FO!!! Granny Square Afghan!!

I did it, guys!  I finally finished the granny square afghan I was making for one of my BFF's wedding gift!  AND I finished it with 12 days to go!  So I mailed it to the beautiful couple yesterday!  It took me months.  I got the yarn in October and started knitting squares.  Then I learned to crochet.  And then I learned to granny.  So I switched to granny squares.  And then I took lots of breaks from working on the blanket.  But, here it is!

Age

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

Someone my mom and I have known for years, who passed away a few years ago, used to say that.  He owned a gym.

Me?

Well, I’m conflicted.  I’m part 11 year old and part 75 year old.  You?

Also, those are some gratuitous spring pictures from around my hood today :)  You're welcome.

Yarny Pictures

Yarn, in its various forms, is one of my favorite things to photograph.  Here's some of my recent pics:

scraps from weaving in ends of my granny square blanket

scraps, but with the wrong focus...i think it looks cool :)

a heart i made for a friend of mine :)

I've decided to collect my yarn scraps in this mason jar.  So far it's mostly granny blanket scraps, but there will be more, I promise!

Easter in Chicago 2011

I think Easter in Chicago might be a new tradition for the Deeter family :).  Last year, I wound up having Saturday & Sunday off (in addition to my standard Monday) (the ONLY weekend I had off in my 2 years working at that theatre), so my parents and I came up to Chicago for the weekend.  We ate at ESPN Zone (and watched the Yankees), had a wonderful brunch including a whole fried chicken, and saw Billy Elliot!  It was great.

This year, I live in Chicago, and since I'm running a show right now, I couldn't come home for the weekend.  So, obviously, my parents came here!  My dad found a GREAT deal at the Palmer House downtown, and I stayed at the hotel with them Friday-Sunday.

We had a great dinner at Berghoff on Friday before I headed to work.  After my show, Dad and I had some drinks at the Palmer House bars.

Prosecco in the Lobby Bar

beautiful chandelier in the Lobby Bar

the other bar, that, when the PH was opened, was a feather dancer bar

delicious apple tart dessert!

On Saturday, we did some shopping at the usual Deeters-in-Chicago-spots: Filene's on State Street, Nordstrom Rack, Macy's, Old Navy, and mom and I went to DSW in Lincoln Park and found shoes for the 2 weddings I'm in this summer.  It was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day.  Dad ended up heading up to catch the Cubs game.  They saw my show Saturday night, and we had a delicious pub Easter lunch at The Bar On Buena with my roommate. 

Tulips along State Street!

To top it all off...Dad got me a GRILL for Easter!  So on Sunday, after my show, roomamte Mikey and I grilled out for the first time.  It was amazing, and I cannot wait to keep grilling!!

Sunset over the back of our apartment while we grilled.

My Current Yarning

What's been keeping me busy on my crochet hook recently?  Aside from crocheting up washcloths for my Etsy Shop, this stuff:

 A shawl for the weddings I'm in this summer.  The first one is in May, so there's a chance it will be chilly.  Using Caron Simply Soft (with which  I have a love/hate relationship).  Bridesmaid dress #1 is a champagne/beige color & dress #2 is purple.  So basically this ripple shawl will be perfect.

The other floor manager on my current show has a 11 month old son.  Sunday will be his first Easter.  She saw me making some Bunnies & Chickies for other people, and she requested one of each for Charlie's First Easter Basket.  She already had some yarn for me to use.  I had been making these with Vanna's Choice Baby, so worsted weight.  These little guys are in Bernat Softee Baby, which is significantly thinner.  So these guys are a little smaller.  But equally as adorable!

And the wedding afghan for BFF bride #1.  I took quite a long hiatus from it...look, I just needed a break.  But since the wedding is on 5/14, I've got to get my rear in gear!  I've gotta make 17 more granny squares, finish stitching them all together, and then crochet a lovely granny border. 

So clearly, if I'm working on anything but the shawl or afghan between now and their May 14th due date, slap me, k?  Once you're done reading, check out my Etsy Shop, deeter's yarnings, for some awesome washcloths!!!

Mindy Kaling Interview with The Happiness Project

I agree with everything that is said in the beginning of this article… I love Mindy Kaling (actress/writer/producer for THE OFFICE, and she has an AWESOME twitter presence (@mindykaling).  THE HAPPINESS PROJECT is a book that I got my mom for Mother’s Day/her birthday last year, and she has since given to me so I can read it.  It’s in my TO-READ pile, and hopefully I’ll get to it ASAP.

The author did an interview with Mindy, and, as usual, Mindy is a rockstar.

Check it out.

ABCs of Me!

If you follow the same people I do on Twitter, you know that the ABCs of Me blog posts have been going around.  Two of my favorite yarn tweeters/bloggers did it, so why not join in?  Those people?  Allyson at The Sweatshop of Love and Amy who is Threadpanda.  I had rehearsal during the day yesterday, then had to run work (and personal) errands, and then I headed to work at the theatre for last night's show.  So I barely had time to read their posts and definitely didn't have time to post.  Today, I'm all in!


A. Age:  25

B. Bed size:  Full -- I just got a new mattress, and my  bed is an antique from my grandmother (and older, I think).

C. Chore you hate:  All of them...but the worst would be cleaning my room...

D. Dogs:  My favorite.  I've got one back home in Indy that I miss TERRIBLY.

Bailey Dog!

 

E. Essential start to your day:  Pressing snooze a bunch of times.  And a bowl of cereal.

F. Favorite color:  Blue.  Ask anyone who knows me...almost everything I own is blue.  And I've been dying to crochet a blue & peach  something or other for myself.

G. Gold or silver: White gold.

H. Height: 5’4″

I. Instruments you play: In 3rd grade, I started on Viola then switched to Violin.  Then in 5th grade switched to the Trumpet, but I couldn't buzz my lips so I switched to Clarinet.  After I caught up to the class in my private Clarinet lessons, I took Piano lessons.  I played the Clarinet from 5th grade through college.  Heck Yes Notre Dame Marching Band!

J. Job title:  Stage Manager/Floor Manager

K. Kids:  None...but I adore my cousin's adorable kids!

They have a sister too, but I don't have any pictures of her.

L. Live:  Chicago (Uptown)

M. Mom’s name: Ellen.  Same as Threadpanda's!  Crazy!

N. Nicknames:  Everyone from college calls me Deet or Deeter.  My BFFs from high school call me Ro.

O. Overnight hospital stays: Nope.  But I went to the ER recently!

P. Pet peeve:  Like Allyson at the Sweatshop, I HATE being able to hear people chew.  Basically it makes me want to hit them.  Also...SLURPING.  Blech.

Q. Quote from a movie:  YOU PLAY BALL LIKE A GIRL!

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings:  Only child. 

T. Time you wake up: HA!  As late as possible.  When I'm running shows and working at night, I generally don't wake up til about 10.

U. Underwear:  The Hipster Briefs from Target!

V. Vegetables you dislike: Unfortunately, a lot of them.  But asparagus is the worst.  Worst.

W. What makes you run late: Snooze button.  Or yarn.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Ankle, sternum, and a CT on my head once.

Y. Yummy food you make: COOKIES!  Mom's oatmeal chocolate chip & my no-bake!

Z. Zoo – favorite animal: Giraffes and Penguins!