Yarnstore Cowgirl

Come sail away with me, to another world...

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Constantines & Feist- Islands in the Stream

I had the original (Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers) on vinyl and played the hell out of it. Nothing else on the album ever got a listen except that song and I've got to admit when I saw this remake on a Starbucks compilation, I was pretty tickled and will probably try finding it on iTunes to buy. (Still haven't ever bought a Starbucks compilation yet even though I'm increasingly recognizing myself as their target audience but that will change on January 30th when their Valentine's Day cd gets released- like I can resist DeVotchKa covering The Flying Burrito Bros?)

Been tagged for several "share 20 things about yourself" posts and never reciprocate but am trying to do better this new year in a number of areas so... here goes.

1. "Share X number of things" posts are hard for me since I tend to horde my personal information. If privacy were a ring, I'd be Gollum.
2. I'd be blissful if every food item I ate contained coconut, mango, and/or banana.
3. As far as food goes, I'm admittedly a bit fussy.
4. When it comes to walking any distance, I like my Converse and my Tom's shoes but I feel like a duckling when I'm not in high heeled boots.
5. I like feeding ducks and fed the library pond's ducks on a daily basis one summer before learning that bread isn't the greatest thing for ducks to be eating.
6. I'm a shameless sucker for "supernatural" themed books and movies. The new Patricia Briggs book coming out next month makes me giddy. I'll even read it in public with the dust jacket left on.
7. Now that Sam is getting familiar with demons and Dean is friendly with angels on Supernatural, I'm not sure if I'm Team Sam or Team Dean.
8. I don't like having the television on just for the sake of it because the background noise makes me jittery but I do like watching Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, 24, Fringe, True Blood, and Grey's Anatomy.
9. I grieve that there aren't new episodes of Deadwood. I loved that show.
10. I like Westerns.
11. Someday, I'd like to own a goat. Or a sheep. Or a mini-donkey.
12. If I won the lottery, I'd start a sanctuary for elderly, disabled, and/or ill cats and rabbits.
13. At some point in my life, I want to visit both Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (in Utah) and Torre Argentina (in Italy).
14. This year, I want to improve my sewing skills, finish a few (slightly more) ambitious knitting projects, and attempt at least half of the recipes in Vegan with a Vengeance.
15. My state of general contentedness can be read in my knitting- if I'm jittery, I'm knitting wool Kevlar.
16. I do knit with wool. I'm trying to wean myself off but Noro keeps wooing me back. I have wool guilt and am going to try to stick to non-animal-fibers once I knit through my stash.
17. This doesn't mean Red Heart acrylic. I knit a 6' Harry Potter Gryffindor scarf out of Red Heart acrylic and it made my fingers ache.
18. I'm going to devote more time to crocheting this year.
19. If a Who Has the Most Adorable Grandparents contest existed, I'd win. My grandparents are adorable.
20. In some ways, 2008 was an asteroid collision. I'm optimistic about 2009.

Happy Holidays...

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:35:00 +0000

Long time, no post. But here's a photo of the deer-crossing sign at the intersection of 122nd and N. MacArthur in Oklahoma City to make up for it. If you look closely, someone added a red sticker to the deer's nose. Every time I pass this it makes me smile.

Spent about four off-and-on months working on the Simple Yet Effective Shawl [Ravelry link] in Noro Kureyon for my grandmother. My hopes are low that she's going to remember to keep it out of the washer and dryer but, for now, it looks lovely on her and made for a nice Christmas gift.

More knitting and more regular updates to follow after the New Year.

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou, y'all.

yarn, melons, scarves, rings

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:15:00 +0000

The Gourmet Yarn Co. received a shipment of Blue Heron Rayon Metallic last week and I grabbed two hanks of the Chocolate colorway before it even made it out of the box. Who could resist though? The photo doesn't even begin to do it justice- the depth of color and the flecks of gold are gorgeous. Am planning on making a Gourmet Swoon Shawl [Ravelry link] from the yarn.

Took a walk around my grandparents' garden today and my grandmother pointed out to me what looks like a honeydew. "What kind of melon is that?" I asked her. "Melon," she answered. "Yes, but what kind of melon?" I asked again. "Melon melon," she replied in an "Are you slow?" tone of voice. I love my grandmother. (My grandfather just confirmed that it is indeed a honeydew which made my grandmother indignantly exclaim "That's what I said!")

And here's my current WIP (and my entry in the Ravelympics for WIP Wrestling): a striped scarf in about six different colorways of Noro Kureyon (I'm cutting out the parts I think are too muddy). About a foot and a half more to go but I'm really delighted with it so far.

The colors are way outside of my comfort zone but I don't think it crosses into a-Muppet-would-wear-this territory just yet.

Oh, and treated myself to this beautiful ring. I'd post a photo of it on my finger but my hands look pretty rough at the moment so a link to the Etsy page will have to suffice. I already own a necklace from this jewelry artist- her work is consistently striking and she's lovely to work with as well.

All Tea Scarves, all the time.

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:29:00 +0000

Been having a bit of a J. Alfred Prufrock week anyway but the outbreak of Tea Scarves seems to just emphasize that. Still really enjoying the pattern and made a second one of Noro Kureyon in two different colorways (one for the inner four rows and one for the outer ruffle) and a third in a solid Patons wool (poetically named "Too Teal"- is that really the best they could do?). My grandmother, subtle as always, keeps picking up the turquoise scarf and remarking how pretty the color is so I'm going to have to make a (much smaller) version for her since this one (as you can see from the glass door picture) is ridiculously long- unless I want an Isadora Duncan moment, I'll have to fold it in half to wear it.
The scarves are now becoming an interior design element in my place. I think I'm going to need a crochet intervention soon.
And here's an action shot of the first scarf, taken by Margaret at the shop on a day when I felt like an extra from a George Romero film. (Seriously, zero makeup and even less energy so be kind.)

Today's obligatory music link is Rilo Kiley's Portions for Foxes. Not anything new but who can resist wailing along while driving (windows down, sunroof open) to Jenny Lewis's "Baby, I'm bad news"? I know I can't (as the poor folks stuck next to me at stoplights can attest).

Today is also a class that I'm expecting to be totally over my head yet, optimistic masochist that I am, I'm signed up for it anyway. I'm not sure why I'm thinking Knitting Socks on Two Circular Needles would be a good idea when I can't knit socks on one circular (or dpns) yet but Linda is always a patient, excellent teacher (and if I really don't get it, I can just sit there and crochet another Tea Scarf).

Doesn't mean I'm sorry...

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:02:00 +0000

A craft blog entry isn't an entry without a cat or some bunnies so, right up front, here: Ghosts by Ladytron.

Since my uncle got married last month to his longtime girlfriend on the beach outside of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki, I ordered this dish from Handgrown Pottery as a congratulations gift and was really pleased by the whole experience- she had it finished ahead of schedule, was always prompt with communication, packaged it securely, and, of course, it's very cute. Their house is starting to have a taxidermy theme that I just couldn't work with but I think they'll like this just fine.

Also, crossed "learn to crochet" and "get a bicycle" off my 101/1001 list so I'm making some progress. The things you'd think would be the simplest- drink more water, buy flowers once per week- are the things I've either removed or just haven't done.

My first real crocheting project was the Tea Scarf [Ravelry link] in Noro Kureyon #170. I'm not admitting in public how late I stayed up last night working on it. The second row is a trial but once you're through with it, the rest goes by quickly. It'll have to get a conditioner bath because the Kureyon feels even scratchier than usual but I'm too enchanted with the colors and ruffle to care.
Used about one and a half skeins of Kureyon. I would ideally like a longer scarf and had originally chained way more than 140 but that second row wore me down and I re-started with fewer. I might try to pretend it isn't a billion humid degrees outside so the Tea Scarf can make it's grand debut tonight at the Knit In.

Also finally settled on a pattern for the beautiful peacock-colored Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande I received for Christmas. I used MG's Easy Cabled Scarf pattern and a bit over two hanks of yarn. It ended up being about 6' or so in length and is ridiculously soft. A fantastic yarn to work with and one of my favorite colors.

And now I think I need a nap.

101 / 1001

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:15:00 +0000

From Day Zero

The Mission:Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

purple = completed
teal = in progress

1001 days = Monday, February 28, 2011

1. Learn to knit socks (toe-up and top down). (0/2)
2. Learn to crochet.
3. Learn to hand-dye yarn.
4. Learn to spin on a drop spindle.
5. Learn entrelac technique and knit a GYC Entrelac scarf.
6. Knit a Forest Canopy shawl and a Hemlock Ring blanket. (0/2)
7. See a Frank Lloyd Wright house.
8. Have a meal at a raw food restaurant.
9. Have lunch or dinner at The Spiral Diner again.
10. Go whale watching. Take handfuls of Dramamine.
11. Attempt at least two new recipes per month. (1/64)
12. Visit the USS Arizona Memorial.
13. Revisit Manzanar.
14. Visit Key's View in the Joshua Tree National Park on a non-foggy day.
15. Volunteer at Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary in Rome, Italy.
16. Volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.
17. Learn to communicate passably in Italian.
18. Make a donation to the House Rabbit Society or sponsor a rabbit at a sanctuary in memory of Iris.
19. Make use of my sewing machine by sewing one dress, one skirt, and three pillows. (0/5)
20. Write and send at least one letter/card per month. (1/32)
21. Write more regularly in a paper journal ("more regularly" = twice per week, minimum). (3/286)
22. Write one short story.
23. Write ten poems. (0/10)
24. Read at least two books per month. (2/64)
Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
25. Visit the gym twice per week. (0/286)
26. Sign up for (and attend) 20 ashtanga yoga classes (0/20).
27. Take flamenco lessons.
28. Take Western swing lessons.
29. Put Western swing lessons to use at the Broken Spoke in Austin on a Jesse Dayton night.
30. Attend an opera.
31. Knit a February Lady Sweater.
32. Spend the night at the Wigwam Village Motel in Holbrook, AZ.
33. See Beirut in concert once. Or DeVotchKa. Or The Gotan Project. Or, ideally, all three.
34. See Emmylou Harris peform live.
35. Take my grandfather shooting at the indoor range once per month. (0/32)
36. Watch 50 of the NY Times' Top 1000 films. (0/50)
37. If my blood pressure and iron level ever raise above that of a zombie, donate blood three times. (0/3)
38. Send a care package to someone from AnyMarine.com.
39. Paint my toenails once per month (since I doubt I'll be getting over my foot fungus phobia enough to go for a pedicure). (1/32)
40. Knit a Jayne hat.
41. Make sure all Christmas gifts are purchased/made before December 1st each year.
42. Visit 3 states I haven't yet. (0/3)
43. Learn how to drive stick shift.
44. Bowl better than a 78 at least once (without lane bumpers this time).
45. Take a class at the Dharma Center.
46. Send cards just because to aunties C, Betty, and Ginny.
47. Take my grandmother out for coffee or to run her errands or whatever at least once every two weeks. (1/72)
48. Make another Think Ink appointment to have Dave add some poppies to my right arm for better symmetry.
49. Spend a day or two checking out historical sites in Delaware.
50. Attend a professional hockey game.
51. Take a pottery class.
52. Try archery.
53. Go indoor rock climbing at OKC Rocks once.
54. Learn to identify constellations.
55. Watch a meteor shower.
56. Be able to do ten real push-ups.
57. See a movie at a drive-in.
58. Fly a kite at Lake Hefner.
59. Own a scooter.
60. Get out in the ocean deeper than my knees.
61. Consider getting a massage. Possibly actually get one.
62. Travel somewhere by train.
63. Start a new tradition of celebrating my birthdays without any drama. Begin with 35th birthday.
64. Join a monthly sock yarn club (after I learn to knit socks).
65. Create my own stencils and handmake prayer flags.
66. Learn Hawaiian applique and make a pillow or small wall hanging.
67. See the Aurora Borealis.
68. Own a nice fountain pen.
69. Take a stained glass class.
70. Overcome fear of overwhelming lingerie departments and buy a pretty bra that a.) fits and b.) doesn't come from Target or Gap.
71. Knit through my yarn stash.
72. Subscribe to a (non-trashy) magazine. (Yoga Journal)
73. Clean out my car. Keep it clean.
74. Attend a Cirque du Soleil performance.
75. Keep a bird feeder constantly filled. (6/143)
76. Plant a balcony garden. Maybe even a buy a hanging plant if I can ever figure out how to install a hook.
77. Read at least one book of poetry every two months. (1/16)
Behind My Eyes by Li-Young Lee
78. Get a haircut every 8 weeks and book next appointment at the end of each visit so I can't forget and end up looking like a refugee from a topiary garden. (0/16)
79. Read 5 books recommended by friends and family. (0/5)
80. Go canoeing on the Illinois River.
81. Sort through my stuff and take some donation bags to the Pets and People thrift store.
82. If possible, attend a Pema Chodron retreat.
83. Knit or crochet at least five mini-blankets to donate to shelters for The Snuggles Project/Hugs for Homeless Animals. (0/5)
84. Sponsor a sheep or an alpaca at a sanctuary.
85. Try 6 new (to me) local, non-chain restaurants. (3/6).
Shamrock station off Portland Ave. (best burritos ever)
Sweet Basil (Norman, OK)
Pops (Arcadia, OK)
86. Attend a wine tasting.
87. Pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers each week. (2/143)
88. Donate a knit or crochet hat to the Dulaan Project.
89. If possible, attain some sort of positive resolution regarding situation with bio-dad.
90. Get a girl-style bicycle for riding around the lake.
91. Look into aikido lessons.
92. -coming up with something new-
93. Learn to be less jittery about pictures. Eventually not run/hide whenever an occasion for being on the firing end of a camera arises.
94. Shop at the farmers' market once per month. (0/32)
95. Make gifts whenever appropriate. Or buy handmade items. Unless recipient has something specific in mind.
96. Find one dressy dress appropriate for dinner with my grandparents (covers my left arm) and one dressy dress appropriate for not having dinner with my grandparents. (0/2)
97. Attend a reading at Full Circle Bookstore again. Possibly even read myself.
98. Attend a ballet.
99. Sponsor a cat at a no-kill shelter.
100. Save $5 for every completed item. Donate $10 for every incomplete item.
101. Start a new list of 101 Things at the end of 1001 days.

Sooner or later, this happens to everyone, to everyone.

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:37:00 +0000

Since last night I've been on this major Pet Shop Boys' Love Comes Quickly kick. So pretty. I think an acoustic version would be lovely as well but doubt Jose Gonzalez is reading my blog for cover suggestions.

In news fit for public consumption, I've been working (endlessly, it feels like) on the ruffled shawl pattern in Noro Kureyon for a (now belated) Mother's Day gift for my grandmother. To me, it looks like a clown and a parrot had too many drinks one night but those are colors she likes and it's all about the recipient so...
She's getting a little belligerent about it ("Why aren't you done yet?") so I'd better pick up the pace.

And my half-sleeve is finally finished. By Dave Bruehl of Think Ink (in Norman, OK). I think he did a fantastic job in both design and execution and am really delighted by how it turned out.

"The highway is alive tonight...

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:05:00 +0000

But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Searchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad"

A while back, a friend sent me a link to this cover of Bruce Springsteen's The Ghost of Tom Joad by Junip and I, for reasons I can't even remember, must have ignored it but apparently the universe (in this instance, at least) was friendly because I just received the whole song in my email and it's been part of the mini-soundtrack keeping me afloat during the readjustment period, when I catch myself talking about Maggie in the present tense ("I have the sweetest twenty pound cat!") and then remembering she's gone and breathing through those moments where you feel your heart drop into your stomach and start dissolving like Tums.

Anyway, Goin' to Acapulco (originally by Dylan, covered by Jim James & Calexico) along with The End's Not Near (covered by Band of Horses, originally by The New Year) have rounded out my three constant repeats of the weekend but I'm both amazed and chagrined about that gorgeous, devastating song being right in front of me without me knowing. If you haven't heard it, the Jose Gonzalez version is haunting- he's got such a plaintive voice and chooses such interesting covers- but the harmonica on the Bruce Springsteen version undid me so you really can't go wrong either way (and I'm not even generally a fan of "The Boss").

You can go wrong, however, if you're That Person when you're out shopping. The person who talks on his/her cell phone during an entire check-out as if the cashier is the automated self-service system at Wal-Mart. Or the person who pays for his item with a wad of crumpled dollar bills stuck together with chewed up Bubble-Yum. Or the person who starts yelling when asked to show his ID. Part of the reason I wanted a half-sleeve of Kannon was as a reminder to be more compassionate but sometimes people like that make it rough. A couple of days each week, I work at a bookstore. Most folks truly are friendly or neutral and I have little to complain about but the rare exceptions are always glaring (like the aforementioned people or, worst case ever, the guy who tried to have me throw away his wad of very used toilet paper). On Saturday a woman actually walked up to my register and tossed her book at me. Not as aggressive as a fastball but with definite hostility and momentum. I was taken aback at first but then thought the book must have slipped out of her hand until she repeated the same move with her credit card. She literally tossed it to me in this offhanded manner, like she found the whole thing distasteful and just couldn't be bothered. I tried to convince myself it was a wrist twitch from carpal tunnel, but the smug, mean expression on her face erased that idea. I'm not sure she was just rude or if she was classist or if she worried that my tattoos are contagious? At first I was upset but by the end of the transaction, I was more amused than angry. I mean, come on, my cat just died. I'm not going to let some gauchely dressed stranger with a delusional superiority complex siphon my energy. I'm grateful at least for the reminder to be kind (or, at least, neutral) to everyone I encounter since they probably are nursing their own ghosts and bruises.

And, since this is ostensibly a knitting blog, here's what's going on with my Cloud Bolero. I'm about two inches further along than when this photo was taken. I had no idea I'd like picot edging so much even if the process is a pain. Since this is one of my Knitting Through Grief projects, there are some pretty big glitches where my mind wandered off but I think the texture and color of the Noro Kureyon keep the mistakes from hopefully being too obvious? Both the Amish and the Navajo have a tradition of inserting deliberate errors into their work (quilts and weaving) so maybe I can claim that technique in this case? Or insist that I was aiming for a wabi-sabi element. I'm thinking that once I start getting some of the multiple works-in-progress I started during Maggie's illness (as kind of a yarn lifeline) off my needles, I'll be able to frame that period differently, more in a context of scarves and hats and fingerless gloves to decorate (and keep warm) loved ones rather than in a context of pure loss.

From blossom to sweet impossible blossom.

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:06:00 +0000

On April 16th, it became apparent that Maggie's liver failure and her diabetes weren't going to allow her any positive quality of life and the compassionate decision seemed to be to help her ease out of this life with grace, dignity, and less pain. And even though someone told me today that I interrupted Maggie's karma, I know I made the right decision. Her skin had turned the color of lemon sorbet and she was drained- if I can keep my cat from further suffering, bring on the karmic damage. Really, I dare anyone to seriously tell me that my cat should have turned the color of a banana Jolly Rancher and slowly withered.

Aside from that one ridiculously insensitive instance, people have humbled and surprised me with their kindness and their willingness to be present in my messy grief. I'm not bursting into tears at random moments anymore but I do miss her. She was just such a good cat. Sure, she had to be tranquilized to be groomed and she missed the litter box nearly every time and would splash all the water out of her bowl on a daily basis but she also had, in the middle of all her black whiskers, one single white one and her toes had tufts of fur between them and there wasn't anything about her that I didn't think was lovable. Like the last stanza of Li-Young Lee's "From Blossoms",

There are days we live
as if death were nowhere
in the background; from joy
to joy to joy, from wing to wing,
from blossom to blossom to
impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.

Maggie, in her entirety, was such a sweet impossible blossom.

Even though making the choice to end her pain was devastating, I know having that time with her, being with her in her death and being able to say everything I needed to say and holding her and singing (ruining) "Here Comes the Sun" as she eased out of this life, was a gift.

Hoping that knitting some catghans for The Snuggles Project will help me process my sadness and also give homeless kitties some comfort in Maggie's memory since she was homeless herself until she parked herself on my doorstep six years ago.

If you've got a healthy animal friend (or anyone you value) in your life, folks, feel blessed and let them know you love them while they're still around.