I am not sure quite where to start in this update, so I suppose I will start with the fact that my husband is gainfully employed. We had to move to accomplish this feat, so our home now resides in the suburbs of Seattle. To say that I love this place would be an understatement. We’ve had such a great time so far trekking out to the ocean, going to the aquarium, walking many park paths, and just enjoying what this part of the country has to offer.

Ben really enjoys his job, and the kids are enjoying having their own rooms and a big, green yard. I love the house that we found. There is a lot of brick work and the ceilings are cedar…it just feels very warm inside. I’ll have to take more pictures, particularly when the apple trees start ripening and before we pick the raspberry and blackberry bushes clean. It’s amazing how things grow out here!

Speaking of picture, I have a bunch, so I uploaded them to my Flikr account and put the descriptions there also. http://www.flickr.com/photos/15196767@N04/
I believe that is the link, but let me know if you have problems.

I’ve still got some house arranging to do, and with the thunderstorms it seems like a good day to get it done. I’ll get more pics of the house up, since I know certain people are curious, and I will try to get on and blog more. I’ve got a lot to talk about lately, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to be inspired to share.

It has been an interesting week. I’ve had some epiphanies, gotten a lot of work done, and managed to not run away screaming from all the responsibilities heaped on me. After making it through I feel rather peaceful and accomplished.

The knitting has been fantastic this week, which may account for the ability to not run away screaming. I got a project from my boss down in KC, and it was the second best project she’s ever given me. (The first was the Classic Elite green cabled boy’s sweater.) It’s the Children’s Neckdown Bolero from Knitting Pure and Simple (It’s really a cardigan, IMO) and it is a really fun knit. The pattern goes from size 2 to 10, so you can bet my kids will be getting some. (I might knock them out this week, it was that fun to knit!) This one is knit out of Rowan All Seasons Cotton. Oh, and absolutely no seaming.

I’ve also got a great sock done out of the lovely Trekking Natura given to me by my Glendive friend. I am going to cast the other one on as soon as I am done typing and keep it by the computer. The Central Park Hoodie I am working on is about halfway to the armpit. I’d have pictures, but the camera crapped out after the Bolero pics. (Note to self: buy new camera after husband is employed!)

Speaking of employment, Ben has 1 phone interview this week, and has been talking to two other places already! The phone interview is for a position just south of Seattle. I have a friend who used to work for this particular company, and she LOVED it, so we are hopeful. The other jobs are in OH and Phoenix. I think that the consensus in the house is for Seattle, though.

I have pictures of the crafty project I did with the girls a couple weeks ago, since one person has received theirs. (The other will get theirs when Jo is finished with her letter.)

I got this idea from AlternaCraft, although mine are on a larger scale. I saved pickle jar tops, and we cut out pictures, used beads, and then set it all with epoxy. If I were to do it again I would not use regular paper to write the names on, and I would find slower setting epoxy. Epoxy uses a chemical reaction to set, and the faster the setting the hotter the epoxy gets. You can see where the heat burned the pictures a little bit. The first one we did turned out fine, but I put too much epoxy in the other ones. Overall it turned out well, and it is a good Christmas present project. I have two more to do for my FIL and SIL, but I have to wait til we move so I can get good epoxy. It was a fun project.

I’m going to run and grab a sandwich before we are off to the pool today. Have Fun!

It’s been a crafty week around here! I’ve even managed to do something other than knitting, but I can’t post about that until the people who are receiving the crafty goodness get it. It was a neat project, that I will repeat, but with some changes. You’ll see.

I promised knitting pictures, and knitting pictures you will have. I finally broke down and spent the last 6 dollars on my Visa Gift Card on the Central Park Hoodie pattern. I know, everyone has made one (Ravelry has over 1100 finished!), but it is such a nice pattern that I can’t help myself. I’m going to be making some adjustment, like adding a bit of waist shaping and knitting all the sides at once so I don’t have to seam as much.

I am loving the yarn A LOT. It’s Knitpicks Wool of the Andes, which I thought would be the same as Elann’s Peruvian Wool, but it is not. The Elann wool is much scratchier, and knits up to a smaller gauge. Also, I can’t get over how great the colors are. It’s hard to capture with a camera, but it is a jewel colored blue with purple and sometimes a hint of turquoise mixed in. The colorway is Heathered Sapphire.

I’ve gotten more done since this picture, but I’ll show you anyhow. I forgot how laborious ribbing is…it took me a few hours to get through four inches!

I’ve been house sitting for a friend here, and she sends me yarn in return. The yarn this month was three cones of bulky cotton to make a Mason Dixon bathmat. This thing is so ridiculously thick and smooshy! I love the end result, but it is a huge pain to knit. I ended up knitting English style to get all three strands around my size 13 needle, and was knitting at MAYBE 10 stitches a minute. Granted there aren’t as many stitches since it is so bulky, but dang was it slow! Oh, and it looks like I will have enough yarn left over to make some nice trivets and potholders.

I figured I would show you the Anniversary sweater to prove that it existed, since I more than likely will be ripping it out. The gauge is perfect, Ben picked out the size, but it is “too tight”. It actually the same as it looks on the model, but that is too fitted for Ben. You would think he would mention that before I spent hours staring at boring grey stockinette, but whatever. I was thinking of offering it up on ravelry and trade it for some sock yarn, which might be a nicer option. What do you think?

When I finished the floppy sweater I ordered myself a little present. This yumminess below is Socks that Rock Raven Series, in the Rook-y colorway. The photo does not do the yarn justice, and I haven’t found a pattern that does either. I am considering writing my own for it, but we’ll see.

I’ve got some mail to get out today, some cables to knit, and some kids to take to the library. It actually rained yesterday, which is terribly rare for this area. I’m hoping we move somewhere where it rains regularly. I stood outside yesterday just to smell the air, and the smell didn’t last near long enough.

Oh, and on the job front, we’ve got some nibbles from W. NC, Chatanooga, Salt Lake City, and Chicago. Ben is calling a place in NH today, so I am crossing my fingers.

I’m spending the weekend with Dr. Who and my CPH, so I’ll make sure to update on Sunday or Monday as to my progress. I am hoping to finish this before it gets too warm to wear it. OH! If anyone knows where to find really awesome buttons online could you let me know? I’m looking for cute japanese buttons or something retro, funky…you know, Chris buttons.

If you’ve ever tried to write or keep a journal on a daily basis, you can probably relate to my week. I’ve been meaning to update my blog all week, but every time that I have sat down to do just that I realize that there are so many things I need to write about that I get overwhelmed and put it off some more.

Life has been pretty good lately. My husband was laid off, and even with that (and him being home ALL THE TIME) things have been going quite well. We’ve got some little job nibbles, but nothing really stands out right now. There is a job in Western North Carolina that Ben really likes the description of (and that is one of our top ten places to move to), so he is going to be pursuing that this week. Please keep us in your prayers.

On the knitting front, well, the train is running at full steam ahead. I’ve been knitting like a newbie lately, and have really given myself permission to do what I feel. I finished the Koigu Floppy Jacket, and while I still have a few doll things to do I am working on my own stuff right now. (I figure I will have a productive day and get the doll stuff done in the next couple weeks. Doll stuff is great since it is so quick!) I’ve gotten quite a bit of work done on Ben’s Avast Cardigan, I am almost finished with my Mason/Dixon bathmat, and the socks are flying off the needles. I was on Ravelry a couple months ago and picked up some Wool of the Andes in the most gorgeous jewel tone heathered blue you have ever seen, and have the Central Park Hoodie pattern printed out and ready to go. I am going to have a little race with myself to see how quickly I can finish it when working on that exclusively.

I’m going to get some of my recent FO’s and WIP’s together tomorrow and have a good knitting update. For now, check out the Koigu jacket.

I’ve got quite a few kid pictures here, and a FIL who reminds me on a semi-daily basis that he needs pictures of the grandbabies. I have to say that my girls astonish me daily. They are both so ridiculously intelligent and are just all around beautiful people. Joanna has taken to drawing comics. She started out tracing a Peanuts book, and now she has started copying onto regular paper and making her own little strips. Genevieve is right on the cusp of literacy. She decided last month that she wanted to learn and has been picking up phonics quite readily. They are both very excited about the prospect of moving, but have been adamant about having their own rooms.

Lots of other stuff has been going on, but I’ll have to get to it later. It’s almost 11 here, and I have a plan to possibly sew tomorrow. Sewing is an all day, grueling task for me, so it’s good to give myself plenty of time. Hope all of you are doing well…see ya later this week!

There are socks aplenty being knit in Glasgow this week, thanks to my handy dandy sock class. I was pretty nervous, so it was a bit shaky in the beginning, but as soon as we were casting on things went much more smoothly. Everyone went away knowing how to knit a sock! Mission accomplished!

One of the nice things to come of the class, other than meeting all these cool folks, is that my knitting group had 6 people this week! Hopefully they will continue to come, as we had a really good time. I’m thinking of putting a call out to everyone today and having a little “help clinic” tomorrow. I think it would be a good idea, because there are always those little things you forget and need a little reinforcement on.

The girls’ hair had finally grown out since they decided to cut it a couple months ago, so I took them to get a proper haircut. They both look so cute! You’ll have to take my word on that for right now, since the camera is charging.

We had a bit of excitement and tragedy on our street this morning. The house across the street caught on fire. Please pray that the damage isn’t too bad, and that they can recover important things. Praise God she already had the children off to school.

I am sending an email to my NY lady that I will be shipping the sweater next Friday. I have to finish the sleeve and pick up stitches for the front and collar, block sleeves and put them on. I need to get her address again since my computer crashed, so I figured it would be good to self impose a deadline on myself. Once I get to a certain point of weariness with a project then a deadline with accountability is a very good thing for me. See, I am growing up!

Have a great weekend!

I got a comment in my email from Lynn, and I thought to myself “surely it hasn’t been that long.” Turns out it has been a while since I have updated my poor neglected blog, so here ya go!

I have been insanely busy, but life has been great. I finished a prototype doll coat and pattern for a client, knit most of Ben’s sweater, but still haven’t finished Christmas presents OR the Koigu jacket. The koigu jacket needs to go, though, so I am going at it hardcore this week after a dire upset. I finished the second sleeve, blocked it, and then started picking up stitches to do the front borders. I had to do the front borders multiple times, and then I just emailed Koigu and gave up on that for a time. When the sleeve was done, I put it with the other sleeve, and realized that there was a terrible size discrepancy.

I didn’t even want to look at it for a couple of weeks, and didn’t, but picked it up yesterday and figured out my issue. Turns out the second sleeve is correct, and I did not increase enough on the first one. I ripped the first one out yesterday and started to knit with it, realizing a bit a the way into it that blocked, frogged Koigu does not knit the same as fresh Koigu. Luckily I have ONE more skein and a smidge of another, which should get me through. I am knocking it out this week and getting it out of here so I can get the yarn and start on another Vogue sweater. It says something about a project when you are looking forward to doing the Vogue sweater again.

Another thing I have going on is teaching. Yeah, you all know that I homeschool, but now I am teaching knitting classes. I got talked into it by someone who wanted to knit socks and had a group of friends who wanted to knit socks. I capped the class at 10 people, and it was full just from people calling other people and forwarding the registration email. CRAZY! I already have people asking about the next class! I’ll let you know how it goes. It’s this Saturday…pray for me!

Speaking of homeschooling, things are going marvelously. We have our little routine for our required things, and the girls haven’t run out of interests for the rest of our time. Jo has already blown through her first grade math book and we’ve decided to dig into the second. She really loves math, and is great at picking up concepts.

Genevieve is finally getting interested in doing things, so I got her a fat comprehensive curriculum book and she is rolling through that. She loves to listen to fairy tales and tell her own stories, and she really likes hands-on activities. It’s fascinating how they think so differently. It’s a lot of fun to watch them build their knowledge base and skill sets.

As for Montana, it is COLD. It’s been unseasonably warm until now. I went to Billing last weekend and didn’t even need a jacket and my sweatshirt got a bit too warm. Now there is a foot of snow on the ground and it was -30 when I got up this morning. I was going to go to the Children’s Museum and grocery shopping today, but no way am I going outside. I’m going to be knitting up some bulky gloves for everyone, cause those store bought “Magic Gloves” are not going to cut it.

Ben needs some prayer right now. He’s having a tough go at making an important decisions, so we are being patient and waiting for guidance.  Things at home are going well, and that helps, but it’s tough to watch him have such a hard time.

Well, my cup of tea is gone and the kids are up. I’ll try to update a bit more and take some pictures.  Thanks Lynn, for reminding me to update!

Gah! Not to be cliche, but I feel like a chicken with my head cut off! I’ve still got 2 hats to do, a shawl to finish, something else that I am not even sure of to do, and I have scrapped the gift card idea in favor of cash. Kids like cash better, anyway.

It looks like everything is going to be late getting in the mail again this year, which is disappointing since Christmas is at the same time every year.  I vow to knit Christmas presents throughout the year so that this doesn’t happen again!

As if all of this hasn’t been enough, my main form of communication (email) was down a few days thanks to Paypal. Why does my bank register the money taken out of my account the day that I transfer funds, but I have to wait almost a week to actually have Paypal access to it? If they are doing this with lots of people then they are making a killing off the interest for those 5 days.

I have to go to the post office this afternoon, which isn’t a big deal except I have about five things going out and only one is actually packed up. We also have science class this afternoon, and it might be a good idea to pick up a sack of food to feed the family.

I will finish my Oprah rant when I get the time, and will update with some project pictures, too. (And I will hopefully be able to write more coherently, too!)

Happy Holidays!

Part III of me railing about “Oprah’s Favorite Things” and the rampant consumerism she espouses.

11. THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH BY KEN FOLLETT

A book! An OPRAH book! How on earth could I complain about a book? Well, if you wait until Oprah is done pimping the book you can get it for $2.00 at your local store clearance rack, or better yet get it at your local library for $0.00. (Late fees may apply.)

However, if you buy it from the link that Oprah champions you will have obtained special privileges for paying full price.

“To make these books extra special for the Macon audience, Oprah’s team tracked down the author in Australia so he could autograph every copy!”

Yeah, it makes it really extra special by glutting the market with extra special autographed copies. It seems to me that it makes it much more special by all your little Oprah watching friends knowing you bought it through the Oprah link, and you will get your extra special seal of approval. Congratulations Oprah, you have contributed to the bastardization of the word special.

12. BREVILLE IKON PANINI PRESS FROM WILLIAMS-SONOMA

Why do most things come from Williams-Sonoma? hhhhmmm….

“She used to melt hot pepper cheese over smoked turkey and fresh basil in a skillet…but not anymore!”

Oprah cooked in a skillet?! NO! Surely she always had access to a $99.95 William-Sonoma Panini Press, and never had to stoop to making fancy grilled cheese in a skillet! The HORROR!

13. HDTV REFRIGERATOR WITH WEATHER AND INFO CENTER FROM LG ELECTRONICS

This monstrosity just makes pretentious people able to claim that their refrigerator is an HDTV. Yes, you can watch HDTV on the 15″ LCD tv on the refrigerator, but it won’t look any better than my husband’s 15″ LCD computer monitor. He can watch HDTV on his monitor, but it looks the same as regular video formats. You’ll pay more if they say it is HDTV, and that is the only reason they mention it in their selling description.

14. CIAO BELLA BLOOD ORANGE SORBETTO

I’ve paid as much for full price Ben and Jerry’s when in the throes of PMS desperation, and I love natural foods…but where would I buy this stuff. It’s a decent product, and I am sure it is yummy, but it is still a limited issue, and it certainly isn’t a Christmas gift, which is the point of the “Favorite Things” list…if there is a point other than marketing.

15. RACHEL PALLY SWING TURTLENECK AND SAILOR PANTS

Oh.My.Goodness. I can barely see through the tears of laughter. I refuse to believe that the $335 of Modal and Spandex that composes those garments are more comfortable than the $15 of cotton that makes up my camisole and sleep pants. If you go to to the Rachel Pally website they put a stick model in the outfit and it manages to make HER look huge. Not a flattering outfit, wallet or ass wise.

Part IV when I quit laughing at the $300 flappy spandex outfit. It might be a while.

Here we go again!

6. THE ARTISAN® STAND MIXER FROM KITCHENAID HOME APPLIANCES

I have lusted for this for a couple years now, but I seriously doubt Oprah has one. If she does I am sure that she paid retail, which most people I now have watched the sale ads and got this same model on sale for $149, or just bought it at Walmart for it’s regular price of $199. No need to link to Kitchenaid, Oprah…unless you are getting paid! $349 my rear!

7. THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL’S PLANET EARTH DVD SET

From what I know from the internet and friends, the Discovery Channel is rerun central. However, if you really couldn’t catch the reruns or have a reclusive friend who might see something on this DVD they couldn’t read in detail in a library book or catch on YouTube, I suppose 59.99 isn’t too terrible a price.

8. KAI BODY BUTTER and BODY BUFFER

6.4 ounces of the body butter is $55. That little sponge thing you see to the right of the body butter on the website…that is $28. Actually, as set of two of the little sponges is $28 dollars, but each sponge is only good for 30 uses. I’ll let you figure out the idiocy in this.

9. CLARISONIC SKIN CARE SYSTEM

“It’s a miracle massage for your face,” Oprah says. It darn well better be for $195! I’m sure I could pay a well-oiled and well-muscled cowboy to massage my face and get the horrible make-up (which you told us to buy last year on various shows!) off. I don’t even want to know how much a refill of that bottle sitting next to the personal massager costs. (pun intended. hee.)

10. CLAUS PORTO SOAPS FROM LAFCO NEW YORK

$42 for 3 bars. There had better be a two one ounce Liberty Dollars in that soap. I promise to never complain about the price of my organic emu oil/mint soap again.

Part III to come, cause Oprah is crazy!

I’ll open this post with the fact that I don’t own a cable box, dish, or even rabbit ears. I don’t watch Oprah except for some interesting parts on YouTube. I will also add the caveat that I believe that if people make the money they have the right to spend it how they choose.

Oprah drives me crazy, not because she is rich, but because she tries to cater to the “everywoman”, which making the women she caters to feel linferior for not having the “right” consumer products that Oprah deems worthy. She acts down to earth when she obviously isn’t, and this is made apparent every year by her pre-Christmas “Favorite Things Holidays” list. I plan on showcasing the ludicrousness of the list by commenting on it.

1. SAMSUNG PROGRESSIVE HD CAMCORDER SC-HMX10C

You can get a camcorder of equal quality and higher capacity for cheaper, but this is a decent choice.

2. UGG® AUSTRALIA CLASSIC CROCHET TALL BOOT

These are certainly not the worst on the list. I paid the same for my Columbia boots when I first moved to Montana, but mine are waterproof and have traction. However, in the realm of fashion these boots are positively frugal.

3. TOYWATCH WATCHES

“My next favorite thing comes straight out of the pages of O, The Oprah Magazine,” Oprah says. “I loved mine so much, I wore it just about every day on my big road trip with Gayle,” Oprah says. Did you really Oprah, cause I’d like to see the tape.

The watch costs $150-$1500…but you are so roughing it wearing that same watch for your whole road trip. Go you!

4. PERFECT ENDINGS CUPCAKES FROM WILLIAMS-SONOMA

Nine cupcakes for $59? And you are asking people for donations to various things? Do those W-S cupcakes really taste so much better than the ones my kids made last Saturday? I’d wager that they don’t….at least not 58 dollars worth of cake-y goodness.

5. MELAMINE BOWLS, MEASURING CUPS AND SPOONS FROM WILLIAMS-SONOMA

In case someone hasn’t informed her, Melamine is PLASTIC. Yes, the red is pretty, but they are still PLASTIC bowls and measuring cups. Buy yourself some shatterproof Pyrex at your local store for half the price. You will still have then when the plastic starts cracking and warping…and Williams-Sonoma has “retired” your color.

This will give me a coronary if I do all “20 Favorite Things of Oprah” tonight, so I will continue tomorrow. I’m going to go make some $1 per 9 count whole wheat cupcakes with my cheap Pyrex measuring cups and mixing bowls while wearing my Columbia boots and keeping time with my lame Fossil watch…all while not recording myself with an overpriced camcorder.