Deviant Dispatches

On Saturday night, the moon was nearing full, in clear view, and beautifully bright from our porch. But I noticed something strange as I came back inside and looked out the window at it: There were suddenly seven moons in the sky. This picture is completely unaltered. This is how the sky looked through the double panes of the window, pulled open to let fresh air in. The moon reflected in the panes somehow; they even changed positions when I did. Having seven moons might completely destroy the Earth as we know it, but man, it would be beautiful in the meantime.

It was a busy weekend, but I have some great pictures to show for it! I went to my friend Liz's wedding, and it was gorgeous and fun and full of love. I saw friends I haven't seen in a long time. Spousal Unit rode a tractor. I took artistic photos of random stuff. (Or I tried to be artistic, anyway.) There was a gorgeous moon above a white farmhouse. And there was happiness. All of the greatest things for Liz's wedding. (I include the tractor in that, too.)

I've shared this xkcd a million times. Never gets old. When your 10:30 bedtime rolls around, you can say, "Nah... Time for another episode of Arrested Development." You worry about the little fuzzballs/poopers when you go away, but it's oddly satisfying that you have a little someone to worry about. Mama always said you could be whatever you want when you grow up. Turns out you're not limited to one choice! You can be an astronaut, a firefighter, and a teacher! (Though why would you ever quit being an astronaut ?) Learning doesn't stop after school is done. (Check out the Richat Structure !) Dancing to your favorite songs for half an hour is totally exercise. There are lots of fun ways to exercise as an adult... It's harder to make new friends as an adult, but you can pick your friends' traits, to a degree. Want to make friends with an artist? Take an art class . A marine biologist? Talk to the people who run the local aquarium . Yo...

Last night, Spousal Unit and I made a couple of stops after work. We meandered home later than usual, full of lively conversation, as we often are after work. After nearly four months of car pooling, we still have things to talk about on the drive. After eight years together, we still have stories to regale one another. I drove into the parking lot and pulled into a spot, frigid with ice and twilight. I swirled away my skirt and long coat as I rose, slipping keys into purse and chill breath into lungs. But the sound of the car door closing? I don't remember that. I don't remember it because as the door closed, I looked up, toward the south. The light extended this evening, the first clear promise of eventual spring, and a sliver of moon shone in the sky during our drive. I could forever say this was the reason I looked up, but the truth is, looking up is what I've always done. My dreaming mind is in the stars, and in seeing them, I see all I am and all I want to be, ref...

One of the best things about our new place is the light. The old place had huge windows along a whole wall, which was great, but they faced north-northwest, so we never got much for direct sunlight. Right now, we're getting sunrise and sunset, thanks to having a corner apartment. It's been quite a while since I got to see this many sunsets and sunrises in a row. I love it, and I don't mind the fact that the sun comes up so late in winter - because I get to see it happen. Sunrise... Sunset. Sunrise! We've also enjoyed the moon lately - the skyline here doesn't really tower over us, so there's more horizon (and less light pollution).  Here's this morning's progression: a hint of light behind the clouds... ...and a burst of color. For that alone, I like our new place. Update: Holy crap, it's not done yet. It's like the Energizer Bunny of sunrises.

A couple of weeks ago, my sister had a birthday. I'd seen her wearing wispy little decorative scarves earlier in the summer - you know, back when you didn't want to wear nothing everywhere you went. And I thought to myself, hey, I could totally make her one of those. So I did. This is made with one of the earliest knitting patterns I memorized, a simple yarn over, knit two together. Then I weaved multicolored eyelash yarn through the holes. Simple, elegant, fun. My most recent project is kind of an exercise in new techniques. The pattern is simple enough - something from my invaluable Knitting Stitch Bible . (If you care at all, the pattern is called "Lace Wheels," though if anyone ever tried to use wheels shaped like this, they'd get called stupid pretty quickly.) The new-to-me technique I want to use is to pick up stitches all the way around this scarf, once it's done, and knit frills for it in a different color - like green or orange....

I've found some awesome stuff covered with my signature items lately: stars and the moon. (Or moons, I'm not picky.) For some reason, those were the things I chose when I was little, as representative of myself. Might have had something to do with the phrase my mom and I always said to each other: "I love you to the moon and stars and back home again." To the Moon and Back plaque There are some amazing teapots out there with a stars and moon theme. I'm not sure which of these is my favorite. From CeramicsLife.com Look at the cool spout! And the moon handle! I love the idea of catching stars with a net. From Vermont Pottery Works (some very cool stuff!) I guess I'm not entirely sure where the tea comes out on this one, but supposedly it does! I'd worry about breaking the delicate handle, though. I also found a moon dessert! Death Star Cake! Wait a minute... That's no moon. That's a cake station! (Sorry - I could...

I had fun with the moon last night: I taught it how to dance. At first, it was a little shaky about the idea - it had been so long since the last time, and after all, its starry friends were all watching. But I finally talked it into trying a simple sidestep. P.S. Sorry if I've been a bit uninspired this week - here's a preview of a post you'll see next week.

Several bits of awesome have happened lately. Here's how it went down. I finally got myself an awesome pair of boots. These are the boots I've mentioned to you before : the ones I've been looking for over the course of several years. They finally had my size in at the website, My Hot Shoes . The sizing advice said this shoe runs true to size, so I got a 10. They fit. I was amazed. And to top it all off, the top folds down, to cover the zippers. When I wear the boots with the tops down (I sound like a convertible), they don't catch on my fancy skirts. These are my new favorite shoes ever. The only problem is the tread... or should I say lack of tread. The bottoms are completely smooth. I'll have to step carefully, go to a cobbler, or wear different shoes on icy days. Which would mean not wearing these boots all winter. (Like that would happen.) Another recent bit of awesome is a candle Spousal Unit picked up at Target just before Halloween. It's a silver skull...

They are no less beautiful.

Nothing like water to make a sunset twice as amazing. A capitol building doesn't hurt, either. Click to make the awesomeness bigger!

Yes, that's what a group of sunsets is called, if you ever see one. (At least, that's what I'm calling 'em.) Enjoy, and don't forget to click to enlarge!