It is so hard to post after such a long hiatus. Part of me wants to sit here for hours and tap out a long update.. but I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to try to pick up where I left off, and get back into the swing of things.
Summer is off to an interesting start though! The kids finished their school year last week, just as Richard's office has decided to transition from maintaining a working office to everyone telecommuting. Great in theory.. and with gas prices so high, its a money saver. But starting off.. during the kid's first week of vacation, when everyday is barely managed chaos. Well, lets just say, we all hope to work out the kinks quickly.

As for knitting. Boing! is still in progress, though I've taken a little break from it. The Celtic felted bag is in hiding - I actually hated the pattern as it was slightly confusing. And when I hit a glitch like that in a pattern, I'm completely turned off. Maybe I'll go back to it.. I'm not sure.

What I am rather obsessed with currently is Lizard Ridge. I've watched Paige knit on hers a few times on Saturday mornings when we all get together and well, I was smitten. A weird thing for someone like me who tends to walk right past the Noro at every yarn store. Its pricey.. and its scratchy. But I couldn't resist any longer. And whatta ya know.. I actually don't mind the feel of the yarn. Its also incredibly helpful to my wallet when Beth at Sheep Thrills gives us Ravelers a sweet discount.

The pattern tells us to knit 24 individual "blocks", much like a quilt. Screw that. Too much seaming! So I'm working panels using the equivalent number of blocks. One panel down (left) and the second one in progress (right). I'll be making four total. I've definitely slowed down a bit this past week with all of the changes here at home, but I'm still making steady progress.. and I'm not bored yet.

And oh, Its Monday! That means Music!

Love Rise Against.. And love Little Boxes. For those unfamiliar, Little Boxes is the theme song for the tv series, Weeds (Monday evenings on Showtime) Every episode features a different artist singing the theme (see here for the most recent release). If you have never seen the show *gasp*, get the first few seasons from Netflix and catch up. Its one of the best tv series, ever. Fantastic writing, great acting, hilarious!

I survived the week.

I've kept this quote on my fridge for years. And it certainly described my life last week while the kids were on mid winter break. Every day was an exercise in keeping ones head above water.. that, and a reminder that I really need to better organize our summer activities in keeping everyone busy and occupied. This is imperative... with everyone getting older, and louder, I may very well lose my mind during three months of unrestrained chaos.

Despite the constant bickering, like who got to watch the tv with digital cable, who got to pick a movie, a video game, what was for lunch, yada yada, I did manage to finish a sock. Admittedly, the majority of it was done on Friday evening while listening to an audio book on my iPod while Richard watched a movie...

Charade Socks, in Claudia Hand Painted Fingering - colorway: Chocolate Cherry. I love this pattern. Its a simple two row repeat - perfect for tv knitting.

A little better shot of the colorway.. which is entirely pretty if not pooly. I'm not so much a fan of the pooly tendencies of some hand painted yarns, but the colors themselves make up for that. Besides, I love my macro setting. I'd take all pictures in macro if I could get away with it. The second sock was on the needles within minutes of weaving in ends on the first. I managed to get that little bit done on the second one while watching the Oscars with Richard last night. Great big yelps of glee for Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova for taking home a statue. What a great song, they truly deserved the recognition.

Great. Now I have that song stuck in my head.

Its been a week. And I mean that.. its been a week. A rough week. We've had sick kids. John Edwards didn't do as well as I'd hoped in Nevada. And the kicker, Green Bay lost to the NY Giants... bleh. It could have been worse, like a loss to the Cowboys. I generally stick with the NFC team, but this time around I'd risk a case of the hives. So.. GO PATRIOTS!

Anyway.. I have a little in the way of food, fiber, and fun from Chez Martin..

These are the Blue Chip Cookies, posted on Smitten Kitchen last week (Deb has been my culinary inspiration lately.) I like a chewier cookie however, and these were quite crunchy. But the toasted pecans vs. traditional walnuts made them worthwhile and a definite future do-over.

I finished the socks. Nothing special. Just the basic sock recipe from one of the Yarn Harlot's books (Knitting Rules maybe?) Worked on size US1 needles in Shibui Sock "Breeze".

I finished spinning a single of my first bundle of Oompa Loompa BFL roving from Spunky Ecclectic..

And finished plying it the very next day. Navajo ply, not sure of the yardage.. I forgot to count as I wound it. Only two more bundles to go.

Red is impossible to photograph. At least for me it is. This is a little side project which will be revealed maybe in the next week or so. Being worked in a new to me yarn.. Debbie Bliss Luxury Donegal Tweed. I don't adore the yarn. But I don't hate it either. I do however, love my donkey stitch markers.

Lastly, Gilbert found a new hiding place under my new chair. She didn't appreciate being my subject this morning.

After finally getting the kids in bed I was really looking forward to watching some of my Wednesday night tv, only to find that the CMA awards took over ABC for the night. CMA? Like, hasn't that been shoved off to cable nowhere land yet?

Anyway, I ended up looking for something to watch on Showtime, where I found a documentary called "All We Are Saying", where Rosanna Arquette interviews musicians about everything from faith, family, touring, the industry and addiction. Twas excellent. Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel, Maynard James Keenan, Perry Farrell..

Speaking of Perry,  Jane's Addiction actually.. I really got in the mood for some..

This is one of my all time favorite songs.. ever.

It just makes me want to twirl and sing.