Tuesday, April 29, 2008
500th Post! And a contest!
Did I mention that Sally's didn't have my signature hair color in stock? I made do, but 'Medium Red Violet Brown' just doesn't have the same ring as 'Bodacious Burgundy with an extra squirt of purple.'
Welcome to my 500th post! Let's have a contest! The prize will be a handmade gift from me. Might be sewn, might be knitted, might be a photo, but it will most likely be socks. That's just how I roll. And with the handmade meme being passed around, I want to give myself a year to make good on the prize. It's taken me more than five years to post 500 times, so let's say you'll have your prize by the time I make my 600th post.
So here's the contest: Leave a comment guessing how many current piercings I have. The person who comes closest without going over (Just like on The Price is Right.) will be the winner. Closed holes do not count. Chris is not eligible to win, but I'd love to see what his guess is without looking at me. Lorena is eligible to win, but I reserve the right to name a second place winner if she does and you'll both receive prizes. The contest will end upon my return from vacation on May 13th, so you have a goodly long time to think about it. Even if you haven't met me in real life, take a shot at it! I'd love to make a present for someone that I don't know particularly well, kind of swap-like.
Good luck to all! And play to win!
ETA: If two or more people choose the same number, and that number is the winning digit(s), I will post a tie breaker question. I'd really love to see someone choose 1, thinking that everyone else is overbidding! =)
Welcome to my 500th post! Let's have a contest! The prize will be a handmade gift from me. Might be sewn, might be knitted, might be a photo, but it will most likely be socks. That's just how I roll. And with the handmade meme being passed around, I want to give myself a year to make good on the prize. It's taken me more than five years to post 500 times, so let's say you'll have your prize by the time I make my 600th post.
So here's the contest: Leave a comment guessing how many current piercings I have. The person who comes closest without going over (Just like on The Price is Right.) will be the winner. Closed holes do not count. Chris is not eligible to win, but I'd love to see what his guess is without looking at me. Lorena is eligible to win, but I reserve the right to name a second place winner if she does and you'll both receive prizes. The contest will end upon my return from vacation on May 13th, so you have a goodly long time to think about it. Even if you haven't met me in real life, take a shot at it! I'd love to make a present for someone that I don't know particularly well, kind of swap-like.
Good luck to all! And play to win!
ETA: If two or more people choose the same number, and that number is the winning digit(s), I will post a tie breaker question. I'd really love to see someone choose 1, thinking that everyone else is overbidding! =)
Pre-vacation day!
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, people. The sun is shining, the birds are singing. It's supposed to get down to 43 degrees tonight, but with 77 degree days, who can complain?
Being Tuesday means that it's my day off. I have a huge list of things to do today in preparation for leaving on vacation this weekend. I'm happy to do them, because each thing that gets crossed off the list gets me one step closer to our drive north. I'm really quite excited. C&I make this trip every year before Mother's Day weekend, and we both love it. He drives, I knit, we geek out on some Harry Potter on the iPod. We'll be visiting lots of friends and family along the way this year. It's a lovely time, I assure you.
Right now, I'm just looking forward to a lovely day hanging out with the dogs and casually doing things to make off of my list. There will surely be some knitting in there, and I'll have to see what kind of crappy movies are on TV. I hope your day goes as well as mine is!
p.s. Watch this space for my 500th post contest! With prizes!
Being Tuesday means that it's my day off. I have a huge list of things to do today in preparation for leaving on vacation this weekend. I'm happy to do them, because each thing that gets crossed off the list gets me one step closer to our drive north. I'm really quite excited. C&I make this trip every year before Mother's Day weekend, and we both love it. He drives, I knit, we geek out on some Harry Potter on the iPod. We'll be visiting lots of friends and family along the way this year. It's a lovely time, I assure you.
Right now, I'm just looking forward to a lovely day hanging out with the dogs and casually doing things to make off of my list. There will surely be some knitting in there, and I'll have to see what kind of crappy movies are on TV. I hope your day goes as well as mine is!
p.s. Watch this space for my 500th post contest! With prizes!
Labels: Travel
Monday, April 28, 2008
At the theatre, Darling
Monday, April 14, 2008
Another game
Would you like to play a game?
Saturday, April 05, 2008
The Piano
My friend Celena is getting a piano soon! Hurrah! Blogless Knitter Julie says that no home with a child should be without a piano. Mine wasn't. Celena asked me about my piano playing days, and this is what I wrote to her:
Heheh... I played the piano years and years ago. I took lessons from 3rd grade until 9th grade, when it wasn't really cool to be doing that kind of thing any more. I did ok, but I don't feel that my teacher pushed me enough. After taking 6 years of lessons, I ended up on, I'd say, about a 3rd or 4th year level. There were two piano teachers in our little town. One was mean and produced fantastic players. The other was very nice, and (I now realize) kind of left you at your own pace. My pace, not being the studying sort of gal, was very, very slow. But I think I'm better off for it, and she had these lovely little tea parties at Christmas time with petite-fours and spiced tea. =)
My piano is nothing short of fucking gorgeous. I believe it was 50-100 years old when my parents bought it for me (Counts on fingers) 30 years ago. It's an upright with a carving of leaves or something in the center. Not sure of the brand. I'll definitely check that out when I'm home in May. I remember my parents (Neither of which had ever touched a musical instrument in their lives.) took the whole thing apart themselves and spread the pieces out on a blanket in the driveway. They stripped the wood, then stained and lacquered it all. My mother had to dig the old lacquer out of the bas relief with a toothpick. They put it back together, and sent all the keys out for refurbishing. When those came back, they had a guy come install new strings and insides. It still looks fabulous, and really just needs to be tuned up.
My dad has always told me that when I have my own house I can take the piano. And I do intend to do just that. I know the perfect place to put it in my living room, but there's a big loom in the way. ;)
Heheh... I played the piano years and years ago. I took lessons from 3rd grade until 9th grade, when it wasn't really cool to be doing that kind of thing any more. I did ok, but I don't feel that my teacher pushed me enough. After taking 6 years of lessons, I ended up on, I'd say, about a 3rd or 4th year level. There were two piano teachers in our little town. One was mean and produced fantastic players. The other was very nice, and (I now realize) kind of left you at your own pace. My pace, not being the studying sort of gal, was very, very slow. But I think I'm better off for it, and she had these lovely little tea parties at Christmas time with petite-fours and spiced tea. =)
My piano is nothing short of fucking gorgeous. I believe it was 50-100 years old when my parents bought it for me (Counts on fingers) 30 years ago. It's an upright with a carving of leaves or something in the center. Not sure of the brand. I'll definitely check that out when I'm home in May. I remember my parents (Neither of which had ever touched a musical instrument in their lives.) took the whole thing apart themselves and spread the pieces out on a blanket in the driveway. They stripped the wood, then stained and lacquered it all. My mother had to dig the old lacquer out of the bas relief with a toothpick. They put it back together, and sent all the keys out for refurbishing. When those came back, they had a guy come install new strings and insides. It still looks fabulous, and really just needs to be tuned up.
My dad has always told me that when I have my own house I can take the piano. And I do intend to do just that. I know the perfect place to put it in my living room, but there's a big loom in the way. ;)
Labels: Navel Gazing
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
A Dear John Letter
Dear Namaste Bag,
First of all, I want you to know that I love you. You are big and strong and attractive. You are tough on the outside, and soft and sweet and organized on the inside. These are all things I love in a bag.
But I have to be honest with you. Most of the time, you are too much for me. When I just want to pop out to the grocery, it's much easier to grab my wallet and go than it is to take you along with me. It's nice to know that my favorite knitting projects are safely tucked away inside of you, but this adds extra weight to our relationship. You drag me down, Namaste bag. You want it all: my laptop, my knitting, my wallet, my phone, my lip stuff. But I don't need all of that baggage. I often want something simple to sit on my hip that is light and convenient.
I must admit to you that I've been using another bag. It's my old purse. I know I talked down about him when you first came along, but he and I have come to the understanding that while he isn't exactly what I need right now either, he fulfills more of my needs than you do. Of course, I'll need to have my knitting bag on the side, but my old purse can handle a sock or other small project when I'm in need of such a thing, so he doesn't get very jealous.
This isn't goodbye forever for you, though. I'll need you on weekend trips, and will certainly look you up when we drive to WV this May. You'll get to meet my parents and my cousins and lots of my friends, so I hope you'll enjoy that. I'm sure they'll like you just as much as I do! So I'll see you again soon.
I'm so sorry, Namaste bag. I really wanted this to work out. I think I forced it for a while, and that's why I seemed to dump you so suddenly last week when I quit taking you to work. I hope you understand, and I hope you will support me in my search for the ultimate purse/knitting bag.
Good luck, and I'll miss you,
---Sharon
First of all, I want you to know that I love you. You are big and strong and attractive. You are tough on the outside, and soft and sweet and organized on the inside. These are all things I love in a bag.
But I have to be honest with you. Most of the time, you are too much for me. When I just want to pop out to the grocery, it's much easier to grab my wallet and go than it is to take you along with me. It's nice to know that my favorite knitting projects are safely tucked away inside of you, but this adds extra weight to our relationship. You drag me down, Namaste bag. You want it all: my laptop, my knitting, my wallet, my phone, my lip stuff. But I don't need all of that baggage. I often want something simple to sit on my hip that is light and convenient.
I must admit to you that I've been using another bag. It's my old purse. I know I talked down about him when you first came along, but he and I have come to the understanding that while he isn't exactly what I need right now either, he fulfills more of my needs than you do. Of course, I'll need to have my knitting bag on the side, but my old purse can handle a sock or other small project when I'm in need of such a thing, so he doesn't get very jealous.
This isn't goodbye forever for you, though. I'll need you on weekend trips, and will certainly look you up when we drive to WV this May. You'll get to meet my parents and my cousins and lots of my friends, so I hope you'll enjoy that. I'm sure they'll like you just as much as I do! So I'll see you again soon.
I'm so sorry, Namaste bag. I really wanted this to work out. I think I forced it for a while, and that's why I seemed to dump you so suddenly last week when I quit taking you to work. I hope you understand, and I hope you will support me in my search for the ultimate purse/knitting bag.
Good luck, and I'll miss you,
---Sharon
Labels: Knitta please
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Instant Spring
I love my friends. They are very good to me.Yesterday Cathy, one of my West Farms buddies, brought me two big tubs of snapdragons and dianthus that she had taken out of a flower bed at one of the local apartment complexes. I knew just the place for this generous donation! I love this flower bed next to our sidewalk, though I've neglected to do much with it over the past couple of years. The new plants fulfilled a vision that I had for a happy, welcoming entrance to our home.
The butterflies were all over these flowers before 
I even got them out of the buckets. It'll take a couple of good rains/waterings to wash the detritus off of these reclaimed beauties, and as that happens they will fill out and fit this spot wonderfully.
As I was cleaning up and picking up my tools, the first hummingbird that I've ever seen on our property stopped to check out the new additions. A good sign, no?
Even with filling this bed to its brim, I had a handful of snapdragons left over. What to do with them? I wasn't about to toss them. So I spread some of the snap love over to the side stoop. I can't wait to come home from lunch to see my new flowers greeting me!
Labels: Gardening
