Random Snapshots

Vacation knit night

and an FO.  I finished seaming my Minimalist Cardigan right before we left.  I wore it a couple of times while home and got lots of compliments.  It fits perfect and I'm really happy with the way it came out.  I don't have a proper FO pic, but you can see it in the pics that will follow.  I will try and get a couple of better shots soon. 

While home knitting-buddy Lynne hosted a small knit night.  She invited Denise and I and a couple other Lockport knitting girls.  I was really excited to see Lynne and Lisa because it's been a while.  Lynne was the one who actually re-taught me to knit several years back.  :)

You really can't beat a good knit night and this one was a good one.  Good snacks, good company and good knitting. 

I didn't have my camera, but we got a few shots on Lisa's camera.    

Thanks to Lynne for hosting a nice little knit night.  I'm really glad I got to spend a little time with you girls!

FO - Earflap Hat

I made this earflap hat when we were home last week for my brother, Dan.  I started it on Wednesday night and had about 1/2 of it knit within an hour.  I finished the rest up in about an hour on Thanksgiving night.  2 hours total of knitting and I love the instant gratification of an FO. 

My brother wasn't too pleased about having to pose for a blog photo, but thems the brakes when you receive a hand-knit gift.  :)  It's the least he could do for a free hat and although he won't admit it, he's got a hard time saying no to his sister.

Details:

• Kim's Hats from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
• Cascade 220 Wool in Grey & Cascade 220 Heathers in Green (unsure of the exact colorways)
• Size 9 DPNs & 16" Circulars
• About 2 hours total knitting time

I really like how this hat turned out and plan on making one for myself.  Maybe with some more stripes and texture.  I think I'll raid my oddballs box for this one.  :)

Thankful for...

being at home last week.  I didn't get a chance to post on Thanksgiving so here is my "thankful post."  A little late, but every day should really be Thanksgiving, don't you think?

We had a great time last week.  It was busy, as usual...running around, trying to see everyone and spend quality time.  And as usual there wasn't nearly enough time to spend.  Not even close.  It's so hard to see everyone and spend equal time...especially when everyone has their own things to do - work and such.  We really tried though. 

I'm trying to concentrate on being thankful for the time that we did spend and not the time that we didn't.  Also just thankful for having the resources that allow us to even go home at all.  I'm sure not everyone is in the same situation and that alone makes me somewhat content. 

The one thing I do regret is that I didn't take enough photos.  I never do and I'm not sure why - too busy chatting and soaking up the company maybe?  I never even got a photo with my Dad or my Mom.  I did get some with my siblings, nieces and nephew, etc though.

Look at this little beauty:

And these suddenly big kids:

Here's one of with my in-laws:

And me & my brothers:

Also got this one of us with Adam's grandparents (Mom's parents):

I've got some more photos to edit and will share those later this week.

Thanks to our family and friends for entertaining us last week.  We really had the best time and love you all. 

Until next visit...

 

Happy Birthday Adam

My boy turned 29 today.  29...I can't believe next year is his big 3-0. 

His birthday marks the beginning of about 7 months where he is 2 years older than me.  I like those 7 months and reminding him how much younger and more fresh I am.  :)

While home for Thanksgiving his Mom made him a birthday cake:

The cake was amazing - the bottom layer was pumpkin pie mix, then yellow cake mix and pecans on the top.  I can't explain how good it was.

Today has been a relaxing day and birthday for us.  We did a little Christmas shopping, went out for a good birthday dinner and have been hanging out on the couch.  Tired is a good way to describe us both after our week at home.  Work tomorrow is going to be rough.  :) 

We arrived in Seattle yesterday around 1pm, got to our house around 2:30 and basically just sat around for the rest of the night.  Catching up on our DVR shows, snacking and napping.  Although I hate leaving my family and friends (it's not getting any easier) there is something nice about getting back to your own place.  Sleeping in your own bed the first night back is the best and I had a great sleep last night.

More about our trip home later...    

Let's pretend...

that I've been posted all along this week.  :)

My days have been jam-packed with good stuff - shopping, drinking, family time, good food, great company, etc.  You get the drift - all good stuff.  Adam and I have really been enjoying our trip, but as usual, it's flying by.  Really flying by this time.  I can't believe today is already Thanksgiving.  That means we've only got today and tomorrow left. 

It's snowing here today.  Very lightly, but it is sticking around so far.  We'll see if it warms up enough to melt later on.  I'd like it to be nice and dry on Saturday for our departure so there aren't any delays.

I've got a lot more to post - photos and such, but it will have to wait until later because all the photos are on my own computer.  I'm blogging from Denise's laptop right now while waiting for everyone to get their Thanksgiving outfits on.  :) 

There might be another Thanksgiving post in my future tonight - stay tuned. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Home, Sweet, Home

We're home!

We arrived in Buffalo this morning around 1am.  We were obviously glad to get here and pretty much ready for bed at that point.  Yesterday was a long day of airports and airplanes.  I can't complain too much though because we had 2 uneventful flights...very smooth and nice. 

Today has been spent knitting and visiting with a heavy emphasis on knitting.  :)  I thought I would make a quick, late-night knitting blog post. 

Denise and I started our special Christmas Widdershins this afternoon.  We broke for dinner and have been back at it ever since dessert.  She caught on to the magic loop method very quickly and is really cruising along with her socks now.  Mine are coming along great also.  I am loving this pattern with this yarn.

Here are a couple of photos, compliments of photo-buddy Dan: 

Here are mine:

Cute huh?!  I can't wait to see these done and wear them for Christmas.  :)

I'm off to work on them some more and get to bed.  We've got a big day of shopping tomorrow.  :)

KnitPicks Options + Organization = Love

I'm doing a little organization project that involves my knitting needles and crochet hooks.  I mentioned before that Adam bought me the Options set for our anniversary in September.  I've been loving them ever since...especially the binder.  I love organization...love, love, love it.

I love the binder so much, in fact, that I ordered a second one.  :)  I decided it would be a great way to hold my fixed circulars and crochet hooks as well.  I don't knit with straight needles so when I'm all finished I will have 2 binders - one with the needles that I use most often and one with most everything else that will sit nicely on my shelf.

One of the complaints about the Options that I've heard from a lot of people is that they're not labeled anywhere.  The cords and the needles do not have the size right on there like typical needles do.  When I got my Options I also got the little tags that KP sells to put in the pockets so that I'd know the needle size.

Looks like this:

So that solved my needle size problem, but I still have the cords and some fixed circs that need labels, right?

Easy solution:

• A couple of sheets of rub-on transfers
• Options needle pockets
• And your Options binder

And you get this:

Cord length on the top and needle size on the bottom. :)

And these are the pockets with the Options cords:

I've got my main binder all full with my Options, cords and the fixed circs I use for socks as well as some crochet hooks and notions.  I'm working on labeling pockets for the rest of my fixed circs and will have nice, neat organization soon.  :)  I can't wait.

I'm typing this early and setting it up for Saturday.  We're on planes and in airports all day on Saturday so I probably won't have a chance to blog.  Stay tuned for some blogging from home...I'm sure there will be many photos to share.

Eye Candy Friday

Here's my eye candy for the week:

What's that, you ask?  That is a screenshot of my Outlook with a completely EMPTY task bar.  It's a big deal because that is filled every week with tasks for school.  And I mean FILLED.  The other day I noticed that it was empty and that my friends, is pure eye candy.  :)

Tonight is finish-packing-night.  We leave tomorrow for our week home.  I'm beyond excited...seriously.  :)

FO - A Scarf Askew

I made this scarf for my Dad.  A quick, easy project and I love how it turned out.  The selection for interesting and masculine scarves is kind of small.  This one is really simple, but I like the pattern a lot and think it's a great scarf for a man.

• A Scarf Askew - Magknits
• Blue Sky - Dyed Cotton in Tomato (2 skeins)
• Size 9 needles
• A couple of weeks to finish

This yarn is really yummy...very soft and squishy.  It looks a little orange in the pictures, but it's really a nice, deep red.  Red is my Dad's favorite color and I think this is going to be a nice, warm scarf for him. 

I've got a little knitting project planned for Denise and I when I get home.  We're going to make Widdershins out of Duets Sock Yarn in a Christmas colorway.  I bought her the yarn for her birthday and ended up picking up a skein for myself.  We're both Christmas lovers and I think this will be a great project over Thanksgiving week :)

Yum!

Another photo free post

I'm taking a break from seaming up my Minimalist Cardigan.  Finally, I'm getting around to it.  I'm ready to sew in the sleeves and seam up the sides after a little break.  I might even finish it tonight.  Stay tuned for photos.

I wanted to share some links in this post.  Just random things that have been inspiring me lately.

Sew Mama Sew - on this blog there is a new sewing tutorial for every day during the month of November.  I've been following it and reading...it's a really great resource and something to definitely bookmark.  The projects are all fairly simple and quick - intended for holiday gifts.

Tia Bennett's Button Tree - I plan on making one or two of these for my Christmas decorating this year.  So easy, inexpensive and fun!  I scored some inexpensive Christmas decorations a couple of hours ago at Target too...the gears are in motion.  :)

Ali Edwards' Christmas Projects - Ali is always a big inspiration and she really rocks it out at Christmas time.  There are 6 great projects up so far (including the button tree) and I'm sure more to come.

Splityarn's Etsy Shop - omgah - I love these hardcover needle holders.  I really need one of those for my DPNs and crochet hooks.  (Santa - if you're reading I really like "Grandma's Drapes").

Sock and Go - I love this fabric and think this is such a cool idea!  Perfect for a sock knitter. 

That's all I've got tonight.  Catch you tomorrow.  :)