Kittens, Knitting, and Random Blah

Post Seventy-Nine: Free is Good

2008-06-20T22:23:00.002-04:00

Thanks to the mother of my amazing Nerdling, I am now the proud owner of a Singer sewing machine (model #2502), complete with original parts AND manual. And it was free. Guess it means I'm picking up more than I expected this summer in my crafting. Though it will be nice to be just that much less dependent on others for my clothing/stuff. Heck, if I got sheep or something, and keep working, I could make all my own stuff, all the time in the clothing department, anyway. Except I think I'd still buy underwear...that would be itchy and unpleasant. 'Course, I could get silk yarn and still knit my own, anyway.

Yeah...gonna go play with it now ^^

Post Seventy-Eight: I Did it!

2008-05-27T00:26:00.006-04:00

That's right. After a couple hours of playing with it, I managed to make my spindle make something recognizable as a yarn-type blob. Let's take a look, shall we?
That is what I started with: brown wool from a mystery sheep, found in my kit discussed in the post yesterday. I pre-drafted it a bit and went to it.

And ended up with this ^_^

This is the yarn on the spindle after plying it once.

And this is my cute little mess off the spindle. It looks better in person, trust me.

No, seriously. It does. I really should've waited until tomorrow, when my camera would be able to work, but I was so excited I just had to take pictures right away ^^.

Must do more. Tomorrow, though- my hands are tired. It's not a set of motions they're used to. Yet. But we are gonna practice, most definitely. And it will get better.

Post Seventy-Seven: Further Updates and Photos

2008-05-25T22:14:00.013-04:00

WARNING: Intensely Image-heavy at the end bits. But there's an I Spy game if you wanna...

Ok, so I gave in to the excitement and the realization that I finished Jess's Yule gift (yeah...) and took some pictures. And decided to share some others so y'all (not that anyone reads this poor thing...maybe I should give 'er a facelift...) can see what I've been up to.

But first, the socks:
Yes, those are shingles behind them. My room has terrible lighting after 6 for my poor camera, but the roof outside my window works just fine.
No, the socks aren't blurry- the yarn just looks like that. It was Patons Cha Cha, in Vegas, if I remember correctly. Not a fan of fuzzy yarns, personally, but it was one of those things someone who tried crocheting and didn't like it felt the need to donate to me. Good news is that Jess likes fuzzy socks (and it's ok for me to post this, btw- she doesn't read here. Ever.), and that the yarn wasn't too terrible to knit up. Simple enough pattern, too. Tia Judy's "You're Putting Me On" socks, here. Same pattern I used for my first socks. It only took me this long (since December 10th...) because I put them down for a while at the heel of the second sock, where I just didn't feel like knitting for a bit. And then school got in the way. And her birthday passed...so, it's gonna be a combination Yule/Birthday/Grad present.

Also featured on my lovely roof/personal balcony is my new Drop Spindle kit:
And of course, the innards, right.

The instructions are hiding in the bottom, along with the wool wash sample in the left corner there.

It looks like I'm going to have an awful lot of fun with this ^_^ though I won't be surprised at all if I go through the full half pound there without producing anything I'd call yarn. I'll just work my way through the uglier bits first! The lighter brown has some teeny tiny sticky bits in it, so I guess that'll be first to die.

But of course, the star of the show, Cindy the Spindle:She's simple and homely, but she will do to learn on. I figure that once I get the hang of the whole making yarn bit, I'll reward myself with a pretty spindle. Or try a low-whorl, for variety. Or get a pretty low-whorl and kill two bids with one eBay. Hah! *ahem*...

Also, this is what I've been up to since you heard from me last. This was my room at the end of my second semester at MSU:

In other words, disaster. Some of the photos are faded-looking because my camera sucks at the whole lighting concept. The disaster has since been cleaned up, over the course of three entire days and four garbage bags of papers, clothes (which were donated, those that could be), and miscellaneous crap. The only thing I threw nothing away from was the stash.

But let's have some fun with this. How about a round of I Spy? Ok!
Find me:

A plate of cookies
Wiskers
A sabre in its scabbard
One of Jess's socks from above
An origami cat
Half-gone bottle of Irish Mead (teehee...shhh!)
Stuffed polar bear toy
A Robin's egg
A Denise needle set
My purse
Reindeer decoration
A photo of three kittens
Bubble wrap
A bamboo plant
Basket of Yarn
A toy teapot
Two Tootsie Roll containers
Knitting-Pattern-A-Day 2008 Calendar
A bottle of VO5 Shampoo

And yes, all that crap really IS in there. Happy seeking!

Also, simply because my brother made them and I find them hilarious, and they star my kitty, here are some homemade Lolcats for your viewing pleasure:
Minions Hover Cat

Post Seventy-Six: Spindle!

2008-05-25T16:09:00.002-04:00

The Mango is about to join the ranks of spinners worldwide. Friday I acquired a little Louet drop spindle kit with a little wooden top-whorl spindle and a half pound of wool roving in natural, medium-brown, and dark brown/black. Also instructions and a tiny little sample bottle of wool wash, which kinda spilled in the bottom of the box some time ago, but still has some left in it.

Anywho, I'll be getting started learning tomorrow, or tonight if I get ambitious. It was decided a while ago that my goal for the summer would be to learn to spin. So here I am. Here's hoping for passable yarn by August!

Also, since I've noticed a backlog of craft projects sitting around my room, I'm not starting any new ones until the whole queue I've got now is finished. With the exception of spinning practice, of course. So on this list I've got:

France tank (yeah, from two years ago)
Angora Quebec handwarmers
Marquette Scarf
Old-T belt
Jean bag
Kitty shirt pillow
Book Box
Driftwood Incense burner
The whole Mending box
Dying
Scrapbook catch up

...yeah, so it's gonna be a while before Mango can take on anything new. Ah well. I've got enough to keep me busy.

I'm going to try my best to keep this better updated, honestly. There'll be pictures of the spindle as soon as I get some yarn(ish-looking things) on it.

Post Seventy-Five: Killin' Time

2008-03-19T15:09:00.003-04:00

I've got a makeup exam for my calc class in about three hours and obviously need to take up some time.
Been in a very writing-oriented mood lately. It's a good time to work on Aven again, I think. Poor guy hasn't been properly tended to in over a year.
Hmm...maybe I'll deviate on over to Ravelry, where I just got invited ^_^...start working on getting it all set to go. Or upload some poetry to DeviantArt, where I also just got an account...meh...we'll see how motivated I get.

Ergh...I belong to too much shit online. Kind of obnoxious. And I SWEAR that I know that girl on that couch...but I can't for the life of me bring myself to stare long enough to figure it out. Hate stare-ers. Only the ones that stare at people, though. Ergh...

Post Seventy-Four: Erm...

2008-03-03T23:54:00.002-05:00

I seem to have lied in my last post. About posting more often...

But I can justify it! I haven't been knitting much lately, and this is primarily a knitting blog, so: no posts. Hah! I win!

*stalks merrily away*

Post Seventy-Three: Procrastination

2007-10-29T13:36:00.000-04:00

OK, so I'm hanging out up at the Union building (one of this particular commuter* student's favorite stalkings), erm..."doing my homework" KNITTY Sorry- bit of a cold going on, it seems...

Anyway, I've decided that right now, all things considered, life is pretty good. I just need to get started on those projects like I said I was going to be. Want to do those fingerless mitts I had planned when I bought that beautiful powder-blue angora in Montreal last Spring, though by rights I really should do my Marquette scarf first, but I don't feel like knitting any more scarfy-things, really. Stephan's Ugly is really close to done now, seriously...I just have to add in the final fug, and take pictures, of course.

On the subject of things which suck, though, my beloved cellphone has finally died. Not even all of it- just the ear bit. I can't hear anyone talking unless I put it on speaker, which with the conversations I tend to have, I don't really feel like doing. Not like the government's not listening, anyway. (Appropriately liberal and paranoid for a college kid, there?) So Awesome Republican Chris has offered up his old one while I'm between phones, since we're on the same network anyway. It's the same phone my dad used to have, so I know perfectly well how it works, it's just that I have none of my ringtones, so I've missed 6 calls in the last like two days because I'm not used to listening for these particular rings; I'm very well used to knowing what noises my phone does and does not make, unfortunately, they're very different from what ARC's phone makes. Blah. I've got a $140 credit coming to me to get a new phone since I recently switched plans and numbers, but I don't really want a new phone; I want my phone, and I want it to work. Please.

I was just pondering the differences between me when I started this and me now, and I've come to realize that I give less of a shit about whether people know I'm a young one or not. Speaking of which, I turned 18 on Saturday. Go Scorpios! Anyway...I recall using a tone a bit more "adult" and vague about things than this, and watching it gradually decline.

I do still attempt to refrain from using "lol" and the like in prose writing, though. Drives me nuts. It's not like Americans really even use ENGLISH anymore, so why degrade it further?

Anyway, I probably SHOULD actually do something now. Gonna go play with my template- I'll report in more often now, surely. Things're calming down. A bit.

*I'm on campus so much I should be granted honorary residency. Douchebags.

Post Seventy-Two: College

2007-10-17T23:35:00.000-04:00

The Mango which has not posted in for-freaking-ever has not done so due to many reasons, including graduation, moving, and college.
In the process, to the best of her knowledge, she has completed...absolutely nothing.
But she's close to Stephan's requested Ugly Scarf's completion, and at a tricky spot in the self-designed tank top, which is past a year on the needles.

But she's going to get back to her homework, so college doesn't totally kill her.

(and hint to several Yule projects being started, but not revealed...)

Post Seventy-One: Memories

2007-05-13T12:51:00.000-04:00

*hums Cats tune* Anyway, I was just posting this on the craft forum I belong to on Gaia, and it occurred to me to put it on here, since it is, after all, my knitting blog.

Ever had a project that's been particularly memorable to work on? Like something that just meant the world to someone to get, or to you to make?

Mine was finishing my grandmother's washcloth. When my great-grandmother died, we were cleaning out her house and trying to organize some of the craft things she'd left, and we came upon several garbage bags' worth of yarn and half-finished and a few finished projects. One of them was a half-done washcloth in a purple/blue/lavender Peaches n' Cream cotton with one row done in an off-white. My mother looked at it and said "Too bad it wasn't finished." and sighed, so I took it from her and looked at the pattern, and realized it was the same one I'd used to make a baby blanket a couple years ago, so I told her "I could finish it for you." and did.

It was definitely a moving experience, finishing Grandma's work. It turns out we had the exact same gauge, and I was able to use her needles for the whole rest of it. It's an interesting thing to look at for me, the way it's two colors like it is. It's almost like she left it waiting for me...her half, and mine. I love the idea that I was able to help that little piece of her live on like that.

[end of original post]I also was lucky enough to get to keep the needles from that one, and a set of 10.5, 8" DPNs made of...something I'm not sure of. I'm thinking they might actually be an old set of Baleens or something close. It means a lot to me to have been able to do that; to have a part of her so meaningful to both of us that will be used and not just looked at. Every once in a while, I go over to the jar I keep my straights in and just...hold them for a while. I miss her, I do; and while we weren't really especially close, her absence is something I can't help but notice.

My Gramma, her oldest daughter, also gave me many of her old patterns and Workbasket issues, and I treasure those like little else I've owned. I've gotten gifts made from some of those patterns, and now I can give them, maybe make some for the great-grandchild that will do the same when I have passed.

Thank you, Grandma, for giving me this opportunity.

Post Seventy: Finally, Again!

2007-04-30T20:24:00.000-04:00

I finised Joe's armwarmers. First longer self-designed pattern pattern I've done. And they both work and look alright. I won't know if they fit him until this weekend, though. Stupid kid lives across the state. Photos pending.

Post Sixty-Nine: Ack, Christmas!

2006-12-23T11:20:00.000-05:00

I finished my first socks, quite successfully and with no mess-ups ^_^. The heel isn't so scary after all. See them? They're adorable. Worsted weight, size 5 DPNs...a pattern off of Tia Judy's site, I don't remember the link or the name, actually. But yeah.

I also finished my boyfriend's mom's Christmas present about two days ago. She'd requested something knit, so I made her a hat because she left all her hats in Idaho and wristwarmers because her wrists get cold, and keeping pulse points warm is important. Made my own way about the wristers, and used the "Basic Hat Pattern" from the 2006 Knitting Pattern-a-Day calendar.

Peek:

The other photo is sort of the detail of the decrease lines. I'm rather proud of the way those turned out. The photos kind of make everything look rather purple, but it's really a dark, dark blue. I hope she likes them...

And yes, everything has in my own little way, notoriously unwoven ends. I'll get them done in before Christmas, I swear!

And I've gotta knit Dad a hat just like the one I made Mrs. H, because I got Nelma a present and I'll feel bad if I don't knit him something, and I really want to. So yeah. I can do it...it's a quick pattern.

Post Sixty-Eight: The KC

2006-10-15T17:45:00.000-04:00

So I have this really, really exciting bit of news to share.

My school now has a knitting club, titled The KC (so as to be less "feminine"), thanks to the support of my two favorite Jessicas and Mrs. Pawloski and my own love for planning things that are feasible. ^_^ It's going to meet Mondays after school, I believe; possibly Wednesdays, heck, maybe both, and is open to everyone between 7th and 12th grade and faculty. I'm just so...excited about it.

I'm gonna be the experienced-knitter-on-hand, too. So I get to play Mommy, yet again, and help everyone out with their knitting Oppsies and "wtf?"s. Woo!

I even went out and made us a Google Group. The KC. Woo! And posted a thing about it in my school's myspace forum-thing.

And guess what else? I wrote a speech on guys knitting for my latest speech class assignment. Read it, I command you!

-----------------------

I’m sure you’ve all seen me knitting at some point or another. It’s not as if it’s something unusual. But how many of you have seen, say…Charlie knit? I’m guessing none of you. OK, so maybe my example is a little off, but still. Charlie doesn’t knit. Yet. But why shouldn’t he? After all, as knitting has been growing in popularity, so has its male population, and articles such as Men Like it Too, from the Vancouver daily are heralding this fact left and right. That’s right: guys are knitting. Guys are knitting, for lots of reasons…heck, guys are joining groups for knitting…and not just the gay ones, either.
I know, I know…it seems like such a feminine hobby, craft…art, whatever you want to call it. Lots of your grandmothers probably knit. And this is the stereotype which pervades the knitting scene. And what do we know about stereotypes? That’s right; they’re inaccurate. Many people knitting today are between the ages of 15 and 35. And an ever-growing number of those are male. I personally know four guys who knit. Well, four that know how, two that actually do it regularly enough to be called “knitters.” The number of guys knitting is still relatively small, sure, but it’s getting there. Heck, once upon a time, it was the other way around. Back in the days of the 16h century, the fishermen knit their own nets and heavy-duty sweaters to use in their trade. It was guys who knit, not the women. It only became a woman’s hobby when the knitting machine, responsible for mass-produced Wal-Mart sweaters, arrived and took away the need for the men to knit.
Nowadays, there’s no true need for anyone to knit. But we still do it. Guys still do it. Why? Well, many guys start knitting because their girlfriend taught them. But other than that, it’s a cheap, easy way to make gifts. Scarves, beanies, wristies…things that are fast and always useable. And a bonus? A great way to impress chicks. No, seriously; think about it. You need to give her a present for something. Let’s see…soft is good, warm is good…and sweet is always good. So, knit her a scarf out of some nice, soft yarn. Or if she’s a hat girl, a hat. In her favorite color, of course, or something to match her coat. What could be sweeter than making her something? Something she’ll actually use? Don’t laugh, guys; it works.
Plus, knitting is great for social things. It starts conversations. It provides reasons to hang out with people. With guys AND girls. Along with guys knitting must of course come male knitting groups. As a minority, knitting guys find it helpful to have the support and understanding of other male knitters. There’s all-male knitting groups cropping up everywhere. Plus, well, a lot of guys who knit are “closet knitters.” They don’t want people to know they knit. Not people who don’t knit, anyway. They think people will think they’re gay or something. Make fun of them for it. And the fear of being mocked is one many people share. So they gather in flocks of clacking needles and conversation. Or watching the game, whatever. Every knitting group is different. It is a step along the way to knitting in public for many men. And boys. As knitting grows as a pastime, after school knitting clubs are showing up as well. And many of them have male members. Some schools, it’s even cool to knit. Kids line up in front of their lockers before school much like we did in the other building, but to knit and chat. Knitting really is a great social activity; it is something which keeps your hands busy, but your ears and mouth free for discussion. Perfect for groups to actually have reasons to get together. Enjoying time with fellow knitters is an important thing. It gives everyone an opportunity to show off their projects, pick up new skills, and find help if it’s needed.
So yeah. Guys knit. Straight ones, gay ones, bored ones…kids whose moms need them to DO something after school…all kinds for all sorts of reasons. Who knows? Maybe one of these days, you will spot Charlie knitting.

------------------------

So there. Love me; I'll be back more often now, promise. I've begun my first sock. It's coming along quite nicely; I like the figure-8 cast on thing for the false graft at the toe. I used it on a little bag I made :p. It's cheating, but I love it. Seamless is good.
However, it's not to the heel yet. I'm scared of the heel. But I'm sure I'll get through it; looks easy enough.

Post Sixty-Seven: I Suck

2006-08-22T14:17:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I know. I've been really busy this summer and haven't been knitting much at all recently, actually. Sorry about that. Not that there's much reading going on anyway.

Just letting everyone know I'm still alive. Think I'll be picking my tank back up today, anyway. I've been writing the pattern down as I go, too, so I should be able to share when it's finished. Somehow. Ish. Maybe. Ok, maybe if someone helps me translate notes into a useable pattern.

Post Sixty-Six: I'm Back!!

2006-06-27T11:43:00.000-04:00

Salut! I got back two days ago, but have been totally zonked, so hi! France was just too awesome for words for me. I'm addicted and will forever be unable to stay away now! 800 pictures and 29 pages of journals even doesn't do it justice for me.

Sad news is that I never even saw a single LYS, or even any yarn I hadn't brought with me. I did get to knit on the metro and on the bus and even in Notre Dame, the famous one :p. Turns out there's a zillion Notre Dames, but they're all Notre Dame de whatever.

I figured out at dinner the first night I had already messed up my socks, tore out the part I had done, and then forgot all about them. Oops. I'm still gonna knit them, though, just later than planned. ^_^ And I got past the first two decreases I'd figured on my tank, too. Four inches of knitting, woo! Did some on the plane, too. Never had any problems at all getting my knitting through the checks and stuff, nor the yarn cutter. Sweet! All my needles were plastic, though. My Denise set and some plastic DPNs went with me.

This is the tank so far.

I ended up just deciding to finish off the blue varigated I've had for a couple years and used in all sorts of projects. It's the yarn that never ends! I like how it's patterning out, too. It's pretty and unorganized :p.
And I've got like three more balls of it. So the whole tank should be able to be done in the same stuff. If not, I'll just get creative and figure something cute out.

It was weird, coming home. My room still doesn't look like my room to me. And it's lonely, after sharing a room with two or three other girls, it's weird to be all by myself. Even though we really never talked before we slept. I guess it's just the presence thing. Whatever. Maybe I should find a room mate :p. Betcha Dad'd love that XD.

OK, I've been spending way too much time chatting online. Too many stupid smiley things! At least I'm not down to l337 yet...*shudder*

I also came home to lots of peas. And some dead ones, and a serious need for some weeding. But voici my first crop of peas:
Well, minus like ten pods. They're quite tasty. Steve n' Jess n' I finished them all off yesterday when they came over so we could hang out with Jess after a period of withdrawal. But you'd think my family could have picked a few while I was gone instead of letting my poor plants sag and bend! Oh well.

Peas!!!

Oh yes, and I almost forgot to mention that I also acquired the perfect bag for me. It's big enough to hold most of what I knit, and has just the right number of pockets and my cell actually fits in the celly pocket, and it's simple and cute without being ugly and useless. And it holds all sorts of stuff. ^_^ Got it at the Monoprix in Rouen, I believe. I've had it for like four days and I love it already.
Also got an O-Zone CD that I've been listening to obsessively. They're awesome.

OK, I'm done for now. Got stuff I gotta go do (like unpack :p). I shall have France pictures soon. I just don't wanna get up and get the CD I put them on right now.

Post Sixty-Five: Designing II

2006-06-09T17:15:00.000-04:00

Yeah, so I'm going to France in a week (insert excited *squee!* jump here), and it occurred to me that I'm gonna need something to knit that I won't finish on the plane over. Well, a small project, and something I can knit the whole way through France. I don't want to be wrestling with that hat that week. Save that for July when I'm not doing anything.

Thus, I picked these socks as my small project and first sock experience. I'm always trying to learn something with every project, and that one, well, I guess I'm learning socks in general. I'm not afraid of the heel at all. It just looks like something fun, and one of those classical knitterly things to do. I really quite like being part of traditions sometimes. Something that ties me into the past; makes me a continuation of stories written and closed. So socks it is! Helps that I love DPNs, too, I suppose ^_^

For the biggy, I'm gonna knit a tank top, because I find myself with a dreadful lack thereof. I'm gonna pretty much make it up as I go. Figure it'll be done bottom-up, like a tube and then I'll work on the sleeviness later. I measured the hell out of my favorite tank top as a model, and the only thing that really worries me about it is the V-neck, but I figure, heck, I can do this! I'm gonna go through my stash after I do some swatching and see what all I have that looks good together, because I don't think I have enough in one color of anything to make an entire tank from. (And I really, really shouldn't buy any more yarn. Because I'm gonna be bringing some home with me anyway. Hopefully at least one skein from each place I have time to shop. Because really, what could be a better reminder of the trip than something knit with yarn I found in the City of Light?)

We have a meeting tonight where we'll be getting all our details and stuff, so after I get the airlines we'll be flying, I can adjust my plans for my knitting accordingly. I've gotta get one of those little Clover yarn cutters, too. Or a thing of dental floss. Or both. Both is probably a good idea, just in case. Maybe bamboo DPNs wouldn't hurt, either, since the ones I have are, well, aluminum and quite dangerous looking, I suppose. Besides, that pattern asks for 5, and I have 4. I'm a little nervous, actually. It's only a week away now. I was already mostly packed for the Band Trip by this point, last year. Still have some shopping to do, too. Eep...maybe I should go swatch now and calm down a tad...Au revoir! And doubt not; there shall be pictures when I return! Je vous promets!

Post Sixty-Four: Designing

2006-05-27T12:20:00.000-04:00

So I'm sitting around and I realize that I need another large knitting project to do. So I figure maybe it's about time I start working on those hats I said I was going to make way back at like the start of the marching season.

Here's my measurements/notes:
28" around before the brim flare
7" from top to pre-flare/bottom of actual head space
6 sections which spread from .25" to 4.5" in that 7" space
11" from top to end of back flare along that seam
10" from top to front point
8.5" along front seam of middle sections
9.25" along their back seams
Chain across front is 12" from button to button
Plume is 19" long
Crest is 2.5" high and 3.75" wide at base, 2.25 at top, fits in 3" above front point
12" straight line from front point to back center seam
Seams are visible, but center seam covered by plume

My head is 22" around midway up my forehead. Hmm...which means somewhere up there, it's gotta be that, ish. This's gonna be fun. Now I just gotta get my hands on some white, gold, and purple-feathery yarns. I have no idea how much I'll need of each.

Other than this, I have been knitting lots of wristies. Obsessively. I have one design I particularly love now with two rows of k2tog, yo in the center. I'll have pics up as soon as I have some. But right now, I'm lazy.

Post Sixty-Three: Wristies ^_^

2006-05-18T19:18:00.000-04:00

Went to Cedar Point for my physics final (the paper itself is a bitch, BTW) and it was awesome. Definitely have bruises on my shoulders from seven rides on the Raptor.

But the knitterly news on that is that I knit myself a wristy. Yep. It's cute. Voici:
Yes, it's ugly yarn. And it looks lumpier there than it really is. I discovered that my tiny little wrist is 30 stitches around. Worsted-weight miscellania and US 5 DPNs. I love DPNs. I'll write up the pattern later if someone wants it. Made it up as I went along because I had a total of like 7 hours on a bus. What else was I going to do? Study? Pfft!

Oh yeah, and I really am not that tan. I'm probably just a little darker than the freaking paper in my textbooks. And that weird loopy thing is from catching it on something. Like one of the DPNs that I discovered jabbing me in my butt later through a hole in my backpack.

And that down there is my, er, physics homework. With the beginnings of the next wristy next to them because I think I'm rather addicted to making the things now. Easy, fast, and use up scrap yarn. Yeah...it's physics, I swear...

Post Sixty-Two: Oopsies...

2006-04-30T13:36:00.000-04:00

I err, haven't knit anything at all since Spring Break. Anything. I have been occupied with all sorts of odd things and trying not to think due to some recent life disasters. But this is about the knitting. And the kittens. And the random blah. Not my whining. If you want my whining, go my my MySpace.

So, as for the kittens, I have a wonderful new subject for photos, Iggy the Stir-Fry Kitty.
He is the kitten counterpart of my best friend. Except his head is rather small. Soprano Boy's head is a fat Polish one. Believe me; I sit behind him in Band.
Isn't he just adorable? I think he's about a year old, but I'm not sure. Can't remember when they got him.
As for my cats, Spaz has quite taken to going outside. And he always comes back, at least once a day, and spends nights in, usually, so I suppose I'll just let him keep it up. Gotta get him a collar, though, so no one swipes my baby. Wiskers is being super cuddly lately, and I love it. But he needs his claws trimmed, most certainly. My legs are ample proof of that.

And my peas just started growing, finally, like Friday sometime.
Yay!!! Voici mes petit-pois!I gotta remember to get supports up for them this year, too, because I wasn't paying attention when I bought seeds and got the big plants again. Grr. Oh well. Need to cut some of my herbs soon, too. They're getting bushy and wild. Especially the Thyme! But I'm not sure what to do with them. I don't have space to sun-dry them. And my oven scares me.

I've been taking lots of pictures lately. Lots of beauty in the springtime. It's nice. Most of them are of trees, though; I've noticed. Speaking of which...

The little treeling you see to the left there is a baby maple I rescued from under our porch. She was gonna get weedwhacked. I dug out her entire taproot and the little ones around her and moved her temporarily into a tirepot next to the porch where she will be safe. She's been there for about a week now and is doing just fine.

How's that for some random blah? Now I must go check on my fanfiction stuff, as the site has not let anyone log in for like three days. Urgh.

Au revoir!!

Post Sixty-One: Herbage! ^_^

2006-04-17T17:11:00.000-04:00

Before we get to the main focus of this blogging, let us gaze upon the glory of my Prom shoes, which are pair #28 in my ever-growing collection: Aren't they adorable? Gold and strappy without being whorish. I love my shoes. ^_^ If there is anything definitely coming back with me from France, it will be shoes. I guarantee it.

But on to the herbs. I have recently acquired three herb babies; a plant each of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and Peppermint (Mentha piperita). This afternoon, well, like fifteen minutes ago, I repotted them into their own cute little pots. Well, the pot the Thyme is in is rather monstrous, due to my own limited pot stash *snicker*, but still. Voici mes plantes:
See here, this first beauty is my Lemon Balm. Smells great. Discovered this morning he doesn't like the sun overly much. Gave me a little panic; I thought he was gonna die!

Our next little display here is my Thyme in its gargantuan pot. Seems to be rather at home, though, so I shan't complain. As long as my baby's happy. It's already started propagating, damnit! So it's gonna need to be separated off before it takes over the kitchen, methinks.

Next up is the lovely Peppermint. I do believe this one is my favorite to look at. It's just so nonconformist in its growing space! Wherever it wants to flop those stalks, it does. Not that I have favorites; I love all my plant babies; even the peas that I planted a week ago that aren't up yet. Oh well. They'll come up eventually, right? Right???

Well, anyway, in other news, I was supposed to clean my room this week while we were on Spring Break. And practice my instrument. And probably some other things. What did I do? Sit on my bum and kick around the internet, go to Gramma's and knit/shop, and stare at my ceiling. Oh, and find out that two of my dearest friends have died.

Yes, that's right. Died. And I had the good fortune to stumble upon their corpses myself. Theirs and the other twenty or so around them. And I have pictures. From the day after. I didn't think there would be any reason to have brought my camera when I found them. But this is pretty much what I saw that day:
These are the trees which have sheltered me in so much of my life. They are the place where the ties between the Three of Cups were forged and tightened. They are -or were- so much to me and to us...and now...there they are. Corpses. And that isn't the full extent of the damage. No, there are others. It looks much worse when you get close to it. Close to Shaun and Janiera, the two trees I grew close enough to to be told their names. Imagine that; walking up to visit friends only to find them hacked to pieces and lying bleeding on the ground. I don't have to imagine it; I was there. And worse yet is the fact that the rest of the Grove may go any day now. It was still standing when I went this morning, but even now, it may have fallen. I wish I had more pictures of them the way they were, but all I have is one shot from my cell phone which only has a few trees in it, and one of Steve hiding behind a tree. Which, might I add, is also one of the corpses now lying on the ground.

And, of course, the stupid image-poster thing is not allowing me to post the other images. Screw it, I'll do it tomorrow. Or whenever.

Post Sixty: Woot!

2006-04-15T20:33:00.000-04:00

LOTS of news for this one. First off, the Waiting scarf is finally done. Woo! Sure there are some ends to weave, but eh, maybe I just won't. Then, I began making a Nautie from the most recent issue of Knitty. Those things are so adorable! I belong to the KAL, too. Have like six planned. Yeah...a practice one for me, one for Mr. David, one for Mr. Forbush, one for Mr. Macklem, and an experimental oversized one, and one just to use up (what should be) the last of the acrylic stash ^_^.
So here's that practice one now, in all its glory. I think I did all of what's there in roughly eight hours or such:
So yeah...this is the spiral, which was much easier to pull off than I thought it would be.
Sitting up like a good l'il Nautie. Yep.
Its good side. So, what should I name it? Something cute!
The requisite artsy shot :p
Up-close inner spiral. I guess by now you recognize those first couple colors in the Nautie, hmm? Yeah, that means I cheated my scarf by a block or two or three. Eh. Close enough :p. The other colors are from my beloved Gamma's stash ^_^. And uh, so is the stuffing...she's a quilter. I was the lucky recipient of her first quilt, way back when I was like eight or nine. My Kitty Quilt. It's just adorable. But falling apart in a couple places. It needs a few repairs.
Yeah...I have totally forgotten what else I was going to say. Other than that I recently acquired my 28th pair of shoes. For Prom. Whee...I shall have pics later, most certainly.

Post Fifty-Nine: Seriously?

2006-04-10T14:17:00.000-04:00

So I was sitting in Physics this past Friday, and Nikki, my oddball little basson-playing friend, reminded me I told her that if she bought the yarn and whatever other supplies I required, I would knit her the Snowball's Chance in Hell armwarmers from The Anticraft. So I said "Oh yeah..." and we got online and checked it all out, and I helped her pick out colors and stuff (don't worry, we kind of had a free day, so we weren't slacking off or anything this time, not really, anyway...) and she's gonna work on getting those for me to start. And taking the appropriate measurements. My reward? Getting to knit something I was curious about anyway, without worrying about screwing them up too bad, and she's gonna get an extra ball of the yarn for me, too, just to play with. Well, it's a just-in-case ball, but I don't foresee needing it. She's got little arms like mine.

Then, when I was complaining about how I'm sick of knitting my Waiting Scarf, she says, "Will you make me an Ugly Scarf?" And I stared at her. She kinda looked sheepish, and muttered some things about knowing how much work it was to make scarves and stuff and that it was a stupid question and stuff and that I was already gonna be making armwarmers...and I still stared. And I was like "Seriously?" and she was like "Well, yeah, if you want," and I was all like "Damn straight I will!"

Seriously, how do I turn down someone who has asked for an Ugly Scarf? And actually wants it hideous? That is like the highest knitterly honor I have ever gotten, to be asked for one of my Ugly Scarves. I'm so freaking excited, too. Heh. Now the surprise comes in what the hell I make it out of...And Nikki shall not see it until the day it is finished. So it shall be a Surprise Ugly Scarf. Excellent.

Now then, just to finish that damned Waiting Scarf! Urgh...

Post Fifty-Eight: Whining

2006-04-06T17:40:00.000-04:00

Yeah. This is an update on the status of my Waiting Scarf. Which I am sick of. I know I'll enjoy it when it's done, but as close as I am to the end, I just wanna quit! But then I'd have these two itty-bitty balls rolling around in my stash instead of one bigass scarf to look at and say "I have triumphed over my stash! I guess now, ironically enough, I am waiting for it to be finished and over with :p.

There it be, with Wisk examining it carefully. That actually is the scarf. With its two measly balls lolling about by the working end. Lovely, isn't it? It is roughly 6' 5" long, according to my dad's bigass tape measure-thing. That's 195.58 cm, for my metric stalkers...I mean readers. The standard system pisses me off. Oh well. I shall soon be spending a week in France, where I shall see metrics everywhere and love it!

Mmm...France...Where I shall also be sharing a glass of wine every night with my best friend and two more of my good friends. And my favorite HS English teacher ever, though she will have her own glass, doubtless. A different wine at every place we eat is our goal. Even if we don't like the first glass. And not to get wasted, either. We honestly want the cultural experience. About France, too; I'm scared of our first day. I'm scared that after however long on the plane, I will be too tired and worn out from the strain of stopping myself from having a panic attack to actually use the French I know I can. It's not the flying that bothers me, rather, I love flying. It is all the people. I have like 8 related social phobias, the simplest of which to pronounce is Agoraphobia. What will keep me sane is being between Steve and Zazi the whole trip. I absolutely could not be that close to strangers for that long. I would be entirely unable to function. With someone near me I really trust, I guess some part of my brain says "They'll protect me" or something, and I'm mostly alright.

And here is a really cute picture of Wisk playing with one of the scarf's balls, just because:

Post Fifty-Seven: Miscellania II

2006-04-02T17:57:00.000-04:00

Yeah. I've been up to rather a lot lately. Possibly too much. Finishing a few things before I move on with my knitting, though. Gotta knock off a couple scarves and a bunch of stash, lol. I'm thinking about buying the biggest, fattest pair of needles I can and just triple, maybe even quadruple, stranding some of my miscellanious worsted stash into something resembling a blanket. Of course, I could also look at it as the fact that it only fills ONE drawer in my desk, and kind of a small one, at that, except for those twelve balls kicking around my floor...ah well. Still, gotta get rid of it! Plus, I gotta clean my room. Haven't been emotionally "with it" enough lately to have done anything useful, really.

Oh yeah, and I have a MySpace. www.myspace.com/mangolyn. I made the current display pic and background all by myself. Revel in their glory!

Yeah. I think that's it without going into detail. Haven't really been all that crafty, I guess. And the cats aren't up to much, either. Oh well.

Post Fifty-Six: Tomato!!!

2006-03-12T16:19:00.000-05:00

THIS is the Birthday Tomato I told you of yesterday. Doesn't it look tasty? There's a couple better pictures, too. I just wanted to put it on the cake thing for some reason.

I can't wait to see the look on Steve's face when he gets it! This's gonna be good...

Post Fifty-Five: Threadbear!

2006-03-11T19:56:00.000-05:00

I went to Threadbear today, and I am still grinning. I've never seen so much yarn in my life! I actually went in search of some US 5 DPNs, since I couldn't find them locally, and we were in the area after my brother's Festival run. Which I then found at JoAnn's in Frandor instead, because they were out. And I don't actually like bamboo needles all that much.
But WOW! I have decided that if I ever am stumbling around the area again, I MUST return and buy some yarn. Something gorgeous. Mmm...I wish it was localler! (Localler? WTF?)

But after I found those DPNs, I knocked out a tomato in like 2 hours. It's for my friend's birthday, inspired by an inside joke. Yes, I knit a tomato. Used the magknits pattern. And it is a little lumpy, because I stuffed it with a sock, but it is a tomato. I'll post pics later when I find the camera. It's cute.

Post Fifty-Four: TRIUMPH!!!

2006-03-04T15:43:00.000-05:00

I have triumphed over my newbness. What you are about to witness is my completed sweater. Yes, that's right: completed sweater. And the best news? It fits, just the way I like my sweaters. Really. This is big news for me, A) because I made this and B) because I have troubles finding clothes that fit the way I'd like them to.

It looks funny on my kitchen floor, doesn't it? But those funkinesses you see aren't there when I put it on. Trust me. The arms look odd in the modeled picture because my arms are in a funny position.

And now I can finally move on to the next project on the list. Which I will need to check to be sure what it was. The big one I know was Josh's sweater, but I cannot recall the other little ones. I know I have to finish that one little scarf and Steve's birthday surprise, but I gotta get needles for the surprise. Mwahaha. Oh it will be fun. Yes it will. But I've only got like 10 days to do it in, so I'd better hurry. Should probably start thinking about what I want to be knitting in France, too, when I go in June. ^_^ Maybe a Clapotis, to honor its inspiration? Hmm...
Oh, and here's a photo of my first-ever 3-needle bind off:
Yes, the graft is a bit visible, but it's not bad for a first, right? And it's in my armpit anyway, so who cares? I love this. Sweaters are fun. Now on to the world of socks, perhaps...

Post Fifty-Three: Play!

2006-03-01T15:38:00.000-05:00

The play starts tomorrow night and ends Sunday, after which I shall be able to get back with y'all on the grand news of my life. I'm in the orchestra for it, bass clarinet as usual, and totally rockin' the bassline, which seems to have become the motto of our general school bassline. This is the earliest I've been home from school in more than a month, so needless to say, the sweater, while ready for bind off (hurrah!) is not finished because I have not had time to actually learn a circular BO and the 3-needle BO for the neck and armpits, respectively. But I will. And then it will be finished. Oh yes it will. Should finish it Saturday so I can wear it to our final show Sunday. Hmm...
But back to the homework I should've done last night...

Post Fifty-Two: I Know, I Suck!

2006-02-19T21:31:00.000-05:00

I've been really, really busy still and I know that's no excuse, but I'm sorry. My sweater is really really truly almost done. And um...well, just letting you know I'm still alive, I guess!

Post Fifty-One: Progress!

2006-02-11T15:10:00.000-05:00

I really have been making progress on my sweater, I promise! See?
It actually looks like a sweater now! I just have to finish the yoke and the neck and attempt to do the 3-needle bind off on the armpits.

In other really, really awesome news: my five friends and I that went to our district MSBOA Solo & Ensemble today got a 2! We thought we sucked really, really bad, and it turns out we only sucked a little! Which is really saying something, since we were playing The Barber of Seville, labeled as "Advanced" in the catalog, and we had, I don't know; like a month to learn it in. I'm a bit peeved because I missed half of my solo as I pinched my reed because I was nervous and thus made no sound. But we went in expecting a 4. At best. And we now have about three months to perfect it before we try out to play it at our cabaret in May. It was so much fun! See the shiny:

And I'm just so glad for the time we all had together, too. It's fun to just do stuff with your friends when you don't really care what happens. We stopped at a McDonald's on the way back, and were gonna play in the playplace, but couldn't because there were younger kids in there. Oh well. Total we probably spent like three hours in the car. And on the way back we talked astrology and stuff and it was just a blast. We were all kind of riding on the high of having gotten a two rather than the expected four! And with the exception of Nikki, who's graduating, we're all gonna do it again next year. It was great. Even though the adjudicator was probably just being nice. But I'm not gonna overanalyze it; this is just too great!

Post Fifty: Sorry!!!!!

2006-02-05T00:35:00.000-05:00

I know, I know, I haven't updated in a while. I've been busy finishing a sweater and doing stuff I'm supposed to. But trust me, I'll come up with something good for y'all soon.
For now, here's a shot of the Ugly Scarf amongst our stuff at Honors Band last weekend:

Post Forty-Nine: Guess What?

2006-01-24T15:39:00.000-05:00

I am now officially a mark representative. Yup. I'm rather excited about it, as it's going to help me get to France and stuff. If you'd like to order from me, send an email and I'll help you through the website, or if you're local to me, hunt me down and I'll take your order personally.

But seriously, this is really cool. I just have to be sure to not be like my mom and spend all my earnings on the products! And not step on the toes of the other three reps in my area. I don't want to make them mad at me! The name of one of them is familiar to me, too, so I hope I don't upset her by distributing my magalogs!

So far my friend Nikki is going to buy a couple Hook Ups from me, and I gave out two other magalogs. Whee! Not bad, horribly, for a shy girl on her first day.

In knitting news, I am at the point where I am about to attach the sleeves to the body of my sweater. We'll see how that turns out o_O!

Post Forty-Eight: Oopsies!

2006-01-14T12:21:00.000-05:00

I totally forgot about the pictures I wanted to show of my Gamma Afghan I got for Christmas this year! She crocheted the whole thing for me. Every single square. I know, some of the guages are a little different, making some edges wiggly, but that's what makes it special, that it was hand-made for me. See!

And she made it in colors I'll be able to put in any house I live in. I love my Gamma Afghan! And I'm so glad she taught me to knit and crochet, as that means I'll only appreciate it more knowing all the work and hours that went into it.

These three are my favorite squares, right here. Betcha can find them on the afghan!
It's really warm and snuggly, too, just like a Gamma blankie should be! I hope that someday I can knit a blanket like this for my kid or grandkid or something. It's definitely one of those things everyone should have.

Post Forty-Seven: (&^$&%!!!

2006-01-08T19:22:00.000-05:00

OK, this is my luck. I go to start making a post with some pictures I've been meaning to get, and after I clear the camera card onto the computer, and take one picture, it tells me "Warning! Battery Exhausted" and shuts off. So it's gonna charge for 10 mintes and then I'll try again. Piece of crap. Luck of the Irish my ass!

Edit: OK, here it all is! First up, sweater progress! See? I have one and a third sleeves done. But I'm too darn lazy right now (and not doing homework I should be, besides) to measure and figure the real percent I should've. So I picked a random number. How d'you like THAT, OCD? Huh?
Oh, and BTW, I hate the yellow light in my house. I mean trailer. But I really, really hate yellow light. Except for that one specific light you get about a half hour before sunset and a half hour after sunrise. That glow is wicked awesome. Ugh. Yellow house light.

But the point is that I finally got it on-guage, two needle sizes smaller, and I can finish it now. Sometime in February, like I originally predicted, I think. It's still bothering me that I had to go down two needle sizes, since my guage has been dead on with everything else I've ever made. Blech.

Next on display is the full crop of stitch markers I've made, since I can't remember which ones were shown off last time. I do know the newest ones are all those little red n' white ones by the yellow one and that orange stick with a green head. And again, that (&$^* yellow light. But I am rather proud of my little stitch markers, and finally figured out how to make an easily-usable and still not ugly charm bracelet out of them. I'm gonna buy some 6 or 7mm double rings and link enough together to go around my wrist, then slip the stitch markers into them. Peachy!

And this is what I've been up to for the past couple days in the crafty department, really. These used to be T-shirts. They've been cut into strips and balled, for use as creative yarn. And yes, the condensing of a packrat's scrap-fabric stash. The big balls and two bluish ones are 100% cotton, and the middle one is much shinier than it looks, and 100% polyester.

And finally, Yule gifts time! Gotta show you two of the cool things I got!

This, for your reference, is how small a ball of NY Yarns' Fluff actually balls up to be. And yes, that's my hand. Which is kind of small anyway, but still. You get the idea. It's really very soft and lovable, though. The yarn, not my hand. But what, praytell, is that box on the right? Hmm, green, fabic-y, cubish...whatever could it be? The answer: A Singer Sewing Cube, with 40 little spools of thread, a few needles and pins, a purple plastic thimble, and a little pair of scissors inside. Cute and nifty as all hell!

Post Forty-Six: Proof!

2006-01-07T23:59:00.000-05:00

And there it is. Photographic evidence that I have taught someone to knit. That is my favorite bassoonist, Nikki. What she has in her hands is one of my Boye interchangeables and some crappy orange yarn she dug out of my bag. It became about three inches of lumpy, deformed garter stitch over the course of about an hour. It was the last day of school before the school went on Holiday Break, so we were all a little spazzed. Plus, it was somewhat of a party in the band room, what with all the Band Fags and cookies.
And also included in the second picture is my favorite clarinetist, Steve,'s hand and Nikki's spoon.
I do not remember why exactly is is Nikki (and then Steve) had a spoon.

Post Forty-Five: Oops. Sorry.

2006-01-02T21:57:00.000-05:00

OK, I'm sorry; I haven't posted in a while. Some things have gone down which prevented me from properly functioning long enough to really post. I'm gonna do a good one, I promise, as soon as I get some time after school when I'm not otherwise occupied. I got some nifty presents I wanna show y'all.
But in knitting news, I am almost finished with the first sleeve of Topsecret. Again. I had to go down two full sizes to get guage. Ugh. But it's a good thing I ripped EVERYTHING out and started over, I guess. It'll fit better when I'm done.

Post Forty-Four: It's Done!

2005-12-18T14:42:00.000-05:00

The Shrug Thing is finished. Seamed and everything. Woo! And because I know you want to see it, here it is:
I used some creative positioning there because the seams are a tad wonky, but they're on the underside of my arms anyway, so nobody's gonna know. Mmm, woo! The good news is that it also matches the new dress I got wonderfully! I know, I was shopping for other people, but it was on sale and the only one left, and i need to give myself a present every once in a while, too, right? No, it is not fuzzy and brown, it is beautiful. Really. See:
I had to hang it from my ceiling fan to get halfway-decent pictures, but I think it worked out alright. Still doesn't do it justice, though.

Post Forty-Three: Nerdiness

2005-12-13T17:47:00.000-05:00

I just thought, that since my brother made a smart comment about it, that I would make it known that the progress bars are mostly accurate. How? I measure the piece, and figure the actual percentage done it is. Subtract one or two percent for finishing. For example, the Shrug Thing is going to be a full meter long. It is right now 74cm at last measuring. But in the case of the Waiting Scarf and Ugly Scarf II, it's hard to guage, because of special circumstances. The Waiting Scarf I am knitting until I run out of the yarn I'm using for it, and US II is just kind of an ever-developing blob of knitting. Who knows where it'll go?

But yeah. Just thought I'd admit to my nerdiness.

Post Forty-Two: Pictures! Long-Awaited Pictures!

2005-12-11T10:49:00.000-05:00

Warning : this one will be picture-intensive. Seriously. I apologize ahead of time for some pictures that are blurry in the larger versions.

Yeah, I know, I promised, so here we go! All sorts of goodies this time! First up is the set of Gift Mittens! Yes, they really do both match and fit just like they're supposed to, the picture's just misaligned. A lot. But to the right, you can see my favorite mitten, (because the seam is not wonky like the other one's is a bit) beautifully displayed on my kitchen table.

Next, we have the lovely Shrug Thing, which is not finished, but is a little over half done! And look at all the yarn I'll have left over afterwards, too! There's barely a dent in that monster ball! I'd also like to share a closeup of the edge, where I made a CORRECT usage of a furry yarn, Bernat Disco, as a TRIM. NOT AN ENTIRE GARMENT! TRIM! Repeat after me, fuzz is for TRIM!
It's done, as I think I said before, on US 9 needles in k1, p1 rib for stretch. The ends are sewn up for sleeves. Loosely based on one of the staff projects from Interweave Knits.

Can you tell I'm getting better at using our photoshop stuff? My pictures are still large files, because I like the clarity, but now I'm cropping them and rotating them and not limited by my camera's idiosyncracies! And I probably just spelled that word wrong, feel free to tell me how it's supposed to be. Seriously, I love to be corrected. I learn things better getting them wrong in the first place.

And this, my darlings, is the Ugly Scarf II. But before I go into details, let me show you its precurser, which actually may be LESS ugly. Yeah, there it is. And mid-section detailing, with all of its non-woven ends and horrible colors and miscellaneous stripe of stockinette, plus one of my Assistant Photographer, the multi-talented Wiskers Ferdinand II, artistically known as W: He also attempted to help me post today, by sitting on the mouse. He thought he was warming it up for me. Anyway, I knit this scarf two years ago to use some crap I had lying around. What's really funny is that the scarf is twice as wide as the needles I used to knit it are long. I ALWAYS used point protectors on it.
But moving on, I've decided you probably don't want ALL the pictures at once, so I'll post Ugly II's details later. So next up: a Knitty FO! Sort of. This is my Anna, one of the Twins from a past Summer issue, I believe. The straps need a little lengthening for what I've decided to do to it, and it needs the ends woven in, and it was just an experiment anyway, but there it is! I knit it last year during school at the end. I was getting bored, so I knit. And I wanted a new bathing suit top, and I weas mostly bored. And wanting to clear stash. I'm thinking I'm going to use the pattern and one for undies to knit that bathroom pass for my English class. I have had requests from classmates for a thong as the pass. The teacher blushed a bit. I don't think she thinks I'll actually knit a thong. Why not? It's quicker than regular undies, and I KNOW Knitty has a pattern for one. I love Knitty. I really do! But up next is the Waiting Scarf!
I've been waiting for a lot of stuff, so yeah, it's much bigger than it was. I'm very proud of how even my color blocks are! And that I've kept track well enough for them to be that way, see:
Oh, by the way, if you couldn't tell by now, that orange thing in some of the pictures is a ruler of mine. I love it. It has cork on the back so it doesn't slide around on my desks. Of course, for some reason, that means the cats try to eat it. Oh well.

And as a finale to this long, long post, I give you: my band gloves! Knit in that blue varigated you have seen in two or three other places by now, they were an edited pattern from an old Coats & Clark book of my Gamma's that I used for the Christmas parade and cold, cold rehearsals in marching band. I love them. I really do. They were my first adventure in circular knitting, on DPNs, and my second real project ever. They will be followed by a volley of kitty pictures. Next time I update. I'm tired of messing with this now. I think I'm going to go knit.

Post Forty-One: ACT

2005-12-10T14:29:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I took it today. Whee. No biggie. I mean, seriously, I've been taking about two standardized tests a year since we began MEAPs, in like third or fourth grade. And my PLAN predicted a score in the 31-34 range. Not worried at all. Well, a bit about my essay, because I had to stop in the middle of a sentance. But other than that, no worries.
Now, to get back on those scholarship searches. Oh yeah, and take pictures of those finished mittens and the Ugly Scarf II.

Post Forty: I am SO Ecstatic!

2005-12-09T20:08:00.000-05:00

Not really. I mean, we had a freakin' snow day today. Yeah. And now I have to go in pretty much cold to our concert on Sunday.

But in other news, I am excited to be first chair in our county Honors Band second year in a row. Score! And my range has increased a full step.

In knitting, I have decided that since I've been teaching so many people to knit lately, I have to make a teaching swatch. A big long ugly scarfy-thing that uses more stitch patterns than it should. Everything I could think of that wouldn't boggle beginning minds. And no cables. Simple garter, stockinette and reverse, k1 p1, k2 p2, a ridge pattern, basket weave, two easy lace patterns, a big blobby thing to show what happens when you increase a lot very quickly and then deacrease it back down, a bunch of (k2tog, yo)s, a diamondy-sort of pattern I just wanted to try, and I'm not done yet. I'm thinking I'm going to just make it an Ugly Scarf II. It's in a blue worsted-weight varigated acrylic yarn I found about 15 or so ounces of at a garage sale. It seemed to have been intended for a blanket. I'm about to add some orange to it, so they can see that yarn makes a difference, too, and I'll do some minor color work, too, I think. Each pattern is either about 5.5 cm long or a full repeat. Woo.

Post Thirty-Nine: STOP IT!

2005-12-03T10:41:00.000-05:00

OK, whoever it is leaving those annoying SPAM comments, PISS OFF! NOW! I am sick and tired of reading about your bonsai crap, I don't care, and as I have few readers, you are wasting your time posting that crap here. Now piss off, before I figure out how to report it.
The first one was slightly amusing, like 'hey, look- my first blog spam!' but the next TWENTY really PISSED ME OFF.
The worst part? They come to my email inbox, too, taking away time I need to be spending checking up on my scholarships. Now Shoo! Get outta here!

Post Thirty-Eight: J'ai Fini Les Moufles.

2005-11-30T17:06:00.000-05:00

Yeah, the mittens are done. With the exception of a couple ends to weave in. But they're done. Fini! Woo! I finished them in math today.
And I am getting really, really frustrated with FFX-2. I have 92% complete, and like 6 rounds in the same game. And I do not have the patience to follow a walkthrough. This time, I'm really pissed, because I only got one freakin' "Episode Conluded!" One. In Kilika, I think. And I can't ever manage to get all ten of the Crimson Spheres. I know where they all are; I just can't seem to get them all. And the Vio Infinito is another issue entirely. I have beaten my way through Level 40, I think, that one huge floating elemental that you have to use Table Turner on over and over again to kill. And then? Then I get bored. Yeah. /Game rant.

I re-found this today. Took it, and this is what I got:

1. Neo-Pagan (100%)
2. Mahayana Buddhism (78%)
3. New Age (78%)
4. Unitarian Universalism (74%)
5. Jainism (70%)
6. Reform Judaism (70%)
7. Sikhism (61%)
8. Liberal Quakers (60%)
9. Theravada Buddhism (57%)
10. Bahá'í Faith (56%)
11. Hinduism (53%)
12. Orthodox Judaism (53%)
13. New Thought (52%)
14. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (49%)
15. Scientology (49%)
16. Secular Humanism (45%)
17. Taoism (45%)
18. Islam (42%)
19. Orthodox Quaker (40%)
20. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (29%)
21. Nontheist (28%)
22. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (24%)
23. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (19%)
24. Seventh Day Adventist (13%)
25. Eastern Orthodox (12%)
26. Roman Catholic (12%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (7%)

Amusing, n'est-ce pas? Oh, and speaking of which, I'm in French 3.5 now. Half of my time is with the IV's, half with the III's. I love it. I get the struggles and fun stuff, and the class interaction. But I have twice the work now, until we work something out. It'll take some thought. But I'm struggling a bit, and I LOVE it!!

Post Thirty-Seven: Recent Craftiness

2005-11-28T19:29:00.000-05:00

This is my Yule shirt. I found our iron-ons, and realized I'd been saying this a lot, so here it is!

So maybe I haven't touched the sweater in a while. But I've been doing things, knitting things, honestly! See:
These are mittens I'm knitting for a Yule present. They're a free pattern off of the Lion Brand website. Homespun. They really are rather soft and warm. And a very pretty purple I can't remember the name of. The pictures don't do them justice.
For first mittens, they aren't bad. I still need to weave in some ends inside, and finish the second mitten. It's half done. In that top picture there, you can also see one of my Boye Needlemasters, and two of my self-made beaded stitch markers on the MIP.

Post Thirty-Six: Why?

2005-11-23T09:43:00.000-05:00

I have really got to stop rescuing fish. After bringing home my betta, Fishy, and then getting him some plants and a plecostomus to keep him company, I managed to rescue a goldfish from being fed to my friend's friend's Pirahna, Ubi. Brought him home in a rinsed-put water bottle. And then thought on the bus ride home, where am I going to put him? I don't know if I have another bowl someplace, so for the sake of getting him out of the bottle I put him in the little thingy I brought Fishy home in.
Now, off to do some research! Maybe my mom can have him in her tank...He wouldn't be bothered by a seven-inch pleco, would he?

Post Thrity-Five: Updates

2005-11-16T17:32:00.000-05:00

On the shrug: It is nine and a half inches long now. On the other knitterly objects: yeah...not so much. On the LOV thing: I have turned down pot roast, a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, and turkey. And discovered that a lettuce, tomato, cheese, and mayo sandwich is not as gross as it sounds. On the fish: He is swimming happily in his bowl/tank/thing, see? I also have a photo of him puffing his gills because the camera was threatening him. Silly boy! And his name is Fishy, BTW. How imaginative, huh?

The first snow of the season has hit us. Just enough to stick, apparently. Just a tiny, tiny bit. Really makes me look forward to that Christmas Parade. Not. But that's Michigan for ya, last night: 65 degrees and a tornado watch. This afternoon: snow that sticks.

Post Thirty-Four: Me, an LOV?

2005-11-13T15:47:00.000-05:00

Because I'm curious, and want to put myself in my French partner's food shoes for a bit, I'm going to attempt to spend two weeks as a lacto-ovo vegetarian. And it'll be hard, because I love my chicken and bacon. And Wendy's has very little for the vegetarian to eat. And I'm not sure what packaged foods might not really be vegetarian.

So, if any of you out there can point me in the right direction for some stuff to eat, I'd appreciate it.

For those curious, I chose lacto-ovo because I really do not feel that laying an egg or giving milk, like they are made to do, harm cows or chickens at all. And I wouldn't be able to find anything to eat at school if I cut them out, too. And, well, my boyfriend makes awesome eggs. With basil.

Post Thirty-Three: Tragedy

2005-11-04T19:12:00.000-05:00

Anne Rice has ceased to write the Vampire Chronicles.

How incredibly sad. I mean it; I'm crushed. I really loved Armand and Lestat and Louis, and Quinn with all his fledgling issues, and his Mona Mayfair. Tragic. Mon pauvre Lestat! They'll only move on now in the horrible fan fiction of obsessed teens who really a) shouldn't be writing and b) should probably do their homework instead. Seriously, if they would read, they would understand that Lestat de Lioncourt would NEVER say "OMG!! LMAO!!1 tht's so fing sweeet!!!111111!" And that Louis would never simply shoot himself; he KNOWS that won't work, besides the fact that if it did, he's much too graceful for that.

Rest in peace in your ruinned city, my beloveds.

Post Thirty-Two: Woog!

2005-11-04T12:07:00.000-05:00

In other news, here is my beloved bass clarinet:
Beautiful, isn't he? A YCL-621 II. Mmm...bassline... ^_^

And now, for your regularly scheduled woog:
Lookie! My first beaded stitch marker! 10mm jump ring, eye pin, and two beads from a "Mass of Glass" tub from Michael's. I need to figure out what to do with the wire on the end, though. Think I might be able to just loop it around and stick it in the bead. Need to borrow those little round pliers from the boyfriend, though. With the loop, the whole thing is about two inches long. I like the process, though. This new crafting adventure is going to be lots of fun, methinks!

And now, some more quizzy crap because I'm bored!

You Are Likely A Fourth Born

At your darkest moments, you feel angry.
At work and school, you do best when your analyzing.
When you love someone, you tend to be very giving.

In friendship, you don't take the initiative in reaching out.
Your ideal jobs are: factory jobs, comedy, and dentistry.
You will leave your mark on the world with your own personal philosophy.

This is amusing, because I am in fact a fist born. Yup, oldest child here. I er, edited the code a bit to fix the spelling of "forth" to "fourth" like it SHOULD'VE been.

You Are 24 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe.

13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.

20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more!

40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

And my personal favorite:

Your Seduction Style: Au Natural

You rank up there with your seduction skills, though you might not know it.
That's because you're a natural at seduction. You don't realize your power!
The root of your natural seduction power: your innocence and optimism.

You're the type of person who happily plays around and creates a unique little world.
Little do you know that your personal paradise is so appealing that it sucks people in.
You find joy in everything - so is it any surprise that people find joy in you?

You bring back the inner child in everyone you meet with your sincere and spontaneous ways.
Your childlike (but not childish) behavior also inspires others to care for you.
As a result, those who you befriend and date tend to be incredibly loyal to you.

Post Thirty-One: Ok, I SWORE I Wouldn't do This

2005-11-02T18:28:00.000-05:00

Yeah, yeah, so I did. But I got bored. The yarn I swore upon was Red Heart, anyway.
So I was bopping around, and deciede to add some blogthings. But in a reasonable way, by inserting the result in a post and making a nice, neat, ignorable list over in the sidebar of the quizzes themselves.

So, the What Language Should You Learn? quiz. No big surprise, I got:

You Should Learn French

C'est super! You appreciate the finer things in life... wine, art, cheese, love affairs.
You are definitely a Parisian at heart. You just need your tongue to catch up...

Yeah. So what if I'm already in French at school? Oh, speaking of which, she's given me the next level book to gander through, because I'm so bored. Yesss! After she takes my knitting privelages. But that's alright, I guess; I respect her enough to let her get away with it.

And I'm sure I'll be back later tonight. Goin' to Mom's for food. (But while I'm at it: UGHHH scholarship searching. UGGGGHHHH!!! If there's one out there for girls who want to be nuclear physicists and that play bass clarinet, knit, and love kitties, lemme know.)

Post Thirty: Happy Birthday to Me!

2005-10-28T21:20:00.000-04:00

Yeah, so I'm late. Sue me. My birthday was yesterday. My year turned over at about 12:20 pm yesterday. I'm having a party tomorrow night, and we bought $200 worth of food for it tonight. Yeah. We eat a lot, OK? That's 24 hours worth of food right there. And it will really be 24 hours, because we get an extra one at 2 am on the 30th.

And, joy of joys! I got my bass clarinet back last night, too. But Meaghan won't be playing with me. She missed the tryout opportunity, and Miss P won't give her a second chance, so she's dropping band. Crap. I wanted us to finish out her senior year! And I don't wanna play all by myself; I need some support, someone else to blame things on, someone whose music I can borrow if I forget mine! I want my Meaghan! I feel really bad, too, about her missing tryouts, but I thought she asked Miss P when they were! Why wouldn't she have? Oh, Meaghan! Why? I've got to try to do something for her; try to convince Miss P to let her try, at least. It's not like anyone else wants it! Only she, Pat and I went up for the music, and he's in the other band. Poor Meaghan!

Post Twenty-Nine: Surprise!

2005-10-21T14:57:00.000-04:00

Had to throw in another adorable picture of Wisk, seen here investigating the newest stash enhancement, explained in a little bit. And, if Blogger cooperates, a picture of Spaz on our table near the Sweetest Day gift my totally wonderful boyfriend gave me, a dozen red, long-stemmed roses. Mmm...he really is the sweetest guy ever! Just up and gives me roses. ^-^! Yay! And today, he gave me half a bar of chocolate and a CD, um, let me check who it was real quick..I have to because I've never heard of him before, or likely heard his music. Ah- Chris Botti, To Love Again. I'll have to listen to it soon.
I just recieved a box from someone in Brooklyn, New York that I think was the lady who had offered me some needles and yarn she found unharmed in a garbage can. Knowing that it was dangerous, but believing in the goodness and kindness of strangers, I gave her a mailing address, and poof! Here it is today! A slightly-worn copy of The Step-by-Step Needlecraft Encyclopedia, two wooden, but unmarked, needles and some lovely, fluffy lavender yarn. I feel bad about the intention to rip out the already-done bit of what I believe may have been a wide scarf, but I can't stand the idea of it staying in that messy skein, and, well, I don't need a purple scarf. First in the photo-parade is the entire contents of the box, followed by a skein close-up, the knitting, and the book.
I'm curious as to what the stuff is. I must hunt down that burn test thingy I heard about in the Knitty Coffeeshop. It is lovely and soft, and has like one skinny strand, and lots of wisps off of it. Kind of looks like cat hair.

Mmm...book...
And overall, things are peachy. I'm just not touching the sweater until I get over the fact that I have to rip out everything I've done.

Post Twenty-Eight: General Sorrow

2005-10-11T17:30:00.000-04:00

First object of sorrow is the fact that I may have to rip back and reknit the entire body and first sleeve of my sweater. Ugh. So I won't get to wear that as soon as I'd hoped.

Second object of sorrow is band related. My director has informed us that due to there being supposedly twice the number of people interested in bass clarinet as she is willing to accept, who plays will be decided by audition. On the soprano clarinet. That in itself is total BS. I can only think of one person who wants to play other than me. Maybe two. And one of them isn't sure she's even going to stay in band after marching season. Beyond the fact that playing soprano is a different story than playing bass. The mouthpiece of the bass is bigger, and horizontal. The keys are further apart. It takes more air.

I almost think she's setting me up. She knows damn well that I cannot play soprano as well as anyone else, even at my grade level, because of three things: I began playing a year after they did, I switched to bass almost immediately and played THAT for THREE AND A HALF YEARS, and I hate soprano. You can not be truly good at something your heart isn't in. I have the most experience of them all at the part we are auditioning for. And she knows that, too! I would have to drop band if I didn't get to play bass. The joy would be gone. You would think that because of my immense seniority AND the fact that I was in first chair for all of the past three years- including when I went to Livingston County High School Honors Band in a 49 person Wind Ensemble -she'd already know that I am the best she's got. I've already proven myself. She stuck me into a band that was for Juniors and Seniors as a Sophomore, and I accelled! Sure, my one solo was a little quiet at Festival, but she can't hold that against me; I'd never had it as an actual solo before; Meaghan had always been there for me. And she had Jordan supposedly supporting me at Festival. Where was he?

But oh! I need to get that part! I must practice the audition piece day and night. And I came to the realization that my musical existance rests in a single reed. One piece of music, one reed. For a reed can make or break you in an audition. O my gods! Help me!

Post Twenty-Seven: Ugh...

2005-10-03T15:09:00.000-04:00

I am so tired. Wiskers somehow managed to burn his whiskers. I really don't know how. And I have lots of homework, tests to prepare for, work, Band stuff, blech. Plus the fact that I sit up at night with my brain not letting me sleep.

Good news is that I have started on the second sleeve for Topsecret. The bad news is that I'll have to rip back the first sleeve. I think. It's 18 inches around, when it's only supposed to be 15, so I'm trying the second sleeve on US 10 needles instead, to see if I like that better. But I think I'm going to shorten the sleeves' length to 15 inches rather than 19, as I have shorter arms, too. With the yoke, the final measurement is 27 inches from shoulder to end of sleeve, and that's just too long for my arms. With my adjustment, it'll only be 23 inches. I'm going to check on a few things first, though, to make sure.

I'd have some more pictures, but I lent Josh the camera for his lab. Ooh, I almost forgot; I'm also beginning to grow two Oak trees from sprouting acorns I found. One of them is a White Oak, and the other one is unknown. There were only Red, White, Swamp White, and Black Oaks in the yard they came from, though. I intend to make the unknown one into a little tree, like the little ones people give for gifts,* and to just let the White Oak grow. We'll see how it works out.

* I know what the word is. I just took it out of the post because I've gotten lots of blog spam from something related. I'm trying to get rid of it all.

Post Twenty-Six: Birthday Soon!

2005-09-25T10:05:00.000-04:00

In one month, two days and approx. two hours, I will have been out of the womb for sixteen years. And since I might otherwise forget to let the family know what I want, here is my list:

Books:
The Yarn Girls’ Guide to Simple Knits
French language reference books (not dictionaries)
Great Knitted Gifts
Knit Wit (Amy R. Singer)

Magazine subscriptions:
Interweave Knits
Creative Knitting
Vogue Knitting
Knitscene
Family Circle Easy Knitting
Knitting Digest (best value, actually. 10-12 patterns/issue, bimonthly, = about 60 patterns/year, plus articles)

2 balls of NY Yarns “Fluff” in red or blue (go to Meijers and pet it to see why)

Double-pointed needles in any size (preferably sets of five needles)

$ for French trip (June ‘06)

Stuff for when I have to move out (already have silverware)

Gift Certificates always welcome :D
Payless Shoes (or any other shoe store)
Bath & Body Works
Claire’s/Icing
Borders!!!!
Malls

2006 Knitting Pattern-a-Day Calendar

Orange faceplate for my TI-84 Plus Silver Edition graphing calculator

So yeah, that's it. I plan on having a party the Saturday after my birthday, actually. Mmm...with cheesecake, or Boston Cream Pie. Mmm. The icing on store-bought cakes is just too weird for me. I guess it's the frosting equivalent of Red Heart yarns. I'm a frosting snob ^_^.

Post Twenty-Five: SC Pictures!

2005-09-19T13:34:00.000-04:00

So yeah, Student Congress rocked. Probably the largest organized gathering of Michigan high school nerds this fall. That first picture is of my teammates and coach walking down the river trail thingy near the hotel where we started the weekend. I thought it was rather cool looking, like something we'd put on the album cover if we were a band. Hehe, our name would be Three Clarinets, a Trumpet, and an Old Guy, or Four Nerds and a Liberal.

And my wonderful Human Rights Committee. We did do a serious picture, too, but I like this one. More in tune with the character of the group, really. And we were all liberals with the exception of two. Including one who only confessed her Republicanism on the last day. But that's OK, we still love her!

And the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives, or as we tried to rename it, the Hizzouse of Gangstas, with all of our stuff scattered across the desks and a few miscellaneous nerds wandering about. The desk with the white thing on the chair (it was my cape, actually) to the far right, middle of the picture was my desk. The one behind it was Steve's.

Everyone interested should have the opportunity to do this in high school. What's unfortunate is that due to funding issues, fewer and fewer kids are getting to. Our school just cut our debate program, which was just started last year, actually. We only got to do this because it's considered a part of last season. Unless we can get some sponsors, it's the end of the line for us. The more kids that do this, the more fun it gets to be, too. I met some awesome people that we are all trying to maintain contact with that I will definitely miss. And without this, it is very unlikely I'd ever see them again.

Post Twenty-Four: Student Congress

2005-09-18T10:49:00.000-04:00

Wow was this ever a blast! I got to see everyone from discussion again, and skipped school for two days, and got to sit on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives. I sat at a 126-year-old desk in a room of the same age, walked on carpet still beautiful after years of feet. I tread the same paths as generations of legislators and Student Congress members. And I can be one of very few people to say I've knit on the floor of the House. Not the gallery, the floor. Where I started on a sleeve of my sweater.
But it really was just amazing. The Capitol is beautiful, and we pretty much had free reign. I will post pictures and further details when I have more time.

Post Twenty-Three: I Was Right

2005-09-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

I took my sweater to school to knit on and I got an entire decrease repeat and a half done (that's 12 rows, which is something around 1200 stitches) It is coming along nicely. Once I got the hang of those circular beasts it began to go without a hitch. So far. And I'm sure I'll mess something up. But that's OK. It's my sweater and I'll love it anyway. Tom compared it to having an ugly kid...you love them anyway. I just may be able to wear it before February. Yay me n' my yarn!

Worked my first 8-hour shift today. It sucked. I got yelled at about the bacon twice. I was getting people's money, am I supposed to tell them "Hey, hang on two or three minutes while I get some bacon?" No, because then I'd get yelled at again. It is not my fault that every time I get asked to do it it's in the middle of a rush. And then I got yelled at about sandwiches because I wasn't doing them fast enough. It was my second time ever, OK, and my first time doing it all by myself. Lay off a bit, alright? Plus, I won't remember the difference between a classic single and a jr. cheese deluxe over a week. But, I did get my check, and did make a good $70-something this past pay period. Much better than the $36.96 from the last one. Not what I hoped for, but I suppose it's the best I'm gonna get. And you know, it doesn't make it any easier that one of the managers terrifies me. Reminds me of Miss P, only not so...well, it seems like they go from joking and happy to mad and yelling in the blink of an eye. Miss P goes in stages. I can do stages. I don't do blinks.
Guess that's better than if they'd trained me on front today. People make me nervous to begin with. Seeing them for 10 or so seconds while I smile, get them their change, and say "have a nice day!"; no problem. Seeing them as they wait in line, stare at me, order, get their change, wait for their food, and maybe even come back if something's wrong; problem. I can't even be out in a rush-period restaurant, how could I function as a focal point of one? Plus all those buttons to keep track of...

But yeah. Knitting has progressed on both projects. Much so.

Post Twenty-Two: School Knitting

2005-09-07T16:58:00.000-04:00

Hmm...I was noticing how much I really am getting done knitting at school, and i was thinking that maybe I should like bring the sleeves of my sweater or something. I'm getting rather sick of just my Waiting scarf. Or maybe I should leave it home and just bring a book to read? Because I estimated that if I'd been knitting my sweater this whole time, it would be almost halfway done. But I'm so worried something will happen to it if I take it out of this house!

And I'd really like to see the new Knitty! I'm excited to see all the new patterns and articles and stuff. Need something new to lust after and plan for, now that I have needles to knit ANYTHING I want, thanks to my awesome Gamma.

A thread on the knittyboard got me wondering about Samhain (Halloween). I want to dress up this year, but I'm not quite sure as what. I was thinking ball of yarn, but perhaps I'll try to recreate something I wore in one of my dreams. Or I could scare people and go as a bride of some sort. I like the dream idea.

Post Twenty-One: Roman Numerals?

2005-09-06T20:03:00.000-04:00

Should I start going to Roman numerals? Not sure. Not many people seem to be able to read them anymore. I don't know why, they're simple. But anyway...

Successful library adventure; I checked out America Knits and The Knitting Experience: The Knit Stitch to read. Not necessarily to make things from yet, but to read. And found out they have a stash of Knitters magazine and Family Circle Easy Knitting.

And my sweater has not been touched in two days, but my waiting scarf has grown three blocks. Yup. Oh, and Spaz is still licking the lamp stick by the other computer desk.

Yeah. Homeowrk, or read, or knit, or all three now? Hmm...tough choice...or maybe even sleep? Or call the boyfriend? Hmm...

Post Twenty: Lookie Lookie!

2005-09-06T17:25:00.000-04:00

Check out the coolness of my peek-a-boo comments. Click the comment-viewer majig and Boo! There they are! No new page, none of that crap, just right there with the post, and the one before, and all the coolness. I'm proud of them, and me for figuring out how to follow the Blogger Hack's instructions on how to do them. Yay peeks!

And Mme Dowker is giving away old French books she doesn't use anymore, so I have one, plus the teacher's edition. Yay! If there's more still there tomorrow, like after school, and she doesn't mind, I'll take some more off her hands, no problem! Mmm...books...

My Gamma got a Mary Maxim catalogue, and she let me borrow it to look through, and I like it. I believe it's the Christmas one. Not that I intend to buy anything, but I just like to look through catalogues. Yarn, crafts, JC Penny, lots of them.

Oh crap, my library books are overdue if I don't ride them up to the library before 8. Crap. Guess I'll have to do that before I do my homework. I'll probably get back on afterwards, since all I have is one French activity reviewing the "mon, ma, mes" stuff. But I love to lurk the library, so I'd better go now. See ya!

Post Nineteen: Organized

2005-09-04T21:10:00.000-04:00

As you can tell from the photo, Wiskers is not amused today. But I'm rather content. I have my knitting papers organized. I just need to put them all in the three-ring now. And I really need some ideas for what to do with those little free pattern thingies that hang by the yarn in Meijers and stuff. Right now I have them in weird little thingies I stole from the front of a 5-subject notebook. But I don't like it. It's just annoying to me. Don't know why, really, but it is.

And I have finally gotten pictures of those shoes I most recently acquired.
Wiskers kindly added his furry self to the photo, but I managed to get one with just the shoes. J'ai des nouvelles chaussures rose! Avec des "polka dots" blanches. Yeah, I know, "polka dots" ain't French. Sue me. But aren't they just so adorable? Not usually something I'd buy for myself, but they were cute, and I guess I was on an estrogen high or something. So yeah, pair #23 in all their pink polka-dotted glory. And for $5, if I only ever wear them once, they were still worth it.
I'm also now trying to wangle my way into finding one of those counter-thingies so I can see what's going on here in the way of traffic. And I have to make it ignore my IP address so I don't count. So yeah, I'll be messing with that a bit.

When is the new Knitty going up?? I've been lurking about the site for the ast couple three (Did you know that people outside of Michigan really don't tend to know that phrase? As in defined as "two or three" rather than the six you get if you actually do "a couple three") days hoping it will just BE there one of these times. But no, the summer issue is still there. Alas! I want something else to lust after for myself. I won't be knitting the boyfriend any sweaters or anything like for a while due to the Curse, so this issue was of no real use to me. Interesting, but of little use.

I thought I should make mention of it now since I haven't before and will soon be adding it to my sidebar in the links, the fact that the comic Oh My Gods! kicks some major ass. I'm putting several of them up in my locker at school as soon as I have the time after school to do so. I love them all. Especially Stan, Vincent, Vera, and Fina, though. Mostly Fina.

Post Eighteen: Mangocia

2005-09-02T16:45:00.000-04:00

I got a little bit bored today and created a nation. It's here, my beloved Mangocia. I'm borrowing France's flag until I make my own. Because I'm lazy, that's why.

I'm trying to organize the little red three-ring binder I store my knitting patterns and articles in. And my room, but that's getting hard, because I think I'm getting an early start on the sick season already. Ugh. Not much, just a runny nose and that "I'm sick!" feeling. Gotta love it. And I have to march tonight, too. On a chart we just finished yesterday. And I'm front-and-center almost the whole time. Good thing all I have to do are straight lines, or I'd screw it ALL up tonight. We do have the F right now, though, so that's good. But I'm still worried. We are SO bad at the whole straight lines thing. Especially among the tuba/sousaphones, because they have blind spots. And the low brass in general. And the bass drums. Yeah...

But the good news is that there is an afterparty at Charlie's house. It seems that the band is very into the idea of afterparties this year. Last year, it was pep bands, which were a blast because we were out of uniform, free to wander off at any time, could sit with your friends rather than in your section, and always got into the game free. But afterparties could be great. Steffan's was fun last game, and only Josh, Sam and I went. His pool was FREEZING, but not all that horrible. Like the floaty type of cold rather than the get-me-out-NOW type.

Oh, and then I have a party to go to at my Gamma's house with the maternal family tomorrow. And I can bring Josh. If he doesn't have to work. Ooh, speaking of which, I get an entire 8-hour shift next Saturday. It's great. Really! I love working at Wendy's, it's usually lots of fun and it gets me closer to France.

Hmm...something in me is nagging me to practice my flute...oh yes, that would be the music in my veins. And the Band Fagism that has been passed down for four generations in the maternal line. Woo! But something else tells me it won't be tonight. Maybe tomorrow. I really have quite a lot to do, since I'm not coming home between the game and the party. Guess I should get off then, huh?

Post Seventeen: Three Inches!

2005-08-31T18:39:00.000-04:00

I prmoised pictures, didn't I? Well, here: my darling little kitten Spaz making a morning face for the camera. Isn't he just precious? And my sweater-in-progress on my awesome Denise needles from my best-ever Gamma. Oh yes, and the Great Orange Spot, as well.

And this beauty is one of the twelve goblety-things I picked up at a garage sale a bit ago. I'm sure I'll find some time this weekend to put up some of the others I intended to, too. But not right now. Mom's picking me up any second for dinner.

I now have a full three inches (mmm...7.62cm, I think?) done on my Topsecret sweater! And two more blocks on my Waiting scarf. Lots of knitting for me the past couple of days!

As for school, two exciting things: English and band. In English, I am just so excited for the current unit. We are spending roughly the next week or two (maybe three if I check, but I'm too lazy) on various gods, and at least a full day on the idea of a Mother Goddess. Can you say "Pagan"? I'll bet some parents won't be pleased, but too bad. That's what happens in a public school, not everything is how you like it. And it's not in a "convert to this!" sense, but is being connected and done as part of our classical heritage bit. Mostly the Greeks and Romans, but still. Works for me.
Band, band, band! We have almost finished an entire chart for halftime. It's nothing huge or especially intricate so far, but we're doing a good job. Trouble is, we might not have it perfected by Friday night, considering we have no school Friday. But still, it's progress. And I am so very proud of my squad! I don't even have to tell them what to do half the time I should, because they know, and the other upperclassmen help the freshman the instant she looks confused, which I'm super glad for because I can't always see her. They definitely deserve cookies. And Katie asks every day if she can yell "HERE!" during attendance. I love the enthusiasm they have!

Post Sixteen: First Day

2005-08-29T17:10:00.000-04:00

Ok, first day of school today. It was OK. Just OK. Teachers are great, didn't overstress myself in band, got most of my books, got some homeowrk, BUT have a total of three classes with close friends and am the only one of my usual group to have first lunch. Ungh. But the plus side of lunch is that it gives me time to catch up with Helen a bit. Haven't seen much of her since she moved and came back, really. Even though we both technically live in town, and work together, and are in the same building for six and a half hours a day. I guess I need to lurk the library more often or something.

I do still have band rehearsal tonight, because we have three or four home games in a row I think. So my Monday and Friday evenings are taken for a while. But I really do love band, I really do; what I hate are the IDIOTS and people who don't care in it. If Miss P tells you to do something, you run to do it, don't mosey across the field. That wastes time. And yes, you will get tired. That is why our gym requirement gets waived if we take four seasons of marching band. Four seasons=one year. But we really do more than the gym classes. I'd like to see them march AND play AND know the chart AND be on the right foot AND breathe properly for all this to occur without passing out. Plus miscellaneous other things.

And I still am not properly sure how Jordan managed to be drum major. I can understand from watching his mace routines, but he confuses the band so much when he gives directions that it makes me wonder. We really aren't as dumb as we might seem from that. And oh, poor Chuck, he went to the wrong spot during our performance Friday. He and Jordan were supposed to be on the 45s, and Chuck was on the35 or so! I would have cried if I'd done that! It would havebeen better had he not been in the way of half the band. Poor Chuck! But he's resiliant; and knowing him, he'll watch that video 20 times and get it perfect for the rest of the season.

I have a confession to make. I bought another pair of shoes yesterday while shopping with Josh, his mom, and his little sister. They are adorable. Little pink heels with white polka-dots and a little pink bow across it. I shall post pictures. And they have made me see that my size range is larger than I thought. They are US Women's 7's and fit well. I would probably have gotten 8's, but the only pair they had was the 7's. Mmm...shoes...I can now officially wear anything from a 7 to a 9, depending on the shoe type and brand. Dress shoes and heels tend to be 8's, and sneakers or tennis shoes tend to be 9's, as are my band shoes. I now own 23 pairs, I believe.

Mmm...off to knit my sweater, and maybe do some homework. Maybe.

(Just kidding. I do my homework. And this early in the game, there's no excuse for not, really. Unless someone dies all of a sudden. And unless Miss P impales Jordan on the mace tonight, I think we're OK for the night.)

Post Fifteen: Tomorrow, Tomorrow!!

2005-08-28T20:19:00.000-04:00

Finally, my homework is finished and I can organize my room for tomorrow. This summer, for English, I had to do a journal on a book of my choice from a list of notable works (final selection: Lost Horizon by James Hilton); read and then write a 50 point exam for some Greek myths (not my favorite ones, either) in a textbook; and then do research on, then summarize and write a response to plagiarism. Had I not been testing out of Health and BST (business services technology, basically, Microsoft office apps) and stretching it so I wasn't (too) bored this summer, it would have been done in June. But yeah. That's actually less than the original assignment, plus much, much easier (DAMN IT!) because the teacher changed over the summer. Sad. I really loved Mrs. Frazier, she was the first English teacher past grade five to teach me anything.

Surprise, surprise, I actually have a reader. Carina, thanks. I have no idea if anyone else out there is reading this, nor do I particularly care, but I figure she's left three or so comments, that makes her an official reader. Hi there!

But now I have to go take care of some things before I get up tomorrow and run about with my yarn in a tangle. Oh, and I'm going to find out on the first day this year if any of the teachers care if I knit during class, as long as I continue to pay attention. Which I do. My mind actually opens up to reception quite a bit when I knit. Like when I begin to sleep. I like, absorb the stuff going on around me. But seriously, I'm going now. Bye! (wait, I promised kitty pictures, didn't I? Oh well, maybe tomorrow, if there's time. Band rehearsal, you know.)

Post Fourteen: School

2005-08-27T00:16:00.000-04:00

May I just say one thing: YES!!!!!!!! I am so glad school starts Monday. I still have a bit of English homework to do, but nothing that could possibly take me two whole days. We've already had our first football game, and while it was a bit embarassing for the band, it was fun anyway.

And I've decided that as soon as I can, I'm going to design a knit version of our "feather helmets" as little brother put it. Not quite sure how yet, but I'll do it. And I'll wear it, too. Hmm...and then maybe I'll make them for my freshmen next year. I can see them in my head, but I'm not sure how to do it yet. But thanks to my awesome Gamma and my dad, I have the tools to do it!

Found that cool moonphase thingy finally. I'd always wondered where they came from, but never had time to hunt them down. Yippee!

(Mmm...school...FINALLY!)

Post Thirteen: Needles

2005-08-25T16:25:00.000-04:00

So, I've gotten the Denise set from my awesome Gamma, and I've tried them out, and I love them. But not more than the Boyes yet. I do think I'll keep both sets. It makes sense. Afterall, Boye does have a couple more sizes of needle in there. The case of the Denises really reminds me of a bible. It's weird. But I love them anyway. So smooth and fast, the only difference I noticed from the aluminum is that they aren't cold when you pick them up. Mmm...knitting in the winter without fear of sticking myself to the needles!

I do sort of wish they were colorful and bright like the Boyes, I just love how happy they look. The gray and blue kind of look sad and mopey, but I know I'll make some wonderful things with them, so Yay mopey needles!

I'll be sure to post pictures of them soon, both of my cute little sets, and the Topsecret sweater that's on my 10.5 Denises right now. (It has 7 rows on it! Woo!). And later, some more kitty pictures. I have an amusing one of Spaz. I guess I surprised him...

So Gamma, I love you! And thank you for the birthday present...I'm sure it's one of the strangest things ever requested for a sixteenth borthday, but still. Mmm...knitting....with needles from Gamma. :D

Post Twelve: Dilema

2005-08-21T11:23:00.000-04:00

I have a needle issue. When my family went school shopping on Friday, I talked my dad into a Boye Needlemaster set because it was 50% off (was missing the protective plastic around it- nothing else). I thought about it for like 10 minutes, like so: "What if Gramma bought me the Denises? She wouldn't, it's $50, and she has 7 grandkids. But it's my 16th birthday soon. But they're $50. But I'm the one that made them Grandparents. But they're $50. And these are $35, and I have a sweater lounging on too-short needles right now. And you love aluminum, and what happens if she did get them for you, and you don't like the way they knit? But everyone loves Denises! But...etc."

Next day, my Gamma (the one who taught me to knit) calls and asks if I'd gotten needles yet (backstory: I'd been telling her how I wanted a set of interchangeables and that I'd heard that Denises were the best, though $50 [see where it's going?] and jokingly [ok, half] told her how cool it would be to get some for my 16th birthday). I say "yeah, but I'm not sure I'll like them yet. I hear bad things about the Needlemaster." And she tells me she was thinking about the needles I told her about, and how it was going to be my 16th birthday, and needles are a long-time investment, and found some with free shipping, and ordered them. (Insert happy, my-Gamma-bought-me-Denises-for-my-birthday moment here!) and we talk about possible return of the Boyes, and other stuff for a while, and we get off the phone, and I run over to my WIP to change it over to one of the Needlemaster needles.

I, err, love them. No loosening, no snags, no difficult movement, no problems, except that I have to measure them to know how long they are. None of the badness I've heard. But I REALLY want to know about the Denise set. I was considering asking her if I could try them out, and if I like them better, keep them, if not, she could keep them. And I don't know if Michael's accepts once-used returns on things like that where I bought it because it was "damaged goods" already and I haven't further damaged it.

I don't know what to do! Just knit my sweater and hope things work themselves out? Or maybe trade Gamma? But what will Dad say if I'm knitting with other needles than what he bought me, ever-so-reluctantly? Help!

Post Eleven: School Shopping!!

2005-08-19T19:09:00.000-04:00

I just got a brand-new TI-84 Plus Silver Edition for school! Yay! My own beautiful graphing calculator! Mmm...wonderful! J'adore j'adore J'ADORE!!! I think I'll name it Mikal. Like Michael, but cooler. Lol. Oh, I love graphing calculators! (Yeah, I'm a nerd, geek, bookworm, Debate Dork, Band Fag, Science Olympiad Geek, Chess Club Nerd, and Band Fag, and I love it!) Mmm...calculator!

And I got three new shirts and a pair of jeans, and two bras and the usual school supplies. But I still need a dress-up outfit, and shoes. They are seriously the best-fitting jeans I've had in a long, long time, though. And new-jean colored, not like that faded crap. I hate that. I want to break in the jeans myself, not have them worn out when I buy them brand-new. Ugh. what made me most excited as far as paper supplies go (again, geek extreme!) was the yellow graph-paper notebook. Because all my maths stuff is yellow. I color-code my subjects, alright? Maths are yellow, English is red, French is orange, and green or blue depends on which science book I have this year is bigger. If Botany's is, then it's blue; if Physics' is, then Bot's green. The color includes a book cover, a folder, and a notebook. And three-ring binder if necessary.

I also talked my dad into a Boye Needlemaster set. For $35 at Michael's (50% off) because the plastic wrap cover was missing. I know, I know, I hear bad things about them, but I had to try them for myself. And well, $35 isn't bad for like oh, let me see...$57.72 for every size in 29", at WalMart price, if we figure 36" circs cost about $6 each, then that's another $78, and a total of $135.72 so far. So, actually, just from the cost of the 29"ers, the set is more than worth what Dad paid. I still have to try them out, but if I don't like them, I'm sure I could get all his money back, maybe plus some, off eBay. People out there do like them. And I prefer aluminum, anyway. The resin of the Denise set makes me cautious. If it's anything like plastic, I don't want anywhere near them.

Post Ten: Makeover!

2005-08-19T11:22:00.000-04:00

So yeah, my blog changed. Orange and green, and some blue thrown in. And I figured out the Sylfaen thing. Not quite sure I like that light orange-yellow at the top. Maybe I'll make it blue? I tried the yellow of the headings in the sidebar, but it looked like crap. Meh. I'm mostly HTML illiterate (what kind of genius American teen am I???), though, so I go by trial-and-error. And with the help of wonderful people on the knitty boards and elsewhere on the internet. So yeah. My adventures begin!

Post Nine: Aww...

2005-08-17T10:35:00.000-04:00

I have some adorable photos of my kitties here. I just had to post them! I'm also very grateful to someone on Knitty and her husband for those two awesome UFO bars I have down at the bottom of the page. Woo!
There's Wiskers hiding out behind the second computer desk, and wisk giving Spaz a bath. They were all curled up together yesterday as I was finishing up some summer homework sleeping, and it was so cute I had to run for the camera. Especially when the baths started! How cute is that?
I've decided to start really messing with this thing, so if you stop by and see some weird stuff, sorry, just experiments. If you see something you particularly like or hate or whatever, drop me a comment. But be warned that I'm going to set this thing up so I like it. If y'all don't, tough cookies.
First experiment was with the bar things. Worked OK, I guess. I'm not really sure where I want to put them, though, so whatever. Second experiment will be with fonts, and third will be with the colors of the page and/or a background image. If I can wangle it. Then it'll be fonts again, so they work with the other stuff. And maybe some other crap thrown in once in a while. I think I like this font, for now. I'm really rather partial to Sylfaen, so if anyone knows how to make this thing do it, tell me, please!!

Post Eight: We have YARNAGE!!!

2005-08-09T23:33:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of the scarf I have named Waiting. Because that's exactly what I tend to be doing as I knit it. Mostly for materials for Topsecret, but also for lines, rides, Drum Majors, etc. The yarn came from my stash, originally from some random garage sale, so I have absolutely no clue what either ball is. They feel and look and knit up like they're basically if not totally the same fiber.

There's a close up of my beautiful ribbing. I love it. And even though there are some mistakes, it's just a freakin' scarf, not even a gift scarf (yet). I think it's something like 20 stitches across and every color stripe is about 20 rows, give or take the accidental one or two.

But this, this is the exciting part: I got home from my boyfriend's house last night to find a package waiting for me. I open it up, and WOOOG!!! It is my two glorious skeins of Bernat Mirage in Midnight Hues. Pictured are my two great big beautiful balls (it came to me in skeins, so I wound it. By hand. I really don't know why I do; it makes more sense to knit from the center-pull thingy in the skein, maybe it's just for the extra time I get to touch my yarn. I don't know) and a pop can I threw in for scale. It's really much more beautiful than the pictures give it credit for. O, my beautiful yarn! I shall write a poem to You in the Blue Notebook. I shall squeal with glee every time I look towards You. I will sigh in frustration when I realize that I still lack the needles for Your project. Then, I shall pet You, and all will be better. Then, I shall hear my brother make a comment about playing with my balls. And I shall sigh once more before kicking some serious (non-yarn) balls in.
YARN!!! 20 oz. of Bernat Mirage I had to order from Nebraska (Thank you, Yarn & Thread by Lisa!!! THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!!)

Post Seven: Photos

2005-08-08T13:54:00.000-04:00

So here we have several photos, my band hat, from the front and side in all its plumey glory, followed by my wonderful cat enjoying my stash. I love my hat. It's beautiful. Not. But really, I love my hat. I've never been the lucky recipient of a poker, a jabber, or a wiggler. (respectively when the plume hook pokes you as you march, something in the hat jabs into your head, and when the plume has no hook so it wobbles to and fro as you march).

Following Wisk is the stash itself, then the hat without plume. Much of my stash is garage sale finds, so it's unknown fiber content.

Post Six: Band Camp, etc.

2005-08-07T12:44:00.000-04:00

So I had marching band camp this past week. It was fun, but definitely a lot of work. It's always bad switching back to a Soprano mouthpiece from the Bass, but this year I discovered I had gone down to a 2 1/2 reed. I'd been playing on a 3 since sixth grade! Not that it matters, really, because I've been trying to break the darned thing since seventh grade anyway, (Don't tell my director!) and it seems to be invincible. All I've managed to do was lose two pieces of cork off a couple of keys. If you haven't noticed, I hate my soprano clarinet. I'd trade it for any other instrument in an instant if Miss P wouldn't take my head off. Which she would.
I think the dance was the best part, really. Ooh, and squad competition. When we got our squad assingments after tryouts, I ended up with squad G, without trying out. We have 26 squads this year. When we did squad competition, (director gives a command, we follow, if someone in your squad messes it up, you're all out and free to heckle those still in), my squad was in until only four squads were left. I SO did not expect that! My boyfriend and Steffan's and Nikki's squads went down before mine did, and they're seniors that've been SL s before. Yay squad G! You guys rock! It pissed off Zazi that I got a squad, though, because she tried out and didn't get one, and I just helped Alyssa with hers and I got my own squad. I don't get a cord, though, because I was appointed rather than trying out.
As for the dance, I actually danced for most of it for the first time ever. Hung out with Steve and Zazi and Kristabeck and Olivia and random Sophomores most of the night. I didn't know Steve danced! He was a real dance ho! I didn't dance with him, being attached and all, but many other girls did. Even Sam. I didn't think he'd dance with Sam. But the whole thing was a blast.
I really got some great pictures this week. I'll try to remember to get them into my Yahoo album.

Post Five: Catching Up

2005-07-31T13:55:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I've been at my grandparents' place out in the cornfields (lovely...I wish I lived there again!) since Thursday, so I guess I've got some catching up to do...
First thing, I ordered the yarn off of eBay. Bernat Mirage in midnight hues. Two skeins with USPS shipping and insurance cost me $13.64. Less than what I had figured on spending, so that's OK with me. Now, I got a 29" US 10.5 from my Granma Maleitzke that I'm going to see if it'll work temporarily when my yarn arrives, since I haven't found anything better. But I'm going to have to get to Michael's or JoAnn's sometime before school starts up. I must have that sweater to wear soon! Oh, and I also borrowed "101 To-Go Knitting Projects" from Granma Maleitzke. Which is exactly what I need for the bus rides and at school. I've only ever had one teacher tell me not to knit in her class, and in five years, I think that's pretty good. And she retired this last year, anyway, so I'm good.
I have Band camp this Monday through Saturday, so I won't be around for a while, I think. Oh, and I have a scarf I'm knitting now in k1p1 ribbing to keep my needles busy until all the sweater materials are assembled. Pretty neat yellow/green colored stripes I'm doing. Love it.
Two new knitters entered the world on Wednesday: my boyfriend and his little sister. Yes. My boyfriend. I now date a knitter! Mmm...maybe someday I'll talk him into socks. But I've gotta be sure to caution him against anything but scarves and mittens/gloves for me until we're married, due to the Curse. Just in case, you know...
I have no idea how my babies have been since I left, but they were all awfully glad to see me today. Wisk was in my lap for three hours. Three hours. He doesn't usually last that long! Spaz wanted to be up there, too, but Wisk wouldn't share, so he's here now. I missed them, but Gamma has two MONSTROUS cats by name of Felix and Bear, who are 15.7 and 15.5 pounds, respectively. And they aren't fat, just BIG. And Bear is fluffy. And adorable.
So there. I think I've caught up.

Post Four: Knitting AAAAARRRRRGH!!!

2005-07-25T11:49:00.000-04:00

So, I'm still searching for that illusive (and possibly imaginary) Bernat Illusions or Mirage (aptly named). And the circular needles I'll need for Topsecret. And guess what? I found the yarn, at a CANADIAN MICHAEL'S!!! I'm in FOWLERVILLE. No Canada trips for me. My only hope is the only slightly local LYSes. One of them carries it, according to the Bernat website. I found a beautiful blue one through a Google search last night that someone made in February of 2004. And I am now in love with the color. And I cannot find it.
So what do I do? I calmly begin to consder using Lion Homespun. But...I don't want to! I want the Bernat!!!! (insert tantrum). The Candy Apple is an agreeable color, but I really want that gorgeous blue I saw. Mmm...Mason MUST have it, they MUST!!! if Howell does, that's much better, but still...one of them MUST!!!
I need to go knit something big and fast, calm me down...
Oh yes, and that up there's a picture of my little tiny cell phone purse I made with scrap yarn in seed stitch. Crochet straps because I'm lazy.

Post Three: Knitting

2005-07-24T00:21:00.000-04:00

I've been looking forward to finishing off my WIP and beginning Topsecret from Knitty, which is to be my first sweater. Unfortunately, on my materials search, I got no needles, and no yarn. Somehow, in my area, Bernat Illusion or Mirage is hard to find, and US 10.5 16" and 32", and US 11 circular needles as well. And the LYS was closed tonight. But I will have that sweater! I will!

Post Two: Kitten and Cat Photos

2005-07-23T14:05:00.000-04:00

These are my babies. First, my baby, Wiskers Ferdinand II(immediate right). He really is mine, too, since I fed him scrambled eggs, milk, and American cheese when his mother wouldn't (he was the runt). I apologize for the fuzzy pictures; our camera's very picky about how much it's moving when you take a picture. It's annoying. I'm not sure if that white thing by his bum is that stupid bear sitting there, or the cotton yarn I was making dishcloths out of during classes this past Spring. I wish I'd gotten his collar in this shot, it's a very cool one, in my opinion. It's black with a little bell and silver, reflective five-pointed stars and crescent moons on it. I was hoping to give him some extra protection beyond just the reflecty-stuff due to the silver and the moons. My other option was reflective orange goldfish. He escapes from the house from time to time, so I worry about him. He does go out on his leash and harness rather willingly, though, which I appreciate.
The kitten above him there is Spaz Nathaniel I. His brother Blue Oshtemo is right above him. I love both of their eyes. Blue's are actually a nice, golden orange color, and Spaz's change between a color matching his fur and a blue-green color, depending on the lighting. Beautiful!

Post One: Kittens

2005-07-23T04:17:00.000-04:00

Well, kittens and Cat, to be fair to my beloved Wisk. I gave up, needed somewhere else to go in my bored times, so here it is. A blog. As if there weren't enough online already.
So I shall introduce the kittens and Cat. Kitten A is a beautiful little blond tabby, by name of Spaz Nathaniel I. When first Spaz and I met, he was, well, a spaz. Still is, and we're conficned that he has both ADHD and an imaginary friend. Kitten B is an adorable little dark gray kitten of the shade I believe they call "blue," hence his name, Blue Oshtemo. Oshtemo because my sibling thinks it's hilarious. Oshtemo. (It's actually a city in Michigan, did you know that?) Both of them are approximately three or four months old. We got them from my Uncle Tracy's house when my sibling and their friend blew up the kitchen of said uncle.
Cat and I believe he deserves his own paragraph. Cat's name is actually Wiskers Ferdinand II. He is a gray tabby with white boots and belly, and a little "M" on his forehead. His coloring is perfect. It is an exact 50/50 split of both his parents. See, Wisk had two older siblings, PitterPaws and Hypurr. Hypurr looked exactly like her mother, Lansing, and PitterPaws exactly like his father, Wonder. Wonder was a gray tabby, dark stripes on a light background, and Lansing was a dark gray solid kitty with white boots and belly and a little M. What? You say you want the entire family tree of my darling Wisk? Certainly! Later. Right now, I'll give you the short version. It began with Marylin, who arrived in our garage pregnant and hungry. So of course, we kept her. She gave birth soon to Midnight (black), Wiskers Ferdinand I (who was, in fact, a classic tabby like his mother), Silky (white with gray patches), and Sebastien (another tabby). Well, Silky and Sebastien were given to my cousins, but Midnight became my sibling's and Wiskers mine. We had, about a year after, another batch, Fluffi (gray tabby) and Stympi (classic). These two had crooked tails and were slightly retarded. Stympi went to the sib, and Fluffi to me, unofficially. Sadly, Stympi drowned in the old well in our basement. We have no idea how he got down there. Then, another batch like the first, except with a solid gray. They were Salem, Walnut, Charcoal, and Wonder. Marylin soon began to have problems with her litters; very few survived. Wiskers disappeared soon after Salem was born. We don't know what happenned to Midnight. Over the years, Walnut disappeared, Charcoal accidently got dropped off in a corn field down the road, and Salem died while I was at summer camp, something I will feel eternally guilty for. Fluffi had a litter of her own, with two kittens, Lansing, and Baby Gray(gray tabby). Baby Gray got hit by a car about a year later.
And on July 2nd, 2000, Wiskers Ferdinand II and his sibs popped into the world behind our dishwasher. To our knowlegde, Wiskers is the only surviving member of his line, and he's fixed. Talk about being the Last of the Mohicans.