The Magic Words

So, this past weekend (that of the 24th to the 25th), Nick and I went to Geneva for a little getaway. I planned the whole thing without telling him where we were going, where we'd be staying... only that we would be going away for a night. Orginally I wanted to stay at a cozy little bed and breakfast with lots of hiking trails and scenery, but holy crap on toast -- those cute little B&Bs cost upwards of $200 a night. Even in off-peak, non-tourist season. Curse them. We ended up staying at a very nice (and well within our price range) chain hotel in Geneva, with a lovely room, and only a short drive up the river to the downtown area.

Some of you who know the area might think that I planned this getaway in this particular location because of a particular store in the downtown area. I did no such thing. My only consideration was that Geneva is close to DeKalb (about 30 minutes' drive) and picturesque (of course I don't have any actual picturesque pictures because the camera has entered its Dada phase, the stupid bastard, and refused to take pictures of anything). My plans had nothing at all to do with shopping.

Right. Yes. So, Nick was all surprised and happy when we got to the hotel and saw our room (it was very nice), and then I gave him his gift (sorry for the stock photo, blame the Dada camera). His eyes got all big and he looked kind of sad and said "Honey, I didn't get you anything, I'm sorry."

And in the same breath he uttered the magic words:

"We can go to the yarn store tomorrow."

And we did, and my husband bought me Koigu for our ten-year dating anniversary.


He helped me choose the color (I love when he has input on my knitting!). I had it down to three different colorways, and he liked this one (after I explained that lots of colors are fun on socks -- he's a solid color kind of guy).


And in case you were wondering, the skeins are sitting on this book, with which I am in serous lurve



This Just In: This arrived as I was typing up this post!


Hooray! The book is here! I'm going to see her on Tuesday and I have the book! Hooray!

O Frabjous Day!

I'm knitting again!

The chiropractic problem with my wrists/shoulders has been solved, and I'm knitting!


This is one side of the to-be-felted-tote. It is garter stitch and a little boring, but I love it! Because I can knit!


This is the side of the bag with the pocket sitting on top. I think the log cabin deal is going to look very cute, and will dress up the whole thing a bit.


These are the two ends of the rectangle. I'm knitting (!!!) them at the same time for speed and consistency (because garter stitch is so very difficult...?).


These are the next pair of socks that I mentioned having cast on. They are the same pattern (.pdf!) I used with my first pair of socks, except I'm working over 64 sts and I've put -- what else? -- a 2x2 ribbing on the instep which will continue up the leg.


The yarn is Socks That Rock Fred Flintstone, purchased at Stitches Midwest last summer. I showed these socks to Heather the other day and she got all googly-eyed and demanded to know what kind of yarn that was so that she could buy some and make it her own THISVERYMINTUE! I told her and then she looked a little sheepish. "Oh," she said, "I have that in my stash at home." Snerk.

And today is frabjous for another reason. Ten years ago today Nick asked me to be his girlfriend. Ten years. TEN YEARS. I stand gobsmacked. And more goofishly in love than ever. Woohoo!

Clearly my fantasy life needs an upgrade

The other night I had the best dream ever.

I dreamt I came home to ... a clean kitchen! The dishes were done, the garbage taken out, counters clean -- and I didn't have to do anything! Someone else did it all! It was great!

This is possibly the lamest thing I have ever dreamt.

What kind, indeed?

Overheard tonight Chez HookOn:

[Nick prepares to leave for the game store (the "dork forest" as a friend of ours calls it) for to play Magic:The Gathering]

Me: "Ooh, look out! Don't step on the [finished object to be announced later] on the floor. I'm blocking it."
Nick: "You're blocking it?"
Me: "Yes, that's when you soak the [finished object] and then pin it--"
Nick: "I know what blocking is."
Me: "You do?" [amazed that some of my knitting babble actually stuck]
Nick: "Of course I do. What kind of knitter's husband would I be if I didn't know what blocking meant?"

I love this man.

Reason No. 10

The Beloved and I were watching the bonus features on The Lord of the Rings (Fellowship) the other night and got to the part where someone was talking about the Elves and their super-strength and whatall.

Quoth my fiance:
"It would be awesome to be an elf."

(pause)

"An elf ninja!"

This is your definition of sane?

Overheard at Chez HookOn:

Nick (upon seeing me pull out a long-forgotten crochet afghan project): "You're crocheting!"
Me (delighting in his ability to observe the obvious): "Yes. Why are you all excited?"
Nick: "You haven't crocheted in a long time and I like it."
Me: "You like it when I crochet." (massive skepticism)
Nick: "Well, it's just that when you used to crochet you weren't all insane about yarn and stuff the way you are now, with the knitting."

How to Make Me Swoon

As we're getting ready to do laundry, tap out a beat on my butt and when I protest say, "It's my job as the man in your life to touch your bottom at every opportunity."