The Cat Bordhi Experience

The shop owner of my local yarn shop is Marianne of Yarn Boutique. She also attends the same weekly SNB I go to. She suggested, rather convincingly, that I should go to the sock class that she had arranged with Cat Bordhi. It's been years (5+) since I took a full day class, and I thought what could I learn about socks, having knit in excess of 60 pairs at this point.

Guess what? I learned something.

I have had Cat's book New Pathways for Sock Knitters since it was published. Have I tried to knit one of the patterns? No. It seemed overly involved, and I don't knit socks to think. I brought the book, some supplies and an open mind.

I learned 3 new things that will make my life easier: heel turns, a new cast on method and different ways to bind off for a looser edge.

Was it worth it? Oh, yes.

Am I thankful to Marianne for coaxing me? Definitely.

This is what I accomplished during the class:



A lovely pair of baby socks that someday will have some use!

I learned more from Cat in a few hours than I thought possible and her teaching style is warm and open and giving. She is a remarkable individual and I hope that I can spend some time with her again in the future.

Next weekend - the Yarnharlot!

Flying Arrows

I signed up for yarnsmackdown. I wasn't really ready for it - I forgot. Then when it hit, I got my dossier and went to town on the socks to get them done and in the mail. I really fell in love with these and hope that I get something as nice in return.



Flying Arrows by Helen Waite. I used Brown Sheep's Wildfoote in Blue Blood Red. Oh, they were luscious. I bought the yarn when I visited Idaho last, and had thought to make these for myself. But since I am poor, relatively speaking, and can't afford to buy yarn, I raided the stash. Susan Monroy was my target and her favorite color was red. I sacrificed for her enjoyment and she loved the socks.

To show how far behind I am in posting finished items, these were done sent these off on August 10th. Susan sent me the socks she was working on, and the dossier. They've been done for over a week now, but I have no idea who to send them to. The lady they were intended for (good english?) supposedly withdrew, then didn't. Her target wore the same size, so no harm. But I have emailed Helen and wait to hear. In the interim, there are another pair of socks that are done, that I haven't blogged about and have no home to go to currently.

Sigh - and no one has bothered to kill me yet. I think I may be done with sock competitions for a while.

With A Twist

My first sock pattern that I am publishing. This is called With A Twist.



It's a fake cable pattern, where you knit 2 together and before slipping the stitches, knit the first stitch again. It's easy and it's fits well. I used Tess' Designer Yarns Super Sock and Baby in the color way Ocean. I used US1 needles to get my gauge. I also tried two different cuffs to see how it would look. I'm rather proud of how they turned out.

The pattern is available through my website, in case you're interested! ;-)

Not knitting related

There are those who visit for knitting, and there are those that don't. This is for the latter.

I've been going through some stuff that I'm trying to work out. Real world-upside-down stuff. So if my posts are a still shallow with content, it's because I'm feeling a little fragile right now. One day at a time, right?

I took this picture at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, the weekend Chris and his daughter were here. I moved the prisms around until I got an effect that I liked. I was happy that the camera picked it up. I like how the colors layer and intersect. I thought it was kind of cool.

What do you think?

Blue Marble Socks

There are times when you need to knit basic socks. I'm calling these Blue Marble. They are made from ONLine Supersocke 100, colorway 845. These were on the needles for a while. I started them back in June and finished them late July. I know, there are those of you out there thinking, "what does she mean - a while?" I knock out socks in a couple of weeks or less, and these are just ribbed. But I like them.

Lattice and Columns

So, I finished this one back in July, and I have written a pattern for it. You can find it here. It uses 120 yds of Sugar n' Cream. It also has good scrubbing qualities. I'm hoping to have another pattern up shortly for another washcloth that I've been playing with.

The Jewel Bag

I don't know about this one. In this photo, it's looking a little washed out, which it isn't. I think I'm just too lazy to take another picture.



This is how it looked before finishing and felting, and the colors are still pretty true. It's a fuzzy mess now that it's felted and needs a shave.

This is the second time I've had this happen, and there's one common denominator - Lamb's Pride. I like the colors, and I remain ever hopeful. I may try one more time and see what happens. The accent yarn is Pepita by Trendsetter Yarns.

I started this from the top with a garter stitch in Lamb's Pride only. When I moved to stockinette, I alternated the yarns in a set pattern, and increased the size 2 stitches on the sides of the bag every five rows. Perhaps when I have found some handles I like, and figure out whether or not it needs a clasp, I may be happier with it.

Sleeptight Eyemasks

So, I mentioned these a while ago, and I figured I should probably post some pictures. I finished writing the pattern, and it is available on my website. There are three versions, they evolved so to speak, so I named them G1, G2 and G3 ("G" stands for generation, a la Apple).

Here is G1:



This one is slightly narrower than the other too and can be done in a DK or Sport weight yarn. The benefit of these is that there is nose shaping, helping keep it in place, and there are no seams! It comfortably wraps around the head and can be easily adjusted.

Presenting G2:



This one has a different shaping for the nose, and cups the tip. Now, I don't know about you, but I have a problem with cold nose in the winter months. This solves the problem! Also, it anchors the mask, so even if you move around a fair amount, it won't. This one is also for DK or Sport weight yarn.

Finally G3:



My fingering weight solution. Have extra sock yarn? Here is a way to get rid of that 100 yards or so that has been languishing in your leftovers basket.

Depending on length and width, you need approximately 70-100 yards of yarn. These knit up rather quickly.

I would like to thank my husband for modeling these for me. These were his idea, because unlike me, he actually needs a dark room to sleep. If necessary, I could sleep with spotlights on and it wouldn't matter!

Summer Fling Bag

Here is the first bag I have written a pattern for. It's available on my website. I was really happy with the way it turned out! The yarns I used were Cascade 220 in #8910 Citron and Crystal Palace Squiggle Print in #9547 Tulips. I purchased both of these at The Yarn Boutique in Lafayette, CA.

I'm working on a focus of Eco Clever Crafting, which is a philosophy of reducing, reusing and recycling. It also plays into the fact that I don't have the budget to buy whatever I want, or even buy in some cases what I need! So, I've been cruising thrift stores for ideas. The handles were from a handbag I got at Good Will that cost me $2. It was a hand made bag with beading, so I recycled the beads as well for a future project.

When comparing Brown Sheep to Cascade 220 when it comes to felting, I like Cascade 220 much more. If you have had experiences felting with different wool brands, let me know what you like. I would enjoy hearing about it!

Another long one - better get that beverage

Hello all,

I felt a strong need to sit down and write an entry. After the last few days, and after watching the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, there are many things I need to put to “paper”, so to speak. I hope you’ll bear with me, because I think this will be an entry very reminiscent of the old journal entries that I used to write when I kept such a thing.

Over the last two weekends, I have had the wonderful opportunity to spend time, and in many ways reconnect, with my dearest Christopher. Over the years, because of the distance and our own individual circumstances, we have not spent one-on-one time together. That was at the crux of why I went to So Cal this weekend – to step back in time a little and enjoy something that I have really missed. Oh, and there was the high school reunion thing he wanted to go to. I’ll save that for another time.

I asked him last weekend what he thought was my biggest regret and he encapsulated it so well – risks not taken. He was absolutely right.

We spent this weekend just talking about anything and everything – dredging up feelings and memories that I’m sure will help with healing some wounds, but perhaps, more importantly, trying to put them in perspective and put them to rest. In many ways, that is easier said than done, because it’s hard for us to let go and not obsess. We are very apt to keep saying why, even when there is no immediate answer.

He also said that our lives have been running parallel, with ups and downs, but at opposites. When things have been going well for me, he has struggled, and the same has happened to me in turn. We both would really love being at the same place – satisfied with both our personal and professional lives and being able to share those successes simultaneously. I’ve got work to do in both areas.

I had the opportunity to stop by and see his parents this weekend. They still live in the same home they had when we were in high school. The last time I was there was 3 days before I left for Norway. His mom still has a dog that was bound and determined to trip me up and stay underfoot. His folks are obviously older, and the furniture has changed, but as I sat down at the breakfast counter, it felt as if the last 20 or so years had slipped away and I was 19 again waiting for Chris to get ready. It was very strange, but still comforting. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I needed to get my head back in line. I’ve felt scattered and a little lost the last few months. In many ways struggling to remember who I am, what I can be. As I sat at that counter, I remembered some of the thoughts I had on that weekday afternoon back in May 1985. As scared as I was of the prospect of leaving everything and everyone I knew, I was also excited about the opportunity to get to know my family overseas, understand my heritage and the culture my parents raised me with. Chris remembers that I was very excited. What he failed to realize back then was that I was putting up a fairly good front – I didn’t want to loose those weekday afternoons talking to him about anything and everything, I really didn’t want to leave him. Thankfully, it lasted less than a year. But that trip was full of promise of exploration and education. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t gone home and walked my path alone for awhile.

When we were 19, we were full of expectations and anticipation. The future was ours, and we were going to take full advantage of it. I don’t think either of us could have imagined then where our paths would have taken us, and we probably would have made some drastic changes if we had had a clue. But, then again, we wouldn’t be the people we are today.

As I mentioned, I’ve been watching the convention. I was very moved by Teddy Kennedy’s speech, and the tribute prepared by Ken Burns. You forget what he has done over the years, the tragedies that he has experienced, the strength he gained from those circumstances. Even now, as he battles brain cancer, he still felt the need to be present, to remind those of us listening that the dream still lives. The speech given by Michelle Obama was well prepared and presented. I am thankful that I decided to sit through this first evening, because I did learn something, and oddly enough, was comforted by it.

I haven’t been hesitant about making some politically charged statements on this blog. It is something that I am quite passionate about. However, in the last several presidential elections, I have become disenfranchised and tired of the partisanship. It seems the only way someone can win an election is to tear down the opponent by whatever means necessary, including smear campaigns and lies.

The network pundits think that the Democrats made a mistake by not attacking McCain. I found it refreshing. I used to like McCain, and may have voted for him in 2000. Not anymore. Every time I see McCain it’s all about how Obama is wrong for the job or that McCain was a POW. When Jay Leno jokingly asked McCain how many homes he owned he launched into when he was a POW he didn’t have a house, or a kitchen or a bedroom. Lighten up, John.

This evening restored some faith I had in the political process. I won’t jump on the band wagon yet, because I also want to see what the rest of the week holds, and I will be watching the Republican Convention. I want to hear what each candidate will be proposing. I don’t want to hear how the opponent will be leading us down the rabbit hole to guaranteed disaster. How much worse could it get? Don’t answer that.

So what does my personal journey of rediscovery this weekend have to do with the Democratic Convention? Change. Hope. Promise.

I also took a step this weekend that goes hand in hand with risks not taken. I’m not too old for that. And it’s a change.

After I left Chris, I was passing the exit that would lead back to the old neighborhood. I just kept saying, “you can do this”. I drove by the old house, took in the changes in the neighborhood. I pulled up in front of the house of an old friend, and hoped her parents still lived there. Lo and behold they did.

The last time I saw Becki was my wedding day to my ex – way back in 1988. She was moving to a new home with her husband, and I was a newlywed. I didn’t try to contact her for a while, and I didn’t hear from her. Because my life was being poisoned by a man that wanted to control every thought and action I had (no, I’m not bitter), I assumed I had done something to drive her away. That wasn’t the case, I found out, but because of my own insecurity and obsessing on the negatives in life it took 2 decades to find that out.

Yes, Becki was fine, remarried with two beautiful boys. Just as I did, when her first marriage ended, she left the OC, but she headed south. We talked briefly Sunday afternoon and then again earlier today. I spent a few hours with her mother, trying to catch up on what had happened to us over the years. I also found that she is a preserver of stash as well! She spins! She grows cotton in her backyard! She knits and does needlework and I had no idea.

Our families had shared a back fence from 1978 to 1985. Becki and I would get chased off the phone and it would be too late to go around the corner to the other’s house, so we stood on chairs talking over the fence and star gaze and dream of the future. Becki was one of the first friends I made when we moved to Orange County – even before Chris. Though a year younger, we were still fast friends, and stayed that way through high school and in the years after graduation. When I needed to move away from my parents, she opened her home to me. When I had “boy” problems, she is the one I went to. When we needed a cover story for our parents, we were each others alibi. As Becki’s mom put it, we were thick as thieves.

We’ve taken the first steps in rediscovering each other, which is exciting and scary, but at least I can say that I took the risk and I can move forward with exercising that regret from my life. It’s a change, with hope for the future and potentially the promise of having an old friend back in my life.

So what does this have to do with politics? Hope for the future. A change for the better. An improved economy, that will mean monetary improvement. A better job market and the ability to recover financially. That’s a lot to hope for, but I want to have more things to look forward to instead of looking back and dwell on the things I should have done to put me in a better situation now.

One of my favorite albums when I was in high school was Pat Benatar’s Get Nervous. There was one song on there that I always associated with Chris, and now it seems that it really speaks to how we both have handled things over the years. Bear with me – here are the lyrics:

I heard you say you’re feelin’ like a change now
Maybe, baby this could be arranged now
But I warn you that no exotic scenery
Will solve your problems or make you feel easy
You say you’re happy, but I see apprehension
That little laugh of yours doesn’t hide the tension
The precious book you clutch so tightly in your hands
Won’t help you sleep at night, won’t iron out your plans

You ask advice, then resent my observations
If I didn’t care, then I wouldn’t make them
Can’t change the past, so why let it haunt you
Can paint the future, but first you have to want to

You gotta fight it out with your heart
You got to fight it, though it tears you apart
You got fight it out, my friend
You got to do it for yourself
You got to say when

I can see how much you hurt inside
I know all about the tears you hide

You know that the lonely pay the price for the love in the end.

This was never what I considered “our song”. That’s not something I think most people typically have for a friendship, but in my mind, we had two songs that were, and still are, our songs. The first one was “Shadows of the Night”, also off the Get Nervous album, and “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” by Chicago, the latter being a self-fulfilling prophecy over the years. As to the former, I guess Chris has always been my Midnight Angel. The lyrics above still mean something after all these years, and now reflect back to me and my own struggles. If I want to be happy, and insure that my husband and marriage stay strong, I need to fight my own inner demons and let the past be the past. I also have to have faith in myself again, my strengths and abilities. I will succeed – I will be successful again.

Christ, I’m getting maudlin. I have had but one small glass of Muscato, and it takes more than that to get me “I love you man” drunk.

So back to risks not taken and the promise of the future - I guess I chose a new path to follow over the weekend. I hope it works.

For those of you that managed to stay through this sorry excuse of wool gathering/navel gazing, I promise that I will get back to the knitting soon. I have pictures I need to upload and I want to share!

Thanks for staying in there with me.

A quick update

Hello everyone!

It's been busy around here. I've been trying to build my insurance business and it has become a slow, painful process. The economy makes it more difficult for some people justifying adding costs to their monthly budgets. And if you haven't paid for health insurance for awhile, it makes it more challenging. I keep plugging away, though.

My best friend and his daughter visited us last weekend, which was unexpected but still a wonderful experience all in all. There are too few occasions we have to just hang out and enjoy each others company. This is one of the few regrets I have in moving to Northern California - those that I consider to be my close friends are all in Southern California. Will we move back down there? Probably not. As much as I miss Orange County, I can't imagine living there again.

So, what else I have I been up to? I got my first kill in YarnSmackDown. I have a pair of socks that I need to finish, but I'm not as motivated as I have been in the past. I have been spending more time developing knitting patterns. I love the creative outlet, and I have been working on putting some of my hat patterns to paper. I should have a set of 4 ready for next week. Two of the patterns are those that I have used for charity knitting in the past and I'm using Rowan Felted Tweed, which makes a great warm, lightweight hat. When they're ready, I will post it on the website and provide a link.

Tonight I am heading back to the OC for a small scale 25 year high school reunion. I probably wouldn't be going if it were not for my friend Chris (the same one who was here last weekend). He wants to go, but doesn't want to go alone. The things to we for those we love. Of those that have RSVP'd, I remember 2. It should be interesting. I wonder if they will remember me?

That's it for now. I'm hoping to get back on track with regular blogging, because I am finding that I miss it. But there are only so many hours a day and the Olympics have been on, so there you have it.

Wasn't Michael Phelps amazing?!?! We've also been watching things like handball and table tennis. I usually like watching gymnastics, but have been disappointed by some of the judging and the rule bending done by China when it comes to the ages of a couple of their female gymnasts. It's been amazing to see a different side of China, and I do hope that I can visit there someday, as their culture and history are very interesting. Oh hell, I just want to travel. Anyone want to give me a couple tickets to anywhere?

See you soon!

Freebie

I'm offering my first free pattern. Go to the website and check it out!

www.solslett.com

Let me know what you think!

I'm Back

Did you miss me? I missed you!

Fair warning, this is going to be a long ass post, so I would suggest getting your beverage of choice. Mine is a spiked Arnold Palmer (Smirnoff Citrus Twist, Lemonade and Tea – yum). I’ll wait while you get it.

(insert Final Jeopardy music here)

Ready?

It’s been a bit crazy over the last few weeks. I was also feeling some burnout trying to post to the blog everyday. I had a good run. Part of it was thinking of interesting things to write when my life has been less than interesting. Times are tough, and we’ve been feeling it.

Kevin had an out patient surgical procedure a couple of weeks ago. Prognosis good, and he’s fine and went back to work within a few days. I have also been working diligently building my insurance business with mixed results. This has been very frustrating, yet I persevere.

I am excited about something that I’ve been thinking about a while. Earlier this year, I secured the domain www.solslett.com. I lost Venka.com a few years ago to a toner company in England, which sucked. So what to do with a website? Go look. I’ll wait.

(insert orchestra piece, something along the lines of Disney)

Well? Yeah, it’s still rough and needs some work, but I’m going to publish knitting patterns. My sister-in-law and I are also going to add some of our more expressive photography for those that may be interested in purchasing them for their home or office. I’m still working out the legal aspects, but I remain positive that this will be a successful venture. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

I have been working on writing up patterns. I have a sock pattern called With A Twist, which is a ribbed sock, and fits quite nicely. I also completed a pattern for a wash cloth called Lattice & Columns. Then there are the sleeping masks I made for my life sensitive, desperate to sleep in on the weekends, husband. Last is the Summer Fling Bag.

I have also been working on a line of patterns called Eco Clever Crafting. One of the patterns ready to go has a Eco Clever Crafting tip! Since I’m severely cash strapped right now, I cannot justify spending any money on craft supplies. My solution – thrift stores and Charities such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill.

The Salvation Army has a half off sale the last day of the month. I found a number of good “fiber” sweaters that I am going to unravel, wash and create. A 100% wool sweater in a men’s large was had for only $1.50. Yes, there is work involved, but the sweater was new and a good, workable color. I picked up a few more sweaters with different fiber profiles. I also picked up some old handbags. Purse handles are sometimes quite expensive, and if I can get a bag with interesting handles for a $1 or $2, then why not. It’s a new twist on the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle philosophy. I’m thinking of creating patterns for a shawl, a shopping bag, a laptop case and a few other goodies. Stay tuned.

So, what else is going on……

There was a family reunion in Norway weekend before last. I wasn’t there, obviously. Either was my mom – it was her family. We were both a little emotional about the whole thing. What came out of it was a surprise – cousins that I haven’t seen in years, and spouses I have never met – have been reaching out to me through email and of all things Facebook! I only signed up for that as a lark and never thought it would come to anything. It’s been amazing and wonderful and awesome! I have intermittent contact with two of my aunts, but that’s been it for years. My cousins have told me that Mom and I were spoken of often throughout the weekend and we were very much missed. Now that they know how to reach me, they will keep in contact. How cool is that?

Speaking of cool – we headed down to Los Angeles last weekend. Spent the weekend with our extended family – our wonderful friends. This past weekend at the Hollywood Bowl, Eric Idle of Monty Python fame presented his new project Not the Messiah (He’s a very naughty boy), “a comic oratorio inspired by Monty Python’s Life of Brian”. Billed as “5 soloists, choir, orchestra, 4 bagpipers and some sheep…”, it was a delightful musical romp through the movie. My friend Tammi and I thought it would be fun if we all dressed for the evening, similar to what we did last time we were at the Hollywood Bowl. That was for Rocky Horror, and a much different crowd. Many people thought we were part of the production, and we were the ONLY ones that dressed for the evening. I went as far as to make 3 caftans and a couple of vests which Kevin and our friends Chris and Damon wore for the evening. Tammi brought some costumes from a theater she works for. I have created a Webshots album with the pictures Tammi and I took. Go take a look at us crazy people.


Not the Messiah


We stood out. I typically avoid such situations. This was fun and the vodka didn’t hurt either. The one that looks like he’s drunk – he’s a goof. That’s Damon. My mother l-o-v-e-s him. Damon being Damon loves attention, is very charming and v-e-r-y friendly. But that’s how he endears himself to people and we love him the way he is. It’s never boring with Damon around. We also came up with (I should say Kevin came up with) a gesture to remind us of the evening. Most of you would be familiar with "jazz hands". This is also used as sign language for applause. Well, because we are a little twisted, we employed "crucifiction hands". I know, I know. Blame it on the alcohol.



This would be my hubby, who grew his beard out just for this weekend, and my BFF Chris. The guy cut off on the left is Damon. Chris got on a plane the next day with his daughter and is now in Hawaii playing beach bum. I send a raspberry in his general direction. He better take lots of cool pictures with that new Nikon of his.

What else…..

I think I will end with some brief comments…

Brett Favre is a drama queen – but I would love it if he played for the Vikings. I would like to be proud of them again. 20+ years of disappointment is hard to live with. Go Vikes! Kick Seattle’s ass this Friday. To the Hall of Fame selection committee - when the hell are you going to nominate Cris Carter? 8 Pro Bowl selections, 3 times All Pro, NFL's 1990 All-Decade Team, 1100 receptions, nearly 14000 receiving yards and 130 touchdowns isn't good enough? Shesh.

Paris Hilton – I don’t hate her anymore. Her “response” ad to McCain’s Obama Celebrity bash was hilarious!

McCain – I liked you in 2000. I could have voted for that McCain. Not so much anymore. Can we hear what you will do – a consistent message that doesn’t change for a week or so – instead of what Obama knows/doesn’t know/lies about/doesn’t have experience with? What happened to the Straight Talk Express?

Obama – specifics please. No more race baiting. Yes, the Republican smear campaign will do its worst. It’s what they do. I would hope that you would take the high road.

Clinton – I love you Bill and would vote for you again in a minute, but quit being such a whiny drama queen. “No one is ready to be President” my ass. Were you back when you took the oath? Way to go in supporting the party.

Democrats – what the hell? 7% approval rating isn’t enough to wake your asses up? You CAN’T blame it all on Bush and Republicans. Get a clue. We the People are fed up with your partisan crap and continuing to flush the country down the toilet. There have been so many incidents of corruption and illegal activity in this administration, it makes Nixon’s actions petty in retrospect. Also, I have a simple suggestion. Close the damn Enron loophole and take speculation out of the energy market. How many more hearings do you have to have, how many people have to tell you that this loophole can easily be closed and should be? Are you people deaf or just dumb?

China & the Olympics – The OCC made a huge mistake granting these summer games to China. Of course, since they own us we can’t protest too much. Bush has zero pull, and every request he has made has been denied. He wanted to go to an underground church on Sunday – nope. He wanted to give a speech a la Reagan at the Berlin wall – hell no. There were other examples, but these stood out to me. Bush thought he could give a speech in a public square – in China? Pushing for that positive legacy thing can be tough. We can’t get China’s support in Darfur. What on earth makes anyone think we can change how they treat their own people within their borders? Two words – Free Tibet!

Wow, didn’t realize I had that much of a rant in me tonight. I’ve typed almost 1500 words. That’s an essay. Good thing I’m not being graded. Am I?

I don’t know if I’ll get back to posting every day, but I won’t go almost a month without a reason. I missed this more than I thought.

I’m out of beverage and I need to load this.

Again – thanks to those that reached out to me and posted comments during my absence. As always, it was much appreciated and much welcomed. Looking forward to your comments in the future!

Take care and I’ll see you soon.

Sunday Quotes

May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.

George Carlin

Saturday Night Movie

The translation for the opening comment, "usually, it clear who is chasing who."

An elkie doing what she's bred to do.

FO Friday

This was a busy week, because I was getting ready for Fair. The California State Fair! I am submitting several items for judgment. They include the following:

Violet Stitcher's Toys by Martina Weber of Châtelaine Designs. It's a Nantucket Basket with a number of goodies inside, including a scissor fob, two bags, a needle case and two pin cushions.









I'm not showing the two pin cushions, since they are personalized and therefore not included in the submission to Fair.

This has been a suspended state of completion for a while. I decided, however, that I needed to finish it this year so that I could submit it for judgment. I really want a Best in Show - which comes with a Golden Bear Trophy - and this is my best bet. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Everything was hand sewn, including the lining to the basket and the cording around the medallion. I did, however, have to glue down the medallion. I couldn't get a needle through the basket weave without damaging it.



Be Mine by Maureen Appleton for The Heart's Content. This is so far the only piece of needlework that I have started AND finished this year. It's a one-over-one piece on 40 ct silk gauze. Magnification was needed for the completion of this piece, but most of the stitching was done with my naked yes - no contacts - no glasses. It really was the only way I was able to insure the consistency of the stitches. Of course, I was holding it like 10" from my nose. I thank my iPod for getting me through this. TV was useless for this one.



Itty Bitty Dreams by Ruth Sparrow for the Twisted Thread. This is also a one-over-one piece, but done on 32 ct linen - something I can see and watch TV at the same time. I finished this a while ago, but within the judging rules.



A scrapbook layout - Summer at the Beach! I really like how this turned out and the idea I had for the pictures was a fun one. I even added twine and shell beads for some additional texture. We'll see how I do. It's been a while since I competed in scrapbooking.

Here are some familiar pieces:



Lombard Street that I finished last year.



The Energy Saga - also completed last year.



Lavender Haze - knitting completed last year, embellishment completed this year.

Can you tell I want some ribbons? I love competing.

What did I finish this week? I finished my Summer Fling Bag, but I haven't felted it yet. I will take a picture of that when it is completely done. Here it is as a WIP.



I also finished two snuggles over the 4th of July weekend. Here is one of them. It's twin is navy blue and unphotogenic.



Because it has been forever since I knit a washcloth - I give you My So Called Washcloth #6!



Knit in Coats Creme de la Creme Orangetones.

I also finished a couple more eye masks that Kevin will be trying this weekend. I'll post more about those next week.

Favorite's

San Francisco on a clear summer day.

What's On The Needles

I finished another snuggle over the weekend, but Kevin reminded me that I owed him something.

He doesn't sleep well in the mornings on the weekends because the sun is up. He's a little light sensitive. I, on the other hand, can sleep anywhere, anytime, bright sun or pitch black. It's a gift I inherited from my father. Anyway, he wants an eye mask, a sleeping mask.

I started with prototype G1 last weekend. I'm using short rows to structure for the nose. Most eye masks have a notch for the nose, but I wanted to try something different. I am going to make them in a DK weight and Fingering weight. And since money is a little tight right now, I am going to try my hand at designing. So, in essence, I am creating my first published pattern. I already have an idea for socks that I have been wanting to make and a scarf. We'll see how my career goes as a designer.

Wish me luck!

Thoughts for a Tuesday

It's going to be hotter than Hades today. There is a reason why they named this region Diablo Valley. It's hell's ventilation.

I hate the heat. Really. Truly. Anything over 90 is a recipe for miserable. I knew that when we moved here that it gets hot in the summer, but the last few years we've had more 100 plus days than we have the first 10 years we lived here. I can't remember the last time we were expecting to have 100+ this early in July, and we had it in June too!

This doesn't bode well for the rest of the summer.

Memorable Moments

Sawyer Glacier - Alaska - June 2004 - Our first cruise.

What I like most about this picture is that I am in my purple glory, on a boat, and it's cold. A trifecta of goodness.

I still have the sunglasses, but they have a bad scratch on one lens that is realllly distracting. The sweater I am wearing is an Annabel Fox pattern in a Donegal Tweed. The scarf I am wearing is a wool/mohair blend combined with nylon ribbon. This is one of a handful of pictures of me wearing hand knitted items. You can also see the strap of my precious Canon EOS Rebel that my dear husband presented to me days before we left on the trip. It was an early birthday present.

An awesome trip with many memorable moments.

Sunday Quotes

Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they?

George Carlin

Saturday Night Movie

Since my birthday was this week, I thought this was an appropriate video. Thankfully, there is no recorded evidence that I ever had such trouble blowing out candles.

4th of July

Thank you to all of the firefighters from near and far that are helping with the crews in the Sierra Foothills, Big Sur and Redding fires. Many have given up their holidays with family to give their assistance. We are deeply grateful for your sacrifice.

And to all those serving in the armed forces, I thank you for your service. May you all be granted a safe return to your loved ones.

Have a happy and safe Independence Day!

Favorite's

Waterlilies.

What's On The Needles

I started a new bag. I'm calling it the Jewel Bag.



Lamb's Pride and Trendsetter Yarns Pepita.



Not too bad, so far. I hope it will felt nicely. I'm using US 6 needles. The design is basic, but I plan on adding embellishments and a leather handles.

I probably won't be blogging finished items this week, since the 4th of July is Friday.

Thoughts for a Tuesday

Here's a thought - why is everything I really love to eat really bad for me?

Memorable Moments

This is how I celebrated my birthday in 1970 - my main gift was a bike!

See that slide to the right? That was the staging area for my attempts at recreating paratrooper training. My friend from next door and I were jumping off the top of the slide for fun. I didn't want to jump anymore, so she pushed me, causing me to land "awkwardly". Compound fracture to the tibia. That was the first of many visits to the emergency room over the next decade or so. I was neither graceful or athletic, but the injuries were in line with an active and sporty youth.

I don't plan on breaking anything today.

Sunday Quotes

The reason I talk to myself is that I'm the only one whose answers I accept.

George Carlin

Saturday Night Movie

Here's one of my dirty little secrets. I like Bollywood movies. There's something about the musical pieces that are just addictive to watch to me. So here's a video I found on youtube that is - to me - a total throwback to the 80's a la Michael Jackson.

FO Friday

I have a few things to catch up on, since I didn't do an actual FO Friday last week.



Rowan Big Wool Fusion Baby Hat, as sported by my very large plush Gromit. I love these hats - they are quick and thick!



Detonator #3 from Sock Wars III. I finished the 2nd sock only, not the entire pair. It was interesting trying to match gauge, but it worked.



Detonator #4 - I finished the foot and toe on sock 2 only. It gets better every time!



Berlin Muster from SKP2008. These were done in Regia Tweed 4-ply. The yarn is scratchy, but the fit is good. I like how these turned out and how quickly they knit up!

So that's it for Finished Object Friday. Have a great weekend!

Favorite's

A quick favorite this week - and it's sorta silly. One of my favorite things are my contact lenses. I've worn contacts since I was 15 because my glasses were so thick that I had difficulty breathing through my nose! I am fearful of lasik, because I have known a few people where the surgery didn't go as expected. I'm glad that I've been able to wear them all these years and that I have my sight in general. There would be a lot of things I couldn't enjoy without them!

What's On The Needles

This week there was another Detonator sock, but I finished that last night and sent it off today. I only had to finish a foot and toe this time. Can I say that I'm tried of the pattern and want to die? Sock Wars III certainly has been a long experience for me this time.

I finished Berlin Muster yesterday, the second pattern for SKP2008. I started it on the 17th and they went very fast.

I cast on a new pair of socks yesterday, that I am calling Blue Marble.



The yarn is OnLine Supersocke 100 Walking Color 845. I'm using a Basic Rib leg and plain stockinette foot, I think. I'll let you know what I decide.

That's all for now. See you back here with finished stuff on Friday!

Thoughts for a Tuesday

I wish there were more hours in the day. It seems that there is less time to do what I want and need to do. Sometimes it the simple stuff like laundry and dishes that get behind, or sorting through the mail. Sometimes it's email, and not having the time to get through it all. And now it's also learning this new job, and all the new language.

When we were young, summer seemed to last forever. Now it seems to pass in a blink. It seems like yesterday that we were looking at a New Year and hoping for better things in 2008.

I guess it just seems like time is speeding by and I getting worried that I won't be able to do what I want to accomplish before I hit a certain time or age.

It would be nice to be 15 again with the whole summer ahead of me. Endless summer.

Memorable Moments

While searching for a photo for this week, I came across this one. Though it's a couple of years old, it still is a very special memory. Out of the blue one day I got a package at work. That in itself was not unusual, what was in it certainly was. For no reason other than "because", Kevin sent me flowers. And they were beautiful. Two dozen roses in shades of peach, yellow and white. They survived for two weeks. Every time I looked at them, regardless of what was going on, I had to smile.

He still manages to surprise me, even after 16 years.

Sunday Quotes

The first time I saw a comedian live was in Las Vegas and it was George Carlin. I'm glad he was my first, because he set the bar. He is on my short list of comedians that I can listen to anything they do and throughly enjoy it.

And now, some of his pearls of wisdom......


Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.

Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

I think people should be allowed to do anything they want. We haven't tried that for a while. Maybe this time it'll work.

I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.

If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten.

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.

The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.

I'm always relieved when someone is delivering a eulogy and I realize I'm listening to it.


Rest in peace, George.

Saturday Night Movie

Dogs do the craziest things!

Finished Friday

I have to admit that this week there wasn't much getting finished. I took a little break from knitting. I did finish three books in 36 hours however.

Last Christmas, my mother-in-law gave my The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. I thought it was about time to pick it up - and I couldn't put it down.

It's a poignant work of writing, and tells the stories of several women and how they came to be part of a knitting circle at a local yarn store. What I took away from it is how we find solace in knitting. It gives us peace and brings some tranquility into our lives. (Except when we have to frog something!)

The stories of these women, their trials and tribulations, were at times depressing and then uplifting. These are stories about finding your way back from loss - emotional, physical, personal.

I am glad that I finally sat down to read it and thankful for my mother-in-law's gift. It gave me something to think about, and do a little mental inventory. I like it when a book does that!

Favorite's

Anne McCaffery - She is best known for her fantasy books based on the mythical world of Pern. I started reading about the Dragon Riders of Pern many years ago, and it took awhile to get through all of them. I eventually succeeded. Mrs. McCaffrey's son has now written a couple of books to add to the storyline, and he also co-authored a book with his mother in 2006 called Dragon's Fire. I picked it up again today, and I have a feeling I won't be putting it down until it's done.

I haven't done as much reading in the last few years. Nothing close to what I used to. I remember why. Once I start, I can't stop! It's like an addition. A few more minutes - a few more pages - I might as well finish. But with the amount of unread books in this house, I need to spend a little time every week reading. Like any thing else we learn, we need to use it to keep it performing at it's best. Another thing I noticed when I was studying for my State test is that my retention level is not what it used to be. I guess I need to "exercise" more often!

What's On The Needles

Only one this week:



This is the Berlin Muster pattern from SKP2008 KAL. I am using Schachenmayr Nomotta Regia Tweed 4-ply in Burgundy with gold flecks. They look very nice and the socks are coming along quickly. I started them yesterday and you can see how far I have gotten.

I wonder if I will have them done by Friday?

Thoughts for a Tuesday

I've been suffering from a lot of self doubt lately. I'm sure the majority stems from my less than steady work history over the last 2 years.

When I got laid off from my job on 6/19/06, I figured I would be back at it in fairly short order. The mortgage industry was still robust. But I was in Operations, and quickly found that someone with my skills wasn't really in demand that much. Obviously, we all know where the industry went, and in fairly short order.

Trying to break out of that field has been a major struggle. Finding something that paid a fair wage was even harder. No one wanted to hire someone who had been a manager for a secretarial or administrative position. Also, there seemed to be a stigma attached to those who had been in the mortgage or real estate industry.

Now I'm going into a pure sales position, something I had tried to stay away from. With this last go around of sending resumes and registering with temp agencies, it was worse than ever. With the temp agencies, I was told I could get top dollar for admin work since I scored so high on the tests. The hourly rate was the less than what I made as a temp back in 1995-1996. If I want to make a decent living, I have to go into sales. It's a little scary.

The state of our economy is a lot worse than most people think. We're all being impacted by gas prices. Food prices have increased as well, but just wait. The floods in the Mid-West and the drought in the West will cause prices to go up even more. Those of us who are struggling already will find it even harder to make ends meet. Then when winter is upon us, we'll have the increased cost of heating oil or natural gas to contend with.

Regardless of your political affiliation, or lack of one, our government has failed us. Decades of ignorance have brought us to this place. It doesn't matter which party we're speaking of, both have failed to protect the nation. We can spend billions on an ill-advised war in Iraq, we can give billions to Pakistan with no accountability, we can throw billions away on ear-marks and pet projects. We can't provide decent, accessible health care to the men and women returning from service. We can't provide them the promise of a paid education for their sacrifices. We can't maintain national infrastructure to insure our security. One word - levies. We have thousands of qualified, educated unemployed people across the US, and big business still wants more work visas. America is on sale to the highest bidder, more often now they are international interests.

Politicians pander to polls, similar to leaves in a shifting wind. I will bring up one item that has received some airtime, and it easily solvable. It's called the Enron loophole. The Congress could close this loophole with a vote. It could be solved in half an hour. It takes speculation out of the power market. This is a matter of national security. Many key economists and financial experts have spoken to various Congressional committees regarding the loophole and that if removed, could reduce oil barrel prices by $30 per barrel. One joker actually said that the barrel price would still be above $100. So? Isn't it worth reducing the cost by 22%? It's something. Congress has been debating this for months. McCain was for closing the loophole, now it's off the table, perhaps because two of his advisers were instrumental in getting this passed in the first place. I haven't heard Obama coming out for this to be voted on before the summer break.

And speaking of the summer break - do you think it's right that Congress will be off for a couple of months? We complained when the Iraqi Parliament was taking a summer vacation because they had work to do. Our Senators and Representatives are paid enough so that they don't have to have a second job to support themselves. The summer break was initially set so that our elected representatives could go home and attend to their businesses or farms. That is no longer the case. Coming home to campaign for reelection is not a good use of my tax dollars. We have a national crisis, and they are completely paralyzed when is comes to any solution.

I'm not worried about a recession anymore. I'm worried about a depression.

Memorable Moments

Some of my favorite moments in life have been related to the sea. Maybe it's like these footprints - mine and Heidi's - from the last trip we took together to the shore before Fen passed away. I wish I had gotten a similar picture of Kevin's footprint's with Fen's. That would have been something.

I remember the summer days that Dad and I would head down to Bolsa Chica to swim and lay out in the sun. We didn't know that it would be bad for us later in life. I think that's part of the reason that Mom and Dad moved so far inland. Dad didn't feel safe in the water anymore. The rip tide almost took him out when he was in his 70's. His body had started to fail him. If it wasn't convenient, then he wouldn't be tempted. The "Active Adult Community" they moved to has a beautiful pool and country club. He enjoyed spending the day there, swimming and enjoying the sun.

I remember taking Heidi down to Huntington and Balboa. She would chase birds and later I would share my Ruby's hamburger with her. Of course, we could really only do this in the winter months when the patrols weren't out. That was fine. There's something about the beach on the So Cal coast around dusk in winter. You can't see the horizon because the incoming storm has the sky and sea similar shades of gray.

Sailing to Alaska was an amazing experience, and Kevin planned it all. For Kevin, it would be his first time on a real ship and I could really give some substance to my love of them. It still ranks #1 for cruises.

I miss the Sea. Getting to it from here isn't easy. The weather is unreliable, and the water too cold. There are Great White's in them there waters! When we go down to Southern California, every once in a while we get to the coast. It really is one of the things I miss the most.

Sunday Quotes

It's taken me a couple of days to digest the loss of Tim Russert. I had started watching Meet the Press again a few months ago. I thought he was a good journalist, someone who looked out for the rest of us. He was a lonely voice in the wilderness. He was one-of-a-kind.

Thank you for all that you did, and the gauntlet you put down for others to challenge. We'll miss you, Tim.

Saturday Night Movie

I'm putting this up because I thought it was funny. What do you expect, I live in the Bay Area and enjoy NPR. Yes, I drank the Kool-Aid and went back for more.



Expect more political stuff as we head closer to the General Election. Even though both parties are really ticking me off at this point, I have to vote for someone. "Staying home" to "make a point" is idiotic to me.

Finished Friday

I intentionally sat down tonight and finished something. Otherwise, I would have struck out this week. Detonator #3 is coming along, but won't be done until the end of the weekend at the earliest. I just cast on for the second sock tonight. It is official - I am tried of the pattern and Tofutsies. I went down to a US1 because the thought of knitting a pair in that gauge for someone with a size 6 foot seemed like a throwaway. Some accommodation to size needs to be considered if they do this again in the future. I'm just sayin'..........

So, for my lonely finished piece for the week:




A child's hat in Rowan Big Wool Fusion. It is being modeled by my 3' Gromit plush. He's just too cute! The head circumference is about that of a 4 year old, so he's a decent stand in. I also have a plush duck, that I use primarily for propping up his head, but it is also good for modeling baby hats. That's it - that's what I finished. Next week will be a different story.

Favorite's

I have forgotten how much I like to read. Probably because most of my reading has been study material of late. However, I have been making my way through Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman and Double Cross by James Patterson. Patterson has a better chance at getting finished first. I swear, his books are like sweet tea on a hot day - you just can't stop. Or maybe it's just me. I have been contributing to his retirement fund for many years now.

Anyway, this isn't going to be a long post because I'm feeling a little brain damaged today. The world of insurance is fraught with ancillary products and riders, benefits, limitations and exclusions in sufficient quantity to confuse, befundle and bewilder even the most prepared. Imagine that deer in the headlights look. That would be me right now. Blink. Blink.

What Was On My Needles Wednesday

Detonator #3 - yes I have another victim in my sites. I started these on Monday. The participant who sent them to me recieved them basically not started. A rib cuff doens't count. I ripped it out and started over. I took the picture Monday night after I got a few rows done. I love the colors in this skein. I wish I had it! I think it's interesting that I'm still under the radar. I haven't heard anything since the first weekend when SWIII started. We'll see how long I last.

New Beginnings

I started training for my new job today. I'm a little nervous and slightly apprehensive, but it's something I need to do. My job search has been lackluster at best, and you can only send out so many resumes and not get a SINGLE response before you say quit.

I guess I'm just worried about the fact that I'm going into a pure sales job for now, and I haven't done that before. It's the fear of the unknown.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Also, worth noting, I received my 2500th hit today on the blog. I added the counter last November. It's kind of cool to see that people come to the blog, even if they don't leave any comments. And for those of you who do leave comments - thank you. Really. A most sincere, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Memorable Moments

When we were driving home last summer after our first road trip with the new car, we stopped in American Canyon at a foundry and took a look around. What caught Kevin's eye was a 15 foot tall gorilla. What I thought was funny was this:



I seriously can imagine having something like this is a back yard someday, or greeting guests at the front door. They had a bigger T-Rex glaring at the passing traffic over the fence. It was about 20 feet tall.

If they made one that looked like Godzilla, it would be sold. Godzi holds a special place in our hearts, and not that sorry excuse of a Sony movie with Ferris Buehler a few years ago.

I guess we are just refusing to grow up.

Sunday Quotes

Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't.


Eleanor Roosevelt

Saturday Night Movie

This one was pretty cool. Enjoy.

FO Friday

I've had a crazy week. Studying. Taking the test. Going to LA to say goodbye to Grandma.

Yesterday, after I took my test, we headed down to Southern California. My Grandmother-in-law's ashes were going to be buried next to Grandpa. My in-laws were driving down from Idaho, and it was an appropriate opportunity to be there for support and to spend some time with them, however short.

We went to the Riverside National Cemetery, by March Air Reserve Base in Southern California. The grounds are beautiful and the grave site is near a stream. There were several young trees in the vicinity. As they mature, the area will take on an even more park like setting. I saw a hummingbird flit by. Erma loved hummingbird's.

I got some knitting done in the car. I finished two more chemo caps. It just seemed "right" to be knitting something for the benefit of others. I'm getting very close to my goal of 36.



One in Green Apple and one in Coral, Knit Picks Shine Sport.

The other knitting I finished this week was also for the benefit of others.



A simple snuggle blanket, about 16" by 16". Made from Red Heart in the color Blueberry Pie, the garter knit blanket was the perfect thing to keep my hands busy while I was reading the chapters for my test. I hadn't tried knitting while studying before, and it certainly kept my mind from wandering too much and I didn't feel as sleepy as I usualy would get reading such dry stuff. I'll have to remember this when I take my continuing education.



I only finished one of these. The other was completed by Sonia Whitely in Australia. There are Detonator socks from the Socks Wars III KAL. I'm surprised I'm still in it. I started my contribution Sunday and finished it Tuesday morning so I could get it out in the mail. There was no ball band, but I know it was Tofutsies. It's the same colorway that I used for my Wild Kat socks that I finished a couple of weeks ago. Or was that last week? I'm suffering from brain damage after cramming for a week. It was just a really weird coincidence.

No Favorite's Today

So, I've mentioned this whole cramming thing, and that I would be taking a State licensing test today. I did - this morning - with all of 4 hours sleep and less than a week to study. There were 150 questions. After an hour and twenty minutes all of the questions were answered, and I never go back and check. Ever. If I change it, it will be wrong. At least now everything is computerized. No more scantrons. No more waiting 3-4 days to check to see if you screwed up. We are truly in a digital society. Immediate gratification. I passed.

No one is more surprised than me.

I will never put myself through that again. I say that now, of course. Not me, the Queen of Procrastination and Ms. "I work best under pressure". If I didn't have stress, I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

I actually passed.

Ha!

What's On The Needles

I finished up a few things already this week, which I'll show on Friday. I cast on another chemo cap today. I need to work on my Mystic Light shawl, which I will have an opportunity to work on tomorrow since we're going to be on the road.

Studying for my State exam has taken up a lot of time.

Thoughts for a Tuesday

Let me preface this by saying that I am not currently affiliated with a political party. I am so disgusted by the partisan politics and lack of substance that I can't take anymore.

I've been in the Mortgage and Real Estate industry since 1992. I've seen the good, the bad and the disgusting. I know many very reputable loan officers, real estate agents and brokers that were ethical and acted in the best interest of their clients. The bad ones, the ones who were looking only for a paycheck, really cast all of us in the worst light possible.

Thanks to Phil Gramm, former Chair of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, actively and decisively removed regulations that had been in place since the Depression to protect the financial markets and consumers. I have been watching CSPAN more than usual lately. I have watched various committee hearings having to do with the financial markets, the impact on oil, the value of the dollar and the sub prime meltdown. It's all part of the same problem, and it comes down to lack of regulation. When Gramm left Congress, he became a vice-chairman for UBS Investment Bank. Gramm has also served as the Econ adviser to McCain, and on April 18, 2008, UBS deregistered Gramm as a lobbyist. The following is from Politico.com:

"A year after the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act repealed the old regulations, Swiss Bank UBS gobbled up brokerage house Paine Weber. Two years later, Gramm settled in as a vice chairman of UBS’s new investment banking arm.

Later, he became a major player in its government affairs operation. According to federal lobbying disclosure records, Gramm lobbied Congress, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department about banking and mortgage issues in 2005 and 2006.

During those years, the mortgage industry pressed Congress to roll back strong state rules that sought to stem the rise of predatory tactics used by lenders and brokers to place homeowners in high-cost mortgages."

Thank you Senator Gramm. How much did you and your cronies make off the American homeowner?

The new regulations that are being considered are placing more regulations on the those providing services, not those providing the money. What this will eventually result in is less competition, and higher cost. What has deregulation done for the Airline Industry?

I could go on about this for days, but most of you are probably bored out of your minds already. What it comes down to is I'm done - I'm out - I'm finished.

Last week I met with a company that provides Life Insurance and Medical plans to the self-employed and small business. This Thursday, I am taking my State Exam for an insurance license. The industry that I have loved, and became a specialist in, is dying a tortured death. If I want to survive financially, I need to move on to something else.

So keep your fingers crossed for me. It's going to be a bumpy ride for a while.

Memorable Moments

There are few times that you get to see this view.



Taken from the Bank of the West building in San Francisco. Pity my reflection popped up. I thought I had adjusted sufficiently. I was waiting for a follow up session after having passed the first stage of interviews and testing with a financial planning company. Seriously, if you had a camera and saw this view, wouldn't you want to take a picture of it?

Sunday Quotes

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.

Winston Churchill