Yes, today is my birthday. I took the day off of work. We went to lunch at my favorite restaurant, Bay Wolf in Oakland. The Bay Wolf serves delicious Mediterranean food in a casual converted house on Piedmont Avenue. Check out their cookbook full of yumminess. I am completely addicted to their Caesar salad dressing now. Tonight, we will go out to dinner at my new favorite Italian restaurant, Cugini on Solano in Berkeley (can you say yummy wood-fired pizza?).
Here we are arriving at the Bay Wolf. I had a Harlot moment with Roger's sock. I then had to explain why I was taking a picture of the sock. My father got distracted by the concept of a yarn harlot so I had to explain that she is the Yarn Harlot not a harlot who likes yarn and that she really isn't very harloty at all.
My grandmother, Do (pronounced like doe, a female deer, great now I have the Sound of Music stuck in my head), next to my favorite husband Roger. Yes, he is my only husband, it just sounds better to say he is the best (and he is).
This is my father Paul (an article about a paper zendo he designed and built for Burning Man; be sure to click on the pictures) and his wife Ann. We are very lucky to have Ann, she is a great addition to the family. She is very smart, worldly, and she knows her mind. We like that.
Paul gave me this very cool box from Egypt. Ann gave me an amber pendant. The setting has leaves, a bird, and an insect. It is so amazing and absolutely the perfect gift for me.
Thank you so much for the gifts, a wonderful lunch, and for being my family. I love you all.
Roger and I are not big one obligatory gifts. We get each other things when we find something that is right and call them "just because" gifts. But . . . I did want something this year. An ongoing subscription to Amy Boogie's Spunky Club. I am getting the dyed fiber. Each month I will get a different fiber in a unique colorway. The theme for this month's colorway is "If I was in Australia it would be Summer right now." I don't know what that will be; I'm guessing something bright and cheerful. Her fiber is always fabulous; I can't wait for the first installment.
Knitting Content
Roger's first Finn toe-up sock is done. I made a few changes from my usual sock routine. First, he has a very wedge shaped foot due to high arches. I started the gusset shaping early and increased every third row instead of every other row. Second, I made the top short and loose. Unlike me, he doesn't like a snug ankle. He overheats easily (I soooo envy that, I am ALWAYS cold between November and May). I worked plain stockinette followed by an inch with minimal purl stitches to control curling and topped it off with three garter ridges and a loose cast-off. He seems to think they are perfect. No point in arguing with perfect.
Here is a picture of the first sock on a slightly uncooperative model. He was muttering something about having to go to work. The colors are a bit brighter than in real life and he is wearing a black sock under the Finn sock; pretend the black sock is his leg.
The second sock is almost half done and I am just finishing the larger of the two skeins I made from this colorway. I'll have enough to stripe with another yarn for more socks. Yay for more socks!
I know many people come to my blog for patterns or my sock tutorials. My post on local politics was a definite diversion. My mood of late has been crabby. A rant was just what I needed to constructively vent.
Speaking of patterns and tutorials (no, I don't have anything new, I just want to use this as a segue, not to be confused with Segway), I have noticed some interesting search strings that have brought folks to my blog. A few of my faves:
New England soul wool socks (soul wool, sounds interesting, tell me more)
puppy dog tails recipe (Whaaat?!?)
wips for sale (they must have meant whips - SURPRISE!)
questions about the incas and maia's
bette davis crochet quotes (wait, now I need to Google that . . . . drat, I can't find any quotes by Ms Davis about crochet)
And, wait for it . . . .
mean people suck in woodshop (no s#!t)
Happily, I was the number one hit for that search string.
Speaking of woodshops, here is my father's:
All or most of that wood is from street trees. If there is a large tree in the Bay Area that needs to come down, it may find a second life here. Many cool and creative projects come from these trees. Our dining room table is made with Black Acacia wood from a Berkeley street tree.
Happy Birthday - sounds like you had a perfect day!
Posted by: Jacquie | January 19, 2007 at 05:27 PM
Happiest! You know, I've never been to BayWolf - must go sometime. Enjoy your day, m'dear.
Posted by: Rachael | January 19, 2007 at 05:37 PM
happy birthday!
Posted by: aprill | January 19, 2007 at 06:12 PM
Happy Birthday! What better way to spend it than with family and knitting?!
Posted by: Marina | January 19, 2007 at 06:21 PM
Happy birthday!! Have a wonderful day. I'll have to try BayWolf, maybe someday without the kids?
Posted by: Lauren | January 19, 2007 at 06:52 PM
Happy Birthday!! Hope all your wishes come true!!
I'm a box and amber lover so I love your gifts!
Posted by: Debi | January 19, 2007 at 08:41 PM
When I saw the picture of your dad's work shop, all I could think was "Look at the size of THAT stash!" heh. I bet he doesn't feel guilty about it or talk of how to reduce it.
And oh yes! Happy Birthday! I'm glad you had a good one.
Posted by: LaurieM | January 20, 2007 at 03:08 AM
Happy birthday! I'm glad you are posting more often--and I agree on the rant!!! Wish someone in MY family was a woodworker....
Posted by: Janine B. | January 20, 2007 at 12:33 PM
Sounds like you had a perfectly wonderful day! I wish you many, many more happy birthdays to come! Hugs to you!!!
Posted by: Kerry | January 20, 2007 at 08:35 PM
Happy birthday to you, my pal! I'm glad you had such a good day!
Posted by: Judy | January 27, 2007 at 07:42 AM