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.

It's What's Happening:

1. I'm feeling badly about the fact that I haven't posted to this blog in a few weeks.

2. We've just said goodbye to our favorite Englishman who's now safely back in Ireland. (The house is empty without you Johnny).

3. I am dancing a jig of happiness that Monday is the beginning of my last week of commuting. I officially become a "work from home" gal as of March. Loss of time in commuting, showering and dressing for work will come to an end. Bunny slippers and cold cream conference calls are in my future.

4. I've ordered a desk for myself from Target. This goes against the rule I made two years ago that condemned buying furniture that required that we assemble it with an allen wrench. Sigh.

5. It was a snow day here, but because I work from home on Fridays already, I was screwed.

6. I am re-watching every episode of Gilmore Girls on DVD and really wondering what AS-P had in mind for those last four words. This show was so freaking good. Except for the last season. We won't talk about that.

7. I spent $55 at Rite Aid today. That happens to me once a year - I spend an un-heard of amount of money at a drug store. I am still uncertain of how that bill got to be so high, but I think it was the new makeup line that sucked me in.

8. If I don't find a Wii for sale soon, I may kick something.

9. The wedding planning is totally and completely stalled and both of our mothers are to blame.

10. Barnes and Noble in NYC and Park Slope, Brooklyn have awesome displays of Pat Lewis' book, When the Claws Come Out. I bought a copy and am going back for pictures and another copy tomorrow. If you haven't bought it, get wit it.

11. After a tip off from my friends at Ravelry, I've come to find out that my first name and my new last name to be are already taken as email addresses. I settled for a hotmail account and smartly reserved the damn thing seven months before the wedding. Everything has to be done months before the wedding. Thanks, Ravelry. Now I don't have to be kristinhislastname1111122222233334444ATsomethingDOTcom.

You know the line, for now, this is all the news that's fit to knit.

Save the Date

Life must go on while I'm knitting / crocheting this Queen sized blanket for C. The wedding is slowly starting to take my attention now that we're past the holidays and starting in on February. I've got a to-do list that's starting to demand some respect.

Speaking of the holidays, back around Christmastime when I was separated from my sweetheart by miles and miles and miles of states and highways, I went out to dinner with my family for a little bonding and plan making. I love my family, in the time since I've been engaged, we found our way back to each other. I feel like we're closer than ever - in a good way. So, long story short, my mother and sister-in-law (read: mother of the bride and matron of honor) get me soaking drunk on margarita's and ushered me over to the local craft store to talk me into making things for the wedding.

Now, for the record, when I was stone cold sober, I was staunchly against hand - making anything for the wedding . Apparently, three fish-bowl margaritas, or whatever the hell they called them, had swung my vote.

So now, I've just spent the last half hour on a conference call where my brand of expertise wasn't really needed, with my phone on mute while I hand fed 100+ save the date cards through the printer. Sigh. Next step: punch out Maple Leaves from card stock, stick foam riser square on them and apply maple leaf to front of card. Yeah - I'm screwed.

I figure the best way to avoid being angry over my need to create so many of these, using so many steps, is to do the steps slowly - making it seem like it's less. Either that, or it's back to the fish bowl margarita.

Surprisingly, the biggest effort of all has been getting the mothers to cough up their mailing lists. I'm starting to wonder if booking the room that cannot take more than 150 people - no matter what, was a very good idea...

Knit the world a woobie

A few months back, C. and I hit the Yarn Farm for last ever big private sale.

C. asked that I would make him a giant woobie - basically, a queen sized woobie. He picked out this cotton, wool, silk blend and I bought 35 skeins (200yds. per skein). It's this lovely gray / lavender color.

Knowing better than to try to knit a queen sized blanket and not really wanting to sew together a million squares and really wanting a reversable blanket, I decided to crochet the bad boy.




So, this is what's been on the needle - or shall I say, crochet hook.

I'm not sure how wide we are - at least queen sized and the length, if I use every skein will be 105 inches. We're getting married this year and I've got a number of months to work on this. I'm hoping to give it to him as a wedding present.


Currently, it looks like a big heap - but in no time, it'll look like a larger heap. I know I'll be loving this thing in February and March and loating it in August! I've got to get it done before the summer heat really sets in.

To everyone who sent lovely messages about our hard trip to NC for C's grandfather's funeral, thank you so very much.

For now, that's all the news that's fit to Kn...Crochet!

Oh, Keyspan gas company, it's waaay after 5:00 PM, why are you still digging up the road in front of my house???

Hard Weeks

We've had a hard week here at chez Yarnal Knowledge. C's beloved grandfather passed away and we rushed to NC to say goodbye. It was a hard time. Goodbyes are always hard. I feel blessed to have had a grandfather again for a few years, it was too short a time with a very special man. So, dear readers, share a kind thought with my beloved. It's been a very hard week.

Knitting returns later this week.

For now, it's all the news, we're just not fit to knit.

Fo' Shizzle my knitizzers!

You thought since I was off in da 'Burgh visiting the City County building...

That I'd stopped knitting... Suckas! Check out some serious knit eye candy:

Ok, ends need to be woven in...

But I love this pink hat!!! It has ear flaps!

A Monkey Sock...someone has a birthday coming up...

A Clapotis - which, holy cow, when it was 14 degrees the other day, was the only thing that kept me truly warm. Love you, wool!

A pretty baby sweater... ends need, uh...

Seacell yarn from my future mother in law! Can't wait. Love ya!

And Jen and Adam showed me some serious love with some serious roving:

Can you stand it??? Future Mother in Law, I need a spinning lesson, stat!!! :)

Also from FMIL - who gave me a $25 Barnes and Noble Gift Certificate:

I wanna make everything in here!

So, you see??? I'm making stuff! This is still a knitting blog! And for now, that's all the news that's fit to knit in pictures!

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2008!

I'm pretty stoked about this year. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. The wedding is the most exciting event of '08 that we have planned, but the way things have been going lately, I think we'll be encountering all kinds of neat things throughout the year.

The holidays were fantastic. I'll share pictures tonight or Friday - I've got to upload from the camera. The bridesmaid dresses are starting to arrive - Mountain View (our reception site) caught on fire, I was swindled into making my own save the date cards under the influence of some UN-naturally large margaritas. Like I said, good times.

I'm thrilled to be starting 2008. Everything in my life feels right and good. I feel like I'm moving in the right direction and that I'm doing it with the full support of so many people who I love.

Hope you're looking forward to it as much as I am.

RESOLUTION:

To everyone who text messages me, I promise to learn how to text so that I can reply to you and make sense!

Oh - And the knitting, it's coming too! for now, that's all the news that's fit to knit!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Knitters & Friends. I finally head out to home tomorrow. I can't wait to be with my family.

C. is tucked away with his folks in NC and I miss him like a part of myself is gone away. We talk constantly, but I'm used to his face being around the homestead. I have, however, enjoyed sleeping in the middle of the bed. I'm over it now.

So the next few days for me include:

- Hugs out the wazzoo.
- Laughter and tales of Christmases past
- Updates on all activities from the niece & nephew
- Holiday cocktails
- Holiday music and dancing with my family
- Christmas eve service at church, where I can rejoice in this holiday and faith
- Christmas morning with my family and Christmas dinner with more family
- Meeting dear friends for lunches and evening cocktails
- Finding all of the good after Christmas sales with my mom
- Possibly picking up my wedding dress

It's a good list of things to look forward to. In the end, my life is about these people and I cherish these times. I don't hate my job, and I'm thankful for that, but my life is about the moments that I have with the people I love. I'm rich in that way alone. I have been lucky enough to have been surrounded, in the summer of my lifetime, by the most precious souls on earth. I'm thankful for it.

Now, I'm going to go pack an extra knitting project, I have to be at the airport in the morning!

So, till next week, that's all the news that's fit to knit!

Admissions

I know that a lot of people get choked up over songs, but I am here to admit today that nothing makes me cry my eyes out like hearing the Beach Boys sing Little Duece Coup. Why is that?

Little deuce Coupe You don't know what I got Little deuce Coupe You don't know what I got

Well I'm not braggin' babe so don't put me down

But I've got the fastest set of wheels in town When something comes up to me he don't even try Cause if I had a set of wings man I know she could fly

She's my little deuce coupe

You don't know what I got (My little deuce coupe) (You don't know what I got)

Just a little deuce coupe with a flat head mill But she'll walk a Thunderbird like (she's) it's standin' still She's ported and relieved and she's stroked and bored. She'll do a hundred and forty with the top end floored

She's my little deuce coupe

You don't know what I got (My little deuce coupe) (You don't know what I got)

She's got a competition clutch with the four on the floor And she purrs like a kitten till the lake pipes roar And if that aint enough to make you flip your lid There's one more thing, I got the pink slip daddy

And comin' off the line when the light turns green Well she blows 'em outta the water like you never seen I get pushed out of shape and it's hard to steer When I get rubber in all four gears

She's my little deuce coupe You don't know what I got (My little deuce coupe) (You don't know what I got)