At Last, Some Knitting News

Today I actually have a couple of items to post about my knitting activity. The first is that I finished this shrug in just a matter of weeks. Participating in a "Knit Along" (KAL) that I found on the Lion Brand blog helped this go so quickly. I was eager to do this particular KAL because one of my favorite designers, Stefanie Japel, was leading it. The pattern for the shrug was the first post, and then each week, she posted pictures of the progress of the sweater and detailed instructions. Other people following the KAL could post their pictures as well. It really kept me motivated to finish the sweater and not get side-tracked and bored, as I often do. (Friend Josie is modeling for me--actually, she got the sweater because it looks so cute on her).

The yarn is "Cascade 220 Heather," 100% wool. Here you can see the interesting texture of the shrug:



Below I have a picture of some new stash! It's called "Linea Pura" by Lana Grosse and is a worsted-weight, subtly variagated blend of soy, bamboo, and cotton, all organic. The drape is lovely.

Zugspitze

A friend from the US is visiting, and yesterday we went to the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, located about an hour south of Munich in the German Alps. The picture above was taken from the cable car on the way up. Unfortunately, it's not as clear as I'd like because it was taken through a window and because the camera is just so-so. Still, you can get an idea of the spectacular scenery in this area.



And here's the view from the top (almost 3000 meters high). The mountains you can see from here are located in Austria, Italy and Switzerland, and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Rome, they say.



This was taken on the way back down in the cog-wheel train. There are several adorable-looking villages and lots of green meadows, all with the spectacular Alps jutting up in the background.

Poem and Books

Today I'm stealing a poem idea from a blog I enjoy called The Goat Rope:

He who binds to himself a joy
Doth the winged life destroy.
He who kisses the joy as it flies,
Lives in eternity's sunrise.

William Blake (1757-1827)

I also have some book news:



Ahab's Wife (1999) by Sena Jeter Naslund. I read this during my first few weeks here in Germany, and it helped me get through the jet lag and disorientation. It is "a great read" in so many ways. It is written like historical fiction, but it is actually fiction about fiction--since Ahab refers to Melville's Moby Dick. The critic in me felt like that part didn't work, but the story and the writing are very engaging.

Stine (1890) by Theodor Fontane. German literature fans know Theodor Fontane (1819-1898) is a famous German author who wrote the classic Effie Briest. The theme of this short work is typical of Fontane: the disastrous fate of the individual who acts in a way that society does not approve of. While this novel was not as successful as many of his others, the Fontane style is enjoyable, and it's also fun trying to decipher the parts written in Berlin dialect.

Moo (1995) by Jane Smiley. What a fantastic spoof of academic life! Smiley pulls this off with subtlety and wit.

Schachnovelle (1943) by Stefan Zweig. A short, interesting novel by another great German writer, this is a psychological portrait of two personalities who battle on the chess board.

Happy Birthday Greg!

Greg is 55 years young today--Happy Birthday to him! Chris bought him his favorite cake (German chocolate) from our favorite grocery store (Rosauer's), and he got this funny card to go along with it. I liked this picture so much that I wanted to share it. It made me feel like I had taken part in the celebration just a bit--notice my name is on the card too!

Roses in the City and Enticing Courtyards

All of a sudden, in all kinds of unexpected places, the roses in Munich are in bloom. I happened upon several lovely displays on a walk through my neighborhood yesterday.

The lush courtyards are also a treat here. I often take a moment to admire them and to think about how cool it is to have so much green space in the middle of a big city.

Comfort

Today I want to show you a couple of pictures of more home improvements. Greg and I bought the black chair, ottoman, and lamp (at Ikea of course) while he was here, and a colleague is loaning me the cream-colored chair/sleeper. Both are very comfortable! Now I have a place to sit and knit--I can put my feet up, and there's plenty of light. Also, I can finally have company over because now there is someplace to sit.

The cafe curtains in the kitchen give me a bit of privacy. As you can see, there are apartments all around, and I was feeling rather exposed every time I walked into the kitchen. I'm not sure they will be the permanent kitchen curtains, but they will work until I find something I like better. They are actually table runners that I bought at Kaufhof for only 5 Euros a piece.

Bird's Eye View and Market Day

This picture of the Marienplatz makes me dizzy! Greg and I climbed the 92 meter high tower of a church (Peterskirche) to enjoy dazzling views of the city. The Peterskirche was built in the 1300s, and the staircase is so narrow that if someone is going up or down in the opposite direction, you have to squeeze by each other to get through. But it's worth the effort to make it to the top. Below is the view towards yet another Munich landmark, the Frauenkirche.

Afterwards we headed over to the Viktualienmarkt with its delightful flower, fruit and vegetable stands.