Making Do

since i'm a member of 3 knitting and crochet rings now (i'm such a "joiner") it's imperative that i show "stuff" so i'm going to improvise.

FOs (yeah FO right back at you!!!!)

this poncho is finished and all ready for the fall (or when it gets insanely cold in the office). although i do love that green color, i made it instead using amore TLC in Lake. much more flattering to my complexion.

from that same issue of FCEK i also tried the obscenely easy knitted belt using self-striping sock yarn. although that worked ok, i decided to adapt the pattern to crochet which i think worked much better. the crocheted piece had a little more heft. again, obscenely easy. i used a crochet hook recommended by the yarn manufacturer and just did a little swatch to get correct belt width. i shall post a picture some time soon. although these belts are not meant to hold up your pants, they are kind of retro preppy looking. i think my teen-aged nieces might like them. if they don't, they can tie up their pesky little brother with them.

WIPs (although i'm really almost done)

these pillows are from interweave knits fall 2004. my friend luisa and i have this long standing chicken type joke thing. i could tell you the story, but you'd only think i was smoking crack or something. anyway, her birthday is coming up and i thought she'd like these brightly colored pillows.

finally, on a totally different topic: just because i now live in the suburbs doesn't mean i don't know how to party in the city. last night 2 friends of mine and i ventured to harvard square and had dinner at Mr. & Mrs. Bartley's Burger Cottage. i had the John Kerry Burger (swiss cheese, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato), one friend had the John Edwards (the menu referred to it as the "pretty burger") another friend had the Shrek (some sort of chicken sandwich). yes, there is a George W which the menu describes as having the beef but missing the WMD. anyway, it was all very good. for shits and giggles i dug up a review of the place. most reviews were quite good. but i think this guy has bigger issues:

"Burgers are tasty and juicy, but thats about all the good news I can offer here. If you want to be treated like cattle, this is the place for you. Droll, sarcastic and unleasant is the way to describe the help. Typical of Boston though. Onion rings were greasy and tasteless. Not crisp and puffy like the ones you get in Salisbury Beach. The prices are way out of line- but again, you would expect to pay high prices in a snobbish little town like Cambridge. If you want good food and service, walk around the corner to the chinese restaurant. there you can get a great luncheon special for under $6. I would not waste my time or money at Bartleys, not because of the food, but becasue of the Boring Bostonians who work there."

Comments

[Anna]

Is Mr. & Mrs. Bartley's Burger Cottage a new place?
It makes me want to eat a burger even though seeing all the cute cows around here has pretty much turned me into a vegetarian.
As for this reviewer...
Bostonians are SO NOT BORING! He must be from NYC. I have heard of Boston being referred to as boring by New Yorkers.

[kbsalazar]

How can someone like burgers and not like Mrs. B's? It's been around forever at the same location, and aside from the offerings changing names in response to current events - has served the same food and the same quality food since the early '70s when I first tasted it.

Note the tacky '60s and '70s posters on the bottom layer of stuff plastering walls were new when they were put up. Note the long, crowded communal tables (you never know who you'll end up sitting with). Note the thick, juicy burgers, fries made from real (not frozen pre-cut) potatoes, and onion rings much better than anything found this side of Cape Cod. Yes, there are poultry and veggie offerings these days, too.

And to think he believes the plastic-goop chow mein palace around the corner is better. Well, we know where his taste is, and it isn't in his mouth.

ps: Chicken pillow is killer. Love it. -k.

[Bethany]

Bostonians rock! He's just silly and full of ennui like most silly reviewers.