Tuesday, April 28, 2015

next read

i use to have a routine of going to bed earlier and reading until i was sleepy. i haven't done that in a long time.

i wanted to read this again …

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i checked various websites online, including walmart and amazon, but i found an inexpensive copy on ebay.

i could had taken the time to find in a local used book store, but that hasn't been convenient.

my book arrived today!

to my surprise, it's a hardback copy. i guess i didn't read the description all that closely. it's in very good condition, considering it was printed in '97.

i'm glad it came today. maybe it came yesterday and i failed to check the mailbox? i really could had used this yesterday!

Sunday, April 26, 2015

finished !!!

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wow … finished it!

… this is my linen tee … knitted from the quince & co "sparrow" in the pattern "lena tee".

i had my doubts. i first doubted the number of hanks needed (pattern in my size calls for 5 hanks, i feared it might take 6) --- i bought an extra hank, "just in case", but sold it to a friend tonight.

then i doubted if it would be long enough. and it is.

i doubted if the armholes would flare a bit from the garter stitch. but it tamed after washing/blocking.

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my coconut butterfly from the dominican republic


but, i all worked out. the drape is amazing! i read on the quince & co. website that the best way to "block" is to toss the finished garment into the washing machine, and then dry in the dryer until almost dry, then 'block'.

mine was almost dry when i pulled it from the dryer. i tugged and reshaped, and then hung on a clothes hanger.

it's perfect.

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want to buy it? $400 !!!

Sunday, April 19, 2015

twice in one day?

i finally gave in an upgraded my iCloud … which is helpful for all my photos.

so this evening, i'm crocheting on my blanket. i hadn't touched it in at least a week, but tonight wanted to work on it.

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i've started another hexagon. it's #19. the pattern calls for 35 hexagons, but i'm thinking my blanket will be smaller (a lap blanket vs. bedspread).

i knitted a bit on my lena tee, but then switched over to the crochet.

yes, i have switched from knitting a fine linen top to crocheting an acrylic blanket. tisk tisk.

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this is knitted from the bottom up. i have finished all of the back (or front) and am knitting from the armholes up to the top on the other side.

we'll see …...

what's new?

plenty!

and if i could get all my photos i want to share to cooperate, then i could post them here. however, i'm having some technical issues today.

but i did manage to upload a few yesterday, so i'll start with these:

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i got a new fish. i always joke, "you have to be really tough to live with me", … but it's not a joke. my other fish died, and he wasn't even "old".

mom and i always joke about keeping things alive. it's in reference to the sandra bullock film 28 days. at the end of the film, she's in a flower shop … and i'll leave it at that. the last time i watched it was possibly on netflix. i'm not sure -- i know it's not available for streaming via netflix right now.

anyways, so i got a new fish. have i named it? no. maybe that's part of my problem … i don't name things. i never named my truck, but it's been going strong since summer of '96.

what have i been doing with my time other than work? … i've been trying to find a routine. apparently it's taking more time than i thought. it's a process.

tomorrow, i plan to get back into this routine:

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i don't even care if it's raining in the morning --- i've got to start my walking again. i know it will make me feel better in all kinds of ways.

shoes are by the door, and the alarm is set.

if only knitting (and crochet) counted as "activity"! if they did, then i've been quite busy in that "activity".

a friend and i had a KAL (knit-a-long). i wanted to knit a certain sweater, and wanted her to knit it too (because 1. she has the yarn in stash, 2. she needed to knit something for herself, 3. some things are fun when done with someone else, 4. i had the yarn in stash, 5. i was going to knit it anyways!, 6. and i got the yarn from her on a bet (which she lost)).

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so, of course, being the monogamous knitter she is … she finished before me. UGH.

i have finished, but i haven't sewn my pieces together yet.

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i have sewn together the back and sleeves. i'm just not feeling motivated. but, that may change.

i'm thinking after i get my yarn back on the needles for part 2 of my other summer tee, i'll feel more like finishing the albany sweater.

she keeps saying, "just sew 1 seam a day" … easier said than done. and, quite logical.

but, my mornings are busy, and then there's the job, and then the evenings are something else.

i have started 2 new sweaters since "not finishing" the above sweater. i'm quite the productive procrastinator.

tonight, i'm going to knit on my Lena Tee. i will find something new to watch on netflix. i might sew a seam on the other tee. might. don't count on it.

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rear-view driving home a couple of weeks ago … awesome sunset !!!