I'm back from the big adventure!

See the Impulsive Sailing Blog for details.

I DID knit a scarf by the end of the race with my newest yarn.

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover." Mark Twain



I'm off tonight to sail to Victoria B.C. non-stop with Jesper and Stefan on S.V. Impulsive. We will compete (non-competitively) in the Swiftsure International Yacht Race I am slightly nervous, but more excited than anything. I trust the Captain and Impulsive, she is a sturdy girl.

During the race and the sail home, we'll have 5 crew. We'll sail in shifts of 4 hours on, 4 hours off.

I'll be back sometime Monday evening with a lot of sailing hours under my belt.

I threw away this Ben Franklin coupon on purpose! Then, I had to bo there anyway to buy something non-knitting related. Then I needed the coupon. With a little networking, I got it back.

WIth 40% off 1 regular priced item coupon in hand - I walked away with yarn. No - I DO NOT need yarn. But I love it.

It's Crystal Palace Yarns- Labrador 100% wool

Here is my skein for the weekend. It will become a lovely simple drop stitch scarf.

I also got 2 skeins of Lamb's Pride that was marked down on clearance. It looks like they are going to start carrying Cascade 220 instead.

Today was the first day of the year I had to turn on my A/C. Man, it was cooking in the parking lot! It's in the mid-80's!

These have been sitting in my house since Valentine's Day. If they were at work, I'd have eaten them long ago.

I was just sitting here and thought of this idea: Blog Binding

Looks like it's already being done! Woo hoo!

I think I'm going to do this at the end of 2005. If anyone out there has done it, does it, let me know!

I thought I'd share a project I have planned for my Eco-Wool I got from the A Swell Yarn Shop sale



The pattern is from Vouge.

My fuschia is doing well - and my camera is wonderful too!

Cupcake Hat Pattern

Know any little girls who need a cupcake on their head? It's got to be better than the chicken viking hat I made. (um, I still haven't gotten around to knitting on the last drumstick...)

Jesper got me these roses after Innebandy a week ago. Haven't they opened up nice?

Friday night I played Martha Stewart...

I've never made pudding from scratch before, but this dessert with baked rhubarb has joined the ranks of my favorite foods. Check out the recipe - it's on newstands now. Also, if you don't want to use 2 vanilla beans, just use one in the pudding + a 1/2 teas. vanilla extract and a 1/2 teas. also in the rhubarb syrup. I wish vanilla beans weren't so spendy. Anyone have a good source for them in the Seattle area? I got mine in the bulk section of Fred Meyer. 2 beans in a vial for $7.00 I think.

It's photo time!!

Here is Stella

And some sample photos for a warm up...

I sewed up both sleeves


I haven't shown progress lately on the Branching Out scarf.. here it is


This NW shawl looks sort of like a Manta Ray. I need to count stitches, that means I need focus and patience.


The cabled baby booty is waiting to be bound off (again)

My camera arrived!!

I'll grab some photos at home during lunch today.

I finished knitting my Apricot Sweater this weekend. It's blocking at the moment.

I also finished the first panel of 9 on my Marquoir Story Sampler.

I picked up black cotton-ease today for some unknown project. I think I have enough pink for another sweater also.

Tonight is laundry, vacuum, dishes clean-up night. If I work hard enough, I might not feel guilty for not planning to go to the gym.

My new digital camera will be here Monday - I picked up a memory card at Costco today. After I have this new camera, I think the MS tool "Image Resizer" will be very handy since this camera is 6.3 megapixels and I'm used to 1.3 megapixels.

Last night I had a super yummy dinner at Joakim & Anika's house. Swedish meatballs with lingonberries. Delicious.

PORK TENDERLOIN WITH BALSAMIC-CRANBERRY SAUCE

I made this meat dish last night after Innebandy. It was delicious! I will be adding it to my favorites list. The best part is that it was very simple and quick.

Knitting: Still working on fronts. Did some x's.

Today I picked up a wedding gift at Crate & Barrel. Wow, they have super cute stuff. I got myself a napkin holder. The say, "No diner we know ever had a napkin holder with this much personality." Well. there you go. My table is increasing in personality!

Interesting news: The Downing Street Memo

I got the link from this NY Times article.

I'm not usually political, but this just backs up my annoyance at Bush and this selfish war.

Sorry no photos lately! I meant to this weekend... but did get photos up on the Impuslive blog.
I did order a new camera though... Shhh... I was supposed to wait! It will be fabulous- I hope it gets here before the Swiftsure race.

I have finished the back + 2 sleeves on my Apricot sweater and and on the front pieces now. I am looking forward to getting this done in a week.

I went to Purlygirls last night, but didn't socialize much becasue I had a headache and was tired. I hadn't been in 2 months.
I'm missing Eastiside stitchers Wednesday since I'll be meeting up with the Swiftsure race crew, eating a Swedish dinner (I'm the only non-Swedish speaker on the team) and watching a sailing safety video. It's strange being in these groups. When they speak English, they are including me in conversation, then when they speak Swedish, they figure I'm not in the conversation. It's wacky. I did learn the name for cheese, but forgot 30 seconds later. Why are adult brains like that?!

I worked quite a bit on my cross-stich. Now named "my x's." It's easier to say and explain to Jesper, except when I say "I want to do my x's"). He understands though. I think I'll be wearing my reading glasses for my x's project, it's pretty tiny.

I have made a seperate blog that is my knitting gallery. I will post the final picture there of every knitted project I have done with basic comments.

KNITTING GALLERY

Still working on my sleeves. Sewed an enormous sail edge with Jesper on the floor of a conference room last night.

Counting minutes until weekend... knitting...sailing...

So there are rumors....that COTTON-EASE yarn is being discontinued.
It is true. Apparently they have a lot left in the warehouse, but it's going to run out.

I don't see WHY they would stop selling this one, but at least the line isn't going away. I'd like to make something else in this yarn. Can't figure which color since they're pretty bright. I think I like the Ice Blue. No idea what to make though.

It's hard to hoard without an idea of what to make. Then you don't know how much to buy.

I caved so quickly! I bought the cross-stitch project at lunch yesterday. It's going to be gorgeous on the linen with silk thread. Only $35.00

I knitted on my sleeves last night at "eastside stitchers," then caved again and started it.

By bedtime I had completed A, b, c, d, a cute little snail and a leaf. It's so pretty. I looked all over for my camera and can't find it. Soon when you see it you will understand.

It's so strange. I truly thought I'd given up on counted cross-stitch forever! I haven't done a serious project since 1998. I have 2 in progress in the closet that are screwed up. The last tiny project I did was in 2002.

Anyway... I am trying not to be unfaithful and slow down on my knitting. I am having so much fun on my pink sweater. I feel like I'm having a craft affair. I have given myself a little rule. Since there are 9 sections in this cross-stitch project, I will have to finish 1 knitting project for every cross-stitch section. That will work well I think. I really need to get some projects completed and NOT start ANYMORE! But it's so hard...

marquoir story

This cross stitch sampler makes me want to start cross stitch again! I think it is gorgeous and not taky like the whales cross stitch kit I have/had. I would love to hang this on my bedroom wall. I actually have never done a big project on linen. This is something to save for the future. I'll print it out at least. There is even a cross-stitch store in downtown Bellevue. This would be great for airplanes if you could get a needle aboard. Cross-stitch needles are not sharp. I think it could be pulled off. Maybe half the fun of a vacation is the airplane ride with crafts! OK- no - it's got to be swimming in the ocean. But knitting is right up there.

Moving along with my sleeves...

Played Innebandy last night - an aggressive game, but this time I went home with no aches or pains. I am about ready for my own personal stick I think. I wish they were cheaper!

Looking forward to the weekend already. Getting my knitting fix tonight will help.

I am grateful for: Stella (housecat) never gets into my food left out on the counter top.

Finished the back of my pink "Apricot Sweater" last night.

Instead of going to Seattle for purlygirls, I did laundy and knit at home. I even balanced my checkbook!

I've started on the sleeves (2 at the same time). Maybe I'll keep focus on this and work on a project reduction goal. Nine projects is just too many to have in the works.

I've been researching the best deals for Austrailia and Fiji for November. I think we are going to try STA travel. Also Quantas has a good package. This trip is what I'm spending my $$ on instead of a new kitchen remodel or a KitchenAid mixer. I think the memories and sunshine will be much more benefitial! I am still set to splurge on my dream digital camera though.

I got my SanDisk 256 MB MP3 Player today. I am VERY impressed! I don't see why people are buying the IPod Shuffle after seeing all the features this little gadget has. Apple has great marketing for sure.
Cool feature: I was able to pre-program all FM stations that get good reception with a push of a few buttons in about 20 seconds. It scanned the airwaves and programmed them all in one swoop!

Knitting news... I am almost done with the back piece of my Apricot cardigan. I have been having a lot of fun with it this weekend. I can't wait to wear it.

I got the perfect knitting/travel purse on Friday at Sports Authority.

Lots of exercise on Saturday. The Redmond Ridge 5K, A Swell Yarn Shop sale, then biked around Lake Union and to the UW Husky Stadium.

You are Dishcloth Cotton.
You are a very hard worker, most at home when
you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly
born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain
Jane, but you are too practical to notice.


What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I am excited to start using this simple shawl progress calculator - I got the link from Rose-Kim Knits.

And I found the Branching Out Knit-a-Long! Maybe it will keep me going.

I finished the baby bootie. The short row toe is very nice - EXCEPT - my zig-zag bind off seems too loose and it ruffles. I/he/Stella ripped out - thanks to Jesper checking the results and proceeding to wrap the yarn around my cat's head. So now it's not really finished - but nearly! I am definitly not a fan of knitting on size 0.

Looking forward to knitting tonight at Jerzy's with the eastsiders.

I just bought this CD! If you like Trip Hop - this might fit your tastes.
Matson Belle

I am also awaiting my Amelie soundtrack and my first mp3 player. I chose a Sandisk player that is comparable to the iPod shuffle, but also has a radio and vioce recorder and is half the price.

Today at lunch, I finished the short row heel turn on the baby bootie - super cute! I'll be on a roll to finish this one.

Lots of knitting yesterday for as little time as I had.

Worked on 'Branching Out' before my last "Fundamentals of Technical Writing Class."

Worked on 'NW Lace Shawl' - while cooking Flan (aka. Creme Caramel).

Began the short-row heel turn on the pink baby bootie.

Tonight I will enjoy the Flan after playing Innebandy. This is the first recipe I've cooked from the "Joy of Cooking" and I am VERY impressed with the background information on what you are cooking. In the section on custards, it explains WHY you cook them in a pan of hot water. And WHY you pour the hot milk slowly into the sugar egg mixture. With the kind of decoded cooking direction, I bet someday I could make something without a recipe. That would be snazzy.
Do any of 'YOU ALL' have a favorite recipe from the "Joy of Cooking?"

Looks like Jesper updated the Impulsive blog, explaining our Texas Hold 'Em poker party on the boat. He wins the prize for the best poker face.

Great weekend at Snooze N Cruise... read on Impulsive for sailing fun.

I worked on the Apricot Sweater and am not sure I am understanding the directions. I need Karen's help! If anyone has made this that can help me interpret directions, please chime in.