So, let’s say mission accomplished, and I’ll probably stay off for the next few days as we’ve got relatives over and things are hectic as usual until next week. I keep forgetting to take a picture a day. Ah well, I’m enjoying myself, mostly.

But first I’m taking a week-long break from blogs, Twitter, and e-mail, the second I finish this post. I’ll still be on Flickr and Ravelry, working on my Beauty and Joy project and knitting projects, respectively. I need a break from blogs though. And the computer, really. I’m on it far too long and right now it’s time to spend with my family and cats. I’ve missed them far too much in the past few months.

So: see you in a week! Have a great one. =)

I’m not doing too bad. I’ve even been taking multiple pictures in one day because I’m so happy about something! Here’s a sampling of seven pictures from the first week:

In the spirit of this week sucked, my choices for things to do this afternoon were as follows: watch TV and knit, read a book that poked out at me from the library, or write letters, which I’ve badly neglected in the last couple of weeks. Guess which one won? Yes, that’s right, I’ve been glued to Hulu and a pair of socks which are now racing by instead of crawling.

Excellent.

I’ve also started looking forward (gasp! shock!) to what I could knit next (after the socks). In all honesty I might knit a bright green Ishbel. I’ve never knit or worn a shawl before, so I’m looking forward to the challenge. And, you know, my hands need a rest from the sock yarn.

Though I’m sure I’ll still knit socks on the side.

I’d also really like a sweater, though sadly my Interweave Knits issues are at home, and full of sweaters I’d like to knit “someday”. I’m hoping the Winter issue comes out soon. Considering the weather here, I could use a few new sweaters. I could also look at my Ravelry queue, which I don’t think I’ve looked at in at least a month. You know, I kind of also like the Ruby Red cardigan in Knitty. I’m really far behind even in just figuring out what’s out right now. Like I said, it’s been a crazy week … month … semester.

Also, before it really gets cold (I mean colder than the pictures in the previous entry), I could use some new mittens. I have orange and reddish-brown worsted weight yarn to use for stranded mittens. Any pattern suggestions? I was kind of thinking of Pirate Mittens or maybe Icewine Mittens but I’m open to other options.

It lifted my mood (I woke up so far on the wrong side of the bed this morning I almost fell over), it excited me with anticipation for future projects. And now I’m going to go hang out in the one air-conditioned room of the house and knit. Just to relax, you know. Because the next few days are going to be long.

Today we got a 3-in-1 copy-scan-printer. On sale. For cheap. I’m so excited to be able to copy stuff! And I’m getting my own once I get back to school. Because it’s cheap and I’d like to have my own printer for once. Also, I got new rechargeable batteries for my camera to replace my 5-year-old-wearing-out ones, so woo hoo! The camera should work better now!

It’s a crazy weekend for us, so take care and talk to you again in a few days! Head over to Lunsh.net where Becky and I will answer any questions you have of us in the meantime.

Luckily, since coming back to Vienna the trees here seem also to have bedecked themselves in fresh spring leaves as well. Blooming flowers abound. Going through the University’s Botanical Gardens on my way home from a walk, I found a couple of things that absolutely floored me with happiness:

Can you tell what it is? Maybe you should click on the picture to go to the Flickr page and view the bigger version. Or maybe that’s enough. You see, that tiny, thin, TALL! shoot that looks like a weed is asparagus! My favorite vegetable of all. I wonder how old these shoots are: are they old enough to eat, or are they in their second or even their first year? I can’t wait to go back to see how its growth progresses.

What else did I see in the garden?

What I am fairly certain is a strawberry patch. Blooming! Soon there will be gorgeous, succulent strawberries falling off of those flowers. I’ve been craving strawberries like there’s no tomorrow lately. I can’t WAIT for these to grow up! I’ll know then that I can get really good strawberries at the supermarket then. (I hope! I keep trying and being disappointed.)

So. Onto my serious topic for the day. I realized today that because I didn’t want to write in my journal, or at Sunbeam Soapbox, or do anything useful meant I had to write in my journal. I had a block and writing there somehow set it free. So here I am again, and I have new terms for my blogging here.

Why new terms? Because the old ones don’t work anymore. I opened this blog to get to know more knitters: but that didn’t work. Maybe I’m too young to enter the knitting community. I don’t know what went “wrong”. But ever since finishing my witchy socks my knitting has been haphazard and has no spirit. Spring has sprung, and my creativity is spilling over from knitting to other venues: writing, doodling, sitting in the sun and thinking. I don’t want to restrain my blog because I don’t want to knit. So from now on? What goes here is what I want to write. No limits. Even if there aren’t pictures. I am first and foremost a writer, so posts with only writing will occur!

What else? I will try my hardest to reach out to others. Not only with comments but e-mails to blog owners. I am here to make connections and get to know people through the Internet. I want to get to know YOU. So I will start dropping people e-mails to say hello. And I want people to feel welcome to e-mail me too.

I am here, I want to get to know you. We can even be penpals!

Here’s my challenge to you, to help me spread good cheer through the Internet: E-mail a blog owner you want to get to know. Say hello! Tell him/her why you’re dropping a note and why you admire this person and would like to get to know him/her better. See what happens. :)