More Fun with Mail

You know it's going to be an interesting evening when you check your mail and find a package from Germany...and you weren't expecting one.

Ok, that's not true - I was expecting a package from Germany, but I forgot that I was. I ordered this album. They've been playing Schnappi very frequently in the morning on a local radio station, and it is just TOO funny. So far I hadn't found the song available to download anywhere, so I decided to go for the album purchase.

Llama, llama, duck. :D

Note to My Neighbors

Since I have resigned myself to the fact that I will smell every meal you prepare, could you please learn some new recipes? The smell of sweet onions and curry is really getting old. In return, I promise to not play my cello or guitar later than 7 pm, and not to run my knitting machine late at night. Deal?

Happy Easter!

He is risen, He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend, regardless of the religion/beliefs you follow. Peace and love!

Life's Irritating Little Quirks

#347. Misplacing every single roll of packing tape you have on a day when you absolutely must get a package in the mail.

Sigh.

On the plus side, I myself received a couple packages yesterday - didn't want to open them on Good Friday but I did open them this morning. Yummies from Amazon (ok, I bought myself The Pirate Movie - I am so stuck in the 80s), and a very nice box from my Secret Pal. Prezzies are fun. :)



Note the sheepy goodness tape measure -- a black sheep! I love it! I'd only ever seen white ones before, and hadn't managed to get my hands on one. It came in the great little zebra-striped bag, which I now have to hide from a certain someone, lest it be purloined. :D The yarn is Cascade 220 in Magenta, a truly inspired color. Totally loving the card, the needle holders, and the book, as well. Thanks so much to my Secret Pal - you made my day! :D

And now, a quote (imagine if you will, a Southern drawl). "My colors are blush and bashful." "Your colors are pink and pink."

Heh.

If you're going to have a religious experience...

...being at church is appropriate, no?

We watched Passion of the Christ this evening after Good Friday service. I had not seen the movie yet - and was not certain that I was ready for it, based on reports from others. However, I felt it was important to see it, and that perhaps it was time.

Yes, I cried during the beatings. How could one man possibly have withstood all that? That wasn't what really affected me, though. Just as the actual crucifixion began, right as the earthquake hit, a massive thunder- and hailstorm broke outside. The lightning flashes were visible through the curtains of the room where we sat, as the temple was devastated. The rain was so heavy, it obscured the security lights in the parking lot outside. At the very end of the film, as Jesus is portrayed rising from the dead, the rain let up and the lights outside were once more visible.

Now, I realize that Texas weather is freaky at the best of times, but this shook me...and made me ponder the passion story a bit more than I have in recent years. It is possible to become jaded with your religion and to let your faith slide into "comfortable". Perhaps it is time to shake it up a little.

God's peace to you.

Look at the SIZE of that thing!

Oh. My.

I think this guy is cock of the walk. Seriously, this baby is on top of a house in Tarrytown. Rather impressive, wot?

Well, I did finally finish those Meilenweit socks I've been working on. Here's a peek...

I'm not entirely happy with the pattern - perhaps the toe is what I really don't like. The double decreases leave too obvious a line. However, the overall effect of the yarn is stunning. I've got a few more of the self-patterning yarn skeins, and I'm certainly going to try out a few other patterns.

Now, off to do some housework, and then perhaps finish my Diva scarf. Ciao, bellas!

When it rains, it hails

Yup, the weather has gotten freaky - must be springtime in central Texas. Granted, the weather here changes every few minutes anyway...

L and I went out to Bluebonnet Yarn this afternoon; this is the new shop just opened in Cedar Park. The store is a little small, but very well organized, and she has every color of Cascade 220 known to woman, plus lots of other yummy yarns to paw through. There are also a few other tidbits that HCW doesn't carry, although the two stores strike me as complementary to each other. The fact that one is in south Austin and the other is BFE away in Cedar Park I think will help them both to thrive rather than directly compete.

While we were there, a sudden rain squall sprang up - and it hailed. In mid-March, in Texas, it hailed! We're not talking little mini-hail, either - these were sizeable chunks of ice - still smaller than your average ice cube but larger than any hail that I've ever seen in my life. It's so warm right now that the ice melted almost immediately after the hailing stopped, but it was still a bit surprising. I've got pics to show, but I have to change and get going for tonight's concert.

Later, pics of the hail and my finished Meilenweit socks.

Two more nights

Only two more nights - both concert nights, before I can heave a (sinus-y) sigh of relief... :D Thankfully I am feeling a bit better, but hitting all the high A's that Beethoven wrote into his 9th Symphony is a bit taxing. Hugs to all who sent healing vibes!

In knitting news, I am almost done with the second sock of my pair from Meilenweit Trend that I picked up in shopping therapy a couple weeks back. Right now I am on the toe decreases, so I just have about an inch and a half left to knit. Once done, I'll get some pictures posted.

Now, off to bed - night, y'all!

Beware the Ides of March

Ok, so my Waterloo came slightly before the Ides -- sinus infection number 2, right before concert series number 2 (this weekend), and to boot, this week is hell week with rehearsals every night. Oy.

On the plus side, a few friends came in from out of town this past weekend - and one of them brought me wool from New Zealand! Mmmmmm, yummy alpaca and wool blends with lots of yardage - now I just need to figure out what I want to make with it.

Well, well...

Happy International Women's Day!

In memoriam

Normally I don't wax too seriously out here, but today is the 11th anniversary of my father's passing. I just wanted to say I love you, Dad.

Happy Texas Independence Day!

Yes, March 2 is Texas Independence Day - a day for school schildren to be patriotic about the state and still not know why such a fuss is being made. Many people think it is the celebration of our independence from Mexico. Well, that's only partly true now -- it has grown into a celebration of Texan independence and tradition and all the things that make this great state unique -- and heck, we just like to party. :D

So come on, Celebrate Texas!

Time flies...

...when you're not paying attention.

How can it be March already? What happened to January and February? For goodness' sake, I haven't even done one of my patterns from this year's Knitting Pattern-A-Day calendar.

Part of my mysterious time warp can be attributed to my extra-curricular activities, I suppose. After all, when you have multiple rehearsals a week (each one three hours, at that), the days start to blend into one another.

Our first concert set is this weekend, though - Friday at St. Matthew's and Saturday at NW Hills. This is for the Texas Choral Consort's Haydn series. With any luck, my sinus problems will subside before the concert. I have made it through the last couple of rehearsals without too much difficulty, so that's good.

I've been working on quite a few projects during all these rehearsals - finished a couple things like the baby blanket for my boss and his wife. Pictures are coming, I promise -- just been a little busy lately. :) Right now I am also working on those socks in Meilenweit Trend, and I really love the patterning that this particular ball is doing. Perhaps by the end of the week I'll have one done, and then I can finish the second next week. Here's to productive knitting time!