Frog It!

Post Op Day One

2012-01-25T18:06:00.001-05:00

No one reads this so I'm documenting this here so I have a dated record.

I had a minor surgical procedure to fix a urinary incontinence problem I've had since the twins were born.

It's a SPARC sling and I'll have to add the other part - cyto something-or-other.

For two small holes poked into my abdomen over my pubic bone, it sure hurts! Especially sitting and coughing - damn that was a painful surprise.

Not taking the Percocet right now but will before I go to bed. Also taking an antibiotic and a stool softener (because percoset can cause constipation).

So I'm doing a lot of lying around.

Incredibly Lazy Weekend

2012-01-22T17:46:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, I went from one set of pajamas to another. I didn't do much of anything but I did make a delicious dinner of roasted pork tenderloin, scalloped potatoes, and a side of veggies. Everyone who lives here actually all sat down to dinner. Was very nice. Hardly any complaining.

Am working on the black lace tshirt that I found. Ruffian (my five-month old kind cavalier spaniel/bichon frise puppy) ate one of the needles I was using but I have a set of wood circulars that I can use. Actually feels better as the weight of the work isn't in my hands.

Also thinking of starting a Hoover blanket just for fun.

Found UFO

2012-01-19T19:51:00.001-05:00

I started a "cavern" (off black) Brown Sheep cotton fleece sweater over a year ago and found it tonight. Hopefully, by the time I get it finished and the weather is good for wearing it, I won't be such a fat slob that my love handles stretch out the sweater.

That'd be good.

Also I found two almost finished cardigans that I made for the twins to wear when they were three. They will be seven in March. What's not finished? The buttons. I never got buttons.

I suck.

I did finally finish the poncho for Catherine that I started this summer. Also I made myself a dark purple alpaca wrap. And I'm knitting a silk skull nightcap for my bald husband to to wear to bed in the winter.

So I'm knitting. And hopefully blogging more about it now that I have the Blogger app for my iPhone.

2011-08-17T17:41:00.007-05:00

It's been a while since I've written.

I've been knitting still. Not belly dancing anymore although I'm working on rectifying that come the fall.

Recent knitting projects included variations of the Ondas Shale lace pattern that I used for a few blankets. I started a few pairs of socks...and a sugar yarn poncho for my six-year old daughter. She's the one who gets most of the knit things these days. The smallness of the projects is satisfying for me since I lose attention when I have to knit on something for too long.

I restarted a quilt I started for my oldest daughter in 2005. The original intention was a nine-square block, but not so anally-guilty (meaning, I'm not so great at lining up the seams so I went purposefully for the deconstructed look). Then I hated it. So, then I cut all the nine blocks in half after getting them perfectly square and bought muslin to do a crazy quilt instead. I'm going to do a stitch/flip to attach the 4-1/2 rectangles:-) to the muslin, join those rectangles into a quilt, and hopefully finish it soon. I've not started the sewing as I waiting til school starts so I can have some time to do it when they are gone. Hopefully, I'll finish by her 25th birthday! I also want to take her to Las Vegas for the weekend for her birthday!

I've been reading. My new favorite author is Laura Kalpakian. Her book "Steps and Exes" spoke VOLUMES to me! Also discovered Paullina Simons and Kate Furnivale. Google them.

Getting ready to go on vacation. Two weeks at a beach house I rent in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. My oldest daughter arrives from Tulsa on Friday; we all pack into two cars and head down to OBX early Saturday morning. It's supposed to be a 5.5 hour drive but with all the shoobies heading to the shore, it's peppered with hot traffic spots.

Still dealing with manic depression. Currently medicated but not sure how well it works. Feel too much dread and woe for it to be successful but at least my brain is my own - wonky or not.

Worried about the state of the United States. Not sure any ONE person can do anything to get us out of the hole that we've fallen into. Thankful that I still have my telecommuting position. It helps feed my beach need! My husband has a great job too but who knows how long it may last. He's researching.

Have come to the conclusion that I don't want to live here anymore. Unfortunately, the places in the US where it's not so expensive to live are all very far from the beach. So I'll have to make lots of money in order to be able to afford my beach addiction. Last month, my husband told me about a restaurant / gun range that was for sale in Fargo, ND. I was really disgusted by how cheap the houses were there when I looked because I live outside of Washington DC and even crap houses are expensive. We still rent here because A) I like the neighborhood (although I don't like my house much); and B) houses here haven't gotten less expensive like they have in other parts of the country.

My tadpoles started school last year. This year they'll be in the first grade. Baby B (Catherine) breezed through kindergarten. She's a pleaser so she just tried her hardest all the time and did great. She managed to exceed the kindergarten benchmarks every semester and has been reading and writing all summer. Baby A (James) had major problems. I went to school with him from Sept. until winter break in December. We'd go for the morning and leave after lunch. He did NOT do well in that school. In October, we met with a behavioral psychologist and then a behavioral therapist and learned that he has a Sensory Processing Disorder (SID). Several months of paperwork submitted to the school later, and in January he started at a new school where he blossomed. Since he's got his IED in place, his new school, and a great teacher who'll be with him til third grade, I think first grade is going to ROCK for him!

Oldest daughter graduated from college in 2009 and is still trying to find a job in her major (Graphic design). Unfortunately, she lives in Tulsa - that may be detrimental to finding a good job. I told her last night to move home - Washington DC is a much bigger market - more expensive to live here but more opportunities. Perhaps she could telecommute?! Oldest son graduated from high school that same year, went to college for one semester, and failed everything including Art - and he's artistic (no, really... he is). He was working as a waiter but got fired...he sleeps all damn day and is up all night doing not much but what do I do? I can't throw him out. I feel like I failed him but he's also failed himself. After a certain point, I can't be held (mentally NOR physically) for his failures.

The middle kid is thankfully un-issued, a decent student, but a bit lazy. He's a good person. Not much to write when there's no drama but he did turn 11 recently and his dad took him and the twins up to visit his grandfather AND NYC (Times Square) last weekend.

2011-08-10T21:19:00.001-05:00

This isn't about knitting. This is about getting as much shit out of my brain as possible.

2011-06-07T21:08:00.002-05:00

Finished another version of Ondas Fibercrack. Smaller than a full-size blanket, larger than a crib blanket. It's just right for the 10-year old who wanted a blankie!

2009-11-16T18:31:00.004-05:00

Look who's knitting!
I'v got to post a picture of it when I'm finished but I'm currently working on the Snow Queen Coat from Fairy Tale Knits by Alison Stewart-Guinee. The coat is on the cover. I'm doing it in dark purple alpaca (from Elann) since it's for the tiny redhead and I think she looks AWESOME in purple. Plus, I've gotten her a lot of purple recently.

I like the book thus far. The instructions are clear and the whole principle behind the projects is seamless construction! Supposedly that means not much sewing. We'll see how that works out.

Other knitting has been minor and not blog-worthy. Washclothes mostly although I did cut some old t-shirts into strips and knit them into a horribly misshapen bathmat that's actually too small to be a bathmat!

There are going to be some new babies in our lives - NOT MINE! Just friends and friends-of-friends so at least I'll have some small projects!!

2008-10-15T10:06:00.001-05:00

Misc Crafting

Made a few of these little needle felted pumpkins. After I made them, I made a witch head and a red devil head. The red devil looks a bit like Salvador Dali...

2008-10-15T09:57:00.003-05:00

Finished Objects Report

James' version of the Fibercrack blanket is finished. I didn't do the lace bit so the sides are just straight and it's a basic square. I did however keep in the purl bits to give it some texture, and to create an interesting color change since the purl rows were added when I changed colors. He pronounced it "perfect" this morning when I showed him and we immediately put it on his bed.

The detail here shows the purl color changes a bit better.

2008-09-27T19:31:00.006-05:00

Holy Hotcakes! I just looked at my list of archives - two more months, and this puppy will be FIVE YEARS OLD!

Speaking of time flying by, look who's three and a half!!

The Loverly Catherine

The Handsome James

2008-09-27T19:18:00.007-05:00

TaDa!

This Fibercrack is finished. I used about ten skeins of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in three shades of rose colors. I was going for "ombre" but the last bit wasn't quite big enough. No matter, the little one loves her blanket and has been sleeping with it ever since it was blocked and dried.

Here's a close-up:

Started one for her brother in Lime Light, Caribbean Blue, Jungle Green, and two skeins of white that I dyed in shades of lime/light blue. I've got more of the Jungle Green than anything else so I'm doing those sections bigger; it's in stripes, however since it's knit in the round as a square, the stripes are more boxes of color. I've also taken out the lace bit so it's just straight rather than wavy. More masculine that way. I'm really digging the way the colors look together. Funny thing is, and I so did NOT plan this, is the middle brother (he's the 8-year old) has a woven throw rug and a duvet cover in almost the same colorways. So when they get to sharing a room, they'll be totally color-coordinated.

2008-09-22T22:38:00.001-05:00

Finished the blanket. It's about the size of a top of a double bed. I made it in three different pink/rose colors so it looks rather ombre.

I started one for my son (her twin brother) today in greens, only I'm not doing the lace part - it'll just be a big square with stripes (worked in the round, so stripes in square?) in lime light, caribbean blue, jungle green, and some white that I dyed in various shades of lime/green/turqoiuse. That last bit is still hanging to dry so I need to wait now so I can get that incorporated since the other three colors are in there. This blanket is the perfect manic-project.

2008-09-05T14:57:00.003-05:00

Started another Fibercrack blanket. I've got a ton of Cotton Fleece in shades of pinks that I'm going to use to make my three-year old daughter a blanket. The one I made for her when I was pregnant is way too small now. Sigh. It was a very cute blanket but I'm not double knitting one to fit a twin sized bed. Entirely too much like work and nothing like fun.

Knitting has been something I try to fit in around life, the kids, and my part-time job. I still very much enjoy myself but there's just not enough hours in the day. Would that I could make a living at knitting. Well, then again, I might not like it so much. I liken it to the time I worked at THE best place in Southern New Jersey to get a cheesesteak. Every night I worked, for about two years, I would leave stinking of cheesesteaks and grease. Made my boyfriend hungry (so I always had to bring him a sandwich), but made me go off on eating them myself. I'm afraid that doing knitting or any of my hobbies as a job would make me tend to like them less.

Just got back from two weeks in the Outer Banks, NC. Bigger house, but same area - Ocean Sands, Section P. It was right across the street from the house we rented last year. We like that it's close to shopping, very close to the beach, and mostly quiet - the neighborhood primarily rents only to families. Some families can be louder than others but for the most part, it's got a nice vibe that you don't get from teen towns like Wildwood, NJ.

Getting ready to be hit by the hurricane traveling up the coast. Our area is predicted to get over six inches of rain. At least I don't have to water my garden. Hope the tomatoes don't drown.

Husband has been gone all week, reporting from the Republican National Convention. He's had a good time, got some good interviews, but he's ready to be home. I'M ready for him to be home. We got home late Friday night, he left early on Sunday. I've been single parenting all week and my nerves are wearing out.

Speaking of Republicans, I took a "quiz" at some website that was "How Democrat Are You" and the sister one, "How Republican Are You." I'm about 16% each - funny, huh? I was impressed, very much so, by Sarah Palin's speech. It's just a shame that her daughter is getting more press; you'd think the 17-year old was the one on the ticket, not her mama. I feel bad for her. I was 21 when my daughter was born and that was HARD. I can't imagine doing it at 17. Oh hell, I can't imagine my 17-year old son getting married because he knocked someone up. But then again, in my world, we are pro-choice and not very religious. There would be no shotgun wedding.

2008-06-19T19:39:00.003-05:00

Finally! It's finished.
I used the pattern from Knitting Lingerie Style - at the White Lies Design website, it's the Krista Tee. Instead of the recommended yarn, I substituted Cotton Fleece by Brown Sheep. I've gotten loads of compliments. So much so that I have all that cotton fleece in Cavern from that cardigan I tried to make and frogged oh so long ago. I might use that to knit myself another. At the rate I'm going, I'll be finished with that NEXT summer!

Also working on a dress for my smallest daughter - I'm knitting the top in different colored stripes and will attach it to a cotton fabric skirt. It's very cute now. Hope it meets my expectations! I'm writing up the directions as I work it so hopefully I'll be able to pass it along. Or not.

2008-06-12T19:35:00.002-05:00

FO Alert! Woohoo! I finished my White Lies Design white lace tshirt last night. From the look on my husband's face, I'd say it looks and fits fantastic! So vavoomy!

2008-05-28T19:03:00.003-05:00

It's not like I'm writing and am burnt out on the whole process. I'm not doing much of anything other than being the wonderful, kick-ass wife and mom that I am but blogging isn't all that interesting anymore. I suppose part of the disenchantment comes from doing this for so many years. I started at Open Diary when it was just a frontispiece ("an illustrated leaf preceding the title page of a book") and wrote my little heart out. I wrote about the trials and tribulations of moving across the country to be with the man you met online. About my life, my future plans, past regrets and exploits. My kids, my dogs, my house, my neighbors, my crafting, my hobbies, my family. Nowadays, I can barely manage anything other than a grocery list or a stupid poll on my MySpace page. I did the whole write about my life thing...it's not that interesting

And yes, I know bloody well that I'm too freaking old for a MySpace page. Blame that on my belly dance teacher - she posted the choreography for a routine on her page and in order to access it, I needed to have my own page. Annoying, really.

I am knitting. Currently, I'm working on a piece from Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael. It's a cute lacy t-shirt. Out of four pieces, I've actually completed one. I'm halfway finished with the back. Today I got in some LYS time at Uniquities in Vienna, VA. They are having a big sale. Lesson for today is quit trying to take three year old twins into a yarn store. While I think the girl would have behaved and would have taken an interest in the yarn (especially since I was picking out some purples to make something for HER), the boy is just a meathead. Unless there are balls and cars or something on which to climb or hang, he doesn't want much to do with it.

Oldest daughter was home for a few days in between her taking an independent study and starting summer classes. You know what that means: overnight getaway for the parents! I love the Klimpton hotels. We've stayed at the Hotel Palomar in Washington, DC; the Hotel Monaco, also in DC; and the Hotel Palomar in Arlington, VA. Thus far, the Arlington one is my absolute favorite! While there's not as much around there as there is at the Palomar in DC (it's right near Dupont Circle), our room was comfortable, clean, had a great view, and the best bathtub on the planet. I am SOOOOO getting one of those when I have my dream house built. It's just a have-to-have thing at this point in my life! Since the room was pretty much our entire budget, I packed a picnic dinner consisting of grape tomatoes, salami, panini roll, four different cheeses, marinated mushrooms, chocolate, and lots and lots of red wine. I think I took three baths! I'm surprised I wasn't a giant prune when I got home the next morning well rested and refreshed and ready to take on the kids again.

Countdown to summer beach vacation: too many days and counting... August 16th can't get here fast enough! This year, not one but two glorious weeks at the beach!

2008-03-31T20:14:00.002-05:00

I had the BEST weekend! On Saturday, I drove up to Hershey, PA to spend the weekend doing spa stuff with my sister. The Hershey Hotel has a chocolate spa! Yes, chocolate. I smelled so yummy at various points it was all I could do not to lick myself.

The spa is just so nice and relaxing. Upon check in, you are taken to the ladies' locker room, given sandals and a comfy robe, and shown around the facilities.

On Saturday, I had an hour-long massage and the therapist took some extra time to try and work out the kinks in my neck and upper back. After that, I had the Chocolate Immersion treatment. The treatment involves being scrubbed down with a moisterizer-based scrub which had ground up cocoa beans in it; then that is rinsed off and then you are covered in a cocoa mud solution, wrapped in plastic, a thermal blanket, and a wool blanket and left alone to relax in a darkened room. After about thirty minutes (during which I could NOT turn off my brain to relax at all), I was unwrapped, rinsed off, and lotioned up. It was weird but really nice. I smelled absolutely marvelous after that.

We had a light dinner, and my sister and her sister-in-law hit the sack. Seeing it was only 10PM and I'm not only a grown-up but a night owl, this wasn't going to cut it for me. So first I took a walk around the hotel's garden. They have two really big koi ponds and when I walked past, the fish would swim along - they probably were thinking FOOD! But their little bodies looked like tiny souls in the River Styx. The cold got to me after a bit, so I headed in to the bar and had not one but two chocolate martinis. Wicked and tasty. By now, my sister had woken up and when I wasn't in the room, called my cell phone so I headed upstairs. It was around midnight by then. We ordered cookies and milk from room service, and then went to bed.

Up at 6ish, we were dismayed that although the room was rather lovely and full of complimentary things, there was NOT a coffee pot! Not only that, but there wasn't any place to get a complimentary cup of coffee. For almost $300 a night for the room, you'd think they could come up off of a complimentary continental breakfast. Thankfully the spa opened at 8:30am and we headed there for some coffee and muffins (which they have all day along with fruit and tea in their quiet rooms where you wait between spa treatments).

After my muffin and several cups of coffee, I was called to have my Sweet Feet pedicure. My first pedicure ever and man, it was great! The chair had a special whirlpool soaking tub where I was told to relax for a few minutes. The therapist was really nice and very gentle with my ticklish feet! First she filed and trimmed my toenails, the entire foot and lower leg was exfoliated with a sugar scrub. That was rinsed off and the cocoa mud solution was painted all over my feet. After that sat for a few minutes, it was rinsed off and then lotion was massaged into my feet and lower legs. I would have been okay with just that, but no! Then these little plastic bag slippers with melted paraffin in them were put over my feet (smelled of lavendar - very nice) and that was covered with terry cloth booties. I sat for about 10 minutes or so until that was removed, and I got my toenails painted in a really pretty purple. I never paint my toes and knew Catherine would get a kick out of it, so I choose her favorite color.

After that we headed back to our room to get ready for the brunch buffet. Wow! If I wasn't impressed just by the beautiful circular dining room, then the food just blew me out of the water. I had a little of everything - tried to eat like it was a tapas restaurant and I took little tastes of things: grilled duck breast over a mixed greens salad, mushroom salad polenta sandwiches, shrimp, oysters, crab claws, prime rib, and desserts! I felt horrid in that my sister woke up ill and couldn't keep any food down but I wasn't going to pass up eating because she wasn't.

After lunch, I had a facial. It was so wonderfully relaxing.

The two days made me feel so soft, smooth, and refreshed. I can't wait til next year!

2008-03-04T12:11:00.002-05:00

Wow - how'd that happen? I have five years of archives. Five years? I've been blogging for five years? Well, certainly not with any level of consistency that's for sure. New for knitting? Currently I purchased a kick-ass pair of clear Converse sneakers and made a special field trip to pick up some sock yarn in a colorway that: A) I'd wear; and B) didn't look so outlandish as to make me look like I had clown feet. I succeeded but haven't done anything but swatch it. I have to finish my oldest son's socks.

2008-02-05T10:00:00.001-05:00

Finally finished that cardigan. It turned out well and I actually wear it! Gasp! Been busy with work and toddlers. James and Catherine will be three at the end of Marth. Can you believe they're going to be three already? Within the past three weeks they've been potty trained and moved from their cribs to toddler beds. That wasn't the original plan - the original plan was to get Catherine a bed and James and Andrew a bunkbed and move James into Andrew's room. Catherine doesn't do well on her own and I don't think they're ready to be separated into different bedrooms quite yet. Too many changes at once is not necessarily a good thing.

Oldest daughter still doing great in college. Oldest son in danger of failing 11th grade; it's his own fault and I'm no longer going to be paying for summer classes so if he fails, he fails. Plenty of people had had to repeat grades and didn't end up adversely affected. If anything, it might make him more responsible. Middle son is a second grader who would now like to be either a football or basketball player when he grows up. I told him that he better hope he takes after me; his dad is rather un-tall.

Contract for work ends in March so I might end up writing more on my blog; however, I'd rather get another gig! I've become accustomed to making some money.

Rented at house in the Outer Banks, NC again this summer but this time around we're going for two weeks. My oldest is going to come home so she can spend some vacation time with us as a family, which will be nice. Last year, she was in Italy during the summer, came home for a few days, headed back to OK, and was actually in NYC the time we were at the beach. The husband is only going for one week so it works out that we'll all head down together and then after the first week, he'll head back home with oldest daughter so he can take her to the airport and she'll be back in time for classes. They start early in OK.

Sister is mostly cancer free; she has to have a hysterectomy on Thursday because they've found a bunch of tumors on her uterus. They aren't cancer but could be cancerous - not sure that that means. But she's been going through menopause - actually, chemo-paus - because chemotherapy killed her ovaries. Not fun. One fun thing is this year is her 40th birthday so we're going to the Hotel Hershey to do chocolate based spa things for a weekend girl's trip. Not thrilled that her sister-in-laws (two out of three) are also coming. Don't know them and from what I've heard about them from my sister, don't care for them much either. Oh well - the spa things aren't group activities (they better NOT be) and I can always drink my vodka, listen to my ipod, and belly dance the night away.

Performed in a student showcase for belly dancing in January. My first performance in front of a paying audience! It was a blast. We rehearsed together a grand total of three times before the show - the third being on the day of the show! This was for American Tribal Style belly dance; as long as you know the moves and some of the cues, you should be able to follow along. It's improvisational but everyone knows all the moves that are available for either fast paced or slow paced music.

Husband is in Vegas this week for work. James is crying this morning that his ear hurts. The tooth fairy kept forgetting to leave Andrew money for his tooth but finally got her shit together last night. My best friend back in OKC is sick and her doctors don't know what's the cause nor how to fix it. They can just relieve her discomfort for now.

2007-10-09T21:25:00.000-05:00

Some images from the Outer Banks, North Carolina - specifically Corolla:

2007-09-26T16:23:00.000-05:00

well shit. I had a nice long newsy post and I screwed the pooch on that one.

Let's see. I'm still knitting. Just not getting anything finished. The cardigan is still in pieces waiting to be blocked and assembled. The front section of the lacy t-shirt is finished and the back is on the needles. The fir cone lace shawl is in a bag of UFOs in my craft cave. I don't even remember where I am on that one.

My crafting time has been taken up recently by making a tribal style belly dance costume. So far, the bra is covered and there is some trim on it. I had to wait for the coins to get here so I can get them sewn onto it as well. The belt still needs to have some coins sewn on as well as some long ribbons. That green fringe in the photo is from a scarf underneath the belt. I'm also working on a turkish vest (no pictures) and need to get that finished. I have a three-part goal for my halloween party. Make costume, lose weight, create/choreograph a routine. So far, I'm two for three - I can't find a song. I'm still working on that part. It's probably going to be more off the cuff but I still need to get it going.

Other than crafting, I've been working more than I want - 32 hours last week and it's supposed to be about fifteen. Dealing with four kids all summer was draining. We did rent a house in the Outer Banks (North Carolina - specifically Corolla) for a week in August. That was a blast! I had a great time. I was at the beach every morning and afternoon. I tried very hard to avoid the sun and still got a tan! But no one got burned and that's saying something considering both the twins are so darn pale - one a blonde and the other a redhead!

James and Catherine are 2-1/2 years old now. Can you believe that? Potty training is on the horizon but I'm not pushing it. Sometimes they want to sit, sometimes they do not. It's early yet.

My oldest daughter was in Florence, Italy this summer taking some classes, doing some tours, and having a great time. She was ready to come home after the six weeks. Middle son got to do a week of skateboard camp and my oldest son was in summer school for six weeks making up not one world history class, but two.

Celebrated my tenth wedding anniversary with a White Trash wedding anniversary party. Everyone had to come dressed in their white-trashiest and I served a bunch of classics: pigs in blankets, little smokies, mini-corn dogs, saltines, velveeta, and a krispy kreme bread pudding for dessert. Surprisingly, that tasted pretty good albeit way too sweet even for me. I averaged about a party every other month last year. The next party is being planned for Halloween. I was thinking of decorating the house with birds a la Alfred Hitchcock. Perhaps next year - I don't have time to make any birds before then.

2007-07-28T14:02:00.000-05:00

Summer 2007

2007-07-12T21:34:00.001-05:00

Finally! I got all the pieces knit for the cardigan. I'm so HAPPY! I need to get a new piece of foam insulation to use as a new blocking board so while I find time to get out of the house and do that, I'm going to cast on for my next project. This time I'm making a lacy t-shirt that is in Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael. The LYS I hit up for the yarn recommended for the shirt didn't have it but they recommended Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. I haven't swatched yet. Wish me luck.

2007-07-09T15:45:00.001-05:00

My Dad had me and my family (me and the five kids - hubby had to go out of town for work), my sister's family (her, her husband, and their four kids), and my uncle's family (my uncle, my aunt, and my cousin) over for a cook-out yesterday. His birthday was Saturday but racing season comes first! At any rate, various members of my family as taken by my oldest daughter who played paparazzi for the day.

2007-07-09T15:19:00.000-05:00

I'm still knitting; I'm even on the SECOND sleeve! So almost finished and soon I will be able to post pictures of all my really good projects.

We just bought a canon Digital Rebel XTI SLR camera and it kicks ass.

Picture of me with my two youngest.

2007-06-26T19:51:00.000-05:00

Here's a video of the March 2007 belly dancing recital. I don't think I really visible. Oh well. I'm the one in the back with the long black skirt.

2007-06-13T14:53:00.000-05:00

I'm still here and I am knitting. Work is typing and editing all the time so sometimes the last thing I feel like doing is blogging when I've been dealing with Word and FrameMaker on and off during the course of the day.

So, I'm still working on the ribby cardigan. I've finished the back and the left front. About 1/3 the way up the right front. After the sleeves, it's just a simple collar so the finishing up shouldn't take too long.

What else have I been doing? Well, finished up the last of the belly dance classes I've been taking through the Fairfax County Parktakes program. Next Sunday, I start Tribal style belly dance classes at an actual DANCE studio! I am very jazzed about this although I don't think American Tribal style (ATS) is my style either. I'm not into the showy choreography that is the cabaret style (what you're most likely to see in a middle eastern restaurant) but ATS is kind of boring looking when it's only one dancer...I think my style is kind of tribal meets burlesque...

Triburlesque!

At any rate, I start classes next Sunday morning। Hopefully the drive won't be a drag। I've been slowly acquiring materials for a suitable costume once I get my tribal on and my former instructor is going to put together a performance troupe so I'm thinking of joining that. I'd be THE tribal dancer and I'm also THE seamstress; I think I'm a shoe-in!!

My sister was down for a visit a few weekends ago. She looked much better and her hair is about an inch long. The day before she came down, she had written me an email that said her doctors think she might now have liver and lung cancer. Understandably, I was freaking out. Then when she gets here she explains that her liver and lung levels aren't showing up within the acceptable range in her tests and it may be more cancer or it may be the sarcoidosis she had about a decade ago is out of remission and that may be what's attacking her lungs and liver. She was supposed to have both a CAT and a PET scan this week. I haven't heard from her.

2007-05-14T15:43:00.000-05:00

So I write and edit every day nowadays. Work wants at least 20 hours a week from me so that's what I'm up to. Still slogging away on the ribby cardigan. Finally finished the back and need to start on the sides; did cast on, just flubbed the first set-up row and frogged it back.

Life is busy. Toddlers are everywhere. Summer rental at the beach is paid for - can't wait til August now! One week in the Outer Banks - whoohooO

Oldest daughter is going to Florence, Italy for some international student experience. I'm jealous.

Six year old is about to drive me crazy with "I'm bored." He's bored? I never hardly get out of the friggin' house!

Still belly dancing and loving it. Contemplating taking some more advanced courses but every studio is either too far away or too freaking expensive. One place, one set of lessons is $225 which wouldn't be bad but they REQUIRE that you take another class along with what I want which is a speciality class in tribal style belly dance. That now will be $550. So, it's a no for me for that studio. Still searching; meanwhile, still taking lessons til the recital June 10th. After that, we'll see.

Haven't killed dog yet nor given him away. He could be better but he also could be much worse so I need to quit bitching.

Random thought day but I realized I hadn't posted in a million years and needed to.

Need to get back on diet. It's just that the food choices are seriously blah and I am easily tired of them.

2007-04-08T12:43:00.000-05:00

Crazed: The Bellydance

Check out this mini-documentary on belly dancing. I especially love the message it sends to women in that your body is something to celebrate regardless of size or shape.

2007-03-30T10:41:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday James!

Catherine and James turned two yesterday. It doesn't seem like it's been two years since the day they came into this world. There were several instances in the first few days where I didn't think I'd make it through the first two days, two weeks, or two months. Two years later, they are amusing, frustrating, wonderful, amusing, crazy, messy, destructive, verbal, and physically demanding!

2007-03-30T10:37:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Catherine!

Here's Catherine on her birthday.

2007-03-24T14:53:00.000-05:00

I am knitting...

I cast on for the back of a cardigan. I'm not knitting it in the recommended yarn so it's a crapshoot as to how it will turn out. It's a cute pattern that I bought from Chicknits. I'm doing it all in one color though - a walnut cotton/wool mix that I got on clearance from Knitpicks. Another modification, I'm doing the entire body ribbed to make up for the fact that the yarn is knitting slightly larger than gauge. This way, the whole garment will have some flexibility in that the ribbing will expand and contract. I hope. So far, I've used one skein and have about 4 inches done on the back. I bought 30 skeins so I'm sure I'll have enough. I just hope it's not too huge. I never wear that black cardigan I made because, well, I've complained about it before - it's too short, the arms are too long and it's more suited to an orangutan than a woman. Oh well.

2007-03-24T14:45:00.000-05:00

James loves books

He devours them - literally and figuratively. He eats them, chews on them, rips them apart, and loves to look at them. Because of that, I cannot in my heart limit his access. Thankfully, they are all books that I've had since the older kids were little so it's not like he's destroying/loving books that are brand new. As a matter of fact, he's keeping his new book about trucks tooth-free!

2007-02-26T11:45:00.000-05:00

Back.

Like anyone missed me. I took a mini-vacation to Phoenix, AZ (from NoVA) to visit a friend and temporarily escape my family. I'm glad I'm home although it's quite a downer to go from sunny and 60s to snow and 30s. I almost didn't make it home last night. Forty-five minutes before we were scheduled to board, the airlines announced we were under a weather advisory which meant we could be delayed, diverted, or cancelled altogether. If cancelled or diverted, they don't help you with hotels or anything. But my husband was keeping me posted as to the weather conditions in Baltimore last night and although it snowed all day, by the time I was scheduled to get back, it had stopped, wasn't too cruddy, and the winter weather warning (or whatever it was) had been cancelled. So delay was only 20 minutes. Got home at 3am.

After not getting much sleep being away - just cause it wasn't home, not cause I wasn't comfortable - I'm ready to crash.

Checked out a LYS while I was in Phoenix. I think technically, the store was in Scottsdale. After getting annoyingly carsick just getting there (I can't do passenger very well and looking around at all the different stuff didn't help) I was glad to see they had a comfy shabby-chic couch on which to rest my spinning head! The store was Jessica Knits. Wonderful store, lots of yarn and other fun things, helpful and courteous staff. I bought some new double points from Blue Sky that came in cute little tins, a skein of funky yarn from Colinette called Jitterburg with which to make myself a pair of either fingerless gloves or a pair of these, a new Interweave magazine, and some cable stitch holders.

I had a really great visit but I'm glad to be home. I missed my family. Especially the babies.

After walking around the house the four days I was gone looking for me, calling "Mommy, Mommy" Catherine wouldn't even come to me this morning. I knew what was going on but it still really hurt my feelings. She finally forgave me. James however was so happy to see me he ran over, I picked him up, and he gave me a big kiss and lots of hugs.

2007-02-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

Mardi Gras Party

And some knitting content...

We had a mardi gras party last night here in the wild and wooly suburbs. The beads were given freely - there was no flashing involved. Lots of hurricanes were consumed although I've still got a gallon of the stuff out in my freezing cold garage. The food was all a big hit and for someone not from that part of the world , I feel pretty confident that I managed to pull off Louisiana cooking with success.

I made my own mini-loaves for Muffaletta sandwiches as well as the olive salad that is what makes it a muffaletta. Also on last nights menu were Louisiana Deviled Crabcakes, Crawfish Etoufee, Cajun Boiled Shrimp, mini version of Natchitoches Meat Pies, beignets, a king cake (complete with baby of course), and a Chocolate Doberge Cake. The last people didn't roll out til a little after 1am so it was a good party. Even better, no red wine ended up on my carpet this time around!

As for knitting content, after making three pairs of socks for the babies, I really wanted some for myself so what happens? I'm stuck on the second one...still turning that heel! Oh well - I'll get it finished. I'm using 1s and 2s with a gauge of 8 stitches to the inch in a cashmere/merino blend. Black socks with hot pink heels and toes. Picture will be forthcoming.

2007-02-09T21:03:00.000-05:00

My Two Girls

This is of Mallory, 20 years old and Catherine, 20 months old. My oldest and my youngest.

2007-02-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

More Socks

I don't think I got all the socks I've made recently posted. It's been at a one-sock-a-day rate as they are tiny. These were made out of a cashmere/merino blend that I picked up at Stitches East in Baltimore. They were knit on 1s and 2s to a gauge of 8 stitches to an inch.

2007-02-05T19:46:00.000-05:00

Boat and Tote

In our belly dancing class, we spend the last ten minutes doing what our instructor calls "stomach aerobics." Crunches in various manners in order to best devastate my entire abdominal region. We use those giant exercise balls to do one type of crunch and I do feel it afterwards but there's not as much back and neck stress due to the way the ball supports your spine. I have one of those - I have the ball, the measuring tape, the pump, and the tube. What I do not have is the piece that joins the ball to the the tube - it's a little nozzle-shaped white plastic part. I cannot find it anywhere in my room. I just cleaned my room and I'm fairly certain I did not throw it away.

At any rate, I was looking in my closet today and all around my room when I realized that I own seven Boat and Tote bags in six different sizes. Two are the same size but one is an open-top and the other is a zipper top. They are indestructible. I can remember when I got each of them. I have a taller model with longer straps that I used to carry by grade books, agendas, and papers back and forth from the Morgan Village Middle School where I did my student teaching in Camden, New Jersey. The bag was a christmas present from my aunt and uncle in 1990. It doesn't look new but it's far from being worn out. Actually, I think five of them were presents. From that same aunt! Hey, I use them all. Amusing though that not one of them has been pressed into a knitting project bag. I have three other kinds of bags for that right now.

2007-01-31T21:59:00.000-05:00

Sock-it to-me girl

Isn't she loverly? And kind of dorky too!

2007-01-31T21:49:00.000-05:00

News Project

These were knit on size 1 and 2s for a gauge of 8 stitches to the inch. The basic sock pattern in The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. I used less than one skein of Knit Picks Dancing in Rumba. I kitchenered sock one just fine. Then had to remove badly botched kitchener attempt and frog back a bit and do the whole thing again. But second time was the charm. They fit a toddler whose foot circumference is 6-1/2 inches and foot length is 5-1/2 inches! Little Flintstone feet. That's my girl!

2007-01-25T15:43:00.000-05:00

Update

I was reading back through blog entries and realized I never updated my sister's progress. Turns out the two lumps they found before Christmas were benign. So, no mastectomy. Just more chemo. And then radiation therapy. And then I'm not sure...

2007-01-24T20:39:00.000-05:00

Equal time

Here's my other little cutie - James.

2007-01-24T20:18:00.000-05:00

Still here

I've even been knitting! Finally finishing up Catherine's cardigan - you know the one. The "sister" jacket of the one I made for James' a while back, started, put down, and never worked on. That's almost finished. I've seamed it all together, the collar is knit on, now I have to knit on the bottom edge and the collar edge. Should be finished tomorrow. In the meantime, I made a bucket hat out of silk sari yarn. I used a pattern that I bought from Chicknits. I had to modify the directions, a lot; almost to the point of it being a new pattern. If I can remember what I did, I should send them back to them so they can sell the revised version for larger gauge yarns. It's to match a scarf that I knit for my friend Farrah. She loves her scarf and asked for a hat to match. I've got plenty of that yarn sitting around doing nothing so I thought "why not?" It turned out pretty good if I say so myself.

I got Knit Picks Options set on Monday. I got them all organized in their little pockets but don't have any projects yet. I also got a ball of Dancing, a sock yarn, to make a pair of socks for Catherine. One ball oughta make a pair of socks for someone whose feet are only 5-1/2 inches long from heel to toe!

2007-01-10T16:19:00.000-05:00

I've been knitting, promise!

Just not posting much. I made a pink/cream silk/wool hat for my niece. I need to weave in a few ends and mail it off to her. I have a request to make a bucket hat from the silk sari yarn. I made a friend a bias scarf out of it more for looks than for warmth - she lives in Phoenix afterall! She loves it and wants a matching hat. We went thumbing through some new knit magazines last night and she found a pattern she liked. Must cast on.

Speaking of Phoenix, I'll be heading out there at the end of the month. I'm planning on doing some stash enhancement while I'm out there so I need to find some LYS in the area. Anyone got any they like? Or are there some I should just avoid. I won't be traveling with any kidlets - this is my mini-mommy only vacation. I mention that because there are yarn stores where I would say "Oh this is a good place but don't go with kids" and thought there might be people who'd think "Well, so-and-so is a good place, but she's got her kids and they don't like them there."

2006-12-28T15:55:00.000-05:00

Office Xmas Party

This year my husband's company had their office holiday party at a very yummy restaurant in Old Towne Alexandria, VA. I had a ginormous steak and no wine. I've been really good about keeping to my "no more wine" lifestyle. Look ma, no headaches! At any rate, I really need to remember to wear lipstick; and would it kill me to get an actual hairstyle?

2006-12-25T10:57:00.000-05:00

Merry Merry!

My little movie star got a hat set, as well as a barbie purse set that has a set of keys, a cell phone, a compact, and a pair of sunglasses. She LOVES them! Of course her brother is digging them too!

2006-12-21T10:38:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, dammit!

I'm about sick of being politically correct. I'm an atheist, and it's still Merry Christmas. Some days, it's MERRY FUCKING CHRISTMAS but it's still Christmas!

I've been baking all week. At first, work said this was going to be the killer week, but apparently we're more efficient than they thought because as of today, everything is submitted. It's a done deal. I'm not sure how long I'll be kept on. It was til March 2008 now I think it's through this January. Big difference! We'll see. It was really nice to get some extra money especially through the holiday season of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I was able to shop and not put a darn thing on credit cards.

I finished up another we be pirates hat for my sister - hot pink background with black skulls and crossbones. She really liked it. My niece liked another hat that I had made for my sister out of cream and pink silk/wool yarn so she'd like one for her very own; I've got to get that started. We're going to go up the weekend after Christmas to celebrate with my family or at least my sister and her family - between the two of us, we have nine children! It should be fun.

I'm not sure how my sister is doing. I mean statistically. Physically she's a mess - she's lost all her hair, the chemo is screwing with her short-term memory, she's naturally afraid of dying. I just wish there was something more I could do. I feel guilty for being so healthy. My only issue is high blood pressure - and I'm now on two kinds of medication (actually four but two different pills each containing two different kinds of chemicals) to manage things. It's working but I'm often dizzy and keep losing feeling in my fingers and toes. Makes for rather awkward knitting!

I hope everyone has a healthy and happy new year. Make realistic new year's resolutions. Mine this year is another 50 pound weight loss if not 75 pounds. I've got a new tattoo picked out! Also, I'm taking more belly dancing classes and got a few DVDs from Fat Chance Belly Dance so I can teach myself American Tribal. I really love dancing like this and it feels like I've done it before. Maybe when I was an amazon living on the steppes of the Ukraine. Who knows.

2006-12-05T20:09:00.000-05:00

My Tuesday

I'm really trying very hard to not be grouchy right now. Must be PMS. It usually is. I feel uncontrollably evil toward everyone in my immediate vicinity. Today, I tried to pull into a spot that some kid was standing in to hold for his friend. I was really pissed - that parking lot is really crazy packed and I had my signal on. The worst this kid could come up with was saying I was rude and he called me a bitch. I about laughed in his face. "Bitch"? Well no shit I'm a bitch. I was two seconds from saying something terribly unkind but really felt there was no issue anymore. I won. Now had he keyed my car or something, I would have whooped his ass.

On the news of my sister front, i finished another chemo cap - this one is hot pink with black skulls and crossbones. I need to post a picture, but I got the pattern We call them pirates from Hello Yarn. TOO CUTE! I'm going up there this Saturday to go have lunch, go shopping, and have our dad take us out to a nice expensive dinner! She's hosting a cookie swap on Sunday so last night and this morning, I baked spoon cookies. The recipe says that the cookies taste better after a few days so by Sunday they should be awesome. However, since I had to bake eleven dozen for the swap and in doing the math figured that meant 22 dozen for sandwich cookies, my contribution is the spoon cookies un-sandwiched. Still very very yummy and a better mouth fit. Crumbly cookies are better when bite-sized. You don't want cookie crumbs all over your shirt.

My sister and I spoke today after she sent me an email with the line "I have more bad news." Not something you would like to read in anyone's email. They did an MRI on her, and found two more what can only be cancerous tumors in her right breast (same side as everything else so these are growing very fast even after two rounds of chemotherapy). She was told today she'd need a mastectomy after a needle-biopsy (for insurance to make sure it really is cancer). I was upset - she said "don't cry." I felt bad because I can't do anything and feel like this is enough already. She said "Oh I'll live" but with such a fuck-off flat sarcastic tone to her voice that we both laughed out loud. She had the genetic test so she's a carrier. Her doctors recommend that I get the test as well although I've had a clean mammogram. I suppose I could be better informed to make sure my kids knew to do all the self-checks possible early and often in order to beat cancer if it comes. Scary thought.

Put lights up on the house today. My ladder wasn't tall enough to get the second floor gutter line with the icicle nights nor the roof line of the garage but the rest looks nice. I bought some of those ribbon lights from Home Depot. It took eight strings of them to go up about 5 feet around one of my trees. I'd like to do at least two more trees, but jeepers! Tomorrow, I borrow a tall ladder. Also picked up was a power stapler/nailer. OOOOohhh... why haven't I gotten one of these earlier? It was $30 (well, 29.97 or something along those lines) and came with its own little (albeit cheap) case. Worked great for tacking up the lights especially since I had discovered that the gutter clips weren't going to work with the gutter caps! Oy.

2006-11-29T14:17:00.000-05:00

Belly Dancing Recital

This is me and my belly dance class instructor on the last day of classes. Yes, we had a recital!

2006-11-13T23:13:00.000-05:00

Calendar Girls!

For a contest at Chappysmom. This is a calendar of works by Alphonse Mucha. On the left is Topaz, 1900. On the right is Ruby, 1900.

2006-11-13T14:34:00.000-05:00

ARGH!

This is my latest project - it's a chemo cap for my sister. You know I must like her because I'm actually doing INTARSIA!

2006-11-07T13:54:00.000-05:00

Big SEX!

That should have gotten someone's attention. I went to Stitches East on Saturday. Just went meandering around the 250 or so vendors. Went alone, didn't bring anything other than my driver's license, some cash, the coupon that saved me $2 on the entrace fee, and my Visa checkcard (which I only used to get cash). No sticks, no projects, no trying to bond with other knitters. I am SO an anti-social knitter. It's not funny, but me and my anti-social, ADKD (attention deficit knitter's disorder) self had a good time. I bought some beautiful yarn(cashmere/merino), some to-dye yarn (both DK and lace weight), some purple wool to make a friend a pair of felted slippers, a pattern for a pumpkin hat (this was a commission project so I figured I'd make the money back), and a SERIOUSLY kick-ass t-shirt. It's grey with this Born to Knit graphic on the front. Modern Yarn was the vendor and if you go to their site and go to Shop, you can see other designs that they have.

I did get interviewed by some Bostonian who does a blogcast. I'd be "Elaine from Burke." Not so stunning of an interview, we got started about the t-shirts and went to my knit tattoo! He was intrigued apparently.

2006-11-03T16:53:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween

Here I am in all my fat belly dancing glory!

I really should have tried harder to suck in my gut!

2006-11-01T23:22:00.000-05:00

Monkey Boy

Here's James in his halloween costume. He liked his even less than Catherine - but then again, she'll wear a hat and he throws his violently off his head so the hood wasn't cutting it!

2006-11-01T23:19:00.000-05:00

Here kitty, kitty!

Here's Catherine in her halloween costume. She's a white cat. She wasn't all that thrilled and lasted maybe three minutes total in that costume. At 5:30 pm she was saying "night night" because she wanted to go to bed! Not quite used to daylight savings time yet.

2006-10-19T19:03:00.000-05:00

Meme from JenLa

Where is your favorite knitting spot?
I sit on my couch under the lamp with my back to the television. I prop my legs up on the length of the couch and try and keep my body between my knitting and the babies. NOT easy to do by the way.

If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead?
I guess I’d sew more. I used to be quite the stitcher – did weddings, formal wear, christening ensembles… oh and Halloween costumes ( my second favorite kind of sewing project).

If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why?
I used to think I’d want to go to England as I’ve never been there and I’m a big fan of the English language and of Shakespeare. But I really want to go to Fiji or some other kind of place where the human interaction is minimal and the beach is maximal (that’s not a word but what the hell…)

When you were little - What did you want to do “when you grew up?” Are you doing it?
Let’s see, according to my step-gramma, I always wanted to be a mommy – with five kids, I’d say I’m doing that in spades! But as far as career paths I wanted at various times: airline pilot, cruise ship captain, truck driver, doctor… I’m not doing any of those.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Wavy Gravy by Ben & Jerry’s but it’s in the graveyard and pleas to the contrary have gone unanswered. In lieu of that, I'll take Brownie Batter or just about anything with chocolate.

2006-10-18T10:02:00.000-05:00

Still here

I'm still knitting. Working on Catherine's cardigan. Finished fronts and back - cast on for the sleeves Monday. I cast on for two at once so I can keep the increases the same. So it's going to feel like it's taking twice as long to finish the sleeves. Maybe not such a good idea.

For bad news that just keeps getting worse, I spoke with my sister last night. For her first surgery, they removed the tumor. For the second surgery they removed the lymph nodes and the tissue that had surrounded the tumor. They found two types of breast cancer - a more rare form of a "sticky" kind of cancer that doesn't spread all over and an aggressive estrogen producing cancer in two tumors that does spread all over. Saying that, she has since found out that in addition to those two cancers, she has ovarian cancer as well. Probably as a result of the estrogen-producing tumors. I tried to pay attention to everything she was saying but my heart just dropped to the floor when she told me that. She starts chemotherapy on the 30th - just in time for Halloween. She's has to go through 6 cycles of getting the chemotherapy every 21 days. She should expect to lose her hair in the first two weeks. She's going to get really sick. And I don't know what to do...

2006-10-11T21:26:00.000-05:00

Next Tattoo?

This is Ford's Warrior in Pink symbol (one of a set) that they are using in their breast cancer campaign. My sister is getting this as a tattoo and it's pretty enough that I thought "Hell, why not?" Of course, it's so not in my color scheme (all black, no colored inks) so I'm still thinking about it. I'm thinking on the back of my neck.

2006-10-06T12:22:00.000-05:00

Been busy

Work is keeping me busy-ish. It's not as crazy as it was, and really quiet in comparison to what it will be. But today, I got nothing.

Did you know I sew? Yes, I'm a stitcher in addition to being a knitter (picker) and a hooker (crochet). Got a tip from some post somewhere (I can't remember where I saw it otherwise, I'd cite it) regarding multi-sized patterns. Usually you end up cutting the size you want and unless the next size you want to make is smaller, you've got a pattern for only one size. Recently, I bought a pattern from Folkwear (wonderful but pricey and they never go on sale like Simplicity at Joann's stores) and along with the pattern they sent a sample of what they call pattern tracing fabric. I thought it was a good idea. You trace the size of the pattern on the fabric and therefore don't have to cut into your pattern. I thought it was kind of expensive but then I saw this tip after I googled pattern tracing paper. Someone said to use aisle runners - the kind you use in weddings so the dress isn't dragging through the dirt. The aisle runners are heavier and you've got a version of the pattern forever! I bought a 50 foot roll from ebay for $30 (plus S&H) that is 38" wide. I used my sliding glass doors as a lightbox and viola! I've got a pattern that I can sew and make a mock-up and I haven't cut up an expensive pattern! I'm jazzed.

I'm making a turkish coat, vest, and entari to create an ethnic belly dancing costume. I'm taking classes in belly dancing and I decided that would be a great halloween costume - plus, we have a recital at the end of class.

This was going to be longer, but the rugrats are awake. I need to post new pictures. Perhaps tonight!

2006-09-25T18:19:00.000-05:00

Insert Clever Here

I've been knitting. I made a quick scarf out of recyled sari silk as a birthday present for a friend. I did it on the bias - you know, cast on X number of stitches, K1, M1, knit to last two stitches, K2Tog. If you do that every other row, soon you will have knitting going wonky - purposefully. She liked it and I'm going to make her a pair of felted slippers when she comes out in October. She lives in Phoenix so when she comes here and it's not summer, she's cold. Felted slippers, perhaps in purple, would probably be very welcome! I'm also working on Catherine's sweater - it's just like James' only in a pink. AND I started another piece of lace work, hopefully I won't screw this one up as I've done so many times before.

I'm working and working. Some days I feel like the hamster on a wheel, no, better - a hamster on CRACK on a wheel. Never ending spinning in place. My husband (note, not the use of DH for 'darling husband' just 'husband') was out of town this past weekend and will be out of town for the next two weekends. Made for a rather harried pace of trying to get work done in the little time that the babies would allot me before they'd start melting down.

On a horribly somber note, my little sister, 2-1/2 years younger, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a malignant tumor removed and I'm not sure to what extent of the rest of her surgery will be. Right now all I know is that there will be more as well as radiation and chemotherapy. For those of you who've been putting off getting a mammogram, don't anymore. She's only 38.

2006-09-14T20:01:00.000-05:00

Something Amusing

I tried to post this picture the other day and Hello was behaving like ass. So I put it on my website, the one I do nothing with other than sometimes remember to mirror a post or two. Here's Catherine. I got a crate for Barney the day I adopted him. Firstly because if I'm not home, I'd like to know that the dog is not chewing up anything electrical and killing himself a la the cat from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Secondly, I figured if the babies drove him crazy, he could retreat to his own little house. So what happens? Catherine keeps climbing in and claiming it as her own!

2006-09-03T22:55:00.000-05:00

oh...yeah...

That shawl I started? The one that I started after screwing up and frogging three other starts of another shawl? The one where I already had one place where I ended up losing a stitch but I just didn't decrease where I should have in the next row? Well, THAT $*##$)@ shawl is toast. It's back to being a long thing string of very nice wool rolled round and round. I managed to completely drop a stitch and it laddered down and then two rows in a row I was off a stitch and by this time, the pattern is creeping over and really messy. It's a square shaped repeat. Completely lined up left to right and top to bottom. Only mine wasn't. It was off, a bit twisted over a mite, royally *BLEEPED*.

I'm not sure what I'll try next. I don't think I'm cut out for lace: too much counting/too many numbers?

2006-09-03T22:45:00.000-05:00

Here's Barney

This is Barney, he's 5 months old, is some kinda mutt with spaniel and doberman in him, and is the newest member of our family.

No, I have not (officially) lost my mind. But I figured we could handle this because my DH and I are both home during the day. His hours were changed at the beginning of August so he's going in around 5pm. He can help out during the day while I'm working and we are both here to take care of a puppy and James and Catherine. And for anyone interested, there's no such thing as "almost housebroken." It's like being almost pregnant - you are or you are not, but you are not ALMOST anything!

Barney is sweet, not sure about the twins, seems to really like me, and other than the several accidents today - thank goodness I thought that purchasing a carpet cleaner a month or so ago was a good idea - is going to fit into our family just fine!

2006-08-22T12:03:00.000-05:00

Working Hard

And yes, it's just sitting on my behind in front of my computer, but it's not easy. My eyes hurt after awhile. Stuff starts to look the same especially when we're talking technical documents. Right now though, I'm at a stand-still.

Still working on that shawl when I have time. It's pretty mindless. I screwed up somewhere and lost a stitch but I just added it in the next row - no biggie. It's working and since it's more than likely a K and P in the last YO row kind of mistake, like I got the K but forgot the P, it's not going to hurt much to add it the next time around. I like the color and when it's blocked, I'm sure it's going to look great. I'm trying to find something to make for myself. I really want to knit myself a new sexy sweater. Something like this. I saw it in the book but it's in a beigey-grey, it doesn't look like much. But it's very pretty in this color; I don't think I'd wear that color but black or dark green or something along those lines. So maybe with my first paycheck....

Of course, I want to do a lot with my first paycheck - go to Aruba, pay off some bills, take my walking friends out to lunch or dinner or drinks. Something! Anything!

2006-08-19T12:40:00.000-05:00

Catherine

Here's Catherine at almost 17 months old. She's a character! She'll try to make people laugh and when she does, she's got a really great belly laugh. She's my little Lucille Ball. If she's not trying to climb up something, she's trying to engage you in a conversation but in her language. Neither she nor James say many real words. I'm not too worried as they are picking up words very quickly and apparently it's normal for twins to be a little language delayed. She can say "Up" although it comes out closer to "Um." Also, she can say "Mama" clear as a bell! What else...Oh, "tan TOOOO" for Thank You. At least she's got good manners!

2006-08-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

James

James at almost 17 months old. He's enjoying some cheese pizza for lunch. He's getting quite personable, completely different from his sister Catherine. It's funny they are twins because sometimes they don't even seem like siblings!

2006-08-15T19:06:00.000-05:00

Working Hard

I'm still slogging away on a shawl. I'm doing a modified version of the blocks shawl that is in the Folk Shawls book. It's in the back somewhere, knit in black....geometric and dark just like me. I'm digging it although I've only finished (and I'm still two rows short of that anyway) one pattern repeat out of twenty-five or so. Still, I didn't give up!

Started my new job today. Working from home for my old company, different account. Doing Technical Writer stuff. So far, so good. We'll see what happens when I have to log in and actually DO things! :-)

2006-08-11T18:06:00.000-05:00

Frogged

once, twice - oh hell Apparently I am not for knitting lace. I tried several times to start this Candle Flame shawl and I just cannot do it. First I realized I cast on two too many stitches. So I just fudged it, and did a K2tog at the beginnings of two of the garter stitch edge rows. Then, I thought I had it right and knit a row only to have one too many stitches. Frogged it back or rather tinked it back, did it again, this time, I had five too many stitches! This is like the fifth time I tried this thing so I'm sticking up my white flag and I'm going to try something else.

I should mention that I tried to make it twice as wide as the pattern called for but I figured it I just added the amount of stitches that are in between the 8 stitch border (on either side) that I'd be just fine. Well, it wasn't just fine.

I want a nice rectangle shawl that will be on the wide side (the candle flame one was only 16" blocked). And I want to use the yarn I already own that my husband got me to knit up a sweater that I wanted at the time to make. After some soul searching, I realized that I'd never wear said sweater and now have the yarn with which to knit it just sitting there looking pretty and forlorn. Story of my life. Well, maybe not the pretty part but definitely the forlorn part! Any ideas anyone?

2006-08-08T11:53:00.000-05:00

We’re home.

After taking several days to get to Oklahoma City, I was a little burnt out of the whole being-away-from-home thing so I drove straight home. Twenty-six hours in the car driving over 1400 miles. Yes, that was fun. Five kids in the car, two of whom are under two years old….

Happy happy joy joy.

I’m just happy to be home.

I did some knitting on the road. I had cast on about 300 stitches to make a box lace shawl from the Folk Shawls book. I maybe got a row or two the whole time I was away. So much for that! We had a good time. I’ve still got to clean out the van, unpack some duffle bags and return a few borrowed items. Right now I need to go knit!

2006-07-22T10:39:00.000-05:00

Countdown to vacation

The kids and I are taking a road trip to Oklahoma at the end of the month. Yes, you read that correctly. The kids, all four of them, and I singular since DH has to do things like work… There is a good reason for this in that it serves dual purposes: 1) we are getting my oldest daughter at college and taking her home for a few weeks before the fall semester starts and 2) we are getting a vacation out of the trip. So, with that in mind, I’ve been researching things to do and see along I-40 heading east and west. We’re only going to be on a few highways to get to OK. It’s really just a left onto 81 south from 66, then a right onto I-40 until we hit Oklahoma City! We’ll be stopping in Nashville to camp at a KOA and then spend the afternoon at Nashville Shores. Then we’ll be stopping in Arkansas to visit with my MIL. For three days and two nights, we’ll be staying at an Extended Suites in Oklahoma City (complete with full kitchens so I don’t go broke trying to feed all my kids in restaurants).

We used to live in OKC (moved to VA in June 2004) so I’ve got friends out there that I can’t wait to see! I’ll probably stop by the office where I used to work, show off the kids. Drive by my old house and see if they’ve done anything objectionable to it (not that it matters). Eat at some favorite restaurants (hello Chelinos and really good tex-mex).

2006-07-22T10:31:00.000-05:00

Crafty $!#*@ Bastards!

Finally heard from the Crafty Bastards people - I'm not in.

I suppose this means I'm free to shop as I don't have to stay in my booth and sell. I could take this as a positive thing because they said they received over 300 applicants for 100 slots. My evil self would like to go there and call them on the needing of newness that they proclaimed in the email I received. My sane self is in more of a "whatever" mode however. I'm not ready for a sale although had I gotten a "You're In!" reply, I'd BE ready. I could do the arts & crafts thing they have in my little non-incorporated township where people have more money and I could charge more for my unique one-of-a-kind handknit, hand felted, and hand embroidered and beaded handbags. That sale is in September - I have even less time to get ready.

So my knitting recently has consisted of purses, purses, and more purses...anyone want to buy a purse?

2006-07-10T11:06:00.001-05:00

Yes, I'm still here.

Been knitting on and off lately. I'm working on purses, trying to figure out the best way to make monsters, and wondering if there's a point to either since I haven't heard from the Crafty Bastards people (who were supposed to know by July 1st) on whether or not I'm in this year's fair. I suppose my feelings would be a bit hurt if I weren't chosen because I've been in for the past two years - the only two years it's been in existence. Been there from the beginning... Oh well. If not that one, then I'll apply to be in the one in my neighborhood. More money here means I can probably charge more! Well, I'm upping prices anyway because I plan to line the purses this year and put in little cell phone pockets. Put better closures on top so no one can just stick their hands in and help themselves to anything and I've been handpainting some plain old wool from Knitpicks and using that for the purses. I'm pleased so far - hopefully others will be as well.

Read several books this week. Currently on Heat. I really want to hang out with Mario Batali now (he of "Molto Mario" fame). And I'm pretty sure I couldn't handle working in a real restaurant kitchen! What pain, humiliation, torture, and relentless work! Owie.

Been walking with my neighbor friends also; trying to get out every day. We do about 30 minutes of hard core walking through the woods on the trails. All three of us pushing babies in jogging strollers. On the weekends, we head out sans strollers, just the mommies and do about five miles through the woods. I ended up getting some all-terrain running shoes and I can feel a difference. My feet hurt not at all when we were finished today. The walking (or in some cases wogging = walking + jogging) is making a difference. I've lost about 11 inches all over although I've not lost any weight. Building up some muscle mass which is very much a good thing even if I am an Amazon.

We're doing a road trip to OK at the end of the month. Driving 81 to 40 through Tennessee and Arkansas. Camping sites abound along that route which is a good thing. I'm hoping to camp out and back and then stay in a hotel while we're there. Save some money, have more of an adventure. This should be interesting. The main reason for the drive is to pick the college-age daughter up at the end of summer classes. She'll come home for three weeks and then go back for the fall semester at the end of August. We'll also be visiting with the MIL in Arkansas and then friends in OK. I'm trying to think positively not "WHAT AM I CRAZY? CROSS COUNTRY WITH FOUR KIDS IN A MINI-VAN?"

2006-06-23T15:23:00.000-05:00

Mem

Please leave a one-word comment that you think best describes me — it can only be one word long. Then copy and paste this into your blog so that I may leave a word about you.

2006-06-15T10:25:00.000-05:00

Crazy!

Check this out! All I can say is CRAZY!

2006-06-14T10:25:00.000-05:00

FO

Here's James' sweater - the only thing left is to steam block the collar and put on the buttons. I have to find some that I like first.

I'm currently working on a purse for the arts & crafts fair. I'm using one of the skeins that I handpainted so I'm hoping for "WOW" with this colorway. It's my favorite and the first I did. I need to buy more dye!

2006-06-05T10:08:00.000-05:00

Yard sale

I particpated in a community-wide yard sale this Saturday! I had 0-12 months sized baby clothes in boys and girls for the spring/summer season, a jumper, an exersaucer, a swing, a bouncy seat, a diaper pail, tons of bedding, linens, books, some computer stuff including two routers (one is wireless and one is not)…need I go on? I made about $120 which doesn't suck - it's $120 more than I had on Friday. AND I made LOTS OF SPACE in the garage.

Yes, I’ve been knitting. All the pieces for James’ sweater are completed and blocked. I need to do the assembly part and then knit on the collar and edging. Then start on Catherine’s version in pink. I was planning on them for the fall and that’s my drop dead due date for those.

I’ve got to get working on the purses and stuff for the Crafty Bastards craft fair. I’m not sure I’m in yet - they don’t decide til July but if they don’t let me in I can always participate in my town’s art and craft sale/fair in September. It just means that I’ll have less time to get inventory built up. The Crafty fair is in October.

My oldest daughter was home for a week but now is back in OK for summer classes. She’s doing great in college and I am so very proud of her. It’s done so much for her in that she doesn’t seem like my child anymore but more an adult. It’s a good thing although it’s weird to think that my baby will be 20 this year! And the other babies are only 14 months old…I am crazy.

Countdown too til the end of school. Last day here is June 20th and for some unknown reason they only have school until 10:45 am. What in the heck is the point in that? I mean really… I’ve sent in the forms to purchase our family membership to the pools and need to sign Andrew up for swimming lessons. I figured while he took his lessons, the babies and I would hang out in the baby pool all the while avoiding sunburn. I have the palest kids on the planet and will probably need to just go ahead and purchase stock in a sunscreen company! I started having James and Catherine wear hats outside so they get used to them. Otherwise, they are going to end up in the house most of the summer. If the past two days are any indicator of how hot and muggy it’s going to be here, then I think we’ll be staying inside most days anyway! I HATE humidity. I forgot how much when I was living in OK - the people there think it gets humid. HA! I grew up in New Jersey which is basically a peninsula - go ahead, look at a map. It’s surrounded on three sides by water and you definitely feel it in the summer. I can remember taking a shower, getting dried off, and stepping out of the bathroom only to feel so sweaty and damp because of the humidity that the shower just felt pointless.

My DH invited the world over for dinner on Sunday. What, you didn’t get your invitation? Maybe next time! I made chicken, flank steak and some shrimp and served the fixin’s for fajitas! I marinated the chicken overnight in garlic, lime juice, tequila and triple sec. Served a bunch of different salsas, made quacamole, refried beans and even a tres leches cake for dessert! With the Corona and margaritas, it was a very nice dinner party.

2006-05-23T09:45:00.000-05:00

I KILLED IT!

I thought I killed my blog in the process of importing it into my new one but I managed to resuscitate it! Whew! At any rate, the new site is coming along. The new knitted monster is cute but needs some tweaking. I'm still slogging along on the sweater for James. I'm down to the second sleeve - the fronts and back are finished. Now it's assembled, the collar is knit on and the bottom edge is trimmed in garter stitch. It's cute when it's finished - I've made it for Andrew. Andrew's was in a lime green Cotton Fleece. James' is Caribbean Blue and Catherine's will be Provincial Rose. I know, I know - color profiling!

2006-05-19T11:04:00.000-05:00

Hey there

Not been doing much online the past few days. I have been working on a monster doll to sell at the craft fair this year - knit and felted. It's based on a doll that I got for my five-year old son for his 2nd birthday. He named the doll "Eek-Aw" and that's what I'm calling my dolls. Fun vibrant colors. Made to use or abuse as the case may be. I'm trying out a doll pattern that I've used before and making adjustments as I go along. We'll see how this turns out. Finally FINALLY got the fibercrack baby blanket mailed off to Italy. I really hope she likes it. The mom doesn't knit (she's not very crafty at all) but at least she can appreciate the time and effort taken in knitting a blanket. I hope. Been working on my website. Hopefully will have something there soon. I've got a main page, purses page, knitting page, and a blog page. I'm hoping to add a shopping cart for all the inventory that I'll have here in a few weeks (months really, not weeks). Check it out - It's a serious pain to write webpages on Notepad. 'Nuff said!

2006-05-15T15:20:00.000-05:00

Gratuitious silly shot

Here's James - being very silly.

2006-05-15T11:10:00.000-05:00

Dyed Yarn

I was going for the red combination that I've seen on Japanese Maple Trees in my neighborhood. This is brighter in the picture than it is in the yarn. All in all though, I'm pleased with my first attempt at handpainting some wool. The two skeins I've got drying in my bathroom right now, though...not so happy. For some reason,the blue didn't want to stay so the neat purple I had is only fuschia and the mermaidy kind of blue/green is now just green and very light at that. I'll have to see where I went wrong.

2006-05-14T10:06:00.000-05:00

Happy Mothers' Day

Should that be plural possessive or just singular? I'm never too sure about that - I guess since it is met for many mothers, it should be possessive plural and therefore spelled "Mothers'"; but what do I know? My dad sent flowers today and my daughter sent flowers yesterday so my dining room table looks like a garden. It's so bright and pretty! I'm not one to buy flowers since the damn things die so quickly. But it is nice to get some every once in a while. My husband got me a few fitted t-shirts (here's one); they are a bit snug but you know what, I'm wearing them because I'm sick and tired of my baggy ass too big for me t-shirts. I've lost 50 pounds and with the big shirts, you can't hardly tell! He also got me a really cute Nightmare Before Christmas watch, a magnet set, a "got ink?" sticker for the mama-stealth van, and an Emily Strange bag (which will find happiness as a new knitting bag). I get more presents from the kids later! Woohoo! Hope all the moms out there have a great mother's day!

2006-05-10T11:32:00.000-05:00

Doing some dying

And no, not dying in that my life is ending and therefore I must bid you all a fond farewell but dying in that I'm messing around with rubber gloves, soda ash, and fun colors. I used the Dharma Fiber Reactive Procion Dye. I soaked a skein of Knitpicks plain old wool in the soda ash fixer before I dyed it. I then laid it out on a plastic trash bag and "painted" it - I was going for the red/brown colorways that I saw on a Japanese maple tree in my neighborhood and I got pretty close! I think it looks great. I then wrapped it up in the plastic bag so it would stay wet and let it sit. The directions say at least two hours but preferably 24 hours. I think I gave it 8 hours - I was impatient to see what it looked like. It's hanging out in my bathroom still drying. And I need to find batteries for my digital camera although I have a sneaking suspicion that it wouldn't capture the colors anyway and it would just be frustrating and pointless. At any rate, it worked - I'm going to use this to knit up a purse for the Crafty Bastards Arts & Craft Fair I do in October, give it a japanese maple-sounding name, and charge more since it was made with "handpainted one of a kind" wool! Pictures will eventually be posted.

2006-05-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

My Word Cloud

Apparently, I say "apparently" a lot! :-)

2006-05-08T10:45:00.000-05:00

Grey Day

Nothing much going on here in the house of many children. My oldest called last week, almost in tears. She misses everyone and wanted to come home for a visit. I bought her a plane ticket the next day - she's been at college since January. She elected to stay and take an independent study before taking some summer classes so she wouldn't be coming home until August 5th or so. Needless to say, that's a very long time to be away from home and I think it hit her with the campus not being as busy with most people gone home that she missed her family. She'll be home the 20th for a week. We did some yard work yesterday - put down some topsoil and grass seed trying to overseed some bald spots. I also picked up some tomato, jalapeno, and herb plants and put them in a spot where I believe gets some sun. Hard to tell today as it's raining and overcast, grey and cloudy. Been knitting some warsh-clothes from the Mason Dixon book. There are some cute do-able things in this book. I knit the clothes in some bright colors and packed them in a gift bag with some soap and some bath gel for Teacher's Appreciation presents to be gifted to the teachers today. Crud - I just realized I did not provide any food for the luncheon - but then again, I didn't say that I would. It's enough that I volunteered to be my son's VIP Speaker this Friday. He is the Student of the Week this week. Today he brought in a poster all about him with his favorite food (Hamburger Helper), pictures of his family (we did NOT fit in our space so that's a bit overrun), favorite thing do to (play with his friends), and favorite place to go (chucky cheese). Tomorrow he does the ultimate Show N Tell as he gets to bring in five things that are special to him. At any rate, we tried to have another VIP Speaker but the school didn't want the hassle that would be the NRA Spokesperson for safety - Eddie Eagle. So instead they get boring Knit Mom who will amuse/amaze/or bore silly the 25 kids in the class with how to knit. Thankfully it's only supposed to last for 30 minutes. I'm going to bring in a giant sack of FOs, some sticks and some string and show them the short version of how-to-knit. Started on a sweater for James. I got bored so I switched to the washclothes. I so have knitter's ADHD - need to complete something quick in between doing something that takes a few steps. This morning I started working on a project that I keep putting off - trying to get some order into the gazillions of recipes I have. I started pasting them into one of my blank journal cookbooks and it's working fine for now. One day, I'm going to have to take the time to enter them into the computer so I can organize them and possibly publish. Most of them are mine or they are now mine since I've changed them so much as to render them barely related to the original. "Publish" would be for my friends and family only; I need to record some of the ones I have stored in my memory for my kids so they'll have the family recipes for their own use once they're out and about. I know how to make a lot of things - I've never written down the how though so I need to work on that especially for things like cydik which is the Ukranian egg cheese we have at Easter and Tuna Casserole which my kids love. Right now though, I need to find some socks and a sweater as it is chilly in my house! And I need to get the babies' lunch organized since they'll probably be up from their nap and hungry any minute now.

2006-04-30T09:20:00.000-05:00

Finished!

I got it! After about three hours of work with an incredible amount of detail, it's all finished and I think it looks AWESOME! I highly recommend Carrie, from Exposed Temptations in Manassas, Virginia. Isn't this GREAT!

2006-04-28T10:32:00.000-05:00

Countdown to "T" Time!

Today is the day! Today is TATTOO Day! Yippee! I've got a 4pm appointment this afternoon with a tattoo artist from Exposed Temptations in Manassas, VA. I've getting the knitting hands only I had to reverse them because I could have sworn when I first flipped the picture, the hands were holding the yarn in the right hand which I don't do. I knit Continental-ly and hold the yarn in my left hand. So I'm looking at this graphic and realize that this knitter is not right! Not that those who "throw" with their right hand are wrong, it's just that it was not right for me! I also removed the spool - the yarn will just kind of fade out or something artistic. Anyway, I'll post a picture of the tattoo tomorrow.

2006-04-20T11:52:00.001-05:00

GOAL!

Today, I hit my second goal in the diet. I got to 50.5 pounds lost. The goal was to get to 50 and then get the tattoo. Well, I went down to the tattoo parlor last night and when I showed the graphic I want to use as a tattoo, the receptionist gave me the name and business card of one of the artists. Unfortunately, he wasn't working last night. He's there today so I'll just have to see if I have time tonight. I might be able to run down after the babies go to bed. We'll just have to see. At any rate, I emailed the pic to the shop with an explanation of who I was and what I was after. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to speak with the guy today or tomorrow. I want to go next Friday to get it done because my husband has off from work and can stay with the babies AND I have a friend coming from out-of-town to visit and she's thinking about getting one and wanted to go with. So, next weekend is the best time.

2006-04-20T11:52:00.000-05:00

Newest FO

This was knit on 3.5 and 4mm needles with Elann's Peruvian wool/silk blend; the color is raspberry - it looks warmer in this picture. I knit the ruffles for a bit of girly-whimsy. I really like how it turned out except I forgot buttonholes! So, I'm thinking of doing little crocheted hoops on one side and buttons on the other. Not sure yet.

2006-04-17T12:29:00.000-05:00

Andrew

This is my handsome middle child - this picture was taken last month, March 2006. They do a beginning of the school year picture and then a half-way through the school year picture. He's such a cutie!

2006-04-17T09:56:00.000-05:00

Fibercrack

I finally got the Fibercrack baby blanket blocked. I must say that this looks even better in the photo which is odd because the knits I try to capture almost always look worse in photographs. This picture really shows the color changes. I'm really pleased with this - I need to let it sit for another day to completely dry and then pack it up for shipment to Italy. The baby is due this Friday!

2006-04-12T09:47:00.000-05:00

Two more pounds to go...

I'm at 48 pounds and still losing. I had a few weeks where sticking to the diet was harder and harder. I just got pissed off enough at myself for sabotaging my efforts and started doing better this week. But now I'm only two pounds from my tattoo and fifty-two pounds from Italy! Another goal is that I now weigh less than I did when I first got pregnant so all the baby weight is gone. AND I'm only four more pounds than I was when I won the Total Body Transformation Contest at my OKC gym! I'm feeling really proud of myself. I got that little cardigan finished but for the closing of the front. I forgot to put in buttonholes! DOH! So I'm thinking of just doing a little ribbon tie at the top!

2006-04-05T10:29:00.000-05:00

Year old stats

The babies had their 12-month check-up yesterday where it was discovered they are both geniuses! No, but they are perfectly healthy and developing normally. James is 50% for both his height and weight. He's weighing in at 22 lbs, 11 oz and is 30 inches tall. He's grown 2-1/4 inches and gained 2 lbs, 1 oz since January. Catherine is 95% for her weight at 24 lbs, 9 oz and is 50% for height at 29-1/2 inches tall. She's grown 2 inches and gained 2 lbs, 5 oz since January. As of Saturday, they are now totally off bottles. They only had one hold-out, the last one before bedtime. I replaced it with a cup of milk and some graham crackers. Both seem to have taken this in stride. We celebrated their birthday with a cake on Saturday. They each had their own method for eating their carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese icing. At first, neither was sure what to do with it. I usually cut their food into bite sized pieces. They both started with licking the icing off the top, then James realized how yummy it was, he ended up just going to town! His cupcake was probably more ON him than IN him, but he certainly enjoyed himself. Catherine looked more squirrel-like in the way she was holding the cupcake with two hands and nibbling away. They were both bemused by the audience they had - we had our neighbors over for some cake. I'm sure they were thinking "This is weird - we don't usually have people watching us when we eat!" I'm knitting a little cardigan for the not-yet-born-in-Naples baby. The ruffles at the bottom and the cuffs are looking really cute. I hope this all goes together well. I've only had to make a few changes to the pattern I wrote. The one thing I changed up was to create the ruffles, you do a K3, P3 repeat across for about 3/4". Then you K3Tog, P3Tog repeat. But it ended up slanting funny so instead I did a slip 1, K2tog, PSSO. It made the gather more straight up rather than a little slanty. I'll try and post pictures when it's finished. Right now, I've got the two fronts and the back completed. I'm on the first sleeve. When all the parts are finished, I'll seam them together and do something for the front bands and collar. I haven't gotten that far yet!

2006-03-29T20:09:00.000-05:00

It's been a LONG year!

Here they are the day they were born - I can't believe they are a year old today! It's been a crazy year. Full of changes, adjustments, and all out insanity mostly caused by lack of sleep. Regrets? I have a few. Changes? Not on your life!
James
Catherine

2006-03-26T19:09:00.000-05:00

Oh the horror

I finally pick up a new knitting magazine, well, two actually, and what do I find? Lots and lots of fugly shit. I haven't knit in ages (not entirely true but I'm going for effect) and am so not inspired by the very slim pickings of both Interweave and Vogue's knitting magazine. Oh well. Currently on my needles is a silk/wool blend raspberry wool that I am knitting into a little tiny cardigan for a 6-month old who hasn't even arrived yet. She's due to come into the world on or about the 21st of April so I was thinking that by the time she's 6-months old, a wool cardigan would actually be used. Plus, newborn knitting is rather pointless. I have two wrap cardigans that I painstakingly knitted on size 2mm needles of a very fine cotton as well as two little "vests", one in a very fine merino and the other in a fine cotton also knit on size 2mm that my children NEVER WORE! The wraps are sitting at the bottom of my knitting bag and the little vests are hanging in their closet. I'm thinking of sending the white cotton one to the not-yet-here baby girl. At any rate, she'll be getting the crazy fibercrack baby blanket in the hyper-girly pinks so I'm sure her mother will be overwhelmed enough. James and Catherine are both tentatively walking. They take baby steps and go only a foot or two before they get overexcited and end up losing balance. Actually, James does much better than Catherine and has made it across a span of 8 feet as his longest foray into being a bipedal human! They will be one year old on Wednesday! Already! One! I should get a VERY BIG SHINY present for making it this far! Wonder what I'll get? Life goes on - back to losing weight. It was 42 pounds as of this morning and that was after I'd had my breakfast and about 12 cups of coffee so it may be even higher. This week is crazy busy with the babies' birthday on Wed., a reception/dinner on Thursday and something on Friday although I can't for the life of me remember what. Thankfully I don't have to dress for that - well other than the usual. I'm still trying to find a good dress for an April event that is black tie/cocktail attire. I really like this dress but they don't have my size online which means that I'm going to have to *gasp* shop in a REAL STORE! Argh. I hate shopping for clothes because I hate trying things on. Case in point - I was at Kohl's the other night and they were having a bra sale so I thought "Oh I need bras and the babies are home and I'm shopping alone so this is the perfect time to shop." HARDY FREAKIN' HAR HAR! I tried on 10 bras the same size - none of them fit well at all. I tried on three bras of the same size by the SAME MANUFACTURER and even THEY didn't fit the same or well at all! One was okay although the band size was a bit loose so I thought I'd go for the next smaller band size - they didn't have any. I ended up not getting jeans (which was the real reason I went), nor did I get any bras (which I need since I keep shrinking), and just got a polar fleece jacket originally $50 marked down to $10. It's Columbia, it'll last forever even if it is too big, and although it's SO not a color I'd usually buy or wear, it's fine. Suffice to say that usually my clothing palette stays close to the non-color kind of colors: black, grey, charcoal... This jacket is RED! Really Red! But it was cheap and it's warm so I'm keeping it even though my husband offered me $20 for it!

2006-03-20T16:12:00.000-05:00

Corned beef is killer for the diet

Of course, I'm probably retaining water due to all the salt, but I managed to gain four pounds this weekend eating crappy. So back to eating better today! As a matter of fact, part of my plan to rid my house of all the yummy cakes I had left-over from Saturday night was to invite the bus stop moms over for cake and coffee -- it worked only somewhat. I still have a lot of cake leftover. I think I may have to do this a few times! The Irish Soul Food Fest was a big hit. We had five dinner guests - none of whom were Irish which is probably a good thing otherwise I might have had to 'splain myself as far as the food. I did try to find "authentic" Irish dishes but who knows what you're getting when you google! Could be the real McCoy, could not...doesn't matter. The beer was cold, the food was hot, the people were fun -- I need to do this more often. Played Bunco on Friday night and I won for the most wins! Whoohoo! Bunco itself is a game of chance so there's actually no skill whatsoever which makes the fact that there was a World Championship of Bunco all the more amusing. Saturday morning was spent running around at the Mothers of Multiples' Consignment sale. I volunteered for a morning shift which was a good thing because I could shop before the public got let in and I picked up some really cute stuff for Catherine. I had unearthed a large box of seasonally appropriate hand-me-downs for James so I didn't have to shop for him. Believe it or not, they're going to be one year old on the 29th of this month. It doesn't seem like it's been a year already. Seems like they were just doing a baby pool for me at Knottygirls. What a long strange year it's been!

2006-03-16T18:51:00.000-05:00

Not done yet

I still haven't blocked the baby blanket. I keep saying to myself that I'm going to start it but haven't gotten around to doing it. I'll try to make myself do it tonight. It's just that I'm not in the mood to be on my hands and knees trying to pin out all the points. I have been knitting - washclothes. It's still knitting! And I have a something functional that I actually use and enjoy. I finished writing the pattern for the cardigan that I'm making for my friend who is also getting the baby blanket. Found out that her due date was moved to April 21st and baby is already about 6 pounds. Her name is going to be Emma Catherine! I'm thrilled - I love that name! That was almost my five year old son's name (if he were born a SHE and not the HE that he is). It was almost Catherine's name as well but there were too many Emmas at the time. I think I wrote all this before so I'll stop. Mama and baby-to-be are both doing fine. Diet update: I've lost 41 pounds and 35-3/4 inches from my neck to my calves. I'm feeling really good about this. The numbers going down on the scale are a serious motivator to eating well and staying on my food plan. The other day it was HARD! So I kept repeating to myself - "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." It worked. This Saturday, I will be having a cheat meal. It's my annual St. Patrick's Day Irish Soul Food Feast and I will NOT be dieting and miss out on corned beef and Guiness! NO WAY! I've already baked an Irish Tea Cake, and Irish Apple Cake, and Chocolate Stout Cake. That last one isn't Irish, I'm betting, but it does have Guiness in it and if it tastes as good as it smells, it's going to be a winner! The whole three layers are covered with a chocolate ganache - it's going to be decadent! I'm also making brown bread and soda bread tomorrow along with the filling for the Steak and Guiness pie (it has to slow cook for over 2 hours). That way, I've only got a few things to put together on Saturday. It's going to be crazy hectic because I'm volunteering at the Mothers of Multiples Consignment sale - mostly so I can get in on some good stuff. Catherine is in need of size 18 month spring clothes - I managed to unearth a large box of stuff for James that were either his brother's or my neighbor's nephews. So he's set. Tomorrow the babies and I need to go to the party store and pick up some cheesey decorations, some green plastic wear, and whatever else suits my fancy! If I don't get a chance to say it tomorrow: Happy St. Patrick's Day! An Irish Blessing:

May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live.

An Irish Toast:

May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

And an Irish Curse:

May you melt off the earth like snow off the ditch.

2006-03-14T16:05:00.000-05:00

B. O. R. E. D.

...which is dangerous because boredom is the enemy of a dieter with an eating disorder. Boredom usually leads to wandering around the kitchen or looking in cookbooks which leads to eating, or cooking which leads to eating. Anything that ends with "eating" is a bad thing right now. I could be blocking but I've got a bit of a, well, for lack of a better word, block about blocking. Partly because I'm afraid that I'll screw it up after all that knitting and partly because I'm not really in the mood to wrestle with a big wet wool blanket. DH is in Boston today. Just for the day. He's giving a speech at Tufts. He'll be home really late tonight so I'm holding down the fort. I think when my oldest finishes with his homework and I've fed the babies dinner, I'll take everyone out of the house...go to the bookstore or something. Maybe the library - no, scratch that. The babies aren't ready for the library yet! Or rather, I don't think the library is ready for the babies. My dad sent some cocoa powder and a five (yes, 5) pound dark chocolate bar. My dad has a cocoa processing and manufacturing company in Delaware. I have no problems getting my hands on the good stuff! Right now, I really REALLY want to bake some brownies (which is bad) or some thick and chewy double chocolate cookies (which would be worse). Cookies are worse because it's entirely too easy to eat your weight in cookies whereas brownies are richer, thicker, and more quantifiable than cookies. You cut a chunk out of a tray of brownies and you see how much you're eaten. However, you take a cookie out of a pile and you can't really tell that you've had any. That's why cookies are more dangerous. At any rate, I've prattled on about nothing long enough and it's not helping my diet. I think I need to go eat a piece of chicken;it's time for my afternoon snack of 2 oz of chicken or tuna and 1/2 cup of pineapple. Meh...

2006-03-11T20:47:00.000-05:00

New Knit Tattoo

This is what I'm thinking of - lower back with the spool changed to a ball of yarn because I never knit from a spool of yarn!

2006-03-11T19:17:00.000-05:00

How to?

At the risk of sounding like a total dumbass newbie knitter, how does one go about blocking a blanket? I've done sweaters and other things before but that was always the pieces of the thing before it was assembled, never a rather large and I'm sure when it's wet, cumbersome, wool blanket! Diet update: 36 pounds as of this morning! Yeah for me - fourteen more pounds until my 50-pound goal. The reward for that is a tattoo only I'm having a hard time finding a representation of what I want and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to find a tattoo artist who can also draw knitting. I'm torn between an old victorian looking picture of hands knitting or getting a kind of celtic band around my upper arm only do it like a braided cable! I was also thinking of getting one that looks like someone has torn a hole in my skin only to find that I'm actually made up of knits and purls! I may have to draw that one myself. Any suggestions?

2006-03-07T18:04:00.000-05:00

Diet Update

Although today wasn't the best of days (I had a MAJOR sugar jones this afternoon and needed to feed it), I have lost a grand total of 33.5 pounds and 35.75 inches overall! WhooHooO! It's a good thing too because at the end of April, I have to wear a cocktail dress to a party associated with the White House Correspondents' Dinner. No, we're not going to the actual dinner but I'm sure to meet a bunch of somebodies - or not. I don't particularly care one way or another. I'm not a big fan of celebrities - they are just doing a job like everyone else. They just happen to be overpaid for it. Speaking of celebrities, thru my accountant friend, on a funny note, I was thrilled to hear that those big high-fallootin' gift bags o'schwag that the famous people get have to be declared as income and taxed! HA!