ProseKnitic – of Words und Wolle

Unlike much of Eastern Europe, you can not pay extra to take photos inside many locations. Doesn’t matter if you turn off the flash. Just not allowed. Which means that one is more likely to buy souvenir books, right? Maybe, maybe not. Certainly it did not stop me from looking around and photoing those places which did allow photos.

before we headed back to the bus

Valley of the Kings

Multiple tombs going up into the mountain and down into the earth.

the land is pretty harsh

our tickets allowed us entry into up to 3 tombs. No mummies present (nor photos inside). But there was climbing up ladders, down ramps and banging of heads on various ceilings.

before looking up into the hills

seeing another tomb

and going on to

Valley of the Queens

Not all Temples have survived as well as others. In the process of restoration -

and details of the building

and of course, you have to traverse a bazaar when ever exiting in order to separate you from your money…..

Heading down the Nile

The cruise ships on the Nile look pretty similar. Fairly wide, flat bottomed river ships, they are crowned with deck chairs and swimming pools.

After this morning’s outings – we headed down the Nile toward Aswan.

Towel Art

Knitting

A close up of my vest stitch pattern -

Sunshine, temples and ancient Egyptian Gods – what more could I want? Your have been warned – this post is picture heavy.

Well, watching some of the people around me – it is obvious that they don’t appreciate the finer points of breakfast. There are olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh yogurt, hard boiled eggs. With the choice of either coffee or tea, I could not be happier. For those who really want the Western traditional – there are also corn flakes, omelettes, hash browns and various assorted breads/toast/pastries.

Boarding a bus, there are 17 in our tour group going to Amun Temple. A few pictures. (see the rest under travel – Egypt)

Temple of Amun

Luxor Temple

Back lit and crowded with people, we didn’t arrive at Luxor Temple until after sun down.

Towel Art

It seems like the cabin attendants have a sense of humor. We returned today to towel art.

Vår Løysing

I finished the ribbing

220+ stitches on 2.75mm needles. It is a four row 2×2 ribbing pattern with a twist in the knit stitches every fourth row.

 It was cold this morning on the way to Gatwick. After the usual family crisis (not all teens look forward to a family vacation) we were underway, found the South Terminal Long term parking and the ThomasCook charter desk.

Seen from the air – most of Egypt looked like this -

Except for the areas which had the Mideastern Look

or a bit of irrigation

For the next 7 days, we will be living on Etoile du Nil II, Luxor <-> Aswan enjoying warmer weather and more sunshine than in the UK.

Knitting

On the plane, I started a new knitting project – Blues by Hanne Falkenberg.

Having also brought along some EV and blue Kauni, it seemed a shame not to see if I could convert Rauma 1200 (Vår Løysing) from a cardigan to a vest. Starting the ribbing -

I really like the twisted stitch ribbing

It is warm out. What can I say???

Today has been a blur. Croughton and back with two stops at the post office; also the library, fuel point, commissary and bx. Not to mention more back tracking to get to the bank.
And then there were package drops, a trip to a different bank and dropping off the dog.
Not to mention that our printer has decided it no longer will scan anything. Since it won’t agree to scan for three different laptops, I am pretty sure it is the computer.
I didn’t knit at all today, but got the knitting packed as we leave for Egypt in the morning….

According to the blurb – Part II of this module was only supposed to take 90 minutes. Right, and which genius figured that out? By 1600 I was seeing more grey hair every time I looked in the mirror and the whole project was going sideways. There are 6 (7?) hours time difference to Kansas City from Greenwich Mean time. My wailing note about needing a reset (read do-over because the computer on the fourth of many crashes had skipped past some things that I wanted to check) was sent at that absolute low point.

By the time I got a very nice reply, I was finally on a roll. The note included a cheat sheet. Seems like I am not the first person to be foiled by the programing. I took a few breaks – knitting is sanity,

laundry needed to be done

and I required the peace of candles to get through the rest of the evening.

Right after 2200, this nice email dropped in. Done. Finished. Checked that box. Next year – patient safety model and I am not waiting till the dead end of the year.

Now, all I have to do is clean, pack, drive to Croughton. Drop off the dog, submit a bunch of paperwork……

I need to knit some more…..

The short bits – I managed to finish off Part I/II on my re-cert. According to the tutorial, Part II, the patient simulation, is supposed to take 1-2 hours. Right. Tomorrow.

Last year at this time I was out on the Atlantic Ocean underway to Brazil on the MSC Symphonia. I received a greeting from the terrific Argentinians with whom I celebrated Januca. Being with family is really nice

The poster, bought in Berlin long before the Wall came down symbolizes to me much of what we should, as a people, be about.

Besides, of course, eating latkes -

goofing off -

and lighting that first candle with the honors done by Ms Copper

Hannukah Swap

I joined a swap started in the Ravely Jewish Fiberholics. Sent off my package to New Jersey several weeks ago (shall we mention forgetting to include the card, several buttons and the cocoa mix?). Mine arrived in the mail from State College PA a couple of weeks ago, and I have just been waiting for tonight to open it…

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Viking Ship Sweater

Ms Copper and I were sitting there, having started the first season of CSI: NYC when I noticed that I had messed up the sleeve. Forgot to restart one side of the center border past the lower portion of the dragon’s neck. The good thing is that I had only to rip 10 rounds… the bad thing is that I had been marking off rows on the pattern with highlighter….

picture was taken before the extra rows, rip and return……

All the best to you in this holiday season.

Sometimes it doesn’t take a whole lot to keep me amused. For example, I can easily spend an evening watching Galacticast while knitting. Casey is amazing – she certainly tops most current stars with her sense of the absurd and facial expressions. It seems like they took about a year hiatus – hoping to see more episodes soon. (Don’t worry, there is something here to offend everyone). What I really should have been doing today is working on my Family Medicine re-certification module. I am 75% of the way through the first part and have till Tues night to finish. Well, actually I have to the 31st to finish but we are leaving for Egypt on the 24th. I am not going to stay up all night on the 31st after returning late on New Year’s Eve in order to beat out the computer clock in Kansas.  Argh, I hate doing these, but will admit that I am learning. That and it takes my recert time from 7 years to 10. Not a bad deal at all. Procrastination is queen….

Viking Ship Sweater

Probably more important to most of you, my Viking Ship Sweater is out of the hold pile.  I wasn’t happy with the sleeve I had started. Using  KnitVisualizer which I have had for a while, I re-graphed the sleeve to adjust for my gauge and the increases.  This is the result -

I am much happier with the appearance. The only small change I might make for the second sleeve is to insert one row of knit in white before moving on to the cuff pattern. If I make some progress on my recert materials tomorrow, I might even be able to post the outside of the sleeve so that you can see the rest of the change…..

Audio

Continuing on with Heather Graham’s The Dead Room in the wagon.

Today was a total loss at work. I think there were a total of five people in the building, most having already left on their holiday. I booked finally about 1230 in order to pick up my DH at Heathrow. His office is allegedly shut down for the holidays as well. What that really means is that he will just be doing conference calls and documents by remote.

Knitting

The quick knit scarf that went to The Singer for her birthday yesterday made out of two skeins of Silk Garden. It is soft and lovely, but really not long enough.

and then there is the Heartland Lace Scarf out of In the Navy Silke from BFM, that has been completed since August. Since I was updating Ravelry, throught it appropriate to post it here as well.

Arches

Not being particularly pleased with the current schooling situation for the youngest two – Ms Copper will be heading back to boarding school in Germany after the first of the year.

Looking for a different choice for The Mole (he wants to stay in the UK), he and I were off to Rochester, Kent for an interview this afternoon.

Ignoring some of the other history of the town – I was more interested in St Catherine’s Hospital which is on Star Hill across the street from our destination.

but one can not ignore the castle

nor the cathedral and a history relating to Dickens I would suppose.

Heading home in the dark – we spent a quiet evening at home watching yet another DvD of CSI: since the kids are all out of school now for vacation.

in 1988 the 17th was a Friday night and I had a house full of company for dinner. Having just taken leave and returned home to DC from my current duty assignment in Germany a few days ago, I was pregnant with our second daughter. The eldest (almost 10) had mixed feelings about the addition to the family. I was at the point of counting days and hours till I would be able to walk rather than waddle.

Sending everyone home about 2200, my main hope was that the twinges I was having would really be labor (and shorter than the almost day The Eldest took to put in her appearance).

Ms Soprano was born just after 0100 in the morning, clearly expressing her opinion of the cold, cruel world into which she had been force to be born. She has been unique of the four her whole life – the one to whom challenges and opportunities have befallen. The one to have eye surgery, deal with asthma, break her arm (twice) and otherwise fight against the randomness of life.

She is an incredibly talented vocalist, loyal friend, a writer, an artist, and fiercely interested in politics.

Home for the holiday, she will be at Montgomery College after the first of the year, staying with my longest-standing friend (college roommate which puts our relationship one of almost 40 years).

I feel privileged to be her mother.

Work? Combination of hurry up and never mind – we will do that after vacation. Unlike the US Army which keeps all organizations open through the holidays on a reduced staff/half-day work schedule, the British Army just plain closes organizations requiring a representative of each division to be available by phone. It also means that leave gets used up, whether or not you would really want to be off at this time of year. Must be nice to get more than 30 days/year and not be penalized for weekend days….

Solo

Started about a month ago, this is my second Hanne Falkenberg kit. The sleeves have been finished and sewn in.

Completed (sorry for the lack of mirror shots -grin).

and

There are a couple of recommendations that I would make to anyone wanted to knit this sweater. Not surprisingly, they are the same as for the Mermaid. First, I would start at the edge of the front with a provisional cast on. After completing the body and sewing together the shoulders, I would then knit the collar. As it is written, there is no way to avoid a seam in the collar (or sewing the collar to the back of the neck). This in turn gives a slightly unpleasant ridge any way you do it. For the sleeves, I would again start with a provisional cast on just so that the bind off would be simpler.

Video

And on to another disk of CSI: It is Ms Copper and I who are enjoying this. The other two just look at us like we are nuts.

The Surrey-Hampshire knitting meet up is normally at the White House Tavern (or is it pub?) in Guildford on about the second or third Sunday of the month.

From the sounds of it, there were going to be about half a dozen getting together today. And, like many other times, various other commitments got in the way. As a result, Ms Copper

and I were joined by just one other knitter. But MaryHenry brought with a brand new pattern book – Lerwick Lace by Sharon Miller. For the expert lace knitter it is both an education and a challenge. Miller includes not just a pattern, but the whole history of the shawl giving you insight into those who knit with the finest of handspun cobweb. Well beyond me, but I am looking forward to seeing this one develop over the next year.

It gets dark early, and the river is almost in flood from all the rains.

Knitting

Since you saw a favorite pair of her shoes, I am sure you have no problems figuring out who has claimed this scarf.

(and I am skipping an extra run to Guildford and a run to Heathrow – being the Taxi Fahrer is not in my job description)

Audio and Visual

Ms Copper and I tried out The Office on DvD. Ick. However CSI: has us fascinated. iTunes doesn’t have all the seasons so next stop is the base library to see what we can borrow. Note – this is the original Las Vegas version.

Finished up all the library books, so it is back to audio.

When I was driving home today I noticed Canadian geese all over one of the playing fields instead of on the small lake.

and if you look at bit closer you will understand why

At least none of them are dumb enough to have been frozen in place.

Knitting

Ms Copper has been eying my alpaca scarf for a couple of weeks now. She keeps commenting on it, and how nice it would be to have something similar. In a better color of course.

Then this nice person posted a swap on the UK Swap list and I went for this

which I started. (Would you believe she has perfected a forlorn, wanting look?) Especially since she has been ill for the last couple of days (confirmed today and started on antibiotics by the nice FP at Croughton), I could hardly turn her down.

Since we were at Croughton, we made the post office and library stops as well. I had also signed up for a Chanukah exchange. This package had just arrived ….

 

I am waiting till the first night. Yes, I am going to wait. Really.

Reading

Raided the library shelves…
Lady Killer – Lisa Scottiline
Just Breathe – Susan Wiggs
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union – Michael Chabon
When Day Breaks – Mary Jane Clark
Running with the Demon – Terry Brooks
Heir to Sevenwaters – Juliet Marillier

After spending a day dealing with fleece of various kinds (no not the kind one can spin) and making a pj jumpsuit complete with feet for Ms Copper, a top and pants for the Mole (black with skulls), a scarf and a pair of socks – I hit my limit.

Of course, that means that i decided to play with this

visited 51 states (22.6%)
Create your own visited map of The World or try another Douwe Osinga project

and this

visited 46 states (92%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or try another Douwe Osinga project

Looks like I need to move Asia and the Pacific up the list….

Did I mention that I have blog information strewn across three computers? Or that I need to set up an FTP on the MAC so that I can use it with my host server?

Thought not. That would mean that I managed to find the home page of my host, my account number and log-in as well as updating some other information.

I have gotten lazy. WordPress is easy enough to administer that I don’t go to my provider except via FTP and those parameters were set well over a couple of years and several computers ago.

Of course, if I consolidated it would be easier. Or if I could figure out what was slowing the load time on my blog I would also be a happy camper. But to do that, I need to get into the flow information which requires the information in para #2. Even managing to find the account number, I still can’t log in since what I thought was my password does not work. It seems the other way to get the information would be to have my handi registered in which case they would SMS a reset.

Now, would you believe that I have to be able to log in to accomplish that?

Reading

Hot Mahogany – by Stuart Woods. A Stone Barrington Novel, for those who read by series.