Yellow Rose of...Virginia?

It's been sort of a ridiculous few weeks, culminating with my missing three days of work and receiving lots of kind words, thoughts, cards and flowers from friends and family...for which I am truly grateful.

On a high note, the time off has allowed me some serious knitting time. I'm making progress on all my WiPs (works in progress) and have started a few new ones too. It almost feels like I'll never update the blog since these things take so long, and I don't want to post unfinished pictures. (Though, for real-time WiP status, check out my Ravelry page!)

















So, since I can't post any knitting projects (yet), I wanted to share the absolutely gorgeous yellow roses that my best friend gave me. She was a total champ last week, and spent hours last week knitting and hanging out with me and my mom whilst enduring day-time TV. (Really, my mom didn't know who Rachael Ray was...?) (Damnit! Did I just link Rachael Freakin' Ray on my blog?! Ugh.)

Anyway, not only did BFF get my favorite flowers (yellow roses), but they are just out of this world gorgeous. Good job!! So, here they are, captured at the peak of awesomeness.

Rove you Risa :)

July Book Review

Aside from a budding obsession with knitting, I have always been an avid reader. Taking inspiration from A Mingled Yarn, I've decided that the new blog can serve as an outlet for book reviews of whatever I've finished reading.

I've always been a history buff, with a focus on U.S. military endeavors. Lately, I've been into exploration and adventure books, finding these ordinary people doing extraordinary things absolutely fascinating. And so, I leave you with July's Book Review:

• Into Tibet: The CIA's First Atomic Spy and His Secret Expedition to Lhasa, by Thomas Laird: This book peaked my interest following a Washington Post story about the first CIA agent killed in the line of duty. Apparently it had taken them upwards of 50 years to publicly acknowledge that Douglas S. MacKiernan was the first CIA agent killed in the line of duty (though he has been the "First Star" on their Wall of Honor for some time now). Conducting a quick Google search, the Wikipedia article on MacKiernan cited often to Into Tibet. This book was absolutely enthralling. I almost felt as though I was a CIA agent trekking across the Inner Asian plateau, sleeping in yurts and drinking butter tea. Plus, this book gave a previously unknown history of the secret atomic spy operations in place right after WWII. Laird's book is exceptionally researched, due to years of FOIA requests to the Department of State and CIA. I wholeheartedly recommend this riveting true account.
  

• Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone, by Martin Dugard: Inspired by History Channel's docu-drama "Expedition Africa" during which four modern day explorers follow Henry Morton Stanley's trip from Zanzibar to Ujiji looking for Dr. Livingstone, I decided to read about this expedition for myself. Now, I think like most people, I had heard of Stanley and Livingstone and knew there was a search of some sort involved, but had no grip on the actual facts. This book proved an excellent description of their concurrent lives and individual journeys, alternating between Stanley and Livingstone by chapter. I find the geopolitical issues of Africa fascinating, and it is arguable the exploration by Stanley and Livingstone (and the subsequent press storm) kicked off the period of European colonialism and the effects thereof. So, I found it interesting to read about Africa (from a European perspective), pre-colonialism.
  

• Seven Years in Tibet, by Heinrich Harrer: This book kicked off my interest in Inner Asia and Tibet. Yet again, I had a vague understanding of Tibet, in that I knew the Dalai Lama was in exile and there was a move to "Free Tibet." I guess I hadn't put two and two together that Tibet had been it's own independent country prior to the Chinese takeover in 1950. A beautifully written narrative by Harrer, an Austrian who escaped from a British POW camp in India, describes his trek across Tibet with little more than the clothes on his back to his eventual ascent to Lhasa and service as tutor to the young Dalai Lama. Yes, I know it's a movie, but go read the book.
  

• West with the Night, by Beryl Markham and The Flame Trees of Thika: Memories of an Africa Childhood, by Elspeth Huxley: Several months ago I read Out of Africa by Isak Dineson (Karen Blixen) and was moved by the heroine's strength and survival on the plains of British East Africa, essentially abandoned by her big game hunting husband. Wondering if there were other biographies of women who lived in BEA during the early 20th century, I stumbled upon West with the Night. Beryl Markham stunningly catalogues here life in BEA as a young woman who eventually becomes a pilot, shuttling critical goods and medical services to settlers throughout the colony. I was most amused that she ends up rescuing Karen Blixen's husband (of Out of Africa) from certain death when his hunting party is trapped by a flood on the African plains. Huxley's Flame Trees of Thika was not as gripping as Markham's story, but it was written through Huxley's eyes as a child. Her parents settled farmland in modern-day Kenya, and her innocent assessment of the challenges they faced through a child's perception further deeped my understanding of life in British East Africa. All three of these books were good reads.
  

Though unintentional, there was definitely a Tibetan/East African theme to my recent book selections. All of these books were outstanding, and highly recommended from this budding "armchair adventurer."

Jamie's Neon Knit Purse

So, my cousin Jamie's birthday is in September, and she'll be 13. After accompanying her to a concert this spring, I noticed that she (and, apparently all teenage girls) are suffering from 1980s-esque love of neon.

I wanted to knit her something for her birthday, and thought that Susan Dittrichs' Flapper Purse would be awesome.

And, of course, when I asked her what color she would like....the answer was lime freakin' green.

Shockingly, Caron SimplySoft Brites actually makes a lime green yarn. And, here it is in progress.




I used the Flapper Purse pattern as inspiration, but the main stitching is done in a wheat-ear cable, instead of plain cable panels. I will post full pattern details once it's finished.

Meanwhile...during the photo op we had One Very Bad Cat.




Kira Kitty is usually very good...but, unlucky for me, she has a "thing" for knitting needles. What can I say, great minds think alike :)

Oh, we're halfway there...

Well, it's taken several months (because I got bored and started other projects...) but I finally finished the first of my First Pair of Socks.















I did several inches of 2x2 ribbing, and then followed Silver's Sock Class pattern for a basic sock. Highly recommended for beginning sock knitters.

I think I'm going to hold off on Sock #2 for a while as I need the US 6 needles for a super awesome project which shall remain unnamed until finished due to it's unbelievable awesomeness.

Meanwhile, in other news, my mom and I went to see Billy Joel/Elton John at Nationals Park in DC this weekend and it was amazing!! Here's a photo of Billy (on the big screen). Hot d*mn, I love him...



It was a fabulous weekend!! And these socks are finally (halfway) done!

Christmas Wrist Warmers

So, because it's July, why not post some pictures of my Christmas Wrist Warmers that I made for BF's mom last Christmas. It was my first attempt at knitting on DPNs, and I think they came out just lovely.











































Super Easy Christmas Wrist Warmers (and a great warm-up for knitting a sock) Pattern:

MATERIALS

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft, in whichever colors you like. But, you can use any DK worsted weight yarn.

1 set US #5/3.75mm double-point or circular needles

GAUGE

20 sts/28 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

DIRECTIONS (this pattern is a striped version of Knitty's VooDoo Wrist Warmers)

CO 40(44, 48) sts using the long tail cast-on method and set of double point needles or circulars.

Divide stitches evenly among needles.

Join and work in k2, p2 rib for 7 [7.5, 8] inches.

Change colors whenever you like, my stripes aren't even.

At the beginning of the round, *K2, P2* three times, then make a 6-stitch buttonhole.

Finish round in pattern.

Work one more inch in 2X2 rib [k2, p2]

BO all stitches.

Weave in ends.

Welcome!

Well, it's been an exciting day. A new blog, and I finally joined Ravelry (you can find me as "DebraLeigh.")

I hope to use this blog as a place for musings about life and posting my various knitting creations. I've been knitting for over 2 years, and have enjoyed picking up patterns and ideas from various blogs and forums. I'm hoping to give back to the online knitting community and share some of my own designs...while showing them off :)

Welcome!