UFO #2

And, by the skin of my teeth, the second installment of the UFO Resurrection project.
This is We Call Them Pirates from Hello Yarn. I started it for the Man around November and promptly got more interested in knitting some fingerless mitts for myself. He says he really wants to wear the hat before it gets too warm... so I have some time. We don't get 'real' summer around here until October.
Now that I've put my mind to it, though, it shouldn't take too long.

Don't come here looking for knitting...

Cuz you're not going to get it today.

The man is gone for the long weekend. Not that this is exciting in itself (love you sweetie), it's just that I get to do what I want ALL weekend. Nice.

So, I've been knitting, catching up on bloglines, cleaning, making cookies, watching movies, listening to Alison Krauss, and just having an all around good time by myself.

I won't give you the recipe. You'll have to ask Martha.

But, I will give you the recipe for something much more exciting and worthwhile.

Ok, here goes.

Are you ready?

Mom Riley's Homemade Kahlua - I told you it would be worthwhile...

1pt brandy (or 1 cup brandy and 1 cup vodka)

2 cups hot water

4 cups sugar

1 vanilla bean

2 oz instant coffee (not freeze dried)

Mix coffee and sugar together in 1/2 gallon jug. Add water and mix well. Add brandy and vanilla bean.

Seal and keep in a dark, cool place for 30 days.

Enjoy!!

We keep ours in this

which always makes me feel like I'm drinking moonshine. So, make this and let me know how it is around St. Patrick's day or so. Super yummy, I promise.

SP 9 wrap-up

Now that Secret Pal 9 has been over for two weeks, I feel that it's finally time to do the wrap up.

I had such a blast!! My spoiler was awesome, and I really enjoyed spoiling my spoilee. (Wow. That was quite the sentence.)

I was spoiled by Kathy of oldladypenpal.wordpress.com. Kathy, thank you so much for everything. All that yarn, and all that chocolate?!? And the book, and the gift certificate! You are too awesome! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

And I spoiled Jena of yarnharpy.livejournal.com. I hope her last package arrived safely.

Kimono, by popular demand

My sitemeter referrals are showing high demand for this FO. Therefore, without futher ado, I present the Sundara Yarn Tatami Kimono.

Pattern: Tatami Kimono from Sundara

Yarn: Sundara's Sport Merino in Drunken Plum (color evidently no longer available)
Mods: I made I-cord for the ties. The pattern calls for crocheted chains, but my crochet skills are not to be trusted, even for something so simple.

Started 12/28/06.

Finished 2/11/07.

Don't let the dates fool you - this was a pretty quick knit. It languished with only one seam finished, and no ties for over a month. The dropped stitches greatly increase the size of the sweater, and decrease the actual amount of knitting done. Think of it as a clapotis in sweater form! The construction is very clever, as it's knit all in one piece from the back, up and over the shoulders, split for the front, and ends at the bottom front. Seaming is minimal (yay!)
I love the colors in this yarn. Every skein was different, and though I did knit with two skeins at a time, I still got a little pooling here and there. I found myself cheering for color changes - "No, not green yet. Come on yellow - stay with me. Just a little longer!"

All in all, a great project.

Later this week, an update on the UFO resurrection project, and a very belated SP9 reveal.

Silent Poetry Reading

Jabberwocky!

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought -
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through,
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves
And the mome raths outgrabe.

By Lewis Carol from Through the Looking Glass.

The linguist in me loves this poem. It's all jibberish, but so onomatopoetic that you understand what he's saying. Or, go here (under glossary) to see what he really meant.