Status quo ... is not quo.

So, I'm trying to make small changes. And then we'll see where the quo can go.

1) Craft Hope - Aprons for Haiti

Ok, I'll be honest...I'm not sure about this one. The principle of the project is to make aprons for women in Haiti, something pretty that's just for them. It's not quite as useful (imo) as the previous project that made birthing kits for Haitian women and their newborns. But. Craft Hope is one of those online communal exercises that I really like supporting. So, I do.



Mostly made up the pattern on the fly. Love the snap that secures the pocket together.

2) Comfort Blanket for T

Ok, this one is another group effort. One of the moderators for the swap group that I'm part of on Ravelry is going through a crappy time of things. Crappy as in she asked her husband to leave because he's been doing hard drugs for a year on the sneak...and she now makes too much to qualify for food stamps, even though it's just her and three kids now. Yeah. That kind of crappy.

Honestly, I truly wanted to help her. But was at a loss. Until it was suggested that maybe making a blanket out of squares made by people who love and support her might be a nice thing to do.

Right.

So, I solicited the group members for squares. And set to putting my mediocre crochet skills to work. One giant granny square later, the squares from the others are starting to trickle in. I'm very excited, and hope that we get enough to make a large border of contributed squares.



3) KOL quilting bee

Ok, this one is a little more selfish. I wanted to do a quilting bee. But. I'm a shy geek who doesn't really know how to put that out there into the void of the Interwebs. So, I cheated. I asked members of my local knitting group if they'd be interested in doing a quilting bee. Had no idea what to expect. Managed to get 10 more people (!) - which surprised the hell out of me.

Set up a monthly schedule, and away we went. I'm going first, as it just seemed to work out that way. Have received some pictures of the lovely blocks so far. Am crossing my fingers that we all last the year-long commitment. Wish me luck.

4) And in other craftiness - there was some spinning



Red Merino with SO MUCH SPARKLE



and some socks knit for some swaps.





Even a pair for a SIL.



Next on the to-do list? Making the most epic Star Wars dice bag ever. After all, what else are long weekends for?

In the woods, there was a little house...

Where there lived a little mouse.

And this mouse is pretty damn happy right now. I've finally found a place to make into a home, not just a house. It's been awhile since I wrote, as the last time that I had a space moment to breathe, I spent it renovating one thing or another. Honestly, it's been wild. Carpets in, hardwood out. New stairs, paint everywhere, office built from the studs out, drywall, bathrooms gutted, tilework, and the list goes on and on. All done in two months, give or take a little.

And now?

Things are finally settling into place and calming down. My room is finally complete, and I'd love to show it to you. It used to be the house's dining room...but we really didn't have a need for a formal eating area. And I did need a space of my own.



This is my desk. When I look out of my window when I'm writing, I can see our (very long) driveway, trees and garden gnomes that my kids keep moving on me. At least I hope it's the kids. Under the cutting table, there's a lot of clutter - but at least the clutter is sorted clutter. All of the bags are holding yarn scraps, one bag for one weight of yarn. And the big box is filled with "to do" mending and projects in progress. I really should get to that.



This is the other half of the room, as taken from my chair. Funny that it didn't make it into the picture, but there's a piano against the wall there. And yes, I do have a lot of fabric. I know. When the zombie apocalypse hits, at least we'll all be warm.

Everything in this room is what makes me ... me. My sais are on the shelf above my head, and I'm still thinking about what I should put on the walls for decoration. But other than that, I'm done.

I'm home.

And in sum...

Ok, I totally intended to be good and post more about our travels. But time got away from me, and it's just not going to happen. A very fast pictorially illustrated summary. During our time in Spain we went to Carcassonne.



Spent lots of time on boats.





(Kitchener stitching a sock)

Visited the Val de Nuria



and took a funicular to the top.



Went to Barcelona for the day on a date with just my sweetie. No munchkins.



Visited the local cathedral in Castello de Empuries, which dates from the 14th Century.



Visited the Fortress of Roses, which managed to compress almost of all of Spain's history into less than 3 square kilometers. Definite must see if you're in the area.



Had a few date nights with just my Mister, thanks to the generous babysitting of the in-laws. We went to Roses, which is where you'll find El Bulli. We strolled the pedestrian area and ate in a restaurant that was filled with just native Catalan speakers for three dates in a row.



And ate LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of chocolate croissants. Oh, they were divine. Best chocolate croissants ever. Seriously.



Once we landed in mid-October, we had six weeks at home. During which we bought a new house. Whirlwind much? Yeah. I'm still catching my breath.

In December, we flew to Toronto for the holidays. After an epic New Year's party at a good friend's house (I haven't passed out during a party and then woken up and rejoined the party at 3 am in a looooong time), the Mister and I flew to Maui. For his work, and also to celebrate our ten year anniversary.



It was pretty. But a definite once in a lifetime place to visit.

And now?

I'm elbow deep in renovations. We gutted the master bathroom, ripped out the carpet, painted every room in the house, and we carved out an office for the Mister in the basement. And we're still not finished. Phew. But I think that it'll be worth it. Want to meet my new neighbors?



A very small herd of deer.

In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller - Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Myself, I intend to go mad quite happily in the new house. I'll be the crazy lady sitting on her dock, playing her cello to the birds and bees. How've you all been?