I can’t draw very well but enjoy the fun in trying. I recently took a fashion illustration book out from the library and am trying to improve. We’ll see how it goes.

Today I continue to record what I wore for a few reasons. One is that I often visit certain places once a week and could see myself as always wearing a certain shirt on that day just because that’s when I grabbed it and put it into the rotation. I also have too much clothing and this is a good way to track (without doing that weird reverse the hangers thing) what I have and haven’t worn.

Part of my inspiration for this was that my mum used to draw the weather on her calendar. It’s a wonderful childhood memory and I’m sad she stopped doing it after my dad died and she moved. I record the weather on a chart too (thanks teabird for the help) but mine aren’t the same. My wardrobe drawings definitely do not have the same fuzzy feeling but it is quite useful to see what I’ve worn and what colours or styles I tend to gravitate to.

For example, it took considerable effort not to pull out my green striped shirt this week and give other items in my closet a go to see if any of them should be retired (most likely, splattering cooking oil all over one shirt helped hasten that decision). This is also useful to remind me that I don’t need any new clothing.

I generally just record the tops. I buy my bottoms in multiples of the same colour and style and I figure at least for an office setting they are similar to boys clothing, for the most part, no one notices. :)

This list currently lives in my personal-sized filofax (more on that saga next week). It most likely doesn’t need to, but that’s where I started the chart and I find that in taking a short break in my day to at least pencil sketch my outfit (it’s later outlined in ink and coloured with pencil) helps to rejuvenate my brain and provide inspiration.

Does anyone else do anything at all like this?

With my new camera which lets me take macro shots (YAY!!!) I’m seeing the world anew and trying to capture what I see, both in close detail and at large.

I’m also trying to get used to having a camera with me at all times.. I can count many things over the past weeks which I’ve wanted to take a picture of but didn’t because I didn’t have the camera out and ready or I was embarrassed to take a photograph.

- A new (still shrink wrapped) R-something train undergoing testing on the N/Q track at Union Square last Friday. It pulled into the station and I was standing right near the door and could have taken BEAUTIFUL shots. I was soaking wet and carrying eggs. That’s my excuse. It still pains me greatly.
- A bird taking a bath in a puddle on my walk home yesterday. By the time I fumbled for my camera it had flown away.
- An accident on our way out of JFK after dropping off E’s parents this evening .. I found the light pole that was hit at an interesting angle and found the ring of personnel around it fascinating. It appeared that everyone involved was physically ok.
- A woman playing harp in Bryant Park one morning about two weeks ago. I took two photos, but they are terrible, she’s really far away and you can’t see the harp profile at all. I was too embarrassed to walk back and try again.
- Not really taking any at Maryland. I don’t know why I’m embarrassed to take these types of photos, E does all the time (but hasn’t updated his site in eons as he’s really busy with b-school).

So what might end up here? I expect my thoughts as I better learn lighting and style and “framing” of each shot. Maybe my favourite photo of the week. Discussion of other photographers (besides my husband) who inspire me. I’m really not sure.

Time will tell.

While grocery shopping I often bring my own bag(s). Prior to a renewed eco-effort on my part (starting around November) I brought my own more for selfish reasons than anything environmental. I’m SHORT. If a shopping bag is full it’s often possible for the bag to drag on the ground and/or bang my ankles (especially if it’s full of cans).

I now use my own bags almost exclusively and my mother gave me an awesome penguin one when I saw her on Sunday. However this use of reusable bags has caused an unforeseen consequence.

We reuse grocery bags to toss our trash.

Our hold-a-bag is currently empty and the bag that’s lining the garbage “can” has a small hole in the bottom so I hope our trash doesn’t leak. Saturday night when we went food shopping, E had me bag and told me to take extras as much as possible. My habits took over and I only came home with five bags. (Wait how did I go through over six bags since then? We emptied a bunch of trash and took some other things to the thrift store. I think E has one to help contain his lunch. I emptied the trash yesterday a bit early but that was because I had fish scraps in there.)

I’m going to have to make a very strong effort tomorrow to remember to bring home at least one plastic bag so we can take out the garbage. Any suggestions beyond trying to reuse and further reduce the amount two people produce?

As I submitted my Project on Friday my other hand was grabbing for needles and yarn.

What was I casting on for?

A Hug for Mum
Weaver’s Wool Mini Shawl by Peggy Pignato
Debbie Bliss Merino Aran (3 balls of steel blue, 1 ball of grey)
6.5mm bamboo circs
CO: 20080509 around 11am
… שׁבּת …
BO: 20080511 @ 1:30am
This is the pattern that has made me like garter! I just wish I had more yarn to make it a bit longer, but mum says it’s ok. Why did I make this? Mum said she gets really cold at her work in the summer and her swallowtail is too delicate. May she wear it in good health and stay warm.

I’ve been chugging away at many other things too.

On the way out to see mum I finished the front of Anouk and started the back. I need to check my stitch count at the top, because no matter how I do it, I end up with 4 stitches for the shoulder straps and that doesn’t sound right. I’ve not taken photos of it because it is so grey and dismal outside and the colours really do need sunlight to look nice.

Speaking of grey I’m nearing the end of the Earl Grey socks. I’m not totally thrilled with the cable definition or my lack of ability to flip the chart but I am chugging on anyway. They make me happy and I have a feeling I’ll make them (or similar) again. I’m not sure what’s up next after them, but do need to decide soon. I hope to finish these soon.

And, in a nod to Maryland last week (yes I bought a lucet (which I’ve only used for about five minutes), my other purchases were some silk (which refuses to be photographed as it’s shyer than I am, which is why my MDSWF experience wasn’t quite as I had wanted so I probably won’t write more about it).

I also bought a new spindle. And wow. I can spin cotton now. It’s all about not trying to do wool-type drafting (aka remembering the staple length is much much shorter) and using a support spindle and something to support it with. I’m using a kitchen prep cup which seems to work quite well as one side is higher than the other so it works well in my lap, but I’m not yet married to this.

Hopefully next week I’ll still have survived to write about some other projects (seraphim, teasing on some stealth projects, the summer of clapotis and socks) and the results of fessing up the full contents of the stash to E (well… almost)

But I did read two magazines which I feel deserve a special mention, the most current issues of Piecework and Living Without.

I’ll allow you one guess as to what caught my eye in the May/June 2008 issue of Piecework.

Lace!

Actually, it was the bonus which made me shell out $6, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Filet Crochet Doily. I’m not a fan of filet crochet (that whole chain 9-trillion doesn’t do much for me), but I’m a huge sucker for Laura. I recently liberated my set of Little House books from my mum’s, and it was a tradition in my childhood to read, reread, and rereread the series every summer. As I’ll designate these three weeks summer vacation part I, I plan to open Little House in the Big Woods either later tonight or tomorrow. It’s been at least a decade since I last read these books so I’m quite curious to see a) how quickly I read them and b) what my reactions today are.

The rest of this Piecework also really appealed to me Nancy Bush’s leaves and cable lace socks and discussion of the “Cavandoli technique” (oh the DMC memories) both give me a case of startitis. Oh wait, did you see Deborah Robinson’s knitted lace fans? Wow. I think I might actually use up my thread stash this way. Which is a shame in the way as it is the only part of the stash that doesn’t take over the apartment.

Though I gifted my mother with something small today in appreciation of all that she does, she gave me a very nice gift — the April/May 2008 issue of Living Without. I’ve been saying recently that I couldn’t believe that there wasn’t a gf/allergy magazine and surprise! this magazine is a decade old!! Where have *I* been? I’ve read through it once and have taken as much joy from the many advertisements (cRc thank you for certifying many gluten free goods, though PLEASE remove the hideous blink from your web page) as from the articles and recipes within. I’m happy that it appears that this magazine will soon be published more frequently and I wish the publisher, Peggy Wagener a refuah shleima.

If you look at any of my current reading lists, they look heavy on the dry stuff. I definitely need to find some sci-fi. We’ll see what follows me home from the library tomorrow.

Here’s to a week of wonderful reading!

The rest of this week looked like this:

Tuesday: pasta w/lemon butter & broccoli
Wednesday: fish & chips
Thursday: rice & tuna quiche
Friday: souped up tomato soup w/cheese quesadillas (recipe below)
tonight: pasta leftovers

On Friday I found myself “free at last” and I ran into Manhattan for some eggs (not quite efficient, but I get some exercise out of it, the train is going there ANYWAY, some knitting time, and I get to support a local farmer). BUT that was about all I wanted to be carrying in the rain and wind with a broken umbrella.

Oh no! The cupboards were bare and I was cold and tired! I had chickpeas, tomato soup, some grape tomatoes that are trying to impersonate raisins, some carrots, a shallot, and some corn burrito shells leftover from Monday along with assorted cheeses in the fridge.

I figured grilled cheese with tomato soup would be a wonderful dinner given the dismal weather, and here’s how I turned it into a satisfying gluten free meal with leftovers!

souped up tomato soup with cheese quesadillas
serves 2, gf & dairy
Needs:
1 shallot
olive oil
handful of grape tomatoes
box of tomato soup (such as Pacific Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato)
single serving box of vegetable broth (such as pacific vegetable broth)
1 10oz can chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1 carrot
red pepper flakes (optional)

Do:
Heat oil in pot on very low & chop shallot fine. Add to pan and allow to slowly caramelize/brown– mostly– idea is for them to soften and not burn. While shallot browns, slice carrot fine, chopping in half lengthwise if it is thick. Add and allow to soften — perhaps 5 minutes, can raise flame if desired (or impatient). Add halved tomatoes. After about 3 more minutes, stir in vegetable broth and bring to boil. Add tomato soup & chick peas and reduce flame and simmer.

While soup is simmering heat griddle for quesadillas. I made these with random cheeses in the fridge, one was goat cheese, one was shredded mozzarella, one a shredded mozzarella-cheddar blend, and the last a poorly “shredded” (i actually tried to slice it thin) monterey jack with tomato and olive.

Serve. I sprinkled mine with red pepper flakes to help combat the joint pain from the rainy weather.

I proclaim this experiment a success. I took things that probably wouldn’t have adequately fed one of us and turned it into a highly satisfying meal for two, in fact there were leftovers!

Wait, how did I take those photos if I’m shomer shabbat? I completed dinner early, plated it, took the photos, and then bentsch licht (lit shabbos candles). Kinda weird, but with sunset so late and a full work day before it, we’re hungry and I generally bentsch a bit early. This week I lit about fifteen minutes before shabbos /really/ started (but it still ends at the same time). ;)

We went shopping tonight and I have found my new popcorn weakness. Microwave popcorn no less (hey we all have to have a vice of some sort). Natural Buttery Salt & Cracked Pepper in a mini bag, which is perfect as that way I don’t eat the entire bag myself and E doesn’t like it so there’s more for me.

Have a great week!

We also learn the second chapter of Pirkei Avot.

It was both יום הזכרון לחללי מערכות ישראל ונפגעי פעולות האיבה and יום העצמאות (nb: i did the Hebrew different. Please let me know if it displays improperly)

Parshah:

• Nit kain entfer is oich an entfer (from parshat kedoshim)
• Parshah Q & A
• by rabbi avrohom gordimer/a>
• tanach.org

Pirkei Avot:

• beer-kay avot
• torah.org by Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld.
• beautiful study and occupation @ hillel.org
• people need people (2:4) @ hillel.org

שׁבּת שׁלום

(regular posting will occur after 09 May. feel free to click through rambling description on flickr, this post will be, bli neder, expanded next week.)

(regular posting will occur after 09 May)