2010 - where did it go?

What a year 2010 was. It brought me so many changes that sometimes I can't believe it all happened in the course of 12 months.

2010 brought me and my husband to the US and then to Chicago. Talk about a dramatic change from the deserts of UAE

The year over all was wonderful. We're healthy, we're happy and we're staying afloat - can't ask for much more.

I have made some new amazing friends who have instantly invited me into their knitting world as if I had always been there. When I think of how much has happened this last year I wouldn't change a thing (except for the nasty colds that seem to be following me around... but I digress) but the part that still brings me sadness and grief are all the wonderful amazing friends I left behind. Emails and online chatter just doesn't seem to convey how much I miss them. But I know one day we will be together again, knitting in a cafe for hours, showing off our newest yarn acquisitions and our latest WIPs and FOs.

The year has also brought me great changes in my knitting

I published my first pattern

And I also published my first "for sale" pattern

I managed to complete over 40 knitted FOs

But I didn't meet many of my other knitting goals for 2010

• I didn't knit with my own dyed yarn - but that's in the works for 2011 (more later)
• I definitely bought yarn before June - Hey I was back in the states and all my yarn was in transit... I'm strong but not THAT strong
• I didn't knit one stitch on that cabled purse. Not one
• I made NO sweaters for my self - but that's another thing in the works for 2011 (more later)

But I'm not too worried about my lack of accomplishments because, first, I have knit more than I ever have before and, second, I have let this craft take me in new directions that I hadn't foreseen

• I did colorwork! and I love it
• I started designing my own patterns - this amazes me mostly because I was always so intimidated to even modify a pattern I was working on but now that I have started I just can't stop!
• I knit for swaps! Loads of fun!

So here are my 2011 goals:

• Write up the patterns that are waiting patiently to be shared with the world (currently three!)
• Knit more socks. I love hand knit socks
• Knit more sweaters. I need more sweaters cause Chicago has loads of "sweater" weather (or deathly chill with a side of frostbite weather)
• NO YARN UNITL SOCK SUMMIT. Well, not counting next week. I'm going to the loopy ewe next week and I'm just not that strong. So after next week NO MORE YARN UNTIL SOCK SUMMIT!!!

But mostly I'm going to see where the year takes me. I hope it includes family, love and friends...

Oh and some red orange juice would be great if anyone knows how to get some.

Happy New Year Everyone! I hop this year is even better than the last...

The pictures are of some of my very favorite and most used FO's

One Month

It has been one month since we left UAE, since we left our home. I find it a little odd that I keep referring to UAE as "home" especially because I never stopped referring to the US as "home" but here I am telling my husband that I miss the red orange juice from home, or that's not how they do it back home, or back home the guy would just come to your house and fix that for 100 AED.

Instead of converting Dirhams to Dollars to find out the "real" price of something like I did when I moved to UAE now I'm converting Dollars to Dirhams. Is $2 for a Coke a good deal? I dunno. But do I know 7 AED isn't!

For the most part our transition has been very smooth (except for the excessive travel) and we really haven't faced too many problems. We're now in Portland where it looks like we'll be based for a while. We have enjoyed spending time with family and the rain (MIXED WITH SNOW!!! Seriously!) We have also managed to get a bunch of the chores done like bank things, visits to the DMV and other oh so exciting stuff that I wouldn't bore you to tears with.

It's great being back in Portland but it's also weird not knowing it as well as I use too - I know how to get to little shop that sells my favorite sandwich but I can't remember the back way I use to take when the traffic was bad. I know there's a Subway around here somewhere I just can't remember exactly where. And even more weird is that everyone expects me to remember things - you don't know how to get there? well you went there 4 years ago!

But over all we're having a blast and enjoying our time together. I'm not sure that it has sunk in that we have no return ticket yet as it still feels like a long vacation. But I'm really missing my friends and (I never thought I would say this but) I really miss the sun. I miss the malls too... in all their excessiveness.

So here's to one month! I know that we will get back in the groove with time and soon home will be a distant memory - but my friends never will be! Miss you guys!

Back to the Sun

We heard it was suppose to snow in New York again so we hopped the next flight out of town to a sunnier land, Los Angeles. Ok ok perhaps we had some other business but getting away from the snow was a definite bonus. Not that I don't love the snow but once every three or so years is PLENTY!

So while we have been here we have made sure to get in a few favorites.

Like the Santa Monica Pier


And look look there's PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) It runs along the Pacific Coast all the way from the top of Washington to the bottom of California (right through Oregon) and is one of the most beautiful Highways in the US.


We headed over to UCLA to check out the campus...


... where we went to one of my all time favorite burger chains - In n Out Burger!!!


Just look at these fresh cut fries!!! Even Husband agreed that these were some of the best fries he's ever had.


As we were wandering around UCLA we walked past a place with a line (A LINE!!!) out the door and down the block! We obviously we had to see what this was all about. Turns out it's Diddy Riese and they make homemade cookies and then make them into ice cream sandwiches with your choice of cookies and ice cream.

Let me tell you I can understand why people are willing to stand in a line around the block for these things. They are AMAZING!!!!

We'll be heading back to the cold wintery NYC shortly so gotta run and soak up the sun while I can!

sand to snow

from sand storm...

to snow storm...

how was your week?

Packing - Part 1

ugh.

ugh.

ugh.

Honestly I just hate packing. I always feel it's too early until suddenly it's too late and there is too much to do. I will procrastinate packing, in any form (vacation, moving apartments, moving countries!), for as long as possible until I'm cramming anything and everything I can get my hands on into whatever luggage/boxes I have on hand. This usually ends up with me packing a bunch of stuff I don't need. But oddly through my procrastination method I have actually become quite efficient at figuring out what I need and all the tricks to making it fit in my luggage (Love you space saver bags!!!!) and not really forget anything essential.

But this time is different (kinda) where I am attempting to get things done sooner. In fact I have ALREADY started packing! I have weeks left before we go but packing? Yup, I started! What have I packed you ask? I know. I know. You really just want proof that I am actually packing and not just saying I'm packing just to make it seem like I'm not just sitting around eating bon bon's all day (That was only Wednesday). So I started packing only THE most important thing! My stash!

That is four large space saver bags and two medium stuffed with all of my lovely yarn. I wanted to swim in it! In fact pulling all of the yarn out of their hiding places get me inspired. I started looking at the yarn thinking of all the lovely things I could knit with it. This Knit Picks would be great for some fair isle... this BMFA would make some lovely socks... OOOH this Posh Yarns would make a beautiful shawl....

I gotta say that it was very difficult to stay on task! But I did and it's all boxed up with FRAGILE written clearly all over the sides and all of the yarn is safely tucked away in plastic as to not experience any mildew or water damage.

As for the set of Knit Picks Options and Zephyrs those are going in my luggage. Can't take any chances there! I mean I'm not worried that the box of yarn wont make it (If I was I would be shipping my clothes and carrying on a bag full of yarn!) I'm more worried that I'll be somewhere and need to do an emergency cast on and wont have my needles!!! And I need choices people!! The needles. go. with me. (insert crazy-eyed look here)

What if- what if i'm walking around town and I stumble across an LYS. And I haven't been to one in months so I will definitely go in if I see one. And they have gorgeous cashmere on sale! (Let's not talk about the yarn diet right now cause we're talking hypothetical here) and and I have to go in and buy some and it's so lushes that I can't wait 2-3 days for the boxes with my needles to arrive to cast on cause (duh) it's CASHMERE. No I have to cast on something that day! But then I would have to BUY needles and well we know that just not economical... Not when I already have a full set of perfectly lovely Knit Picks Options! See, it's more realistic just to make sure I have my needles with me AT ALL TIMES! oooh and the Addi sock needles I have as well. What if I want to knit socks? but the bamboo they are packed cause really I'm not a fan of bamboo needles... I prefer metal. And the DPN's they are in the box too cause once you know magic loop well then do you really need your DPN's anymore? (I'm sure I'll live to regret saying that!) Nope. So just the full set of Option and Zephyrs will be enough.

But you had to know that some yarn stayed out cause I cant go up to a week with out yarn! That's just crazy talk right there. So I have set aside some pre-put-together (I don't think that's a word) projects that will keep me occupied for a few days and additionally for the crazy long ass flight home. As for what those projects are? You'll just have to wait and see!

that's right

we're blowing this hot dog stand and heading home!!!

it's almost too good to put into words... fear that if i verbalize it than perhaps i'll realize it was all just a dream and I'll be planning for another year here in Dubai but seeing as how I have officially bought our tickets home I consider it as good as done or at least as close to certain and I can get.

I think this is the main reason I have been so quiet on the blog lately. This development has been at the forefront since... well... for months! We have been planning, talking, organizing and planning some more. It's taken over. And it's so hard to think of other things or be excited about telling you that I went to Rihana when really I just want to scream I'M GOING HOME! HOME! DID YOU HEAR ME??? HOME! but I didn't want to announce it to the world prematurely so I waited until I was sure. Or at least until I was as sure as I could get. After all I do believe in a "Plan" and sometimes it's not what you planned at all.... i.e. moving here in the first place!

I'll tell you now that we are not planning on going back to my hometown for the long term but as for where we ARE going well you just have to stay tuned and find out.

I'm thinking that the next few weeks I'll be exploring old events that I experienced here, my fears of returning home (I know! Who knew? But I have them) and the things I'll miss about the UAE.... In all seriousness it's a pretty awesome place and I will miss it... kinda.

So now the cat's outta the bag and you know the big developing news that i have been eluding to for a while now. big. sigh. of. relief. and i'm so excited!

FO: baby three-fer

I really wanted to do something special for a good friend of mine who is having her first baby boy. I knew of the impending birth in June when I went home to the States so I went on a mission to find the perfect yarn.

I found Rowan Calmer in Portland. I had been wanting to use this for a while because I have heard only great things about it. When I went into the Knitting Bee and saw a whole pile of it, I just couldn't wait to get my hands on it and whoa, the stuff is SOFT! Fortunately the ladies at the Knitting Bee do not frown upon yarn cuddling because all that calmer was irresistible

I saw a beautiful silvery blue color and immediately thought that it would be perfect for a certain little baby boy on the way. They had four skeins left and I bought all of them.


I started pouring through all my pattern books and the patterns available on the internet for the perfect sweater or blanket to make but I just couldn't find anything that seemed right.

I finally decided to come up with my own pattern (if you can call it that) and got to work...

A made it with seed stitch boarder and a cool looking pin stripe


The blanket took just over three of the precious four balls i had...

Then I got started on the hat. I wanted it to have the same pattern as the blanket so I cast on 60 stitches and knit for about 5.5 inches when I realized that trying to figure out how to maintain the pattern but decrease at the same time was too much for my brain to take. So I added another half inch, did a three needle bind off and added the super cute pom-poms. Total used was probably about half a skein.


I was running out of time and yarn but felt I should make my friend matching booties to go with the blanket and hat especially since that was really the only thing she asked for!

I divided what little yarn I had left in half and started with the first bootie and just barely made it. But made it I DID! So the second bootie soon followed!

For this I followed the pattern Saartje's Bootees by Saartje de Bruijn. The little criss-cross straps were too cute and picked out some black mother of pearl buttons for them!! I was unable to maintain the cute pin stripe pattern from before but I think they still came out fabulous!

Seriously are these not the cutest little booties ever!

I think these will be perfect for little baby to cuddle in

New York, New York

So the couple days before and after New Jersey were spent in the Big Apple. I, personally, am a huge fan of New York City. Whenever I am roaming around the city with my coffee and bagel I think to my self "huh, I could do this.... I could totally do this!". Fortunately my husband is almost as fond of New York as I am.

The forever flight wasn't too bad, I slept for an hour, watched four movies and knit an entire hat (to be shown later). Fortunately this time around passport control was a breeze with my husband making friends all along the process in his usual way.

Right when we got out of the airport we headed to my sister's house in Brooklyn. I'm not sure if she realizes just how much I look forward to seeing her as I enter and exit the country. It's like immediate home. I don't have to take another flight or go any further to get that sense of home right away by spending time with my big sis. Not to mention my Niece is BEYOND adorable. I just love hanging out with her and her family.

So we made it to her house in the evening and ate and crashed... but a 14 hr fight will do that to you. But look at what my sister got for me on her last trip to Ireland!!!! SO EXCITING! Irish wool! I'm going to have to make something with cables.

The next day we bummed around the city going to the east village and to Purl Soho because I just could not wait any longer! I got some gorgeous yarns (I'm not going to show you everything just my fave but you are welcome to check out my Ravelry stash page to see them all)I loved the pewter color of this Tilli & Tomas beaded lace

So I guess my husband hot a little board with all the time I was spending in Purl Soho (although really I don't see how) so he was sitting out side and I was hovering over some sock yarn when I hear "Why thank you. It's nice to meet you too" and I turn and look outside and my husband is chatting with Ainsley Harriott (the guy with like 5 different cooking shows on BBC Food)! I briefly thought of putting down the yarn to rush out side and say hello as well but 6 months people(!) and a year and a half since I had been in a real, live, LYS so I stayed put, petting all the yarns.

After New Jersey we had another couple of days in the city where we went to Rockefeller Center


The Empire State Building


and Central Park

As you can tell we completely exhausted our selves in the first couple days of our trip.... but it was totally worth it.

After New York we headed for Arlington Texas to spend some much needed time with Husband's family. It was so much fun but I didn't get any pictures as we mostly just hung around and chatted. After all Texas is almost as hot as Abu Dhabi and who wants to go running around in that kind of heat?

Lake Owassa, New Jersey

Directly after we arrived in to the States we headed for my Great Aunt's house on Lake Owassa in New Jersey. It's about an hour and a half drive from New York City into the mountains of New Jersey where there is a channel of lakes along the Appalachian Trail.


Husband and I headed out to the lake with my mom, my sister and her husband and ADORABLE little girl (the one I always knit for) family style, in a mini van. When we arrived we were greeted by all of our extended family which included my mom’s aunt and cousins. We have visited this lake on many occasions so it was great to show Husband where I use to visit during my summers and where I learned to water ski.

All the family was immediately commenting on the strange weather. The clouds, the rain, the chill in the air, they just couldn’t explain how weather like this was occurring in June! They were sorry that we wouldn’t be able to swim and water ski. I on the other hand was thrilled and said as much. I mean it was RAIN! Real live, natural, rain! I couldn’t have been happier. I was honest and said “swimming I can get in Dubai but rain is something else all together.” Seriously people, I’m an Oregonian. I grew up wading through the puddles and UAE’s lack of rain is something that has been hard for me to adjust to. The fact that we got to sit through a proper storm during our first couple of days in the country just meant the trip was off to a better start than I could have hoped for.

Just look at that gorgeous precipitation. And the CLOUDS! I love it!


We were able to get out on to the lake a bit while we were there. We went boating on a pontoon boat (that was a blast and it went way faster than I would have expected)and Husband went kayaking! He kayaks like a pro.


Afterwards we had a big family style barbeque with steak and wild salmon. YUM!

The next morning things cleared up enough to show us just how beautiful the lake can be.


It was a great couple of days in New Jersey. I really enjoyed spending time with all of our family and a getting a couple of quiet days in the mountains. It has to be one of my all time favorite places.

Next up: New York City!

Inauguration Day!!

Dear President Obama,

Congratulations on being elected the 44th President of the United States!

You can feel the excitement in the air even out here in the Middle East. This has got to be the longest 74 days ever! It has felt like all of the U.S. and half the World have been waiting for January 20th like it was their birthday. Waiting for you to take your oath. The pressure that you are experiencing must be extraordinary but one thing you have that not all President Elects have had is that the people of the U.S. and the World are not waiting for you to fail but rather expecting you to succeed. They KNOW you can do this. The two million people standing outside in Washington DC and the millions at home who are waiting for your to take your oath are proof of our confidence in you.

I'll be hoping along with the world that you will bring the United States back to where is has not been for many presidents now. Love your family and always keep them close to you as only they can support you in the way that you will need now.

I'm wishing you all the best in the next four years

And please if there is anything I or anyone else can do for you... All you have to do is ask.

Best Regards,

Lindsay