Random stuff

This summer hasn't progressed exactly as I had hoped.
Frequent rain and thunder storms thwarted many outdoor plans. Weeds have once again infiltrated and overrun my planting beds. June 26th a tornado went through my town as I was driving to get my son from daycare. It was small and short as tornadoes go, but here in Connecticut we aren't very used to them. We were incredibly lucky. We lost leaves and branches and power for about 24 hours. The hail did a lovely number on my hostas and the rhododendron is several feet shorter. Others were not so lucky. Six houses had to be condemned, one of which was bisected by a tree. Many old and large trees did not survive. Some look like snapped toothpicks, many others toppled, their roots giving away with the wet ground and high winds. Amazingly no one was hurt. I was in the car during the brunt of the storm and was completely terrified. My son, who I was desperately trying to get to, fared much better. While the other kids at daycare were crying during the storm, he was in the jolly jumper bouncing and laughing away. Did I mention he shows signs of being an adrenaline junky?

The Opera job that we do every spring turned out to be a much longer project, cutting into my summer free time. Once that was on the truck, we then took a road trip to visit family. I've learned much on the road with a 10 1/2 month old. I've also gained a new skill...the car seat diaper change which is done while the child is still strapped in and the car still in motion. (note: this only works on pee diapers. Do not attempt on poopy diapers!)

One of the highlights of the summer has been the Green Day concert. I cannot gush enough about this. It is up there with last years NIN concert in the best I've ever seen. The Bravery opened and then Green Day played for THREE HOURS!!!! At one point Billie Joe (*sigh*) pulled a girl out of the audience and had her play guitar on Jesus of Suburbia on his own guitar. I was hoarse and deaf and very, very happy at the end of it all. The concert was a much needed release. It reminded me why I used to go clubbing. There are no good clubs here and now I've got a very active little boy who keeps me rather busy. The whole night just added fuel to the fire of my fan-girl crush on Billie Joe Armstrong. I'm insanely jealous of my friend Lisa who is the head scenic on the theatrical version of American Idiot. If I were only closer...

I have managed to get a bit of knitting done in the midst of work, home improvement projects, and running after my little dude. I finished 3 socks on the road trip; a second sock for my husband and a pair for my physical therapist.



The blue ones are for my husband, who wanted some more warm socks for work. The green ones look much, MUCH better in person. I'm having a hard time photographing them and getting the real color. I'll keep trying. The blue ones are Patons Classic Merino and the green are Cascade 220.



I also made a shower gift for a friend of mine. This picture doesn't include the blue ribbon over the elastic but you get the idea. What I love best about this, besides being a very fast, easy knit, is that the yarn is called Seduce. I find that absolutely perfect for a bridal garter. The pattern is

Courtney's Bit of Blue by Susan Valent. The yarn, Seduce by Berroco.

I've been attempting to do some sewing as well. I'm not making much progress. I'm working on seat covers for shopping carts and restaurant high chairs for the little dude. I've only gotten as far as washing the fabric and cutting it out. Isn't this the best flame fabric you've ever seen though?

I plan on incorporating this into his room with the dragon theme. I think it works as dragon fire.

I want to offer a moment of silence for John Hughes................
His death came as a shock and brought about much discussion and reminiscing. The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science and Sixteen Candles are among some of my favorite movies and all bring back fond memories of my youth. Ferris Bueller is responsible for my crush on Matthew Broderick.

Most of my time not working is spent babyproofing and chasing the little dude. I should have forseen things with all the movement in utero, but I still wasn't expecting to have a 10 month old who walks. And shortly after his first solo steps he discovered he much prefers to run. Now at 11 months he's increased in speed and experimenting with climbing. The cats, much to their dismay, are of incredible interest. But perhaps they will finally lose some weight. J is a ball of curiosity and laughs. He took great delight in my ball winder, working it quite adeptly. We'll have needles in those hands soon enough.

A dainty dish to set before the King

So I thought I would share a few of the things that have kept me from blogging.

On of the biggest has been J's foray into solid foods. It sounds simple enough but I swear I did less research in the whole of college. There is so much to know about what foods they can have at what age, reactions to look for. We make our own baby food for the most part (except peas. I HATE peas and they are a pain to make so we get that jarred) We are attempting to keep him organic as possible so that has meant some extra hunting for just the right foods. Luckily we have a fabulous local organic farm that does online ordering. They email me a food list, I reply with what I want and then Friday evening I go pick it up. Urban Oaks...check it out. I think more neighborhoods need something like this. A fabulous plan for those empty lots.

This site: Wholesome Baby Food
and this book: Super Baby Food
have been my bibles as well. This is where I've been getting the bulk of my information on what to feed him when, and how to make it. I freeze the food in ice cube trays and thaw them as I need them. It's very convenient and I know what's going into his little body. And so far he's liked everything (though the last few days he's been rejecting the green beans). He's just starting to get the hang of finger foods. We have to give him one Cheerio at at time because it takes great concentration to pick one up. Otherwise they are all over the floor.

I also spend a fair amount of time on the American Pregnancy Association forums. These ladies helped me through my infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy and motherhood. They've been a big help with my early struggles in breastfeeding. I'm not one of those psycho breastfeeding Nazis and I'm not going to lecture here. I will say that it has been one of the most difficult but most rewarding things I have ever done. J has been breastfed from the start and I can proudly say he's never had formula. (not that there's anything wrong with formula feeding. It just is important to me to avoid it if I can. And so far, we have). Here's a few sites that I found immensely helpful in this particular journey:
La Leche League International
Breastfeeding Online
Drug safety during breastfeeding


And now what you've been waiting for with this post...cute messy baby pics.

Holy Crap...a new post!

I figured I'd say it first.

A lot has happened since my last post. Shortly after posting we went through a 3 week run of illness. J had croup and a few cranky days after his 6 month check up vaccines. Then he developed a double ear infection paired with pink eye. My little guy was sweet enough to pass along the pink eye to me, and then I got strep throat. My husband just escaped the strep. It was a yucky horrible time for all. Oh and J cut his first two teeth at the same time.

From there I had to deal with more theatrical fiascos...anywho. Life happened. No posts.

Here I am. With some fiber related content.

Last Saturday was the Massachusetts Sheep and Wool festival. It was a lovely day with my knitting ladies and my little one. Da (as we now call my husband) had to work so the little guy went to his second S&W. (the first was the Connecticut S&W...not much to write about. Didn't buy a thing) Amy brought her little girl who is a few weeks younger than J. They got along swimmingly. He kept trying to hold her hand during lunch, it was the cutest. I have pictures of the day but they are on an actual film camera, which means I need to take them to be developed.

I do have pictures of the yarn I bought...which I believe is the first yarn I've bought in nearly a year. (holy crap indeed). We went to Webs after the festival and I scored some skeins of Cascade 220 for a great price due to the anniversary sale. These are going to be thank you socks for my physical therapist. I also bought the pattern for the Blue Sky Alpaca Audrey Coat. I hemmed and hawed on the pattern but the girls talked me into it. I adore this pattern and hope that I'll actually get enough knitting time in to make it...some

My big score at the actual S&W was some Super Sock from Ball and Skein. I really love their colorways. This one is called Bramble Berry. The picture doesn't do it justice. It is rich and subtle and luminescent. It is destined to be a shawl for me. I have it narrowed down to about eight different choices:
Sagittaria Shawl by Vilma Vuori
Seraphim Shawl by Miriam L. Felton
irtfa'a faroese lace shawl by Anne Hanson
Shetland Triangle by Evelyn A. Clark
Spring Things by Susan Lawrence
Pangea Shawl by Sarah-Hope Parmeter
Midsummer Shawl by Renee Leverington
The Clovers by Sylvia Cannizzaro

Any opinions??

OK, that's enough for now.I'm hoping it won't be several months before I post again. Oh and here's some more cuteness...

And the answer is....

Alfred Hitchcock it is!





The resemblance tends only to be there when he's sleeping. At least it is a celebrity I admire. Hitchcock is one of my all time favorite directors. For those of you who don't see it, here is a comparison.









No knitting yet. This evening will be dedicated to packing up and baby-proofing thhe living room. Someone figured out today that he can roll to places, even if he can't crawl yet.

celebrity look alike

So you know how some babies can look like celebrities. Well, J does at times. For example:

This is J sleeping:


Who do you think he looks like? Tune in tomorrow to find out.

No rest for Mom

It has been very crazy here. Work has near imploded due to a putz of a designer, and our household was recently struck with the stomach flu. My love has been working lots of long hours (too bad he's salary) which means I'm on my own with the little dude. That leaves no time for knitting and even less for blogging. So to distract you from my blogging neglect I will blind you with sheer cuteness.

This is important, people!

I'm not one for pushing issues but this is very important.

Due to all the lead laden products coming in from China, especially childrens' toys, our government decided to react. And in typical form it is wide sweeping, over the top, legislation that will kill small business. I'm all for safer products (I won't get on my soapbox about toxic chemicals in everything around us) but to not consider all the small homegrown businesses, especially in this economy, is highly irresponsible. So please click the link and help save the creative people on Etsy and elsewhere.

Learn more here and download a letter to send to your legislators.

when art imitates life

I recently noticed a color theme in my work shoes and the piece I was painting. Apparently I'm in my yellow-orange phase.



Check out more photos and the process of the drop here.

merry christmas to all

Holiday Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends on the complexity of wrapping the gift and how late we are to the party.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I love the smell of real but I can't bring myself to murder a tree for mere decoration. Plus we use our fireplace and that's too much of a fire hazard for me.
3. When do you put up the tree? My love won't let me do it before December 1st, so the first chance I get after that. I usually want to do it following Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Depends...some years not until New Years day, some years the day after Christmas
5. Do you like eggnog? Not especially, but I like the rum I thin it with.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I would have to be the year I got my play kitchen. It even had a little water dispenser in the door.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband's family
8. Easiest person to buy for? My little brother
9. Do you have a nativity scene? no...I do have the one from my childhood in a box somewhere waiting to be repainted.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail...I usually do handmade too if I can swing it.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? apparently I've blocked it out.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas or Die Hard
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Far later than I should
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? maybe
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? cookies...certain ones only get made this time of year.
16. Lights on the tree? Yes. All one color or separate strands of single color. I abhor multi-color lights on a single strand.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Traditional: Silent Night
Parody: Twelve Pains of Christmas
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? It depends
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? yes
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning...after tea, before breakfast.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Being a child of divorce the fighting over visiting who when and the fact that it seems everyone dies this time of year.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Blue and white/crystal
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? I don't know.
24. Angel on the tree top or a star? Really cool vintage star that has spinning color action.
25. Favorite Christmas dinner? Goose or Roast beef of some sort.

What we've been up to...

I did finally finish the Baby Yoda Sweater. I had to sew the sleeves in twice. Next time I'd make the sleeves shorter. The yarn is Moda Dea Washable Wool. I scored a bunch of it on clearance at JoAnn's a while back.


This is the Sally Melville scarf that I knit as a thank you for my doula. I couldn't have gotten through the birth without her. It's knit out of Berroco Comfort. I liked this pattern so much that I'm knitting myself one out of some lone Malabrigo in my stash.













And I finally did something about my hair. Saturday was spent at the Angry Chair going from this:


to this:


What you really can't see in this photo is the purple hilights. Yes, I finally dyed my hair purple and I love it. I also got a job out of the trip. I'm going to be repainting the salon and they're giving me free reign.

And if you didn't notice in the picture above my little one is wearing his NIN onesie made by Jenny.












And because he's just too cute here he is in his skeleton sweats (thank you Rachel and Jack).

Inspiration

I'm almost done with the Yoda Sweater. I'm in the process of seaming it at the moment. I hope to have it finished tonight.

My husband directed me to this YouTube video and it completely blew me away. I love John Williams...I really wanted to walk down the aisle to one of his pieces but the priest was not so keen on that. My old priest, who died several years ago, would have loved it. But anywho, enjoy and then wrap your mind around how much work this must have taken.

hey you!

Get out and vote!

Still undecided? Try this quiz but please, please vote.

And if you don't, then I don't want to hear you complain about the outcome or anything related for the next four years! Here's a few images to ponder in your ambivalence...

The force is strong with this one

Happy belated Halloween.

It was a busy day here. I didn't get the Yoda sweater done in time but the hat was a go. We had a lot less kids than we normally do, which is odd because the weather was rather pleasant. We had family visiting as well.

Here he is:


There is a disturbance in the force.

I made something!

I had to make this for him. I couldn't resist and it's just too cute. Some day I'll be able to post a picture of him with his eyes open. My next knitting project is his Halloween costume which I hope to post before too long. I'll be dressing up as usual this year. Now I can coordinate my costume with someone.

I've been trying to figure out how to nurse hands free so I can knit at the same time. It's going fairly well. Life in general is feedings, diaper changes, laundry, figuring out which of the trifecta (eat, sleep or shower) I should do when he's asleep, and just sitting and staring at this amazing little person.

Rock...tech geek style

Here's an article about the setup at the NIN show I went to. We talked about this for days afterward. If you get a chance SEE THIS SHOW. It really is a sensory experience.

Introducing...

the new man in my life:

All in the Timing

That's more than just a collection of David Ives plays in my life. I had to make it to my anniversary date of September 4th to qualify for my short term disability leave. I wasn't too worried as I was due on the 17th and told I would most likely be late.

Imagine my surprise when my water breaks at 4 am on the 5th! My little guy waited just long enough and then decided to arrive....two weeks early! We were so unprepared. We had planned on the weekend as our time to finish up the baby prep. The joke was on us.

At 5:22pm on the 5th our little one was born. It was 13 1/2 hours from when my water broke. I had no drugs, no epidural...there was no time to really even consider one. Someone got a little stuck and I was almost headed for a c-section. But I did it...and he's wonderful.

For sake of privacy I'm not posting his name on the net but the initials of his first and middle name are JA. We just came home yesterday and haven't up loaded pictures yet.

So there it is...don't know when I'll get on next.

Takin care of business

Last week I went back to work and jumped right in and hit the ground running. So I've been utterly exhausted. I'm taking it easy as much as I can. I was sore as hell last week, but at least I am sleeping again. Though now I am dealing with swelling of my hands and feet. Luckily I took my rings off a few weeks ago. I was using a inherited ring as a substitute wedding band, but it is of too much sentimental value to wear at work. My hands go up and down so much I don't think any rings could be comfortable. Most nights I come home and crash on the couch with my feet up. Some day I hope to see my ankle bones again.

I did get some sewing done. The dust ruffle for the crib is nearly complete. My bag is all prepped, I just need to sit down and do a marathon sewing session. The earliest that could happen is Friday night. I've got a full week with my hospital tour, lactation class and a doctor's appointment. I've chosen a doula and I'm starting to get our little guy's stuff situated. I swear he already has more clothes then the both of us combined. He's head down now, which means he's kicking my ribs and stomach constantly.

We took him to his first concert...NIN. He loved it, but then who couldn't love Trent Reznor. The show was amazing. It was the most visually stimulating concert that I've ever been to. Of course we were getting our geek on by analyzing the equipment. It was my last concert for a while and what a memory to have to cling to.

My brain is fried at this point, I think I've updated on everything...I'm off to bed.

I'm just watched Serenity again and you know, I still can't forgive Joss Whedon for what he did to Wash.

Not quite sewing yet...

The weekend went well. My sew-fest today was slightly put off by a scheduled trip to the vet and the writing/addressing of thank you notes.

I have started cutting projects. I do need to pick up a tad more fabric, and plan to do so first thing tomorrow. I'll be a single girl tomorrow due to some ill-timed truck arrivals at the theatre, but that leaves me uninterrupted sewing time.

And today I realized I go back to work next week...where did my summer break go?

Trains

I'm hitting the rails again this weekend for a quick jaunt to the home town. Reason?; one of my baby showers. I have another there next weekend...long story, don't want to tell it. If you know anything about my family situation, that's enough.

When I return, Monday will be sewing day. I have these fabrics waiting in the wings:



I can't wait to get down and dirty with my sewing machine at last. I had planned on spending much more time with it this summer but life intervenes. I guess you'll just have to wait until Monday to see what they will be.

Updates

I just did two updates on Footprints in the Sky. The next (and uber-long but very cool) one will be up sometime tomorrow.

(now it's up)

Check out the shiny shiny pretty.

50 Days

It's 50 days until my estimated due date. As you can see, Isis can't believe how big I've gotten. I can't believe how big I've gotten. I still run into things, especially counters, since I am use to stepping much closer to them. I had to take off my rings on Sunday. They weren't getting tight, but it was getting much harder to get them off. Better off now, then with bolt cutters later. I feel completely naked without them. And without the wedding band I get dirty looks when the belly and I are out. I have behaved myself so far and bite my tongue...but one of these days I'm bound to unleash on some stranger. Speaking of strangers...man if you want unsolicited advice or opinions, walk around pregnant. If one more person asks if I'm having twins or tells me I'll never make it to September, I will unleash some serious Pregzilla on them. I'm measuring right on time and I've gained the recommended amount of weight, but people feel the need to make me feel like I'm carrying an elephant and about to drop any moment. What is wrong with people. Luckily I've been spared people touching the belly uninvited. Maybe I just look like the type of person who would break their wrist if they tried...because I am.

I know I promised more blogging and it hasn't happened. We've been the land of chronic thunderstorms here. Actually lightning struck right outside the other night; it was like a huge flashbulb (remember flashbulbs?) went off in the street. Then a deafening crash and the whole house shook. Then the sound of sirens...something was on fire nearby, but not in viewing distance of our front door.

The other anti-blogging factor has been our internet connection which has decided to be spotty at best. My love can't seem to get to the root of it, and our phone company (we have DSL) claims there are no problems on their end.

I have been knitting. I can't show too much of it right now as it is a gift. I've hit a small snag with several projects though...with the crib up, my blocking bed has been packed away. Now I need to find somewhere to block that I can shut the cats out of. Not an easy task in this house.

Home sweet home

I'm back. I came home on Friday. The emotion of the last week and half really hit me when I came home.

While I was gone my husband took down the guest bed and put the crib together. Birthing classes start this week...actually we switched nights and it started last week, but the instructor said it was ok to miss the first class. This is starting to get all too real.

I don't know what to say right now...

I'm back

actual blogging to follow

On the Road Again

Well I'm headed out of town again.

My Grandmother passed away on Wednesday morning and the services are this weekend. It was an expected passing as she was under Hospice care, but still very heartbreaking. Back in the early days of my parents divorce I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. My Grandmother could be a difficult and frustrating woman, but she loved us all very much. I wish she could have been here long enough to see my little guy, but she was completely thrilled about the pregnancy. Even in her less lucid moments she would ask how I was and how the baby is doing. I'll miss you Gram, but I shall carry you on in me and with your cooking. I mean, after all, it was me who you gave your coveted cast iron frying pan to.

I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. And I know I promised more blogging but we've been plagued with random thunderstorms and spotty internet access. We can't seem to figure out why we keep losing our connection.

And the fun begins...sorta

I have a few days of work in the weeks ahead, but otherwise I'm on my summer break. I can't really remember the last time I had a summer off. Since I have had a job, I've worked on all my breaks. I have a lot of plans for my time off.

Today I received my first Amy Butler pattern. I got the Weekender Travel Bag. I can't wait to start working on it. I plan on making one as my hospital bag. A little treat for myself. I don't think I will be using her fabrics, but I'm not sure yet.

I've been knitting in fits and spurts, but I did finish the Cable Baby blanket. I still have to weave in the ends and block it yet. Yesterday I scored some superwash wool at JoAnn's that was a $1.97 a skein clearance. I have no plans for it yet. I hope to get my stash on Ravelry on my time off.

The little guy is doing well. He's quite the active fellow. Though I keep warning him that he's got 12 more weeks in there and he better save some room.

I've such a big list of things I want to (and need to) accomplish that I'm not quite sure where to start. Tonight is a night alone as my love is off to a bachelor party for my boss. I'm tired and my brain is having trouble forming real sentences so I shall go now.

A moment of silence...

for George Carlin.

And I will freely admit that I cried when I heard the news. The man was a comic genius who influenced so many people. I quote him all the time. He's made me laugh at my darkest moments, and shown me that I'm not the only one out there who thinks the way I do. He will be deeply missed. It's a shame he didn't live long enough to receive his Mark Twain award.

Oh and I'm off contract now...I've a few days of work over the next week and then I'm done for several weeks, so expect a lot more blogging happening.

And then there were three...

Yesterday we had 6 cats...now we have 3! And with any luck by the end of the week we will be left with our original two.

Yes, finally after a year and a half of fostering the little monsters, um I mean stray cats, we found a home for most of them. They have gone off to be barn cats on a lovely little farm down state. Thank you, thank you, thank you Audrey for putting us in contact. And thank you Wanda for having a generous heart to take in the furry ones.

It was fiasco central this weekend getting them ready for their new home. We needed to get their rabies booster. Our vet won't take cats they can't handle, which is completely understandable. We had hoped to get an appointment for the clinic at the Humane Society, but they never answered their phone, nor did they call us back. Our vet let us know of a clinic at Petco on Saturday. So that was the plan. It took my love about 3 hours and several puncture wounds to get them in the cages. We get to the store and get in the rather long line. There were a lot of dogs there...I'm not really a dog person. Especially when people don't clean up after said dogs. Come on people ! They provide you stuff to clean up after your animals! Use them!......anywho. The dog behind us (the one with the choke chain...I won't start in that rant) got a few nose scratches because they didn't keep him from sniffing our cages, even after warnings. Our turn came finally, but not before someone's dog took a very smelly dump. We get to the table. We warn them about the nature of our furry ones. The tech dons what look like gloves for either welding or falconry. The first one (Spec) is pulled from the cage and given her shot. Slightly difficult but she's the easiest one. The next one (Juno) is the one full of piss and vinegar, and she proved that....by escaping and running loose in the store. She managed to crawl under the shelving. It took 5 people and about 10 minutes to get her. As she was tackled the vet managed to get her with the vaccination. They decided to take the last one (Sam) into the bathroom to do his. He raised a paw and then decided to give up. Finally they had their shots. But what to do with them while waiting to hear from their soon-to-be home?? We didn't want to put them back into the studio because we were afraid that we'd never get them into the cages again. We settled on the handicap bathroom at my husband's shop.

Monday went much better. They were huddled in their cages when we went to gather them. Two in the big cage and one in one of the smaller ones. We merely shut the doors and then took them to their new home. It's a lovely place that I'm very comfortable leaving them at.

Finally.

The last furry one is being integrated into our upstairs domain (she's lonely without her siblings) until we get her a home of her own. We didn't send her with the others because she's defintely housecat material. And this means I have my studio back!!! Woo Hoo!!! Now we just have to clean it...a lot.

psuedo post

Life has been a blur since I've gotten back. I have been taking pictures, but haven't had a chance to blog. The belly grows ever bigger and I think this will be the week I say goodbye to my belly button. The weather warms (finally) and everything has turned green. For the first time ever I saw my Queen of the Night tulips bloom. I've been knitting when I'm not working on the house or passed out on the couch.

I'll have a real post with pictures this week, I promise. I just need to upload them all.

And for my PIF people. I haven't forgotten you. I'm secretly working on your goodies.

Home again

I'm back (I got in Sat nite) and all went well. Unfortunately I'm now in allergy hell and unable to take my usual medicine. It may be a few days before I get the pictures and such up.

Off again

I'm off again to help while a family member is in the hospital for an operation. I'll be gone for about a week and won't be able to post. I should have a bevy of knitting photos when I return.

ps...I've updated Footprints in the Sky with pictures of the last few months. I think you'll be able to forgive my lack of posting when you see what my days have been filled with.

And the winner is...

Anyone who said boy!!! Yep, we're having a boy and there is no doubt about it. He pulled his little toes to his nose and flashed us! He also didn't stop moving the whole ultrasound...until she needed him to move his legs out of the way to check something. Then he wouldn't budge. That is definitely our child. It was really amazing to see him move and feel it too.

So who won...well since so few people voted...we have 3 winners. Yes, all of you that said boy get a prize. Mouse, pamudom, and cygknit will be receiving a set of my handmade wooden knitting needles. You'll have to be a little patient about their delivery date. It will be a few weeks before I can get into the shop and make them.

Woo hoo!!

Contest!!!

Since I missed my blogiversary back in February, I've decided to do a little contest of sorts. Tuesday evening is my ultrasound, where if the little flying monkey cooperates, we will know what it is. I'm taking guesses up until 1pm Tuesday, EST. Then I will choose a name or two from the correct guesses to win something. I'm not completely sure on the prize yet, I think it will depends on who wins (I'm not going to give knitting gifts to my non knitting readers)

So...leave comments if you think it is a boy or a girl.
Some possible helpful info

• my main cravings have been for fresh fruit with a few other odd ones here and there (pad thai, tater tots, Friendly's ice cream sundae with peanut butter sauce and hot fudge) but the fruit has been the constant.
• Food aversions- chicken. If it is cut up and small in the dish (and not the predominate flavor) I can manage it. Sit a chicken breast in front of me and I gag. And salmon.
  
• No heartburn yet.
  
• I've only had one baby dream that I can remember and it was a girl.

And this is how I am carrying:



So let the games begin!

Um...yeah

I really don't have words for this...I think it speaks for itself.

Random Conversations With A Insatiable Geek

Wow, I didn't realize quite how long it has been since I've posted. With my morning sickness gone (yea!) and some renewed energy I've been a busy bee around her. I also have my husband back from his 3 month stint of overtime, which means I get little to no computer time.

I also hit a stale point in my knitting. I finished the projects I had been working on and found myself not sure where to go next. I've been finding it hard to sit and knit lately. It seems the little one is giving me bouts of RLS, not fun after a day painting in your stocking feet. (those pictures will be up soon). I pulled out the Ballet wrap cardigan and attempted to figure out where I left off...then I really stepped back and looked at it. I decided I didn't quite like how it was coming out, so off to the frog pond it went. I'm debating the same with Kyoto. I have the sleeves and the neck band to do. I wanted to do the sleeves in the round but may just do them flat to get them done. I don't have enough dpns in that size to do them in the round and I'm having trouble finding more in that size. They are just two small to go with circs. I could magic loop if I felt like learning how to do that, but I don't on this project. I'll try to make a decision by this weekend.

I wanted to start some of the duck feet booties for my little flying monkey but the store I usually but the yarn at no longer carries that color. So more hunting for that. I did finish my last pair of boot socks...I'll get pics soon. After digging through my stash (ugh..hey did I miss flash your stash again???) I found 12 balls of a light violet wool that I got on clearance from JoAnn's. I had hoped to get more colors but never made it back. Anywho I am making the cabled baby blanket from Simply Baby by Debbie Bliss. We don't know what the little one is yet but if it is determined the blanket is too "girly" then I can always dye it. I need to knit something.

I fell last Friday. I mean I completely wiped out on the sidewalk. I had either missed the curb or tripped over it but I dropped a bunch of things along the way down; I even lost my shoe. I went down hard on one knee, tearing my pants and then on my hands. I managed to protect the belly. I'm fine except the abrasion and bruise on my knee that still hurt. What can you expect...I'm the girl that can trip on a shadow.

Oh and I completely missed my blogiversary.

There's no place like home...

and I'm glad to back in mine.

It has been a long, long week, but we made it. Dad is doing great and actually left the hospital sooner than expected. Thank you everyone for your wishes and prayers. It will take me a few days to catch up on my email not to mention the laundry and house stuff. Please be patient. That's all for now...I have a stack of mail to go through and some cats to suck up to.

The witch is out...

I'll be gone for most of this week. My father is having surgery again, and I'm going to make sure he wakes back up. I'm a complete basket case about the whole thing right now. Thankfully my husband is going with me to save what little of my sanity remains. I got a ton of knitting done last time...I forsee at least a pair of socks and something for the baby. I hope to return with good news. Please send what ever good juju that you can.

Bags and books and illness...

Oh my!

I'm sick again. Well I'm not sure that I am sick or if it is a bout of allergies. Normally this is a nuisance that I would drug out of existence. Not anymore. While there are several things I can still take during pregnancy, the one thing that really works for me, I can't. So, I do what I can. It has wiped me out again, just as I was gaining momentum with the waning of my morning sickness.

I did end up buying a bag, if nothing else to get me though my little trip this week. Even if I don't keep it as a knitting bag, it is one I will find useful for other things.

I also ended up getting my hands on my very own copy of Simply Baby. I love the Debbie Bliss baby knit books. I love most of her stuff. And now I have a little one of my own to knit this stuff for.

On the hunt

I'm hunting for a new knitting bag. Unfortunately Target is out of stock on all the bags I was considering. I'm not one for internet shopping on things like these. I need to touch and look inside and try it out. I want something smaller than what I am using that zips shut and looks more stylish. Right now I have a large open tote.

So what bags do you guys use?

And for something completely different...

So the difference between this



and the real thing would be this little one:



Yes. We are knocked up again. All is well with the little flying monkey. Thursday we got to hear the heartbeat. It has been a roller-coaster of paranoia and excitement. The Doctor told us the chances of anything happening this point are very slim.

So now you know why I've been so sick and tired lately. I'm pretty much useless weeknights between the "morning" sickness and exhaustion from working all day. The guys at work have been fabulous. They won't let me lift a thing.

So no I can finally knit baby stuff for me!

Ok, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Can you tell I'm getting my geek on???

In the tradition of the Princess Leia hat (which I will make one of these days) ...now we have the R2-D2 hat.



Hrm...I think I know what I'm making the boy for his birthday. Whether he wants it or not. (not that he wears what I knit him anyway.)

keeping warm during the zombie invasion

This was just too cool.


Read about it here. I originally found it here.

Holiday (for some)

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

I know I've been quiet lately. There are big things a brewing here at Chez-Goth, things I can't talk about until somethings are finalized. That and I'm still struggling with my health. I've been battling a headache for 5 days now. We also lost the computer for several days due to storm induced power failure. The surge protector and battery backup didn't prevent a fun little glitch that was over clocking the CPU, and my tech support (aka husband) was working long hours at the time. But the computer is running, he's nearly done with the insane hours, and we should be rid of the extra cats by the end of the month. Things are looking up. Now if I can just get rid of the gnome in my head with a jackhammer, things would be going quite well.

Year of the Rat

I can't believe it has been so long since I've written. I'm still not feeling 100% lately. After working all day I'm whipped and pretty much completely useless. So the only real progress I've made on anything has been the weekends. I even skipped out on both my knitting groups this week. I'm just so tired.

I actually had my husband home for about 24 hours between yesterday afternoon and today. I really miss him. He has about two weeks of sheer chaos left. Then he's mine again. Today I attacked the linen closet and the green room. It is amazing how stuff just clusters and gathers and multiplies.

We finally found a home for one of the cats in the basement. Her new owner will be coming to claim her in a few weeks, after the show is out of tech. I think the other three are going to have to be taken to a no-kill shelter. We just can't keep fostering them. We've had them over a year and work on the house is being held up by the residence in the basement. Not to mention my inability to use my studio while they reside there.

I 'finished' the back to school vest. I haven't joined the shoulders yet. I tried it on quickly at knitting one night and wasn't too happy how the upper portion was fitting. I have to put it on here and see how I care to proceed. I do need to write the designer though. I discovered some eratta that wasn't listed on her site.

I've picked up the ballet wrap cardigan again. I'm more than half way done with the sleeves. I still have to figure out where I am on the right front. I took it to SnB the other night and started the sleeves as they were conducive to talking and knitting. The front will be me and the cats and some solitude.

Beyond that I need to figure out my next project. I have some more baby knitting for friends looming in the future. One of them is having triplets!!! And I'm hunting around for a spinning wheel of my own. That's what I'm going to do with all my birthday money.

So there we are. I'm going to keep puttering around the house while I still have sunlight to burn.

um..whatever

I'm still not feeling well and insomnia leaves me completely drained by the time I get home. At least work isn't boring right now. And my Love has been home more so I get less computer time, though he recently realized he has overtime from now until MARCH!!! We've also been catching up on last season of Lost, before the premiere on the 31st.

I have been busy when home and semi-conscious.

I took a bit of my Christmas money and purchased Fitted Knits and Knitting Lingerie Style. I've been eying these two for a while so I splurged.

I reknit my husband's alien scarf from the first Stitch and Bitch book. I knit it on too large a needle last time and it stretched a lot. I did notice a few mistakes when blocking this one, but he doesn't care, so I didn't either. He better wear it this time.


Here is my sewing project from before Christmas. I finally got around to photographing it.


It's a generic shift to wear under period garments. I was horrified when the Renn faire rolled around and I had nothing to wear. So I'm working on my period costumes. My next is either the Regency undergarments or the Civil War ones.

On a whim I started knitting this little number from Fitted Knits.



It's the Back to School Vest and knit in Plymouth Encore Worsted. Meant to be a stash buster I find that I need one more skein. Hopefully the color won't be too off. This will probably be a painting sweater anyway. I've got some Cascade 220 in mind for a 'good' one.

And then there is my special project from my handspun. I knit a womb. Yep, that's what I said.



This project has special meaning to me, after this summer. It's meant to be a good luck charm of sorts. And I think its damn cute. Though the original pattern is lacking in ovaries, so I may have to whip up a few of those.

So that's what I've been up to. Well, I'm off to bed.

Blah

I'm not dead...just sick. And blogger's been giving me trouble.

I have been knitting tons though...

Hopefully pictures soon.

Happy Birthday to

ME!

This is what I looked like 31 years ago today....well tonight. At this point I was still folded in half and stuck in my mom. (I was born after 11pm.)

So everybody CELEBRATE however you see fit!

My First Handspun

Here I am finally posting the pics. I believe I finished this on New Years day.

Here's the plied yarn on my swift. I don't have a niddy noddy (honey if you are reading this Hint HINT) so I used the swift and measured around. I ended up with about 93 yards.



Not a great close up but you get the idea.


Here are my weapons of dying...my crock pot, food dyes in straight red, red with a touch of black, and red with a touch of purple, and the instructions found here.


Here's the dye pour. I put on the cover and walked away and wrestled with the computer for several hours...



When its done it looks like this. I actually added dye several times to get a deeper red. It was still in the pot when my Love came home and asked if I knew there was yarn in the crock pot. *sigh* boys.


Here it is. My first hand spun. I'm very proud of it. There are a few wonky spots. I liked doing the singles on the drop spindle but the plying really killed my hands. I couldn't knit for a few days. This experience really is pushing me to seriously take steps to getting my own wheel. I'm addicted to the dying too. I keep thinking of color combinations. I may try some acid dyes but I'll do those in the shop at work.




So there it is...and tonight it will become something else.