Pralines and Moose Tracks

The fugly wrap is finished, and I don't hate it anymore. I really can't since it matches my living room quite nicely. It is now my sofa mini-throw.
And I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes - see Reddy and Reid? There wasn't a single hold at the library for me! I did a double take and started digging in my tote for the camera. (Note it was in the tote to take pictures of B's first gymnastics class, and this is what I ended up capturing. Not one single jumping or swinging pic.)
I did, however, catch the kid eating a granola bar in the hold aisle. Didn't she see the 'no food or drink' sign? Where is this kid's parents?
Back to the Noro capelet. This time without a moebius twist!

N

Share a Smile

B has 'rouge' down pat. She speaks perfect English, but rather than saying 'red', she says 'rouge'. It's her new mot favourite en francais. E.g. "Your shoes are rouge, Mum." , and I agree - they are rouge!

The fall Knitty is up! Woo-hoo! I used to get the email notification, but sadly it was on my now defunct yahoo account. I really need to get around to signing up again!

Lots happening here. The girls are growing. Meetings are sprouting up everywhere. Sometimes I feel like I just can't catch my breath. This afternoon, I ended up home early as I will need to be at work at 6 a.m. tomorrow - I am helping with the organization of a Child Poverty Symposium at Brescia College. I am really excited to listen to the panel of speakers and the participation of the audience in the discussion afterwards. And between you and me, I LOVE continental breakfasts even if it's the promise of just one bran muffin and a coffee! But back to getting home early. It was unexpected surprise in a day that was crazy hectic. So I grabbed my chance to mellow out by scooping up B and walking her to the park. While she played on the swings and the slides, I finished weaving all the ends on five knitting projects. How sweet is that? We came home happy as pigs in poop.

Time to whip up some dinner, and rip out my Noro capelet because it was never intended to be a moebius scarf, and then I am off to a La Leche League meeting as a show of support for a dear friend.

Take care, T.

N

The Queen Bee Celebrates 5 Years

With strained patience, she waited to open her gifts. A new dress was reluctantly put on, and two pairs of matching pants were declared 'ugly'. She ripped open a new Littlest Pet Shop play centre and proceeded to play her little heart out while mum laid down on the floor and clicked away on the camera.

Birthday cupcakes were ordered, and Poor Cinder-Elly was put to work.


The wicked sister asked her to pose, and Poor Cinder-Elly was so glum.

And then the clock struck noon, and Poor Cinder-Elly turned into Princess Cinderella.


Happy Birthday, B! You're five, and now you can reach the freezer handle on the refrigerator. That must have happened overnight. You can now draw pumpkins, and your only French word is "Bonjour", but you say it with gusto. You're absolutely brilliant!


Love Mum

Back From Yarn Heaven

Well, here's my haul from the KW Knitters Guild's Knitters Fair. I honestly don't believe I went overboard.

There is definitely a Noro theme happening. My first purchase was the Noro Silver Thaw that I picked up for its sheer beauty. It reminded me of a colourful quilt. It's the first hank on the left. Then I stumbled on Em dangling a skein of Noro Cash Iroha over a sale basket and asking me innocently if it was indeed the same yarn used for the Hourglass Sweater in Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Indeed it was! I yanked it out of her hand and hissed if there was more in the basket. I looked to my left and then to my right, and no one was paying attention to us. I glanced down at the tag, and it was $5!!!! She pulled out five more skeins in all different colours, and I grabbed them all and headed to the cash register. Poor Em thought I had gone insane. She kept asking me if I was serious, and I thought she was insane. I paid over $15 for one skein a month ago downtown. Suddenly I felt rich with yarn.

But that wasn't where the Noro ended. I crossed the aisle, and a lady was wearing a gorgeous capelet knit with Noro Kureyon. And I figured what the hell - no tax and a pattern for free, so I bought a capelet kit with 3 balls of Noro Kureyon.

I had promised myself a hank of handpainted, handspun merino wool sock yarn, so I naturally bought two.

And I couldn't let you be a lone spinner, so I picked up a cheap, handmade drop spindle and two bags of merino wool roving in lavendar and cream, and dang-nabbit, I am going to learn how to spin!

Oh yeah, and the Yarn Harlot walked right by me, followed by her entourage. She was in serious shopping mode, so I did not disturb her. But I made Em pose for a pretend picture while I took a picture of the Harlot's back. Em continued to think me insane, but I insisted she do it for you. Stephanie is the one wearing the navy tee with the red bag and the white bag. Sorry for the crap picture. Please note that Em is nowhere in this picture.

Looking at this picture makes me giggle. There really wasn't that much standing room anywhere in the conference centre. It was packed to the gills with knitters the entire time. It was awesome. Must go plan next year's trip. Anyone else want to come with?

N

For the Love of Manos

Dear N,

I stumbled across this post from the Quesadillacraft blog (via Craftzine.com). It talks about Manos del Uraguay yarn, its origins as a cooperative "...to develop economic opportunities for the women in rural Uruguay" and how it has become a viable business and the favorite yarn of many knitters world wide, including you. I never knew this about Manos and will certainly start using it in more of my projects. It does feel lovely and comes in such a wide colourway. Hooray for sustainable development!

Since it's Friday and T is home sending me pictures of hippos (because I love them), I thought I'd share one of my favourites with you. Happy Friday N!

A Link and A Picture: Totally Unrelated

Hello T!

I'm back. Of course, I have loads of stories to share, but I am too tired to type.

Check out this DIY Yarn Winder - I am on my way to the laundry room right now!!

And a druring from Sophie to Beah. How sweet it is to have a little friend just your size with whom to dance lots of ballets.

N

A Slice of World Peace

Dear N,

First of all, LOVE the banner. Good job! The colours are so pretty and geraniums always remind me of my elementary teachers' classrooms, perfect for September.

Hope you and the family had a good time at Franken Muth. Let me know how you did at Target. I might have to go there today just to look at the new fall merchandise. So far my long weekend has been uneventful but relaxing. I finished the baby sweater from the pattern that you sent me. It's so much fun to knit and seriously adorable. I can see my nephew in it already.Here is another baby sweater that I made while in LA. It's the MDK pattern and it's for a childhood friend of mine back in New Brunswick. She isn't due until January but baby stuff is so much fun to knit. I'm on the ball this time.Last weekend T and I went to our church picnic. We weren't really planning to going to the actual event but I had donated a cake for the cake walk and had to deliver it. I thought long and hard about what kind of cake to make and really wanted to use my sports ball cake pan (yes, I know, I really like my sports ball cake pan, but really, what can be cooler than a ball shaped cake?). I decided to make the world and since it was for a church event, I'd put the word "peace" on it. We could definitely use some of that. Anyway, here it is and I was quite pleased as it was snatched up immediately.Is it evil of me to feel so smug about my cake? I looked at the other homemade cakes on the table and felt kind of bad but at least I kept the cake box closed so my cake wouldn't show up the other cakes. I might as well go to confession next Sunday just in case.

Last weekend I also frogged a little shrug that I was knitting up for a friend. I think I'll knit her the Anthropologie Inspired capelet instead. I'm loving these top down raglan sweater patterns. There's nearly no seaming involved and it's fun watching the sweater knit up. I have some ball winding to do. Enjoy the rest of your Labour Day!P.S.
Minnesota winters are very cold. I think arm warmers would be so nice to have, especially ones knitted by a good friend ;) .