Remodeling Fever!

It all began with replacing our large picture window with a brand new bay window just before Thanksgiving. We installed a movie screen under the valence and purchased a digital projector for our own little movie theater.   We love it! The cats love it!  George was then inspired to paint the door red.  This got the ball rolling, so to speak.

Remodeling our kitchen was a project long overdue, and the success with the bay window and door inspired us to tackle this next.  My fifties-era kitchen with painted plywood cabinets, a stove with only two working burners, a tiny, tiny oven and no dishwasher had served its purpose.  We finally decided the time had come. Of course, we couldn't just simply work on the kitchen, that wouldn't make enough of a mess!  A leak had sprung in a pipe last Fall and the ultimately successful attempt to find the leak and fix it resulted in the destruction of a bathroom ceiling and laundry room ceiling on one floor and a bathroom wall and floor in another level.  This destruction also needed repair and so a contractor friend of George's was hired to repair the ceiling damage.  The beautifully accomplished repair led to the need for painting the bathroom, laundry room and adjacent hallway (which had suffered much abuse from teenage children moving in and out).  Of course, the bathroom upstairs also needed updating and repairing so we ended up tackling ALLLLLLL THE PROJECTS AT ONCE!!!!!  Why not?! 

So far I've completed painting the bathroom, laundry room and hallway just about, the kitchen has been mostly gutted, a new ceiling, light fixtures and electrical outlets are installed and a brand spanking new stainless steel gas stove and french door, bottom freezer refrigerator has been installed.  The cabinets have arrived (although one is not what we ordered and will be replaced).  I decided to save $800+ and glaze the natural maple cabinet Kraftmaid doors myself.

Medieval Feast 2013

Knit and Needle felted frog project! Fun!!!

http://ravel.me/schrlauws/b1

Above link will show the description of this project and pictures! I love needle felting!

Designing Fever!

"Knit Happy" stitch counter

 My newest design came to life today. This design rattled around in my head all week until I finally had the time today to sew.  I created a knitting caddy scarf to corral my knitting tools so they won't escape and hide on me. I like to stick my tools in my fleece pocket, but I'm not always wearing it, so I thought it would be great to have several pockets to hang around my neck to help me keep track of everything.  I also made two new stitch counters from various beads and cording.  I love how they all come out!  I used stitch markers that belonged to my Grandmother Margaret for the loops on the scarf to hang items such as the stitch counters.  The pocket on my left has guide loops inside to keep the needles upright.  This will be great to take along in the car too!  It was fun to get a chance to sew again.

Knitting Caddy Scarf designed by me!

Wooden and metal bead stitch counter

Fingerless Cable Celebration Mittens

Cabled Fall Celebration Cape

I recently completed 2 original knitting projects and wrote up the patterns that I am now selling on Ravelry.com.  I definitely learned a great deal!  Pattern writing is quite challenging, but very rewarding!  My first published design The Cabled Fall Celebration Cape has sold quite a few copies already and I will be teaching a class on how to make this garment at The Artful Yarn, February 2, 2013.  The second pattern is for Fingerless Cable Celebration Mittens as an accessory for the cape, or fun by themselves!  I've worn mine at work quite a bit since it has been very cold in our building lately. 

Back to Blogging Again!

It has been a very long time since I posted to this Blog!  We did go on that fantastic 320+ mile bicycle ride 2 years ago from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. and many more since then of lesser length. 

I actually went on my first bicycle ride of the year TODAY!!!! January 12, 2013!!!  It was in the 60's and I managed to get in a 6+ mile bicycle ride while children played in snowplow pile remnants 2 feet high along the road.  I only needed a fleece jacket.

We are currently in the throes of remodeling!  It began with the desire to finally update my 1950's kitchen and has morphed into gutting the kitchen and master bathroom upstairs plus repairing various ceilings, walls and several painting projects here and there.  I'll post pictures as we go.  We have installed a new ceiling light, ordered a refrigerator, gas stove with a convection oven and a DISHWASHER (something I haven't had!).  We also ordered the cabinets $$$$$ and are considering various options for the counter tops.  I worked on ordering a new bathroom vanity today and learned all about Cambria quartz counter tops.  :-)

320 Mile Bicycle Trip All Planned!

All the reservations are made. All the equipment is purchased and ready to install. We are trying to get ourselves in shape -although the rainy weather hasn't helped with this! We rode the Maple Highlands trail for 16.4 miles today with nearly fully loaded panniers to try everything out. I'm still tweaking the packing list and have a bit more research to do before we are off on "The ride of our life!" We will be starting in Boston, Pa. just outside of Pittsburgh and ride to Washington D.C.

Western Reserve Greenway Trail Part 2! From Orwell to Warren ~ 34 miles round trip

Feeling awesome today!

Yesterday George and I went on our longest bike ride ever ~ 34 miles for the round trip on the Western Reserve Greenway Trail from Orwell in Ashtabula County to Northern Warren in Trumbull County. It was a gorgeous day in the high 60s, low 70s. A perfect temperature for riding.

We rode our new Misceo 1.0 bicycles purchased from Century Cycles in Medina (mine a medium) and Pennisula (George's an extra large). They have 28" wheels with slightly thinner tires than our previous bikes and 24 gears so they really move! They also have suspension in the front fork (which can be locked out if desired).

We attached the bike rear rack to George's bicycle to accomodate a blanket and packed lunch in our bicycle panniers. Its a good thing we brought food along since there are no places to purchase food along this part of the trail. There were, however, ample bathrooms, unlike the Ashtabula County part of the trail.

We added 'bars' (horns?) to our handlebars which I really enjoyed. They allowed me to change the position of my hands and back/butt frequently which really helped cut down on hand numbness and saddle issues! We both were much less fatigued on these bicycles and traveled faster too - although I'm just guessing at that since we don't have bicycle computers for these bikes yet.

It was a gorgeous ride. I think this part of the trail is somewhat more scenic than the Orwell to Ashtabula section. You can decide from the pictures!

This morning we got back in the saddles again and rode into Chagrin Falls for a lovely breakfast ~ 7 miles round trip for a grand total of ~ 41 miles this weekend! Awesome!!!!!!!!! We just might be able to do our trip in June on the GAP and C & O Canal Trails!!!! I'm feeling much more confident. These new bicycles are just the ticket!