We're back! Banjo couldn't be more excited :) I haven't seen him run around our room that many times before - lots of excitement to burn off!
We had a great time, due to Klink and Klinkette (thank you!!!). They showed us all around Lake Jackson, including the beach, alligators, and crazy Mardi Gras people in Galveston. Luckily, all of those things were not in the same location.
We went to Brazos Bend State Park on Saturday to see some alligators. I've never been anywhere that big flesh-eating mammals were not behind some kind of enclosure! Thrilling and kind of terrifying at the same time! The alligators really didn't move, so I shouldn't have been nervous, but I've seen how fast they can move from watching Nature. Good thing was they were trying to soak up whatever warmth they could get through the clouds, and the largest one was very far away. Very cool sights.
We went to the Mardi Gras parade in Galveston. It was so foggy that condensation collected in our hair when we were walking along the beach beforehand! We were in the prime area to see the fireworks, but we could barely see them because of the fog. I've never seen anything like it! It was actually pretty cool to see the way the colors lit up the sky. The parade was very fun and included the Budweiser clydesdales! Those are some massive horses!
We hung out at the beach on Sunday. Luckily the fog was somewhat diminished so we could see the waves coming in. Even though it was cloudy, I managed to get a little bit of sunburn (oops). It was fun to see their dog Walter chasing balls into the ocean. Made me wonder what Banjo would think of the ocean...
I didn't eat anything too adventurous, although I ate fried crab in the shape of the crab. A bit off-putting. (I originally accidentally said clam...don't know why) I resisted the donut french toast (I felt like continuing to live).
Overall, it was great to get away. Makes me want to be able to take longer trips and especially makes me want to explore some more parks.
28 February 2011
24 February 2011
Off to 70 degrees...
We're off to Texas! We leave in about 20 minutes and I'm finally getting excited. I've been feeling more stressed out than anything. The rule of the universe seems to be that everything piles up immediately before a trip and this experience was no exception. Work was crazy the last few days and it felt like the week FLEW by at home too.
Banjo's in Farmington, and it was extremely difficult for me to leave him. I was crying on the way back home, which was unexpected. I felt bad because he had a stressful week and then I left him at Grandma and Grandpa's (thank you for watching him!). I know he'll be fine, but it's more that I miss him. We haven't even left yet!
I'm looking forward to starting a new book and starting another sock pattern (for myself this time). I'm most looking forward to visiting the Klinks!
Banjo's in Farmington, and it was extremely difficult for me to leave him. I was crying on the way back home, which was unexpected. I felt bad because he had a stressful week and then I left him at Grandma and Grandpa's (thank you for watching him!). I know he'll be fine, but it's more that I miss him. We haven't even left yet!
I'm looking forward to starting a new book and starting another sock pattern (for myself this time). I'm most looking forward to visiting the Klinks!
21 February 2011
What an adventure!
This weekend, we drove up to my parents' house to celebrate my mom's birthday (even though she said she tries to forget about it). We were aware that a storm would be passing through on Sunday when we were headed back, but we thought it would be something we could handle. The storm wasn't the problem as you will soon learn.
Sunday early afternoon: we decide to hit the road and hopefully get home before dark. If it was as bad as they said, we figured we should leave sooner rather than later. We head out and see nothing until about Princeton. Before that was a lot of wind, but nothing else. Once Princeton hit, it got slowly worse and still little accumulation.
We got as far as about Coon Rapids on Highway 10 when it happened: our car stalled while going 60 mph and wouldn't restart. That's something we didn't plan on! Chris was driving and got us to the shoulder quickly (luckily there was a downward slope) and we both thought SHIT. We figured it would take forever to get a tow because of the weather, and were trying to mentally prepare ourselves. Luckily Chris has AAA and we got a tow within 20-30 minutes of when we called it in. Chris and I got to ride in the truck, but Banjo had to stay in the car. We were both nervous about that, but he did ok.
Then came the next challenge: since we were getting it towed to our mechanic, how were we going to get home? The towing company tried to call us a cab, but they were going to 4 1/2 hours! We could walk home faster! Luckily we have amazing friends (thank you Kris!!!) that picked us up and drove us home.
Yesterday could have been so much worse, and luckily it wasn't. Thanks to everyone for your support! Today we're hoping the mechanic is open so they will hopefully be able to find something wrong with the car.
Sunday early afternoon: we decide to hit the road and hopefully get home before dark. If it was as bad as they said, we figured we should leave sooner rather than later. We head out and see nothing until about Princeton. Before that was a lot of wind, but nothing else. Once Princeton hit, it got slowly worse and still little accumulation.
We got as far as about Coon Rapids on Highway 10 when it happened: our car stalled while going 60 mph and wouldn't restart. That's something we didn't plan on! Chris was driving and got us to the shoulder quickly (luckily there was a downward slope) and we both thought SHIT. We figured it would take forever to get a tow because of the weather, and were trying to mentally prepare ourselves. Luckily Chris has AAA and we got a tow within 20-30 minutes of when we called it in. Chris and I got to ride in the truck, but Banjo had to stay in the car. We were both nervous about that, but he did ok.
Then came the next challenge: since we were getting it towed to our mechanic, how were we going to get home? The towing company tried to call us a cab, but they were going to 4 1/2 hours! We could walk home faster! Luckily we have amazing friends (thank you Kris!!!) that picked us up and drove us home.
Yesterday could have been so much worse, and luckily it wasn't. Thanks to everyone for your support! Today we're hoping the mechanic is open so they will hopefully be able to find something wrong with the car.
06 February 2011
Knitting away
In these cold winter days, I've been knitting. Shocker. My latest project is making socks that are both comfortable and fit Christopher's unique feet. He has skinny legs, then huge arches, then average feet. This makes the gusset decrease very interesting and very unique.
For those wondering what the hell a gusset is, I found this picture from About.com that color-codes the different parts of the socks - the purple part is the gusset. In the socks for Chris, instead of the even line you see, his is a jagged line and fits his feet quite well.
As I mentioned, I knit Chris a pair of socks for Christmas. While they mostly fit, they were really tight over his arch and they were too thick of yarn of it to be comfortable. I am determined to make him a pair of socks that he really likes.
I have sock yarn that I made my first pair of socks with. I am knitting with size 0 needles, and for anyone out there that's a knitter, you can appreciate how small that it. I'm apparently really hard on small knitting needles. When I knit that first pair of socks ever, I was using size 2 wood double point needles. I snapped a needle in half very early on. Oops. This time I'm knitting with a metal circular needle, and while I haven't broken anything in half, I have managed to separate the metal needle tip from the plastic cable. Go me. I should really glue it back together, but I know I'm going to forget about it and I'll remember each time I knit with those needles.
So far I've only had to rip out portions of the gusset twice. I've had Chris try on his socks numerous times to make sure everything fits correctly. The good thing is once I figure everything out, I will have a pattern for future reference.
I've also been thinking about different patterns I can use to knit through my stash of yarn. The stash is slowly getting smaller, but I would like to get down to the point where all the yarn fits in the buffet.
Other than knitting, I've started work on landscape plans for the house. I took pictures last summer of various areas of the house that I want to work on. My mom has told me before how much fun it is to look through gardening magazines in the dead of winter. I have lots of specific plans for the backyard. I started work back there last year and want to build on that. What I'd eventually like the front yard to be nothing but garden. That will take some time though and lots more planning.
For those wondering what the hell a gusset is, I found this picture from About.com that color-codes the different parts of the socks - the purple part is the gusset. In the socks for Chris, instead of the even line you see, his is a jagged line and fits his feet quite well.
As I mentioned, I knit Chris a pair of socks for Christmas. While they mostly fit, they were really tight over his arch and they were too thick of yarn of it to be comfortable. I am determined to make him a pair of socks that he really likes.
I have sock yarn that I made my first pair of socks with. I am knitting with size 0 needles, and for anyone out there that's a knitter, you can appreciate how small that it. I'm apparently really hard on small knitting needles. When I knit that first pair of socks ever, I was using size 2 wood double point needles. I snapped a needle in half very early on. Oops. This time I'm knitting with a metal circular needle, and while I haven't broken anything in half, I have managed to separate the metal needle tip from the plastic cable. Go me. I should really glue it back together, but I know I'm going to forget about it and I'll remember each time I knit with those needles.
So far I've only had to rip out portions of the gusset twice. I've had Chris try on his socks numerous times to make sure everything fits correctly. The good thing is once I figure everything out, I will have a pattern for future reference.
I've also been thinking about different patterns I can use to knit through my stash of yarn. The stash is slowly getting smaller, but I would like to get down to the point where all the yarn fits in the buffet.
Other than knitting, I've started work on landscape plans for the house. I took pictures last summer of various areas of the house that I want to work on. My mom has told me before how much fun it is to look through gardening magazines in the dead of winter. I have lots of specific plans for the backyard. I started work back there last year and want to build on that. What I'd eventually like the front yard to be nothing but garden. That will take some time though and lots more planning.
23 January 2011
Another fun weekend
It seems as though we've been getting together with friends more often lately. I suppose most people are getting tired of being cooped up by the cold and need some kind of escape. I celebrated with at a friends' baby shower (co-ed showers are quite fun) and we got to see our long-lost and often inappropriate friends that moved out of state a while ago. It was great fun!
I am slowly working through my large stash of yarn. I want to get it down a lot before I buy more without having a project in mind. I have amassed quite a collection of remainders, leftovers from projects past. The small bits come in quite handy from time to time, but an entire drawer is filled with them and I am bound to create more! In the back of my mind, I keep mulling over the idea of trying to knit another sweater for myself (preferably one that would actually fit me!). I have a particular pattern in mind and have enough yarn to make it. I've just wanted to work through more of my non-dedicated stash first. Of course, there is lots of baby stuff to work on since so many of our friends are pregnant. I have had lots of fun planning and creating. Here's my latest creation: Mango the Giraffe
I am slowly working through my large stash of yarn. I want to get it down a lot before I buy more without having a project in mind. I have amassed quite a collection of remainders, leftovers from projects past. The small bits come in quite handy from time to time, but an entire drawer is filled with them and I am bound to create more! In the back of my mind, I keep mulling over the idea of trying to knit another sweater for myself (preferably one that would actually fit me!). I have a particular pattern in mind and have enough yarn to make it. I've just wanted to work through more of my non-dedicated stash first. Of course, there is lots of baby stuff to work on since so many of our friends are pregnant. I have had lots of fun planning and creating. Here's my latest creation: Mango the Giraffe
09 January 2011
Productive weekend
I was finally gripped by motivation to do some cleaning and organizing recently. I don't make resolutions, but the after-holidays period tends to be one in which you pack away any decorations you put out and life gets back to normal.
I actually had the motivation to clean today, not just guilt about not having done it for a bit. It was a refreshing change of pace. I did those weird little projects that I'd been thinking about for a while and just hadn't done. Example: the fan cover in the bathroom. It has been plastered with dust and grime for months and today I actually cleaned it. It looks so nice! Then I made the mistake of looking at the bottom of the bathtub. That cleaning will have to wait.
Chris and I started talking about plans we have for the basement. We're thinking grander thoughts than simply a random collection of stuff. It might actually be a usable space at some point.
It feels good to get some projects done at home because work is going to be a bit strange soon. My boss's boss is going to be taking on the responsibilities of another division director as he transitions to a new position. I'm hopeful that everything will work out just fine and that there won't be any major major hiccups, but who knows. What I'm really hoping for is a state budget that doesn't involve cuts to cities larger than what we predicted. If it's not larger, we won't have to go through yet another revised budget process this spring.
2010 was quite the year, filled fun memories and new last names. Happy belated new year to all!
I actually had the motivation to clean today, not just guilt about not having done it for a bit. It was a refreshing change of pace. I did those weird little projects that I'd been thinking about for a while and just hadn't done. Example: the fan cover in the bathroom. It has been plastered with dust and grime for months and today I actually cleaned it. It looks so nice! Then I made the mistake of looking at the bottom of the bathtub. That cleaning will have to wait.
Chris and I started talking about plans we have for the basement. We're thinking grander thoughts than simply a random collection of stuff. It might actually be a usable space at some point.
It feels good to get some projects done at home because work is going to be a bit strange soon. My boss's boss is going to be taking on the responsibilities of another division director as he transitions to a new position. I'm hopeful that everything will work out just fine and that there won't be any major major hiccups, but who knows. What I'm really hoping for is a state budget that doesn't involve cuts to cities larger than what we predicted. If it's not larger, we won't have to go through yet another revised budget process this spring.
2010 was quite the year, filled fun memories and new last names. Happy belated new year to all!
25 December 2010
Merry Christmas!
It has been a wonderful Christmas celebration so far! Because of when Christmas fell this year and the fact I have to work on Monday, we decided to postpone Christmas with my parents until next weekend. And since our celebration with the Mitchells isn't until Sunday, Chris and I got to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning/early afternoon together.
This year we opened up one gift last night, one gift and stockings this morning and we'll give presents to one another at both set of parents' houses. I made Chris a pair of warm wool socks (I was really nervous about the fit, and while they are a little tight in certain places, now I know for future socks how I need to make them). Chris gave me an ornament with our adorable faces on it to commemorate our first married Christmas together :) Banjo got treats, which he carried around the house all evening long!
We watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation last night in true Christmas style and enjoyed the crackling fire. We also video-chatted with family. Good evening.
This morning we warmed up the pecan roll we got yesterday (yummy!) and opened up another gift and the stockings. A chipmunk fell into Banjo's stocking and couldn't get out until Banjo gently pulled it out this morning and proceeded to play with it, then kill it.
Chris got me the movie Watchman, which I'm really excited to watch again, but it's not quite Christmas material. I gave Chris an ornament I made to commemorate our first married Christmas together. I used leftover yarn from the shawl I made for the wedding (which few people saw because it was too warm to wear it), leftover beads from the bracelets I made and paper from our invitations. A fun keepsake. We're both really excited about our gifts to each other and can't wait to give each other the remaining ones!
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!
This year we opened up one gift last night, one gift and stockings this morning and we'll give presents to one another at both set of parents' houses. I made Chris a pair of warm wool socks (I was really nervous about the fit, and while they are a little tight in certain places, now I know for future socks how I need to make them). Chris gave me an ornament with our adorable faces on it to commemorate our first married Christmas together :) Banjo got treats, which he carried around the house all evening long!
We watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation last night in true Christmas style and enjoyed the crackling fire. We also video-chatted with family. Good evening.
This morning we warmed up the pecan roll we got yesterday (yummy!) and opened up another gift and the stockings. A chipmunk fell into Banjo's stocking and couldn't get out until Banjo gently pulled it out this morning and proceeded to play with it, then kill it.
Chris got me the movie Watchman, which I'm really excited to watch again, but it's not quite Christmas material. I gave Chris an ornament I made to commemorate our first married Christmas together. I used leftover yarn from the shawl I made for the wedding (which few people saw because it was too warm to wear it), leftover beads from the bracelets I made and paper from our invitations. A fun keepsake. We're both really excited about our gifts to each other and can't wait to give each other the remaining ones!
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
