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February 16, 2008

single sock syndrome plus landbase scarf

Marcel and I have had the winter blahs, big time-
Its been a tad chilly so we broke out Marcel's favorite t-shirt, for wearing around the house.

He loves his red blankie too, oblivious as he is to the fact that is sheds evil red lint onto everything, and I mean everything!

But a little dawg with a bald undercarriage needs all the help he can get during this the longest February ever- at least that's how it seems. Longer than all the others. How did it happen?

Since we have a lot of time on our hands, sometimes we plot mischief.

But mostly, I knit while he snoozes.
Sometimes I finish things!
You may remember the Protect Your Landbase Scarf for Oso-

Made entirely from Manos and Malabrigo leftover from other projects, towards the end it was rather a white-knuckle project, as I used certain colors down to mere centimeters-

There were literally millions of ends for weaving, and I got them all done in under 3 days, without losing my mind.

It looks very fetching on, and, having taken it for a test drive around the house, I found it to be extremely warm and wooley.
Also, I have finished the first of what are most likely going to be a mismatched pair of striped socks-

Marcel really didn't want to pose with it, not sure why but one never knows with that boy-

The colors contrast nicely with denim blue, I think, and plus I think there will still be enough cold weather for wool sock wearing.
One more shot, for your viewing pleasure, and mine, because I like it so much-

Oh, now do I have the will to knit the other! Stay apprised of developments on the Knit-A-Log.

In other news, I will not be going to graduate school in the fall, which is disappointing but also kind of a relief. Details upon request. In any event, big thanks to everyone who helped and supported my application efforts- I kiss all of you a thousand times.
There is still Ragdale- but I won't know about that until April, a month which feels so distant as to be impossible from this mid-February perspective. In the meantime I am hoping to drown my sorrows with yarn, more sock knitting, and a new book- have you seen it???- by longtime fave, Julie Doucet.
Julie, oh Julie!! I love you, Julie!

Posted by pippypippy at 12:57 PM | Comments (2)

February 03, 2008

I frogot-

To post the icicles yesterday!
For your viewing pleasure, the back gate-

And gratuitous Marcel photo-

He looks a little worried. Maybe he's thinking about climate change and capitalism. I know I was yesterday, and you could, too, if you need a little something to rattle your cage- go here and take a listen. Soon, if you are unable to distance yourself, you will find that you are not able to unclench your jaw. If you are able to handle it, its good background knitting noise, and there are many interesting and edifying factoids to be gleaned. I'm thinking, though, that popping in my French CDs- while I am still struggling with le verbe etre, which is another matter entirely- might be less stressful.

In other news, Oso spotted one of these in a tree in the backyard early this morning. Who knew such signs and wonders were among us, or above us, all the time? I spotted its shape, high up in the tippy top skinny branches, sitting huge and greyish white. Someone once said that the earth and the animals are all waiting, beneath the city, and I would say in the air and the trees above the city, waiting for human civilization to be gone. I don't mean to bring anyone down, or be apocalyptic, but I do like to think of the ruins of condos, overgrown by plants, with kestrels, coyotes, rabbits, foxes, birds, bears, rats- giant rats! because you know they will, if the kestrels don't get them all!- inhabiting the crumbling shells. Oh yes.
And deer, strolling through the aisles of Target, and all of Lake Shore Drive washed away by the lake.
Ah yes. Kestrels. We named him, Kessler.

Posted by pippypippy at 08:16 AM | Comments (1)

February 02, 2008

Icicles! Bicycles!

In this type of weather, says Marcel, one can use a nice warm scarf, believe it! Witness the Boston Terrier in a most unnatural habitat, the Frozen Tundra-

It was much prettier when the blizzard just happened, now it has shrunk somewhat, but still makes for visual interest in the garden.

My landlady has this thing about birdhouses, even if they aren't inhabitable by real birds. This particular bird in its snow hat was even funnier before, when her hat was taller.
My bike, oh, my bike.

We will ride again, pony, oh my little pony!!
Meanwhile Marcel and I remain in semi-hibernation mode and I work on a very special scarf which I am calling the Protect Your Landbase (also in honor of wise teacher and current favorite author, Derrick Jensen, whose work is a frequent topic of conversation of late) scarf for Oso- who has been waiting for some time for such a scarf- and certainly will put it to good use whilst contemplating the end of civilization-

Here it is up close, just because I think the colors are so nice-

And plus some socks are in the works, from some leftovers in a nice spring green stripey improvised pattern-

Which may just end up as half of a mismatched pair- as I am running out of green! Stay apprised of developments on the Knit-A-Logue.

Posted by pippypippy at 11:52 AM | Comments (1)