She's So Cold

Finally, a finished object that I am happy with. Can I just tell you the joy it fills me with? Not only was it simple, I actually like the item and can see myself using it quite frequently, especially since I like my house cold in the winter. Never mind that next week it is supposed to be in the 90s here . . . I just said winter. The London Shrug is officially done and has been added to the Put a Fork In It album. Yes!

The girls leave on Tuesday for Paris, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. They will be gone for two solid weeks and couldn't be happier. Their school trip has been planned for the past two years and now that the date is quickly approaching, there is still a lot to be done. Every day, there is something new written on the white board (our preferred method of keeping in contact with one another) like "little umbrellas for Paris" or "pony tail holders." At some point, most likely in Prague, they will realize that they forgot something and have to go to a convenience store. That, for some strange reason, is always the highlight of a trip for me . . . that and eating in a McDonald's abroad.

The Flyer and I leave for London on the same day as the girls. This trip is relatively low key for us. He's doing a lot of planning, but I'm just looking for yarn stores. I've been to a few, but I really want to head to Bunty this time around, partially because I like the name. There will be a return trip to Liberty and Stash Yarns, but every thing else is up in the air. If you want anything, email me and I'll see what I can do. Trust me, if I am shopping for someone else, it's usually much better for me.

The plane project was supposed to be another Clapotis out of the Cider Moon Pandora Rose color-way (can we please think of a better word than color-way?). Best laid plans and all . . . it ain't happening. I should have bought the Glacier yarn, which I believe is their worsted weight yarn, but I bought the Icicle yarn, which is sock yarn. I knit up a gauge swatch on 5s and it was too loose, so I tried it on 4s. Better and something that I could live with. Or so I thought. About 20 rows into it, I realized that I hated it so much so that I wanted to cry. Lola and I had talked earlier about doing something out of Victorian Lace, a book I have had for a quite a while but was too nervous to use. Forced with a seven hour flight and nothing to knit, I opted for the rectangular shawl with the trellis and leaf motif on page 62. It looks very similar to Eunny's Print O' the Wave stole, but the directions were easier for me to read. I have almost two repeats done, which proves how quickly this knits up. It wasn't without issues as I had to tell my husband three times that I knew how to knit after I made successive fuck ups (not reading the chart correctly, lace cast-ons which wouldn't work, forgetting how a yarn over works - lovely crap!).

I picked up Allison's Charmed Knits last night more for Veronica than for me. Granted, I'll be doing the knitting (even though she and her sister know how to knit), but I've never met a bigger Harry Potter fan than her. I love the school jumpers and Errol - he might get knit quite quickly - as well as the Animal Crackers hat pattern. My only question, how does one knit something in secret? Any suggestions?

Lola, you are on your own for a while. Anything happens to us, the kids are yours. Make sure you have them "git" you things as well as fetch stuff for you. They are good at that. Not as good as pretend eating dog food on the phone (that's Gus for you), but good at "gitting" stuff. Email your requests!

Ava

PS - we saw the video for the Rolling Stones "She's So Cold" yesterday and I told the Flyer, "Now I know why women were gaga for Mick Jagger . . . he was hot before he looked cadavery."

Comments

[lola]

Look for cute baby prints at Liberty (not really baby-ish, but I trust your judgement). Not a must, but if you a mission.

Have the girls keep eyes open for Ms. Jolie in Prague. Tell her I'm up for adopting & she'd get 2 for the price of one.

[Cathi]

I don't need anything, but you have to take full advantage of the choco bar vending machines in the tube stations. Although I'm not a choccy girl, I do love those ones that are honeycomb covered in chocolate.

Have an amazing time!

[Cathi]

Oh, and the shrug looks awesome! You're packing it, right?

[mamie]

wow, your girls are traveling out of country, what a wonderful thing. i left the states for the first time at 25 and have never been the same since. i hope they and you have wonderful trips. amazing, how fast they grow!