E is for Exploring

I like finding new and interesting places, and I like taking vacations to random places. It always ends up going well, though there's usually a scary bit. Like when I explored a borie in Provence, in the middle of a multi-hour hike in the middle of nowhere, after taking a bus out of Aix-en-Provence to a random small town. So small the bus driver was very concerned that I didn't mean to go there- and was entirely surprised that I answered his concerns in French, and with determination. I did the hike, and did get pretty badly lost. But I got to run along the TGV track, walk through olive groves gnarled and green. They look so much like vineyards, only heartier and more earth-bound. This is my only proof of the whole exploration expedition- one lousy photo of a borie. It was entirely worth it. And I didn't miss my bus back, miraculously- it wasn't quite warm enough to sleep outside in the olive groves.


More recently, I decided to do a little exploring of my own hometown. I was in training last week, and got out early enough to really enjoy the sunlight. I wandered up towards the National Mall, visited the West Wing of the National Gallery of Art, and finally explored a bit more of the American Art Museum. I couldn't take photos of the amazing hiphop exhibit at the Portrait Gallery, and I never did get to see Colbert's portrait (yet), but it was still a lot of fun playing tourist on the way home.

First the Mall


And a turn to the right, to view the Capital Building. I no longer see it as I leave work every day, so it was bittersweet to pass it every day I was in training. I miss that view.


One of my favorite views, heading towards Gallery Place/Chinatown


In part because my favorite theatre is on the way:


But before you get to Indiana Plaza and Gallery Place, you hit the National Gallery of Art's West Wing. My favorite, since I'm a sucker for the Impressionists. I can't help it, I'm a francophile and I love light. I found some new loves, though. Nydia, the Blind Girl of Pompeii


And a reading girl


Entirely new to me was the American Art Museum. I've been inside the Portrait Gallery quite a bit lately, since I'm in love with the Kogod Courtyard, but I hadn't checked out the rest of the museum. Please do, if you're here in DC. It's fantastic. Again, the best and most interesting stuff can't be photographed, but here's a taste:




And finally, the Courtyard. I could knit here happily forever.

Monday Me

First, I know, I know... I was two days behind with my ABCAlong entry. But jeez people, new job and excitement get in the way.

The new job? Very wonderful. On so many counts. And best of all, I'm finally better! It only took a month! I still can't do a whole ton in the way of exercise, since walking too fast and just doing crunches makes me wheeze. But I am at least able to go about my normal daily activities with a light step and a happy heart. Also, without coughing every two seconds and flipping through Kleenex at an alarming rate.

I said Hanami was done. It's still not blocked. But I already turned the heel on my first Kaffe sock, so that's something! And tonight I'm going to see a hockey game, where I will probably knit. I am wearing little black thin jeans and looking completely unprofessional AND I will knit. This makes me perhaps not the usual member of our corporate box. Heh.

My Monday Me? It's hockey-related. My kid sister is a hockey fanatic. She's been a fan for ages and ages, she's played on loads of teams (girls teams, school teams, club teams... any teams). And of course she's a Bruins fan. We are from New Hampshire, and Boston IS our default home team for everything.

So tonight, to what I'm sure will be her great annoyance, I'm going to see the Caps get resoundly smacked up by my Boston Bruins. I'm not much of a sports fan, but I do love to root for my old teams- whether it be the Red Sox, the Pats, or the Bruins. I even sometimes root for the Celtics, but not on purpose.

I have sporked a recent photo from my sister, to show her in her latest hockey regalia. I should note that we don't look much alike... but she's the short girl on the left! And by short, I mean almost exactly my height.

D is for Disney

There's a part of me that can never be completely comfortable with DisneyWorld. I mean, our buddy Walt? Such an anti-Semite. And the entire consumerist fakeness of it all? More than a little disturbing.

But I can't help it.. I still love Disney. I vividly remember going to see The Little Mermaid in the theater, and it being such a big deal to have a real NEW animated feature at the movies. I loved everything Disney as a kid, and haven't ever really grown out of it. Even with all that post-colonial, progressive graduate studying I did, sometimes I just need some Mickey in my life. My parents are much the same (with less of the existential angst about the whole thing), and we went for another family vacation there for my birthday last year. And it was fun, though I think being forced to have fun for a week gets a bit wearing now that I'm closer to 30 than to 10. By a lot.









The best part of being a Disney fan now? International Food & Wine Festival! I'm such a wine nut.

Hanami

Is done.

For posterity, I wanted to record that. I need to block it in the next few days, and share pix! I think it's decent looking now, but it's going to be SO PRETTY after blocking. I just know it.

So stay tuned... one very pink Cherry Blossom Stole coming your way. Now, the only problem is that I don't have any easy knitting for the metro. Oh dear! I best remedy that, ASAP. I'm thinking... Jaywalkers in the Landscape Storm colorway. It just came in the mail recently.

Let's not discuss the Friday Harbor socks I'm ignoring right now. Haven't we had the discussion about low project fidelity?

Jenni's Chullo

DSC06159
Originally uploaded by Jenni on the tracks

Jenni looks so darn adorable in this hat! I'm so glad it fits, and you should check out her Flickr photostream- she's an amazing photographer and all around fantastic and brianiac hot as heck chiquita.

A cunning hat

Looks better on him than me.


Admittedly, Jayne hats are an acquired taste. But what better gift could I give to someone whose usual expression looks like this:

Sometimes it's hard to be a (busty short-waisted petite but a bit hefty) woman

I rather enjoy sewing. I mean, there are moments I hate. Hemming anything, ever, is frankly on my list of despicable chores to be avoided at all costs- I rationalize paying for others to hem my suits when necessary because if something costs nigh on 200 dollars on sale, I can spend the extra few dollars to make sure the hems are done tidily. I really enjoy piecing quilt tops and wall hangings. In fact, I'm signed up for a quilting retreat with my mother and aunt in September, which should be a blast and a half. The three of us in a cabin may in fact make the world implode with crafter goodness and hilarity. I'm not much of a quilter, but I suppose part of going on a quilting retreat is to learn something- and boy do I have a lot to learn about hand quilting. Because I really suck at it. Really.

Besides hating hemming, and loving piecing quilts, I love the idea of sewing clothing for myself. But as the title states- I am simply not proportioned the way patterns are. I haven't been a B-cup since I was 11. I'm petite, but my arms aren't really that short and my legs are just a bit long for a petite (though still seriously shorter than normal people's). I can't draft my own sewing patterns, and I have not yet figured out how to do alterations other than shortening the dreaded hems... so I've been at a bit of a standstill on growing my sewing skills. But when I went to G Street to look at fabrics this evening (it's a sale, I can't help myself), I cruised the pattern books and found the neatest thing! Simplicity is now making patterns in association with Threads (a sewing magazine) that are supposed to be very step-by-step... and they are sized with different pattern pieces for B, C, and D cups. This means I may be able to make a shirt that fits my bust, without needing to do major alterations or go up 4 sizes from my waist size! So I immediately bought two patterns and fabric for both. I'll probably try a muslin first, to determine what size I really need to make and which cup measurement, but in general I'm delighted at the prospects. The fabric is nifty, too!

The first project is a nice button-down shirt with a yoke, crisp collar, and deep v-neck styling. It also has long cuffs, which I adore for under a suit. I found a great slightly stetchy cotton fabric- crisp white with subtle black stripes, and the neatest pearly black buttons to match. Since I need shirts very badly with my new all-suit-every-day job, I am hopeful that this will fit and I can make a whole bunch of them in easy care fabrics, so I can avoid doing laundry and going to the dry cleaner so darn much. I plan to make the view that is second from the left, with a nice yoke (skipping the lace, most likely), and the long sleeves with deep cuffs.


My second project is... a dress! Dresses are even harder for me to fit to my body than shirts, since my measurements are hourglass-ish but not as balanced as the pattern companies seem to expect. This dress actually has the bust measurement separate (B, C, or D!), so I'm excited to try it out. I think it looks a little bit 60s mod, but I'm making the more contemporary view (the one on the far left) with below-the-elbow sleeves and an at-knee length. The nice gentleman at G Street helped me select a navy linen blend which is washable (KEY!) and shouldn't wrinkle much. They had some stunning linens as well, but I hate ironing finished garments almost as much as I hate hemming unfinished ones. Pure linen is therefore rarely a good choice for me.


I realized that I have transitioned my entire life over to my new Lady B bag from Lexie Barnes but never posted to this site about it! I love it wholeheartedly. It's roomy and full of pockets and not too bulky to carry on the metro. The straps stay on my shoulders, which is highly unusual. My shoulders are quite narrow or sloped or something, purses are forever falling off. The first day I used it I was peeved to the extreme because there was no place for my keys. I couldn't believe such a nice bag wouldn't have a key fob, or a little exterior pocket for them. But it does in fact have a little zippered pocket near the top of the bag, on the exterior side with the big pocket- so I had no need to complain. The bag is just about perfect. And did I mention I can use it to metro to work??






I am in love.

Two projects long overdue, and a Valentine's Day gift, too!

A long long time ago I picked up some insanely fuzzy wacky hot pink yarn at the Celtic Knot shop in Ellicott City. It was meant to be for SOS. And I started a scarf... and it languished. In fact, it took days just to wind the yarn into a ball (messy messy- it is essentially a ribbon yarn, a trellis yarn, a rope-like yarn, and an eyelash, a few yards of each just tied together). When I say nightmare project, I mean it. It was supposed to be done ages and ages ago- if I'd just picked up some bloody wool I would have knit 3 scarves by now.

But no matter. It's done! And in the end, it's kind of cute. In a pink yarn barf sort of way.




I also finished a hat for my friend Jenni. It's been completely done for months, except for the little braids to tie it on with and for the top of the hat. During this week of sickness of doom, I finally got up the gumption to make the braids. Funny thing, no matter how long it is in between braids, you never forget how.


It's a bit wacky-looking, but for some reason I think it looks a lot like my friend. I hope she likes it- now my challenge is to find a post office near my new work. Supposedly there is one inside our other building... but I don't know how to get to that building from mine! These are the difficulties of DC life.


Two finished projects? Piffle. Let's go for three! I ordered yarn on Friday, received it Tuesday, and was finished (but for the pompom) by Tuesday night. It's a Jayne Hat. It looks like this:


Or on my (much tinier-than-the-boyfriend's) head:


Mission accomplished. I also am on the last lace chart for Hanami, got a few more rows into Autumn Rose, and 3 inches into a cute snowflake bag- my first holiday gift for 2008. For the record, boyfriend loved the hat. If you don't know why it is, in fact, a cunning hat- may I recommend Firefly?

C is for...

two things, that are interrelated.

CHERRIES

and CHERISH


They're practically the same word, and in my world they're entirely coterminous. I love the fruit with a fiery passion... and of course, that passion allows me to cherish them. The words are even practically the same. Cheri, en francais, is even closer! And cerise... doesn't that sound like cherish? I'm telling you, they're the same.

I do cherish my cherries. Both the real kind, which I have been eating all week, and the Hanami shawl blossom kind!





I'm nearly ready for April, and this year's Cherry Blossom festival here in DC. I have this little daydream of going to see the blossoms at sunrise with my boyfriend who works nights- he'll still be awake, since dawn is during his normal waking hours, and I'll get up extra early to enjoy the bright morning light and the decided lack of tourists.

I have my doubts that I can really get up that early, but for him? I might be capable of anything. I cherish him, too. How could I not? He wears yarn as a hat.

Photography!

I complained, and after about a minute's search the camera was found. Apparently I put it in the pink purse... why there? Who knows. I'm brilliant.

At any rate, I have proof! Beautiful proof that I knit!

Autumn Rose, the beginnings:


A close-up with truer colors:


Jeanie, for perspective


A close-up of Jeanie- I'm just past the first dropped stitches


And of course, I did finish the Snowflake Socks from Interweave for my roommate's (belated) Christmas gift. They are super cute on her! Voila, an FO for 2008.


Even more photos to come tomorrow...

That time again

I'm moving in six weeks. To normal people, that's a long time. Loads of time to pack, to ponder what to bring and what to toss. For me? That is SO SOON! I am the queen of anal retentive at good times, at times like these... I get a bit crazy.

My room looks like a tornado hit. I finally bought a shredder, and shredded many reams of paper that should have been destroyed and tossed ages ago. I have every utility bill I ever received, for example- they do not need to be kept! So out it went. As did most of my writing from high school and college, and ALL of my notes from classes. I kept some fun creative writing from when I was a kid, and of course I couldn't get rid of all my more interesting papers. But most of it? Tossed. I had two large vertical file containers (plastic ones), and I consolidated all of it into one container. This is brilliant. But I haven't brought down the two bags of diamond-cut paper yet. I still haven't touched my other plastic containers or the boxes that are stored in the basement- and I suspect many of them contain things that need to be given away or thrown. It really is a good thing that I'm moving into a studio apartment. It gives me the impetus I've been needing for years to finally declutter and destroy the evidence of my packrat past.

Don't worry, the yarn isn't getting tossed! I have been destashing with some success, mostly on Ravelry but also by completing some projects. But I have a long way to go. In fact, let's not think about that.

On a more important and inter-related note, I can't find my digital camera. It has disappeared amidst the packing! I have no evidence of Jeanie's progress, or my amazingly fast and yet slow progress on Autumn Rose. I never took photos of Wisp (or blocked it, cough). The camera has photos of completed gifts on it that have never been uploaded to Flickr. In general, I need to find the camera and use it.

If the camera has gone the way of my perfect black purse, which seems to have been lost in my room, then I will find it at some point in the packing process. Otherwise, I get to buy a new one. But paying for a new couch is higher on the priority list over a camera. Having a place to sit and knit trumps evidence of knitting progress. Barely.

This is going to be a nutty six weeks! Nutty, but fun.

Monday Me

Just check it out. Definitely me!

For more LOLfun, which I may have linked to before, but are worth another LOL- PhiLOLsophers Flickr Pool

Geoffrey Chaucer hath a blog

Music and Musing on Autumn Rose

This weekend was fantastic. On multiple counts, even. I got to have delicious steak and equally delicious conversation on Friday night with the boy, and I spent Saturday swatching and casting on for Autumn Rose.

No really. I'm almost done with the corrugated ribbing! You'd think aliens came by and stole my usual placid boring non-swatching self. As always, I had to go up a needle size. I may knit tight, but at least I knit consistently tight. I started out with the Addi Naturas... I hate them. I've switched to the metal Addi's and am already significantly happier with my work. I'm hoping to finish the ribbing on the train tomorrow, so I can come home and do the prep row for my beautiful colorwork! I also need to make copies of the charts- the book is far too large for convenient metro knitting.

Saturday night the boy, my friend Stephanie, and I went to dinner in Arlington- Whitlow's on Wilson will evidently become one of my new haunts in my new neighborhood! As we were waiting to order, I was watching the door and said "huh, that guy looks like Dan... only taller." Silly me. It was indeed my friend Dan. He lives in Southwest... his friends mostly seem to live in Bethesda... so that was a pretty random meeting! I think the whole world is coallescing in Arlington nowadays. After dinner, we went to Iota to see my favorite rockers, Fools & Horses. I was completely unimpressed by the first act, since they were a bit too Christian rock and way too feedback-full for any kind of enjoyment. The middle act was rocking, however. The Sometime Favorites had a really great sound, and I definitely want to check out their music a bit more. Their rendition of Gin & Juice had the whole crowd singing along. The night was of course capped by the boys of F&H, who I have adored from their humble(r) beginnings and will always love. Their new song "Selfish" screams radio to me, and if I don't hear them all over the local rock stations soon then those people are craaazy. A good crowd stayed to see them, and my roommate and her boyfriend joined us midway through the show as well. A good time was apparently had by all, since most of us left humming their music. Or in my case, still singing it- I can't help knowing the words! Jamie is pretty enthused by them as well, and good taste in music is a key component in any boyfriend. My only regret from the night was not bringing my camera- it seems to be missing in action. We had awesome seats at the bar, and then right in front of the stage for F&H, and I could have snapped some great shots in that brightly lit venue. I'm not much of a shutterbug, but I was definitely kicking myself in this case.

Speaking of music, on this tangent, March is a crazy music month. We're seeing Jonathan Coulton again (my 4th time, Jamie's 3rd, our second together as a couple, since we met at his show at the Birchmere in August). We're not fans or anything. Then we'll be seeing Live at 9:30 Club's "Surprise! At the Club!" show. And I also have tickets to see The Mountain Goats, up from Raleigh where my pal Abby blogs them with love. I really want to see them live, but I'm a bit nervous about trying to catch a show on moving day. I guess if it all goes smoothly, I can nap and then head downtown. Hmm.

The Stupor Bowl festivities were a bit lacking in vim this year due to them being all-vegetarian and almost-all-healthy. Most of us had a glass of wine, and I think my friend Adam even managed a beer- but the mulled cider was the drink of choice. If everyone hadn't had to drive, mayhaps it would have gone differently. I worked on Autumn Rose during the game, and then consoled myself with some easy-peasy Hanami once my Pats LOST. Oh cruel world. Work tomorrow will be insufferable. At least I have Autumn Rose to see me through! And twilight yoga at 6pm, if I can somehow get out of work on time. Yoga is my new knitting. Except for the part where I knit obsessively, and am an inflexible beginner yogi, once a week... gotta start somewhere!

Some say the world will end in fire

I say it really starts the year off right.

Today, today, today is the first day of Project Spectrum, and this year Lolly and the rest of the intarweb gang are focusing on the elements. Our first element is FIRE!

I love flames. My most brilliant memories have to do with fires and flames- summer camp and the brilliant success of building a one-match fire, or my failure to keep the fire alive with my high school boyfriend when we went back to New Hampshire to camp and it was 30 degrees at night and of course we ended up not being able to keep the flames of romance alive either. Those sorts of memories. I love sitting in front of a fire, even the fake sort of fire in my parents gas fireplace. I adore the bright reds and oranges and pinks in the flames, and am mesmerized by the hazy world immediately above them. I watch the Chanuka candles burn down to their last sigh of a smoke tendril, and am thankful for the celebration and the family around me.

I have some big goals for Project Spectrum, and specifically for this Fire beginning. I want to use it as an opportunity to burn down the past, figuratively, and reevaluate old projects that have been stagnant. Should they be frogged? Do they need revitalizing new life? Can I build something from the embers of their failures and incompleteness?

I also have a few new projects to add to the needles. I will finally swatch Autumn Rose- knowing full well that once I swatch it, I will no longer be afraid and can finally knit and wear the darn thing. I will cast on and hopefully complete the rust sweater I have been contemplating for ages, the yarn sitting hopefully by in my stash since Interweave Winter 2006. And I made this for my father ages ago, but bought the yarn to make one for myself. What could be better than to knit a holiday gift for myself, 11 months early, so when the holiday comes around I will be prepared and ready to display the flames of knitterly self-love?


I think that is all a good start.

And she knits, too

I know, I know. You don't believe I knit. But I dropped my first stitches in Jeanie last week, and I am moving along on Hanami.

Here's a quick peek, post-basketweave section but before beginning the petals:



I am pleased to announce I'm a lot farther than that now. More to come once it's finally time for the letter C!

And she can sew!

I have been exceedingly inspired by Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts. The birds were adorable. I also thought that the patchwork tablecloth project was nifty, and would make a great housewarming gift. I'm a bit belated on the housewarming, but I did decide to finish it up as a birthday gift for my dearest vegan friend, Sharyn.

The results are not bad in the slightest! I got a bit photo-happy, since this was very large and a bit difficult to photograph. If I had a rectangular table, all would be different!

The set:


The napkins:


The tablecloth:


Pretty fabrics:


Lucky for me, Sharyn and her wonderful husband have already been converting to using fabric napkins and such. Hopefully these colorful additions to her home will provide many years of use... at least until she can't stand the prints anymore and I make her a new set!

My TV boyfriend, and a Monday Me

Who is Your Ideal TV Boyfriend?

Created by BuddyTV

Not so sure about that. But it is Monday Me time, after all. In today's edition, we explore my geeky side. It's still a day early for an official ABC-Along (so no photos until tomorrow!) but my ultimate not-so-secret?

I'm a comics girl.

I read a few comics when I was a kid- I vaguely remember having a few issues of Betty and Veronica, and Casper the Ghost. But I was never a big fan, and I never would have wasted my allowance on comics when I could buy BOOKS. Luscious, lengthy, gorgeous books. I read on average a book a day well into middle school. This does explain a great deal of why I have no idea how to get anywhere in New Hampshire or New England despite living there for nearly sixteen years. I spent my childhood with my nose inserted firmly between pages of a novel, looking up only long enough to get out of the car. And oftentimes tripping then, since I wouldn't put the book down. My poor parents!

Something changed once I got to grad school. I was still reading novels voraciously, of course, even ones that had nothing to do with Victorian literature or whatever course in esoteric lit I happened to be enrolled in that semester. I started reading a lot more Young Adult fiction- most of which I skipped when I was in the target audience. I got into fantasy in fifth grade, after all, which sounded a death knell on most non-fantasy fiction (Victorian novels as always excluded... my first true love). Not only was I reading YA books to break the pace between scholarly essays and literary theory, I encountered the Sandman books- my first real comics destined for adults.

Gaiman and the Sandman series was my entryway. I moved on quickly from there. While at IU Bloomington, I stuck to comics I could get at the library- both the small collection at the university and the surprisingly fantastic selection at the public library in the middle of town. I also downed every manga I could find. Entering the world of Japanese comics was an obvious extension of my already full-fledged love for anime and Japanese animation. But I didn't branch out completely. I wasn't going to spend money on comics- I didn't have the money to spend, anyways. Money in grad school went to food and wine and essentially nothing else. Well, I suppose there was yarn. I did invest in a copy of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but rationalized it as practically Victorian and therefore relevant to my studies. I guess that was my first real exposure to Neo-Victorian and steampunk themes.

At my second job out of grad school, about six months after my Master's degree in fact, a coworker exposed me to two new series. He let me borrow the first volume of Global Frequency, and the first volume of Ex Machina. I missed my metro stop on the way home, I was so engrossed. I can read a trade volume in just about two metro trips, so one workday. And then I read them again. His two borrowed books set me on my current path- I am genuinely obsessed with comics. I still read them from the library when possible (the fact that Transmetropolitan is available at the public library frankly freaks me out- I certainly wouldn't have wanted my 15 year old self reading it). I buy only a few things, and only trade paperbacks- I will not allow myself to get into the weekly comic obsession.

It's a logical thing, to move from Victorian novels to the combined art and writing of the comic form. The literature of the people is shifting to a medium that is more immediate, more vibrant, and no less eloquent when done well. Gaiman may have replaced the French theorists in my reading habits, but he is no less philosophical. I may no longer read the quantity of "classic" novels that I used to, but I don't miss the time spent very much. Who would have imagined that the kid reading Shakespeare in fifth grade would end up preferring social indictments in comic book form and business manuals? The medium has changed, but the message has not.

Along that vein, I can recommend a few gateway comics for anyone interested in checking them out:
1- Ex Machina tracks the rise to power of a politician who is, essentially, a super hero. Sort of. Certainly political in nature- the first few issues are stunning.

2- Fables is brilliantly written, brilliantly drawn, and does an amazing job of taking fairy tales into reality. A comic very well fitted for literature fans, since many of the lesser-known fables are esoteric enough to make you feel smart when you recognize them.

3- The Sandman is possibly the most eye-opening piece of work I have ever encountered. If you aren't ready for comics, you can still get a taste of one of the best contemporary writers around by reading Gaiman's American Gods. Fans of myth and literature should consider it a true must-read.

There are so many other excellent series, and I have read only a fraction of what is out there. Check a few things out, and see what interests you. I still can't bear to read the real superhero stuff, but then a lot of superhero fans would gag at Ex Machina. There are comics for every taste!

Knit knit knit!

I may not have had visible signs of my knitting to post lately, but I have by no means been ignoring it. I knit like a madwoman over the weekend, in fact. In between naps and long long sleeps at night- it's been a stressful week and I spent most of the weekend attempting to recover. My back has hunched up in pain again, but with the help of my back exercises and yoga, I think that the pain is manageable. Hurray, this winter will not repeat last winter's physical therapy regimen!

As to what I have been knitting so industriously... I am back on Hanami full-time to finish her before the cherry blossom festival. How could I live in DC and not model my shawl in front of the cherry blossoms which she depicts?

She is very much a she. And I have completed the basketweave section, and am moving into the blossom part. This is fantastic! It is flowing through my fingers so fast I really need to wind up my next ball of yarn.

I have a photo or two as proof, but I think I need to save them for a few days. Letting that expectation build. It's all about delayed gratification around here!

Wonder if I'll ever swatch for Autumn Rose this month... or finish a certain special project that's due next week from my sewing queue... Goals are made to be ignored.

Monday Me and a B to boot!

My Monday Me (still coming at you Monday night, ie on time) is about cooking. This post is ALSO an alphabetical post!

Because B is for Brussel sprouts. And boy, do I love them. Here's my favorite way to prepare them:


I make them with Heidi's fantastic recipe from her site, 100 cookbooks, for Golden-Crusted Brussels Sprouts and every single time they're delicious (if not always the same). They're the best of all when I remember to add cheese on top, but they're pretty darn fantastic no matter what. The trick is to get them nice and caramel-y but not too burnt, and to let them cook long enough with the lid on so they're nice and crisp but not too crunchy throughout.

I've also been very enamored with making my own little pasta sauce lately. The recipe is different every time, but it's something like this:

20 Minute Pasta Sauce
can of tomato sauce (the plain little can, with NO added salt)
can of diced tomatoes (ditto about the no added salt)
sprinkle of salt (aren't I a hypocrite!)
dash of fresh-ground pepper
big flop of Italian seasoning (I like Mrs. Dash, no added salt and no MSG, but I've also just thrown in a ton of basil and oregano and whatever else I have on hand that sounds pasta-like) (I should note that I hate the Safeway brand Italian seasoning, since it isn't chopped fine enough and tastes bad. You've been warned)
dash of garlic powder (if I were less lazy, I'd finely mince some garlic and fry it up in the pan first, but let's be real here).
Extra virgin olive oil (some? Maybe a few tablespoons?)
balsamic vinegar (if I have it, about half a tablespoon)

- throw everything in a pan and mix up. Heat on medium until it starts to boil, then turn the heat down to low and simmer, covered, while you heat up water for pasta and cook the pasta. Makes enough for 2 servings for me, or 3-4 for normal people who are not obsessed with pasta sauce.

I like using fresh tomatoes, too, but those don't last long around here.


MMM. B is definitely for brussels sprouts and bowtie pasta. B is obviously for food!

Who needs knitting

I have now cast on for Jeanie three times. Three bloody times. But that's fine, because the third time was apparently the charm, and now it's going like a dream. I'm on the first cable row! Nevermind that means I'm on row 7 of a gazillion! I'll get there.

Since there's not much to photograph with only 7 rows, and I'm very angry with my half-finished sock, I'm going to continue this trend of non-knitting content until I either break down and finish the sock or photograph it in its naked undressed state.

This is Restaurant Week here in DC- my favorite time of year. No slouch on the reservations, I booked myself for FOUR meals this year. I try to get out and experience new places, but I admit that this winter I wanted some comforting and I am visiting two new and two familiar places. So far, I've been to one of each category!

Ceiba was a great pick for the start of the week. I went for drinks on Tuesday with my friend Dan and my lawyer-knitter-friend Stephanie and experienced the potency of caipirinhas. After cocktails, Stephanie headed off for the evening and Dan and I enjoyed a truly delectable meal. Every dish was en pointe, and they did have some options for a sorta-kosher girl... though not many. Lucky for me and my girlish figure, the options I was left with were not only tasty but healthy to boot! I had a green salad and salmon over mashed potatoes with broccolini. I skipped the sauce, since it had ham in it, but the salmon was still flaky and moist. We had a South American rosé with dinner, which was a good pair to the fish. To round off my otherwise healthy meal, I had a delectable flan for dessert. Dan seemed taken with his braised pork shank (it looked good, for treif), and I definitely will add Ceiba to my restaurant rotation list. I might go for a slightly less intoxicating drink next time, though.

Tonight, a coworker and I went to TenPenh near Metro Center. I have been there before during Restaurant Week (a year ago, in fact), and I loved it. The menu is extensive, the cocktails tasty, and they always bring little amuses-bouches before and after the meal. I find it unsurprising that TenPenh and Ceiba are actually part of the same restaurant group, along with Acadiana and DC Coast. I want to try those two soon! At any rate, TenPenh did not disappoint. My "girly cocktail" was pink and delicious, and my TenPenhpolitan was a perhaps unnecessary but endlessly delicious second drink. I chose to eat the vegetarian spring rolls and they were enormous. They are served with three dipping sauces, and I loved them all. My coworker went with the chicken roti, which was just as tasty and with a very kicky dipping sauce. He selected the beef tenderloin for dinner, and I was pleased to see a few different kosher options- mostly fish. I had halibut with a pineapple-hot pepper sauce and mashed sweet potatoes which was immensely flavorful if a bit spicier than I expected. The halibut was really superb, so I have added another fish to my relatively small rotation of fish I can order safely. I never really ate fish as a kid, but I'd eat it 1-2 times a week now, if I could. Laziness is about all that gets in the way, since I won't eat fish that isn't fresh and it's somewhat rare that I get to the grocery store. Did I mention dessert at TenPenh was a milk chocolate brownie with kona ice cream? Mmm.

So far, we're two for two this Restaurant Week. And here's a quick iPhone view of our place settings this evening, care of my coworker's new toy!

A is for Abode

A big part of what makes my abode special and unique to me is the massive amounts of yarn storage. Instead of a picture of my apartment, which I am not taking because I still have not completed the great clean-a-thon of January 2008, I'll share a fairly recent photo of my coffee table - the one thing that's been constant in my own home since I moved out. I wanted this one Ikea table desperately when I moved to Bloomington, but wasn't sure I could afford it. One visit back home with my car, I did purchase it. My best gal Sharyn and I put it together the day I drove back (in hindsight, a terrible idea... but we did a great job!). It's been with me in every house of my own since- first there in Bloomington, then in Rockville, and now Bethesda. If/when I move again, it will be there, too. It's not gorgeous wood or anything, but it is so homey to me. And you can't argue with that many shelves of yarn storage! My parents offered me their 3 piece Ethan Allen living room table set, and I had to turn them down. Their tables don't even have drawers!

There's yarn hiding in all those baskets, and my swift and ballwinder are on the middle shelf. There's also sheet music in the binder, nail polish for my girliness, a coaster because I care about things like that, and the toe of Jamie's boot. Because as strange as it seems, he's already home to me.


A quick peek at my last few abodes:

Rockville, circa late 2005/early 2006


Bloomington, circa November 2004


Mom & Dad's in Ellicott City, November 2003

And the 2008 -alongs begin

Have you noticed, dear reader, that my right hand navigation has been updated? Probably not, since you surely subscribe to my RSS. No matter, here's the scoop!

Mystery Stole 3: the button is gone. Yes, I never finished it. I'm something of a failure that way. Although I prefer to think of it less as a failure, and more a solid grounding in lace theory. I might finish it... someday. Knowing that I'm only a week's worth of knitting away doesn't help, somehow.

ABC-Along: A challenge to post photos for each letter of the alphabet, every two weeks. I'd love to think a bit more creatively with photography (being not much of a photographer at all... I use it for documentation of family and knitting, hardly for art). This should be a good challenge for me, and if I work in knitting that's fine, too! I have a few days to post my "A" entry, and I have a few ideas.

Project spectrum: Lolly most likely doesn't remember me from college, but I do remember her. More to the point, I love her knitting and her use of color. I've held back from participating in the past, but I think this year (the year of knitting for me?) I am more prepared to think critically about color and tone and looking at the world through more varied colored glasses. After all, most of my recent projects were shades of green or blue- isn't it time to mix it up? Fire is the first element we are exploring this year, and I have some beautiful burgundies and rust colored yarns to use. I'd hazard the guess that I'm most closely aligned with the Fire colors- my blog is all over red and pink. I'm still doubtful about orange, but my Jayne Hat will fit the bill. I'm hoping that I will also use Project Spectrum as another excuse to amp up my photography skills. Surely I can get some ABC-along shots, too! It all comes together.

In Love with Autumn Rose knitalong: Still going on this. Rather, I have never begun. My kit arrived, and I have been just plain scared of it. My goal for the month is to swatch the darn thing- let's keep our expectations low! Casting on would be a great step for February.

Anne of Green Gables knit-and-read-along: This knitalong is going much better than the others. It is nearly over, and I am on track- with half of January left, I have only Rilla of Ingleside left to read. I completed the Endpaper and Fetching mitts (very almost-Victorian!), and I can imagine Anne knitting snowflake socks for Gilbert in their later years. Why not? Everyone needs fun socks. I didn't finish my Philosopher's Wool sweater, but I did start it. That's a good first step.

Coming up: A is not for apple.

Just another "doh" moment

Here's my Monday Me.

I'm a pretty hardcore knitter. I tend to think of myself as fairly accomplished, and no technique or style of knitting is out of bounds. I wanted to be able to fair isle two handed, so I learned continental. I can even knit back and forth that way, without much of a noticeable gauge difference. I don't actually knit Continental much (English is way faster for me, sorry!), but I can. Fair isle isn't that difficult, it just requires concentration. I usually knit faster when doing colorwork, because it's interesting. I haven't done a lot of intarsia, but that's fine, too- I might try some argyles, but I'm just not a huge fan of most intarsia. Cables are fun, lace can be challenging but is mostly intriguing... my skills have grown greatly over the last year and patterns I looked at perplexedly even a year or two ago are second nature to me now.

And then, here's the Me part of it, I do something inane. I crochet a blanket and get 50 rows in before I realize I somehow messed up my number of stitches per row back near the beginning. I cast on for Jeanie right after I got the yarn... only a few days after the pattern came out... and screwed up the first row. Today I finally went back to it, and realized that I'd been doing make 1 stitches everytime I was supposed to just knit in between two twisted stitches. Seriously silly mistake, and I'm now 3 rows in after hardly any time knitting at all. Oy. I can get these complicated concepts... but forget what needle size I used for the back of a sweater, so I can't knit the fronts and sleeves. (I'm looking at you, baby owl sweater)

Unfortunately, my size 3s, 4s, and 5s are all the same color metal, so I can't just use this photo as evidence. Gnashing of teeth!

Other than paying attention to my work, reading the pattern correctly, and writing down my alterations to the pattern... what could possibly go wrong?

There's always this.


For the record? It was Crazy Hat day.

Comic relief

From xkcd, a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

I have also been reading Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Knitting Rules, which I am finding hilarious. The Yarn Harlot really is a fantastically funny woman. I am especially loving the lists. Lists of why to knit socks.. and why not to. It also has some really nifty tips, which I am already incorporating into my knitting. Figuring out head size and other sizing based on other body parts... useful. While reading bits of it to my boyfriend in the car (he is in fact a saint who lets me read aloud from my knitting books!), we got into a discussion of how I cannot knit him a sweater. I've already fallen prey to the curse before. I noted that it didn't matter, since he doesn't wear ANYTHING handknit anyways.

Then we both came to a beautiful realization. I can knit him a Jayne Hat. We are both Browncoats, after all. Guess what I'll be starting, as soon as I manage to find goldenrod, orange, and burnt umber colored yarn...

Belated Monday Me

Well, I got all excited and then forgot to post my real Monday Me... mostly because the pictures hadn't been uploaded yet.

I wanted to talk about parties. I have this very odd relationship to formal events. I really love them- heck, I even love doing the electric slide at bar mitzvahs. I love cocktail hour, and being around people all dressed up, and hearing good bands. I adore the pomp and circumstance and a company head telling us how successful our year has been. I loved semiformal dances in school, and in college, and I even got this wonderful band I know from high school to play at our Honor's Ball one year (who apparently just re-did their website).

This year, my work holiday party was held on Saturday- a bit belated for the holidays, but by doing it in January they ensure that most everybody can make it. I do love all the fun of the party, and the jazz band and the cocktails and the ice sculpture of the company logo that serves to ice our martinis... but it's a big party.

I get really nervous before parties. I don't know what to do with my hair, I am slow with makeup (I even wear makeup... that's really a rarity). I never know how much time it will take to get ready, and I'm afraid to start too early because I'm completely fidgety until the moment I leave.

This party was no exception- the party was wonderful, but I was all nerves beforetimes! After all, my coworkers had mostly not met Jamie, and I was nervous he wouldn't enjoy himself, or the food wouldn't be good, just anything really. My concerns were unfounded, however. The cocktail hour was lovely, we circulated the room like old pros, Jamie was a beacon of entertainment and light the whole night, and we danced up a storm once the evening got late. It was lovely.

Here's some photo evidence.




And one sappy photo, for the road.

Monday Me

One of my good friends from grad school, Dallas, had an idea to start doing "Monday Me"- one day a week to blog interesting facts about herself, or do a meme. I keep this knitting blog fairly free of my day-to-day life and focused on the knitting (and crafts), but I thought maybe posting slightly more personal things wouldn't be such a terrible idea. If you've managed to find this blog, you either know me anyways, or you're already willing to subject yourself to a little bit of crazy Mikaiya talk. I'll post my Monday Me for today a bit later, I think.

I have very little knitting content for today, since I haven't taken photos of my most recent completed project (the Wisp stole), nor my two current works-in-progress. I'm still working away at Hanami- I'm pretty far into the basketweave section. I also started a new project with yarn I purchased at Knitch with Jamie's mother. It's Mountain Colors Bearfoot. I cast on during my flight back from New Year's at my sister's, and have been working on them as my main project since:

The color is so amazingly me- it's mostly a deep purple-ish magenta, but it has little hints of hot pink. I adore it! In the photo it looks significantly more subdued than the true colors in person, but I think it will photograph better in sock form. The pattern is a lot of fun, too. I chose to knit Friday Harbor from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road, and it's adorable. The cuff is reminiscent of the Broadripple sock, but with a twist, and I love the fact that the front of the sock is lacy and the back is ribbed to keep it nice and snug. I think the lace pattern isn't perhaps my favorite, but I can easily see myself knitting another pair much like these, with a more traditional arrow lace pattern. I'm halfway through the second repeat of the lace, which puts me a good bunch of inches into the first sock. I aim to finish them ASAP, because my feet have been very cold and I want more wool socks!

They're not so cold today, at least. We're supposed to hit a high around 65 this afternoon- what wacky weather for January. I'm not complaining! In my wool suit, I didn't even need a coat, and I somehow managed to lose my hosiery between home and work. I should probably stop into CVS and pick up some new hose, but maybe I'll just choose to be a 20something rebel for today, and stay bare-legged. I have almost three more years to use that excuse... when I hit 30, I'll have to come up with a new one.

Maybe I'm just a rebel in general. A mostly well-behaved, knows what cutlery to use when, sort of rebel. Maybe my Monday Me should be about that!