Finally! YAY!

Me & the Mr.

Honeymooning

I know I’ve been absent from this blog for a few weeks – I was waiting to be able to post some wedding pictures, but it turns out that my photographer is taking some major time in getting that CD to me – when I get them, you’ll get to see them. In the meantime, I’m trying not to worry about the fact that even though our government just pushed a gazillion dollars into the market, the markets are still falling. I keep reminding myself that while the world holds its breath, my panic won’t affect anyone but me – and maybe my husband (who hates when I panic). So, I’m just going to have another cup of coffee and tell you a little about the Finger Lakes.

If you travel to the Finger Lakes region of New York, which I encourage you to do; you should try to arrive during the daylight hours. The beauty of your destination should be seen as soon as possible and will be a reassurance that I have not led you astray by sending you to this vacation spot.

Some might tell you that the Finger Lakes is for wine lovers and while this is true, it’s also so much more. We really enjoyed the wine trail, but we had so many options of things to do, that I think families of all ages would enjoy the trip. As for a honeymoon destination, I couldn’t recommend it more. My new husband and I spent hours together in the car gazing upon beautiful scenery and out of the car having new experiences. We had full days and lovely evening dinners.

One of my favorite experiences during our time in the Finger Lakes was visiting the Corning Glass Factory. It was a short drive from Lake Seneca and it was so worth the the time away from the lakes and the wine. We arrived at the parking kiosk and boarded a free shuttle to the factory. The shuttle takes you to several locations in the Corning area and though we only had time for the visit to the Glass Factory, our reading about Corning’s incredible Main Street America made it sounds like a place where you could spend several days.

The Glass Factory is full of interesting things. We signed up to take a glass blowing class and to tour the factory itself. We attended demonstrations and we saw some of the most of the beautiful glassware ever! As a girl whose mother has taught her to look for milk glass, Westmoreland glass and Depression glass at every flea market she passes, I was fascinated by the history of glass that was on display to the public.

Both Chris and I were able to go to the lab at our scheduled time by making a quick walk across the Corning campus. Once inside we had the option of choosing several things to make – we both chose to make Christmas tree ornaments. During our first vacation together last year to Lake George, we started a tradition of buying a tree ornament on every trip. We’d thought these would be beautiful memories of our honeymoon – we were right. We worked one on one with our glass lab director to blow the glass. It was so much fun and about a week and half after we returned from our honeymoon, our ornaments arrived on our doorstep. We love them and can’t wait to put them on this year’s tree!

Of the three lakes we visited, Cayuga, Seneca and Keuka we’ve decided that we love Keuka the best. It was hard not to stop at every vacation home with a for sale sign on it and make an offer. The smallest of the three lakes that we visited, it was the most intimate. The great thing about all of these lakes is that it’s easy to drive all the way around them in one afternoon. Keuka makes you want to linger more than any of the other lakes – maybe because it’s most visible from the road and offers several places to pull off and take pictures or smooch for awhile. It is also home to Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wines. It is a “don’t miss” destination on Keuka Lake.

Dr. Frank’s is the reason that we chose the Finger Lakes as our honeymoon destination – it’s another story for another blog entry, but I am confident in telling you that upon arrival at Dr. Frank’s, you’ll know that you’re some place special. The drive to get there is off the beaten path and as you turn onto the dirt roads, just remember that grapes like dirt – it makes sense that it’s a away from the cars and the day-to-day life. You’ll be so impressed as you turn into the drive and take in the view across the road – the grapes, the trees, the beautiful view of the lake – it’s so dramatic. To have that as the view from your office, well, Keuka Lake residents, let me just tell you that it’s far better than my crappy view of an alley in Brooklyn. You can really take that deep breath at Dr. Frank’s – it’s quiet and serene, if I were a grape, I think I’d be very happy there too. The people were terrific, the wine varieties were tremendous and we bought nearly a case of various wines before we left. Can’t bring ourselves to find the appropriate occasion to open a bottle; though we know it’s foolish to save some of them for too long.

So - the pictures in this post don't exactly match the text, but I just wanted you to see some of the beauty of the region. More are coming in another post along with more info on the great trip we had!

Till then, it's all the news that's fit to knit!

Married!

We are so married! I can't believe it happened, but it did. The day was magic and I wish that everyone in the whole world could feel this happy.

We'll post a wedding picture once we get them, but here we are on our honeymoon, properly hitched!

Love ya,
Yarnal.

That's it - I'm out!

This is it - I catch my flight home to get married! I leave tonight. So, next time I blog ya, I'll be a married lady!

For now, it's all the news that's fit to knit!

Love,
Yarnal

It's September

It's September. How on earth can it be September? It's September 2. I'm getting married soon, really freaking soon. It just hit me today how soon that is! It's really freaking soon in case you were counting.

We had a good Labor Day weekend - it was busy, but we got a lot done. This coming weekend our friends from Ireland arrive. I'm supposed to work this week (how do I concentrate on work???) and I need to pack.

I've gotta go. More later!

Eloping

My garter knit is done. It was a fun little knit. It feels like a bit of a failure as I can't find elastic for it in NYC. Isn't this the fashion fucking capitol of the world? No elastic. I can't bring myself to pay shipping on $1.69 of elastic from JoAnn's. So this will have to be done again when I've had time to go to PA and buy some elastic for it. Too bad - we aren't doing a garter toss anyway, so no big loss.

The Alphabet Meme

I’m watching the coolest chicks on the planet, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh kick Olympic beach volleyball butt and just messing around on the innertubes…so here we are:

A. Attached or single? Getting married in 23 days! What does that make me? Technically still single I guess. But I do have a marriage license!
B. Best friend? My fiancé
C. Cake or pie? I like fruit pies with ice cream better than cake.
D. Day of choice? I’m a Saturday morning kinda gal – the whole weekend seems so free and clear and long on Saturday mornings.
E. Essential item? Knitting or a book; I think books win out.
F. Favorite color? I like blues, greens, white.
G. Gummy bears or worms? Bears
H. Hometown? Pittsburgh, PA
I. Indulgence? Some dear friends of ours own a restaurant in Westchester NY and going there to eat Pascal’s cooking is one of the greatest indulgences in my life. I literally eat that meal with my eyes half closed from savoring. My other indulgence? People magazine when I fly. I just need it.
J. January or July? January
K. Kids? Maybe some day
L. Life isn’t complete without? My fiancé, football season, good friends and good beer.
M. Marriage date? September 13, 2008
N. Number of brothers & sisters? One brother, he’s a punk! And I love him.
O. Oranges or apples? apples
P. Phobias? Mice in the house. I really hate them in my house – outside is fine, inside not so much.
Q. Quotes? “Fall down seven times, get up eight”
R. Reasons to smile? Oh, holy cow – I’m so stinking blessed! I have every reason on earth to smile. I’m getting married to the best guy who despite everything loves the stuffing out of me. I’ve got a healthy family, a good job and a roof over my head. I’m doing just fine.
S. Season of choice? Fall
T. Tag seven peeps! Won’t do it! If you want it, take it!
U. Unknown fact about me? I secretly want to be in a rock band. Guitar Hero is arriving tomorrow via UPS – I will rock! Ask my friends from college, I was the original Langham Hall deejay jazzy kris and the fresh me, spinning discs on my cd.player. So stinking dorky!
V. Vegetable or Potatoes? Potatoes (but I loooove veggies!)
W. Worst habits? Being a “Reactor / Reactionary” I’m working on it.
X. X-ray or ultrasound? Seriously, how about x-files or Gilmore girls for this question? I’d rather skip both of these please, cue my Gilmore Girls.
Y. Your favorite food? Anything Pascal cooks (order the mussels, the basa fish and extra rolls and extra Merlot trust me). I love too much food. It’s why I’m chubby.
Z. Zodiac sign? Pieces

Cake Topper

I've been actively looking for a cake topper since January. Yeah, eight months. I finally found my cake topper soul mate.

Favorite Things Friday ( A Little Late)

It's been more than busy here at Chez YarnalKnowledge and I even missed favorite things Friday. These are my favorite measuring spoons. I found them in a little shop in my hometown and fell in love right away. I love the chickens on the top, I love the sunflowers on the inside of the spoons. They are awesome!

Till next time, it's all the news that's fit to knit.

Key Lime Time

Right around C.'s birthday I was shopping in the supermarket when I ran into a bag of key limes. Real Key Limes! I have to admit, I'd never, in all of my 32 short years encountered an actual in-real-life key lime. I've been to Florida Keys, I've eaten Key Lime Pie, I've had drinks calling themselves key lime drinks, I've used the key lime in de coconut bath and body works shower scrub, on and on and on, but a real key lime? Never!

Here ya go - lemme just tell ya, if you know a good physical therapist, contact him/her prior to making your own from-scratch Key Lime Pie - as juicing these babies is a true pain in the wrist!

This is my Brooklyn kitchen - highlights: you'll recognized my favorite things Friday mixing bowl (it's actually a set of three - so you'll see another in this pic), you'll see my cool new microwave that is actually also a grill - it's funky! And the cool new spice rack we got for a shower present (love you Martha Stewart! and JoAnn for purchasing it for us!). You'll also see my favorite depression glass juicer - I scored that baby at the church yard sale for $3 in 1996. It was love at first site. Can you see my sheep and chicken? (see top of microwave) and the most precious thing is in the lower left hand corner...the dishwasher - a rare and exotic thing in a pre-war New York City apartment. We're very lucky.

This is a closer look at my depression glass juicer with a key lime in action. That's a no-slip thing underneath it. Those little limes we're a real bear to squeeze by hand, but man was it worth it when C. sliced into this:

Deelish! Knitting for the garter is almost done - I may be subbing yarn shortly...and I need some elastic....but till tomorrow, that's all the news that's fit to knit. Next time on cooking with Yarnal, Fruit Pie! YAY!

PS - I took the juice of about 15 key limes, egg yolks, sugar, etc...and mixed and poured into a graham craker crust and then in the oven...if you want my receipe, PM me and I'll be happy to share!

Slip and Fall Friday

They've been filming in my apartment building yesterday and today. Of course, I was trekking out of our apartment for some provisions at the bodega down the street when I had to pass a crew member on our narrow marble steps. I was, of course, wearing totally impractical summer sandals and just as a go pass this film crew dude, I slipped. I fell. I fell all the way down the steps on my butt - which is ample and should've provided much padding, but it didn't. I can barely sit today. Le Sigh. What a freaking klutz! I hope they didn't get it on film.

I am ready to cast on for the Olympics tonight! I Just need to wind my seacell yarn.

Are you ok? You're clutching your heart? Why? Oh, you're in disbelief that any knitting content is on this knit blog? I don't blame you. Take a few deep breaths. It's true, I am knitting!

(I also understand that some of the knit readers are just clutching their chests over the seacell. I understand, my future mother-in-law gave me this yarn for Christmas. I can't wait to use it. 70% wool, 30% Seacell! YAY!).

I'm making the Eloping garter from Knitty. I'm looking forward to wearing some kind of hand knit for the wedding too. I'm so glad this came out right in time for my wedding. Thank you designer Abigail van Roode and Kristi Geraci!

Keeping up with Favorite things Friday, here's one of my favorite mixing bowls. I love it because it has high sides and I can't splash with the mixer, no matter how hard I try. It also has built in non-slip bottom. I really dig it.

So, we're all about the Olympics now! Enjoy the opening ceremonies. I'm going to go take an advil, my butt hurts - but not as badly as my pride.

Till next time, that's all the news that's fit to knit!

Favorite Things Friday

My mom gave these to me for a shower gift. Salt n Peppah shakers on a little leaf - it matches my whole Macy's Martha Stewart theme I've got going on.

These are so sweet, I can hardly wait to salt n' peppah things!

Honeymoon!

Ok dudes, I'm feeling much better after getting everything out last night. Thank goodness for blog confessions - it helps you keep it real. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to be stress free - I'm not sure anyone ever is. But I'm doing some reading on simplifying my life - but more on that another day.

Today, we're talking about honeymooning. C. will tell you that the week after our wedding is not an "official" honeymoon. We'll be traveling to Europe next year once he a. procures his updated passport b. we have time off again c. we have money again (this wedding is a huge money-suck).

Until then, we're hitting the Finger Lakes! We're off to Lake Seneca, the Toganenwood Estate B&B and something called "The Wine Trail" (that sounds so lovely right now!)

The pictures posted here are from our B&B's website. We'll post a review upon our return...

So far, so good though - the proprietor seems so lovely and she told me about this little beauty:

It's a "Champagne Bath Tub" and it's right in my room! Apparently it isn't the typical jacuzzi tub, but rather it creates a gazillion champagne bubbles to surround you and relax you. I plunked my credit card down on this room with this tub faster than you can say "stressed much?"


So we've been reading Great Destinations - a complete guide to The Finger Lakes Book (3rd edition, Dyson). We're really happy with the book, it seems to give the History, Lodging, culture, dining, recreation, etc... Can't wait!


Now to find out where they keep their knitting shops!

Till tomorrow, it's all the news that's fit to knit!

Olympics and Trials

I've joined the Ravelry Olympic team. I'll be knitting Eloping from this summer's Knitty. It's not a big project, but with the wedding so close, it's all I can handle. I'm hoping to earn my first gold knitting medal.

I've been working on handling stress quite a bit lately. I've been interviewing friends and family when it's appropriate about how they deal with stress. Do they deep breathe? Do the eat ice cream? Do they drink? Do they go for a run? Do they punch the stressor in the nose? Do they scream into a pillow, do they get tough, or do they fold like a house of cards?

I'm so interested in stress right now because I'm under an ass-load of it. You'd think the details of the wedding would be stressing me out - but they really aren't. I can handle those details in my sleep - I literally do it for a living. But the stress of disappointing anyone with any request they make of me in relation to this wedding is killing me. I find myself trapped between the viewpoints of some of the people who I love the most.

It's funny, because as I waffle and try and avoid conflict I can feel my loved one's disappointment in what they perceive as my weakness, but the truth of the matter is that I've been so strong - going against the popular wishes of many of my friend's and family and society in so many decisions that I've made in the last ten years. I've literally made something of myself - by myself. I've taken the risks, I've done the work, I've put myself on the line to build a life. And now I'm plain worn out. I'm tired of fighting and now I just want everyone to be happy. I want to be a pacifist. I want - oh god, am I really going to say this - I want everyone to get along! Can't we all just get along? Seriously? I just want to do the right thing. I want, I want, I want...I want to disappear! I want to be invisible!

Here's the thing - I think I've fallen into a habit of being too self aware. I'm so quick to find blame in any situation and assign it squarely to myself. I'm willing to take the blame for anything - any gripe, any slight, any mis-understood comment. I'm your gal. I'm the bad guy, I'm the bitch and nothing you can do or say to me will be worse than what I'll do or say to myself at 3 AM. Don't worry, I'll remember for years and years. Even if you weren't hurt by it, or you were a normal person and were able to let it go - I'll feel badly about it for years. Carefree, doesn't apply here.

So, in the spirit of trying to make something of myself, I've got to pony up and forgive myself for things I think I've done. Tonight, I pledge to sleep well, to not rake myself over the coals for making decisions that I believe are right. I am not a jerk. I am not a recovering jerk (thanks, Randy) and I am a good person with a kind heart. And I seriously say "I'm sorry" too much. Shut it off so tomorrow doesn't ruin today (thanks again, Randy).

"God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Ok, a happy post will replace this one tomorrow, promise. But sometimes, you just have to get it all out there.

You've got to shred it, shred it

We get a lot of junk mail here at chez Yarnal Knowledge and when we were shopping for registry items we registered for a paper shredder on a whim. Our friend Melinda picked this one up for us for my shower. I can't wait to tell her how much we love it.

The shredding deposits you see above are from 1996. I'm not kidding.

For the last twelve years I have been moving boxes of old checks, old bank statements, old cancelled checks, old bills, ect... from college to home to Harrisburg, to Pittsburgh, back to Harrisburg and then to one part of NYC and now here. I've tried those paper shredders that you clip over your trash can in the past and I've come to the realization that those shredders are not for me. I need the terminator of paper shredders. I need the six page, occasional staple ok, cross cut, identity thieving proof paper shredder and I have to have one that is self-contained. And now I have one. And now I'm down to this:

Those are just the credit card offers from 2008. Listen Amex, Visa, Master Card, Discover Card, WWF, Children's Fund, American Heart Association, place where I bought my 1st car, 2nd car and 3 rd car, my college, my mother's college, etc... save a tree - you already have my email address, just send em there where I can delete them to my spam folder. I'll come to you. For goodness sake, most of these offers are coming from companies where I already have a card (all two of them). Leave me alone!

For now, it's all the news that's fit to knit!

Dark Knight

Dudes, go see it! We just did!

Time for a new look!

I felt like a change and this green is just the ticket! I don't change things up much on Yarnal Knowledge, so I hope you'll like it too!

Please visit with my new blogger friend Kelly, you can find her in my Following section on the right. Welcome to the addictive world of blogging, Kel!

Today, I leave you with the view from my bro's office. That punk has one of the best views in the city!

For now, that's all the news that's fit to knit (and right now, it's just too damn hot to knit!) Later gators!

Weekends on the Road

Look where we went! Oh yeah! Marriage License applied for, check!

The shower was amazing!

More on this later - I can't keep the lap top on me - it's just too freaking hot.

Until later, that's all the news that's fit to knit!

Shower the people you love with love!

We're outta here - time to head home for the final shower. I'm looking forward to seeing my pals Kelly and Dani and all of my other friends. It's been so long since I've seen so many people.

It's hot as snot here in NYC and I can't wait to be rid of the sticky, stinky city and headed for cooler and air conditioned PA.

I'm hoping to take a crap load of pictures, so I'll catch ya next week.

Before I sign off tonight, just want to give a big shout out of congratulations to Darren and Liesel on the birth of their daughter! I've seen pictures folks and I can tell you she's a heartbreaker - really beautiful. I can't wait to meet her. Darren and I have been friends for a gazillion years and I couldn't be happier for him!

For now, that's all the new that's fit to knit!

A Letter to Me:

Dear Me:

Things are turning out ok. You’ll be fine, but you should know a few things...

I know you’re eighteen and you feel like you’re at the top, stick it out, let yourself walk the path and for the love of all things good, please learn to forgive and get over yourself. If you’d only give up being a drama queen earlier than 1998, that would be great.

Learn to call people back, don’t be jealous and just live your own life. You’re not the coolest kid, you’ll always be chubby (but if you want to work on that, I’d sure appreciate it), but you will be surprised from time to time by how many interesting people you’ll come across.

Use less hairspray and don’t buy blue eye shadow.

Buy stock in MacIntosh and Target and when that kid from school launches YouTube.com, see if you can get in on that action.

You'll choose the wrong college the first year. Trust mom, she knows what school you should go to.

Go home for more weekends, dad dies before you graduate and it’ll wreck the next ten years of your life. Remember that it’s ok to run away from home, if you don’t, you won’t meet Chris.

Don’t spend too much time trying to figure out how you got so lucky when Chris proposes to you, you’ll never figure it out. Don’t debate telling him everything that’s wrong with you, he knows, but he’s going to love you anyway. And I won’t tell how he proposes for all the money in the world – you need to be surprised when it happens - it turns out so cool.

That car Dad gave you over Easter break, you’ll drive it until 2008, she’s the best car you’ll ever have, treat her well. It’ll break your heart when you have to give her up. Take tissues to the dealership.

Remember to thank the Dean of the English department, he’s going to go out on a ledge for you and you don’t deserve it - remember to write him after you graduate.

Always take that trip to Canada on your 21st birthday, it totally cements your friendships with Kelly and Dani and you’ll be friends with them for the rest of your life. Don’t skip that trip to study. Go have fun, but reconsider what you pack – you may dance on a bar that night.

For the love of all things good, when you get into deep trouble in 1999, ask for help this time. You’re still paying for that problem.

And nothing happens during Y2K - it's just a fun night with Kelly.

Eric’s gonna be a dad and you’ll be voted aunt of the year by two munchkins you love more than anything. Your nephew is going to steal your heart away, but you’ll love every moment of it.

You’ll never get to go home again and it kills you, but hang in there, you won’t be that lonely forever, kid. You’ll make it. I only wish the 50 year old me would drop the 30 year old me a line like this…

One last thing, don’t buy the strapless wedding dress. You look like a linebacker in all of the photos.


Love,
Me.

Flower-Girly!

Our flower girl gets her dress!

Friday Night - I need my girls living closer

It's Friday night, I've retreated to the cool Air Conditioned bedroom with my laptop, the dvd collection and a margarita...I wish my girlfiends lived closer. Can't wait to see Kelly and Dani next weekend!

A long weekend

The days and weeks have been slipping by this summer. I often find myself staring dumbfounded at my open day planner wondering where the time has gone. What happened to the lazy summer days of my childhood? What happened to weekends in the woods and sticky watermelon soaked fingers and chins? With questions like these at the forefront of my mind I can’t help but recognize that my childhood is truly over. I can only do my best to try and recapture that particular kind of magic as an adult.

We’ve been thinking a lot about our childhoods and our families from our tiny perch in Brooklyn. When you live in a large city, you can often feel so small. Cramming your life into 600 square feet of thin plaster walls and scarred wooden floors that have been lived on by countless hundreds of others before you can make you feel terribly insignificant and terribly small. And though in these days I feel so terribly small and so terribly alone in a city that eats the sweet and kind for breakfast; a simple phone call can focus your entire world so quickly.

“Dad’s had a heart attack”. It’s the kind of statement that you hear from other people or on television; not from your soon to be husband as you stand in front of the Mr. Coffee maker on Saturday morning, willing the machine to deliver you its delicious brown liquid of wakefulness. But Chris had said it and looked at me with those eyes – those eyes that seemed to say, holy shit – we were just there, we just visited. He was fine. What do I do? I have to be the grown up, I’m the oldest son and we’re trapped here in this city so far away and we can’t do anything, what do we do?

All of those things, all of those fears, all of those pleas in one shift of the eye and then they were gone, replaced by the take charge guy who could hold it together. And then I failed Christopher terribly, betrayed by my selfish tears that boiled over with the screaming thoughts that this can’t be happening again. You can’t be losing another father – not again. You were so close to having a father figure in your life again. Can fate be so cruel as to snatch him out of your grasp? In the last eight years you’d given your heart over to Chris’ father. You’d walked along the quiet, tree lined sidewalk in that tiny Carolina town and slipped your hand into his as he told you who lived in which house and talked with pride about his sons. You wanted years filled with him and his guidance and knowledge – you’d let yourself give into it. There’s something so solid about fathers – they always seem to know what to do. They always seem so willing to catch you and advise you before you fall. I love that feeling and I’ve missed that feeling so completely and in the center of my kitchen on a Saturday morning, I felt robbed. And I missed my own Dad so much that my heart felt absolutely empty.

The phone rang again and again throughout the day. The helicopter ride to Charlotte, the surgery, the waiting, but finally there was the phone call that said he was stable, serious but stable and you praised God that he’d granted the reprieve and you questioned why he hadn’t granted it before, but you were so willing to forgive the Him for giving in this time.

So we closed ourselves away in the tiny bedroom in the huge city of Brooklyn and we folded the wedding invitations in silent defiance of any other outcome than that of girl dancing at her wedding with a second chance father – turns out, it's going to be a second chance for both of us.

No Cents!

The invitations have arrived and they’re beautiful! Thank goodness! Big sigh of relief.

Much to my chagrin they will cost $0.59 to mail. Now riddle me this – most wedding invitations are the size that I ordered, so why on earth would the postage stamp with the wedding heart on it be $0.58 forcing me to add a crappy $0.01 stamp? It forces us to handle all of the invitations even more. Sigh. Has anyone ever used those stamps services where you make your own stamps, with their own value? Maybe I should do that.

That's Lunch!

The bridal luncheon was last weekend and I had such a lovely time. Eight dear friends came to have lunch and share their favorite recipes with me for my wedding. It was one of those moments when I felt like I was finally allowed to sit at the grown ups table. From my sister in law to my kindergarten teacher, I love those ladies so much! And Helen created such a lovely table and made such a delicious lunch. Sigh – I wish I could visit with them every single weekend. And I walked away with Helen’s recipe for fudge sauce (trust me, you’re jealous), Anita’s baked pineapple recipe, Rachel’s margarita’s, Diane’s drunken weenie’s, Pearl’s Amaretto Bread Pudding (loved the Busy Day Gourmet), Rozella’s Texas Sheet Cake Recipe (my brother wants all of the women in his life to be able to make this cake so he can have it any time he hangs his hat at one of our houses) and my mom’s overnight salad – deeeelish!

We’re at 89 days till the “I do’s” and I’m shocked that this date is coming at me so quickly. Chris and I are headed down to NC at the end of June for a shower and then back out to PA in July for another.

During all of this time I’ve finally ordered my invitations. The internet has made invitation ordering both quick and terrifying. On one hand, I didn’t have to order my invitations and wait three months for printing (thusly forcing me to set the time of the wedding and reception long before I really knew how I wanted the wedding to happen), but on the other hand if something is wrong with the invitations – it’s squarely on my shoulders. I had to type in all of the information, I had to write all of the text by myself … if there’s a problem there is no printer person to unfairly blame – it’s just going to be my goof. Gulp.

According to the website where I ordered my invitations they should be shipping out today. If all goes well, I should have those suckers in my hot little hand by next week at the latest. I’m hoping to beg my future SIL in NC to help me address them while we’re down there. It’s going to be a big task to tackle on my own.

In the mean time, when it’s not too hot, I’m working on this little scarf and thinking that I might head back and knit a favorite scarf of mine called branching out from a past knitty.com recipe.

Next up: Trying to get through another week of work. It’s the last thing I want to think about!

Till next time, that’s all the news that’s fit to knit!

Veils

My hair is going to be simple for the wedding. I'm wearing my mom's veil (I looove it) and I've decided that instead of doing some crazy big french twisty thing, that I really wanted to look like myself in the wedding photos. So, here's the one look and check out the back of my mom's veil:

For now, the knitting is slow 'cause the wedding is right around the corner. I even ordered the invitation Thursday night!

Friday marked three months out. Gulp. The dress is being altered, the hair has a plan, the invitations should be here in a week or so, the menus tasted and chosen, the cake has a plan, the flowers are ordered, C. is picking the music, the ceremony is set!

We might actually end up married!

Till next time, this is all the news that's fit to knit (and marry!)

Summer of Scarves?

I think I've started a summer of scarves! I'm just really into these lovely little projects all of a sudden. I've been through hats and socks and sweaters (though not very successfully) and I just feel this pull to be knitting scarves. So here I am...

Three beautiful scarves in the hold - and the above on the needles. I'm just going and going...and during the wedding planning, I think I need to have projects where I can memorize the pattern and knit without thinking too much (just enough to keep my minds off of the planning) and I need to be able finishing things - that's important too.

We hit the details - here's what my wedding bouquet should look like...I think. It's a little fuzzy - our flower lady was moving pretty fast...

Till later, that's all the news that's fit to knit!

We're Home!

If only my clients would learn to read, we wouldn’t have to call most of these people back!

Content later today - tomorrow at the latest. For now, I'm trying to clean out my sad, sad inbox.

The Word is Out!

Well, we’ve found our way to Thursday, haven’t we? The weeks are blowing past me at a pace I’m having trouble keeping up with. Tuesday marked exactly four months out until the wedding day. I’m both thrilled and ready for it to be over.

Chris and I have been together for 7+ years now – dating for a longer period of time than some of my married girlfriends have even known their husbands. And while I’m looking forward to the wedding, I simultaneously uncomfortable with the attention.

In the last ten years I’ve grown from a very confident and outgoing person, to a person who is love with routine. I think when your life gets turned up-side down you learn to error towards caution. I’ve become the kind of gal who likes to know what’s coming and to prepare for it. I think that’s a big part of the reason why I hate living in New York City so much, this city is unforgiving and tends to change on you in a snap. For a gal who likes to plan, it’s not the best combination. As an aside, I recently told C. that NYC and I have a true brother and sister relationship; its fine for me to bag on the city, but not for other to bag on the city. Funny how NYC can become a part of you…

The wedding begins to hit its stride next weekend when C. and I head into PGH for a massive three day planning binge. Over the course of Friday and Saturday we will be:

* Tasting and choosing a cake
* Meeting with the Preacher
* Tasting and choosing the menu for the reception
* Trying on and picking the tuxes
* Meeting with the Florist
* Designing the church decorations
* Picking the invitation and ordering it
* Picking the seating cards, programs, etc…
* Deciding on the wording of everything going into print including the dreaded and all important driving directions.
* Seeing Indiana Jones – ‘cause my mom is dying to go!

We’ll also be hitting some favorite sites (read: places to eat) that we never get to hit while living in NYC: the best ever: Eat n Park and we’ve all be jonesing for a trip to the Red Lobster. So – our bellies will be full and for the love of all things good PLEASE let my wedding dress fit and not make me look like a cheap hooker or a hooker of any kind, really.

We got the rings – wanna see???

Knitting pictures tomorrow! For now, that's all the news that's fit to knit!

Sucked In - the Wii has taken over the house!

I've been totally sucked in by the Wii that whole time. Ok, the Wii and the wedding have been the major time suck over the last few weeks.

I've never been a big video game fan. In fact, my FH is a gamer and there have been times that I've wanted to kick his Wow loving butt off the computer, but the Wii is different. I think it's because I feel like I'm actually in the game. When my brother got an Atari when we were kids, I was entertained by games like Frogger and Pac Man for about a day - I just hated sitting there - pushing buttons. So I grew up and got myself a job sitting in front of a computer, pushing buttons and I still don't like online games or x-box games, etc...in fact, Chris got me to play the Sims once and within ten minutes I accidentally caught my Sims house on fire and they all burned to death. It was a total accident. A combination of no cooking lessons, no phone and my inability to make them leave the house put me off of that game for life.

With the Wii - I'm swinging at the tennis ball like I'm playing tennis, I'm bowling like I'm in the sixth grade at the Monroe-bowl before it was turned into a Syms (no pun intended - it really is a Syms now). We bought the Olympic games game and I love it - I feel like I'm really playing a long and my Mii even looks like me! It's awesome. If you haven't found one - keep checking the Wii Tracker. They should be available soon and I think it's totally worth it.

The wedding has been center stage - today is the four month mark. This month kicks off trips home for planning and a summer full of wedding showers. We're so freaking lucky to know so many awesome people.

We bought wedding rings - pictures tomorrow, the camera is in the bedroom and I'm seriously about to go bowl a coupla frames.

Knitting?? Oh, yeah, well - a new scarf on the needles and new sock yarn in the house, so we've got some knitting to do. Like I said, pictures tomorrow, so see you then!

Till then, that's all the news that's fit to knit.

Wii Want to Play!

Oh dear God! Chris found a Wii. I'll see ya in bit...

Mini Me

It's me, circa 1977!

I've been scanning photos from the past, to make sure that we have them forever and I thought you'd like to see me, pre-knitter.

The House of Mouse

Last night, around 2 AM (why do most awful things happen in the quiet hours between 2 Am and 5 AM? I'll just never understand that). I was awakened by the sound of a something. A something that wasn't right in our bedroom. I did the only natural thing to do, I jumped on top of Chris and whispered "wakeupwakeupwakeup" he grunted and I whispered "something happened near the mouse trap" - and this is one of the moments in my life that I am thrilled to be a girl. I mean, my heart went out to Chris as he had to turn on the light, adjust his eyes and put his feet on the floor (where I was certain a giant New York City rat would stick out its rat arm and try to pull one of us under the bed to eat us) and put on his pants and walk around the bed with his feet on the floor - I of course pulled the girl card and scooted over onto his side of the bed (as far away from the sound of the something without having to put my feet on the floor where the giant rat was waiting to drag me under the bed.

Chris announced then that we'd caught the mouse that had evicted me from the bedroom for the last 48 hours. I always go through a few stages of emotion when we catch a mouse in the apartment. First, I'm grossed out (which is strange, because I've never seen the aftermath of a sprung mouse trap, but I can certainly imagine it), and then I feel victorious that we've taken back the house from this uninvited rodent and then I feel really, really regretful and sad that we killed something. And then I think that we should've caught the thing somehow and released it back into the wild. But then I realize that we live in Brooklyn, so to release this mouse into the wild, we'd have to trap it, call the parking garage and get the car, drive to Pennsylvania, release the mouse and get back through the Holland tunnel before rush hour, or we'd be screwed. It's too much. The mouse had to go the old fashioned way; spring trap. Then I try to go back to sleep - where all I think about is the stupid mouse.

So - now that we're past that...this is what I wanted to show you when the mouse first drove me out of the bedroom where the camera and the laptop were:




I learned to spin my own yarn on Saturday! I went to a class at The Point! It was wonderful. I'm bummed because I met the Brooklyn meetup organizer there and I planned to go to their meeting tonight, but I promised Chris I'd go see a friend's show tonight in the city - so I've got to miss, but next Thursday, I'm there!

The class was great, the people were so sweet and I've been spinning bit by bit all week.





I bought the Springtime Lacy Scarf kit from the Point while I was there. I'm working away on it now, feeding my renewed obsession with making scarfs.







This week I also bought myself a little something from the Loopy Ewe. I loved this little tote bag - perfect for a sock! And it has a cute little tag that reads: "sock yarns don't count as stash" I love it!





I also got this skein of sock yarn called "Laurie's Carolina Morning" It's superwash Loopy Legends sock yarn. I can't wait to make a pair of socks from it. It'll be a great travel project for me as I run around this summer with wedding events.

So, that's what's been happening here. It's been busy! It's been mousey - all of that. And for now, that's all the news that's fit to knit.

I would...but no way!

I loaded the pictures for you. I put them on the lap top once the battery for the camera was charged.

The camera and the lap top are now locked in the bedroom. With the mouse.

Maybe I'll see you after C. gets home.

Stand By

Hello? Blogger?

What's up!? First you won't let me log in with my normal account name and you insist that I use a gmail account and when I finally get in and try to play nice and edit my account to use my gmail account, you tell me I can't list a gmail account as the primary email address. Then, I write a great little "Stand By" post for the readers about how I'm over my little woe-is-me phase from the post below and I've got great stuff to tell them but the camera battery is charging. I even make this great pun about how I'll be back in a "flash" and then you eat the post.

What gives!?!?!

Homesick

It's only Wednesday, but with the wedding planning really speeding up now I'm homesick in a way that hurts me all the way to my toes. Can even your toes feel sad? Do you know what I mean? A sad that empties you out and you're just feeling a little empty. Maybe it's the hugeness of this event - this life changing activity that I'm planning for. Or maybe it's the vivid dreams that I've been having of my dad. Maybe its that I don't have any friends who I can just drop in and see, or even talk to easily. Or maybe I'm just PMSing. Any way you shake it, I'm just feeling sad and lonely and really far away from my home. And I want my mother and I'm not afraid to say it.

Scarves and Weekends

I think as knitters we go through phases. Sometimes phases result in obsessions - things that we just need to get knit out of our systems. After years of knitting and being unafraid to try any type of knitting (except steeks - they freak my freak), I'm finding my heart in scarves. I just finished this one (The cross stitch scarf from One Skein Wonders) and I loved knitting every stitch. I just cast on for the Diagonal Lace Scarf (a find through Ravelry). I'm enjoying it in a way that is indescribable. I think I went through my scarf phase when I first learned to knit and after that, I looked at them as a beginner's project - I need bigger challenges like mittens, socks, sweaters and even knitted toys. I totally expect that something will come along to steal my attention away from the scarf, but for the here and now, I'm going to enjoy my scarves.

I've taken a few side trips too - I made C. this cable hat:

It's totally past season, but we'll put it in the hand knits winter bin in the hall closet and it'll be at the ready for him next year. Looooved knitting this too - it was simple and repetitive and I got lost in my thoughts while knitting it.

I've even cast on for a tank for the summer, but the spell has been cast by scarves. I'm just going with the flow - letting myself stock pile Christmas gifts for later in the year (could I possibly be ready for the holidays this year???) Won't I look smart and impressive if in the year of my wedding, I'm able to outfit the whole family in warm woolen scarves for the holidays? I like the idea of that. Good little haus frau keeps the house clean (yeah right), makes impressive and lovely dinners every night (as if) and knits scarves for the whole family (could actually happen).

I love the yarn for this tank - it's lovely. (Grat-uitous ring shot, turn your head if you hate those).

Next Saturday, I'm taking a spinning class at The Point in NYC. I've just come to understand that when I tell non-knitters about my spinning class - they believe I'm headed to the gym. I find that hilarious. So I'm taking this class and I'm really looking forward to it. Of course, I've got to go to the city on the same weekend the Pope is in town. Wish me luck. I'm planning to leave hella early from the Slope.

This weekend has been great for me. Yesterday, C. and I had a sleep in, walked to the farmer's market where we only bought Challah Bread (Holla!) for the most dee-lish french toast with blueberries this morning (already consumed - already deeper in love with C.) and then we meandered along the Avenue, popping in and out of shops until we were tired. We headed back here, I made a blueberry pie (we're into the anti-oxidant powers of the blueberry this weekend), C. made Chicken Mole, refried beans and rice and we shared a beer. We've got a Thin Man movie from Net Flix for tonight and I've got the Deadliest Catch marathon on Discovery right now.

It's been a nice weekend - I'm on the couch, the Diagonal Scarf that I'm bewitched by on the needles (in a butter colored Micro Spun that I found when a knitting basket flipped over on Thursday during a spring cleaning).

For now, that's all the news that's fit to knit!

Working From Home - Realizations

Now that I've been working from home for a month, I've realized a few things about myself:

• I really can stay in my PJ's half the day and not be bothered by it.
• I can't skip the daily shower even if that means showering at 5 PM.
• I can sleep later and I'm taking advantage of that
• I find Kelly Ripa hilarious
• I have not been sucked in by soaps...yet.

Knitting - 'cause the camera has pictures...till then, this is all the news that's fit to knit.

Time to Save Time

We're still trying to recover from this nasty flu business. That's right, I've shared my flu with C. poor thing is still willing to marry me - thank goodness. But we're hacking and sniffling away here in Brooklyn...

So, in between working (and apologizing to people over the phone for sounding like I just guzzled whiskey before I called them)...

I've been working on Save the Date cards and trying to pick a wedding invitation.

The fall theme has developed and everything for our wedding is now bedecked in maple leafs. I love this, C. tolerates this and that's just fine. I've always loved fall and I love the maple leaf, so we're in business. I've made these save the date cards - can't decide if I like the big leaf or the small leaf - so I've got a mix of them going out. I've photoshopped out our last names and the date (in the words of NL Cast, no stalkers!) - but this is the inside of the card. I made the little cake / leaf deal. I'm really quite proud of them.

I even sealed them with our newly shared last initial. I tried to do this with wax to start with, but that process was really time consuming and there was a bit of skill to it as well. I ruled that out for 150 invitations and went with a stamp instead.

So, we've been curled in bed surrounded by arts and crafts. It's looked pretty much like this:

DVD's - save the dates - registering

(we'll talk about that tomorrow)

and invitations

We're thinking about this for the invitations...

For now, that's all the news that fit to knit and wed!

Flu

I have been fighting the flu since Thursday. It was one of those flus where even your hair hurts. C. came home from work early on Friday out of concern for my health. He's a good man, that one. And hopefully, I'll be better by tomorrow.

I'm considering this for my bridal bouquet... hmmmm.

Another Year Older

This Yarnal chick hit the big 3-2 yesterday. Wow, 32 years old. It's a big number.

I've been thinking about my age in the days leading up to my birthday and I've come to realize that my 30's have been pretty good to me. I've shed a lot of the insecurities that I faced in my 20's. The nights of anxiety regarding work, home, relationships and friendships have melted away to leave me with a sense that everything can usually be worked out.

Blogger won't let me upload pictures today - not sure why, so I promise another post with interesting pictures of knitting! :)

For now, that's all the news that's fit to knit.