Tuesday, July 27, 2010

A Myriad of Knitting

Isn't myriad a fun word?!




So, I have been working hard to try and narrow down what projects to bring with me to the Hamptons. We will be there for an entire month, and I don't want to run out of options or things to do. I originally was going to start #21 Lace Tunic from the Spring 2010 issue of Vogue Knitting. However, I went to the LYS on Saturday, and couldn't purchase enough yarn.. or order it within the time we'd still be in CT.

So I retreated home, and started searching through Ravelry, and my own book/pattern stash. I decided to choose some things from my stash that I bought with the intent of doing certain projects. So here is what I wound up with:

Up first is the Rowan Felted Tweed in Midnight. This will become the vest Milly from the newest issue of Knitty. The front is simple, yet cute. But the back of it really puts it over the top. I love that it is lacy! This will be great for spring or fall... possibly even into the beginning of winter!


Next is Rowan Classics Bamboo Soft in a lovely shade of Lavender. I had cast on a sweater for this yarn at the beginning of last summer, and then moved on after finishing the back piece. Well now that I have lost weight the back piece is much too large, so I have frogged it, and I will be re-knitting it (this time I'll make all of the pieces, and maybe even put it together). The pattern is from Rowan Classics Booklet 18 Nature, called Herbage simple little cardi, with great ruffle detail!


Out of the same booklet I will be making a pattern called Monet. This yarn was not stashed, but, hey, I had the book, and needles already, so I really didn't do that much damage! The yarn is a sock yarn called Happy Feet by the Plymouth Yarn Co., They call the color Bronze, but it is more like the color bronze turns after being weathered for a dozen years.


Last but not least, is Stella, in Black. It is shiny, and wonderful. I wanted to do something small that could be a great accent for an evening out... nothing too over the top. I found this pattern on Ravelry... Diamond Rib Lace Shrug (bolero). It is cute, and the directions are so simple... you can make it to fit any size.


I told you it was a myriad! Do you think I have enough? Happy Knitting, and Happy Vacationing as well!!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Workin hard..?



Of course! But, that doesn't mean that I don't get to enjoy my work! With the Bean Family, we go swimming a lot. Which is a wonderful way to avoid the CT heat! If I had access to a pool on me own time, you would probably think I was a fish! I have been trying to take advantage of the benefits of swimming while we are at the pool, and if the boys are trying to come up with games to do, I try and turn them into laps for me. Sometimes it works, and sometimes not, but I get in the laps I can while simultaneously watching Jock and Freddy.



Jock loves the water as much as I do, but Freddy needs a little bit more convincing. Which is fine... when the temp gets high enough, he joins us... or if he has a friend over that wants to get in, he'll get in too, or if Jock is acting like it's the most fun he has ever had in his life, Freddy inevitably gets in then as well. Nonetheless, when we're all swimming, we are all having a fun time!

What's your favorite summer time activity? I really love just being outside, doing any number of things, but when it is too hot, I either need nature to provide a body of water, or I need to have pool access!

Happy Munchkin Monday!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Snack Time!

Before I head off for Party madness, I will give you a Snack post! Let's have an Italian snack this week! How about some tomatoes and mozzarella! Just add a drizzle of olive oil, a crack of pepper, and a sprinkle of salt, and voila! Had I had basil, it would have been better, but this will do! Bite sized flavors of Italy.


Delicious, Nutritious, It's all good!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Received Gift


Hooray! It fits! I don't yet have a picture of Laura in it that she would be okay with me blogging, but I did make my friend Lauren try it on before I sent it off, as they are similarly sized and I wanted to get an idea of the fit.

Project Details: Yarn-Lang Silk Dreams in Dusted Rose aka pale silvery pink. Pattern-Double V Cardigan from the Spring 2010 issue of Interweave Knits. Needles-Addi Turbo Circulars in Sizes 5 and 3, both 32" long.

I got all of the pieces done, and blocked it, but had never seamed anything before, so my friend Karen, from my SnB, helped me put it all together! It's good to have friends that share your hobbies so you can get help when you need it.


Today I am going to knitting group, then afterwards I will be attending a welcome home party for a friend who has been in the Middle East since just after Christmas. It is good to have her back, and it will be great to see her! Tomorrow, is Freddy's Birthday Party, which I have been helping a lot with, and will be there to make sure it all gets set up, goes smoothly, and then that it all gets cleaned up properly.

What are your weekend plans?

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Alas, It's Laura's Birthday!


Woop! Happy Birthday to one of my very best besties! I love you and I hope you have an outstanding day. Wish I was there to help you celebrate.

This year, I am not having a scavenger hunt for Laura, but I made her a gift. Hopefully she will receive it today and then I can do a Finished Object Report on it tomorrow! Can you believe that I actually finished it with enough time... well I finished late Monday night, and Mailed it out Tuesday Morning... they said it should be there by today, but in order for me to confirm it it was the difference of $5, or $25... So I opted to take my chances.... now I'm wishing I would have had them get it there by today... oh well I saved some money, and the latest she will receive it will be tomorrow.


Anyway, I hope that first and foremost, she likes it, secondly I hope it fits (I think it should, I had a friend of about the same size put it on, and it fit her), thirdly, I hope it brings a smile to her face to thank her for all of the smiles she is endlessly bringing to me.

Thank you Laura for being such a wonderful friend. I hope you get to enjoy the birthday you deserve!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Fun in the PNW

A couple of weeks ago I went home for a visit. I was only home for a short four days, but I had a great time!
The Sunday that I arrived was father's day. After being picked up at the airport, Mr. Jay, the Queen and I met up with some family friends at a local brew fest. It was fun, despite the typical Seattle rain.

Monday morning I took the remarkable new shall my mom maid on the ferry with me. I convinced my friend Kelsey that we needed to ride the ferry because, I love ferry boats, and I haven't been in a long time! It is a great and inexpensive way to spend some time. We walked on, and on found an awesome crepe place on the other side. Had an enormous breakfast, then puddled around town looking at cute shops, and local art. The sun made it out just in time for our ride back across the Sound.
When I got home, Mr. Jay and I went out for lunch, then spent some time lounging around the house with the dogs.

Tuesday I lounged with the pups some more, then grabbed coffee with grandpa. Followed that with lunch at Red Hook Brewery with Laura, then we raced down to Seattle to go on the Ride the Duck tour. It was so much fun, I love being a tourist in your home town, it's a great way to learn more about where you are from. They do Duck tours in a host of towns near bodies of water, I want to start going any chance I get!

Wednesday I went out to breakfast with my dad and my sister. Then after running a few errands, we went home and hung out until we needed to leave for knitting group.

Thursday I spent the day with my mama, aka the Queen. We had a good day! Started with walking the houndies up for coffee (no they didn't drink any). Then we went to an appt. followed by treating our toes to a pedicure, and treating our tummies to lunch. After that we headed home, did some house work, hung around... and I re-packed all my stuff. Laura tried to fit in my Carry On Bag, but she was just a bit to big for the bag.

Friday I took the bus into Seattle with my mom, and my dad picked me up at her office. He and I tooled around in the neighborhood of the airport, and when the time came, he dropped me off.

I enjoyed my time home, and I had a lot of fun adventures in those five days, but my favorite part of the trip was definitely getting to spend some time with Dudley. It was harder than ever to leave, but I am thankful for the time that I was able to spend with him.


Friday, July 9, 2010

Finished Sweater!

I finally finished the SMS! Well actually I finished it a while ago, but I didn't want to blog about it until I had a picture of SM in her Sweater!

It took me just about a year to complete this start to finish, but it was worth it, as the fit looks pretty good, and she loves it!

Hooray! The patter is from the book Button Up your Top Down. It was the second sweater from this book, the first one being my gray sweater. The only changes I made to this sweater was that I added some ribbing in the sides and some darts in the ribbing so that the sweater would have more of a waist shape, as that was the only thing I didn't like about my sweater.


For the yarn and complete details you can check my Ravelry project page. Happy knitting!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Slip Slidin' Munchins

Last week, I went shopping for some fun outdoor activities to do on the Farm during hot weather. I purchased a slip'n'slide!


We (Freddy & I, Jack had an appt, and Jinx is simply too small for these kinds of activities!) had a lot of fun with it, even if there wasn't a whole lot of sliding. We mostly just used it as an extremely large sprinkler... it may have been better if the water wasn't icy cold in the mid-80 degree heat.... too much contrast for us! None the less, we had a laughter filled afternoon!

After we were done with the slide... we splashed in the mud puddles that the water made running down the lawn... soo fun!


What kind of water activities do you enjoy when it gets too hot?

Dogs On Thursday

I'm house sitting this week for the Little's. They are on there annual summer vacation, and the dogs aren't allowed this time. So I am staying home with Kati & Zahra.


We have been walking daily, playing, and having way too many treats! I'm supposed to be spoiling them right? Well I won't get too carried away, but we are going to continue having fun!

I love these girls, (mostly Kati, but Zahra too)! Hopefully they will start getting better on their leashes as time goes on.

***Also Happy Birthday Miss Channon! (She's 38, again!)