I guess I’ll ease back into this blogging thing. I didn’t plan to disappear for so long, but it’s been a stressful few weeks. I won’t go into it all, it’s just life, you know? Stuff that happens all the time to all of us. It wasn’t all bad, however. This happened:

Our next-door neighbor has a very sweet long-haired chihuahua. And then they got a friendly little white poodle. And then they had some puppies! There were just two, but they needed to find homes and when the neighbor handed this little guy to me over the fence, well, what could I do?

He and Winston have become buddies, although Bear is not so much on board. But there will be more on that later.

Here are some things you should know about Pixel: He is super cute. He has two speeds: on and off. He likes to hide his chew treats for later. This morning I found one in the outside pocket of my purse and it made me laugh. He is a bit of a drama queen. He thinks everything is his. He wishes he was one of the big dogs. He is slowly coming around on this whole potty-training thing. He likes to go places and doesn’t mind being carried everywhere when we are out and about. He’s not so sure about “going for walks,” that whole leash and harness thing are not his favorite. He likes tummy rubs and can be hypnotized by neck scratches. He likes to hang from Winston’s whiskers.

I hope you don’t get sick of hearing about him.

More on the suitcase bed soon!

I like having a laptop, I can use it anywhere, and I do. Sitting in bed, on the couch, at the library, at Starbucks. But I am hoping to start doing some sort of freelance work in the near future, and it's going to take a little more discipline for me to work from home. For that, I think I need a dedicated work space. We have a tiny house, and I didn't really have a budget for this project, so this has been all about working with what I have. I'm pretty proud of myself for scrounging around and putting together a space that I think I will really enjoy using. 

This corner in our (very tiny) guest room was previously occupied by a large and ugly green chair that just collected piles of stuff, so it was no great sacrifice to let it go. I reclaimed my old desk from Mr. HeyLucy, who really needed a bigger surface for his desktop computer and dual monitors. World Market was having an awesome sale last month, and I managed to get another 10% off buying it online, so I guess I have to count the price of his new desk in my re-do ($160+shipping). 

I got this old desk ages ago, at an antique store when I lived in Virginia. It had a dark stain and a leather top that was badly damaged. I had removed that and painted it awhile ago, but it needed a touch up, so I spent this past weekend sanding and painting. 

I bought a couple shelf brackets at Anthropologie and used wood from an old fence that has been nicely weathered and was just piled up in the back corner of our yard. I cut a length, sanded it and finished it with a little paste wax. 

The wire rack I have had for ages, I was going to hang it in my kitchen, but it didn't look quite right, so it's just been kicking around and it's just perfect over my desk, where it will serve as an inspiration board. 

The rest was just gathered from around the house. I'm still not too sure about my styling abilities. I like the shelf arrangement for now, but I think I will probably be re-doing it on a regular basis. It took forever to figure out. It seems like it should be so easy to arrange things, but getting the balance just right takes more skill than I currently possess. So hats off to the stylists out there, I am impressed with your talents! Oh, and besides the shelf brackets, the only other thing I bought specially for my office project was the jasmine plant. 

Sources: 

Wire Rack (I found mine in a local store, but this looks like the same thing)
Calendar is from Bookhouathome (they don't have them any  more, but bookmark the shop for next year! And you can always get another tea towel in the meantime)
Blue tray and wood box are from Ikea
Thistle photograph is by AbbyTryAgain
Misc. silver vessels are thrifted 
Candle is from Target
Jasmine wreath is from Trader Joe's

If I missed anything you want to know about, just ask!

I think I'm done editing all my photos, finally! I'm going to create a book with blurb this weekend and I can't wait to see them printed and all together. So now, on to Cape Town. 

We took a two-hour flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. We were there for five days, so I won't bore you with a day-by-day travelogue, just a few highlights. We did a lot of touristy things while we were there, but it struck me as also the kind of place you could go to just relax as well. It's a beautiful area, with gorgeous beaches, vineyards, wild life, and a lively city. We stayed south of the city in a B&B in Muizenberg. I loved the colorful beach huts at the nearby beach.

The skies, as always, were dramatic and beautiful. A little further south, just outside of Simon's Town, we stopped at Boulder Beach to see the penguins. 

This little guy was just strolling through the brush near the beach. Most of the penguins were dozing on the beach. 

The coastline reminded me so much of California, and the climate was similar too. It felt very much like home. 

Of course, we went to the Cape of Good Hope. 

Much of the Cape is a nature reserve. We searched in vain for the baboons, but saw these baby ostriches! They were tiny, maybe 12-18 inches tall, and just the cutest. 

The English and Dutch architecture was pretty, although most houses are hidden behind high walls. That was something I found a little sad throughout the country, there is a lot of fear of crime, so there are lots of walls with razor wire or electric fences on top. Still, I did get glimpses of some lovely homes and buildings.

Table Mountain looms over the city, and it's just a short gondola ride to the top.

The fog kept rolling in while we were up there, but we still caught glimpses of the beautiful views.

The whole set is here on Flickr. I recommend viewing them as a slideshow. We also went to Robben Island, but I think that deserves it's own post. 

First of all, thank you so much to all the Ravelry users for the warm response to my pattern! There are 40+ likes and lots of queuing as of this morning. I really didn't expect so much! Now that it's there, I'm feeling a little more confident, I think it looks quite nice. I have to give Mr. HeyLucy some credit for helping with the photography, too. 

And now, I think it's about time for a book report. I didn't read nearly as much in 2011 as I did in 2010, but I did read a few very good books. I've also gotten a couple advance reader's copies from publishers, so I wanted to be sure and let you know about those. There were two, in particular, that I recently read, and they got me thinking about just what makes a good book. The Night Swimmer was just released, and is the story of an American couple that win an Irish pub on the southern tip of Ireland. They have high hopes, but things don't quite work out as expected. Matt Bondurant is an eloquent, gifted writer, but there was a subtlety to his storytelling that I never really understood. I'm still not sure just why certain things happened as they did. I found it interesting to read a story told in a female voice, written by a male author (as I would if roles were reversed). He was convincing, and yet I never really cared all that much for Elly, and I didn't understand her attractions to swimming in the ocean and to her husband Fred. I need to feel like I know and understand the characters in a book to really like it. So my review, in this case, is a totally subjective two-and-a-half out of five stars. I think some readers will love it, in all its subtlety, but even the intriguing location of the story wasn't enough to win me over. 

And now, a brief intermission, so we can enjoy this entertaining video: 

Okay, next up on my ARC list, History of a Pleasure Seeker, which comes out February 7. It's just after the turn of the century in Amsterdam (+1, I particularly like this time period and location), and handsome, talented Piet is attempting to rise above his station and secures a job as tutor to a troubled boy in a very wealthy family (+1, I can get behind that, it's an interesting challenge). Told in vivid detail, the author successfully brings a glamorous world to life (+1 for descriptive writing). Ultimately, however, the negatives are glaring. Piet is quite devious and while he admires his employer, he takes advantage of his trust (-1, first and foremost, he is a selfish bastard). He does succeed in helping some of the other characters, but often inadvertently, while single-mindedly pursuing his own interests (-1 more for more unlikeability). There's also an awful lot of excruciatingly detailed sex, both hetero- and homosexual (-1 for unexpected erotica). I prefer a more subtle approach, and there was just more than I thought was necessary to move the plot forward. I don't want characters in a book to be perfect, but when they succeed time and time again, despite their flaws, I find that they grow tiresome. So the pluses and minuses end up cancelling each other out. I'll be generous, however, and give it three out of five stars. 

My very favorite book of 2011 was Ready Player One. I actually listened to the audio version of this one, read by Wil Wheaton, who was pitch perfect as the voice of Wade Watts, treasure seeker/hacker/80s pop culture expert. Set in a bleak and hopeless 2044, most of humanity spends it's time plugged in to the virtual OASIS, where they attend school, work, and socialize. The developer of this virtual world has died and his will stipulates that the person who can unlock the three hidden gates and solve the subsequent puzzles will inherit the entire thing. It's been years, and so far no one has made any progress until one day when Wade finds the first gate, and the competition heats up fast. As a child of the 80s, the nostagia factor was high for me. I really grew to care about the characters, and the action and suspense kept me listening. It was just so, so much fun.

Currently, I'm in the middle of Caleb's Crossing, by Geraldine Brooks, and I'm loving it so much. She has a way of giving her characters a voice that really expresses who they are. I recently finished Year of Wonders, and had the same feeling. I enjoyed the whole book, until the ending, which felt rushed and was so unlikely, I found it hard to believe. Fingers-crossed that it doesn't happen again, it was so perfect up to that point. 

What was your favorite book of 2011? What do you like in a book.   

Bridge the Gap arm warmers

I think I might have mentioned before that I am pretty free with the unsolicited advice. It's the oldest child in me, I'm just a little bossy and have to tell people what I think they should do. Hardly anyone listens, of course, but I don't let that little inconvenience stop me. 

As you may have imagined, getting from California to Africa and back again involved quite a lot of time in airplanes (two ten-hour flights to get there and a sixteen hour flight and a five hour flight to get home). I was ridiculously concerned about my own comfort, and prepared accordingly. I have to say, I did pretty well and learned a few things too. I thought I'd pass on a few tips so you can be prepared for your next transatlantic flight (or even just a little jaunt across the country). This is for us economy class travelers, you first-class passengers can just move along and enjoy your fold-out beds and fine china and endless leg room. Whatever. 

Okay, now you know you get two carry on bags. Remember that you have to drag those things all over the airport and try not to over do it. I have your standard little black roller suitcase and then I also carry a big purse. I recently found the messenger bag pictured here at TJMaxx (it's from Fossil, but seems to be discontinued), and I absolutely love it. It's big, but not too big, and has tons of pockets to keep everything organized. It also has an adjustable strap, so I can shorten it and wear it over my shoulder or lengthen it and wear it across my body. Also, it's pretty cute. 

The black roller bag is going to go in the overhead bin, so I use it for the stuff I want to have in case my checked bag gets lost, but not necessarily anything I'll need to access during the flight. Pulling your bag down is a hassle and will only annoy the passengers around you. I usually put all my camera stuff in there, the body and lenses wrapped in a change of clothes and some pajamas to protect them. I'll also have some basic toiletries in a ziploc bag. My messenger bag can then go under the seat in front of me, so I have easy access to it throughout the flight. It took about half the space, so I could still slide my feet under there now and then when I needed to stretch a little. 

So what should you bring? I made a handy numbered list for you. Click the photo to view it large on flickr.

01. Don't forget your passport! That would just ruin your whole trip. Place it in a secure pocket inside your bag so that you can also access easily but it also stays safe.

02. Phone. A smartphone is nice, it can also provide entertainment. Be sure to add some good music, a favorite movie or TV show, maybe an audiobook or download some podcasts, and some good games (I am addicted to Plants vs. Zombies and Card Shark is an excellent solataire app). 

03. Hand lotion. I would stick with a light scent so as not to annoy other passengers. I was absolutely parched on my flights and I hate having dry hands. My neighbor on one of my flights just lit up when she saw me pull that out of my bag, she was feeling like a raisin too. Make sure you have a full tube so you can share!

04. Toothbrush and tooth paste. I'm not vain enough to worry about touching up my make up while flying, but it's so nice to be able to freshen up your mouth a little. 

05. Writing implements. Just in case! I had a book of crossword puzzles and I also like to keep notes on my knitting patterns while I work. Plus, you have to fill out customs forms on your way into the U.S.

06. Folder with travel documents and knitting patterns. I can be a bit anal, I like to keep my papers neat.

07. Socks. I wore the ballet flats pictured in the first photo. They're nice for traveling because they're loose, so you'll have lots of room if your feet swell up (as mine did on the second leg of my flight to Johannesberg, more on that in a minute). Also, they're easy to take off and put on. The weather in both my departure and arrival destinations was very nice, but my feet got so cold on the plane, it was nice to have my wool socks handy.

08. Wallet. Take out any non-essentials before your trip, just in case! You don't want to have to worry about credit cards or coupons that you won't be using while you're away. 

09. Ibuprofen/prescriptions/other medications. Keep them nearby, just in case! I had a pinched muscle in my neck, but I just took some ibuprofen and it didn't bother me the whole flight.

10. Tissues. The cold air on the plane might give you a runny nose.

11. Wipes. Handy for spills or just freshening up a bit. 

12. Headphones. For your iPod or to plug right into the in-flight entertainment. They do give you headphones on international flights (there was a charge on the domestic flight I took), but they're kind of crappy.

13. Snacks and chewing gum. Let's face it, airline food is never good. I'm still not eating grains, and I was able to get gluten-free meals on one leg of my trip. Of course that just meant that they gave me rice cakes with everything. I don't know what the point of a rice cake is. One of the meals on another flight was pizza with a pasta salad on the side. I was glad I had some beef jerky (I ordered from here, it was the best I've ever had, and doesn't have any weird ingredients), dried fruit, Larabars, dark chocolate and almond butter in my bag. I didn't really eat a lot of it on the flight, but it came in handy other times during the two weeks of me trip too. 

14. Nook Color and a regular book (just in case I ran out of power). eReaders are fantastic for travel, because you can carry so many books with you. My Nook is nice because I can read it in a dark plane. 

15. Knitting notions. Make sure you take out your scissors! I had a little thread cutter that made it through security just fine. 

16. A knitting project (or two). Keep it in its own bag so it doesn't get tangled up with everything else.

17. Cosmetics bag. I just have some lip balm, nail clippers and a small nail file in here. I was glad I did, since I broke a nail on my flight and it was snagging on everything. Again, dry air in the airplane means your lips will get dried out, my Kiehls lip balm was a life-saver. 

18. Wrap. I was so glad I had my Lady Eleanor wrap with me. It doubled as a pillow, a blanket, a shawl, padding for my armrest. I got it out when I sat down in my seat and used it the whole time. A pashmina or any kind of big scarf would work too. 

Not pictured: Chargers! Cell phone, iPad, eReader, whatever you have, keep them in your carry on. If you have a layover you can top off your devices. I think some airplanes even have outlets, so you can charge in-flight. I didn't see any on my flight, but I'm sure they'll become more common. 

Three more pieces of advice: 

Number one. Dress in comfortable layers. I wore an undershirt, t-shirt, and lightweight knit jacket with my most comfortable jeans. That way you can easily adjust to changing temperatures. I find that planes are often hot when you first get on, but then it gets cold. The old lady in me is not a fan of sweats and pajamas worn in public, but I suppose a nice sweat suit on a long flight could be acceptable. And like I mentioned before, my ballet flats were the perfect shoes. I took them off not long after take off and just wore my socks the whole flight.

Number two. Get an aisle seat if you can and get up and move as much as possible. On my way to Africa I was fine on the first ten hour flight, but the second ten hours I felt pretty much trapped in my window seat by sleeping neighbors and only really got up and walked around once. The last few hours my ankles got really, really swollen and uncomfortable. I had cankles! I may be chubby in some places, but I do not have cankles in every day life. It actually took a few days for the swelling to go down completely. On the 16 hour return flight I got up and walked around six or seven times and didn't have any problem at all. I like window seats, but for international flights you're usually flying overnight and so high that there's not much to see, so go for the aisle when you can.

Number three. Drink lots and lots of water. I don't think I had more than one or two sodas or juices, but every time the flight attendants came around with water, I had some. I did actually stay pretty well hydrated, considering, and the more you drink, the more likely you will be to have to get up and use the restroom. So it will keep you moving too. 

So that's it, just a few things to keep in mind for your next long trip. What do you do on a long flight? Any other must-haves that I forgot about? Do share!