I finished my fingerless mitts on Saturday night  This was the kit that Bryan bought for me while we were in Japan.  The directions are all in Japanese (shocking, I know).  I was able to translate some of the directions, like needle size and cables.  There is still a lot of the directions that remain a mystery.  Luckily the pattern is also charted and it was very easy to follow.  There are some great websites that show translations of Japanese knitting symbols to English.

The website I found that had a lot of translations also had a needle chart.  From what I understood, the needle size converted to a US 11.  That was too big (and it is possible that I didn't convert right) so I went down to a size 9 which worked much better.  I probably could have gone down to a size 8 and it would have been just fine.  They are a little slouchy on my wrists which I actually really like.

The right mitt I seamed up and tried on as soon as I finished knitting it.  I should have sewn the little eye beads on first.  It was much easier on the left mitt.  That is why the beads look a little funky on the right mitt.  I plan on using this pattern again.  I think the mitts are very cute and would make a great gift at the holidays.

We had a very busy weekend.  It was filled with family and travel.  And of course the Easter Bunny.  Last Wednesday we left for Minneapolis/St. Paul.  We went for a cousins wedding.

Here it is...Wednesday again.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  I love reading about everyone's projects.  Rather than bore you with the same old Dr. Who scarf, Sylvi sweater and Japanese fingerless mitts I'm sharing a new project.   Several weeks ago I dyed some Cascade Superwash in DK weight with kool-aid.  It wasn't quite how I envisioned it, but I like the tie-dyed effect it has so I cast on a vest for Corrine.  Last year sometime while I was doing my 52 Project, Jodi (who started the project) posted a picture of her son in the cutest little hoodie vest.  Several of us commented on it and she offered to mail the pattern.  So sweet of her since she lives in Australia!  I have decided to make the hoodless version of the pattern.  I'll eventually get it linked on Ravelry.
I am over halfway finished with Love Story with Murders.  It's weird, but I like it.  I still haven't figured it out yet which is good.  While I was the library on Saturday looking for audio books for the car I found this book on the shelves and thought it sounded interesting.  I haven't started it yet, but intend to take it with me to a wedding we are attending this weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

So today is tax day.  For the last couple of years we have done okay.  And by that I mean we have gotten a couple hundred dollars back from both state and federal taxes.  We like that.  It means that we haven't paid too much and the government is using our money and we haven't paid too little and owe money.

That is until this year.  We owe.   A LOT.  We sold Bryan's house last summer and the capital gains screwed us.  I'm not even sure how that works because we had to take money to the closing and we did not make any money on the deal.  The only thing I understand (and then only partially) is that we sold the house for more than he bought it for.   The accountant mentioned something about depreciation, but again, I don't get it.

I am seriously debating getting a second job that is in our neighborhood.  Something that I can take C with me like cat sitting or running errands for the elderly.  Both of which I've done before.  I can most definitely make more money by picking up hours at my current job.  But I don't want to be away from home more than I have to and driving back and forth to the airport is both time consuming and gas expensive.   Plus we'd have to either arrange for day care or Bryan and I would work opposite schedules and we really don't want to not see each other.

I know I'm freaking out right now and maybe just grasping at straws.  I kind of feel like just when we were finally getting a grasp on our financial future we get a huge bucket of cold water thrown in our faces. We will now have to sit down, re do our budget, see what we can eliminate (direct TV), and figure what our monthly payment to the IRS will be.  

Ah,  fun times. NOT!  It will all work out, it just doesn't feel like it right now.

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly yarn along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share books and yarn!  I worked for a week straight and then I got sick so I didn't have much opportunity to knit, but I've been plugging away on the Dr. Who scarf.  I measured it yesterday and it is almost 4 feet long.  I'm not quite to the half way point so I'm thinking maybe it will only be 10 feet long.  Maybe I can stretch it in the end with the tassels?

One of the things we learned in our Financial Peace University class was to give money to charity.  If we start small now, when we are out of debt, it will be easier to give more generously.  I had planned to donate for March to the local Public Television.   Nothing is ever set in stone.

On March 18th there was a small plane crash in the eastern part of Denver.  As it turned out it was one of our pilots in his new airplane.  He was a very experience pilot with more than 25,000 hours in the flight deck.  He had owned this particular airplane for less than two weeks.  Currently there is no news on what caused the crash (pilot error or mechanical?).  I had flown with him many times over my years as a flight attendant and would trust him with my life.  He left behind two grown sons and his girl friend was one of our flight attendants.

I have worked with her only a couple of times and she is the sweetest person.  She has gone through any tragedies in her life.  She lost a child (although I don't know any of those details) and now her boyfriend has died in a tragic accident.  Another co-worker set up a fund for her so she can take time off and grieve.  That way she doesn't have to worry about how she will pay her bills.  I logged in last week to make my donation.  I am in awe at the generosity of my co-workers.  They are just shy of their $10,000 goal.  It truly is a family that I work with.  

I have been slacking a little in the picture department.  I have a bunch of them, but the are spread between my ancient ibook and my new MacBook.   I finally have had the time to consolidate my 52 project pictures in one place for future ease.  The 52 Project is a portrait a week for a year.

9/52 (3/2) At the park.

11/52 (3/16)  Dancing with school friends.

12/52 (3/23)  She has wanted the kitties to sleep with her for ages.  Finally, one did!

*  Today I have no voice.  I am worn out and have laid on the couch all day.  I thought I would knit and read, but only managed the energy to knit a few rows.  I'm not sure, but I probably got sick on the airplane.   I know, shocker, but I have worked the last seven out of eight days.  So of course on my days off when I want to get stuff done, I don't feel well.

*  It snowed again last night.  But it's gone today.  Springtime in the Rockies.

* I am debating getting two more chickens.  We'd have to build a different coop or add on to our existing pre-fab coop, because I think the limit on our existing coop is four chickens.

* April 1-7 is Asbestos Awareness Week.   http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/awareness/.

* I got the best compliment on Tuesday.  Corrine and I were at the library where she was checking out library books with her very OWN library card.  A lady was in the check out desk next to us and as she was leaving she told me that Corrine has the very best manners!