Mossy Cottage Knits

Ryan, I had the same experience with some alpaca roving I purchased this fall. I held off spinning it, thinking what a treat it was going to be, and how I would knit the fine little yarn I would so delicately spin into something really snuggly for someone. Say, the step-daughter... But when I went to spin it up, it wasn't even as nice as the merino I had been working on. What's the deal? Is life getting tougher for alpacas? Do they feel exploited, ergo are spewing out tougher fiber? I'm confused and disappointed.

Oh, p.s.: We just saw the Northern lights a couple of weeks ago ~ we live 15 miles outside of Olympia. If you're in the city, the "light pollution" is probably going to prohibit you seeing the lights....sorry! Should I call next time?

i think reading the '100 things' lists must bring out the voyeur i must have hidden inside me- i love reading them, and even moreso when i find that often 2 'facts' are absolutely antithecal- it's always good to know that others are contradictory critters too-

my '2 things' (hard to limit it to just 2) i want before i shuffle off:
* to see machu picchu
* to have more storage space than i have junk to store (i think i will get to the first one before this one)

hum to your alpaca scarf- it might become more user friendly for you if you are speaking to it in its own language-

stay happy-

Um...#4? Eeeuuuwww.

Ewwwwww! Not ENOUGH information about you! (I saw that comment, too, and thought "what the?!") Anyhoo, wow, my two things... just TWO things?.....there are so many. I thought one of them was sticking my toe in the English Channel, but I did that, and I have to tell ya, it was awfully anticlimactic. So if I HAVE to choose, it'll come as little surprise that your two are pretty darn good for me. I went on a whale watch with hubby once and it was a disaster. The weather turned bad and there were only two people on that boat that were not puking over the side. We were the two. It was freezing and wild and wooly and scary, but we posted ourselves on the front of that boat and hung on. I was the human bowsprit and he was right behind me, so we didn't have to see the others being sick, and hoping that we wouldn't get sick too. We didn't. You know your CLAW? That was my hands when we came back from this trip. I almost had to have them surgically unclenched. But the company didn't want to have to give us our money back, so they had to find a whale. Well, we saw one tiny tail of a whale and everybody was begging to be brought back to shore. But even after this experience, I'd like to do it again. I'm all masochistic like that. Ahhh, good times.

And as to the 100 lists, I love them. Or love to hate them. They are so revealing about a person, and sometimes not by what the person says necessarily, but maybe a thread you see running through them, or maybe by what is left UNsaid. I do know one thing, though: I want more Ryan. And I'm such a blabbermouth, I feel like I want to write 100 more. And then that person can come and say, "Ewwwww, too much information!"

I like reading other people's lists because I like the humor with which they write them, but I'm not sure I could think of 100 things about myself. If someone doesn't want to know, they should stop reading. I think one thing about myself is that I am made very angry by people who refuse to stop reading something but then bitch about it. I've considered compiling a "100 things about us" page for Pink Tea, it would spread around the responsibility. However we're short on posters these days.

Norma's comments about seeing whales reminds me that, in a way, I have no reason to complain about the lack of blue whales in my life since TMK and I DID go on a whaling trip during which we saw all 80+ orcas that live in our waters. Yep, those black and white things, swimming and breaching and spy-hopping right by our boat. Too amazing. And every time I see a bald eagle, it's as good as seeing a blue whale.

Cuzzin? #4? Meant to be euuuuwww. :-)

And, Joan, I am so jealous that you saw the northern lights! And, you're right, it is the city lights that are causing the problem. Rumor has it that if you go up to Snoqualmie Pass you can see the northern lights but, despite the fact that it is one of my Two Things, I can never get myself to get in the car late at night and drive the 1.5 hours to the pass, just in case. Now, if there were a blue whale up on Snoqualmie pass...

CarolineF, I agree! In fact, today's entry originally included some similar thoughts to yours but by then I was sounding like a complete Mr. Crankypants so I did some judicious editing.

Barb, why Machu Picchu specifically? Inquiring minds want to know!

I saw the Northern Lights a couple of times when I was still living in the Spokane area but didn't at all the year we were in Bremerton.

Good luck!

Northern Lights are high on my list. 2 things, though... that'll take thought.

to the 'inquiring mind' there-

several reasons, some probably worthy and one incredibly lame, for wanting to see those ruins-
1) i've seen and been impressed by the ruins at chichen itza and i would love to see how the mayan and incan remains differ and also show similarities- i am consistently struck by the amazing way that similarities of art, religion, legend, architecture, etc show up among groups in geographically and historically disparate locations
2) the idea of seeing the city suddenly appear among those glorious mountains where it lay hidden is compelling
3) this is really cheesy, but i once saw a movie on some late night show that took place in some 'hidden city' in the andes- years later, i had the idea of looking that movie up and heard a sound clip from it that featured a woman named yma sumac singing- awful movie, not good music, but enough to stick in my mind- maybe i think if i ever get there she will be wailing away to the incan gods when i arrive?

(btw, i want to see ankor wat too- i think i've been watching too much of the history and national geographic channels- both have had a run of programs on egyptian sites- i seem to be retreating back into the 'when i grow up i wanna be an archaelogist' phase that so many pass through-)

stay happy-

Wonderfully revealing comment, Barb! Thanks for posting it!

Your comment about similarities around the world reminded me of "The Journey of Man," a PBS documentary I saw a few months ago about a scientist who tracked one male gene around the world, from a tribe in Africa, to the Mid-East to Russia, to Alaska and down to Mexico, with emphasis on how we are related and on how the human anatomy and physiology had changed in response to new environmental conditions. Fascinating! (This is also the documentary that taught me the bigotry inherent in the word "myth." Who is to decide what is a myth and what isn't? I thought about this for a long time after the documentary was over--a sign of a good documentary, I say!)

Northern lights are one of my biggies, and I've met people from around here (Seattle) who have seen them. In 27 years in the area I never have. But you know, I don't want just a glimpse, I want the whole sky a waving flag of color Northern Lights, I think I have to go to Canada or Alaska.

Hi Ryan,

I noticed that the Northern Lights is on your list and I just felt I needed to chime in.

Living in Canada, I've seen them several times throughout my life. However, when I lived in the Arctic last year, I got to see them almost every night. Even after all my previous experiences, I was blown away by them each night.

I'm not just telling you this to brag but to suggest that you make a trip up there. There are Japanese tourists who go there to see the lights because they believe it is good luck to have a child conceived under them. Also that it enhances potency.

I really, really, really hope you and your commenters get to see them!!!

You're weeble comment cracked me up. My best friend and I are always saying we are living proof that weebles wobble but they don't fall down. I'm only 5'1 and I roll faster than I run. hehe.

And the whole yellow bathroom thing? That's even a bit much for a stalker, but then I understand the jab and the reasoning. Besides. It's your blog. Say what ya wanna. But I do have one question...is it lemon yellow, banana cream yellow or "gee, that snow used to be white" yellow?

Before I die, I want to see actual white sand and clear blue ocean. I live on the Gulf. The only beaches I have ever been to have been on the Texas side of the Gulf of Mexico. The sand and the water are the same drab brown color. Seriously. I can provide icky photos. The second thing I want to do is stand in the midst of a forest sorrounded by ancient trees so thick that there is very little undergrowth and just listen and feel the earth turn beneath me. No cars, no concrete, no artificial lights, no human sounds. Just nature at it's most basic.

Oh no, Barb in Texas did NOT just denigrate Yma Sumac (folds arms, glares) who makes Celine Dion sound like Alfalfa. Um, does liking Yma Sumac and her five-octave range make me gay? Does that even matter when you're celibate? Oy, my life is so complicated...

OK, I want to go to Tibet, specifically Mugtsang (the mystical epicenter of my lineage) and that could very well happen this July, and I want to complete at least one three-year retreat. Oh, and I want to see a Paltry Tyrannulet in Mexico just cuz, with a name like that, someone has to want to see him.

I had to google " Paltry Tyrannulet" to see what it was... I thought it was like some local bossy Mexican sheriff - like a little petty tyrant... Oh never mind... I don't think I'm completely awake. I'd love to see the Northern Lights, but seeing them here in Philadelphia would require really good eyesight. I'd love to go to the Kashmir and see the Himalayas. Or pretty much anyplace in India.

I (obviously) saw that comment and hoped she was joking, but if not I just kept thinking "you know honey, attendence isn't manditory at Chez Harlot."
I could never narrow it down to just 2 things. I saw whales in St Johns harbour this summer. It was pretty darned good.

I'd like to see the Grand Canyon in person and visit the Eden Project (http://www.edenproject.com) in Cornwall, UK.

Hmmm....Two things....
Live in europe for at least one year all together, specifically munich or london.
make a piece of clothing from the sheeps back or the flax field to my back doing all the intervening steps myself.

Well, I'm a bit morose today, so all I can think of is:

1. Finally feel like I'm done with therapy.

2. Get over myself.

2 things? huh? I'm a big blabbermouth and I cannot see me saying ONLY two things but I'll try.

1. i always dreamed of travelling. visiting (or living) far away has always been my goal. I finally realized part of my dream by visiting HK in 1999 and have wanted to go back ever since, altho now the itch is to visit india too.

2. I'm a person who is highly contradictory. I love to talk, but I am very shy. I love people, but I can never remeber faces with names. I am extremely friendly but feel like no one knows me. Perhaps that is why this internet thing is so good?

I think the homestead sweater is wonderful. I have like 5 billion sweater projects FOR ME on hold until after the holidays. the problem then will be which to start first??!!

Yup, Northern lights are high on my list too. Like to see the white cliffs of Dover (don't ask me why, there is no rhyme or reason for this one). Did see humpback whales off Maui and orcas in British Columbia - both were fabulous trips. Nothing like seeing 7 humpback males chasing a female on a heat run, all of them coming straight at your boat and you're clutching whatever piece of boat you can, hoping you don't capsize. (They dived under at the last minute.)
Sorry about the alpaca. But if you like soft, try Classic Elite Attitute (85% pima cotton, 15% silk - just to die for.)

What a great post! I had read the same comment and thought the same thing...but I will say -the 'personal' blog is out in the 'public' and unfortunately you risk the lack of respect that is needed when people offer their very personal information. I understand your reluctancy with the 100 list! Plus isn't that type of 'stuff' ever changing?

*Note to the TX comment concerning sand and water. Just take a weekend drive around the Gulf to Destin, FL (Panhandle)...where you will get your wish! Take a look on-line! I can recommend a condo to stay at!

My two things: (three for good measure)
1. have one of those 'rock' spa treatments (huge strech for me-but would still like to experience it)
2. learn to Kayak -in a wild place where the water would be calm.....Inside Passage (been on a ferry there, but..)
3. Travel to Norway