Alongs, Randonymity

Mmmm…. mocha: The coffee edition

43 Comments

I think I’ve mentioned that I’m participating in the Knitters’ Coffee Swap, right? I’m a notorious coffee fiend, but I’m real particular like – I just drink soy mochas straight up. For me, chocolate is essential for the coffee experience.

There’s a contest as part of the Knitters’ Coffee Swap – sharing our favorite coffee shops. Well, it’s kinda funny – I always find coffeeshops that I love when I’m traveling, but don’t have a favorite coffeeshop in the Twin Cities (other than the generic Caribou Coffee). I’m also totally weak for buying souvenirs from coffeeshops when I travel.

Even when those coffeeshops aren’t that terribly far away.

“I ate an entire espresso bean when I was a kitten. What a rush!”

I’m also fond of some coffeeshops a bit further afield: Dry Creek Coffee in Hill City, South Dakota; Starry Night Cafe in Fort Collins, Colorado; Cafe Oasis in Sante Fe, New Mexico…

May? She just likes the cups.

“Mmm, this would be perfect for a little mouse dunking.”
Contests, Reading, Those Cats

Chaos Oblique

44 Comments

Not an Artist is having a contest to name one of her knitting creations. Submit your idea by Saturday, November 18, midnight EST.

My work fun continues, but hopefully things will settle down later this week. My week isn’t starting off too well – my front door lock jammed as I was leaving this morning and I had to leave the key sticking out of the lock. No cats will be fed until the locksmith comes, since I can’t get into my condo!

Reading Update
Shakespeare’s Counselor and Shakespeare’s Christmas by Charlaine Harris. Two more Lily Bard mysteries, completely out of order.
Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller. The latest mystery about San Francisco PI Sharon McCone is a solid, enjoyable read that kept me guessing (wrong) for a long time.

Some of you have been wondering if Chaos is hiding from the blog. Whatever gave you that idea?! He’s fine, BTW – I think he’s just kind of stunned about how much energy May has. 🙂

Knitting, Reading, Those Cats

Woot woot – it stripes!

49 Comments

For the readers among us, check out the From the Stacks Winter Challenge – read five books from your shelves by January 30. If you submit your book list by November 15, you’re entered in a drawing, and if you submit five reviews by January 30, you’ll be in another drawing for an amazon.com gift certificate. Here’s my list:

Lambs of God by Marele Day
The Chemistry of Joy: A Three-Step Program for Overcoming Depression through Western Science and Eastern Wisdom by Henry Emmons, MD, with Rachel Kranz
The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez Reverte
Like the Red Panda by Andrea Seigel
Heft on Wheels: A Field Guide to Doing a 180 by Mike Magnuson

I’m knitting self-striping sock yarn that I dyed myself and feeling very thrilled that… it actually stripes. Who woulda thunk it?? (Check it out – Frarochvia is knitting socks from some sportweight that I dyed at the same time!)

“Forget the yarn – it’s more fun to play with sharp pointy toys!”

“Really, Mom, you’re such a worrier. I’m sure it’ll be fun even after someone pokes an eye out – especially if it isn’t me.”

“Well, ok… Hey, with my tongue out, do I match the yarn?!”
Alongs

Knitters’ Coffee Swap Answers

Here are my answers to the Knitters’ Coffee Swap questions.

1. Whole bean or ground?

Whole bean, so I can grind it just right for my espresso machine

2. Fully-loaded or decaf?

Caffeine me, baby!

3. Regular or flavored?

Regular – flavored coffees may contain gluten, which would be bad

4. How do you drink your coffee?

Ummmmm… It depends. On weekdays, I make a soy mocha at home and take it to work. Sometimes I’ll grab a soy mocha over lunch, if I’m having a sleepy/groggy day. On weekends, I lounge in my comfy chair, sipping my soy mocha, knitting, and reading. Ahh…

5. Favorite coffee ever?

Espresso roast is critical. Good quality chocolate is critical. Because… I only like coffee when it’s in a mocha. *hangs head in shame*

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do?

I’m probably on the low end of fussy – I can’t detect subtle flavor shadings, but I can definitely tell if it isn’t good quality.

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?

I pretty much just drink my soy mochas and consider them a well-rounded treat.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?

Not that I can think of right now.

9. Yarn/fiber you love?

Sock yarns are always a particular favorite. In non-sock yarns, wool-silk blends are excellent.

10. Yarn/fiber you hate?

I’m just not a big fan of acrylic or of froofy yarns.

11. What’s on your needles?

Socks…

12. Favorite colors?

Black, jewel tones (especially purple, blue, and green); I’m definitely not a fan of yellow or orange.

13. Allergies?

Oh yeah. I’m gluten and lactose intolerant. The gluten-intolerance is the biggie – no wheat, rye, oats, barley, spelt, teff, kamut, or anything containing derivatives thereof. I’m also extremely sensitive to fragrances – they tend to be migraine and asthma triggers.

14. Anything you really love, really don’t like, or just need to get off your chest?

I’m a voracious reader and I read while I knit. I have no interest in watching TV and haven’t turned on my TV since, um, April? My two black kitties are very, very dear to me. I’m really particular about travel mugs, so it’s best not to even start down that path. 🙂

Contests, Randonymity, Reading

The Bedjacket Edition

54 Comments

Local knitblogger Christy is having a caption contest to celebrate her blogiversary! Caption the cute cat picture by November 11 and win some yarny goodness.

Gwen’s having a contest to welcome back her knitting mojo and celebrate being almost done with her holiday knitting. Leave a comment before Friday, November 17, about what you’re knitting for holiday gifts and whether you think you’ll finish in time and you could win some lovely Tess’ Super Sock Yarn.

Sue is having a comment contest – leave a comment before November 23 and you could win a copy of the book Toys To Sew or the Fall 2006 Interweave Knits.

Check out the new goodies Scout has for sale! Love the kitty shawl pin! And I’m curious as to how the Namaste Jetsetter knitting handbag compares to the Jordana Paige Knitter’s Satchel – anyone know?

Reading Update
Blood Debt and Blood Bank by Tanya Huff – the last two of the Blood Books. Blood Bank contains some very clever and enjoyable short stories, two of which should be read before Blood Debt.
Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton, book 13 of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter. This one is odd, considering how the series has been going recently. It’s short (under 300 pages), compared to the 752 pages of Incubus Dreams (book 12). And it’s a lot more like the early books of the series, which is a good thing.
Shakespeare’s Trollop by Charlaine Harris – a Lily Bard mystery. I’m not managing to read these in order and I’m ok with it. Another solid mystery about Lily Bard, who lives in Shakespeare, Arkansas, trying to keep to herself but becoming part of the community anyway.

So, can anyone shed some light on what the heck the point of bedjackets was?! And if you were wearing a bedjacket, presumably in bed, would you need to be wearing slippers at the same time? Yes, another thriftstore find. Check out how well this booklet held its value. 😉

I like the lace pattern used for this one, but those slippers…

I actually kinda like this bedjacket, too, although I would call it a cardigan. I wouldn’t put the ruffles on the cuffs, but the construction is intriguing. However, once again, those slippers… *shudder*

This next one….. *blink blink*

And without the fringe, this isn’t a bad shawl. But, um…… are those slippers or small fuzzy dogs?!

Love her “you woke me up for what?! Well, hurry up then” expression….

And the back cover… priceless. I think this is a blurb for some early superwash yarn?? Whatever it is, “no sighs about size” gave me the giggles. Heh.

“I totally could model bedjackets. If I wanted to.”
Contests, Randonymity

Of contests and cleanliness

19 Comments

Wendy has started her Heifer International 2006 Holiday Season Drive. For every $10 that you donate, you will receive an entry into the weekly and grand prize drawings. The grand prize drawing will be January 2, 2007.

Mim’s having a fun motivational/demotivational caption contest. Leave your caption comments by Friday, November 10, midnight MST.

Did you vote yesterday? If you did, you can participate in Kat’s contest. Emails must be sent by Friday, November 10, 6:00 pm EST.

For you competitive sock knitters out there who haven’t had enough after Sock Wars (my head is still spinning from trying to follow that one), check out Sock Madness, which starts in March 2007. I’m sure a competitive sock knitting reality TV show must be in the works by now…

“Why, yes, it does take a long time to clean such a long and lovely tail.”

“Hmph. I’m going to let that one go…”
Those Cats

Mays just wanna play fetch!

31 Comments

I got nothin’ but cats and work, alas. The cats are obviously more fun. Oh yeah – please send help. My throwing arm is breaking off. Thanks! 🙂

“Va-va-va-voom!”
“Dum de dum de dum de dum…”
“…de dum!”
“You don’t wanna know where its tail went.”
“Trust me on the tail thing.”
Contests, Knitting, Reading

*gasp* An FO!

36 Comments

Carol and Margene are asking us to use the two weeks from November 18 – December 2 to Knit Unto Others. This is the second year they’ve coordinated this effort, and this year there will be prizes for those who participate!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Mine was extremely relaxing, which I really needed after some long days at work last week – and with more long days ahead in the next week or two. Spending so many hours working in front of the computer is cutting way down on my blog reading time and inclination – when I get home, I can’t bear to be in front of the computer anymore. But I’m also frustrated about being behind in what everyone’s up to. *sigh* And then I have this significant birthday coming up in less than two weeks, which has me a bit contemplative about life, the universe, and everything. So, I’ve been distracting myself with reading and knitting (I know, how is that different from any other time?!).

Reading Update
Incubus Dreams by Laurell K. Hamilton. Another Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novel (book 12, apparently) – um, yeah, I couldn’t help continue rereading this series… Moving right along!
Blood Trail, Blood Lines, and Blood Pact by Tanya Huff. More books from the Vicki Nelson series about Toronto vampire Henry Fitzroy. These are good reads. I’m curious how accurately they depict Toronto (well, beyond the obvious supernatural stuff…) – they seem very descriptive of the city!

Ok, totally not in time for Socktoberfest, but I finally finished the Flatiron socks, knitted from yarn I dyed.

A little color correction actually got them slightly closer to reality – the pink and purple defeats my camera. Strangely, no cats were lured by knitting photography…

However, lurid yarn on the floor (more hand dyed, now wound up for a new pair of socks) drew them right out.

“Stay back, big kitty! Your aged eyes might not be able to deal with this brightness!”

Contests, Reading

Pin-up calendars

29 Comments

Nicole’s started a new group called Fitter Knitters and is having a contest. Leave a comment with a link to a healthy online recipe by Tuesday, November 7, 5 pm Eastern, and you might win two skeins of Noro Kureyon, color 163!

Reading Update
I know, all the vampire books lately – started out reading one series (the Sookie Stackhouse books), then wondered when the heck the Anita Blake books had gone astray, then people kept recommending stuff… ‘Tis the season, right?!
Undead and Unwed, Undead and Unemployed, Undead and Unappreciated, and Undead and Unreturnable by MaryJanice Davidson. A vampire series that takes place in the Twin Cities! Betsy (Elizabeth) Taylor didn’t want to be the queen of the vampires – she just wanted to own really expensive shoes. We can’t always get what we want… Another fun vampire series – once again, Peeve knows her vampires!

As I mentioned yesterday, Deb of Chappysmom is having a maybe contest – show her pictures of what your November calendar page(s) look(s) like. Here are mine – the first is a knitting calendar that hangs in my kitchen.

The second is the calendar I have at work.

And the third calendar (also in my kitchen) isn’t going to surprise anyone…

Remember this picture? Here’s a new picture of May for size comparison – even I can tell she’s getting bigger!

*glug glug glug*

“See, Mom?! I told you I was getting bigger! Look out, big kitty, I’m going to be big enough to squish you soon!”
Contests, Randonymity, Those Cats

Yup, I “buggered my blog”

34 Comments

Sorry to worry anyone who tried to access my blog over the last 18 hours. I managed to clobber it after upgrading WordPress yesterday afternoon. Whoops! Many thanks to Pao, who provided both the title of today’s post and the key information I needed to resolve the problem. Also thanks to Jeanne for reassurance and to MrsPao, for getting Pao on the case.

Of course, now that it’s fixed, I’m utterly unprepared to post today. Um…….

Deb of Chappysmom might have a contest – take a picture of your November calendar page, post it to your blog, and let her know. If enough people play, it’ll be a contest. If not, it’ll stay a meme. Deadline is November 15.

V’s daughter, Little A, dressed up as Mayhem for Halloween! So very, very cute – and I love her jack o’ lanterns, too.

Ok, back to cat pictures….

“Ha! Now I have you where I want you, big kitty! You won’t escape my paws now.”

“Look, May! A mouse!”

“Hee hee, she sure is easy to distract – and I don’t like that color anyway.”

Art journaling, reading, knitting, and cat parenting. It's a wild life.