Recovering

Between Thomas...

Yes, he fashioned a bridge using leftover wood from the basement and 2 boxes... please ignore the sharp point. We don't have kids. But we listen to Tim Gunn. We make it work. And they loved it.

Ponies...

Of course, they are going to TAAAAAAAHget!

And Eggs...

Luckily the plastic was there else I'd have a marble-ized vinegar dyed table.

We are exhausted after a great weekend with our favorite little (and big!) people.

S Squared

First of all- what is today?

Let me spell it out for you.

M-A-R-C-H 2-6

As in, 1 week away from Easter and 1 day closer to summer. Apparently Mother Nature is having an identity crisis or has seriously pissed off Father Winter because look what we woke up to this morning:



Are you kidding me?

And yet we are supposed to be 60* and sunny tomorrow. Let's cross our fingers and hope that is true. We have some visitors on their way down from up north and I want to go to the park!



Oh and what is that you ask?

It's 2 heels! On my socks! I'm ready to start the gussets (the sides of the heel for those folks not familiar with sock anatomy) and then move on to the foot and hopefully finished by next Saturday!

and in case you didn't catch it... s squared is for socks and snow. I didn't want to leave you confused. You're welcome.

Socks

After that lovely dinner last night I did knit. But only a few rows on some socks that I started waaaay back in August. They will be done eventually. I really try to love knitting socks. I love seeing handknit socks that come into the shop and the owners beaming proudly. I love sock yarn. It's full of fun color variations and stripes and just makes me smile. And yet I have never finished a pair of socks. Sure, I knit 1 sock with my first ever skein of sock yarn that I bought on my first ever trip to Lambikins (Trekking XXL in a very loud and obnoxious colorway reminiscent of rainbows and clown suits) But I wasn't going to do another one so off to frog pond it went. It will become socks some other time. Who knows when.

For my birthday last year I received some lovely sock yarn and a 40'' long circular US2 Needle. Perfect for magic loop! Meaning I can knit both socks at the same time! No more second sock syndrome! I started them and flew through the first few repeats... then I got distracted. By sweaters and shawls and chunky yarn on size 15 needles. And they went into hibernation.

Last I saw them they looked like this:


After last night I have 1 more repeat (6 rows) on each sock and then I can start the heels! Which means it will be new and exciting again and I'll work on these babies for at least another 20 minutes till I lose interest. I'd love to be able to finish them and wear during easter. They just make me so happy. Maybe the sock knitting bug will bite me tonight and I'll think of nothing but socks till Easter when they adorn my feet and I can show them off and beam proudly like those other sock knitters I see :)

Hopefully they turn out as lovely as these:


Knit by susu12

When the husband is away...

The wife eats vegetables!

I left work today a bit chipper than I started. The sun was out. I ran into 2 lovely people at lunch (Hi Gail!) and was able to wrap up one of the big projects I was working on. All I wanted was a light and easy pasta dish, a glass of wine, and a quiet night in.

Since Mr. Buckeye eats, oh let's see, almost n0 vegetables... and certainly not chunky, "on their own" vegetables I made an impromptu Primavera. It was either that or Tuna Helper... which I enjoy quite often while the husband is away also. Some zucchini, yellow squash, tomato, broccoli, carrot, garlic, lemon, white wine, and olive oil and I had myself a lovely dinner.

But who am I kidding? This is really where I ate my dinner...

On the couch catching up on episodes of Ugly Betty!

And now I'm going to knit. Because knitting makes me happy. I'm an old soul according to Jaclyn :)

And tomorrow will be a new day.

Weather

I'm much like the weather today.

I've cried a thousand tears and am misty when I'm not crying.

It's been an emotional mess of a day.

I'm thankful that I got to see family and celebrate the life of an amazing and extraordinary young woman.

But it's too much.

I hope that tomorrow will be a little bit brighter.

My aunt wrote a wonderful 2 page letter of Adele's Story that was shared during services. I would share it all but I don't think I could get through typing it out. Maybe one day I will.

I will, however, share the end. As is it truly wonderful and too important to keep secret.

"What a wonderful journey. How she loved life. How she tried not to waste a minute of it. What a Blessing to us to have had a part in her life. May she watch over all of you and give all of us the strength to endure our sadness. I know that she is up in the heavens smiling dwn on all of us and shaking her finger to say "live". So to Adele dance among the heavens and fly baby fly. Dance into the arms of God and watch over us until we meet again. You are loved.

Adele's Mom"

Fabric? or Leather?

So if any of you are my friends on Facebook, you'll know that recently we have been looking for a couch to adorn our new basement. We fell in love with a set by Ashley, only to find out that it was huge and would work in our room, but not well. And our most favorite part- the ottoman- would definitely not fit if we wanted to walk anywhere.

So we kept hunting- and found this lovely number. It would fit the room absolutely perfect- give plenty of seating option and plenty of room to walk around the pool table and not have to ask folks to move out of the way for a rough shot by the corner pocket. Plus, the ottoman would definitely fit and give the option to kick your feet up from anywhere on the couch.

So what's the problem? Well, nothing. Excepts its leather. I've never had leather before. And I'm scared, it's new and different. I've been asking around and it seems to be a matter of preference. Some swear by leather, some swear by fabric. Doesn't seem that one is better than the other.

I've heard it is great for cleaning up spills (but so is teflon coated microfiber :) ) and it actually quite comfy. I've sat on that one. And I do like it. But I worry about being cold. Throw a blanket over myself then right? How do you accessorize a leather couch? Can you put fabric pillows and a throw on it?

It looks great and would look great in the room. Almost perfectly sized for it. And it's well within our budget.

So why can't I pull the trigger?! Help!

Convince me either way... please. And soon. We need a couch by next weekend.

(don't use the "you stick to leather when it is hot" thing because it will be in the basement- hello! it's cold down there... we are buying a space heater to keep it a comfy temp. Because I'm not a polar bear and can't sit in an ice bucket. So not too cold... I'll use a blanket like I always do anyway, and no sweating or sticking.)

Oh and in case you are wondering, this is the space we have:

(when we laid out the set we loved only to find out it was too big...)

imagine trying to fit a 50''x50'' ottoman in that middle space. YIKES!

So back to the question, leather... good idea?

1 Year Makes A Big Difference

What a difference 1 year makes.

Remembering where we were last year on St. Patrick's Day makes me feel old now.

Rather than sitting outside on a patio all day at an Irish Pub. We were responsible and worked during the day, though I did go outside for lunch and watch the folks outside at an Irish Pub near work. I was a bit jealous, I'm not gonne lie.

After our responsible selves were done with work, we didn't down pint after pint of Green Beer and Killians and shots of Irish Kisses... but what is St. Patty's without just a little bit of green beer.

Especially when it comes from your own kegarator!

Yes, I made those beers green. Thank you food coloring :)

And our night pretty much went like this:

Followed by Mr. Buckeye grilling us giant burgers the size of your face and watching House and American Idol.

Goodness we feel old, but you know what?

The change is nice and after the madness we have been through it was a welcome change.

I've got lots of pictures of the basement and updates to share but I've been too exhausted to get them up. You'll see them eventually- you can see a bit of the carpet in there and the light fixture obviously. But there is more. Trust me there is more.

Sad

I'm down in the dumps.

Maybe the lowest of lows.

I'm stressed, upset, angry, and every other emotion you could think of.

But I know it will get better.

Eventually.

Here is a beautiful article written about my cousin. My Aunt sent it to me this morning.

Please read it and say a prayer.

Thanks.

Dellie

I'm crushed. Absolutely no words.

11/26/83-3/15/10

Prayers Please

My cousin Adele had her second double lung transplant over the weekend and had complications during surgery.

The latest update from my Aunt is that she will be kept unconscious unti the next surgery later this week so that her new lungs and heart can rest and heal.

Please send prayers.

Barbie

I thought perhaps the days would get better after last week.

In fact, they haven't improved much.

Today we are heading up north to say goodbye to a great family friend. It's hard to be grateful for time spent together and laughs shared when there is so much sadness in your heart.

We've been to too many services over the past year. You would think they would get easier but they only get harder and harder. It is a painful reality that we have to say goodbye to our loved ones so soon. A hundred years would be too soon.

We will miss you Barb.

Accidents

They happen. Of course they do. But you never want to see them happen to you.

I was in my first accident involving another car yesterday. Luckily it was a little rear ender fender bender scratcher at a stoplight. Fortunately no one was hurt (See? Seatbelts are very important!). Unfortunately I was the car in back.

There is nothing more heart stopping than looking up when you hit your accelerator only to realize that the car in front of you didn't. Luckily I was able to hit my brakes but not in enough time. Somehow my car ended up in neutral? Maybe I hit it when I grabbed the wheel? Who knows.

2 officers came to the "scene" (oooh I feel like CSI) and were very helpful. (this being my first accident and all- I was freaked out! sweaty palms and all) Paperwork was exchanged, report was filed and we were on our way.

Luckily I have insurance. And so did she. I feel so terrible for yesterday but like everyone has told me. Accidents happen. That's why we have insurance. For those times just in case.

I don't know if Friday will be a better day than Thursday (I'm hoping so) but I do know that I kept a serious 2 car distance between all cars and myself this morning.

Fog

I'm tired.

I have a headache.

And nothing to write about today.

But carpet gets installed tomorrow!

Extreme Home Makeover

We started out like this:



Which developed into this:



That progressed to this:



Which evolved to this:



And emerged like this:

I don't think it could have been a closer match if he tried 100 times.

Do you?

Stain!

It's that time. I am so excited I can hardly stand it.

I came home from work yesterday to choose from the following:



That nice hunk of wood back there is the pool table leg. That luscious yummy black cherry stain? Yeah, we get to try and match it. But it looks like we will be pretty darn close seeing those options above! (We are going with the little pice of wood sitting on top of the leg- it's a 2-1 mix of a cherry mahogany and an almost black stain. I didn't know my father in law was a mixologist!)

The bar will look totally different when I get home and I am not even sure I can wait that long!

Let the work resume

Productive weekend for us at the Buckeye House. The last piece to the basement puzzle has been selected. Yes, my friends, we have purchased the carpet. Who knew it would be so difficult! I've learned so much more than I ever wanted to know about carpet over the last 2 days.

We went with a frieze (shag) in nylon. It's quite interesting up close as it has twists of golden brown, deep chocolate, beige, slate gray, and some others but from far away it's totally neutral and looks great with the tile. We got a great deal and even better- it is in stock and will be installed on Friday! Which means the pool table can then be installed and we will be ready to move the tv and get a couch!

P's dad is headed back down here to Cincy to wrap up the painting and stain the bar. It'll be a busy week but it will fly by I'm sure. I mean heck, the pool table people showed up on Saturday already trying to deliver the pool table. Luckily we weren't home anyway but hello! Wouldn't you call to confirm and give a time??? We had tentatively said March 6/March 13 for delivery but we hadn't confirmed since we didn't know the finished date for the carpet. Not sure where the miscommunication was there. But all will be well this weekend.

Unfortunately I couldn't stay awake last night for the Oscars but I was inches away from tearing my eyes out seeing Miley Cyrus walk around like a hunchback. Homegirl either doesn't know how to stand up straight or if she did, her dress would fall off.

Loved watching all the Red Carpet coverage though. The wheels are spinning for me now as I try to figure out how I'm doing my hair for KT's wedding... in July. I need time to decide. I'm very indecisive... don't you know that by now?

Jeans Day!

It is amazing what allowing your employees to wear jeans on a Friday will do to morale. Sure we are all bummed about having to take 2 weeks of furlough this year and everyone is on edge worrying about when we will bounce up from the recession, but send an email at 2:00pm announcing jeans day for Friday and everyone will be happy. At least for a day.

My presentation went extremely well yesterday. I'm terribly proud and excited and yet nervous because I may end up presenting to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team. That's huge! I am so grateful for having a boss that wants to get me exposure with upper levels of leadership.

The Mr. comes home tonight after being gone all week in NYC. All I can say is it's about time. But I'll have to get used to the travel because he will be travelling approx 4 of the next 8 weeks. But the light at the end of the tunnel is vacation. And it can't come soon enough.

As promised yesterday, here is the hat:



It needs a serious blocking to even out the stitches and get it to act like a tam and not a Snooki Poof.

We on the hunt for carpet. Ma and I found a couple last night but I am determined to have something ordered this weekend so we can plan for installation and get this party started!

I've also started another mini project for someone and it's moving along quite quickly. About 1/2 the way done and I only worked on it yesterday. But I'll share later once it's complete.

Happy Friday Ya'll! Hope you are wearing jeans too!

Yikes!

I'm super busy today.

I did finish my hat last night though. It will look fabulous after a serious blocking.

Update later :)

Randomness

I had a doughnut for breakfast this morning.

And some Green Tea with Mandarin Orange (Lipton- it rocks, go try some!)

Couldn't sleep last night. I'm wired this morning.

Not sure if it was the 3 individual rows of knitting on my hat that I completely fudged up separately and had to redo every time I got a new row done. Or maybe it was the Skyline Chili I made last night. I made the mistake of not using a spoon to scoop the onions I had cut. I swear, I can still smell them even after washing my hands 15 times and a shower. Hopefully it's just in my mind.

I have a presentation tomorrow. I'm sure I'll be fine. But its not every day that you present to an Executive Leadership Member so I'm a little nervous.

I hope the sugar rush from the doughnut lasts till lunchtime. Then I can go refuel so I don't pass out.

It's supposed to be awful nice later this week. I'm hoping to start running again. Oh wait, I didn't tell you about that. I started running 3 weeks ago. And wouldn't you know I got injured. Pes Anserine Bursitis in my right leg. Let me just tell you that I was hours from cutting my leg off it hurt so bad. But luckily 14 days later I'm diagnosed, medicated, stretched and better and just itching to get outside and run again. Let's just hope the motivation is still there. I've got a wedding to go to in April and LA/Vegas in May and there is no way in hell this hot mess is wearing anything short of long sleeves and pants if I don't get my hiney off the couch and hit the pavement these next 5 weeks.

Happy Hump Day.

Edit: Okay so I lied. I have now had 2 doughnuts. I went to the printer and saw this little gem in the box looking all cute and lovely. It reminded me of Homer Simpson and made me laugh. But that's all I remember because then I blacked out and ended up back at my desk and wouldn't you know it followed me there.



So I ate it too.

Maybe I'll have to start running tonight...

(oh oh oh oh), oh what a feeling

When we're dancing on the ceiling!

As promised, here are the fabulous photos of our (almost) finished basement! With ceiling! and Lights! We've got 4 different sets of lights and some have dimmers. oooh fancy :)




I'm so glad we went with the 4 panel ceiling tiles. Doesn't feel like an office at all!

Sadly there was just no space for the urinal (as I do a little happy dance) But the Mr. is too distracted by the bar and keg to really notice.

Work will resume Monday- a week long vacation is long enough!

Hoping to pick carpet this week/early next week and have it installed late next week. Then pool table delivery in 2 weekends??? Then comes the furniture. We are in a battle over getting a new TV. I still say no. But I do get distracted by large Plasma/LCD/LED screens showing trashy reality tv so I very well may be in a losing battle here. Just don't tell him that.

And to close the Olympics- I give you my finished Olympic Project:

2 weeks from start to finish. (with quite a few non-knitting dust filled days in between)

Gretel Hat

Burberry Inspired Cowl

both in Malabrigo Pearl- I just love them all and would recommend to everyone!

I've recently learned that there are actually more of you out there reading than I thought-

Hi Ahna! Hi Kathy! Hi Everyone else!

Let me know what you think of the progress- basement and knitting related!

Stones and Buttons

Now that the Olympics is over I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself. I've spent hours upon hours soaking up as much awesome curling action as I could there last 2 weeks.

Curling. Such an underrated but awesome winter sport. Potentially my favorite Olympic sport to watch. Sure, it's not dangerous like Aerial Jumping or Ski Cross (did you see that? Poles! and Sticks! Everywhere!) but I get fixated and am absolutely riveted while it is on the tube.

I hear there is a curling facility in Miami. I very well need to go check it out. I'm sure I'd be one to fall and break my leg while out on the ice but I really really just want to sweep the bejeebus out of the ice and get that stone to curl ever so slightly and hit the button on the nose.

I miss Curling already.

Though the Karate Kid marathon certainly helped me miss it a little bit less yesterday.

OH! I almost forgot. I completed my Olympic Knitting project both parts 1 and 2! And I love them and wore them all day yesterday while at the shop workinig on my quilt squares. GAH! I almost forgot about those. I'll have to play papparrazzi this week and get ya'll updated on everything.

It'll help fill the time since the basement is on hold this week since Mr. is out of town.

Happy? Monday.

EDIT: Totally random but Casey from Moosh in Indy just informed me that there in fact a Curling CLUB! in Indy!