Sweet Anticipation

I can't believe how quickly summer is approaching. Teachers' gifts need to be made. Child care arrangements for the Bee need confirming. The weekends are being booked to the gills with family reunions and barbeques. Bags will need to be packed for a vacation week in July. Must ride the bike more while the weather is nice. Flowers need watering. Lots to do, lots to do. I'm excited. I'm also waiting patiently for T to return from Europe. It's been YEARS!!! My inbox can't take much more. I could always cast on for these while I wait.

N

Sunday Sweets

A few more ends to weave in, and a set of these dishclothes would make a pretty bridal shower gift.

A large serving plate that I found last weekend for 50 cents. I've already used it for serving a roast chicken, but it's equally pretty just sitting there atop a dresser for my viewing pleasure.

Last night, the Bee and I combined our talents to sew up this pretty doll quilt for Flower Bear who incidentally has been shut out from under the covers by Cherry Bear. Maybe Flower is letting Cherry test it out. Not sure what's happening here.

We made it up as we went along. It's backed by a piece of lavendar fleece that matches the My Little Pony panels. This morning I tied it up using a tiny ball of Manos del Uruguay wool that I couldn't bear to throw out. And ta-da! Note to self - Next time, hide the hideous commercial fabric in the stash before the Bee picks out her pieces. But seriously, this was a lot quicker to do with help. Even if she's only 6, she's great at cutting, choosing, measuring and sewing - not to mention cleaning as well! The whole quilt probably took us an hour and half from start to finish. Good times.

Now we're off for a walk. I made up some Gorp inspired by this post, but we only had cheerios, choco chips, toasted almonds and some zookies. The Bee has a habit of renaming stuff, and apparently the Gorp is now called "Stew Bow Fit". When I tried repeating it and said, "Stew Boff It?", she laughed and noted that "THAT doesn't even make sense!!" REALLY????

N

Weekend Warrior

We went with the yellow and orange colour scheme in the flower boxes again this year. Today it rained on and off, but we managed to get some gardening in while it was dry this morning.

My dear sister gifted me this precious bird for my birthday, and I have been tardy in showing it off. The top of the bird can be pried gently open, and tiny trinkets hidden inside. I've been keeping my favourite pair of earrings in there. It's pretty as well as purposeful.

One sleeve finished, and one more to go. So close.

And I knit these up at the beginning of April - they each took an hour tops, and one ball of Lopi was all it took. And I believe I scored the Lopi at the Goodwill, so we're talking $1 for two felted bowls. It took me until today to felt the dang things. I decided to not felt them in the washer because the last time I felted bowls in the washer, we had to pay to have it repaired. Eek. So I did it the ol' fashioned way by hand. Lots of HOT water, lots of soap and killing my arms. I'm SO going to feel it tomorrow. I'll probably find myself walking around with noodle-y arms that hang to the ground like a monkey. Sweet. It just so happens that I can make really good monkey noises too.

Here's to one more day until Monday, my friends,
N

Happy Pillow Dance

I guess she likes it. I'm pleased. It's even been paraded around at school. Score one for mum. The tutorial can be found here. I made three in an hour.

Happy Wednesday!

N

British Slang

Remember when everyone in the United States of America thought I was from London, England? Well, I've been watching a pile of British sitcoms, and I've been catching myself saying filthy British curse words in my head and laughing out loud. This behaviour isn't making much sense to the people around me. I highly recommend catching up on Season 1 and 2 of The Inbetweeners, but be warned that as much as it was hilarious, it was equally offensive. I winced at least once or twice during each episode, but I also nearly peed my pants in the second season's finale. So if you find yourself taking the challenge, please do not judge me. I also like chicken on a stick - this has ruined my reputation, so it would appear that I do not have much of anything left to lose.


It hasn't been all tv-watching around here though. I've been casting on like it's going out of style. Nothing finished. I'm also volunteering for a Liberal candidate, and my dirty secret is that I voted NDP in the last federal election. I'm deathly afraid that the Party will find out and oust me. Wait until they find out that I don't know a thing about politics. That might be worse than the NDP thing. If they ask me why I'm there, I'll be honest and tell them I thought there would be food involved. They'll laugh of course, and maybe we can just talk about our favourite recipes. I saw this Impossible Pie on Salihan's blog, and I read the recipe, and it's totally my speed.


Don't get too excited. It's just a wee February Baby Sweater, but I am using Misti International Pima Cotton Silk in a dk weight, and I know I've said it before, but THIS stuff is drape-a-licious and knits up like butter. And I am ahead of the pack 'cause when I was stashing it on ravelry, I was only the second person to stash this GOLD. It's brand spankin' new! I have Karen to thank from Shall We Knit. So if you find yourself in New Hamburg, stop and pick yourself up some. In fact I need more. I'll be replenishing on Saturday, June 13 - World Wide Knit In Public Day.

Cheers!
N

The Rubber Ball Experiment

I came home one day last week from work, and the littlest was excited to tell me all about this show that she watched on television on how to make rubber balls. She was brimming with so much enthusiasm that it was hard not to get swept up in all of the hullaballoo. She just needed some balloons, some rice, and a thingamajig to pour the rice into the balloon. The thingamajig was big and then went small. I guessed correctly that she was describing a funnel. I had the funnel and rice, but we had to go to the store down the street to buy a big bag of balloons. For the entire next hour, she sat quietly and made little rubber balls by pouring rice into a balloon through a funnel. Once it was sufficiently full, I tied knots, and then for extra bouncing power, she demanded that we put a few balloons over the rice-filled balloons. (The trick to doing this was the cut off the end, and then stretch the balloon over the rice-filled balloon.) It was worth a shot.

To be honest, the balls didn't bounce, but we did end up with some colourful balls for throwing around or juggling or playing hacky sack. And boy did we have fun. We even took them to the park and buried them in the sand and pretended they were treasures. They were a hit with the kids in the whole neighbourhood.

It's truly awesome allowing children to lead play. It was a bit like going for a Sunday drive in which you have absolutely NO idea where you're headed, but you just sit back and enjoy the ride! Just remember to stop and treat yourself to some ice cream along the way. :)

N

Double tribble

I'm in between projects right now. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about. The Owl is coming along smashingly and the Monkey socks are so close to being done. But I needed to start another project. So I casted on for a tribble using the bits of cotton yarn I had lying around and one tribble turned into two in no time at all. These things are great for washing dishes or as mini microwave potholders. Or as my in-laws have discovered, a tam for a stuffed friend. Who knew Frenched lamb could be so cute!Here he is again modeling the matching hand towel that I knit for my in-laws to go with their newly remodeled kitchen (check out that swank tile back splash...so jealous). I haven't seen the kitchen yet myself but on Friday I will be hopping on a plane for Paris via Toronto so hopefully I will have time for a quick peek. I'm so giddy I could knit another tribble.