Monthly Archives: February 2007

(Sweet) Raspberry Kisses

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Blooming patterns...

Raspberry Kisses
Pattern | Kiri Shawl by All Tangled Up
Yarn | Handpaintedyarn.com Merino Lace in Burgundy (about 400-600 yards)
Needles | 4mm circular & 7mm circular (cast off)

Shawls are addictive…up to a certain point! In the beginning it was tough getting through the pattern. I kept mixing rows up and dropping stitches. But after a while, things went on pretty smoothly, and I chugged ahead, doing a couple of rows every night and completing 11 repeats of those “leaves”. It was as if I was on a lace spell and chanting the mantra “Lace lace lace!”

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Gong Xi Fa Cai!

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Pussy willows and CNY deco sans le porc!

No…it is NOT “Happy New Year”!!!!!!! “Happy Chinese New Year” isn’t exactly right but better. Chinese people love wishes that bubble over with loads of sweet words like “wealth, happiness, prosperity” and so forth. So say it right.

Chinese New Year preparations aside, I am oh-so-not-looking forward to the whole interogation session. Mum’s side of the family is horrible compared to Dad’s side (who are always on vacation during CNY). Seriously. I know they are being kaypoh plus concerned (this is me being optimistic) but every year, it’s the same usual drill.

So…where is your boyfriend? Got one or not? If got, bring back la. If don’t have, when you wanna get boyfriend? So old ALREADDYYYYYYYYYY! (insert the insulted but pretend-to-be-happy look here)

(After a few seconds… )

So when are you getting married? You, young women should get married la. All this work and education for what? Women should get married!

(After a few more seconds… )

So…when are you getting married? Aiyo, don’t make me wait till I wanna go to the grave already la.

(After another few more seconds… )

So…when is the wedding?

It’ll be worse this year since my younger cousin got married last year. Heh. Trying to figure out some excuses here. Bleh.

Now, lets not even get to the comments about weight, children and all. Heh.

Oh…if you’re new to this, get used to it. It’s part and puzzle of the season. So yeah…Gong Xi Gong Xi.

Joyeuse la Saint Valentin!!!

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Eighteen roses from a loved one

From Le Lai du Chèvrefeuille by Marie de France
D’eux deux il était ainsi
Comme du chèvre-feuille était
Qui au coudrier se prenait.
Quand il s’est enlacé et pris
Et tout autour le fût s’est mis,
Ensemble peuvent bien durer.
Mais qui les veut ensuite désunir
Le coudrier meurt bien vite
Et le chèvre-feuille avec lui.
“Belle amie ainsi est de nous
Ni vous sans moi, ni moi sans vous.”

…

(In English)

For those two, it’s just like with
The sweet honeysuckle vine
That on the hazel tree will twine:
When it fastens, slips itself right
Around the trunk, ties itself tight,
Then the two survive together.
But should anyone try to sever
Them, the hazel dies right away,
And the honeysuckle, the same day.
“Dear love, that’s our story, too:
Never you without me, me without you!”

Sweetness in a vase!

Good times are back. Really?

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PUTRAJAYA: The good times are back. The country’s economic growth is expected to have reached or exceeded the 5.8% target for 2006, and the Government is confident the stock market rally can be sustained as well.

“We are very confident the good times are here,” said Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop. – “Good times are back again”, The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Average Malaysian wages are expected to grow at a faster rate this year than that of workers in Europe, the US and parts of Asia.

After adjusting for inflation, they are forecast to rise by 3.3 per cent compared with American workers, for example, whose pay may inch up just 1.1 per cent. – “Malaysians enjoy better pay rise than Europeans and Americans”, NST

Mr Quane, ECA International’s general manager in Hong Kong (the company that conducted the survey), went on to say that “…inflation is forecast to fall to 2.7 per cent from 3.8 per cent last year… For the average person, the standard of living should improve. Purchasing power will be much higher.”

Oh, please don’t make me laugh.

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A knitter’s prayer.

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Dear God/dess of craft,

My muse has gone into overtime with this Kiri shawl that I’m currently working on. I have fallen in love with lacework and as such find myself entertaining thoughts of making shawls more than I should. I still have heaps of other projects to work on.

You have to, please, help me to overcome this serious temptation to purchase some awfully gorgeous laceweight yarn or at least just help me buy one or two skeins instead of purchasing nearly five to six skeins of yummilicious yarn.

I really need to tow the line somewhere…all this drooling and wanting to get yarn is burning a hole in my wallet more than it should.

ARGH!

Sincerely,
A yarn addict.

No, this is absolutely no joke. Lets hope I can hold off this temptation for a little while more. Heh.