Boxsprings and knitting

One of the first problems we ran into when we moved in was our inability to get our boxspring up the stairs. Ever since we moved in, we've been sleeping on our mattress on the floor, which Banjo has loved because he's had easy access. That will soon change!

I have to admit that helping Chris get that upstairs just now was not good on my hungover self. Apparently a glass of red wine is enough to make me feel hungover. I'm trying to tell myself that it wasn't the wine so much as not enough sleep over the past few days. We went to Mary and Greg's housewarming party last night and I had fun and didn't get to bed until midnight which, for anyone that knows me, knows that's really late for me! LAME. I really enjoyed seeing old friends, although I was disappointed that one failed to bring his eleven bodyguards.

In my knitting world, I am very close to being completely done with finishing Chris's stocking. That means I have my dad's to finish yet, but I don't expect that to take even half as long as Chris's did. It was that damn Eagle on Chris's that has made it so difficult, but I'm quite proud of the results especially since I charted that damn Eagle's head myself (yes I am bragging, but I feel like I'm entitled to).

I have already heard someone's disappointment in learning that she would likely not get a stocking this year. Don't worry Kim. You will get a stocking soon (FYI: soon means within three years...hee hee). I will post proud pictures yet again when I finish last year's stockings. My goal is to get them done before Thanksgiving. That will give me plenty of time to procrastinate and scramble at the last minute Christmas Eve.

I am also working on a scarf for myself - it's the Snowflake Scarf pattern from Interweave Knits. The colors match my orange winter jacket and I'm really excited to get it finished, even though I'm not even a third of the way done. I hope to get it done around Thanksgiving too. What I've really been wanting to do is to line up all of the projects I want to get done because right now I feel like I can't concentrate - too many potential projects!!!

A lot of my yarn is not dedicated to a specific project, and I am starting to think I should try to dedicate most of those lovely skeins. I might help me focus and would give me a sense of accomplishment as I cross finished projects off the list. The funny thing is I started a drawer of UFOs (Unfinished Objects) which know contains the stockings, a mitten without a partner, a baby blanket that needs to be blocked and some baby booties. I have a strong feeling I'm going to be adding to that drawer instead of pulling stuff out, but let's hope that's not the case.

My hungover self is now going to do something else...maybe a shower...maybe a power nap...maybe mindlessly staring at the computer screen...

Zee fence iz complete!

The boys like it:

The china is unpacked!

Thanks to Chris moving the last of the books to be unpacked out of the dining room, I was able to move the buffet and unpack Grandma and Grandpa Harder's china! For now, I have put the silverware that I have to polish in the bottom drawer and the dishes in the three middle drawers - that will be a perfect project for this winter.

The beginnings of the fence

We will soon have a fence for Banjo. We decided on a fence company a little it ago and the posts were put in Thursday - they will likely be back Tuesday to finish it. Here are some pictures:


I have to go pick up some lattice for the top of the deck and the left side of the deck. That way Banjo will still be able to run around down below the deck, but won't escape.

I started polishing the chandelier in the dining room - it turns out parts of it are actually silver (it was so rusty-looking that everything appeared to be rusty-gold). I have a lot more work to do on it, but I'm excited that when I walk by it, it shines (thanks for the tip Maggie!).

I got all of the lilacs trucks and branches cut up now - we're going to use the trucks as firewood for the fire pit this fall, so now all we have to do is haul the tops to the county drop-off.

Since Chris has been gone most of the weekend at work, I've been starting to work on getting knitting inspiration. I started a board with all sorts of cards, wrapping paper and magazines of color combinations I really like. I'm hoping to get inspired to try different color combinations than my traditional matches in the future. The board also serves another purpose: finally covering up some of the massive wall space. With about 9-foot high ceilings, there is a lot of empty space right now. We haven't started hanging pictures since we have plaster walls. We are hoping to enlist the help of our former neighbor who's in the framing business to help us out. I suppose that means Chris has to have some free time too...

Some of his free time has been going towards catching up on sleep (Banjo's always ready to join him when he's taking a break from guard duty):

New haircut

Last night I got a new hair cut!

I unfortunately didn't go to Barb Rassat; I instead went to a place on Snelling that I can get to by bus. I got my hair cut by a trainee, which meant it took a little bit longer, but it was way cheaper and she had fun styling my hair afterwards. I know it looks a bit flat in the picture, but it looks much better in person. I like it a lot! Is it weird that when I was looking in the mirror after she dried my hair, I saw my mother? All I could think of is I look like my mom did in high school!

This weekend will be filled with clearing out lilacs - we are likely going to get our fence started later this coming week (eek!). They came out to stake the property lines, so now it's my turn to clear out the way. We had the second coversation with the neighbors and they said it was fine for the workers to have space to move around on their property, which is good.

I'm excited to get a fence because I'm mega excited for Banjo to be able to run around free! I guess this means we need to get lattice for under the deck...

Dining Room Rug

I found this great rug on Craigslist for cheap:


Banjo already likes it, and it will improve his running ability as he chases the flashlight :)

We've been having a great time with James and Autumn who now live in PA! They stayed with us over the weekend - I've missed them! They got us a Philadelphia Eagles mat for our front door - I don't think Chris could be more happy!

I'll post more soon.

Various stuff

Time felt like it stood still this week - the weekend couldn't come quick enough.

We had some friends over for brinner (breakfast for dinner - watch Scrubs) and we found the table worked out perfectly. Because it's wide, it provides enough room for common dishes and things. I'm very happy with it. Now I am searching for a rug for the dining room, but I'm having a difficult time trying to find one I like on Craigslist. It will come up at some point.

We have nearly decided on a fence company, and I broke the news to the neighbors that we would have to cut down lilacs in order to put it up. The lilacs serve as a natural privacy screen for their deck right now, and it will suck to lose some of that, but it will grow back. I kept telling her I love the lilacs too and my plan is for them to grow around the fence. From what it sounded like, she and her husband have taken care of the lilacs over the years, trimming the larger ones, but they are almost completely over on our property. I think it's going to be a difficult transition for them. Ideas on how to smooth it over???

In other news, Chris and I switched our cell phone service to Credo, and are now on a family plan. We got to keep our numbers, so no change there. Mom and Dad, I suspect I will pretty much always be calling you on the weekend.

This weekend is going to be great - friends of ours are coming into town to visit!