fifth lamp down

Sad Day for Music-Lovers

2012-02-11T21:36:00.001-06:00

The voice that sang me through junior high and high school was silenced today.

Yarn Along

2012-02-07T22:41:00.001-06:00

Yarn Along! My favorite day of the week.
This has been a good knitting and crocheting week for me.

I finished the hat I started last week, (also, as I typed that sentence just now I got this in my head ) and I have made some good progress on the matching sweater for She-Who-Has-Not-Been-Named, and I also have been working on a crocheted rag-rug project with my daughter.
It started out as a pile of t-shirts, but now it's a fun rainbow-y rug-to-be!
Can you tell it's been kind of cloudy and grey here lately? lots of colors coming from those needles of mine :)

This week I started reading Treasure Island, but I got about as far as I did the last time I tried to read it, when I was in High School, which is about 3 pages.
There's been a lot of late-night belly dancing from a certain Threetus the Fetus, and so I am waking up in the morning not feeling all that rested.
This has the cascading effect of the kids being sent to school without a home lunch most days (the lunches at school are much healthier than when I was a kid) and also I don't really have the attention span for reading.
It is an interesting story, though, so I'll sally forth.

What's on your needles/hooks/nightstand this week?

Progress

2012-02-05T08:42:00.000-06:00

I have made some good progress this week on my list of projects from Monday.

This is the hat to match the booties that I finished up on Tuesday, and I cast on for the sweater yesterday.

That little flower is so sweet, and it was a breeze to whip up. Maybe the Elder needs some matching barrettes?

I made some good progress on my t-shirt rag-rug too.

The Elder was able to help out with the crocheting, which was super fun. She ran out of yellow, and I haven't cut the orange or red strips yet, so we're in a holding pattern on this one. It's coming out just like I had planned, though, so that's a bonus.

Since I was able to get so much knitting and crocheting done this week, it highlights the fact that I may have the time to finally start sorting the Baby Area, and perhaps clean off my sewing work table.

We'll see how that comes along...

Anything fun on your to-do list this weekend?

Yarn Along

2012-01-31T22:58:00.005-06:00

Yarn Along time!

I haven't had much time for reading lately.

I sing with two choral groups and we begin our concerts in about 2 1/2 weeks, so most of my reading has been our repertoire.

It's challenging stuff, but so much fun to sing.

On the needles I have a pair of booties for She-Who-Has-Not-Been-Named.

Actually, you can see that those are off the needles, but now I am making a matching hat.

I am totally digging this set of baby cuteness.

The hat has a flower on the top of it, and there will be a sweater too, at some point.

What are you knitting and reading this week?

In Which Jess Shares a Bunch of Links and Makes Grand Predictions About Her Activities for the Next 10 Weeks.

2012-01-30T14:30:00.001-06:00

Last Wednesday I got to spend some quality time with my Mom, which was awesome, at the Urgent Care/ER, which was not.

I have a pregnant cold. This seems to be like a Man Cold, in that I was completely incapacitated by a stuffy head. Low-ish blood pressure, combined with what was probably mild dehydration, and low hemoglobin made for a weak, fuzzy-headed and sleepy Jess.

Anyhoo, the Hubby has demanded that I take it easy with my volunteer commitments and so I shall.

This has opened up many of my days and so it can't hurt to start a few baby-prep projects in the meantime.

On Saturday I finished up teaching a class at the Yarnery and one of my students gave me a thank-you gift certificate so I could make something for the baby. (Sweetest thing ever, that)

Since I was working at the store again yesterday, I picked out some yarn and a pattern and I started knitting these adorable booties.

I also got yarn for the matching sweater and hat, and they're all 6 month size, so I have a little time before they'll be worn.

Also on the docket is a rag rug.

As I was perusing the blogs yesterday I came across this Rug-A-Long at Ric Rac, and it reminded me that I have been meaning to make something like this.

So, with that in mind I set out for the thrift store and picked up this pile of loveliness.

The energy necessary for cutting and braiding strips of fabric should not be overly taxing to this 30 weeks pregnant lady, and I am excited to see how it all comes out in the end.
I think a rainbow rag rug will be nice to haul along to the beach this summer.

What's on your list of things to do?

The Last Post About This Blanket (for now)

2012-01-28T20:50:00.004-06:00

I finished the blanket today.
It came off the loom yesterday, and I got a start on the fringing.
I went with a random stripe, usually I am a very concrete person, so this was a departure for me.
You can see in this photo that about 8 inches from the right-hand side of the blanket there is a pretty clear flaw.
When the Elder and I set up the warp we twisted two strands, and twisted they remained for the duration of the weaving process.

So, this morning I pulled those two threads out and re-wove them using a tapestry needle and now you can't see a thing!

I still have gobs of yarn left, so I think I may just make this snowsuit for the wee bairn and then she'll have a matching stroller ensemble.

When I decided to get weaving again I went to Interweave Press online and downloaded a couple of how-to e-books.
The next thing I want to try is some more challenging warp set-ups.
For this blanket I did a zig-zag twill weave; every 4 inches or so I just reversed the order of the pedals that I used.
One of the books I downloaded had really complicated-looking patterns that they swear can be accomplished by following a chart.
I may keep you all apprised of my progress as far as that goes, faithful readers.
I hope all is well with you out there.

You Know How it Goes...

2012-01-24T14:39:00.001-06:00

So I may have gone to the yarn store yesterday and bought a couple of skeins of yarn to coordinate with the blanket project, just to add some fun stripes.

Stash reduction can never really occur without some additional purchases, can it?

A Weaving Project

2012-01-23T11:18:00.001-06:00

Well, it all started about 3 years ago at a stash swap at the Yarnery.

I got a bag of Sierra from a co-worker and while I did use a ball or so in a project for Christmas 2010, the majority of it was still sitting in my basement waiting to realize its destiny.

The other month I had a visit from my friend Susan who loaned me the amazing, beautiful, floor loom that I have had in my basement for over a year, and she suggested that I weave a blanket from the Sierra.

Saturday, I finally got down to it and brought out the warping board. I spent some time setting up the loom yesterday and this morning I have made an actual start on a blanket.

I think this will be for the baby, but it might just end up on the couch (it's chilly up here you know).

Warm Up To Winter

2012-01-11T15:41:00.000-06:00

Here it is Wednesday and I haven't posted for Yarn Along yet.
Well, I dropped the ball on that one, sure enough.
But, I was cruising the blogs and found this great knit along on Love in the Mommy Hood and I decided to join in.
This is especially timely since the Younger refuses to keep his mittens in a state of not-being-lost.
So, I pledge to knit a pair of mittens for the Younger by the February 18th deadline.
Will anyone else out there join me?
Click the button for more info.

Six!

2012-01-06T23:41:00.003-06:00

My young son, The Younger, celebrated his 6th birthday today.

How I love this sweet, independent, kind and friendly boy.

Please Humor this Mommy...

2012-01-04T15:53:00.001-06:00

The Younger brought these home from Kindergarten today.

He spontaneously wrote these notes during class.

My Dad is at work.

My Dad teaches computers.

My Sister likes to play with me.

My Dad likes to play with me.

My Mom is pregnant.
What an exceptional child he is :)

Red!

2012-01-04T08:43:00.001-06:00

This season has been all about the cables and the red yarn for me.
I didn't quite realize it until this morning, when I was considering the next step on my current red sweater.

I made these slippers for my mom for Christmas, they were a super quick knit, and so satisfying! I may have to make some for myself as well.

Add these two projects to the sweater that I finished up just in time for Christmas Eve, and that's a lot of red cables.
Also, there is a lot of baby in this photo.
We've reached Trimester #3 and I am feeling fine. She's moving all the time, and even kicks the kids occasionally when they're on my lap, which leads to no end of giggling.

Yarn Along

2012-01-03T22:58:00.002-06:00

Yarning Along with Ginny.

My husband got a Kindle for work, and I got sucked in to The Hunger Games. We have a deal where we can download a book a month for free, so after we both devoured the book last week we downloaded the second one on Sunday.

Unfortunately, Catching Fire, the second installment, is such a speedy read that now we have to wait a whole month before we can get the third book.

I may have to go to the library...

The sweater is Sylvi from the 2008 Twist Collective. It's on nice big needles and is going fairly quickly. My husband and I have been catching up on Breaking Bad, so I have had some nice, uninterrupted knitting time. I may have this one finished by Springtime.

What's on your needles today?

The Best Things About 2011

2012-01-01T11:15:00.002-06:00

A couple of years ago I started a tradition of celebrating the best of the year just past.

2011 brought us

Beauty
Creating
Dance
Friends
Love
Music
Nature
Surprises

1. Heading Uphill, 2. Talking over Breakfast, 3. Limoncello in the works, 4. Bury Dada!, 5. Scrabble Maze, 6. Fifth Lamp from the Car, 7. Minnehaha Creek, 8. Sleeping Beauty, 9. Henry at the Playground, 10. Annie the Ballerina, 11. Cardinal, 12. First Outdoor Meal of the Year, 13. Let's Do Jumping Jacks to Keep Warm!, 14. 2 Egrets, 15. Waves on Rocks, 16. Pinning the Pattern Piece, 17. Blossoms, 18. Sweet Sunlit Lady, 19. Soccer Monsters!, 20. Through the rows, 21. The Family, 22. DSCN4293, 23. Blurry Little Boy, 24. Snapper!, 25. Watching Allie Swim, 26. Crosby Tree, 27. Caterpillar in the Sand, 28. In the River with Auntie Donna, 29. Annie at the Fair, 30. Henry and His Pumpkin, 31. Gully, 32. Princess and Pirate, 33. 16 Weeks, 34. Punkins, 35. Cradle for Kit, 36. Beautiful day for a walk

Let's hope that 2012 will be as fun.

Beautiful Day

2011-12-26T17:57:00.001-06:00

Today couldn't have been nicer if it came from Santa himself.
Such a beautiful day surely called for a walk outside to take some photos and see the sights.
I hope your Monday has been pleasant and did not, as ours did, include a trip to the mall.

Elf-in-the-making

2011-12-25T15:55:00.001-06:00

Following in her Mama's procrastinating footsteps, the Elder started a project yesterday for her new American Girl Doll -Kit.

She made a sketch first and then I unleashed her on the big box of felt and she came up with this.

Now all the members of our family have a stocking!

I hope your day has been lots of fun, we've been filling it with present time, eating sweet treats, going to the movies and now we're on our way to celebrate with the extended family.

Elf-ing

2011-12-23T15:33:00.000-06:00

It seems like every year about this time I get the itch to work with wood. I don't know why I don't do it all the time, since I really love it!
3 years ago my crafty mama group got together and built these amazing toolboxes, the same year I tried (not so successfully) to make a bunch of wooden scoops to give as gifts with some homemade bath salts, and, come to think of it, that was the year of the bunk beds too.
I skipped the following year since we had our bathroom redone and I had probably had seen enough of woodworking for the time being...
Anyway, last year I made wooden ornaments for my annual swap and this year I am building a cradle for the Elder.
I posted about it the other day, and I did decide to make it over.
After I visited with my carpenter friend I looked up jigsaw prices online and found one for super cheap at a local hardware store.
Last night I grabbed my $7.00 sheet of plywood and went to work.
I decided not to bother my carpenter friend again, so it's not quite as plumb as the first draft, but it's serviceable and I had the satisfaction of doing it all myself with no help. (I'm forcibly reminded of some 2-year-old progeny of mine screaming "I DO IT" whenever offered help, hmm)

Here it is primed, and ready.
The final product took a couple of coats of primer and a couple of coats of paint. I may still need to touch up the paint at some future date, but I didn't think it would dry in time if I made another pass before tomorrow.

Next I practiced the rose decoration on a scrap, this one turned out a little nicer than the one that ended up on the finished product, but again, it's serviceable and I am pleased with the results.

My sister came over tonight and helped me put together the mattress, pillow and coverlet.
The blanket is made from a beautiful piece of embroidery that I found at a craft sale about 4 years ago. It was a little stained, so I got it very cheaply. I cut around the stains and my sis assembled the blanket (using the serger for the first time in her life) and it all came out rather nicely.

Merry Christmas!

Extremely Last-Minute Teacher Gifts

2011-12-22T17:24:00.003-06:00

This morning I realized that I hadn't gotten anything for The Younger's teacher yet, and today is the last day of the year, so I grabbed some ingredients and a couple of jars and made some bath salts and spiced cocoa mix.
For the bath salts I used 1 cup of epsom salts, 1/3 cup of olive oil and a few drops of an essential oil.
The cocoa mix was 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, a teaspoon of cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg. To be used 1-2 tablespoons to a cup of warm milk.
Super easy, home-made and heartfelt, even if it is last-minute...
Have a happy Christmas if I don't see you first,
Jess

Yarn Along

2011-12-20T22:52:00.000-06:00

Yarn Along time, Yay!This Saturday I will be subbing in, singing at a local church and the choir director let us know that we could wear black with a festive sweater if we had one.I realized that I had only a little work to do on this sweater (that I started on July 26th, if the Ravelry page is to be believed) and what's more festive than a bunch of red cables?
I had work knitting to do in the mean-time so it's been neglected in a bag waiting for its turn.
I brought it along to early Christmas with the in laws and was able to finish up a sleeve and start assembly this weekend.

All that remains is the last third or so of the collar, and I think I can finish that waiting in the carpool line this week.
I'll be excited to wear it at last!
The book is Rilla of Ingleside, the 8th and final installment of the Anne of Green Gables series.
I don't know what number of times I have read this particular of L.M. Montgomery's books, but it's more than a couple.
It's a fascinating look at the day-to-day lives of a Canadian family during World War I.
The domestic details are what I find most interesting. There are descriptions of hand-sewing hems on sheets, and knitting socks for the boys at the front, along with organizing Red Cross groups and raising money for the war effort.
I just can't get enough of L.M.'s first-hand look at this troubled time.

What's on your needles this week?

Rough Draft

2011-12-19T13:11:00.006-06:00

Last week as I was out Christmas shopping for the kids I saw this beautiful print by Jessie Wilcox Smith (something's wrong with blogger and I can't hyperlink, google her, she's awesome) and since the thing that The Elder wants most of all for Christmas is a trundle bed for her dolly I thought I would attempt to duplicate the cradle in the print.
My friend's husband is a carpenter and we traded piano lessons for a little shop time and professional know-how last Friday.

The finished product came out a little long and narrow, so I would call this a first draft, but the construction was pretty simple, and I think I could whip up a second one that might fit Kit a little better in no time.
The first one took about 2 hours, so it's not outside the realm of possibility that I could finish a second one, and paint it, before Christmas. I still have 6 days...
What crazy things are you planning this week?

Yarn Along

2011-12-13T22:51:00.004-06:00

It's Yarn Along time!

I have had to put these mittens on hold in favor of Christmas Stocking knitting, but I am excited to get back to them. The pattern is called Ringo + Elwood, and I think I may have seen them the first time on another Yarn Along post a few weeks ago.

There are two versions included in the pattern Ringo (a racoon as seen above) and Elwood (a beaver)

The Younger has just conveniently lost one of his dragon mittens and so he'll need some new ones anyway!

Sometimes I just randomly grab a book from my Anne of Green Gables collection and this week it was Rainbow Valley. As I type I still have tears on my face from finishing this charming and heartfelt story.

Rainbow Valley is about Anne and Gilbert's children growing up in an idyllic fairyland of beautiful trees and brooks, catching trout for impromptu lunches and having the kind of childhood I wish for my own children.

L. M. Montgomery wrote Rainbow Valley after the end of the first World War and you can see hints of a darker time looming for the children in Glen St. Mary.

Her final Anne book Rilla of Ingleside is about how the war effects everyone in the village and is possibly my favorite of the series.

I may have to read it next.

What's on your needles and nightstand this week?

Eight!

2011-12-12T07:08:00.003-06:00

This tiny baby turned eight today.

A sweet, kind, smart and lovely person she's turning out to be!

Happy Birthday, Elder!

Extreme(ly awesome!)

2011-12-05T08:48:00.003-06:00

This morning one of my high-school friends posted this amazingness on facebook and I just had to share it here.

And then I followed the link to their youtube page and here was a sweet arrangement of my fav-o-rite wanky song from the 90s.

Call me a cheeseball if you must, but I love More Than Words, and I don't care who knows it!

What Sweeter Music

2011-12-03T22:27:00.003-06:00

I have just come from my first Christmas concert with The Singers and I had such a good time!

I would strongly encourage local folks to come and take in a show. Even the weather is cooperating with some lovely snow to put us all in the Christmas spirit.

We're singing a nice mix of music from the early 20th century through to two brand new songs composed this year.

Though it's not listed above we are also singing tomorrow, Sunday December 4th at Good Samaritan United Methodist Church in Edina, MN at 4 PM.

Yarn Along

2011-11-29T22:59:00.003-06:00

Yarnin' Along with Ginny

This is a Christmas Stocking that I am designing for a customer, and I am really enjoying the planning and plotting.

Usually with a stocking I will copy one or use a pattern, but occasionally I get to design one from scratch and those are always great for the brain.

My book is one I have read many times, I found it originally at an antique store.

The title is The Turning Point by Louis Tracy, and after I read the cover off of my original copy I hunted this down somewhere on the internet.

The story is about Richard Aylmer who was a pilot in World War I for Britain and after a crash and major head trauma is trying to put the war behind him and start a new life as a painter.

His head injury causes him to have flashback/memories of living in a past life as a knight in 14th century Yorkshire.

The Turning Point was written in 1919 and I love the glimpses that you get of early 20th century small-town English life.

There is a fascinating secondary character who is a violinist who loses his left hand and must learn to play the violin right-handed while holding his bow in a mechanical hand of his own devising.

I have probably read it 4 or 5 times and it never fails to entertain me.

What are you reading and knitting today?

180

2011-11-27T22:09:00.002-06:00

Well this week certainly took a 180 degree turn from its wretched beginning.

The Younger's arm is healing nicely from his brush with hot soup, everyone's recovering from their personal walking pneumonias and we had a lovely Thanksgiving day beginning with breakfast with most of my family and dinner with most of the In-Laws.

To top that off we had a very nice time at our 20-week ultrasound where we learned that everything is growing the way it should, good looking heart and brain and all of the limbs are where they are expected to be.

Also we learned that I am carrying a girl-baby.

That led to a massive clean-out of boy baby clothes which we'll not need and so our house is a little neater too.

Another little excitement is that I figured out what to send to my Christmas Ornament swap partners, and got a really good start on those today.

Some of the Santa faces have kind of odd expressions, but I hope my partners like them anyway.

Enjoy the last moments of your holiday weekends, and I'll see you soon

Shift of Perspective

2011-11-23T11:52:00.003-06:00

This morning as I was innocently driving the Elder and Younger to school I heard this song on the radio.
"Mother Mother" came out in 1996 when I was in college and I loved singing along with the radio and screaming along with Tracy Bonham.
This morning as I was singing along I got a little choked up.

Now I am a mother and I am going to have to send my little chicks out into the world someday.
I do realize that since my kids are in kindergarten and 2nd grade and fetal that I won't have to send them into the cold quite yet, but it's out there!

Sometimes I get these reminders that time is moving forward and it's a little jarring.

Yarn Along

2011-11-22T23:00:00.003-06:00

Yarn Along time again!

I have been knitting for customers lately, but I have this glimmer of a project for myself for after the holidays. I wound the first ball, which is huge, so only half of it fit on the ball-winder, and if I have a moment this week I may just start in on a swatch.

The book is a new edition of The Phantom Tollbooth; my very favorite book from my youth, which has just been re-released in a 50th Anniversary edition.

I'm reading this aloud with both of my kids, and I hope they catch the bug and want to read it to themselves over and over again. I read the cover off of my first copy, and the last page too if I recall.

What are you reading and knitting these days?

The Boogie-Woogie Flu

2011-11-22T09:11:00.004-06:00

The Turkey-Day plans have been up in the air this year, until yesterday when it was finalized that we'll be dining at my husbands parents' house and we'll bring a veg and a dessert.

So, today I will make a trip to the grocery store (though not for Brussels sprouts which I was assured by my M-I-L "no one would eat")

While I am quite thankful for the many wonderful things in my life, not the least of which is my amazing family and extended family, I am not really looking forward to spending the next 2 days baking and cooking.

I should have prefaced that last thought, which I am sure had long-time readers gasping in horror, by saying that everyone is ailing at our house.

The suspicion of my doctor is that I have Whooping Cough, though when I took the Elder in to have her checked out for an identical cough her doc thought Walking Pneumonia was more plausible.

After the 2 trips to the clinic yesterday and 3 trips to the pharmacy for antibiotics for the Elder and myself, the Younger burned his arm pretty badly on hot soup from our take-out dinner. So a 4th trip to the pharmacy to get gauze pads and tape, and now he's on the mend as well.

Add to that a couple of disappointing days professionally this hasn't been the best week.

On the upside, we get to spend a couple of extra days together, since the kids were sent home from school yesterday just in case we do have whooping cough in the house, and I have had to cancel much of my work yesterday and today.

So now we have lots of extra time for some menu planning, some tea and knitting knitting knitting. Not to mention that I have some swap ornaments to whip up as well.

Another upside to this rather disappointing week is that I ended up with yarn for a new sweater for myself and it's the carrot on my work stick for after the Holiday fracas is finished.

Something tells me that this sweater

will be the perfect thing for long springtime walks with whomever comes to meet us in early April.

I wish the most wonderful Thanksgiving to you all, and I hope no-one out there has Walking Pneumonia, though I wouldn't mind the Booie-Woogie Flu ;)

Book Club tonight

2011-11-18T16:09:00.004-06:00

Tonight is the meeting of my book club.

I am a little ashamed to say that I haven't finished our book for this time, but I did make some cookies to bring so I can still feel like I am contributing to the group.

A Facebook friend of mine made these the other day and they looked so delicious I couldn't resist making some today.

These are a home made version of Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies. They're pretty yum-tastic, though I kind of wish I had made pumpkin whoopie pies instead.

Have a great weekend all, what's on your itinerary?

Give to the Max Day!

2011-11-16T07:11:00.002-06:00

Today is Give to the Max day in Minnesota.

Over 1400 different local non-profit organizations are asking that you make a donation today through a website called Give MN.org.

I'll add my voice to the request for my favorite two non-profit groups.

Currently I sing with two wonderful choral groups; Caritas and The Singers.

Your donation could make a big difference for both of these groups. Please consider giving today as each group has a matching grant-Caritas for the first $1000 in donations and The Singers for the first $2500 in donations.

You'll even get a little free surprise if you donate to The Singers!

I hope all is well out there in blogland, see you all soon!

Christmas Music

2011-11-13T18:47:00.003-06:00

Hi All,

I am in the mood for some Christmas Music! The weather is getting colder and the kids have started their lists for Santa and the Grandparents.

Time for some Harry Connick Jr., Ella and Dean Martin. This year I added She & Him (thanks for the recommendation Kerry!) and Carole King.

What's on your Christmas Playlist?

Belated Blog Birthday

2011-11-01T23:18:00.004-05:00

I missed my Blog Birthday.

In October of 2007 I started coming here to share my thoughts, my makings, my photos, my life, and you all have been there with me.

Thanks for your comments, and your support through my ups and downs.

I love having this place to come and spend time with you all.

This photo was from the date of my blog birthday, and I actually posted it before, but I'll share it again, since I love the woods and I love you all

See you all soon.

Yarn Along

2011-11-01T22:51:00.005-05:00

Lots of knitting but no reading this week.

I have to finish Team of Rivals by mid-November, so I gotta get going on that one.

This stuff is all for clients. The tiny sweater is for a bear, and the other two projects are Christmas stockings.

My husband asked me this week why the giant pile of knitting stuff behind my chair keeps growing, and why I couldn't just work on one thing at a time and finish it up, thus keeping the other things put away while they waited for my attention.

I told him I just can't work that way.

Different situations call for different levels of knitting intensity.

Are you all the same way? or are you monogamous knitters?

Join Ginny for more Yarning Along!

Boo!

2011-10-31T13:45:00.001-05:00

I'm following Sarah's example today.

Have a great Halloween, but watch out for the zombies!

Perfect Fall Day!

2011-10-29T12:12:00.003-05:00

Though the idea met with some resistance (I don't want to turn off the computer!) we spent the majority of the morning at a playground with some friends and I am so glad that we did!

We picked up some pumpkins on the way home and now we're all set for Halloween!

Enjoy your weekend (even the snow-y parts if you're in Hoboken (: )

Nostalgia

2011-10-28T08:37:00.004-05:00

Thinking about the new person coming into our lives in April has made me go back through the photos of my kids when they were tiny people.

This one made me laugh this morning.

We're at the Fair and The Elder must have heard some exciting news just prior to the photo.

I wish I still had that Cow hat that I made for The Younger.

It was a little on the ridiculous side, but it was cute!

Yarn Along

2011-10-25T20:51:00.005-05:00

I keep having these lapses between my Yarn Along posts!

Mostly because I am really sleepy on Tuesday evenings and really busy Wednesdays.

I have been doing a lot of reading. The knitting is coming along at a pretty slow pace for me, but that could be due to my semi-serious online scrabble addiction.

This is the Chickadee Sweater by Ysolda Teague from her book Little Red in the City.

For the books, last week I finished The Last Symbol by Dan Brown and The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.

Two very different books, but both worth a read.

The Lost Symbol was all Dan Brown. Very fast paced, lots of racing around between famous monuments and super-cool word and number puzzles.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret was simply lovely.

I had seen it recommended on another blog for kids 9-10 and I read it through to make sure it was appropriate for the 7 and 5 year old children in my house.

The story is surprising and beautiful, the characters were fully developed and there was no silly romance or ridiculous plot device (save the mechanical man)

I finished the book in a day (there are admittedly many many illustrations as it's a graphic novel, so it's really not as long as it looks) and I couldn't wait to start it again aloud with the kids.

I see that Hugo Cabret is now a movie set to come out at Thanksgiving.

I don't have high hopes.

I know that movie trailers are made to draw in audience who might not be attracted to a story, but this one turns me off.

I am still reading Team of Rivals, and it's pretty good too, though very dense..

Head over to Ginny's and see more yarn and book excitement!

Here I (we) Am (are)

2011-10-25T08:23:00.003-05:00

From two full pregnancies I have only one photo of myself and it was a visiting Santa photo so I had the Elder on my lap, hiding the Younger Bump.

I told myself that if I ever did this pregnancy thing again I would be better at documenting the process, if only to see what others see...

So here it is, my 16th week and here I (we) am (are)

Now, this is not going to turn into a pregnancy blog, but I may come back occasionally with a bump update.

I Sang a Concert Last Night

2011-10-23T09:49:00.000-05:00

Review: The Singers' 'Requiem' is simply heavenly

By Rob Hubbard
Special to the Pioneer Press

Updated: 10/22/2011 11:19:24 PM CDT

Since the dawn of the species, humans have been using their voices to explore their experiences in song. But it's the prayers that seem to last. When words addressed to a higher power have been set to memorable melodies or inspiring harmonies, they've become some of the most enduring music ever created.

To open its season, the Twin Cities-based chamber choir known as the Singers is presenting three of the western classical music tradition's most popular and powerful prayers. At Wayzata's St. Bartholomew Catholic Church on Saturday night, conductor Matthew Culloton and the Singers suffused each work with not only the spirit of salve and solace written into each by its composer, but also a sense of striving to touch the infinite. And one should feel fortunate to experience as strong a sense of the sacred as the Singers offered in Maurice Durufle's "Requiem."

While that work has received fine recent interpretations from such elite tandems as the Minnesota Orchestra and Minnesota Chorale, as well as the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and its Chorale, there was something more intimate and involving about Saturday's performance by the Singers, their accompanying chamber orchestra and organist Aaron David Miller.

Maybe the feeling of being immersed in emotion was partially attributable to the resonant interior of St. Bart's. But, more likely, it was the musicians' obvious investment in the interpretation, particularly the Singers, who treated every chord with care, each

harmony with balance and beauty. It was a transporting performance.

But that's not to say that there wasn't much to admire in the two works that preceded it. Seventeenth-century composer Gregorio Allegri's "Miserere" was a masterful slice of the Vatican choral tradition given great voice by the group, at its most thrilling when a quartet held forth from the rear of the sanctuary, Diane Koschak's soaring soprano floating ethereally above all.

And J.S. Bach's "Jesu, meine Freude" was full of contrast in mood and dynamics, a tempestuous chorale about fear and death giving way to the lovely layers of a spirited fugue and a lush lullaby of farewell to the cares of the world. As with all of Saturday's program, the Singers made it an exciting experience.

Who: The Singers with conductor Matthew Culloton and organist Aaron David Miller

What: Works by Gregorio Allegri, J.S. Bach and Maurice Durufle

When: 3 p.m. today

Where: House of Hope Presbyterian Church, 797 Summit Ave., St. Paul

Tickets: $30-$10, available at 651-917-1948 or singersmca.org

Capsule: A heavenly mix of music.

Something to Blog About!

2011-10-22T22:44:00.004-05:00

Halloween is fast-approaching and the kids got to try out their costumes last night at a Saint Paul tradition -the Zoo Boo at Como Zoo.

When we went to the Renaissance Festival a few weeks ago we were tempted into buying a couple of costumes for the kids: a beautiful princess dress and an awesome pirate costume.

As we were preparing for last night's event we couldn't find the hat which came with the Younger's costume, and I realized that the off-the-shoulder princess costume wasn't quite warm enough for a crisp fall evening out trick-or-treating.

I dug through pattern after pattern at the fabric store, and I just couldn't find a pirate hat. Then I had a brainstorm - I have lots of craft books at home. Maybe I could find something there!

So this week I justified a portion of my vast craft book library and used the Reversible Bucket Hat pattern from Little Things to Sew by Liesl Gibson to make a pirate hat, and I made a furry-lined Reversible Hooded Play Cape from Growing Up Sew Liberated by Meg McElwee for my chilly princess. Both of these were fun and easy to whip up, the cape took all of a couple of hours, including a trip to Hancock for the shiny and furry stuff. I hand-sewed the hat, and did it while I caught up with my stories on Hulu the other day.

The Princess and the Pirate both approve. Have a Happy Halloween!

Whew

2011-10-13T17:06:00.003-05:00

I just don't know how people blog when they have jobs! I have been really busy with work and some little bits of knitting here and there with some very boring sewing thrown in (mostly hems).

I haven't even had time to join Meg in Kids Clothes Week Challenge yet! I hope to take an hour tomorrow morning and get going on a sweatshirt for the Younger. If I actually get anything done I'll be back to share it.

I did manage a walk in the woods on Tuesday (forgetting that I had an appointment with a piano student at the same time, hand slaps forehead) so here's a photo -

See you soon!

Annual Fall Pilgrimage

2011-09-29T17:51:00.004-05:00

Every year about this time I start to itch for some time in the woods.

Today was that day.

I headed out to my favorite ramble spot in Saint Paul, and as the colors are just beginning to be spectacular I will probably make a few more pilgrimages in the coming days and weeks.

It was a little emotional roller coaster of a morning. The Elder had an altercation with some classmates and I went to discuss the situation with her teacher.

After speaking with all of the miscreants involved it turns out that the worst offender wasn't her usual irritant in class but a girl who had been her friend. I think I felt the betrayal as deeply as the Elder must have done.

So I headed to the woods and listened to the waterfall and the wind in the trees.

It was such a gift, that half hour I spent in the woods.

To be able to sit quietly and breathe with the swaying trees and watch the light change as the sun came over the edge of the ravine and smell the sweet decaying leaves and dirt, it was just what I have been missing in my life.

Coming Out of the Fog

2011-09-28T11:42:00.002-05:00

I had a couple of weeks there when I didn't feel like doing much. I was totally unmotivated to do house work, or work on much of anything. I didn't even turn on my camera for about 2 weeks.

I realized the other day that it's probably pregnancy anxiety.

This is my 7th pregnancy.

My first was ectopic, which I found out at a routine OB when they couldn't find a heartbeat at 10 weeks.

The last three were all very brief. Most of my friends and family don't know about them, but they're always there in the back of my mind.

Today I had my 12 week OB appointment and heard the heartbeat after an agonizing wait of 15 seconds which felt like 5 minutes.

Everything is going well, I'm healthy, the heartbeat is strong and fast.

I can feel the fog lifting.

And just in time for fall.

I hope to be here every day for the rest of the week to share some fall photos, and get back into the swing of things.

See you soon

Yarn Along

2011-09-27T22:29:00.003-05:00

Yarn Along!

I missed a couple of weeks there, but I did finish a project. The pirate sweater has both sleeves, and has even made a successful debut at school.

The Younger would like to be a pirate for Halloween, and I hope I can convince him to wear the sweater. I'll feel better about him being out in the cold if he's bundled...

The book and the yarn there are my next project. I have the materials to make the Chickadee Sweater from Little Red Knits.

I have had my eye on that book for some time, and I finally decided to make a model for the yarn store from it, mostly to justify the cost of the book. I'm counting that as my current book too, because it has so much fascinating information about sizing and fit. It's really a great read!

What are you knitting and reading lately?

Go visit Ginny for more knitting inspiration!

Leave It As It Is

2011-09-20T09:08:00.003-05:00

I love to sing.

If you know me in person, you know this to be true. In any case, I sing all the time, if I can, and I am singing this year in two wonderful groups.

Caritas Vocal Ensemble and The Singers. For Caritas the concerts season begins in the early spring, but The Singers will sing a concert on Oct 9th in collaboration with some other local choral groups.

Among other pieces, we're singing a choral work based on the words and contemporary music of the 4 Mount Rushmore presidents.

As I am rehearsing the music I keep getting choked up at the power of these words.

I don't know if you knew this, but the Gettysburg Address is pretty amazing.

Part of the Teddy Roosevelt text is taken from a speech he gave at the Grand Canyon and it is one of the finer things I have read recently as well -

I included the full text here -

In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which, so far as I know, is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world. I want to ask you to do one thing in connection with it in your own interest and in the interest of the country - to keep this great wonder of nature as it now is.

I was delighted to learn of the wisdom of the Santa Fe railroad people in deciding not to build their hotel on the brink of the canyon. I hope you will not have a building of any kind, not a summer cottage, a hotel, or anything else, to mar the wonderful grandeur, the sublimity, the great loneliness and beauty of the canyon.

Leave it as it is. You can not improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it. What you can do is to keep it for your children, your children's children, and for all who come after you, as one of the great sights which every American if he can travel at all should see.

We have gotten past the stage, my fellow-citizens, when we are to be pardoned if we treat any part of our country as something to be skinned for two or three years for the use of the present generation, whether it is the forest, the water, the scenery. Whatever it is, handle it so that your children's children will get the benefit of it.

Now I don't know if it's the hormones, or just the fact that I haven't ever had to engage so closely with the words of these great men, but I have been a little bit of a mess every time I sit down to practice.

If you are in the area please come and see the show, it's going to be amazing, but bring your hanky.

Yarn Along

2011-09-13T22:31:00.006-05:00

Joining Ginny again for Yarn Along! My favorite day of the week :)

Thanks again for all of your kind wishes last week!

I haven't quite finished the pirate sweater for the Younger yet, though that hasn't been a problem with our 90 degree temps the past week.

Tomorrow brings a change in the weather, so I hope to finish up soon.

I was planning on knitting a jolly roger pocket, but I saw an adorable sweater in Rowan's Summer Baby book and it just had a skull and crossbones on the front. I bought the book, and this weekend I added it to the sweater using duplicate stitch (not my favorite technique, but I figured it would be faster than taking out the sleeve and ripping down the front to use intarsia)

So that's the sweater.

The book is Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

I bought this book for my Hubby a few Christmases ago as he really enjoys historical non-fiction.

It just happens that my book club chose it for our next selection, so I pulled it off the shelf and started in. It's been a great read so far, the 25 or so pages I finished this morning...

What's on your lists of books and/ or yarn this week?

First Day of School! Redux

2011-09-13T08:05:00.002-05:00

The Elder started school last Tuesday, but in Saint Paul Kindergarten didn't start until yesterday.

So, here is the second first day of school photo.

The Younger was so excited to start!

He did really well - met some new friends, navigated the cafeteria like a pro, he is so ready!

Today, after a piano lesson, and before some more piano lessons, I have a few hours to relax, do some knitting and sewing that I have been putting off until I had some time, and maybe drink some tea.

What's on your agenda today?

Thank You and {This Moment}

2011-09-09T08:08:00.003-05:00

Thank you all for joining us in our excitement!

I was a little overwhelmed with all of the kind words and well wishes yesterday.

It's a pretty wonderful place, this blogland.

Yarn Along and Other News

2011-09-06T18:17:00.005-05:00

Joining Ginny again for Yarn Along.
A few weeks ago I saw that someone was reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I added it to the growing list of books to someday read.

Well, when I saw it at a garage sale for 50 cents I snapped it up and I am so glad I did!

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a semi-autobiographical novel by Betty Smith about growing up desperately poor in the early 1900s in Brooklyn.

Her descriptions of the daily lives and social interactions of her childhood home were vivid, raw, often sad, but sometimes beautiful.

The knitting is a pirate sweater for the Younger. He is way, way into pirates right now.

The plan is to put a Jolly Roger pocket on when it's finished, and he asked if I could add an Imperial Navy flag on the opposite side.

He's so funny.

In other news, I have been flipping occasionally through the book that my midwife gave me at my first OB appointment a month ago.

Which means that we are expecting a third baby in the spring!

Thanks to Yarn Along, I won't suffer for great ideas for baby knitting!

Good thing I have a little time :)

What have you all been reading and knitting lately?

First Day of School!

2011-09-06T09:11:00.003-05:00

Today is the first day of school in Saint Paul, as long as you're in 1st grade or above.

So the Elder hopped on the bus this morning and went on her solitary way to 2nd grade.

For Kindergarten we have to wait another week!

The Younger did get to go in anyway and have his goal-setting conference with his teacher.

The big goals for this year are to be able to cross the monkey bars on the big playground, play and read 4 books.

Happy First Day, everybody!

The Fair!

2011-09-04T16:00:00.005-05:00

We just got back from our annual trip to the Minnesota State Fair, and we had tons of fun!

Even after 6 hours we hadn't seen everything - we missed the animal birthing center, the play farm, the old-time-y village and the fine arts building.

But we did eat lots of stuff,

see the Butter Heads and the crop art,

go on many,

many

rides,

eat more stuff,

and bond with farm animals of all 4-legged varieties.

Whew, summer can end now.

Have a great weekend, and here's to school starting this week!

Exploring Music

2011-09-02T21:49:00.003-05:00

I am an old book junkie. I have been collecting old books and old sheet music since Jr. High.

The other day I was in search my old Beverly Cleary books in my parents' attic, and I came across this awesome book - Exploring Music.

The copyright is from 1975, but the book was originally published in 1966.

This is really much newer than the books I usually like to pick up. Most of my library is full of books from 1900-1945.

Anyway, I was hoping to find a song or two to sing with my children's choirs when we start rehearsing next Wednesday, and I found a treasure trove! There are great folk songs in here, along with some church-y stuff that wouldn't fly in today's school environment, but will be perfect to sing with the Alleluia choir.

Even better than the song selections contained within this lovely book are the illustrations -

These fashions! I think the Elder needs a sweater with an anchor on it!

And the Younger would look spectacular in a charming sweater vest!

Mostly, I just wish I had looked through this book when I was a musician at work in a music store! I would totally have had this made into a poster to hang above my work station.

Have you found any treasures in your attic lately?

p.s. Thank you all for your kind comments on the Hello Kitty Compromise! You're all the best!

213-243

2011-09-02T15:21:00.000-05:00

Caving, But On My Terms, Part 2

2011-08-25T13:07:00.003-05:00

All done!

Caving, But On My Terms

2011-08-24T22:10:00.008-05:00

As we were gathering our school supplies a couple of weeks ago the kids both asked if I would just buy them a backpack this year instead of making one.

After a look at the options at Target (cheaply made, ugly, plastic-that-probably-was-full-of lead) I said no, but I would make them new ones this year if they really didn't want to use the ones they already had, and they could choose the design.

The Elder had her heart set on a Hello Kitty messenger bag, (like this one, if I remember correctly) so I said that I would make one for her.

As she was getting ready for Pre-K 3 years ago, I made her first backpack as a reaction against the pervasive character and princess stuff out there. I have officially caved in, but I'm going to try to make it unique anyway.

So, I printed out a picture of Hello Kitty, traced it onto wonder under and assembled the pieces for the messenger bag.

There is still a lot to be done as far as construction, but I've made a good start, and I hope that this project will both fill her need for a character and my need for home-made.

Are you all stronger than I am? or do you cave in to your children's demands too?

Yarn Along

2011-08-23T22:27:00.004-05:00

Yarn Along time again!

I've been doing a lot of knitting this week but it all seems to be not for this project.

There was the scarf that I started last week, that was a sample for a class that I'll be teaching soon at the Yarnery, so it's hanging up there.

I didn't even take a photo.

I did some customer work on a stocking, which turned out much smaller than the original, and I haven't decided to leave it as is, or rip it out and begin again.

And then there are the fronts of Aeneas here, which I finished, but ripped out and re-knitted so it looks pretty much the same as last week.

I did start on a sleeve, so when that and its friend are finished I can start seaming.

Hopefully I'll have this finished up by the middle of September.

I pulled To Kill a Mockingbird from the bookshelf this week, and I just picked up where I left off the last time.

What I need is some dedicated reading time with that book. It's such a joy to read, but I am feeling a little disjointed lately, and I haven't had the time to devote to really sinking in and reading it.

What's on your list this week for books and yarn?

Early Morning Project

2011-08-18T07:39:00.004-05:00

I love the fit of this brown t-shirt, and it matches a favorite dress of mine.

Unfortunately the front is full of paint stains.

Should I have thought about how well I like this shirt before I painted my kitchen while wearing it? Yes.

In any case, the shirt has paint on it, and I don't like to wear it out in public.

This morning I was trying it on and I thought I'd try painting on it with bleach.

It couldn't make the shirt worse, and it had the potential to make it a little better.

So I grabbed a paintbrush from the kids' art box, poured a little bleach into a jar, slid some junk mail between the layers of the shirt and began.

I did a little sketch in a notebook and then painted on the shirt freehand.

The worst stain was on the bottom and it was a tannish yellow color so the bleach covered it up perfectly.

The bleach wasn't entirely predictable, sometimes it bled and others it didn't.

I need to get one of those bleach pens that I have heard tell of and try this again.

I am washing it now, so I'm still not quite sure that my experiment will work out, but it was a fun thing to do and it took 20 minutes.

Yet another problem that I lived with for 3 years that took 20 minutes to fix.

Darn my procrastination.

What's on your list of things to do today?

Update - It worked!

Yarn Along

2011-08-16T23:34:00.006-05:00

Hello out there!

It's time for Yarning Along with Ginny, and I have been super busy knit-wise this week.

I wasn't completely happy with the fronts of Aeneas, so I ripped them both out, re-charted and re-knitted them.

The fall season of classes is coming up at the Yarnery, and I have an intarsia scarf class planned for September, so I started the blue scarf there, but I needed my size 9 needles, so I had to finish up the front of the Mystic Pullover.

I had about an hour to myself today, so I pulled out my copy of So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.

Such a great book! I have been a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy since I was a little girl and I watched the series on PBS, and this book is my favorite of the trilogy.

What's on your knitting and reading lists this week?

The Monkees

2011-08-16T08:10:00.002-05:00

I don't know why this is in my head today, but I thought I'd share it with you all.

This is by far my favorite Monkees song.

The 4 maracas just put this song over the edge from awesome to completely amazing, in my opinion.

Mama! Come Look!

2011-08-14T06:43:00.003-05:00

It's so rare right now that they enjoy anything together.

Thank you, little caterpillar.

A Visit to the Irish Fair

2011-08-13T21:29:00.003-05:00

We live a short walk from Harriet Island, which is a large open park next to the Mississippi River in Saint Paul.

This weekend is the annual Irish Fair and the kids and I ventured there to take in a little music and dancing while we ate our picnic dinner.

I have a feeling we'll go back tomorrow again, since admission is free, and hopefully I won't forget my wallet (oops).

The spirits of my Celtic forebears must have been with us, though, because two strangers handed us their left-over tickets as they were leaving so we ended up with free drinks!

What are you up to this weekend?

I So Want to Try This!

2011-08-11T07:36:00.000-05:00

Beautiful Evening for a Bike Ride

2011-08-10T07:00:00.003-05:00

"Can we have a Mama-Daughter bike?"

Usually this statement is followed by "and a trip to the playground?"

Yes to both!

The weather has been a challenge this summer.

It's been hot and rainy and hotter and hottest.

This week it seems to have run out of things to say and we had a beautiful 75 degree day.

The Elder is even wearing a sweater! albeit a short-sleeved one.

After our romp at the playground we toodled around the neighborhood and it was truly a perfect way to spend the evening.

I wonder how often these folks head to the bluff at sunset for yoga.

It was beautiful to watch. So peaceful.

Yarn Along

2011-08-09T23:02:00.004-05:00

Yarn Along time again!
It seems appropriate to me that I am reading Giant, since my knitting project is also seeming quite giant right now.

The past few sweaters that I have made for myself have all been seamless, and I forget what it's like having pieces everywhere.

It is nice to have little portable pieces, I have been working on the collar during visits to the dentist this week and last and have made some nice progress there.

Not a lot new to report on the book or the knitting, just working my way through the middle chapters on both.

What are you knitting and reading today?

Perfect Afternoon

2011-08-04T18:00:00.003-05:00

I wish we could spend every afternoon like this.

Their Waxen Thighs

2011-08-03T13:39:00.003-05:00

The honey bags steal from the humble bees,

And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs

And light them at the fiery glow-worms' eyes.

Titania - A Midsummer Night's Dream

Yarn Along

2011-08-02T21:09:00.004-05:00

Hey friends, it's Yarn Along time!

I have been working away at Aeneas.

The back is about 3/4 finished, I had to rip back about 7 inches today because I realized I had been decreasing incorrectly. A little irritating, but not an insurmountable problem. Did I mention how much I like knitting on size 10 needles?

The other day the Elder and I caught Ramona and Beezus on TV. I was such a fan of the Ramona books when I was little that I was reluctant to see the movie, but it was sweet.

The Elder loved it so we decided to start reading some Ramona books together.

Over the years I have lost my copies of the books, so I popped into the bookstore next to my work and picked up a few. I hadn't ever read Beezus and Ramona so we're discovering that together.

I'm also still reading Giant, but only in paragraphs here and there.

What are you knitting and reading lately?

182-212 of 365

2011-08-01T07:32:00.003-05:00

I love spending time with the people I have met while maintaining my little corner of the internet, both virtually and in person, and I thought I would let you all know that as I publish my 700th post.

Thanks for your visits and comments!

This and That

2011-07-30T23:43:00.003-05:00

I've been sweating away here in Saint Paul, without much to say lately.

We've been busy meeting nature where she lives -

going to the park,

the woods,

the zoo

and generally enjoying ourselves.

(Since it was the last day of soccer this week, the parents played a game. Yes, I made a triumphal return to soccer 22 years after my last game in gym class in 8th grade. My skills were just as good now as then, which is to say that I hung out by the goal and cowered whenever I saw the ball coming at my head. Sorry there weren't any photos of that for you out there, loyal readers)

We're deep in the laid-back sleepy days of summer.

I hope you are all enjoying your summers as well.

Yarn Along

2011-07-26T21:44:00.006-05:00

Whew! I had a busy couple of weeks there.

Here it is, Wednesday again, time for another Yarn Along with Ginny.

I just started a new project today, the Aeneas sweater from the new booklet from Norah Gaughan.

When I saw this pattern I knew I had to have it.

I made my first cable sweater about 10 years ago, and it certainly looked like my first cable sweater. It didn't quite fit, there were multiple dye lots, the fronts were knitted in strange pieces, it was kind of a mess.

I ripped out that sweater, washed and dried the yarn and this afternoon I cast on the collar for Aeneas.
The pattern is really lovely, and I can't wait to see how it all works up.

I haven't really been reading lately, but I grabbed my copy of Giant yesterday from the bookshelf, and I am again thoroughly enjoying it.

It feels great to be back here, and knitting.

What are you reading and knitting lately?

Yarn Along

2011-07-12T18:47:00.006-05:00

This week was full of knitting.

I finished Peasy, the buttons are sewn on and now it's sitting, waiting patiently for fall.

I mentioned the other day that I have been watching a lot of tv lately, in the evenings we have been catching up on HBO shows, and I have been doing a lot of knitting all the while.

The blue above is the Mystic Pullover from New England Knits.

It's very satisfying to knit on 10s after a long time on size 4 and 6 needles.

The white is a hat to send along to Ginny (our Yarn Along Hostess). She's collecting hats to send to Japan for tsunami victims. It's not too late to get a hat made and sent off by the Friday deadline! (update: Ginny says that it is too late to send them to her. She wanted the hats by Friday, so if you email her she'll give you another address to send the hats directly to the woman who will be distributing them.)

The book needs no introduction.

I am excited to see the final Harry Potter film this weekend and I wanted to re-immerse myself in that world beforehand.

What are you reading and knitting these days?

Thanks, Mom and Dad

2011-07-12T17:47:00.006-05:00

I bought myself a tripod with my birthday money this year and the Elder has been having no end of fun playing with it.

There's a preview of my Yarn Along post in among these portraits, see if you can spot it tomorrow.

A Symphony of Red

2011-07-09T09:14:00.007-05:00

The past few days have been highlighted by many occurrences of the color red.

These first couple are understandable, we were at the strawberry field, after all.

But as I was looking through the photos from this week there were so many more glimmers of red.

The tow truck that came and helped me with my flat tire

(call me a fancy lady if you must, but we have road-side assistance and I use it when I need to)

This playground that sported a xylophone piano (clearly a favorite with the Elder)

And, yesterday, Dada bought himself a sweet new ride.

Top this all off with the fact that we're catching up on True Blood,

and it's been nothing but red red red all the time around here.

Yarn Along

2011-07-05T21:20:00.004-05:00

This week I have been clicking along on my Peasy, and I finished the knitting tonight.

The next big step is choosing buttons.

I am really happy with it. Just the right shade of green, the lace is delicate without being difficult, the weight of it is just right.

The only downside of finishing it right now is that it's 85 degrees during the day and I won't need to wear it for quite some time.

But, since fall/winter/spring cold weather lasts about 9 months, I shouldn't malign the nice weather while we have it.

I had a recommendation from a friend many months ago that The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was a good read.

When we were at Half Price Books today I saw a copy and scooped it up.

The Elder and I devoured it this afternoon, despite the length, and I openly wept as I read it to her while sitting on our backyard swing.

I am quite sure the neighbors thought I was a little crazy.

This story is filled with loss, love, sadness and joy. The main character is a china rabbit toy who becomes lost and has some great and some difficult adventures.

Some parts of it were on the edge of what I like to expose my children to - a little girl dies, a boy is slapped by his father who drinks - but the whole thing is just so beautiful that I would absolutely recommend it to you out there in Yarn Along land, and it will surely become a favorite in our home.

I don't know what it is about rabbit stories, I seriously had trouble continuing to read this book through the tears and it's the same with The Velveteen Rabbit. Every time I read that one, even though I have known the story since my early childhood, I can't help falling apart when the bunny becomes real at the end.

And so, my soggy installment of Yarn Along comes to an end.

Head on over to Ginny's for more knitting and great books.

35

2011-07-02T20:30:00.004-05:00

Today is my birthday, and I was able to pack as much good stuff into it as possible.

I was awakened in the early morn with a birthday song serenade out my window by my parents who came bearing a giant bouquet.

Then after a little time at work I came home, had a nap, and my hubby and the Elder and Younger and I went out for a little Five Guys and a walk through the park.

We saw trees,

sculpture

walked a labyrinth

and took a paddleboat ride.

The Elder was in charge of avian documentation both through photography

and illustration.

Since I worked today, I didn't have time to make myself a birthday cake, so we hopped on over to the Mississippi Market to pick up some vegan chocolate cake and had our dessert out on the patio. (this photo features the aforementioned giant bouquet)

A pretty great day all around.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend everybody!

151-181

2011-07-01T07:51:00.002-05:00

Yarn Along

2011-06-28T23:15:00.002-05:00

I'm joining Ginny again this week, but I don't have a photo of the books I am reading. Sorry, it's late and there's very little light.

The Elder and I have been reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone the past week or so, but that was supplanted today by Because of Winn-Dixie. That's the selection for this month's Mother/Daughter book club and it came in the mail today.

The Younger and I are still reading How to Train Your Dragon, we only have a couple of chapters left, and then I don't know what we'll read next. Maybe we'll get going on Farmer Boy, that's been on my list for months.

I found my copy of To Kill a Mockingbird this week as well, so I was able to squeeze in a page or two for myself. Such a beautiful book. Harper Lee just pulls you in and makes you know these people.

As for the knitting, I am clicking along on Peasy.

Quite a satisfying knit.

I am always a little wary of knitting a sport weight sweater for myself, even though I know it will be a joy to wear, because I feel like it's going to take forever.

That feeling makes me bring the knitting with me everywhere, and I end up making tremendous progress.

The yarn I am using (Thirteen Mile Sport Weight) has some variation across the dyelot, so I am ending up with less yarn than I thought that matches well. At this point the sweater looks a little short, but I am going to finish the sleeves before I add any more length.

We'll see how the finished product ends up. I think I'll still love wearing it, and the color is really one of my favorites.

It's a lot brighter than in the photo, I have yet to take an accurate photo of the color.

Anyway, what are you knitting and reading lately?

Summer Colors Week

2011-06-28T07:29:00.002-05:00

Pink today, Blue tomorrow.

Summer Colors Week

2011-06-27T07:36:00.003-05:00

Yellow Today Pink Tomorrow

Running the Gauntlet

2011-06-24T08:40:00.003-05:00

Yarn Along

2011-06-21T16:47:00.004-05:00

Joining Ginny again for Yarn Along.

Last week I saw someone else in the Yarn Along reading a book about the wives of Henry VIII and I realized that I had The Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser sitting on my bookshelf, and I hadn't ever finished it.

So, I started it last Wednesday or so and I am almost finished with Catherine of Aragon. It's a great read. I'm really enjoying the glimpse into the lives of these long-dead ladies.

I started a new sweater last week too. This is Peasy by Heidi Kirrmeier (also known as Pipibird).

She also wrote the Vitamin D pattern that I finished up last week.

I love her style. It's so fresh, yet traditional. I have a few more of her patterns on my wish list, and they should both help use up my stash and get me fully outfitted for the fall.

What are you knitting and reading lately?

Strawberries!

2011-06-21T08:09:00.004-05:00

The last two weeks of June and the first two weeks of July are my favorite time of year.

Not only is my birthday, and the birthdays of both of my parents-in-law, during that stretch of time, and the catalpa trees are all a-bloom, it's also Strawberry Time!

It was a little gloomy yesterday morning, the perfect kind of weather to go berry picking.

My friend Nancy and I brought most of our kids and went to my favorite berry field.

We picked for about an hour, and then we said our goodbyes and set off home to process our harvest.

I made some freezer jam, which didn't set up but is still quite delicious. We had it on pancakes this morning and it was a taste sensation.

Since the first batch is more like strawberry sauce, I will just have to go back and pick some more berries and try again.

Happy First Day of Summer!

Early Morning Bike Ride

2011-06-20T06:28:00.003-05:00

I woke with the little birdies singing this morning, and since I couldn't fall back asleep I took a little morning bike ride.

4.123 miles

It was a nice way to start my day.

Grown-Up Week End

2011-06-17T07:22:00.006-05:00

My children are not here.

They are visiting their grandparents at the lake. Fishing, swimming, roasting things and a giant slide are all on the itinerary.

As we, the adults, were not invited, my husband and I have been party-ing like it's 2002.

We went out to two movies last night, with dinner between, a dinner sandwich if you will, and we plan to go out again tonight.

We saw Super 8

and Bridesmaids

So good.

I cried a lot, and now I have a crush on Chris O'Dowd.

There were some bizarre similarities between those movies, beyond their cinematic excellence.

Both had a small role for Michael Hitchcock (some of my favorite moments from A Mighty Wind are of his interaction with Bob Balaban), the name of the town in Super 8 was Lillian and that was also the name of Maya Rudolph's character in Bridesmaids and both featured projectile vomiting (which had me roaring with laughter every time)

Bridesmaids was so real, and so funny.

I used to be kind of a gregarious person in high school. My friends and I would talk and laugh loudly and act foolishly often, in public, and without care, and a little exhibitionism, if the truth be told.

I thought that part of me was buried (or that I was more mature than my 16 year-old self) and maybe it was the margarita I had with dinner, but I was pretty uncontrollable last night. I haven't howled and roared with laughter in a public place like that in some time. (I don't really think it was the margarita, since Brian was just as out of control himself)

But then, balancing the insane hilarity was a tender story line about a woman who loses everything and then tries to reassemble her life.

And Super 8 was just exactly what I had hoped it would be.

Part ET, part The Goonies, all J.J.Abrams.

J. J. Abrams is my new favorite director. All the imagination of George Lucas, with none of his tendency to overpopulate the screen with useless and irritating characters.

The storytelling was lean, the children who acted in this movie were so talented, the suspense worked really well and the payoff was perfect. This movie was exciting, and a little over the top, but just enough to be fun.

When we were dating, Brian and I would go to the movies every Friday, sometimes we'd see more than one in a week if the schedule was promising.

As we grew closer to the birth of The Elder, we realized we were going to have to make some major changes in our leisure time activities and going to the movies was high on the list of things to cut out of our plans.

About a week before she was born we went to 3 movies in one day, since we knew it would be our last time out for a while -

Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World, The Matrix Revolutions and Love, Actually.

We got burned on that movie marathon day. Matrix Revolutions was so bad, I still want those 2 hours back. We should have just stuck to the other two and that day would have been as fun and satisfying as yesterday was.

Sunday it's back to our summertime plans, lots of park time, lots of visiting with friends we only see in the summer, it will be fantastic. I miss the kids, and I miss doing the kids' favorite things.

Until Saturday afternoon, though, the clock has been turned back and we are probably going to go to the movies again tonight! Unless the weather turns around and then maybe we'll have a quiet dinner out.

The possibilities are quite endless.

Have a great Friday

Yarn Along

2011-06-15T07:40:00.005-05:00

Joining Ginny in her Yarn Along.

This week came with good and middling news on the sweater front.

The good news is that I finished my sweater.

The middling news is that I wore it all day yesterday, despite the fact that it is 100% wool, it was the last day of school, and June 14th.

Brrr.

I haven't been reading for myself lately, but I have been reading with the kids. How to Train Your Dragon and Stuart Little.

What struck me most about How to Train Your Dragon is how it is 98% not like the movie.

Only the names are the same.

I understand that there will be some deviation from the source when someone makes a movie, but so very much was different.

The thing is, I love the movie, and we watch it often, so I can't really complain about the choices made.

The kids are out of school, so I will be spending more time than is prudent cruising around to everyone else's Yarn Along posts today.

Ah, Summer.

What are you reading and knitting today?

Last Day of School

2011-06-14T17:37:00.005-05:00

Today was the last day of school for both the Younger and the Elder.

No more pencils, no more books...though you know these ladies never gave anyone a dirty look.

Have a great summer!

Treasure Island

2011-06-13T13:51:00.003-05:00

Last week when my husband went to pick up the Elder from school he saw this -

Someone set the playground at my daughter's school on fire.

A few days later they came back and everything in this photo was burned up in the second fire.

I can't understand the reasoning behind arson at a school, but maybe that's because it's not something that can be understood.

Please visit Give MN if you'd like to donate anything to help us rebuild the playground.

Lego Table

2011-06-12T13:16:00.003-05:00

Longtime readers might remember that I received an awesome gift from Santa for Christmas of 2008. For various reasons it's looked like this since then.

Until today, that is.

I had a couple of good reasons to let my new toy out of its box.

First, my band saw was acting up and second, I had a really fun project to start.

In March there was a series of boy-related projects on Made By Rae called Celebrate the Boy. The one project that most caught my eye was an amazing tutorial for building a Lego table, which you can find here.

I bought the lumber a couple of months ago, but the days have been really rainy, and I had other projects both knitting and sewing related to finish up.

Yesterday I sent the family to the Lego store for our final supplies and this morning the Elder and I whipped this up.

It's basically a frame with feet, and it came together pretty easily (except some bad measuring that I did and then had to fix.)

It still needs painting, and maybe a little more sanding, but the kids are still very excited about it and the Younger is on his way to build right now.

What's on your to do list this weekend?

Giant Blooms.

2011-06-10T15:18:00.002-05:00

In my younger, more foolish days I dug up our peony bush to make room for something else.

I may rectify that bad decision this year.

These came from the farmer's market, and they smell amazing.

This Moment

2011-06-10T08:17:00.001-05:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Visit Amanda for more moments

Big Weekend

2011-06-05T19:22:00.005-05:00

In the past 5 days the members of this family have attended (together and solo) -

1 neighborhood potluck/soccer league meeting,

2 school fun fairs,

1 birthday party,

Grand Old Day

(at which we saw a parade,

a community band,

random musicians

and the kids got to bungee jump)

and an end of year potluck with my Caritas friends.

Super fun, and now I am super tired.

I hope your weekend was fun too!

June!

2011-06-03T08:44:00.002-05:00

It is, in fact, bustin' out all over!

Yarn Along

2011-05-31T21:01:00.006-05:00

It's Yarn Along time again! Ginny has a new arrival at her house, so I don't know if the official Yarn Along is happening, but I am actually knitting and reading so I'll post mine anyway.

I posted about the sweater earlier, but it looks a little different today, since I had to rip out all of the short rows for the body. Somewhere between my drug-addled and illness-addled brain there was not a lot of accurate counting going on.

I have all the correct numbers now, so I should be able to carry on well from here.

The Elder and I have been reading Anne of Green Gables at bedtime. We started it a long time ago, but it went missing (ahem, under her bed, like mother like daughter) so we were reading other things.

This weekend saw the cleaning of the kids' bedroom, however, so we found the book and we picked up right where we left off.

There is magic in this story of simple people in a small town in Canada. The language never fails to enchant me. Lucy Maud Montgomery's descriptions of Avonlea and the surrounding woods and seasides are so vivid. I forever find myself daydreaming about Prince Edward Island and a little cottage near the sea. I hope that the Elder finds as much beauty and joy in Anne's story as I have.

Are you reading or knitting anything fun this week?

121-151 of 365

2011-05-31T07:28:00.001-05:00

Long Weekend

2011-05-31T06:47:00.005-05:00

I had an audition on Thursday, and I felt a little tickle in my throat. I didn't do as well as I would have liked. Friday, the tickle turned into a full-fledged Super-cold and I spent the majority of the weekend nearly passed out on the cozy chair watching movies and knitting.

Did I have to feel this way on the weekend when my husband took off extra days to spend with the family? Of course. Or when we might have finagled a babysitter and gone to the movies together? Guess so.

Oh well. I'm on the mend now, and I should be better by the end of the week if my current progress is any indicator.

On the plus side I didn't have to work, and the pace of the days was perfect. We spent a little time at the playground, I slept, we went as a family to see Kung Fu Panda 2 (much fun), the Elder and I planted veggies in the garden, I took a nap, we sat and watched the world go by, the kids played in the sprinkler, and I knitted. A lot.

As I was browsing through Ravelry the other day I saw this pattern and I just knew it would be perfect for the Thirteen Mile yarn that I had in my stash.

It will be impossible to keep up my knitting pace what with work, and parenting and volunteering at the new church community garden, but I got a monster start on this since Friday, and I have confidence that I will finish it before it's cold enough to use it.

How was your weekend?

Gifts for the Students

2011-05-25T10:07:00.004-05:00

I have been volunteering in my daughter's class (and the class down the hall) since the beginning of the year in a great program called Rocket Readers.

About a dozen parents and grandparents descend on the class once a week for a half-hour, each take a couple of kids and then the kids read to the adults.

My Rocket Readers have made such incredible progress this year, but it's easy to see just how much work it is to teach 1st grade.

These kids are at so many different levels!

Today is the final day, and a party, and I made a bookmark for each kid.

A long time ago, at least a decade, I saw a Good Thing on Martha Stewart's show about embossing velvet ribbon using an iron and rubber stamps.

I am not a stamper, but one of my previous jobs was assembling rubber stamps for a very small independent stamp manufacturing company (when I say very small, I mean it, we worked out of the owner's living room) and I have a small collection of stamps that I liked and kept around.

My favorite designer was Hattie Lace - and I see that you can still order her stamps through Inky Antics which was the business where I worked!

Anyway, if you place the velvet ribbon on top of the rubber stamp

and then iron through the ribbon for about 15 seconds

the stamp will crush the pile and you have an embossed ribbon!

(alright, I know, that's not the same color ribbon, but I was taking kind of erratic photos. I got a phone call in the middle)

Easy-peasy lemon squeezy.

I have a set of alphabet stamps, so I put each kid's name on their bookmark.

The last step was trimming the top and bottom of the ribbon with pinking shears.

A totally easy and fun project that the kids can use for a nice long time.

Yarn Along

2011-05-25T08:17:00.004-05:00

It's Wednesday, so that means it's time for Yarning Along with Ginny!

These books are both finished, The Elder and I are participating in a Mother/Daughter Book Club with some of her classmates and the book this month is Clementine by Sara Pennypacker. We finished it last night, and I was surprised how emotional I got when I was reading it.

Fun story, interesting characters, and well-suited to a first grade reader.

The other book is Cleopatra A Life by Stacy Schiff, which I read when I was on my Mother's Day weekend adventure. I haven't Yarned Along since then, so I thought I'd slip it in here.

Really interesting story.

I'm knitting some sweaters for the Elder, the first one I made I ran out of yarn, so it's a little skimpy, I decided to try it again with different yarn, but she chose almost the identical color.

What are you knitting and reading today?

A-Blossom

2011-05-23T14:49:00.007-05:00

Our favorite climbing tree is in bloom and when we were at the park today I was reminded of these photos of the Elder I took when she was 5.

Today's blossoms weren't as spectacular as two years ago, mostly due to the stormy weather we've been experiencing lately, but the tree was still quite lovely. I was happy to have my camera along so I could take some photos of the Younger at the same age as his sister in the same tree.

That sweet filtered light is one of my favorite things about spring.

Lovely Day

2011-05-18T15:10:00.005-05:00

Well, we certainly have had our ups and downs weather-wise this year, but today and the last couple of days have been perfect.

Something about the colors in the sky and trees makes me want to take this photo every day.

Something about the smell of the air and the feel of the grass beneath my feet keeps this song running through my head.

I don't know how anything else can compare with mid-May in Minnesota.