Squirrel Week

Yes, folks, I know you've heard Cherry Blossom this and Cherry Blossom that, but it's really Squirrel Week.

It's been so cold and rainy we haven't seen many of our squirrel friends, but in today's blustery but unseasonable warmth they were out and about with abandoned. Why isn't when there are no clean forks, I don't have anyone else to blame. This is one of the pecularities of the single life. I know what some of my friends will say. "She'd have clean forks if she didn't use them to eat everything like pizza and chicken." Speaking of pizza which is one of my least favorite foods. I have found pizza that I like. Vace where I have been shopping since they opened their doors on Connecticut Avenue. A few weeks ago I had a slice of their pizza. It's quite amazing. Thin crust with really fresh ingredients. I had another slice on Friday night. It really hit the spot. Also at Brookville Market I've been buying a locally-made hummous. It's not soupy like the major brands. I keep buying tabouli as well but am determined to learn to make it in my food processor. Brookville also has Musette Petit Toast or petit pain grille. 8 slices = 70 calories; no chloresterol and no trans fats. It's the perfect accompaniement to a plate of tabouli and hummous or some sliced cheese. Better than crackers.

It is now April and the KAL for the top down socks starts this weekend. I've started knitting the Gansey Sock pattern using the Eggplant colourway of Knit Picks Essential/Stroll from my stash. I think the knitting would go faster in a lighter yarn because I'm having difficulty reading my stitches. I've got the cuff done on one and am now starting the leg. I'm using size 3 needles in the hopes of getting the 6.5 stitches per inch. I've finished one of the Tuscon socks and think that I will frog my second pair of toe up socks and do them top down.

Meanwhile, as promised, a Toupie item. I got this rather amazing shot of him after he rearranged my trousers in the closet to make a bed. His eyes are a very dark inky blue, but the flash caught the very bright turquoise his eyes sometimes reflect.

Snow and Spring

We were promised (threatened) with 1" by morning and snow showers throughout the day. It's cold sunny and not a flake to be found. My photography book won't be here for another week, so I am struggling with the camera manual and learning a few things. Plus M gave me a link to a website that is helping.

Above is my gauge swatch for the Atalanta sweater. As you can see, when you have a cat, they simply must be at the center of everything. The second picture is the first one I took. The first picture is after I made adjustments to the camera color setting to more truly represent the colour of the yarn. I also did a white balance adjustment before shooting.

I've knit the bottom of the swatch on size 5 dpns; the blue strip starts the size 6 needles using magic loop. The yarn is cotton. I will measure the swatch when I finish; wash; block, wait for it to dry and measure again. I'm excited because this sweater not only has 7%positive ease in the bust but it instructions for bust darts are included in the pattern and it is knitted top down so I can try it on as I go.

Both socks

Right Sock w/heel flap

Fleegle Heel, Left Sock

The photos above are the toe up socks. The right sock was knit using Wendy Johnson's Toe Up Socks with a Difference pattern: gusset on the bottom; traditional heel flap. Notice the extra fabric both around the heel and on the top of the foot. The left sock was knit using the Fleegle Heel. No extra fabric at the top or around the heel and ankle. I'm sure I could make adjustments in the number of stitches to get a better fit with the heel flap (the gusset is nice and cushy). The disincentive is the Fleegle Heel is fiddle free right off the pattern page.

The nice thing is although these socks were knit more experimentally than originally planned, they really are comfy on. I'm a handknit sock convert.

2012 The Movie: Spoiler Alert

This wasn't as dreadful as all the reviews I heard led me to believe it would be. What would have made it so much better is if they'd done a better set up of the premise up front establishing all the characters' relationships and also let the viewer in on what had actually been planned at the G8 Summit in the beginning of the movie. The crazy person who knows what's coming role wasn't that convincing because Cusack seemed to be the only one tuning in. I think most of the audience didn't get the irony at the end. The special effects were really astounding.

The annoyances were the cliche Mum's in another relationship because Dad was too absorbed with something else to pay attention to her or the kids (who are now either clingy or angry with him). The character with an Alexander Haig-sized ego who "takes over", lacks humanity, and gets it in the end.

Toupie's First Video