Dogs Steal Yarn

Summer reading update

I finished After Dark the other night, reading in bed (me and my trusty headlamp) long after Billy and the baby had fallen asleep. It’s Murakami, so I’d approached the book wanting to love it. Expecting to love it. I didn’t love it. It’s a departure from the style I’m accustomed to from him, so that takes some getting used to. Fine. But it’s not just a matter of a different style. It’s a different style that doesn’t quite work with his voice. Not yet, anyway. He’s trying on a new skin, I guess, and it’s still a bit ill-fitting. It’s admirable that he continues to stretch himself as a writer, but it’s hard for his admirers to watch when he falls short. He’s fallen short with this one. It’s just…not that good. There, I said it. You can see the seams in this book. You can see him working really hard. (Usually his books seem effortless. Like they fell from the sky into his computer.) The good news is that he’s apparently working really hard. I’ll anxiously await his next book. If After Dark is a first step in a new direction for him, by the next book he’ll likely have worked out a lot of the kinks.

If you’re new to Murakami’s work, check these books out:

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
Norwegian Wood
Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World

If you haven't yet entered the raffle to support Digit and maybe win a fabulous handknit sweater, do please consider entering. Digit is a special cat and Rachael is a special cat mama and they could really use our help right about now.

The Cloud won me over

I went ahead and ordered more Shine in the Cloud colorway for the cardi. I'd originally imagined the sweater in gray, but then when I had enough Cream on hand already, well... But the thought of red hair + gray sweater pleases me a great deal, and so there you have it. The sweater shall be gray.

The Cream swatch, done on US#4's, was a little too floppsie for my taste. I couldn't find my #3's (I SWEAR I just saw them the other day, but couldn't find them anywhere today) so I added a pair to the KnitPicks cart along with the yarn. I've been meaning to try out their needles, anyway.

So with no #3 needle around for cardi swatching, I had no choice whatsoever but to pick up my Trekking sock-in-progress during Thumper's nap today.

Behold, a bad photo of very good yarn: orange Trekking (with some brown Trekking thrown in just because.)

I'm going to make a pair of brown with orange heel/toe as well, so I can mix and match them.

Getting back to the swatch being too loose...it reminded me of something I wanted to mention. I've come across a few instances online of people knitting the baby yoda sweater and saying that the needle size/yarn combo resulted in a dense fabric and hurt to knit. Well...if you're getting gauge on that sweater, you aren't getting a dense fabric and the yarn should be quite nice to work with. The needle size in the pattern is what I used to get gauge. I'm a rather loose knitter. So please, don't let the yoda hurt your hands. Check your gauge. I don't want to be responsible for any knitting-related injuries among tighter knitters, you know?

Bad (lazy) blog photography, courtesy of another sleepless night

I can continue to lie awake, watching Thumper and Billy and Diego sleep (Oscar is awake and attacking my fingers as I type, the beast). Or I can distract myself with a quick knit-related post. Having trouble turning the mind off at night lately. Too many what-ifs keeping me awake.

For the moment, I'm trading in larger what-ifs and scenario scriptings for some yarn...(ow. damn cat)...where was I? yeah...yarn choice dilemmas. Well, dilemma. Singular. (Crap. Anyone want a cat? Lightly used.)

I've swatched for the empire-waist cardigan. I'd originally planned to knit it in Knit Picks Shine Sport in Cream. After some back and forth on the matter with Cassie and La Brainy, and after swatching the Cream, now I'm kind of torn, thinking that lovely as the Cream may be, I'd probably get more wear out of the sweater if I knit it in Cloud or Grass. The dilemma? I already have enough yarn in the Cream colorway, but would have to buy more in either the Cloud or the Grass, and then dye lot issues crop up etc etc.

What do you think? Cream? Cloud? Grass? Sounds like a cat picnic.

Speaking of which... The scream/chortle/cry of a cat in heat in our backyard has distracted Oscar from my fingers. I'm glad he's stopped attacking me, so please don't anyone remind him that he's fixed, okay?

Insomnia leads to Googling my own name

which leads to the discovery that "Go" was named as a Million Writers Award Notable Story of 2006. And then the discovery that it didn't make the top ten stories of 2006. Not terribly disappointing, since I hadn't even known I was in the running.

Any chance I'm nominated for a Pulitzer and they forgot to tell me? Yeah. I didn't think so. Still, this is the little story that could, isn't it? It's the same one that was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. No word on that yet. The editor of Failbetter told me no news at this point probably isn't good news, but that they've had pieces selected for the Pushcart anthology before and found out about it when the anthology was published, so no need to give up hope just yet. "And really," she says, fidgeting ever so slightly in her borrowed red-carpet gown, "it's an honor just to be nominated."

PS: Have I mentioned lately that I love my agent? I just emailed her the link to this somewhat random honor and she's already written back with congratulations. It's past 2 a.m. and she's on vacation. I think I may have the most supportive agent in the literary universe.

And now, to try again to get to sleep.

The stroller conversion

Unexpected nice things about my back forcing me to switch from sling to stroller:

1. We can walk and walk and walk and walk for miles and I don't get too tired/feel like my shoulder will fall off.

2. Thumper is seeing the world from a whole new vantage point and is having a great time pointing at everything. He also likes waving to other kids passing us in strollers. In the sling he wasn't at their eye level.

3. I can buy groceries and hang the bags off the stroller handles. Kind of cool to know I can go ahead and buy those apples without considering how much weight they'll add to what I'm already schlepping.

4. Thumper naps well in the stroller. Today after running an errand (getting my bridesmaid dress for an upcoming wedding altered--also something that couldn't have been accomplished with the sling) we rolled on over to a cafe where Ernesto tends to go to write during the day in the summers, hoping to find him there. Thumper fell asleep on the way and slept comfortably through the hour or so I spent visiting with Ernesto, distracting him from his writing.

4a. I hadn't seen Ernesto in far too long. Missed him terribly. Good news for the world--he's almost done with his next novel.

5. It bears repeating: I walked three miles easily without feeling like my shoulder was about to fall off.

I love wearing my baby. Don't get me wrong. I'm still all about the baby-wearing in the house. And all about the baby-wearing out of the house when they're smaller. But this back injury was perhaps a good thing, because it forced me to try the stroller that had been collecting dust. I still don't like it for train and bus travel, but for anywhere we can walk, I'm sold.

What's next...

For the past however long, I've been working on stealth knitting and haven't been able to show you even a stitch of it. You've been very patient, really you have. I know how you all lie awake at night, wondering, "What is she knitting? Is she getting gauge? Will it fit?" Pressing questions, indeed.

No, that doesn't mean I'm going to show you the stealth knitting. It's still a secret. But now it's a finished, tucked away secret. Let's just forget about it and let it be a pleasant surprise when it does hit the light of day, agreed?

Which brings us to what's next.

I've designed a little cardigan for myself, something I very much want to own and wear. And I'll be writing up the pattern for sale in case there are others out there who want to knit, own, and wear it. But no stealthiness with this one! I'll be blogging it, beginning to end. (Ooh! Exciting!) Things have a way of changing as they go from sketch to garment. I'm looking forward to working through this one out in the open. Though this means you'll all see exactly how slowly I knit these days. Don't expect a sweater in a week around here.

So...we begin with a sketch:

And a plan:
Close-fitting cardigan with 3/4 sleeves, seed st turned back cuffs.
Seed st shawl collar and hem/edgings.
Empire waist, closed by seed st belt, held by thin belt loops at side seams.
Body worked in stockinette.
Knit flat in one piece, bottom up. Raglan shaping
Knit Picks Shine Sport in Cream

The thinking:
I want a lightweight cardi for fall, something simple to wear over a t-shirt. I like the look of 3/4 sleeves and think they make best sense on a cotton sweater intended for not-so-cold days.

I've got a large bust and a rectangular torso. Because of this, I never wear cardigans buttoned all the way down to the hem. It's just not flattering on me. I only ever close three or four buttons along the bust. And I look good in an empire waist shape. Therefore...a narrow belt just below the bustline. I may sew in a couple of hook and eyes to hold it closed at the bust. What do you think?

That's where I'm starting with this one. I'll hopefully be swatching tonight and will get underway soon.

Actual knitting content at Dogs Steal Yarn! Can you believe it?

Oh--and I have no idea what to call this sweater. Start thinking of names. When it's done we'll have a little contest to name it.

Something I don’t want to forget

Walking down the street in Park Slope with Billy and the baby on Saturday night. Passing us, a middle-aged woman, short hair and glasses, crying, holding a slice of cake in a plastic container. Walking with her, a younger woman, smaller and dark haired, saying, “Ma’am, I don’t want to leave you like this.” The younger woman clearly a stranger, having happened perhaps upon this crying woman? Or had she been witness to the scene that caused the tears? The scene that happened maybe just after she got the slice of cake? Was the slice of cake dessert taken to go after an abrupt and ugly ending to a dinner? And then when I looked back they were embracing, the older woman leaning heavily into the younger, the much smaller younger woman bearing up the weight and the grief of the stranger. The older woman weeping now, sobbing. And we walked on.

How often do you see that? A stranger reaching out to a stranger in that way? Not often enough. I’m grateful to have seen it. I hope to remember it, next time I see someone alone, crying on the street.

And then there’s the selfish bit. Writers are always being asked where we get our ideas. Well, here’s one example. Something’s bound to grow from having been witness to that scene.

I think he likes chocolate

The topping I used for the milk-free cupcakes (not vegan. I opted for a recipe that called for eggs) wasn't a messy, smeary frosting, so I'm sorry to those of you who'd been hoping for the traditional baby cake face. I assure you, Thumper was completely stoned on sugar even without the frosting. (I used Earth's Balance instead of butter.)

The cupcakes were delicious. (In fact, I had one for breakfast today.) For the cake I used a recipe sent to me by Pam, and for the topping I used the recipe sent by Amy. Really really good. I recommend.

You want the recipe, don't you? Of course you do.

This recipe comes from Food that Really Schmecks by Edna Staebler.

Norm's Chocolate Oatmeal Cake
8"x13"
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup shortening (Norm uses butter melted to
bubbling)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla
Pour boiling water over oats and let stand until cool.
Cream shortening with sugar and eggs, add the cooled
oats and the rest. Beat until smooth. Bake at 350F
for 35 minutes.

Topping
- stir together:
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 tsp. cocoa

- sprinkle over surface of raw batter in pan, along with:
3 to 4 tbsp. chocolate chips

Because I was making cupcakes rather than a cake, I only baked it for 25 minutes. I got 15 cupcakes from this recipe.

Enjoy! And thanks to all of you who sent great cake recipes. I'll probably try them all at one point or another.

PS: His t-shirt says "The Dog Did It." Cute, no? It was a gift from the fabulously blogless Rachel H. Rachel, I can't believe how quickly he grew into it!

The difference between one week and one year

When you point a camera at a one-week-old baby, you get this:

When you point a camera at a one-year-old baby you get this:

Happy, happy birthday, my sweet baby boy!

(And a very happy birthday to your birthday twin too!)

The Last Summer of the World

My dear, dear friend Emily Mitchell's debut novel, The Last Summer of the World, comes out on June 18th. I'm lucky enough to be one of Emily's draft readers, so got to see this book develop from extremely promising early draft to stunning finished work. It's a beautiful novel, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Please do check it out.

Emily has two readings coming up: one in LA on June 15th and then another in San Francisco on June 21st. You can get the full details on the events page of her site.

A year ago yesterday I went into labor. Thursday Thumper turns one. We have a (small) party to plan. We're keeping it simple, just family, but even so my head is spinning a bit. Must have a little something to give to each of the young cousins attending. Must have a vegan cake for Thumper to try (he's allergic to milk protein). Must have a non-vegan cake for the adults. Our families have helped us out so much this year... Thumper certainly doesn't understand birthdays yet, so this party is really to thank them. And how can you thank them without delicious cake? (I'm sorry. Vegan cakes just aren't as good. They're not. Mmmm....butter...)

This past weekend we went to a baby shower in Long Island. There was a 14-month-old boy there, as well as my two-year-old nephew. Thumper had a great day crawling around in the grass and playing on the swingset and handing toys back and forth with the 14-month-old. He also played in a sandbox for the first time, and it was a big hit. He was a contented sandy mess. Clearly the boy should get a sandbox for his birthday, no? I tried to buy one online from toysrus.com and the shipping (sand not included!) was $200. Yeah. Sometimes it's a pain that we don't have a car. So his gramma will most likely pick it up for him in Jersey. My mom's the best. Have I mentioned that lately? She really is.

Meanwhile, in the list of things I can't tell you about, real estate hijinks! Stealth knitting nearing its conclusion! More real estate hijinks. All will be revealed sooner or later, dear reader.

And now, back to that stealth knitting while Thumper is still sweetly napping...

The madcap adventures of Cari Dogsstealyarn

All kinds of adventures lately. (And before I launch into them, let me say that I loved finding out what everyone's reading this summer, will definitely be following in some of your reading footsteps, and plan to post an alphabatized list soon.)

First adventure: Learning that the contact lens solution I have been using for a rather long time has been recalled, and develop some of the symptoms of the related infection. Fun. Cassie very kindly agreed to Thumper-wrangle in the doctor's waiting room while I got checked out, and the two of them had quite a good time together. Turns out, I'm fine. It's allergies, most likely. (A bit of a hypochondriac, maybe, but otherwise fine.) So where does the adventure part come in? Well, the doctor dilated my pupils. I'd never had that done before. Man, was that fun. I didn't have sunglasses with me and got to walk 20+ blocks to the train while carrying the baby, squinting even in the shade and tears running down my face.

Second adventure: Screwing up my back somehow (probably cumulative as Thumper's getting quite heavy and I hadn't been switching shoulders with the sling the way I should. Not to mention I haven't been doing any yoga and walking is the only exercise I've been getting.). This meant trekking with the baby to Billy's office to get treated. And because my back was hurt, this meant trekking with the baby in a stroller, not the sling. I hate wrestling with a stroller on the subway. And we have a superlight, easily folded with one hand and a foot stroller. Maybe it's because I'm not used to using it, but I really don't understand why anyone would ever use a stroller when they have slings and other baby carriers available to them. Then again, I was using the stroller to go to a physical therapy appointment because I'd screwed up my back. So maybe that answers that. I still don't like using the stroller, though. My little guy seems so far away when he's in it.

Clearly I need to take better care of myself, as it feels like I'm falling apart. How to take care of myself while taking care of the baby-soon-to-be-toddler? I haven't figured that part out yet.

Okay. So only two adventures, and neither that exciting. I kind of overpromised with that post title, didn't I? Amazing, what passes for adventure around here these days.

Summer reading

A few years ago, you and I, my dear readers, compiled a list of our favorite books. I found some great books on that list that I hadn't read. Now I'm wondering what you're reading right now, or what you want to read this summer. What's in the pile on the nightstand or stashed in your bag? Leave your summer reading choices in the comments and we'll compile another list.

Here's what I'm planning to read this summer, time allowing:

Lawnboy by Paul Lisicky. I picked this one up from the free shelf at my old job a few years back because I liked the first page. And then I tucked it into a bookshelf in my office and forgot about it. I rediscovered it while sorting through books to sell to the used book store. Very much looking forward to diving in.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. I'm rereading this. I first (and last) read it as a freshman in college and I can only imagine how much my young know-it-all brain missed at the time.

After Dark by Haruki Murakami. Murakami. I love him. Love him love him love him. Most likely I'll read this one first.

Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. The move to Portland will give us a chance to reevaluate our choices, and the freedom to make better ones. We'll both be reading this book before the move.

Falling Man by Don DeLillo. Not pictured because I haven't bought it yet. The review in the Times suckered me into it. It sounds damn good, doesn't it? I have to check it out.

Mustard seeds

Reading through your comments on the last post, Billy and I were reminded of the story of the Buddha and the mustard seed.

Thanks to all of you.

yarzheit

My father died fourteen years ago today. He was only fifty years old. Last night I held my nearly one-year-old son as I lit a yarzheit candle. I couldn't help but think that this isn't how things were supposed to be. I know...there is no supposed to. But still. He should be here. He isn't. I miss him so so very much.