CarmelKnits, etc.

Designer: Jen Geigley Yarn: cascades Venezia Chunky silk merino blend. Sadly this yarn has been discontinued, I bought it two years ago at a screaming low price, now I'm kicking myself that I should have bought more... Needles: size 13 Difficulty: easy peasy! Love: more than words can say! This is a gift for my friend Alyssa, who I've adored since we did the 3-Day together and were tent mates... She's pretty excited to get it and I'm pretty excited to give it to her, not only because I get to see her but I get some baby time with her son P! Happy Tuesday!

Sunday, as I was finishing up BW's Newborn Boots, I was being eyeballed by a cake of Cascade Eco Wool in my stash pile... also used as a decorative centerpiece in my living room. I would glance at it and think, 'wow, i love knitting with you' Then I would regroup and focus back on the booties. I really need some mittens, I'm in the habit of giving them away when people admire them and suddenly realize their hands are cold. Finish the booties... I have the perfect mitten pattern to use that eco-wool with, they'll be lovely. booties... You get the drift. I hunkered down, I finished the booties and immediately launched into another project for BW, not the mittens. That was a mistake... Don't worry though, I'm still going to finish the next project for BW, just not as quickly as I wanted. It's like I'm doing a purge... A need to knit something not only adult size but something for me. I've cracked out a lot of stuff for babies in the...

It always leads to me spending more money than I intended... Not pictured: The 12 yards of remnant fabric I bought to make beach cover-ups with for when we are out and about in the boat! I found the Ribbon Wall at the fabric store yesterday and realized I was in trouble... How do you choose? There were easily six others I could have gone with but I exercised a little restraint and went with the ones pictured below... Argyle Gingham Trusty black Even babies need style options.

Pattern: Stay-On Baby Booties by Churchmouse Yarn and Teas located on Bainbridge Island. Yarn: Shibui Knits Sock in Black Difficulty: Piece of cake... I love these. I love this yarn I love the outfit as a whole (which since I gave it to C in pieces I do not have a complete picture of...I'll see if she can bring the pieces in for me to photograph) I bought two skeins of this yarn originally. I needed a contrast color for BW's Newborn Vertebrae sweater and this matched perfectly. There was enough for a hat and 1.5 booties from the first skein. I had to wind up the second skein to finish the second bootie but I have a plan for the rest of it and it'll be glorious. you can see my changes to the pattern here Here are the pictures I took yesterday while I was finishing them up while listening to the Seahawks trounce the Dallas Cowgirls. Happy Monday!

Background on the conversation: I was running behind and forgot that I had to get fuel for Ghetto Jepeto on my way in to work. Fast forward to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Scene: In our bedroom while D is getting ready for us to go pick up our season hockey tickets. Me: (standing by the bedroom door in case I need to make a break for it) I have something I need to tell you and it's not good. D: (in the bathroom brushing his teeth) Is it going to make me mad. Me: possible (poised in a running start position) D: then you probably shouldn't tell me. Me: Oh no, I need to tell you... D: Then tell me... Me: I got pulled over today on my way in to work. everything goes silent. D: (steps out of the bathroom with a very somber look on his face) How much was the ticket? Me: (huge smile) I didn't get a ticket, I got a stern scolding. D: What were you doing that got you pulled over? Me: Driving like I was on a racetrack! D: What? Me: He said I was driving as if I...

I just walked through the door, fired up Old Faithful and plugged in my memory card. What I thought was a gazillion pictures turned out to be about 53... let me tell you what's not there... Insides of the houses. There are a few inside shots but if you are looking for design inspiration this is not where you will get it. Mostly because there was always a ton of people around and you wouldn't be able to see what I was photographing...also some of the owners were there and it felt weird to take pictures of a strangers home while I was walking barefoot thru it, trust me the irony is not lost on me... (the socks got too dang hot)  The actual house itself... if I was to photograph the house you would see a lot of front doors because you can't really walk around the house (unless you can walk on water, which I haven't mastered yet)  What you will see...  Lots of neighborhoods... a few of the houses, and one of the residents that didn't mind being photographed...

Yesterday my friend and I did a home tour that I believe is pretty unique in the location of the homes and the style...I have a gazillion pictures to go through and whittle down but I am going to post them here and try to sound super smart about them... Until that moment...enjoy this decorated bush that we saw outside of one of the homes... I call it the creepy bush...The home was 'interesting' make the photo bigger and tell me what you think... Happy Monday!

Fall is here! I'm super excite for fall... For one thing, it's hands down my favorite season... Changing leaves Shorter Days Cuddling up in hand knit hats, cowls, sweaters, socks, mitts, etc. Pumpkins! Oh Pumpkins! How I love, LOVE, L-O-V-E pumpkins Football games end of racing season... the fall is a beautiful time of year...The days can still be warm and delightful, but there is a snap in the air and a change of smell that heightens the senses. It's a time where we can layer instead of bundle up... Tank tops under sweaters, under cowls, under hats, and hand-knit socks that keep the snap from freezing your toes... It's gusts of wind and leaves flying thru the air... It's fall. It makes me miss Minnesota. The times that Megan and I would drive to Two Harbors and look at the leaves. Walking down the driveway at home with my Mom... The smell of burning leaves. The new freshness in the air that's carried on the wind... Did I mention pumpkins......

I think that I've signed up for every single daily deal option out there. Groupon, Living Social, Bloomspot, Amazon, and even the local newspaper The Daily Herald in Everett has gotten in on the deal. 80% of them get junked because it's nto an offer I'm interested in, however I have bought a few and had great experiences with them. Recently one showed up in my email for emeals.com, A weekly dinner planning website that plans a basic weekly menu for a family of two or four and then bases it on what type of eating style you prefer and what store you want to shop at. I chose; Meal plan for 2 Natural and Organic Whole Foods Bazinga! In my email was a whole week of dinners that both of us would enjoy and they provide the recipe, side dish suggestions, and the full grocery list with the prices of the items so you can really budget your week. Our average cost for the meals for dinner is around $100.00 I add to that for breakfasts, snacks, fruit and such for lunch so my...

It's highly likely that...even possible...(crap) What I'm trying to say is...(nope) You know what, there is no way to spin this so I'm going to let ride on its own. This was my grocery list today. Make of it what you may... I have a bootie to knit.

This is a wee tiny hat for BW. Possibly the hat that he'll wear home from the hospital. I'm using the same yarn I used for the trim on his striped Baby Vertebrae sweater. I'm going to crack out some booties as well! The name of the pattern is 'Cable Baby' and is a free download on Ravelry. It's ridiculously easy, and if you are still on the fence about knitting with cables this hat will help you clear that fence like and Olympic hurtler! It says to use a circular needle but I find with baby hats that DPN's work much better, or if you prefer magic loop that should work as well. I need to get hustling on this though, I think the betting pool is leaning towards an early arrival for BW who is technically supposed to be here end of October. I seriously can't wait to meet him. Not to mention see him all whooled (who-ooled) up in knitwear!

1. Boxes should not be drug over feet, at least not while wearing flip flops... 2. Two queen size double tall air mattresses in a tent turn it from tent to adult bouncy house. 3. Even the cheapest knife can end up being the sharpest...(Sorry Clint that your camping was interrupted by a trip to the ER in Electric City. 4. Fair food is better consumed in stages.     a. Stage 1: Scones,  fresh lemonade and curly fries     b. Stage 2: hot buttered corn on the cob while watching a one man band and his 3 year old volunteer sing and dance for us.     c. Stage 3: shared Italian sausage sandwich with sweet hot mustard all consumed over a 12 hour period...it's possible I snatched a scone from Ryan's bakers dozen he bought and let me tell you it was totally worth it! 5. I'm a homebody and when I don't get enough home time I get cranky.     a. I've been cranky a lot this summer but I have also done a lot of fun stuff so it's kind of a wash.....

 This picture was taken early Saturday morning...it's the boat launch at the campsite.  Morning around the campfire... Welcome to tent city... and the boys work of art each day along the beach...No worries, whatever we packed in we packed out....