Corsa Update 2

Thank you to everyone who sent out those good thoughts for Corsa Chili. All that positive energy worked. His surgery was a fantastic success. The final biopsy of the leg revealed that the cancer had not progessed beyond stage I, the upshot being that he will not need any further treatment. He will be with us for a long time. You would never know that he had ever used four legs, he is so good with three! We love our boy-o!

Premature...

SNOW!

Ok I got a ration of shite from my good friends in snow country for my measly snow pictures of Thursday. Things took a turn Friday midday, and on Sunday morning we woke up to a winter wonderland. I present snow Santa Cruz Mountain Style.


Snowing on Friday afternoon.


Godiva considers snow, and is, well, confused.


Sunday morning, the farm across the road, could be Montana (maybe?)


Later on Sunday, the snow melts off the the driveway, but the yard still looks gorgeous.


Corsa loves the snow (he is totally unaware that he lacks a leg - this is four days after his surgery).


The back deck.

Wow!

You're no bunny...

'till some bunny loves you.


(pre-felted looks a little like a pig)


(felted funness!)

The pattern is called "Bunny Fun" designed by Bev Galeskas from Fiber Trends. Miguel von Bunny is made of stashed alpaca left over from Angelina. I don't know what brand it is, but it is worsted weight and just lovely yarn. I used size 8 dpns, but the project works with just about any weight yarn and needle. Once felted the bunny was easy to shape. His ears are a little floppy so he must be a lop. It was delightful (and fast) to knit, and I am off to knit some carrots.

This constitues proof positive that I still can knit and finish projects....

SNOW!

Brrrr, now knitting doesn't seem like such a silly hobby! Wish that I had made a greater push to finish Heather, I really need her now!

Our Boy is Home!

Not much to say, he went in for surgery yesterday, we picked him up this morning. He is a little trooper. We will know after the weekend what stage the cancer had reached, and if he will need to undergo any further treatment. For now, we are thrilled to have our Corsa home, and in good form. I know he is in good form, the sound of the butter wrapper, the opening of the cookie jar... he is right there sporting his fancy bandana patterened pig collar.

Corsa Update

Well the news is good, or as good as can be with a cancer diagnosis. His ultrasound, X-rays and blood work came back clean and clear. This means that the cancer has not moved from its location in his leg. Sadly it means that the leg has to go. The good news is, after the amputation he may not have to undergo chemo. I suppose it is all relative. I know that we will do everything we can in our power to help him stay healthy and comfortable. His comfort is our greatest concern. And really, you would never know that he was sick, aside from a little limp, this dog is as vital and frisky as he was when he was a pup (although when you are speaking about labs that is either hurricane force or asleep...)

Again thanks for all the good thoughts.

Heather is on the back burner. I am working on some easy felted pieces, and am about to cast on for a sweater for my friend's son. I guess I can wait until next year for my camel colored sweater, even though this is the one week that I need a big sweater - we have snow on the ground!!!!!!

I leave you with Corsa romping at Davenport last November.

Short and sweet

Thanks for those of you who sent wishes for our Corsa. As of yet there is no news. He is going in for more tests this week. We should have a clearer understanding of his health by next week. That said, it was a real joy to have my cousin and her girlfriend with us this past week, as my cousin is a vet, her partner is an animal ecologist... These ladies know animals and how to talk to people about them! The two of them were able to reassure us, and help us feel as though we were taking the right steps for our "boy-o".

Knitting? Well I plod along with Heather. I am marooned on freaking sleeve island. WHY!!! Why are backs and fronts so easy and sleeves are torture? I must admit that Heather has been a less than exciting knit. I need (erhm, I want) a camel colored sweater, but at what cost? Cleeves, Butterfly, countless other knits are passing me by and yet I plod along at Heather... Not to mention that I spent the weekend with a most adorable young person for whom I would knit the world!!! My next project will be a sweater for a young boy aged 3 - please send suggestions!

I am tired (in school all day), worried (about my pup) and most of all ready to read a book and call it a night (just my selfish self).

Please think good thoughts

Today our beloved Corsa had a bone biopsy. He is eight years old. I know some people might chide me for being so attached to our dog, but he is our child. I gave Corsa to my husband for his birthday almost eight years ago to the date. He was a crazy, anxious puppy, but all love. He is a constant and faithful companion.



We love him so.

Little Fuzzy Friends

I would like to introduce you to Mrs. Beeton, or at least my approximation of her warmness.



Both yarns I used are Rowan; Kid Silk in Majestic of course and the other is CashSoft (I threw away the tag!!!) with a little sparkle. I did not use beads. Why? Well, I'll tell you why, I was having an all out championship battle with Kid Silk. I threaded my beads, cast on my stitches and found that I had cast them on such that not even the Governor of California could budge them! I literally had to cut the cast on stitches off the needle. I tried again with a larger needle, same problem. So, as I am pretty much a newbie with this yarn I decided to try it solo without the added headache of the beading. The pattern is great fun (when you aren't fighting with your yarn). And, I have had more compliments on them. They are great conversation starters, just today I was asked about the cute sweater peaking out of my jacket, astonishment and mirth followed when I pulled off my Mrs. Beeton's.

I have enoooooooooooooooormous respect for those of you who have knit anything more than a tid bit with Kid Silk. A little bird told me that Gromit intends to knit Butterfly, I certainly say she deserves a gold medal for taking on that endeavor. (Ms. Gromit helped me translate the pattern into American knitting directions, and to my eternal shame I have yet to even attempt it, my shame is compounded by the fact that I have yet to repay her for her kindness!)

On another front was anyone else as deeply disappointed by the latest Interweave and the Vogue winter issue? Not a thing I was moved to knit. Frankly I think Knitty presents some of the most innovative and unique patterns I have seen in a long time.

Off to gnitt some more!

A meme, an excuse

It is past my bedtime. I have been neglecting my spouse in favor of finding appropriate nasty rap for pre show music for my upcoming show (and re-entry into the theatre world). I love my husband, but I am so keyed up I can't go to bed right now...

And so in an attempt to cool down before flinging myself into bed I was doing a little blog reading. Rabbitch has just completed a fun "meme" (yah yah I know all about the ME ME ness of the memes, and possibly I just wish that once I'd be tagged, but I know I have to participate, and POST, and KNIT...) so I grabbed it, cos its fun, and its late, and I need to blow off some steam...

4 Jobs I have held:
1. Deli worker (fired)
2. Stage Hand (contract work)
3. Petting zoo grunt - animal poop duty as well as feeding (loved it - moved)
4. Costume designer (still do when I get the chance)

4 Movies I'd watch over and over and over and over....
1. Franco Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet
2. Julie Taymor's Frida
3. Persuasion
4. A Clockwork Orange

4 Shows I watch
1. Lost
2. 24
3. Rome
4. Arrested Development

4 Places I have lived
1. Chile
2. The Philipines
3. Spain
4. San Francisco, CA

4 Vacations
1. Waikiki (every Thanksgiving - with family - always wonderful)
2. Bocas del Toro, Panama (visit family - see post dated )
3. Bangkok (Biz trip for spouse, amazing time for me)
4. Italy (honeymoon, and can't wait to do it again)

4 Websites
1. Rabbitch
2. Supperstarra
3. Grommit Knits
4. Yahoo

4 Foods (and really must I???? This is ridiculous! ((despite the fact that I took on this "meme" myself))
1. really good sashimi, especially hamachi (of course with a nice daikon salad and a bowl of miso to start)
2. big, bloody New York steak with LOTS of horseradish
3. arugula salad with perfectly ripe bosc pears and toasted pecans
4. a nice smelly camenbert with a perfectly ripe Fuji apple and a rich, rich cab (ploughman's fantasy)
4. Duck
4. my mom's flan
4. Contents of most gourmet grocery stores....

4 Places I'd rather be
1. on a chaise, on a beach with a Mai Tai in hand
2. Via Spiga, Milan
3. Isla Bastimentos
4. in bed with spouse

Ca, c'est tout.

Knitting goes at its pace. I HATE Kid Silk, but that is another post, and will follow with pics in the next day or two.

PS If anyone has any suggestions for really nasty rap that is Latino and possibly with a female vocalist...I need 30 seconds worth.

Super Secret Project Revealed (better late than never)

I know that I had mentioned that I was working on a top secret project before Christmas. I had wanted to photograph it and post about it before we left on our trip. I did photograph it, but the photograph was hideous.So here it is in a more flattering light, sans body unfortunately, but well photographed.



And a slightly closer view of the cables. Very yummy! Spouse loves it, but it is almost too heavy to wear in our climate. We're just going to have to go skiing soon!




Details: Stocksmoor from Rowan's "A Yorkshire Fable"; knit in Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky in Stout and String, on Crystal Palace Bamboo Circs. The pattern does not require circs, but it is a massive sweater and easier to control on circs. It was an easy knit (except that I had to knit it on the sly, and when caught one day I said it was a blanket... for my mother...), and I highly recommend the pattern. It is the first time that I have knit anything using the recommended yarn and the colors from the pattern book. Not surprisingly it turned out just as it looks! Yowza - might try that again. Oh, and may I just say, I am mad for cables!

I am trying my hand at these darling wristlettes, using stashed yarn. When I first started knitting I went on a mad spree of buying little bits of expensive yarns and as a result I have a pretty big stash of Kid Silk Haze and other mohair varietals, and yet not enough of any one to make anything significant. So a project like this is great. It will be my first attempt at using beads in knitting. Bring it on Mrs. B.

Sigh

Last week we were here...

Wizard's Beach on Bastimentos Cay in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama.

Now, with my blood thinned out by the heat and humidity I am too cold to knit! Actually my biggest problem is that I want something facinating to knit and I am stumped for ideas! Tomorrow I will work on this problema. For now I will enjoy my tan and dream of parrots.

¡Feliz Año a todos!

Visions of Rawhide Candycanes

dance in their heads.

Its raining

and that means its perfect knitting weather.

Super Top Secret Project will be revealed this weekend, so I will finally be able to share it. But I won't be able to share it for a few weeks as its debut coincides with our trip to Panama to visit my father!

I am working on Heather, and here is a picture of her progress.



In all that calm cabling I needed a quick project. Something colorful, something easy... something acrylic! Yes it is, and I just love the color. I am knitting this based on caculations I derived from The Knitter's Book of Handy Sweater Patterns. It might be a cowl neck... then again it might be a disaster! But its pretty and soft.



Am I going to be a better poster in the new year? No clue. I am taking two more photography classes, and I fear that a J-O-B might be in my very near future - yech. I can hardly hope that the next J-O-B will afford me the same computer time generosity that my last job did - so sad. But it will allow me to buy more photo paper and yarn.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,Happy New Year and Joy to all!

Woe betide...

the knitter who cannot manage to post on a weekly basis. I have been knitting, oh yes I have, although since I am engaged in "super top secret project" it is hard to post about it. It is true, I have not been knitting as ferociously as I have done in previous months as I have been a great deal busier.

Odd, I used to work 32 hours a week, worked out at least an hour a day after work, had a full day off mid week, knit, engaged in knittinng fantasy, blogged and engaged in blog reading at least two to three hours a week. And there was still time in the week to complain.

Now I take class twice a week, spend between 9 and 14 hours a week in the darkroom(at school), spend countless hours a week composing photographs (both on paper in a conceptual manner, and by actual shooting in a practical manner). I also spend time in museums and galleries looking at photos. I work on the play that I am directing. Research on the web and in libaries. And those 3am wakeful times when all my good ideas come flooding into my brain. Guess what - there are not enough hours in the day to be, do, think, and still knit, let alone complain about anything!

But I still knit. I those in between times. Knitting does allow me a time to think; think about photos that I want to take, think about blocking and characterizations, beats and lighting cues (Christy will understand).

I hope to continue to post in a timely fashion. Perhaps when these new enthsiasms sink in and become part of me I will find more time to blather about knitting. But now as we head into the holidays, and finals, and casting, and rehearsals... I may be doing more knitting and less writing about knitting. Garland might even stand a chance - after all stockinette is great for thinking.

Bad Blogger!

it has been over a week since my last post, this "retirement" sure is cutting into my blogging time. I have been knitting, top secret project that cannot be photographed until after the deed is done!

A few days ago I had the pleasure to go to visit Communknity again. That store has it all, great staff, huge stock of Rowan yarns, and best of all completely natural lighting. No worries about getting home and finding out that you bought three different dye lots! Never happened to me, nope, no way, ahem. They also carry an extensive library of Rowan books. Have I ever mentioned how much I am in love with Kim Hargreaves, Martin Storey, Sarah Dallas, Kaffe Fassett, Kim Hargreaves, did I mention Kim Hargreaves? I wish I lived on a wild and windy moor, where I could waft around with my messy hair, big lips and gorgeous hand knits!

Anyhoo I picked up Rowan's A Yorkshire Fable and Kim Hargreaves A Season's Tale. Yum. I'd say that I want to knit each and every one of the designs. Here are a few that I plan to make (at least in my head I fantasize about making them).

Kim Hargreaves' Renaissance. Need I say anything? Just lovely.



Kim Hargreaves' Dunoon reminds me of Teva Durham's Tartan Jacket from Interweave Fall 2004 (another designer whom I just love love love!). I still want to knit the Tartan Jacket. Now I'll have to make a choice.



Kim Hargreaves' Heather. Heather is the camel colored cable knit. Although I was unable to join the Cable KAL (due to bizarre blogger issues, and quite possibly my own inability to follow directions), I choose this as my project. I have cast on three times... again issues with reading the pattern before you start to knit. I know that the fourth cast on will be the charm. I am using stashed Kid Classic for this project.



On a sad note, Garland ist tot. I just don't have the patience to spend my hours knitting stockinette on teeny tiny needles. I haven't frogged her yet, but she has been relegated to the back of the project drawer in a Walgreen's bag. Sigh, what a shame.

And I am sure that everyone is dying to know how my photography class is going, given the artistic quality of the photos in this post... Well its just groovy, but it is a class in black and white manual photography, so the benefits have not manifested themselves in my digital world just yet. Not only that, these pics were taken at 8am, inside on a dark and rainy morning. But the quality of photography on this blog will improve! That is my promise.

So much to do

so little time.

How is it that when I was employed I had hours to read blogs, to work on my blog, to plot my next knitting coup, to shop knit stores on-line, and now, while unemployed (or as my husband likes to quip "she is retired!"), I have no time to do any of it! My days seem to be packed to the gills. I still get up at the same time. I spend an hour or so working on my resume, poking around on job boards, drinking coffee, reading the paper, and then the day starts to gather speed.

Twice a week I am in class, one of those days I have a lab that takes up most of the afternoon. Boy howdy, photography is magic. I tell you developing the first role of film is magic, you start out in the dark, swish around some chemicals, trust that the clear liquids that you are using are indeed the liquids that you think they are, play in water a little bit and ta-da! You have negatives.

I have been reading plays like crazy. Working on revitalizing this stalled theatre career of mine...

During my other days I have been working on a secretive little project. Today is the day to out it. I have opened a small (wee, teeny tiny) store at Etsy.com. As you all know I am for the felt. I have been felting up a storm. A storm of felting does not make for a whole lot of inventory, but it is growing. I have also put my fabric headbands up for sale. I get head aches from the plastic ones, and the fabric ones I have found in the drug store are butt ugly, only a mother could love 'em, hair holding sweat bands. So here it is GodivaBacci and a preview of the wares...





Please stop by the store, comment on the wares, I need help with the descriptions. Normally wordy as all get out, my verbosity dries up when I try to write about my own work.

I'm off to shrink some more stuff in the washer!

p.s. Garland is terribly abused. Haven't knit a stitch on her since my "retirement". Also starting some top secret pressies that will have to remain under wraps for a few months... cos too many nosy peeps read this blog, and you all know who you are!
p.p.s. Spellcheck always cracks me up, for one thing it replaces my name with Cholera, and secondly although it is embedded in a "blogging" application, it does not recognize "blog". Silly.
p.p.s. you can also get to my store by typing in godivabacci.etsy.com

Happy blogiversary Mim

As I have a ready made pic of da feets, here they are.



If you are curious (and I know you are) please refer to Rabbitch's entry of 10/10/05. Love the silliness.

"FO" is for folly

or foolish, or foolhardy... woe to me who blithely substitutes yarn. The gauge widthwise was perfect on my 4x4 swatch, it was one row longer lengthwise, which I did not worry about so much as I have a long back, and like my sweaters to reach the waistband of my pants (and with waistbands falling as they have recently this sometimes leaves me with a big patch of flesh bared that I'd rather have covered). So I knit for a 36 inch bust. Oh well, my tiny mother will have a nice new sweater to keep her warm in Colorado's winter.

Here it is, in its tiny glory



And a shot of the collar, which I love, love, love!



And the sleeve, again, love!



Details: Drop-Stitch Cardigan from Interweave, Fall 2005. Knit with Manos in colorway #109 (on a side note, you would think that Manos might be able to name their colorways - 109 is just so bleh. This colorway reminds me of wonderful berries, leaves, and twigs, perfect fall colors - "berries and chocolate with mint garnish", or "Autumn walk in the woods", even "Yum" would be better.) Knit on size 8 bamboo circs. It was a fun fast knit. Its great fun to drop and pull out stitches when you are supposed to do it. I recommend this pattern, and will knit it again, but might try it in the wool suggested. The zipper is a bit messy, but to tell the truth when I realized that it wasn't going to fit me I lost interest. In fact the front is finished with an i-cord zipper placket, which I did not do. Can I just say that making i-cord is about the least fun you can have with two sticks and string. How horrible am I to admit that I am going to give this away, and that I didn't do my best work on it. So smack me.

I am on a finishing streak. Next on the list is Garland. And I have my suspicions that I will be able house a small family in this one... looks big...

FO, toe, doh!

Ok, a soon to be FO.



What happened to my toe?



Grape stomping, I kid you not. Ok I realize that the toe does not look that damaged in the photo, but trust me it hurts!




Doh!



Didn't know that they came apart so easily...


This not working is killing me, I am so crazy busy. Need to find me a job so I can slow down a bit.