purl and pedal, plus some pooh!

We can do this........right?

2012-01-14T21:50:00.000-05:00

Some days pose more challenges than others. There are moments when it's obvious as to why that is, and then at other times it's completely unapparent as to what is going on and why. Thursday was one of those days. The fatigue, sluggishness, and overall irritability didn't make a lot of sense given that it was a snow day. However, Friday morning brought the answer - a head cold. Fantastic, welcome cold and flu season, here we go. And two days later, three out of four of us were in the "same bucket together" (I know it's wrong, but I'm know for that).

If only time could stop...................

2011-12-05T13:56:00.001-05:00

The count down has begun, and I need it to stop counting. My fun here at home full time is winding down, just a month left. How is that possible? Yes I'm so fortunate, it's still a month left. But how has two months already passed? Oh wait, it's passed with trains, trucks, playing in beans with tractors, the consumption of chicken sausages and almonds and lots of holding, wearing and cuddling this little girl and her big brother. Who can go from being so little to so so so big, in a matter of minutes.

It's not uncommon for people to say that they don't want to go back to work, or that they aren't looking forward to it. What is unexpected is for ME to be thinking and truly feeling that I am not looking forward to it. How will I juggle the two - work and parenthood? Or rather juggle it well? I'll be the first to admit that I am not the dedicated professional I was three years ago. I was figuratively punching a clock last year with just Captain Underpants at home, now with two darlings? Will I ever read a professional journal again? Or rather WANT to read one, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel is far more interesting. The audience is at least. Will I come home and still have enough in the reserve to not get into power struggles with this two year old how is becoming overly independent?

Can you tell I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment? A nap is in order, or a crystal ball. Will I be a good mommy to two like I was to only one at home?
Yes, because I want to be, and I can be.

Remember what is important and what can be let go of.
Keep your eyes on the prize!
And for every minutes of unhappiness you lose 60 seconds of happiness.

Today and yesterday

2011-11-11T21:36:00.001-05:00

Me: "What are you doing?"
S: "Simon waterskiing."
Me: "You're what?"
S: "Simon waterskiing with vacuum cleaner. Mamma, get ski pants for waterskiing."

The things that happen throughout the day.

2011-11-09T20:15:00.000-05:00

Waterskiing with the vacuum cleaner chord.
Me: "What are you doing?"
S: "I waterskiing, momma want turn?"

Pretending to nurse a muppet.
S: "Momma, Ernie want to nurse."
Me: "Ahh, okay"
S: "no momma, no pretend, NURSE Ernie."

Rapid cleaning of a bedroom.
S: "I jump" (off a cubicle bookcase that lays flat on the floor)
Me: "Let's not jump, it's messy here. We can jump later."
S: "clean up now, I do it."

Right now

2011-10-19T15:02:00.001-04:00

Sitting here in the rain, listening to a baby breathe. Another babe is napping and a cup of tea is waiting for me. Boy wonder is waking up, quiet time is over.

Dear 20 something old self,

2011-10-14T20:50:00.000-04:00

Today I have been thinking about you often. There are somethings I wish you could have known, could have seen coming that would have made a difference in your life.

* All those times you were sure that big fun was going on and you weren't part of it - just sit back and enjoy the quiet. The quiet will end, the ginormous fun is coming - in the form of silliness and ridiculousness involving dancing, dump trucks and Grover the likes of which you can't imagine.

* Stop worrying about your social life, and friends. You already know two of your best friends, they happen to be your parents, and live with two of the best people in the world. You're going to meet three other spectacular people and share your life with them, with never a dull moment.

* There will be a time when you get such little sleep you feel sick, and look worse and aren't even able to recognize that you are tired. Enjoy it while it lasts!!

As I think about you today, and how you evolved into this life I lead now, I just had to sit back and smile. For as different as life has become, it's still very similar. You used to push yourself hard until you drop. You now are involved in a marathon of a different kind involving pushing through while exhausted. I loved your life at 20, but I have to tell you that life in your 30's far exceeds and I'm pretty sure life in your 40's with this crew you have acquired will be even better.

Love,

Your 30 something old self

A picture a day.

2011-10-04T13:57:00.000-04:00

Let me introduce you,

2011-09-30T21:15:00.000-04:00

Well, we've been a little occupied, and Miss Annabelle Teran is the reason.

Mr. S is proving to be a great big brother. We sang "happy dirthday to sista" tonight, not completely sure why, but we all went along for the chorus. Followed by a Johnny Cash classic involving Bumpy, Daddy and Momma. Little Miss Annabelle is proving to be a trooper, she sleeps through brother's inspections of "two ears, a tongue and little tiny pingers". We're doing pretty good for the change in sleep patterns that have taken place.

Productivity people!!!!

2011-08-22T13:44:00.000-04:00

We returned yesterday from 12 days in northern Maine, Mr. S and I for that long anyway. I'm very proud of myself as well. I have completed, finished, finalized, any other synonym we can come up with, 5 sweaters and just waiting on putting in a zipper to a 6th. Three for baby and 2 for Mr. S. The bonus is I'm motivated to put the zipper in as well. Plus while I was there, I've got 90% of another sweater for Pud finished. And I completed two little baby socks. Can you believe it? Even better, I purchased and placed the buttons on the same day. I do believe that is a miracle. But with 7 more weeks until this baby is suppose to appear, I guess it was time to make the poor soul a sweater.

Vacation was nice, the weather cooperated very nicely, given the reports I received about the wet season they have been plagued with. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves we all got along, which when considering family pressed into tight quarters for at least a week, that's an accomplishment as well. Bumpy seemed to enjoy all his grandchild!

Daddy's day.

2011-06-20T15:07:00.001-04:00

I think I enjoyed Daddy's day more than Daddy. It was amazing to sit back and observe the two men in my life interact. I've worked primarily with 3 and 4 year old boys for the last 10 years, but I don't have the flare that daddy does. I try to get excited about scooping and dumping, actually I DO get excited. I try to think of new fun ways to get a material from point A to point B. Personally, most are happy to interact with me on a daily basis, my own son included. But man, add Daddy to mix and this mommy has a bit of a tarnish on her play skills. And truly, I'm perfectly happy to step aside and watch the magic at work. It's pretty amazing, on both parts. Maybe it's because when either one of those boys is shedding their love and affection on me, I'm to close to the action to see it at work, but to witness them give to each other is something. I won't say that I love being a mommy or even a wife, but I do love being that boy's mommy and that man's wife. It's a nice place to be.

Living in the moment.

2011-06-07T20:19:00.001-04:00

Super Pud August 2010 crawling around a tent.

Super Pud May 2011, doing yard work.

It's only Tuesday, and I found myself flabbergasted that it was ONLY Tuesday today. How could that be? Are there truly 3 more wake-up and get dressed days this week? I'm going to think of 3 more outfits to squeeze into? It's three whole days until I can lie in bed with Super Pud and leisurely read books as long as we want? Seriously?
Then I had a thought, time is going by too fast, there just can't be any hurrying, so stop complaining. It's already June, I haven't seen dear friends since February. How did that happen? I went over a year before I saw another couple of dear friends. My little baby has evolved before my eyes into this boy who shouts directions from the back seat regarding his preferred music choices, the best route home and how loud the volume to the radio should be. He now calls himself "big guy", as well as his father. I looked at my wonderful husband the other day and realized I've known him for 6 years, we didn't JUST meet a few years ago.
So this afternoon I relaxed, we drew on the blacktop with chalk, and I let him get covered in a sort of red chalk coating that won't wash off, but sure stains the couch. We sat on the floor and played "excavator" and ate too many strawberries and grapes before dinner. We did some other "multi-media" things that some might pass judgement on me for so I'll leave those out for now, then we sat and read books and jumped until it was bedtime. He won't remember tonight for very long, but I will, and even though I still miss the friend I've neglected without intent, and I still have 3 more outfits for the week to manage myself into, I was present in the moment. At this point, that's where I need to be.

The news!

2011-05-19T20:30:00.000-04:00

So here is the newest addition to the family. We have no idea if it's a boy or a girl, but the child has everything it's suppose to have and has started moving this week. I had started knitting it, it's first piece of clothing dedicated just to it and not a hand-me-down from big brother. Had being the main focus of that sentence. Somehow I have messed up the marker placement, and botched my 5th BSJ. It's never happened before and I don't know what I was thinking, so it's been ripped out and will be started again this weekend.

journaling, or is it journalling?

2011-04-19T20:50:00.001-04:00

Either way, this particular individual isn't so hot at it. The idea of it thrills me, I have traveled around the country with journal in hand, and when the journey ends, been very upset that I didn't write a thing down. So here I find myself again, only this time regarding this blog. I am very haphazard with it. The funny thing that occurs to me is when I have the time to sit and write, life has been pretty mundane and everyday. When great things come up, the pace runs so fast and the crash to follow happens so quickly, it's days before I get to this here blog. According to NPR, my son's generation will not have a legacy to refer to. We don't write letters, keep written journals or even photo albums and movie collections any more. Everything is stored on our hard drives and needs accessing with a password. What about our blogs though? Will they stand the test of time? How long will they last and who will be reading them in the distant future? Who knows............

Unrelated to that topic, we had an interesting conversation in this house yesterday.
"Mama, play?", "Sure I'll play with you, what shall we play?".
"Mama play laundry?" ?????????????
"You want to play laundry?"
"Okay."
So playing laundry ensued. I guess I spend a bit of time sitting with him doing laundry, because he promptly started taking the laundry out of the basket, holding it up, wiggling it around and putting it down on the floor. REPEATEDLY. This my dear friends is how my son perceives his mother, a lunatic who takes things out of baskets wiggles them and then puts them down. Enough said.

Busy winter

2011-04-07T22:20:00.000-04:00

Man, this has been a busy winter. That being said, there is very little to show for it. Somehow the months have past quickly, but the actual days seem to take a bit longer to get through.

Time is a very strange concept, and when you are as calendar challenged as I am, it becomes a VERY strange concept. I truly hope that my children do not inherit that bit of genetic make-up from mother. Let's hope for daddy's promptness and diligent list writing.

Brother had a wedding a few months ago as well. That was a nice celebration and mini-vacation for the entire family. It went off without a hitch and Simon was the best man.

There isn't a whole lot more to report on, I believe that we have had an entire week since January 1st without a runny nose or cough, on the boy or mommy end of things.

Spring is coming, it must be coming. We're ready for it to get here.

I have been knitting, I promise.

2011-04-03T21:42:00.000-04:00

The knitting realm hasn't been my friend lately. Between necessary work to complete, trying to get through an online continuing education course that puts me to sleep and simply beginning to feel more my age than ever before, I haven't been knitting by my old standards. It's disappointing because I still have the same excitement to cast on new projects at the old rapid pace, yarn still calls my name from the depths of my computer and well you understand. To be honest everything physical around me is being neglected lately, the house needs my attention, a need to exercise is obvious, and I've come to a complete standstill with my ability to come up with exciting ideas for dinner. But something has dawned on me this weekend. I have been knitting. There are two completely knit small boy sweaters needs to be sewn up. They are folder very nicely waiting my attention, plus there is a knit lace shawl awaiting blocking. I have been knitting - just not finishing. Side note: the sweaters are two sizes bigger than Mr. S, so the urgency to complete them isn't going to hit for a bit.

For another soap box moment, I have been knitting since 1995. I basically ran to my mother after my first professional teacher workshop day because I couldn't sit still and begged her to teach me so I wouldn't lose my job based on bad behavior. She was patient that weekend and taught me knitting and purling and sent me on my way. I ran to a yarn shop and bought enough yarn to make a sweater, (why start small?) and went from there. Until yesterday I had never knit a dishcloth. I decided that we needed a new one and bit the bullet and started. I have to admit that that "little" project had me completely confused in a way I have not been in years of knitting. A simple dishcloth kicked my butt. It's finished now, and the reports from the kitchen are........ and I must agree, it's as big as a baby blanket when wet. I have basically knit a dish towel. Ugghhhh!

Happy Holidays!!!

2010-12-27T11:40:00.002-05:00

I'm hoping that you all had a wonderful weekend and hopefully with the snow that's falling outside, some of you are able to extend your holidays a bit longer. We here at Camp Hartshorne are very excited about another day of nothingness. The holiday itself was wonderful, and continuing on. So far Mr. S's Christmas has lasted three whole days. We are on day three of gift opening and there are still three more presents to go. He has bursts of present opening where one or two are broken into, he'll discover the toy inside and play for the majority of the day with that item. It's been the most perfect Christmas. I'm not assuming others will be like this, once he understands that each package could potentially hold the "hit of the day" but we're enjoying it while we can. If it takes all week to get through the last three I'll be perfectly content. It's very fun to listen to a 17 month old say "oh, wow" as he rips small bits of paper ever so slowly away from the box. Even when he can't see the contents "oh wow" is repeated three or four times over.

Sometimes things just happen because.....

2010-12-11T22:37:00.000-05:00

So today was jamned packed full off activities before it even started, but we forgot to tell Mr. S. and he had his own schedule.
It's been a learning curve, this motherhood stint. Unfortunately, the curve affects two other individuals in this household, not just the mother-in-training. This weeks learning curve - drum roll please- ear infections. Its a long, not overly interesting story, but after a week of fluctuating behavior, he was taken to the doctor and well, now we know why we haven't been sleeping for the last three nights.

So needless to say, his schedule out weighed all others today. The dinner with great friends we haven't seen in a year was cancelled, the trip to run extra errands is on hold, the house is a shambles, and the second Christmas tree of the day is in the living room, a quarter of the way decorated. It's turning into one of those holiday stories for the books, long story short, lack of sleep leads to difficult days. I've just finished letting the movie Motherhood play through while I tried to accomplish something on the list from today. There is a long story with this movie around cost and profits, not to be gotten into here. I really liked it, as a new mom. I wouldn't have otherwise. The point of referencing this movie is truly just to point out that even though the weekend might end up less then anticipated, I'm decorating the Christmas tree by myself again, and I'm so tired that typing real words is taking every bit of my being, it's all fine in truth. There will be more moments like this as the years go by, but they will be outweighed by other, seemingly insignificant at that time, but filled with so much excitement and happiness we'll all just burst. Like Mr. S does every time that vacuum cleaner starts up!

Completed gift!!!

2010-12-09T21:54:00.002-05:00

Here they are, my first pair of men's socks. They are completed in time for Christmas, or rather before Christmas, which is a minor miracle in this house lately. It takes a long time to knit man socks, I think I'm going back to baby socks after this. Mr. Romance did the modeling, nice legs huh?

Ring those bells it's holiday time!!!

2010-11-30T22:27:00.002-05:00

In an attempt to be politically correct and sensitive to everyone's religion, we changed the words to all the Christmas songs at school a few years ago to "holiday" instead of Christmas. That was fun enough, but you really had to smile when instead of singing about Santa, you sang about the "jolly old man". I've had a good time singing them tonight, poor Mr. S. He is stuck with me :) But I think he might like me!

Happy Fanksgibin'

2010-11-25T00:44:00.000-05:00

What are you thankful for today? Family? Turkey? Pie? Sweet Potatoes? Margarine? Don't ask. It's going to be a running holiday joke, starring Grammie and Grampy. We're going to get some mileage out of it too. Have a wonderful holiday and find the fun in it, don't let the craziness get to you!

Trick or treat!!

2010-10-30T22:28:00.001-04:00

Mommy picked the clothes, Mr. S picked the helmet. He might be small but he sure has opinions about things, and today it was wearing the helmet, inside for a long time. The saddest part of the whole thing is that not five minutes after the helmet came off, he walked into a wall so hard that he fell down, poor man.

It's October 27th and 70 degrees???

2010-10-27T19:51:00.000-04:00

So let's all go for a bike ride, shall we?
Yes I know, my child needs some MORE colors in his outfit. What can I say, he dresses like his mother.

autumn leaves are falling, autumn leaves are falling

2010-10-24T15:08:00.001-04:00

all are around. Now I have that preschool circle song stuck in my head. It's a funny world we live in. For years I have sung silly songs, from girl scouts, to camp to work and now to daily life. It's amazing how many times you can sing the same song over and over again. I might start a count for my own insanity - how many times will I sing the clean up song this week? Or maybe not, now that I think about it. But hey, at this point, if singing works, I'll just keep on singing!
We've been fighting virus after virus in the house lately, but that doesn't mean we're not cute!!

UUUURRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!

2010-09-18T13:40:00.003-04:00

I'd like to introduce you to something beautiful. It's soft, smells nice, squishy, and so so very warm. The colors are fabulous and it has just the right amount of drape. It's swings ever so gently as I walk. Here she is.

I love her. This is the second attempt at a sweater out of this yarn. I love the yarn, it's is very light and easy to work with. The sweater pattern itself is very popular right now, and since I had so much of this yarn I decided to try my hand at sleeve and added two more buttons. It would be the most wonderful sweater in the world, if.......................................

I were a 44 inch chest. I'm not. There is nothing wrong with being a 44 inch chest. I wish that I was to tell you the honest truth, because then I would have this wonderful sweater to wear whenever I wanted to. I tried to make it work, I wore it for a whole day, I loved it. But it's just to big, and when asked directly what he thought, Mr. Romance told me that it looked like I could keep another person under there with me. I just don't need that in a sweater right now.

I tried to be good with this. I couldn't follow the pattern as it's written so I took my gauge, my measurements and the EPS with regards to how many stitches to use for the sleeves (which fit perfectly by the way, I do love them). But somewhere in all the distractions and lack of "thought out"ness. I have a huge sweater.

Bottomline: I ripped it right back out again. I want this sweater made from this yarn and I'm on a budget. So, I'm going to try again, and this time I'm casting on about 20 less stitches then before. So at least it should go faster!!!

Oh and I left the picture big, it's how I feel about the whole thing right now and wanted to give you some perspective.

It's happening again, I think.

2010-09-11T20:17:00.000-04:00

Mr. S is only 14 months old, and it looks like we're looking for yet another daycare setting. I've vented about this plenty, but it lurks in the back of my mind all day long. It's similar to dating, you have to call, set up a mutually convenient time to met, make pleasantries and small talk, than either hope that they love you and want you (or rather your child), or you have to break up with them. It's freaking exhausting. Never mind the fact that it has to be fit in after a full day of work/play, when the small boy is so tired he's ready to fight anyone who comes near him, which as can be imagined makes a fantastic first impression.

It's little (or rather huge, depending on how much sleep I'm gotten) things like this that I never could have imagined prior to having a child. These are conversations I might have listened in on and nodded my head and felt minor sympathy with before. Now I'm consumed with it. Oh, I do know that there are people with real problems and this is small in comparison, but it's getting to me. The problem with situations like this is that you can't just jump up and fix it, it takes times. Plus what if I make another bad decision? I didn't know the last situations would turn out like they have. Maybe I should throw all of my reasons for choosing where he's at now out the window and try to find a new criteria. Man, I'd love to out source this to India right now.

Oh and I did find the perfect place, it's also $105.00 more than we pay now. Let see, great daycare but live on ramen noodles for life? I know money's not suppose to be the final say, but that is a lot of money per week, never mind per month. It's actually two thousand less dollars than my entire undergraduate college tuition. Oh did you know that I went to grad school? :)

If I have to go to work,

2010-09-03T20:09:00.002-04:00

then the preschool's a pretty good place to have to go. That's how I'll sum up my first week back at school after a fantastic summer vacation. Since I have to go somewhere, I might as well go there. It might sound like a put down, but I can't think of a higher compliment for a job really. If I can't be on vacation, then I'll go there.

Someone else is enjoying his "school" too. So much so that he's needed continual bathing when he gets home. I'm fine with that, I'll take a happy filthy baby boy over a clean sad one any day.

I'm in love!!

2010-08-19T10:20:00.001-04:00

I have no idea who actually reads this besides Mr. Romance. Sometimes people will comment to me in person about reading it, and other times my wonderful knitting sisters will post a comment. All are appreciated, though I really just use it for myself. Its a great place to just be proud of a project or capture Puddin for a brief second and be able to look back on the moment since they go by so quickly. But right now I feel close to bursting so I'm going to let it spill here. I've had a wonderful summer and here are some reasons why:

I have found time to knit again, it's feels like coming home to a house with bread baking. Even before you eat it you feel warm and satisfied!

Grampie and Grammie have been able to spend a good portion of time with us, which is great seeing as they live 5 hours away, and someone really likes his Grampie!

Honestly we had a very low key birthday celebration (hence the Thanksgiving bib) but we had to have a hat picture!

I was able to have an excuse to go to playgrounds on my days off.

Hiking with my favorite boys.

He doesn't nap, but he sure is cute!

I can't believe that in eleven days it's over again for another year. I live a charmed life indeed, if for no other reason than how happy it can be with the little things. Now I'm off to go squeeze some beautiful red/pink merino cashmere sitting on the coffee table! I'm thinking lace ribbon scarf by Veronick Avery.

Camping........

2010-08-15T09:47:00.000-04:00

On a resent trip to Acadia National Park last weekend, our first introduction to family camping was a bit of a change for me. I think Mr. Romance would be happy to report back that he enjoyed the more lax, less militant camping style, from my previous conservationist, NO impact expectations of years past. Let's face it, when you travel with disposable diapers and a huge red wagon, you let the backpacker in you relax a bit and actually use the dumpster at the campground. I think J might have filed for divorce if I'd insisted on packing out the dirty diapers......I might have divorced myself for that matter.

Someone found out about headlamps!! That was just too much fun.

It's a tough call on who's more excited to go back, mommy, daddy or Puddin'.

The wagon was better entertainment then expected.

Obsessions

2010-07-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

As a person with an addictive personality, any chemical more potent than tequila or those silly cigarettes was not an option during my college years. Knowing that fact about myself might have saved my life, or just made things harder for myself, I probably should have shied away from the tequila. That would have made things simpler as well.
So now here I am in my late 30's. That's the first time I've written that down. Yikes! 37 is closer to 40 than 30 isn't it? Oh well, for anyone who is about to comment on that, the 30's have been so much better than the 20's, so I'm almost excited for the 40's. Plus I'm already grey so who cares. Anyway, off the tangent, I'm in my...(we just covered that, move on) and the addictions have just changed that's all, it's yarn, and my it's all consuming. Here I sit with 20 minutes to myself and I just want to go through my stash. The house is literally falling into itself it's so cluttered and dirty, but it's the bins of yarn I want, the pattern potentials, the possibilities. There are empty needles that need to be filled. I will never get a FO out of any of the things cast on at the current moment, so who cares. Let's just keep at it. It's the potential that is exciting!

Happy Birthday Big Baby!!!

2010-07-17T21:53:00.000-04:00

It's Big Pud's birthday. He's a year old, a whole year old. Man, the things he has learned in only one year. To bad there isn't a way to bottle that and and keep that going for years. I knew that he'd be fun, but I had no idea that it would be this much fun. Honestly if I'd known, I might have done this a bit early. That being said, it's a good thing I waited because I was able to get a lot of things done and it's been a year since I had decent sleep!

I don't remember a lot of last summer but I'm pretty excited for the rest of them!

Summer vacation..............

2010-07-16T09:03:00.000-04:00

As a child, summer vacation meant the lake. That was pretty much it. Before moving to Maine, our family vacations were at the lake, then when we actually lived there, as soon as school was out we'd move to the camp and live there until school went back in. In college though, life kicked in. There were summer jobs away, friends to visit, other parts of the country to see, tourist towns to live and work in. I can say that I've had the opportunity to live in some of the most beautiful places in Maine and New Hampshire, and because of this over the past 15 years I've spent very little time at the lake. Funny how as you get older you begin to appreciate quiet and solitude. I feel like I've had the first REAL summer vacation in years thanks to the lake. And as you can tell from the picture, everybody relaxes at camp :)

In knitting related news, summer vacation has meant some quality knitting time. I'll post pictures when I small man isn't crying.

Full on mommy mode............

2010-06-26T16:35:00.001-04:00

So another school year has passed, and a very eventful one at that. It started out slowly, thank goodness. But by the time February rolled around, it was full swing preschool craziness. Some people ARE what they do. We all know of, it not know, someone who is. These people remain excited, committed, almost single minded, with their job also being their hobby. At times I wish I was more like that, I always think of extra things I'd like to do for work, but then the reality of life (aka laundry and dishes) or even my desire to sit down to knit and watch a favorite show (Glee, this week). But I do truly love my job, I'm very fortunate and wouldn't want it any other way. Don't get me wrong, there are days when I don't want to be there as much I should, but when you get to think about your day in terms like "play" "circle" "snack" "outside", it's fairly easy to get over yourself and enjoy the day.

But here I am on summer vacation, and I love it! It is also only two weeks long before I go back to work part time, which makes it all the sweeter. As the week has evolved I've had to remind myself to let some things go, it began with this feeling that since I was home I should be accomplishing things. I was soon to learn that my opinion of what was suppose to be accomplished in the course of a day is not what my son thinks should be accomplished. In three days he has had a total of 90 minutes of napping at home, seems he doesn't nap so well for mommy. He's learned to crawl at a runny pace, and to pull himself up to everything. His dancing skills have improved daily as well! He can do more than just wiggle his diaper, he's got arm movements involved now too. I've never worked so hard and had such fun in my life, but man, I could use a nap!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T12:06:00.002-04:00

It's very strange to think about where I was a year ago - for one thing I was getting a LOT more sleep, (I am actually smiling as I type that) and I had a concept in my head about what was going to happen and what life would be like. That being said, I had no freaking idea!

I love this little man, and I have never worked harder in my life, been more tired, had a more demanding boss or ridden a bigger emotional roller coaster. He makes the toughest job I've even done seem like a cake walk. Everyone told me these things, but prior to him, all I've had to compare IS the hardest, toughest thing I've ever done. And true to form, I've never loved anyone so unconditionally or had such a bright spot in my day as this little guy. If someone can wake you up three times between two am and six am, and you are still happy to see them, it's got to be love, don't you think? Thank you Daddy and Puddin'. You are tons of fun and I love you both very much.

Knitting again!

2010-04-17T14:18:00.000-04:00

I have two finished projects, one finished long ago, well three months ago. But truly wouldn't you rather I wear my new socks than just photograph them and blog about the experience. I mean even I love a good handknit sock, but I don't want to read about them that often, how can you?

I also have finished a personal triumph. It has taken me about a year and a half, with many different mistakes and ripping it out at least three times, but I am happy to say that I have a vest as part of my wardrobe that I was able to actually wear before it was too hot outside (it actually WAS to hot outside, but I refused to admit it, twice). Whew that was a long run on sentence. It doesn't look that spectacular here, but I do like it - though it doesn't look that spectacular on either. The post-pregnant body doesn't thrill me with it but the yarn is pretty. And I started running so hopefully things will begin to fit better.

What a beautiful day!

2010-03-07T13:54:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's a very simple title, but you can't sum up this weekend any better way. March, it's such a strange month - I struggle with it every year. It signifies the end of a fun winter and winter activities, but the beginning of warm weather and even more fun. I will say that this year I am completely fine with the end of winter - probably because my participation in winter activities was sub-par. I did not get the kites out off the shelf, the telemark skis have not seen their friends, the telemark ski-boots and the poor snowboard only had two conversations with the snowboard boots this winter. So considering the Clarkshornes of winters past we have done NOTHING. That being said, there was little snow, lots of rain and it was very mild temperature wise, plus I haven't gotten the best sleep this winter. All extra energy has gone into being able to stand up straight some days.

That being said, I'm not in a hurry for winter to be over, I'd take another snowstorm so we could use the sled again or be locked in for a snow day, but not too many. I'm working at just being present for today, and tomorrow I'll enjoy then. On one level the days go by so slowly- like on Monday thinking about when Friday will come, but then on weekends the days fly and I could begin to panic about how quickly they ended. I need to stop and breathe and take them as they come. So "what a beautiful day" we have here. I think I'll go get the crazy baby out of bed and take him out to see the world!

It was bound to happen eventually............

2010-02-06T10:41:00.001-05:00

My father has recently shared a story with me about being a new parent. He recalled driving home from work some thirty plus (many pluses, but that's not the point of this story now is it?) years ago and thinking to himself, "Things are going really well right now, but that could change any minute, I'm not going to get to caught up in it." I have no idea if things went bad soon after or if his tide of good fortune continued however; I now have a definite appreciation for his statement. Let me preface this story with the acknowledgement that given the state of the world, and the horrible conditions of Haiti, I know this is not anything to be truly concerned about.

But given the small bubble of my world, I was feeling pretty good, everyone seemed happy and content. Baby Puddin' was thriving. Then my daycare provider dropped the bomb that she wasn't going to continue her business............ ughhhhhh! She has said that she will keep him until June because she committed to me in the fall. But he's home with just her, without other kids which, if I can't be home with him I would like him to socialize. So the search has begun, and it is agonizing. At least once a week, Puddin and I trek off after work to meet another person who does daycare, we are there for about an hour and then drive away wondering how it's possible we wasted another hour of our lives that we can't get back. They are nice, just have different principles than we have. One didn't think through her advertisement to babysit, and realized AFTER we talked that she wouldn't be able to do it. Come on - really? You just figured that out now? Not when you put the Ad in craiglist? There is one person left to meet, and of course I'm certain she is the ONE for us. I get as hopeful about meeting these people as I did with internet dating when I meet Mr. Romance. I just hope it ends as successfully.

I finished this before he can drive!

2009-12-27T20:34:00.001-05:00

I consider the completion of this sweater to be doubly sweat. Not only is it finished but Mr. Puddin' can actually wear it. I panicked about three weeks ago that he's growing so fast I would never complete it in time. But here it is. I actually started it the day before he arrived, at that point I was so frustrated that he was never going to come out that I literally just gave up and started a new project, should have done that the week before I guess.

It's a little mini peacoat sweater, the pattern calls for pockets, but he has yet to use the pockets in any other garment. So I felt it was fine to take the liberty and leave off the pockets for this one. He doesn't look like he minds one bit!

In other news, Christmas is over and the New Year is coming. I don't know if I'll make any resolutions for this year, granted I need to exercise. I can't even write the word "more" there since "exercise more" would imply that I exercise at all. I'll leave it at that. I could eat less sweets, but that always happens anyway when the holidays are over. Sleeping more would be fantastic, but I am not in total control of this either so alas, leave that one off. I might follow in the footsteps of my favorite roommates and give up dry skin or maybe resolve to flip over my mattress more frequently. We'll see.

SNOW DAY!!!!!!!

2009-12-09T20:55:00.001-05:00

Pause for just a second and think back to when you were 8 years old living in New England in the winter time. The excitement that would grow the day before a snow storm was forecast, would tomorrow be a snow day, will we be able to stay home tomorrow? Never mind the thrill of waking up in the morning running to the window to see if it had indeed covered the ground and road and then running to find mom just to make sure that we didn't have to get on the bus.

As the years have gone by, I seem to have conveniently remained tied to the thrill of a snow day. In college we followed the school districts so closely that there were frequent snow days, then working for school districts for ten years has continued the trend. Today was the best by far though, I got to have a snow day with baby Puddin' as he's called these days. I'm sure the day will come when I am overwhelmed with snow days and being home with a bored kid, but today felt like an early Christmas present. We (as much as possible) decorated the tree, played peek-a-boo, took a nap (HUGE bonus), made dinner and sang. It was a perfect day, next time I might miss the nap and knit a bit - but that's all I'd change. I can't wait for the next one!

One day on, one day off, two days on, three days

2009-11-07T21:58:00.001-05:00

off? Doesn't that sound like a wonderful work schedule? Keeping whatever your current salary is off course, just adjusting the days on and off of course. Well that's want this week has looked like. The joke has always been that I would be more than willing to work between 10-2 four days per week at my current schedule. Just enough to allow me to be involved in something other than my own selfishness, but short enough to allow me enough time for all my hobbies if laziness didn't take over. Well on paper this week might look somewhat similar to that but not of my own doing. Mr. Romance had day surgery one day = day off from work to be at hospital. Then the daycare provider's daughter had a 103 fever one day = the little boy wonder having no place to go so mommy got to stay home another day. Now I need to find a profession when I can keep this schedule, adjust the work load to fit the schedule and keep my current salary to pay the mortgage. Any ideas?

Regarding work, I'm back at it again, full time and the darling boy is in daycare full time. I continue to be torn about this on many levels. It is our reality so I'm of the mind set I'm not going to lament and dwell on it for too long, but I think getting my thoughts out completely might help the process some. 1. I love my job, always have deep down inside, why else would I have traveled 100 miles a day for 8 years and decided to buy a house within a reasonable distance (Is 60 miles round trip reasonable?). It's a great job that has given me many opportunities and some fantastic stories. 2. My job has been my social outlook for years, only recently have I developed great friendships outside of work. 3. We need my health insurance as a family. 4. I have found a great daycare provider who has other children and I want Mr. S to be with other kids and learning by watching (good, bad - as long as he's learning to interact socially in this world, dad and I help him learn the logistics later).

I've rambled on now for long enough. As with everything, it's a personal decision that we had to make and to do what is best for our family. I could think about it and make myself sad and depressed and I do worry about it. Then at times I feel with confidence that I'm doing okay and it's what's best for us as a family. What I really need to do is find peace with it, not get defensive and relax. I know that I'm in for a bit of a roller coaster ride for a very long time, I need to remember that and to be completely corny "just let it ride".

Upon looking at it all.......

2009-10-13T17:07:00.004-04:00

It is a strange thing to find myself packing for work tomorrow. It's a two day work week this week so don't get me wrong, it's not the same as being BACK to work completely, but it's back none the less. How things can change so completely in such a short period of time. Just simple things, I haven't spend a dime on clothing for myself, there is not a "going back to school" pair of shoes in the mail for me, nor have I purchased a sweater's worth of yarn destined for a new fall project. It's not as miraculous that I haven't done these things, it's that I haven't wanted too either.

I think this is the biggest change that has come over me since becoming a mother, I am very content with my possessions. I've admired new things, thought about their wonderful qualities but there is a feeling of contentment with what I have that honestly thrills me. Don't get me wrong, the checkbook is taking a major hit between diaper supplies and daycare. I NEED to be frugal and responsible, especially in areas where the gluttony has been out of this world (don't look at the yarn stash). But it's nice that it's hasn't resonated as a must or a need, but rather as something that feels good. There are sacrifices that every person makes when they enter a relationship and I knew this when we decided to have a family, I just didn't realize how they wouldn't feel like sacrifices so immediately...........

I need help.

2009-09-28T13:10:00.002-04:00

Awhile ago I decided to change the picture in my header. Now it's been a year since the previous one went up. I did what seemed like the logical method to get a picture up............... to big. Tried again, even bigger....no good. Tried again, baby cried, 2 hours of sleep the night before finally got to me..........left it that way. I've been assuming it happened because I was using iphoto for the first time and I'm still a bit challenged there. Well, here I am back in the old pc, reverted back to the same old picture AND .............................I have no idea how to make it smaller and fit across the header without being huge. Any advice?

"They" say..............

2009-09-23T21:25:00.002-04:00

The general consensus from other mothers has been that parenthood seems to bring the advice givers out of the woodwork. The strange thing about me and advice is that there is good advice that I listen too and agree with. I'll make a mental note of the idea, think about how to implement it, picture it in my day and have every intention of taking that advice. The problem, that's as far as it ever gets. I seem to lack the gene to implement advice when given, especially if that advice would make my life easier. Stranger still, if it's bad advice or isn't of the type that would work for me, I am able to put it right into action, jump on that bandwagon and watch it fail. How do I possess the bandwagon gene but not the other? Funnier still the particular advice that I am thinking of isn't being implemented right now because I'm procrastinating and writing about it. Typical me.

2009-09-01T20:48:00.002-04:00

Ok, so I have been knitting a bit, a very little bit, but a bit. Another thing to add to the brilliance of Elizabeth Zimmerman, the BSJ doesn't require extraneous thought. You can still enjoy knitting on limited sleep and it's such a great pattern that with fun yarn it looks great. I do love Elizabeth, be it my love of all things squishy or my enjoyment of a pattern that doesn't require me to keep track of every row I knit, I'm not sure. But she is my favorite. Now with a child of my own I can continue my quest to knit every pattern she ever wrote. If Mr. S's expression means anything in this picture, modeling of the garments might be up to someone else.............. but his hair do is rather fancy, don't you think?

We are into our sixth week at home. We seem to be getting on rather well. I can identify the "burp me" cry, and the "I'm tired" cry. I have some trouble with the others, oh except the "I'm in extreme pain and you need to do something now" I have that one down too - that one is very similar to "Don't you ever eat garlic again, it's killing me" cry, which I am completely okay with following. There is some confusion between the "mom, you're an idiot, THAT is not what I wanted" cry and the "hurry up already, I can't see from down here". Oh I don't give myself enough credit, I completely understand the "this car seat blows and I don't like you very much right now" cry. All of these different cries are fine, but I think I like the "gee, I love milk" gurgle, and the "hey look, I have hands and I can actually move them myself" babble. I think his favorite is the "look how fast mommy/daddy can run into the room" yelp, but if I could actually see the panicked look on my face that might be mine too.

Life changes

2009-08-18T10:10:00.003-04:00

Here sits she who has more bicycles then pocketbooks, more yarn then pants, and too many hobbies so that none of them get done well in the few summer days that New England actually experiences. Yet I find myself in this fortress against heat, with the blinds drawn, AC constantly on, and watching weather.com to determine when a more suitable temperature will be coming our way, with no intention of going outside EVER. It's not for my own purposes that this is taking place, I feel like a mother bird protecting her young. If you actually come to close to me right now, I might actually fake a broken leg and hobble in the opposite direction to lure you away from my tiny peanut to protect him from your body heat. It's a funny place to find myself. I have little regard for my own safety during the best of times (I've been informed that 90 degrees is to hot to mow the lawn, yet I found myself contemplating it just a moment ago) and here I am responsible for an actually person who can't defend himself, and won't be able to for awhile yet. I'm sure it's hormones, but today I'm just caught up in the fact that this little man will grow up sooner than I will be ready for.

There will be other things to write about than baby news someday, but for now just bare with me, this is all very new, and honestly I had no idea I'd be this smitten with him. I miss him when he's sleeping four feet away from me. When he's crying and mommy doesn't understand why, I will admit that I'd wish he'd fall asleep, but then I miss him all over again.

Normalcy, I can see it from here!

2009-08-02T14:33:00.002-04:00

Everyone said after two weeks it gets better, and honestly on exactly the two week mark to the day the veil lifted and even though his sleeping schedule didn't change that dramatically I felt human again. Human I tell you! Holy smokes, human again. Now mind you I will not be signing up for anything strenuous any time soon. Running is not in the cards, getting out of the house is still very ambitious in my opinion and fitting in a shower falls fairly low on the totem pole, but who cares. I'm human again, and look at this cute little human who lives here now. It is all really just jibberish after that!

sleep, it's NOT overrated.

2009-07-29T09:19:00.002-04:00

So I've never been a napper. I've laid down for three hours before to only get an extra 30 minutes of sleep when I desperately needed all three hours. I've been up for 24 hour stints to just have to wait for bedtime again because napping is not in my constitution. Well the true test is here and it's official. I am not a napper. The little man is up three times in the night, which is great, I'm not complaining AT ALL. When he was first born he was up for 3 1/2 hour periods, now he's just up, eat, poop, sleep in that order. But mommy's internal clock thinks that the times in between are more like naps, and now even when he is sleeping - she is NOT. I'm beginning to feel like I"m on a bad chemically induced trip, minus the hallucinations - this baby seems real to me. Everyone says it gets better. I'm a little skeptical at this point, those people also said they napped when their baby napped - oh sleep, I miss you so.

Amazing, Alarming.................

2009-07-21T09:12:00.003-04:00

He's here, Mr. Simon! He arrived on 7/17 early in the morning, or rather late in the night if you take into account that I went into the hospital 10 hours before he actually came. We keep commenting that it's amazing we've only known him for four days. On one level it feels like we've always known him, and on all the other levels we have no idea what we are doing and have never had such a foreign experience as understanding what a baby needs or wants. Many people already know this, but the lack of sleep is equivalent to nothing I've ever experienced. I'm somewhere between exhausted, delusional and ready to collapse, but I'll just keep going like everyone else does. His eyes are open and I don't want to miss a minute of it!

No baby yet, but

2009-07-14T17:47:00.004-04:00

it has a nice new sweater. I love this little pattern! It's so cute and I think will be a favorite for gift giving too. How do you not love something with only two buttons? Big girl sweaters are great with only two buttons, so little sweaters must be even nicer. It's knit from some handspun with fiber from Spunky Eclectic. It was lovely yarn, but an even better sweater.

So baby is now two days overdue, still cooking in there. No indication that there is any change coming my way. Still hoping though. I've washed the kitchen floor today, walked, swam, thinking about getting a trampoline. Ready to eat some spicy food, someone suggested a foot massage for acupressure points. Welcome to the beginning of my child running my life, I have officially lost control. My family thinks this little fact is hysterical I might add.

It's finished!

2009-07-06T09:47:00.003-04:00

Here is a sweater for a four year old, size wasn't my goal, I was more interested in the process than the product. The product is very nice though. The pattern is a tomten by Elizabeth Zimmerman and it's has some cascade 220, but the beautiful yarn is Spunky Eclectic, burning bush colorway. She is an amazing dyer.

It was a fun project, I'm thinking I deserve a big girl version, don't you?

I really have been doing things........

2009-07-04T09:16:00.007-04:00

I'm not just sitting around eating bon bons, honestly. I've been knitting and sewing and eating lots of popsicles! I haven't read in any books that popsicles are good for prenatal development, but they are very tasty! Have you any favorites? I'm taking suggestions, Edy's grape are doing it for me lately. Baby seems to agree. Growing without any problems from the feel of things.

I'm all done sewing little diapers I think, for now anyway. I have 18 at this point. We'll see if baby likes them before I get anymore going. I used some minke fabric to make two and I liked the fabric so much that I made some of these. I have some fine tuning to do with my sewing skills, but I've learned more about my sewing machine which should make the next pair go a bit easier. I'm kind of excited. They are really cute and easy, which is a bonus. I'd like a big girl pair, but there is a weight issue that needs to be taken care of.

OK baby, I'm ready - come out come out!

People's kindness can overwhelm me.

2009-06-03T21:45:00.003-04:00

There are many different moments in life when a person just needs to stop and look around them. Over the past few months, all of the wonderful people that I know have been so kind and generous I don't even know where to begin. The women from work, all of my friends, and now the great women from knitting. Tonight they delivered this wonderful gift of a blanket, everyone made a square and they all got together to sew it up so nicely. It's gorgeous and I'm so proud of them all. They are all very talented. Plus look at all the other little gifts people made, bibs, a sweater hat set, a hat and bootee set, and a diaper cover. Thank you so much everyone! You are all so kind and I'm so lucky to have you in my life.

Diaper covers, diaper covers

2009-05-15T12:47:00.006-04:00

They aren't the knitted kind, but they are kind of cute. There is a pretty good chance that baby out grows them before we can get our use out of them, they seem small, coming for someone with NO idea what to expect - size, gender, anything. You name it, we're newbies! And yes, the reality is starting to sink in........... holy cow - we're in for a shock!

Anyway, the pattern is from Little Comet Tails and the best one I've found yet! They are just covers, I'm hoping to use G-diapers with them for day care. We'll see.

It's been three long days at home, there is the presence of a persistent cough that can't be shaken, and to top it all off today I've found a new allergy - I seem to be allergic to this "wonderful" face cream that everyone, even Oprah loves. Well, it seems to have caused a chemical burn on my face - now I cough and am swollen and red. Thank goodness he married me two weeks ago and didn't wait for today!

It's taken a week........

2009-05-10T07:46:00.003-04:00

It's taken a week to post, how does time go so fast? We got married last weekend, and I'm happy to say it went smashingly! I could not have asked for more and everyone's happiness and generousity was amazing. Now I just need to clean my house and get ready for this baby. I think it's interesting that they always measure time with pregnancy in weeks, so 9 more weeks seems like a lot of time, but holy cow - that's only 63 days! How is that possible? In 63 days I'm going to be responsible for a small being that either has my or John (or worse case BOTH) of our temperments! It been done by millions of others for millions of years, I just figures I'd be the last person on earth for it to happen to. Must get knitting................. need more diaper covers :)

flowers, flowers, flowers

2009-04-24T20:39:00.004-04:00

Ok, not much knitting going on here, well there's a bit but I'm waiting until it's completely finished to show you all. However, I have been trying my hand at being a florist, the paper kind of course.

I really like the little ones, the big ones here aren't the best colors but when you put them all together they are rather fun.

They are finally finished!

2009-04-11T12:08:00.005-04:00

YAH, they have come to an end. The never ending knee highs are completed. It took months, my mother actually worked on them at one point because they were boring me to death, but I do love them. Pam and I dyed the yarn back in August, so I'm happy to say that two of the three sock blanks have been used.

In other news, the baby bump is LARGE at this point. I had to struggle to get the socks on today, picture me laying on the bed feet in the air trying to pull on socks. Not that tricky except every time your leg comes near you, you stop breathing because there isn't enough room for both your diaphram and your leg plus your bump on the bed with the rest of your body. Interesting hum? Not really, takes me back to the beached whale rolling around in the sand scenario. Not pleasant.

I finished these awhile ago, but I love them and they aren't as hard to put on, so they deserve some blog time! Do you love them?

Here's my friend!

2009-03-07T09:39:00.003-05:00

For her birthday, she was happy to receive her apron. The thank you note she sent is a keeper:

"Thank you for my apron. I am going to keep it. Sometime make me a chef hat."

So here is the chef hat! If everyone was as excited about simple little gifts like a chef hat and apron, the world would be a better place, and giving gifts would happen all year round at random. To bad there isn't more time in the day to spearhead that initiative. Maybe later.

Doesn't always feel that way!

2009-03-03T20:27:00.002-05:00

Your Word is "Fearless"

You see life as your one chance to experience everything, and you just go for it!

You believe the biggest risk is being afraid and missing out on something amazing.

Sometimes your fearlessness means you're daring. You enjoy risky activities.

And sometimes your fearlessness means you're courageous. You're brave enough to do the right thing, even when it's scary.

What's Your Word?

Did this start as a knitting blog?

2009-03-01T09:29:00.004-05:00

Knitting hasn't been the topic for a few entries, but don't worry, don't loss faith. The needles have been out, clicking - though with finishing projects more than making ambitious delves into large projects. Here's another Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket. If you've never made one, it's fun and the results are worth it. This one needs buttons. The pattern isn't sized, you just use the needle size to fit the yarn and the end result is that size, like it or not. It's made from 8 oz. of worsted weight handspun on size 8 needles, so it will fit a 4 year old. Gives lots of time for buttons then.
Here are some new socks too! Nothing beats a new pair of socks right off the needles! These are RPMs, made from Socks that Rock from Rhinebeck. There isn't anything that isn't great about them!

I love February Vacation.

2009-02-26T14:51:00.004-05:00

Productivity with important things like house cleaning, organizing, wedding planning, etc., all those things that don't seem fun or enjoyable have not been attended to this week. But a wonderful time finishing things and getting ready to start new things has occurred. The skirt is finished, with a maternity panel and everything! It's very comfortable and when a little person is no longer being carried around on the inside, simply ripping out the panel and adding the matching material to make it a regular skirt is within the capability range of this particular person.

Note the belly, it's in between "is she pregnant, or is it winter in NH and she's just eating a lot of chocolate?" The doctor says it's a baby, but please don't keep track of my caloric intake for snacks. Thanks.

The largest snow storm of my winter took place over vacation too, and the beautiful thing about it was that the almost 2 feet of snow did not have to be shoveled off my porch, but rather my parents. That is simply NOT my responsibilty, so let it snow some more!

It's February!

2009-02-15T16:57:00.007-05:00

And the sweater is finished. You never would have thought it possible if you had watched me pull the thing apart time and time again. But I have finished this sweater within the month it was named, and in enough time to wear it. Life is full of little surprises. One of them being that for a much as I pull apart my knitting, I actually get to the end of projects. Now the socks I need to pull apart next..........different story. We'll see you when/if those are ever finished :(

In other none knitting news, professional cycling is back on tv, it's the Tour of California. What I didn't realize is that all the dopers are back, Floyd, Tyler, Lance.............. yes many won't like that but you have to wonder about it. Given what we've learned over the past years, I find it hard to believe that there are any professional athletes, never mind cyclists who have not at sometime in their careers used something. I'm sure this bothers some, with Mr. Armstrong being such an icon, but my opinion is tarnished.

It's real.

2009-02-11T21:37:00.003-05:00

We don't care about the gender, the good news is there are two legs, 2 arms, a spine, 2 kidneys, 4 parts to the heart, and the brain is just the right size! It's really going to happen.

It hurts when your finger gets to close

2009-02-04T21:59:00.005-05:00

It actually really hurts when your finger gets to close to the foot of your sewing machine, and the tightening screw hammers down on your index finger. Just something to keep in mind, you don't need to know what prompted this information, I'm sure you can guess.

I have made my little red headed friend her 4th birthday present. I'm rather happy with it. There is an idea brewing and I'll probably make her a little chef's hat too, but right now I don't have any interfacing at home. Her birthday is tomorrow, she likes to help cook and she has a great time cooking in her own play kitchen. It seemed like a good idea. It's sad to admit that I've had this material for a long time now, but I've been rather scared of the project. I'm not sure why, it was just an internet JoAnn's fabric simple print out pattern and I think it's great for a 4 year old!

twice in one week

2009-01-28T12:52:00.005-05:00

Can you believe it. Another posting, in the same week, please don't drop from the shock of it. I've been productive this week and am proud of the accomplishments. Somehow all this productivity has come without changing out of my pj's, which is truly the best kind of productivity isn't it?

I've made my new roommate it's first mommy made knit. I love it. Baby's wrapper is perfect and I got to use some of my coveted Fleece Artist yarn which was a dream. It's not the greatest picture to show color, but there is enough red/purple in it to be a unisex sweater, which is great since we want to be surprised.

While the knitting needles were flying for a change, the sewing machine has been commissioned as well and the results are interesting. Through diaperkit I bought a single kit to see what it would be like to sew it. It took about an hour give or take. Now we'll have to wait and see how it works.

It's been awhile.

2009-01-25T14:21:00.005-05:00

Well, It's been over a month. It's hard to post on a blog titled purl and pedal when you really have been neither purling or pedaling, especially not pedaling. With 2 feet of snow, pedaling has not been on my must do list. The bike is on the trainer in the basement, but that also was briefly turned into a wood finishing workshop, not an excuse but I used it as one to not go down there and exercise. I must say though, there are some beautiful shelves down there now :) Mr. Romance has done well again. I'm also four months pregnant, and for awhile energy was not my friend. I barely knit, the thought made me a bit nauseous. I have been out snowshoeing and this week knit the first baby sweater, it's almost ready for pictures!

I have finally finished a pair of socks. This was an accomplishment, these things were ripped out many times. That pattern isn't confusing but you have to keep your row count. I'm not the best at that. I've also finished two wool soakers, which I don't have picture of. Plus I've finished knitting something. Sound interesting? I've knit it now I need to decide what to do with it. We'll see how it works up. The sewing machine has come out too, stay tuned!

At least 10 inches with more to come.

2008-12-20T17:53:00.004-05:00

Well the third storm, second snowfall and first GOOD one arrived in splendor.

The notorious Mr. Fish and Chips used his best silly self to make it a fun day. So even though we had hours of shoveling, snowblowing, and he cleaned the chimney, since he was up on the roof anyway, it was a very good use of 10 inches of snow.

It's really just a formality at this point, we've lived together for three years, have a mortgage, share debt and a few other important things at this point, but he did make me laugh. I told him, I don't need a ring, but I would like a touch of romance. The whole idea of him jumping from letter to letter so as not to make any unnecessary tracks just kills me. He said the hardest jump was between words!

He is a funny man! Oh I almost forgot, I said yes.

84 hours off the grid.

2008-12-17T06:55:00.004-05:00

Camping to some is one of the best things in the world. Add this particular individual to that list certainly. There is something so wonderful about waking up in the morning, hearing nothing but nature, crawling out of a tent or out from under a picnic table in eastern Colorado somewhere, yap yap yap. On this descriptive jargon goes with the love of camping.

Camping in ones own house can be just plain annoying after three days. Day one was tolerable, day two getting a bit old and now it's REALLY cold in the bathroom. Day three, the freaking radio batteries are out, the flashlight is getting down and there's work tomorrow? Anyway, it's over for many, still going for far too many both in my opinion as well as theirs I'm sure. The classic bit about the whole thing is that after finally biting the bullet and buying a generator, taking 2 hours to set it up and the various appliances appropriately, the power came back on! You know what, I'll take it - who cares about the cost!

Here I am....

2008-11-09T21:04:00.006-05:00

Stitches East, in Baltimore was very good. Took a class on "The Seven Things That MAKE a Sweater" which explained quite a bit to me that I had been missing and we learned a great way to make buttonholes. They were perfectly symmetrical for the first time in my life. Margaret Fisher taught the class and it was well worth every penny!

Jen lives in Baltimore and is a weaver by craft, which means she loves fiber too. She's much more constrained then I about her stash and I could learn a thing or two from her. We shopped Saturday, she went home and checked her stash (some would just call it a small collection - she was mortified by it's size; I'll have to do some major cleaning before she comes here next then). Sunday she allowed two more purchases because her collection wasn't as big as she had thought. I had two more purchases because I have no restraint. We knew that already though. I have to admit that shopping with her was wonderful, a budget was kept and there was lots there but wasn't as much that was NEEDED. I do want enough Wensleydale to make a beautiful cable sweater. I'll have to save up some money and burn through some stash yarn first though.

In other strange news, I have finished my first sewn project since 3rd grade. Portsmouth Fabric Company has beginning sewing classes and I made a shirt. The material was not a good idea for a first project, but it's so comfortable I am over my frustration and even though it's not great it is so comfortable to wear I just love it. I want to make more, that says a lot because I thought I hated it during most of the project. Here the picture isn't great but I am proud of it for a first project - next come zippers!

Socktoberfest is upon us.

2008-10-21T21:12:00.006-04:00

It's done, three pairs of socks off the needles with the sewing in of the ends being all that remains. The picture couldn't wait for the darning needle so here it is. A four hour car ride from Rhinebeck NY helped get the last pair completed.

Oh, the festival....... known to knitters as simply Rhinebeck. What fun we had and what money we spent. Even we decided it was a bit out of hand and we do this more frequently then we are willing to admit to perfect strangers. I don't even know where to start with the fun, there was The Fold, with STR, and Brooks Farm, Briar Rose, Decadent Fibers, Creatively Dyed, and so many more. Have I told you I love yarn? I think you knew that.

Oh look, the clapotis is finished, has been for a few weeks but I just got a picture in. I'm not completely happy with my attempts at the end, but I tried it two times and this version will have to do for now until I get annoyed with it and try again!

I just love leaves!

2008-10-14T22:31:00.004-04:00

It's been a long time since my last post. Somehow, between work and life time just seems to pass without notice and very quickly. It's very cliche to make this comment - but yet again this year it's struck me with awe that it's "already" October, and the perpetual question has arisen as to where exactly does time go? I am still confused as to how it's possible that the two minute timer on the microwave takes soooooooooooo long to go off, but days seem to pass quicker than I am able to get the floor vacuumed.

We have been a bit busy though, Mr. Fish and Chips was good enough to take two weekend days off with me and ride our bikes again in VT and then last weekend we went for a hike. It's weekends like these that remind me of why I have stayed in New England for all these years and never made any real effort to leave it on a permanent basis. Everyone and their brother was out but as you look out on the horizon you can't blame any of them for wanting to soak it in.

The porch project is wonderful. The Mr. has done a great job on it, I'll post pictures soon. He's almost ready to put the siding back on. I think he's happy with the fruits of his labor as he should be! Next week is Rhinebeck, so the yarn pictures cometh!

It's finishing day at the .......................................

2008-09-14T22:13:00.003-04:00

Another one off the needles, out of the basket and ready for wear. This is a good one too. It was fun to knit, an super easy pattern. The recipient is 3, and the pattern only goes to two years in size. I did some math and made it bigger. It fits her perfectly and she tried it on without a button and it fit her well. The yarn is yummy. I'd love to have a sweater in a big girl size; but alas with the price of gas being what it is that will have to wait. Pictures of K in it will be fun to post later. One day and three completed projects............... I'm on a roll - now to just get to work on that ribwarmer, AHHHHHHHHHHH.

The perfect day..................

2008-09-14T15:07:00.005-04:00

Friends of ours across the pond are expecting a baby girl very soon. The sweater, bootee combo is finished before she has arrived! I made myself sit down today in the rain and sew on the buttons and the ends, my least favorite part of knitting. I'm pleased with how it came out, plus I was able to watch a bit of Sense and Sensibility while I was doing it. This also can make one very happy on a rainy day. Oh, the kettle of tea was beside me the whole time too! Some days are just great.

And it's already September

2008-09-08T22:12:00.004-04:00

How did it happen? School is back in with a vengence - that tight knot in my stomach has returned with the thought of meeting new kids and having to be their entertainer/educator. For some reason starting the school year always makes me a bit nervous, I guess it's a good thing. Keeps me on my toes.

In other news, finally a trip to Long Island Maine with friends over Labor Day weekend which was just as wonderful and relaxing as you can imagine a long weekend on an island in Maine to be. This was what we had to look at we sat and read, knit and ate. It was such a wonderful weekend to spend with friends and Mr. Fish and Chips. He was excited to rest too, the comment made was turning the pages to his book was more energy then he felt like expending.

This past weekend another long overdue trip to the Kingdom Trails was completed. That too was relaxing in a completely different manner - the kind that exhausts you at the end of the day, covers you with mud and helps a mediocre meal taste fantastic!

sock blanks!

2008-08-18T13:56:00.005-04:00

My friend Pam came over yesterday and we dyed sock blanks. We've recently been introduced to the world of podcasts and had both listened to one about dying these bits of fun. She was all the motivation I needed to try it out. It was very fun, super messy, and extremely interesting. They all came out great, even the ones we didn't like at first. It will be an adventure to see what they look like as socks.

We started at 11 and were finally finished at 3, but it was fun. It's a two person job that's for sure, if for no other reason then it's such as mess, you want someone else there to make it worth the newpaper! Today they are dry and ready to be knit......must go find a pattern.

30% - what's your interpretation?

2008-08-15T07:15:00.007-04:00

I don't know if you remember, but way back in June I started the summer with great enthusiasm for commuting by bikng to work. Well, summer didn't - wasn't as cooperative as I had hoped, between my second job schedule, a bout of the flu and the weather, until yesterday I hadn't ridden to work at all. So, as yesterday was the last day of work before the school year officially restarts next week I jumped out of bed at 5am (note the sarcasm) got my gear together and took Mr. Fish and Chips advice and checked the weather report.

"30% chance of scattered showers starting between 1-3pm". Great, I can leave work at 2. But hey only 30% means there is a 70% chance it won't rain right? I've sat at home on days with a higher percent chance and it's been completely dry so I'm not going to let this stop me - plus, scattered showers. It's going to completely miss me, I know it. But somewhere in the back of my head was this little voice reminding me of the 100 mile ride we took a few summers ago with a 40% chance of rain - when it poured for 60% of the ride - that math didn't make sense at all.

So as I left work yesterday afternoon, I could see the big storm clouds up ahead and behind me. I just kept pedaling and thinking about the possible stops if it became torrential. I made it to the half way point, no rain. I pedaled past a possible safe haven shop, no rain. I watched the storm clouds move farther east and begin to clear, still no rain. I felt a drop......... then a few more, but still not a shower. I then found myself in completely soaking wet, puddle filled roads with rain dripping down my glasses and my shoes filling with water. I didn't have much of a choice given my location so I decided to keep going until it became worse. I took my usual route, passed a town line marker and the roads were dry. I made it home a bit soggy but given that the rest of the ride was completely dry and sunny the bike and I dried off before we opened the garage doors.

Yes a long story that doesn't lend excitement to most. The part I like about it is the math. I didn't realize that a 30% chance of rain seems to mean something different in biking terms. It seems the percentage change of rain - refers to that fact that it rained exactly 30% of my ride. I'll keep this in mind next time - but truly I would have ridden if it had been 50% as well - it's only 33 miles each direction after all :)

My brain is moving WAAAAAAAAAY faster than the rest of my body/life it seems

2008-08-05T19:49:00.004-04:00

This picture is for my mother. She gave me new dishes for my birthday and doesn't think that I like them - main reason being that I neglected to call her when I opened them to tell her. Truth be told it was the first thing I did on my birthday, but the day was full of fun and I didn't get to a telephone when I should have. The bright colors do look wonderful in my cupboard, the dishwasher, the table in even on the couch in front of the tv which is where the three of us seem to be eating these days. Why did I spend all last fall finishing a table for the kitchen? To learn the process of course.

For the first time in my life, knitting is still going strong this summer - I usually give it up when the weather turns bicycle friendly. But this year with the gift of an ipod from Mr. Fish and Chips (previously known as Mr. Romance) I am addicted to knitting podcasts. This only seems to give my brain consent knitting information in the car, which is usually where I catch a break from the needles. Add to that the Twist Collective release, and my sudden desire to knit my entire Christmas gift list socks - hope they aren't reading this. I keep thinking about more things to cast on, more skeins to turn into center pull balls and even more gifts to make for people. Oh, limenviolet aren't helping with their yarnporn, and even listening to the knitpicks podcasts is making me check their website repeatedly. As if the closet can handle more fiber! The craziness continues because I'm going to visit a friend this weekend and I'm already wondering about knitting projects.

When do I get nervous?

2008-07-25T00:34:00.004-04:00

Ok, the wheel was only purchased in May, so how has this happened? I simply have a wool obsession, it's not just yarn, and at the rate I'm buying roving this won't get spun into yarn for a very long time...... so it is indeed an obsession. I've already forgotten that I had a bunch of it. Between fiber and yarn, I believe that I have established my retirement stash. It's so sad that work gets in the way of my hobbies. I guess as long as the checkbook can sustain it, I'll be ok, which unfortunately means I have to keep working.

2008-07-04T23:56:00.001-04:00

spin, spin, spin

2008-07-02T15:07:00.010-04:00

I can't believe an entire month has gone by since my last post. The school year wrapped up, I spent an eventful weekend in Kansas City with my relatives, and I've had almost two weeks of vacation. I guess that sums up a month for me. I do have some lovely treats to show for my time however:
This is some top I picked up at the fiber fair for Web's annual tent sale. It was really fun to spin. I picked the orange/red one up at the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool festival, I spun some up before, but this little bit is better!

The orange/purple is from End of the World Farm also from the NHSWF! Mom helped pick this out.
The blue/purple is Romney from the Spunky Eclectic, thunderstorm color and below is some BFL in the Tie Dye color! I love how that came out.

When last we met our superhero...............

2008-06-15T10:50:00.007-04:00

She was excited about having ridden her bicycle to work, well................................................. I knew it would change, and it did. After getting rained out and another failed attempt, which resulted in my being stranded in Raymond with a HUGE puncture in not only my tube, but my tire as well and Mr. Romance coming to my rescue at 6am, I rode to work again. It was HARD, and it's taken me two days to recover. I'm not sure what's going on, I will do it again, probably on Tuesday, but it was a struggle.

In other news, the back of house and the deck have been pulled apart and are slowly be put together again. It's a long process involving many generations of my family. My dad and grandfather came down from northern Maine last weekend in 90 plus heat to bake in the sun and give us help and much needed advice on what to do, especially about the rotten parts. My brother who's living with us for the summer was good enough to help after having worked in the sun all day himself. For the second time this spring we could almost walk from the backyard into the basement without using a door. Interesting.

There is good news to be had in less favorable news, my beautiful Julia spinning wheel is here! It showed up on Tuesday, and it's wonderful. So smooth, and quiet and I'm getting better at it. I just plied some beautiful orange/pink wool of some sort that I bought at the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival. I'm not sure exactly what wool combination it is, but it was fun to see how my skills had improved from the beginning of the spool to the end. It's encouraging, because it wasn't so great in the beginning. Practice and all is coming..........

pedal pedal pedal pedal

2008-05-31T07:37:00.008-04:00

I did it, I actually pedaled my bike to work yesterday. To many people this is not impressive, but to me it is. It's 30+ miles to get there and I left at 5am to do it. Last summer when we moved I talked about it, but never really acted on it. So a bit ago during Bike to Work week, I contemplated it. The problem with that week was my afterschool (I'm a preschool speech therapist) schedule. After packing a backpack with work clothes and some "freshen up" supplies, I kept getting myself ready to do it. I am a strange bird sometimes, hummmmmm let's clarify my meaning here. I find that when I tell people about my plans they are more likely to not come true then when I keep it to myself to share with them afterward. A bit backwards I'm afraid, but at least I'm aware. Mr. Romance was a bit hesitant with my doing it. To give him his due, I did tell him the wrong mileage at 40+, which made him a bit nervous for me. During the ride I decided to take the shorter route and fight with traffic instead of more mileage. This decision was made while grinding up a hill and wondering how much energy I'd have for chasing my friend A. around the preschool all day. It ended up being a bit fun actually, I'm sure the novelty won't be there the next time, but think I smiled most of the way there because I was ACTUALLY riding my bike to work. You must understand that my dream job would allow me to do that everyday. Seeing as we've chosen to live outside of a large city, I know this is a pipe dream. But sometimes it's fun to dream.

In knitting news I've finished the pink gables. These ladies are great designers. I love this t-shirt. It knit up so easily and it looks great on (in my opinion anyway) I just feel great when I wear it. There aren't many of my projects that I can say that about truly. I'm actually thinking about making another one it's so comfortable. I'm taking an airplane trip next month and this would be great for traveling! I'm referring to actually taking it to work on, I'm not ambitious enough right now to get it done it time to wear it.

I wish I had duck feet!

2008-05-25T09:46:00.003-04:00

After three different attempts with this pattern and various yarns, the broken cable socks are finished. I love the leg, and should have continued with it down the foot, but I followed the pattern. I do love the color and you have to admit that I look a little webbish in this picture, rather duck like. Did you ever read the book, "I wish I had duck feet?". I loved it as a kid, my parents were patient and read it over and over to me. Now I get to listen to it again as an adult when we read it at work. There are many benefits to working with kids, reading old favorites is just one of them.

Why did I sit down????????

2008-05-21T18:37:00.007-04:00

It never fails, I do fine at work, I think of all the things to do after work, I get in the car and............. after a 50 minute drive I pull into the driveway and am exhausted. I can't think of doing anything and don't even pretend to want to. So here I sit, in front of the computer it's 6:30, I have not practiced yoga. My yoga mat isn't even calling my name - but I've checked email, ravelry, the weather and now I'm posting because the last one was in April and I've "done SO much" that requires discussion.

I am happy to announce that I have ridden my bike in the woods, first ride off road was Sunday and I had a better one yesterday - I didn't sit down when I got home so I was able to exercise! We are so excited - it's completely possible to ride directly out of our backyard straight to my favorite woods trails in seacoast NH without having to pack up or use the car! We can PEDAL, and there is only about an half a mile of road involved. It's a beautiful thing!

To update you on the spinning in my life, I had been using my spindle a bit. I have some small samplings and I'm pretty happy with the results. I rented a spinning wheel from The Yarn and Fiber Company for a week and I had a ball. The results need some work but I LOVE it. I am going to order a wheel and be lost forever to yarn. Mr. Romance is officially frightened and a bit annoyed that there is more to my obsession then just knitting and purling.

Oh, the real news of note is that I have finally been to Webs and I'm afraid I will never be able to go back. It crazy there and I now have enough yarn to last me into my mid-eighties if my hands can hold up that long. I have been staying up at night trying to finish projects so that I can start new ones with my new yarn. I have some ideas but nothing firm yet. I'll post the ideas as soon as I've settled.

I didn't really need another hobby, but -

2008-04-29T17:34:00.007-04:00

I visited Spunky Eclectic and took a spinning lesson. She was WONDERFUL, and very patient with me. I learned the drop spindle and spent a bit of time on a Julia Louet wheel. The spinning wheel will take some practice, well a LOT of practice, the spindle come much easier. I think I liked the pace better. I'm going to look around and maybe try some wheels at an upcoming festival.

After three hours, I have some yarn to show for it. It's lump and thick and I love it. I bought some fiber, of course and I can't wait to get started. Maybe I will buy a spinning wheel with GW's money that he is giving to us - how's that for giving back to the economy? There are 3 more days of vacation with rain in the forecast so hopefully I'll have something to show for it. I've technically only been on vacation for two days, but my yarn stash seems to have grown disproportionate to the days off.

After how many years?

2008-04-19T09:04:00.006-04:00

After many years of attempting to grow orchids and failing miserably, I'm proud to introduce to you the newest member of the houseplant family. Here is blossom number 2! Not only has it bloomed once but twice. I have actually raised two flowers from our orchid ( I have been corrected about joint ownership, oops, sorry).

Orchids and I don't always understand each other. We had about 4 buds on this plant in February and when we came back from Utah they were all shriveled up and dying. I have been given two different books on orchids and am constantly consulting Mr. Romance's mother, she is British and an excellent gardener, orchid grower. However, I have still lost one complete plant and was panicked about this one. Everyone tells me orchids are easy, but I think I over care for them and literally kill them with kindness. Thank goodness we don't have pets or kids then hum?

In truth I believe that the fruit bowl with bananas and oranges was too close to the plant on the counter (in case any of you are interested in the proper way to display your orchids) AND we turned the thermostat down when we were away and it was too cold for the flower buds, as well as a few other plants it seems, oops. I guess the houseplants will be happy to know that we are out of frequent flyer miles and free airline tickets, no winter vacations planned for a bit. Ahhh, free vacations.............

Sundays in the springtime.

2008-04-13T14:51:00.008-04:00

Traveling cables now apply only to elevators in my life!

2008-04-13T12:24:00.006-04:00

With neck nightmares behind me now, the traveling cable sweater is complete. Carole, thanks for your comment, I'm glad other people can relate to my knitting strife, it gives some comfort to know that we all go through it! I think I like the sweater, I'm wearing it right now. It was great to use up some stash yarn from over ten years ago. I bought the yarn hoping to turn it into my version of a popular J Crew sweater and lost interest so it's fun to see that it became a cable sweater after all.

It's a classic '90's pattern, boxy with blousey sleeves. The Bartlett yarn I used is stiff as well which in places accentuates the box, and as the picture is showing, not completely flattering. It is super warm and will be a great weekend sweater so for now I'm happy. I can always take the sleeves back and slim them down. I did modify the pattern a bit but knitting it to my measurements verses following the sizes listed. Hey '80's fashions came back, maybe the '90's will too? Who knows.

Getting closer and closer and closer and.................

2008-04-08T20:24:00.003-04:00

I'm so close I can feel it. I have that twitchy anxious can't sit still feeling, all for a sweater. This project has not been hard, just full of mistakes on my part. I've made mismatched cuffs with the front and back and had to frog one of them completely back to start again. I've had to change the length and then question my decision. I've gotten tired of cables and had to take a break and now, there's difficulty lining up the collar. But I'm ALMOST FINISHED! I can feel the end in sight. It's even blocked and ready to sew up as soon as I can figure out this darned neck. I feel neck nightmares in the near future. No one likes neck nightmares, it's too close to the finish line.

In more happier news, today was the first outside ride of the season for Mr. Romance and myself. I wonder if the sight of me sucking wind and dragging my out of shape butt up a hill increases the romance factor or decreases it? I'll have to ask............I'm pretty sure my preoccupation with this sweater is a romance killer - he doesn't respond to my rantings about it anymore. Oops

Baby Surprise!

2008-04-06T11:27:00.006-04:00

Here is my first baby surprise jacket. I've heard so much about it, being a knitting classic and favorite. Elizabeth Zimmerman was a true knitting genius. It was fun to knit it up, it's done in one piece, and then fold it accordingly to see it become a sweater. I've added fish buttons to it, here. They aren't overly practical but still a perfect match. I gave it to the expectant dad as a birthday present last night and he thought I'd lost my mind. Which I have. No doubt. Don't worry I have actually sewn it up, though the stripes added more loose ends than I cared for.

Let's go fly a kite!

2008-03-25T07:07:00.006-04:00

I have known J for as long as I have had this bag in the works, and I'm happy to announce that the monk satchel, though not perfect is complete. My sewing skills need vast improvement, but I'll work at that slowly. I'm just thrilled to take it off the list of unfinished projects! I just love the liner fabric though. Purlsoho is just far to much fun. I get lost just looking through all the fabric and yarn.

It was another successful day of kiting! To follow many other "real" kiters, because I do not even pretend to be more than a complete rookie, the weather report was as follows, winds were light out of the west/northwest. The snow was gone, glare ice was the surface. J doesn't ski and wasn't up to testing his fate on the ice with his snowboard for the very first outing so he busted out the 5 meter and static flew. I was fortunate enough to use Molly's 7.5 meter again.

Snickets are completed!

2008-03-18T18:42:00.008-04:00

They're here! My new beautiful socks! I'm so happy with them. Everything about them is wonderful. The color of the yarn, the details in the pattern, the way they fit! It's a March miracle. The pattern came from Magknits and I love them. I had to put them up!

Kiting!

2008-03-17T22:29:00.014-04:00

I did it! I spent some quality time kiting. It's taken almost a month to get back out on the ice and under a kite but I must say it was worth the wait. I went up north with my dear friends, Chris and Molly, who make busy people seem like couch potatoes and decided that I'd take a weeks worth of Eleanor Roosevelt's quote, "Do something everyday that scares you." and apply it to one day out. It wasn't scary, I actually remembered all of Rach el's good teaching and had a wonderful time! Don't count the fact that I took this picture while I was suppose be holding the handle!

The best part of the day was that I broke out of my "hamster wheel" and was able to navigate the kite away from the anchor where we were storing our gear AND made it right back without having to walk. That was a very proud moment - then I collapsed from exhaustion.

Here's Mr Chris, the day was cloudy but worth it!

An added bonus to the weekend was that traveling allowed for more knitting! The socks are finished!

Process or Product?

2008-03-08T20:39:00.007-05:00

Well today, while in a local yarn shop, a conversation began about my love and obsession with my basket of favorite yarn. I keep this basket in the sitting room, in full view for all to admire, but mostly for me. I just love the look of it, sometimes I rearrange the color combinations, change the way it's organized or even just pause in front of it before moving to the task at hand.

When I shared this with the ladies in the shop, one agreed with me that little bits like this were part of the fun, while the other stated it was taking away from my knitting time. So once again the division between "process" knitters and "project" knitters was defined. I, myself, am always happy to have a finished project that I love and can proudly proclaim I am the creator of; however, I can't count the hours I have spent happily involved in the whole process, and even when the project ends in disaster, I start it all over again!

Vacation is officially over.

2008-03-04T17:17:00.001-05:00

We made it back! I don't think there is any place more worth a trip than Utah, I've been there in the summer and the winter. It would take hours of sole searching to determine when I liked it best. I'm happy to report that I completely enjoy winter again too - the one question I have is, have you ever seen such big goggles on a girl? They take up my entire helmet.

We made the trip without event, all connecting flights were met with luggage aboard. I'm thrilled to announce that my wonderful friend Jen is married. This too took place over our vacation and I actually was able to attend her ceremony. The fact that we made it to Baltimore is truly a miracle. She and Mr. S had a beautiful and short ceremony, I've been told by J that if we ever get married it too will be that short. Ahh, Mr. Romance lives in my house!

Progress on the knitting projects: the broken cables socks are officially "broken" to quote my favorite three year old. I completely ripped them out over the weekend. I've moved on to the snicket socks and those are about 40% underway. The sweater is about 50% completed AND I have a new pair of leg warmers!!!!

Miles Posting

2008-02-20T21:07:00.000-05:00

In an effort to get back into shape I am going to publicly post the miles I pedal! Yikes, I need motivation and maybe staving off public humiliation will do that for me. Bare in mind that all next week I'll be far from any opportunity to get on a bike, so cut me a bit of slack for at least a week pleeeeeeez.

finished and unfinished business

2008-02-19T20:22:00.001-05:00

Well, I'm happy to report that I have actually finished a project, or rather 6 projects! That is almost unheard of my world these days! I made romanesc insulated shades for our skylights. Granted, it wasn't a complicated job seeing as I haven't touched a sewing machine in about 20 years; however I did actually do it and they don't look bad. I'm not thrilled about the fabric, but I didn't think dumping a lot of money into them every time my love of a new print or color scheme resurfaced. This actually seems to happen on a 4-6 month cycle, so I went very neutral. I'll save color for the pillows! So my goal of completing them before spring has occurred. Hopefully this will help with the heat loss we are experiencing on the roof.

I made a larger one for a doorway to a mudroom. This one ran into problems, I'd love suggestions if there are any. I've hung it up and am letting it "stew" until I form a solution. J has made a good one, which makes sense that the engineer would be a better seamstress than myself!

I NEVER thought I would be the one to state this, but I'm a little bit tired of winter.............. My cure for this feeling is a trip to Utah and to have fun with winter again! Last weekend at Girlstorm definately helped so a week skiing should give me some enthusiasm too. Imagine not having to shovel for a week!!!!!!

But to prove just how pathetic I am, what project do I take?

New Beginnings

2008-02-15T18:29:00.001-05:00

It's cold and frozen here today and I'm remembering vacations from ago so I found this picture and decided it was a good one for a first post. Not related to purling or pedaling but we'll get there eventually!