(oxy)MORON

The murder rate in Philly is now over 200. It isn't even July yet. They are dropping like flies. So what does our esteemed mayor decide to do to combat the violence?

Set up a lawn chair on 16th Street outside the AT&T store and wait in line for an IPHONE.

Seriously, is there NOTHING more pressing he could be working on?

A**HOLE

500!

This is my 500th post!

CRAP!

I took very few photos as Stitch and Pitch last night because IT WAS HOT AS BALLS and for some reason all the knitters, with all their yarn, were in the sun.

I sweat out at least 6 pounds including the bulls bbq pork sandwich, crab fries and ice cream that I ate.

It was fun! Lots of knitters putting our craft (and selves) out there for the world to see. Little Petey was watching the game and informed me that Sarge and Harry K were having fun commentating about it being Stitch and Pitch night. He said they mentioned Macrame, but not knitting...interesting.

It is too hot to be witty, sarcastic and enlightening for my 500th post so this will have to do.

As promised:

The Scotland and Ireland yarn!

Yummy cashmere from Shilisdair Yarn, Isle of Skye

Periwinkle Shetland, also from Shilasdair

Tweed Aran from Dingle, Ireland

YUMMY SILK from The Handwpinner Having Fun
Isn't the color luscious!?!
Lilac Cashmere from the Handspinner Having Fun

All I can type is yum...

My guys...and weekend update

Where has the weekend gone? It's 11:03 on Sunday night. My anxiety about the work week has already set in...don't worry the bottle of Advil PM is also right next to the bed. Pups are tucked in...news is on. Seemed like as good of a time as ever to be blogtastic.

Friday I dined with my "old school girlfriends, " Jane, Jen and Susan at this lovely little cafe in Chestnut Hill called, "Cafette." I can't believe I have lived in Philadelphia for 12 years and never been there. The atmosphere is perfect; we sat on the outside patio drinking wine and chowing down. It was great to be together with the old HUP posse. I miss you ladies! I'm the only one left working at HUP all these years later...I know, I know...you had to have kids! HAHA

Saturday, I met up with Ellen and her Maltese, Jake. Jake isn't a big fan of other dogs, but Ellen and I decided we would try to socialize him with the beagles. Things actually went pretty well...sure Jake tried a few times to nip at Gus and Maggie's hind quarters, but quite frankly, they could have cared less. We had a lovely walk around University City including a stop at a moving sale where I purchased an antique wicker rocker. It's so comfy, but needs an upholstery overhaul...anyone know anything about this?

Congrats to Trish on passing her driving test with flying colors! Good job Bud! T and I went to see Celtic Woman last night at the Mann. They are very entertaining, but frankly I would rather listen to them sing just traditional Irish songs rather than all that Enya crap.

Finally, today I visited with a few of my boyfriends. First 10 day old Jacob.

He is a very sweet little noodle. After chowing down (thanks mom!), he fell asleep on his Auntie Bach's shoulders. We snuggled hardcore. His real Aunt, Dina, was visiting from California and brought him his cute little Jimmy Hendrix tshirt. SO CUTE!

And then, there is Justin.

What can I say about how cute this kid is? He is melting hearts at two years old. And the kid can eat salsa, let me tell you. We had fun playing in and around the pool and hot tube and wishing that his mommy feels better soon!

I did S**T for knitting this weekend. I screwed up Maude, AGAIN and so I've put it away. It's an easy pattern, why must I keep F***ing it up? While at Rosie's the other day, I came upon some new Dale of Norway lace patterns. Now, they are written for Baby Ull, but I don't really see Baby Ull as a lace shawl yarn. Courtney and I discussed some options and decided Koigu would be a good choice for the shawl I have choosen. I swatched and knitted about 10 rows of it tonight; not enough to photograph just yet, but so far, so good...knock on wood.

I received my Socks that Rock Sock Club installment. The colorway is called "Firefly." I love it and the pattern...I've just got NO clue when I'm going to get to knitting them as I am working on a time frame to finish Steven's socks before the second week of August.

I know, the vacation yarn has yet to be posted. Tomorrow I promise...

See everyone at Stitch and Pitch Tuesday night!!!!

Go Phillies!

Prickly

Today is the first day this summer (truthfully it ain't even summer yet!) that the heat has made me feel prickly and itching and gross. Yuck.

I'm waiting for a family to arrive for a family meeting and have a few minutes to blog.
I keep forgetting that I haven't photographed my Scottish and Irish yarn yet ---so note to self, TAKE THESE PHOTOS AND POST ASAP. I need to share the luxury!

I picked Maude up again and promptly screwed it up. The edging is so NOT hard and yet I keep doing the same stupid things over and over again. So I'm off ot Courtney again for a repair job.

I've also started Peak Experience Socks (not the lacey version) in a very manly colorway of Brooks Farm Acero. They are for my English Pal Steven who will be visiting us later this summer.

Maggie opened the fridge last night and managed to eat an entire tub of (Part Skim) Ricotta Cheese. She then proceeded to carry the tub around with her as if it were a trophy. She needs help and I need a strap on the fridge.

How long did it take you to figure out The Closer last night? For me it was around 9:18. I still really like that show...

My summer life is boring

Welcome Jacob!

Congrats to Julie, Jim and baby Jacob Karl born June 13, 2007...

I met my new boyfriend this evening:

I LOVE BEING AUNTIE BACH!!!!!

Negligent blogger

Okay, so I finally think I've gotten myself back on track after returning from vacation...only took a week to finish unpacking, doing laundry, get over jet lag and rebond with doggies...not to shabby. Here is what I've been up to:

First, Kudos to my secret pal for the awesome birthday themed box that was waiting for me at my mom and dad's when I returned from Ireland.

I love it!!!!! muchas gracias! I can't believe secret pal 10 is almost over!

I knitted this cute little baby set for a coworker over the weekend.

It's Morehouse Merino's Hat and Booties for the new arrival. Very fast and easy. I'm thinking of stockpiling a bunch.



Maggie has been busy; last night, she played with (ate) the cordless phone.

The Phillies continue to play decent baseball. Shock and awe. I will try my best not to play hokey today and go to the "businesspersons special" at 105pm.

I'm knitting lots of stuff and just realized I need to post photos of the yarn I bought in Scotland and Ireland. Projects in progress include my take on the "Sarah Blanch" shawl from Folk Shawls. I'm doing it in yummy koigu's. I love it, but 310 stitch rows really wear on you after a while. I'm also starting a pair of socks for my friend Steven (who'll be visiting from England in August) in Brooks Farm Acero. So far so good...I'm knitting it on 1's and getting about 7 to the inch. It is interesting yarn, yummy actually, just has a tendency to split a bit. Also in the knittng bag is the Hunter's Safety Stole, which will never get done.

So more regular blogging to follow.

A couple of shout outs to JULIE AND JIM on the pending birth of "JJ." Jules is at Pennsy right now...I expect an update soon...

And to Heather, on her way to spend the summer in Malawi doing research. I miss you already booboo.

More Photos...Ireland

Me and Ali, Killarney National Park, County Kerry

Lake Anashul, Dingle

Conor Pass, Dingle Peninsula

Powerscourt Waterfall, County Wicklow

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
Portal Tomb, The Burren, County Clare

The Rock of Cashel, Cashel, County Tipperary

Me shearing the sheep, County Kerry

Ladies View, Ring of Kerry, Killarney National Park

Just a few photos from the Trip...Scotland

Highland Coo...

Kilt Rock, Isle of Skye

Seal, Dunvegan Castle Seal Colony, Isle of Skye

Nesit Point, Isle of Skye

Me and my shawl, on the "Harry Potter"/ Jacobite Steam Train

Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Great Britain, Fort William, Scotland

I love me my Guinness

Yarn drying at "The Handspinner Having Fun, " Isle of Skye

Wee-Lambies!

Safe Returns

Hello Hello Hello!

I am back stateside and actually back in Philadelphia. Mom and I arrived Sunday afternoon in Boston after an uneventful flight back from Ireland. The jet lag has hit me harder going this way...I'm still falling asleep around 8pm every (which would be 1am Ireland) and up at 5am. I then hit a wall around 4pm...thankfully, I made land speed records driving back today and wall hitting time is occuring while being onhold with Comcast when my modem didn't work.

I'm trying to push through without a nap and reset my internal clock before returning to work tomorrow.

So after Kerry, we spent a day on the Dingle (maybe the DINGLE ate your baby!) Peninsula. I would say this was the high point of the Ireland trip for me. Dingle is unspoiled, quiet, gorgeous, green...the Ireland I expected. We discovered a secluded lakeside where we watched sheep graze on a hill side. We took countless photos of the sea crashing up against the now uninhabited Blasket Islands. We held on for dear life as we drove through the Conor Pass, a one lane road affording amazing views of the mountains, the sea and the gree pastures below. It was just breathtaking.

From Dingle, we headed to the Shannon Breeze Ferry that took us across the River Shannon to County Clare. We got lost, again, trying to find our lovely B and B, the Newpark House. But all was forgotten when we pulled in and were greeted by their lovely Irish Setter, Rua (Gaelic for "red") who was waiting as I opened the car door.

Friday we ventured to the Cliffs of Moher. The new visitors center, built into a hillside, had just opened a few months prior. The Cliffs are quite an amazing site. There are birds every where. You are kept fairly far from the edge, which does spoil the views. We decided to take in a "Cliffs of Moher" cruise from Doolin. Seeing the Cliffs from the water is truly an amazing experience. And, I saw an actual PUFFIN!!!! I felt very very small in the shadow of those cliffs.

We spent the afternoon napping (finally!) back at our in. We ventured into Ennis for dinner and found the most amazing Chinese food since Lakeside Chinese Deli. YUMMY! Mom and I hit the Off license for a large bottle of Bulmers Cider and retired to sit by the fire, drinking and knitting.

Saturday we were greeted with an ugly, rainy day...we decided to take a drive up through the Burren. This is a bizarre area of County Clare...I can't really describe it. But we saw more castles, abbey ruins and portal tombs to shake a stick at. We spent the afternoon touring the Ennis Friary and doing some last minute shopping around town. We had dinner at a wonderful restaurant called "The Town Hall." Let me say, the Irish do some wonderful things with cheese...mostly fried brie and on this night, fried goat cheese and sundried tomato salad. YUMMMMMMMM

So, now I'm home...broke and tired...but strangely refreshed and excited by the new parts of the world I've seen.

Here are some final numbers

Miles driven= around 1600
Driver= 1, me.
Castles= I lost count but maybe 14?
Lochs= Many
Sheep= Thousands
Sheep Sheared by Christina =1
Photos uploaded to Snapfish= almost 2000 (!)
Vacation with Mom and Ali= Priceless