and about 100 beers later.....

.....the power was back on. Mother nature really let loose yesterday with the weirdest weather I'd ever seen: Clear blue sunny skies, Blustery winds, and 75 mph gusts-thanks to the reminants of "Ike". Also, Thanks to Carolyn for baiting me to post this week.....and I should point out my Rudeness publically for not responding to her nice e-mail..."I'm sorry". so who wants pics? I got em' this week! Fo's, yarn fresh out the dyepot, tree carnage, puppy pics, all of it! Here goes.....

Matilda is growing up nicely, and she's sitting on command, knows "down" and "come", waits patiently for her supper, and is never on a leash outside of the yard....and man, she loves her outside time! (note all of the sticks in the yard, but my maple survived the tree holicost) It's been a few weeks since theres been an acicdent too, so I am slowly considering refinishing the wood floors sooner than later. every now and again, I get a complete passive protest from her about coming back inside, which today looked like this:

Normally, I have to walk across the yard and invite her back in, but today I just rubbed her little belly, and walked away. by the time I hit the screen porch door, she was right at my side. That's my girl. So, on to the carnage.....The tree below I think twisted all the way around on the way down. there are dozens down around westgate park, and I was really impressed at all the city clean up trucks in the park sawing brush off the paved paths and fencing off all the dangerous trees. about 10 trucks in all, just for my park...kudos to them.

I have the greatest neighbors, and life here in "the hood" (it's not really) is a constant blast, so in true neighborly fasion, we threw a block party with the power out! (micah would have been proud) 7 dogs, 3 kids, 20 adults all throwing down in my backyard in the dark. We fired up the barbecue, filled up my old galvanized pail with ice and 100 beers, and got to work! hell, 10 of us even went for a walk through the park about 1 am, climbing the downed trees and whooping like silverback gorillas.....(a lot of beer down then...)

The kids and I went out for a picture cruise today (yeah, the kustom kruiser is the much fun to ride) and shot most of these.

Last Night, when the winds were blowing 40-50 Mph, and gusting to 75mph, this porta potty was cruising across the soccer fields and since I had a truck bed full of neighbors going for a ride to see all the damage we hopped on top and surfed across the park. I wish I had the camera then. We even flew and broke 2 kites. apparently they were not up to the challenge. Trees started going down about 2 pm, and the power was gone by 3 pm.....back on at 5:30 this morning......

after an awesome meal of Brats, burgers, corn and salmon burgers for the vegans(all done on the grill) someone came up with a radio and an 3" mini tv and we all huddled around the steelers/browns game. I couldn't tell you who won, But I got hozed along with many others and had an awesome time. the pic below is a good depiction of what the whole neighborhood looks like, just a wreck!

Off the needles came the first of 2 ribbed watch caps I'm knittin' for my 2 buddies as early x-mas gifts. they are deer hunting maniacs and both have been begging for them this year for the anual hat gift I give them. Hand dyed by me using pro chem dyes and knit picks bare merino worsted superwash.

Next up is cast on hat#2 out of some yarn I dyed up in a 3 color stripe, but since it's Kramer Judy DK superwash merino, and the stripes are looking really thin, I think It may be socks instead, but I'll see in another few rows...There isn't much else to report from here, and I hope I've entertained you all a bit for the day. Last nights blow out was so much fun, and thank god most of the jobsites were without power, and schools were closed city wide, or I'td been a loooong day for me for certain. Be productive citizens tomorrow, Millions of people on goverment assistance are depending on YOU!!!

-matty

on the grind.....

Big thanks to Mia, who baits (guilts : ) me into posting everytime I want to stop blogging/delete the blog/or in this case, just let too much time lapse between posts. Back in june, I started a familar call from a friend who said, "I could use your help for a weekend or two" on a flip of a historic house in a quaint affluent community outside c-town. I predicted history would repeat itself with this kind of thing and began a grueling 9 week grind with one day off in between.....As we finished the project up, it sold and closed within a week.

so for the last 2 weekends I drank beer on the porch and power knit. finished a pair of socks and a ribbed watch cap and am in the home stretch on another pair, no photographs of any of them to show, but I'll get to it this week, if it fits into my total slacker schedule. in a nutshell, I worked the summer away(totally worth it) without doing much outside of work. What I do have pics of, (drumroll please) is something I have searched long and hard for morethan a year to find, its the single most coveted retro-stretched limo style-beachcruiser-lowrider bicycle ever made and if you can find one (good luck) expect to pay through your......well, you get the point....

enough from me- Dig on this yourself:

Behold, the Kustom Kruiser "Roadster" ....The problem with taking a pic of m on this puppy is at 6'6", I still dwarf it and it barely fits in the back of my big f-150! seriously, I had to tie it down for the 90 minute ride home. I've also seen some Sweet custom ones like these, and this 2 seater... I was like a kid on x-mas morning, and the kids and I bombed down to the local ice cream joint for fun on it last night with a few other neighbors all on 2 wheels.

By the weekend, I should have knitting pics to post, unless of course I decide to get started on the next flip instead (it's already been bought), in which case, lord only knows when I'll get around to it. Thanks for sticking around!

who knew I was pregnant?

yeah, child birth is a bit#%! I started out my friday morning with a slacker friday "I'm outta here" moment (with permission of course) and made a run to damn near west virginia where my baby was.....In a little over 2 hours, I touched down in Flushing Ohio and picked up our new baby girl.....People, meet Matilda....

Yep, It's a girl! A little boston terrier puppy at 7 weeks, born easter morning. I wanted to name her magdaline (easter, mary magdaline, (how catholic was I raised?)) but that wasn't happening with the rest of the fam.....then B wanted to name her coco chanel.....ok, could you picture me at 6'6 and 270 lbs at the park yelling "come back here coco chanel".....me either...Matilda works though, or tilly for short.

By 10 PM, after hours in the car, a couple of quick stops off the highway at some Zanesville Ohio pottery shops, a quick run by a jobsite and a supplier, followed by hours of exploring her new house, She found that Crosby our 10 Year old GSP was a perfect nap buddy. Months ago, I dyed up some coarse wool with some almosted exhausted red dye, and it made a neat rose color next to the matural off white wool color. In my washing machine now is the test felting of about 18" of a 3 stitch I cord that's has wide stripes of rose and natural color of about 4.5 inches each. The goal is to make a long, lightweight drag around lead for her to start off leash training right off the bat. I'll throw up some pics later in the week of knitting, Promise!

-matt

Speed post

It's been a crazy 5 months, but here's what happens when I get the chance to gut the first floor of a 30 year old house in need of a facelift......

New painted maple cabinets, Granite tops, Tumled limestone backsplash.....

Awesome Wolf range, second Dacor under counter oven, fireclay porcelin sink

I won't even mention the cost of the faucet.....

Totally custom and built on site bench seat, I even made the v-groove paneling from scratch.
Custom dry bar w/kitchen aid wine fridge with 3 seperate temp zones

seeded glass in the upper cabinets, granite top, travertine backsplash....

The big red furniture piece, Built in our shop by one of the greatest craftsman I've had the pleasure of learning from, finished offsite, installed by me

Same cabinet, just a close up of hardware and rope mould fronts

It's not often I get to demolish, frame, set cabinets, and do all the trimwork by myself, but to be honest, since this one was all me from start to finish, it's one I am the most proud of. Next week, I'll give up pics of the mantle, powder room, and laundry to finish up the view from my office...maybe even some knitting pics. Relax this weekend, I know I am......

And 2 weeks later.....

.....I still have nothing to report....but tomorrow I take pics of my big 5 month project and as of wednsday evening, I'll be on walkabout.....yep, a few days off are in order, so I got the "Crackmobile" outfitted and am getting set to head out, somewhere....anywhere.....but most importantly, a place where there is no cell reception, and as far as the eye can see rolling hills, thick woods, water, and fish. The bear and I spent sunday on the water catching crappies and as of now, wednsday couldn't come fast enough. Check in tomorrow, I'll have pics of one sweet renovation.....As for now, I'm on my way to Restoration Hardware to pick up a few final pieces!

I can feel, for heavens sake.....

.....for tonight, We'll try something new. More pics, less words, and a short story at the end about taking my 13 year old daughter to her first show.(concert for those not in the know ; )
Most of what I have is about this old house, and the beginings of the process to make it ours. So for starters, lets talk carpet. If theres one thing I hate more than feet, it's carpet.. Carpet is just gross, even when it's brand new like ours was when we moved in, carpet just fuels the germaphobe in me and already I've had enough.....so I did something about it....behold......

Yep, here's where it starts! Enough of the wiring, and replumbung of the laundry area in the basement, and fixing of the down spouts and drainage lines, and.....you get the picture. Time to tear shit apart and put it back together. Get to what I do best....Carpentry.....(and drinking)
With all the excitement, Poor Crosby needed a nap, and as I pulled staples, tack strips, and used hot water and white vinegar to scrub off what seemed like half a million little paint spots he just sacked out and snored. as I pulled back more padding, he'd just move a few feet back and sleep some more. (lucky bastard)
The fruit of my labor was this......Who in their right mind would cover this? To each their own I suppose but knowing what lied beneath ate at me all winter and I have swore for months that I'd rip it all out when spring came. The Misses was a huge help with the billion staples from who knows how many re-carpet-ings and in the end got into the swing of things and was re arranging furniture and talking wall colors by the end of the day. Especially in the dining room.



When there wasn't an assload of snow on the ground, it bothered me to no end that there wasn't any mulch in any of the beds...just mud....that the dog just couldn't stay out of....So before plants started emerging, I picked up a big load of bulk mulch with the "Crack Mobile 150" and laid it on thick. Just in time I'd say since there isn't 3 square inches in any of the flower beds without something popping up. This is better than x-mas morning, since we have no Idea whats in any of them! So far tons of lillies, tulips, 6 out of control Peonie groups, cool ground cover, etc....I'll keep those pics flowing as they come up!

Next week, the lawn gets a nice dusting of powdered Com-Till (pulverized mulch mixed with essentially human wast,e sludge from local waste water facilities)(yelgth.......). As gross as it is, I'll get over it for a kick ass lawn devoid of fertilizers or other chemicals, and I won't tell one damn neighbor what I used when they come asking.... "Oh, some shit from 'Blows' in a bag" is all I'm sayin'!

Didn't I say less words? Damn am I shot......On the knitting frontlines is a variation of my beer cozy, designed with a flap to protect my really expensive Bronze Block plane, known only as "the precious"(like golum from lord of the rings, you get the picture) safe in my nail apron. Everyone who knows me, knows not to fucking touch it. This is not a tool for sharing. it you need one, you need to buy one. That's the rule.....

Next up is a Clog experiment...I love my army man green crocks...The kids love theirs....My wife has several pairs, but they are cold in the winter....So why not knit up Fiber trends clog pattern, just without the second sole as a nice warm liner? I think the Lambs pride bulky verigated I used is still too thick, but since I can crank these puppies out in record time, I'll knit some more out of a thinner yarn on smaller needles until I get it right. On the topic of taking your kids to their first show when they are old enough......

We went to CD101.1's annual spring show.....It was a fuckin' blast! 6 bands, 5 bucks and the line up was awesome.... Ashley loved the switches and they put on a long set of 8 songs complete with knocking over mic stands, wrecking guitars, and roadies scrambling to keep up! She was grinning ear to ear all night and even wanted to stay in the crowd on the floor in front of the stage start to finish. They were good, but the Duke spirit was absolutely awesome live, so much that I'm gonna go see them in a few more weeks again with Black rebel motorcycle club.....Looks as though I've found myself a concert buddy for life, and that I'm not a total square of a parent as she spent all night pointing out the ones hovering in the background, trying to keep an eye on where their kids ran off to.....for the most part, it was a great show, and a well behaved older (but drunken) crowd of mid 20's to mid 30's. A perfect night wasn't complete without a pit stop of taco hell for food.

You better lie down cause the angels are watching.....

.....It's way overdue but I'm back with Lots of good stuff so grab a drink and we'll get started!! Everybody loves crap so we'll get started there. I have officially had 3 full scale basement floods in 60 days to deal with and I can't tell you how much I appreciate the previous owners not disclosing that information. just look at the water coming up out of the fireplace. If they thought they would just get away with it, they were wrong, and I've set my "team" in motion to go get in their ass and see what they find. Maybe corn, maybe coin, we'll see. In the meantime, I've got buckets, shovels, Miller high life, a jackhammer, and I gotta say that with such tough menial tasks ahead, all you need is a mediocre attitude cause a good buzz will make up for the rest. nuff said on that one.

So, who knows what NSAIDS are? anybody, anybody? It pretty much encompasses every pain reliever in your madicine cabinet excluding tylenol, maybe....opinions vary and I need to get tested for that. As of yesterday, I found out the hard way that I am allergic to them. Scary stuff but after an IV full of benydryl, some steroid, and a shitload of synthetic adrenaline, I had an awesome buzz and didn't give a shit about the fact that I was purple from the chest up and my blood pressure was soaring, and I couldn't breath, and was basicly going into shock. good times.

Oficially, there are a pair of epi pens in the glove box of the new crackmobile for the next time.

Anyone want to see some knitting? thought so...

I finished a pair of socks out of my own homegro.., I mean hand dyed yarn and absolutely love them.

I was really worried they were a bit too tight, but after a good washing they relaxed quite nicely.

Weeks ago I ordered some yarn from Ohio Valley Natural fibers and have had a great time dyeing it up for a sweater! A top down raglan was in order after sweater fitting disaster struck with the rowan bottom up one. I am just going to dye up random lengths in random colors and knit them in as I run out of the last. The columbia wool bulky I am using is one denst yarn and will make a nice tough swetaer I hope.

It is supposed to be a sloppy fitting roll top and I am glad I cast on too many stitches at the collar so I can knit it to the right fit later. In hindsight I should have used a temporary cast on and went back after it later, but thats how I learn everything, the hard way. so far I've got a mottled army green, and a slate blue/greyish color and the next color will be either burgandy or brown. we'll see. Tonight, I will sit and relax. Tomorrow, I've got 2 yards of mulch to spread and then a basement to attend to so no slacking off this weekend. Get outside for a bit, walk your dog, and get ready for MDSW! if you are going, remember to watch out for all those deal crazed white women. They'll knock you off over the last skein, It happened to micah last year!