It was very anti-climatic though still very satisfying.  I can’t wait to be done for reasons I won’t post.  Lets just say that I am on way more mood stabilizers than I should be because of work.

So what will I do once I’m done with work?  I will be PACKING PACKING PACKING!!!  Yes, the Salyer’s are on the move again.  Once more in to the breach dear friend.  We are hopping states.  The Mr and I are going to Vancouver Washington (well, the Mr is already there working but I am still here in California). 

I hope also that in between packing I will be able to finish some knitting projects work on some designs that have been rolling around in my head begging to be wonders of knitting handiwork & spend time with my pup.

I have had serious knitting ADD this summer (I can’t believe it’s 1/2 way through July already because it surely doesn’t feel like it.  Maybe because no one was here for my birthday which always marks my mid-way point of the summer?)  I have started and have almost finished the uber cute Goodale by the fabulous and prolific Cecily Glowik MacDonald who I have a serious knit crush on.

I have a few knits that I need to get finished up because they are making me feel so guilty about how long they have languished with out completion.  I have never been this kind of knitter before.  I always used to finish a project before I moved on, lately I want to cast on 4 different things every night.

So life is moving along, different than what I expected but still just as fabulous.  The most exciting thing is that the Mr and I are moving to handknit heaven! I can’t wait!  The only thing that one of  us is going to have to adjust to is the rain.  Tank is not a fan of water and I think he’ll be sadder than sad to discover it falls freely from the sky.

Property of WhereIWrite.org

Not only does it have my favorite color green he’s surrounded by books, something which I strive for (well not necessarily strive because it actually happens whether I want it to or not).  Actually, looking at this picture again I can’t figure out how he gets out of the room because it looks like the doorway behind him is surrounded in books too. :/ I also love this one (note the green again).

Property of WhereIWrite.org

These are all Sci Fi & Fantasy writers in this project apparently.  I think it’s fantastic.  The minds of people who create their own universes (and sometimes prefer them to real life) are like trying to travel a hedge maze in a tornado.  Brilliant, confusing, scary, and ultimately beautiful.   I see that a few of my favorites are missing though, hopefully they will be added soon.

I have been knitting though nothing is really photographable right now.  The La La Shawl is about 3/4 done which means it’s a big yellow blob not really worthy of the bother.  I’m doing a second Baktus scarf out of malabrigo sock but that’s not really that interesting either.  The last thing I’m doing currently is the Felicity Hat.

I have done a few things to already ensure that this hat won’t be  like the pattern. 1, all the yarns are fingering weight not DK. I just don’t stash DK weight yarn for some reason so I dug into my fat sock left overs. 2, I also decreased the amount of colors because I couldn’t find a combination that I liked.  I’m alternating the navy middle stripe for a dark grey stripe.  I’m about 1/2 way done and I really like the effect so far.

A note though, this hat doesn’t have great instructions.  The cast on should have been Provincial because you are going to graft the live stitches to the cast on stitches in the end.  Had I read through the ENTIRE pattern before casting on I would have done this. My fault and not disastrous but I would recommend anyone doing this to cast on provincially, it will look nicer and have NO SEAMS.

I’m hoping that this will be a nice cute light weight hat I can wear in the winter at the beach.  It probably won’t fit so it will either linger or become a gift. Either way it’s a challenging pattern.  Hell is purling in fair isle.

Also!

aprox. 1400 yds of shetland handspun

I finished spinning the Shetland! Finally! God it seems like I’ve been doing this for freaking ever.  So I’m done and that means that I get to spin the same weight and yardage of Icelandic. Yay?  Actually it’s going to be great, I’m buying 16 ounces of Icelandic from my friend Mette to dye into stripes for a vest similar to Hello Yarn’s.  (for those of you not in the know, Mette & Tom – from Ranch Of the Oaks- have the nicest icelandic roving EVER.  It’s soft, amazingly soft for lopi.) 

Spin you bastard! Spin!

And just when I think I have a break today I am going to spin in a modified sheep to shawl at the fair.  (Modified because we are not shearing the sheep, just spinning & weaving). 

And because I don’t know if I’ve put it up on the blog but my friend Cassie sent me a bag (I’m going to in turn knit her a sweater).  It’s a fantastic bag of awesomeness.  This is an old picture (I’ve since then finished the book though not the knitting lol).

Seriously, it’s huge and green and fits strait needles and has a beautiful lining and a billion pockets, and fits perfectly over my shoulder, and zips closed.  It’s a bowl full of awesome topped generously with ‘rock on’.   It’s become my new favorite bag.  I’m trying to get her to sew up some more bags for sale.

Also, I don’t know if I mentioned it or not on the blog but we had a water heater melt down at the house.  It died a vicious and violent and watery death.  So the Mr and I ripped that bad boy out, popped the new one in, soddered the pipes and now we won’t be paying full rent to the landlord until January.  Yup, it pays to be handy.  Many people wouldn’t have done this, but we charged her 1/2 of what the plumber wanted.  When’s the last time you made $600 bucks in 3 hours?

I can’t tell you how awesome it is being married to a man who not only can sodder but knows why I would have a ratchet set in both mm & inches.   

First off, I’ve hit 27000 some odd words for the month of January so far. Kind of crazy, considering I am a person who had incredible trouble writing a short story in high school and college.

Also, the Mr came home last weekend with Rock Band 2, the complete set. This made for the most unproductive weekend on the face of the earth. He’s gotten pretty good at the guitar though, and I’m singing along (the horror I know) to the songs on hard & getting a 98% efficacy rating, who knew I could carry a tune. I blame all those years of violin lessons & orchestra. I can definitely hear it, but who knew I could reproduce it.

I came home the other day from work and was asulted by the sweetest smelling flowers on the face of the earth. Since we do not have potent flowers in our yard I went to investigate. I found that the roses were in bloom (again) but that’s not where it was coming from.

So I walked around my back yard sniffing this way and that (Yes, I’m sure I looked like a complete lunatic, but for those of you who know me personally you know I couldn’t care less) and finally found what was producing this amazing sweet smell.

Orange Blossom

My orange trees bloomed. And they smell amazing!  There were even ripe oranges (though they are, um, mini).

Mini Orange!

Of course for every orange that turns out perfectly there is it’s lesser red neck cousin lower on the tree who wasn’t as fortunate.

And yes, I may have only taken a picture of this orange because it reminded me of a butt, yes I am juvinile, what of it?

In other news Bob the cat has taken up water scrying.  He will sit at this bowl for hours just staring into it.   I bet you feel pretty inferior right now as you realize that you yourself do not posses a future seeing cat, but rest assured, it’s worth nothing because his grasp of the English language sucks.

"I sees your future"

This weekend I’m going to finish at least one damn knit. And Monday I will show you something more in line with the knit aspect of this blog.  I need to get my butt in gear because I really want to knit Sylvi (non ravelry users can see it here)  for my Minnesota trip (I would make mine shorter as bigger girls like me have no reason to be in a long sweater coat and minus the hood). I also think that I’m going to try to whip this out pre-trip too, but that might be pushing it.  First off I have to finish the Mr’s sweater which hopefully I can do this weekend!

And just in case you think my knitting chart obsession only revolves around humping reindeer I bring you humping elephants.

Humping Elephants knit chart

This is obviously the property of the creator and not me. It is a free chart but I in no way represent this as my own. Here is the ravelry link.

So Christmas knitting, is, as was reported in the last 10 billion posts, chugging along. I’m actually 3/4 done with a major project, and about 60% done with my FIL’s big red cotton sweater. You know I love that man if I’m knitting a man sized cotton sweater. But it’s beautiful and if he doesn’t wear it I’m going to poke him right in the eye!

So what have I been up to that I can show you? How about my mad reupholstery skills?

"Hi! I'm now covered in beautiful non-80's fabric!"

 This picture is with out flash & more color accurate. I can’t tell you how happy I am with this chair & the fabric I chose. The green fabric was a remnant & was a grand total of $3.75 for my 4yds. I really did do a happy dance.

Amazing what a little batting can do to perk things up!

 Even my MIL who is not a “green person” (meaning while I love green and would cover every square inch in it, she would prefer if green did not exist at all) really loves this fabric & the chair. So that has to say something right? Oh, and I didn’t have enough fabric for the seat so I got some different fabric. And while I was really all about this color when I first bought it, I’m questioning myself right now. I will have to see it all set up.

What? You want to see the before of this chair?

In all it's 80's glory.

 A big difference no? I have to say that my MIL is freaking awesome with the reupholstering. I left off the welting details because I thought it looked way more modern with out it. I think I made a good choice.

Cost of the Chairs = $50.00
       Cost of Fabric = $25.00
       New Cushions = $25.00
                        ———
                   Total = $100.00

How awesome is that? Two really super comfortable chairs, with really good bones repurposed in to two pretty happening pieces. Makes me want to find more pieces to save & refinish!

Also, I took a quiz, anyone who knows me already knows this is pretty accurate. I wouldn’t say “ruin” but my ideas are constantly changing & my views of life are always on the move. How I relate to everyone is in constant flux and it’s mostly because I’m ridiculously ambitious (most days!).

You are The Tower

Ambition, fighting, war, courage. Destruction, danger, fall, ruin.

The Tower represents war, destruction, but also spiritual renewal. Plans are disrupted. Your views and ideas will change as a result.

The Tower is a card about war, a war between the structures of lies and the lightning flash of truth. The Tower stands for “false concepts and institutions that we take for real.” You have been shaken up; blinded by a shocking revelation. It sometimes takes that to see a truth that one refuses to see. Or to bring down beliefs that are so well constructed. What’s most important to remember is that the tearing down of this structure, however painful, makes room for something new to be built.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Not the best of pictures, but sorta close to the color. Yup, dark, dark red. I really love it.  See, I’m naturally blond, a color of blond that has progressively started to get darker as I’ve gotten older. Not that it will ever go into a lovely brunette but just a dark, dirty blond. A color that I was not happy with.  I have gone lighter but as my husband states “You have the soul of a red head babe, no offence but it’s nice to have a warning system ofr your fire”. HA! Thanks hun! My bangs really aren’t uneven, but my stylist likes to push them the oppiset direction of me. WHY do they always do that?! (Again, a picture with no makeup, one day I will learn.

Action shot! The Mr says that the red is better to bring out my eyes. lol who knows. I like it better though.  Does everyone have one perfect eye brow and one that refuses to look anything like the other? I’ve tried growing it completely in and re-starting the shape. Nada. I’m wondering what it’s problem is, get with the program eyebrow!

Then we have this red. Initally I was IN LOVE with this sweater. Now, um, you know what? That romance has faded. (Also score one for me for putting my arms right in front of my waist so I look like a square, THAT takes talent!)  This is supposed to be the EZ saddle shoulder sweater. Ok, the one for the hubby went so damn well, but this one? Yeah the lines don’t line up nicely. I’ve got all my decreases running wild. Instead of looking neat & tidy they are running off my shoulders. Also, the amount of boobage I carry around with me (because you never want to leave your boobage at home) completely hides the lovely lines. This is a great pattern, but on me? I don’t think so.

I still LOVE the idea of all the random garter stitch along the arms, under the arms & up the sides. This may have been a poor yarn choice though for this sweater. I’m thinking that’s mainly the case. I came off such a high from my FLS that I was expecting this to be much the same. Uh, no.  I just don’t know yet. It’s going on the back of the couch for a time out. My plan was to steek it & add garter stitch button bands along with a tall collar. I don’t know.

What do YOU think? I really need opinions. Because this yarn would make a lovely hemlock ring blanket.

OK and I have to share this last part because I’m a complete dork (as already established).  Is there one thing that makes you feel like a really accomplished adult? Beyond careers & kids.  One thing that happens and you are like, “DAMN! I rule this adult thing!!!”  This would be my moment.

(Yeah it says Pat, but that’s my MIL I use her card at the grocery because I’ve never given them my phone number)
So yeah, you see that? $66.01 in SAVINGS! And people, I didn’t buy over priced pre-packaged bs either.  This was a meat & veggie run. See, I like to buy mass quantities of meat at a time. Whatever is on sale I buy two packages, then I individually wrap them in baggies of two items, label them, and shove them in the freezer.  Did you know that 1 giant pack of chicken breasts costing you roughly $6.50 on sale can feed you and your Mr for 4 complete days?  That means that you have spent $1.63 for the both of you for 1 meal. Add in veggies and I can feed two or three people for under $7.00. A large tender loin for $13 can easily make 6 days worth of meals.

I started doing this when the Mr and I were living and working in Ohio. Since we were still keeping the California office hours that means that we didn’t get home till 7pm every night.  I became queen of the crock pot because it was SO nice to have dinner ready when we got home.  I started to individually wrap the meat in the freezer so that I could pull out one baggie the night before, put it in the fridge to defrost & voila! Dinner for 2.
(These are 1 pork chop per bag because I only use one if I’m doing them in the crock pot)

One thing the Mr and I don’t do is pre-packaged food. Beyond bread (because it’s cheaper to buy than bake every damn day for his sandwiches) and cheese, we don’t buy things pre-made.  It’s just so much cheaper this way with out cereals, frozen pizzas, and any other frozen microwavable foods.  Also, since we found out about my PCOS and that I’m genetically inclined to store any and all fat (no, I’m not fat because of genetics, I’m fat because of bad food & I know it) I can’t eat pre-processed foods and get away with it.  The only way I will NOT gain weight is if we cook everything.  This means more work, but I have also lost 40 pounds just by eating normal food with no preservatives.

Cooking has also been a bonding time for the Mr and I. He used to do all the cooking in the house but since I get home almost a full hour & 1/2 before him these days I usually take charge.  It’s quite pleasant to be able to be stirring, grilling, or simmering something while sharing a glass of wine or mojito with him and chat about our days.  Sometimes it’s the smallest changes that really mean the most.

Click the picture for all the details! There are MANY!!! But can we just focus on the fish for a minute? Yeah, it’s completely fabulous.  I wouldn’t call it quite an “ugly” fish compared to some of my others, but upon inspection I noticed that the pupils are pointing completely different directions which gave me the biggest giggle fit. The yarn is Classic Elite Alpaca and is calling out to be a cowl sometime in the near future. Swap Partner you are AWESOMELY FANTASTIC Thank you SO MUCH!

Ah yes, berry season in California. If you think you have good berries, well you need to spend the summer in CA.  It is unparalleled.

Heaven forbid if you think we only have blueberries though.

This tart lasted only 2 days. Which was 2 days more than the strawberry rhubarb pie I made. (Which was excellent and was devoured before pictures could be taken!)

Other things that have been going on is the complete demo of any sort of vine plant living in our yard. The previous occupent had morning glories, she planted them 10 years ago. I think that’s when she stopped gardening or mowing, or um, anything at all.

That’s the MR there. I would like to say that he is almost done, but honestly, this is about 15 feet worth of work. Just for reference, the Mr is 6’5″ and is standing in the pile. I would also like to say that this pile is not any bigger, but it’s now honestly about 7′ tall.

What’s that? You’d like some UFO’s? Well I think I can do that!

I’m cooking right along on Lady Eleanor. I thought this project was going to take a whole lot more time than it really is.  Guess that’s always the case isn’t it? I would have picked a much guadier color of noro (as is my reputation) but was told by my knitting sisters that this was beautiful. It IS beautiful. I just wish that there was more green & blue. The darkest colors here aren’t actually blue, they are black, but it was just about sunset when I took this picture.

My garter lover sweater is coming along. Finished the body up to the underarms & now have almost finished one sleeve.

Do all knitters come full circle like this? You learn garter stitch, then you hate garter stitch and do anything BUT garter stitch. Then you come and realize the simple beautiful elegance of garter stitch again? This is about where I’m at. Plus Beaverslide calls and prays and begs to be knit in garter stitch all the time, who am I to deny it?  This sweater has designed itself. I don’t know if there is a design to tell you the truth. All of the sudden something will pop in my head & then appear on the needles. This will most likely end up one of my most wearable sweaters too because of it.  I know I’ve knit a lot of beaverslide lately, and this will not be the last, but for now, this is the end of my stashed (except for another skien of star  gazer that will be a cowl I think?)

I’m not sure what I did to offend you thus, but I sincerely apologize for the unintentional pain I must have caused you.  I was not aware that by moving one mile down the road from where I currently live, I now have entered the boonies where you, dear Internet, do not dare go.  None of your stately carriages bring you out so far it seems.  Not Direct TV, not Dish Network, not AT&T, (and Verizon is just not allowed). None it would seem are able to power you through that one mile invisible barrier to my new home and let you flow through it’s cables as the blood does through my veins.

I almost cried my tender hearted Internets, “How would I ever live?”   Such a separation must not be!

Then, Time Warner Cable, my knight in shining white utility truck, came to my rescue.  Dear Internets, we are once again united.  Please don’t tease me Internet, don’t send word you are coming only to never show. Don’t break my already fragile multi media addicted heart. 

Until then I will wait on baited breath till you do light up Ravelry & WordPress & Yahoo from the very depths of my home.

Sincerely,
Me.

Tile guy is coming to give a quote today (thanks Becky!) and the carpet cleaners are coming to sanitize the carpets.

Also…I may or may not have cleaned up a crime scene. Does anyone know where to get that luminal that the CSI use to show blood? Something was seriously (and I’m really not joking, it’s actually kind of scary) butchered in the kitchen. It was in the fridge (which is moving out of the kitchen), on the tile, under the fridge, under the stove, on ALL the cabinets (splattered, nice) the ceiling, and INSIDE some of the cabinets. It’s actually a little disconcerning.

If the Mr or I suddenly disappear from the cigar store or knitting group, please call the police O_O

Being back in California was not a choice that we made lightly. Chances are if the job market in Ohio had been better we would have stayed.  The reality was that we had transferred to quite a poor state in terms of employment.  So back we came to the beaches, Sana Anna winds, family (whom we dearly missed) and high real estate prices.

We moved back with the intention to buy again. To put down roots and try to stay settled in one place, once and for all, to be just like everyone expected us to be.  Then, some small voice began to made it self known. It started quietly enough, just barely a whisper of a thought.  Stretching itself bigger and bigger till it reached every part of my brain and was incapable of being further ignored.

You do not put down roots when you have the heart of a nomad.  You will never become the tall oak tree, staying forever in one spot, rather you are the incarnation of lichen.  Though you appreciate the oak and may periodically cling it’s bark thinking “This time I’ll stay put” it will never last.  For your cling is tenuous at best and you know, deep in your heart, that the minute you found this oak you were already wondering what it would be like to be a mighty fir.

I don’t know if you are born like this or made.  I grew up in the house that my mother & father brought me home from the hospital in.  I lived there for 21 years, nothing ever changed, not the color of the paint, not the cracks in the sidewalk, not even the neighbors.  Then after those 21 years had passed I married my husband and everything changed.  Unlike me his parents were expert movers and he had called several different states home.  “Where are you from” is not a question that is easily answered for him or his sister. 

I think that Matt is the nomad and I am merely along for the ride. Being with him makes me unafraid of almost anything (though lately I do seem to have a certain irrational fear of him being anywhere near the garbage disposal when I turn it on, who knows).  Knowing that he will always be there right by me as we take uncertain steps into uncertain lands makes everything easier, everything “do-able”.

Knowing our insatiable zest for experiencing everything that comes from life it makes sense that we would reconsider buying a home.  I loved my home in Ohio and had big plans on how I wanted to redo everything, that said, about 4 months into owning this house I was already wondering how soon was too soon to buy a new house and move.  I think for now we have decided that renting is in our best interest.  It will allow us the disposable income that we have grown quite fond of, allow us to easily pick up and go, vacations, toys, and freedom.

Maybe this is what being an adult is really about. Weighing your options and making the best, most rational decision you can, based on nothing or no one else, but you.  There is no wrong or right in these times (though sometimes you feel like others may judge you) it is simply different lives, and different ways of living them. 

From the garden at the Ohio House.

Cleveland Sunset

Owl Eyed Butterfly, botanical gardens Cleveland OH.

Ed on top, Sue on the bottom. Love my boys!

Sweet Ed

Bob’s usually not this photogenic.

Sue is always a pretty boy.

Edison/Ford Estates, Fort Myers FL

Sanibel Island FL

Glacier Grooves. Putin Bay Ohio

My Buppa

Raku, Channel Islands University, California

Miss Mi

God I love this man!