That's what I get

I went to Joann's today, because I wanted to see if they had some nice buttons for my VK jacket (I have done about 1/3 of the ends). Turns out, they had a lot of cute ones, it was hard to make choice, but eventually I settled on these pewter heart shaped clasps. They were only $2.
Like I said, it was hard to pick out the ones I like, without Michelle there to help me narrow down all the choices. But I managed, I'm all grown up...-ish. (And even more remarkable, that is all I got.)

Bags, earrings and astronomy

bags and earrings
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

I am a bad blogger, but this is one step to make up for it. A while back I bought these two bags at Craftopia. Not that I needed more purses, but I guess it proves I am still all woman. I have too many shoes and too many purses. Anyway, I fell in love with the brown one, my original intent is to give the blue one as a present (but we'll see when the times comes to part if I can actually do it).
But I guess the postal service wasn't cooperative, stuff was late,.. bottom line to make up for the hastle, Alexia sent me a pair of earring (that are a perfect match with my new sweater) and a third purse.

Ophie's favorite
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

Ophie picked out her favorite bag. She does have taste.

knitting fever
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

And here you see why I astronomy is right for me. Two nights ago, ignoring all the ends I still need to weave in on the VK jacket, I looked at my Hopeful sweater. Wasn't in the mood for weaving, so I figured I would add a few rows to this. Then I noticed I was close to the neckline decreases and I knit up to there. It wasn't that late yet so I started the left side of the neckline. And these rows are short and they get even shorter as you go. So my brain is just telling me to finish the right side, and I listen to my brain. I ignore my alarm clock who is telling me it is LATE. Oh yeah, finished the left neckline at 4am! Just kept on knitting, bad movies on tv, great.

I saw a comic, it said : Astronomy is the only science where you can waste time productively. This line was accompanied by a guy in a comfy chair, big cup of coffee looking through a big telescope talking on the phone saying he is "just looking at some planets passing by, the usual." But in my case, the tag line is underneath a picture of me knitting. (Remember my pictures for Chile and Palomar.)

front and half a back
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

Did a bit more yesterday. Now I have half a back and the front. You can still the see the cables hanging out next to my sides. But at least I can say it fits.

And here is the picture

VK jacket
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

Still have a whole lot of ends to weave in, but I will get around to it. If you're curious as to what it's supposed to look like, take a look.
I made this in Rowan Tweed on size 10.5 needles (so big, yet it took me forever.)

Today is also my last day at Spitzer. My fellowship ends and I will have to go back to being a TA to make my money. Sigh. I'll live, teaching is fun, but sometimes I wish I could just some of my students upside the head. Oh yeah, I said it (I don't do it, but I will say it)

PS don't mind my hair or the mess in this picture. It was taken late at night and I was beyond the point of caring...

Happy dance time

Yep, I am very excited to inform you that I have finished my VK cropped jacket. I didn't follow the pattern for the collar. Did my own thing instead, and I like the result. I will post a picture later.
Of course I still have what feels like millions of ends to work in, but I will get around to that. I will also need to go to the store and get a cute button or something to close the jacket. All in all, I am very pleased. I know I said I was inspired by the House of Zod, but in the end, I feel that the second sleeve looked better attached to the shoulder than it did wrapped around my neck...

House of Zod

new fashion
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

Yes, this is from VK holiday issue. You might not recognise it because I have decided to make some changes to the original design. I knit both sleeves, but attaching both of them to their respective shoulders? That is so ... 2005. No, one sleeve is ok, the other one will be used as a scarf. That is much more fashionable. Also, the front panels don't need to be big enough to actually close across the front.
For those of you that watch Project Runway on Bravo might notice the obvious influence of my new favorite designer: Santino aka Zod. Yes, 2006 shall be the year of Zod, the year of crazy fashion.
Lord help us all...

Yarnday

blanket wrap
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

I have decided (as I do so often) Wednesday no longer excists. It shall now be known as Yarnday. Knitting is mandatory, but may be substituted by any craft. Even a non-yarn craft, as long as I can knit. Michelle agrees with me, so to celebrate this new day, we are gonna go shopping. (Yarn shopping is also a good cold remedy, I've been told.)

Glad to say, I did get around to some knitting yesterday.( I was watching Supernatural and it is sometimes just too scary for me. I need to look away from the screen, so I look at my knitting.) Working on this little blanket/wrap, because I have been chilly in the evenings.

Baby blanket, what, nope, still not finished...

hat
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

I did finish this hat before I left, but then I forgot to give it. Oops.

new year's eve
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

Haven't said much about the holidays yet. This was my new year's eve. Just the girls. It was great, not dressing up, leave your hair all crappy. Nobody cared. Wearing the jogging pants, nice and stretchy for lots of good food. Ah yes, a lovely party, how all parties should be.

big butt
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

Can't leave you without a pictures of Ophie. She has been ... showing me how you get over a cold by sleeping. How sweet, but it does give her a big butt. (Like her mom,hehe)

Hate being sick

Aaaarrrrggghhhhhh!!! I am in self pity mode. It must be horrible to be around me right now. And all I have is a simple cold. Nothing more. But the stuffy nose and all, I want it to end.
Yesterday I made some really yummy butternut squash soup. I know it was yummy because I had some when I could still taste things. Today at work, I don't want to be here, I just want to take a nap, it's all horrible (you know what I'm talking about). And then ... lunch rolls around. I brought some soup from home, looking forward to just doing some surfing on the web, eating my yummy hot soup. Really, just a little cozy lunch break. Forget it. I could just as well have gone and microwaved some mud. Can't taste a thing. So there goes my cozy lunch break. So much for my yummy comfort soup. *sob, sniff, sniff*

Haven't done much knitting, so no exciting update about how I finished a gorgeous sweater that looks fabulous on me. No, none of that.
I am just in a bah humbug kinda mood. Can't help it. But to make up for making you deal with my bah humbug rant, here is the recipe for the butternut squash soup.
Ingredients: yellow onion, 4 garlic cloves, sage, 4 cups of chicken stock, 1 butternut squash (medium to big), 1 carrot, 2 apples and some olive oil (and I put in some frech rosemary, but only because it was the christmas tree)
Instructions: Put couple of table spoons of olive oil in pan and heat up chopped onion, garlic and sage. While that is heating up, peal and chop the sqaush and throw it in there. Chop up the carrot and add it too. Stir a little bit and then pour in the broth. Cook for about 20min, 'til the veggies are soft. Let is cool a bit and then throw it all in the blender and add the apples at this time. I added a little salt, pepper and ginger powder for flavoring.
Heat it up again and enjoy with some tasty bread.