Monsoon season is in full swing here in New Mexico, and there’s nothing like street watching on a rainy afternoon.
Dallas loves to look outside while it’s raining, except when there’s lightning. It just takes one flash for him to be on my bed, quivering behind some pillows. My new bed isn’t tall enough for him to hide under, although it took him a few head bonks to figure that out. Emma prefers a more subtle method of avoiding lightning strikes. Her philosophy is, “if I can’t see it, then it doesn’t exist”. She simply curls up in her bean bag with her back to the window and gives Dallas strange looks when he runs out the room.
Who needs TV when you have afternoon dog antics to watch?
In the free time arena, it seems that home projects are the new knitting. I have a few new projects to show off, and many more in the works. One I’m especially proud of is my new pot rack.
I’m now convinced that the pot rack is one of the best inventions in recent history (you know, assuming they weren’t invented in medieval times or anything). Not only does it look slick, it’s also extremely functional. My kitchen isn’t gargantuan, so I’ll take all the cabinet space I can get.
And a special thanks goes out to my Dad, who really did all the work to hang the rack. It turned out to be a bit more work than planned, as ceiling is actually mounted on 12″ spaced furring strips, unbeknownst to us. A number of drill holes later, we were finally able to locate the furring strips. Thank goodness for spackle and paint ;)
Another one of my recent decorating endeavors involved setting up a shrine to the dogs in the hallway. Because nothing impresses the ladies more than a guy who has pictures of his dogs everywhere. Right? (I really hope so, otherwise I might be on the road to becoming the male equivalent of a crazy cat lady.)
In addition to a multi-paned frame with lots of dog pictures, I also hung up one of my oldest knitting projects. I bet most of you have never seen this, since it was completed early on in my knitting career. In fact, it was my 3rd knitting project ever.
I was quite ambitious when I began knitting, and I came across a fun pattern book in a craft store, featuring this kitschy blanket with intarsia dog motifs. I thought it would be quite fun to make (little did I know how tedious intarsia can be at times), so I broke the bank for a bunch of Mission Falls 1824 Wool and cast on.
It took me a bit of time, especially to figure out how to do the colorwork, but I soldiered on and completed the blanket. I even lined the back with fleece to give it that extra special touch. Being that it was a small blanket, I knew it would probably end up as wall art, and it has finally lived up to that destiny. I do think it looks pretty handsome hanging up in the hallway, and it’s a great step in my quest to have wool everywhere possible in my house.
Another way I’m working towards domesticity through sheep is by knitting a runner for my new dresser. It’s deliciously textured, especially since I’m using hand-dyed and hand-spun yarn. There’s really no better knitting experience than using yarn that you dyed and spun yourself. Especially when the result is this lovely.
Plus, the good news is that since it’s 249 stitches wide, I have a little longer to spend with this nubbly beauty. In fact, I think I might go knit a row now.
Your home is coming together so nicely! Love that blanket wall hanging!
the wall hanging is great! but yes, your getting dangerously close to being the crazy dog man.
also, we had a dog who has since passed away. he was huge, 90lbs, and he was deathly afraid of thunder. he would hear it coming and start pacing and whimpering. but the worse was at night when he would climb into bed. poor old guy was stinky.
Lookin’ good!
Adam — great job on your many projects! I LOVE those hanging pot/pan holders — and your little tabletop underneath is charming. The little dog wall blanket also looks great; aren’t early knitting projects fun? I was ambitious with my first project as well — a fair ilse sweater, that actually turned out surprisingly well. Enough about me. Your place looks great — I can’t wait to see the completed runner for your new dresser.
Chez YarnNerd is looking fab!!! I love the wall hanging - nice work!
I’ve got a pooch who’s afraid of storms too. She didn’t used to be, but a couple of months ago, we had a tornado warning while hubby and I were out (and got stuck at Target until the warning was over), and I think it was a little noisy here at the house. Ever since then, as soon as there is a bit of thunder, she’s right by one of our feet.
And I totally agree on the pot rack. Best. Invention. Ever. I’d die without mine.
I have a pot rack hanging here with nothing on it i’m afraid. I may tend to burn things so our pots don’t look the greatest :)
Love the wall hanging so cute, i’ve actually been contemplating a ripple wall hanging, we’ll see.
Pot racks! How I love me some pot racks! I only wish that mine was in a place that I could use it! We have one that is a semi-circle; it went over the window at the old house. In the new house it’s over the kitchen window, but on one end there wasn’t any stud work to put the screws in. UGH! I guess that means I’ll just have to get a new one…
Beautiful home, dogs, and knitting!!!
My curiosity is piqued though … which book did you get that pattern out of?
I love the potrack–I need one, too!
Your blanket looks fabu on the wall!
everthing’s really coming along nicely! i also love the doggie wall hanging. i think most dogs are afraid of the thunder. my ‘big dog in a little body’ just hides when it storms.
thanks for sharing, and keep showing us your progress
Dog shrines are great! Anything dog related is supposed to attract ladies! I love the wall hanging too.
wondered how you’ve been!
Love the wall hanging, and yes - a doggy shrine is perfectly acceptable to the ladies! Devotion to animals is a very attractive quality. And apparently, dog ownership & love is okay for either gender, but it’s with cats that things get a little trickier and less attractive. (Or so I’ve been told.)
adam–two things. 1) can you reach the pots if they’re hanging so close to the ceiling?? 2) you’re no longer on the road to becoming a crazy dog man; you’ve long since arrived. :-) but i like you anyway.
The dog quilt looks great on the wall! I remember when you made it, and I also remember how impressed I was that you tackled such a difficult project as a new knitter. Oh to be so brave with my knitting needles…which sadly have been sitting idle for quite some time ( it is gardening season you know). The house looks great…you need to have a housewarming party and show it off!
Give Emma and Dallas a hug from grandma…
I’ll just have to claim the other wall in the hallway for Ripple & Calvin homages. ;)