Things I Love

As I was Web surfing this morning I found a fellow blogger that had listed 100 things they love. I thought this was such a cool idea so here goes:

100 things I love in no particular order:
1 - my husband's homemade bread
2 - knitting
3 - rosemary
4 - cats (particularly Bloo)
5 - black and white photography
6 - sheep
7 - historic homes
8 - hydrangeas
9 - alpacas
10 - lavender
11 - downy woodpeckers
12 - grandpa ott vines
13 - goats
14 - my yellow yarn room
15 - farmer's market
16 - honey
17 - sleepy time tea
18 - my kitchen window in the breakfast nook
19 - inverness, scotland
20 - organizing things
21 - antique china
22 - northwest gardens
23 - the library of congress
24 - arts and crafts style
25 - the hubby's beef bourguignon
26 - dinner crepes at "le chat qui pêche" in valenciennes, france
27 - the jewish museum in prague
28 - the smell of pine
29 - holiday decorating
30 - fuzzy water
31 - côtes du rhône
32 - eva hesse (diary & artwork)
33 - red leaves in the spring on my tea rose
34 - russian sage
35 - swirlees at tomasitos in santa fe, new mexico
36 - the international rose test garden in portland, oregon
37 - my cashmere shawl
38 - my swallowtail shawl
39 - j.jill
40 - linen
41 - angora bunnies
42 - the outer banks in the winter
43 - pea island national wildlife refuge
44 - peony
45 - pine bark nuggets (mulch)
46 - my arbor
47 - ashtanga yoga
48 - pride & prejudice (bbc 6 hour version)
49 - rain
50 - snow
51 - wind chimes
52 - chicago architecture
53 - simone de beauvoir
54 - npr
55 - my new car
56 - seaboard cafe in raleigh, nc
57 - agatha chistie's hercule poirot mysteries
58 - the french language
59 - reading
60 - traveling to new places
61 - raspberries
62 - pottery barn & williams sonoma
63 - lewis ginter botanical gardens
64 - the wilson library at UNC
65 - historical maps
66 - chartreuse hydrangeas
67 - tulips
68 - wine labels
69 - the weatherspoon art gallery in greensboro, nc
70 - thai food
71 - blood oranges
72 - douthat state park in virginia
73 - grapefruit
74 - grove park inn in asheville
75 - bandelier national monument in new mexico
76 - a wood fireplace
77 - planting seeds
78 - elizabeth zimmerman books
79 - buying fabric
80 - my french press
81 - jefferson vineyards
82 - crabtree lake in nc
83 - kayaking
84 - otters
85 - montbeliard, france
86 - lemurs
87 - foreign films
88 - golden retrievers
89 - cottage living magazine
90 - west virginia pepper jelly
91 - watching trash tv with my new friends
92 - pottery
93 - getting my hair cut at aveda
94 - spas
95 - bicycling in the outer banks
96 - sewing
97 - vintage fabric
98- antiques
99 - scrabble
100 - fried shrimp at the farmer's market in raleigh, nc
and of course family & friends!

Lace Leaf Shawl

My camera finally died so I don't have my own photos to post until I buy a new one. I am currently working on an adorable set of booties in Rowan Denim to go along with the Baby Bib O'Love bibs for my friend's twin boys (yikes!). The pattern, Ruth's Perfect Baby Booties, is available for free online. Once I finish up bootie #2, I'll start on the Evelyn Clark Lace Leaf Shawl in Blue Sky Alpaca Silk, garnet 138. I have heard that this shawl is a bit easier than the Swallowtail, which I found to be pretty straightforward until those dreaded nubs!

Too Tired

I've been too tired to knit or to write. I'll post photos soon. I did finish the blue sweater and have wrapped up the baby bibs - very cute. I wanted to pass along this fantastic site: Bedlam Farm. If you're in the mood for some gorgeous pix of upstate New York, funny shots of goats and sweet photos of dogs, check it out. Jon Katz, owner of the farm and author, apparently writes a column for Slate. I read his recent article, Getting My Goat, at work yesterday. I laughed so hard! Photo from the story is above - Credits to Slate and Jon Katz. Bedlam makes me want a farm even more!

Enjoy.

Baby Bib O' Love

I'm currently making a really cute Rowan Baby Bib O' Love from Mason Dixon Knitting
for a friend of ours who recently found out she's having twins! I am using a skein of Rowan denim I had in my stash. I love it!

My sweater is in limbo - I couldn't figure out how to set in the sleeves on this one, so I'll be heading to TYL on Saturday begging for help...

Updates!

I know. I know. I suck at updating this blog. Since the beginning of the year, I've been working on 2 papers for publication, a new technology interest group in Richmond, and numerous projects at work! That said, I have been knitting quite a bit (more photos to come from that) and will be seaming up my 2nd seamed sweater today!

I had so many other photos to catch you up on that I thought I would post those here first. Many of these photos are from Christmas and my birthday (January 1). In terms of knitting paraphernalia I made out this year. It was a knitting filled holiday!

The hubby bought me tons of yarn (photos forthcoming) and these really cool books, Folk Style


and Knitting Nature.



My mother sent me Elizabeth Zimmerman's The Opinionated Knitter (my all time favorite book!) and The Natural Knitter. If you weren't tempted to own an Alpaca farm before, this book will make you want to do so.


The hubby's mom, my favorite mother-in-law sent me these AWESOME hand-knitted socks, which I adore and wear all the time. You can't see if from the photo, but the socks have a beautiful cabled pattern knitted into the cuff and down the top.





Other than knitting, the hubby donned his cooking outfit and we made goodies for our grandmothers (ok, so he made the goodies and I watched and sampled).



We traveled to Colonial Williamsburg to see the sites.


The hubby gave me my first sock monkey!



Bloo enjoyed several cat naps.


My Christmas/January month was also highlighted by the Hand Felted hat class Anne, Kristen and I took at the Visual Arts Center. My hat looks ridiculous and has since turned into a felted bowl.

Happy Holidays!

Sienna Cardi

C'est Fini!

Pattern: Sienna Cardi, Interweave Fall 2006

Yarn: Araucania's Nature Wool Chunky in Lime, 109

Time: started at the beach in Sept. Finished this past weekend. Made several things in between

Notes: First seamed sweater!! Thank you Stewart & Melanie!!

Oh, and I just found this pix from last night at Anne's - Of course, I'm wearing my new sweater! It was Project Runway night and I had to wear it!

New Obsession

My latest project is close to being finished! (thank god!) Today I will take advantage of the good natured Yarn Lounge folks to help me seam up my first seamed sweater! Once seamed, I'll post some photos of my copy rather than the Interweave photo.



Although I have tons of knitting projects half started or waiting in the wings, I've been temporarily enticed by a new obsession. The hubby just bought Rock Bank II for the Xbox. Typically, I could care less about gaming; I think it's a huge waste of valuable knitting and reading time. However, this game is awesome for anyone who is not musically inclined, but always wanted to be in a band. I have a really cool punk avatar (and anyone who knows me will laugh since I'm the furthest thing away from punk) with red hair in pigtails, a tattoo, jean miniskirt with studded belt and punk t shirt. I love it - the hubby and I have a band called the Mookies and the Pookies. I'm the lead singer and he plays guitar. We go on tour, and with each venue earn points, fans, buses and planes. Why am I so obsessed? I don't know but it's taking up valuable knitting time! Any advice for the addiction is most appreciated :)

I'm still here

Last week I visited my aunt and uncle in Nashville. My cousins flew in from Brooklyn. Although it was great to see everyone and catch up, the event was overshadowed by the fact that my aunt has been in the hospital for close to 2 months. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, she started chemotherapy. Unfortunately, her body reacted horribly to the chemo and she is now fighting like mad to heal. Seeing her in that state made me terribly angry, not to mention sad. My aunt is one of the sweetest souls I've ever met. She doesn't deserve the hell she's going through. It's so frustrating. After seeing her like that, I decided to knit her a new cap. The hospital is often cold, so I'm thinking alpaca might be a good blend for a hat. If anyone has a favorite pattern please forward. Please also pray for her and all other women experiencing this dreadful disease.

No Knitting. Just Kitten Fun.

A friend of mine just forwarded me this video. It totally describes our life with Bloo (except for maybe the bat to the head). We especially love when he "makes biscuits" on our face in the middle of the night! Ahh pure torture...