It Really IS Spring!

I meant to post this Tuesday, so pretend it is Tuesday the 17th as you read this. Tuesday it was warm and sunny with blue skies (check local listings).

Today (Tuesday - play along) I was so envigorated by the warmth and blue skies that I wanted to do something outside. I really do think my mood is affected by the dreary days (one here and there is fine - you have to have some excuses to stay in all day and knit/crochet as you watch hours of TV!).

At first I wasn't sure what to do outside (clean out my desperately messy car, sit and crochet on my deck) and then I saw what Zipper had been doing to the cloth toy I foolishly bought for her and gave to her about 20 minutes prior (it looked sturdier than many others - but now I think that maybe only NASA could construct a toy sturdy enough for this 10 lb. tornado):

Look at her determination as she rips him apart, thread by thread:

Drunk on Power and Fuzz:

Obviously, Zipper needed something to do. So we went to the park for a walk around the track and a romp in the Dog Park area. Now its been a good long while since Zipper has been subjected to a walk (she has a short attention span), so I was worried she wouldn't be into it.

But she LOVED it - and how could she not? It was such a great day out there.

Enjoying the view across the meadow (soccer field):


On the scent of... I think its a....KILLER ROBIN!!!

Exploring the Mighty Pioneer Creek:

Surveying the land that she has just conquered in the name of Puppydom.

I can't wait to have more days like this one. They're coming.....right?

The Torid and True Details of My Illicit Affair

Well, I promised I'd tell all, and in true tabloid style, I'm prepared to expose my affair to the world.

Okay - here it goes:

Knitting was my first real hobby love - a crush that turned into the real thing. But recently, my hands have been wondering.....

I still love knitting - the way the little "v's" look in stockinette stitch, the endless stitch and pattern possibilities - everything. But.....

I've started "seeing" another hobby: crochet. Ahhh - it feels so good to finally say it! It all started innocently enough - I was reading a blog and looking at the gorgeous pictures of a Granny Square Afghan in the making. And one thing led to another and before I knew it I was glued to the computer, looking at all kinds of crazy pictures - it just happened so fast!

Temptation got the best of me and I let my infatuation take over. I got a hook, I checked out a book on crochet from the library, I found some yarn that compliments my bedroom. And then, I started experimenting around. It was all innocent enough at first - just healthy exploration - normal for a girl my age. But it was addicting and I couldn't stop. Before I knew it, I had this:

Though I was finding much excitement and satisfaction from all my multicolored squares and dreaming of what they will look like when they become my masterpiece blanket, my affair was bittersweet. I would pass by my lonely knitting basket and notice so many unfinished projects - a scarf, a sock, an afghan, a sweater, etc. Was I neglecting knitting? Was the fire gone from our relationship? I didn't think so, but I did do a lot of soul searching.

Despite my concerns I couldn't help myself. What crochet and I have feels too right even if its wrong. And if being wrong feels this good, I don't want to be right! The relationship moved to a new level this past weekend. I started another blanket. I know, I know - I should have learned my lesson the first time. But how was I supposed to resist after I found this? Though it may be graphic, I must post more pictures of the newest fling. Look away if you must.

Like I said before, I've been doing a lot of soul-searching throughout this process and I think I have achieved peace. Call it justification if you want, but I think that knitting and I are mature enough to transition into an "open relationship". You know - free love and following your heart. Heck - sometimes knitting itself even cozies up with crochet and cohabits the same garment or project.

I sat the kids down and explained our new arrangement with them. While the cats are still adjusting to the idea, Zipper was very forward-thinking and accepted it right away; a sure sign that it can't be bad.

So, with much courage I stand before you today (electronically speaking) and profess, with pride: I Am A Hooker!

All Aboard the Daddy Express

In our ongoing effort to thoroughly spoil our pets, we have reached a new high (or low). Check out Zipper's new preferred mode of transport. She took a tour of the house on "The Daddy Express" now she's taken to calling Randy "servant boy".

I know I promised the details of my sordid affair, but I guess I'm just not ready to spill my guts just yet. Hopefully I will be ready to share all by tonight or tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.

Nature is Cool - Who Knew?

My parents were nice enough to take my sister and I on an old-school family vacation to visit my aunt and uncle and cousins in Tennessee and the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina this past week (and, of course, our husbands - who both had to work - were nice enough to let us go without them and without too much vacation jealousy). Luckily, our vacation occurred before winter came again (yesterday the wind chill here was 23 degrees) and we enjoyed green grass, bright skies, and blooming flowers. I have never been what you might call a nature lover, so I have really surprised myself this year by how much I have enjoyed this taste of spring and renewal and life.
In fact, I only took one picture of an actual human during this trip: the below image of my sister, Kelli, holding the ranch dressing "on the side" that the waitress at Apollo Flame restaurant (its not as interesting as it sounds) brought with her salad. She didn't use it all.

The first stop on our trip was Hampton, Tennessee, where my Aunt Ann, Uncle Steve, and Cousins Sara and John live. They live in a great old family house complete with a giant wrap-around porch, a couple barns, and a horse, in the foothills of mountains. Maybe its because I'm on vacation whenever I visit, but in this place time seems to slow down and become more leisurely. Little things don't seem as important and I actually enjoy sitting outside and knitting on the porch into the evening, glancing out at the perfect rows of baby trees in the nursery across the road. I would never do that at home - it would never even occur to me - though I have a nice view of trees and rolling hills from my back yard.

After our relaxing time in Tennessee we packed up and headed east to Asheville, North Carolina. Though our primary destination was the historic Biltmore Mansion I was pleasantly delighted by the city of Asheville. I didn't know anything about it before we went and to my surprise, it is an artsy hipster town full of cool restaurants and art galleries/shops - some featuring really innovative handcrafted clothing, accessories, and functional art. We didn't have much time to spend there but Randy and I are already planning a trip to visit soon.

A highlight of my visit to downtown Asheville was a store called Ten Thousand Villages. A non-profit agency, it sells handcrafted items made by artisan in over 30 developing countries who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. I went in expecting the merchandise to be fun to look at but out of my price range. Rather, it was all very reasonably priced and there was so much I wanted to buy. I ended up leaving with an indigo blue star garland to go in our spare room (pictures coming later this week)made in Bengladesh and an amber stone necklace made in India. You can visit their web site here - they have stores all around the country plus you can shop online. I can't wait to go back.

My favorite part of the Biltmore, suprisingly enough, was the garden. Or shall I say "gardens".

With my newfound appreciation of flowers and plants I have been thinking about adopting some and cheering up the house. (If you hear distant, muffled cries its just my only current plant responsibility warning other plants not to come to the "house of torture".) But I don't know if I'm ready for that - maybe I'll just keep looking at the pictures I took instead.

I liked them so much that I already got some enlarged, printed, and framed for a new project I am working on this weekend.
I won't reveal the project in its entirety until it is finished and I have pictures to prove it. All I'll say is: Martha Stewart, look out.
And cut to more garden pictures:

Brace yourselves- the title of my next post is: The Torrid and True Details of My Illicit Affair. Chew on that.