Let's go fly a kite!

I have known J for as long as I have had this bag in the works, and I'm happy to announce that the monk satchel, though not perfect is complete. My sewing skills need vast improvement, but I'll work at that slowly. I'm just thrilled to take it off the list of unfinished projects! I just love the liner fabric though. Purlsoho is just far to much fun. I get lost just looking through all the fabric and yarn.

It was another successful day of kiting! To follow many other "real" kiters, because I do not even pretend to be more than a complete rookie, the weather report was as follows, winds were light out of the west/northwest. The snow was gone, glare ice was the surface. J doesn't ski and wasn't up to testing his fate on the ice with his snowboard for the very first outing so he busted out the 5 meter and static flew. I was fortunate enough to use Molly's 7.5 meter again.

Snickets are completed!

They're here! My new beautiful socks! I'm so happy with them. Everything about them is wonderful. The color of the yarn, the details in the pattern, the way they fit! It's a March miracle. The pattern came from Magknits and I love them. I had to put them up!

Kiting!

I did it! I spent some quality time kiting. It's taken almost a month to get back out on the ice and under a kite but I must say it was worth the wait. I went up north with my dear friends, Chris and Molly, who make busy people seem like couch potatoes and decided that I'd take a weeks worth of Eleanor Roosevelt's quote, "Do something everyday that scares you." and apply it to one day out. It wasn't scary, I actually remembered all of Rachel's good teaching and had a wonderful time! Don't count the fact that I took this picture while I was suppose be holding the handle!

The best part of the day was that I broke out of my "hamster wheel" and was able to navigate the kite away from the anchor where we were storing our gear AND made it right back without having to walk. That was a very proud moment - then I collapsed from exhaustion.


Here's Mr Chris, the day was cloudy but worth it!

An added bonus to the weekend was that traveling allowed for more knitting! The socks are finished!

Process or Product?

Well today, while in a local yarn shop, a conversation began about my love and obsession with my basket of favorite yarn. I keep this basket in the sitting room, in full view for all to admire, but mostly for me. I just love the look of it, sometimes I rearrange the color combinations, change the way it's organized or even just pause in front of it before moving to the task at hand.


When I shared this with the ladies in the shop, one agreed with me that little bits like this were part of the fun, while the other stated it was taking away from my knitting time. So once again the division between "process" knitters and "project" knitters was defined. I, myself, am always happy to have a finished project that I love and can proudly proclaim I am the creator of; however, I can't count the hours I have spent happily involved in the whole process, and even when the project ends in disaster, I start it all over again!

Vacation is officially over.

We made it back! I don't think there is any place more worth a trip than Utah, I've been there in the summer and the winter. It would take hours of sole searching to determine when I liked it best. I'm happy to report that I completely enjoy winter again too - the one question I have is, have you ever seen such big goggles on a girl? They take up my entire helmet.

We made the trip without event, all connecting flights were met with luggage aboard. I'm thrilled to announce that my wonderful friend Jen is married. This too took place over our vacation and I actually was able to attend her ceremony. The fact that we made it to Baltimore is truly a miracle. She and Mr. S had a beautiful and short ceremony, I've been told by J that if we ever get married it too will be that short. Ahh, Mr. Romance lives in my house!

Progress on the knitting projects: the broken cables socks are officially "broken" to quote my favorite three year old. I completely ripped them out over the weekend. I've moved on to the snicket socks and those are about 40% underway. The sweater is about 50% completed AND I have a new pair of leg warmers!!!!

Miles Posting

In an effort to get back into shape I am going to publicly post the miles I pedal! Yikes, I need motivation and maybe staving off public humiliation will do that for me. Bare in mind that all next week I'll be far from any opportunity to get on a bike, so cut me a bit of slack for at least a week pleeeeeeez.

finished and unfinished business

Well, I'm happy to report that I have actually finished a project, or rather 6 projects! That is almost unheard of my world these days! I made romanesc insulated shades for our skylights. Granted, it wasn't a complicated job seeing as I haven't touched a sewing machine in about 20 years; however I did actually do it and they don't look bad. I'm not thrilled about the fabric, but I didn't think dumping a lot of money into them every time my love of a new print or color scheme resurfaced. This actually seems to happen on a 4-6 month cycle, so I went very neutral. I'll save color for the pillows! So my goal of completing them before spring has occurred. Hopefully this will help with the heat loss we are experiencing on the roof.

I made a larger one for a doorway to a mudroom. This one ran into problems, I'd love suggestions if there are any. I've hung it up and am letting it "stew" until I form a solution. J has made a good one, which makes sense that the engineer would be a better seamstress than myself!

I NEVER thought I would be the one to state this, but I'm a little bit tired of winter.............. My cure for this feeling is a trip to Utah and to have fun with winter again! Last weekend at Girlstorm definately helped so a week skiing should give me some enthusiasm too. Imagine not having to shovel for a week!!!!!!

But to prove just how pathetic I am, what project do I take?