Life as a WIP
So, so true *she shakes head*
So, the fabulous summer weather that had been rearing its head during this spring has driven me into a new state of anxiousness. I know, I suffer from an anxious disposition made worse by often sedimentary behavior. This time it’s me thinking about all the things I need to take care of and get in order and check off my list, etc. You know the deal, everyone does it… But somehow, my level of ridiculousness always catches me and makes me feel slightly green in the face.
I have WIPs almost everywhere in my life. And having checked of a pretty significant one recently (get my degree), I’ve gained a little momentum towards some others. The problem from me is that each project inspires another and I burst with thousands of ideas and concepts to start, but lack the resources (time, energy, money, ego) to complete. So here’s a good chunk of my round up, a little brainstorming list to get these things out there and keep them from lurking in the dangerous frontiers of my mind that cause my anxiety.
Knitting/Crochet
- Swatches galore for work
- Koigu hearts Mission Falls Cardigan | New project, but the one that gets me going the most
- Koigu hearts Mission Falls projects 2,3,4,… | Wait until the first one is done!
- Stormsvale | Pictured above. See that strange twisting there? Yeah, that’s a problem I didn’t catch until I got off the plane and had a good luck. Time to rip back! [edit: ripped back and restarted 30 April 2009]
- Lorna’s Laces charades socks | I’ve lost momentum on these, time to rip back and reskein for later
- Crochet alpaca shawl | Pattern I chose is too boring for the solid yarn, time to rethink and rip back
- Uchiha Sweater | Coveted by SO, hopefully not doomed to the annals of the Sweater Curse (this is the second sweater, you know), started 3 years ago with some KnitPicks Wool of the Andes (atrocious stuff to handle for a full sweater), features all-black stockinette and an intarsia logo on the back (ugh, I know), a really lovely project that may soon be upgraded to nicer yarn so I can get this done!!! (One exclamation point per year)
- Spring Blossom shawl in Schaeffer silk | In the basket, a few rows every now and then, no hurry
- Frost Flowers and Leaves shawl in Inca Gold | Again, a few rows per year can’t hurt it, the worst is when lace gets too dull and grows at the same time (applies to No. 7 as well)
- Geometric Lace stole for Ariadne | A few repeats every now and again will get it to where it’s going
- Baby Surprise for Henry Arthur Bean | I gotta hurry before he gets too big to ever wear it!
- Latvian mittens for the SO | As long as he has mittens by this winter…
- Mittens for myself | Ha!
- Fluffy hot pink wrap for a friend | I’m going to finish this sucker tonight. Not nearly as much fun to knit as I thought it might be, and I need to get this sucker out before summer is in full consistant swing.
- Swing socks | Time for me to redraft the pattern and just have someone else knit them for me. You know, one sock syndrome is my worst enemy and has carried over into sleeves and mittens as well. I have to do them at the same time, but when it’s socks or colour work I just have to cringe.
- Mission Falls 136 Hexagon blanket | New on the list, but I have to finish the first item before I delve into that
- Ysolda’s Snow White | Do during a break from my own patterns
- About 30 knit patterns trapped in my head that need to come out… eventually.
- So many many more :S The worst is that was just off the top of my head, without having looked through the various areas where I stash old ‘friends’
Life
- Get back into yoga and/or bagua
- Plan this summers garden (wish I could manage year round)
- Write a grocery list, and general household schedule
- Scan all old coursework, paperwork and magazines to pdf and throw the paper away
- Set up new filing system
- Find a winter sport to get into
- Cook more frequently
- Purge closet
- Set up studio in apartment
- OK, so this list is mostly wishlist, not a real WIP list, but it nags at me!
Sorry for this mongrel of a post, but in an attempt to get myself to post more, they’ll probably be more spectacularily disorganized and haphazard.
Sigh. Life is a work in progress and mine is relatively leisurely. I cannot complain. I’m back in love with Montréals tiny Chinatown, indulging in fresh dumplings and baked goods. Meet Miss A, being her delightful self with her ’spring look’ while we terrorized de la Gauchetière LMAO. I felt like she needed to play tour guide for the afternoon. And here’s a little something to wet the palate (tastes way better than my photography can allow)
Bean Dip (just another version)
Ingredients
- 2 cans of white beans
- 1 package of edamame
- 4 cloves of garlic
- generous helping of parmesan, grated
- handful of fresh mint
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
The edamame (soy beans) that are easiest to get are the frozen ones in the pods. Just boil them for 3 or so minutes, rinse in cold water so you can touch them, and squeeze the beans out of the pod. It took the SO and I under ten minutes to get them out. Put the ingredients save the mint into the food processor and grow. Use the olive oil to get it to blend to the right consistency (right being whatever you prefer). Add the mint near the end so it doesn’t get too decimated. Serve with grilled pieces of bread or crackers or crudité. Enjoy.
Oh, and these photos remind me. It’s almost time to take off the winter-proofing plastic on our windows. To life!
