[Gr]own

Lately

2010-02-22T14:20:00.007-05:00

First (real) snowman of the year!

Our doggy is the best fed pooch in town.

Handlebar.

Learning to feed himself. Already. At 14 months. Why is he growing up so fast?

Sock-o-rama. (see it on Ravelry)

Hope your "lately" is filled with as many blessings as mine.

Three!

2010-01-17T08:48:00.000-05:00

Sweet J-man, I can't believe you're three! You are such a kind, thoughtful, and energetic big boy. You're always thinking of others -- "cooking" for your family and friends, sharing your toys, helping mom and dad, drawing pictures and making things for others. You love to sing and dance. Your smile is infectious.

We love you loads and loads. We love you big, big, BIG! Happy Birthday, three-year-old!

Winter Wonderlads

2010-01-12T13:16:00.011-05:00

The kiddos love the snow. They *love* it. They LOVE IT. Me, I get cold pretty quickly. But those kids, they'd choose to stay outside for hours and hours making snowballs, shoveling (seriously, J-man loves to shovel. It's his pastime of choice), just enjoying the winter.

And the pooch, she doesn't mind some snow every once in a while, either.

I've been known to grumble about the winter every now and then (or, ahem, maybe more than a few times each day), but having kids that are so joyful about the snow has shown me what a gift it is to be alive *right now*. Kids, they live in the moment. So, instead of grumbling, I want to be thankful for this season -- the beauty in the shimmering white mounds of snow, the blessings of a warm home and a healthy family.

Hope you're enjoying the wonders of the winter season, wherever you are.

First and last.

2010-01-09T07:31:00.007-05:00

Happy new year! I know that's a bit overdue, but I'll say it anyway.

And guess what? Yep, I'm still a knitter. I haven't posted photos of anything recently because of amazing, lovely Ravelry. Really, all I ever want to say about my projects can be posted there -- I feel that posting them here is kind of redundant and boring. But, since this space began as a knitting blog, I figure that's the way I'll begin the new year.

Last FO of 2009:

Saroyan, pattern by Liz Abinante, yarn by Madelinetosh

First FO of 2010:

I *heart* Pom-poms hat, pattern by Karen Borrel, yarn by Patons

And, just for fun, a mosaic of (most of) my FO's from 2009. What a busy, knitty, year it's been.

Happy 2010! Hope your new year is full of fun moments and new blessings.

Photo op

2009-12-20T19:50:00.008-05:00

My friend Amy is such a talented photographer, y'all. This past fall we had the opportunity for another photo shoot with her, and of course we jumped at the chance!

If you're in the area, and you need to create some special, memorable photos, consider Amy! She's the sweetest (and I'm not just saying that 'cause she's my friend), and she's excellent with the kiddos.

All photos are Copyright of Amy Kimball Photography.

The wonder of Christmas

2009-12-17T13:54:00.006-05:00

Do you ever feel like you're missing the wonder of Christmas? Like everything gets caught up in buying gifts, putting up decorations, mailing Christmas cards, baking and cooking? Like you have little time to sit and contemplate what this approaching day actually means? The birth of a Savior. Our Savior.

Most years, I feel like I do get caught up in the Christmas hubbub. Santa and reindeer, candy canes and stockings, cookies and presents. It can be fun, but it seems empty to me.

This year, we've been talking a lot about preparing for Christmas. Not for the stress of Christmas, but for the birth of the King. We're told to "be prepared." But how does one go about being prepared? How do you prepare your heart for Christmas?

I've been trying to be more quiet and more peaceful, treasuring every moment with my boys. I've been reading, singing, looking toward the joy of His birth, contemplating what it actually means for me. Peace. Joy. Love. Redemption. Hope. Life.

My sweet one is 1.

2009-12-15T20:25:00.004-05:00

Yay, Little R! You've grown so much over the past year, and you're the happiest baby I've ever known. You love playing ball, clapping, music, singing, and *eating*. You've learned so many new things -- you've even taught yourself to whistle (who knew?).

We love you. We love your laugh, your smile, your cries, your chubby cheeks. Happy Birthday, my sweetness.

First snow.

2009-12-10T10:15:00.003-05:00

Just a dusting of snow, really. J-man was a bit disappointed -- we've been talking about snow so much (snowballs! snowmen! shoveling!) that he got outside and wondered "Where's all the snow?" Soon, little man. Soon.

A New Season.

2009-12-03T22:21:00.008-05:00

One last day in autumn.

Welcome, winter (is it winter yet? It sure feels like it is). As the end of the year approaches, and my youngest child nears one year old, I've become quite contemplative. I feel my way of life is in the midst of a change -- a change for the better. I want to live simpler, without so much stuff. I want to live truer, to feel more alive in each moment. I want to be inspired -- by my neighbors, by my Lord, by my friends, by my family, by my craft, by you.

Hence, the changes in this space. Each day, this home sees growth. Growth of character, growth quite literally (physically). I want to own up to that growth. To see it in myself, to embrace it. To feel it in my bones. To live it.

Now, right now, I feel inspired. Alive.

Trick or Treat!

2009-11-02T13:56:00.008-05:00

This past weekend was filled with family, friends, candy, and costumes!

An adorable "Garbeeege Twuck"

And the cutest skeleton ever.

Hope you and yours had a very happy Halloween!

Summer Memories v.1

2009-09-13T19:49:00.006-04:00

It's been three months. Three months?! THREE MONTHS. Ack. We've been busy enjoying the weather, our growing boys, and all the pleasures of the summer. Now that it's officially over, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic.

Nostalgic, especially about the Michigan State Fair. This year was the last year for the fair, as our governor cut it from the state's budget, due to monetary constraints. It was the longest running fair in US history.

J-man feeds the "beeeeeeg goat."

The State Fair has an exhibit called the "Miracle of Life." Michigan State University's agricultural program brings all of it's very pregnant livestock (cows, sheep, pigs, ducks/chickens/quail/turkeys, etc) to the fairgrounds. The animals then give birth at the fair. Hence, there are oodles of cute little babies running around!

Um, there were many more cute babies than this. Apparently I was too engrossed to take more photos. :)

And of course, J-man had his first carnival ride experience. We had enough cash for him to ride two rides (when did those midway rides get so expensive?), and he chose to ride the same ride twice. The "flying bees" were a hit with this kiddo.

J-man and daddy experiencing the bee excitement.

Little R spent most of the time in his stroller, but, in true little R fashion, he was super happy to chill out and watch the rest of us have fun.

Cutie pie.

Bye-bye, State Fair.

I'll be back with some knitting-related content soon. I promise. :)

Five stitches later...

2009-06-17T13:08:00.004-04:00

A kitchen knife slipped while I was unloading the dishwasher yesterday. As I told my husband, "It doesn't really hurt, so of course I can still knit!" He thought I looked super ridiculous, so he snapped a photo.

Today I'm thankful that the Lord made our bodies with the amazing ability to heal themselves. Bumps, bruises, even broken bones heal on their own (with a little help from medical professionals, sometimes). How awesome -- fearfully and wonderfully made -- we are!

Eight Things I've Learned This Week.

2009-06-10T20:37:00.008-04:00

Eight Things I've Learned (already) This Week:

1. Goo Gone takes crayon "art" off of walls.

2. Little boys have an inbred talent for football-throwing. Seriously, my two-year-old picked up a toy football and threw me a perfect spiral this morning. I'm an adult, and I still can't seem to master this skill. Maybe it's a boy thing.

3. Those Jehovah's Witnesses never give up.

4. Toddler + bike = newly found independence. My little boy used to insist on holding my hand at all times. This afternoon he tried to ride away from me on his bike.

5. A little fresh air brightens up even the most challenging of days.

6. I can pray, and ask God for help, about something as little as my kiddos' naps. He always answers.

7. Sometimes the project you're feeling a little iffy about ends up being one of your most favorite finished objects of all time.

Liesl, pattern by Ysolda Teague

8. One good project deserves another.

Mara, pattern by Madelinetosh

Busy.

2009-05-01T21:19:00.004-04:00

Oy, I've been so far from my blog lately. I'm a bit sad that I've neglected it, and haven't really been commenting on your blogs, either. But I'm still here! And I'm reading your blogs, even if it's a bit difficult to leave comments (mostly one-handed, holding a babe, and running after a little J-man, who seems to have more and more energy every day). Here are a few of the things that have been keeping me busy during the past month:

J-man (27 months) and Little R (4.5 months). We're still awake more than asleep most nights, due to Little R's appetite. But, ah, he's soo cute, I'm really unable to hold a grudge.
Most of the time.

FLS, finished sometime in late March.

EZ's Mitered Mittens, in Gherkin's Bucket handspun yarn. The impending warmer weather apparently has no bearing on my mitten knitting addiction.

Fallen Leaf Frilled Triangular Scarflette, in The Plucky Knitter's 2-ply Cashmere laceweight.

I'm really hoping that spring and summer will bring more inspiration (and time!) for blogging. For now, thanks to all of you who have come back to read this, despite my hiatus! I know that the craziness of life with a newborn must be nearing an end... and things will hopefully feel more and more normal within the next few weeks. For now, I'm still knitting, and living each day minute-to-minute. :)

thank you for recycling.

2009-03-19T15:20:00.004-04:00

Just a quick, shameless plug for my little sis's new shop. Check it out over on Etsy, where I spend waaay too much time and money.

And also, a gratuitous baby shot:

Three months old!

Happy Thursday! My February Lady is nearing completion, so hopefully I'll have some photos soon.

By the wayside.

2009-03-11T21:12:00.001-04:00

I've stashed my blog by the wayside lately, in case you haven't noticed. :) There's been some crazy sickness going around this family: first the J-man gets sick, then passes it to little R, who passes it to me, and so on. I think that relay has happened three times this winter, and it's getting to be pretty tiresome. But I'm on the mend, and *hopefully* spring is coming soon.

Here's a little parade of FO's, finished between late February and early March:

Big Snugs, pattern by Maggie Pace

Gloria cowl, pattern by Orinda5

Baby Janes, pattern by Michelle Miller

Fiddlehead Mittens, pattern by Adrian Bizilia

The Fiddlehead Mittens are actually a WIP. Although I've finished the outer mittens, I'm still working on the lining. For some reason, now that it's getting warmer, I've caught the fair-isle mitten knitting bug. Luckily (or maybe unluckily), I live in Michigan, so there are probably two more months of mitten wearing weather to come.

I'm now working on a February Lady Sweater for me! It's slow going, since I've only had the chance to knit a few rows each day, but I think I'll be really happy with the outcome.

That's about all that's going on in this neck of the woods. But, oh, just in case you haven't gotten your daily allowance of baby cute, here's a smidgeon of sweetness:

Don't you just wanna smooch those chubby cheeks?

Happy heart day

2009-02-14T16:45:00.010-05:00

I'm spending the day with my big Valentine hubby and my two little Valentines.

Little Valentine One

Little Valentine Two

Hope you're all having a wonderful day with your loved ones, as well!

Signs of Spring

2009-02-08T20:10:00.007-05:00

Leaves and water droplets

Sticks for waving

Puddles for splashing

I think (I hope) spring is near.

Baby beauty (and yarny beauty)

2009-02-04T13:31:00.010-05:00

Little R is growing so quickly. He seems to be maturing *way* quicker than his brother did (or maybe it's just because this is our second time around with an infant?). Although he started smiling at 4 weeks, as soon as I pull out the camera, he frowns in confusion--probably wondering how Mama's eye suddenly turned into a long, black, googly lens.

Baby beauty.

The other day, I received some yarnish beauty in the mail, too. This is my first skein of handspun, and wow, it's gorgeous. Krysten at Gherkin's Bucket is super talented.

Yarny beauty: "Wake Me," 2 ply handspun,
300 yards, lt. worsted weight.

Now to decide what to make! Maybe a cowl and some fingerless gloves? I think I have enough yarn here for both. Or perhaps a scarf-a-la-Peaknit. What a wonderful way to use a little handspun, eh?

My project, as of late, is Big Snugs. Our wooden floors are wearing out all of my socks, so I need some slippers to stop the mutiny. But ack. The miles and miles of stockinette required to make adult-sized felted boots are driving me crazy! The promises of warm feet and another new project (for the new Plucky KAL) are the only things keeping me sane. :)

Que bella.

2009-02-01T12:26:00.007-05:00

Bella's Mittens, knitted in Cascade 109, Black

I finished these mittens a couple of weeks ago, but needed some sunshine for a proper photo shoot. I love them--they're so warm and squishy, perfect for toasty fingers (if I ever get outside the house, that is). If you're thinking about knitting these, and want to make them in the called-for yarn, check out WEBS. Cozy hands for about $10. What a deal.

We've continued to lay low around here. It being flu season, and with our recent sickness scare, we're really trying to remain healthy! The weather has also been really *really* cold. Too cold for kiddos. I'm trying to come up with some interesting indoor activities for the kiddo. On Friday he "helped" me bake cookies.

Yum.

To the mamas out there: what types of activities do you do when it's too cold to go outside? We've tried baking, Play-doh, finger paints, markers/crayons, splashing/scooping water in the sink, and make-shift rice "sandbox." I'd love to have some more ideas, though!

Sickie.

2009-01-27T15:23:00.006-05:00

This little guy gave us quite a scare last week. He was diagnosed with RSV, and was admitted into the hospital for observation. He and I stayed there one night, and he did wonderfully well, needed no breathing treatments, and was released the next day. Praise God--things could have been much, much worse.

While in the hospital, I had the chance to finish this little hat.

Sweet baby cap for a sweet baby boy.

R doesn't fuss about wearing this one too much (his other hats were too small, and according to him, very very uncomfortable), so hopefully it will fit him for a few more weeks.

I've also finished my mittens. I'm waiting for a little sunshine to take some photos, so hopefully the sun will show up soon around here. Hello, sun? Where are you? Please come back! :)

Happy Birthday, J-man!

2009-01-18T21:20:00.003-05:00

Two-year-old big boy

We celebrated at home yesterday, and although we were all a bit sick, we still had lots of fun!

Happy Birthday, J-man. Your daddy and I never could have fathomed the joy you'd bring us. We're so thankful God gave you to us, and we're looking forward to watching you grow even bigger! We love you.

Quack, quack

2009-01-16T14:17:00.004-05:00

Duckies socks, in The Plucky Knitter Merino Sport,
colorway Pistachio Fluff

Distractions aside, I've finished my Duckies socks. They were so fun to knit, and they're gonna be useful right now, since temperatures are in the negative digits here. Today I'm definitely grateful I've got a newborn, and thus a great excuse for not venturing out into the cold.

The boys are both sick with colds, so we've been hanging out at home *a lot*. J-man turns two tomorrow, but we've canceled his party due to the sickies. It makes me sad to cancel, but I know he'll have more fun in a few weeks when he can really enjoy himself and celebrate!

With two little sickies and the super cold weather, I've had extra time for knitting (mostly during nap times and night times, but hey, I'll take whatever I can get!). My fingers need some love, so I've started these mittens. So cute, and super duper warm. :)

Distractions.

2009-01-13T08:19:00.005-05:00

Once upon a time, I was knitting these socks.

Duckies socks, pattern by Samantha Hayes

And then, a lovely distraction arrived by mail.

Twinkle Chunky yarn by Classic Elite, colorway 17 (Dusty Rose)

It wanted to be this cowl. It told me so. And it needed to be knitted up right away.
Sigh. It's so difficult to finish sock projects with such distractions about. :)

Almost eaten alive.

2009-01-06T22:11:00.006-05:00

By a cowl. But what a great way to go, huh? :)

Wham bam thank you lamb cowl
knitted for me

I *love* this pattern. It's so extremely simple, and so exaggeratedly huge. Fun and cozy. My second FO of 2009. Here's my first:

Aviatrix Hat
knitted for a new little gal at church

Next on the list to knit: these socks. I'm living on very little sleep, yet I seem to find just enough hours in the day to continue to obsess over my knitting. Imagine that. :)

Year in review.

2009-01-02T20:18:00.007-05:00

Phew. This year has flown by. I'm excited for a new year, a new start... and all with a new baby.
I can't believe R is almost three weeks old. Where has the time gone?

This past week has been full of craziness in our household. We've celebrated Christmas four times, and we've had lots of visitors. And, due to a coffee table incident, J-man had to have three stitches placed near his left ear a few days ago. In all truth, I think the incident was more traumatic for his parents than it was for him. It's so difficult to see your little one hurting!

Coffee table owie.

And now, on to a new year. 2008 has been full of blessings--a new baby, financial blessings, new friends. It's also been a year full of knitting firsts for me--my first colorwork, my first wearable sweater(s), and lots of learning experiences. I had wanted to include a mosaic of my 2008 knitted projects, but my computer is apparently too old/slow to run Picasa. Boo. How do you all create your pretty knitting mosaics?

Happy new year! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and that 2009 brings lots of yarny goodness. :)

Motherhood times two

2008-12-22T20:40:00.010-05:00

Today was my first day alone with the boys. It was joyful, challenging, scary at times, and definitely a learning experience. J-man loves his little brother a lot, but he's still having a hard time understanding that babies are a bit more breakable than toddlers or grown-ups.

Brotherly love.

Little R is taking everything in stride. He's a wonderful baby--very easy-going, he sleeps a lot, and eats well. And, well, he's pretty cute, too. :)

As far as the knitting goes, I've been working on things when I find the time. I've actually completed a couple of projects, but I haven't been willing to take the time for photos, so they may never be seen in Blogland. Ah, well. I've got more important things on my mind. :)

Thank you all for your comments, wishes, and love. These past few days have been exciting, but exhausting, too. We're adjusting to life as a family of four, and appreciate all your thoughts and prayers!

Welcome to the world, little one.

2008-12-16T21:19:00.010-05:00

Announcing Reuben Patrick Swafford!

He was born December 15th, 2008 at 5:14pm,
weighs 8lbs, and is 20.5 inches long.

Mommy and baby are both doing very well, and are now resting at home. Thanks, everyone, for your wonderful wishes and prayers!

Best friends

2008-12-13T20:22:00.004-05:00

It's true what they say (or at least it's true in this house): a boy's best friend is his dog.
Our dog gets more kisses, hugs, and J-man cuddle time than anyone else in the family. But maybe within the next few days, J will have a new, built-in best buddy? We're hoping that he and his little brother will be lifelong pals (probably not at first, but hopefully down the road).

We're still waiting for the arrival of our new little guy... I think we all thought he'd be here by now! I'm feeling big as a house, and I'm not really motivated to do much in the way of blogging. But I'll definitely be posting a birth announcement when the time comes!

Be still my heart.

2008-12-03T13:27:00.008-05:00

Ta-da! My hubby surprised me last Friday with my new camera. This thing is so much more awesome than our old camera. It really doesn't even compare. Do I have the best husband in the world, or what? :)

Because I've finished the scarf I was knitting, and because I simply had to try my camera in the daylight hours, here are some photos:

Chevron Scarf,

knitted in Yarn Pirate Superwash Merino Sock yarn, colorway "Emerald City"

Um, I can't believe I finished this thing. When I cast-on, I really thought it would become one of those snoozing WIPs, hibernating in my knitting bag. I have a very short attention span for scarves in general, and this pattern was so repetitive... and I *loved* every minute of it. Crazy.

Thanks to Peaknit, I've also been inspired to begin my first colorwork.

Endpaper Mitts,

knitted in Louet Gems Fingering (cream)
and Claudia Handpainted fingering (Crushed Velvet)

Yikes. My knitting is crazy, and uneven, but the colorwork is so addictive! I think I see more pairs of these in my future. :)

As for baby news, no news is good news, right? My midwife (I'll be having a midwife for my delivery, since my doctor doesn't deliver at the birthing center we've chosen) is very laid-back about everything. She thinks the little one will stay put for a few more weeks, and that's definitely fine with us!

Giving thanks...

2008-11-27T21:31:00.004-05:00

...for my big man...

...for my first little man...

...and for my second little man, still safely inside my belly.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I've been to the doctor this week, and I haven't really progressed much further toward delivery. Praise God for that!

I've also been finishing some knitting projects this week:

Backyard Leaves Scarf,
knitted for my MIL in Patons Merino Wool,
colorway Jade Heather

Little Mitts, knitted for J-man in Lion Brand Wool-Ease,
colorways Grey and Blue Heather

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving day, and ate lots of turkey and pie. :)

Early bird.

2008-11-19T20:12:00.003-05:00

It looks like my predictions may be correct. As of today, I'm dilated to 1 cm. Last week, since I was beginning to dilate then, my doctor put me on "partial bed-rest." I'm not really sure what the definition of "partial" is, other than "difficult to handle with an energetic toddler." :)

Although J doesn't fully understand that he'll soon be a big brother, I think he's comprehending more and more. The other day, we asked him "where's your brother?" and he pointed to my belly. He's also *super* excited about his "big boy bed" (toddler bed). We're a little less excited, since he very easily climbs into and out of it at will. :)

All in all, I'm trying to take it easy, drinking lots of water (another of my doctor's suggestions), and working like crazy to finish my one and only Christmas knitting project (from this pattern, for my mother-in-law). I'm also bargaining with the little early bird, hoping he'll stay cookin' for at least another 1.5 weeks, since 36 weeks is technically considered full-term. Hang in there, little one!

Bounce!

2008-11-11T13:37:00.005-05:00

Finally! Finally. This hat took me about 5 days to knit. I ripped it out twice, then ultimately decided to find a different explanation of the stitch pattern online. Presto! I finally understood. After all that, the knitting itself was pretty easy. :)

Bounce, knitted in Malabrigo worsted weight,
colorway Marrongon (#270)

The snow is lingering here, but it's definitely not deterring the little man's desire to play outside. Yesterday he begged so much, I finally bundled him up and took him outside for about 20 minutes.
He was so excited about the snow, he kept picking up handfuls of it to "show" to me. I think my next project will have to be J-man-sized mittens. :)

It's snowing.

2008-11-09T20:21:00.010-05:00

Last week it was 70 degrees. Tonight it's snowing. That's Michigan weather for you.

It's a good thing I've finished J-man's second hat for the wintery season. The Toasty Topper is just for hard-core snow playing days. This will be his general cold weather hat.

Rib-A-Roni, knitted in Lion Brand Wool Ease,
Grey and Blue Heather

This pattern is so simple, and such a fast knit. I really love the shaping of the crown!

And now, I'm off to finish another hat... I've been working on Bounce, but I've been having fits with the stitch pattern, and it's taking me days and days to finish. Ack.

Living large (or maybe just feeling large).

2008-11-05T13:58:00.004-05:00

My due date is 7.5 weeks away, but I swear this baby is going to fall out of me right now. I've been having some crazy Braxton-Hicks contractions for the past three days. I think this kid is coming earlier than scheduled. Have I said that before? Well, he is. :)

Since my belly is keeping me from doing a lot of active type things, I've been knitting. A lot.

Haruha Scarf, knitted in Sundara Sock, colorway Ember over Flame

Toasty Topper, knitted in Lion Brand Wool Ease,

Grey Heather and Blue Heather

Elvish, knitted in ...a time to dye three-ply merino,
colorway Thanksgiving

I loved all three of these patterns, and I especially love the yarn from the "Elvish" hat. It's the softest merino I've used, and I've never seen a hand-dyed yarn with such a menagerie of colors. Hopefully the hat will fit it's intended recipient. :)

Accessories, accessories, accessories. I'm a bit nervous to start a larger project, knowing that the baby could come soon and then all my knitting time will be gone. So, I'm off to cast on for another hat...

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T21:13:00.007-04:00

We've spent the night engaging in many Halloween-ish activities. First, J-man had his first pumpkin carving experience. He was very intent on using a spoon, rather than his hands, to clean out the pumpkin.
Then, it was into costume for trick-or-treating at a couple of the neighbors' homes.

Isn't he the cutest little UPS guy you've ever seen? :)

And, of course, we had to enjoy some candy loot for an evening snack.

Yum, Reese's.

Happy Halloween from my house to yours! I hope you all had a wonderful day. I'll be back soon with some actual knitting content.

Spring lettuce

2008-10-26T15:39:00.009-04:00

It's far from spring in Detroit-ish, Michigan--we've had hail, thunderstorms, and there's talk of snow soon--but my "Spring Lettuce" sock is done. This marks the end of my test knit for Woolgirl. Although I really like test knitting, I'm eager to get back to my other neglected projects!

Seedy Rib Sock pattern, knitted in
Miss Babs Yummy Monochrome Sock,
colorway "Spring Lettuce"

The pattern is very well written, but it was a little monotonous for me. It's only a two round repeat, and knitting ribbing was really starting to get on my nerves toward the end! Luckily for me, I didn't have to knit a second one. :)

And now, on to knitting what I want to knit. :)

Persistence pays.

2008-10-20T20:07:00.004-04:00

Not really the most productive way to eat peas, but hey, he was pretty proud of himself when he finally succeeded. :)

Cider, pumpkins, and one red sock.

2008-10-19T19:48:00.007-04:00

Our little family visited the Franklin Cider Mill on Saturday. We saw how cider is made, picked out pumpkins for carving, and fed the multitude of ducks that crowd the river looking for bits of leftover doughnuts.

A less-than-great photo of the apple cider press.

Bottling the cider.

J-man picks out his pumpkin.

Then we headed home for some more photos, and to enjoy the rest of our cider and doughnuts.

Cider + doughnuts = happy little man.

And, oh yes, I've finished a portion of my Woolgirl test knit! I'm only required to knit *one* sock for each pattern I'm knitting, which is like a dream come true. Now that winter is nearing, my "knitting ADD" has really kicked into gear!

Dolomite Sock, knitted in Miss Babs Monochrome Yummy Sock,
colorway Sandi's Red

I love this pattern, and I absolutely love the yarn, as well. Miss Babs dyes some amazingly lovely semi-solids.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, as well. The weeks seem to be flying by--yikes! I have a feeling the new baby will be here before we know it, yet we still have so many more things to accomplish before he arrives. The hubby and I need to clear out and paint the new baby's nursery, begin coaxing J-man into a toddler bed, find some more furniture for the nursery... Gah! We're going be busy these next few weeks!

Lions and bears and turtles, oh my!

2008-10-13T13:19:00.005-04:00

Because the weather was nice today, and because we probably won't have many more nice days this year, the hubster decided to play hooky from work and we took J-man to the zoo. Although he visited the zoo last year, he was too little (only about 8 months old) to really notice the animals. This year, he was amazed!

Green Sea Turtle

African Lion

The highlight of the Detroit Zoo is always the "Arctic Ring of Life" Polar Bear exhibit. Today we were very lucky to see the playful young polar bear, close enough to touch (through the glass, of course).

It was a busy morning... and now it's naptime--for all three of us. :)

Autumn

2008-10-09T14:34:00.011-04:00

I love family walks during this season. I love the regally magnificent, tapestry colored sidewalks. I love the crisp temperatures, the cool air, the breeze, the flitting sunshine.J-man loves walking up and down the sidewalks, finding sticks, stones, acorns, leaves, any type of little treasure to take along with him on his walk-journey. As he still prefers to hold our hands while we walk, we're blessed with togetherness, and able to witness the joy of each new discovery he makes.

I've also been doubly inspired by the colors of fall. I'm knitting a Haruha scarf in Sundara sock yarn, and a Dolomite sock (my test knit for Woolgirl) in Miss B abs "Yummy" sock yarn.

Haruha scarf in Sundara Sock, Ember over Flame

Dolomite sock, in Miss Babs Yummy Monochrome sock, Sandi's Red

My photos are pretty terrible, but hey, it's October, and do you remember what that means? New camera coming my way. ;)

Happy fall, everyone!

It's never too cold for bubbles, right?

2008-10-02T13:55:00.004-04:00

These past few days have certainly been autumnal, and I really love the cooler temperatures. That is, except for when it's 9:30am and the sun hasn't yet appeared. But J-man doesn't mind the cold at all--in fact, he insists that we go outside to play with bubbles, even though we're both freezing our booties off. Ah, well--at least he had fun!As far as projects go, I've been inspired by the recently cool weather. Although I've already got 3 projects on my needles (ahem, not counting those in hibernation), I'm suddenly itching to knit some cold weather stuff. Hats, scarves, mittens, cowls, sweaters... what are you all planning to knit for the fall/winter?

Sometimes I wish I had a little girl.

2008-09-25T13:08:00.008-04:00

Yep, I do. Mostly so I could dress her in some super cute clothes. My sister has two little girls, and hey, they've got some crazy adorable stuff, complements of their mama's sewing talents. Just look at this and this. If I ever have a girl, H, you'd better watch out--we'll definitely be requesting some hand-me-downs!

I haven't been knitting a lot lately, because I've been completely obsessed with reading. First, I've finished The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, which was quite literally one of the saddest books I've ever read. However, it was also one of those books that leaves you feeling inspired--inspired to live more fully, to love more truly, and to be more thankful everyday for the gifts that God has given. I would definitely recommend it.

Lately, I've been reading the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer. Written for adolescents, these books are about vampires, and are "total candy," as one of my friends would say. They're definitely different than my usual reading material, but there's been such a big fuss about them, what with Twilight the movie coming out soon, I thought I'd give the first book a try. And I couldn't put it down. I seriously had to drag the J-man to the bookstore every two days so I could buy each subsequent part of the series (they're so popular right now, there aren't any copies available in any Detroit-metro area libraries). Then I was stupid. I felt guilty about spending so much money on books, so I ordered the last book in the series, Breaking Dawn, at a discount from Amazon. I received an email yesterday saying it may not arrive until the middle of October. Ouch.

While I'm waiting (impatiently) to experience the end of Bella and Edward's saga, I guess I'll just have to start knitting again. I've agreed to do another test-knit for Woolgirl and Miss Babs--socks this time--so I'll be posting about that soon. :)

Finished: Ribbed Baby Jacket

2008-09-16T20:22:00.007-04:00

I've finished J-man's "Big Boy Jacket," and it fits him so well!
My hubby thinks he looks like a little professor in it. I think he just looks cute. The yarn is Lion Brand Cotton Ease (I can't say enough how much I absolutely love this yarn. So soft, and super baby-friendly), and the pattern is Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss. (Wanna ravel it?)

The weather has been super rainy here lately--it rained nonstop the whole weekend. We've been getting cabin fever, and definitely welcomed the sunshine today! But here's what happens when you get three days of rain and forget to put the cover back on the sandbox.
A do-it-yourself-lake in your own backyard. :)

In new baby news, I've been feeling bigger and bigger and *bigger* lately. According to my doctor, I'm measuring exactly where I should be. But I'm already thinking (or should we say praying?) that this kiddo is coming early! Don't get me wrong--I do love being pregnant, most of the time. It's sweet to feel my little one kick and roll around, and know that in a few short weeks he'll be here for us to hug. But ugh, being preggo with a toddler to chase is definitely a challenge!

And the winner is...

2008-09-08T21:31:00.003-04:00

Sorry it's taken me a few days to announce the winner--I was hoping to put some WIP photos in this post, but today's weather rained on my parade. I'll have to save the photos for another post later this week.

Anyway, the random number generator chose hakucho! I'm excited she is my winner--she's such a sweet lady, and was my first knitting blogger friend! I'll be in touch with you, hakucho, to discuss your yarny goodness. :)

Hope everyone's week is off to a fantastic beginning!

While you're on vacation...

2008-09-02T13:42:00.008-04:00

You see great-grandparents.

You meet (and kiss) horses.

You discover Lake Michigan.

Unfortunately, I'm never great at capturing *all* the things we do while on vacation. I forget the camera, or would rather just live in the moment, instead of looking at the world through an artificial lens. But, these photos are a small blink of the love we felt while visiting Traverse City, Empire, Shepherd, and Lansing during the past few weeks.

And now, for the contest! As I said in my previous post, my first Blogaversary was last week, and I'm gonna give away some yarny goodness. As I haven't really decided what that goodness will be yet, you'll just have to be surprised! Leave me a comment, and I'll use a random number generator to choose the winner this Saturday. Oh, and if you're not a knitter, we'll work out an alternative prize. :)

Finished stuff!

2008-08-30T12:35:00.007-04:00

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of vacations, doctor's appointments (just well-child and normal OB visits, no worries!), and general traveling craziness. Luckily, through it all, I've finished some knitting. Counterpane Carpet Bag, pattern by Carrie Brenner, from the book Handknit Holidays

Close-up of the stitch pattern

I haven't yet blogged about this bag, because I was knitting it for my sister. I'm pretty sure she reads my blog, even though she's never let on that she does. :) It was supposed to be a surprise for her birthday that was, ahem, 4 months ago. Yikes. For some reason, the finishing work (including the hand-stitched lining) was a tad overwhelming for me. But now it's done, and I'm happy with it! I hope she likes it, as well. More details and photos, of course, on Ravelry.

My second finished object is for my new little nephew, C.

Oz, pattern from the book Natural Knits for Babies and Moms by Louisa Harding

And I'm also working on a sweater for my J-man. I hadn't knit him anything in quite a while, so I figured it was his turn. :) The pattern I've chosen is Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss (Ravelry link).

And... I think I'll plan another post for later today or tomorrow. *Today* is my Blogaversary (and it's a good thing I finally decided to update my blog, or I never would have noticed), so I'll soon be having a celebratory contest, as well!

Finished: Little Man Pants

2008-08-06T13:41:00.004-04:00

I love knitting for babies. The projects are so cute (how can anything that small not be cute?), and are so quick to knit.I've finished Little Man #2's first pair of Picky Pants. I'm sure I'll be knitting many more pairs of these in the future! As I said in my previous post, there are *a lot* of customizable options in this pattern. If you're interested in the ones I chose, you can check 'em out on Ravelry.

Unfortunately, I don't think today is the day for starting another project. J-man has a stomach bug, so I'm sitting with my ear next to the monitor as he naps. Each cough sends my heart into my throat. Poor little guy! :(

As promised.

2008-08-04T13:42:00.006-04:00

Baby Knits Festival has begun!Much to my husband's dismay, I've finished a little Earflap Hat for the new wee one. I don't know what it is about little babies wearing earflap hats--I think it's absolutely adorable! My hubby thinks it's pure child torture. Ah, well. He'll only wear it for a few months anyway, and it's only a short time in his life that I can dictate what he wears, right? ;)The yarn is Heirloom Breeze, leftover from my J-man's Kimono Sweater (Rav link).

My work-in-progress is a pair of Picky Pants. This pattern was gifted to me as a RAK by another Raveler (along with this lovely yarn that I suspect she hand-dyed herself). The pattern is *awesome*. If you're not familiar with it, I think there are (I kid you not) about 20 ways to customize a pair of baby pants/longies. It also includes instructions for capris and shorties, so all-in-all, I'd say this one pattern gives you about 50 different legwear options. I haven't even finished the bum yet, but here's a WIP photo:And now, I've got a question for you fellow Ravelers. Ravelympics. Are you involved? (I know you are, hakucho, and I'm cheering you on!). I'm contemplating joining a team, but I'm not sure whether the "knitting tons of objects in a couple of weeks" idea will provoke stress or enjoyment! What do you all think?

Finished: Maize Lace Bolero

2008-08-01T13:31:00.006-04:00

So, I know I said I wasn't going to start any new adult-sized projects, but well, last weekend I was just itching to knit, and since we didn't know the gender of the baby yet, I couldn't very well make a baby-sized item, right? Right. I decided to make the Lace Bolero for myself. :)
Super quick, super easy, and pretty cute (even though it's unblocked). Bonus: I can wear it while I'm pregnant! More details, of course, on Ravelry.

Next on the list: some baby items. I promise. :)

It's a...

2008-07-28T19:46:00.004-04:00

The big brother would like to present...

His little brother. We're having another boy! Apparently the new wee one is a bit camera shy (and also a *super* active little guy), so the technician could only get a full body shot of his back. But, we were assured (and saw the proof) that number 2 is definitely a boy. Yay!

Finished: Chickadee Cowl

2008-07-25T13:26:00.005-04:00

Inspired by Stacey and others, on Monday I decided to cast on for the Chickadee Cowl. I'd liked the pattern, but was intimidated by what I *thought* was seed stitch throughout (yech--seed stitch takes me a million years, since I'm an old-fashioned thrower). But, it's not seed stitch, people! It's quick, lovely, linen stitch.
What an instant-gratification project. I wanted to knit something that would be fast, since it's T minus 3 days until baby-knitting-marathon begins. This definitely fit the bill. And it's cute, even though I did my best to mess it up a lot (casting on the wrong number of stitches, etc--see Rav if you really want to read up on my mistakes). I absolutely love the yarn, too. It's The Plucky Knitter Merino Superwash Bulky in colorway "Summer of Love."

My next post will probably be on Monday, with exciting baby news (as long as the new kiddo cooperates). I'm hoping for some major baby immodesty--I really, really want to know this kid's gender!

Finished: Sweet Monkeys

2008-07-22T12:24:00.010-04:00

I've finished my first pair of Monkey Socks! Oh my, this pattern is so super fun to knit. I think I'll have to make some for myself in the future (these are a gift, and they're kinda large on my feet, so I tweaked a bit for these photos).
I did make a couple of small modifications to the pattern, and if you're interested in 'em you can check out my Ravelry notes. Gone are the days when I posted all my notes in my blog... I guess that's what happens when you're the mama of a busy toddler (and when you've got access to an *amazing* website like Ravelry).

On the home front, the J-man has been *really* fussy with his eating lately. Could this be because of his newly-found walking independence? He's rejecting even his favorite foods, and starts screaming if I put him in his high chair. We're praying this is only a phase! The little guy is really thin for his age as-is, and he definitely needs his sustenance!

There is one thing he *loves* to do in his high chair, though.

ARTWORK! :)

Progress

2008-07-20T20:09:00.004-04:00

I'm still chugging along on my Monkey Socks (Rav link). Holy moly, they're seeming to take for-ev-er.

No sock photos, though. Today I've got a different type of progress to share. The J-man, on Thursday (his 18 month birthday), took his first steps. He's a very cautious boy, and decided he'd rather not walk until he could do so *perfectly*. I think he takes after his mama (yikes)!
Yay, J-man! We're so proud of you--we knew you'd do it in your own time!

Monkey see, monkey do

2008-07-13T12:08:00.004-04:00

I'm almost finished with my first *ever* Monkey sock. When I saw the popularity of this pattern, I thought, "I don't get it--it's just a lace sock. What's so great about that?" Now I'm definitely "in the know." The pattern is so easily memorized, and so quick and fun to knit up!

I especially like the way the yarn striped on the heel. The pooling on the foot isn't quite what I was hoping for, but I think I can live with it.
I'm on to finish the toe, and then cast on for the second sock, quickly. I'd really love to finish these before July 28th--because that's the day we find out the new baby's gender. After that, and especially if this baby is a girl, I've got a feeling my knitting will become a baby knits festival. :)

New stuff.

2008-07-03T20:17:00.005-04:00

New "big boy" shoes for the J-man.

New doggy, temporarily.

New project: No-purl Monkeys in Yarn Pirate Bamboo/Merino/Nylon, colorway Sweet Lime.

Finished: Little Shedir

2008-07-01T10:54:00.004-04:00

I finished my baby-sized Shedir (original pattern published in Knitty, Fall 2004) last night. It's very sweet! The yarn is Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK, in shade 07, "Sailor," and the entire hat used less than one skein. This yarn is seriously the softest yarn I've knitted with so far. It's like poor-man's cashmere--I'm definitely getting some more.
The pattern recipe for the baby size can be found here. The modifications are very simple, and I think the results are pretty cute. I just wish I had a little one to model it! :) More details on Ravelry.

Hiatus.

2008-06-30T11:10:00.008-04:00

I've taken a wee bit of a hiatus from blogging (well, okay, I guess four weeks isn't really a *wee* hiatus, is it?). My pregnancy sickness gave way to laziness, and just plain yucky, non-blog-friendly feelings. But the sickness is calming, and I've got some knitting to show y'all!
Green Gable (Ravelry link), pattern by Zephyr Gals.

Although I haven't been blogging, I *have* been knitting my booty off during the past couple weeks to finish a test-knit for Woolgirl and Miss Babs. The yarn is Miss Babs superwash worsted weight in Forest Afternoon--a lovely yarn, and I think it worked well with the pattern. Look for (much prettier, I'm sure) photos of the sweater on Woolgirl's blog in the next few weeks!

I've also been working on a baby hat--a baby version of Knitty's Shedir (Ravelry link). I really love the way it's turning out. Only ten rounds to go!
The hat is blue (but no, we're not sure whether our new little one is a boy or a girl yet). If it's a girl, I'll just have to gift this one away and make another in pink!

I hope all of you, my Blogland friends, are doing well. I'm sorry for my absence in comments and correspondence, but I'll be around more often, now that the nausea has taken a turn for the better! Happy Monday!

Sugary sweet

2008-06-02T19:46:00.004-04:00

I've received my Kitchen Knits swap package from peaknit, and wow, what a package it is!
Instead of strictly following the kitchen theme, she sent me things that are "sweet as sugar," and I love them! There's lots of candy (and the famous Hubba Bubba gum), two lovely dishcloths she knitted for me (along with the pattern so I can make some more), two delectable recipes, candles, soak, a *pink* ice cream scoop, a gorgeous skein of Socks that Rock in the Sherbet colorway, and a really cute book for the J-man, "Russel the Sheep."

More importantly, though, (although I do have to admit that I love being spoiled rotten--especially with yarny goodness) I've made a new blogging friend over the past few weeks. Thank you so much, peaknit! And thanks, Marisol, for organizing this super fun swap!

Hello, mojo?

2008-05-27T16:07:00.006-04:00

I've lost it. My knitting mojo. The thought of knitting makes me nauseated (please, please say it's the pregnancy talking?), and this makes me sad. Here is my tiny little body of work, completed over the last three weeks:One teeny baby sock. Cute? Yes. Do I want to knit up the other one? Nope.

Thank the Lord for Taco Bell bean burritos. For some reason, they're one of the only foods I can stomach right now. I think this baby reeeeaally likes Mexican food. :)

Lucky girl.

2008-05-16T15:38:00.003-04:00

Thank you, everyone, for your sweet comments and congratulations on our new baby! We're so excited, and can't wait to see his or her little face come December. And who knows, maybe I'll be posting some belly shots here, too (depending on how brave I am!).

I've been feeling quite nauseous lately, so I haven't been knitting at all. Instead, I've been chasing the J-man by day, and sleeping by night (with the occasional break for Grey's Anatomy and Dancing with the Stars, of course). But I'm planning to knit lots of wee baby things, just as soon as my body adapts to growing a person. :)

I feel like such a lucky girl to have been blessed with you all, friends across the U.S. (and world!), to share this exciting time in my life with me. So, no knitting content today. Just a hearty "thanks" and some dreams for the future!

P.S. Although I've been banned from *purchasing* yarn, I have managed to finagle another blog contest win--some Noro sock yarn and chocolates from Esoteric Knitter! So here's some knitting-esque content. :)

My news.

2008-05-08T10:28:00.008-04:00

So, guess what?Yep, J-man is holding my pregnancy test in his hand. And yep, it's positive. My due date is December 27th. Yay!

We've actually known this for a couple of weeks, but we wanted to see the doctor first to make sure everything is a-okay. And it is. The little, little one is growing well, and is about 1 cm long. He/she "looks a bit like a Sea Monkey" right now (didn't you just love "Juno"?), but I'm sure he'll/she'll be much cuter in a few weeks. :)

Cutie-pie

2008-05-04T14:18:00.003-04:00

Today we received the proofs from the J-man's first professional photo shoot. I really can't contain myself--I need to share a few. :)

All images are Copyright Amy Kimball Photography, 2008.

Fibber.

2008-05-03T11:58:00.005-04:00

Well, it seems I told a little fiblet. The exciting news I had in store for "later this week" won't be available until next week, I think. Ah, well. I hope you weren't sitting on the edge of your seat or anything. :)

I don't have much project progress to share today, since both the J-man and I have been sick this week. Of course, the lack of knitting hasn't stopped my queue from growing. I've been seduced by so many wintery sweater/jacket/mitten/hat patterns, and I can't stop from adding them to my list of future projects, even though I wouldn't be able to wear any of them for months. Just take a look at this beauty. And this. And this. And these. Sigh.

I've also been seduced into a challenge. By my husband. He told me last week that if I don't buy any more yarn until *October* (yes, that's the October that's five months away), I can buy any new camera I'd like. Woah. Wish me luck. :)

A slacker of a blogger.

2008-04-28T14:36:00.005-04:00

I haven't been blogging lately, because I've been too busy knitting! Wanna see my two (yes, I can hardly believe it myself, two) FOs?
I finished the "Mahayana Flying Gloves" a few hours ago. They were a quick knit, and I absolutely love them. Ravel the pattern (or Ravel my version). The yarn is Colinette Jitterbug in Dusk, and I'm really just guessing, but I think they took less than 3/4 of a skein.

And I finished a kiddo-sized version of the "Anthropologie Inspired Caplet" a few days ago. This one was for my niece, and it looks adorable on her (unfortunately, I forgot to snap a photo while she was visiting). I used about 3/4 of a skein of Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Almond. Details are also on Ravelry.
At least my blog-slacking has been in good reason, right?

P.S. I think I may have some exciting news to share later on this week, so stay tuned. :)

My tiny kitchen.

2008-04-20T14:22:00.004-04:00

I've previously written that I joined Marisol 's Kitchen Knits Swap, and boy, am I excited about this one! It's a chance to share (and receive) some recipes, to make some fun things for my (and my partner's) kitchen, and to learn more about my lovely new friend, Stacey! And it's an excuse to go shopping for yarn and knitting supplies. Could there be anything better?

Anyway, Marisol cleverly suggested that we swappers post photos of our kitchens. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Here is my *tiny* kitchen. Notice the counter space? No? That's because there's barely any counter space! Of course, some of this lack of space is due to my clutter problem. But I think a home feels more home-y with a bit of clutter, wouldn't you agree? :)The walls are sunshine-y yellow, the cabinets and trim are white, the floors are hardwood, and we've got a few small accessories (the little rug, violets on the windowsill) to add a wee bit of accent color.

Our kitchen walks into a small dining area.
Again, yellow walls, white curtains, wood floors. I think this kitchen needs some spicing up, what do you think?

My favorite thing about our kitchen is the wonderful family time we have there, eating, relaxing, and talking. Here's the J-man's favorite thing about the kitchen:
NOISY pots and pans! :)

Over the Rainbow

2008-04-12T20:08:00.007-04:00

On a cold, rainy, dreary day in Detroit-ish, Michigan ...... the sun came out. Through the mailbox. I received my Christian prayer sock swap package from Amy today. The socks are so lovely and soft, and they fit me perfectly. The yarn she used is super gorgeous. It's dkKnits Technicolor Dream Toes in "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Did Judy Garland own socks as lovely as these? Probably not.

And just look how she blessed me with so many other goodies! A plethora of yummy yarn, wool wash, a *Piddleloop* knitting bag, and a Burt's Bees Baby Skin Care Kit for the J-man. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thanks most of all for your prayers, Amy. I'm so excited to get to know you better, now that I know who you are! :)

My Crafty Family

2008-04-09T15:36:00.008-04:00

I come from a long line of family craftsters.

My mom is a knitter, my grandma is a knitter. We draw and paint and hook rugs. We sew and quilt and crochet. We make Christmas ornaments and Easter egg trees.

My sister's a knitter. Just look at this cute sweater she made for the J-man:
It's the "Presto Chango" pattern from Jimmy Beans Wool, and I can't wait to try it on my little one. Aside: I think our camera is on it's last leg--this yarn is actually a lovely sandy color, not bleached blech.

Obviously, I'm also a knitter. Last night I finished the Gooseberry hat. The pattern is written in one size: "baby." When I read the pattern I thought, "Oh good, I've got a lot of friends who will be having baby boys soon! This will be great!"
The finished product is, um, a bit large. Like, 18" in circumference. It nearly fits J-man! Ah, well. Babies grow, this I know, so I think I'll still be giving it away.

And, while we were in Florida, a new generation of family craftiness was born. My three-year-old niece learned to make potholders. She was so proud, and completely adorable, when she anxiously presented my husband with her *very first* potholder. She insisted that her "first pot" would be for her uncle. I'm holding the "pot" in this photo. My hubby is actually 6 foot 4 inches, and his hands are much larger than mine, so the "pot" looks quite small in his grasp. But he assured my niece that he'll soon be using it to "cook" frozen pizzas.

I love my crafting family. Do y'all have families of craftsters, as well?

Homage to vacation.

2008-04-08T09:47:00.010-04:00

Our vacation was *amazing*. Thanks, everyone, for your advice, prayers, and thoughts regarding the flight(s). J-man did wonderfully (better than I did, actually). He charmed those seated next to us with his grin, munched on crackers, and napped the for the duration of both flights.

In the sunshine-y state, we (my mom, my hubby, J-man, my sister, her hubby, my two nieces, and I) stayed in a rented house for all ten days. It had a private pool, which was great for the kiddos.
J-man and his older cousin, I, both love to swim. Little A, like her auntie, would rather stay dry and model her lovely bathing suit. :)

While in Florida, we were also able to visit Hubby's "snowbird" grandparents, who live not far from where we stayed. J-man loves his great-grandma.
And his great-grandma loves him, as well. :)

The kids played together, everyone relaxed, some went to Disney World (we did *not*). We overcame air sickness, food poisoning, and the occasional thunderstorm to have a wonderful time. Unfortunately, with all the fun being had, I was pretty forgetful about taking photographs! The photos above represent the times when I did remember the camera. And the photo below represents my lame attempt to capture the cousins together, on our last day of vacation. Poor little A. It was nap time, and she wasn't too excited about having her picture taken.

Back home, I'm still relishing in the joy of spending so much time with my family. They live in northern Michigan (about a 4 hour drive for us), so we don't get to see each other as often as I would like. Our trip was definitely what I needed to regroup, relax, and re-connect with my cherished fam. On Sunday, we all returned to Michigan tired, but rejuvenated.
Now, when do we get to go again? :)

Glorious Day p. 2

2008-04-07T19:48:00.004-04:00

When you're away from home for ten days, the mail tends to pile up a bit. Hence, today I was surprised with some lovely yarnalicious packages! First, I received my wee tiny sock from Sonya, my Wee Tiny Sock Swap pal.She sent also sent a nice little note, saying that this was the first sock she's knit. Ever. I feel so special to be the recipient!

Next, here's the third installment of the Simply Socks Yarn Company yarn club. It's Zen Yarn Garden Tencelicious. I'm not so sure about the colors in this yarn--it's definitely not a skein I would choose for myself. But I guess that's why we join yarn clubs, right? To expand our horizons. :)And, before I left, I was lucky enough to win *two* online blog contests. The first was a contest for the Grey's Anatomy 4 KAL. I received a skein of Koigu KPPPM (p431), some size 3 bamboo needles, and a sweet card.I also posted the 2000th comment on Sarah's (aka The Plucky Knitter's) blog, and received this lovely skein of DK weight Merino/Cashmere blend. The colorway is Gandy Dancer, and it reminds me of Christmas.
So many mail goodies, and it's only Monday! I think this is definitely shaping up to be a great week. :)

Glorious Day

2008-04-07T13:59:00.006-04:00

We've arrived from Florida, safe and sound, to find Michigan spring-filled and lovely. Although J-man is less than thrilled to be back (I think he really misses his cousins and the pool), I'm energized by the gorgeous weather and budding trees. We actually took a walk today, and little J got his first taste of the park swings.Yikes, the little man looks ghastly pale in this photo. I guess we excelled in applying his sunblock while we were away. :)

I've also finished a little project for my cousin's soon-to-be-born baby girl. Although the name of the pattern is "Maple Seed Hat," I think this one resembles pink, spiraling rose petals. Perfect, because this baby's middle name will be "Rose."I'm planning on writing a big-ish post later on, all about Florida, fun, and sun. I was just so excited about the nearly 70 degree weather today that I had to share my joy. Happy, happy day!

Water Baby

2008-04-03T19:44:00.002-04:00

We've been having fun in Florida, soaking up the sun. J-man had his first pool experience last Saturday, and boy, does he love the water! Every time we take him outside, now, he "begs" to go swimming.

I've also had some extra knitting time, and I've finished a project for my niece, I. These are her "Wee Kneesocks." I think they turned out quite cute, although she says they're "itchy." Details on Ravelry.

That's all for now--just wanted to post a super quick update, and to send y'all some sunshine! I'm definitely *not* looking forward to returning to Michigan on Sunday. Maybe spring will come before then? I guess I can always hope. :)

On the road again...

2008-03-27T11:43:00.005-04:00

Wow. With holiday weekend traveling, and getting ready for our upcoming vacation (we're leaving tomorrow for Florida!), these past couple of weeks have flown by, and I've been a blog slacker. Not much knitting has happened lately, but I did find the time to join two new swaps: Marisol's Kitchen-themed Swap (because, gosh, I really need some new dishcloths/dish towels, and it would be way more fun to knit 'em and swap 'em than to buy 'em), and the Wee Tiny Sock Swap. Since I'll be out of town when the Wee Tiny swap is supposed to begin, I cheated a little. :)
How adorable is this wee tiny sock? The pattern is so fun and quick, and I can't wait to send it to my (yet to be known) partner. If you want to get in on the wee tiny fun, I think sign-ups are open until the end of the day today.

Oh, I can't wait to be in sunny Florida! Hubby looked up the forecast last night, and it should be in the mid-eighties for the whole 10 days we'll be gone. My, how I'm looking forward to seeing the sun again. I've missed you, dear sunshine!

I must admit, I'm definitely nervous about taking the J-man on his first airplane ride. Say a prayer for us tomorrow morning if you think of it! I'm sure I won't get much reading or crocheting (I think knitting needles are still banned from airport carry-ons, right?) done on the plane. But I'm definitely taking more than enough yarn and patterns with me to fill my days with beach knitting!

One nap down.

2008-03-17T13:15:00.006-04:00

Well, as of today it seems that the little man has officially dropped his first nap. Here's how *he* feels about skipping his morning nap-time:
Unfortunately, I can't say that I feel quite the same way (one less nap leaves me with less knitting time). But, it is nice to have a somewhat more predictable schedule in the morning. Plus, I get some extra awake-time with the little man!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! Wear some green. And, if you're into self-striping yarns (and you're reading this within the next 2.5 hours), go enter Sock-a-holic's contest!

Aquaphobia

2008-03-16T19:45:00.012-04:00

I've finished the socks for my current sock swap, and I can't contain myself any longer. They'll be shipped to my partner in a matter of days... so it's not terribly bad that I'm posting photos now, is it? Aquaphobia Socks (pattern by knitfreak)

Made for: My secret Christian Sock Swap partner
Size: Ladies US 8
Cast on: December-ish, 2007
Bound off: March 15, 2008 (Yeah, it took me a looong time to finish these. I ran out of yarn. More about that later).
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight, colorway Farmhouse, 1.1 skeins--about 390 yards (thank you, thank you, thank you Kim for being my yarn savior!)
Tools: Knit Picks Harmony wooden DPNs, size 2.75 mm (US 2)
Modifications: Went up a needle size to accommodate my partner's foot size, accidentally made both of the cables left slanting, but I think they still turned out okay. :) Leg 6 inches long, followed the included instructions for the "more abrupt" toe decreases.
Notes: I love this pattern--it's interesting to look at without being too complex. The pattern was designed to eliminate pooling, and thus is recommended for hand-painted yarns that often pool. But, as you can see, my STR pooled right through the pattern on the instep.

I definitely should've listened when the author warned about yardage requirements in the pattern's introduction. Instead I thought, "Eh, I'll be fine! I've never run out of yarn before! Not a problem." Um, clearly, I should have been a little less laissez-faire, and a little more careful in my planning. All turned out fine in the end thanks to my wonderful knitting friend Kim, but wow, for a minute there I was stressing!

And now to send them, and hope for the best! I've had such fun making these socks, so I certainly hope my partner has fun wearing them. :)

Finished: the 1603rd pair of Saartje's Booties.

2008-03-12T10:40:00.006-04:00

Yep. Ravelry has cataloged 1603 pairs of these booties. I can definitely understand their popularity! They're pretty darn cute, and the pattern is very easy to knit.

These booties were supposed to be a gift for my friend K's new baby. But that little one, despite everyone's girly predictions, was destined to be a boy. He's adorable. And no, he's not going to wear purple booties. :) Luckily, I have many other friends who are currently pregnant, so I'm sure this little booties will find a good home. And I've definitely got some more boyish projects lined up for the new little man, C.

Speaking of cute knitted stuff, how cute is this? My husband sent me a link to this article a couple of days ago with the comment, "Are you people plotting to take over the world or something?" Yes, honey, we are. I think it's our mission, as knitters, to rule the world with knitty kindness, one little stitch at a time. :)

Sock blockers!

2008-03-07T16:09:00.006-05:00

I'm cheap (okay, let's say frugal), so I'm pretty squeamish about buying sock blockers for 20+ dollars a pair. Another kind Raveler pointed me in the direction of this tutorial, and presto! Fifteen minutes and 99 cents later, I've got a pair of sock blockers.
I've already given them a test-run, and they worked well. I'm sure they won't stand up to as much wear and tear as the wooden or molded plastic versions, but hey, they cost me 99 cents, so I'm not complaining!

Take a look at this new yarny goodness:
More *pink* sock yarn. Yum. I think I'm addicted. This is the second installment of the 2008 Simply Socks Yarn Company's sock club. It's a sKNITches limited edition bamboo blend yarn, and the colorway is "Cottage."

That's all for now. It's a bleary day, so I've decided not to take photos of my WIPs. Maybe tomorrow... or Monday. :)

The Best Day. Ever.

2008-03-04T21:44:00.007-05:00

Today was the best day. Here's why:

My father-in-law brought us a *free* snowblower today, just in time for what could be the worst storm of the winter.
I got to wear my new Drops jacket. All day long.
Ben & Jerry's was on sale at the grocery store.
My German package arrived!

Oh my goodness, be still my heart. This package was definitely worth the month-long wait!My new friend from Germany, we'll call her A, spoiled me with German candy, so much gorgeous yarn (including Opal Rendez-vous, Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton, Schoeller + Stahl Green-Line, and Wollmeise), and a toy for the J-man! Here's a gratuitous shot of the Wollmeise:This photo simply doesn't do justice to the colors in this yarn--they are *amazing.* I'll have to come up with a very, very special pattern for this one. And, here's a photo of the J-man enjoying his new German toy:On behalf of myself, the J-man, and my hubby (who is enjoying the German candy far too much), thank you so much, A! You've truly made my ~~day~~ month. :)

Just in time for spring...

2008-03-04T12:17:00.010-05:00

A wintery jacket! I'm really happy with this sweater. It think it's the most wearable sweater I've made in a while, the pattern was super easy, and it would have flown by if I would've been more diligent in working on it. :)
The collar is somewhat floppy, and scrunchy. Just perfect for fall and winter weather (and, maybe spring-ish weather, too, since I'm definitely not waiting 6 months to wear it!)

Drops Jacket (Better known as Mo Hairy)
(pattern by Garnstudio & Drops design)
Cast on: December-ish, 2007 (before Christmas, I remember that much)
Bound off: March 2nd, 2008
Made for: Me
Size: Somewhere between small and medium (three-quarter length sleeves). I casted on for the small on the back, for the medium on the front, and knitted the medium length to accommodate for my long torso.
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky, content: 85% wool, 15% mohair, colorway Charcoal Heather, a bit under 5 skeins. I got a super-great deal on this stuff on Ravelry. This yarn isn't as itchy as most wool blends, but it sheds like crazy.
Needles: Size US 11 straight, aluminum
Modifications: I made a mish-mash of sizes, and my gauge was pretty much way off (I'm not patient enough to knit a swatch most of the time). But it fits! Yay! I also substituted 2x2 ribbing for the double moss stitch at the sleeve cuffs, and knitted 16 stitches of double moss stitch (instead of 14) on each front panel.
Notions: I found the buttons in my random-button-assortment pile (from one of those cheap buckets of buttons you can buy at JoAnn Fabrics).

I'm wearing this baby every day until it gets too warm outside. Okay, maybe not every day. :)

Ouch.

2008-02-28T14:15:00.009-05:00

Mo is taking his sweet time, drying on the basement floor. But it's okay, he's made out of rather bulky yarn, so he's forgiven.

In the meantime, I've started a crochet project. What?! Yes, I learned to crochet years before I learned to knit, and I thought it was time to get out the good ol' hooks again. Plus, my sister got me the funniest book for Christmas. It's been a great tool for remembering all those pattern stitches that have gathered dust in the back of my mind. But, oy. Now I remember why I prefer to knit. Is it possible to develop arthritis when you're 29 years old? :)

There's hope.

2008-02-27T09:45:00.005-05:00

Mo is taking a bath. This means there's hope he'll actually be worn before springtime! I'm finishing the sleeves this morning, and then to block, sew seams, pick up and knit the neck, find buttons... I'm hoping in a few days I'll be posting photos of me in my new Drops jacket.

There's also still a faint glimmer of hope that I'll receive my German package today. Yes? Postman? Please?

Simply adorable.

2008-02-19T16:31:00.009-05:00

Have you read this book? I received it from my sister last year, as part of my birthday gift. It's a warm and cozy story, about a mommy rabbit who knits hats (quite original hats!) for her son, and all of her son's friends. It's a children's book that truly expresses many of the reasons why I dearly love to knit: community, giving, creativity, practicality. Bonus: it comes with the pattern for that quirky bunny hat on the cover! I think I know one or two little ones who would look absolutely sweet in that hat.

And, just in case you're wondering, my package didn't come today. Drat.

(Super)Heroes

2008-02-16T19:38:00.010-05:00

My husband received the boxed set of "Season One" of Heroes for his birthday. All I can say is: wow. We've pretty much been bums for the past 4 weeks, watching at least two (or four) episodes per night. This show is crazy amazing. I think what really gets me the most are the special effects, especially when Hiro stops time. Seeing people freeze in strange positions never gets boring.

Still no FOs. I'm a slacker. The socks are getting close, though. T minus 1 month until I actually get to show a photo of them. But since there are no sock photos, how about a photo of my little one?
Eating sure is a messy business, huh? :) Our kid *loves* dairy products (hence the cottage-cheese-face/hair). I think this is hilarious, because his daddy despises all things cheese-related.

I'm pretty bummed about Monday. Mostly because "Presidents' Day" is only a government holiday (I mean, who else do you know except the mailman who gets Presidents' Day off?), and I'm expecting an extra-special package. Through the magic of Ravelry, I've met a new and thoughtful friend from Germany, and we've arranged an exchange. That's right, my friends. This means super-fun German stuff. This means Wollmeise. Now do you see why I'm bummed about Presidents' Day? I've got my fingers crossed for Tuesday, though!

If I were Hiro, I would travel to the U.S. customs office, confiscate my yarn, stop time, knit up a gorgeous FO, and post photos of it tomorrow.

Pat that groundhog.

2008-02-09T09:51:00.000-05:00

Pat him on the back. When I heard there would be six more weeks of winter, I was really skeptical, especially since most of the snow had melted in the Detroit area. Then Wednesday hit. Woah. I don't have photos of the snow (and I'm kind of too lazy to go outside and freeze my buns off to take some), so you can just have a look-see at these. That groundhog was right. Oh, and did you know there's a Punxsutawney Groundhog Club? Ha. I guess they never doubted groundhog-Phil's forecast for a minute.

I've been a little uninspired lately. Uninspired to knit, to blog, to get out of the house, even to shop (usually one of my favorite things to do). The other day, a good friend observed, "You haven't blogged lately. It's been almost a week." The truth is, I often feel that I need something important to blog about--something that others would think is worth reading. Right now I have very little knitting going on, and the knitting I'm doing is unavailable for photos (by the way, this really breaks my heart, because I've finished the first sock for this swap, and I'm in love with it. It's gonna take some serious self-control to give these babies away). Ho hum.

But I guess I can always blog about the fam, right?! My hubby has been away at trial (have I ever said he's a lawyer?), which means the J-man and I have been alone for the better part of two weeks. Holy cow, you single parents, how do you do it? I was exhausted every night, and my kiddo isn't even walking yet (which means his rowdiness is somewhat contained). I think this weekend is going to be about sleeping. Sleeping, and (hopefully) knitting.

I mentioned that I've been uninspired lately. My queue continues to grow, but I haven't actually been picking up my needles all too often (sometimes I wish I could just blink--you know, like Jeannie--and have a beautiful FO in my hands. But then, that would negate the joy of crafting it, right?). Last night was no exception, as I found yet another project to add to my queue. I'm so enamored with fingerless gloves, and I haven't made a pair. But I'm really hoping to finish these swap socks before casting on again for something new. Wish me luck!

And wish for no more snow!

Yarn-a-rific Friday!

2008-02-01T19:54:00.000-05:00

I've been trading up a storm on Ravelry. That trade/sell button is really dangerous, let me tell you. And since I've been working on my sock swap socks, and I've made a vow not to post any photos of them, I'll have to blog about my yarn. Darn. Here are some of my acquired skeins, as of late:Yep, these are from the 2007 Rockin' Sock Club (from the top, Firebird, and Flower Power). I'm so psyched that I was able to score these skeins, since *ahem* I'm not actually in the club.

And, below, a colorway I've been eyeing from Cider Moon. It's "Cherry on Top," beautiful pinks, blue/greens, and browns. As this company is temporarily out of business, I was really glad to trade for this one, as well.
Lastly, I received some yarn in the mail from a new friend, The Plucky Knitter! She had a blog contest to celebrate her one year anniversary as a dyer, and although I was way off on my guess as to how many skeins she's dyed, I still won a prize! How's that for luck? This yarn is gorgeous. Plus, she's a Michigander--who knew?
It's her sport weight superwash merino, in "Pistachio Fluff." Yummy enough to eat. Thanks so much, Sarah!

Hmmm. What to make with all this loveliness? Right now I'm content just to look at them, and sniff them, and touch them every once in a while. One can never have too large a stash, right? Ha. My hubby would tend to disagree. :)

A new year, a new look.

2008-02-01T14:14:00.000-05:00

I've decided to change the look of my blog. It was time for a makeover. Many thanks, super K, for giving me the tools to do so. I'll write more, about more important stuff, like yarn, later.

Thirty years young

2008-01-25T13:18:00.000-05:00

Boo-tay.

2008-01-24T09:10:00.000-05:00

Things are progressing in the knitting department. I've finally finished the baby socks that I started a few weeks ago, and I've been chugging away at my sock swap socks. I'm still working on that Drops sweater, too. It's name is "Mo." "Mo Hairy." The yarn is Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride Bulky, and man, I guess I didn't realize how much mohair sheds. I don't think I'm a fan. But, I'll finish it, hopefully before spring, because man, this baby is gonna be bulky.

See what I mean about the hairiness? Oy. Oh, well. At least I won't have to use the lint roller to remove my dog's hair--I think it will blend right in. Ew.

Some yarny goodness: my first shipment of booty arrived on Saturday! It's lovely.

And I also received a very sweet award from hakucho yesterday!
Thank you so much. I've really come to love my new knitting friendships that have bloomed over the past few months through blogs and Ravelry-land. I need to nominate others for this award, and I will do so later, since right now I must go rescue my little guy from his after-nap-crib-crabbiness.

There's only one other thing to mention. Someone in this house turns thirty tomorrow. And it's not me. ;)

Cakeface.

2008-01-17T20:46:00.003-05:00

Yummmm.

Happy, Happy Birthday, baby!

2008-01-17T12:33:00.000-05:00

My little one turns one today.

Last night, while we were lying in bed, my husband and I mused about our little baby boy: how he was so small when he was born (just over 6 lbs), how he fit into our arms so perfectly, his body just the length of my forearm. I desperately tried to remember how he looked then, to remember from my mind rather than from photos, but I could not. I have photos, and am forever changed from spending this one year with my little sweetheart. And although I can't completely remember what he looked like one year ago today, I do remember his bright, wondering, dark gray eyes staring at me, taking in the new world as the doctor lay him upon my stomach for the first time. We love you, J-man. Happy Birthday!

Tag! You're it.

2008-01-13T08:37:00.001-05:00

I've been tagged by Marisol to do a book-blog-thing. Although I love to read, I often don't have much time for it (the kiddo, the kiddo!), but luckily I've been sampling a novel every few nights before I go to bed.
I've read this one before, but I thought it was time to revisit it. Some books just give you a warm and homey feeling, you know? Anyway, the blog tag requires me to turn to page 161 of the book, and read the 5th sentence. Here we go:

"Gentlemen prefer eyes brilliant and alive and glowing, without benefit of satchels, grief, and blackness."

Ha! I think it's hilarious that this sentence was chosen to represent this novel, because the book is all about the power of women, relationships between girlfriends, and sisterly love. This particular sentence is an excerpt from a 1940's charm school book, part of a list of the reasons why a woman should not cry in front of a man. I'm pretty sure it's mentioned in a facetious manner. :)

As Marisol has done, I'll also list some of my favorite books:

--The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd
--The Anne of Green Gables Series, by L.M. Montgomery
--The Chronicles of Narnia Series, by C.S. Lewis
--The Final Quest, by Rick Joyner
--Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
--The Harry Potter Series, by J.K. Rowling
--Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer
--Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Most of these books are classics, and I've read and re-read them throughout adolescence and adulthood. It seems as if they've grown with me, unfolding more and more secrets as I turn their pages over and over again.

I'm now supposed to tag five people. I don't think there are five people that regularly read my blog, but I'll give it a shot:

K of ****
Dancing Knitter
hakucho
Cindy of After one More Row

Don't fret if you'd rather not play along. But I think it would be fun to see what y'all are reading!

Just a little rant.

2008-01-12T19:46:00.000-05:00

So, why do people make their patterns available for free, and then change their minds and sell them to knitting magazines or publish them in a book? It really angrifies me, as it's happened twice that I've found a really cool pattern on Ravelry, and unfortunately not printed it out. Then when I go back to print it, it's not available. Poo. Seriously, if you're going to sell your pattern, sell it from the beginning. Don't put it up so *some* people can get it for free, and then decide to sell it a couple weeks later. Yeah, I'm talking to you, Tikru and LB. Pfffft. (That's me sticking my tongue out at them).

Okay, now that that's over with, I'm inclined to talk about the patterns that I have actually been able to access. I'm working on some socks for a new sock swap, and I'm really excited about them. But, due to the fact that my HSS partner found out who I was many weeks prior to the end of the swap (yeah, I'm not too great at being stealth about those things), I'm not saying anything about the pattern or the yarn or even the size. So I'll post photos *after* I send them to my pal. :)

In other news, little J-man turns one this coming week! I'm amazed that he's a year old already. We're having a birthday celebration for him on Saturday, and I'm hoping I can be like "the cool moms" and make it really fun. But, since he's only one, he probably wouldn't know the difference anyway. :) Here's a photo of the little pre-one-year-old:Posting photos of a little cutie more than makes up for the fact that I'm not really posting anything about my current knitting projects, right?

PS. Sorry for all the Ravelry links, K. I know you won't be able to access them. Maybe you should just join? ;)

Day Glow Sockies

2008-01-04T13:06:00.000-05:00

Ack! I love this little sock! The colorway is a bit bright for me (it was my first attempt at Kool-Aid dying), but I think it will work for a kiddo.

And, as promised, a (somewhat blurry--blasted camera!) photo of my victory.And now, on to finish the other one. :)

Take that, SRYO!

2008-01-03T14:27:00.000-05:00

Just a short self-congratulatory note: I conquered the SRYO heel! Wow, that only took what, like 3 months? (In my defense, I haven't tried to work this particular heel since the Snicket-heel-fiasco). I'll post photos of my victory soon.

Oh, and Happy New Year! I'm ready to make this one better than last, although it may be difficult to top the birth of my first child. :)

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

2007-12-25T20:09:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! For me, it was a very merry knitty Christmas. My family and hubby went slightly overboard with a gifty-knitting theme, so I was spoiled with many of my favorite things. In all, I'd say my knitting library has tripled, I've been signed up for two yarn clubs (the Yarn Pirate Booty Club and Simply Sock Yarn Club), and I received the Harmony DPN Sock Set from Knit Picks. Yahoo!

This Christmas has been full of blessings, and although our little home is overrun with generosity from friends and family, the gifts of love and life far overcome those of material value. Today we learned that my husband's brother and his wife are pregnant with their first child, after trying unsuccessfully for almost 7 years to have a baby. They've been praying and believing that God would give them a little one of their own, and come July they'll "unwrap" the greatest gift of their lives!

And today our own little gift experienced his first Christmas, as well. What a sweet, sweet blessing to see J-man discover so many new things all day, from foods to toys to cats (he'd never seen a cat before this afternoon, and he was more than a little intrigued). He is the most darling boy in the world (okay, so I'm a little biased), and my love for him grows exponentially each moment.

I'll leave you with a few shapshots from this weekend. It's been a long, tired, exciting, busy, delicious holiday. God has certainly blessed me with an amazing, strong, and beautiful family, and that's definitely the most wonderful gift of all.
(From top to bottom: J-man with "Santa," J-man with cousins I and A, and J-man with Daddy).

Little Miss Pinwheel the Second

2007-12-19T09:42:00.000-05:00

Woohoo! Pinwheel the second is finally finished. And that means that my Christmas knitting is done, too. I've given up on the hope of completing anything else, and although I wish I had more time to make something for my mom (I've ripped back the scarf that I started last week), I'm so glad to be done!
Pinwheel Sweater (again)
Made for: My niece, A
Size: Child's one size
Cast on: Many moons ago (sometime in mid-November 2007, I think)
Bound off: December 18, 2007
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice, colors White, Linen, Silver Blue, Dusty Blue, less than one skein of each.
Tools: US size 7,8,9 DPNs, US size 9 29" circular
Modifications: Same as Pinwheel the first.

Again with the Vanna's Choice. Uh, all I can say is, I think this is the last time I'll work with this stuff. But I couldn't make the big sister a sweater with VC and then use luxury yarn for the little sis, right? I don't think the kiddos will mind the acrylic. And I *know* their momma will appreciate the machine-washable aspect. :)

In celebratory fashion, last night I began work on a sweater for me! I've been wanting to make this Drops sweater forever, and now that the Christmas knitting is through, I don't feel guilty about working on it. Yay!

I gave in.

2007-12-17T11:49:00.001-05:00

Amelia Earhart Aviator Cap
Made for: Me
Size: One size
Cast on: December 14, 2007
Bound off: December 16, 2007
Yarn: Ella Rae Amity, color 11 (Lavender), about 1/2 skein
Tools: Susan Bates Aluminum needles, size 8
Modifications: None.

Yeah, I gave in. I needed a pick-me-up project. One that would finish fast, and renew my knitting-drive. I *love* this hat! It fits me perfectly (which is really hard to come by, when you've got an unusually large cranium like mine), and it was super fast to make. The pattern is great, as well. It's worked flat with short rows, and then sewn up the back.

Oh, and guess what came in the mail the other day? Something for the J-man:
This onesie makes me laugh every time I look at it. Mama Monkey has some great kiddo stuff.

Still haven't finished the second pinwheel sweater... and Christmas is when?!

Mail love

2007-12-15T21:11:00.000-05:00

I *heart* Woolgirl.

Chop job

2007-12-15T20:57:00.000-05:00

Then...

...and now.

The little man had his first haircut today. It was definitely well needed. He cried a bit, but all for the greater good--he can actually see, now that his eyes aren't covered by hair!

We're on a break... well, sort of.

2007-12-09T08:17:00.001-05:00

Oh Christmas knitting projects, how I would love to take a break from you. You're plaguing me with unfinished-ness, and all I can think about is casting on for something else. Ahh, I will be so excited when you're done, Christmas knitting. I'll box you up, and ship you off, and never hear from you again... and then I'll begin too many new projects for me!

Last week I actually did finish one of my Christmas projects. The scarf for my Grandma is done, and blocked. I used some blocking tips from the Yarn Harlot's blog.
Liesel (pattern by Mary Joy Gumayagay)
Made for: Grandma
Size: Approx. 5.75 inches x 44 inches
Cast on: November 20-ish, 2007
Bound off: December 4-ish, 2007
Blocked: December 7, 2007
Yarn: Ella Rae Amity, colorway 13 (green), one skein
Tools: Size 8 Susan Bates aluminum straight needles
Modifications: None.

It turned out a little short, but I'm happy with it, and I'm happy to be done with it!

My other projects are, well, pretty much just sitting at the moment. Remember those Firestarter socks that I began about two months ago? They haven't seen the light of day in a while. And, pinwheel sweater the second is 75% done (only needs sleeves), but I can't seem to finish her. So, I gave in to temptation and cast on for the Tiger Eyes Scarf on Friday. This pattern is gorgeous, and I'm really excited about how it will turn out. It's meant for my mom for Christmas, but we'll see if it's done by then (and, we'll see if I can part with it!). I'm using Araucania Ranco Multi, which is so, so beautiful.

Also, I won a blog contest on Friday! It's the first blog contest I've ever won, and I'm so excited. Woolgirl has contests every week. If you haven't checked them out, you should--she usually gifts yarn and other goodies, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what surprises will be coming in the mail. What did I do to win? I just answered a question about the movie "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and, like about 100 other people that answered correctly, hoped that my name would be drawn. Lucky me!

Lastly, I have to tell y'all about my sweet, sweet husband. He took the day off of work on Thursday so that my friend K and I could have a "mental health day." Translation: He watched the two boys (ours and hers, little O, who is 13 months), so we could go shopping and just hang out sans kiddos. It was wonderful. Friendship is so beautiful, and I had so much fun with K.

Oh my, how fast the time goes! I think I say that a lot, but really, the days slide by under my feet so quickly, I'm surprised that I don't fall down from the momentum. :) I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet, I'm behind on decorating, and well, you've heard about the Christmas knitting. But, I'm enjoying the season. There's something special about the last few weeks before Christmas... joy envelopes my heart. I feel happy to be alive and to be sharing the wonder of Christ with the world. Merry, merry!