Christmas is Coming and I am Literate

Two weeks ago I couldn’t have cared less about having an e-reader. In the past, I have read electronic books on my PDA, and now my cell phone screen is really too small for it, but I don’t read that much and it wasn’t missed.

Then. Barnes & Noble announced the Nook. And now I Want One. Bad. Maybe the Kindle was ugly. Maybe it was expensive. Maybe I didn’t pay any attention to any of the other e-readers out there. Maybe the Kindle has a stupid name for an e-book. Hello... Kindling? Book burning? Not cool? But the idea of a reading nook is a darling thought and the Nook is so attractive.

Did I mention that I don’t read much anymore? Did I mention that I need another thing to carry around in my purse like another hole in the head? But just yesterday I had two conversations in which books I might like to read were discussed, which only fans the flames.

Did I mention that Kate Spade makes covers for it?

For Those Keeping Score:

Both pockets and zippers are complete.

All that remains is to sew in the sleeves, weave in a few ends, and add the buttons.

It's Fiber Season!

Finally, an update on Stitches, and because I procrastinated, some other info, too.

Above is a summarial photo of the Stitches haul. Clockwise, from the top:

1. Pajolo Alpacas, two-ply, 100% alpaca, about 500 yards. Probably will be the Shetland Triangle from the Lace Style book.

2. Another Pajolo Alpacas two-ply, about 90 yards, no current plans. It was just pretty.

3. Malabrigo sock in Velvet Grapes. Socks, maybe? Who knows?

4. Miss Babs Wild Silk laceweight, 100% silk, about 1100 yards. No specific plans yet. Very pretty. If you see Miss Babs in the wild, stop by and take a closer look. At the yarn, not Miss Babs herself. That would be rude.

5. Two shawl pins, one silver, and one wood. Very nice.

6. HiyaHiya interchangable needles. I do so love my HiyaHiya double points that I was very interested to see the interchangeable set. I haven't used them for anything yet, so the jury is out. I'm not picky, so I'm sure to enjoy using them, but I'll let you know if I have any pertinent observations. One attractive fact: the smallest size is a two.

7. Three skeins Rio by Takhi-Stacey Charles. This is meant to become a hat: Gretel by Ysolda Teague. I kept hoping to make this from stash only to not have enough yardage or the wrong gauge, so I gave in and bought yarn specifically for it.

8. Brooks Farm Solana. I plan to make the Fickle Fingers scarf with it.

It doesn't look like a lot of yarn, but it represents a lot of work, and my track record with Stitches yarn isn't good, so don't go holding your breath.

This weekend I attended The Wool Gathering in Yellow Springs, OH. It's not a huge festival, but it is a worthwhile day trip, and I always try to support a local farmer or two. This year I supported a Llama farmer:

This is 400 yards of Llama and silk, two ply. I couldn't capture its beauty with my camera, but trust that it was irresistible.

And on the trip I was a passenger, so I made a lot of progress on the Traffic Socks:

Ta Da! They are done.

For some reason the second sock is a bit bigger than the first, but I don't care enough to do anything about it. Hopefully it will come out in the wash. I used the Yarn Harlot's pattern for a plain sock, and while it was a fine pattern, it didn't work so great for me. Making the heel flap truly square meant it was way too big, so I had to adjust that part. I probably wouldn't recommend the pattern as is to anyone with large calves, and a large sock circumference.

We Have Progress: The Knitting AND Home Edition

Firstly, I am remiss in posting pictures of my haul from Stitches Midwest. I have been short of daylight free time. A full review is in order, and I will get to it shortly.

I will say now that Gwen, Colleen, Jenn, and I had a great time, and we spent a lot of time sitting in our hotel rooms knitting and watching movies and it was GREAT! Here's some progress, Ivy's hood is done and blocked and ready for a top seam.


And here's something you haven't seen for a while: a new picture of my house. The kitchen is painted. Correction: the kitchen is sanded and painted. It took more work to sand than to paint, even though it took a total of four layers for the red.

(I still have to put back the brushed nickel curtain hardware, and make some simple tab-top probably-white curtains.)

It is virtually impossible to take a good picture of reds with a point-and-shoot digital camera. And now you're looking at it on your computer screen, so who knows what you're really getting? Trust me that it looks great with the flame Le Creuset teapot and the black accessories. A long time ago I decided that my kitchen colors would be black, white and red, and that has served me well here. I don't think it shows in the picture, but the walls better match the counter now; on my screen the picture looks a bit on the orange side of reality.

Only the entryway and stairwell to go.

My Back Yard: Never-ending Source of Excitement!

So, here's a recent picture of my back yard post-sewer repair:

And today was the neighborhood party. In my back yard.

The view from my house:

The view looking toward my house (on the left of the picture):

It was quite the event. People are still out there, actually, although the DJ is gone and they're cleaning up. I'm tapped. Sadie might be, too. Everybody thinks she is just so cute, and she got a lot of attention. The neighbor kids like to take her themselves, and I let them; they get her a lot of exercise, and love to love on her. We got a t-shirt and gift bag for letting them use the yard, and I got to meet a ton of people. Fun times!