Clear the Crap!

We moved in to our house almost three years ago. That's the longest I've ever lived anywhere in my adult life. I'm not really used to settling down, I moved around a lot as a kid as well. I constantly feel the need to comb real estate listings and I don't really know why other than it's only logical that we move again, right? Wrong! We're HOME here. If we do move again, it's going to be back to the east coast and that's a ways off.

We closed on our house three years ago on my husband's 30th birthday. It has been a dream come true for us. I always wanted to own a home and this one really exceeded my expectations when we bought it. When we moved in, we didn't even have enough furniture for half of the house. My friends all chuckled and told me to just wait and see and we'll be amazed how fast we fill it up. Boy were they right.

After living here a while and settling down somewhat, I've noticed that I don't look around as often as I should. I'm not as on top of things as I probably should be. Stuff gets stashed. Stash gets stuffed. Now it seems like everything is just looking a little tired and we're suddenly bursting at the seams with STUFF everywhere.

It makes me feel a bit panicky to have every nook and cranny full of things. I don't know why. I want to look around and see clean, freshness, life, and NOT CLUTTER. We've accumulated so much that it is definitely time to do an overhaul. I sort of feel like packing up and moving out, just so we can move in again and everything can have its place once again. YEA... I'm not that crazy.

I am going to severely pack up a good portion of our stuff and get it the hell out of here though. I'm going to donate like crazy and just get RID of stuff. I also feel like we've acquired furniture, knick knacks and lamps and things that we really don't even love. Shouldn't we be surrounded by things we love? That's why I find smaller spaces much more manageable. Less room for things, so fill it with value and things you love... right? I need to take this approach with my own house. Maybe I'll even list some stuff on Craigslist.

YES. I'm excited. I'll set November 1 as day 1. I'm also totally getting the guys in on this project to help me clear out the crap. They equally have helped fill this house up. It'll be our little project for November before St. Nick pukes Christmas crap all over our house... that's another project all together!

Clear the Crap!

We moved in to our house almost three years ago. That's the longest I've ever lived anywhere in my adult life. I'm not really used to settling down, I moved around a lot as a kid as well. I constantly feel the need to comb real estate listings and I don't really know why other than it's only logical that we move again, right? Wrong! We're HOME here. If we do move again, it's going to be back to the east coast and that's a ways off.

We closed on our house three years ago on my husband's 30th birthday. It has been a dream come true for us. I always wanted to own a home and this one really exceeded my expectations when we bought it. When we moved in, we didn't even have enough furniture for half of the house. My friends all chuckled and told me to just wait and see and we'll be amazed how fast we fill it up. Boy were they right.

After living here a while and settling down somewhat, I've noticed that I don't look around as often as I should. I'm not as on top of things as I probably should be. Stuff gets stashed. Stash gets stuffed. Now it seems like everything is just looking a little tired and we're suddenly bursting at the seams with STUFF everywhere.

It makes me feel a bit panicky to have every nook and cranny full of things. I don't know why. I want to look around and see clean, freshness, life, and NOT CLUTTER. We've accumulated so much that it is definitely time to do an overhaul. I sort of feel like packing up and moving out, just so we can move in again and everything can have its place once again. YEA... I'm not that crazy.

I am going to severely pack up a good portion of our stuff and get it the hell out of here though. I'm going to donate like crazy and just get RID of stuff. I also feel like we've acquired furniture, knick knacks and lamps and things that we really don't even love. Shouldn't we be surrounded by things we love? That's why I find smaller spaces much more manageable. Less room for things, so fill it with value and things you love... right? I need to take this approach with my own house. Maybe I'll even list some stuff on Craigslist.

YES. I'm excited. I'll set November 1 as day 1. I'm also totally getting the guys in on this project to help me clear out the crap. They equally have helped fill this house up. It'll be our little project for November before St. Nick pukes Christmas crap all over our house... that's another project all together!

my wednesday morning

A couple of my favorite bloggers have done this 'day in the life' photo project and I thought I'd participate. But I quickly had ten photos before nine o'clock this morning so I thought I'd just share my morning. Plus I have the time right now so what you see is what you get.

So my alarm goes off at 6:25. During the warmer months, I typically get up before the alarm. I absolutely love walking around my garden at the crack of dawn with a hot cup of coffee and cold dew on my feet. Love. Now though? My husband hits snooze a few times for me and snuggles up to me... doesn't exactly get me motivated to get out of bed. Shortly before 7 I roll out of bed and make it to the shower.

Since I'm getting up later, I don't have any time to myself in the mornings which I really don't like. I need my coffee before dealing with anything or anyone... and that hasn't been the case lately so I've been all screwed up.

Anyway...

First thing I do when I come downstairs is get the coffee going. Then I open the curtains. I about jumped out of my own skin this morning when I found this scarecrow peering in to the window when I opened the curtain. AHH! Who's the wiseguy? Oh... wait... that would be ME. I put him there yesterday to spook my guys. Didn't spook them... but it got me good. Hah!

Lets back up a minute. Before I came down today I already had my oldest son nebulizing. He's suffering from a bad case of allergy induced asthma. No other symptoms of sickness, just a horrible horrible cough that is so hard to control. I didn't have the heart to send him to school today. How can he deal with classmates and school work while coughing uncontrollably?? Even with close contact with our awesome pediatrician, we haven't really found a good solution for his asthma. Fortunately the episodes are fewer and farther between these days, so that is the silver lining. After his neb, he came down all shaky and needed to eat something... peanut butter sandwich and some juice. Now he's curled up on the couch playing his DS and watching TV.

Hubby ran out the door pretty early today. He's off to meet the electrician at one of our properties. Normally, we all sit down and eat breakfast together so today was all messed up from the get-go.

That left me and the little man for a breakfast date. We had oatmeal with cinnamon, raisins, cranberries and walnuts. Yum Yum. I usually make eggs for the family every morning, but I am so sick of eggs that I was happy to have oatmeal this morning and so was Little Man...

While enjoying breakfast, I kid you not, the laundry chute exploded. It has a magnetic closure and when it's two-stories full, gravity prevails and spills laundry all over the floor. Subtle, eh?

Two stories of laundry is usually about three loads... and I do laundry every other day. HOW do we make so much laundry? Oh waiiiitt.... did you notice that the babe wasn't wearing a bib? When will momma learn?

After finishing breakfast, I started a load of laundry and started a grocery list. Laundry and trips to the store seem to go hand in hand. I also contemplated what to make for dinner...

I've had these squash and sweet potatoes for a couple weeks now and want to use them up. I heard a great recipe for butternut squash ravioli on the Splendid Table podcast that uses them both. I'm thinking about making a big batch and freezing a bunch but I don't know how they'll hold up. Still though, I don't have the pasta sheets that I need (and I'm not making my own) so this is out for dinner tonight. I decided on enchiladas because I have everything on hand.

After this, it was time to clean the babe up... thoroughly plastered with oatmeal. Wardrobe change numero uno. Seriously, I need to get some of those old school wearable coverall bibs.

Checked on big boy who is staying calm and in control on the couch so I do not disturb. It's time to get some work done...

I set the babe up with some light reading and the latest sesame street to watch while I grab another cuppa and set up at the dining room table to work.

Today I have my weekly web design gig to do for my parents newspaper, I need to peruse newest real estate listings and do some business related correspondence. Fun stuff, folks. Well... and blogging of course, important stuff. My eye keeps wandering to my knitting and I contemplate working on my current projects:

Special Olympics charity scarf, baptism blanket for my church, cobblestone pullover for my hubby and oh... oh my new love affair... the Staghorn pullover by Lisa Lloyd. love love.

But now I have to get down to business and get my work done on the computer so I can play with my boy before lunchtime. It's supposed to warm up a bit today so we'll probably head outside. I need to pull out all of the annuals that were killed off in the hard freeze the other night and just do general cleanup. I should also bring in the pumpkins so they're warm enough to carve tonight. Beggar's night is tomorrow night here. I have no idea why it isn't on Friday night and I'm annoyed beceause tomorrow night is the night I knit with my friends. How DARE it conflict with knitting?! Har Har Har.

So there ya have it... a couple hours of my day. I'm off to switch the laundry...

my wednesday morning

A couple of my favorite bloggers have done this 'day in the life' photo project and I thought I'd participate. But I quickly had ten photos before nine o'clock this morning so I thought I'd just share my morning. Plus I have the time right now so what you see is what you get.

So my alarm goes off at 6:25. During the warmer months, I typically get up before the alarm. I absolutely love walking around my garden at the crack of dawn with a hot cup of coffee and cold dew on my feet. Love. Now though? My husband hits snooze a few times for me and snuggles up to me... doesn't exactly get me motivated to get out of bed. Shortly before 7 I roll out of bed and make it to the shower.

Since I'm getting up later, I don't have any time to myself in the mornings which I really don't like. I need my coffee before dealing with anything or anyone... and that hasn't been the case lately so I've been all screwed up.

Anyway...

First thing I do when I come downstairs is get the coffee going. Then I open the curtains. I about jumped out of my own skin this morning when I found this scarecrow peering in to the window when I opened the curtain. AHH! Who's the wiseguy? Oh... wait... that would be ME. I put him there yesterday to spook my guys. Didn't spook them... but it got me good. Hah!

Lets back up a minute. Before I came down today I already had my oldest son nebulizing. He's suffering from a bad case of allergy induced asthma. No other symptoms of sickness, just a horrible horrible cough that is so hard to control. I didn't have the heart to send him to school today. How can he deal with classmates and school work while coughing uncontrollably?? Even with close contact with our awesome pediatrician, we haven't really found a good solution for his asthma. Fortunately the episodes are fewer and farther between these days, so that is the silver lining. After his neb, he came down all shaky and needed to eat something... peanut butter sandwich and some juice. Now he's curled up on the couch playing his DS and watching TV.

Hubby ran out the door pretty early today. He's off to meet the electrician at one of our properties. Normally, we all sit down and eat breakfast together so today was all messed up from the get-go.

That left me and the little man for a breakfast date. We had oatmeal with cinnamon, raisins, cranberries and walnuts. Yum Yum. I usually make eggs for the family every morning, but I am so sick of eggs that I was happy to have oatmeal this morning and so was Little Man...

While enjoying breakfast, I kid you not, the laundry chute exploded. It has a magnetic closure and when it's two-stories full, gravity prevails and spills laundry all over the floor. Subtle, eh?

Two stories of laundry is usually about three loads... and I do laundry every other day. HOW do we make so much laundry? Oh waiiiitt.... did you notice that the babe wasn't wearing a bib? When will momma learn?

After finishing breakfast, I started a load of laundry and started a grocery list. Laundry and trips to the store seem to go hand in hand. I also contemplated what to make for dinner...

I've had these squash and sweet potatoes for a couple weeks now and want to use them up. I heard a great recipe for butternut squash ravioli on the Splendid Table podcast that uses them both. I'm thinking about making a big batch and freezing a bunch but I don't know how they'll hold up. Still though, I don't have the pasta sheets that I need (and I'm not making my own) so this is out for dinner tonight. I decided on enchiladas because I have everything on hand.

After this, it was time to clean the babe up... thoroughly plastered with oatmeal. Wardrobe change numero uno. Seriously, I need to get some of those old school wearable coverall bibs.

Checked on big boy who is staying calm and in control on the couch so I do not disturb. It's time to get some work done...

I set the babe up with some light reading and the latest sesame street to watch while I grab another cuppa and set up at the dining room table to work.

Today I have my weekly web design gig to do for my parents newspaper, I need to peruse newest real estate listings and do some business related correspondence. Fun stuff, folks. Well... and blogging of course, important stuff. My eye keeps wandering to my knitting and I contemplate working on my current projects:

Special Olympics charity scarf, baptism blanket for my church, cobblestone pullover for my hubby and oh... oh my new love affair... the Staghorn pullover by Lisa Lloyd. love love.

But now I have to get down to business and get my work done on the computer so I can play with my boy before lunchtime. It's supposed to warm up a bit today so we'll probably head outside. I need to pull out all of the annuals that were killed off in the hard freeze the other night and just do general cleanup. I should also bring in the pumpkins so they're warm enough to carve tonight. Beggar's night is tomorrow night here. I have no idea why it isn't on Friday night and I'm annoyed beceause tomorrow night is the night I knit with my friends. How DARE it conflict with knitting?! Har Har Har.

So there ya have it... a couple hours of my day. I'm off to switch the laundry...

done and done

As much as I wanted to participate in Socktoberfest, I decided that during the month of October I'm going to get my WIPs off the needles once and for all. My projects were really starting to stack up and I find that annoying and overwhelming. So while all of you were happily casting on all of your lovely TTL Mystery Socks... I pouted and finished my projects like I set out to do. Heh.

First up, I finished off a baby sweater for my friend Alison. She's due very soon to have a baby girl. It was very fun to knit this because I don't knit girly things very often. I found the pattern in my friend Amy's projects on Ravelry. Here is the link to the pattern details.

I used size 4 needles and Dale of Norway Falk -- a soft, washable 100% wool to keep bebe warm through the winter. I had to find some ladybug buttons to use because ladybugs are the theme for the nursery. I love the end result and so does Mama, and that's what counts.

Up next is the afghan that I knit for my husband. [Rav Link] It will be his big Christmas gift this year if I can hold off on giving it to him that long. A couple months ago, Earthchick was having a raffle and I won a prize... six squooshy skeins of Brown Sheep Burlyspun. WoW! I was so thrilled! I've always wanted to knit with this and never in a million years would have bought this quantity for anything. It was a pure delight to knit with for this afghan that I think of as a big woolly cloud of squooshy mamalove.

I didn't use the yarn to knit a sweater which is sort of what the prize package was intended for, but I did knit something that will hug my family and keep them warm for years to come. Something I think Ms. Earthchick herself would approve of. Thank you again.

I used every inch of the six skeins of yarn on size 17 needles. I made up my own pattern with sort of a garter/waffle rib and xoxo cables. I put xoxo on everything involving my family... scrapbooking pages, notes, everything... so it was especially fitting.

I'll be back tomorrow with more finished knits! Right now I am itching to go cast on a hat....

done and done

As much as I wanted to participate in Socktoberfest, I decided that during the month of October I'm going to get my WIPs off the needles once and for all. My projects were really starting to stack up and I find that annoying and overwhelming. So while all of you were happily casting on all of your lovely TTL Mystery Socks... I pouted and finished my projects like I set out to do. Heh.

First up, I finished off a baby sweater for my friend Alison. She's due very soon to have a baby girl. It was very fun to knit this because I don't knit girly things very often. I found the pattern in my friend Amy's projects on Ravelry. Here is the link to the pattern details.

I used size 4 needles and Dale of Norway Falk -- a soft, washable 100% wool to keep bebe warm through the winter. I had to find some ladybug buttons to use because ladybugs are the theme for the nursery. I love the end result and so does Mama, and that's what counts.

Up next is the afghan that I knit for my husband. [Rav Link] It will be his big Christmas gift this year if I can hold off on giving it to him that long. A couple months ago, Earthchick was having a raffle and I won a prize... six squooshy skeins of Brown Sheep Burlyspun. WoW! I was so thrilled! I've always wanted to knit with this and never in a million years would have bought this quantity for anything. It was a pure delight to knit with for this afghan that I think of as a big woolly cloud of squooshy mamalove.

I didn't use the yarn to knit a sweater which is sort of what the prize package was intended for, but I did knit something that will hug my family and keep them warm for years to come. Something I think Ms. Earthchick herself would approve of. Thank you again.

I used every inch of the six skeins of yarn on size 17 needles. I made up my own pattern with sort of a garter/waffle rib and xoxo cables. I put xoxo on everything involving my family... scrapbooking pages, notes, everything... so it was especially fitting.

I'll be back tomorrow with more finished knits! Right now I am itching to go cast on a hat....

NY Sheep and Wool Podcasts

The New York Sheep & Wool Festival (Rhinebeck) is this weekend. Sigh. I so wanted to go to this. I'm not sure why I'm not, really. Life. Next year, we will be there with bells on.

I did come across these video podcasts about Rhinebeck at letsknit2gether that I've never seen before. What a treat! I highly recommend them. I sort of feel like I've almost been there before from living vicariously through others photos and blogs about it over the years. It was fun to see these video podcasts.

TGIF! As an at-home Mom, I have to tell ya that I don't have the release of leaving the 9-5 on Fridays. I celebrate Fridays because I get to sleep in tomorrow morning. This weekend we're planning on going to the farmer's market, then I'm meeting some friends for lunch and knitting tomorrow afternoon. Other than that we are planning on planting bulbs around the yard, doing a little local leaf peeping and I'm going to roast a chicken for Sunday dinner. Mellow. Fun. Good times.

I finished the afghan I've been knitting for my husband. It's his big Christmas present... oh yea, I'm ahead of the game! Today I've been having an affair with a new project on the needles... it's a charity blanket knit with the sweetest, softest acrylic I've ever felt. Seriously. I feel a little cheap and dirty but damn, I'm in love with this stuff. What is it? I Love This Yarn acrylic from Hobby Lobby. srsly ppl... yum. Call me crazy, but don't knock it until you try it.

I need to get back to finishing the husband's sweater, a pair of socks, and several stocking caps. Then my mitten binge can begin!

Happy Fall! Happy Weekend, my friends.

NY Sheep and Wool Podcasts

The New York Sheep & Wool Festival (Rhinebeck) is this weekend. Sigh. I so wanted to go to this. I'm not sure why I'm not, really. Life. Next year, we will be there with bells on.

I did come across these video podcasts about Rhinebeck at letsknit2gether that I've never seen before. What a treat! I highly recommend them. I sort of feel like I've almost been there before from living vicariously through others photos and blogs about it over the years. It was fun to see these video podcasts.

TGIF! As an at-home Mom, I have to tell ya that I don't have the release of leaving the 9-5 on Fridays. I celebrate Fridays because I get to sleep in tomorrow morning. This weekend we're planning on going to the farmer's market, then I'm meeting some friends for lunch and knitting tomorrow afternoon. Other than that we are planning on planting bulbs around the yard, doing a little local leaf peeping and I'm going to roast a chicken for Sunday dinner. Mellow. Fun. Good times.

I finished the afghan I've been knitting for my husband. It's his big Christmas present... oh yea, I'm ahead of the game! Today I've been having an affair with a new project on the needles... it's a charity blanket knit with the sweetest, softest acrylic I've ever felt. Seriously. I feel a little cheap and dirty but damn, I'm in love with this stuff. What is it? I Love This Yarn acrylic from Hobby Lobby. srsly ppl... yum. Call me crazy, but don't knock it until you try it.

I need to get back to finishing the husband's sweater, a pair of socks, and several stocking caps. Then my mitten binge can begin!

Happy Fall! Happy Weekend, my friends.

Bring Back Old Flickr!

Ack! Flickr rearranged their (my) home page layout... I DO NOT LIKE IT.

Just sayin'. What do you think of it?

Bring Back Old Flickr!

Ack! Flickr rearranged their (my) home page layout... I DO NOT LIKE IT.

Just sayin'. What do you think of it?

Mitten Fever

Columbus Day Weekend always seems to be the prime autumnal weekend. This year was no exception. We had unusually warm weather this weekend and made a point to play outside for the duration. The later it gets in the season, the more we make a point to enjoy the 70+ temps because it could very well be the last time for the year.

Yesterday a cold front came through and whooshed away our warm weather and in an instant I was transformed. I went from thinking 'hmm, what should we grill tonight' to 'I should have put a pot roast in the crock pot.' Plus, all of the sudden I wanted to knit mittens... something I only like to do this time of year. So I've been going through my stash to find some oddballs to knit up some fabulous mittens. I have several pairs on my must-knit list this season. In particular:

• Chevalier mittens
• Newfoundland mittens
• Herringbone mittens
• Mitered Mittens
• Lopi Mittens

I want to knit some fingerless gloves for my son. He loves those $1 stretchy thin gloves from the discount stores because they aren't too clunky and he still has the use of his fingers. I think that a pair of fingerless mitts to wear over the gloves would do the trick to keep his hands warm. I am thinking about stitching them together so they're one piece.

We also have a shortage of knit hats and warm scarves. We have an abundance of lace scarves and shawls, but they just don't seem to do the trick for the guys. I want to knit some simple, superwarm, doubleknit hats and scarves.

So my needles are going to be busy knitting up warm things for the winter and as a bonus, using up some stash which is a very good thing.

Mitten Fever

Columbus Day Weekend always seems to be the prime autumnal weekend. This year was no exception. We had unusually warm weather this weekend and made a point to play outside for the duration. The later it gets in the season, the more we make a point to enjoy the 70+ temps because it could very well be the last time for the year.

Yesterday a cold front came through and whooshed away our warm weather and in an instant I was transformed. I went from thinking 'hmm, what should we grill tonight' to 'I should have put a pot roast in the crock pot.' Plus, all of the sudden I wanted to knit mittens... something I only like to do this time of year. So I've been going through my stash to find some oddballs to knit up some fabulous mittens. I have several pairs on my must-knit list this season. In particular:

• Chevalier mittens
• Newfoundland mittens
• Herringbone mittens
• Mitered Mittens
• Lopi Mittens

I want to knit some fingerless gloves for my son. He loves those $1 stretchy thin gloves from the discount stores because they aren't too clunky and he still has the use of his fingers. I think that a pair of fingerless mitts to wear over the gloves would do the trick to keep his hands warm. I am thinking about stitching them together so they're one piece.

We also have a shortage of knit hats and warm scarves. We have an abundance of lace scarves and shawls, but they just don't seem to do the trick for the guys. I want to knit some simple, superwarm, doubleknit hats and scarves.

So my needles are going to be busy knitting up warm things for the winter and as a bonus, using up some stash which is a very good thing.

Des Moines Farmer's Market

This morning I took my two sons downtown to the farmer's market. It was a blissful experience this morning. Very warm for this time of year... short sleeves, a breeze and abundant sunshine. It was a full sensory experience. I smelled peppers and onions from the breakfast burrito stands, I heard 'somewhere over the rainbow' being played on saxaphone, I saw colorful displays of gourds, sweet babies, embracing pairs of siblings, friends, lovers, family. It's always a magical experience to go to the market and I regret not going more often this year especially seeing how much my boys enjoyed it.

My nine year old was intrigued by the whole farmers market idea... he hasn't been to one in a long time. It was a great opportunity to explain the importance of buying local and how it helps our environment. He's very in to 'going green' right now which is awesome.

We bought some sweet potatoes, Amish cookies and ... YARN! There was a lovely lady selling her handspun yarns. I bought two gorgeous golden purply red hanks of bumpy, beautiful yarn. I'm in love. It's easy to appreciate how special handspun yarn is. I REGRET that I lost the business card that the vendor gave me. I know so many of my local knitting friends would flock to her... this was the first week she's set up this season so it was serendipity. She's going to be at the market for the next two Saturdays and then will be setting up at the winter market as well.

Next weekend we're going again and my son is already talking about the steely gray yarn that he wants me to buy to make him a scarf and hat for winter... twist my arm, son, twist my rubber arm. :D

Des Moines Farmer's Market

This morning I took my two sons downtown to the farmer's market. It was a blissful experience this morning. Very warm for this time of year... short sleeves, a breeze and abundant sunshine. It was a full sensory experience. I smelled peppers and onions from the breakfast burrito stands, I heard 'somewhere over the rainbow' being played on saxaphone, I saw colorful displays of gourds, sweet babies, embracing pairs of siblings, friends, lovers, family. It's always a magical experience to go to the market and I regret not going more often this year especially seeing how much my boys enjoyed it.

My nine year old was intrigued by the whole farmers market idea... he hasn't been to one in a long time. It was a great opportunity to explain the importance of buying local and how it helps our environment. He's very in to 'going green' right now which is awesome.

We bought some sweet potatoes, Amish cookies and ... YARN! There was a lovely lady selling her handspun yarns. I bought two gorgeous golden purply red hanks of bumpy, beautiful yarn. I'm in love. It's easy to appreciate how special handspun yarn is. I REGRET that I lost the business card that the vendor gave me. I know so many of my local knitting friends would flock to her... this was the first week she's set up this season so it was serendipity. She's going to be at the market for the next two Saturdays and then will be setting up at the winter market as well.

Next weekend we're going again and my son is already talking about the steely gray yarn that he wants me to buy to make him a scarf and hat for winter... twist my arm, son, twist my rubber arm. :D

Ongoing 'Must Try' List

I'm trying to become more project oriented when stashing yarn. I think that will help cut down on the stuff I scratch my head at down the road. But still, there are yarns that I'd gladly stash just so I could pet it and have the privilege of knitting with it. This post will serve as an ongoing wishlist of yarns I haven't tried yet and am slowly seeking out.

Anything from Briar Rose Fibers... the colors! the fibers! I haven't delved in to this site deep enough to truly get a grip on all the fibery goodness but everything i've seen knit with this is amazing.

Manos del Uruguay ... it's been on my must-try list pretty much since the beginning.

Koigu Kersti ...

Kauni Multicolor Yarn ...

Morehouse Merino ...

Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn ... Long ago I knit two pairs from the non-superwash and they've BOTH felted... I'd like to knit some socks up in superwash.

Beaverslide Dry Goods ...

Green Mountain Spinnery ...

Misti Alpaca ... in particular the Suri Silk blend but all blends seem pretty irresistible.

Brooks Farm Yarn

sKNITches ... if I can ever get my hands on some

Sheep Shop

Blue Moon Fiber arts NON socks that rock ... especially the bulky and the silk blends..

Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere

... more to come! So what yarns are YOU lusting after right now? ... feel free to add them in the comments!

Ongoing 'Must Try' List

I'm trying to become more project oriented when stashing yarn. I think that will help cut down on the stuff I scratch my head at down the road. But still, there are yarns that I'd gladly stash just so I could pet it and have the privilege of knitting with it. This post will serve as an ongoing wishlist of yarns I haven't tried yet and am slowly seeking out.

Anything from Briar Rose Fibers... the colors! the fibers! I haven't delved in to this site deep enough to truly get a grip on all the fibery goodness but everything i've seen knit with this is amazing.

Manos del Uruguay ... it's been on my must-try list pretty much since the beginning.

Koigu Kersti ...

Kauni Multicolor Yarn ...

Morehouse Merino ...

Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn ... Long ago I knit two pairs from the non-superwash and they've BOTH felted... I'd like to knit some socks up in superwash.

Beaverslide Dry Goods ...

Green Mountain Spinnery ...

Misti Alpaca ... in particular the Suri Silk blend but all blends seem pretty irresistible.

Brooks Farm Yarn

sKNITches ... if I can ever get my hands on some

Sheep Shop

Blue Moon Fiber arts NON socks that rock ... especially the bulky and the silk blends..

Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere

... more to come! So what yarns are YOU lusting after right now? ... feel free to add them in the comments!

Going for a Walk

Today, I invite you to go for a walk with me around my neighborhood park. It's not your average park... it's really an amazing place. Our town has put a lot of effort (and time) (and money) in to making this a special place. It's been the center if so many memories for me during the past five years since we moved here.

It is another glorious day. Perfect fall weather. I hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy it!

Going for a Walk

Today, I invite you to go for a walk with me around my neighborhood park. It's not your average park... it's really an amazing place. Our town has put a lot of effort (and time) (and money) in to making this a special place. It's been the center if so many memories for me during the past five years since we moved here.

It is another glorious day. Perfect fall weather. I hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy it!

Almost Novelty Sock Yarn

Regia Softy... Sport weight, 39% wool / 61% polyamide = pure fun. This is a very unusual sock yarn! It's almost novelty but it's super soft and since it still has some wool content, I'm game.

I originally saw this sock yarn in the latest Patternworks catalog. They have some variegated colorways of this yarn for $10 a ball... not bad, not bad. But then I looked up this yarn on Ravelry and saw that it also comes in solids which struck my fancy so I searched around online and found some at Kaleidoscope Yarns and it just happened to be on sale for $6.80 a ball. Score! I ordered these two balls of cranberry red and one ball of cream.

I'm envisioning some fun house socks for my Mom for Christmas... candy cane stripes? Now I wish I would have ordered more... I should get some boyish colors for some warm footies for my boys as well. Ooh ooh! Kids mittens... kids hats... maybe a baby sweater!? Fun stuff. Go get some!

I also want to add that I'm very pleased with Kaleidoscope Yarns. Their web site is great, they ship orders promptly and via priority mail. Big kudos to kyarns for excellent service.

Keeping Warm

This is what I've been knitting for the past few days. Well... for the past month or so off and on. It's the sweetheart afghan that I'm knitting for my hubby for Christmas. It's a surprise so I work on it during the afternoons while he's at work. I'm using creamy dreamy Brown Sheep Burlyspun + size 17 needles. My own pattern. It has xoxo cables that run in columns between a garter rib pattern. It's just yummy delicious knitting. Total decadence.

Today, it's keeping me toasty which I need. It's actually a beautiful day outside but in the mid 60s. I have the back door open so I can hear the birds and the wind chime. It's pretty chilly in here, so I couldn't think of a better project to knit. As you can guess from my previous entry, I'm also listening to podcasts. Nice Nice.

This afghan is nearly done. I am on the second to last hank out of six. I do believe that it'll cover my six foot tall husband from toe to chin once it's completed. It'll even be wide enough for us to both snuggle under.

I decided today that I think afghans are my favorite thing to knit. They're timeless, they don't require fitting someone, they can be as plain or as fussy as you want them to be. They keep my loved ones warm for years and years to come. The two afghans I've made my own family are out on our sofas every day and are used just about every day as well. What could be better than creating a blanket of warmth, comfort and love?

Cast-On Podcast

I recently discovered Brenda Dayne's brilliant Cast-On podcast and I can't tell you how much I love it. It's wonderful. She's wonderful. The essays and interviews are wonderful. The music is also wonderful.

I'm very late to discover this podcast -- but the one advantage to that is that there are 69 episodes to me to devour. I've only listened to a handful so far and am enjoying it so much. I laugh out loud. I cry. Stories stick with me. I do believe that it's caused me to love my knitting and knitting itself even more than I already do.

If you haven't already listened to it yourself, go and download a few episodes. You won't be sorry. Also, make sure you give Brenda some feedback. She loves it and deserves it.

Almost Novelty Sock Yarn

Regia Softy... Sport weight, 39% wool / 61% polyamide = pure fun. This is a very unusual sock yarn! It's almost novelty but it's super soft and since it still has some wool content, I'm game.

I originally saw this sock yarn in the latest Patternworks catalog. They have some variegated colorways of this yarn for $10 a ball... not bad, not bad. But then I looked up this yarn on Ravelry and saw that it also comes in solids which struck my fancy so I searched around online and found some at Kaleidoscope Yarns and it just happened to be on sale for $6.80 a ball. Score! I ordered these two balls of cranberry red and one ball of cream.

I'm envisioning some fun house socks for my Mom for Christmas... candy cane stripes? Now I wish I would have ordered more... I should get some boyish colors for some warm footies for my boys as well. Ooh ooh! Kids mittens... kids hats... maybe a baby sweater!? Fun stuff. Go get some!

I also want to add that I'm very pleased with Kaleidoscope Yarns. Their web site is great, they ship orders promptly and via priority mail. Big kudos to kyarns for excellent service.

Keeping Warm

This is what I've been knitting for the past few days. Well... for the past month or so off and on. It's the sweetheart afghan that I'm knitting for my hubby for Christmas. It's a surprise so I work on it during the afternoons while he's at work. I'm using creamy dreamy Brown Sheep Burlyspun + size 17 needles. My own pattern. It has xoxo cables that run in columns between a garter rib pattern. It's just yummy delicious knitting. Total decadence.

Today, it's keeping me toasty which I need. It's actually a beautiful day outside but in the mid 60s. I have the back door open so I can hear the birds and the wind chime. It's pretty chilly in here, so I couldn't think of a better project to knit. As you can guess from my previous entry, I'm also listening to podcasts. Nice Nice.

This afghan is nearly done. I am on the second to last hank out of six. I do believe that it'll cover my six foot tall husband from toe to chin once it's completed. It'll even be wide enough for us to both snuggle under.

I decided today that I think afghans are my favorite thing to knit. They're timeless, they don't require fitting someone, they can be as plain or as fussy as you want them to be. They keep my loved ones warm for years and years to come. The two afghans I've made my own family are out on our sofas every day and are used just about every day as well. What could be better than creating a blanket of warmth, comfort and love?

Cast-On Podcast

I recently discovered Brenda Dayne's brilliant Cast-On podcast and I can't tell you how much I love it. It's wonderful. She's wonderful. The essays and interviews are wonderful. The music is also wonderful.

I'm very late to discover this podcast -- but the one advantage to that is that there are 69 episodes to me to devour. I've only listened to a handful so far and am enjoying it so much. I laugh out loud. I cry. Stories stick with me. I do believe that it's caused me to love my knitting and knitting itself even more than I already do.

If you haven't already listened to it yourself, go and download a few episodes. You won't be sorry. Also, make sure you give Brenda some feedback. She loves it and deserves it.

Something in the air.

The babe and I took a long walk this morning like we do many mornings each week. The husband is off to work, big brother is off at school. It's our own quiet time to just be together and be outside.

It's still pretty warm here ... it was in the mid 60s this morning which is very comfortable walking weather. We walked and walked... the longest walk I've taken around my own neighborhood I think. We stopped at the park and played. I picked up interesting colorful leaves and bean pods along the way and the babe ooh'd and ahh'd. It was bliss.

The leaves are just starting to turn here. Each fall, there's a certain type of tree that seems to get a muskiness scent to it when the seasons are changing. It's pretty thick and can be overwhelming. It makes my throat close up a little when I smell it. But I love it. It's a smell that takes me back.

We used to live in Spearfish, SD when I was a little girl. Smelling that musky tree scent takes me back to the city park in Spearfish which is at the base of Spearfish Canyon. I remember that smell while playing in a crystal clear pool of water in the creek at the park. I can smell the trees, feel the sunshine, feel how icy cold the crystal clear water was on my legs. I was probably 8 or 9. A favorite memory.

That scent in the air just took me back to that memory in a flash and it has stuck with me all morning. I love that.

Something in the air.

The babe and I took a long walk this morning like we do many mornings each week. The husband is off to work, big brother is off at school. It's our own quiet time to just be together and be outside.

It's still pretty warm here ... it was in the mid 60s this morning which is very comfortable walking weather. We walked and walked... the longest walk I've taken around my own neighborhood I think. We stopped at the park and played. I picked up interesting colorful leaves and bean pods along the way and the babe ooh'd and ahh'd. It was bliss.

The leaves are just starting to turn here. Each fall, there's a certain type of tree that seems to get a muskiness scent to it when the seasons are changing. It's pretty thick and can be overwhelming. It makes my throat close up a little when I smell it. But I love it. It's a smell that takes me back.

We used to live in Spearfish, SD when I was a little girl. Smelling that musky tree scent takes me back to the city park in Spearfish which is at the base of Spearfish Canyon. I remember that smell while playing in a crystal clear pool of water in the creek at the park. I can smell the trees, feel the sunshine, feel how icy cold the crystal clear water was on my legs. I was probably 8 or 9. A favorite memory.

That scent in the air just took me back to that memory in a flash and it has stuck with me all morning. I love that.