Sun and lightness

Posted on March 13, 2006
Filed Under Blather, friends, photography | Leave a Comment

We had a great little weekend. John came down from Portland and hung out with us, and we got to meet his sweet new friend, Sonya. The weather was pretty great, overall, and I just felt good the whole time. My only regret, if I have one at all, is that I didn’t take more pictures. I’ve left my camera behind much of the time over the last few weeks, opting to just BE where I am, rather than recording it. It was so gorgeous over the weekend, though, and I can think of a few moments that would be worth sharing if I had the pictures. Then again, I wouldn’t trade being IN those moments for anything.

Happiness, everyone!

Broadcast-You And Me In Time

Posted on March 10, 2006
Filed Under Song of the Day, music | Leave a Comment

Cataloging

Posted on March 10, 2006
Filed Under Blather | 1 Comment

So, some stats on my little Christmas postcard collection, such as it is.

I have 114+ cards. Those that are dated range from December 24, 1907 to December 21, 1932. Most are from 1908-1911. Based on postmarks, I have cards from 19 states–CA, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, MI, MO, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, SD, VA, and WI.

I just collect those that appeal to me. I’m not “serious” about it in that I don’t collect them based on rarity or any sort of “book” value. I pick cards with Terri value.

Of Montreal-The Repudiated Immortals

Posted on March 6, 2006
Filed Under Song of the Day, music | 2 Comments

This song was sort of a revelation for us (or, at least, for me) at the Of Montreal show tonight. Good stuff. It worked well live.

The Last Picture Show

Posted on March 5, 2006
Filed Under Blather, family, films, the telly, the written word | 1 Comment

I find Roger Ebert’s movie reviews consistently not quite on target. He tries to get at the art of a film, but his comments still seem surface-y to me. OK, I don’t read his reviews very often, so maybe that’s not fair. Here’s my case in point. Last night Ez and I watched The Last Picture Show. We’d Tivo’d it off of TCM. I can sing the praises of TCM again here. They can air it, uncut and in all its original complexity, late at night when most young kids won’t be up. And let’s face it, most young kids are not going to get through the first ten minutes of this nuanced black and white film anyway. So… I had tried to watch this film once or twice before many years ago. I think I had some idea in my head that I would watch it because I liked Cybill Shepherd from Moonlighting. I didn’t get past the first few minutes. Her performance is good, but there’s so much more going on in the film, and so many other great performances, it would be a shame to focus on her and miss or discount all the rest.

I really loved it. Most of the reviews I’ve seen focus on how it’s a story about a dying town. They debate whether it’s nostalgic or anti-nostalgic. They talk about how it fits into film history and how it shows Orson Welles’ and Howard Hawks’ influence. Those are all interesting and important parts of the film, but for me the best part are the shockingly great performances–and so many of them. The connection between Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and Ruth (Cloris Leachman) works so well, and is so heartbreaking right from the start. They are both fantastic, and the end is just perfect for the film. I knew I wanted an ending something like that as I watched the film, and the way it’s done is just right.

So… After seeing the movie I poked around online and read some reviews. Ebert supplied this one , which is OK, but never seems to get to the heart of things, and this one, which is much better, but still not entirely satisfying (to me). I hate how he flatly states that one scene is “the best.” The scene he’s talking about is a great scene, and it’s very important to the film as a whole, but there are lots of other “best” scenes. It seems wrong to splice up the movie that way. I guess I like this review, from Neil Young (odd little coincidence, I guess!), because it finally gives lead actor Timothy Bottoms his due. Why don’t people rave about his performance? So many of the other actors in the film were nominated for and even won Oscars, and there seems to be lots of talk about how great they were and how this was their breakout film, but he is rarely mentioned. I thought he gave possibly the best performance in the whole film (along with Cloris Leachman, who is just devastating). I like that the reviewer juxtaposes the film against American Graffiti. I made a similar mental comparison. And I guess I also like this review because he talks about the last scene. I love the acting in this scene. I love how the emotions come across more from their movements and their faces and their hands than from words. Sonny and Ruth have this deep sadness, and they “get” that sadness maybe more than any other characters in the film. That the town is dying is interesting. Where it fits in American cultural history is interesting. But what’s much more interesting to me is what’s happening inside all of these people in that town.

I never wanted a pony

Posted on March 2, 2006
Filed Under And another thing..., me and my brain | 2 Comments

I’ve never quite understood why a lot of young girls get really into horses. I was never one of those girls. I don’t get it. Now, it should be obvious that I have nothing in particular against horses, but they never captured my imagination. I must have been absent that day.

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The Knitting Turnip

On My Needles

Rhapsody in Tweed cabled pullover for Ezra! using Tahki Donegal Tweed in Forest, from Fall 2004 Interweave Knits. I've just picked this one up again, so it's moving up in the queue!

Sweater with Cable Patterns pullover using Araucania Nature Wool Chunky in Mauve, from Rebecca Magazine Number 28

Heather Pullover using Classic Elite Wings in Larkspur, from Rowan’s A Season’s Tale... This needs the knit doctor. I'm going to have to frog back a little bit and redo the shoulder area. Long story.

Hush Pullover using Jo Sharp DK wool in Wine, from Rowan’s Calmer Collection

Recently Finished Projects

In the Groove boatneck pullover using Manos del Uruguay in Black and Cheek (pale pink), from Fall 2006 issue of knitscene. SWEATER IS DONE!

Stash Stealer Scarf for me, using delicious yarn that darling Amy let me raid from her stash. I made up the pattern--a couple of wide ribs rimmed in moss stitch. It's soft and fuzzy and DONE!

Moss Stitch Jacket with Collar for Hope using Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo in Ivy, from Quick Baby Knits by Debbie Bliss. JACKET IS DONE!

Next in line

Brompton cardigan using Noro Cash Iroha in Jewel Green (my name for shade #100)

Eyelet Yoke Pullover using Debbie Bliss Merino Aran

Under consideration

Loads!

More scoop on my knitting endeavors can be found at my home on Ravelry (clicky here).

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