Grape Expectations

Welcome to another episode of grape transformations.  Witness the destemmed grapes in their new glass home....

They are all broken up about their move, but are enjoying a cozy sugar bath as they await their transformation into Grape Cordial. 

Thanks Gwenda for the tip on how to use my over abundant grapes.  I can't wait until they are ready and I can take a little nip!

Weekend In Review

After I dropped off the fabulous Feather and Fan gloves and went on a little shopping spree, the weekend got into full swing with drinks and dinner with my honey at our favorite happy hour.  It is my favorite way to start weekend. Here are a few more lovely highlights from a great weekend.

... Received a check from Nissan for the salvage of my long gone clunker I traded in. It was $150 I was not expecting!

... Bought some Fimo clay for some stitch markers that have been brewing in my head.  I will say no more, as they should be finding their way into a swap package if they come out as cute as they look in my noggin.  I will share pictures after my swap partner receives them.

... Speaking of swaps, I furiously gathered all kinds of goodies for several swap packages I am putting together.  I have learned it is just as much fun to shop for little treasures for people you barely know as it is for those that you adore and know maybe a little too well.

... On Saturday night we went to see 6' Swing at ValleyFest.  They are one of my favorite local Spokane bands and I enjoyed listening to them immensely.  They are a little swing, a little blues, and a little jazz all rolled into one.

... Sunday was the Coeur d'Alene Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  I was the team leader for the Cardinals Against Cancer Team (the North Idaho College team) and I enjoyed every minute of it.  We had 35 members on our team and everyone had a blast.  You would be amazed at how many people join in the race.  It was fun to look at everyone's team shirts!  I think my favorite shirt was one styled after Rosie the Riveter. 

... I also got to watch the progress of the coffin Mark is making for my work's Halloween decorations.  I think he may of taken it a little too seriously, or else he should get into the coffin making business.  He even crawled into to make sure it was a realistic size.  Love him and the coffin!  We will be keeping this for future decorations outside our house!

... I have a good start on the Lace Cable Shawl as well.  It is forcing me to practice my cables.  I don't know why I usually avoid them.  I think they are gorgeous and they only look hard to do, but for some reason they always intimidate me.

Next weekend we are off to visit friends in Lewiston, Idaho so I am sure I will more frivolity to share on next weekend as well.

Love sample knitting

I finished the Feather and Fan fingerless gloves!  I was sad to turn them over to Paradise Fibers yesterday, but I have visitation rights since they will be on display in their store.  I also bought some of the Kollage 1/2 N 1/2 yarn in this color to knit my own pair. 

Now I get to cast on another project for a sample for Paradise Fibers.  I have cast on this pattern with this yarn. I have never knit with corn fiber before so this is a treat.  I have been told it drapes beautifully and I am about to find out.

My Wings Are Humming

Mondays are long. I work eight hours at my day job (the Registrar's Office) and then work another three hours teaching.  I come home tired, ready to eat dinner, and veg. 

Tonight I came home and was immediately energized because when I walked in the door Mark was just putting the finishing touches on dinner.  Taco Salad, one of my favorites.  He also showed me that he finished my new swift.

It is slick and cost less than $10 which is awesome since the swift I had been eyeing is about $40 and that was a good deal.  My Knit Picks ball winder should be arriving in the mail shortly and is bound to play nicely with this yarn swift.

If all of that was not enough to have me humming in delight, Mark surprised me with a brand new netbook!  He said it is an early birthday present (my birthday is not until December).  It is an Acer Aspire One 11.6 screen and we should have wireless in about a week and then I will really get that baby humming.  This came as a particularly large surprise because we just looked at this netbook at Costco yesterday and all he could tell me was how much he thought I didn't need it.  You think he had this planned all along, or did he just realize how much I really wanted it and how much I was going to use it in all its compactness.  With wireless I can sit in my favorite chair, I can sit outside, I can pretty much be anywhere in the vicinity of our house that I want and still blog, check facebook, and do all other sorts of nonsense online that I probably don't really need to be doing.  I can't wait to get started!  I love you babe!

Addition to the Canned Family

Might I introduce you to our Concord grapes before....

They have had an identity crisis and have changed their names to Cinnamon Grape Preserves....

Progress

I have finished one fingerless glove of the Feather and Fan Fingerless Gloves and I am loving the 1/2 N 1/2 yarn by Kollage!

Also, the handi-man has finished one of his two projects!  The niddy-noddy looks great and I can not wait to try it out and set the twist on my first ever spun yarn. 

He also cut all the pieces for the swift last night and will hopefully get it all put together by the end of the weekend.  Don't you just love the feeling of progress!

Handi-man to the rescue!

For those of you that don’t know, the handi-hummingbird has a handi-man. While as an empowered woman I hold firmly to the fact that technically I could do anything Mark does handi-wise, I don’t. Frankly, I am happy to let him take over certain arenas. For example, I can mow the lawn just fine thank you, but I have absolutely no problem letting Mark complete this chore. It works both ways. I am sure Mark could technically create my yummy tomato sauce (okay, maybe I am stretching it a bit there), but I am fairly certain he is fine with letting me do it all by myself.

The handi-man enjoys having projects to do. So, when I was introduced to these directions for building your own niddy-noddy (for you non fiber enthusiasts, it is used to set the twist on new spun yarn) and found these directions for building your own yarn swift (non fiber nuts, this is to help quickly ball new yarn) I thought of my handi-man. He was of course excited to help make this happen (hmmm, maybe I am stretching a bit again). Last night we went to the hardware store and got everything we needed that we didn’t already have at home for both of these projects. I am excited to see the end result!

Construction will not begin until tomorrow. You see, the handi-man also likes to work on his handi-cap so he is golfing with his buddies this afternoon. I will keep you posted on the progress though!