About that knitting...

When I started this I meant to talk about knitting and spinning but it doesn't seem like I've done much of that. So here goes.

Ever wondered what type of knitter you are? Are you a follower, following the pattern word for word, always trusting the designer or a modifier, modify as you go, you like the pattern but not the yarn or the heels or the toes or whatever? I seem to use patterns for inspiration, modifying more than following. This make for some interesting knitting sessions.

Here's the story of two scarves.

From the new book "Knit One Below" by XRX Publishing I knit the Inside-Out Scarf. This one I modified the yarn used. I wanted to use the new Mini Mochi because I liked the color. So this yarn is like a hundred times smaller the any of the yarns called for and that I'd have to cast-on a gazillion stitches. Maybe not such a good idea. I broke down and went with a yarn the pattern called for, Noro Kureyon. Now I know there are a lot of people who just love Noro. I ain't one 

of them. I can't stand this yarn and I know I don't like it but I try it again and a again. I got about a quarter of the way into the scarf and realized there was no way I was going to finish with this yarn. They say a third time is a charm. This time I tried Manos Del Urguay Silk Blend. This yarn is just heaven to knit with. I did CO a few extra but it finished beautifully.

The second scarf, Mable's Scarf by Larissa Brown was a pleasure to knit from the begining. I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted, Color-Pioneer. My SIL had given me this yarn for X-mas. I only had one skein so it's shorter that I like but a great lenght for a guy. I think I'll give it to my brother for X-mas. I had such a good time knitting this one that I started another one, same yarn, the color-verve.

I had plan...

Honestly I had a plan. I'd write the words to a post at work and then when I got home I place in the pictures and post it. That was four posts ago. I hope to match up pictures and posts this weekend.

We are in the last 11 days of this year Legislative Session and now every one seems to want to get things done. The sessions are running longer so we are working longer. Last night I got home at 5:00 am this morning. That's right folks the sun was coming up as I was going home.

The rumors are flying, will we be here late? or will we go home on time? Will this Session end on time, early? go into special session?

What bills will pass? Will we get a pay cut (likely)? 4% 6% 13%.

It's down to the wire.

Weekend Fun

(Note this was from the weekend before last. I'm not sure why I didn't just post at the time. he)

I had a great time this weekend. Well make that I had a great time on Sunday since I worked Saturday.

There is this bicycle group called Gonads and Strife and they have this event http://www.gonads-n-strifebikeclub.org/events.html, a bicycle poker run to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation. Mike rode in it last year and had a ball. So this year Mike bought me a bike for our anniversary hoping I ride with him this year and I did. The first leg is the hardest. Even though it doesn't seem like it, it is up hill from Great Basin Brewery in Sparks to the Sierra Tap House in Reno. I wasn't so sure about this bike riding stuff. After all I hadn't been on a bike in a very long time.

The next leg, up to the Record Street Cafe, wasn't bad. We had a beer and some pizza to fortify us. I ran into a friend from many years ago. I hadn't seen Tracy in such a long time. It was kind of funny to run in to her, last time I saw her was 13 years ago when she bake our cake for our wedding.

Then back down to Silver Peak Restaurant. Another beer and a change to check out all the bikes. We got to talking to this pair of folks, Libby and Greg, and it turns out Greg went to high school with my sister and brother. I just love Reno. It's such a small town.

On the way back to Great Basin things were rolling along nicely. It was a down hill ride and quite pleasant until another rider ran me off the path. I wasn't too happy after that. I was pretty banged up but there was no damage to my new bike. After I got cleaned up and had a shot and a beer and felt much better. My friend Mike and Lisa joins us for a beer and some nosh. A great time was had by all.

The good life

This morning I mowed the front lawn and it look s great. There is a story here I promise.

When we moved into our home it had been a 30 year old rental. Not in bad shape but not loved and cared for. The front lawn was patchy at best. We watered and left it at that. I've been trying to revive the lawn with various degrees of success. Each year I work on it little more and some day it will be great. We have very compacted, clayie soil. Short of tearing it out and starting over I have been adding "stuff" to help it along.

One year I made the mistake of using potting soil instead of compost or top soil. That year I had a bumper crop of mushrooms.

Last year I started too late. Just as the little grasses started to come up our watering restriction came into play and it got hot and the little grasses died.

This year I think I got it.

In April we mowed really low and raked up all the dead grass and branches. Then I fertilized, put down a soil conditioner and put down new seed. Then I covered that with a nice layer of compost and started watering and watering and watering. Fast forward to today and when I final got to mow, I was happily surprised by all the new grasses. I had to get a variance to be able to water this much and it will cost a bunch on the water bill but it has been well worth it. Between the green grass and the trees the front on the house stays pretty cool. I'll re-seed again in the fall.

I love to come home after a long day at work, get a chair and a beer, and plop down an that front yard under that coolness. I think ahhh.... life is good.

Busy, busy weekend

My oh my, it was a busy weekend. First of all it was my guild meeting but I just couldn't go. I just had too many errands to run what with Mothers Day on Sunday and it will be the last free weekend until sessions ends. (I'm working Saturdays from here on out.) I am very bummed. Sounds like they had a great time. Read about it here http://sagecreekfarm.blogspot.com/ and here http://dailyartbycj.blogspot.com/2009/05/painters-day-off-fun-with-fiber.html.

I did go get a pedicure and a new top to wear. 

I hooked up with Mike 

and drug him to Lowes to get the first installment of pavers for the back yard. We picked up 30 of them and a few other things, took them home and unloaded. We laid out two rows and decided that we were not going to get away with out leveling sand. Back to Lowes for 600 lbs of sand.

My girlfriend Lisa came over and we decided to head over to a local Mexican place, El Adobe Cafe, for dinner. My sister came too.

Sunday morning, after some coffee to get us going, we were able to re lay out the first two rows. We got cleaned up and headed to brunch with the family for Mothers Day. We all had a very good time. We ate a lot, maybe too much. Passed the baby around a bit. She was so good.

When we got home, another two rows of pavers and pulled some more weeds.

The Reno River Fest was this weekend. It's a lot of fun to go and hang out. Mike likes to take pictures of the competitors. I just like to watch the people. There's usually good food and good beer. I wasn't even interested in eating anything but I did have a beer. We didn't stay that long. Just long enough to dip one feet. Burrr. The water downtown's not even close to a temperature that I would want to get into. It was also high and fast but many people looked like they were having a great time.

When we got home around 4:30 I was plum worn out. After a light supper I had to force myself to stay awake til 9:00 when I could finally go to bed.

SOAR

I'm going to SOAR (Spin Off's Autum Retreat). I was able to register for classes today. I got all the retreat sessions I wanted but am on a waiting list for my workshop session.

I don't understand how the sessions were all filled when I logged on right at 10am (1pm EST). It is very frustrating. I guess the old timers, folks with 10 or more years, were able to register two weeks ago and they took all the spaces. I thought the new registration system was suppose to make thing easier and more fair. You know first come first served.

Oh well. At the very least I'll be surounded by like minded folks for a week.

Good things

I have to remind myself of all the good things in my life.

Friends to knit with. I went to Allison's to knit with her and Candy this morning. I love how much fun it is to knit with your friends.

Only 4 more weeks of the NV Legistrative Session. I'll miss my mornings but I getting tired of not getting home til midnight.

Getting to nap with two cats and the dog. Only off thing is the dog gets grumpy.

Planting flowers in front of the house. Green, I mean really green grass. Enjoy it now 'cause when it gets hot the grass goes brown.

Blogs, fun, fun and no money

Blogs, blogs, blogs. I love them. I read 30-50 everyday. I love who these people let us into their lives. I think of them as friends and miss them when they don't post or I don't read every day. I have laughed and cried with them. I don't comment so often because mostly I can't think of anything creative to say and ditto seems so blah. I admire their lives and wished mine was more interesting like theirs. Oh well so much for the pity party.

This past weekend was a busy one. On Saturday was Lisa's Derby Day party. She throws a great bash with plenty of food and friends. Then we went to LindaRick&Jessica's for dinner to celebrate Mom's and Jeff's birthday. After dinner we played a game called Apples to Apples. It's allot of fun. Dad went home early so we gave Mom a ride home. We had lots of fun.

Sunday was a house cleaning and yard work day. I cleaned the basement and boy it needed it. Ran a few loads of laundry and stuff like that. Mike weeded some more of the back yard. I planted flowers.

I'm kind of bummed because no matter how much I make it's never enough. For example I would like to put in some pavers in the back yard so the we can use some of it, the back yard. (Right now it's pretty useless because it's all just dirt.) I need 181 pavers at a cost of about $1000. That's a bit more than the budget right now.

Then there's the artificial turf I want to put in. Most of the back yard is a large flat surface that had lawn many years ago but not now. We try to keep the weeds back so it's mostly dirt. I want to put in artificial turf for several reasons but mostly so the we can use the yard. The area is about 1000 sqfeet. The lowest option is about $2,400 for 600 sqft up (we do all the work) to $13.00 a sqft ($13,000.00) installed. Way above budget.

We need new appliances for the kitchen, Range, dishwasher, fridge and garbage disposal. If we're going to replace all of these we might as well do the floor at the same time. I think 5 grand should about to cover it.

On top of all this the Governor wants to cut our pay by 6%. Oh well at least I still have a job.