afford loam cowbell

This is advice for ME, not an admonition.

“Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.” 

― C.S. Lewis

It's amazing how my stats rise when there's a snowstorm!  Love it when you're stuck inside and surfing around.  Welcome.  (Squirrels at the bottom of this post!)  Today here's a picture of the sweater I finished the other day.  It took four days to dry while I was blocking it-  finally brought it home and stuck it in the dryer.  This is from 'Darn Good Yarn'-  I purchased a pattern that tuned out to have only one armhole and no amount of origami folding would make it into something wearable so I ripped it all out and made it up as I went along.  Then I called the owner who checked and had left out one whole page of directions.  So that's corrected now.  It seemed a bit skimpy so I added the big cable all around the edge and now it seems too heavy but what-the-hell, I'll take it to Boston.  The yarn is all stripped silk from sari manufacture  and not a whole lot of fun to work with on size 19 needles because there is no stretch.  Anyway, it kept me occupied for a few days, and even longer to block the bloody thing.  My Boho Phase reemerging.

I've already started working on another sweater from leftovers, the Koigu tee shirt sweater.  Mostly browns, rust, and oranges, sorta like my hair.  Stay tuned.

And FINALLY the Christmas presents arrived, only a month late, so I must get them off to their recipients.  This SMOOSH yarn from Etsy is spectacular and comes in a kit with gigantic needles and all kinds of different directions.  I am sending along to see if either wants to learn how to knot OR I will offer tomato it up for them to order.  

 The Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei currently has an exhibition on Alcatraz, the notorious island used as a military fortress and federal penitentiary. Amongst a large body of work created specifically for Alcatraz is “Blossom,” which has been installed in several hospital ward cells and medical offices. And as its name suggests, intricately detailed encrustations of ceramic flowers are blossoming out of sinks, toilets and tubs that were once used by hospitalized prisoners.

 If bones are your thing, then you need to get down to Guadalajara and check out ‘Hueso’, the classy new restaurant that features over 10,000 different bones adorning its walls. Hueso (which translates to Bone in Spanish) is the brain child of Mexican architect Ignacio Cadena.

The existing building was originally built in the 1940s. Now the exterior sports a variety of ceramic tiles and zig zag patterns that are intended to resemble sewing patterns. The only clue to the bone filled interior is the one bone hanging on the front door, but once inside, the full range of bone decor is revealed. Many examples are real and some are made from cast aluminum. While it may seem a bit morbid to dine in such an environment, the ambiance actually comes across as clean and comfortable thanks to many of the bones being bleached or white washed to match the bright interior.

Squirrels in love.  Or something.