pepperknit

She’s just as sweet and delightful, though. I don’t know why, but I had it in my head that Jennie was going to tower over me. Turns out she’s just a little taller than me (or about the same height; we were not on completely level ground for the photo).

I’ve compared these blogger meetups with first dates (not that I know what a first date is really like), but this one was more like falling in step with an old friend, I thought. I was a bit late for our lunch date on Friday, so when I dashed outside and turned and saw her–I don’t know–it was like, “Right! There’s Jennie, waiting for me.” Not “Woah! I just met Jennie!”

Jennie is a fan of all foods that come with rice, so I took her to Won Dee Siam, where I took Rachel many months ago. It’s so tasty and so inexpensive, it’s hard to resist. We were there chatting for a long while–until there were no other patrons in the place–and then we went to Central Park for some knitting and more great conversation.

I started on a baby hat for one of the twins (Jennie suggested cables so I went with 2×2 cables all around, separated by 2 purls, and I knit about 2 inches). Her approach to an afternoon of knitting was different. She did something I’ve seen other bloggers do, and which mystifies me–she knit for some time on the baby bootees, then set them aside and got out her Icarus shawl. I’m a monogamous knitter, so this is completely foreign to me.

She did have a surprise in store–one completed Leyburn sock! Hers is so beautiful. She had a bit of trouble with the heel (making it roomy enough). I am not entirely sure how to guide folks if you have a need for a larger/taller heel, since the short-row heel (the lazy knitter’s heel, in my lazy opinion) doesn’t allow for much height. Maybe do a Widdershins heel flap, so you can get a taller heel? It’s a little tricky to maintain stretchiness with the floats, which is why the pattern has some increasing built in before the heel. I guess increase more, and then decrease it away?

Anyway, the afternoon was over all too soon–next time I’m in Philly, I hope Jennie’s in town!

In other news, I’ve been considering taking up this new hobby that seems really popular. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? Knitting? Two sticks and some string? Perhaps I’ll give it a try, someday. . .

Honestly, I plan to knit again, I swear. Soon! I’ve got some ideas clanking around in my head. Just no time or motivation.

I’ve been in and out of New York lately–Philly, Delaware–and then away on a business trip during the week last week. And I’ve barely been knitting. But happily that business trip (a workshop retreat) was in a gorgeous place. The Mohonk Mountainhouse in Mohonk, NY, was like something out of either The Shining or Dirty Dancing. I know those two movies aren’t usually confused, but believe me.

In between sessions one day, the group of us got in rowboats and floated around the lake. In my one free hour on the last full day, I bolted to the top of a mountain. It was amazing.

Edited to add: Did I neglect to say that I want to go back here IMMEDIATELY and even LIVE HERE and I encourage you all go splurge on a stay ASAP? GO. I was eyeing the girls working the boat docks, thinking, “how much you think they make in a year?” Something came over me here, and I was totally at peace. I hope it has such an effect on everyone. (Note: I do not get kickbacks from this place. But if they wanted to comp me a weekend, I would not refuse! Hi, Mohonk People? Let me back in!)

Mom gets a lot of blog-time, probably because she’s a knitter and she attends fiber festivals with me. But my dad is really awesome, too–he coined the catchphrase “2007: The Year of Erin,” and he’s just generally supportive and kind and interesting to talk to. I searched my archives and I’m sad to see I rarely take photos of dad–will have to start making up for that when I see him next! For now, Happy Father’s Day, dad!

And a special shout-out to my dear friend TJ, who became a dad on Thursday. The twins were born–early, but healthy!

Jennie was the mastermind behind Sound Swap–my very first swap. I don’t even know why I was inspired to participate–I’m not some huge music junkie–but I’m really glad I did.

First, making my own mix was a lot of fun (and a decent amount of work!). I was making the mix for Sprite, who had said in her questionnaire that she liked pretty much anything, so that was no help. I decided to make a mix of songs that were happy–things that made you want to dance around, tap your toe, or just sing your heart out. The easy way out would have been to burn a copy of the CD that Rachel made for me in the fall. But I’m no cheater! (So, ok, I used a few of the songs. I’m just a little cheater.) Here’s the mix I came up with.

1. Sidewalk Chalk • The A-Sides
2. If She Wants Me • Belle & Sebastian
3. Here Comes My Baby • Cat Stevens
4. Sing Me Spanish Techno • The New Pornographers
5. Mushaboom • Feist
6. On This Tidal Wave of Young Blood • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
7. Reno Dakota • The Magnetic Fields
8. As Cool As I Am • Dar Williams
9. Disco 2000 • Pulp
10. Bottle Rocket • The Go! Team
11. Wanna Be Starting Something • Michael Jackson
12. Seven • Prince
13. Heavy Metal Drummer • Wilco
14. Such Great Heights • The Postal Service
15. Forever My Friend • Ray LaMontagne
16. Some Good Thing • The Wailin’ Jennies
17. The Christmas Song • Adam Arcuragi

I wanted a mix of old and new, local (Philly) and big-name. I must admit I like this mix so much I’ve been listening to the playlist a lot myself. I bought some chocolates as well to round out the package, and Sprite let me know that she enjoyed it all.

But I had no idea what was in store for me, and, well, I will step it up should I participate in a future swap. Because Meg just blew me away.

First, go check out the blog post she wrote before she sent the package. If you read the comments, you’ll see that I even say, “I hope I’m the recipient!”–because she set it up as a mystery! The recipient would have to solve the mystery to receive the full prize. (Once you know the mystery, you’ll see that her whole post–including her 7 random things–is on topic.)

When the package arrived I was dancing around the office showing it off–I got a package! from Australia! from a swap partner, who just happens to be a blogger I’ve been reading for a while now! The inside of the CD case had a very familiar feel, but it was only when I got to the third “item” in the enumerated list (”Third: The minty treats are in the air. The one who finds the theme receives the . . .”) that it dawned on me.

Meg had made me a WESTING GAME CD.

I’ve mentioned the Westing Game more than once on this here blog, but I will repeat for any new folks: Favorite. Book. Ever. Meg knew this, of course, and customized the CD to feature all songs with directional titles. The result is an eclectic, funky mix that is excellent!

Once I emailed her to shriek and exclaim over the package, most importantly all the details (”clues” printed on slips of paper with part of each song name missing, the border made of lines of dots), Meg put a SECOND package in the mail to me that was full of yummy goodness.

Minties are like mint taffy (yum) and the magazine is the most awesome Australian food magazine (more yum)–I’m totally going to make that cover recipe.

Thank you so much Meg! This was a delightful swap experience–thanks for putting it together, Jennie! Here’s the mix Meg made for me:

1. Uncle Sam Blues • Hot Tuna
2. Southern Cross • Crosby, Stills & Nash
3. Going Out West • Ash Grunwald
4. Driving south • Stone Roses
5. Goin’ Down South • Collard Greens and Gravy
6. Go West • Pet Shop Boys
7. Eastern Eyes • Nitin Sawhney
8. North Part 2 • Afro Celt Sound Systerm
9. West End Riot • The Living End
10. Drivin’ South • Jimi Hendrix Experience
11. Wild West • Corey Harris
12. West Coast Blues • Oscar Peterson
13. South • Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra
14. East St. Louis Toodle-oo • Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
15. East of the Sun (and West of the Moon) • Sarah Vaughn
16. South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) • Patsy Cline
17. Gil from the North Country • Altan
18. East to the West • Michael Franti & Spearhead
19. Fireworks • Moby

Last weekend in Philly, I had a chance to hang out with an old friend and his kiddos at the pool on a pool playdate. Oh, summers as a kid. Fun!

So I was hanging out with Rachel the other night for a drink while she was in the city (my god, I am so lucky that she comes to the city every now and then, and we can meet up), and we got to talking about books.

I was in the middle of reading The Road, but I had come to the conclusion that I could not keep reading it. Too intensely heartwrenching, scary, and real. I need something fun and light, but still interesting.

She suggested a few options, including To Say Nothing of the Dog, a revisit of the Harry Potter series, and anything by Sarah Vowell or David Sedaris.

I recently read Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and I’ve read the other Sedaris collections–loved them all. (Loved making a fool of myself on the bus as I guffawed.) Other recent reads include Heyday (ugh, no) and The Red Tent (it was fine).

Though I say I’m looking for light, I must say that I have never enjoyed reading chick lit, so that kind of stuff isn’t going to interest me. (Good in Bed? Wanted to throw the book across the room, I found it so trite. And . . . that’s the only chick lit I’ve read. (wait! i liked Bridget Jones, actually.)) But things like Ruth Reichl’s memoirs or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time were fast, light, enjoyable reads.

I’m looking for things that don’t teach me some kind of moral lesson, don’t make me wonder how I might handle the onset of an apocalypse, nothing that has characters in a world devoid of hope. (Is that too much to ask?) So I open the comments to all your book suggestions!

ok, it turns out it was just a big advertising campaign. but it was pretty.

Since finishing Swallowtail, I haven’t been exactly sure what I wanted to knit next. I swatched for Sahara, and once I did I recalled my intention to knit it with a different gauge, which as you know means extensive math, and well: not in the mood. I decided that doubling the yarn for the Cabled Bandeau is not being true to the yarn, so I’m going to frog that entirely and find new yarn to make it out of. I started designing a new pair of socks, but the Koigu felt really thick and rough compared with the laceweight I used for Swallowtail and the luscious Tess Silk & Ivory I was using for Sahara. I wanted something light, something sweet, something that would feel good to work on and brighten my day. I wanted to work with some soft sock yarn, like the Lisa Souza Sock!Merino. So I did.

A New iPod Cozy
Pattern: My own
Yarn: Lisa Souza Sock!Merino in Peacock
Needles: US 1 Knitpicks Circs (used Magic Loop)
Started: 8pm, Sunday June 3
Finished: 10pm, Sunday, June 3
Movie Watched: Ocean’s Eleven, on TBS

I’m very happy with this FO. So fast, so easy, so practical, and feels like a vast improvement over my last iPod cozy, though that one served me well. In fact, I think I had that iPod cozy for two and a half years. Here it is, in a photo taken a year and a half ago, when it was a year old.

That was knit using an acrylic yarn that actually had some sparkle, which I felt was appropriate for the iPod what with it being white and all. But it’s become really dirty, and stretched out, and though it still functioned fine, I wanted something shiny and new.

This was a great use of leftover sock yarn–used very little yarn. I love the color (this yarn was used to make my top-down+toe-up pair of Pomatomus) and having this in my bag today brought a smile to my face. I used the same “pattern” that I made up for the first one, using moss stitch for the flap and top edging and a bobble for the closure, but of course I adjusted for gauge. Mostly I decided how many stitches to cast on (46 stitches total), used magic cast-on, and knit a tube using Magic Loop. To make the holes for the earphones and the bobble, I cast one stitch off in the middle and on the next row did a yo to both create a stitch and increase the size of the hole. I know current iPods don’t have the earphones come out the middle of the top like that, so you may not even need to know how I did it!

Unfortunately, knitting something so fast means I’m back to trying to decide what to knit next!

Photos taken on the penthouse patio of the woman who hosted the alumnae board meeting I attended tonight on the Upper East Side. I can only dream of someday living in a place like that!

I’ve been buying flowers mroe regularly for the apartment, just to celebrate this gorgeous weather we’ve been having.