Well hello there. Long time no chat! =) A few things happened in rapid succession back there in December to take me away, first I had to travel for a week for work. Then the day after I got back Elle's other cruciate ligament fully ruptured and the poor thing couldn't walk! I ran around to the surgical vet trying to get her evaluated and see if she was healed enough from the first surgery to do the other leg. We weren't really happy because we wanted to wait longer but in the end we didn't have a choice, she had to go in.
In the midst of that, my husband came home from Iraq for his what they call R&R (basically 18 days vacation mid-deployment). I hadn't seen him for over 8 months and this will be the only 18 days in 15 MONTHS that I get to see him so I did what anyone would do. I took 3 weeks off work, I turned off the computer and I spent some quality time with him. It was wonderful! =)
Unfortunately with Elle having the surgery we had to scrap any plans of going away. We spent lots of time close to home, his mom/dad and 1 of his brothers and family flew out here from CA to see him. We were able to spend time with everyone and have big family Christmases which I just adored! We also finally got to spend an anniversary together as well (first 1 in 4 years but ah well)! =)
He left late last week and it's been hard readjusting to this big empty house. Today is my first day back to work and I'm slowly but surely getting back into the swing of things. I must say it was an absolute treat to turn off the computer and just relax. I didn't realize how much I needed to just get away from it all - I spend so many hours a day on the computer it was a treat to unplug.
Anyhow, so if you emailed me you didn't get a response, I'm slowly working through the backlog now. I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone, I've missed chatting with you and seeing all your projects! =)
In other news, I've had a lot of requests for new project bags, I've been working hard to get a bunch more out there so you can actually have some choices. ;) 6 new project bags are going up tonight in my store and about 6-7 more are coming this weekend (you can see a preview here on flickr. I'm experimenting with some heavier weight fabric to see how I like it. Aren't the sheepies adorable???) Then after that it'll be a short break so I can focus on battlets. I've been hand-dyeing like crazy but haven't had a chance to card any up.
Oh and I almost forgot project news! =) The ripple blanket post will have to wait, I haven't had a chance to take any FO pics, but I wanted to share my yummy new project with you!
At a SnB that Margaret invited me to when I was traveling (thanks for the invite, I had a great time! =)) I finally got to see the infamous malabrigo lace and it was scrumptious! I had absolutely fallen in LOVE with Heather's Victorian Lace scarf version (seen here on Ravelry!) and I knew that would be the perfect thing to knit. I looked all over for other colors of malabrigo lace but didn't find anything that spoke to me so I decided to do it in green (colorway: VAA) as well. Sometimes you just can't beat a great idea.
Just about 5 minutes ago I checked my mail and it had arrived from webs and I had a good laugh. The package it came in was TINY and it barely weighed anything and I thought to myself, wow Webs must have messed up and forgot to put anything in the box! When I opened it though, I was surprised, inside were two tiny little skeins that weighed next to nothing! I put a chibi next to them for scale. Apparently these little suckers are almost 500 yards each which seems impossible, but who am I to doubt? I ordered two just to be safe! =)
Here's to some scrumptious knitting! =)
I didn't know your husband was overseas! GP and I spent the first year of our marriage 8 time zones apart. R&R is nice, but never long enough.
That Malabrigo lace weight is so wonderful. I want a whole room full of it!
Posted by: Gena | January 07, 2008 at 03:14 PM
I was just getting ready to email you and make sure you were still alive! Ha. I'm so glad you had such a good time. I know you miss him. And I can't wait to see the ripple blanket, I know it's gorgeous. Maybe one day I will try rippling. I have never really like crocheting but I think I have the same problem with it that I did when I first started knitting. My hands cramp, but it's probably just because of the newness of it. I haven't ever crocheted long enough to really get comfortable with it. Anyway.
I would love some input on spinning wheels. I have been fighting the urge to learn more about them. Maybe even buy one. Whatever am I thinking???
Posted by: katie | January 07, 2008 at 03:18 PM
What a great Christmas it sounds like you had! And yes, the malabrigo lace really is that much yardage. I am knitting with it now, it's lovely :) If you have a winder and swift be a bit careful, sometimes the dying process can make the yarn a bit "sticky" and you have to go slow with the winding.
Posted by: Crystal | January 07, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Woohoo, she is back in cyber land. We sure missed you. You have so much catching up to do. Sorry to hear about Elle, but at least you got to spend lots of time with your husband.
Posted by: Angelika | January 07, 2008 at 03:48 PM
I was just talking with my husband last night about you hoping everything was ok. Glad to hear everything is wonderful. :o)
Love the yarn! I started a lace work the other day and discovered I love knitting lace.
Posted by: Shannon | January 07, 2008 at 03:51 PM
Who/what can compete with the husband? You're forgiven for disappearing!
Hope Elle is over her surgery and is feeling better.
Posted by: Marina | January 07, 2008 at 04:04 PM
I'm sorry to hear that Elle had to have more surgery. But how terrific that you were able to see your husband! I'm so happy for you and glad that you were able to have a joyous Christmas.
I have a skein of Malabrigo lace and I haven't done anything with it yet. That's a very pretty scarf!
Posted by: Beth | January 07, 2008 at 04:16 PM
Welcome back! Good for you for completely unplugging and spending the quality time with your husband and other loved ones. It sounds like your Christmas was wonderful, despite your poor doggie's surgery :(.
Happy New Year! Looks like you've found a great way to start it with that Malabrigo!
Posted by: Hilary | January 07, 2008 at 06:35 PM
So glad you got to spend time with your husband. Hope Elle is doing well :)
Posted by: Felicia | January 07, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Sorry about your poor doggie. Wow, so much time away from the dh - must've been nice to rendez-vous. Have fun with that laceweight! I'm such a sucker for Malabrigo lace. Yum.
Posted by: theLady | January 07, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Happy New Year Keri! Glad you were able to take some time to be with your hubby!
Posted by: tiennie | January 07, 2008 at 08:04 PM
How wonderful that you were able to spend Christmas with your husband! I don't blame you for putting away your computer--I would too! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Katie | January 07, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Hello and I must say that you did the right thing spending all your time with hubby. Relationships, family, are all so so important in these crazy times we live in. All other things in our life that we do, computers, knitting, etc are what keep us sane!!
Love that lace scarf - I have the book - never realized how beautiful it was till I saw the scarf knitted up - gorgeous!
Cannot wait to see yours.
Vanessa in Upstate NY
Posted by: Vanessa | January 08, 2008 at 07:12 AM
I can see I wasn't the only one who was worried your silence meant something was wrong. I'm happy to see that wasn't the case. Welcome back! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Becky | January 08, 2008 at 09:54 AM
I'm glad you had a nice time with your husband. And I agree that the Malabrigo Lace looks tiny!
Posted by: Phoe | January 08, 2008 at 10:01 AM
What a wonderful reason to step back from the computer! (I need to do that more often!)I'm so glad you had time to enjoy!
The scarf that you linked to is gorgeous!
Posted by: Pat | January 08, 2008 at 12:17 PM
I'm so glad you were able to enjoy some quality time with your DH! Sometimes it is a good thing just to unplug.
Here's hoping that Elle mends soon!
Posted by: Kim | January 08, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Hi Keri...it's good to see you back! But what a wonderful way to spend a few weeks. The skeins are just too cute for words! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Lynne | January 08, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Glad you're back, but totally would have done the same thing! Happy New Year - those bags are wonderful! And I hope Elle is recovering well.
Posted by: chris | January 09, 2008 at 06:49 AM
Thanks for the visit and the blocking tip, I'll have to remember that!
I didn't know your hubby was serving in Iraq. Sounds like you got the best Christmas present possible, short of having him home for good - having him home for the holidays. I'm glad you got to spend some alone time together. I hope he and our other servicemen and women get to return home soon for good.
That Malabrigo is really tiny, for sure! Have fun knitting with it! I'll be looking forward to seeing your scarf!
Poor Elle! Hope the sweetie is feeling much better now!
Posted by: Bernadette | January 09, 2008 at 07:31 AM
Hey Keri... I think I deleted your comment by mistake. It was in holding with all the spam and I was in at work... can you drop another comment by (even just a single word) and I'll approve you so this doesn't happen again... but I thought I'd already approved your comments, so I don't know...
Posted by: lisa | January 10, 2008 at 10:28 PM
yay for you getting to spend time (and anniversary) w/ dh!! hope the doggy's feelin' better and i love love love the bags on your etsy...soooo pretty!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 10, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Can't imagine a better Christmas or anniversary present!
Please join us at SnB anytime you're back in Cville, no invitation necessary!
Posted by: Margaret | January 13, 2008 at 08:38 PM
Happy New year! I can't blame you at all for tuning the rest of the world out in order to spend some QT with your husband! I'm glad you had a good visit. I hope your dog is feeling better now, too.
Posted by: Lazuli | January 17, 2008 at 03:41 PM