tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-98444562024-03-14T04:56:11.573+00:00Weave-Run-NapIn which I irregularly go on and on about flutes, music, WEAVING, spinning, fiber photography, RUNNING, family, work, life in general, and anything else that suits my fancy.erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-33229088581703594942021-07-14T20:54:00.001+01:002021-07-14T20:54:06.328+01:00London Marathon Training Week 3 - got a PR!Saturday was the first of 3 "tune-up" races, a 5k (3.1 miles) race in Regents Park. <div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Week 3</div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54-WZ2Uf0ZRBKjQo8mncKMCtgZzXLeICh5aVf8-ikROftVIFXvG7hI2PUZqocpV_1nygsyqoKFzi4mzPJvh4rnJLsqJkdmVhY3dWEXVJg4VqMAMYw-nUPyMLFTR75jGV5JvH3/s1398/training+this+week.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1398" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54-WZ2Uf0ZRBKjQo8mncKMCtgZzXLeICh5aVf8-ikROftVIFXvG7hI2PUZqocpV_1nygsyqoKFzi4mzPJvh4rnJLsqJkdmVhY3dWEXVJg4VqMAMYw-nUPyMLFTR75jGV5JvH3/w400-h173/training+this+week.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I ran a personal best (PB) or personal record (PR) of 31:17! Woohoo! I had a single three-pronged strategy: <div><ul><li>go as fast as I could</li><li>have negative splits</li><li>finish as close to 30 min as possible.</li></ul><div>It's not much of a strategy, to be honest. I did go as fast as I could. I got a stitch in my right ribs toward the end. I got some negative split: my second mile was faster than my first mile, and my third mile was slower than my second but faster than my first. And 31 minutes and change...that's close enough to 30 minutes. I won or, as Coach Clare declared, "you bossed it!" I actually quite surprised myself. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Week 3 was kind of a mini-taper. No cycling at all, just the easy running I've been doing the previous two weeks. The new thing was the race instead of the 90 min long run. Coach Clare suggested I do a 16 minute warm-up ahead of the race. I've seen others do that and I tend to think, why waste all my energy on warm-up? But actually after doing a little research, and having experienced that, I can see what the point is. </div><div><br /></div><div>First, done right it doesn't waste energy - it helps you get into the right mind space and is a reminder of what fast legs feel like. You don't start from the line with cold legs. I've read that if you do this pre-race warm-up too early then you doing gain the benefit of doing it, because that benefit doesn't last long. I picked a sweet spot about 30 minutes before the race, which I knew would give me enough time to do that and hit the toilets. Anxiety-pee, or (sing it with me, Mel!) "it's my High Anxie-Pee!"</div><div><br /></div><div>It was funny to hear the race announcers saying "save your legs, you don't need to run before you cross the start line" which, actually, is counter to this whole think of getting your legs moving and warm. Although, there was an organized calisthenics warm-up session in the field before the race. </div><div><br /></div></div></div>I love Regents Park. It's beautiful and it is where the majority of my running took place when we first moved to London - we lived one street away, and the Outer Circle is almost exactly 5k. The race criss-crossed inside the park, where there are undulating paths, football and rugby pitches, ponds, bridges, a university, tennis courts, formal and informal gardens, an open air theater, and a zoo. Every year there is the Frieze outdoor sculpture exhibit, which we missed last year due to October lockdown. I love all of it. <br /></div></div></div>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-26982969430155480792021-07-11T10:33:00.002+01:002021-07-11T10:34:10.110+01:00London Marathon Training - Weeks 1 and 2<div>No, no preamble. Just gonna jump right in. </div><div><br /></div><div>These first two weeks of training for the London Marathon have been foundation training. In Training Peaks, the app my coach uses to guide my training, it's referred to as Base 1. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I have a coach. I hired a coach to get me to my goal race! Yes, it's expensive. I want to do this right because I am a bit prone to injury and she can help me make sure I'm at least doing the right things at the right time. Also, all the running and racing I've ever done since I started running seven years ago has been really casual and cavalier. So, I'm trying to be a little bit more focused and serious about this - or, at least less glib. Right. Anyway, the objective is I can make it to race day without hurting myself and I can finish the distance. I'm running in the Virtual version of the race, not the mass in-person version. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have always thought that there was a 6-hr time limit on the race, but I found out that isn't true. 7pm is the cut-off. The official start time is 9:30am, and if you hit the start line by 10am or even 10:30 am, that's still 8.5 hours! My original reason for embracing the virtual event was so I wouldn't have to stress over finishing within 6 hrs, <u>and</u> I missed the ballot entry completely. Coach Clare and I agree that a realistic finish for me will be 6:30. I still have to do it on the day everyone else does and I'll wear my official bib on my LDN 2021 shirt and I'll use the official app, so by all intents and purposes It's Official. Finishers T-shirt and medal come via mail :-) </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Week 1</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UFsbEVN5woR3ubQmn3Y0fBsNaML03uhjoct6J2vqvuwpNEHL1a-HES4MySdsd_QouADx3O3xxTOajprxXk9_KsElOr9UHI1IFw6M6Ogqbt-bAnOHuUiBuX7CZFZpX4xQshY0/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="1389" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UFsbEVN5woR3ubQmn3Y0fBsNaML03uhjoct6J2vqvuwpNEHL1a-HES4MySdsd_QouADx3O3xxTOajprxXk9_KsElOr9UHI1IFw6M6Ogqbt-bAnOHuUiBuX7CZFZpX4xQshY0/w400-h165/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Week 1 was weird. It was weird having someone essentially watching over my shoulder every cycle ride and every run and every rest. I feared judgement. I feared disappointing my coach. I feared disappointing myself - did I even have any expectations? Ya, my expectation was to make my coach proud. Come on. Week 1. Seriously? It was nerves. And when I am nervous I get stupid and glib and I say moronic things. </div><div><br /></div><div>I made it through Week 1 and learned a few things about myself. I could run 6 days a week and it didn't finish me. I could run a 90-min session all in heart rate zone 2 , and it was a lot harder than the 2-hour+ runs I'd done previously. Coach Clare suggested that I find a couple of races I could do along the way between now and October 3. I already had one lined up for September 4th. I chose a 5k in Regents Park for July 10, and a 10k in Clapham Common for August 15.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Saturday long run was long. Actually, it wasn't, it was only 90 minutes but it felt long. It was the first time I thought, oh no, really? It's only 6 miles - why did that feel like 9?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Week 2</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdIwKywPfjVONcQJvsCKzA31kixZsQ15JKa0YT-V25jn7eX3UoDst-FIzZPKSunfjFJAa1_uEQhVQCfSkwtIMZ-Z2jKl7_gseWHUA4AQJcMAdpQ1UE6yiSEyJVNaQB_PZ_X_8/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1393" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdIwKywPfjVONcQJvsCKzA31kixZsQ15JKa0YT-V25jn7eX3UoDst-FIzZPKSunfjFJAa1_uEQhVQCfSkwtIMZ-Z2jKl7_gseWHUA4AQJcMAdpQ1UE6yiSEyJVNaQB_PZ_X_8/w400-h165/image.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Week 2 was somewhat less weird. I can comment on each training session and Coach Clare comments back, via the Training Peaks app. So, I experimented with how and what I wanted to comment. I imagined her rolling her eyes over my random thoughts. I attended a weekly athletes Zoom meet-up. Do what? Athletes? Actually, they are all quite nice and just like me but it's a social situation so naturally I hear myself coming across like a know-nothing eee-deee-ott (ahem. idiot). </div><div><br /></div><div>My cycling is done on a Peloton bike. Until now I've been happily choosing my almost-daily spin class from my favorite instructors on the platform - Matt, Christine, Sam, and sometimes others. The classes typically follow a formula of warmup, some challenging sections (not INTERVALS, just intervals) followed by less challenging sections, and it averages out to a certain amount of time in a cycling power zone. This week, I am doing "Just Ride" spins where I essentially Do My Own Thing where the platform records my metrics (hr, power, cadence, etc). The Thing I'm doing is 30 minutes in power zone 2. Every day. Boring. The instructors are exciting. No instructors is not exciting. It's like going back to the stationary bike at the gym. I'm being a little dramatic, that's fair. Because, actually, I get to listen to some of my favorite podcasts and my choice of music on Spotify. But...</div><div><br /></div><div>I do the rides in the morning, the running at my lunch hour, and the long run Saturday morning. This week's long run was a new route starting from Cassiobury Park in Watford and going north along the Grand Union Canal for 90 minutes. I knew this would put me roughly between Kings Langley and Apsley, at the end of 90 min so I would have a 30 min walk after I finished running. I think I would do this route again, it's very pretty, but I would stay on the canal tow path all the way to Evans Wharf, instead of exiting up to street level at Nash Mills Lane, which Google maps advised. The street level route to the Apsley train station is an unpleasant walk along a major road with a narrow sidewalk. Lots of traffic, nothing scenic. On the plus side of this, though, the day was forecast to be rainy and it wasn't - it was sunny and warm and I was glad to have the sun mostly off my right flank the entire way. </div><div><br /></div><div>With this buzz cut I've noticed that, without hair to hold the moisture, a hat or visor is absolutely essential for keeping the sweat out of my eyes. Also important for preventing sunburn on my scalp. </div><div><br /></div><div>Am I doing anything else? Hardly. We're near the end of the remainder of lock down restrictions so we don't really go anywhere much. The office isn't fully open yet - we have to schedule ourselves if we're going to be in, and desks are 2 meters apart, yet we can hug. Sunday is Our Day Out. Today we're going to hike from Hampstead to Covent Garden, see a Banksy exhibit, and eat lunch at BrewDog. Above all we're going to avoid going anywhere near Wembley Park and all the Euro 2020 fuss and bother. England v Italy. Go England! </div><div><br /></div><div>I am finally finishing a weaving project I began well before lockdown so I can proceed with a weaving project I planned well before lockdown. I have no <i>rational</i> excuse for not using lockdown time to get ahead of weaving projects. Lots of irrational excuses, though. We're going to draw a line under it and move on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lockdown. Shit. </div><div><br /></div>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-42567514901562470272018-07-29T08:32:00.001+01:002018-07-29T08:46:30.958+01:00Because...LasagneFrom 2015, I never got around to posting this.<br />
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Lately, though, dairy has been more unfriendly than usual to my gut so we haven't made this recently. Definitely time to make the sauce again, though, because it is soooo good.<br />
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Many friends are aware that Kent and I follow a strictly (or almost strictly) <a href="http://vinnietortorich.com/nsng-faq/">no-sugar-no-grains</a> approach to food. Kent follows more of a strictly Paleo diet that I do but at home you won't find one speck of rice, wheat, etc, in our cupboard. We allow ourselves to wander off the reservation, so to speak, under certain circumstances - say, when waffles are on offer at <a href="http://plasticporkbone.typepad.com/">Chris & Irene</a>'s, or for a tasting menu at fancy-pants starred restaurant. Let's be clear: we don't have allergies. I have a few sensitivities, and we have made lifestyle choices - and we choose to ignore them when confronted with something like <a href="http://rouxatparliamentsquare.co.uk/" target="_blank">Michel Roux's menu</a> a couple of weeks ago because we can afford, and choose, to not substitute ingredients. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span><br />
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This is all just to say: we have made choices, and pasta-in-it's-gorgeous-semolina-goodness has been absolutely verboten. I love pasta in all it's forms. Flat, ruffled, stuffed. And I've found a substitute for flat thanks to three special people. Long-ish story. Settle in, chaps.</div>
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Special Person #1: <a href="http://shuttergardenbug.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mom</a>, who introduced me to zucchini-noodle lasagne during her visit last year and started me on this adventure of reintroducing ragu back into our world. Slicing up zucchini is a great option! For my taste, it has to be roasted first to dry it out a bit. We have such a tiny oven that this really does take several rounds of roasting. The zucchini shrivels up so you have to do quite a lot to get the right amount for a proper lasagne. </div>
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Special Person #2: TS, a lovely woman who was my first real friend here in London, introduced me to a few of her favorite places in Camden. One of them was a vegetable shop, Parkway Produce (Parkway Greens? I can never see the writing on the awning), has 95% fresh produce and 5% other. There are veg I've never laid eyes on in this place. They supply local Camden restaurants with goods. They are constantly moving, busy, boxing up produce, unboxing produce. Best prices on unwaxed lemons in town. Best looking lemons in town. Best lemons in town. Anyway, TS told me about celeriac. Whaaaa? I've never used it. She gasped and said "Oh, you MUST try it. Such a lovely mild flavor. Mash it or slice it into matchsticks and put it into salad." (Note: right across the street from The Tiniest Whole Foods Ever)</div>
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Special Person #3: <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-celery-root-lasagna/#axzz3LaU1D0Vv" target="_blank">Mark Sisson</a>, of Mark's Daily Apple. A few days after this discovery of Parkway Produce, I was reading on Mark's website about his version of lasagne, where he uses celeriac (celery root). </div>
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Hm. This obviously got me thinking about how I could change up my lasagne. I make my own bolognese sauce for it, a riff on two sauces in Stanley Tucci's family cookbook, so I'm already spending a great deal of time on that. I didn't like how much more time the zucchini takes to roast. Celeriac, eh? <a href="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/11/19/celery-root-overall-1_slide-9e31722c63dd48170619590757939177465aabc4-s1100-c15.jpg" target="_blank">Great big monster of an ugly root</a>. You have to carve the outside off. It's very firm and a little difficult to slice, but easier than a butternut squash. Mark parboils 1/8" slices in batches of four or so - whatever fits in the pan, so that's what I did. Worked great! Made BEAUTIFUL if somewhat wonky "noodles" for lasagne. I did a crappy cutting job - very uneven - but DH loved it. It has just the right consistency - firm enough to layer but soft enough to cut through with a fork. But oh mercy standing in front of the stove parboiling slices of celeriac...MANY slices of celeriac...in my tiny galley kitchen...not my favorite thing to do. But I did it a few times because...lasagne! Then I read somewhere about steaming it. Maybe on the BBC food website. Maybe somewhere else. </div>
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Okay, what the heck, I try that. </div>
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Success! I can steam half a head of celeriac slices at a time! Woohoo! And, I can steam another set of slices to freeze for next time. Oh, yes by the way, it freezes lovely. Thaw it in the fridge for a day, use it in lasagne that night or the next day. Yummy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fine, it isn't the best photo but it's in a proper big American Pyrex casserole dish, <br />you know what I'm talking about.</td></tr>
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Then Kent ponders: "I wonder if we can spiralize it and use it as...spaghetti?" Well, shit yes that actually works too. Steam a head of spiralized celeriac for about 9 minutes, drain it, salt it, cover it with sauce and sprinkle with parmesan. It works. You could just boil them in salted water, too, and it would work just fine. I've read that it's good to add a little lemon juice to prevent it from going brown (might be for storage in fridge) but that hasn't been a problem for me. That <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spiralite-Vegetable-Spiralizer-by-Spiralz/dp/B003NXR086">spiralizer</a> we bought two years ago has finally come in handy. </div>
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There is almost nothing better than a big plate of spaghetti with homemade bolognese and sprinkled with fresh parmesan cheese after a run (you knew I had to mention that somewhere, right?) - made with ingredients that are consistent with our dietary choices.</div>
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Life is good. </div>
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erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-65199325413187650622018-07-01T10:00:00.000+01:002018-07-01T10:09:41.622+01:00The Skirt, Part 1This story is as much about sewing as it is about weaving. It is possibly even more about project planning. The things I learned, since I am not an expert sewist, were decidedly in the planning and sewing stages. I found the weaving to be easiest with one glaring exception (the beat) and which I didn’t especially appreciate until it was too late.<br />
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This project was driven by a long-standing desire to construct my own clothing. I wasn’t interested in making any political statements or return to some mythic “simpler time” but rather more practical reasons: I’m 5’1” with bust, waist, and hips, and finding well-fitted clothing is a challenge from both a height and shape perspective. As every woman who is shaped outside the normal distribution knows, the off-the-rack clothing industry doesn’t design garments for curvy women.<br />
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I was first seduced by a sexy deflected doubleweave (DDW) pattern I found in a back edition of Handwoven. I had to try it but it was a few years before the stars aligned and I had enough nerve to potentially waste some of my precious Jaggerspun Zephyr wool/silk blend fiber. My first attempt went brilliantly right up until I sent it through my front-loading washer, thinking it was gentle enough. The result was beyond disappointing: it shrunk from 7’ x 11” scarf size to 3’ x 6”cravat size. It’s a very warm cravat and I actually do wear it on the very coldest days of the year. Lessons learned! But, I knew what to do – and what not to do – to wet finish this piece of work. I played with color combinations and generally had a lot of fun with discovery.<br />
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A year or two before this first experiment with DDW, a very close friend and the woman who played Robin to my Batman -- let’s call her Kerry because that is her real name -- one day tossed four cones of 20/2 cashmere in I my direction and commanded me to weave her something beautiful in dark blue, dark green, burgundy, and ivory. At the time, more than two colors scared me and I promptly parked that beautiful fiber in the stash. The cones followed me on a move to England where they sat in a project box for 18 months.<br />
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Back to the future: You get a lot of time to think while you are weaving and I just knew that the DDW pattern would be the right one for her and something she wouldn’t weave for herself. In part because it’s too fiddly and in part because I have more shafts at my disposal and my pattern requires eight. In a moment of inspiration I drew a fifth color from my stash, a BFL/silk blend, hand-dyed by Cheryl at Sonoran Desert Dyed Fiber and I found a way to mix the yarns into a plaid-ish DDW. That first DDW was only three colors. Now I had five!!<br />
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Fast forward a few weeks and voila: I was cutting off an beautiful DDW scarf from the loom which I vigorously wet finished by hand. It was fine enough to double over as a scarf without creating bulk. I road tested it around town and took an action picture of it near Tower Bridge.<br />
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I was satisfied that as a scarf it was brilliant. I wanted one of my own. Nonetheless, the scarf went to Kerry, the majority owner of the fiber content; an 18” sample went to Cheryl so she can show off what her fiber could do. We even entered that scarf in competition at Maryland Sheep & Wool and got second prize in the category, and I agreed with the judges comment that it was still a little flimsy. It needed a closer sett and another round of hand-fulling.<br />
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Next time: Part 2, Planning the yardage and selecting a skirt pattern<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-86908590618650007082018-06-26T10:49:00.001+01:002018-06-26T10:49:07.850+01:00ReturningNo, not to the US, sorry Kerry & Cheryl & Mom!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span><br />
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Returning to the blog. It's had a long nap. Also returning to Complex Weavers, my membership now renewed. I miss my extended tribe of weavers, spinners, and fiber enthusiasts. In renewing my membership, I joined the Designing Textile study group. It's led by a weaver I have a lot of admiration for, and it's membership is comprised (to my delight) of some wonderful weavers. I'm excited to be in their company. I approach this as designing textiles for a purpose. My purpose has been for clothing, and I've promised to write up my first adventure in weaving cloth for clothing. Stay tuned.</div>
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We spent time in Montana last week visiting my husband's cousin on her organic farm. We did very touristy stuff: horseback riding (wonderful, and came away with sore sit bones!), fly fishing from a boat on the Bitterroot River (more of this, please), hiking up to <a href="https://www.visitmt.com/listings/general/national-forest-trail/blodgett-overlook-trail.html" target="_blank">Blodgett Overlook</a> Trail (longer but less arduous and not as high as hiking up Mt. Teide). My sister-in-law Leslie and I ran the <a href="https://www.visitbitterrootvalley.com/location/lake-como/" target="_blank">Lake Como</a> trail, though I would have to categorize it more as run-walk-stumble-wade through running water. It's about 8 miles, really beautiful with some drop-dead gorgeous waterfalls, but we were there after a week of heavy rains so it was wet. The trail itself was mainly rocky, at times was a small stream, lots of large puddles, and in one case washed out by a small waterfall which we had to walk through. Also, we were admittedly a little anxious about meeting bears. We didn't, but toward the end of the trail we started hearing things and we were completely soaked and ready to be done!</div>
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Also in Montana I attended a pipe ceremony. This isn't something I'd normally sign up for but it was scheduled on the farm to celebrate solstice. So, when in Rome (Hamilton, actually)...I'm proud to say that my urbanite self wasn't entirely closed off to the ideas shared and the woo-woo nature of the entire thing and I found myself hit with inspiration for the 2018 study group topic ("write about a specific object or experience that has inspired you to transfer it into your own weaving, and how you translated it"). So in the middle of this pipe ceremony, the smudge smoke told me it was the object of my inspiration. I wasn't high, it was just sage mixed with some other grassy/herby stuff, nothing hallucinogenic, and the smoke didn't actually say anything. But it was while each person in the circle was being "blessed" and I was staring into the smoke coming from that smudge stick thing that it popped into my head that the smoke and the objects on the "alter", for lack of a better description, should be my inspiration. And to be fair to the ceremony, it was a strong inspiration and there was absolutely no doubting it. </div>
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I jumped on it right away the next morning in my journal, jotting ideas. In fact, I think the finished textile really popped into my head already formed; the brainstorming is mainly about how I'm going to execute it. </div>
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As with all things, I'm limited by the width of my loom, so nothing goes on wider than 20". Technically, I'm also limited to 8 shafts but the ground cloth structure can be a "simple" plain or twill weave, and I sketched this on the plane coming home. It's the smoke that is the complicated part, and I've been googling this for inspiration on how to incorporate it. It needs to give a sense of lightness and movement, of dancing across the cloth. I want to see curves. Supplemental warp, damask, inked images on the warp before weaving, ribbon sewn onto the warp after weaving - these are all potential approaches and all are on the table, even the damask if I were to construct a drawloom-thing. It's not out of the question. At the moment my browser is full of tabs on these topics. Today my running brain (the part that isn't putting feet to pavement to make sure I stay upright) will be put to work solving these design mysteries, and I've pulled out all my weaving books and CW Journal past issues for inspiration. As Fox Mulder says, the truth is out there. </div>
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Right now, the dominant colors are dark grey and black/near black with occasional yellow (there was a guy in a bright yellow rain coat) and dark red (there was a dark red bandana on the "alter" which quite stood out against the greys and near-blacks), and then the light grey representing the smoke. </div>
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I currently have two weaving projects wound into chains, but they'll just go in the weave queue. I don't want to put anything on the loom until after August 7, our move date. When I do put this project on the loom, it'll be a sample length proof of concept. Due in December, I have a few months to figure this out, weave/finish, and write about it. </div>
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erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-67982566918916540072015-04-20T14:23:00.001+01:002015-04-20T14:23:38.698+01:00It doesn't look like much<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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But it's a LONG way from St. John's Wood to Battersea Park and back. The rest of the running club ran 10 to Greenford via the Canal, but since I didn't have that "I know where the public toilets are" peace of mind, and this was an important run for me, I elected a route I've done before. The first time I did it, though, I only went 9 miles, then bussed the remainder back home. This time...I did the whole enchilada and I'm completely thrilled beyond words. And my calves ARE SO SORE.<br />
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Two days after this run, on March 11, I massacred something in my hip (it was my glute medius tendon at my hip joint) after only 3 miles and it stopped me dead in my tracks. I was devastated! The first two weeks I couldn't walk without a cane. The next two weeks-ish that followed was an enjoyable and relaxing tour through Denmark and Norway with my brother and his family. There was a lot of relaxing, self-massage, and kinesiology tape involved. Fortunately for me, The Nieces walk slowly so I was saved the embarrassment of being THE slowest one. I was only the slowest some of the time. That trip is a whole post on it's own to come. At any rate, then I came back and started a tiny bit of running and met with a doc and had an MRI done to make sure there wasn't a stress fracture. He injected the tendons with corticosteroid last Friday and I tried to take it easy over the weekend. That stuff stings.<br />
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I'm absolutely terrified of going too far too soon, which is probably the thing that got me in trouble in the first place. I had doubled my weekly mileage, quickly, instead of going with a slow steady increase. The urge to "keep up with the gang" is strong. I also didn't allow myself enough rest.<br />
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This is now a running reboot, and today I did 3 miles without pain using <a href="http://www.jeffgalloway.com/" target="_blank">Jeff Galloway's run-walk-run</a> approach. So far, so good. Will I be able to do the Hackney half-marathon next month, which I paid for the day of my wonderful 10-miler? To be completely honest, probably not. Right now, ten more miles of this morning's run - without pain - doesn't seem possible. There's always the Royal Parks Half this autumn, for which I will shortly be begging for donations. It's a lot further off, and offers enough time to do the slow steady increase I need.<br />
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In other news, I made that ivory warp my bitch.<br />
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I know that sentence only makes sense to a weaver, but I stand by it. I measured out 12 yards of warp using miscellaneous natural-colored natural fibers from stash, then tied it on to the previous honeycomb-threaded warp, got the little knots through the heddles with less breakage than anticipated, and started winding the little bugger onto the warp beam. I got several yards on before I gave up on that insanity. Kerry's first warp was 12 yds. It, too, was insanity. I was there for it and I don't know how she did it. Also, I ran out of packing sticks.<br />
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This warp turned out to be fiddly in a way that I loathe. I did the weaving in this image before my hip went wonky. After the wonky, I had to reduce my weaving to more plain weave so I could use one leg (right) on the two plain weave treadles. The first section is approximately 20 inches. The next section is also about 20 inches, but I included some weft inlay for fun. But that's not the fiddly part. The fiddly part is having my warp threads break so regularly!! The warp beam is so decorated with cones it looks like a Christmas tree. If I only have fifteen minutes to weave, I don't want to spend five of it messing with broken warp threads. I've decided on the use for this warp, though, and it's to be a gift so I can't show anymore of it. </div>
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I also used some mill ends that are lovely in a weft but complete rubbish as warp. Very breaky-breaky. I also used a bit of Lopi which would be beautiful in a weft but it's just not strong enough for warp, and it frays like crazy. My plan all along had been for a rustic monochrome weave and to use up odds and ends that have been in the stash for some time, and I've succeeded. It's rustic. It's monochrome. I used odds and ends. It will make lovely whatchamacallits (I'm not saying). I think I'm the "get it on the loom and go" type of weaver, though. The inlays are fun and pretty, just little random blocks of colors, but they slow things down a great deal. </div>
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I know what is going onto the loom next and I think I'll start measuring it out this week. Mwahaha. Another secret!</div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-44810749080081223752015-03-07T11:08:00.002+00:002015-03-07T11:10:42.852+00:00Can We Be Frank?(Yes, and don't call me Frank.)<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><br />
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(Yes, it's not perfect but I had to do it.)</div>
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(Also, fair warning: topic is about gross and disgusting things today, like poop)</div>
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There is something that I never hear other runners talk about in polite company, but many of us (and especially those of us with digestive disorders) have experienced: running-induced gastrointestinal distress. Diarrhoea, as it is spelled here in Sunny England. By the way, this is where you should either stop reading or carry on at your own risk. </div>
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Some of my running pals have probably dealt with it at one time or another. We don't really discuss it. I carry a small pack of anti-diarrhoeal on every run, especially runs greater than 6 miles. Just in case. Primarily for myself but I'm happy to share if anyone else should find themselves in a pickle, because I know what it's like. If I get hit, however, I'm sidelined until the anti-diarrhoeal du jour kicks in. For me that's about 90 - 120 minutes. Most recently this happened on a hill run and I camped out at the O2 "mall" on Finchley Road for almost two hours before I was able to finish the run. </div>
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IBS-related diarrhoea is another story altogether. I can usually tell shortly after my first sip of coffee in the morning if I'm going to have an issue during the first few miles of my run - or before. Once or twice I've been surprised, but most of the time my gut lets me know. No two IBS sufferers are alike: coffee doesn't bother my gut. </div>
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For me, running-induced diarrhoea is compounded by IBS, and it's more likely to occur if I've eaten something questionable within 24 hrs of the run. There is generally a small window of opportunity if I'm going to be nutritionally naughty - by which I mean, for example, eating anything with yeast, grains, or chocolate. On the other hand, I'm not bothered by my gels which contain a small amount of cocoa. There are certain combinations of foods that I've just discovered my gut doesn't prefer. Eggs + Xylitol are a problem. </div>
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These days I do have the luxury of waiting it out. No job to get to (yet), and today no appointments. It's a game of trial and error. I've landed on a nutritional approach that seems to work for me 90% of the time although I think I need to tweak it again. I know where most of the clean public bathrooms are on my run routes. Today was supposed to be a track run and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartlek" target="_blank">fartleks</a> in Regent's Park. It still can be and I'll tackle it on my own because my gut just wasn't ready when the club run was scheduled this morning.</div>
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Maybe now it's safe to leave the flat...<br />
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<b>UPDATE on the presentation for Company Not Named: </b>they elected to go with someone else. There were eight (!!!) people in that presentation, not including myself, and the feedback I received from the recruiter was that the majority felt my perspective was too "big business." I just shake my head. Fine. There were two red flags that popped up that day in the prep meeting with COO and HR.<br />
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<li>Red Flag 1: The focus of the role would not in fact be the integration of the three software platforms they'd been talking about throughout the interview processes, but basic management software and platforms internally. Wait, whaaaaat? I had prepped myself for a month on the former! </li>
<li>Red Flag 2: The COO had not briefed the folks in the room about the scope of the role, which kept getting bigger and bigger. Tieing up eight high level people to be on a panel interview for an hour without briefing them IN ADVANCE on the scope of the role, and giving them a chance to ask questions of the COO themselves, is a huge miss and a waste of everyone's time, including mine. </li>
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I have mixed feelings about not getting this job but it was probably a good thing they thought I didn't have enough small business perspective. But dammit. Lessons learned. </div>
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erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-27018313079831791532015-02-16T19:15:00.000+00:002015-03-07T11:11:22.658+00:00What does pork smell like?Well, not much, turns out. Not ground pork, anyhow. No wonder there are mass quantities of seasonings in the meatloaf cooking away in the oven. Pork mince (in Brit parlance). Onions. Shrooms. With bacon on top.<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><br />
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Ah. Bacon. Bacon. A perfect food. Everything is better with bacon. I get Homer Simpson-drool going on when bacon is cooking. Today I put "lashings" of bacon on top of ground pork meatloaf or, as Nom Nom Paleo calls it, <a href="http://nomnompaleo.com/post/4410757185/super-porktastic-bacon-topped-spinach-and-mushroom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Super Porktastic Bacon-topped Spinach & Mushroom Meatloaf</a>. Fun blog, awesome recipes, and oh damn I forgot the nutmeg. </div>
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Crap, I forgot to add the nutmeg! I can't even blame my martini for that miss because that happened waaaay back before noon. And it's now waaaay past noon. Shoot. Well, probably it'll be okay without it. </div>
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"Lashings." I don't really even know what that is but it is also a decidedly Brit word which seems to indicate some kind of schmear of something, or stripes or strips of something. On my meatloaf I have strips of bacon across the top, which I think qualifies as "lashings of bacon." Meh. </div>
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I might forever associate this meatloaf with writing a presentation on what I can do for Company Not Named. Next week I am to do a panel interview (as in, the subject is ME and the panel is several of the company execs) in presentation (PowerPoint) mode. I'm not particularly thrilled and I'm totally anxious and the presentation isn't done and I'm pretty sure I've completely overthought this and I have one day to rework it before we go out of town. I want it DONE by the time we get on the train. So. Ugh. I keep asking myself "how badly do I want THIS specific job?" It happens that I'm a pretty good fit. But if, after all this, I don't actually GET the job, "do I want to bother continuing to look?" The first interview as January 14. Start date is April 1. </div>
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So, pork smells like my presentation to Company Not Named. </div>
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As Kerry says: le sigh. </div>
erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-11492679955613350422015-02-14T11:23:00.005+00:002015-02-14T11:43:59.587+00:00Mo' RunningYes, it has been some time since I posted, and I'm not going to make excuses. I'm just gonna jump right in to it. Can I keep it up? Maybe, maybe not, we'll see.<br />
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Mo' running, mo' running, mo' running. I'm up to about 20 miles per week. It's an astonishing milestone for me and one of which I'm incredibly proud. It feels good. Feels right. Feels like I could tack on a few more miles on a 4th day, especially if I'm mindful about massaging my achy calves after the Friday hill run with the <a href="http://www.womenrunningtheworld.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">running club</a>. </div>
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Speaking of the running club, I owe all my miles to them. I don't have words for how grateful I am for their support and encouragement. Many of the women are training for a half-marathon in April, in Italy. Groovy! I'm going to a half-marathon a few weeks later, closer to home, and decided to train alongside because, hey, it's a PLAN. I like a plan. Plus, I'm six months overdue for a half-marathon because of the move across the pond and not getting to run in the Rock 'n Roll Virginia Beach Half. </div>
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I'm anxious that once I'm working again I won't be able to allocate as much time to running as I have been for the past two months. I'd like to say "I'll deal with that when the time comes" but those who know me know that I just can't let it go at that. I have to have a PLAN! At least the outline of a plan, at any rate. </div>
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Yesterday morning on the aforementioned Friday hill run, the lovely woman I was running alongside wondered aloud how it was that some people ran so much faster. Mentally, I dug deep into the all the reading I'd done but I couldn't come up with a ready answer. Mostly because we're all built differently, we all have different levels of cardio fitness. One thing I remember reading from <a href="http://www.mattfitzgerald.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matt Fitzgerald</a>'s writing is that, among other things, distance can improve a runner's speed over time. I'm certainly proof of that! I ran my first 10k, last May 2014, at a 14:00 min pace. With no effort at increasing my speed but just increasing my distance over the last year, I ran a recent 10k this month at a 12:00 min pace. However, I was reminded this morning during some bathroom reading that aerobic fitness is another key component, and I think the two are intrinsically linked. As I am running I'm building aerobic strength. Yay! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tXbManTm7WaHcbiOMXQkvEctI13rkxOTNNj3RXG5vpTXRpeJ0Ffxud82X1GADzmdIK4_n0JhKivS4K86up9vPWAQgB35XmDRUpUtPwNb7031Oq8ARbcTUnNcubaN-2hIfMC7/s1600/Strength+for+Speed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tXbManTm7WaHcbiOMXQkvEctI13rkxOTNNj3RXG5vpTXRpeJ0Ffxud82X1GADzmdIK4_n0JhKivS4K86up9vPWAQgB35XmDRUpUtPwNb7031Oq8ARbcTUnNcubaN-2hIfMC7/s1600/Strength+for+Speed.jpg" height="326" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>from "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Red-Book-Running-Books/dp/1616082968/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423912770&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Little+Red+Book+of+Running" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Little Red Book of Running</a>" by Scott Adams</i></div>
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So, this is one answer from one author to that question. I can accept that. I think this is the same guy who wrote that some runs aren't perfect. Accept it and move on to the next run.<br />
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Cheers, y'all!</div>
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erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-23388483211406352962014-07-23T17:08:00.002+01:002014-07-23T17:25:23.749+01:00The Little Things. For example, laundry.<div class="p1">
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Wake up. Walk five feet to the toilet. Backtrack two feet to the kitchen doorway and take three steps in. Stand in one place and pivot back and forth between the sink, counter, and electric kettle to make hot water for the coffee. Step sideways two feet to the washing machine and remove the load of whites. Do a left face and walk ten paces to the first radiator in the flat and begin hanging clothes on every vertical surface available. The size of the laundry load is in direct proportion to how much space you have to lay out damp laundry. Forget about washing machine capacity. </div>
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And so begins life in a 560 square foot London flat. It’s slightly larger than the apartment we had in NYC two summers ago. We had a washer and a dryer in NYC. We have a washer in London. No dryer. What is up with that? Something about nowhere to vent, but…I think it’s just weird.</div>
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We’re fortunate to have arrived before most other new teaching staff, as we got early picks on items donated by families and staff returning to America. So things like mixer, blender, juicer, mini-stereo, electric tea kettle, microwave…all obtained. Part two of being fortunate is that we found a flat just a seven minute walk away from the school so carrying all those things to the flat, over four trips, wasn’t so terrible. Not even in 85 degree sunshine. Sunny London!</div>
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The weather, by the way, has been lovely. It'll be a shock when the days go short (they are soooo long right now, still perfectly light almost until 9:30pm) and grey. I'm hoping it'll happen gradually. I'm told that the lovely cooling breeze will turn into a cold howling wind. I have just the running gear for that. </div>
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Everyone who drives does so like a maniac. Mario cart. They honk at you before they attempt to run you down, though, so there’s that. </div>
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The public transportation is both outstanding and frustrating. Everything is handled by the Oyster card, incredibly convenient. This is your "get everywhere tap in/tap out" card that you load. Like a Starbucks card but more confusing. A bus trip or a tube ride isn’t just £2.20. There’s some kind of daily-cap-logic-depending-on-where-you-start-and-end-at-the-end-of-a-24-hr-period algorithm that I think I won’t ever understand. We have an extra Oyster card for guests because you really can’t get anywhere meaningful without one - those days where you’ve walked your shoes off and just want to sit. It’s not difficult to spend £20 a week on this. </div>
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In our effort to minimise expenses, we walk. We walk a great deal. Five or more miles a day. And we check our Oyster balance daily. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kent, at the Tate Modern</td></tr>
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Tomorrow, our high speed internet connection is activated. Weeeeee! In the meantime, there are a ton of BT wifi hotspots that we’ve been able to attach to (because we signed up with BT) and conveniently a few near the flat. Not consistently, mind you - it doesn’t take the place of a good reliable router - but it gets us by. In four days our personal belongings will descend upon the flat and we’ll spend the next year figuring out Where To Put Stuff, and all those articles on Apartment Therapy will make more sense. This is good, too, because I need a drying rack or four, and two of them are in that shipment. See above issue with the lack of dryer.</div>
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We are five hours ahead of the US East Coast, eight hours ahead of the US West Coast, you can do the math for everything in between. And yes, they move the clock ahead for British Summer Time (BST). Oh the things we're learning. </div>
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p.s. - the visa was finally approved and finally made it into my hands. yay! I can make money in the UK! If only I had a job... </div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-37219860768539515222014-06-21T13:00:00.000+01:002014-06-21T13:18:07.221+01:00A New Chapter, Part 2: Departure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The last post was in February. It's June now, the house has been fixed up, put on the market, and there is lots of activity but no offer yet. We remain hopeful that we'll get an offer before the next mortgage payment. I really do not want to make that mortgage payment. <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><br />
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Today the movers come. </div>
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I write that sentence then find I have to take a big breath. It's been an incredibly busy and stressful four months. We have said goodbye to so many THINGS. Yes. Americans in particular are very attached to their Things, but I think non-Americans experience that attachment too. I'm not a sociologist or anything but my guess is that it's strongly related to the commercialism that comes with being a first world country. Throughout our lives we're fed a steady stream of images equating objects, and the acquisition of objects, with self-worth, who we are, and how we exist. Two big yard sales put that into pinpoint perspective. It's hard to shed that and the objects that we've accumulated. At one point I complained that I didn't like putting a price on my life. And we've continued to get rid of things in the house because it becomes a problem compounded (and calculated) by shipping by weight. Thank goodness fiber doesn't weigh that much.</div>
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Our mantra has been that of Charlie Crews: "I am not my car." </div>
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We've also sent our dogs, Tasha and Maggie, to live in Maine with our eldest son and his girlfriend. I know they'll like the cooler weather. Maggie will, anyway. These two dogs have lived with us for 14 years and it has been so difficult to watch them leave. I wasn't sure I could do it. We could have taken them with us, and were in the process of doing so (there's no longer an automatic quarantine rule). But as time ticked by we realized that there was travel we wanted to do and allowing the dogs to live in a steady stable environment was better for them than our need to have them with us. Our lives will be less complicated for it, and in some years when the urge to spontaneously run off to France or Scotland or Wales or Germany or the English countryside for the weekend abates we'll look at getting new dogs again. In the meantime, we need to find an outlet for our need to communicate with dogs. Dog sit for friends. Run with a neighbor's dog. I'll try not to let it feel like a betrayal!</div>
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It's been Christmas in June for a few friends - fancy vinegars and furniture to Linnea & Matt, small appliances to Nick & Heather, MANY workshop tools to the robotics team at Norview High School, furniture for Kerry, bartering deals with Cheryl. Kent has become the CL Whisperer. Whatever he puts on there sells fast. It's amazing. Neighbors scored well at our two yard sales. I'm happy all these things made it to good homes, and a few thrift stores have benefited from our remaining cast-offs. </div>
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Tonight we'll drive up to DC and spend a couple days there, then it's on to Baltimore for another few days before we fly out. The Baltimore leg was an unexpected addition but it's been a long time since we've seen the Inner Harbor, so we'll enjoy it because we can. </div>
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I'm feeling quiet and a little sad, but today is another day when I cannot let myself feel too emotional because: movers. Therefore, I must see to the business at hand and keep my head. Stiff upper lip, etc. Keep calm and carry on...after I have my coffee! </div>
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erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-60450994027901402152014-02-22T17:52:00.002+00:002014-02-22T17:52:12.183+00:00A New ChapterAfter 20 years in Norfolk, it is time for us to move on.<br />
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If not for recent events, we'd probably just stay put.<br />
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It really wasn't intentional. We're lazy, we hate moving. Loathe it, frankly. That's why we've been in Norfolk for twenty years. Well, one reason anyway. The boys have fled the nest and are happily living on their own, creating their own adult lives. That doesn't mean we don't love them like crazy. We do!! And with any luck and planning we'll be able to help them come visit us in our new adventure.<br />
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ENGLAND!<br />
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Over a mere three week period our lives were dramatically changed. One morning shortly after New Years Day, as he was heading out the door to work, he said "there's this opening at the American School in London and it had my name all over it. I'm going to apply for it. Okay?" And I kissed him and said "Sure!" Because why not? Life can get a little boring if you always keep the door closed.<br />
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Three weeks and three interviews later we're staring down the barrel of an overseas move and ogling properties online in London. It's a little more expensive than Norfolk. After a few estimates we've contracted with an international moving company. I have the PETS Scheme list of bringing pets into the UK and the dogs have started their treatment procedures so they won't have to sit in quarantine in the UK. DH has renewed his passport, his new employer is arranging our work visas, and I have to find a new position with the bank or another company. Our first BIG porch/yard/estate sale is scheduled for the weekend of March 1 & 2. Nearly all the furniture and a great deal of our small appliances will be up for sale. A ton of books, some china, DVDs, a spinning wheel, looms (Bam Bam, the Tools of the Trade loom, and the table loom). I've arranged a trade for the Macomber loom for a smaller loom that I can ship with us. It's a good arrangement that me and the other party are very happy with. We'll be talking with a real estate agent tomorrow.<br />
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Saying we're excited, anxious, and slightly overwhelmed is an understatement. The paring down process is especially hard. Letting go of things we've collected that we think, rightly or wrongly, define us. They don't, really, but represent moments in life, and we have to look at our things, our stuff, and pick the moments that are REALLY moments, and not just...stuff. That, and The Stash :)<br />
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A new chapter begins in London in late June. Yehaw!<br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-11552723160068398072014-01-12T00:48:00.001+00:002014-01-12T00:48:14.225+00:00Dental work meets Greek yogurtBone grafts. <div>
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The words make me shiver for that is what I had done in my mouth a week ago yesterday. I am a big pain wimp, Dr K., so thank you for the vicodin. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it through the weekend without it. I only had enough for four days, but still...it made a difference. </div>
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Cold food was wonderful. Cold SOFT food even better because I don't have to chew it and drive my gums into pain. After all the protective clay came out, though, cold food is now evil unless I very carefully guide it away from the most sensitive spots. Hot liquids=good. Cold liquids=bad. This entire week has revolved around what I can and cannot eat and the progress between the two. It's still mostly soft foods, though.</div>
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Because my diet had to be so limited (e.g., boring) I decided that I would include some of Kent's Greek yogurt (we buy plain Fage Total) with the amazing unsweetened applesauce I found at one of our local grocers. It was risky because dairy is not my friend and I always steer clear of it. </div>
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Guess what? No problems with the dairy! None!! No intestinal upset. No..you know...runs. If I'm really sensitive to something it'll get right past the Imodium. This did not. Therefore, I have resolved to include strained yogurt back into my diet.</div>
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YAY! I love yogurt. I hated not having it. And this is a really lovely thing to have discovered in the midst of this pain in my face. For which I'm still taking massive quantities of Motrin because I'm a great big pain wimp. The dull thudding ache is as bad as the other post surgery pain. </div>
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erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-11023258748951086492014-01-02T15:21:00.001+00:002014-01-02T15:21:49.285+00:00NBG 2.014 Fun RunIt WAS fun! The lights at the botanical garden were lovely. My favorite was the moon and starts display. But holy crap there were a lot of people stopping to take pictures! I nearly ran into them. I'm not sure I'm such a fan of the stopping for pictures, but then maybe I'm too serious. Come on. I'm trying to RUN here. In the dark. With only the holiday lighting displays to guide me. <div>
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(Erin. Lighten the f*** up)<br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><br />
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Ya. I'm still slow. My pace was 13:40. My last 5k pace was 12:29 and it about killed me, as Les would say. It was tough, for sure. This 13:40 was a good pace, though. And it was only 2 miles. And I've been doing run-walk-run training, which feels weird, and I ran the NBG as straight running, no breaks. After my 6 mi run last weekend, 2 miles doesn't seem like much. At the finish line, while waiting for me, Kent heard some runners talking about potholes. I didn't encounter any, but early on I noticed there was some pavement heaving from past freezes (or something) so I was already on the lookout for things to NOT trip over. Because I'm a bit clumsy.</div>
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First "race" of the year. Check! Kent called it a run. I corrected him. If you have to pay and you get a t-shirt and you get a bib (even if EVERYONE had the same number, haha it was number 2014) it's a race, no matter whether you race the race or just run the race. Ya, there's a difference. I ran the race. The timing clock said 28:42 minutes. My running app said 28:12 minutes and I killed the app 10 seconds after I crossed the finish. That's not the first time my app has logged me 30 seconds faster than the timing clock. I'm not sure what's up with that. Bad app? I hope not. I love this app. Next year: wear </div>
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Next race: <a href="http://vifl14k.com/" target="_blank">Virginia Is For Lovers 14k, Feb 15</a>. 8.7 miles-ish. Someone come run it with me!!!! I'm running to finish, not racing for a personal best. Personal bests can come later. </div>
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Meanwhile...weave weave weave! Still finishing up a Christmas gift on MayMac. I'll be working on that today as my vacation grinds away to its end. I return to work Jan 6. Damn! I want another week off! Or how about a month? And still get paid, thanks. It's been a nice two weeks. One week at Nags Head, NC, this week here at home. This morning's conversation:</div>
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Kent: What are your plans for today?</div>
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Me: I have none! hahaha!</div>
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But I actually do because I need to visit the mall for leggings at WHBM (the BEST leggings, lemme tell you), go to the pharmacy and the grocery store. In other words...errands. And a run sometime today. Before the rain gets too icky.</div>
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erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-82236558116714674322013-12-24T17:18:00.002+00:002013-12-24T17:18:26.868+00:00Because metamorphosisThings have been changing dramatically over the past few years. I've gotten more and more involved with weaving, less and less involved with knitting and spinning and fluting. Getting less involved with flute is a huge departure for me because I've been playing nearly continuously for 40 years. I started young. Two things have taken the place of my fluting. Running and weaving. I've written about weaving.<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><br />
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And I haven't written at all, or hardly at all, about running, and I've kept somewhat quiet about it in general. I started running in June of this year.It didn't occur to me at the time that I could have chosen a different time of the year to start outdoor exercise. I just knew that I was turning 50 and I needed to run and that was that. There's an app for that!<br />
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Lots of very good apps, actually. I chose the Couch to 5k from Cool Running (coolrunning.com, not to be confused with Cool Runnings the movie loosely based on the Jamaican bobsled team). It's a good app and it got me to my first 5k. I knew I loved running after the first week, even though it was hard, hot, exhausting, sweaty, and expensive (shoes! holy crap!). I don't know if I've ever achieved that "runner's high" but there are plenty of times when there arrives a state of calm and effortlessness that is so relaxing and it melts all the tension away.<br />
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Six months on I've finished four 5k races (one on Thanksgiving in Sumter, SC., with my fabulously supportive sister-in-law), and am training for a couple of half marathons in 2014. Here's my line-up for this coming year.<br />
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<li>New Years Day: 2.014 mile fun run through the Norfolk Botanical Gardens Holiday Lights display</li>
<li>January Challenge: Run every day (at least one mile, with Leslie and Rosenda)</li>
<li>February 15: Virginia Is For Lovers 14k</li>
<li>March 15: Shamrock 8k</li>
<li>May 24: Elizabeth River 10k</li>
<li>August 31: Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon</li>
<li>October 4: Crawlin' Crab Half Marathon (with Leslie)</li>
<li>October 25: maybe the Wicked 10k (probably)</li>
<li>November: Sumter Turkey Trot (for sure, with Leslie)</li>
<li>December: Surf-n-Santa 10k (probably)</li>
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And I might sprinkle in some 5Ks if I think I need a little interim excitement. Racing is FUN!<br />
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My dream race is the NYC Marathon.<br />
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Another race I'd like to do is either a half or a full marathon at Disney World. It looks like incredible fun. Or a race in Europe. Also someday. But clearly I'm addicted to this. It has kept me sane, and therefore employed because I didn't up and quit, through a personally terrible year of work. I've also lost about 25 lbs - which was not the primary goal but I'll take it! I need to take at least another 25 or 30 off before I feel like I'm fit enough to start training for a marathon. And do more cross training. I've tried hot yoga. Kent thrives on it but the jury is still out on that for me.erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-33697680855859586882013-08-13T13:25:00.004+01:002013-08-13T13:25:39.864+01:00"Add 1 heaping scoop to 8oz of milk or water"<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Why is it always that said scoop is at the BOTTOM of the can of protein powder when you first open it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As the zombie trainer on my Couch-to-5k app says: aaarrrghhhhhhh.</span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-84826647324396340892012-09-18T00:30:00.000+01:002012-09-19T21:16:29.398+01:00Sarah, Pirate Dog. Aaargh...woofI'm so sad to report that Sarah, our oldest dog, had to give up her left eye due to glaucoma. Very big sigh. She did great with the surgery, has eaten, had some water, took her antibiotics and pain killers, and has mostly been napping tonight. She even got to have her teeth cleaned and three of them extracted while she was sedated. Good thing, too, because two were close to abscessing.Thank goodness!!! The good people at Dog & Cat Hospital here in Ghent were wonderful, and as usual she charms everyone who meets her. Her right eye still has some sight, and we'll be treating it twice a day with prednisone drops. Forever. She is a special dog.<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><br />
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She doesn't have a pirate patch, but we might let her wear one for Halloween. </div>
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<i><b>Update:</b> Overnight went great, this morning Sarah was pretty spunky and snugly for a dog who had surgery less than 24 hours ago. Scarfed up her pudding-like recovery food. Tonight we try out dry food soaked in water. Amazing how she changes when she's not so much in pain. </i></div>
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In other news, Samantha is back with Kat. I supported Kat in her decision to give temporary custody of Sam to Kat's older sister because I think it was the right thing to do at the time. Now that Kat has a more stable home and work situation, Sam is moving back to Kat. I'm so happy for them both and I think we'll get to see them next weekend.</div>
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Last week I attended a delightful weaving conference. I forgot to bring the good camera. Big fail. I have some iPhone pictures but they don't do justice to the excellent weaving I saw. I was so, so, so inspired. So much so that I am finally almost done with winding the warp for the Bambu 12 shawl in gold and dark gold. As I'm winding I'm also considering that the pattern I'd chosen is maybe not the one I want to use with this fiber. I saw a wonderful example of dimity and I want to do that. I'll probably find a basic pattern in the Davis book, and I'll do a little reading on dimity rules. It'll be a two color warp and a two color weft, in big plaids. I do like plaid. Checks. Colors that cross. </div>
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I'm sure it's dicey to change course in the middle of winding a warp. I might be creating extra work for myself. Oh wait. I am DEFINITELY creating extra work for myself. It's worth it to create something unique and all my own. A large check in dimity, inspired by Marjie Thompson. </div>
erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-52782981510086909582012-09-17T23:34:00.001+01:002012-09-17T23:34:28.339+01:00Weaving: Where The Inspiration Comes From<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><b>September 2011</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">For this latest project, the Autumn Towels, I was inspired by two things. First, I read a post on http://rigidheddleweaving.com/blog/plaid about an online tool for creating your own plaid patterns. I browsed to the site, and while I was looking at all these lovely Scottish plaids and whatnot, I thought oh how lovely a plaid in fall colors would be. So, that blog post and the change of seasons is what got under my skin. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcwkvNTKZ8USpB6HuOe3eELAkaCoAgQSmHKtmOA2H8uR07fEmVSDdVmldqRrRvSWoqES1t41ropfLE0q1jRMNBnrdlQczsm6HlTzHLF-7nLhEnyaUMVcs4yE4MWd3GYJ9JEHy/s1600/Autumn+Weave_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcwkvNTKZ8USpB6HuOe3eELAkaCoAgQSmHKtmOA2H8uR07fEmVSDdVmldqRrRvSWoqES1t41ropfLE0q1jRMNBnrdlQczsm6HlTzHLF-7nLhEnyaUMVcs4yE4MWd3GYJ9JEHy/s400/Autumn+Weave_small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">In real life the colors are a little brighter, but this is really turning out exactly as I had envisioned it here, or well pretty close. Below is my calculations for warp and weft and how the colors should line up and how many of each should be sleighed in which order. This was right before I figured out how to read a weaving draft.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz-nn3Dq-KF39MxdI2XfIS3Y13iYYw-veKg-pYeQBmf8PPhK9DvQc4KWqajHNwbKYK7vLl_w8WG9QaNVdpGU6tMUuVnNG-D7iUrb_S7fK80CL1qhNvTcUhty93qI0mRu_P8LS/s1600/Autumn+Colors+Project+Image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz-nn3Dq-KF39MxdI2XfIS3Y13iYYw-veKg-pYeQBmf8PPhK9DvQc4KWqajHNwbKYK7vLl_w8WG9QaNVdpGU6tMUuVnNG-D7iUrb_S7fK80CL1qhNvTcUhty93qI0mRu_P8LS/s320/Autumn+Colors+Project+Image.png" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><b>September 2012</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">My original plan had been to show how I set this thing up. As I was sleighing, I realized where I'd made some mistakes. I hadn't planned on doubling the Cottolin. And I don't remember why I wound the warp that way. But I did, and wove it as such. I used the tartan generator online to construct the plaid just the way I wanted it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I also recognized during the weaving itself, as I did further research into Tartans, that what I was weaving was truly a plaid, not a tartan. Tartan plaids have very specific criteria, to begin with they are done in a twill and have an odd number of colors. Ha. No twill here, no sir, not on a rigid heddle loom! Actually, I'll bet Jane could figure out how to do twill on an RH, but I'll forego and use the floor loom for that business. Also, an even number of colors. There are a gazillion mistakes and I learned so much from this project. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It's bright and cheerful and plain woven and soft and wonderful. I love it. It's also VERY long and I'm thinking I can get several fun towels from it. Hm...Christmas presents? I think I have another post about this project but this is, as Paul Harvey would say, is "the rest of the story."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-2018707842906623612012-09-08T14:00:00.000+01:002012-09-17T20:24:51.657+01:00Hi, my name is Erin, and I'm a foodie.<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Although the two terms were sometimes used interchangeably, foodies used to differ from </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gourmet" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="Gourmet">gourmets</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> in that gourmets were epicures of refined taste, whereas foodies were </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateurs" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="Amateurs">amateurs</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> who simply loved food for consumption, study, preparation, and news.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foodie#cite_note-0" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Gourmets simply want to eat the best food, whereas foodies want to learn everything about food, both the best and the ordinary, and about the science, industry, and personalities surrounding food.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foodie#cite_note-1" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> After some time of differentiating between the two, the term Foodie is now considered the term for food exploration and enjoyment, whether gourmet or not, thus superseding the term Gourmet."</span><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">--</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foodie</span></span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I should be coding my monster Excel project for work, and instead I am scheduling our next trip to New York City. Partly because I feel like crap (BPPV again), my eyes hurt, and the thought of staring at code for three hours is migraine-inducing. Because of the vertigo.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Oh hell, call it was it is: let's just say Manhattan because we won't go north of Central Park, or further west than the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn Bridge. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">We were at Sinigual, this really wonderful Mexican restaurant in Midtown with Kent's cohort from CAPE, and one of them said "So, are you guys foodies?" We'd been raving about Colicchio & Sons, and that place in Pittsburgh with the amazing beef, and I said "nah, I dunno, seems like it has such negative connotations." Snobby. Then I started thinking. Hm. I think everyone who knows us would probably call us foodies. 150 (estimated) cookbooks, and three of them are <a href="http://ruhlman.com/" target="_blank">Michael Ruhlman</a> and one is <a href="http://www.frenchlaundry.com/" target="_blank">Thomas Kelle</a>r. We pine for Top Chef when it's on hiatus. We attempt unique and interesting cooking adventures at home. I spend quality time with Roberta's food dictionary whenever we visit her home. We go out of our way to find the right knife, not necessarily the best knife, and the right pot, not necessarily the best pot - although Le Cruset is pretty much the be-all-end-all for enameled cast-iron cookware. And who needs more than two? We use them all the time. LOVE. We make our own stock. Why? Well, for one I have a yeast sensitivity and it is almost impossible to find stock that doesn't contain yeast for flavoring. But when we finally finessed the crap out of our stock, we discovered that it is a) the easiest thing in the world to make and requires almost no attention and b) tastes amazing without adding anything else to it. It's stock with attitude. See note about Michael Ruhlman, our hero for pulling back the veil of CIA mystique and bringing beautiful food to the home. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Yeah, I'm gushing. Which also makes me a foodie, I guess. Kent, too. The nicely balanced (no kidding) habanero slaw at Luna Maya. The juicy drippy crispy grinder at Zero's. Fellini's perfect french fries. Meatloaf at No Frill Bar & Grill. Actually, just about everything at No Frill is outstanding, but their portions are enormous and it's a bit of a turn-off. Cucumber panicotta at Colicchio & Sons. I just love the Tortilla Soup at Max & Erma's and the Southwestern Omelet at Charlie's. I will swear by Ivar's Fish & Chips, and their clam chowder, as the best until the day I die. Bryant Park Cafe's french fries on Sunday - the oil gets old fast and it's freshest on Sunday. Go figure. Kent has a thing for the perfect french fry. I have a thing for great fish and chips. We both have a thing for yummy food, wherever it might be. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">(And while I was wandering off picking up the Michael Ruhlman link, I stumbled across one of his posts about the from-scratch BLT using his <a href="http://www.biggreenegg.com/eggs/sizes/">Big Green Egg</a>. Oh. My. Goodness. Want. Someone please buy my baby grand so I can buy a Big Green Egg!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Granted, most of this I can't even eat anymore because of the dairy and yeast thing, When I do decide to risk it, I want it to taste really, really good.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><b>9/17 Update:</b> Last night we caught up on Top Chef Masters - he waited for me to return from CW Seminars. Gooooooooo, Lorena! Woo!</span></span></div>
erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-91476715611359640462012-08-09T00:04:00.001+01:002012-08-09T00:04:31.057+01:00Top Ten Non-Knitting Uses for Double-Pointed Needles (DPN)<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;">Sometimes you just don't have the right tool for the job. You have to use whatever is nearby. For a knitter, that's usually a set (or six) double-pointed needles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;">10. Prod your unsuspecting adult child to determine his level of hungover-ness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;">9. Kebab skewer for small things. Pearl onions. Grape tomatoes. Baby bay scallops. Soak the wooden needles well before placing on grill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;">8. Pick those stubborn popcorn kernals out from between your teeth after the movie. Make sure it's clean. Eeww.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;">7. Defensive weapon on the subway. Or Macy's.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;">6. Move itty bitty pieces of chip solder into their rightful place on your solding project.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;">5. Straight edge. If you grip your needles like your life depends on it, use them as a set of french curves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;">4. Chopsticks. Very skinny chopsticks. Must be desparate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;">3. Use multiple DPNs as a fence to keep peas from rolling off the counter </span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;">2. Remove pimientos when your significant other prefers his green olives un-stuffed.<br /><br />and my very favorite non-knitting use for DPNs...<br /><br />1. Martini olive pick. Martini aficionados know: sometimes olive picks are just too short.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: small;"> Yes, our first Broadway show.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-42076416744005191242012-06-15T01:39:00.003+01:002012-06-15T01:39:48.888+01:00Hey, where have you been?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">It's been a very long time since I posted anything, and it's been a very, very busy five months.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">The kitchen is 90% complete. Only a few tiles and the floor are to be finished. Finally! And we love it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"><span style="color: #222222;">From left, Kent (aka DH), Peanut (aka Samantha), and Kat (no aka). The photo is a little dark but check out those GORGEOUS cabinets (mahogany-stained hickory) and beautiful backsplash. Highly recommend Costco for kitchen cabinets. </span></span></div>
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'Tis the spring/summer concert season for the Tidewater Concert Band, and we've had many gigs recently. Musically things tend to quiet down after Independence Day then pick up again around Labor Day. I'm struggling to get that Stars & Stripes piccolo solo under my fingers but it is hard. I'm not the principle piccolo but we wanted to have at least two piccs playing - for fun, you know? So, earplugs firmly in place. I continue to work. </div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Did I mention I got another floor loom? La-la-la-loving it...I know I romanticize the idea of refinishing and reselling old looms but I'm sure the reality is much different. I did have fun with the first one, though.</span></div>
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Speaking of WORK, that ugly word, I am once again managing a software project. Ah, the glamorous life of a m******f******s***f***** business analyst. Nah, I'm kidding, it's not so bad. I am doing another project, a web app again, quite a major addition to a web reporting application that I already manage and previously implemented. It is very challenging to have two developers in one country, 10 hours ahead, and one developer in another country, two hours behind, and none in my own country. The phrase "never the twain shall meet" comes to mind. It isn't anywhere near as awful as The Project From Hell three years ago. Four years ago? Time flies. We are scheduled to "go live" next Wednesday, and we are only a week behind schedule. I would not call it an Agile project, although it started out that way, but it was definitely a rushed project. </div>
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The last day of school was today. DH brought all his stuff home. Three bins. The foyer is again a disaster area with things to be donated and/or loaned, a large stroller and a pink Disney walker (Peanut's), a Bow-flex (anyone? Bueller?), my gig bag and music stand, and the stuff that actually lives in the foyer - salmon sofa, key table, green throw rug. </div>
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Kat and the Peanut are staying with us for a short time. It's a little stressful having a ten-month old in the house, but also <u>quite wonderful</u> having them both here. They are a delight and I get to play gramma to a sweet dimpled little girl whose first words seem to be "doggie." Maggie Doggie has made sure Peanut feels welcome and has allowed herself to be used as a pillow. Tasha Doggie is gentle with her, and Sarah Doggie has kept her distance and let Peanut come to her. DH and I are both charmed, and Momma Kat is getting on her feet again.</div>
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DH has officially started his summer gig with the Google CAPE program and there is a great deal of travel occurring over the next couple of months. </div>
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Primo (aka Nick) is still at BB and living in Ghent. Secundo (Patrick) is working, and rescuing stray baby birds, turtles, and tarantulas in Kansas. He's not a dog person, but that apple didn't roll too far away from the tree. </div>
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Much package mailing to do and weaving photos to post. </div>
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All is well. </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"></span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-78307970294297143072012-01-25T21:30:00.004+00:002012-01-25T23:02:42.813+00:00Hiaku for DIY-erWinter light is weak<br />
for choosing a cork floor tile.<br />
We are not smart folks.erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-31142064363831016142012-01-18T00:45:00.000+00:002012-01-18T00:45:38.595+00:00I'm exhausted and we're not even done<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">January 11-16, 2012</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Tearing out the floor to the original planks (that are covered in glue and crap). The room is wrapped up like a bio-hazard zone.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2eXk__OloxBoFXxa1j56qJlS0qLzLpyMoVfKMalIXmw7dKm_3nKsrcESVZKYxexBEwObFMhyy8-cJ-jCxo1Lj-ShkQkYsOglV0fooTDc2xD1H-37zgtyzHAZwRXsPnBJK8On/s1600/Jan11-VeryOldFloor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2eXk__OloxBoFXxa1j56qJlS0qLzLpyMoVfKMalIXmw7dKm_3nKsrcESVZKYxexBEwObFMhyy8-cJ-jCxo1Lj-ShkQkYsOglV0fooTDc2xD1H-37zgtyzHAZwRXsPnBJK8On/s320/Jan11-VeryOldFloor.png" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> It's really old floor. And it stinks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>January 12</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Move the plumbing and cover up the old raggedy floor.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiase6Xnte3ZYBjiDrJsAqMKs2qHAhOahePSbTjG70QtOT3zP7TokHJJLYPB3RcZfAXpmyqXVSeHnb9pHcqogsWo31gAW0VT1MrWmhxII42jqzKJyr2CpUzNLwO47Yz5FuRb6JT/s1600/Jan12-Luan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiase6Xnte3ZYBjiDrJsAqMKs2qHAhOahePSbTjG70QtOT3zP7TokHJJLYPB3RcZfAXpmyqXVSeHnb9pHcqogsWo31gAW0VT1MrWmhxII42jqzKJyr2CpUzNLwO47Yz5FuRb6JT/s320/Jan12-Luan.png" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Luan! Luan! And the plastic comes off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>January 13-14</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoXhDZ7FDQ1cjME9ns-r6hZ7-Y2qeNQ4DK2xcf2f_n3XcGGNyIfG8C2EORq5wX48BI3va3u20Q8nZwfKCIklKga5Hn48Zv3WxhqHFe5xDDFvlCvi0wlml3bpdV7HzsyiK49uI/s1600/Jan14-cabinets+are+getting+staged.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoXhDZ7FDQ1cjME9ns-r6hZ7-Y2qeNQ4DK2xcf2f_n3XcGGNyIfG8C2EORq5wX48BI3va3u20Q8nZwfKCIklKga5Hn48Zv3WxhqHFe5xDDFvlCvi0wlml3bpdV7HzsyiK49uI/s320/Jan14-cabinets+are+getting+staged.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes it doesn't LOOK like much has happened, and the cabinets aren't actually nailed in, but they are staged and, at this point, we know that we are missing a fill piece that I scrambled to order. A great deal of plumbing work has occurred. We are relocating three lines - fridge, sink, and dishwasher. Throughout this, too, they've been engaged in some plaster and electrical work for us both in the kitchen and outside and up on the 3rd floor. So lots of work, most of it never to be seen. At this point we also know that we need 2x10" registers instead of the 2x12" we bought. Well, duh that's because the pretty ones only came in 2x12." Surely that makes sense...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunday is, thankfully, a day of rest. So, we went to the tile store for a few hours. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>January 16</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Monday was a bank holiday and I had the day off and took Maggie The Dog and Nick The Son to Gloucester to buy a big old lab table that happened to have a beautiful butcher block top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrt8DF6qCUsSYi5vDW75hmnnHXxJAJ7JjXX8hjrxhrCnNqcRYig6CE_adK57nz9n93RqgYhlfyqQLJ-wpFG37eIv55OzZ3UpB2vJBYDe7Us9arqmrq4ZSQSW42ZUX_q3c43AU_/s1600/Jan16-LabTableTop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrt8DF6qCUsSYi5vDW75hmnnHXxJAJ7JjXX8hjrxhrCnNqcRYig6CE_adK57nz9n93RqgYhlfyqQLJ-wpFG37eIv55OzZ3UpB2vJBYDe7Us9arqmrq4ZSQSW42ZUX_q3c43AU_/s320/Jan16-LabTableTop.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We're using it as the top of the island. The tabletop is 6'x30." Extra stuff included for scale. That yellow...ahhh...I love that yellow but DH decided it was time for a change. I'll get used to the new color. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGewTbtrBlltDVoqTmaoTQx2S_otw4pQBuuaHfjCyuniW25SOjVBZfKoSHD1HYwuUUpdNrNIgunfXTejVh-3wUZdrtLjEh1Yz-3jYW_89_sLisFGGwbWKdA1UU9FUD0-4Ro4QL/s1600/Jan16-Lights.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGewTbtrBlltDVoqTmaoTQx2S_otw4pQBuuaHfjCyuniW25SOjVBZfKoSHD1HYwuUUpdNrNIgunfXTejVh-3wUZdrtLjEh1Yz-3jYW_89_sLisFGGwbWKdA1UU9FUD0-4Ro4QL/s320/Jan16-Lights.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> And we have lights under the cabinets!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsRfDvdYgAadNvSngf5CPgvRjR6xROJy4ky2CbdtqiWLNiCq9liUyp_zCpQSXPtL5WlHWmElP_ZZhgTSM-jchHeWzOgqCW2SBZL7HzAumgJimfDG7b-kNAp7SyGGKIol3dv9o/s1600/Jan16-Plumbing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsRfDvdYgAadNvSngf5CPgvRjR6xROJy4ky2CbdtqiWLNiCq9liUyp_zCpQSXPtL5WlHWmElP_ZZhgTSM-jchHeWzOgqCW2SBZL7HzAumgJimfDG7b-kNAp7SyGGKIol3dv9o/s320/Jan16-Plumbing.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally the sink is hooked up! Plumbing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No, the cabinets aren't nailed in yet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have cork floor samples on order, the filler from the cabinet company should arrive Friday, and let's hope my sinus infection doesn't get any worse. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Being the hearty DIY-ers that we are, we're going with tile countertops that I'm installing because somehow I signed up for tile duty once way back and it stuck with me. Well, hell, I like tile and this time I get a new toy: a wet saw! Solid surface is gorgeous but so expensive it makes me uncomfortable - I can't justify the expense, even if I can afford it...which I can't. So, tile it is. Nice tiles. Big tiles, and gorgeous variegated blue/green (do not say teal) mosaic tiles on the back splash. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Progress. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And now to bed because today was a day off from kitchen work and tomorrow it starts up again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-28635504107735640372011-11-29T15:05:00.001+00:002011-11-29T15:06:57.505+00:00Some weaving is done, and a sampler.<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">What sampler, you ask? The one I wove on the big, restored floor loom, Bam-Bam. But, I'm not going to show it off because it's about as ugly as sin except for the last six inches or so. Maybe I just show off those inches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The next project in the queue is a standard sized scarf using three different colors of cochineal dyed Blue-faced Leicester from (sales plug) Sonoran Desert Dyed Fibers. The weave structure will be twill in a houndstooth pattern. Way cool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Probably you'll be wanting to see the Autumn Tartan shawl (a little too big to be called a scarf). It turned out great!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHdVd2qLS6LYWPivGeC8-vBNrCf8YPP5h6AM8MyhdP6yv5thFDGRZRgO4u4zX3-qxxBcd3ec1CIKl2uWTZH-Asa18JuNoRnIk8VAeXdG7Pjj3WT3eERJvZSLh0OMua-KkSa1L/s1600/033_WhenItComesOffTheLoom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHdVd2qLS6LYWPivGeC8-vBNrCf8YPP5h6AM8MyhdP6yv5thFDGRZRgO4u4zX3-qxxBcd3ec1CIKl2uWTZH-Asa18JuNoRnIk8VAeXdG7Pjj3WT3eERJvZSLh0OMua-KkSa1L/s400/033_WhenItComesOffTheLoom.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">oh, well, not when if first came off the loom. Ugh! Look at those ratty edges! All those threads hanging out! Actually, this is after it went through the wash. It was even more ratty when it came off the loom. Wannabe Weavers, do not despair!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlH6pGhB3Gz8XBzzPiQzcNhFWpUxdwwA-GLB8hFneH9xMR7MVETJ2241stLn_PG_TsE16Y-0-UbXSt8MlIMXbteY6CuEDnG313ypD56aRWa7BD_mn_7jqBdJPzfLFCQZeMYDj/s1600/Autumn+Tartan+Shawl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlH6pGhB3Gz8XBzzPiQzcNhFWpUxdwwA-GLB8hFneH9xMR7MVETJ2241stLn_PG_TsE16Y-0-UbXSt8MlIMXbteY6CuEDnG313ypD56aRWa7BD_mn_7jqBdJPzfLFCQZeMYDj/s320/Autumn+Tartan+Shawl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Yes, I took a cellphone picture. I'm such a dork. And the color isn't quite there - the yellow is more yellow than gold. And yes, that's the headset I use for work. One of the flute players in the Flute Choir has pictures of us in concert where I am wearing this piece so I'm hoping he'll share those soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">So there we are. The Autumn Tartan Shawl. </span><br />
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</span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844456.post-74453220882398871872011-11-22T18:15:00.000+00:002011-11-22T18:15:33.228+00:00Don't poached eggs just make you go weak in the knees?<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I like eggs, clean, unspoiled by melted cheese eggs. Scrambled, fried, hard boiled, soft boiled, poached...My dad, Jim, used to make soft-boiled eggs when I'd come to visit. This is when he lived on Erlands Point in Silverdale. Let me say that Jim is not a culinary genius, but he's as good a cook as anyone else who doesn't have their own cooking show on Food Network. He's just no Anthony Bourdain. But when we dipped English muffins into those soft boiled eggs it just made my heart sing. Maybe it was the amazing view of Dyes Inlet out the picture window, maybe it was just about Eating Breakfast with Dad. I was 13 years old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Then I discovered Eggs Benedict. Whoa, Nelly! I do kinda like a little Hollandaise on my eggs once in a while, but only if Canadian bacon and an English muffin are between it and the plate. French, Canadian, English, Holland ( hahaha ) how very international. I'm sure I thought I was so sophisticated when I ordered it. There was a restaurant in Seattle, on Denny Way, that served THE BEST Eggs Benedict and hash browns. Again, perhaps it was the atmosphere. After a concert or Rocky Horror, midnight, smoking and goofing off with friends, sitting on the patio in the summer...or on a Saturday morning. It was a 24-hr place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Dad used to also make corned beef hash with the egg fried in the middle, which essentially poached it...and I'd stick my fork in the middle and mush it around and the yolk would ooze into all the little crevices of the hash that hadn't been crisped...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Huevos Rancheros is best with poached eggs. Try it with roja. Poached eggs are to die for on pancakes with breakfast sausage and a little drizzle of maple syrup - no drenching, just enough to get an occasional reminder that it's there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I was surfing Chow.com for an appetizer to take to a friend's Thanksgiving dinner and ran across some ideas for leftovers...it included turkey hash and a poached egg. Sounds good to me. See how it derails me? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I have so many posts "in progress" but this one demanded to be written right now.</span><br />
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</span>erinkristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097908188608163581noreply@blogger.com1