tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216166552024-03-23T11:24:42.624-07:00The Weaving InnHome to the knitting world's anti-Finisher. Kind of like the anti-Christ, but with a smaller following.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.comBlogger555125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-28727334621029421162012-01-26T13:27:00.001-08:002012-01-26T13:34:46.409-08:00Spring?<p>It's a beautiful day here in Northern California, currently 63 degrees and sunny. Do I really want to leave this kind of weather for grey and damp? Probably. I decided to pull out the camera and have a little photo shoot at lunch. It was a bit disappointing, pictures I thought for sure were going to be great were more like ... meh. I look perhaps a dozen pics and of them, these 4 were salvageable.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-udYqbpnYlu7Fw2hvthZWj3A-EH9WsCpJEPRbRK4GROss1QRfaEkHWDyKs3RO-8vh-Sulfafr-SRzNnVKiaA9lvF_SDgYA3NoWUevKOgqNXskSovR0rde4cUxbolIDPp-uTTJyQ/s1600/P1260001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-udYqbpnYlu7Fw2hvthZWj3A-EH9WsCpJEPRbRK4GROss1QRfaEkHWDyKs3RO-8vh-Sulfafr-SRzNnVKiaA9lvF_SDgYA3NoWUevKOgqNXskSovR0rde4cUxbolIDPp-uTTJyQ/s200/P1260001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702055858268238866" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">These lovely flowers grow on a bush outside our office.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPzJMBUV8qxQzrls9qDk_-Pkv8fa_W-11KmsvPELEwiPjM9in4_6VBK5682sEexOBVyzPzvnC6NCS_gX4vb8QwALKE7zatrw4ORFsedU-dtDNvxFlb8IwrWa62oZaQIq9z9xmkQ/s1600/P1260014-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPzJMBUV8qxQzrls9qDk_-Pkv8fa_W-11KmsvPELEwiPjM9in4_6VBK5682sEexOBVyzPzvnC6NCS_gX4vb8QwALKE7zatrw4ORFsedU-dtDNvxFlb8IwrWa62oZaQIq9z9xmkQ/s200/P1260014-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702055778299814098" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Painted mailbox on Menlo Oaks Avenue. Where those with money reside.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQIxMp1vql5AHKEgRyoSksh4Ubq3MN93JYxullSg_d-IcyRDywKJ6A9YLFJUYtL7X3p8fkI2LXV05R1iLoNbrpzqQLWaQfdABxIIfpYEmoSQwk1AI2eRMm1KnwrRe73rzbFA-jA/s1600/P1260003-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQIxMp1vql5AHKEgRyoSksh4Ubq3MN93JYxullSg_d-IcyRDywKJ6A9YLFJUYtL7X3p8fkI2LXV05R1iLoNbrpzqQLWaQfdABxIIfpYEmoSQwk1AI2eRMm1KnwrRe73rzbFA-jA/s200/P1260003-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702055713363688562" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Same flower ... different angle.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlHqk9jInYvINkLwc_trxR1D-d_kxHpCipw_jpZL30b1Wp4-cCbNR7TFz_6VSEzOXX5ys-jrliDrzDRS8RhkStrXJ3Ji_ttazAdZTKVPDIif43GQoTbP8gYeWV62LfcQGhnKdiw/s1600/P1260016-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlHqk9jInYvINkLwc_trxR1D-d_kxHpCipw_jpZL30b1Wp4-cCbNR7TFz_6VSEzOXX5ys-jrliDrzDRS8RhkStrXJ3Ji_ttazAdZTKVPDIif43GQoTbP8gYeWV62LfcQGhnKdiw/s200/P1260016-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702055627655155666" border="0" /></a></p><p>Another painted mailbox peeking out of the bushes. And that's about it for today. Well other than the fact that tomorrow is my sixth blogiversary so there will be a giveaway. A small brown tabby I think.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-29749814688245111412012-01-24T12:30:00.000-08:002012-01-24T12:43:15.971-08:00Winter Equals Baking<p>One of the downfalls of living in California is that in the summer it's generally too hot to bake. Actually make that mid-April to mid-October. My teeny tiny apartment does have an air conditioner but it only cools the living room. If it's July and you turn on the oven in my apartment it's game over. No need to add any liquid to your recipe, just stand next to the mixing bowl and sweat into it. Isn't that a pleasant thought?</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vcgn8llXq3uy1GPkEEP8jue6UD5FLX-7ukSsGrVkjtkdX8Zfnx1Aydul6i_BW9Ag0u04vxHAYOaRXtVjm8Otg0kzHmsTYUnL29E6xaWImCw-anQqCE5xQZ4MX3FQY2d_BiSSlw/s1600/P1230001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vcgn8llXq3uy1GPkEEP8jue6UD5FLX-7ukSsGrVkjtkdX8Zfnx1Aydul6i_BW9Ag0u04vxHAYOaRXtVjm8Otg0kzHmsTYUnL29E6xaWImCw-anQqCE5xQZ4MX3FQY2d_BiSSlw/s200/P1230001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701298840944743826" border="0" /></a></p><p>I hate it. I *love* to bake. Baking is what I do. When I was younger I wanted to be a pastry chef but I didn't think I had the creativity. But I can follow a recipe with the best of them! So when winter rolls around I go into a mad flurry of baking. I usually bake at least twice and more often, three times a week. Quick breads, cookies, squares, more quick breads, you name it.</p><p>Last night I made Cherry Nut Bread from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook I bought back in 1979. I always makes notes in my cookbooks about how a recipe turned out and the day I made it. Apparently I've been making Cherry Nut Bread since January of 1982. And it's still my favorite quick bread recipe. I don't care if maraschino cherries are loaded with chemicals and dye, I love 'em. Also this recipe has buttermilk in it so it's really moist. The rats like it too. I can't wait until I'm back in Vancouver and can bake ALL the time!</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-45811751972309606302012-01-23T12:48:00.000-08:002012-01-23T13:01:15.925-08:00It All Must Go!<p>The best of plans ... Well I'm already bored with the granny square idea. So I spent the weekend working on my <a href="http://www.gingerschatz.blogspot.com/2010/10/pattern-ribbon-afghan.html" target="_blank">Ribbon Afghan</a>. This is a very simple and easy pattern, great for watching TV. I'm doing mine in two shades of pink, two shades of grey, and black and white. It took me three attempts with the stash yarn to find colors that I actually liked together. Now of course I'm a third of the way done and I'm outta yarn. And, as we all know, I am REALLY out of yarn. The only yarn left in my apartment is Meep yarn. Luckily, Michael's is having a yarn sale.</p><p>The bathroom was purged this weekend. I found six carpal tunnel braces. This is what happens when you live in the same place for eight years. Stuff accumulates. And then it piles on top of other stuff and you never really know what you do and don't have. This is why you should never have too much "stuff." Throw it away, give it away, just get it out. I command you. You will feel oddly liberated and in two days you'll forget you ever had it. Gave the boyfriend all my linens, except what I'll need for the next five weeks. FIVE WEEKS. Only five more weeks and I'll be homeless and jobless. I can't wait!</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-36099419337731335182012-01-20T09:50:00.000-08:002012-01-20T10:03:02.610-08:00It's Another One!<p>We are rolling along with our granny squares. I'd forgotten how much fun they are to do and how, sometimes, you actually have to use your brain to figure out what's going on.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vhNhimB_PY46SZLRhSW-D9sZeMuVzzQBiL0_iokYHvyB0dcI0GJP9vJDt9ig_6RpJ_ON85EwNp2jH5k3ONUg2eXnvQLKKE5d278SBqj8jPHff1bqPtw9Nz3JEz9w1XIso2_5KQ/s1600/P1200002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vhNhimB_PY46SZLRhSW-D9sZeMuVzzQBiL0_iokYHvyB0dcI0GJP9vJDt9ig_6RpJ_ON85EwNp2jH5k3ONUg2eXnvQLKKE5d278SBqj8jPHff1bqPtw9Nz3JEz9w1XIso2_5KQ/s200/P1200002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699773202462138242" border="0" /></a></p><p>This is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/never-fading-flower-square---evighetsblomst" target="_blank">Never Fading Flower Square</a> (Ravelry linkage). I think I like it even better than the one the day before. I had to add a round of half double crochet to make it the same size as Thursday's square. I guess I'm going with five inch squares instead of six inch squares. Ever the tight crocheter, I am. The other ones on Ravelry look all lacy and delicate, I'm going with sturdy and solid. This is a Canadian afghan, after all.</p><p>This weekend I'm gearing up to purge the bathroom. Which is infinitely better than purging IN the bathroom. And when I'm not purging the bathroom I'm going to do nothing. I seem to be the only one here at work with any kind of sense of urgency about getting a person to replace me which is causing me much stress. But that's OK because I only have 25 MORE WORKING DAYS TO GO.</p><p>Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-35547277301451679572012-01-19T09:35:00.001-08:002012-01-19T09:56:06.005-08:00Hello Granny<p>I have come to a decision. I am going to make 365 six inch granny squares. Hopefully all different. Now if we take the standard size of a twin bed, which is 39" X 75" (thanks, Wikipedia, glad to see you're back up and running today) that would be enough granny squares to make four blankies or thereabouts. That would be quite the accomplishment. Here's the first square on my epic undertaking.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9tJeh__Ssq2QrHeKRj6u-bnQELu2LUlxVG6ZPAk1WtpT355h4IHlApG3wDYfRhk2TKirzuTcNWOzFqQSfUPaUBEWVm0cSOjvdV6bRaleINrcyjwxR5XnSewTERfcUZJ83OppqA/s1600/P1190016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9tJeh__Ssq2QrHeKRj6u-bnQELu2LUlxVG6ZPAk1WtpT355h4IHlApG3wDYfRhk2TKirzuTcNWOzFqQSfUPaUBEWVm0cSOjvdV6bRaleINrcyjwxR5XnSewTERfcUZJ83OppqA/s200/P1190016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699398113718355826" border="0" /></a></p><p>This is the <a href="http://silja-devine.com/?p=24" target="_blank">Flower Granny Square</a> which I think we can all agree is a rather appropriate name. I used Simply Soft in Dark Sage and Sage with a G hook. It came out at five inches exactly. So already I'm running an inch short of my daily goal. If I'd used an H hook I probably would have gotten six inches. If you decide you'd like to make this square please note that there's an error in the pattern. Of course there is, I'm incapable of choosing a crochet pattern that is completely correct. Anyway, row 2 should read: Ch3, 1 dc in same stitch as ch 3, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ch3</span>, * 2 dc, ch 3* 7 times more (8 dc groups). Join with a sl st in top of ch-3. OK, I'm off to find today's granny square pattern. Stay tuned for more granny square madness!</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-89735677930741625772012-01-18T10:21:00.000-08:002012-01-18T10:48:05.330-08:00365 ... Something<p>So I came across this really interesting blog about a week ago. It's called the <a href="http://makesomething365.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Make Something 365 & Get Unstuck</a> blog. Which is a very long title for a blog. It's sort of along the Picture A Day For A Year idea. In fact, that's exactly what a lot of people are doing, getting out the ol' camera and snapping pics. But other people are making things. One guy is drawing a picture every day that sums up his day but the catch is, he can only spend 60 seconds on it. Another person is making the symbol for Pi each day out of things like paper clips, or pie crust dough and taking a picture of it.</p><p>I had thought about making a quilt block a day then remembered how much I hated quarter inch seams. Then I "briefly" thought about baking something every day. Which I would really, really love to do except I don't want to weigh 300 pounds by the summer. Maybe I could make a granny square a day? But I gave away all my yarn which means I would have to buy more. Horrors.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KQiefUiLZAa7CvX1UAwKF9dZTWFPzEG-Tj1u6yjFSaWKpWLczox7BXvSATH1DWI1LdofCVNPY4_nQ6NwnLswS2AoQ8tuSvWqSzz7Caf6zFQ3KUMKhyphenhyphenIIoXMY95c4UDFpO_d9Nw/s1600/61N-CtnR4pL._BO2%252C204%252C203%252C200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click%252CTopRight%252C35%252C-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KQiefUiLZAa7CvX1UAwKF9dZTWFPzEG-Tj1u6yjFSaWKpWLczox7BXvSATH1DWI1LdofCVNPY4_nQ6NwnLswS2AoQ8tuSvWqSzz7Caf6zFQ3KUMKhyphenhyphenIIoXMY95c4UDFpO_d9Nw/s200/61N-CtnR4pL._BO2%252C204%252C203%252C200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click%252CTopRight%252C35%252C-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699044541765949906" border="0" /></a></p><p>Maybe I should buy this book which has 50 different crochet motifs in it and just make 7 of each. I keep telling myself I want to make an afghan. In fact, there's one sitting in a bag in the car but it's just stripes and I'm already bored with it. Perhaps granny squares are the way to go. Still liking that baking idea ...</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-31573296050425371952012-01-17T10:38:00.000-08:002012-01-17T10:50:56.297-08:00No, Really<p>So in between giving away everything I own, making Meeps and trying to remain sane, I'm also knitting. I can't even remember the last time I knit something. I was starting to wonder if I even knew how to any more. But I really wanted a pair of slippers because my feet are cold. And I imagine they'll be even colder in Canada.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYepIWRa77bzM5To7uuFLHwp16DLewQfrHHfP0ulfq5U_ubBJB4x8ofsSh1PfsNiYvHBhcYczOakCo-GT-SpkS5GaqP6wznveBx3oYg3obd1hKMk4dyHoF4KPujsHCfrTQS3517w/s1600/mukluk_final_medium2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 106px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYepIWRa77bzM5To7uuFLHwp16DLewQfrHHfP0ulfq5U_ubBJB4x8ofsSh1PfsNiYvHBhcYczOakCo-GT-SpkS5GaqP6wznveBx3oYg3obd1hKMk4dyHoF4KPujsHCfrTQS3517w/s200/mukluk_final_medium2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698672363009908738" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">PICTURE SHAMELESSLY STOLEN FROM RAVELRY.</p><p>I love, love, love this pattern. It's such a fun pattern I have no regrets about paying the six or seven dollars it cost. It has a pretty nifty construction and you use bulky yarn! I'm using Wool-Ease chunky in "Mulberry" which is kind of a burgundy color. The pattern has a number of sizes so you could make lots of Christmas gifts for loved ones. Because it's never too early to start thinking about Christmas. I know I am. Because I may have mentioned once or twice that I'm moving back to CANADA where my wonderful cousin makes the BEST plum pudding ever!</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-38631399983434696022012-01-16T09:49:00.000-08:002012-01-16T10:04:06.778-08:00Books, Books And More Books<p>The bedroom is 95% done! And it only took me four and a half hours to do it. Plus multiple trips to the dumpster downstairs and one quick trip across the street to Lunardi's to buy another box of garbage bags. It wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Still not something I'd want to do on a regular basis. I still need to go through my clothes and get rid of things I know will never fit again. But yes, the main obstacle to moving out of my apartment is now over with.</p><p>And then there's the "book issue". My little apartment at one time contained over 700 books. But over the last six weeks or so I've been whittling away at them by donating them to an organization called Reading Tree. They have big blue boxes all over the Bay Area and you just dump your books in them and away you go. Two or three times a week I'd fill up a grocery bag or two and drop some books off.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSopwJ-bZg2HZ8GcMxv_U1bYno45sNxPMUJvV31VHv9RwTbrM5E_TlINV-9YSpfH6jjaRcJZEvscxVkbEsK67nad56Sd0UvJfMzbNRrk9nSuab1rVcryXZoku0RymV-GbxsSKSA/s1600/4383398137_224831ea25_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSopwJ-bZg2HZ8GcMxv_U1bYno45sNxPMUJvV31VHv9RwTbrM5E_TlINV-9YSpfH6jjaRcJZEvscxVkbEsK67nad56Sd0UvJfMzbNRrk9nSuab1rVcryXZoku0RymV-GbxsSKSA/s200/4383398137_224831ea25_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_569828973535154 842" border="0" /></a></p><p>To date I've dropped off 299 books. And I have six grocery bags at home filled with the next lot to drop off. I'm capable of throwing away just about anything but books? No way. There's no way I could toss books. But thanks to Reading Tree there is light at the end of the book tunnel.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-41710033896835651402012-01-14T21:21:00.000-08:002012-01-14T21:42:31.550-08:00Room Number One<p>I've got a plan. There are five more Sundays before I go back to Canada. There are four rooms in my apartment. That means I only have to work on one room a week and on the fifth Sunday, after I collapse from exhaustion, I can move everything I'm keeping into a storage locker. Tomorrow is the bedroom. Because I need to get the worst room done first</p><p>Every time I look in the bedroom I think to myself, "There's no way I'm moving to Canada if I have to go through all this." My tiny little bedroom is also my yarn room. And my fabric room. And where I keep all my books on writing as well as everything I've ever written. Not to mention my clothes. All the rat supplies. And financial records. It's a nighmare. Truly.</p><p>When I look at my bedroom I solemnly promise myself to never live in one place for 8 years again. Or to start having an "annual purge." Fortunately I have a home for all my yarn - I'm donating it all to my friend Cindy's church group. You didn't think I was taking it all with me, did you? Nope. Nor am I paying for storage space for it. It's going. Along with all my knitting books and binders full of patterns. When it comes to getting rid of stuff, I am RELENTLESS.</p><p>In other news, I continue to torment myself with looking at apartments in Vancouver that I am in no position to rent. Like this little number.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-32cKDuyTgU8ShA71993KW__84-fNAh78GX823rKd_hdOY1olmgP9mrc9NSRfULljp41viDdY8Mhgzun5Ax60m5Sl_XAPXhFZuLvDIssD6oN4xbmA49cEU6xFeze5gSLZXyNiQ/s1600/gopr0285.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-32cKDuyTgU8ShA71993KW__84-fNAh78GX823rKd_hdOY1olmgP9mrc9NSRfULljp41viDdY8Mhgzun5Ax60m5Sl_XAPXhFZuLvDIssD6oN4xbmA49cEU6xFeze5gSLZXyNiQ/s200/gopr0285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697724933781749730" border="0" /></a></p><p>For the low, low price of $900 a month you too can rent this apartment in beautiful downtown Vancouver. Wanna see more pictures? Hey, guess what! There are none because this is the ENTIRE apartment. Except for the bathroom. Now I've lived in some really small apartments but I think this would even drive me stir crazy. Mind you, if you positioned things right you could grab things outta the fridge without even getting out of bed. And NO PETS. Which makes sense since where the hell would you put the litter box?</p><p>The more I think about it, the more I come to realize that my days of downtown living are behind me. *Sigh*</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-64848245548718652102012-01-13T10:20:00.001-08:002012-01-13T10:46:54.208-08:00No Furries Allowed<p>OK, I agree that it's not surprising that Vancouver has changed a lot in the 15, almost 16 years, that I've been gone. Where there were cows there are now apartments. Many of the street signs are now in English AND Mandarin. Most rentals seem to have done away with carpet and are now laminate. And of course, rents have gone WAY up.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3bvtbR9P6BIRhMCMApcPNimjBdbV2pDZeXHvSSt7wZKXmuccMoslZKuNtOYleN4mjSkUlA1k_7PaWzioYIuTlLYLpYX6tnlfdwdF7CZoLUVCh6PasCSY5hG_5ob-hCNroVO-iQ/s1600/deedee1020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3bvtbR9P6BIRhMCMApcPNimjBdbV2pDZeXHvSSt7wZKXmuccMoslZKuNtOYleN4mjSkUlA1k_7PaWzioYIuTlLYLpYX6tnlfdwdF7CZoLUVCh6PasCSY5hG_5ob-hCNroVO-iQ/s200/deedee1020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697183356024109346" border="0" /></a></p><p>But the biggest, and most distressing change, seems to be a Nazi like attitude about pets when it comes to renting an apartment. NO PETS. ABSOLUTELY NO PETS. NO PETS - FIRM. NO PETS ALLOWED. What the heck? Where did this come from? In all my years of living on my own in Vancouver, not once did I have a problem finding a place to rent that took pets. This new attitude is a problem for me. Obviously.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyQ-L-WMEc819nFcZSk3_7jwRwh5CiLtFk8l8z2A8uQgNkcjf-TdlIoMOlXy33x_kXqSxXx1cUToe_VNYo6_vkXyLL6gocYIRyIyq7SqTUA2MsdSh1xXHBXWNl0_SXRZdEXHZcw/s1600/deedee02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyQ-L-WMEc819nFcZSk3_7jwRwh5CiLtFk8l8z2A8uQgNkcjf-TdlIoMOlXy33x_kXqSxXx1cUToe_VNYo6_vkXyLL6gocYIRyIyq7SqTUA2MsdSh1xXHBXWNl0_SXRZdEXHZcw/s200/deedee02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697183294857862690" border="0" /></a></p><p>My original plan was to take the rats in the car with me and send for Andy and DeeDee later. My boyfriend would look after them until I got settled and then put them on the plane. It's what I did when I originally moved down here. Except then, my Sammy sat at the kennel because my Mom had like 8 million cats and couldn't take on any more.<br /></p><p>Fortunately I have been able to find a home for DeeDee with my boyfriend's ex-wife. This is the best of all options since the boyfriend's two daughters ADORE DeeDee and now she will have four people fawning over her instead of just me. And she'll have a kitty sister, named Josee. I'll be sending money down every month for her care and feeding so I think this is going to work out fine.</p><p>Which leaves Andy and the rats. Some of the rats will be coming with me while some will be going back to the rescue. I'm taking the ones that would be the least adoptable. I'm very good at hiding rats. A cat isn't quite as easy. I am at a loss as to what to do about Andy. He is highly unadopt-able given that he's a garden variety brown tabby who is terrified of 99% of the world. He would lose his mind in a shelter. So the search continues for an apartment that will take not only pets but an unemployed tenant. Lordy.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-23504580245366860742012-01-12T15:51:00.000-08:002012-01-12T16:07:05.409-08:00The Twilight Zone Day<p>Crap, I've already missed a day. Oh well, onwards and upwards.</p><p>Now we all know how superstitious I am and how I'm forever looking for signs whenever I have to make a decision. Moving back to Canada is a pretty MAJOR decision for me. So I'm in some serious need of signs.</p><p>I haven't really devoted a lot of time and energy to finding a job in Canada. For two reasons. First, it's still another six weeks until I'm home. And secondly, well I don't have a place to live. I thought I'd go with the novel concept of living close to where I work. As opposed to living an hours commute away like I do now. But for some reason today I found myself perusing the job ads on Craigslist. I came across an Accounts Payable job in Cloverdale. I know how to do Accounts Payable but I'm more experienced with Receivables. And Cloverdale? Well when I lived in Vancouver, Cloverdale was farmland. It's where the cows lived. It's the boonies. Yet I clicked on the ad.</p><p>I'm reading along, blah, blah, blah, yeah I can do that, yeah, I've had experience doing that. Then I get to the bottom of the ad. Now generally speaking, job ads don't usually include the name of the person hiring for the position for fear of them getting bombarded with phone calls. Not so with this ad. And the name of the person doing the hiring <span style="font-weight: bold;">is a girl who lived across the street from me when I was in high school.</span> We walked to school together every day and were quite good friends.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNwRLXF6EIXSDTIMTtHXLG7DErWDUTqC-JCtV854UZYzOXTKuRaKRsWIcLSC8IdaWKqm4yjtLIfz21RrSmdNUf2XnnthZf2QVH0B0ECjjFSZn2BHe6M1y9jkf3FldoJ81urRkuA/s1600/owltilda.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNwRLXF6EIXSDTIMTtHXLG7DErWDUTqC-JCtV854UZYzOXTKuRaKRsWIcLSC8IdaWKqm4yjtLIfz21RrSmdNUf2XnnthZf2QVH0B0ECjjFSZn2BHe6M1y9jkf3FldoJ81urRkuA/s200/owltilda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696897525998708114" border="0" /></a></p><p>Do I need to tell you that you could have knocked me over with a feather? People, what are the ODDS? But all along I'm still thinking, sure Carmena is doing the hiring but she's going to want someone soon. Nope. This is a brand new position. There's none of the "we need to get someone in here so the current person can train." We're having a Skype interview next week.</p><p>Of course nothing is certain and I may not even get the job. But still? This sign couldn't be more obvious if it was on a billboard, if you ask me.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-81836028579118485472012-01-10T10:52:00.001-08:002012-01-10T11:06:25.676-08:00A New Year, A New Country<p>Ahh little blog, how I have neglected you. But here it is a nice and fresh new year so we might as well fire up the pages again. For there is plenty to report and there will be even more to report in the coming months.</p><p>First of all, it is no coincidence that I haven't posted since August. Because that was when I opened my Etsy shop. And let me tell you, it's been a freakin' wild ride ever since. I, in my wildest imagination, never expected Meeps to be the hit that they were. In the past four months I have sold over 100 of the little buggers. Crazy or what?</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmS8roru5mxHnetIbwW7VuziIOCz7Kq1LnoUA7wDWseRzmKaXmrCdIoPob3sxh4z9eHuJhz73UVI7EYYNybBxCKyTCXBcKrjUlSNBhAdx_Hmx8zV_aDy400mYbMi-1nF1tEHUHg/s1600/PB140009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 162px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmS8roru5mxHnetIbwW7VuziIOCz7Kq1LnoUA7wDWseRzmKaXmrCdIoPob3sxh4z9eHuJhz73UVI7EYYNybBxCKyTCXBcKrjUlSNBhAdx_Hmx8zV_aDy400mYbMi-1nF1tEHUHg/s200/PB140009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696078624305429218" border="0" /></a></p><p>In fact, one woman ordered FOURTEEN of them as Christmas gifts. During November and December it was all I could do to find time to sleep. It didn't help that I took in a pregnant female rat at the beginning of October who a week later popped out nine babies. That was a LOT of work. And then I took in another litter of 8 little five month old boys who needed to be socialized. I think maybe I'm trying to kill myself. Over Christmas and New Year's all I did was sit on the couch and stare at the ceiling.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4fIDGTFBZ2PUJNq1w5726Xu1xwdHNFTKtzrOj7qP9xhrQ0X3lU0fd4zPlEdihhNBv90MYoqfMRCF4_WD84TL5a5bP6c_NpXbjGf3g-1fgniVHLdvttX0ZhXVqGJclYvDz7RKZw/s1600/PC130001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 164px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4fIDGTFBZ2PUJNq1w5726Xu1xwdHNFTKtzrOj7qP9xhrQ0X3lU0fd4zPlEdihhNBv90MYoqfMRCF4_WD84TL5a5bP6c_NpXbjGf3g-1fgniVHLdvttX0ZhXVqGJclYvDz7RKZw/s200/PC130001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696078461680753778" border="0" /></a></p><p>But the big news ... the really BIG news ... is that in 46 days I will be moving back to Canada. For good. I am giving up all my worldly possessions, packing up the ratties and heading North. To say I'm excited is the understatement of the year. Of course I have so much to do between now and then that it makes my brain hurt but it's something that is long, long, long overdue. In my almost sixteen years in California I don't think a day has passed that I haven't wished I was home. You can take the girl out of Canada but you can't take the Canadian out of the girl. So it's very important to me that I chronicle this little adventure. And what better place to do it than the ol' blog?</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-30783623349171143412011-08-17T11:19:00.001-07:002011-08-17T11:34:23.293-07:00Red Wine, A Full Moon ...<p>... and I join the ranks of the tattooed. Actually I'd been mulling this idea over for more than a year and this just seemed to be the time to do it.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUj_R_HxEwIy3hcK6jJaEAwlMZtWfcWhZzOee0f2RXV7KBNelkLJcL_aWoL21liQhWJpYs4lkXfL5f8Ek9ZrCOxwsUi7QnXHSx1F7oP7lgyToNRL67an8BUH0K77P_sH-0xnuIw/s1600/286372_2152640289971_1065311958_32531144_890129_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUj_R_HxEwIy3hcK6jJaEAwlMZtWfcWhZzOee0f2RXV7KBNelkLJcL_aWoL21liQhWJpYs4lkXfL5f8Ek9ZrCOxwsUi7QnXHSx1F7oP7lgyToNRL67an8BUH0K77P_sH-0xnuIw/s200/286372_2152640289971_1065311958_32531144_890129_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641892193912369282" border="0" /></a></p><p>Rattie feets. Is anyone surprised? And it's front and center on my outer right wrist. I think this proclaims to the world, "I am a Crazy Rat Lady." I will admit though that I had serious tattoo-ers remorse after getting it. It's a bit bigger than I wanted. When the tattoo guy said, "Do you want it about the size of a quarter?" I thought he was talking about both feet together. No. Each foot is about the size of a quarter. Clearly, I am not well versed in the ways of the tattoo world. But guess what? Like it or not, I'm stuck with it. Maybe as I get older it will shrink.</p><p>In other rat news, little Simone passed away the same night I was getting this tattoo. Unfortunately I have no pictures to share of her since I hadn't had her that long. The vet and I think she must have had a stroke, based on her behavior. Simone was one of the A&E Hoarder rats so she may not have been the healthiest rat in the world. She is much missed by all the ratties, especially her constant companion, Buggy. R.I.P. Simone, you were well loved.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-44360002986565304272011-08-15T13:35:00.001-07:002011-08-15T13:49:21.134-07:00No Room At The Inn<p>I guess it was inevitable. With all this amigurumi making it was only a matter of time before I'd run out of space. There are monsters in the kitchen cupboards, monsters in the bedroom, monsters in the living room. What to do, what to do? The monsters were actually starting to outnumber the rats.</p><p>Meanwhile at work, where I have a number of amigurumi, people were bugging me to sell them. This seemed like a pretty ludicrous idea to me. Would you pay good money for something that looked like this?</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAe9ROo4Cd33NxVQ67Kg3PVsnQAa_WlfFuEBsSs8iPq0FrkZLpsHEKQUH61Pa0qUlojXDL4e4MAdX4c89egS2tZI7YSWJSwcEXFRy_hW4Li_8y5oGkTaF1bxwwTtKRvZMMSx4kw/s1600/il_570xN.263912339.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAe9ROo4Cd33NxVQ67Kg3PVsnQAa_WlfFuEBsSs8iPq0FrkZLpsHEKQUH61Pa0qUlojXDL4e4MAdX4c89egS2tZI7YSWJSwcEXFRy_hW4Li_8y5oGkTaF1bxwwTtKRvZMMSx4kw/s320/il_570xN.263912339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641184208327784786" border="0" /></a></p><p>So I logged into Etsy and apparently people will spend good money for handmade toys. Even some not very good toys. Which is not to say that MY toys are perfection. How could they be, they're handmade. But I guess they're kinda cute. I try to make each one different. I have WAY too much fun doing the hair.</p><p>What the heck I thought, I'll give it a go. And if no one buys any, well then I'll simply donate them to the Pediatric Ward at Valley Medical. And if someone does buy one, well then that money can be used to offset my rattie costs. One of those win win situations you're always hearing about. So here's the linkage for the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Sakkasie" target="_blank">store</a>. Criticism is always welcome. And who knows, maybe you'll decide your life isn't complete without a Meep. Hey, that rhymes, maybe I've got the making of a jingle here.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-50028169498422920502011-07-25T13:50:00.001-07:002011-07-25T13:58:22.676-07:00And On We Go<p>Amigurumi, and in particular this pattern, <a href="http://craftyiscool.blogspot.com/2011/01/wanna-make-monster.html" target="_blank">Baby Monsters</a>, have pretty much taken over my life. All I want to do is make monsters. Lots of monsters. Many monsters.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tY9LjoEYanDeUgGi0RKYMQMLZ1QL-rm7HnULIlzl4n4GnhUhYibLO2dhrOHNpls5G9ayUHXJAZxXs2qnSkh5gj32sOA8MVKgE3VD7nl1FfjjIAL6L2pYkDJGsvGdrKdihwxiRg/s1600/5966231094_a0064487d0_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tY9LjoEYanDeUgGi0RKYMQMLZ1QL-rm7HnULIlzl4n4GnhUhYibLO2dhrOHNpls5G9ayUHXJAZxXs2qnSkh5gj32sOA8MVKgE3VD7nl1FfjjIAL6L2pYkDJGsvGdrKdihwxiRg/s320/5966231094_a0064487d0_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633395534720396706" border="0" /></a></p><p>This is the Meep family. From left to right we have Hank, Moira and Bunny. I stayed up until midnight Friday doing Bunny's hair. I tell myself I'm only making all these monsters to practice my embroidery skills. And my felt cutting skills. Because certainly no 51 year old accountant would become obsessed over making monsters, that would never do.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jI0V3SRhiHMMrD8DGIdhDyIpR6UqzxXQ-DlBWbEg4nAP3FFxo1UXaRWBuFLI_wpfuo9aCpUGc0EFx1R0I08emUnVGmQX9sOTSs-eC29LIH59lciHg9l_sjs6FYglKqJg4Pj31Q/s1600/5970872421_5be5d3e720_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jI0V3SRhiHMMrD8DGIdhDyIpR6UqzxXQ-DlBWbEg4nAP3FFxo1UXaRWBuFLI_wpfuo9aCpUGc0EFx1R0I08emUnVGmQX9sOTSs-eC29LIH59lciHg9l_sjs6FYglKqJg4Pj31Q/s320/5970872421_5be5d3e720_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633395387572222114" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Would it?<!--?p--></p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-16756898973314213382011-07-13T14:02:00.001-07:002011-07-13T14:15:28.606-07:00Happy Then Sad<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7j0Cs0PafJEXj83PaKTB20aqLcHXID1W79GcnFSco_OyAzNDydt1R7wliVDL0SnoazqVe44eMd3NWAwG6scLskJQzu1CgTzEKQ-OZv3jFxtSQYNDt5bt7BBvYq0ab_L0TVN5gw/s1600/5931954951_5d6ea05e33_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7j0Cs0PafJEXj83PaKTB20aqLcHXID1W79GcnFSco_OyAzNDydt1R7wliVDL0SnoazqVe44eMd3NWAwG6scLskJQzu1CgTzEKQ-OZv3jFxtSQYNDt5bt7BBvYq0ab_L0TVN5gw/s320/5931954951_5d6ea05e33_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628945337627013186" border="0" /></a></p><p>Presenting Commander Ribbit from the Alien Frog Army. Fun, easy, fun, easy, fun, easy. I love Commander Ribbit. He was crocheted using the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/purple-best-bud-pdf" target="_blank">Purple Best Bud</a> (Ravelry link) pattern. And guess what? There's only ONE thing I don't like about my little creation. His head is a bit wobbly. But I can live with that. Sort of.</p><p>I'm going to make him again and rework the pattern so that the body and the head are all in one piece. That was how the Cthulhu I made was constructed and it just makes so much more sense to have one piece instead of two. We'll see how that goes.</p><p>On a sad note, Judy Chicken, who wasn't really a chicken but was actually a wonderful rat, passed away last night. Judy Chicken and her sister Fuzzlet One came to me from the Humane Society a year ago. Fuzzlet One passed away a few months ago but Judy hung in there until she turned three.</p><p>I don't know why I don't have any pictures of her but she was a patchwork hairless. Meaning she had little tufts of fur scattered over her mostly hairless body. She and Fuzzlet One were identical twins which taught me a valuable lesson. It is very hard to bond with rats if you can't tell them apart. It wasn't until after Fuzzlet passed that I realized what a character and a love bug little Judy was. I hope she's happy to be reunited with her sister, I'm going to miss her a lot.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-71584127956394812562011-07-11T14:06:00.001-07:002011-07-11T14:28:30.721-07:00What Where Huh<p>I have no idea where I've been but I think there have been children involved. The boyfriend has a new job that requires him to work three nights a week until 8:00. His 10 y.o. son has also moved in with him. Son goes off to day care during the afternoon and then I pick him up when I get off work and we go hang out at dad's house until dad gets home. This is kinda sorta OK since the boyfriend has cable and I don't but still ... there were many reasons I didn't have children and I am reminded of those on a regular basis. Moving on.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhe9gtVMuwlVRpyK1PWgX3TEZuHiFypJBJC8br0kSsnpB39JOJyc6V4nusrjyTbShRwge1LKc6_BQVeAdvVe_Olc8zoJpPaTTQbuPtEDzFHEw2eBlBxCWCMA8eLIe-I31UgSZ7Q/s1600/5923279690_214cca84fa_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhe9gtVMuwlVRpyK1PWgX3TEZuHiFypJBJC8br0kSsnpB39JOJyc6V4nusrjyTbShRwge1LKc6_BQVeAdvVe_Olc8zoJpPaTTQbuPtEDzFHEw2eBlBxCWCMA8eLIe-I31UgSZ7Q/s320/5923279690_214cca84fa_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628204299567169010" border="0" /></a></p><p>Babysitting also allows for a lot of crafting time. This is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-snow-dragon" target="_blank">Baby Snow Dragon</a> (Ravelry link) or as I refer to her, Boobie, The Breast Cancer Awareness Dragon. She was a pain in the butt to make and I'm very surprised I finished her. Not because of any problems with the pattern but because my finishing skills are still kind of sucky. She looks alright from far away and hopefully no one will try and lift her by her head.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2L4Wo8BM_KdKE0n20UKUP37W-Y-kWjNL_BxrsZjhO8a8FtUzOMJNO7BHVseI9KdF9yEyfRIzCYpeMti6NBSiR19KMZC2zngujIJBKbTQmeKtnOuQFP9F3BILvK4qoMYmdftsFQ/s1600/5920228339_0c0ceb4a64_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2L4Wo8BM_KdKE0n20UKUP37W-Y-kWjNL_BxrsZjhO8a8FtUzOMJNO7BHVseI9KdF9yEyfRIzCYpeMti6NBSiR19KMZC2zngujIJBKbTQmeKtnOuQFP9F3BILvK4qoMYmdftsFQ/s320/5920228339_0c0ceb4a64_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628204232405867010" border="0" /></a></p><p>This is ... wait for it ... a PANDA. I made this for a co-worker's daughter. It was super easy but man alive, I never wanna crochet with black yarn again. Unless of course, someone wants to give me a new pair of eyes.</p><p>Finally if you're looking for a new charity to craft for check out Kyla's website, <a href="http://www.knittingforcharity.org/" target="_blank">Knitting For Charity</a>. If you sign up, she'll send you an email every Monday alerting you about current needs. Right now it's all about the tornado victims in the South and the people in Japan who are still trying to put their lives back together. Remember, what goes around comes around.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-77016425366692385002011-06-17T09:30:00.001-07:002011-06-17T09:59:13.397-07:00Mr. Owlandish<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjwTN63jddE0GW2z7Qco3Fo18txdQI5KIJU05W_-n5R9Xr_jqwbr7jcyHE5CiPHOvsBKv0_et5B4imwioXMURHIXoFngDCcY0he8QL29AE39wi7S4d_1t0s0cnGG_-lXaYAJX4w/s1600/owl2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjwTN63jddE0GW2z7Qco3Fo18txdQI5KIJU05W_-n5R9Xr_jqwbr7jcyHE5CiPHOvsBKv0_et5B4imwioXMURHIXoFngDCcY0he8QL29AE39wi7S4d_1t0s0cnGG_-lXaYAJX4w/s320/owl2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619227128343820802" border="0" /></a></p><p>Here's my new assistant at work, Mr. Owlandish. He's more clever than about 95% of the people I work with. He was very easy to make although I did a horrible job attaching his feet. Which is to be expected since I finished him last night at 11:30. The pattern also had you make a crocheted beak which I obviously didn't. What can I say? I love to play with scissors and glue. The pattern was in Leisure Arts "More Cute Little Animals To Crochet." I can't remember how much it was, $10.95 or something? But it's well worth buying since there are oodles of cute patterns in it.</p><p>I've given up on the Dalek which was my WIP on Wednesday. It just wasn't working out very well. I'm thinking a bigger hook size might have helped since the fabric I was getting was reminiscent of steel. So into the garbage it went. I suppose I could have frogged it and reused the yarn for something else but the yarn was rather splitty and I hated it. Buh bye yarn.</p><p>In other news I returned the Mercedes-Benz to the dealership because my overly expensive ass pillow was not helping with my back / leg pain. I imagine I'm the only person in Mercedes-Benz history to return one of their cars because it made their butt numb. So I bought a 2006 Scion xA and I love this car with the heat of a 1,000 burning suns. More on that later. Have a wonderful weekend everyone! And if you'd like to see more Finished Objects check out <a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/2011/06/fo-friday-39.html" target="_blank">Tami's FO Friday</a> blog.</p><p>Oh and one other thing before I go. Blogger hates me and refuses to tell me when someone has posted a comment on my blog. So if I don't reply to your comment, it's not because I don't REALLY, REALLY appreciate it. Perhaps it's time to move to Wordpress. After 5 1/2 years it may be time for a change.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-4547757298998261172011-06-15T10:46:00.001-07:002011-06-15T11:02:31.887-07:00Wednesday WIP (No Chains)<p>I realize that building a robot is a complicated thing but I swear, this one is never going to end.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2p3b9vxPWp-m_DKTOcu-WkODfB3NgiFZgb0uc4AZ0Uvj-2y_60VpduhWtZmT9yNsXhGvgqxO_gkEdQ1rBDuYegtkM6G5U3oLlU59yKOcItOoMrjF-e_oCtg-YZtAuld7C7215jw/s1600/dalek.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 108px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2p3b9vxPWp-m_DKTOcu-WkODfB3NgiFZgb0uc4AZ0Uvj-2y_60VpduhWtZmT9yNsXhGvgqxO_gkEdQ1rBDuYegtkM6G5U3oLlU59yKOcItOoMrjF-e_oCtg-YZtAuld7C7215jw/s200/dalek.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618504397305544738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2p3b9vxPWp-m_DKTOcu-WkODfB3NgiFZgb0uc4AZ0Uvj-2y_60VpduhWtZmT9yNsXhGvgqxO_gkEdQ1rBDuYegtkM6G5U3oLlU59yKOcItOoMrjF-e_oCtg-YZtAuld7C7215jw/s1600/dalek.JPG"></a></p><p>This is supposed to be Dalek (a dalek? Mr. Dalek?) from Dr. Who. I've never seen Dr. Who. I've always wanted to though. But after spending my teenage years at far too many LOUD rock concerts the ears aren't quite what they once were. So if a show doesn't have closed captioning I tend to give it a pass. If they have English accents to boot, well it's not even worth trying.</p><p>Although you can't tell from this cell phone picture Mr. Dalek is quite large. He also employs a multitude of different stitches instead of the traditional single crochet only of amigurumi. He has arms as well that aren't showing up. It kind of looks like a baby hat, doesn't it?</p><p>My list of people wanting me to make them toys is growing. I was thinking about that this morning and I wonder why people feel comfortable just asking for something simply because I have the skill to do it. I have a friend who's a professional baker. Yet I've never called her up and said, "Hey Jen, got a craving for peanut butter cookies over here, can you whip me up a batch?" Or, "I'd like a chocolate cake, are you busy this weekend?" I probably have a few friends who know how to put up wallpaper. And yet my walls remain bare. It's like as soon as you learn to crochet or knit, you've got a bulls eye on your back. What's up with that?</p><p>For more works in progress on this Wednesday, check out <a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/2011/06/work-in-progress-wednesday-45.html" target="_blank">Tami's blog WIP Wednesdays</a>. Trust me, there are far more interesting things over there than Mr Dalek The Baby Hat.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-85262444013669121722011-06-09T13:58:00.001-07:002011-06-09T14:14:45.264-07:00This Is It<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Wj-0FTbYf2VzQjG5F-tbpvzH_tumPXrmkUMjzA_Tpn7r71m-zTByP7wye_CC3fPlUn358nhkIsfWuNvDGJszeXcaWzbnamkHoJydrzI-pKacQMTaGMMkHcIzmlpqsX_2QqhqA/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Wj-0FTbYf2VzQjG5F-tbpvzH_tumPXrmkUMjzA_Tpn7r71m-zTByP7wye_CC3fPlUn358nhkIsfWuNvDGJszeXcaWzbnamkHoJydrzI-pKacQMTaGMMkHcIzmlpqsX_2QqhqA/s200/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616327422673437330" border="0" /></a></p><p>So this is the new ride. A 2000 Mercedes-Benz E320. No, I didn't win the lottery or get a raise at work. In the almighty Silicon Valley, a Mercedes is no big deal. So they're quite reasonably priced. This little putt putt was $7,900.00, one owner, 75,000 miles.</p><p>And frankly it makes my head hurt and my butt hurt. It makes my head hurt because the owner's manual is 341 pages long. Power headrests? Are you kidding me? There are so many buttons and gadgets it's ridiculous. I've managed to program the temperature control so that it's always a balmy 72 degrees as I motor down the freeway but I can't figure out how to set the trip meter so I can see what kind of gas mileage I'm getting.</p><p>It makes my butt hurt because there's like no lumbar support. And with my laundry list of back issues that's a problem. Basically my butt and my foot go numb when I'm driving. It hurts. So today I went out and bought a pillow for my ass that cost a ridiculous amount of money considering it's a pillow for my ass. We'll see how it goes. Because really, it would be a shame to return it now that I've figured out how to open the gas door.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-34797283730681360472011-06-08T09:55:00.001-07:002011-06-08T10:14:34.524-07:00M.I.A.<p>Fork, I fell off the blogging bus again. This whole car accident business / buying a new car has left me all discombobulated. I am fine with the concept of change at work but not so good with it when it comes to the personal life. Anyway, a new (used) car has been purchased, my case has been settled, checks have been received and life is slowly returning to as normal as it ever was. But of course the toy making hasn't stopped.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6O4l4isChr0Yo70G2ZZzYDreKb9L5T8qEqXQduk4wC4fHJYARxZthhT8OSgj1iVn_6oXFlpN_oOswFt-YtdNvEk0nA-0SA9TWxTMuAG3hMH0ed3-bPqyblvyFmlpDAN9VMc3aA/s1600/squid.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 127px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6O4l4isChr0Yo70G2ZZzYDreKb9L5T8qEqXQduk4wC4fHJYARxZthhT8OSgj1iVn_6oXFlpN_oOswFt-YtdNvEk0nA-0SA9TWxTMuAG3hMH0ed3-bPqyblvyFmlpDAN9VMc3aA/s200/squid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615894059988627890" border="0" /></a></p><p>I usually like whimsical as opposed to realistic amigurumi but I have to say, I love my squid. He was super fun (and fast) to make and I think he looks pretty realistic. I'm going to have to make more of these. Maybe a squid army.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4eghe3bIrQNM2zQNDfcVdA6gE23zraCh1FV7CSMycWPIfsxEzbNNAV6j2IzkBVu7oEyD6sySFWoRuWjeTRPOdYe9alLlQtb99bxsW3WgioNsYdzxJMMOXgC0iNegMsYW8p4ZPig/s1600/uglybunny2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 174px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4eghe3bIrQNM2zQNDfcVdA6gE23zraCh1FV7CSMycWPIfsxEzbNNAV6j2IzkBVu7oEyD6sySFWoRuWjeTRPOdYe9alLlQtb99bxsW3WgioNsYdzxJMMOXgC0iNegMsYW8p4ZPig/s200/uglybunny2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615893987797851170" border="0" /></a></p><p>Another Ugly Bunny. This is Ugly Cyclops Bunny and belongs to the boyfriend's son who sleeps with it. Another quick and easy toy.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJh82BMCsT_gm5zHd1md6qMWDJGI1bioVdtdQ_sWPfNpxB-fM8sllH6JqAcn4ah5XvSF-uz3ctqLOKCTog3JijRfvrM1qgDYHTkIEcISUj_b3jkgjx90oyhvSjeyUKvrdshvCSA/s1600/dramallama.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 162px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJh82BMCsT_gm5zHd1md6qMWDJGI1bioVdtdQ_sWPfNpxB-fM8sllH6JqAcn4ah5XvSF-uz3ctqLOKCTog3JijRfvrM1qgDYHTkIEcISUj_b3jkgjx90oyhvSjeyUKvrdshvCSA/s200/dramallama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615893925158120242" border="0" /></a></p><p>Last but not least, a drama llama for a co-worker. I won't go into how hard this was to make but jeebus it was hard to make. I definitely WON'T be making this again. The pattern, by PlanetJune, was perfectly written with lots of photos to help you out along the way. That wasn't the problem. It's just that the whole thing seemed to go on forever and then you have to attach the legs so that they touch at the top and oh Great Googly Moogly that was a PAIN. Doing his "hair" was no walk in the park either. But hey, I learned some new stuff and the co-worker likes it.</p><p>Last but not least, another charitable opportunity for my 3 readers. Unless you've been living under a rock, I'm sure you've heard that Joplin, Missouri has been pretty much wiped off the face of the Earth. The call has gone out to make toys for the children of this devastated area. If you're at all interested here's the website, <a href="http://ugleedolls4kids.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Uglee Dolls 4 Kids</a>. There are both crochet and knit patterns so if you feel inclined ... well you know the drill.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-32976267516201220212011-05-26T12:14:00.001-07:002011-05-26T12:48:49.857-07:00And Then It Hit Me<p>I don't know why it's taken me so long to post this little story since I'm usually all about the stories but whatever. Here's a story for a Thursday afternoon.</p><p>Two weeks ago tomorrow I was driving along 101 in typical rush hour traffic. Stop. Go. Stop. Go. You know the deal, same old, same old. That is, until the little Corolla in front of me stopped short. Since *I* was paying attention, I managed to stop without hitting him. And yet ... I still heard brakes screaming. BAM!</p><p>Unfortunately Mrs. Chen wasn't paying such close attention. In fact, Mrs. Chen was going at such a good clip she managed to send me flying into the little Corolla in front of me. There were all kinds of funny smells and smoke but eventually Mrs. Chen and I made it to the side of the freeway. I guess Little Corolla had better things to do because at first it looked as though he was going to join us but then he left.</p><p>To say I was pissed off would be an understatement. My stupid car, which is possessed, had been in the repair shop all week for a mysterious ailment that had even stumped the repair man and now it looked at though there were going to be other "ailments." Mrs. Chen's car had a few ailments of it's own. Like an accordion shaped hood. I insisted we call the CHP since Little Corolla had taken flight and I didn't feel like being held responsible for any damages down the road.</p><p>The CHP showed up an HOUR later. Officer Campbell took our report and asked Mrs. Chen, "How fast do you think you were going?" "I no go fast!" she blurted out. "Well how fast is that?" responded Officer Campbell. "I go 10 miles," answered Mrs. Chen. Officer Campbell made mention of the fact that not only was her hood crumpled but her air bag had deployed, was she sure she was only going 10 miles an hour? "15?" suggested Mrs. Chen. Officer Campbell wrote down 25.</p><p>Since then it's been a non-stop round of doctor's visits, phone calls with insurance people and blah dee blah. Fortunately, Mrs. Chen was in good hands with Allstate and they're picking up the tab for everything. Including this:</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWX3N_k3rCEKYtaMzX-ck3tx4oNrTnAzayI88Uq3DTzCmJaglsYPbm6uH3CNu032SUvgAbzEBdVhHskukajHwN8oyFdzH0e1SVZSoh6zLQXWziYYnzFJ2y08DUfYfnTe06EfFgw/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWX3N_k3rCEKYtaMzX-ck3tx4oNrTnAzayI88Uq3DTzCmJaglsYPbm6uH3CNu032SUvgAbzEBdVhHskukajHwN8oyFdzH0e1SVZSoh6zLQXWziYYnzFJ2y08DUfYfnTe06EfFgw/s200/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611105363137342274" border="0" /></a></p><p>This, loyal reader, is the Key To Happiness. A 2010 Dodge Charger, also known as my rental car. And now you shall know one of my little secrets - I am a total car whore. I love cars. Love, love, love them. Especially fast cars. Especially fast rental cars. I am so smitten with this car it's ridiculous. I want to marry this car. I don't know how I'll ever give it back. I was actually calculating how much it would cost to just rent this car FOREVER. I am no longer driving a soccer mom car, I am driving A CAR. And it sounds like the repair shop is going to have my evil Hyundai for at least another week. I get to keep MY Charger for the entire long weekend!</p><p>So even though I'm still supremely pissed at Mrs. Chen at least now I can go fast enough to get out of her way.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-51078674521491802192011-05-24T13:29:00.001-07:002011-05-24T13:38:01.838-07:00Rapture<p>Are we all still here? Everyone accounted for? Apparently the only rapture that happened this weekend was the appearance of Rapture The Pig.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRADC8Uy_t2k9uNn_O9aDEaxJKXo6eQamwS0OHGtfuDQTIIUEM_aGq3y4-JQRFCPb5X3Tc4hdYHgspN_RLR8oPrrt3X9l9hNVswPZWHOnXivIYUScK9nbVNbcw57eBcqgvuO4rMg/s1600/5748158664_1a0a32793e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 176px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRADC8Uy_t2k9uNn_O9aDEaxJKXo6eQamwS0OHGtfuDQTIIUEM_aGq3y4-JQRFCPb5X3Tc4hdYHgspN_RLR8oPrrt3X9l9hNVswPZWHOnXivIYUScK9nbVNbcw57eBcqgvuO4rMg/s200/5748158664_1a0a32793e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610382649823474258" border="0" /></a></p><p>Here's Rapture. I figured since the world was going to come to an end this weekend I'd best do a fast and easy amigurumi. Enter this little piggy. I got the pattern off the Lion Brand website which has a surprising number of amigurumi patterns. She was way fun to make, especially her little nose. My finishing skills are coming along although my leg placement could use some work.</p><p>Apparently that doesn't bother the boyfriend's children though since DD #3 has put in an order for 10 amis. She wants an elephant, a teddy bear, a penguin, a dog and so on and so forth. Maybe I'll go back to hats.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-21462676395002932782011-05-19T14:06:00.001-07:002011-05-19T14:18:33.207-07:00Happy National Teddy Bear Day!<p>According to Facebook (the knower of all things) today is National Teddy Bear Day. I have yet to make a bear so of course I had to start one this morning. I am making Lion Brand's <a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/70586AD.html?r=1" target="_blank">Amigurumi Bear</a>. It's basically two pieces of crocheted fabric sewn together with appendages added. I'm hoping I can finish it before Teddy Bear Day is over. I'm using Red Heart's "Soft Yarn" in the colorway "Toast." Maybe that's why I'll name the little feller.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclPqu3Vz-jLC9VUMKzmW8onuA590KXp0cpEJdtAqemkTEjRrSr852qTwGyn_dq0X-iH9llEwBZn7saLq9GdckH_m8vGSiEwN1aDZHuWM7oqXts_OeMOlJE8tYgII8F-oRv2XJpA/s1600/5735921212_fc97cffe19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclPqu3Vz-jLC9VUMKzmW8onuA590KXp0cpEJdtAqemkTEjRrSr852qTwGyn_dq0X-iH9llEwBZn7saLq9GdckH_m8vGSiEwN1aDZHuWM7oqXts_OeMOlJE8tYgII8F-oRv2XJpA/s200/5735921212_fc97cffe19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608536666853381458" border="0" /></a></p><p>Here is Apple Ninja. I made him yesterday and almost lost my mind. I have a friend who just started at Apple and I got this wild idea about how cute it would be to crochet a little Ninja with the Apple logo on it for him. Really, what the hell was I thinking, me the hater of all things fiddly? We shall not discuss how long it took me to get the stupid logo cut out. I actually had to make a PATTERN of the logo, glue it to felt and then snip, snip, snip. Except the first time I snipped I had the logo reversed. Curses.</p><p>Did I mention how flippin' splitty this damn yarn was? It's also Red Heart Soft Yarn but I think something went wrong with the dying process because this particular ball of yarn went wEEeeEEeeEEee every other stitch. I was in a seriously bad mood after this little guy was done. I think maybe I'll just keep him for myself as a constant reminder to never attempt something like this again.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21616655.post-7372323526910673852011-05-18T13:49:00.000-07:002011-05-18T14:02:52.746-07:00The Obsession Continues<p>I could probably blame Blogger's downtime last week for my fall off the blog wagon but I think i was just lazy. Or maybe my hands were sore from crocheting non-stop.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK7_iRDFiTLRCYhLr7D-zi4iUNMeyy3oOawWPiS5rpENpvK5PtpQIfodj9byqoq9c6VWIc5OyJHQ9KpRbDWWL2mLALrZwmk9oyAMFrThfCQknambrGU7FnmX-vTBd4KfDq-SVJg/s1600/hippo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK7_iRDFiTLRCYhLr7D-zi4iUNMeyy3oOawWPiS5rpENpvK5PtpQIfodj9byqoq9c6VWIc5OyJHQ9KpRbDWWL2mLALrZwmk9oyAMFrThfCQknambrGU7FnmX-vTBd4KfDq-SVJg/s200/hippo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608161652589873730" border="0" /></a></p><p>FO number one is the <a href="http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2007/03/12/hungry-hungry-hippo/" target="_blank">Hungry, Hungry Hippo</a>. Through no fault of the pattern, I did not enjoy making Hilda Hippo. I made her nose too long so she keeps tipping over which is why she's supported by a tape measure in the picture. I also did a really craptastic job of sewing her head on. I could find no tutorials on sewing closed pieces to closed pieces so I winged it. Poorly.</p><p>Also, she seemed to go on forever. One of the reasons I put off learning amigurumi for so long is that I thought they were all teeny tiny and I thought they would be uber fiddly. Hilda is not teeny. She's not huge but she's not a two day amigurumi either. Single crochet in the round with an E hook can be tedious at the best of times.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmLu6-UzDtK_9LJU7ilUfIWp6S8Pp1W6v4bMHkGzMge7BZWU3n7bCHcNtpTP5Sg3OuIrwBcUozuMdzH6-uiIVTRSMA4wYlGGPkRAwGXSe4JT0pa2b1h-QNK4mITWWkPEVw7buWg/s1600/bunny.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmLu6-UzDtK_9LJU7ilUfIWp6S8Pp1W6v4bMHkGzMge7BZWU3n7bCHcNtpTP5Sg3OuIrwBcUozuMdzH6-uiIVTRSMA4wYlGGPkRAwGXSe4JT0pa2b1h-QNK4mITWWkPEVw7buWg/s200/bunny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608161594670866258" border="0" /></a></p><p>And here we have Ugly Bunny. I had so much fun making him that he only took two days. Yay Ugly Bunny! I'm almost done with Ugly Bunny #2. I am getting far too much enjoyment out of choosing how to decorate these critters. It seems like every other day I'm going to the craft store for more felt, or buttons, or ribbon. Houston, we have a full blown obsession going on here.</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822650054072508484noreply@blogger.com2