And the winners are…

kmkat

& Sarah!

Whoo hoo!  A huge round of applause everyone!  Y’all need to email me your snailmail addies and I will send out your lovely yarns, post haste.  You can email me at beentsy at telus dot net, correcting all the odd bits in that addy.  Or, just click on the email button on the right sidebar.

Thank you all for entering and for all your suggestions!  I just got an email from the library and my first set of requests based on your entries are waiting for me to pick them up.    Some of them sounded so very interesting!  Also, ikkinla mentioned that they would choose to take the dictionary as their desert island book.  I like this idea.  It also made me think of a book I read last year called, The Know It All by A. J. Jacobs.  He read the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica.  It was a lot of fun to read and I really kind of have to take my hat off to that level of obsessive compulsiveness with regard to learning & knowledge.  Very cool.

Okay, it`s 32 degrees here today so if you need me, I`ll be here:

I don`t plan on entering the house again until after sunset.  The heat and I, not so friendly with each other.

I’d love to blog for you, but…

It’s currently 34 degrees Celsius, which is hella hot for this neck of the woods and I just got home from 4+ hours of Sari shopping.  A friend of mine is getting married and we’re all going to wear Salwar Kameez or Saris for the festivities.

This is the last day to enter for the late spring blogging about books contest.  Go here for details and to leave me a comment.  You have until midnight pacific tonight to enter, then tomorrow when I get home from work I’ll draw the two lucky winners.

Books, books, and more books!

I am loving all the books you guys are suggesting!  Some of them I’ve never heard of and some of them I’ve just never got around to reading.  I’ve put in a big ol’ request list to the library this week to get some of these books sent to my local branch.

If you want to enter the late spring blog contest and win some yummy sock yarn you are just in time!  Go here and view the pretty yarn and then make a comment about what your favourite book is and why it’s your favourite over here for a chance to win said pretty yarn.    Simple, no?  Do this before midnight Pacific time, June 3, 2009 and you are in.    Plus, I think it’s really interesting to find out what other people are reading.  I am all about peeking in medicine cabinets and stuff, and what you read, well, it’s sort of like that for me.  

There has been no progress on the renovations on Chez Beentsy since the insanity that was Sunday.  It suddenly got hot, like 32 degrees hot.  Hmmm, that’s like 90 Fahrenheit.  I know it’s not nearly so hot as it gets in a lot of other places, but I’m a total heat sissy.  I’m of German and English descent so I was meant to be pale and cool, at all times if possible.  Needless to say, the ride home on transit has been VERY interesting for the last couple of days.  A man fell asleep on me and sort of drooled on my shoulder today.  That’s a bit personal for my liking.  I mean, I didn’t even know his name!  Whether or not he like cats or dogs?  Turns out he was a snorer though.  I guess we’re technically dating now.  Or perhaps married.  Mr. B is going to be so choked when he finds out!

Oh, and one last thing.  Because I have absolutely no attention span, I cast on the front of a Klaralund in Yuzen.  You know, just because I could.  Sigh.  One day, I’ll actually finish something.  Snort!

Okay, random pici from my flickr account:

Hi mom!  Aren’t you just so pleased that I proposed to him?  Tee hee!

This weekend’s update is all about biting off more than is good for you!

This post is long, it’s really more for me and as proof that the hubby and I are actually this stupid, ’cause there is no way we’re going to believe the stuff we did in a year or two.

I also wanted to remind you to get your entry in the late spring blog contest by midnight pacific time, June 3.  Just post up a comment with your favourite book(s) of all time and why and you’re in the draw to win some pretty sock yarn.  I’m too tired to link to picis, have a peek in the archives, it was a couple of days ago.  Now, on to the fun of the past few days.

We needed to get rid of this chunk of garbage, which unfortunately was actually holding up the ceiling:

So we started with that:

Found a weird plug:

Built an interim wall to keep the roof & ceiling from falling on us:

Remove nasty old framing;

Build a big fat beam out of three huge twelve foot long 2 x 6’s, construction adhesive, and a gazillion screws (say hello Stella):

Installed said post into it’s new position.  *NOTE*  there are no pictures of this process, suffice it to say there was a fair bit of swearing, a couple near misses when I almost dropped my end, and a new bruise or two.

Here’s a little tip, two people is not enough for a task of this scope.  We’re idiots and both of us are in a fair bit of discomfort now from forcing our rather aged bodies to be much stronger and more flexible than they are.    You’ve been warned and hopefully we’ve learned this valuable lesson.

Anyway, once all that was done we just had to unpack the larger of the two tops for the island and put it in place on one of the old cabinets so we could see if we liked the plan so far:

The island will actually be a fair bit bigger than this, about 25 more inches towards the chairs, to line up with the blue line on the floor.  This has opened a whole new Pandora’s box of issues but I’m too tired to think about them right now.  Happy Sunday all.  I need a shower and something to eat.

Well, this is a bit embarassing…

Yesterday I promised something pretty in sock weight by a Canadian dyer, right, right, no problem there:

Fleece Artist – BFL Socks – 115 gms/325m of lovely squishy goodness.  Unfortunately, my camera does not want to capture the red/fuchsia shades correctly.  Those sections that look sort of a barn red are MUCH more vibrant and vary between cherry/fuchsia/burgundy.  Loverly stuff.

Then, I promised something chunky and not from a Canadian dyer.  I can’t locate the skein I was thinking of here.  Maybe Stella ate it, who knows.  Anyway, in it’s place I offer you another skein of pretty sock weight ALSO from a Canadian dyer.  A local woman who owns Knitopia yarn store in Langley.   Unfortunately, they don’t have a website but here is a link to a google search of them.

So, what do I have for you?  This little bit of sunrise loveliness:

60% Merino/30% bamboo/10% nylon – 113 gms & 398 metres.  Very soft and it has a nice sheen to it too.  It does not say whether or not it’s superwash, so I would err on the safe side and hand wash if you are the lucky winner of this one.  Just think, you could make Tequila Sunrise socks.  How cool would that be?

So, post me a comment by midnight Pacific time, June 3, 2009, telling me what your favourite book is and why you liked it so much.  I’ll do the draw on June 4, 2009 and post up who the lucky winners are. 

I know why you’re here!

You wanna know if you won something! Without further ado, the winners of the Knit for Dulaan contest

1. Lucy wins the Stitch markers!

2. CeCe wins the Regia Cotton!

3. No Blog Rachel wins the Lana Gatto!

4. Pat wins the Scarves & Shawls book!

Send me your snail mail address and I will visit Mr. Post Office this Saturday. Rachel, I think I lost your snail mail addy. I’m so addled lately it’s just embarassing.

Thank you so much for knitting for Dulaan and for entering the contest. I love that we are all helping with such a worthwhile cause. And, I really love seeing what everyone is working on and stealing er getting new ideas for future knitting projects for Dulaan. You guys are really great, I’m so proud to know you. Okay, must stop now, getting mushy and stuff.

I’ll post up some Sun Run picis tomorrow night, after the hockey game of course! Duh. My boys won last night, in overtime. I don’t think my nerves can take all this overtime. Oh, I almost forgot, I got a new job today. I start on Monday. How’s that for fast turnaround? Now I feel even more addled than normal.

I’m so weak…

But, I don’t think it’s all my fault. I went to Birkeland Brothers today. Oh my. I was just going to get a bit of fibre for spinning for when my Spindolyn arrives. Um yeah, let’s just say that my yarn diet was seriously if not mortally wounded. First there was the Pima Cotton/silk blend, and the Drops Alpaca, and then the Mellenweit sock yarn. I’m so weak. But I did get a lovely little back of fibre for spinning. 100 grams worth, in addition to the 800 grams of lovely lovely yarn I bought.

Worthless and weak I tell you! Worthless and weak. Phe, whatever. Live hard, buy yarn.

Next month Rabbitch is going to be doing up one of the display windows at Birkeland Bros in style. Make sure you stop by and have a look at her goodies. She loves it when folks do that. Snort.

Tomorrow is the Vancouver Sun Run. Think of me out there forcing my rather largesh frame along the 10km course. The weather is supposed to be very good though, which is nice. I’ll try to get some good picis for y’all. Vancouver is a beautiful city so the scenery along the course is good for distracting you from thinking about your aching feet & calves.

Tomorrow is also the last day to send me in your entries for the Dulaan contest. Cutoff is midnight tomorrow night. So far, not as many entries as in last fall’s contest so those of you already in there, much better odds of winning! Those of you who have been waiting until the last minute, time is almost up.

My beloved Canucks lost last night too. I was most sad. They just didn’t seem to have it together, I think that super long game on Wednesday must have ground them up a bit. Plus, they were missing three players due to injury. Not good, not good at all. Have to make sure I’m wearing my lucking underwear tomorrow night. Whatever works baby, whatever works.

Go Canucks Go

Game two tonight! Here’s hoping that the boys just wipe the floor with the Stars within 3 periods of play. Please, I’m too old to be watching quadruple overtime games. My heart can’t take it.

And, we’re getting down to the last few days of the Knit for Dulaan contest. You have until midnight pacific time on Sunday night to enter. Just send me a pici or a link to a pici to the email address in the sidebar to be entered. One entry for each item you’ve made between Mar 1 and Apr 15. Hubby will be doing the draw on Monday night after work and I’ll post and contact the winners then.

There’s still plenty of time to whip up one more hat or maybe a scarf to enter. Can’t wait to hear from you.

Now, if everyone out there could send some very winning vibes to my Canucks tonight the would be great! Thanks.

More entries, and a linkfest

The Dulaan contest is getting exciting! Just look at this! Lucy over at Workbasket submitted 16 items. Whoot whoot! I am blown away.

Now go on over there and wish her a happy birthday.

And Beth, (who I believe is blogless, but if not, please speak up and let us come to your place!) made this gorgeous steppe sweater for Dulaan. I love the colours and it looks amazingly warm and comfy. I love it. Note to self, must make one of these sweaters.

It’s always so exciting to see what other people are creating, especially for something as wonderful as Dulaan. Thanks guys, you rock!

Now, how many of you signed up for Sockapalooza 4 today? I can’t wait to get my partner. I want to cast on right now. Sing out in comments if you’re in on this. I would love to follow along with all of you on what socks you’re making.

Okay, first game of the NHL playoffs tonight. My Canucks are playing the Stars, at home. And…it’s Trevor Linden’s birthday. Swoon. Everything send some good hockey juju for my boys. They so deserve a Stanley Cup.

The only problem I foresee, my gauge is completely screwy when I’m watching hockey, especially playoffs. Should make for an interesting Poppy.

Oh, before I forget, I also joined Hello Yarn’s fibre club. ‘Cause I ordered that Spindolyn. Oh crap, another obsessive hobby. Sigh.

I’m what?

38 you say? Wow, that’s flipping amazing. I never thought I’d be that old, not ever! It’s okay though, I usually act like I’m 12.

The rain has finally stopped here in the wettest place on earth! We broke all kinds of weather records. Most consecutive days of rain, most rain in the month of March, most muddy dog footprints I’ve EVER had to clean up in a month, etc, etc.

On Saturday my mom and I met up with Linda and hit the Sewing and Needlework show in Abbotsford. I was virtuous and bought no yarn. Virtuous might be overstating it, nothing really sang out to me. Which is good. However, I should be flogged for forgetting that Saturday was Linda’s birthday! Can you imagine? I was her secret pal last year, there is positively no excuse for forgetting something that important. Ridunkulous. I’m so sorry Linda, I hope spending part of your special day with mom and me was at least a little bit fun for you!

There was a book vendor at the show, Copperfield’s Books, and they had a tonne of knitting books. Three in particular that I’ve been wanting.
So they came home with me. The mitten book is a great resource book. I’ve wanted Charlene Schurch’s book forever, but unless they reprint, that isn’t going to happen. Her “Hat’s On” book is amazing too, but not available at amazon.ca only at amazon.com. I should send a note and see if they will stock it. We are the great white north, we need hat books!

And, while I was at the momma’s I finished up two more Dulaan hats. Only 20 more days to enter the Dulaan contest. Let me hear from you!

The Patons SWS is really nice stuff. I also started working on my Noro blanket again, finally. After I farted around with the sewing/quilting you see in the last post. Mom and I got inspired at the show on Saturday and we’re both blowing the dust off of our machines. I also picked up enough cotton chenille for a baby blanket for a friend at work so I might just play around with that this afternoon. I’m pretty sure I can sew a baby blanket much faster than I can knit one so I think with all these gals at work having so many babies, that might be the way of the future for me! I’ll keep the knitting time for Dulaan and me!

Okay, I’m out. I’m going to go make another cup of coffee and head to the basement for some more sewing.