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I’m not sure how it got to be February already. Oh, wait, yes, I do know. We spent most of last month battling an epic cold. Oh, and then there was the tailbone incident, which apparently wasn’t even funny to watch. Seven weeks later and it still hurts at a certain angle. Yikes. I do wish that I could have watched it, though. I think I would have had a good laugh at my own expense.
We spent some time on the Island over Christmas. This was a bit challenging with non walking child and a very eager and nervous dog, but it was nice to get a change of scenery. But wow, traveling with a baby is ridiculous. The car was stuffed, just stuffed, and I think one bag of it was not his. Strollers, high chair, food, diapers… oh, and of course, something to amuse him with when he invariably becomes restless in his car seat. Over all, though, everything went quite smoothly. And the weather was lovely; I think it was eight degrees on Christmas day, and brilliantly sunny.
Anyway, I actually have finished some knitting.
Exhibit a:  Mud Season, modified with a longer sleeve. Easy pattern, kind of what I’ve made before, but relatively quick and easy. The yarn is Scotian Silk, and it has been languishing in my stash for over a year. I had some other Scotian Silk in an unfortunate colour, and told myself I needed to knit that up before rewarding myself with the nicer one. I think I ended up frogging about four projects with that awful colour, and finally ended up crocheting a lap blanket (no, I won’t show you. It’s ugly.) and thus could finally work with the nicer colour. It is lovely yarn, but has pilled quite a bit upon first wearing. This might level out, though. And is it ever warm! Anyway, I am just glad to finally get a garment done. It feels like forever since I have successfully knit a garment. I used some of the leftovers for a pair of Fetchings for Melissa, but neglected to photograph those. No matter, everyone has seen about a billion Fetchings, and it was probably time I knit up a pair. (btw, wasn’t keen on the peasant thumb, but that’s a whole other discussion that nobody is probably interested in.)
Moving on. Exhibit b:
 This is a fairly large blanket crocheted out of Cascade Ecological Wool. It’s not blocked or washed, and won’t be until the weather gets nicer, as I have no appropriate space to dry it. I have turned to crochet lately as it is easy to put down, and can’t be catastrophically destroyed as easily as knitting. Because yes, I have a little monster in my life who literally creates chaos where ever he goes. Lovely child, but very busy. Anyway, it’s big and warm and I like the colours, even though I ran out of some of the brown, which is painfully obvious on the last row.
Exhibit c:
 I’m taking a bit of a risk here, as it is Judy’s birthday very soon and I haven’t given this to her, but I am going to suspect that she isn’t waiting with bated breath for me to update my blog, and might not notice this until after her birthday. If you don’t, Surprise! You’ll see it for real very soon. I didn’t add the more detailed photo, but it’s a scarf, crocheted (yep, quick, keepin’ it real) with two colours of Malabrigo Silky Merino and one of Manos Silk Blend. I hope she likes it. My favourite part is the fringe, with is long and colour blocked the same way. I’m a bit worried about the colour. For some reason I was compelled to knit in purple. I don’t know why, and I really hope that she finds it agreeable.
Alright, one more. This one I’m on a strict timeline for, as my opportunity to deliver this comes on Sunday. Which reminds me, I need to do a lot of knitting tonight. Hopefully I can stay awake.
Exhibit d:
 The pattern is on Ravelry, it’s called the Garter Yoke Baby Cardi (not Cardigan, type that in and you get some other ickier sweater) and it’s so cute! The baby is a girl, so I went whole hog on the red and pink. I have some adorable bunny buttons to finish it off. I really need to finish it, though.
I am also working on a Damson using some Malabrigo sock I bought a few weeks ago. I was quite certain I already had some Malabrigo sock, and overturned the stash looking for it, then spent a lot of time standing on chairs and peeking into top shelves and crawling around on the floor looking under beds and large chairs, searching through purses and checking pockets, but the Malabrigo Sock in Tiziano red was nowhere to be seen. So I got a skein in a colour called Rayon Vert. I don’t know what that means. In my head I have translated it to green raisin, but I’m probably way off. On the skein it’s not too impressive, kind of dark purplish… but knit up… Glee! So gorgeous! Little peeks of green and a delicate wash of purple… I am completely enamoured. And then, when won over, I found the prodigal skein! It was hiding under the couch with an embarassing amount of dog fur and a noisy toy that somehow got “lost” there. I did many happy dances. Now I can make two Damsons! But of course, finish the baby sweater, and Sue’s present first. Priorities!
Here’s one more shot from our trip.
 Happy knitting, everyone!
Yes, I’m well aware that I have been horribly negligent. But ha, I don’t really care. I have a million excuses and all of them are valid. Most of them have to do with a small human being who completely and utterly dominates my life. The other has to do with technology, and that’s a whole other complicated story. But never mind that.
What have we been up to?
Knitting, yeah, not so much. I have realized that the only thing I can knit and hope to get finished is socks. This coming from someone who didn’t have the patience to finish socks, and really never quite got the use of making them. But now I have realized that socks are the only thing I can knit that doesn’t require a pattern (because Somebody has the tendency of ripping paper into small pieces, and messing with computer screens, thus making it impossible for me to use a pattern). They are practical, quick and fast. Wait, quick and fast are the same thing, aren’t they? Yep, brain is full of holes. Blame a year of minimal sleep. Anyway, yes, I have completed about three pair, and have about seven ready to go. Yay! Sometimes it’s just about the finishing. Actually completing something from start to finish is a rare luxury.
Oh, here’s a sock. As proof:
 Cascade Heritage Paints. Nice yarn (not really my type, but I really did enjoy it) in a very satisfying red. My prototype pattern free sock is a Provisional-Cast-On-Short-Row-Toe-Short-Row-Heel in plain ol’ Stockinette. I am making one now with an eyelet rib thing going on, but am already thinking that it is far to fancy pants for where I am in my life right now. And, notice, btw, that there are two socks in that picture. No more Second Sock Syndrome for me! (it has been replaced with Desperate to Get Anything Anything Done Syndrome). I am being a bit dramatic, I guess.
Anyway. What else? Christmas is fast approaching. I have done no shopping so far. Apparently I am going to get it all done on Monday. Ha! I shall spend some time getting my apologies in order. Let’s just face it, my lack of organization, coupled with lack of proper sleep, has melded into the perfect storm, Christmas-style. I’ll figure it out. I always do.
So sometime two weeks ago we decided to do some more cleaning. We’d offered our wood to a number of people who were in turn eager, and yet non-committal about it. So instead, we had lit a bonfire that lasted about two weeks. There were days when we both smelled pretty rank, I’ll admit, while keeping that fire up. I did enjoy working on a sock on weekend morning in a lawn chair by the fire, toasty and warm, while snow fell down around me. Here’ s the little Mr. enjoying the fire with his dad: 
See, told you, big fires.
Hmm… what else. Well, normal fall stuff. Leaves, rain, cold, more rain. The bird feeders have been a big success. We have a constant stream of customers feeding right by our windows, much to everyone’s delight. Baby points and whispers “brrrds… brrds…” , and Daisy and Pol put their continuous inter species battle on hold to bond over Pet TV. If there is one thing they can agree on it is that birdwatching is good fun.
What else? Well, of course Little Mr. had his first birthday. I won’t get smushy and poetic and gushy. Let’s just say that he finally started sleeping for 12 hours straight this week and it has done wonders for our overall sanity. A few days of sleeping until 7 is all I really wanted for Christmas.
He’s hilarious, and curious and makes a lot of trouble. He climbs where he should be climbing, puts his hands in places they shouldn’t go (can anyone say electrical baseboard heater? or toilet? or anywhere near the dog?) and still laughs like a maniacal goat. I was sure to dress him in his bear suit for his birthday and took many pictures of him during a typical everyday day of causing trouble and making a mess.
Here he is, halfway up the stairs in ten seconds flat. Who says you need mom to spot you?
And here he is on his new toy. He took to it very well, and was instantly pushing himself up and down the hall and back again. Soon enough, of course, he got smart and decided that he should be standing in it, instead of pushing it. Maybe he figured that if he stood in it he would get pushed? Who’s to say, I mean, I did give him rides up and down the back yard in the wheelbarrow that morning:
 You can see that he got a bit confused once inside, wondering exactly how he’d get out. Of course mom is always close by for such emergencies.
And, of course, here he is in all his glory. See what I mean by trouble? Look at that face! 
Happy Birthday Baby Boy! I am so, so glad this first year is done!
Okay, so I’ve been negligent. I have a good reason, though. It is small, but is amazing mobile and tends to get into everything and cause a lot of trouble, thus giving me very little time for myself. (It also has some severe sleep issues, which result in much misery all around…!) Anyway, enough on that. Photo time!
Here’s the tomato haul. Not bad, seeing as we didn’t use the shelter this time. We lost a few to blight, but for the most part, as you can see, we had quite the harvest.  We have eaten most of the ripened ones, so the rest will have to ripen like they did last year– in the dark. Not a big deal, as it just means we get to enjoy our tomatoes well into the fall, and maybe even the winter. Last year none of ours ripened, so I’m glad we learned that trick. Home grown tomatoes are delicious! Meaty and not so full of seeds. Yum!
Our acorn squash continues to grow. We planted it from a seed I found inside an acorn squash I bought to feed the baby, and we planted them kind of on a whim. They have completely taken over the garden, which doesn’t bother me as I’d rather have a possibly non productive squash plant growing there than stupid clover. Clover! gah! the bane of my existence. I found a few more strawberries ripening just yesterday, but it looks like they’re done for the season. From our four little strawberry plants we had a continual harvest, and they too took over a large part of the garden. Hey, again, if you aren’t clover, you’re welcome in my garden.
Hmmm… what else? Oh yes, it is officially the end of the Curse of the Second Sock! I am very happy to report that I have not only one, but two socks to show off.  That’s right, BOTH socks! What changed? Well, it’s simple. Toe up socks with a short row heel pretty much require no pattern. No pattern means no little body clambering over and no little hands to inspect, and then eat, what I am looking at. Also, socks are small– I can knit in the car (ha, when I actually leave the house, like that happens any more), while little mr. is standing up against the baby gate howling with glee over his accomplishment (you’d be surprised how happy he is to just stand there, triumphant) and in the evenings when I allegedly get a bit of time for myself (yes, I do spend most of that time cooking and cleaning…). Anyway, as long as I don’t commit to making knee highs, which are my favourite kind of sock, so it’s a bit of a compromise) I can get both socks done in less than a week. Ah! what glorious feeling, that sense of accomplishment. I revel in it.
But wait, people, it doesn’t stop there. Check out what I made for said Ankle Biter:
 It’s the Carlos sweater! I made the Carlos sock as a sample last year some time, and cursed the intarsia the entire time. And here I am, making it again. But never mind, shouldn’t every little boy have a growling dog sweater? It says Grrrr underneath, (well, with my mad skillz it says yrrrrr, but I figure with an eyepatch we can just pretend he’s a pirate, should it come to that) and there are definitely some issues with it. For example, when I had not yet done the final sleeve, I had sewed half of the sweater up and had tried to put it on him (yes, I was impatient) and discovered that I couldn’t get it over his head! so I had to modify the shoulder, which is why it looks wonky. Also, I ran out of blue, as I used Cashmerino instead of Comfort, so the neck band is brown instead of blue, and one of the arms has a touch more brown on it than it should. I figure that he’ll never walk around with both of his arms extended (unless he somehow turns into a zombie, but I hope that doesn’t happen, not at least until he’s five or six) nobody will be the wiser. Of course, me reporting this really not helping the cause.
But wait, there’s more! With my sock success I wanted to make a pair for a birthday gift, only the needles I used happen to hold a shawl that I was attempting to get done for my mother’s birthday. This of course didn’t happen, and the shawl languished on a desktop while I gave myself permission to “get some space from it” which just means “cast on more enjoyable projects”. So I had to finish the shawl. The problem with shawls it that they tend to get wider and wider, and with each row the shine is further off the project and the rows just seem longer and longer and longer, only you don’t want to stop as you’ve come so far and what are you going to do, honestly, with a triangle that is 25 inches long? Nothing! So keep going! I find them knitterly torment. Anyway, I forced myself to finish it up to free up the needles for the socks. So, without further ado:
Yes, it’s a Lavalette. Just like everyone else I know is making. Yep, more fad knitting. Well, I had good reason to pick it. It seemed like the kind of pattern that looked good without my having to print up a pattern and deal with Mr. Paper Ripper and Eater. The result of which is that it doesn’t quite look like it’s supposed to. But no matter, it’s done. And it will be delivered for Christmas, so that’s something off that list.
And of course, how could I not show off my new camera? I got a new toy and I’m loving it very much. Here are a few pictures I took this week:
My flowers (a whole other story. Who knew flowers from seed would grow over six feet tall!)
 Daisy, who loves to be photographed…
Mr. Pattern Eater himself….
 and kitty herself. I like the new camera!
Yep, summer is in full swing. I remember desperately waiting for the sun to come back, and it did, with a vengeance. I had a feeling it would be long, dry summer, and that it has indeed been. It’s been great for my garden. My tomatoes have already started turning red, which is amazing, as none of them changed last summer and we had to coax them to edibility by covering them and putting them in a cupboard for weeks and weeks. They were good, mind you, but it’s even nicer to be able to enjoy them right now. My strawberries spread from four little plants to a two meter wide swath of garden, my basil is always ready for eating. I planted squash late on a whim… we’ll see yet how that turns out. Oh, by the way, roasted acorn squash seeds are incredibly delicious!
But, then again, the heat isn’t all good. Two weeks ago we both came down with a nasty, nasty flu that lasted a full week. This was the same week of record breaking temperatures… having a flu in 40 degree weather is no fun! I remember looking at the gauge in the bedroom at 11 pm… it was 32 degrees in our bedroom. It was horrible! Baby mostly had a cold, but he still needs looking after, and looking after a dribbly child when you yourself can’t sleep at night because of the heat and because of the flu… ick. I hope we never have to go through that again. Daisy managed to get sick two nights that week as well, so I spent a few hours in the middle of the night outside with her while she… well, I’m sure you all know what she was doing. Ugh. Yuck. I’m very, very glad that week is over.
I’ve done a bit of stash busting. A pair of warmies that I started last November and never finished (yep, second sock syndrome crossing the boundaries into the realm of leg warmers for babies) have finally been completed. I’m also working on a shawl using the loverly Zauberball that Melissa let me buy (she was holding the colour for herself, no, she’s not the evil yarn purchase dictator), and I’m using some Fleece Artist that Sue found for me to reverse engineer an Anthropologie shrug/vest thing.
Of course, I started this post nearly a month ago. Time is not on my side these days. Managing to co-ordinate computer time with camera time (the camera battery being notoriously short lived, a new camera is in short order) is just not happening. Gah! Frustration. I have a feeling like my life is sitting in little unfinished piles all around me. Chaos. Oh, and let’s throw in a little uncertainty and anxiety to boot.
Whine whine whine. I’ll stop now.
Well, it seems that I am completing a few more projects, but I still feel quite like I’m not. I think I need to relax and enjoy each project for what it is, instead of trying to hurry through so I can move on to the next thing. There’s just so much I want to knit! And so much to learn.
I feel a bit sheepish about this first project. It’s Kate Gagnon’s Silk Kerchief. It’s written for Noro Silk Garden sock, but I had two colours of regular Silk Garden in my stash and so used that instead. I love it! I love it so, so much. Simple, easy, and yet looks sophisticated and makes every outfit look a little special. Now that’s good knitting. Why do I feel sheepish? Well, um… I have a feeling that I just contributed to a bit of…. um… fad knitting.
It’s not that I’m against popular knitting, it’s just that I’m never doing what others are doing. People in the shop are often going on about this pattern or that, and for me most of this doesn’t even register. If something catches my eye, I might knit it, but for me, that could something I found revisiting a three year old VK or a mash up from my Barbara Walkers… I’m just not really paying attention to what’s new and catchy. I feel weird knitting something that everyone has knit. Like I have broken a personal rule. Hmmm… crazy. Anyway, who cares? I’ll keep knitting what I want, even if it’s insanely popular. Here she is:
 I really, really like it. Did I mention is that? Of course, I can’t wear it too often, as Grabby McGrabbersonn is constantly trying to shove it in his mouth. See the necklace I’m wearing in that picture? My favourite necklace, bought for me by husband on our big road trip to San Francisco when we were sprightly and young? Yep, I’m not wearing it any more. I have no desire to be choked to death by grabby little baby hands. Man, does that kid have amazing hand eye co-ordination. He’ll need it, when he grows up to be the President of the World. (He’s going to rename Australia after me. It will then be known as Crystralia.)
Moving on.
Oooooh, fun project! I’m about 80% done my first giant sock. Yes, I know my completion rate on socks is pretty bad, but I feel good about this pair. It’s toe up, pattern taken from Barbara Walker, short row heel, using Magic Loop. This is my first time for Magic Loop, and my first successful (as in, not mind numbingly confusing) toe up and short row heel. Yay me! Yarn is Crystal Palace Mini Mochi, much villified and defended on Ravelry. Bah, people and all their opinions!
 The plan for these babies is to be at least up to the knee, and I’m past mid-calf now. Fun! Mindless too, as I didn’t carry the lace all the way up the leg. I needed a half an hour uninterrupted for each repeat, and at that rate, I knew I wouldn’t get them done, so I continued up in stockinette, figuring nobody would see anyway. Ha! sneaky.
This final picture is for Sue. Hey look…. it’s
GARTER FACE!
 He fell asleep face first on the blanket Sue knit for him. You can actually see how he crumpled it against him by the different directions the imprint is travelling in. Silly baby!
My garden suffered a terrible blow when the exterminators came (long, disgusting story). Our war with the slugs in the lettuce is over before it could become very heated. Sad, sad times. Here’s the lettuce patch in its prime:
 I was given scant seconds to harvest it, and of course couldn’t eat it all in time. What a waste. Gah!
However, the strawberries survived! And because of the ridiculously warm spring we are having, they are thriving. Mmmm… tiny, tasty strawberries. I like to eat them very fresh, still warm from the sun (or, warm from their lifeblood, mwhuh huh ha!) 
Yummy! I also had a picture of my dog attempting to catch bumblebees off the lupine (always good for entertainment when you don’t have cable) but the formatting was maddening, so perhaps some other time. Trust me, it’s funny. Of course, it will quickly become unfunny when she gets stung and turns out she takes after the other side of the family and has an allergic reaction. But until then, ha! silly dog.
Remember the yarn Melissa gave me to knit up? She suggested I make some mittens, so I obliged:
EXTREME CLOSEUP!
 Now, I did get some good feedback on this mitten, but it just wasn’t right. Specifically, this is a very sturdy yarn, and the mitten felt more like an oven mitt than a go-to delight in horrid weather. So I frogged, pulled out the good old Barbara Walker, and whipped up a little bit of beret. The yarn is lovely, Melissa. A serious yarn, with a bit of a furrowed brow, but with wonderful stitch definition and a nice, solid feeling to it. It feels like cotton, which is odd for such a rustic wool. Anyway, here’s the beret: Hey, look, there’s part of my head! and the ceiling in my house. Anyway, I’m quite happy with it. Keeps the melon very warm as well. Speaking of Melissa, she was featured in Knitty this issue. Here stitch markers (yes, those self same ones you saw in my last post) were discovered by Amy and she decided to feature them in the mag under the cool things category. See, I tell you, that girl has the Midas Touch. She’s pretty amazing.
Hmmm… my eyebrows look kind of bad. Ah well. Who has time to groom when you get interrupted every three minutes. By who, you ask? Don’t mind if I do. He’s going through a “I find my toes tasty” phase. Not so good on the socks, and I’m telling you, it is very difficult to find socks that fit. Between the chewing and the constant kicking, those socks are not going to last. 
I can’t believe I made that.
Okay, one more I have to show you. There is a sign on my parent’s street that cracks me up. I made sure to take my camera last time to get a photo. Seriously, this is the best sign ever. I love how universally understandable it is.  Okay, you can’t really see it, but the guy who has fallen actually is screaming “aaaaah!”, he has blood gushing out of his head, and his eyes are to x’s. Ha! love it. Okay, enough silliness. My squire howls for his dinner…
Sweet Fiber!
This is Melissa’s newest venture– her own hand dyed yarn! She has a sock weight and an aran weight, which you see here. Of course the colours are gorgeous, and of course my photography skills do nothing to showcase her mad talent. If you want to see some killer pics, check out her blog.
She asked me to test knit for her, so I’ve been swatching and flipping through my Barbara Walker’s trying to find just the right showcase for her yarn. Beautiful work, as always, Melissa. Something tells me you are going to have a very busy summer!
And I think it is safe to say that summer is finally here. My tomatoes are flowering, the strawberries are green, and the irises, azaleas and rhododendrons are in full bloom. I was never much fond of my azalea. It’s this peachy colour that reminds me of a lot of paint jobs in a lot of living rooms sometime around 1989 (usually paired with Hunter Green.) Behold! a corner of my garden: Gorgeous! I’ve missed summer, which is unusual for me. Last winter seemed interminably long.
and what of Matt?
well, I found some inspiration in the photos posted by the Rigid Heddle group on Ravelry and warped this one up:
It’s meant to be very loose, and I used lace weight Merino for the weft and Misti Alpaca lace for the warp. My dent spacing is too wide, but that’s all I have to work with right now, so I’ll see what I can come up with. I intend to gently full the scarf afterwards. I’m hoping for really nice drape. I’m learning that with weaving, the thinner the yarn, the more fluid the project. I guess that applies to knitting too, but you know me, always figuring things out the long way.
All right– you were all spared the story of the Demon Spider because my image was mis sized and this post has already self-combusted enough times to keep me from tempting fate yet again. Suffice it to say it was Very Big Spider and I was Very Scared. I was going to follow it with a happy picture. Now I’m just going to give said happy picture. It will produce happiness in my readers, but with not the same effect that terror followed by happiness produces. I have failed.
Oh well. Oh, wait. yes, the picture:
 There he is, asleep with Melissa Monkey. Melissa Monkey is just the right size for cuddles and limb chewing, which are valuable traits when deciding upon which stuffed creature should accompany you to dream world when you are five months old.
He and I have the most interesting conversations nowadays. He looks at me, purses his lips and goes, “Bwrrp!” and grins. I repeat to him “Bwrrrp!” and he grins happily, then ducks his head in embarassment. Silly baby!
v
Okay, first off, check out our new ride:
 My dad asked me if it drove itself as well. I think that was his way of saying that these modern strollers are far to fancy pants for his liking. Well, never mind him, I’ll say I think this is one sweet ride. Big, but not too big, good shock absorption for our root cracked sidewalks, and noiseless tube tires that give an overall smooth trip. And, there’s the proof. Baby C is fast asleep. He actually stays awake for the bulk of his walks nowadays, but usually can’t make it the whole way. On this specific walk it was good, as he fell asleep when he was facing the sun. I could have put a blanket up to block the sun for him, but there’s something about a covered up stroller that gives me the willies. It just might be a certain local lady we have who has been spotted for years pushing a covered up stroller around. Rumours abound as to what exactly is in that stroller, but I think the one thing we all know is that it’s not a baby. But I digress.
And, true to form, I walked a little too aggressively and ended up with blisters and a reinjured hamstring (yes, thank you wii jogging, for doing me in the first time). My ankle, the one missing all the tendons, is also finally becoming a permanent issue for me. I’m going to blame the baby. Seven years went by with minimal discomfort, he shows up and now I’m a semi cripple. Good thing he’s so darn cute, sweet, adorable and funny. Awww, I love him. I think I’m going to have a million more babies.
Speaking of babies, today I celebrated my first Mother’s Day. Well, technically this isn’t my first, as a few years ago when I was in England I celebrated Mothering Sunday rather inadvertently in a small church in London, where all the boys gave all the women of child bearing years, whether they had babies or not, a flower. It was odd. But more about that some other time It started like any other day, 5:30 making food for wee baby while hard-to-awaken husband lumbered on in deep sleep. Sometime around seven I got my gift. Hee hee hee, heavy handed hints prevailed! Let me tell you the whole story.
Husband and I found ourselves in need of a few things, but being the cheap-os we are, we didn’t really want to spend money to get them. Specifically we needed a new vacuum cleaner, a stroller and a car seat. We hmmed and hawed over this, and finally husband had a brilliant mind flash (it hurt my eyes). He took all his and my airmiles and areoplan points and converted them in to HBC giftcards. We had been hoarding points for more than 8 years, so ha! we ended up with a ridiculous amount of money. First trip was to get the stroller, which we found on sale. Of course, when we went to buy it they were gone, so we got a raincheque, and a few days later, after the gift cards had arrived, we wnet back and it was there, so we bought our stroller. Then he found a vacuum, but the one we wanted was not available, so we were put on a waiting list. Apparently if you are a waiting list, you get 10% off, which is amazing as the type we wanted never, ever goes on sale. Sure enough, it came in, and we went off to buy it with our gift cards.
However, when we got there, (after the stroller nearly cracked my hand in half in the parking lot, but alas, that is a tale for another day) we were told that we had too many cards and would have to amalgamate them, which would take a bit of time. So there we were, with a bit of time to kill. So I steered him off to the jewelry department, to show him a beautiful bracelet I had seen months before and had been secretly coveting. “Isn’t it gorgeous?” I asked him. Hint delivered, but was hint received?
it was! it was!
Had to go full-size on this photo, just so everyone could bask in its glory. I told the baby I was glad he was a boy so I’d never have to worry about him borrowing it and breaking it. I love it! I am not really a jewelry person. I tend to have a few pieces and wear them constantly, but when I find something I really like, it becomes a most cherished and used piece. Anyway. So, yes, I had to make my own coffee, and my own lunch, and clean up the kitchen and change stinky bums, and all those other dreary things I usually do, but ha! I did it all with a gorgeous piece of jewelry on.
And of course, I couldn’t not mention the Anniversary Sale. This weekend was the 88 Stitches Anniversary Sale. It was , of course, a blast. There are few things better than being in a room full of excited, happy knitters. I played bag lady so I could inspect, pet and wish the yarn a good journey to their new homes. It was also an opportunity to vicariously enjoy everyone’s shopping experience. One yarn that sold amazingly well was the Mountain Meadow Wool. We just got it in this week and our pile had dwindled down to almost nothing by the end of Saturday. It’s squishy and authentic and firm and soft. (yes, that is possible.)
What did I pick up? Well, I was too busy to get anything, but I did strike up a deal with Melissa and bought some stitch markers from her. I know, I don’t need any more stitch markers, but these are so cute!
I will cast on some socks as soon as I’m done making Droolius a few more bibs, then I’ll take some actions shots. Ha, socks, like I’d make more than one!
I was wondering why I get the feeling that I never get anything done. Maybe it’s the harried feeling one has when you have a four month old baby, but, as I was trying to organize my stash, I happened upon some evidence that confirms that I don’t get anything done, not fully anyway.
exhibit a: 
The first sock was made with the intention of giving it away. I used Lamb’s Pride Bulky, and had to cross the border to get it. It fits, and it’s very warm, but for some reason I never got around to doing the second one. I think it was because I knit it in summer, and figured I had plenty of time to make the second before it was needed. Then I got distracted by some other project. You know how it goes.
The middle sock I’m not too embarrassed about (yet). I started it last September, and only properly finished it about a month ago. It was from the first Debbie Bliss magazine, and I used some nice wool/alpaca/silk from the shop to knit them up. Cables got a little dull and repetitive, so I shortened the sock by a few inches, but it is still plenty long. Of course, someone with legs like mine does not need an extra inch of cabling to bulk up, but I still kind of like them. I actually think I might finish these. Maybe by next September. Yeah, that will give me plenty of time…
The last sock I actually have no memory of knitting. I think I have a purple one like that lying around too. Somewhere in the jungle madness of my knitting history I used self striping sock yarn and knit a sock. Looks odd and lumpy, but it actually fits really well. I have the second ball, but I’m quite sure I won’t be knitting its partner. Turns out I really don’t like self striping sock yarn. I mostly don’t like the texture of the yarn itself. It seems thinnish and insignificant. I guess I’ll never be a sock knitter.
exhibit b:
My first Lopi project. Well, technically my second. I made a neurotically small gauntlet mitt as a shop sample a few months ago. (Notice I said mitt and not mitts) Anyway, this sweater is not supposed to look like this, it’s supposed to look much cuter. But alas, I didn’t read the tiny tiny in brackets directions close enough and added a few extra rows of colour work into the yoke. Now, it doesn’t look bad, it just doesn’t look as cute as its supposed to. Its also supposed to have a zipper, but hey, steeks, zippers and yokes all in one sweater is a pretty big learning curve. I’m picking up the button band right now, using my cro-needle, but as I have realized that it won’t fit its recipient until he is quite a bit older, I’ve given myself a break, and moved on to something else. Why? Why do I do this to myself? Just finish it already, finish something! You’ll feel so much better! aaaarg.
Oh, and I realized half way through making it that I subconsciously picked the same colours as those used on the Hartford Whalers. This one’s for you, Zarley Zalapski.
exhibit c:
Rigid Heddle weaving. I’m still trying to figure out what works well, what to use, how to get drape and fullness, and in order to learn, I have to make many mistakes. I actually made this for Sue, but alas, its too craptastic to give away. It is fated to lurk as evidence in my linen closet. I did finish it, but if had taken a bit more care, it would have looked a lot better.
Oh, but here is something I did finish:
Mr. Baby outgrew the flannel blankets my mom made him, so I braved the fabric store and picked out some new flannel for a few larger blankets. I’ve only completed one, mind you, but I really like it (don’t look too closely at the seams..) One one side I have this warplane thing going on, and the other is covered with scary tigers. Baby likes inspecting it and talking randomly to it when he thinks I’m not looking. (I talk to it too when I think nobody is looking.)
Finally, progress from my favourite work in progress:
He’s holding his own bottle! Didn’t last long, but hey, it’s one step in the right direction.
Okay designers, carry on. 
okay, first with the cheerful pictures. I keep desperately waiting for some glimpse of spring. I’m tired of winter, and I think we could all use a bit of warmth around here. So, here are some more crocuses.
 I hate to say this, but they’re dead now. Back to looking for tiny buds of something in the underbrush by the side of the road. Maybe I should plant some daffodil bulbs for next year. Maybe that can tide me over until the plum trees blossom and freak me out. Why freak me out? Because I keep thinking my plum trees are actually cherry trees, and when they blossom two months before the cherry trees, I panic, thinking its a sign of the end times. And then I remember that its a plum tree. It’s that Japanese cherry tree festival– totally messes me up everytime it’s on the news. What? but my cherry tree bloomed weeks ago!
Okay, I just spent way more time than I thought I would on that one.
Moving on.
Here’s the exciting piece of news. Introducing…
Matt!
Yes, I’m probably the only one who finds it funny that I named my loom Matt. This is a brand spanking new 16 inch Ashford Rigid Heddle loom. The exact one I priced out a half a year ago (though I was after the 20 inch) that made its way into my life at a handsomely reduced price. Yay! Warping was quite the adventure, but now that I’ve figured it out, it makes a lot more sense and is going a lot quicker. I warped up and wove a 14 inch by 50 inch thingy (using Kauni I bought last year at Fibrefest) in about three days, between sobbing baby and all the other biznitch I have going on.
But now my problem is that my brain has become obsessed with trying to figure out how to make different weaves. I’m not even sure what the capabilites of this loom are, so maybe my brain is trying to figure out how to do things that are impossible. (Which would make me feel better, as I’m really struggling with this. I do not have a geometrically/visually minded brain, and can be befuddled as to wear to put a button hole, even with an knit up cell phone cosy in front of me. This makes my dad laugh in disbelief.) Anyway, I keep staring at our dish towels and the wool blanket on my bed and the Harrod’s scarf I was given, staring and trying to figure out if I could do that, and how do I make the yarn less compressed, and how to I get drape and and and…) Anyway, this ought to keep me busy for a while.
Speaking of keeping busy. Guess who’s teething?  Yes, barely three months old, and little Count Droolius is going strong. Of course, everyone in my family who has had a baby tells me he’s not teething, and this is because their kids teethed much later. My friend Donna told me of course he could be teething (this makes me think that her kids teethed early). I figure if he’s drooling constantly, runs a fever off and on, and has a vampire bat chomp on anything that fits in his mouth (including, as you can see, my hand), he’s probably teething. Man, can that kid bite! even without teeth. If he had teeth, I could probaly lift my arm and suspend him by his grip.
Oh, and of couse, all my hair is falling out. I blame him for that. Ugh. It’s disgusting. But I digress.
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