Radio Silence

There's gonna be some radio/blog silence for awhile. There is some stuff going on and my energy needs to be focused on something and someone else for awhile. There is family stuff, PC and me stuff, just plain ole me stuff and this blog has been a great outlet for me... I am not sure I can have this outlet available and not use it, y'know?

Problem Child

It needs to be ripped. I am not sure I have the heart to do it. I am not sure I can rip back to a recognizable round. Plus, one bambino will be a girl, named C. I have purple. But, baby #2 might be a boy... I need to think on this a bit. Baby C is getting stuff at the shower and some stuff just as we go along....

Here's my "working yarn": (not very portable, is it??) Got this at a JCA sale two years ago. This and 2 other cones: one darker blue and one olive green. Olive is for a sweater for me...













Close-up of the petal-y goodness. I really like this yarn for this project. Maybe it's worth trying to rip back. Yup. I see some constrasting thread in my future.

No excuse

I really don't have an excuse for not blogging lately--- just being busy I guess. My new routine of hitting the gym 5 times a week is eating some of my time though. Have a I mentioned how great my trainer is??

Today will be a whopper of a post: FOs.

First, the WIPs:
1) second bunny hat
2) Aran Wiggles pullover in orange (numero uno) wool.
3) EZ february sweater (in a coral-orange Dale Baby Ull) for Mari's baby-to-be, C.


FO #1:














Pattern: My So-Called Scarf
Yarn: Malabrigo; Jewel Blue (2 skeins)
Needles: US 11
Notes: this went very quickly. I see many more in the future. Malabrigo is sooo soft. this is a gift and I don't want to give it away!

FO#2













FO#3













Pattern: Quicko-Cheapo
Yarn: various encore yarn (wool/acrylic blend)
Needles; US 7 and US 8
Buttons: from Island Yarn
Notes/Mods: changed the neck on the cardigan. Had to rip and re-do the neck on the pullover three times... read the directions carefully. These are both for A, for next year (2 yr old size... A's 18 months now, but a peanut of a kid, so these will fit next fall/winter)

FO#4













Pattern: Bunny Hat from itty bitty hats (Susan B. Anderson)
Yarn: Sublime, pink - 1 ball (127 yds)
Needles: US6, bryspun 16" circulars
Notes: need to make a second one... and add a tail and Ribbons.

FO #5 and #6













Pattern: Kitty (free on Ravelry)
Yarn: acrylic from stash
Needles: US7
Notes: needs whiskers and eyes. Pink is for A, Gray is for M. I see more kitties in the future. PC thinks I am starting an army.

babies, stuffed cats, and gin for my hemlock.

I am working on the Hemlock Ring Blanket for one of the babies-to-be (both Mari and S are due! July and September babies! with moms who love handknits!!).

Edited to Add: One of these babies will be a GIRL!!!!!

I'm stuck.

I am at just into the feather and fan section and I am off by 3 stitches (181 instead of 184). I have the errata (now) and am ready to rip.... anyone else had this problem??

Ripping: I am new to lace-y things and ripping back seems terrifying. It's going to snow tomorrow night... maybe I'll sit at the dining room table with a gin and tonic and rip, rip, rip.

Oh and since the moms-to-be read this blog, leave congratulations and warnings of the complete handknit overload they are about to encounter. :) I have yarn, I am ready to knit. Also, letting me know your favorite newborn-to-toddler pattern would be nice.

SPA: I was there. Next year I am sleeping over again. During the day, I guess most of y'all shopped, b/c the town hall was empty as were the Harakeesett knitting rooms. Hmm.... so, I shopped. :) I did fall down in Amy Boogie's booth--- two skeins of chunky big ball, two skeins of alpaca. I also fell down in Kim's booth--- one skein of Opulence in a midnight blue color for Oh Canada!, the scarf version. Oh and a skein of sock yarn ... and some soap.

Pictures tomorrow. I have two sweaters (for A, my favorite wee one to knit for... these are for growing-into), two kittys (one for A and one for M), a scarf (to keep my tennis buddy warm) and some swatches. Oh, and you may even see the Hemlock Ring blankie.

Hmm... this is probably true

You Belong in 1956

You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!

What Year Do You Belong In?

I am Susie Homemaker. Surprised? I am. While I bitch about housework (don't laugh PC, I do actually DO housework, you just do 1/2), I like a clean house (mine is not... in 1956, I wouldn't be working full time either) and a good meal on the table. And, I try to get a hot nutritious meal on the table by 6pm every night. Sometimes that meal is pizza, but more often than not it's meatloaf, roast beef (tell 'em honey, I make a knock out roast and meatloaf) or mac'n'cheese from scratch. I like to bake and have been known to bake muffins on a Sunday morning before PC gets up. I like setting my table and using cloth napkins and having friends over. My ultimate dream is to stay home and take care of my family. And I think I'd be really good at it.

I really should write these things down

So, the other day I was blog-hopping (y'know how this goes) and I saw something on a very familiar blog (can't remember which one) about tying scarves. Like the fold in half and loop way, twice around your neck way and then... this one that looks like a celtic knot, but isn't and involves you folding in half, looping one dangly end through the loop and then....

I can't remember. I want to know how to do this. Anyone have this sound familiar???

Help. Alzheimer's is slowly kicking in.

SPA for you, SPA for me....

I will be here Saturday ---












for the annual NETA Spin, Knit, SPA weekend.
My friend Andi and I will be starting our adventure at ass o'clock in the morning (I am to supply coffee and awakeness) expecting to arrive around 10am. If you know me, feel free to grab me, hug me, shower me with "hi! how are you's" and so on. I will be knitting, spa-ing, not spinning (does anyone remember the sight of both Cheryl and Mel trying to teach me to spin? It was like watching a frog in a blender.

I have reason to believe that all of this:














will be gone from the state of Maine by the time I arrive. Well, at least there is one saving grace: the Maine highway department is the only highway department that knows how to plow. Seriously, they could make back all their snow-budget by offering classes to nearby states on "how to plow" and "when to plow". (For all of you non-snow living people, "snow budget" is what your town/county/state puts aside for snow removal. It's usually about 70% less than what your town/county/state actually needs. I think people from Florida are in charge of all the budgets in New England. My city ran out of money in December. It wasn't even winter yet.)

Tomorrow, a photo of knitting. Today, a preview of Saturday:













I plan on falling down and losing my wallet in the following locations:
1) The Woolen Rabbit. if only just to give Kim a hug. Oh, that's a lie...I'll probably pick up more sock yarn and some laceweight.
2) Ball and Skein. Um, b/c she shares space with Kim? Once again, a lie. I will be there commandeering more laceweight and potentially a Gust kit.....
3) Spunky Eclectic--- hmm. I would say I am stopping by to see what color Amy's hair is, but once again, a lie. I will be there to spend money (and possibly buy a sheepy mug, if there are any left.)

Happy Valentine's Day

From our love shack to yours!


















A note: our house truly is a love shack. PC and I are very much in love and we have been accused by a friend of "lying about not fighting". I always wondered that about other people's relationships. PC and I seem to have little drama in ours. The bad kind, I mean. We've never broken up, given ultimatums (except this week where PC has threatened to steal my car to go to work if I DON"T GET UP ALREADY), or left hurtful things be said.

So, officially, Saturday is our 5.5 year anniversary. I know... what a thing to remember, huh? We're having dinner at Ariadne and maybe seeing a movie. Or coming home and kickin' the cat off the bed. ;)

Happy Valentine's Day to you... I hope you get whatever snuggles you are looking for.

:) Mini, PC and Pumpkin.

Demo-Cat vs. Knots.

Hi. Pumpkin here. Mom wanted to blog today, but we had "company" over. I don't why they need to vacuum for Grampa and Granma, but anyways....

Mom's feeling better. So much better that she cooked Sunday dinner. Sunday dinner means that other people come over and pet me and give me cookies when no one's looking. I like Sunday dinner. When Dad cooks, it means I get ham. Lots of glorious ham.

I have spent a lot of time looking at Mom when she plays with sticks. I finally got Dad to take a picture. Can you see what she's doing? She's taking perfectly good string and tying it in KNOTS. She says she makes sweaters (that little blonde girl named A is getting a new sweater. Mom made it and said not to sit on it. I like that little girl. She doesn't bite).

Here's mom with sticks. She laughs a lot. She smiles a lot. She smiles most when she sees my dad.

( Mini here... this is my annual--- this is me if you are looking for me at SPA on Saturday photo)

Back to the knots. Fig! Fig! (Hey, Sandy--- get Fig please). Fig, does your mom turn perfectly good string into knots? Do they not know we cannot play with it once it is in KNOTS.

Anyway... someone tell my mom to stop turning string into knots. Or sweaters or whatever.
Later. Pumpkin.
Oh, I'm a self declared Demo-cat... and I am voting FLUFFY IN '08...
Psst... Fluff... wanna run on Fluffy/Pumpkin ticket?

As predicted....

I woke up this morning feeling MUCH better. 10+ hours of sleep probably helped. And bland food (yes, PC... you were right). I am very excited to announce: I drank tea! Real Irish tea with milk and sugar....ooohh....I have at least 3 cups per day and I was without for 6 days. 6.



And here... an early Valentine from Pumpkin:





















(Love mean always having someone to rub your butt)

Carolina on my mind....

But not in my future this weekend. Bummer. I was heading down to NC to visit a girlfriend who is getting married this May. But, the little bug that has been keeping me down? Apparently, that bug doesn't like it when I try to eat real food. You know, non-chicken broth food. I am so tired of this bug already! And on top of it all, it's a real pain in the hips! No, really. I have the worst pain in my extreme lower back and hips. Where is this coming from? I am not sleeping differently. Same pillows. Same amount of time on my ass as normal. No working out, but still... working out makes me hurt, not vice versa.

Anywho, the blog is hard up for photos. And proof I have been knitting. So here ya' go:

Yarn: Dorchester Farms yarn (given to me by Mrs. Bookish)
Pattern: Westport Waves... Jeanne Townsend (via her yahoo group)
Needles: US 1, magic loop method
Notes: Knitting with this yarn was horrible. It left a sticky residue on my hands, my needles... it just felt weird. It also tangled like crazy. But, 3 washes with SOAK later, it's soft and manageable and not one iota of felting to be seen.

Yarn: Lucy Neatby's Celestial Sock Yarn: blue
Pattern: toe-up socks
Needles: US1, Susan bates dpns
Notes: LOVE these socks. Making more stockinette socks. Love the yarn. Love the socks.

Yarn: Fearless Fibers, alpaca/wool dk blend, Bountiful harvest colorway, 500yds.
Pattern: Clapotis
Needles: US 8
Notes: yes, I fell onto the bandwagon (2 years later??) and LOVE this pattern. Very cute wrap.

Yarn: Classic Elite Beatrice, 3 skeins
Pattern: Unoriginal Hat (a la yarnharlot) and my own fingerless mitts
Needles: US 9
Notes: added one full repeat to the hat to make up for the slightly thinner yarn. Love the hat and mitts.... I got this yarn in a swap at my guild and knit it up in front of the swapper! She was very happy to see it made into something!!

The hat, mitts, and socks were knit at a weekend retreat that my guild hosts each year. It was amazing. I will totally go back. I am, regrettably, only going to be at SPA one day this year: Saturday. I will be hanging out in the vendor area, trying to fight off people for Woollen Rabbit Sock yarn (love love love Kim) and I think I will try crowd surfing in Amy Boogie's Spunky Eclectic booth (have you seen this booth: pure mayhem).

I got a present from Norma in the mail and I need to photograph it this weekend. :)


thanks for sticking around--- regular blogging will be back:)

:) Mini

Why did the computer go to the ER?

Because it had a virus.

Oh, it wasn't the computer. It was Mini. PC and I gave a small dinner party on Saturday night that ended with me on my hands and knees, puking. Panicked, I thought we had given food poisoning to our friends (including a very pregnant Mari). Sunday, PC took me to the NWH ER (wonderful doctor, wonderful nurses) for some rehydration via IV and some anti-puking drugs. Poor PC, up all night with a very sick Mini and then in the ER and back home with only 2 hours until game time?? Then the Pats lost. :(

So, I've been home from work--- eating clear fluids for 3 meals a day. Jello is a treat. A fortuitous phone call from work today confirmed my fear: everyone at work was out yesterday. Each employee that attended our Super Bowl potluck on Friday was sick by Saturday evening. Hmm... too long for food poisoning, but just enough time for norovirus. Ugh. No one else had to go to the ER, but I'm glad I did.... thanks to PC for making me go.

More posting tomorrow... I have knitting photos and all that for you.

:) Mini

Roses are Red.....

More blogging tonight... I promise (when your boyfriend starts bitchin' because you haven't blogged... you know you need to!).

A cause near and dear to my heart:

National Go Red Day

My mom has emphysema and this can cause things like CHF (congestive heart failure), which is a form of heart disease. I love my mom and I love me too. So, today, I'll do 5 extra minutes on the elliptical, check in with my trainer (see I told you I have a lot to tell you!) and very proudly: wear RED.

My Kind of Party!

Last night we had quit e the treat! Friends of ours, S (Hi!) and D (and daughter, A... the one I made the curly cue topped hat for?) had us over for dinner-- Yumm-o! S is a very good cook and we had a nice time visiting. (S- I am posting my cookie recipe at the bottom, so keep reading!).

One topic of discussion was the fact that there are always "two groups" within any social group. I.e. people who love music break down into people who think rap is music and people who don't. get it? I was asked if among the knitting groups (and I think more importantly, the knit-blogging group) are there two groups? I answered yes, b/c my first thought was "process vs. product knitters." I am a process knitter. I know product knitters. But, then I thought: sweater kntitters vs. lace knitters vs. sock knitters... the list continues! But, unlike the majority of non-knitting groups, we have found peace among our differences. There are even spinners who are friends with knitters! ha ha ha.

What do y'all think? Do you "feel" the pressure from your counterparts in the knitting world? I have heard people say "I feel like I have to try lace, b/c it's the next step." next step to where? Knitting graduation? My godmother was a wonderful prolific knitter who only knit fisherman knit sweaters. No intarsia. No stripes. No lace. No socks. No mittens. Just fisherman knit sweaters. In worsted weight. No dk. No sport. No chunky. Did she somehow fail to move-up as a knitter? I don't think so, but I am wondering about your opinion.

Our night last night was complete with great conversation, yummy dinner and good friends. No knitting accomplished and I am very okay with that.

Hopefully, sock photos tomorrow or Friday.

:) mini

Recipe for Cookies:
Pre-heat to 350 deg F
Ingredients;
1/4cup shortening
1/4cup butter
1/2cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg yolk
1/2tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2tsp salt

Directions:
Cream shortening, butter, egg yolk, sugar, and vanilla together. Add salt to flour- mix. Add flour mix to butter-sugar mix. Dough should come together fairly quickly. Roll into small balls and roll through granulated sugar (optional). Place on cookie sheet and use thumb to make "divot" in the cookie. Add 1/2 tsp jam to each divot. Bake 8-12 minutes.

Makes: 30 cookies

Brand New Friend

Santa didn't bring it...I got it for myself after-Christmas. :) More later when I figure out how to load photos onto the computer. Keep posted for more interesting photos in the future... Did I mention the new telephoto lens I got too??

Feeling Thin

In so many ways, I am feeling thin. Pants that were just a smidge tight on my DC trip are comfy. Total holiday poundage: -1lb. Amazing, huh? I think stress burns calories. I need to hit the gym tonight. Jinann and I are keeping each other motivated with our yarn and food diets. She's a fellow Norweigan-American.

Thin feelings: unloaded a bunch of my yarn last night at a yarn swap and brought home some new yarn.... yarn that I will use. I am not opposed to trading at all. I got some really cool 100% superwash in a gray that might be nice for a sweater. And some merino. Oh, and some cotton for baby washcloths for M's baby-on-the-way. Yes, yes... this kid's not even going to have commercially made washcloths on it's wee bottom. :)

Thin feelings: time. Before the holidays, I worked 7-4pm, went home (or to the gym, but usually home), made dinner, cleaned up a bit and hung out with PC. Now, I am running to knitting, guild meetings, away for weekends (one weekend in Feb for a visit with a friend in NC, weekend retreat for the guild) and every other thing i have to do. Oh, did I mention I applied to graduate school? Yup. At night. Ugh. And, in April, tennis lessons start again, and seriously, I am taking tennis lessons again.

I just feel so impossibly spread thin. And, the laundry's piling up, the house needs a good cleaning and I need a nap. I am getting home at 9:30-10pm and going to bed at midnight... and waking up at 5;45am.

On a positive note, PC and I are way more social this year than we ever have been before! More entertaining, more being entertained, more "doing stuff", but (are you reading this honey?)--- I need some quiet time on the couch with PC. I need a day of going into town and a long lunch and ... hell, let's do this on Saturday, huh? then come home and watch the football game.

SPA: Ok, I was going to stay over in Maine this year, but there is not a hotel room to be found under $140 a night and well, with being a maid-of-honor (twice!) this year, a trip to Disney on the horizon (PC"s parents rock!), and a move and a potential new-car purchase... that's getting a little rich. Did I mention grad school?? Not.free. A day trip will have to be my option. One of the women in my guild that I like very much (hi Andi!) suggested a day trip and I offered to buy lunch--- I think we have a plan! So, as much as I love Mexican food with Carole, I am sure it's not the last chance i'll get. Next year, better planning and early hotel booking. :)

And... this made me giggle for hours yesterday:

2008

Ahh, that time of year again. It's -4 degrees outside in Boston. It's going to be cold today. Mittens are needed!

My knitting guild is knitting and accepting knitted mittens (machine washable only) for kids at Boston Medical Center intake unit (for transfer to foster care, relatives, etc). If you live in the Boston area and are interested in dropping off (or mailing) a pair of mittens BY JANUARY 15th, please email me for directions/address/more info.

I am not extending any prizes or accepting any hats or anything like that. This is a quick, last minute kind of thing. Any and all mittens appreciated.

Onto the Resolutions, but first the accomplishments of 2007:
1) I stayed smoke-free for 1 year on March 3, 2007. As someone who chain-smoked for 14 years, this amazes me.
2) I made a sweater for PC's mom and it fit!
3) I collected over 1700 hats for kids in Boston
4) PC and I celebrated 5 wonderful years together
5) I knit 3 pair of socks, 9 pair of mittens, 8 hats, 2 baby sweaters, 1 adult sweater.

In 2008,
1) I will work out more and be more "on-point" with Weight Watchers.
2) I will knit myself a sweater. Maybe two.
3) I will learn intarsia
4) I will be more charitable
5) I will be more fiscally responsible. PC and I are getting there. We started contributing more to our 401ks and savings.
6) this leads to.... yup. Yarn diet. I am going to knit from my stash unless it's baby or gift knitting. My good friend is pregnant with her first and long-awaited child. this kid needs handknits.
7) I will knit 10 pairs of socks for me this year. :)

There are some others, but they are not for here.

See you tomorrow!

Nupps stands for...

Nuptuals?

Today is THE DAY. My best friend is getting married and I am not ashamed to say, I finished her shawl yesterday. Yup, blocked all day and night and it is done. I love it. I love it so much I don't want to give it away, but I love Sylvie so much I will. The bride is not camera shy at all, so I'll see if I can get photos of her wearing the shawl.

Off to taste the champagne and calm the bride.... but here's some photos. Check me out on Ravelry too : minisoup.

Specs:

• Pattern: Estonian Garden Shawl by Evelyn Clark
• Yarn: Lang Bebe Superwash Wool (yes, you read that right... and it is splitty)- 4 balls
• Needles: US5 Bryspun Circulars
• Modifications: Sylvie is petite and French so she knows how to wear wraps and scarves, but I didn't want to overpower her gorgeous dress. So, I deleted 4 repeats from the center.
• Comments: I want one. I am seriously considering making this again in a different color. I don't knit lace and I wasn't sure I could do this, but it was easy, the directions were simple and overall, the result is stunning.

This shawl was only capable of being completed by not-so-gentle prodding by PC ("are you done yet?" and "wedding's this weekend y'know") and this beast being occupied with this and not the yarn:

Pumpkin apologizes for monopolizing her mommy for a few weeks.... she'll be a better blogger in 2008.

Ack!

Has it really been that long? Uff da. (that one's for Viking Mama... us Norweigans have to stick together).

Work trip to DC netted an FO for my sis-in-law... the Brea bag. It's getting a lining this week and I have to call WEBS for a strap. You'll get a photo soon.

I have to confess: I gave up on Christmas knitting. I did. I bought presents and put the knitting aside. I joked around to my parents that they are getting MLK-Day sweaters instead. I am happy with it. I will give my brother his slipper socks sometime after Christmas. I just can't deal with the stress right now. I do have a HUGE knitting project that needs to be done by 12/29 (blocked and everything), so that's my priority. I am 1/2 way through it and I have Friday off... a Saturday night snowstorm, Sunday football... I think I am in good shape considering I have the pattern memorized. :)

IF I get the shawl done by the end of the weekend (and block next week!)--- I have one little thing to knit. It's a secret. Sorry :(

I will try to take a photo tonight to show you the Brea bag. An Elizabeth bag got shipped to England (PC's sister) without a photo.... but that's ok.

:) Mini

Oh, where did I put that high horse?

I know, I know... I owe you some FOs. I have them, but a work trip at the end of this week is keeping me on my toes and off my ass, which is how i do 90% of my knitting. Today, though, you are being treated to one of Mini's rambles. Complete without photos. Sorry.

*Note: thanks to all the well wishes. My mom and Rascal, the wonder mutt, are doing fine. *

It all started at 6:10am today. I was drinking my coffee and watching for our favorite weather guy: Jeremy Reiner on Channel 7. The newscaster lady said "Spanking to become illegal in MA." Huh? Spanking as an illegal activity? Now, I am NOT an advocate of child abuse or even over-spanking your child, but isn't parenting supposed to be a personal choice? The first thought that popped into my head: I think I need to stop this. Seriously. I don't have children. yet. But, I do have several philosophies on life and childrearing that I hold dear to me: one, children should be spanked for egregious malicious errors in judgment and two, how I raise my kids has nothing to do with you. I do understand the "violence begets violence" argument ( I am not looking for that here, thank you very much), but I also know that mild forms of corporal punishment have been used for ages and up until recently, we had a generation of kids who obeyed rules and respected authority. One of the largest reasons I do not teach ( I am licensed) is this: kids have no respect for property, people or authority.

My favorite example of "PC parenting gone bad" happened to me a few years ago. I was in my hometown, in a grocery store parking lot, in my car. I had checked all around me and began to back up. I saw something red flash in the passenger side view mirror and I slammed on my brakes, popped the car into park and ran out. I saw a 3 year old standing behind my car. By. Himself. His parents were idly waltzing through the parking lot 5 rows away. I asked him if he was ok and the mom freaked out b/c I was talking to him! I asked her what she was thinking letting a TODDLER run loose in a parking lot. Her response? "We don't believe in setting boundaries for him." Well, lady... do you believe in birthdays? Because he almost didn't have a next one!

That parent's skills were questionable to me. (and dangerous to her child) Nonetheless, I have to respect her right to raise her child as she sees fit. As she is the parent. Not me. Yes, I wish everyone taught their kid table manners and not to stick their fingers in my food at restaurants (yes, they weren't even sitting at my table, little Johnny just reached over and fondled my food), but you as the parents have the right to raise your kids as you see fit. I see a very slippery slope here: when does it stop? When does it become a problem to raise your child as deeply religious? What about raising them without faith? What about sending them to daycare? What about not giving them music lessons? At what point, do you want the state in your house saying "umm.. No, according to Massachusetts State Law 901.35 section 2, Kimberly cannot be sent to bed without dessert for biting her sister. That's neglect." Studies have shown that not breastfeeding your child has a potential for different developmental concerns (obesity, poor immune defense in year one, etc). Will the state tell me I need to breastfeed my kids? Honestly, I'd like one of the men on Beacon Hill tell me what to do with my nipples (how's that for a google hit?).

I grew up with a mom who could make 3 rowdy overtired kids instant angels with one look. You know the look. Every mom has one. I always joke that the threat of the spanking was worse than the actual deed and I think I am right. I pray to God that I never have to lay a hand on my child, but should I be sent to jail if I do? And where does it end? Official "timeout" rules? "No more than 5 minutes per child per day??

I don't think child abuse is a laughing matter, but neither is the loss of rights as parents or humans. If you live in Massachusetts and pay taxes (if you don't, keep a low profile!)-- let this man know that you aren't prepared to let him decide how to raise your kids. Let him know that a nurse in Arlington and a "say anything" yes-man from Beacon Hill are not going to decide how you teach your child, raise your child, discipline your child. Tell him "enough is enough!" Stay out of our families!

*Rant ended. Knitting this week. I promise.*