snapshots, sweaters, sisters

My new camera was waiting for me when I got home. My only complaint is how long it takes to snap the picture. I took it out of the box Friday, but really didn't play with it until Saturday. B and I had fun with the watercolors, so I had to take some pics of our work. Here he is contemplating his next move.

I can't help it, we sit and paint for a while and then it devolves into him trying to ge my arm and me making him even more cute.

I must admit not too much success on the potty front, as many pull-up changes as peeing on the potty. But, I did learn one thing, if he says "i hafta go bafroom," just take him. Don't ask for confirmation, because then he'll deny and I'll be changing a wet pull-up. Just go, no questions asked.

CeCe is done. She had a bath yesterday at naptime and is currently drying on the blocking board. She's 10" from underarm to waistline. I hope that's enough for M-i-L; it wouldn't be enough for me, but she's much thinner. I hope she likes it. M-i-L does so much for us, I love giving her the handknits. I don't know if she knows how much I appreciate her. I'll have to tell her, won't I?

I did the math and cast on 116 stitches for my sister's birthday present. I'm not sure if she's still occasionally checking in, but since she decided the party shouldn't be a surprise, I guess her gift doesn't have to be either. Although she probably has some idea since I needed her leg measurements.
She's coming down the 10th. Not sure if her husband or our other sister is coming with her. But, we'll have fun anyway!

Nearly forgot to mention that my ear cleared up last night and I'm nearly back to normal, finally. It's so nice to not be able to hear myself so much when I talk.

potty time

Thanks, as always, for your support Amy and Thora. It helps to hear from moms in the trenches, or recently so.

B had a really bad day with the potty at school yesterday. He went through two pairs of shorts and a pair of pants and needed to be changed when I picked him up. Hubby and I talked to B a lot about the potty last night and how he shouldn't be peeing in his pull-ups and needed to really try to pee on the potty everytime (Hubby even pulled out the "unacceptable" word). B seemed to get it and peed on the potty last night before bed. Three times. Seriously, pee came out three times right before bed. I was getting irritated thinking that hewas just trying to put off going to bed, what with the lenghty sitting on the potty and the thorough hand washing, but he did do something each time. And he was dry this morning when he woke up and peed on the potty.

Hubby spoke with the "teacher" this morning who said that yesterday was out of the norm for B (apparently he was still using the potty a bit at school) and suggested we keep an eye out for a possible UTI. Duly noted. They're going to call me if he's having a lot of accidents today and if so, we'll take him in for a urine check tomorrow.

The joys of motherhood. When did my knitting blog become about pottying?

In other news, I was really freaked out to get a voicemail from polaroid about the camera I sent in last month. I was stressed that they were going to want more than the original fee I paid for the non-warranty repair (I dropped it, I violated the warranty). Nope, they called because they can't fix the m635, so they're sending me a t737 Chocolate. I should have it next week. I'm getting one more megapixel and a bigger LCD screen. And it's cuter.

God as my witness, I am not breaking this one. As much as I paid to ship the other one and the off warranty repair, I'm getting a bargain, but not when you add what Hubby paid lat summer for the original one. Of course, the $99 kodak still works (even though I have to tape the battery door closed).

As for CeCe, I bound off last night. I just need to finish the ribbing for the neckline, sew the sleeves to the body at the bind offs, weave in a few ends, and she'll be taking her bath, ready to grow, I hope.

Billy says, Happy Flag Day

Mr. B. seems to be backsliding a bit on the potty at home (everyone at school yesterday told Daddy how great he's doing). Methinks his mom needs to ratchet back up the enthusiasm for multiple trips upstairs at home. But, he was very excited to hear that today was Flag Day and insisted on bringing a flag in the car with him.

Here's a tease of the back of bounce. I just realized I missed that partial ball up there. I'm into the third row on the front. We're knitting at lunch so hopefully, I can get the front done today.

My Polaroid still takes pictures, if I use the AF beam to aim. However, it's not fool proof (all the pics I took of Bounce cut off the right side) and I can't adjust any of the settings. But, it's better than nothing until Mom returns my Kodak. I did talk to Polaroid yesterday and it's $80 to get the Polaroid fixed. I'll be sending it out this weekend, after I get paid.

Please do note that if you've knitted scarves for the Red Scarf Project, this year's deadline is in October. The Orphan Foundation will begin accepting scarves September 1 and ask that all scarves be delivered by October 15. They're aiming to send the kids the packages in early winter when a scarf is more useful. They do ask that each knitter send no more than five. I cast on for my first one last night. It's in Patons Classic Merino Red and Filatura di Crosa 501 Tweed in black and white. Pretty nifty looking and perfect for June/July project spectrum (although, it's missing metallics).

Eight Random Things

Amy Lane tagged me a few days ago. So, here are eight random things. I'd tag but I think everyone's been tagged already.

1. I like maple syrup on vanilla ice cream. Heck, I just like maple syrup. I used to sneak into my Meme’s fridge and steal tastes of her maple butter. We got through almost a gallon of real syrup a year. Good thing my great-uncle has a sugaring business.

2. I can’t wear a heel higher than 1 ½ inch, and those are really uncomfortable. I have a bone spur at the base of my right big toe and it hurts like the dickens if I push that toe too far back.

3. I also have bone spurs in my heels (years of orthotic inserts calmed the feets) and one in my left shoulder (that one can cause wicked pain in my neck).

4. Speaking of toes, I can use mine to pick things up. My sisters always gave me a hard time about having long toes (nearly 2”), but they’re useful! I wonder if I could learn to knit with my feet. Twice the production!

5. I have a very dry sense of humor. So dry, hubby never gets it when I’m trying to be funny. I can’t help it; my mother raised me on wicked sarcasm

6. I was the first person in my family to get a bachelor’s degree. Neither of my grandfathers went to high school. Now, my baby cousin whose diapers I changed is graduating from college this month.

7. My dad used to call me pooker when I was a kid. I’ve got no idea where it came from. But, his is a great family for nicknames. My youngest sister is nicknamed Fur (known to Billy as his beloved AAAAANNNNT FUUUUUURRRR), and he’s got brothers nicknamed Tup, Gub, and Turk. No one really calls me by a nickname anymore. Netter was my nickname in college. I’m not telling you what Hubby calls me.

8. I like it when my husband goes out with friends for an evening here or there. Then I get the big screen tv and usually splurge with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Of course, I wind up cursing him to no end if the dog and the boy act up.

In knitting news, Drab is drying. I finished the second cuff and wove in the ends during TPIR and Criminal Minds. She took a nice long soak during LOST and I pinned her out before I went to bed. She was still pretty darn wet when I got up this morning. I hope to have pics for you tomorrow. Not sure when the buttons will get here and be attached.

As for Serrano, I did complete the hem last night (something about taking 2 hours to get home led to productivity, downed powerlines on the GSP will do it every time). But, I have a gripe. If, as a designer, you tell me to just repeat the pattern around, shouldn't it work out to even repeats? If not, shouldn't you give me some idea of what to do with the extra six stitches? I'll be ripping the first row out again. I've figured out on my own what to do with the stitches that don't if into the 23 repeats of the 11 stitch pattern. Took me a while, but I did it. I took some pics this morning of the turned hem and they look like crap. I really need to get my polaroid fixed.

Before I forget, let me tell you what cutie boy did yesterday morning. I was lying on the couch waiting for Hubby to get ready to go out the door and Billy covered me with a blanket and sang rock a bye baby to me. Then he yelled that it was time to wake up and get into the big red truck.

bummer

I was standing on the subway platform last night, futzing with my knitting bag inside my larger tote, and my camera fell out. It landed screen-side down on the cement platform. The LCD is cracked and not working. I'm going to have to send it away again.

Sometimes it seems like I can't keep anything nice.

And if my work e-mail doesn't start working, my head's going to explode.

I'm past the elbow on the first sleeve of drab. It's taking longer than I'd like. Mainly because it's a pain having to move the whole sweater around. I don't think I'll be able to wear it to work this week, but I will have it finished.

Why is a conference call with an agenda of 3 points taking more than an hour?

weekend plans

I didn't knit much after I got home yesterday. My evening was spent finally putting the zipper in Dad's Kirk. I'll try to get a pic of him in it to post. We're heading up to VT tomorrow and staying through Tuesday. Crazy, right? Fortunately where Mom and Dad are, they only got 15" of snow, whereas a lot of the Champlain Valley got 2 feet and where my grandfather lives (about 30 mi east), they're registering 30". Yesterday, they had a forecasted high of 5° farenheit. Fortunately, they know how to handle snow up there so all the roads will be cleared by the time we get there tomorrow. (Although, hubby wouldn't mind the opportunity to use the 4WD on the H3.)

I'm very excited to see my family. The one regret of my life is that VT and NJ are so far a part. I can't wait to tell Billy in the morning that we're going to go see his Nanny and Grampy. That we're going to Nanny's house. I haven't told him yet because he'll ask nonstop about going to Nanny's house.

I've got knitting at lunch today, so I hope to hit the armhole shaping on the front of Hubby's Green Aran (only about 10 rows to go). I'm still planning to have the front finished before we come back. I'll have 2 weeks to knit the sleeves. I can't remember if I started the armhole shaping at row 7 of repeat 4 or later in the repeat. I forgot the back at home (it's too large to carry both pieces all the time) and Molly chewed up my original notes. Oh well, if I get to row 7 today before I get home, I'll just put it aside and cast on the sleeves.

I don't know if I'll have much time after B goes to bed to work on the aran tonight, though. I need to pack for the weekend and part of me thinks I should do a load of laundry, too. I have to remember to pack the full array of DVDs for the 6 hr ride up. Oh, and we should bring B's favorite board games. I think he'd be bereft if he had to go four days without CandyLand.

We had a better morning this morning. He still didn't want to put on a coat, but there was less carrying on in general.

Polaroid rocks. They sent me a new camera. They determined the old one was defective. Woot! I'm so happy to have it back. I told Hubby again it was great he was able to find the receipt.

If the light is good when we get back Tuesday, I'll take a pic of the sock yarn I dyed. And I'll post it for you.

Red Scarves 07

My 5 scarves for Red Scarf Project 07 are wrapped up, in a box, and ready to be shipped out at lunch time.

Here we have Lumberjack to whom you've already been introduced and his buddy Moss Stitch (or is it double seed?) in Lang Live. The color's merlot.

The two on the left are my Austermann Melody scarves (Accordian, alternating rows of garter with stockinette, and Dreamweaver, basketweave of course). Color here is wild cherry. And last is my favorite scarf, although she's a curly one. Spiral rib from the 365 stitches calendar in Patons Classic, Really Red. I love the look of this rib when it's blocked way out and nearly flat. It's a nice drapey fabric in this gauge and yarn. I think I want a jacket in it.

Billy was a pill again this morning. I had to dress him in his crib. Then he had to lie down in our bed for a while and again refused a coat. Fortunately, it wasn't as cold this morning and Hubby'd warned up the car, so 10 minutes late, I hustled him out in his Piderman sweatshirt and Yankee knit hat. Yes, we caved. What else are you going to do on deadline?

Hubby wants to get out even earlier tomorrow. With my not being home till after 9 pm, he needs to leave work early to pick up B. I'm thinking B needs to go to bed way earlier and I need to start the wake-up process earlier.

I'd always liked to let him sleep in until as late as possible, but I need more time if he's going to be this difficult.

In happy news, I received my Kodak back from my sister and I find if I change the size on the pics when uploading, blogger actually posts them! Two seems to be the limit, though.

Snow can be a good thing

When used to distract your toddler so that Mommy can apply a weather-appropriate coat, snow is a good thing. B just stood at the storm door watching the snow and didn't even flinch when I put an actual coat on him. Yay snow!

Again, the kid is expressing his non-conformist attitude. Today is pajama and teddy bear day at daycare. B wanted real clothes (he actually picked a matching outfit, well, except for the red stripey socks) and yelled at Daddy "No pence bear." (Spencer is the bear's name, he can't quite say it.)

Hubby, in his Republican conformity, is all concerned that B isn't following along with the "fun." Me, I take perverse pleasure in it. Especially since his knowing his own mind this morning wasn't taking any skin off my back!

In good news, Hubby found the receipt for my Polaroid. I'm shipping it back for repairs tomorrow and hopefully it will all be covered under warranty!

I've fallen behind on Bounce. I can't remember the row count, but I still hope to have the front done this weekend. I did reach the armhole bind-offs so the rows are 12 stitches shorter.

I finished my last Red Scarf on the way home last night. I have 2 completely finished, 1 to fringe, and 2 to wash and block. I hope to mail them out tomorrow or Monday.

my polaroid

I went up to the polaroid repair place today. They don't service my model (maybe the digitals at all). I have to send it away. But, it will be worth it. Hubby did a great job picking it out for me.

I loaned my crappy old Kodak to my sis on her honeymoon (they'd forgotten one). She's mailing it back to me. I should be able to post pics soon.

We may have pics again, one of these days.

sneak peek

No, my camera is still not working. I was going to finally take it in today, but I'm at home waiting for an appliance repair guy. Our 6 year-old dishwasher started spilling water all over the floor last night. Fortunately, the cancel and drain button works. Appointment is for between 8 and noon. Almost 9, no call, yet. (Just called, I'm next.)

I do, however, have a sneak peek of the back of Bounce for you. I met my goal and finished the back Sunday night right before bed. No, I haven't woven in the ends yet. So just now, I was sitting here catching up on the blogs this morning and working on the ribbing for the front and realized I could scan the back to show you. You can see that there a places that need a little tweaking, but over all I'm happy with it.

Now, to go work on the front. I barely touched it yesterday and I'm a day behind. Maybe, I'll be able to get through two rows of balls today.

new addiction

So, I've replaced yarn shopping on eBay with button shopping. MMM, vintage-y buttons with the added excitement of someone trying to take them away from me. I'll share the finds when I have them in my hot little hands.

I should really, really close that account.

I'm also kicking myself for browsing over at zappos.com. Three pairs of shoes heading my way (note I chose the under $39.99 option). Granted, I do need new work shoes that aren't open-toe. I went a little crazy last spring on the warm-weather shoes, but just because it's balmy up here (70 on Saturday), I'm not breaking out my sandals.

Still waiting for the repair estimate on my camera. I do not understand business that are so busy they don't want more work.

I've also ordered a zipper for Dad's Kirk and some t-pins for blocking in the future.

I've got six scarves blocking away right now. Four are for the Red Scarf project. One will need to be lengthened a bit and then they'll be shipped out. I upped last year's contribution by 400%. Next year, I hope to have at least 6 to send. The other one is b-i-l's belated birthday scarf and the one I don't think I can part with. We'll see.

Me + electronic devices = disaster

Gee, blogging is boring without pictures. My camera won't even turn on for me. Guess I tried to finesse the lens a bit too much. I've sent an estimate request to the Polaroid repair people here in Manhattan. I'm hoping the camera is still under warranty, but I don't have the receipt and I'm not sure I registered it. I do still have the box and the serial number. It's only been mine for four months, but I love it so. I feel I've lost an appendage.

I'm having horrible luck with electronics lately.

My Dell DJ's been a royal pain for a while now. Not holding a charge for more than a day.

Our Dell all-in-one printer is on the fritz after I ordered and loaded the wrong style ink cartidges. Let's not discuss the hours I spent trying to get the carriage to move with the lid slightly ajar or the joy that is getting the encoder strip back in place. It refuses to recognize the brand new color cartridge at all and is mis-reading the ink level on the new black one. I'm going to try a few more things and if they don't work, I'll order a new one. In the two years we've had this machine prices have come down considerably. It's only $60 more to get a new one than to talk to a Dell service rep about this one that's off warranty.

Then there's our Sony DVD Handycam. We've had it three years, and like all new parents, we've stopped taping our son's every move. (Mostly because I had run out of blank DVDs.) Now, we have blank DVDs, just in time for the holidays, but the picture is all screwed up. I tried to tape B's holiday pageant a few weeks ago and got lots of weird feedback from the lights. There was flashing and streaking. I had a dim hope it was just the arc lights in the gymnasium. It's happened since under other artificial lights as well. Gave a neat appearance to our Christmas tree and the candles on my dad's birthday cake. I'm going to try a new DVD and then rip my hair out if it doesn't work!

B's still cute. I didn't have to put him to bed last night, so I could appreciate him more this morning. Hubby and I watched the Devils lose to the Rangers in an eight round shoot-out. I hate the shoot-out. Just keep playing overtime if you don't want ties.

In exciting regional news, the main road through town was shutdown with a water main break this morning, right in front of the train station. I knew something was up when I heard helicopters overhead when I woke up. It made for a slightly longer bus ride in (we had to loop around the block). Haven't heard if the water at my place is potable. We did have enough pressure for showers this morning.