Huzzah, huzzah! There was plenty of yarn to bind off. I thought I had a sufficient amount for seaming, but the Blue Sky cotton has been breaking like crazy. So frustrating! I tend to tug as I so the mattress stitch, but usually my seams come out quite nicely. Any suggestions? Is there another yarn I could use to seam?
I'm plant- and cat-sitting for a friend while she's away in Berlin and Paris, and I rediscovered the beauty of the streptocarpus plant.
They're from southern Africa, and they're related to the African violet. They're even hardier, though, and their blooms are just gorgeous. Anyone know where to get one in Chicago? Or even Minneapolis, Milwaukee, or Madison? Seeing this one reminded me of old times. My old roommate was from S. Africa, and her botanist father had managed to bring some of his streps to the US when they moved, so I have a soft spot for them.
Maryanne (who just happens to have the cutest photos of Gnuman the Gnome's Seattle adventures on the
Knitting Gnome Swap page) tagged me for the 7 random things meme that has been making its way through the blogosphere.
1. I love learning languages. My main ones are Latin and Greek (classical, not modern -- please no "It's Greek to me" jokes), but I've also studied Spanish, German, French, and Old English. Next up? Old Norse, I think.
2. Cheese is one of my favorite foods. Gjetost, English huntsman, fresh chevre, hand-dipped ricotta... I blame this on living in Madison, Wisconsin for a number of years and having many opportunities to try all sorts of artisan cheeses. Not good for the waistline, though, especially since I also like Cheetos.
3. I can wiggle my ears, and I sometimes do it when I'm nervous.
4. Paul and I have been together since we were 19. He's my favorite person in the world even though he really likes sports.
5. I'm good at playing pool, but only when I'm really pissed off. So I usually don't play anymore.
6. If I don't get my coffee in the morning, I'm a real bear. Seriously.
7. I feel happiest in the mountains. Wildflowers, big horn sheep, marmots, trees, clear air = heaven. Now if I only I could find a way to combine this with Classics, knitting, and coffee. BTW, have you heard that Glacier National Park is losing its glaciers?
Want to play? Consider yourself tagged!
My MIL and I decided to forgo the standard Black Friday shopping and instead drive out to the countryside. I highly recommend a trip to Monches if you're ever in the Milwaukee area-- it's very unusual and charming. Not only can you visit their heirloom chickens and other animals, you can shop for Christmas trees, perennials, gargoyles, antiques, and a lovely and unique array of homegoods. I'm especially taken with the gorgeous local pottery there -- more on that in another post.
I just finished seaming up a pair of fingerless mitts in a similarly rosy shade:
Pattern: Irish Hiking Wristwarmers, by Delia Rau
Capricha was also quite pleased that we skipped our trip to MN and stayed home with the kitties instead. It was odd not to celebrate with our family, but thoughtful friends included us in their festivities at the last minute.
Much progress was made on my Leaf Lace Scarf. Knitting scarves with sock-weight yarns is a slow task. At least the chart is easy to read and memorize; I can watch a movie while working on it.
The color is hard to capture on film during these grey November days. Here's another shot:
Both of my Christmas cacti have buds this year, which pleases me to no end. Last year I ended up with St. Patrick's Day cacti. 
I'm plant- and cat-sitting for a friend while she's away in Berlin and Paris, and I rediscovered the beauty of the streptocarpus plant. 
They're from southern Africa, and they're related to the African violet. They're even hardier, though, and their blooms are just gorgeous. Anyone know where to get one in Chicago? Or even Minneapolis, Milwaukee, or Madison? Seeing this one reminded me of old times. My old roommate was from S. Africa, and her botanist father had managed to bring some of his streps to the US when they moved, so I have a soft spot for them. 
