The happy birdwatchers and the red thing

Work has been a bit crazy and busy and time consuming.
But: the cats are happy.
We have a French door opening up to not much else than an all too intimate view into our neighbour's bathroom and the rooftops and the park beyond.
And recently some nice little sparrows playing and twittering in the gutter.
Until yesterday I had an ill assortment of not too healthy houseplants gathered in front of it.
But seeing the cats jumping around in same houseplants for a better view of the birdies, I decided to give them a better and more comfortable spot for birdwatching.
(With less risk of downtrodden orchids and mulch all over the place.)
So away went the plants and instead an old padded bench was installed.
And the cats have been happily twittering at the twittering birds and can now keep a closer eye on our neighbour's grooming habits.
And they didn't sleep a wink all afternoon, which is very unusual.

As for the red thing. I'm actually very nearly done!
And it's very exciting. Mostly because I've made it up as I went along. And also because I may have invented the seamless set in sleeve.
Knitting it has been a bit of a challenge. Not because of the inventing things and making it up, but because the yarn is Laurenz' all time favourite.
He wants to lie on it, play with it, groom it, cuddle it. Anything but let me knit it.
He has very good taste when it comes to yarn. And so when I've wanted to knit this is what I've met:
But all I have left to do now is the neckline. If only Laurenz will let me.

White Christmas - and dressing up Ivy

I think this is the closest we'll get to a white Christmas this year.

A very misty morning.
It was much mistier a little while ago...

And for a while I wanted a Christmas tree.
Then I decided against it.
Then I wanted a Christmas tree if only to amuse and entertain the cats.
Then I looked at Christmas trees and they were either too big or too small or too ugly - and generally just too expensive.
So I decided against it. Again.
Then I wanted a Christmas tree again.
This morning. Much too late.
For anything but a dressed up Ivy.


But the cats do seem quite content with it - if not wildly entertained.
And no matter what I do my stupid old camera just doesn't cope well with the odd light of a misty Christmas morning.

The cat cave

Of all the places they have to chose from the cats very much prefer their cardboard box.

In my odd little home there are a few surprising little details and "fun" little solutions.
One being the way the bathroom was extended into the living room to make space for a shower. Creating a perfect platform for cats to watch and sleep under the ceiling slope.
With easy access to running and roaring on the beams.

And I wonder why I ever bothered to knit a kitty pi when all I had to do was buy a printer and hand over the box it came in.

Getting ready

The reading spot is all set up and ready.
I have fruit, sun dried apricots, and home baked oat & coconut biscuits and spicy crackers.
I have much green tea. And orange juice.
I also have a sofa with stuffing poking out.
And theres a good blob of cat vomit on the floor.
Naked feet are brilliant cat vomit detectors.
We really need some of these brilliant cat vomit warning signs! And for the cats to learn to use them.
But otherwise our little home is tidy, dishes and laundry all done, and I'm waiting.
In twelve hours I will stand in line waiting for the book.
Until then Vincent will keep the sofa ready and in working order.
When not playing pillow cave.
And if Laurenz is willing I may be wearing my new green silk textured tunic from Lapel's fitted knits.
If I had not put myself on a slightly insane deadline to finish it for the book release it would have been put in the pile of Very Boring Knitting to be Done at Work.
But for some odd reason I really, really want to finish it. And have it finished by tonight.
And I do have twelve hours.

We very nearly have a curtain

I've lived here for two years.
Still I have not managed to do something about the curtain situation.
Mostly because of the windows being as they are - and for the non-existing need to keep out prying eyes.
However the "garish sun" is something entirely different, and it hits my favourite working-spot for a few hours around noon making it unbearably hot and nearly impossible to see the screen (not to mention my fear of an overheated PowerBook) - and I'm sweating over this paper already as it is.
But take an old Kenzo shawl and four pins and voila - you (almost) have a curtain.
Or at least some shade from the sun.
Very colourful shade, that is.
And now I can go back to work.

Why?

Why did I think it was a Very Good Idea to invite 14 lovely people for dinner, when this is the Full Extent of my kitchen.


Is it considered Ok to just order Something Nice from the Indian TakeAway when celebrating your 35th birthday?

Great plans for 2007 (with insane number of pictures to prove I'm serious)

I have great plans for the new year.
Now that I am finally getting used to the idea that 2006 is another thing of the past.
1. Hand in exam paper in Digital Aesthetics.
Hey, I did that yesterday.
2. Hand in exam paper in Digital Communication Theory
To be done next week. I picked up the questions today and then have a week to do my cleverness. Hopefully.
3. Quit smoking.
Was done surprisingly easy when reading Allen Carr was combined with being very hungover from insane flood of champagne on the first day of this year.
Two out of three are down. Almost cheating. Yet all done in 2007.
4. I will finish Vigdis.
I am more than halfway through. Plan is to have "her" done come February.
5. I will finish the Simple Knitted Bodice.
I have finished both sleeves, but picking up the stitches for the neckline is killing me.
Still there is evidence of progress.

Including bottom-sleeve detail. I did not like the purling, so I chose to do 1 1/2 lace pattern repeat instead. And I like it.

6. Once these two are done I will knit Alice Starmore's Elizabeth I from Tudor Roses.
I have even splurged on some long-desired gorgeous merino/silk from Nydal for this.
These charming creatures have delivered the merino:

And as if my crush on the happy sheep wasn't enough:
7. I have fallen head over heels in love with this thing:

A knitted robe.
I think it is one of the most insane yet most beautiful knitted things I have ever seen, from "Romantic Style" by Jennie Atkinson.
And it has been chosen as my Big Project for 2007.
I have yet to get the book. And to find the yarn. (It takes a LOT of worsted weight wool/mohair.)
But come this time next year, I swear I will be deliciously enrobed. (And Vincent had better keep from the mohair in the future.)
8. I will finish the Old Fur Project.
9. I will do ashtanga yoga every day. Except Saturday.
So far not so very good. Hungoverness and exam-busyness has been in the way.
10. I will dance more.
And
11. I will do something about the state of my wardrobe.

This is embarrassing

The great IKEA bed side table assembly task force

I did get a new bed side table when at IKEA Thursday last week.
However I was not much in the mood for assembling it until Saturday.
And once again I'm reminded just how helpful cats are. Especially these two.
What would I do without them?

We had better help her. We do not want another rickety scratchingpole incident.

Hmmm, it does not look like the super deluxe 7 storey cat tower we ordered...

What can it be....
it could be a hammock
I've counted the screws for you.

It seems solid enough

Can I please go take my nap now?

And the bedside table with lamp and books in all its IKEA glory.

And so this is Christmas

Contrary to tradition I have actually attempted a bit of Christmas decorating this year.
Glass birds in kitchen:

Fancy fairy lights:

It's already much more Christmasness than previous years.