It's not easy being green...

Poor Backyard Leaves. I have set it aside and neglected it. I am even thinking about frogging it. I like the pattern but I think I chose the wrong yarn with Lamb's Pride Worsted. Maybe a finer gauge would work better. I have been working on it for about a month and have only done 3 repeats of the pattern. What to do? I don't like to have UFO's lying around. This is probably the longest I have gone without working on a project. Do I finish the sweater I am working on and then concentrate on this as my sole project? What to do?

3 days of fun!

It was a non-stop 3 days this weekend. Suffice it to say, there wasn't much knitting done.

Friday we met my husband friends for a surprise b-day dinner for his co-worker. We ate at the Crab Pot, one of those dump you crab feast on the table and dig in places. The table was definetly divided in half. On one side, the wine and beer drinkers who dressed up a bit (jeans and sweaters) on the other side, tequila shooters, leather and cleavage. No comment.

Saturday, I headed to Enumclaw for a half day spa retreat that my husband go for me at an auction. It included a facial, lunch, a manicure and a pedicure. The place was great but I thought it was wierd I was the only person there on a Sat. As relaxing as it was intended to be, I couldn't help thinking about all the stuff left for me to do at work. I could not get it out of my head.
That night we headed to the Sonics game with a pitstop at Tini Biggs before. I had the best drink there! A Dirty Girl Scout! We had free tickets in the Sonics suite. Needless to say, we ate and drank the entire time.

Sunday after a trip to the grocery store, I head into work to get some stuff done. I didn't get the big stuff finished like I wanted but I did get the little stuff out of the way. 4 un-interrupted hours really helped! The weekend was topped off with a belated b-day dinner with my parents.

I did get a few rows done this morning on the back of the ribbed sweater. I am looking forward to tonight and some great knitting time!

Sidelined

At the risk of sounding like a girl, I was sidelined last night with a bad fingernail. No, it didn't break when I tried to catch a ball. I was opening a FedEx box at work and was having a very hard time. I pulled the little plastic piece that is supposed to zip right through the box. That wasn't happening and instead of reaching for a box cutter, I kept pulling and in the midst of that, bent my thumbnail back. It started bleeding and I had to do some first aid at work. By the time a got home, it was still throbbing and felt bruised. Major injury? No. Painful to knit? Yes, for a night anyway. By this morning, I was back to knitting and got a couple of rows done, albeit slowly.

I am wearing Twisty Turns to work today for the first time. People here are not super-crafty so the comment should be interesting.

Model Husband

Last night I finished the second front for the ribbed cardigan. My husband decided to model then (although he put them on backwards at first). I have 1 row done on the back but no worries. I have all day Sunday to knit and some time before that too.

Backyard Leaves has been neglected lately. It is not a no-brainer project so I have to dedicate time and brains to it. I should have waited to start and had this as a Knitting Olympics project.

The first round of sticker shock happened last night at Home Depot. $2000 for a gas stove!! $50-75 a sq. ft. for Corian?! Ouch! I was so overloaded with info and money concerns afterward. Thanks to knitting for calming me down last night.

Progress Made

Last night at Purly Girls I made major progress on the second half of the cardigan front. I am about half way done with the arm hole decreases!

Today should be an interesting one. Tonight, we are headed to Home Depot to look at countertops, carpets, kitchen floors, cabinets and gas stoves. I know I will be overloaded by the time we get back. Insurance will pay to replace what we have (formica, linoleum, crappy carpet) but we are thinking of upgrading to Corian, better carpet, a gas stove and new cabinets. I have never thought about any of that. Should be a good (stressful?) night.

Before all that can happen, I have 3 interviews today to fill our Marketing Assistant position. I really don't like interviewing people. I must go read over their resumes and think of some good questions.

Pics tomorrow of my sweater progress!

Knit or Drink?

This weekend was pretty much non-productive as far as knitting goes. I finished the first front half of my cardigan and had plans of working on the second half yesterday during football. Never happened. We fixed some apps and sat down to watch the games. 6 hours, 2 games (Go Hawks!), countless plates of food and 5 Magic Bullet adult drinks later, I was in no mood/shape to knit. By the time Desperate Housewives was on, I was ok enough to knit a few rows although I was completely distracted by the Dynasty-like cat fight between Gabrielle and the nun! Tonight at Purly Girls, I should be super-productive with less outside distractions.

Meme Survey

Stolen from Rebecca's blog:

4 Jobs You Have Had in Your Life
1. Cookie Decorator
2. Barista
3. Marketing Assistant at a bookmark manufacturer
4. Casino Marketing Manager

4 Movies You Could Watch Over and Over
1. Gone with the Wind
2. Waiting for Guffman
3. Serial Mom
4. Grease

4 Places You Have Lived
1. Bellingham, WA
2. Redmond, WA
3. Seattle, WA
4. Des Moines, WA (I am such a WA native)

4 TV Shows You Love to Watch
1. The Soup
2. CSI
3. Amazing Race
4. Desperate Housewives

4 Places You Have Been on Vacation
1. Las Vegas
2. Cabo San Lucas
3. New York
4. Florence, Italy

4 Websites You Visit Daily
1. http://www.eonline.com/News/firstlook.html
2. www.netflix.com

4 of Your Favorite Foods
1. Sushi
2. Vegan Chocolate cake from Whole Foods
3. Thai Food
4. Crystallized Ginger

4 Places You Would Rather Be Right Now
1. Knitting at home by the fire
2. Italy
3. Seeing a show in NY
4. At the coast on a stormy day

4 Bloggers You Are Tagging

Like Rebecca said-If you want to do this meme, go for it!

Make me over!

The contractor came out on Wed. to take a look at our damp carpet and walls issue. Turns out the pipe in the wall behind our dish washer sprung a leak. The only mold is what we saw in the corner. (what a relief). With the water damage, insurance will pay for new carpet, new kitchen floors and if the plummer need to break out countertop to fix the pipe, we will get that too! Now we are thinking we should just redo the entire kitchen- get a gas stove, new cabinets. Yes, this will cost more then we thought initally but are we going to kick ourselves in a year if we don't. The kitchen will be torn up anyway, might as well do it.

Knitting-wise, I am 8 rows away from starting the decreases on the left front of the ribbed cardigan. This will be my first time sewing in a zipper. While it is a ways off, does anyone have suggestions for a beginner?

Before and After

Here are the results after this weekend's paint project. I am loving the new color. It really warms up the room and makes the ugly fireplace actually fit in. Excuse the mess. We had to move things around due to the moldy carpet issue. Contractor comes today and I am anxious to see how much this little problem will cost us.

On the knitting front, I start the ribbed cardigan. It is similar to the ribbi cardi. I can't believe what I am knitting will actually fit across half of the front of me but I swatched and measured twice. I think the ribbing makes it look smaller and blocking should even it all out.

Done at 11pm with no mistakes!

I am so happy to finally be finished with the belated Christmas stockings! I was determined last night to get these done. I started working on the finishing details of the last one around 8 and finished at 11. I did get a friendly reminder from my husband around 9:30 that I usually have issues when I knit on a non-mindless project past 9pm. I was so determined that I thanked him to reminding me but still plugged on. No problems this time (I am counting my blessings) and now I can start on one of the sweater I bought yarn for a couple of weeks ago. Ribbed cardigan or wrap sweater?

On the mold/water damage front: The contractor is coming Wed at noon and the insurance co. told us that if it is not something directly related to the dishwasher then it is covered. We are hoping for a leaky pipe vs. a leaky machine. They may have to tear some drywall down to see the problem. With the carpet damaged, I am envisioning the kitchen floor being torn up too and us without a kitchen for a bit. We will see tomorrow for sure.

2 down, 1 to go!

Finally, I have finished the second Christmas stocking! Now I only have the snowman, I cord and name left for the last one. I think I can get alot of it done tonight during the Golden Globes. Then I can start on one of the sweaters I have been wanting to start.

It is amazing how much I can get done while watching footbal. I also did another 1 and a half repeats on Backyard Leaves.

The weekend was not without its "oh Shit!" moments. Friday night we were getting our living room ready to paint- moving furniture and taping the walls when I pull a shelf away from the wall and found brown stuff on the carpet. Not a spill. Not a stain but MOLD!!!! My husband pulled back the carpet and sure enough, it was damp and the mold went all the way down to the board underneath. The water looked like it was coming from the other side of the wall where the dish washer is but under that washer was dry as far as we could tell. We ran it just to make sure and the moldy patch got wetter and the dampness/mold seemed to be working it way about an inch up the wall. YUCK!!! So now we are not using the dish washer and of course this happens on a Friday night so we cannot call the insurance co. or a repairman. We cut the moldy piece of carpet off. We were talking about getting new carpet anyway but I really hope this isn't a symptom of something bigger.

I did paint the room except for the wall where the mold was and it does look 100x better!

Last night we decide to watch Extreme Home Makeover for the first time and what do they focus on? Mold taking over a house! Not what I needed to hear. Hopefully we will know more today.

Progress has been made!

Finally after much procrastination, I worked on the second stocking last night. The snowman is sewn on and the seams are sewn together. I just have to add the i-cord trim and embroider the name. woo hoo!! Maybe it will get done this weekend.

Speaking of weekend, tomorrow is painting day at our house. When we first moved in, I had the grand idea of painting the living room a light blue for a beach theme. Now it grates on me every day: so tomorrow when I have the day to myself, the walls will be painted shades of brown. Much more warming and homely. I am so excited about it that I woke up this morning thinking it was Sat and ready to get started. Then reality hit and I realized I have one more day of work.

Busted!

Last night, Hubby and I went to have dinner and play some craps at the local casino since Wed. is the one weeknight my step-son is not with us. We go to sit down at dinner and who is a few tables away? The ex-wife eating dinner with her husband and his parents. Note: Step-son spends Wed. nights with her and we often get phone calls about how she feels she doesn't see him enough. So how do you spend your one weeknight with him? At the casino, of course, spending the money you say you don't have to pay child support! We assumed step-son was at home with her other 2 kids being watched by some hopefully responsible adult but what a crock of shit! You are busted so don't bitch the next time you license is suspended for lack of CS payment!!!!! By the way, we doubled our money and I just realized how white-trash that whole story just sounded.

On a lighter note- New year, New look. Time for a change on the blog and the new look is much more my style.

Not much knitting last night but I did continue the Technicolor wonder this morning. I am addicted.

The Amazing Technicolor Blanket/ Throw Thing

throw
Originally uploaded by lynnknits.

I am really liking this project. First, it is helping me use up all the mini balls of yarn I have had lying around for a year or two. Second, it is mindless knitting that is easy to do when you have had too much wine to drink. It has, however, taken me away from finishing those damn Christmas stockings. I finished the snowman appliques last night but was afraid to sew them on (see too much wine comment above).

Even though this picture looks like it is knit in the round, I am knitting straight on circ needles and for some reason (wine?) I decided to take a picture when I has half-way done with a row.

Gentle reminder from husband yesterday: Not only did he cook dinner while I played Xbox the other day but he also cleaned the bathrooms. Thanks, honey!!!!

Listen to Jesus, Jimmy- Just Say No to the Marijuana

Last night I decided that the rainy 15 mile drive to Purly Girls didn't sound that great and a night at home in front of the fire would be much better. I got home and while hubby is making dinner (yes, he cooks), I played the Playboy Mansion game on Xbox. Is there a role-reversal here?

After dinner, while the boys were at cub scouts, I went online looking for the Reefer Madness Soundtrack. Well- 2 hours later- it is nowhere to be found. It does not even exist. By this time the boys are home and my dream of a night in front of the fire knitting is shot. All because, "Listen to Jesus, Jimmy" has been stuck in my head all day. At 9:30, I bring out the stash-busting blanket/throw thing I started and work on that for a bit. Maybe tonight, I won't obsess over finding the songs and actully get a Christmas stocking finished.

ah........Organized!

Yesterday I finally got my stash organized. I had 3 Space Saver bags full that I just had sitting on the floor of our office at home. I went our and bought a short shelf unit with cabinet doors and found some sweater storage bags in the $1 bins at Target. 3 hours later, I was organized!

I didn't really knit much but did finish knitting Christmas stocking #3. Now just to knit the snowmen and icords. While I promised myself not to start any big projects until these were completely finished, I did start what will be an ongoing throw project. While going through my yarn, I found a ton of Cascade 220 leftovers. I cast-on enough stitches for a blanket and just started knitting until the scraps ran out. I have used 5 colors so far and am kind-of enjoying it. I will post pics soon.

First FO of the year and Yarn Porn

Here it is in all it's stash busting glory- the tea cozy from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It was an easy knit but I think I like it better in the book than reall life.

My KnitPicks order came and with the holidays it has to the quickest order I have received. Here is the loot:


Various yarns for a clapotis, a zig-zag scarf and another scarf from Scarf Style.






Palette in Brown for a wrap sweater and Merino Style in Cornflower for a ribbed cardigan, both from 1000 sweaters!

Must....finish....belated...Christmas...Stockings...before...starting...these!

Back from Jury Duty

Well, I didn't get picked to be on a case which is fine and dandy with me. Basically, I sat and knit for 7 hours a day. I had 2 people ask me how I got the knitting needles in since there was a sign at the entrance that said "No Knitting Needles" One was pissed because her needles were taken away the day before. Simple, I told her. I called to see if needles we allowed and they told me bamboo and plastic were ok so I brought my Denises. She still didn't understand why her metal straights were taken away and continued to bitch at me. Not really my problem, now is it?

I did get a tea cozy from Last-Minuted Knitted Gifts just about finished - a b-day present for my sister in law. We stopped at TeaCup on Queen Anne for some teas and an ingenuiTEA.
I should finish it up tonight and take a pic to post.

Bust it!

4 hours of straight knitting time is exactly what I needed. Last night I went to PurlyGirls and as usual, I was the first one there. I started working on Backyard Leaves but then decided to bring out Christmas Stocking #3 and work on that. After knitting 2 of these already, the third one is really dragging. Endless Stockinette..... Well, by 9pm, I was nearly finished with the stocking. What I had planned to do tomorrow at jury duty was done in one night. It felt so good to bust that out.

Now, what to bring to do tomorrow. I want something that is a no-brainer so Backyard Leaves is out. Maybe a felted bag. I have 3 skeins of Cascade 220 to use (1 is a different dyelot though). I have about 700yds of a recycled sweater to use, not to mention a dozen single skeins. I would love to bust my stash before the KnitPicks order comes.

1st new project of the new year

Last night I started Backyard Leaves from Scarf Style in Lamb's Pride Worsted. It is the first time I have worked off a chart and so far, so good (I think). Never mind that I still have 2 Christmas stockings left to finish. I think those will be my PurlyGirls/jury duty projects for the week.

Yes, I start jury duty on Wed. I am not really looking forward to it but work does pay for the days I go and I think I will get some knitting time in.

I have seen other blogs that list finished projects for the year. I don't have a list written down but here is what I remember:

2 Clapotis
Minisweater
2 Minisweater variations
Hourglass Sweater
Countless Scarves
Irish Walking Wrist Warmers
BZZZZ hat from SnB Nation
Hayden Hat
1.5 Christmas Stockings
Twisty Turns from Wrap Style
3 One Skein Wonders

I know there is more. This year I plan on tracking so I can scare/shock myself at the end of the year.