Triumphant Return

Sorry, folks, about the unannounced hiatus. I decided to take Spring Break off from everything, so I could focus on resting up and getting my house back in shape. A week spent visiting family on the West side and three days of deep-cleaning later, I feel rested and renewed. Spring is here for reals, and I have bean and sugar peas sprouting. My mom is building me some raised beds to go in the side yard, and some tomato frames for the front- I'm leaving the back for the neighbor's ADORABLE wiener dogs. (and their less adorable poo)
I'm deep in the garden planning stage. Since it still freezes at night, I keep the starts inside at night, and take them outside on sunny days. My dear, sweet mother gave me some pansies and some kind of poppy-like flowers that get the same treatment. The cats are fascinated by the plants and won't leave them alone. Yesterday one of them chowed down on a pansy and then threw it up in the living room. Luckily for whoever it was, pansies are edible-even used as salad greens- they just didn't agree with him.

In other, even less interesting news, something odd is going on with Coraline. Firstly, let it be known that our two boy cats are reputed to be fixed- Robbie came with a note from the shelter declaring the loss of his manhood, while we took Mew in ourselves. Also, NONE of the cats are allowed to go outside. EVER. We live perilously close to the dorm and frat-house district, and the crazy driving we see daily is too much to risk. So you can understand why we have been a little lax about getting Coraline spayed. It's expensive and there's no way she can get knocked up.
She went into heat for the first time in late January, just before Little Hawk fell and hit his head. It was annoying and we had to crate her because she kept scent-marking the furniture. We decided to save our pennies and spay her whenever she came into heat again. She hasn't. She has also gained a lot of weight.
So, my question is, am I just paranoid, or did the vet screw up on the boys?!?

Snuggles

Spring Break is finally here, and none too soon- I'm sick. Just the creeping crud, nothing serious, but I'm grouchy and have no energy. My sweet, sweet husband has been trying to pamper me as best he can, eating yogurt and hot dogs so I don't have to cook, trying to do some laundry for me, and, sweetest of all, every time I try to get up and do something he threatens to sit on me. So, here I am, exiled to recovery and knitting up a pair of socks for myself.

The weather is finally starting to improve, which is nice because the birds are back. They woke me up at six this morning, which would have annoyed me on any other day, but listening to them sing and seeing the first traces of sunlight peek through the curtains was so soothing. Plus, it's hard to wake up in a bad mood when you are snuggled up against your warm husband, with your face buried in the back of his neck, listening to him breathing. As a bonus, the kitten had burrowed under the covers and was curled up in the small of my back, purring.

Life is good. I have to keep remembering that.

Kitteh

Cardigan Crazy

I never used to like cardigans. I didn't like how they were short-waisted so that every time I bent over my lower back got cold. I didn't like how they emphasized my flat chest and were never quite the right color or texture.
Now that I'm a hard core knitter, I LOVE cardigans. I love how even the simplest pattern can be made crazy with a random color change and a few rows of garter stitch. I love finding masses of weird and unique buttons to make the fronts fun. And, of course, I love that I can choose exactly what yarn I want and can buy an extra skein to make them extra long to avoid Cold Butt Syndrome.*
I am in the middle of negotiating FIVE skeins of hand-dyed purple and maroon Peruvian Wool that is destined to become a cardigan for myself. YAAAY!





*Cold Butt Syndrome is what happens when the regrettable course of fashion makes it almost impossible to find  waist high jeans in a low-riding world.

Dye Hard

The title is a joke, that becomes more funny when I mention that I am addicted to Bruce Willis movies right now. *sigh*

Anyhow, I have been on a Kool-Aid dying kick. I dyed my first ball of handspun with Black Cherry, which is a lovely salmon pink, and have been dying roving ever since. I have it down to a science.

Step one: Put one packet of Kool-Aid in medium saucepan, add 3 cups of water.
Step two: Heat to boiling, turn off burner, remove from heat.
Step Three: Wait until dye stops bubbling, (bubbles will felt the roving) and put in roving, poke with spoon until the whole thing is under the surface.
Step Four: Leave to cool overnight, rinse with cool water in morning, press out water, hang to dry.

Pretty simple. Most people actually microwave the dye/roving in a bowl, but all that matters is that it heats up to make the dye fast. Fast dye doesn't put out on the first date, it just means that it won't run or fade. The really cool part about this is that the roving initially is this white blob in a pan of colored water, and then it sucks the dye particles out of the water, so in the morning the water is clear and the roving is colored. SO COOL.

Reconsidered

Umelucky is having a marvelous sale in her shop! I went to check it out, even though I won't be able to spend any money until Saturday at the soonest. Oh My Goodness. I think she specifically found vintage items that I MUST HAVE, then put them on sale.
Vintage Ladies Hankies: I have collected these for years. The fragile ones I use as doilies, the more durable ones I use for their intended purpose....although I have lost a few to crying little girls when I worked at a grade school.   Having a hankie in one's pocket really IS invaluable. They are so useful.
Happy Apron: SO CUTE. I never used to be an apron person. Even if I wasn't now, this one would make me an apron person.
Red Walnut Sewing Kit: I can't afford this, but it is so amazing I had to show you. It's a tiny, walnut shaped locket that holds a thimble, pins and a needle. And it's even red!!!! I literally drooled for ten minutes, then dragged Little Hawk over to look too. *Sigh*
Spring Meadow Violet Creamer: My sister collects white china with violets on it, and I would love to get it for her.

Hopefully I will be able to wait until my paycheck comes in..... : D

Picspam Time Again

I have been working happily (in my free time) on Kitten and Bunny's workbaskets. I made them cute measuring tapes based on the super cute ones from Tiny Apartment. Here is Bunny's measuring tape. 

Kitten's was really fun, after I figured the pattern out. 

It has been snowing here like CRAZY, which really bewildered our weatherman. Little Hawk has had his nose glued to the window, trying to measure it on the fence. Our kitties have been busy keeping cozy. 

Coraline loves to watch the snow too. 

Also, I was over at the Purl Bee when I realized that their store, Purl Soho, was having a massive yarn sale. IT"S STILL ON! RUN! GO! 

Anyway, I bought a beautiful ball of five-ply merino, which is reserved for a pair of thick socks for mwah. 

I was so excited when I opened my package this morning that I almost overlooked the extra bag at the bottom. What is this? 

Free goodies!! Purl Soho threw in some beautiful hanks of crewel embroidery yarn! Perfect for a little Fair Isle work. 

 Last, but not least, I thought I'd let you peek into my sewing tin and take a look at some more stuff for workbaskets. 

I love this tin so much I sepia-d the picture! It keeps all of my thread safe and sound. Anyway, here is a knitting needle case for Kitten! It has strawberries on it. 

Interior, with some old needles trying to be models. 

I love the texture of this old cashmere sweater. It provides the perfect accent.