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Friday, October 31, 2008

petrol

Still dropping...



Down 20 cents since Monday (4 days ago).



Down 22 to 24 cents since Monday.

Could it be? Could gas become cheaper than yarn???

Next question ... will we ever see gas under 2 bucks?

It was very interesting seeing all the comments in my last post. Such varying prices across the nation! California is not the place to go for cheap gas.

One more question ... what's the big deal about not allowing photos? After snapping one of the photos, one store worker told me that photos were not allowed. Perhaps they should put the sign inside the store. What is this world coming to when we can't even take photos while we're out and about...

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Copyright © Smariek Knits 2005-2008. All full copyright rights are reserved by Smariek Knits.
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Monday, October 27, 2008

Under a quid fifty!

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Lookie! This is how much I paid for gas today! Woo hoo! This is the first time I gassed up for under a quid fifty! I think my high for this year was $4.61 USD.



Costco is always cheaper than most regular gas stations. Here is what a typical gas station is charging today:



How much is petrol in your neighbourhood?

This post was inspired by Udar's post; gas is obviously cheaper in NJ!!! Check out the rest of his blog, he has some nice photos there.

Copyright © Smariek Knits 2005-2008. All full copyright rights are reserved by Smariek Knits.
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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Londinium Cable Scarf Pattern

..

Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free

You can't take the sky from me

Take me out to the black

Tell them I ain't comin' back

Burn the land and boil the sea

You can't take the sky from me

There's no place I can be
Since I found Serenity

But you can't take the sky from me

- Firefly Theme Song



Pattern: Londinium Cable Scarf (scroll down for download)
Yarn: Elann Luxury Merino Superwash DK, Tapestry Blue, 5 balls
Needles: 5mm (US8)

I can't explain why color in recent photos have been way off. It should be darker like this:


The Londinium Scarf, Cable Scarf #14 in my series of cable scarves, is a variation on the Sihnon Cable Scarf, designed for the "equal opportunity" cable knitter since the cables cross to the left and to the right. More info about the cables can be found in “the evolution of a scarf” section of the Sihnon Scarf blog post. This might provide some insight on how the cables are crossed and might make it easier to work the cables without having to refer to the pattern.



Londinium Cable Scarf Pattern:
Londinium Scarf Pattern from Box.com (no registration required, just click on link & save file)

My series of cable scarves...

Persephone Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2006/12/persephone.html
Ariel Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2007/04/ariel.html
Miranda Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2007/06/miranda-scarf.html
Osiris Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2007/09/osiris.html
Bernadette Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2007/11/bernadette.html
Regina Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2007/12/regina.html
Paquin Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2008/03/paquin.html
Beaumonde Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2008/04/beaumonde.html
Shadow Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2008/04/shadow.html
Hera Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2008/08/hera-scarf-pattern.html
Triumph Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2008/08/triumph-cable-scarf-pattern.html
Ezra Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2008/09/ezra-cable-scarf-pattern.html
Sihnon Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2008/10/sihnon.html
Londinium Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2008/10/londinium.html
St. Albans Valentine Cable Scarf:
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2008/11/scarf-15.html



elann.com Peruvian Luxury Merino Superwash
100% Machine Washable Fine Merino Wool
21-22 st/4 inches 3.75-4.0 mm (US 5-6)
112 m (122 yards) per 50g (1.75 oz) ball
$3.98 USD per ball

Stitches used in the Londinium Cable Scarf include:
Garter Stitch, BW1 pg 10
Left Cross Chain, BW4 pg 213
Right Cross Chain, BW4 pg213


Copyright © Smariek Knits 2005-2008. All full copyright rights are reserved by Smariek Knits.
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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

No secrets chez Smariek


Toddlers are versatile creatures. For example, the military can send them into enemy territory to suck out all the energy from the enemy. They are also prime candidates as police informants; they will grass up anyone.

Missy & I decided to pick up a cake for DH's birthday. We were looking at cakes, ice cream pies, and ice cream cakes. Missy said she didn't want anything with ice cream. So we looked at cakes. DH likes chocolate so I chose a small chocolate cake. Then Missy points to a half sheet and says she wants Dora! (nickjr link) It was one of those cakes with Dora character figures on it. Of course she would notice this. That Dora cake could have been way over on the other side of the store and she would have sussed out where it was hiding. I tried reasoning with her and explaining that this cake was for DH, not for her, and she eventually agreed on the chocolate cake. I told her that the cake would be a surprise and not to tell Daddy about it until after dinner.

DH was running late from work. Now what do you think the first thing Missy blurted out from the doorway as DH was walking up to the house?

Missy: Daddy, we got you a cake!

Momentary pause.

Missy: ... with candles!!!!

DH thought this was cute. But still! It was supposed to be a surprise!!!

Missy loved putting candles on the cake, as you can see in the photo above.

Copyright © Smariek Knits 2005-2008. All full copyright rights are reserved by Smariek Knits.
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Monday, October 20, 2008

Book meme



Barbara tagged me for this quick and easy book meme:
Page 56. 2-5 lines of whatever you're reading right now.
Ok, I think I can do this one! The only challenge is finding a book in print. Most of the books I read these days are audio books as it allows me to faire d'une pierre deux coups (= kill two birds with one stone). I feel more productive when I can do two things simultaneously. I like to knit while listening to an audio book. I like to knit while watching TV.

So let's see.... the books in print I have been looking at lately is comprised of mostly French language books. French-English dictionaries (yes, more than one). French grammar book. French verb book. And some other French language resource books. I will not bore you with an excerpt from these.

I recently finished reading The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. I enjoyed it so much that I got my hands on the next book in the series, Tears of the Giraffe. Yes, this one is a printed book, not an audio book. I've been chipping away at it slowly.

I am on page 27 (chapter 3). Let's take a look ahead at page 56 from Tears of the Giraffe...

The man spoke correct Setswana, but his accent confirmed the visible signs. Underneath the vewels, there were clicks and whistles struggling to get out. It was a peculiar language, the San language, more like the sound of birds in the trees than people talking.
Ah, but I also like these lines from the page too:

"You are a fortunate man," said the jeweller. "Not every man can find such a cheerful, fat woman to marry. There are many thin, hectoring women around today. This one will make you very happy."
Don't worry, this wasn't a spoiler for me. I already knew that Mma Ramotswe is engaged to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni. :-)

Copyright © Smariek Knits 2005-2008. All full copyright rights are reserved by Smariek Knits.