Halloween Blanket

Couldn't post this until it came in the mail....

I made this using a pattern from the Sept/Oct 2009 Crochet Today. Since it's for an adult, I made it a little larger using 4 skeins of black super saver instead of 3. I also switched up the colors to make it a little more adult.

Finally, my netbook arrived

It's so cute and little. The Amazon shipping box was no larger than the usual ones that I receive books in, and light as can be. It's an ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-VU1X-BU 10.1-Inch Blue Netbook, purportedly with a battery life in excess of 8 hours. Here's the first shot of it out of the shipping box.



Look how small it is when next to my regular desktop, which incidentally only has a 19 inch monitor.


Despite it's small overall size, its keyboard and touchpad are quite workable (purported to be 93% of regular size, but it feels about 85% of the desktop I'm used to working with). There's also built in bluetooth and even a webcam!


Since I can't wait to take it out to play, I crocheted this very gaudy case last night using scraps. As soon as I determine the best case to buy, it will have a more stylin outfit...I'm thinking body glove material or something water-resistance.


Very important question, folks: What should I name it? Is it a boy or a girl netbook?

Venetian Night on the Lake

Venetian Night was a great excuse to picnic along the lake on Saturday. Touted as a boat parade of 35 boats, I'm fairly certain that there were only a couple dozen at most. Nonetheless, the boats were festive (Hollywood was the theme) featuring music, dancing folks, and even a Michael Jackson tribute. Afterwards came fireworks! Lots of families with little monsters, but other than the ones that kept tumbling down the hill into us, we all played nicely.


Playing Scrabble, waiting for the boats.


The theme of this Venetian Night was Hollywood, so while I did not recognize many of the numbers, I became super excited when this Gilligan's Island one came around. The "Skipper" was singing, which wasn't too hot, but the boat was extremely nifty nonetheless.


Of course, there was the nod to the Chicago Olympic bid--this boat received both cheers and boos.

Next came the fireworks.

These guys are my favorites.

Seattle candids

My final day in Seattle

Since I was on my own Monday, I decided to do all the touristy things.


First stop was the Space Needle.


Next to it is the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame.


There was a Jim Henson exhibit, which was feely (think pink shag rugs on the wall)!


And a tower of guitars.


The next stop on my sightseeing tour was of the Underground, which consisted of tunnels underneath Pioneer Square in downtown Seattle. In 1889, the Great Seattle Fire ran destroyed 25 city blocks, mostly of wooden buildings. The merchants wanted to rebuild as quickly as possible and did so. However, the city official took their sweet time only to come up with a plan a few years later to raise the streets out of the much. Thus, the first story of many buildings became basement level, but business continued to thrive in these tunnels until a rat infestation finally shut them down. Now it's a tourist trap by which tours of 300 run through each day.




Lots of cool old stuff.



A particularly interesting aspect of the underground was the lighting system. Hard glass like this was placed in the ceiling.

Shown here.


This is what it looked liked from the street.


This was supposedly what the Seattle water system consisted of.


The view from the street.


Our friendly tour guide.


This cool guy stands outside the art museum.

Seattle Pictures - Day 2 Con't

Pike's Place Market


Home of the Original Starbucks, which came complete with banjo today.


Next, we were off to the Klondike Gold Rush Historical Park, which was indoors!


But it had real live park rangers, so I was happy!


This was all the stuff a fella had to take with him to be allowed into Canada.


Our final stop was "Waterfall Garden Park," which is a purty man-made waterfall and the brithplace of UPS!


Leaving downtown Seattle, another view of Mt. Rainer.