From the Farmer's Market. It had ginger, coconut, lime, and chili in
it, all under a thick outside coating.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
I got a new sewing machine!
On the left is my new Singer machine, on the right is my Aunt's old
Singer machine. Mine is all electronic, and it is wonderful. The fabric
samples demo what all it can do. The coolest things it does are thread
the needle automatically, and it measures buttonhole sizes
automatically to create the perfect fit buttonhole. Oh, it sews on
buttons too. Now I can do some mending and altering that has been
waiting for 1-3 years since my other two sewing machines refused to
work for me.
I did open pant surgery on some coffee print flannel pj pants that I
made a few years ago. Their elastic had worn out elastic. I opened up
the casing and reinstalled new elastic. I also found about four holes
that I was able to mend with the multi-stitch zigzag on my machine.
Singer machine. Mine is all electronic, and it is wonderful. The fabric
samples demo what all it can do. The coolest things it does are thread
the needle automatically, and it measures buttonhole sizes
automatically to create the perfect fit buttonhole. Oh, it sews on
buttons too. Now I can do some mending and altering that has been
waiting for 1-3 years since my other two sewing machines refused to
work for me.
I did open pant surgery on some coffee print flannel pj pants that I
made a few years ago. Their elastic had worn out elastic. I opened up
the casing and reinstalled new elastic. I also found about four holes
that I was able to mend with the multi-stitch zigzag on my machine.
Getting it all laid out
The biggest part of the project was removing the grass. That part was
really hard work. It took us a few days of work to get that part done.
Then we had to dig a few inches down, I think 4-5 inches, to allow for
three inches of mulch of wood chips. For the plants we went down to the
Farmer's Market and found two different places that sold native plants,
and we cross-checked their suitability on our two lists of rain garden
plants. Two main type of plants are required, super hardy drought and
wet resistant plants that go near the top of the rain source (gutter)
and at the lower point marshy type plants are required.
I was trying to attain a natural kidney-bean shaped planting, and it
turned out to look more like a koala head, or Stitch's head from Lilo
and Stitch. This week I added three coneflower plants along the upper
back to create a little backdrop for the garden. It's been fun to watch
the rain collect and absorb, and the little plants are growing a little
bigger day by day.
really hard work. It took us a few days of work to get that part done.
Then we had to dig a few inches down, I think 4-5 inches, to allow for
three inches of mulch of wood chips. For the plants we went down to the
Farmer's Market and found two different places that sold native plants,
and we cross-checked their suitability on our two lists of rain garden
plants. Two main type of plants are required, super hardy drought and
wet resistant plants that go near the top of the rain source (gutter)
and at the lower point marshy type plants are required.
I was trying to attain a natural kidney-bean shaped planting, and it
turned out to look more like a koala head, or Stitch's head from Lilo
and Stitch. This week I added three coneflower plants along the upper
back to create a little backdrop for the garden. It's been fun to watch
the rain collect and absorb, and the little plants are growing a little
bigger day by day.
storm
The left side shows the hail that went down the gutter, and the big
back-up it is causing. To the right is our newly planted Rain garden.
It acts as a reservoir to contain excess rain water instead of taking
it down the yard to the sewer system, thus preventing run-off of lawn
chemicals and fertilizers and such, from polluting our streams further.
It's an eco-friendly yard solution you can do at home in your own yard.
back-up it is causing. To the right is our newly planted Rain garden.
It acts as a reservoir to contain excess rain water instead of taking
it down the yard to the sewer system, thus preventing run-off of lawn
chemicals and fertilizers and such, from polluting our streams further.
It's an eco-friendly yard solution you can do at home in your own yard.
hail storm #2
A few Saturdays ago, I think it was the first Sat. of the month, there
were two hail storms within a few hours' span. The second storm had
slightly more hail. I was talking to my Aunt on the phone about sewing
machines and virtually shopping for them with her when the storm came.
These are my basils, 2 sweet basil, and one thai basil, they looked
salted with really big Kosher salt, or water softener salt but it's
actually hail.
were two hail storms within a few hours' span. The second storm had
slightly more hail. I was talking to my Aunt on the phone about sewing
machines and virtually shopping for them with her when the storm came.
These are my basils, 2 sweet basil, and one thai basil, they looked
salted with really big Kosher salt, or water softener salt but it's
actually hail.
because I just hadn't posted this yet...
It's been done for awhile now. It is warm and wearable, and mostly
fitted and shaped, though I over-flared the bottom part. I
overestimated my hips. oops. The neckline is doing something a little
strange that I haven't figured out yet. I am trying to think of it as a
design feature, rather than a flaw. Maybe more blocking could help it
out.
fitted and shaped, though I over-flared the bottom part. I
overestimated my hips. oops. The neckline is doing something a little
strange that I haven't figured out yet. I am trying to think of it as a
design feature, rather than a flaw. Maybe more blocking could help it
out.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Candy shop with koalas, and palm tree reflection
This is at the Aloha Towers shopping area in Honolulu, the first place
we went after we landed. There was a cute candy store there with
chocolate, and koalas.
we went after we landed. There was a cute candy store there with
chocolate, and koalas.
boredom- problem solved
I knit this uber stylish bracelet (thanks Shelly for the yarn) while
waiting for a delayed plane trip to the Big Island. I had all my other
knitting in my checked luggage- for fear they'd be taken away, so all I
had to knit with was this mechanical pencil (thanks Elzbieta for these
cool pencils- they were a party favor at my grad party for my MA
degree) and this sparkle pen. I thought it turned out pretty well,
though it wasn't very easy to knit due to the dull points and the
plastic ridges.
waiting for a delayed plane trip to the Big Island. I had all my other
knitting in my checked luggage- for fear they'd be taken away, so all I
had to knit with was this mechanical pencil (thanks Elzbieta for these
cool pencils- they were a party favor at my grad party for my MA
degree) and this sparkle pen. I thought it turned out pretty well,
though it wasn't very easy to knit due to the dull points and the
plastic ridges.
Will's foot post sea-urchin
Way back in April, of 2007, I know, not so long ago, we were in Hawaii
with Will and CarrieAnn. DH got to know Will at college, Michigan Tech,
and they've been friends ever since. Will married CarrieAnn, and DH
married me, so now all of us know each other. We went to Hawaii with
them for about 10 days. Will's main goal was to go surfing. He both
learned to surf, and stepped on his first sea urchin in Waikiki Beach.
What a souvenir! He had to have the big spine removed via microsurgery
in a small clinic in Waimanalo, and most of the other spikes have been
working their way out on their own. CarrieAnn also went surfing, but
fortunately didn't step on a spiny beast.
with Will and CarrieAnn. DH got to know Will at college, Michigan Tech,
and they've been friends ever since. Will married CarrieAnn, and DH
married me, so now all of us know each other. We went to Hawaii with
them for about 10 days. Will's main goal was to go surfing. He both
learned to surf, and stepped on his first sea urchin in Waikiki Beach.
What a souvenir! He had to have the big spine removed via microsurgery
in a small clinic in Waimanalo, and most of the other spikes have been
working their way out on their own. CarrieAnn also went surfing, but
fortunately didn't step on a spiny beast.
Monday, June 04, 2007
I've been tagged
Connie tagged me, once upon a time, so here we go.
Rules:
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their 8 random things and post the rules.
3. At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and post their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
Eight Random Things about Me:
1. While my husband and I were dating I journaled on each day I spent time with him. I gave him all those journals on our wedding day.
2. I learned pretty much all I know about gardening with a retired police officer, Larry McDonald, who taught Rebecca Kohls about how to maintain her rooftop garden. Remember that piece on the news when she'd give the weather report from the top of the roof? Oh, and I ran into her at the Yarnery in St. Paul, buying yarn for her next knitting project.
3. I have swung from a vine, eaten "lemon ants" and swam in a pool at the base of a waterfall in the Amazon Rainforest, in Ecuador near the Napo River.
4. I have seen Blue-footed Boobies, and the elusive Red-footed boobies while studying ecology and biology in the Galapagos Islands.
5. When I was a kid I got the back of my earring stuck in my earlobe, and my Mom and I had to go to urgent care to get it fished out on a weekday night. And my Mom couldn't believe the back of my earring was stuck in there!
6. I have walked on crumbly lava, warm with underground activity. I also steamed my leg by accident while I was there in Hawaii on the Big Island. This was one of the most exciting things I have ever done, and I plan to do it again sometime.
7. I have pretty good intuition. I dreamt my friend had her baby and woke up mad that she hadn't told me. I got to work that day and got a call from her around 10am saying that she'd gone into labor in the middle of that night *while I was dreaming in my bed.* Another time I sensed another friend was going to have her baby, and she declared she was fine, and comfortable that evening when asked. About an hour later she went to the hospital and the nurse checked her and found that she was in labor already.
8. On 9-11 I woke up and for some reason felt like I should wear black. I usually wear more than 2 or 3 colors at a time, and seldom wear black. I dressed in black and felt like I was dragging through the early morning. Then I heard the sobering news.
9. That was such a downer I had to add a ninth post to the eight post meme. Hmmm. DH and I used to exchange e-mails with large vocabulary words as their subject. Often the words we selected were totally unrelated to the e-mail.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Excuses
Why I haven't been blogging...
been knitting-lace leaf socks, an Elizabeth Zimmerman percentage system sweater (raglan-style) of Patons *washable* red tweed yarn, the body is knit to the armhole, and one sleeve is up to my elbow, and swatching for my Aunt's cable Araucania nature Wool Cable cardigan
finishing- the blue sweater- finally done a few wednesdays ago
cleaning- the linen closet with all my bath, body etc. products, let me tell ya' I have a stash full, just where do they all come from?
planting- three kinds of basil, sage, rosemary, oregano, osteospermum, coral bells,
digging- to put a rain garden in our front yard
recovering- from a nasty virus/cold/cough that nearly kicked my butt, I even went to the Dr. to confirm it was a virus
watching- Season one of Gray's Anatomy (I hadn't seen it before), the new version of Pride and Prejudice
drinking- Sierra Mist, tea, water, more tea, more water
researching- cable-system deck railing, oh, the kitchen on this page is quite like ours, even has the same wall paint color the text just kept highlighting so I left it this way
planning- to build a new deck this summer to replace our existing/rotting/too old deck, dog park date with friend and Golden Retriever, Sydney
composting- compostable stuff
exercising- on our new elliptical machine (this one is way better than the last)
working- on paperwork, it never ends
painting- my toenails red
going- to church and Jimmy John's- that was all the energy I had due to aforementioned *virus*
frustrating- that I had to write this post in words instead of pics as I'd planned, due to the fact that my computer e-mail sending program is refusing to send pics to my blog!
been knitting-lace leaf socks, an Elizabeth Zimmerman percentage system sweater (raglan-style) of Patons *washable* red tweed yarn, the body is knit to the armhole, and one sleeve is up to my elbow, and swatching for my Aunt's cable Araucania nature Wool Cable cardigan
finishing- the blue sweater- finally done a few wednesdays ago
cleaning- the linen closet with all my bath, body etc. products, let me tell ya' I have a stash full, just where do they all come from?
planting- three kinds of basil, sage, rosemary, oregano, osteospermum, coral bells,
digging- to put a rain garden in our front yard
recovering- from a nasty virus/cold/cough that nearly kicked my butt, I even went to the Dr. to confirm it was a virus
watching- Season one of Gray's Anatomy (I hadn't seen it before), the new version of Pride and Prejudice
drinking- Sierra Mist, tea, water, more tea, more water
researching- cable-system deck railing, oh, the kitchen on this page is quite like ours, even has the same wall paint color the text just kept highlighting so I left it this way
planning- to build a new deck this summer to replace our existing/rotting/too old deck, dog park date with friend and Golden Retriever, Sydney
composting- compostable stuff
exercising- on our new elliptical machine (this one is way better than the last)
working- on paperwork, it never ends
painting- my toenails red
going- to church and Jimmy John's- that was all the energy I had due to aforementioned *virus*
frustrating- that I had to write this post in words instead of pics as I'd planned, due to the fact that my computer e-mail sending program is refusing to send pics to my blog!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool
Is today! This will be the nicest day that I have seen for the S &W Fest, on the Lake Elmo Fairgrounds. The last two years it has been rainy, and quite mushy and wet in the grass, which is where most of the knitters trample as there are few gravelly paths.
Last night while watching Gray's (what a cliffhanger BTW), I completed sock number 2, just in time for a typical cold sheep day. But it looks quite pleasant out there. Like all socks that I make I feel like they have stretched longer than my foot, the longer I wear them the longer they get. Does that happen to everyone?
My sweater is done, minus the sleeve border, and the buttons. I have to find a suitable button-sewing on acrylic yarn to sew them on to the button band. Then, it will be done. It is wearable now, though. At long last. Next project will be my Aunt's cable cardigan. I have a pattern this time, and I want to sit down my my TI-85 and block out all the measurements on graph paper first, so I can make it best fit my Aunt. She gave me another sweater she likes to use its measurements, but I am trying to encourage her to make it a little more fitted to fit her better.
Well, it is time for me to go, I have to get to the ATM and get spending money for all the yarn and roving I'll buy. I plan to get colors to coordinate with my dogs, and do some type of needle felting of them, whether it is 2d or 3d I am not sure yet.
Oh- the Segways were great, and so were the Anniversary lunch and dinner out. Lunch was at Jax Cafe on their garden patio surrounded in tulips and a small stream, dinner was in a glass-blocked and White cement walled restaurant, JP Bistro. For dessert we had chai tea creme brulee. Yummoliscious is my new word- and it was for sure.
Last night while watching Gray's (what a cliffhanger BTW), I completed sock number 2, just in time for a typical cold sheep day. But it looks quite pleasant out there. Like all socks that I make I feel like they have stretched longer than my foot, the longer I wear them the longer they get. Does that happen to everyone?
My sweater is done, minus the sleeve border, and the buttons. I have to find a suitable button-sewing on acrylic yarn to sew them on to the button band. Then, it will be done. It is wearable now, though. At long last. Next project will be my Aunt's cable cardigan. I have a pattern this time, and I want to sit down my my TI-85 and block out all the measurements on graph paper first, so I can make it best fit my Aunt. She gave me another sweater she likes to use its measurements, but I am trying to encourage her to make it a little more fitted to fit her better.
Well, it is time for me to go, I have to get to the ATM and get spending money for all the yarn and roving I'll buy. I plan to get colors to coordinate with my dogs, and do some type of needle felting of them, whether it is 2d or 3d I am not sure yet.
Oh- the Segways were great, and so were the Anniversary lunch and dinner out. Lunch was at Jax Cafe on their garden patio surrounded in tulips and a small stream, dinner was in a glass-blocked and White cement walled restaurant, JP Bistro. For dessert we had chai tea creme brulee. Yummoliscious is my new word- and it was for sure.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
The Corgi Masters are four today!
The posts have been few and far between. I mostly finished my blue sweater, it fits pretty well, better than before. I have to sew on the buttons, and do a little knit trim on the sleeve hems, then it will be done. While I was weaving in the tails I was already thinking aboug what sweater to do next.
I am still working on my second sock, but that is nearly done too, just a few inches of the top ribbing left.
This week is the Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool fest. My mom came last year and enjoyed it, and she wanted to go again- so we'll be going to that Sat. Perhaps it will be the best weather for it in the last 2 years that I have gone.
Work is pretty crazy as far as intensity of the people's experiences that I am working with. That is pretty much all I can say, but most of it makes the Dr. Phil show people look like a walk in the park. Especially when Dr. Phil can hook them up with their own therapists, and just follow up on them until he decides to give them a free vacation, or a diamond ring, or whatever. I just work with what I have, and it can be quite stressful. I want my kids to do well!
Last but not least- DH and I are celebrating our four year anniversary. We are going on a Segway tour in St. Anthony. He hurt his ankle Tuesday, so I hope it won't be bothering him much. It looks like a beautiful day. A great day to work for the morning only, and have fun in the afternoon which is what we will be doing.
I am still working on my second sock, but that is nearly done too, just a few inches of the top ribbing left.
This week is the Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool fest. My mom came last year and enjoyed it, and she wanted to go again- so we'll be going to that Sat. Perhaps it will be the best weather for it in the last 2 years that I have gone.
Work is pretty crazy as far as intensity of the people's experiences that I am working with. That is pretty much all I can say, but most of it makes the Dr. Phil show people look like a walk in the park. Especially when Dr. Phil can hook them up with their own therapists, and just follow up on them until he decides to give them a free vacation, or a diamond ring, or whatever. I just work with what I have, and it can be quite stressful. I want my kids to do well!
Last but not least- DH and I are celebrating our four year anniversary. We are going on a Segway tour in St. Anthony. He hurt his ankle Tuesday, so I hope it won't be bothering him much. It looks like a beautiful day. A great day to work for the morning only, and have fun in the afternoon which is what we will be doing.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Hi from HI/MN
HI,
I am no longer in HI, Hawaii, but I was. But not before I got sick. It was a little bit of a whirlwind trying to get my work done before I left on a Wed. while I was battling a virus. But I did it. It just meant that there wasn't much blogging.
I have been back from HI since a week ago Monday, and it was a great trip. I will have lots of pics to share.
Some highlights:
-visiting Aloha Yarn and meeting Nanea, and getting materials to crochet a lei
-eating at Todai, and eating too much sushi after hiking and doing some swimming to get extra hungry before the huge buffet
-Finding the secluded Polihale Beach in Kauaii by driving down a narrow visciously pot-holed road surrounded by 12ft high sugar cane
-Watching the "Spouting Horn" dragon sounding blowhole shoot water 20 ft up in the air
-Hiking on one of the few active volcanos of the world, Mt. Kilauea, and seeing steam vents surrounding me and feeling the heat of the ground change as we hiked closer and closer to the lava
This is my first full week being back. I did some sock knitting while I was gone, and have been working on sock #2 to match the other toe-up sock. I am not sure if I will like how they feel on my feet, since I am used to cuff-down socks. They might grow on me though once I finish the second one, and can wear the whole pair at the same time.
Also, I am still, yes, still knitting on the blue sweater, it must be invincible to keep surviving all this time and energy. I pinned the first sleeve into the armhole, and it fit great. Then I compared sleeve two to it, and found that sleeve two was 2 inches longer than sleeve one (the one that fit really well). So there was frogging in order, and I ripped back 2 inches before the sleeve decreases, so I could add the 2 st increase that the other sleeve had, and documented all the pattern for the good sleeve. I am either 12 or 16 rows away from the end. Then, I will actually have 2 sleeves to set in, and then sew on the buttons, weave in the tails, and I will have a new sweater, ready early for fall. Next fall that is, or one of these cold evenings.
I am no longer in HI, Hawaii, but I was. But not before I got sick. It was a little bit of a whirlwind trying to get my work done before I left on a Wed. while I was battling a virus. But I did it. It just meant that there wasn't much blogging.
I have been back from HI since a week ago Monday, and it was a great trip. I will have lots of pics to share.
Some highlights:
-visiting Aloha Yarn and meeting Nanea, and getting materials to crochet a lei
-eating at Todai, and eating too much sushi after hiking and doing some swimming to get extra hungry before the huge buffet
-Finding the secluded Polihale Beach in Kauaii by driving down a narrow visciously pot-holed road surrounded by 12ft high sugar cane
-Watching the "Spouting Horn" dragon sounding blowhole shoot water 20 ft up in the air
-Hiking on one of the few active volcanos of the world, Mt. Kilauea, and seeing steam vents surrounding me and feeling the heat of the ground change as we hiked closer and closer to the lava
This is my first full week being back. I did some sock knitting while I was gone, and have been working on sock #2 to match the other toe-up sock. I am not sure if I will like how they feel on my feet, since I am used to cuff-down socks. They might grow on me though once I finish the second one, and can wear the whole pair at the same time.
Also, I am still, yes, still knitting on the blue sweater, it must be invincible to keep surviving all this time and energy. I pinned the first sleeve into the armhole, and it fit great. Then I compared sleeve two to it, and found that sleeve two was 2 inches longer than sleeve one (the one that fit really well). So there was frogging in order, and I ripped back 2 inches before the sleeve decreases, so I could add the 2 st increase that the other sleeve had, and documented all the pattern for the good sleeve. I am either 12 or 16 rows away from the end. Then, I will actually have 2 sleeves to set in, and then sew on the buttons, weave in the tails, and I will have a new sweater, ready early for fall. Next fall that is, or one of these cold evenings.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
The Yarn Harlot's new book, with my sock
Yesterday I was supremely frustrated with this sock. It has a short row toe- which I completed, and then knit on to the heel. Then I was stuck, over and over I tried to pick up the wrapped stitch and got a hole in my knitting. Over and over. Kelle tried to teach me a short row with a backwards yarnover, and I almost caught on. Almost.
Last night I tried again, giving myself one last try before bed. No luck. This morning I tried again, before going to work. No luck. Same pesky little holes. I would have left them and kept on with the sock but I wanted the sock to last longer than that, and to be knit right.
I went to the dentist this afternoon, then napped. When I woke I tried again on the short row. I ripped back to the start of the heel, rearranged all my stitches on the needle, then gave it another try, slowly doing all the wrapped stitches over again. Then, magic happened when I picked up my wrapped stitches (while carefully reading the directions, one time for every wrapped stitch). And then, it clicked, and I sighed a big sigh of relief. I had made it happen after try after try, it clicked.
Last night I tried again, giving myself one last try before bed. No luck. This morning I tried again, before going to work. No luck. Same pesky little holes. I would have left them and kept on with the sock but I wanted the sock to last longer than that, and to be knit right.
I went to the dentist this afternoon, then napped. When I woke I tried again on the short row. I ripped back to the start of the heel, rearranged all my stitches on the needle, then gave it another try, slowly doing all the wrapped stitches over again. Then, magic happened when I picked up my wrapped stitches (while carefully reading the directions, one time for every wrapped stitch). And then, it clicked, and I sighed a big sigh of relief. I had made it happen after try after try, it clicked.
To ooh and ah at the Harlot's magnificence
She knit this, on very small needles I might add. Pretty much breath-taking. It's called Bohus.
Look! It's a Yarn Harlot!!!
Not a monogamous knitter- project wise. She is married though. She just can't keep her hands off multiple knitting partners, I mean projects.
And she came to St. Paul last night.
I told my Chiropractor I was going to see the Yarn Harlot. He seemed amazed that there could exist such a person. He also laughed at the amusement of going to see a Yarn Harlot, as the world of knitting knows no boundaries. My Mom and Aunt came too, and had some good laughs. They also enjoyed the eye candy- knitted amazing sweaters, shawls, berets, socks of course, but I did not see any ponchos. Hmm. I wore my Vogue Knitting purple sweater with the mohair ruffle trim. I was roasty, toasty warm in a room jam-packed with knitters in costume.
And she came to St. Paul last night.
I told my Chiropractor I was going to see the Yarn Harlot. He seemed amazed that there could exist such a person. He also laughed at the amusement of going to see a Yarn Harlot, as the world of knitting knows no boundaries. My Mom and Aunt came too, and had some good laughs. They also enjoyed the eye candy- knitted amazing sweaters, shawls, berets, socks of course, but I did not see any ponchos. Hmm. I wore my Vogue Knitting purple sweater with the mohair ruffle trim. I was roasty, toasty warm in a room jam-packed with knitters in costume.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
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