So, week before last, the Brit and I took ourselves a few days staycation and played touristas in our small town of New York City. The highlight for moi was our visit to the new Highline. For those of you that may not have heard of this new wonder, it is essentially this: a railroad built in the 1930's that elevated dangerous rail traffic 30 feet above pedestrians. It goes from about Gansevoort St. to about 34th St. It's been out of use since 1980, and has since overgrown with plants and weeds.
Some very ingenious folks in town thought it would make an awesome elevated park, and in 2002, my fair city agreed. Here are the results thus far:
I cannot explain to you how lovely this park is. But I will try.
I guess I can start with the breathtaking concept of keeping the park in touch with its historical roots. Railroad imagery abounds in the design. If you have ever walked along railroad tracks with the weeds growing through the rails, you'll recognize this immediately. 
There are all sorts of little hideaways in the park, too. Despite the railroad feel, it is anything but a straight line. There are little turnoffs that lead to spectacular vistas of the Manhattan skyline, framed by the gorgeous native plants along the way. So much was in bloom when we were there (a spectacularly hot day, I might add), the vibrant blossoms framed the rest of the world.
But the Highline has little secrets, too, where it passes through buildings, offering shady respite to park-goers. If you're lucky, you'll be licking a passionfruit sorbet by the other end of the tunnel.
If you find yourself in Manhattan, please do yourself a favor and seek out this new treasure. It is not yet complete, but what's there now is totally worth your time.
And what about Shipwreck? Well, I'm in section 7 where you slap on the millions of beads, and kept on getting myself tied in knots. So the shawl is temporarily in drydock while I work on my recently-married brothers wedding blankie. Which, despite the relative ease of the pattern, I've screwed it up and have had to unknit it twice now.
I'm sorry, did you say Ice Cream? Funny you say that, because I just today made a batch of buttermilk-lemon sorbet. Oh, sweet mother of crap, it's good!
In Kitten news, the poor bastards got snipped this week. Sputnick came out of his singing and dancing, but little Lola had a tough time with the anesthesia, and will be a friggin' conehead for a couple of weeks.
Now I've been telling the Brit that Lola is the smart one, and here's a great example. She's got this bloody cone on her head and can't wash herself, which is driving her mad. So she used my hand as her de facto paw. She licks my hand, then rubs her face on it, just like when washing her face with her paw. Genius!
Finally, another refashion project is on the dressform. The Brit is getting rid of a few shirts who's fabrics I quite like. As in this one:
Here is my proposed refashion. I have pintucks running over the shoulders to take in the width there, down to the boob. Then I pick it up again under said boob. The same tucks are taken on the back, down to the waist. It's just pinned thus far.
Thoughts?
Would you believe me if I told you that I made pasta? No? Wow, I'm not sure what to think now...but it's true, babies! I swear, it's some kind of alchemy, it is! Here's some pics, though I don't think they technically constitute proof: 
In other news: - Yes, my brother got married.
- Yes, I am still working on the Shipwreck Shawl. I am working on Section 7, where you add the beads. See proof here:
- Yes, this is also proof that I have screwed this pattern up in more ways that would be considered possible by most humans.
- Yes, my BFF and I got sick on something from AQ Kafe (I would not normally mention this sort of thing, but the last time I went, my colleague got sick. 2 outta 2 is two times too many. Oh, and the service sucks, too.).
- Yes, the kittens are getting bigger and are suffering from excessive cuteness. See proof:
- Yes, I have fallen off the weightwatcher wagon and am miserable over the added lard. No proof needed.
- Yes, I have been spending time at Brooklyn's amazing Green-Wood Cemetary. See proof:
- Yes, my ravelry queue is now longer than I could complete in a lifetime.
- Yes, my favorite hair guy was fired from the salon and now I am up a tree trying to figure out who will cut my hair. Basically every stylist I've been to in the past 5 years sucks. Or maybe it's my face. Yeah, probably my face.
- Yes, I've been spending time shopping my closet. I still have a job, but one never knows.
- Back to the wedded bro: I'm going to make them this outta this in Tidepool Heather for a wedding gift. Nice, right?
- And in breaking news, the kittens are still cute!
Hola, y'all!
Whirlwinds here at el Rancho Hooker. When last we spoke, we had just returned from the deliriously lovely Napa. The very next day, we were visited upon by my stepdaughter and her mom (yes, you read that right) for six days. Not for nothing, but if that doesn't smack of either some scary reality show or a sitcom, nothing does.
So the Brit and I have been laying low this long weekend, keeping peaceful in our finally reclaimed household, catching a breath and bracing now for the week ahead at work. But it is still a day off, and we are making the most of it.
On our touristing about the isle of Manhattan last weekend, I took the photo above of a stall in the Union Square Market that sells gorgeous yarns, so soft and luscious you want to wrap your damn nekkid body in them. Oh yeah! I just feel bad because in that selfsame stall they sell the slaughtered lambies, too. Yuck. And no, I did not buy any wool or meat.
I'd mentioned once upon a time ago that I'd finished the felicity hat from ravelry, and I'm sure that none of you believed me, but here it is in all its ribbed glory:
Now, the pattern doesn't call for the ribbing, but I truly look like ass with a flat thing on my big head, so the garter ribbing makes this a tad more flattering. Not that I'd post a photo of me in the hat, of course, except maybe from the rear.
And there is progress on the Shipwreck Shawl, in all its beautiful frustration. And it truly isn't the pattern's fault. I have this horrible tendency to end the day sticking or hooking while literally nodding off on the couch. Funny how that's not considered a best practice for successful needlework.
I won't go into detail on the numbers of times I've screwed this up. But I will tell you that keeping markers on the needles delineating the pattern repeats has saved me from having to do much in the way of serious frogging. Seriously.
On to food.
As usual, I'm cooking up a storm. This weekend, despite the steamy weather, I made a huge pot of this chili from one of my favorite blogs, 101 Cookbooks. It is the very best chili in the world. Trust me. From one of the very best food blogs in the world. Again, trust me. Even you carnivores will get seduced by Heidi's recipes. They are amazing.
And since we had the little pomme frite here last weekend, we overloaded on bananas. So I had to make a couple of loaves of banana bread this weekend. I used this Weightwatcher recipe as a base, but pimped it with dried cranberries, cardamom, and walnuts. Holy crap, it's good.
And because the frigging vat of chili, 2 banana breads, and a loaf of rye bread wasn't enough, I made some granola yesterday. I used a Martha Stewart recipe as a base for proportions, but again pimped it with the addition of pepitas, sesame seeds, crushed almonds, dried mango, and dried cranberries.
Can I get an AMEN!
But the photo I took of the finished concoction looked like vomit, so I'm just posting this arty shot of the ingredients.
Okay, c'est tout for now!
So, it's been a while.
Oh, not much, how 'bout you? Yeah? Same rash as before? Wow.
Maybe you should see someone about that.
Oh, hi! Sorry. Wrong conversation.
So you may have noticed that I haven't been around much. About that....
Each week in absentia had an excuse. One year since my dad died. That was a big one. Visited his grave. Or should I say, "their" grave, as he shares it with mom, who passed in '85. Weird. Orphan is weird.
Then, work intervened. Shareholder meeting. Earnings release, blah, blah, blah. For that matter, we're in Napa next weekend for hubsy's birthday. Yes we are! This even is quickly followed by a visite by my stepdaughter (known by us as the little pomme frite) and her mom all the way from France. Yeah, the day after we get back from Napa. So today was cleaning day.
So all this babble might cause you to think that I haven't been hooking or knitting or cooking, right? It's okay, you can admit it. But you'd be so wrong, it hurts.
Exhibit A:
So, remember my yakking about "forest & frill?" Well, it's done and already worn to a swanky event. Here's the rub: I followed the pattern and used a double strand of whatever this yarn is, and I just think it's too damn heavy and thick. But I did get some complements on this puppy, so I can't bitch too much, right? Right?
Exhibit B:
This silver tube is the beginning of the Felicity Hat, featured on ravelry. It's done now, but I've not taken any shots yet. Soon, I promise!
Exhibit C:
Now, I'm sure each and every one of you has been keeping track of my forays into domestic bliss, so I'm equally sure that you'll enjoy my attempt at making yogurt! For the technicians and bookies among you, I used a plain Dannon as the starter with an organic whole milk. And I gotta say, I was less than thralled with the results. It tasted great, don't get me wrong, sort of light and fresh and creamy, but the texture was uneven (my fault, for sure). I'll have to give this another go.
Exhibit D:
Now this little baby is the Shipwreck Shawl from the recent edition of Knitty. And yes, that's right, I've screwed it up beyond all recognition. Sometimes I make myself so damned proud. But I'm taking this mother with me on the plane to Napa, six hours of uninterrupted frustration. Sounds like fun in a baggie, kids!
Anyway, it's late and I'm losing steam, so I'll leave you now to ponder my productivity. Not sure if I'll post this weekend (swimming as I'll be in the Vintner's Gift), but stranger things have happened....
There are all sorts of little hideaways in the park, too. Despite the railroad feel, it is anything but a straight line. There are little turnoffs that lead to spectacular vistas of the Manhattan skyline, framed by the gorgeous native plants along the way. So much was in bloom when we were there (a spectacularly hot day, I might add), the vibrant blossoms framed the rest of the world.
