I’ve been gardening.  I usually don’t garden. I don’t have a knack for making things grow.  Usually the Mr takes over.  But with me being home and he at work for long hours it is now my duty.  We have decided to plant a variety of vegetables.  I have been busy cleaning out the garden of yester year’s growth, adding new rich dirt, fertilizing, and planting.

I have also put in some flowers in the various pots I’ve found around the house.  I like potted flowers.  I remember to water them, they have less change of getting weeds and are just plain pretty.

This is an icelandic poppy. I dig it because the color and the hardiness. I don’t deal well with wimpy plants.

I can tell you that I have dirt in places I can’t explain and a deep muscle ache that makes it hard to walk down stairs but in all it was a very productive day.

I’ve been trimming, raking, and clipping to get the plants back in shape that have wintered with us.  It’s hard work but everything looks so much neater and will come back so much healthier.  Also I’m going to be learning how to use my composter this week.  Not only will our gardens benefit from the compost but it’s better than it all going to the landfill anyway.

This summer I will learn how to can so that we may keep our seasons bounty.  More and more it’s becoming super important to me to reduce our consumption and therefore our trash.  Every little bit helps and by not buying jams for the Mr’s pb&j’s I help that just a little bit.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m an only child, I don’t know if it’s because I’m a type A personality, I don’t know if it’s because of genetics but sometimes I feel like standing on a table and screaming in the middle of the busiest place I can find.  An odd thought for someone who wilts under the too bright scrutiny of others, odd that someone who desperately wants to achieve such public things would also be the same person who doesn’t like to draw that much attention to herself.  It’s a hard and unpleasant dichotomy at best of times, at worst of times it feels like I have two distinct people sharing space in my head.

I am and probably always have been a hard person to know.  I am equal parts loud, boisterous, funny, and adventurous while also wanting to stay home because doing new things really can be quite painful.  I am the person who circles the room several times when I am forced to be social with people I don’t know before leaving with out a word.   See, even if I do know you, chances are I still wonder if you really like me that much or at all.  I wonder if you will eventually realize who and what I am and stop answering my texts, emails, and calls.  In some part I might create this reality for myself.

Lately on the cusp of so many new adventures I’ve been plagued with the worst anxiety dreams I think I’ve ever had.  Dreams that would make damn good writing, but terrible sleeping.  I know they stem from my subconscious asking me what if I fail, what if I fail at everything and end up with nothing?  These are silly thoughts in the waking world.  I dyed a bunch of roving the other day, what if I fail to sell any?  I’ll spin it myself.  I have been writing a beast of a story that’s soon coming to a close, what if I fail and it never is published?  Then I’ll pay to bind it myself, put it on the shelf and know that I wrote a complete original storyline and finished it which most people never do.  I now have 6+ icelandic sheep, and am getting 5 pygora goats.  What if I can’t sell fiber?  I’ll use it myself.  Seriously, there is no terrible ending to the “if I fail” question, but for some reason my dreaming state thinks there is and makes me question everything about myself.

Since I haven’t been working I’ve discovered new and amazing ways to put pressure on myself.  Submitting knitting designs, self publishing them, learning more about photo processing through photo shop, learning how to weave, getting the property ready to become a farm, reading 400 thick pages on raising chickens, 400 dry pages on hobby farms, 600 pages on raising sheep, learning to dye roving, and getting ready to put together a functional vegetable garden.  All of these pursuits are fine if I weren’t obsessive and had the need to be #1 at everything.  Well I’m not #1, I’m not even #2, and I just have to be ok with that.  My best friend Shawna once said “Preita, it’s like you are competing with the universe but no one’s actually competing with you.”  Truer words could not be said.  Basically I drive myself mad trying to be the most awesome at anything I try right off the bat even though no one achieves this. 

So in the next few months I’m going to be taking it slower, focusing more internally and experiencing this life I’m living instead of just racing through it at break neck speed.  I’m going to ignore the “hearts” and # of comments on ravelry, as well as Flickr.  I’m going to focus on quality rather than quantity, and I’m going to find a little bit of mental peace.

Things I’m going to accomplish by the end of summer:
1. I will have all my sheep and goats on the farm
2. I will have egg producing hens
3. I will finish writing Mildred
4. I will have a quality vegetable garden
5. I will finish my backlog of books to read

Well, enough ranting and babbling.  Time to get to action.

Last Thursday my mom flew into town.  Since then we were running around like crazy people having a wonderful time and giggling.  The first thing that we did was drive around town and visit many of Portland’s best vintage and thrift shops.  I can’t tell you the last time I had more fun.  I came away with my very own vintage dress form, potholder weaver and a few more wonderful things.

Rerun was particularly awesome.  They had a large selection of vintage clothing, housewares, crafts, pictures and cool toys.  Seriously if you like vintage thrift go here and be happy.

Since neither my mom or I wear (or CAN wear) vintage clothing it is nice to find stores that have more fun stuff than just clothes.  Above you can see me with my first find, the potholder weaver!

I saw this grill and thought it was so awesome I could barely stand it.  Also, one of the best parts?  It was parked in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Portland!  Love it. I wonder if it’s parked there just to be obnoxious.

I found this in Knittin’ Kitten a vintage craft store.

I think this is what everyone thinks of when they hear “I Knit” (although this is crochet).  I don’t know what’s more awesome.  Those horrible vests, or the TIGHT corduroy pants the guy is wearing or the weird hand veins in the man’s power grip.  I would totally recommend this store to other crafters if you sew.  They have a large selection of fabrics and notions you won’t find anywhere else.

After some serious shopping my mom and I headed for the food carts (these are not the main ones downtown but closer to the Yarn Garden in Portland).  We had some amazing (and I do mean AMAZING) french fries with 3 different sauces, horse radish ketchup, buttermilk ranch, and chipolte mayo.  They were AMAZING.  It was so fantastic.  We also had some fried pot pies which rocked just as much.

If you have not tried the Portland food carts it is the first stop you need to make in Portland.  Some of the best food you will find are in these little carts on wheels.  I can’t wait to try more.

We went to the beach outside Astoria and though it was a little chilly the weather was sunny and beautiful.  Astoria is a fabulous city on the coast and worth the visit.

After a long day at the beach we had the best fish and chip lunch ever.  This little boat is the most popular restaurant in Astoria.  It doesn’t show it here but as soon as we ordered 20 people lined up after us.  The wait was worth it and the fish was light and crispy and delish.

Since it was also such a beautiful day that we were finally able to see the Astoria Pillar.

We also drove this crazy long road again and I think it’s one of the neatest views. I love the way it vanishes into the woods across the river.

We also saw elk on the drive home.  I was so excited!

Sunday we went early to Voodoo Donuts and it was as fabulous as always.  I’m not a donut person, I don’t care for the sugar as much and these are SUPER sweet.  I have to say something, if you wait in line for 30 minutes and get up to the front and still don’t know what you want you should be removed and put to the back of the line instead of holding everyone up while you hem and haw over donuts and t-shirts for 20 minutes.  This is just obnoxious behavior.

I was also thrilled that my mom tried 2 new things.  Boba and sushi.  She’s tried buffet sushi before and didn’t like it (well who does?!) and so we took her out for good sushi and beginner rolls.

Not everyone likes boba because of the tapioca’s but my mom loved it.

My mom and Tank totally hit it off.  But of course how could you not?  He has the sweetest face and is such a good boy that most people fall instantly in love with him.

So yesterday I packed her up and put her back on a plane to Alabama. It was a fantastic visit and I can’t wait to see her in Minnesota in July.

I am one of those people that keeps the house cool all winter long.  Usually during the day my inside temperature ranges from 55* to 60*.  I do this because 1. I don’t like a too hot house and 2. it saves on energy costs during the winter.  Thankfully this part of Washington has such a temperate climate that it’s never really THAT cold.  Needless to say I wear sweaters and slippers inside because sometimes it is a little chilly.

When my last pair of sheerling slippers finally bit the dust I was on the hunt for a new pair.  I knew what I wanted and needed. I need something that fit well, had a rubber sole so I can get the mail or walk on the patio with out fear of getting the leather wet, and had to be easy to get on and off.  I have always had slides with out backs but this time I decided maybe a more boot like slipper was the way to go.

I can’t tell you how much I absolutely love my Whooga’s!  They fit amazingly, are the perfect kind of warm (not to warm, or not warm enough) have good traction on the wet and sometimes slippery driveway and slip on and off with out bending over (because they seem to have a re-inforced heel).

Not only do these Whooga’s keep your feet warm but they also make sure you don’t walk through your house in handknit socks which I am guilty of.   I do have to say that I love these more than I could have imagined.  The sole is light and durable with good grip which is important to me because back in the day we all used to have leather bottomed slippers in my family.  Then my mom slipped on the stairs (leather soles + carpet = NO TRACTION) and broke the snot of her ankle.  From then on we needed rubber soles.   The inside sheerling is thick and soft and exactly what the doctor ordered.  No I know some people wear these are regular shoes (Californian’s are especially guilty of this) and I’m sure you could, but for me, these are house shoes and I love them.

Man in Snow, originally uploaded by Victor Keller.

My dad is coming Friday! I can’t tell you how stoked I am. Yesterday I received an email link that of a picture of my dad that his friend Victor Keller had taken. I absolutely adore this picture and I just had to share!

Since I have no work schedule that means that I get to hang out with my dad all day and do weird random things. This is some quality time that I am going to use to really explore Portland, take pictures and get lost a lot.

I’m here in Washington (Ridgefield to be precise) and I love it. I adore it. And I might become a polygamist to mary it too.  The trip up here from California was relatively easy. It was two 8 hour days which isn’t bad considering it took us multiple 14 hour days to get to Ohio & back.  No, this was easy and fast.  There was only one small road we took from the 101N to the 5 that scared the crap out of me. Picture a small winding 2 lane road with small shoulders and narrow lanes. Then picture yourself driving behind your husband who is pulling a u-haul and that you are watching as the sand on the shoulder grabs the trailer wheel and yanks the whole  suburban & u-haul to the right, then you watch as your husband corrects, over corrects, and finally gets it back on the road.  I didn’t want to call him to distract him, but I spent about 20 minutes yelling at him through my windshield to hug the middle yellow line.

That honestly was about the biggest drama we had.  The cats road with me & Tank rode with the Mr. All animals could have cared less about being on the road for all of them except Tank are true veterans of moving. I have 2 cats that have even moved on an airplane!

So yes, the house, it rocks. It beyond rocks. It’s so freaking awesome that you will have to drag me kicking, screaming, spitting, and wrapped up in a straite jacket to get me out of this place.  We are situated on 5 acres outside of Vancouver.  There are 4 fenced paddocks for animals and 1 barn. (OMG I HAVE A BARN!!!!) We have 2 garages, one a 2 car attached, the other a 4 car unattached that will be the Mr’s work shop.

There are lots of trees, flowers, and birds.  Tank is running around like a maniac.

My god there are so many awesome things to talk about I don’t even know where to begin outside of the house so we are just going to number them old school style and I’ll talk more about them later.

1. It’s GREEN
2. There is SWEATER weather
3. There is a fast food place that is all local & sustainable and it’s not hippy and it IS delish
4. Hello world of yarn shops, party of one, I think I’m in heaven
5.Washington has no income tax
6. Oregon has no sales tax
7. I have an ikea with in 20 minutes of me
8. The people up here are SO NICE it’s a little freaky
9. There are lots of restaurants and not ALL of them are mexican!
10. I don’t feel like I’m 10″ tall here or 500lbs since people are NORMAL sized up here!
11. You have reasons to wear cute shoes & socks, not just sandels
. Hats are a reasonable accessory when your hair sucks
13. There is a church & a library in the MALL!
14. People don’t look at you like a freak when you knit in public
15. The grocery stores are fab!

ok I think 15 random reasons why I’m appy to be up here is enough right now. I have knitting to blog about, patterns to publish, pictures to show, and a house that needs to finish being unpacked.  In the mean time here are some random pictures for you~
Tank dug a 2 foot deep hole and pulled out a vole. I was seriously proud.

This is my barn!

We are here in Vancouver Washington! It was a longish drive though not bad at all!!!  The cats rode in my car, the dog with the Mr. It was pretty seamless.  Today we take possession of our new house! It’s so amazingly awesome!!! I will post pictures as soon as I have internet.  Trust me, it’s fabulously awesome!  We have 4 fenced paddocks, a large barn, lots of trees, 2 garages (one of which is a 4 car garage & will be the Mr’s workshop), 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and tons of space.  I’m so in love with this house!!!

Knitting is going along just as normal and I will have projects to talk about as soon as I can post pictures.

Now I have to find a new knitting shop and knit group.  I’m a little (ok a lot) intimidated by this. People think it’s easy for me to make friends because I’m outgoing but I never really believe that people like me for at least 3 months.

Ok, back to the unpacking & moving process If you have any recomendations on knit groups or shops near Vancouver Washington or Portland Oregon I’d love to hear them!