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••• Thursday, July 31, 2003

Bits n Pieces 

It's a deal done. A done deal. Saturday morning there will be a New Kia on the Block. It's a fun little zippy thang that will afford me safe passage through the worst that Mother Michigan can offer.

I'm excited but I also fret over new purchases such as this. I'm a worrier, with associated issues related to entitlement and feeling worthy of good things. I'll get over it real quick, with a full appreciation of my bountiful blessings, whether it's a worshipful husband, adorably challenging off-spring or having the resources to purchase a safe, shiny new car or a hunky hank named Perry Winkle.

Squarely Forgotten
I've neglected to honor a work in progress. It's a garter square afghan, inspired by Melanie Falick's (et.al.) Knitting for Baby (I know, how thick is the creative cretin who needs "inspiration" to create an afghan out of garter stitch squares?). My husband is very excited about this project and anxious for it to be completed. To break up the monotony of garter stitch from here to seaming infinity I made a deal to knit a square every time I finish a project. By finish, I mean steamed, seamed and ready to wear. I have 8 squares done, with 23 to go. I'm kind of cheating the system because I currently have three garments waiting to be "finished." I really need to get to those because I've run out of stitch holders.



The yarn for afghan is Encore. The above mentioned Periwinkle is Pure New Zealand Wool, from a company called "Wool Pak." And a recent purchase from a new yarn shop in town. Grand Rapids (in consideration of it's size) is sorely lacking in quality yarn stores. There are two nice ones in the SW suburbs, approximately 14 and 20 miles from me (I live in GR metropolitan area).

The new yarn shop is also in the suburbs, but closer to me than the others. The ambiance is a bit hoi polloi for my tastes, but they carry a selection of quality yarn (Rowan, Jaeger, Classic Elite, etc.). In the fall they're getting in Lana Grossa, evidently not currently offered retail in U.S.

Like many yarn shops, this place holds a monthly sit-n-knit in the evening. Unlike many yarn shops, to attend one of these functions, one must make a reservation and fork over $25.00 for a meal. I'm pretty good at multi-tasking, but I'm pretty sure I can't eat and knit at the same time. I'm also pretty sure I don't want to attend a knit gathering with people who would pay $25.00 to knit while eating Chicken Mandarin salad and Killer brownies.

Maybe I'm cynical, overly suspicious or flat out paranoid, but I can't help but wonder if this is a scheme to keep out the fiber RiffRaff.

Sample RiffRaff:: The middle aged woman with too much bling-bling in her hair, who pulls up in a Korean import suv, with dealer plates and price sticker stuck to and completely covering passenger window.

Sample of Potential RiffRaff Scenario: Said woman tries engaging clerks in intelligent textile conversation, unaware of the chocolate Slim-fast mustache crowning her upper lip. Clerks quickly shuffle woman to separate room where low-rent yarns are sold in bulk. Only other woman in room is wearing a hair net, a pink and green checked culotte skirt, knee hi nylons and Keds sneakers with no shoe strings. Culotted woman wonders aloud if they carry no dye lot bulk acrylic. Mama Bling starts to cry. She wants her Subaru.

I'm thinking of joining the Knitting Kitty Ring. I do have a cat, although I rarely speak of her. She's a private kind of feline, but has agreed to put herself in the limelight from time to time for momma's sake. Her name is Bella, but I call her Bella Boosky, or Boosky. I don't know why. Names and sounds seem to freehandedly arrange themselves in my brain without prompt or solicitation from brain's user.

One of the standards for Knitting Kitty Ring membership is some blog coverage of kitty kinds of things. So, for a Knitting Kitty warmup, here's something cute for you Kosmopolitan Kitten Kanoodlers: Lilly. I purchased a couple of these cards when I was on vacation in Leelenau
County. My favorite shows Lilly sitting on top of Art's Tavern in Glen Arbor, but for some reason that one isn't offered in the boxed sets from Leelenau.

Final thoughts for the day: Will Perry Winkle? I think Natalie Would.

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# posted by Marcia @ 12:29 PM


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