tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76340090560706378932024-03-14T02:43:20.181-07:00Bella CraftsThe musings of a woman with big balls...of yarn.Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-3440146136065839442009-08-28T10:45:00.000-07:002009-08-28T11:05:48.429-07:00Finished!So, I've been a bit quiet. Mea Culpa. Things have been rather hectic around here, but I'm hoping to get all updated.<br /><br />I have a bunch of projects on my needles, have snagged some more fabulous fibers and stitch markers, and I doubt I'll ever get the opportunity to share them all with you. LOL.<br /><br />However, I did just finish a hat and I want to introduce you to the Bubba hat:<br /><pic><br /></pic><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgaVgNQ28I/AAAAAAAAAXw/nZ6G8oYtij0/s1600-h/DSC05011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgaVgNQ28I/AAAAAAAAAXw/nZ6G8oYtij0/s320/DSC05011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375075111991827394" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgaVNUClfI/AAAAAAAAAXo/TDFBgwtg3TQ/s1600-h/DSC05010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgaVNUClfI/AAAAAAAAAXo/TDFBgwtg3TQ/s320/DSC05010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375075106919978482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Bubba Hat ... in action<br /></span></span></div><pic><br />It was crafted from this fabulous yarn I snagged over at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5351143">Gherkin's Bucket on Etsy</a>. It's creamy, soft, luscious and just sparkly enough to keep me happy without sending me into a glitter-coma. The pattern is <a href="http://handmaiden.ca/blog/2005/12/in_time_for_christmas#more">Handmaiden's In An Evening Toque hat, found on Ravelry.</a><br /><br />Here are the yarn skeins I got:<br /><br /></pic><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgZluWh2XI/AAAAAAAAAXA/mKsQ83zo3-o/s1600-h/DSC04998.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgZluWh2XI/AAAAAAAAAXA/mKsQ83zo3-o/s320/DSC04998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375074291155065202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Bubba - Superwash Merino/Silk/Nylon Sparkle/Faux Cashmere blend; bulky, 90yds<br /></span></span></div><pic><bubba pic=""><br /></bubba></pic><div style="text-align: center;"><pic><bubba pic=""><quinn pic=""></quinn></bubba></pic><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgZmC00wvI/AAAAAAAAAXI/QFE-RJMtKkA/s1600-h/DSC04999.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgZmC00wvI/AAAAAAAAAXI/QFE-RJMtKkA/s320/DSC04999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375074296650842866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Quinn - 80/20 Superwash Merino/Silk blend</span><span style="font-style: italic;">; worsted, 202yds</span></span><br /></div><pic><bubba pic=""><quinn pic=""><br />The colorways are from the Vamp Camp Collection and are based on characters from the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Yes, I am a fan. I couldn't resist and the price was SO reasonable it made it a certainty that they'd be mine:)<br /><br />I also picked up some stitch markers from the lovely <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=71884">soccerchic21 over on Etsy</a> as well. Again, with the True Blood series (and trust me, there are more I'm waiting on because I went on a mini shopping spree as it had been ages since I'd gotten yarns to fondle!)<br /><br /></quinn></bubba></pic><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgZneUESzI/AAAAAAAAAXY/-aLdxgaG6eo/s1600-h/DSC05004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgZneUESzI/AAAAAAAAAXY/-aLdxgaG6eo/s320/DSC05004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375074321209510706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Eric Northman markers</span></span><br /></div><pic><bubba pic=""><quinn pic=""><sam markers="" pic=""><br /></sam></quinn></bubba></pic><div style="text-align: center;"><pic><bubba pic=""><quinn pic=""><sam markers="" pic=""><pam markers="" pic=""></pam></sam></quinn></bubba></pic><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgZoOE_FdI/AAAAAAAAAXg/A1HsyXitmjA/s1600-h/DSC05005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgZoOE_FdI/AAAAAAAAAXg/A1HsyXitmjA/s320/DSC05005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375074334031156690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pam markers</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgZm-kb_cI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/J2bdKXrYDt4/s1600-h/DSC05006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SpgZm-kb_cI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/J2bdKXrYDt4/s320/DSC05006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375074312688238018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sam Merlotte markers</span></span><br /></div><pic><bubba pic=""><quinn pic=""><sam markers="" pic=""><pam markers="" pic=""><eric markers="" pic=""><br />I have a few more projects on the needles right now and hopefully, when finished, I'll share them!<br /><br />XOXO,<br />Bella<br /></eric></pam></sam></quinn></bubba></pic>Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-65856970390790664642009-07-09T21:48:00.000-07:002009-07-09T21:50:11.952-07:00Where on Earth have you been, woman?I'm here. I promise I haven't gone anywhere.<div><br /></div><div>I've been on hiatus, working on several projects, some craft related, some not so much.</div><div><br /></div><div>But just so you know...I haven't abandoned ship:)</div><div><br /></div><div>XOXO<br />Bella</div>Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-11245108001508452222009-05-18T10:06:00.000-07:002009-05-18T11:36:34.587-07:00The Daily Dude!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/ShGmUlw9i_I/AAAAAAAAAEo/fsPZbLPHerU/s1600-h/DSC03553.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/ShGmUlw9i_I/AAAAAAAAAEo/fsPZbLPHerU/s320/DSC03553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337229906075814898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dude meets fried rice.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/ShGmUY0Z1GI/AAAAAAAAAEg/ihezYr73PII/s1600-h/DSC03552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/ShGmUY0Z1GI/AAAAAAAAAEg/ihezYr73PII/s320/DSC03552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337229902600590434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Fried rice is, to the Dude, very nommy!<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/ShGmUBf-JEI/AAAAAAAAAEY/Iva_WRWhmTY/s1600-h/DSC03551.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/ShGmUBf-JEI/AAAAAAAAAEY/Iva_WRWhmTY/s320/DSC03551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337229896340874306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">No really, it is now his new favorite snack.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/ShGmT2j8oKI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/9kD3XnWJ9uQ/s1600-h/DSC03550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/ShGmT2j8oKI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/9kD3XnWJ9uQ/s320/DSC03550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337229893404762274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">And he's finally comfortable being in my hands, too.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/ShGmTgbeawI/AAAAAAAAAEI/prIDZo41y0E/s1600-h/DSC03549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/ShGmTgbeawI/AAAAAAAAAEI/prIDZo41y0E/s320/DSC03549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337229887463648002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pretty Dude.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;">XOXO<br />Bella<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div></div>Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-74114931888555833592009-05-11T06:36:00.000-07:002009-05-11T07:12:25.572-07:00The Daily Dude! (The Peen Hut Edition)<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SggrcBJMT5I/AAAAAAAAAV4/kk0_P3xJAhE/s1600-h/DSC03491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SggrcBJMT5I/AAAAAAAAAV4/kk0_P3xJAhE/s320/DSC03491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334561518963675026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Today's presentation: Dude's Peen Hut arrives!<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggr5jSSa0I/AAAAAAAAAWw/I-Sq6g7cDS0/s1600-h/DSC03506.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggr5jSSa0I/AAAAAAAAAWw/I-Sq6g7cDS0/s320/DSC03506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334562026344835906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Oh lordy. No she didn't! *hides face*</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggrcd3O_aI/AAAAAAAAAWA/EuvYBlHPojw/s1600-h/DSC03492.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggrcd3O_aI/AAAAAAAAAWA/EuvYBlHPojw/s320/DSC03492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334561526672981410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggrcm-TmPI/AAAAAAAAAWI/3VAFkVsI0EA/s1600-h/DSC03493.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggrcm-TmPI/AAAAAAAAAWI/3VAFkVsI0EA/s320/DSC03493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334561529118562546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Out of the box, it's more peen-like than previously suspected.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggr5LEDHXI/AAAAAAAAAWo/ij8fnWivv_E/s1600-h/DSC03505.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggr5LEDHXI/AAAAAAAAAWo/ij8fnWivv_E/s320/DSC03505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334562019842661746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Dude is concerned. And rightly so.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggrbye6LKI/AAAAAAAAAVw/qoHt35TXl9o/s1600-h/DSC03489.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggrbye6LKI/AAAAAAAAAVw/qoHt35TXl9o/s320/DSC03489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334561515028229282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Out with the old, in with the new. New bedding all purply and lavender scented!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggr6F7t7TI/AAAAAAAAAW4/vtikfUr2rQI/s1600-h/DSC03510.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggr6F7t7TI/AAAAAAAAAW4/vtikfUr2rQI/s320/DSC03510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334562035645410610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The carrot enticement works...momentarily.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggr489pTnI/AAAAAAAAAWg/kciVCDc_spo/s1600-h/DSC03502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggr489pTnI/AAAAAAAAAWg/kciVCDc_spo/s320/DSC03502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334562016057708146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">But more incentive is required.</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Especially with the sheer amount of humiliation involved.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggr4oBpNGI/AAAAAAAAAWY/nEpAG63qRQc/s1600-h/DSC03498.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggr4oBpNGI/AAAAAAAAAWY/nEpAG63qRQc/s320/DSC03498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334562010437334114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Le Bon Croissant does the trick, nicely!</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggrc7CQ10I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ip6V24Vcogo/s1600-h/DSC03497.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sggrc7CQ10I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ip6V24Vcogo/s320/DSC03497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334561534503868226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mission accomplished! Peen hut integration complete.</span></span><br /></div><br /><br />XOXO<br />BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-316497953213657132009-05-05T06:02:00.000-07:002009-05-05T06:08:43.928-07:00The Daily Dude!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SgA5j_4dYlI/AAAAAAAAAVo/faJsCRt4Hcg/s1600-h/DSC03480.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SgA5j_4dYlI/AAAAAAAAAVo/faJsCRt4Hcg/s320/DSC03480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332325249413112402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dude on his slide. Note the puffy cheeks.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SgA5jg3QZAI/AAAAAAAAAVg/aNHW-W9puxQ/s1600-h/DSC03457.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SgA5jg3QZAI/AAAAAAAAAVg/aNHW-W9puxQ/s320/DSC03457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332325241086567426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">He looks like such the little porker!</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">But really, he's just stuffing his face to move his food stash from the slide to his log.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SgA5jbzVL2I/AAAAAAAAAVY/Pmr5QN_E7g8/s1600-h/DSC03435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SgA5jbzVL2I/AAAAAAAAAVY/Pmr5QN_E7g8/s320/DSC03435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332325239727927138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">See? Piggy!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not posting pics every day because, well, I don't want to bore you with the utter cuteness of the Dude as he goes about his hamsterly business. Suffice it to say: He's always adorable.<br /><br />XOXO<br />~Bella<br /></div></div>Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-31421412284932417612009-04-30T03:20:00.000-07:002009-04-30T03:31:10.209-07:00The Daily Dude!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sfl8o2nWV1I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/zF1UvpWOXuY/s1600-h/DSC03411.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sfl8o2nWV1I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/zF1UvpWOXuY/s320/DSC03411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330428675266860882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Whatchoo looking at?<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sfl8oj58IpI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Yd3W5UxF3Cg/s1600-h/DSC03345.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sfl8oj58IpI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Yd3W5UxF3Cg/s320/DSC03345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330428670244561554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Handsome boy!</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sfl8oTw8Q_I/AAAAAAAAAVA/XIMeBvCMd-s/s1600-h/DSC03344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sfl8oTw8Q_I/AAAAAAAAAVA/XIMeBvCMd-s/s320/DSC03344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330428665911854066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Dude is glum.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sfl8oLVHQbI/AAAAAAAAAU4/kjCW5FXfMQg/s1600-h/DSC03343.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sfl8oLVHQbI/AAAAAAAAAU4/kjCW5FXfMQg/s320/DSC03343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330428663647650226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This is the face I came to work to find staring at me. He wants out of the cage to play, but I wouldn't let him at that moment. Pouting Dude.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sfl8n52lQhI/AAAAAAAAAUw/HFErF-2uZWc/s1600-h/DSC03365.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sfl8n52lQhI/AAAAAAAAAUw/HFErF-2uZWc/s320/DSC03365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330428658956190226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >He even tried to "come hither" look me into letting him out. It worked. *laughs* I'm such a pushover!</span><br /></div><br />XOXO<br />~BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-18515229772206851512009-04-28T00:04:00.000-07:002009-04-28T01:12:53.477-07:00The Dude Continues to Abide.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfarD3s9nbI/AAAAAAAAAUg/Arou6wBhlDA/s1600-h/DSC03268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfarD3s9nbI/AAAAAAAAAUg/Arou6wBhlDA/s320/DSC03268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329635292020055474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">There's a hole in my yard.</span></span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfarDmgIoQI/AAAAAAAAAUY/ob4mN4sU9JY/s1600-h/DSC03267.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfarDmgIoQI/AAAAAAAAAUY/ob4mN4sU9JY/s320/DSC03267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329635287402848514" border="0" /></a>I forgot to mention that the city is doing some sort of road work out in front of the house, and apparently, our lawn became a casualty. I woke up from a dead sleep thinking that someone was about to drive a wrecking ball through the living room, only to discover that they had dug a deep trench in the front yard (INTO THE YARD) into which they were going to put a fire hydrant. The most amusing part about the situation (aside from not even knowing they were planning on doing this) was waking up to look outside and see a man's head floating in my lawn....with a cigarette hanging from his lips. The irony is palpable.<br /><br />And because I feel the need to inflict more Dude upon you all, the daily Dude-dose:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfarCyH0LCI/AAAAAAAAAUI/XSufDDfeeSo/s1600-h/DSC03296.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfarCyH0LCI/AAAAAAAAAUI/XSufDDfeeSo/s320/DSC03296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329635273342200866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dude meets Carrot. Dude apparently loves carrots, like whoa, and will wake from a dead sleep just to partake of one.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfarDBzvNLI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/HF6yMyXumok/s1600-h/DSC03328.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfarDBzvNLI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/HF6yMyXumok/s320/DSC03328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329635277552956594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dude is not so impressed with raspberries. Whoever put it in the hammie-wiki is fired.<br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">That's all for now;)<br /><br />XOXO<br />~Bella<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div>Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-30034217195757922982009-04-27T03:44:00.000-07:002009-04-27T04:22:58.923-07:00Meet Dude.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfWM554EMEI/AAAAAAAAAT4/zU_ms2hk9To/s1600-h/DSC03279.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfWM554EMEI/AAAAAAAAAT4/zU_ms2hk9To/s320/DSC03279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329320660479258690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Dude abides in his twisty slide.</span></span><br /></div><br />Meet Dude.<br /><br />He is my black bear hamster.<br /><br />Yes, I am aware we have 5 cats.<br /><br />Dude is in my office, away from all felines, on the bookshelf near me so I can enjoy his company while working late. There is no risk of any feline getting in here without strict supervision from me.<br /><br />Dude has a nice big purple and green cage with a wheel in a tower that he absolutely adores. I know this because he's been running in it for the last 6 hours.<br /><br />Dude...is made of awesome.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfWM6C597AI/AAAAAAAAAUA/oWcdCY7Sd1U/s1600-h/DSC03274.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SfWM6C597AI/AAAAAAAAAUA/oWcdCY7Sd1U/s320/DSC03274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329320662903155714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Dude shows the Monkey what he thinks of her camera.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />My Dragon was sweet enough to let me finally have Dude because I've always wanted a hamster. So now, I have one to keep me company on the long nights that I'm up taking calls. I can't wait until he's tamed:)<br /><br />In other news, we went to the most AMAZING brunch this afternoon. Portage Bay Cafe, for those of you in Seattle, is an organic, fresh, faboo restaurant down off of Roosevelt. I had an amazing Rancher's breakfast with the most delightfully fluffy over-easy eggs, super crispy bacon, tasty chicken/basil sausage, oven roasted potatoes, and THE best challah bread French Toast ever. Dragon had this scrumptious cinnamon french toast with maple syrup and fresh whipped cream.<br /><br />OMG! So good. So worth the 30m we had to wait for a table. So worth the pricetag. If you live here, and you haven't been? Get yer butts out there and enjoy the organic tastiness that is PBC.<br /><br />Kratos and Mumbles celebrated their 2nd birthday on the 22nd, although we didn't celebrate it officially until last night. I can't believe that 2 years ago I was helping their momma bring them into this world on my living room floor. My big boys. See how they've grown?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/SfWReiNRLLI/AAAAAAAAAEA/rRM_iCLynoQ/s1600-h/kittensMay2007070.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/SfWReiNRLLI/AAAAAAAAAEA/rRM_iCLynoQ/s320/kittensMay2007070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329325687827410098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">From left, Kratos, Mumbles, Punkin at about 1 month old.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/SfWReWu5BmI/AAAAAAAAAD4/g19P22e2u2o/s1600-h/DSC02819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/SfWReWu5BmI/AAAAAAAAAD4/g19P22e2u2o/s320/DSC02819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329325684747208290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >The Birthday Boys...still lovin' each other:)</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />So they got a nice chicken/fish dinner and some new fuzzy mice to play with! I love my boys!<br /><br />Aside from that, I'm still forging ahead on my magic scarf, my cabled purse, and my Her Eyes scarf. I swear, if I didn't tell myself to stop, I'd literally have like, 20 projects all going at once. As it is, I need to get started on the Christmas gifts I'm planning. Especially since one of them is all lace.<br /><br />I was a bad girl, didn't take my vitamins and meds this weekend, but we had so much fun that I didn't even think to take them:) Cordell came over for a while on Saturday (well, over 12 hours) and we had a fun time setting up his character and starting up the game again. Pizza, beanbags, and fun times were had by all!<br /><br />Later this morning we're taking Bella-car to the mechanic because her oil sensor is finally shot to hell. She's talking more and it's driving me insane. So we're getting her fixed. We'll probably hit the grocery store while she's there. Dragon's going to work a little late so he can hang with me since we have to be there at 8am and he starts work at 9am. He won't be too late, I don't think, and he had an early meeting on Friday. It'll be nice to have him with me at the mechanic:)<br /><br />I think that'll do for an update for now.<br /><br />XOXO<br />~Bella<br /></div></div></div></div>Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-68718138307558938932009-04-12T21:37:00.000-07:002009-04-14T11:07:47.965-07:00Happy Post-Zombie Jesus Day!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTDs63Y4NI/AAAAAAAAARg/elGr1eM24w0/s1600-h/DSC02953.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTDs63Y4NI/AAAAAAAAARg/elGr1eM24w0/s320/DSC02953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324595835942002898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This is what I get to see everyday that I take Dragon to work. See? Mountains:D<br /><br /></span></span></div>So not much going on in our household this weekend (or for the past few weeks rather) thus the lack of updates. HOWEVER!!! I have completed some projects, started some new ones, taken a SLEW of pictures and I am here to inflict all of this information upon you.<br /><br />Behold ye, and tremble in fear.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTDuQzjPVI/AAAAAAAAARo/OIkpKCWzVy0/s1600-h/DSC02963.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTDuQzjPVI/AAAAAAAAARo/OIkpKCWzVy0/s320/DSC02963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324595859011353938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Purple Jade and Sterling Silver...so pretty!<br /><br /></span></span></div>This is a purple jade pendant with a silver dragon on it, courtesy of Uwajimaya Market in downtown Seattle. I also got some Puchi miniature meals...and they are made of awesome and cute!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTDuk--vmI/AAAAAAAAARw/m98qr2PRmQI/s1600-h/DSC03009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTDuk--vmI/AAAAAAAAARw/m98qr2PRmQI/s320/DSC03009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324595864428002914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Puchi Mini Meals...dangerously addictive.<br /><br /></span></span></div>It was amazing and we will definitely be going again sometime soon. It's so refreshing to finally have a place to go to get the awesome Japanese food that I remember from Japan:)<br /><br />Now, on to the completed works! First up the infamous crochet orange scarf and knitted hat out of the Orange Slices Merino yarn from<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5220125"> Andrea </a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTFWiksT2I/AAAAAAAAATA/HfQyC4Vj2g8/s1600-h/DSC03026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTFWiksT2I/AAAAAAAAATA/HfQyC4Vj2g8/s320/DSC03026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324597650487267170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTFWWFOMBI/AAAAAAAAAS4/t-DZK9K9MV4/s1600-h/DSC03025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTFWWFOMBI/AAAAAAAAAS4/t-DZK9K9MV4/s320/DSC03025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324597647134044178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTFWAf6oaI/AAAAAAAAASw/xkqcGMMzBMw/s1600-h/DSC03024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTFWAf6oaI/AAAAAAAAASw/xkqcGMMzBMw/s320/DSC03024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324597641340428706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTE1rBxCSI/AAAAAAAAASo/bT7YI_CdJqY/s1600-h/DSC03023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTE1rBxCSI/AAAAAAAAASo/bT7YI_CdJqY/s320/DSC03023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324597085821012258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTE1b3_4_I/AAAAAAAAASg/hX6vM1rfc1c/s1600-h/DSC03022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTE1b3_4_I/AAAAAAAAASg/hX6vM1rfc1c/s320/DSC03022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324597081753510898" border="0" /></a>Finally completed. Very warm and very bright, they help to keep the dreary Seattle chill away. My favorite part (aside from the yarn) is the edging. It's a crochet braid stitch that looks to be much more complicated than it really is.<br /><br />Then I splurged a little bit (a whole $6) and bought the <a href="http://www.croshaydesign.com/patts.php?choice=PATT-AJ">Applejack hat pattern from Croshay Designs</a> and proceeded to make two of them. The first is out of the amazing BFL in the ColdSteel colorway from the faboo <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5220125"> Andrea </a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTFW-ncDPI/AAAAAAAAATI/_R06RP6UUx4/s1600-h/DSC03027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTFW-ncDPI/AAAAAAAAATI/_R06RP6UUx4/s320/DSC03027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324597658014977266" border="0" /></a><br />And what's more, I had so much left over that I decided it needed a scarf to go with it, so I'm currently using the <a href="http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2005/06/magic_scarf_a_b_1.php">Magic Scarf pattern by Crazy Aunt Purl</a> and still working on it:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTE1KqGGII/AAAAAAAAASY/VkkWUOM1-2M/s1600-h/DSC03021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTE1KqGGII/AAAAAAAAASY/VkkWUOM1-2M/s320/DSC03021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324597077131794562" border="0" /></a>Then I used a combo of the Dexter colorway in Merino/Silk blend from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5915916">Cosmic Fibers Yarn on Etsy </a> and some of the Obsidian Merino/Tencel from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5220125"> Andrea </a>:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTFXGBL8rI/AAAAAAAAATQ/HZKotGTlg2M/s1600-h/DSC03031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTFXGBL8rI/AAAAAAAAATQ/HZKotGTlg2M/s320/DSC03031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324597660002022066" border="0" /></a>I didn't have enough of the Dexter to do more than the hat, so I'm thinking that if I knit a scarf for this one I'll do it strictly out of the Obsidian. And I'm thinking cables:D<br /><br />Then we have the latest Calorimetry that I'm making for my BFF Dawn down in Alabama out of the most AMAZING chunky baby alpaca yarn! I picked it up from <a href="http://www.yarnzilla.com/">Yarnzilla </a> for a steal and I will definitely be getting more of it because oh...it's so lush! I believe the colorway is called Ember Melange and the photos just do NOT do it justice!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTF2Wr6bFI/AAAAAAAAATw/KLmseS0xtXM/s1600-h/DSC03015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTF2Wr6bFI/AAAAAAAAATw/KLmseS0xtXM/s320/DSC03015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324598197052140626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTDv9gHwAI/AAAAAAAAASA/j_aw2VBjM6M/s1600-h/DSC03014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTDv9gHwAI/AAAAAAAAASA/j_aw2VBjM6M/s320/DSC03014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324595888189325314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTDuyxlKbI/AAAAAAAAAR4/GA4O2UDcR-M/s1600-h/DSC03011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTDuyxlKbI/AAAAAAAAAR4/GA4O2UDcR-M/s320/DSC03011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324595868129896882" border="0" /></a>That's my little purple skull cupcake stitch marker from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=31348">Scary Merry over on Etsy</a>. I adore them:)<br /><br />And last, but certainly not least, I'm working on yet another scarf, this time using the incredibly gorgeous Her Eyes tencel from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5220125"> Andrea </a>. Again....photos cannot capture how truly beautiful this yarn is, folks.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTF2MVKnrI/AAAAAAAAATo/UyuFOkuuzyg/s1600-h/DSC03036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTF2MVKnrI/AAAAAAAAATo/UyuFOkuuzyg/s320/DSC03036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324598194272378546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Those are the new bamboo needles I picked up on Amazon for a steal! I now have no excuse because I now have every size from 0 - 13 in 9" straights and DPNs.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTF13DB3UI/AAAAAAAAATg/F2Y-3ESpAeE/s1600-h/DSC03035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTF13DB3UI/AAAAAAAAATg/F2Y-3ESpAeE/s320/DSC03035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324598188559162690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTF1Xo8P7I/AAAAAAAAATY/Ad4C-ecJMbg/s1600-h/DSC03034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTF1Xo8P7I/AAAAAAAAATY/Ad4C-ecJMbg/s320/DSC03034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324598180128243634" border="0" /></a>I'm using the Old Shale Pattern, found on Ravelry, and so far, it may not look like much, but I swear, when it's blocked? It's going to be utterly fabulous!<br /></div><br />So that's it for now:) I swear it's taken me entirely too long to get this update on here. But I'm sure that after viewing such beautiful yarns, you'll need a rest.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTE0-xMeLI/AAAAAAAAASQ/w_q3NaKF7pQ/s1600-h/DSC03019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTE0-xMeLI/AAAAAAAAASQ/w_q3NaKF7pQ/s320/DSC03019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324597073940347058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The battle for the water box is on. First Blade...</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTE0kUC7SI/AAAAAAAAASI/_ncuxGVz3Sc/s1600-h/DSC03016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SeTE0kUC7SI/AAAAAAAAASI/_ncuxGVz3Sc/s320/DSC03016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324597066838764834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Then Kratos;)</span></span><br /><br /></div>Until next time;)<br /><br />XOXO<br />~BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-52050083652253395022009-04-05T15:00:00.000-07:002009-04-05T15:21:12.478-07:00Weekend Trollings.This weekend has been a welcome sun-break from the drizzly, snowy week we've had. It's beautiful out there, sunny and warm, and you can really see the mountain ranges when you wander down the street. Another reason to adore this city;)<br /><br />So we've discovered 3 new places here in the area where we are now fans. If you're here, you should really check these guys out...and if you're not, just you WAIT till you get here because I'm totally going to drag you there;)<br /><br />We've found the deli we've been looking for (that isn't downtown Seattle), about 15m up the road in Mill Creek. It's called <a href="http://www.firestationdeli.com/">The Fire Station Gourmet Deli</a>. They make some of the tastiest sandwiches and I was really blown away by their Marguerite Panini (fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil, with a hint of garlic ... and the added provolone cheese by yours truly) and Dragon loved his ham/cheddar/bacon on wheat bread.<br /><br />As we wandered up and down this incredibly Hollywood-back-lot scenic "main street", we also noticed a place called <a href="http://www.spottedcow.net/">Spotted Cow Cream & Bean</a>. OMG! They have a milkshake called "Mad Cow" which is your choice of gelato (so amazingly creamy with a vast array of tasty flavors!) and 6 shots of fresh espresso, blended together and topped with an uber creamy whipped cream. It was SO GOOD that we went back again today since we were in the area.<br /><br />And finally, today, we decided to do something we've never had the opportunity to do (because, let's face it, it's hard to find this in San Antonio): we found an authentic french bakery up in the Mill Creek/Everette area. Although everything we tried was so lovely, our favorite, by far, was the lemon tart. Mmm. The coffee eclair, the cream puff, even the chocolate croissant...they were all amazingly tasty. And affordable too! We were very impressed and it WILL be on our regularly scheduled monthly outings. <a href="http://www.lartisanfrenchbakery.com/index.html">L'Artisan French Bakery</a>...tres yummi!<br /><br />I have more to say and update you with, but for the moment, I need to devour my most recent creation;) It smells SO good!<br /><br />XOXO<br />BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-9271302664080576062009-03-11T20:23:00.000-07:002009-03-16T04:44:42.380-07:00Cold and snowy.It was a snowy day yesterday, apparently. I woke up to huge fat flakes falling from the sky in that dizzying whirl that can hypnotize you if you stare at it for too long. It didn't last for too long, and it didn't stick, because it was gone by about 2pm, but it was pretty while it lasted.<br /><br />We're coming up on the rainy season around here, apparently, with forecasts stating that it should be raining all week long. I actually rather like the overcast days with random sun breaks.<br /><br />As Dragon said, it's a good thing we hit the Uwajimaya market downtown on Saturday. Oh, I was in absolute HEAVEN!! I've been yearning for Japanese culture since I've been back stateside these 11 or 12 years now, and I believe I've found everything I could possibly want at U market. It's definitely somewhere I'm going to be taking my parents when they come to visit:)<br /><br />I'm still working on the orange scarf that never ends. I suppose it might go faster if I actually put in long stretches of time crocheting it. I really should get it finished before, say, spring, so I have a chance to wear it. *laughs* I think right now, it's approaching the length I want, I'm just noodling with various ideas of how to edge the thing. I think I might do just a simple picot edge because it just seems to cry out for something easy.<br /><br />I received two WONDERFUL skeins from my yarn pimptress this past week. I am utterly enamored with these two yarns. They both satisfy my "dark yarn" sweet tooth while being utterly soft and fabulous. I don't know what to do with them yet, but I do want it to be something I can wear regularly because I really adore the colors! Here...let me show you:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb4xXhft5-I/AAAAAAAAAQg/v5FC1S5HrMk/s1600-h/catspaws.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb4xXhft5-I/AAAAAAAAAQg/v5FC1S5HrMk/s320/catspaws.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313738890541918178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">On Cat's Paws (Merino/Bamboo)<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb4xX2lCuoI/AAAAAAAAAQo/BGMFHgOXTLc/s1600-h/coldsteel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb4xX2lCuoI/AAAAAAAAAQo/BGMFHgOXTLc/s320/coldsteel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313738896201398914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Coldsteel (BFL)<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I adore both of these yarns. SO pretty. So addictive. And I am totally on the hunt for something fantastic to turn them into!<br /><br />In cooking news, I made a fantastic White Cheese Chicken Lasagna on Friday night. The only change I can think of making would be to season the chicken a bit more and add a tiny smidge more spinach, but overall, it was quite tasty.<br /><br />Other than that, I've been busy busy with work. I'm thinking of dropping back down to one company as opposed to the two I'm working now. I feel like I'm burning the candle at both ends, but due to some financial obligations, I won't be ditching the first job until the middle of April, most likely. I'm anxious to get there and who knows? I might be able to manage it earlier rather than later.<br /><br />Also, the months of June, July, and August apparently are going to be quite full for us! In June, we've been invited to join a bunch of coworkers in Las Vegas. Considering everyone in my family has been without me, this will be my first excursion and I'm quite excited! My mom will apparently be joining us there, as will my good friend Dawn from Alabama. It's about time I get to meet her!!<br /><br />In July, my folks, my grandmother, and my aunt/uncle are apparently coming to visit for a week. It's shaping up to be quite a large group. Hopefully, I'll be able to come up with plenty of things to keep everyone occupied! Dragon might have to work a few of the days but that's fine...it saves him from having to deal with my relatives;)<br /><br />And then in August, Dawn and Jeff might be coming to spend some time here! *bounces about* We're thinking of going to Hempfest because Dragon and I missed out last year, so it'll be 1000xs more fun with them along;)<br /><br />So that's it, for updates right now. If I think of anything else, you'll be the first (or...second) to know;) And now? Some updated pics of our furbabies:<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb40Vp47elI/AAAAAAAAARQ/MiqbXfncXbE/s1600-h/DSC02924.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb40Vp47elI/AAAAAAAAARQ/MiqbXfncXbE/s320/DSC02924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313742156970293842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Kratos sits pretty for the camera.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb40U_73F2I/AAAAAAAAARI/yrP57k3ExNM/s1600-h/DSC02929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb40U_73F2I/AAAAAAAAARI/yrP57k3ExNM/s320/DSC02929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313742145708300130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Blade, showing off his pretty face.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb40Uqt4jSI/AAAAAAAAARA/wPBrW8PhcnI/s1600-h/DSC02914.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb40Uqt4jSI/AAAAAAAAARA/wPBrW8PhcnI/s320/DSC02914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313742140012530978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mumbles, interested in "other" things.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb40UDrVMGI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/Kb_pYpZxoxs/s1600-h/DSC02909.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb40UDrVMGI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/Kb_pYpZxoxs/s320/DSC02909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313742129532842082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">About as close to a group shot as I'm going to get. Kratos is the only one missing (and yes, the area is a disaster, but it's cleaner now!)<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb40T3hSw3I/AAAAAAAAAQw/2O9ldt2MEdU/s1600-h/DSC02915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb40T3hSw3I/AAAAAAAAAQw/2O9ldt2MEdU/s320/DSC02915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313742126269514610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Shadow decided that one day this past week was "take your kitty to work day" and proceeded to firmy entrench himself in Dragon's work satchel.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb47CWFw4II/AAAAAAAAARY/yzDz7BYPAJ0/s1600-h/DSC02927.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/Sb47CWFw4II/AAAAAAAAARY/yzDz7BYPAJ0/s320/DSC02927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313749521819295874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Could you really resist this face? This face is the only reason he's still with us and not out in the snow. LOL!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">That's all for now!<br /><br />XOXO<br />Bella<br /></div></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div></div>Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-84873862718745783872009-03-02T16:53:00.000-08:002009-03-02T17:12:36.916-08:00Flexitarianism? Whaa?I received two of the books I'd ordered today. One, which relates to the crafty part of this blog:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SayAUrFsW7I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/KWh9OzEGdFE/s1600-h/cccrochet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SayAUrFsW7I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/KWh9OzEGdFE/s320/cccrochet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308759153415314354" border="0" /></a>I've been enamored with Amigurumi for a while now, but I tend to err on the side of creepy-cute rather than just cute;) So when I saw this book (and I <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=33135">recognized the author from her etsy.com Needle Noodles site</a>) I had to pick it up and see what it was all about.<br /><br />Omg. Seriously some of the most adorable little ami-dolls I think I've ever laid eyes upon. Very worth it, they make faboo gifts and I think I'm going to sit down in the next week or so and make one of each from the book!<br /><br />When you've finally decided to quit smoking, you need something, anything to do with your hands. At least in the meantime, right? Quick stats: <table background="http://images.quitnet.com/images/q2001/trans_big.gif" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr height="24"></tr><tr height="24"> <!--link to settings--> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" height="24"> <span class="norm">1 day, 8 hours, 27 minutes and 48 seconds smoke free.<br />27 cigarettes not smoked.</span> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Since I'm on a health kick lately too, I snagged this book:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SayAVC_eQ0I/AAAAAAAAAQY/y1O0xJ6T4OE/s1600-h/flexitarian.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SayAVC_eQ0I/AAAAAAAAAQY/y1O0xJ6T4OE/s320/flexitarian.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308759159831675714" border="0" /></a>Because, let's face it. Here we are in the Pacific Northwest. We can get fresh fish, but more importantly, some AMAZING veggies and fruits for dirt cheap. Yes, money has been tight, but with the introduction of this new job, there's no excuse anymore. It's time to get serious about our health (Dragon will have to get used to it) and this is a good plan that suits us both. See, I'm a carnivore by nature, Dragon - even more so. I love veggies, but I cannot exist on veggies alone. I know that if I'm going to go in a more....vegan trend with my eating there has to be some way to still incorporate the occasional meat product (I adore fish/chicken, where Dragon is a pork/beef kinda guy).<br /><br />No guilt. Just healthier eating!<br /><br />Of course, I'm sure all of this stems from the Doctor's appointment I have tomorrow. Finally, I should get some answers about what's going on with me and get started on being human again.<br /><br />In the meantime, I will keep you all updated...have no fear! I think I'm going to plunge into this book and start absorbing as much of it as I can so I can circumvent any complaints Dragon might have;)<br /><br />XOXO<br />~BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-88026014008122562322009-02-24T21:56:00.001-08:002009-02-25T06:50:16.095-08:00*tap tap* Is this thing on?<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaU_zPL76_I/AAAAAAAAAOw/Vq9zE0tjuIE/s1600-h/DSC02883.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaU_zPL76_I/AAAAAAAAAOw/Vq9zE0tjuIE/s320/DSC02883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306717885408472050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Is this not the cutest face?</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaU_y4CFzoI/AAAAAAAAAOo/_fFmghrduW4/s1600-h/DSC02889up.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaU_y4CFzoI/AAAAAAAAAOo/_fFmghrduW4/s320/DSC02889up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306717879193161346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mumbles impersonates Mom after a long night working the phones.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div>I've been remiss in updating, but I have a good reason! I've been working my happy little ass off in an effort to both pay my bills (current and upcoming) AND to start feeding my yarn addiction again.<br /><br />Miss Andrea is tempting me like whoa and that squeaky sound you're hearing is me over here wringing my hands in wanton lust at some of the most beautiful fibers I've seen yet. Here...let me show you. First up? The ones I'm dying to beg her to add to my stash...seriously:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGJ3BEtaI/AAAAAAAAAQI/pj0tb_T9eFI/s1600-h/pressedroses.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGJ3BEtaI/AAAAAAAAAQI/pj0tb_T9eFI/s320/pressedroses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724871127217570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Pressed Roses (Hemp)<br />Is this not one of the most lovely dusty rose colors you've ever seen?<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGEyeKY2I/AAAAAAAAAQA/VOPfvd-fExU/s1600-h/depressionglass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGEyeKY2I/AAAAAAAAAQA/VOPfvd-fExU/s320/depressionglass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724784007701346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Depression Glass (Tencel)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Something about this color just calls to me. I don't know if it's the darkness, or if it's the way the darkness is made light with the shiny nature of the tencel...either way, it's gorgeous and I covet it.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGEowUPpI/AAAAAAAAAPw/l1yVxeroOmQ/s1600-h/wallpaper+in+old+rooms.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGEowUPpI/AAAAAAAAAPw/l1yVxeroOmQ/s320/wallpaper+in+old+rooms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724781399490194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Wallpaper in Old Rooms (Shetland)<br />I..uh...have this thing about purple yarns. And, I know I already have too many skeins of purple yarn but frankly? I don't care. I love this one.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVF5NMMbGI/AAAAAAAAAPY/xMZXoE7rVtg/s1600-h/black+cherry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVF5NMMbGI/AAAAAAAAAPY/xMZXoE7rVtg/s320/black+cherry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724585021664354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Black Cherries (BFL)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">See above. But this one? This one is special. This one, provided no one else snags it? This one I am definitely going to beg Andrea for because omg. I seriously adore this like whoa.</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></div><br />And then, we have the ones that ARE in my stash right now:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGEnu9ElI/AAAAAAAAAP4/ZiwOqMASjy4/s1600-h/bloodties.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGEnu9ElI/AAAAAAAAAP4/ZiwOqMASjy4/s320/bloodties.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724781125341778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Blood Ties (BFL)</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This color is so decadent. I already know what I'm going to use it on. And I can't wait!!<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGEebxv0I/AAAAAAAAAPo/HYcaXOtLAhk/s1600-h/learningtoclimb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGEebxv0I/AAAAAAAAAPo/HYcaXOtLAhk/s320/learningtoclimb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724778628988738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Learning to Climb (Hemp)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I don't think words can adequately express how much I adore hemp yarn. No really. This lovely skein is already slated to become a fabulous hat that I am almost guaranteed to wear everywhere.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGETWANQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/Rn6qOLPvPVQ/s1600-h/darkopal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVGETWANQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/Rn6qOLPvPVQ/s320/darkopal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724775651980546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dark Opal (tencel)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Along with my adoration of hemp comes my utter love for tencel, courtesy of the delicious Andrea herself. I also have an obsession with black opals...and this just combines the best of both worlds for me.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVF47-1ClI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/GP7YHSM1U2g/s1600-h/samseyes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVF47-1ClI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/GP7YHSM1U2g/s320/samseyes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724580402203218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sam's Eyes (Tencel)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is the commissioned yarn I asked for. The color is absolutely perfect for what I asked for and it will be turned into a fabulous shawl that I swear to All will be worn at every available opportunity.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVF4tKyyxI/AAAAAAAAAPI/juAgf17lDYg/s1600-h/dragonstail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVF4tKyyxI/AAAAAAAAAPI/juAgf17lDYg/s320/dragonstail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724576425855762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dragon's Tail (Tussah Silk)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This one is for my Dragon. I saw it and immediately thought of him. Plus, it'll be my first foray into knitting with silk. I can't wait!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVF4ki9wDI/AAAAAAAAAPA/QEl2e-9GDcA/s1600-h/catspaw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVF4ki9wDI/AAAAAAAAAPA/QEl2e-9GDcA/s320/catspaw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724574111318066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">On Cat's Paws (Merino/Tencel)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">One of my favorite poems from childhood, and again with the grey/blue prettiness that is quickly starting to rival purple as my favorite colorway.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVF4W8Om7I/AAAAAAAAAO4/1I_mY6j-Z1w/s1600-h/amethysthemp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SaVF4W8Om7I/AAAAAAAAAO4/1I_mY6j-Z1w/s320/amethysthemp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306724570459184050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Amethyst (Hemp)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Again. With the purple. And the hemp. How predictable am I?</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So there you have it. The pretty pretties that I'm totally looking forward to in the coming month. I've been suffering yarn withdrawal due to fundage issues, but with the new job literally swinging along? That won't be a problem anymore. I'm sure my Dragon will be SO pleased. {/sarcasm} But...if I can keep him indulging his comics/collectables addictions, then he can wholeheartedly support my yarn/oils addictions and we'll just be happy as two peas in a pod!<br /><br />On the work front, things are really great. I've had a rough go of it only with getting my body back into the "work all night, sleep/work all day" routine, but I think I've finally finagled a solution. I cannot even express how thankful I am to have gotten this second job because it is, head and shoulders, a step above any other phone work I've done. It's a well oiled machine (pardon the pun) and every single thing they've achieved is fabulous. I feel like I'm a part of a community who actively WANTS me to succeed. Of course, this means less time to blog here because now I have to keep up a blog for them AND chat with callers AND keep up with SC work...it's exhausting, but I'm still trying to make sure I carve out time every night to do a little knit/crochet.<br /><br />I may bitch, but lordy, I am blessed. This month has been especially rough on both of us, but I'm overjoyed that there's a light at the end of the tunnel...and it ISN'T another oncoming train.<br /><br />Add to that these two little morsels of happiness: My brother IS actually engaged to be married, so there's a trip to Florida sometime next year for that. And the second morsel? My mom told me that she and dad are coming to visit this July! *dances* Now, the only down side (which, theoretically SHOULDN'T be) is that somehow *coughDADcough* my grandmother got wind of their plan...and it has now become a family affair. I guess it's going to be my folks, my grandmother, AND my aunt n' uncle along for the ride. So let's just say that July is going to be quite...interesting.<br /><br />*yawns* Okay, my bebes! I need to get some sleep. My dragon should be puttering around now getting ready for work. I'm super proud of him for keeping a 93% on his numbers at work! Today he's bringing home GS cookies in celebration. *dances* I may not need them for my hips, but my tummy really digs this time of year.<br /><br />Until later, dumplings!<br /><br />XOXO<br />Bella<br /></span></div></div>Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-5072158998262779912009-02-16T19:41:00.000-08:002009-02-16T19:45:18.373-08:00Busy busy day!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZoyns-ukcI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/ry91cOxW0KA/s1600-h/DSC02870.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZoyns-ukcI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/ry91cOxW0KA/s320/DSC02870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303607168852726210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Passed out Puss (Blade)</span></span><br /><br /></div>I was going to upload some photos today but I got sidetracked.<br /><br />By my new job.<br /><br />And I'm utterly in love with my coworkers:)<br /><br />I'll most likely do more updating later this evening when I sign back in for the night, but for now, suffice it to say, I do think this is going to be an amazing (and lucrative) experience for me!<br /><br />XOXO<br />~BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-34538537313296086572009-02-12T20:39:00.000-08:002009-02-12T20:48:37.784-08:00Question...I'm curious, because I have a little problem. Well, 4 of them actually, but one of them is more problematic than the others.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZT7ZcwL-7I/AAAAAAAAAOI/if5es04DiRs/s1600-h/DSC02785.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZT7ZcwL-7I/AAAAAAAAAOI/if5es04DiRs/s320/DSC02785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302139075955522482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Kratos doesn't understand why yarn =/= kitty toy!<br /><br /></span></span></div>Kratos has a thing for my yarn. More of an obsessive streak, really, when I think about it. He will go to great lengths to get his paws on anything I'm working on and I'm running out of ideas for ways to deter/stop him from having that opportunity. Yes, this cat will UNZIP a bag to get to the yarn. I don't know how he does it, but he does. Probably some little known kitty osmosis technique.<br /><br />I need something that will keep him away from my work. I'm tired of having to reconnect severed yarn (and worrying about the damned cat because he's ingested some of it) to continue my projects.<br /><br />Does anyone have any suggestions? What do you use to store your works in progress? Am I the only one with kitties who don't understand that this yarn is not for play?Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-75207868251564879462009-02-09T13:22:00.001-08:002009-02-09T13:48:05.310-08:00Finally, an update!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCfsYmUTMI/AAAAAAAAANY/6TPyhIeBSB4/s1600-h/DSC02858.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCfsYmUTMI/AAAAAAAAANY/6TPyhIeBSB4/s320/DSC02858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300912346281299138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The view coming home from dropping Dragon off at work this morning. Sno!<br /></span></span></div><br />It's been pretty slow around here since my last update. Most of the concerns have all been related to the economy and how I'm being impacted, financially, by losing one job and starting over at another one. Unfortunately, it's a significant reduction in income for us that I'm quite unhappy with. So, when the going gets tough, I get out there and try to find something else. I've had 3 interviews so far with one particular company and there's really no reason why I wouldn't get the job, I'm just going to keep most of it under wraps until I hear yay or nay.<br /><br />So in lieu of boring wah-wah-meer-meer complaints, I'm going to give you pictures!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCfrzeYk-I/AAAAAAAAANQ/A1MDmsjVqRU/s1600-h/DSC02824.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCfrzeYk-I/AAAAAAAAANQ/A1MDmsjVqRU/s320/DSC02824.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300912336315913186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mumbles</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">approves of this post.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></div>We went to see Abney Park this past Friday as a way to blow off some steam (haha!) and in celebration, I finally pulled out the Lumina yarn (from a few posts back) and crocheted up some <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5137486">skluv gloves! (By Copperscale Dragon on Etsy)</a> I had bought the pattern a while back and was just fiddling with it, trying to figure out what yarn to use and how I wanted them to look. I finally decided on Friday that I was going to use the loverly red/black glittery Lumina I'd gotten back in January. I think they worked out pretty well:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCgvyyrf9I/AAAAAAAAAOA/zu7vVD8xZgg/s1600-h/DSC02867.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCgvyyrf9I/AAAAAAAAAOA/zu7vVD8xZgg/s320/DSC02867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300913504363708370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCgvgUY7iI/AAAAAAAAAN4/e1c8_JLEshs/s1600-h/DSC02862.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCgvgUY7iI/AAAAAAAAAN4/e1c8_JLEshs/s320/DSC02862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300913499404824098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCgvWLOktI/AAAAAAAAANw/fjt_8ajHNbM/s1600-h/DSC02864.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCgvWLOktI/AAAAAAAAANw/fjt_8ajHNbM/s320/DSC02864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300913496682042066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCgvGFC6RI/AAAAAAAAANo/AQWcLt1bIwM/s1600-h/DSC02861.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCgvGFC6RI/AAAAAAAAANo/AQWcLt1bIwM/s320/DSC02861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300913492361144594" border="0" /></a>I love the little skull pattern, and the buttons are some that I picked up from JoAnn's Fabric up the road just a few hours prior to the show. I'm glad I made this yarn into gloves, but my only beef with it is that it's quite scratchy. Definitely an accent yarn more than a garment yarn, in my opinion.<br /><br />Speaking of the show, it was as amazing as the first time we saw them last year. And! Because I have a tall husband who can reach ON stage, I managed to get one of Finn's keys! (They were coming off her skirt as she danced):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCgvOBXhMI/AAAAAAAAANg/pIztyn1kf5Q/s1600-h/DSC02860.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCgvOBXhMI/AAAAAAAAANg/pIztyn1kf5Q/s320/DSC02860.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300913494493201602" border="0" /></a>Biggest and BEST concert memorabilia I have:) She's so beautiful to watch, not just being physically attractive, but also because she's an AMAZING dancer with a beautiful voice.<br /><br />And because you can never have enough cat photos, my Dragon caught the Doom Brothers snuggling the other day. It was utterly adorable because, while they love on each other quite often, it's very rare to catch them completely passed out in a cat pile.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCfoo80TPI/AAAAAAAAANA/_1zlzc47JAQ/s1600-h/DSC02820.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCfoo80TPI/AAAAAAAAANA/_1zlzc47JAQ/s320/DSC02820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300912281951161586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mumbles and Kratos.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCfn0iKISI/AAAAAAAAAM4/klGUMOkCvoQ/s1600-h/DSC02819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCfn0iKISI/AAAAAAAAAM4/klGUMOkCvoQ/s320/DSC02819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300912267880702242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Doom Brothers in a moment of brotherly love.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCfo2IkGLI/AAAAAAAAANI/huBPdBa811g/s1600-h/DSC02821.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SZCfo2IkGLI/AAAAAAAAANI/huBPdBa811g/s320/DSC02821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300912285490092210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Nothing to see here, move along.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />That's all for now!<br /><br />XOXO<br />~Bella<br /></div></div>Bellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-18944194101207382862009-01-30T10:27:00.000-08:002009-01-30T11:26:07.856-08:00I feel the earth move under my feet...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNM3NtGAOI/AAAAAAAAAMI/7W0oMhyJyE4/s1600-h/DSC02759.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNM3NtGAOI/AAAAAAAAAMI/7W0oMhyJyE4/s320/DSC02759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297162098173149410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The view from my window today.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Foggy, with a touch of Silent Hill. </span><br /><br /></div><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008688815_webquake30m.html">Apparently, this morning at about 5:25am, Seattle was rocked by a 4.6 earthquake.</a><br /><br />Want to know where I was? Crashed out, completely asleep.<br /><br />I found out from my mother about it when she called me to ask if Dragon and I had had some seriously earth-shattering sex this morning. Queue my puzzlement, which led to the explanation. *laughs* I then find out, from her, that I have a history of sleeping through earthquakes (courtesy of my younger years in Alaska).<br /><br />Well isn't that nice? It's rather charming to know that the house could literally fall down around me and I'd sleep right through it. I sent a text to Dragon to find out if HE knew about it (since he gets up much earlier than I do) but considering he didn't say anything to me this morning as we were getting ready to run him to work, I'd have to say that he was possibly as oblivious as I was. The cats certainly didn't freak out enough to wake us up. So there you go.<br /><br />To be honest, I'll take an earthquake over a tornado/hurricane ANY DAY. Which is another reason why I wanted to move to Washington.<br /><br />*Chuckles* How exciting. And I slept right through it.<br /><br />And to prove how disinterested the cats were, behold:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNM3ePHBWI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/nudFAjZcc74/s1600-h/DSC02762.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNM3ePHBWI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/nudFAjZcc74/s320/DSC02762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297162102610789730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Blade, in his tree, looking very non-plussed.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNNKAQXqVI/AAAAAAAAAMw/tzNwGT9ZzAw/s1600-h/DSC02811.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNNKAQXqVI/AAAAAAAAAMw/tzNwGT9ZzAw/s320/DSC02811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297162420980525394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Kratos, watching on with disinterest.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNM4BaghmI/AAAAAAAAAMo/B50-SsINekY/s1600-h/DSC02800.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNM4BaghmI/AAAAAAAAAMo/B50-SsINekY/s320/DSC02800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297162112053839458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mumbles, in the window, wondering what the fuss is about.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNM3yDjRtI/AAAAAAAAAMg/0UOtR8WmYwc/s1600-h/DSC02816.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNM3yDjRtI/AAAAAAAAAMg/0UOtR8WmYwc/s320/DSC02816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297162107931018962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Shadow, window-bird-hunter extraordinaire.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNM3u6UWPI/AAAAAAAAAMY/zNz2mLzY97E/s1600-h/DSC02766.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SYNM3u6UWPI/AAAAAAAAAMY/zNz2mLzY97E/s320/DSC02766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297162107086985458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Habu, just wondering when she's going to get some treats.<br /></span></span></div><br />XOXO<br />BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-21134978996520405202009-01-27T10:03:00.000-08:002009-01-27T11:23:22.418-08:00Okay. These made me chortle today.I know, I said it was a small post. I lied.<br /><br />These about made me pee m'self laughing so hard. I thought I'd share them with you guys too;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9M3du5NSI/AAAAAAAAAL4/oLiw-9ZPsYE/s1600-h/whore.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9M3du5NSI/AAAAAAAAAL4/oLiw-9ZPsYE/s320/whore.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296036202568824098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9M3FHj0nI/AAAAAAAAALw/WXFxrVzKZL0/s1600-h/hifive.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 191px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9M3FHj0nI/AAAAAAAAALw/WXFxrVzKZL0/s320/hifive.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296036195961393778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9M3I9dpaI/AAAAAAAAALo/XGfKMRWMfZU/s1600-h/rainbow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 288px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9M3I9dpaI/AAAAAAAAALo/XGfKMRWMfZU/s320/rainbow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296036196992787874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9M3OGJUHI/AAAAAAAAALg/qbWcuLLC44Q/s1600-h/bright.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 289px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9M3OGJUHI/AAAAAAAAALg/qbWcuLLC44Q/s320/bright.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296036198371381362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9M3pt12UI/AAAAAAAAAMA/olGriCyTD5M/s1600-h/omgwtf.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9M3pt12UI/AAAAAAAAAMA/olGriCyTD5M/s320/omgwtf.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296036205785635138" border="0" /></a><br />XOXO<br />BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-77729672021256637482009-01-27T09:41:00.001-08:002009-01-27T11:23:43.491-08:00And...moar...sno!It's snowing again today, but it's supposed to change to rain by this afternoon. I have to admit, as a sno-baby, I'm loving this gentle sno-fall we're getting at random intervals:)<br /><br />And a pimp! Check to the right sidebar. I've added a small list of links that I love, ones that you'll most likely see featured in my posts right now. I haven't figured out just yet how to add pictures to those links, but the lovely Andrea has provided a very nice pic with which to link to her etsy shop. Behold:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5220125"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 125px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SX9HwCqzg4I/AAAAAAAAALY/yivxAa9dNW8/s200/natob.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296030577486693250" border="0" /></a>So there you have it! Little post today, I have an appointment at 10:30 with a storage unit because we're finally tired of having all these boxes hanging out around here. Oy.<br /><br />It's a slow phone day, so hopefully I'll be able to get some more knitting/crochet/housecleaning done around here today. We'll see:)<br /><br />XOXO<br />BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-71839027015061991272009-01-24T21:47:00.000-08:002009-01-24T21:51:20.190-08:00We can has moar sno?Well this is certainly unexpected.<br /><br />Apparently it's snowing outside! I doubt it'll stick around too long, since tomorrow it's supposed to be sunny and a brisk 44 degrees out there.<br /><br />Hey, I'll take and enjoy what I get :)<br /><br />There are so many things I'm loving about this city! It's constantly full of surprises! For example, there are mountains that can be seen while I drive my husband to work in the morning. However, it changes from day to day what can be seen of the mountain range. Some mornings, it's a beautiful, crisp mountain view. Other days, you can barely make them out because there's a thick, surreal fog. Other times, you can't see them at all because of the clouds. But it's always lovely, even when it's grey outside.<br /><br />I find reasons upon reasons to continue falling in love with this place.<br /><br />Oh, and congratulations to my lil' brother on his engagement! Welcome to the family L, we're glad to have you:) I suppose it's time to start saving up for a Florida trip sometime in the future.<br /><br />That's all for now:)<br /><br />XOXO<br />BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-12881730374695329082009-01-20T10:03:00.000-08:002009-01-20T22:21:12.417-08:00Yes We CanAnd we definitely did.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SXa-RCBABlI/AAAAAAAAALM/AObHoCx8-4g/s1600-h/hopeandprogress.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 254px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SXa-RCBABlI/AAAAAAAAALM/AObHoCx8-4g/s200/hopeandprogress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293627611828717138" border="0" /></a>Here's to four years rebuilding the lost hope of America.<br /><br />Today, I witnessed history unfold in a new direction. And I, for one, am extremely proud to call myself an American.<br /><br />XOXO<br />BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-47184222934740127142009-01-19T09:17:00.001-08:002009-01-19T14:34:03.089-08:00Tea anyone? ::Daily Cuppa::As part of my New Year, New Health initiative, I decided to start drinking more tea. I mean, I collect teas like some people collect rare figurines. I'm entranced by the <span style="font-style: italic;">idea</span> of tea, moreso than the flavor of it. I love the idea of a tea tasting like sweet raspberries, or green tea being bitter but oh-so-good for you.<br /><br />So today, I fired up the old tea kettle and I'm currently steeping a <a href="http://www.tazo.com/"> Tazo Wild Sweet Orange</a> teabag in my little glass cup. The smell is divine. I'm a sucker for oranges. And rather than being a muddy shade o' brown water, this is an inviting deep amber.<br /><br />The official description from Tazo states that this tea is: <span style="font-style: italic;">"A full-flavored, juicy infusion of lemongrass, citrus herbs, licorice root, and orange essences. Sweet, yet tart, this is a cup of liquid sunshine, radiating multilayered orange flavors with exotic hints of spice and a distinctive floral finish."</span><br /><br />And they aren't kidding. Woo boy. This tea doesn't need <span style="font-style: italic;">anything</span> in the way of sweeteners. Not that it's all sugary sweet, but this tea has some serious <span style="font-style: italic;">flavor</span> going on. Juicy? Hell yes. Tart? Quite, but delicately so. It's not like sucking on a lemon, it's more subtle than that. I can taste the bite of the lemongrass, but it's mellowed out quite a bit by the orange.<br /><br />This <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> a tasty tea!<br /><br />And since I want to make this a regular thing, I created a little rating system, with obligatory icons, to denote how I feel about the tea I'm partaking of. SO...without further ado, I give this Tazo Wild Orange tea....*insert drumroll*<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SXT_S--d1qI/AAAAAAAAALE/tq_0hDeJ0nk/s1600-h/5cuppa.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 35px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SXT_S--d1qI/AAAAAAAAALE/tq_0hDeJ0nk/s200/5cuppa.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293136163674904226" border="0" /></a>5 outta 5 cuppas! *applause*<br /><br />XOXO<br />BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-56997948106500841382009-01-17T18:54:00.000-08:002009-01-17T19:37:02.997-08:00Foggy days, crisp nights.The last few days have been full o' fog around here and I've been enjoying every minute of it. To my macabre mind, I suppose it's just spooky enough to make it feel more surreal than it might to the average Pacific Northwesterner.<br /><br />But then, I'm still newly transplanted.<br /><br />It's a new year, therefore new goals, hassles, irritations and triumphs. We've been getting out and seeing the city more, slowly but surely, and I'm currently dying to get tickets for Cinematic Titanic's first show here in March. In case you don't already know, and I'm sure most of you don't, I'm a huge fan of MST3K. So when CT announced tour dates, you <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> I'll be in attendance:) See, this is one of the big reasons we moved here in the first place. The opportunities are crazy! Combine that with another Abney Park show next month and you've got a me that's just squirming in her pants to get out and get on with it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've been working on a new scarf. I'm using the lovely orange merino I got earlier this month and after searching high and low, I settled on a scarf that's similar to the <a href="http://myboringblog.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/circle-crochet-scarf-pattern/"> Circle Crochet Scarf pattern</a> and I fully intended on using that particular pattern. But then, while perusing through my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Donna-Koolers-Encyclopedia-Crochet/dp/1574862820/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232247418&sr=8-1"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Donna-Koolers-Encyclopedia-Crochet/dp/1574862820/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232247418&sr=8-1">Encyclopedia of Crochet</a> the other day and found the perfect stitch pattern for it.<br /></div><br />See, I envisioned this scarf, because of the yarn, looking like little slices of mandarin oranges, so I went with Catherine's Wheel. And yes, it's crochet:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SXKdWjDHkZI/AAAAAAAAAK0/CvS71iGm_so/s1600-h/DSC02757.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SXKdWjDHkZI/AAAAAAAAAK0/CvS71iGm_so/s320/DSC02757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292465522804756882" border="0" /></a>See that gorgeous color? Believe me when I say that the camera does NOT do justice to how lusciously beautiful it is.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5220125">And my favorite dyer/spinner extraordinaire is at it again</a>. Look at this: (picture totally taken by Andrea, by the way)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/SXKgvKllrYI/AAAAAAAAADw/Ywx8-lUaKYM/s1600-h/redbfl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jzXL1UDg7Y/SXKgvKllrYI/AAAAAAAAADw/Ywx8-lUaKYM/s320/redbfl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292469244270062978" border="0" /></a>Now, I will admit my ignorance, because I don't know what Black BFL is (the fiber she used for this yarn) but is that not one of the most gorgeous red colorways you've ever seen? Can you imagine a deep violet color? OMG! So pretty!<br /><br />So naturally, I want some. *laughs* We'll see what happens;) What with working two jobs now, I might be able to keep up my yarn-whore habit! (As it is, I'm totally tempted to have her add the Purple Haze merino she has in her shop. I keep lusting after it. Darn her!!)<br /><br />Oh! And I haven't forgotten the backlog of stitch patterns of the day. I'm still doing them, I've just gotten caught up in other things. Hopefully over the next week, I'll get them all photo'd and uploaded and let you all know what I'm doing!<br /><br />Game's on, have to run:)<br /><br />XOXO<br />BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-83368523259955183642009-01-07T07:10:00.000-08:002009-01-07T07:31:15.995-08:00Like a virgin.I've never tried soymilk before.<br /><br />In fact, I'm not a milk fan in the slightest. I like dairy foods (cheese, ice cream, yogurt, etc.) but I cannot <span style="font-style: italic;">stand</span> the taste of straight milk. Not even on my cereal. Not even with a TON of chocolate syrup in it. I can handle milk shakes from time to time, but even then, there comes a point where I get annoyed with the milk flavor.<br /><br />So when my doctor suggested going on a Biocleanse this month (which I haven't done for other, personal reasons, but WILL be doing next month) I was perusing the list of foods we CAN eat, and it mentions soymilk. I'm not even going to go into the list of foods we cannot have because, frankly, it's everything we <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> eat right now. So it's more than slightly depressing;)<br /><br />I asked around, various friends, to get suggestions for what is a good soymilk to try and one told me about 8th Continent. I haven't been able to find it here, and we wanted to try <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span> out, so we settled on <a href="http://www.silksoymilk.com/Products/SilkSoymilkRefrigerated.aspx">vanilla Silk</a>. <br /><br />I'd been sitting here looking at it everytime I open the fridge for the last couple of days, trying, I suppose, to work up the courage to just drink it. Instead, today, I opted to put it on my cereal. Although I have 3 cereal options, I picked plain ol' Life because, I figured, if it tastes bad on Life, there's no hope for it on anything else.<br /><br />Let me tell you! It actually tastes pretty damned good! I still won't drink it straight, but on cereal? It's definitely a winner. Light, sweet, with none of the milky aftertaste that makes me gag. I really enjoyed it.<br /><br />So if you're soymilk shy, I'd have to recommend Silk vanilla in the blue carton. Seriously tasty stuff. I wonder if it'll be good to cook with? Anyone know?<br /><br />XOXO<br />~BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634009056070637893.post-15218896391940552742009-01-06T14:15:00.000-08:002009-01-06T14:48:41.771-08:00Oh me, oh my.I got my most recent yarn steal from Andrea yesterday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPYhv5uskI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ihvBumtdqNw/s1600-h/orangemerino.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPYhv5uskI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ihvBumtdqNw/s320/orangemerino.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288308461768979010" border="0" /></a>It's 750yds of Merino, aptly titled "Orange Slices". I've been on a brightish color kick lately. It normally doesn't last too long, but orange is usually quite hit or miss with me, specifically. I just have to say that this is some super yummy stuff that has my name written all over it. *grins*<br /><br />We went to Wallingford this past Saturday to celebrate me not being in dispatch anymore, in search of the best cupcakes in Seattle. I do believe we found them. Trophy Cupcakes, in the Wallingford Center, has some of the most scrumptious little cakes I've ever laid my tastebuds upon! Especially tasty were their Red Velvet/Cream cheese cupcake, the Lemon cupcake, and the Cafe Au Lait cupcakes. The coffee was good, but I made the dire mistake of getting a pomegranate mocha. Let's just say that the flavor was reminiscent of having spent too much time at the bar and is the taste in your mouth right before you offer a prayer to the porcelain god. Mmhmm.<br /><br />We set out to wander the center a bit and happened upon a yarn store! <a href="http://www.badwomanyarn.com/">Bad Woman Yarn</a> is one of two yarn stores I've had the pleasure of perusing in this city, and it was...amazing! The people working there were so incredibly friendly that I was taken aback. I was able to pick up some yarn for my mom's Christmas gift for later this year, and I snagged two Addi Turbo Lace circular needles for my sock adventures, as well as a few small tiny skeins of Panda Silk and Panda Wool in some nifty colorways, oh, and some sparkly lumina from Berocco! Behold:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeUi0y6tI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/YvfpxhiIE9k/s1600-h/Pandasilk.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeUi0y6tI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/YvfpxhiIE9k/s320/Pandasilk.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288314831990090450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeV1vhvVI/AAAAAAAAAKU/RQ-RxLNbbzk/s1600-h/psred.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeV1vhvVI/AAAAAAAAAKU/RQ-RxLNbbzk/s320/psred.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288314854248136018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeVkBbKMI/AAAAAAAAAKM/HqDlk4dsFFU/s1600-h/Pandawoolviolets.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeVkBbKMI/AAAAAAAAAKM/HqDlk4dsFFU/s320/Pandawoolviolets.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288314849491364034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeyefeb2I/AAAAAAAAAKk/VdyLyi4UFOQ/s1600-h/pwviolets.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeyefeb2I/AAAAAAAAAKk/VdyLyi4UFOQ/s320/pwviolets.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288315346223001442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeVUw3R3I/AAAAAAAAAKE/Uoefk7KWSIc/s1600-h/Pandawoolnightlights.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeVUw3R3I/AAAAAAAAAKE/Uoefk7KWSIc/s320/Pandawoolnightlights.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288314845395371890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeWnmbqOI/AAAAAAAAAKc/TXTFVjC6WmA/s1600-h/pwn.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeWnmbqOI/AAAAAAAAAKc/TXTFVjC6WmA/s320/pwn.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288314867631761634" border="0" /></a>And I wouldn't have bought these, but they were discounted 20% off. Ladies? Gentlemen? Is that not a steal? Even if they're totally frou-frou yarns?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeyyCwMxI/AAAAAAAAAKs/m_lbYZ03RLw/s1600-h/boroccolumina.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FxKXQqfXxSQ/SWPeyyCwMxI/AAAAAAAAAKs/m_lbYZ03RLw/s320/boroccolumina.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288315351471239954" border="0" /></a>The guy who (I'm assuming) owns the shop was really nice and I now have a discount card all set up there, where if I spend more, eventually the card punch will get me $20 off my next purchase. Again, I say, how on earth could you NOT love a yarn store that does that?<br /><br />We also perused a comic store and had some faboo taco stand tacos and then came home to chill for the rest of the night.<br /><br />Yesterday, it snowed. And then it melted. And now? It's just rainy. Welcome to Seattle;)<br /><br />XOXO<br />~BellaBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517674267758377025noreply@blogger.com2