| If you'd like to order a custom, tailored to you, hand knit item then please feel free to check Shadow's Knit Knacks for examples of my work and either contact me through the customer request link there or directly at: ShadowsKnits @ Gmail.com Originally posted: Feb 9, 2012 Current Yarn Requests:
 daughterofodhin Cowl & Shawl - Yarn to be ordered (Mar 2013)
Floating:
- Matching hat - Fairy Defense
- Fingerless gloves in laceweight
- Cabled Glove design
- Leafy shawl, varigated greens
- Stack of Books scarf
Waiting On Customer:
- walkertxkitty Socks, Estimate sent (Aug 26 2012)
- Lea D - Various - Waiting for details (Sept 26 2012)
- zarhooie Socks & Shawl (TBD) - Order on Hold (Sept 30 2012)
- kellirose1313 Dr. Who Scarf - Order on Hold (Contacted Sept 30 2012)
- kythsharrie Gloves & Chinook Shawl - Debating Glove Pattern (Contacted Sept 30 2012)
- sesmo Chinook Shawl, Hats, & Scarf - Customer choosing Yarn (Contacted Sept 30 2012)
- zpdiduda Fingerless Gloves - Customer looking for yarn (Contacted Sept 30 2012)
- anotherjen Legwarmers - Order on Hold (Oct 10 2012)
- softlywhispered- Chinook Shawl - Estimate sent (Contacted Oct 20 2012)
- ravenofdreams- Chinook Shawl - Yarn requested (Contacted Oct 20 2012)
- lifeinmyhead Something Lacy Shrug x4, Order on Hold (Oct 20 2012)
 soberloki Chinook Shawl - Order on Hold (Oct 21 2012)
Dreamcatcher Orders:just_the_ash Raven Dreamcatcher - On Hold (Oct 22 2012)Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments, concerns.Completed Yarn Orders:2012 - ( Read more...Collapse )sapphirescarlet Skew Socks - Jan 19, 2013Joe C - Dwarven Helm & Beard - Jan 31, 2013 elionwyr Gloves - Feb 4, 2013, Cowl - Feb 6, 2013, Scarf - Feb 11, 2013 michikatinski Baby Blanket - Feb 28, 2013Charles B - Dwarven Helm - Mar 4, 2013 Katrina M - Weeping Angels - Mar 7, 2013
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| It's a short post today with just one picture.  This is the linoleum block for the quilt I'll end up making from the block of the month. I did a lot better at matching up pieces this time around and the lines are much cleaner..I love that I'm learning something new with each block. | |
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|  Zoya Areetha & Song | |
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| Knitting: For the first time in a long while I've had to print parts of a pattern out because it was too complicated to just read from the screen. This pattern is complex but will be well worth the effort. I'm already in love with it and really all I have done is the edging. With only 8 rows down you can't really see much of the pattern, but it's still gorgeous.  Writing: There's just not enough time in the day. More hours, I need more hours. Reading:  The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. So far I'm not terribly thrilled by this book. I didn't expect it to be anything like Harry Potter .. but I did expect to care about the people in the story. So far there's not a lot to care about but hopefully it'll grow. | |
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| Sometimes we need the chance to get things off our chest while knowing that we won't be judged. Sometimes we need to talk to somebody just to get things straight in our own head. Sometimes we just want to share a thought with somebody.
Here's your chance.
Comments are screened and anonymous posting is allowed. Tell the box anything you need to get off your chest or out of your head. If it's something you want to discuss further, leave a way of contacting you.
Secrets come here to die. What's posted here is simply between you and I. I won't even contact you about it unless you ask me to.
The Confessional Box is now open
- Wolf Den::Houston
- We're Feeling::tired
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| If ever there was a pattern more sought after I wouldn't know it. I happened across the perfect yarn for this pattern and ran out to buy both beads and hook as soon as possible. Once back home I realized there was no way to purchase said pattern. It was sold in a datebook that was done small press and a short run. No amount of searching could produce a copy. I finally emailed the publisher and after months of waiting I emailed the designer as well. They both got back to me at the same time; the designer didn't have a copy of the pattern because she was going to re-release it sometime this spring or summer. The publisher had a few unsold copies and would be willing to sell me the book at a reduced price. The package finally arrived and I eagerly finished up my projects so I could work on the headband. That was when I found that the crochet hook I had didn't fit through the beads. I spent an evening using thread to pull the beads onto the yarn at each spot. The next day found me in a craft store searching for a smaller hook. I triumphantly finished the first repeat of the pattern and held up it up, only to discover that it looked ... wrong. Two lines of the pattern were missing from the book. Was this silly pattern worth all this effort? Had it been a free pattern I might have just found something else to work on. However, I put a lot of work into acquiring this and I was going to finish it, no matter the obstacles. I got busy figuring out what those two rows most likely were.I'm fairly sure I managed it.  I do love the finished headband. I think I'll have to make a couple more of them with leftover yarn just to justify the cost and the effort though. All in all there were legends in the chart that weren't actually used, missing rows in the chart plus a missing column, and the written directions referred to things that were not in this pattern and repeated itself. Pattern: Verona Headband by Sivia Harding Project page: Ravelry | |
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|  I do love gradients. Zoya Laney CoverGirl #610 Midnight Magic   I figured it would be easier to play with water marbling on Miss Kid since her hands are smaller and that would give me more room to see what was going on. For a first time try I think it came out pretty awesome. She's certainly happy with it as she couldn't stop staring at it and thinking up color combinations to try. Confetti #011 Wedding White Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear #420 Pacific Blue China Glaze #233 Spontaneous | |
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| Happy Anniversary to dragons_grin!! It's been 4 years and I'm so happy about it! Hope you have a good day Dragon! I'm counting the days until I can see you again and celebrate with you. | |
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| Knitting: I finished the body and it fits! I love the way it looks on me too. I'm so pleased that it's coming along so well. It's a pleasure to know that my first item of clothing has worked out so well. I'm on to the sleeves and grabbing every spare moment I have to work on them.  Writing: I have a bit in my head for what happens next, since the prompt machine I use started up again. I'm not sure how it's going to work, but have to find time to sit down and write it first. Work: I got the job! Thank you so much for all your positive thoughts and well wishes. Today'll be my 3rd day. So far I'm having a great time and learning a lot. Everything else has slowed down a bit, particularly the knitting since I'm no longer home all day. But that's okay, at least now I'll have funds to actually be able to play and do things. Reading:  A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin. I'm closing in on the end here and eagerly reading as fast as I can. I'm grabbing time at lunch to read and knit as I can. In some ways the story lines are feeling more divergent as there are so many of them. On the other hand, I can see how they're all racing to the same point and are likely to be on a collision course. It's all good though because I still love the story and I'm getting lots of Tyrion. | |
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|    The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins I went into this with a mild case of trepidation. Everybody was going crazy for it but then everybody also went crazy for Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey, neither of which were what I'd call well written or compelling. I devoured the first two books in a couple days. With the first chapter I was hooked. The story of Katniss Everdeen and the changes in her world that she sparks is an amazing journey. The first book was a whirlwind of change for a poor girl on the edges of civilization. She's forced to suddenly make life or death decisions in a world that is new, and scary. The second books does suffer a bit from the typical middle book problems, rehashing the first book and ending up in the same situations, but it also sets up quite a bit of the plot for Mockingjay. All through the story of them rebuilding a rebellion I was constantly on edge. Can they trust him? Is there another hidden game or layer in that phrase. I changed my mind half a dozen times before I finished the series. I'd certainly recommend this series to practically anybody that enjoys reading and plenty that don't. It's easy to read and just complicated enough to keep interest. | |
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| Sunday: 30 min Dagorhir Monday: 0 Tuesday: 0 Wednesday: 1.03mi, 20:49 Thursday: 0 Friday: 0 Saturday: 0
Monday I was sick and barely left the bed. The rest of the week was mostly recovering from that. | |
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| Here's another awesome beard that I finished.  There are no buttons to hold it on but rather a length of yarn (to be replaced with elastic). I'm thinking that might have been a mistake. It stays on when he's standing still but not at all when he's running across the field to beat somebody with that foam shovel he's carrying. Anthony found the instructions here and asked that I make it for him. Because of the plastic backing, I probably won't make another like this. I'll stick to my knitting and crochet. However, it's still an epic beard. | |
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|  Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear #250 Blue It Kleancolor #11 Blue Pearl | |
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| Knitting: I finally decided, with a bit of nudging from noevilliveon, to start on a bit of clothing that I'd been avoiding. I've been avoiding clothing in general due to concern over spending that much time and yarn on something and it not looking right. Plus, I'm a larger girl, so it takes more yarn, though I'm losing weight, which is another concern if I lose enough to be a smaller size before I finish the top. Luckily I think this will fit for a while even if I do manage to go down a size. I've been a bit frustrated by working on size 13s after working on nothing larger than an 8 for ages now, but I should soon be down to a 9 for the rest of this.  Sewing: With being so busy over the weekend and then sick yesterday I haven't spent much time with the fabric. But with a little help from Lynn last night I got the pieces cut for the Flying Geese block. 4 rectangles each in purple and blue and 16 black squares.  Job Hunt: I have another interview tomorrow! This one I'm really hoping goes well as I think it would be a really good fit. Reading:  A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin. I'm still loving it and enjoying it. It feels a bit draggy but that's mostly because I haven't had as much time to sit and read as I'd like. But I'm halfway through and then I can get to reading a bit of homework that I have for work. | |
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| Friday we joined up with our friends to play InSpectors. We had one of the best Cajun drawls I've ever heard, (along with a mild obsession for varmints), a Tibetan dance of protection, and a burned out stoner performing an exorcism. It was a fantastic game and I laughed so hard. I also managed to finish up my socks and a bracelet.
Saturday we were up early to pick up tickets for the East meets West dance show we look forward to each year. After we snagged those we did a bit of searching for a geocache close by, sadly it was gone but I did get to laugh at Lynn crawling up under a wooden bear and being surprised at the effort that was taken to make sure the bear was anatomically correct. Then we met up with some friends and were given 2 tickets to the International Festival. That was a good way to kill a couple hours as we walked around and looked at the various things. Back home the sky opened up and tried to drown us. Despite the weather we still ventured out for the show at Miller. They skipped intermission and had a few last minutes adjustments due to the bad weather but it was a great show and still one of my favorites.
Sunday we made a run to the local Ampgard practice to see a friend and to drop of a dwarf beard. Then we were off to Dagorhir practice to fight in the mud. It seemed like the guys were hitting a lot harder so I didn't stay out on the field quite as long as I would have liked. We finally packed it up and headed home.
Monday doesn't exist, at least not for me. I woke up sick to my stomach and couldn't keep anything down. I was awake for perhaps 2-3 hours total, nearly all day was lost to sleeping. Nurse Nox Puppy was a wonderful companion and stayed by my side all day to protect me, except for when she took exception to the people walking by outside, concerned they might disturb me she let them know they were too close, nevermind that the barking woke me up. My fever finally broke around the time Lynn came home from work and I was able to keep down a bit of chicken noodle soup.
All in all it was a good thing I couldn't sleep once it was time for bed as Lynn had thrown some clothes in the dryer. 2 hours after he'd turned it off I smelled something and woke him up to check. We finally pulled the sheets from the dryer and they were smoking! They'd gotten so hot (on the low setting) that the center of the sheets was smouldering. So now I have a ruined set of expensive sheets, a dryer that is a safety hazard, and the appliance people will be out on Tuesday to look at it. They're also going to credit us the week without the machine and the cost of the sheets. | |
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| Sunday: 45 min Dagorhir Monday: 1.09mi, 19:42 Tuesday: .51mi, 8:28 Wednesday: 1.92mi, 36:26 Thursday: 0 Friday: 1.27mi, 23:02 Saturday: 2.50mi, 1:42:50 | |
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| This is the second pair of socks I saw for this yarn. See, this yarn came to me after I ran out of yarn at the toe of the second sock. Sadly, this yarn was quite obviously lighter than the other yarn. So those socks are still languishing in the cubby hole of my desk while I work toward getting the right yarn to finish them with. These however are finished!  I knit these two at a time on the same circular. I've since decided that I really don't like the short row heel for toe up socks so in the future I'll have to find something else.  Aren't those cables awesome? Most were done without a cable needle since I lost mine early on. The grass at fighter practice has eaten it. Faced with buying a new one and having to find something else to work on, I went searching for ways to cable without a needle. These aren't the chocolate socks I've been dreaming of, but they're a nice, comfy second. Pattern: Boyfriend Socks by Alice Bell Project Page: Ravelry | |
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|  Revlon Scented #335 Mon Cherry
Wet N Wild Black Creme | |
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| Knitting: I'm beginning to feel like these socks won't die. First I had to rip out the heel turn because it was entirely too narrow. Once I had both heel turns complete I decided that the niggling feeling I'd had about the heel flap being too short was correct too. So I ripped that out on both socks and started over. Somewhere in there the needle split the skin on my forefinger, right where I press to slip the needle back through the stitch. I suspect my fingers are telling me I need to pick something besides socks for my next project since I've been doing so much with the tiny needles lately. Given that I can now zoom along while reading (as long as I'm careful of my finger), I believe I'll be done with these before next week.  Sewing: I'll soon be cutting the pieces for the April block, which will be Flying Geese.  Writing: My prompt machine has ground to a halt but my story is nowhere near the end. Now to find another or figure out on my own how she completes her quest. Work: I have an interview this afternoon for a part time position. Considering that this temp agency has called me out 4 times previously and then refused to return any of my phone calls about positions over the last 5 years, I'm somewhat ambivalent about the interview, but we'll see. Reading:  A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin. I'm enjoying this one a lot more than the last one. This one has my favorite to read, Tyrion, plus Jon and a couple other storylines that I was really missing from the last book. | |
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|   The Fairyland Series by Catherynne M. ValenteBooks 1 and 2 of a YA series that was completely enchanting and I'm eagerly awaiting book 3. September is a girl who is rather ordinary, but when adventure comes calling, rather than staying home and missing out, or being taken unwillingly, she says Yes. In a reading with Cat Valente that was one of the things she talked about. She wanted a heroine who said yes, who gladly went after adventure. She has certainly managed that beautifully here. The stories are magical with fantastical beasts. She stretches our imagination to just this side of improbable. After the last page of the story I was sad to leave Fairyland, but happy to know that I could open the book at any time and revisit them. In the first book September makes many friends, loses a couple things, and completely changes the world of Fairyland. In book two she returns to find things very much not how she left them and at least one of her lost things have caused problems. I dearly love these books. They have easily found their way onto my favorites bookshelf and will be read many times. I've already shared them with Miss Kid and she loves them just as much as I do. | |
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| Sunday: Driving home Monday: 1.12mi, 19:29 Tuesday: 0 Wednesday: 0 Thursday: 1.09mi, 19:20 Friday: 0 Saturday: Errands
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| This is a case of a dream yarn being paired with the dream pattern and the result ... all I could dream of!  I can't remember now which I saw first, the yarn or the pattern but I know I fell hard for both of them and once I'd seen both I knew they were meant to go together. The yarn has been sitting my stash for over a year patiently waiting to be used.  The first sock just zoomed by, the cables were fun and just enough of a distraction at the right times. The second sock was cast on and ripped out at least 8 times before I could get the stripes to magically appear similar to the first sock. Once I mastered that problem I was good to go. There's no mirroring on the cables, but they're still different enough to keep my attention, even on a second sock. Speaking of the cables:  I love the cables ever so much. These socks are truly all I could ask for. Pattern: Twisted Mockery by Lisa Stichweh
Project Page: Ravelry | |
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|  I really wasn't sure what I wanted but I saw the glitter and realized I'd not used it yet. Well, we can't have that so on it went. Spoiled S044 Distant Memory, S046 Use Protection  We didn't have a whole lot of spare time on Sunday when I did Miss Kid's nails so she elected to with something fairly quick. I pulled out the new stripper brush and a quick dry polish. The polish was almost faster than I was. LA Color Craze Purple 60 Second Rimmel #602 Mirror | |
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| Knitting: The little squares are fun and cute, but they take quite a bit of concentration. Almost as soon as I pick up the stitches for one I'm back down to 1 stitch and it's time to pick up more stitches. I have a completed cuff and I'm almost finished with the second one. Then I'll pick up stitches all the way around and put them on a long circular to do two at a time. Then they'll be great for travel socks so I'm hoping the yarn for a commission comes in soon.  Sewing: March's block is called Linoleum. I need to sew the small blocks together and then I'll be ready to pick out fabric for April's block.  Writing: The girl finally has a name! And she has her pouch back, so they should be soon traveling closer to home. Reading:  A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin. I still love the story and the characters. I'm really missing Tyrion's chapters though and Brienne's chapters are killing me. I'm a bit over halfway though so hopefully I'll finish it up soon and be able to jump on the next book. | |
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|  Scary Mary by S.A. Hunter It's another somewhat predictable teen romance but with an element of the supernatural to it. I like how the supernatural is handled here, it's not just around for the kids to make fun of, though it does start out that way. By the end of the story more than one of the teens has a newfound respect for the things they can't always see. The story is a bit formulaic but not to the point where it's not enjoyable enough, at least for the YA crowd it's intended for. There are a couple of plot holes at times but nothing that ruined the story for me. All in all a good story, one that I'd recommend to a reader that's not sure they want a deep story but something to pass a few hours with. | |
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| Sunday - 0 Monday - 1.02mi, 19:47 Tuesday - 1.29mi, 22:27 Wednesday - 2.49mi, 47:17 Thursday - 1.05mi, 20:01 Friday - 1.09mi, 19:17 Saturday - Running around the woods for 6 hours. | |
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| Four different people brought up a Cthulhu mask of some sort in a week. So I decided it was time to actually make one.  I used the new Brava from Knit Picks and was incredibly impressed with it. It's acrylic but super soft and easy to knit. Normally acrylic is plasticy to some degree on my fingers and I dislike working with it. Not this acrylic! It was lovely, squishy, and soft from the very beginning. I think I want to play with the tentacles a bit more in the future, perhaps have fewer, or balance them a bit differently. Otherwise I'm very pleased with a first attempt.  Pattern: Cthulhu Knit and Crochet Ski Mask by Nancy B. Nutt Project Page: Ravelry | |
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| The girl is in tears, nearing closer and closer to hysteria with each passing second. Nice rushes to reassure her. “Calm down, we’ll find it. Think for a second, when did you last have it?” “I, I don’t know. It’s always there. I almost never take it off, I,” she pauses. With a burst of clarity she remembers. “Nooooooo!” The girl turns and rushes back toward the roaring river. Nice is taken by surprise and almost misses her wrist as he lunges after her. He finally slows her to a halt at the edge of the water. “Are you crazy? You can’t go back in there!” “I have to! The strap broke when I was in the river. I have to get it.” “If you go back in you’ll drown.” “You don’t understand, I need that pouch! It’s everything!” She struggles against his grip, twisting to escape. “And we’ll find it but not by,” Nice shakes her by the shoulder to get her attention, “not by drowning ourselves.” “Seriously, I don’t know what’s in that pouch but whatever it is, is it going to be of any use if you’re dead?” The girl seems to come back to herself. Still, tears well up in her eyes. She takes a deep breath before she speaks. “No, you’re right. You’ll help me find it?” “Of course. Let’s walk along the water together and look for it.” “But I lost it,” “Out there, yes, but it’s either caught on something and likely still there, or it’s taking a ride down the river and the longer we stand here the further it could go. So come on.” He gently turns her and they begin searching along the riverbank. The minutes pass as they walk. Each one feels like another pound of stress on her shoulders. The sun climbs higher in the sky and beats down on them. She strains her eyes so hard looking that they begin to ache. The sun reflecting off the water makes her head pound. They come across various bits and pieces of their supplies, many too waterlogged to be of much use but still Nice collects what he can hope to salvage. The sun has crested the zenith and begun the descent toward night when they come across the waterfall. The girl moans a bit in dread. There’s no way over the cliff and will be several hours before they can make their way around to some spot where it’s easier to traverse. “Look, there, do you see it?” Nice points out to the center of the waterfall where a branch has grown out through the sheet of falling water. It juts out like a finger pointing down the river. And on the tip of the finger dangles a leather pouch. It hangs from a loop on the side, the broken strap flutters in the water spray. Hope and despair war in the girl’s eyes. She trembles as she visually measures the distance to the center of the river above the branch. The water is rushing far too quickly for anybody to swim to the middle and just slip over the edge. Her legs finally give out as she stands there. Months from her life, always given freely, and yet now completely out of her reach, in a pouch that hangs in the middle of a waterfall. Nice swings his pack to the ground beside her and begins rummaging through it. He mutters to himself as he searches, hoping that he didn’t lose what he needs. He smiles as his fingers close upon what he’s looking for. He pulls out a fishing hook and thin twine. As he ties the two together the girl looks up. “How can you think of food right now?” Her voice is hollow, as though coming from a deep well within. “You’ll see.” He loops the twine and slips it over his shoulder; the hook he catches in his tunic. He walks over to a tree and begins to climb with slow and steady moves. Before too long he is inching his way down a branch that overhangs the river. He swallows hard as he has no other choice but to look down. The branch narrows but luckily the tree is old and has grown wide. Just as the branch gets to where it will no longer support him is close enough, he hopes. The girl is now pacing in a small circle beside the river as she watches him. She gnaws on her lower lip and her fingernails in turn. Nice carefully unhooks the hook and lets it slip down his arm, the twine slowly uncoiling behind it. The hook inches closer and closer to the bag several feet below him. Finally it gently bumps against it. “Careful!” The girl’s voice is harsh and loud, it startles Nice and the hook jumps. He takes a deep breath and looks down at her. “It takes a very steady hand to do this so please hush.” “You have to be,” “Careful, I heard. Why don’t you gather some firewood, okay?” “But,” the girl stops at the look Nice gives her. He’s never looked that stern before. “Okay, firewood.” He tries again, intensely aware of just how fast the light is fading. Time and time again the hook catches but slips off as he begins to raise the bag. He can feel the frustration rising. He forces himself to slow down and concentrate. Finally the hook catches and he can work the bag off the branch. Hand over hand he retrieves the line and the bag raises into the air. It is only when the pouch is in his hands that he realizes he’s been holding his breath. He lets it out in a rush. Carefully he crawls backwards along the branch and down the tree. The girl is just coming back with a load of wood for a fire as he reaches the ground. Her eyes widen as he holds out the pouch. She begins crying and hugs him tight as she takes it from him. “You did it, you did it, you really did it. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ll be sure to tell everybody that,” she breaks off with a surprised look. “I, I don’t know your name. I can’t tell everybody that you did it because I don’t even know what to call you.” “Torian,” he gives a little bow, “Torian Grey, at your service.” “I’ll be sure to tell everybody the epic tale of how Torian Grey recovered my pouch. I’m Cerida Kay. I don’t think we ever introduced ourselves.” “It simply hadn’t come up before now. So, Cerida, may I inquire as to just what I’ve managed to rescue for you, risking life and limb and all?” Torian winks at her and smiles charmingly. Cerida holds the pouch close to her chest, protectively stroking the soft leather. She raises up the flap and smiles as she looks inside. She then invites him to look as well. He peeks into the dark interior. Surprise and disbelief show in his wide eyes. “Is that really a,” “Yes it is.” “But those take months, sometimes years to feed so that they can travel.” He looks at her with a newfound respect and consideration. | |
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|  Revlon Scented #370 Not So Blueberry NYC #247 Prince Street Matte Me Crazy | |
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| Knitting: I saw the pattern for these socks and I just knew I'd have to make them. I was hoping that some of my wildly variegated yarns would be a good fit for it and it looks to be a perfect fit. I love the little squares and how they change up the colors. I've just started the second row of squares and I can't wait to see how they come out.  Writing: The story is poking at me .. a lot. I just need to find time to sit down and write. Sewing: I have the instructions for the March block and the fabric. I'm hoping to start cutting later today.  Reading: A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin. I'm back to the world of Westeros and the Free Cities. I'm glad to be back, though feeling a little bit lost. I haven't had a lot of time to read so the first couple of chapters have drug on since they start with viewpoints that haven't been used before. But now I've gotten into names I know and can more easily place. | |
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|  The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson. I really enjoyed this teen romance. I think we all know somebody who just lives a charmed life and everything comes easily to them. Such is the case for Mattie Lowe. Her stepsister is the pretty one, the smart one, and the popular one all rolled into one. Because of her sister's encouraging, Mattie finally gets the courage to go for what she wants. Ugly Stepsister is a great novel for young girls (and boys who are interested). It speaks to not sitting back and letting life happen to you but stepping up and taking charge. Mattie takes chances and steps out of her comfort zone to get what she wants. As with many YA love stories this one winds up a bit predictably but that's not always a bad thing. In this case the premise of the story is different enough that it keeps things interesting. I'll certainly be on the lookout for more by this author as a great story to spend a relaxing afternoon reading when I'm taking a break in between the more involved stories. It's the perfect palate cleanser. | |
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| Sometimes we need the chance to get things off our chest while knowing that we won't be judged. Sometimes we need to talk to somebody just to get things straight in our own head. Sometimes we just want to share a thought with somebody.
Here's your chance.
Comments are screened and anonymous posting is allowed. Tell the box anything you need to get off your chest or out of your head. If it's something you want to discuss further, leave a way of contacting you.
Secrets come here to die. What's posted here is simply between you and I. I won't even contact you about it unless you ask me to.
The Confessional Box is now open
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| I don't think we were home for more than an hour at a time the whole weekend, unless we were heading to bed.
Friday was our errands night for a few things we've been needing as well as groceries.
Saturday we were up early to sit at Miller and get tickets for the first performance of the year. They're celebrating 90 years of performances and the children's group that partners with them put on Thoroughly Modern Millie. While waiting for tickets I nearly finished up the dwarf beard I was working on, worked a bit on the verona headband, and started up the Sock History blanket I've been wanting to do except that's getting pulled out and restarted later. I feel like I had an attack of "Must start all the things!" because I had to fight very hard to not start more projects. I came very close to starting the Windowpane Socks that I want to do (since I had the yarn and needles with me) but managed to console myself with the blanket.
After getting tickets it was home to grab some food and then up to the hotel for a Space City Con meeting. It was good to see everybody and talk things over, walk the hotel and hear more about how plans are shaping up. It's much easier to talk about where to put things when you are there and can see the space rather than looking at a drawing with no measurements. I also managed to get a few times sorted out so I can start letting volunteers know when the walkthrough, set up, and such will be.
Then it was back home to eat and off to the theater for the play. The play was awesome! The kids did a fantastic job, hit all their cues (from what I could tell) and sang their hearts out. I always love being out at Miller and experiencing the awesomeness.
Sunday I had a message from the guy paying for the beard. He was going to finally be at practice so was it possible that I'd have it done? Well, Miss Kid's party was that afternoon so we'd planned to skip practice but I got moving early and finished up the beard. We managed to stop by the park and hand it off to a 'very' excited dwarf and got a couple great pictures of it before dashing off to the party. I was sad to leave though since after weeks of very few people showing up the park was full of fighters. I really would have loved to get out there and battle but I guess it's for the best with my hand still not being fully healed.
Miss Kid is now 12, or has been since the 30th. She had her party at SkyZone again and everybody bounced to their heart's content. Lynn and I even got out there with the kids and played dodgeball for a bit. Of course now I 'really' want to play on a large trampoline again and do flips and such. You can't really do that at SkyZone since it's all small trampoline's connected and I don't feel there's enough room for me to feel safe doing more than bouncing.
On the way home I got a call from Lackland. It was good to hear from him since he'd been in the hospital and despite no longer loving him enough to be married to him I do still care about him. He's had some health issues but the doctors are looking into it.
All in all it was a very busy weekend but I feel that a 'lot' was accomplished in a lot of different areas. How was your weekend? | |
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| Sunday - 0 Monday - 1.26mi, 22:03 Tuesday - 1.07mi, 19:14 Wednesday - 2.40mi, 45:26 Thursday - 1.23mi, 22:46 Friday - 1.26mi, 22:01 Saturday - Hotel tour | |
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| Once I got everything together for these little statues, they went super fast.  I could almost see making some to leave in random places to surprise people or to give out at events.  Pattern: Weeping Angel Statue by Shirley MacDonald Project page: Ravelry | |
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| So, a few people think I'm ignoring them because I haven't answered texts. Seems that T-mobile knows that my phone has an issue with sending and receiving texts, it's a known issue with this model. They also refuse to replace it with anything other than the exact same model. So I've been fighting with that; I have a new phone sitting here, I need to move things over to the new phone but that's a lot of downloading and moving things. I suspect that will be a thing for tomorrow. However, if you've been trying to contact me, please hit me up on a different medium. In happier news, Easter was sweet and will continue to be sweet for several months.  Plus I won another giveaway and recently received my book in the mail. Yay!  | |
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|  I had to do something fun for Easter, particularly with all these fun colors and tools that I have. Confetti #011 Wedding White Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear #360 Mellow Yellow, #420 Pacific Blue China Glaze #233 Spontaneous, #206 Pure Elegance | |
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| Knitting: I was playing around on Ravelry, as you do, and I stumbled across this pattern. It was love at first sight which kind of took me by surprise. I don't wear headbands, can't stand how the store bought ones pinch behind my ears and give me a migraine. And yet I couldn't help but think "how would a knit one feel?". I finished a project and the left over yarn was perfect for the pattern, just a few yards over the required amount. Kismet! Of course last night I figured out that the tiny crochet hooks I'd purchased for the beads aren't small enough. I'll be making a run to Michael's tonight ... and possibly to my LYS.  Writing: I think I might actually have some progress with the muse. I may even finally have a name for my main character. She's certainly being difficult. Reading:  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I finally got my hands on the book and so far I love it. I'm only about 7 chapters in but I do like the characters and I'm really enjoying the person Katniss is proving to be. I'm looking forward to watching the movie after finishing the book. | |
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|  Little Bad Wolf and Red Riding Hood by Timothy Tocher. This was a super quick read as it's only one story out of a selection of various twisted fairy tales. Twisted fairy tales are a favorite of mine, to read as well as writing them myself. I love the quirky take on the wolf as well as Red not being the weak girl that she's been shown to be in other versions. Judging from this one story the book will be a great read as well, and I can't wait to get my hands on it too.  Turds in the Punch Bowl by Jen Ashton. I blame the "purchase" of this book on being tired, tiny pictures, and "New Toy Syndrome" (NTS). It was one of the first purchases I made from the Kindle I got for Christmas and the picture was tiny so it looked like and was similarly titled as one of the YA novels I'd been somewhat interested in. Sad to say, I was mistaken. This is a collection of crazy drunken stories of a girl and her best friend / roommate. The stories are usually in poor taste, badly written, and riddled with grammar errors. Had I actually paid for this and not gotten it from the free list I might have rather upset over the cost. As it is I just wish I had those hours back. | |
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| I haven't really updated, or read, for 2 weeks. I started to play a bit of catch up yesterday before I realized it was April 1st. I didn't feel up to sifting out the jokes so I just went back to my knitting.
I haven't been depressed or upset, just playing the hermit a bit and wishing I could lounge in the sun for a bit. The apartment has sent out a letter saying that we can't congregate in the parking lot, out front of our apartments, or sit on the stairs. We have patios / balconies for sitting. Except that doesn't really work, sitting on a covered spot of concrete is not the same as sitting in the sun and relaxing with a book for a bit.
Meanwhile, Lynn and I managed to finally get to Pradaria and partake of the Oh. My. Gods. Incredible! Brazilian churrascaria. The top sirloin melted before my knife, the Parmesan encrusted pork was drool worthy even after we were full, and the lamb was a piece of heaven on my tongue. The wait was well worth it.
We've also participated in Barefoot in the Park with the park where we go to fighter practice. We loaned foam swords to kids and taught them how to play. We ate out at Cheddar's and had a lovely meal. We spent a day just relaxing and playing Champions of Norrath. Easter morning there were chocolate eggs hidden all over the apartment for me to find. We met up with the gaming group to play a GURPS mashup (wild west and aliens / science) and the next Friday we dabbled with In A Wicked Age. GURPS was fun; Wicked Age ... well, I could see how it might be fun but it didn't hit the spot this time around.
I made lemon poppy seed and pistachio shortbread cookies and later a pistachio jello pie (it's what I had on hand). For Easter we put a pork loin in the crock pot on Saturday with some honey, brown sugar, and a chopped apple. Sunday I tossed red potatoes, carrots, onion, rosemary, and various other herbs into another crock pot and let it sit until dinner. Between the two it was the easiest meal I've ever cooked. Sunday I also went out to Sugar Land Yarn Co. and sat with the spinners for a bit hoping to watch and absorb as much as I could. It was confirmed that my fiber is a bit sticky so needs a bit more predrafting. It's confusing and frustrating but I keep trying.
So, what have you been up to? | |
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| Sunday - 30 min Dagorhir Monday - 1.24mi, 21:41 Tuesday - 1.07mi, 18:47 Wednesday - 1.99mi, 36:53 Thursday - 1.23mi, 22:42 Friday - 2.42mi, 43:58 Saturday - 1.04mi, 18:27 | |
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| Before I'd even finished the first set I had a request for another one. This one flew by in just a couple of days.  Pattern: Several patterns cobbled together Project Page: Ravelry | |
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|  Wet N Wild #213C On a Trip
Barielle #5068 Decadence | |
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| Knitting: Reaching into the stash and randomly pulling out this spare chocolate yarn from Lorna's Laces made it easy to decide what project to cast on next. I really didn't want to count repeats though so I'm glad I had a long enough circular on hand to do them two at a time. I think after I finish this repeat I'll be ready for the heels. I'm glad both skeins seem to have the same imperfections in the color so they match. I still need to buy another one to finish the pair of chocolate socks that have been languishing on the needles for several months now.  Writing: My muse and I are not speaking ... at least not in very nice words that spark a writing jag. Reading:  A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin. I'm a bit over halfway through the book, certainly far enough along to finish by Sunday. I won't be watching the premier until the following Sunday but it's good to have a goal.I believe I've just read past the death of several of my favorite characters, but some have been thought to be dead before and surprised me, so we'll see if they're all really gone. I think after this I'll read a lighter fluff book before popping back into this world to finish the next in the series. | |
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| Sunday - Lazy Day Monday - 1.26mi, 22:27 Tuesday - 1.71mi, 29:40 Wednesday - 2.25mi, 43:00 Thursday - 1.39mi, 25:16 Friday - 1.25mi, 21:45 Saturday - 45 min. Dagorhir | |
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| First I'll share my sewing. It's not technically complete since I need lots more of them and then they'll all be sewed together but it's a complete section. I'm pretty pleased with it, despite the errors I see. I see them more as reminders of the lessons I learned while cutting and piecing this block.  Though in terms of blankets, I also finished up and mailed off this baby blanket.  I didn't get final measurements but it's large and warm and (according to the expectant mother) simply perfect. It was picked and made with lots of love and happiness so I can see it wrapping the baby up in the same. Project: Dreamy Lace Baby ThrowProject Page: Ravelry | |
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|  It's official, I've been posting nail polish pictures for a whole year now. (2 weeks past, actually.) I find it interesting just how this year has changed Lynn's opinions on nail polish. He still finds it amusing that it even gets done but he's less thrown off when I do something like this where every finger is a bit different. Maybe he's finally accepting that things don't always have to be the same as they ever were. Wet N Wild Green, #223C The Gold and the Beautiful KleanColor #162 Metallic Yellow, #92 Holiday Jingle | |
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| Knitting: It both is and is not what it seems. It looks nearly done but there is quite a bit more that's going to be added. I'm sure some could figure it out by hitting up Ravelry or such, but let's avoid that, yes?  Writing: Despite a slew of topics, none of them appealed. So there was limited writing this past week. Hopefully this coming week will yield better results. Reading: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin. I'm still head over heels in love with the series. Tyrion chapters are by far my favorites, with Arya a close second. Though I don't think there's a single character that I don't look forward to reading more about. | |
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| Sunday - 15 min Yoga Monday - 1.22mi, 21:28 Tuesday - 1.11mi, 18:53 Wednesday - 2.56mi, 46:41 Thursday - 1.06mi, 18:25 Friday - 1.29mi, 21:32 Saturday - Shopping | |
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| When I happened across the pattern I knew that no matter what I'd 'have' to make it. I wasn't sure if I'd keep it, if I'd give it away, or if I'd make several just for fun. I just saw so many possibilities with the finished object that I knew it couldn't go wrong.  This little guy was so quick to make and so much fun to play with afterward.  I can see it now, I'm going to end up making a small army of these and shipping them all over the place. Pattern: Octopus by Hansi Singh Project Page: Ravelry | |
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