March in Instagrams

The name of the month this time appears to be knitting, shows, and friend hangs. And that one time I made a pretty dinner. This seems fairly predictable. So much so that I almost stopped myself from posting a roundup this month. In the end, though, I realized I'm fine with being predictable and also cant' resist recording these little snapshots of nostalgia to look back on later. 

As always, clockwise from top left....

1. Socks on a plane! I finished this pair of self-patterning socks while on the plane back from Wisconsin at the beginning of the month. I'm not planning on doing an FO post for these, so here's a little more detail: Yarn is Arne and Carlos for Schachenmayr Regia in the Moon Night colorway. The idea is that it's all one skein of yarn, dyed in such a way as to make a Norwegian-ish colorwork design. They were a easy, portable project to take on the trip, but I'm only so-so about the results. The pattern is a bit less striking that I was hoping it would be...and also I'm just not that into wearing socks. If your super into socks and okay with colorwork that's a bit blurry (still not sure if I should have done something differently to make it more pronounced...it could have been me) then I would definitely recommend this yarn.

2.  A typical Friday night and the very start of my Ursula Cardigan!!! I'm making it with Loft and Spincycle Dyed in the Wool. It'll be my first steeked project. It's also probably the most selfish sweater I've ever made, having thrown budgetary concerns to the wind on a sweater for myself for the first time! That and the fact that it's knit on size 4 needles means that lots of time and money are going to go into this sweater. Good thing I'm already in love with it. 

3. Records + pasta making party! Hopefully this will be the first of many record-listening get-togethers that also involve tasty food. If only I could remember and document all the albums we listening to...

4. Another Friday night, another shot of my Ursula! This was just after I had finished the grueling 4.5 inches of ribbing on size 1 needles. Hurray! (I hat ribbing). 

 1. A pretty and easy dish from Plenty. I got this cookbook for Christmas from my Mom and have been slowly trying to work my way through some of its recipes. I love new cookbooks, but I really have to force myself to cook from them in order to get the recipes into my head and into weekly rotation. Otherwise, I tend to forget to try new recipes and instead just pick things out of my memory when making the grocery list.

2. I love it when he wears all the wool. And that jean jacket (swooooooon). On this particular knit he selected a me-made hat and sweater to wear to the Georgetown Artwalk. This was after we felt we had looked at a sufficient amount of art to justify planting at a bar instead.

3. A super, duper old hat for Kevin that was recently unearthed. I think I made this back when we were still in college (10 years ago?). It's out of a 100% acrylic yarn that I probably bought at Joanne Fabrics. How the times have changed. It has not held up well after all these years, but as I remember it was well loved in its day.

4. The Ursula grows!! I took this picture while doing my favorite lunchtime activity of skipping out on the gym and just knitting and listening to a podcast instead. Arn't those color changes so lovely? That's the magic of Spincyle.

1. Oh it's so fun to go to shows. Especially when its Wimps at the Black Lodge (or anywhere, really....these Wimps are so. good.). If you like good old fashion fun music then definitely check them out. That is quite possibly not a great description of their music, but it's all I'm going to attempt.

2. A particularly wonderful strip of my friend and Erin and I in which our outfits just happened to match the photo booth curtain. This was during 90's Dance Party at the Lo-Fi (gawd this post is too long and I'm getting link fatigue). Does anyone else do that thing where you plan out your photo booth poses before you put your money in? So that you're ready for the camera flashes ahead of time? I think my friend Sarah was the first one to introduce me to this concept and it's so helpful. I think our plan for this one was: regular-happy-smiles, badass peace signs, super-serious faces, and CRAZY!! The crazy one is my favorite.

3. More baby gifts! This is the Mae Cardigan by Quince and Co and a free pattern called Lilacs for Lilah (available on Ravelry). I'm particularly happy with how the sweater turned out and am definitely going to make more of these. I even think it could be gender neutral in a different color choice, and maybe even a different pattern edge. This stack was made for a sweet little girl named Agatha :)

4. And finally!! On the very last day of March: a TacocaT show (aka that Taco Cat-Band). This was at their album release show at Chop Suey and it was a good, good time. Also, Mommy Long Legs opened and they are just. so. good. Really, sooooo gooooood. Other highlights of the evening included talking Erin and Andi into wearing temporary sparkle tattoos, repeatedly squishing three people in the photobooth at the back, Kevin being his wonderful mosh-fairy self, and of course following it up with late night breakfast to cure all of our hangover blues. Oh and I got to wear a super sparkly shirt.

January in Instagrams

I want to try to do a better job this year of documenting our months in Instagrams. I really really like looking back on these little snippets! So even though it's a little late (aka almost the end of February) I'm going to go back to January for a "month in review". Here we go, clockwise from top left...

1. I'm kind of obsessed with the Bachelor / Bachelorette. I know, I know. It's not the best quality TV ever. But I swear it's the only reality TV I watch! There's just something about it. I find it ridiculously entertaining. Especially when watched with friends, commentary, and booze. I went to my friend Lauren's for the premier this season, and she made these fancy schmancy mocktails! Don't worry there were also cans of Rainier.

2. I picked up these perfect little cobalt blue pumps at the thrift store, brought them home, and then had the realization that I have amassed an alarming amount of vintage Liz Claiborne stuff. Of the 80's variety. No problems here.

3. Tapes are back folks! I had been looking for a Walkman to listen to some mixtapes that our friend Scott made, and Kevin found this one from his youth and brought it back for me from Wisconsin. And then a sweet work friend brought me a bunch of mixtapes that her dad had made years ago. They're full of Roy Orbison, Patsy Kline, Elvis....and the Eagles.

4. This has been one of my favorite breakfasts for awhile now. Scrambled eggs on rice with Sriracha and toasted sesame seeds. So good.

1. I like to amuse myself at work by pulling out the pretty paperclips I find during the day and photographing them. Look at this pretty rose gold spirally one!

2. Late night breakfast!!! So good after a show. On this night it was Randy's after seeing The Wimps and Mommy Long Legs. 24 hour diners forever!!!!!!!!!!!

3. This is a typical once-a-week occurrence. Watching TV at Scott's house while knitting with a Shooby on my lap. From this picture you might conclude that he likes me. He probably thinks I'm alright. I mean, sometimes I feed him. But really I'm just sitting in his chair.

4. The days are getting longer and sunnier! It's a bit too early to think about *summer*, but regardless, I was pretty excited to see the sun out and beautiful after work one day. I snapped this quick just as I got out and am looking forward to more evening sunshine!

1. Here's a little progress shot on my Pine Bough cowl. It's a big 'ole tube scarf...so kind of a ton of knitting. But it went surprisingly fast! It was three quarters of the way done when this picture was taken, and now it's 100% finished and is being happily worn.

2. Game night! This is another weekly occurrence with some of our Seattle friends and we love it! On this particular night I was dominating as the killer Mantis in Kings of New York. I don't usually "dominate", so of course I had to capture it.

3. A pile of baby knitwear right before being packed up and shipped off to a friend. It's that stage of life right now were lots of folks are having kiddos, so my needles have been busy with lots of wee little projects. All of these are favorite patterns by now that I'll probably be making many more times.

April in Instagrams

I've decided I really like having these monthly round-up posts (via Instagram-ed moments), so I'm going to make an effort to get back to doing them on a more regular basis. Here are some of my favorites from April.

Clockwise from top left...

1. On of my co-workers has a box full of Dum Dums. I frequently dip my hand into that box at least once a day. Do I have a favorite flavor? Nope. They are all good because they all taste like sugar.

2. DUNE!! I love science fiction. I really loved reading Dune in high school but had never seen the David Lynch movie. It's terrible and fantastic. Gimme some steamy Sting any day of the week. Also Kyle MacLachlan. We've been spending quite a bit of time at Central Cinema lately and it's wonderful.

3. Belle and Sebastian. Oh my goodness. I love them so much. They played lots of old stuff and lots of new stuff from the awesome Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. I love the new album a lot, and they had lots of really fantastic visual stuff to go along with it at the live show. Really cool videos. As my friend Scott said, they're just so darn charming. Consider me charmed.

4. Donut Making. Kevin has been doing lots of baking this month. Although this was technically frying and not baking I guess. This was an attempt to recreate his favorite donut - the plain old fashion from Top Pot - using the recipe and directions in their book. The donuts were good but super rich and heavy. We both ate one of them and decided we probably didn't need to make a whole pile and would be better off just going out to the Top Pot store to get our fix. It was a fun activity, though!

1. I've been spending lots of time doing homework and things for the Project Management certificate course that I'm taking through the University of Washington. On this particular night I took my homework over to Scott's house and had Mr. Shooby Tailer help me with it while Kevin and Scott made dinner.

2. Date night at Cafe Presse. It has been too long. Also, I still beam with pride every time he chooses to wear this sweater. It's held up really well to wear, and while there are some things I'd do differently if I made it again (slash am doing differently right now because I am making it again), it's still a really lovely sweater.

3. The Churchill Family Coffee Station featuring my very favorite mug from Tolt. Lately Kevin's been getting up earlier then me and I've been getting coffee delivered to me in bed each morning. So nice.

4. Cat sitting! Our dear friend Scott went out of town for severals days, which meant we got to house sit. Which really means we got to cat sit. So many snuggles and purrs from this fella. He's really turned into quite a friendly cat. As long as you don't attempt to pet him anywhere near his belly or make any quick, toy-like movements with your hands because then YOU DIE. He's also the only cat I've even met that simply likes to smell your food rather than steal it. Such a sniffer. And yes, I do realize there are two cat pictures in this month's review. Trust me when I say I held back.





1. Young Buffalo at the Tractor Tavern. We actually went to see the headliner - Matt Pond PA - but ended up really enjoying the opener a ton. Super fun live. We bought the "House" album a couple of days later and have really been enjoying it.

2. I quite frequently wear my Agatha to work with skirts and dresses (which I don't really wear outside of work too much these days since I have to dress business casual at my current job). On this particular day I was so pleased with my outfit that I just had to ask Kevin to snap my picture. The dress was one I thrifted awhile ago and altered. I shortened the length and sleeves, removed the shoulder pad (oh the 80's) and took off this lacy white trim that was appliquéd to the lapel. The hem's a bit wonky, but because it's so swishy I don't mind.

December in Instagrams

December is my birthday month. While some people might think having a December birthday is not great (you know...because of that other holiday), I like it. It just makes the festive season seem longer and better. Here's our month in here-and-there pictures:

1) Our Christmas tree! Foraged and tagged from the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. 2) Grandma's beads and my new pair of Gingher scissors for a Friday movie / knitting night at our regular haunt. 3) Best. Breakfast. Ever. I call it egg in a frame. 4) Woke up to a very unexpected few inches of snow. It was gone by lunch time but beautiful while it lasted. Coincidentally, this was the morning I had to take our little car to the garage (just an oil change). Yeah, I went anyway. Pshaw snow.

1) Mom found and sent me a ceramic lighted Christmas tree just like I'd been wishing for! 2) Got this guy back from his business trip to China and couldn't be happier. Lattes all around! 3) Sadly, I wasn't able to finish Kevin's sweater in time for Christmas....so I wrapped up a nearly completed sweater. 4) Out annual batch of Cullen Skink.

This last group of photos are from our California road trip. I'll be sharing lots more (pictures and stories) about that trip soon. These are just a taste.

1) Crescent City! Our first stop after crossing into northern California. The coast! 2) A walk through Redwood National Park. 3) One of our first views of the coast after rounding a spectacular corner on Hwy 1. 4) Brunch in San Francisco. This one is from Serpentine.

August in Instagrams

As of semi-recently, I became an iPhone owner. Of all the things that I love about my new phone, it's possible that Instagram is my favorite. Addiction with a capital "A". I think what I love about it is that it makes me take pictures of the everyday things that I wouldn't otherwise think to capture in a photo. It's fun to look back through my photo stream and remember little moments and big moments alike.

Here are some of my August favorites (captioned in clockwise order from the top left):

1) Dinner and pretty blanket at the first KEXP Concert at the Mural of the summer. Unfortunately overcast but still fantastic. 2) A daily Churchill house occurrence using the most perfect coffee carafe brought back from the thrifts in Maine by our dear friend Sarah.  3) Second KEXP Concert at the Mural. Sun!! 4) At Chuck's Hop Shop with friends. I spotted a lone Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy in the cooler (in a can?) and it made me smile.

5) All of my work things packed up and ready to be dropped off at the office on my last day. 6) A drink with the hubs at Fremont Brewing on a perfect sunny day. 7) My epic jobless to-do list. That's right, it's color coded. 8) Space Needle photo shoot during cousin Chad and girlfriend Nina's visit. Come back any time you two!

9) Cascadia Cup: Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders (we won!). 10) The best knitting advice from Elizabeth Zimmermann, knitting sage. 11) An almost complete shot of my EPS linen sweater. 12) Favorite order at Top Pot Doughnuts (enjoyed whilst writing this very post).

And last but not least...a shot taken while out and about on our anniversary. Five years folks!