CarmelKnits, etc.

Life sneaks up on you, ya know? It comes out of nowhere and all of the sudden you have to drop a few balls and this blog was my easiest to drop. There are ups, there are downs, there is stress, and there is always laughter. That's life. That's my life right now. I knit a little I'm reading a lot (it's an escape mechanism for me that hails back to my childhood, I'm sure a therapist could give more insight on my current choice of assassin novels lol) I don't know what to say. I have too much to say. chaos. However We had a fantastic time in Maui with The Rentals, which is how I've started referring to my niece and her best friend. I loved every minute of our trip. Heads up mom, I got a new tattoo and if you want I'll show you in November. I'm probably going to text a picture to G so he'll probably show you before hand. You don't like them I understand that, but this one is awesome. So to catch you up with pictures, which is safer ...

Crazy right? A 'Finished Object' post. It is crazy. It's been a crazy busy summer and we're speed rolling right into a crazy busy fall... America's Knitting kicked off their next Knit-A-Long which is super fun and I'm super excited about... (because it was my idea has nothing to do with the excitement) We're doing a KAL that features all the accessory designs by Never Not Knitting's Alana Dakos! I'll gush more later on my love of all things Alana. So lets see, crazy busy 1. Knit-a-long 2. turn and burn trip to the Twin Cities coming up 3. long trip to Maui (hurry hurry hurry) 4. return from Maui in time to head up to the mountains for Oktoberfest (I have a better plan this year than I did last year) 5. return from Oktoberfest and get two weekends at home before the So Much Yarn retreat in Langley with my mom. Once I get through all this I'll be hard staring at Thanksgiving, our Christmas party, Christmas Craziness crap I think I...

We're planning our next trip to Maui. By planning I mean, I'm into the finite details of daily activities. Not too many because lets be honest, it's Maui and if your daily goal is to lay like a Harbor seal on the hot sand avoiding a shark bite, then you've already won. There are however a few things that myself, D and The Girls, will want to do... Before you think I suddenly aquired a child or children The Girls refer to our niece and her best friend who are coming along for the ride. Adventures, there are many to be had on Maui, from the extreme cliff diving and biking down a volcano, to swimming at beaches while you ignore the shark attack warning signs... That's what I do and it gives my life a level of risk that I balances perfectly. So the adventures we're looking into are kind of in the middle kayaking a day trip on a scooter Zip lining for D and the Girls. (this will be my harbor seal on the beach morning) Luau (the best one in Maui in my...

I have finally finished my husbands race car slippers. It all started because I saw a pattern for race car slippers on Ravelry and I mistakenly posted the photo on Facebook. The next thing I know, I'm getting a text from D saying, 'when do I get my pair?' Excited I said, 'Right away!' Six tortuous years later I finally sewed the last damn tire on. The first five years were spent buying random red and black yarns only to toss them aside because they weren't right. D kept telling me 'it's not that hard, all I want on them are four tires and the number 21' well it is that hard when you have issues with making people happy. I was so terrified of him not liking them that I kept putting off the making them. It became a standing joke between us. Every time I said I was going to knit something for some one he said back 'how about finishing a pair of race car slippers for your husband?' Well guess what? I finished them.  He loves...

It's not catching. I don't think. I knit stuff. I don't finish anything right now. There was that Fair-Isle-Along that I was running from May - June and I finished exactly one item. The second item is rolling around in the back of my car right now. I cast on for a pair of ankle socks and they are moving along. Kind of. Wednesday night I got a wild hair to start another project for Baby G. After I told myself it was time to knit something for me, a sweater, a cardigan, another cowl (please don't let it be another cowl yet) something, something for me by me that will be worn by me. I started Sock Yarn Sweater for Baby G by Hannah Fettig. I'm pretty excited about it. I want to get it done so I can give it to him when I meet him even though I know it'll be way to big for him yet but it will fit him thru winter and spring in the midwest and that is what's important. However, I'm still in a funk Maybe it's not a funk though Maybe it's...

Gabby turned 10 We had a camping adventure in Moses Lake! We've been boating a lot... Trying to get my work outs in everyday Again. Lots of boating with friends. I'm knitting just not much progress on any one thing. Now back to summer.

is quite possibly the master piece of my summer cooking and I failed to get a photo of it. for that I apologize. You should still make it though. Make it and gobble up it's deliciousness! Carmel's Greek Pasta Salad Perfect for boating, picnics, concerts in the park, shame eating at midnight. 1 box whole wheat pasta cooked according to package 8 marinated artichoke hearts – chopped 12-16 Kalamata olives Pepperoncini to taste Hard Italian salami (I used Boars Head and I used the whole log) sliced and diced Little mozzarella balls fresh drained 1 red onion thinly sliced  1 pint of cherry tomatoes sliced in half Dressing ¼ - ½ cup of good olive oil Juice of 1 lemon Splash – ¼ cup red wine vinegar Salt Pepper  2 cloves of crushed garlic 2 tbls Mediterranean Oregano Shake in mason jar or whisk the heck out of it in a bowl Mix and let marinate in the fridge for an hour or overnight