The answer...

Assateague!
Winners include Liz and Lily. I'll get you prizes, don't you worry.
Runner up goes to PJ as she wasn't actually there but, felt like it would be unfair to answer.
For those interested, here's more info on the camping w/ wild horses on the beach. If I hadn't been there myself, I'm not sure I would have believed it. Think seagulls trying to steal your sandwich, but horses stealing your potato chips. That's what was happening in that picture. Its a little odd, to say the least.
In other news, I've put down the giant sock for a minute in order to concentrate on the much neglected sweater. So far, it seems to be going well. I've ripped it out three times but, I think this time I'm going to keep it going... I'll post a pic this week. I picked up a pair of Addi Turbos this weekend. The bamboo circulars were not only a size too small but, kept snagging the yarn. So, I invested. Good lord, I never thought I would wax poetics about a set of knitting needles, but these.... well, I'm a convert.

Go NH!

I have a deep love for my home state and this weeks ruling by the state lawmakers made me hop up and down and do a little dance. The Governor has said he'd sign the civil union bill so it looks like its a shoo-in.
I won't wax poetics on my socio-political beliefs, but I really do think this country needs to get used to the idea that there is more then one way to be in a strong relationship. The bible shouldn't be the only way to interpert family values...
Yay New Hampshire!In other news, I only have about an inch done on the new giant sock so, I'm not sharing. Sorry. I also ordered a skein of Lime and Violet handpainted sock yarn the other day and it just came in the mail. It is SO pretty, but the light isn't good for a picture, so I'll hold off.

I wouldn't eat this

if I were you...

Its a "Neapolitan" Hershey kiss. I don't know what possessed me to buy a bag of them for my desk.

They are supposed to be vanilla/chocolate/strawberry, but all I can taste is Strawberry Quik. Yuck!

I just started casting off the first of the giant socks today on the train. I'll post a pic when its off!

Monday's are rough

I rarely get home before 930 or 10 on Monday's due to Yoga and then typically dinner w/some of the Adams/Morgan living girls... This makes for a long-ass Monday. Not the nicest way to put it, but its the simplest. So, only one non-knitting picture and I'm sick of ribbing at the top of the sock, so I don't feel like talking about it. Mostly in that way that I just want to get it over with and start the second sock. 1x1 ribbing is so tedious! Remember my desire for a sweat shop? This would be the time I would have one!
Yesterday I had an interview at the yoga studio where I work and practice . Basically, I interviewed for a lot of what I already do, but with a bit more responsibility, a few more hours and a potential new title. I know, I know.. I can't seem to only have one job and when I have a second job, I somehow find myself with more responsibility then I planned for a "fun part time job". That's just how I roll, I suppose. But, in any case, I'll keep you updated.
After my meeting with the studio owner, I ventured over to Knitting at the Warehouse. It was definitely fun, and I think if I keep going, some of the folks could be people who I want want to hang out with or at least knit with on the regular. Goodness, I'm about to sound like kindergarten all over again, but at events like this, all I can ever think is "Please like ME! I'm surely not as (enter: geeky, nerdy, lame etc) as you may think!" Sigh. Making friends after college is really not easy.
I'm sad to report that my first live-friend via the knitting blog world will be moving to Pittsburgh soon. Janet, I'm bummed!
And for a bit of silly-ness. Its warm out. My arms are getting tan. As you may or may not know, one of the major issues I have with DC is how far it is from the open ocean. The bay, harbors whatever, they're all okay, but I'm ready for the beach. The REAL beach.
A photo from last summer, a prize goes to anyone who can
a) tell me where this is
b) Was NOT there.
AND c) spell it right without Google or Wiki. Honesty is your best policy kids.

I'll be more coherent tomorrow, I promise. Or. I just promise to try, which is more realistic.

Back on track! And *LOTS* of pictures

First, I now have a new set of size one dpns. I think the advice I received was more then worth the impromptu trip to Chevy Chase just now. As I was talking about the MIA needles with the girls at Stitch DC the very large sock (hence the need for the needles) came out of my bag. I was talking to them about a design problem I was having with the ankle section and how I was going to have to pick up extra stitches to accommodate the recipients very large ankle/like area.(no, he doesn't have fat ankles, you'll get in trouble if you say that, trust me...)
"Oh just switch to size 2's." says Jess (thegirlIwanttobefriendswithwhoworksatthisstore.) Wow. How simple. And it didn't even occur to me. Yay! I've switched to ebony needles and I'm in love with them (not pictured). Bamboo, while I love for the hippy in my heart (renew-ables and all that good stuff...), tends to be a bit splitty when I use it on small sized needles.
I think I'm going to have to ask Santa or any other benefactor for a gift card to KnitPicks, so I can invest in their nickel plated hollow needles. Yum.

So, here's the detail of my Aunt's needlework. She is one of my major "craft" inspirations. You can obviously see why. I have no desire at all to do needlepoint, but good lord, the detail in it is amazing.























And... the results of the art project from last weekend!
The Tall Guy and I were both suffering from allergies and not wanting to go out in the rain. We turned to Easter Egg dye, natural coloured wool and a little bit of a mess.
So much fun!

The set up (left). You get creative when you don't have a swift.
The pre soak. (below)
Warm water and a little white vinegar. This opens the fibers so it will take the dye.







After painting the yarn with an egg dye, vinegar and warm water solution, it was all wrapped up like a yarn burrito (ala Scout on Knitty Gritty) and then we tossed them in the microwave to "set" the color.
You can see the "pre and during" cooking skeins on the far left below. Hanging on the coat hangers, are the skeins after we rinsed them out.
Call me nerdy, but it was pretty darn fun.


















Now, after it hung up in various places throughout my apartment for about two days, we were allowed to touch it and see what it looked like.
I, for one was pretty happy!
Mine was the Blue/Green/Citrus one. The Tall Guy's was the far more colourful one which looks a little circus-y, but pretty cool. We've already likened it to the Gay Pride Flag, so I'm not sure he'll wear it, if I knit it up into a hat for him. I'm thinking it may make a cute little travel/makeup bag for me, but I'm not sure what it will do when I try to felt it. As you can see my knitting is becoming more and more of an experiment and the process is sort of what I love about it.
I'm already thinking about the idea of dyeing sock yarn.

























Now, I'm going back outside to play. Spring is FINALLY here in DC.
Whew!

The pictures are coming. Today, I swear. But. Not. Right. Now.
Its been a busy day of playing outside and visiting with my favorite black lab, Porter. (Oh, and his owner, she's okay too)
I get home, hoping the missing two dpns (double pointed needles) for the socks I'm working on will be where I think they are.
Ha. I wish. Nope. So, what to do. Go buy another set? Or hope they are in the couch cushions at the Tall Guys house, which I won't find out until late this evening or tomorrow, as he's out sailing?
Immediate gratification coupled with the idea that I can always use two sets of dpns in size one has me running out the door as we speak to the LYS to buy another set.
I'm insane, I know. But, for those that know me, accept this and are okay with it.
Pictures are coming, really.

Promises promises

Tonight. Or tomorrow if I get sidetracked.. I promise to post pics of:

• My aunt's amazing needlepoint in better detail.
• The art project from this weekend. The tall guy and I tried our hands at dying yarn. He's better than me.
• The giant sock continues...

And... as the giant sock continues, I look longingly at two skeins of yarn patiently waiting to become socks as well. One of Lisa Souza in Little Devil and one of Fleece Artist in Nova Scotia, which while I swear I have and Sherri at the Loopy Ewe thinks is her favorite (according to the cute hand written note she sent me with my package... I LOVE the Loopy Ewe!), it doesn't seem to appear ON the Fleece artist website.

So, sorry no eye candy at the moment, but allergies, work and yoga/work are kicking my butt right now. I promise to deliver the goods soon.

A sock's not a sweater

The old wives tale (for those that don't know) is that its considered bad luck to knit for a person you're hmmm.. romantically involved with, that you aren't married to. By all research I've done, it seems that it specifically lies within sweaters. Given that I call him the Tall Guy, you can imagine I won't be knitting him sweaters anytime soon.
I decided to throw caution to the old wives tale wind. The super secret project is out for display as it was handed to him, needles and all for his birthday. You see.. he deserves socks; I mean he is one of my biggest knitting cheerleaders after all, he even winds balls of yarn when bored! ... please note, that the "model" foot is mine. His foot is just a little bit larger then thak:) For the knitters out there, its Claudia's handpainted (I'm a little worried about it not being superwash, but we'll see...) in the "Buckeye" colorway. I'm hoping to only use two skeins, but on size one's its likely to be over two.




I can't believe I forgot to post about this last time. My exciting news for the week was that I learned to drive Stick (aka: Manual for some) this weekend! The Tall Guy taught me on the drive home from Easter dinner. I only stalled once and may have peeled out of an intersection twice. Otherwise, he said I was the best student he had ever had! yay!
And, finally... my electric blue socks will be done tonight, but only if I stay up past my bedtime, which is quite likely.

What kind of music does the Easter Bunny like?

Hip Hop!
I apparently, am one of the only people that thinks that's funny.
I just started a super secret project that you won't see a picture of now. We'll see if the word gets out. You'll get a picture then if the news leaks. In the meantime, my camera battery was dying and the pictures I took tonight are too blurry for public consumption even if I were to share with you.
Prior to the camera exhaustion, I captured the newest art I have on my wall.
I never thought I would love needlepoint, and you won't get a close up this time, but my Aunt did this all over the course of the last year and its pretty much amazing. As soon as my camera is back up to speed, I'll give you a detail view.
Sid seems to like it above his tank.

Gross

For years, random people have told me to go eat at Mixtec, its great, etc etc.
I know a one time incident shouldn't keep me from going, but seriously? This is nasty.
http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=57135&provider=gnews
Inside Edition apparently has some sort of "Rat Patrol" that checks out places infested with creatures. Not the most credible news service, but the DC Health Dept took notice and immediately shut down all of the places mentioned in the piece. Gross!
Now, I should explain that I'm not totally new to the idea of rats where I hang out and eat and/or live.
In my five years in Boston, I collected enough Rat-based horror stories to write a book. The one that warms my heart the most will always be my first apt w/Er and Kerry. Coming home from the library or work one night, I was chased DOWN a flight a stairs by a rat the size of a small dog. It had an obvious "other direction" it could be going, but decided it was more fun to chase me. When I flew into the apartment and slammed the door, I don't think I could have been more freaked if Jason with his chainsaw had been chasing me. The mice that refused to vacate our apartment (we lived in a basement) suddenly seemed okay.
So, all that said, I think I'll stick to cooking at home for awhile.

Big Weekend!

Okay. Is this a sign that I'm getting old? As I look back at my weekend, I realize that I was in a bar once. And in said bar, had one beer. Whoooeeeee I'm a wild woman:) That said, it was a pretty great weekend.
Thursday night was a quiet one because I didn't want to be slow for the big events on Friday.
I went SAILING! Yahoo! It was lots more fun then I could have imagined. I didn't fall in and I now I can at least comprehend all the crazy stuff that the Tall Guy says. It was a great time. It is, however exhausting. Friday night was a swing-through at Local 16 to see some friends. I was way too tired to stay out long.
Saturday-day was full of outside adventures w/Joanna to Eastern Market (and a peek in Stitch DC, though no yarn purchased) then a wonderful and much-needed adventure in the evening with the Tall Guy.

We took a grand walking field trip down to the Mall under the cover of darkness (less tourists, no muggings).
For the first time in close to 5 years in DC, I officially saw the Cherry Blossoms! We walked all around and ate tasty ice cream. Yum. (and no, I didn't take this picture myself, thanks Google.) We ended up the night w/a snack at Kramerbooks Cafe (Afterwords)...another place I had never been! Apparently this was a weekend of checking things off my list of "to do in DC".

Today I went to my first Knitting Group. I think I'll try going again. It was fun, and an excuse to get another 1/2 inch done on my blue stripey socks (on the second sock). I mostly listened, as I tend to be quiet in a crowd of strangers, but it was still nice to be around other people and looking at what they were knitting. Thanks Janet, for being my "Meeting Strangers Buddy!"
I'm back to the sweater for a little while, which has a gauge that is driving me nuts! I may be knitting a sweater for a Cabbage Patch Kid. Wish me luck.

UPDATE:::: I just checked my gauge. Three times. And I'm like... SPOT on. This is really weird.
So, rest your fears, this should be a sweater I can fit into. Or continue wishing me luck, I think I need it.