Home!
We are homeowners! We signed the paperwork on John’s 35th birthday (May 27th — happy birthday, my darling!) and got the keys the next day. It’s amazing having our own place. Amazing.
It’s a gorgeous 3 bedroom 2 bath home in an established older neighborhood in central Fairbanks. It has a lovely fenced backyard, and I have three beautiful lilac trees (two white, one purple) and a couple spruce on the property. There are two bedrooms upstairs, a guest bathroom, the living room, and the kitchen/dining area.
The basement is fully finished, and it houses the third bedroom, master bath, laundry area, and second living room. The larger bedroom upstairs is our main sleeping quarters, and the second bedroom is for the kids. The “master bedroom” downstairs is going to be used as the playroom. The second living room is going to serve double duty as John’s office and my crafting corner. The kitchen makes me insanely happy, with its solid surface countertop and stainless steel five-star energy-rated appliances. Actually, the whole house makes me insanely happy. I love our house.
We picked out a living room set (dark chocolate leather reclining matching sofa and loveseat) that should be in stock in about six weeks, and I picked out a lovely dark chocolate rocker/recliner for my crafting corner. The old leather loveseat we have now is going into the playroom. I decided that I’m going to stain all of my existing accessories (end tables, coffee table, tv stand, kids’ chairs, dining chairs) a cherry/mahogany/dark chocolate color. The walls will eventually change from the cafe au lait tan they are now to something more… vibrant. I’m thinking a citrus-y yellow in the living room, a key lime green accent wall in the kitchen, maybe a warm brick red accent wall in the living room. The bedroom right now is a pale sky blue with brown trim, and while I like that there is color, I’m going to change that too, though am undecided as to what it will become. For John’s sake, I will leave my craft corner/his office the cafe au lait tan it is, but the playroom is going to be bold. There might be four different colors (one for each wall), one main bold color with accent pieces painted directly onto the walls, or anything in between. I want it colorful though. A lifetime in rentals with white walls has always gone against my nature. I may even take up painting again to be able to change up the accents for each of my rooms. I’ve missed painting.
I haven’t been much help, I fear, in the moving process. Packing and toting have been difficult for me, what with being 37+ weeks pregnant. John has mostly been left to his own devices for packing the old place and lugging it all over here. Wildfires closed the road to the mine last week, so John was able to get more done since he had to stay home for the week. I did help by managing to get rid of a lot more items (for trash or donations) than I expected to be willing to let go of, and will continue to do so as more of our stuff makes its way over here. Maybe all that will have to wait until after baby comes.
Speaking of baby, I’m 37+ weeks pregnant, officially due June 25th yet I fully expect to deliver before then. We’re having a little boy, whose name has yet to be determined. I’ll be attempting a VBA2C and am quite excited to be done being pregnant. I’m actually “done” now, but apparently this little guy isn’t ready to be on the outside yet. Care to venture a guess as to when he’ll be here? Weight? Height? Maybe I’ll do a giveaway for whomever posits the closest guess!
We got internet and cable hooked up today, and that has helped quite a bit with entertaining not only me but the kids as well since the boy has been less than thrilled about John being back at work today. Yay for internet! I’ll have pictures of the house up eventually, I promise!
Awesome.
I can post from my new Android HTC Hero. John got it for me for Mother’s Day. I had a fantastic one, by the way. Hope you did too.
Some rants
Evolution is not a theory. The world is not 6000 years old. Humans and dinosaurs did not coexist, frolicking happily in the foliage.
The United States of America was founded by illegal immigrants. The native peoples were decimated by the invaders. Those not outright killed on sight were forced to assimilate to the newcomers or faced certain death. At least they can have casinos now, right?
Supporting social programs does not automatically mean that one is a communist or socialist. Chances are insanely high that you or someone in your immediate family benefits directly from a current government-funded social program.
Providing foreign aid is not evil. And for those of you who think that the US should “take care of its own first,” government-funded health care for all would be a perfect way to do this. See above statements about social programs.
Gay marriage does not harm anything. If YOUR marriage is threatened because a queer couple weds, then you need to reconsider your vows, your partner, and your own role in said situation.
Abortion must remain a legal choice in order to remain safe. Outlawing abortion will not abolish its practice; it will only make it more dangerous. Women who decide that abortion is their only or best choice will go to hacks with wire hangers in back alleys if that is the only option available to them. Also, if the fetus you lobby so hard for is born gay, will you still fight for his or her rights?
Ok. I’m done for now.
You Spin Me Right Round
Baby, right round, like a record, baby, right round round round…
Ok.
I got my first taste of Phat Fiber this month. LOVE it. I’m new to spinning, yet already hooked.
Handspun, the first. 1 oz., 1/2 of which is Ashford Corriedale Sliver in Lime, the other 1/2 was the “Macaw” BFL sample from BeesyBee. Both spun & plied on my Louet octagonal 41 g top whorl drop spindle.
Handspun, the first.
25 yards of aran/bulky.
It started as this sample of Macaw on BFL. It spun like a dream.
Macaw BFL by BeesyBee
I’ve also spun the Anemone sample by Hands & Notions.
Anemone
I loved this sample in no uncertain terms. I didn’t think I could love something that had so much stuff in it, but I love it. So much so that I bought a batt. Here’s my 6 g sample all spun up, pre-bath to set the twist: pardon the awful picture
7 yds of awesome
I spun the “Giant Red Eye” by Moonlight & Laughter, a merino/tencel blend, and found that I really really didn’t like the way it felt.
More pictures and updates as more samples get spun!
More knitterly utterings
I used some Madelinetosh Sock for the first time on these Ginsing Madder Ribbed socks that I gifted to my sister-in-law Cara for her most recent milestone birthday. I had a lot of fun making them, and adore the way the colors flashed and swirled.
Ginsing Madder Ribbed
Pattern: Madder Ribbed by Nancy Bush from Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: Ginsing on Madelinetosh Sock, 300 yards
Needles: 2.75 mm 40″ Addi Turbos
Gauge: 7.5 stitches per inch
Finished size: 9.5″ long foot
Here is my first time using Kells Sport for socks, and wouldn’t you figure that I used a too-small gauge and wound up with a too-dense fabric for my tastes. Oh well, it was a fun knit, and will make someone happy as these socks are not destined to stay with me.
Macbeth's Downward Spiral
Pattern: Spiraling Master Coriolis by Cat Bordhi from New Pathways for Sock Knitters
Yarn: Macbeth on Kells Sport by Three Irish Girls, October 2009 Sock Yarnista offering
Needles: 2.25 mm 40″ Addi Turbos
Gauge: 8.5 stitches/12 rows per inch
Finished size: 9.5″ long foot
And a lovely shawlette that is sadly also not destined to stay with me. As much as I adore the way this came together, it just isn’t me. Is it you?
Traveling Kate
Pattern: Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante
Yarn: Kate on McClellan Fingering by Three Irish Girls, 336 yards
Needles: 4.0 mm Addi Lace
Gauge: 6 stitches per inch unblocked
Finished size: 66″ by 21″
Knit This!
Umbrous: A Shawl by Crystal S. McDonald
Pattern: Umbrous: A Shawl by Crystal S. McDonald (that’s me, yo!) Buy it here or on Ravelry
Yarn: Mountain Cathedrals on McClellan Fingering by Three Irish Girls, February 2010 Sock Yarnista club offering. Pattern used ~425 yards, or 110 g.
Needles: 4.0 mm Addi Lace
Finished size: 60″ by 32″
Umbrous, sport weight version
Umbrous, close-up of bottom point
Close-up of body
Pattern: Umbrous: A Shawl by Crystal S. McDonald (still me, yo!)
Yarn: Morgaine on Kells Sport by Three Irish Girls, October 2009 Sock Yarnista club offering. Pattern used 138 g.
Needles: 4.0 mm Addi Lace
Finished size: 60″ by 33″
Meet Umbrous. A Shawl. Umbrous is my first shawl pattern, and new designs are in the works!
Umbrous can be knit in any weight yarn, and is adjustable to any number of repeats.
My lovely team of Ravelry test knitters have done this shawl in lace weight, fingering, sport, and worsted. They’ve made them in variegateds, semi-solids, and solids. They’ve all turned out gorgeous and, yes, I know that means I’m bragging.
So, buy it now here or on Ravelry, queue it up in Ravelry, and join the Hippie Diva Creations KALs & CALs group!
Wowzers!
We’ve been busy! But what’s new?
Spring is here — all the snow is gone, all the rotting dog poo is exposed at the apartment complex, and the days are getting wicked long. Love the daylight! Too bad it means less sleep since Sweet Pea is convinced she must be awake if it’s light out.
Speaking of Camilla, she’s officially a walker! She started taking a few steps at the beginning of March. She’s so cautious; she wants to be completely sure of things before she does them, and if she isn’t, she won’t do them at all. (Sound familiar?) She’s built up confidence, and now walks more than crawls! She’s even trying to practice walking while doing other things, walking backwards, and walking while bouncing/jumping. She’s so proud of herself, and we’re amazingly proud of her! Even JR recognizes that it’s a huge milestone for her.
The two of them are so sweet and fun together. They play together great, and are often running rampant making each other giggle. There would be more of that going on here if we weren’t all sick. I hate the cold we all get every spring! I feel like we’ve all been sick with something or other for like the last month. Ugh.
Oh, here’s a look on her face I know I’ll see plenty of when she’s older:
Camilla must be thinking, 'My mama is craaaaaaaazy.'
Because spring is here, JR can go to the playground again! Daddy took him up to the swingset at the apartment complex last weekend. I would have gone, but my cold prevents me from many fun things these days. Look at this happy boy!
Wheeeeee!
And we’re in the final stretch of this pregnancy! Baby McD #3 is just weeks away! Eeek! I’m so ready to be done being pregnant, but not quite ready to have another baby in the house… what a predicament. I have lots of baby knitting to do, and not much time to do it! Also, we really need to decide on a name for this little guy before his big debut…
They actually get along sometimes.
Awwwwwwww...
No paparazzi, please
Ok, now you can take our picture.
Off the Needles
I’ve been up to knitterly goodness!
My mother-in-law got this (badly blocked) Aestlight shawl. The colorway is named “Seacoast” and I made this for her because she loves going to the coast — the family does an annual trip to Port Aransas, TX, and this reminded me of the sunrises there.
Mona's 'Port A Sunrise'
Pattern: Aestlight by Gudrun Johnston (Ravel it!)
Yarn: Seacoast on Finley Fingering by Three Irish Girls
Needles: 4.0 mm Addi Turbos
~~ Camilla got two new pair of wool longies:
Camilla's Amethyst Longies
Pattern: Perfection Pants with Curly Purly waistband
Yarn: Pewter Amethyst on Carys BFL by Three Irish Girls
Needles: 3.25 mm, 3.75 mm, 4.5 mm
Waterlilies Longies
Pattern: Perfection Pants with Curly Purly waistband
Yarn: Ella Rae Classic for waistband & cuffs; Waterlilies on Lindon Merino by Three Irish Girls for main body
Needles: 3.25 mm, 3.75 mm, 4.5 mm, 5 mm
~~ One of John’s coworkers is having a baby! Her welcome-to-the-world gift:
IT Baby hat & booties
Pattern: Hat pattern is my own design, which will be available soon!
Pattern: Booties — Crochet Baby Warmers Set by Michele Woodford & Kim Kotary
Yarn: Ella Rae Classic Superwash
Hook: 5.0 mm (H) for hat, 5.5 mm (I) for booties
~~ And I made myself some socks!
Om nom nom
Pattern: Goneril & Reagan by Liz Abinante
Yarn: Forest on Dream in Color Starry
Needles: 2.5 mm Addi Turbos
I’ll tell you all about my other projects next time!
Sibling love
Awwww...
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