I only bought 3 pairs. Is that enough?
10/28/2008
The most perfectest stripey socks ever...
Well, at the moment anyway...
I only bought 3 pairs. Is that enough?
I only bought 3 pairs. Is that enough?
10/27/2008
Milestones...
-I turned on the heat tonight. I wanted to wait until November 1st for no good reason, but the temperature being in the 40s tomorrow during the day was enough for me to say, "Why wait?" (I also just this moment remembered all of the things I had hiding in the window seat downstairs, and rushed down to remove them from in frot of the radiator within - which is already warm)
-I must be from Philadelphia now. I actually care whether the Phillies win the series, and while I was out working on dance programs tonight, I checked the score a few times, and then went to see the princess for a dress fitting, a gossip session, and to watch the end of the game (which is on official rain delay until April)
-I stopped waiting for my cell phone to stop acting up and just got a new one. Still not suave, but slightly more chic than previous, plus with no antenna thing to break off. Now I just have to learn the quirks of this one, like how to put it on silent mode.
Time to check the bedroom ceiling!
-I must be from Philadelphia now. I actually care whether the Phillies win the series, and while I was out working on dance programs tonight, I checked the score a few times, and then went to see the princess for a dress fitting, a gossip session, and to watch the end of the game (which is on official rain delay until April)
-I stopped waiting for my cell phone to stop acting up and just got a new one. Still not suave, but slightly more chic than previous, plus with no antenna thing to break off. Now I just have to learn the quirks of this one, like how to put it on silent mode.
Time to check the bedroom ceiling!
10/24/2008
Dateline: Forest Hills
Time: Thursday, 9:45 am
I am, at this moment, experiencing a fascinating phenomenon: the alternate-side-of-the-street parking game in NYC.
I'm in Queens, staying at my mom's, and as I got in late on a Wednesday, there were only parking spaces available on the Thursday side of the street, meaning that on Thursday mornings, you have to move your car so they can clean that side of the street. Luckily though, I was on the right block of the Thursday side so I didn't have to move my car until the civilised hour of 9:30 am.
So I dutifully troop out at 9:20 and begin cruising for spaces on the Friday side. Still no parking. And I realize as I'm endlessly circling that there are cars on some blocks of the Thursday side, even though the time restriction is still in place until 10am. And then I notice that someone is sitting in every car, ready to move at a moment's notice when the street sweeper or meter maid comes along as the taboo time is nearing its end. What to do but join them?
And when the sweeper does, in fact, come along, we signal to each other with the start of engines and the flash of headlights and parade around to the next likely Thursday side. Where I now sit waiting for the block's-worth of drivers to exit their vehicles, in synchrony, precisely at 10am.
I am, at this moment, experiencing a fascinating phenomenon: the alternate-side-of-the-street parking game in NYC.
I'm in Queens, staying at my mom's, and as I got in late on a Wednesday, there were only parking spaces available on the Thursday side of the street, meaning that on Thursday mornings, you have to move your car so they can clean that side of the street. Luckily though, I was on the right block of the Thursday side so I didn't have to move my car until the civilised hour of 9:30 am.
So I dutifully troop out at 9:20 and begin cruising for spaces on the Friday side. Still no parking. And I realize as I'm endlessly circling that there are cars on some blocks of the Thursday side, even though the time restriction is still in place until 10am. And then I notice that someone is sitting in every car, ready to move at a moment's notice when the street sweeper or meter maid comes along as the taboo time is nearing its end. What to do but join them?
And when the sweeper does, in fact, come along, we signal to each other with the start of engines and the flash of headlights and parade around to the next likely Thursday side. Where I now sit waiting for the block's-worth of drivers to exit their vehicles, in synchrony, precisely at 10am.
10/22/2008
The ubiquitous purple dress...
Somehow it just happened that the main colors in my wardrobe are black, red/burgundy and purple, with small touches of navy, fuschia, and forest green thrown in from time to time. And looking in my closet, especially at my dance dresses, purple is clearly it. Photographic evidence below:
This picture is from a few days ago at the Baltimore Playford Ball. The dress is one of my favorites - the shape of a ball gown, but in comfortable cotton. You throw it in the washer, and then in the dryer. The skirt has all kinds of spin, and it is, of course, purple, with the added bonus of swirls:
The dress above is in my favorite fabric from Eagle Ray Traders based in MA, vendors at many NE dance and folk festivals. I love this fabric so much that I have three dresses it in: the short jumper shown, a long jumper and a short flippy dress.
This picture is from a few days ago at the Baltimore Playford Ball. The dress is one of my favorites - the shape of a ball gown, but in comfortable cotton. You throw it in the washer, and then in the dryer. The skirt has all kinds of spin, and it is, of course, purple, with the added bonus of swirls:
I have two other versions of the dress. The first one of that pattern is green. Number two is above, and number three is, not surprisingly, purple, with an oak leaf pattern.
And I've just come back from a fitting for my Jane Austen dress, actually a practice, less formal dress than the eventual ball gown will be. When I went fabric shopping for the fancy dress, I was looking for burgundy, but came away with, yes, purple. And when we decided to do the less formal dress first, just to see if the style was plausible on me, what color was the many yards-worth of fabric I just had lying around the house. Yes, right again, purple.
Hopeless! But hopelessly wonderfully purple!
10/20/2008
Brrrrrrrrr.....
You know it's time to turn on the heat when you are using your laptop to help keep you warm...
Tonight, an array of pictures:
I think this is brilliant! It's an Apple Slicer by Jennifer Battram for MomaStore. It spiral slices for fun eating, and if you don't want to slice the whole thing, simply leave the disk in place to keep the apple from turning brown.
This is from Apartment Therapy, always a source of neat ideas. I love the idea of expanding your mantel shelf on either side of the fireplace to create instant built-ins and and even bigger space to festoon with candles and other festiveness (pictures of my Halloween mantel to come). This would be great for my livingroom. Another project for the endless list of house stuff.
Deb brought this artist Don Stewart and his composite drawings to my attention with a shoe horn image, but I love this one, the Periodic Table of Elephants! Either follow the link, or click on the image to get the full effect. I think these would make fabulous coloring books!
Tonight, an array of pictures:
I think this is brilliant! It's an Apple Slicer by Jennifer Battram for MomaStore. It spiral slices for fun eating, and if you don't want to slice the whole thing, simply leave the disk in place to keep the apple from turning brown.
This is from Apartment Therapy, always a source of neat ideas. I love the idea of expanding your mantel shelf on either side of the fireplace to create instant built-ins and and even bigger space to festoon with candles and other festiveness (pictures of my Halloween mantel to come). This would be great for my livingroom. Another project for the endless list of house stuff.
Deb brought this artist Don Stewart and his composite drawings to my attention with a shoe horn image, but I love this one, the Periodic Table of Elephants! Either follow the link, or click on the image to get the full effect. I think these would make fabulous coloring books!
10/14/2008
"Purple," they all shouted!
Did the obsession start with Mouse Paint, the greatest book in the universe? I can't be sure, but clearly purple feet in the form of purple socks and purple toenail polish are really just the best thing going. Right up there with stripey socks.
On Saturday, as I was dashing off to my hair appointment before heading up to Boston, I realized I had forgotten the burgundy tights I was going to wear with my always-fashionable black dress. Undeterred, I made time for a stop at the store (and somehow also managed to squeeze in a quick run through Ikea on the way...) to find tights. In my largely uncaffeinated state, I didn't find the tights, but when I did:
"Purple," she shouted!
Perfect! I bought three pairs and wonder now if that was enough.
On Saturday, as I was dashing off to my hair appointment before heading up to Boston, I realized I had forgotten the burgundy tights I was going to wear with my always-fashionable black dress. Undeterred, I made time for a stop at the store (and somehow also managed to squeeze in a quick run through Ikea on the way...) to find tights. In my largely uncaffeinated state, I didn't find the tights, but when I did:
"Purple," she shouted!
Perfect! I bought three pairs and wonder now if that was enough.
10/12/2008
Finally Fall...
It's really Fall now:
-I drove north this weekend and saw the foliage. It was great driving weather, and the colors really popped out of the hillsides and roadsides.
-I've found and set out my halloween candleholders and autumn door wreath. I have to buy a pumpkin (I keep meaning to and forgetting). What should I name it? Now that I have a big porch, should I go for a big pumpkin?
-It's Fall Break! A vacation from teaching for the week. In celebration I will finally get to the 10,000 dance programs that I suddenly have to write.
-Okay, it's going to be 80 degrees tomorrow, but they have finally turned off the A/C at work. I can now begin to wear sweaters outside rather than many layers of them in the office.
-Now that it's getting cold, I'm starting to think about putting plastic on the windows. But that will wait for when I turn the heat on. When should that be?
-It's time to get back to crochet projects, now that it's cool enough to keep yarn on your lap.
-Time to put the extra blanket back on the bed...
-I drove north this weekend and saw the foliage. It was great driving weather, and the colors really popped out of the hillsides and roadsides.
-I've found and set out my halloween candleholders and autumn door wreath. I have to buy a pumpkin (I keep meaning to and forgetting). What should I name it? Now that I have a big porch, should I go for a big pumpkin?
-It's Fall Break! A vacation from teaching for the week. In celebration I will finally get to the 10,000 dance programs that I suddenly have to write.
-Okay, it's going to be 80 degrees tomorrow, but they have finally turned off the A/C at work. I can now begin to wear sweaters outside rather than many layers of them in the office.
-Now that it's getting cold, I'm starting to think about putting plastic on the windows. But that will wait for when I turn the heat on. When should that be?
-It's time to get back to crochet projects, now that it's cool enough to keep yarn on your lap.
-Time to put the extra blanket back on the bed...
10/04/2008
The perfect date?
Because my life includes lots of long range planning, and because I love being organized, every year I have about 4-5 calendars hanging around my household. The calendars are pretty constant - Jenny's wonderful papercuts, the teapot calendar in the kitchen, Anne Taintor, moose, Motawi tiles, sometimes a second tea calendar. Most years I try to get at least one new and different calendar, often for hanging at work. This past week, in one of the blogs I read, I happened on this year's must-have design: KrissColorStripes available on Etsy. I must get one.
10/02/2008
So many books...
It's one of the first really chilly nights here in the balmy southland of Philadelphia, and my thoughts turn to finding some place to go see the foliage, burning candles, fuzzy sweaters, and curling up with some new books.
Tonight after a long day at work, longsword rehearsal and a rather mediocre class, I went to Border's to recover with coffee and browsing. And inevitably, there's now an even longer list of books to look for at the library:
-The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss, author of the Coffee Trader and A Conspiracy of Paper
-Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle, airy, fun, and designed to make you crave good coffee
-The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday by Alexander McCall Smith, not really a mystery, but fakes it well
-Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce - I was sure this one was due out this month, but now Amazon says 4/09. Rats.
-Roanoke by Margaret Lawrence - okay, it's not due out until January, but it's her first novel since 2001, and I'm impatient!
-A Stranger to Command by Sherwood Smith, prequel to the Crown Duel/Court Duel series
-The Shanghai Tunnel by Sharan Newman, best known for her Catherine LeVandeur series
-The Conjurer and Deception's Daughter by Cordelia Frances Biddle, of the Philadelphia Biddles
...and more, but these should get me started.
Tonight after a long day at work, longsword rehearsal and a rather mediocre class, I went to Border's to recover with coffee and browsing. And inevitably, there's now an even longer list of books to look for at the library:
-The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss, author of the Coffee Trader and A Conspiracy of Paper
-Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle, airy, fun, and designed to make you crave good coffee
-The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday by Alexander McCall Smith, not really a mystery, but fakes it well
-Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce - I was sure this one was due out this month, but now Amazon says 4/09. Rats.
-Roanoke by Margaret Lawrence - okay, it's not due out until January, but it's her first novel since 2001, and I'm impatient!
-A Stranger to Command by Sherwood Smith, prequel to the Crown Duel/Court Duel series
-The Shanghai Tunnel by Sharan Newman, best known for her Catherine LeVandeur series
-The Conjurer and Deception's Daughter by Cordelia Frances Biddle, of the Philadelphia Biddles
...and more, but these should get me started.
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