Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Around the house

I really love this house.

It has lots of charm.


This garland is from my pen-pal.
Did you know I am in the LWA?


Powder room doorknob...with no lock.

I actually didn't notice until
someone asked about it
the other day.


We have two of these windows...


I used to think this ceiling in the living room
was too dark.
But now it reminds me of the ceiling in church
and it's growing on me.


Rainbow Trader Joe's lemonades...


Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Orange

I found some orange around the house.


I've been loving orange lately.

I love that the word ORANGE 
is just on the edge of this photo.


I even thought it would be a good color
for the tiny downstairs powder room.

Mr. votes N.O.


But I am still leaning that way...

Monday, April 2, 2012

April Fool's!

See this innocent bowl of cereal?


Looks good, doesn't it?


It's F.R.O.Z.E.N.


April Fool's!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade 2012

We braved the crowds 
and went to the parade.

In the train, we were packed 
like a Russian suitcase full of Levi's.
Standing room only.


Folks entertained the crowd
while they waited.
I guess it was a good time to get my 15 minutes of fame.
Too bad I never learned to juggle.
Or ride a unicycle.
My career at the circus is stalled.



We made the sisters wake at 8am.
On a Saturday.
The only thing that made Sister happy
was this sign
which I think she loves because it antagonizes her father.
She's a rebel.



Lookie at that nice family!


The bishop and cardinal were both there.


And, Mr. Joe Biden!
Plenty of secret service guarded him.
That's our Flat Kane! 
We were hosting him from the U.P.


One of the interesting factoids learned at the parade:
The U.S. has more bagpipes than Ireland.

And I think they were all at the parade.


Folks really got into it.


Especially this guy.


And he wasn't the only one with a green beard.

All in all, lots of fun.
Temps in the 70's (YAY!)
Sunny (Double YAY!)
23,000 in the parade
250,000 spectators
Lunch at Noodles
Ice cream at Betsy's

I'd do it again.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

On My Needles

I am experiencing a baby boom.

I thought it would be a good idea
 to make a baby blanket.

It's pretty...
but I'm sort of hating it.
I think it's tedious.
And heavy.
I'm committed though.

Here's the pattern:
Cast on 110 stitches.
K1P1 (seed stitch) for 6 rows.

K1, P1 for first 6 stitches of row 7, 
then knit until the last 6 stitches, ending with 6 seed stitches.
Next row: seed stitch 6 stitches, 
purl to the last 6 stitches, seed stitch.

A lovely seed stitch border
surrounds stripes of stockinette stitches.

Lovely.





But I am already tired of it.


 I also have this on waiting...
which I am EAGER to knit.
But as it is a holiday gift,
it must wait.

Babies come first.



Mr. needs a homemade baby gift
for a friend.
I bought this lovely yellow yarn,
originally for another blanket.

But I am wondering 
if it will be a 

baby sweater instead.



I'll keep you posted.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

More socks

So, based on the Frankenstein-like look of the last socks,
I decided a REAL gift was in order.

I right away got going knitting with GOOD sock yarn.

I bought it for 29% off
at my yarn store's Leap Day Sale.

I wish I could move into my yarn store.



Not bad, right?

Can you tell I am getting better?

I loved the way the yarn looked when it was wound in a ball.

The stripes...
a little weird.

But, who wouldn't think that getting TWO pairs
 of homemade socks for Christmas
was a great thing?
Even if one is more than a bit wonky.



Friday, March 16, 2012

Socks

I have wanted to knit socks
for about 10 years.

I even bought sock yarn.

Good thing it isn't wool, 
or the moths would have had a feast!

I finally decided to knit up that yarn 
(now that I am an Amy's Sock Class Grad).


Unfortunately, there wasn't enough to make a second!

I knitted anyway,
and patched the rest of the sock together 
with lovely scraps from other projects.


The pair...
with an OBVIOUS right and left sock.


When you wear them with shoes,
the patchy sock will not be obvious.

They're a Christmas gift,
for the only person I know
who would appreciate them.  

Luckily, though she might be my biggest fan,
she never reads the blog!