Nov 23, 2008

The Painted Pigs

Well, okay piggy banks...




10 Random Things

A meme stolen from The Knotty Mouse. Participate if you feel moved to. I'd love to read about your random-ness!

1. Magazines subscribed to - none. I'd love to get Interweave Knits and Interweave Crochet, but the cost is enormous and I only get 3 of the 4 issues in a year. Someone along the way in the international postal system must also enjoy them.

2. Aside from knitting, my favorite pasttimes are - spinning, watching movies, reading, walking with the dog, hiking in the mountains (although I don't get to do that anymore)..

3. If I were not a teacher (insert your own profession), I would be - goatherd or a shepherd. I'm very interested in learning more about sheep and I love goats!

4. I am irrationally worried about - the economy and getting my husband to immigrate.

5. If I were the opposite sex - I'd probably have a sex change.

6. The thing I miss most about childhood is - playtime. I want more time to play!

7. I like to collect - ceramics and pottery, although I don't have much of that. Somehow it always gets broken or given to someone else or lost...

8. Though I’ve never been there, I feel inexplicably homesick for - nowhere. I want to go somewhere that I've been.

9. I’ve never really liked to eat - Fish. They smell bad and they taste bad, too. I feel the same way about lamb and mutton. They taste just like they smell. Bleh. So while I am mezmorized by fish in an aquarium and I love spending time with sheep and goats, I have no desire whatsoever to eat them. I love my dog, too, but she doesn't smell good enough to eat, either.

10. When I have nightmares, they’re usually about - running and running from something or someone, although I never really am sure who or what it is. Then the windows rattle even though there's no wind, and I wake up.

Nov 22, 2008

What's the Haps?

WOOOT!!! Look what came in the mail the other day:



This is the only Nicky Epstein book that I have, and it's a beauty! I didn't realize that it was a hardback until it arived and, at first, I thought "Great - a coffee table book," with some disappointment. But after cracking the cover open, I realized that I was wrong.

Wow. The patterns are great. The pictures are great. The inspiration is non-stop. It's true that there are patterns in this book that I'll probably never make, at least in the form that they are presented, but what great ideas!

And I have been spinning some lace weight singles.



I plan to use them in a shawl. Originally I was spinning for the Mystery Stole #4, but decided against it. I'm not up to spinning 1100 yards of laceweight all in the same year, but I do think I can pull off 600 yards. I've done about 100 yards so far in this teal romney and silk, with another spindle filled with about 150 yards. I've started on the second spindle today, but only have about 25 yards on it so far.

So the shawl that I'm spinning for now is the Garden of Alla shawl. I haven't decided if I will edge it in a contrasting color or not, but I've got 12 more batts worth of time to think about it before I have to make a decision. I don't really like the edging on the shawl shown in the pattern.

I'm thinking about beading it with clear crystal beads, too. They're supposed to look like raindrops on the yarn.

I'm still spinning on the Bundaflicka tweed that I was going to use for the Mystery Stole, but I'm re-thinking the project for it.

Nov 19, 2008

Gorgeous to Goofy in Less Than 60 Seconds

I think...

...therefore I am...


...silly!

Nov 16, 2008

Lunch


Hi! I'm so glad you came through the market. Most of it is closed today, but there's a lot of fruit for sale there, under the umbrella. Have you had lunch? This is the same market where Pondside and I had lunch when she visited.

This afternoon for lunch, O and I are eating at El Rinconcito Ferrañafano. They specialize in typical foods from northern Peru, like you might find around Chiclayo and Ferrañafe and some live music, loudly and enthusiatically played, even though it's out of tune most of the time.

Come on inside the restaurant and have a seat:

Ahh, lunch is served:
I had the Pepián de Pato (Duck with pumpkin seed sauce) and rice. The usual bowl of ají is there with the red and green Limeño chili peppers.

O had Cau Cau...I can't handle this. Although the flavor is good, the cow's stomach fights with my stomach and the cow's gut is just a little bit stronger than mine. We part ways quickly, so I passed on this dish, even though it comes with a wonderful plate of rice and beans...if you have a stronger stomach than I do, I recommend this dish. But, if not, go for the pepián...it's much easier on the stomach, even though the duck is a tough old bird.
The Rinconcito Trio:

Meditative Sunday


(We have the camera again.)




Nov 15, 2008

Makes My Heart Tinkle...



I stumbled across this while net-surfing, and my daughter sent me a few more...








There are more, but I'll save them for another camera-less time.

Nov 8, 2008

A follow-up

Following up on the bullfighting post:


My curiousity led me a little farther down the bullfighting path, to youtube.com, where I did a search for bullfighting videos. Graphic to say the least. Since the billboard across the street names the featured matadores, I looked for Simpson, El Fandi, and Manzanares. Found them all. I think they are from Spain and that Peru is simply on their circuit when the bullfighting season opens up, similar to a rodeo circuit. After watching a youtube video of the ending of the bullfight, I know I would not be interested in attending. No links to the videos I watched are included here, because they turned my stomach. No need to share that. If you are interested, you can do the search on youtube.com and find all manner of bullfighting scenes.

I think I'll go back to Ferdinand.

Not completely photo-less

Well, the camera came and went again, before I managed to get photos off the memory card. The card is here, sitting on the desk, but the camera has been loaned out once again. Methinks it's time to start camera shopping. Luckily, I have a few previously unpublished photos that I can trot out now.

Here's a little shot of Celeste, getting ready for school:


And a couple of shots from the park near my apartment building:



And an improvement, to keep the pigeons and rain out of our second floor hallway - a window, inspected and approved by our building engineer, Ms. Celeste:

No more pidgeons getting the first bite out of someone's breakfast bread!

Nov 2, 2008

bull fighting


Bull fighting season opened yesterday in Acho. There is a large billboard acros the street from where I live, advertising the opening.

It is a sport that causes a lot of controversy here in Peru, with its supporters and its detractors in conflict. Every Sunday, the billboard is de-faced and every Tuesday it is replaced with a brand new one. Both parties are determined. Still, when I think of bullfighting, what always comes to mind is Ferdinand the Bull. Here is a little more about Ferdinand and bullfighting in general.

"One of the most important bullfighting festivals in Latin America, the Feria Taurina del Señor de los Milagros takes place in Lima throughout the month of November.

The most famous matadores and bull ranches in the world compete for fame and glory in the Acho Plaza de Toros, a bullfighting arena erected in 1766 and rebuilt in 1945. People flock from all over the world to witness the bravado and grace of the bullfighters dancing against the bulls in the sand-covered arena. If you're interested in these things, it's the bullfighting experience of a lifetime. On the other hand, if you find the practice of bullfighting unpleasant, we suggest you steer well clear."



"There are two prizes awarded for the event, the Escapulario de Oro for the bravest and most skilful matador and the Escapulario de Plata for the best-presented and most impressive bull. It's doubtful whether the bulls get any prizes for disposing elegantly of the bullfighters.

Bullfighting is inextricably linked to the history and national identity of Peru. Since bulls were introduced shortly after the Spaniards first arrived, the spectacle of bull running has been a rallying point for young and old, rich and poor throughout the country. Shows used to be set up to celebrate visiting dignitaries from Spain, for royal birthdays, military victors and religious holidays."
(http://www.whatsonwhen.com)

Sometimes the bull gets the edge...


We have no plans to go. Looking at the billboard on the street, I thought the matador's hat was crocheted, which was the original impetus for writing this post. But as I researched during the writing, I discovered that it was not. but I did find out a lot about bull fighting in the process.

Nov 1, 2008

Right...




Your Autumn Test Results



You are a dynamic, vibrant person. You aren't afraid to pursue your passions.



When you're happiest, you are outgoing and expressive . You love celebrations, and you enjoy showing off a little.



You prefer change to come slowly. You need a long transition period when your life changes.



You find abundance to be the most comforting thing in the world. You love shopping and having nice things.



Your ideal day is spontaneous and surprising. You like to play things by ear, and you always end up doing something interesting.



You tend to live in the moment. You enjoy whatever is going on, and you don't obsess over the past or future.