November 2007 Archives

The latest completed doily in my PK challenge is Pineapple Piquant from Exquisite Pineapple Doilies. The doily measures about 16 inches in diameter. The thread is size 12 Valdani from the new "Muddy Monet" colorway collection, JP 11. The soft blues are matched with a yellow-cream color creating a very beautiful effect for this doily.

Currently I have a doily on my hook from Masterpiece Doilies. I'm more than 50% complete on that doily and should be able to post photos of it in a day or two.

Eventually I'll Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

I finished up this doily today because the thread I needed arrived in today's mail. I had only 2½ rounds left on it, so I quickly got it completed.

I don't know the measurement of it just yet because I haven't blocked it. I'm too excited to post a picture to stretch it into shape.

It's made with Valdani size 12 in color P7 Withered Blues. The doily's name is Stunning.

This doily brings me up to 35. I still have Pineapple Piquant in the works, and should be able to finish that one up tonight or in the next day or two.

When I ordered more thread to finish this doily I also acquired more colors and they are to die for! They are just screaming to be turned into doilies! If only there was enough hours in the day! I'll just have to face the fact that if I keep crocheting at this pace, I'm fairly certain that carpal tunnel syndrome is in my future.

Progress on the Self-Imposed Challenge

Another doily completed! This is from Wonderful Doilies and is called Amazing. It measures 15 inches in diameter at the widest point. Made using size 12 Valdani thread in color 0541 Deep Orchid. The subtle variations of purple make this doily "zing".

This is one of the holiday gift doilies I'm making for those whom I selected to receive a doily from me.

I'm currently working on Pineapple Piquant, and have about 72% of it completed. It's also made from Valdani thread and it's one of the new "Muddy Monet" colors they have available. It looks outstanding so far. I hope to have it completed by the end of this week so I can photograph it.

I have another doily almost made but ran out of thread and recently ordered more of it, plus a whole lot more thread because the price is about to increase! Hopefully that thread will arrive before I take off for the weekend to visit my dear friend and make her a lot of healing soups.

Be the first 3 to comment!

I am participating in the PAY IT FORWARD on Serenity Now's blog.

The way it works: I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog for this post. You don't have to be a regular commenter or even a blogger member, as long as you can get me your address by e-mail.

I like making PK doilies, and as part of my Self-Imposed PK doily challenge for 2008, this is most likely what you'll receive. The rules state I have 365 days to send out my 3 handmade gifts. Most likely it will be sooner than that...like after the Christmas rush.The only thing you have to do in return is PAY IT FORWARD by making the same promise on your blog/site. Come on and join. This will be fun if you love getting nice things in the mail.

One last flaming hoop to jump

The final requirement pending for me to complete is the final Pro-Sem I'm scheduled to attend on the 29th of this month. Once that is over and done with, I'm totally free and clear for graduation! There's something about writing out a check to the school to pay for this quarter's tuition, but that won't keep me from being at the ceremony--they will just hold my official diploma until all accounts are settled.

I can tell myself I've just about completed something "very big" and that I should be "thrilled beyond all expectation" for I can really call myself "something" that has "meaning". I'll awake on the morning of the 10th as my usual self but will go to bed that night a bona fide therapist who can officially write the letters "M.A." after my name.

Hopefully, friends and family will be there to see me graduate. I have no idea about having any kind of celebration. But I do feel like celebrating and rejoicing and sharing my mirth with all of those people I love and care about. I've never been able to really celebrate myself. I can celebrate others quite well.

My fondest wish after getting this degree is to take some time off and hide in a cave and sleep the sleep of those who are blessed with restorative dreams. Maybe in one of those dreams it will come to me what direction I should take next, for I have no real idea what happens next. I've been concentrating so hard on "just getting through this" that the future beyond graduation is something I've not earnestly thought about. I have entertained starting my own practice, have considered doing more agency work (for slave wages), and mused about doing state social work. Nothing feels like it is the right thing to do, except for that cave and the dreams.

How do you stick candles into shrimp?

Today is John's birthday and to celebrate in style we're heading to Red Lobster for their annual Shrimp Fest. No cakes, no candles, no overly gift wrapped presents. What we will have are plates upon plates of buttery-garlicky goodness of shrimp scampi.

What does "scampi" mean, I wondered. It does refer to the garlic-butter sauce, but is also a word for a shrimp or prawn, therefore shrimp scampi is almost like saying "shrimp shrimp". It is derivative of the Italian word "scampo" meaning "a kind of lobster". Thus ends our lesson in etymology.

I've made chicken scampi before and it tastes just as good as the shrimp variety. I wonder if there was a painful trial and error process in someone's kitchen to determine what foods could be "scampi-tized"?

I digress along a culinary path, forgetting that today is about John's birthday...Indeed, he is celebrating one of the unforgettable ages for it is not a milestone age. Next year will land him resolutely in "middle age" and he'll be due for a mid-life crisis.

Departing Soon

John is set to depart for North Carolina on the 14th, so about 8 days to go. He still hasn't received his "relocation package" from the company that will outline and detail what benefits he's been given. Perhaps all he will receive is a map and one of those lame compasses that floats in water and randomly points north?

He is taking Teddy and Stash with him so that he may have feline companionship. Honestly, it is Teddy that cannot live without John. Teddy requires a beard to nestle into and I lack sufficient facial hair. Teddy and I have never warmed up to each other. I'm too busy swooning over Smee to notice that there are the other cats. (Madam Ming is domesticating to the point now where she does accept the love and worship, even seeking it out.)

I'm considering soliciting for a roommate. There is plenty of house for another person to share, only I've never done anything like that before and hopefully will find someone suitable who must like cats.

By later this afternoon I just know I'm going to feel like a stuffed prawn.

My Secret Pal was...LaDonna (nanacarr)! She blessed me with a very huge reveal package loaded with all kinds of goodies! She made 3 cotton potholders/dishcloths, a lovely doily, two doily pattern books, 3 balls of DMC Traditions thread, 2 balls of Cebelia thread, 2 skeins of blue novelty yarn, 2 skeins of Microspun, a set of steel hooks, notecards, assorted candy, a tote bag, tuna treats for the kitties, and a kitty toy for them as well. Plus, two different scented body products, sheep notecards, and scented room spray!

All I can say is WOW! I am blown away! Thank you so much LaDonna! You've been a great pal and thank you so much for all of the e-cards, and the amazing reveal package!