Daydreams

Okay, remember this?

Like anyone could forget such an atrocity on the eyes. 

Ick.

Well, money is tight.  But seeing that this is the dream home and all, I think it's okay to have short-term, and long term plans.

Short term:

Rip out the back splash.  Paint the walls. Paint the cabinets a deep espresso brown/black.  Paint the doors cream, pop some color in a few of the blocks.  Wash them with a brown glaze (just to tone down the color).  Possibly replace the floors with a medium-toned wood.

And voila!

It's kitchy, a little retro, maybe cool.  I don't know.  The Businessman doesn't like it.  Of course, he likes the old kitchen.

Long term: 

Put Martha Stewart on speed dial.

Ah, the Bank-Owned Property

We decided our timeline permitted us to take advantage of the foreclosure side of the market.  We'd been looking at houses for a couple months and once we finally came under contract in Ft Collins, our Real Estate Agent took us through a few bank-owned and foreclosure properties.

Scary.  And not quite the deals you would think once you've repaired everything.  Like a new roof, new siding, new carpets, or a new basement because the kitchen flooded at some point and no one was there for weeks so the entire basement and main floor are covered in green mold.  Covered in green mold.

I like green but not at the cost of my asthmatic child's life.

We are buying a bank-owned property.  We found one that chimed us every single time we looked at it.  The inspector had tons of great things to say about the new roof, the furnace, the siding.  And, to our amazement, the bank had already arranged for new carpet to be installed before our offer, so we have an entire house with brand spanking new carpet (and some new linoleum in the mudroom and one of the bathrooms).

But, since it is bank-owned, there is one problem. 

The picture that follows may be unsuitable for delicate stomachs.  Or people with heart conditions.  In fact, you should probably only look at this picture if you're blind.

This is my new kitchen. 

Isn't it amazing?  I don't know which I like better: The goofy linoleum backsplash, the horribly dated cabinet doors, or the countertops.   

Actually, I hate it all.  But if it's the worse thing that can be said of this house (which we're buying for a steal!) I'll live with it.  At least until I can convince The Businessman that sledgehammers are fun.

Best Intentions

I do intend to start blogging regularly again.

No.  Really.  I do.

I'm biding my time, living in a tiny rental, wishing I could paint, rearrange furniture, and cook grilled cheese without my kitchen looking like a bomb exploded. 

We are a tall family and we need space to stand upright.  Generations ago, the first MountainCave Mama stood upright on her large feet, painted the rock walls, knit some throw pillows out of mammoth wool and then probably bumped her head on a stalagtite and demanded her BusinessCaveman find taller habitation.

This Mountain Mama has evolved (though she's still looking for evidence of evolution in the Businessman) and will be moving into her Dream Home soon.  Very soon.  Like four weeks.

At which point the blog will probably become more about home renovations than knitting, but whatever. 

I'll be blogging.

Has It Really Been *mumble* Months?

So...how are things?

o_O

I've been slogging my way through life, anticipating the day when all the dust will settle and I will wake up living my dream.

You know, the dream where I get the most awesome house in the world but it's only awesome in my head because I'm the only one who has the vision but that's a good thng because no one else wants the house and the bank'll sell it to me for a song.  Except the song is more like a ballad (which is still a song) and my visions may be delusions but what else is new?

That day is not here yet.  But, my friends, I'm close.  So close.

Any more details at this time would send Mr. Murphy (of Murphy's Law) into a bevy of excitement.  And I'd rather let the gentleman rest.  I've already wreaked so much havoc on his blood pressure.

Updates

Phase 1 Complete: The Businessman has a new job!
Ft Collins was headed toward a dead end for him.  Now he has a proper job in a proper city for his talents.  It's nice to have my husband back.

Phase 2 Complete: We've moved!
I now live in my favorite area of the country--the Pacific Northwest.  My family is in a rental that's about the size of a postage stamp but has 276 shades of green in the backyard.  The Businessman, ever the optimist, keeps saying phrases like "this is cozy" and "how much space do people really need?"  Since more than half of our belongings (including My Sewing Room) are in storage, my opinions regarding square footage requirements are mixed.

Phase 3: Pending: I'm still a victim of the real estate market
Our home in Ft. Collins hasn't sold yet, ergo the rental.  Which leads us to...

Phase 4: Pending: Buy new house.
Not likely until phase 3 is complete.

It's chaos. It's frustration. It's tense. And when all the dust is settled...

I'll still be living in my favorite part of the country.

A Wetter Shade of Green

A follow-up to this post. It's images from my new backyard.

Six Sleeves

"Experienced knitters don't make fewer mistakes than new knitters.  They make bigger ones faster."--Yarn Harlot

1. Cast-on.  Knit.  Get 20 rows from the end and wonder why it's not right.  Discover that you increased every 8th row 10 times and not every 10th row 8 times.  Frog.*
2. Cast-on.  Knit.  Make some inexplicable error in the math.  Curse.  Frog.
3. Cast on again, Knit.  Bind off.  Phew!
4. Cast on for second sleeve.  Knit.  Bind off.  Realize you cast on the wrong number of stitches.  Frog.
5. Cast on.  Knit.  Get to end and realize you forgot an increase.  Frog.
6. Cast-on.  Knit.  Bind off. 

It's a gift for someone.  It needs to be perfect. 

Also it's fat yarn which means I can finish this jacket in no time at all anything more than 3-4 stitches makes a real difference in the measurements.

*Frog, frogging: Pulling the needle out of your knitting and unraveling a large amount.  Derived from the sound/motion "rip-it, rip-it"

Flip Flop

The knitting machine, which really will need a name soon, is providing a pleasant distraction as I watch My Sewing Room being whittled away daily.  As much as I want to fight it, I realize I must put the bulk of my creative area in storage until we can purchase our next house.

Luckily, knitting is portable and my whole hobby can fit in a moving box.  Just in case I'm not the one doing the heavy lifting, I'll label that box "Raingear" which guarantees it will end up in our temporary Pacific Northwest residence and not a warehouse somewhere between here and there. 

Not that having an excuse to buy more yarn would be a bad thing...

...hmmm...

Anyway, while there are numerous advantages to my knitting machine--faster knitting, perfect tension, phenomenal stash reduction--there are some disadvantages, including not seeing the right side of my work until I'm finished with a piece.

While something might seem a gentle blending of harmonious autumnal colors on the machine:

It looks like an unfortunate choice in wallpaper on the "right" side:

Yuck!  I cancelled this project and used the yarn for other things.  Like this.

But, while something may look vaguely symmetrical and perhaps a bit too contrasty on the wrong side:

The right side proves stunning:

It's for Yummy, my 7yo.  He chose the colors.

I secretly added robots on the one sleeve.  I hope he's not too cool to wear them.  Even if he is, I can whip up a new sleeve in an afternoon. 

Basic raglan sweater with various modifications

Knit Picks Stroll (washable wool/nylon) Midnight, Pea Pod, Blue Topaz

Status Updates

What my FaceBook wall would say if I had the time:

TBM has worked from home for 143 minutes.  We decided to drop the price of the house to get things going.  This was about 142 minutes and 28 seconds longer than I expected.

I've knit five sleeves for a coat I'm making for my mom.  Like most people, she only has two arms.  Sixth time's a charm.

Because TBM is working from home, I don't have access to my computer except during insomnia o'clock and why-don't-you-play-with-the-kids thirty.

This brief moment of blogging is marred by my inability to upload pictures because of "scheduled maintenance"

I've knit three sweaters for my kids.  Too bad you can't see them because of "scheduled maintenance"

Bionic Knitter

I did it.  I made a sweater on the knitting machine.  It only took me a day and a half.

I love the fact that I can make a sweater for my kiddo in hardly any time at all.  And I used a decent supply of yarn.

So there you go.  I have figured out how to knit at supersonic speed.  It was only a matter of time.

Haute Couture

My mom and I went shopping a few weeks ago and popped into J.Jill.  We were enchanted by these sweaters:





I don't know why we liked them so much.  The sheerness?  The simplicity?  The idea you could wear a sweater without sweating?  Whatever it was we kept coming back to that part of the store.

But I just can't bring myself to spend $80.00 on a sweater, because I knit...

Wait a minute...I have a knitting machine...and a huge pile of lace yarn...

And now you know why I haven't been around the past couple weeks.  I don't have anything photo worthy yet--just a bunch of swatches, various partial sweaters strewn around the house, a couple pairs of socks and a knitting machine that's heard it's share of new words recently.

I'm not giving up yet.

I'll Trade You This Sheep for Those Cacao Beans

I'm a knitter.  I acquire yarn at lightning speed.  I try to knit through it all but it's just not possible.  Especially when the project for which you bought the yarn overestimated the yardage (which is far better than running out of yarn but still).

Four years go I finished up a coat and had LOTS of the yarn left.  It's a unique yarn--fun to use for this project, but I wasn't itching to knit with it again.  Honestly, it wasn't ranking too high among the 30 miles of other yarn I have.

But I had too much leftover to toss, or donate:

Unspun Icelandic (100% wool)

I plopped it into my stash and ignored it for four years.  Recently, I got a simple request via Ravelry: Do you still have this yarn?  Can I buy it from you?

Buy it from me?  Heck, I'd be happy to not have to move it across the country.

I sent it to her at a price that covered shipping and breathed a sigh of relief.  Because I always feel good when I can help another knitter out and because I no longer have to pack it or inventory it during my annual Airing of the Stash.

She thanked me in chocolate.

Honestly, I think I got the better end of the deal.

I can't wait to see what she knits,

At Least I Didn't Include An Invoice

Buttons really pull it together.

Weaving the ends in really finishes it.

Stuffing it in a box and sealing it before I can add a nice little note...

...really adds to the professionalism.

Dear MW,

Can't wait to meet you.

Love, MM

More Things Nice

I've found my go-to pattern for baby girls.

The pattern is well-written. It's fast, a little technical, and so stinkin' sweet I think I have a cavity from knitting two of them in a row.

This one is still waiting for buttons.  It will also be much nicer with all those choking hazards ends woven in.  I still have time, the baby isn't here yet.

Debbie Bliss Smock Jacket from Celtic Knits

Lambspun Prism in Pomegranate Torte (50%wool/50%silk)

All Things Nice

Have you ever...

...created a gift...

...so charming...

...you couldn't bear to give it away?

Yeah.  Me neither.

Smock Jacket by Debbie Bliss

Sensations Bamboo & Ewe (wool/bamboo/nylon)

Attn Gypsies: One 4yo For Sale

My youngest child.  My baby.  He's the one who's supposed to be on my side.  He's the one who's supposed to shower me with unlimited affection. 

He's the one who I almost sold to gypsies yesterday.

The Businessman took Yummy out leaving me and Vish behind to man the fort.  Vish went outside to ride his bike, play at the playground and explore like Indiana Jones. Later I heard him open the door and patter into the house.

"Mom, don't turn around and look at what I have because it's a snake"

I of course turned around, screamed, and demanded the child leave my home immediately.  Once I had stopped hyperventilating I carefully opened the door and talked to Vish:

MM: Honey?
V: What?
MM: Do you still have that snake?
V: Yes!  I put it in my bug catcher!*
MM: Well, snakes aren't allowed in the house, why don't you take him out back.  You can let him go (far, far away) or wait for Daddy to get home.
V: Okay!  I'll keep him in the bug catcher until dad gets home.  He'll like my snake.

When TBM got home, I explained what happened and while doing this the cat stepped on my foot.  I jumped and screamed and my husband laughed at me.  He laughed at me.

Maybe the gypsies would buy him too.

Sorry about all the snake stories lately.  There is one story I haven't told yet.  It involves my cat Clive, barbeque tongs and a speaker phone.

*Note to self: Thank my mother for the gift.

Ssssspectacular

Our home is on the market now so the frantic aspect of "getting the home ready for market" is finished, only to be replaced by "why is nobody helping me keep this house clean?"

The Businessman was in charge of all things outdoors which included weed whacking.  He found three baby bullsnakes during the weedwhaking process.  Well, the weedwhacker found two of them so maybe I should say TBM found 1 and 4/2 baby bullsnakes.  This is still about four too many for my taste.

There's a nest somewhere.  Probably under our front patio. 

I'm never using our front door ever again.

Later, TBM and our neighbor were talking and neighbor mentioned that his kids have found several baby bullsnakes in various areas of the neighborhood.

To quote the Businessman:  "So it's not a nest under our doorstep.  It's a neighborhood infestation."

We are so moving.

The Good Ole Summertime

Summer is not my best knitting time.  For so many reasons. The kids are home.  It's hot.  It's sticky.  The kids are sticky.  Oops, I just dropped ice cream in my lap of knitting.  Again. 

And then there's the kitten.  Kittens find yarn, knitting needles and the synchronization of the two the most fascinating thing in the world.  It's instinct and Midas is a self motivated gentleman--his destiny is to kill it.

My only goal this Summer was a project I owe a friend in barter.  She sent me a pattern.  I knit.  She'll take care of my mother's Christmas present.  Love that.

It's so hard to knit something not of your choosing.  To not stray from the pattern at all.  Not to curse fall and harvest colors (generally my favorite) when you have a lovely creamsicle colored yarn screaming to be knit but the only size 6 needles you have are being used to knit fall and harvest colors.

It was a battle.

The only concession I made in the pattern was adding a bit of elastic in the waist.  There is no way these pants would have fit a toddler otherwise.

Once the final end was woven.  I dove into my stash, pulled out two skeins that have been calling to me and cranked this little number out in 24 hours.

I knit the same pattern last winter.  It's a mite too small this year so I promised Vish a new one.

In other news, I have about 3,275 friends who chose to have lots of fun last fall and are now paying for all that fun in the maternity wards of various hospitals across the country.  I've been remiss to all of you.  I apologize.  Especially BFF in Seattle.

I'm on it.

The yarn brings out his eyes. 
The camera brings out his lower lip.

Harvest Moon, designer unknown.  Knit Picks Comfy (cotton/acrylic)

Peruvian Hat by Pam Allen.  Noro Silk Garden (wool/silk) and Tahki Savoy (wool/silk)

All Cats Are Simon's Cat

His name is Midas.  The children love him. 

After watching the video below...

7yo was laughing so hard he fell off the chair.
4yo laughed so hard he started wheezing and needed his nebulizer
The Businessman laughed.  (Let it suffice that he is now a cat person--it took ten years for that transformation.  Little steps.)

Signs