Fun Times

So I went to my embroidery class on Thursday. It was scheduled to have four students, and one teacher, so five people total... two showed up (including me) and neither of us was the teacher.

After a half an hour Emily at Twisted said she had no idea where the teacher was (she had tried to reach her but couldn't) and she was really really sorry, and she rescheduled us for the next class plus gave us a 10 % off coupon. I felt bad for her because it's obviously not her fault that the teacher didn't show up. I just hope everything's okay.

So then I went shopping. I told myself I could get some Yarntini using my KnitWars gold pieces ($1 per piece of gold). I was chatting with Emily, debating between "Home" and "Cosmopolitan" for my yarn choice, and she was showing me the Schaefer that they got in just yesterday. Including the Schaefer Andrea. Oh goodness... it was so soft guys, and PRETTY... and well... I just couldn't resist. I bought the "Diane Fossey" colorway in greens to make something lacey for my mom for Christmas. I'm not going to say how much it was, but you can probably look it up pretty easily on your own.

*edited* So I was discussing with my mom what shawls she likes in my Victorian Lace Today book and when she pointed one out I said "and of course you want green" and she said "no, fuschia" My mother wears green... not fuschia... count on her to pull one out of left field like that but hey it's her shawl. I'm going to see if I can exchange my Diane Fossey this week.

Today I have passed on the knits! One of my coworkers brought her daughter in today and I taught her to knit, she brought two colors of acrylic yarn and size 15 plastic needles. I showed her the long tail cast on and how to make a knit stitch, I taught her neither continental nor english style but told her to hold the yarn in the way that it felt most comfortable. She naturally went for English, which seems normal for a child's (10 years old) level of dexterity.

Here's her little swatch of garter stitch (we haven't tried purling yet).

I'm very excited to be teaching the goodness. It was easier than I thought, I never thought I could teach someone to knit since I knit right to left (mirror knitting, for obstinate lefties) but as I showed her how to make a stitch I just reminded her that she would be using opposite hands and she did fine.

Some links that have entertained me:
Paris wants to reproduce, run and hide! (Details in October's Elle)
A rant about kids today and their flip-flops which I enjoyed
I want to make this dress... despite the knowledge, deep in my heart, that it would look like barf on me. Somebody shake some sense into me (Starting with "Alexis, you are neither 6 feet tall nor willowy, so stop it right now!" would probably help.)

I have good friends

So two of my good friends from my previous job came over last night for turkey burgers (I did not plate, mostly because one most fix one's burger the way one would like it) and wine and conversation. They also brought me birthday gifts because they are too kind.

Here is one of my gifts:

(you can't actually search inside, I just hotlinked from amazon... they make a lot of money, it's okay, don't worry about their servers)

And this is the other one:

Both of these books were on my Amazon.com wishlist, however, being the dork that I am I forgot that and I cooed over my gifts "oh my God! How did you know I wanted that one? I've been thinking of buying it myself!" my friend proceeded to roll their eyes and then it occured to me "oh... these were on my wishlist huh?" and we had a hardy laugh.

The moral of the story is, if you get me something from my wishlist because you aren't sure what to get me, then I'll just think you're very very clever and not realize that you are simply sneaky. Keep that in mind friends.

I would also like to send a big shout out to Mia for sending me a box of goodies! I was very remiss in thanking her earlier, because I am simply a bad interwebs friend. She sent me some really lovely ribbon yarn from her stash, as well as this very neat papery yarn and a couple other skeins that I think shall be quite useful for the CHRISTMAS KNITTING (which I am naturally pretending isn't there). Thanks Mia!

I also long-ago received my Sockapalooza socks but I haven't photo-ed them yet (I have worn them though) Weebug Knits sent me a terriffic pair of, I believe Trekking socks, along with some bath goodies, a couple great skeins of alpaca yarn, and a kit for a dishcloth, and other goodies that escape me at the moment. So much thanks! (P.S. that whole me thinking you were Midgeling thing... sorry!)

To plate or not to plate?

Thank you very much for your kind words. I am quite well and am sure that in a few weeks my little drama will have been downgraded from "red-alert catastrophe" to "minor inconvenience" I'm just dramatic like that.

Nothing to report knitting or sewing. I haven't felt well enough to hunch over a sewing machine (perhaps I should not hunch...) and my knitting continues as discussed, I am finishing the gusset of my second pair of Bearfoot socks and working on MS3, which looks far to much like yarn puke to photograph.

Tomorrow I take an Intro to Embroidery class at Twisted. I will be embroidering a tea towel with a pattern from Sublime Stitching the theme is "Swanky decor" which goes just great with my midcentury kitchen. I'll see if I can't capture some images of my embroidery efforts.

On to my query, when I make dinner for Joel and I to share I always plate our food on our two plates and bring the plates, sans extra servings to the table, either indoors or out, which has already been set with napkins and silverware.

This weekend I hosted a wee brunch for my friends and I set the table with plates and brough the food in serving trays to the table for everyone to dish as pleased them. I'm not sure why I did it differently, perhaps four people is my threshold for plate dishing? Maybe since I can easily carry two full plates to the table but must make two trips for four this seemed like the right way of doing things?

What say you? do you plate or do you bring food to the table? I suspect that especially with children it is wise to just fill your own plate, since they can be so picky and also hungry. Plus asking for things to be passed and the act of passing helps teach good manners doesn't it?

I'm curious, do respond.

3 things and some links

Okay... so I started a post yesterday that turned out sounding bitter and cruel... I'm going to try to be a bit more diplomatic and kind today.

*note: Yesterday, when I was bitching to my mother on the phone she said "so what are you going to have for dinner? I mean besides a kitten"

I replied "F*** kittens, I hate kittens" that was the kind of day I had.

We will take part in what a counselor I once had called a B.S. sandwich... *good thing, bad thing good thing repeat from *

1) I have made marvelous progress on my latest pair of socks.

Pattern: Plain stockinette with a German Heel (from Knitting Vintage Socks... Nancy Bush... natch) and a round toe (same).

Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot in "Mountain Tango" this yarn is so amazingly beautiful... every time I pick it up I'm just giddy to see what the next color will be. I love you yarn.

Progress: Just about to turn the heel on the second sock

2) The reason I have been so prolific... having just started these two weeks ago (besides that they are easy, and the yarn is a bit thick, worked with only 60 stitches) is that I was in a car accident last week and my car was totalled. I am now taking the bus.

Due to a variety of economic and environmental circumstances, I will not be getting a new car. Besides, no car could ever be what Doris the Taurus was to me.

I have been quite childish about the matter. Yesterday I said that I did not want to take the bus and my boyfriend, being ever so f---ing level headed responded "so ride your bike" to which I retorted "No! I don't wanna ride my bike, I want to drive Doris" and then I folded my arms over my chest and proceeded to pout. Because I am now 25 years old and it is well past time for me to act in such a dignified manner, don't you agree?

3) I have something mysterious and wonderful on the horizon which I cannot talk about. I'll give you a hint though...

It has nothing to do with knitting, but if it happens the way I'd like, then it would be totally awesome if I finished my MS3 before it begins. Here's some random person's finished Mystery Stole:

Mine will be in black... and is coming along famously thank you. No... I cannot recall right now how far along I am. Thanks for asking

(Thanks to Quietknitter for letting me swipe your really wonderful picture *kisses*)

I would like to leave you with a quote from "Miss Manners Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior"

DEAR MISS MANNERS:

Who says there is a "right" way of doing things and a "wrong"?

GENTLE READER:

Miss Manners does, you want to make something of it?