meet Flirt

the one where i reign victorious

i had sent a message to a friend yesterday about the damn dishwasher and the wiring and the errors of my ways. she called saying, "i am pretty sure we can fix that." and we were off to the races. she was ready to come over on new years day, but sadly the home depot was closed and we had to get wire.

so we settled for yesterday. she picked up a few supplies on her way over and we met at the house. it took us just around two hours, including a trip to the deep hole to get a hose extension. it seems that where the water goes into the dishwasher is in a different location than our former one making the 72" hose (which is the longest dishwasher hose they make, i've searched) too short. nothing a trip to the deep hole couldn't fix.

came home, she climbed under the sink and bam, we were in business. shoved the machine under the counter (okay, nudged it under making sure it was level and not kinking any wires or hoses), flipped the breaker back on (saying a little prayer) and we had lights!!

we filled it before we went to dinner. tanya had to get home, but we'll do dinner sometime soon (with her husband even!). when we arrived home we put the soap in and ran it. we purposely did not clean the dishes before putting them in (you know the wash before you wash). we had some tomato cream sauce that had baked into the pan a bit...gone. every last bit of it! and we didn't even use the pre-treat option!!!

it feels good to have it done.

done and done

i didn't get that many photos of me in the dress at both weddings this past weekend, but this is the one that i did get.

it was so much fun to wear! the next night i paired it with a burnt orange necklace (think lots of rocks) and a camel colored pair of sandals. i got many compliments on it, which kind of made me blush.

hit a yarn sale at one of my favorite stores on saturday and bought enough yarn to make just the top of it. my neighbor told me that i had to start making all my own sweaters because this dress fit me so well. i will make another dress, that is certain.

i can't believe that i knit a dress!!!

done

i am finished with the scarf for my friend, chaz. her birthday was a little bit ago and jill and i went in on the yarn for me to knit her a fabulous scarf. i think i did just that, if i do say so myself.

the pattern was free and man oh man was it fun! i think pairing it with the malabrigo chunky was perfect. it's sturdy enough a yarn to keep shape, but soft enough to want to wear constantly. i will probably wear it once tonight to give it some of my energy before gifting it to chaz.

i'll be finishing jill's shrug next. it is thin yarn (fingering weight), like the blanket, being knit on tiny needles (us 1's) and i needed a quick break from tiny yarn and toothpick needles. after the shrug i would love to crank out another scarf as well as this hat for jill's sister, darcy. i think she'll like both.

both yarns for the scarf and hat are chunky so they should go quickly. because after that, i MUST get working on the dress i'm knitting to wear to friends weddings this summer!!

when pigs fly

phase i don't know

This just in...

Jill came over this morning and we tiled. We tiled like the fabulous women we are! We tiled like there was no tomorrow. We tiled and talked of our day tomorrow, which will include grout.

It's nearing an end. Well, it's nearing it's next resting point.

According to my calculations we still have to grout, seal the tile one more time, finish replacing the drawer and door pulls, stain and install some quarter round to finish of certain edges, paint, get the new table and bench made, possibly have a cabinet made for by the fridge for the microwave and extra storage (or find a really cool dresser that would fit the bill), and get new lighting for over the table and the back door. Really, not much left...right?

a little something like this

Yesterday I came home from work to find Kevin working on the laundry. This made me extremely happy as I am normally the laundry doer. It also made me nervous as all hell. There are a few things he dried that I never dry, so we'll see if I have to go shopping Sunday...I've yet to investigate the basket of folded clothing (he "folded" things, too!). It was at this time, we started talking about dinner and what to make. Kev announced he was hungry for mac-n-cheese.

Anyway, I was home, doing a boat load of dishes that are still covered in dust (hell, the dog is still covered in dust it seems) and was still trying to think about what to make for dinner. When dishes were done I opted to put on my lounge pants. Kev says, "And how is that going to help us on the quest for Mac and Cheese?" I informed him I was not going to go to the store that if he'd wanted me to get something he could have called while I was at work and asked me to stop on my way home. Gas conservation at its best...lump all errands together!

I jumped online to search for a pasta and cheese dish using Parmesan cheese (since he'd gotten a lovely block of it for our Caesar salads the other night). JACKPOT! We opted for penne pasta instead of shells (working with what we have, people) and it turned out fabulous!!! I also decided that we couldn't simply eat mac-n-cheese for dinner, we needed protein and a little vegetation. I cooked up some chicken tenders in a pan with some olive oil, seasoned with kosher salt, white pepper and a dash of paprika. I sent Kev out to the garden to get some romaine for a simple lettuce salad.

We sat down to eat and Kev said, "who knew we had all this food in this house?" I'm proud when I can pull together a meal without having to leave my house (other than popping out to the garden...which is so damn cool!!). Especially when we both think we really don't have that much food in the house. I realized I could have taken a photo of one of our plates, but it was too late when that thought occurred...both plates were empty.

So, another dish to put into regular rotation. Next time, however, I will use more white pepper. Dad, I expect you to say you look forward to having some of this when you are in town in November. I think the family would enjoy it.

roosters, RIP

Well, phase one of the deconstruction has come and gone. I am now clean and tired.

Jill came over as planned, at 9:00. We got straight to work since I'd prepared the area last night. She is an amazing friend. It was not as easy as we'd hoped, but it wasn't too hard. We do have a couple of rather major/minor patch jobs to have done before Tuesday, when the template makers are coming. I am amazed by what is going on in my kitchen right now.

We had a slight mis-judgment on the sink and I had to take it back for it's little brother. I'm a little sad, but the lines are the same, just smaller. And they didn't have the same color so we ended up having to go with white. It was not my first choice, but desperate times. And honestly, against the Beige Olimpo Silestone counters...and with the back splash tile...It will be beautiful. (I was trying to link to the tiles for you all, but it's being dumb and their site is really annoying to navigate)

Is it Tuesday the 3rd of June yet?

We could save some of the hand painted vegetable tiles, but sadly the roosters did not make it. Jill felt terribly and she tried her best. Those ladies used industrial strength adhesive or something. I also did save some of the counter top tiles. I got enough to do some cool table for outside or something. That makes me happier than I thought.

Okay, must retire to the basement until it's time to go to our friends for a cookout. Friends are amazing. When they become like family, it's even better.

and we have a guitar!

Well here we are, kids. I left my real camera at work so I took these with my phone. Not too bad, but I will make sure to post ones I take with the camera once I get it back. I've made sure it is secure and safe (I called to make sure that it was locked away).

The guitar took me for a little ride. The left screws (which I know you can't even see in the photos) are actually into studs! Who knew?! When I went stud finding they weren't there...

The chair is a new acquisition as well. Craigslist baby! The woman I bought it from was funny. She started pointing around her house showing me her buys from Craigslist. You can find good stuff, but must be careful. She also said to make sure that the people really want to sell. Sometimes people don't want to really get rid of their stuff. At least that's what she's found.

So this room is almost 100% done. I just have to get two photos enlarged and get frames for them to hang over the couch. I was going to go with images of my grandfather on the farm, but then I started thinking it would be sweet to have black and whites of Bob and Fred (two of our past boy kitties). I was going to surprise Kev, but last night while we were at Ikea I asked him what he thought. He thought it was an amazing idea.

So, there you go, two more parts of this amazing room I've designed. Yeah, I really do love it and am so proud that I'm tooting my horn. :)