Halfway done (almost)

On Sunday, I finished the front of my Aran Accent Vest (my first ever non-sock garment!). I've been working on it (on and off) since August 15th, but I had to take a long break with the moving and new job (my brain was so fried I couldn't knit without messing up). I did have a bit of trouble with the decreases and one design element that I didn't go back and fix, but I'm really excited about how it's turning out. I think (hope!) that it's going to fit right. When I hold it up to myself, it looks like it will.

I'm really liking the yarn. The only drawback is that it makes the cables harder to see (but on the flip side, it makes any mistakes harder to see!). Depending on the fit and how the back goes, I may make the vest again in a solid colored yarn.

I also started some cabled socks, which I really like, and they make up for the Jaywalker socks that aren't working.at.all (size issues, even when I fixed the whole laddering issue). I may try the Jaywalkers again making the next size up, but I think I'm going to need a big, long break from them first.

Lake Herman

It was actually sunny today (!!!) so we took Callie out to Lake Herman State Park. She loved it, just ran and ran and ran, sniffing everything she could find. Also, unfortunately, she found something dead to roll in (ugh!). Up until that point, John hadn't encouraged her to swim in the lake, but she smelled SO bad that into the lake she went. John threw a stick for her several times, and each time she'd run out of the water, up the hill, shake off, and roll in the leaves (I'm guessing it was a little chilly)



She spent some more time running and running around...and forgave John for throwing those sticks into the cold lake.



All that running, rolling, and swimming wore her out. She was conked out during our short trip home (we had to keep a a couple windows open--the lake only helped the smell a little). Once we got home, it was time for a BATH!

Walking

The weather has been gorgeous here for the past few days--sunny and 60 degrees. So we've been taking Callie for some walks around town, trying to appreciate what may be the last bit of warm weather before the cold, dark winter.



Yesterday, I went to the Tour of Tables event with my mom. It was a lunch for the Domestic Violence Network, and each table had a hostess who decorated it (so we had a beach table, a few Christmas tables, one that displayed the host's hippo collection--called "Hippo Heaven," and many more). Our table was all Christmas village (the light up ceramic buildings) complete with a Santa and sleigh that circled one of the chimneys, so a few people had to dodge Santa as they ate their lunch. Mom introduced me to a bunch of people, including one person to offered to be a camp volunteer (only been here two weeks and I already have a camp volunteer? Nice!).

Then I went to the library in the afternoon and got a stack of books (Small Wonder, Reading Lolita in Tehran, A Great and Terrible Beauty, Brisingr, and two kniting books).

Today, I'm planning on reading and knitting, visiting a 4-H club at 2, and hoping some of these clouds go away (and maybe grilling for dinner--fingers crossed!)

Move Moving Moved

(Callie with John in our moving truck before we left Ohio--I thought it would be a really cute picture, but the sad thing is you can tell how out-of-sorts she is about the whole thing)

On Monday, October 19th, we arrived in Madison, South Dakota--finally here after some marathon packing sessions and 20 hours on the road. John drove the u-haul for all but 2 hours and with no CD or tape player was at the mercy of whatever radio stations he could get (lots of Taylor Swift!). I listened to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies almost the whole way, and Callie slept for almost the whole drive--was a little confused when we stopped at the Motel 6 in Cedar Rapids (told her it wasn't our final destination, but she doesn't understand English, so who knows). We worried about having to leave her at my parents house when we got here (our temporary rental house doesn't allow dogs) but she's been playing and playing with the other dogs and happier than she's looked in months (much happier than she looks in the picture--and we're the ones who are sad and missing her). Anyway...

On Thursday the 22nd, I started on my job as Extension Educator here.

On Friday the 23rd, we drove 7 hours (after work) to get to Heather and Brian's house in Kansas City, so that on Saturday we could hang out with Christina and Brent, and then go to our 10 year high school reunion. Had an awesome time--Oklahoma Joe's for lunch and then into Lawrence for the reunion. On Sunday, we drove the 7 hours back to our new home.

On Monday, John got a new job, Catering Supervisor at Dakota State University, and he started on Tuesday, and put in a long week the very first time around.

Saturday was Halloween (we carved pumpkins, ate pumpkin muffins and had the most trick-or-treaters we've ever had come to the house).

Sunday was our one year anniversary (and 4-H recognition event). For our anniversary, John made sausage gravy and biscuits for breakfast (his best biscuits yet--they were awesome!) and then sausage-stuffed chicken for dinner, with squash soup, green beans, mashed potatoes, and lemon souffles. Sooo good!

Whew...

John's Famous Scarf

Our knitting group's work it being displayed at the public library this month, and John's Irish Hiking Scarf was my contribution (my first knit scarf---made back in 2005...luckily, behind glass you can't tell it's acrylic ;) ). One day, I'm going to have to make him a wool scarf.

Things have been crazy busy here--moved to a different rental house (LOVE the new place), turned 29, and took a quick trip home to South Dakota.

I'm looking forward to the weekend--nothing planned other than a trip to the Paw Paw Festival, maybe taking the dog for a walk, and maybe making some granola.

What is this mess?

We're moving to a new rental house this week, and this is just the beginning of all the packing we need to do. We got the keys last night, so I'm going to start moving stuff today (John has to work all day--so he's off the hook).

I'm so excited about the house I wish I could move EVERYTHING today. It has closets! Lots and lots of closets! It has a completely dry basement AND pipes that don't freeze in the winter. It also has a bigger kitchen, an upstairs bedroom-a.k.a John's Man Cave (which will be complete with guns, computers, and a tv) and another room we can use for guests (and maybe a little knitting, sewing, and photography gear). So excited!!

On a side note, I think this town sets me up for REALLY low expectations when it comes to houses. I swear, I dream that one day (one sweet day) I'll have central air-conditioning and a dishwasher. High aspirations, right? ;)

When I'm not packing, I've been working on...



...my Aran Accent Vest (made with Donegal Tweed Homespun yarn). It's the first knitted garment I've ever worked on. I'm really happy with it so far (but have to take a break because I'm confused about the decreases--I'm waiting for reinforcements ;) ).

I just realized earlier this week that I've been knitting for 4 1/2 years. 4 1/2! I couldn't believe it's been that long (guess I've always thought of myself as a newbie knitter). Guess it's time to start trying some harder patterns.

Dogsitting at Nancy's

Callie and Brady--just chilling.

On Friday, I went out to Nancy's house to dog-sit for the weekend and brought Callie with me. She had a great time running around with Brady, exploring the woods, and getting muddy in the creek.

While she was wearing herself out, I was knitting, knitting, knitting and watching LOTS of cable TV. I finished my first Jaywalker sock (but it's a little messed up-laddering-ugh!) and started on my Aran Accent Vest (which I really think is going to be too big-double ugh!I may have to frog it and try a different yarn). On the plus side, I did start reading from a chart for the very first time!

I also took some pictures...



This picture doesn't show the shallow cow-pond off to my left--the one that Callie decided she needed to swim in. What can I say? She LOVES smelly stuff. Unfortunately for her, she smelled so bad that she had to stay outside all afternoon, and then get soaped up twice with coconut-smelling shampoo (and that first wash smelled like coconuts AND cow poop--yuck!)