Seafarer

Our school district is currently under a very serious threat of strike and with that we're trying to cut down even more on non-essential purchases and therefore, I am trying to knit from my (very small) yarn stash. This hat was a product of that and the start to my current navy and white stripe obsession. I was aiming for a young child size, somewhere between a 3-7 year old and I think this falls somewhere in that range. I imagine it being worn along a rocky coast while watching ships out at sea while maybe the foghorn on the lighthouse bellows, hence the name. I always like to hear how projects get their names, I hope you do too. (Blogger has been very uncooperative with me the past few days and its now refusing to let me link, but if you're interested the details of this hat are listed on my Ravelry page....the link is to the right --->).

This week is my February vacation week and I've already crammed in visits with friends, house projects and knitting (there's another navy and white project on the needles), today my dad is coming over and we are ripping down dark, faux wood paneling and hanging sheetrock. It should be a good time.

Warmth and Frivolity

--I think I've decided on this years Christmas card design...I had a light bulb moment when I saw this....I'm thinking a Scandinavian snowflake design in white on a red card....it's totally normal to plan your Christmas cards 10 months in advance right?
--I've come to realize that I prefer neutrals/muted colors for decorating our house.  I love bright colors when I see them in other peoples houses, but I've realized that I'm just not comfortable with them in my own...(though I love a few red or yellow accents).
--I've just about had it with the town zoning board.  Getting chickens? Not a problem.  Putting in a small coop?  Looking impossible.  I can't even tell you my frustration level on this one...Everyone's telling me to just check with my neighbors and then put the coop in anyways as long as it doesn't have a foundation and is considered removable....the rule follower in me doesn't like that, but I've been dreaming about having chickens for so long that I might consider it......anyone been in a similar situation in their towns or have any advice?
--I might break my "no-new-yarn-buying-until-the-pretty-serious-threat-of-strike-has-passed" rule for a completely frivolous project that I just found.  I've wanted a pair since I was a little girl.
--I'm currently obsessed with navy and white stripes.
--The kitchen project is in it's final days (thank goodness) with the exception of new lighting and new doors which may have to wait another month or two, but the wallpaper, popcorn ceiling, and painters-tape-blue woodwork and cupboards are long gone and freshly painted walls, ceiling, and cabinets and new hardware are in their places.  It's looking great and so much brighter.
--Sugaring season has officially started in Vermont...a month early this year...it's crazy.  I was hoping to do a little backyard sugaring this year, but the warm weather caught me unprepared and now it's just going to have to wait until next year...I might still stick one tap and bucket on a maple anyways for the fresh sap, a treat in itself.

Full Wolf Moon

My 366 pictures have been kind of "blah" the past few days, but I kind of liked these from last night...

Right Now

Right now:

--My 366 project is still going strong

--I'm working on B's winter 2012 hat in my very first self-dyed yarn

--I'm reading a newly discovered Laura Ingalls Wilder book that I found on my bookshelf at work, its full of articles from her Missouri Ruralist days about life on the farm and in the country, making a home, and the ways of the world...its wonderful.

--I'm planning ahead for this years garden...I think I've got it just about figured out...now I just need to cut my dried bean wish list by 3/4....they're all so pretty its hard to say "no."

--I'm trying to make peace with the fact that this might be the winter we've been given this year...one with more rain than snow and more days above 40 degrees than below 0...it's strange...I'm working on it.

What are you up to these days?