Spring Fling Coffee and Yarn Weekly Topic #1

this is so much more fun that writing the essay i have to finish tonight for my Introduction to Indigenous Issues course. i found out that Tanja B.'s idea of a perfect cup of coffee is almost exactly the same as mine: americano with a bit of cream on the beach with family and a yummy muffin. sounds perfect, and exactly what i am going to do tomorrow morning (my first day of a month break from school!). i also discovered that Frances S. describes the perfect sup of coffee - "the stronger and darker the better!". yum! she is also making a pinwheel sweater, which i am also making for the first baby in my cicle of friends. okay, time to stop reading blogs (and looking at all of the beautiful pictures of incredible knitting...and snow! people still have snow!) and back to the essay.

spring cleaning

time to sort through the baskets, boxes, bags of UFO's and WIP's, and sort them. it only took an hour, once i dumped everything out on to the living room floor. because i have SO MANY (i am pro at starting things, then when i get stuck or have a new idea, tucking it away so that i can pretend that it isn't there, and starting another thing) i sorted them in to seasons. i have a spring bag in my bedroom (craft central until we get a bigger house and i can have my own craft room) and the other three seasons packed away in a box downstairs. i also organized my ravelry queue, and made a space for all the ziplocs of yarn and patterns i have laying around to start. the idea is that i have to work my way through the season's projects before starting anything new on my queue. there will be a few exceptions - i need a new spring cardi cause our house is near the water and the spring storms are chilly! so far i frogged three pairs of socks that didn't fit, a whole bunch of other little projects i did when i first started knitting, and finished a few pairs of socks and Wisp. it feels good to be working my way through this stuff. maybe i should do this in all areas of my life! ;)

what did you do for st paddys day?

cause i saw saul williams. what a powerful show. he played most of my favorite songs, and the crowd was incredible - supportive and having fun. i love when crowds come together..makes for a fun night.

i was sick, so i stuck to drinking scotch - and it worked! the next morning i woke up and my cold had been killed by that great stuff. we walked back across the granville street bridge after the show, and the city was pretty quiet. walking through cities at night is one of my favorite things to do...so i thoroughly enjoyed it.

in the morning we borrowed my moms discount card for the bookstore. (we were lucky enough to have their whole downtown apartment to ourselves for the weekend). DB found a bio of hunter s thompson written by his close friend and i chose a beginning book on weaving, which i keep leafing through to look at all of the beautiful fibers! i can't wait to get my loom working!

what a wonderful st paddys day. i feel like a good irish girl.

immortal techniqe was incredible!

soooo amazing. even more than i expected. quite a unique crowd...a bit of a mix of hip hop and punk kids. when my BF asked me what i wanted to do this year for my birthday, as i turn 30 this summer, i said "see immortal technique", and the show lived up to that leve of importance! it was amazing to see in person someone that is so passionate about social justice. he looks like a man not to be messed with - a result i'm sure of growing up in harlem...i'm just glad that we are on the same side!

i have already begun to plan the next time i can see him...

the hotel was lovely to. we stayed at the Ace hotel in belltown - my favorite neighborhood in seattle. much more comfortable and comparable price to the hostel. pics to follow.

we are off to seattle

we're heading down across the border to see immortal technique. i can't wait. i love seattle. DH-2B is worried i think - he's never left canada...we're staying at the Ace hotel - looks like a great place, and near my fave record shop and bookstore. when i get home, i'll get the camera hooked up to the computer...finally!

cat up for trade

anyone want a kitty? he's up for trade since he brought me a dead rat this morning at 5 AM... ;)

Spring fling coffee and yarn swap

Coffee

1. What is your preference? Whole beans or ground? whole beans, cause i love the smell when i grind them

2. What kind of coffees do you enjoy? A rich, bold roast; a light, fresh one, or something in between? Leaded or non? i like both caff and non-, any rich dark bold blend

3. If you were headed out right now to buy some coffee for the house, what would you be picking up? rich decaf cause it's evening

4. Do you drink for caffeine, pleasure, or both? both

5. Do you enjoy flavored coffees? How about add-ins or flavored creamers? if the flavors are natural i like them, mostly the liquer falvors (kaluha and such)

6. A large, lovely mug or a small, dainty cup? big pottery mugs i find at thrift stores

7. Describe your perfect cup - not JUST the coffee, but how you'd enjoy it! dark coffee, a bit of brown sugar, sitting out on my fire escape watching the sun rise

8. You're sitting down to enjoy a nice cup in the local coffee shop, knitting bag in hand, iPod all tuned up - or maybe you're there with a few friends for knit night! What treat do you pick up to enjoy with your coffee? A sweet, rich brownie, or something more healthy? How about a salty treat? What goes best with that great cup and company? a spicy sweet pumpkin square, or almond crossant

Yarn

1. Do you knit or crochet? I knit and spin

2. What are your favorite types of yarns to work with? mohair or alpaca of any type, but i like anything that is natural (not acrylic)

3. What do you have on the needles (or hook!) right now? i don't have the space to list it all *blush* but i have a shawl, a few pairs of socks, a felted spring purse, and two cardigans

4. What are your favorite colors in yarns? What about those that you'd never find in your stash? favorites right now are purple and greys, and any dark rich color...i don't have/want any beige, yellow, orange (other than pumpkin), many light colors

5. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using? Any you just detest? i really just use bamboo other than for circs

6. Are there any particular notions you absolute do NOT need? Some of us swap a lot - are you sure that you have enough tape measures to last your lifetime? Enough stitch markers to mark every stitch of a 10 foot wide afghan? i don't think so

7. You walk into the yarn shop and have exactly and only enough money to purchase 2 skeins of yarn in their 2 for 20 special they have going..The choices are a soft, thick cotton/viscose blend in your favorite colors, slightly variegated..a beautiful sock yarn that's just squishy and sproingy in your hands.. a soft, worsted weight wool like malabrigo.. and a lovely bamboo blend with colors to just die for. Which do you walk out the door with? malabrigo, but it was a hard choice between that and the bamboo

Spring

1. We're starting sign-ups on the first day of Spring - is it already truly Spring-like where you are? i'm on the west coast - the daffodils have been out for weeks!

2. What's your favorite spring flower? Do you have one? i love all of them, but the snowdrops are pretty, and so are the wildflowers...i love any little sprouts that are growing though

3. What do you most look forward to about springtime? the garden beginning to grow, the gentle spring rains

4. They've predicted a gorgeous day tomorrow - Sunny and about 65 with a nice breeze - how do you spend your day? climbing over the rocks on the beach then sitting and looking out over the ocean with a warn drink, wearing a light hand-knit sweater

5. The day after, it's going to be cooler and pouring down rain - does that impact your mood? How do you spend that day? what helps cheer you up? i don't mind the rain, and would go out for a hike in the forest where it stays a it drier, but i would cheer up with a hot bath, fire and knitting or spinning

Odds n Ends
1. Do you collect anything BESIDES yarn and needles? pirate-y things, anything to do with herbal medicine

2. Are you allergic to anything? artificial scents and smoke

3. Do you have pets? two kitties

4. Is this your first swap, or are you an old pro? What are the last 2 swaps you participated in? i'm just finishing two right now - a pink swap and a books-n-more swap, both on ravelry

5. List 3 of your favorite blogs - craft related or not - and tell us why you love them. Hello Yarn, brooklyn tweed and fig and plum for the beautiful photography, amazing knitting and yummy recipies!

and so it begins....

ahh...the big first day, and i've been up since 5:30...not my usual time as those that know me can attest. i'm more of a stay in bed until 9-kinda girl, a luxury i try to maintain as fundamental to my lifestyle (as a student these days, i am getting away with it too). but i wanted to get it started, so here it is. two more days until we are off to seattle to see immortal technique and it feels like it will be forever. i'll try and take pics when i'm down there. that's it for today...nap time *yawn*