~:L O V E * L E T S * G O:~

I came across this beautiful quote yesterday in our Emotive Alphabet calligraphy class at PC yesterday. Christy brought in a bunch of great quotes all about traveling and being free, letting go, etc. I wrote this one down for myself. It reminds me to let go of those who need more than what I have to offer. Especially those who have died - who have moved on, whether that choice was theirs or not.

Tommy was one of those folks who needed to go. Was unhappy for too much of his life. In respecting his choice, in the end, I chose honor him by letting him go. It is very freeing. Sure, I still get mad and angry and relive the process of letting go all over again. But coming back to this point of surrender is beautiful, welcoming and real.

When someone makes a choice that puzzles me, whose left a trail of destruction for all to remember and I'm thinking, "What an asshole - what's their fucking problem!????" - I will try think of this quote and to remember that it's not up to me to save ANYONE, except for myself.

Thanks for the epiphany. {{sigh}}

~: O H * M Y:~ And I thought I was creative! Thank you to Wogah for this fun link. Check out the terrificly brilliant wit in Patricia Waller’s Alluring Crochet Works. Can't decide if my favorite is the bunny stabbed with carrot or the pink fetish ware. Hmmmm. What are yours?

~:D O G * C H A T:~ Ruthie and Bjorn took over our fancy iSight cameras and had a little chat yesterday. One would bark, the other would look around the room, behind one of us, then back at the camera. Very confusing. Mom and I are laughing all the while. This is what I do, instead of doing something productive.

~E A S T E R * N A P:~

Holidays are hard work, as you can see here. It's hard for both of these creatures to stay so cute. Who can say no to a man in pink? Lying down in a bay window with a papillon? I can't. We took many pictures during our time up in Clayton, during which I first told you and my grandmother Nonie that we were pregnant. I spent that Sunday reading through your gazillion lovely comments and answering e-mails from friends and family. Lots of fun. I can't thank you enough for your support and love. Really means a lot.

We also graduated Bjorn to almost free status of life without a leash (for the most part). Dad's dog Alice Faye was wonderfully calm and very gentle with BjornMouse, as were other dogs who visited us that day. If you'd like to see more Easter in Clayton photos, there are more here.

~:C H A T T 'N * W H O R E:~

My dorky (and generous) little brother Peter got me an iSight thingie for my birthday! Woo hoo! Mom got one, too. And we've been chattn away. Now that there's an Elser baby on the way - it makes sense for our family to have cameras, so we can enjoy each other virtually and for virtually nuth'n.

Today, Audrey graciously allowed me to interrupt her important school work and accepted my iChat invitation. So for those of you who have one - look me up!

The latest and greatest photo of my niece Mia. There are more Easter photos here, if you wanna see 'em!

~: I N T R O D U C I N G * B I M P :~

I have some very happy Easter news for all of you. This little sweater I just finished belongs to the new Elser baby who will arrive to meet you all in mid-October! We are calling him/her "Bimp" for now and are sooooo excited. I have been dying to tell you and at last have said goodbye to the 1st trimester (and I hope nausea as well!). We are at 13 weeks - heard the heartbeat yesterday and saw Bimp wiggle and dance at week 9. UH-MAY-ZING. Quite a little miracle this pregnancy is. We are counting our blessings and I am feeling kinda like Wonder Woman. It's an amazing experience.

So now you guys know I have not just let myself go and gotten FAT! For the first time in my life, I have boobs - thank God in heaven I have boobs! Sorry - don't have a picture for that one. And Bjorn will have a little sister or brother! And God has been good to us! And Spring is here! Remember those little seeds I tried to plant in the little indoor greenhouse kit? They DIED. Who cares - I've got something better growing in my belly.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for the next few months. Happy. Excited. Nervous. Grateful. And my husband Doug? He's been a dream. I can't wait to see him as a father. Oh happy, happy day. Happy Easter everyone!

~Anne

One of Mom's new landscapes. Sorry about the glare. But isn't it beautiful? Luscious.

~:L A T E * T H I R T I E S * F E E L * F A B:~

We took many more birthday pictures of dinner last night, if you care to see them. My actual birthday isn't until Monday, during which I will be ushering in a new group of first quarter PC students - so we decided to celebrate last night. Mom, Dad and Doug pitched in together and bought me this lovely Elsa Perretti necklace from Tiffany's. She's the same designer of my wedding ring. This necklace is en route to atlanta - so I should receive it Monday. Thank you so much Mom, Dad and Doug! I can't wait to wear it.

~:I S * I T * M E ?: ~ Ahh, the hosts of Atlanta's Classic Radio. Is it me? Or does the radio voice of FM 90.1 WABE'S Wanda Yang Temko sound like she's ripping the upholstery off the seat of her chair with her asshole? Listening to her makes me extremely nervous and uptight. I have to admit that she was much more uptight when she first came to the station in 2002. Sadly, now the affected voice of Lois Reitzes (who sounds like she's speaking with cotton balls in her cheeks and is guided by a broken metronome) isn't the only voice that makes me cringe. God help me.

I'd have to say that after all this needling complaining, my favorite radio personality on WABE is H. Johnson - Saturday night's host of Jazz Classics. What a character and what energy and what fun to listen to him on a Saturday night with friends. Even though you are guaranteed to be interrupted by his energetic comments for the first 2 minutes of each piece, you're sure to be entertained by a truly genuine and upbeat voice. The classics don't have to be boring, people.

7 THINGS TO DO BEFORE I DIE:

1. Have a baby
2. Finish my wedding album
3. Spend a week in Provence
4. Talk to Tommy again
5. Have multiple orgasms
6. Convert the back porch into a ceramics and painting studio
7. Get a female Papillon for Bjorn and name her Inga

7 THINGS I CANNOT DO

1. Wait to have a baby
2. Imagine life before marriage
3. Run
4. Put the left sock on before the right without falling
5. Have multiple orgasms
6. Sight read sheet music
7. Feel at peace without the house being clean

7 THINGS I SAY MOST OFTEN

1. Bjorn! Come!
2. Bjorn! Go to bed!
3. Jesus Fucking Christ!!
4. Honey - can you do me a favor?
5. What's for dessert?
6. People are so fucking stupid
7. No, thanks.

7 BOOKS I LOVE

1. Chicken, Shadow, Moon and More - Mark Strand
2. Socks Socks Socks - (Knitting patterns)
3. Cloud Nine (A Dreamer's Dictionary)
4. The Prince of Tides - Pat Conroy
5. Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett
6. Please Understand Me - Meyers Briggs
7. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

7 MOVIES I CAN WATCH OVER AND OVER

1. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
2. Raising Arizona
3. The Pink Panther
4. Young Frankenstein
5. The Sound of Music
6. West Side Story
7. The Jerk

~:S U N S H I N E * I N:~

Doug and I have one common "sport" we love to do together (other than going to see movies or watching the Sopranos). We love taking care of the house - working on the yard, gardening, painting, laying brick, etc. And we love taking a whole day to do it together. We find a little shady spot for Bjorn and set him down in between us while we work. Owning a house and taking care of it is one of life's great pleasures. It's the only thing you can spend money on without feeling guilty. Curb appeal just makes life rosier. For everyone.

SO! One of the things Doug started doing last year wass removing the screens from our windows. The difference is night and day, I tell you. Screens make your windows look sad and neglected. Gray, muddy, like a smoker's car windows, TV screen or computer keyboard. Tinted with tar. Totally gross. Being a smoker for 15 years (I quit 3.5 years ago) I should know. Back to the window screens - we got half way around the house last year - and then got distracted. All the screens from the front of the house had gone to the Dekalb County dump while the back of the house remained smothered in screens for another season.

Just last weekend, Doug took the remaining screens off the back of the house. This means the kitchen and music room. Oh my goodness what a difference. We spend most of our time together in the cozy bay window nook in our kitchen. The photo you see here shows the difference. Crisp, clear true-to-life color beaming in with no inhibitions. Green that's proud of itself. I swear - there is no place - I mean NO place I'd rather be than in my kitchen bay window.

So I took lots more pictures, if you'd like to see them. I know many are of Bjorn, but man - can't you just feel that sun? Sheer heaven.

I found the following mean spirited comment on Mary's blog and just HAD to add my two cents:

Audrey said...
did you know at 5am mary resembles the stray cat that hangs out across from PC? meow! just wanted to add some love to your neverending comment list....

Mary said...
HEY NOW, Audrey...that was studio week...Hank's class and NO sleep all rolled up into one. If you post that picture I will kill you...

So our dear friend Tania generously sent me the above pic she took of Mary during studio week---or what she likes to call Week of the Living Dead.

Mary must be some kind of Exotic Longhair???

Mom's website is up! Check out her work and bio. Very proud of her.

~:W T F:~So I was chatting with Mary this afternoon and we were lamenting the fact that our blogs don't get nearly as many commentors as our friend Tania's blog does. WHY FUCKING NOT!?!? Are we that boring? Want me to start making shit up? Sheese!~

------------------------------------

Mary: does Tania pay people to leave messages on her blog?

Anne: i am SO envious of how many commentors she has

Mary: I feel so unpopular after I see how many people leave messages on her blog.

Anne: I mean COME ON.

Mary: HELLO! We have pretty cool blogs, too!

Anne: That's why I put a counter on my site.

Mary: me too!

Anne: So I know people are there - even when they don't say so.

Mary: exactly...but it is ridiculous how many people leave her messages...maybe that is a writer thing.

Anne: INSANE

Mary: maybe I should ask people to leave me thumbnails.

Anne: or she's just more fucking popular than we - beeotch

Mary: or, I'd like to believe she's paying them. There has to be some kind of incentive.

Anne: she probably IS paying them

Mary: and she scolded me for not posting to her blog after just 1 week.

Mary: 1 week!

Anne: oh Tania

Anne: she has really lost it

Mary: I think I'll blog about her on my blog and see what happens.

Anne: yeah - me, too.

Anne: i hate her - don't you?

Mary: she is such a bitch.

Anne: we should post this conversation...

Anne: see how she likes it.

Mary: lol

Mary: on her blog.

Anne: i think i will!

Anne: LOL

Mary: that'll teach her a lesson

Anne: yeah

Anne: those writers

Anne: "writers"

Mary: fucking writers.

Anne: lol

Mary: god, and writing is soooo easy.

Mary: everyone can do that.

Anne: as if they do any REAL work

Anne: sheese

Mary: yeah....they just sit around, smoke pot and write silly poetry.

Anne: BAD whiney poetry!

Anne: Oh dark garden of my heart, like tears in the rain, I long for you...

Mary: lol

Anne: ...and under partly cloudy skies, i will sit here alone, by myself and cry of the aching world.

Mary: I would like to see Tania paint.

Anne: YEAH

Mary: actually, that would be rather interesting.

Anne: let's tie her up and see what happens - or put her in Hank's class

Mary: nah, she'd probably fuck it up.

Anne: yeah. prolly

Mary: Yeh, I'd like to see the bitch write with her hands tied.

Anne: upside down

Mary: you should definately post this to her blog.

Anne: i'll do it!

~:F A L L I N G:~

No one likes falling. This time of year, at Easter, I often wonder why we go through the morbid motions of The Stations Of The Cross. It's been a Catholic thing since forever, and while we Episcopalians are not as morbid as our Catholic bretheren, we still get down and dirty with the bad news of Christ's death every Easter.

Since a few years back I've been involved with creating a Station of The Cross with other members of the congregation at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church. Every year I find the thought of interpreting yet another station overwhelming, yet the actual exercise is always cathartic. So I guess that answers my question. Why bother thinking about the bad stuff when it's going to hurt? Because iIt teaches you something different every time. It feels as good as seeing a sad movie. An opera. Shakespeare! These are good stories because they all have moral centers. The crucifiction is no different. It helps me identfy the purpose of my own pain. That it actually DOES something for me.

This is the second year I chose Jesus Falls for the Third Time. No one likes this station - what's the big deal about falling? How exciting is that? Well, plenty exciting. Falling is something we must get used to doing over and over and over again. When you fall, you learn. When you learn you grow. When you fall - you get right back up and try again. This relentless struggle of life is the story I wanted to tell in this station.

I remember the first time I fell and chose not to cry. I was in Kindergarten and SO proud of myself. Skinned my knee, even. Dad came to pick me up that afternoon from school and I ran into his arms, band-aid on my knee with my proud news. "I fell and skinned my knee and DECIDED not to cry!!" So that was a learning experience for me. So powerful, I never forgot it. Thirty something years later, that falling got interpreted into the image you see here.

Jesus eventually fell the third time - and straight to his death. And then to his rebirth. As we also fall again and again and are reborn each time we continue in spite of the fall. So I'm not alone when I fall - as painful and embarassing at it is. I hate falling. But fall I shall. And grow I shall. And learn I shall. And love I shall. Again and again and again.

~:O N E * S T R I P E * T U R T L E N E C K * S H R U G:~

Well it's a good thing cooler weather is still around here in Atlanta, because I just finished my Turtleneck Shrug! I was worried I'd have to wait until next year to wear it. Woo hoo! I used Andean Silk from KnitPicks.com and knit with a size 4 needle. The sleeves are about 2.5 inches shorter than the pattern calls for. Still - they're pretty long on me. On one sleeve, I knit a lighter green stripe with some leftover yarn from my stash.

This is a very comfortable shrug, but I am considering shrinking it a bit. I've knit 2 others from another pattern that fit really snuggly and stayed in place. This one, after a few minutes of moving around (I'm right handed), shifts off my right shoulder. I think if it were tighter, it wouldn't move around as much. Any opinions? Advice?

~Anne

~:Mr. BjornHead Feet:~
Tired of seeing pictures of Bjorn? Too bad. Take a look at his back feet - like he's a Mr. Potato head and they were stuck on as an afterthought. Silly boy.

~:S L E E P I N G * I N:~

This morning, Doug learned the hard way what happens when you sleep in too late in our house. The bed gets made regardless of whose still in it. He he.

~:A R C H E S & A N K L E S:~

Since you now know Mom's a painter, I thought I'd showcase some of her work here. This is one she did of me up in Highlands, NC. It's called Summer Percale. I'll mention that she does not have Photoshop skills, but better - the brush and a mind for interpreting. Lookie lookie - she gave me skinny ankles and beautiful arches! Neither of which I have. Thanks Mom!

~:R E T O U C H * M E:~

This is what I did this afternoon. Mom is joining another group of artists in a group website. Today she submitted her digital portfolio (paintings) and a black and white portrait, which she asked me to touch up. I had a blast! There are very subtle differences here - like making her eyes larger, bringing out more highlights in the hair, bringing in the arm, lifting the ear, shrinking the wrist - and some textural smoothing. Any requests? And in case you were wondering, don't think I DIDN'T retouch my own blogger profile portrait. (he he)

~:S P R O U T I N G * S E E D S:~
My seeds are sprouting! In just 3 days! I put the tray atop Bjorn's crate upstairs in our bedroom. It's warmer upstairs, which is supposed to be ideal for sewing seeds. This is very exciting. Ten dollars for 72 plants. WOW. Makes me feel like I cold grow anything. I could grow stuff for the whole neighborhood! I could be wealthy! The fertility gods are smiling down on me! WOO HOO! Success! Sucess!

~:S E W I N G * S E E D S:~

For some reason, I woke up sad today. Doug even made me a lemon cake and I still felt sad. One of those days where just the thought of one of the things you love to do gives you no amount of pleasure.

I decided to try something new. How about getting up, taking a shower and moving in spite of my sour self? Bjorn agreed. Because Spring peeked its cheery head outside, I decided to begin considering what kinds of spring plants and flowers I wanted this year around our house. This year I want to do it inexpensively. I am notorious for draining my savings on annuals each year. NOT this time!

Last year I planted the greatest, most cooperative little flower called Globe Amaranth. I had the lavender color and they looked spectacular next to zingy green. They also make great cut flowers and are drought tolerant. I had them at my mailbox, in a front yard flower bed and at the side of our house. They lasted FORever and never got tired. When fall came, they turned paper white and still looked lovely. This year I want to do the same - only more colors.

So I went to Home Depot and got one of those little greenhouse kits that will create 72 individual plants within a matter of weeks. Dirt and all - I just added seeds and water and covered the tray. Now I sit and wait (and pray). I spent no more than $10.00 on the kit and 2 packages of seeds. I am so excited!

So how am I feeling now? I still FEEL like crap, but am happier.

Well. I've no fun stories to tell other than these latest picts of what's new and cute at our hizouse.

Olaf looking regal with the tip of his tail curled perfectly for my camera.

Gunther sleeping with all fours together, tail included.

Blooming camelias I cut from our back yard. They are the most generous looking flower. And I love it that they brave cooler weather.

Who knew kittens were insanely talented, slept in so late and that there was such a terrible thing as catnip dealing???!?!?! Check this fabulous video out.

~:F A T * N * H A P P Y:~

Check out the latest in the life of Suzanna DiCarlo. She's a happy chicadee these days and so are those around her. So fun to watch!

~:H A P P Y * B E L A T E D * V A L E N T I N E 'S * D A Y:~

~:F O U R * T I N G S:~

I got this cool thingie of fours from another blogger's stash:

Four jobs I’ve had:
• Designer/design teacher
• Pre-school art teacher
• Live figure drawing model (sorry mom)
• Victoria's Secret Panty Table Greeter

Four movies I can watch over and over:
• The Sound Of Music
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Young Frankenstein
• The Pianist

Four places I’ve lived:
• Albuquerque, NM
• Cleveland, OH
• Atlanta, GA
• Aurora, IL

Four TV shows I love:
• LOST
• Deadwood
• Six Feet Under
• The Sopranos

Four places I’ve vacationed:
• Cozumel
• Stowe, VT
• Highlands, NC
• New Orleans, LA

Four of my favorite dishes:
• Chicken Divan
• Steak & Artichokes
• Mom's Split Pea Soup with anything
• Doug's Fart Your Brains Out Chili

Four sites I visit daily:
• Post Secret
• Scarf Style/Knit Style Knit-Along
• Grumperina
• Cute Overload

Four places I would rather be right now:
• Red Chair in my Kitchen
• Living Room couch w/ my husband
• In my Landrover
• Anywhere with Bjorn in my lap

Allllrightee den, now it's your turn...

~:P O M * P O M * S C A R F L E T:~

I got this pattern from my good friend and fellow knitter Marlis.
We meet each Friday morning for coffee at the Java Monkey in Decatur.
Molly (Suzanna's new Mommie) is there, too and the three of us chat away, exchange ideas, laugh, tell stories and support each other in only a small and intimate group can. It's magic.

Anyhow, Marlis sat with me 2 weeks ago and gave me the directions while I sketched out dimensions, etc. of this fabulously simple scarf. It took me two nights to finish and the gratification was oh-so-instant. A great quick gift! Thanks Marlis!

Scarf dimensions:
4 inches wide
16 inches long

Pom Pom dimensions:
Large Pom Pom: 3 1/2 inches wide
Small Pom Pom: 2- 2 1/2 inches wide

Yarn: Soft-Kid
(70% super kid mohair, 25% nylon, 5% new wool)
Two strands held together.
Green: #76
Blue: #58

Needles: #7 circular

Scarf Directions:
CO 22 stitches.
Knit in 2 x 2 rib for 16 inches.
Pull yarn through all stitches in last row, rather than casting off.
This tapers the end to a point.
Attach the large Pom Pom to this end.

At the cast on edge, form a loop by sewing both ends together. (You will push the large Pom Pom through this hole to fasten the scarf closed.)

Attach the smaller Pom Pom (for decoration only) to the tip of
this loop where you have sewn the ends together.

Finis!
Wrap around your pretty neck and pat yourself on the back. Now go make one for your grandmother, one for your sister in law, one for your best friend and one for your mother.

Thank you god, thank you thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyougod.

~:Nutty Yogurt Bread Recipe:~

350° oven
Bake for 1 hour
Yields 1 loaf

Ingredients:

1 T sunflower oil, play extra to grease pan
2 1/4 C unbleached flour
1/4 C plus 2 T whole-wheat flour
1 t salt
1 t cream of tartar
1 t baking soda
1/4 C mixed nuts, chopped
3/4 C sunflower seeds
1 t honey
3/4 C, plus 2 T plain yogurt
1/14 C milk
2 T sunflower seeds, to sprinkle

1. Grease a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan with oil. Sift the flours, salt, cream of tartar, baking soda, and baking powder together in a large bowl. Stir in the nuts and sunflower seeds.

2. Mix the honey, yogurt, milk and oil. Stir into the dry ingredients and mix to form a soft dough.

3. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth to level the top. Sprinkle with sunflower seeds. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, until golden and risen. The bread is ready when its edges shrink from the sides of the pan.

~:B A K E * B R E A D * I N S T E A D:~

This was a trying weekend. Just as I finished up my Spiral Lace Capelet that I've been proudly slaving over for the past coupla months, I try it on and BANG, it's to fucking BIG. ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG. It's too big to fix, since it's knit in a tube and if I were to correct it and make it smaller, I'd have to start from the beginning and cast on far fewer stiches. Fuck that. I am going to "rip that shit out", as they say, and use the yarn for something else! A different pattern from the Interweave Press SCARF STYLE book. Another knitter made one in pink, a Turtleneck Shrug by Teva Durham. This woman did a terrific job of inspiring me.

I also decided to start on another knitting project (smaller this time) from my friend Marlis. It's a little scarflet that wraps around your neck once, is very short and is fastened by one of the two pom-poms on either end. I'm really excited about this one. Am double stranding two yarns of kid mohair. It's oh so fuzzy and soft. Kinda like the fingerless mitts but not as fragile. I am knitting this in a 2x2 rib with size 8 needles. So far, size is not an issue, thankgodinheaven.

What else did I do this weekend to soothe my heartache? I baked bread. Three loaves. Ahhhh. There is nothing like the smell of home baked bread in your kitchen. I can still smell it the next morning. First loaf I tried was a quick bread called Nutty Yogurt Bread. It's very heavy, full of mixed nuts, toasts realy well - although I must admit the slices were too heavy to pop up on their own without a little help from my hungry hands. This loaf was real easy. No rising invloved. Just mix the wet and dry ingerdients and pour into a baking pan. Makes you look like a genius. We ate this nutty bread for breakfast yesterday. For those of you who like "egg-on-toast", I highly recommend this texured bread.

Second loaf I tried was Mantovana Olive Oil Bread. Yuhhmeeeeeeeee! Crisp on the outside and soft and fine on the inside. This loaf requires two rises, but it's worth the effort. We'll make sandwiches tonight with this and I'll have something showy to bring to lunch at school this week. Woo hoo!

~:O H * S U Z A N N A:~

My dear friends Molly and Josh had their first baby last month. Suzanna! A real sweetheart. Doug and I got to meet her this morning. Everyone's doing really well, including Scout, their Boston Terrier. It's real fun watching close friends expand their families. Very inspiring! We hope to be there, too someday.

~:K I T T Y * L O V E:~

I have shamefully neglected to tell you about my two beautiful cats, as Bjorn and his big personality jockey for position in this house. Time for me to share a bit about Gunther and Olaf, who are incredibly patient with Bjorn and all his silly silliness.

I have had Gunther since 1992. Got him from the Albuquerque pound when he was just 2 years old. In 1994, he drove back to Atlanta with me in my 78 volvo - crying the entire first day and sleeping for the next. Gunther stuck with me through my student years at PC and then moved with me to Midtown once I started my career. The first week in the city really freaked him out - so onto valium he went and we could both sleep again.

Shortly after Tommy died, I decided to treat myself to a tattoo and a new kitten. In comes Olaf, who was so little, kitten food was too much for him - so he got turkey his 1st 2 weeks with us. Gradually, Gunther accepted Olaf into the family. Today they are inseparable.

Let me tell you how heavenly it was to be a single girl and the owner of 2 lovely cats. I used to wake up in the morning with 2 creatures on my chest, staring down at me and purring madly. I'd wake up laughing every time.

When I come home, it's like being Snow White. All the creatures in our house converge and we make family together. It's a nice life. I can't imagine not having a pet. All my life we've had at least one dog. I got my first cat when I was 6. Named her Rosemary. And I've had a cat ever since then.

The best thing about having Gunther is that he's big and heavy and really laid back. He's a lap hog - the very second your but hits the surface of a chair our the couch, he's there waiting to jump up. I can hold Gunther in my arms and he won't ever ask to be put down. He'll start purring by just looking at you. He's so relaxed that the picture you see here is of him sitting on my scanner. All I did was press the scan button and ta-da, he sat still enough for the machine to do its thing. He he.

The best thing about Olaf is his slight build and quirky nature. Olaf is a tiny creature with a very long tail. He's beautiful. He's also a hands-off cat. Does not like to be picked up, but once you're quiet and peaceful enough, he'll com sit in your lap on the couch. The only time he really loves to be vigorously petted is when he's eating. He's an odd creature, but entertaining nonetheless. And sweet in his quiet own way.

So there you have it! Any questions?

~: H A N D K I S S E S * C O M P L E T E D :~

Ta da! Finis. Finally finished the fingerless mitts in this lovely angora and I am very happy. Took more photos if you're interested. They are very snuggly to wear but don't quite hug my hands like I need them to. Angora just isn't springy and elastic when knit up, or at least this pattern isn't. But I love the colors - pinks, greens, brown and yellow.

~:What Your Underwear Says About You:~

You like to think of yourself as innocent, even though you're not!

You're comfortable in your own skin - and don't care to impress anyone.

The Underwear Oracle
http://www.blogthings.com/theunderwearoracle/

~:C L O S E R * T O * A * H U G:~

Hello everyone. Making progress here with the Spiral Lace Capelet. When I first posted my beginning adventure with this pattern, I was not quite convinced I'd be able to complete the project. I prefer working on little projects because they are kinder to my hands and the gratification is faster. This time I tried working on a couple of projects simultaneously, so my interest never wanes and my hands get to hold a variety of needles. I am doing fine!

Knitting with Andean Silk from KnitPicks.com has been a real pleasure - it's hefty yet glides through my fingers. The pattern is quite easy - looks like a cable, but is actually a series of yarn-overs and decreases. So it puckers and ripples in all the right places. I have knit up about 8.5 inches. At 11, I'll begin decreases for a couple of inches around the shoulders.

I am a person who is forever cold, so I'm really excited about wearing this wrap. It looks like it'll feel like giant hug. When I am finished, I'll post the final.

~:H A N D K I S S E S:~

This goes out to all you knitters out there. I bought some lovely angora yarn that is oh-so-fragile, enough to snap apart if I pull too hard. But when knit up, it's soft and cozy and feels like a kiss. Lotsa kisses. I'll knit a snug pair of fingerless mitts just for me and no one else, thankyouverymuch.