Chronic Ennui

Feet First

I've been away for so long, that I decided to just jump back in feet first.  Which, actually, is the way I've been living life lately.  Those of you who know me fairly well, know that I lead a very compartmentalized, controlled and risk-free sort of existence.  Somehow in the last few months, I agreed to throw caution to the wind; give up the comforts of my safe, little condo and buy a home.  A dream home. 

Or so we thought....

Oh, it's beautiful and all that.  The location (on the river) sublime.  There's even a barn for Jim's workshop with a finished loft. 

But, somehow, I was so taken by the seller's decorating that I foolishly thought, "We can move right in.  We won't have to do a thing!"  Hah!  Double HAH!  Oh, the folly.

I could tell you how the seller, who like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, took every last fixture right down to the bathroom mirrors.  She left nothing but spackled holes, forcing us to paint every room in the house.  Oh, and yeah, the last night she slept here, on our dime?  Her dog got sprayed by skunk.  "Oh, you might smell it a bit."  A bit?  A BIT?!  I might spend the next two weeks trying to get rid of the smell! 

Or I could tell you about the foreign cleaning ladies I hired to help me clean the bathrooms and kitchen and woodwork.  When I asked if they could possibly come back again, the Engish-speaking one ever so politely said, "I don't tink so." 

Or how Joey, on the first chance he got, ran out the front door and up the street towards "home."  I had to scream at him that we were going for a ride so he would come back.  Or about the unprecedented tornado that ripped through town the first weekend we moved in.  Yeah, I could tell you all of that and much, much more. 

The truth is that once we have added our touches and invest a small fortune, this house will be our dream house.  Little by little, we are unpacking, painting, adding the familiar and trying to make it our own.  For a controlled, anxiety-ridden person like myself, I am feeling as though my snow globe has been shaken. 

But I'm still spending Tuesdays with my little cut-up, and that makes me happy.

 

I have so many projects that I'm knitting in my head.  And a couple I'm actually trying to work on.  And the new Norah Gaughan book I bought to dream over.  And a big project at work.  So much swirling through my head.  Guess I'll just jump in.  Feet first.

Oh, and so far?  No ghosts!

 

Where Have I Been?!

Wow, it's been awhile, hasn't it?  You know you've let it go too long when you have to think about your password. 

The baby shower for my girlfriend was last weekend, and I held my breath as little girls helped the mommy tear open package after package.  I was sure that the little angora booties I'd made would be tossed with the rest of the wayward tissue paper.  It's such a shame that with the advent of the baby registry, unique gifts have fallen by the wayside.  Not that that would stop me one bit, but it does make for a rather tedious gift-opening experience.  I think my handmades were much appreciated.  The best part is that Baby Grace was born just five days after the shower, four weeks early! 

 

Everyone said, "boy," but "Auntie Kimmy" got her wish.  Now all of the things I didn't get the chance to make for Gianna will be made for the other "Baby G."

Once all of the baby gifts had been completed, I was left in the unusual position of having nothing on my needles.  That is, until I spied this free pattern in Ravelry.  The Victorian Lace Scarf.  I loved it the moment I spotted it and knew that I must cast on immediately.  It was a very quick knit because I chose Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light instead of laceweight yarn and knit it all in one piece. 

I love the detail in this simple-yet-elegant pattern.  I think I will try it again with lace though; this scarf is not as delicate as it could have been.

Next up is another Ultra Alpaca Light project.  I am following the basic pattern for Juliana but using the stitch pattern from the Cable and Lace All In One that I just finished.  Typically not one to improvise, I hope this will look like the vision in my head. 

Other than that, not much else going on except for some very sweet babysitting experiences.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to everyone!

Not Baaaaad....

It's been a crazy couple of weeks, but I managed to finish up some of the baby projects I started.  I feel so much better - so relieved!  With the exception of buttons, the Cabled All-in-One is done, and I love it!  I'm thinking that it would make a really pretty throw in a heavyweight fabric. 

The combination of lace and cable is really lovely and also fun to work.  The picot edging gives this little romper that extra touch of elegance.  This pattern was so well-thought-out; every piece fit perfectly into place.  It just felt so right all the way through.  I only wish I had a model to show it off.  Alas, Gianna is long past this stage...

I recently purchased Natural Knits for Babies and Toddlers, which I felt contained some really adorable patterns.  Oddly enough, the first one I chose to try was this little Sheep Comfort Buddy.  If I had any idea how many french knots or how much sewing would be involved getting that satin ribbon attached with mitred corners, I doubt I would have attempted it.

It's admittedly quite imperfect, but isn't that what handmade gifts are all about?  At least that's what I'll tell the recipient...

Thank you for all the good wishes for our sick baby.  She is much, much better now.  Like Typhoid Mary, she passed her illness onto a few other people like her mom and grandmother.  But she seems to be back to her adorable self...

Spreading cuteness...

and cereal puffs...

Have a great week!