why i don’t knit gauge swatches and stuff

So, I had all these grand plans to write a blog post last week about my trials and tribulations with this new stole I started knitting. How it suggested using a size 4 needle, which I didn’t have on hand so I swatched (yes, I swatched for a stole) and it totally lied did not work out at all. I went to Imagiknit twice and bought a total of 4 circular needles. I finally settled on size 5’s and started the darn thing and took it with me on our flight to WV this weekend. I should have know this story was not going to end well… especially since I flagrantly decided not to take any of the other needle sizes with me. I was so confident!

I’m sure you can see where this is going… on the plane I realized that the fabric was too loose and, you guessed it, the size 4, suggested needle size, was what I needed. You know, the one I left at home. This meant yet another knitting shop, this time Kanawha City Yarn Company, and success! The first repeat of the stole looks great!

Maybe not the greatest picture. Of course, this is about par for my picture taking abilities, especially on a plane.

As I mentioned, Joe and I flew to WV for a nice long weekend visiting our families. It’s so strange being so far from home. No longer a quick 4 hour drive for a visit, but a hard 8 or so hours flying across the country. It makes me appreciate them all the more! Hopefully we can get back for another trip before Christmas, but I’m thinking that’s not too likely…

On a lighter note, hello to you lurkers out there! It has come to my attention that more than two people are reading this here blog. When I say more than two, I’m thinking there now might be five. This makes me very very happy! So I’m going to ask a favor, por favor. I would love a headcount. A hello. Nothing fancy. Just a quick hi in the comments to let me know you’re here. One time. You can do it!

this and that

So I’m a little behind on posting my 30 day lists and I’m kinda tired. That means I’m going to cheat and just link you over to my flickr account and you can go take a look at my new ones if you’re interested. I’ll wait, go ahead…

After last nights thinking session I decided I really needed some sort of dream board and headed to Lowes to by some galvanized metal and paint among other things. Martha Stewart came to the rescue and as long as I can get a few days of no rain I’ll get this bad boy up and running. I’m kinda excited about having a place to stick all my random thoughts and ideas where I can see them clearly. Ripping out magazine pages and sticking them in a pile with a note is just not working out for me. I know, shocking, right?

I did manage to finish one Cascadia sock today. It even fits. Wow! I immediately cast on for the second one so I don’t have that poor sock hangin’ out by its lonesome for too long. I might actually knit myself an entire pair of socks!
I’ve got to figure out how to take a better picture…

late night navel gazing

Up late tonight. Sort of reverting back to my old ways in a time that I could get away with this (I’m so going to pay for this tomorrow…)

Making a list for tomorrow, of course, it is tomorrow, but I digress. And thinking about what I want to do with myself in general. I had an interesting conversation with a newish friend Friday night that was surprised at my current occupation and thought I had more to do with social media and well, probably anything other than what I actually do. True enough. What I do now doesn’t suit me, but what to do?

For one, I’m going to blog more. Not that it’s going to bring in extra cash, unless some kind soul would like to send it my way, but because I enjoy it. Because I enjoy writing. Even when it’s all grammatically incorrect. I’m also going to spruce up my craft room and get a board on the wall where I can pin and write ideas. Any idea on a combo for that? Or do I need to have two separate pieces… hmmm… the hamster wheel runneth.

So this is what I need. I need ideas.

shhh… she’s sleeping

Before we begin… sleeping puppy… so cute!

Fun, fun day today. Even if we did have to move the clock forward. Blech!
The day was spent with good friends, good food, and maybe a few cocktails. What a great way to end the weekend!

I thought it was time to post some updates on the 30 days of lists, so here we go with Day 10: Wishlist.
I’m really enjoying the daily prompts and the time it creates to sit and think about, well, a lot of things.

Day 11: Date Night Ideas
I’m pretty flexible…

Day 12: Weekly Rituals
Made me think that maybe I could get more done if I had a few things that were to be done on a specific day. It’s funny how I like consistency, but when I sit and think about it, I haven’t created any for myself.

Day 13: DIY’s I Want to Try
I think this speaks for itself

and the lists go on…

I am really enjoying the list thing and I LOVE looking at all the lists everyone else is posting on the Flicker group. I may be having some journal envy. They are  beautiful! Mine seems so plain jane… I want to fancy it up a bit, but just don’t know how to get started… you know what that means, right? The blog search will be starting shortly for journally type things. I know they’re out there. I know it.

On that note, here is my list for today: Favorite Websites and Blogs.

And as promised… days from the past.

Day 3: I am looking forward to
Realized I forgot to add my trip to WV to visit the fam. Definitely looking forward to that!

Day 4: Today’s Playlist
yeah, I listen to a lot of podcasts.

On the home front. I cooked. I know. Shocking!

It doesn’t look like much, I’m not much of a photographer after all. Oh and I realized that all the food is white. I swear that’s cauliflower on the left. It’s a vegetable. Really!
I did however, make almond crusted oven baked chicken from a recipe in Cook’s Illustrated and it is fantastic if I do say so myself. Delish!  I’m seeing a subscription to that magazine in my future. And possibly more cooking. Maybe.

So, to celebrate I ordered wine. OK. I may have ordered the wine last week. It still counts.

lists etc.

Oh.My.God.

I found list nirvana… or maybe something close… daily lists… at least for a month… love it!

Go here to see what all the hullaballoo is about, I’ll wait.

OK, so, I started late, as usual. My plan is to start with today and then throw in some of the pics from day 1-7. I know you’re excited. You may even find out a little more about me. Or, you may be like, we all knew that, move along.

Day 8: It’s scary people. There’s a lot of stuff in there.

So this is what my bag looked like just hangin’ out. I bought Leeloo a toy today, don’t judge me.

I wanted to list everything out, but then it becomes:
2 hair ties
2 vitamin containers, 1 empty
1 Hershey Kiss wrapper sans kiss
1 1/2 knitted sock + yarn + bag + pattern
It’s ridiculous.

Day 1: About Me

Day 2: Things I’m Good At

And now for something completely different.

Joe and I went to have sushi this evening and bumped in to the doggie parents of Chewie. The cutest dog evah! in case you were wondering (I have a picture somewhere…). Anyway, we start talking and realize we live in the same neighborhood. Score! Cool people. Awesome dog. What more can you ask for? We traded numbers and puppy play dates will ensue.