A blog about my life, knitting, and other stuff.

December 29, 2013

Uh...What Day Is It?

It only dawned in me last night that I completely missed last Thursday. I hate reading blog posts about, "Sorry I've been a bad blogger" but, damn, I have really fallen off the blog wagon.

We've been seeing a lot of movies in the last few days. We saw Catching Fire, American Hustle, Nebraska and Her. I recommend any and all of them.

Catching Fire was a slightly less dreary vision of Hunger Games than the first film but equally deft in its storytelling without spelling everything out for the audience. I don't know if absolutely all of it will make sense if you haven't read the books. I did overhear one woman on the way out of the theater saying she didn't understand what the ending meant. Maybe she was one of the many, many people in the theater who talked during the whole film or got a phone call. Grrr...

American Hustle was, I felt, an ode to Scorsese and New York in the 70s. It's slick, gleeful film-making with some really amazing performances. Seeing Jennifer Lawrence in this back-to-back with Catching Fire really highlights how talented she is. She is hilarious in this movie. Everyone is great.

Nebraska is a quiet, sweet little movie. Director Alexander Payne (Election, Sideways, The Descendants) goes for simple, unembellished visual storytelling. Great performances all around in this one too with a mainly no-name cast. Not one that really needs to be seen on the big screen though.

Her was my favorite of them all. Spike Jonze has written and directed a wildly original story beautifully. The film is quite sublime and surprising. It doesn't have the really off the beam insane vibe of a movie like Adaptation. It takes a wild idea--a man falling love with an operating system voiced by Scarlett Johansson--and tells a heartfelt, romantic and eye-opening story. Older Son saw all four films with me and this was his vote for best too.

While watching movies I've been knitting a few hats for charity. Nothing interesting, just plain stockinette.

Here's one.



But I am nearly finished with a cowl I started last week, Millwater knit in Mushishi. This is just what I need right now. Easy but not too dull.

December 20, 2013

Maize Again


Pattern: Maize
Yarn: Mystery yarn from the "free" box at my retreat last month, I think possibly Malabrigo Rios?
Needle: US6
Notes: Knitting these for a second time made me realize I hadn't followed the pattern correctly the first time! Whoops. I love the fit of these mitts. They are nicely snug especially around the fingers. They are lightweight but feel very warm to wear. 
I made these at Younger Son's request. He picked out the yarn and approved the pattern. When I showed them to him he balked and said he doesn't need them anymore. New mitts for me, I guess.

December 19, 2013

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Oh, Janet E. is my special pet this week. She sent me something so outrageous that my children both independently exclaimed as they passed my computer, "What the hell is that?!" I suppose it's genetic.

Anyway, this little runway show slowly morphs from odd to unpleasant to the stuff that haunts my nightmares.

You'll see.







Tell me you won't be seeing this when you close your eyes tonight.


*shudder*

December 13, 2013

Thursday is Late...Again

I'm going to "put the blame on Mame." Last night Wes and I went to the annual holiday screening of one of my favorite films (possible three-way tie with Goodfellas and Annie Hall) of Auntie Mame starring the impeccable Rosalind Russel. If you don't know what I'm talking about please stop reading and run to a video rental store, if such a thing still exists, and get it. You might start with His Girl Friday to build your love of Rosalind to a fever pitch. Really...go.



But now I owe you a Thursday post so how about some lovely handcrafted chapeaux.



I think the mannequin may have torn off her own arms. I would.

December 9, 2013

Big Ten

Today is my blog's tenth anniversary. Wow. I want to thank all of you who stop by to read and who leave me comments. It means a lot to me.
Ten years. Wow.

December 5, 2013

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

I have spent all night searching Danish websites to understand where this photo came from and why. I came up empty. Which means we get to make up our own answer. Who are these two men and where are they headed? Explain it to me, folks.