Free things

Happy Shop Hop weekend! The weather here in the Twin Cities has been perfect for a good meander, drive, picnic - pretty much whatever your heart has desired.

Paperless patterns
Head over to Knitting Daily's website for downloadable bundles of five sock patterns and seven lace patterns. A quick registration (if you haven't already), and you're set. Offer ends soon, I'm assuming, so get 'em while the gettin's good.

Aquatic adoption
Auntie Audi has a friend who is relocating and couldn't take the livestock with her. Audi made a mercy call, and two hours later she and two coolers arrived at my apartment where Kidlet and I opened our door to a school of mollies: two ginormous adults, and about 50 fry of varying ages. All to prevent the untimely flushing of innocent fishies. I. am. such. a. sucker.

Anyone want a fish or five?

Do you like holes in your knitting?

Then go sign up for Knitting Daily. It's free e-newsletter published by Interweave Knits, and they currently have a bundle of 7 free lace patterns for you to download. Can't shake a pointy stick at that price...

Loyalty

So I'm knitting Jared Flood's lacy-slouchy beret, Porom.

For myself.

Scandalous, I know. If logic had anything to say here, the only things on my needles would be thoughtful gifts for others. Oh well. It's not even Thanksgiving yet. [insert silent panic-infused scream here]

My one complaint? The needles.

I happen to be quite partial to a certain wooden interchangeable set I was gifted last Christmas. Actually, quite partial doesn't really begin to describe my feelings; ragingly loyal is more like it. Trouble is, they start at 24 inches, and I needed a 16" circular for the hat, so I defaulted to Addi Turbos.

I know I will offend someone (or two) with what I'm about to say, but I. Don't. Like. Them. I don't like using Addis. It's the points - rather, the lack thereof. You try using DK yarn, size 8 needles, and executing k3tog tbl. Grrr.

Meema needs to get her drink on.

Icarus envy

blogger's note: lofty post to follow (pun not intended)

It's hard not to be amazed by the power, grace and discipline exhibited by the Olympic athletes this past week. But of all the ways we (and so near the previous statement do I loosely say we) can locomote our body machines, one mode will always escape us - independent flight.

As Kidlet and I were driving to church this morning, a bird momentarily flew parallel with my Civic's trajectory down the interstate. As effortless as the bird's flight looked, it was equally foreign and fascinating. I feel the same awe - and earthbound lament - watching hummingbirds hovering in flight at the feeder.

What would possess a human to think, "Yeah, I'm gonna fly like that"? Thankfully there were mechanically-minded others before me who could build what we weren't genetically given; left to me, we'd still have to set aside a week to cross the continent.

ADDENDUM: On a related note, go check out Susan Rainey's completed Icarus Shawl- it's almost as good as wings.

(Had to share the runner-up graphic when I searched "Icarus" on Google Images:I added the modesty bar. You're welcome.)