Knitting: It's Hortense!

Finally, she makes her debut:


This is her best side:

And here is an aerial view:

The pattern didn't include horns, but she looked sufficiently like Barney the Purple Dinosaur that I needed to draw more of a distinction. I made them thus:

CO 5 st
1: knit all
2: purl all
3: ssk, k, k2tog (3 st)
4: purl all
5: ssk, slip st back on left needle, k2tog (1 st)
Break yarn and pull through loop.
Fold in half and sew to head, open side down. Shape with fingers into a crescent.

Now, to begin the three additional dragons I have contracted to make for the various associates who have fallen in love with Hortense. I'm going to be an expert before long.

Misc: Happy Anniversary!

Dear Mike-

Seven years ago today was our Big Fat Geek Wedding at Disney World, and it set the tone for our "Happy," "Dopey" and "Goofy" marriage. I love you for your humor, your kindness, your blue eyes, and your toy collection. I love that you can watch Superman II as often as I can read Murder on the Orient Express, and that a typical Saturday night consists of us doing those things in adjoining rooms and not feeling weird about it. I love that you want puppies more than you want children, and I'm sure we can work out the pug vs. golden retriever question, eventually. I love that you support everything I do, and I especially love that you support my learning hapkido with particular gusto because it reminds you of Emma Peel. I adore you; I bless the day we met; and I forgive you for the snoring, I guess.

Misc: Fun on the Street

So I saw a milk truck idling in front of a bodega in midtown. It had a bunch of cows painted on the side, as you might expect from a milk truck.

Only here's the thing. None of the cows had udders. They were boy cows. Steers, when you think about it. Yet the truck was unmistakably carrying milk and not beef.

I wonder if someone got offended by the udders and insisted that they be painted out? I can't think of any other reason not to put cows on a milk truck.