hawks, jkr, yarn, and ike

I have a couple meanderings, so here goes.

I've been spotting what I figured out was a red-tailed hawk - perhaps two of them - in Maryland Heights and in Hazelwood. It might be the same one, since I'm not sure what the range usually is for one, and I saw them about 6 miles apart. The first time was on the way to work on the highway on Wednesday of last week - it was perched on the highway sign, and sat about 15-18 inches tall. Those signs are not small, and it didn't dwarf the bird! The second sighting was audible first - I was walking the pooch last Friday, and heard the cry. You know, that sound you hear when you're watching an old Western and they want to make sure you feel like you're watching the frontier or something. Anyway, the cry made me stop - it didn't register at first - and when I turned, the bird was on the peak of the roof over my townhouse. He was gone by the time I came back out with my camera. I saw it again yesterday on the way into work back in Maryland Heights, riding the thermals over the highway.

The red-tailed wasn't the only new bird I've seen lately - heard and saw an owl on Tuesday this week...my Hogwarts letter! Okay, maybe not. The knitters heard and maybe saw an owl (prob the same one) just after the Wednesday Night S&B session at WeavDept.

There was an announcement on Monday that a decision was reached in the JKR/WB vs RDR/SVA trial - JKR/WB won and you can read it here at the Boston Herald website. I'm glad. This means that WB won't go batsh*t over enforcing copyright the way that Paramount did a few years ago to their Star Trek fans. It was also a nice birthday present for Julia. ;)

Yes, I did buy lots of yarrrrnnnnn:

• 1 100g ball Fortissima Socka Mexico Country Color (75% superwash wool, 25% polyamide) in colorway #14 Serengeti (yellow, orange, green, brown, tan, rust, grey, black/white check) which is also here and here.
• 1 100g hank Misty Mountain Farm Blue Ridge Yarn "Jubilee" (100% superwash merino) in #22 Waterfall (deep blue to sky blue, grey). Ravenclaw colors!
• 1 100g ball Zitron "Trekking XXL" (75% superwash 25% polyamide) in colorway #145 (orange tweed). Also pictured here - I'm thinking the Autumn Lace socks for this yarn.
• 1 100g ball Noro "Kureyon Sock" (70% wool, 30% nylon) in colorway #S233 Deep Blues (grey, deep to sky blue). Also here. I found a nice scarf pattern online that used this yarn, so I'm torn. Scarf or socks??
• 1 3oz ball Yarn Bee "Intrigue" (57% polymide, 43% Lurex glitter) in colorway Bisque (bronze) to go with the midnight blue for a Ravenclaw scarf.
• 2 3.5oz balls Yarn Bee "Beguile" (100% acrylic) in colorway Aegean (cream, red, teal, lime).
• 2 3.5oz balls Yarn Bee "Whirligig" (100% acrylic) in colorway Regatta (white, yellow, royal blue, red) for another scarf.
• 1 4oz ball Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Baby" (60% acrylic/40% polymide) in colorway Sweet Mocha (pink, tan, cream, chocolate brown). Think Neopolitan ice cream. For another BSJ.

Newsflash! IHOP is taking over the world! Okay, maybe not. I love xkcd.

Speaking of BSJs, I finished the third one (!!) and started a fourth. Isn't it cute?? My dentist is going to be a grandfather again, so i'm making one for his new grandson. He's due September 24th, which happens to be my nephew's birthday! w00t!

I ran across this very helpful blog post by Kenny. His blog is The Boy Who Knits - Techniques: Baby Surprise Jacket Spreadsheet Revision 2 and that particular post has a wonderful line-by-line reference for the BSJ. Thanks, Kenny!!

I think that's all for me right now - we'll be getting ready to face the remains of Ike tomorrow (5-8 inches of rain. Yay.) and having a sale at the Weaving Department! The sale info is here! Come buy yarn so I won't. :)

Cheers!

ETA: Here's a pic of my Wollmeise. Yum!!!!!!!