high and dry

Yup - the "tropical storm" Hanna passed by with little damage, and only a bit of a storm here. Mike and I took advantage and went for a bit of walk in the rain, which was fun. I thought it'd be cold and rough, but it was pretty warm and mild. It's so weird to look outside and think the weather is one thing and then step outside to find it's another.

I'm almost finished with the 'Baby Raglan' sweater:



The green and orange look a little pumpkin-y, but then again, the baby is due in October! Yes, I do know one sleeve is longer than the other, I tried it with (as the pattern suggested) and without the ribbing, and I think I like it better without. I just finished the bottom tonight, but don't have the energy to take more pictures. Tomorrow I will rip out the little bit of ribbing on the left sleeve, cast off and seam it up. Can't believe I'm actually done with this one early!

Next on my list is the elephante pattern (ravelry link - it takes me a while to find the non-ravelry links sometimes. Which is one of the reasons I LOVE Ravelry!! Anytime I need a pattern, I can find it in 10 seconds on ravelry. Anytime I have a questions - bam! find it on Ravelry. Extra yarn - don't know what to do with it - see what everyone else is doing with it on.. ravelry. Going somewhere and want a knitting shop near my destination? - you guessed it, Ravelry. Bored? Radar or forums on ravelry! *sigh* it's a little bit of knitterly heaven.

guess you have to be a knitter/crocheter/fiber person to really understand - sorry about the rant ;)

watching the hurricanes...

It's my first time as a Charlestonite Charlestonian Charlestinninian .. living in Charleston during hurricane season and it's so hard to know when to take it seriously.

Hurricane Hannah is on her way tonight, and Mike and I are staying, and just sleeping with one eye open. All the 'natives' say it'll be a bad storm and blow over - although, driving into work this morning, I noticed quite a few shops were closed and traffic was waay lighter than usual.

I guess it's Ike we really have to worry about, but since he's a bit away, it's just wait and see time. Word is I may get out of work early today to head home early, and Mike's leaving his car at school because it's a bit more protected. Living on an actually island makes him worry. We're supposed to evacuate with any Level 1 hurricanes, so it'll be interesting to see how the weekend turns out.

On the knitting front, I'm almost done with another baby sweater - it's a special project for a friend who lost her mom while we were working together, and I have some of her mom's yarn that I'm making it out of. I don't think she reads my blog, but I'm going to wait to post pictures I think until I'm closer to done.

I had run out of the yarn for the project, and was finishing it with another similar color, and then realized I had made the Foliage hat from Knitty out of it! It hadn't quite turned out the way I wanted, so I'm frogging an old project to salvage the yarn to finish a new one. It makes sense to me - I think the yarn was destined to be for her baby's sweater, I just never knew it till now.

enjoying the beach

With the various jobs I've had in the past few years, it's been a really long time since I've had Labor Day as an honest-to-goodness-paid-holiday from work - and it was really really nice.

Friday I got to leave a bit early from work, and over the weekend Mike and I went to the beach. Now, we go almost every weekend we get a chance to at least spend a few hours doing nothing and laying in the sand - did I mention I love living here? Last weekend was no different, but when we got there it was low tide, and I mean Extremely Low Tide. There were a bunch of little sandbars scattered up and down the beach where the tide had gone out, but left small pools here and there.

Further out, there and off to the side there was another sand bar, and the depth of the water in between ran from our shins to up to our shoulders, so we decided to head out that way. As the water got deeper, it was harder and harder to keep our footing and it didn't hit me until I was digging into the sand with my feet and pushing against the water as if it was a strong gale of wind that this is what people mean when they talk about riptides and strong currents!

I had always heard the warnings and gotten a basic idea from my summers in Hilton Head, but this was the first time I really realized just how strong the tides and currents can be - especially so close to the shore and relatively shallow water! We had to swim the last few yards, and it took us quite a while because if you weren't swimming strong enough, you were push backwards and out towards the open water - it was kinda crazy - but fun, and a lot easier returning.

Now that the hurricanes are headed our way, I hear that's the best/most fun time to be at the beach - we'll have to see how close they actually get to see if we'll brave the beaches during a hurricane. I'll let you know if we have to evacuate.

We also went to a party thrown by one of Mike's classmates out at Folly Beach, which ended out in the ocean late-night. It brought back fond memories of the Tamburro vacations and shenanigans. There was even a Kirchdorfer-esq episode of missing shorts to make it even more entertaining. There definitely needs to be another Tamburro-style vacation planned in the near future - who's up for it?

trying to find everyone else

As some of you may recall, I lost my phone a few weeks ago. I left it in the bathroom stall and when I went back, it was gone :( It wasn't returned despite me turning it off, reporting it as lost/stolen and texting myself to that effect. So I got a friend's old phone and now have a 'new' one to use.

Luckily, so I thought, I had my twice-removed phone, and pulled my much used numbers off of it and went on my merry way. Many of you may not have heard from me and it is because, as I am slowing finding out - most of my old numbers are WRONG!!! I keep calling and hearing that dismal tone followed by a 'this number is no longer in working order'. Or worse yet "Kathy? there's no Kathy here" - what do you mean no Kathy!?! she's had that number for years!! - I guess it was time to change eh?

So I'm sending out a small phone # roll call - I don't even know who really reads my blog - but if you do, and you think this is you (you should know because you haven't heard from me lately - I have been trying to call really!) send me an email with your # - or better yet - CALL ME!

finishing the ravelympics!

I did it - just by a hair, and it's not blocked yet, but here's a quick shot of the Anouk for Gabriella:



I won't say I 'won a medal' but at least I competed and finished!!

I had a bit of trouble with the shoulders, and had just enough brown yarn for the side tabs, but it all worked out well. I was going to do the pockets, but decided the 'G' would be cuter. I'm thinking a small flower in the green on the upper left side might also be really cute. (If I want to add things afterwards, does that disqualify me in finishing?)
I'm just glad I got it done.

I had done the 'G' in lower case at first:



but decided a capital letter would look better and ripped it out. This one also had the tabs on the wrong side, but we won't dwell on that little detail.

Something I've definitely learned from this ravelympics is I'm not afraid to rip out my knitting. Might as well do it right - which if you know me, I don't think fits with my normal attitude - not that I don't like to do things right, but I'm usually pretty accepting of whatever and go with the flow. I'm not super particular about most things - my philosophy usually is, it'll be o.k., it'll work out - whatever, so it's funny to me that I am so fussy about my knitting.

starting again

I've decided to rip out the Anouk and start again - it's the only thing for an Olympian to do right? It goes pretty quickly and the recipient's birthday is in a couple of days, so it's not like I'll make that deadline. I just want to get it done and send it out by the Olympics end.

I've also been distracted and playing with my new iTouch, and am addicted to FireDrop - I just want to get to level 15! Of course this does distract me a bit from my knitting, but I can't be knitting all the time. I've also added StitchMinder to my applications, and love it. It's a counter for your stitches, pattern rows and whatnot right on your iTouch - very handy. I haven't played with it enough to see if it will keep track of multiple projects but if so that would make it even better!

with her goggles full of water

There's been a ... how do you say it - development in my ravelympics knitting and it's not a good one. I seem to have had some vision impairment while knitting, and I'm not doing as well as Michael Phelps did with the issue.

By Thursday night I had gotten this far with my Anouk:



and felt I was doing quite well. This is the front half, up to about the armpits, to be mirrored on the other side. Concerned that I would run out of the brown, I cast on for the back piece, to ensure I had enough to do the same amount on both sides. I did, just enough in fact, and last night I added the pink to the back and knit the night away while watching the men's volleyball, MP win his 7th medal by 1/100th and all was good.
Here's what I had accomplished by the end of the night:



This morning I went to show my Mike my progress. It was then that I saw I had been knitting without a clear picture of what I was doing. See anything wrong with these two lying side by side?



The one I worked on all night last night has at least 4 extra rows in the brown! ARRRGGG! I know I counted last night and compared the two but I obviously didn't look close enough. There are matching decreases on each side at the 7th, 13th, 19th, 25th, 33rd rows and so on. On the first piece I changed color one row before the 25th decrease row. So last night I counted to see what row/decrease I was on, and came up with the 25th - or so I thought. I think what I did was started with the 13th and counted up to the 25th row as if the 13th was the 7th, so my '25th' decrease was actually the 30something-eth row. *shakes head in personal disgust*.

I guess my options are thus:
1. Leave the second as is, rip back part of the pink on the first to match the length of the second and continue from there, hoping that, since they're not attached - maybe no one will notice.

2. Rip out what I did last night to the appropriate brown stripe and start again.

I would have ripped the first/shorter one back and added to the brown, but I don't have any of it left so that's not really an option.

I guess it could be worse, but my challenge for this piece will be actually finishing it - a seeming simple thing that only I can mess up royally!

knitting away

for the 2008 Summer Ravelympics!

So Friday night I cast on and started knitting Anouk, my knitting Olympics pattern - I'm hoping to get it done in time for the Olympics and for my niece's 1st birthday - go Gabriella (I really can't believe it's been a year!!).

I'm using a chocolaty brown and a deep pink instead of the orange and green. Get through most of the brown on Friday, start on the pink on Saturday - everything is going swimmingly!



Watched some fencing (go USA!), swimming and some of the opening ceremonies. Then I glance down at my ball of yarn and realize that I only have a few yards left, but quite a bit for the rest of the front side - how can this be!?



After looking at the 5 or so inches I had knit it becomes clear - this is too big. Yes, I did my "training" and swatched - a rather large swatch for me too . (Hmm - maybe that was part of it) Further contemplation reveals to me that the yardage for my wool yarn is about 10 yards less than the yardage for the cotton yarn called for in the pattern. What was I thinking when I picked up this yarn!? I know I had this pattern specifically in mind, but obviously did not pay attention to the details. *sigh* ah well. so it goes.

I do think it will still work - I just need to rip it completely out and begin again with the smaller size, and I may add some color-design elements to assist the yardage along. And so I begin - again. Team keep cheering me on - I will make it to the finish line... I hope...

playing with her iStuff

Last weekend being tax-free + Mike being a student + a Mac enthusiast = new toys! This weekend a Mac store opened up here in Charleston, and we splurged a bit and ended up with a new iPhone, (for Mike) iTouch (for me) which actually came with the MacBook to replace my iBook G4 - which I guess in the world of Mac's and computers is a bit of a dinosaur.

Although I love my new computer (although my katerina email will be down for a bit) and think the iTouch is really cool - I don't know if it will be replacing my ipod shuffle. I love that little thing. It's really just perfect for me for how I use it.

I'm a big pod-cast listener - that's what took up most of the space on my old computer - I probably listen to about 5-10 hours, easily, of podcasts each week. I listen on my way to work, on my way home, while grocery shopping, while at the gym - wherever. And when I do want to listen to music, it fits on there as well. I am really never in a place long enough to need more music or podcasts than will fit on the shuffle. Plus you just can't beat the size. It clips on my shirt or pocket, or collar - it fits in my purse, no matter how small. I never worry about putting it in with my knitting, that it'll scratch or break the screen. It's just durable in my mind.

The iTouch will need more TLC and attention I know - so I'm playing with it a little at home, but until I get a chance to get all the protective accessories for it, I don't think I'm taking it anywhere. It will be nice to use as a PDA for all my info - there have been quite a few times when I wish I had information from my computer with me, and my cell phone just doesn't cut it. I can also keep my knitting patterns and information on it! I'm getting more excited about it as I think of all the things it can do.

speaking of knitting, I finished the Baby Tart hat, although I'm hoping it will look much cuter on the baby than it does on my water bottle:



Keisha helped me model it too, and although it doesn't look as "berry-ish" it still looks pretty adorable!





I hope my other baby knitting will be as cute!

waxing nostaligic

Is that the right phrase? you know what I mean.

Recently I heard that Baer's Fabric Store in Louisville closed and it made me really sad. For those of you not from the area, this was a huge fabric store like no other. It was a 3 story warehouse of a store that had anything you needed, was family-owned and had been around for over 100 years.

The first floor had an entire wall of buttons, an island in the middle with patterns and pattern books, a sewing machine section and another section of fine fabrics for weddings and the like. I remember it fondly from both my childhood and recently.

Baer's was where my MIL bought the fabric for my wedding dress. It was only 5 years ago that I was sorting through the various lace and trimmings and comparing the colors of white and ivory for my dress. It was only last year I was pouring through those pattern books trying to find just the right bunny patter for Gabriella's quilted bunny.

The second floor was wall-to-wall quilting and other fabrics, appliques, trims, sequins -just stacks of whatever you needed. In the back was a bargain area with bins of leftover bolts of fabric to rummage through and a small hallway that lead to the back classrooms. I took 2 or 3 weeks of sewing camp there as a teen. I made Jams and a couple of canvas totes, a skirt, shirt and dress - two small quilts and a handful of hair accessories - remember the big lace 80's bows?

In high school, my friend JulieAnn and I had been taking belly-dancing lessons, and decided to perform at camp and make our costumes from scratch. To do this we had to cut-up and recovered store bought bras. We chose gold and black as our color scheme and hand sewed black interfacing and gold appliques over our white bras, adding elastic straps covered with sequins and I think what was meant to be curtain trim. We made shawls out of interfacing, fabric glue and glitter, and pants and skirt out of gold lame. Working with the lame was tricky, but it taught me a trick to use ribbon to keep things from fraying.

The third floor was upholstery fabrics, thick and rich, on bolts that reminded me of wrapping paper in the big department stores. It is one of the few places that had fabric for upholstering boats. I like to just walk through them looking at the different patterns and ideas. Last time I was in Louisville, a friend and I browsed the isles looking for fabric to make bags out of. I use 3 of her small bags for my knitting projects, and the large ones for my groceries and love them.

I made at least one more belly-dancing outfit from Baer's, and I'm sure JA has been back even more often - she kept up with it and now teaches belly dancing herself. My MIL has made 3 wedding gowns, and I know at least one Mother-of-the-groom outfit from there, and has one more daughter to go. And my friend bought a beautiful origami-bag pattern when we were there last. Now I wonder where we will all go the next time we need fabric or inspiration.

knitting the night away

This past weekend, I went down to Knit where they were having a "knit the night away" party. It was loads of fun! They had snacks and pizza and yummy strawberry shortcake, and everyone brought their knitting and talked about all sorts of random things. There was a movie, but I didn't watch it, I was trying to get the Baby Tart done and I made it pretty far:

As it gets smaller, it gets harder to do the bobbles at the top - I'm trying to keep them loose, but on DPN's it's difficult without leaving gaps. I'd really like to try this in crochet - for me crocheting bobbles is so much easier. Since it's done by picking up stitches off the "crust" I may knit another bottom and crochet the top. Maybe that's what I'll do for the Ravelympics!

What is Ravelympics you ask? The best way to describe it is off the Ravelry knitting site:

The First International Ravelympics Summer 2008 are open to any knitter or crocheter on Ravelry ready to challenge themselves to complete a project (or projects) within 17 days during the Summer Olympics.

Not to be confused with the Knitting Olympics which take place every four years, just like any other Olympic sport and will be orchestrated by the Yarn Harlot.

Concept: You must cast on a project during the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics (Aug. 8)- and finish before the Olympic flame goes out (Aug. 24). That’s 17 days. Would you rather work on your burgeoning WIPs? Then join up for the WIPs Wrestling. All other events are for newly cast on projects!

I have joined team KnitK on Ravelry, and am trying to decide if I am ambitious enough to finish my WIP's (works in progress) or if I should start a completely new project. Of course it would have to be a baby project as there are still 4 people to make knitting baby things for - not including finishing the tart hat: Missy, Alicia, Rachel and Crystal. You know who you are missies!

Oh yeah, Gabriella's birthday is also coming up, so I need to put together a gift for her too! sheesh!

I've got some ideas, I just have to pull all the materials together, and that usually takes me the longest to do. Well. I've got 9 days to get into gear!

making more baby stuff

Because another friend just had another baby - Keegan Andrew - born 3:23 yesterday to my friend Missy - her second, so she now has one of each boy/girl. (does that really need explaining?? Yet somehow I feel like it does).

I'm still not done with the baby tart hat, so I know I've got to get going on these things. I was getting teased at Knit-night because I've been making so much baby stuff. But I do like knitting smaller projects - I can't imagine how far behind I would be if it was all for adults!

So 2 out - 2 to go, and not one baby item finished here... sheesh! I've got to get working! Pictures to come.

as a new auntie again

My B&SIL just had their 2nd child - a beautiful baby girl yesterday! Yeah!! I am knitting the Baby Tart pattern from knitty for them and hoping to get it done by early next week to send it out. I just think it's the cutest little hat!

I also saw the new batman movie - The Dark Knight and it rocks! It was really pretty amazing. I went with some people from work, so I'll have to plan a movie night with Mike - I think he'll really like it, and it's the type of movie you could see over and over and over again. I'd recommend that one and Wall-E as well - my top two movies as of late. Hmm... what are yours?

feeling blah.

Today is just one of those days.

I woke this morning out of a bad-dream. I wouldn't call it a nightmare necessarily, but just disturbing. It was one where I knew I was dreaming, but it was unsettling just the same.

Unfortunately it set the mood for the day, and I've just wanted to crawl back in bed and curl up under the covers all day. Maybe I will. Wish me sweet dreams for tonight - I need them.

reprogramming a phone

Over the weekend Mike and I stopped by the AT&T store so he could check out the new iPhone. Being a Mac-man through and through, it only made sense that he would want one. The clerk who was 'assisting us', if you could call it that, was less than impressive, and we kind of felt the same way about the plans themselves. Both of our plans are up in Nov. but we've not used AT&T, and especially here in Charleston, so we're a little weary of how the service will be.

Currently we're both with Sprint, and I've had Sprint for a really long time, and have done well with them. I can usually get service even when others can't - and to me, that's really all I need my phone to do. Of course, when I lost my phone a few weeks ago, I did have to revert to a phone that was so archaic (in terms of phones these days anyway), that it didn't even accept text messages. This was slightly annoying enough to get an 'new-to-me' phone from a friend at work, so I guess I do appreciate having the ability to utilized all the fancy gadgets - I just wouldn't say I pick a phone for that reason.

We'll see whether he decides it's worth the hassle and in the meantime, I just spent a few hours re-inserting all the names and numbers I usually have on my phone. Good fun. Did you make the list? Give me a call and find out hee-hee.

enjoying life

I can't believe things are really settling down and we're finally really settling in. I think it's freaking Mike and I out a little bit by not having anything to worry about! But we're definitely enjoying it.

Last weekend for the 4th, we had a couple of friends over and Mike grilled pork for pulled-pork, I made coleslaw from scratch, my 7-layer dip, and they brought macaroni salad and crab cakes. It was wonderful! It felt like a real 4th of July, and the food was really good (although my coleslaw needed some work I'll admit - I think it needed to be spiced up a bit). We also learned a really neat new game called pass the pigs that I think may be popping up in peoples stockings this year - it was definitely a good time.

This weekend our new TV console was delivered - Yea!



We originally went looking for a coffee table and side tables, and both really liked this piece and knew it was meant to be. There was a slight hiccup when the CD player didn't quite fit in, but it just ended up on top.

As far as my knitting goes, I've decided I need to be more focused. On my needles currently I have 3-4 projects, which is typical, but I don't feel as if I'm getting anywhere with them, and I think it's because I don't have a goal or deadline motivating me. Two of the projects are for me. The Calla tank and the mobius wrap. I also have one bootie waiting to be seamed and half a hat. I just need to acknowledge what is and isn't going to happen.

The other issue is I have quite a few family and friends who are getting ready to pop with new bambino's that I need to start/finish projects for. Today I'm going through my cue and my stash and putting together a list of which items I want to knit for each of the baby-mommas, and seeing what I have time for. Then all others will be put aside while I whip these out. I think it'll do me some good to put the others down for a while. Here's where I am with all my UFO's.

1. The hat -
Not going to be finished anytime soon due to lack of wool. I don't have the another ball of the yarn. I did at one point but it's gone - lost into the abyss of travel and moving. I either need to see if anyone on Ravelry has another ball in the same dye-lot, or as I thought of last night, find a complimentary color and finish it as a two color hat, which just might work - but not right now.

2. The EK booties - It needs to go - and I need to focus on a different pattern and come back to this one. This was supposed to be one of the quick projects for the prego folks and it's not working, and I just don't have the time right now to figure it out. Shame. It's really cute.

3. The Mobius wrap -



I think it's going to be my 'social knitting'. I know the pattern well enough that I can do this while talking or whatever, and not mess up or have to concentrate on the pattern. Plus and it's just a matter of length/width in determining when I'll finish, so it'll continue when I have mind-less or multi-tasking-knitting time, probably until I get through this ball.

4. The Calla - I was eliminating and moving some of the eyelets on this tank because I felt it was a little too showy for my figure, and I decided to knit it in the round. That means I had to do a little pattern adaptation, which on my first attempt wasn't working very well. It only took about 6" into the tank to realize this. I tried to fix it by dropping down the section of cabling that wasn't working, but that was taking too long to fix so I just casted on again and started from scratch. I know that seems a bit ridiculous, but it's really faster this way. Just rip it out and start over.



Now that I've taken a bunch of pictures, I'll be updating my Ravelry page too, and maybe even changing the project bars on the side to included pictures too - but it depends on how adventures I feel today.

working out

Yup. After a nudge from work with a health incentive and another from trying on too many bathing suits and finding nada - I finally did it. I joined a gym here in Charleston.

I went to my first class on Tues. I did alright keeping up, but I'm not sure that particular class is going to work - I had to think too much, and didn't feel that challenged aerobically - but it's a new instructor I think, so I may give it another try down the road. They have a good variety, and I went to anther on Friday that I am still feeling the effects of today. It reminded me how out of shape I am - which is good and motivating. They also have a bunch of yoga classes that I'm excited to try as well. Then maybe I can find a bathing suit that I like... at least here in SC they still have them in the stores for a while.

Mike and I have also purchased a new TV entertainment center/console. We were actually looking for coffee tables and end tables as our anniversary gift, and ended up finding it instead. Of course it was in the last store, on the 4th floor of a furniture mall we had been looking at all day. But when we saw the piece we both said "I really like that! And it looks like us!" (in the - it looks like something we would buy/have - not it looks like a picture of the two of us heeh!)
As we look for furniture, we're finding those aren't words that come our of both of our mouths very often - so we decided it was meant to be and bought it. I guess the coffee tables will have to wait for the next spark of 'meant-to-be'.

Knitting wise I've been working (not very hard) on a tank top called Calla. I love the design, although I'm working on mine in the round, and removing a few eyelets that may let people 'see' too much, so I'm tweaking the pattern just a bit to accommodate.

A few weeks ago, I finished a mobius scarf/wrap as a store sample for Knit, and am knitting it again in a sparkly maroon and black. I need to take pictures, but right now they wouldn't do it much justice because the knitting is all bunched together because it's knit in the round, and circles in on itself, so you can' t see the pattern. I'm also having a small problem that the needles have come apart in the middle of knitting it, and it's fiddly to get it back on with the stitches correctly. Once I get it all finished, I'll post pictures.

I've also been working on some baby booties, but I'm not getting very far. Either my gage ends up being waay off, or I get stuck on the finishing part. I've been working on a pair from my favorite Erika Knights book (sometimes called this) and I just love the look of them, but when I go to seam them up - it just doesn' t seem like it'll work right - so I haven't done it yet. Not sure what I'm waiting for, perhaps I should knit up the second one and seam them at both at the same time. But I've got plenty of people popping little ones out, so I've got to find a pattern I like and get to it!

celebrating again!

I haven't been blogging lately, and a few people have been harassing me about not posting *ahemeishaahem* so I thought I'd pick up the pace - this past week has been pretty eventful, so I've actually got a lot to talk about!

First off - the most exciting news - We SOLD the house FOR REAL!!! Papers have been signed, keys turned over - it's done - and such a relief. Now I feel like we can really focus on our lives here now. I'm a South Carolinian now YEAH YEAH YEAH!!! The day we sold it, on the way home I saw another rainbow as I crossed the bridge. Just as beautiful as the one I saw a few months ago. Maybe a reminder that it is all ok :)

Last Saturday Mike and I went to a Riverdogs baseball game for World Wide Knit in Public Day. Yes - for you non-fiber people out there, this is a real day - you can read about it here if you'd like. I did manage to tangle up my knitting, take a few pictures and ended up ripping out 1/2 of what i did at the game, but it was a good time. Here are a few pictures of my fellow knitters
Vera, our resident star at Knit set it up, and it was really fun.



Lynn let me knit on her project a bit to see what the yarn was like - it was smooshy and fun - I tried not to tangle it up too badly as I had to move seats in the middle of a row.



Unfortunately, I cut off Gay and Lynn's head - sorry guys! I think I was trying to get the knitting in this one.


Beth and Connie knit away diligently!



Laura and her husband Steve:


Vera and Nancy:


There were more people there - and I wish I had taken more pictures - but I did pull out my camera soon enough.

Then on Tuesday we went to a concert at the Music Farm to see Jakob Dylan - it was an awesome awesome show! I was expecting it to be packed so the small numbers were a surprise. It was really great - we were spitting distance from the stage, and it was a great show. It was our first time to the Music Farm, and the venue was simple but fun - I think it's a place we'll definitely go again.

So on Thursday when the news cam through that the house was really sold - it just topped off the week. Mike and I were finally able to pop open the champagne we've been holding onto for this occasion.

My week was dampened just a bit this weekend - we headed up to Spartenburg for my brother-in-law's 40th birthday, and on the way my phone was taken. I left it at the restaurant, and when I called back a little while later it was gone. The part that really sucks - other than the price of a new phone is ridiculous - is that I had my phone stolen only about 6 months ago so I don't qualify for a trade-in, and I have to switch back to the phone I had 2 phones ago - which is pretty old and crappy. I'm still hoping someone might return it since I switched off service and hopefully I'll get my phone numbers back too. In the meantime - If I don't call you - it's because I don't have your number any more so - call me!!!

dragging her feet

I'm not sure what on, but I've just had a few weeks of the blahs. Not really wanting to do much of anything. I have managed to accomplish a few things in that time though. Sorry I haven't been blogging about it.

Mike and I have almost unpacked all our boxes. We at least went through the ones containing all our pictures and decided which ones go where. Not that they've been hung yet, but at least we've decided and they're sitting in the appropriate room or hallway. And in all honesty, Mike is hanging some of them as I type.
There were a few left over that didn't make it or wouldn't fit in here, so I took a few to work. Most of you that know me might recognize the subject of this one - and those of you who know me even better might possibly recognize the lamp on the desk as well. Yes, that is my arm in the picture, but I cut myself out - it wasn't pretty. The picture is from my officemates i-phone - it worked pretty well - I was impressed.

At home, I was trying to do a bit for a contest, (didn't end up getting my submission in in time - my iMovie couldn't find the movie - after 5 hours of work - grrr) and was trying out a few things I had seen on the show. One of which was a book side/end table for your bedroom - which I though was really cute -



but Mike kinda uses those books, so he wasn't as receptive to it. That's alright, we've got a table to use, I just like this idea. Speaking of, I was calling him 'The Plasterer' but he said it reminded him too much of "The Maestro" on Sienfeld, so we're back to Mike

Too sooth a few requests, here's an actual picture of us on our anniversary, instead of just the food - I believe this was one of the self portraits that we do, and should explain a bit of the absurd looks between us. I was focused on taking the picture, and Mike was focused.. well if you can call it that - on me.



All I can say is that we are dorks - truly.

I have been doing a bit of knitting, and the sale at Knit has inspired me to make my own tank. I usually stick to smaller projects - ones that can be finished quickly, carried around easily and if I mess up, aren't too much to frog. The christening gown was one of my biggest projects, in size and complexity combined. But it also inspired me to do more. I found some beautiful blue linen/cotton yarn that I want to make a tank top called Calla out of.



I also bought some Bellagio yarn that I am making into a mobius drop-lacy shrug. I already made one that I forgot to take pictures of, so I'll make sure to do so for this one. The yarn I do have pictures of, but they're not as clear because of the shine.



pretty huh? I think it'll make a really nice evening shawl/wrap thingy. I'm just hoping it's not too scratchy when I get finished.

I've just started making dishcloths too - I've finished one and have started on the second. Part of it is stashbusting, another part is to try some new things, and they're a great way to do so - plus they fit into my MO (see above). Here's what I've got to start:

Once I have a few of my favorites, I have a recipient in mind that I think will really use and appreciate them.

celebrating

This was the dessert that came with dinner last night as The Plasterer and I celebrated our 5 yr anniversary. We had a great day - we slept in, went to the beach, did some furniture shopping and then had a fabulous dinner to end the night.

All throughout the day, we kept popping up with little presents we had gotten for each other - which made the day even more fun - you never knew when the other was going to walk in the room with a gift in their arms or behind their back.

The traditional anniversary gift for five years of marriage is wood, and I did manage to incorporate that into one of my small/silly gifts by getting The Plasterer a wooden 'catch-all' for the top of his dresser. We've also decided to get one large gift for the both of us in the wood theme - new living room furniture. The coffee and side tables we currently have are hand-me-downs that The Plasterer 'inherited' before we were married. We've talked about replacing them for a few years now, but it never seemed to be the right time or the right thing to spend money on. So this we agreed, fits in perfectly with the theme and will be our gift to each other.

What made this weekend even nicer is The Plasterer is done with his spring semester. He's been holed up in his 'office' studying and working on school, so I haven't seen much of him for the past 3-4 weeks, but now he's done! If you'd like to see what he's be so busy with, you can check out his newly updated website and portfolio for school which he adds to at the end of each semester. I love that he can use his design experience to find creative ways to show off his plastering.

Another exciting part of the weekend is I think he's found an internship for the summer here in Charleston! This means we won't have to spend the summer apart, which really makes me happy. This is the perfect start to our next year of marriage - together in one place. We'll have some solid, uninterrupted time to explore our new city and just be with each other. I'm really looking forward to that. Things are falling into place, and it is really nice to have them settling one by one.

I just keep saying to myself: I'm married. 5 years. married. to The Plasterer. 5 years - man! time flies. married ... 5 years. huh. life is good. yeah - life is good.