Music for some of the movies stay with me so long that I end up shelling out $20 per CD for the soundtrack and invariably, the movie.music industry appears to know this, so they market not just soundtrack which has title something like "Music from...." but then they release another called "More Music from....". Of course, I am weak and I succumb to it all and buy them both...argh!!

So, what am I listening to this morning: Jurrasic Park.
There is history here. Long long time ago, my sister watched the movie when it was released and liked the music and she mailed me the cassette (remember those?). Without having ever watched the movie, the music caused heartbeats to quicken. And I was sold. Years later, I watched the movie, and the soundtrack went on my buy list. Just recently though, my finanical comptroller (well, that is me with a different hat) released some money to spend. And I did! I got me my own copy of Jurrasic Park. For the past few days, I have been listening to it continuously. That is what happens to me when I get a new CD, I listen to it, till I am ready to throw up.

Some of the others I love and own:
Braveheart.... and More music from Braveheart (Of course)
Gladiator.... and More music from Gladiator (duh, of course)
Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Mans Chest
Bliss
Children of Dune
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Snatch
Sum of All Fears
Thomas Crown Affair

Growing up back home, movies were a treat, a rare treat. Rarely would our theaters show any good movies. But every once in a blue moon, a great movie would come along and my father would insist on getting the family to go. As far as I remember, we never missed a Disney production. I remember being completely mesmerized with Snow White and Seven dwarfs, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella and and..... well that is it. I knew then I was hooked on to the fairy tales, and the vivid pictures from Disney. The colors so crisp and so 'correct'. It is hard for me to describe in words the feel of pure color and all appropriately mixed to produce perhaps the world's best combinations, contrasts and hues and saturation....... but then I am getting passionately technical and horribly sentimental.

WHY THIS Nostalgia? Well, it is October, and not just any October 2006, and I have waited about 9 years for this. Well, I have waited for many things (sometimes patiently and sometimes frustrated) for 9-10 years. The Platinum release of my second¹ most favorite Disney movie........ The Little Mermaid. It was released on October 6, needless to say it was on my wish list and arrived at my doorstep this Saturday. I don't know whether the wait for 9 years was more aggravating, or was this past one week.  But like I said the wait was over......

Why do I love it so much? (in random order)
* Of course the colors...... something about under the sea, blues-greens and fantastic colors of corals, shells and sea creatures (notably some are horrid). Colors play, perhaps the most important role in these movies, and they convey feelings far far more, and in more depth than any words ever can.
* Oh.... the music.... & lyrics.... oh man! It is haunting.
* Sebastian and Scuttle.....
* Perhaps most touching, most intense moment for me (call me a sentimental old fool)...... is "Part of Your World"

Pssttt: Saturday night became a tissue box and wine night..... and Little Mermaid. Watched with a full box of tissues..... hmmmm.... have always watched this alone, maybe because it is too embarrassing to admit (forget share) that I cry buckets in some movies (read: most disney). But, there I said it, I do cry at movies.

¹The first is hands down without a doubt.......Beauty and the Beast...... 

This pattern has been in my mind for ever, and I tried with all different left over yarns and needles of different gauges and somehow, it always eluded me. Something was not right. I could not figure it out. So, when we were out at webs and saw this yarn at a must-buy-price, I got it. I think it turned out just jazzy, the pattern is a simple 10 row pattern, repeated 27 times and done. I still need to block this one, but even without blocking, it looks so scrumptious and leafy. The timing is so appropriate (or not), just when the leaves are turning reds, yellows and oranges, I complete the one with green. Perhaps to hold on to the summer. Nah! I love the fall, with its snippy mornings and warmish days.

After completing the three sweaters and the Allegra, I was itching to start something for me again. So, took a trip to Northampton, MA.

I cannot believe I have not been here before. Few days ago, I thought I needed a break, a getaway or rather a runaway from town. I thought to going to Webs in Northampton. As I was still mulling over whether to go or not. I asked a colleague at work, if his wife, (equally avid knitter), would like to go. One thing led to another, and it became a field trip to Mecca of Yarn.

We started early around 9AM, had a great drive to Northhampton. I love this town! We parked to get coffee at La Fiorentina Pastry Shop, on 19 Armory street. Had a cappacino with two biscotti's (one Anisette and the other Almond). Coffee was to die for, and so was the Anisette biscotti. Once fed, we were ready to tackle webs. Driving up to it, felt like driving up to a warehouse, and I had butterflies and was so nervous, that my hands were shaking. I had no idea what to expect, but it just felt so exciting and fun and content and happy. I had not even stepped over the threshold.

The place is insane!!! Insanely great! I am so hooked. Why did I not get here before. So much yarn, so many books, so little time. Man, I need to get more hands to knit everything. And prices are so unbelievable. If this is how it feels to be in love, then I am in love. I came away with  the following in my cart.

1. Adrienne Vittadini Catalogs (Love these, I want to make them all): Spring 2004, Fall 2004, Fall 2005.
2. Plymouth Yarh: Baby Alpaca Brush (in light steel blue) for Vittadini Fall 2005 Antonia 5. Needed to do substitution as Antonia is either too expensive or discontinued.
3. Elsebeth Lavold: 1 skein Silky Wool in Moss Green for a scarf. Hmmm, loved the yarn so bought a skein in cream and maroon. No idea what I am going to make of these, but loved it, so it had to be adopted. :)
4. Rowan: 3 skeins Kid Silk Haze for Butterfly project from Rowan Magazine 37
5. Rowan: 1 skein Kid Silk Haze White/Pearl.... just because.....
6. Reynolds Yarns: Saucy Sport, 100% Mercerized Cotton: 2 skeins brilliant Green, 2 skeins light Blue, 4 skeins in Cream for a Crochet Shawl, pattern TBD. I think I got these because the colors and sheen so vibrant and so yummy.

(Note: The colors look all washed out, because they are most pastels and I took the picture in full sun.

I am heaven, so happy, so content, so needed to be back to start knitting!! But this was just the beginning. We parked in town, and walked along Main street. What a fabulous town! I just love the feel of town centers, with plenty to do, just rightly balanced at being laid back and active.   We ate lunch at a Mediterranean restuarant. I had fabulous lamb kabob plate with salad (best I have had in ages or rather first I had in ages).  After that we wandered around, stopped in used book store and bought a knitting book (of course). Couple of hours later, we stopped at HayMarket, a hole in the wall, with plenty of space once, you made through the hole in the wall. Again, had great coffee with Coconut Almond Shortcake cookie. Yum..... Forget counting the calories, I was there to savor every darn minute of it, and by god, I did. I am glad I don't this often, but when I do, I really do relish it and it stays with me for the long long time.... and the cookie and biscotti and lamn stick to my... you know where for a long time too. But what the heck. We wandered around a  bit, and was glad to be walking to work off the 5000 calorie day. It was great to see the place with friends who knew the place well (they went to school in the neighborhood and were married in this town)...... hmmm definitely a town worth saving.

Knitting for tots again! This time I am knitting with Sirdar Snuggly (double knitting) in Royal Blue and my fast becoming favorite yarn for tots Sirdar Snowflake (double knitting) in Pink. 

 

Knitting the pink as a raglan sleeved sweater was a breeze and I am proud of the end result. But the blue drove me pots. Perhaps, it was because, the number of pieces that needed to be knitted with few stitches and then seamed and arrghhhh, I had cut my left fingers cutting pineapple. Or it may be because I was making two of the exactly same pattern in the same color!! When I was knitting up the second, it was deja vu, like, wasn't I just here increasing and decreasing at same places with same color yarn.

I am happy with how they turned out, but blue was aggravating, pink was a pleasure. But the three (Blue x 2 + Pink x 1) are done and shipped off.

Inspectors: WHAT would I do without these chaps!!!
 

Spent the evening with friends watching them play Cleopatra and playing 1/2 a game (don't remember what it was called). I liked Cleopatra, especially collecting the talents and more so the corruption coins. It was weird just watching the game. I would rather be playing. But, I did not make in time for the instructions. Ah well! next time.

After Cleopatra was done, I joined in for another game, (for the life of me, cannot remember what it was). If you are reading this, and know what this game is, do let me know. The game dealt with each player (in our case 7) picking from a set of card, one whose identity you were going to be for the round. The identities were Assassin, Thief, Bishop, Merchant, King etc etc. Each of the identity had the order in which the players played. Assasin (1), Thief (2) etc etc. The person who picked Assasin goes first and names a identity to kill. If you are the one called, then at your turn, you miss the turn. If you are the thief, then you collect gold coins from the person you named to steal from. In your turn, you can use the coins to pick cards to build, and build with the coins you have. I forget who wins, but then I couldn't stay till the end, so no clue what is criteria is to win. This is sloppy. Why am I being sloppy?

This evening, it was great to be there, but felt I needed to be somewhere else. Sorry, Jess/Amy, it was just weird.

For the game party I made Chicken and Mushroom puff pastry. The receipe was okay, nothing too spectacular, and I think the receipe called for too much corn starch. Note to self, next time put less. There was plenty to eat and drink and all of it very tasty.

Enjoy! (More pictures)

9:00AM: Last day of vacation, and Allegra is done. A day to celebrate! I am proud of this one. I had completed the back and front sometime back and somehow just could not get myself to complete seaming. I think it sometimes needs destiny to kick in, well, this morning it did. Around 6AM, after a cup of coffee, I got down to the business of seaming. After roughly three hours, it was done. I could wait, needed to take a picture. After couple of silly self pictures, I ran over to my neighbors', bare foot and fingers crossed (hoping to catch her at home), and had her stop breakfast and take a picture. So, here it is!!! This is how it all began: 1. Friday, July 10th: Concept to project 2. Wednesday, July 19th: Back made some serious progress with Allegra back progress 3. Saturday, August 5th: Back completed! Front is where it is at. Allegra front progress 4. Sunday, August 20th: Front completed! Knitting done 5. Several days: Got lazy and/or blaming destiny for not completing the seaming 6. Monday, Sept 11th: Done...... this is it. Roughly two months, with off and on knitting.

The Pink Velour Crape Myrtle bloomed! I planted a small shrub, about 8in tall, which is supposed to grow to about 10 feet. The plant is just about a foot, but it is blooming! I have two other Crape Myrtles, another Pink Velour and one Red Dynamite. So, far they are growing but they are not as ambitious as the first to be flowering. But I am not going to force it. I had planted three other small shrubs, all three Lilacs (Miss Kim), they were in their temporary planting location. They don't appear to be growing (or dying) where I planted them, so, they have been transplanted to new locations. Lets see how they do there. But, I am encouraged to plant blubs this fall, and then some serious planting in spring 2007. Oh, finally the yard work with the retaining walls is complete. One huge to do item checked off from the list. Now, I have to keep up with weeding, and that will keep me busy for the next two months.