I Gone and Done It

I bought my own domain name and switched over to Wordpress. Oh the possibilities. Please, for the love of Cats, update your bookmarks and stuff and start reading me over at http://turtlegirl76.com I've updated all my ring codes so no worries for you Yarn Pr0n Friday surfers. You won't miss out on me!

Commenting

So, I'm trying this Haloscan thing for comments now. To make the transition, I've temporarily "hidden" blogger's comments so that y'all will use the haloscan comments. I just want to see if it's easier to reply to comments with a different system. It should make it easier for y'all to comment too. If it's a pain, tell me. Your opinions are appreciated. I'm still playing with my template to make the comment link not show up smack dab above the previous post's date.

Calorimetry!

Yesterday, I was starting to catch up on my blogrolling (a never-ending task) and was over on Knit Mongrel's blog admiring her Malabrigo Calorimetry that her good friend Knitdds made for her. I was wishing someone would make ME one since I couldn't seem to get around to it myself. Well, screw it, I said. I'm casting on tonight! And so, last night, I made my very own Calorimetry. Shh. Another workplace photoshoot upon arrival this morning. Pay no attention to the sales van behind me plastered in potato chips. Back detail: Hey, Knitting Cat! Check out the button! Details: Pattern: Calorimetry from Winter '06 Knitty Yarn: Malabrigo from my first SP jochibi Bead: From my second SP Knitting Cat Needles: Knit Picks Options US #7 Mods - NONE! Believe it or not, even though I'd heard all sorts of complaints about the size of the thing, I went with it as is. It fits wonderfully! The secret is, well duh - gauge. Unless you like your headwarmers quite a bit tighter, I see no reason to cast on fewer stitches unless you are going for a larger gauge. And yes, that's the same yarn I used to make "Le Slouche". I love me some Malabrigo. It's the perfect yarn for snuggling against your ear. I'd love to see this done in maybe a Noro Silk Garden or Paton's SWS. The long color repeats and the short rows would make for a very cool looking headwarmer, no? Speaking of Malabrigo, I have a bag of it on order from the shop. Wait'll you see what I have in mind for it. Muah ha ha ha ha ha!

Ass and the Many Different Ways You Can Feel Like It.

#1. 1 Kind of Ass. Defined as mild head and chest congestion, the sniffles, mild aches and pains. May include some or all of the above. #2. 2 Kinds of Ass. Defined as mild to moderate head and chest congestion, itchy, watery eyes, persistent cough, mild to moderate aches and pains (including headache) leaky or clogged nose - either way requiring multiple boxes of kleenex. Medicine is introduced to the picture. Typically in pill form. #3. 3 Kinds of Ass. 2 kinds of ass, plus the inability to sit upright with eyes open. Requires hours of rest and relaxation, inability to knit. Medicines are upgraded to the gross, liquid "cherry" flavor kind. #4. 4 Kinds of Ass. 3 kinds of ass, plus nausea. If feeling persists for an entire day, the doctor may be visited. #5. Ass Battalion aka. Near Death. I got to number 4 by late Friday night. Fortunately I was able to downgrade back to 2 Saturday morning, and work at the shop all day. Sunday and today, I'm holding strong at 2, though I'm wavering back to 3 at the moment. I hate being sick. Calvin and Ripple, as you see above, have declared a truce and begun a lifelong friendship. Calvin is a handful. Hoo boy. Troublemaker actually likes to chew on all the plants that Morris and Ripple had always ignored! Gah! I've pulled out the big guns, my AKH2O. When I'm around to see it, the method is rather successful. Alas, this morning, after having spent the night with neither cat on the bed, I found Calvin laying in one of my potted plants. Sheesh. Once I started feeling better, I was able to finish up my sock swap socks for Karen. Pattern: Embossed Leaves from Winter 2005 Interweave Knits Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill in "Emerald City" Started 1/13 finished 1/21 Modifications, left off the last 8 row repeat on the foot and used the reverse shaping for the star toe as suggested on Mona's blog. I cannot say how much I enjoy knitting this pattern. I am entranced by it! It's so easy to memorize, it just flies off my needles! I'll be making many more of these in the future. This is pair #2.

A Trifecta!

Of Lorna's Laces that is. In Denim and Navy. The Navy one was an orphan but I'm getting an itching to try more fair isle so that's why I yoinked it. Like Last Week's Pr0n I purchased this while on a road trip with Tvini. Now, if you'll forgive me. I feel like three kinds of ass and have stayed home sick from work today. Must. Return. To. Bed. Yet again, Ripple hogs the shot.

Carmen + Calvin = Joy!

Carmen sent me a wonderful package for participating in her blog contest a few weeks ago! (And yes, mine is still ongoing - 68 public subscribers, 8 more to go) and I still suck and haven't sent Rain her's yet.) But check out the pile of joy she sent me! Turtle bathtub toys! I did take a bath last night but couldn't bring myself to toss them in yet. Not before their photo shoot. But aren't they so fun to look at? Also included was a house music mix-cd, a little notebook with my (our) initial on it, another turtle (destined to peek from behind a flower in my garden?) and a little zippered bag with a bookmark, cool pen and stitchmarkers in it! Check 'em out! She even has her own e-bay store! I love my new little stitch markers. The construction is similar to Knitting Mamma's that she had sent me. I have to try this out for myself some time. I'm intrigued with how perfect the circles are. Thank you, Carmen! And now, some kitty pics. And because I'm a total dork, a video of Calvin attempting to play with Ripple. Heh. And thank you all for the warm welcome you gave to Calvin. He's irresistable isn't he?

Introducing Calvin!

Yes, another orange tabby. But Calvin has a little something extra mixed in with him. Siamese. He's got a very cool sloped nose and is very slinky with the long pointed tail. He's 7 months old and has spent his entire life at a wonderful pet rescue called Second Chance Kitten. I initially thought I would be bringing home one of the sweet little grey kittens they had there, but when I saw Calvin, and how friendly and playful he was, I knew he and Ripple would be perfect for each other. He bounces around all over the place and Ripple doesn't quite know what to think of him yet. Quite honestly, I didn't get much sleep last night as Ripple would not SHUT UP with the yowling and the growling and the general pissiness that goes with having a feline intruder in your domain. He'll get over it. They're far too curious about each other. I mean, look at this face. What's not to love? If you asked Ripple, he'd say "The little shit eats my food and plays with my toys. What do you MEAN what's not to love?" Now. Memorize their faces. You never know when they'll be a who's who pop quiz. Whoops, I published before I finished his story. Calvin actually came with the name "Calypso". I guess that's the name of Jacques Cousteau's boat. Meh. Too many syllables and too feminine as far as I'm concerned. I immediately started thinking of what else I could call him would too much confusion. Cal? Sosie? Ipso? Keyser Soze? I seriously considered that last one, but then I thought of one of my favorite cartoons and realized it was the perfect name! Ripple does remind me of Hobbes anyway. Heh.