Saturday, November 26, 2011

There are friends...and then there are Facebook friends...

hmmm....what if i go riding with the guys and get dropped for the third day in a row....
Back too sore after two days of riding?  What's a gal to do?  Why, join Facebook, naturally!  It's a long weekend, and I can finally wrap my brain around the inevitable.  I figure I've got a few hours of noodling around, figuring out the settings and how to link to my blog.  Ask a bunch of people to be my friends, and then, wa la!  It'll be a controlled addiction that I can walk away from, any day. 

Oh my god!!!! Look how many people I can invite to be my friend!!!!
 So here I am, trolling through other people's lists of contacts, wondering who I should first offer my timid hand of friendship.  Brian, bless his heart, acknowledged that he was an early bird, and for good reason. This phenomenal swim coach has been in my address book for years and years.  Stephanie, of course, is one of the reasons that we even join Facebook, to see pictures of our extended family that we don't see often enough (Peter quotes Candelin as saying that Facebook is *handy*).  Peter is a no brainer, and so are the Lubs, since I've already heard about Mark's legendary posts.  Scott, well, the master of Facebook, is another no-brainer. Sometimes if you want to be friends with someone, you have to be a Facebook friend with them.  That, i suppose, is about getting with the times and accepting reality.  No matter how you slice it, one of the great benefits now afforded me, is that it gives me more to do with my Smartphone....oops...that could be a bad thing.  Anyway, the flood gates are open and I'm ready for the new year!!!!  Friends, here we come!!!!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Have yarn, will travel.

Construction paper, tape, staples, what else does one need?
Another creation, hot off the hook!  This is a little sweater made of bamboo yarn, wrapped in a polyester thread that adds a bit of a sheen that I'm not sure if I like or not. The thing worked up remarkably quickly, and with a no seam design (thank you, Doris Chan) I was finished in a jiffy.  Either way, it's the perfect way to dress up a November day.  What's really fabulous, however, is the handbag that contains one of my current projects, a nice cozy sock! One of the kids in our Prairie class is quite a handbag designer and on this Fall morning I was the recipient of the latest bag.

Friday, November 18, 2011

"This has fall written all over it"

My re-entry into the five day work week has been an adventure indeed.  I'm feeling like I've kind of got a sense, now, of what it feels like, or what it will feel like for the time being--sort of like being in a blender, twenty four hours a day.  Now, more than ever, it's all about efficiency.  I'm always trying to get more things done in the same amount of time, but come to think of it, since I'm forever committed to my own leisure activities, this means further efficiency in the manor of my hobbies.  Loyal follower probably remembers the crochet while biking post, and I often discuss the concept of squeezing a workout of sorts in between parenting responsibilities.  One of the precious aspects of the unencumbered woman's life, however, is the quiet that one finds when they have a little extra down time in their life.  So I've been running on the treadmill at the YMCA lately, but the minute I get on the machine I feel bombarded by video monitor, my own ear buds, and all manor of electronica.  The other week I was interrupted by countless texts, etc., all related to the carpools, practices, etc..that the kids were involved in.  Today I tried a new tactic on the treadmill, a combining of one calming obsession with another.  What might that be?
Crossword puzzling while running, of course!!!!

Photos courtesy of Drew

Says Drew: "This has *fall* written all over it."

Drew: "The problem with these shots is you can't tell that you're running!"  
The problem, really, is that somebody who tries to do too much at one time doesn't do very well at any of the pursuits, but it sure is fun to try!  Maybe never again...maybe Monday! Who knows?  Some technical details to iron out:  is a difficult or easy crossword more effective for enjoyment and fulfilling workout requirements?  I tried to run while thinking about the puzzle, then would ramp up the elevation and walk while writing.  I was perfectly happy with this solution.  It's obviously healthier than blasting out my eardrums with classic jams which i tend to run on the iPod if left to my own devices.  I'm liking the quiet, and not watching a video monitor.  We'll see....will this be a year of famously ridiculous ironman workouts? After all these years, what else, really, is left besides near insanity,  without causing physical harm.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

House Red

So Peter & I headed out tonight for a dinner/wine thing, but realized we had some schlepping of kids to do. Pete dropped me off here, at House Red in Forest Park.  I've got my knitting &ready to go. With a staff pick glass for 5 bucks on Wed., is this the spot for yarn work circle on weeks to come?


I Love Berwyn

Today I went for a lunchtime stroll and was struck by the fantastic craft & history hidden in this place. Unlike it's more bourgeousie neighbor, Oak Park, the application of color to the trim, railings and facades is much more whimsical. The use of decoration, fencing material, all adornment and space dedicated to outdoor enjoyment is spot-on twentieth century shmorgasbord of kitsch, culture, faith, and americana.  Here are just a few examples. Someone with the patience to weave rubber ribbons through an old chain link fence, and another brilliant weathered lady bungalow that is flowering with overgrown shrubbery and trimmed with a delightful coral that is peeling as the years rush on. 





Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Money in the Bank

OK, it's November and I live in Chicago....poor thing, right? No Way! Not only have we got the most amazing weather today, but I work outside on Tuesday and it's downright spectacular! Sun is shining, sky is deep blue, light clouds on the horizon, wonderful early century homes across the way.  We'll put it in the bank for the miserable days.



Sunday, November 6, 2011

"OK...If you hold a gun to my head...."

Collection thanks to Mom! Fresh as the day it was purchased in 1952
 Today I unveiled the Helmet Cover emblazoned with gun.  I have been working on this rendition of a fifties boy's hat for a month or so, and as I adapted the pattern, I realized that I had over-worked the upsizing, thus the intended snug fit was giant on my own head.


 I pondered washing the wool, but thought better and turned it into a helmet cover for cycling!





Photo credit, Addie.
Meet up spot at Lake & Harlem. Photo courtesy of Rick.

Addie: be sure you get all the an
 I love the kitschy child's toy gun, mixed with my rad fifties colors (chartreuse, brown, and coral).  The guys at the corner of Lake & Harlem were duly impressed.  Some seem to think it's a commodity that I can mass produce, but alas, the one and only!
And it's November!!!!!
And then we were off! We were on one of Michael's adventure rides. This time we went North, then East to Evanston, which is rare for us.  Once we got North of Evanston and into Wilmette, Winnetka, etc, we encountered the North Shore Cyclists, who I would describe, basically, as just like us, except we never cross paths because we always ride West and South, they always ride North and West.  We all stopped at the Baha'i Temple for a photo op, and this is what we captured on my camera.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

"Rabbi Ashby"

In Oak Park this month there is a celebration of all things Maurice Sendak. I've been hearing about this for a while, since my friend Michael, of Mama Loshen, has been bragging about the event for nearly a year.  Michael insisted that his brother-in-law, Syd, is a world renowned storyteller, and not to be missed.  So, on Thursday night, the three girls and our friend Julia went to Unity Temple to see Syd's performance.
Syd Lieberman
Ashby, as "Rabbi Ashby".  Needless to say, she was a hit.
In preparing this blog post, I learned that Syd has generously posted stories for our listening pleasure! I just got through Shmulky and My Mother's Love Life.  I'm hooked. What a restful Saturday afternoon I've discovered for myself.  Syd's stories of old Chicago are fabulous, and remind me of all the wonderful stories that Nan and Tom have told.  It's all there: gambling, dance halls, gangsters, carnival rides, baseball, softball, south side, north side, schools, trees, and road trips to Indiana.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

deeper and deeper


Well. It's come to this.  A full time job has driven me to the brink of complete insanity.  If a sane person went from, say, two days of work per week two five, their response might be to: a. tidy up the house a bit b. get hired help c. eat out more often.
And what do I do? Bury myself ever deeper in the pursuit of yarn-art nirvana. Here I am with one of my recent purchases....you might ask what it is.  Peter insisted: it's something to hang your stinky wet cycling clothes on!  I reply, no! It's a yarn winder and rack!
A person might also wonder why we might need to wind yarn when there are plenty of perfectly wound skeins of yarn in the world, already!  Well, herein lies the rub, involving full time employment.  Now that I have to haul myself and two children out into the world each and every day, there isn't much time to tend to the Local Yarn Store (LYS in hip-yarn-speak), so I am, sigh, buying yarn and so much, oh so much more, online, now like the rest of the world.  Click, click purchase, alas!


Yeah, they can do this at the LYS, but look how fun it is!