Best of a Bad Situation

I went home this last weekend for just a few days, under sad circumstances.  It wasn't unexpected but it still wasn't fun.  Except we made it fun.  With so many family and friends in one place it was actually a fare bit of fun.  We made the best of the bad situation.  

While taking the dog for her morning walkies we ran across this amazing sculpture.  A tribute to The Great State of Washington.   

Here's a close up.  

I grabbed a picture of this house.  This is the most amazing house on Queen Anne.  I've brought the colors up a little because its hard to see the detail in pictures.  

We got manis and pedis.  Which isn't something I really ever do.  I have trouble relaxing because I don't exactly know what I'm doing so its super awkward for me.  I had to take the polish on my fingers off because Edgar hated it.  He attacked my hands.  

Is this not the most fantastic chicken butt you have ever seen!?!?!  Look just look at the fluffy butt!  These hard working ladies are just up the street and are the pride of the neighborhood.  They a flock of 5, which is the max with in seattle city limits.  I visit them every time I visit home.  

Look at those fancy feet!

Edgar had to stay at bird over night camp while we were gone.  He helped me pack for his stay.  He had a good time talking to the other birds and wasn't totally made when I picked him up.  

New Projects and Old Yarn

The green sweater is done! Its laying on the blocking mats in the upstairs extra bedroom just waiting for buttons.  I hope to get to Nancy's Sewing Basket this weekend, even if it means I create a massive distraction and running for my life.  Juneberry is done, coworkers scarf is done, green sweater.....must find new projects!!

All from my stash.  They are clockwise from the top.  Hazel knits: from her rejects sale. Malabrigo: Archangel and Hawthorne: (the colorway escapes me).  Together these beauties will become COLOR AFFECTION!  

 Archangel is amazing!! It glows, it actually glows.  

The beginnings of a pair of Marie Curie Mitts.  I haven't done colorwork in a long long time and at a super small gauge.  My hand hurts a bit but I've finally got a system worked out and now we're moving along.   

CLAIRE CLAIRE! I HELP! No Edgar you're not helping.  I HELP! Okay you help.  I did switch back to magic loop, I can't stand double points I try and try but its just a clusterfuck.  

I made some old yarn new again.  When I say this is old yarn I mean it.  I bought this yarn while I was still living in the apartment in Clarksville, so circa 2006/2007.  An online retailer was shutting down and having an obscene sale.  I bought a bunch of this DK weight silky alpaca from Debbie Bliss.  The colorway is Lime.  I made a cute little crop sweater with it which I need to wear more.  However I had a ton left and the the color no longer called to me and I didn't want two things from such a distinctive color.  Sooooooo OVER DYE.  

I got a package of royal blue dye, the kind you put in the washing machine.  I added all the yarn, pre-wet.  I also tossed in my lime green Pashmina which was also just the wrong shade.  

The yarn took the color nicely and I can't wait to knit with it.  I already have a project in mind for it so it's ready when I am.  BTW the pashmina took the color a little differently and didn't get as teal as I wanted but it took the tone down a notch and I'm happy with that.  I will defiantly wear it more now.

With a bit better understanding of quilting and some patience I am a slightly better piecer now.  I plan on getting some fabric to make a replacement of my horrible square soon.  

In other random news,  I had two interviews in one day.  Phone and in person with different companies.  I had a request for another, with a third company but had to decline because of scheduling problems.  Then I got an email from a new start up vet pharm company who found my resume on the interwebs.  HOT DAMN.  When it rains it pours. 

I racked my cider into a secondary jug for a good long mellowing.  It smells boozy and dry.  I'm excited.