Annette's Acre

A few things of interest from the weekend…

I read this:

Other than a trip to the grocery store and dinner out for my stepfather’s birthday, that essentially was *all* that I did on Saturday.

The Black Jewels series is one of my all-time favorites and a world I could happily live in!  I enjoyed this installment in the series better than the last – a whole lot more happened and we got more detail around the politics and workings of the world.  Now for the interminable wait for the next volume  Which will be a series of short stories next March…

I finished this on Sunday:

This is a Baktus scarf in Interlacements yarn. The yarn was nice and springy and the resulting scarf loosened up nicely when washed.  I didn’t actually block it… the weight of the yarn will keep it loose.  It will meet its new owner on Thursday (I’ll be giving a repeat performance on the presentation I gave back in January in Vegas.  Locally, this time).  No, it’s not going in the mail and I’m pretty darn confident she doesn’t read this blog LOL.

My bookshelves continue to groan as I got some interesting items in the mail:

Spellwright by Blake Charlton – how could I resist something with my *name*  (Wright) in the title?

Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter by A. E. Moorat

Hmmm….need to read faster, stitch faster and knit faster to get thru all the stash…  any hints?

Just some odds and ends to share….

First, I snapped this (with my Blackberry) yesterday as I was leaving work:

I was sitting in the vanpool van, this isn’t thru my windshield.  The rainbow was so bright!  It was lovely.

Here’s my Olympic knitting progress:

Sadly, my Olympic goal is not looking good.  This is a two-skein project and I’ve yet to finish the first one (seen on the left).  We shall see.

I did manage to finish the latest in the Mirabilia RR – this is a portion of Violet.

I also finished a couple books… and have to recommend one of them to any fan of good old fashioned sword/sorcery/epic fantasy.

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

This is the first in a trilogy and by all that’s holy, do *not* read the blurb for the second book before you finish the first one.  MAJOR spoiler right there!!  It’s got magic, politics, fighting, assassins, heroes and a nice twisty plot

This weekend was devoted to two primary endeavors:

• Watching the Winter Olympics
• Catching up on recently released (to DVD) movies and one new theatre release

One would think that another result would be some great stitching progress, right?

Yeah.  One. Would. Think.

But let’s hold that for a minute…..

For the first time, I watched the entire opening ceremonies for the Olympics.  That’s right… first time *ever*.  I admit to fast-forwarding thru some bits (we didn’t start watching until after K got home from work, so had an hour+ on the DVR), including two long-winded speeches, but we watched until the torch was lit.  Very interesting.  Loved the tap/jazz sequence and KD Lang’s rendition of Hallelujah.

I also started my Olympic knitting project during the show.  Managed a few inches….

On Saturday and Sunday the Olympic watching continued.  Other than hockey, I’ll pretty much watch every other sport.  Love the skiing (downhill, slalom – moguls are growing on me).  Love luge/bobsled.  Figure skating is the best (men’s and ice dancing are my favorites, but will watch them all).

I didn’t watch every minute of coverage, but managed most of the primetime NBC hours.  And a few more inches of Olympic knitting.  Sock yarn and #3 needles are sloooow growing.  Love the colors

Movies

DH rented a few movies on Friday for weekend.  I had given him a wish list and was pleasantly surprised at what came home.

Julie & Julia (DVD) - watched this on Saturday afternoon.  I admit to feeling a curious desire to buy an orange Le Creuset crockpot and make beef bourguignon afterward.  Luckily, this feeling has passed.  Overall, a good movie, but with a few loose ends I wish were tied up more neatly.  Not enough for me to hunt down the book, though.

The Time Traveler’s Wife (DVD) - this was Sunday afternoon’s movie.  I admit, I *adored* the book.  I found it romantic and captivating and the movie was the same.  I shed a tear at the end of the book and had tissue in hand for the movie.  Now, it’s been years since I read the book so I cannot state it was a faithful telling or not.  Maybe that’s a good thing?

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (DVD) - late Sunday afternoon with the kids.  Entertaining.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (theatre) – Kids and I saw this at 10 this morning.  I was totally surprised at the number of other folks with the same idea!  Theatre was at least 85 – 90% capacity.  Not many empty seats to be found.

This story I read just a few months ago, so I can definitely state there were some significant changes in the plot along the way.  Of course, it would be virtually impossible for them to cram it all in.  I get that.  Totally.  And with *one* exception, I thought the movie was quite good on its own merit.

The one exception is this:  Athena at The Parthenon.  The one shown in the movie looked nothing like this.  This bugs me.  It’s a real place.  Couldn’t you use the real statue?  How many people are now going to visit the Parthenon in Nashville and say “Hey, that’s not the right statue!”

Just sayin’.

TUSAL

Here’s my jar for the month:

As you can see, unlike last month there’s really no nice clean layers for projects worked on.  Sure, you can see the pink  yarn where I finished the baby blanket.  Otherwise – a  hodgepodge. This will be the norm, I’m sure.  Especially if I continue in this haphazard-don’t-want-to-work-on-anything-in-the-queue mood I’m in right now.

It’s that time again!

The Yarn Harlot has posted her plans for the Knitting Olympics.

I participated four years ago and successfully medalled so I’ve got to try for a repeat.

One of this month’s goals was to start a scarf for my friend, S.  With everything else going on, finishing will be a stretch, but one I’m willing to take up as my Olympic challenge!!

Joe: Hello Stitch fans!!  Welcome to this special edition of “All My Acres.”  Today, we’re reviewing the January Gooooooooooooo…

Fred: Hey, Joe?

J: …aaaaaallllllllllsss….  Yes, Fred?

F: I know you’re a frustrated soccer announcer and all, but let’s not overdo, ok?

J: ::sigh::  Someday, Fred.  Someday.

F: Let’s recap the Goals set way back on January 2:

• Finish page 3 of Summer Queen
• Finish MP bookmark
• Finish pink baby blanket for S
• Hit 50 days on the Xbox streak

Definitely do-able on all counts.  How did she do, Joe?

J: Not bad, considering one was impossible.  Let’s go thru them one by one:

• Finish page 3 of Summer Queen

Here’s the current progress pic:

Using the handy Photo-Strater, I’ve highlighted the area where she went above and beyond the goal:

F: Wow!  That’s a good amount of overage there.  Nicely done.

J: Yes.  I think we need to up the ante for February.  But we’ll save that for the end of the show.  Next we have:

• Finish MP bookmark

F:  I know that was done! We saw the picture on January 15th.

J:  And a fine finish it was.  Another Goal to mark “Complete!”

F:  Can we carry that on to the next one?  ”Finish pink baby blanket for S”

J:  I’m afraid that one is still in consideration.  I know the plan was to finish the blanket on a car trip scheduled for yesterday, but unfortunately that trip got cancelled.  I see the blanket sitting on the couch and less than a half skein of yarn to go, so we still have a chance to see a finish yet today.

F: Hmmm… it would be easier if we had some football or baseball on this afternoon.

J: I know.  We do have a How It’s Made marathon.  And there is always the DVD collection.  I think She can do it.

F: As long as She isn’t distracted by….

J: Shhhhh…. stay positive.

F: Got it.  What about the last goal?

J: Sadly, this one was never possible.  If She’d checked her streak numbers on the day She posted, She’d have seen that it was broken on January 1.  So the best we could have hoped for was hitting 30 days.

F:  Did we get that far?

J:  No.

F: Oh.

J: Yup.

F: Ah.

J: So that’s it for the January Goal Recap.  Did you have anything else to add?

F: Why, yes, Joe, I do!  We know She was out of town most of this past week, but there was stitching accomplished and coming home early allowed for another finish in January!  This is the Pagoda Pincushion from one of last year’s Gift of Stitching magazines:

J: Very nice!  Especially that it’s, you know, finished.  Care to share the floss and bead details with the fans?

F: I thought you’d never ask!

• Overdye:  Needle Necessities 1781 – Alpine Meadows
• Floss: DMC 3834
• Beads: Delica 432
• Fabric: 32-count antique white evenweave

J: That means we’ve got three finishes so far this year.  Great way to start.  Are we ready for the February Goals?

F: Absolutely!  I hope you took into account it’s a short month.

J: Why would I do that?

F: Because we don’t want to lose our jobs??!?!

J:  Hmmm… true.  Ok.  ::scribble::  Here we go…..

February Goals:

• Complete all stitching/beading “below the fold” on Summer Queen
• Complete LUV Letters by Primrose Needleworks
• Start/Finish next LHN Ornament:  He’s a Flake
• Start knit scarf for SL

F: I’m not familiar with that second item.  Did She sneak in a new start??

J: It’s the annual Valentine piece for Him [DH].  I guess the usual pillow approach didn’t appeal this year.  Here’s a pic:

F:  How romantic.

J: Pretty much.

That’s it for today’s Gooooooaaaaallllll Edition of All My Acres!  See you mid-month for the regular update!

F: ::sigh::

Lots of stitching time this week as Heroes, Leverage and Fringe were back in addition to some nail-biting football games.  We also watched Bones this week, a new show to our lineup.

This year I’ve joined the Totally Useless SAL!  That’s right, you will be treated to a lovely colorful picture each month!  I even bought a special glass jar for the monthly reveal.  Exciting, eh?

Here’s January:

Ooooo….  Aaaaahhhhh….. See those DMC bands peeking out?  There are a few in there…

I love how I can see exactly what I’ve been working on in the last 4ish weeks by the layers in the jar:

I suspect that later months this year won’t be as clear when I go back to my usual “Barely Managed Chaos” rotation approach.

I finished and *finish-finished* my Michael Powell bookmark last weekend:

One goal complete for January!  w00t!

Knit the next installment of the KrisKnits KAL:

And started the next Little House Needleworks ornament, Pear Tree:

I did put in a little time on Summer Queen, but as I’m thisclose to making the Goal on her for this month, I’m going to hold the picture until then.  I haven’t touched the crochet goal as I’m saving that for a six-hour car trip back from Vegas on Jan 30.  Plenty of time to finish it off

Hello, Stitch Fans!  Welcome to today’s edition of “All My Acres” where we bring you the latest, the greatest, the most interesting happenings here at Chez Acre!

Um, Joe?

Yeah, Fred?

Let’s not set the bar too high, ok?

You’ve got a point there.  How about this?

Hello, Stitch Fans!  Welcome to today’s edition of “All My Acres” where we try to at least show enough that you’ll hang around until the end of the show!

Much better, Joe.

Great.  Ok, I’m Joe Silky and this is my cohort Fred Linenstram.  What’ve we got today, Fred?

Thanks, Joe!  For our first stop, I smell olives!  Hey, that means we’re in Greece!  Look at this great progress on the Greek Village bookmark:

Look at those lines!  See that needle placement?  Like she just stepped away!  And if you squint a bit, you can see the majestic white tower and hear the sea…..

Fred?

Yes?

Remember the bar?

Oh.  Yeah.  Ok.  Let’s move on to the next stop on the tour.  Is it getting warm in here?

Why yes, Fred, I feel it too!  Could that mean a Summer Queen update?

It sure does!  A nice bit of progress up at the top…

Fred, I must say, the Goal for this month is looking to be in the bag!  Just need to square off the top of the section and fill in the triangle-y area in the middle and we can call it good!

Yes, it is Joe.  Yes, it is.  I think that’s all we’ve got for today.  I’m really proud of the focus and determination we’re seeing this month!  Really, it doesn’t take much to have some great progress and keep the fans happy.  Why, I remember…

Umm… Fred?

…not too long ago..  yes, Joe?

I’ve got a new start to show.

Oh.  I. See.

It’s not bad.  Just a dishcloth.  Really, Fred.  I don’t think it’ll derail the goals at all.  See?

I hope you’re right, Joe.

Me, too.  AcreFans, this is a new January Knit-Along (KAL) found on KrisKnits blog!  We’re a big fan of her dishcloths and the monthly KALs planned for this year will make for some great Monthly Goal fodder and quick finishes!

Let’s just hope it makes the Goal cut next month, Joe.   Providing this one gets done *this* month…..

Fred… come on.  Optimism.  It won’t kill you.

Ok, ok.  I’m supportive. Anything else to share with the AcreFans?

Well, I did find this picture in the camera tonight, Fred:

Wow.  Is that the new stove, Joe?  She’s a looker!  And that microwave!  So classy….  And is that…no way… a chicken nuggets button?!?  A pizza button?!?  Cool!!

Yup, Fred.  I agree!  I think we can count on some extra home-cooked grub in the next few months.

Well, AcreFans, that’s all for tonight!  Stay safe and keep the frogs in the pond!

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And just so ya know… the stove *does* have a chicken nugget and a pizza button!