Long Overdue

Sorry for the delay between posts.  We've been busy.  Here is proof.

This is the hall bathroom that had a very interesting giraffe wallpaper on it before we ripped it all down.  It will now be painted a very light brown/coffee color.  That was the last of the wallpaper ripping for now.  My fingernails are practically screaming for a manicure which I will indulge in next week.  

In knitting news, I finished these socks about a month ago but hadn't had time to take pictures.  These are my favorite so far that I have worked.  The pattern was called Tyrolean Socks.  I definitely think I will make more of these but in different colors. 

More Friends

We finally were able to see our other friends and neighbors from seminary last week when they came through DFW on a layover back to Scotland.  Jason and Erin were the other couple I spoke of a few posts back.  They moved to Scotland over a year and a half ago so Jason could do his PhD work.  Erin and I used to go walking together every week.  She is now pregnant with their first child!  She is such a cute pregnant lady. 



I meant to get a picture with the two of them, but forgot.  


Changing the subject, I have to say that ABC News is way off.  They posted this picture today:

The caption reads: "Romo and Simpson's sunny getaway."  That is not Tony Romo.  Whoever posted that picture must not watch entertainment news.  It looks absolutely nothing like him, and any Cowboys fan will see that. 

Completed

Actually, I completed this bag over a month ago, but I was lazy and did not take pictures until now.  This is the Farmer's Market Bag from Weekend Knitting.  This bag definitely took me longer than a weekend to knit!  Here is the bag before felting:



Then came the hard part.  I tossed my 100% wool bag that I had worked on for hours upon hours into a washing machine full of hot, hot water.  The result:

 

The bag didn't shrink quite as much as I thougt it would, but I love it.  It it now very sturdy since all the fibers meshed together.  It will be a great bag to use on trips.  It was my first fair isle and my first felting project and I am quite proud of the results.  

The next completed object is a lap blanket made with 100% wool that I bought on clearance at Tuesday Morning (LOVE that store)!  You can buy this particular yarn in yarn stores for $10, but I got it on clearance for $1.75 a skein!  Yeah!!!  Part of the pattern was taken from a book.  It was originally a poncho pattern, but I converted it into a lap blanket.  It holds in heat well and is very warm.




Kevin and I are still painting and scraping wallpaper in the new house.  This particular wallpaper was discovered when we removed a large mirror from the wall in the bathroom.  Definitely original wallpaper from the 70's.



Groovy!

Friends

While Kevin was attending seminary several years ago, we lived in a triplex with two other couples.  We all moved in within a week of each other.  Three and a half years later we moved out and eventually the others moved out also.  Over those years we established a great friendship with those neighbors that we hope to continue for many years to come.  Mike and Michelle are one of those couples.  They moved to Rhode Island when they left seminary and we haven't seen them in over a year.  They came down for graduation last weekend and we were able to spend some time with them.



When we were in seminary, the guys made a ritual out of sitting in the backyard chatting it up after school/work.  It was difficult getting them inside to eat dinner every night.  Over the years we had lots of cookouts in the backyard and ate lots of homeade ice cream.  Good memories.

Tradition

Jaalla and I have the tradition of attending The Nutcracker ballet every year at Bass Hall in downtown Fort Worth.  



First we dined on some delicious Mexican food, then we attended the show.  Here we are on the balcony at Bass Hall during intermission.

 

Afterwards, per tradition, we went to Marble Slab for ice cream.  Yum!

New Hat

I worked this up one afternoon recently.  I had been wanting a winter hat with brown tones.  

Fine Dining

On Sunday night we had an incredible dining experience.  Our friends had a gift card to The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas.  The service, setting, and food was all excellent.  Well worth the money.  It was actually not as expensive as we thought it would be.  An average plate is around $40.  Desert it $13.  Here we are waiting to be seated:



I would have taken a picture of the beautiful presentation on our plates, but the former Mayor of Dallas, Laura Miller, was seated at the table beside us and I didn't want to cause a scene.  I had the baby Turbot, a very mild white fish, with a mustard sauce over a bed of leeks, gnocchi, and fava beans.  For desert I had the chocolate and peanut butter torte.  Both were heavenly!  I would highly recommend this place, and I do hope that we go back again sometime.