We are officially moved in to our new house. The amount of unpacking we have to do, and the number of projects we have or want to do, is staggering. I was not really sad at all leaving New York, mostly excited about our amazing house. And it is amazing. But it's also a long way from feeling like home. I forgot that it will take a while - months, perhaps - before I feel settled. And not feeling settled feels pretty awful to me, actually.
But we have nice neighbors who made us cookies and blueberry bread. And a pool (frogs, too, no extra charge). And I have a month before I start my new job, so I'm doing lots of reading, swimming, and knitting in between setting up the house.
Scott's sock was getting really boring, and I finished the Peacock a week before we left (I'll block it soon and photograph it), so I needed a new project. Given that I'm not working this month and have lots of things to buy for the house, I couldn't quite justify spending money on yarn for a new project. But I really was in the mood to start a new St*rmore Fair Isle... I haven't made one of those in a long while. I resorted to the stash. It was a good motivation to set up my knitting room. Oh yes, I have my very own knitting room in my new house. It's a good excuse not to have kids anytime soon - I might eventually have to give up my room.
An aside: now that we have this huge house, I am getting inundated with "when are you having kids?" from all sides. Even at the closing, the previous owner (who has five children) wouldn't let it go. He insists that I should have five also. He also wanted to know if we're Republicans. Clearly, he has no idea who he sold this house to.
Anyway, so I unpacked all my knitting books, and got all my yarn into my room. I remembered that a few years ago, I stashed yarn to make Boudicca's Braid from Aran Knitting. Then I couldn't get gauge, so I decided it would become Katherine Howard from Tudor Roses, but I never started that project. I decided that it really does want to be Boudicca's Braid after all, so I managed to overcome my gauge issues. This is a fine-gauge sweater with cables in different colors over a dark plum-colored background, and is sure to take a very long time. Longer than a fair isle, because I won't have the rhythm, especially as I need seperate lengths of yarn for each of the strands of cable. Here's what I've done in the last couple days:
Okay, that's probably pretty hard to see, since the colors are so dark and I'm rather Photoshop-phobic. Ah well. At least you can sort of see what it will become. And you can see many of the crazy lengths of yarn sticking out from the back. Scott remarked that it's amazing I can keep them all straight. (I replied that it's easy - you just knit with the strand that is attached where you need to knit it.)
So that should keep me busy avoiding the housework and unpacking.
Glad to hear you are moved in. Your own yarn room. I am so jealous.
Wonder if someone here would be willing to move out so I can have my own yarn room. I don't think so.
Have fun setting it up.
Posted by: Dympna | August 03, 2005 at 04:53 PM
I'm glad to hear you're getting settled. I love neighbors that bake goodies! I too had a fiber room until I got pregnant again. It's slow going dismantling it.
Posted by: Amy Boogie | August 03, 2005 at 05:31 PM
Congratulations for having a new home! I hope you will settle in quickly. I wish you many happy hours of knitting there.
Posted by: Susanna | August 04, 2005 at 02:35 AM
Welcome to the neighborhood!
Remember, Tuesdays at the Newburyport library, after 6:30 until 9. Please come, now that you have all this free time!
Posted by: julia fc | August 04, 2005 at 11:46 AM
Moving to Mass soon too. I was looking for homes in your location and decided to rent for a year to get to know the area. I wish you luck with everything and can't wait to see your new projects. Enjoy the new house.
Posted by: Rosa | August 05, 2005 at 08:01 AM
It really DOES take a bit of time to stop feeling like a visitor in your own home when you first move in. I remember that feeling too.
Can't wait to see what pretty things you knit next!
Posted by: the country girl | August 05, 2005 at 10:54 AM
Good luck in this new phase of your life! We will miss you here in NYC. Lovely home. Just lovely! I am officially jealous.
Where will you be working?
Posted by: elisabeth | August 09, 2005 at 08:45 PM
Oh, I've always loved that Starmore pattern! Hope you're settled before you know it.
Posted by: Toni | August 11, 2005 at 11:24 AM
Hi Alison, congrats on being a homeowner! lots of luck and hugs to you and Scott and the rest of your family i know they must all be happy to have a big house for all of your to fit in! :-)
funny thing.. last nite i went to B&N to get your book.. then i got home and found a free copy in my mailbox.. isn't that a hoot.. oh well but you can never have too many pattern books :-) lots of hugs missing you in the city.. Karola
Posted by: Karola | August 12, 2005 at 10:27 AM