my husband’s for a truly spectacular tree.
Snow! Love it or dread it? Depends on the time of year. The early snows are the best, simply magical, but by April, I’m getting r-e-a-l-l-y tired of it all.
Can you ice skate? Only under duress.
Do you remember your favourite gift? Actually, my favorite gift wasn’t one I received, but one that I gave. Way back in the 1980s, I was a member of my high-school yearbook staff. We had a big clear-out of one of the storage closets and came across some yearbooks from the late 1960s and early 1970s, all in brand-new condition. They wanted to throw them out to make room, but I saved a few of them from oblivion. And I gave them to my sister, who had never gotten the yearbooks while she was in school but really regretted it years later. I gave her back a piece of her childhood, and that was simply the best.
What's the most important thing about Christmas for you? The joy of children.
What's your favourite Christmas tradition? Making Christmas cookies. And this year, I can get the boys involved in the floury, frostinged mess!
What tops your tree? Um, not sure yet. We’re combining ornaments for the first time this year, so we’ll see what my husband has for the top of the tree. I’d made an angel for the top of mine years ago, but she looks a little demented. I wouldn’t mind it if she were replaced…
Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving, by far. I just find it so much easier thinking of ideas for other people.
What's your favourite Christmas song? Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmastime. It’s just so cheery!
Candy canes? Thanks, but no thanks…
Friday, December 08, 2006
Mom, it's itchy!
I'm so close, so close to being done with Aidan's cardigan. It's all sewn together. Every stray end of yarn has been woven in. The cardigan is at home, blocking as we speak. All it needs now is buttons.
So last night, just before blocking it, I had Aidan try it on. I just had to see how this work of art would look on the handsome lad. And wouldn't you know, he wanted to pull it off right away. Mom, it's ITCHY!!!
How could that be? He was with me when we chose the @#$%& yarn. He tested every skein of yarn at the shop for itchiness and proclaimed this one to be entirely, unreservedly, without question free of itchiness. ARGH!
Do they make yarn out of polar fleece?
So last night, just before blocking it, I had Aidan try it on. I just had to see how this work of art would look on the handsome lad. And wouldn't you know, he wanted to pull it off right away. Mom, it's ITCHY!!!
How could that be? He was with me when we chose the @#$%& yarn. He tested every skein of yarn at the shop for itchiness and proclaimed this one to be entirely, unreservedly, without question free of itchiness. ARGH!
Do they make yarn out of polar fleece?
Monday, December 04, 2006
short season
Well, that was a short season. Went back to the store for those yummy scallops, only to find out they are no more. Sad Tracy.
On the knitting front--I'm slowly making progress on the buttonband for Aidan's cardigan. Once that's done, I just need to find some buttons and I can race ahead to the next project. I'm so ready for this one to be done. It's beautiful, but I'm ready for a new challenge.
Okay, so I announced (weeks ago!) that I would be starting a sweater for my husband, which I will do. But, I've been vicariously watching Yuki knit lace, and I'm tempted to start a lace project. I've never done lace before, and it looks really intimidating. Sure, I've been knitting for about 30 years. I've knit all sorts of Aran sweaters. But lace just looks so...hard. Still, I think it might be fun for a new challenge, but I may just be kind to myself and save it for the new year. Right now, I have plenty of challenges on my plate!
I don't have to finish any knit projects for gifts this year, thank goodness. I made a vow to myself long ago never to knit to a deadline. That's the best way to ruin all the fun! But I still need to do 90% of my Christmas shopping. I know it's still 3 weeks until Christmas, but time has a way of sneaking up on me...
Like yesterday, for example, when Tim and I planned to take the kids to get a Christmas tree. We'd talked about it the day before. We even drove past the place we'd like to get one, just to make sure they had trees this year (yes!) and that the place looks suitably festive for a Christmas-tree-acquiring event (yes!). And Sunday came and went, and we totally forgot about it. Both of us. Didn't remember until this morning.
How could I forget about Christmas???
On the knitting front--I'm slowly making progress on the buttonband for Aidan's cardigan. Once that's done, I just need to find some buttons and I can race ahead to the next project. I'm so ready for this one to be done. It's beautiful, but I'm ready for a new challenge.
Okay, so I announced (weeks ago!) that I would be starting a sweater for my husband, which I will do. But, I've been vicariously watching Yuki knit lace, and I'm tempted to start a lace project. I've never done lace before, and it looks really intimidating. Sure, I've been knitting for about 30 years. I've knit all sorts of Aran sweaters. But lace just looks so...hard. Still, I think it might be fun for a new challenge, but I may just be kind to myself and save it for the new year. Right now, I have plenty of challenges on my plate!
I don't have to finish any knit projects for gifts this year, thank goodness. I made a vow to myself long ago never to knit to a deadline. That's the best way to ruin all the fun! But I still need to do 90% of my Christmas shopping. I know it's still 3 weeks until Christmas, but time has a way of sneaking up on me...
Like yesterday, for example, when Tim and I planned to take the kids to get a Christmas tree. We'd talked about it the day before. We even drove past the place we'd like to get one, just to make sure they had trees this year (yes!) and that the place looks suitably festive for a Christmas-tree-acquiring event (yes!). And Sunday came and went, and we totally forgot about it. Both of us. Didn't remember until this morning.
How could I forget about Christmas???
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
mmm...Georges Bank scallops
When I first moved to the Boston area from landlocked central Texas, I expected to find delicious and cheap seafood everywhere. All they had to do was pull it out of the sea, right? I was a little surprised to find that while the seafood was good, it really wasn't any cheaper than what I could get in Texas.
Until yesterday. Fresh sea scallops from Georges Bank, off the Massachusetts coast. Cheaper than farm-raised salmon. Available for a limited time. Delicious, creamy, fresh-never-frozen sea scallops. Sauteed in butter with a smidge of garlic, just one minute per side. Could there possibly be a more perfect food?
Until yesterday. Fresh sea scallops from Georges Bank, off the Massachusetts coast. Cheaper than farm-raised salmon. Available for a limited time. Delicious, creamy, fresh-never-frozen sea scallops. Sauteed in butter with a smidge of garlic, just one minute per side. Could there possibly be a more perfect food?
Sunday, November 26, 2006
the siren call of a sexy yarn
Oh, that hand-painted yarn is still calling to me, sitting right here next to me, next to the computer, just begging me to transform it into something luscious. But I can't just yet--the floors need mopping, the children need feeding, and all the general work of a Sunday 'round the house needs doing. Tim's outside wrestling with the Christmas lights, and though the work is frustrating now, it should pay off tonight with some cheery light in the darkness.
So, I'm going to resist temptation for now, and go mop the floors. I'll be good...for now.
So, I'm going to resist temptation for now, and go mop the floors. I'll be good...for now.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
zooming through the holidays
With Thanksgiving over (already!), we seem to be hurtling through the holidays at breakneck speed! Why, we haven't even finished the Halloween candy, and Christmas is just around the corner. My mother always said that time goes by faster the older you get, and I think she was right.
I'm making good progress on Aidan's cardigan. All the pieces are made, and I'm sewing up a few seams before doing the color and button band. I'm pleased with this sweater, and it's been fun to make. And I'm glad that it will be done in time for plenty of cold-weather wearing!
But I'm keen to get going on something with this luscious yarn I just couldn't resist. This is Mountain Colors hand-painted yarn from Corvallis, MT, in the color Ruby River. I saw this gorgeous yarn last week and had to buy it--couldn't afford more than one skein of it at the moment, but it was just SO beautiful I had to have it. Now, what to do with this bit of beauty...?
I'm making good progress on Aidan's cardigan. All the pieces are made, and I'm sewing up a few seams before doing the color and button band. I'm pleased with this sweater, and it's been fun to make. And I'm glad that it will be done in time for plenty of cold-weather wearing!
But I'm keen to get going on something with this luscious yarn I just couldn't resist. This is Mountain Colors hand-painted yarn from Corvallis, MT, in the color Ruby River. I saw this gorgeous yarn last week and had to buy it--couldn't afford more than one skein of it at the moment, but it was just SO beautiful I had to have it. Now, what to do with this bit of beauty...?
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
from Bread and Roses to the Mensch of Malden Mills
I'm really drawn to places that are past their prime. For one thing, many towns that were once prosperous have been too down-at-the-heels to renovate, leaving more relics behind than their wealthier neighbors. I feel closer to history in places like that, because they haven't been obliterated in the name of progress.
Today I was in Lawrence, Massachusetts, an old mill town near the New Hampshire border. In its heyday, Lawrence was a mighty textile town, employing tens of thousands of immigrants and others in the mills. Of course, the laborers who worked 56-hour weeks didn't enjoy the prosperity of the boom years. When working on an American history book a few years ago, I first learned about the Bread and Roses Strike of 1912. Such a significant event in labor history--and such a testament to the courage of the workers to keep the strike going in dismal and often violent conditions. This part of labor history was never taught in the history classes I had in school. Back then, industrialization was taught from the vantage point of the wealthy factory owners. Industrialization was seen as the great salvation, bringing this nation from the backwardness of near-frontier conditions and catalpulting the United States to the forefront of the world economy. But we never learned about what it was like to be the ones running the machines.
I was in Lawrence today to visit Malden Mills, makers of Polartec fleeces. They have a wonderful outlet store there where you can get the real McCoy at good prices. I'm making a few Christmas presents, and fleece from the dreadful chain fabric stores just would not do. So I trekked north.
In some ways, Lawrence is much as it ever was. It's still a city of immigrants. Today, though, the immigrants speak Spanish instead of Italian. And though you still see the massive brick mills across town, most of them seem to have been converted to other uses. But Malden Mills is still going strong.
In 1995, it didn't look that way. The mill was devastated by fire, and everyone assumed it would be just one more mill to close up and send its work down south or overseas. But the owner, Aaron Feuerstein, vowed to rebuild. Not only that, he paid his workers while the rebuilding was taking place. It was an extraordinary thing for a businessman to do--I remember hearing about it on the news when I lived in Texas, long before I had any connection to Massachusetts. What other company can you imagine would consider its employees to be such an asset that it would protect them in that way? Feuerstein was lionized for his actions and given the nickname the "Mensch of Malden Mills."
I know things have changed since the rebuilding. Feuerstein no longer runs Malden Mills, because the high cost of rebuilding and safeguarding the workers cost him control over the mill. And I heard that the company went through bankruptcy proceedings a few years ago. But I'm still in awe of what happened, and to me, it's worth going out of my way to give them my business.
Today I was in Lawrence, Massachusetts, an old mill town near the New Hampshire border. In its heyday, Lawrence was a mighty textile town, employing tens of thousands of immigrants and others in the mills. Of course, the laborers who worked 56-hour weeks didn't enjoy the prosperity of the boom years. When working on an American history book a few years ago, I first learned about the Bread and Roses Strike of 1912. Such a significant event in labor history--and such a testament to the courage of the workers to keep the strike going in dismal and often violent conditions. This part of labor history was never taught in the history classes I had in school. Back then, industrialization was taught from the vantage point of the wealthy factory owners. Industrialization was seen as the great salvation, bringing this nation from the backwardness of near-frontier conditions and catalpulting the United States to the forefront of the world economy. But we never learned about what it was like to be the ones running the machines.
I was in Lawrence today to visit Malden Mills, makers of Polartec fleeces. They have a wonderful outlet store there where you can get the real McCoy at good prices. I'm making a few Christmas presents, and fleece from the dreadful chain fabric stores just would not do. So I trekked north.
In some ways, Lawrence is much as it ever was. It's still a city of immigrants. Today, though, the immigrants speak Spanish instead of Italian. And though you still see the massive brick mills across town, most of them seem to have been converted to other uses. But Malden Mills is still going strong.
In 1995, it didn't look that way. The mill was devastated by fire, and everyone assumed it would be just one more mill to close up and send its work down south or overseas. But the owner, Aaron Feuerstein, vowed to rebuild. Not only that, he paid his workers while the rebuilding was taking place. It was an extraordinary thing for a businessman to do--I remember hearing about it on the news when I lived in Texas, long before I had any connection to Massachusetts. What other company can you imagine would consider its employees to be such an asset that it would protect them in that way? Feuerstein was lionized for his actions and given the nickname the "Mensch of Malden Mills."
I know things have changed since the rebuilding. Feuerstein no longer runs Malden Mills, because the high cost of rebuilding and safeguarding the workers cost him control over the mill. And I heard that the company went through bankruptcy proceedings a few years ago. But I'm still in awe of what happened, and to me, it's worth going out of my way to give them my business.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
lullabies
Today, Douglas didn't have a nap. He's at that awkward stage--if he naps, he has a hard time getting to sleep at night, but if he doesn't nap, Mr. Cheerful generally loses his cool. Today, I thought he'd be fine without his nap, and he was, until about 6:30 when his world came unglued. So, on with the jim-jams, find Mickey and Minnie and Tigger, and off to bed.
I never really thought about how unorthodox my lullabies were until we had a babysitter last weekend. Nancy, a colleague of mine with two boys of her own, graciously offered to look after my two so Tim and I could attend a gallery opening. Aidan very seriously reported the next morning that he had a lot of fun with Nancy, but..."she didn't know all the songs."
We always start off with "London Bridge." Pretty normal there.
Then "Alexander Beetle," a song from 1970 that my sister used to play for me. A folk singer named Melanie recorded it (A.A. Milne wrote it), and it's just a simple tale about a girl whose friend accidentally lets her pet beetle out of the matchbox she kept it in. Somewhere in Texas there is a reel-to-reel tape of me singing the song when I was about 6 or 7.
Next, if time permits, come two Texas songs: "San Antonio Rose" and "Roly Poly." Gotta love Bob Wills. I didn't realize until very recently that Bob Wills isn't one of the American "standards" like I'd thought he was when I was growing up. His music is a little cheesy, but you'll find your toes tapping as you listen to "San Antonio Rose" and you'll sit on the edge of your seat waiting, just waiting for...."ahhhhhhhhhhh-HA!"
And we always end with "Sleepy Eye Town." You won't find that one anywhere online because it's a song my great-grandmother wrote and sang to her babies. My family didn't have much to pass from one generation to the next--no great properties, no fabulous antiques, certainly no money. But this song has been sung to five generations of babies in our family. (Just in case you think my math is off, my kids are the 4th generation, but my niece has babies of her own in the 5th generation). It pleases me to think that after all the decades of change---from radio to 78s to 33s to reel-to-reel to 8-tracks to cassettes to CDs to my iPod--- "Sleepy Eye Town" lives in the same place it's always been--in the hearts and voices of the mamas in my family.
I never really thought about how unorthodox my lullabies were until we had a babysitter last weekend. Nancy, a colleague of mine with two boys of her own, graciously offered to look after my two so Tim and I could attend a gallery opening. Aidan very seriously reported the next morning that he had a lot of fun with Nancy, but..."she didn't know all the songs."
We always start off with "London Bridge." Pretty normal there.
Then "Alexander Beetle," a song from 1970 that my sister used to play for me. A folk singer named Melanie recorded it (A.A. Milne wrote it), and it's just a simple tale about a girl whose friend accidentally lets her pet beetle out of the matchbox she kept it in. Somewhere in Texas there is a reel-to-reel tape of me singing the song when I was about 6 or 7.
Next, if time permits, come two Texas songs: "San Antonio Rose" and "Roly Poly." Gotta love Bob Wills. I didn't realize until very recently that Bob Wills isn't one of the American "standards" like I'd thought he was when I was growing up. His music is a little cheesy, but you'll find your toes tapping as you listen to "San Antonio Rose" and you'll sit on the edge of your seat waiting, just waiting for...."ahhhhhhhhhhh-HA!"
And we always end with "Sleepy Eye Town." You won't find that one anywhere online because it's a song my great-grandmother wrote and sang to her babies. My family didn't have much to pass from one generation to the next--no great properties, no fabulous antiques, certainly no money. But this song has been sung to five generations of babies in our family. (Just in case you think my math is off, my kids are the 4th generation, but my niece has babies of her own in the 5th generation). It pleases me to think that after all the decades of change---from radio to 78s to 33s to reel-to-reel to 8-tracks to cassettes to CDs to my iPod--- "Sleepy Eye Town" lives in the same place it's always been--in the hearts and voices of the mamas in my family.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
impatience
The sleeves of Aidan's cardigan are growing again. I finally worked my way through my frustration, frogged a few rows, then got it going again. The annoying thing is that the pattern is seriously wrong. If I'd followed the pattern as written, the sleeves would have been about six inches too short!
I'm so tempted to set it down and get going on something new. I've become a knitting blog addict, and watching what other people are doing makes me crave something fresh and new. I want to try knitting lace! Socks! More sweaters! Toys! More more more!!!
Of course, what I really need to do is to frog two half-started projects that I put down and never finished (a too-basic ribbed pullover in bulky denim yarn and a delicate cardigan for myself with a pattern too fussy for my modern, streamlined, sophisticated taste... ;)
But the saddest of all sad WIPs is my Starmore Cromarty. Ah, Cromarty, she is beautiful. She is exquisite. She nearly made me pull my hair out until I finally figured out the pattern. I made my Cromarty with a lovely rich blue yarn I found in Ireland in the summer of 1999, and she was going to be an absolute work of art.
That is, until I realized I didn't have enough yarn.
I was about halfway done with the front, and I calculated that I probably had enough to do the back, but not the sleeves. What now? No hope of finding more of the yarn. I think it was discontinued when I bought it, and it was so long ago it's impossible to find the same dye lot. But I couldn't frog it, not after all that work! So there it has been sitting since January 2000, stunted, waiting for a brilliant brainstorm of mine so it can see the light of day...
I'm so tempted to set it down and get going on something new. I've become a knitting blog addict, and watching what other people are doing makes me crave something fresh and new. I want to try knitting lace! Socks! More sweaters! Toys! More more more!!!
Of course, what I really need to do is to frog two half-started projects that I put down and never finished (a too-basic ribbed pullover in bulky denim yarn and a delicate cardigan for myself with a pattern too fussy for my modern, streamlined, sophisticated taste... ;)
But the saddest of all sad WIPs is my Starmore Cromarty. Ah, Cromarty, she is beautiful. She is exquisite. She nearly made me pull my hair out until I finally figured out the pattern. I made my Cromarty with a lovely rich blue yarn I found in Ireland in the summer of 1999, and she was going to be an absolute work of art. That is, until I realized I didn't have enough yarn.
I was about halfway done with the front, and I calculated that I probably had enough to do the back, but not the sleeves. What now? No hope of finding more of the yarn. I think it was discontinued when I bought it, and it was so long ago it's impossible to find the same dye lot. But I couldn't frog it, not after all that work! So there it has been sitting since January 2000, stunted, waiting for a brilliant brainstorm of mine so it can see the light of day...
Monday, November 13, 2006
on being called "miss"
I've mellowed in my old age.
After I had my feminist awakening in my early 20s, I cringed whenever someone called me "miss." I felt smaller somehow, as if the speaker thought of me as a child. I felt belittled, as if I weren't considered worthy of being spoken to with dignity. And I felt singled out, annoyed that someone would presume to know my marital status--and angered that they felt the need to define me by it.
I lived in the South until my early 30s, so I was called "miss" a lot.
Today, I went to my local package store (as they call liquor stores here) to buy beer. And the salesclerk said "I'll need to see your ID, miss." How charming, I thought. I've been legal to buy alcohol since Ronald Reagan was president, and this delightful (and presumably BLIND) saleclerk called me "miss" and wanted to see my ID. You should have seen the look on his face when he realized I was born smack in the middle of the swinging sixties.
I'm going to savor this one.
After I had my feminist awakening in my early 20s, I cringed whenever someone called me "miss." I felt smaller somehow, as if the speaker thought of me as a child. I felt belittled, as if I weren't considered worthy of being spoken to with dignity. And I felt singled out, annoyed that someone would presume to know my marital status--and angered that they felt the need to define me by it.
I lived in the South until my early 30s, so I was called "miss" a lot.
Today, I went to my local package store (as they call liquor stores here) to buy beer. And the salesclerk said "I'll need to see your ID, miss." How charming, I thought. I've been legal to buy alcohol since Ronald Reagan was president, and this delightful (and presumably BLIND) saleclerk called me "miss" and wanted to see my ID. You should have seen the look on his face when he realized I was born smack in the middle of the swinging sixties.
I'm going to savor this one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
