It's ours!

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Come on in...


Ready to fire this baby up


Champagne and a fire at 3pm on a Thursday

Rockin'

Please don't mind the cat hair on the carpet. We just groomed Vivaness and she's shedding like a mo-fo.

The appliances have been ordered. The inspections have been done. The paint has been selected.

Only one thing left to do: Tomorrow we sign the papers and and will "OWN" our house! This is one of those things that always seemed so far away, and it is quite unbelievable that the day is here. I've been so out of my element lately, with this and the wedding and all, and I am so, SO ready for this to happen.

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On another, much needed note:

Eca and Jess have both given me the shout out of a Rockin' Blogger in the last couple weeks. My life has been sort of a mess, I've been getting a bit cranky and my creative side has been suffering, but this brings a big smile to my face. THANKS! ladies, it's quite a honor.

Even though some of these people may have already been recognized (please refer to the insanity that has been my life - I can't remember such things!), but I'm going for it again:

Christie, the original Superstarra - Should I give this to Poppy too?

Stef @ KnitTheHellUp, because I love what she knits (Judith is on my to-knit list in the next few months) and her commentary always cracks me up.

AND

Kimberli, because I always love reading about her world travels and NYC Restaurant reviews. Plus, she designs awesome headwear - what's more Rockin then that?

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Wish us luck tomorrow.. There will definitly be some celebrating going on around here!

More Rippin' Than Knittin'

Anyone have any ideas on what to do with 12 skiens of Andean Silk that used to be an almost-Sesame until the knitter who runs this blog realized it was about 10 sizes to big? Maybe something that has a unique stitch pattern that requires the yarn to look like ramen prior to knitting with it so I don't need to soak it and hang it?

Not the Minimalist Cardigan. Because I already started that.

PS - Knitting at Baseball games is fun. I had no idea I missed the Oakland Stitch & Pitch by 1 day (we were actually sitting in the Rangers team section because Matt's cousins work for the team).

Writing out my pattern so I don't need to lug the magazine with me. I'm a BART-friendly knitter!

Breast-Cancer Awareness Day. You Go Ladies!

One of the Texas player's moms was sitting in front of me, and after her husband alerted her that I was "doing that yarn thing", she turned around and said she was jealous that she left her needles in the car. I love running into knitters in public.

Dinner was had at Franchinos, and I wanted to hug and kiss the great little couple that ran this place because the food was EXCELLENT (and I am picky about Italian food), the wine kept coming, and he tried to hail us a cab at 11pm on a Saturday while smoking a cigarette. I think he even cussed at one that would not stop in Italian. I love my people.

So eat there if you are in San Francisco. I recommend Gnocchi with 1/2 red sauce and 1/2 gorgonzola sauce. It's good for you, I swear.


The cider at the Irish Bar in Union Square was delish, as well.

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The next day while the rest of you were in the know and made it to Stitch and Pitch, we assulted Ikea. We needed a new bedroom set for ourselves and a new bed for our friends to sleep off the wine we serve with dinner. I also managed to not spend all our savings in the marketplace.

And here it is Friday again. Seriously, where is all the time going?!?

Say Yes to Grass

As always, I'm the last person to notice the new knitty is up. I do believe Tussie Mussie is my favorite, because I have a strange fasination with those little nosegay motifs. I have some Cashsoft DK that I've attempted to use in about 10 patterns to no avail, but would be perfect for this. I think I would do something different with the button bands as well.

But that's not what I am here to talk about. Woodins. Dude. They may be the next big cyber-knit thing. (Side thought: How fun would it be to stuff the whole thing with catnip and watch Viva go absolutely nuts?)

Anyway, that pattern took me to the designers website, where it took me about 1.5 seconds to fall in love with knitted grass. How cute would these little dudes be lined up in my kitchen window?

I would also like to see the look on Matt's face the day he comes home from work and has knitted grass living in his kitchen.

Swoon!

I had a major case of the Sundays last night. Not the "good Sundays" full of BBQ, champagne, sunshine, friends. Instead, the "bad Sundays", full of work-week dread, a over-whelming urge to clean and organize, and general worry of things that need to get done. I consider myself a pretty simple person, and am the most happy when my life is parred down to the basics - cooking a nice dinner, going on a walk, knitting on a sweater, a glass of good wine. Things like moving and planning a wedding and taking on more responsibility at work are all exciting, but have become very, very overwhelming. Like, need to sit down and cry and not really be able to figure out why.

Matt has an uncanny ability to talk me down from these little episodes, bless his heart. A few words, a hug, and a plan to tackle what needs to get done and I'm back to my usual self. Today he went a little above and beyond.

With the big move coming up and the ever-growing list of expenses we are going to have (how long do you think we can survive without a refrigerator?), we've both been on a fairly strict "no-spend" diet. No yarn for me, no eBay for Matt, no new dresses for upcoming weddings, etc. When I saw this I was was dying, but held true. I mean, Joann's will put dress forms on sale for 60% off again soon, right?

So early this morning I'm sitting at the computer and a little IM window pops up:

Matthew C: So I got you a little gift
Deals: what is it?
Matthew C: you'll like it
Matthew C: check your email
...
Deals: BABE! You didn't have to do that!!!!!



I'm happy. What a great way to start the week!

PS - Somebody tell me to stop casting on for new projects! I have about 5 sweaters that are 1/2 done!!!!

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

I can appriciate what the common man can do with a digital camera, but there really is no substitute for people who actually know what they are doing.









Complete updated set here

Psst...

Psst. Between you and me, over here away from Ravelry, I'll tell you about a new project I started. See, Ravelry has an uncanny ability to shame me into how many WIPs I have, my compulsion to start a new project every 2 weeks, and my inability to finish 50% of the things I start. But over here, she can't touch me or force me to look at all the OTHER sweaters I currently have on the needles.



Isn't she pretty? It looks just like a jacket that I LOVED and lost last year when some *%@$%($)%$ person stole it from my chair at the local watering hole.

I love chucky knits. Cast on last night with some Wool of the Andes and I finished up the left front before going to bed.

Lazy Like Sunday Morning

I was too tired to make it to church at 10am (lazy, I know), so I am home drinking coffee and knitting while Matt is being Holy for the both of us. I'm also at a loss of actual words and all my mental energy is going towards figuring out what the weird teenagers are doing in front of the apartment. Thus I will just show you photos.

Here's a long-overdue FO:



Daisy from Knitty.com
Crystal Palace Cotton Flamme / Olive / 3 hanks
size 6 needle
Ravelry Page

I'm not sure why I knit this, but I really like it. I bought the yarn on a whim from Little Knits and needed something to do with it. Now I need to think of what to do with the full bag of Rose-colored Flamme.

Thermal's progress:


God this is taking forever. I really hope the sleeves go faster.

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Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekened, I'm trying to catch up on sleep while still having a social life. We had a football game on Friday, a wedding last night, and are heading to a BBQ tonight. Plus is it still like 108 degrees outside and HUMID and OH MY GOD how do you Southerners deal with this all summer!!! It's totally draining.


Matt and Viva enjoying a lazy Saturday afternoon. He might tell you differently, but she loves her daddy :)