bejeweled

I (finally) casted off bejeweled Sunday, this week I’ve been caught up in the whirl wind of being a mom to small children. Summer school, girl scout camp, Dr’s appointments and the like. Don’t get me wrong, when nothing is going on I’m bored. I live for the chaos, for Bryce’s million questions “what would happen if I ate the green part of the watermelon? What if I ate a black watermelon seed? Can I plant a watermelon seed in the backyard? What makes a seedless watermelon seedless? What if a farmer got mixed up and planeted a seed watermelon instead of a seedless one?” And my mother wonder’s why I don’t drink. He askes at least a 100 questions a minute, and sometimes its hard to bullshit a awnser and not get all harried. Or tell him to pleeeeeaaassee stop for a minute. When I casted bejeweled off, I started blogging in my head. I was tempted to just post a picture and say I’m done. But my knitting means more than that and I love to tell a good story. I watched the kids try to ride the cardboard they painted earlier that day down the hill in the backyard,

and I started thinking how rich my life is. How very lucky I am to have a loving family and great friends.

my little Kailey-bean 5months playing, possibly eating bejewled.

it was a bit of a secret…

but I didn’t mean it to be! Two weeks ago when I started categorizing my stash I came across this lovely ball of Alchemy synchonicty in the Night Air colorway. I bought this yarn last August when Mike let me go hog wild at the Knit Happens shop. (Had to be one of the best Birthdays eva!)

I wound it up months ago, put it in my knitting basket that sits right next to my chair. I thought about it for a few months, of what to do with it, that I’m sure about. But then I forgot about it. When I found it again, I put everything down and casted on for Knit and Tonic’s dream swatch (look in the left sidebar)

This yarn was lovely to knit with, the hand. Seriously people, I could knit with it for the rest of my life. Its so lusious I wanted to knit something with it that I could enjoy.

Well, that’s been accomplished because I am seriosly enjoying this head scarf!

pattern: Knit and Tonic’s Dream Scarf

yarn: Alchemy synchonicty in the Night Air colorway (50%silk 50% wool)

needles: US size 7

time: Started June 13, 2007

Finished June 15, 2007

When Corra saw this she asked for one too! Good thing this was a super quick knit.

well….

well…..

yeah, we all know a sentence that starts with well… means trouble. We all do it, trying to explain how that “extra” yarn got put in our shopping cart, “well… if I bought $50 worth I get free shipping” or trying to explain why all the cookies are suddenly missing “well… I was going to eat just one more, and the others well.. they just looked so lonely.” I’m pretty sure ya’ll get my point now.

well… I thought 185 yards would be enough for a pair of footies for me… well… I finished one sock Wednesday night. And then I weighed it, and it weighed in at 28g

and then I weighted the leftover ball of yarn, and

well… damnit I need 2 more grams of yarn. Any one out there have any Interlacement’s tiny toes in color 216? I’m willing to buy it off of you, or trade for it. Please!?

well.. at least I have one really cute footie

*grumble*

Today is also my Mom’s Birthday. Go on over to her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday, help me make this one fantastic day for her. Really, you should wish her a fabulous birthday, not only because she is my Mom but because

• when she comes over to visit she takes the kids downstairs and lets me sleep in.
• she lets me drag her to various fiber and knitting things.
• she can pick up a mean takeout 😉
• she can knit backwards (damn showoff)
• she puts up with mine, and my father’s craziness.

Go here to see an absolutely hysterical video of the kids and I singing happy birthday to Mema ( Sorry I couldn’t figure out how to imbed this in my blog, and I have someone who is asking me to hold one end of her jump rope. Now mind you I sound like a complete moron in that video. I don’t normally sound that damned goofy.  I’m trying to get the kids to sing, and Kailey is *very* happy at the end. )

Happy Birthday Mom! hope its a good one : )

so, I’ve

• changed the layout on my blog. Anyone that was trying access it last night around 6 was probably wondering what the hell, as I was trying out the different templates, changing the header, generally messing around. So, ya like the new look?  
• figured out how to get the flickr thingy in my sidebar. I feel so smart!
• uploaded and catogized my stash on Ravelry and Flickr. All I can say is oh.my.God. I want to cast on for ellevendymillion projects right now. But am forcing myself to finish bejewled before I cast on for anything else or bejewled will never be finished.
• my free pattern for itty bitty socks has its own page, so does my about page. I feel so smart! *snort*
• gone through my stash and found a bit that I don’t want or won’t use anymore. Look for a destashing post soon!
• finished my cascade fixation footies Thursday check ’em out

pattern: CO 64 sts knit 3″ short row heel, knit for length of foot, standard toe.

needles: size 3 dpns

time: started and finished in June 2007

notes: next time I need to knit a shorter cuff if I’m going to use one color! Still comfy art socks 😉

• figured out how to put more than one flickr photo in a post. Thanks Kim!
• renewed my driver’s lisence. I can’t believe how much my face has changed in 4 years!
• caught 4 mice or the same mouse 4 times. This guy isn’t getting back in the house, I took him for a drive and dumped him off in the woods. Then went and bought these at the local hardware store.
• super tired. I haven’t been able to fall alseep as easily as I usually do. This might have something to do with my allergy meds, or with the coffee I’m finally able to drink now! yay! It doesn’t seem to affect Kailey’s tummy anymore. yay! Its been months since I’ve had a cup. God, have I missed it. mmmm… latte’s, cappacino’s, iced, or a plain ole’ cup of joe. mmmm, how I’ve missed you!
• realized I’m only human and casted on for a toe up sock
  

to my Dad

Dad,

It’s always been hard to find the words to tell you how much I love you. To say thanks for teaching me how to play catch, change oil in my car, how to play golf. Some days I wonder how many golf balls I lost in the woods…

my Mom and Dad playing with Allysa at playtime pizza.

You where the one who helped me learn how to gut a fish (remember Ariana’s face? Priceless!), and playing tricks on my friends. (Remember when we convinced Jeannette she was eating possom when it was really pot roast? *evil snicker*) You didn’t seem to mind (maybe it was notice) how many rocks I brought into the house. You taught me so many things, I’m glad that your my Dad and my children’s Grandfather. Even if you give them candy and coffee. (Allysa to Pepe: whats that? Pepe: Coffee. want some? Allysa: YES! me: Good lord.) Your a crazy old man, and we love you for that.

my Dad, teaching Corra and Bryce how to fish

I love you Daddy, Happy Father’s Day.

ps. When ya gonna move into the backyard?

~~~

Sorry I’ve been so quiet this week, for some reason I’ve been super tired. What little time I’ve had on the computer I’ve been uploading pictures to flickr and ravelry. Its been fun and interesting to walk down knit memory lane and see what things I’ve knitted and completely forgotten about. Or what yarn’s I’ve bought and forgotten about!

Yarn explosion

This is what the livingroom looked liked yesterday afternoon and evening.

yarn explosion from yarn box/coffee table

Originally uploaded by mistress_stash_enhancer

Now… it was either the yarn exploded out of the box, or I got my raverly invite (!) It was a wonderful surprise yesterday afternoon when I opened up my mailbox. That innocent little invite… *sigh* For all those that are still waiting, its worth it. Its going to be great. For those who are on raverly my screen name is AmandaCathleen, let me know yours so I can add you as my friend.  Yesterday I also opened a flickr pro account and have loaded massive amounts of pictures, and am still loading more. I am so glad that Mike had to have a cable modem thingy and this wireless network whohaha.  I’m almost done photographing the stash. Just the sock stash remains. I think.

Okay, now I just need to figure out how to add more than one picture from flicker onto my blog… than I’ll feel really, really smart. *grumble*

PS. Almost done with the cascade footie, I’ve run out of yarn and come to terms with it. I’ll be finishing it up with a pink toe. Saw a mouse in my livingroom, bought a few thousand mouse cubes and hopefully catch the little bugger soon. Got the yarn I ordered from the loopy ewe and once I figure out how to post more than one picture at a time I’ll show you, its breathtakingly lovely. Seriosly, this yarn made me stop and sigh. A lot. When I went to get my mail yesterday I saw a peony by my mailbox, I’ll have to talk to the yard guy and tell him not to weed eat it or I’ll kill him. (He desided to weed eat the hosta’s why, I donno.) Finding the peony was a surprise, I’ve never seen one there before. It also makes me smile and remember my Grandma who had them in one of her gardens. It’s been a good few days. Now, onto figurin out that flickr stuff.

figuring out flickr

yarn explosion from yarn box/coffee table

Originally uploaded by mistress_stash_enhancer

figuring out flickr please don’t let this bite me in the ass.

say hello…

… to my two new best friends

washer and dryer Samsung. I met them yesterday morning at Lowe’s of DuBois and they came home yesterday evening. (How ssweeet is that?!? and its all thanks to Mike)

See even the kids like them

Selling points:

-vibration reduction technology (these puppies are on a laminate wood floor that isn’t glued down.)

–Silver care (which will be good for our allergies. I don’t plan on using it every time I do a load)

-The price for the warranty from Lowes for both machines for 5 years was $150. The Kenmore washer and dryer I was looking at from Sears warranties where insane! The washer for 5 years was $309 and the dryer was $280. The sales woman kept saying “But that includes a free yearly checkup!” I think I can tell if my washer is full of water thank you very much.

-Lowes has 72 hours to complete a service call. Average time it would take for a Service call from Sears one week, no time limit for these people. And Lowe’s doesn’t have a service department! They contract out!!

– Its super quiet compared to the old one! I was fully expecting to hear sounds like a jet taking off as the washer started the spin cycle. Nope, it was quieter than the old one!!

For the first time in my life I am actually excited about doing laundry. Can you believe it?

ps. Mike picked out the color and I just realized they fit into this months theme of Project spectrum!

just when…

… I started feeling comfortable with my cotton stash Mom came for a visit and gifted me more kitchen cotton! Thanks Mom!

I bought 3 solid balls and 2 of the ombre’s, the rest Mom gifted to me. She bought a whole lot when Michaels had there sale on kitchen cotton a few weeks ago. I asked her to get me 3 or 4 balls! These came just in time to make up some teacher gifts since yesterday was the last day of school for Corra and Bryce. (I’m a little be hind on my blogging I know. Its been a crazy week. I volunteered to help at the kids school picincs Monday and Tuesday, Corra got her hair cut Wendsday. Our hairdresser also owns the daycare the kids go to occasionally, its hard to get out of there! and yesterday…)

The 2 washcloths  on the left I used fiesta ombre and Abigail’s pinwheel dishcloth. I really like how they worked up, the fiesta ombre is lovely and I was able to get 2 cloths from 1 ball with 1 yard left over! Yay! The 2 other cloth’s I used this pattern, which I saw on girl is craft’s flicker. Yes I am a lemming. Any who, The first one I casted on 21 stitches and used Cremesicle the other cloth I casted on 19 stitches and used strawberry ombre. Funny thing is the smaller cloth used way more yarn than the bigger one. I cheated on all 4 of the cloths too, instead grafting the stitches together I did a 3 needle bin doff. Sooo much easier! The kids gifted these to their teachers yesterday with a bar of handmade soap (not made by me!), a letter, a framed picture of them with their teacher.  It’s hard for me to believe that school is out for the summer and Corra’s going into 3rd grade and Bryce is going into 1st! Corra came off the bus crying, she didn’t get the teacher she wanted, her bff isn’t going to be in her class, and she is going to miss her teacher. Honestly I wasn’t expecting her to come off the bus all smiles, she loves school and her teachers. Bryce has been a bit mopy to, he loves school too, but mostly misses playing with his friends.

Last week I started a pair of cascade fixation footies in a redish orange color (I can’t find the ball band right now.)

I have to accept the fact that I’m not going to have enough of the orange to finish the 2nd sock, its going to have a hot pink toe. *gr* Last night I casted on bejeweled

I’ve been craving something lacy! Tomorrow the kids go to their Aunt’s house for a playdate so I can go shopping for a washer and dryer. We’ve taken 1 trip to the landrymat. I hope to have new machines next week! Thanks to everyone I have a better idea of what I want.

ah, bloody hell

bloody hell the washing machine is dead. Dead dead dead. And full of water. Did I mention its dead? bloody hell and hell full of water. So, I need to buy a new washer, and hopefully a new dyer. (because the one we have only kinda dries on high… anyway) Anyone have any recommendations? This is going to be so not fun. *urghph*