Blog #43 or, According to Blogspot, This is My #43 Post.

I don't know how I got so mixed up with my numbers. Maybe I should come up with a different system. It could be a little bit tedious when I get up to a bajilliondy blog posts. As if.


There is a skunk in my neighborhood. And yes, I'm talking about a for reals skunk. Not the ward alderman. I could smell it this morning. I have heard no other talk of any kind about skunks in the city. Someone at work asked me if I was sure it wasn't pot. Um. Ew. If people are now smoking pot that smells like skunk, dude, then I really do not understand the kids today. And yes, I have smelt both and I do know the difference. I did large chunks of summers as a kid on a farm. I know me some skunk when I smells it. Besides, I saw a skunk-shaped being waddle across Morse Ave while I was waiting for the train. I wonder if he's on Daley's payroll.....ouch! I wouldn't be making that crack if the CTA wasn't talking about raising fares again. Stupid old people and their free rides. Pfffbbbbt!!! Bite me. And no, I am not giving up my seat for someone who didn't actually pay to get on the bus/train. So there. Yes, I will fake being asleep behind my big, black sunglasses.

And since I am talking about our fine city. I used to read the Tribune every day that I was at work. No more. I just really hate the new layout. I realize how stupid that sounds. But it seems like less paper and when I'm done, I don't feel like I've read the paper at all. So I have been reading the Sun-Times. Maybe I should just read the New York Times and be done with it. At least they talk about fashion and shit.

And speaking of fashion. I still haven't watched more than the very first episode of the most recent Project Runway. Sad, but true.

Blog #39, or Dude, There Is Nothing Scarier Than

hearing the guys outside your apartment who are removing a big-ass tree, yelling, "NO!NO!NO!!! YOUR ROPE! YOUR ROPE MAN! NO! NO! NO! STOP!"

The tree, is(was) taller than the two story building that I live in, and, should it fall, it would mostly fall into my apartment. Especially since now it is almost gone and much shorter.

#38, or Has It Really Been So Very, Very Long Since We Were Together?

Apparently, yes it has.

I have been working at the Goodman Theatre, on a musical. I am in the craft room, which is great fun. We are making hundreds, nay, thousands of ribbon flowers. Okay, maybe it is really just hundreds. Some big, new musical thing. Directed by Tommy Tune. Jeff Daniels and Rachel York are in it. Yeah, that Jeff Daniels. No, I haven't. I have never seen so many people in the sewing room before. It's crazy. I have seen this many in the craft room though, when I got to help make the crazy-ass wigs for "The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove". This whole thing involves days and days of opening at the Starbucks, and then going to the theatre. And for this show, we get to stay late if we want. So I have been leaving the house at 4:30 am, and getting home at almost 7 pee-em. I's sleepy. And Alex is giving me the cold shoulder. Booger-kittie.

I have been getting lots of odds and ends of knitting done though. The do-over on the front of my Looking Glass Sweater is done. I just have to block it. And I am making splendid progress on, er, ah, well, let's just say that some Christmas Knitting is getting done and leave it at that. Ha.

I bought a bunch of new roving off of etsy. Ooooo, the one seller has yummy-yummy colors! I bought a lot from her. I also bought myself some new earrings. A girl needs some new baubles from time to time.

I have been doing really well with finally getting gobs and gobs of project and stash pictures taken and downloaded so that I can get them onto Ravelry.

Stinkiecat is prancing about the desk, me thinks it is his way of telling me I need to get my hiney off of the computer and pay attention to him. He wins.

Blog #37, A For Reals #37 This Time

So really, this post is about one thing and one thing only.

I did my gauge swatch for my February Lady Sweater. I have no idea what size needle I used, it is an Addi whose numbers have worn off, but. I have achieved gauge. Exactly. On the first try.

And, I am wishing I had enough of the Lorna's Laces in red to do it in red. It's a great red. I might need a sweater out of it.

The planets must be in perfect alignment or something.

Blog #36, In Which Bettie Realizes That She Can't Count, aka Sequence Numbers, Properly

No. Please. No fainting. I know, two posts in less than 24 hours, whassupwiththat? Good question. I have no clue. But it's almost 4 am and I am wide awake. Actually I was wide awake about 2 hours ago. I only just got out of the bed. And upon exiting the bedroom, door left slighly ajar, almost tripped over Mr. Fluffiepants. Like he forgot how to push doors open or something. I don't understand this. He knows how to open doors, I've seen him do it. Maybe he was being thoughtful and considerate. Yeah, right.

So I am participating in the Ravelympics. In which we cast on during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and attempt to have said project finished by the end of closing ceremonies. I am doing the February Lady Sweater. I forget who did the pattern and am too lazy to leave the 'puter and find out. But it is based, or perhaps I should say 'unvented' from Elizabeth Zimmerman's February Baby Sweater. But sized for 'a grown-ass woman', as it says on the pattern. It's a free pattern off of Ravelry. I am using some of the Lorna's Laces green yarn that I got at the warehouse sale. I have done the math about 6 times now. And considered and re-considered which size, how much ease or negative ease I want and all of that good stuff. The yarn is pink. Very pink. I loves it. I believe I will be swatching today at knit group. Swatching is what we do for training. Will there be pictures? I can guarantee that they will taken, whether or not I actually decide to apply myself and post here remains to be seen. Heh. I am tres lame.

Oh crap. I almost forgot. Bernie is dead. I turn him on and I don't even get the mechanical-whining-motor-trying-to-go-kind of noise. He's not even trying anymore. I turn him on and hit the gas, and...... nothing. Just flat-out, straight-up, dead quiet. I am planning on giving him a little rest, and then trying again, but man, it don't look good. Anyone wanna gimme a thousand bucks or so for my Tacsew?

Blog #37, I Think. But Really? I've Lost Track.

So today? My mail carrier? Or are we still using mail man? Though if you think about it, that's a little redundant. But I digress. It is now 4:49 pee em. On Saturday. Waaaaaaaay later than when the mail is supposed to arrive. The mail should be waiting for me when I get home. Who cares? You might ask. Well I do and I will tell you why. In he/she's little mail cart thingey, they carry not just the neighborhoods' mail, but, and this would be the most important bit, discs #5 and #6 of season 2 of the NEW DR. WHO. Yes, I'm yelling. Deal. I was all psyched up to watch another 3 or more episodes tonight. Netflix promised! And now, the mail carrier had to get up all in the way and not bring me my mail. Asshat. What the heck am I supposed to do after dinner now? Sheeesh.

And lest we think that this post is nothing but me kvetching about the mail carrier, I would like to mention the vast amounts of garter stitch projects I have been finishing during the whole process. Which may, or may not eventually be posted here. Since figuring out how to post pictures, I have found it to be a bit of a pain in the ass and don't do it much.

Blog #30-something.

I am tres lame. It's been over a month since the last blog entry. And James and Joe have come and gone. Joe is, adorable. But even more to the point, he found a hat in my apartment, that I knit, that fits him perfectly and that he loves! Ahha! Something to knit Joe for Christmas! Suh-weet! And James loves the yarn and slipper pattern for his man slippers. The boy has excellent taste, they are Malabrigo. God I frakking hate spell check! I know Malabrigo isn't a word, that's why it's capitalized, asshats!

So I just finished watching the first episode of Season 5 of Project Runway. They did the whole grocery store thing from season 1 again. Which, of course, has me thinking, WWBD? What would Bettie do? I know what she wouldn't do, and that would be going for the obvious choice of a tablecloth or napkins or paper towels or trash bags. Too predictable. I can't believe that anyone used those things. Duh. And they are, most of them, quite young this time around. Lots of 25-27 year olds. Whatever. I hope I am not bored like I was with last season. I didn't even watch the last 2-3 episodes. Once fashion week happened, I saw all of their shows on line and really didn't even care who won. I know who's clothes I liked and that's all I cared about apparently.

I haz a date tomorrow. Must. Find. Cute. Outfit.

Blog #33, or How I Got My First Sunburn Of The Season

Yesterday was WWKIP day. I wore sunscreen, but clearly SPF 15 was not enough. I wore sleeveless, because I knew I would get some color, and didn't want farmer tan. Believe me, I have seen hard-core farmer tan up close. It's not a look I wish to duplicate. I had one Grandfather who was a farmer. I don't think he ever went out with less coverage than a short-sleeved shirt. But I had seen him in a tank. We are talking skin as white as the new fallen snow, right next to skin that had spent every summer of it's 60 some odd years in short sleeves out on a tractor. With no canopy. I do not wish to duplicate this look. So yeah, I am a little bit crunchy in places this morning. I have been slathering myself with body butter.

But other than that, WWKIP day was lovely! That stands for World Wide Knit In Public day.

Blog #32 Gah! 17 Day Until My Gays Are Here!!!

Well, part of them anyways. James and Joe will be here June 27th through July 3rd. Just in time for ALL of Taste of Chicago! ( insert sarcasm here ) But, much more importantly, they will be here for PRIDE!!! And if you don't know what that means, then clearly you have no gay friends and should go make some. It sounds as though James has mapped out each and every meal, based on the restaurants he missed most. The thing that might throw that off is that there are literally bunches of new places littering Andersonville that he hasn't seen yet. I haven't been to any of the new places to have an opinion one way or the other. Either way, I doubt that we will want for places to eat.

My birthday was May 26th. See birthday greeting comments below with post # 31. I got all kinds of goodies and much fun was had. Mom and Dad got me a drum carder! I am busy carding the rainbow fleece Mom and I got at Crazy Girl Knits. I am thinking it will probably want to be a baby sweater. Don't ask me for who, I have no idea. I just think a little baby sized rainbow sweater would be adorable. It's got a lot of second cuts in it though. But I have always kind of liked the slightly "rustic" look in some yarns. Then I have 15 oz. of Lorna's Laces roving to spin. And 4 bumps of two different colors of roving from Crazy Girl Knits. Then. We start on the Finn Wool fleeces from Wee Croft Finn Sheep. That should give me all of the right kinds of practice before launching into the Alex shawl. I do need to do a lace sampler. And maybe another shawl or two knitwise, before doing Alex. Especially since I haven't really done much lace at all.

I have been doing a lot of alterations lately. And I still have to copy that jacket that I got the discoloration out of. Then at least I can get it put back together. I have a whole stack of easy summer tops cut out for myself. I should whip those up. I have been wearing the same boring assortment of summer clothes for the last 3 summers with no real changes. BORING. It's not for lack of fabric, that's for damn sure.

Alex went to the vet the other day. They drew blood, did a full work up. He is all good. Yay! He is said to be in very good shape for his age. Though I got a bit of a tsk-tsk 'cause he re-gained a half a pound. I was actually relieved that he gained a little bit back. I think under 18 lbs. looks a little scrawny on him. His is rather big boned you know.


Oh yeah. And I have someone to barter massages for sewing with. Life it good.

Blog #31, aka, A Few Random Thoughts

#1 I think I have reached some kind of critical mass level with the knitting. I got me a swell new Ravelry tote bag. Yes, I was totally stalking the store and clicking "refresh" all afternoon that Saturday....and I gots me a tote bag!!! It is the perfect size. The straps are the perfect length. It is huge. I could fit my whole life into this bag if I wanted to. And therein, lies the problem. I have turned it into my knitting bag, duh. But instead of carrying a purse also, I have started chucking all of the purse crap into my knitting(?) bag. This would seem to me, to indicate some kind of new found level of extreme-ness. Or maybe I just think about junk too much.

#2 Alex needs to retire to Scottsdale. He was doing beautifully when it had gotten warmer, but now that it is plummeting down into the 40's at night, he is all stiff and crunchy again. He was all tucked in under my bed all evening. I finally went and crawled halfway under the bed to give him a little kitty hip rub. That seemed to perk him up quite a bit. He came out for a pill and a snack. He is now napping peacefully on his chair in the mudroom/enclosed back porch. Poor booger. Perhaps I can find him a home for retired kitties......maybe a heating pad would help.

#3 I just finished a market bag. It was way fun to knit. Good beer knitting too. Huge, open weave, and if one screws up, who cares? It's a market bag!

Blog #30 In Which Bettie realizes that she has been blogging for a year.

I am sooo lame. I have been doing this blog for a year. Really? I mean, for reals? And I am on blog #30. That's not even 1 per week. But more than 1 per month. You know what would make this more fun? Comments. A purpose. Feeling like I was letting someone down if I didn't blog. I think the only people who read this regularly are my dad and James. Heh. Why does that make me giggle? I dunno

On to projectland!

My pink sweater, yeah. Got it all blocked. (!) Went to Kitchener the top to the bottom and found out why we should pull out our highlighter pens when we start knitting something. We need to mark, on the pattern, which size we are knitting so that all of the frakking pieces match up when we go to assemble said sweater. This blows. Or rocks, depending on how you look at it. Part of the cable on the bottom half of the sweater is a little wonky. I can't figure out what I did, but it just looks off. Now I can fix. 'cause I have to re-knit in anyways.

I am altering wedding gear for a lesbian couple. They are going to look fabulous! The dress-wearer got her gown at J.Crew. Simple design, gorgeous heavy silk crepe, I think it might be 4-ply, and it looks great on her too. And the jacket and pants for the suit wearer are just as lovely. She is wearing creamy satin trousers and a simple creamy colored jacket that is a cotton brocade. They both have super cute short hair. Made me want to cut mine off again. But alas, I have told myself I won't cut it until James and Joe have their official wedding. For which I will be wearing my hair down.

I am also undertaking a rather involved project involving a jacket that the dry cleaners effed up. It is a great jacket, 4-ply silk crepe, Dana Buchman. But there are these weird,very faint watermark looking marks on the back. To me, it looks like the dye from something else somehow got onto it. I don't know enough about dry cleaning to know if this is possible or not. But it sure as hell looks like very faint black dye to me. My task is to see if I can manage to get the stain out. I am very good at this. If it is, indeed dye, maybe not so much. But my other job is to copy the jacket. So that we can make her another. She loves the jacket and was quite sad to have it ruined.

I have also finally come up with a hat pattern for all of the recycled cashmere. I happen to think the hat is adorable. I am going to carry it around with me and make all kinds of random people try it on and pester them to tell me how much they would pay for this hat if they loved it to bits.

I really need to stop cutting junk out and actually sit down and sew some stuff.

Blog #29, or, Hey, We Had An Earthquake This Morning!

and that just doesn't really happen here. I would post a link to the Chicago Tribune article I read, but really have no clue how to go about that and don't even really want to try to figure it out right now. It happened aroudn 4:30ish. I tend to wake up early, even when I am off from work. Mr. Fluffieknickers, aka Alex the cat, woke me up at 12am because he wanted out of the bedroom. I was fairly certain that no kitties came back in. I drifted back to sleep. Woke up because my bed was moving. My first foggy thought was that Stinkiecat had come into the bedroom and was up on the bed giving himself a very enthusiastic grooming. But that seemed a little far-fetched. Then I realized that he wasn't on the bed. Or in the room even. My next thought is from "The Exorcist". You know, the bit where the bed is rattling with Linda Blair in it. So I turn on the light. Nope. Everything is fine. No cat in the room, no Satan under my bed. I decide maybe I be a little crazy. So since I am wide awake, I go to check Ravelry. Read some post in the forums, see that AZ is also up and posting, so I post back. Decide to check the weather. And I'll be damned. I check the weather online via the Chicago Tribune, and they have a little blurb about the earthquake. Then AZ calls. At 5:30am. Because we are both awake anyways. This whole morning has been very surreal so far. I think I need a breakfast burrito from the Heartland Cafe.

Now for something completely different.

Went to the warehouse sale at Lorna's Laces. Wow. So totally worth standing on a loading dock in the rain for. I got some most excellent yarn. That I would be posting pictures of except my 'puter is having issues and I can't get PDF files to open when I click on them. Maybe I can show off the yarny goodness next time. =)

Blog #28, or... Do We Ever Go To The Neutral Zone For Any Reason Not Related To The Romullons?

And, no, I really don't think I spelled Romullons correctly. Spellcheck agrees. Spellcheck also doesn't like the way I spell Spellcheck. I suppose it thinks it's entitled to two words. Whatever.

So if anyone reads this, and thinks of an answer to the question, please let me know. And no, I am not talking about spelling Romullon correctly.


And out of nowhere, I get the urge to put Spock ears on the cats. I think that would be highly appropriate attire for our Next Generation film fest. Perhaps I will knit some one day.......

Blog #27 or, I am up at 5:30am, might as well blog!!

I finally figured out that blog posts would be the perfect early morning activity for me. I seem to be needing less and less sleep. I believe this will be even more the case as spring/summer approach. I am so used to going to bed around 9pm and waking up at 3:30, that I have been waking up by 5:30 at the latest on my days off. I should be a farmer. I never feel like sewing this early, I never feel like sewing until the sun comes up. I dunno why. Sometimes I lie in bed and read, or if I have a movie from Netflix that hasn't been watched yet I will watch a movie in bed. Stinkiecat loveloveloves this. He comes bounding into the bedroom, with his purr on, and curls up on the bed next to me. I am now on disc 3, season 3 of ST Next Generation. The theme music, makes him come running. It makes me giggle every time He so cute and funny!

I did start a new knitting project. And have a re-newed motivation on the Man Slippers. I thought I was going to knit a cute little cardigan from one of the Jo Sharp books. But alas, I have not only the wrong yarn for that, it's too heavy, but I don't have enough for anything close to a cardigan. So I am knitting a tank instead. It is probably going to be done by the end of the week. The pattern knits it in two pieces, I did it in the round. It will be a rather heavy tank, but I have a few of those already, and they seem to get worn so I reckon it is all good. Onto the Man Slippers. The soles are in a twisted garter stitch, which is a bitch to knit. Slow and hard on the wrists. But I figure if I keep at it and just do a few rows per day, I should have them done in fairly short order. I mean, they are only slippers after all. It shouldn't take too long unless I put them down and don't work on them at all.


I talked to Mom Saturday afternoon. Found out that Dad's handknit socks are always in the laundry. :) I guess it's safe to knit him some for every Christmas then. The man is a bit tricky to shop for. He doesn't give out many clues as to what he wants.

Now about the project that is haunting me..... I am supposed to knitting a sweater for a Gene doll. She's like Barbie, but a bit bigger, and with a 40's flair. WAY better than Barbie. She has better taste in clothes too. The sweater pattern that was provided, from some doll collecting magazine, HAS NO GAUGE. How the heck am I supposed to do a sweater for this damn doll with no gauge? I will have to just wing it I suppose. I. Am. Not. Excited. About. This.

Blog #26 Look Ma! Blog posts for TWO days running!

Dear James,

I know that you have moved to Englalund, but I think you should come and get your son. He is, after all, your's. You found him. He loves you more. He will always love you more. And last night, he ate my finger. You can have him back now. I was only trying to give him his pill, for his own good I might add, the little blood-sucking monster. Okay well, maybe not ATE, but there was a lot of bleeding involved, none of it his. Nope, all the blood, from me. From my finger. Then he had the gall to still want his treats. You come fetch? Now?

kthxbai,

Bettie

Blog #25 or, I am the lamest blogger EVER.

Because I blog what, like maybe twice a month if we are lucky? What can I say? I am trying to watch an entire sci-fi series over here. damit.

I am through all of seasons #1 and #2 of Next Generation. Dr. Crusher needs to come back, I find Dr. Pulaski annoying. Does anyone else think it kinda weird that the Dr. is named after a famous civil war hero? And I can't wait for Lt. Whorf's hair to grow out. It looks so early 60's page-boy, I want to giggle every time I see him.

I have also been watching Battlestar Galactica. The new one. One of the guys I work with volunteered it when I told him I was watching Next Generation. I have just finished season #1 of that and AM DYING to see season #2. Can you say cliffhanger? I might have to get me some Dr. Who after I am done with these two series. Why do I not have a mildly dorky boyfriend with all of my interests in sci-fi?

I have gotten a lot knitting done though. But not so much on all of the projects that I though I would. I have been working on easy-peasy charity knitting and dishcloths. The idea was to knit, and finish junk I had half done. Um. I am sort of doing that.....kinda.

I just found the scrap of paper that has my new shift supervisor passwords for work on it. It is on my desk. With some new roving on top of it. Maybe I should spin a little during this mass of sci-fi watching.

Blog #24 Dear Tilda........

I have loved you for positively ages. Um, like since the late 80's, early 90's when I was roommates with one of my best gay boyfriends, James, and he was, dare I say, obsessed, with Derek Jarman films. Which means I have known about you since then. You were in a whole slew of those Derek Jarman films, none of which I can recall the name of off the top of my head. But the first time I saw you, I was in awe. And then there was Orlando. Well, shoot. Not only did I get to watch you for 2 or so hours, but holy crap, what costumes!!! It was like I'd died and gone to heaven. Then you started being in movies over here. Movies made here I should say. Here being the US. I was happy for you, and loved seeing you branch out a bit. And now. James called me all excited about you winning the BAFTA, he told me that I simply MUST look it up on youtube and watch your speech. Which was wonderful, witty and lovely. But please don't ever wear that shade of goldy yellow again. Please. Pretty please. And then. You. Won. The. Oscar. With and even wittier speech. And again, you looked fabulous, but that dress was wretched. It did nothing for you. Do you need someone to take you shopping and give you fashion advice? I volunteer myself. Or perhaps you would like to use James, he lives over there now, he is gay, he would probably faint in utter shock at first, but he is quite handy for a girl to have around when shopping. Okay, I'll stop about the dresses. That's not really what it's about anyways. Did you even have any makeup on? It didn't look like it, yet you looked wonderful.

I can't even say how thrilled I am that my mostest favoritest actress ever is finally getting all the oodles of attention she deserves.

Blog #23 Or, I've Decieded That I Need to Watch Star Trek Next Generation. All 49 or so Discs of it.

And in doing that, set out to boldly go. Where no knitter has gone before. At least not any knitter that I know of. The plan. Netflix all of Star Trek Next Generation. All seasons, all episodes. And see just how much knitting I can accomplish while watching it all.

I am on disc 3 of season 1. Which is actually only the second disc I have watched as disc 2 was damaged and unplayable.

I worked on James' slippers for about 2 seconds yesterday, and then got annoyed with them. I think I need to use a different cast on. They will turn out fine I am sure. Just didn't feel like starting over. So I switched over to mindless garter stitch knitting on a Project Snuggle blanket. I think I could work on that in my sleep. And seeing as to how it's all craptastic and RAINING here today, staying in bed to watch my Star Trek seemed ideal. It's raining on top of snow. Then it's supposed to get colder and snow overnight. Yeah. Don't think I'll even bother to get dressed today.

I will be posting photos of my WIP's and UFO's. Hehehheh. Star Trek. UFO's. Heheheh,

Blog #22 or, Ravelry's Down for Upgrades So I Figured I Might As Well Blog....

Yeah. So here we are. Still addicted to Ravelry. I have actually gotten bunches
Ooooooo! My box of goodies from Jamesykins FINALLY showed up! Yeah, British post sucks. He shipped it on the 21st, of freakin' November. I got it on the 10th of January. I didn't think anything took that long to ship anymore. The box was full of lovely silk fabric and some yarn, including some supersoftfluffy angora! The skeins are teeny tiny, but I reckon there is at least enough for a hat or two.

I really need to get my pink sweater done. I feel like I can't start another sweater for myself until I finish that one. And I got some Noro Silvermore photos taken. And have them downloaded into the computer and moved to flickr. It just seems like there should be a more direct way to d
o all of this. But that would require researching all the boring bits of the computerie nonsense that I don't like doing.

Had a lovely Christmas though. The parents came and we ate and watched Christmas movies Christmas eve and Christmas day. A very low-key, low-stress way to spend the holiday. Did I take pictures? Umm, no. Didn't think of it. Obviously now I am. Thinking that some pictures of Christmas would have been fun to put on the blog. Maybe if I spent more time blogging and less time being Completely Pointless and Arbitrary on Raverly, I wouldn't be having these problems. Hee.
Thaw that I am dying to knit up. Irealized it is the wrong weight for what I thought I was going to knit out of it, but think I might just have barely enough for the Sunrise Circle Jacket. I thought I had taken a picture of it, but now I can't find it. Hmmm.

I did knit a few things for Christmas gifts.
This is the pair of socks I knit for Mom. They are cashmere and very soft and squooshy.
These are socks I knit for me. I also knit a pair for James. Except bigger. Cause he's a boy and has bigger feet. But both pair were out of the same yarn. Which I had dyed early last year at a Dagmar Klos workshop through the WCKG. I honestly don't remember the fiber content, I am thinking maybe it is alpaca and Merino. I wore mine for work one day and the soles totally felted. Not in a shrinking kind of way, but in a thick, dense freakishly warm kind of way. They still fit.

Blog #21 Feh. I want pie.

I have been pie obsessed of late. Not that that has anything to do with the fibery arts. Just stating fact. I thought I could fill the pie-shaped hole in my life with pie I could find here in Chicago. Heavy sigh. They don't have that here. I want to walk into someplace and have like 6 kinds of HOMEMADE pie to choose from. You can find this all over Iowa, but not in Chicago. I followed what seemed to be a very promising pie lead. I was told that a place called Dollop had pie. So, of course, I was imagining a magical place with nothing but dozens and dozens of different pies. No. It's a coffee shop. That had TWO kinds of pie. Pumpkin, lame! And apple. Pumpkin is lame because it is impossible to make poorly and apple, well, it's just apple. Kind boring and predictable. The crusts were loverly and all. I got a piece of gooey caramely cheesecake instead. Which was good, just not pie.

See, I used to go to Door County and get sour cherries. And make pies. Little individual pies. That would live in my deep freeze until the cold frozen months of winter when a girl really needs some pie to tide her over until spring. I would go to Indiana and buy peaches and make peach pies too. There is just something about having pie at your disposal. But, what I came to realize is that it isn't just pie I want, but MY homemade pie that I want. The Heartland Cafe has a triple berry pie. I am thinking that that is as good as it is going to get. I've had it before, and it is truly tasty. Meebee they would sell me a whole pie.......