Home means Nevada

I am back... Things are slowly coming to normal. Although I seem to have picked up a head cold somewhere between Seattle and Reno- I am feeling much better thanks to NyQuil- that stuff is magic, I swear.

We had a wonderful vacation. I finally stopped feeling the motion of the ocean on Sunday, two days after we got off the boat. We had a couple really rough days at sea- the first day we had 15-20 foot swells- yozzers...
We really enjoyed all of the ports that we stopped off in, and wished we had more time to explore and be adventurous. 12 hours simply isn't enough time to do it all...


We ate and ate explored and ate some more.

Drank a lot less then I thought we would,

played bingo till we could stand it no longer,


laughed and stood in line and refused to share ice cream.
Took a tram,

a train


and scooters
to see all the sights.

We danced and laughed some more.
We slept in late because it was dark in our room and because the ship rocked us to sleep each night and mostly because we could.

I am glad to be home and not sure if I would do the cruise ship thing again, but wouldn't not do it just for the experience it gave us. The crew on the ship were wonderful, I am not quite sure how they do it! They go almost 24 hours a day with hardly a breath in between - and all with a smile. Fabulous people from all over the world.



I am pretty sure I gained some weight, they say the average is 2 pounds a day- CRAP- I didn't believe it until I realized what they were feeding us. I had to be really careful to not take in more then I needed... We also walked up and down the flights of stairs in the boat rather than take the elevator most of the time.


I did get some work done on the baby sweater. I am on the home front with just the collar to go. I don't want to work on it while I have a cold, just seems wrong to make baby stuff while the nose is runny, ya know?

I am going to link you over to my flickr site to check out all the photos... There are still a ton more I will be adding mostly from the first day or so in Seattle, I got some great shots at Pikes Market and Juneau- some are on film that needs to be developed, others are on a friends computer, we had to unload our card after the first couple of days so we could continue to take pictures... I will make sure to let you know when they are out there.


Enjoy. (oh and props to hubby, he took most of these landscape shots, aren't they great?)

I know I have a ton of catching up to do and blogs to visit. I will do my best to stop by and say hello- although I am thinking over the summer I may slow down on the internet usage.. I am feeling like I need to get out there and play. I need to take all the inspiration that I have gathered from everyone in Blogville and put it into action... We will see.

TILT- you bug me cuz it ain't Thursday yet...

For TILT - I know, it ISN"T Thursday yet, but it is over here in Noodle land- my brain is totally off in vacation mode- I have already forgotten what day of the week it is, see I NEED this vacation... I do.

This will probably be one of the oddest TILT's yet, but I am going to post it, because I do love insects...Totally fascinated by the world around me. Looking at the intricate engineering of a mosquito eater (really just a male mosquito, harmless, but scary as hell when they dive bomb you) look at those wings, look at how paper thin they are and the detail in them, look at the body and the precise segments that create the thorax. At one point in my life I wanted to be an entomologist. To think about how many insects there are in the world, to think about how different they all are, and how they play such an important role. Without them we would not have much to eat, flowers to stop and smell, or birds to hear sing...
So today's tilt goes out to the little things that might make us squirm, but that I am totally in love with because of what they represent- beauty, perfection, detail, engineering, survival...

Almost Friday...

Okay peeps- tomorrow is my Friday- and then?
I am gone, gone, gone like the wind to Alaska. Remember, I started to talk about it the other day, but didn't have the energy to write about it- well, today I do- mostly because I can't focus on whatever projects I am supposed to be finishing up at work before I leave and also because I am so sore today (I ran yesterday morning, dumb dumb I am) and my back feels like it is going to fall off (is that possible?) and why is my back sore and not my legs? Weird.
Anyway, we are going to Alaska, on a cruise ship. I have never been on a cruise, and never been to Alaska either- so I am pretty darn excited. We (hubby and I) are headed up there with about 8 friends to be silly and sea sick together. (BTW, does anyone have any tips for anti-sea sickness? I don't have a doctor so I can't really get the prescription anti-nausea button to put behind my ear)
I am making a trip this afternoon to Savers (only the best place to gather costumes for the journey) with a friend.
We are headed up to Seattle on Thursday to hang out and play. I have already identified several photobooths within walking distance of our hotel- oh yes, their will be chaos in the booth... As well as looked at the KEXP calendar so we know what's going on Thursday night.

I have been getting up early to knit the baby sweater, as I really need to have it sent to the recipient tomorrow so it makes it's way to the Bay Area this weekend for the party. (A HUGE thanks to Rachel of *Amazing Lace Fame* for helping me out with the pattern- this is a regular knit of hers so I dropped her an email and she has been more than happy to help me past a few of the snags I ran into with the pattern)
Also supposed to have a baby hat done (gonna do another tomato hat) for another friend's baby shower this weekend, ack. I can get this done, I can, I can.
I started to work on the apron for the swap. I found some great fabric in a stash box and have a really great theme going. I hope the recent likes it as much as I do~~ right now it is just a pile of fabric and pins, I haven't had the umph to get the sewing machine out- also, I can't find my iron in the move in mess, so that is hampering my efforts....
Speaking of hampering efforts, has anyone else picked up Su Doku? This could be the end of me, blogging, knitting, cooking, showering, sleeping.... bad bad bad Su Doku.
I will try to get some pictures to the post this evening...

I promise to take a TON of pictures on the trip. I will be gone Thursday-Friday. No blogging until I get back home on the 24th.

TTFN

T.I.L.T. 6-8-06

Things I love this Thursday...
This is one of my favorite murals in town. It is just off of Virginia Street, and south of Stewart. If you are at the Starbucks where California ends at Virginia you will be looking right at it.. I think I love it because of the stencil, because o f the camera (I have this camera, it was my grandfathers) because of the scene it depicts. I love the yellow against the black and white... (EDITED: I was walking back from yoga this lunch hour and they were painting this- first thought, "they are covering it up, I am so glad I got my arse down there and took pic." I asked the guy on the ladder if they were painting over it? Nope, just touching it up- however, they are ridding the wall of the yellow- it is now blue back drop. I am interested to see what they add.. I will keep you all posted.)
It is political and poetic all at once- it is art. Capturing the landscape and those that fill it. Keep up the good work gang.

blue blue blue

It is a new month, and a new color in Project Spectrum land... Some how, I have accidentally fallen in love with this month's color theme. Here are a few examples:


My hair


My Toyota Matrix (know as GLITCH)


random dinner settings


a place in the world I adore, the northern CA coast


more shots from the coast...


The sky

PBF, progress and pictures

Just a wacky shot for today.... (I gotta get back in the booth, this was the end of the reserves)
for an absolutely wonderful set go visit JesC on Flickr and of course, our fearless leader, Andrea. And if she is up for it today LeSophie (even if she doesn't rock the booth today, she has a kickin' blog)

And just because this was a knitting blog at one time, I thought I should update you on the progress of a few things.
Here is the finished Tomato Hat that I made for my cousin's new baby that is due this month some time.

How F-ing cute is this? I am going to make a few more for all the babies that are due this summer/fall. Way too cute. (Ann Norling Fruit hat pattern, Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino and another DB yarn I can't remember right now)
Edited to add- I guess I made blog lines news! , thanks to Sarah for brining this to my attention, purdy cool, huh?

And here is the progress on the baby sweater. I am hoping to have it done and in the mail before I leave for Alaska (WHAT?! ALASKA? What is that all about??? More later)
I would be further along, but realized that my original start was WAY off gauge so I frogged it and started over, on the right size needles- I am loving it. Been sneaking in time each morning to do a few rows while I sip my chai tea...



again, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino - pattern from the Last Minute Knitted gifts

and some pictures of the new house-

The entry/stairs to the bedrooms/loft take from the living/dining room (that is COVERED in purple and grey sponge paint- holy crap)

My new fabu and overly HUGE kitchen, look there is an island in there! I need an umbrella in my drink quick.

The cratins, like little book ends are enjoying the windowsills and the new view out front (see that tree? It is a Japanese maple, it is huge- and I know it will be awesome come this fall.)

most importantly, the keys- the previous owner gave us the keys on this key chain- there is globe on their people- it is meant to be (hubby and I are both geographers, our *worlds* are all about the world)

Have a great weekend- I have a 60th birthday/retirement party to pull off as well as teach yoga and hopefully relax.
wish me good weather and good bbq skillz...

patience kindness goodness

t.i.l.t. JUNE 1, 2006
FIRST: I would like to thank EVERYONE out there who has sent us their well wishes on the move! I really appreciate all the good thoughts coming our way- we are definitely excited (and a little lost in this new big house- yelling, lots of yelling "where are you?!")

It has been a pretty good change up so far- only a little problem with the water- the neighbor was trying to help when he say that our sprinklers were out of control the day before we moved in- so he wandered over and turned off the water. Only problem, he *turned off the water* and didn't tell us. So we were all weekend without water. On Tuesday I called the Water Authority to make a fuss about the fact that they didn't turn the water on when we asked- they said it was on- it must be on our property side- so I got the key out and marche around the house turning this valve and that (mind you I felt pretty important at that point) I finally got the water going again after a few failed attempts- viola! We have lift off- and flushing toilets! yippee...

So needless to say, have been preoccupied, but in a good way and with good things.

I felt like I needed to post- nothing craft here, I am just trying to unpack boxes and figure out where I am going to put things. We are also busy picking out colors for the walls- I think we got some good ones. My craft room/yoga room will have an awesome purple wall. I am prepping for my mom's big retirement party this weekend as well- Costco, here I come. It should be a fun day- I am so excited for her!

This all leads to the photo and to today's T.I.L.T. (things I love Thursday)

I am totally fascinated by the mystic right now. The idea that if you put a thought or an idea out in the universe it will come to you- at exactly the right time. It might be in a little different way then how you imagined it, but it will be there.
I am constantly amazed by people's kindness. Things just keep coming to us- good things, wonderful things- kindness is all around.
it blows my mind away and it makes me believe that there is a master plan- we just have to trust that it is there, we have to have the patience for it, we have to have the patience to see it when it is there.

Along these lines... Just got in touch with a long lost friend today- it is amazing to see her via photos, so many laughs so many good memories- so much silliness... She is going to have a baby with her long time sweet heart, now hubby this month. She looks amazing as a mom to be!

- I am overjoyed for them- looks like I have some more knitting to do!

xoxo

Photobooth Friday 5-26-06 and other thoughts

hee hee- I really like this one-

It is part of the strip I took a few weeks back. I gave one of the strips to my mom for Mother's Day and the other to hubby for an anniversary giftee- he thinks I am crazy, and loves it.
I kinda wish this one was in color because the scarf I have on is really pretty and sprakely- but that's okay.

Almost forgot it was Friday today!
Happy long weekend everyone!

If you are in town come help us move! We got the keys last night and I can hardly wait to get stuff into the new place.
I even have a little garage door opener thingy- trust me this is big, I don't care how *normal* it is, this is my first- I love that I am 28 years old and can still have *firsts*.
My mom keeps shaking her head and saying, "we've come a long way" and we have. I lived in a mobile home for a good portion of my childhood (don't even make jokes, if you grew up out in Gerlach, Nevada this would not be so funny), so a house that is 2800 square feet is SO over the top and amazing to me~
As I was pulling boxes into my new closet (a walkin, again, a *first*) I took a deep breath and thought, wow for some reason I knew I would be here-It is like I put the idea out into the universe, and everything happened the way it should- and here we are. The house is in a part of town that I love- we are in a subdivision, but we are inside "the McCarran Ring" (I working and play with City Planners all day, this is a good thing, trust me- it just means we aren't living in the sprawl, we aren't encouraging the growth, we are within walking distance to UNR, downtown, the park, my mom's, the Truckee River- As Martha would say, "its a good thing")
The house has plenty of room to grow. There are friendly neighbors, and multiple bathrooms- (no more potty dance and pushing and shoving to get to the pot first after a long drive). There is space for us to have a real dining room table and more than 4 people over for dinner without having to manuver or rely on fabulous weather to take us outside. However, the back yard is BBQ ready and the best part? there is a cat door in the garage- it was meant to be.

I know I am blessed- that most peole don't have what I have and I am SO FULL OF JOY AND THANKS! right now it isn't even funny.
Now all we need is to have a party!!! who's coming????

Have a wonderful and safe weekend everyone.

Apron Swap MeMe & T.I.L.T.

I am participating in the What's Cookin' Swap here is a meme for the fun of it:

1. first apron (that you can remember)
Frist apron would have to be the one I wore as a waitress working at Bruno's Country Club. I was probably about 15 or 16, it was just a simple black half apron with pockets- typical waitress attire.

2. last (most recent) apron
My mom has recently been finding super cool vintage aprons, some of them are sassy others are simple and utilitarian. Also, I made hubby an apron for Christmas and he wears it when he cooks- it is so stinkin' cute.

3. dream/favorite apron
A dream apron would be made out of funky print material. It would have pockets to keep stuff in, a spot for a towel to hang and probably only be the type you tie around your waist, not the full smock-

4. dream sewing machine
hmm, one that doesn't jam. Other than that it doesn't really matter :)

5. what do you put in your pockets? or what strange thing have you ever found in them?
If we are talking apron pockets then I would have to say that a spoon or spatual, a hand towel- usually some of what ever I am making at the moment winds up in them and my hands

6. condiment(s) you can't live without
Sriracha hot sauce (I usually call it "cock sauce", what? there is a cock on the bottle), Sierra Nevada Dijon mustard, and of course SnP.

7. do you wear more showy aprons or dutiful ones?
I would say showy, yet functionable.

8. favorite cooking gadget
Hands down my avocado slicer thingy- It is awesome, it scoops it slices and it works perfectly every time.

9. cooking gagdet that promised the world but didn't deliver
Shrimp deviener- it is just so much easier to use your hands and a knife.

10. a recipe that you know by heart and any stories behind it
I would have to say that either my chocoalte chip cookies reciepe or else my risoto receipe.
I have been making the chocolate chip cookies since before I can remember, I even have a scar from where I burned my arm on the cookie sheet when I was about 3- always in the kitchen with my mom...
The risotto receipe is just something that is simple and easy and can be altered to add in what ever is in season - asparagus, squash... mmmm, comfort food.

Just to keep with the food/kitchen theme and because I just love this photo here is todays Things I Love Thursday:


PS we are signing papers today!! And I think getting the keys! this is nuts-o

Knitting Monday and weekend update

Hey Look!!!

Hey Look!! more knitting~ isn't it grand? I am using the Last Minute Knitted Gifts book and some yarn that I recieved in a swap from Becky. It is lovely soft Debbie Bliss- feels really good in my hands... I finished the tomato hat this weekend, but forgot to take pictures of the finished product this morning. It came out really really cute!

Had a wonderful weekend but I am exhausted from all the driving- the rain was crazy on the way home, but would do it all over again.

My favorite part of the weekend was going to a place in Oceano called Melodrama This gang of actors/singers/musicians were amazing. I really enjoyed it. If you have the chance, go check them out- well worth the trip.

This is a friend I made while walking on the beach Saturday morning...

We hung out with the inlaws- it was great. Wandered around an AWESOME fabric and yarn store (I got some really cool oil cloth I am going to make a summer bag out of), enjoyed the fog (what? we don't get fog here), took tea

laughed and drove home~ ahh it was nice.

This week might be low on posts- we are MOVING!!!and the computer at home is dead as a door nail.

A few more pictures...

Photo Booth Friday- Anniversary Addition

On Wed. it was our 3rd wedding anniversary. I have said it before, I am gonna say it again- I love this man.
We had one of the most *bestest* nights out. Lovely dinner out side on a patio (until it started to rain, which felt good, but not so tasty in our food) a photobooth session, and a very long and wonderful walk to the park (and by the new house) that just set me happy. I even got him to run through the sprinklers with me.
It was a wonderful day and I feel like the luckiest couple alive. we have so much happening that is GOOD right now it isn't even funny...

I think the last two are my favorites, because this is how we really are~ :)
Happy PBF everyone
Need more? Check out Andrea's blog-the one who started it all. as well as here and over here too~

PS I am off to the coast~ woo hoo, see ya later desert~
PPS Look what I started last night since I had time to just sit and not worry about a thing:


see, I told you all I could knit!
It's a hat- (pattern by Ann Norling, that will look like a tomato) for my cousin's baby that is on the way. I started a sweater, but dropped a few stitches got frustrated with the yarn and frogged it... I think this is cuter anyway- hope she likes it!

T.I.L.T. 5-18-06

Thanks everyone for your comments yesterday! We had an awesome anniversary night~ I got a wonderful bunch of flowers from hubby. I got him this really cool book, and we had an excellent dinner at a place called Stonehouse. I also drug hubby to the photobooth- we got the cutest set of pictures (I will post tomorrow). We also took a really nice walk - up by the new house and the park, ran through the sprinklers and laughed. I woke up this morning feeling on top of the world- like the luckiest woman alive- I really think I am right now!

TILT~

My husband's aunt and unlce live at the beach -

They find all sorts of good stuff, this is a mobile made of beach goodies...
Since I am headed down to see them this weekend, I am dedicating this post to family , the beach,

to random beautiful things that you find only if you are looking for them, and for those little parts of the wold that glow and sparkly to make you smile....

Need more love in your life?

Go

here

&

here

What's Cookin?

So I was over visiting here, and saw a link to this blog (mostly because the name cracked me up). While I was reading through the blog I saw a link to this.


















And so I was tempted- and then I found myself emailing the girls about adding me to the swap, because really, what else do I have going on?


















I mean I am done with my yoga training (did I mention that? Can I getta whoot whoot? Sunday's closing ceremony was one of the most amazing and cleansing things I have ever done- I feel new and amazing right now- like the girl who is in the soda commercial and is skating and there are bubbles following her around, and there is music and smiles and joy- yeah, that is how I feel- it is AWESOME people. Forget everything that has ever made you high, and just breath- the breath is quickly becoming my drug of choice, no really- try it. but I digress....)


















and our house is in escrow (no more cleaning and pretending we live in a model house which is ready at any second for the photographers of Real Simple or Better Homes to show up and snap pictures for the next issue. So that means more time, right?
Well, wait a minute- doesn't having a house in escrow mean that I am moving- YEP. and in less then a week if all goes well, so really? What else do I have to do besides get out my sewing matching and make an apron?
But it doesn't matter, because I want to make an apron and I have a good feeling about this swap- It will be a good distraction.


In other news-
Today is my and hubby's wedding anniversary~










I love him even more today then I did 3 years ago. He continues to surprise me and make me laugh. Happy Anniversary honey~