my first sweater. . . which is not a sweater yet

Tonalita's Boxed Sweater--I saw it made at my local yarn shop, liked the feel and colors, and thought it looked easy to knit. I bought 9 skeins of Trendsetter's Tonalita and started knitting it during the break of Christmas 2008. I ripped and knitted each piece until I got it right. I learned how to increase and decrease and, most importantly, how to pick up stitches. When I was stitching the parts together, I realized the sleeves were too narrow, way to narrow. Look how small the upper arms are!

I frogged both sleeves and one front side (because I cut into it when I was taking out my seam stitches!). I will eventually get back to it because I don't like to leave things undone. I don't even like striped garments. Maybe some day I will wear it.

my first scarves

I started both scarves in February so I could work on them during my trip to Germany. The scarf hanging from the lamp is made of Noro Kureyon yarn. Inspired by Brooklyntweed, I used two multi-color yarns and alternated them in the striped pattern. I blocked it to just over 5 1/2 inches wide. The second, at 3 1/2 inches wide, is made of Noro Kureyon sock yarn. I had seen the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf on Ravelry and decided to make it when I saw it at Two Sisters and Ewe made with sock yarn. It's made with short rows in garter stitch. It reminds me of a bright flower garden.

jeff's sun room

from dream to reality

Jeff visualized turning the deck into a sun room and thought about it for years. He finally did it. He took out the sliding door into the bedroom and expanded the opening.

He replaced the sliding door into the living room with french doors.

It feels so spacious. At night from the bedroom I love seeing the twinkly lights all the way down to TJ.

time to start using this

The remodel is finally complete. Almost. Here are some pics that show the new bamboo floor, the sun room where the deck used to be, and the new furniture.


Note the two new closets in the corner.

I LOVE the colors.