another knitting blog

competitive literature

So, for the past couple of years, every March I post about The Morning News Tournament of Books and follow the action with zeal even though I've never read any of the books. This year, I realized that not only had I never read any of the books in the '08 tourney, I'd never read any of the books going back to the first one in '05. Out of 64 contenders, I had read not one. I decided to rectify that.

I now live in a county with an excellent library system, in a neighborhood where the library is conveniently located near the grocery store and my bank. Better yet, the library system is set up so that I have access to almost any book I could want and I never have to interact with an actual human if I don't want. I can sign into my account from home and search for the book I want. Chances are, my tiny local branch won't have the book I'm looking for on hand; but if it's anywhere in the county-wide library network, I can request to have it transferred to my local branch or mailed to me--I always opt for local pick up. I receive an email when the book is available. After I find my request on the hold shelves, I can scan my library card and the book at self-checkout and print out a receipt that tells me due date. Also, a few days before the book is due, I receive an email reminder; and if it isn't on hold for someone else, I can renew the book online. So easy.

Now, there's nothing to stop me from reading the books I wouldn't have taken a chance on before. There are some tournament books I would probably never buy and some I would regret buying. The library is an excellent way to keep my shelves from filling up with half-read, abandoned books.

This past March, I started in on the books from the 2005 TOB and I'm now a little more than half done with the first round brackets. I think I already know who the winner will be, at least I know I have some differences from the way the original tournament played out.  I'll start posting the first round match-ups soon.

Two notes: Although I have generally resisted advertising here, I've signed up for an Amazon Associates account so I can easily post covers and links. No obligation expected. Also, I've been tracking my reading using Goodreads.  This website has made it fun and easy to organize my reading. If you want to be added to my Goodreads friends list, request in a comment here or email me.

the necessities

Made the two mile trek in snow and slush to get a new library book and half-and-half for my coffee. Can survive the weekend now.

Walking in snow and slush is a lot like walking on the beach...and also not at all.

everybody's got a weather story

In Wisconsin, this would be nothing. However, in Wisconsin they have snow plows, salt spreaders, and mountains of sand. In Portland? No.

This is the back yard yesterday afternoon.

Here it is this morning.

It's hard to tell, but that's half a foot of snow under half an inch of ice under another half a foot of snow.

I went out this afternoon and beat some of the snow and ice off the hedges in an effort to keep branches from breaking off. I think the blueberry bushes are goners.

My next concern is the weight of the snow collapsing the awning.

I took today off from work. Tomorrow, I'm going to walk a mile to the closest functional bus route and see if I can make it in. I think it will be days before it's safe for my car on the street.

I'm not traveling to Wisconsin for Christmas this year, but it looks like the Wisconsin winter has come to me.

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malabrigo vines

Yet another Japanese Vines scarf knit from a new obsession, Malabrigo Lace.  The color is Sealing Wax. Knit on US2s.  Steam to block.

 

the sum of its parts

Some of you may have known, or may have figured out, that I was showing squares I had knit out of Noro Kureyon for a Lizard Ridge afghan. For those of you not in the know who may have been confused or frustrated, I apologize; but I didn't want to break the flow in order to stop and explain. 

There are thirty days in November, and thirty squares in this afghan/blanket--I made it one column wider than indicated in the pattern.

Now, I can show you everything at once. 

 

[Can you find your favorite square?]

This in the final configuration I settled on before I sewed all the squares together. There is a logic behind it that I'm not sure I could articulate. It was a bit like doing a sudoku puzzle based on hue and saturation. 

I had considered working in strips instead of individual squares, but I didn't think that would give me the control I wanted.  In the end, it wasn't so bad; and really, the horizontal seams were much easier than the vertical seams (especially when you take into account that I accidentally left out a few rows on some of the squares).

Yes, it's already all sewn together and is even fulfilling its function on top of my bed.  However, I haven't yet completed the border or tidied up all the ends.  If the weather ever improves (I'm guessing that won't be until March), I'll take another picture.

To the patient and indulgent among you: Thank you.