Peanut & Purls and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SOCKS!

They're done! The godforsaken socks have been knit!!! All of my Christmas 2013 obligations are fulfilled!!!!!

Best of mom...

Most people think their mom is pretty darn special, and the Nicolai sisters are no different. Today's "Best of" post is dedicated to our mom who's 14-year cancer-free anniversary is tomorrow. 

Home & Away: Recipes into tea towels

When I have some free time, there's really nothing I love more than working on a project at home. Get ready, you get to see more of my cat and my house. Win!

Make: fleur-de-lis skirt

Wondering what to do when it's 100 degrees out? Well, that's an easy one!
Coop yourself up in the only air conditioned room in the house and sew a fun skirt...

Plundering mother's garden

I took care of my mom's cats and her horse Sully over the weekend so she could go visit sister Christine in Spokane...ergo I plundered her garden. 

Sully!

To be fair she certainly didn't mind, but boy did I get some treasures--check it out...

snail friends

This weekend was absolutely glorious--the first really nice weekend the PNW has seen this year. I spent the last 2 weekends in class, but after that was through, I did a bunch of yard work with Mom. We came across these two lovebirds as we were planting radishes and lettuce. I shall call them Edna and Timothy (pssst, the dark shell is Edna). 

They shall be my garden pets. 

We became fast friends.

Then I politely dropped them off back home.

See you around, Timothy and Edna!

Oh and PS, I also saw a dead bird on campus this weekend. I took a picture of it when no one was around. A couple of minutes later this girl rode by on her bicycle. She saw the bird and looked really sad. Then she picked up the dead bird (with her hands BIRD FLU, HELLO!!!), and she put the bird in her backpack.

Weirdo.

Vogue, vogue, vogue

My mom saw a nice spring scarf in my latest Vogue Knitting magazine and decided that she would like it.
We went downtown to Canvas Works, and she picked out this lovely shade of pink yarn. 

The yarn is Firefly by Classic Elite Yarns.
It's made in Italy, and is a blend of 75% viscose and 25% linen, which will be nice even in warmer weather.

The pattern is called Drop Lace Scarf and it's the #14 pattern in this season's Vogue Knitting magazine.
Here's a creepy Youtube of the scarf. 

It's coming along quite nicely. I just need to make sure I stay on top of it to get done on time. It was a fluke that the pink matched the color shown in the pattern. I would have picked something a bit more subdued, but there wasn't a lot of color choice in the spring/summer weight knits.

Tacoma Time

I had a mini-break in Tacoma this weekend: hung out with Mom, had no luck at estate sales, wandered around several nurseries, ate the spiciest of spicy chicken burgers at Nick and Catherine's place, and received lots of Bruno's attention.

Some little jellybean sedum--a Mother's Day gift from Catherine.

The succulents were planted in the old bird bath.
These little fellows are also in residence.

Interloper!

As Mom and I surveyed plants and the new dogwood tree, Bruno begged to come outside. No dice.

The ducks stopped by for a visit.

Mom and I split a couple cupcakes--Lemon Coconut & Smores--from
Jubilee Cupcakes & Vintage Candy in North Tacoma.



Bruno slept on my bed, his neat little paws crossed.

He woke when I took the paw picture.

This morning he spent some time in this box--rather inconvenient for
me because I was in the middle of a project which involved getting
at the items in the bottom of said box. He bit me when I tried to move him.

Yep. Weekend accomplished.

Mother, cousin, boyfriend & throw pillows!!!

Today I went to the Funky Junk Sisters antique show at the South Hill Mall.  It was surprisingly pleasant.  I  know that sounds rather snobbish, but you have to understand that anyway who knows the South Hill Mall/surrounding area would probably be surprised to learn that this show was a success!  While the show was put on by the Funky Junk Sisters, I went sans sisters.  Instead I perused with my mother, my cousin, and my boyfriend.

I didn't take any pictures inside, but I did want to show off all of my treasures.  Hold on to your britches...

Peanut is ready to see what I got...

Nick bought me these earrings.  I call them black strawberries.  Price: $5.00

 

Knitted rug, marked down from $11.00.  Price: $5.50

Peanut: "That looks nice, I'll test it out for you."

Please welcome THROW PILLOWS.  The little white pillow has green fabric ribbon.  Price: $2.00  The bigger pillow is made from two old quilt squares.  Price: $10 (I haggled my way down)! The Seattle one was a pillow I had before from an estate sale (in case you were wondering, price: $5.00).

Nick hates throw pillows.  He says that he doesn't understand their purpose and that unless he needs it to sleep, he doesn't like having it around.  That being said, I adore throw pillows. I think they're a great way to add a pop of color and accessorize your living space.  Didn't know you could accessorize your living space?  Well, you can. I even resisted the urge to buy two other pillows I really adored.

Who's this?

Ohhh, it's nut-cat.

Crazy ole nut-cat.

I also purchase another cake stand.  This was was marked down from $22.00.  Price: $11.00

And lastly, I found this old photo album marked down from $6.00.  Price: $3.00

I recommend anyone that enjoys a good treasure hunt to check out the funky junk sister's website.  They will be in Spokane in early June and in Idaho later this summer.  The prices were real reasonable, and everyone was encouraged to barter.

Mom & Sister visit teaser

Hmm... I wonder what we've gotten ourselves into.