I'm keeping track of my steps with the Nintendo DS Walking pedometer and game. During the parents' visit, I walked:
Saturday 10,000 steps (18,448, but some were with the Sat. Schoolers before Mom and Dad got here)
Sunday 12,515
Monday 16,559
Tuesday 11,134
So, that's 50,208. The parents took different routes, but they probably walked the same distance, if not more.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Mom and Dad's Spring Break Visit
Mom and Dad came to visit us this week. Here's a record of what we did.
They left a day early so they could go to the L.L. Bean store and stay over in New York. On Saturday they went to Ellis Island before getting back in the car to come to Philly. We'd had a week of grey weather, but suddenly it was Spring. Saturday was beautiful. They got here mid-afternoon. We unloaded the car and then miraculously found a parking spot pretty close to our apt.
Saturday
First we went to the Atlantic Books on South Street, which is unfortunately closing. All books there were half off. We walked down South Street to the new British football store (Covent Garden). It was still early, and we weren't quite ready for dinner yet, so we walked along the Delaware for a while before coming back to eat at the Artful Dodger. Dad and I had the cashew-crusted chicken and Mom had the tuna steak special. Mom had a Walt Wit beer and Dad and Luke had Hop Devil. That night we tried out the Wii and Dad got to play guitar for a while.
Sunday
We've lived here long enough and the parents have visited often enough to see all the "major" sights in Philly. Which is nice, because we could now explore some of the smaller things. Sunday was another beautiful day, so we set out walking toward Old City. We first happened upon the American Philosophical Society's Darwin exhibit. I really liked the collection of all the editions of Darwin's books, and I was also struck by his writing style. I'd like to read The Voyage of the Beagle sometime. Mom liked the way they had the museum set up with interesting activities for kids.
Then we went to Pine Street and sat in the churchyard in the sun while we waited for noon, when the Kosciuszko museum would open. The museum was fun -- I'd never been there before. It's very small and has a replica of Kosciuszko's room. Mom and I got our National Park passport books stamped.
We went to Zeke's for lunch/brunch. I had scrambled eggs with Nova lox and Dad had eggs benedict. Luke just had soup -- he was probably smart to pace himself.
We walked over to the Eyes Gallery (where they have lots of Mexican imported art -- Dad got some tiles and Mom got me an Easter Egg with a swan in it and I got a few beads) and then to Brickbat Books. I picked up an Easter book to put with the collection and Anne Sexton's Love Poems. Then we went to the City Tavern, where they let us sit with drinks on the porch. I had a raspberry shrub (Martha Washington's recipe) and Luke and Dad had Thomas Jefferson's 1774 Tavern ale. It was so nice to sit out in the nice weather and relax. The food smelled so good that we considered coming back for dinner, but the City Tavern is pretty expensive. I'd never been there before, but I'll definitely go back, for drinks if nothing else.
We meandered over to the Book Trader, where Dad got a couple of books, and then to the Ritz at the Bourse, where we saw the Oscar-nominated animated shorts. We thought they were okay overall (Luke and I thought not as good as last year) and we liked the Wallace and Gromit. We decided on dinner at the Mexican Post (the one in the Old City area). Finally, we went home and watched the Oscars while I did some machine translating work and Mom hemmed our curtains and sewed the buttons back on my corduroy peacoat.
Monday
Luke had to go to work all day and I had to work in the late afternoon. Mom and Dad decided to wander off on their own for a while and meet me for lunch. They went to Liberty Place, where Dad bought a jacket, and to Whodunit, where he got some John D. MacDonald books he hadn't read. We went back to Zeke's for lunch (where I had my usual bagel with Nova lox) and then walked back into Old City. Athenaeum had a neat architectural book exhibit. We also got to see more of the building, including Napoleon's brother's stuff. We went in the Curtis Building to see the mural, and then we had to go our separate ways again -- I went to work and Mom and Dad kept wandering.
After I got out of work we all met at Rangoon for dinner. On the way home we went to the Foodery to get some local beers. That night we watched a Beatles Anthology "episode" (really each of those episodes are full documentaries in their own right) and Dad played guitar. Then we played Wii a little more. I'm not sure I convinced them to get one, but I will enjoy seeing the parents' Miis running around in the background when we do the Wii Fit.
Tuesday
I had the day off, but Luke didn't. Dad got a coffee at Starbucks and then the parents and I took a taxi over to the Art Museum to see the Perelman Building. I was impressed by the fashion exhibit in honor of Tom Marotta. I've just been getting a little bit interested in fashion (more in making it than in wearing it) because of Project Runway, and it was interesting to see the signature styles of different contemporary designers. We were also impressed with the surreal/psychedelic Marcel Wanders: Daydreams exhibit, with a huge lamp and knitted chairs and interesting lighting.
We took the shuttle up to the Main Building. We hoped to find a lunch truck -- it was another beautiful day, and it would have been nice to eat lunch outside. But there were none close by, so we went to the museum cafe for lunch. The cafe has great food, so it worked out fine. I had very good mac and cheese and grilled vegetables and blackberry lemonade.
Then we got tickets for the Picasso exhibit.
http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/354.html?page=2
I had renewed our membership at the Perelman Building, so one of the parents got in for free and then we used our free member Picasso tickets (although I'm hoping to be able to go back with Luke, too). I really liked the exhibit. Like Cezanne, the museum had set it up with lots of Picasso's contemporaries' works to show the cross-pollination and collaboration among them. I'm not sure which piece interested me most, but Dad liked "Chair with Gladiolus" (I couldn't track down a picture of it online).
and Mom liked a piece by Charles Sheeler called "Pertaining to Yachts and Yachting":
Because Lucas couldn't come, I got him a poster of "Three Musicians", which I knew he liked:
Mom and Dad also got the "Three Musicians" poster. We had had enough museum going, so after the gift shop and a quick run through the Philagrafika exhibit, we went out into the sun. We sat in the sculpture garden behind the museum for a little while, then went down to get a view of the boathouses. We walked along the shore path to the Race Street? entrance, and then headed back into the middle of the city. We stopped at Starbucks for coffee and a snack, and then went on to Rittenhouse. Lucas got out of work at about 5:30, and we met him for dinner at Monk's (where I'd never been). http://www.monkscafe.com/
Monk's is famous for its beer, in fact, it was called one of the "five best places in the world to have a beer"
Dad had Duvel Green and Cantillon Monk's Cuvee Gueuze, Luke had Duvel Green and Unibroue Ephemere, I had Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale, and Mom had an Allagash White. For dinner, Mom had the Trout Saison
(baked in Saison Dupont, cilantro garlic & spices); Luke and Dad had the chicken (which I can't find on the online menu); and I had the Monk's mussels (they're apparently known for the mussels, with mussels painted on the wall in the entryway) with Cantillon gueuze, garlic & parsley. The mussels come with pommes frites with bourbon mayonnaise. Dad also had the fries for an appetizer. The mayonnaise dipping sauce was delicious. Overall, I thought Monk's was great, and I hope we can go back soon. I don't think it will completely replace our standby Fergie's, but it's a good alternative.
We went back to the apt. (with a stop at the Foodery to look for Thomas Hardy ale on the way) and watched another Beatles episode, then Dad and Luke played guitar and Mom and I did some Wii skydiving and frisbee playing.
On Wednesday (yesterday) morning, the parents went home. I was sorry to see them go. It was another good visit, filled with adventures. I wish I hadn't had to work while they were here, but I don't think it disrupted things too much. Now I'm back to paper grading and eating at home and looking forward to their next visit.
They left a day early so they could go to the L.L. Bean store and stay over in New York. On Saturday they went to Ellis Island before getting back in the car to come to Philly. We'd had a week of grey weather, but suddenly it was Spring. Saturday was beautiful. They got here mid-afternoon. We unloaded the car and then miraculously found a parking spot pretty close to our apt.
Saturday
First we went to the Atlantic Books on South Street, which is unfortunately closing. All books there were half off. We walked down South Street to the new British football store (Covent Garden). It was still early, and we weren't quite ready for dinner yet, so we walked along the Delaware for a while before coming back to eat at the Artful Dodger. Dad and I had the cashew-crusted chicken and Mom had the tuna steak special. Mom had a Walt Wit beer and Dad and Luke had Hop Devil. That night we tried out the Wii and Dad got to play guitar for a while.
Sunday
We've lived here long enough and the parents have visited often enough to see all the "major" sights in Philly. Which is nice, because we could now explore some of the smaller things. Sunday was another beautiful day, so we set out walking toward Old City. We first happened upon the American Philosophical Society's Darwin exhibit. I really liked the collection of all the editions of Darwin's books, and I was also struck by his writing style. I'd like to read The Voyage of the Beagle sometime. Mom liked the way they had the museum set up with interesting activities for kids.
Then we went to Pine Street and sat in the churchyard in the sun while we waited for noon, when the Kosciuszko museum would open. The museum was fun -- I'd never been there before. It's very small and has a replica of Kosciuszko's room. Mom and I got our National Park passport books stamped.
We went to Zeke's for lunch/brunch. I had scrambled eggs with Nova lox and Dad had eggs benedict. Luke just had soup -- he was probably smart to pace himself.
We walked over to the Eyes Gallery (where they have lots of Mexican imported art -- Dad got some tiles and Mom got me an Easter Egg with a swan in it and I got a few beads) and then to Brickbat Books. I picked up an Easter book to put with the collection and Anne Sexton's Love Poems. Then we went to the City Tavern, where they let us sit with drinks on the porch. I had a raspberry shrub (Martha Washington's recipe) and Luke and Dad had Thomas Jefferson's 1774 Tavern ale. It was so nice to sit out in the nice weather and relax. The food smelled so good that we considered coming back for dinner, but the City Tavern is pretty expensive. I'd never been there before, but I'll definitely go back, for drinks if nothing else.
We meandered over to the Book Trader, where Dad got a couple of books, and then to the Ritz at the Bourse, where we saw the Oscar-nominated animated shorts. We thought they were okay overall (Luke and I thought not as good as last year) and we liked the Wallace and Gromit. We decided on dinner at the Mexican Post (the one in the Old City area). Finally, we went home and watched the Oscars while I did some machine translating work and Mom hemmed our curtains and sewed the buttons back on my corduroy peacoat.
Monday
Luke had to go to work all day and I had to work in the late afternoon. Mom and Dad decided to wander off on their own for a while and meet me for lunch. They went to Liberty Place, where Dad bought a jacket, and to Whodunit, where he got some John D. MacDonald books he hadn't read. We went back to Zeke's for lunch (where I had my usual bagel with Nova lox) and then walked back into Old City. Athenaeum had a neat architectural book exhibit. We also got to see more of the building, including Napoleon's brother's stuff. We went in the Curtis Building to see the mural, and then we had to go our separate ways again -- I went to work and Mom and Dad kept wandering.
After I got out of work we all met at Rangoon for dinner. On the way home we went to the Foodery to get some local beers. That night we watched a Beatles Anthology "episode" (really each of those episodes are full documentaries in their own right) and Dad played guitar. Then we played Wii a little more. I'm not sure I convinced them to get one, but I will enjoy seeing the parents' Miis running around in the background when we do the Wii Fit.
Tuesday
I had the day off, but Luke didn't. Dad got a coffee at Starbucks and then the parents and I took a taxi over to the Art Museum to see the Perelman Building. I was impressed by the fashion exhibit in honor of Tom Marotta. I've just been getting a little bit interested in fashion (more in making it than in wearing it) because of Project Runway, and it was interesting to see the signature styles of different contemporary designers. We were also impressed with the surreal/psychedelic Marcel Wanders: Daydreams exhibit, with a huge lamp and knitted chairs and interesting lighting.
We took the shuttle up to the Main Building. We hoped to find a lunch truck -- it was another beautiful day, and it would have been nice to eat lunch outside. But there were none close by, so we went to the museum cafe for lunch. The cafe has great food, so it worked out fine. I had very good mac and cheese and grilled vegetables and blackberry lemonade.
Then we got tickets for the Picasso exhibit.
http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/354.html?page=2
I had renewed our membership at the Perelman Building, so one of the parents got in for free and then we used our free member Picasso tickets (although I'm hoping to be able to go back with Luke, too). I really liked the exhibit. Like Cezanne, the museum had set it up with lots of Picasso's contemporaries' works to show the cross-pollination and collaboration among them. I'm not sure which piece interested me most, but Dad liked "Chair with Gladiolus" (I couldn't track down a picture of it online).
and Mom liked a piece by Charles Sheeler called "Pertaining to Yachts and Yachting":
Because Lucas couldn't come, I got him a poster of "Three Musicians", which I knew he liked:
Mom and Dad also got the "Three Musicians" poster. We had had enough museum going, so after the gift shop and a quick run through the Philagrafika exhibit, we went out into the sun. We sat in the sculpture garden behind the museum for a little while, then went down to get a view of the boathouses. We walked along the shore path to the Race Street? entrance, and then headed back into the middle of the city. We stopped at Starbucks for coffee and a snack, and then went on to Rittenhouse. Lucas got out of work at about 5:30, and we met him for dinner at Monk's (where I'd never been). http://www.monkscafe.com/
Monk's is famous for its beer, in fact, it was called one of the "five best places in the world to have a beer"
Dad had Duvel Green and Cantillon Monk's Cuvee Gueuze, Luke had Duvel Green and Unibroue Ephemere, I had Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale, and Mom had an Allagash White. For dinner, Mom had the Trout Saison
(baked in Saison Dupont, cilantro garlic & spices); Luke and Dad had the chicken (which I can't find on the online menu); and I had the Monk's mussels (they're apparently known for the mussels, with mussels painted on the wall in the entryway) with Cantillon gueuze, garlic & parsley. The mussels come with pommes frites with bourbon mayonnaise. Dad also had the fries for an appetizer. The mayonnaise dipping sauce was delicious. Overall, I thought Monk's was great, and I hope we can go back soon. I don't think it will completely replace our standby Fergie's, but it's a good alternative.
We went back to the apt. (with a stop at the Foodery to look for Thomas Hardy ale on the way) and watched another Beatles episode, then Dad and Luke played guitar and Mom and I did some Wii skydiving and frisbee playing.
On Wednesday (yesterday) morning, the parents went home. I was sorry to see them go. It was another good visit, filled with adventures. I wish I hadn't had to work while they were here, but I don't think it disrupted things too much. Now I'm back to paper grading and eating at home and looking forward to their next visit.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Mom's Holiday Visit
My mom came on Sunday, and we had a great visit together. On Sunday night we got dinner from Little Italy and watched football while I did some grading.
On Monday I did some grading in the morning and then we went all over the city -- Washington Square, the Curtis Building, the Visitor Center (I got her a National Parks passport, and we needed to get it stamped), the Money in Motion exhibit (so she could get some state quarters from the machine), Franklin Square, Reading Terminal (we shared jambalaya from the Cajun place), Macy's (the Dickens Village was a highlight. We also saw the light show.) We went to the Christmas Village and then to the Comcast building, where they give you 3-D glasses to see their Christmas special on the big screen. We went to Anthropologie and to Rittenhouse, then to dinner with Luke at Rangoon and then came home. We all watched Monday Night Football while I graded and Mom started knitting an elaborate cabled tree skirt from Handknit Holidays.
Dickens Village:
City Hall/Macy's:
Ceiling at Anthropologie:
On Tuesday morning I got up and did some grading while Mom ripped out the tree skirt (she didn't like the way it was coming out with the yarn I had). She started a pair of cabled socks for me. Then we got in the car and went over to the Drexel area, where we went to the bookstore and got a parking permit. On we went to the Brandywine Museum (where they had great kale/sausage/something else soup for lunch, and where we saw the Christmas trains exhibit, the doll collection, the Critters, and an Alice in Wonderland exhibit). (I love Andrew Wyeth's paintings so much. They create an instant calm for me while also inspiring me to write.) Then we went to Longwood Gardens. I had been there in the daytime at Christmas, but not at night. We drank hot chocolate in the cafe while we waited for it to get dark. At the last minute, we decided to go to the skating exhibition -- a junior pairs team and a 13-year-old male skater. It was only $5, and was fun to see skating outside. The lights at Longwood are amazing -- totally worth the admission. At night we came back and had dinner here (Luke made stir fry) and I graded while Mom knit. We had a system with dark chocolate M&Ms. Each M&M represented a paper I needed to grade, and I would move them from one cup to another as I went through them. At the end of each evening, we ate the M&Ms.
Brandywine Christmas Critters:
Wreath at Longwood:
Longwood at Night:
My GRID issue at Whole Foods:
Yesterday morning I still had a lot to do, so I was in marathon grading mode. (Mom had originally planned to go home on Wednesday, but I talked her into staying until Thursday.) I managed to get the final grades in a couple of hours early, and then we got in the car and went to Cape May. I love the shore in the winter, and I didn't get to go for my birthday this year. It wasn't as busy as I expected (in fact, it was kind of a ghost town). But we had fun poking around in the shops, and then we walked on the beach and drove out to Sunset Beach (just missed the sun going down, but saw some of the aftermath) and to the lighthouse. For dinner we had Freshchetta at home and watched Prep & Landing, which was on TV again. Luke loved it, like I knew he would. Mom liked it too, but was jarred by the commercial interruptions. Then we watched the "Crazy Christmas Lights" special on demand and knit. I'm making a set of six Christmas ball decorations with Noro yarn for my friend Bonnie. Mom worked on my socks.
I was sad to see Mom go, but at least this time I'll see her again soon!
On Monday I did some grading in the morning and then we went all over the city -- Washington Square, the Curtis Building, the Visitor Center (I got her a National Parks passport, and we needed to get it stamped), the Money in Motion exhibit (so she could get some state quarters from the machine), Franklin Square, Reading Terminal (we shared jambalaya from the Cajun place), Macy's (the Dickens Village was a highlight. We also saw the light show.) We went to the Christmas Village and then to the Comcast building, where they give you 3-D glasses to see their Christmas special on the big screen. We went to Anthropologie and to Rittenhouse, then to dinner with Luke at Rangoon and then came home. We all watched Monday Night Football while I graded and Mom started knitting an elaborate cabled tree skirt from Handknit Holidays.
Dickens Village:
City Hall/Macy's:
Ceiling at Anthropologie:
On Tuesday morning I got up and did some grading while Mom ripped out the tree skirt (she didn't like the way it was coming out with the yarn I had). She started a pair of cabled socks for me. Then we got in the car and went over to the Drexel area, where we went to the bookstore and got a parking permit. On we went to the Brandywine Museum (where they had great kale/sausage/something else soup for lunch, and where we saw the Christmas trains exhibit, the doll collection, the Critters, and an Alice in Wonderland exhibit). (I love Andrew Wyeth's paintings so much. They create an instant calm for me while also inspiring me to write.) Then we went to Longwood Gardens. I had been there in the daytime at Christmas, but not at night. We drank hot chocolate in the cafe while we waited for it to get dark. At the last minute, we decided to go to the skating exhibition -- a junior pairs team and a 13-year-old male skater. It was only $5, and was fun to see skating outside. The lights at Longwood are amazing -- totally worth the admission. At night we came back and had dinner here (Luke made stir fry) and I graded while Mom knit. We had a system with dark chocolate M&Ms. Each M&M represented a paper I needed to grade, and I would move them from one cup to another as I went through them. At the end of each evening, we ate the M&Ms.
Brandywine Christmas Critters:
Wreath at Longwood:
Longwood at Night:
My GRID issue at Whole Foods:
Yesterday morning I still had a lot to do, so I was in marathon grading mode. (Mom had originally planned to go home on Wednesday, but I talked her into staying until Thursday.) I managed to get the final grades in a couple of hours early, and then we got in the car and went to Cape May. I love the shore in the winter, and I didn't get to go for my birthday this year. It wasn't as busy as I expected (in fact, it was kind of a ghost town). But we had fun poking around in the shops, and then we walked on the beach and drove out to Sunset Beach (just missed the sun going down, but saw some of the aftermath) and to the lighthouse. For dinner we had Freshchetta at home and watched Prep & Landing, which was on TV again. Luke loved it, like I knew he would. Mom liked it too, but was jarred by the commercial interruptions. Then we watched the "Crazy Christmas Lights" special on demand and knit. I'm making a set of six Christmas ball decorations with Noro yarn for my friend Bonnie. Mom worked on my socks.
I was sad to see Mom go, but at least this time I'll see her again soon!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Monkey 2
Getting tired of knitting updates yet? If so, skip this. I knitted a new monkey this weekend:
I had a hard time picking a new project, but finally decided to try a tiny monkey with the same general pattern as the big one. The big one was a lot easier to make, as it turns out. I used size 3 needles for the head, body, legs, arms, and tail and then switched to size 1 for the face, ears and feet. It was a tough time, even with the tiny needles. Like with the big monkey, every stitch made a difference because of the scale. Then I used black seed beads for the eyes, and I had to use a ridiculously thin-eyed bead needle to sew them on. Oh, and I also made one of his feet upside-down, but whatever. I'm trying to let that go.
So far, the monkeys seem to be getting along well:
I had a hard time picking a new project, but finally decided to try a tiny monkey with the same general pattern as the big one. The big one was a lot easier to make, as it turns out. I used size 3 needles for the head, body, legs, arms, and tail and then switched to size 1 for the face, ears and feet. It was a tough time, even with the tiny needles. Like with the big monkey, every stitch made a difference because of the scale. Then I used black seed beads for the eyes, and I had to use a ridiculously thin-eyed bead needle to sew them on. Oh, and I also made one of his feet upside-down, but whatever. I'm trying to let that go.
So far, the monkeys seem to be getting along well:
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monkey
I finally finished the monkey tonight. I used Burly Spun in Mountain Majesty? and Oatmeal, and some Lamb's Pride Bulky in brown for the face. Lucas helped a lot with suggestions about monkey anatomy, including the great idea to double the ears like that. Here are some pictures:
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
SnowAnimals
Finished rabbit on May 1st, but realized yesterday I forgot to add a tail:
Finished snow "wolf" yesterday. He doesn't look exactly like a wolf, though -- maybe he's some kind of dog mix.
I would like to set these things up with good lighting and take better pictures of them -- some of the knitting blogs have great pictures. Nevertheless, here are PhotoBooth pictures of the wolf:
He finally came together when I put his nose on:
I'm not sure what my next move will be. I used up every last bit of that great yarn on the wolf, but I have bulkier snow-colored yarn.
Finished snow "wolf" yesterday. He doesn't look exactly like a wolf, though -- maybe he's some kind of dog mix.
I would like to set these things up with good lighting and take better pictures of them -- some of the knitting blogs have great pictures. Nevertheless, here are PhotoBooth pictures of the wolf:
He finally came together when I put his nose on:
I'm not sure what my next move will be. I used up every last bit of that great yarn on the wolf, but I have bulkier snow-colored yarn.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Older Knitting
April 5
I made a bunch of Easter eggs, and then I realized that if I didn't finish an egg but made a couple more sections instead, maybe I could make a bug. Originally I thought it would be a Cootie, like in the game. So I made this:
Now, I'm not quite sure it's done. Lucas thinks the back legs are a little anatomically strange and should be moved to the middle section. I'm inclined to agree, but then how would the bug drag its giant end around? He thinks that having all the legs together would make it more closely resemble the structure of a real ant, which is what he thinks it most likely is. However, I think his view of knitted bugs might be overly scientific.
The other question is whether to make wings. This would make the bug not an ant, but something else. I mean, there are flying ants, but I don't think I want it to be a flying ant, because those are kind of gross. But wings are cool, and it would probably be fun to knit some wings if I could find the right yarn.
What do you think about the leg placement and wings/no wings?
P.S. This is going off the deep end a bit, but here's another example of the egg pattern's usefulness. I made a hat for my egg timer:
April 17
Bug #2 -- Lucas made the legs. I'm not sure this one is done. He probably needs a face, but I'm not sure how I'm going to do that. The face makes a huge difference in the creature's character.
I have another bug body made, but I'm not sure what I want to do about the legs for that one.
Today I finished a bird. Shannon sent the link to this pattern:
http://berroco.com/exclusives/bluebird/bluebird.html
I think that bird is so cute, so I tried it, but the pattern confused me. So last night while we were watching the new Bond movie I just tried to freeform it, purposely not looking at the picture again. I used the good old Easter Egg pattern and then modified as I went along. I think the beak on mine is too long, making him look like a duck. I also put the tail on sideways. But I like him anyway:
I made a bunch of Easter eggs, and then I realized that if I didn't finish an egg but made a couple more sections instead, maybe I could make a bug. Originally I thought it would be a Cootie, like in the game. So I made this:
Now, I'm not quite sure it's done. Lucas thinks the back legs are a little anatomically strange and should be moved to the middle section. I'm inclined to agree, but then how would the bug drag its giant end around? He thinks that having all the legs together would make it more closely resemble the structure of a real ant, which is what he thinks it most likely is. However, I think his view of knitted bugs might be overly scientific.
The other question is whether to make wings. This would make the bug not an ant, but something else. I mean, there are flying ants, but I don't think I want it to be a flying ant, because those are kind of gross. But wings are cool, and it would probably be fun to knit some wings if I could find the right yarn.
What do you think about the leg placement and wings/no wings?
P.S. This is going off the deep end a bit, but here's another example of the egg pattern's usefulness. I made a hat for my egg timer:
April 17
Bug #2 -- Lucas made the legs. I'm not sure this one is done. He probably needs a face, but I'm not sure how I'm going to do that. The face makes a huge difference in the creature's character.
I have another bug body made, but I'm not sure what I want to do about the legs for that one.
Today I finished a bird. Shannon sent the link to this pattern:
http://berroco.com/exclusives/blueb
I think that bird is so cute, so I tried it, but the pattern confused me. So last night while we were watching the new Bond movie I just tried to freeform it, purposely not looking at the picture again. I used the good old Easter Egg pattern and then modified as I went along. I think the beak on mine is too long, making him look like a duck. I also put the tail on sideways. But I like him anyway:
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