Bichons In Berry Sauce

While Abby was playing in a fenced yard and singing campfire songs at Camp Rick, Cary and I were visiting my family in Arizona. I got a good amount of knitting done on the plane ride over-- I underestimated the amount I would knit, ran out of yarn (the rest was in my checked luggage) and asked Cary if he'd go down and get my other skein for me. He said no, so this is all I got done.

While in AZ, I didn't do much knitting at all. Instead, we went shopping, played with the Arizona bichons, took a day trip to Prescott, and went out to eat a bunch. Here are Molly and Joey, on their way to Prescott to play in the grass and eat spilled snowcones. Mmmmm, watermelon sugar.

This was Cary's first trip to Arizona when it was a bit warm. I think the highest high while we were there was 112, and he did fairly well with it. It's cooler in the mornings and evenings, so we ate outside for breakfast and dinners most of the days. This is a view from near my parent's house in Scottsdale:

On the way back I finished up most of the second skein of Kermit green yarn. The basketweave pattern is turning out really nicely with this yarn. I like how it gives the blanket a textured look.

Up close:

Abby has a thing for wools. Especially Noro, but in a pinch, apparently Sundara's merino will do.

*sniff sniff sniff* Oh, yeah, that's the stuff.

When I got home, I picked up a happy, exhausted, and grass stained bichon. From the looks of her, she had a great time at camp. I had to work crazy shifts for this past week to make up for my vacation, and finally this weekend I got a break. Abby and I spent the whole day saturday cleaning and disinfecting everything, including her toys.

She was a bored little bichon for about an hour. Can anyone guess her favorite toy? Hint: like mother like bichon baby.

I've also been busy checking out party houses and reception halls, because... I'm engaged! He asked me on my birthday at the end of the pier at Charlotte beach, and it was perfect.

Posted by Nancy at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

I got mail!

I've been awaiting the arrival of this after Sundara and I exchanged a few emails in my pursuit for the perfect baby green. This is a bit brighter than most yarns I usually choose, but the more I look at it, the more I like it. It's very evenly dyed, but there are little subtle flecks and variations throughout each skein. And it's sooooooo soft. Nice and buttery.

I started a little swatch on size 8s since I'm a tight knitter (recommended is size 5-7), and I think the fabric is a little too firm. During our thursday nite tv, I'm going to try out the 9s and 10s. It's important that this be figured out before our trip on Saturday- Cary and I are going to see my family in Arizona. It's funny to me that swatching, winding yarn, and photocopying patterns are essential packing steps.

The bichon monster will be vacationing for the week at Camp Rick, a four-star resort complete with a fenced in yard and 24/7 attention from a person who's not keen to her sneakiness or annoyed by barking at every single doorbell on tv. She'll be packing up her kerchief and swinging her stick over her shoulder tomorrow.

Posted by Nancy at 06:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I had been putting off felting Dianne's Elizabeth bag. After a whole lot of knitting (this bag could have easily been a very large top), I was worried about putting it through the wash. Yes, I did my test swatch, and yes, I felted the test swatch, but still. This thing is huge! I had my doubts that it would come out a reasonable size.

After the first trip through the wash, I didn't see much difference. Except that things were very very fuzzy. The second trip showed some increased stiffness, and more fluffiness, but not a lot of shrinkage. Finally, on the third and fourth trips the bag started to shrink. And it looks so cute! Dianne did a great job in picking out the colors; they melt together very nicely.

This is after I went at the bag with a razor. It was super-fluffy! It still needs a bit of a touch-up, but I only had one new disposable razor, and I sure wasn't sacrificing one of my Venus blades! More wool-shaving to come. I also need to make a trip to Joann's to get some fabric and interfacing. This is my first ever bag, so I'm planning on getting some extra fabric for my mess ups. I want to line it, all the way up the strap to give it some extra support, and put in a zippered pocket. I also want to put some interfacing in to give it shape, and a hard bottom part so it sits right. Eek! That sounds like an awful lot. Good thing I have this coming weekend off again.

I don't need a bath, I'll just lick them clean, ok?

Abby, my boyfriend, and I went to lunch on Park Avenue today (a spiffy tree lined street with lots of little restaurants and outdoor seating). It was really nice outside, and the places there are usually pet friendly. Abby was a good little girl and for the most part was laying down underneath our table as we ate. Afterward, we went for a walk along the streets. Lots of trees = lots of messages for Abby to read. She was pooped out when we got home. And quite dirty! Look at those paws!

Posted by Nancy at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)