the countdown begins anew

A blank canvas is always exciting, isn't it? A fresh sheet of paper waiting to be scribbled on, a new ball of yarn waiting to be knit, a whole new 365.25 days waiting to take us to new places.

I have more intentions this year as I try to continue to discard the perfectionism and bad habits I sometimes succumb to. As far as knitting goes, this is what I plan.

-Learn the differences between Fair Isle, Intarsia, and attempt the dreaded "Steek".
-Delve further into dyeing my own roving.
-Socks. Lots of them.
-Practice spinning. Learn a range of techniques.
-Knit a sweater that fits, designed for me by me.

Last year I only intended to learn how to knit. It's hard to believe I've been at this for a short several months and have come as far as I have. Most credit is due to my friends, and the inspiration of the online knitting/spinning community.
I am eager to see where this year takes us.

Happy New Year!

eye cookies

For Your Consideration
Eye Candy Friday.

First, it must be stated that dual action Kitchenaids are a thing of beauty:
Add two knitters hyped up on coffee and yarn fumes and you get what Hubs coins the "Bake 'n Bitch".

The money shots:

The fiberous eye candy must wait for now. The day is gray and cloudy (don't you just love winter? I missed this weather) and will not do it justice. So I'm off for the weekend. Have a very safe and happy whatever-holiday-you-celebrate! (Merry Christmas!)

dubiety

I wish I had a better excuse, but it should come as no surprise that a certain something has been keeping me from yarns and needles the last two days.
It's a ploy, you see. They dragged and dragged out the release of my beloved Hylian, first days, then months, then an entire year. Then they release him mere days before final Christmas gifts need to be completed before I can (finally?) get to some self indulgent knitting. I have discovered that this is the plot to drive me insane.
And don't you believe for one damn second that it's not the case.
Of course, had they delivered such an item as was planned last year per /whispers of old friends, there is a serious possibility that this whole knitting thing wouldn't have seemed like such a good idea at the time.
Then I might not be in this predicament, but I would not have the things I do today.
So I trudge back to the sock (which is so not blue) and continue the labors of love.
I am extraordinarily elated over something that I am not at liberty to speak of just quite yet. I can only infer that it has most decidedly lifted my holiday spirits to unfathomable heights.

This is all my self control will allow me to transmit at this moment. I can not even be coerced into photographing all the crazy wacky things that have been created in the last two weeks, and I heart me some one on one time with the camera and this amazingly beautiful weather.
Yeah, that bad.

shazam

The Top Five Things That I Feel You Must Know This Instant:

1. I am ready to knit these socks. I want to knit these socks so badly I am a breath away from throwing everything currently in progress to the wayside to wind sock yarn into balls and cast on this very second. I made a sock yarn aquisition on Saturday

and I have been staring at it since, desperate to finish the socks, scarf, and two hats I have ongoing at the moment to cast these on (oh did I mention the hats? Yes, there's two).

2. If you didn't get it from above, the new Knitty is up. Some very kewl patterns this time around. I think I'm going to have to knit one of these (yes, after the hats. And socks.) And definitely a dragon (I mean, "If I Had A Dragon" was one of my favorite books), and a turtle or two in many colors. (Isn't he shiny? He's even got his own blog). There's also a mini starsky.

3. If you have the Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook (and I hope you do if you are into socks and the knitting of them) You might be interested to know there's a Twisted Sisters Sweater Workbook in the making. I am as excited about this as I am about some cherry flavored Italian ice. Which is you know, a lot.

4. Prohaps even mas exciting is another book that I will verily obtain, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off. It's coming out in March. Is that even possible? She just finished writing it. No matter! This strengthens my chances of meeting up with Madame Harlot during bookbookbook 4 tours.

5. My new bag. It's roomy, carries everything I need and still has space for a sock in progress. And new cd's.

The house is semi clean, the laundry is mostly done, the cats are sleeping contentedly, and I am surrounded by yarns of all manners. I've done the best I could to resist, but the rest will have to wait.

Random Fact For Today: Kiefer Sutherland’s full name is "Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland". Oh, the magic of wiki.

anticipation

Advice: Taken.
Attitude: Readjusted.
Knitting: Back On Track.

Apparently, I do take requests. This weekend, between shopping, treasure hunting and other insanity, I whipped up two (2) slippers sized specially for the Hubs.

Pre Felt: Way Too Large For Me


That would be a seven inch cuff on these babies. Another custom request.


Zoë was very interested during the drying process. Wet wool is very, well... wet. Time allotment for drying is muy bueno.


It took two trips through the "heavy" cycle of the Maytag and one through the rinse. I think it came out well. Even then, one was an inch longer and had to be felted some more. Lots of old towels went into the making of these slippers. Literally, in the wash with the pillowcase of wet wool.

Post Felt: the "Armored Boot" winter fashion
(I can't describe how amused he is by the form they took. It has to do with EQ, I think...)


Pattern: Fuzzyfeet from Knitty!
Yarn: 1.5 skeins each Cascade 220 in Navy and Some Kind Of Green (Tags lost to the stash, i.e., forever.)
Needles: US 10.5 Clover DPN's.

I held two colors of yarn together when I knit these for extra thickness and for super matching of the bathrobe, a blue and green plaid. I tried them on myself and they are very warm.
Mission accomplished.

While knitting these I realized that I'm a moron. Not that this is news to anyone. I was so sure I had never knit anything like this before. Then I remembered.
I've knit socks before.
I've knit socks on DPN's.
I've knit this pattern before.

Green? Very. Comfy? Verily.
These babies, circa January 2006, come complete with rounded toe because the directions of "graft together" meant "break the yarn and thread through remaining six stitches, then pull close and weave the end in like hell on the inside" to my newb knitter mind, vice the kitchner graft I maimed with the second pair.
I kinda like it this way.

I was at a loss for what to do next, so I pulled out starsky. Yeah, it was that bad. I set out with good intentions. All I have left to do is finish the last 12 inches or so on the belt, sew up the sleeves and attach them to the sweater, and knit the collar onto the body.
Then something new came into my life.
I can't even begin to tell you how happy it makes me. I'll attempt to show you. But trust that the picture doesn't do it justice.

The yarn is Noro Silk Garden, Color 208, Lot A. The scarf pattern is Shifting Sands created by and available at the blog of the one and only Grumperina.
I must have cast on six different scarf and stitch combinations before settling on this. That's how excitable and nervous I am about using this yarn. Also, I wanted something that was moderately reversible. Imagine how delighted I was at discovering I like the back side to this pattern just fine. It's really the color that does it for me. And the cable pattern totally roxxors and is super easy to do without a cable needle.

All I want to knit right now is this scarf, until it's six feet long or I run out of yarn, whichever comes first. But this is not the time for selfish knitting. Christmas is coming. And I have stuff to knit for other people. I think?

I'm too lazy to go to the hardware store, so I'll knit up some socks for my father-in-law. I visited a new to me yarn store and picked up some more Lorna's Laces for such a purpose. I'm thinking something vintagey. Published in a book by a woman. Possibly named Nancy.

Yes, these will do fine.

denouement

On Knitting, And Things Relating To It
Wherein we learn that the Swallow Tail Shawl has been knit, weaved, blocked, and hidden for three days so that it might not be discovered inopportunely.

Pattern: Evelyn Clark's Swallow Tail Shawl pattern from Fall 2006 Interweave Knits.
Yarn: Less than 1 Skein KnitPicks Shadow (100% Merino, 440yds/50g) in Sunset.
Needles: US 4 Addi Turbo circular

It's a quick knit; mostly simple; lovely to play with. I look forward to knitting it a second time, as soon as I figure out what I want for myself.

Also completed:
Pattern: Grumperina's Jaywalker for Magknits.
Yarn: 2 skeins Claudia's Handpainted Yarn (100% Merino, 175 yds/50g) in Black Walnut.
Needles: US 1 Addi Turbo circulars

You may recall the first was done some time ago. I may not have finished with others for Socktoberfest, but I did discover along the way I heart knitting socks. And through some twist of nature (and alcohol), my father-in-law determined that not only is his foot the exact same size as mine, but wearing handknit socks could be described as "sex for your feet". (Also, these socks do not feel like they have mistakes in them. He's quite upset I wouldn't let him have the screwed up pair.)

On Turkeys

This year I am very thankful that I did not have to wake up at the crack of dawn to be at work for the mall rush at 4 a.m.

Now that "mall employee" is behind me (and a four letter word), it is my turn to exact revenge on retail workers... by sleeping in until noon and then scoring a yarn swift for 60% off.

Also learned this holiday: chugging a glass of milk after several cocktails is not conducive to a good time.

On Things That Are Leafy
Rescheduled or not, this (indoor) Carbon Leaf show was astronomically overwhelming. I don't think I could have asked for a better spot than front and center.
If you were there, I apologize for the excited chattering before/during/after the show (and to the stealmonster, who was forced to deal-at least the strangers had a headstart). If you were wondering, the glazed over expression and the drool were not anything to be concerned about. I was within reach of Barry, as he proved twice. An invading army could have pulled a Red Dawn on downtown and I wouldn't have budged. It was worth having my car milkshak'd.
In summation, the show was crazy awesome. As are the (surprisingly sweet) band members.

Lest you think this had nothing to do with knitting, you can get it on good authority that the only music I have listened to since September the 12 has been such levels of awesome as seen here. They are inspiring my knitting/spinning/dyeing (oh, there is so much to discuss).

Leafy, tambien: The "Backyard Leaves" scarf that I'm going to knit when I get to Richmond and get me some Debbie Bliss. Because I met a ball of cashmerino this weekend. And it will be mine.

exultation

Hurray, huzzah, huttah... it is the small things in life that brings us the most joy.

The Swallow Tail Shawl by Evelyn Clark is complete. If you live on the eastern seaboard then you understand that the weather is very much not good at the moment, what with a coastal storm spinning off shore and all. Thus, pictures aren't really optimal at the moment.

Coming Soon: Yarn for a Super Duper Serially Top Secret Project (SDSTSP). Apparently, said yarn is coming from England. I had not expected this. But it does not deter me. (Any hope that the end result will have a penchant for crumpets or an accent are also not swayed, despite the whole inanimateness of it all).

I am motivated and excited about what the knitting future holds for me, past the completion of the Jaywalker socks (turning a heel) and two last Christmas gifts (mmm lace). I checked out the Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop videos from the library and finally watched them. I was completely blown away by how motivational and simple her outlook on knitting was and loved the homemade feel of the show. And her books carry on the same voice. It's encouraging. It's inspriational. It's great! She got me thinking. And I think I have a plan.

But for now, there are preparations to be accomplished for a day of Turkey. I'm off for the weekend-hope all will be well for you and yours.

raillery

I had planned on a few things today-some knitting, some errand running, perhaps even venturing to the one yarn shop in the area I haven't investigated yet.
Ha! Me, have time to do anything on a day off, much less knit? Ha ha ha!
Between dealing with banks that are dumb and can't read a calendar, companies that are dumb and don't know how to work direct deposit, water heaters that are dumb and decide to explode on your floor, and plumbers that are dumb and can't find your house when you're less than twenty feet from the largest intersection of the city, I'll be lucky to finish up in today's zone.

On the plus side, I've discovered a new, yet expensive, way to mop the floor.

I've got ten minutes to kill while this CD burns.
Pfft. Time to knit. Hahahahahahahaha!

it is a woken dream

So it's the third day of November and that causes me to realize that we are just shy of two weeks until the Turkey day.
I must find a turkey!
I stopped at the library today, under the assumption that three holds were prepared for me. I had no idea the terror that waited.

I'm now officially over the check out limit, but the librarians were so nice and everything, telling me it's kewl if I take on more than 20 items, just this once. "But bring some things back okay? And knit a good sweater."
Oh, such a sweater it will be. And yeah I gotta get stuff back.. there's like, 18 more holds lost in the ether somewhere between other libraries and mine.

Starsky has 2 inches left on the back and one sleeve left to go. After careful evaluation, and some of the maths, I have come to understand that we will be short on yarn. One, possibly two skeins (I really have no idea how much the collar will take. It's 3 inches of ribbing and it goes from the bottom left all the way around to the bottom right. Then there's the belt.) Needless to say, the yarn source has been contacted. They're going to see if they have any of my dye lot left. It's all subjective.I'm not too worried about it. This has been a monster of a project but I really love everything about the sweater so far, even if it is going to be somewhat largish on me (good grief, the sleeves) and the back has become so heavy that it throws off my gauge while knitting if unsupported.
But these are all things I'm willing to learn as a first time sweater knitter, for it sure won't be the last. And after paging through a certain book the other day I've come to the determination that adjusting patterns to fit me will actually be an easier task than I thought possible before. It just takes the maths.
I'm digging out the calculator now.
Right after I peruse the idear of this here perfekt sweater.

stretch my heart to heal some more

Hey, it's tuesday. No yarn to present itself. The camera needs a battery charge. But never fear, I do have a finished object for show and tell.

Behold, the front hall closet of an unrenovated 1970's era ranch style home (floor trim having never existed in this place to my knowledge).


Note there is no light in said closet. This will soon be remedied with some electrician calling action.
Enjoy the view of particle board shelves and wooden hanging rods! Fear the exposed live wires of the ancient doorbell! Notice the cobwebs in the corners and the wear and tear on 1980's butter-yellow (yet lead free!) paint!

Then breathe a sigh of relief with me as we enjoy the paint that is so fearsome, I dare not speak its name.
No, I said I dare not speak it.
I heart twizzlers. And wire shelving. What do I plan to do with all this increased space?
Why, it's the perfect home for the bundt cake pans. Yes, the Bundt Cake Pans. Say it with me folks, in the creepy tone a la Eric Foreman discussing panties. BUNDT CAKE PANS!

Ahem. Moving that stuff in now. And trust in the knowledge hubs has obtained plastic coverage for exposed doorbell wiring.
Also, I'm in love with the trim.

Ignore the sweeping that needs to occur.

Knitting? OH RIGHT, yes I do that still. See?

Note the "swatch" has grown a bit. Those other colors? ...They're... other.. swatches. Attached to it. Yes that's it. What, me start another project? No wai! I still have Starsky's monstrous acreage of a back to finish. See it hanging out back there? Next to the kirby wands and on top of all the books I am so totally not reading?

And lest I forget, today is Halloween... thus marking the one year anniversary of us bringing home the Zoester.
And her favorite place is still on hub's lap.

where to begin

The morning is rainy and wet and windy and cold. Just the way I like them.
This makes me miss the Seattle area and reminds me how much this climate hates me.
I shall take a break from the beast of a sweater back and begin some swatching.


I heart this KnitPicks Swish Superwash. It's super soft and super awesome. This "swatch" (which is a project in disguise) is great so far.

And for my second trick, a trip to Home Depot.


There's some house changing home making idears afoot.

My husband is amused with my choice of green color. I'm amused with the "Oklahoma Wheat" color. Can't wait to pick out the red.

what I've been missing

Q: How do I convince my family/friends/significant other that a swift is a wise investment?

A: Take your ball winder. If you don't have a ball winder, find your nostepinne or whatever else you use for such tasks. Find laceweight. (About 1200 yards is a good start - not that I would know). Explain to your victim, er, helper, that they must hold the yarn while you wind. Begin winding. At approximately 450 yards, begin describing how helpful a swift is. When complete with winding laceweight, pull out other yarn to wind "since you have the help". Watch how fast they offer to find you a swift.
Again. Not that I would know. I'm just sayin.

Happy Friday 13. The End is finally here.

I will not wait until the end

This trailer has been mocking me for two long weeks. BUT NO MORE! Tonight is the night of nights. There will be one (1) two hour premiere for Battlestar: Galactica and my head right now is like "zomg with pie wtfmazing let's go let's go". I've watched all the webisodes twice now. It's all I can do to keep myself from sitting on the couch and not moving for the next eight hours. As if that would make it come on sooner. ALTHOUGH, there DOES seem to be some kind of BSG marathon the TiVo is picking up...

Gah, must resist. There are other things of i/p to be done today.

Including the sox. It's socktoberfest in blogland, and I'm playing along in spirit. This will be my first pair of sox, I'm using Claudia's handpainted in black walnut (which should be renamed to totally awesome; pictures once this "storm" goes away) and I'm using two circulars. This month we discover if I am a sox knitter or not.

And watch BSG. I'm such a nerd.

where you might be found

Aight lady, you're making me look bad. You're like, ten times the friend I'll ever think I am. The end.

Apparently the SnB is having a movie night at a member's house, and the theme is "food from your childhood". Would you think juice boxes count?

Now I want grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.

As Stephen says, moving on.

There’s a meme I’ve been seeing. It involves a list of ten. Gods help me, I could not resist.

Be warned, I am a relatively new knitter. My plan is to write down these “Ten Knitterly Things About Me” now and come back in a year and see how far I’ve come. Hey, I’m a fan of time capsules and you can’t take that away from me. Anyway.
1. What is up with Continental Knitting? Seriously. I really wanted to try this out but I can’t grasp this concept to save my life. It literally hurts my brain when I try to make it work. Perhaps it’s because it’s a left-handed thing and my brain seeks to reject southpaw tendencies. I’m not sure. I know it’s the fastest way to knit. I’m just not sure if it’s worth the aneurysm to make it work.
2. At any given moment in time, I am about 15 projects ahead of what I’m currently working on. I search through online places, buy books, read the magazines. I see something new nearly everyday I’d like to knit and make a mental note or set aside the pattern. I have begun a yarn stash with yarn that I eventually plan to use for such projects. We have yet to see how that works out for me.
3. I have never bought a yarn “just to have it”. I usually make a purchase with a project in mind. I’ve been limited to the few stores around my location as I haven’t traveled much recently and I’m sketchy on purchasing yarn online (place of i/p excluded) if I don’t already know what it’s going to look like. I have a feeling this may change when I go to the fiber fest this fall.
4. I am a bigger fan of circular needles than straights. I like that I don’t have to support all the weight at once. I like that I can put a project down and not worry about the needles falling out. I like that you can’t lose the other needle when it’s not being used. Trust me, I can lose a straight within five seconds of sitting down somewhere. They just evaporate from my hands.
5. I am a bigger fan of knitting socks on circulars than with DPN’s. Using DPN’s is like walking into a room of flying scorpions. You know it’s a bad idea, yet you can’t resist the dangeresque of it all. I hope to conquer the use of these small pointy sticks.
6. I knit while watching television, riding in the car, flying, and walking around stores. I knit at concerts where I know I’ll be sitting and not in other’s way. I knit in restaurants while waiting to order/get food. I knit (simple things) in the movie theater. I don’t feel like I have to knit all the time. I just like the soothing repetitiveness of the task. It keeps me from getting anxious around other people and makes a great conversation starter (one of the best parts of getting older is intentionally freaking out the younger generations-I can’t wait to make teens twitch with out of date slang).
7. Knitting is a hobby for me. It’s escape from pressure to do things and make others happy. When people call me up and say “So and So needs this, make one” or “So and So wants to pay you to make such and such for her” I get turned off. I like to knit things for others. I have several projects for such events and people. I just don’t like the pressure of having to do something for someone. It then becomes a job, or a task. Not fun.
8. Conversely, when someone says they like something I’m making or they’d like one of their own, I make a mental note. They’ve probably just found their Christmas present.
9. I can’t use charts. I don’t understand how they apply. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to read to figure out how to use them. I don’t know why they only chart one side when there are repeats on the ws and use symbols that make no sense like > or \ or ^ to denote a stitch. It’s like Braille. Why not just use the English alphabet with raised bumps instead of creating your own crazy alphabet with six dots that people have to learn to write anything down for a blind person? Why not just stick K or P in the box if you gotta knit or purl?
10. I don't trust my own skill. I read a pattern and write down in great detail what I need to do. I make notes of repeats and such so I don’t lose my place. I’m still sort of waiting for someone to come along and say it’s okay for me to attempt fair isle or something else of the sort. I feel like there are skills the “advanced” knitter has that one can only achieve after years of knitting, even though it is all just “knit” and “purl”. However, I do not hesitate to encourage others that like myself might be unsure about tackling a project. I mean, what’s the worst thing that could happen? You unravel and start over? We’re knitting for fun, no longer for survival. Congratulations, you’ve just created more hobby time for yourself.

Someday, I’ll learn to always take my own advice. Until then, I continue to knit.

summer has come and past

I'm so freakin worn out. I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up when september ends.
Which isn't all that far away, you know. One more week and then it's time to start planning holiday things for holiday events with holiday cheer. The rest of the year will sweep by too, what with days off of work and such. My coworker tells me to wait till I'm older. He says Christmas was just yesterday to him. Christmas, 2004.
I decided that Hubs and I are making a turkey on Thanksgiving. I can't wait.
Anyway, away I was this weekend attending the final wedding to ever be held at scenic Stonewall Manor in NC.
It was a beautiful place, even if there were swarms of mosquitos eagerly awaiting us victims guests to sit down and present a meal for them. Some members of the wedding party got bored, particularly during the two points where some American Idol reject sang for us.

Others were too enthralled with each other to acknowledge that there were tiny creatures attempting to drain them of their precious lifegiving blood.

As they should be, right?
The cake was yum. All seven of them.

I entertained myself by photographing the structure after the people started threatening me with bodily harm. These walls? Hand painted.

I'm just sayin.
Even if that was a hobby of mine. I'd be insane when I was done. Try doing this on four walls of a fifty square foot room.

Anyhow, the clapotis was finished in time to come with me. I know the world needs another blogger showing off a clappy like it needs to fall into a black hole and implode, but you're a captive audience and damn it, I made it.



So there. I'm hungry for lace now.
I've learned blocking is an amazing art I have no control over. This thing turned out to be five feet long from the wadded up piece of india shaped land it was. Amazing.
Oh, here's a torrent for you.
And we came home to find one of the cats being uncontrollably adorable, as per usual.
Not much else going on, I've been mostly treadling while watching old reruns of horrible television shows when I have ten minutes to sit down and relax. I did get to talking with a nice lady about weaving at the wedding. Such an interesting hobby that is. I learned I can use handspun in it. I should have Hubs measure the back room for a loom.
No, just kidding. Although if Haz ever comes back from the desert, we might be in trouble.

Another weekend down, and this upcoming one isn't shaping up to be less entertaining. Lots to do to prepare for this, but most importantly, much to get done before friday, because this day of days is earmarked for doing absofrickinlutely nothing but writing.
I'll fit sleep in there somewhere.

love loss hope repeat

Today I realized September is already halfway over. Is this even possible? I don't understand. Maybe because I never officially got "into" the month. So because I'm so amfek dumb, the intention of this month is time management. Because I need to... get me some of that.
I keep thinking "Wow, the weather is so beautiful today. Man I can't wait until autumn is here."
Then I remember that my brother's birthday is in a couple of days, my anniversary next week and the fall equinox is knocking on the door.
The other thing about this weather? It makes me want to cook food. All kinds of food. Steaming veg, baking poultry, roasting taters. Doesn't matter what kind. Something bubbling and warm. Good. Natural. Yummy.
Man, I heart fall.

Anyway.

Back to this.

when asked to leave it begs to stay

I am some kind of stupid.
I'm not sure where I got the idea that there are seven weekends in September. Clearly, this is what I believe, as I have signed myself up for seven weekends worth of activity in September. Gonna have to cut this shit right the hell out, dontcha think?

For the record: Having a small house guest is the best thing evers. I must somehow conspire to achieve my real ultimate goal in life, which essentially means stealing the small one for nefarious purposes. You know, like knitting and watching Firefly. Oh such Firefly that was watched.
Other things were watched as well, things pertaining to thing > all, and since the ride home and the long discussion of i/p, my head has been filthy with plot. Just filthy.
Lucky, I have some aid for cleaning.
Haldo, strata:
What's shakin, halo:

Nearing the end of the set I can complete, and this means I need to place another order. Can't tell hubs. I mean, he did just set up the spinning wheel and all.
Oh yes, the spinning wheel. You know what I do on it? I spin.
Amazing, I know.
Going back to being stupid now. Other projects to be discussed at a later date. Time to find some zen and regain some sorts.

Also, to be added for future reference: Carbon Leaf and Better Than Ezra, live, together, in concert (even if we did miss some of CL)? BEST. SHOW. EVER.
the end.

here it goes again

If you watch The Colbert Report, then you surely know what it is I'm about to speak of.

But if you missed last night's episode, then you totally need to go here and watch the treadmill video.

I think these guys just made a spot on my awesome list.

the mystery continues to grow

Is it August already? And not only has it been August for 12 days, but I haven't yet made some remark about how it was "just yesterday" I was sitting here, thinking of the New Year and what it entails.
They always say time flies.

1. This shit rules, the end.

2. This morning, hubs informed me we had a visitor in the yard.
Pooosssuuuuumms!
As cute as I thought he was, Hubs isn't a big fan of possibly rabid creatures living in the yard. Go figure.

3. Carbon Leaf is my current band obsession. It has been determined that all albums must be aquired.

4. Windy days? Are the best. Yay for lack of swealtering heatzor.

5. After finding a link to this at MDK, the brain started working. I'm too impatient to wait for patterns, so I took matters into my own hands.


It sweeps (swifs?) like a dream. No, you can't see my cat hair. Thanks for the inspriation.

6. I have heartache, but it's in the best way possible. I have the best friends known to man.

7. Warshrags? Hell yes. I'm considering renaming the blog to Cotton Addicts Anonymous.

For a cousin's wedding gift, the Christie variety:
Fear my instarsia prowess.

And for thanks of awesomeness, the Jenny variety:
8. Did I mention I heart Carbon Leaf right now? They're here on Monday. Free show. Same night as the Stitch and Bitch I've skipped the last three weeks while they were renovating our meeting place. Would probably also be the same night I'd be rolling along in fictional matters. Guh, the decisions.

9. I said I'd be learning something new every month this year. I shall compile the list. Know that neither July nor August has not been spent lightly. And September is hesitantly planned.

10. For the record, just because every radio station around here has been bought out or transformed into a country music station, it does in no way mean that everyone listens to country. It will take more than ten years of this onslaught to break this cookie.