Food and Hexagons

Tonight I made pesto for the first time.  It was something I had been meaning to try for some time but was always slightly intimidated.  I had a recipe, but didn't end up measuring anything.  

It turned out super delicious.  We had just enough for our pasta.  I wanted to make more, but I ran out of pine nuts and I didn't really have anything to store it in.  All throughout dinner Paul-John and I were coming up with different meals to have it with - this will definitely be a new staple. 

I tend to be a sucker for stupid gadgets.  However, today at the grocery store I spent the best $2.50 on something that's totally not necessary - a banana cutter!  LOVE IT!  We had fruit salad for dessert and this thing is fantastic.  

Hexagon afghan!  It's been 8 days since I started and so far it is coming along great!  It is using more yarn than I was hoping, but I don't really care too much.  This is my first large blanket, made for our first anniversary and first house (hopefully!) and I want it to be something special that we will have forever.  

I defy time

Created by Train Horns

Lots to write about today!  As far as the house is concerned, we had the inspection and it went alright.  There are a few major things that need to be replaced: water heater, furnace and refrigerator along with a couple more minor things.  We submitted a re-offer to the seller this week and should hear back next week.  Initially I wanted the seller to do the major replacing for us, because it would be less expensive, and Paul-John just wanted money off the price of the house and to do the work ourselves which is what we decided to go with.  Although that doesn't really put cash in our pockets (about $200 off the down payment...) we will be getting the first time home buyer tax credit, and we want to be in control of what gets picked.  We have a tiny water heater now, and it stinks.  I am really not sure what to expect from the seller - whether or not she'll go for our re-offer.  She seems really unwilling to negotiate and was considering renting the house instead of selling it.  But, these are all things she would need to replace if she rents it, so hopefully we will continue to move forward with this.  

I started the hexagon afghan on Tuesday.  If (and this is a big if) I can do between 3 and 4 motifs a day, the afghan will be finished by our 1st anniversary.  I am using this pattern.  I thought about using all the colors I had in a similarly random fashion because it would be the most economical, but I really wanted a pattern that would pop.  So I am doing a sort of sunburst-y type pattern using at least 7 of the colors I have.  

Wednesday Paul-John and I went to the PLanet Earth movie with a colleague and his wife.  It was alright.  About 99% of the movie were scenes from the series.  It was narrated by James Earl Jones and was definitely aimed at kids - the animals were more anthropomorphized, some of the background music was hipper, and bizarrely as Paul-John noted, it rarely stated where exactly the current scene had been filmed.  All that aside, it was pretty great getting to see it in the theater.  

Stash

Here is my stash of Cascade 220 - a total of 16 colors.  I have decided to embark on a hexagonal motif afghan.  I found a great pattern/tutorial to join-as-you-go which eliminates any need for seaming. (Yay!)  But, that also means I need to have a plan before I start and I can't decide whether or not I want to just make it up as I go or have some sort of pattern... or if I need more colors (this is the real problem).  

Yes, please

When thinking about all the major and expensive things we will have to do when we buy a house I really enjoy looking up decorating ideas online and I now really want a hidden door.  

Pretty cool, huh?  

Yin Yang

The house business is finally starting to move along at a pretty good pace.  About three weeks ago we made an offer.  The next day, the seller counter-offered and we accepted and then... nothing.  We did not hear from the seller at all for just over a week.  Our agent talked to the selling agent, who hadn't heard from the seller - wasn't returning phone calls, had cancelled showings and was apparently suddenly having second thoughts about selling.  Finally we heard back and things are now moving forward.

Tonight we did all the mortgage paperwork which was really exciting.  In two days, we have the inspection.   We are trying to get the closing date for May 16th!  

Today...

I am feeling pretty good because I have Saturday and Sunday off.  

I was pleasantly surprised that I received my bonus check today!

I found my wallet, which has been missing for two days, because a police officer at the bar recognized me!  Apparently I left it at the convenience store at the end of my street, and the girls who work there turned it in.