Thursday, January 21, 2010

A Good Day....


Wednesday, I was so unproductive it was ridiculous. As part of our resolution to be more productive, Yas dragged escorted me to Westfield where I bought a planner for the year. Every evening since then, I sit in bed and review what I got done for the day, and write out my to-do list for the next. Wednesday I didn't even look at my planner, I hadn't even written a to-do list. Definitely fell off the productivity wagon. Yesterday, however, I was better. Even if I didn't get anything productive done, I got out of the flat. Ooh, I lied, I went grocery shopping, which is TOTALLY productive. I spent yesterday in Camden, first with Yas and then a few hours by myself. It was, shockingly, actually sunny outside for a few hours. So we made the most of it.

First, Yas introduced me to YumCha an absolutely splendid little cafe hidden in the Markets...I think I may have found my new home away from home. I plan to go back once a week and work my way through all their different teas. This week I had A Walk In The Woods, which I could happily drink every day until I die - I wish I had thought to write down the description, but it was a black tea (Kasaan?) with several different kinds of berries. Unusually, you could actually taste the berries in the drink. Ooof...I'm drooling again just thinking about it. Definitely a 5-star tea.

After that we did a bit of shopping...this is why I try and avoid Camden, I end up buying things. I am weak. But I am also now a weakling with t-shirts.

I spent my copious amounts of bus time reading The Giver, a book that I seem to be the only person in my age group who hasn't read it. There are a bunch of them, and one of my current 'self improvement kicks' (it's a fad, I won't lie, but I'll make the best of it while it sticks with me) is to try and read all the books that I SHOULD have read, but for some reason haven't. Others on the list include Animal Farm and Wuthering Heights. I don't know why I didn't read these in high school, but I'm trying to make up for it now. My over all thoughts on the Giver are pretty neutral, it's an interesting story and I wish it were longer. But, I don't think Lowry meant it for 24 year olds, so she went with a little less depth. I can see how there would be ENDLESS debates in English class over the ending - did Jonas and Gabriel finally reach safety? Or freeze to death, hallucinating in the snow. I'm going to go with the first one, it's happier that way.

On the knitting front, I continue to make slow, meandering progress on a hat I started (It's BLUE!) and my Noro striped scarf that I started last March. The Jury is still out on my Ravelympics project.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Signs of Life

Happy New Year kids, I'm still here. After a tumultuous end of the year, including graduating and an absolute nightmare of a journey across the United States (remember all that Snow-nonsense just before Christmas? Guess who was in the airport then) I am now back in London and attempting to "Get my Life in order". I put this in quotes, because frankly I have no idea what that will entail. In the meantime however, I present you with more of my Christmas goodies! After all the nonsense of stress, insanity and 'I can totally knit a project a a week" I did, in fact, manage to complete all of the various knittery I had planned for the holiday. Albeit in a slightly rushed manner. I even managed to finish an extra project. So, without further ado -

Mom's Cowl:
Pattern: Green Sea Cowl
Yarn: Mirasol Sulka shade 222 (4 skeins)
Needles: US 8
Probably my favorite FO of the Christmas season.


Yaz's Evangeline Gloves:
(Photo Forthcoming)










Dad's Hat: (#2, didn't like the first one)/ Harry's Fingerless Gloves
Pattern: none
Yarn: Sirdar Big Softie, 2 skeins/1 skein
Needles: US 13
Also, a gratuitous cleavage shot...sorry.















Rufus' Biking Gloves:
Pattern: None
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Donegal Chunky Tweed, 1 skein
Needles: US 10
Previously Posted:
Irfan's Hat












Kiera's Mittens












Erika's Socks














And for my last item, my very dear friend Kaitlyn, whom I have known since we were 11 is expecting! Therefore, BABY clothes are a requirement. Unfortunately, the silly girl was so inconsiderate as to time it that I had very little heads up as to her happy state prior to visiting, so I didn't have much to work with....but, this is why BABY clothes are awesome, ...they go really fast. They're also really easy to make gender neutral.

The Anticipatory Handsome Hoodie (for the as yet unnamed BABY)
Pattern: Handsome Hoodie
Yarn: Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande (2 skeins)
Needles: US 9