Introspection

[neadods]

Random thoughts:

The Aladdin Salad Set continues to be a much-loved bento, having contained today a huge turkey-and-spinach sandwich that didn't need to be cut into odd shapes, two and a half clementines, and a few pieces of candy. I keep checking the Target where I bought them to see if they get in more - I'd like to have an even five for a week's worth of lunches - but no such luck. I may end up ordering online. The ability to pack more than a handful of grapes without carefully standing them on rows on end, the ability to eat something packed in tightly without it spilling, and the air-tightness are winning out over the more traditional bento boxes.


Knitting-wise, I'm really whipping through the rejiggered rambling rows afghan. This idea is tops for several reasons: the garter stitch is soothingly easy, the individual blocks work up quickly, and there aren't a huge number of blocks needed to create the whole project. Plus, since you can do up to four of the blocks with a single skein, it's the most portable thing I've ever worked on.

I keep thinking that I "ought" to be planning more difficult projects or larger ones because in the end I might like having them or the challenge will be good... but at the same time, I realize that I'm doing this for my own peace of mind and business of hands and don't "have" to do anything to prove to myself or others. Still, it's not that easy to silence the "you ought" voice.


And finally, there's going to be a biggie in this week's Sunday 7: I have decided to freecycle my mother's/my doll house. I've held onto that thing for decades, meaning to turn it into a craft project of its own by completely remodelling and refinishing it, turning it from a chipboard box to a Tudor-style cottage. Kind of a hint that it hasn't been a priority for several decades; if I didn't start the job when I was at the now-defunct Doll House and Toy Museum, I probably never will. My mother herself is very practical - she thinks I should just up and throw it out - while M is so distressed at the idea that I'm half wondering if she'll refuse to list it for me. Me, I'm not so thoughtful about giving up the doll house itself as a bit nostalgic over giving up something that has been in the planning for that long. I'd rather give it to a friend's child - tchwrtr's Boy is now in possession of most of my surviving childhood toys - but I don't know anyone with a girl the right age.

Comments

[mtgat]

Have you met marag? She's in your area, and her little girl is at the age where dollhouses are about to become very big in her life. :)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

No, but I'll go check out her journal!

[fyrdrakken]

I would treat the afghan guilt voice the same way I think one should treat nagging feelings that one is somehow "wasting one's talents" by writing fanfic instead of original fiction: This is your hobby, done for enjoyment, and stretching yourself is good but everyone needs a lazy comforting activity to unwind with too. You're doing something pleasant, using up yarn that was just taking up room in your stash, and will wind up with a finished item you'll enjoy having. Win-win all round. If you want to stretch yourself knitting, I'm sure you can find another project once you've caught up on your knitalong progress, but if not you shouldn't be winding yourself up where your stress-relief is concerned.

[melusinehr.livejournal.com]

I saw the Aladdin set at the Container Store a few weeks ago--I didn't pick it up because very few of my lunches need that much room, but I did give it a thorough look-see because of your recommendation.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

If you pack it tight, bento-style, it's an unholy amount of food. I like it because it's so good for the odd-shaped things that don't fit nicely into "regular" boxes that I like to eat - strawberries, cherries, chips, etc. But there's also a fair amount of unused space as well.

Container Store, eh? I could make a run there, maybe. Although by the time I pay for gas to cross the city, I've paid the difference between Target and mail order.

[raqs.livejournal.com]

Do you have any pics of the Aladdin set packed as you pack it? Because for some reason I'm kind of having trouble imagining why it's so easy to pack. It doesn't look that roomy.

We just passed along a dollhouse - SK's daughter's, to his niece who is 4. A very good plan.

I wish to God I still had my grandmother's dollhouse -the thing was an enormous masterpiece, five feet tall and at least six wide and just a huge thing, with an enormous collection of furniture - but I would not have anywhere to put it and probably never will.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'll take a picture. The screw container holds a quarter cup, if that helps you get the scale.

That sounds like it was a magnificent dollhouse! Mother still has the furniture, which she's selling - this is just a WWII-era cheapie.

[zinelady.livejournal.com]

John loves his Aladins. I got him both the salad set and the regular red set with the divider. He takes a salad with tomatoes, carrots, celery and dressing in the one and a sandwich and a small amount of chips in the red one. Both boxes fit in his soft sided thermal bag and a granola bar and a small bottle of gatarade can be put in the the top.

Since he's been taking his lunch and watching what he eats, he's lost almost 25 pounds. It's not fair that guys can lose weight so easily and I fight every pound.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've lost anything yet, but I haven't been good enough, or exercised enough.