JenLa

A whole lotta stuff is going on around the bloggerhood, just not much of it involves me. Which is okay for a little bit, because, well, it can’t always be about me right? Or can it?

hmmmmm

Knitwitch is having a good old-fashioned murder mystery, detective story going-on. There are 2 ways to win the contest: Either find the clues and deduce her secret, or find the clues, jump to the completely wrong conclusion, and make an outlandish stab at the ridiculousness of your conclusion. Either way, if you guess correct, or if you make her shoot coffee through her nose, you’ll be in the running for her prizes. Oh hell yeah, I’m entering!

Oh, and while you’re there, check out her awesome yarn bowls. Gotta get me one of those!

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Congrats to Ruth! Her handy-dandy stitch savers & uber-cute stitch markers made it into the”Cool Stuff” section of Knitty’s Spring ‘08 issue. You can find them at Ruth’s Etsy Store Way to go!

Now here’s where I usually include a picture, especially since Ruth so kindly sent me one. But me, in my usual dumbassery didn’t take the picture. I got to work this morning and thought…hmmmm, wasn’t I s’posed to grab a picture of something? I even left myself a note on here to remind me to insert the picture. Sheesh! So yeah, Ruth sent me one of the stitch savers and it is WAY cute. It says HOOPTY, which, every time I use it, will further remind me of her and the wonderful time I had on the Great South Denver Yarn Crawl of Aught-Seven.

Good Times…Good Memories!

Speaking of the Denver crew, our very own Geek Girl is getting married this weekend! I’m sure she’s going through all the last-minute “holy shit this better go right or I want someone’s head on a platter” bride stuff, so go on over and give her some love! Wish I could be there Marisa. I know it’ll be beautiful. And my best advice? Take lots of pictures. Once the day’s over, you’ll need them as evidence that you were actually there, because nothing goes in such a whirlwind as a couple’s wedding day. The DH often says…”Our wedding day? Heard it was nice. Wish I was there.”

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Okay, I can’t stand it. Enough about others already. Let’s talk about me. I GOT PREZZIES!

Now before you all start thinking it’s my birthday, it isn’t. That was back in December. And now-adays the fewer I have the better I like it, so don’t be going and giving me extras. But, I’m still getting prezzies, and that I DO like. This one was the long-anticipated box from Georgia, and holy crap! was it worth the wait. Have a look!

The purple yarn is 375 yards of beautiful Jenspun handspun. Jen initially purchased the roving at SAFF as a way to induce me to try spinning again, but then decided that I would much prefer the fiber in its post-spun yarn form. Does she know me or what? Spinners, never fear, she also sent me a vagillion yards of pencil roving and a pretty little drop spindle.

Now, that blue you see there? That’s her idea of a joke. One day I was touting the “benefits” of knitting with red-heart, saying something to the effect of “hell, if I wanted to knit with coke bottles, I’d stop recycling and make my own asscylic yarn.” So what does she send me but yarn made exactly of that…recycled soda bottles. Well, for coke-bottle yarn it’s WAY better than red-heart could ever consider aspiring to be in the neighborhood of. I have no idea what I’ll knit with it, but dammit if it won’t be something for Jen.

Last, there’s the wonderful little take-and-go bag. At first glance I thought that she had found this in a clever little LYS, and I wondered how the HELL does she keep finding stuff in my favorite color combination: chocolate & lime.

A perfect match!

Then, upon closer inspection, here’s what I discovered:

Exact same fabric

Oh yeah, it’s easy to pecfectly match accessories when you’re the one making them! I love this bag so much it has inspired the colors for the bathroom remodel. And no, the DH has no say, or at least that’s what I’m telling myself. He can take his pick, either the bath remodel or the new guest room, but ONE of those rooms will be decked out in chocolate & lime. Thank you Jen!

Oh, before I forget…there might be a certain episode (8) of a certain podcast (Diva Knitting) from a certain Knitblogger (CK), with an interview from a certain mouthy other Knitblogger (me) that either earned her an “explicit” rating or broke her bleep button, (don’t know which) coming out in the certain near future. But you didn’t hear it from me, mkay?

Not hummus…that exceedingly yummy, nutritious stuff made from chickpeas and spices and lemon juice that is the greek gods’ gift, their way of saying they love us.

No. I mean this Hum-

Ass!!! What is it with the pricks who think that they’re entitled to no only further the over-consumption of fossil fuels but to take 2 parking spaces? Hey Jackass! You know, if you can’t handle something that big, maybe you should get something comparable to your penis size. Might I recommend a Yaris? or a Mini, perhaps? How about a scooter? Can you say overcompensation? Sheesh!

I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way. As it would happen, I was out with Michelle indulging in a little S.E.X. on Saturday when we pulled up to the yarn shop and there it was. While I was still pulling out my camera, she jumps out of the car exclaiming…”I am so taking a picture of that fucker!” She’s threatening to start a new organization: Northern-Hempisphere Only California Association of Stupid Hummers, aka N.O.C.A.S.H. Oh how I love me a kindred spirit!

So, back to the S.E.X. Saturday morning Michelle kidnapped me and introduced me to the wonderful LYS that is Suzoo Wool Works in Costa Mesa. They had so much yarn it set my head to spinning! After all was said and done, here’s what I walked out with…

Some beautiful Opal “Feeling” to replace the Lana Grossa Meilenweit I’ve lovingly sacrificed for a pair of Kaylee socks for my SIL’s birthday and enough gorgeous “knotty” bronze buttons for CPH. Okay, that’s not all I walked out with…but the rest is destined as a prezzie for someone who reads us, so I can’t really picture it here can I? Suffice it to say it’s fibery with a distinct scent, and is accompanied by impliments.

And, as long as I’m embracing full disclosure, I also ordered enough yarn for a man-sweater for my brother…the one who has yet to receive any sort of handknit from me whatsoever. I had to guess at the quantity I would need as the sweater has yet to be designed, but getting very close. So, you see, I actually didn’t WALK out with 10 balls of beautiful lichen-colored superwash worsted of a brand of yarn I can’t quite remember the name of. It’ll be walking it’s way to me by next week.

Michelle make a respectable haul too, but that’s her story to tell. I very much enjoyed Suzoo’s and look forward to revisiting once they get done with their rennovations. The ladies who work there were extremely friendly and helpful, and the ladies gathered around the table knitting and whatnot were fun to eavesdrop upon.

That afternoon I went car shopping. Me. By myself. Which is how I like it. I visited several dealerships and within only a couple of hours, narrowed my shortlist down to 2 choices, drove the 15 minutes back home, grabbed the DH and took him first to the Mazda dealership, and then to Pontiac.

So, which do you think I ended up with?

Zoom-zoom?

or

Vroom-Vroom?

The 3 of you who already know, no fair cheating! You’re not allowed to guess!

I had a great weekend! The party was a total success, with the guest of honor being totally in the swing of things…

Bon Vivant!

As you can see, she had a blast. And my gumbo was a hit, even though mom insisted that the recipe couldn’t possibly call for an entire bottle of white wine. Ha! Little did she know that, it being a double batch, I used 2 bottles! Guess she’s not familiar with the Wineaux Epicurian. Glad to prove her wrong! Of course, (insert rolling of the eyes here) the DH wondered why I never cooked HIM gumbo. Well..Don’t know whatcha want there Ace, if you don’t tell me. Besides, it takes something special to get me to stand over a steaming pot of oil and flour continually stirring for over half an hour as it slowly becomes roux.

I knew I wasn’t going to be able to finish the hat AND scarf in time. In fact, while working up the hat I decided that I wanted the scarf to feel more substantial than the yarn was allowing, so on my way to my folks, I hit up a yarn store in their area I heard about. More on that later, and came away with 2 skeins of Cherry Tree Hill Super Sock in Indian Summer…

A perfect compliment to the Misti Alpaca, don’t you think?

I finished the hat Saturday evening, just in time to wrap it, along with the scarf yarn, and a book for good measure, all up to give to mom on Sunday, which, after it’s unveiling, I promptly took back, along with the yarn, to revamp the pattern and start knitting the scarf. But the book was hers to hold onto.

Stats: Clamber v.1.0
Pattern: My own, but created to compliment the Irish Hiking Scarf. Or, if you prefer, Ravelry Link
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Sport Baby Alpaca in “Red Fiesta Melange”, less than 1 ball
Needles: Size 4 [3.5mm] 16″ circular & DPNs
Started: Feb. 12
Finished: Feb 16
Mods/Notes: I’m not entirely happy with the way this turned out. It’s a little snug, and the bottom edge looks a little unfinished. Since it took less than 1 ball of yarn, I’ll give it another go.

In the meantime, I started the scarf, and I’m loving how the yarns are knitting up together. The colors really compliment each other, and they feel so soft and sproingy. I’m kinda hoping that I only go through 1 ball of the Cherry Tree Hill, so I can keep the other for myself…I know, selfish little bitch, ain’t I?

Now, for those of you who live in or around the Inland Empire, aka the IE, aka the 909, or if you’re passing through on I-10 (yes, Pacalaga, this means YOU), you must check out The Yarn Deli in Redlands, CA. Becky, the owner was very helpful and friendly. She immediately broke off from the group of knitters to come help me. We chatted for a few, talking about blogs and Ravelry (she’s YarnDeli1 there) and her store. When she found out it was my first time there, she gave me a little welcome package, with a tape measure (can you have too many of those? don’t think so) and an adorable hand-knit lavender sachet that smells amazing! Her shop is filled with mostly natural fibers. In fact, I didn’t see a single hateful wad of novelty anywhere. She had a good assortment from basic traditional wools to the higher-end luxury fibers, and everything in between. I will definitely go back there again. Had I not been so pressed for time, I would have taken her up on her offer to stay and knit and have some chips and dip. As it was, I had an appointment with a non-teflon coated pan, some olive oil, flour, wine, lady fingers and shrimp, and hours of companionable chit chat with mom.

Last Wednesday I played hookie from work to spend the day with Donna and her family.

Donna Does Disney

I acted as unofficial tourguide and quasi-ambassador of fun at the Happiest Place On Earth, and loved every minute of it…even though the park was a bit on the crowded side…and even though I had spent the entire day there not 2 weeks prior. Half the fun of Disneyland, at least for me, isn’t the actual park, it’s the people with whom you spend the day. Both Donna and Em were Disney virgins, with Dave having visited once before…22 years ago, made for an exciting day. Donna and I both brought knitting, but we were so busy jaw-jacking, we didn’t even whip it out until we sat down to dinner. Carolyn joined us and a wonderful cafe in Downtown Disney, where all the adults had cheeseburgers, and the teenager had a rack of ribs, whose size equaled a full-rack by Ausie standards. Rack jokes were quite prevalent, much to the teenager’s chagrin, of course.

By the end of the night I had talked myself hoarse, and the next morning I awoke to the flu, the one I had JUST gotten over, reestablishing itself securely in my head and chest. But it was SO worth it! And it’s not like it was a mancold or anything…I think I’d have to have testicles to be so entirely debilitated by a little bug. (Yes, yes we do have an outbreak of the Mancold at Casa de La…2 reported cases. I’m surprised they can function at all…GRUMBLEeffinpansiesGRUMBLE

Not only did I have a wonderful day, but Donna brought me a prezzie all the way from Australia!

George!

That there is 100 grams of spun Ausie heaven from The Knittery. Purple-to-gray merino/cashmere yarnie goodness called Midnight! I don’t want to knit it. I just want to stroke it and pet it and call it George. Thank you Donna!

If you’d like to keep track of the rest of their trip (hiya back, Wendy!), you can find their travel blog here. Hawaii should prove to be VERY interesting…

This is the second year in a row I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a knit wonder from downunder. Last year it was Peeve. This year, Donna. Who will it be next year? Hell, we’ve even just converted the office/craft/dump-all room into a guestroom…

…complete with Cat. (she thinks it’s her room. No, seriously, she does)

~and~

~all wrapped up in one flawless skein of perfectly unmarred perfection~

My October WOW Sock Club yarn has “arrived”!

Brooks Farm Primero in all it’s lavender & butter, merino & mohair yumminess. I picked up this poor little abandoned “orphan” last year at SAFF. This was my only gratuitous yarn purchase at the entire event. Well…everyone else was going home with some Brooks Farm, I couldn’t very well go home empty-handed now could I have?

Speaking of SAFF, some of you will notice that I’m not there, and it mostly sucks. Most of you know that the main reason for my non-SAFF-attending suckage is due to getting popped for jury duty earlier in the year, and the fact that my cheap-assed boss doesn’t cover days off for jury duty, which forced me to choose to use 2 of my 3 remaining vacation days, if I wanted to still receive a full paycheck. Eh, some creative budgeting (and squealing pennies) could have overcome that obstacle. What can’t be overcome is a serious family obligation.

Not many know that my family suffered a loss last year while I was at SAFF. On that Saturday my mom called (she NEVER calls me when I’m on vacation), to let me know that my brother and his wife lost their baby. I’m so thankful that Jen was beside me when I got the call. Her quiet comfort (and strong, absorbant shoulders) was just what I needed. The SAFFers (mainly our roommates) were all having to put up with my illness (food poisoning), and all the discomfort that entails (for me as well as for them), the last thing I wanted to do was invite my sorrow onto others, so I just kept this news to myself.

When I got home, I found that they had held a very private, very small memorial service while I was gone, and the DH wasn’t able to attend because he had to work. The guilt of not being there for my baby brother Tom, and his wife Donna, compounded by the fact that the DH nor I were able to attend the memorial has weighed heavily on my conscience this past year.

This Sunday is the first anniversary, and we’re getting together in memorial of Baby Coleman. So I decided to stay home this weekend and be there for Thomas & Donna, and to finally get some closure. I just hope the fires allow him to be home for the day. Thomas and I have always been close, closer than any of our other siblings, and it just tore my heart out that I wasn’t here for them when they really needed me.

In the meantime, I can live vicariously through Claudia and Jodi, who have already posted, and anyone else who posts from SAFF over the weekend, and through Grace, whom I’m going to bug in email cuz she has her blackberry and can answer back.

Oh, and ESC? That PWNED button is SO mine! Just set it to the side, and I’ll collect it from you, uh, whenever. (Let me know how much!)