Maryland Sheep and Wool, and a detour

Believe it or not, it's not all fabric and quilting ideas and abc's around here. There's still plenty of yarn to go around.

Maryland Sheep and Wool this year was... different. I live just enough farther away that it was a HAUL to get there. And once I was there... it was just crazytown. So many people. I did manage to purchase exactly what I was looking for, but I'm not sure I would go on Saturday next year. Sunday is just much more relaxed. Exhibit A of the crowds:


And another crowd shot, near the outdoor tents


Last year at Sheep and Wool I regretted only one thing: not buying cashmere yarn from Hunt Valley Cashmere for a shawl. This year (after much debate), I did buy enough for a lovely scarf. Knitting with it? Fantastically luscious. As you can tell, since I'm nearly one full repeat in already!


I can't stop touching it.


I also fell disastrously in love with Tess yarns last year- I knit my Hanami out of the laceweight merino and had to buy more for another shawl.


I also picked up three (enormous) skeins of their Merino Petite, a DK weight yarn for a simple sweater (pattern as yet to be determined).


After Sheep and Wool I needed to relax a bit from the crowds. I drove down towards Jamie's by way of 15, which was a beautiful and peaceful way to journey. And I saw a sign for a winery... and had to stop in.



It wasn't Oliver, but the wine was tasty and I enjoyed it enough to join their wine club. Unfortunately, after a day in the sun at the festival I was a bit dehydrated and not the nicest company that evening. I think I hate chardonnay for a reason. At any rate, their reds are delicious!


And cashmere makes everything better.

J is for

J is one of my favorite letters. It starts such great words: jubilant, joyous, java, jokes, jeans, jammies.

But it's my absolute favorite letter of all because it is the first letter of my own name (and yes, Mikaiya is just a handle). I am named after my father's father, Grandpa Jack, who died when my father was just a teenager. My initials spell it out... JAC. I started out as Jenny (and yes, now I'll glare if you try that one now). Jen for the longest time. In my professional life, I'm now a Jennifer. I switched in college, but especially when I was in grad school in the Midwest- they always misheard me as saying "Jan" which is NOT my name. Jennifer is a lot harder to mis-hear.

I find it interesting that when I worked in a more diverse environment, everyone used my full name... now I'm surrounded by American citizens, it's back to Jen. I don't really mind one way or another (though I always write out Jennifer nowadays). I don't have many good old photos of me, since my parents still have my old photo albums. But here's a few, mostly for entertainment value.

On the beach with Mom, around 4-5 months old:


First birthday:


Heading to the Honors Ball (freshman year of college, so 1999-2000?)

(not a bad photo, Alex, if you read this blog...)

Dancing in Jerusalem in January 2001


Unbelievable that Israel has hit 60. Another one from my trip, at the Kotel:


I rock the flared cords and apparently never grew out of flannel.

There you go. J is for Jen.

I is for Indiana

I can't believe it took me so long to think of an I word for the ABC-Along. It's practically a gimme.

I moved from New Hampshire to Maryland when I was 15. I lived there until I graduated from college, and moved to INDIANA. For grad school at IU (in Bloomington). Admittedly, I was not meant to be a professor, and I left with a master's and came back to Maryland, and now Virginia, to be a corporate chickie. Two years was enough for me, but I will never regret the wonderful people I met out in the midwest. And of course, Bloomington was my introduction to food from all over the world, especially INDIAN (another I).

Here's a few pictures to prove it.
Indianapolis


Talking philosophy in Abby-upstairs' apartment (Abby was, oddly enough, my upstairs neighbor)


A typical living room scene from grad school, including library videos/books, the book I taught out of for freshman comp, a little light literary theory, and chocolate


I had a 2br, because I needed my study NOT to be in the bedroom. It was also my sewing room

Quilted Lovey

Quilted Lovey
Originally uploaded by WendysWTN

I am completely in love with this quilt. The pinwheels are half-square triangles (ie, I could quick piece them), and this would be a great GREAT way to use 30s reproduction prints.

I wonder if I can find fat quarters or a charm pack of 30s prints?

A little bean recipe for fun

I've been trying to stay in more, and cook more, because of lots of reasons. Not least of which? Sheep and Wool is NEXT weekend. Oh dear.

I have a splendid recipe to share for today, though. It's vegan, more out of happenstance than intention, and it has been boyfriend approved as quite tasty and quite filling. I didn't make the whole thing up, by any means, but I think we'll call it the descriptive if pedestrian

Sweet Potato with Bean and Veggie Stew
First, the original recipe would have you bake two sweet potatoes for an hour to an hour and a half. Puh-leeze. Wash two of them, get rid of any nasty bits, poke a few times on multiple sides to prevent explosion, and nuke them in the microwave for four minutes, then turn and cook for another four minutes. An hour and a half? Posh! I usually start the potatoes after the stew is already simmering. Here's that part:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed (I like the little garlic press for this)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 14oz can chopped tomatoes (I like diced with no salt added)
1 cup vegetable stock (or water, if you have no stock on hand)
1 large zucchini, cut into half inch cubes
1 green pepper, cut into half inch cubes
small can of corn (drained)
2 cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained (I used one can tonight, it was fine)
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, if you're into that sort of thing

Heat the oil in a big saucepan (think pot not skillet) and cook the onion over medium heat until it's soft and gold-colored. Add the garlic and spices and cook for a minute or two.

Add the tomatoes and stock (or water) and stir. Then add all the vegetables and beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer partially covered for 20 minutes.

Uncover, increase heat to medium, and cook for 10-15 minutes more until the liquid has thickened. Stir in the cilantro immediately before serving, if you choose.

Serve the stew over half a sweet potato (cut in half lengthwise). Add sour cream if you're not going for the vegan option, and you happen to have any.
---------------------
Easy peasy, and delicious. Not very spicy, though I think the original recipe calls it "Spicy Beans". Mm.

I'd take a picture but I ate it too fast. Maybe I'll get a picture of the leftovers? For me, this recipe serves three, or more generally one or two with plenty left for lunch the next day.

I received Veganomicon in the mail today, and am finding it uproariously funny so far. I can't wait to get to the recipes- hopefully this cookbook will aid me in my search for bean-based delicious healthy options. Among other things. I still have hamburger to defrost for tomorrow, but I do try to eat vegetarian at home the vast majority of the time. Who knows, maybe someday I'll make the switch- but I find it unlikely with my secret adoration for steak on at least a monthly basis. Mm food!

storm at sea

storm at sea
Originally uploaded by ninathoren

Storm at Sea with a heart.

I love this!

H is for Home.

Ignore the fact that my apartment went from looking like I just moved in... to looking just messy. It's still halfway in between, though I better tidy like crazy shortly, since my mother is coming up for a visit! These photos are a bit old already, but they do show my typical choices- wine rack is already on the wall, but I haven't hung the mirror or any other art. Heh. My sofa will not be delivered until June, so I am living on wooden chairs. Conveniently I can see the TV from bed, so long as I have my glasses on.

A quick tour of my messy but delightful efficiency:












The view from my balcony:

ah, Project Spectrum

The Fire portion of our project has ended. Good as time as any for a recap!

I had some goals for this section of Project Spectrum. I wanted to reevaluate old stagnant projects and decide whether to burn them completely frog them, or rebuild. I did manage this- I frogged a pair of socks that just weren't working out, and more recently I frogged 1/3 of a baby blanket, bringing it back to just the moss-stitch border and ready to start over again. I realized after a few sets of cables that I had made an error... and then a few more repeats after that, I noticed the more glaring error that I had been reading the charts wrong the whole blanket. Also, the entire blanket I already knit from the pattern was wrong! What's past is past, and can't be undone... but I took the second mistake as a sign, and finally took out almost all of the knitting on the last day of the Fire segment. I do feel better, having those massive cabling errors out of my life. It's a small thing, but it helps!

I set my goals for Autumn Rose low- I said I wanted to swatch it. And I did! I even knit the first few inches! I did NOT start the rust-colored sweater, however. And I didn't even look at the menorah pillow I wanted to make for myself. On the plus side, I finished and blocked Hanami, and got to take some photos of her in all her pink glory in front of the pale pink cherry blossoms.

I would hardly call this unqualified success, but it's a start! I also made stews, focusing on the sweet potato as my newfound friendly ingredient. That's nice and fiery, and wintery, to boot. I may not have accomplished all of my goals, but I am quite pleased with the results of my Fire explorations, for my first attempt at Project Spectrum.

Next up is Earth. Green, brown, and metallics. I'd like to set a few goals for this, as well! The most key, I think, is that I want to start a small container herb garden on my new, lovely balcony. I am a notorious black thumb, but the inspiration of friends who garden and the gorgeous community garden I can see out my windows is really striking. I can watch people hoe and weed when I walk home from the metro, and it makes me sad that I am not doing my bit to grow a little something of my own. I also find spending 3-4 dollars for fresh herbs ridiculous, so there's a money-saving aspect to this! If I can only grow a few terribly basic herbs, I'd be quite happy.

In addition to my pseudo-outdoor gardening hope, I would like to focus a bit more on greens and browns. The rust-colored sweater is not such an ill choice for the season (rust is still as much brown as red). I have green socks just waiting to be knitted, and even the Kaffe's are made beautiful by their little emerald stripes. So I'll set that as a goal to finish the second Kaffe sock, and create another pair of socks as well. My feet will appreciate them next fall, when the weather cools again (or even this month, if I knit fast enough).

The metallic idea of the Earth segment is a pretty obvious link to the beading and jewelry-making I've been getting interested in. I would like to try just one project, to see if I like it- probably a crocheted bracelet or necklace. I can't wear much in the way of non-precious metals, but if what I make turns out well enough, I can invest in some sterling silver wire. And give away the trial runs to people with less sensitive skin!

I'm very ready for some Earth exploration. What a good time to schedule a few hikes, as well....

G is for Grins: a pictoral.

All my favorite people grin lots.

This one, of course:


Dea, who is coming out this weekend to visit from med school in Detroit:


Kevin, one of my four boys from college:


Eric and Sharyn at her wedding:


After my kid sister's six years of college, you bet we're all grinning in this photo (just kidding, kiddo):


Former Roommie, champion grinner:


Now I am caught up, and I promise something a bit more unique for H. And it won't even be Hanami (though the temptation is strong!)

F is for

dysFunctional... just kidding! I was out of the loop, what with the moving/computer death thing. But I wanted to catch up a bit.

F is, of course, for family. And especially, my father. I feature my mom and sister on occasion here, and I love them dearly... but you know how it is with a girl and her dad. He's the coolest man I've ever known.

Fun photos of my father:

On the fake safari he said was almost as good as his real one:


Dressed up- my Dad looks great in a tux:


Dad taught me how to boogie:


My father is the youngest of four (sadly, three living) brothers:


Hanging out in Vegas with the fish:


Mustache on or off, this is my favorite kind of Dad photo- with Mom, and a Hawaiian shirt:


F is for flamingos, too- and my dad is a huge fan. Well, actually not so much, but it's been a family in-joke since forever!


The only thing wrong with these photos? He's not smiling enough. You can tell my Dad a mile away from his allergy cough (it's loud) and his infectious smile and laugh. I can't say as to the quality of his jokes, but they're great in quantity!

A few thoughts I've been thinking

I skipped out on an event today for no particularly good reason- I could have planned better, left earlier, started laundry earlier, woken up earlier, decided it was important and made way for it.

But I didn't. And I'm kind of glad. I needed this sort of afternoon to myself- I have been in and out of the house so much lately, only here to sleep, and I missed my little spot of home! It's small. But plenty big enough for me and my things, if I ever put away the last piles of junk near the bed. And it's dark. But my handy electrician boyfriend said he would look at my lamps (both of my standing lamps stopped working after the move, and I destroyed my desk lamp, too). In the meantime, I do have overhead lights in the kitchen, by the front door, and over the kitchen table. You would think that would be enough, but this is a surprisingly difficult-to-light apartment!

The reason I ended up getting home too late to go into the city? I was shopping for fabric. I'm not certain if I will keep this fabric all the way until September, for my quilting retreat. It is seriously adorable, manly and nautical, and hopefully it will turn into a lovely lap blanket for the boy. G Street is having a sale starting Thursday (wish they'd mentioned it BEFORE cutting 4 of the 6 fabrics), so I will probably go back to get the fabric for my first large quilt then. It will be a lot cheaper with the discounts, and then I can wash and put all that fabric away for the retreat- I suspect cutting out and piecing a queen-size quilt will take up most of that!

They say to bring your own sewing machine, but don't mention if you should bring an ironing board and an iron. I guess that we can all share. As for the sewing machine, my mom and I are both scoping out old reliable Featherweight Singers on eBay. Because obviously, what we really need? More sewing machines... I will probably just give in and bring my Athena, to save money, but it sure is heavy.

Still no knitting news. I haven't worked on the lace shawl in a week, and I've only knit a few more rows of the socks. I haven't touched Autumn Rose, nor any of the other bazillion projects. I'm hoping to get some knitting done at Jamie's tonight while he raids. In between bouts of Wii games, of course.

Pine Trees

Pine Trees
Originally uploaded by m.ruth

The examples I've seen before use a great number of different shades for the leaves. I rather like this version, which is much simpler.

Simpler is good when you have no stash.

I have this new hobby

And I think it's going to become addictive. Since I'm hardly knitting lately, and I have no comfy couch, I've been thinking and dreaming quilts. A great deal.

I signed up for a quilting retreat in September, about a week of quilting fun with my mom and aunt. It should be fun, and we are to bring a project (projects?) and a machine. I don't have a particularly portable sewing machine, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it- I'm sure I can lug my Athena around somehow, even without a special case. Even if it is bloody heavy. As I think on this, maybe the Rocketeer would be a better choice!

At any rate, I did my first quilt project as an adult last spring break- the wallhanging I posted about on this blog. It's cute, and I will be hanging it behind the kitchen table part of the studio very shortly. So far the only thing on the walls is the wine rack- I have my priorities. I didn't really do any reading for that, though I did pick up a few tips and tricks. Now that I've done some piecing, I thought I should maybe do a little reading about it. And of course, some things I learned the hard way are written up very beautifully in my new quilting books. I still think it was better to learn hands-on though- like any craft, making mistakes is usually the easiest way to remember how to do it right the next time! One of the little books I purchased is "More Quilts from the Quiltmaker's Gift." It contains patterns that were illustrated in the children's book The Quiltmaker's Gift. The first book of patterns was cute, and I really fell in love with one they called Robbing Peter to Pay Paul- though it was not a traditional version of the quilt by that name. This second one has LOTS of patterns I love, though. Namely, the ever-popular Spools pattern, the omnipresent baby quilt pattern Tumbling Blocks (it looks like Qbert!), a Drunkard's Path variant called Trail of Friendship... pretty. Best of all are the two that I aim to make in the near future. One is called Tree of Paradise, and they off-set the blocks so it looks very modern and chic. The blocks are something like this. I would REALLY love to make that one in a bed-size quilt. Which means I don't think I'll be attempting it quite yet. I also adore the Storm at Sea- one beautiful version is here. I want to make a lap-quilt sized version of that for the boy. He loves blue, and I am always freezing at his place when we watch movies or when I'm playing Wii.

Another pattern that I'm totally into right now are the variations on Cathedral Windows, or Tea Leaf. But again, that is a bit beyond my current skillset (and I have zero desire to hand piece or quilt at the moment).

I think I'll blog a few more patterns I'm in love with. But I'm thinking of popping by G Street in the next day or two to pick out fabrics for Storm at Sea. They also have some gorgeous fall-color Moda fabric that I NEED.

Here's a question, fellow quilter peeps: how much fabric do you buy when you're in love, but have no pattern in mind? Do you just get a yard, for the taste? Or do you get a few yards, so you can use it as a major feature in a quilt? Not that I need to be stashing, but you know.

I'd like to note finally that there is no way I can survive this month without being a consumer. I'm going to North Carolina on vacation with the parents. And I forsee that to be a week of quilting and knitting on their comfy couches. And in their delicious screened back porch. I just don't have the fabric stash to see me through! My vow, however, is to do the non-craft portions of this challenge. No spa treatments (not that I do those much). No haircuts, no dying of the hair. No buying of makeup. Hmm... so far these are all things I avoid like the plague as it is. To make it a bit more of a challenge- No buying yarn until Sheep and Wool. No buying clothes. No buying shoes. No purchasing of house goods beyond cleaning and personal care supplies. I will have to think of any more!

Hurray for the Interwebs

It has been far, far too long since I was able to blog. For two weeks, I've had no internet at home. Not that it would have mattered- my laptop died (hard), followed a few days later by my desktop. The laptop is still a hunk of useless plastic right now, but the desktop has miraculously come back from the dead. When I pay off my couch... I'll think about that MacBook Pro I want so badly. In the meantime, I'm back online, I have a working CPU, and I have a few things to show! I did not do much knitting in the past two weeks... I packed, I moved, I unpacked, and I went to bed REAL early. But I did manage to block Hanami before I left the old place, and I got a few action shots at the Tidal Basin during the Cherry Blossom Festival. If only it had been 10 (or 30) degrees warmer. I made it to the Yarn Party in Takoma Park today, which was delightful- but I'll blog that a bit later. And I didn't stop knitting entirely these past weeks- I started what is looking to be one brilliantly pretty shawl. In the meantime, I present Hanami!

The requisite blocking photos




I wanted to model it over a pretty little black dress. My big black jacket will have to do for this year.


One last photo for the road. He didn't want his picture taken, but I think he looks adorable in front of the blossoms. Don't you?

Three years gone...

How did I not notice that I passed my three-year blogging anniversary? In January. Apparently I don't pay attention to these things.

This makes me happy, because looking back at my (much older and less frequent) posts, I am struck by how much has changed. I finish things more quickly now, when I decide to actually work on them. I don't think I still have anything on the needles from back then, except for a crocheted tablecloth I'm not sure I'll ever finish. I guess now that I've stolen my parents' round table, I have more reason to work on it. Most striking, however, is how much my skillset has grown in the intervening years. I learned to knit continental, and realized that I still knit faster and tidier English, but I can use both hands for fair isle. People who tell you continental is faster may be true for themselves, but I think I'm sticking with my right hand, thank you very much. I have done lots of interesting colorwork, finished some really wearable stuff, and made probably too many knitted gifts. I've learned about errors in sizing and gauge, and continued to blissfully ignore the gauge swatch 90 percent of the time. I've knit a ginormous sweater for a coworker (no boyfriend curse there!), and I've knit a medium-sized sweater for a former boy (in that case, the curse did apply). I am a confident cabler, willing to take on the most intricate aran. Burridge, I'm looking at you. I hope to buy the yarn for that sucker after I pay off my new sofa. Oh, and I also became obsessed with lace. Expect more of that to come.

Did I mention I bought a sofa? Knitters need some serious equipment to be good at our craft- the right needles, the right yarn, decent lighting, and a comfortable but supportive seat. My old sofa wasn't doing so much for me on that last account. It was a La-Z-Boy convertible sofa, and although it was fairly comfortable, it just couldn't stand up to marathon knitting sessions anymore. I bought it for seventy-five dollars in grad school, from a girl who quit the program a year before I did, and it was a very happy couch for about four years. My (now former) roommate has it, and I'm sure it will serve her well. The bed is surprisingly cushy, in fact. But I figured with my new apartment, a real city-style efficiency, it is time to get rid of the inherited furniture and grow up a bit. I may still have an Ikea bedroom set- which I LOVE, by the way, thank you very much. And I may have crappy-as-heck bookshelves which I'd love to replace but can't afford to. But I can make an enormous change in the look of my apartment with a new sofa. It is the perfect sofa. Apparently furniture stores of a certain class don't say "couch" anymore... I find this funny. After checking out a few places, and debating the merits of leather over microfiber, I went with the most inexpensive expensive sofa I could find. West Elm was too cushy and too wide, Sam's Club too old-fashioned (though good on prices), but BoConcept in Georgetown had exactly the right mix of funky modern and not being $3000-5000 (I'm looking at you, Restoration Hardware and Crate & Barrel). I paid the price of perfection by going over budget, having to select microfiber, and waiting 12 weeks. But my sofa? Perfect. Comfortable to sit on, but firm enough to stand up to knitting for 14 hours in a day (did I say 14? I meant... some number that doesn't make me sound like a lazy slug). I hope to keep it for 5-10 years or more, and I just couldn't justify getting something that I wasn't completely in love with. I am disappointed to have to wait until frikkin JUNE... but this gives me an excellent excuse to enjoy my new efficiency, and watch TV from bed. Snuggling under the covers to watch movies for three months probably won't kill me.

I pick up my keys Friday afternoon. I am ridiculously excited. Life is good! Now to bed, so I can get up and pack my little heart out. And freecycle my life away.

That's my only other little tidbit- I'm apparently going to be interviewed about freecycling. They're even sending a real photographer. This should be entertaining- I've been interviewed for various things before, and generally come across as vapid. I don't know if I am actually that inane in real life, or if there is a law that editing newspaper and tv news requires taking out all pertinent details so the interviewee looks like a silly person... it's a toss-up.

Fun when moving

I haven't had a lot of fun time lately- lots of writing for work, and packing, and trying to read a bit, and of course I have another work essay to write by this Sunday and I have to finish packing by next Thursday.

What fun time I've had, though, has mostly been knitting. Still haven't blocked Hanami (for shame! I should do that this weekend). I did finish the first Kaffe sock, and I've finished the cuff of the second. I'm making them not matching. On purpose. Something about the fun stripes leads me to believe that if I make them the same, they will lose a bit of their eclectic cool. I want them to not match up. Me, the incredibly anal knitter. If I hate it once I get to the heel, I could always rip them out and make them match... but I doubt I'll be tempted.

Autumn Rose has been sitting neglected ever since I started these socks. I have this dream that I'll finish packing almost everything on Saturday, and write my paper then, too, so Sunday I can sit around and watch Netflix and knit. I know reality isn't going to allow any of that to happen, but I can dream!

I went to see Live at the 9:30 Club last night. It was a stellar show- the opener was surprisingly talented, and I'm still in love with Live. They played some great hits from their back catalog, and stayed away from playing too much of the recent stuff (which, realistically, isn't why their fan base goes to see them). The crowd was so different to me than the usual 9:30 Club fare. I usually feel like I'm the only boring normal late-20-something at that venue, surrounded by cool cats and hipsters and skinny girls in skinny jeans. Live fans seem to trend a decade or two older than that, and let me just say that I felt kinda thin. And oh boy, I'm not thin. I'm not judging, I should note... it was actually very refreshing to look around the crowd at a rock show and go "wow, I fit in here." Usually I feel like a bit of an interloper- I'm just not cool enough for the nifty indie bands I love. Music transcends age, but it definitely is part of a moment. I'm glad Live's moment has been going on for a decade and a half. After all, this was my third or fourth time seeing them, and every time I'm more impressed with their talents and the vocals and the rock'n'roll soul they share so willingly with the audience. Over 1100 people showed up.

My only complaint is with myself. I remembered my camera (for once)... but I didn't charge the battery, so it died after one photo of the opening band. I'm a terrible photographer, less due to skill and more due to idiocy! So it goes.

Embarrassing photos?

My buddy Dallas has been posting embarrassing photos from her childhood. I thought it might be fun, but apparently all my photos from my youth are already packed for the move. Darn!

I can do almost as well, however, with some old time photos I found while packing. While I scanned them, I noticed a few entertaining trends. Let's see if you can point them out, too! And maybe this is almost as bad as my terrible 80s fashion choices, after all, nice girls don't dress up as flappers and wave guns around throughout their adolescence and early adulthood.

First up is my group portrait of all the kids from my hometown who went to All State NH when I was a freshman in high school. We posed with our teacher, who was terribly bothered that we saw her tattoo. It didn't seem like a very big deal to us, since we were the 15 year olds posing with booze bottles.


Next, and relatively soon after that one, was a portrait of me and my best friend/sometimes boyfriend from that time period. Ah, Steve. He's all grown up and married and home-owning. I... am none of these things. But I love him anyways.


The next trip on memory lane is an old-time photo of me and my two best buds from high school, Susan and Betsy. They're twins (as may be self-evident), but they are quite unique personalities. Betsy married a Brit and is happily enjoying life in England, and Susan is a librarian in Boston. We don't keep in touch much, but with the wonders of the internets nobody is that far removed anymore.


The last stop on our trip is a bit more recent- maybe college-time or a bit afterwards. My best friend from UMBC, Paul, is a huge Weird Al fan. We drove down to King's Dominion (I believe? Some amusement park anyways) to see the wackiest rock star perform. The show was a hoot, but the best part is always the old time photos. Paul was a sport about it, and in the end I think he thought it was more entertaining than I did.


Things to note:
- I always hold a gun or the booze
- The roaring 20's is not a good look for busty girls. We just look chunky. Wild Wild West? Much better.
- My hair has been many different lengths, and it looks for CRAP at chin-length. Best at shoulder or so. It's way too darn long now (below the bra strap and counting)
- My hair goes in phases. Brownish, to light brownish, to OH MY that's BLONDE. Lucky for me, the sepia tones don't betray any traces of burgundy. My hair has had some fun in its time, let's just leave it at that.
- I looked really old at 15, and now I look like a kid. Where is the justice?
- I don't actually smile in most old-time photos, but in regular photos my grin is ginormous and a bit frightening. See?

I took Kaffe to the hockey game

And all I got was a beer and some french fries. I love our corporate box, and I really love that nobody was there who minded me knitting.

The Capitals scored two goals before I even got back from buying french fries (let's just say I had a food emergency). And they continued to DESTROY my poor Bruins the whole night. It was a bad night for a Boston fan. I didn't mind, of course, since with knitting in hand, nothing seems too disastrous.


My Kaffe sock looked quite happy to be at the game


And we both particularly enjoyed the beer! I am normally a wine and liquor person, but there's something about grease and beer and sporting events that dovetail perfectly.