wowza

DH and I went to hear Denyce Graves in recital last night at Moravian College. It was an incredible performance. The woman commands such stage presence and conveys the message of the song or aria so believably through her acting. I was completely enthralled. Her accompanist Brian Zeger was amazing as well. The collaboration between the two was so evident. It was the highlight of my musical year so far. Thanks honey for insisting that we go and finding the way to make it happen. You're a dream!
The program you ask?
Schubert Heimliches Lieben, Der Tod und das Mädchen, Gretchen am Spinnrade
Brahms Nicht mehr zu dir zu gehen Meine Liebe is grun, Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer, Die Mainacht
Celia Acerba Volutta from Adrana Lecouvreur
Mascagni Voi le sapete from Cavalleria Rusticana
Robert Saari When the Forsythia Bloom (a cycle from a new composer)
DeFalla Siete canciones populares españolas
A set of spirituals: Scandalize my Name, Prayer, Swing Low and Git on Board
3, yes 3 encores... including Habañera from Carmen by Bizet and two very humorous encores I need a dog and I'm hungry both of which had one foot in the classical realm and the other foot in the musical theatre genre.
The audience was totally engaged. I wasn't alone in my admiration for these artists.


On the knitting front, I present to you:

Pattern: Chinese Waves by Margaret Radcliffe
Size: CO 49 stitches
Yarn: Lily's Sugar 'n Cream
Color: Key Lime Pie
Needles: US6

I am not a real fan of green. I made this for a colleague that I work with. But I have to say that this cloth shouts spring to me and I need that about now. Fortunately I have another skein of this in my stash, cuz I think I'd like one for me too! It's a great pattern for using varigated yarn and this will rank right up there with the infamous DW cloth that I also LOVE to make! I found this pattern through the weekly dishcloth group on ravelry, the place where I spend most of my web time.

I got some yarn from ebay yesterday in the mail. The woman who sold it posted that it smelled of mothballs but there was 500g for $9.99 in a mixed lot of wool so I bit. Before we left for the concert I took the odiforous skeins outside and hung them to air out. I brought them in after returning from work today. Granted it was a very windy, sunny, sometimes snowflurry 24 hours but there is absolutely no remnant of odor on the skeins. DD claimed the lot of this (2OOg of worsted weight) for mittens and a hat There are another 200g in a similar colorway and then 100g of some fun thick and thin mostly browns but with teal yarn.

The cruddy part of the day was the walk through of the construction site where I'll be teaching K and 1st grade music next year. Once again, it's evidenced that our school is the stepchild of the school district. Makes no sense, cuz our kids do as well as if not better than those that come from the Taj Mahal in the country... go figure. One of these days I'll stop sucking on the fuzzy end of the lollipop... they won't care though. I'll just be replace with an incompetant boob and they will be blissfully unaware of the difference. What a shame!

oh what fun it is to ride!

Friday afternoon when the snow stopped falling, we went sledding.. well at least the kids went down the hill (OK I did once, too) They had such a blast. DS2 would scream woo-hoo as he was sliding down. It was great that they finally got a snow that was worth playing in.


Sunday afternoon was perfect weather for building a snowman. The sun was shining brightly but the snow still lay on the ground. This boy's decorations were provided from a snowman kit that my SIL gave us years ago. It's helped a lot of snow become people. This kept the kids outside for an hour or so.

DD lost a tooth Sunday night. The kicker is that the fairy left no money.. I told her it's cuz she wasn't in her bed, but I was there in stead so she thought I was trying to scam her ;-) hope she bought it. There's cash in the pillow now, though

I'm about halfway through my second skein of wool for dad's vest. I finally decided on 8s which make a thick cloth, but I like it better than on the bigger needles.

I also cast on a cloth for a co-worker tonight.. of course procrastinating doing work. The forecast for tmrw is glum. Snow then freexing rain and sleet until 11AM so I'm wondering if we'll have a late start or maybe nothing at all????

I better get my school work done. I'm sleeping at the computer while I type.

happy crafting everyone!

movie meme

In honor of the oscars tomorrow night, I found this on spiffy knits! blog

A list of the Top 100 Films of all time. Bold the ones you've seen!

1. Citizen Kane (1941)
2. The Godfather
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Raging Bull (1980)
5. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
6. Gone with the Wind (1939)
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
8. Schindler’s List (1993)
9. Vertigo (1958)
10. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
11. City Lights (1931)
12. The Searchers (1956)
13. Star Wars (1977)
14. Psycho (1960)
15. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
16. 2001 : A Space Odyssey (1968)
17. The Graduate (1967)
18. The General (1927)
19. On the Waterfront (1954)
20. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
21. Chinatown (1974)
22. Some Like It Hot (1959)
23. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
24. E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982)
25. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
27. High Noon (1952)
28. All About Eve (1950)
29. Double Indemnity (1944)
30. Apocalypse Now (1979)
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
32. The Godfather Part II (1974)
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
35. Annie Hall (1977)
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
37. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
39. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
40. The Sound of Music (1965)
41. King Kong (1933)*
42. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
43. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
44. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
45. Shane (1953)
46. It Happened One Night (1934)
47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
48. Rear Window (1954)
49. Intolerance (1916)
50. Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
51. West Side Story (1961)
52. Taxi Driver (1976)
53. Deer Hunter, The (1978)
54. M*A*S*H (1970)
55. North by Northwest (1959)
56. Jaws (1975)
57. Rocky (1976)
58. The Gold Rush (1925)
59. Nashville (1975)
60. Duck Soup (1933)
61. Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
62. American Graffiti (1973)
63. Cabaret (1972)
64. Network (1976)
65. The African Queen (1951)
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
67. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
68. Unforgiven (1992)
69. Tootsie (1982)
70. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
71. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
72. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
74. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
75. In the Heat of the Night (1967)
76. Forrest Gump (1994)
77. All the President’s Men (1976)
78. Modern Times (1936)
79. The Wild Bunch (1969)
80. The Apartment (1960)
81. Spartacus (1960)
82. Sunrise (1927)
83. Titanic (1997)
84. Easy Rider (1969)
85. A Night at the Opera (1935)
86. Platoon (1986)
87. 12 Angry Men (1957)
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
89. The Sixth Sense (1999)
90. Swing Time (1936)
91. Sophie’s Choice (1982)
92. Goodfellas (1990)
93. The French Connection (1971)
94. Pulp Fiction (1994)
95. The Last Picture Show (1971)
96. Do the Right Thing (1989)
97. Blade Runner (1982)*
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
99. Toy Story(1995)
100. Ben-Hur (1959)


Less than half! not to say I haven't seen my fair share of not so all-time movies thought LOL

the nameless cloth

pattern: by Sue Schaefer for Harvest Moon Designs
yarn: Elmore-Pisgah peaches and cream
colors: mauve and verde green
needle: US6

I love this pattern. Thank you Sue (who recently had a celebration on her blog).

more snow

it started very early this morning around 1 AM.. .and it's been stead since. Very fine flakes though so the accumulation is only a couple of inches. I hope the wintry mix doesn't come. Just once I'd like to see a plain old snowstorm.

My ebay camera purchase arrived today :-) I'm so happy. Remember the old Kodak mysteriously fell off the basement window sill and broke a few weeks ago. I was using a little panasonic that is 6MP and was happy that it was available, but I missed MY camera. the one that I was finally getting used to using. The one that I have the cool macro and telephoto lenses that fit on it. I took it to the local camera store last Sat and they said it wouldn't be worth fixing. So I found a used one on ebay. I already have the dock so didn't need that. Anyway it's here and I'm taking pictures when the kids aren't looking. DD knows it's here but I'm not telling the boys... and it's in a very safe place and my lesson has been learned. I'm interested to see the difference in the pictures. Here are some pictures of the cloth with the 'new' camera


Pattern: Mason Dixon Ballband
Size: CO 37 stitches
Yarn: Elmore Pisgah Peaches and Creme
Colors: mauve and verde green
Needle: US6
I'm not nuts about the color combo but it matches the monthly dishcloth KAL colors so I'm doing a couple of cloths to get a gift set together.

I'm working up swatches for pop's vest. I tried a needles in 8 and 10 and now i'm trying an 11. It's bulky wool, so I think the 11 could work. Would make a quick knit too.

Well happy snow day. I love long weekends, even if it means Easter vacation is goofed up.





picture with other camera

more cloths

I finished the monthly dishcloth KAL a day early yesterday. I'm not quite sure that the ending follows the pattern. I'm also not crazy about the color choices that were assigned (mauve and verde green from Elmore-pisgah peaches and creme). I love the pattern though and I'll be making it again in my own color choices.

So I decided to start a ballband in the same colors and also I'll make some tribbles and use it as a hostess gift set or something. For some reason my brain just isn't working with the ballband though. I've needed to rip almost as much as knit... keep forgetting to switch the yarn to the back on those return knit rows in the bricks.


I finished another block of the Lizard Ridge though. That makes four completed blocks. This is color 170. So pretty. I'm loving the pattern and the yarn the more I work with it. just need to make sure to knit on it when I can count unencumbered by too many 'mom' interruptions.

I need to do the math for dad's vest and cast that on. Work on the flower power rug for DD and swatch for socks for DH....

I'm almost wishing for a snow day tmrw... even though I'll still be home alone with all 3 kids. The lunar eclipse last night was so cool.. wish I had been outside for more of it and had remembered to try out the moon scope. That should be fun to do with the kids this summer even without an eclipse.

well if school's cancelled tomorrow listen hard and you may hear the clicking of needles :-D

happy crafting

happy president's day

another day off from school. I'm not complaining. kids are off too and a bit nuts. it poured around noon.. i mean cats and dogs. so off to do the chores: laundry, cooking, cleaning up after DDs family party yesterday..wow did we have fun! And everyone was too generous as well.

I finished this cloth last night:

Pattern: Be My Dishcloth by Kris.
Yarn: Lily Sugar 'n Cream
Color: Hot Purple
Needle: US3

I've never knit a cloth on size 3 needles. It is tight but the picture really pops!
Kris has put a couple of really beautiful designs on her blog so check her out!

I also got the opportunity to measure my pop at the party so I'll do the math to figure out how to start the vest. Guess I better get knitting on that before the weather gets too warm.. it is 63° here today.

last minute addition

Pattern: Lattice Hearts Cloth by Rachel van Schie
Yarn: Lily's Sugar 'n Cream
Color: Tea Rose
Needle: US6

This cloth is being gifted to one of the ladies in the after school program for DD and DS1. The other lady will be given the red cloth from yesterday's post. It was the KAL for Rachel's Knitting room yahoo group for February. It's a pretty cloth and perhaps I'll make it again someday.

OK... gotta put the kids to bed.

a day off

originally it was a 2 hour delay, then at 7 am the call came in that school was cancelled :-D for my kids too though, so it won't all be a quiet day of knitting. There's plenty of wetness outside, in the frozen and liquid forms.. it's a good day to stay in and knit (maybe I'll make soup... yum!)

G-girl handed out this award a bit ago and it's taken me this long to pay it forward.


My list:

• G-girl for her friendship, yarny goodness, knitting inspiration and general cheeriness!
  
• Life with Girls Jennifer is a homeschooling mom of 3 daughters and 1 son, crafter extraordinaire, thrifter beyond compare (love that), great photographer and so green. Love this blog.
  
• hakucho Fun blog with lots of knitting!
  
• the knitorious mrs. b another knitter who actually lives nearby. You'd think we would have met already!
  
• Sarah Spins fellow spinner knitter who does beautiful work. I met her and Jennifer on diaperpin years ago. Sarah's stuff inspires me!
  
• A time to dye Lamar makes beautiful handyed yarns and each colorway has a spiritual inspiration. Beautiful, beautiful yarn and stories!
  
• Cooking with Anne Anne is a IRL friend. Her oldest 2 daughters often babysit for us. Her energy amazes me and no matter what there's always a smile on her face. Not to mention great recipes.
  
• Brooklyn Tweed Jason is an inspiraton in knitting and spinning... his work is simply beautiful. He is also a top notch photographer so you'll be visiting his blog often just to oogle at his things. He has a few designs available through Interweave knits.... great stuff!
  

Thanks rhoda for my award..... I could give it to so many more!

Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about Blogland! Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so that they can pass it on. Beware! You may get the award several times!

how perfect for me, a teacher!

You are the moment when the last bell rings and school lets out for the day. You are resistant to schedules and obligations, so you love feeling like you're in control of your life again. You are the very moment when the second hand hits the 12, and the halls fill with noise and motion. Even if your after-school time is packed with activities, lessons, or a job, somehow, you just feel freer in the late afternoon than you do earlier in the day. Maybe it's all that blue sky and afternoon sunshine? Nah -- even on rainy days, 3:15 is always a beautiful time.

party pictures

cake:
Usually I make the birthday cakes... but I couldn't top this one. The picture is scanned from a picture then put right on the cake... She LOVED it... and it tasted as great as it looked. Go Wegman's

And some party pics:
making stained glass hangups:









playing polly pockets









opening gifts


what a girl!

snow, beautiful snow

it's falling from the sky. School was dismissed early today :-)

This morning I looked out the window and saw this:
red sky in morning, sailor take warning

I finished another block for the lizard ridge blanket I'm making.The colors aren't exactly true. I want my old camera back :-( I'm loving that pattern, but I really need to do it when I can finish the whole 'row' and not be distracted or else i get lost in all the short rows.

I have to put together the V-day presents for the teachers... They'll look like this
picture to be added

And there are 2 cloths on the needles right now... a v-day gift and one for me. Here is one of the gifts I just finished tonight:

Pattern: Valentine Candy Box Feb KAL Monthly Dishcloth Yahoo Group
Yarn: Lily's Sugar 'n Cream
Color: Red
Needle: US6

Once again, the picture is too dark. Another angle shows the color better, but not the pattern.

And the last picture. This is what DS2 is taking to his teachers/caregivers at daycare.Hope it's yummy for them. Filled with chocolate candies. The felted hearts are filled and wrapped as well for DD and DS1's classroom teachers. Their reading teachers are getting the same thing as the daycare people for DS2 and I miscounted by 1.... hmmmm now what should I do with that one?

happy birthday DD

i can't believe she's 8 years old... where did the time go?

Having said that the birthday is today, so is the party with an unofficial count of 11 girls (maybe 9 though, there's 2 we haven't heard from) so I have lots to do.

Just wanted to say though that I was shopping for birthday crafts to do at the party (at our house... yes I'm nuts) and found yarn on sale at Michael's (Mrs. B if you're reading this, I was at the Whitehall one, not the one by you so go check yours out!) and found Paton's Merino on sale for $2 a skein!!!!!! I scooped up all the colors that they were offering in the bin and didn't dare go back to check the regular stock. I can only figure it's that price because A. they were fall colors or B. maybe those colors are being discontinued. At any rate... burgundy, rich red, paprika and old gold now reside in bounteous amounts in my Paton's stash... How could I turn it up??? I also got 2 lonely skeins of microfiber (1 lime, 1 white) and 2 skeins of warm brown kitchen cotton for $1 each.

It's snowing here, not hard, just enough.... I hope it snows all day!

OK... I have to go prepare for the party... hopefully there'll be some pictures.

multiplying yarn

Yesterday, I took the older 2 kids and DDs friend to see the Hannah Montana concert 3D movie..... at 8 AM. Yes, you read that right AM. It was the only show that wasn't sold out. That means on Saturday that gymnastics were cancelled and we COULD have slept in, we were up at 6 to get dressed and eat and be awake enough to go to the movies. Crazy I tell you.

In the late afternoon my brother and I met at the rents house to sort and clean. FUN! Actually I came away with quite a few goodies, hence the title of the post. Each time I'm there I come home with yarn or needles or books or some crafty thing. Yesterday was no exception. Here's the stash:

Brunswick Windrush in Brown Ragg 100g each and 2 of the same dyelot. It's orlon.. goodfor charity stuff or my dad who throws everything in the washer and says that wool is too scratchy for him


More Brunswich Windrush yarn in the color Rose Mist Ombre and again 2 skeins. This would NOT be a good color for dad. Guess it's going in the charity knitting bin.




This is 3 Brunswick Fore 'n Aft in Red Ragg and they're 50 g skeins, same dye lot.





More Fore 'n Aft 3 50g skeins of Blue Ragg. There's also a 100g skein of Windrush in the same color (different dye lot obviously) but since they're both orlon, I wonder if it isn't the same yarn.




4 skeins of Paton's Diana which is a 70acrylic/30 nylon blend. It feels a bit like mohair. Could make something nice for mom with this :-)



2 skeins (50g) of Brunswick Eleganza which is a blend of 80 acrylic/20 kid mohair. In one of ballbands is a pattern for what appears to be a möbius cowl scarf that could be pulled up over the head. It takes 200 yards and the ballband isn't marked as to the yardage but it seems to be fingering weight so there may be enough. Could also be nice for mom!

12 skeins of Rugger bulky yarn in bisque heather. This yarn is 80 orlon/20 virgin wool and each skein is 50g/70yards. I'm really hoping that there is enough here to make pop a cardigan vest (he's so thin, there should be enough) He's always cold so it could be perfect. Now to find a pattern.


This rug(?) that has been started I think crochet along with 3 more skeins of the deep rose and 3 more skeins of the black. The yarn is Clarks cotton rug yarn. Reminds me of kitchen cotton though.


And now for the motherlode:

3 100g skeins of unknown wool. (I did the burn test.. it's all wool)







100g skein of a light aqua wool yarn








100g skein of darker aqua wool yarn







100g skein of navy blue yarn.





and the piéce de resistance:

10 skeins (50 g/ 200y each) of Superfine Alpaca. from 1st Quality Andean Yarns all the smae dye lot and mom paid 4.60 total for the 10 skeins. (Can you believe that? Obviously before alpaca became a desired fiber) This will be a shawl, I think.

I brought home many different sized dpns, argyle sock bobbins(?) 2 circular needles some stitch markers, and a small stitch holder.


There was also this gem:


It's so cute. Mom offered it and I snatched it up fast.








She sent DD polished rocks and theses cute magnets. They're perfect for the magnet board we'll hang in her room.






I better get knitting!