House

House, originally uploaded by ImagineKnit.

Yes we might just get one! Things have begun on our little homestead. Thank goodness because it is getting cold and momma doesn't want to live in the camper all winter.

I feel like listing some things I miss today so I can appreciate them when I get them again..

I miss...

a room of my own where I can shut the door
space and warmth to lay on the floor and hang out with the kids
plumbing
running water
a shower whenever I want
the ability to have company over
my sewing machine
all the yarn in the storage unit
the internet at home
TV (yes I know I shouldn't miss that but I do)
Not feeling stressed out all the time



What do you miss in your life right now?

Summer

Summer, originally uploaded by ImagineKnit.

Still out here in limbo coming to the coffee shop for a little computer break and so the kids can play. Picked up this sweater again for KD. Hope to actually get past the sleeves at some point.

The first of the colds hit out house and more specifically me. Just trying to hang on till school starts. Our closing didn't happen this week due to no fault of our own which makes it all even more frustrating. We are SO past ready to start this house that I could cry. Hopefully this next week we can get that done and call in the troops to start. Some day it will be worth it, right now it is just hard to wait.

If anyone is coming up the Duluth way for a visit and wants to meet up shoot me an email, I could stand some knitting nights and this coffee house is popular and close to where I live. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Blogless Senja

Mitts 4 M, originally uploaded by ImagineKnit.

This summer has been a flurry of moves (3 to be exact) with big house planning and frustrating turns of event. Nothing major has gone wrong but building a house is not for the faint of heart. All that said our new space promises to be just what we want and hopefully well thought out for our family.

Knitting has been taking place and this picture is the only proof I have of that. Mittens for Miss M which I bound off the tips today and still have the thumb to do. That said I am not sure if I will finish them as she seems ambivilent about them and so am I. They are cute but some of the stranding was pulled a little tight and I am not in love with them. The Hedgie on the front is cute though. Maybe another try at this is the way to go. I am at the local coffee house for a little computer time and the kids are hounding me for stuff. I will have to run just leaving a little note out here to say I am still alive. Hope your summers are all great! Come on school!

Exploring

 Mother's day 2010
We went out to the breakwater in Two Harbors, MN for a little fishing.  We didn't catch any but it was a fun outing to explore the big lake (Lake Superior). 

 I found some inspiration there too.  Took this picture to save in my mind the color combination for a yarn colorway someday.

 Of course when you go to the lake you have to throw stones in.

 I was really a fun day and my kiddos are getting so big.  It is such a bittersweet feeling watching them grow and change.  I am so happy they are healthy and smart and inquisitive and... well you get the picture. 

 I have done some knitting too.  The Lacy Baktus was just the thing for this yarn I have been hanging on to for a few years.  It is a cashmere, silk and wool blend in a color I don't usually choose for myself. It's called Spun by Artio which is not cataloged on Ravelry and I won it in a blog contest.   But I had made up my mind to use it for me and the baktus seemed like a perfect project for such a soft yarn.  You have to knit something to go next to your skin with that kind of fiber blend.  It would be wrong not to:)

I think it turned out all right and I have 2.5 skeins left to make a hat for the winter.  Hmmmm off to Ravelry to find a pattern!

What I did on my Spring Break

Went for a walk with good friends.Explored hollow logs.

Found interesting tree formations.

Went knitting at a friends house.

Explored the local aquarium. Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, MN
Saw divers feed the fish in the tank.
Tried to get a good picture of the river otter.
Looked at beautiful art inside.

Played in the tree house.

Got a little obsessed with the boats showing how locks work.

Learned about huge dinosaur fish.

Watched a ship go through the canal.


Welcomed back some old friends.
By Senja

I'm Alive!

Really I am I just stopped blogging for a bit there. Once in a while it all gets to be too much to keep up with and I take a break. The blog is the first to go. But there has been lots of things happening here. First off, we are moving!
About 2 months ago we heard the neighbors were moving. Since they are the only neighbors we have left that we like OK and we have talked about moving for quite a while now it was just the push we needed to get our house on the market. Lo and behold the house sold in less than 2 weeks! Yikes. Now BDiddy and I have no permanent plans yet beyond we are moving to the next town over to be living the the school district we have our kids in and slightly closer to our work. I will update you all when we have something to tell until then we are packing and planning for a summer full of transitions.Knitting wise I made a hat for my cousins baby, finished a shawl and am now working on a sweater for me.
Here are some pictures:This 3rd picture is the most accurate for color, I used my own Knit Me Now Sport-a-licious in Apple Tree and finished with Knit Picks Gloss sock in Cocoa since I ran out of my yarn at the end:( I like how it looks though with the brown solid on the edge it kind of grounds it for me. The pattern is Verdaia (Ravelry link) which was the first shawl pattern I saw and almost immediately cast on. I love it but I think next time I will use a solid or semi-solid because I seem to want a shawl in a solid more. Pretty easy pattern and well written. Good beginner pattern if you ask me.This is the baby hat I made for my cousin's baby. Another pattern I saw and cast on for right away. The pattern is Ella Rose's Pixie Bonnet you can find it here. The yarn is Araucania Atcama in a blue/ purple color. Very soft and I see it is discontinued now, too bad. It was pretty nice to knit with. I love the little button I found for this bonnet a little pink gem. Hope all of you are knitting away and looking forward to spring!

Araucania Atacama

Kid Crafts

Kids crafting has been on my mind lately, I think because I do lots and lots of crafting in my head and in my home. I was inspired by a few blogs out there which embrace the artist in each child. So here is our latest craft adventure.

Home made flags for the snow fort or castle. Easy Peasy.

Take some fabric , cut it to size, roll around one end of along dowel, staple or glue to the end and ta-da! Flags for all. Try it.

I thought you might like to see my kids eating dinner in their fort the other night too. They asked and I thought, "Why not?

Don't they look like they are having fun?

What do you mean I disappeared?

I'm sure it has nothing to do with this!


My Christmas Present from my hubby yes it is a floor loom and yes it is mine!

All Mine!!! Wahhhhhaaaa haaaaa haaaa!
Sorry evil laughter suppressed now:)

I have been immersed in how to work this puppy and despite the fact that this is the ugliest saddest looking project I am not afraid to show you what we have managed to weave here.


My KD worked for like 20 minutes last night all by himself on the last half of the woven project shown, he was thrilled with it. I was thrilled to hear him upstairs thumping and bumping away on the loom.

I see many more evenings of artistic expression coming out of this for the whole family. Any links to weaving instructions out there you know about would be greatly appreciated also.

There is lots of inspiration hanging around in my craft area now too. Like this


and this



Looking forward to using up some of the stash especially the things I can't think up a good use for. Hoping to make this cabinet a little emptier this year.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year with many fun and healthy days ahead.