I've realized my idea of perfection in terms of Saturday mornings. Wake up early while everyone is still sleeping, have a quick bowl of cereal, get dressed, drive to the market, knit with friends over cups of Balinese coffee, buy vegetables and fruit, drool over the cheese, smell the flowers, and return home to children fed and dressed - that part was just luck and a wee bit of timing.
Now it's Sunday morning, and I'm still in my pyjamas. I've already got a roast and vegetables in the slow cooker, and the littlest has decided that today would be a good cupcake day. She didn't have to convince me much, and now they are in the oven baking. Next up, I have some finishing to do on a Simple Beret and the Ptarmigan Cowl, and there should be plenty of time to read a few chapters of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. I'll be staying under my cozy blankets and soaking up the sun from the front window like a lazy cat. It won't be all lying about as I have a soccer game after dinner. Think of it as conserving energy. :)
I would have to read the archives to remember most of 2011. If I'm correct, it was a lot of smooth sailing - not much craziness. If my resolution last New Years was to live more simply, I think I'm getting closer. I was steered towards soccer by friends, and I am grateful to those peeps. I made myself a promise that I would knit twelve Elizabeth Zimmerman patterns, and I did cast on twelve; however, three have yet to be finished. I'd say that wasn't horribly bad. I didn't add too much yarn to the stash. I was somewhat controlled. I learned a lot about photography. I got more involved with my community at public discussions, and I consider myself a heck of a lot more engaged. I renegotiated our mortgage. I connected with friends and family. I started volunteering again after a bit of a hiatus. I put my foot down and stood by my opinions. I picked up my tennis racket again after two decades. I went to some rockin' concerts. I did not see any rattlesnakes or bears. And it was all good. I'm happy. My family is healthy. They have clothes, food and shelter. They are loved. I have everything I need and, more importantly, want.
I made my resolution back in November, and it's not really something I can conquer in one year, maybe never. I'm going to be part of building a caring community. I think Starship said it best. They also built this city on rock and roll. They were so ahead of their time.
The littlest and I rather enjoyed ourselves. I had no idea about this Dutch tradition of Saint Nicholas. Despite being one part Dutch, growing up we celebrated a Christian Christmas on December 25 with Santa sneaking down the chimney - very American. My goal this Christmas is to skip the shopping malls, and instead we will spend quality time with family and friends. There will be lots of ice skating, online shopping, wintry hikes, movie nights, board games, exploring other traditions, baking bonanzas, crafting, visiting, laughing, feasts, pyjama parties, and tobogganing. Doesn't that sound perfectly fun?
This one has been off the needles for over a month now. I was slow to sew on the buttons and mailing it off to Quebec. This is the day she opens all of the gifts her blog friends sent, so it should be safe to post today. I love this pattern. It really is simple and quick, and I used a smidgeon more than one 50g ball of dk-weight wool. All the deets are on ravelry here.
As for what's happening on the homefront, I'm sitting on school council, volunteering in a newcomer youth program teaching needlecraft, playing indoor soccer, madly knitting gifts, cooking up applesauce, baking bread, and slow-cooking some spicy tomato soup - not all at the same time. I've made some big decisions recently - wear more sweatpants and build a caring community. I'm really into the sweats. It was I all I could do today to not drive to the store for more sweats. I wonder if it's a cold weather thing. I wish I could wear them to the office. Could you picture me sitting in on Board meetings wearing sweatpants and a hoodie all curled up and cozy recording the minutes? It would be my luck that it would end badly like the time George got the security guard a rocking chair.
Ooh, I nearly forgot. Mr. J and I went out this week to see a concert at the Aeolian. This never happens. We never go out. We like to be in our jammies by 8 p.m. We're pretty boring. However, I was able to pick up some tickets for cheap while also giving to charity, so I youtubed some of the upcoming performers, and I stumbled upon this video.
I fell in love instantaneously. One of the musicians in the ensemble is the lead singer of The Weakerthans, and I didn't even know this until after I got home. Apparently I was already in love with this band, and I didn't even know it. See, I have this friend who makes me mixes - fabulous mixes - without liners. I have no idea what I'm listening to EVER! It's weird and brilliant at the same time. There's a lot of music out there that I absolutely adore, and I haven't a clue what it is.
Speaking of jammies, I think I'll go get mine on, grab a cup of tea, and settle on the sofa with some knitting.
I found my paradise in the form of a pioneer village. We learned about printing presses, really tiny fonts, making ink from soot, carding and drafting wool, singing God Save the Queen, churning and molding butter, and living in a one-room homestead. It was awesome. We only saw half of the village, so I'm eager to return and visit the rest. I'm packing a bag. Wonder if it would get wi-fi. Hmmm.
N
PS. The littlest and I are reading The Little House on the Prairie every night before bed, and I'm amazed that I've made it this far in life without reading this series. We've just finished chapter 9 in which Pa has built a fireplace for their new house on the prairie. I was super relieved last night/chapter 8 when Laura helped Pa build a door to replace the ol' quilt that hung over the doorway. I barely slept a wink after chapter 7 in which a giant pack of 50 or so of the biggest wolves that Pa had ever seen surrounded the house howling at the moon. I honestly don't think that Pa and his gun and Jack the scruffy dog would have been a match had the wolves stormed the quilt-covered opening to the house. Evidently I am quite consumed by this book. I'm going to freak out when they have to move house again. Just saying.
Mmm ... coffee and muffins. Sunday mornings, I love you. Everyone is still in bed. It's peacefully quiet. It just started pouring rain outside. Just trying to figure out what needs to be done today and what I'd like to do today. It looks like the rain is dying down. Oh, dear. I'd like it to rain a bit longer. Not in a cancel-my-soccer-game kind of way, but in a playing-in-the-rain-is-nicer-than-killer-heat-during-soccer kind of way. Poo. The sun's back out. On the other hand, this could be good. The front garden could use some whacking. Well now it looks like I have something to do.
The littlest and I took a little drive out to the country, and we spent an hour and a half in a sunny field of blueberries as wide and far as the eye could see. She hummed little tunes and entertained me with silly stories. We laughed and made a pretty good team. We paid a pittance for our two big buckets of blueberries, and I haven't got a clue how I'm going to use up all of them because we must consume them quickly as I want to take her and my hundred closest friends next weekend - everyone should have that much fun. Ever have those wonderfully blissful days you want to relive over and over again?
Baking bread in less than five minutes is perhaps the sweetest thing next to having the littlest beg for more bread and butter. The giant hug I got for baking the second loaf knocked me off my feet.
A pound of cherries from the farmers' market - all eaten by cherry monsters.
Chillin' at the neighbourhood spray pad with friends followed by eating ice cream cones on really high stools.
Additional highlights included:
washing the car and doing laundry (Seriously.)
knitting (I finished one sock and one hat.)
visiting my parents who just returned from a Baltic cruise and receiving a giant hank of sheep wool from Estonia (I hugged them so hard, they nearly fell over!)
catching up with Community (how did I miss this very smart and funny tv show?)
lots of easy laughter with teenagers (that's practically worth gold!)
I told you I was casting on asap! Every night I knit what seems like a thousand rows, and I have about half a hat so far. It's going to be a warm hat. That I know. I pray that 220 yards of wool will be enough.
I've been thinking of a project to work on this year, and given that we are now a month in, I have procrastinated the sufficient amount that is just my style. I am going to knit 12 Elizabeth Zimmermann patterns. Although it works out to be one a month, some patterns might only take a few days tops; whereas, a sweater is going to keep me busy for longer than a month, so it should even out quite nicely. I am not going to make this a tricky project for I am lazy, and I truly believe it's cruel to set up anyone for failure - with me being at the top of the list. That being said, I am also up for trying lots of new techniques however ugly this might get. I stayed up late last night thinking of my 12 projects, and I have a list, but I have not yet determined the exact pattern for each project.
Baby Surprise Jacket (this should be no surprise - it's her most famous pattern)
Child Tomten Modular Jacket - for the Bumblebee
Seamless Yoke Sweater
Last Minute Sweater
Nether Garments (I never thought I'd consider these in a million years, but yeah . . . )
Mittens
A Shawl
A Blanket
Something Aran
Seamless Hybrid
Heart Elbow Patch/Hat
A Vest
Rules or what I prefer to call "Best Practices"
Knit from the stash. EZ makes it hard for you to make up excuse not to knit from the stash 'cause she writes the majority of her patterns to work with any weight. Dang it.
Must knit twelve PATTERNS, not projects - meaning I can knit the same pattern twelve times and call it a day. No repeaties!
At least one pattern must include steeking.
At least one pattern must include gads of fairisle.
Must knit gauge swatches. (I'm going to be honest. This one is going to be the hardest rule to abide.)
Must finish by December 31, 2010.
Completely allowable to knit patterns, I've previously knit. This could be the lifesaver. These patterns include the February Baby Sweater, the Practice Fairisle Hat, the 36-Stitch Mittens, the Ganomy Hat, and the Christmas Fiddle Faddle.
Must blog my evidence that I am indeed making progress on "the project".
I may have wrangled Kat to join along (I gave her some pills), but I would welcome more company in what I believe could only be a barrel of fun. Anyone else in?
See anything new? After spending weeks researching entry-level digital slr cameras, we splurged and got ourselves (read 'me') a Canon Rebel XS. I'm having a splendid time tinkering around with it, and in doing so I have spread the love of it amongst my friends and family. Because if everyone else has one, than it couldn't have been much of a frivolous expenditure, but rather a much needed and common household object. Right? Plus I couldn't have possibly been expected to take fuzzy and boring ol' photos of baked goods forever. Nah, I can't bad-mouth my Fuji point 'n' shoot. It's done me good. I plan to keep it around a bit longer. I also think that a certain teenager would be more than happy to steal it away.
Up next (tomorrow, I hope!) - pictures of finished monkeys for all of you who must be dying to see them. They turned out wonderfully, and the girls really do love them. I think they know deep down that the monkeys were a bit out of my usual knitting range. I like easy, quick, non-finicky, as seamless as possible, more utility projects. But they were worth every single minute of cursing under my breath for countless nights after they had safely been tucked into bed.
Speaking of which, I must do right now. It's late!
The salt dough ornaments have all been painted. I will need to search out twine for hanging them as the holes are too tiny for even the slimmest ribbons.
Four weeeks to Christmas - are you ready? Last year, we scaled down a bit on gifts, and I did alot of crafting, but I am afraid that my family is tiring of my 'making'. I really appreciated not having to step foot in a mall in December, not having to drive around parking lots for hours to find a parking space, not having to push past harried shoppers, not having to stand in checkout lines with impatient children, and so forth. Frankly I felt a little superior to all of those that simply picked something off the shelf and handed over cash. I spent weeks knitting, sewing, beading, baking, thrifting, and colouring. I don't know if that's the answer. I could support local businesses instead. I could buy gift cards that benefit non-profit organizations. I could give gifts of time. Make donations in lieu of gifts. Or scale down completely. Make new traditions and continue with old traditions. What do I want my children to remember about Christmas? I guess that's the question. In any case, their few gifts have been well-thought out and purchased, and I am making them each a gift. I'm keeping it simple.
Happy Sunday, my friends. We're off to spend good ol' quality time with family this afternoon - decorating the tree and sharing a meal. That's what I'm talking about.
Yesterday afternoon while Mr. J hung up the xmas lights in the front yard, the littlest and I tried our hand at salt dough ornaments. It wasn't easy. I had to climb a small step-ladder and stand over the rolling pin and put all my weight into flattening the dough. After that small feat, we stuck our freshly cut ornaments into the microwave where they bubbled up really strangely. I will have to go out at some point this week and buy some acrylic paints to finish them up, but just because I don't want all this effort lost. I burnt my fingers on these puppies. She had fun though, and that's what matters.
Then she woke up this morning complaining that her tummy hurt. She had half a bagel for breakfast. The bagel was promptly chuffed, and all liquids since. We've been to the doctor, and there's nothing to do but keep her hydrated with popsicles and ginger ale. Poor kid. So that's been our weekend. Doughy tea biscuits, crunchy split pea soup, watered-down coffee, and puke buckets. It's been a bust. But there's always next week. Please let there be edible meals that remain in our bellies.
Two of my little family are down with something or other and have been delegated to their respective beds under lots of blankets. I am going to go to work and try to stay clear of germy germs as much as possible. Last night after reading another chapter of Anne of Green Gables to the littlest, she looked up at me with the saddest big eyes and asked very seriously if I could tell her what that "N2D2" was. It took me only the slightest pause to decipher her question. I said that the H1N1 virus was a flu that made people really sick. It was called the swine flu, but the pigs got upset. (I tried to get her to smile.) She looked like she was going to cry, and said that it sounded really dangerous. I gave her a big hug and told her that I've researched this flu, and I am pretty familiar with the signs and everything was going to be just fine. Plus there's no sign that this kid has H1N1. My lord. Poor kid. Wish me luck avoiding whatever they have which may be next to impossible. Someone's got to take care of these people!
Ah, Saturday mornings, how I love you. You are quiet, cozy and long if timed just right. I woke up at 7:30 to Mr. J walking in the door dressed in a suit and tie with a handful of bags full of peaches, oranges, pears and corn fresh from the market. While I unpacked the produce, he inhaled some cold cereal and then headed to bed. I brewed a pot of tea and cooked up a little bowl of hot oat cereal for myself, peeled an orange and popped the juicy sections into my mouth before I even sat down. Then I curled up on the sofa in the sunlight and knit a bit on the Mara and waited for the sleepyhead girls to drag themselves out of their beds. It was perfect.
If I had hundreds of millions of dollars to lose (like many of Bernie Madoff's friends), I would be so lucky. I wonder what that's like. Even for a week. Poor Bernie. We should commend him for thinning out the filthy rich. Even Ruth Madoff still made off with $2.5 million. Most of the world would be content with that. I had a conversation with my cousin some time ago about the most any one person needs - perhaps a salary cap of $300,000 a year. Doesn't that sound like more than enough? It's enough to have a very nice house, lots of food, lots of holidays, lots of extras . . . at the same time, a top earner would remain considerate, accountable, careful, and appreciative. Too much of anything will give you a belly ache. I should know. I enthusiastically ate a lot of pineapple once.
If I had hundreds of millions of dollars to lose (like many of Bernie Madoff's friends), I would be so lucky. I wonder what that's like. Even for a week. Poor 
