10 on Tuesday: 10 Things I Did Last Week

Some days, I feel like I've nothing to say when I update my journal, but I actually did manage to do quite a bit last week.

1) I've started helping to teach an Irish dance class, focusing on the ceili dancing. It was my first dance form, but I haven't had to break it down to teach before. I'm slowly discovering the vocabulary I need.

2) I posted a poem on my Facebook page every single day for National Poetry Month. Some have personal resonance for me, some don't. I have enjoyed them all.

3) I drank a deliciously chilled retsina; a mojito; and many, many hard ciders, one of which was a locally brewed raspberry. This week I may rest my liver a bit.

4) I cooked several palatable meals for vegan houseguests. Vegetarian is easy. Vegan is much, much harder.

5) I napped, probably an average of two a day, sometimes more, sometimes less. I'm starting to think my current insomnia jag is age-related. We'll see. I'm feeling surprisingly functional and sane for so little sleep, which is odd for me.

6) I met a friend to walk our dogs in the park. I need to do that much more often than I do.

7) The dog and I finished up our final tricks class with a private lesson from the trainer. After a month, I came away with 3 or 4 new tricks to work on and a renewed love of working with my boy.

8) I'm not saying. A girl gets to have a few secrets here and there.

9) I took apart and cleaned a 1910s banjo.

10) I was a rock star.

A Scarf Pattern for Your Pup

For one of my craft-it-forward projects for this year, I opted to knit Sir Riley Brown here a scarf.

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease (basically, you want something washable) (For a toy dog, you could work in fingering weight yarn, adjusting needle size as needed).
Needles: 8-10 straights and DPNs in the same size
Notions: 2 stitch holders, yarn needle
Gauge: doesn't really matter

• Cast on 10 stitches and work in 2x2 rib for approximately 3" (you do not want the scarf too long as it could trip the dog). 
• kf&b into each stitch. Using a stitch holder and a DPN at the same time, transfer the first stitch onto the DPN and the next onto the holder. Continue to alternate between them until you have transferred all of the stitches. When you are done, half your stitches will be on a holder, and half on a DPN. You can return to your straights at this point if you prefer.
• Working only from the DPN, return to your 2x2 stitch pattern and work a flap approximately as long as the scarf is wide. Eventually, you will be rejoining your flaps into a tube for the scarf to fit through. You don't want it so wide that the scarf will slip out, but you don't want it so narrow that the scarf gets bunched up. You will probably knit between 8-12 rows.
• Place the flap stitches onto stitch holder #2 and return the stitches on holder #1 onto a DPN or straight needle. Work the same number of rows as you did for your first flap.
• Holding both flaps together, you will work your stitches back down to 10 stitches on one needle.  Put your needle into the first stitch on the front needle and straight through into the first stitch on the back needle. Knit them off of the left hand needles and 2 stitches have become 1. Repeat across the row. Don't worry about sticking to your stitch pattern in this row; just use the knit stitch.
• Return  to your 2x2 stitch pattern  and knit the scarf long enough to go comfortably around your dog's neck.
• Measure the length from your cast-on row to the far end of the flaps. Continue knitting that much longer, which will give you enough length to fit through the tube and allow the scarf ends to roughly match in length.
• Cast-off in pattern.
• Weave in the ends and add fringe.

Note: I am sure I am not the only one to come up with this pattern, but I can truthfully say that I am not yet aware of any similar patterns. I was inspired by the 2 items: a fleece scarf a friend made for her dog and the neck-warmers my great-grandmother used to wear.  If you knit this, I'd love to see a photo of your pup in your finished scarf.

Dots

The bits and bobs of life have piled up, and I had forgotten how useful dots are to clearing them out of my head. I have ambitions to say more about each of them, but shall fall back on that important axiom of "better done than perfect":

• I finished all of my craft-it-forward projects for 2014 (some neckbows, a dishcloth, some punched paper, a scarf) and decided to pick up a few more reciprocal swaps. At the moment, I am making my fourth attempt at Calorimetry, each time taking out anywhere from 8-16 stitches. I don't see how the designer ever managed to make it with 120 stitches--it's massive in width and height. I'm down to 88 now and think this one will work. Finally. Please god.

• I have been obsessed for some reason with a mystery dishcloth KAL. I've done every one since August and have been stocking up on solid-colored, cotton yarn. I don't even use knitted dishcloths, so my obsession makes no sense. Still, last night we got invited to a last-minute birthday party, and I was able to grab two cloths as a small gift. 

• I saw Franklin Habit speak on Weldon's Practical Needlework. It wasn't quite what I had hoped for, but it was an enjoyable evening.

• I've committed to do a bit of charity knitting (bibs or hats for an orphanage in China) and am considering a charity sock monkey KAL as well.

• I did a KISS (keep it simple) valentine swap, which called for a card and a project only.  I opted to make a crocheted heart dishcloth, but now am beating myself up when I see all the creative projects coming in. My swap idea board is here if you are looking for a quick valentine project.

• I got this very cool project bag all the way from Canada.  The fabric is sort of a poly-blend twill with a really nice hand, and I love how it isn't all pinky-pinky. I asked for the pattern, but my partner just winged it, she said.

• Speaking of pinky-pinky, I made this project bag for a book club attendance prize. As a teacher, I can be quite punitive about attendance and preparation, but for grown-ups whom I can't grade, I'm a firm believer in bribes. Pattern by mairuru. She does hers by hand, but by leaving room for seam allowances, I was able to do this one by machine.

• I finished and mailed my Jane Austen swap, which I'll save for another post. I also finished reading Sense and Sensibility for the first time.

• In spite of my tendencies towards quicky projects, I decided to sign up for a Celestarium KAL. It's a beaded pi shawl with the beading laid out as a star map of the Northern Hemisphere. Ambitious, but some knitters have taken it father and used different sized beads to indicate order of magnitude and knitting in a band for the milky way. Simply following the pattern shall be enough for me. I've ordered my yarn, picked out my beads, and it all gets started on March 1.

• I sold a knitted cap online, so I've got a little paypal funds to play with. I bought this hat pattern, which I fell in love with on Pinterest.

• I caned my panniers last night and had to rope LB into the task. It was a royal pain in the butt, but today if the house ever warms up, I hope to finish the waistband and be done. This chemise (third down) is up next as soon as I get paid and can buy the pattern and linen.

• I spontaneously decided that Steu's nosework trainer needed a snood for her standard poodle. She'd posted a photo of him after the groomers, and he just looked so magical and snowy white that I knew he needed a unicorn snood. Steu helped model.

• And here is the beautiful recipient, looking like the magical creature he truly is. The trainer comped me a free class as a thank you, so crafting it forward was wonderful all around.

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Things I Love about Winter

1. The way the animals want to snuggle. The pup will sleep under the covers, and I sometimes end up with three pets curled up with me in the armchair.
2. I can indulge my hermit tendencies without guilt. Other than feeding the chickens, I can stay indoors for days at a time.
3. Our ventless gas fireplace. It heats most of the first floor for pennies a day and is lovely to look at.
4. God, I love mohair. I pretty much live in it all winter long.
5. Frost on the windows, which is probably a sign of some sort of expensive house problem, but I prefer to imagine fairies skating over the glass.
6. I keep a twin-sized down comforter on my arm chair. The dog curls up under it, and I have my own little furnace. Every hour, he'll pop out, gasping for air, go guzzle some water, and then climb right back in.
7. Switching over to flannel sheets is one of my favorite moments of the year.
8. Our dual-controlled heated mattress pad. Much nicer than an electric blanket. I'll crank it up an hour before bed.
9. A few years ago, my metabolism changed, so now my internal thermostat doesn't seem to be bothered by the cold very much.
10. Bare branches against the sky.

I don't really mention knitting because the joints in my hands are bothered by the cold, but I do find myself wearing an awful lot of it.

Cavicorn

I'm in the midst of a gap in my knitting. I've finished up some major projects (Dreambird, Catkin, swap items) and am holding off on my UFOs so that I will have them to work on during the Olympics. I found myself in need of quick projects.

I cranked out this unicorn snood for our dog trainer's standard poodle, Howl. Steu has to wear snoods for goopy foods, but he also wears them in his nosework class. If he doesn't, I can't reach his face. The trainer loved Steu's snood, and her poodle is simply magical looking, even without a unicorn snood.

There's about 7 hours of work in it, with quite a few fiddly details and a mixture of knitting and crocheting.  I may need to make a Steu-sized one. This one had 60 stitches on size 8 needles. I also added a looped tab at the neck so that a collar can go through it.

UFOlympics

I had high hopes for that animal sitcom (dressed monkeys! poop jokes! that perky lead actress! lots and lots of adorable animals!), but I have to say, Meh. It wasn't worth delaying The Who for over an hour. Plus, the tiny little dog barks at animals on television. 

I'm feeling about the same way about the UFOlympics. I've been hugely unemployed this summer, so by rights I should have a ton of knitting done, especially with the Olympics on. I did finish up a few things (the Rivulet Shrug, a sleeping cap, a broomstick lace dealie) and made pretty good progress on my sock yarn blankie. Still, I am beyond broke and have been numbing my angst by making liberal use of my neighbors' wifi (we have permission).

I just haven't felt like doing much of anything. Hopefully, with the start of the semester in a week, the busy work will boost my drive.

Chickie Pies

Things have largely settled down on the chicken front, but it was a challenging spring.

Out of our first batch of chicks, one ended up being a rooster (now residing in a neighbor's freezer), and I sold three pullets to someone in my neighborhood.

About six weeks after getting our first batch of baby chicks, I spotted some Polish chicks in the feed store. I'd really wanted Polish to begin with, but they weren't available the week we got our first batch of chicks.

See? Aren't they adorable?

Alas, they both ended up being males and two months later I had to sell them on Craigslist. My first call was from a chatty sort who knew absolutely zip about chickens. I explained that she couldn't have two roosters, but she wanted both and wanted to talk about it for a long time. She wanted to know if the rooster would fertilize the egg before or after it was laid. She talked about putting the rooster with a hen "for a few hours" until he did the deed. She finally flaked out. Shocking, I know.

I sold the first boy the next day, but the second one took about two more weeks. He finally went to a guy with scary teeth who wanted to know if I would deliver, probably because he was legally enjoined from crossing state lines. I hope the little guy is doing okay.

For the brief time I had them, I loved the Polish and will probably try again with them next year by buying a whole batch. Chicks are generally sold in batches of twenty-five, so initially we went in with some other neighbors to split the order. As a result, we didn't really get what we wanted. Now, having sold six chickens from right in the middle of the city, I'm feeling pretty cocky confident about my ability to move chicks.

Another challenge of the Polish was that they were six weeks younger than the first batch; they couldn't all be housed together. So, the rocks moved to the spare bathtub on the first floor and the Polish went in a washtub in the same tiny room. When they finally all moved outside, I needed two separate runs as well.

Other challenges?

The tiny little dog--the tiny, little, cute, fluffy, dog--it turns out, is absolutely a stone cold wolf at heart. He literally tried to snatch a day-old chick out of my hands. For the longest time, I couldn't even get him to pay attention to me if they were anywhere around. He was banished from the bathroom, obviously, but his predatory tendencies meant that once the chicks went outside, he was banished from the yard as well.

Our mornings went something like this:

• Wake in a blinding panic around 3:45 a.m. when the rooster started crowing. Roosters are illegal in the city, and I lived in terror that someone would report us. The rooster was still too small to bother butchering, but I could ill afford any kind of city inspection.
• Go downstairs and let the tiny dog outside in the backyard where he spent his time NOT peeing and NOT pooping, but snuffling about, eating feathers, and trying to dig his way into the temporary chicken run.
• Meanwhile, I'd wrangle the six older chicks into a cat carrier, which got progressively heavier as the weeks went on, and then hide them in the stairwell from the dog.
• I'd feed the cats at some point while the dog was out, since in addition to eating chicks, he also likes to eat cat food.
• Then, I'd let the dog in, cordon him off in the living room and feed him breakfast.
• I'd retrieve the chickens from the stairwell and take them out to their run.

• Next, I'd hand carry the Polish outside to a large wire crate.

• Then I might go back to bed for a few hours since it was just now dawn.

Our afternoons involved me taking the dog for a long walk, since he couldn't go out in the yard while the chicks were outside. Evenings reversed the morning routine. It was a major hassle.

With time, fewer chickens, some training, and the installation of the chicken run on the far side of the back fence, things have largely settled down.

After a few fits pitched on my part, LB largely finished the chicken run. The roosters are gone. The chickens, now numbering within the legal limit, are permanently outside. We've got our bathroom back. The tiny dog still eats feathers, but no longer charges the coop and can be trusted outside again.

Now we're just waiting for eggs.

Summer Work

I'm not teaching this Summer, but as of yet no temp work has come through. This week I made bread pudding from a pack of badly freezer burned hot dog buns and some eggs LB brought back from a Civil War event in late spring. Things are getting tight.

Fortunately, since my stash--both fabric and yarn--is so massive, I have been able to keep busy without spending too much or even any additional money. .

I made a cotton shortgown for some eighteenth-century events as my only other one was wool. I also made a new linen petticoat (the red one). I did spend some money on the hat, but I bought an untrimmed one and can decorate it myself if I like.

I also finally finished the linen stays I'd been working on for ages, literally years. The project is old enough that the sociopath helped me with the fitting, back when my Civil War friends and I didn't know better than to try to nurture her. Ah well.

I've also made two dog crate covers. The first one was designed to shield the tiny little dog from visual stimulation at a lure coursing event. Since he could still hear the motor and barked like crazy, the cover represents a lot of effort for nothing. He had to wait out in the parking lot away from the sights and sounds of the course anyway. Still, I'm glad to have it. The print fabric was given to me by a friend and has already appeared as a quilt backing. In fact, as two quilt backings.

The second crate cover was for a costumed Meet the Breed event with a medieval theme. The table is covered with some Mardi Gras brocade fabric I am hoarding, and the dark purple fabric was something I'd bought for Mardi Gras costuming. Ditto the gold, although it's also served nicely as my Oscars party tablecloth for at least three years. Add a few bits of purple ribbon and some safety pins and you get one fancy-pants crate cover. I take zero credit for the dress, as it's my wedding dress, and my mother made it about eight years ago. For the headpiece, however, I looked at some images of Ann Boleyn, took a few more scraps of purple satin, a strand of Mardi Gras beads, some more purple ribbon, and voila.

And in the just-because-I'm-incredibly-bored category, I've also made two tote bags out of chicken feed bags, using this technique with a few modifications of my own. I don't even need tote bags.

If I still have no job, I'm planning on making LB a vulgar, loud, obnoxious banyan

plus a silk mantle (probably the Grecian casaque) for me

I'm also planning on boosting my sewing skills by trying to recreate some of my favorite vintage clothes by using this technique.

Pet Parade

Grades are due in three days, so of course I am quilting.

I entered one of the more tractable chickens in our local pet parade a few weeks ago and aside from winning the prize for "Most Unusual Pet," we also got a gift bag with treats and coupons and pens and such, including a t-shirt.

I hardly ever wear printed t-shirts, so for some bizarre reason (like grades being due in three days), I decided to make it into a tiny quilt for Steu's dog crate.

Yep. Grades are due in three days.

Homesteading

Since my former LYS boss let me go, I have more time on my hands and a lot less disposable income. So this year, we're going to be doing more gardening. LB built me some raised beds two years ago, and I gardened quite a bit the first year, then did nothing last year because my schedule was so full.

No excuses this year. We can't afford not to garden.

I am looking forward to spring lettuces and radishes and want to get a cold frame going as well.

The really big homesteading news is this:


I raised chickens for many years when I was a kid, sold the eggs even. We'd been talking for a few years about getting chickens, but weren't sure we'd have the time and didn't want to commit to an order of 25, which is most hatcheries' minimum. The city sets a limit of 4 animals per lot, which means we could only have 5 chicks (1 dog + 2 cats + 5 chicks = 2 lots).

Then a neighbor suggested going in together and three of us were able to pick what we wanted. I, of course, wanted antebellum breeds and really got my heart set on Polish Crested. There weren't any Polish when the neighbor went to pick up the chicks, alas, so we settled for Barred Rocks. I swapped out a few for a Sussex (another antebellum breed) and a Wyandotte (a post-war breed, but soooo pretty).

Yma Sumac doesn't even seem to realize they're here; Sherman was very interested at first, and Steuben has been completely obnoxious about wanting to get to them.

Wish us luck! Are the eggs here yet?

Mardi Gras Swap -- Incoming

I've been having voice issues, literal and metaphorical, of late. Having done some damage at a rock star gig on Thursday, and experiencing real moments of terror that I could not afford whatever surgery it was that Adele got, I spent yesterday resting my vocal chords in preparation for another rock star gig tonight. So, don't talk to me, okay? Not until I cash the check anyway.

This would all be easier if I didn't love cheese so much.

Yesterday, when I was resting my voice, my Mardi Gras swap package arrived from Maine. Why Maine? Because this year, not a single member of our swap lives in New Orleans. Three are ex-pats who have been exiled to MA, ME, and KS, while I only went to New Orleans once when I was a young teen. I am pretty sure we rode a trolley, but I mostly remember that our campground was a parking lot next to a train tracks. Really.

My neighbors are expecting a baby, so all week I have been getting delivery of packages for them, but this time it was for me! All me! Mine! When I picked up the box and shook it (because I couldn’t help myself) I heard a jingling noise that I am sure drove the mail carriers crazy.

When I opened the box, I actually got totally distracted by this beautiful mask pattern and nearly forgot to open the rest. I can’t wait to try this out. I think my crochet skills are up for it. If not, I have just joined a new crochet group and I know I can get help if I get stuck.


There were delicious things to eat, including a custom-made, salt-free Cajun spice blend. Just that morning, I had eaten a huge batch of popcorn seasoned with the creole seasoning I got in the last MG swap, or I would have whipped up some popcorn right away. Steu and I have been eating a ton of popcorn lately, so the seasoning will come in handy. There was also a wonderful chocolate snowman made of some very high quality chocolate. I know it’s high quality because I have already bitten his hat off.


There was a book on the history of MG, which LB immediately absconded with. I roped him into taking some photos of my swap box and then he just disappeared with the book.


For fibery goodness, there was a beautiful skein of handspun from Sunwest Yarn and a selection of fun cocktail stitch markers. I know this yarn will bloom just beautifully and am plotting what to make with it. I have a really nice purple alpaca in mind and am envisioning a cowl of my own design.


Best of all, there were two (not one, but two!) different knitted gifties. And technically, since one was for my hands and one was for my feet, that made FOUR knitted gifties. First were these gorgeous mitts from an alpaca blend. Look at the beautiful fleur-de-lis buttons! In the last week or so, I mislaid last year’s Mardi Gras mitts, so these are really coming in handy already.


Finally, I discovered the source of all the jingling: fuzzy Mardi Gras slippers! I love them and wore them most of the day. I keep taking tiny, mincing steps just to make them jingle more. They're back on my feet this morning as I type (although I did hand carry them out of the bedroom so as not to wake LB).


Thank you Tracie! LB, Steu, and I are having a wonderful Mardi Gras thanks to you!


_____________

As for the metaphorical voice issues, I have been working on that too. I've been helped by some kindred spirits. I've been practicing, and I'm nearly ready to speak up.

Sweater Tricks

Shortly before Xmas, a friend posted that she was looking for someone to finish a sweater for her. The sweater pieces had been languishing in a bag for two years, and I actually enjoy finishing work. There's just something about that wooshing zip of mattress stitch.

Anyway, aside from a raging allergy attack and possible exposure to pink eye, ... well, actually that should have been my tip off. When I pulled the sweater from the water and went to block it, I realized that she had only done her decreases on one side of one of the raglan sleeves. In the photo, you can see that "one of these things is not like the other."


I had to reknit the sleeve, reblock, seam, and add on the roll-neck collar, for a grand total of 5.5 hours of work.

The good news is that I did it all for barter. My friend is a dog trainer, of the type with a bazillion initials after her name. In March, we're going to try out a treibball class and take 5 tricks classes.

I have no idea if Steu will like treiball, but every time I thought he wouldn't be interested in a sport, he surprised me. I wish I had a video of him towing a little plastic wagon around the sled-dog field at the last canine carnival. Even a year later, when he heard the sound of the motor at the lure coursing field, he started barking and jumping with excitement.

I'm taking suggestions for what tricks you think little Steuben should learn. I like "hide your eyes" and "take a bow." In the meantime, I have taught him a few on my own.

Pattern Updates

I finally got around to linking two of the blog patterns to Ravelry and to photographing them.

First, Helga, a bulky ponytail hat.


Second, the Bulky Broken Rib Cowl.


and just for grins, a gratuitous puppy/kitty pic.


I hope to get some more patterns up soon, particularly for the Civil War purse, but I need to figure out how to do PDFs first, as I want to include graphics and the original pattern.


Stay tuned!

Stuff, stuff, stuff

I've been thinking a lot about stuff lately. Not in the vague sense of "stuff" (as in "I hate that stuff!"), not in the verb sense (although I did just have to buy some stuffing for a knitted toy), but in the tangible sense (the stuff in my house, a house stuffed full). I am aware of my stuff, especially when I try to take photographs.

I don't read decorating books and don't subscribe to any decorating magazines, but to me stuff is charming. I like stuff, except when I try to take photographs.

I've never understood people who don't decorate their homes. Not your place, of course. Your place is lovely.

LB and I knew a couple for many years and visited three of their homes, each singularly lacking in even the smallest bit of charm. Everything was tatty and thrown together, and there was nowhere to rest one's eyes and take in beauty. It's like they went to Goodwill and grabbed the ugliest, dingiest example of everything, then threw it all into one house.

It's totally possible to buy great stuff used, but it takes patience and a practiced eye. Notice, also, that I said we "knew" them, not "were friends with." They were drinkers and enablers, shouters, close-talkers, not to mention the series of thong incidents. Not fun people to be around. LB is far kinder than I am, however. Anyway, their place reflected themselves: shoddy, abrasive, chaotic.

There is great beauty in the absence of stuff. I've been following Anna's blog for ages, through at least three homes as well, and she has a spare aesthetic that takes my breath away.

I, however, tend towards the cabinet of curiosities approach. As a teen, my favorite room in the Walter's Art Gallery recreated a private museum, with every inch of wall space covered in art. I like the Venice Cafe, House on the Rock, and Haussner's Restaurant, places not meant to be seen through a tiny viewfinder, but places in which one immerses, gazes about, explores.

Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to photograph such places. The point is to stand in the middle and look around.

So, with that in mind, here are some photographs, funnily enough not taken in my house.

Steuben and I went camping last weekend, and I knew he'd be wet and muddy most of the time. I also knew it would be cold, so I'd taken a down duvet.


A pale blue, down duvet.*

Fortunately, since I have plenty of stuff, I took an old queen-sized sheet of LB's, folded it, stitched it, and added twill ties to make a duvet cover.


My late cat Double had ripped several holes in the sheet as she got old and had trouble jumping up onto the bed. So I took some fabric scraps and patched the holes.


I imagine I'll keep adding patches as Steuben adds his own share of tears. Since it was cold (we woke to frost), he would pick up the duvet cover with his teeth, then kick at it until he'd made a perfect nest for himself.

When I got home, in fact, I added two more patches, which I could easily do ... because we have stuff.


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*Grammar tip of the day: Confused about when to put a comma in a series of adjectives? Technically, you need to distinguish between cumulative and coordinate adjectives. Cumulative adjectives add to one another: "pale" modifies "blue." "Pale blue down duvet" would mean that the down was blue. Coordinate adjectives each modify the noun: "blue duvet" and "down duvet." Basically, if you can put an "and" between the adjectives, stick in a comma: "the duvet is blue and down." Now you know stuff!

Stuff & Nonsense

A few photos of some recent acquisitions:

• a notions case I bought when I was on a rock-star road trip last weekend.

• some vintage rick-rack I hope to use as trim on some underpinnings, a set of antique knitting needles and case, an odd Limoges disc that caught my fancy.

• some presents from LB: a nineteenth-century glasses case and a celluloid jewelry box

• I've sort of become obsessed with these boxes of late. I had one, from my great-grandfather's second wedding ring and suddenly found myself picking them up at yard sales for a quarter or at antique stores for a lot more. They're a lot harder to find than I thought, which is why I only own four.
  



• a Civil War CDV, three knitting post cards, a leap year post card I didn't yet own in spite of owning several hundred, and a Cavalier King Charles cigarette card.

Whew!

Mardi Gras is almost over, and I didn't get to participate nearly as much as I would have hoped, but I'm using it as an excuse for dots anyway.

Here's some of what's been going on:

• I set up a table at the yearly reenactor swap meet. No one wants to pay what knitting is worth, and I get that. I generally buy a table just to keep my name out there. Still, I did manage to sell some used goods and to set up a barter for a silk vest for LB. I generally prefer to barter then sell anyway.



• Because it was a sale and not an actual reenactment, we could get away with hanging out in our wrappers all day. At the end of the day, I was very careful to explain to all the women who asked for my dress pattern that I was, in fact, wearing a bathrobe, and no, they could not wear this "dress" to an event.

• I did some junking (an enamel over copper dish, the fifth in my collection) and a book on the history of crochet).



• LB and I went on a date to the zoo.
  
  


• We also had a date to a pipe organ convention and concert. I like dating LB.
  
  
  
• I knitted a pair of socks.

• We threw an Oscar party and Steu gave a brief speech.

• Anne gave me an awesome project bag, which I've already been using. Rachel dyed up some cashmere for me.

• Jamie, who just married her own true-love, Natalie, brought me a Winn Dixie Mardi Gras bag and some Conde Cavalier beads from Mobile.



• I did a Mardi Gras swap (I'll do a separate post for this) but also got some Mardi Gras yarn in the mail from the lovely and talented Dr. Knitter.



• She sent a Barkus figurine, who can now join all his little friends.



• Inspired by her pattern, I knit a pair of Mardi Gras gloves.

It's a Happy Mardi Gras all the way 'round.