Feral Knitting

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!