Wear Red

Want a great way to kick off Project Spectrum this year? Wear Red on February 1. You'll help raise awareness that heart disease is the number 1 killer of women in America. I'm going to be kicking around at home getting ready for my parents' visit this weekend (B turns 4 on Saturday), but I'll still wear red.

I love PS's format this year. The first two months are my favorite, of course.

Beloved Rabbie

Today is Robbie Burns's birthday. Rabbie is how it sounds in a nice warm, Scottish burr. Rabbie is the poet of Scotland. He wrote in the vernacular and captured a lot of folk tunes and poems (Auld Lang Syne being one example). He wrote on the early cusp of the Romantic era. He was sort of a contemporary of William Blake. He was a rake and poor and tried very hard to live his ideal of the Scots farmer. Like Wordsworth, he tried to work as a taxman, but was unsuccessful at that as well. He was dissolute and died young. However, his celebration of all that is Scots, from the cuisine through the history, lives on.

The Banks of Doon is one of my favorites. He published it in many different versions. The one I studied starts, "Ye banks and braes o bonny doon/how can ya bloom so fresh and fair". I prefer it to this one, mainly because of the first line.

I also like To a Mouse, just for the line, wee sleekit beastie.

I cannot read his poems aloud in my own dialect. I have to try to slip into a burr, just to do it justice. Of course, to talk in my native dialect, I'd have to slip my hick on.

Tomorrow, we go to the annual Burns dinner at Argyle Fish and Chips (home to the Piper's Cove, made famous by Mike Myers on SNL). They'll have Highland dancers, pipers, and an actor to do the traditional recitations. We'll have haggis and fish and chips and I'll be bringing my son, wee Angus (what, it is his middle name) closer to his heritage.

I envy my husband his Scottish family history. My family's been where they are for so long, NW Vermont is my heritage for the most part. The fact that we could walk in the town where his grandfather was born, on a different continent, was special. That and being able to justify a bagpiper at my wedding.

Hopefully, the sweater will be done in time. I'm on increase 22. It's going down to the wire.

a matter of pride

I haven't bought any yarn since sometime in December (I do not count the manos from earlier this month, that was a gift). I haven't bought any fabric since the end of December. I'm not on a stash diet (although, I did tell myself no more fabric until I at least get my sewing machine working again). But, now that I've gone nearly four weeks wihout stashing, not buying more yarn is a matter of pride. I can think of some holes in my stash that I'd like to fill (not enough green yarn). I've seen some beautiful stuff that I'd love to own. But, right now, I'm able to resist. And I'm proud of that. Self-discipline's a good thing. So's self-indulgence, but I'm leaning toward discipline right now.

I'll probably fall off the wagon tomorrow. I usually do.

Hubby's sweater's not finished. Robby Burns Day is tomorrow. We're going to a Robby Burns Dinner on Saturday. He really wanted to be able to wear the sweater to dinner. I was so close. I had one sleeve completely seamed up last week and had him try it on and it was too small. So I extended the armholes some more. Then the neckline was too deep. So I ripped out below the neckline on the front and back and re-knitted them. Sleeve one was ripped down to the forearm and re-knit to be wider and is done. Sleeve two has been ripped and a few of the 24 increases have been done. My goal is to finish knitting the sleeve on the way home tomorrow (which means I have to have at least 20 of the increases done before bed tonight) so that re-seaming can commmence. That gives me tomorrow night and Saturday's nap to seam it. Hubby may be putting it on with ends not woven in as we walk into Argyle Fish and Chips on Saturday.

My kid is now out of his crib. Over Christmas, MiL and FiL handed me a flyer and asked if we would like a captain's bed with a bookcase in the head board. I said sure and went back to my champagne. I didn't really think about it again until MiL called Saturday to tell Hubby the bed would be delivered yesterday. So, Monday, I cleaned out Billy's room (we put lots of linens and baby stuff in storage) and tore down his crib. He slept on a fold out chair for the next two days. Then MiL was at our house for delivery yesterday. Whoopsie! I think we should have thought out the shopping a bit more. The bed didn't fit. You couldn't walk between it and the dresser.

We live in a 1920s dutch colonial. This means gables (I think they're called gables) in the bedrooms. It means B's bedroom is 10x10 with a gable and the largest closet in the house (it contains the chimney, too. It means two windows and a large radiator. Limited options. So there was much stressing until we got home and figured it out. Fortunately, I think critically and solve problems for a living (andn apparently with my hobby) and got us to a workable solution.

B's in 7th heaven. He loves it.

knit spotted in the wild

Here's a pic of my mom and B from our last visit to VT. As you can see, Mom actually wears her handknits. This is Freya in the wild. Mom likes her very much and claims to wear her a lot even when I'm not there. B loves his Nanny because she'll rough-house with him. He looks like he's trying to get away, but that's just so she'll squeeze harder.

Five Years

Today is my five year blogiversary. I never thought I'd last this long. Posting's become pretty spotty lately, but I'm not going anywhere. If I've kept it up for this long, I'm going to keep going.

Thanks for being here, listening to me, and sharing with me.

I had wanted to do something special for today, but life and work have been getting in the way. I will post the shopping I did the other day. I think a little Manos is a nice blogiversary treat!

I'm thinking of being a bad girl at lunch today. I've got a gift certificate to Purl that's been burning a hole in my pocket since October (it was a belated birthday gift). I'm thinking I'll buy some Manos to make a vest (kind of like this one of Ruth's, but I'm thinking garter stitch with those super wrappy rows, like CAP's orange scarf). Just a thought. Also, since I'd be out, I'd have an excuse to buy something for lunch and not eat the frozen lunch I have no interest in. Yes, I know it's much healthier and more frugal to eat the frozen lunch. I don't care. I'm a bad girl.

In other news, seaming avoidance has caught the Husband's attention. I was crocheting away on my little bag when he asked "shouldn't you be seaming my sweater." And I said "No, I've got plenty of time." They he asked if I would be able to get it done in time for next Sunday (1/20) when he's going to be Lay Leader at church. I said, sure. Really, if I put my mind to it, I could probably have it done for this Sunday, but he's just going to be sitting in a pew while I'm in my puke gold choir robe, so he wouldn't really be able to show it off anyway. I've been wanting to double-check a couple of things before I start. No since having bad seaming ruing the sweater.

Here's where I am with the bag. One panel and the strap done. Panel two started. I'm still not 100% sure about construction. I don't know if I want to put pieces between the panels or just go with a tote-style shape. I should have plenty of yarn if I want to do side and bottom panels. Decisions, decisions.

back to hooking

Over a year ago, I was going to crochet a felted bag. I didn't get terribly far. But, I did purchase some additional yarn in case I ever got re-started. I did the other night. I was thinking of doing a large circle or square for each side piece, but the color repeats are too short. I'm really liking this and can't wait to see what the colors do when I felt the pieces. I think I'm going to crochet them all together before I put it in the washer. I'd be a lot further along if I hadn't re-started last night with a different hook (same size, but slightly larger barrel giving me looser stitches) and if I hadn't been reading so much lately (I've got a bit of a crush on Jack Reacher from Lee Child's series).

Over the phone yesterday, a colleague asked what I was working on, so I told her about Hubby's sweater. She works in our Totowa office, so isn't here for knitting lunches. I brought in the body pieces to show her (she's got meetings here today) and figured I should post a pic for you all, too. Soon, I'll put the sleeves in.

bad new years suggestion

I've been passing this magazine on news stands since I've been back to work, and I'm not sure who the woman is on the left, but I've got to wonder why in hell we're supposed to be idolizing her pre-pubescent body. I really don't want to snark too much on someone's physical appearance, but she's completely flat. Did they photoshop out her bosom so that the W would fit? Believe me, I get wanting to be skinny. I've come to accept the fact that I'll never be thin again and I'm not going to say that women shouldn't be thin and people shouldn't try to be healthier, fitter, and leaner, but should we be promoting a physical form that denies puberty? Will we be celebrating her breast augmentation in two weeks?

Okay, done with that. It's been bothering me for a week. I had to get it out.

In other news, I've gotten serious striping at this gauge in plain stockinette. I'm going to try something else. I've got Sensational Knitted Socks and Knitting Vintage Socks with me. I will find a pattern that works at this gauge in my foot size!

In other, other knitting news. Hubby's St Andrew's sweater has a neckline. Seaming to commence. (I've decided to not block the sweater in pieces. I'm not sure it would do much for me in 100% cotton.)

Finally, I'm a complete and utter idiot. I entreat you, if you have the slightest inkling you might be leaving your house without your keys, check before you get on the train and can't retrieve them! I had to wait a half-hour between connections this morning for Hubby to catch up with me so I could borrow his keys for B pick-up this evening. I swear, I'm a tool.

Three week whoopsie!

I've been working on this Monkey for about three weeks. I kitchenered the toe this morning. Couple of problems my gauge is way off (8.5 per inch as opposed to the 8 called for) so the sock is too narrow even for the pattern (which would still be too narrow for me). It is also way too long in the foot. I don't know what I was doing, thinking I needed an 11" sock, but my foot's not even 10" long!

So, even though I love the way the colors worked out, this incarnation is not going to last. I'm thinking I might try a sock similar to what the trekking socks I just finished. I'll start it on the way home and see how the colors work out.

Did I ever mention that my son has three cavities? I see I didn't even mention our appointment last month. He did great with the counting and the cleaning and everything. We were so proud of how he reacted. B now has three fillings. I had deep, deep shame, thinking that my poor brushing means the tooth fairy will be taking three amalgamated teeth in a couple of years, but the dentist pointed out that some people have natural pits in their teeth that become cavities, even though B's been on flouride since infancy. The kid was a champ in the chair this weekend. I guess the cavities were shallow, so no pain, but he just sat and cooperated and was great! If only naptime went as well this weekend.

Happy New Year

Sometime this week, I'd like to round up my 2007 FOs. Dad's sweater counts, but I never took a picture of it!

This year, I want to knit more, exercise more, eat healthier, and spend less. But, if all I manage is to be a loving mom and wife, the year will be a success.

I cannot believe my baby will be four a month from tomorrow. Party planning to commence. Mom and Dad are planning to come down, I'm very excited. Even though Dad may have to be drugged into a stupor to make the trip.

Happy and Healthy 2008 to you and yours!

last picture of these, I promise

Here are my happy little picot socks being worn. I think this might be my go-to sock pattern for some time to come. They fit great and are super cute (if I do say so myself). I think next pair, I'll do an in-place afterthought heel. It will be a lot easier than doing the three loop gusset and I don't know enough about short row heels to make one that looks right.

So the details: Trekking XXL #144 on Addi US 1s with magic loop. I cast on 72 stitches, did a five-row picot hem and knit to what seemed the right lengths. Can't wait to see how they hold up in the wash.

Dad's birthday sweater's been drying for 3 days. I still need a zipper, but may stop at Joann's by them tomorrow and install in VT. (Not much else to do sitting around Meme's house after B goes to bed.) I plan to bring Hubby's sweater for knitting in the truck, oh and a little pair of socks.

I switched to the Addis earlier this week after finishing the Happy picots. The Bates US1 I was using was killing my hands. I hope these block out way wider, or I'm not going to be able to wear them. I am so happy with the way the colors are working out this time, though, so I'm going to finish them even if I can't wear them.

Dragon Attack!

I never FO'd these socks. The second one's been sitting around waiting to be blocked for weeks and weeks. I love these socks. The only problem, they were knit at a really loose gauge (to fit my wide ankles without having to tweak the pattern) and will probably wear out quickly. They're knit in Koigu on Knitpicks US3 circs in magic loop and the pattern's from the Keyboard Biologist. I wore them to work yesterday and love, love, love them.

Thor, you really do need to learn to knit socks.

Republic knock-off and a sock FO

Does anyone remember the Republic hat by Nik? I really liked it but thought I'd like vertical garter stitch instead. Well, one rapidly dwindling ball of De Vie Butterfly later and a hat and scarf set were born.


The ball was rapidly dwindling because I knit the too skinny and almost too long scarf first, from the first two balls (not sure how many I had, but it was less than one when I started the hat). The pic doesn't do the yarn justice. What looks brown should be way more orange and pink.


Of course, the person to whom I am giving the hat and scarf, a recent transplant to Connecticut from Texas, is stuck in CT and not making it in to NYC for our lunch appointment. No big. I can replace the button before I see her after the new year. I hope she likes it. I think it will look nice with her blondeness. I knit the scarf a long time ago and started the hat. I didn't like the first incarnation, but with a deadline approaching and a recipient decided, I finished it over the weekend. I sewed the button on during my commute in this morning.

Also, this weekend, I finished my happy little picot socks.

I'll get a modeled shot Thursday when I wear them in for knitting. I love, love, love them. They're knit in Trekking XXL color 144 on US addi 1s using magic loop. I cast on 72 stitches and just knit to my feet. I can't wait to wear them.

Even hubby likes them, not for himself, you know, but for Me or B. I have lots of yarn leftover. I might see if I can get a pair for B out of the leftovers. I think he'd like them.

Dad's birthday sweater is nearly done. I've got just the ribbing on the neckline and joining the underarm stitches. Then, I have to find a zipper. I promise to post a pic eventually!

Christmas Meme

I've got to post something this week, right? Here's a Christmas Meme I got over at Dr. Girlfriend Knits.

Christmas Meme
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Cheap wrapping paper with occasional bags. I'm entertaining the crazy thought of buying lots of on-sale Christmas fabric after the holiday and sewing up an assortment of re-useable bags
2. Real or artificial tree? Fake with the lights already on it!
3. When do you put up the tree? Back before we travelled for Thanksgiving, we'd do it that Saturday, but now it's earliest Saturday in December that we get in gear.
4. When do you take it down? First Saturday after Twelfth Night.
5. Do you like eggnog? I love eggnog. I never get to have it though. I can't justify buying it just for me, it's too fatty.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? The year I got my own stereo was cool.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yep, small one on the mantle near the stockings. I laughed at myself for putting the Christ back in Christmas. Seriously, though. I don't know why a protestant family has a life-like nativity.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Hubby. I don't know why. I do have a plan this year.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Billy. He's not quite 4. He and the dog would be happy with empty boxes wrapped in shiny paper.
10. Worst Christmas present you ever got? Really cheap pantyhose from my mom's parents. I'm not kidding! They threw in an awful, cheap pink plastic necklace and earrings.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? None this year. I've fallen out of the habit.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Used to be Black Friday. We did buy a few gifts this year, but I have yet to start the bulk of it.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably, but I can't remember for sure.
15. Favorite thing to eat on Christmas? Anything with chocolate.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? We have white, but I'd rather have colored. Hubby and I debate what makes a display Coney Island. For him colors and blinking, for me you can't get gaudy enough.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Carol of the Bells.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We stay home since the B came along. We do breakfasts and gifts at home and then mosey up to the in-laws for gifts and dinner.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeer? Yep, thanks to the intro to Rudolph... Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comit, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph!
20. Angel or star on top of tree? An angel. My mother's mother made a ton of beaded ornaments and everyone's got a clear angel about 5" tall. She sits on our tree top.
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? We'll be opening with my parents the Saturday before, but nothing at home will be opened before morning. Heck, I'll be wrapping that night after B goes to bed.
22. Most annoying thing this time of year? Got to go with Kim on the commercials. No one buys cars for Christmas, do they? And the jewelry ones. I like the jewelry hubby gives me, but other gifts would be just as great.
23. Do you decorate your tree in any theme or color? Not really. We've got a mish-mash of stuff.
24. What do you leave for Santa? We've never done it before, but since B is older this year and gets Santa, we'll leave cookies.

a sock and a hem

I've completed the hem on sock two.

I'll try to get pics of something other than these socks this weekend. I bound off the armholes on Dad's sweater last night and cast on for sleeve one.

Hubby and I plan to get the tree up tomorrow. Maybe some the tree and some Christmas music will get me in the spirit.

stupid blogger

Here's an outdated pic of a nearly finished sock. I was having problems posting it before (hence the post title). I kitchenered the toe at lunch.

Dad's sweater is 14" long. Couple more and I'll be starting the sleeves.

Haven't touched Hubby's St. Andrew's sweater since the weekend.

Still haven't done anything for the holidays. But, choir is singing again on Sunday.

how to beat away the blahs

Cast on a new project! I don't have pictures of it, but I got about 3" completed on my Dad's birthday sweater. I'm knitting him a very simple zipped cardigan out of Rowan Plaid. Since he thought the yarn was so nice in Mom's Freya. It's just gray and white, so kind of dull, but it's nice to have the ribbing done. I'm knitting it in one piece from the bottom up. My goal is to have the body done to the armhole bindoffs this week, the sleeves to the bind off next week, and joining it all the following week. Ideally, it would be all done and left with him on the 23rd, but since his birthday's not until the 29th, I could work on it during my Christmas Vacation and just mail it up to him the 27th or so.

The work blahs got forceably beaten away by annihilating my to do list. I was beginning to thinkI I'd have to eliminate blogging (reading more so than posting) in order to get done what needs be done by the 20th. However, I've completed what I can and now I need people to get back to me. Do not mention the 250+ invoicse I need to complete later this week, they will not be named until Thursday.

In other happy news, I still have my happy picots sock.

Mondays suck

Same old work crap, but I did realize that I don't have to re-knit Hubby's whole St Andrew's sweater to fix too tight armholes. I can just add an inch to both front and back.

Finally, Friday

So, Hubby's home with B this morning. When B first woke up, he said he'd poked his eye. It was goopy and pink and he wouldn't open it for a long time. So in the less than 30 minutes I had to make the decision, I decided to keep him home in case it's pink eye (which in the world of group daycare is as bad as gastrointestinal problems when it comes to forcing kids out). Since I had a conference call at 9 and an important appointment at 3, Hubby volunteered to take him to the doctor. Of course, now the eye's not looking so pink, but B has whomped Hubby on all the board games, watched Bob the Builder 8 times, and at last check in was playing drums along with Bruce and the E Street band. Doctor's appointment is at 2, so I'll know sometime later today if I pulled the trigger too quickly.

This is the first full day Hubby's been home alone with the kid. Even if I did overreact, I think it's probably going to work out well.

As for me, my conference call was with an impossible person, but my day's been improving. I'm going out for lunch with a colleague to catch up and my happy picots sock is moving along.

I have to admit I was a bit stumped. I decided to knit a heel flap and gusset, but didn't realize until I was done the flap that a gusset might be difficult to knit with the magic loop method. But, an additional loop's gotten the job done!

I should be working on the instep on the commute home tonight.

I'm having difficulties with Hubby's sweater. I thought I had finished the front last night and ripped out the neckline on the back, when I realized that I hadn't decreased enough on the front! Whoopsie. I'm going to see if the accidental front neckline will work. It'll be easier to adjust the back to fit than re-do the front!

Busy weekend, tomorrow, we're going to an indoor soccer game with the in-laws and B. Sunday, we're the family at church. Hubby's ushering and serving communion AND we're lighting the first candle on the advent wreath. Good thing we've got four wheel drive. We can't miss church Sunday if the "winter weather event" they've been hyping turns out to be worse than a coating.

why isn't it time to go home yet?

I feel like this has been a very long day. I feel like I've been having the same conversations over and over and over again for the last few months. I feel like people here just love to pile it on and never, ever say thank you regardless of how huge an effort is made by me or my staff on their behalf.

I cannot wait for my Christmas vacation December 21 through January 2. It will be the longest amount of time (12 straight days) I have been out of the office since I came back from maternity leave. I know B will drive me crazy and I will have to come up with field trips and fun things to do (and to try not to overload nap time with too many things I want to/need to do), but I need a break from this place and these people.

I really do like my job and can't really imagine doing anything else, but the frustration level is high these days.

Thank yarn for Orange knitting and happy picots. Also, thanks for happy boys and easy mornings, thanks for great school pictures (apparently, my son was the only 3 yo to smile), thanks for having fun with Hubby and going home to him every day.