Friday, September 07, 2007

Minimal Knitting... and a Contest!

Putting aside the endless debates that take place in my mind over what to knit, I stopped thinking and started knitting. I cast on for the Minimalist Cardigan from the fall Interweave with some Karabella Aurora 8 from my stash.


I'm not very faithful to repetitive patterns but this seems to be knitting up pretty quickly on size 7s so we'll see how it goes.

And this yarn cake here...


It's begging to become Monkeys. Screaming at me actually. But the needles I need are tied up in other socks so being the patient, disciplined woman I am, this lovely yarn must await the completion of the lacy socks currently on my size 0 circs... or until I break down and cast on with dpns... or by more size 0 circs. Yeah, I know, that's a tough one.

Speaking of discipline, in a rare bout of organizing this week, I discovered this...


Two copies, ordered at two different times, living in different parts of my house totally unaware of each other for who knows how long. I love the book. I remember reading it the first time I got it a few years ago. I think I started the second copy but it seemed somehow familiar to me (imagine that). The irony of the title of the book is not at all lost on me either.
So here's the deal... I'm having a contest (also known as a shameless attempt to generate comments). If you are interested in owning the newer unused copy of this book, you must leave a comment sharing the area of your life in which you need more discipline or self-control. Yes, I know that's a personal question but I want to get to know you better. Mine is most likely pretty obvious to anyone who has been to my blog more than once but I'll speak of it in the comments. Meanwhile, here's a hint...


My most recent Loopy Ewe purchase which I have been too embarassed about to even post. Dream in Color in "Cool Fire" and ShiBui Knits in "Sand". They are both simply to drool for!
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In a final twist of irony, a "What Book are You" quiz I just found over at Uberstrickenfrau's blog revealed the following...





You're Confessions!

by St. Augustine

You're a sinner, you're a saint, you do not feel ashamed. Well, you
might feel a little ashamed of your past, but it did such a good job of teaching you
what not to do. Now you've become a devout Christian and have spent more time
ruminating on the world to come rather than worldly pleasures. Your realizations and
ability to change will bring reverence upon you despite your hedonistic transgressions.
Florida will honor you most in the end.



Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

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I can't totally argue with the gist of it, but what are these hedonistic transgressions of which it speaks? Hmmm....

Anyway, back to the contest... leave a comment and next Wednesday, Sept 12th, I will do a random drawing for the winner. And if you aren't interested in the contest, at least let me know what book you are!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am "Stranger in a Strange Land!"

"Most people look at you and think of you as a Martian, even though you
were born on Earth. Silly Earthlings, er, people. Anyway, you've been telling people
about free love and relaxing like it's some radical idea. Most of them want you to go
back to the '60's (or Mars), but others are in your groove. Grok on!"

Well, I would say that could be true to me. That whole "People see me as a martian" thing makes sense. I don't think I'm the same as everyone else. Free Love and relaxing? Well, not so much the Free Love part, but I tell everyone to just relax. That's kinda my mantra, "Relax, take it easy, it's no big deal!"

Charity said...

I definitely need to get control of my mouth. I am constantly saying things without thinking it through, or saying things I shouldn't. Seriously, how many times do I need to read the book of James? :0) At least one more, I guess.

lahodges said...

Do I need Discipline? Are you serious? lol You think you have a yarn problem? I have been knitting for 35 years. My hubby got a storage facility for me to move my yarn into. You think I'm kidding? I'm not. And if you opened the door you would see all these plastic containers that people use for closets, each with a different yarn in them. Some of them have sweaters that I started and never finished, some the yarn with the pattern I intend to make, etc. I am a yarn addict. Know of a good 12 step program for yarn addicts?

lahodges said...

Oh, I almost forgot! I am:

You're The Mists of Avalon!
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
You're obsessed with Camelot in all its forms, from Arthurian legend to the Kennedy administration. Your favorite movie from childhood was "The Sword in the Stone". But more than tales of wizardry and Cuban missiles, you've focused on women. You know that they truly hold all the power. You always wished you could meet Jackie Kennedy.

sophanne said...

I am "Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut. He was a primary influence in the early years so I'm not surprised. What makes me laugh the most is the line that says "You like to play with string."

Discipline. I'm incredibly terrible at putting away that which I have taken out which results in an inordinate amount of clutter. When I try to have some discipline in that area I am either successful at home and my school space/office is a mess or it's the other way around. Never the twain shall meet.

I think also by asking us to "confess" where we need discipline, you are asking us to make it "real" and maybe helping us out of the denial of our ways. Just a thought!

Anonymous said...

I desperately need to discipline myself to do my school work. You would think that the second time around I would be able to balance my life better. But knitting is just so much more fun than finance!

Anonymous said...

Oh i forgot to say i love the cardigan i can't wait to start my own. I just can't decide what yarn to use!

km said...

I turned out to be Confessions! by St. Augustine as well. I wondered what would be different if I didn't feel old. Then I'm A Prayer for Owen Meany! by John Irving. Despite humble and perhaps literally small beginnings, you inspire faith in almost everyone you know. You are an agent of higher powers, and you manifest this fact in mysterious and loud ways. A sense of destiny pervades your every waking moment, and you prepare with great detail for destiny fulfilled. When you speak, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS! I think that both could be true.

As for discipline, I need to work on my self thoughts. It's easy to let one negative thought become a downward spiral and lead to time in the pit. I need to see myself as HE sees me...and not worry about being perfect...I don't have to be supermom...just love my kids. So why then do I agonize over whether I've made the right decision, try to be Martha Stewart in my own home...she didn't have children putting fingerprints on every surface or in the frosting.

See...I do tend to go on and on.

Michelle said...

I'm sorry, there isn't just one area in my life I need discipline. My WHOLE life is undisciplined. Like doing dishes when there's no more counter space to pile dirty dishes, doing ironing when there's no more clean shirts, stop knitting when the kids whine their tummys hurt from starvation...

I think that book would be put to good use in my hands!

Good Yarns said...

Contest revelations:
I appear by most people to be self-disciplined, but I am not. My children and husband that I lack discipline in housework, biting my tongue, controlling the level of my voice when angry, and in exercise and food. But...do not let me win this contest because it will reveal another of my self-control issues...I will read it when I am supposed to be doing "other things".

Anonymous said...

I tried several times on the book test and none of my answers seemed very true. . . maybe I'll try it again later.
I have several areas of my life where I need more discipline. . . finishing knitting projects for one, eating when I'm hungry and not eating too much, and keeping up with clutter (also read as putting things away instead of not)
This is by no means an exhaustive list!

The A.D.D. Knitter said...

I love 'Dream in Color' Smooshy, it's my new stealth favorite.

My discipline is lacking in how I discipline my kids--one day I am all talk and no action and the next it's big consequences for small infractions. I need to be more consistent!

Yarnhog said...

Oh, that's easy. I need far, far more patience with my children. I am a very disciplined person in almost every aspect of my life, but I seem to be completely unable to manage my own impatience when it comes to my kids.

Olga said...

Ohhh, where to begin in confessing the great voids of discipline in my life???? How about time, I can't get a handle on my days to get anything done! And watching junk and reading junk and collecting junk. Elisabeth Elliot is such a HARD read, she convicts you sooooo much. And being a better mom, not the shrew I seem to slip into way too much. Yeah, me and the big D need some one on one.

Marti said...

I love Elizabeth Elliot. She is one of my hero's.
The area in my life where I most need discipline is hard to define. There are so many area's I have a hard time picking just one. But in all honesty I would have to say its in my daily time with the Lord. Having three children, 2 cats, a dog and a husband contributes to making me very busy. Add to that a return to college and...my quiet time with Him is suffering.

Dana in Georgia said...

Hi Tammy!

I am acquainted with you from Donna's blog, Quiet Life. I am leaving a comment because I would like my name entered in your contest :)

The area of discipline I want to work on with the help of Mrs Elliot's book is time management. For the past twenty years I have been on a strict schedule rearing four daughters. Now they are in college or married; and I find myself not using my time as wisely as I thought I would when I have *more*

Does that make sense?

Blessing fm GA,
Dana

9/11 8:30a

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