JavaNut... Knits, Thrifts and Rambles

Zebra Chair

2012-01-23T20:10:00.000-08:00

After publishing the last post... I don't think I posted on the chair

I did last summer... she was beat up, filthy, chipped and the bottom was covered in packing tape (who knows why??). I got her for $10 at a junk store and figured she was perfect to try my hand at a makeover.

Distressed ivory paint and some brown and ivory zebra print - LOVE her!

Bailey says "I'm practicing for my photo shoot...

(and clearly I need to spend more time to remember how blogger works with photos and the html code!)

At least he's cute!

New Year, New "Resolutions"

2012-01-23T19:54:00.000-08:00

Hmmm... well Jan is well on it's way to being over... I want to blog, but somehow doesn't quite happen. But I've been busy with small projects around the house... and learning some new art styles (more on that later).

Two small projects:

Wrapping paper storage...

I saw this on a blog somewhere (bad blogger, no credit to give!) - it's using kitchen bars from IKEA and curtain clips (also IKEA) to hang wrapping paper.

This is the inside of the cupboard under the stairs... PERFECT!

I'll pretend the remaining mess in the cupboard isn't visible ;-)

And then... this little chair was a beat up birch wood with a filthy seat... some fresh paint and pretty damask and this will be great behind the 'craft desk.'

Here's also my studio (to-be... I have yet to actually create anything in it but a mess!) - aka 'back room' or 'garage room' (since it's behind the garage).

I've started arranging and sorting things more times than I can count. But since this pic was taken, a large bookcase has been evicted from my bedroom and replace the tiny bookcase near the Yarn Hutch. Perfect and has 2 shelves of patterns and technique books and the rest chock full of art and collage supplies!

Ok.... it's a post. Not a a very interesting one, but a post...

Letters from Camp

2011-11-10T09:31:00.000-08:00

Bailey stays w/ friends when I travel (lucky him, and grateful me!) and their home is referred to as "Camp." He loves them and going to their house. When I say "Do you want to go to camp?" he jumps up, turns in circles and jumps/pushes against me until we're going out the door...

Sometimes I get letters from camp:

Dear Moma,
I have a new calling and role in my life. Before, I thought I was created to keep the squirrels away. But now I know that I was made for so much more! I have the artists call in me. I am on the cutting edge of interior decorating and design. Let me explain. The other day L had this big machine out. I think I may have seen one like it at home but I am not sure. And I am certain that if I have seen it at L's house, it has been so long that it is like a new machine. Anyway, she gets this machine out and turns it on. It makes a big noise and she starts moving it all over the floors. At first it was totally boring watching her but then she moved onto the carpet in the living room. I felt my spirit come alive! She moved the big wand over the carpet and made it smooth and I came after it making designs. My feet are amazing! You would think that they would move in an orderly manner but no, they pounce all over. The carpet was amazing. Such random designs by my paws. I was thinking of calling my new business, "Paws by Design". We can talk about it when you come home. I think L appreciated the art work because she kept wanting more. When I did a design, she moved her wand over it and made it smooth for me to design on again. She understands the artist's soul, the need to keep creating. Sigh, such satisfaction.

That boy came over today. He's getting better. Today he offered to share his little men with me and didn't take any of my toys. I tried to maintain my artist's aloof manner. Eventually he crawled under the table and called it a fort. I wasn't even tempted to crawl under the table with him. I think I am maturing. But then again...

You should have seen this one. L was sitting on a stool with her legs stretched out. She knew I wanted to come up but kept shooing me away telling me there was no room. Now, I understand that she is vertically challenged and no matter what chair she sits on her legs are never at a perpendicular angle, especially on those stools. So, imagine her surprise after shooing me away when I came sneaking in and then took a flying leap and landed on her pathetic excuse for a lap! Score! She wrapped her arms around me she was so surprised. I knew I could get her attention away from that boy.

Today I went for a walk with the boy. He holds onto my leash but L holds on the the back end. We only went to the end of the street and back. I am hoping for an evening walk with B and a "real" walk with L in the morning if the rain stops. I hope you are having fun with your new friends. I miss you but camp is fun.

xoxo Bailey

P.S. I am eating like a good boy.
xoxo

and then:

Dear Moma,
I have given this some thought and I think I would like to change my name. Just hear me out. Names usually communicate something about the person/dog if you must. Bailey is cute. I do look like that stuff you and L like to drink but here's the thing. It's just not me. When I meet other dogs and tell them my name is Bailey, well, I don't think I get the respect I should get. So here is what I would like to change it to. Mr. Fer Ocious. My friends could call me Fer and my close acquaintances could call me Ocious. But those who don't know me, or to those to whom you would like to introduce to me, Mr. Ocious. Don't you like the sound? Imagine calling me in the backyard, "Hey! Ocious! bring that ball to me." I think it has quite a ring to it. Please consider this. I am getting older now and Bailey doesn't sound all that, well, ferocious.

xoxo Your loving son,
Fer

P.S. L was much better on the walk today.

Love this...

2011-10-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

So I'm not doing very well at 'revive-the-blog' - too many partially finished things not ready for posting.

But... this is so worth watching.... again and again and again. LOVE it!

New York re-cap

2011-10-05T16:08:00.001-07:00

I met E & C in NY for a girls' theater-filled weekend!!!

The weather alternated between gorgeous and rainy, but it just didn't matter... we weren't trying to go shopping or sight-seeing, just a weekend together on Broadway!

Our first show was The Addams Family... And I'm glad we had discounted tickets because the show was a dud! The music was forgettable and the show was boring. Brooke Shields was Morticia, and the young woman playing Wednesday great! My entire familiarity of The Addams Family is the music with the "snap, snap" - but I don't think it would have been any better even if it were more familiar!

I can't stop raving about How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying!! Daniel Radcliffe was phenomenal! Hard to believe he's so young, so wealthy and so committed to theater that he's performing on Broadway in such a draining role. I'm not sure what surprised me more - his height (just 5'4" or 5'5") or how well he danced!

E wanted to hang out with the groupies near the exit and I captured a fleeting, blurry shot of him as he got into the limo...

The final show of the weekend was Priscilla - Queen of the Desert. Definitely NOT a family show with a story of drag queens, but it was a fun, silly tone, had fantastic costumes and an actual plotline with character development!

It wasn't ALL theater.. first a return glimpse of Times Square before the rain...

And a stop at the rebuilding of the World Trade Center and emerging memorial...

And finally...as a Project Runway fan... I had to visit Mood Fabrics!! E&C were able to get tickets to Book of Mormon and I didn't mind about not getting a 3rd ticket because I really didn't want to see it. So I happily entertained myself with fabrics and then a much-appreciated hour at a coffee shop.

A GREAT weekend and without a computer and email it really felt like a much longer break!

Enjoy the day!

Bailey had a great time at "Camp A" but still says:
Momma - don't leave. I can provide all the drama you want around here!!

Happiness!!

2011-09-28T22:31:00.001-07:00

'nuff said...

Must find this!

2011-09-25T08:52:00.001-07:00

Saw these fantastic carpet tiles as a 'sneak peek' of a FLOR Fall 2011 design
(thanks to Poppytalk's post here)

These would be so great for my craft space!

Enjoy the day!

JavaNut

My favorite lamps... at long last!

2011-09-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

A LONG time ago I saw a really cool lamp at Anthropologie. LOVED it! It was a stack of cups and saucers. It was me. LOVED it! It was $200. LOVED it! But not the price tag for something that immediately prompted my inner DIY-er "I could do that..."

I collected a bunch of pieces from thrift stores and Goodwill (and my cabinet!), got a lamp kit and the drillbit the 'tool man' suggested. It took me an incredibly long hour to drill through one saucer and it didn't create a clean hole. Project tabled...

I was link-hopping one day and found Mandy of Vintage Revivals. She recreated my lamp AND wrote a great tutorial on how she did it. So a couple of false starts later... I got my lamp!!

Forgive the phone photos... camera was charging and in my 'just do it' frame of mind, I grabbed the phone. The guest room colors are really hard to photograph well, so now I have the phone camera as another excuse for poor photos. And I'm still looking for lamp shades... trying to find some that I can thrift and re-make, but not successful. But here they are in the guest room... still LOVE THEM!!!

The large cup on the right next gets filled with toiletries when guests are here, and if they're lucky, flowers in the pitcher. If I'd made an effort for good photos, maybe I would have "staged" that too ;-)

When I finished, my friend immediately wanted one... so I continued my stalking of the nearby Goodwill. Numerous trips later had a good collection of yellow/blue... the saucer under the small yellow cup has a cute pattern, too. (and again... still working on finding the right shade).

Check out Mandy's tutorial and detailed photos... and thanks to her for making it easy!

Enjoy the day!

JavaNut

Freeze your shoes!

2011-09-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

I really avoid buying shoes that aren't comfortable, but if I ever have shoes that are too tight - here's a fix. I never would have thought of this...

Who knew??

2011-09-09T06:25:00.001-07:00

This year's garden has been a bit of a bust... possibly strange weather pattern this summer, but mostly just from neglect.

Tomatoes are always my priority and I've got 7 or 8 plants... woefully unproductive. Just enough to keep me eating them... no bumper crop, no overflowing basket, and very sadly no roasted cherry tomato bruschetta! Or tomato bread salad. sniff.

Even the zucchini has been perfectly manageable!

I planted lettuce for the first time. It stayed healthy, but didn't exactly grow so I wasn't sure if I picked some of the leaves if/how it would keep growing. Then I forgot about it.

If you've ever wondered what happens... I totally cracked up when I turned the corner and saw these! Then I left them to see just exactly what would happen. They grew another 10 inches or so, flowered at the top, and then fell over. (I had also turned off their water supply as that seemed a bit irresponsible!). So not exactly my intention, but I was entertained!

(I do plan on trying lettuce again and WILL remember that I've planted it. Probably.)

Back to blogging...

2011-09-08T07:29:00.000-07:00

Back to blogging... I've been contemplating this for a while, and clearly this is a case of the longer you wait, the easier it is to wait longer! But I love the blogosphere so here's the 'just do it' post.

Significant contribution to my loooonnnnng hiatus was a long battle with tendinitis in my left wrist... therefore no knitting and less computer time. Second contribution was switching to a Mac was a less-than-pleasant process and I still find anything to do with photos a challenge. But months of therapy and then surgery late 2010 solved the wrist problem, and I'm just adjusting to the Mac. So... I'm back!

And since this was originally a knitting blog... a summary of my pitiful

output of 2010 until the tendinitis hit... pics aren't the best, and the resolution of the mosaic-maker-tool-thingy is even worse, but it's about all these projects warrant!

I do love the little gnome guys, though... Alan Dart is brilliant designer of knit toys. I NEVER would have considered knitting toys until I saw some of his patterns... totally cute! I dare you to look at his patterns and resist. Some people pay CRAZY prices on eBay for out of print ones that can't be re-released because of copyright laws...

I obviously failed the "10 Shawls in 2010" Ravelry group challenge, but jumped right in for the "11 Shawls in 2011" and had those all completed several months ago (and then some!).

So I'll leave this blogging re-entry post with another mosaic of those shawls...

I've discovered a surprising affinity with some Stephen West's designs - brilliant in their simplicity and use of color. I love knitting lace, but for out & about and the office, his ClockWork (gray/cream stripe, and multi/cream stripe) are incredibly wearable!

Mosaics done with the the aptly named Mosaic Maker from Big Huge Labs using my flickr pics.

Enjoy the day!

- JavaNut

(phew! I did it!)

Bailey says: I'd rather be going somewhere...

brownies, and chips, and cookies, oh my!

2010-07-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

Before turning this into a random food oriented blog (garden, prepared, and then today), I have had other things going on (sadly... still no knitting).

Garage sales have been a focus of recent weekends, and I've been partially successful on my hunt, along with a few unplanned treasures. This weekend was a good one!

First up - pair of lamps. These were a bargain for $5/pr and will be perfect in the guest bedroom after a good cleaning. Of course I have a different project-in-progress for lamps for that room, but I couldn't pass these up and the other ones might not actually come to fruition.

A fun game board... the top glass has checkers to cover the backgammon board, and the drawer includes dominoes and cribbage. I'll need to get more little bits to use for checkers pieces, but already have a good idea. I may paint and distress the wood box as it's certainly seen better days, but this is a good addition to the game cupboard!

And a $10 bread machine. My bread machine didn't survive the move-storage-move process, so I'll have fun with this one.

The major purchase of the weekend will appear in a make-over post one of these days...

But instead of installing shelves or working on the headboard, I make Pillow Cookies. Not an intuitive name in my opinion, but essentially a brownie surrounded by chocolate chip cookie. YUM!

If I were to make these again, I'd go for a thicker cookie dough. This was REALLY moist and soft, so chilling the dough was critical, but made for a flat cookie with a bulge where the brownie bite was. And as Bakerella says, you will need to cover the cookies for further cooking when the tops start to get brown.

And they are HUGE! This plate is 7 3/4" across!

For the full recipe and much more enticing pictures, click here.

Temptation on so many levels...

Happy, Happy -

JavaNut

grown-up "Mac 'n Cheese'

2010-06-28T20:56:00.001-07:00

I enjoy cooking, but as a household of one, I rarely actually cook. Grocery shopping after work is torture so I often "assemble" instead of cook.

This is my stand by for 'the last resort' and I call it grown up's Mac 'n Cheese. I'm not sure the nutritional value compared to Kraft, but at least it's not neon orange!!

After a long, hot day it was definitely time for a meal of last resort. And tonight's add -ins were broccoli and sundried tomatoes...

Slowly growing...

2010-06-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

I've been slowing making progress on various house projects... always slower and later than expected, but progress nonetheless. But none are in the state of completion, so a more interesting project for "in-progress" is the veggie garden!

I was very late in planting anything in my new raised beds... partly because of my crazy travel all spring, and partly because we had such icky weather. And I kept the garden to the basics since it's all an experiment for these boxes. They get some sun, but not a lot... although I think they get more than I realized. So we'll see how everything goes this year and I'll have a much better plan next year.

The tomatoes are growing... but just starting to see some little yellow flowers. I have some heirloom (large and cherry-size), some "sweet 100s" (my favorite cherry tomotoes) and some "regular" but I can't remember which variety.

A baby cuke!

And the first beans I've ever planted... bush beans that apparently don't need to be staked!

Bailey is more interested in barking at the neighbors' dog than what's growing!

Thrifting...

2010-06-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

In my search for some 'bargains' for some new spaces, I've been hitting thrift stores and garage sales. The perfect piece of furniture has eluded me so far, but I have collected another 6 pair of jeans at about $1.50 each. My stash is about 17 pairs now... more than enough for the lap-quilts I have in mind. I may not have furniture yet, but I'm on my way with accessories!

I pulled out the ones I'd collected before - and all have been washed, bleached (color-safe!), dried and are ready for cutting up. Not sure when I'll actually get around to them, but they're ready!

MediLeaf

2010-06-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

A new establishment I drive by on my way home every day...

Apologies for bad photo, but from iPhone (I was at a stoplight, not driving!)

MediLeaf

Medical Cannibas Cooperative

Lofty Logic...

2010-05-27T22:39:00.000-07:00

I went to local home/building store to see if they had replacement cushions for my patio set. For years I always kept them inside when not in use (the cushions, not the furniture), but they're now pretty icky.

I was also thinking about more patio furniture since I now basically have 2 patios in my backyard. I have no idea what I want (table and chairs, or sofa and coffee table, or maybe a swing?). But when walking by I saw this set that was 70% off and was really quite comfy.

The 70% pretty much confirmed my opinion though.

I pushed the nearby button and amazingly someone came over almost immediately. But they don't have it in stock.

Me: Is it available at another location?

Him: There aren't in stock in any of the bay area stores.

Me: Can I order it online and pay for delivery?

Him: No, it will just walk you through the process and then say there aren't any available.

Me: Will you have more in stock?

Him: No, they've discontinued this line.

Me: Can I buy the floor model?

Him: No, they won't sell that until the end of the season.

Me: But you won't have any available.

Him: I know

Me: So you're going to have the floor model indicating that you sell something that won't ever be available?

Him: yes

I didn't like any of their cushions either.

Laughter always helps...

2010-05-19T22:09:00.000-07:00

Ok... I had a post about what a challenging day/week/month it's been.

Work is kicking my butt and there is mold/mildew/something in the floor of the new addition which is more than annoying.

So some days it's just all about the shoes! And I have some really cute ones. Brown heels with leopard print on the toes. Brown leather straps across the leopard print. Don't you want to see them? Of course I can't find my camera cable...

I'm a recent fan of The Pioneer Woman - she cracks me up (seriously - read her story of her romance with hubby, Marlboro Man) and had a post about a woman's shows - pink patent leather, but subdued with jeans. So I wore my new shoes with jeans to work today - whatever it takes to create some internal attitude, right?

But for my immediate laughter, Bailey's got a new thing... if I pause the TiVo and leave the room, he barks at the TV incessantly. He thinks there's someone trying to come in through the "window." He cracks me up...

Reading List

2010-05-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

The Big Read was floating around blogland for a while, but now that it's slowed down I figured I might as well peruse the list and see how I rate. I'm not really sure what the criteria was for a book to make it on the list, but I've left it as I copied it.

Instructions:

Bold the books you've read...

Italicize the ones you intend to read...

Underline the ones you loved...

Ok - I only bolded the ones I read and didn't feel like going back thru the list again... But I am happy to report that the Needham High School English Department apparently served me pretty well as a significant portion of these were high school assignments. Any my book club has a pretty good track record against this list.... although I'm not sure if that's any kind of measurement. We just have fun...

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
The Bible (ok, not cover to cover)
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Complete Works of Shakespeare (okay - not complete!)
Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
Catcher in the Rye - J D Salinger
The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
Middlemarch - George Eliot
Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
Bleak House - Charles Dickens
War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
Emma - Jane Austen
Persuasion - Jane Austen
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
Animal Farm - George Orwell
The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Atonement - Ian McEwan
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Dune - Frank Herbert
Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
On The Road - Jack Kerouac
Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
Bridget Jones’ Diary - Helen Fielding
Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
Dracula - Bram Stoker
The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
Ulysses - James Joyce
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
Germinal - Emile Zola
Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
Possession - AS Byatt
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
The Color Purple - Alice Walker
The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
Charlotte’s Web - EB White
The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
Watership Down - Richard Adams
A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
Hamlet - William Shakespeare
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Bailey says: I liked reading Pride & Prejudice, Momma, but it would be easier if I had a haircut!

Friday Fraggle Fun...

2010-05-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

Still no knitting... but some vintage Fraggle Rock knitting fun for Friday!

Friday Fun...

2010-04-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

I listened to this 3x when a friend posted it on Facebook.

And I'm smiling as I listen while getting the link to share now. Enjoy!!

(although apparently I don't know how to make it fit the width of the blog).

2010-04-18T18:39:00.000-07:00

Bailey says:

Can we puh-lease go back outside?

Confession...

2010-04-09T21:25:00.000-07:00

I like TiVo. Really like my TiVo.

This isn't a surprise to me, but the fact has been elevated in my awareness by the fact that at the moment it's off limits due to the fact that the stairs to the basement (where my family room with the TV is) were replaced and today was first coat of the stain.

First coat... which essentially means I won't be able to go downstairs (remember - the location of beloved TiVo) until Tuesday. I did make sure I had all my work folders, laundry and other necessities upstairs before the staining. And I can't really consider TV and TiVo a necessity... but Friday nights I'm generally too exhausted to do anything but scrounge dinner and watch TiVo with Bailey.

So... I did muster enough energy to brave the nearby outdoor mall to get a wedding gift. And I blocked a shawl that's been sitting on my guest room bed for 3 months (it's a big, warm wool shawl... perfect timing, huh?) And got that same guest room bed ready for a house guest. And a few other uninteresting things.

Frankly... true confession - I miss my TiVo.

Happy Easter!!!

2010-04-04T19:26:00.000-07:00

He is Risen... He is Risen Indeed.

This is one of my favorite refrains at church...

A few pictures from Easter dinner at my friends' are still on my camera, but instead of spring Easter pics from a dreary, rainy day.... here are some of my favorite shots I took at Filoli Gardens yesterday. It was a bit overcast, but a great few hours spent amongst the tulips and other garden vignettes.

Random...

2010-04-01T07:17:00.001-07:00

I'm stealing this from Coggie as I'm still trying to get back into blogging, still not knitting and still looking for my cable for my camera...

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?

I don't have any feelings whatsoever... I think they taste awful, but they have become a kinda cute iconic symbol for easter baskets (not Easter with a capital E and an empty tomb, mind you - just the cultural mass consumption of sugar & egg hunts!) The Washington Post as a highly entertaining Peeps Diorama contest. Check this out and then google to find previous years!

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?

Knitting always helps with any nervous physical energy... I pray. I remind myself that the situation rarely involves life or death circumstances. I think of 3 things I'm thankful for... And sometimes just allow myself a brief moment or two or ten to panic and then deal.

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?

I do... although we tend to get rain for 2 months. Never any really good thunderstorms, just incessantly intermittent rain. I like the rain when I don't need to be out driving around in it, but I don't like the mud it leaves behind.

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?

Noone. If I were forced, it would be Bailey.

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?

um. No.
6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?

Church in the morning, and then since I'm 3000 miles from family, I will go to my "local" family - as I do for almost all holidays! We'll eat a lot of great food, enjoy some good wine and play games.
7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?

I love Reese cups, but Cadbury mini eggs are my easter candy treat.

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?

The cutest puppy ever!

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?

In the middle of Time Traveler's Wife for my book club... but I find it pretty annoying. I'm also reading The Cloister Walk and a fun mystery by Susan Wittig Albert (or is it Albert Wittig, or am I making up her name... ?).
10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?

All of it. With the tendonitis in my wrist, my already poor house-cleaning has completely gone out the (dirty) window. With house guests in a couple of weeks (and some dust/dirt-generating work by a contractor today & Monday), I've just decided to have a someone come do a thorough cleaning for me next week (a good use of tax refund money!).

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?

Ummm... quite a few. I'll guess nine pair, but most are 'nice' flip-flop-style sandals, not the rubber flip-flops you put on for the beach.

12. Which color makes you happiest?

Right now... any bright colors in all the spring flowers appearing!

Hungry?

2010-03-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

Can it really be the end of March already? How did that happen???

Oh yeah, business trips to Delhi, Beijing, NY and now I'm with family in Florida...

I think there are some photos on my camera that I was going to post, but forgot the cable.

But I've been meaning to post about a few food blogs I've started reading, and when I discovered an old post on one about 5 meals, 17 servings from one chicken... it seemed absolutely worth sharing! Oh, and it was only $26. The bloggers write a blog called Cheap, Healthy, Good. It's a more recently blog-discovery so I've only been reading it for a few days, but absolutely worth checking out.

Two other food favorites that feed my bloglines are well known Smitten Kitchen and Our Best Bites. But the one that I've "known" the longest, and liked so much that I bought her cookbook for myself and 3 friends, is A Year of Slow Cooking - a year's journey of daily use of her crockpots.

Now... off to order chinese for dinner!

-JavaNut

P.S. Anyone watch the pilot of Jamie Oliver's show about changing the food served in schools? I don't remember the name, but I couldn't stop watching and thinking how grateful I was I didn't have to eat in a school cafeteria. And that I don't have to work with women so stubborn and resistant to change. Good luck, Jamie!

2010 Goals...

2010-03-09T17:53:00.000-08:00

Well, progress with my 2010 goals leave a bit to be desired... sigh. Starting with not even setting them! Somehow, that just makes me laugh, which I suppose is the best response, really.

So today I'll start with knitting goals. Although sadly, the knitting is on hold because of tendonitis. After 18 months of not knitting when I had tendonitis 5 years ago, I'm taking this seriously and have been wearing a brace for the past 2.5 weeks. This time it's my left thumb/wrist, but still incredibly inconvenient.

But optimistically, let's talk knitting!

Although not my entire 'to-do' list of knitting projects, the 3 knitting goals for the year are:

Goal #1 - Ten Shawls for 2010

This is a Ravelry group to start/complete, well, 10 shawls. Different meterage requirements and prizes each month for the FOs. I've got 3 completed...

Upstairs. A boring name, but made with Malabrigo Lace which is an absolute favorite!!

Multnomah

I made most of this during the women's retreat last month and gave it to my friend L who joined me there as a memory/prayer shawl. This was made with yarn from 3 Irish Girls Adorn sock yarn.

And this doesn't count toward the challenge since it's a scarf, but it was still a lace 2010 project and I loved the knit stitch.

I've made a third for the challenge, but haven't taken any pics yet...

Goal #2 - Sweaters!

Not sure how many I'll get thru, but I want to knit sweaters. I made 3 last year... I still need to tack the collar down on one of them. I loved knitting it because it was an unusual construction - knit on the bias, but not sure how much I'll wear it other than cool mornings when I take Bailey out for a walk. The second one - love the sweater, but not on me. The third one, I wear all the time.

So for 2010, I'm hoping to get some of these done. Patterns are queued and yarn is waiting (Ravelry links):

Shalom

Silver Belle

Angelina Vintage Jacket

Hoodie with Cables

Fence Vest (two of these in the queue...)

Pembroke Vest (obviously not for me)

Goal #3 - Alan Dart

I recently discovered Alan Dart patterns and although I've always avoided knitting toys, his are amazing. I want to knit his Christmas Wishes Nativity set and I also have the patterns for Circus Mice and Harvest Mice.

So hopefully the tendonitis won't keep me from then needles for long and I'll get to some of these projects soon.

Bailey says:

I've found a new favorite place while Momma works (smart puppy!)

Stitches 2010

2010-02-26T18:29:00.000-08:00

Took a much-needed day off today and spent it at the annual homage to yarndom - Stitches West Market. I had contemplated signing up for classes, but turns out that my procrastination was a good thing. Not only were the interesting classes sold out, but I've developed tendonitis in my left thumb/wrist. My brace for immobilization would have made a class worthless.

I did however remain optimistic that I will heal and made a few purchases:

The marled yarn on the left is for a sweater for me. Well it was... only when I impulsively switched colors before I paid, I switched yarns and now have the wrong gauge. So will be finding a new project for this one!

The blue Vintage is for the Pembroke vest for my 18 month old nephew.

The Colrain on the right is for a vest pattern I found... green for my mom and burgundy for me!

Now just to wait 'til I can actually cast on...

-JavaNut

How to Finally Find Your Purpose!

2010-02-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

Apparently all you need to do is watch Oprah. She sent an email and told me so.

No wonder the world is a mess... we didn't know that she held all truth and divine inspiration.

Sigh.

Helloooooo..... am I here?

2010-02-19T21:10:00.000-08:00

Hmmm.... life got away from me and blogging.

I thought about scrapping it all, but decided to give it another shot. I love reading blogs and the amazing virtual community they create. So... here we go again! Ironically, I realized that my last post was of Stitchs 2009... and a week from today I'll be at Stitches again. So instead of belaboring a year of no posting, Stitches will be my oh-so-worthy bookends of a hiatus!

2009 was a bit nutty... after selling my house in whirlwind fashion, Bailey and I "temporarily" stayed with dear friends, who I'm grateful to still call dear friends after what turned into six months 'between houses.' But it was worth the wait for the right place and I love the new house and neighborhood... we're walking distance to a small downtown area with coffee shops, great food and cute shops.

I'll skip all the work that I've done & had done... a few small projects still to do, but Bailey and I are most happy in our new home.

And there's been lots of knitting (will save pictures for later. maybe.) many long hours of working (nothing photo-worthy!) and countless other things that may or may not have been blog-worthy, but will look foward in 2010 instead of looking back to catch up.

Happy Everything -

JavaNut

Bailey says: Momma, I know you think these are your socks and I'll pretend that I think they're yours, but just so you know, they're really mine!

Stitches Haul...

2009-03-01T21:37:00.000-08:00

It's been such a long time since a blog update, and the accounting of my Stitches haul is a sad catalyst. But then again... it was way more fun than the endless waiting to find out if my offer on a house has been accepted.

We didn't take any classes, just went to the Market, but still more sensory overload than imaginable... and fun!

I only succumbed to unplanned temptation a little... everything else was purchase with specific patterns in mind (sadly some of those patterns are still in storage).

My Stash Enhancement:

From left:
- front - multi-color dk weight for baby sweater
- back - Noro Silk Garden Chunky on closeout and add'l discount from WEBS (this was one 'slip' but I think I'll make a wrap of some kind. I love the colors and feels wonderful!)
- Light blue Goshen to make a short sleeve sweater - evidence that enticing samples can encourage more sales!
-Back purple - to make Sofia. This might not work... I didn't like the yarn they used, but need something 'fluffy' because it's a bulky gauge but shouldn't be a heavy yarn. I'm hoping there's enough mohair in this to make it work.
- Multi-purple in front: My other project-less purchase, but it was ridiculously reduced and I think will become a cowl or scarf
- Latte colored (sounds better than beige) is intended to become Debbie Bliss' Silver Belle from Vogue (it's Valley Yarn's Deerfield)
- front handpaint sock yarn will be used in my Sock Yarn Blankie and then swapped for others
- light green is more of the Deerfield and is intended for the Angelina Vintage Jacket from White Lies Designs
- multi-coral colored hank in front is Duet from Brooks Farm and will become a simple, open garter stitch wrap
- and finally the 2 bags of Rainbow are for Hatfield Diagonal Sweater (w/ add'l green for edging)

Whew! Majority of the purchases were from WEBS. They had 10 booths worth, are incredibly nice and for the sweater quantities (which was my main intention), good prices.

I've begun my Hatfield... the blending of the 2 yarns created much different look than I was expecting, but it's a good lesson in color theory and dominant colors! I do like it though and since the yarn is held doubled, it's been going pretty quickly. I've done one front panel and half the second front already!

Bailey says:
Momma, can I play with L's yarn? Pretty please?

Almost Monday MeMe..

2008-12-14T08:04:00.000-08:00

And because it's Almost-Christmas! YIKES!!
With all the house selling/searching/packing going on, Christmas has been a bit over-looked the past few weeks. Which is unfortunate considering how much I LOVE Christmas... Maybe Santa will bring me a new house????

So to provide a little holiday cheer... a fun MeMe (and I'm embarrassed that I forgot to link the source-blog for it). Perhaps there will be coal in my stocking with that new house.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. I love wrapping presents. Seriously...and I have enough paper/ribbon to last a decade.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I haven't had a tree in several years since I travel to Florida. I'm tempted with getting an artificial tree, but it's not 'green' (ironic, isn't it!). Growing up we always had a flocked tree, but that tradition didn't continue with me.
3. When do you put up the tree? If I have one, usually the first weekend in Dec.
4. When do you take the tree down? Just after New Year's.
5. Do you like eggnog? Ick!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? So many, but I remember coming down one morning and finding an art easel all set up... and going roller-skating down the street in my bathrobe on a rare Christmas morning without snow.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My step-dad and grandmother
8. Easiest person to buy for? My goddaughters
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Several... But my 'nice' scene is still at my parents until I have a proper place for it. Growing up we would unpack it, but would never 'arrange' the figurines until my grandfather was there to do it with me.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A jingle-bell necklace shaped like a turnip was definitely one of the funniest
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? How the Grinch Stole Christmas TV special (NOT the movie)
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I'm a 'gift' shopper all the time so some years it's early, but this year... well, my list is still mostly undone.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably, but can't remember.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas Cookies, and Gingerbread biscotti
16. Lights on the tree? Lots of little, white lights.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Impossible to pick... O Come, O Come Emmanuel, O Holy Night
Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel to family's
18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yup.
19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve
20. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Traffic and shopping lines. And trying to make Christmas policially correct (I stole this answer).
21. Favorite ornament theme or color? simple - gold, crystal, ivory.
22. What do you want for Christmas this year? A new house!
23. Angel or star on top tree? My tree has an angel, my family's tree has ugly glass bobbly thing.
24. Favorite meal: appetizers all evening on Christmas eve, followed by a bowl of homemade beef vegetable soup after we open presents.

Bailey's says: Momma, why are there so many boxes around? (cute pic trapped in camera until I find my cable)

I'm homeless...

2008-12-10T10:37:00.001-08:00

Haven't posted in a while because it's been INSANE around here the past 2 weeks. Crazy, crazy, I tell ya'!

As the title states... I'm now homeless. Well, technically not until Dec 30th... but essentially (and definitely emotionally), I don't have a house anymore. It's both exciting and overwhelming... in this crazy market, I sold my house. Still looking for a new one... which although increases the pressure, it's definitely the right sequence. But it does make one, well... homeless.

I take some credit for the expediency of the sale... my home is wonderful. It's a great floorplan for this size house and a good sized lot with a very nicely designed patio (if I do say so myself). And all the 'little things' I've done over the last 10 years have certainly made a difference. Particularly when I compare it with all the houses I've been looking at the past few weeks (and it's been a lot!). But my realtor made it happen!

And did I say it happened quickly? I mean REALLY fast! I met with him one weekend - for him to get a sense of my house and we went to look so I could get a sense of what was out there.
- the day before Thanksgiving I signed the contract to list it
- the following Wed we had it on the MLS
- then we had open houses Sat & Sun
- I signed the contract to accept the offer on Monday (I even had more than one)

Now the insanity of the plan for moving, probable storage, etc... and of course, finding a NEW HOUSE! (not to mention the work/job thing...)

So if any of you were looking for a house in the bay area - this is what you missed (and what I will miss!)

I love the big tree in front...

and my red kitchen...

which really isn't like a dollhouse...

And the most-recently done guest room...

I'd take the swing with me if I could bring the bougainville with it...

My long-last hobby room (which was NEVER this neat)

And I would normally not post a bathroom, but there's a really funny story about this one and I don't want to forget it!

Sigh... I'll miss you, little-house.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T21:27:00.000-08:00

This is one of the funniest turkey-day pics I've seen....

Hope your Thanksgiving was full of family, friends, food and fun (and fiber if you're so inclined!)...

Ten on Thankful Thursday...

2008-11-20T23:32:00.000-08:00

Today's a blend of 'Ten on Tuesday' and Thankful Thursday... (26 min left!)...

10 Things You are Thankful for This Year
1. Healthy family, including my cousin's new baby
2. Budget cuts instead of layoffs at work
3. Ravelry and Bloglines and Flickr
4. Local farmer's markets for local food all year round
5. Bailey
6. My church
7. TiVo
8. L.C., S.B., and L.A.
9. Frequent Flyer miles
10.USA

Bailey says: Sometimes it's nice to be treatedy like Royalty!

Yoga Puppy!!

2008-11-18T21:24:00.000-08:00

Sometimes he just makes me smile...

Looky, Looky - I won!!

2008-11-17T20:18:00.000-08:00

CoggieTM had a contest for her Ravelry anniversary... and I won one of the prizes!! I was pleasantly surprised when she asked me for my address... and delighted when I got home from a brutal day at work and found a wonderful package waiting for me!

The highlight is the Malabrigo Sock yarn in a gorgeous, teal semi-solid! Also was a great journal and soap... not pictured are the edibles (hmmm... I wonder why?? but yes, that's my wine glass in the corner!!). She included a package of Skittles and some fun gold-rock chocolate. And a button with my Ravelray ravatar... I'll save that for Stitches West! Thanks so much!!

Saturday was a fun mail day, too... I received my second package of mini-balls that I've swapped with others in the Ravelry Blankiemania group. What fun!!

And, my addiction to mini-balls is escalating... see these minis all ready and waiting for the next swaps... half will be off for a December swap and then I think I may host one myself in Jan (and might even start my blankie by then...).

But even without an actual blankie-in-progress, the mini-skeins are a fun distraction to all the chaos of work, and the lack of actual knitting... I'm still amazed that it's almost Thanksgiving and how much I have to knit if I'm going to get all my planned holiday gifts completed. (i.e. not a chance!)

So back at 'em...
Happy Knitting!
- JavaNut

Bailey says: Momma, I'm just going to wait until you're ready to play fetch. Could you hurry, please?

Be Thankful...

2008-11-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

After the historic US Presidential election last week and the tensions of the continued war efforts in the Middle East... today is a day to be thankful for those that have served our country.

This year we switch from observing the holiday on a convenient Monday, to the actual date, regardless of the day of the week. From the VA website: The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

On a lighter note, today is also Ten on Tuesday (I haven't done a Monday MeMe in a while so this is a good substitute). I didn't like today's topic, so let's go back a week (my blog, my rules)...

Last week's topic is "Ten things I like to talk about"---

1. Knitting!
2. Other crafy things (collage, altered art, sewing...)
3. Living a life of faith
4. Christmas festivities (events, decor, gifts - all of it!)

5. Traveling (including everyone's favorite horror stories)
6. Savings/cost-cutting (I tend to talk about this better than I actually DO this!)
7. Recipes (again, I talk more than do...)
8. Home decorating
9. Balancing work/life
10. my pup, Bailey

And lest we forget this is a knitting blog, my lasted completion:

Louisa Harding's Piper Purse... my friend E gave me the pattern book for my birthday and immediately pointed this out to me. So... easy to guess who is getting this for Christmas!

Main mods: changed handles to longer i-cord strap (d0ubled) and added a lining w/ 3 pockets on one side.

And meanwhile... YogaPuppy!

Thank a Vet -

JavaNut

Change is hard...

2008-11-06T17:30:00.000-08:00

and no, I'm not talking about the election, although I do think Obama has an incredibly hard job ahead. Anyone would considering the national and international challenges these days, and on top of that a public mania that is on a high and will be expecting great things - FAST.

It's been 5 days since we changed our clocks.

At which point, I very happily planned to enjoy my extra hour of sleep. The pup hasn't quite adjusted and still thinks we should be getting up WAY TOO EARLY. Not only that, but he's started to check to see if we should be getting up at about 1:30/2am as well. At that hour, a verbal reminder that it's still 'sleep time' is sufficient for him to go back to sleep, but by 5am (today it was even earlier - 4:30am), he starts to get pretty insistent that it's time to play, eat, pee or at least snuggle in the big chair.

But even with my incessant yawning, I'm long overdue for a Thankful Thursday post! So one day away from a weekend (which is always something to be thankful for), I'm thankful

- that I was able to fill my gas tank for $40
- for a co-worker that recognized my coffee mug that I left in a conference room
- for the 25% discount coupon from the huge used bookstore
- for the many decisions I have to make because it means I have choices
- for the stash of yarn and fabric that provide LOTS of creative projects when I don't want to spend money on new ones

Happy Almost-Friday!
- JavaNut

Bailey says: Momma, isn't this more fun than sleeping?

Make it Count!

2008-11-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

Did You???

Where have I been?

2008-11-03T06:26:00.000-08:00

For something a little different... I found this fun site that creates a map based on where you've visited... It would be interesting to see what it would look like if I excluded my work travels. ok, maybe not that interesting.

Red is where I've been in the US...

create your own personalized map of the USA

And to take a global view... Countries I've visited are in red.

create your own visited country map

That was fun!

- JavaNut

Bailey says: No more traveling, Momma.

Nuts for November

2008-11-02T21:40:00.000-08:00

October was tough. I'm ready for a new month and love the start of cooler weather.

And the goblins are gone... yippee! I love costumes and the excitement of kids at the prospect of trick-or-treating, but I'm not a big fan of Halloween in general. It's a dark holiday and although most of the celebrations and such are in good fun, it's still a bit creepy (and sometimes disturbing!) to magnify things that have nothing edifying about them. Don't get me wrong - I'm not the bah-humbug sort, but I'm far more entertained, encouraged and excited about Christmas decorations and lights down the streets.

I did enjoy my extra hour of sleep last night... it was much needed and I wish there were more where that came from. Seriously - how cool would it be to have an extra hour for more than one day. Just as long as it doesn't change the 'daylight' hours. The downside of that extra hour is trying to get Bailey's walk in before it gets dark!

Still thinking about that extra hour... looking at the clock I realize that no knitting tonight if I want to try to get started on catching up at work. Very few stitches for me this weekend, but at least I can post my progress from the trip to China.

First up is the Piper Purse... just waiting for handles and fabric for a simple lining. This isn't a bag I would have chosen to make (although I love cables!!), but a friend gave me the pattern book for my birthday and immediately pointed this pattern out... So Christmas gift for her is almost done.

This is sock #1 with as much done as I could with the one ball I brought with me. Clearly I should have checked the yardage because the ball only has 137 yards! Fortunately I was able to find a 3rd ball at my LYS (the orig 2 were a gift). The foot is a bit big so I'll frog back to the heel and decrease a bit before knitting the foot... Sock #2 has a cuff and leg - about to do the heel.
This is the first heel I've made that isn't a heel-flap. I don't really like the way the heel flap style fits so tried this after-thought technique... maybe next pair will get a short-row. It will be interesting to compare how they each fit.

sigh. 48 hours until the election will be over... I can't wait! I'm tired of all the campaigns and I've never been so tense about election results. My pastor said it so well this morning, that regardless of which candidate you support, the country will be disappointed because we expect a quick fix to decades of problems....

I've voted already and am ready for the rest of the country to do the same. Make it count!
-JavaNut

Bailey says: Momma, this is how I'm spending my extra hour. OK?

Home again, home again...

2008-10-30T06:17:00.000-07:00

Home again after a quick trip to China (almost half of which was spent traveling!)... This wasn't for work, but it wasn't exactly vacation either... I guess 'potential' work is the best label since M and I were there to explore a potential business venture. The trip was overwhelming and we've got some big decisions ahead of us, but other than a disasterous outbound flight, everything went incredibly well. More to share as we figure things out...

In the meantime, I'm still attempting to recover from the intensity of the trip and my standard sleep issues. Re-adjusting to pacific time hasn't been the main challenge... last night the pup was sick so I was up at 2am and 5am (at which I just stayed up). He's feeling better now, but I'm draggin' quite a bit. And I need to put in a few hours for work tonight. yawn!

It's been a while since a blog update, and I'm not sure how it happened, but I suddenly was bit by the "Sock-blankie" bug! (see the Ravelry Blankiemania group). I'm not really sure why I want to make this, or even what I'll do with it when I'm done. But...Must-Knit-Blankie.

So as if I didn't have enough to do before I left, I wound up some sock yarn into cute little balls for a swap and then got this back in return:

Each is about 5g or approx 20 yards. Aren't those mini-skeins cute!!?? The bug bit hard so I've just mailed off these for another swap (aren't the fall colors perfect for November?)

I haven't actually started the blankie yet - that will probably be after Christmas, but I want to get a good assortment of yarns so I'll have plenty of choices for color placement as I go.

Happily, a couple of FOs made it do the 'done' pile before I left. My 4th Clapotis... I love this pattern for mindless knitting! Not sure if this will be a gift or end up in my closet... made with Plymouth Boku which meant it was a quicker knit than the fingering weight I've used before, and resulted in a wonderfully large wrap (almost like wearing a blankie in disguise!)

And a scarf made with Bernat's Alpaca blend... one ball of each from a craft store sale made this an incredibly inexpensive gift-knit,

Happy Knitting!
JavaNut
Bailey says: I'm glad we're back at home Momma. My chair is really the best place ever!

What a Week!

2008-10-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

After business in London I spent a few days in FL... was a good visit and amazingly (sadly) knit-free. Other than the necessary frogging of the ugly orange scarf!!

Bailey was very happy to come home from L&B's (but he did have fun at camp!). And I had to laugh when I looked at my sneakers. These were washed at the same time... I call the right one evidence of 'Frisbee-Foot' because it's evidence of his point of leverage for the requisite tug-o-war after each throw! It matches the frequent muddy prints on my right shin when the grass is still wet!

But then came home to celebrate a big birthday on Wed... starting with a lovely breakfast before going to the spa with 3 friends... what a wonderful day!! Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and extra long massages for all of us, followed by lunch at my favorite sushi bar!

My mom had sent these gorgeous roses!

and my goddaughters made me this wonderful card (I can just imagine how long they spent picking out the stickers to decorate it!). I love the mini-sweater and the dog treats... they know me well!!

They afternoon was spent at the LYS that offers a discount chip for your birthday-purchase! I was able to get 20% off on the Silky Wool to make an Aleita shell for my mom's Christmas present. Living in FL, it's tough to find a good knit for her... but she picked this out so I'll be casting on soon!

In the meantime, I did cast on another Clapotis... this one is in a worsted weight so it's knitting up so much bigger than the lace and sock-weight versions... It's with Boku and I love the way the striping varies ...

And now off to book club... with my Clapotis! ; )

Happy Friday..... -JavaNut

Bailey says: I'm glad to be home, Momma... I missed my toys.

Lucky-in-London... NOT!

2008-10-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

I'm in London for business... most people think 'oh, cool!' Well, not really... first of all my hotel and office are right by Heathrow. Convenient... absolutely. Interesting... not at all. And annoying that I'm still here on a Friday night, but the work-stuff went too late to be able to take a flight out.

And for those that ask 'Why don't you stay the weekend and see London?" Well... I've been to London many times and although I love it, not so interested in going around by myself. Not to mention how INSANELY expensive it is. I mean INSANE... pricey to begin with, and the current exchange rate makes some thing absolutely ludicrous. Like $36 for a mediocre burger. Granted, it's also hotel prices, but seriously???

The one thing that made me smile (or squirm if I think about it) was the in-room coffee/tea set up. I love hotels that provide that... but I like milk in my coffee and I hate the powdered "whitener" that is usually in the little tray. However, this hotel had a different option:

I choose not to think about milk that doesn't hit it's expiration date until Feb 2009. It was WAY better than whitener.

But that's not why I'm un-Lucky in London... sometimes you know it's going to be a hard trip. The work stuff was challenging, but good. The main tragedy of the trip was leaving my iPod on the plane. really. And I did check the pocket on the seatback in front of me. I ALWAYS do that ever since I left my iPod in it 3 years ago. I suspect it fell between the seats when I was carefully packing up my earphones. The tragedy is not the financial hit as you might expect (I actually have a new iTouch at home that's still in the box!), but when I'm traveling (and often at home), I fall asleep listening to podcasts. I'm a horrible sleeper, but I discovered that podcasts are enough to distract my brain and then I can get back to sleep... so 2 long days of travel and 4 more nights without it is the distressing part.

And on top of that loss... selecting knitting for travel is usually pretty easy. But having gone thru more options that I care to confess when selecting my 'travel knitting,' and having brought three different projects... I didn't pack well.

Project 1 is a baby vest. I've made this before and love it, but for some confusing reason I brought only a partial skein. Since taking this photo I've completed as much as I can until I can get home to the other skein.

Project 2 is a 'one-skein stole.' This yarn is more orange-y than I like (I don't really like orange, but it seemed like a good fall colorway). And I really don't like the pattern... I'll give it another pattern repeat before I decide, but I suspect it will be frogged before long.

Project 3 is a scarf... it's a simple linen-stitch in a cocoa brown/light pink. But since I'll be working on that tonight, I'll be done with it long before tomorrow's 8 hour flight is over. And I've already finished The Demolished Man for this month's book club.

TGIF! Happy (hopeful) Knitting!
JavaNut

(I miss Bailey, but he's having fun at "camp A" while I'm gone. He gets to chase as many squirrels from L&B's yard as he does at home)

Frayed Frisbee on a Fiber Friday

2008-09-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

A wonderful way to end a long and challenging week... I participated in the Yarn Thing's swap on Ravelry, and was matched with Marly, the Yarn Thing, herself! And boy did she spoil me. Check out this package!!

In front of box:
WIP DPN holders (and I’m such a dpn girl for my socks!) fun spiral notebook & pink post-its
Peanut M&Ms (yes, that’s the opened corner… no comment on how much has been consumed
Clear ‘Creative Couture’ project pouch… I love clear bags for projects.

In the box:
beautiful blue/green/aqua stitch markers (can’t really see these in pic)
labels for the ‘hand knits’ to indicate as such - perfect for holiday gifts!
Two skeins of hacho sock yarn from Peru. I’ve been picking this up every time I visit my LYS since they got it in, but now it’s MINE!
Skein of a locally dyed Aspen Sock yarn in “It’s Candy” colorway… I love yarn from small/indies and these colors are yummy!

Back of box:
Fun booklet of Fabulous Felt with felting projects
And not to forget my pup, Bailey, Marly even sent a stylin’ collar and argyle sweater (too hot to get him to model today, but will be sure to post pic later…)

But although my Fiber Friday was delightful... sadly, it's also time to retire yet another Frisbee. Bailey goes thru these (and the rubber ones, too) rather quickly even though he's not allowed it as a chew toy. Note the clear tubing to the left of his paw? that used to be the inside!

Bailey says: I think this should be Frisbee Friday.

Happy Feet & Fear Be Gone!

2008-09-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

Happy feet!! These Jaywalkers were actually the second pair of socks I ever started... over a year ago. No second sock syndrome for me... I actually knit the cuff and leg of sock #2 before they went to the black hole of my knitting bag (seriously... things mysteriously disappear and randomly re-appear from that bag!).

In my recent mission to finish up some WIPS, these rose to the top and didn't take too long. The only problem was that after languishing for 15 months... my new gauge is completely different. The first sock fits so well... the second, not so much! Oh well... they're done and will still be toasty in my boots and around the house this winter!

I'm not a big fan of Halloween (well other than the idea of chocolate and candy all around), but I love costumes. And it's darling costumes like this Gnome-on-a-Toadstool that make me wish I had kids... of course I'm sure they wouldn't want to wear something like this anyway, but it still makes me smile. I LOVED the Gnome books when I was young... the creativity, the artwork, the fantasy. I'm happy to say, however, that I have successfully avoided any semblance of garden gnomes!

And finally... I'm happy to say that 4 year old M has overcome her fear of dogs! Poor thing was charged by a large dog and has been terrified of all ever since. And who could blame her??! She desperately wanted to befriend my little guy... and sure enough, willpower overcomes fear when the object of desire is a cute as my little pup!

Bailey says: Momma, I like my new friend now that she doesn't run away from me. Can she come play again?

Monday Madness...

2008-09-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

Whew! What a day...

It started way too early when the pup got sick at 3am... he went back to sleep, but I of course... did not. yawn. Pup was pretty sick so took him to the vet... xrays, fluids, anti-biotics, anti-naseous meds and a large visa bill later, pup is home and starting to eat a little. YAY! (not so happy about the visa bill!!)

But I finally finished the Baby Poonam for my cousin's baby... T was born on Wed, exactly 2 weeks past the anticipated arrival. Fortunately everyone is doing well and this little sweater will be on its way to NY very soon. And with it will be a copy of my favorite children's book The Gruffalo.

He's the first of his generation so lots of excitement! Unfortunately I don't see them very often so I'm not sure when I'll actually get to meet the little guy, but his grandmother and I will certainly keep him well dressed in knits! Baby blanket is in progress and I'm already thinking ahead to Christmas knitting.

I'm still working on my secret sewing projects... temporarily stalled, but pressure is on. I need to have them done in less than a month, but I've got a business trip in the middle of all that. So now that Poonam is done, it's back to sewing (... tomorrow).

And since it's a Monday... we'll play a Monday MeMe!

Back In The Day
1. When was the last time you went to a playground and swung on the swings?
In July I played on the swingset with my goddaughter and her sister... but I was pushing. My other god-daughter took great delight in spinning me around in my Sky Chair last week, though!

2. What is the first TV show you remember watching as a child?
Not necessarily the first show I remember, but one of my strongest childhood TV memories is getting to stay up an hour later once a week to watch Grizzly Adams. I was going to name my children after his animals...

3. What's your favorite board game?
I generally prefer card games over board games, but I've recently resumed playing CandyLand with aforementioned goddaughters!

4. How old were you when you started school?
I remember talking to my pre-school teacher about the annual field trip. In my second year, I wanted to go feed the ducks with the younger class but she told me that was the field trip for the 4 year olds. Since my birthday was in October, I was still 4 (therefore started school at 3) and thought I should be able to go with them. She didn't buy it and I didn't get to go feed the ducks. Clearly it was a traumatic experience and only fueled my appetite for rational debate.

5. If you could have given any one piece of advice to yourself when you were a child, what would it be?
Just because you don't like the trampoline teacher, don't quit gymnastics.

Happy Knitting!
-JavaNut

Bailey says: I'm starting to feel better, Momma... Where are my squirrels?

Apparently it's Pirate Day...

2008-09-19T22:29:00.000-07:00

Personally, I'm just glad it's Friday, but decided I'd better join in the blogosphere fun of 'Pirate Day'...

My pirate name is:

Mad Bess Bonney

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

I actually started this post yesterday with "thankful thursday" thoughts... I'm thankful for:

a bonus in time to pay property taxes
L returning from vacation because I missed her!
triple-chocolate brownie mix
Trader Joe's grocery store
ability to fill my gas tank for less than $60

And tonight I'm thankful for the chance to celebrate my friendship with M at a surprise party for his birthday! Although apparently it should have been a pirate theme instead of a luau!

Bailey says: What's a pirate?

Bravo! Bravo! (spoiler alert!!)

2008-09-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

Usually I'm more of an HGTV-junkie, but tonight was a jackpot on

Bravo... Excellent entertainment while catching up on all my email overload.

First up - Project Runway! This episode had the designers creating an outfit for a recent college grad entering the workforce... Jerrel won with this outfit and I must say, this pose is less than flattering - it was definitely a winner and they will be in some ad in Elle magazine as an episode prize. Well done, J! (sadly the rest of the competitors really missed the boat on this one...)

Next... Top Design! I find the judges on this show pretty annoying, but love the show. This week, they were designing a window display for a Project Runway designer!!

There were two fabulous windows and two disasters... Kerry, aka Big Daddy, went home based on this horror. Frankly, I think his partner-in-crime, Wizit, should have been sent home, but Kerry took the hit...

Now that my inbox is relatively caught-up (ha!), off to spend a few minutes to work on the original Jaywalkers that have been sitting in a project bag for over a year waiting for the second foot. Now that I've got my STR pair done, I want to finish the first pair (funny how that happens... my head considers it a competition so fair's fair!)

But then again... my cousin had her baby today (2 weeks late) so must not procrastinate the sweater for little T. Front & back are done.. just needs 2 little sleeves and a few seams. It was/is a fun pattern (Baby Poonam), but for some reason it was put aside (I had nothing to do with that of course... it put itself aside. really.)

Saturday... I'll finish it on Saturday...

Happy Knitting!

- JavaNut

Bailey says: Can I have more treats in my kong, please?

Jay-Walkin'

2008-09-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Jaywalkers were one of those patterns that took off and were seen everywhere... I finally jumped on the wagon and started a pair with some great Lisa Souza yarn and got half-way thru the second sock. Those are still stuck in a project bag...

Jump ahead to last month when I was a the LYS that I visit infrequently, but they have lots of BMFA and I wanted to knit another pair of STR socks (it doesn't matter that I have enough sock yarn in stash to knit at least 25 pairs of socks!). I passed over the Chapman Springs colorway until I saw them winding it for another customer and immediately had to get it for myself. They yellow in this yarn makes the purple and turquoise really pop!!

These beauties are for me!! I knit and frogged the first sock because it was too big, and even these are a little loose in the smaller size, but will be great for around the house or under boots.

But the only reason they're done is because of the Q3 challenge issued for the Year Long Gift-a-Long... I put aside baby gifts for my cousin (who is still waiting for baby to arrive - he's taking his time!) to finish these socks, just so I could complete the challenge... which does nothing but get me an entry for a prize that is a mystery at that! But what a fun motivator...

Does the chance for a prize motivate you? I rarely enter blog contests and such, but then I see others' posts 'this is the 3rd blog prize I've won in a row' and I think... well wouldn't that be fun!

Happy Knitting!

-JavaNut

Bailey says: Not much would motivate me right now!

Fry-day Friday!

2008-09-12T18:39:00.001-07:00

I'm fried! It's Friday evening and all I can think is how happy I am to have a quiet evening at home with the pup. (and TiVo and knitting of course!)

I keep hearing the infamous "This is drugs. This is your brain on drugs. An y questions?" (for those of you too young to remember, click to see a brilliant anti-drug campaign)

No drugs involved, but I'm fried!

After my spurt of creative chaos last weekend, the week was sadly void of any time to create... long days at the office and 3 nights out (including a work dinner). I have to say that Bailey surprised me with how well he did - never having been alone that long so often in a week. Other than thinking bedtime was playtime, that is!

I'm intending this weekend to be productive... some more secret sewing, painting furniture and yardwork top the list. If I'm really motivated, I'm going to tackle the 3 boxes of 'misc' in the garage that I stored out there when I 'left town' for 18 months. Since I've been home for over a year, it's about time I get that done. I suspect they have craft supplies and candles so a significant portion may end up in the garbage after 3 summers in the hot garage!

Bailey says: I'm going to stay outside in this cooler weather. I'll keep those squirrels away, okay?

Creative Chaos...

2008-09-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's already Sunday evening... It's been a good weekend, but I'd like another please! (if anyone know how to arrange that, please let me know as soon as possible!!)

First up... lots of secret sewing. It's not so much that the *what* I'm sewing is secret (really, not that orginal), but it's the *why* I'm making these... It'll be a few months before I can say much about it, but it's certainly testing my sewing abilities! On the otherhand, it's been good to learn about all the cool features of my machine!

Since I can't post a pic, here's the "working in progress" from my Flickr 365 Self Portrait project. Entering my 9th month it's often a bit of a challenge to keep taking the pics, but after this long I'm determined to keep going. I think I've only missed 2 or 3 days so far, and since it was a leap year, I think I'll take one as a 'gimmie.'

On to knitting... isn't this gorgeous?? It was an impulse STR purchase... it wasn't remotely apealing when it was skeined, but as I was checking out at the LYS, they were winding it for another customer and I had to go back and get it... The photo doesn't come close to capturing the vibrant colors. It's YUMMY!!

To highlight the colors, I debated between plain stockinette and Jaywalkers... and after knitting almost the complete first Jaywalker, I very sadly frogged the entire thing. Too big. sigh. Always tough to do, but I know I'll regret it later and just wouldn't enjoy them... but maybe I can sneak a few minutes to re-cast on tonight!

Still looking for another weekend (anyone??) - and preferably one that's not so beastly hot!
-JavaNut

Bailey says: I'll just rest here so you can recover from all that creativity.

Gotta-Getta-Gund

2008-09-02T21:10:00.001-07:00

I always think of those commercials when I see cute and soft stuffed animals... it just rolls of the tongue 'gotta-getta-gund!'

Bailey got a long overdue haircut..and although it was hard to get used to at first, his personality and quirks came thru. I miss the curls, but he is so soft... I keep telling him 'gotta-getta-gund'

Before:

After:

Bailey says: Thanks, Momma! It's going to get hot this week.

Happy Knitting!

JavaNut

Labor Day Labors...

2008-09-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

Yikes! Is it really September?? And has it been 10 days already since my last blog post??

sigh. yes and yes. But on the plus side, it's been a great 4 day weekend! Yep, took Friday off to enjoy an extra-long long weekend... and had a good balance of being productive, creative and social. Productive isn't worth sharing, but on the creative side (which is also productive, but just creative sounds so much better!):

I finished a second Dumpling bag! Such a fun pattern... these are both for Christmas gifts (LOVE having some gifts done already!!).

As much as I love the Dumplings, I'm happier to have finished these River Rapid socks for my friend L (another Christmas gift - whoo-hoo!). I hated knitting these... the yarn was too fine and a loose twist so why it was considered sock yarn is beyond me. Much more appropriate for a lace scarf or shawl... but it came in a sock-club package. Once started though, I was determined to finish. And I confess that the deadline for the Summer KAL-CAL was a good motivator (along with a 5 hour binge knitting during a Pride & Prejudice marathon!).

And a nice bonus was that both of these projects meet the 'Water' theme for this month in Project Spectrum. I love the idea of PS, but wish I had time to be more creative with it.. particularly with the Aug/Sept theme of Water and favorite colorways of purple, blue and black. But there's still September... I'm anxious to get back into some paper-crafting so PS would be a good challenge.

And finally, I also did all the prep work for a set of secret sewing projects... wish I could share more, but it's, well - a secret!

And now for the few remaining hours of the holiday weekend, Bailey and I are going to curl up and watch a bit of the Murder She Wrote marathon.

Happy Knitting!

- JavaNut

Bailey says: I'll help with the laundry!

Bookworm MeMe

2008-08-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday, but since I was off from work yesterday, it FEELS like Monday so here's another Monday MeMe... for Bookworms!

This one wasn't quite as quick as some of the others, and it was a bit depressing for me - I love reading, but don't read much these days and I do miss it. By the time I'm in a spot to read, I'm generally so tired/braindead that I have no interest or ability to read anything that requires so much as a single brain cell... Nonetheless, here's my Bookworm/Bookshelf MeMe!

1. One book that made you laugh: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - a incredibly funny story about a Christmas Pageant headed for disaster, but a very sweet perspective on the real Christmas story.

2. One book that made you cry: I Heard the Owl Call My Name... this was a high-school English class book that I loved. But I had missed the preface which indicated the protagonist was terminally ill so when he died I wasn't prepared as the author intended. Lots of books (and everything else) make me cry, but that is the most memorable.

3. One book that you loved as a child: The Bobbsey Twins! I LOVED these books. Monday nights my mom and I would ride our bikes to the library and I was allowed to check out 10 books. But only 2 of them could be Bobbsey Twins. As an adult I've now collected every one in the editions I read as a child.

4. One book you’ve read more than once: Pride & Prejudice - so many to list for this one, but my book club is reading P&P right now so it's top of mind.

5. One book you loved, but were embarrassed to admit it: Chick-Lit - can't think of a title I liked off hand though.

6. One book you hated: The Alchemist. Not a fan of this genre at all.

7. One book that scared you: Personal Finance for Dummies. Seriously - the women in my family tree have really strong longevity genes.

8. One book that bored you: Nathaniel's Nutmeg (is sounded really interesting about the development of the spice trade, but BORING. I couldn't bring myself to finish it!)

9. One book that made you happy: Lonely Planet guides because if I'm reading one, I'm going on a trip somewhere!

10. One book that made you miserable: can't think of anything... I wouldn't read/finish something that made me miserable...

11. One book that you weren’t brave enough to read: Russian Literature

12. One book character you’ve fallen in love with: Mr. Darcy (see above)

13. The last book you read: Pride & Prejudice (see above)

14. The next book you hope to read: Fear No Evil has been on my bookshelf for a long time... biography of an imprisoned Russian Jew, Natan Sharansky. But frankly I'm more likely to be delving into the backlogged stack of knitting/sewing/crafting magazines for my bedtime perusing.

This was fun! What's on your bookshelf?

Happy Reading!
- JavaNut

Bailey says: I'm not sure I'll like Jane Austen as much as you do, but I'll give her a chance...

I am Lizzie!!!

2008-08-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

Recently Purls Just Wanna Have Fun posted this Jane Austin quiz on her blog and since my book club is reading Pride & Prejudice this month I thought it was timely and would be fun. I was thrilled to be matched to my favorite Elizabeth Bennett! (my favorite varies with whatever I'm reading/watching of course...).

"You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice. You are intelligent, witty and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgment that serves you very ill indeed."

Take the Quiz here!

While dreaming of Mr. Darcy (and only Colin Firth will do!), I've been working on a super-fun bag called the KISS purse... to the avoidance of what I should be knitting (like a baby gift) and getting ready for house guests (who needs clean sheets??)! But I'm almost done with the fun part, so I'll put aside the bottom and finishing for a bit. Doesn't it look great? The multi-color yarn was a prize so I don't remember anything about it... but I did a test swatch to make sure it would felt well with the Lamb's Pride.

Happy Knitting (and dreaming of Darcy!)

- JavaNut

Bailey says: Look, I finally figured out how to keep my ball from going under the furniture!!

Give Me Five...

2008-08-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

After too many car-issues this weekend, my creativity and thinking skills are a bit low this morning which means it's time for Monday Meme!! Today's Monday-MeMe is Give Me Five (although this is last week's since she hasn't posted yet today!)

Give me Five Things you haven't done in a long time and would like to do again:

1. Take a vacation. I can't remember the last 'real' vacation I've had... for the last several years, all my vacation time/budget has been going to visit family on the east coast, or trips to Romania for conferences. And although I've LOVED every trip there and the people I've met, it's certainly not a real vacation... so other than a few long weekends... Where should I go???

2. Host a dinner party. or even a bbq, but just having people over for good food (well, hopefully), good wine (for sure!) and good company!

3. Get a massage. It's an expensive treat, but I even have a gift certificate so no excuses whatsoever!!! I have been thinking about taking my 4 closest friends to a massage/spa for my bday in the fall. Perhaps I need to 'test' a few different places before then ; )

4. Purge closets and general house stuff. I'm long overdue to purge thru stuff and throw things away/donate. It always seems like such a time-consuming and un-fun task, but once I get started it's great and I love getting rid of it all.

5. Go on a date. 'nuff said.

Have a great Monday!
-JavaNut

Bailey says: Momma, I love my kong... But would you put a treat inside? Puh-leeese?

Free Mitts pattern... a gift to give!

2008-08-07T10:19:00.001-07:00

For any knitters... Free Mitten pattern on Melanie Falick's blog.

They make a request if you download the pattern - that you knit a pair to give to someone in need. A warm-hearted idea for the cold months ahead!

Survived the 70th...

2008-08-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Mom had a great day to celebrate her 70th... her mother and sister joined us for the weekend - and although we did the requisite plethora of posed family portraits, this is my favorite! I love the expression of 'what? I'm 70??' on her face!

Lots of dining out and presents... and now back to the mundane reality. I'm staying here until Wednesday, but will be spending a fair amount of time 'at work.' But, it's nice to have the extended visit and work thru the ever-growing "list."

Meanwhile, Bailey is still enjoying camp with L & B:

HI MOM!

Sorry I haven't written in a few days. Time goes by so fast at camp. Where should I begin? On Friday eve we went to visit the T&O. It was cool to get to go someplace different with L and B. B drove and I rode in L's lap. At first they thought I would like to lie down on the back seat but they were wrong. L even thought that maybe I would be comfortable lying at her feet in the front seat but - WRONG AGAIN!

Once we got there it was okay, not very exciting, except for the napkin that L dropped under the table. Do you know how many little strips of wet goop you can make from one napkin? You should try it sometime. After dinner they sat around talking but when they finished it was time to watch a movie and play with Squeek. They really liked the movie and I really liked Squeek but they really didn't like Squeek. So then L played a new game with Squeek and me. I'm not sure who won but I had a blast playing. I really couldn't read L as to whether or not she was playing. Here's what we did. First, L put Squeek up on the table so I wouldn't make so much noise (the game hasn't started yet) but I just raced and raced and raced around that little house. So B thought giving me back Squeek was a better idea but obviously he didn't think right because L took Squeek away from me again. Here's where the game began (I think). L took Squeek and tucked him behind her back on the couch. I pounced on her and tried to wriggle my way to Squeek. I tried several different forms of attack. I tried sitting very still and then using the element of surprise and pouncing up in the air, I landed with my nose between her arm and the couch. Then I tried jumping off the couch and jumping back on again then doing a flying leap into her lap. I did this several times in a row. I was amazing even myself! Sometimes L was able to counterattack when I was in the air! Then I did my sneakiest move ever! I got off the couch and very nonchalantly walked around the coffee table so I was facing L. I just sat there letting her think I was dreaming about something else - and then - I didn't even know I had this ability - I sprung up in the air and belly flopped onto her chest with my face 1 inch away from hers. I think I"ll call it my Garfield move. Well, I lost the game completely but I had a good time. Then we went home and went to bed.

On Saturday we went out for another walk around the park. Man, there are a lot of dogs around here. There was one really cool one I wanted to say hello to but he was rather stuck up so we just moved along. Then there was this giant dog, at least L said he was a dog, and you would have thought I was the scariest thing he had ever seen. We did a few social sniffs but that was all.

The coolest thing I have to tell you is about another new thing I have learned. You remember I told you about the wall in the backyard? Well, there is an even higher wall on the long part of the backyard. You may not have seen it because it is hiding behind some green stuff and there are those prickly flowers in front of it. It is a really high wall! You must also remember how I told you L is not going to win any records playing frisbee? She kept throwing the frisbee into the green stuff behind the big wall. I don't think she was doing this on purpose given the tone of her voice when she was talking to herself but it kept happening and she kept having to come and get it down. Then one time, I guess I just lost my head and couldn't wait for her to get my frisbee and I went flying in the air, up over the wall, and landed in that soft green stuff. It took me a little bit to find the frisbee but L was so glad that I could get it myself. She kept telling me how good of a dog I was. It was really cool because it felt like I was flying!

I'm also getting really good at sitting at the corner without even being told - mostly - when we go for walks.

We had two little girls spend the night last night and they were okay but they did take time away from my time with L and B. But Mom, I behaved myself. Okay, I was a little annoying and squirrelly about it but I kept my paws to myself and played nicely. Okay, Okay, Okay, to tell the truth, I ate the feet off of a little hard bear!!! Well, he deserved it! He shouldn't have been lying on the floor all by himself. I tried to tell him to go home, his mother was probably looking for him but he just kept putting his feet in my mouth and I could hardly talk! sorry

Now it is Sunday afternoon. L took a nap because one of those little girls woke up every 1 1/2 - 2 hours. I guess she just wanted to talk a little but it woke L up and she had to go and check on her. I stayed with B but I was so concerned about L. I could hardly sit still. Finally it was time for B to get her up and he let me wake her up! Bomber Bailey to the rescue! B told L it was the first time I had been still since she went to take a nap. Now I am going to take a rest when I finish at the computer.

It has been a long 4 days without you but they have been good ones. I miss you horribly Momma. Camp is okay but I don't know how dogs can go to camp for even longer periods of time. Don't their Momma's want to take them with them? I am so glad that I have you for my Momma. When you come home I will show you all the cool stuff I can do. You will think I am amaaaaaaaaaaazing. L and B say hi. I'm glad grandmother liked her present. If they ever need to be cleaned tell her I would be glad to lick them clean.

Bye for now,

Your Bailey

Letters from Bailey...

2008-08-02T05:07:00.000-07:00

While I'm visiting family in FL, Bailey is staying w/ my friends L&B (bless them!!!). He's a bit of a 'momma's boy' so I was nervous that he would drive them crazy with anxious behavior, however he seems to be surviving his week at camp and has been writing every day...

Today is Mom's 70th bday so a day of celebrating ahead!!

Happy Saturday!
- JavaNut

Day 1:
HI MOM!!!!HI MOM!!!!IT'S ME!!! BAILEY!!!

After you left last night I ran all around the house checking things out. After I did that, I started looking all over for you! I went through every room over and over but no you. I was pretty forlorn but then L picked me up and put me in her lap. I snuggled for the rest of the evening. B took me out several times before bed because I kept ringing the bell. He said I didn't have to go but L made him take me anyway. Finally, just to let L be right (this time) I peed.

I slept okay. Didn't even wake them up early. I went through my normal routine and we went for a walk around the park. You wouldn't believe all the different smells! I met one dog just about my size but she was ancient! Maybe 9yrs old. You know what that means - 63 yrs old! I was surprised she could even walk. Hee Hee.

When we got back I found the perfect resting place. I curled up on one of the stairs where I could keep an eye on the goings and comings of the neighborhood and dozed. Now L is in her office and I'm resting on the pillow from home just outside her door.

Camp is pretty fun.(They did, however, forget to get "Squeak" out of the bag this morning. I looked all over and then L remembered to get him out. I guess they can't remember everything.)

I'll write more later.

xoxo Bailey

Day 2:
MOM MOM MOM GUESS WHAT!!!???
You know that wall B and L have in their backyard? The one at the end where there are things hiding behind it before you run into the fence? Well, guess what!? I CAN JUMP OVER IT AND BACK OUT AGAIN!

I don't really know how it all happened, it happened so fast. I was chasing my frisbee and it went over the stone wall. L came and got it out for me. But then it happened again, (L isn't really all the accurate when she throws the frisbee like you are Mom), and I was chasing it when it was in the air when it went over the wall and I just sailed over the wall and got my frisbee and then before I knew what happened I was back out on the other side of the wall in the grass again! It was amazing!

So then I had to do it again and again and it was so cool. I can't wait to show B when he comes home. We had a visitor at the camp playground this afternoon. (It's rest time and I'm suppose to be resting but I have so much to tell you). It was a dog named Carley and she was so stuck-up. She must have thought she was a people who didn't like dogs because she sure didn't like me. She growled and didn't behave so she had to stay out on the hot porch while L and her guest and ME chatted in the cool of the house. Not only that, but I was snuggling on L's lap. It didn't really hurt my feelings that she didn't like me because I know I am cute, even Carley's master said so! So there! Take that you old Carley dog! Not only that Mom, but she wasn't even all that cute. Is that wrong to say?

Just before rest time L and I went out for a short walk. She's nice but she's kind of strict about what she lets me eat when we are on a walk. Some of the best smelling things she pulls me away from. I suppose you told her to do that?

Okay, I gotta go before someone notices that I'm not resting on my pillow. I love you lots. This is a good place to be but I still like home best. Lick Grammy for me and hurry home.

Love, Bailey

Blah-day, blah-day

2008-07-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

Still no knitting or other fun pursuits to share... not for lack of desire, but with allergies hitting me hard I've had little energy and way too much to do for work. I did score some great vintage (aka thrift store) linens over the weekend though... ever since reading about Artsy-Crafty Babe's penchant for linens from thrift stores, I keep my eyes open. And when there was a quilt backed with a 'vintage' sheet on Old Red Barn Co, it was an ah-ha of brillance.

Soon after I found all these: The Laura Ashley Roses set, yep - the whole set, will be GREAT for a quilt back (I'm thinking to go with a denim front made from old, worn jeans)... and also the green duvet cover (great yardage!). The neutral swirls will probably be bag linings, as will the others (the pink & white is a valance and the turquoise is a pillow sham).

I have had a "secret" knitting project - something I'm test knitting so nothing to share. What I can share is that I was a total idiot... I was determined to finish it over the weekend so I could get on to my own projects (and this is a small little thing to test). So I'm knitting away (it is on small needles), row after row (and thin yarn). I finally get to the last section and my stitches are WAY off. At first I think 'wow, glad I found this mistake' - which of course means that the mistake is in the pattern... right? can you guess where this is headed??? No, the pattern was fine... I had just completely skipped a small, but oh-so-important section. sigh... frogged back to that point and will resume my testing next weekend. Kinda made me feel like the Yarn Harlot! and incredibly grateful that my screw up was on a much smaller item...

Happy Everything!
- JavaNut

Bailey says: Momma, wouldn't you rather go play frisbee than play on the computer?

It's so nice to be adored, but it really does interfere with my typing...

Thankful Thursday...

2008-07-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

Whoo-hoo... I remembered to be thankful on Thursday! Which is a distressing realization that I need to remember. Not to get preachy, but my outlook on everything would certainly be better if I remembered to be more thankful in general. or didn't need to 'remember'... but just WAS more thankful. right?

Today... I'm thankful:
- that I can work from home tomorrow
- that Bailey didn't get into mischief when I left him alone for 3 long days in a row.
- that someone (even if he has 4 legs) is excited to see me when I come home even when I've only been gone 15 minutes
- that my tomatoes are ripe!
- that tomorrow is half-price day at Salvation Army and I can go look for thrifted linens for quilts

- that my company pays for the DSL that I'm using right now
- that Project Runway has started a new season
- that I have a seemingly endless supply of knitting to choose from
- that E considers me the "best godmother in the world"

Yep... life is good!
- JavaNut

Bailey says: Stop using that flash in my face!

Randomness...

2008-07-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

No knitting or other crafty pursuits the past few days... hard to believe and is disturbing to even type it. But I did start to organize my studio (that just sounds so much better than craft room!). If I call it a studio, does that mean my work is automatically better? less amateur? Of course I forgot to take the 'before' picture...

Along with the 'organize the studio' and workspace, I have a growing list of things I want to make or techniques I want to try. Since I'm not feeling all that creative today, here's a random sampling

Espresso Art... how cool does that sound??

Tutorial to sew a cover for your passport! Make your own fabric labels from printable fabric... and make your own cutting table (which would be a great general work table for all sorts of things)

And for those that pack lunches (or at least intend to), a eco-minded sandwich wrapper

Dyeing yarn has been on my list for a while... here's a food coloring tutorial.

And this Seascape Wrap is high on my knitting queue... and would be a good project for the Water theme of Project Spectrum.... which I FINALLY joined and will start with the water theme next month (blue, purple, black). Project Spectrum (such a cool idea!) may also be my entre into ATCs - a concept I love, is totally me and yet... I've never done!

Okay... I've got to stop looking at all these fun things and get back to work!

Happy Creating!
-JavaNut

Bailey says: Look Momma! See my meerkat impersonation!!

Monday MeMe: Movies!

2008-07-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

I'm going to make Mondays "Monday MeMe" (at least when I remember)... Today's Movie Meme was taken from Tienne. And I thought this was going to be easy... ha!

1. One movie that made you laugh: Hitch

2. One movie that made you cry: Shadowlands.. and it's such a good cry!

3. One movie that you loved as a child: Grease. It was the first LP I bought with my own money (ok, it was as an older child)

4. One movie you've seen more than once: so many to choose from, an all-time fave is always That Touch of Mink w/ Cary Grant and Doris Day

5. One movie you loved, but were embarrassed to admit it: Dirty Dancing

6. One movie you hated: I didn't hate it, but was pretty disappointed in Horton Hears a Who

7. One movie that scared you: I avoid movies that I think will scare me, but Inconvenient Truth was pretty scary!

8. One movie that bored you: the latest Indiana Jones

9. One movie that made you happy: Chocolat... a story with grace AND Johnny Depp at his best

10. One movie that made you miserable: ???? why would I do that?

11. One movie that you weren't brave enough to see: Schindler's List. I even bought the videos, but never watched it.

12. One movie character you've fallen in love with: just one? ok, Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth version)

13. The last movie you saw: Mary Poppins (my goddaughter was spending the night)

14. The next movie you hope to see: Mama Mia (what a cast!)

Hmmm... After thinking about all these movies, I think it's time to plan another chick-flick-knit-nite!

Happy Knitting -
JavaNut

Bailey says: I'm just going to play with my new orange ball while you watch those movies, ok?

Already evening...

2008-07-20T21:15:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it's already after 9:00pm! I had all these things I was going to get done today... ha!
I guess the inadvertent-procrastination theme actually started this morning... the service times changed at church for the summer (trial to see if we can get down to 2 services) so instead of 9:45, "my" service starts at 10:30am. Now 10:30 seems really late, and that I have all this time in the morning to relax or get things done... or whatever. But if you do the math -it's really only 45 minutes. Less than an hour. So far I've been late 2 out of 3 weeks...

And as for the intended afternoon's activity... I must confess to supply acquisition instead of organization! My goal is to have some before & after photos of my studio (aka craft room) before I leave to visit my family in 10 days.

Now off to at least get some knitting in so I can 'produce' something for the day!

Bailey says: I'm too tired to actually get my legs on the floor...

Have a great end to the weekend!
- JavaNut

But Mummy, I CAN knit!

2008-07-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

That's what M (age 4) kept telling her mother when she watched her sister (age 6 1/2) knit.

So when we all met (the 2 girls, their mum and me) at a LYS for 'social knitting' this evening, instead of working on my socks (I really want to finish SOMETHING for the Summer KAL-CAL), we got some Burly Spun yarn and size 13 needles. And you know what? the kid was right! She could knit!!

Seriously... she had watched her sister so intently that I barely had to guide her to get her started. She'd have the occasional 'this way?' when she was wrapping the yarn to make sure it was going the correct way, but other than that.... she could knit! And she was so excited and pleased with herself that she had to bring it to dinner...

Now I did notice that by the time dinner was over she had increased the width of her knitting by an extra stitch, but heck - who hasn't done that?!

So no knitting for me today, but another knitter has joined the fold and that's even better!

Happy Knitting

- JavaNut

Bailey says: How could you possibly find Squeak annoying? He's my favorite... well, except for the frisbee you won't let me play inside.

Whoo-hoo for Woodland Shawl!

2008-07-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

I finally had a chance to take a pic of the finished the Woodland Shawl for E's bday next month. It was an easy knit - quick to memorize the pattern which made it very portable. I didn't love the yarn, but the color is perfect for her and it's a superwash. Hopefully dirty little hands will stay away, but with 2 kids something washable is always a plus!

I did make a couple of minor modifications (see notes on my Ravelry project page)... and think I may have to add one for myself to my queue. But not for a bit - there are babies to knit for, bags to design and socks to complete for the Summer KAL-CAL!

And oh yeah, that work thing...

Happy Knitting!
JavaNut

Bailey says: Momma, you go work on the computer - I'm going to stay here in my favorite shady spot!

Who can blame him?

Art & Wine Festival...

2008-07-13T22:34:00.000-07:00

My favorite Art and Wine festival of the year was this weekend... It's become a tradition to go with S & L and we got there first thing Sat am (well, okay - it was closer to 10:30). We had a great time - saw the 'earring lady' where we always paw thru boxes of earrings for about 30 minutes - although this year I excercized restraint and only bought one pair. L bought a fabulous print of a batik design from an artist from Uganda. He was fascinating and told the story of each of his pieces - I loved the concept, but the style wasn't really me.

The highlight for me was Richard Curtner - he makes the most amazong 'textual collage' pieces. The collages depict scenes or objects, but his medium is magazine texts. He cuts shapes from magazines where the text is on different colored backgrounds and the colors form the design. And in each collage, there are some key words or phrases that stand out and are related to the image he's created. I bought this print called Sketchbook, and have ordered another one...

Off to finish my final rows of the Woodland Shawl (Ravelry link)... a great way to end the weekend!

Happy Knitting!

- JavaNut

Bailey says: You interrupted my nap for this?

Bailey knits...

2008-07-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

Today was another hot day and on my way to work the radio indicated it would get to 102 - yikes! My house stays pretty cool (all relative) until about 3pm and then it's hot and stuffy until the temp drops in the evening...

So about 2:30 I had finished my meetings so I thought 'I'll work from home the rest of the afternoon so I can check on Bailey and if it's really that hot, give him a bath to cool down. Well, clearly he wasn't suffering from the heat... this is the sight when I walked in the door!

Now yarn left out in the open is fair game and a temptation I avoid leaving about... but this time the little stinker got into my knitting bag and pulled 4 skeins out for whatever game he played!! I was dying... I really wish I could have seen a video of his antics, because clearly he was having fun! And fortunately, as in previous incidents, no knitting or expensive yarn was harmed in the process!

Who can blame him - I like to play with yarn!!
-JavaNut

Bailey says: I'm hiding in the jungle... momma won't catch me for playing with her yarn!

It's hot-hot-hot!

2008-07-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

It's still hot... and in case I'm too subtle - I don't like hot weather!! I'm incredibly grateful that it's not humid, but I'm more grateful that when it gets this hot I know it will only be a few days. That doesn't necessarily keep me from wanting to complain about it though.

There are several projects floating around in my head, but the inertia (I blame it on the heat) has me falling back to the Woodland Shawl.

1) I want to get it done, and 2) it's pretty mindless. I never thought I'd refer to lace as mindless, but this was such an easy pattern to memorize, that it's become mindless. I'm approx 75% done so the push to finish is strong...

I finally had a chance to take an outdoor photo of it - otherwise the coral color looks like neon orange. So here it is in its in-progress, pre-blocked state. The second picture shows the center row where I picked up live stitches from a provisional cast-on to make the shawl symetrica. Not perfect, but I like it and blocking will do wonders once I'm done. My modifications are in the notes of my Ravelry Project page for it (I also shifted the placement of a couple of YOs).

On a completely different topic... I bookmarked this post from Etsy on DIY Green Cleaning and finally got around to reading it. Some easy suggestions that I'll definitely try... as I finish up my existing cleaning products, I'm trying to 'clean green.' Take a look...

Happy Knitting
- JavaNut

Bailey says: I'm staying away from that thing that blows in my face!

(however at last check, he was flopped down about 3 feet in front of the fan...)

MeMe for 4s

2008-07-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

Another MeMe!

I'm having fun with these and 'borrowed' this from Throws Like a Girl... who 'borrowed' it from Yarn Thing. What great company... I'd meant to post this on the 4th of July, but of course- completely forgot!

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. lamp shade sales
2. switchboard operator for a software helpline (aka therapist!)
3. IT analyst/project manager
4. manager

Four films I have watched more than once (this could be such a long list):
1. That Touch of Mink
2. Mirror Has Two Faces
3. To Catch a Thief
4. Shadowlands

Four places I have lived:
1. Needham, MA
2. Houston, TX
3. Norcross, GA
4. San Jose, CA

Four places I have been (again - too many to choose from!):
1. Disney (land and World)
2. Singapore
3. Sydney
4. Copenhagen

Four favorite foods:
1. ice cream
2. fruit salad (how's that to cover berries, nectarines, kiwi, pineapple, etc!)
3. french fries
4. sushi

Four places I’d rather be right now:
1. wherever mr. right might be
2. vacation (any place will do!)
3. winery
4. heaven

Four T.V. Shows that I watch:
1. NCIS
2. Gilmore Girls
3. 24
4. Design Star

Have fun and let me know if you join... Tag, you're it!

2008-07-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

Had to post a pic of my favorite Brits celebrating their first 4th of July celebration! They had a great time decorating bikes for a bike parade and then swimming and a BBQ all afternoon.

As we left, E asked again when she could have another sleepover so I suspect I'll have a guest in the near future!

Indie...pendence Day!

2008-07-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

I love it when Thursday is like Friday and there's an extra day thrown into the weekend. Well, I'd like it even better if there were TWO extra days thrown in, but lowly workbees can't complain!

Independence Day weekend has officially started... well, the start has been pretty anti-climatic. After racing to get out of the office and to the grocery store before 5:00 (traffic at the start of a holiday weekend is never good...) I realized I didn't have the list for a brunch dish. I guessed what I needed. And after spending over $100, I got home and realized I had nothing to eat for dinner. Then I realized I left the Mike's Hard Lemonade on the bottom of the cart in the parking lot. I was looking forward to the Limeade tonight. And since it's been abandoned in the parking lot, I REALLY want it. sigh. I even watched the bagger put it down below and thought to myself 'I never put stuff below because I forget it.' Apparently I needed to prove that point.

Fortunately I can go get a replacement tomorrow by showing my receipt... the clerk laughed (and yes, I think it was AT me) and said 'happens all the time.' at least I have company in my stupidity.

The Indie reference is because I love this art work at my friend E's house... I really love it. It's painting and collage on an old cabinet door, complete with rusty hinge. When I get my act together I want to try to do something similar...

Miserable photos because I only had my camera phone with me, but I love the different textures and colors... it was a bday gift from her mom and the quote at the bottom says "we raise our girls to reach for the sky... but sometimes it's really just about the dress"

Amongst the holiday festivities (2 bbq, 1 brunch), I hope to clean the house and make progress on the craft room so I can actually start using it!

Bailey says: Momma, you didn't tell me the pillows were such fun!

Texas Travels...

2008-06-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

Half-way thru my TX trip... When one has a business trip to city A (in my case San Antonio) to which one really does not want to go, it helps when you have a friend to visit in nearby city B (in this case, Austin)! Seriously... getting to see E. was a silver lining for a trip that I really didn't want to take.

I haven't seen E in over a year, and that trip was to visit her when her hubby was in ICU after a horrific car accident - not the most pleasant of visits. So it was great to see her... no agenda, just hanging out, putzing around town and thinking of ways to decorate her new house. It's amazing how daring you can be when it's someone else's furniture, walls and windows you're planning!! Neon orange? Bring it on!

Sadly no pics because my camera died and I didn't want to bring my 'big' one... I really wish I had it. Austin is such a wacky and eclectic city - fun pictures that beg to be taken. I love the pride that Austinites have for their city and the goal to 'Keep Austin Weird' - you have to love a place like that. Even if it is stinkin' hot...

Very little on the knitting front... clicking away on the Woodland Shawl for the other E.

And I'm missing Bailey big-time. We had one quick photo before I left as the 'before' shot... alhtough I love his long and furry look, he's long overdue for a haircut so will have one while I'm gone.

I'll hurry home!

Bailey meets Beach...

2008-06-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the midst of a mini heat-wave here so was the perfect day to get away from the valley and get to the beach. My friend L and I took Bailey for his first beach trip to a dog beach in Santa Cruz.

He had fun on the beach, but frankly a game of frisbee ANYWHERE is his most favorite thing in the world. "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and throw my frisbee!":

He met a new friend, Zoey, who quickly decided his frisbee was much more fun than her tennis ball...

They had a great time together - until Zoey lost the frisbee in the surf. It was hilarious watching them - each time the water went out they would race and try to dig where they'd last seen it! Fortunately, we have a stockpile of frisbees at home - just didn't think to bring an extra with us.

On the knitting front, Voyager Stole is blocked and ready - however it was quite challenging to get a good picture without a model. Bailey offered, but it just didn't match his coat ; )

So here she is... the previously posted close-up of the lace shows the colorway a little bit better, but I wanted to take advantage of the daylight. I added 6 repeats to the length so after blocking it's a wonderful 21"x80". I love it... now to wait for the fall since the colors are such lovely autumn colors.

Happy Knitting!
- JavaNut

Voyager blocking...

2008-06-23T22:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, finally - the Voyager Stole is blocked and drying. Pics and final measurements as soon as it's dry. I'm so excited to have finished... This is the largest lace project I've done and some of the nicest yarn, so I consider it a great accomplishment!! Now if only it were a better season to wear it...

shhhh. I have a secret... a different kind of project that M & I are contemplating. It could be a lot of fun and a whole new outlet for creativity. and a whole lot of things to learn about!! In the meantime I'm thinking about some designs for felted bags with the hope (and fear) that we go forward with it.

Too tired and too late to further swatch for a gift-to-be... so I'm going to call it a night and go listen to some new podcasts. Happy Monday!

Bailey says: But Momma, sometimes I like to sleep UNDER my bed.

It's too d*** hot...

2008-06-21T17:26:00.000-07:00

That's the song that keeps running thru my head with the record heat...

Yesterday hit 104 and today just a little cooler. Supposedly we'll be back to our blissful 78-82 by Monday... until then Bailey and I are in low-energy mode!

Ever successfully knit a shawl while trying to keep anything from touching your lap? Not easy and thank goodness it's laceweight yarn or I would have to surrender. But I'm determined to finish Voyager before the end of June so with some minor twisted sitting and draping over the arm of the chair, I've been able to keep the extra layer of warmth from touching me.

This morning I did take Bailey out for his first beach trip... pics when I get them from L's camera tomorrow. But he had a blast until his new friend Zoey stole his frisbee and lost it in the tide (the little vixen!).

At the moment it's pretty even temp between outdoors and inside (which means it will start to cool off more soon -yay!). But in the meantime, Bailey says: I'm just gonna stay in the shade.

Thankful Thursday...

2008-06-19T20:25:00.000-07:00

Prior to my blogging hiatus, I started the Voyager Stole in a gorgeous BMFA yarn. It's not quite done, but here's a peek. I was nervous that the yarn would compete with the lace pattern, but I'm going to love this.

Reviving the short-lived tradition...

Today I'm thankful that:
- unlike so many of my buddies in the She-Knits Ravelry forum, I have no risk of losing my job
- Bailey rings the bell when he needs to go outside
- in the midst of summer heat, the nights are still cool
- cranberry juice and sparkling lime make a great warm-weather drink
- I can enjoy the treat of a pedicure

Getting ready for the weekend and some Voyager Knitting!
- JavaNut

FO Frenzy

2008-06-18T22:40:00.001-07:00

So it's been a frenzy of finishing objects around here... 2 felted bags are drying now so will have to wait for a post...

Two baby cardi's - the multi was done in a matter of days, the pink Picot was knit a year (maybe 2!) ago, but I just got around to adding the button and loop. How lame is that? Can get the needles flying to finish a cardi but can't be bothered to spend the 15 min to sew a button and chain stitch a few inches for the loop. totally lame!

A glorios scarf which can't begin to convey the silky softness through pictures... here's the IP photo (yes, I promise, it's actually done) because I love the way the 2 different yarns blend with the half-linen stitch)!. Purple + Yellow = PRETTY!!

And the last FO for this post (yes, there have really been more!) is my third Carie Lynn bag... and this one is to keep... yay! I love the color combo despite my initial disappointment in not finding the perfect brown.

Isn't she lovely??

Happy Knitting!

- JavaNut

And Bailey (aka Yoga-puppy) says: You don't really expect to sit in my chair do you? You mean share?

More MeMeMe...

2008-06-17T22:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, how many days does it take to form a habit? To get myself back into blogging, here's another MeMe that I saw on Throws Like A Girl blog and I saved away for a post.

YOU CAN ONLY TYPE ONE WORD!
Not as easy as you might think. Now copy or forward, change the answersto suit you and pass it on. It’s really hard to only use one word answers. Be sure to send back to the person you received it from!

1. Where is your cell phone? counter
2. Your significant other? undiscovered
3. Your hair? messy
4. Your mother? compassionate
5. Your father? gone
6. Your favorite thing? wifi
7. Your dream last night? vague
8. Your favorite drink? vino
9. Your dream/goal? family
10. The room you’re in? kitchen
11. Your hobby? knitting!
12. Your fear? isolation
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? elsewhere
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you’re not? married
16. Muffins? nope
17. One of your wish list items? organizer
18. Where you grew up? Needham
19. The last thing you did? email
20. What are you wearing? PJs
21. Your TV? TiVo
22. Your pet? lovable
23. Your computer? employer's
24. Your life? experienced
25. Your mood? optimistic
26. Missing someone? yes
27. Your car? black
28. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
29. Favorite store? LYS
30. Your summer? busy
31. Like someone? many
32. Your favorite color? purple
33. When is the last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? movie
35. Who will respond to this? dunno

Go for it... ONE work only! And let me know...

Bailey says: Momma, can we go to bed now?

-JavaNut

Revival...

2008-06-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

A blog-post has been a long time coming... and the longer it's been the harder to get started again. But I think the Flickr Photo MEME is pretty cool... so after seeing the 5th one, decided to jump back into blogland. Let me know if you join the crowd!

The rules:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite drink?

7. Dream vacation?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One Word to describe you.

12. Your flickr name.

I must confess, I realized after the fact my food-related answers were two words... so shoot me!

Startitis...

2008-02-18T19:04:00.001-08:00

Guilty.
I can't help it.
I want to finish Widdershins. and Monkey Socks. And Jaywalkers. and Clapotis. and Icarus.

But I can't resist... must work with Geisha. BMFA Geisha... Rooster Rock colorway.
BIG yarncake... gonna start swatching for the Voyager Stole.

(and I HATE swatching!)

Bailey is a much happier camper today. His collar is gone AND his quarantine is over! After a much anticipated walk thru the neighborhood, he kept me company while I worked all afternoon.

The warm lap was nice, but it did make typing a bit difficult at times!

Happy Knitting!
JavaNut

TGI-Saturday!!

2008-02-16T17:55:00.001-08:00

I was supposed to work on a presentation for work today... Instead I had brunch at a friend's, had a long catch-up chat with K, went to the fabric store and cast-on the Unbiased Bag with yarn made from recycled Sari silk... it's been a good day!

I did a couple of productive things... bought paint to re-paint a bookcase that I'm moving from the garage into my studio room (tomorrow I'll actually start painting), and I finally took down my Christmas wreath... but truthfully, I did that because I needed a photo for the Flickr 365 Days of self-portaits. Here's my 365 Days Photo Set - it's been a fun project although I'm not very creative with my photos. I still need to learn to use my new camera so most of these are with my point 'n shoot.

Bailey's leg is healing and the bandages are off, but the vet says another couple of weeks without running and jumping. Not easy when the squirrells come into his yard! To keep him from licking a couple of sore spots (from the adhesive) he's now in a collar and is so confused by it. He's expending pent up energy with his mini-tennis ball... he sees it thru the clear collar, but can't actually get to it so keeps batting it around as he tries to get it. Self-entertainment at it's finest (if only he weren't racing around so much!) But hopefully it will mean for a sleep-ful night!

Twin Knits

2008-02-12T07:37:00.000-08:00

Finally finished the sweaters for the twins... One came home yesterday, but his brother will probably be in the hospital for another week. All are doing well though! Unfortunately these will have to be mailed instead of delivered in person since I didn't get to FL this weekend... but hopefully I'll get to see the boys by the time they're able to wear these. And with all the AC there - I think sweaters will still get some good use. Particularly those with a little cashmere, right?!

And since the new daddy is a golf pro, I also made a few burp cloths. Triple-layered flannel with an extra top-stitch to keep them neat.

Happy Knitting!

JavaNut

And Bailey says "Momma, when can we go play fetch?"

What a week!

2008-02-09T08:40:00.000-08:00

I've been away from blog-world for a while... and although some knitting & other project progress has been going on, Bailey has kept me a bit pre-occupied. His first 10 days went very well - expected adjustments to new environment and new people, but he's clearly a smart one and just shy, scared of new things. We have found that his favorite game of fetch creates so much excitment that he forgets he's afraid of you!

This past week has been a bit more challenging... reaction to vaccines got his system and body clock out of whack and he was getting more and more stressed in his crate. I was supposed to go to FL this weekend for a family event and he was going to stay with friends (he knows them and has spent time at their house already). However, he's a recap of the last 24 hours!

7:30pm Thurs - took Bailey to L&B's who were going to look after him while I was gone.
9:00pm - check in... he was a bit frantic looking for me when I left, but had calmed down and was ok with B.
11:15pm - L calls me. B had taken Bailey to the backyard before bedtime and he got out under the fence. I went over and walked/called hoping he'd hear my voice, but no luck. Finally went to be at 2am

4:30am I get up (cab was going to arrive at 5:15) I cancel my flight for Fri am and get one for Sat am.
6:45 - I head back over to L's and go thru neighborhood again. We call animal services.
11am - I go to animal services, fill in lost dog form, etc.
2pm - get a call from my vet saying that animal services had him, but my HomeAgain chip hadn't been processed so they could only track it to where the chip was sold... so I connect with animal services. He was found at a school or church about 2 blocks from L's house (but oppostive direction he had run in). Unfortunately, he bit the person who tried to pick him up, so although he has his rabies paperwork, he has to be quarantined for 10 days.

Since he hadn't escaped from my yard, they sent someone over to verify that my yard is secure and he can serve his 'time' at home instead of animal services. Once they cleared that, I could go get him. But also... he may have hurt his leg. They couldn't tell if it was something in his paw, or more than that.

3:40 I leave to go get him... takes a while, but finally get paperwork done. Go get him and he's beyond exhausted, dehydrated and won't put weight on his left, rear leg.
4:30 leave animal services and get to vet's at 5:00.
6:50 leave vets. 3 sets of Xrays, hydration, pain meds and I can't remember what else... he has a slight fracture in his tibia. Vet didn't want to splint because of all he's been through, so he's got a 'thigh-high' bandage.

I asked if he had valium for both of us!
7:30 finally home & I cancel flight to FL
8:00 we're both done in

Back to the knitting posts...

Introducing.... Bailey!

2008-01-29T20:54:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy 6 days at my house... last week I adopted Bailey and he's an absolute love...

Adopted from a rescue org... we think he's a Lhasa Apso/Poodle mix. 10.2 pounds, but needs to put on a couple of pounds. And 9-12 months old. After 6 days, I'm guessing it's closer to 9!

He's quite shy with everyone, but playing with his kong and mini-tennis balls are so exciting that the fun eventually overcomes his fears. And it hasn't taken long for him to consider the house HIS domain - so socialization skills are top of the list for our training classes. And I need training as much as he does... right now I'm taking good care of him, but really don't think I'm 'training' him.

And finally... he's a goofball when he sleeps. I often find him in odd contortions and seemingly quite happy and content.

More pics of Bailey will be appearing in this blog for sure... I can't wait to take him to the beach!

Happy Knitting!
JavaNut

Looky, looky - it's magic

2008-01-22T21:58:00.000-08:00

I finally made the ever-popular Fiber Trends' Felted Clogs... I tried to get the pattern locally (support LYS ya' know), but finally gave up and just ordered it. As everyone else says - it's an amazing pattern, quick knit with double yarn, and they are HUGE before felting. But the magic of felting makes them a perfect fit!

They're a bit 'wonky' but that will work out with wearing... these were fun, but took FOREVER to felt. I'm used to one cycle thru the wash to felt bags and such... these were in the machine/agitation for just over an hour! But... it worked!

Happy Knitting (and Felting!)
JavaNut

It's not Thursday...

2008-01-18T19:06:00.000-08:00

But I think I'm going to steal the idea of Beki from Artsy-Crafty Babe and start a Thankful Thursday posting. Beki posted "Gratitude Friday" but hey - I like the alliteration of Thankful Thursdays...

This isn't for those "Biggies" for which I'm thankful... my family, my health, my job... I AM thankful for all those things, but Thankful Thursdays are to remind me (and share with anyone of interest) those little things that make day-to-day life so good.

So today I'm thankful:

- that when I have 6:30am meetings for work, I can call in from home in my PJs.

- for the expanded world of crafty bloggers and etsy sellers that inspire me to try new things.

- for a fantastic bottle of Pinot Noir from McHenry winery!

- for my grandmother.

Ok, she counts as a 'biggie' but at 96 she amazes me.

She is active with her friends (bridge every day and bingo on Saturday), aware of current events (and at 96 you're entitled to your opinions!) and misses me when I don't call her each weekend!

This photo is from Christmas Eve at my mom's house... hard to believe that she's 96! As my only living grandparent, she's very special to me... not to mention that she taught me to knit!

Happy Knitting!

JavaNut

Baby season has begun...

2008-01-16T17:33:00.000-08:00

Well... the twins arrived early. I was going to give this sweet raglan sweater (and make second one!) to them, but decided that all white was too, well..., sweet. So this is going to baby girl E and I'm going to make the boys the same sweater but make the sleeves a handsome slate blue... (Cashmerino Aran).

It's the raglan sweater from Debbie Bliss' The Baby Knits Book... a relatively easy pattern, but I altered it to knit it in the round and on the pair for the boys, I'll make the body a little bit longer. The straight stockinette creates a nice rolled edge, but the body of the sweater needs to be a bit longer for better proportions.

For explanation of converting to knit in the round, my notes are on my Ravelry project page.

And now 2 women in my bible study are expecting... good think I like baby sweaters!

Happy Knitting!
JavaNut

A new toy!!

2008-01-10T18:56:00.000-08:00

Here's a green Syncopation Bag... I loved this pattern and definitely have more in my future (have the yarn already). It was a fun knit and is a perfect medium-sized bag. For any Ravelry members, there are several in-process pics on my Project page (userid JavaNut).

Now on to the next project(s)...

On a completely different note... my new toy arrived today!! I finally got an SLR camera. Whoo-hoo! I have no idea how to use it but am looking forward to playing with it and finding a good class. I haven't been taking photos like I used to, but have always wanted to learn more and get a 'real' camera. The 'package' came with 4 lenses so I have LOTS of experimenting ahead!

Happy Knitting!
JavaNut

Storm's over

2008-01-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

Friday we experienced some amazing storms... hurricane strength winds, pouring rain - lots of damage and power outtages. I was incredibly fortunate and never lost my power - but as I sat working at my kitchen table I watched several large branches fall from my tree and many others blow into my yard!

The picture on the left is a dusk, still raining - you can't see any of my yard beneath the debris... but take note of the lawn across the street. NOTHING.

In fact my yard seemed to collect everything for the whole street... all the drought-resistant landscaping and small shrubs seemed to create a nice net to catch all wind-born debris... I didn't recognize 75% of the branches I cleared on Saturday morning!

On my New Year's To-Do list... still working on adopting "Bonnie" - a year-old Cavalier. Fingers crossed...

New Year Splurge

2008-01-03T11:52:00.001-08:00

On New Year's Day - L and I went to Full Thread Ahead in our PJs which got us 35% off all yarn! Whoo-hoo! It was a blast and fun to hang out with everyone in PJs. I brought home a larger haul than planned (which helped when I realized I'm going to miss Stitches West!). A GREAT way to start the new year...

And because I know you want to see it all...

2 skeins of sock yarn from Rio de la Plata. Yummy colors and at 35% off I just had to buy them both! (Maybe mom will get a pair of socks). The 4 balls of Cyprus Mohair will be an incredibly, smooshy-soft, 2x2 rib scarf for a friend (finally advance gift-knitting). Not shown are 3 skeins of Misti Alpaca lace for a Juno KAL.

I fell in love with the Syncopation bag and got a kit from One Fine Yarn... and then bought yarn to make another because I like the design so much I KNOW I'll be making this more than once!

And after searching 5 LYS for Fiber Trends' Felted CLog pattern, I finally just ordered it and here is yarn for 2 pairs! Blue is Cascade 220, and then there's enough of Cascades' Ecological Wool for a pair AND a Syncopation bag. I've never used this wool, but love the concept.

And the luxyury fiber of the shopping spree are these beauties from Curious Creek. They were already on sale so with the additional 35% they were 55% off. Who can resist that?!?!

The 2 on the left are an amazing silk/merion blend. And a half-linen stitch with the 2 colorways was GORGEOUS so they had to come home with me. I'm thinking a cowl-like, or short/wide scarf if I can get the linen stitch loose enough to drape well. The skein on the right is the Plum Thunder colorway and the photo doesn't do it justice. Project unknown, but it had to come home with me.

Now - will I finish anything before I cast on 5 more??? Let's see if I can keep up the finishitis instead of staritis!

Happy Knitting!
JavaNut

Let 2008 Begin...

2008-01-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

Not that it needs my permission or anything... but well, ya' know - just trying to get my mind into the fact that it's 2008 and a new year is always a good marker for... well whatever you want it to be!

Sadly, the dog I REALLY wanted to adopt has a new home with someone else. But... still looking. I would love to get a Cavalier King Charles, but it's more important to me to get a rescue dog so we'll see who ends up joining my household.

But I did start the 365 Days project on Flickr today. I won't post the daily shots here every day, but it does seem appropriate to start with my Day 1 photo!

A perfect morning... new sheepy PJs, comfy couch, cozy blanket and big cup o' Java (I must confess it's always decaf!). And leaving shortly for a LYS - wearing PJs today gets you 30% off. How cool is that! Justification for staying in PJs all day!

Happy Knitting & Happy New Year!

JavaNut

2008 To-do's

2007-12-30T18:22:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that 2007 is almost over... I don't do 'resolutions' but there are a few things that are top of my list for 2008.

1. Get a dog. Working on that one now and hoping to adopt Charlie... all prayers and crossed fingers are welcome! If not Charlie, there will be another 4-legged friend to adopt soon.

2. Join the 365 Days Challenge on Flickr. I'm hoping that a soon-to-be-new camera will help with this, and the challenge will motivate me to learn how to use all the features of it.

3. Get my new studio room in order and start using it. I haven't decided any personal goals for 'creating' but I finally have a space to dedicate and want to use it.

These are all for me... and I'm sure there will be other themes, but for tonight as the New Year approaches, those are what I want to document for myself and my own accountability.

Can't wait to get started!
JavaNut

Another Melly Bag

2007-12-28T19:56:00.000-08:00

I made another version of Sharon's Melly bag but experimented with contrasting colors... I love the way it turned out! L was enthralled with my felted bags when she was visiting so I decided to make one for her - unfortunately not done while she was here so it's en route to Romania now. I know she'll love it - in all her USA shopping, she bought mostly brown and green.

This one was made with Paton's Classic Wool Merino (doubled) so it smaller than the 'original' but it's still a good size. The Paton's felted really well (one cycle thru the wash) except the cream didn't felt as much as the other colors. I've heard that sometimes white doesn't felt in some yarns - anyone know why??

Christmas knitting is almost done (I'm a bit slow on posting!)...

A goal for 2008 is for better and more frequent blogging... working on some ideas for that now.

Happy Knitting!
JavaNut

Lovin' the Bags!!!

2007-12-17T12:49:00.000-08:00

Here's a collection of a few recent bags... I've really enjoyed felting bags, but how many can one make?? We'll see... I've just cast on another one!

The top bag is the Ali Bag from She Knits - a great pattern and design by Sharon Dreifuss. I love the color combination and never would have thought to braid and felt the I-cords for the 'belt.'

The small purple bag is the Melly bag, also from She Knits and was a gift for a Christmas swap. I deviated from the pattern by making the cable design purple and really like the way it turned out. I think this is my favorite of Sharon's designs. I can't remember the yarn - I think it was Paton's Classic Wool which was a much lighter weight than the actual pattern (used Lamb's Pride Burly Spun) so I kept the stitch pattern the same and had a small, cute bag from it.

The black, gray, red & white was a birthday gift for E. I hope she liked it!! The bands at the top and the shoulder strap style were copied from the Ali bag... the rest I just made up as I went. It was made from Knit Picks' Wool-of-the-Andes.

I suspect there are many more bags in the future... who would have thought that "ruining" good knitting could be so much fun!!

In the meantime, a few non-felted Christmas gifts to finish...

Happy Knitting!
- JavaNut

Baby FOs

2007-12-14T21:51:00.000-08:00

I've had a few items languishing at the 'almost done' for a while
and finally got motivated to complete them! Good thing... lots of baby boys joining the world over the next several weeks!

This poor little set has been short one bootie for a while and I finally got the other skein to make its mate. It's the cable hat/bootie set from babyknits Hats & Booties: 15 sets for Noggins and Tootsies

And then there's the 'teeny-tiny' baby sweater which is from my favorite book of baby patterns - Erika Knight's Simple Knits for Cherished Babies. This one is made from Rowan's All Seasons Cotton.

Now it's off to start swatching... twin baby boys due to arrive soon. I'm thrilled for the expecting couple, but I really wish they were having girls. I love the baby boys, but girls' sweaters are so much more fun to knit!!!

In the meantime... countdown for finishing all that Christmas knitting!

- Happy Knitting
JavaNut

A few FOs...

2007-12-04T18:06:00.001-08:00

I've been working hard on some Christmas Knitting...
Two pairs of Fetchings for coworkers. I never saw much use for fingerless mitts (living in California might have something to do with that!), but recently our team's admin at work was commenting on cold hands and how hard it was to type. She even mentioned bringing in old gloves and cutting off the fingers! So... that made for an easy project.

I used Malabrigo for the first time... WOW! my new favorite yarn! I liked it so much I got another skein to make another pair for a coworker who has circulation problems and her fingers often turn white when it's cold. She has long, thin hands so the brown pair is slightly elongated.

And finally... my second Clapotis. I never posted my first one... the yarn was a beautiful bamboo in different purples. The drape was amazing, but too 'drapey' for the pattern. This is with a lace weight merino. If I were to make Clapotis again I would use fingering, but the lace weight absolutely worked. This was given to one of my Romanian visitors - I hope she likes it!

Happy Knitting!
- JavaNut

New Sights...

2007-12-04T17:38:00.000-08:00

It's been so long since a post... not for lack of knitting or other creative endeavors, but I loaned my camera to my visiting house guests and haven't had a chance to 'borrow' it back to take pictures of my projects... not that I've had much time for knitting in the past few weeks!

L & C are visiting from Romania. I've been trying to get L here for a visit for 3 years now... she just finished her first year of medical residency and it was a happy surprise that she was able to get a visa. C is here on her first vacation in seven years. She's had a difficult summer so this trip was a much needed respite. They're here for a month and it's truly been an experience of a lifetime for them.

We've been taking them all over the Bay area, introduced them to every ethnic food they could imagine (and then some!) and everything else we can think of... Here are a few pics from our recent adventures. It's been fabulous weather for November/December!!

Santa Cruz & L at Monterey... I love living here!

Lisa, C, me & L at Mt Tamalpais
Lisa, C, Vio & L from the top of Mt. Tam's East peak

Happy Knitting!
-JavaNut