Really?

Mommy: "I can't believe you're a big kindergartner already! How did that happen?"
Youngest: "Well mom, you know, time goes by so fast....
and also, life isn't fair."

It Could Be My Fault

I think my youngest son may be allergic to wool. 4 years of creams and ointments and food elimination and itchy burning skin and duh! mom! WOOL!
I don't think it's the only trigger for his eczema, he definitely has some food sensitivities as well, but after reading about lanolin alcohols and what not I think we may have found an additional culprit for his skin flare ups.
I haven't researched enough to know if being in contact with someone (me) who has been in contact with wool would cause a reaction in someone (son) who is allergic, but if that is the case I will gladly get rid of all my wool yarn.
His latest outbreak was especially severe and my looking into the wool thing led me to find that the ointment (Aquaphor) that I just started using on him, at the dermatologist's suggestion, contains lanolin alcohols! Hello, not only am I knitting on a wool sweater and a wool/alpaca shrug right now, but I am also slathering him in lanolin thinking I'm doing him a favor! Poor, poor baby - how I wish I could just trade skin with him until this flare up subsides.

Swift

One of my excuses for having so much unused yarn is that it is a hassle and potentially hazardous tangled mess for me to try to wind up the yarn by hand.
Well, no more excuses - Look at this fantastically cool swift that my husband and kids crafted for my birthday - and to complete the package my husband hinted to my mom-in-law that a ball winder would be the perfect accompaniment.





I'm so excited and have already begun churning out beautiful little yarn cakes - yummy - my favorite kind of birthday cake!

SUMMER

First full year of classroom school - DONE!
Lots of new friends and adventures, lots of good learning, some not so good learning, parties and projects and speech meets and spelling bees and speed drills; driving back and forth and back again - all in all a successful year of transition for us, but definitely looking forward to the unstructured days of summer!

Perspective

Today I did a 3 mile run as a "running buddy" with a program called "Girls on the Run". It's a program that empowers girls by teaching them healthy eating, exercise, relationship, etc... strategies.
Part of the program is an approximately 2 month running training that culminates in the girls running a 5k in June. A "Running Buddy" is an adult woman who runs with a girl and provides encouragement and motivation throughout the run. The Buddy job is very simple and doesn't involve a big time commitment, just running 1 practice 5k and the actual 5k with the girl.
I had so much fun chatting with my girl as we ran/walked. Speed was not an issue as we are supposed to go at the girl's pace. It was a completely enjoyable 3 miles and as each pair finished we were cheered on by the coaches and then we all stayed at the finish to cheer on the groups that were still running. And the girls had so much fun running - happy to finish whether 1st or 5th or last.
I need to remember this is why I run. To be healthy, to feel good, to encourage others - regardless of my speed compared to other people.
3 miles slow and happy - priceless.

12 miles

I have a chronic condition.
It is called "Never able to appreciate one's own accomplishments without comparing self to others and feeling inadequate and stupid". I mean see how long the name of the condition is? It's got to be bad with that long of a name.

I ran - well jogged, plodded, and walked might be better verbs here - 12 miles for the first time yesterday. I waved at several other runners and walkers. I smiled and nodded at 3 white bearded Sikh gentlemen. I marveled at Mt. Rainier. I fell, scratched up my hands and knee, got up and kept going. I tried not to cry after that. 5 minutes later I cried. I walked backward up some inclines. I watched the sun come then hide behind clouds then come again. I finished the 12 miles that were my goal for the day and was still not satisfied. Because even though my goal is to simply finish this 1/2 marathon, it drives me nuts when I look at my average speed and see how painfully slow I am. But what frustrates me most is not the slowness but my inability or unwillingness to accept that I'm not a natural runner nor am I training hard in enough to see times that would seem respectable to me. And "respectable" of course means what this or that other person can do and therefore what I "should" be able to do. My own goal becomes worthless.

There is a woman slower than I am. I have seen her often as I chug along. A beautiful ebony woman in colorful skirts. And she sings as she walks slowly along. She sings - hears angel songs - songs obscured by my own heart pounding in my head. She sings and smiles to herself and doesn't fear - or sings the fear away.

Oh how I wish I could embrace that goal. To know the joy of going her speed.

Nudge

Sometimes it just takes a little nudge to get you going on something - My Blue Sky Alpacas Eyelet Cardigan waited for a year and a half for me to get over my seaming fear and finish it up. A friendly little push from Miss T was just what I needed to crank out the last few pieces of this and get her all seamed up.


Cute - soft - just right for spring - wish I had done it in a more vibrant color because this yarn in this color looks just a little bedraggled even after the one wear I've given it, but it's comfy and I suppose looking a little worn will add to it's cozy, everyday throw on charm. Thanks Tiff for the encouragement to finish!

Wisteria

Finished!!!!

Breathe in, breathe out...

Too much excitement for my little self today - First there was the cutting of the cord; my Wisteria is finally finished and I was almost weepy on the last few rounds of the sleeve.


So many pregnancy, birth/knitting parallels. Looking forward with so much expectation to that finished project yet when it is handed to you there is some strange sense of loss - the cutting of the cord that sends you flying of onto a new uncertain path - the love for the creation despite its flaws and quirks. I don't know why this pattern enamored me so much, but I am so grateful for wonderful, creative designers who share these gems. The Berocco Ultra Alpaca was great to work with as well and I can't wait until this is all blocked and ready to wear! (And ready to be photographed properly).
And another love - Elann - oh Elann, how I love you. You and your super fast shipping and your fun, fun spring yarn packs that seduced me into buying one in each color - new dreams of all the possible creations!

Wisteria, my winter journey complete and completely loved - On to the bright colors of Spring!

My Big, Comfy, Orange Coat

This finished blocking and became nice and flowy and comfy. And bumpy arms and all, I love it!




Especially those buttons - I couldn't find any buttons that really called out to me, so I asked my husband who does woodworking if he could make me some. He took some scrap wood and made these cute square guys - I don't know why I never asked him before - could have saved a lot of money on buttons!



Nice basic coat for a rainy, cold Sunday in Seattle - just wish I had written down all the numbers and notes!

Shorty

What was meant to be a 3/4 sleeve cardigan was content to be a cap-sleeved shorty sweater. This shorty is also content.

Big Orange

I was cold one evening in January and I also wanted to use up some yarn I had sitting around - so I cast on and just started knitting - Two strands of Patons wool held together on size 11 needles allows you to see progress very quickly and even though it's not the most beautiful or refined thing, it is nice and warm and used up 6 balls of stash yarn which makes me warm and happy inside. I really like this color and I had initially bought the yarn to make the Paton's Must-Have-Cardigan which is a very beautiful cabled thing. But because I am me, I must have my cardigan very quickly or I will never have it finished, hence the double strand, big-ole coat that was much more brainless and quick. I like how the body turned out, but some random cabling I threw in on the arms didn't turn out so well and just adds bulk. I will not rip it out though - it's warm and functional, so it is done. I'm headed out to get some cheap buttons this afternoon.

Passing it around

I was inspired to dig through some leftover yarns - a friend of mine is diligently using up her stash and I felt compelled to see what yarns I had long forgotten in my ongoing frenzy of ogling the next yarn for the next great project - This little purse is made with Cascade Eco Wool which felted superbly.


I dug up a bunch more woolly odds and ends that I have grand notions of knitting up into wild and insanely creative felted - uh - stuff...that I could frame and give as gifts otherwise i'd still have just as much yarn, just in a different form. Yeah, artsy framed felted something somethings for everyone!

A Thursday in February

My husband and I finally found a restaurant at the Kent Station that we were happy with. Zephyr Bar and Grill. My belly is content and VERY full, and I am VERY glad that a friend is coming over to watch the Drewbinator while I go for a run tomorrow morning. That's all. 20 more rounds on sleeve 1 of Wisteria - Glad it stays cold around here until the 4th of July.

My Precious

I have an unhealthy affection for this sweater. It is the first sweater I have knit for myself that I feel like when it is complete it will magically bequeath on me all the transcendent beauty it promises in the pattern photos and I will be transformed into a dancing wood nymph with wild flowers in my hair - or something.
But really,I love this sweater. So much.

Wisteria from Fall 2008 Twist Collective

(And by the way, I am just trying to keep the sweater from curling up there with my hand, in case you were getting really worried about me)

Just Cowl Me Obsessed

Why haven't I thought of making these before?

They take so much less yarn and time than a scarf. And you can try out one skein of a special yarn without breaking the bank. These bulky neckwarmers are Lion Brand Wool-Ease thick and quick - not so special, but I got it on sale for scarves and then found all these neckwarmer/cowl patterns on ravelry and am in love! These will be Christmas gifts for various people.
I also started a Bainbridge Scarf in some Manos Silk Blend that I've had around - And I splurged and bought a hank of beautiful Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere - my first cashmere - and I'm looking at the Abby cowl pattern from the Fall 08 Knitty as a possible use for it. Saw one knit up on one of the ladies at my LYS (Renaissance Yarns in Kent,WA - beautiful new space in Kent Station for anyone in the area!)It looked so warm and cozy and elegant. Can't wait to finish the Christmas cowls so I can start working with the Cashmere.

Cobblestone

The Happy Father's Day, Happy Birthday, Halloween, and Thanksgiving Cobblestone is complete. So glad it's over even though the pattern is very well-written and the resulting sweater so appealing and wearable - Man sweaters are just BIG and I don't think I'll knit a man size sweater again anytime soon. I will enjoy looking at my man in his sweater though, because it's awfully cute on him.

Choosing

It's been a dramatically different beginning of the school year for us this year -I can write about it now that I'm (mostly) over the guilt and feelings of inadequacy brought on by the decision to send the kids to classroom school. Yes, my 1st and 4th graders entered the ranks of the non-homeschoolers, taking their places among the throng of new tennis shoes and backpacks. We are all weathering the change pretty well (after a first day of school weep-fest for mommy).


And all the "time" I was supposed to have, well I've managed to misplace that already. Things are hectic in a different way - we actually have to be places at prescribed times and can't perpetually put off certain assignments or subjects, but I think in general we are all able to handle life a little more calmly now that we are not around each other all the time. I need this at least for this year and the kids really seem to be adjusting well,enjoying themselves, and learning - and not just bad stuff like I had feared. So for now I am O.K.
And of course now I can knit during the day without feeling like a bad, inattentive teacher.
And I can be a Lady like the 2000 other knitters who've knit this February Lady Sweater.



I love this very much. The yarn(Cascade Superwash Paints) feels good, it fits well, its bright and cheery for the coming cooler, darker days. It's a great sweater, so I don't mind that every other knitter has one too - It's what I wanted to knit. And I'm at peace with my choice to send the kids to school too, knowing the decision was my own. The leaves will fly soon, but I know who I am.

Simple

There's nothing wrong with being simple right? I thoroughly enjoyed this endless rectangle of stockinette - 4 days of incidental knitting, some dropping of stitches and I have this elegant looking drapey red thing to toss around myself and feel all glam. I suppose some makeup might help with the glam, but tossing a piece of cloth around you is so much quicker plus you don't have to wash your face before bed.
Sunday Market Shawl
3 balls of Austermann Bambou Soft (I really really like this yarn)
Size 9 needles
I Knit 3 instead of 2 in between the dropped stitches.

The Dreaded Auntie Knitknerd

This is my nephew - he's about 6 weeks now and wearing my lovingly handknit in an evening sweater. He looks quite terrified at the prospect of having a crazy knitting Auntie sending a regular stream of this stuff. "Thanks Auntie Cher ... (mom, do I really have to wear this?!!!)"