Week 3 question

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

Enough so that you don't run out, but not so much that my husband notices the accumulating full Tupperware containers.


In other knitting news, I stopped by the LYS this afternoon, on the hunt for a specific designer's patterns for my pal. Unfortunately no such luck, but I did happen across a few cool patterns. One with the intent to be mailed to my pal with this next package, but the more I look at it, the more I'm considering keeping it for myself :-p. I did special order a specific knitting related book online because I was unable to find it locally, it should be here within the week, and I'm excited to see what all the hurrah is about. Hopefully I won't be let down.
My summer baby sweater is going, but slowly. I've been easily distracted by books these past few days, and the house searching and septic drama, although my attention span rivals the best three year old.

SP12 Week 2 question

"As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?"
I always loved summer for the freedom. I liked being able to wake up, and go wander in the woods, go for a ride, go swimming, whatever, just to be a kid was fun. As I got older and started working, I still looked forward to summer, as that was when I was the busiest, made the most money, and spent 85% of my time outdoors and with animals. By the time I was 14/15, I was working/living at a farm away from my family (pure heaven) and coming home a Tuesday or Wednesday and being back at the farm within a day or two. I worked my butt off, but it was pure bliss to be paid to ride and train someone else' horses. So yes, freedom from school, schedules, and home. It was great!


It's funny that I was such an advocate for 'no schedule' since I've turned into someone who is capable of having things lined up one after the other. I've driven my friends crazy with this at times, but I'm more settled now-a-days. I still have to have something to do, or I go crazy, but I don't schedule everything anymore.

Beaten like a rented mule

In my quest to get back into the gym, and drop my winter hibernation weight, I've decided to go the personal trainer route. I only meet with 'D' twice a week, but have a schedule of cardio intervals for three other days and then a day on the weekend I call my free day, which means I do what I want at the gym or outside, schedule be damned. D is this sweet petite girl I went to school with, who smiles and laughs easily so you're lulled into this comfort. It's a ploy I tell you, she really is the devil. My last work out with her (2 days ago) has left me crippled and walking like a 60 year old with arthritis, it's not a particularly attractive walk. Last night as I tried to sleep, I could not, when I straightened my legs, pain would shoot thru my hips and thighs. I could almost sleep in the fetal position, assuming I could manage to turn over. Jinx, our cat, likes to sleep on me, especially when HG is away so sleeping on my side? Yeah not so much fun when Jinx would walk up my side and try to nestle into my hip. I finally did what I've seen old people do... I stuffed pillows under my legs so they were bent and elevated, the only way I was comfortable. HG, you really missed a pleasant sleeping experience.

Butter bones, his wife and Anna are visiting her family in Montana, and while there he took the time to send me this picture:

We are adults, but my older brother is still teasing me.

I'm still knitting away on the February sweater, and this time actually following the pattern (minus the button holes) and it's coming out great. The pattern is fairly simple, there are basically 4 rows to the repeat, and I can do it from memory for the most part. Until I get distracted and forget which row I'm on and do an extra YO or K2, this seems to have been the pattern last night as I would knit, get distracted (By Matt Damon) forget where I was and have to rip back. I'm hoping to finish the last sleeve tonight and finish the sweater by next week. I want to knit an adult version of the February sweater, and thanks to Ravelry now have the free pattern for it. I'd like to knit it to match Anna's sweater, but I'm not so sure her mom would like an adult sweater in coral. I have to find a way to ask without ruining the surprise, I'm not sure I'm that sneaky.

I received a birthday card from my upstream secret pal, which made my day and made me laugh. She also included a handmade bookmark that was pretty sweet as well, I think it's crocheted, but am not positive. The SP12 group on Ravelry has given me some ideas on gifts for my downstream pal. I have some items already bought & saved, but also have a shipment coming in soon with some more stuff... I can't wait!
Aside from that, spending has been put on the kibosh, as we face all the closing cost and taxes on a new house.... augh, house broke already!

"I'm to excited to sleep"

(Thanks Disney& Co.)

HG and I have been house hunting, and we've seen some real prizes (if by prize you mean "holy shit, honey I'll race you to the car before they reach the door) but also some houses that one of us, and occasionally both of us, liked. We found a house that we both liked, although I am sure we would have taken the snob factor down a stitch or two (cue Royalty music now) but with the local taxes put us in "ramen noodle" life for the next foreseeable 30 years. As much as we liked the house, I like my booze, veggies, and shoes as HG likes his electronic gadgets so we walked away. We found another house, again in the high tax local town (for the tax rate here, the town should be shuttling everyone around in private friggin limos) but there were some (giving people the benefit of the doubt) innocent mistakes on some figures, and after having Cheryl* check into the house, we decided to also leave this alone. Cheryl is a Realtor that I've known for years, and checked out this house as a favor to me (while not our agent) and became our exclusive agent after the debacle on the "innocent mistake". Cheryl is also the reason we felt secure in walking away from negotiations gone bad on a house in a neighboring town. We have more emotions tied into finding the house, and negotiation on price than Cheryl, so when we felt like we were getting played, and trying to figure out if we really were, or just hated parting with the money (which in my case was probably 99.3% of it) Cheryl stepped in with some honesty and we walked away. I was really pissed when we walked away from the negotiation, and as HG likes to joke, "was ready to cut people". (As a side note, I wasn't angry about the negotiations, more at the dirty tactics. Suffice to say, I would never use that particular agent)
We continued to check out house after house after house, and tonight we sign a purchase and sales agreement.
The house is near a fairly active and touristy lake, so I received a call later last night being informed HG had found the perfect speed boat.... I was the wet towel on that, "Ah honey, we are going to be broke, and well, we need a push lawn mower. HG conceded that the boat would have to wait because he wanted to have the drive way paved and buy a riding lawn mower.
And so it goes...

"when you need a friend..."

I met a friend for drinks last night (ok you caught me, it wasn't even 5 pm yet) and my first drink, the one I had been craving forever and my current summer time favorite... the mojito. MMmm mint, cool and refreshing.
We started chatting and ordering more drinks, and all the sudden I realized she and I shared similar music taste, and I had a sucker to go with me to the Collective Soul/Live/Blues Traveler concert this summer that I could get no one else to go with me. I am so stoked, as I tried in vain to twist some friends arms this winter to go to a Collective Soul concert. I'm buying the tickets before she can back out. (Jen, if your reading this, it's already too late!! bwah hah)
We finally were tapering down (I suddenly became aware of how *many* drinks I had) so we left and I should have noticed (ahem blaming the drinks) that the entire bar and restaurant was empty minus two guys at the bar and the bartender.... it was past my bedtime.

My 'lil brother' is home from Iraq and is local for about a month. I was excited to have him surprise me at work, and happy to not be talking to him over a broken line. As usual he's up to his trouble making already, and running some illegal plates on his bike. I laugh because I remember my brother's doing that with (illegal/expired) paper plates on a car or two. However he'll be a police jackpot given that a) he has no license b)his bike is not registered c) his bike is not inspected d) his vin# does not register in any database (which is why he can't get a plate b/c the manufacturer made a BIG goof and are currently trying to correct it). I can lecture him on this, and not feel bad because a) I'm his big sister, b) all the other letters (b-d) don't apply to me, and he doesn't know that I haven't taken my test either. I'm sure it will be an interesting month.

Run Run Run Around

What a crazy beautiful and hot weekend!
Saturday we visited with HG's youngest brother who was in the area for the weekend. It was great to meet Josh and his friends, and even better to enjoy catching up at the base of Burk Mountain. We spent a few hours laughing about various tales of adventure we shared over drinks. Josh currently is living in St. Louis, but is moving to Seattle soon for a specialized school. I'm hoping we get a chance to get out there and visit him, as I'd love to see some area attractions (Mt. Rainier for one), and get to spend some more time with Josh.

Sunday we had a family BBQ at my folks house in East no where. Everyone managed to be there and it was a low tension day, which made it easier to not realize we were there for hours. Anna is working on walking, but even more noticeable is how much her personality is developing. She's coming out of her ultra shy mode, and becoming more curious about things surrounding her. It was great fun to spend the afternoon playing and chasing her. If it weren't for the 9 month incubation and the 18 years after that, I'd almost say I wanted one. In the mean time I'll happily take Anna and the yet to be born baby girl. Aunties get to spoil them, and still hand them over when it's dirty diaper duty. How can you go wrong?

Knitting wise, the yarn previously destined for the sis-n-law is now know as the other EZ baby sweater and going along great. I'm not spending endless hours knitting, but it's still cruising along. I'm feeling much better about the yarn since ripping the wrap sweater, it was clearly not meant to be. The only back slide I've had about the baby sweater is I forgot to do the button holes... oops. I'm trying to figure out how to remedy this without having a redo.

Secret Pal 12

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like most yarns really, the exception being the "fun yarns" like eyelash and such.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a needle holder that Holly made that I use for my less used straights, my circulars are stored in the plastic pouches they came in.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
About 3 years now, I'd say intermediate.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Check out my sidebar, I don't' update it frequently though.
5. What's your favorite scent? I
can't say I have one, not only one anyway. I like fresh fruit smells, not so much "food" smells like coffee or chocolate.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Doesn't everyone? I love chocolate, but also starburst and starlight mints.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin. I sew, occasionally I break out the jewelry making equipment and more recently I've discovered stained glass.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I am music friendly, as are my computers. I like most music really, my current play list includes Rihanna, Collective Soul, and Seether.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love blues and greens, and most other earthy colors. I like bright colors, but I don't really knit or wear them so it's not a good investment.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married with one cat, Jinx the master of our domain.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Love love scarves and mittens, hats only occasionally and ponchos not so much.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
hats and scarves for the simplicity, but I'm still in a baby sweater theme right now.
13. What are you knitting right now?
swatch for a possible summer tank
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? my favorite!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Circulars have become my go to needles. Bamboo or metal work, but I don't like the hard plastic wire on the needles from Joanne's and the like.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Sadly no.
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
A baby sweater from last spring.... knit just needs seaming. yuck.
18. What is your favorite holiday? My birthday!
19. Is there anything that you collect? Try not to.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I love surprises :-)
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? modular
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I knit socks sometimes. My measurements? without whipping off my shoes here at work, I'll say I'm a women's 7.
23. When is your birthday? February 23
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Yes, bapple13

She's come undone.

The wrap sweater for my prego sis-n-law? Frogged.
It sucked up my knitting mojo.

Next?
I'm doing a swatch (that's right mark it on the calendar) currently with the same summer cotton yarn, perhaps a tank for Anna. I'm also thinking about the February baby sweater from E. Zimmerman, as this would be a nice light sweater for Anna. Perhaps with a wide brimmed hat that will protect her baby blues from the sun.
I can't forget that there will be another baby soon so I think I'm going to knit a baby blanket, although I am uncertain out of what. Guess its time to dive into the big tupperware container and see whats in there.
HG is out of state for the next three weeks, so without the entertainment, I'm sure I'll be able to sneak in some knitting.