Last night Niall and I took Jake to see Joe Jackson at the Tarrytown Music Hall. We figured, aspiring pianist and all, that it was an experience worth staying up late for. (Poor planning on my part considering it was the night after the election and he was already pretty tired from that late night.) If you ever have the chance to see a show at this theater I highly recommend that you do. It’s a funky building originally built in 1885 with renovations that span a few different architectural styles. At one point Niall disappeared and I spotted him on one of the balconies craning his neck to see some detailing over the stage. I think he enjoyed the building more than the concert.
Jake really liked the opening act. Her name is Thea Gilmore and she has a beautiful rich voice which reminded me of kind of a combination of Joni Mitchell and Shawn Colvin. Much to my surprise, he was completely engaged by her. I thought that her folksy acoustic set would have bored him (rock star that he is) but I was wrong. I think her accessibility spoke to him and he was drawn into the music. On the other hand, Joe Jackson didn’t inspire him at all. (Remember here, he was exhausted by the time Mr. Jackson began his performance.) But with the piano keys facing away from the audience and each song more epic in it’s length than the one before it, Jake just wasn’t caught up in it.
I had a rush of emotion during the experience that made it hard for me to keep from constantly kissing the top of his Darth Hoodie head (thanks for the perfect name for his constant hooded-sweatshirt coolness, Erika). But I restrained myself in favor of not mortifying him in public. It was just so overwhelming to experience live music and such extraordinary talent through his amazing eyes and ears. He kept saying things like “did you hear that D-chord riff?” and “it’s cool how the bass plays one note off from the downbeat on the whoziwhatsit”. Okay, so I’m paraphrasing and I have no idea what he was hearing but watching him experience music on a level that I can’t begin to understand was moving and I plan on doing it with him again as soon as I can.
On to what you’re really here for. The one-hundredth post giveaway! When I went back through said posts I discovered that the few I had saved and never posted were counted among the ninety-nine I mentioned yesterday, which means that I am only actually at ninety-six today. But who cares.
Remember that entrelac scarf that took me two years to finish?
And how I mentioned that the colors no longer suited me? Well, it seems an awful shame to let the thing sit in the closet now that it’s finally finished. Dont’ya think? So, I’m giving it away. Here’s the scoop. Just leave me a comment on this post and I’ll do the random number thing one week from today. If you care to share the details of the longest or most drawn-out craft project you’ve ever actually finished, please do so. If not, just say hi and that you’d like in.
I think I’ll wax poetic about my first one hundred posts some other time as the last few late nights have sapped my creative energy and I’m going to take a nap while the baby sleeps.
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
I cast on the Lady Eleanor Entrelac Shawl and never got past the second row. I admire your perseverance in taking 2 years to finish your scarf and your non-attachment to it after such a long endeavor.Happy 100th Post!
Ooh! I’d love to win the scarf, and I’d also love to see Joe Jackson!! I will definitely check out Thea Gilmore–sounds like she’s right up my alley.
Also…http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/ is updating their blogroll and you just have to leave a comment to be put on it!
Ooh. What a gorgeous scarf!I have an afghan I started when I was fifteen, so that’s murmur years ago!
Hey – I had 100 posts today too! Happy 100 post day!
ok, so i don’t really need a scarf. but i really REALLY WANT that scarf! i could never knit that! it looks so detailed!!
pick me! pick me!
Pick me! The scarf is a lovely thing!
I think I may be just at the start of my longest most drawn out craft project: underwear. I thought it would be easy. Not so much, so far. But I think I will persevere. But it may take me well into the granny years to get it right…
The scarf is soo beautiful!!! It would be treasured!!!
My most drawn out thing that I’ve actually finished? Hmmm…have to think about that one. Maybe my first quilt. I had the top cut and pieced for over a year – took me a long time to get up the courage to actually take it to the machine.
Don’t you just love Music Hall? It’s gorgeous. DH and I made the trip up there to see Greg Brown in 2003 (pre-kids; when I was living in the city). We had a lovely time. I remember we got ice cream at a little cafe down the hill afterwards.
i’m in…it’s cold here and that would look lovely with my coat. you must be so proud of jake…just nod and look proud…that’s what i do!
I just had to say I love the scarf and go you for persevering! My longest-running project at this point is a lace scarf that I cast on for almost a year ago, but it’s still not done… And don’t pick me, I’ve already got your yarn!
Hah! My life is one long, drawn-out craft project! If I win your beautiful scarf, I’ll surely be inspired to finish something.
I love that scarf so much!!!My lengthiest project (that I’ve actually finished- I have lots that beat it in time but are still waiting to be completed!) was a quilt which I started in 2001 and finally finished this year!
Hi Amy – That’s truly a beautiful scarf and I could certainly put it to use here in Vermont! I’m currently working on finishing up my longest sewing project, which is the first quilt I started. It’s queen sized, which is much larger than anything else I’ve made, and consequently I’ve really been dragging my feet!
This scarf looks great; I think the colors are lovely. The most drawn out craft project I ever completed? It’s still not done! I started crocheting Katherine Lee’s Flirty Skirt about three years ago. I finished the crocheting part this past August, but I still have to sew the liner for it. Maybe next year….
Hubbie loves Joe Jackson!~ We saw him 3-4 years ago in Cleveland. Great Show.
I’m sorry folks, those colors are mine…
I love it! it looks really soft. I pulled yarn out today, speaking of YOU (goregous knitting) and MY unfinished projects… since i am not much of a chrochet person( only a wee tad), i love yarn/wool whatever..And I have lots… Just shipped a box off to my mother thinking maybe she could do something with it…maybe I should have sent it to you! hmmm, I have more!well….let’s see, perhaps If I win that scarf..hmmmmmm……???
I still love that scarf! My most drawn out project . . . probably the quilt I made for Ella. Over the course of 9 months, I drafted redrafted, and bought more and more fabric each time. It was an early project in my quilting ambitions – I learned a lot! After that one I purchased a jelly roll pattern book and made a few quick quilts – and really got the “bug”
Congrats on 100!
The scarf is great. I love the fact that you finished it. I started a quilt for my husband 14 years ago….still not done…it’s just 3″ squares. I pull it out occasionally and vow to finish it! Guess it’s never going to happen.Hope the random number generator picks me!!
Ok, this is sad but I started a cardigan for my son last fall and still have not finished it. I struggled through it and have two-thirds finished…it languishes in my knitting basket and is probably covered in dust. And even if I were to finish it it wouldn’t fit him anyhow because now he’s too big!Congrats on 100 posts!!
So beautiful! Pick me, pretty please!
Lovely blog, my first visit and I cannot resist the beautiful giveaway. The colors are so Hudson Valley autumn and I am not a knitter so I appreciate. My drawn out craft project is a quilt based on autumn leaves started in 1999 when a niece came to visit from England and we got obsessed with the fall colors. The fabrics I used for this applique project are old wools and some amazing sample squares in cashmere, alpaca etc from a friend who worked for an Italian fabric company. I am going to finish it someday…My niece is moving in with her boyfriend sometime next year, maybe that will give me inspiration! Cheers!
I have to admit, the first time I saw that scarf I got a bit swoony! My longest, most drawn out craft project is the advent calendar I’ve been making for two years…it’s made out of wool felt and about a million tiny pieces that need hand stitching. Perhaps it will be done by 2010….
I would love to be in your give away. I love the scarf.
That is a gorgeous scarf! My longest running project? Many, but right now, the first quiltalong by Amanda Jean…..still only partly there!
Beautiful! I would be thrilled to win. Congrats on post #100!
I have a Christmas scarf I started several years ago that just gets uglier everytime I pull it out. I am trying to finish it but doubt it will happen.
I love the colors and pattern of your giveaway scarf!
Congrats on you 100th post! Oh I’m so happy for you that your beautiful scarf is finished! And now I can’t believe you’re giving it away! It’s such a beautiful warm-looking scarf! Soon after I saw your WIP picture, I tried entrelac, but I just can’t get the hang of it!
Lace shawls I knit for my high school friends when we all turned 30…took forever, but I love them and I am so glad I made them! I want to learn entrelac…looks cool! Congrats on your 100th post!
I think it is so cool that Jake just gets music like that! I enjoy music, but all of it I’ve had to LEARN. Playing by ear? Improvising? Not my talent. Glad he enjoyed the opening act so much! Bet it was fun to see him digging something you didn’t expect!
What a beautiful scarf! I have a lingering project I need to finish up as well, a lovely (and very large) embroidery wall hanging that’s been kicking around since before I got married (6 years ago).
I have a lovely baby sweater started and have worked on it over the years. Too bad my abby is now 11 years old! I keep saying that it’ll be perfect for a grandchild years and years from now. Looking at it that way, I’m ahead of the game!
am i too late? see – this is what happens when i take time off the computer – i almost miss out on the opportunity to win a beautiful scarf!!! entrelac is on my list of things to learn. lovely scarf.
i hope I’m not too late…I came here looking for your pictures from MV Fiber Farm and couldn’t find them, but found this! This scarf is beautiful, I’d wear it with pride.
My longest craft project that I can think of at the moment, is the sweater that is almost finished except for one arm and buttons. I started it when Emma was little, and now I’m saying it’s for Elizabeth–six years later. Ugh.
Your scarf is so unusual and I love the colors. Longest running? I started a journal years, no, decades ago and haven’t stopped journaling since.
That is one gorgeous scarf. It’s so impressive, wow!
BEAUTIFUL SCARF! I made a similar one, but mine has the zig zaggy edges. I would LOVE to own this scarf! People DO win things (I once won a cruise- free cruise but it cost me a fortune in clothes that I just HAD to buy). If I am not the lucky winner, I’d love to make my own. Did you use a pattern? Share, please? I’m a quilter (www.alderwoodquilts.com) but I think of knitting as my “backup hobby”.