*headscratch*

So does Ravelry only support PayPal? I'm also seeing something about a coupon, but can't find any way to purchase it.

(I feel twitchy about PayPal because they want access to my bank account. If something goes wrong, then that's all my money at stake, and held by an unregulated private company to boot! Whereas if I just use my credit card, then I'm only at risk for a tiny bit and can dispute with my bank, which is you know regulated and stuff.

Also I don't like sending money through PayPal because of the whole them being assholes about adult content thing. They can have other people's money, just not mine >_>)

Man. For knitting though, I might almost consider actually using PayPal, maybe, if there's no other choice. Alternatively, I could just be brave and try to figure out how to remeasure the Traveling Woman shawl on my own.

ETA: Have figured it out. Thanks all ♥

Shawl for my grandma

OMG OMG OMG. So my mom is encouraging me to make a shawl for my grandma, for me to finish in time for her yearly mother's day visit. She doesn't see grandma so much, because of our being in different countries and all, so she really tries to make these visits count.

Anyway, mom wants the shawl to be in cashmere because it's warm and really really light, and on our recent trip to Hong Kong, she went and bought the yarn for me *_* I wanted to save up the experience a bit because I can't afford to work with cashmere unless it's my mom paying, but with the deadline coming up, I knew I'd need to start soon and tonight I took it out and chose a pattern (hello Travelling Woman ♥ And, BTW, the paid PDF is worth all the money and the hassle).

This yarn -- it is so soft and light, it feels almost weightless in my hands. It is like knitting kitten whiskers, or soft fluffy clouds. Unicorn manes! Puppy paws! The soft down on a baby's cheek! Soft and tender hopes and dreams! I know I sound ridiculous, but somehow when I touch this yarn I don't really care *_*

A bit more about the pattern: I'd been looking for something that would showcase the softness of the cashmere without overworking the yarn. So no cables (though I guess I see those more in scarves than shawls!), and nothing too lacey, because I want to retain the plush feel of solid knit sections.

The pattern didn't leap out at me until my mom pointed it out to me, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. It has a nice broad swatch of stockinette at the top which will just be ultra soft and warm when my grandma lays it against her shoulders , and it ends with a nice broad swatch of lacey border which makes the shawl interesting in a pattern which is not too delicate, not too structured. I am excited, and I hope this pairing of yarn and pattern will work as well as I want it to.

haaaaands

Oh maaan. This day is just not my right hand's day.

Moment of panic when I woke up and had shooting pains up my hand as soon as I moved my thumb. Went away after a few minutes, so it looks like maybe I just slept on my hand or slept in a wrong position or something.

Then while burning incense for Chinese New Year, I managed to flick ash all over my fingers. I haven't done that since I was a clumsy fifteen-year-old! I thought I was over those days but I guess not :x

And then I thoughtlessly opened the steamer where the siomai and dumplings were being heated, and scalded two fingers on my right hand in the cloud of steam.

Maybe my right hand got out of the wrong side of the bed! Or crossed a black cat. Or walked under a ladder. Eh.


I am glad I didn't volunteer to help with the "money" burning this year. Given the way my luck has been going, I would probably have singed a finger, or set my hair on fire or something. It's not money as in peso/dollar/whatever currency, BTW, but paper with the appropriate design folded into the appropriate shapes.



I wouldn't remember the first two incidents except for this third one. (What's that about things coming in threes? Oh right, superstition). I am really grateful for this burn ointment my mom has. I don't know what it is, but it's pearlescent, smells like menthol once applied, reduces the heat and swelling of any minor burn to a pleasant cool numbness, and it comes in a small jam jar.

...okay that last one is because we put it there for ease of use. I don't actually know what the original container looks like.


It occurs to me that some things I use strictly western medicine, some things I use strictly chinese medicine, some things it doesn't matter.

For stomach aches (and their messier cousins), sore throats, burns, menstrual issues, muscle aches*, I only trust the chinese medicine my mom uses.

* If Hirudoid counts as chinese medicine


For headaches, fever, colds, I rely on western medicine.

Less mundane stuff is probably western medicine, but I'd consult with my mom first just in case she knows something I don't.



My fingers feel okay when they're still, but they start tingling once I start typing, so I will lie low today. From experience, the ointment will have everything fine by tomorrow; I won't even have blisters to show for my lack of attention ;-)