Winter Woodland Waiting

Dear N,

Wow! That's a serious haul of fabric. Nice stuff too! Where did you get it? Oh if only I was still in London my very genrous and kind blog buddy would share her fabric with me!

I was invited to join Ravelry on Friday and I haven't had much time to play around on there but what I've seen so far I love. It's a great place. I've already joined a group here in Minneapolis that meets on Tuesdays so I'm definitely looking forward to that. Also, I'll have plenty of time to get pictures up of my stash and projects. Speaking of projects, my Misty Alpaca awaits our Woodland-along.

I don't think the pink will be very woodsy but pretty all the same.

This is not a great picture (it's difficult to take a picture of your own hands) but I do love very much my new wrist warmers. Thank you again! So pretty how it peeks out of a coat sleeve. I'm glad that they did not get lost in the mail.

We plan on carving the pumpkin tomorrow, but I'll take the writst warmers off. It's time to head off for another weekend of work in the office. After this week I will have tons of time to knit and play around on Ravelry. Will you make more quillows with the new fabric?

T

Oh My Cotton - To Me You Are So Beautiful

I forgot that I hadn't shown you my fabric remnants that I picked up for a super steal! Here's a few glimpses. Can you spot the Denyse Schmidt or the Kaffe Fassette? Now put this in perspective - this is maybe 1/20 of a bag, and I have seven bags!! I am seriously coveting this fabric.

My very talented sister was granted limited access to the stash to make this small doll quilt. I am a very nice sister.

What am I going to do with all this fabric????

N

Chugging Along on the Buttony

One more sleeve to knit . . .
And twelve buttons to sew on!

N

We interrupt this program for a quick health update:

I am really loving the shoe shot right now. It's the new black. Or the new squid.

After a few doses of antibiotics, the littlest is feeling better than ever! I only wish I was half as resilient as that kid. And the weather on Sunday was gorgeous with lots of sunshine and a temperature in the high twenties again. So a walk to the park was in order (with my knitting in my bag of course). I took plenty of pictures, and it was noted that we could walk faster if I put the camera away. I followed suit, and soon enough, we were at the playground, and she found some new friends with whom to play. I finished the second wristwarmer, and we packed up and walked home for dinner. It was a very pleasant way to end the crazy hectic weekend.

Last night, the girls and I attended the OEYC Birthday Party at the Children’s Museum, and we had a grand time. El helped out by selling pizza tickets, and B and I played. We used to go to the museum all the time a few years ago when we had a membership, but it got so boring going weekly, and the displays don’t change frequently, so we didn’t renew. Seeing Beah so excited has made me seriously reconsider buying a membership again. I literally had to drag her away last night with the promise of another visit very soon. What’s even funnier is that we had to walk home because J took the car to work. It was really warm, so we could have been jacket-less, but knowing me, I had three toques, three scarves, and three pairs of mittens in addition to three winter coats. And because the littlest is so picky sometimes, I had extras in case something was too itchy or the wrong colour. We didn’t need any of it, needless to say! To top it off, it was getting late, so El and I decided that we would take the shortcut through the dark, unlit walking paths up past the poo plant rather than keep to the lit, busy streets. I was worried that B kept giving away our position in the pitch black with her rowdy stories of when she was in my belly. We got home in good time without being attacked. Some might call us 'survivors'.

I finished one sleeve of the Buttony, and I give myself a week to finish the second. I must get knitting on the second sock soon, as well, so my UFO pile doesn't get bigger. Did you see the UFO poll on Knitting Daily? I seem to be normal with 3 or 4 projects on the go at all times. Variety is the spice of life!

Back to work,
N

You Know You're A Mum When . . .

You find yourself in the emergency room at 1 a.m., and you wipe up your littlest's vomit in this order - vomit on the littlest, vomit on the floor and only then, vomit on yourself. And then for the next hour and a half, you walk around with vomit-y cordoruoys like it's completely normal. I managed to knit a few rows while waiting for the impatient papa came back for us. I turned to the littlest as we were tucking ourselves back into bed around 3 a.m. to thank her for not getting a nasty ear infection the night before. She gave me a hug and replied that I was very welcome.

And so it ends - another weekend of sickies. I know they say that things travel in threes, but next weeked is B's Birthday Boo Bash with a handful of her closest friends. Please send good health vibes this way. Now that I think about it, perhaps this was the third incident, because two weeks ago, she had two huge blisters in her mouth that appeared to be filled with Creamy Italian dressing. That should definitely count as one since I spent an hour at a walk-in clinic hoping to Todd that her lip could be saved. You could say I have a wild imagination.

Speaking of vibes, I am sending my crafty vibes to Minneapolis. "Get knitting on those Christmas cotton bags!"

N

Leaf Me Alone

B and I picked up some leaves from the front yard. I wish I had some red or orange leaves, but we just get green, yellow and brown. The leaves are still pretty regardless. I just love me the fall.
I finished my mum's hat and one wristwarmer. I started the second Thursday night while gathering with a roomful of London knitters - go see pictures and more tales at Ellen's and Laurie's blogs. Without a thought to the consequences, I proudly showed off my first sock to what seemed like a standing ovation from knitters. And the cameras came out and started clicking. When you see me, please understand that I was loopy from a handful of advil and still bleeding profusely from having my wisdom tooth yanked out hours before. What does this say about me? It says that I am insanely obsessed by knitting and desparate to meet other knitters with the same addiction. Well I was rewarded with my efforts, because I met some of the most loveliest people! Chances are we're going to try meeting at a roadhouse next - knitting and beer! Mmmm. If only I could hold my liquor like I used to . . .

The last week was spent working, chauffuring the family, teaching a friend to knit, housework, making scarecrows, dental work, gymnastics, ballet, swimming, boo bash planning, reading my holds from the library, taking minutes at multiple meetings, organizing two fundraising events, and lord knows what else. It was very rushed, but I seemed to accomplish it all, and for that I am happy. Nobody was left angry or disappointed. Call it developing and maintaining strategic partnerships, because if that's what it's called, I deserve an A+. Tomorrow I plan to lay back and take it easy - a little 'me' maintenance like you suggested. The kids should be tuckered out after today, and I am fairly certain that they too need a day just like that. Who doesn't?

Ta ta for now,
N

The Finest of the Flavours

Dear N,

During my lunch break today I went on eBay and bought 1/4 lb of Grade A organic bourbon vanilla beans for $11. That's a mere $0.42/bean! I am so excited for them to come. I've never actually worked with vanilla beans before but I know that they are supposed to be far superior than vanilla extract in any kind of baking. Call me crazy.

I could use my new beans to make a Princess cake.

Hee-hee. I saw this one on Super Eggplant and did more research into this Swedish pastry and now I really want to make one. So pretty! And tasty to boot.

Things are slow in the crafting front. My motivation to knit, or to do anything really, has washed away with all of this fall rain. And to make matters worse, I made a dentist appointment for next week. Maybe that Princess cake will have to wait until after I go. Hrmph!

T