Really looking forward to clue #2 for the mystery shawl!  I’m using madelinetosh sock in black currant and silver beads.  It’s gorgeous so far.  I think it’ll turn out to be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever knit.  Needles crossed!  This is my first mystery KAL, and I do believe I’ll join another one.

Do you know what’s happening on Tuesday?  Adele’s new album is coming out!  Yes, I have it pre-ordered.  SUPER EXCITED!!!

Our house is out in the country.  There’s a horse pasture right behind us.  No, they don’t even stink!  We have an acre, more than enough room for a kiddie and a puppy to run free and wild.

As far as knitting goes, much has been accomplished.  I’m not sure if I should post all the pictures.  Hats, lots and lots of hats.  A scarf, a cardigan started.  Yarn is overflowing in abundance here.  Birthday money rocks, I bought some Knitpicks donegal tweed for a cardigan and some gorgeous madelinetosh sock yarn from Eat.Sleep.Knit.  I have no idea what I’m going to make with it.  It’s screaming to be a shawl.  And beaded.

Still need to finish Starsky Jr. for G, but to be honest, I’ve lost interest.  There is just so many patterns out there, so much lovely yarn in my possession, I’m feeling a bit of knitting ADD.

As for music, Adele (duh!), The Black Keys, Matt White, The Afters.  Musically, I’ve been in a very strange mood.  I’m trying hard to steer clear of mainstream music.  It’s just so old and tired.  But I’m also too lazy to try and find anything new.  Too much has been going on!  For example, I had all last week off.  I was sick and taking care of a new puppy and a six year old.  Hubanero works overnights, so I had to do it all.  By myself.  Did I mention I was sick?  Oh, and that I’m still sick?  Ah well.  Such is life!

Yep, Aphrodite is finally finished.  The edging chart nearly killed me.  35 rows, 521 stitches, and a stretchy bind off.  Seriously thought I was going to lose it.  It was never ending.  Other than that, the pattern is awesome.  The beads don’t photograph well, but they make an already lovely pattern, just frickin gorgeous.  Trust me, the beads are a must.  The yarn is Knitpicks Gloss Sock yarn in burgundy.  I have a thing for burgundy.  No, I would never make this again.  Simply because I never want to do that bind off again.  But the pattern was wonderfully written and very easy to follow.  I would knit another pattern by Sivia Harding.  Her patterns are so chic!  Now I’m working on Olearia for G-funk.  I am making a size 7 in that hopes that it will still fit next fall.  That’s asking a lot, I know, but I’m a dreamer.  Someday my child will stop growing a foot per year.  Someday.  Acrylic, I don’t like using hand wash only yarn for her.  Children are messy and rough.  If she were to stain/destroy something I made for her in Malabrigo, I would have a complete meltdown.  It’s easier on both of us to just go with acrylic.

That’s all I have for knitting news.  I recently finished watching both seasons of Pushing Daisies.  That show was funny and interesting, it’s a shame it was cancelled.  But networks always seem to cancel good shows and keep the crap ones.  Hubs and I watched Paranormal Activity and I really don’t understand what all the fuss was about.  Spooky and creepy: Yes.  Great movie: No.  It was simply ok.  Blair Witch Project was a lot better, in my opinion.  But it’s also been quite a few years since I’ve seen that movie.

Other than that, I’ve been listening to Band Of Horses, Roisin Murphy, Keane, and Carla Bruni.

OH.  Something nasty that happened to me today.  Some guy drove past me and shouted, “Go back to Mexico!”  Ok, jackass, I’m not hispanic.  I’m asian.  The sad part is that most people mistake me for hispanic, and trust me, most aren’t very nice about it.  You would think after 27 years I would be used to it.  But these things cut right through me.  I definitely need to purchase a thicker skin.

Not a great picture, but the green just washes out.  That isn’t the only blanket I’ve made!  Two fleece blankets were also started and finished.

So, the green baby blanket still has to be knitted, and there’s also a fleece blanket in the pipes for G-funk.  Those are the only crafty things I’ve done.  Lame, I know.  But when you only get one day off a week, and still have to be a full time mom and wife, what do expect?  There just aren’t enough hours in the day.  Or energy.  Have any of you used Spud & Chloe yarn?  Lucky me picked up two skeins of their fingering weight yarn.  I’m not real sure what I’m going to make with it, but there’s probably a shawl in their future.  You know, after the blankets, sweaters, socks and other things I have lined up.  A crafter’s work is never done. 

Oh!  Anyone out there into embroidery? Urban Threads is an awesome site.  Most of their designs are a dollar!  Really cool site.

On the ipod is some Annie Lennox, Josh Ritter, Matt Hires, and Jon Foreman.  Oh, such good music!

I lurves my guitar.  I call her Ruby.  This weekend was spent knitting, watching football (Go Vikes!) and playing my Ruby.  My Knitpicks order arrived!  The yarn is lovely.  The Gloss fingering weight is exactly what I wanted.  Although I’m now torn between Bitterroot and Haruni.  They are both such beautiful shawls, it’s going to be a hard choice.  Then there’s Mrs. Darcy.  When I made the decision to make this cardigan, I hadn’t looked closely at the pattern.  It only comes in one size.  Small.  No way, on God’s green earth, am I a small.  Now, there are people that have posted tips on how to make it larger, but I’m still worried about getting a good fit.  This will take some time to think over.

We took G skating today.  She had a blast.  She fell down a lot, but got back up and kept trying everytime.  I honestly can’t think of the last time I was so proud.  I know how much it hurt when she fell, and I know how scared she was so falling.  But that girl never gave up.  G-funk wants to go out again this weekend.  She’s determined to get better.  Yay for my little turkey! 

Oh, how I love Matthew Santos.  His voice is just beyond amazing.  The same goes for James Morrison and Ray LaMontagne.  G has been forcing me to play Owl City as often as humanly possible.  Mayaeni has a new song out on her site, it’s awesome.  Oh, and I’ve been jamming to some new Lavender Diamond, but Oh No will always be my favorite song of theirs.

My Mr. Darcy yarn has arrived.

A very beautiful brown.  It’ll look lovely on the husband.  The Doleman sweater is progressing at a very slow, and leisurely pace.  I have cast on the front and am almost finished with the six inches of 2×2 ribbing.  Also, I was naughty and placed a Knitpicks order.  Yarn for the Mrs. Darcy cardigan, also for the Bitterroot shawl, and then some little doodads.  The yarn I chose for Mrs. Darcy is a wool and silk blend, in a very beautiful, rich blue.  For the shawl, I was looking at the Gloss sock yarn and found a wonderful wine color.  I love wines.  As soon as I saw it, I thought of Bitterroot.  I won’t be buying any more yarn for a looong time.  I’ve never really felt the need to have a yarn stash.  Personally, yarn that just sits around with no purpose tends to shoot dirty looks at the owner.  Resentful, dirty, hateful looks.  It makes me feel guilty, like the yarn is just wasting away it’s destiny.  I don’t know, it’s the guilt talking!  Besides, I’ve picked out enough projects to keep me going for quite some time.

There’s some good music playing right now.  Kate Earl, Toby Lightman, Caitlin Crosby, Lavender Diamond and Ingrid Michaelson.  Gotta love the ladies!

There really isn’t anything worth blogging about right now.  We lucky Minnesotans recieved a snow storm for the holidays.  It was awesome.  Now everything is icy, making driving scary.  There is more snow in the forecast, in case you’re wondering.

Well, I did finally read Pride & Prejudice, and have now started Jane Eyre.  After that, I’m tackling Wuthering Heights.  Is it sad that at 27 I’ve never read them?  Don’t answer that.  I’m thinking I should round it all out with Pride & Prejudice & and Zombies.  What do you think?  The gift card my MIL gave me for Christmas has been used to buy some yarn.  I plan on making Chris Mr. Darcy, from Knitty.  And then maybe Mrs. Darcy for myself.  It’s a cardigan, and I think it’s lovely.

Oh!  I have picture of the cowl.

Malabrigo Chunky in Little Lovely.  It makes me feel like peppermint, and trust me that’s a good thing.

Well, I’ll leave off here with what I’m listening to.  Lady GaGa, Owl City, Dr. Dog, The Fratellis, Nikka Costa and Adele.  Oh, and Better Than Ezra.  I really, really, really love Better Than Ezra.

My next project (assuming I ever finish these) is the EDI Cowl. I’m really thinking Teal Feather, or Little Lovely in Mal Chunky. There doesn’t seem to be a yarn store in my area that carries Mal Chunky, but I’ll keep hunting. The more I look at the pattern, the more I know I only want to knit it in Malabrigo. Oh well, wish me luck!

There’s nothing else new or exciting in my life. The weather here in MN is cold, cold and oh yeah, slightly snowy. I hate winter. But at least it’s not -40 which honestly should never be allowed. Hopefully, for Lil’G, we have a white Christmas. I’m ok without having a white Christmas, but it would make her so “hassy”.

There’s nothing new playing on the ipod. It’s same ol’ same ol’. If you haven’t heard Hesitation by Mayaeni, I suggest you give it a listen. I think she’s amazing. There’s also a little Rock Kills Kid, The Hippos, Coconut Records aaaaand, Incubus. Oh, and Gregory Alan Isakov. I can’t seem to get enough of him. The Stable Song is amazing, if you like folksy music, I highly recommend him.

Sure, it’s a WIP shot, but my post felt naked without a picture.  Just…naked.  Team Intentions!

I’m using the Cherry Tree Hill for G’s cowl.  I think it’s beautiful.  It makes me think of a rose garden.  That picture ( yes, I realize it’s a little blurry) just doesn’t do the colors justice.  I really think it’ll bring out her green eyes.  If I’m lucky, I’ll finish it today.  And maybe G will be so happy, she’ll actually eat a full meal!  Aaaah, that thought makes me happy.  When you have a sick child, you’ll pretty much do anything to make them feel better.  Even if that means you have to watch a hundred kids movies in a row, some more than once.  Seriously, I’ve seen Up about four times already.  Thank goodness huband had the brains to stop and rent Star Trek for us.  That movie was sooooo much better than I thought it would be!  I highly recommened it to anyone. 

I think I’ll leave off here.  I really haven’t been listening to anything new or interesting.  A little Alana Davis, Erin McCarley, Adele and Everclear.  Sorry for my boringness!