The Birthday Bash

Yeah, I know I'm a bit late with the post, but well....Stuff happens.
Hope you all had a great Turkey day. Mine was very quiet and relaxing. Just B and I hanging out at home and making a nice little meal for the two of us.
This post, this Most Excellent Post, is about my Birthday, and about my Birthday loot.
First off, I had an amazing time. It was just what B and I needed, some time away from all the hoopla and crapola that makes life so interesting at times.
We ended up going to the Washington Peninsula. Somewhere not too far away, but far away enough to be AWAY!
The first part of the journey was an adventure. What with torrential rain, bad wiper blades (which we had to make a detour and replace), and VERY. Windy. Roads. I thought I was going to die a few times that evening.
When we reached our destination we got the surprise of finding out we were staying in a Reservation...That's right an Indian Reservation (is that PC? Or should I say Native American Lands?). That was fine, what was interesting about it is that our B & B (cough cough) was a woman's (unfinished) house that she was letting rooms out of. Seriously! There were paintbrushes and a ladder sitting in the hallway, and the stairs were being stripped so you could not use them barefoot unless you wanted to chance a nasty splinter. Top that with a shared bathroom used by all in the house, and no Locks on the doors...There was not even a lock for the front door..And you have a "growing" experience.
On the night we arrived I was so exhausted and strung out from the horrid drive, and we were so late getting there, and then seeing our lodgings...I broke out the wine STAT and threw myself a little pity party. Happy 30th to me!
The next morning we decided to make the best of it and went to explore. There was an amazing museum..Sorry no pics were allowed..That was based on the history of the tribe. It was awe inspiring to see how these people lived/live, and how they have struggled to maintain there culture. The museum had a long house replica (which is used for ceremonies) and a complete gray whale skeleton. The whole experience was breathtaking.
Now I do not want to get on a soap box here, but I do have to say that the Native Americans sure got the shaft from our government. I thought I knew and understood before, but I had no idea.
The people we met here were so kind and polite and open. They had so much pride (I mean that in a good way) for who they are and where they came from.
I am sure I am botching all this up and sounding like some "stupid white yayhoo" but I wanted to at least try to show my respect and admiration. Being a self-admitted "stupid white yayhoo" I can say that even though I think I get it, I know I have absolutely no idea. =)

After the museum, we realized that we had done all there was to do in that area of the peninsula, and we were desiring better, more secure lodgings, so we decided to head down to Port Angeles and stay at a B&B there.

The Tudor Inn


This place was Much Better. It was AMAZING! If you ever come this way...Stay here. Betsy is a wonderful hostess who knows everything and everybody in this little town, and will treat you like royalty.

Our room was absolutely breathtaking. The mural you see wraps all the way around the room, and it is a replica of there coast line (Gosh Im horrible, I don't know the name!) The room had it's own fireplace and clawfoot tub (as well as a personal bathroom, and locks on the doors!)
Yes that's B...I hope he does not mind me posting him in his "draws"...Oh well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him! =)
This leg of the journey came complete with an amazing dinner at a wonderful restaurant that was underground (cool, kind of wine cellar"ish"), lot's of awesome book stores, and lots of spoiling of yours truly.
B really did spoil me rotten. Not only did he give me this trip, and the amazing bouquet of roses...But he also got me 2 very generous gift cards..One for Knitpicks ( woot! I love that place) and one for my favorite LYS, Cultured Purls.
That would have been more then enough, but he had only just began....
As all yarn-aholics know...A trip is not a successful trip unless you score some fiber schwag. Check it out.
We made a stop on Bainbridge Island to check out Churchmouse yarns and teas. This place is SWEET! Words cannot express my love of this store. Here I scored some Koigu,
some misty Alpaca, a HUGE hank of black lace weight merino wool..I'm talking like 1500 yards (for $17!), and some very lovely fingering weight yarn (Gems Pearl by Louet).






The lovely hank of green you are looking at is my favorite acquisition of the entire trip. While B and I were in Port Angeles, we happened on the Fiber Arts Gallery. This is a place that sells all handmade items..ahh the beauty and the inspiration the abounded in that shop! The owner sold a tad bid of yarn..Including her own hand dyed yarns. This is about 230 yards of hand dyed mohair and it is amazing! I love it, love it, love it! I am not sure what to do with it yet..I would really like to try a lace scarf with it..But not sure how it would work. I have seen other people do beautiful things with mohair and lace, but I just don't know if this is the right stuff to do it.

Had enough yet? Good, cuz I'm not done.

On the last day of the trip, we stopped in Port Townsend..My absolute all time favorite place in Washington. It's awesome! If you like history and gorgeous old places, you must check it out!
We strolled along the main drag. B was in heaven with the rockin' book stores they had. I'm not talking Barnes and Noble here people..I'm taking rare and/or used places that are wall to wall books. B found things he had been searching for for ages.
Me, I found Diva yarn's. It's a bit hard to find considering it's in a little "mall" of craft stores and theres no big sign pointing to it..But I sniffed it out.
Guess what they had? Spinning supplies. Yours truly has had an inch to learn how to spin, and look what B did..As if he had not done enough already!

I am so excited..I have a beginning drop spindle class tomorrow! I can't wait! My own try's have not been very successful so I hope having a teacher and a visual will help.
I am a spoiled, loved, and lucky girl. My man knows exactly what I crave.
Next post will probably be about spinning..But I have a FO or two to share with you, so stay tuned!

P.S. There is a skein of STR in the above yarn pic that I got at another store in Port Townsend..The Twisted Ewe. This place was a block off the main drag..but again I sniffed it out. =)

Wake Up and Smell the Roses

Although the big day is not until tomorrow...B sent these to me at work today:



These babies are HUGE! They are the longest long stem roses I have ever seen.
I can safely say things are looking up. I'm feeling more positive about us and about the B-day.
Although the flowers are amazing and romantic in and of themselves, it was the card attached that really did it. That, however is private, and I will not be sharing his words. I am sure you understand.
Today has been a good day. Despite the fact that all my knitting today has been a fiasco.
I messed up somewhere on the Flower Basket shawl and silly me did not have a life-line in. So I have been tinking, and tinking, and tinking (that's knitting backwards by the way).
I think one more row will get me back on track.
And Sizzle? Although I did a gauge swatch and I thought I was spot on..I was a full inch off and the front was too big. So I had to rip the whole thing out..at least I was only about 5 incnes into it. The bright side is, now that I am on size 3 needles...I can do this on my Knit Picks option needles (which I love).
TaTa for now...won't be around for a few days!

Rain, Rain Go Away!

The weather here in Seattle is everything you would imagine it to be. Windy, rainy, and just plain nasty! Add to that Daylight Savings time which now makes it dark around here at 5 pm, and you got some cranky Seattlites.
No wonder we drink a lot of coffee and suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Another storm came in last night and there are flood warnings in effect, and I think that the lack of sunshine has made everyone forget how to drive.
But I can't complain too much. I'm what you call a "transplant". I moved here from Southern California. I CHOSE this! And even though I'm bitching right now, I do love it here.
Driving home today I saw people out holding signs for the election tomorrow. Whenever I see this, I get the reality that my birthday is just around the corner. And that I procrastinated too late yet again to register to vote. (I thought I was registered...But I did not receive any voter stuff...So that means I am not). Damn. Well, there is always next year...Vote well my fellow Seattlites!
Yes, Wednesday is my 30th birthday....I have been talking about this for awhile now, I know, and I am sure you and many of my RL friends would like to tell me to get over it already...Believe me, I am trying.
B is going to take me away for a few days. Sounds nice. I hope we don't fight. I'm afraid we will. I'm afraid that when I remember my 30th b-day..I will remember a disaster. But I will try, for my sake, to get along with him.
that may sound like a selfish remark. It is. This is my darn birthday after all, and it will be my memories.
So what do you do when it's dark and stormy out and your stressed, anxious, and depressed?
I don't know about you, but I poor a glass of wine and I knit.

Tonight I am going to talk about my UFO's. I got a few things on the needles..

As talked about before, I have the Elfine Sock in progress, as well as the mitered sock blanket. I am not going to post picks of them tonight because there has been very little if no progress on them since the last time I showed them.
I have let other things distract me once again.
Last night I started Sizzle. I have known for a while now that I wanted to make this, but I have been trying very hard to hold off on it until I get some of my WIP's off the needles.
I justified starting it because:
-It was one of the projects for the Sexy Knitter's Club KAL (the other being the Simple Knitted Bodice), and I wanted to have the satisfaction of getting both done for the KAL ( we will see about that, the KAL ends mid-November).
-It is supposed to be a fast knit...
-And it's my damn birthday week and I can do whatever I want! =)

I am making it out of a beautiful Forest Green Suri Merino. The pic does not give it any justice what-so-ever, It is so soft and delectable to work with on my Addi Natura's (I think that's what they are called). The pattern calls for Size 7 needles, but I got gauge on Size 4's. S so far, I am loving this knit.

Next up,

A baby blanket. I said I had a story about this.

The story goes I am finicky. I have started many a baby blanket for my niece, and have been disappointed in all of them. The reason? I saw this pattern a while back and fell in love with it, became obsessed with it, but did not know where to get it.

Then I found it, In the Debbie Macomber knit along book for the Shop on Blossom Street. I knew then I MUST knit it, it was a sign.

I am making it out of the called for yarn (Bernat Satin), and even though it is a cheap acrylic, it is quite nice to work with.

The ironic thing...Now that I am reading the pattern I realize it is just a simple basketweave design, with a smaller basketweave for the borders. I should have been able to figure this out on my own. Oh well, there are many cute patterns in this book, so I am still happy I bought it.
The baby is due sometime in January. I plan to make this and the PeaPod baby sweater/hat ensemble for the wee one (tentatively named Sophia). Right now I feel like I have tons of time...But I know January will be here before I'm expecting it. So I know I need to crank on this puppy.

Last but not least..I am really proud of this...And it is my favorite knit on the needles right now.

My Flower Basket shawl:

I am making it out of Lorna's Laces, not sure of the colorway. It is my first "real" lace project. (I did a feather and fan baby blanket out of worsted, but I don't think that counts as lace.)

I LOVE this! I wish I could work on it more, but it does require a level of concentration I don't always have time for. I can't/won't work on it while watching TV. It's a listening to a book on tape kind of knit. I do feel a deep desire to finish this, not only because I can't wait to block it...But also because I have about 6 other lace projects in wait..And I won't let myself cast on for another until this is done. (SO far my resolve has been good...But we will see if that lasts...Look how I justified Sizzle! =)

Off to the wonderfull world of knitting. Funny how much that brightens my mood! =)

There's a monster at the end of this blog!

OK, not really but it was a little exciting to say that. =) (Anyone know what I am talking about? It was a Golden Book I had growing up starring Grover, it was my FAVORITE!)
So first off, the rant is over for now. My mood now is to be patient for a while longer, and wait and see. What else can I do?

MMmmmmmmK. Now onto other news.

I have been talking about the "Pink Monstrosity" for awhile now. And today it is making it's appearance on my blog. This sucker is now out of my home and hanging in a yarn store where I am sure it is getting ooed and ahhhed over by someone with different taste then me.
I have to admit....It's not that horrible. I thought the fringe would just add insult to injury, but it actually made something I thought looked like pepto bismol and cotton candy regurgitated into something half way decent.
What do you think?
First off, the condor pic...

It really does look like I have wings there doesn't it?

Now the sweet, demure pose..( I always feel self conscious getting my pic taken...Especially if I don't have make-up on or my hair done, and it always seems my blog pics are when I look my worst...) I never know where to look (looking at the camera seems so phony) and I never know how to smile..LOL guess I will never be a model.

And finally, just a fun pic with a little detail of the "monster". Yes, that really is what it looks like. One of the yarns reminds me of the bubbles and suds you get in a bubble bath...Weird description, but others agreed with me on that when I showed them.
(Please disregard the overflowing stash, the dead plant, and the stacked puzzles in the background. While you are at it, disregard the stained fireplace as well) ;)

I'm sure someone is buying the yarn to make this project, and more power to them..It just is really not my deal, I am a lace shawl fan and not real crazy about fringe as the "main event" in my projects.

So what do you think? Trust me, you won't hurt my feelings!

Speaking of lace, I am off to work on my Flower Basket shawl...If I can concentrate enough to work on it...If not, it will be the baby blanket I started..Yes another one...That is a story in itself! Guess what my next post will be about?

'Cuz there is nothing else to do...

Not having a man around during the later night hours makes me restless. I don't want to go to sleep yet (even though it is late and I work in the morning), not really motivated to knit (may try again after this post), and don't feel like turning on the boob tube or listening to more Harry Potter on CD.What do people do when they live alone?When B (not PC, not right now, just B) and I lived together, this would be the time we would say, "we should go to bed", or watch some late night TV...This was our "cuddle" time. (Not always x-rated, but true cuddling).Although he still hangs out with me, and sometimes stays over (again not x-rated, not right now), he leaves more then he stays, and I miss him.It's complicated, right now, he is staying with his dear grandmama (aka the wicked witch of the west...Or if you watch Gray's...McBitch!), oh yeah, she hates me...And I think in 20 months we have said about 25 words to each other! I made her a fricken scarf for Christmas last year, and she still thinks Im some black sheep with a heinous disease that has been possessed by the devil. I have been nothing but nice and polite to her...No effect what-so-ever.I don't care what she or any of his family thinks of me, him, or our relationship..But he does. Well, he cares what they think about him....And grandmama pays for his expensive private college tuition, which she threatened to stop doing when she found out about the engagement. See what I mean a Grade A Mc Bitch!Wow, what a rant. And there is more where this came from...But I will try to withhold a bit.I miss him. And I hate when I ask him to stay and he has to go home so grandmama won't be angry and change the locks on him (or tell his ANTie who will spread mean things about him to the rest of the family about how he takes advantage of dear grandmama).All I want is for him and me to be happy and live a good life together. I want him! Yes, I would love to have the Norman Rockwell family gatherings during the holidays and crap, but I did not have that growing up, so screw it. Besides, B and I could try to do that with our offspring, We have had enough lessons and wrong examples to try and avoid the bullpoop.I don't know what to do..I know B is stuck between a rock and a hard place ( I like to think I am the supportive rock holding him and you-know-who is the hardplace), but seriously, how long do I have to put up with this?When is enough enough? I am so tired of playing tug of war. I'm so sick of fighting for our future. I know he is trying, but it's not enough.I wish he could say F.U. and grow a pair. I know it's hard, but how can I respect him if he does not demand respect for himself? He let's these people walk all over him! (And me as well, through association.)Alone, writing a blog no one will read, drinking wine, and feeling sorry for myself. How pathetic!When all I want is to curl up between his chest and his arm, smelling him (he smells so good), and whisper I love you....And know that when I reach out in the middle of the night he will be there, when I wake up from a nightmare, he is there, HE IS THERE! Even when his snoring and twitching keeps me awake and I complain, he is there.For so long he was there, I used to brag about how we never spent a night apart...But that is no longer. That surety of "at least we will see each other in bed if nothing else", is no longer there.All that's left is a cold, lumpy, empty bed....And it's the last place I want to be right now.

Finally!

I finally finished something that actually fits me. Something I am dang proud of. Something I would actually wear and not feel a little self-conscious about.......And it's not for me.

This is the Pure and Simple Wrap Cardi (bottom left of page)that I knitted as a sample for a LYS..Ben Franklin's.

Granted I could opt to keep it instead of getting store credit for it....But I would only get it back after the store decided not to display it anymore. Meaning I would get it back in about 6 months after it has been handled by hundreds of people and looking worse for wear. I know this because all the other samples I have knit look like rags by the time they decide to sell them.

I would rather get store credit and buy the yarn to make another. I think I would like it better in a plain color...A dark red or midnight blue perhaps.

It is a great pattern, for those of you thinking about knitting this, (and I have read a number of people who are interested) I say go for it.

It's a top down cardi, there is absolutely no seaming! In fact the only finishing I had was weaving in a few ends. It's pretty mindless as well....Just a lot of stockinette with some garter ridge borders.

And it's also fast to knit up. I started it on Oct. 7th and finished on Nov. 3rd..And that's while I was working on many other projects (i.e. socks, blanket, pink monstrosity, and a scarf).

I did knit this smaller then my actual size....Go figure. I guess I know now that if I want something more fitted...I need to go down a size or 2. If I make this again I might possibly go up a size since the tie can adjust the fit...It is a little snug, but not by much.

I may make another of these...But I have been eying Ivy for some time now..And when I am ready to do a top down sweater that will probably be the one I do. Life is too short to do the same pattern over again after all. =)

Coming up next....The Pink Monstrosity takes wings!

I forgot to add....the yarn is Fantasy by Dark Horse Yarns...it's a nylon and acrylic blend. I was surprised at how nice this yarn is ...very soft and easy to work with. Give's a nice drape as well. And pretty dang cheap I may add. 205 yards for $6.49, and it took about 5 balls. Not bad, about $37 to make this.

Better late then never.......

Well, looks like blogger is going to cooperate tonight...So that means I get to post the entry I planned on doing the other day.
I can't believe it is November already! It always surprises me every year. Time seems to go faster as I get older (isn't that the case for everybody?)
My 30th birthday is less then a week away. I cannot believe that either. I know for many people that is not a big deal, but for me it is. I think I am having an early midlife crisis! =) I thought that by this time in my life I would have a family, a career, and feel settled.
SOOOOOOOOO not the case. Everything is on hold right now: school, marriage, children, etc. Yeah you heard me correctly. Mr. PC and I are "taking some space". I guess we are still a couple, but we are now at different addresses, and as far as where we stand and where we are headed...That's kind of cloudy right now.
Sorry to break the news to you. So many people have offered help and well wishes, and I hate to disappoint, but I have to tell the truth.
We have decided not to tell people in real life yet..Just going to say we are still in the "early planning stages". All hope is not lost yet...But I am starting to wonder.
But enough about that, it's time to talk about the knits!
As many of you know, Socktoberfest ended a few days ago, and although I did not accomplish all that I planned, I do feel please with what I did accomplish.

Exhibit #1: My first pair of toe up socks (on dpn's, that was a first as well)




This is the plain toe up sock I got from Wendy's website. It was a heck of a lot of fun, and easy as well. They fit great, and feel so good on the feet. I made it with Trekking XXL and forgive me, I don't remember the colorway. After making these, I am a toe up fan all the way!

Exhibit 2: Elfine socks (also toe up using the magic loop method)

I did not get that far as you can see. But I love this pattern! It is so pretty and so much fun to knit. I am realizing that I love doing lace projects (first one ever will be posted about soon), and this project incorporates my 2 new loves...Lace and socks, duh!
I really like the magic loop method as well..Only took me about 30 seconds to figure it out. It's just like using 2 circs, just with one long needle that loops around instead. Definitely need metal needles for this though. It drives me crazy to do this method with my Denise's or with wood needles.
Exhibit 3: Mr. Sock Blankie


I am still loving this project, it is so much fun. Pretty mindless as well so good to do while watching shows or before bed. It is fun to see how all the colors work together. I have been trying to "clash" the yarns, but it is not happening, everything seems to work well together no matter how hard I try. LOL.
Since this pic I have done a bit more. I am trying to get all my individual squares attached to make sure it is wide enough before I work my way up on it.

And that wraps up the socktoberfest knitting.

Now on to other projects.

I managed to finish a scarf in a few days using the linen stitch. I cannot begin to tell you how much fun this is. I recommend everyone try it. It's just a slip stitch pattern after all, and you use 3 colors to get the effect. GREAT for left over yarns. I would say apx. 75-100 yards per color to make the scarf.



The picture sucks I know, but I wanted to show some detail of the stitch. I will try to post a better pic of it sometime soon.
I will be doing this pattern again and again and again. It's a heck of a lot of fun but does not take a lot of brain power...So good for late nights and TV as well.

Now last, but definitely not least..I finished the SKB for the SKC (that's code for Simple Knitted Bodice and Sexy Knitters Club) I finished this almost a month ago but have been too lazy to get pics of it.
So here is the forever popular late night pic of oneself in the bathroom!


I made it out of Nashua Creative Focus worsted (dreamy, you MUST try it) and I am pleased with the results. It is not as fitted as I would hope, ( I think I need to go down a size on garments..They all seem too big) but I love it all the same. It is comfy, and warm, and I feel good wearing it.
I need to reshape it..I have worn it enough times that it is getting a little, well, worn. I may do this pattern again, I would love a long sleeved one, but I will definitely go down a size and add short rows. (I wanted to do that with this one but could not figure out how to do short rows in the round, anyone know how that can enlighten me?)

The blue sweater is almost finished, should be done by the end of the night..Hope to have pics of that up soon. I have also been working on the most hideous shawl imaginable (sorry, but it is true) as a sample for a LYS. I call it the Pink Monstrosity...You'll see. I just have to fringe it (hah! Can't wait to see what it looks like after THAT!) and it will be done.

Hope all is well in everyone's worlds today! Talk at you soon!

Blogger HELL!

So for the past 45 minutes I have been trying to post an entry.
The first problem is that even though I took a bunch of pictures....they got erased somehow. Now considering that I took them minutes before, did not mess with them in anyway except to tkae the card out and put in the computer drive, it is a mystery to me how this happened.
So take 2...Get all the pics retaken..and this time they load up as usual.
OK, we are rolling again.
Now, I try to upload images...and blogger is not having it...I get the hourglass screen of hell and then the "page cannot be displayed" window of doom..twice.
I should have known I would have problems, earlier I was trying to post comments on others blogs and they got eaten as well.
Screw it, I'm gonna knit.
There will be a post as soon as blogger stops acting like an asshat.
Hope you all had a Happy Halloween, and Happy Day of the Dead (is that correct to say Happy? I'm not sure..whatev)