Cowls and Yarn and... Ornaments

So today I decided to begin tackling one of my last Christmas presents on my list. My brother's long time girlfriend's scarf.

Which I just decided to make into a cowl instead.

I don't know... cowls seem cool and modern and scarves seem classic. So I decided to do something more modern because it seems more like her style. And the color is to die for. It's a rich teal color that is perfect with her skin tone.

So when I was researching different things to do I came across a pattern where you use super chunky yarn. Mine's a normal weight so it wouldn't work. But since I already bought the yarn for its color a couple months ago for a different (failed/postponed) project I didn't really want to go out and have to FIND the yarn. It's really hard to find chunky yarn, just in case you were wondering. And I work for Michaels. And we don't even carry that thick of yarn. I mean this stuff is supposed to be about an inch thick. AN INCH.

So I thought to myself... I have a little circle knitter (or whatever they're called... they look like this) and knit the yarn for it.

Then I sat down to watch some TV while I knitted and it took me about half an hour to get a foot down.

Now here's my geek side showing.

There are 15 days before Christmas (but I'll go with 14 since it's midnight.) That means that there are 24 hours times 15 days for a total possibility of 432 hours. That would make about 432 feet, or 144 yards of crocheting fabric. (I'm using fabric for lack of a better word.) Now that's not including the time I have to eat, sleep, go to work, and go to school... and the other time I spend doing other things. Let's say then, that I got about three hours of work in everyday. So that brings the amount down to 45 hours and 45 feet, which is 15 yards. Now the pattern that I have requires at LEAST 170 yards of material.

No go.

So I had this long strand of stuff that I'd done and I thought... hey. I can use this for the base of a scarf! So I started crocheting along the strand and at the ends tied them to make a circle. Now while I was doing that I didn't notice (fail) that the knitted bit that I was crocheting around had twisted. Oops. So now the scarf was spiraling. Now that won't work.

Then I decided... hey! Let's make a rippled scarf!

So far it looks pretty good... though I must say it has a kind of spirally pattern in the different layers I stitch that wasn't intended but looks interesting.

All in all I have about three inches (in thickness) of a cowl done and  it took me three hours...

Deer Lawd... Thank God I can crochet fast...

Anyways yesterday afternoon we bought a Christmas tree. Today I invited Der Boifriend over to help decorate it.

He wasn't much of a help. He unwrapped the ornaments and went on chatting with my mom while I put up everything. My mom told me how to put the lights up and then, as she puts it, "Managed" the work we were doing.

So you know how you forget what kinds of ornaments that you have until you unwrap them? Well apparently I had a HEDGEHOG ornament. It's so cute! It's made of wood and the shells of (I think) pistachios. I saw it and I told my mom that when she dies I get it. Then she reminded me that she bought one for my brother and I to have one Christmas and gave it to us as stocking-stuffers. Sure enough, my name and the year was written on the bottom of it.

SCORE

I've always wanted a hedgehog.

So now I have about ten ornaments people have given me over the years, including that one and a gaudy one my Oma gave to me that is huge, heavy, and plays music when you wind it and open up the doors. Let's just say that one's just for making sure that the tree doesn't topple over...

Tea and Crumpets and Trees... Again

Ho hum.

I feel a bit sick today. As in feverish. That might be because I'm wearing two layers of everything... but that's beside the point. I only just started feeling it ten minutes ago... when I've been wearing this for about three hours already. Inside. Under my comforter. In a room with little to no ventilation. You'd think that I'd have started feeling sick or warm before but nope...

And my toes are cold.

But that's beside the point.

So today I didn't have work so I just chilled around my house for the morning (which is a long way of saying I slept in until 11) and hung out with 'Der Boifriend' for another couple hours.

We had tea and cocoa at his friend's place we'd seen yesterday (description here -->Coffee and Cocoa and... Trees?) and afterwards he had work. His name forever shall be 'La Photographia' because I asked and he answered that.

So I kept working on the scarf that I made for 'Der Boifriend'. Here's the picture of what I have so far. The pattern is random, in regards to the color choices. They were the remnants from a Doctor Who scarf that my mom is/was making me for Christmas. I'm not sure if she's finished... she said she was but then again she bought two skeins of some colors and didn't use them... Last I saw she just needed the tassles and then to stretch the scarf to the full 12 foot length... I'm so excited!!! >U<

The pattern of the yarn itself is called "honeycomb" and is a Tunisian style of crocheting. It's in between crocheting and knitting and I like it. It's very easy to follow and comprehend.

I just realized that that smiley is the first one I have used so far. Perhaps I should use more... I usually talk with them. They're great for showing emotions! But I shall restrain the annoying usage of them for now... I'll work them in slowly and only do a few.

So yeah. His scarf. It looks like this so far (folded up and such but it is about five feet now.)

I have to finish the length (which is when I run out of both yellow, grey and white...) and then weave the excess on the sides into the scarf so that they don't show.

Boifriend you better be pleased with this or else.

OH! Here's the picture of the scarf...

(The picture will be belated because my ridiculous camera ran out of battery as I was taking it... It needs to charge now...)

Anyways then afterwards we were supposed to go to Kron again at the local college but it was a no-go. Apparently, there was a threatened rain storm or something.

All I saw were some meaningless light grey clouds. Not those angry black ones that roll in from the coast, hit the breeze from the Inland Empire and then turn into a massive hail storm.Which usually happens during the summer but that's another issue entirely.

So instead he and I went to the coffee shop again. I had Chai tea and he had a Mayan hot cocoa. It was spiced but I didn't notice it until the end. I kept stealing sips from his 'cause Chai tea is smooth in flavor and needs something else entirely to spice it up again.

His friend brought us whipped cream that was eggnog flavored while we were chatting. In little espresso cups with spoons that were sticking out of the top like a little flag or something. I thought it looked comical. They were on the verge of toppling over too.

So I have never tasted eggnog before. I've heard it's slimy and has alcohol in it... and as I don't like the taste of alcohol I have yet to try it. So 'Der Boifriend' tried it for me and told me to try it.

IT WAS DELICIOUS.

Nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, apple juice and other things were all woven into the rich foam and it gently reminded you of the flavor of the holiday season. All we needed was it liquified into a drink and then to be standing in front of a giant Christmas tree covered in gently twinkling lights and classy ornaments, with songs softly playing and a fire crackling merrily off to the side.

Which reminds me. We have decided for our Christmas Tree gag to use a small tree instead of a huge one. This was decided for a couple reasons.

A: We wanted to give my parents a good present as well, and since the cost of a tree would be just shy of the cost of a present we voted for a cheaper option.
B: My parents keep telling me "I don't know" or "Maybe" when I ask them if we're getting a tree. What happens if they were going out on the date and when they returned decided to buy a tree and then we had one already? Our living room isn't big enough for two trees... It can barely fit one.
C: 'Der Boifriend' had an idea. We would get a tiny one that the grocery stores sell, decorate it with my tree's decorations, and write a note saying "A real tree wouldn't fit into 'Der Boifriend's' car... So we got you this instead."
D: We also considered the fact that both my dad, brother and I wouldn't clean up after the tree. You have to keep it watered and vacuum up the fallen needles...and since there's almost no chance we'll do it for my mom she'd have to do it. And that's one of the main reasons why she didn't want a tree this year.

So it's decided. Now... I just need to abuse the coupon policy at my work and get some mini lights for the mini tree... and send my parents on a date later on in December.

But not too late 'cause I have a final to study for. I think the test is on the 18th or something like that... I should check.

Deer Lawd... I had to change my work schedule calendar to December because it's just a couple days away! EGADS.