Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Bella Monkey


I just finished knitting another monkey. Partly I wanted to figure out exactly what I'd done to make the last one (because I hadn't written anything down at the time), but also I wanted to make something pink and girly. Although I wish I'd done a better job embroidering the face (I just don't have the patience for it!), I'm pretty happy with how she turned out overall. And I love the way these photos came out!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Missing Italy

Well, it's not official yet, but it looks like I'll be spending some time in Italy this summer. I'm definitely going for Flavio's graduation at the end of July, but I'm hoping that I can stretch this into a 2-week stay. If I can, we'll basically be having our "honeymoon" (even though the wedding won't be until November, maybe). I'm so excited!! This is all contingent on me being able to get a little leave of absence from work, but things have been so slow (and are only getting slower), I don't think that'll be too hard to swing.

I've been watching a lot of Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel, and just about every day they show a different city in Italy. It's filled me with a strange feeling I can't quite describe...something in between homesickness and the travel itch. I'm eager to be back in a place I love, but just as excited by the prospect of exploring new parts of that place. I want to go to Verona, visit the Casa di Giulietta and rub the statue's bronze boob for good luck, and ride a free bicycle through the streets while I take in the mix of Roman and Venetian architecture. I want to go back to Venice and eat four ice cream cones again. I want to travel to Bologna and take my first scooter ride and see if the mortadella tastes as good as the Oscar Mayer bologna I grew up eating.

And don't get me started on how jealous I am of Flavio right now. Tomorrow morning, he's hopping on a train and heading for the coast. He's just going to spend the day reading, sunbathing, and swimming in the Mediterranean. Then he'll spend the night camping on the beach. If I didn't love him so much, I think I might hate him a little bit. ♥

Monday, May 18, 2009

I'm Not Lion


This is Albert. Recently, Flavio requested a knitted monkey. I looked for patterns but couldn't find one I liked. I admit, I've been completely spoiled by Ysolda's neat, tidy, seamless!!! toy patterns. For this monkey, I used the Elijah pattern as a template, and then just modified it as needed to create a monkey-ish head and limbs. Unfortunately, I didn't write anything down as I was going along, so I can't give any tips for recreating this little guy.

I love you, sweetie. Albert will be in the mail tomorrow, along with your surprise!!!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Puddles

It's been 9 days since my last post, and it's rained every single one of them. Poor Xena doesn't seem to know what to do, tip-toeing through the mud and muck. Although the sun is shining today, there are storms in the forecast pretty much every day for the next week. As long as it doesn't flood, however, I'm not going to complain about the rain. The farmers need it, right?

Other things that have happened in the past 9 days:
  • I finished some books. The count is at 22 now, which completely blows my mind. That's two more than I read in all of last year.
  • I've become kind of addicted to Twitter. Follow me!
  • Flavio helped me translate an Italian song, "Sincerità" by Arisa. Now I've got the album, and I can't wait to be able to translate them all.
  • I broke the dryer. FAIL.
  • 24 hours later, and my clothes laid out on drying racks are still damp. Eff.
Ok, I guess that's all.