STILL ALIVE!!! (KNITTING WITHOUT DOG HAIR IS NOT AN OPTION)

STILL ALIVE!!!

Hey there - I am still around. Somehow this week went by with lots of craziness. I am totally exhausted and I need to slow down. But here is my dilemma. I wonder what happens when I slow down... I think, I have just been going, going, going because I fear I'll fall in a big hole. And then I would have too much time on my hands to start thinking… So, I have been out every evening this week. This has to stop for now. I am very tired and exhausted. And all the emotions on the side are very confusing. I feel like - please stop, let me wake up from this nightmare and can I please have my live back like it was in April? Shit - where is the tissue box when you need it?

And while I am out, I miss the dogs and I feel guilty because the puppies need some TLC from their mommy, too. And they are so giving all the time. The best pooches ever - I don't know how people cannot not have a dog... I have no plans for next week and I want to keep quiet and do stuff around the house.

So, I just realized... You haven't heard from me since I went to IKEA last Saturday. Shame on the lazy blogger. I talked to my SIL in Vermont yesterday. She rides the bus to work and she told me that some of her fellow bus passengers read my blog - YAY FOR THAT - and they have been asking about me because I haven't blogged in a while. I am sending a big WAVE up north! I'll be visiting my SIL and BIL in September. Maybe I'll get to meet some of you. :-)

But back to the trip to IKEA. I went with my friend Mary. Mary is the best shopper ever. It turns out she is an interior designer at heart and I am the lucky chick that got a beautiful new bedroom thanks to Mary's ideas. I was actually prepared for IKEA and I had the bedroom measurements with a drawing and a list of things that I want to buy.

We went to look around first and then we had to get some lunch to fortify ourselves for the purchasing part of the trip.

We just had to eat the Swedish meatballs at the IKEA cafeteria. I guess it shows that I am pretty exhausted on that picture… Geez, I need some downtime.

I usually don't eat mammals. But I make an exception for those meatballs. They come with some heavenly crème sauce, mashed potatoes and Lingonsylt which is a lingonberry preserve. You should try it… I am serious. I bought a bag of those meatballs for my freezer, plus the sauce and two jars of the preserve. And I discovered a bread mix there. It is fabulous. You just add water. It is full of grains and tastes like bread from Germany. You let the water with the mix sit for 45 min and bake it for 60 min. Very wonderful.

Yup, those two shopping carts are full of my new stuff…

So, after IKEA, Mary and I went to H&M which is my all-time favorite yarn store from Europe. And then we went to dinner. By the time I got home, it was around 9pm. And I was very determined to assemble my new furniture. Mary was very concerned about me getting the heavy boxes into the house. But no worries there. The smart man Irwin was - we have a hand truck for these occasions. See?

Within a few minutes everything was aside. What can I tell you - it took half a bottle of white wine and until 3am on Sunday morning and I was done and fell into bed. And this the outcome of screwing around for 6 hours… ;-)

New bedside tables, lamps and rugs

New shelves for knitting, spinning, etc.

New coffee tables

Hermione approves of the new rugs while Mr. Noah takes a nap though all the commotion…

Sunday I had dinner guests - sorry no pix. The summer interns from my office, my coworker Jenny and my very dear friend Amanda were over for pasta, salad and dessert. I love having people over and cook up a storm. And three young men can eat. Very rewarding for the cook, ;-)

The rest of the week I was super-busy. On Monday I put the finishing touches on the bedroom and I sorted through my clothes. I packed 4 large moving boxes (24x18x18 - they were really large and heavy) for a women's shelter the Atlanta Knitting Guild works with.

I separated the shelves and my spinning wheel will get a permanent spot in front of the chair.

New curtains - yes, I did this all myself. I know how to use manly tools like a screwdriver etc. I also found the perfect spot for Brett's wonderful lace shawl.

Mom - are you ever gonna stop rearranging all this new stuff???

This was a lot of fun. Now that my closets are getting emptier and the new shelves are up, I can move all the fiber into the bedroom and the guest room will be a real guest room and not a room that went through a fiber war with yarn and roving laying around all over the place.

So, what else did I do this week? On Tuesday I met two friends for dinner to plan a trip to Amelia Island in Florida in a couple of weeks.

Wednesday morning I went to the probate to drop off some more paperwork for the judge to finalize the letter of testamentary which will make me the executor of Irwin's estate. All this take quite a bit of time and is getting on my nerves… In the evening Jenny and I were invited to dinner to one of our coworkers who just had a baby boy at the end of June. Jenny and I held the little baby most of the evening. We almost fought - no, not really. But tiny babies are just so precious… And I knitted some more on the baby blanket for the little man. This time we also took pictures. But they are on Jenny's camera and I have to get them from her.

Last night I went to the Atlanta Knitting Guild meeting. I gave all the boxes with the clothes and a microwave that was just sitting in the basement to Diana who is the contact for the women's shelter.

AND - ALL YOU SOUTHERN KNITTERS - GET THIS!!!

We got some great news at the meeting. Save the date - APRIL 23-26, 2009! There will be a STITCHES SOUTH in Atlanta! I am not kidding. It is not on their website yet, but none of the 2009 events are.

THIS IS FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!

I always wanted to go STITCHES but never made it to the Midwest or California. So, now I can stay home and go to the Cobb Galleria Convention Center 5 days in a row.

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!

I guess you figured out by now that I am really excited about this.

And then I have more exciting news. My attorney called me yesterday to tell me that the judge signed the documents for me and I can pick them up this morning. I'll be off to the probate court in a little bit. Wish me luck!

I am planning to be a Knitch tonight and on Sunday afternoon. See you there maybe?

Have a great weekend!

PS: Can I just say that it too me twice as long to post this entry because Ms. Hermione wanted me to throw the ball for her the whole I was sitting in my home office... at 6:00 in the morning... she had to be an energy bunny in a previous life...

Posted by Claudia on August 8, 2008 6:16 AM | Permalink

Comments (38)

Knit Witch:

Wow! The bedroom looks great! Congrats! Oh, and that is great news about Stitches South!!! YAY!

Posted by Knit Witch | August 8, 2008 9:09 AM

Posted on August 8, 2008 09:09

pixie:

whoah stitches south?? WAHOO!!

Posted by pixie | August 8, 2008 9:12 AM

Posted on August 8, 2008 09:12

Michele:

I was just about to email you to see if you are OK! Thanks for the wonderful post. Congrats on the beautiful new furniture. I think maybe Irwin must have smiled to see you use that hand truck...

Hugs,
Michele

Posted by Michele | August 8, 2008 8:43 PM

Posted on August 8, 2008 20:43

Brighton:

So glad that you are getting your space organized and decorated. (If you read my blog you know how important that is to me!) Slow down, I'm sure there are so many supportive friends to catch you should you fall. *hugs*

Posted by Brighton | August 9, 2008 8:33 AM

Posted on August 9, 2008 08:33

Caroline:

When I was in college forty million years ago, I had a friend from Denmark, and she had an Ikea catalog for some reason. I remember oohing over the stuff. It still looks "awwwww worthy."

I just happened on your blog shortly after Irwin died, and almost felt like I was invading your privacy to comment. Besides, what's there to say to a stranger who has had such a sudden and huge loss. I guess, just that I wish you well.

Posted by Caroline | August 10, 2008 12:54 AM

Posted on August 10, 2008 00:54

Stuart:

I love the shelving for the craft room! I am reminded by your post that I haven't blogged in way too long myself...

Get some rest, my dear. Dream of Stitches South and furniture that screw itself together!

Stuart

Posted by Stuart | August 10, 2008 8:22 AM

Posted on August 10, 2008 08:22

Joanne:

See you in Atlanta in April. I can't resist a visit to the new Stitches... and of course, I'll have to come back to Knitch, too.

Isn't IKEA wonderful?

Joanne
Highlands Ranch, CO

Posted by Joanne | August 10, 2008 9:20 PM

Posted on August 10, 2008 21:20

Amanda's mom:

We haven't met, but I feel like I know you through Amanda. First I want to tell you how sorry I am about the loss of your hubby. I have followed your blog and must say that you have handled yourself with such grace and courage, and I so appreciate the love and support you are in turn showing Amanda through her current difficult situation. She is so fortunate to have so many friends who obviously care about her! I hope to meet you sometime, perhaps on one of the "knitting outings" (although I am just a beginner -- but trying hard!). Take care.

Posted by Amanda's mom | August 12, 2008 12:45 PM

Posted on August 12, 2008 12:45

;) Nicole:

You wrote H&M was a yarn store. I clicked your link and checked out the clothes. I went to he Mall of GA and there were people handing out H&M magazines, notebooks,pens, and free playing card decks. They are opening a store at the mall in October.

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