Monday, June 02, 2008
Hello. We are back from Provincetown, back to a regular schedule and a regular diet that does not include daily doses of vodka, bacon, and lobster. We spent a week there and ate out only twice for lunch and twice for dinner; the rest of the time we cooked our little tails off. In total we polished off:
- 4 packages of bacon
- 4 dozen eggs
- 5 links of salami
- 4 large blocks of cheese
- 2 boxes of sugar
There was a lot fruit and orange juice too but most of it was put into the five or so batches of sangria we made.
Both Kitty and I brought our knitting. I knit about 5 rows total and she knit 0. We are awesome.
We spotted a filmmaker at a kitchen supply store in P-town. Check him out on his wicker-basketed bike.
It's J0hn Waters! He's so OFFBEAT!
We made eye contact over a pile of cookbooks. My first thought was that it was someone dressed up as JW, since people are always playing dress up here, and because that mustache of his looked like it was crudely drawn in with a Sharpie low on ink. I guess that is on purpose.
I must put some of his movies on netflix now.
And guess who has finally resurfaced from winter hibernation?
Filed Under: Postcards from Dottie | Travel
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Where has this month gone? Unfortunately I've been getting used to not blogging.
Dottie soaks up some Provencal sun in the medieval town of Les Arcs, southern France
It's been a real busy month or so, between the moving and the trip (planned MUCH MORE in advance than the move) and work. I've hardly knit, and I wasn't going to blog until my Sockapalooza socks arrived, so at least I'd have something to blog about...They're not here yet though, but I've been assured they're on their way.
Enjoying the flower market in Aix
In the meantime, my sock pal, Faith, has received her Twisted Flowers Socks. The whole package took a little detour before getting to its final destination: my departure date coincided with the deadline, so I decided I'd be all efficient and swing by the post office on the way to the airport. Unfortunately the post office had moved 2 blocks further down, which isn't a big deal but with 100 degree weather and a haul of luggage it might as well have been 2 miles away. So into my carry-on it went for a little joyride to Europe and back. So much for efficiency and finishing early. The funny thing is up until recently Faith was based in Germany (she's in NY for now), and when she goes back the socks in its short life will have traveled across the Atlantic three times.
It's a miracle I didn't lose them. I brought my Drunken Bees with me - very nicely did they keep my toes toasty on the plane - and now I have no idea where they are. :-(
Maybe they escaped and are hiding here with all the other drunken bees.
Filed Under: Postcards from Dottie | Sockapalooza | Travel
Friday, June 15, 2007
First Socks that Rock purchase as possible yarn to use for my Sockapalooza socks.
Socks That Rock | lightweight | Midsummer's Night shaded solids
I had no sock pattern in mind when I bought the yarn, so I picked out a something from my Japanese stitch dictionary. It's got some mini-cables, some 4-stitch cables, and a whole lot of ktog's and ssk's.
It is quite an interesting pattern. A little fussy, a little whimsical at the same time.
For the heel, I continued the mini-cables and the purl gutter down each side, and knitted a slip-stitch heel using the stitches from the main "wave" pattern. Then I finished it with a square heel.
This is a fine example of the technique commonly known as Making It Up As You Go Along.
I think I like it. Not sure yet.
Another thing I'm not 100% about is them STRs. I really love the base yarn, love the way it feels in the hand and the way it knits up, but I must say the dye job is completely underwhelming. The colors are muted, unremarkable, doesn't induce me to want to eat the yarn the way Koigus usually do. But it's the pooling, my GOD ALL THE POOLING, that I just can't ignore. Even for a shaded solid it does that icky, diagonal pooling, the unintentional blotchy striping which seems to be its trademark.
Seriously though. What is up with the diagonal pooling. You know of which I speak, I know you do. I noticed it on the first STR I ever knit with, so kindly given to me by Scout. Since then I've seen the diagonal pooling all over flickr. I see it now with the solids. It's so consistent that it drives me crazy, because, wouldn't it be easy to "fix" if you wanted to? Now I say this without having ever dyed a single skein of yarn in my life, and assuming that others want it "fixed" too, which they clearly don't because those things sell out like kittens at the kitten store. But like, could you paint/dye shorter lengths of yarn in the same color? Dye the each color interval more randomly? Something? Then there won't be so much pooling? Maybe...?
I do wonder a little how these socks have achieved rock-star status. Kind of like Obama. Hmm.
******
Has everyone forgotten Dottie, because I sure have! Eeks oops sorry don't hate me! She's been reposing all this time in the office cubicle. Now she's finally enjoying the great outdoors, reposing on a bed of soft frilly peonies. It's one last hoorah before the flowers start fading away.
Filed Under: Postcards from Dottie | Socks | Drunken Bees | Yarn Stash
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
The squirrels and the Chevron Scarves have come out to play.
Pattern: None really. Used a chevron stitch pattern, details here.
Yarn: 1 skein Sundara Yarn in Troubador and 1 skein Gems Pearl in Willow
Needles: US3
This is a fresh and skinny scarf, perfect for spring. It measures about 5 1/2 feet long. I could have kept going but decided it was long enough. I'll use the remaining yarn I have for sock toes and cuffs.
Both squirrel and scarf are courtesy of cynicthelamb, who just might have produced an award-winning praying mantis. Love him! I might need one of those too!
Dottie cozying up to her new friend.
Filed Under: Chevron Scarf | Completed Projects | Postcards from Dottie
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Spring was in the air today, so we took advantage of the mild temps, and a stroll through Boston. Here we are in Beacon Hill, my most favorite neighborhood in the entire universe.
Dottie too finally gets out of the house!
Filed Under: Life | Postcards from Dottie
Monday, January 22, 2007
American football, that is. Even though it actually involves more hands than feet.
First, grab yourself an ice-cold Bud and find a comfortable place in front of the television.
Then, help yourself to a plate of Buffalo chicken wings. Celery and blue cheese dressing on the side are mandatory.
Still hungry? How about some savory Green Chile Stew?
And for dessert...
Dottie gets an eyefull of T0m Brady,
America's version of David B3ckham.
The bad news: he lost the game.
The good news: he's newly SINGLE.
Dottie's verdict:
"Mmm...American football...Gooood..."
Too bad you'll have to wait til next year to see more!
PS I actually hate watching football during the regular season. Couldn't care less. Also, that green chile stew I made was REALLY REALLY GOOD. Get the recipe here.
Filed Under: Cat in the Kitchen | Postcards from Dottie
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Knitting did not bring us together, oh no, nor even our fondness for fruity drinks. It was the prospect of trying out Kathy's new DSLR that lured me out of my little cave, and I must say, Give it to me. Give it to me now. I need to do more research and a little soul-searching, but I'm definitely ready to upgrade and use the big guns. And hopefully with more time and practice my shots will not be so overexposed and will become uh, focused.
Filed Under: Life | Postcards from Dottie
Monday, December 04, 2006
I've had no time to post. Or I've made no time to post. The car broke down AGAIN this weekend and had to be towed away. It happened in the tiny and cramped parking lot of an Asian grocery store in the city. By the time it was finally dragged away there was a 15-car long backup that snaked all the way out into the busy intersection outside of the lot. I was almost more stressed about causing shopping mayhem (it's chaotic there without a disabled vehicle to contend with), and whether the tow truck was going to be able to fit in the lot in the first place. It was a real nailbiter. Well now we get to throw more money into this car which one breakdown ago officially became a dinosaur. Ugh dude ugh. But again, like the other issues that occured before Santa Fe, and while in Santa Fe, we were lucky that they all happened while we were approaching a parking lot, and not during any of the many moments we were speeding crosscountry along the highway.
Still. Come on car. Get with it.
"I'm not wearing any underpants." - Dottie
Filed Under: Life | Postcards from Dottie
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Two half-fingers that is.
There is a lot of faith involved knitting these gloves. I have faith that casting on stitches between fingers will work out even though its purpose is a mystery to me at the moment. I have faith that I will somehow be able to neatly close the huge gaps in between. Just as I had faith that the thumb gusset would work out. I have never been this religious in my life.
I miscalculated the numbers of stitches to use for the index finger -
the fit is off on the left hand but luckily is fine on the right. Go figure. I think I know what I need to for the second glove, but at the end of the day I'm not sure if I can write a pattern for these. That would imply that my knitting world operates in an orderly fashion and it totally does not. It's all ad hoc baby, ad hoc all the way. But we'll see.
It's been awhile since I've posted a Dottie photo. So here she is on a warm Boston afternoon, posing on the Longfellow Bridge. Off to a dinner date. After two weeks of being a total hermit, I'm ready to rejoin Boston society again.
Filed Under: Gloves | Mermaid | Postcards from Dottie
Monday, November 06, 2006
Dry terrain of northern New Mexico, headed to Colorado.
Corn fields of Nebraska. Or was that Iowa?
Country cookin' at the Cracker Barrel somewhere in Indiana. It's everyone's first time at the CB, ow! We have chicken 'n dumplings, mac 'n cheese, collard greens, corn muffins and a Reuben sammich.
Snow in Ohio. Boooooo. Hate you snow, hisssssss.
Sunset in upstate New York. Not quite as IMPRESSIVE as sunsets that have been seen in other STATES, but. It will do. It will have to do.
And finally at home, making new friends, sharing a snack.
Aaaaah yes. It's nice to be home, cooking in your own kitchen, eating from your own bowls, watching your own tv while lounging on your own couch, and especially sleeping in your own bed, snuggly pinned down on either side by two purring cats who may or may not have noticed you were gone but seem happy to be near you anyway.
So why the tears? Why? The tears?
I feel like we've been in a time warp and Santa Fe has just been a lovely, warm, adobe-colored dream. When we left, summer was still in full swing. Now suddenly the green things outside are dead and this house is doing that thing where it can't retain any heat and I have to wear my parka indoors. Is it that time of year already?
Yes, we're back home, and our adventure has officially ended! *Sob*
Filed Under: Postcards from Dottie | Travel | Santa Fe
Sunday, October 29, 2006
FRIDAY NIGHT
Margaritas, chile rellenos and sopaipillas at Maria's
Dottie takes a swig of her first margarita...
...and doesn't quite make it to her sleeping bag...
"Uuuuuhh..."
SATURDAY
Sight-seeing and shopping around Santa Fe Plaza...
Left: Vintage Route 66 that runs through the Plaza.
Middle: Jewelry vendors in front of the Palace of the Governors. I did all my Christmas shopping here!
Right: Dottie models a pair of hammered silver earrings
...then green chile hamburgers - again! - at Bobcat Bite for a late lunch.
Bring your knitting, no matter the time of day, the wait is loooong
A woman sat next to me in the booth at Bobcat and ordered a grilled cheese sandwich. I know it's on the menu, and this is America and all, but I'm going to make a wild assumption and say it's there mainly for the kiddies who come in. With their highly carnivorous parents. Then...
WOMAN: I'd like a side of potato salad with that as well. Oh wait, does that have meat in it?
WAITRESS: [...] Uh. No. I'm sorry, but. Who puts meat in their potato salad??
WOMAN: Oh I know! I'm a vegetarian, just had to be sure!
WAITRESS, and ME: ?!
SUNDAY
Breakfast at Cafe Pasqual's, downtown Santa Fe
ME: Two eggs on corn tortilla, topped with fresh peas, fresh tomato salsa, feta cheese, black beans, green chile, and side of fried bananas.
DUCK: Chorizo burrito
Like Bobcat Bite, Cafe Pasqual's came at the recommendation of Scout. Thank you for making us as dependant on green chiles as ever! We'd passed by this place many times before but somehow I forgot about it. Thank goodness she brought it up last week when we were at her house, because this place is FAN.TAStic. A little on the $$ side, but totally worth it. There have a been a lot of great places that did not come up during my food research, whether it be in travel books or online, and Pasqual's is one of them. Strange. I'll have to revise my list of Best Restaurants. We're thinking of going back for dinner tonight to make up for our ignorance.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, or right after I finish this post
Laundry, cleaning, and packing.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAH. Check out the yarn and WIPs and FOs I've accumulated since being here.
Most of them are from the usual online orders, a few are gifts, a few skeins are from the wool festival in Taos, and a couple skeins are from Needle's Eye here in Santa Fe. Those would be the bright blue and orange skeins at top right, colors of the sky and of the adobe walls, to remind me of our time here.
:-( Sniff sniff. But on the very bright side, The Boys await our return. OK not anxiously, but we can pretend.
Filed Under: Postcards from Dottie | Travel | Santa Fe
Friday, October 27, 2006
"How do you do?"
Dottie is a sweet little knitted kitty cat who is seeking a little adventure and fun overseas. Guess who will be the provider of said adventure and fun?
ME. Of course. Because I'm just chock full of both those things. Right?! But hold on I'm getting ahead of things...
"Across the pond and across the country in 2 days!"
Dottie hails from London. Yep, she has already had a bit of traveling under her knitted belt just to make it here.
"Hi. Let's party."
Dottie came with her own "sleeping bag" (hee hee), two Lion Bars (make that A bar. I just ate one) and a surprise skein of sock yarn from Curious Yarns!
So what is she doing so far away from home?
WELL, Dottie is here as a Travel and Adventure Ambassador on behalf of her mum, who is unable to travel and adventure herself. Just last week Hazel sent out a request for an adoption and I immediately responded. Like her, I agree this will be a very amusing swap. After a small flurry of emails, Dottie was quickly produced, packaged, dispatched, et voila! Here to party!
So for as long as Dottie is having fun, I as her host will be showing her around this grand country of mine, and post photos of her various shenanigans for her owner to see.
It's kind of like stealing your neighbor's garden gnome and sending photos back of him in various locales. Except this was a consentual swap, a drama-free and efficient adoption process. (Madonna probably should have considered adopting a knitted cat as well.) (Wait! I kid!)
"Hmm this loft is a bit of a mess."
Dottie has arrived just in time to spend a drunken last weekend with me in Santa Fe. Lucky girl! This afternoon we'll be doing some Christmas shopping in the Plaza, sipping margaritas and chowing on stuffed chiles at Maria's, and if I'm conscious enough afterwards, we'll get some knitting in before the night is over.
And in just a few days, Dottie will be on an exciting if butt-numbing 4-day road trip through the vast states of Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts - WOW! - before we settle again in Boston where I will introduce her to The Boys, the joys of steamed lobsters, clam chowder, and baked beans 'n molasses.
And, because this trip should be as much instructional as it is gastronomical, I will show her various sites where long ago American insurrectionists laid some whoopass on the Crown of England!
This is going to be a lot fun, and I imagine I'll be taking a lot of pictures of things I normally wouldn't otherwise. Sometimes I'm too lazy to whip out the camera, sometimes I have problems deciding whether a shot is worthwhile, other times I'm too self-conscious. Like taking a photo of your entree at dinner.
Not that photographing a knitted kitty in public won't seem a little odd, but she's an excuse to be just that. I can say, "I'm doing this for a friend! For a good cause!" You know? And hopefully Hazel will enjoy seeing them!
Just a few more hours until we take Dottie out and about. Until then, she surveys her new surroundings: the faux adobe, the brilliant sky and the snow-covered mountains in the distance. Soak it all in Dottie! For we won't be here long! More adventures await...
Filed Under: Postcards from Dottie
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