I am finally me.

Before I get all nostalgic about another 10 years wizzing by, I must tell you about a certain frogging incident...yes folks I had to sacrifice a WIP that I was not fond of, for its precious Noro yarn to make another Rhythm scarf. The Argosy scarf has been sitting dormate for months and I just don't like to pattern for some reason. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful pattern but I'm dying to see the colors of it in the Rhythm design.

So 30 is actually feeling great! I'm ready for another decade of who know's what! 10 years ago I was venturing into an engagement to my high school sweetheart and not knowing that I was in for rough waters and a stormy adventure of finding who I was. A job in the medical field, a trip to Ethiopia, one to the jungles of Borneo, and one to Italy, a teaching stint at a daycare, a spouse dealing with meth addiction, a battle with anxiety and depression, a divorce and then rounding the corner with finally getting to know who I really was and facing my fears, I ended my twenties married to an amazing man and realizing what marriage is SUPPOSE to be and that I'm not defined by what I do or who I'm married to.

I learned so many lessons in my 20's and realized how to love without being a doormat and that all the heartache I went through was worth it to find that I know who I am! I am me. I am loved. I am creative. I am light in the darkness. I am worthy. I am a good cook. I am not perfect and don't ever need to be. I am captivated by my creator. And he is captivated by me. I am Becca. So now I kinda wanna break out into a soulful rendition of "I AM WOMAN!"

I've been busy!

Yes, I've been busy knitting! It's been so freaking cold here that it's all I can do to keep warm. (Good excuse huh?) So here are two of my FO's:

Enterlac Hat that does not fit my ginormous head.

And here's the Rhythm Scarf. It's been felted a bit which really does make it nice and soft but it didn't shrink much at all. I love NORO!I've also casted on a sweater for my Yorkie, Sebastian. Like I said, it has been so cold here that when we go outside he play for 2 minutes and then sit and shiver begging to go back inside. So my manly husband, who does not approve of doggy attire, is letting me knit a fantastic cable sweater for him. Bless his big manly heart!

The other project I've completed is a charming hand bag from Amy Carol's book Bend the Rules Sewing. I'm hoping my dear friend Lisa will like it as much as I do. It's a birthday gift for her. I added a felt humming bird rather than the suggested ribbon because I just didn't have any that I liked with the fabric I had.

OK well, enough jabbering...off to the post office.

PS Count down till I'm 30 is down to 2 days people! 2 days! Ahhh!

It's a new year? I need a new hat then!

Yea! It's 2008! I expect good things outta this year.

• I'll still be working part-time this year and I'm currently still loving it. Well Christmas was a bit hectic at work but I survived and made it through Christmas Eve.

• We are tentatively planning a trip to the UK with a few days in Ireland! I'm so praying this will happen. Some good friends of mine have been begging us to visit before they move back to the states in December. Hopefully we'll make it around October or November. Oh I love international travel! I haven't been out of the country since the spring before we got married and I'm dying to get the &?%$ outta Dodge!

• New knitting projects are on the needles! I found this great pattern for a scarf and hat at the Unraveled Sheep by a local designer. Here's the start of the scarf. Yes, it's Noro Silk Garden. The pattern calls to felt it a bit because it makes it softer yet the silk won't let it shrink too much.
  The hat is and Entrelac pattern. Gulp. I'm a bit nervous for that but I hope to tackle it soon.


• A new year calls for a new hat! Here's my new cable & rib beanie. (Yep, if you're looking closely I AM still in my pajamas. And no, I'm not giving you the evil eye. It's just a crappy picture.) I knit it with Rustic Wool that is Superwash. I actually have a really big head and I have to keep tugging it down. I rarely wear beanies that I've made, but I really love this hat.
  


• Deep breath...ready? I'll be turning the big 3-0 this year! In just a few weeks as a matter of fact. I'm sure it will be better that turning 29. That was crappy because, hey, it's your very last year in your 20's. Depressing. But it's my first year in my 30's so it will be grand. I'll MAKE it grand if I have to.

• I've also joined Ravelry and I think I'm really liking it. If you're a member just click on my link on the sidebar. You can see details of the hat above.

Time for a list!

How sad! I should be kicked off of the knitting rings I'm in because I haven't posted in months! Oh well. How do I get back into the swing of things in the blogging world? A list maybe? Ok. How bout a list of WIPs:

1. Many, many Mary Jane Slippers. I've been commissioned by a friend to knit up 5 pairs of said slippers. Oh they are cute! Here's a pict.

2. The log cabin blanket for my hubby. Yeah...haven't picked that up for longer than I've been absent from blogging.

3. Mitered square blanket...sigh...blankets do not keep my attention I guess. Oh but I love imagining it on the yet-to-be-bought bed for our yet-to-be-guest room that is serving as my "project" room for now.

4. Tiny socks for an emergency baby gift knit on size 1 needles. Size 1 needles...need I say more?

I think that's about it. I really don't like to have too many projects going at one time. I get too overwhelmed.

Have I bragged about my new house yet?? Oh let me...ok. We moved in August. It's in an oh so cute, small (only 200 houses), township on the West - way West -side of the Salt Lake Valley. If you are familiar with the SL Valley, we live just under the copper mines. Our house was built in 1928 by Kennecott as a home for some lucky, well paid miner and his family. It's just what we wanted--a charming, cottage bungalow on a quite street in a small town. But not too far away from civilization.

Oh the charm of this town is incredible! I never knew it existed in all the 18 years I've lived here. People actually sit on their porches in the summertime and wave to you as you drive by. Yes, it's true folks! In our busy society today, places like this still do exist. Kids play outside and I'm not afraid to walk my dog at night.

Is it really July? Really? Are you sure??

Seriously, is it really July? I'm mean really! What happened to June?? And where did May go? So I thought that I'd have more time to lolly gag (a grandpa H term) around blogs and what-not when I'm part-time. But noooo! I'm busy cooking and cleaning and going to the gym (yes folks, I'm serious, a gym -with cardio machines and things that make your muscles sore!) and meeting friends for lunch and painting and and and anything but blogging! I have however finished a wonderful baby item that I cannot show you because it wont be presented to the recipient until a week from tomorrow. She's one smart cookie so I'm not posting it because it's a surprise!!

We are also moving soon to a quaint little town on the other side of the valley. The house is amazing! A-freakin-mazing!! A cottage/bungalow from 1928 that has been completely restored and updated. We have a pond in the backyard!! I am so excited! A dream house. A retreat. Away from the city. Perfect! However... I am dreading - I mean dreading with a capital D - the packing. (See April 11th's post - "My Boxes Exposed".) I think I may have had a childhood trauma with a cardboard box or was trapped in a room with severe clutter and un-organization or something because I seriously have a problem with packing things. And since I'm part-time now guess who has to pack everything? Yup. I'm having trouble breathing now. My emotional state is much better lately so hopefully I won't cry out of paralyzing anxiety. I'll keep you updated.

Oooo and my next post will have the long awaited baby item!! I can't wait to show you all!

Itty Bitty Socks

Awww... look how cute these tiny socks turned out! I've had one sock done for months and decided to finally finish the other this week. These will go in the "baby items for my prego friends" stash.
Get this, I ALMOST ran out of yarn. EEEK! Seriously! I only has a mere 32" left. Whew... that would have so sucked if I would have ran out because I bought this yarn at a yarn store down town years ago. I don't even know if they carry the brand anymore. Over the years, I've knitted 2 baby hats (including this one from February) and these socks. I probably would have found it online somewhere, but what a pain that would have been. Anyway, back to the miters for a sec. My dear pseudo-English best friend is finding out the sex of her baby next week. Hurray! So I'll be able to start on something cheeky for her.

Oooo we're going to the canyons today to a picnic with a friend. I'll try to snap some photos and post them. Our Utah canyons are so beautiful and today is a perfect day for camera-ing!

Loving my camera

Here are a few picts of the miters I've finished. 5 down and about 7 million to go. No, seriously I think I have about 60 or so for the blanket I want to make. The Tahki Cotton Classic yarn is the yarn I'm so loving right now. The colors give me the "feel-goods." As you can see, I'm really enjoying my new (well sort of new) camera--especially the macro option. Enjoy!