January 14, 2004
Good News, Bad News
The Good News: I got a promotion at work to Manager of Web and Documentation Services (which sounds all very foo-foo until I ‘llow as how I’ll be supervising all of two people. Ooooooo. And I spent my first day as Manager wearing a big coffee stain on my sweater. Way to make a good impression!). The Bad News: This may have a deleterious effect on the blog. It may be shorter, it may be more infrequent, it may be lacking altogether. Big Sad Face. However, since TMK graciously lent me her Mac laptop last year on a semi-permanent basis for my moonlighting work as an at-home transcriptionist (hey, it keeps me in yarn!), perhaps I can write my entries at home at night on Le Petite Laptoppe and just quickly post them in the morning before my managerial duties do a kawabunga on me. Either way, I’ll do my best to keep posting, since the blog and the Mossy Cottage Community have become a very bright spot in my life.
Obviously, I have time for at least this entry, so let’s talk knitting while we can, shall we? What better way to wile away an evening than watching the finals of “Celebrity Poker” while finishing Sock Numero Uno of the Catalina Socks, as I did last night. Why “Celebrity Poker,” which sounds B-grade and hokey on a good day? Well, TMK and I occasionally indulge in “poker nights” with friends. The games are always ultra-friendly, the kind where the players constantly and arbitrarily hand chips around to make sure no one runs out. Or failing that, Life Partner A makes a sad puppy face at Life Partner B, and Life Partner B immediately hands over a large stack of chips. And Life Partner A makes a grateful, kiss-kiss moue at Life Partner B and somehow, in a weird way, it becomes a relationship-bonding moment. Anyhoo, ultra-friendly poker or not, I suck at it (sort of the way you suck at playing golf, Big Sister. Smirk.). I am The Folding Queen. Dealer deals. I look at my cards. I fold. The other players have a big laugh at my expense. Repeat. The problem is, if I hold onto my cards for even one go-round, everyone knows I must have a passably good hand, so they all fold—and I win bupkus. Which, therefore, in a twisted way, for me at least, makes “Celebrity Poker” educational TV. (Now, lest you pity me for my lack of poker playing skills, I can whup anyone’s behind in cribbage, which I have played since I was, oh, what, five? Come on. Try me. I dare ya’!)
Here, a photo of the almost-finished Catalina sock being tried on for fit, followed by an unflattering photo of my little piggies which TMK just had to take and insisted I had to post:
On the Woodworking Front, here is TMK’s lastest offering, a custom-made shadow box for her wood type collection. It is destined to be painted a rich, bright yellow (she says white, but what does she know) and to decorate the wall of her office.
Ryan, please please please keep posting - I love your blog and usually share it with the Others in the house -
We laugh and laugh and snicker and snort and can't do without you -
Congrats on your promotion but mustn't let work get in the way of what's really important -
Please pleeeeasssseeee -
Posted by: childe on January 14, 2004 09:22 AMIsn't this where I admit I made up the promotion and lack of time (wink, wink) just in order to get flattering comments like Childe's? But, no, really, the promotion, the extra work--all real, but I'll do my best to keep posting. I promise.
Posted by: Ryan on January 14, 2004 10:11 AMNooooh! Nooooh!
I can't BEAR it!
Must go lie down now --
screw the Medieval Drama class. What the hell. I'll wing it. No time for planning, as I must recover from the Bad News.
I'm NOT happy about this.
yours, Miss Sassy
Posted by: Anne on January 14, 2004 10:32 AMYAY for promotions! I'm so very glad for you. Of course, I'm crushed at the thought that we might not get regular updates, for your humor is a huge bright spot in my day. Especially after I've been perusing the classifieds for a while. And oh! No TMK WiP updates? This is terrible! ;)
But I am very glad to hear that you've been promoted. Congrats!
Posted by: perclexed on January 14, 2004 11:18 AMIf it helps any, as we speak, TMK is soothing me and saying, "We'll find a way. We'll find a way." The problem is if I write at home, I have less time to knit; if I have less time to knit, I have nothing to photograph; if I have nothing to photograph, I have nothing to write about. Ack!
Now, off to overnight-mail a cold compress to Anne.
Posted by: Ryan on January 14, 2004 11:33 AMI have faith that you won't let work interfere with your life. After a bit,I know you will manage your people to the point where they can leave you alone for a while to blog and knit at work ;-)
Anyway, I want to start a windowbox herb garden from seed in the spring, so you can't leave yet. (insert whine) Do I need to start the seeds ahead of time indoors, is potting soil ok,metal or plastic window box?
Debra,
Seeds should always be started in a seed starting mix. When the seedlings are transplanted you can use potting soil. The plants don't really care what the box is made out of as long as there is room for their little roots, and plenty of water and sunshine. Metal and plastic retain water better than wood or clay.
1. You can start seeds next month indoors. When plants get their second or third set of leaves, you'll need to transplant them to separate 2" pots. Then after all danger of frost is past in your area, you can put them outside in your window box in a very sunny window. The basic herbs we use here are generally Mediterranean in origin and they usually like a lot of sun.
The challenge when growing plants indoors from seed is the seedlings tend to get long and bendy if they don't get enough light. If you have UV-blocked/energy efficient windows, you probably won't get enough beneficial light to grow healthy plants. You can remedy this by using a grow light directly over the seedlings for 8-12 hours a day.
2. The other option is to buy healthy starts from your local nursery in April or May. I know this defeats the purpose of starting your herbs from scratch. But, you still get to pick them out, arrange them in the window box and nurture them until they go in the soup pot. ;-)
Congrats, Ryan! But of course you must still manage to blog. How else shall we learn of the marvelous parallels between knitting and woodworking (I'm forwarding that bit o'brilliance to my brother)? Oh, and tell TMK that I envy her type collection . . .
Posted by: maggi on January 14, 2004 01:53 PMCongratulations Ryan! Now keep blogging. You're one of my favorites. My husband reads you, too!
Now about your little piggies... it looks like the poor things are in jail!
Beautiful shelves, TMK!
Posted by: Fran on January 14, 2004 05:30 PMWell, I've come late to the party, but must add my voice: "PUHLEEEZE KEEP BLOGGING RYAN!" My heart literally sank as I read your post - You are more than some gal up North who entertains me, you are my friend. We've not met, but just the same, you are my friend and I would miss you terribly if you quit. Infrequent I can live with, as we must all work to buy yarn, sad but true. Of course I am thrilled for your promotion, but selfishly hoping the blog will continue. L
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on January 14, 2004 05:58 PMRyan, CONGRATULATIONS on your promotion!! I do love checking in on your blog, and I do hope you can continue, in whatever capacity you can muster, but I would hate to know you're doing less knitting, dyeing or spending less time with K (playing poker or otherwise) in order to continue your entries. Priorities, priorities...AND speaking of knitting, are you coming to Guild next week? Check out the website (http://www.scn.org/skg). We're having mini-classes and I'm having trouble deciding which one to pick!!!!! See you there. Mary
Posted by: Mary on January 14, 2004 09:54 PMThanks, TMK. Next month! I'm glad I asked so soon. The windows in my house are original circa 1911 wavy glass. I'm thinking they didn't have UV then. I'm going to be brave and try the seeds. Ummm, Italian flat-leaf parsley, dill, chives. I'll keep you posted.
Posted by: Debra on January 15, 2004 05:03 AMLisa, separate, personal email sent to you. Hugs from up here in the Frigid North (where it's been close to 60 degrees lately, so I'm not too sure about "Frigid.")
Mary, I am SO at Guild on Wednesday! I'm hoping to bring a friend from work along. Must...spread...the...luv! Mini-class wise, it's a toss-up between "Horizontal Lace Borders" or "Knitting With Beads."
Posted by: Ryan on January 15, 2004 11:28 AMHi Ryan - Linda "K" here, sorta of the SKG - tho long a lapsed member, tho in body not in dues. I was the one last year who raved about your leaf socks after the Guild's sock nite. Then promptly did nothing about them after your kind response.
I was reading your blog tonight and next to your picture of the almost-finished Catalina socks was a cute little doggie face that looks suspiciously like a Pembroke Corgi? The paws are not totally Corgi-looking but it could be the angle. If so, do you have other pix of him/her on your site that I could see? I have a Cardigan named Scarlet (aka Miss Bossyknickers). Not sure how to add a pic of her to this comment area so will hold off for now. Since I'm sporadic in reading your blog, you may talk dog all the time and I've missed it.
Regards,
Linda "K"
Posted by: Linda "K" on January 19, 2004 07:47 PM