Okay, I'm back. Actually, I've been back since Sunday, but I've been recovering from a little time zone difference, and trying to get Z ready to go back to school on Tuesday, holy smokes... It makes me a little nauseous, partially because the summer is over and I can barely remember any of it, and partially because she is starting 5th grade! I might barf.

We left the pups at home with a housesitter while we were gone, actually the woman who babysits for Z when I'm working - it was a failed experiment on so many levels. I will be the first to admit that my dogs are high maintenance. They are the sweetest funniest wackiest dogs, and I love them so much. That being said...

Harley (who is a little less work than Stella), is no longer allowed in the yard by himself until we are able to replace the entire fence, which is no easy task. He, like so many beagles, is not to be trusted if he smells something interesting at which time he becomes totally deaf and all the shrieking like a banshee that I do does no good whatsoever( and I feel like a huge asshole - nuff said.). Stella - oh Stella - who had been so much better, really and I'm not even just saying that, is a typical Weimaraner. She suffers from separation anxiety - which is why I thought that having her at home with someone she knows would be a much better situation for her. Well, not so much. I think the two dogs were just too much for the sitter. Puppy camp is a much better plan - which is where they are going this weekend. They can bark all they want, there are distractions all day what with all the other dogs there to play with and they will come home tired and freshly washed. And my house will be exactly as I left it.

On the knitting front, I finished my One Skein project for my pal, I'm sending it out - hope she likes it! Here's the whole package -

Oh, hell - Blogger is not letting me post pictures again. WTF?! Well, anyway, I'm sending her a cute little purse that I designed for her. It's Claudia's Hand Painted yarn, lined with the most fabulous purple silk. I'm also sending a bar of Russian dark chocolate, lavender soap, the New Vegetarian Epicure - referring back to a post from ever so long ago asking for recipes, this is one of my most favorite cookbooks ever, all organized according to season and occasion. Ooh, and two lil' skeins of yarn, one Twisted Sisters cotton, and one merino silk hand painted locally. Different, but coordinated - I know it's supposed to be one skein, but limits are hard for me...

I'll try to add pictures later. Fingers crossed.

After an entire summer of nothing but work work work, the last week I think I have gone more places and done more things than the entire rest of the year. Okay, maybe that's not true, but it feels like it. Last week while Z was taking a summer class at the Science Center - so cool - every day when I picked her up we went somewhere fun. Olvera Street, Chinatown - and Thursday night we went to the Dodger game! I am not really a big sports fan at all, but it was Stitch N Pitch night. There were over 500 knitters/crocheters there, which was great, and it was a really good game as well. And last night, I got to go to the Greek Theatre to see Death Cab For Cutie and Spoon with my friend who's husband unexpectedly had to go out of town last minute. I am a lucky lucky girl - and exhausted! Got home way past my bedtime. Very fun.

And now it's time for a funky scarf swap! Whee! Ready?

Let’s get the allergy part out of the way. Are you allergic to any fibers?

Allergic? No. Adverse? Yeah... eyelash yarns make me queasy. And cigarette smoke would be hard for me, too.

Do you prefer any fibers over others?

It's got to be super soft, and not itchy - merino, silk, alpaca, cashmere. I like natural fibers over synthetics, and animal over plant. I'm not big on cotton.

Thinking back to Scout’s post about what funky means to you, post an image of something that you think is funky!

I'll have to mull this one over.

Would you prefer funky yarn or a funky pattern?

Probably a funky yarn.

What are your favorite colors?

I love green, pink, purple, black... most colors really.

What is your favorite piece of art?

No favorite, there are too many to choose from and more coming all the time. I love Bill Viola, Egon Schiele, Joseph Cornell, Joseph Beuys... and lots more in all different mediums.

What colors would you never have up close to your pretty face?

Yellow. Eech. Oh, or navy blue. Or brown. Love the colors of autumn leaves, but I'd never wear them.

Would you prefer an actual scarf or a cowl?

Scarf, I think. But whatever.

When you wear a scarf do you prefer a wider/shorter scarf or a thin/long scarf?

I like really long scarves - which is funny since I'm not that tall - and I like them more medium width.

What is the climate like where you live?

Sunny Southern California? Well... but being a native I do get cold easily.

Would you prefer a functional scarf (to keep you warm) or one just to funk-up your wardrobe?

Form and fuction, baby.

What else would you like your partner to know about you?

Not sure... any questions? Just ask.

Yesterday was my parent's anniversary. Forty five years. We made a dinner party for them with 20 of their closest friends - and it's hard to limit it to that, really. But sitting there, at my mom's best friend's house (where I spent a great deal of my childhood), it struck me that the people sitting around that table are the same people who were at their wedding forty five years ago. Isn't that crazy?

hi - larious.

Z says this looks like chocolate chip skullie yarn.

And I think this one's a keeper too.

yarnstravaganza!

So having found myself up at the crack of dawn again - what else could I do? Actually there's a million things I should be doing, but oh well -

So I made the best yarn! Merino with yak and the fantastic carved skullie beads that my friend Jill gave me. Love. And also another, but I still have to photo it. These two have been in my head for so long, but I've had no time to spin them. I'm thinking Funky Scarf Swap, right?

swap, anyone?

Okay, so I just joined another swap - I have to say I love the idea of connecting with knitters in other places. Not that the local knitters aren't enough, but... anyway, it's the Funky Scarf Swap and signups are now! The code is fss2006. Should be fun - come on, you know you want to.

no rest.

Man, it has just not slowed down at all. But in two weeks we are going on vacation! I can't wait. It is my parent's 45th anniversary - crazy right? So we are (all of us, parents, brother, and the three of us) going to Kauai, hurray! Although honestly I have not been on a vacation with my parents since I was a kid, it should be a big adventure.

And here are my presents from my One Skein secret pal - now that I have finally managed to post them...

The dark blue one is her own handspun - it is super soft - and they both came in a fabulous flowery package. I love that.

How about that? Cute sock yarn and a pattern! Thanks pal!

And I did just start another pair of socks, toe up this time. I never would have thought I would like knitting socks. Turns out.

Okay, that's it for now - Z and I need to go to the fabric store, she's taking a sewing class, and they are starting on Halloween costumes today(which means that this year I am off the hook!). Some things are better learned from people who are not your mom, apparently, and sewing is the first on that list. But she just finished her second project which is the greatest pair of pajama pants. I'll have to post a picture of those. The first thing she made was a pillow, the best part of which was her fabric choice -

Hilarious. It's a rock pillow.