Books

Okay, it took me a while to actually notice (even though I'd already read the post - sorry Cindy!). But I've been tagged, first time ever, and it's about books - something that my knitting has definitely got in the way of. But here goes...

1. One book that changed your life:
I'm not sure any book has actually changed my life. Although the "Eleven Million Mile High Dancer" was the inspiration for my online name (I loved that cat). I felt that "1984" was pretty eye-opening (I was still young when I read it).
2. One book that you've read more than once:
I'm not usually one for reading books more than once (there are too many out there), although I definitely read "1984" more than once.
3. One book you'd want on a deserted island:
"The Idiots Guide to How to Survive and be Rescued from a Deserted Island"
4. One book that made you laugh:
"A Walk In the Woods" - Bill Bryson.
5. One book that made you cry:
Oooh, many, I'm pretty emotional person when it comes to stories. Most recently "Kite Runner"
6. One book that you wish had been written:
"How I made my first million knitting."
7. One book you wish had never been written:
I have to say "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" - I read 3/4 of it, hated at least half of that, I feel a failure for not finishing it, but at the same time, resentful that I wasted that time on it.
8. One book you're currently reading:
I just started "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides, in between the "Drivers Manual" - gotta get my NYS license for work
9. One book you've been meaning to read:
I have "Catch 22", been meaning to read it for a while - started once, but was unsuccessful.
10. Tag 6 people:
Annie, Jessica, Michelle (AKA _ MUD), Dipsy D, Mer, Paloma

By Jove, I think she's got it!

The Pomatomus pattern no longer has the better of me... fourth time is a charm, and I'm in love.

Secret Pal Finale

First of all I need to say a big public thank you to my Secret Pal Emily. I just received my last gift in the exchange from her. Here is it in pictures [yes! two posts with pictures in two days]:



In this picture you can see: a cute cat card; an apple pie scented room freshener; a little box of Whitman's chocolate (the chocs are already gone already - where did they go?); a mini photo book; red white and blue floating star candles; a home-made needle holder in orange, fringed in fun-fur; plastic yarn needles (actually really great for me, since my sweaty hands seem to destroy anything metal; a fridge magnet and a couple of pairs of hand made earrings. Wanna see those last things up close? Here you are:


I think Emily may have picked up that I like orange - what I didn't say [brainless, I know] in my SP8 questionnaire, is that I love fridge magnets. What I missed out in photographing (there was so much, I was bound to forget something) is a little tube of curel lavender, chamomile moisturizer.

Finally, and certainly not least - YAAAARRRRRRNNNN!! Pretty much my favorite thing to receive ever. This is Knitpicks Shine in worsted (I love the sport weight shine, so I'm pretty sure I will love the worsted - makes for fast knitting right?) in 8, yes! EIGHT, different colors; along with the pattern for the funky florida bags.

Finally! Photos.

Okay, okay, my blogging has been a little lacklustre recently. I don't have a valid excuse really, all I can say is that I haven't had an awful lot to photograph, and I really couldn't go with 3 photo-less posts in a row.

I had started the very famous, very lovely Pomatomus socks which I continue to call 'potamus' socks, even though I realized about 6 months ago that it not what they are called. However, after casting on 3 times already, this is as far as I got.


I decided that I currently suck at reading patterns with more than a couple of different rows and have put them down (they still needed to be frogged). The yarn is the fingering weight Kona yarn that I dyed in turquoise.

Instead I decided to use up the rest of my pink bamboo yarn to knit up the razor cami. There were so many lovely razors popping up in the blogging world, that I decided that I couldn't be left out. Progress has been considerable compared to the darned socks!!



And up close...

Yowzer!

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted. My I've been so busy, and not really the knitting kind of busy. It seems that this last week and next week has Mr. B. and myself being pulled in multiple directions and out doing multiple things. The good news: I have managed to squeeze in some knitting. The bad news: can't show pics otherwise it can/may spoil the surprise of a certain someone. I am about to dye some more sock yarn, hopefully today, otherwise I'm not going to have time until Wednesday at the soonest. Gotta dash, have to go and do lunch. Sorry it's a pictureless post.

You're our only hope...

I joined this little competition a little while back and then never said a word about it... at all! Now that's just plain old not following the rules. So, it's time I fessed up and told you all that come Sept I will be in battle, the chance to have a fair sock fight was irresistible to me. There have been many who have joined already, poor little Yarn Monkey had no idea it was going to be as big as it is.

Come! Join Us!

Let's go Mets

Okay, Okay, if you're a Yankees fan you might not care for this post, or already have stopped reading.

Still here? Well, Wednesday was Mr. B's birthday. To celebrate, I took him out to the Mets / Padres game at Shea and what fun we had, it helped that they won of course. I got into baseball when I first came to visit the US and saw the Yankees play the Red Sox at Fenway (I wanted the Sox to win, but they didn't). I had much fun despite not understanding most of what was going on, particularly the 7th inning stretch - what was that about? We moved to live in New York in 2000, only 3 days before the Subway Series started. We were living with a Mets fan, and as Brits, we naturally support the underdog - so we became Mets fans instantly.

Okay, enough history. Piazza was playing with the Padres, and he scored 2 home runs, which were cheered mightily by the Mets fans. However, the chance of him getting another home run and taking the lead shut us all up! We had the cheap seats, but behind home plate. For a few innings I had this view:


I'm proud of myself, I did not hurt the child, just peered through whatever gap I could and bitched and moaned a little to Mr. B. (thank goodness he's a patient man).

So glad we made it to at least one game this year, it's such a great atmosphere, soooo much different to the last couple of years year where the stadium was practically empty and people just jeered the team :(

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

As promised, here are FOs pics of the River Rapids Socks. I did one less pattern repeat in the leg (just enough yarn for them), I also carried on the "river" pattern down the sides of the heel, not exactly practical, but purdy. The yarn was kona superwash merino, sport weight, dyed by my own fair hand. I used knitpicks #2 circs, two pairs. The view was from the fire escape - the only place I could get good light at the time - the close-up is truer to the color of the socks.

Close-up of Heel - I love that I now know how to carry the pretty pattern down the side of the heel.

Also, my bag (from a birthday gift cert) arrived today. I love that it has the flowery lining. I'm not so keen on the rubbery smell - I don't think I had any idea that it would be a foam rubber material - although I like that the handle is all squidgy and boingy.

Extended Birthday

More birthday gifts in pictures.


A Turkish spindle AND Treasury of Knitting Patterns volume 1 AND volume 2. I also got a tensioned lazy kate, unfortunately it's too small for my bobbins (my fault, I asked for it and didn't measure - oops).

Other gifts were cash and gift certificates - so there will be more pictures here and there (as and when I order more toys, etc). Here is another gift though:



I'm sure this one would count for Saturday Skies.



Yup, a boat trip around Manhattan. It was a beautiful day for it yesterday. We had a buffet dinner and cocktails and sailed around the island. Got to see the sun setting behind the statue of Liberty (reminding me of the few months that we lived in Staten Island, some 5 + years ago). My camera ran out of battery only 20 mins into the ride - see this was a surpise present so I wasn't prepared to take a boat-load (pun intended) of pictures.

Hot

Man alive, this has been a hot 3 days. They promise it will break tonight - I can only hope...

Knitting has only been minimally affected by the heat (isn't AC the best invention ever?), sock pics to follow....

Secret Pal Thanks

Lookie what I got today. A July 4th themed gift from my Secret Pal.


The package contained a Card from my pal, a "Light-up US Flag" (batteries included), a ball of Red "Sugar 'n Cream, wooden needles with star ends, 8 America Themed Notecards, and a small jar of Elderberry Jam.

Thanks Secret Pal.