mayamocha

spur of the moment midnight ride

2011-08-21T23:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Saturday was a list of failed projects and errands. I had wanted to get my black bike Tinker to hub bicycles to add the rack and cut the handlebars down but after failing at figuring out how to carry the rack on the bicycle without the rack, I changed the goal to just getting the bars cut. Then discovered the front brakes were even worse - that is pretty much non-functioning - so took the bike to Ace Wheelworks instead since it was nearly 4pm by this point. Ace fixed up the brakes (needed new brake pads) and I found some lovely black pedals to try out on the Mixte.
Tinker rides really well, and with only a front handlbar bag at the moment, very light as well. I decided to cruise down to Harvard Square to look from some books and magazines at the Coop.
But I was waylaid by a great looking bike in the Yard. A camouflage green Surly LHT with pink bottle cages and fenders. I ended up talking to the owner, Loni, who had moved here recently from Florida to start grad school. We got to talking about biking Boston, getting a winter beater bike, etc. Then she mentioned the midnight ride was tonight. I didn't know. Its one of those events I always miss and end up hearing about later. She wasn't sure if she'd make it as it didn't start until 11:15 pm at Trinity Church in Copley. It ended just after sunrise at Columbus Park.
On the way home, I decided, why not. I googled the ride info, got the mixte set-up, loaded up 2 cameras, plenty of snacks, my coffee holder and coffee mug and headed out.
To be honest, its a blur. I ran into some people I've met on other rides. Met several new people including Alex who heads the Somerville Bicycle Comittee. Galen from Alta was there with a Hubway bike. We passe at least 4 hubway stations on this ride. The ride was an architectural tour lead by 2 very knowledgeable people who's names I can't remember at the moment. Stops included the Christian Science Center and reflecting pool, Boston University, the Dutch house in Brookline, several parks, Harvard Square, Museum of Science (for everyone to catchup), Charlestown, Bunker Hill (which I missed because I stopped for a coffee refill at the Tadesi store for a fresh refill), the Naval Yard, the Zakim Bridge, the North End, an historic house on the Roxbury/Dorchester, border, Castle Island (we went along Carson Beach to get there), and finally Columbus Park for breakfast. It was a rush, but we managed to make it to Castle Island just before the sun rose. I rode back home with Alex - who lives near Porter. So great to have company and someone with a sense of direction. I was feeling sleep-deprived and not quite sure how I was get from Boston to Cambridge. I can do the rest in my sleep but I'm still unclear on the river crossings.
Another cool thing on this ride, was being able to track Jupiter in relationship to the half moon. On my way to the starting point I rode over the Harvard bridge which gave got a great view of a fat orange moon hanging over the skyline with the Zakim Bridge. Unfortunately, no good pictures. I had a 34mm and 75mm equivalent lenses with me and no tripod and I was afraid I'd be late for the start of the ride

Why I wouldn't make it as a photo-journalist

2011-07-23T23:02:00.000-04:00

On my ride home yesterday I came across this 2 car accident at route 16 and the Henderson St. Bridge. I had planned to check on the state of the construction debris in the Brook (several of the traffic cones had been either blown or thrown into the water on either side of the bridge). Instead, I stopped and watched the post-accident work of the the paramedics, firemen, state troopers, police. Two cars and at least 3 or 4 injured. I had my camera but left it in my bag because... well I wanted to respect the privacy of the injured. I even turned away when one of the woman cried out in pain when the paramedics tried to get her onto a gurney. That part seemed none-of-my-business.
I was curious about the general operation though. So much going on. Manuevering equipment and the flatbed tow-truck. Getting 2 totalled cars (well I'm assuming they were totalled) away from the scene. One of the cars only had the driver airbag and head curtain deployed and so I'm wondeering why the passenger side didn't deploy even though the both front tires were blown out. Maybe only one person was in that car?
And I also don't know who was at fault. Did someone run a light? Someone not paying attention?

Chris' Fruit Thief

2011-07-21T19:26:00.000-04:00

The next-door neighbors have fruit trees, which the squirrels in particular appreciate. I caught this one this morning non-chalantly munching through a stolen pear. At least he ate it. Often, the squirrels will take one bite and toss the rest in the driveway.
Taken with an Olympus E-P1 and a Panasonic 45-200 lens.

The Danger of Stopping at Red Lights in Massachusetts

2011-07-21T19:02:00.000-04:00

I have a friend who was once telling us about the number of times her car was rear-ended. "Oh, you stop for red lights don't you?" was the response. It had taken her a while to catch on to the fact that Mass drivers do not stop for red lights. If the light is green on their approach to an intersection it doesn't matter if it has changed before they cross. Indeed it was one of the first habits I acquired when I moved here: check the rear-view window if coming to a stop when the light changes to make sure the car behind you may actually have room to slam on the brakes.
Funnily, I never had this problem cycling until today. Coming down Somerville Ave at Conway Park the light was red. Pedestrians were crossing. I stopped in the bike lane. As the pedestrians finished cross I was rear-ended - by a cyclist! He apologized and kept asking if I was all right. I was shocked, surprised and rude. "There was a red light". "Sorry, I looked down for just a second." Well, more than a second because I had been stopped for at least half a minute before he struck me but I didn't say that. "Are you all right?" "I sure hope so." what else could I say. I didn't bother getting his info - I was just too surprised. But odds are I will have whiplash this weekend. He slammed into me pretty hard. At least the bike wasn't damaged as far as I could see.
Now I'm going to have to put a rear-view mirror on the bike to watch out for wayward cyclists!

MBTA Command Center

2011-07-14T21:21:00.000-04:00

The MBTA invited Livable Streets Cambridge http://livablestreets.info/ to a lunch-time visit of the MBTA Command Center near South Station. Cool stuff. The view is from a conference room with large windows overlooking the command center below. MBTA staff, including Josh Robin, fielded all sorts of questions from improving information at stations to fare collection (and non-collection) to bus bunching. Still, that real-time view of subway operations was the star of the event.

Reminder to self: you can't wear wedge-heeled shoes

2011-07-14T20:57:00.000-04:00

I should know by now, but I forget: I can't walk properly in wedge-heeled shoes. I bought a pair of Born sandals a couple of years ago with a wedge-heel. I can wear them if I don't walk far (e.g. around the office), but they are not good for my feet. I went into Boston at lunch-time today and forgot to change into a different pair before leaving the office. By the time I had to head back I was limping around Downtown Crossing with numb toes and taking an impromptu shopping expedition into DSW. I found a pair of low-heeled thongs (also Born) and kept them on when I went to the checkout. It's amazing how much easier it is to walk when the little piggies have wiggle room.

View from South Station

2011-07-13T21:39:00.000-04:00

I took this last week from the Amtrak platform while waiting for my train to board. I've always loved this view of the smoke stacks and the bus terminal. I used my Olympus E-p1 on aperture priority. The lens was the Panasonic 45-200 that I recently bought.

Better Bike Better Shape Better Routes

2011-06-08T21:17:00.000-04:00

I've noticed something with this new Mixte: I'm riding faster and taking more "aggressive" routes. Some of this is the bike, as the riding position hits a sweet spot between completely upright and race-ready. The quill stem is also easily adjustable to tune the ride position and I switched out the stock saddle for my well-broken-in Brooks Flyer S which prefers a more forward position.
Gearing-wise, I had the standard Shimano Nexus 8. I have been topping out at the 8 but not sure if I should change the gear ratio yet. I think this is due to me being in better shape and the lightweight well balanced frame. I can easily stand up and pedal - something I thought I never do again a few years ago when my knee went out.
Riding the single-speed Trek Earl all winter also helped though I only did that for half-an-hour or so at a time. I think I'd kill my knees if I did too much riding at its current gear ratio. (It is another project for the summer: to convert it to an SA kickback hub and get it prepped for next winter).
So, some of the changes are that I am taking the tougher streets home and shortening the commute time and distance. Routes I avoided on my "slower" bikes and when I felt I was in permanent recovery mode. I am also thinking that maybe this year or next I'll be ready to try a road bike with drop handlebars again. A thought that even surprises me. Who knows, I may even go all the way and go clipless as well.
But that's the future. I don't have much time for road-only riding at the moment. The Linus Mixte 8 is proving to be a great all-purpose town bike. I can load the pannier with groceries, or hardware store provisions and it still rides balanced. Lighten the load and it just flies.
My only "fail" so far is that I had to walk it up the straight incline that is called Brattle St. I was visiting a friend and for one leg of the zigzag up, I got back on the bike. A woman walking her dogs said "Wow, you must be in great shape to have made it all the way up here!" I did admit that I had only just got on the bike for the flat bit.

Redbones Bike Bash and Ant Bike Mike and Hub Bicycles and...

2011-06-06T22:02:00.001-04:00

I left work a little early and got to attend some of the Redbones Bike Bash in Davis Square. I was not the lucky winner of the Ant Bike Cargo bike but I had a great chat with Mike F. about rear lights as he had a PDW Fenderbot on his personal bike. Basically he put it on for the same reason I've been using them, no rear wiring necessary. And he said the boxy 4-LED B&M wired light is much better.
Many great businesses supported the event which benefits NEMBA and MassBike, including Ciclismo Classico (from whom I won a T-shirt), Wheelworks, and of course Emily at Hub Bicycles who donated 2 $180 tune-ups to the prizes.
Though I didn't win any raffle prizes, I got something better and unexpected, a compliment from Mike and his wife on how good looking my new Linus Mixte is. I had just retrieved it from the valet and brought it over to show him how I set up the dynamo wheel in front and the PDW in back. Well, I'm on cloud nine! Major compliment because I am always looking towards his bikes for inspiration and they are always on the wishlist for the ultimate bike. The "final" bike if there could ever be such a thing.

some lost and found

2011-05-15T23:12:00.000-04:00

May is turning out to be a productive month for me. Just getting lots of things on the big to-do list squared away. Boring stuff like getting new windows for the house. Practical stuff like preparing to sell the car (probably at the end of the month). Fun stuff like ordering a new bike.
Though its Bike Month and this weekend is the start of Bike to Work Week I've been doing more driving that biking the last 2 days.
Had to drive to Burlington to check out the window show room and pickup heavy bags of potting soil from the garden center. BTW, hauling heavy bags from garden center were on my short list of why I use the car. I drove to Kohl's today to get some clothes. An interesting experience because I've lost weight since last year and dropped about 2 sizes. I had trouble figuring out which sizes to get and the pleasure of having to decide among several good looking items.
Unfortunately, I also lost my favorite umbrella. So, 3 new casual dresses and tights on sale against one hard-to replace-umbrella. I left my name at customer service and got a call later tonight. It was found in the dressing room. Relief. But, it means another car trip out to the mall.
Some of this driving is because my bikes are in flux. Alfred is going to need some work soon. I continue to tinker with the aptly-named Tinker which now has a new handlebar that will need to be cut down but needs some more fiddling to find the right position for the brake levers. In a few weeks the rear wheel will be replaced with a 2-speed kickback hub (no coaster). Also on the list is to get plastic versions of the BMX pedals and the bigger Wald basket for the front.

A Dog Bone Dinner

2011-05-07T23:37:00.000-04:00

I finally decided to make the beef marrow bones that I bought from Austin Brothers Valley Farm at the winter farmer's market. I usually get a shin or leg cut of meat and make a stew which includes some marrow. This was my first time just cooking the marrow as a main course. First issue had been getting the bones. At Austin Brothers, they called them dog bones and indeed when I bought mine another customer did buy some for their dog. They can also be found under soup bones.
Anyway, I started with the recipe in my Bones cookbook which involved an overnight soak of the bones. Then I continued on to my Nose to Tail cookbook. This was an incredibly easy recipe. Roast the bones for 20 minutes at 450 degrees. During that time I made a simple salad of arugula and shallots which I briefly wilted in the microwave on the defrost setting. Then added chopped flat parsley, a few capers, and a simple dressing of lemon juice and EVOO. Placed the bones on top of the salad and dug in. Seasoned with black pepper. Added course French sea salt as I ate. Lacking a proper marrow spoon I improvised with a small sharp knife and an expresso spoon to reach the puddingly goodness.

Experimental Week

2011-04-16T20:16:00.000-04:00

First experiment is to see if the Picasa --> Blog bug has been fixed by google. If a sunset picture appears above this text, it has.
More experiments: at work we got an iPad2 to start testing our application on it. Cool stuff and frustrating - like a layout issue that only shows up in iPad's Safari. I got a haircut today and let my hairdresser talk me in to keeping it longer than I normally do. Yesterday, after seeing a co-worker's new Droid Global I went and ordered one from Amazon. I continue to work with the 50mm Nikon lens on the Oly. Good practice.
An experiment I gave up on was the Nikon zoom lens that I also have. It is a "G" lens and a pain to use in manual because the lens barrel does not give any feedback to the user! It was pretty much hit or miss on manually focusing with the camera's rear screen. I stopped by a photo store today to get a price on a tele converter for the other Nikon. Price was over $500! I was expecting something closer to $100. At that price should just buy another m43 zoom lens.
Tinker is still on the stand and may stay that way until after easter. I am trying to mount a Pletscher rack from Rivendell on the front. I got the basket off and the front wheel off and they dynamo light off. I have to play around with P-clamps and I'm not sure if I have the right size screws. I may put an SA kickback (no brake version) hubbed-wheel on the back. And I'm still considering Sparrow style bars for the front. At this rate, nothing but the frame and fork will be original Trek Earl components!
I also managed to misplace my nice biking gloves! Figures, now that the weather is getting a bit better.

More photo adventuring

2011-04-06T23:23:00.000-04:00

(I'll post pix once either Picasa gets fixed or I find time to do a work around)

Still getting over a cold from last week so took the bus to work. I brought the E-P1 with the Niko 50mm on it and decided to practice taking quick shots using manual focus. I was trying for interesting street scenes but I think I was on the the wrong side of the bus as the all the colorful stuff was to the left. Still, this was good practice in quick framing and focusing because I couldn't really know how much time I had and when the bus would stop or go again. Also discovered that the E-P1 can go in to a half-sleep mode which was confusing at first but might prove useful.
On the way home there was a great looking sky. I tried to shoot it from the bus and I think I got one decent shot. I stopped in Porter to get some P-clamps for a bike project, putting a Rivendell rack over Tinker's front wheel. Turns out, they are called something different clamps but were eventually found. So, I took the 77 and got off at Rte 16 to walk up the Alewife Brook.
There seems to have been quite a bit of work since the weekend. At the bridge, I looked over and saw to bird-like shadows in the brook. It was pretty much evening at this point with just a finger-nail clipping moon. I played around with the settings and took few pictures. Even though my eye could barely see anything, the camera picked up 2 geese.
I ordered a a new quick release for my Vanguard tripod and should be able to try some more this weekend. I have no idea when I bought this tripod. I think it was at a Hunt Photo show in the 1990's. Its pretty basic and bulky - I couldn't afford anything fancy. It works but I lost the original quick release piece years ago. I bought 2 more about 10 or so years ago when I want to take slides of my artwork (I used these tungsten lights and took the film to Ferranti-Dege to develop which was a long time ago because F-D closed in 2006). Anyway, finally accepting that they were lost, I ordered another one from Amazon. Maybe one of these days I'll get a fancy wooden one but lets see if actually gets some use first.

Sunshine on a dreary day

2011-04-05T20:56:00.000-04:00

Still trying out the Nikon 50mm.1.8 on the Oly E-P1. Above is a shot at sunset. I wanted to get a rainy day shot before it got dark and in the few minutes I went out there was a bit of a sunset. No good view of the sky though, so I shot at a puddle. One thing is, I need to manual focus with the Nikon lens and I do that better with my eyeglasses off ... but it is very hard to quickly remove my eyeglasses!
Today worked from home and spent more of the morning re-setting up my work computer than doing actual work. It was upgraded on Friday which meant that I had to tweak a few things and download 3 browsers and of course it wanted to do another major update install... Then I left in the early afternoon to try to get to a doctor's appointment only to find out my car wouldn't start... probably because I think the last time I drove it was for a dental appointment in February? I remember having to park ON a snowbank IN the bike lane. I had been able to get into it though. Today, the electric fob wouldn't work. I called BetterWorld Auto and a guy was out within the hour. The battery was charged almost immediately. Then he told me that that was the original battery and that I needed to get a new one soon, probably best bet would be Sears. I said, no, I had gotten a new battery 2 years ago. He insisted that it was an old battery and that I should get a new one soon. And I was to have the car run for half an hour before I turned it off and checked to see if it would restart.
So, I pulled out the receipt. I keep all the receipts in the glove compartment and found the one for the local gas station where they replaced the battery in 2009. Sure enough, it said "new battery". I called and the manager said I should come over. He checked out the battery and the warranty. He ordered a new battery (to be delivered within an hour) and took out the "old one". The "old one" was the one that he had installed and had the date on it. AND, it didn't look that bad from the outside considering that if it was the original it should have looked worse Anyway, it was in warranty so he just replaced it for me. But, a sureal experience.
I went home while he worked but ran 2 errands: 1 to Sadies for Kamik rainboots which sadly did not fit. Turns out their "wide" is wider foot (way too big for me) not wider calf. The said they were getting winter boots in wide calf from Portlandia? in the fall.
Down a block for coffee beans at Barismo and back home to work until the car was ready.
During all this the weather got darker, colder, and rainier but still in the "spring" zone. Hard to believe it is April.
I also should probably just sell the car if I can't even remember the last time I used it!
Sunshine on a dreary day

Spring Birds and Dragon sightings

2011-04-05T20:55:00.002-04:00

(NOTE: was suppose to publish on 4/3/2011. Looks like blogger had a hiccup...)

Last few weeks have been busy and then I got sick. Though I made it to all the scheduled winter farmers markets, I missed the one at Somerville High School on Saturday. I just had to sleep off a bug. I did make it out to vote in the afternoon - around 4 pm when the weather starting looking unpredictable. And I managed to lose one of my EMS fliptop polarfleece mittens. Ugh!
A fotodiox nikon to mft adapter arrived this past week as well. I may have gotten the wrong one as it only works on my Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens. I ordered a second one that is suppose to work with "G" lenses. Another website describes that as short-hand for "gelded" to describe the Nikon lenses without without the aperature ring.
Anyway, this becomes a 100mm lens on the oly e-P1. More experimenting! I took alot of shots of the cat - great bokeh-y portraits. A miracle since I don't have auto-focus and she doesn't sit still. This afternoon the weather was in the 50's but windy. Around 4pm I headed out to Alewife Brook along Sunnyside to see if I could get some bird pictures. No birds. But I wandered anyway. I stopped to look at place that is marked in grids, wondering what they were.
Someone came down the path and said, "Do you know why that is sectioned off like that?" We took some guesses. Got to talking about the alewife brook path. He said it was a DCR project. Talking about how much Arlington has improved and the great changes coming, like the maybe the Mass. Ave improvements in E. Arlington. He then walked ahead.
I was hearing birds but not seeing any. Just kept walking slowly, then I saw it... A goose? No, a heron, white and blue-grey cruised above the Brook heading towards Cambridge. So beautiful and elegant. Followed a little bit later by a male duck flying a bit closer to the water. I continued and ran into the guy on the path on his way back.
"Did you see it?" Yep. He explained that it may be a black-crown heron (hope i have that right) and there a few nesting on the pond near Belmont. As we talked another bird soared over us, like a hawk, gliding. It didn't come close enough but its undersided appeared black (inky black like a raven) with with the pinon? feathers white on the underside. It never slowed down.
Further up I saw some guys fishing from a flat boat. Then 2 swans. Then the fishing guys came back up and the swans went under the bridge. I crossed the street only to see the swans heading back. I walked back along the Brook trying to take pictures. Very tricky. This might be a situation for auto-focus and zoom. But it was good practice. On the way back saw more birds. These black birds, a bit thin, with a fan-like shape at the end of the tail. A pair of morning doves. Robins of course. Sparrows.
The photo at the top is from part of a huge tree that has seen some major storm damage but will not give up the ghost! I watched a video this morning on the PBS website. A series called e2 had done a piece on the Paris bicycle system Velolib. Either during shooting or in editing a soft focus was added to most of the scenes. Very effective imagery. I wish I had some stills. Anyway, it encouaged me to play with in focus/out of focus today.

Night Scene

2011-03-17T22:48:00.000-04:00

We are getting that fake spring weather. Near 60F today. Even though I didn't leave until 9pm tonight the weather was still great. I felt giddy. Lots of people out and about. On Cambridge St. a motorist nearly doored me. I yelled "Heads up!" and continued past. She apologized profusely. Right after that I stopped for a pedestrian in the cross walk who said I didn't have to stop. The motorist hollared out another apology and I yelled back "No problem!". A few more blocks, another pedestrian in the cross walk. I stop. She tries to usher me on...
It's the weather. We are all giddy. It won't last. Neither the mood nor the weather. But it always happens.
It was too nice to get home too quickly. I dawdled near a park and took some pictures. I used the that B&W art filter and got some neat effects. All hand-held. I should dig out my tripod and see if I can some better, longer shots. Still, the one above is actually a picasa-edit of the RAW file. It had an eerie day-light effect.

technology fail - or where's my flying car?

2011-03-16T19:33:00.001-04:00

OK, I don't really want a flying car. One of winter goals is to clean on my definitely non-flying but very reliable and very much undriven Scion. However, besides getting rid of stuff, I want to get some new stuff. Some cool techy stuff. And again, wiz-bang technology fails me.
I need/want a new laptop and I need/want a new smartphone. At first, the Mototola Atrix looked like it would fit the bill quite nicely ...but as the release date came nearer and I did more research it just didn’t pan out. I won't get into details into how AT&T also did their darnest to convince me to head back to Verizon.
So plan B was to look at other smartphones. I have an older iPhone but I do not like the iPhone 4 - it just feels weird in my hand. Lately I’ve been looking at Samsungs --- also confusing. I'm eager to try an Android device since I use so many Google apps but a lot more info to process than buying an Apple product.
Laptop wise I need to do 2 categories of things and can do this on 2 different machines. One needs to handle organization and photo management and maybe some photo editing. The other is to surf the web, read mail, read e-books, manage contacts, do various internet research, shop, whatever. Then the iPad2 comes out and the girl in the apple store says that it runs iPhoto. I’m intrigued because if I could pre-sort photos on the iPad (then dump to Flickr and/or backup drive) that would be a worthwhile feature. But, I have been using Picasa and prefer it to the older version of iPhoto on my current computer. According to her, there isn't a Picasa app for the iPad. I stopped in the store today as they now have the iPad2 on display and played with a few. Someone had downloaded several arty and photo editing apps, but I couldn't find the iPhoto app and was told it wasn’t available on the iPad. Huh? No, you need a computer for that. This just lets you view your pictures in albums. Again, huh?
This is the thing, I don’t want to do Photoshop level editing. I want to be able to sort, tag, crop, file. Maybe upload a jpeg to a blog or email it. Somehow that is asking for too much. And its classic Apple - getting much of it right and then leaving out that one detail that is critical to you. E.g., the other reason I don't want an iPhone is my current iPhone doesn't do bike maps like you can in Google maps. I have to do a "drive" and a "walk" and guestimate between the two.
The iPad2 is certainly cool looking. I still might end up with one, but it is already diminished in my eyes.
I know what I want. Why won’t anyone make it for me? A tablet that can take a keyboard for heavy typing. That can hook up to a bigger monitor + harddrive when you want to see the big picture. That lets you quickly download, sort and label your snapshots on the fly. Tech always falls short in the end.
At some point this year, I will finally give in. I will finally “settle” on a phone and “settle" on a computer and a month later the absolutely perfect one will be announced. And that is the greatest fear: buyer's remorse.

Coffee fixes everything

2011-03-12T21:29:00.000-05:00

I worked late on Friday and had a great ride home in the misty evening. Unfortunately, I was exhausted from a very long day. A good day. I had called Mass Save for an energy audit and was told they just had a cancellation and I could have someone out that morning, or wait until May. I took the appointment and within two hours learned that everything was in good order and what I should do next is fix/replace the windows. Also got some good tips on closing up gaps and told not to put a blanket on the water heater.
This, of course, made me "late" for work. Late in the sense that I had wanted to be in a bit early to have a chance of finishing my testing before dinner time. Oh well.
This meant I slept in this morning and did not get to the market until 11:30pm. The Globe fish folks looked like they already sold out of half their offerings. Stillman had only one shin-cut piece of beef and Austin Bros. were totally out of that. Still, managed to stock up for the week: oranges, apples, bok choy, zucchini, bacon, ground lamb, skirt steak, hanger steak, ground veal, Q's Nuts for the office, desserts from the Danish Pastry house, yogurt, onions, and fiori di nonni cheeses.
And a cup of coffee. They've been offering 2 kinds: fresh-brewed $2 drip coffee and $3 fancy fresh brewed individual cup coffee. I always get the $2 coffee. I really needed it today. I was so tired.

out-the-front-door touring

2011-03-08T18:32:00.001-05:00

Today is mostly about getting things done that I haven't been able to get to in the last week. Cleaning, prepping for painting. But it is also a mini-vacation, so I took a mini-tour this afternoon while running an errand. The destination was the Whole Foods in Medford which meant I could check out the pathway being built on the Alewife Brook Reservation, especially the part near the Mystic Valley Parkway and Route 16. Mid-afternoon, not too cold, and bright. Perfect for taking pictures but... still dreary late winter barreness. But, that "grainy black and white film" art filter to the rescue! BTW, I've been saving in raw + jpeg, so if one the pictures turns out to be a color masterpiece I have the original version.
Also, this spot is good for bird watching, not that I know much about birding. I just like seeing them. Today saw a gull, at least 2 blue jays, lots of sparrows, geese making a ruckus, and a duck. The most important sighting: a lone red-breasted robin which means that spring is near.
I only have the 17mm lens on the Oly e-p1 so didn't get any decent bird pictures. Either me, or the bike, convinced them to keep their distance.

Despite the recent few days of rain and melting, I came across some icy patches on the pathway and a lone bank of snow:

I also got to have an Ansel Adams moment, or two, taking b&w pictures of trees:

Poblano Peppers in Pantry

2011-03-06T19:51:00.001-05:00

Noticed the sunlight, what there was of it, making the peppers glow yesterday so tried to take some pictures. This shot was cropped and edited in Picasa.

B&W improves a grey rainy day

2011-03-06T19:34:00.003-05:00

I have been experimenting with my new Olympus E-P1. So far it is the closest that a digital camera has come to recreating the experience of using my Ricoh KR-10 with a used Pentax 35mm lens. Easy to carry around and cheaper than the Contax rangefinders I wanted but could not afford. I would often shoot in B&W and develop in photo class. As the digital age was coming into its own I was becoming allergic to the darkroom chemicals and ended up buying the first Canon PowerShot. The Ricoh and its lenses were given to a high school student who had gotten interested in photography.
I learned photoshop and took digital art classes in at the Museum School but never really enjoyed the computer work. I continued looking for a digital camera that would still let me do some of the simple things I had learned in all those years of shooting with the Ricoh. So I've had 2 Canon Powershots, a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, an Olympus 850sw, a Nikon D40. This year I was going to get a Panasonic Lumix LX5 and then learned about Micro Four Thirds and the concept of portability and changeable lenses!
So far I am happy with the purchase. The e-p1 has similar sceen (SCN) settings to the 850sw which is great for quick shots. Face Detection also works on cats. There is manual override and actually KNOBS for making some adjustments. You turn a ring on the lens to focus (and another to zoom if you have a zoom lens) which makes it easier to hold the camera steady while focusing. The E-P1 has an optical view finder but I'm not sure about it yet. I have some tricks for dealing with the lcd viewing screen. I'll have to experiment a bit more to see when the view finder is useful.
And, to get another blast of the 90's - there are some art filters including Grainy Black and White. I went out on the porch - messy and cluttered from a winter of no use and still holding all the garden pots that weren't cleaned out before the cold weather came. It's been cloudy and grey but getting warmer. Zoe came out all excited to explore. Turns out, she's never been in snow before. Yesterday she tried to navigate the back yard but kept sinking in to the last of snow. Determined, she kept going forward, cautiously, would sink in a bit, shake herself off, continue on. I went after and picked her up. She was happy to be back on the porch.
Anyway the art filter adds some lag time but it adds something of an analog feel to the work.

Have come up with a name for the 2011 project bike

2011-03-04T22:21:00.000-05:00

One of my goals this year is to build up a bike from parts. Its going to be a mixte and at the moment I think it will have Soma Lauterwasser bars, Shimano 8-speed internal gear hub, and BMX pedals. Also, fenders, front rack/basket, dynamo lighting, and a chain guard. And some creme-colored tires may be in order as well.
And now it has a name: Gerda Gudrid or GiGi for short. Gerda is for Gerda Taro who re-invented herself and the famous war photographer Robert Capa. She is the first woman photojournalist to have died while covering a war.
Gudrid is for the Viking Gudrid the Far Traveler who in her life time went from Scandinavia to Iceland to Greenland and on to setting for a few years in "Vinland" before returning to Greenland. She may the first European woman to have sailed to North America.
Appropriate namesakes as I plan this bike to be the "start the adventure from your front door" sort of bike. I just got a new camera - an Olympus E-P1 - that is so much like my old Ricoh SLR with 35mm lens that I carried around in the 90's until I had to give up film development. I need to set up the software to download the pictures this weekend and do some better comparisons with my other cameras. If it is as good as it appears I may sell the Nikon D40 and the Panasonic DMC-FZ18.

Another Saturday Another Farmer's Market

2011-02-27T00:00:00.001-05:00

I missed the Boston Cyclist Union's ride today. Worked a lot this week and slept in and didn't get back from the Farmer's Market until almost noon. This week, 2 heritage chickens, eggs, grass-fed steak tips, mini "table" turnips, bluefish, bok choy, spicy salad mix, onions, mozerella and fig burrata. Special treat: the Danish Pastry House was there so I got a fancy eclair and 2 macaroon cookies. Clear and sunny.
The sun had disappeared by the time I got home but rather than hang around I road out to Harvard Square to pick up my new glasses and order prescription sunglasses. Ouch, it was an expensive day.
I did pack along my Nikon "just in case" and ended up getting some more pictures of the Harvard garden. The light is changing and the shadow has moved quite a bit since the start of January. While deciding on some other shots (its nice not to have to worry about frozen fingers!) I heard a commotion and saw 2 birds up in the tower's weather vane. My lens only goes to 105mm but I shot some pictures so that I could look them up when I got home. Most likely red-tail hawks.
My other splurge is a new camera, an Olympus PEN e-p1. I've wanted to try out the micro 4/3 format and this was at a good price. I had been looking at a Panasonic Lumix lx5 but somehow this won out being rangefinder-like and taking multiple lenses. So at this point I will have 4 functioning digital cameras: the PEN, a Nikon D40, a Panasonic DMC-FZ18, and an Olympus 850SW. What I really want is a digital camera that has most of the key settings (ISO, exposure comp, focusing, zooming) in the same location as on their film equivalents. I hate having to go through menus to find these settings. For focusing in particular, having the focus ring on the lens gave you a better way to stabilize the camera as you composed and set up the shot. The tiny joystick on the Panasonic makes it harder to adjust focus.
Oh well.

Mixed bag ride

2011-02-25T21:53:00.000-05:00

I've continued to bike commute over the past week on the days I worked at the office. Tuesday I worked from home and had to go to East Somerville in the evening. Took the 89, no problem. Getting home was a pain though. The bus only ran every hour later at night and I had just missed it. Should have done a half-bike commute as the only reason I didn't ride out was because I didn't now the condition of the road.
And today almost turned into a half-bike. The morning was rainy - first rain soaked ride in months - but in the 40's, so I wore fewer layers: wool undershirt and longjohns, Terry windproof cycling vest, LLBean rain jacket and rain pants. On my feet were the trusty Keen short boots but they failed... I had wet feet and cold toes by the time I got into the office. I had the hood under the helmet and the rain cover on the helmet which helped a little - no rain down my back. I wore a pair of flip-top mittens from Campmor and discovered they weren't so waterproof.
And when I left the office, it was snowing! I was going to give up and take the bus but I needed another layer to stand and wait at the stop so grabbed the alpaca sweater from my desk. Feeling warmer, I felt I could handle it after all and rode home. Luckily I packed a spare pair of gloves as the morning ones were still soaking wet. I had also packed a hat and a neck gaiter. The liners of the Keens were still soaked so I double-layered the socks. The only downside of the ride was that the snow hurt when it hit near my eyes. No gentle flakes these. More like microscopic ice daggers.
Anyway, a reminder that I should probably pack the EMS primaloft jacket even it I won't need it in the morning. It is extremely lightweight and warm and a worthwhile backup to have.

(Another) Wonderful Thing about Tinker

2011-02-19T17:58:00.000-05:00

A bright sunny day...with another challenge. Wind. A blustery day out of Winnie the Pooh. Here's what Weather Underground had to say about it:
Partly sunny and blustery. Much cooler with highs in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
But its Saturday and I have a shopping list for the Somerville Winter Market - which is where I have done about 95% of my grocery shopping since January. The ride in was deceptively easy. It felt windy but I knew it would be worse on the way back. The market trip was successful: bok choy and tatsoi from Enterprise, eggs from Stillmans, cheese from Fiora di Nonni, blue fish from Globe, meats from Austin Brothers, carrots from Winter Moon Farm, and apples from Apex. I am getting somewhere in cleaning out the fridge and the pantry so its been helpful restricting the grocery list to what I can carry on the bike.
Anyway, I bought the Trek Earl because it was a basic bike: singlespeed, chromoly frame, not too dear in price. A few months later it has been customized quite a bit and is turning out to be a great daily ride in this the unpredictable winter weather. However, it still has the original straight bars and the BMX-type pedals. Its been handling the gravel, slush bits and potholes without a problem. The gearing still seems good for me. When I build up another bike though, I want to try an S/A 2 speed kickback on another bike and I think I want the 100% gear to be just a little easier with an even easier hill-climbing option. As it is, I haven't had any problems climbing hills or facing the wind but it is a workout. But, I also don't find myself needing to coast too much either.

my human-powered coffee grinder and yet another use for a Ball jar

2011-02-16T15:27:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure when I bought this but it was sometime after Barismo opened in Arlington AND they had one in stock, probably in 2009. It was pricy but I use it almost everyday. It's nice not being tethered to the outlet to get ground coffee and it is a better quality that the old Braun electric grinder I had been using.
What can I say, it works. You can select a grind (I do a course for French Press) and you grind into the jar. The jar that came with it was the only less than perfect feature. I found myself holding the jar in one hand and grinding with the other rather than trying to hold it on the countertop. At some point I discovered the grinder's screw cap fits over a regular Ball mason jar. I didn't really follow-up until I mentioned it to the baristas at the Somerville Winter Market last Saturday.
I gave it a try, and sure enough, its easier to hold with a regular Ball jar rather than the wider and shorter original.

A whole week of cycling!

2011-02-15T14:50:00.000-05:00

7 straight days of cycling is a major winter accomplishment for me. I almost didn't ride yesterday as I had an early meeting at work and was just going to take the bus... then I saw the traffic on Broadway and rode in. And I was way OVERDRESSED. It was like spring. I had to strip down by the time I got past Porter Square to just my shirt. I even passed someone - I'm always the one who is passed. I also got to chat with a fellow commuter at the light. We were both in a stunned state at how glorious the weather was. I think it was in 40s (F). I felt giddy.
Riding has been unusually easy. I've been using the few cleared bike lanes (or the half-block here and there of clear bike lane) and just taking the travel lane. I'm glad I went to MassBike's winter cycling clinic last fall as I learned enough and got more confident about riding away from road hazards. In a way, I appreciate the bike lanes being used for parking. It beats the locations where there are not parking lanes and the cars are parked half-way in a travel lane. In a way, it is making it easier to stay straight on the road and out of the door zone.
And there are hazards: gravel, debris, snow, slush, ice, and giant grand canyon wannabe potholes. Maybe I'm just older or have spent too much time driving in Boston but I'm just less phased by crazy drivers or I just haven't seen any in the past few days. Last Thursday I had a great ride home and then at Mass Ave and Rte 16, while waiting for the light it happened. I was first in line in the right-hand lane, a car came behind me and started honking. Whatever. I'm almost in Arlington and use to bad behavior at this point in the commute. I pull my bike over to the left lane in front of the first car and make sure he has clearance to turn. He rolls down his window as he turns and yells at me.............................................
THANK YOU!
I am shocked and pleased. Days later, it still makes me happy to think about it. There is hope. People may be getting less grumpy.

4 days of biking

2011-02-12T15:41:00.000-05:00

One day work at home; one day bus; THREE days full bike commute. And then the farmer's market on Saturday. I can't believe how much I miss it when I can't ride for my errands.
Monday I had a dentist appointment in Belmont which was surreal because of all the snow. In fact I've only driven twice since before the New Year and both times were to get to the dentist's office. Even more confusing because streets around me were closed for snow removal - a necessary step to for the DPW to haul away the excess. If I got rid of the car my options for the dentist are most likely bus and/or taxi. I *may* be able to bike it in the better weather - I think I can bike out to Alewife station, cross the bridge to Fresh Pond and ride up Concord (which has a bike lane) into Belmont.
Irony of course, I parked in the bike lane at the dental office. Any street that has bike lanes got breathing space to deal with all the snow.
Tuesday seemed iffy and I wanted to pick up new glasses in Harvard Square. So 87 into work. 69 to Harvard Square just before rush hour. The glasses were great because the were all plastic - no cold face when cycling.
By Wednesday, I couldn't take it anymore and decided for a half-commute as the ride in is pretty easy. However, without the bike lanes and will all the parked cars, I just road the regular lane. This was a sweet spot in commuting because traffic was still moving slower because of all the snow mounds. Somehow, I ended up riding home as well as Cambridge St was in better shape than the last time I tried biking it. Thursday and Friday just worked out as well. No new precipitation and because its been mostly below freezing, the roads have been DRY.
The only downside is all the new potholes. Though even with that it looks like DPW crews have been out patching already. The Trek Earl I am riding is described as being designed for rough urban roads and got a chance to prove itself, even though a few felt like they'd knock loose all that expensive dental work I've recently had done.
Clothing wise, it was in the 20's during the day and below 10 at night (according to Weather Underground) and I felt OVERDRESSED. I think I an getting too acclimated to the cold. Basically winter tights, wool top, EMS jacket, goosedown mitts, alpaca socks. Possum wool hat and merino wool neck gaiter. Switch between the Sorel Joan of Arctic and the Keen Winterports. I'm even keeping the heat lower at home.

Farmers Market and first bike ride of the week

2011-02-05T13:16:00.000-05:00

The weather has just not been co-operating for cycling. All this snow and no-where to put it. I worked from home about half the week. Took the bus the other half. I was going to bike in on Friday and then decided not to because the roads were still crowded with snow. I should have rode in because my 87 never showed up and I had to walk down Broadway - the sidewalk being intermittently cleared - to get to Clarendon for the 88. Oh well. Won't even mention the wait for an 87 home from Lechmere...
So today was another bike to the Farmer's Market. Another success. Lots of green veggies from Enterprise (including Tatsoi and Bok Choy). Meat from Stillmans. Bluefish from Globe. I also had a great chat with Chelsea at the Groundworks booth, discussing the green line extension. The only bad point, an inconsiderate cyclist scratch my bike with their Kryptonite lock. The lock has a metal shield and they locked the bike with the shield hitting the top-tube of my bike. Very rude. At least I wasn't the only bike there. I counted a total of 6 plus mine just as I was leaving.

Life Death and Coffee

2011-02-01T15:01:00.000-05:00

I have a lot of food allergies and I also "try" to follow a somewhat low glycemic index diet. I do not feel deprived though because coffee and chocolate (real dark chocolate) are not no the no-no list. I have also been going to the extremely diverse Somerville Winter's Farmer market at the Armory. This week they added 2 cheese vendors and I realized that I could get everything except milk and yogurt there. Essentially a week of groceries in one stop.
So I stocked up again on Saturday but didn't think I needed coffee. Didn't I have one more bag of the La Columbe that Greg had given me for Christmas? Nope. I used the last for breakfast. The snow is still coming down. The snow, by the way, is so not news anymore.
I ventured out to Barismo. On Marathon, near Mass. Ave, while dodging cars and negotiating un-shoveled side walks I saw a lone black feather drift into the snow. And then another. And another. I looked up, wondering if a black bird had gotten electrocuted. No, there was a hawk or falcon (greyish back, white and grey striped tail, white belly with brownish brindling) calmly digging into lunch. I wish I had my camera.
As for Barismo, they were open and roasting - that great wafting scent greats you as you round the corner onto Mass Ave. Not quite a farmer's market cheat since it turns out I bought the same beans as sold at Hi-rise and one of the Barismo folks is manning the Farmer's Market coffee stand.
And now I have coffee I can face the next 2 days.

Stay warm

2011-01-26T10:04:00.001-05:00

Monday was one of the coldest on record. Started out at below zero - unusual for the Boston area. I was prepared having collected various gear for cycling and the great outdoors. Since my office is located in a food desert, I stopped at the Foodmaster for cheese and plain yogurt. I don't eat diet- or fat-free since most of those products replace the fat with a sugar but that is all I can find in the food court at the Mall. I am also dealing with several food allergies so have gone towards a low-processed "real food" diet. It beats spending the rest of my life reading labels.
Then I took the bus in.
I also managed to cobble together a warm outfit for the commute and the office:
keen wintersport boots with alpaca socks, Kerrit polarfleece riding breeches, TravelSmith dress, SKhoop Heidi skirt over the dress, Marmot hoodie, pink neck gaiter, black and white wool hat, hood from hoodie, and Eddie Bauer goosedown coat (without the hood since the Marmot had a hood). I added a blue alpaca scarf for extra protection. The LLBean goosedown mitts continued to work.
At the office I switched to my old tall black boots but kept the alpaca socks on. I wore the heidi skirt until I was sure the office was warm enough. On some cold days the building just doesn't warm up and I spend the day feeling like I'm sitting in a drafty barn.
Later in the day, another woman came up to me and said we weren't dressed for the day (she had on a skirt and wool tights). I showed her the polarfleece breeches and she was surprised - she thought I was wearing tights.
And to be in the spirit I have been reading about Arctic and Antartic exploration. I got a photobook out of the library on Scott and Shackelton's adventures. I started reading Ejnar Mikkelsen's Two Against the Ice about his folly-ridden exploration of Northeast Greenland, looking for the lost journals of a previous Danish expedition that had failed. No matter how cold most of us were yesterday, we were not totally abandoned to the elements.

Hat Trick

2011-01-23T20:32:00.000-05:00

The Arctic Chill has come and today especially, I've noticed people have discovered the "hat trick": to keep warm, cover your head. I wore my green possum wool cycling cap and kept it on in the library where the guy in the caroll behind me called out "I like your hat." This was on the quiet floor no less:) I saw at least one librarian who had kept her hat on, as well as several patrons. Then at French conversation down the street at Jam 'n Java one of the participants, a very French looking participant, wore a striking red wool cap the came to a small point with a felted flower and hung behind her at a rakish angle. I wanted to ask or compliment but could not think of the words. Its a French - only conversation group.
That is also important. For the first time in my life I participated in a discussion in a foreign language. I tried learning French in high school but could never get the pronunciation or the listening down. In college I gave up and switched to Intro Italian because of some weird rule that you had to take 2 semesters of a language, BUT if you studied for x-numbers in high school then you had to go the next level up. If you weren't prepared for the next level up you could take the previous level classes to catch up but then still had to take the higher level classes. If you switched languages then you could just do the 2 semesters and be done with it.

Arctic Chill coming

2011-01-21T19:23:00.002-05:00

How prescient that I read a Woman in the Polar Night a few weeks ago. Its getting unseasonably cold. So cold that during the weather the radio announcer mentioned that if you weren't prepared for the cold you should stay indoors.
Tomorrow I hope to accomplish three things: early morning photos of the funky only blue car in sunlight; weekly shopping at the farmer's market; finally buy the eyeglasses that I picked out last week.
I am also really really wishing that I had got around to ordering the 40below rated NEOS overboots a week ago instead of yesterday.

a half bike commute

2011-01-20T20:42:00.001-05:00

It was sunny so I biked to work. My office-mate warned me that there was still a lot of snow. I didn't care. It was a nice ride in. I mostly follow the same route as the 87 bus until I reach the Target. This route is a tad trickier on the way home so I rarely use it.
Unfortunately, there is another major storm tomorrow so I had to prepare to work from home which meant carrying home a second laptop. We have to use company-provided laptops that are bricks. I did not bring my backpack with me and so there was no easy way to carry it on the bike. Since it costs the same whether I ride the bus alone or bring the bike, I decided to bring the bike back with me.
At Lechmere a kind gentleman helped me mount Tinker on the rack. And then I had my doubts. What if I latched it wrong and the bike fell off and got crushed under the bus. And this bike purchase is a failure because it was suppose to be the leave-anywhere-and-not worry-about-it bike and what did I do? It now has my Brooks Flyer S saddle, the Shimano dynamo hub wheel, and a real nice B&M light. Sigh. I anxiously watched the handlebars and basket wobble, all that I could see from my seat.
At Clarendon, the bus driver didn't rush me as I unloaded the bike and put up the rack. Then he opened the door to check that I had my helmet with me and hadn't left it on the bus. Sweet.
Anyway, this went so well that I think I will plan for more half-cycling commutes until the roads clear up a bit. I'm finding that I don't mind the snow or ice itself, its how narrow the roadways have become.

love the sun and curse the clouds

2011-01-17T17:06:00.000-05:00

I've been attempting to take pictures of the same locations overtime. This is going back to when I use to ramble around taking pictures and having the fun of seeing what developed in the darkroom. Unfortunately, in the '90s I developed a severe allergy to the darkroom chemicals. I have tried using Photoshop to work on and "print" pictures, but its just not the same. I don't like doing creative work on the computer.
But, taking the pictures is good meditation and way to observe my surrounds. To slow down and to see and to just take a breath. Working the same locations or objects over time also allows me "sudden insights". I start to rethink the approach and what I want to capture.
Anyway, despite the goal, I failed this morning to get up early enough to capture on of the scenes I want to get. It needs full sunlight on it, I think but the location of some other buildings means my only chance is at some point after sunrise and before 8am. We're getting rain for 2 days so the next chance is probably Thursday.
I also checked out the secret garden again. Yesterday I was too late, arriving around 3:30 pm. Today I was too early, arriving around 1:30. I went into the Square to buy some camera stuff at Hunts and an eyeglass case at EMS. There was a long line at EMS so I didn't get back to the garden until almost after 2:40pm. There were some good shots but my fingers were freezing and I had to keep warming them up in my pockets. I was also trying to go through the menu on my Nikon D40. A real pain with digital is that every single camera I have has totally different way of changing settings. If I ever have the money I hope to have a digital camera that still has several old-fashion knobs for the ISO and +/- compensation and the f-stop and focus on the actual lens.
And so, we are getting close to what I want and the shadow edges dull a bit. A cloud, one of those flattish not-rain type clouds, has filled the part of the sky where the sun is located. I tried to wait it out but no luck.
I consoled myself with sushi and miso soup at the Porter Square exchange. I was going to buy some deserts as well (I have a thing for anything with red bean paste) but forgot.
Weather: felt like 0 degree F at the highest
Glasses: switched between the new ones and the old polarized Calvin Klein's
Clothes: longsleeve wool t-shirt, Marmot hoodie (a furnace maker), EMS primalost jacket; Terry winter cycling tights; Skoop primaloft skirt; smartwool and alpaca socks; Keen Wintersport boots; peruvian alpaca hat; smartwool neck gaiter
Hands: started with OR windstopper gloves and OR mountaineering gortex mittens; switched to the LL bean goosedown mittens for the ride home
Note: 1. for these weekend rambling rides should probably get the handwarmer packets
2. If I can keep myself moving at a decent speed my hands stay warmer; its the stopping that seems to make them colder
3. Its better if I put the gloves/mittens on inside and give the hands a chance to warm up a bit
4. I want shearling fleece pogies for my bike

Delights from the Farmer's Market

2011-01-16T11:42:00.000-05:00

It's only in its second week and I am hooked on the Somerville Winter's Farmer Market. Great food, well designed mix of vendors and this week they had COFFEE! The haul included lamb, pork and eggs from Stillmans; kale, storage carrots, delicious tiny turnips and onions from a new vendor; Reisling from Zoll Winery; fresh unpasturized Cider; Matsu apples; baby Bok Choy, pecans, and a sweet potato from Enterprise; a delicious soft dense rye from Great Cape Baking Company; nuts for Q's nuts; bluefish from Globe.
For lunch on Saturday I cooked the bluefish and some kale. This morning I made an "old-fashion" breakfast using some of the Kielbasa that I bought at previous week's market, a Stillman egg, and that unbelievably good rye bread. Just heaven. It is really hard to beat the taste of a fresh egg cooked sunnyside up. I'm looking forward to making an apple and pork dish and a Portuguese Kale soup from a recent Yankee magazine. Seems appropriate to make the dishes with New England grown ingredients.

Snow Day...

2011-01-12T19:28:00.000-05:00

Okay, had to work, but from home and between shoveling and taking a walk.
However, I just read A Woman in the Polar Night, and after learning about Christiane Ritter's experiences with months of darkness and hut-high snow drifts, a few feet doesn't seem like much.
The snow also had a glacial quality to it - that pure light blue that you see in pictures of glaciers from Patagonia and Iceland. Unfortunately, it was relatively warm which meant heavier snow. On the plus side, the Marmot hoodie that Greg and Alexa gave me for Christmas was perfect for exertion in the snow. And I need breaks from the computer anyway.
I also took a walk and got some pictures. White on white. Really great. Dangerously quiet though - had to pay attention because the snow on the roads muffled the sound of cars and trucks. I saw a few spin-outs and the 87 bus running without difficulty.
We still don't have a snow blower. But Jimmie 2 doors down came by with his and too care of the driveway. Someone else had come by earlier in the morning and did the the sidewalks in one strip.
Now I dread the big melt-off.

It's Official - I can ride my bike again

2011-01-11T19:09:00.000-05:00

OK, had hand surgery last week and wasn't suppose to ride, or as the doctor explained *fall* on the injured hand. Had a follow-up today. I am recovering well and I am officially allowed to ride but I'm still not allowed to fall. I don't think I told the doctor about my right-hook accident this summer in which I did not fall but I did a quick dismount by pushing against the side of the truck and need more PT as a result.
I still feel better cycling than riding the bus. Most of the time the bus is okay, even entertaining -- like last night a guy got on with his girlfriend and a lot of luggage and had to declare to the whole bus how great she was, she was the best girlfriend evah and give her a big kiss and even though he was embarrassing her terribly and she looked a bit jet-lagged she was good sport about it. So 2 people, or at least one person, deeply in love is out there in the cold night.
Anyway, my knee is much better, even despite the set back of the accident but I discovered that I still don't have great left-to-right stability and my injured right hand can't take a lot of weight-bearing yet and my recovering left shoulder isn't up to the holding put with bar or strap... So I feel like an invalid whenever I board the bus. So far, I haven't had trouble getting a seat but it is a pain if the driver takes off before I am seated. I *should* probably say something to the driver but I don't. Mostly because I forget that it will be an issue until after it happens and I lurch into someone, or step on some toes. (Sorry if I stepped on your toes. I probably looked a bit tipsy to you but it wasn't intentional.)

Farmer's Market and riding in the snow

2011-01-09T10:48:00.006-05:00

I road Alfred to the first Somerville Winters Farmers Market yesterday. It was still snowing but since the roads had been heavily salted, nothing was sticking so it was more like riding in a light rain. I hadn't ridden since the previous Sunday because of hand surgery so I didn't care what the weather was doing. Riding is much better than not riding. Riding outside in any condition trumps riding inside on a stationary bike.

The market was packed, as expected, but I managed to get stocked up for the week with root veggies, lamb, scallops. Even picked up a snack at hi-rise. Next week they will have coffee! The wine tasting was a nice touch. Didn't buy any because I only had so much room in my bag. I'll be better prepared next week.

Clothing obsession section so I can remember next year what worked: thin Smartwool socks under thick alpaca socks, waterproof Keen pull-on boots, Terry winter tights, Terry wrapper skirt (the farmer's market skirt with the convenient hip pocket for cash), Smartwool mid-layer 1/4 zip top, EMS primaloft jacket with pit-zips, goose down mittens. The goose down mittens can be overkill but they consistently work. On the head: Rivendell pink neck gaiter and green possum-wool cap.

Winter Farmer's Market starts this Saturday

2011-01-05T14:15:00.002-05:00

I don't care what the weather says or that I can't ride my bike yet, I plan on making it to the first winter farmer's market of the year:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x224241902/Somerville-winter-farmers-market-opens-at-Armory.

New Year's Rides and "there's that news van again"

2011-01-02T18:21:00.006-05:00

I have managed to get out yesterday and today. The last rides I can do for awhile as I have hand surgery on Monday and no clear indication on when I can start riding again. It was one of the reasons for getting the Trek Earl -- no shifter so one less think to fiddle with why the hand heals.
I have also tackled some of my resolutions. One is to continue to get rid of stuff. I took a pair of boots to the Buffalo Exchange and accepted the cash rather than store credit so that I wouldn't accidentally end up with MORE stuff. I have FIVE winter hats at least and was still looking at more of them while I waited to have my boots evaluated.
I then blew the cash on the Indian Buffet 2 stores down. This took care of resolution 2 - another on going resolution - to eat more green veggies. A challenge because I am allergic to many raw greens.
I also tested out the dynamo wheel on Tinker. If anything, the bike handled a bit better. The wheel has a Marathon 700X32 tire on it. I don't think it is a "plus" but it is a nice tire with the reflex. I jerry-rigged a rear seat bag to hold extra lights and some tools. I'd like to get a smaller bag like the Rivendell Sack XS.
Yesterday I decided to have a small rambling adventure. I rode my commute route on Tinker - perfect gearing or did I get to the perfect level of "in-shape" to handle the gear ratio? I don't know. But its nice to know that Tinker will work for commuting - it handles similarly to my poor departed Frabaert (the San Jos8).
I felt like I was followed by a Betty Foy. I spotted it in Harvard Square in front of the bookstore and tried to picture the owner. Male? Tallish? Safety conscious (great German mirror just like the one on Alfred). Not sure about the weather (rear tire was plain front was a studded Marathon Winter). Prepared because the bike had both dynamo lighting and back-up Planet Bike battery lights. Interesting value system as in the Brooks saddle had a seperate combo cable lock attached to the bike rack but the pricier dynamo hub wheel had a quick-release and was not attached to anything. There was a quick release system for the saddle bag so I'm guessing a really nice Rivendell or Carradice bag.
Anyway, I headed over to Porter Square books because they were having a sale and I needed a calendar and book to read a the hospital. I could have gotten the calendar cheaper at Borders or Barnes and Nobles but I try to do some of my book buying at Porter because it is such a good bookstore. Also, I had wanted to do my Christmas shopping there but ended up ordering online from Amazon because I waited to late.
The bookstore was packed. I found what I needed and then treated myself to a coffee.
When I left, there was that extra-distinctive Betty Foy parked in front of the Dunkin Donuts.

Mostly successful bike day...

2010-12-31T20:42:00.002-05:00

I loaded the 20# Cyclops trainer on Alfred's front rack and took it to the Arlington Package Express to mail to my brother. On the phone, the guy tried to tell me I just needed to set up the bike in front of the TV and watch the news for half an hour. That's what his doctor told him to do. Just didn't work for me. I only had the trainer from when I first injured my knee. I was desperate to get some exercise and set up a bike, taking off the left pedal and clipping in with the right foot. Once I could get outside again, never could get back on the trainer.
Then, when I enter the shop another guy asks what it is. I explain and he says "I couldn't last more than 5 minutes doing that!" Yep, there is something about riding outside that can't be mimicked on an indoor trainer. Surprises. Scenery. Subtle changes in position. Sudden stops.
The sun is out and it is warm. I decide to take the new bike out for a ride and stop by Ace to get the seat adjusted and look for a basket. It's clear I need something, preferably a Wald 137. They don't have the 137 but they do have a different one so I leave the bike and run some errands in Porter Square, chiefly looking for some anti-fog stuff for my glasses. I fail in that respect and head back to Ace where I am informed choice 2 didn't fit, so I ordered the 137.
I am also overdressed. The sudden change from Artic to almost spring like had left me confused and worse, I couldn't find any of my lighter weight tops! Still had a great ride. Headed over to EMS in Harvard Square for the lens de-fogger and, unexpectedly, a smartwool top. Very expensive but pretty much what I've been looking for the last year and it was in a color other than black. So no I new clothing for the new year. This is a tradition in my Mom's family that you wear something new on new year's day for good luck. I also have a pair of alpaca socks that will most likely be overkill tomorrow as well if the weather is anything like today.

accidental car day and first real snow bike commute, sort of

2010-12-31T00:14:00.003-05:00

I goofed. I placed an Amazon order and forgot to change the shipping from my office to my home address. A dumb mistake for 2 reasons: our office is closed this week for the holiday and one of the items is bulky and heavy.
It's my first day back and I wanted to ride the new bike a bit more, but instead took out trusty Alfred who seemed too small after the taller 700c wheeled Trek Earl, still nameless. Maybe Tinker?
Anyway, my first true snow ride on Alfred. I think after all I've read, one of the important features in a winter snow bike is that it feels like an old friend. You are comfortable with it and can respond to changes. I had only one "incident" - I braked the rear tire did a slight skid.
Surprisingly, no car issues. This despite the fact that the snow is piled so deep that bike lanes are now parking lanes. Maybe a reason for drivers to support bike lanes - better parking options after a major snow storm?
I did have one pink/red sneakered poser guy on a redline 9-2-5 singlespeed give my the finger at Teele Square. Not sure why. He passed me while stopped at Broadway and Rt 16. I drafted him all the way up the hill and though I could have gone faster didn't want to deal with passing him only to have him do the guy thing and pass me and for what. To wait at the light at Teele?
Anyway, at the office I check in with OR and discover that the bulky package is thin, tall, and heavy. The other packages are 3 books. I don't want to give in but finally admit that the big package is too wide to go cross-wise on my front rack though I may have given it a go in the summer time when there is more room to maneuver. It wouldn't have even worked on the rear rack.
The irony. The package is my Park Tools PCS-10 workstand.
I admit defeat and ride home without the stand. I stop at Dave's Fresh Pasta for fish. Another guy is more determined than me and lifts his bike onto a snow bank to lock it to the bike rack. I just park Alfred and lock the rear wheel with my small evolution lock. Alfred weighs a ton so someone would have be strong and determined to carry him off.
I pickup the car and drive back to the office and decide to go the same way I bike, because I forgot to bring the GPS with me and I don't know any other way to the office! It was interesting to see the commute from a driver's eye. I wish I had seem more cyclists to get a better sense. At the office I parked in an unmarked area that gets used for deliveries, put on the flashers and rushed in and out of the building. No problem. BTW, I have no idea what the rules are about that space. There is no signage.
To assuage the guilt of a single purpose, under 5 mile drive, I stop at the Foodmaster on the way home and buy their last 3 boxes of Sweatscoop kitty litter. I can handle 1 box easily on Alfred but half the time the store is out when I need to buy it.
If I didn't have a car, how would I have handled this boo-boo? Take the package apart and do several trips? Take it on the bus (would need some sort of cart to carry it home from the bus stop). Call a friend? Call a cab? Ask the guy who told me he lived in Arlington if he could drop it off on his way home?

another car day...

2010-12-21T22:34:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was the first real snow day and I did not have to make the ultimate bike commuter decision: ride or wimp out. I had already decided to work from home since all I was doing was writing test plans and there is something about pending housework that makes it easier: procrastinate by doing the dishes and ignoring the computer or procrastinate by typing away and ignoring the dishes. A win-win.
Today, however, was a car errand day. I worked in the morning but was officially on Christmas vacation at noon, at which time I had to cram quite a bit into the afternoon in order to be back in time of for the cat-sitter to get the keys. It was an efficient car errand day. Dangerously efficient. At least 2 errands required the car: I was delivering a donated bike to the recipient and going to Watertown for a quick doctor's appointment. However, in 2 hours I managed to: put bike in car, fill tank for tomorrow's trip, drop off bike, get to doctor's and out in record time, stop by Penzey's Spices for gifts, stop by Camera Inc and pick up photo prints I had ordered the night before, and stop by Playtime for small photo books for those photos.
Phew.
Honestly, would have taken much more time without the car but I really would have liked to have biked at least part of the errands.
I've also noticed that since I drive less I am in less of a rush when I do drive. I pissed off someone on Pleasant St. when I wouldn't run a left turn light that had changed. Which is why when cyclists think that drivers are out to get them, the drivers are really just out to get anyone.

doing it wrong but being okay

2010-12-15T19:25:00.005-05:00

My favorite blog post of the year is "Doing Wrong" from The Path Less Pedaled, http://pathlesspedaled.com/2010/11/youre-doing-it-wrong/.
I even just did this link "wrong".
I like it because I tend to do things "wrong" and end out okay. Wrong first career choice. then, skipped going back to grad school for a "professional" degree and am now in a profession that I greatly enjoy to the point that I can't imagine myself doing anything else. More ironic, I got into this work TOTALLY BY ACCIDENT when I quit a crazy dot.com job by doing the VERY VERY wrong thing of just walking out one day in frustration and randomly picking up a temp job so I wouldn't be bored at home while I tried to figure out what to do.
I waited years to even consider buying a home even though I was "wasting" money on rent. Though it hindsight I made out okay because I lived in shared apartments for over 10 years where my rent was mostly under $300/month.
I also bicycle wrong. I'm frikking slow but I do wear lycra. I look like a lollipop on the grey and super wet days because I shamelessly wear a bright orange showerpass jacket just to be more visible.
I took a mountain bike with only seven speeds on a 3 day cycling tour of Maine, where one-and-half days was spent going up the steepest hills with only one available gear (which was not anywhere near first) because I still do not know how to take care of my IGH. I have no shame in walking up a hill or because I don't feel like figuring out how to get to the left turn lane. I will not bike in clipless pedals but I won't wear my nicest footwear either -- my favorite most reliable shoe repair guy admonishes me to wear the "cheap boots" outside in the snow and salt and save the good ones for indoor.
I'm thinking about all this, because right now I'm in a pretty decent spot in my life. I have a job that I love. I work with people with whom I enjoy working. I have a home that near most of my local friends - I can walk to visit them. I am the perfect distance (just under 5 miles) for daily cycle commuting. My office has bicycle facilities to practically die for. Most of my company bikes. When I had my accident this summer no one there asked if I would stop this "fool endeavor" but rather shared their accident stories and the list of the Mass bike law sites :)
Anyway, if I had done everything "right" I don't think I'd be any happier.

yes, we have bananas and trees and bicyclists...

2010-12-11T08:11:00.002-05:00

Last night, stopped at Permberton Farms and they did indeed have bananas. One of the things about grocery shopping after work is that I only have a little bit of room for the groceries so I tend to get only what I need for a day or two. Which means that I am less likely to find that forgotten unidentifiable in the back of the fridge that will get thrown out weeks later.
When I stopped there was another bike parked against the fence. When I left at least 2 more bikes. In the store I saw at least 2 cyclists as well. I'm noticing because Pemberton has no real bicycle parking and yet it is in a perfect location to get a few things on the ride home. They do seem to have the best prices on bananas, which I can't figure out because my friends complain that Pemberton is too expensive.
Back in the parking lot saw someone else buying a tree and trying to get it into the trunk of their car? Not sure how that worked out. Back home, got a weird catalog called "Frontgate" which included giant Christmas trees. Definitely a suburban McMansion-decorating catalog. If you buy a oversized house you have the dilemma of trying to fill all that extra space. I'm not sure how I got on this list. I don't have extra space and I want to get rid of a ton of the excess stuff that I do have.
While reading the catalog Science Friday had a piece on the science of Christmas trees - keeping them fresh, etc. Somehow the catalog's artificial trees and the additional accessories like rolling storage stand and pull-up cover made the real trees look like a better idea.

STILL cycling...

2010-12-05T21:22:00.002-05:00

I can't believe how co-operative the weather has been. Its getting colder but not anything I haven't been ride in. Most of my riding has been commuting and errands.
Friday morning I dropped off my car for its yearly check-up and winterization fluid change. I drive this car so rarely that I think I should sell it and then I get the call from the shop later that day -- all done. No major issues, just tightened the belts. Damn, but the car is just too reliable. And its paid off.
I had thrown Alfred in the back of the car and took it out to ride off to work. Of course, one of the guys at the garage was skeptical about riding in this "weather". There is after all a bus stop right at the shop's entrance. However, it is far warmer cycling for 10 minutes that standing waiting for the bus which could be 2 minutes or 20.
Saturday I rode into Davis Square for a haircut and then back to the garage to get the car. Since I was near Lexington decided to have a "suburban" moment and drove to Wilson's for some groceries. Totally forgot that it would be a major tree buying day. Did not forget about their second lot and parked back there. But it was crazy. Also, I think I'd put buying a tree (if I ever bought one) on the list of reasons that a car would be most practical for the errand. The others that come to mind are gardening supplies and 25# bags of cat litter.
Safely home I made some chicken stock and worked on the first sleeve of a Lopi sweater. The woman I bought the yarn from said it would go fast. We'll see. Today road to the library to drop off books, to Whole Foods, and then to a friend's Christmas party. None very far. At Whole Foods I discovered that I not put the lock back on the bike (I had taken it off when I put it in the back of the car.) Decided to risk it. Locked up Alfred using the helmet. Got my stuff. Came out. Someone was eyeing the bike.
"We've been admiring your bike. Did it come like that with the rack?" A great quick discussion on bike lights and commuting and why having a light on a front rack or the fork (as opposed to the handlebar) lights up more of the roadway.
Sweet. And I must not tempt fate like that again. Or maybe Alfred is so odd-looking (the internal rear hub and rollerbrake on a mountain bike frame really throw off people) that no one wants to bother.

yes, we have no bananas

2010-11-30T23:02:00.003-05:00

Another confusing weather day. At the light just before Market Basket had to shed my coat, gloves, and neck gaiter. When I finally left work, the weather had become decidedly chilly. Needed the hat as well as the coat, gloves and gaiter. It was a Terry day: Terry thermal hoodie, Terry polartec tights, Terry wrapper skirt.

On the way home, stopped for bananas at Pemberton but they were all too too ripe or too green. I did get see all the Christmas trees and wreaths and a few determined holiday decor shoppers. Its an activity that always seems to take me by surprise. My parents believed artificial trees were far superior to the real ones.* Just get it out of the basement, put it together and your done! No mess. No hassles. So, I've never managed to take part in real-tree rituals. Rather than rebel, and get a real tree of my own, I've gotten worse. I have a Christmas "twig" - a leafless tree thing designed to hold jewelry, but it does a good job showing off my favorite ornaments.

*They also didn't believe in wrapping gifts but that is one tradition that I refuse to keep!

Alfred and the angry birds...

2010-11-29T23:00:00.002-05:00

The trusty bike Alfred has been getting a tad noisy so I went to check the Hub Bicycle site for their hours. Lo and behold, Emily had recently posted instructions for dealing with the angry birds.

Simple solution - the chain probably needs oiling. In my active imagination I had pictured the entire bottom bracket suddenly going to pieces. I really do need to expand my limited bicycle mechanics knowledge.
So, tonight with only a few missteps, I think I fixed the problem.

Commuting notes: warmer than expected heading in. Shed EMS coat, Smart Wool neck gaiter and EMS glomitts by the time I got to Union Square. Chillier on the way home. Added hat under helmet and needed everything for the ride to my Electronics class. So cold in the building wore the hat and coat the whole time. Nice ride home. Saw several cyclists including another lone woman near Joy Street.

Revisiting a Motif in The Garden

2010-11-28T21:44:00.007-05:00

Several years ago I discovered The Garden tucked away on Harvard's campus. I had been walking around on a cold winter afternoon with my trusty old Ricoh SLR with a used wide-angle lens and black and white film. Sunny so good light and shadows. The shadow was intriguing: a lion in a walled garden. I think I took one picture and continued on my ramble. This was back when I'd spend more time to get the shot right rather than waste film.

In the darkroom, this image became The Picture to work on. The wow one from the roll. I was taking classes at the MIT photography lab and had the opportunity to scan the negative and edit it in Photoshop - my first digital photograph. And my last time in the darkroom because soon after I would become severely allergic to the chemicals. Even stopping by Ferranti-Dege and waiting too long in the back sales room would trigger an reaction.

Something about the arrangement of the scene intrigues me so I try to stop by if conditions are right. So far, it needs to been Fall or Winter, cold, sunny, mid-afternoon. Each time some things are different, the furniture changed in style or moved about. Each time I feel a connection with the past. The security of knowing something will always be there. The simple fun of trying out a new camera or a different composition.

"... you can go anywhere you want"

2010-11-28T11:27:00.005-05:00

Cold day. Sunny. Temp said in the 40's. With the wind felt more like 20 to wimpy me. Last night, riding through Union Square I heard a lot of sirens. Passed by fire trucks. So many that when one came down a side street I couldn't tell that that was direction the siren was coming from.

Just before the Porter Square station I see so many lights. A cop is directing the traffic over the bridge towards Harvard Square. D**m. Its small detour but its after 5pm and dark and I cold. I ask the cop if I could cross up to Elm and bypass the fire. He said to me, "As long a you're not driving you can go anywhere you want."
So I walked the bike through the fire trucks and stopped. It was fascinating. I'd never actually seen a fire with so many trucks and firefighters. Because of a light on the emergency crane you could see that firefighters were on the second and third floors of a triple decker. It didn't look like much damage. Then the flareups. After all, its a 100+ year old wood frame building. They tore out the window framing and directed a firehose into the front walls. The lights are so bright it looks like daylight on the house and nothing else around. The steam rises like a special effect in the movie and gets lots in the black sky.

I asked a woman on the street the question that is scaring me. The possibility that you look for in the wreckage but almost don't want to know: did everyone get out? According to the seasoned bystanders there was consensus. Everyone got out. No ambulances needed.

When I arrive home, the upstairs neighbors are back. My next door neighbors are moving and came back for some forgotten items. They are surprised at how much they need to get out of the house. We talk for a bit in the cold. I rarely drive these days so its okay to keep their car in the driveway until they have time to get the luggage carrier off the roof. I have so much stuff. If there was a fire, what would I miss? What would I replace? Or do you become someone else when you lose all your possessions?

Raking leaves

2010-11-25T17:41:00.003-05:00

One of the ideas that I have been incorporating into my life is "seasonality". Eating more seasonal, local food for example. Also having activities that fit the time of the year. Well, its leave raking season. A few weeks ago I raked the back and swept a bit and bagged it all for community collection. However, thanks to a glorious ancient maple on the border of the backyard there was still the equivalent of about 10 bags of leaves. The upstairs neighbors and I had also talked about saving some bags for our own composting. Then I read a gardening article about the need of leave debris for butterfly eggs. So yesterday I started raking. It was easy going because the leaves have dried out and we haven't had much rain the last few days. I covered the the front raised bed with leaves then covered that with a tarp. This is an experiment to see how much breaks down by next spring. I also left a little pile between the fence and the raised bed - for the butterflies. There is also a layer in the back in the section that is traced out with bricks to hold next year's flower garden.
Then, as I pull the leaves into a huge pile I saw that little bits were being left behind - lazy-man mulching is invented. I dragged the pile around with the rake getting more bits to stay behind. No need to go over it with a lawn mower.
It was getting dark so I raked all the front leaves onto a tarp to drag into the back and bag up today. Then another lightbulb idea. We want to have leaves available for the compost so after bagging, I left about 4 bags worth on the tarp, rolled it up and weighed it down with stones. 4 less leaf bags to be filled.
There is a practical side to this as the more compost we make the less we will need to buy to fill in the back flower bed.

Still Cycling...

2010-11-23T23:22:00.002-05:00

Almost through November and I am still cycling to work everyday. Partly because it was my goal this year and partly because the weather has held out. I had more challenges this summer, including several days of torrential rain. These last 2 days have been unseasonably warm as well. I'm also not the only one still riding. Despite leaving work late - it was around 10pm by the time I got home - I saw several cycle commuters. The best count was on Mass. Ave between Rte 16 and Lake St - I was pass by a male cyclist on my side of street at the same time that 2 female cyclists passed on the other side (headed towards Cambridge).

Tomatoes and garden recap

2009-09-07T16:56:00.004-04:00

It's Labor Day and summer is over. Even the weather has moved into the early fall zone.
I had wanted to can tomatoes this year. The front garden had gotten off to a great start but too much rain, the blights, and other mysteries resulted in few tomatoes. I planted a Mortgage Maker, Paul Robeson, Black Pear, Elberta Peach, and several black cherry and San Marzano plants. By the end of the summer I can report that:
The E Peach was the first fruit and had a great summery tang. I will definitely plant again. Unfortuately it was a determinant that stopped half-way through July.
The Mortgage Maker was fast but never ripened to a beefsteaky red. Had a bland taste.
I did not like the black cherry tomatoes. They grew well and overtook the garden but the taste wasn't all that appealing for the effort involved.
I don't think the black pear was a black pear - it was rounder and more like the paul robeson
the robeson had good taste -- but didn't get many
the San Marzanos are all gone. The summer was not nice to them but the ones that thrived had a wonderfully subtle tomato flavor - I will try again next year and cross my fingers.

I also planted to some European globe eggplants. So far, only one produced but another eggplant is showing up this week. A disappointment.

After I planted the front garden I came across lemon cucumber plants. The vines grew well - especially on the back porch - but even with hand pollination I got only one cuke out of one plant on the front porch. There is always next year.

Still I wanted to be sure to have some fresh canned tomatoes for this winter. I ordered a box of tomatoes from Metro Pedal (they deliver CSAs and ordered the box from one of the farms). On Saturday, I made a batch following the Ball Blue Book. At the end of the night I was daunted: the tomatoes and water had separated. The seals, however were good and tight. I still had half a box of tomatoes so on Sunday I turned to Eugenia Bone's Well-Preserved . I had had great success with her Strawberry Balsamic Jam earlier this summer. Her very simple sounding recipe (tomatoes, citric acid, salt) was very hands on, but came out well. I had some left-over tomatoes so made a tomato soup, adding just some cilantro, salt and pepper.

So it looks like Ball Blue Book for the basics but Well-Preserved for the intriguing recipes.

Seasonality

2009-05-31T17:14:00.002-04:00

It's the 2 year anniversary of living in my current place and so I have had some time to fall into the rhythm of things around me. I've also been reading a lot lately about food. Blame it on a combination of visiting Iceland last June and taking the bus to work this winter. Iceland, because I was exposed to natural tasting Icelandic lamb which put me on the hunt for some locally raised grass fed Icelandic which was so good that going back to the store-bought lamb -- even the New Zealand lamb at Whole Foods -- just isn't the same. The bus is because I filled my time reading and catching up on books I had bought in the past few years and never got around to finishing.
The most important was The Ominvore's Dilemma which got me to really think about where our modern food comes from. This led to reading a lot of other books including Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. AVM brought across the concept of everything has its season.
For me, I'm seeing that the winter months are indoorsy activities - reading, knitting, cooking dutch oven type meals. April and May this year became focused on cyling and getting a garden ready -- with lots of missteps along the way. In the past 2 years the garden was haphazardly put-together and not until June. This year I planned earlier. I fixed the front raised garden. I bought too many plants -- as usual -- at the garden center. Countless seed packets -- but most of the seedlings aren't faring well as I started them too late.
Cycling was different. I wanted to ride to work starting in April. I felled pretty hard on the ice this winter and threw my back off. Several rounds of acupunture have improved it but it will be awhile before I am strong enough to ride in the drops. So, I picked up a bike on Craigslist but found out a month later that it needed an expensive repair. So I brought my trusty old Alfred (a Gary Fisher 7-speed Alfresco) to Ace Wheelworks and had the straightish handlebars replaced with a "cruiser" style so that I could ride more upright. The fancy San San Jos8 is in the basement until I feel comfortable riding that far forward again.
And thus, at the end of May I can say I have fully planted raised bed with too many tomatoes and eggplants plus some hungarian wax peppers that the upstairs neighbors added. I have a compost bin chugging along in the back (again with a lot of support the neighbors). Just finished installing the rain barrel (from the town DPW at a discount). I am riding my bike to work every day and trying to stay down to one car trip or less per week. All of the past month's car trips however were in the name of the garden. (A cargo bike is now on my wish list).
Food wise, the rest of the world has also discovered local and hand made. I joined the Enterprise CSA and have a weekly box delivered via MetroPedal. I picked up canning supplies last week because this wintered I realized that that grass-fed lamb called for home-canned tomatoes. I am pricing out Chest Freezers.
June will be cycling, and travel and the start of berry picking stints. Finish potting all the container plants. Travel to ME. All of the summer will be exploring New England, gardening, learning to cook, and hanging out as much as possible.

rethinking the coffee habit (or bye-bye DD)

2009-04-17T20:24:00.005-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about food in the past few months. After making Molly Steven's recipe for 7 hour lamb with the grassfed Icelandic I had bought last fall I went into a food rut. It was also winter where what is available is far less is tempting. However, because I've been taking the bus to work I got to finish reading Michael Pollen's "The Omnivore's Dilemma", which blew me away and got me to think even more deeply about what to eat and where my food comes from.
I haven't been thinking too much about where my coffee came from. I have been excited because a small roaster opened in Arlington, Barismo, and I can get high quality small-batch roasted coffee. Still, I drink the horrible k-cup coffee at work and think nothing of getting a fix at Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks or picking up a can of beans at Trader Joe's.
Until the Scott Weidensaul talk that I attended tonight in Arlington. The topic was migratory birds. I'm not a birder but I know some birds migrate - like the Canada Goose. However, his talk showed how many many species migrate and depend on ecosystems all over the world. Then he honed in on coffee and how the move from traditional shade-grown coffee to partial shade and full sun (monoculture) coffee farming is having a negative impact on the birds habitats. He is publicizing the Smithonian's Bird Friendly certification, which goes beyond Fair Trade and Organic labelling, to ensure that the coffee beans were trully shade grown. Going further, however, is an effort with a coffee roasting company,Birds and Beans , to roast and sell QUALITY bird friendly coffee. The goal is to show that there is a market for bird friendly coffee and to encourage birders to buy it.
Well, as I said, I'm not a birder. But I'd buy the coffee -- I actually did pick up a 2lb bag at the talk, after drinking the sample. One of the few times in recent years that I cup of coffee that stood on its own on flavor without needing milk.
And now, the moral dilemma for me. I think I will have to give up Dunkin' Donuts until that start off a bird friendly coffee. Since Dunkin Donuts is my personal symbol of civilization - if there's a DD there's real people and a hot cup of coffee waiting for me. I'm not a diehard Starbucks fan so saying I am giving up Starbucks has no meaning. Nor giving up the the crap coffee at work. But the DD. That will be hard.

fridge cleaning

2009-03-08T15:35:00.002-04:00

We set the clocks forward and lost an hour on a gorgeously unexpected March weekend. Yesterday I brought Alfred the 7-speed Gary Fisher bike that I've had for ages (all the way back to the semi-coop in Somerville). My knee is still recovering from last year's soccer adventures but I had a great noodling ride out to Union Square (looking for the advertised Sherman Market that has opened yet) and down towards the Biscuit. I took a gamble on buying a potato dill loaf and lost. Dryer than I expected and far too dilly. Perhaps if I had had some left over salmon from last week's tasting at Savenor's I could have made a sandwich.
Then cruised down to Porter Square and past to a quiet section of North Cambridge. Capone Foods was open and I've never been in -- and I wanted some creme fraiche. No creme fraiche but some good samples. The entrees were too big for me but the duck and squash lassagne was tempting! I ended up with some grated romano (which I needed as I used most of what I've had in the fridge) and italian pork tenderloin slices with Rosemary -- I am a sucker of rosemary. Still needing creme fraiche I headed to Dave's Pasta -- which was packed. They will be expanding "real soon now" into the old Cimbeline space. In the meantime, it was a dance to look at the cheeses while others tried to order fresh pasta. (Note: I've have yet to have a bad pasta or ravioli from this place). They did not have Fiore di Nonno's fig burrata http://www.fioredinonno.com/products.html so I decided to try their fresh mozzarella instead. Somehow I also ended up with frozen ravioli (who can resist sweet potatoes and marscopone filling?), Barismo coffee, and the creme fraiche.
So Saturday's lunch/dinner were some sweet potato ravioli served over blanched mustard greens and a saute of king trumpet mushrooms and half the shallot from the fridge.
Today's lunch was half a Naan slice, with the italian pork slice, fresh mozzarella and very fresh paneer curds.
As part of fridge cleaning I decided to make paneer from most of a gallon of whole milk that I had bought for another cheese recipe that needed rennet (which I did not have and could not find.) I like fresh paneer but haven't made it for years and my Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian book has been inadvertently but permanently loaned out. In the internet search I came across food articles that whole milk is better than lowfat because it has less sugar. I think Woody Allen was being very prescient in Sleeper.
Anyway, paneer is extremely easy to make. Boil milk. Take off heat as soon as it boils. Add enough acid (e.g., white wine vinegar, lime juice, lemon juice). Stir for a couple of minutes as the curds form. Let sit for about 10 minutes. Strain into cheesecloth. Press. (I took some of the still-straining curds and added them straight to the lunch sandwich).
Now to get something made with the apples and celery root.

Offal-ly Good Tasting at Savenor's Market

2009-02-21T17:46:00.004-05:00

Yep a bad pun but it fits. i've been in a food rut and while looking for some reindeer meat came across Savenors Market afternoon class on Offal. In just over the hour we tasted fois gras (domestically it comes from ducks from Bella Bella in Connecticut), sweetbreads (one version simply fried in All Purpose Animal Fat the other wrapped in bacon then pastry then baked), braised lamb heart, steak and kidney pie, and haggis. All accompanied by hearty red wine. I also learned that you can't get lung in the US but it is considered the essential ingredient of haggis. All were new foods for me and tasty.

I also did some grocery shopping and went for some things I never had before (venison, llama, skate, cod cheeks) and things I've had before (like turkey legs). They had Dietz and Watson scrapple which I sadly skipped since I have had it before, but its good to know it is available locally.

Dim Sum and other things I think I've out-grown

2009-02-15T17:23:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I went out for Dim Sum with some friends. Though full at the end, I was $25 poorer and re-evaluating the dim sum experience. I use to love it; all the different flavors. Now I am allergic to peanuts and shrimp which meant that entire carts were off limit to me -- even things that shouldn't have shrimp had shrimp in them and the first pork dumplings to arrive had peanuts! Thus, restricted to custard desserts, calamari, clams, and beef foon I managed a meal but with out the satisfaction. I wish I had eaten elsewhere (sushi, deli food?) And I felt that I had put aside a younger-me's entertainments.

And so, a list of other things I use to love and am just not that much into at the moment:
1. Museum going -- I haven't even made it into to Boston to see the new ICA -- 10 years I would have been down several times by now
2. sweet potatoes -- I hope this is a passing fad. I can't bring myself to cook them any more but will eat them if served.
3. chicken -- I've switched to red meats and fish
4. tofu -- I'm sure this is temporary
5. hanging out in coffee shops
6. going to large fiber events

So, to avoid a mental rut I am attempting new things:
1. signed up for a food tasting class at Savenor's
2. had a Tibetan yak dish for dinner last week
3. attempted to make creme fraiche -- it's setting at the moment
4. tried out Alia's Wii -- she just got it and the Wii Fit -- I tried the balance and shalom
5. went furniture shopping in Gardner -- and realized that for many things I'd prefer used or antique
6. cooking things I haven't made before. I have a beef cross cut shin in the oven being cooked Osso Buco style; tried Icelandic Rye Bread (including making the buttermilk); a different recipe for lamb shanks (I usually make it in Icelandic style soup; this time I'm slow cooking it in a sauce of beer and orange juice with onions, carrots, and celery.)

Dinner: bluefish with pomagranite glaze over wilted mustard greens with fresh blackberries.

New Year's Resolutions

2009-02-08T21:10:00.002-05:00

Yeah, its February, but I am going over my New Year's Resolutions. It was a hasty and haphazard list this year. I like to write it up on New Year's Day but was in the middle of looking for a job and considering a job offer so not in best frame of mind for the diversion. My only "rule" is to just include things I *know* I can achieve and want to achieve. In the past I've always included a habit I want to create (e.g. wear sunscreen). So in that vein, this year's list includes remember to floss and getting my nails done regularly (at least through the winter). A more global item: no unfinished business.
I have also been thinking about this past Christmas and the ban on gifts. The economic news has gotten worse. I realized how important was to maintain a spirit of generosity -- to give what you can. For most of us, no matter how bad things get there will be other people who have it worse.
So, this past week, I've added: 1-day of charity knitting a week. I have the bus ride which has proven a boon for getting knitting done. I realized that I could start my charity projects now and have things for the various drives that come up. At the moment I am working on a garter-stitch scarf in Plymouth Encore for a charity that requires "warm and washable" garments.

it's still cold outside and the white stuff is not going away but I've got errands to run

2009-02-01T11:18:00.004-05:00

This has not been the best of weeks, especially after falling on the ice Wednesday night. Especially because I fell while salting the walkway because I had seen how quickly the sidewalks were icing up on the way home from the bus stop.
Nothing broken - this time. But my bad knee was not happy by the shock nor my lowerback. I somehow made it into work on Thursday and worked from home Friday. Then tried to spend Saturday catching up on errands.
First to Footstock in Concord in search of tall leather boots. I had called ahead to see if they had dressy leather boots but their version of dressy and mine were not the same. However, I checked out their loft and found replacements for my Haflinger boiled wool slippers. Unfortnately, I was parked at a meter which limited my other shopping as I had to climb a snow bank each time I had to feed it and my knee what not happy with that arrangement. I did get a good ham sandwich at the Cheese Shop and the at the leather goods store attempted to look for a wallet. Then downtown to find yarn for a sweater. No luck at Windsor Button but the place was pleasantly busy. Then over to Copley to look for jeans and boots and a wallet. Nada. Also, the Simon mall free wifi was a pain. It took me 10 minutes to find the accept terms on my iPhone screen (its over to the left) and I couldn't figure out how to override the Simon system and just use the ATT data network. Sigh. So back to Alewife to pick up the car (yeah, I wimped out and parked there).
Determined to have some success today I drove to the Natick Mall. What a revelation. Carpet, wood, modern furnishings. No annoying muzak type music. Calming. I hate malls but there was something in this mall that makes me want to come back. The shopping was not perfect. Rockport shoes did not have my size in boots, Levi's did not have my size in jeans, and I did not see any boot styles that I iiked at Nordstroms.
I took a risk and walked into Lucky Jeans. They did not have my size in women's but they had the exact cut that I was looking for in Men's. the saleswoman helped me find a perfect fitting pair of dark rinse jeans -- so comfy that I didn't not want to take them off. Another thing off the list.
I've been looking for a leather tote, a clutch, and a wallet. I checked out Coach just to perpetually frustrate myself. I have not forgiven them for buying out and killing the Mark Cross brand. However, I was pleasantly suprised: they are moving away from the classic suburban teenage mallrat style that they have been showing for umpteen years in exchange for some more 21st century classic combos. I don't like overly logo'd products and it was nice to see some more subdued styles. Even a cute tiny wallet (a bit pricy at $98) and basic clutches (though most had too much of the "C" logo for my taste).
I wandered around Nordstrom's handbags --- very disappointed in Dooney & Bourke. They have some great looking leather bags with a major design flaw: heavy metal zippers positioned to rub against you or your coat or shirt or sweater if carried any closer to the body than arm's length. What were they thinking?
From there, I looked at the wallets and came across a great collection of Lodis in tan, black, and red. I always get my wallet in a color (this is so that it does not get lost or accidentally left behind). Sure enough, Lodis had a small "just big enough" wallet. I couldn't decide on a color then saw another display of pink and green leather combos. They were out of the small one with the green leather exterior so I opted for the the pink with green leather interior. Retro preppy. I love it. It doesn't go with anything else I have at the moment. I will not lose it easily.
So, the local shopping/errand take:
1 ham sandwich (from locally raised pig no less)
1 container of fresh-made Carolina style no mayo cole slaw
1 pair of dark rinse jeans
2 pairs of wool slippers
1 pink leather wallet
1 bus pass for February

For the leather tote, I wimped out and ordered one on sale from Zappos. And just ordered several pairs of tall boots from them as well with fingers crossed that one fits. It sucks. I'd like to buy shoes locally but more and more find myself relying on Zappos because of the 2-way free shipping. Like getting a mini private shoe store in your home.
It's sad though because I tried to buy at a great local shoe store, Janiak's But they usually were out of my size and would not be able to order or be able to order and not know how may weeks. Not their fault. Just the way the shoe biz works. But sad because it was the sort of store I'd like to shop at and in this bad economy they too are going out of business.

Baby its cold outside

2009-01-26T21:48:00.001-05:00

Bitter cold. I want to go back to Iceland but had to settle for Harvard Square this weekend. Got a haircut that was immediately hidden under my hat. Met up with my cousin Rock and took a tour of Harvard Square, including Dewey, Cheetham and Howe. Then an evening dinner with Margie at Jose's in Cambridge.

And not so great T rides...

2009-01-23T19:18:00.002-05:00

I like riding the T even when it doesn't go well. Like today. The 88 was crowded. It was the newer style bus that always feels cramped. I sat against a window. Halfway through the ride a 20-something girl sat next to me. She was in a mood. She asked me to move over (I was already against the window). She said I was elbowing her and she wanted to put her arm where my arm was though there was no other place to put my arm unless I cut it off (I have very broad shoulders). I told her I was over as far as could go. She was reading a book and said in a huff "Well then I'll just have to my arm here," and rested her book arm on my arm. I didn't say anything. I was amused. I thought of asking if it was rough getting around now that Daddy had to let the chauffeur go.
I guess I was SUPPOSE to cut my arm off because got up a minute or so later, said "F**k you," and took another seat. A man took her seat. Leaned back and closed his eyes. Somehow we both had room for our arms.

Common Cod and great T service

2009-01-10T01:10:00.004-05:00

Took time off from cleaning to attend Clara Parkes talk at the Common Cod Fiber Guild at MIT. The 87 Bus stopped for me even though I was just before the stop so I was able to stop in Davis Square to pick up some sushi for a very late lunch. Then at the T platform the train appeared just as I got off the escalator.
Common Cod got a larger room -- a theater style lecture hall -- at the Strata Center so it was easy to see the slide presentation. I saw several people that I knew but took off after turning in my baby hats. Again, the T train pulled up just as I got onto the platform. At Harvard the 77 Bus pulled up just as I got to the bus berth. If the T was ALWAYS like this no one would drive :)

the joy of stock and stash

2009-01-07T14:03:00.002-05:00

I am working on my New Year's goals -- yes we are week into the New Year but I've had some distractions but they will include improving my cooking and knitting.
In the mean time, I took advantage of this awful slushly slick day and made lamb stock. I bought a whole Icelandic lamb from Olga, a Maine shepherd, in September and have enjoyed wonderful meals of Icelandic style lamb soup or simple served chops or lamb meatballs with home-made spaghetti sauce. I've saved the bones for stock and followed Molly Steven's recipe in All About Braising: The Art of Uncomplicated Cooking. The stock is heavenly. I tried to take pictures of it before straining it but could not do it justice. This weekend I will be cooking the legs of the lamb following Molly's 7-hour lamb recipe.
Making stock always makes me feel rich. To be able to take a simple ingredients and make a spectacular ingredient. To use as much as possible - reducing waste. The first time I was layed off I bought a whole Turkey right after Thanksgiving because it was incredible cheap. Then I had to learn how to cook it! And in the process learned about stock. And in learning how to cook I realized I could make do with what is at hand.
However, making due with what is at hand has not helped my knitting. In December I ended up unintentionally dedicating time to reviewing my knitting needle collect and attempting some projects. Over the years I've amassed a good collection of circulars: Denise set, Webs set, Addi Turbos, Addi Lace, Clover bamboo, KnitPick Options. I've also gotten addicted to the Magic Loop method for most of my circular knitting, enhanced by the KP Options. I love the tips of the Denise and Webs but their cables leave much to be desired. I loved the Addi's until I tried the KP's. But I did not have KP's in size 3 and had to use the Addi Lace -- it didn't feel right. i just moved my Kopi skirt project from the Denise to the KP Harmonys and the knitting is going so much faster (the lopi was catching on the cable length and the cable connector.)
So I plunked down and got more KP Options and added the KP Harmony circulars as well. I will be trading/selling some of these other needles though I am torn on the Denise. They were a Christmas gift from my Mom several years ago. I liked them so much that I changed the needles for the scarf I was knitting for my Dad to the ones in the present (the scarf was delivered a month later in January). So the set is rather sentimental.

Norwegian purl - a new technique for the new year

2009-01-04T19:50:00.005-05:00

Until this afternoon, I had not heard of the Norwegian purl. Cleaning out the magazines I came across an old Interweave Knits magazine with an article on different knit and purl techniques. Unfortunately, the diagram was too small to figure out how to accomplish it. Fortunately, there is YouTube. In minutes after viewing this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE1u5rmqrH8
I had mastered the Norwegian purl. Time will tell if it works better for me than the traditional continental purl but its not even one week into the new year and I've learned something new.

A recap of some paring down successes of the last year

2008-12-31T11:17:00.003-05:00

My most recent success -- I finally sold the high school ring which my Dad had insisted on buying for me even though I hated high school so much that over a decade ago I asked to be removed from all alumna mailings! I got enough money for some stash expansion including the irresistible "Old Rose" colorway from Cherry Tree Yarn.

Other things donated, sold, or given away include:
My SLR camera kit from college -- given to a local teenager; I haven't used it in 10 years!
4 bookcases that never worked in my current place
a quilter's cutting table -- great, huge, but I haven't done any sewing in 2 years and I don't quilt -- this went to a friend who does quilt
6 boxes of books: sold some to books4cash.net, gave some away, traded some at a local used book store

maybe I should have gone with the worms

2008-12-22T09:25:00.002-05:00

One of my accomplishments this year was setting up a compost bin. A basic black plastic one like my neighbors have. It was started from the huge pile of leaves that the maple tree supplies in abundance.
Since November I have been faithfully saving the coffee grinds, banana peels, orange peels, and assorted veggie material and adding it to the pile. But with this weekend's storms I am daunted. The compost barrel seems miles away in the snow.
Maybe I should have gone with the worms after all. Ed, our contractor kept recommending worms. I'm not sure if he was more excited about the red wrigglers working away in the basement in the winter time to produce black gold or if he just liked the opportunity to say vermiculture. But worms in the basement. Ick. I still haven't gotten over the unintentional mushrooms in my previous basement (the result of the landlord's infamous little big dig project.)

squalor of affluence

2008-12-21T12:33:00.002-05:00

For years I have been in an endless battle to "de-clutter." I really don't know where it all comes from. I don't notice it one day and the next day I just want to get rid of some stuff, any stuff make room. Depending on the day I am channeling my Dad, a child of the depression who could never throw anything out, or channeling my Mom who has no qualms throwing out things.

Among the archives in my dangerous spacious and mostly dry basement I have a box of countless pint mason jars that another skilled packrat gave to me a few years ago. I needed *a few* jars for mixing fiber dyes. I got a Rubbermaid tub full. I haven't dyed anything in 2 years. Some of the jars were re-purposed as drinking glasses. Many still remain in the box. Then someone posted on my local town list that they needed to buy 4 pint mason jars. I posted back to her that she could as many as she wanted! I felt a burden removed. 6 glasses down. (Yeah, I snuck two more in the box just in case she broken one.)

Listening and reading news stories of people affected by economic problems (homes they can no longer afford, credit card bills, expense after expense) and arguments of whether the middle class is worse off now or before, I'm surprised that I missed out on some of the middle class pressures. I do not see cable as a necessity nor do I have a TV in every room. My car is a few years old but has low mileage and is paid off. But I cannot gloat because I still manage to have too much stuff. Some of it is the almost-useful-shame-to-throw-it-out stuff like shoes that no longer fit quite right or go with anything I own. Four goosedown vests because "they were such a good price and I couldn't decide on a color." We won't even touch the subject of handbags. I look around my home and see a lovely space filled not with prized possessions (though they are in there somewhere) but a squalor of affluence: unread magazines, un-opened moving boxes, un-used kitchen gadgets (why'd I buy popsicle forms when I do not like to make popsicles?)

All this stuff. It accumulates so easily. You buy a computer. It is a brick within 4 years. You donate the computer to a charity in a third world country because no one local would take it for free. And you keep finding bits and pieces that were bought to go with it -- a keyboard, a software package. So do you throw it out or offer it on Freecycle? No takers, it just ends up in the trash or in one of those indecisive piles of things to get rid of someday.

Then trash day. Walking the streets of my various neighborhoods over the years, I'd make some good finds: chairs, clothing. Perfectly good stuff but not for the person moving out in a hurry. Too much to think about trying to get through moving day. Or all the broken things: particle board furniture that is not repairable. Inexpensive dining room chairs with broken legs. Stuff to accumulate but meant to wear out.

But I did get rid of 6 mason jars and nothing has entered the house today. This counts as a win. Inspired, I culled more clothes for the "good enough to donate" pile. I emptied another box. I looked at my yarn stash (meager by serious knitter standards) and decided to design and make a felted clutch out of Lite Lopi and Noro. I am knitting a hat for Warmer Winters out of other stash yarn. Space open ups and casts a sense of well-being.

off course its about the presents

2008-12-18T15:21:00.002-05:00

For me, the best part of the Christmas season has been the presents. Anticipating, hunting for the just the right gift. But this year, the spirit of Christmas is drifting away. "No gifts" is a common refrain. It tarnishes the tinsel, dulls the faery lights (even if they are the super-bright hyper efficient LEDs ones."
Its worse this year, no job, no special trees.

My Dad introduced me to the value of presents. One of my first Christmas memories is when he took my brother, sister, and me (I only had 2 siblings at the time) to the Woolworths. We had to wait in a corner while he took us one by one around the store to select gifts for each member of the family. We weren't allowed to to hint to each other about what we wanted. And on Christmas you got see what it meant to give a gift to someone: the delight and anticipation as the gift is unwrapped. The appreciation at having picked a special gift. When I got older I went on my own with my own money to buy things but he still continued the tradition with the younger ones. I still remember the flair pen my youngest sister gave me.

Unfortunately, as I progressed through grade school and high school, Christmas seemed to move from the giving to the getting. Santa was too lazy to even wrap the gifts. You came down to a set of neat piles. The rest of staged a strike and eventually gifts were wrapped again. Mom tried to put the wrapped gifts in neat piles, but again we rebelled. During Christmas eve dinner we went and undid the neat piles. The youngest was assigned the role of gift boy and presents were brought out and opened one at a time.

But the ritual of gift shopping remained. To find special gifts for everyone and creative ways to wrap them. I look forward to every year. Then 9/11 came. I lost my job but was undaunted. I made my gifts: ornaments out of old IBM typewriter balls, hand-painted cards, hand-painted gift bags. My Mom made me fingerless mittens. I think Annie gave me some pottery that she had made in school. We still had Christmas.

So, I'm doing my part. I gave an age-appropriate gift for Toys for Tots. I knit three baby hats for Save the Children and am working on another for a Central Massachusetts aid group. And for those who said "Ba Humbug." Too bad, you're getting tasteful (and tasty) presents from the heart.

why sweaters are so green

2008-12-15T13:03:00.005-05:00

I did something unusual and listened to NPR on a weekday morning while swatching some lite-lopi for a wool skirt, wondering why I can't find any of my size 6 circs and then pleased to see that size 5 might work out better in the end. I turned on the radio in the middle of a piece on marketing eco-logical behavior. Hours later, all I remember of the piece though, was the ending which said that telling people to sacrifice won't work. They brought up the example of Jimmy Carter, donning a sweater and turning down the thermostat. According to the commentator, this was a marketing measure that failed.
Well, just before I turned on the radio I had turned down the thermostat and put on my wonderful big woolly green colored green for the environment sweater (and snuggled under a goosedown sofa throw for good measure). I remember the first energy crisis. I remember that parent's suburban house was always cold (I can never every associate warmth with that place: freezing in the winter and oppressive humidity in the summer, but no warmth.) Mom knitted afgans for the sofa, slippers for our feet and of course you were always expected to have a sweater on.
When I moved to my first Boston-area apartment, my two roommates and I exerted pressure on the fourth who thought nothing of turning up the heat to eat ice cream! A few years later I'd have another roommate who thought the rest of us were being cruel to expect her to wear winter things to stay warm and had a temper tantrum. These spoiled only children were the exception. Being in the majority, it did not seem like odd behavior to dress for the season and keep the thermostat somewhere under 70 degrees. I don't know if Jimmy Carter can take credit for it, or a generation that grew up with parents who watched the fuel bills very carefully.
And where is the sacrifice in curling up on the sofa with a good book or project, hot coffee and your favorite sweater? Now, if I could only figure out which knitting project is hiding that size 6 circ.

soccer!

2008-06-26T23:05:00.002-04:00

I made it out to play soccer tonight. My first game since the dreaded knee injury. I was stiff. I was slow. I had no idea what position I was playing. I had so much fun! And we won, 3 - 0.

more accomplishments

2008-06-26T22:51:00.002-04:00

Last night I tackled the dreaded flat tire. I've only once attempted repairing a bicycle tire. It was on the front wheel of my Trek mountain bike (which never saw the mountains and was stolen from my basement many apartments ago). Getting the wheel off was easy, but the tire itself was a struggle and then I couldn't get it back on the wheel. So I walked over to the bike shop where the friendly mechanic made fun of me until he couldn't get the tire back on and had to go do some voodoo in the back. After that I've rarely had flats on any of my bikes and always had them fixed at the store.

Well, last night I conquered the rear flat on the San Jos8 and the experience reminded me of that line about Ginger Rogers: She did everything that Fred Astaire did but backwards and in high heels. The San Jos8 has some interesting deviations: no quick release, horizontal drop outs, 8 speed hub, rear fender with light attached to it and the wire attached to the right side stay of the fender and the chain guard as it makes it way to the dynamo hub on the front wheel.

It took most of the night, lots of hand washing to get the grease off and look up the next issue on the web (how does that 8 speed hub fit back on the frame after all?) I undid the rear brake. I undid the rear fender stays. I removed wheel from the drop outs but could not remove it from the bike because I never figured out how to unhook the 8-speed hub from it wiring to the shifter! Thus, the bike remained upright (on my handy little bike support) and wheel remained upright.

I had to go online again to see how to use the tire irons but the Schwabe Marathon tire came off without a complaint. I got a new tube in. I got the tire on the wheel. It took another 2 hours of fiddling and looking up images on the internet to figure out how that hub fit back into the dropouts. But someone how I got it back together and I took it for a test ride which including using the dynamo lights since it must have been almost midnight by the time I was done. The chain felt wierd. I got off the bike and realized I had forgotten to tighten the rear hub onto the dropouts. A few more twists and the chain slack disappeared.

I need to do more midnight rides around home. There is absolutely no traffic on Mass Ave. It even feels like the sidewalks have been rolled up and put away for the evening.

New Bike and bike rides

2008-06-22T20:54:00.002-04:00

A soccer injury in March -- which is still heeling -- led me to re-think this year's cycling goals. (So much for a Century by May.) Instead, I've been celebrating taking it slow and noodling around my neighborhood. And of course, this was the perfect excuse to get a new bike: a Bianchi San Jos8 with internal dyno hub and internal 8-speed hub, Brooks leather saddle and matching leather handlebar tape.

The day before the Iceland trip I did my longest day ride of the year : Arlington - Walden Pond - Arlington. Clear dry weather. I stopped in Concord for a late light lunch and on the way back stopped at a farmstand for a second bottle of water. No bottled watered so I substituted two extra juicy nectarines, walking the bike until I finished.

This weekend proved a bit more challenging. I had a naming party to go to in the early afternoon and thought I could start a ride right afterwards. Unfortunately the air was just too hot and dry and thick with gunk (pollen?) that my lungs hurt as I rode the short distance between Alewife and Arlington Center. I opted to wait a few hours and then do a an easy ride up along the Mystic Lakes. This went well. I took some hills - no problems Finished up at the Whole Foods in Medford to get some dinner fixings (trout, salad greens, fixings). The San Jos8 isn't fitted with a rack -- only a small front Ortlieb bag and a rear Carradice Cadet bag which helps limits what I buy at the grocery store.

Aside -- I've been trying not to drive on the weekends or at least limit my driving to no more than 5 days per week. My Greenway bike can be fitted for doing heavy duty shopping (including hauling a large bag of compost from the garden center!) The San Jos8 is more for just all day long distance riding but it is fun to stop and plan meals around what will fit on the bike!

Today I got a late start and wasn't on the rode 'til noon. I decided to start the same route as yesterday but make it up to Horn Pond in Woburn, where I've never been before. I had a lovely easy ride around the Pond and even took a break at one of the many park benches. On the way back there was a little rain, nothing much, and it evaporated as it hit the pavement. But soon after, the deluge. Thunder and the skies opened up and I was soaked but the bags stayed dry. Past the Mystic Lakes I took Rt 60 to the bike path and then Trader Joes in the Heights.

At the Starbucks I attempted to order a Medium Cafe au Lait with skim milk, extra foamy. (The extra foamy is to prevent them from overheating the milk). The clerk told me it was a Misto and wanted to know if I meant "grande". I told him I had an easier time ordering coffee in Iceland (though i left off saying that the coffee in Iceland was way better than anything I've had in the US). Unfortunately, the drink was a failure -- though there was foam on top the milk itself was overheated and ruined the taste of the drink. I've really got to stop trying to get real coffee drinks at Starbucks and still to the fru fru drinks.
I picked up a few more groceries that just barely fit in the Cadet: oranges for the week; Mire Poix mix, boneless leg of lamb and fingerling potatoes to immitate some of the icelandic dishes I had (including the meat soup.)

As I turned onto my street I discovered a flat in the rear tire so this week I will get to learn how fix it.

Snow Days

2008-01-14T15:16:00.000-05:00

It's New England. It snows. And like the flakes themselves, each storm is unique. For the three in December, I did not wimp out. The upstairs neighbor and I shoveled the side walk and driveway. But this storm, the neighbors are away and so I plotted out how to get it done over the course of the day. Then wimped out.

I got the sidewalk done and the plow crud removed from the driveway entrance. I started on the driveway and cut out one side to see what I was aiming for when four teenagers with shovels came by and offered to finish the job -- for a price. I agreed. They were were done in no time.

The pictures show what a difference a day makes. The top was take this morning. The bottom, yesterday afternoon when all the snow from the previous storms had finally melted away.

Heartwarming Somerville Lighted Deer Story

2006-12-15T14:22:00.000-05:00

Runaway Reindeer
Somerville (Massachusetts) is known for its appreciation of lighted Christmas decorations. The Somerville Arts Council runs an Illuminations tour to show off the best of the city's holiday lights. There are Somerville lights Christmas cards (I've sent some of them in the past) and a book. Therefore, it should not be surprising that Somerville artists would create a heartwarming story that features two lighted reindeer photographed around the Hub.
Next, I want to see the real story about the lighted penguins and snowmen that my neighbors have on display.

maren in ladybug sweater.jpg

2006-10-22T17:14:00.000-04:00

maren in ladybug sweater.jpg
Originally uploaded by Julie xyz.

Not only an FO but the recipient looks too cool for words and I received a lovely thank you card. My cousin Elisa wrote that our grandmother - who did all sorts of needlework for years - would have been proud. I feel like I am continuing a family tradition. Though the sad thing is, I was never able to learn to crochet or knit from my grandmom or my mom.

Topsfield Fair Spinning Bee 10/04/2006

2006-10-06T14:47:00.000-04:00

Topsfield Fair Spinning Bee 10/04/2006
Originally uploaded by Julie xyz.

The Topsfield (Massachuesetts) Fair Spinning Bee was the same day as the Newburyport Spinners meeting so we met at the Bee. I brought the green Louet S17 for demo-ing before hand and making a very twisty multi-colored yarn that won 5th place in the Beginner's category. (Yep, there were only five skein's entered ;) But what made my day was right afterwards one of the pther spinners came up to me and said she wanted to touch the skein and that it should have one first place because of all the lovely color in it!!
The demo went well. Lots of folks came by and asked questions. I brought the colored wool bag because it looks more interesting and has a variety of wools in it. I let some of the kids feel it and those who were inclined "spun" a length of thread which they could then be given to show others what they did!
A basket-maker also stopped by and really seemed interested so I showed her the basics on a drop spindle and gave her my handout from the Knit-Out so she could find some other spinning groups and sources.

some spun nha fiber challenge wool on JW

2006-10-04T11:24:00.000-04:00

some spun nha fiber challenge wool on JW
Originally uploaded by Julie xyz.

nha fiber challenge batt carding

2006-10-04T11:23:00.000-04:00

nha fiber challenge batt carding
Originally uploaded by Julie xyz.

The Northeast Handspinners Association Gathering is at Loon Mountain the first weekend of November. I entered the fiber challenge and received a packet of fibers that included rainbowed dyed silk top, alpaca, llama, and other wonderful fibers. The theme is "Imagining November" - an easy one for me because I love fall and fall colors and am always extra-energized during this time.
On the carder drum right now is some of my multi-dyed corriedale (fern greens, warm oranges and yellows). About to be added are bits of llama (chestnut), alpaca (black), a lilac jacob/silk noil blend (the fiber with the white bits) and strips of the multi-color silk.

FO - sideways knitted baby cardigan.JPG

2006-10-01T22:42:00.000-04:00

FO - sideways knitted baby cardigan.JPG
Originally uploaded by Julie xyz.

This is my SECOND knitted FO for the year! I started the cardigan at the Somerville Library Knitting Group's retreat at Grand View Lodge in July because I managed to complete my first FO of the year while there and needed another project. (This was the first year I only brought one project because I was sure I wouldn't be done by the end of the weekend.)
This is also the first sweater I have ever completed. In the UFO pile, there is a green one in my size that basically needs a few rows to finish the neck line then the sleeves and collar done.
The sweater is a gift for my nearly 6-month old 2nd cousin Maren. One slevee a bit narrower than the other, and I had to fix two dropped stitches but somehow I don't think Maren will complain.

Breezer Greenway on the Minuteman Bikeway

2006-10-01T21:52:00.001-04:00

Picture1.jpg
Originally uploaded by Julie xyz.

more spinning of a different sort

2006-10-01T21:52:00.000-04:00

Not only was yesterday a beautiful, sunny Fall day, but it was
SATURDAY. As in, drop all those pressing chores and take the bike out
for what could be its last ride of the year. So, I took the my new
Breezer Greenway from Medford all the way out to Bedford and back -
probably about 20 miles. Years ago, when I was into cycling, I did the
bike path from Davis Square to at least Lexington Center on a regular
basis. The path hasn't changed much but I barely recognized Bedford.
The Breezer, btw, is a dream to ride. I traded up my 7-speed Villager
to the 24-speed Greenway a couple of weeks ago with the slight hope of
riding into work once a week until the weather gets too nasty. Though
it looks like that will have to wait until next year, there is
no reason not to get in a few weekend rides.

I am also doing the Northeast Handspinners Association's fiber
challenge as part of the Gathering in NH next month. The theme is
"Imagining November". The ride was a great inspiration, especially with
all the foliage changing colors.

The fiber challege packet included camel, chestnut alpaca, black (dark dark chocolate) alpaca, orange wool, a grey and white blend, a camel/silk top, and a vibrant rainbowed dyed silk top. I decided to combine these with some Corriedale roving (warm greens, greenish yellows, oranges, and pink reds) that I dyed at Lucy Lee's last winter in her one-day dye class. I think all I need is some maple red and maybe a dash of purple for the finishing touches.

The plan is to card the fibers, spin singles and then weave a scarf so that the colors can play off each other. Or weave a bag. Or ply everything first. Or find yet more combinations for a striped effect in the warp...I love the creative process. More fun that a written in stone proposal.

Also inspiring was the Spike's hot dog at the end of the ride:

Spinning at Boston Knit Out

2006-09-22T21:15:00.000-04:00

This Sunday (September 24th) is the Boston Knit Out on Boston Commons.
I volunteered to organize the Spinner's Table which turned out to be
more than expected (the nature of volunteering) but a lot of fun. So
rain or shine (pray for shine) there will be location with spinning
enablers, er, ENTHUSIASTS, student spindles and roving, hand outs to
encourage knitters and crocheters to take the next logical step and
make their own yarn.

Catching Up...

2006-08-20T20:40:00.000-04:00

I've dedicated the rest of August to staying put - or at least near home - and catching up on a lot of odds and ends. Taking stuff to goodwill. Throwing stuff out. Doing the dishes. Organizing my stash.
I've also got TWO works in progress: knitting a baby sweater out of self-striping yarn and spinning up Sal's (the shetland/finn cross) fleece. July was the kidsetta scarf and color spinning for the Tour de Fleece so its nice to have a change (and to have not only the Kidsetta scarf finished but a second one woven out of some the colored hand spun).

Things I should write about at some point include my Journey Wheel.

I bought the JW in April and haven't blogged about it because I everytime I start, I realized I'd rather be spinning on it. It's very portable and has made the rounds at a few spinning bees (Maryland S&W, Tare Shirt Farm, Island Pond Spinner's bee at the Taylor sawmill...) and countless Spinner's meetings (Sunday Spinners, Island Pond Spinner's, Westford, Mind's Eye Yarns, Newburyport...)

Dyeing Over the Rainbow Workshop with Linda Whiting

2006-07-31T10:35:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday, Mona kindly organized and hosted a dye workshop with Linda Whiting for 10 dye enthusiasts. We covered alot but Linda kept us organized and moving along - hard to do with a bunch of garulous and excited fiberholics. And somehow, though there were alot if dyed fingers no dye ended up on Mona's dining room floor.

Moleskine Addict

2006-07-20T09:53:00.000-04:00

Moleskine Softcover Pocket Weekly 18 Month 2006-07 Planner, MoleskineUS
Okay, I've been a journal addict for years. The fave for the past few years have been a variety of Moleskine journals. I am now on the hunt of their 18 month planner - ended up placing an order at moleskineus.
And I'm not the only Moleskine fan. Check out http://www.moleskinerie.com/ . I am in awe of the creativity and need to to do more with my own notebooks.

Art Beat, Ramoniacs, Hot, Hot, Hot...

2006-07-17T12:28:00.000-04:00

Saturday was Art Beat. I took the car to Union Square for its oil change and checked out Sherman Cafe for breakfast (they finally has the prosciutto sandwich that is always listed on the board). Also got to check out the Farmer's market and pick up some fresh greens and cucumbers. Too hot to do anything though so the greens are still in the fridge waiting to be sauted a bit (I got Baby Bok Choy and another green called Araminth or something like that.)
Then on over to hear the Ramoniacs at Art Beat. Despite the heat the festival was packed. I got talking to Anna of whynots.net -- she makes these cute skirts and may be able to make a summer halter dress for me that actually fits. Fingers crossed.
The Ramoniacs went on at 4:30 and within a minute blew out the fuse. Despite audience calls to try an acuostic version of the Ramones, the Art Beat folks and the band managed to get re-wired to some other outlets and play a full set an hour later.
Since it's Margie's husband's band and they live in the Square, we walked some the equipment back to their apartment and hung out in the A/C for a couple of hours.
I didn't make it home 'til 9pm! So much for getting any work done on spinning or on weaving the scarf (though I make a slight go of it.)

Eat Only Real Food

2006-07-14T14:10:00.000-04:00

I've been too busy going to spinning and knitting groups and spinning and weaving at home to prep lunch for work. I have been trying to go to the area farmer's markets each week but haven't had much success in remembering to make extra for lunch the next day..
I've also occassionally been trying to eat only real food - no unnecessary added sugars, no high-fructose corn syrup, no transfat, no fake fats or fake sweeteners. But a book and a tv show this week re-affirmed my commitment to only eat the good stuff. First was picking up the French Don't Diet Plan, or some such book, at the library on Monday night.
This is a followup to another French Diet book. It's like every other "diet" book I've looked at except the chapter on all the "fake" addititives in food. It lists all sorts of fake ingredients to avoid including high fructose corn syrup and red dye #40.
Then last night I caught an interview on Marion Nestle. Of course, I'm biased because she said coffee was neither good or bad for you and also promoted moderation and "eat your fruits and veggies." She also talked a bit about industry and agriculture's hold on what gets subsidized and what doesn't.
So today I decided to have real food for lunch and Panera Bread seemed like as a good a choice as any for soup and a fresh salad. Only I asked the fatal questions: were there any hydrogenated oils (transfats) or corn or corn syrup in the salad. Out came the big binder of food ingredients. The salad seemed fine, the dressing was questionable - as in I didn't recognize some of the ingredients. I asked if there was a basic oil and vinegar option but the only one was "fat-free", another sign that there may be unnecessary ingredients. I opt for no dressing. Then I choose a soup. Out comes the ingredients book again and an unreadable list of ingredients - unreadable because they are all jammed into a paragraph rather than listed one item to a line. I give up and decide on not getting the soup. I opt for a small "fruit" cup which was also a mistake. When I got back to the office, I discovered that the "fruit" cup was really lots and lots of pineapple chunks with just a few bits of melon. I avoid pineapple because it tastes excessively sweet to me and can be pretty hard on the teeth. So the pineapple was real, but not in moderation.
And hence, I have what must be a great weight-loss inducing diet plan: if you chose to eat only real foods - in moderation - you drastically reduce the amount of food available to you and will probably lose weight, which is the secret of success for so many other diet plans.

Tour de Fleece update

2006-07-12T12:10:00.000-04:00

Okay, I haven't been posting because I have been spinning, and warping and knitting. I tooked the colored rovings and the Journey Wheel to several spinning events - including Sunday Spinners and Newburyport Spinners. Looking over that gorgeous first bobbin I got the great idea to make a scarf on the Knitter's Loom, but I needed warp yarn. And I needed to ply the weft yarn. I didn't want to ruin the great color pattern in that single either.
So, why not DYE a great contrast green for the warp and for the other ply in the colored yarn that I would use for the weft? (Ain't it cool; I'm finally using warp and weft in a sentence and I *know* which is which?)
So, I need some base yarn. I was going to use some dyeable merino that I bought at MDSW for socks but it wasn't strong enough for weft (didn't pass my pull test.) Then why not the light yellow yarn that I had gotten from Barrett from her Knitting and House Moving party a while back? I used it for the first scarf I every did on the loom (currently at Lucy Lee's where I accidently left it before she went on vacation). I had about 3 oz of Cormo roving so I spun that up on the JW.
Now to dye. I used the 6 QT crockpot. I mixed what I thought was a pale green. However, after two hours it still looked more blue that green. I pulled out three yellow egg dye tabs, boiled some water. Added some citric acid crystals to a squeeze bottle, added the three dye tabs and filled the rest with boiling water. (NOTE, don't add all the boiling water at once or you will have a very colorful and fizzy mess).
I squeezed this yellow all over the yarns in the crockpot. Left on high for at least three more hours then turned it off. The next day I rinsed it and had a GORGEOUS spring green.
When all dried, I plied the green single with the color single. The colors are FANTASTIC. My spinning, however, is still erratic and I am a bit dismayed that my too narrow bits in each single tend to find each other and create these sorry limp bits.
Oh well.
Last night I warped the loom with alternating stripes of the over dyed yarn and the left-over bit of cormo single.
Tonight, if there is time, I will start weaving. Though I may also want to pass the plied yarn through the wheel one more time and pretty it up a bit.
And yes, there will be pix at some point. I just have to get around to downloading them.
By the way, in honor of the Tour de Fleece, I have taken my bike out each Saturday to run my errands!

what to do

2006-07-11T10:11:00.000-04:00

It is July and I have run into that perennial July problem: do I finally put all the winter clothes away or just let them sit in their little piles around the bedroom. Typical of me since moving to New England, we get some decent weather in April or May and I think all the turtlenecks and wool socks and huge sweaters can be stored away in the back of the closet. Then it drops to 30 degrees and I end up using all those sweaters and socks and turtlenecks again. Then they need to be washed again. Then folded again. And I start to fill the clear plastic storage tubs only to find that there is a chill in the air... round and round until at least the 4th of July.

Award-winning sweater

2006-07-09T13:25:00.000-04:00

This is not my sweater. It was made by Danielle Miller who bought a fleece from Ellen Raja last year. Scoured and carded it - seperating the light, medium and dark grays for the fair isle effect. She spun the singles counter-clockwise for crochet, then crocheted the sweater, using a bit of purple mohair for accent. I'm posting this because I've described it to several people, including Hege at pineconelodge.blogspot.com.

Le Tour de Fleece

2006-06-29T11:59:00.000-04:00

Le Tour de Fleece
Yes, I have signed up for Le Tour de Fleece. I don't know when I will ever get caught up with blog posting, including several spinning events this past June, two new major fiber-related purchases this month, and the new job.
In the meantime, I've heard rumors of a Mayan Chocolate Hagaan Das Ice Cream, but I haven't been able to get the website to open.

too darn hot...

2006-06-18T23:42:00.000-04:00

Okay. Right now I have the Cole Porter song (the Erasure version on the Red Hot + Blue album) running through my head, but its only this evening that I've really noticed the weather.
Yesterday, after a final satin coat on the Louet parts I took my Journey Wheel up to the Tare Shirt Spinning Bee in Berwick/N. Berwick, Maine. The Bee is an annual event, graciously hosted by Peter and Nancy Cook at their Early American period farm, complete with heritage breeds like Milking Devon Cattle and Lincoln Longwool sheep. They also have a fantastic collection of spinning wheels and related equipment - most of it from a 50 mile radius of the farm.
I didn't get there 'til 12:30, but still had a great time. I missed the spindling contest and opted out of the spinning contest. Instead I got to hang out with Mona from Arlington Knitters and Sunday Spinners, Linda W. whom I had a great talk with at FiberFrolic last week on dyeing and tapestry weaving. Jackie Fee filled us in ....
That evening I started work on the Louet then headed out with Margie to see her husband's Ramones cover band, the Ramoniacs. I haven't been out to hear a band in years. I had a blast, though I left after their set around 11:30 and stumbled home from the T in my orange clogs...
I met the jeweler Leslie Wind at the Massachusetts Sheep and Wool. She gave me information on the Cape Ann Open Studios so I headed up there today. Of course, it took forever to get to her studio in Rockport since everyone seemed to be headed to the beaches today (it must of reached at least 90 with what felt like 100% humidity). I showed off the Scion xB to Leslie and her friends Cliff and Freddd (no silent d), and looked at her pieces. She pointed me to some other studios to see afterwards, but a wrong turn led me to ....... studio where I ended up buying two Majolica bowls while she told me about her weekly trips to Cambridge and to Davis Square to African Drumming classes and dining out at such landmarks as Red Bones and the Rose Bud Diner.
Then I got adventurous and tried to make it to one final studio of the sculptor........ The map made it look like a simple straight line from the highway; instead I wended my way on Route 22 through several towns (e.g. Wenham, Hamilton) that I didn't know existed. In Essex, got off Route 22 and followed an even twistier road to the .... Definitely worth the adventure.
The backyard was terraced and showed off metal sculptures at their best, watched over by a life size moose...

I am addicted to fiber events...

2006-06-16T16:33:00.000-04:00

I know because I want to go to the Island Pond Spinners meeting tonight, but in the last two weeks I've been to the regular Somerville Library Knitting Group (Monday nights), Jo Sharp's talk at Wild and Wooly in Lexington, the Arlington Knitters meeting, Fiber Frolic, spin night at Mind's Eye Yarn (last week where I actually tried my third attept at a lace knitting project), and last night the first regular Spin-in meeting at the Westford Museum in Westford, MA. Tomorrow is the Tare Shirt Spinning Bee and Sunday, not quite fibery, but an open studios on Cape Ann. Oh, and I said I'd go see the Ramoniacs at the Middle East tomorrow night.
And I am still considering going tonight except for the current mess in the backroom: a Louet S17 or rather the wooden parts of a Louet S17. I applied the stain and have another hour to go until I can sand again then add the sealing coat. Then that coat has to dry... then I can put the wheel together! BTW, the Louet shipping box made a perfect disposable table for staining the pieces. Underneath the set-up are two Ikea stools that are the perfect height for small projects. The nice thing is when I want to dry the fleece, the Ikea dry rack fits neatly over the two stools.
I also need the backroom so that I can put out the next batch of Jacob fleece to dry. After that, I have one more batch of the Jacob (it was a very very dirty fleece), then I can proceed to the scouring the gorgeous, nearly 6 pounds of Shetland/Finn cross that I bought off of Hetty Richardson at the FiberFrolic...
I need a bigger apartment -- or at least a porch or something. The backyard is still under Little Big Dig construction (my landlord and his brother are digging a pit along the side of the building to put in some gator drains). I would gerry-rig something out back but all the dirt would be back in the fleeces in no time!

dye-o-rama swap success

2006-06-14T17:14:00.000-04:00

Today my secret swap buddy, Jenna (cinemaknits.blogspot.com) received the sock yarn I sent her. I'm still amazed when a packaged sent around 4pm from Medford arrives at its destination the next morning!
And in my mail I received my "Popsicle Party" kool-aid sock yarn from Allie of allieknitsaway.blogspot.com. She also included a set of size 0 double point needles so the yarn is all set to knit up! The colors are awesome and go with my new Keen Bali sandals.

the Gordian Knot

2006-06-13T17:20:00.000-04:00

In a a previous lifetime I worked at MIT for a research group, that among other things, was writing a book called The Gordian Knot: Political Gridlock on the Information Highway. In a lifetime before that I wrote a graduate thesis entitled "Polynomial Invariants of Knots".
In my current lifetime I have been waiting to hear about "the job" and dyeing sock yarn for the DYE-O-RAMA sock yarn trade. The sock yarn was suppose to be in the mail yesterday. The job offer was suppose to be received yesterday. Neither happened.
The first because about 2/3rds of the way through winding the completely dried and beautifully (in my ever so humble opinion) dyed yarn I encountered "the tangle". It was at this moment that I starting thinking about knot theory and about the Gordian Knot. If I applied what little I remembered from grad school I could undo the yarn. The yarn had been warped up on a makeshift warping board without any knots. The tangle started when a section I wasn't winding of yet fell into the middle of a section I was winding off. This meant I had a situation that was physically close to the unknot since at no point was an actual knot introduced into the warp. Thus, with a great deal of patience the tangle could be undone. The major obstacle to de-tangling turned out to be tiny pills in the yarn (sorry sock yarn buddy - it was gorgeous looking merino superwash). The pills were wrapping around a couple strands of yarn here and there, thus creating false knots.
The detangling of that 1/3rd took about two days. During that time I also kept thinking of the Gordian Knot. Just cut the d*** thing and be done with this messing about. But this yarn isn't for me and I have a sense of pride. I did not want to send it off with another knot in it (to tie the two sections back together). I did not want to ruin the patterning that was the whole point of trying the warping board in the first place.
And cutting it seemed to be such an industrial age short-cut to take. I could see why in the ancient times having the skill to undo a tangle would save a length of rope or a length of warp. It would require patience but result in a far superior quality to a length of fiber with knots all throughout. And if you knit and have ever come across a skein of yarn with more that one knot you would understand about loathing knots in knitting yarn - especially sock yarn.
So I persevered. Then I got a call from the HR department this morning. A job offer was made and she told me how great my references were. Not only was I good team player but everyone pointed out how much pride I took in my work. I was extremely flattered by the praise. And even more gratefully that I didn't succumb to temptation and cut the knot!

slog slog away

2006-06-07T22:55:00.000-04:00

It's raining in that way that makes you want to take it personally, as if it is only there to annoy you and no one else. The dampness sneaks into everything. I am too stubborn to turn on the heater - it is JUNE afterall. I have to wear my clogs to venture into the basement to avoid a soaking in the mini flood that has accompanied every drop of rain since I moved here.
Despite that rain, I have had a good day. I managed somehow to successfully warp up the sock yarn I want to dye for the dye-o-rama trade (with plenty of help from the latest issue of Spin off which has a concise and easy to follow introduction to self-patterning yarn). I then managed to successfully dye it without making a mess. I missed a green by using 3 parts yellow to 2 parts blue of my Country Classic dye. This time around I used a re-cycled Classico jar and measured out 16oz for the dye. It came out a lovely deep pine green and I hope the color intensity is still there later tonight when I rinse and hang the yarn.
Following the SpinOff article instructions, I set aside one wrap to remain undyed. I used a half-inch sponge brush to add strips of color to the middle length of wrap. I used a 2 inch sponge brush to add a molted color on the largest collection of wraps. I varied the amount of dye add to different parts of the yarn on this last section so that some slight variation could appear in the "solid" colored stripe section.
The dyeing experiment was interrupted by dinner at the Metro West Knitting Guild where I discovered a few other members have been experimenting with striped yarn as well. We had a lively discussion of using warping boards or just poles spread far apart and walking around adding color. And the SpinOff article kept coming up as well!

Jo Sharp in Lexington

2006-06-06T21:25:00.000-04:00

I splurged and spend $15 to go to a Jo Sharp talk at Wild and Wooly tonight. I was going to bring some knitting to do during the talk but I've been on pins and needles since yesterday waiting to hear on whether or not I am getting a QA job that I really really want. So, I brought two Bossie mini spindles, one with some Alice Fields' cormo roving, the other with some pink roving I bought at spa.
The talk was definitely worth it. Jo shared how she created the company, the design process, and most interesting to me, how she selects her colors and yarns and works with the mills to produce what she wants. I wasn't going to buy anything but left with three books with ideas for what to do with all the fleece that I've bought. She was also interested in what I was spinning (the cormo on the canarywood mini) and used it to explain how they get their heathered colors from the mills.
When she signed my books I told her how much I liked her patterns and that I think one of the ones on display would be great for some of the fleece I bought from Ellen Raja.
I still haven't heard if any of my references have been contacted for that job so I am going to drown my anxiety into some Kozy Shack Rice Pudding -- bought because I had to go to THREE grocery stores to find Stonyfield Plain Low-fat yogurt for the cucumber soup I'm making for tomorrow night's potluck.

still catching up

2006-05-18T15:24:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Several phone interviews. Two sheep and wool festivals. Hanging out with Laurie and her two daughters. Listening to my Mom's woes about trying to sell her house and realizing that home isn't necessarily where your parents raised you.
This week, lots of rain but I boldly attempted to scour a free corriedale fleece that I picked up in NH at the S&W. Still unpacking from the Maryland trip which included a stop at Ikea for stools and a drying rack.
Yesterday I went looking for more storage bins and parts for a sock yarn warping board for dye-o-rama. At the Home Depot I took a detour into appliances and was blown over by all the new high tech washers and dryers. I live in an apartment. The landlord provides a washer and dryer. Still, I was assailed by to sales people extolling all the features of a blue LG, including a high-speed spin cycle. I start asking questions, like can it do spin-only for airing out fleeces and the like. They were undaunted by the request and showed it going through all its paces. Then they showed me one that is a combo washer/convection dryer...The sort of experience that makes you want to own your own home just so you could bring one of these babies into it.