ok...so these were actually painted on Thurs. but by the time I got everything up and running and cleaned (because I wanted to prove that my counter is not usually THAT bad!) it was this morning! Here it is:
Now I just have to do a few touch-ups and I'll be done with painting for a while!
As far as my knitting goes....I have been working...not as much as I wanted to over this vacation but I got some done. I also cranked out a couple of really quick washcloths for part of a wedding shower present. I promise I will have pictures soon. I feel like the needles were a little ignored this week because of the whole kitchen thing but I will update here and over at Ravelry very very soon. Plus, I'm lusting over the new Imagination yarn over at Knit Picks -- I see a bit of red in Munchkin -- hope it's a lot! must...finish...current...projects...argh!
Ok....so day 2 went pretty smoothly...I almost had a CATastrophe though. Bailey came down quite confused and looking for her food when she almost put a paw right on the corner of the very wet, front of a cabinet door. I know I'm going to end up doing some touch up anyway but whew, am I glad that didn't happen. (Thanks to my very loud, very scary scream!)
As I started this morning I did have to keep repeating the paint mantra of "it dries darker"-- when I opened the can of paint it looked VERY purple. I looked at the paint sample again and sure enough it said "fine wine". As I watched the paint go up, I thought this looks more like just smooshed grapes. But remembering that dark paint especially dries a different color, I went for it....glad I did! It's definitely what I wanted!
The difference between the two reds is amazing! No more angry red! Now I just have to do the bottom cupboards and finish everything (read: clean) before I have a newish kitchen! Now off to go put a second coat on the inside of the doors so I can hang them tomorrow...
Ok...so this week I took vacation to try and get my big winter project done. I was hoping that I could get a couple of days solid to work on my kitchen. Well, the fates conspired against me and this week is actually going to be a REALLY busy week -- so the kitchen is going in stages.
On Saturday I tool a trip down to Ikea (LOVE this place) to pick up a few handy, dandy things. A new tv stand, door pulls, storage space for kitchen walls, etc. etc. etc. Of course, walking through that store always makes me want to spend so much more money than I have...:(
So with new kitchen toys in hand I'm ready to start. Here's the mess before I started this morning:
Hopefully, I will be posting the finished product in a couple of days -- complete with pretty new stuff and an actual clean counter! Now on to have a sit in my chair!!
(The big dog in the pic...the little dog is helping to ease the passing.)
Kid was my brother's K-9 cop partner for 6 years and was a pet for another 4 or so. Kid joined my brother's family when he was about 3 yrs old and left the family today almost 13. 13 years is ancient for a German Shepherd and it was time for him to leave....However, a big boy (my brother) and a little boy (my 7 yr old nephew) in the house are very, very sad. Kid was a dog whose thought his sole purpose in life was to be loved and petted....except when he was working. At work, the other policemen nicknamed him "Satan" because of how he reacted. But at home he was always waiting for a lap to climb on or for a hand to pet him.
He will be sorely missed.
Have you ever had one of those days that you just wanted to go away and never come again? Well, that was my morning this morning....
I had an awesome night on Sun night with good food and good games. And then came off that high to a crappy, crappy Monday morning....grrrrrr. Consequently, I had to reward myself with some new comfort music (that would be the Wanted and Milk soundtracks -- both Danny Elfman -- ah.....)!
So here's what happened to me:
1. Turned my alarm OFF instead of whacking the snooze button....bad thing. Luckily, I only overslept about 25 minutes or so.
2. On my way downstairs (hurrying as much as I could through my stupor...) I missed a step and ended up careening down about 4 steps on my rear! OW!!
3. Never put lotion on your hands before you put a band-aid on....they don't like to stick.
4. Made it in time to leave for work but then as I was leaving I didn't screw the lid of my travel mug on tight enough and ended up with coffee all down my front, side and my ipod (it did survive)!
5. Luckily, I happened to remember that the bank was closed to day before I made it all the way there...whew!
After that disastrous first couple of hours its been much calmer. However, it hurts to bend down to the ground or sit down (I think I must have bruised something) but I think that a night of good comfort food and sitting (hopefully) in my chair knitting is in the works for me!
The one good thing about it being -4 degrees outside is that I don't feel like leaving the relative safety of the great indoors. This means that I sit at home, watch movies, and yes, knit! So in the past 2 days I have finished one pair of socks and started another:
The one I finished...
These are a bit tight around the leg -- not the best stitch for stretchiness! I love the stripes though....especially since they are fraternal! I had to really make myself finish these because I really wanted to move on to the next pair...I resisted the allure of pretty yarn and draw of a pattern I like the look of but hadn't tried yet. (Why does the new and different attract me?) Anyway, they are done...another warm pair for those days I absolutely relish having thick wool around my feet (i.e. when the wind chill is about -20 degrees!).
And the one I started... 
This is the Jaywalker pattern and can I just say so far I LOVE this pattern. I have flown through the leg of the first sock. Usually I get bored doing the leg and my startitis flares up and I'm ready to move on to the next project. Not this time. I started the leg last night and I looked down an hour later and most of the leg is done! Amazing. There's been talk recently about sock patterns that fly off the needles and I would have to agree that these are one of those patterns. Hopefully, these fit like glove (except for my feet) so I can continue to love this pattern. Keeping with the musical person I am, these have earned the name Heigh-Ho. When I cast on with a yarn colorway that is entitled Seven Dwarves what else can spring to mind but..."Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, it's off to work we go." Maybe that's why they are going so fast...
Now I just need my Knit Picks order to get here so I can start on the baby present for April. The time crunch might be on soon. Unfortunately for us knitters, Knit Picks got hit with bad weather and then (I think) a little rowing pains so it's taking a bit longr than usual to get orders through. I don't have a problem unless I start to think about the new stuff I'm getting....then my patience takes a flying leap out the window! (Ok, ok, deep breath, one day at a time...)
Getting the hang of it...
Author: Liz / Labels: Bailey, knitting, procrastination, projects, thoughts
Now....there are 2 things I've learned:
1. Must have pointy, pointy needles to do lace -- mine aren't :( The k2Tog's are kinda hard.
2. When you lay the work on the floor to take pictures, make sure you're on the lookout for the cat. She's already put teeth holes in one pair of my bamboo needles and almost got these. I guess I shouldn't complain because she rarely goes after the yarn!
of Knit Knite. Ahhh....
A simple gathering of like-minded individuals that turns into a mess of laughter, sharing, venting, and molesting (of yarn, not people). Where else can you sit and work on your own projects while simultaneously gaping over beautiful yarn, watching someone toddle through their first steps as a knitter (and as a designer), finding out that there are mutual friends, learning new techniques (or contemplate trying them), and gossiping like there would be no tomorrow....(and being watched over by [this week at least] a pleasantly pink furry squirrel)!
Thanks to Kristie for putting up the link to Ravelry's work-in-progress tool. After about 45 minutes of arguing with my not-so-computer-savvy brain, I figured out what I was doing they are up and running(see list to the right). So Awesome! Maybe this will help me remember to actually work on some of these things!! And hopefully, it will keep the list down to a bare minimum of started projects as well.
Ok. I know it's been a while since I actually posted some knitting goodies.
I hope that everyone had a fun and safe New Year's...Mine was spent with good friends (and good beer and games) and it was again a wonderful way to usher in a new year.
I'm usually not big on resolutions as I tend not to keep them more than a month. However, this year I have decided to jump and do three:
- First, I'm resurrrecting one I did a few years ago that I actually had a lot of fun doing. I'm going to read one book of classical literature per month. This will be picked by the wonderful people at Random House in their monthly spotlight. It helps me build an actual library and then I'm not just reading whatever I want to read. Last time, (about 3 years ago) there was only one book I couldn't read all the way through, was introduced to some wonderful books and came to appreciate some authors that I hadn't really liked before.
- Number 2: There is a list of music (divided into 3 levels) for high schoolers to choose a solo or ensemble for when they go to contest (performing for a judge for a rating and comments, for those of you who have never been). Well, I have decided that I will make my way through the hardest level of piano solos this year. I have fallen off the highest cliff as far as my own practicing goes so this is a way for me to get back in. The good news is that I've already done about half the list. The bad news is that I've already done half of the stuff I would ENJOY playing. Oh well....just trying to keep my chops.
- Lastly -- the cliche resolution. I have to fit back into my clothes! I'm not really going on a diet, just a goal and promise to get back into my exercise routine. All of my nice formed muscle as slowly turned into jiggly flab (sorry for the mental picture). I refuse to spend a whole lot of money on bigger sized clothes when I have perfectly good clothes that I just don't fit in anymore! So get back into the clothes it is!
So, happy 2009, I hope that this year is better and happier for everyone out there. Good luck to myself and to anyone else who is making themselves do something to learn something this year!