New Condo Musings

I have been thinking about upgrading my condo.

Since there is a definite potential that Daniel wants to live with me when he exits the Navy, we'll need something bigger than 460 sqft.

I spoke to my realtor last week, and it was comforting to know that there were definitely options in Seattle... I am looking for a 2 br for <= $300 000.

Here is a list of what I want out of the condo:

Location: My personal "Seattle boundaries" are:
- Golden Gardens on the West
- 65th St. on the North
- 24th Ave. E on the East (just east of I-5)
- Jackson St. on the South

Other Stuff
- 2 parking spots
- no carpet (I can do that myself, although I will pay Gary to come paint again!)
- corner unit (ie plenty of windows)
- 1.5 bathrooms
- gas stove (if possible) or smooth electric cooktop (I have become fond of it!)
- the outside can be vintage, but the inside must be updated (although I love clawfoot tubs!)
- open floor plan
- W&D hiding place
- lots of kitchen counter space (ie not a galley kitchen, unless it's wide / open at both ends)
- dishwasher (I guess. Daniel loves his dishwasher.)
- balcony or patio
- LOW HOA fees (less than 0.1% of the unit's price, if possible. I'm happy to report that my HOA fees only went up by $3 this year!)


I just had a decorating vision earlier today - the bedroom in pale spring green and espresso, with an Asian bent and Japanese cherry blossom accents...which means nice deep shots of pink or red throughout! :)

WIP Update - 24 FEB 08

I haven't been posting much recently! Argh. Not that I think anyone reads this - I don't think I've yet to receive a comment.

No matter. I am challenging myself to record more of my processes - not only will it be fun to look back on this in 50 years, but it might, maybe, help someone else out. :)

I will post pictures later... it's 9:30 PM and I don't have the wherewithal to take pictures and upload them right now.

WIP 1: Daniel's socks

I finished the first sock! Well, almost. I followed the "Twisted Sister's Sock Workbook" instructions on inserting an afterthought heel, and I got that done (I did a wedge heel using El Magic Loop-o), and then I grafted the opening closed using Kitchener stitch - no big deal.... I look at it, and I hadn't moved my needle, so my graft was running vertically. D'oh! OK, so I undid it, and redid the graft horizontally. Except now it looks weird, and I think I need to follow Lucy Neatby's tip to avoid "donkey ears". I think it has something to do with slipping the stitches on the ends over their adjacent stitches... Anyway, it's almost done. I started Sock #2's foot, except I forgot that I was supposed to be doing plain stockinette on the sole, and I had been knitting 2x2 ribbing all the way around, so I have to undo that. Thankfully I'm only maybe 10 rows into it.

WIP 2: Bartholomew's Tantalizing Socks

I am working on the foot for the first one!! They are coming along swimmingly, although I noticed the leg on these socks is pretty high. It's not a bad thing, just somewhat unexpected. Ah well.

WIP 3: Ms. Marigold vest

Also coming along, albeit slower than the socks. This is turning into a do-it-at-home sort of project.

WIP 4: Luv Gun

Is Sleeping.

WIP 5: Viking hat set

I just started a gauge swatch for this! Yay... I am going to use KnitPicks Wool of the Andes, not only because it is actually 100% wool, but because it was $2 a ball, so I could get all the colors I wanted...and my friends will actually have warm hats when I am done. :) Nothing better than a silly warm hat. I'm probably going to give them to them in the height of summer. :) Hahah!

***

Knitting Plans

1) Finish current WIPs

2) Buy drumcarder and start on Dog's Paw Shawl!!! (Enlist mentoring of Jenny on Ravelry)

3) FINISH spinning all the "landscape" yarns

Friday Ferry

I wanted to share some photos I took this past Friday (22 Feb) on the 0620 ferry from Bremerton to Seattle. I had the forethought to bring my camera with me on Thursday night to Daniel's, so I had it readily available when the following shots presented themselves.

This first one is the sunrise.



The Seattle skyline - on the far right you can see the industrial Port of Seattle.

These following pictures were taken on Saturday (23 Feb). I had the day to myself, since Daniel had duty, so I walked around Ballard. It was a lovely day, and though I wanted to sit and knit, I knew I would feel guilty if I wasn't outside, enjoying the sunshine.

This picture is of the Seattle Library's Ballard branch. Note the green roof! :)

For some reason, I have really become fond of taking pictures of tree branches, looking up through them towards the sky. I love seeing the seemingly abstract-and-yet-not branching patterns of the trees, and also seeing the beautiful sky through them. The day was absolutely beautiful - I was barely warm enough in a t-shirt and fleece, but I refused to outside with a jacket on! :)