Friday Mishmash

I'm just going to apologize in advance for the amount of pictures on today's post...you'll see why in a minute.  And now, on to the mishmash!

Remember the other day when I rearranged my bedroom?  Well, I got the bright idea to mix things up in my office when I was doing a deep clean recently.  While I can't change the position of my desk, I moved everything else.  I swear, this was harder than moving my bedroom furniture - one shelf thing is actually a wrought-iron baker's rack, and it was heavy!  So I moved things, and cleaned, and moved them and oops, that won't fit on this wall, and moved things again, and again...and here's the end result:

 

Pretty much exactly the same.  Yep. There was a reason things were where they were in the first place - they didn't fit anywhere else!  Although I did get crazy and move this bookshelf to an angled position.  At least everything got a good dusting instead of my usual "Swiffer Swipe" - and I rearranged some of my treasures, so I'm noticing them again.

Oh, and I brought out a friend for bicycle Barbie - See's Candies Barbie, that my mom gave me about 10 years ago.  (Side note: as a child, it would have killed me to leave her in the box - I played with my Barbies - but the box is set up like the store and I like seeing all the detail...however, give me a convincing enough child, and I'll open it!)

After all of that (plus a sore back from dragging the heavy baker's rack all over the room), I realized that what really bugs me is the gold chair - I've been wanting to replace it with a more modern piece, in black-and-white upholstery, but my money priorities have been elsewhere (running shoes/clothes/race fees).  So that's the deal...but hey - at least the room is spotless now!

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I have been doing really well with my ankle not bothering me too much with all the running, but last Saturday, I stepped on an uneven ridge of concrete *just* so, and a sharp pain shot up through my ankle - ARGH!!!  Ever since then, it's been making noise.  After yesterday's short run, I iced it for the first time in forever, and it's feeling better.  My nurse was a big help, what with licking the outside of the bag, too...which is why I ended up tying a towel around it:

I not lick dat.  You stop telling on me.  

(Oh, I also somehow took a chunk out of the top of my foot during all that furniture moving - hence the bandage (and Neosporin underneath).

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OK, here's where the picture explosion begins.  Because...I finished my throw!  Holy cow, I love  how it turned out.  LOVE IT.  I cannot tell you how pleased I am with it, from the yarn feel, to the color, to how gorgeous it was to knit.  This yarn was definitely a splurge, but I am so glad I bought it - and honestly, had I not been in California and in the shopping mindset, I probably wouldn't have, being a cautious new knitter and all.  Now I know - good, gorgeous yarn?  Buy it!!!

Here's the throw:

Knit with 4 skeins of Malabrigo Rasta in Zarzamora, and 1 skein in Indiecita - I divided the Indiecita into thirds, and knit it between each skein of Zarzamora.  Debby encouraged me to do this, and I'm so glad she suggested it as I think it brought even more fun to the look!

 The stripes are actually pretty subtle in person...

I adore how using the stockinette stitch shows off the colors so well.

I knitted 4 rows of garter stitch at the bottom (and top) and also did 5 stitches on the edges, to keep the blanket from curling due to the stockinette stitch.  Love how the border looks on it!

Backside - complete with dog fur.  I laid the throw on my bed to take the pictures and remembered too late that this would be the result.  And I washed the bedspread just a couple days ago!!  Story of my life - dog fur everywhere...

Just another shot of the gorgeous colors!

 So soft, so warm, so wonderful!

Without a doubt, my favorite knitted piece so far!

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I went to my first knitting guild meeting last night - more on that next week, as I think I've exhausted your knitting information patience enough for one post.  Jeff will be home today from his latest trip; we have a coupon to use up at a local Italian restaurant for some yummy carbs before tomorrow's 8 mile run.  Have a great weekend!