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Sunny was sitting on a shelf giving me Toulouse-Lautrec "Le Chat Noir". Except it's not Toulouse-Lautrec, as I had believed FOR AGES, but Théophile Steinlen. Consider me corrected, then. You learn something new, apparently. :)
I went out for a bit, wandered down to the local Value Village to look for a king size bedspread to convert into a futon mattress cover of sorts. Whilst there, I had a glance at the yarns hanging there. Often, I don't find much, but when I do find something? I FIND SOMETHING.
Today, I spent more money on yarn from there than I have ever spent before. Why? It was, for the most part, sock yarn.
Sock yarn that is often conservatively priced at $12 a piece. That, right there, is seventeen sock yarns (all are superwash merino, two of that being 100% Uruguayan merino, whatever the heck that means aside from $28/skein), and one mohair/acrylic blend in blush pink that I will turn into a shawl for my sister. There were a few others that were scooped up by an old woman who came up behind me. *shakes fist*
I paid a fraction of what that would cost if I had gone to a knitter's fair or retail store. Even the sale prices for it are much higher than what I paid. Should I have bought all of that sock wool when I still haven't finished making my OWN socks and am stuck wearing boring compression socks? Probably not. Do I care? I most certainly do not care. I loves me some sock yarn, and I can do other things with it besides socks, like make super warm, super thin winter hats.
Yeah. I spent a lot, true. But that's a lot of yarn for ~$80.
Today, I spent more money on yarn from there than I have ever spent before. Why? It was, for the most part, sock yarn.
Sock yarn that is often conservatively priced at $12 a piece. That, right there, is seventeen sock yarns (all are superwash merino, two of that being 100% Uruguayan merino, whatever the heck that means aside from $28/skein), and one mohair/acrylic blend in blush pink that I will turn into a shawl for my sister. There were a few others that were scooped up by an old woman who came up behind me. *shakes fist*
I paid a fraction of what that would cost if I had gone to a knitter's fair or retail store. Even the sale prices for it are much higher than what I paid. Should I have bought all of that sock wool when I still haven't finished making my OWN socks and am stuck wearing boring compression socks? Probably not. Do I care? I most certainly do not care. I loves me some sock yarn, and I can do other things with it besides socks, like make super warm, super thin winter hats.
Yeah. I spent a lot, true. But that's a lot of yarn for ~$80.
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Happy Birthday to me!
I am now officially older than my father was when he died. Yeah, odd milestone, but it certainly feels more personal than, say, a decade marker like 40 or 50. A few years ago, we were getting lunch at a Wimpy's Diner before heading to Toronto for Christmas and I spied an old advertisement on the wall that dredged a memory of my dad up from the depths of my brainmeats, so I sent it to my sister to see if she also remembered and she did!
My dad used to roll his own cigarettes. Not using a pinch of tobacco and papers, but a machine. I can't remember what it looked like now, but I have, in my head, an image of something akin to the old credit card imprinters. I can see him sitting at the kitchen table, newspapers laid out to keep the excess tobacco somewhat corralled. Anyway. Weird memory to have crop up.
Here's the ad that brought that up to the surface:
+~+~+
I have finished my first week of work. It was...work, but I did it and am going to have to adjust to the tiredness that comes with it. (I am still very proud of myself for getting outside and working, even if it was only 8 hours over two days.) On my first day, waiting for the bus home, I got to use my new emergency hat because it was too cold and windy to be standing still. I found the UGLIEST yarn while out thrifting for overalls for Declan's Hallowe'en costume. Then I googled hat patterns and found one I really liked the look of. It's ugly and cozy and I LOVE IT.
(Pictures don't do it justice. It's more vibrant in person.)
+~+~+
Yesterday, we all had a spot of very successful errand running! First up were flu shots for the lot of us. This year, we went to an independent pharmacy and it was quicker than it is at a chain.
While we were waiting the 15 minutes, we wandered through the dollar store and found gloves for the boy. His mitts died an ignoble death last year and he needed something new. I asked him if he wants a string (idiot strings are the best way to keep kids from constantly losing mittens and gloves, because that can get expensive and fast); he declined. Well, at least they weren't THAT expensive.
The longest errand we ran was buying winter boots for the boy. He has adult sized feet and sensory issues, so it makes it challenging. As a woman with hard-to-fit feet, I completely get it. BUT, after much gnashing of teeth and beating of breast, we found a pair that are a good size, didn't cost a gajillion dollars, and should do for the year. Added bonus? Not having to deal with the craziness that will be today (the store was pretty quiet when we went). The weather is turning and that reminds parents that they need winter gear for their kiddos.
It was dark when we came home, but the sky was FANTASTIC. This is the best shot I got from my cellphone:
+~+~+
I haven't been reading much lately. I'm still editing my book, and I was thinking that writing is taking enough energy that I don't have much to spare to create new worlds from the words of others. While that does impact on the time I have to read, it doesn't really explain why I have been buying books and not reading them. Maybe things will settle out in a week or so when I get myself used to working for someone else again. Maybe.
Or maybe I should start reading something today, because it's mah birfday.
I am now officially older than my father was when he died. Yeah, odd milestone, but it certainly feels more personal than, say, a decade marker like 40 or 50. A few years ago, we were getting lunch at a Wimpy's Diner before heading to Toronto for Christmas and I spied an old advertisement on the wall that dredged a memory of my dad up from the depths of my brainmeats, so I sent it to my sister to see if she also remembered and she did!
My dad used to roll his own cigarettes. Not using a pinch of tobacco and papers, but a machine. I can't remember what it looked like now, but I have, in my head, an image of something akin to the old credit card imprinters. I can see him sitting at the kitchen table, newspapers laid out to keep the excess tobacco somewhat corralled. Anyway. Weird memory to have crop up.
Here's the ad that brought that up to the surface:
+~+~+
I have finished my first week of work. It was...work, but I did it and am going to have to adjust to the tiredness that comes with it. (I am still very proud of myself for getting outside and working, even if it was only 8 hours over two days.) On my first day, waiting for the bus home, I got to use my new emergency hat because it was too cold and windy to be standing still. I found the UGLIEST yarn while out thrifting for overalls for Declan's Hallowe'en costume. Then I googled hat patterns and found one I really liked the look of. It's ugly and cozy and I LOVE IT.
(Pictures don't do it justice. It's more vibrant in person.)
+~+~+
Yesterday, we all had a spot of very successful errand running! First up were flu shots for the lot of us. This year, we went to an independent pharmacy and it was quicker than it is at a chain.
While we were waiting the 15 minutes, we wandered through the dollar store and found gloves for the boy. His mitts died an ignoble death last year and he needed something new. I asked him if he wants a string (idiot strings are the best way to keep kids from constantly losing mittens and gloves, because that can get expensive and fast); he declined. Well, at least they weren't THAT expensive.
The longest errand we ran was buying winter boots for the boy. He has adult sized feet and sensory issues, so it makes it challenging. As a woman with hard-to-fit feet, I completely get it. BUT, after much gnashing of teeth and beating of breast, we found a pair that are a good size, didn't cost a gajillion dollars, and should do for the year. Added bonus? Not having to deal with the craziness that will be today (the store was pretty quiet when we went). The weather is turning and that reminds parents that they need winter gear for their kiddos.
It was dark when we came home, but the sky was FANTASTIC. This is the best shot I got from my cellphone:
+~+~+
I haven't been reading much lately. I'm still editing my book, and I was thinking that writing is taking enough energy that I don't have much to spare to create new worlds from the words of others. While that does impact on the time I have to read, it doesn't really explain why I have been buying books and not reading them. Maybe things will settle out in a week or so when I get myself used to working for someone else again. Maybe.
Or maybe I should start reading something today, because it's mah birfday.
Seemed appropriate to wear this today. Also, welcome to my bathroom!
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I got up and was in the process of pulling up the blinds when I noticed a bunny munching on some weeds in the shadow near the corner of the building. I tried to get Declan to look, but he's far too engrossed in watching videos online. So it was just me watching this little bun eat the leaves from weeds as fast as it could.
Moments later, I spied a chipmunk coming closer from the direction of the fence. This chippy, who was about a quarter of the bunny's size, startled the rabbit and then chased it away. Chipmunks are territorial little fuckers with lots of fear and none.
A little piece of the natural world in the heart of a city and my son missed all of it, choosing YouTube over wonder. *sigh*
UPDATE: After a brief power outage, I noticed that the bunny had come back. And yes, this time Declan got to see it. Apologies for the blur, the photo was taken through a window screen.
Moments later, I spied a chipmunk coming closer from the direction of the fence. This chippy, who was about a quarter of the bunny's size, startled the rabbit and then chased it away. Chipmunks are territorial little fuckers with lots of fear and none.
A little piece of the natural world in the heart of a city and my son missed all of it, choosing YouTube over wonder. *sigh*
UPDATE: After a brief power outage, I noticed that the bunny had come back. And yes, this time Declan got to see it. Apologies for the blur, the photo was taken through a window screen.
I feel odd, like I haven't eaten anything. I'm light-headed and my hands are trembly and I feel very disassociated from my sense of self. But I have eaten twice already today and I'm trying to keep hydrated (I've had no more or less water than I did yesterday at this time), but I still feel woozy.
I was going to post pictures of two necklaces that I had made in the last couple of days, but I can't seem to access any of the hosting sites I use. Fuck. Maybe tomorrow. I think I should lie down on the couch or something and see if being horizontal for a while helps me feel better.
EDIT: While I was waiting for this to be posted, one of the sites decided to play nice so I can post those images. For the sake of your flist, I'm going to put them behind cuts.
( Random Seed Beads )
( Spider Necklace Remake )
I was going to post pictures of two necklaces that I had made in the last couple of days, but I can't seem to access any of the hosting sites I use. Fuck. Maybe tomorrow. I think I should lie down on the couch or something and see if being horizontal for a while helps me feel better.
EDIT: While I was waiting for this to be posted, one of the sites decided to play nice so I can post those images. For the sake of your flist, I'm going to put them behind cuts.
( Random Seed Beads )
( Spider Necklace Remake )
We have a open platform type birdfeeder that feeds a particular squirrel more than it feeds the birds. I have named this squirrel Fatty McRodent (not to be confused with another squirrel that occasionally eats from the feeder, Rodent McFatty) and I would shoo him out of the feeder so the birds could actually eat what was intended for them.
This is Fatty McRodent.
I noticed that even though it was winter, Fatty was quite plump.
Well, turns out there's a good reason for that.
He is really a she. And she is a mommy.
So I leave Fatty McRodent alone now, and let her gorge herself on the birdseed since she has nursing young.
This is Fatty McRodent.
I noticed that even though it was winter, Fatty was quite plump.
Well, turns out there's a good reason for that.
He is really a she. And she is a mommy.
So I leave Fatty McRodent alone now, and let her gorge herself on the birdseed since she has nursing young.
I've finished cutting the jacket pattern out of velvet. I'm reminded of purple fabric that, years ago, I made into a pair of very funky trousers for the Coyote Priest. After I had sewn them and given them as part of a Christmas gift, I found little purple fuzzballs for months afterwards. The black velvet is already doing the same, so now it will be black ones instead of purple. :P
Anyway, now that the pieces are cut, the first thing I did was embroider the TOB symbol onto the left side.
I used a technique called Blackwork, which is basically a running stitch. It's not as neat as it could be, but it's not bad for a first attempt at the style. My apologies on the picture. Between the scanner and the resizing, it's not very clear how it turned out. You'll just have to take my word on it.
This also means that over the next couple of nights, I will be attached to my sewing machine, finishing the Rabbit Sabbath outfit for Tabula Rasa.
Anyway, now that the pieces are cut, the first thing I did was embroider the TOB symbol onto the left side.
I used a technique called Blackwork, which is basically a running stitch. It's not as neat as it could be, but it's not bad for a first attempt at the style. My apologies on the picture. Between the scanner and the resizing, it's not very clear how it turned out. You'll just have to take my word on it.
This also means that over the next couple of nights, I will be attached to my sewing machine, finishing the Rabbit Sabbath outfit for Tabula Rasa.
Today was the bimonthly cardiac visit for Shannon. It went surprisingly well. She fussed during the initial echocardiogram (just like she always does, regardless of the technician doing it) and it took her a while to settle even after food and a diaper change. Since she was still being a grumpy gus, they weighed her.
She sat still throughout the process, which is very unusual. She's not fond of being nekkid. And, for the first time, she peed in the seat (very amusing, in a way). She tolerated being cleaned up and her diaper put back on. Then, strangest of all, she sat still and happy while a four limb blood pressure was done. That just never happens.
Doctor Roman came to look and the pictures and did another echo and she slept! As soon as her head hit the mattress, she was asleep. He's such a calming influence that I wonder if you could bottle it. Imagine how much you could get for it on eBAY...a product guaranteed to put your wee fussy bairn to sleep everytime. :)
That was the oddness that was the hospital visit, but it's not as strange as what I did yesterday...( too scary for public viewing! )
She sat still throughout the process, which is very unusual. She's not fond of being nekkid. And, for the first time, she peed in the seat (very amusing, in a way). She tolerated being cleaned up and her diaper put back on. Then, strangest of all, she sat still and happy while a four limb blood pressure was done. That just never happens.
Doctor Roman came to look and the pictures and did another echo and she slept! As soon as her head hit the mattress, she was asleep. He's such a calming influence that I wonder if you could bottle it. Imagine how much you could get for it on eBAY...a product guaranteed to put your wee fussy bairn to sleep everytime. :)
That was the oddness that was the hospital visit, but it's not as strange as what I did yesterday...( too scary for public viewing! )
These were taken Saturday night as we were leaving Toronto at my sister's and her boyfriend's condo. The dog (5 month old German Shepherd) is named Kitty and she can be a handful when no one pays attention to her. My apologies about the size of the pics, I didn't post them.
Clicky Clicky
Clicky Clicky
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