The Beginning

So here it is.  My blog.  A place where I will chronicle all my crafting and cooking and growing, and all the bizarre goings-on in my life, and maybe the boring, not-so-bizarre ones too.  You may choose to read or not (at this point, I'm doing this mostly for my own sanity), but know this:  if you know me, you will mostly likely be mentioned in here at some point.  With that said, allow me to introduce the cast of characters:

Me!
Randall: My husband of 1 1/2 years.  A bear of a man.
Riley: My fat kitty, a total momma's boy.
Scooby: Three-legged hard-luck case, a cat's cat, answers to no one.
Fritz: aka Monkey, aka Scheisse Katze, aka Shitzie, aka Naughtiness
Mom: She's my mom.
Dad: He's my dad.
Chubbs: My little brother, not chubby at all.  Lives in upstate New York
Murphy Malone: My mutt-dog, who must live with my parents because he hates my husband
Sarah: My bestie, my doppelganger.  Has husband, Joe, and daughter, Sadie.
The Bloomies: A motley crew of bookish people, and probably the greatest co-workers anyone could ask for. I will introduce these wonderful individuals as they come up.
Dieter: My 2002 VW Golf

                                                                                     

Idlewood in Green Mountain Spinnery Maine Organic Dark

Now on to the crafty stuff.

I recently finished a short-sleeve cowl-neck sweater in a very sheepy wool. I was excited to finish it, but thought I would have to pack it away until fall.  Not so.  May surprised the Chicago area yesterday with yet another cold and rainy day!  So I wore my new sweater and thankfully, no one said I smelled like a farmyard.  But after a personally heinous March and April, May is now here, and despite being chilly, it is an opportunity to start fresh.  It is the time vegetarians love, the Time When Things Grow.  And so in the interest of fresh starts, growth, and optimism, I am knitting all things green this month.  I have a green sweater on the needles, and a green pair of socks in the planning stages.

Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Grove

 Also in the vein of freshness and change, I have cleaned up my eating.  My diet will mostly be vegan, but I will allow myself one meal a day with dairy or egg (I really do love both of these and could never give them up completely).  I have also replaced soda with water and tea.  I think this will be good for my conscience and my waistline.  Plus, a lot of vegan foods are really delicious.  Have you ever tried almond milk? SO good!!  When the farmer's markets open up, and when my garden gets going, it will be ON.  A veritable vegetable Valhalla.

In other news, Dieter is in major need of repairs.  I don't know what that metallic grinding sound is when I brake, but I'm fairly certain that it can't be good.  Keep your fingers crossed that he can hold out till next payday!  Oh, and my printer died.  Dear Stuff, quit crapping out.