Somewhere rock climbing I bet

This is a taste of what I might be doing today.



Watching my husband rock climb and occasionally putting on my own harness to belay him on the higher climbs. After he ties me to a tree or something so that if he does fall I don't go flying towards the rock (it has happened).



It is amazing how many self picutures you can take when you are bored!

I am sure we are having an amazing time and I might even get a picture of me tied to a tree, it is actually pretty funny.

Distraction

I am going to give you some pretty flowers to keep you occupied while I am away. Last week I learned my husband likes having flowers in the yard. Can't go wrong with that. The pansies I planted in the urns out front had long since wasted away in the summer heat (those few days we had some). So I picked up some inpatients at a recent trip to Home Depot. I am truly amazed as the differences at each store location. One store had nothing but wilted gross looking plants, the other had gorgeous blooms.

I have been trying to keep an eye out on the perennials, planning for next year. We have a spot by the side door that I really want to try some sweet peas in the spring. We have some peonies I want to move because once the blooms are gone they are are kind of blah. Some other flowers I want to add are daisies and maybe some dahlias.

I need a paint fairy

Last night I got a little paint happy. Can you tell in the picture below the two spots I painted an identical color on the wall (according to my husband). Because if you can tell where they are then they aren't the SAME!



I had my mom and my brother over this weekend (separately) and they both said the current color was nice. It can be at certain times of the day, but at night when the overhead light is on it is not. I am aware that it probably doesn't look that bad in the pictures, but when you combine it with the counter and cabinets its like I have a minty kitchen which is not really what I was going for.



So I have been trying to pick the perfect green for a while now, and since I had thought I picked a good color when I painted it originally I have come to the conclusion that I suck at this.

If you go back up to the first picture you will see a four color paint chip card behind the security key pad. I am now considering the two on the right.

I am having a rough day so if you have any paint suggestions I would happily check them out. My husband woke me up at 5:50 this morning to tell me that his wallet and loan information was stolen out of his car overnight. We are going on vacation next week and now have no credit card or bank card. I am beyond irritated at the whole situation because last night I said to him, "You shouldn't leave your wallet in the car overnight". Obviously he was to lazy to go out and get it. AND apparently the key lock thing on his key doesn't work anymore so he didn't lock the doors. So of course off to work he goes and I get to call all the cards and the police. The nice officer that came over to the house had nice minty breath and I was in my pj's with stink breath. Why isn't it Friday yet?

New Project

Last week I was checking out some posts on Grumperina. When I came across her post about Vintage Baby Knits. They were just the cutest things. Baby items always pull at my heart strings, show me a pair of baby shoes and I am done.

As I have mentioned before my sister-in-law is expecting her third in October. I may not be able to knit her little one to be a baby blanket, but I know I can manage a hat. The Stella Pixie Hat (free on the publisher's web site) from Vintage Baby knits just called out to me.

The next thing I knew I was on the Blue Moon Fiber Arts website trying to pick some colors. I figured since my co-work is also expecting I could whip up two hats instead of one and why not order the yarn now.



It came in the mail on Saturday. We are headed out next week to try round two of vacation camping, heading north instead of south. So I will probably bring this new project along. (ravelry link). Please keep your fingers crossed for me though, as the current ten day forecast has 60% chance of rain Monday and Tuesday.

FO: My First Skirt

I did get some time Sunday afternoon to attempt my first skirt.



Laying out some old wrapping paper on the living room floor I used the book's instructions for drawing out the pattern according to my measurements. I used the first pattern which is a drawstring skirt with a pocket (Classic A-Line Skirt), but I changed it to an elastic waist and didn't add the pocket or any trim.



This is what I ended up with. It is a skirt, but it wasn't that successful. It is to big. There is an elastic waist but the hip area is to big. However this was a learning experience. Using the books as a guide I had to measure myself and try to figure out the basics of getting clothes to fit.



I will try this again I think, but maybe with a drawstring. I already have a linen drawstring skirt that I love and wear constantly. The book suggests taking a skirt you already own (that doesn't have darts) and measuring that. Time to check the stash to see if I have any other fabric that is a yard and a half.

I should not have..

Bought this book. But that whole 25 dollar spent gets you free shipping on Amazon always makes me buy just one more thing, which is usually worth it for the free shipping.



I did want this book, Sew What! Skirts, but I have so many other sewing books that I have not used yet. Although I do have plans for them. I got my batting in the mail this week for my baby blankets. I am pretty excited about these, just have to wash the fabric and get started!

So back the skirt book. I love skirts. I prefer them to shorts as I think they are cooler and more flattering. Since I am not all that comfortable with winging it, I thought this might help me a little. So I *plan* on trying to make a skirt this weekend. Really I do. I will show it to you Monday to prove it! Wish me luck.

Yarn Winnings

I would assume that all of the knitting community knows about Claudia and her yearly fundraiser. This is my third year donating and I won yet again. It amazes me considering how much money she raises that I won.



I got my prize in the mail yesterday (along with a huge black hairy spider, but let's not talk about that one). I was very excited. The donor choose some of Claudia's favorite colors as prizes. I have never knitted a sock but I think this might be the little nudge I need. I wonder if my sister wants some orange socks.

Fire and Marshmallows...

There is something about men and fire that I will never understand. While I do enjoy a good campfire once in a while I don't have the obsession that some people in my life do.

A few years ago we received a joint Christmas gift. We broke it in this past weekend. It was a nice way to relax in our own backyard after a day long day stuck in the kitchen.

While we didn't have any marshmallows for smores, we did have some beverages and a good game of cribbage.

I did however find a very tempting recipe today, Springy, Fluffy Marshmallows. I remember talking about making marshmallows around Christmas time, but never got around to it. Maybe I will this summer. I am sure they will be just as yummy as smores as they would be with hot chocolate.

Book of Knitting

I bought myself a journal of sorts. Every time I want to knit something for someone I have to ask them what size they are. Since it is usually a gift this ruins the surprise. Not to mention I have learned it is best not to announce you are doing something and then not deliver. Enter the purple journal, that nicely matches my current knitting.

I am pretty sure knitting is going to be my life long friend. This book can potential hold a written record of all the knitting and possibly sewing I do. I know there is ravelry as a sort of knitting documentation. However nothing can replace the written word. The hard copy that can be passed on to future generations.

I have a family party of sorts to go to at the end of the month. I will be armed with my book and a tape measure. I am trying to put together a list of measurements I would want. I think I want to include socks in there in case I ever get the urge. Some of the basics are head, height, wrist, palm and maybe bust and waist. We will see how willing people will be, excluding my immediate family who don't have a choice! It will be interesting to see the littlest family members grow over time!

Not exactly right...

So I am not in love with my new kitchen color. I spent two long days painting it and I am thinking I might have to do it again in a couple weeks. I am a little depressed about it. Anybody got a green paint color they love. One that doesn't look like hospital green or sea foam green. A nice light rich green...

It is started at least

Today is the day we finally started to paint the kitchen.



Well prepped and primed the walls that is. I think we are done for the day though. We shall see if it gets finished tomorrow!

This is the third room we have painted in the house so I think I am allowed to decide if I like painting or not. It is definitely a NOT. How expensive are professional painters because I really really don't want to paint the living room/upstairs hallway myself.

More Curtains

I need bedroom curtains. Well okay need might be the wrong word... want is probably better. I have fallen in love with these curtains from Crate and Barrel. A few weeks ago I even tried to check them out in the store (no luck finding them though). Lets drool over them together shall we.

Oh so pretty. I however can't stomach the price tag, even on sale. I need four of them that would be $356 excluding shipping for bedroom curtains, and they don't come in the length I need them. Let us not forget the fact that I need to buy two curtain rods also.

So I figured I would troll the internet looking for cheaper substitutes. What I like about these curtains is the sheer pattern that isn't that see through and offers some visual interest. What I probably won't get in a substitute is the hammer cut design layered with a sheer.

I can hope though right. Then of course show them to you all and see what you think, because heaven knows I can never make a decision. Not to mention when I ask my husband what he thinks, he will have a brain aneurysm and say something like aren't they all the same? To which I will reply, the color maybe but they are all VERY different!

Please bear with me as I found a lot of candidates. While I don't love them all as much as the original I want to compare them.

Option 1 - total cost $120

Option 2 - total cost $80

Option 3 - total cost $116

Option 4 - total cost $180

Option 5 - $220



Option 6 just a plain and simple window scarf.



I would appreciate every one's thought on this. As I am sure you all know picking out curtains is hard work! You should of see me last night trying to talk to my husband about the size of rug we should get for the office! Then I mentioned curtains and his eyes glazed over and he slowly backed out of the room. It cracked me up.

Daily Ritual:6

This morning I did something I do every weekday morning. I lock the door. My husband leaves for work well before me and always locks the door knob, but doesn't ever feel like putting the key in to lock the deadbolt.

To me this seems like a silly little daily ritual. Last week I forgot to and when I came home my husband asked me why I didn't lock it. I didn't even realize he knew I did it.

I am amazed at how many things we all do on a daily basis. Far more then I ever expected.

Baby blankets to be

Last night as I was coming home I noticed a nice fat envelope in the mailbox. I practically ran to the front door I was so excited. Just last week I placed a fabric order on Etsy.com.

I am getting a new niece in October and I figured I would try to sew something up for her since my knitting track record with baby blankets is horrible. I also still owe her big brother a blanket so I thought I would whip something up for him as well. But then there is the oldest boy who was born before I started knitting and we wouldn't want him to feel left out now would we?! Thus my fabric buying binge.



I thought these two fabrics would be great for Tyler who is 6.



Then we have the soon to be baby girl. When I picked this out I thought that background was black, but it actually is brown. I think it will be a nice change to all the pink I am sure she will be getting.



Then we have Colin who is 3. This isn't the best picture of the animal fabric but it is really cute. I know he is going to like it.

Now I just need to get some batting and crack open one of my sewing books. There is a simple baby blanket pattern in Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts that I want to try. Since I will be making three of them I wanted it to be pretty simple. I really can't wait to get started.

4th of July Dessert

Last week I was flipping through the channels and settled on the food network for a few minutes. Paula Dean happen to be making a Blueberry Tart. My husband started drooling. So I attempted to whip this up for a pre-fireworks dinner we were suppose to go to on Friday.



I got a tart pan as a wedding gift and had yet to use it. However it was not the correct size that the recipe called for. I still went on, figuring I could make it work. In retrospect I should of used LESS dough for the crust. I had a mighty thick crust for my tart. It all worked out though as everyone loved the crust. It was like a shortbread cookie almost with some pecans thrown in for good measure.



It always amazes me that there is more to learn in the baking world. The recipe calls for 2 three ounce cheese cream packages. I didn't even realize they made them that small. I also didn't realize that the larger 6 ounce package has marks on it like butter breaking it up into ounces. Oh the things we learn. And boy are those tart edges pretty! I didn't get the best pictures as we ending up eating it at night while camping, but it certainly had a pretty presentation.

Definitely some sun today

Went to the ocean today. Spent the super sunny (and windy) day with the extended family at the water. A wonderful way to end the weekend. Although we stayed to long and didn't get home in time for the fireworks. That is what happens when they head out on the boat for some water skiing and don't come back for an hour and a half.

My husband says he can find some around this summer to make it up to me. He also said I get to pick where I want to see them next year. I saw New York City's on TV last night. Those looked like some awesome fireworks. I bet DC has some great ones also... Oh the possibilities. I do have a year to decide though!

Sun! Well almost.

Time got away from me this weekend, which was nice enough to start at 2pm on Thursday! My mom called Friday morning to tell me she had just driven by the high school and the fireworks were postponed till Sunday night (that we might not be able to make).

I can't even tell you how bummed I was. It almost ruined my whole day, but since the evening plans had changed we decided to take a little road trip.



We ended Friday relaxing by a lake with a campfire.



Waking up to this beautiful view. What a better way to start the 4th of July.



The weather forecast for this area was a little unpredictable. It had rained on our trip up Friday afternoon. Everything was soaked. We watched thunder and lightening in the distance all night. The lake was super high, all the docks were underwater even. We decided to go on a hike anyways.



I have done enough self pictures that he doesn't even complain anymore.



Some mid morning sun.



Afternoon rains to come. All I hoped for was to get down before it rained. The trail in the "dry" state was pretty wet and slippery.



It was a great day. We got home in time for me to make some cookies for tomorrow's family celebration. I also made some yummy blueberry tart Friday that I will share with you this week. It was a hit.

Cross your fingers for me that I actually get to see some fireworks this weekend or else I will be very sad. Oh and I actually squeezed some knitting in last night also, it was so nice!

Happy 4th of July!

Daily Ritual:5

I forgot today was Wednesday and so I didn't think I had a daily ritual picture for you all. Then it occurred to me that last night's activities could fall under that category for some people. It doesn't really for me but it certainly should.



The dreaded "yard work". In the fuzzy background of this pretty flower (anyone know what kind it is?) you can see some green. Those aren't flowers, those are weeds. My husband mowed the lawn and I weeded, and it felt good.

We haven't really been focusing on the outside of our new home that much. There is just to much going on inside. But since we had a small break in the rain yesterday we hit the lawn running. In the future though I could see myself tending my flower beds on a daily basis. So this is a Daily Ritual aspiration of sorts.