Frogged...

My lovely sweater has been frogged (because you rip it... rip it... rip out the stitches)...
It used to look like this:

It now looks like this:

Jason Helped... Black seal rum helped too...

Our TV, it is huge...

SO maybe most people are graced with large screen TVs but this TV is the largest I have ever had in my life... this is why I have a tech-ready husband :D (details concerning the TV are at the end of the post)

Oh, and Scimi approves of Jason's new socks

Our new TV is a Samsung LN40C630. 40" LCD screen with 1080p resolution (1920x1080). Full array of inputs (HDMI, Composite, etc), as well as a network connection for streaming media over a LAN. Lots of settings and features, so that it can be tweaked to perfection. The built-in speakers are quite good (for a TV). Total weight with the stand is 38lbs.  Currently, we're running it using my new laptop (which I suppose I should probably blog about in more detail at some point) via HDMI.  Streaming Netflix movies look surprisingly good, DVD's are great, and HD shows playing from the computer are amazing.  Perhaps one day we'll get a Blu-ray player...  but not right now.

Awesome belated birthday present

Look what my Mommy bought me for my birthday! Isn't it awesome, I feel all growed up now!

It is a Brother CS-6000i and I am in love, it is so cool! I have already threaded a bobbin, set up the various stitches, and replaced the presser foot.
The cats think this new machine is as strange as the printer!
I wish I had thought ahead and bought little squares of fabric to practice with.
I wish I had bought better spools of thread.
This is my work station... note glass of beer, tiny cactus, open manual, and huge tray of threads (on craptastic spools I might add!)

I cut up a pair of Jeans (I know mother... worst fabric ever but it was the only piece of clothing that was already torn up!) and tried out a few stitches and even worked on turning corners, making arcs and doing a little embroidery... i still have yet to figure out the funky button-holer-thingy but hey, I can't get it all in the first night :)

Things I love about this sewing machine that I have not noticed on other sewing machines:
1) No threading the needle! There is a funky little gizmo that threads it for you!
2) While there are manual controls for everything, there are a few nice little buttons that do the everyday things for you (e.g. raising, inserting needle, winding the bobbin, and an auto needle up/down function.
3) There is a secret little compartment! (OK probably every machine has this but I think it's freekin' sweet!)
4) It goes through denim pretty easily.
5) the button holder (which does many different types of buttons actually holds the button you want to make the button hole for to make sure it is the right size :D

Thank you bunches mum, I love it, I can't wait for the long weekend to play with it more!

Everyone, expect mini pillows for Christmas!

Best Short Weekend Ever!

Santa Ynez Wineries Annual Picnic at Bridlewood!

My New Tank top!

Our lovely hotel!

Socks in the desert

Anyone know where I am knitting... Bill (Dad) and Jason know but does anyone else?

Things I have been knitting...

So yeah, we suck at keeping up with the blog.
I am currently working on a knitting project which is very close to my heart, when I was little my dad used to take us to see Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and I've always had a fondness for amusing plays and musicals. So this month my sock club came around with a truely awesome sock... it is modeled on a song from G&S's Iolanthe.

The design is modeled after the Lord Chancellor's robes (black and gold) and aspects of the design refers to the song that he sings about his nightmare... with of course a knitterly pun... clocks on socks (like fox on box) are the little cables that run down the side of the ankle but in this design the little cables are actually clocks!
So I finished one sock this weekend while watching the Stratford festival recordings of Iolanthe, HMS Pinafore and of course the Pirates of Penzance!

Oh I've also been knitting some other things...

Been so long....

Well, it's been nearly a month since the last post to Flamie Stuff.  It's not because it has been a boring month; in fact, it has been a very busy and exciting month.  When I returned from Vancouver with my work visa, most of the anxiety was relieved, but a lot of hassle and setup still needed to happen.  I'll save you the boring details, but I'm finally setup with payroll, have received my first payment, am setup for medical/dental benefits, and am working full-time.

On April 6, Dad Martindale came and visited.  We had a fantastic time with him and enjoyed an amazing time in Death Valley (I'll post separately about that... soon... I promise :P ).

My laptop started to flake out on me, so I've ordered and received a new laptop.  I went all-out on this one and so far I'm very happy with it.  For those that care, it's a Dell Studio XPS 16 (1645 to be more precise), Intel core i7-720QM, ATi Radeon Mobility 4670, 4 GB ram, 500 GB HDD, 1920x1080 WLED Screen.  Zoom zoom!

Rowan's been super busy with her Ph.D.; working hard, going to conferences, TA'ing, and doing the stuff that graduate students do!  She's also been a knitting manic and finished approximately a million projects ;)  I'm sure she'll post about that eventually.

Anyways, that's the end of my government mandated 15-minute break, so back to work for me.  Love you all!